USA > Vermont > Orleans County > The history of Orleans county, Vermont. Civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military > Part 21
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The first law-suit in Coventry took place in the winter of 1805. It was held at the house of D. B. Smith, Esq., who was the magistrate in the case. William Baxter, Esq., of Brown- ington, was plaintiff and attorney, and Joseph Marsh, Esq., of Coventry, was defendant and attorney. The action was founded on a note payable to Perez Gardner, and the defense was that the note was given for beef which proved not to be sweet. But the plaintiff proved that Marsh took the beef "for better or for worse," and so the defense failed.
EARLY SETTLERS-CONTINUED.
In 1806 came Isaac Baldwin, from West- minster, Samuel Boynton, from Westmore- land, N. H., and Eben Hosmer, from Concord, Mass. Baldwin and Boynton bought lots al- ready improved. Hosmer made a commence- ment on lot No. 88, now owned by Erastus Wright. In 1806 came also Samuel Thomp- son, and purchased lot No. 139, which he af- terwards sold, and then bought of Joseph Marsh parts of lots No. 136 and 137. He lived in a log-cabin built by Marsh, near where Isaac M. Hancock now lives. He was a most original and eccentric character, and was familiarly called "Shark Thompson."
His moods were various and contradictory. At times he was irritable in the extreme, and the slightest provocation would rouse him to ungovernable wrath which vented itself in the most horrid profanity and most brutal conduct. One of his cotemporaries said that " he could swear the legs off from an iron ket- tle in less than two minutes." He ruled his family with a rod of iron. A son of his was the innocent cause of the death of a cow, and for nine successive days Thompson adminis- tered to him a severe whipping every morn- ing and evening. He was poor to the very last degree of penury. Very often his wife and children suffered severely for the want of suitable food and clothing. Sheriffs constant- ly embarrassed him with attachments and executions, and were sometimes greatly har- rassed in return. Jotham Pierce once at- tempted to serve a process on him by driving away some cattle, which Thompson prevented by putting up the bars as often as Pierce could let them down. During the struggle Thomp- son having a favorable opportunity, caught one of Pierce's fingers between his teeth, and fixed them into it with a vigor and tenacity of grip, which, in the officer's estimation, fully justified the appellation of "Shark."
But there was another side to his character. He was very kind and obliging to his neigh- bors, and would divide his last morsel of food with any one who was in need. He was full of sympathy for the sorrowful and suffering. Tears would flow copiously down his sun- burnt cheeks as he stood by the bedside of a dying neighbor, and from the depths of his soul would come up the consoling expression, "By Judas, it's too bad," which was his un- varying formula on such occasions. He had by nature a strong mind, though it was never cultivated. There being no lawyer in the im- mediate vicinity, he took up " pettyfogging," in which he achieved a good deal of celebrity. He had also a gift of extemporizing.
In June, 1806, the first road from east to west was laid out. It extended from the up- per falls of Black river, through the Center, " to the west side of Jotham Pierce's opening," near the present residence of William B. Flan- ders. As it went eastwardly from the Center, it diverged, at an angle of about 45° south from the present road, passed the lowlands on a log-causeway about 30 rods long and 4 feet high, and crossed Barton river near where Willard Fairbrother now lives, with the first substantial bridge built over that stream in Coventry. On the 6th of June, 1810, the waters of Runaway Pond carried off this bridge and causeway, covered the meadow with several inches of soft, sticky mud, and compelled a change of the road to its present location. Miss Betsey Parker was crossing the causeway on horseback, as the flood ap- proached; and, hearing a frightful noise, though she could see nothing, she quickened the speed of her horse, but had hardly reached Dr. Redfield's house, a few rods west of the causeway, when the rushing torrent over- whelmed the road she had so recently passed. The westerly end of the road has also been quite changed in location, but across the hill it remains as at first. At the same time this road was laid, a road was laid from South Hill westerly in a bee-line to a junction with the first-named road, being mainly the road as now traveled.
