USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Williston > The Williston story > Part 2
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Though pleasing at this early date, this intermingling of re- ligious and political philosophy would cause important disagree- ments in Williston as early as 1810. On March 26, 1810, action was taken "to chuse a committee of three to ascertain who owns the Meeting House."15 The unity shown through the erection of the meeting house assumed that all settlers were "one" in re- ligious and political standing. By 1810 this was no longer true and the question of ownership had arisen. Such controversy
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continued until March 8, 1831, when action was taken to determine
". . what part of said meeting house belongs to each de- nomination, and give each denomination a privilege to occupy said House for social and religous worship a part of the time according to their shares and rights, that each denomination has to said house."16
Even years after the controversy was settled, primarily by the Congregationalists building a new building, the meeting house was used as a town hall. At a town meeting it was voted that "the common now called the old meeting house common be cleared of Rubbish and remain an open common without an building thereon forever."17
It is interesting to note that this resolution has remained in force, either by chance or design. The property contains no building to this day, although it is no longer maintained as an "open common". The property is located north of Route 2, and is bounded on the east and west by two roads-the roads being the first and second roads west of the school property, respective- ly.18
The early town meeting records also provide a clue to the varied activities of the settlers in an effort to provide a presentable town government. An early concern was the building of town roads. Though provision was made in the charter for land on which to build roads, an early town meeting ( March 27, 1787) had to vote to improve and lay out such roads.
The roads were so essential to the early settlers that a tax was levied to provide the money for such activity-a tax of two pence of each pound of income.19 This is extremely interesting in view of the fact that in these days cash was listed on the Grand List as a taxable asset -- implying that many people did not have much cash to tax. Probably the early selectmen realized this for the road tax did not have to be paid in cash. It could be paid in grain, wheat at six shillings per bushel, and corn at three shillings per bushel.20
In 1788, on March 25, a committee was formed that was to "provide a place to bury the dead," this being before the formation
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of the present burial grounds.21 This item and others give his- torians a glimpse of the early character of the town and its in- habitants. Their concerns at this early date were varied and interesting. The group that could establish a tax for roads could also concern themselves with a "pound" for stray animals-the pound being in actuality the door-yards of Giles Chittenden and David Talcott.22 After the turn of the century, the citizens began to concern themselves with the causes of the wider world. This is seen later in the discussion of the social unrest, slavery and the Civil War.
Glimpses of Early Williston
It is interesting to note that despite the fact that Williston was partially settled as early as 1763, few records exist which give a picture of the town during this period. All the available histories seem to repeat the few basic facts that are available. Town meeting records are usually, in this period, concerned only with the mechanics of providing a stable government for the settlers. Virtually no private diaries or letters exist which give us a picture of this early period. However, one source of material is invaluable for a study of early Williston. This source is the library of the Hartford House in Hartford, Connecticut. Affiliated with the Congregational Church, the library at Hartford House contains diaries of many itinerant preachers of this early period-many of whom passed through Williston.1
While the early settlers struggled to build a meeting house in the town, an important resolution was passed at a meeting in Connecticut. At an annual meeting of the General Association of the Congregational Church in Connecticut it was voted to re- lease periodically Connecticut congregational pastors for four- months preaching tours in the "northern states," of which Vermont was the chief target.2 Released from their pastorates for four months at a time they were "allowed four dollars and a half per
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week, over and above four dollars for the supply of their pulpits during their absence."3 Considering the rarity of cash on the northern frontier, these itinerant ministers were exceptionally well paid. From the private journals of these men we are able to catch a glimpse of Williston and its inhabitants during the period 1789-1810. Granted that their recorded insights were first im- pressions, they are nevertheless our best records of these days to which we have access. These records are still available in the files of the General Association of Connecticut, Congregational, House, Hartford, Connecticut.
