USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Peru > Reunion celebration : together with an historical sketch of Peru, Bennington County, Vermont, and its inhabitants from the first settlement of the town > Part 2
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MRS. BENJAMIN BARNARD.
BENJAMIN BARNARD.
CHE NEY ,
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LEM FOUNDATIONS.
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REUNION AT PERU.
And girls who ketch and marry them might do a great deal worse; And John, but he is caught at last, indeed we know he's gone, A pretty girl just smiled on him, and then 'twas goodbye John. I need not tell you of Geo. K., of course you know him well, He's one of those who just know how to keep a good hotel; Then there's Mark B., Clark J., and others too, but I have said enough, And fear you'll think what I have said is naught but silly stuff. I'd like to tell you of our girls, of whom we raised a crop, But should I get to praising them I fear I'd never stop, But you'll soon see what they can do, in fact they can't be beat In getting up a rousing meal for hungry folks to eat; And now I think you've heard enough about our family, And if you ever come to town, drop in, and stay to tea.
D. K. SIMONDS.
ATTRACTIONS OF PERU.
As to the scenery, let him judge of it who has ever crossed the mountain upon the turnpike from Manchester. As he rounds the top, suddenly there bursts upon the view a sight which no one whose heart is at all akin to nature can ever forget. Stretched in full glory below him lies the whole broad valley of the upper West River and its tributaries, while beyond the vision follows range after range, and is lost only amid the giants of the White Mountains. But by far dearer to me is the journey across the Notch. As you reach the top, the eye rests upon a broad stretch of wilderness, extending for miles in every direction. Half way down, where a half dozen brooks gather, I have camped each year for weeks at a time. No sound, save the rustle of a leaf and the rush of the mad, leaping waters, with an atmosphere wafted into the face such as kings or emperors, in their gorgeous palaces, never breathe. I take my rod, I fish for miles, north, south, east or west. I cross no clearing and pass over no boundary line. I follow the main branch, which is the head-waters of the Battenkill, two miles to the north, cross a slight ridge, alight upon the head-waters of the Otter Creek, fish it down another two miles, until I arrive at that incomparable sheet of water, Buffom Pond. All of this time I have been traveling due north, and have not left the bounds of my native town, or been within two miles of a clearing. I might have gone south with nearly the same result. When I reach Buffom, I am there ! Where ?- in Paradise, or as near Paradise as I can well get on earth. Time and again I have traveled the Adirondacks, but there is nothing there in that magnificent region to surpass it. With a hard, stony shore and bottom, all around is the virgin forest, as yet unpolluted by the hand of man. The heavy, dense fir trees crowd in on all sides in the vain endeavor to fill the watery space. You shout, and the woods echo and re-echo your voice until it reaches the mountains
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that surround you upon all sides, but no ear, save the ear of the sportsman, catches the sound. Everywhere is nature, just as the Creator made it, wild, strong, full, running over, romantic!
One cannot stay here but a short time and not get hungry. Yet don't get alarmed, friend, or bring in with you your stale cooked provender. Nature has made ample provision. In those deep, still waters floats meat fit for the gods, and such, I ween, as the gods very seldom get, rich, fire red, just large enough to spin the reel and set the nerves all a quiver as you draw them out, these speckled, smooth skinned beauties are ahead of anything which Jay Gould can purchase with his two hundred millions. For over twenty years I have visited this region annually, and never yet failed to get my fill, and only those who have been with me can have any idea, whatever, what that means. And I can truthfully boast of sport obtained right here in my native state, unique, unexcelled, even by your Maine or Canadian professional. Standing upon a well balanced raft, and moored in water twenty feet deep, four times in succession I have hooked with my seven ounce rod three trout at a time, weighing from four to sixteen ounces each; at the last cast the fourth hook was taken by a sixteen ounce bull head. I have followed up a wild stream, unfished since I left it the year before, stood at the foot of a round basin ten feet across, and laid out, one by one, upon the bank, as my wife cast them quivering towards me, twenty-seven plump, fat, legal trout. For nearly a week at a time I have camped, with ladies, in the heart of this wilderness, with only the ground for a floor and a bark roof, all open in front, for a cover; and carried in hardly more than a single loaf of cooked food. I have myself put upon the bark table, steaming hot, ready for simultaneous consumption, well cooked trout, pork, pancakes, potatoes, maple syrup and coffee. Well, you only who have been there know what it means, with only the open fire to cook over. Outsiders can have no more idea of it than a crocodile has of music. Often I have gone for months without a meal of victuals, although I have one of the best cooks in the parts at the head of my household. I go through the ceremony of eating, and manage to dispose of a large amount of fodder, yet only when I get back to the old camp and come in after a hard day's tramp, with fire to kindle, trout to dress, and supper to get, with its aroma tantalizing my nostrils, do I feel like eating? But mind one thing, some one else washes the dishes, or else they go until morning.
