USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Springfield > History of the town of Springfield, Vermont : with a genealogical record > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
In a notification for a meeting to be held May 5, 1763, was the following : -
"3. To raise such Sum or Sums of Money as may be thought ueedful to defray the charges of Ejecting John Nott and Nathaniel Powers, and to pur- chase Irons for a Saw Mill and to pay other contingent charges upon the pro- prietors."
Meeting of March 13, 1764: -
" Voted and allowed to Gideou Lyman Esq. for Time and Expenses to Ports- mouth, Thirty Nine Days, four shillings per Day, as Agent for the proprietors in the Cause of ejecting Johu Nott and others."
At the meeting held June 18, 1764, the following vote passed : -
" Votd. Messrs. Simon Stevens, Abuer Bisbee and Jehiel Simmons all of Springfield, or any or either of them, are appointed and impowered, in behalf of the proprietors of said Springfield, to receive the Possession of the Lands in the said Township of Springfield, which the said proprietors have recovered judgment and Title and Possession of. And also to receive the possession of any lands iu said Springfield, which the said proprietors shall recover Judg- ment for and Title and Possession of hereafter."
John Nott and Nathaniel Powers were among those who settled in Sprinfigeld very early, before the town was chartered, and from the foregoing records it seems that they, with others, were ejected from their lands by the proprietors under the charter. The appointment of Simon Stevens, Abner Bisbee, and Jehiel Simmons
9
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
as a committee to receive the possession of the lands of ejected settlers, as stated before, is the first mention of actual settlers of the town being associated with the proprietors, with the exception of Joseph Little, who was one of the grantees. It is probable that these settlers had purchased land of the grantees under the original charter.
Meeting held Sept. 10, 1764 :-
"Voted as follows, viz. Whereas the Committee who laid out the first, second and third Divisions of land in Springfield, in the Return of their Doings, omitted mentioning any over-plus measure of laud for highways, but do now Certify that in laying out the said third Division, the Boundaries of every hundred-acre Lot marked by them include Six Acres and Ninety-Six Rods over- plus measure of land to each of the said Lots, and also that they made al- lowance for Crown Point Road four Rods wide thro' the said third Division, where the said Road now goes : therefore
" Voted that the Doings of the said Committee in allowing over-plus meas- ure of Laud as aforesaid are accepted and confirmed ; and that the said over- plus Land is hereby sequestered to the Use of the said 'Town for Highways."
This meeting of Sept. 10, 1764, was the last meeting of the proprietors held in Northampton of which there is any record, and is probably the last meeting held for nearly seven years, until Aug. 27, 1771, when a meeting was held at the Blockhouse in Spring- field. During this time the actual settlers of the town had organ- ized a town government, and were successfully managing the affairs of the township.
Notwithstanding the large number of grants made by the gov- ernor of the Province of New Hampshire on the west side of the Connecticut River, the governor of New York still claimed juris- diction over this territory and made application to the Crown for a confirmation of the claim. On July 20, 1764, the king in council ordered that the western bank of the Connecticut River should be the boundary between the two Provinces of New York and New Hampshire as far north as the forty-fifth degree of north latitude. The government of New York claimed that this order of his Majesty decided that the western bank of the Connecticut had always been the boundary line between the two Provinces, and that the grants made by the governor of New Hampshire west of the Connecticut River were void; and under this construction of the royal decree, the government of New York proceeded to
10
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
extend its jurisdiction over the New Hampshire grants, dividing the territory into four counties and establishing courts of justice in each. The settlers of these townships west of the Connecticut River were called upon to surrender their charters and repurchase their lands from the government of New York, and now they began to petition the governor of the Province of New York, praying for a confirmation of their titles and rights, as granted by the governor of New Hampshire.
