USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Danby > The history and map of Danby, Vermont > Part 5
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A town meeting was held at the house of Abraham Chase, September 11th, 1757, Poet. Ebenezer Tolman, Moderator. A tax was voted at this meeting of two pence on the pound of the
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
grand list of 1786, to be paid in grain. In the fall of 1787, an- other list was taken, which amounted to 4250 pounds 5 shillings. showing an increase of 585 pounds 15 shillings in one year.
The annual meeting of 1788, was also held at the house of Abraham Chase, and Jacob Eddy was Moderator. Five soleer- men and five listers were chosen for that year. Moses Vail was elected pound keeper; Jonathan Seley, Benjamin Fowler. tv- thingmen ; Daniel Cook and Samson Harrington. haywards. There was but one pauper in town in 1788, who was Sarah Bar- low ; she was the first person ever supported by the town. Zeh- ulon Smith was hired to take care of her that year, for which he was to receive his pay in grain. A town tax was voted at the above meeting, of one penny on the pound of the grand list, to be paid in wheat at 4 shillings 6 pence per bushel, and corn at 3 shillings per bushel. These prices show that grain was not very night in those days, compared with prices at the present time. Taxes were not very high in those times-the whole tax in 1789 amounted to only 18 pounds or about $60. The grand list for that year was 4612 pounds 6 shillings; in 1790 it was 4920 pounds 5 shillings.
In 1701, when the first census was taken, the population of Danby was twelve hundred and sixty, (1260.) nearly as many as there are in town at the present time. there being by the cen- sus of 1800 but fourteen hundred and nineteen, (1419.) A saw mill had been erected by Stephen Calkins and framed houses be- gan to be built. Rapid progress had been made in clearing up lands, schools had been organized in several districts : a large number of roads had been laid out and the population was thriv- ing and industrious.
The ammal town meeting of 1793, was held at the house of Doet. Adam Johnson, and Edward Vail was Moderator. Among the town officers elected that year. were Benjamin Brandwe !!. leather sealer : Israel Phillips, tythingman : Peleg Smith and Leonard Griffith. fence viewers. It was voted to leave the school lands, and to hold future town meetings, at the house of Dr. Adam Johnson, who then lived on the farm now belonging to G. J. Locke's estate.
In 1794. Caleb Phillips and Henry Signor, were elected tv- thingmen : Bradford Barnes. Barton Bromley, William Edinmuis, fence viewers ; and Hatzel Kelley. hayward. Twenty high- way surveyors were appointed for that year. and a school com- mittee consisting of John Allen, Miner Milliard. Edward Vail. Abel Horton. Elista Fish. Daniel Sherman. Charles Nichol- and Amos Brown, whose doty it was to make alterations in districts.
The following town officers were elected in 1995: Henry iter- rick. tythingman : Demis Canfield. Moses Clark and Celeb. Smith, haywards. Sheep were not allowed to run at large thai. year, and another pound was built. mar the house of Highriam Seler. The office of Auditor was created in 1797, in which year there was three elected, viz : Daniel Parris, Lenne Grif- 1;
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
fith and Edward Vail. Among those elected to office in 1797, were Reuben White, leather sealer; Gardner Harrington, ty- thingman ; Alexander Barrett hayward ; Jonathan Seley, Elihu Sherman, fence viewers. The grand list of the town that year amounted to £5570 or $19658.16.
In 1798, Prudential Committees were required to make returns of the number of scholars in their respective districts. It was voted at the annual March meeting that year, that all warnings and notices for town meetings, should be set up at the house of Brad- ford Barnes, on the east side of the town, on the sign post near Moses Vail's, and at the Methodist Church, then situated near the burial ground, west of the Corners.
The following officers were elected in 1799 : Joseph Ross, Ed- mund Sherman, haywards; Alexander Barrett, tythingman ; Obediah Edmunds. Daniel Parvis, fence viewers ; Elisha Brown. pound keeper ; Daniel Sherman, leather sealer, and also seal- er of weights and measures.
