USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Danby > The history and map of Danby, Vermont > Part 2
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In the fall of 1763 or spring of 1764. a road was laid out from Bennington to Danby by Darius Lobdel and Samuel Rose. and the following summer was worked some. Those who worked upon this road, were to receive their pay in land. It was ent for a bridle path merely, and is the same route now used for a high- way, leading from Danby to West Dorset across the mountain. This was the only road leading to the township for some time. and accounts for that part of the towo being settled first. This road was also used by the early settlers in going to and from Ben- nington, which was then the nearest market. and to Manchester. the nearest place to mil !.
The annual meeting on the second Tuesday of March. 1761. was held in Armenia Precinct, and the following officers were elected : Sammel Rose, moderator : Jonathan Ormsby, clerk : Joseph Haskins. treasurer: Nehimiah Reynolds and Sam- uel Rose, assessors : Joseph Soper. constable. No business of im- portance was transacted at this meeting with the exception of settling up the affairs of the property. The proprietors agreed to donate land from the undivided portion of the township. to the person or persons who would make the first settlement. As yet no clearing had been made, and no attempts were made at set- tling until the following year.
The oldest Deed on record in this town, bears date Feb. 21st. 1753, given by John Howard to Benjamin Corey. As antiqua- rians and those who are not. have a passing interest in old doun- ments, we will give below a copy of this deed. viz :
" To all people to whom these Presents shall come Greeting : Know ve that I Joka Howard of Armenia Precinct. in Dutchess County, and provider of X. Y .. for and in consideration of the sum of Twenty Pounds Current money of New York, to me in hand before the ensealing and Delivery of these Presents. well and truly paid to my full satisfaction By Benjamin Corey of Armenia Precinct aforesaid. havetherefore Bargained. sold. set over. given. granted. alienated. enfestled. conveyed and confirmed. and by these Presents, De Bargain. sell. set over. give. grant. alien, enfi- off, convey and confirm and for ever Quit Clan uuto the said
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
Benjamin Corey, his heirs and assigns, all my Right. Title. In- terest. claim and profit that I have in two Townships. Lately granted to a Number of Petitioners by the Governor and Council of the Province of N. II .. the one named Danby and the other Harwick, in said Province of N. IL., and Lying on Otter Greek (that is to say) one equal sixty-eighth Part of each of the said Townships, which are each six miles square, the Part in each Township hereby Intended to be granted. is one whole share or Right amongst the first Proprietors of said Township.
To have and to hold the said Two Rights or Shares in said Townships, with all the Privileges, commodities and Appurten- ancies to the same belonging or in anywise Appurtaining nuto him the said Benjamin Corey, his Heirs, Executors. and - Administrators and Assigns forever, as a good Indefeasible Es- tate in Feesimple, and that the same is free from all incumbran- ces whatsoever, and that I the said John Howard have in my- self good Right and full power and Lawful Authority to sell and Dispose of the same in manner and form as above written. Fur- thermore I the said John Howard Do hereby covenant and grant to and with him the said Benj.' Corey his Heirs. Executors, Adms. and assigns, shall and will forever warrant and Defend by these Presents from the Lawful claims and Demands of any Person or Persons whatsoever.
In witness Whereof. I the said John Howard have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-first Day of Feb .. Anno Domini. One thousand seven Hundred, sixty three, and in the third year of his Majesty's Reign.
JOHN HOWARD. [SEAL] Signed, Sealed and delivered In presence of us Roswell Hopkins, Joshua Dickinson.
Dutchess County, s.s. Be it remembered that on the 21 Feb., 1763, Then came John Howard Personally who was the signer aud scaler and grantor of the within Dred of sale, Before me Roswell Hopkins one of his Majesty's Justice of the Peace for said County, Assyned and acknowledged the same to be his free and voluntary act and deed and I having perused the same and find no material Rasures or Interlinations, allows the same to be put on Record in one or both of Town Books of Records for the town of Danby and Harwich.
ROSWELL HOPKINS. Justice of the Peace."
The next oldest Deed bears record May 29th, 1764. and is dis ferent in form, a copy of which we will also give.