Under date of Dec. 5, 1766, a petition was presented to Sir Henry Moore, governor of New York, by Gideon Lyman, Joseph Little, and others of the proprietors of the township of Spring- field, praying the government of New York to issue a charter to them confirming their title to their lands. This petition was fa- vorably received, and the order made, but before any grant was made to these petitioners, Sir Henry Moore was succeeded by William Tryron, Esq., as governor ; and Richard Morris and John Barrett - both of whom had purchased a large amount of land in Springfield -and twenty-five others petitioned the governor of the Province of New York to grant a confirmation charter of the township to them. They represented " That they, the petitioners, were largely interested in the said Tract of Land known by the name of Springfield, by virtue of sundry conveyances. That the persons to whom the said Tract of Land was so ordered to be granted as aforesaid, resided out of the said Province of New York, and that it would be attended with great trouble to procure them to take the necessary steps therein," etc., etc. Richard Morris was a man of great prominence and chief justice of the Province, and Col. John Barrett was also a noted and influential man, and the result was that they and their associates received the confirmation charter from the Province of New York instead of the first-mentioned petitioners. This charter was granted June 1, 1772.
In anticipation of a confirmation charter from the governor of New York, the proprietors again commenced their proceedings in the summer of 1771, and a meeting was held at the Blockhouse in Springfield, Aug. 27, 1771, as before stated. Following is the record of the meeting at the Blockhouse : -
11
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
" At a legal meeting of The Proprietors or Grantees of the Township of Springfield in the Province of New York held at the Blockhouse in said Spring- field on the Twenty seventh Day of Augt. 1.71.
"Voted Simon Stevens Esqr. Moderator.
" Voted John Barrett Clark.
"Voted to lay out the Undivided Land in said Township in two Divisions, one to be in hundred acre Lots, the other as it turns out, be it more or Less.
" Voted that Simon Stevens Esqr. Abner Bisbee and John Barrett be a Committee to Lay out the said Divisions.
" Voted that Mr. Elijah Lyman of Northampton have the Privilege of Laying a hundred-acre Lot on the East Line of Mr. John Kilburn's hundred acre Lot in Lue of a hundred acre in the other Division.
" Voted that this meeting be adjourned to the 10th Day of Sept. next at two o'clock in the afternoon.
"JOHN BARRETT Clark."
It will be seen by the above record that some of the actual settlers were at this time associated with the proprietors, and it is evident that these men, viz., Simon Stevens, Abner Bisbee, John Barrett, and other settlers, together with Richard Morris of New York, had come into possession, by purchase, of a large number of shares of the township, and owned a controlling interest in the same. It will also be noticed that, whereas the records of all the meetings of the proprietors held previous to this date, at North- ampton, recognized the township as belonging to the jurisdiction of the Province of New Hampshire, the record of this meeting at the Blockhouse, and the first held in Springfield, and all subse- quent ones, declares the township to be in the Province of New York, in anticipation, seemingly, of a charter from the latter Province, which was received a few months later. In the appor- tionment, however, of the remaining undivided lands, the names of the original grantees were used in casting lots for the several shares.
Adjourned meeting, Sept. 17, 1771 : -
" At a Legal Meeting of the Proprietors of the Township of Springfield in the Province of New York begun and holden at the Blockhouse in said Spring- field, upon the twenty seventh Day of Augt. 1771 and continued by ad- journment to the 10th of Sept. and then continued to the seventeenth at the Dwelling House of Simon Stevens Esqr. in said Springfield, Simon Stevens, Moderator.
" Voted to draw the fourth Division as Lotted in said Township.
"Voted that Mr. George Hall be appointed to Draw the Ballots for said Fourth Division and the Moderator to Declare the Numbers.
12
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
" A List for casting Lots upon the fourth Division in the Township of Springfield ; to which the Numbers are annexed as drawn."
No
Grantees' Names.
No. drawn in Fourth Division.
Grantees' Names.
No. drawn in Fourth Division.
1
Gideon Lyman Esqr.
Block- house farm RANGE.