The census of 1800, shows the population of the town to have been fourteen hundred and eighty-seven, a gain of two hundred and eighty-one in nine years, by which we can see that rapid pro- gress had been made in the settlement of the town. At that time nearly every part of the town was settled, the farms cleared up and under cultivation. Three saw mills had been built. and considerable progress made in the erection of framed housee. Roads had been built in nearly every direction ; two churches had become established ; and two stores and three hotels were in operation. There were but two dwelling houses at Danby Borough, at that time, and one hotel kept by Bradford Barnes. but it was very thickly settled along Otter Creek north of the vil- lage. The central part of the town, in the vicinity of Danby 4 Corners, and south from there, was at that time the most thickly settled. A settlement had been commenced on what is now known as " Dutch Hill," by Henry Signor and others. A large muim- ber of the inhabitants had settled in the little village, and a few had located themselves in the " Oxbow." That portion of the town known as "Bromley hollow," and " South America," had also become quite thickly settled, and the town was in a flourish- ing condition.
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As it would doubtless be interesting to know who were resi- dents of the town at that time, we will give below a list of the freemen, made in 1800 :
Benjamin Kelley, Joseph Irish, Hatsel Kelley, Abel Irish, Gideon Irish, Enoch Congor, David Irish, Benjamin Sherman,
Jacob Wynn, David Irish, Jr., Ebenezer Smith,
John Harrington. Richard Calkins, Stephen Calkins, Alexander Barrett, William Lewis,
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
William Cook,
Deliverance Rogers, Gersham Congor, Isaac Wilber, James Nichols, Rufus Rogers,
Joseph Ross, Abraham Brown. Nathan Smith,
James Bates, -Joseph Bates,
Nicholas Cook, Sylvanus Cook, John Barlow, Jacob Shippec, Henry wilbur,
Daniel Southwick, George Cook,
Nathaniel Harrington.
Henry Chase,
Ishmael Matteson,
Elisha Southwick.
Charles Wells,
Charles Nichols.
John Rogers, Anthony Nichols.
Ezekel Ballard,
Joseph Button,
Thomas Potter.
Jacob Bartlett, Nathaniel Wait. Joseph Rogers, James Soule, Obediah Edmunds.
Jonathan Wood, Daniel Cook,
Mathew Wing,
Mathew Wing, Jr.,
Timothy Bull, Jr .. Crispin Ball, Joseph Ball, Zooth Ailen. John Allen. Bradford Barnes, Lemuel Griffith,
Elisha Fick, Stephen Rogers. David Griffith, John H. Andrus. Jonathan Irish. Jr ..
Peter Lewis, Abel Haskins,
John Sealey, David Nichols, Rufus Colvin,
Darius Lobdell, Henry Frost, -
Micajah Weed,
Chad, Phillips, John Harrington, Jr .. Pardon Kelley, Jonathan Seley, Stephen Sava, Abner Blackmore.
Sampson Harrington,
Adam Johnston, Peter Harrington,
Miner Hilliard.
Thomas Griffith. Jonathan Griffah.
Nathan Lapham,
Moses Keith,
Samuel Dow,
Seth Wood,
Joel Micks.
James Bowling. Abraham Staples,
Daniel Sherman.
Daniel Cook.
Isaac Ballard.
Nathan Ballard,
-Joseph Harris, Henry D. Hint, Snow Randall, Constant Viol.
Levi Thornton.
Richard Chatsey,
George Griffith.
Levi Sherman.
Thomas Harrington, Jr ..
Noah Wood,
Isahad Thaver.
Prince Alien,
Asa Brown.
Daniel Brown. Daniel Perris. John Fav.
Elisha Brown.
Parris Browp. Roubin Fisk,
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HHISTORY OF PANBY.
John Allen, Jr ..
Henry Signor, Benoni Fisk.
John Buxton,
Joshma Colvin,
Benjamin Fisk,
Amos Colvin, Caleb Parris,
David Matteson,
William Edmunds.
Job King, Joseph King.
Peter Wooden,
Daniel Hill,
Isaac Rogers,
Abel Horton,
Benjamin Thompson,
Joseph Armstrong.
