USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Rupert > Rupert, Vt.; historical and descriptive, 1761-1898 > Part 11
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A William Buel, a man of considerable note in Rupert, and a son of Abel Buel, of New Haven, Conn., who had . for a long time been connected with the Connecticut mint at that place, came to Rupert about that time and associ- ated himself with Harmon in the business of coining. He brought with him the original dies used by his father at New Haven, and continued the business of coining cop- pers until they had depreciated so much in value as to be worthless, or nearly so, for circulation." Page 227-S. In
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Coinage.
Part II of this book, the location, removal and fate of the old minthouse, will be discussed and determined.
ILLEGAL COINAGE, BY THE CRANES .- About 1800, it was discovered that a large amount of spurious silver coin was getting into circulation in this part of the country- so well executed as to deceive the most wary. Suspicion fell upon one Adonijah Crane and his two brothers-well dressed and fine appearing men-who were loitering about here, without any apparent honest employment. Strict watch was instituted over these gentlemen, and it was discovered, that they were in the habit of often taking a walk into the woods east of the present village of Ru- pert. After long and diligent search, their instruments for coining were found in a secluded glen in the woods at the base of Mt. Antony, and seized, broken up and de- stroyed. The Cranes fled to parts unknown, but rumor has it, that Adonijah met a fate, he no doubt richly de- served, on a gallows in one of the Southern States." Vt. Hist. Mag., p. 228. Tradition, of a reliable nature, makes it possible for me to add to this narrative. Mrs. Nathan Burton (1785-1874), is my main authority. The Cranes, while living in Rupert, a period of several years, always appeared suspicious of danger and ever on their guard. Mrs. Burton was the daughter of Dr. Josiah Graves, the first resident physician and many years town clerk. She remembered the Cranes well, and said the elder brother, Adonijah, often called at her father's. He always came horseback, and seldom dismounted; but if he did so. always kept one hand on the bridle rein. The Cranes lived on the Clark farm; but the exact location of the house is unknown. The father does not appear in this If a affair; their mother kept the house for them.
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stranger appeared at the house while they were at their work, the mother would warn them by starting out with a pail as though to feed the swine, loudly calling, " pig ! pig ! pig!" The discovery of their place of coinage is credited to Judge David Sheldon. He was coming from Pawlet, late at night, and saw a light on the mountains above the
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Cranes. On reaching home, he immediately collected a party to search for the counterfeiters. Towards daylight their retreat was discovered, the occupants being asleep. On being awakened, the elder Crane coolly remarked to Mr. Sheldon, who was examining the coin, " Well, well, Judge Sheldon, I never expected to see you engaged in such business." We are not informed why the Cranes were not arrested; we only know they fled, and made their escape. Their place of coinage has generally been mentioned as a cave. This is probably an error. I think it was as Dr. Sheldon says, "a secluded glen" in the primal forest. I have questioned men familiar with the locality who have no knowledge of a cave. The Cranes were famous wrestlers, especially Adonijah, who at a " raising," on the Mawhiney farm, threw every competi- tor, except Judge Sheldon, who worsted him. Some twenty years, or so, after their flight, a middle-aged stranger called for dinner at the inn of Zadock Norton. He claimed never having been in Rupert, but asked many questions as to its past. The coinage became a subject of conversation and the stranger was evidently interested, when Mrs. Norton said, "There were three of those brothers, one much younger, and you are - - Crane ; I though I had seen you before." The man was consider- ably embarrassed; declared she was mistaken; and pay- ing his bill, soon departed. Nothing more was seen of him; but-Mrs. Norton always believed it was the young- est Crane brother, who had ventured to visit the scene of his former exploits.
POPULATION.
At the census of 1800, Rupert reached the point of greatest population-1648. After the next enumeration, which gave 1630, began a decline, that excepting two slight rallies, has continued to the last census. Between
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Population-Markets.
1810-20 the loss was nearly 300. This exodus was mainly to the northern part of the state, and seems to have mainly spent its force by 1820, for between that date and 1830 the population was nearly stationary. About 1830 began the western exodus, and in the next decade the loss was over 200. By 1860, the population was down to 930. It rose to 1017 by 1870, owing to an influx of choppers and teamsters, engaged in supplying wood for the R. & W. R. R. The population, at each census, was as follows : 1791, 1033; 1800, 1648; 1810, 1630; 1820, 1332; 1830, 1318; 1840, 1091; 1850, 1101; 1860, 930; 1870, 1017; 1880, 957; 1890, 861. Present number of families in town about 200. The census enumerators, for the years given, were, John P. Youlen in 1860; Thomas S. Beebe in 1870; Geo. S. Hibbard in 1880; A. P. Sheldon in 1890.
