USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Jericho > The history of Jericho, Vermont > Part 49
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600
HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
THE PROUTY FAMILY.
By Edward H. Prouty.
Richard Prouty, the founder of the family in America, came from England in the year 1667, at the age of fourteen, and d. Sept. 1, 1708. He was a resident of Scituate, Plymouth Colony, Mass., when the Indian conflict known as King Philip's War was raging, and did a brave defender's part in repelling the cruel foe.
Isaac, the fourth son of Richard, was a wealthy farmer and the father of twelve children. Adam, the fifth son of Isaac, was the father of fifteen children. He served in the French and Indian wars.
Stephen, the fourth son of Adam Prouty, was b. at Spencer about the year 1764, and was m. at Winchendon, Mass., De- cember 9, 1787, to Elizabeth Hancock. He served in the War of the Revolution; received bounty of the chairman of class 5, Spencer, June 25, 1782, having enlisted in the Continental Army for three years.
Family tradition tells us that he came to Vermont about the year 1790 when his son, Luther, was two years old; and that his wife rode horseback and carried the child and that their household goods were carried on Stephen's back and on the back of the horse. Among these goods was a brass kettle which was hung to the horn of the saddle and when the mother wished to rest herself while riding she would place the child in the kettle, so a portion of his long journey to the new home was made in this unique manner. After a few years' residence here the mother d. and the father left the young son with friends and returned to Massachusetts.
This son, Luther, became the head of the family in Jericho. He m. Hephzibah, dau. of Uriah and Matilda (Graves) Howe.
"The Howe name is a very old one dating back to the time of the Crusaders, when at least one wore the Cross. It bears honorable mention all through English and American history. The founder of this branch of the family in America was John Howe, who settled in Sudbury, Mass., in 1639, and was the great-great-great-grandfather of Hephzibah Howe Prouty. Her father and grandfather were soldiers in the Revolutionary War."
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
Luther Prouty was a blacksmith and took an active part in town affairs during the first half of the 19th century. He was a soldier of the War of 1812 and saw service in the Battle of Plattsburgh as noted elsewhere in this history. He served in the militia of the state and his commissions as Ensign, signed by Governor Richard Skinner on Nov. 5, 1822, and Lieutenant, signed by Gov. C. P. Van Ness, December 16, 1823, and Cap- tain, signed by Gov. C. P. Van Ness, August 31, 1825, with his honorable discharge from service May 21, 1828, are now in the possession of the family together with an original document, a copy of which follows and will be of interest to the Jericho people generally.
"Whereas at a meeting held at Jerico Corners on the 5th of November, 1823, it was agreed to build a meeting-house to be situated between Luther Prouty's and James Martin's and for the purpose of carrying the same into effect, we whose names are hereunto annexed, promise each for ourselves to pay to a committee hereafter to be appointed by the subscribers, to build said house, the sums respectively affixed to our names in the manners following-the one-half of each of our said subscrip- tions to be paid in good merchantable neat cattle on or before the 10th day of October, 1824, or in good merchantable grain on or before the 10th, day of January, following, and the other half in good merchantable neat cattle on or before the 10th day of October, 1825, or in good merchantable grain on or before the 10th day of January, 1826, provided that every subscriber may have the privilege of paying one-fourth part of his subscrip- tion in lumber or materials for the building of said house if he delivers them on the spot on or before the first of June, 1824. Said house when built is to be owned and occupied by the Baptists and Congregational order each one-half of the time and the place where said house shall be built is to be designated in the manner following: For a subscription of five dollars one vote, and for each additional five dollars one vote.
Peter Shaw
$100.00
Prosper Blackman
$50.00
Geo. Howe
100.00
John Bliss
50.00
Luther Prouty
100.00
John Butler
20.00
John C. Mack (?)