35 John Wentworth Esqr.
20 in 5th
2
Theodore Atkinson Esqr. 12 in 7th
36 Ephraim Wright.
3 in 5th
3
Simeon Parsons.
5 " 3d
37 Oliver Thomas.
11 " 6th
4
Gideon Lyman junr.
6." 7th
38 Naomi Lyman.
G " 2nd
5 Simeon Parsons.
3 " 2nd
39 Joseph Newmarch Esq.
8 " 4th
6 John Phelps Chaplain.
3 " 3d
40 Samuel Bancroft.
5 " 7th
8
Elias Lyman junr.
6 " 3d
42
Joseph Little.
8 " 2nd
10
Phineas Lyman Esqr.
6 " 5th
43 Hunking Wentworth.
4 " 7th
11
Phineas Lyman.
10 " 7th
44
Samuel Marshal.
1 " 1st
12 Oliver Lyman.
9 " 6th
45 Nathaniel Fellows.
1 . 3d
13
Aaron Wright.
2 " 5th
46 First Settled Minister.
11 " 7th
14
Medad Alvord.
6 " 1st
47 John Nelson.
7 " 7th
15
Richard Cutts Esqr.
3 " 1st
48 Capt. John Lyman.
8 " 1st
16
Gideon Lyman Esqr.
3 " 4th
49 Caleb Lyman.
1 " 2nd
17 Selah Wright.
12 " 6th
50 Elijah Lyman.
15 " 7th
18 John Gonld junr.
3 " 7th
51 Gad Lyman.
2 " 3d
19 Benning Wentworth.
1 " 7th
52 Nathaniel Phelps.
7 " 3d
20
Samuel WentworthEsqr.
5 " 1st
4 " 1st
21 Capt. James Lyman.
4 " 4th
54 Reuben Coats.
5 " 6th
22
Glebe Church
55 Gideon Lyman Esqr.
7 " 1st
23
Incorporated Society.
1 " 5th
57 Ebenezer Sheldon.
5 " 4th
24
Col. Seth Pomeroy.
3 " 6th
58 Jonathan Strong.
2 " 7th
26 Samuel Parsons.
4 " 6th
60 James Apthorp.
4 " 2nd
27
Henry Hilson.
7 " 5th
61 Brigadier Timothy Rug- gles.
16 " 6th
29
Nathaniel Day.
62
Seth Clark.
8 " 6th
30
Eleazer Roote.
4 " 5th
63
Elijah Lyman.
5 " 2nd
31
Daniel Graves.
6 " 4th
64 Josiah Pierce.
1 " 4th
32 Selah Wright.
10 " 6th
65 Israel Lyman.
2 " 1st
34
Thomas Quiner.
7 " 6th
66 Stephen Root.
2 " 2nd
A List of the Breadth of the Meadow Lots.
No.
Rods.
Feet.
No.
Rods.
Feet.
No.
Rods.
Feet.
No.
Rous.
Feet.
1
41
9
10
17
9
25
9
4
2
18
10
9
8
18
9
26
10
3
14
11
9
8
19
9
27
10
6
4
12
12
9
20
9
28
11
5
11
4
13
9
21
9
29
12
6
11
14
9
22
9
30
12
8
7
10
5
15
9
23
9
31
13
10
5
16
9
21
9
4
32
14
9
Benefit of the School.
7 " 2nd
Elias Lyman.
2 " 6th
Doct. Samuel Walker.
9 " 7th
41
33 William Kennedy.
5 " 5th
56 Stephen Pomeroy.
2 " 4th
25| John Burt jnnr.
7 " 4th
59 Benjamin Parsons.
4 " 3d
28
John Lyman junr.
6 " 6th
1 " 6th
53 Elijah Lyman.
England.
8 " 7th
& 3d
RANGE.
Bounded East
un Coats Lot.
13
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
No.
Rods.
Feet.
No.
Rode.
Feet.
No.
Rods.
Feet.
No.
Rods.
