Official history of Guilford, Vermont, 1678-1961. With genealogies and biographical sketches, Part 37

Author: National Grange. Vermont State Grange. Broad Brook Grange No. 151, Guilford
Publication date: 1961
Publisher: [Guilford] Published by the town of Guilford
Number of Pages: 612


USA > Vermont > Windham County > Guilford > Official history of Guilford, Vermont, 1678-1961. With genealogies and biographical sketches > Part 37


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).


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Clark Land: This was lot No. 47 and 48, fifty acres each, south of the road near the top of the hill between Guilford Center and Green River (Wilkins Hill). Samuel Barnard and others deeded the lots to Othniel Wilkins in 1769. Wilkins deeded 100 acres in 1778 to Adoni- jah Putnam who lived here until his death in 1793. In 1806 Elihu and Asa Putnam deeded to Lemuel Putnam (all sons of Adonijah) same with house and barn. He conveyed to Matthew Stone in 1809, and Stone leased 75 acres in 1815 to Israel Putnam. Lemuel Putnam con- veyed to Daniel Bullock, who deeded in 1826 to Amos Hart, who sold in 1832 to Lemuel Lynde, Jr. In 1862 his heirs sold to Alonzo J. Weatherhead. He sold in 1864 to Samuel S. Jacobs, and in 1871 Joseph Jacobs sold the property to Russell H. Willard, who sold to Milon Perry of Stratton, Vt. 1871. Perry sold to Aurissa and Joseph Gallup, who sold in 1876 to Eugene F. Gates. He sold to Judson A. Alexander in 1885, the house having been burned. The land was sold in 1901 by Edward B. Shepardson and wife to Joseph A. Clark. His widow Min-


371


Official History of Guilford


nie E. Clark and her sons have since remained in possession. By Ad- ministrator's deed in 1955 Earl W. & Clara G. Clark came into owner- ship of these two properties.


Clark, C. E. & Son: This is a 30 acre woodlot which Charles F. Ramsdell sold to John Gale, who sold to B. A. Whittemore and Frank Wellman in 1908. They sold to Charles A. Clark in 1933 and 1934. In 1956 Minnie E. Clark Est. deeded to C. E. Clark & son.


Dudley, John & Nellie: The farm was on the hill road leading past the Knox Bullock farm to the White Meeting House at Guilford Center, on lot No. 94, with a part of lot No. 99 in the valley to the west. This was one of the lots sold for taxes by the Vermont state gov- ernment, ten years before the state was admitted to the union and before its independence had been recognized either by Congress or by the state of New York. In the original drawing of lots this was one of those left over, after each proprietor had his 350 acres allotted, and was designated upon the town plan as a "common" lot, being owned in common by the proprietors. They refused to pay the taxes assessed by the Vermont government, so by direction of the state treasurer the local constable William Bigelow, sold this lot at public vendue, the whole 100 acres being sold to Deacon Thomas Cutler for payment of a tax of ten shillings and costs amounting to ten shillings and sixpence (a shilling was roughly equivalent to our quarter). In 1786 it was bought by Dr. Simon Stevens, who lived here and practiced medicine for several years. He removed to the westerly portion of his property, known as the White lot north from the present residence of Leon Thayer, where he continued his practice. The home farm on the hill, 106 acres, was occupied by his son Lemuel G. Stevens in 1827. The land is now used for pasture by the Bullocks.


Lot No. 99, the later home of Dr. Stevens was settled by William White, a prominent citizen of the early days of the town. In 1795 he sold to Stevens who resided there until his death in 1824. The property was willed to his son Lemuel G. Stevens who deeded it in 1827 to Epaphro Seymour, who conveyed it in 1829 to Dr. Benjamin W. Stevens who lived here until his death in 1872. His heirs sold the homestead in 1896 to Samuel M. Bullock who lived here until 1912, when he sold to W. D. Monnier of Hartford, Conn. who used it as a summer residence until 1918 when he sold to Wilbur Bennett, of Springfield, Mass. He deeded to Perley T. & Mabel V. Martin in 1937, who sold to John & Nellie Dudley in 1952.


