USA > Vermont > The Lake Champlain and Lake George valleys, Vol. I > Part 32
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It was in 1777 that the great battle of Bennington was fought. Although it took place outside this township, county and State, and within the borders of New York, Baum's objective was Bennington and the town played a very important part in the whole affair. In 1778, the first meeting of the Vermont Legislature took place at Bennington. This occurred at about the time Ethan Allen returned from two years of captivity in England's jails. He at once became involved in an interesting incident. A man named Redding had been convicted by six jurors of treasonable activities and had been sen- tenced to be hanged. A large crowd of people gathered to see the execution, but the Governor and Council gave the prisoner a reprieve because of the abnormal size of the trial jury. The settlers, too wrought up to understand the necessity of proper legal requirements, and fearing that the hated prisoner would go free, decided to take matters into their own hands. Ethan Allen finally was able to prevail upon them to stop by explaining the reason for the reprieve, and
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promising, "if Redding is not hung, I will be hung myself." The prisoner was retried by a jury of twelve members, convicted and hanged within the ensuing week. Among the noted residents who lived in Bennington at one time or another was the great abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison, who published "The Journal of the Times" from October, 1828, to March, 1829.
In the Bennington of yesterday, which is Bennington Center or Old Bennington of today, there used to be a review of the militia on stated occasions. According to Mr. Hall, "it was a high time, and one in which the people turned out almost en masse making it a holi- day occasion, usually bringing their dinners and lunches for men, women and children. The streets were generally lined with peddlers selling fruits, watermelons, and large supplies of baker's gingerbread,
PUTNAM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, BENNINGTON
in the shape of large cards, the thought of which would sharpen the appetite and make the mouths of the youth 'to water.' How many of both men and children could be seen wending their way homeward after the pleasures and fatigue of the day with a large melon or card of the gingerbread under their arm. These trainings were invariably accompanied by several wagons, in which were borne barrels of cider on draught, to warm up or cool off the customers, as they might hap- pen to be in condition. There was, in addition to the regular militia who carried muskets, a company of artillery, dressed in showy uni- forms, carrying swords, and who during a portion of their drill would draw 'the old brass' cannon through the village with drag ropes, firing often and sometimes making a rattling of window-panes from the concussion produced." It is Old Bennington that holds the main
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interest of the historian. It is here that we find the treasures of the past and famous buildings. The site of the Catamount Tavern, the statue of Seth Warner, the Historical Museum and the Bennington Battle Monument, three hundred and six feet high, are but a few of the very interesting historical gems found here.
The present village of Bennington was originally known as Algiers and East Bennington. Thanks to the abundant waterpower on the Walloomsac, it eventually began to outstrip the older community in population and by 1844 had several hundred inhabitants. In that decade a bitter fight broke out between the two villages, Old Ben- nington attempting to retain its courthouse and post office, but eventu- ally losing both. It was not even successful in retaining its name. In 1849, the government named the old village West Bennington, while it bestowed the old historic name of Bennington on the growing town by the river. In the same year Bennington was incorporated by the Vermont Legislature. The township is rich in agricultural, mineral and manufacturing productions and was for many years the largest and most wealthy town in the entire State. In 1930 the population of the village was 7,390, while there were 10,628 in the entire township.
Next we approach the scenic town of Dorset on the border next to Rutland County. It is rather mountainous and contains consider- able marble. Its two valleys constitute a watershed where we find the sources of Otter Creek, the Battenkill and the Mettawee River. As a rule the soil is fertile and the scenery is striking. The town- ship was chartered by Wentworth in 1761 to about sixty proprie- tors. Its part in the land grant dispute was foreshadowed by the fact that when it was first settled in 1768 some of the inhabitants were from New York and some were from New England. As early as July, 1775, the committees of the townships west of the Green Moun- tains met in Dorset and voted to cooperate with Schuyler and the Continental Congress. At this time it was also decided to make Seth Warner lieutenant-colonel of the regiment of Green Mountain Boys. This position had been expected by Ethan Allen, who was terribly disappointed when the other was chosen. As a rule, the delegates at Dorset were older men who had little confidence in Allen's impetuosity and daring strategy and who preferred to give the reins to the more conservative Warner. Here also, in 1776, was proclaimed the inde- pendence of Vermont. In 1777, during the retreat from Ticonderoga, St. Clair's army passed through this township. Today, it is a center of art and literature with a population of 1, 120.