Feet.
33
14
42
34
51
8.
8
60
10
4
34
16
43
30
52
8
8
61
10
4
35
16
44
12
53
23
S
62
11
36
16
45
12
54
63
11
37
18
16
11
55
25
64
12
8
38
20
47
10
56
15
65
12
8
39
48
S
8
57
13
66
13
40
26
49
S
8
58
12
41
30
50
8
59
11
-
Meeting of the proprietors, Feb. 7, 1788 : -
" Voted 1st to Raise a Sum of Money Sufficient to Pay the Patent fees under New York and the Lotting out the fourth aud fifth Divisions, with other Inci- dental Charges.
" Voted 2ud that there be a Comtee to adjust the accounts and Report to this meeting, the Comtee to cousist of three.
" Voted 3rd that Simou Stevens Esqr. Capt. Abner Bisbee and the Hon! Richard Morris Esqr. be the Committee.
" Voted 4th that John Barrett be added to said Comtee."
Meeting of Feb. 8, 1788. Report of committee : -
" Your Comtee Report to Raise the Sum of twelve hundred and twenty eight Pounds one Shilling and two Peuce Lawful Money - which is Nineteeu Pounds Sixteeu Shillings and 1} Pence to each Right that have not paid.
" Voted, To accept the Report of the Comtee.
"Voted, To Lay a Tax of Nineteeu Pounds Sixteen Shillings 12 Pence on Each Proprietor's Right to defray the abovesaid Expenses.
"Voted, that the Land in the fifth Division Lying East of the Public Lots and West of a line to be run from the South west corner of Timber Lot No. 60 to the Rockingham Line Parallel to the Western Boundary of the Town, be Divided into fifty Equal Parts at the Expense of the owners of the Respec- tive Lots."
Meeting of Nov. 24, 1778 : -
" Voted, To accept the Report of the committee appointed to Lot the fifth Division and to lay out all the undivided Land in the Town.
" Viz: Your Committee appointed to lay out the fifth Division and the un- divided Land in the Township - Report that they Run a line from the Seventh Range third Division so as to touch the South west corner of Timber Lot No. 60, to Rockingham Line parallel to the Western Line or Bouudary of the Town- ship -theuce on said Line at the Easterly End of the third Rauge in said fifth Division Run to the Public Land, and by computation found land sufficient for fifty lots to contain one hundred and eighty-three acres a Lot, thence came back on said third Range and cornered ten Lots at a hundred and thirty nine Rods to each Lot, which corner is to govern the Lots in the other Ranges iu
14
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
said Division of said fifty Lots - the six other Lots of the fifth Division your Committee laid three of the line above as per the Plan No. 2 annexed, the other other three laid on Skitchewaag Mountain as per the annexed Plan No. 1,-and the undivided Land as per Plans No. 3, 4, etc.
" SIMON STEVENS JOHN BARRETT ABNER BISBEE
Committee.
" Voted that three Quarters of an acre'of Land on each side the Mill Brook so called, including the Brook, as marked in the Plan No. 3 from the Seventh Range down the Brook, the old Saw mill Privilege, be allowed to Col. John Barrett.
" Voted, to Lay a Tax of Eleven Pence on Each. props Right for Laying out all the undivided Land in the Town which turns out four acres three Rods and a half to Each Proprietor.
" Voted, for Lotting out the fifty Lots in the fifth Division with
the Proportion of other charges . £5-5-0
which Divided into fifty parts is 2s. 114d. to a Lot.
" Voted, for Lotting out the Six Lots East of the Line as per Plan No. 2 " Voted, for Lotting out the undivided Land
2-6-6
2-15-4 which is Eleven Pence to a Right.
£10-6-10
" Voted, that the side Lines in the third Division run from corner to corner.
" A List for Casting Lots upon all the undivided Land in the Township of Springfield, to which the Numbers are annexed to the Proprietors Names as Drawn, & in Two Divisions, viz : one on the mountain as per Plans and the other as per Plans Recorded."