In the late afternoon of Thursday, May 21, 1789, a gaunt fig- ure astride a beautiful horse turned into the gate at the home of Deacon David Talcott atop the present Oak Hill.4 Nathan Per- kins, one of the aforementioned missioners from Connecticut, had just arrived from Hinesburg where he had spent several days. The home of Deacon Talcott was probably selected because of his religious standing in the church and his economic standing in the community.
On the following day Nathan Perkins was taken by Deacon Talcott to call upon the family of His Excellency Thomas Chit- tenden. His description of the family is one of the few that we find recorded as a first-hand experience. To a man from "crowd- ed and civilized" Connecticut the magnificence of the farm was over-whelming :
". . . a plain family - low, vulgar man [Governor Chitten- den], clownish, excessively parsimonious,. . . made me welcome. . . hard fare, a very great farm, of extraordinary interval land. . . A shrewd cunning man. . . skilled in human nature and in agriculture. . .. understands extremely well ye mysteries of Vermont, apparently and professedly serious. . . Williston is a fine township of land. . . soil fertile."5
Once again Thomas Chittenden's legendary talent for analyzing and handling men showed itself. The opinion held by Mr. Perkins was reversed at a later visit:
"They seem to love me, as a brother, and ye Governor as a
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son. .. I struck them upon ye right key. .. Queer is human nature and has a blind side. .. His Excellency picked me out to understand human nature at first sight."6
We might even say that the governor . also understands the workings of human nature. Perkins might even have changed his mind about the governor being parsimonious, for as Perkins crossed the Onion River into Jericho the Governor gave him one dollar.7
Four years later, in 1793, Cotton Mather Smith journeyed into Vermont where he "preached in several towns in Chittenden County, once at Williston and once at East Williston."8 (We can assume that the East Williston is to be identified with the East Ecclesiastical Society located on the future site of the town of Richmond). His journal gives us insight into the sturdiness of the early settler and his family :
“. [they had] not heard a regular sermon. .. for a twelve month or more. .. and such their apparent thirst for the Word that women were seen traveling through the wood for miles together in order to attend sermon."9 They probably endured much to attend, for these early meetings were generally held in "Colonel Spafford's barn, 100 feet long." We find in the early records that Colonel Spafford lived on the Onion River "above Governor Chittenden's farm."10
According to his journal of 1794, a Rev. Noah Williston ar- rived in town on his tour from Connecticut.11 Probably surprised at the similarity between his name and that of the town, he records very little concerning the living conditions and general atmosphere of the town. He does, however, make one statement that is extremely interesting when viewed in the light of Williston's later history. He notes the "unfortunate number of Baptists [in Williston] whose teachers generally oppose human learning, and depend on immediate inspiration."12 This is interesting in the light of the fact that the Baptists in Williston are remembered through the person of their minister, Peter Chase, founder and first principal of the Williston Academy.
These itinerant ministers were followed by others-Rev. Ammi Robins in 1794, Rev. Peter Starr in 1794 and Rev. David
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Higgins in 1795.13 The latter recognized the difference between Williston and other communities even at that early date, for in a letter to the General Association in Connecticut he recommended that Williston be one of the towns to which the Association give particular attention because of "the regard which was shown to the gospel in Williston."14
The ministers residing in, or passing through, Williston prior to 1810 were reimbursed by the tax-payers. The governing body assumed that all residents were to support the religious body in the community-unless they declared they were not affiliated with the said group. The only way in which a person could be exempt from the religious tax levied on all people was to furnish a certificate to the town clerk, signed by the presiding officer of their denomination, stating that they did not agree with the ma- jority of tax-payers in religious profession. Several such cer- tificates are to be found in the town records. One was a "Baptist of Leverit, two were members of the Universalian Society of Charlotte, Hinesburgh and Monkton; and three were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the Town of Williston."15
Political Life
Whether from apathy due to the lack of statesmen in her midst or frustration over her relative size, Williston today often tends to forget her rich political heritage. Time and economics have joined together to cast a haze over the Williston of an earlier day. As one tries to recapture the political spirit of this early settlement, he might see it in terms used by David Ludlum :
" . . at isolated localities centers of order and stability refused to be submerged by men of loose principles and loose morals who flocked to the new settlements."1
As he goes on to explain these centers of "order and stability," he mentions Thomas Chittenden, first citizen of Williston. Probably he is correct in implying that Thomas Chittenden set the political temper of this early settlement.
