USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 35
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It was an eventful year for the people of this town, as well as others throughout the grants. The battle of Hubbardton was fought July 7th, and the situation of affairs at that time was somewhat alarıning. No one knew how soon he would be called upon to go into battle, or how soon his own fields would be the scene of strife.
The theatre of warfare was soon transfer- red to the southern part of the State. A por- tion of Burgoyne's army, sent to scour the country, after the battle of Hubbardton, passed through this town on their way to join the main army, and it is said the inhab- itants were greatly alarmed at the sight of the British soldiers. A company of militia was formed here about that time, and joined Col. Warner's regiment, at Manchester. They were engaged in the battle of Benning- ton, which was fought Ang. 16th, sometime after which they returned to their homes, to save, if po-sible, their unharvested crops, or enough to last them through the winter. We are told that a number of acres of crops in this town were not harvested that year.
At a town meeting, June 23, 1777, an ad- ditional committee of safety was appointed, Col. Thos. Chittenden, Joseph Sprague and William Bromley, and two additional select- men, Ephraim Seley and Thomas Rowley, and Edward Vail, assessor, to assist the other three elected at the last annual meeting, Stephen Rogers having refused to act as treasurer, Stephen Calkins was appointed to fill his place.
During the months of July and August of that year, scouting parties of the British were sent all over the country. They sup- posed that a large portion of the inhabitants on the New Hampshire grants were opposed to the rebellion, and that it was necessary only, to march an army through their coun-
try, and furnish them with arms, to bring them over to the royal standard; very fery, however, were found willing to abandon the cause of their country for that of the King. It is said that there were tories in town a: that time, but the settlers were generally true to the American cause. A few who were considered tories, were shot near their own door.
There is a large rock on the farm owned by Isaac Nichols, behind which, as tradition says, Tories used to hide, which has given is the name of "Tory rock."
There is one instance of confiscated estate in this town, which will appear from the foi- lowing order, copied from the Journal of the "Council of Safety," at Bennington.
"IN COUNCIL OF SAFETY, Jan. 16:h, 1773.
To -, and the rest of the heirs of -, late of Danby, deceased, you are hereby notified to appear before this Council. on Thursday the 22d instant, to show cause if any you have, why the real estate of -, aforesaid, shall not be confiscated to this state.
By order of Council,
THOMAS CHITTENDEN, Prest. JOSEPH FAY, Sec'y.
It had now become necessary for the town to raise some money to pay current expenses, and for the support of the militia. The se- lectmen had disbursed considerable sums of money, and engaged more for the purpose of encouraging the militia and for other uses. The listers had been therefore, at the last town meeting in June, instructed to take a list of all the ratable estate possessed by the inhabitants of the town, as soon as possible, and return the same to the selectmen and committee of safety for the town, who were to make out a tax of six per cent. on said list, and deliver the same to the constable for collection. This was to be paid into the treasury, and drawn out by orders signed by the selectmen or committee of safety.
The law at that time required the list to be taken in the following manner, viz. All male persons in town from 16 years old to 60, were set in the list, each person at £o; every ox or steer, of 4 years old and up- wards, at £ 4 each ; each steer or heifer of 3 years old, and each cow 23; each steer or heifer of 2 years, £2; each steer or heifer of 1 year old, £1; each horse or mare, of 3 years old or upwards, £3; all horse kind of 2 years old, £2; all horse kind of 1 year old, £ 1 each; all swine of 1 year old or cp-
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ward, £1 each. Every person having money os hand, or due them, over and above all debts charged thereon, the same was put in the annual list, at the rate of £6 for every £100, and in case the listers suspected any person had not given in the full sum of mon- ey on hand, or due as aforesaid, the listers were empowered to call such person or per- sons before them, there to give in such list on oath. All lands after being improved for one year, either for pasture, plowing or mow- ing, or stocked with grass, and within inclos- ure, were set in the list at 10 s. per acre. Mills were also assessed at the discretion of the listers, according to the particular im- provements or advantages thereof, also, work- houses and work-shops. Attornies at law were assessed at the discretion of the listers, the least practitioner, £50, and the others in proportion, according to their practice. Min- isters of the gospel were exempted from tax- lameness or other infirmities. The grand list of the town for the year 1777, amounted to nearly £250, or $832.50, six per cent. of which would raise a tax of $49.95, which was thought sufficient to pay the expenses of the town for that year. This was the first grand list taken in this town of which we have any knowledge.