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ATTRACTIONS OF PERU.
"And now comes still evening on, And twilight, grey,
Has in her sober livery, all things clad."
"The other member of the party" throws fresh fuel upon the camp fire. The woods around glimmer with the wavering light. Fantastic shadows dance hither and thither. High overhead the paled stars shine dimly out. Somehow I manage to move a little to where the balsam boughs lie in thick profusion under the projecting bark. Some kind, considerate friend hands me a cigar. Slowly, calmly, fully I taste the fragrant weed, and watch the wreaths of smoke as they curl gracefully up. That most important of all events, viz: digestion, is, undoubtedly, now taking place. I feel at peace with all mankind and all creation. I doubt whether, if that most hated of all enemies, the mosquito, should now alight upon me that I should raise a hand to crush it. Even though he who nominated me as church committee, should now look upon me, I think that I should smile upon him. But hark! What sound is that, repeated at long, full intervals? Ah, comrades! You have fallen, fallen ignominiously, without a struggle. Well, sleep-the best, strongest, sweetest, most health-giving sleep known to mortal, is yours. The fire will soon die out, yet the stars will grow brighter and watch over you. Soon the full orbed moon will start in her course westward across the sky. No nightmare, no dreams even, will be yours. And in the morning the scent of the balsam will be in your clothes. Your hands will rub it into your eyes, and melting dew will carry it everywhere through the air. Not even a plunge into the cold, pure water, will wash it away. Ah me! As I sit at my desk at mid-winter, I can live over again the only real, true part of my life.
Yes, I am fully convinced that no other place in these parts offers equal attractions for the tired and dejected denizens of our cities who seek rest, recreation and quiet. We have a telegraph line and a daily mail from each direction; and a landlord whose tables even now millionaires drive miles out of their way to enjoy. No description of our town would be at all complete without mention of our honored host, Mr. G. K. Davis, whose name shall fittingly close our wayward description.
M. J. HAPGOOD.
HISTORY OF PERU.
The history of a small country town, and that in no way conspicuous among its neighbors, can hardly be expected to furnish much to interest the general reader. Such a work must be made up of particulars and minute details. It is seldom that great or distinguished characters occur to give interest to the story. The narrative must derive its ciaim to the reader's attention mainly from his acquaintance with the scenes, or his connection with the actors described. The problem of history may be thus stated, giving the present state, condition and character of the people, to determine those influences in the past which have tended to produce these results. It is the task of the historian to trace the development of these influences and so to arrange the history of events as to give a miniature of the character and spirit of the age which he describes. He must set before us not only the great statesmen and scholars, but also ordinary men in their ordinary dress, and engaged in their ordinary employment. He must visit the dwellings of the poor and the abodes of misery as well as the palaces of wealth and luxury. No anecdote, no familiar saying is insignificant which can throw light upon the state of education, morals or religion, or mark the progress of the human mind. Since the natural features of a country have an important influence upon the character of its inhabitants, they must be described in their primitive wildness as well as in their present state of cultivation and improvements.
CHARTER
AND DOINGS OF THE ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS.
Peru lies in the northeast corner of Bennington county, bounded on the north by Mount Tabor, east by Landgrove, south by Winhall, west by Dorset. It was chartered at Portsmouth,
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HISTORY OF PERU.
N. H., by Benning Wentworth, October 13th, 1761, as colonial governor of the Province of New Hampshire, receiving his appointment from King George the Third, by the name of Bromley, for the due encouragement of settling a new plantation within said province under certain reservations and conditions.
PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
I, George the Third, By the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith. To all to whom these presents shall come: For the encouragement of settling a new plantation within our State Province by and with the advice of our trusty and well beloved Friend, Benning Wentworth, Our Governor and Commander-in-Chief of our Province of New Hampshire and of our council of said Province, Upon the conditions and reservations hereinafter made, given and granted, and by these presents for us and our heirs and successors, do give and grant in equal shares unto our loving subjects, inhabitants of our said Province and our other governments, to their heirs and assigns forever, Whose names are entered on this grant to be divided among them into 72 equal shares all that tract or parcel of Land situate lying and being within our said Province, containing 23,040 acres, according to a plan and survey made by our Governor's order and returned into our Secretary's office, butted and bounded as follows, Viz., Beginning at the northwest corner of Winhall, Thence due north six miles to the southwest corner of Harwich (Mt. Tabor), Thence east six miles to the southeast corner thereof, Thence due south six miles to the northeast corner of Winhall, Thence due west by Winhall to bounds began at, and the same is incorporated into a Township by the name of Bromley, and the inhabitants that do or shall hereafter inhabit said Township are enfranchised with and entitled to all the privileges that other towns exercise and enjoy, and as soon as there shall be fifty families residing and settled thereon, they shall have the liberty of holding two fairs, and a market may be opened one or two days in a week, and the first meeting for choice of Town Officers agreeable to the laws of our Province shall be held on the first Monday of November next; said meeting shall be notified by Samuel Gilbert, and the annual meetings for the choice of Town Officers shall be held on the second Tuesday of March annually. To have and to hold said tract with the appurtenances thereof to them and their heirs and assigns forever upon the following conditions:
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1. Every grantee, his heirs or assigns, shall plant and cultivate five acres of land for every 50 acres owned, and shall continue to do so upon penalty of forfeiting his grant of said Township.
2. All white or pine trees suitable for masting our Royal Navy shall be carefully preserved for that use.
3. Before any division of said land shall be made among the grantees, a grant of land as near the centre of the Township as may be, one acre of Land allotted to each grantee for a Town Lot.
4. Yielding and paying to us, our heirs or successors, one ear of Indian corn on the 25th day of December for ten years.
5. Every proprietor settling or inhabitating shall yield or pay unto us, our heirs and successors on and after the 25th day of December, 1772, one shilling, proclamation money, to any officer appointed to receive the same.
There is no record of any proprietors' meeting until 1797. A meeting of the proprietors was called by the request of the proprietors by Moses Warner, Justice of the Peace of Andover, to be held at the Inn of Jonathan Butterfield in Bromley the 2nd day of March, 1797. Proprietors met agreeable to warning. Chose Joseph Bullard, Moderator; Ebenezer Hurlburt, Proprietors' Clerk; Joseph Bullard, Treasurer; John Waters, Collector. Chose a committee of three, consisting of Nathaniel Leonard, Benjamin W. Willard and John Waters, instructed them to run the ont lines of Bromley. Voted that persons who have made pitches and improved and built on them, be quieted, have them instead of their lot; if they had any legal title to a right. Voted the committee be instructed to lay out and survey three lots of one hundred acres to each proprietor's right, to be numbered first, second, and third division of said right, and to be drawn separately. The record of said division and draft is found on the Soth page of proprietors' record and onward. The whole expense of surveying, according to the above record, was $917.63. At a proprietors' meeting held June 6, 1798, voted that $13.90 should be assessed to each proprietor's right, to be collected and paid into the treasury before the 7th inst.
