The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 100

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press
Number of Pages: 1064

USA > Vermont > Washington County > Montpelier > The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier. > Part 100

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LISTERS 1794-1882.

Stanton Richardson, 1794, 95, 96, 97 ; Ezekiel Robinson, 1794, 1803, 10 ; William Ashcroft, 1795, 96; Ezekiel Pierce, 1795, 96, 1802; Nathaniel Robinson, 1797 ; Samuel Pierce, 1797 ; David Denny, 1798 ; Abel Keyes, 1768, 1807; James Paul, 1798, 1803; Aaron Partridge, 1799; Oli- ver Cobleigh, 1799, 1800, 02, 04, 08, 09 ; Abraham Shipman, John Emerson, 1800 ; Elisha Brown, 1800, 1804, 05 ; Amos Rob- inson, 1804, 06, 28 ; Gilbert Hatch, 1801,

03; Ethan Allen, 1804, 05, 11 ; Joseph Nichols, 1806, 07, 08, 09; James Morgan, 1806; Charles Jones, 1807, 09, 12 ; Na- thaniel Richardson, 1810, 11, 31 ; Jesse Averill, 1811, 18, 26, 37, 45 ; Gilbert Hatch, 1811, 12, 14, 16, 18; Seth Smith, 1812; Oliver Averill, 1813, 14, 17; Nathaniel Jones, 1813, 15, 27 ; Eleazer Loomis, 1814, 15, 27, Solomon Dunham, 1815 ; Thomas Slade, 1816; Nathaniel Green, 1816, 20 ; Josiah B. Strong, 1817, 18 ; Dyer Loomis, 1817; John Starkweather, 1819, 21, 22 ; Elijah Smith, Jr., 1819, 26; Daniel D. Robinson, 1819, 23, 28; John Hinckley, 1820, 21 ; James Morgan, 1820; Charles Jones, 1821 ; Charles Paine, 1822, 23, 28 ; Joseph Keyes, 1822; Joseph Williams, 1823, 27; Benjamin Porter, 1824; Sam- uel Gilson, 1824, 25 ; Henry Knapp, 1825 ; John West, 1824, 25; David M. Lane, Harry Ainsworth, 1826, 29; Elijah Smith, 1829; John Averill, 1829, 35, 38 ; John L, Buck, Erastus Parker, Allen Patch, 1830 ; David Partridge, 1831 ; Daniel Parker, Jr., 1831; Elijah Smith, Jr., 1832, 35, 36, 37 ; Elijah Burnham, 1832 ; Joel Winch, 1832, 34, 36, 42, 65, 66; George K. Cobleigh, 1833, 34; Samuel Denny, 1833, 34; Nu- man R. Dryer, 1834, 36 : David W. Hadley, 1835, 39; David Robinson, 1837, 38; John Starkweather, 1838 ; Hiram Dwinell, 1839; Moses Robinson, 1839, 40, 41, 43, 44, 47, 48, 49, 57, 59. 61, 62, 63, 64; Sam- uel N. Richmond, 1840, 41, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 52, 53; Harvey Tilden, 1841, 43 ; Na- than Morse, 1842; James Gould, 1843; William Nichols, 1844, 52, 57 ; Daniel P. King, 1844, 46, 48; Marvin Simonds, 1845, 51, 52, 54, 58 ; G. P. Randall, 1846 ; Moses Thurston, 1847; D. W. Hadley, 1849, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 60; Richard H. Little, 1849; Joseph Denney, Joseph Gould, Hiram Henry, 1850 ; William Gold, Jr., 1851, 52, 56; Henry Jones, Jr., 1854 ; A. D. Metcalf, 1855, 74; F. A. Preston, 1855, 56, 57, 59, 60 ; William C. Woodbu- ry, 1858, 64; E. B. Pride, 1858; D. S. Burnham, 1859; George Robinson, 1860 ; I. W. Brown, 1861,62; Freeman Thresh- er, 1861, 62, 63, 77 ; A. D. Metcalf, 1863 ; J. C. Gallup, 1864, 65, 66, 74, 78 ; Wil- liam H. Loomis, 1865, 66; George Nich-

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ols, 1867, 70, 71 ; William S. Smith, 1867; William Gold, 1868 ; A. A. Preston, 1868, 69, 75 ; William R. Tucker, 1868, 69; T. L. Salisbury, 1869; F. S. Kimball, 1870 ; Fred Parker, 1871, 72, 76; Ira A. Holton, 1871, 72, 73, 74, 75 ; William H. Loomis, 1872; Royal Clark, 1873; James Morse, 1873, 74; Royal W. Clark, 1874; Francis Wright, 1875; E. H. Howes, 1876, 77 ; O. P. Winch, 1876; J. H. Ransom, 1877 ; John L. Mosely, C. A. Tracy, 1878 ; C. B. Tilden, E. C. Fiske, 1879, 80 ; Free- man Thresher, 1879 ; E. H. Howes, 1880; J. A. Holton, J. C. Gallup, Andrew Doty, 1881.