Another meeting was called Dec. 23d, at the house of Edward Vail, but was adjourn- ed until the first Tues., Feb. 1778. At this adjourned meeting, Stephen Calkins was ap- pointed an additional member of the cominit- tee of safety, and Thomas Rowley, chairman of that committee. At that time nearly all the affairs of the town were managed by this committee. The British army having been defeated and driven from the vicinity of Vermont in the Fall of 1777, the settlers of the town who had served with the militia in repelling the invasion of Burgoyne, now be- gan to return, and the inhabitants were al- lowed once more to devote their attention to their civil and domestic affairs.
To show the character of the settlers which then peopled the grants, we will give below an extract from a letter which Burgoyne wrote to Lord Germain, Aug. 20, 1777, in which he says "the Hampshire grants in par- tienlar, a country unpeopled and almost un- known in the last war, now abounds in the most active and most rebellious race on the continent, and hangs like a gathering storm on my left."
The annual town meeting of 1778 was held at the house of Edward Vail, and Abraham Chase was moderator ; Luther Colvin, Abra- hamn Chase and Edward Vail, assessors ; Wing Rogers, hayward; William Gage, Joka Wood and Edward Vail, fence-viewers; com- mittee of safety for that year, Capt. William Gage, Lieut. Stephen Calkins, Thomas Row- ley, William Bromley and John Sweat; Edward Vail, pound-keeper.
On the 12th of Mar. 1778, a petition was presented to the Legislature of Vermont, then in session at Windsor, from 16 town3 on the east side of Connecticut River, pray- ing to be admitted to a union with Vermont. The Legislature being somewhat embarrassedl by this application, voted to refer the ques- tion to the people. Meetings were held in all the towns in the State for this purpose, and a majority of them were in favor of the union. The inhabitants of Danby held a es, as well as persons disabled by sickness, meeting for the purpose of voting upon this
question, at the house of Edward Vail, the 9th day of April, and voted not in favor of the proposed union, and the committee of safety were instructed to make a report to this effect, to the Legislature, which was to meet in June following at Bennington. Thomas Rowley was the first representative sent from this town, to the General Assembly, which met at Windsor in 177S.
There was put upon the records of the town, in 1778, "a roll of the freemen of Danby," viz.
William Gage, jr., Caleb Colvin, William Bromley, Jonathan Sprague, Daniel Broma- ley, Ezekiel Ballard, Ebenezer Day, John Sweat, Joseph Day, Luther Colvin, Levi Sherman, George Gage, Charles Bromley, Thomas Rowley, jr., Stephen Calkins, Thos. Allen, Richard Latten, Edward Vail, Titus Colvin, John Gage, Abel Haskins, Thomas Rowley, Capt. William Gage, Job Congor, Enoch Congor, Isaac Gage, Reubin Towers, essie Tuttle, Micah Wilson, Henry Herrick, Jerimiah Merrithew, Samuel Barlow, Cos- stant Vail, Obediah Edmunds, Obediah Allen, Roger Williams, John Hambleton, Nathan Rowley, Holmes Perkins, William Merrithew, William Garrett, Gideon Bir- lingin, Joseph Wilbur, Elisha Fish, Mathew Wing, Abraham Stewart, Reubin Rowley, Joseph Sprague, Joseph Sprague, jr., Bethuel Bromley, Ebenezer Wilson, Stephen Wil- liams, Jeremiah Griffith, Elihu Benson, Amos
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Brown, Gideon Tabor, John Haviland, Lem- uel Griffith, Thomas Dennes, Water Tabor, Henry Lewis, Dennis Lobdell, John How- ard, Selathel Albee, Benjamin Brownell, Jolin Harrington, Benjamin Tanner, Heza- kiah Eastman, Mathew Wing, Charles Leg- gett, Jesse Ir sh, jr., Phillip Sherman, Joshua Herrick, John Lobdell, John Brock, Antho- ny Day, Aaron Griffith, Jonathan Irish, David Howard, Caleb Green, Pelitia Soper, Dennis Lobdell, jr., Jacob Eddy, Joseph Fowler, Ebenezer Merry, Caleb Phillips, Dr. Ebenezer Tolman, Lawrence Johnston, Josh- ua Bromley, William Bromley, 21, Job Palmer, David Coonly, John Holmes, David Irish, John Stafford, James Porter, John Marten, Gideon Baker, William Wing, Ste- phen Buxton, William Lee.