The meetings of the proprietors were kept alive by adjournment from time to time, year after year. September 6th, 1798, adjourned June 5th, 1799; then adjourned to September 10th, 1800, A. D. Chose Reuben Bigelow, Proprietors' Clerk, Bromley, September Ioth, 1800. Meeting opened according to adjournment. Chose a committee of Ebenezer Hurlburt, Esquire Kimball of Harvard, and
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Reuben Bigelow to be empowered in behalf of the proprietors to treat with Asa Utley and others respecting the land in the east part of Bromley, which Utley and others pretended to claim. It is said and thought that the Utleys, who were the first settlers, found the east and west lines were over six miles, allowance having been made for the high mountains which lay in the west part of the town. Utley made the east line further west than the original survey, claiming the land as a part of the gore now Landgrove. Several law suits grew out of it, and it was finally settled by the Legislature establishing a jurisdictional line in 1835. Also said committee to prosecute Asa Utley and others or defend to final judgment any suit which may be brought or commenced respecting this land. Voted to dissolve this meeting; Attest R. Bigelow, Proprietors' Clerk. Reuben Bigelow defended suit brought by Asa Utley and others against the proprietors of Bromley. His bill for the same was $283.88, which amount was allowed by the proprietors the 29th day of September, 1802. By request of more than one-tenth of the proprietors a meeting was warned to be holden at the house of Reuben Bigelow the 29th day of September, 1802, by Robert Pierpoint, Justice of the Peace. Meeting called by Proprietors' Clerk. Voted to assess each right $4.17 to pay expense of law suit. Proprietors' meetings were held and adjourned each year until 1809. Another law suit was had between Asa Utley and others and the proprietors of Bromley in regard to the disputed land in the easterly part of the town. No settlement was effected. The proprietors had to pay a bill of cost amounting to $341.22. At a meeting held by the proprietors September 14th, 1809, they voted to raise a tax on each right of individual land of $5.17, which was raised and paid. At a meeting of the proprietors held September 3rd, 1815, a committee of two from each town of Landgrove and Peru, who had been appointed, made a report establishing the line surveyed by Esquire Dunton in part, and completed by Daniel Ormsby, county surveyors, A. D. 1803. Report dated January 3rd, 1814. Jonathan Twist, Nathan Burton, committee for Peru; Asa Utley, Peabody Utley, committee for Landgrove. The report was accepted by the proprietors at a meeting of the proprietors. At a subsequent meeting the acceptance was reconsidered; no settlement was effected under the proprietors' administration. The disputed land in the easterly part of the town without further suits for the soil. A pauper suit grew out of it. After one or two suits was settled
DEA. JOHN BATCHELDER.
1) RK MIELIC LIBRARY 1
THE ENO AND EVET FOUNDATIONS.
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HISTORY OF PERU.
another generation occupying the land, old feuds and quarrels are forgotten. Peter Dudley and Josiah Barnard were elected a committee to lay out and survey a fourth division of lots on the undivided land. In their report they reported 15 acres were divided to cach proprietor's right. Johnson Marsh, Surveyor; expenses of the same, $58.50. September 24th, 1824, meeting adjourned to the end Wednesday in September next. No record of another proprietors' meeting until May 15th, 1853. A meeting of the proprietors was warned to meet at L. Howard's hotel in Pera on the 14th day of July, 1853, by Welcome Allen, Justice of the Peace. Peru, July 14th, 1853, proprietors met agreeably to above warrant. Chose O. P. Simonds, Moderator; O. P. Simonds, Proprietors' Clerk; Johnson Marsh, Collector; George Marsh, Treasurer. Voted to make a fifth division of all the undivided land in Peru. Chose Johnson Marsh committee to allot said land by employing a surveyor and other help necessary to do it. Voted that said division and survey be completed and presented to proprietors at L. Howard's hotel in Peru on the 30th day of November next, at one o'clock p. m. At Peru, November 30th, 1853, at the hotel of I .. Howard, Johnson Marsh, committee to allot and survey the undivided land in Peru, reported he had performed the duties and divided said land into 32 acre lots, and made a draft for each proprietor's share. Voted to accept the above report as valid and correct. Cost of the survey and division, $96.63. Annual meeting of the proprietors was held by adjournment until May 2ist, 1857, A. D. No record of any further meeting of the proprietors can be found.
This last and final division was of the land on the west mountain, south of the notch road, being east of Dorset east line.
The Colonial Governor of the Colony of New York, in his surveys on New Hampshire Grants, surveyed all the territory embracing Peru, giving it the name of Brindley. It is not known that he granted it to any individual or chartered it to any number of individuals, and no person ever claimed title under a grant from New York officials.
I am indebted to Judge Wheeler, who furnished me with these facts, and who has a plot of Brindley in connection with adjacent towns. It is found in the documentary history of New York at Albany. I presume this survey of the New York Governor was
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subsequent to the charter granted by Governor Wentworth in 1761.
FIRST KNOWN WHITE PERSONS IN TOWN.