Nathan Spaulding,
David Comstock,
Caleb Phillips,
Stephen Williams,
Amos Brown.
Hosea Willianis,
Daniel Kelley.
Daniel Bromley.
John Northrup,
Henry Clark.
Israel Phillips,
Stephen Colvin,
Titus Colvin.
Caleb Colvin,
Timothy Buxton,
Dennis Canfield.
John Lewis.
Luther Colvin.
Nathaniel Smith.
John Clark.
Thomas Harrington.
Nathan Clark,
Paut Hulett.
Moses Vail.
Ezekel Smith,
Ephriam Seley,
John Sayles.
Harris Otis.
Reubin Colvin.
Roswell Dart.
Elkanal Parris.
Edmund Grinman.
Ebenezer Nichols.
William Lee,
Amasa Smith.
Seth Cook.
David Gilmore.
Aaron Ilill,
Bethuel Bromley.
John Hill,
Reubin White.
Elisha Tryon,
Jacob Eldy.
William Bromley, Ir ..
Ilosca Eddy,
William Bromley.
John Palmer,
John Signor,
Henry Herrick. Jr ..
Jacob Lewis,
Nathan Weller.
Gilbert Palmer,
Gardner Harrington.
Edward Vail.
John Weller, Richard Latten,
Nathan Saulesbury.
Jonathan Irish.
Henry Herrick.
Jonathan Staples.
James Cookright.
Edmund Potter,
Daniel Remmington.
Jonathan Renmmington,
Joseph Remmington.
Elisha Harrington.
John Johnson.
Jabeth Matteson. Andrew White. Levi Taft.
Lot Harrington.
Oliver Harrington.
The above list contains two hundred and two hames, and is supposed to be an accurate list of the freemen in town at that time. We find by comparison, that there are fitty nine names found up-
Oliver Thayer,
Charles Kingsbury,
Elihu Sherman,
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
on the roll of 1778, which are not found upon the roll of 1800. some of whom had removed from town, and others had died.
Below will be found a list of names taken from rolls made at intervening periods, and which are not found upon either of the other rolls, showing who had been residents of the town previous to 1800. but had passed off.
Caleb Clark,
John Broughton,
Moses Clark,
Solomon Baker,
Joseph Carr.
Timothy Barman.
Simeon Holton,
Samuel Irish,
Enoch Eddy,
John Safford, _
Phillip Griffith.
Joseph Searle,
Daniel Huleit.
Zebulon Sprague.
William Harrington,
Israel Seley.
John White,
Caleb Morey,
Henry Wilbur,
David Carrish.
Cristopher Sherman.
William Louin,
John Russell.
Matteson Taft,
Gideon Barnum,
Plin Adams.
Abraham Chase.
Philander Barrett,
The above list contains twenty-eight names, and it is with feel- ings of sadness that we read over the names upon these rolls, of men who once lived and moved upon this stage of action, but have long since passed to " that bourne from which no traveller re- turns." In them we read our own fate. There are but few of those men now living, less than half a dozen perhaps, over whose heads the winters of four score years and ten have passed.
The annual town meeting of 1801. was held at the Methodist meeting-house which stood west of the corners, and Ezekel Bal- lard was moderator. A committee was appointed consisting of Edward Vail, Henry Herrick, Jr., and Stephen Williams, to set- tle with the selectmen, and to see if the trustees had properly laid out a certain sum of money, appropriated for the purpose of re- pairing the meeting-house. It was voted not to allow horses. sheep or awine to run at large. There were some alteration- made that year in the fourth and fifth school districts. The aa- nual town meeting of 1802, was also held at the meeting-house. Jonathan Seley, moderator. There were twenty highway sur- veyors appointed that year, and another pound was built ou the farm of Adam Johnson.