" Know all men by these Presents that I David Alfur of Spencertown in the County of Great Barrentou. in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, fr and in consideraich of the sum of Ten Pounds current money of N. Y .. to me in hand received and well and truly paid by Jeremiah French, of Bateman's Patent in the Province of N. Y. The Receipt Where- of I do hereby acknowledge myself herewith fully and entirely
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SETTLEMENT.
satisfied. contented and paid, have given. granted, Bargained, sold and by these Presents do give, grant, bargain, sell, couvey and confirm unto him the said Jeremiah French bis heirs and as :- sigus, one whole Right or share of land in the Township of Dan- by, in the Province of N. H., it being the original Right or share granted to my honored father Joseph Algur, one hundred acres of which is already laid out, and is the lot No. 54. To have and to hold the above granted Right or share with all the profits, Priv- ileges, or in anyway appurtaining to him the said Jeremiah French, his heirs, assigns forever.
In witness Whereof I the said David Algur have here unto set my hand and seal the Twenty Ninth Day of May, in the fourth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Third, by the Grace of God of Great Brittain, France and Ireland. King Defender of the Faith, &c., Anno Domini 1761.
DAVID ALGUR. [SEAL] Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us : Daniel Griswoldl. Thomas Danham. Litchfield County, ss.
Sharon. May 29th. 1764.
Then and there David Algur the signer and sealer of the above written Instrument. Personally appearing acknowledged the same to be his free act and deed.
DAVID GRISWOLD, Justice of the Peace."
In the summer of 1765, the first settlement of Danby took place. The pioneer settlers were Joseph Soper. Joseph Earl. Crispin Bull. L. Luther Colvin and Micah Vail. The settlement of the towu therefore dates from that year, and those five men have the honor of being the first settlers. It is quite certain that no clearing had been made previous to that time.
Joseph Soper. who had previously visited the town with a view 10 settlement. came first. with his family, from Nine Partners. N. Y., and pitched on the farm now owned by James Stone. He fouad hi- way here by marked trees, bringing his effects upon the back of his horse. He soon made a clearing. and built a log cabin. just south of where the wooden factory was built. It is now over a century since that log cabin was built. It stood there for many years after. or as we are told. until about the year isso, and although every trace has disappeared. you the spot where the first house stood. is still looked upon with auch interest.
Joseph Earl came next from Nine Partners. and commenced a clearing west of Saper. war the present residence of Jal. Hilliard. As near as can be learned Earl did not locate per- manently until the following year, when he erected a log cabin. and was joined by his family.
Crispin Bull settled on the farm formerly owned by Aiphone .. Hilliard. He afterwards made the first clearing in the vad jali
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
of the town. and built a cabin just south of where the school-house stands. Luther Colvin and Micah Vail bath came about the same time from Rhode Island. Colvin pitched on the farm now owned and occupied by L. R. Fisk, and Vail first settled on the farm owned by A. B. Herrick. south of the Corners. The cabins of these first settlers were somewhat rade in appearance. They were built of logs hewn only on the inside, and pointed with mud. roofed with bark, having but one door and window. and cuclosing only a single room, which was made to answer for kitchen. dining-room and parlor. Boards for the floor were hewn from logs.
These five families constituted the entire population of the town in the spring of 1766. Those men had brought their families and effects with them, together with horses and oxen. They did not settle very wear each other as will be con. but it was apon the undivided portion of the township, of which a certain num- ber of aeres were donated to them, as first settlers. It is due to those and other pioneers of this town, to say that they were equal to the task before them. It was no light task to conquer the primeval forest, nor was it easy to procure needful food for themselves and their animals while the work of clearing was going on. Many days of wearisome labor must pass before the land could be cleared and put under cultivation. But being ener- getic men. of athletic frames and rugged constitutions, they faced the dangers and hardships of a settlement in the wilderness. and gained for themselves a home. We cannot realize the toil and sufferings endured by them. Their hardships were neither few uor small. There were no roads, and no gristmill nearer than Manchester, and the facilities for procuring the ordinary comoforts of life. were very seanty. If it were possible we would give a complete history of the pioneers separately, but we are unable to learn at the present time much concerning them. We shall how- ever relate all that has been learned of them at this time. and in other parts of this work.
