USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Bennington > Memorials of a century. Embracing a record of individuals and events, chiefly in the early history of Bennington, Vt., and its First church > Part 23
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X. DR. HEMAN SWIFT was born in Bennington, Septem- ber 30, 1791. He was the sixth son and twelfth child of Rev. Job Swift, D.D., and Mary Ann Sedgwick. He was hopefully converted while a student at Middlebury College, which he entered at fourteen years of age, and united with the church there, graduating in 1811. He commenced the study of theology in the Theological Seminary at Andover ; but his health failing, he was obliged to relinquish his pur- pose, and then chose the profession of medicine. He set- tled as a physician in this town in 1821, and connected himself with this church November 5, 1820. He deceased
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DR. HEMAN SWIFT.
January 30, 1856, in the fifty-sixth year of his age. He was a member of the Vermont Senate in 1837. His mind was cultured by education, and stored with theological and Christian truth, and with general scientific information. He was especially accurate and well versed in history, and he had extensive acquaintance with public men. He was a warm and valued friend of ministers, and for years con- ducted a large Bible-class with great interest and success. His forgetfulness of himself in his desire to promote the hap- piness of others, and his extended and varied information, made him ever an agreeable and instructive companion. He sustained his high professional reputation and was in active practice until his death. Acute sensibility and tender sym- pathy with the sick and suffering were remarkable traits in his character, and, in connection with his medical intelli- gence and untiring professional exertions, served much to establish that ardent attachment which existed between himself and those who employed him as a physician.
His decease was most sudden. He had just left the family and passed into another room, with the view of going out again to meet professional engagements. Some member of the family, having occasion to go through the same room a few minutes subsequently, found him sitting back in a chair dead. His prayer that morning, at family worship, had been particularly noticed for an unusual ten- derness and fervency of his looking to Christ, supplicat- ing for grace to cling to the Saviour as his only hope. He married Ruth Robinson, grand-daughter, on her father's side, of Governor Moses Robinson, and, on the side of her mother, of Rev. Jedidiah Dewey. The last few years of his life were attended by a heavy affliction in the decease of a daughter, the light and the joy of his house, -Jen- nett, wife of Hon. A. B. Gardner ; and of a son, Dr. Heman Sedgewick Swift, of whom the following biograpical sketch
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is contained in the "Vermont Historical Magazine" : "Dr. H. Sedgewick Swift was born June 16, 1827. He was grad- uated at Williams College, and, after receiving a thorough education as a physician and surgeon, acquired great prac- tical knowledge and skill in the hospitals of New York and other cities. He was author of several treatises, which were published in the medical journals, some of which were translated into German and French, and by which he acquired much credit and distinction. He was a young man of great moral worth as well as of extraordinary pro- fessional promise ; but died of a disease of the lungs, Sep- tember 23, 1857, at the early age of thirty years." Re- served and self-distrustful with regard to religious hopes, he left in a private journal evidence that, in view of the approach of death, his trust for salvation was alone in Christ.
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Henry Martyn, a son of Dr. and Mrs. Swift, is a min- ister of the gospel.
XI. SAMUEL BROWN came here to reside about the year 1794, with his wife and family, and the parents of his wife. She was Betsey, only child of Capt. Daniel and Annis Hin- man. They came here from Charlotte, in this State, whither they had removed from South Britain, Conn. They pur- chased and resided on the farm now the residence of Mr. Paige, in the south part of the town. Capt. Daniel Hin- man was a relative of Col. John Hinman, of Utica, Hon. R. R. Hinman, for several years Secretary of State in Conn., and of Gen. Hinman, Roxbury, Conn. He died here Dec. 8, 1807, aged fifty-five. Mrs. Hinman died Nov. 24, 1815, aged sixty-three. Samuel Brown died April 21, 1819, aged fifty-four. Mrs. Brown died May 8, 1811, aged thirty-six. They had two daughters who deceased in early life. Hon. S. H. Brown is the only surviving child.