TOWN CLERKS FROM 1794.

Nathaniel Robinson, Gilbert Hatch, Eli- jah Smith, Volney H. Averill, C. A. Edg- erton, Geo. B. B. Denny.

POSTMASTERS.

Oliver Averill, John E. McClure, Volney H. Averill, Elijah Smith, J. A. S. White, Wm. Rogers, Francis V. Randall, James Currier, Roswell Dewey, Geo. W. Soper, J. H. Orcutt.

COUNTY OFFICERS.

John Starkweather, I. W. Brown, high sheriffs ; John L. Buck, Heman Carpenter, C. H. Joyce, Frank Plumley, state's att'ys ; Nathan Morse, D. W. Hadley, side judges ; H. Carpenter, judge of probate; D. T. Averill, high bailiff.

LAWYERS

who have practiced in this town to 1878 : John L. Buck, B. F. Chamberlain, Heman Carpenter, F. V. Randall, A. V. H. Car- penter, A. C. May, Charles H. Joyce, Geo. M. Fisk, C. N. Carpenter, James N. John- son, E. J. McWain, Frank Plumley, C. D. Joslyn, Cyrus M. Johnston. Lawyers since Gregory's book-F. R. Bates, D. Webster, B. F. Chamberlin, Edward Farr. PHYSICIANS. .

Nathaniel Robinson, Jeptha White, Ben- jamin Porter, Julius Easterbrook, John Work, Clifton Claggett, Numan R. Dryer, Samuel W. Thayer, Washington Cochran, Jared Barrett, Edward H. Williams, Joshua B. Smith, George Nichols, Edwin Porter, P. D. Bradford, Samuel Keith, M. Mc- Clearn, Daniel Bates, P. E. O. Chase, S. H. Colburn, M. F. Styles, G. W.

Colton, J. Draper, H. C. Brigham, Leonard Thresher, W. B. Mayo, O. O. Davis, L W. Hanson, J. H. Winch, - Green.

THE PAPER CARRIER.

Henry Dewey, of Randolph, was the first regular paper carrier for this town, by bringing the weekly news, and Ambrose Nichols, the second. The paper carrier was always a welcome visitor. When the tin horn sounded his approach, the chil- dren were on tip-toe, and would rush out to the highway to get their papers, which were read with great avidity. A paper once a week was considered a very great blessing.

NORTHFIELD IN THOMPSON'S GAZETTEER,

(1824.)

There were considerable revivals of re- ligion here in 1802, 1807, 1811 and 1821. There are three ordained preachers : Elder Joel Winch and Nathan B. Ashcroft, Meth- odists, and Elder James Morgan, Freewill Baptist. The epidemic of 1811-'12 was very mortal here, and the dysentery swept off about 30 children in this town in the fall of 1823. The physicians are Benjamin Porter and Julius Easterbrook. The prin- cipal stream in this town is Dog river, which runs through it in a northerly di- rection, and affords a great number of val- uable mill-privileges. A range of argilla- ceous slate passes through the township from south to north. The surface is con- siderably uneven, but it forms a convenient centre, in which is a small village, contain- ing a meeting-house, one tavern, two stores, one saddler, one hatter, two black- smith shops, one physician, one tannery, and 17 dwelling-houses. This is a place of some business, and is rapidly increas- ing. The second house was erected in this village in 1814. There is a small village 1} miles south of the one above mentioned, containing 2 saw-mills, I grist and I fulling-mill, I carding-machine, I cider-mill and several machine-shops. One mile north of the meeting-house (Depot Village) is an extensive woolen-factory, containing 230 spindles and 8 looms. There are also here some other mills and machinery. There are in town 9 school- districts, 7 school-houses, I company of

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inilitia, I of artillery, 8 saw, 3 grist and 2 fulling-mills, I carding-machine, I woolen- factory, 2 stores, 2 taverns, 2 tanneries and 4 blacksmith shops.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

of the first settlers and most prominent citizens of Northfield, from 1785 to 1878, condensed from Mr. Gregory's History, page 58 to 251, inclusive. Mr. Gregory's volume is Svo. pp. 319. The preceding part of this paper is the summary of the town history contained in its first 57 pages.