The above list does not contain the names of all the males over 21 years of age, in town at that time. We find that Abraham Chase, Wing Rogers, Ephraim Seley, Aaron Bull and Asa Haskins, and some others were resi- dents of the town, and over 21 years of age, whose names do not appear on that roll Perhaps other names were omittel, but it doubtless contains the names of nearly all the freemen here at that time. Some of the persons whose names are on the roll, were children of the settlers, having come here with their parents. Among these were Wil- liam Gage, jr., Joseph Sprague, jr., William Bromley, 2d, Charles and Daniel Bromley, Reubin and Nathan Rowley, Jesse Irish and Thomas Rowley, jr, and some others.
The March meeting of 1779, was held at the house of Elward Vail; Thomas Rowley, moderator. New offices were created that year, among which was the office of lister, leather-sealer, town grand-juror and tything- man. Elward Vail, Isaac Gage and Luther Colvin were appointed listers; William Ed- munds, leather-seiler ; Stephen Williams, gran 1-juror ; Abel Haskins, tythingman; and Roger Williams, hayward. But 5 highway surveyors were appointel that year, viz. Daniel Bromley, Edward Vail, Ebenezer Wilson, Caleb Colvin, and Israel Seley. Another town tax was voted to pay the in- debtedne's of the town for the year ensning, and it was voted to hold future town-meet- ings at the house of Stephen Calkins, and warnings for which were to be set up at the house of Edward Vail, William Gage and William Russell.
All persons residing in town at that t me, and not having any real estate, thereby ex- posing the town to cost and charge, were warned out of the town. The following is a copy of such warrant from the records:
DANBY, APRIL YE 25TH, 1779. To the Constable of the town of Danby. Greeting :
Whereas frequent complaints hath been made to us by some of the inhabitants of this town, that there hath lately come into this town several persons and families, who still abide in town, who have no real estate, and by their continuance here, the to .vn may be exposed to cost and charge.
You are hereby required forthwith to warn - - and family to depart from this town, and make return to us or either of us forthwith.
Given under our hands the day and year above written.
THOMAS ROWLEY, STEPHEN CALKIXS, >Selectmen.
LUTHER COLVIN,
Danby, the 9th day of May A D., 1779, This warrant faithfully servel according to law, by me,
EBENEZER WILSON, Constable.
Two families were warned out of town in 1779, two in 1733, ten in 1784, three in 1735, and two in 1786.
The annual meeting of 1780, was held at the house of Stephen Calkins-Thomas Row- ley, moderator. There were tive selectmen elected that year, and a second constable for the first time, Reubin Rowley elected to that office. Twelve petit jurymen were chosen in 1780, for the first time, viz .: Isaac Gage, William Bromley, Jacob Edly, Jonathan Sprague, Edward Vail, Joseph Sprague, Ebenezer Wilson, Daniel Bromley, Jonathan Seley, Walter Gage, Ebenezer Sprague, Enoch Calkins and William Gage. A committee of five were appointed at that meeting, to inspect the in lebtelness of the town, and make report at the next meeting. Elward Vail was elected bran'ler of horses, -a new office created that year, and was agreeable to a law of the State, passed in 1779, which was that each town in the State should have a brand, to brand their horses, which shoul l be set on every horse, and horse kin I, on the near or left shoulder. The Brand for Danby was the letter " [," and the bran ler chosen by the town was under oath, and inte an entry of all horse kind by him so branded, with the age and color, natural and artificial mark+, in a book kept for that purpose. Each farmer also had an ear mark, which
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was put upon his cattle and swine. This ear mark was recorded by the town clerk.
In 1781, the office of sealer of weights and measures was created, and Lieut. John Mott the first one elected to this office; William Bromley, tythingman; Israel Seley, hay- ward; and Obediah Allen, brander of horses
In consequence of the state of the curren- cy, or medium of trade, it was difficult to procure provisions to supply the army, with- out calling on each town for a quota of such supplies. The quota for this town, in the year 1780, was 4284 lbs. wheat flour; 1428 lbs. of beef; 714 lbs. of salted pork; 123 bushels of Indian corn, and 61 1-2 bushels rye. It is said that the inhabitants began to experience some hard times, Snow fell to a great depth during the winter of 1780-81, and the weather was of unprecedented sever- ity. The settlers being very poorly supplied with comfortable houses, and with forage for their cattle, suffered greatly from the effects of this.
