USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 10
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ROSWELL FLINT, another son of Nathan, sen., commenced on the place afterwards, and for many years in possession of Wm. Dodge, jr. The latter sold it to Dea. Asahel June. Mr Flint went to Phelpstown, N. Y.
The other son of Nathan, senior, was WILLIAM, long known by the cognomen of " Billy Flint." When a youth and without education or capital, he went to Upper Can- ada, where he became an extensive import- ing merchant, accumulated a large fortune, and died at an advanced age.
BENJAMIN HURLBURT
purchased of Robert Mason, of Castleton, Nov. 9, 1785, for £60, 150 acres, in Sugar Hollow, now in possession of Joseph David- son, Esq. He was first to commence on this farm, where he continued while he lived.
AMASA POLLY
was from Suffield, Ct., and came here about the year 1785. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and said to be a good work- man. He was one of the committee appoint- ed by the town to build the first bridge over Otter creek, "near Capt. Daniels'," and near the site of the present Blackmer bridge. He had 6 children, the last 3 of whom were
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born in this town. The first born here was in June, 1788.
JOSHUA FIELD
was from Winchester, N. H. His first pur- chase was from David Jacobs, Mar. 15, 1786, for £ 115, the first division on Peter Wright, of 110 acres. His next purchase was of Jeptha Hill, Nov. 18, 1786, for £ 40, second division on Ezekiel Powers, of 110 acres. Here he remained during his long life. He was married several years before coming to this town, to Thankful Robins, sister of George and Aaron Robins. He had not only a mind of his own, but his metaphors and figures in illustration of his views were quite original. On one occasion, many years ago, the church having become disaffected with their minister for, among other causes, as- suming to exercise, as they believed, powers over the church not delegated to the pastor, but, according to the Congregational order, reserved to the church. Mr. F., meeting the pastor, was asked by him to state what the difficulties with him were; when he frankly replied, " There are many; but one in partic- ular is, we think you lordecue it over God's heritage." Father Fields, as he was wont to be called, was fully sustained in his charge by an ecclesiastical council afterwards called, by which the pastor was dismissed.
Several of his children and grand-children were married and settled in town.
He died Mar. 26, 1837, aged 91. His wife died July 1, 1832, aged 85.
[A story is told of the deacon and wife: She hid the baby in the currant bushes when the deacon was going to take it to be baptized. He was Congregationalist and she was Baptist. So says a grandson .- Ed.]
AVERY BROTHERS.
SIMEON, son of Charles Avery of Norwich, Ct., first purchased of Capt. Nathan Daniels, March 28, 1786, 55 acres on the right of Jonathan Reed, for £35, 11s. He after- wards purchased, in company with John Curtiss and James Sawyer, of O. Blake, for £ 100, one half of the forge and privilege in the village, Curtiss and Sawyer holding a quarter each, deed dated July 3, 1792. Ho lavi the principal management of this forge til his death, which was occasioned by a fall fron his horse, Jan. 16, 1803. His widow Lome the third wife of Mr. Simeon Bigelow. Mr. Avery was an active business man,
and held several offices, including that of selectman, to which he was chosen as early as 1787. He was 43 years of age
ELIJAH, brother of the latter, had been a clerk in a store at Hartford, Ct. and he brought the first goods offered for sale in this town. His goods were kept, for a time, at the house of his brother Daniel. But he opened a store soon after in the village, on the site of the building since known as Ketcham's store. Mr. Avery sold a "coat's cloth" to Jacob Farrington for $ 7.00 per yard, and took corn at 25 cents per bushel in part payment, being 28 bushels of corn for a yard of cloth.
DANIEL, another and younger brother, succeeded in the possession of the farm on which the latter resided during his long life. He was married to Eunice Weeks, then of Salisbury, Feb. 6, 1793. She was a sister of the late John M. Weeks, Esq., of that town, and also of the late Rev. Holland Weeks, who was once pastor of the Congregational Church at Pittsford.