At the March meeting in 1806 the town was divided into two school-districts, Barton river being the dividing line. The first clerk's re- turn, made in September, 1807, showed that there were 17 scholars in each district. In the spring of 1807 Thaddeus Elliot began a clear- ing on the farm now occupied by Hollis Day,
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where he built a log-house somewhat better than the average, it being made of peeled logs, and tolerably well finished. In August, 1807, John Farnsworth was licensed as a tav- ern-keeper, and was the first person who kept a public house. Among the new comers in 1808 was Isaac Parker from Cavendish. In
the winter of that year he taught the second school ever taught in town, and the first which was taught by a male teacher. His school- house was a log-cabin near Samuel Cobb's, and his pupils came from all parts of the town. While imparting to others the rudiments of knowledge, he was himself making acquisi- tions in the higher departments of learning, and to so good purpose, that in the spring of 1813 he entered Middlebury College consider- ably in advance, and was graduated in 1815, the first graduate from Coventry. He contin- ued to teach, and as there was at that early day no institution in the county at which a full preparation for college could be made, he established a school at his own house, where for several years young men were taught the classics and higher mathematics. Among those who laid the foundations of a liberal education under his tuition were Isacc F. Red- field, George B. Ide, Jonathan Clement, and several others who have attained eminence or respectability in the learned professions. His influence was long and happily exerted in the development of intellect in his adopted town, where he will be held in lasting and honora- ble regard, as the father of education in Cov- entry. He celebrated his golden wedding Dec. 24, 1868, and it was the first celebration of that kind in town.
In September, 1808, came Thomas Guild from Swanzey, N. H., and began on the farm now owned by Job Guild. In the spring of 1809 came Frederick W. Heerman and Timo- thy W. Knight. The latter made a clearing and built a log-house near the present site of Jonathan Bailey's house. Knight's house was roofed with poplar bark, which, warping as it dried, left wide cracks through which he, as he lay in bed, might gaze upon the stars, and not seldom receive an additional blanket of snow. The same cracks gave egress to the smoke from his fire. The back of his fire-place was a large stump which was left standing within the house for that pur- pose.
In the spring of 1811 came Israel Ide from Westminster, and Ebenezer M. Gray and Abi-
ather Dean, jr. from Westmoreland. The two last had made some clearings the year previous. Dean built a log-house near the site of Hubbard Gray's present residence .- He was a gunsmith by trade, and during the war panic of 1812 he did a large business in repairing muskets. Ide settled on lot No. 88, where Eben Hosmer had a few years before cleared several acres. Here he built a log- house, and, soon after, a framed-house, a part of which is still standing as a part of the house occupied by Erastus Wright.
The war with Great Britain in 1812 occa- sioned great alarm in all the frontier set- tlements, and the inhabitants of Coventry shared in the general panic. Lake Memphrema- gog and the adjacent country had been a fa- vorite resort of the Indians for purposes of fishing and hunting ; and although they had almost entirely abandoned that region just before the year 1800, leaving only a few scat- tered individuals, whose relations to the set- tlers were always friendly, it was supposed they still remained in great numbers near the outlet of the Lake, ready, whenever oppor- tunity offered, to exterminate the civilization before whose onward march they had been compelled to retire. Tales of Indian cruel- ties were familiar to every ear; and the knowledge that Great Britain had made alli- ance with the savages carried dismay to many a heart which would fearlessly have met the fortunes of a warfare conducted in a less atro- cious manner. Each little settlement imag- ined that itself would be the first to experi- ence the assaults of a secret and blood-thirsty foe. The dwellers in the Black River valley were sure that the Indians would avail them- selves of the facilities of approach afforded by that stream : equally certain were the in- habitants along the banks of Barton River, that they should be surprised in a similar manner. The terror which prevailed was extreme. Some of the most timid sought safe- ty in flight-abandoned their clearings, and hastily gathering together such of their per- sonal possessions as were most valuable and portable, fled to the older settlements. Oth- ers, more courageous, determined to abide the result, and made all possible preparation for the expected attack. Rusty old muskets were scoured and kept constantly loaded --- axes were put into condition, and butcher- knives were sharpened to be used by men or women in the last desperate resort of hand-
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to-hand struggle. In the west part of the town the inhabitants assembled at the house of Samuel McCurdy, near where Charles P. Cobb now lives, and in the east part of the town Israel Ide's was the place of refuge .-- These were strongly built houses, more defens- ible than most of the others, and about them guards were stationed, while scouts were kept at watch for the approach of the enemy. For some time there was constant apprehension of an attack. The cracking of a limb in the forest, or the midnight hoot of an owl, was sufficient to alarm the little garrisons. But as time passed away, and no foes made their appearance, the panic subsided, and the set- tlers returned to their former avocations, which they pursued without molestation, and without further fear.