The grand list of the town in 1779 was £2612 5s, or $ 8,609,96, in 1780 it was £2856 Ss, or $9,512.70. A town tax of four per cent. was raised on this list, for the year 1780, which amounted to $ 30.50.
In 1781, the following warrant was issued to the constable of Danby, for the collection of a direct tax, on lands in this town: the first warrant issued for the collection of a State tax in this town.
"To the constable of the town of Danby. Greeting : .
Whereas the General Assembly at their session in Windsor, April, 1781, did grant a tax of ten shillings on each one hundred acres of land in the town of Danby, except public and college lands-
This is therefore to command you to collect of the several persons owning lands in the town of Danby, ten shillings on each one hundred acres, and in the same proportion for a greater or lesser quantity, any person or persons may respectfully own as aforesaid, and pay the same to the treasurer, on or before the first day of April next, and if any person or persons shall refuse or neglect to pay his or her or their just proportion of said tax you are commanded to distrain his, her or their goods or estate, and the same dispose of as the law directs, and also satisfy your own fees. And when there is no owner residing in town, or appears and pays the tax, on any portion of said land, you are directed to dis- pose of so much of said land in the mode prescribed by law, as to enable you to pay said tax, and also to satisfy your own fees.
Given at the Treasurer's office, the 11th day of November, A. D. 1731.
IBA ALLEN, Treasurer."
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There being a good many non-resident proprietors of land here who did not appear and pay their tax by the time specifi, a large quantity was sold at public auction the following year, at the house of Stephen Calkins. to satisfy this tax. A portion of the land was afterwards redeemed.
At the annual meeting, 1783, at the house of Stephen Calkins, Ebenezer Wilson, mo ler- ator, it was
"Voted that if any man in the town of Danby, shall bring the small pox into te town, by way of innoculation, or by careless ness or neglect after having the same, shall liable be to pay a find of ten poun is, lawril money, to the treasurer of the town."
That disease was prevailing in some of the towns in the Country to an alarming extent.
Thomas Harrington was moderator of the town meeting of 1784, in which year the office of justice of the peace was created in this town, Edward Vail chosen to that posi- tion, the first who ever occupied that once in Danby, and the only one elected in 1754.
A special town meeting was held Jan. 23, 1784, Roger Williams, moderator. Daniel Sherman and Edward Vail were appointed 3 committee for the town, to attend a general meeting of town committees, to be held at Rutland for the purpose of settling the north- ern boundary line of the County. It was voted to hold future town meetings at the house of Abraham Chase, and that a sign post and stocks should be set up near the house of Abraham Chase. It was also voted to build a town pound upon the east side of the town The erecton of a sign post and stocks, re- ferred to above was agreeable to a law of the State, passed in 1779, which act was
" That every town in this State shall make and maintain at their own charge, a cool pair of stocks, with a lock and key susuene to hold and secure such offenders as shall be sentenced to sit therein : which stock shall be set in the most public place in each respective town ; and in the same place there shall be s sign post ereete I and set up, at the charge of the town, and maintained in sufficient remiss; on which sign post all notifications, warrants, &c., for meetings shall be set up."
According to the laws of that time, crm- inal offences were punishable by whip: ing ca the naked back, from 10 to 100 lashes, accord- ing to the nature of the offense.
Another meeting of the inhabitants was called June 17, 1784, to act upon a complains entered to the town clerk, by several of the tax payers, who were unable to pay their -
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State tax, by reason of a scarcity of grain, which was then used for currency. Jonathan Seley, the collector, was instructed at the above meeting, not to force a collection of those taxes until the last of November, follow- ing. The selectmen were empowered to lease the school lots, and Luther Colvin and Amos Colvin, were appointed a committee to lay out the 3d and 4th divisions of the school-lots in this town, which had not been laid out. Rogers Williams, Edward Vail, Ebenezer Merry, John Haviland, Jonathan Seley, John Burt, and Capt. John Vail were appointed petit jurors for 1734. At a town meeting held Dec. 20, Doct. Ebenezer Tolman, Caleb Green, and Rowland Strafford were chosen a committee to inspect and adjust the accounts of the town.