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In the history of Addison County the name of General John Strong will occupy a prominent place, but he also lived in Dorset for a few years. One episode connected with this interesting pioneer and his family is associated with both localities and may properly be pre- sented here. At the time of Burgoyne's capture of Crown Point on Lake Champlain, they still occupied their rude home in Addison. One day while Strong was away, a warning came to his wife that Indians were coming. Although in poor health she was determined to save herself and her children. She tied her baby in a sack with only his head and shoulders out, and fastened him on the back of her old- est daughter, while she divided the luggage among her other children and started for the place where a boat was waiting. Finally she could go no farther and sat down exhausted until a neighbor rode up who managed to reach the boat with the Strongs just in time. The fugi- tives hurried southward by way of Whitehall. When the warning first came of an Indian attack, the two oldest among the Strong children were searching for stray cattle. While their mother was saving their younger brothers and sisters, these two boys remained hidden until the savages had gone. Then they finally caught up with the rest of the family. Strong, himself, was captured and taken to Crown Point before Fraser. The British officer consented to allow him to search for his family on condition that he should give himself up by the middle of November. He found his home in ashes and then went up the lake to Whitehall. From this point he searched for his family in all directions, but with little success. In the words of a sketch from the "Vermont Historical Magazine," "After weeks of fruitless search [he] had almost despaired of finding them, when one evening, weary and footsore, he called at a log-house in Dorset, Vt., for enter- tainment for the night. It was quite dark. A flickering light from the dying embers only rendered things more indistinguishable. He had just taken a seat when a smart little woman, with a pail of milk, came in and said: 'Moses, can't you take a gentleman's hat?' That voice ! He sprang towards her ! 'Agnes !' and she with outstretched arms, 'John! O, John!' How quick the voice of loved ones strikes upon the ear, and vibrates through the heart. That was a happy night in the little log-house. The children came rushing in, and each in turn received their father's caress." Strong represented Dorset in the
C & G-22
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State Legislature from 1779 to 1782, returning to his other home in Addison in 1783.
Next on our list is Glastenbury, which today has the distinction of having the smallest population of any town in the entire State of Vermont. Only seven people inhabit this township, which is one of the most mountainous in the State. Most of it is unsuitable for cultivation, and its residents have depended almost entirely on the lumber industry. Like many Vermont towns it is a mere shadow of its former stature. As early as 1790 it had a population of thirty- four and in 1810 it had seventy-six. A decline then set in, but a big jump took place after the Civil War, the population in 1870 being one hundred and nineteen and in 1880, two hundred and forty-one. When lumbering declined, Glastenbury followed suit. Until 1834, the settlers for all practical purposes belonged to the neighboring town of Shaftsbury, which borders it on the west. To make the story of this town complete, Glastenbury was disorganized in 1937. Until this happened, the town's seven residents, including three voters, selected a representative to the State Legislature just as did Burling- ton's 24,780 population.
Another township which constitutes a fine lumbering region is Landgrove. Located in the northeast corner of Bennington County, it is six miles long from north to south, about two miles wide in the northern part, and half a mile wide in the south, shaped like a toy pistol pointed downward on the map. It is one of the smallest townships in Vermont. The first settlement was made by a Connecticut family named Utley in 1769. The settlers thought they were within the limits of Peru, but after a few years discovered their mistake. They then secured a charter from Vermont, creating Landgrove Township in 1780, and it was finally organized in 1800. For some time there was a furious dispute with Peru over boundary lines, which was not set- tled until 1835, when the State Legislature stepped into the picture at the request of the two towns. In 1930, Landgrove's population was but 104.