The first white men who trod on the soil of Peru were a company of eighteen men under command of Captain Eleazer Melvin, who started from Northfield, Mass., on the 13th day of May, 1748, on an expedition against the Indians on or about Lake Champlain. The record of the journey says:
"Marched the first day to No. 2, camped; May 14th, they marched to No 4; from No. 4 (Charlestown) marched north- westerly over the mountains to the Lake. On May 25th fired at the Indians from a point about a mile from Crown Point. The Indians being so numerous they retreated east three or four miles, thence traveled southeast ten miles, camped; May 26th, marched southeast about five miles, south about eleven miles further; May 27th, marched southeast to Otter Creek, one mile below the first falls, and marched about four miles above the falls; May 28th, marched up Otter Creek to the Crotch, about six miles, up south branch ten miles; May 29th, marched up the south branch to the head of it, thence southeast over a large mountain, leaving another large mountain on the northwest, keeping course down the mountain, crossed several streams supposed to be the head waters of Saratoga River (now Battenkill), marched this day about sixteen miles; May 30th, marched south southeast about six miles, came upon a branch of West River, traveled down the river about eight miles, camped; May 31st, our provisions being very short we began our march before sunrise and traveled till about half-past nine o'clock, being beside the river. Several of the company desired to stop to replenish, being faint and weary, whereupon we halted and began to take off our packs and sat down, and in about a half minute after our halting the enemy rose from behind a log and several trees about twenty or thirty feet at the furthest distance and fired about twelve guns at us, but do not know whether any men received any hurt though so near. Whereupon I called to the men to face the enemy and run up the bank, which I did myself, and several others attempted, but the enemy was so thick they could not. I had no sooner jumped up the bank but the enemy were so thick just upon me I discharged my gun at one of them about eight feet from the muzzel of my gun, who I saw fall about the same time that
ISRAEL, BATCHELDER.
MIT RROC LIBRARY
TEMFOUNDATIONS.
HISTORY OF PERU.
1 discharged my gun. The enemy fired about twenty guns at us, killed four men, viz .: John Hayward, Isaac Taylor, John Dod and Daniel Man. The men who were alive, or most of them, fired immediately on the enemy, several of which shots did execution, as can be witnessed by several who saw the enemy fall, but seeing the enemy numerous and their guns being discharged, they retreated, several ran across the river, where some of them had a chance, or opportunity, to fire again at the enemy. Some ran up the river and some down, and some into the thicket on the same side of the river. For my own part, after I saw my men retreat, and being beset by the enemy with guns, hatchets and knives, one of which, or a bullet, I cannot certainly tell which, carried away my belt, and with it my bullets, all except one I had loose in my pocket. I ran down the river and two Indians followed almost side by side with me, calling, 'Come, Captain, Now, Captain,' but upon my presenting my gun towards them, though not charged, they fell a little back and ran across the river. I charged my gun, moved a few steps and one of them fired at me, which was the last gun fired. I looked back and saw nine of the enemy scalping the dead men, and six or seven running across the river and several about the bank of the river, all very busy, which I apprehended were carrying off their dead. I then, being alone, went to the side of the hill in sight of the plan of battle, and there seated myself to look for some of my men and to see if the enemy made any shout, as is customary with them when they get the advantage. But hearing no more of them, nor seeing any of my own men, I made the best of my way to Fort Dummer, where I arrived the next day before noon. One of my men got in an hour before me, eleven more came in a few hours in different companies. Six men were killed in the fight. Captain Melvin returned the next day with forty men to bury the dead."
The above was copied from Melvin's Journal, in New Hampshire Historical Collection, Volume 5, pages 109, 110 and II1.
Ensign Taylor was taken captive by the Indians between Hinsdale and Fort Dummer the 17th day of August, 1748. He was taken up West River over the Highlands to the head-waters of Otter Creek. Taylor, on his return from captivity, gave an account of passing over the ground where Captain Melvin's affair happened. There is no doubt but that Captain Melvin's party were the first white persons ever passed through Peru, and Ensign Taylor
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was taken up West River, passed over the high land to the head- waters of the Otter Creek, through Peru, A. D. 1748, and Indian arrows were found in the sand bed below the Haynes mill about 1825. I am indebted to Judge Wheeler, of Brattleboro, for furnishing these facts. It is an established fact that the Indians, during the time the French owned and occupied Canada, frequently crossed the mountains in their predatory excursions upon the frontier settlements on and east of the Connecticut river, following up the streams to the low places on the mountains, then down the branches that run into the Connecticut river and vice versa.
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