Soper. as we have seen, was elected constable by the pro- prictors in 1764. previous to his settling here, and near as we can learn was a very capable man, but he was doomed to a sad fate. He perished in a snow storm, on his way from mill, a year or two previous to the Revolutionary War. A detailed ar- count of this sad affair will be given in full, in the department of family history. (See "Joseph Soper.")
Joseph Earl, Crispin Bull. Luther Colvin and Micah Var were all active and usetid men, and held town office, after the town was organized, in contaction with which we shall refer to them again. Many of their descendants are now living in town. of whom we shall speak hereafter, under the head of family sketches.
There is no record of any meeting being held by the proprietors in 1765. and if any was held the record is lost. The next med!" ing of the proprietors of which we have any account. was held at
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SETTI. EMENT.
the house of Enos Northrup, in Charlotte Precinct, Feb. 27th, 1766. The territory in this State west of Green Mountains, was then included in this precinct, and a county by the name of Charlotte was constituted in 1772. by the government of N. Y., which then claimed jurisdiction over the New Hampshire Grants. The northern boundary of Arlington and Sunderland was the southern boundary of the county of Charlotte. The house of Enos Northrup was situated in the southern part of that county, or in the northern part of what is now Bennington county.
Capt. Michael Haskins was moderator of that meeting, and it was voted that sisty acres in a square form, of the undivided land at the "mill place" be given to the person or persons. who would erect a grist and saw mill there. This "mill place" refers to the same spot where the first mill was afterwards built, on the west side of the stream, opposite the mill now owned by Nelsou Kelly. No one availed themselves of this offer until a number of years afterwards.
The annual meeting of 1766, was held in Armenia Precinct, March 27th. and Samuel Rose was moderator. The doings of this meeting are not of much importance. It was voted not to make another division of land at present. and sufficient land was to be left for a road between the townships of Danby and Har- wick. It was also voted to give Samuel Rose all the land be- tween No. 65 and the Harwick line. for his past services, which included nearly one whole share of one hundred acres.
Among the the settlers who came in the spring of 1767. were Timothy Bull, Stephen Calkins, Seth Cook. Nathan Weller and Peter Irish, each of whom erected a log cabin, and commenced felling the forest. They brought their families with them. to- gether with cattle and swine. Timothy Bull settled near his son Crispin, in the south part of the town. Calkins settled where William Herrick now lives, and afterwards built a grist and saw mill where Nelson Kelly now lives. Cook settled south of the Corners, on what has since been known as the "Cook farm." Weller located himself a little north of the residence of William Otis, since known as the " Weller farm." Peter Irish pitched on the farm now owned by Nelson Colvin. These settlers by most dilligent toil, in which all the members of the families bore their part, soon had sufficient clearing to raise grain and potatoes enough to keep them from fear of actual want. As not much hay was raised for several years, it was rather difficult to provide for the cows during the winter. But with a scanty supply of hay, and the help of browse which was plenty, they were comfortably wintered.
The proprietors held two meetings in 1768, one March 8th, at the house of Samuel Smith. and the other April 1st, at the house of JJoseph Mabbits. in Armenia Precinet. Samuel Rose was mod- erator of both these meetings. After this, meetings were held in the township, which was being settled quite rapidly. Settlements now began to be made in the north and west part of town, and in
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
the fall of 1768, several had located themselves along Otter Creek. There were quite a number came to settle during 1768, among whom were Thomas Rowley, John Stafford. Jesse Irish. Daniel Vanolendo, Nathaniel Fisk and JJoseph Sprague. There were at that time some twenty families in town, making the population about sixty in number.
In making the divisions of land, there seems to have been a regular system of surveys. Some of the settlers had located upon the undivided land, while others settled upon the rights pur- chased of the proprietors. The circumstances attending the pro- prietorship of the town, had given rise to a class called "land jobbers." and speculators, who now began to purchase the land of the original grantees, and in many cases paid but a nominal sum. Actual settlers were often obliged to pay these speculators a heavy price, which was for a time some hindrance to the settlement of the town. The price was known to range as high se fifteen or twenty dollars per acre. This state of affairs, taken in connection with the troubles with New York, rendered the progress of settle- ment slow for a number of years.