40.00
A. B. Bentley 5.00
G. O. Dixon
125.00 (?) G. (?) W. Joyner
5.00
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
Oliver Lowrey
50.00
N. Joyner 5.00
Wm. Cilley
40.00
Thomas Bliss
50.00
E. D. Hubbel
20.00
Tillison Hapgood
50.00
Truman Barney
75.00
Thomas Reed
25.00
Henry Walbridge
5.00
Joel Castle
50.00
Riley Burnham
20.00
Isaac Blood
5.00
Truman A. Chittenden 20.00
Amos ( ?) Blood
5.00
David Oakes
50.00
Aaron Brownell
20.00
Oriel (?) Squire
5.00
Augustus Castle
50.00
Hosea White
10.00
Arthur Bostwick (?)
25.00
Hyram (?) Martin
5.00
William W. Cilley
20.00
Henry W. George (?)
5.00
John Westover
10.00
John Oakes
20.00
Wm. C. Grimes ( ?)
20.00
This meeting-house is the present Congregational church, and stands on the church green at Jericho village.
Mr. Prouty built the brick house now occupied by Mr. Henry Desany, opposite the graded school at the top of the hill and lived there until his death which occurred at Richmond, Vt., February 12, 1857. His wife d. there on February 7, 1860. Their children, all b. in Jericho were: Mary H., b. June 11, 1816; Elizabeth H., b. July 8, 1818; Luther Stephen, b. Novem- ber 6, 1821; Fanny A., b. August 1, 1824; Elon Howe, b. March 28, 1827; Lucretia L., b. September 18, 1829, also Clarissa M., (adopted) b. February 13, 1811.
(1) Mary H., b. June 11, 1816, m. April 25, 1839 to John B. Packard, d. October 17, 1863. Child:
Amelia F. Packard, b. February 19, 1844, d. March 25, 1854.
(2) Elizabeth H., b. July 8, 1818, d. October 2, 1851. Never m.
(3) Luther Stephen, b. November 6, 1821, m. first in Milton, Vt., November 6, 1851, Emeline Bascom. Children:
(a) Lucia Elizabeth, b. in Jericho, Vt., November 20, 1852, m. May 13, 1882, Rev. W. O. Bibbins. No children. She d. at Rutland, Vermont, January 20, 1907.
(b) Fred Elon, b. in Jericho, Vt., June 24, 1855, d. May 27, 1907. Never m.
(c) Fanny Candace, b. in Jericho, Vt., Sept. 9, 1859, d. September 19, 1884. Never m.
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
Luther's wife d. at Castleton, Vt., January 13, 1873, and he m. 2 Mrs. Clarissa Miller Stevens, on January 21, 1874. Children :
(d) Clarissa Emeline, b. in Castleton, Vt., Dec. 9, 1875.
(e) Josephine Almina, b. in Castleton, Vt., Apr. 5, 1879, both of whom are now living in Boston, Mass.
He worked at the blacksmith's trade until he moved to Castleton, Vt., about the year 1865, where he located on a farm and lived there until about 1890, when he retired and went to Rutland, Vt., to live with his son who was in the livery busi- ness. He d. there on January 10, 1899.
(4) Fanny A., b. August 1, 1824, m. Feb. 21, 1847, to James L. Bliss, d. July 2, 1849. No children.
(5) Elon Howe, b. March 28, 1827, m. in Essex, Vt., June 25, 1856, to Jane L., dau. of Augustus and Hannah (Abbott) Dow.
"Mrs. Prouty was b. in Jericho, July 29, 1833, and was of the eighth generation in direct descent from Geo. Abbott of Rowley, Mass., who died in 1647. In the Abbott genealogy are the names of many men and women prominent in the history of our country and Great Britain, including one President, many distinguished patriots, divines, educators, jurists, scientists, philanthropists, doctors and merchants. Her great grandfather was Timothy Abbott of Bennington, Vt., who was a soldier in the French and Indian War, and also was one of the original 'Green Mountain Boys,' and won fame as one of the party that rescued Capt. Remember Baker from the 'Yorkers.'"