Mr. Avery was of a kind and gentle spir- it, of ardent piety, and an active and useful member of the Baptist Church.
He died Dec. 14, 1851, aged 83. His wife died the 7th of May before, aged 82.
STEPHEN, the other brother resident in town, purchased of Lorin Larkin, March 12, 1793, for £ 267 one half of the grist-mill and privileges in the village. He resided in town for several years, but at different pe- riods. He was also connected for some time in the woolen factory (Penfield's) at Pittsford.
The mother, widow of Charles Avery, of Norwich, Ct., came to town with her sons. She married here, a second time, to David Hawley, and died October 25, 1796, aged 74. Mr. Hawley was the father of Dea. Joseph Hawley who was town clerk here for 19 years, and until he removed from the town.
JOHN STILES
purchased of Levi Fletcher, May 2, 1786, for £ 100, second division on Ephraim Sherman, of 110 acres, on the west side of the Creek. Here he continued till his deathi.
ALEXANDER BEEBE
purchased of James Nichols, Nov. 4, 1756, for £ 33, 55 acres, and in 1790, of Dea. Eben'r Wooster, 30 acres, for £ 45. H.s house stood north of Riley Hull's nearly or- posite the "Dodge brick-yard." He owned one half of the "Strong's nulls," which he
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sold to Isaac Strong, April 27, 1790, for £ 130, including one half of 25 acres of land adjoining.
JACOB SIMONDS
came to this town from Hampton, Ct., about the year 1786. Three of his daughters, the wives of Stephen Durkee, Amos Cutler, and Dea. Moses Barns were married and settled here previous to his coming.
He had by two marriages, 6 sons and 12 daughters, all of whom, but two sons, who died in infancy, lived to adult age and were married. Eight of the daughters and one son, Jacob, resided in this town until 1806; when the wife of Daniel June, jr., removed with her husband to Lyons, N. Y., where they are still living ; and in 1812, Jacob removed to the State of Ohio ; while the other seven who settled here, lived to an advanced age and left surviving children and many grand- children in town. The other four daughters, and three sons, also married, did not come he e to reside.
Mr. Simonds had been much in public service in Connecticut, where he is said to have been a justice of the peace for 28 years consecutively. He was selectman here, and twice a representative to the general assem- bly, in the years, 1791-'92, was also a jus- tice of the peace for several years after he came here. He was a merchant in Connect- icut for many years, but relinquished the business, and his son, Jacob, engaged in it after the family came here, he having the principal management of his father's business affairs, the latter then approaching his three- score years and ten. Although thus ad- vanced in age when he came here, yet lie was soon appointed to various and important public positions, the duties of which he dis- charged for several years, and in a manner worthy of the trusts reposed in him, H was of fine personal appearance, tall, well proportioned, and erect. His numerous chil- dren, all of whom were born in Connecticut, are elsewhere noticed, and also their connec- tions by marriage. He died Sept. 3, 1797, aged 78. His widow died Mar. 12, 1820, aged 86.
PHILIP JONES
came from Stamford, Ct., about the year 1786. He made several purchases, but the one on which he resided for a long period, and until his death, is now in possession of Alvin B.
Jones, his son, being the first division on the school right. This was leased to him June 19, 1787, "for the term of 933 years, by the payment, on or before the first day of Janu- ary, 1792, of £ 130, and the lawful interest, in neat cattle or grain, or pay the lawful interest annually on said sum, on the first day of January, in every year during said term, in grain or neat stock." He was also to clear, and make substantial fence, and seed three acres a year, at least, for 5 years from the date of the lease, which was exe. . cuted by Jedediah Winslow, Gideon Horton, John Mott, David Buckland, Edward Che- ney, and Ephraim Strong, trustees for the school-land in said Brandon."