JOHN GREGORY'S TOAST

at the Northfield centennial day dinner. The 4th of July, 1876: .

The early settlers of Northfield :- Prompted by their love of freedom, strong in the ambition of their manhood, and clad in the garb of truth and morality, they sought amid the wilds of Vermont a home for themselves, and for those who should come after them. Through their efforts the wilderness was made to blossom as the rose, and the fruits of their labors are to us a priceless inheritance.

AMOS ROBINSON,

born in Providence, R. I., Aug. 19, 1762 ; next to Elijah Paine, was the most influen- tial man of that early day ; made the first settlement, May, 1785, where his son, Hon. Moses Robinson, now lives (1878). He was the first representative of the town, re-elected 13 successive years, with the exception of 1810; justice of the peace many years, and was a large-hearted, hon- orable man, well-qualified for a leader in a new settlement. He induced a number of his relatives and friends to move from Westminster, Vt. to this town. He mar- ried for his first wife Batheny Jones, chil- dren : Polly, b 1786 ; Kezia, b 1787 ; Amos, b 1789; Patty, b 1791 ; Alman, b 1794 ; Judge, b 1795 ; Loretta, b 1796; Elijah, b 1799. He married for his second wife Mrs. Submit Holden ; children : Moses, b 1804 ; Sophronia, b 1810 ; Caroline, b 1815. Mr. Robinson died Mar. 13, 1840.

KEZIA ROBINSON, daughter of Amos and Batheny, was the first child born in Northfield. She married Ira Sherman, of Waterbury, and died in 1877.

H.on MOSES ROBINSON, son of Amos, who lived on the old homestead, held

many town offices, and was State Senator in 1846-7. He died Apr. 22, 1881.

JUDGE ROBINSON, another son of Amos, settled near the Roxbury line ; was a farmer.

COL. EZEKIEL ROBINSON,

brother of Amos, born in Providence, R. I., July 15, 1764, came from Westminster, May, 1785, nearly 10 years before the town was organized, and settled on the farm now occupied by John Henry, on the East Hill. He was moderator, selectman, col- lector, &c. He married Dinah Doubleday, born in Palmer, Mass., April 28, 1764. Mrs. Erastus Parker, a daughter of Col. Ezekiel, of Waterbury, says, " I have heard father and mother tell much about their living in a log house without a board or door about it, until they had 2 children ; when the first was born, Jan. 26, 1788, father went over the hills of deep snow, with snow shoes and a hand sled, almost down to Farewell village, 9 miles, to get a midwife. She went home with him, some of the way on a sled, and some on foot."

"I was quite young, but remember the talk about father being called a ' Fed,' and Uncle Amos Robinson a . Whig.' Father held the common offices in town, and was a surveyor through all its early history. He used to take large pieces of peeled hem- lock bark for his bed, and make a rousing fire to keep the wolves off-they used to follow him home. many a time close to his horse's heels. The bears were kept from the cabin the same way, by great ńres."

They had 7 children : Lucinda, b 1788; Daniel, b 1789; Reuben, b 1791 ; Sylva- nus, b 1793 ; Anna, b 1796 ; David, b 1799 ; Weltha, b 1806. All born in Northfield.

Mr. Robinson died in 1834; Mrs. Rob- inson died in 1851.

DR. NATHANIEL ROBINSON,

brother of Amos, came to Northfield soon after him, and settled on East Hill. The first town meeting, and town meetings fre- quently after, were held at his house. He was a very good physician, and the first one that practiced in town; and first town clerk, and held the office until he died, and was frequently elected to other offices, and decidedly popular with the people. He married Lucy Cushman ; they had 8 chil-

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dren : Lydia, b 1784 ; Peggy, b 1786; Bet- sey, b 1789; Nathaniel, b 1791 ; Lucy, b 1794; Philetus, b 1797; Weltha, b 1800; Adaline, b 1802. All born in Northfield, except Lydia and Peggy, in Westminster. Mr. Robinson died in 1813, with the measles.