Mr. Prouty learned the blacksmith's trade. He built the brick shop and house near by about half way up the hill and worked at his trade until 1866 when they bought the hotel at Underhill Center. They moved there and conducted it for seventeen years, with the exception of a year and a half when he had a general store in Bolton, and one and a half years when sickness in the family made it necessary to retire. During their hotel experience many summer guests were entertained, the most prominent name perhaps to appear on the register being that of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the noted philosopher.
Mr. Prouty volunteered for service in the Civil War, 1861- 65, but was not accepted owing to physical disability. To them were b. seven children :
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
(1) A son who d. in infancy.
(2) Frank Luther, b. Aug. 22, 1858.
(3) Ella Jane, b. Apr. 5, 1861.
(4) Charles Elon, b. Dec. 1, 1863.
(5) Fred Howard, b. Nov. 26, 1868.
(6) Edward Howe, b. Jan. 4, 1871.
(7) Kittie Elizabeth, b. July 31, 1874.
In April, 1883, they returned to Jericho where Mrs. Prouty d. on July 3, 1883. Mr. Prouty survived her sixteen years, dying at Jericho, December 11, 1899. Children :
II. Frank Luther, b. Aug. 22, 1858, in Jericho, Vt., m. in Detroit, Mich., June 6, 1900, to Elizabeth Bruce Logan. Child :
Frederick Elon Thomas, b. at Detroit, June 28, 1903.
Frank L. was a commercial traveler for many years, repre- senting shoe factories in the east and middle west, going to Detroit, Mich. about 1890, where he has since resided with the exception of a few years in Chicago. For fifteen years he was in the livery business in Detroit from which he retired in 1913. He d. Dec. 12, 1915, and was buried at Jericho.
III. Ella Jane, b. in Jericho, Vt., April 5, 1861, and m. at Boston, Mass., July 11, 1895, to Arthur Dana Bradford. She d. at St. Albans, Vt., March 5, 1914. Child :
Ruth Charlotte, b. in Swanton, Dec. 12, 1898, d. at Swanton, April 2, 1900.
Mr. Bradford for years was editor and publisher of the "Jericho Reporter," and has been editor of several other Vermont papers. At present he is on the "Messenger" staff at St. Albans, Vt.
IV. Charles Elon, b. at Jericho, Vt., Dec. 1, 1863, m. at Grand Isle, Vt., March 18, 1903, to Eva Martha Kinney. Mrs. Prouty's great grandfather was Abel Parker about whom the following has been published :
GRAVE OF A REVOLUTIONARY HERO.
"Students of history .will be interested in the bringing to light of the grave of a hero of the Revolution in the old ceme- tery at Georgia Plains. The grave holds the dust of Abel Parker.
"Mr. Parker achieved glory enough in the Revolution to satisfy a dozen men. He took part in the battle of Bunker Hill,
605
HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
served under Arnold in the Quebec expedition, was with Put- nam on the Hudson, and spent two winters in Washington's army at Valley Forge. He was commissioned ensign in Col. Charles Webb's second regiment, Connecticut line, January 1, 1777, and was at one time sergeant in Capt. Solomon Will's company of Col. Joseph Spencer's second Continental Regiment.
"The veteran came to Georgia at the close of the war and lived there for several years, dying when over ninety years old. The stone marking his grave bears the simple inscription, 'A Soldier of the Revolution'."
Children :
(1) Ruth Elizabeth, b. at Grand Isle, Nov. 2, 1903.
(2) Pearl Aleath, b. at Grand Isle, Sept. 24, 1906.
(3) Doris Jane, b. at Grand Isle, Nov. 8, 1911.
(4) Ralph Kinney, b. at Grand Isle, June 20, 1914.
(5) Frank Luther, born at Grand Isle, Dec. 20, 1915.
Charles E. was for ten years with the Burlington, Vt., store of the Grand Union Tea Co., and during this period served for several years with Co. M, 1st Regt. Infy., Vermont National Guard. At the outbreak of the war with Spain in 1898 he vol- unteered for service, but owing to slight physical disability was not accepted. In 1903 he moved to Grand Isle and has since lived on a farm.