He was a blacksmith by trade, and had a trip-hammer shop below the Upper Falls. in the village. His wife was a sister of Fred- erick Schofield, and al-o of the wife of Nathaniel Bacon. He built the two-story house, remodeled a few years ago, and fitted up for a store, and standing in the line of stores next west of the Messrs. Roas. There were but two buildings two stories high, in the village, east of the bridge, when this house was erected by Mr. Jones.
JACOB FARRINGTON
was from Kings, Columbia Co., N. Y. He purchased of Asa Eddy, of Clarendon, March 3, 1787, for £ 225, 120 acres; joining on Gideon Horton, Joseph Barker and-Timothy Buckland. Eddy had purchased this place, a few months previous, of Capt. Thomas Tuttle, who commenced upon it. It is now in possession of Franklin Farrington, Esq., a grandson of Jacob, having continued in possession of the family for more than 73 years. Mr. F. made several purchases, at subsequent times. He died March 13, 1808, aged 79. His widow, Abigail, died Oet. 21, 1824, aged 93. He had 3 sons, and 4 daugh- ters.
EDWARD came in possession, and sold to his brother, Capt. Daniel, Feb. 2, 1793, for £ 500, "all the lands said Edward, or his father Jacob owned." Edward married Pol- ly, daughter of Simeon King. He went to Colchester, where he died.
CAPT. DANIEL, who is still living, has now resided here for more than 73 years. He was born May 31, 1773; was married, first time, Feb. 7, 1700, to Lois, daughter of the late Ebenezer Drury, of Pittsford. She diel Dec. 4, 1St1, aged 65. He married
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a Arcond time; his present wife is a daughter of the late Josiah Rossiter.
He was heutenant of a company of militia, nationed on the lines for the enforcement of the embargo. While in this service he was oriered to proceed with a file of men up the Onion (or Winooski) river from Burlington, and seize a boat, the " Black Snake," suspect- ed of being engaged in smuggling goods from Canada, up the Lake. He found and took possession of the boat, which he ordered to be rowed down stream, when he was soon Hailed from the bushes on shore, and forbidden to take the boat, accompanied with threats of shooting if he did not desist, &a .; to which he replied, that his orders were to take the boat. and he should obey them; when they fired and killed one of his men, Drake, who had a moment before changed places with Capt. F., the latter taking the helm, when he immedi- ately directed the boat to the shore from whence the shot came, and, while landing, was fired upon by a large piece, which car- ried several bullets, killing two men, and wounding Capt. F. in three places ; two, Severely. He kept his prize, however, and his assailants were afterwards arrested, and Dean, the leader, hung .*
He was a Captain, and served in the war of 1812.
THIRZA, a daughter of Jacob, was married to Maj. Gideon Horton, jr., Aug. 14, 1788. They removed to Hubbardton in 1808, where they died.
SAMUEL BURNELL, ESQ.,
was from Woodstock, Ct. He purchased of Nathaniel Child, Mar. 5, 1787, for £ 75, " silver money," the whole right of Samuel Tool, an original proprietor. He was a res- ident of the town for more than half a cen- tury; was many years an acting justice of the prace; was twice a selectman; and rep- resented the town in the General Assembly 3 years He was a member of the Congrega- tonal church 45 years, and until his death, which occurred July 5, 1838, aged 80. His widow died May 23, 1819, aged 89.
STEPHES TUCKER
purchased of Nathaniel Child, of Woodstock, (': , for £75, 110 acres of land, Mar. 5, 1787, os which he commencel. This land is a j artof the present farm of Dea. Asa Burnell. | Merriam, his son, and is now the mo.iel farm Wr. Tucker had 3 sons and 3 daughters. of John Jackson .* He was by trade a hatter,
The youngest, Luther, born May 7, 1802, 13 the well known editor and publisher of agri- cultural papers and works in the State of New York.
SAMUEL TUCKER
purchased from Nathaniel Sheldon, for £ 40, 55 acres ot land, "near the town plat, being the south part of the lot George Robins for- merly lived on." This is where George an i Aaron Robins were killed by the Indians, in 1777, and is part of the present farm of N. T. Sprague, jr.