MARKETS.
Troy, being a river port, and the nearest in the direc- tion of New York, was for more than half a century the trading point for a large region in which Rupert was in- cluded. Here they found a market for their farm produce and received in return manufactured goods and food sup- plies. Every farmer usually made two or more trips to the city annually ; and in every community were teamsters who made a regular calling of taking produce to the city for any one and bringing back goods for the local mer- chants. This teaming also prevailed to a limited extent between here and Whitehall. I can present a few of the names of these old time teamsters: Isaac Hay, Wright Prescott, T. J. Prescott, Kenaz Kinne.
The coming of the steam car changed all, and since that time our market has been mainly at the R. R. sta- tion. The following named, and perhaps others, have
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been, or are now, engaged in buying and shipping farm produce, at this station: Henry Shaw, W. L. Kinne, J. E. Austin, Marshall Baldrige, C. H. Nelson, John Shaw, A. P. Sheldon, C. M. Lincoln, Grant Morey, Richard Smith, Asa Munson, Thos. Gregory, J. L. McCall, D. W. Lincoln. Potatoes, veal calves, poultry, cheese, butter, eggs and maple sugar are the shipments.
These names only include the home buyers; much being shipped by buyers from out of town.
Prominent Early Settlers
In all times and places there have been leaders; men, who, either through superior abilities or unusual circum- stances have been placed by their associates in positions of honor and of danger. Therefore their history became the history of the community, or state, and entitles them to special notice. The loss of records, covering the most trying period of our town's history, makes it impossible to properly present this feature of the work; and no doubt many, highly deserving, will be unnoticed.
ROBERT COCHRAN.
I give pre-eminence, among our early settlers, to Robert Cochran, that bold and possibly turbulent spirit, who returned blow for blow the attack of Briton, Yorker, or Tory. And if he did not aid in the building of the town, he certainly made that building possible. As an associate of Allen, Warner and Baker, his fame is secure. " Robert Cochran came from Massachusetts to Benning- ton about 1768, but soon went on to Rupert and lived on land granted him by New Hampshire. Some New York people claimed a part of his land, and land that some of his friends owned, and began to build shanties and live there. Cochran and his friends burned their shanties and drove
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them away. From that time Cochran worked with the Green Mountain Boys and became one of their captains. A reward of fifty pounds was offered for him by the New York governor. In 1775, when he heard of the trouble . the Tories were making at Westminster, he left his home on the west side of the Green Mountains and reached Westminster within forty-eight hours from the time that messengers had started from the place to arouse their friends. He entered the village armed with pistols and followed by about forty Green Mountain Boys. Cochran asked some of the people why they did not take him and get the money the New York governor offered? Then he boasted that he had come to seize all who had helped the sheriff, and that he meant to find out soon " who was for the Lord and who was for Balaam." Being a little excited, he failed to quote this passage correctly, but it did not matter to him. In May, 1775, he helped Allen at Ticonderoga and Warner at Crown Point. He was afterward made major and served in the eastern part of New York. In 1778 he was sent into Canada to learn what the British were planning. The British found that he was a spy and offered a large reward for him. He had to hide to be safe, and one time while hiding in a brush heap he was taken very sick. He was so hungry and sick that he started for a log cabin in sight. As he came near he heard three men and a woman talking about the reward offered for him, and found they were planning to get it. The men started off and he went in, told the woman who he was and asked her to help him. She gave him food and drink, hid him in her cupboard when the men came back and helped him until he was able to go on. He got safely back to the American army. He
served during the rest of the war, and, like many others, was very poor when it closed. Then he lived at Ticon- deroga, and lastly at Sandy Hill. On his tombstone at Fort Edward we find: "In memory of Col. Robert Cochran, who died July 3, 1812, in the 74th year of his age; a revolutionary officer." Vt. Historical Reader, p. 58-60.