V. Fred Howard, b. in Underhill, Vt., Nov. 26, 1868, m. at Marshfield, Vt., Mar. 29, 1905, to Harriet Louise Cole. Child : Helen Marie, b. at Marshfield, Vt., Sept. 29, 1908.
Mrs. Prouty's great-great-grandfather was Capt. John Pike, 2nd, a soldier and pensioner of the Revolutionary War and her great grandfather was Capt. John Pike, 3rd, who organized a company at Marshfield for service in the War of 1812. He marched with his company to Burlington, but arrived too late to take part in the battle of Plattsburgh. He drew a bounty of land.
Fred H. began his business career in May, 1884, when he became a clerk in the hardware store of Ripley & Holton in Burlington, Vt. This store has been under several different managements, but Mr. Prouty has remained and today he is the oldest in point of service in the present firm, "The Vermont Hardware Co.," of which he was an organizer and is a stock-
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606
HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
holder and director and its secretary. He is also a stockholder in the Capital Hardware Co. of Montpelier, Vt., of which he was one of the organizers.
VI. Edward Howe, b. in Underhill, Vt., January 4, 1871, m. at Burlington, Vt., November 20, 1901, to Kate Ethel Wright, dau. of John Jacob and Ethel Louise (Beeman) Wright, born at Vergennes, Vermont, October 19, 1870. Child :
Ethel Louise, b. at Burlington, Vt., May 29, 1905.
Mrs. Prouty is a member of the D. A. R. and U. S. D., 1812. Sixteen ancestors served in the Colonial Wars, four in the Revo- lutionary War and two in the War of 1812. Her great-great- grandfather, Amos Weller, who was a personal friend of Ethan Allen and a very powerful man, was a sergeant in the "Green Mountain Boys" at the taking of Fort Ticonderoga and as such marched at the head of the column. When the Fort was reached Ethan Allen, who was in command and had been marching by his side, said, "Put shoulder to, Amos" and together they burst in the gate in the wall surrounding the Fort. He was also at Crown Point and St. John. Another ancestor, Capt. Nehemiah Lewis served in the Revolutionary War, and was in the battles of Brandywine, Trenton, White Plains and Yorktown.
Edward H. worked three and one-half years at the printer's trade in the "Reporter" office at Jericho, then entered the em- ploy of J. H. Holton, a hardware merchant of Burlington, Vt., in April, 1889. In 1894 he took the position of head clerk in the hardware store of John A. Manson & Co., which position he held until October, 1906, when he became manager of the Manson Hardware Co. He remained here until May, 1908, when he resigned and moved to Montpelier, Vt. He was one of the organizers of the Capital Hardware Co. of Montpelier, and is a stockholder and director as well as its secretary and treasurer. He served ten years in Company M, 1st Regt. Infy., Vermont National Guard, the last four and one-half years being its captain. During the Spanish-American War he was first lieutenant of the Company. The Regiment which became the 1st Regt. Infy. Vt. Vol. was stationed at Camp Geo. H. Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Ga. It was mustered into the United States service May 16, 1908, and mustered out Nov. 7, 1908. He is a member of the S. A. R.
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
VII. Kittie Elizabeth, b. in Bolton, Vt., July 31, 1874, m. at Jericho, Vt., March 10, 1898, to William A. Pollard. Chil- dren :
(a) Virgil Elon, b. in Jericho, Vt., Mar. 27, 1899.
(b) Kenneth Prouty, b. in Detroit, Mich., July 25, 1901.
(c) Donald, b. in Underhill, Vt., Jan. 14, 1904.
(d) Freda Edrice, b. in Jericho, Vt., Nov. 4, 1909.
(e) Edward William, b. in Jericho, Vt., Aug. 2, 1914.