Next we come to the town of Manchester which, after Benning- ton, is the county's most historic community. It is situated in the north central section, directly south of Dorset. Through the center of the township, flowing in a southwesterly direction, is the fertile valley of the Battenkill with its three villages known as Manchester, Manchester Center and Manchester Depot, while on both sides are
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beautiful mountain ranges. The town's charter, granted by Went- worth in 1761, contained the usual provisions found in New Hamp- shire grants. The Governor's favorites, however, were not primarily interested in colonizing the virgin territory and they yielded the honor of settling Manchester to inhabitants of Dutchess County, New York, who slowly pushed into the township from Washington County, lured by the attractions of the Battenkill. The first settlement was made in 1764, while town government was organized in 1766.
During the dispute over land grants and in the Revolution as well, Manchester occupied an important place. As early as 1772, the committees of public safety representing the various towns met here to commend the activities of the Green Mountain Boys and sent a firm and respectful letter to the Governor of New York upholding their views of the land dispute. Later in the same year another meet- ing was held which resolved that "all civil and military officers who accepted under the authority of New York were required to suspend their functions on the pain of being viewed," a punishment already described under the history of Bennington. In 1776, a convention, meeting at Dorset, decided to build a jail for Tories, and this was ulti- mately located at Manchester. This "gaol" was to be constructed of logs and earth, and its dimensions were to be twenty by thirty feet on the inside. As was the case with most other communities, the year 1777 was one of great excitement in Manchester as Burgoyne's forces rolled slowly but relentlessly onward toward Albany. After St. Clair retreated from Ticonderoga, the defeated army stopped here, while the commander himself came in quest of reinforcements and supplies. When Seth Warner's troops were forced to flee at Hubbardton, he told his men to scatter and meet at Manchester, which he determined to defend. Burgoyne at first decided to attack Bennington by way of Manchester, but finally changed his mind. Stark paused overnight in the town while on his way to his great vic- tory over Baum. It was once General Lincoln's headquarters. At the time of the Burgoyne menace the great need was money for mili- tary equipment. To obtain this, Ira Allen proposed to the Council of Safety the confiscation of Tory property. This idea was accepted by the Vermont leaders and the Tory residents of Manchester were the first to lose their lands. We have already referred to the con- troversy, in which this town engaged, over the location of the county seat, and to the final settlement that Manchester should be a half-shire
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town. By 1800 the township had a population of nearly fourteen hun- dred residents who were engaged in agriculture, manufacturing and trade. In 1930 it claimed two thousand inhabitants. The stories of the three villages are more or less distinct. Manchester itself enjoyed the prestige of being one of the centers of government of the county, never was much interested in manufacturing, and developed into a famous and fashionable summer resort. Manchester Center, which was known throughout most of its existence as Factory Point, became the industrial center of the township; while Manchester Depot is a settlement that sprang up around the station of the Rutland Railroad, when it was constructed in 1850 and 1851.
One of the most peculiar episodes ever connected with the town of Manchester was the Colvin murder case. Russell Colvin was a man of subnormal intelligence, and perhaps insane, who lived with his father-in-law, a man named Boorn. In 1812 he disappeared. This was not unusual in his case, but certain mysterious shreds of evi- dence indicated that he had been murdered. Finally, in 1819, seven years later, a dog dug up some bones, and Jesse Boorn, a brother of Colvin's wife, was arrested. During the trial, physicians testified that the bones were those of a sheep and not a human being, and the defendant was about to be freed from the charge when Jesse impli- cated his brother Stephen in the crime. Thereupon, a new trial was arranged. Although the evidence was mostly circumstantial, the two brothers were convicted and sentenced to hanging. Later Jesse's sentence was changed to life imprisonment, but Stephen's chances grew smaller and smaller as execution day approached. Suddenly, how- ever, a very few days prior to the scheduled hanging, to the amaze- ment of everybody, Colvin returned. Finally, a third trial was granted and the convicted murderers were free once more, bringing to an end an extremely weird case.
The township of Peru is situated in the northeastern section of the county, facing Rutland County on the north, and being bordered on the east and west by Landgrove and Dorset, respectively. The east- ern and southern sections are agricultural but the west is mountainous. The village of Peru lies at a high altitude under Bromley Mountain. In fact Bromley was the original name of the township. The reasons given for this change of names, which was made in 1803, are that Bromley had a reputation of being a poverty stricken place, and sec- ondly that Peru was a name to be associated with riches because of the
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wealth attributed to Peru, South America. In any case the township progressed rapidly afterward. The charter was issued by Wentworth in 1761, but the first settlement was not made until 1773. Most of the early inhabitants came from Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Stark marched through Peru on his way to Bennington. Its popula- tion in 1930 was but 156.
