USA > Vermont > Addison County > Shoreham > History of the town of Shoreham, Vermont, from the date of its charter, October 8th, 1761, to the present time > Part 3
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
Point, under a grant of the Legislature. It was under his manage- ment during his life. He was a man who made many friends by his fine social qualities, and quiet, genial disposition, and was much respected and honored by all who made his acquaintance, as an in- telligent and trustworthy man. He held, at different times, the office of Town Representative, was Clerk of the County Court six years, was Judge of Probate and of the County Court, and was well versed in the early history of the town and State. Late in life, he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in the hope of the gospel, Nov. 28th, 1847, aged 82.
Abijah North, from Farmington, Conn., came to this town in 1774; went on to fifty acres of land given him by one of the pro- prietors, belonging to the farm of the late Hiram Rich; cleared a piece of land that summer ; planted apple seeds for an orchard; built a log house a little west of said Rich's house, and returned in the fall of that year to Connecticut. The war having broken out the next year, he did not come on with his family as he had expect- ed, but remained till after the peace, when he returned with his wife and six children, to his former residence, March 12th, 1783. He lived on that place over two years, and then went to the Mose- ley place in Bridport, where he died May 31, 1785, in less than two months after his last removal. A little before his death, Seth North, John North and Simeon North, came with their families, and John North took the farm of Abijah North in Shoreham, and died there at an early day. The wife of Seth North, immediately on her arrival, took the home-sickness, and the same day she arrived, declared to Samuel Wolcott's family, she would start for home the next day, and, true to her word, home she went, by the same team by which she came, notwithstanding the efforts of Mrs. Wolcott, on the next morning, to quiet her mind, and persuade her to remain. Simeon North remained a short time and went to Ticonderoga; re- turned here again, and lived here several years, then went to Or- well, where he died. The apple seeds which Abijah North sowed in 1774, sprang up and became a nursery after the Revolution, as did seeds planted by Samuel Wolcott on his place the same year, furnishing trees and fruit for the neighborhood at an early date.
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HISTORY OF SHOREIIAM.
After the death of Abijah North, his family was broken up, and his son, Nathaniel North, went to live with Isaac Flagg. He mar ried Sally Bateman, and lived with her father, Thomas Bateman, on his farm and in his house, which stood where the parsonage house of the Congregational Society now stands. Col. Nathaniel North built the parsonage house in 1818; left town in 1831 and moved to Ticonderoga, where he died, July 9th, 1838.
Col. Josiah Pond, from Lenox. Mass., came to this town in 1783, and carried on Paul Moore's farm one year ; purchased the farm where William and Edwin Johnson now live, in 1784, and built upon it a framed house and barn ; sold that place afterward to Isaac Flagg and went on to the place now owned in part by Henry Bush, cleared up a large farm and built a saw-mill on Lemon Fair River, about 1790. He lived on that place the greater part of his life, and died in this town August 8th, 1840, aged 83. A notice of his character will be found in the Biographical Sketches.
Gen. Timothy F. Chipman, from Sheffield, Mass., assisted in the surveys of the town in 1783, and in the same year settled on the farm now owned by his son Isaac Chipman. See Biographical Sketches.
Stephen Barnum came here from Lanesboro, Mass., in 1784, and moved his family in 1785. He settled on land now owned by Lo- ren Towner ; had a large farm ; raised a numerous family of children, all of whom except his son Stephen, have removed from the town. He was born in 1757. He was a soldier in the Revolution ; came to Ticonderoga the latter part of December, 1776, at the age of 19, with a company of militia, and stayed until the next spring. The soldiers suffered much from the want of comfortable shelter and wholesome food. A part of the time they were compelled to sub- sist on horse-beef. There was much dissatisfaction among the sol- diers, with the treatment they received from the officers, who were thought to have been unwilling to share with them in their priva- tions. This occasioned some pilfering by the soldiers, from the bet- ter stores, which some of the officers had appropriated to their own use. So great was the dissatisfaction, at one time, that a company of men, headed by young Barnum, paraded with arms in their hands,
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
with the avowed intention to march for home ; whereupon they were promised better treatment, and they consented to remain. Mr. Barnum was a deacon of the Congregational Church many years, and died in this place August 24th, 1834, aged 77.