In 1900 they moved to Detroit, Mich., where Mr. Pollard was in the livery business until 1901, when they went to Under- hill, Vt., and remained there until the fall of 1909, when they purchased a farm in Jericho and lived there until the home was destroyed by fire, after which they returned to the home place in Jericho where they now reside. Mr. Pollard is a salesman for Kimball Bros. and Co. of Enosburgh Falls.
Mrs. Pollard finished her education at the Burlington High School where she took the four years' course.
(6) Lucretia L., dau. of Luther, b. Sept. 18, 1829, m. Sept. 18, 1853, to M. F. Martin, and d. Sept. 28, 1856.
(7) Clarissa M., (adopted child) b. Feb. 13, 1811, m. Jan. 10, 1843, to Harvey Safford, and d. Sept. 24, 1887. Children :
(I) James H., b. Aug. 10, 1845, m. Oct. 19, 1868 to Isabel J. Williams, and d. Aug. 22, 1911. Their children were four sons and two daus.
(1) Alton P., b. in Jericho, Vt., March 11, 1870.
(2) Carlos B., b. Johnson, Vt., June 25, 1871, was drowned at East Georgia, Vt., July 6, 1888.
(3) James H., Jr., b. Jericho, Vt., April 27, 1873, and m. Bessie Hadd in East Berkshire, Vt., Sept. 15, 1897. Their child, Saville H., b. East Berkshire, Vt., Sept. 6, 1900.
(4) Jed B., b. in St. Albans Point, April 22, 1876, m. Mary M. Ayer at Richford, Vt., June 22, 1904. Now manager of St. Al- bans Foundry Co., St. Albans, Vt.
(5) Sarah, b. in Georgia, Vt., July 21, 1878.
(6) Carlotta B., b. in East Georgia, Vt., July 7, 1889.
II. Clara, b. Aug. 25, 1847, m. July 1, 1867, to Geo. B. Dunbar and d. Aug. 8, 1895. Geo. B. Dunbar, who was b. May 19, 1840, was a merchant at Swanton, Vermont, and d. Aug. 19, 1901. Their children were:
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
(1) Frank H., b. Dec. 23, 1868, m. to Lula A. Hill, Mar. 9, 1892, and d. Sept. 4, 1906. He was in business with his father, and later studied medicine at the University of Vermont from which he was graduated, and practiced in Swanton until his death. Children :
Ruth A., b. at Swanton, Vt., Feb. 28, 1893.
Romona R., b. at Swanton, Vt., Aug. 28, 1894.
(2) Eva A., b. May 28, 1872, m. to Daniel Suter, Jr., Aug. 27, 1891. He was a merchant and d. May 25, 1902. Chil- dren :
(a) Gladys A., b. at Swanton, Vt., June 12, 1893.
(b) George D., b. at Swanton, Vt., June 10, 1895.
(c) Bertha I., b. at Swanton, Vt., Dec. 26, 1897.
(d) Edward D., b. at Swanton, Vt., Sept. 10, 1900.
(3) Ella M., b. March 25, 1874. With F. D. Lapelle & Co.
(4) George B., b. Aug. 19, 1881, m. Jan. 1, 1904, to Ruth H. Soule. He is with the Robin Hood Powder Co. of Swanton, Vermont. Child :
Elizabeth S., b. Jan. 24, 1908.
(5) Clara S., b. November 8, 1884, m. Sept. 17, 1913, to John Jasper Fleming at Swanton, Vt.
(6) Safford, H. A., b. Dec. 14, 1888.
THE PUFFER FAMILY.
By S. H. Barnum.
Asahel B. Puffer was b. in Enosburg in 1830. Two broth- ers, one of whom, Daniel, was grandfather of Asahel, came from England and settled in Connecticut, and later in Franklin, Vt. Daniel m. Susie Farr. His son, Daniel, m. a woman of the same name, Susie Farr. He d. at the age of 99 and she in 1884 at 98. There were six sons and three daughters, of whom Mer- rill is living in St. Albans, Isabel probably is living in Belvidere, and Asahel is in this town. The others have passed away.