A town meeting was held the 30th day of January. 1801. Jared Lobdell. moderator, at which meeting it was voted to as- sess a tax of five mille on the grand list of 1808, to pay the in- debtedness of the town. We would inter from this that the town was not badly in debt at that time. The annual town meeting of isot, was held at the house of Jonathan Seley, and Abel Horton was moderator. It was voted to have tive selectmen who would serve the town free of charge. The five elected under those con- ditions, were Abel Horton, John H. Andrus, Obediah Edmund -.
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
Barton Bromley and Hosea Williams. A committee to make alterations in school districts was appointed consisting of Roheth Allen, Hosea Williams and Nathan Saulsbury. Another com- mittee consisting of Jonathan Seley and Edward Vail, was ap- pointed to assist the county committee in laying out a county road through the town.
By a vote of the town at the annual meeting of 1805, the boundaries of the fourth, seventh and eighth school districts were established. In consequence of the drought which occurred that year, crops were generally a failure. There was no rain fell of any amount during the entire summer, which caused considerable suffering among the inhabitants the follwing winter and spring. A special town meeting was held in the spring of 1806, at the house of Henry Herrick, Jr., for the purpose of instructing the selectmen to collect the rente then due on the globe land. Eu- ward Vail was moderator of that meeting. From the general list of the town in 1806, we find there were 202 polls, 5269 1-2 acres of improved land, and eighty-four houses, the assessment upon which, and other property, amounted to $28,876 52. It was the law at that time to add a two fold assessment to the amount of grand list. Militia men and cavalry horses were exempt from taxation. The annual town meeting of 1807, was held at the meeting-house, and Daniel Parris was moderator.
In 1809, the annual town meeting was held at the iun of Hen- ry Herrick, Jr., and Jolm H. Andrus was moderator. A town tax of five mills on the dollar was voted for that year, and a board of school trustees were elected, consisting of Amos Brown for the first district, Abel Horton for the second, John Lobdel tor the third, Nathan Saulesbury for the fourth, Edward Vail for the fifth, Jonathan Seley for the sixth. Aaron Rogers for the seventh. Hosea Williams for the eighth, Joseph Irish for the ninth. whose duty it was to make such alterations in the districts as they deemed proper. A new and tenth distriet was laid out that year. The annual meeting of 1810, was also held at the Int of Henry Herrick. Jr., and Abel Horton was moderator. Town office was not very profitable in those times, as bat small charges were allowed for services. Listers and selectmen were seldom allowed over five dollars for their services during the year.
In 1810, the population of the town was 1730. a gain of 243 in ten year-, and there had been a rapid increase of business dur- ing that time. The Cornors bad become considerable of a busi- ness place. There were then two stores, one kept by James M. Daniels. and the other by James Weeks. Jazniah Barrett was also in trade south of the Corners. There were two hotels, our kept by Elisha Brown, and the other by Henry Herrick. JJr. There was also a blacksmith shop. besides other small establish- ments. Several large manufacturing establishments had sprung up in different part of the town ; among these was the woolen factory by Jonathan Barrett. the trip banner by Sayid Bartleet! and Isaac Southwick, for the manufacture of edge tools, and the
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
tannery for the manufacture of leather, built at the Borough, by Peleg Nichols, Hosea Williams and Bradford Barnes. There were also several saw mills in operation, supplying the inhabi- tants with lumber : and two gristmills. Ten years had also witnessed some change in the settlement at the Borough. Several new houses had been built, and a hotel kept by Augustus Mul- ford. Two stores were in operation there, by Hosea Willianes and Jesse Lapham, and doing good business. Quite a settlement had sprung up at Scottsville, and a tannery was carried on by Daniel Healey. There were put into the list of that year, 206 polls, 8118 acres of improved land, 171 honses, 4 stores, 124 oxen, 1954 cows, and 390 horses. The above facts will show that the grand list of the town had increased very rapidly.