The evils which were occasioned by this temporary suspension of peaceful employ- ments did not all cease when the fears of the people were allayed. It was difficult for the British forces in Canada to procure provis- ions, and their commissaries often came se- cretly into the border towns of the United States to purchase supplies. They found some in Coventry, as well as in other towns, whose covetousness was greater than their patriotism, and from them cattle were bought at enormous prices and driven to Canada by night, to feed the enemies of America. The detection of some of these unpatriotic men aroused no little indignation, and caused ali- enations of feeling which lasted for many years. Smuggling was also greatly increased by the war. The unsettled state of affairs along the borders made this crime easy and profitable. To suppress that, and to guard against hostile approaches which might pos- sibly take place, a corps of soldiers was rais- ed and stationed at Derby Line. Of this company Hiram Mason of Craftsbury was captain, and Tisdale Cobb of Coventry, lieu- tenant. Five citizens of Coventry-Zebulon Burroughs, Joseph Priest, Timothy Heerman, Rufus Guild and Jonas Rugg, were among the privates. This company remained in ser- vice 6 months-from Sept. 16, 1812, to March 16, 1813-but had no opportunity to do any thing more than to prevent smuggling. The town held a special meeting, June 16, 1812, to take action respecting the war, and voted a tax of one cent on the dollar, to be expended in ammunition. The grand list that year amounted to $2857, so that the sum raised by
this tax was $28,57-a small sum in modern estimation, but by no means insignificant to those who had to pay it from their almost empty purses. Nineteen militia-men were returned as " armed and equipped according to law." "Cornet" Daniel Huestis and horse are also on record as obedient to the require- ments of the statute in that regard. Hues- tis belonged to a small company of cavalry, the members of which were scattered through- out the County.
In 1813, Abiathar Dean Jr. made 8 sleighs, the first that were made or used in Coventry. About the year 1813 came Ammi Burrington from Burke, and purchased the tract of land on which stood the fulling-mill and saw- mill; which he soon sold and moved to the west part of the town. He was familiarly called " the swamp angel," and if the domains of actual or imaginery zoology contain any such being as that, he was probably not un- worthy the sobriquet. He was nearly 7 feet in height, broad-shouldered, long-limbed, gaunt, skinny, and crooked ; with dark com- plexion, wide mouth, large teeth, and other features to match. Tradition says that the name was given him by a Yankee peddler, whom he asked to give him a ride. The ped- ler told him that if he would ride within the box as far as the next tavern, and remain in the box for an hour after arriving there, he should have not only a ride, but his keep- ing over night. Ammi readily accepted the proposition, and took his place among the tin ware. Upon arriving at the tavern the ped- dler announced himself as the exhibitor of " a very rare animal-the swamp angel"-and proceeded to exhibit Ammi for a certain price, to his own good profit and the great amuse- ment of the spectators.
In 1814 Abijah Knight came from West- moreland, and arrived at Coventry March 16. He was 8 days on the road, performing the journey in a wagon as far as St. Johnsbury, thence on a sled, and finally in a sleigh-be- ing obliged at each exchange of vehicles to leave a part of his loading.
James Hancock, with his wife and two children, came from Westmoreland with an ox-team, spending 9 days on the road, and arrived at Coventry April 11, 1814; He bought 66 acres off the east end of lot No. - on which were a house and barn, and began to clear the land for a farm : but in 1816 he bought, moved on it and cleared the farm
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known to this day as the James Hancock farm.
Hardly had the town recovered from the injuries inflicted upon it by the war of 1812, when it was visited by calamity from anoth- er source-the famine of 1816. The scarcity and high provisions occasioned extreme pri- vation and suffering. A peck of corn was regarded as a good compensation for the day's work of a man. Salt commanded $4,50 per bushel, and could be procured only with cash. All other kinds of provisions were held at prices proportionately high. The inhabitants prepared themselves as best they could for the fearful winter of 1816-17. Flesh, fish and vegetables of every kind that could possibly be used for food were converted to that pur- pose. To what straits they were reduced may be judged from the fact that hedgehogs were "made great account of ;" and berries, or boiled nettles sometimes constituted the entire meal of a family. Often it happened that the last morsel of food in a house was consum- ed, while the householder neither knew where to procure more, nor had the means of pay- ing for it. Frequently the father or mother of a family was compelled to start in the morning without breakfast, go on foot to Barton, Brownington or Derby, procure a lit- tle pittance of rye or corn, and return home, before any of the family could have a mouth- ful of food.