Four brothers of the name of Smith settled on the lake road, from which circumstance, it took the name "Smith Street," which it still retains. They all originated from Nine Partners, Duchess Co., N. Y .; went from that place to Spencertown N. Y., and from thence to Manchester, Vt. From the latter place they came to this town.
Stephen Smith commenced an improvement, and built a log house on the farm now owned by Marvin North, in 1784, and moved his family into it in 1785.
Deacon Eli Smith came also in 1784, and settled with his fami- ly on the farm where Joseph Smith, Esq., his son, and Orville Smith his grand-son, now live, in 1785. He was in the battle at Stillwater, and witnessed the surrender of Burgoyne and his army at Saratoga. IIc was born Nov. 10th, 1751, and died June 16th, 1816, aged 65.
Major Nathan Smith came and settled on the farm now owned by Joseph Smith, his son, and Sereno Smith, his grand-son, in 1792. He was in the battle of Bennington ; he and Benjamin Vaughan were the two first persons who sealed the breast-works in pursuit of the enemy. He died here previous to 1800.
Amos Smith came in 1793 ; was a carpenter and joiner; set up a store about 1795, in a house owned by Jordan Post, in which he did business about three years, and afterwards lived some time on Smith Street. He moved to Canada about 1808, where he died about 1816.
Nathan Smith, Jr., son of Nathan Smith, one of the brothers, settled on the farm now owned by Joseph Smith and Sereno his son, about 1786, and sold the place to his father about 1792. He lived several years after at different places in town, and at an advanced age, moved to Lyons, N. Y., where he died. He was with Allen's party at the taking of Ticonderoga, and served in the army after
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
that. He heard Ethan Allen address the people and soldiers from a stump in Manchester, and followed him from that place.
Philip Smith, brother of Nathan Smith, Jr., came to town in 1786, and lived a while near the school house on Barnum Hill, and in several other places in Shoreham. He was Constable and Deputy Sheriff several years, and died here February 4th, 1847, aged 82.
Timothy Larabee settled first on the farm adjoining Deacon Hunt's on the west, about 1784, and sold it to Hopkins Rowley in 1792, and went to Georgia, Vt. He returned and settled on the farm now owned by his son Timothy Larabee, in 1798. He was born in Plainfield, Conn., July 6th, 1753 ; came first to Pownal, and from thence to this town, and died here August 21st, 1831, aged 78. He was a man of more than common education ; was for some years a Justice of the Peace, and a member of the Methodist Church.
David Russell came here from Chesterfield, Mass., in 1784, and settled on the farm since owned by his son, Oliver Russell, lately deceased, and moved his family in 1785.
Jabez Healy came from Chesterfield, Mass., and settled a little east from where John Jones now lives, about 1785; soon sold that place, and settled on the farm now owned by Ira Bascom.
Samuel Dunbar, from Warwick, settled on the farm now owned by German Cutting in 1785. He was the first constable of the town.
Amos Stone, Esq., for several years a Justice of the Peace, came from Cavendish, Vt., and settled on the east side of Lemon Fair River, about one mile east of where Deacon James Moore now lives, on the road leading to Cornwall, in 1785.
Andrew Wright came from Lenox, Mass., and settled about three- fourths of a mile east of the mills at Richville, on the road leading to Whiting, in 1785.
Joshua Dunbur, from Warwick, Mass., settled where German Cutting now lives, in 1785, and sold to Benjamin Healy, who took his place.
Reuben Callender, from Sheffield, Mass., settled on the lot north of John N. Hunt, Esq., about 1785, and soon sold to John Tracy, and left town.