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DAVID SHELDON
Was born in Conn. (Suffield, I suppose), in 1756. In 1775, he enlisted under Capt. Hanchett of Suffield : joined the regiment of Col. Benedict Arnold, was led by him through the wilderness of Maine to Canada, enduring in- credible hardships and suffering, was taken prisoner at Quebec, and after some months of confinement, was ex- changed early in 1776. Tradition says that while return- ing to his home in Conn., he passed through Rupert, and at that time resolved to make it his home. He settled here in 1780, his first location being the farm long occu- pied by the late Enos P. Sheldon. Some four or five years later located on the farm now occupied by his grand- son, Cyrus F. Sheldon, where he resided until his death. The residence was erected by him in 1806. Dr. Sheldon, in his sketch of Rupert, says of him: "He came here poor, but, by industry and good management, made a good fortune. He was a man of large frame, noble and commanding appearance and wielded a great influence over his fellow-townsman. He was a Representative to the Vermont Legislature 13 times between 1784 and 1811, and was one of the Judges of the County Court for many years, besides holding many town offices. He raised a family of ten children and gave four of them a college education, and died in 1832." Mr. Sheldon married Sarah Harmon. Children : David, Thomas, Ira, Luther, Titus, Calvin, James, Cyrus, Sarah, married Elisha Hop- kins; Nancy married Rufus Hopkins. Mrs. Sheldon was a sister of Seth Harmon, Sr. In the cemetery at Rupert Street are these inscriptions: In memory of Hon. David Sheldon. He died Feb. 15, 1832, Æ 75 years. In mem- ory of Mrs. Sarah Sheldon, wife of Hon. David Sheldon Esq. She died Nov. 11, 1829, ÆE Ts years.
ISRAEL SMITH.
'" The subject of this sketch was a graduate of Yale College, studied law and came here in 1783, and com- menced the practice of his profession. In 1785, '88, '89
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and '90, he represented this town in the Legislature; moved to Rutland in 1791; was afterwards member of Congress for four terms; Chief Judge of the Supreme Court in 1797; elected to the U. S. Senate in 1803, which office he resigned on being elected Governor in 1807. He died at Rutland, Dec. 2, 1810. He was a noble looking man and got the name of the handsome Judge." Vt. Hist. Mag., p. 224.
JONATHAN EASTMAN
Was a member of the company of emigrants who first set- tled the Mettowee Valley, about 1767. At this time he was about fifty years of age, the father of a large family, some of whom had arrived at man's estate. He was one of the first " Innholders " and a leading citizen. For more than a century his decendants were numerous and influ- ential, on the East side. In the cemetery at No. Rupert I find: "In memory of Mr. Jonathan Eastman who Departed this life Feb. 6, 1807, in the ninetieth year of his age, In memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Eastman, wife of Mr. Jonathan Eastman, who departed this life Jan. 10th, A. D. 1800, in the seventy-seventh year of her age.
AMOS CURTIS
Was one of the associates of Eastman in settling the Met- towee valley. His residence was on the farm long owned by Carver Leach and now by his son Edward Leach. Like Eastman, Mr. Curtis was an innholder. He died in 1795, aged 62; his wife in 1797, aged 50. His son, and bearing the same name, succeeded him. He died about 1855. None of the descendants, so far as I can learn, now reside in town. John F. Curtis, of Chicago, I understand is a descendant.
REUBEN HARMON
Was another one of this band of settler. His place of residence is unknown; we only know he settled in the Mettowee valley. The subject of this sketch is supposed to have been the father of Reuben Harmon, Jr., famous
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in our history for his copper coinage. Ensign Nehemiah Harmon, whose name several times appears in the early records, may have been his son, also.
AARON RISING
Was one of the earliest settlers on the White Creek meadows, now called West Rupert. He came from Con- necticut about 1769, with his family, a wife and six chil- dren. Mrs. Rising's maiden name was Ann Harmon. Their children were Ruth, who married Reuben Harmon ; Sarah, who married Enoch Eastman; Aaron, who mar- ried Lois Moore; Simeon, who married Esther Jones; Josiah, who married Sally Dewey, and Anna, who mar- ried Levi Doanes. Aaron, Jr., died in early manhood : Simeon and Josiah will be noticed under the next heading.
OLIVER SCOTT
Was an early settler in the White Creek region. He built a grist mill on the Creek, which is believed to have been the first in town, about 1773. This mill was burned by the Tories, five years later. I am told the latter part of his life he resided in Kent Hollow, but do not know the location.
WILLIAM HOPKINS
Was an early settler in the White Creek region. At the time the grist mill was burned (1778) he resided near where the West Rupert R. R. station is now located, and was one of the party that pursued the Tories. He died in 1789. His widow survived him upwards of forty years. Their sons were: Elisha, James, Rufus, William and Amos. I find one Samuel Hopkins mentioned in the early records, but do not know his relationship to William.
REUBEN NOBLE
Was born in Massachusetts, in 1732. He was one of the early settlers in the White Creek region and owned the grist mill, built by Oliver Scott, at the time it was burn-
Prominent Early Settlers. 153
ed. His son Luke, was born in Southwick, Mass. He was a soldier of the Revolution and later a farmer of West Rupert, where he died in 1848. He (Luke) had a son, Luke, who was in the war of 1812; a daughter, Jane, who married Sterling Sherman; a daughter, Martha, who married David Colton, and a daughter, Polly, unmarried. Luke Jr., married Martha Sargent.