Fairbank, Harriet & als: This is a pasture which was part of the Home Farm. The estate of Ernest Paulman deeded to Harriet Fair- bank.


372


Official History of Guilford


Farnham, Emerson K. & Beatrice E .: One of the former Frank Wellman lots of 18 acres known as the Stevens lot was bought from Starr J. Clark in 1959.


Gallup, Forrest D .: In 1888 Cardine C. Penneman sold to Geo. W. Franklin, who sold the next year to Chas. F. Martin. He sold in 1891 to Adda D. Miner. The Creon L. Miner Estate deeded to Nellie Miner & als. Then they sold to Forrest D. Gallup in 1937.


Goodnow, E. P .: This is the sawmill site near the Grange Hall. E. A. & Lottie L. Pierce sold to W. H. Castle in 1912, who sold to Goodnow in 1914.


Greenleaf, Harold: This is the former Universalist Ladies Society property which was bought from Angeline Wilcox in 1882 and sold to Greenleaf in 1949.


Greenleaf, Walter & Vivian: This was the so-called Taylor lot which Frank Ward sold to Etta Ward in 1904. She sold to Nellie M. Wyman in 1908. Nellie M. Wyman Burns sold to C. J. Wilder in 1921. He deeded to W. R. Simmons in 1929. His estate sold to Walter & Vivian Greenleaf in 1946.


Their house and lot was owned by Gilbert & Harriet E. Clark in 1866. They sold to Charlotte & Emily Barney that year. In 1903 their estate sold to Ellen A. Richmond for $800. They deeded to Susan A. Prouty in 1908 and she sold to Lorenzo Leach in 1911. His estate deeded to Ann Jane Leach in 1920 who sold to Nellie Simmons in 1923. Oliver Avery bought it of her in 1929 then deeded it back in 1930. Then Walter & Rozella W. Van Wickel bought in 1944. They sold to Walter & Vivian Greenleaf in 1946.


Guild, Grace Est .: The old tavern property at Guilford Center village was built in the corner of the crossroads next south of the present Grange Hall, about 1800. John Givins sold the tract of one and one half acres in 1802 to Elisha Chase, who may have built the tavern as the first reference to it as such is in 1802, when the records refer to it as "Elisha Chase's tavern." Chase conveyed it to John Bar- nard, who deeded in 1806 to Edward Houghton, who deeded to his son Edward Jr., in 1823. It was apparently leased for a time, as Loring Kingsbury operated it in 1820, and until 1831. A town meeting was held there in 1821. It was later sold to Thomas Lynde, who sold in 1834 to Edward Houghton Jr. He deeded in 1835 to Brutus R. Mer- rill, who occupied it for some years. He conveyed it to Abel Houghton, who sold to Nathan Conant in 1840. He sold in 1853 to Joseph R. Cobb, he selling in 1857 to Chas. C. Lynde, who sold to Elisha W. Cross who sold in 1858 to Saml. L. Hunt. Hunt sold to Israel and


373


Official History of Guilford


Clarissa Whitcomb, who deeded to John G. Thayer in 1866. In 1868 Thayer sold to Henry W. Chase, who sold to Stephen Smith in 1870. His estate sold in 1876 to Almira E. Edwards. Her heirs sold in 1882 to Sanford A. Smith, who sold to Olive F. Ward in 1892. It was used as the office of town clerk and treasurer by Frank E. Ward from 1900 to 1904, when it was used only as a dwelling. The heirs of Olive Ward deeded to Etta Ward in 1904. This property was sold to Nellie M. Wyman and then to Marion E. & Chas. Wilder in 1921. They sold to Amy Amidon in 1929. She deeded to Frank Brasor in 1936, who sold the same year to Grace Guild (who has since passed away).


The buildings were taken down in the early 1930's.


Guilford Central School: This land was formerly owned by W. R. Bennett. He sold to Herman Ashworth in 1941 who sold to The Town School District in 1954 for a new School to consolidate all the 8 grades in one building.