Up to this time the town had remained unorganized ; no town of-
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM
ficers had been chosen, and no taxes had been laid for the purpose of constructing roads, building bridges, or for supporting schools, ex- cept those laid by the proprietors.
The progress of the settlement from its commencement in 1766, to the beginning of the year 1786, was so slow that the whole num- ber of families at the close of this period was only eighteen. It we reckon five persons to a family, the whole number of inhabi- tants did not exceed ninety. 4
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HISTORY OF SHOREHADI.
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CHAPTER V.
TOWN ORGANIZED-IMPROVED CONDITION-PROGRESS OF SETTLE- MEXT FROM 1786 TO 1800.
PREVIOUS to this period, the settlers had labored under great dis- advantages and hardships. After the first saw-mill was burnt, it was difficult to procure boards for building their houses. They 'were under the necessity of going to Whitehall, Vergennes or Pitts- ford, to get their grain ground. But now a saw-mill had been put in operation, and measures taken for building grist-mills. The titles to the lands were considered more safe, under an independent government which had been regularly and efficiently administered for several years. These circumstances combined to render the pro- gress of the settlement much more rapid. During the year 1786, sixty-three families, it is said, moved into this town. During this year, the town was regularly organized and town officers chosen. Thomas Rowley was the first Town Clerk, chosen Nov. 20th, 1786, and James Moore the first Town Representative, chosen, probably, in 1787, though the records, for that year and several other years, do not show who was elected.
Among the families that settled here during this period, the fol- lowing may be named :
Noah Jones, from Worcester, Mass., moved his family here in March, 1786. He came alone in 1784, and purchased a lot of land on which Edwin Northrup now lives ; afterward exchanged that lot for another, and returned ; came again in 1785, and worked on a lot of land on Worcester Hill, through the summer; built a log house and moved his family into it the next year. He died in this town September, 1850, aged 92, on the place on which he first settled, where Franklin Moore now lives.
.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
Eleazer Holbrook came with Mr. Jones at the age of fifteen, and lived with him until he was twenty-one. After that time he lived a while in Bridport, but settled at an early day on the farm now owned by Edwin Cudworth. He is now living with his son, David Holbrook, in Orwell, and is 88 years old.
John Smith, from Worcester, Mass., moved his family into town in 1786 ; was here himself one or two years before; built a house on the farin now owned by Royal Witherell. He afterwards sold that place to Sylvester Witherell, and settled on the farm now owned by John Jones. He died in this town, Aug. 31st, 1816, aged 78. Ilis wife survived him, and died on the same place, September 15th, 1838, aged 88.
James Moore settled with his family on the farm now owned by his son, Samuel Moore, in 1790. See Biographical Sketches.
Gideon Tower settled on the south-west corner lot, in this town, about 1787, and died here in 1814.
Ebenezer Turrill, Esq., from Lenox, Mass., built a log house in 1786, near the large two-story house, built by him in 1795, occu- pied many years as a tavern, more commonly known as the Hill House. See Biographical Sketches.
Daniel Turrill, his son, soon after settled on the farm now owned by Edwin H. Northrup.
Beebee Turrill, son of Ebenezer Turrill, settled on a farm now . owned by Dea. Royal Turrill, in 1792.
Thomas Rich and Nathaniel Rich, from Warwick, Mass., pur- chased a tract of land in and near the present village of Richville, in 1785. These two brothers, says one of their descendants, were great hunters, and had been in these parts before they made their pur- chase. Thomas Rich had previously been to New Hampshire, with a view to purchase the land lying about the falls in Salisbury, Vt .; but the property had been sold the day before he arrived. He went from there to Middlebury to look at lands lying on the north side of the falls in that village, which were then in the market, but finally concluded to purchase in this town. In the year 1786, he came with several hands, and labored through the summer and autumn in clearing lands and preparing the way for a settlement and the erec-
V
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
tion of mills. The next year, 1787, he and his brother came on with several hands, among whom was Charles Rich, a son of Thomas, afterward a Representative in Congress, who did the cooking for the company. Ile was then sixteen years old. Mrs. Andrew Wright, then living about three-fourths of a mile distant, baked their bread. That season Thomas Rich built a saw-mill, it is said, alone, and did much work on the grist mill, of which Nathaniel Rich was owner. He got out and shaped a set of mill-stones at Pittsford, turning over the stones without any assistance from oth- ers. These two brothers moved their families here in the winter of 1787, and the grist-mill was completed in the spring or summer of that year.