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JONATHAN HUNT.
XII. ROGER BOOTH came in 1795 from Lanesboro', Mass. He married a daughter of Capt. Ebenezer Chace, mentioned above, and resided on the place where is the present resi- dence of Edward S. Pratt. He deceased Aug. 2, 1849, aged seventy-six. He was the father of Asahel Booth.
XIII. JESSE LOOMIS settled upon a farm in Bennington some time previously to 1795. His name is upon the town records as surveyor of highways in that year. He died Sept. 13, 1839, aged eighty-five years and ten months. His chil- dren were Samuel, Ira, Lydia, Betsey, Clarissa, Jesse, Sally, and Emma. One of the above-named daughters married Hon. Luman Norton ; another married Mr. H. E. Dewey. Samuel was the father of Mrs. J. F. Robinson and Mrs. Caldwell, deceased.
XIV. CAPT. JOHN NORTON came from Sharon, Conn., and settled in Bennington about the same time with Mr. Loomis. He established himself here in the manufacturing of pottery ware. He died Aug. 22, 1828, in the seventieth year of his age. He was the father of Hon. Luman Norton, and grand- father of Mr. Julius Norton.
XV. JONATHAN HUNT came to Bennington about the year 1795. He was connected with a furnace a part of the time, and more permanently in business as a jeweller. For the latter years of his life he resided where is now the country residence and grounds of his son, Seth B. Hunt.
He sang in the choir for forty years, commencing at eight years old. For many years he was leader of the bass in the Bennington church choir. He used to say, " When any per- sons expect to get better tunes than 'Old Hundredth,' or better hymns than those of Dr. Watts, they must go further than any whom I know of have gone yet." Isaac T. Rob-
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inson, a leading singer in the choir who stood near him, related the following reminiscence to the writer : "We sometimes discussed the comparative merits of old and new church tunes. Mr. Hunt strenuously advocated the old, I the new ; but I now think he was right."
He married Miss Naomi Bliss, of Springfield, Mass. She deceased July 24, 1837. She was a faithful Christian. The Rev. Dr. Peters relates that, when pastor here, he always believed that his preaching benefited Mrs. Hunt and was appreciated by her, and he felt supported by her interest in his ministry, and her prayers. She used to say, "It is as much a duty to be cheerful as to go to meeting. She ab- horred selfishness, and assiduously trained her children to habits of benevolence. She was accustomed to quote a remark of Mr. Haines, the colored preacher : "Selfishness spoils all that we do." Their children who grew up to adult years have become members of some Christian church.
Ruth Hunt, their daughter, united with this church March 4, 1827, deceased Sept. 29, 1867, aged sixty-one. In her last years, afflicted with difficulty of seeing, and at length, owing to paralysis, with almost total deafness, and help- lessness otherwise, but tenderly cared for by a brother's and a sister's affection, she ever expressed to the writer of this notice much gratitude toward them and to her heavenly Father.
Mr. Hunt was one of six of the same Christian name in direct succession, being himself the fifth. The first Jona- than was born in Salem, Mass., in 1637, married in Hart- ford, Conn., Sept. 3, 1662, and died in Northampton, Mass., 1691 ; the second in the direct succession, Lieut. Jonathan, was born in Northampton June 20, 1665, and died there July 1, 1738 ; the third Jonathan was born April 24, 1697, married Thankful Strong, and died in Northampton April 22, 1768 ; the fourth married Sarah Parsons, and died in
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ANDREW SELDEN, ESQ.