Houghton, Edward S. & S. Marion: In 1792 Thomas Wells Dickin- son, of Deerfield, sold to Elihu Field, of Deerfield also, 52 acres of the east side of Lot No. 100, which had been a part of the Hezekiah Stowell Farm. Stowell owned the land where the White Meeting House was built and Field deeded it to the church proprietors after the building was erected. This deed was in 1793. In 1794 Field con- veyed a small tract to Rev. Elijah Wollage, who in 1796 conveyed one half acre and 28 rods for a cemetery. This adjoined the meeting house plot. Field sold about four acres in 1792 to Dr. Dana Hyde, who lo- cated there and afterward bought 40 acres of adjoining lot No. 93. The dwelling was west of the cemetery, on the north side of the road, just as it pitches down toward the village. The Hyde family father and son, Dr. Dana and Dana Jr., remained here until the death of the latter by drowning in 1850. The buildings disappeared many years ago and the land was absorbed in the surrounding farms.


Stowell Tavern: The tavern of Hezekiah Stowell was one of the most noted of all the many historic spots of old Guilford. This farm was upon lot No. 93 and partly upon No. 100, the lot whereon the old White Meeting House stood, about one half mile to the north, on the hill road between Guilford Center and East Guilford and was later known as the Graves place. Lot No. 100 was originally drawn by Theodore Atkinson and Stowell probably settled this farm as he was here in 1772. In 1777 he sold the west half of the lot, 50 acres, to Joseph Goodwin, and in 1786 he sold the remainder of his farm of 150 acres to Joel Bigelow. Stowell's house was the rendezvous of the Guilford Yorkers, and the objective point of the military forces in the invasion of 1784. Soon after selling his farm in 1786 Stowell re- moved to Bainbridge, New York, where he located upon land granted


374


Official History of Guilford


to him by the government of that state. Bigelow sold the farm in 1788 to Thos. W. Dickinson, of Deerfield, who sold part of the property comprising the Stowell homestead in 1792 to Elihu Field Sr. of Deer- field, who sold in 1799 to Jeremiah Graves, of Conway, Mass. He deeded his whole farm to his son Dexter in 1825 reserving a life lease to himself and daughter Dorcas. He died in 1848; his heirs sold the property in 1857 to Timothy Whitney, who sold to Betsey wife of Sylvanus Tobey, in that year. Lyman Eels next bought the farm and deeded in 1861 to Barnard Lynde. His heirs conveyed to Chas. C. Lynde, who deeded to Harriet E. wife of Gilbert Clark, in 1866. The family was in possession until 1889. The Clarks both having died the property was sold to Herbert E. Thayer in 1891. He deeded to F. E. Thayer in 1901. The place was later sold to E. A. Pierce and by him to Walter H. Castle. The old Stowell house was standing in 1891 but in bad condition and soon after was wholly gone. Charles & Millura Clark bought in 1918. They sold to Edwin W. F. Dyer in 1936, who deeded to the Houghtons in that same year.


Jaqueth, Harold & Marilyn: In 1777 Joseph Goodwin bought 50 acres, the west half of lot No. 100, of Hezekiah Stowell. He built a small house on the north side of the road which leads east from Guilford Center Village up the hill to the cemetery. This house was some 30 or 40 rods east of the corners. In 1792 Goodwin deeded to Joseph King 1/2 acre and 15 rods, west of his house, in the N.E. corner of the crossroads, where Harold Jaqueth now lives.


In 1909 Ed. Legate deeded to George Thomas, who sold in 1912 to E. P. Goodnow. He sold to Nellie Simmons in 1920. She deeded to Jerusha Hitchcock & Basin Knapp in 1931. They deeded to Brattle- boro Trust Co. in 1945. The next year Robert & Clara Henry bought and then sold the same year to Harold & Marilyn Jaqueth.