Jacob Atwood, came with his family, from Warwick, Mass., in 1789, and occupied a log house which he had built the summer be- fore, situated about four rods south-west of the house in which Francis Atwood recently lived. That year the adjacent lands were all in flames, in consequence of which the grist-mill, in which many of his goods were stored, was burnt, and little or nothing in it was saved.
Ebenezer Bush, from Becket, Mass., settled in 1789, on the farm now owned by Oliver Barnum. In January, 1791, he started on a journey to Massachusetts, with five persons in a sleigh with him. While passing along the road in Fairhaven, he was suddenly killed by the fall of a tree. No other person in the sleigh with him was injured. His funeral was attended in this town, and the sermon was preached by Elder Skeels, a Baptist minister, who lived at that time on the place where Eliakim Culver settled, now owned by Samuel Jones.
Zacheus Barnum, from Lanesboro, Massachusetts, bought fifty acres of land of Thomas Rowley, in 1786, lying on the west side of the road leading north from Deacon Lewis Hunt's, now owned by A. W. Perry. He built a log house on it, and in 1789, married a daughter of Samuel Wolcott, who died in October, 1790; in Octo- ber, 1791, he married for his second wife, the widow Sarah Bush, and moved on to the farm that Eben Bush settled on, in 1792. He sold the fifty acres that he first purchased to Zebedee Goodwin, and
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HISTORY OF SHOREIIAM.
purchased fifty acres of land of Nathaniel Pond, on what is called Barnum Hill, now owned by Oliver Barnum, where he died, Au- gust 28th, 1840. aged 77 years.
William Jones, from Worcester, Mass., purchased a lot of land on which Stephen Barnum now lives, and settled upon it for a short time, in 1787. He soon after purchased the lot where Schuyler Doan now lives. He died in this town, Nov. 27th, 1833.
Asa Jones, from Worcester, Mass., settled, in 1788, on the farm where his son, Asa Jones, now lives. He died here, April 21st, 1841, aged 76.
Elder Samuel Skeels settled on the farm now owned by Samuel Jones, about 1789, and sold it to Eliakim Culver, and left town about 1793.
William Willson, was born in Rehoboth, Mass. At the age of eight years he came to Warwick, Mass., and lived with his father in that town, until 1789, when he settled on the farm now owned by his son, William G. Willson, where he died, May 30th, 1858, aged 89. His father, Jonathan Willson, who was a soldier in the French war two years, under Gen. Putnam, and also in the war of the Rev- olution, came and lived with his son, William, in 1820, and died in this town, in 1830, at an advanced age.
Dea. James Baker removed from Bridport to Shoreham in March, 1816, and was the same year appointed Deacon of the Baptist Church in the latter place, and served as such till 1830, in April, when he removed from Shoreham back to Bridport and resided there till July, 1847; when he removed to Geneva, Wisconsin, where he died, October 10th, 1851, aged 72years, 6 months and 22 days. He was born in Morris Co., New Jersey, the 18th of March, 1779, and removed from the city of New York to Bridport, Vermont, in 1805.
Ebenezer Wright came from Lenox, Mass., and worked for Dan- iel Turrill, in 1786; took the lot where Benjamin Bissell formerly lived, in 1788, and in 1790 settled on the farm now owned by Hon. M. W. C. Wright.