Asahel lived in Enosburg till he was seven years old, then while in Bakersfield he was with Fay Brigham fourteen years, in Boston a year with Bent Brigham, in the West a year, again in Bakersfield two years, on the Erie Canal two years. Then he bought a farm in Montgomery and m. Hannah Smith Wade, b. 1826, dau. of Nathan Smith. (See Smith family). They had
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
a dau. Bertha, who m. Ransom Wilder. (See Wilder family). In 1863 he enlisted from Burlington in Co. A, 5th Vt. Vols., par- ticipated in the battles of Gettysburg and the Wilderness and re- mained in service till the close of the war. Then he lived on a farm in Bolton and in 1868 or 1869 came to Jericho. He built the house in which he now resides. His first wife d. here in 1892. He m. in 1894 Mrs. Julia (Cilley) Nichols, who had m. 1 John D. Nichols. She d. in 1910, aged 66.
THE RANSOM FAMILY.
By Sarah C. Brown.
David Ransom came to Jericho from Rupert, Vt. about the year 1820, and located upon the farm now owned by William Schillhammer. David Ransom was b. Jan. 22, 1784, and d. March 8, 1842. He m. Esther Converse. They had a family of eleven children, viz .:
(1) Electa, b. May 11, 1809.
(2) Ezra, b. March 19, 1811.
(3) Jonathan, b. July 3, 1813, d. Feb. 13, 1839.
(4) Lovica, b. March 1, 1815.
(5) Rhueama, b. July 7, 1817, d. August 11, 1872.
(6) David Miles, b. Feb. 1, 1820, d. June 13, 1895.
(7)
Silas, b. April 8, 1822, d. July 29, 1898.
(8) Esther Noma, b. June 15, 1824.
(9) Samuel K., b. Oct. 3, 1825, d. Feb. 13, 1890, unm.
(10) Sarah Ann, b. May 18, 1828.
(11) Ira, b. Aug. 11, 1831, d. Mar. 23, 1863.
David Miles, Silas, Samuel K. and Ira always resided in Jericho.
(6) David Miles, m. Charlotte Wilder, May 8, 1842, b. 1821, d. April 2, 1868. They had three children :
Esther, b. Feb. 3, 1843, d. Sept. 21, 1843.
Edgar, b. Dec. 16, 1846, d. Feb. 7, 1862.
Edna, b. Aug. 11, 1844, m. Thomas Haskins, April 15, 1867, d. Oct. 19, 1868.
David M., m 2. Alma L. Bentley, who was b. in 1839 .
(11) Ira Ransom, m. Hannah Smith, Sept. 12, 1854. She d. June 10, 1912. Their children were :
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
Florence, b. Oct. 23, 1856, d. April 20, 1858.
Ida M., b. at Jericho, Sept. 15, 1860, m. Geo. W. Sherman, Nov. 15, 1882.
(7) Silas, m. Harriette E. Wilder in 1850, who d. June 28, 1862. There were five children born to them :
(1) Norris S., b. Oct. 5, 1852, m. Jennie F. Stiles (see Stiles Family), March 12, 1879. Lives in Brattleboro. Two children :
(a) Harold H., b. Feb. 12, 1882, m. Ella Winters and re- sides in Norwich, Conn.
(b) Jessie, b. Aug. 22, 1893, and lives in Brattleboro.
(2) Mabel L., b. Jan. 19, 1855, m. Fred W. Hall of Bolton, Apr. 7, 1874. They reside at Essex Junction. Two children :
(a) Harmon R., b. Sept. 5, 1875, m. Donna Fox of Winooski, Dec. 6, 1899. One son, Clarence, b. Sept. 15, 1901. They live at Essex Junction
(b) Clifford C., b. May 20, 1878, m. Lena Freeman of Richmond, June 13, 1899. One son, Richard, b. Aug. 29, 1903.