This is a woodlot up on the hill which Herbert Thayer deeded to Frank Thayer in 1901. Frank decreed it to Walter Thayer in 1948, who sold to the Jaqueths in 1952


Nash, Carlton S. & Phoebe I .: The homestead easterly of John Shepardson was the home of Capt. Seth Peck in 1784; it was later owned by Samuel Shepardson and his son, Otis, who deeded to his son, John, in 1819; John lived there in 1823; in 1835 Otis Shepardson deeded his homestead of 95 acres to Thomas Lynde. Part or all of lots No. 112 and 113 were in the John Shepardson property. In 1860 the Otis Shepardson place was sold by E. G. Cross to F. E. and J. G. Thayer, who sold in 1866 to Augustus Cook, of Westminster, Vt. He deeded to his son, Mark Henry, in 1871; and the latter deeded in 1878 to David A. Henry. In 1900 he conveyed the property to his son Frank


Brattleborough


Nathan Hatch


Caleb Cole


Samuel Wheelock Common


Wm.and Nicholas Pullen


140 Daniel Lynde Jr .


139 Peter Briggs


138 Sawmill James Salisbury


Salisbury


96


81


61


37


36 Christ Church


John Young love


cem. ++++


Davidson


162


161 John Bolster


148 William Hines


146


122 John


118 Ithomar Barney Jr. Goodenough Hezekiah Horton


115 Paul Chase


110 Samuel Earl John Barney


107 Giles Roberts A bija h Rogers


98 Lovell Bullock


95 Manassah Bixby


82 John Burnett


+


Cemetery


++++ +++


178 Saw mill Ward Bullock


63 Samuel Nichols Rice Thomas Cutler


58 Frances Rice


39 Asa Rice Jr.


34 Daniel Boyden


15 Samuel Baker


10 David Copeland Isaac Brown


164 David Bixby Jonathan Harrington


Propagation Lot


158 Jonathan chase


151 Zephaniah Shepardson


143 Daniel Wilkins


125 49 Zephaniah


50


51525354


55 56


58


59


60


63


64%


65 Joseph Giles


56 Benoni Smith


41 Nathan Jacobs Peter Jacobs


32 Joseph Jacobs


John Wilson


Thomas Colgrove


166 Elisha Harrington


157


152


142 wilkins ttttt + + ++ Cemetery


126 Rev. Whitman Jacobs


48 47


46


45


44


43


41


40


39


138


37


36


35


34


66


55 Timothy Root


42


31 Abel Jacobs


18 Asa Bowen Jonathon Russell


7 Phineas Rice


767 Thomas Straight Elijah Gore


/56


17


18


19


20


210 22 23 24


Rev. Henry Word


Henry Williams


Bigelow


Israel Bigelow


Wells


Reuben Wells


Wilder


Aaron


Wilder


Jeremiah


Weatherhead ON


32


54


43


30 Peter Jacobs


19 Connable


6 Phillip Maxwell


Maxwell


Vernon


155 Jonah Cutting David Jillson


154 David Jillson


129 John Cutting


128


16


15


14


13


12


1


9


8


5


4


3


50


68


53


44


29


20


5 Daniel Torrey


Abner Stebbins Joseph Edwards


169 John Hail


176 Edward Barney


177


Thomas Rose


184 John Cutting


183 Negro Abijah Prince


186 David Williams


191 Jotham Franklin Elijah Gore


194 David Gates Phineas Crumb David Culver


199 Philip Franklin


Isaac Brown


William Crouch Caleb Ellis


103 Daniel Ashcraft


90


87 David Davis


74 Jonathon Aldrich


71 Nathan Stark Rufus Streeter


50 Jedediah Stark


47 Nathan Culver Harris Babcock


26


2


171 Nathan Stark


174 Philip Collins


179 Eleazer Grover Gideon Goodspeed


182 Stukeley Stafford


187 David Culver


190 John Noyes


195 August Belder Propogation Gospel


196 Ichabod Packer


197 David Edgecomb


204 John Burrows


104 Joben Dennis


89 John Avery


88


73 Oliver Harris


72 Wm Shattuck


49


48 Asel Hills


25 Joseph Gaines Maxwell Coates


24


172 Joseph Gallup


173 Joseph Olin


180 Joseph Burrows


181


Burrows


Ebenezer Edwards


Goodenough


Amos


David


wm.