The annual March meeting of 1811, was held at the inn of Henry Herrick. Jr., and Jared Lobdel was moderator. It was voted to assess a tax of five mills on the grand list of 1810, to defray the expenses of the town. A committee consisting of Abel Horton, Alexander Barrett and Jared Lobdel, was appointed to settle with the treasurer, and one consisting of Edward Vail, Jonathan Seley and Jared Lobdel. to settle with the selectmen. A town meeting was held Jan. 6th, 1812, at the meeting-house and Nathan Weller was clerk pro tem. It was voted at that meeting to establish the several school districts as they then were, and a committee consisting of Hosea Williams, Moses White, Job King, Nathan Saulesbury, Nathan Weller. Miner Hilliard. Joseph Button Hosea Barnes, Hatsel Kelley and Sylvanus Cook, were appointed to ascertain the lines of the districts. and make report at the next annual meeting in March. The report of the above cominittee was accepted at that meeting. John H. Andrus was moderator.of the annual meeting of 1813, at which it was voted to pay Oliver Thayer the sum of thirty-three dollars and thirty- three cents, ($33 33) for damages in breaking his horse's leg on the highway. A tax of eight mills on the dollar was also voted. Abraham Locke was moderator of the ammal meeting of 1814, at which meeting, David Griffith. Alexander Barrett and Paul Hulett, were chosen a committee to settle with the overseers of the poor, and treasurer. A committee of ten, one from each school dis't, was appointed to make such alterations in the districts as they deemed proper. In 1815, the town was divided into twenty- five highway districts, and a tax of five mills on the dollar was voted. to pay the expenses of keeping the poor, and other charges. Caleb Parris was chosen moderator of the annual town meeting of that year.
The largest population the town ever had, was about the year 1815, and probably that was the most prosperous period in the existence of Danky. There were but four towns in the county hav- ing a greater population at that time, and none with the same number of inhabitants outrivaling in business interests,
A period of fifty years had then elapsed since the settlement of the town, and perhaps it would be well, at this stage of our histo-
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
ry, to notice the changes which had been made in the affairs of the town, during this half a century, and also the changes which were still going on. There had been two destructive wars with the mother comtry, -- the revolution, and that of 1812. just closed .- in which our citizens in common with those of the State, were called to take up arms, and without hesitation, in defence of their liberties and independence, which were nobly won. We had also passed through that relentless struggle with New York, which raged until 1790. in which by a determined resistence on our part. we were saved from becoming slaves to haughty and ijust rul- ers, on the land we had bought and paid for. We had thrown off the shackles. with which our unkind mother-England, was seeking to bind and degrade ns. by taxing us without our consent. and disregarding our petitions for redress of grievances, and remon- strances against her policy. and rose to the position of an indepen- dentnation.
The local government within that time had been variously modi- fied. Previous to 1779, the affairs of the town were managed by the committees of safety, after which they were subject to the state government, and many changes have been made. The laws inflicting coporeal punishment for criminal offences, had been dis- continned, and more rational modes of punishment established. The war from which we had just emerged, had produced a bad effect upon the country. Industry was paralized, property depre- eiated, and banks were broken. The laws then allowed imprison- ment for debt, and as many as had contracted debts during the war. were now unable to meet them. Consequently many went to jail. and those who could not " swear out," would give bail and secure the liberty of the yard.
Time had made, and was still making great changes in the usages, customs and circumstances of the people. The rude cab- ins of the first settlers, many of which were without doors, and without floors, with no cellars, had been exchanged for more com- fortable dwellings. Our fathers were men of great physical en- surance, and triumphed over the circumstances of those thees. It is impossible to give a true description of the privations. destitu- tion and sufferings of the settlers, during the first years of settle- ment. We have read how they came here and felled the forest. cleared up the land. planted grain and orchards. and made them- selves a home. We cannot truly picture to ourselves those rude dwellings, with bark roofs, through which the storm would beat. and around which wild animals would howlby night ; how seanty were their provisions, furniture and household articles. Fifty years had witnessed a change in all these circumstances. The people were no longer ofdiged to go fifteen or twenty miles to mill. on horseback. and sometimes on foot. The age of pewter plates and wooden louches for seats had passed. They could now he abundantly supplied with bread and meat, and children were no: obliged as in former times, to go barefoot the year round. Flax and wool were now raised, and the spinning-wheel and looms set
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
in motion. the music of which was common in every household. These are some of the changes which had taken place previous to 1816, but greater yet will be the change which the next succeed- ing fifty years, will have wrought.