No.
Grantees' Names.
No.
No.
Grantees' Names.
No.
1
Gideon Lyman.
56
21
Thomas Quiner.
64
2
Simeon Parsons. Sts.
60
22
Col. Seth Pomeroy.
45
3
Phineas Lyman.
9
23
Samuel Bancroft.
32
4
Gideon Lyman junr.
30
24
Jolin Burt junr.
24
5
John Phelps, Chaplain.
57
25
Selah Wright.
46
6
Phineas Lyman Esqr.
22
26
Jonathan Strong.
16
7
Caleb Lyman.
7
27
Selah Wright.
38
8
Aaron Wright.
49
28
Elijah Lyman.
28
9
Simeon Parsons.
20
29
William Kennedy.
12
10
Ebenezer Sheldon.
1
30
Israel Lyman.
17
11
Oliver Lyman.
62
31
David Graves.
25
12
Nathaniel Fellows.
4
32
Gideon Lyman Esqr.
18
13
Samuel Parsons.
39
33
Elijah Lyman.
52
14
Naomi Lyman.
63
34
Josiah Pierce.
3
15
Medad Alvard.
36
35
Ephraim Wright.
53
16
Reuben Coats.
11
36
Benjamin Parsons.
43
17
Seth Clark.
61
37
Elias Lyman.
44
18
Oliver Thomas.
55
38
Elias Lyman junr.
23
19
Stephen Pomeroy.
41
39
Gad Lyman.
37
20
Eleazer Root.
33
40
John Lyman junr.
40
15
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
No.
Grantees' Names.
No.
No.
Grantees' Names.
No.
41
Brigadier Timothy Ruggles.
51
54
Theodore Atkinson Esq.
58
42
Joseph Little.
13
55
Joseph Newmarch.
26
43
James Lyman.
50
56
Benning Wentworth.
6
44
Stephen Root.
31
57
John Wentworth.
66
45
Nathaniel Day.
8
58
Hunking Weutworth.
42
46
Gideon Lyman Esqr.
34
59
James Apthorp.
56
47
Richard Cutts Esyr.
10
60
John Gould junr.
35
48
John Lyman.
19
61
Henry Hilton.
27
49
Nathaniel Phelps.
59
62
Samuel Wentworth.
29
50
Samuel Marshal.
63
Incorporated Society.
5
51
Elijah Lyman.
14
64
Glebc.
54
52
Samuel Mather.
2
65
Minister.
21
53
John Nelson.
48
66-
School.
57
The date of the last meeting at which any business was trans- acted was May 13, 1791, when a committee was appointed to adjust the proprietors' accounts. The report of this committee was accepted, and the meeting was adjourned to June 7, 1791, when it was again adjourned to the thirtieth day of June, 1791, and there is no further record of proprietors' meetings.
The following advertisement and sale is recorded: -
" The Proprietors of Springfield in the County of Windsor and State of Ver- mont who are Delinquent in the Payment of the Tax of Nineteen Pounds Sixteen Shillings and one Penny half Penny voted by the Proprietors of said Springfield on Each Right at their adjourned meeting holden in Spring- field aforesaid on the Eighth Day of February 1788, to Pay up the arrearages of Lotting out said Town and other Incidental Charges, are informed that so much of their Respective Rights as will Pay said Tax with Cost, will be sold at Publick Vendue at my Dwelling House in Springfield aforesaid on Tuesday the Eighth Day of September at Nine o'clock in the forenoon, unless Payment shall be Previously made.
" The Names of the Delinquent Proprietors are as follows with the full sum of the said Tax Due, viz : -
" Elijah Lyman, Samuel Wentworth, John Wentworth, Joseph Newmarch, James Apthorp, John Gould junr., the Heirs of his Excellency Benning Wentworth, Reuben Cutt.
"LEWIS R. MORRIS, Collector.