Isaac


Brown


John


Thomas Wellse Camp


Thomas Rose


Joseph


Weather head


Jonathan


Aldrich


Stephen Gould


Nehemiah Andrews


52 Reuben Colgrove ++++ David Smalley


28 Vine Haynes Asa Haynes


21


4


Simeon Edwards


193 Jabez Franklin


200


201 Aaron Franklin


101 Icha bod Packer Ichabil Pierce


92


85 Peter Aldrich


76


69 Tubbs head


70 Hezekiah Sprague


51 Wheelock Aldrich


46


27 Isaac Tubbs


22


3 Simpson Ellis


David Gaines


Vernon Gleason


23 Benjamin Eddy Solomon Chapin


1 John Severance


163


160 Asaph


149 Joseph Carpenter Peleq Richmond


145 John Slater


123 +++ + + + + Cemetery


119 Benjamin


114 Joseph Peck x Propagation Lot


111 Daniel Lynde


106 Col. Joel Bigelow


99 Wm. White Dr. Simon Stevens


94


83 Abisha Rice Word Bullock


84 Asa Rice Solomon Smith


77


57


Micah Rice


64 Asa Rice Silas Cutter


Abel Torrey


33 Isaac Farrell Thomas Cutler


15 James Maxwell George Wrigley


9 Theophilus Wadleigh Colgrove Nathaniel Tyler +


Jonathan Chase


144 Cyril Carpenter


124 Josiah Broad Rev. Whitman Jacobs


120


113 Lemuel Lynde Stephen Shepard son


112 John


Shepardson


Joshua


Nurse


Kent


Dr. Benj. Stevens C


Philip Martin &


Tavern


Houghton


Whitney Dr. Abel O Asa Bartlett


Solomon


Smith


Joseph


Jacobs


Amosa


Wilder


David


Agres


67 Timothy Root


Stephen Jacobs


Ebenezer Fitch


141 Henry Evan's Fitch Jonah Cutting


127 Abel


Rice


Edmond


Bemis


Josion


Rice


Goodenough


thomas


Littlefield


Aaron


Wilder


Aaron


Wilder


Aaron


80 Josiah Allen Rufus Chase


James Bacon


Ephraim Nichols


59 Samuel Balch


38 Ramsdell Gregory Melendy


35 Samuel Melendy


14 Ephraim Gole


11 John Barber


Stafford Horton


Hosea Ballou


William Year


121 Comfort Starr


117 Daniel Lynde Jr


116


Glebe


109 Daniel Knight Eleager Toby


108 Jabez Wood Jr.


97 Lovell Bullock


135 Daniel Warriner Manassah 136 Glebe Bixby Jr.


134 1 thamar Healy Jedediah Well man


133 William Bullock


132 Heman Bangs Samuel Houghton


131 Nahum Cutler Solomon Pratt


130 David Joy


Samuel Sikes


Benning Wentworth


147 Comfort


13


12 Boyden


Starr Edward Barney


chickering


Joseph Elliot


Levi Goodenough


Carpen


Ter


Bucklin


Carpenter


159 Glebe Land


150


Glebe


Shepardson


Josiah


Caleb


Nurse


Lemuel


Putnam


Shepardson Samuel


David


John + Jrs G


105 Mineral Springs Jotham Bigelow


100 First Church


93 Dr Simon Stevens


Stowell ++ + + cemetery


57


Houghton


Sal mon Goodenough


Samuel Whitcomb


James


Aaron Marble co


wm. 300


Bigelow


Yeaw


Stowell


Isaac Brown


202


102


91 David


86 Benj. Williams Chamberlin William Crouch


75 David Davis Nathan Waterhouse


Sprague


1800


185 Isaac Lamphear


192


Abner Stebbins


170


175 Capt. Edward Barney


178 Baptist Meeting House


Halifax


168


153 John Hammond


25 26 27 28


29 30


Year


Propagation Lox Smead


Whitney


61 62 Glebe


165 3 Peter Aldrich!