MARTIN SMITHI
" Was an early settler, and the first in that part of the town called Indian River. He emigrated to this place from Litchfield, Conn., in 1773. In the language of one of his descendants: ' He was of small stature, energetic, enterprising and benevolent; of the Calvinistic faith-the names of the Reformers were dear to him, and his sons bore their names. The latch-string of his door was always to be found on the outside, when any ministers were about. Rev. Mr. Occum, the Indian preacher, was often a guest at his house, and so also was Father Haynes, the black preacher, and both often preached at his house. By his kind offices to the new settlers, he afforded them much aid and encouragement-indeed, his house was their home, until they could establish homes for them- selves. He was a zealous Whig, and hated the British and Tories with a perfect hatred.' He lived and died, at an advanced age, on the farm he first occupied, never having left it, except for a few months in 1777, during the approach of Burgoyne from the north. His descend- ants are now quite numerous here, and some of them at present own the very land he first occupied." Vt. Hist. Mag., p. 224.
From a writing left by Philo Smith, I learned that his grandfather died March, 1804, aged 86. His home was the place now owned by Wm. Sheldon. He bought all the land lying between Kinne's and Dillingham's north line, and was one of the wealthiest men in town. Among the young men aided by him, Levi Johnson is
(10)
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named. As to his family I know he had two sons, Stephen and Truman, and I think daughters.
An incident of the family's return in the fall of 1777, was mentioned. As they drew near their home, there was anxiety to know if there was a place of shelter, espec- ially if the barn was standing. Thereupon Stephen ran ahead to ascertain, returning with the good news that the barn was all right. Uncle Philo (as we called him), showed me a fire shovel belonging to his grandfather, that was hidden in the willows, and there found by the family after their return.
PHINEAS SPENCER.
The Spencer homestead was what has been known for many years as the Harmon place. Mr. Spencer was Constable of the town a number of years. He died in 1815. I have the following names of his children: Ger- shom, Sheldon, Phineas, Solon, Ichabod S., Olive, Betsey, Mary, Nancy and Love. Olive married Rufus Harmon. The sons all left town in the early years of the century.
SETH HARMON
Came here from Connecticut, prior to the Revolution, being one of the early settlers in the Indian River valley. Mr. Harmon was twice married, each wife a sister of Judge David Sheldon. Children: Seth, Jr., Rufus, Shedrick; Nancy, married Sylvester Smith ; Lucy, married Corey. The homestead was the place long occu- pied by T. J. Prescott. Mr. Harmon was one of those who retired to Connecticut on the approach of Burgoyne, soon returning after the danger passed. Died in 1838, aged 87; Elizabeth, 2nd wife, in 1825, aged 70.
JAMES MOORE
From Simsburg, Conn., about 1780; settled on the farm now occupied by his great great grandson, Albert W. Moore. Married Mary Norton. Six sons and four daughters grew to adult age. The older daughters, Mary
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and Louisa, did not come to Rupert; two others, Aranie and Lois, did. All the children, possibly one exception, were born in Connecticut. The sons were: James, 1759, married in Connecticut, and settled in Steuben Co., N. Y. ; Grove, 1761, will be noticed later on; Jabish, 1767, mar- ried a Miss Crane and settled in the state of New York ; Zophar, 1773, married Jemima Scott in 1799, settled in Virgil, N. Y., in 1805; was a physician, one of the first settled in town; first postmaster at Virgil in 1808; kept the first hotel in town; Seth, 1778, will be noticed later ; Oliver, 1780, married Mary Dewey, lived and died in Dor- set. James Moore, the subject of this sketch, was killed by the falling of a tree, in the year 1800, being 65 years of age.
ASEPH LEAVITT
From Sheffield, Conn., about 1773. On the approach of. Burgoyne, retired with his family to Connecticut, remaining three years; returned to Rupert, where he resided until his death, at the age of 42. Left a family of ten children, of whom six were living in 1860.
JONATHAN FARRAR
Was born at Concord, Mass., in 1731; married Hannah Fletcher in 1760. Children: Sam., Jonathan, Abel, Hannah, married Joel Taylor; Rebecca, married Eber Wilson ; was a lieutenant in the regular militia in 1760. At the battle of Concord, April 19, 1775, he was stationed at the North Bridge in Capt. Charles Miles' company of minutemen; emigrated to Rupert, exact date not known, but probably soon after the Revolution ; died about 1822.