Northampton in 1791 ; the fifth, our Mr. Hunt, died in Ben- nington in 1843 ; the sixth Jonathan Hunt, of San Fran- cisco, is still living. A Jonathan Hunt, descended from the first Northampton ancestor, cleared land in Guilford, Vt., in 1758, was much in public life, and in 1794 and 1795 was elected lieutenant-governor of this State. His son, Hon. Jonathan Hunt, of Brattleborough, was member of Con- gress, 1827-32. A brother of Lieut .- Gov. Hunt, Gen. Arad Hunt, gave five thousand acres of land to Middlebury Col- lege.1
Mrs. or Miss Thankful Hunt was in Bennington in the days of the first meeting-house, and taught school in the second story of the porch. She was from Northampton, and afterward became the second wife of Elisha Lyman, of Montreal.
XVI. ANDREW SELDEN, Esq., " was born at Hadley, Mass. When young he removed, with his father, to Stam- ford ; represented that town in the General Assembly for six successive years from 1790 ; came to Bennington about 1797; studied law with Hon. Jonathan Robinson ; was admitted to the bar in December, 1809; was register of probate several years, and died September, 1828, aged sixty- three." 2 He wrote verses. An ode is in print in connec- tion with an oration of Hon. O. C. Merrill, delivered here on a celebration of the 16th August. It is said he com- posed one of the odes sung at the dedication of the present meeting-house, and printed with the discourse. Alonzo Selden, of Whitehall, and Mrs. Angeline Selden are chil- dren of his, and Marcius G. Selden, a member of the Meth- odist Church in Bennington village, is a grandson.
1 See Genealogy of the Name and Family of Hunt, pp. 180, 182, 183, 189. This genealogical record exhibits pedigrees of individuals of this name in America to the number of ten thousand.
2 Vermont Hist. Mag.
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MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
Clarissa Griswold, who united with this church May, 1803, was the first wife of Marcius L. Selden, and mother of Marcius G. Selden. Minerva Griswold, who united with this church November 5, 1820, was the second wife of Mar- cius L. Selden, and mother of Capt. Henry and Lieut. Ed- ward A. Selden. Mrs. Alice Griswold, who united with this church September, 1784, was the mother of the first and second Mrs. Marcius L. Selden.
Betsey L., first wife of Alonzo Selden, in Whitehall, united with the church November 5, 1820. Charity Selden, wife of Andrew Selden, Esq., united with the church Sep- tember 4, 1825. Lieut. Edward A. Selden united with the church July 4, 1858, was in Company A, fourth Vermont, in the Army of the Potomac, in its seven days' retreat be- fore Richmond, and died soon after, and was buried in the church-yard of Westover church, near Harrison's Landing, Va., warmly cherished in the memory of his relatives and friends. Capt. Henry Selden, deceased, married Miss Manning, grand-daughter of Jonathan E. Robinson, Esq.
ALMIRA SELDEN was a native of Bennington. She united with this church November 5, 1820; was married to Mr. Edgerton, and died in Buffalo, N. Y. She published, in 1820, a 16mo volume of 152 pages, entitled " Effusions of the Heart, contained in a Number of Original Poetical Pieces on Various Subjects." She penned the following stanzas on the Bennington battle : 1 _
"No Lethean draught can ever drown The memory of that day of fear, When the wild echo of farewell From parent, husband, child, and wife, Seemed sadder than the funeral knell That tells the certain flight of life ;
Yet Freedom spake, Faith raised her rampart pure, And holy confidence gave victory sure.
1 Vermont Hist. Mag.
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AN ODE.
" Then firmer than the native pine That tops thy mountains ever green, Led by Almighty smiles divine, Facing their foes thy sons were seen, - As when the livid lightning keen Tears from the pine some stem away, Yet still unmoved the trunk is seen : Thus Stark stood victor of the day, And while the voice of triumph met his ear, He for the dying foe shed pity's tear."
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CHAPTER XXIII.
PERSONAL NOTICES.