DEA. EBENEZER WOOSTER
purchased of Caleb Hendee, Apr. 2, 1757, for £ 100, 110 acres, described by metes and bounds. This embraced the farm which afterwards came into possession of James Whelan, and where the latter resided till his death. It is now in possession of William Kimball, lying north of, and adjoining to Joseph Dutton. Dea W. was the first to commence on this place, where he remained till he exchanged with Mr. Whelan, for the farm now in possession of Riley Hull, where he continued till his death, Jan. 21, 1813, aged 65. His wife died Jan. 24, 1813, aged 69. They both died of the epidemic which prevailed so extensively, and was so fatal during that winter. Their deaths occurred, as is seen, within three days of each other. Dea. Cheney, of the Baptist church, formerly the nearest neighbor of Deacon W., die i the same day of Mrs. Wooster. Deacon Woos- ter, and Deacon Joseph Hawley, who was so long town clerk, were chosen deacons of the Congregational church at the same time; an l were the first chosen, after they had settich a pastor, 1792. Dea. W. continued. in this office till his death; Dea. Hawley, until he removed from town, in 1809.
MERRIAM BROTHERS.
DEA. DAVID MERRIAM was a native of Concord, Mass. He came here from Wal- pole, N. H He purchased, Mar. 13, 1757, of Ezekiel Powers, for " £ 45, silver money." one half of the first division on Benjamin Powers of 55 acres. Also of David Stevens, for £ 70, May 11, 1787, the first division on John Cummings, of 110 acres. He was the first to commence on this lot, which then included the present place of Capt. David
* Deceased .- Ed.
* Soo Vol. II, pp. 342-347.
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and the first of that calling in town; was said to be an excellent workman, but relin- quished his trade, and pursued farming dur- ing much the larger portion of his life. He was repeatedly chosen as selectman, and to various other town offices, and was a deacon of the Congregational Church for a long period. He was a man of an uncommonly mild and quiet temperament, and his death was as placid, as his life had been peaceful.
He was twice married; the name of his first wife was Phebe Foster. His youngest son by this marriage was the late Dr. Isaac F. Merriam, who was also the oldest of his chil- dren born in this town. His second wife was Hetsey Conant, a sister of John Conant, Esq., by whom he had several children, who are mentioned under the head of births.
His first wife died April 7, 1794, aged 30. His last wife died June, 1812, aged 67. He died Feb. 15, 1849, aged 89.
DEA. JONATHAN MERRIAM, brother of Dea. David, purchased of Gideon Horton, sen., Apr. 4, 1795, for £ 280, 270 acres, which comprised his homestead while he lived, and since his death has been in possession, till recently, of Dea. Jacob Powers. It is now the property of Hon. E. N. Briggs. Judge Hiram Horton was the first to commence on this place, where he remained some 5 or 6 years, and where he kept the records during the 3 years he was town clerk. Deacon M. died Mar. 26, 1826, aged 62. He was an active and useful member of the Baptist church, of which he was for a long time, and until his death, a deacon. He was selectman several years, and held various other town offices. His wife was a sister of John Conant, Esq. Two of his sons, Isaac and Jonathan, became Baptist ministers.
BENJAMIN MERRIAM, a brother of Dea. Jonathan, was a merchant, and came here about the year 1.91. He first kept his goods at the house of his brother, David. His first purchase was of several small lots in the vil- lage, March, 1793. He also purchased of Col. James Sawyer, April 15, 1796, for £ 170, " one acre in the village, one corner of which is four rods from the S. W. corner of said Sawyer's store." He married Sally Kendall, Dec. 7, 1797, by whom he had two sons and two daughters born in town. He removed to Malone, N. Y.