Some trouble had now arisen. concerning the right of the town to hold town meetings in the Methodist meeting-house, and on a petition signed by Miner Hilliard, Caleb Parris, Abel Horton, Dennis Canfield and others. a town meeting was held at the Inn of Nicholas Jenks, on the 8th day of May, 1816, William Hitt, moderator. At that meeting the selectmen were appointed a com- mittee to make investigations, and ascertain what right, if any, the town had in the meeting-house, and make report at the next annual meeting. Another committee consisting of James MeDan- iels and Aaron Rogers, was appointed to examine the case of Panl Hulett, who had petitioned the town to be set to another school district, said committee to meet and choose a third. and make re- port at the next meeting. The seleetmen were instructed to set up four guide boards, at suitable places in the town. A special town meeting was held at the house of Nicholas Jenks, Oct. 9th, 1816, Abraham Locke, moderator, at which meeting, Moses Ward was elected first constable and collector, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Isaac Vail.
1816 was the great year of famine. People refer to it as the cold summer. There was said to be plenty of rain in the spring, which continued until May, when a drought set in which lasted till late in the fall. There were frosts every month in the year. Grain and grass were a complete failure, and but very little corn was raised in town. in consequence of which, there was great destitution among the inhabitants the following winter and spring. We are told that people were redneed to the last extremity, and many cattle perished.
The annual town meeting of 1817, was held at the inn of Nicholas Jeuks. and Caleb Parris was moderator. It was voted to divide the town into six districts, and authorize the inhabitants to build and support a pound. Paul Hulett, Edmund Sherman and Thomas Griffith, were appointed a committee to settle with the overseer of the poor and treasurer. A tax of one cent on the dollar was voted, to pay the expenses of the town for that year. 1 special town meeting was held May 24th, Alexander Barrett, moderator. Twelve trustees, one for each school district, were appointed to make such alterations in said districts. as were bet- essary. The petition upon which the above meeting was held, called for an additional town tax, but it was voted not to raise anv. The selvengen were authorized to act upon their own judgment in taking care of the poor, without calling upon a justice of the peace for orders.
The annual March meeting of 1818, was held at the house of Daniel Parris. A petition had been made to the town, to divide the sixth School district, upon which a committee was appointed, consisting of Barton Bromley, Edmund Sherman and Stephen
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HISTORY OF DANBY.
Calkins, who were to examine the case, and make report at the next meeting.
At the census of 1820, we find the population of the town to be sixteen hundred and seven. (1607) a falling off of one hund- red and twenty-three, (123.) The annual meeting for that year, was held at the house of Henry Herrick, Jr., and Alexander Barrett was moderator. Stephen Calkins was elected town clerk at that meeting. in place of Edward Vail, who had held the office since 1799. It was voted to the pay the listers seventy-five cents per day for their services. The annual town meeting of 1821. was held at the house of Bradford Barnes, Jr., at the Borough, and Alexander Barrett was moderator. No particular change was made in the town officers for that year. The select- men were appointed overseers of the poor, and it was voted to hold future town and freemen's meetings, at the Inn of Henry Herrick, Jr .. at the Corners.
The annual meeting of 1822, was warned to be holden at the Inn of Henry Herrick. Jr., but for some reason it was adjourned to the house of Nicholas Jenks. The town voted to relinquish all right and title which it had in the Methodist meeting-house, to Barton Bromley. A special town meeting was held June 3d. Zebeth Allen, moderator. A committee consisting of David Griffith. Hosea Williams, Hosea Barnes, Zoheth Allen and David Youngs, was appointed to make all necessary alterations in school districts, and make report at the next meeting. It was voted to raise a school tax sufficient to make the public money equal to the amount of tax required by law, for the support of schools. This meeting was adjourned till the third day of July following, and was held at the same place, Rufus Bucklin, moderator. The school committee having made some alterations in the districts, made their report, which was accepted.
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