One morning Abijah Knight found that his whole stock of provisions for a family of 7 persons amounted to only half a loaf of bread. His neighbor, Matthias Gorham, with a family of equal number, had no bread at all. He shared the half loaf with his more destitute neighbor, and then both of them started for Lyndon with a load of salts which they hoped to exchange for food. Mr. Knight was fortunate enough to effect his ob- ject at Barton, where he procured three, pecks of corn, and about 20 pounds of fish rice, and other groceries ; all of which he carried on his back, through Brownington, to his home in the North Neighborhood, a distance of about 12 miles. This being done, the two families were able to make amends for a scanty breakfast and a scantier dinner, by a hearty supper. This was one of many such cases.
The manufacture of " salts" was then, and in fact during the whole early history of the town, an important branch of business .-
" Salts" were made by boiling the lye of hard wood ashes to such a consistency that when cold it might be carried in a basket. In this condition they were sold to the manufactur- ers of pearlash. Barton was the nearest mar- ket for them. To this place they were car- ried sometimes on sleds ; but as sleds were rare, a less expensive vehicle was usually em- ployed. A forked " staddle" was cut down, the body of which was used as a tongue to enter the ring of an ox-yoke, and across the forked part, which was somewhat bent so as to be easily dragged over the ground, a few slats were nailed, and on these was deposited the box or basket of salts. If a horse was to be used, a pair of thills was made of poles, turned up at the hinder end like a sled-run- ner, and connected by strips of board. One of these vehicles seldom performed more than a single journey, the owner choosing to leave it on the woodpile near the ashery rather than to drag it home. A yet ruder mode of con- veyance than either of these was sometimes adopted. A log-longer or shorter, according to the quantity to be carried-was hollowed out like a trough, rounded up at the end which was to go forward, and dragged by a chain and horse. To prevent the log from rolling over and spilling its contents, a stick was inserted in the hinder end and held con- stantly by the driver, as one would hold a plow-tail. The market value of salts was very variable, ranging from $3 to $52 per 100 pounds ; but they could always be sold at a fair price, and for cash. Leather, salt, flour, and other staple articles which were held for cash, were freely given in exchange for salts. Sometimes they would buy what money could not. During this season of famine they were the main reliance of the people of Coventry, and had the demand for salts ceased, many a family would have been brought to actual starvation.
There were some circumstances which ren- dered the scarcity of bread-stuffs a less intol- erable calamity than it would otherwise have been. It was a time of universal good health. Hardly a single case of severe sickness occur- red that year. The rivers and brooks afford- ed a considerable supply of fish. The trouts, weighing 3 lbs. and upwards, which in the early years of the town were so numerous. that they might be caught by hundreds, had indeed been almost exterminated ; but other species were somewhat abundant, and it was
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not a time to be dainty in the choice of food. Suckers sometimes constituted the entire liv- ing of a family for days in succession, and happy were they who fared as well as that.
Winter, however, prevented a resort to the rivers, except in extreme emergencies, when a scanty supply of fish was caught through holes cut in the ice. During the whole peri- od of distress the setlers cordially befriended each other, and rendered mutual assistance as their means allowed. Each man was neighbor to every other man. He who had little shared it with him who had none. Some who would not sell their previous year's crop of corn, lest themselves might be straightened for food, freely gave to the poor and desti- tute the grain which they had refused to ex- change for money. By exercising the most pinching economy of food, all were able to meet the crisis ; and although there was ex- treme suffering, and starvation seemed al- most inevitable, not an individual perished.