(3) Frank S., b. Jan. 8, 1857, m. 1st Ida Doty of Jericho, June 2, 1880. She d. Mar. 4, 1884. He m. 2d Mary L. Church of Jericho (See Church Family), Jan. 20, 1886. Two children by second marriage :
. (a) Loraine Harriet, b. Aug. 13, 1890, m. Lee H. McClel- lan, June 12, 1911. Resides at Schenectady, N. Y.
(b) Carleton Silas, b. July 1, 1898.
Frank S. has always lived in Jericho, was a farmer till 1905 and is now a contractor and builder. He has held many of the . town offices and was town representative in 1912.
(4) Sarah C., b. Mar. 19, 1859, m. Harrison W. Packard, who d. Nov. 14, 1906. She m. 2d Oliver H. Brown, July 27, 1908. They live at Jericho Corners.
(5) Hattie C., b. June 14, 1862, d. Jan. 20, 1864.
Silas m. 2d Martha L. Pratt, May 9, 1868, who d. July 20, 1909. Silas was a farmer and held the office of postmaster in Cleveland's administration. One child by 2d marriage :
(6) Edwin Scott, b. June 25, 1875, m. Ella Church Meikle, Mar. 5, 1896. Five children :
(a) Hugh Adams, b. Oct. 16, 1898.
(b) Mary Meikle, b. May 3, 1900.
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
(c) Ronald, b. Dec. 10, 1907, d. Dec. 12, 1907.
(d) Gordon Edwin. b. May 4, 1910.
(e) Donald Griffin, b. July 12, 1913.
Edwin is a farmer living on what is known as the Chapin farm at Jericho.
THE RAWSON FAMILY. By Mrs. Jennie Williams.
The first Rawson to come to the Massachusetts colony was Edward Rawson, b. in London, the son of a merchant tailor, David Rawson, and his wife, Margaret Wilson. He was on his mother's side, a nephew of Edmund Grindall, the second Archbishop of Canterbury, who was appointed by Queen Eliza- beth to succeed Parker. Edward Rawson was b. in 1615, and came to Massachusetts in 1636 or 1637, settling in Newbury, and became one of the eminent men of the colony. In 1650 he was chosen secretary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and held this important office until 1686. Rawson's Lane, now Bromfield Street, was the site of his Boston home. The family genealogy shows many sons who bore the names of Grindall and Secretary. An ancestor of ex-Pres. Wm. Howard Taft was the Rev. Grindall Rawson. Secretary Rawson's term of office was at the time of the persecution of the witches and Quakers, and death warrants of these unfortunates bore his name in his official capacity. The poet, Whittier, in one of his poems on the persecutions of the Quakers, speaks of "Rawson, the clerk."
Dr. Secretary Rawson came to Jericho in 1816, living until his death in 1842 on the farm which has been in the family until this date, 1914, a period of 98 years. His lineal succession from the Secretary was: Edward (the secretary), William, David and Josiah. He was succeeded in ownership of the farm by his son Homer, who was a man of progressive ideas. He was a good farmer, a wide reader, and the owner of the first mowing machine in town. Also he was the first farmer in northern Vermont to cure ensilage. Dr. Secretary Rawson m. Lucy Russell, of Stowe, Vermont, March 19, 1809. Their chil- dren were:
(1) Eleanor Dean, b. April 1, 1810, d. February 9, 1870.
(2) Solon Bass, b. August 16, 1812, d. July 19, 1880.
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HISTORY OF JERICHO, VERMONT.
(3) Oran, b. April 2, 1814, d. April 3, 1901.
(4) Lucy, b. May 4, 1816, d. November 27, 1893.
(5) Secretary, Jr., b. February 7, 1819, d. July 14, 1842.
(6) Homer, b. January 25, 1823, d. February 22, 1900.
(1) Eleanor Dean Rawson, m. Wm. A. Varney in 1839. Their son, Clark Rawson Varney, b. January 4, 1841, m. Nancy Connor, February 27, 1866. Their children were:
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