" SPRINGFIELD, July 4, 1789."
" VERMONT, SPRINGFIELD, Sth September 1789.
" Opened the Vendue agreeable to the advertisement in the Public News Papers of this State and no Persous appearing to bid at the Vendue I adjourned to Monday the twenty first Instant at Nine o'clock in the forenoon then to be held at my house in Springfield aforesaid.
16
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
"Monday, 21st September, 1789,
9 o'clock A. M.
"Opened the Vendue agreable to adjournment and ) set up the Right of Elijah Lyman, which was struck off to Simon Stevens Esqr. for the Taxes Redeemed. &c. Due thereon.
"Samuel Wentworth's Right, one half struck off to John Barrett Esqr. for the Taxes &c.
" Benning Wentworth's Right struck off' to 'Thomas Collins Drew for the 'Taxes &c.
"John Wentworth's Right struck off to John Barrett Esqr. for the Taxes &c.
Redeemed in Part. Redeemed in Part.
"James Apthorp's Right struck off to Thomas Collins ) Drew for the Taxes &c.
" John Gould junr.'s. Right struck off to John Barrett Esqr. for the Taxes &c.
Redeemed in Part.
" The Heirs of his Excellency Benning Wentworth two Rights, one Right struck off to John Barrett Esqr. for the Taxes on both.
"' Richard Cutts' half Right struck off to John Barrett \ Esqr. for the Taxes.
" A True Copy Compared.
" Attest :
"J. BARRETT, Propa Clerk."
17
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN.
EACH of the towns in the New Hampshire grants had, under its charter, the right of self-government in town meeting, by the election of town officers and the management of town affairs. This right was vested in the "inhabitants," and was exercised from the first.
Among the papers of Simon Stevens, which were in possession of the late Hon. Wm. M. Pingry at the time of his death, is a warrant to the said Simon Stevens, constable, of which the follow- ing is an exact copy :-
" Province of To Simon Stevens constable of Springfield, and province New Hampshire. J aforesd , Greeting -
" In his Majesties Name you are hereby Required forthwith to Notifie & warn ye Freeholders & Other Inhabitants of sd Town that are Duely qualified by Law to Vote in Town Meetings that they assemble & meet at ye House of Joseph Littles in Springfield aforesd, on Tuesday ye 13th of this Instant at 10 of ye Clock in ye forenoon, then and there, when met, to Vote and act on ye following articles, viz. -
" First to Choose a Moderator to Govern sd Meeting.
" 2dly To Choose Town Officers Agreable to Charter.
" Hereof Fail not & make Due Return of this warrant and your Doings therein to some one of us ye subscribers at or before ye Time of s" Meeting.
" Given under our Hands and seal this first Day of March and in ye fourth year of His Majesties Reign 1764.
"ROBERT PARKER SAMUEL SCOTT SIMON STEVENS GEORGE HALL TIMOTHY SPENCER TAYLOR SPENCER ABNER BISBEE
" March ye 13 I having Read the warrant in said meeting, and hereby make a Return as the Law Requires.
"by SIMON STEVENS Constable."
18
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
On the back of this warrant is the following record :-
" March ye 13th 1764.
" A town meeting held in Springfield on order to choose town officers.
" Firstly, voted and Chose George Hall moderator.
"Secondly, voted and adjourned this meeting til the 26 of this instant."
No record can be found of this adjourned meeting on the 26th of March, nor of any other town meeting until that of April 4, 1769, but it is probable that the town was organized at the meet- ing on March 26, 1764, as above, and that Simon Stevens and Abner Bisbee were then chosen selectmen of the town. This seems evident from another warrant among the Stevens papers, which is signed by Abner Bisbee and Simon Stevens, as select- men, issued July 13, 1764.
The following is a copy : -
" Province of \ To Jehaial Simmons Constable of the Town of Spring- New Hamps. field in said province, Greeting.