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Space does not permit details concerning the life of Thomas Chittenden, nor is this our chief concern. It must only be said that the influence of his political philosophy was important not only to the state but to his town. No doubt the local citizens could see that "his moderation and temperate judgment softened political animosities and postponed the outbreak of intense parti- sanship until after his death in 1797."2 Thus one might say that the early political history of Williston is also the early political biography of Thomas Chittenden.
The western portion of Vermont had always been famed for its display of "exuberant republicanism" as opposed to the feeling of "conservative federalism" of the Connecticut River Valley.3 Thomas Chittenden, ever true to his pioneer spirit, was of the opinion that the more democratic the government of the United States, the better. The spirit of the Green Mountain Boys was so firmly entrenched in him that he could not advocate a strong, central government, whether in Washington or Montpelier. Re- viewing his strong personality and political "know-how", we can easily assume that the majority of people in Williston were willing to make the philosophy of Thomas Chittenden their own. It is a tribute to the strength of his personality that, although Chitten- den was an advocate of a less-centralized government, he was elected governor of a state whose most populous part was a Federalist stronghold.4 The population of Vermont in this period (late 1700's) centered in Windham and Windsor counties and always felt a strong attachment to the policies of strong· central government advocated by Hamilton and Washington. Whatever the reason, Chittenden continued to impart his political philosophies to both Vermont and Williston until his death in 1797.
As we have noted, at his death there developed an intense political partisanship in the state of Vermont. The War of 1812, then in the making, served only to emphasize this fact. Strangely enough, the political position of Williston completely reversed itself. Party feeling ran high throughout the country and Chitten- den County was not exempt. Political opponents hotly "stigma- tized each other as Tories, traitors and enemies of their country."5
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A one-time citizen of Williston, Martin Chittenden - second only to Thomas Chittenden in extending the fame of Williston - was an avowed leader of the Federalists. 6
Though Martin Chittenden originally settled in Jericho, Williston was his birthplace and in later years he returned here, representing Williston in the legislature for two terms. Any dis- cussion of politics in Williston would be incomplete without a notice of the part played by Martin Chittenden. Making use of facilities of his old home town, Martin called a Federalist Con- vention in Williston during this period preceding the War of 1812. The address of Daniel Farrand to this convention is preserved. Among other things, he observed that :
"The War was not waged to obtain justice from Great Britain, but to aid the cause of the infamous of tyrants [Napoleon], that of all the calamities which God in his wrath ever suffered to fall on the head of guilty men, war stands pre-eminent ; that the government which shall plunge into its horrid vortex until compelled by absolute necessity, stands guilty in the sight of Heaven and is responsible for every life that is lost ; that the time has at length come when silence becomes criminal."7
In this speech is seen the battle cry of the Federalists and Martin Chittenden. Thomas, as long as he had been governor, had kept Williston and Vermont on the "republican" side of politics.
"The opposition [Jefferson] had greater hopes for Vermont politically than any other New England state . .. Chittenden, so long the governor, had leaned to their side . . . But on his declining a reelection, the Federalists succeeded in choosing Isaac Tichenor."8
With Tichenor came the off-spring of Thomas Chittenden, his son Martin. In the election for Governor, in 1813, the Gener- al Assembly was called upon to vote for the election of governor. In this election Martin Chittenden was opposed by Jonas Galusha, the husband of his sister Mary Chittenden. The counting of the votes provided Vermont with a most outstanding political anec- dote.9 A Mr. Josiah Dunham, a fellow Federalist of Martin Chittenden, was counting the votes for the Assembly. He was a
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"gentleman of the old style, with ruffled shirtfront and long, fully- ruffled wristbands." Tradition states that, in counting, his ruffles worked down over his hands, which made it necessary to push them back with his fingers. In doing so, a ballot for Galusha, the incumbent, is supposed to have gotten entangled in the ruffles, thus electing Martin Chittenden by a majority of one - Chittenden receiving 112 votes and Galusha 111. Yet, whether the story is merely tradition or fact, Martin Chittenden was now governor and Williston had completed her circle as far as political philosophies were concerned. In her early days Thomas Chittenden had been her symbol of "exuberant republicanism" and now Martin Chitten- den was her symbol of "conservative federalism."