VINTON BARNES
purchased of Hiram Horton, Apr. 2, 1788,
for £ 30, 82} acres of land, lying on the old stage road, and joining on the north, the south line of Leicester, now the farm of Joseph P. Durant. He had a son and daugh- ter born in town. He went to Pittsford sev- eral years ago, whence, after remaining a few years, he removed to Canada, where it is said he became a wealthy farmer. He was the first to commence on this farm.
CASE COOK
commenced on a tract of land lying south of the Arnold hollow, and adjoining the Avery farm. His first purchase was of Nathan'l Shel- don, Apr. 19, 1788, of 110 acres for £ 24. He also purchased of Jona. Parker, for £ 26, 110 acres, Nov. 24, 1788. He married Abigail, a sister of Mr. Daniel Avery. He was a man of more than ordinary gifts, and much respected as a Christian and citizen ; was an active and useful member of the Congregational church, with which he and his wife united in 1785, the same year it was organized. He was one of the selectinen for the first 3 years after the town was organized. He sold to Nathaniel Fisk, sen., Nov. 26, 1788, the home farm of Nathaniel Fisk, jr., where the latter died at an advanced age. Mr. Cook removed to the West.
THADDEUS COLLINS
purchased of Dea. David Merriam, his broth- er-in-law, June 14, 1788, for $50, 50 acres, being the present farm of Capt. David Merri- am, then " wild land." He sold this place to Nathaniel Harris for $ 600, Oct. 10, 1728, and removed to the West.
JABEZ LYON
was from Woodstock, Ct. He purchased of Nathaniel Montague, May 1, 1787, for £13, the whole right of David Spotford, embrac- ing the well-known Lyon farm. Here where he commenced, he remained for 56 years, and until his death. He had 3 sons and 7 daughters. The last four of his children were born in this town. The eldest of the daughters, Hannah, widow of Samuel Capron, still lives at her homestead with her son Chauney, who has now the possession. Nan- cy, the widow of Lyman Farr, resided in town till 1860, when she removed to Indiana. Lucy, the youngest, wife of Samuel B. Spaul- ding, remains in town. The other daughters, except one, Polly, who died single, all left town at different periods after their mar- riage, as also did the sons.
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Mr. Lyon was a uniform attendant on public worship, at the Congregational church; sai although he resided three miles or more from the place of meeting, he almost always came on foot, doubtless from choice, using a long cane and wearing spectacles. He was always sure, too, to be on time. This practice he continued, although not a mem- ber of the church, until some time after he had passed his threescore years and ten. He died, March 16, 1843, aged $7. His wife died, March 25, 1837, aged 80.
SOLOMON TRACY
was from Walpole, N. H. He purchased of Jedediah Winslow, Sept. 9, 17SS, for £ 25, 75 acres, joining on John Stiles, over the Creek. He afterwards purchased of Elisha Strong, jr., for £ 24, 30 acres, "part of the farm John Stiles lives on." He made several other purchases in different parts of the town, to some of which he afterwards removed. He had 3 sons and 4 daughters, all but the eld- est were born in this town.
JOHN M'COLLOM
was a native of Scotland, a soldier in Wolfe's army. Heremained in this country and set- tled at Stamford, Ct., from whence he came to this town. He married Mary, daughter of Peter June, and sister of David, then of Stamford, by whom he had 5 sons and 4 daughters. He settled on the lot since known as the Samuel Gray farm, now in pos- session of Stephen June. This lot was pur- chased of David June, by David M'Collam, son of John, Sept. 19, 1783, for £ 60, being the second division on David Powers, of 106 acres, excepting one half of the mill privi- lege, and one half of the pine timber thereon. On the 29th of December after, David sold, for £ 30, to his father, 50 acres of this pur- chase. Mr. M'Collam was a man of strong mind, fond of reading, and of extraordinary memory. His familiarity with the Serip- tares was such that he was considered about equal to a concordance in the readiness with which he could refer to any given passage.