" In his Majesties name you are Required to Notify and warn, all the Free- holders and Other Inhabitants of the Town of Springfield in said province to assemble and meet at the Dwelling House of Joseph Littles in said Town on Monday ye 22ª Day of July at one of the Clock in the afternoon then and there when met to act on the Following articles, Viz.
" 1st to Chose a Moderator to Govern said meeting.
" 2ndly to see whether the Town will accept of the Road known by ye name of Crownpoint Roade which leads through said Town.
" 3dly to see whether the Town will Repair said Roade.
" Hereof Fail not and make Due return of this Warrant to some one of us, the selectmen of Springfield, at or before the time of said meeting.
"Given under our hands & seals this 13 Day of July Ano Dom 1764.
" SIMON STEVENS. ABNER BISBEE."
19
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
CROWN POINT ROAD.
THE Old Crown Point Road was one of the historic highways of the colonial and Revolutionary period, and for many years thereafter.
One of the Indian trails between Connecticut River and Lake Champlain was up the valley of Black River, and across the moun- tains to Otter Creek. The diary of one Coss or Cross, who is said to have passed over this route in 1730, has already been mentioned.
There is a tradition, if not a record, that Major John Hawks was the leader of a party along this trail through the forest from Deerfield, Mass., to Lake Champlain, and thence to Quebec as early as 1747, for the purpose of an exchange of prisoners, and that " Hawks Mountain," in Weathersfield, where he is said to have camped, took its name from him.
In Hall's "History of Eastern Vermont" is an account of a scouting party of nineteen men under Capt. Eleazer Melvin, who marched from Fort Dummer on the 13th of May, 1748. They went up Connecticut River to Number Four, and were there joined by sixty men under Capt. Stevens (probably Phineas) and Capt. Hobbs. On the 15th, at sunset, the whole party set out from Charlestown to Crown Point. They followed the " Indian road " along the banks of Black River, but sometimes would lose it in fording streams and in the forest where the underbrush was thick. When they reached the main branch of Otter Creek, Capt. Stevens and his men, according to previous agreement, left the party and passed down the east side of Otter Creek, a short distance, then struck eastward down the Ottaquechee to the Connecticut, and then back to Number Four, after an absence of two weeks.
20
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
During the summer of 1756 a plan was projected for building a strong fort on the Highlands between the sources of Black River and Otter Creek by Lord Loudon, the commander-in-chief of the British forces. Col. Israel Williams was applied to for informa- tion as to the practicability of a road from the Connecticut River across the mountains, and he communicated to Lord Loudon a topographical sketch and description of the country compiled from materials obtained from various reports of officers, who had trav- ersed the country with scouting parties.
The government of Massachusetts, with a similar object in view, had previously taken measures for examining the same route. In the House of Representatives the following vote was passed March 10, 1756, and approved by the governor and council : " Whereas it is of great importance that a thorough knowledge be had of the distance and practicability of a communication between Number Four on the Connecticut River and Crown Point, and that the course down Otter Creek to the lake should be known ; therefore, voted, that his Excellency the governor be, and here- by is, desired, as soon as may be, to appoint fourteen men upon this service ; seven of them to go from said Number Four the most direct course to Crown Point, to measure the distance and gain what knowledge they can of the country; and the other seven to go from said Number Four to Otter Creek aforesaid, and down said creek to Lake Champlain, observing the course of said creek, its depth of water, what falls there are in it; also the nature of the soil on each side thereof, and what growth of woods are near it. Each party of said men to keep a journal of their proceedings and observations, and lay the same on their return before this Court. One man in each party to be a skilful sur- veyor ; and the persons employed shall have a reasonable allow- ance made them by the Court for their services." In order to carry out the provisions of the General Court of Massachusetts, Col. Williams was further directed to make a more accurate examina- tion of the country with the assistance previously voted; but owing to the number and hostility of the Indians in that region, the attempt proved two hazardous for accomplishment.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.