Levi Birchard, from Becket, Mass., came in 1787, and purchased the lot on which Nathan Birchard, his son, lived after him, and
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
commenced an improvement ; he settled thereon with his family in 1789. He died in this town, January 14th, 1844, aged 84.
Andrew Birchard, from Becket, Mass., came with Levi Birchard and worked with him two years. He first purchased the lot where Lorenzo Q. Chipman recently lived, and sold the same to Russel Chipman, and then went on the farm where he spent the remainder of his life, now owned by his son, Horatio Birchard. IIe died in this town, December 31st, 1857, aged 89.
Matthew Stewart came from Becket, Mass., in 1788, and settled on the farm on which Q. C. Rich now lives. He sold out to An- drew Birchard about 1800, and settled in or near Waterford, N. Y., where he soon after died.
Thomas Barnum came from Lanesboro, Mass., and settled on land now owned by Levi O. Birchard, a little north of the school house. He died here February 17th, 1836, aged 84. He was a soldier in the Revolution ; was in the battle at Trenton, and in several other engagements. Ile was a member of the Congregational Church, and universally esteemed as a worthy and good man.
William Watson came from Becket, Mass., in 1790, and settled on the farm where Andrew Birchard lived. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and was stationed some time at Ticonderoga. He died March 15th, 1817.
Jabez Barnum, from Lanesboro, Mass., settled on the farm where Deacon Lewis Hunt now lives, in 1787 ; left that place about 1796, when he moved on to the the place now owned by William Penn Frost. He died at that place.
Liberty Newton, from Shrewsbury, Mass., settled on a place a little east of the house in which Hiram Rich lived, in 1789. He left town about 1801, and went to Ticonderoga, and built a forge at the upper falls. He died at Champlain, N. Y.
Joseph Denton, from Bedford, N. Y., settled on the farm now owned by Lorenzo D. Larabee, about 1791, and built a saw-mill on the small stream that runs through it, a short distance below the road that crosses it. Another saw-mill was also built still further down the stream. When the country was new, this stream, which is insignificant now, furnished water enough in the spring and fall
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
to saw a considerable quantity of lumber. Mr. Denton removed to Hague, N. Y., where he died in 1814.
William Denton settled on the same farm in 1792, and died in this town in 1814.
Samuel Tower, from Rhode Island, settled on land now owned by Lot Sanford, on the north side of the road nearly opposite to the house of A. W. Perry, about 1787.
Benjamin Tower, from Rhode Island, settled where A. W. Perry . now lives, in 1787.
Samuel Rockwell settled on the farm now owned by Charles Hunsden, about 1786 or 1787, and sold it to Allen Hunsden, about 1800. He left town about the same time, and went to Pennsyl- vania.
Samuel Hunt came originally from Hardwick, Mass .; thence to Pawlet, and from that town to Shoreham, and settled first on the farm now owned by Nazro Northrup, in 1787. He afterwards sold that place to Jeremiah Northrup, and settled on the farm now owned by B. B. Tottingham, where he died February 15th, 1825, aged 62. His father, Samuel Hunt, came several years later, and lived with his son, and died in this town in 1799, aged 66.
Jeremiah Northrup, from Lenox, Mass., first settled a little south of B. B. Tottingham's, but soon went on to the place now owned by Nazro Northrup, about 1791. He died April 12th, 1840, aged 74 years.
Samuel Northrup, from Lenox, Mass., first settled in a small house a little south of B. B. Tottingham's, where he carried on the blacksmithing business, about 1793; about 1815 he settled where his son, Edwin II. Northrup now lives. He died January 17th, 1839, aged 66.
John Treat, from Lenox, Mass., settled on the east side of the creek, near the site of the first house built in town, about 1795.
Deacon Stephen Cooper, from East Hampton, Long Island, came and purchased about five hundred acres of land, in 1788, and moved his family here in 1789. Sce Biographical Sketches.
Samuel Hand came from East Hampton, Long Island, in 1789, and purchased the place owned by Rufus Herrick. His father Dea.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM.