1803 AND AFTERWARD.
EACON JOTHAM FRENCH came from the vicinity of Boston. He was a shoemaker. Before his conver- sion he was a deist. He was hopefully converted, and united with this church July 1, 1811, under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Marsh. In subsequent years, being inquired of by Mr. Peters (Mr. Marsh's successor in the ministry here) about the cause of his con- version, he replied, "The goodness of God leadeth to repentance." His wife had been dangerously ill and recov- ered. He afterward learned that Deacon Bingham, who lived not far from him, had made her recovery a subject of special prayer. He was elected deacon April 12, 1816, and continued in the office until his death, April 30, 1825. He resided in the house on the road to Esquire Edgerton's, and about half a mile this side ; Deacon Bingham, about the same distance beyond Esquire Edgerton's, on the same road. He was familiar with the Scriptures. He had an excellent memory, and stored his mind with passages of Scripture to support his deistical principles in argument, of which he was fond. When converted, his knowledge of the Scriptures was employed in defence of the faith he had before sought to destroy. He died a happy death. Mr. Peters, his pastor, went to see him, and, when returning,
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WILLIAM PARK.
some one asked him, "How is Deacon French ?" The reply was, " On the borders of a better world."
II. MR. HARVEY united with this church in the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Marsh, 1811. There are three other indi- viduals of the name on the roll of the church ; among these
REV. WILLIAM HARVEY united with this church in the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Peters, and became a minister of the gospel and missionary in India, where he fell a victim to the Asiatic cholera a few years afterward.
III. DANIEL NICHOLS united with the church in 1803. There are twelve individuals of this name on the church- roll, six of whom united with the church the same year, 1811, ministry of Mr. Marsh ; James, James B., Electa, Sophia, died May, 1824 (wife of S. Hathaway, Jr.), Rachel, Fanny, died Dec. 23, 1862, a warm-hearted Christian, and faithfully attached to the old church.
IV. PARK. - Betsey Park, Mrs. Wilson, sister of Wil- liam Park, united with the church in 1803. Sophia, another sister, M. s. Capt. David Lyman, an earnest and exemplary Christian lady, mother of A. P. Lyman, Esq., and Mrs. Col. White, united with the church in 1817.
WILLIAM PARK united with this church Nov. 3, 1833, born Jan. 15, 1782, deceased April 18, 1867, in the eighty-sixth year of her age. He was a remarkable man. He possessed much intelligence, was thoroughly hospitable, and of sin- gular honesty, sincerity, and firmness of principle ; he was an early and life-long friend of the temperance and anti- slavery reformations, and a humble and devout Christian. The community in which he lived on Woodford hill felt in his influence the power of a daily life of godliness.
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MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
Several suggestive and valuable reminiscences of the early history of this town and church were received from him by the writer of these pages. He was a warm personal friend and great admirer of the Rev. Daniel A. Clark. His wife, Sarah, united with this church Sept. 2, 1827, and deceased July, 1854 ; esteemed and beloved by all.
Cynthia, Mrs. Luther Park, united with this church Jan. 6, 1833,- early in the ministry of Rev. Dr. Hooker, and their children were baptized by him. A son, Austin Park, is a minister of the gospel. (She removed her connec- tion to the Second Congregational Church.) The Hon. T. W. Park is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Luther Park.
V. THAYER. - Betsey and Nancy Thayer united with the church in March, 1803; and Clarissa in July of the same year ; Ruby Thayer, Mrs. Lawrence, in 1812; died Oct. 10, 1836. There are seven individuals of this name on the roll of the church. The Rev. Nelson Davis, of Lisbon, Conn., who preached here with others temporarily in the revival in 1803, was a relative of the Thayer family, and our townsman, Mr. Nelson Thayer, was named for him.
VI. JACOB POOL and his wife, Zeruah, united with this church March 4, 1821. He was born in Abington Feb. 2, 1767 ; he removed to this town Dec., 1805, and deceased April 1, 1864, at nearly ninety-seven years of age. The average age of his father and two brothers, at their deaths, was ninety-five. He was superintendent of the Sabbath school for a time during the ministry of Mr. Peters, and also that of Mr. Clark. He was possessed of a sound and clear intellect, and deeply attached to the Hopkinsian scheme of divinity. He had great muscular strength and agility, and in wrestling was a match for all competitors. He conducted family worship until a year and a half before his decease.