In the extreme southwestern corner of the county, bordered by Massachusetts on the south, New York on the west, and the town of Bennington on the north is Pownal, named after one of its original proprietors. The earliest settlers were Dutch from New York who took up farms along the Hoosic River in the 1720s, while later settlements were made by colonists from Rhode Island and Connecticut on the hills in the east. The town was chartered in 1760 and the organization meeting was held during the same year. There is one story, reflecting none too highly upon Pownal, which has for years had wide circulation. It will be recalled that Samuel Robinson was one of the first settlers and most prominent figures of Bennington. It is related that when new- comers asked his advice where they should settle it was his custom to advise Congregationalists to settle in Bennington, Baptists in Shafts- bury, Episcopalians in Arlington, and, if they had no particular reli- gion, to go to Pownal. However that may be, the population of the town was predominantly Baptist. When the Methodists first put in an appearance, there was considerable ecclesiastical rivalry and con- troversy. In the debates between the two groups no effort was made to control either hate or the flow of hard words. As an interesting example of sarcasm and bitter humor sometimes used by the religious brethren, we quote a Baptist minister's conception of Methodists : "Whenever I take my pitcher and go down cellar for the usual supply of cider I find that those barrels which sound the loudest have the least cider. So it is with these Methodists. There is too much noise and too little sense." In North Pownal was born the celebrated rail- road magnate and Wall Street operator, Jim Fisk, and in Pownal Center is a school where James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur both were instructors. This is all the more a coincidence since they were elected President and Vice-President on the same ticket, and Arthur succeeded Garfield when the latter was shot. The present population of Pownal Township is 1,425.
Leaving behind us the township of Pownal and crossing the town of Stamford to the east, we enter Readsboro in the southeast corner
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of Bennington County. In spite of the fact that it was rugged coun- try with many hills and a generally uneven surface, the soil was fertile and productive. In addition to farming, lumbering was carried on on a large scale. The first white men to set foot within the town's present limits were Colonial soldiers who lost their way while return- ing home from an expedition againt Crown Point in 1759. In 1764 Wentworth granted a part of Readsboro to the famous ranger leader, Robert Rogers. He, however, did not comply with the terms of the charter, and joined the British during the Revolution with the result
BENNINGTON COLLEGE
(Courtesy of the Bennington Chamber of Commerce)
that his claims were considered void. At about the time Rogers' charter was issued, one was also issued to General Phineas Lyman with the name of Wilmington. For some time Readsboro and the Windham County township of Wilmington both claimed this strip, but the disputed soil was awarded to Readsboro in 1813 by a commis- sion appointed by the Legislature. Governor Colden, of New York, also issued a patent to the land in this township in 1770, but the grantees never had the nerve to take possession. The first town meeting took place in 1786. In 1930 its population was 1,043, of which the village contributed 722.
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Wild animals seem to have been particularly prevalent in Reads- boro. One late afternoon in 1808 a panther killed a calf. The owner thereupon collected a party of neighbors and, accompanied by dogs, went in search of the marauder. They finally treed him, but by that time it was getting quite dark. According to F. L. Bowen, an early local historian, "hitching their tin lanterns to a long pole, they raised them up into the top of the tree, and having selected the Rev. Jonas Stearns as executioner, and one other to fire an additional gun to throw more light upon the subject, they proceeded to business. The powder was in the pan, the elder had picked his flint, and grasp- ing his old flint firelock and bringing his old fusee to a ready, his keen clerical eye twinkled along the length of the barrel, and sighting the 'varmint' in the broad light of a tallow candle in a tin lantern, he pulled the trigger. The powder in the pan hissed, and sizzled and sizzled, the fire streamed in torrents from both ends of the old queen's arm, the old field piece recoiled-I suppose the elder would say kicked his shoulder, and bruised his cheek. As a result the elder's fire brought down a huge panther, which measured full nine feet from one extremity to the other, but although he had a broken shoulder and was otherwise badly wounded he was able to crawl under an old tree top beyond their reach, without the aid of daylight. After having satisfied themselves that he could not escape they concluded to leave him until the next morning, when they returned and finished him."