DAVID ROBINSON,

son of Col. Ezekiel, born in 1799. Begin- ning life as a farmer, with comparatively nothing, his industry and economy led him to engage in the first manufacturing inter- ests of the Falls Village, with James Gould, Walter Little, and David Fletcher, about 1835. They made woolen goods. The business was a success, when he died, at the age of 42. He was in independent cir- cumstances, and honored as a man of ster- ling integrity. He married Sarah Denny of Northfield, in 1820. They had 10 chil- dren : George, Mary, Ezekiel, Charles, John, Martin, Ezekiel 2d, Franklin, Sarah Ellen and David.

GEORGE, son of David, was for a time in trade with Joseph Denny, at the Centre Village, later carried on himself the same business there and at the Depot Village. He was agent and one of the company of the Brookfield Fork Factory. Mrs. Rob- inson died in 1866. Mr. Robinson moved in 1867, and now resides, with his daugh- ters, in Fairbault, Minn., and is engaged in the grain trade.

THOMAS AVERILL, SR.,

born in Westminster, 1745, and his wife, Elizabeth, a sister of Amos Robinson, came from Westminster here, with his two sons, Jesse and John, in 1805. Oliver, another son, came 2 years later. They settled on the East Hill, the only part of the town much settled, but a little distance from the first clearing, and were all enter- prising farmers. Mr. Averill was a man well calculated for a pioneer settlement, but terribly afflicted with that awful dis- ease cancer, which shortened his days. His house was used occasionally for town meetings.

Children : John, b 1775 ; Betsey, b 1777 ; Amos, b 1779 ; Oliver, b 1782 ; Nabbie, b 1784; Jesse, b 1786; Lucy, b 1788; Lavi- na, b 1790 ; John, b 1794 ; Keziah, b 1798.

Mr. Averill died in 1823, aged 78 years ; Mrs. Averill in 1840, aged 88.

COL. OLIVER AVERILL,

after living on the East Hill a number of years, farming and blacksmithing, removed to the Center village, engaging in the same business. He was a public spirited man, and received many town offices. He was town treasurer many times, and such was the unbounded confidence his fellow towns- men reposed in him that they did not re- quire a bondsman. He was postmaster also many years, holding the office until 1842.

He was a characteristic man, of a ner- vous temperament, and very decisive. He did not wait for others to form an opinion before he expressed his on politics or any particular subject ; but he was a man of whom it might be said, "in him there was no guile :" and in his old age was remark- ably active, and retained his natural buoy- ancy of spirit almost to the close of his life. He married Polly Hopkins, born Mar. 7, 1780 ; they had 4 children. Their son, Volney H., was many years town clerk. His children were: Volney H., b 1804, died 1871 ; Riley, b 1807, died 1863 ; Rolan, b 1813; Mary, b 1824; all in Northfield, except Volney H., in West- minster. Mr. Averill died Apr. 11, 1870, aged 88 ; Mrs. Averill Oct, 5, 1847, aged 67.

CAPTAIN JESSE AVERILL.

No man in this town had more to do with its public business from 1815 to 1840. He held almost every office that the town could confer upon him, selectman, represen- tative, justice of the peace, lister, modera- tor, school committee, &c. He commenc- ed his public career when quite young, and was deservedly popular with both political parties. His sound judgment and quiet, unostentatious manner endeared him to the people, and his sterling honesty and firmness of mind, always seeking to do right, and particularly being the friend of the poor and unfortunate, led him to be appointed administrator in the settling of many estates.

He was one who never sought office, but office would seek him, and when the

their Susan Emil Mr. Smith

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NORTHFIELD.

voters had a severe contest over some can- didate, and found they could not elect him, they would say, " Let's send Captain Jesse ; we can elect him !"

He married Polly Loomis, of Hinsdale, Mass., born Nov. 28, 1783, sister to Eleaz- er and Dyer Loomis ; children, all born in Northfield, Clark, 1812; Maria P., 1814; Russell, 1816; Thomas, 1820; David T., 1823.

Mr. Averill died July 25, 1860, aged 74: Mrs. Averill Oct. 17, 1855, aged 72.

JOHN AVERILL,

youngest brother of Amos, Oliver and Jesse, carried on blacksmithing with farm- ing on the East Hill. He bought 100 acres of land formerly owned by Judge Paine, including the first clearing, He was rep- resentative, selectman, lister, justice of the peace, and overseer of the poor, honoring his trusts. He lives [1878] near the Cen- ter village, at the age of 84, having sold his farm a number of years ago to his nephew, I). T. Averill. He has probably seen more years in Northfield, with the ex- ception of one or two, than any man now living. His recollection of past events is very good, and I am indebted to him for many reminiscences in the lives of the early settlers ; more than to any other man.