Nathan Hand, came from the same place in 1790 ; and lived with his son, Samuel. Deacon Hand died May 11th, 1811, aged 64, and Samuel died September 13th, 1845, aged 76. Capt. Hand com- manded a company of Militia that went from this town to Platts- burgh, on the approach of the British army, in 1814.
Levi Jenison, from Shrewsbury, Mass., settled, in 1790, on the farm afterward owned by his son, Silas H. Jenison.
Gideon Jennings went from Natic, Mass., to Bedford, N. Y., and settled in this town on the farm now owned by his son Isaac D. Jennings, in 1787. He served as a soldier in the armies of the Revolution.
Joseph Butler, from Goshen, Conn., settled near the place where Col. Clark Callender recently lived, about 1784. He stayed a few years and moved to Grand Isle.
Manoah Willson settled on the farm recently owned by James F. Frost, about 1785, and went to Pennsylvania in 1801.
Samuel Ames settled on the farm, now owned by Charles Bowker, in 1787, where he died in 1833.
Barnabas Ames settled, in 1788, on the farm now owned by Henry Walker, and died there about 1829.
Elijalı Ames, settled, in 1788, on a farm about half a mile east of Richville, and went many years ago to St. Lawrence Co. N. Y.
Henry Ames settled on the farm now owned by Richard N. At- wood, in 1797 ; went many years since to Potsdam, N. Y.
Silas Brookins settled on the place now owned by his grand-son, Thurmon Brookins, about 1788.
William Johnson, from Worcester, Mass., settled on the farm, where his son William now lives, in 1788.
Joseph Fuller, from Bedford, N. Y., settled near Mr. Jennings1 present residence, in 1788.
James Fuller settled on the farm where Jason Jones now lives, about 1788.
John Ormsbee, Esq., from Warwick, Mass., settled, about 1788 or 1789, on the farm now owned by Earl R. Delano.
Timothy Goodale, from Warwick, Mass., settled on the farm now owned by David Cutting, in 1788 or 1789.
J. Cameron, Lith.
208 Broadway, N.
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HISTORY OF SHOREHAM. Charterfuld (angmally sentivate)
Joseph Bailey, from Becket, Mass., settled on the Doane farm, now owned by J. T. and V. Rich.
Benjamin Bissell, from Lebanon, Conn., settled on the farm now owned by his son, Salmon L. Bissell, in 1787, and died there De- cember 8th, 1850, aged 84.
Thomas Bissell, from Lebanon, Conn., settled on the farm east of Salmon L. Bissell's, in 1787, and died there in 1857, aged 84.
Jonas Marsh, carpenter and joiner, from Warwick, Mass., settled on the farm now owned by J. A. Marsh, son of his brother, Leon- ard Marsh, about 1800.
John Ramsdell, from Warwick, Mass., settled on the farm where Nelson Jones now lives, about 1800.
Ebenezer Hawes, from Worcester, Mass., settled on the farm now owned by Gasca Rich, in 1795. He died in this town.
David Ramsdell, from Warwick, Mass., settled on the farm where Upton Waite now lives, in 1788.
Ashbel Catlin, Senr., from Litchfield, Conn., came to this town in 1800; lived for some time with his son, Ashbel, in a house near Parker Atwood's. He went from that place to live with his son, John B. Catlin, in Bridport, and died in Crown Point, N. Y.
Ashbel Catlin, Jr., went from the place near Atwood's, on to the farm recently owned by Reuben Doane, and moved to the village in 1819, where he now lives.
Elijah Wright, from Ticonderoga, N. Y., settled on the farm now owned by George W. Doane, in 1790.
Ebenezer Atwood, Esq., from Warwick, Mass., settled on a lot next south of the farm on which Reuben Doane formerly lived, now owned by J. T. and V. Rich, about 1787. He was for many years a Justice of the Peace and Selectman.
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