17


8


A plan of Guilford, drawn by Nathan Dright, surveyor, in 1765, showing the original 50-acre and 100-acre lots. The names of many of the earliest settlers have been added, according to the best infomation available in existing records.


Bernardston


Coleraine


Leyden


203 James Packer + + ++ + ++


Calvin Weld


188 Isiah Bennet Nathan Walworth


189 Amos Billings


198 Rufus Fisk


137 William Marsh


Frances Phelps


David Thurber


60 Humphrey Timothy Palmer


79


62 Ephraim Nichols Timothy Chickering


40 Thomas Cutler


Bigelow


Othniel


Wilkins


42


- William


William


45


Weather


33


375


Official History of Guilford


E. Henry who owned it with his son-in-law Ernest Paulman. His children sold to Carlton S. and Phoebe I. Nash in 1957.


Reynolds, Edward J. & Gloria V .: This is formerly called the Bar- stow property. George Franklin sold to Ed. Legate in 1904. They deeded in 1924 to Charles & Millura Clark. By decree of foreclosure it was sold to Elizabeth Longfellow in 1938. She sold to Edward J. & Gloria Longfellow Reynolds in 1953.


Squires, Clifford & Catherine: This is the blacksmith shop beside the road above the Grange Hall and their house and lot. Edwin Legate sold to A. G. Gallup in 1937. He deeded to Clifford & Catherine Squires in 1947.


Thayer, Leon J. & Eunice: In 1883 Charles C. Lynde, James Tyler and Almira Edwards all sold land to John Thayer. In 1901 John and Hannah Thayer deeded to James Thayer. His estate deeded to Eloise Thayer in 1928, she deeding it to Leon J. & Eunice Thayer in 1956.


Thorn, Luanna: This is the so-called Hyde lot. In 1892 Harriet Clark estate sold to Hattie Franklin, who in 1928 deeded to Luanna Thorn of Deerfield, Mass.


Thurber, Roy & Ruby: This is a lot which was part of the Thayer farm. Eloise Thayer, widow, deeded to Roy & Ruby Thurber in 1950. They have built a home there.


Bark Mill and Tannery: A bark mill was located on the brook near John Phelps house in 1818. In 1820 it is referred to as the "bark mill site". In 1823 Edward Houghton conveyed to his son Edward Jr., land had of Lemuel Putnam in 1812 including a bark mill and water privilege, so the mill was probably built by Putnam. In 1833 Hough- ton sold one half interest to Thomas Lynde, the location being "op- posite the house where Asa Bartlett lives." In 1834 Thomas Lynde deeded to Edward Houghton Jr. 3 acres on west side of road and tan vats north of the tavern. The bark mill pond is referred to in the land records as late as 1844. In 1845 Edward Houghton deeded to Geo. A. Hunt 2 acres on the west side of the road on Broad Brook with a tannery, boot shop, etc .; one third interest was deeded to Wm. A. Taggart. Houghton must have come into possession again as he, then of New York City deeded in 1851 to Geo. Boardman a tannery and boot shop, etc. Wm. A. Taggart conveyed his part in 1859 to Geo. A. Hunt who sold the whole that year to J. and J. C. Wilcox. They appear to be the last owners.


Guilford Center Gristmill: In 1803 Lemuel Putnam bought land on Broad Brook near the Guilford Center schoolhouse. In 1810 he


376


Official History of Guilford


sold to Houghton and Martin land on the west side of the road, with a gristmill; this was sold to John Phelps in 1811. In 1814 Phelps sold to Joel Parmenter who sold in 1817 the land "and frame for a grist- mill" apparently either fire or flood had caused a vacancy there, and no further reference to a gristmill there is to be found.


Hay Scales: In 1840 Edward Houghton conveyed to Jonathan Dunklee of Guilford, the hay scales at Guilford Center; no land was mentioned.


Willard Martin Store: This store was at the southwest corner of the crossroads, in Guilford Center where the Library now stands. In 1808 Edward Houghton conveyed to Cyrus Martin four rods square with new store in corner of the roads, opposite Samuel Clark's store; in 1813 Houghton deeded to Willard Martin one half interest in four rods square and store also interest in Houghton and Martin potash etc. In 1818 Cyrus Martin conveyed to Willard Martin land and store built by Edward Houghton and Cyrus Martin, opposite the store pur- chased by W. Martin of Samuel Clark.