At the period of which we are now speaking. the troubles be- tween New Hamshire and New York, were beginning to be quite embarassing to the settlers. As reference will be made to this controversy. in connection with this work, and as the history of this town is so intimately connected with that of the New Hamp- shire Grants, perhaps it would not be out of place to give some of' the principal events which led to these troubles.
Benning Wentworth was commissioned Governor of the Pro- vince of New Hampshire, in the year 1741. At that time there had been no line established between this province and New York. Soon after this the Governor of New Hampshire began to exercise jurisdiction ou Jand west of Connecticut river. The northern line of Massachusetts had been fixed as it is at present. In 1749 Governor Wentworth made a graut of a township of land six miles square, situated, as he supposed. on the borders of New Hampshire, being twenty miles east of the Hudson, and six miles north of the Massachusetts line. This township was called Ben- hington in allusion to his own name.
About the same time a correspondence was opened between him and the Governor of New York, in which their respective titles to the land west of Councetient river were urged. Went- worth paid no regard to these interfering claims, and proceeded to make further grants. Thompson in his history of Vermont tells us that " in 1764 these grants had amounted to fifteen towa- ships, but the hostilities between the French and English, which comuneaced that year. put a stop to further applications for grant until 1760."
Speculators and adventurers now eagerly sought for these tauds. their value and fertility having become well known, during the war, by troops passing through them. In 1761 no less than sixty townships were granted on the west side of Connecticut river, and
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SETTLEMENT.
the whole member of grants in one or two years more, amounted to one hundred and thirty-eight.
"By the fees and other emoluments which Wentworth received for these grants. by securing five hundred aeres in each township for himself, he was evidently accumulating a large fortune. The Governor of New York became alarmed at these proceedings. and wishing to have the profits of these lands, determined to put a stop to them. He, therefore, in 1763 issued a proclamation. in which he recited the grants made by Charles II. to the Duke of York in 1664 and 1674, which embraced "all the lands from the west side of Connecticut river, to the east side of Delaware Bay." Found- ing his claims upon this grant, he ordered the Sheriff of Albany county, to make returns of the names of all persons, who had taken possession of lands west of Connecticut river, under titles Goin the government of New Har .1,
Governor Wentworth fearing the effects of this, issued a counter proclamation the following year. He declared the graut to the Duke of York obsolete, and that New Hampshire extended as far west as the State of Massachusetts and Connecticut. This proclamation inspired confidence, and served to quiet the minds of the settlers. Having purchased their lands under a charter from a royal governor, and after such assurances as he had given them, they had no idea that a controversy of this nature, would effect the validity of their titles.
New York now made application to the crown for a confirma- tion of her claims. A petition purporting to be signed by a large member of settlers on the " New Hampshire Grants," accompanied the application, praying that the Connecticut river should be es- tablished as a boundary between the two provinces. The effect of this was, that his Majesty, ou the 20th of July 1764, ordered that the "western bank of the Connectient river, from where it corers the province of Massachusetts Bay. as far north as the 15th deg. of north lat., be the boundary line between the said province of New Hampshire and New York."
This order created no serions alarm among the settlers ou the grants. They viewed it merely as a change of jurisdiction from New Hampshire to New York, and did not dream that they would be required to repurchase their lands, or abandon them. They were willing to submit to the jurisdiction of New York, but had no apprehension that it would in any way affect the title to the land upon which they had settled. The contest was abandoned by the Governor of New Hamshire, who now issued a proclama- tion. recommending to the proprietors and settlers, obedience to the laws of the colony of New York.
The settlers viewed it as merely placing them in future, under the jurisdiction of New York. and if that government had given it the same interpretation, there never would have been any coll- troversy. But the Settlers were called upon to surrender their Charter. and repurchase their lands from New York. Some call- plied, while others refused. Actions of ejectment were com-
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
menced in the court of Albany, against the land of those who would not comply, and the decisions being against them, the settlers soon found that they must meet these unjast and arbitary measures, with determined resistance. They resolved not to sub- mit willingly, and repurchase their lands at an exorbitant price of another royal governor ; and when the officers of New York came to eject them from their possessions. they were met with avowed opposition. Such was the state of affairs at this period of our history.