Moving diagonally across Bennington County to the extreme northwest is the township of Rupert, bordered by New York on the west and Rutland County on the north. Its scenery is beautiful and its soil is fertile. Wentworth chartered the township in 1761, while the first proprietor's meeting took place in 1765. After the Revolu- tion settlement was very rapid, and by 1800 Rupert had a total of 1,648 inhabitants. This was the maximum, however, decreasing to 957 in 1880, while today it has but 691. The early settlers were involved in the land disputes. During the Revolution there were set- tlers who fought on both sides, and it is said that the town was at one time a Tory base. When, in 1813, a vote was taken in Bennington County to determine the sentiment for war or peace, most townships were rather evenly divided and some voted for peace. It is notable that in this poll, Rupert gave a large majority of one hundred and twenty-three for war. Another interesting fact about the township is that one of its prominent citizens, Reuben Harmon, was granted
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authority by the Vermont Legislature in 1785 to coin money for the State. His mint was located in the northeastern part of the town. On one side of his first coin was a rising sun, a plow and the words "Vermontensium Res Publica, 1786," while on the reverse was an eye surrounded by thirteen stars.
Directly south of Rupert is the exceedingly mountainous and hilly town of Sandgate, which is bordered on the west by New York and on the east by Manchester. It was chartered by Wentworth in 1761, but was not settled until about ten years afterward. During the land dispute and the Revolution, Sandgate had few settlers and, there- fore, did not become a center of conflict. By. 1790, however, there were 773, while in the decade from 1810 to 1820 the town reached its maximum population of nearly twelve hundred. Lumbering, as well as agriculture, was important to its economic life, but its beautiful scenery has been one of its leading attractions. In 1930 its population was 189.
Next we visit the small mountain township of Searsburg near the southeast corner of Bennington County, directly north of Readsboro. Lumbering and the manufacture of merchandise from wood such as washboards and bedsteads, were of importance once, but today the tiny township is rather definitely wornout. It was chartered by Gov- ernor Chittenden, of Vermont, in 1781, but due to the uninviting appearance of the land, no permanent settlement was made until 1823. When a turnpike was begun in 1830, running from Wilmington through Searsburg to Bennington, the town developed rapidly for a time. Until the opening of the Troy and Boston Railroad, much of the freight and passengers moving between Boston and Troy passed over this route. It was the day of the Concord coaches and stage drivers, but they are long since gone and there are now scarcely a hundred people (103) within the township of Searsburg.
Near the center of the county, but on the New York border north of Bennington, is the town of Shaftsbury. One of the older communi- ties, it was chartered by Wentworth in 1761 and settled in 1763, many of the early residents coming from Rhode Island. Shaftsbury grew rapidly and attained a population of two thousand inhabitants by 1790, when it was the second largest town in Bennington County. Shaftsbury was very much involved in the quarrel over land patents. It was within its boundaries, although conveniently near the State line,
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that John Munro lived. Of all the New York partisans who inhab- ited Vermont soil, this justice of the peace representing Albany County was probably the most conspicuous. He did everything within his power to further the interests of his New York associates, and was a continual thorn in the flesh of the Green Mountain Boys. In the Rev- olution he favored the British cause and his property was sold to maintain the government of Vermont. The great quantity of sup- plies assessed upon the people to conduct the Revolution indicate the sacrifice then necessary. In addition to men and money, Shaftsbury's quota in 1780 was 12,559 pounds of flour, 4, 1861/2 pounds of beef, 2,093 1/4 pounds of salt pork, 354 bushels of Indian corn and 177 bushels of rye. Shaftsbury was involved in the compe- tition with other towns to win the honor of being the seat of county government, but lost out to Bennington and Manchester. When war with England came a second time in 1812, Shaftsbury was more belligerent than many of her neighbors as was indicated by a vote of one hundred and fifty-three in favor of the war, to eighty-three against.
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