Mr. Averill remembers when a lad of attending the raising of Judge Paine's fac- tory, in the Factory Village, and it is vivid in his memory that they had pork and beans for dinner, cooked in a five-pail- kettle.

He married Loretta, daughter of Amos Robinson ; children : Albert J., 1819; Charles, 1823; George, 1827, died 1856; Loretta C., 1831 ; Edwin, 1835, dead; Henry, 1837 ; all in Northfield. Mr. Aver- ill died in 1881.

ELIJAH SMITH

and wife, Polly (Nichols) born in Putney, 1763, 1764, married in Northfield, 1785 ; lived in Putney until 1803, when they re- turned here and spent the remainder of their lives ; had 8 children : Polly, Sally, Susanna, Elijah, David, Betsey, Fanny, Emily.

Mr. Smith died in 1840, age 77; Mrs. Smith in 1844, age 80.

ELIJAH SMITH, JR.,

born in Putney, 1795 ; came to Northfield with his father, in 1803; married Anna, daughter of Col. Ezekiel Robinson, Dec., 1818; had 10 children : Edward A., Julia A., Louisa, Amanda, Ann Maria, Charles E., Frederick E., Caroline M., Erastus P., John E., all in Northfield.

Mr. Smith died July 7, 1863, aged 68 ; Mrs. Smith July 27, 1875, aged 79.

Mr. Smith was of tall, commanding fig- ure, manly and dignified in deportment. He was for many years Governor Paine's chief clerk, and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He suc- ceeded Gilbert Hatch as town clerk, and held the office a number of years. His elegant, precise penmanship stands out in bold relief all through the town records during the years he was town clerk. He was an obliging man, and the writer has been pleased to notice the reverence and respect our citizens have for his memory. The prominent characteristic of his life, and which gave him success, was his high sense of public virtue, his irreproachable integrity. The tongue of calumny never dared to whisper a suspicion of him. Through all his private and public life there shone the luster of a noble manhood, and a pure, unsullied name.

GILBERT HATCH,

born in Preston, Conn., Aug 14, 1764; married Sally Nichols, born Jan. 22, 1767, and came to Northfield between 1790 and 1800, and settled on the William Gold farm. He was town clerk from 1813, when Dr. Robinson died, many years, and held other town offices ; children by his first wife : Polly, b. 1801 ; Sarah, 1802 ; Amos S., 1803; Elizabeth, 1805; Edward N., 1806; Sidney S., 18OS; Sarah Ann, 1810 ; by his second wife, Martha Royce ;- his first died in 1817,-he had Sidney, b 1818; Gilbert M., 1822; Marion F., 1824; all born in Northfield. He died in 1835.

ELEAZER LOOMIS,

and his brother Dyer, at 19 and 17 years, came and settled on the mountain near where Hopson Barker now resides. Eleaz- er was born in Hinsdale, Mass., 1785 and married Polly Buck, who was born in Con-

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necticut in 1787. They had good success in wheat, raising one year 300 bushels. Living opposite where our railroad depot now stands, they could look down into the valley of Dog River, where not a stick of timber had been cut.

They had many struggles for a foothold in the forest, but, like other early settlers with brave hearts and willing hands, suc- cess crowned their labors. At times the howling of wild beasts, as they often said, made their hair stand on end; for the country abounded with bears, wolves and catamounts. One morning Eleazer went out to a corn-crib, made of rails, back of his house, to get some corn for his hens, when a huge bear, that had been helping himself, jumped down from the crib, which so alarmed the young man he ran round on the other side and Bruin and he met face to face, and both being more fright- ened ran round again, both trying to es- cape.

After a few years, the brothers moved to the east side of the mountain, to what is called the " North Corner," where Eleaz- er's son, William H. Loomis, now resides. Eleazer held a number of town offices ; was a hard working man, and well liked. His children were Roxanna, Eleazer, Lou- isa, Cynthia, William, Mariette, Adaline ; all born in Northfield. He married for his second wife Louisa Bullock, of Berlin. He died in 1866; Mrs. Loomis in 1835.