WM. BUEL AND WM. COOLEY.
Both, it will be remembered, were mentioned by Dr. Sheldon in connection with Harmon's coinage, as quoted from the Vt. Hist. Mag. From the same source I add the following regarding Buel : William Buel fled from New Haven to Rupert under the following circumstances : Having had occasion to use some aqua fortis, he procured
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a quantity in a jug from a druggist and was returning to his residence, when he was accosted by some Indians, who insisted upon drinking from the jug what they sup- posed to be rum. He assured them that he had no rum, and that what was contained in the jug would poison them. But the Indians were not satisfied, and, supposing this a mere excuse, seized it, and one of them took a hearty swallow, which of course, soon caused his death. Buel was accused of killing one of their number, and they, in accordance with their notions of justice, claimed his life and watched every opportunity to take it; but he evaded their vigilence by leaving the country. A son of William Buel, and bearing his name, was for a time U. S. Consul at Algiers, where he lost his health, softening of the brain came on, he became idiotic, was returned to this town were he died a pauper about 1828. A grandson of said Buel (the elder), by the name of Abel Buel Moore, is now a distinguished artist in the city of Troy, N. Y." P. 228. Wm. Buel, in the coinage time, and perhaps later, lived in a house on the rise of land back of the premises owned by O. H. Danforth, now occupied by Henry Wood- ward. The town line is nearby, and the house is said to have been in the edge of Dorset. His daughter, Mary, married Judge Grove Moore. Of Wm. Buel, the consul, I was told by the late Ira F. Sheldon that he remem- bered him well, and that Mr. Buel was considered a very able man. So far as I know, he was the only son of Rupert who ever held a consulate. Of Abel Buel Moore, son of Judge Grove and his wife, Mary Buel, a sketch has been given. Regarding Col. Cooley, I can give but little additional information. " Hiram Lodge, No. S, was organized March 22, 1796, and met for the first time at
Samuel Rose's, in the south part of the town. At that meeting William Cooley was appointed master, Zadock Higgins, senior warden and George Clark, junior warden." Hollister's History of Pawlet, p. 151. There is a tradi- tion that he lived for a time on the premises long occu- pied by the late C. A. Sherman, but cannot confirm it.
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SHELDON, ISAAC, father of Isaac and Enos, grand- father of Asahel; married Mindwell Phelps. She died in 1835. He met his death by falling into a well on the farm he owned, now occupied by George Holmes, in the year 1810.
SMITH, ENOCH, father of Thaddeus, grandfather of Hiram S .; from Suffield, Conn., date unknown.
SHELDON, PHINEAS, was prominent in the early days, but dates and facts as to his life are scarce. Tradi- tion connects his name with the mills on Indian River, west of the Horace Trumbull place. His son, Carlos, mar- ried Sarah Casey. His daughter, Deborah, married Thad- deus Smith. He also had a daughter Nancy. Died in 1815, aged 67. Carlos and Sarah (Casey) Sheldon had four sons : Thomas, John, Eli, Amos; Amos married Louisa, daughter of Thaddeus Smith, and resides in Man- chester.
GOOKINS, SAM., born in Massachusetts; to Rupert from Suffield, Conn., before the Revolution. Served in the French war of 1754-63; married Mary Mullet. Children : Sam., William; Mary, second wife of Maj. Wm. Bailey; John M .; Elizabeth, married Wm. King. Sam. and William were in the Revolutionary army. Mr. Gookins died in 1812.
CASS, JOSIAH, was the second proprietor's clerk, and from examination of a few records made by by him I con- clude he was a man of more than average attainments among the early settlers. The act which gives him a not-to-be-forgotten place in our history, was the destroy- ing or carrying away of our records in the early days of the Revolution. This act, of no benefit to him, was an irreparable loss to the town.
SHELDON, JOEL, son of Daniel, was born in Suffield, Conn., in 1746; married Mary Hanchett of same, and set- tled in Rupert, date unknown. He was the father of David S. Sheldon, and grandfather of Joel H., who mar-
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ried Marcia, daughter of Sam. Farrar. He held several town offices in the early decades of the town. Died at N. Rupert in 1829; his widow in 1841.
Aseph Sheldon, Abel Hodge, Sumner Hunt, Nathan- iel Norton, Levi Doanes, Moses Stone, Samuel Colton, Alpheus Sherman, David Frary, Simeon Graves, Wm. McClary, Moses Sheldon, Ezra Sheldon, and no doubt many other, are worthy of special notice; but both lack of space and the necessary information forbid it.
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