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LYMAN PATCHIN.
VII. CHARLES WRIGHT, Esq., son of Solomon Wright, of Pownal, was born in 1786, graduated at Williams College, studied law with Chancey Langdon, of Castleton, and was admitted to the bar of Rutland County in 1807. He soon after commenced the business of his profession in Benning- ton, in which he continued until his decease, Feb. 15, 1819. At the time of his death he had the largest and most lucra- tive practice of any lawyer in the county, and sustained a high reputation for professional talent and integrity.1 He married Eunice Robinson, daughter of Col. Moses, and grand-daughter of Gov. Moses Robinson, and daughter of Ruth, and grand-daughter of Capt. Elijah Dewey.
VIII. LYMAN PATCHIN was born in the town of Half- Moon, Saratoga Co., N. Y. He came to Bennington in March, 1809, and entered into partnership with Mr. Vibard, under the firm name of Otis Vibard & Co. In the spring of 1812 he purchased the house and store belonging to the estate of Charles Nairne in Bennington Centre, one door south of the old court-house. He was a merchant in the same place forty years, and accumulated in his business for the times a large property. He possessed a remarkably firm will, and was very energetic, exact, and thorough in all business matters. He came into the town with an empty purse, and made his own way to fortune. He was married July 22, 1810, to Fanny, daughter of Capt. Saxton Squire. Lyman and Henry Patchin, and Mrs. Samuel S. Scott, deceased, are their children. Mr. Patchin was afterward married to Mrs. Sarah Maria Wells, his second wife. He deceased Aug. 16, 1857, in the seventy-second year of his age. He was regularly in his place in the sanctuary on the forenoon of the Sabbath, and an attentive listener.
1 Vermont Hist. Mag.
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MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
IX. JOHN VANDERSPIEGEL was born in New York city Sept. 30, 1773. He came here from Lansingburgh in 1810. He was married to Laura, daughter of Deacon Aaron Hub- bell, Aug. 6, 1815. He deceased Nov. 24, 1848, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. The following is an extract from an obituary of him, published in the paper at the time : " Mr. Vanderspiegel was a worthy citizen ; respectable as a magistrate, and gentlemanly in his deportment, generous and liberal in his intercourse with his neighbors, and kind and affectionate in all his domestic relations."
X. " HON. TRUEMAN SQUIRE came to Bennington to reside in 1810. He was born at Woodbury, Conn., in Jan., 1764 ; was in the practice of law at Manchester for several years prior to and after the year 1800, where he held the office of State's attorney two years, judge of probate three years, from 1793, and was also secretary to the governor and council for several years. He was a good lawyer and an upright man, and had the respect and confidence of all."1
XI. MRS. BETSEY (AUSTIN) CARPENTER united with the church Aug. 6, 1820. She was descended from Mr. John Austin, who settled in Bennington, it is believed, some time subsequently to the Revolutionary War. Fond of religious reading, edifying in conversation, a pattern of cheerfulness, exemplary in life's various duties, she was an ornament to her profession as a disciple of Christ. She died suddenly Aug. 23, 1862.
XII. ROBERT CROSSETT united with this church Nov. 5, 1820. Isaac Crossett became a member of this church March 4, 1827, and was subsequently a deacon in the Sec- ond Congregational Church in this town. He has since de-
1 Vermont Hist. Mag.
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MRS. SUSANNAH WATSON.
ceased. He was much respected for his amiable virtues and his consistency as a Christian and an officer in the church. There are five individuals of the name on the roll of the Bennington First Church.