Henry, the eldest son of John, resided sev- eral years in this town where his two eldest children were born, but he removed to Pitts- [ :I many years ago, where he remained till !... death. David, above named, built the saw mill, since known as Wood's, and now as Jones' mill, in 1794, from which time, a tull has been in operation there. David
M'Collam was constable of the town about 10 years. He had 4 sons, and 3 daughters, born here. He went to the West several years ago.
Eli, another son of John, died at his homestead, adjoining on the north to the late Edward Fisk.
SOLOMON SOPER
purchased of Jedediah Winslow, Dec. 21, 1789, for £ 11, the first division on the right of Nathaniel Russell, also of the same, for £ 32 " } of the Forge, or Iron works and priv- ileges in the village." Also of l'hilip Bacon, Oct. 29, 1790, for £ 130, 55 acres, being part of the farm of the late Capt. Nathaniel Par- menter, and where the latter resided till his death. Heis supposed to have come here as early as 1786. He had two children born here, the first, June 5, 1787. He traded sev- eral years, at the village, near the Ketch- am store. He left town.
PRINCE SOPER
came here from Dorset, was a brother of Solomon, and came to town somewhat later. He resided some years in the village, in the house built by Joseph Larkin, and standing nearly on the site of the present brick house of Josiah Rossiter. He kept a tavern here, the only one in the village. He afterwards resided for many years, and until his death, on a small farm north of David M. June.
COL. JAMES SAWYER
came to this town about the year 1790. He was a merchant and a man of much enter- prise and intelligence, had been, I believe, a captain in the United States service. He was twice chosen a selectman, and once town clerk, also, to several trusts in town during the few years he was a resident here. He went to Burlington where he remained till his death .*
He had two sons and one daughter born here. Both of the sons, James Lucius and Frederick Augustus, graduated at Burling- ton college.
REV. ENOS BLISS
purchased of Lorin Larkin, Nov. 13, 1792, for £ 62, 16 shillings, 167 acres of land, bounded on the north by the south line of the street, leading from Lorenzo Kimball's to Samuel B. Spaulding's brick store, and em- bracing about that amount of front on the
* Seo Vol. I. page 437.
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north. He was the first minister settled by the Congregational church society.
JESSE PROUT.
was originally from Norwich, Ct., where his eldest child, a daughter, was born, May 28, 1781. His next four children were born at New Milford, Ct., from which latter place he came to this town about the year 1792. He had two sons, John and Sherman, twins, born here, June 24, 1793. John Prout, Esq., attorney and counsellor at law at Rutland, is a son of John, above named. Mr. Prout was by trade a blacksmith, which business he followed till his death.
JOSIAH PARMENTER, ESQ.,
was from Northfield, Mass. His first pur- chase was of John Dodge, Jan. 27, 1794; for £ 15, of one acre, in the village, near Curtis' mills. Also, of Hiram Horton, Mar. 29, 1794; for £ 14, one acre, joining said Hi- ram's home-lot Also, from Daniel Webb, for £ 30, one acre with buildings thereon. The last two purchases embraced his house lot.
He was by trade a tanner, but relinquish- ed it in a few years after coming to this town. He married Sarah, daughter of Josh- ua Field, Mar. 28, 1797. She was a niece of the Robins' who were killed in town by the Indians in 1777. He had 7 daughters but no sons. 3 daughters survive him and reside here.
He was for many years an acting justice of the peace, in which capacity he performed a large proportion of the buisness, when there was much more sueing than at this day. He was an upright magistrate, shrewd and cautious in his business, temperate in his habits.
CAPT. NATHAN PARMENTER
was from Northfield, Mass., and a brother of Josiah. He was a tanner and shoemaker, which trades he pursued somewhat exten- sively for several years, most of the time, near the bridge, in the village. I believe his first works were some 50 rods below the furnace. He built the two-story house in the village, now owned by N. T. Sprague, jr., which was the residence, for many years, of the late Daniel Pomeroy, and after him of John Jackson, Esq., where the latter re- sided till his death. It has been familiarly known for several years as the Palmer house. There were but 8 two-story houses in town when this was built.
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