Other than the Chittendens, Williston made several other notable contributions to the political scene in the young state of Vermont. A contemporary of the Chittendens was Solomon Miller. While serving as town clerk of Williston, Mr. Miller was also a member of the Governor's Council 1799-1802, in 1808, and again in 1813-14.10 In this favored position he was able to exert a calculated amount of influence upon the political destinies of the state.
Williston might well be called the home of a political party in its Vermont incarnation. William Henry French was an instrumental force in the founding of the third, or Liberty Party, in the state of Vermont.11 As a founding father, William French was the candidate for Congress from the Liberty Party - an approach that was doomed by the election of George P. Marsh.12 In 1846 the Liberty Party elected twelve members to the state legislature, Mr. French being the only one from Chittenden County.13
However influential Williston and its inhabitants might have been in state politics, its contact with the national scene was a vague one. Only one instance of a notable Willistonian's activity in Washington can be found, and ironically, this too was a Chitten- den. Lucius E. Chittenden, great grandson of Thomas Chittenden, was a Register of the United States Treasury from March, 1861
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to March, 1865, during the administration of President Abraham Lincoln.14
Religious Life
As has been mentioned earlier the religious body of citizens in Williston in the 1700's was synonomous with the political body of citizens. Each person was expected to participate and to aid in securing ministers for preaching services. However, gradually certain tax-payers were excused from the chore of giving financial aid to this project.
Several times mention is made in the town records to the "hir- ing" and "settling" of a minister. The difference in these two words was important for a financial reason. The charter provided that one share of land in the original tract be set aside for the first "settled" minister in the town. However, a minister might be "hired" without being "settled." The idea seemed to be that ministers would be "hired" on "probation" - such an action was taken on March 24, 1789.1 The first resident minister, Mr. Abiel Jones, was in town only four months in the spring and summer of 1791, when it was voted to "discontinue" Mr. Jones for unknown reasons.2 Even with erection of the meeting house, there was no "settled" minister.
By 1800, there were representatives of other denominations in Williston but the Congregationalists seemed to have won the privilege of "settling" a minister, by default. They assumed this was their privilege and acted upon their assumption. In June, 1800, Rev. Aaron C. Collins formally organized the Congregational Church with sixteen members.3 No doubt the reluctance to settle a minister had some connection with the share of land available to him. Therefore, the settlers were anxious that the first "settled" minister remain long enough to "pay" for his share of land. This thought is implicit in the contract that was made with Mr. Collins.
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"We are unanimously of the opinion that Rev. Mr. Collins ought to receive $300 annually, as a salary, for 16 years and half; and after the expiration of said 16 years and a half $333.33 annually so long as he shall continue our minister; but if the said Mr. Collins shall be dismissed otherwise than by death, at a time before the expiration of the said 16 years and a half, he is to pay, or cause to be paid, to the society in neat cattle or grain, within one year from his dismission, ten pounds for each year in which he has not served said society the term of 16 years and a half. And the said Mr. Collins is to receive his salary in the following manner, to wit: $50 in cash, $100 in wheat and the remainder in beef, pork or grain to be paid in the month of December, annually."4
Unfortunately we read that Mr. Collins' contract was terminated "otherwise than by death" May 4, 1804.5
Before the organization of the church by Mr. Collins there seemed to be some difficulty in paying the ministers that came and went in this period. Accordingly. the Congregational Society was organized for the purpose of hiring and paying for a minister to hold services in the town.6 Membership in the Society did not necessarily assume membership in the Congregational Church - nor did membership in the church automatically confer upon one membership in the Society. This relationship caused certain legal problems to arise in the future.