XIII. LEWIS CHANDLER and his wife united with this church March 7, 1824. He was the father of Dea. Samuel Chandler. They removed here from Bernardston, Mass. He died here at eighty-six years of age. For months before his decease, though naturally a strong-minded man, he ceased to recognize his neighbors and to take any con- nected interest in worldly affairs, but his mind was bright and steadfast with regard to his Christian hope. He had desired such a trust in Christ as would enable him to feel the assurance that all his sins were forgiven. This trust was vouchsafed to him, and he would frequently ejaculate, " Blessed Jesus !" He had remarkable views of his Saviour and of heaven.
XIV. MRS. SUSANNAH WATSON united with this church Nov. 6, 1831. She deceased Sept. 15, 1862, quite advanced in years, having lived a life of remarkable cheerfulness and benevolence of spirit. She came to North Bennington to reside many years ago, and reared a large family of sons and daughters, who became Christian men and women.
Miss Nancy Watson, her daughter, resided with her mother in North Bennington, united with this church by letter, and deceased April 25, 1861. She was marked by enthusiasm and intelligence as a disciple of Christ and mem- ber of his church. She was much valued by her ministers and others as an efficient helper in every good work.
Mrs. Betsey Watson, wife of Dea. Watson, of the North Bennington Baptist Church, and daughter of Dea. Calvin Bingham, united with this church May 6, 1827, deceased
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MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
July 13, 1860 ; ever deeply interested in religion, and its institution and progress in the world.
XV. DR. WILLIAM BIGELOW was born in Middletown, Vt., Nov. 7, 1791, and married to Miss Dorinda Brewster, of the same place, Oct. 9, 1815. He was hopefully con- verted to God in the summer of 1816. About this time he went to reside in Fairhaven, in this State, as a practising physician, and on the first Sabbath in 1817, with seventy or eighty others, he united with the church, and afterward was elected deacon there. He removed to Bennington in November, 1829. Though coming into a community of high social position, and where eminent physicians were already established, he at once took his place with the fore- most in his profession, and ever maintained it.
On one occasion his fellow-citizens of this district elected him to represent them in the Senate of this State. His social powers, his observations upon men and events, his interest in public affairs and the prosperity of the commu- nity, his genial and generous nature, were alike remarkable. Owing to ill health he was not exempt from depression of spirits, but he learned the art of forgetting himself and so conversing as to cheer others. Those who prized him as a physician, or in any relation as a personal friend, did so with no common attachment.
He was an impressive speaker. Gracefulness of mind and person contributed to this. His manner was dignified, and his feeling genuine. This talent he frequently exer- cised in gatherings of his fellow-citizens, but more con- stantly in the prayer and conference meeting. He regarded the duty as sacred. To some it might have appeared un- studied with him, as he seldom suffered an occasion for the performance of it to pass unimproved ; but his remarks were not unpremeditated, and were often prepared with much
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DR. BIGELOW.
deliberation and care. In no place was his influence more happy than in business meetings of the church. There often occur in such meetings critical differences of opinion, or hesi- tancy on the part of brethren to act. At such times his counsels ever helped the good cause to move forward. He was on two or more occasions elected superintendent of the Sabbath school. He was one of the committee on the last revision of the articles of faith and covenant of this church.
When he first came to Bennington the great competition between the "Old Line" and the "Pioneer," as the two rival academies were termed, was at its height. It became necessary for his children, if they should go to the " Pio- neer " academy, to pass by the "Old Line" institution, which was a thing then not pleasant to do. His children anxiously inquired of him to which of the schools he would send them. He replied, "It is not necessary for you to know until the time comes." When the time came he sent one to the " Old Line " and one to the " Pioneer."
At the same time there was a certain authority in what- ever he said or did. He would never allow any one to speak disrespectfully of religion in his presence. Physi- cians whom he very much respected for their talents and professional acquirements, but who were irreligious, would sometimes let drop some irreverent expression ; he never allowed such freedom to pass unrebuked, but would so reply that probably the person offending in that way would not repeat the offence.
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