AQUILLO JONES,

born in Westminster, 1745, came to this town soon after Esquire Amos Robinson. He married Prudence Wise, and they settled on the farm known afterwards as the " Bennett place." Mrs. Jones came to Northfield on horseback, using for a rid- ing stick a twig of a " Balm of Gilead," which she stuck into the ground by her log-house, and it became a great tree. She was 'a help-meet to her husband, and could turn her hand to the cradle, the loom, the sugar-place, and the barn-yard. It was said by those who worked for them that she would get up mornings, in the spring of the year, by two or three o'clock, and go to the barn to see if the cows were cared for, and in judging of the value of

neat stock Esquire Amos Robinson used to say he would give more for her judgment in that direction than for any man's in Northfield.

At one time the saw-mill stopped, the saw breaking, and the men were so busy in their farming operations that they could not go to Westminster for another, Mrs. Jones volunteered and brought it in her arms, riding on horseback. A feat to test the patience and strength of a stout man.

Aquillo was troubled about what would become of his earthly tabernacle after he had " shuffled it off," he declared often he would not be buried on "Cobble Hill," a little burying-ground near where he lived, "it looked so cold and dreary." Being questioned about his son Charles buying a farm in Randolph (where they were all going to live) he guessed he had not got cheated, for they had a good burying- ground in that town.

Children of Aquillo and Prudence : William, Charles, Polly, Nancy, Sally. He died in 1830, age 82, and his wife in 1824, age 82.

WILLIAM came with his father, and, after a few years, settled on Judge Paine's turn- pike, near the toll-gate, and commenced keeping tavern in ISII on the farm now occupied by Timothy Holland. This was quite a public place of resort in those early days of staging; horses used on the through line to Boston were changed here.

Mr. Jones married Sally Babbitt, and they had 13 children, born in Northfield : Charles, Lucy, Louisa, Emery, William, William, Jr., Lamira, Sarah, Rebecca, Pru- dence, Seth, Harriet, Luther. Mr. Jones died in 1840, aged 63 ; Mrs. Jones in 1829, aged 44.

CHARLES JONES settled on the old home- stead, and built the two-story house near " Bennett's Pond," now owned by Edward Howes. He married Lucinda, daughter of Col. Ezekiel Robinson ; children : Alba, Daniel, Lucinda, Caroline, Daniel 26, and Weltha. Mr. Jones died at Menasha, Wis., in 1871, where he located in 1855, age 91.

ABRAHAM SHIPMAN

came from Westminster at a very early

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day, and was quite a prominent man in the settlement. He was a selectman 8 years, and represented the town in the legislature. His first wife's name was An- nis Rice ; his children were Azubah, Hi- ram, Orran, Ophir, Orphia, Sardis. She died in 1809, and Mr. Shipman married Peggy, daughter of Doctor Nathaniel Rob- inson, who had two children : Annis R. and Phidelia C.

A story is told of " Uncle Abraham." One April, nearly 52 years since, when our townsman, David T. Averill, was in small clothes, his father, Captain Jesse, started for the cows near evening, not knowing the little fellow was following him. After his return he learned the boy was missing. Great alarm prevailed for fear he would wander into the woods near by, and perish before morning, and search was commenced. At " Uncle Abraham's " the lights were burning ; all but the old people had retired ; they, as usual, smoking, pre- paratory to going to bed, when a noise was heard at the window, and two little hands came pat upon the panes of glass. Aunt Peggy was alarmed; the fire flew from her pipe across the room ; but Uncle Abraham went out, and brought in the lost child, and he was stripped of his wet clothes, wrapped in a warm blanket and fell asleep. The shell was sounded, the news flew along the line where the men were in search. Col. Geo. K. Cobleigh, quite ex- cited, who had been riding up and down the road some time, hearing the good news, cried out with a stentorian voice, " The child is found; he is safe in Abraham's bosom!"

ELIPHUS SHIPMAN, brother of Abraham, settled about the same time. He lived and died in a little log-house near where James Morse, Esq., now lives, and mar- ried one of the four sisters (Sally Double- day,) who came to this town together, being the first women seeking a new home in the wilderness here; their children were : Phebe, Electa, Caleb, Levi, Daniel, Edmund, Cynthia, and Polly.

ELEAZER NICHOLS, SR.,

born in Putney, 1762; married Betsey Goodwin, of Putney, and settled here in

1809. Their children were: Ambrose, Eleazer, Jr., James, Patty, Polly, William, Betsey, John G., Lucy, Laura. Mr. Nich- ols died in 1831, and Mrs. Nichols in 1853. AMBROSE NICHOLS,

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The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 100

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press Number of Pages: 1064

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press
Number of Pages: 1064