In several sketches of Williston's history we read that the Congregational Church was reorganized in order to "eliminate certain heresies that had crept in."7 Again, conflicting dates create some confusion in understanding this reorganization. Per- haps the most reliable date is December 28, 1810.8 In 1808, Chauncey Lee, another of the Congregational missioners from Connecticut, was in Willison and his journal gives a clue as to the nature of these "certain heresies." He writes: ". .. a number of Brethren were following after the Methodist and neglecting to attend publick worship."9
The Congregational Church organized in this period demand- ed strict adherence to its creed, and attendance at its public wor- ship, from its members. Numerous instances of "excommunica-
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tion" of members are recorded in the first half of the nineteenth century. Church trials were held for numerous, and often trivial, reasons: traveling on the Sabbath, playing cards, acting in an "unChristian" manner, making a hired boy sleep on a cold and wet bed, not attending Sabbath worship, speaking profanely, etc.10 The strictness of their belief seemed to ebb and flow ac- cording to the nature of the minister at a given time. There were inany more cases of church trials and excommunication proceedings during some pastorates than others.
If the reasons for church trials give something of the picture of belief held by this early church, small notes in the church records help to complete the picture. For example, we read :
[it was] voted unanimously that it is the sense of this church that it is not according to gospel order for females to speak in promiscuous assemblys for religious worship."11
With the building of a new building opposite the town hall in 1832, the Congregational Church in Williston entered what might be called its golden period. Within the next four decades it was to reach the height of its powers as seen through financial and mem- bership statistics. Thereafer it moved lethargically toward in- formal union with the Methodist Church in 1899.12 One entry of interest is found in the records for 1851. It was in that year that Mr. Charles Livingstone became the pastor of the Congrega- tional Church of Christ in Williston.13 Though not an ordained minister, he served the church for a year and few people were aware that in Africa the name of Charles Livingstone's brother David was becoming synonomous with the opening of that dark continent.
Methodist Church. The first official mention of Methodism in Williston occurs in the minutes of the Troy Conference in 1843 where Williston appears to be connected with the church in Hines- burgh.14 However, earlier mention is made of Methodists in the town records sometime prior to 1810.15 In 1836, preaching ser- vices were begun in what was known as the Muddy Brook School House on the western edge of Williston, the preacher coming from Essex.16 About 1840 meetings were held in the village
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school house near the present site of Aseltine's IGA store.17 From a semi-centennial sermon preached in 1890 by Aaron Hall, we have a glimpse of the early housing difficulties encountered by this religious body. In speaking of the 1839-1840 period he says :
" ... there was no Methodist church in Williston ... the congregation had used for a time the town hall, but soon after were forbidden its use . . . The school house at the village too had been used for services but could not be had for that purpose, nor could any permanent place be found."18
The first attempt at building resulted in the structure presently owned by the town and designated Thomas Chittenden Memorial Hall. ' In 1852 the old parsonage was sold and a brick house, standing on the site of the present parsonage was purchased.19 However, the brick house burned and there was need again for a parsonage. At a meeting July 26, 1880, it was voted to "try and raise $650 which with the insurance received, amounting to $893, was judged sufficient."20
In the fall of 1867, work was begun on a new church building to stand on the site of the old Eagle Tavern on the northeast corner of the four corners in the village. Dedicated on October 6, 1869, the new church building and furniture cost $18,116.21 Perhaps the building of a new church was a sign of something more signifi- cant that was taking place in the religious life of Williston. On December 14, 1868, fifty-two persons were received on probation as members of that church.22 The following July, 1869, thirty- one persons were baptized.23
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