During the 5 years including 1812 and '16, there was almost no increase of property .- The grand list of the latter year exceeded that of the former by less than forty dollars. The influx of population seems also to have nearly ceased. There were 51 tax-payers in 1812, and just the same number in 1816 .- Contrary to what was expectable, the year of famine was signalized by more than the usu- al number of marriages. Previously, mar- riages did not average more than one a year, but in 1816 three couples put their sufferings and sorrows into common stock.
The town slowly increased in population and property till, in 1821, there were about 300 inhabitants, many of whom were in com- fortable circumstances. But capital and en- terprise were lacking. At that date there were only 2 saw-mills, and those quite dilap- idated: there was no grist-mill deserving the name-no store, mechanic's shop, public house nor house of worship. There was no semblance of a village except at the Centre, where there were 4 or 5 dwelling-houses and a school-house, and the roads for 40 rods each way were laid 1 rod wider than through the rest of the town. All the trade went to Bar- ton, Brownington or Derby, occasioning great inconvenience and labor, and much loss of time.
But a new condition of things was about to take place. At a sale of lands for taxes in 1813, Calvin Harmon and Argalus Harmon
of Vergennes, bought for $3 lots No. 41 and 107, and a part of lot No. 111. Lot No. 107 is now the site of the village. When the Harmons purchased it it was a mere wilder- ness, and the level part of it was a cedar swamp. They were men of intelligence, en- ergy, wealth and business habits, and all these they put in exercise to advance the in- terests of the town in which they took up their residence. They engaged actively in business themselves, encouraged farmers and mechanics to immigrate, and gave a powerful impetus to the prosperity of the place. Well knowing the value of such a water-power as is furnished by the falls of Black River, they decided to lay the foundation of a village be- side those falls, and to that work they now directed all their energies.
Ammi Burrington felled the first tree in the village, and built the first house-a small log cabin near the spot now occupied by Mrs. Mary W. Person's house. Two other log-cab- ins were built soon after-one of them on the present site of Holland Thrasher's house, the other on the spot now occupied by Lorin So- per's house. Eber R. Hamilton occupied the former, and kept a boarding-house for those who were employed by the Harmons in clear- ing and building. Jonas Cutting lived in the other, and carried on the blacksmith's busi- ness in a shop immediately adjacent to his house. These houses were built merely to subserve temporary purposes, till better ones could be erected.
In 1822 Calvin Harmon and his brother Daniel W. moved in, and immediately com- menced operations on a somewhat extended scale. A store was speedily built and stock- ed with merchandize. It was an exceedingly plain building, the inside being cased with rough boards, and the outside consisting of rough clapboards nailed directly to the studs. Four years afterwards its cash value was es- timated by three disinterested men at $301. It still occupies its original site, and is a part of the store now occupied by Messrs. Soper & Cleveland. The variety of goods was not great, but it was sufficient to supply the wants of the people, and the store was in truth a great benefit to the town, not only by fur- nishing articles for which the inhabitants must otherwise have gone abroad, but by provid- ing a home market for grain, salts, and what- ever else they had to sell. During the same sea.on a saw-mill was built on the site of the present mill
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In 1822 a post-office was established, and Isaac Parker, who lived in the house now oc- cupied by Mrs. Mary A. Holton, was appoint- ed postmaster. The office began to do busi- ness May 22, 1822. Until that time residents of Coventry had their mail accommodations at Brownington office. The route by which the new office was supplied had its termini at Burlington and Derby, between which points the mail was carried once a week each way, for a few months by Elijah Burroughs, and then for some years by Daniel Davidson of Craftsbury. This was quite sufficient to meet the necessities of the people at that time, as may be judged from the fact that the receipts of the office for the first year were only $10,57, and that the whole receipts in the 6 years, 1 month and 2 days, during which Mr. Parker was postmaster, were $133,30.
The anniversary of our national independ- ence was celebrated in Coventry for the first time in 1822. The celebration took place at the Centre, and George B. Ide, then a little more than 18 years old, was the orator. In the fall of 1822 Calvin Harmon built a two- story dwelling-house, the same in which D. P. Walworth resides. Daniel W. Harmon lived for a while in a small framed house, close by Burrington's cabin, and in the sum- mer of 1825 he built and occupied the house in which Charles Thrasher lives. An ashery for the manufacture of pearlash was built on the river-bank, eastwardly from the store .- It fell down in a few years, and the ground where it stood has been almost entirely wash- ed away by the river.
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