Houghton Distillery: In 1812 Edward Houghton and Henry Bil- lings erected a distillery on the Houghton farm, on the east side of the road to Leyden, the land being conveyed by James to Edward Hough- ton, who deeded it in 1814 to Nahum Cutler, Elihu Field, Artemas and John Gale, with the use of a certain spring of water. The property came into possession of Solomon C. Pratt, of East Guilford, who sold in 1823 to Hepsibah Field and Justus Gale of Dover, the latter selling to Field in 1824. In that year the property was sold to Thomas Lynde 2nd. It is described as comprising 20 square rods of land and a cider distillery, with a copper still, worms, tubs, pumps, etc., on the south- east side of the road, near the residence of Abel Houghton. In 1825 Lynde leased it to Philip Martin for five years, with the provision that at the end of the term it was to be used for a blacksmith shop.


It was described as located "opposite the store which Martin now occupies," and as having an upper story. This store was built by Abel Houghton in 1824, and at once leased to Philip Martin for seven years. It was in the corner of the roads a short distance above the present Taft blacksmith shop. This was long known as "the Martin Corner."


Potash and Pearlash Works: A potash and pearlash works was built on the east side of the old country road, about six rods east of the spring (west of the bridge south of Guilford center) and south of the junction with the county road and the Green River road, between the road and the small south branch of Broad Brook, being near the south line of lot No. 105. This was built on land of Joseph Bullock, about 1780. In 1787 Bullock sold a part interest in the works to John


377


Official History of Guilford


Hinkley, who bought the balance in 1789. In that year Hinkley sold the work, including two and one half acres of land with house, barn, slaughter house, pearlash works, 5 sound kettles, 6 broken kettles, etc., to Henry, Embree and Bourne, of New York.


The property appears to have been repurchased, for Hinkley's heirs sold the same property in 1794 to Edward Houghton, who sold in 1795, to Samuel Ward, tanner, the pearlash and land on the east side of the old county road. John Barney appears to have been the next owner, and he sold to Amos Brown in 1803. Brown mortgaged it to John Richardson, who obtained possession by foreclosure. Henry Ward was the next owner, he selling to John Barney 2nd, who had once before owned it; Edward Houghton next drew the prize, and sold in 1807 to Asa Wilder, of Petersham, Mass. He soon sold to Joseph Brown, who sold to Edward Houghton, all in 1807. The frequent transfers would indicate that this property was in great demand, but that the quality of the potash made was so strong that the purchasers soon burned their fingers.


A cider brandy distillery was erected on or near this site by Hough- ton and Billings in 1812, and the potash equipment was apparently removed to other land of Houghton's, near the tannery, at the north- erly edge of Guilford Center village, as the production of potash was begun there at about this time.


SECTION IV


Previous to 1900 there were no records in the town office as to who was buried in town and in what cemetery.


John E. Gale spent many hours at the cemeteries copying names and data from gravestones to start these records. So with these lists which he had made up and the index of burials since 1900, we have prepared this list grouped by cemeteries.


Time and weather have perhaps obliterated some markings and they have become illegible.


379


Cemetery Records


BAKER CEMETERY


Ashcraft, Amanda


1876


Baker, Clifford A.


1960


Ashcraft, Clarissa


1848


Baker, Cynthia B.


1885


Ashcraft, Clarissa


1870


Baker, David


1881


Ashcraft, Capt. Daniel


1824


Baker, David G.


1919


Ashcraft, Daniel


1859


Baker, Ella Hall


1929


Ashcraft, Delight


1815


Baker, Emily


1838


Ashcraft, Edson


1838


Baker, Frank


1924


Ashcraft, Eli


1862


Baker, George F.


1879


Ashcraft, Emily S.


1943


Baker, Harriet E.


1837


Ashcraft, Ephraim


1832




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