DANBY
FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN IN 1769 TO THE PRESENT TIME, 1868.
The organization of the town dates from the year 1769. The inhabitants held their first annual town meeting March 14th, at the house of Mr. Timothy Bull, who then lived near the present residence of Bara Harrington. Timothy Bull was elected mod- erator of this meeting, and Thomas Rowley, town cierk. The following town officers were chosen : Stephen Calkins. Seth Cook and Crispin Bull. selectmen : Daniel Vanolendo, constable : Na- than Weller. treasurer ; Peter Irish, collector ; JJohn Stafford. sur- veyor ; Joseph Earl, Stephen Calkins and Seth Cook. committee to lay out highways. It was also voted that hogs should not run at large from the 15th day of April to the 15th day of October.
A town meeting was held Sept. 29th, 1769. to see where it was best to lay out highways. It was voted at this meeting to lay out five different roads. The first was to be laid out as marked from the notch in the mountain to Joseph Earl's, which was the first road built in town. From thence it was to be laid to Micah Vail's. A road was also to run from Micah Vail's house north. and one to run east. Another was laid out from the house of Jesse Irish to the house of Nathaniel Fisk. Irish then lived in the northern part of the town and Fish in the eastern.
In 1709. the proprietors made a second division of land. This was a 60 acre division, and the lots were were laid out by Thoni- as Rowley, Stephen Calkin and Crispin Ball, who were di- pointed a committee for that purpose. Two sixty acre lots were laid out and disposed of to pay the expense of making this divi. ion. Another lot of sixty acres was disposed of tor building and mending roads. Stephen Calkins was appointed a committee to take charge of the proceeds, aber disposing of the land. and ust them to the best advantage for that purpose.
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HISTORY OF DENBY.
The annual town meeting of 1770, was held at the house of Timothy Bull, who was elected moderator. Two highway sur- veyors were elected that year, who were Crispin Bull and Seth Cook. The proprietors made another division of land that year. which was 50 acres to each right. The committee appointed to make this third division, were Jesse Irish. Micah Vail and Thomas Rowley. This division was made by pitches, and the lots were all laid out adjoining in regular form. The proprietors then drew lots for the day when each should make his pitch. which took place October 3d.
The town meetings continued to be held at the house of Timothy Bull until 1773. when they were held at the house of Mr. Williamson Bull. We have no means of knowing what the population of the town was at that time, as there was no reg- as census made muil 1701. But it is very evident that not- withstanding all the hindrances, the town was being settled with great rapidity. The troubles with New York were now at their height, and the people here as well as elsewhere on the " grants." vied with each other in resisting the unjust measures which were being imposed upon them by New York. The set- flers were banded together, and under the leadership of Etban Allen promptly met every attempt on the part of the colony of New York to extend her rule over them, and to gain a foothold ou their soil.
The annual meeting of 1773, was held at the house of William- son Bull. and Micah Vail served as moderator. Town meetings were afterwards held at the house of Micah Vail. That part of the town, at that time was the most thickly settled, and by being held at Vail's house would better accommodate the inhabi- tants of the town. Roads were increasing in number. so that in 1773 it required three surveyors, who were Stephen Calkins. Ephraim Seley and Philip Griffith. The surveyors in 1772, were Joseph Sprague, Abel Haskins and Michael Bull.
Calkins was surveyor on the north roads from Tinmonth. Seley on roads in the south part of the town, and Griffith on roads upon the east side, Hogs were not allowed to run with- out being yoked. Joseph Soule was elected town clerk in 1773. in place of Thomas Rowley, who had been town clerk. since the town was organized. Ephraim Seley and Micah Vail were appointed a committee to receive the town's books and deliver them to the new clerk.
The annual meeting of 1774, was kell at the house of Micah Vail, who was also moderator. There were three assessors chosen that year for the first time, who were William Gage, Ephraim Seley and William Bromley.
Ephraim Mallory was elected moderator of the annual meeting of 1775, and four highway surveyors were elected that year. viz : Abraham Chase, William Gage. Stephen Rogers and Clark Ar- gold. The assessore were William Bromley, William Gage and Stephen Calkins.
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MSTORY OF DANBY.
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