The town meeting of 1735, was held at the house of Abraham Chase, having been held at the house of Stephen Calkins since 1780. The number of selectmen was reduced to 4 at this meeting, and the number of high- way surveyors increased to 12. An addi- tional grand juryman was also elected, and tythingmen, Jeremiah Merrithew and Thomas Dodge. The grand-list was £ 3,378.
The following receipt will show the amount of provision tax against the town of Danby in 1781, for which an extent was issued by the Commissary General in 1784.
" RUTLAND. OCT, YE 20TH, A. D. 1784.
Received of Daniel Sherman and Edward Vail, in behalf of the settlement Danby, the sum of £ 123, 18., 9p., in full of an extent from the Commissary Gen'l of purchase, for the state of Vermont, against such settlement for their provision tax, for the year 1781, and also, $2. 11s., 9., in full for the fees or' cost of collecting and settling said extent.
ASA HALE, Sheriff."
The proprietors held a meeting on the 3d Monday, Nov., 1785, and voted to lay out a 5th division of land, 55 acres to each right. Jonathan Wood, surveyor, and Abraham Chase, Luther Colvin, Ebenezer Tolman, Thomas Harrington and Jonathan Wood, committee to see the land laid out, and settle all disputes concerning boundaries. A num- ber of disputes had arisen which were all finally settled by the above committee.
Another meeting of the proprietors and inhabitants was held on the Ist Monday, Mar., 1786, to hear the report of their committee, &c. John Burt was then appointed a com- mittee to look up the charter of the town,
and have it recorded. In 1787, a 6th and last division of land was made, 35 acres to each right. A draft was made and each pro- prietor had a day in which to lay out his lot, or make his pitch, There had been some gores left in making the surveys, which were all finally disposed of by the committee.
The first grist-mill was built about this time by Stephen Calkins. I have been una- ble to ascertain the exact date, when this mill was built, but as it was a short time after the Revolutionary war, it was doubt- less not far from this period It stood upon the west side of the stream, opposite the present saw-mill of Nelson Kelley, and was a great help to the settlers, as Manchester and Salem were, previous to that time, the near- est places to mill. The ledge where Calkins got his mill stones, is on the farm now owned by Henry Kelley. The irons were brought from Bennington.
The Revolution was now closed, and the population of the town began to increase quite rapidly. There was a large influx of settlers during the last year or two of the war. A good many soldiers came to this town, some of them remaining till their death. They were generally an enterprising and industrious class, and many of them succeeded in establishing a home.
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS
who settled in this town, together with their rank, so far as we have ascertained :
Capt. William Gage, Capt. Stephen Cal- kins, Jonathan Seley, Joshua Bromley, Wil- liam Roberts, Jonathan Burt, Capt. John Vail, Israel Phillips, Dennis Canfield, Abel Horton, Obediah Edmunds, Miner Hilliard, Lieut. Jolin Mott, Elisha Lincoln, John Burt, Gideon Moody, William Bromley, Jon- atlian Crandall, Ebenezer Wilson, Henry Herrick, Jolin Brock, Rufus Bucklin.
Some of these soldiers drew pensions under the act of Congress, 1818, and all who lived until 1832, drew pensions, and a few of their widows.
The town meeting of 1786, was held at the school-house then situated near the present residence of Walter M. Parris. Roads had increased so rapidly it require.l 14 surveyors.
Town meetings were also held it the school house during the year 1786. At the annual meeting a committee consisting of John Burt, Peter Lewis and Benjamin Fowler, was ap- pointed to settle with the treasurer. The
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I ett jurors for that year, were Thomas Har- rington, Ezekel Smith, Stephen Williams, Bedford Barnes, William Garrett, Rowland Stafford, Nathan Salisbury, Caleb Green and John Vail. A meeting was held Apr. 11, for the purpose of settling some lines and bound- aries, in the 1st and 2d division of land; It was voted that the strip of land left and laid out by the proprietors for a road 8 rods wide, west of the "town plot." be left for future consideration. This road had been laid out from the Tinmouth line, north and south through the town, but was never used for a highway. It was called a County road, running north through Tinmouth, which was then intended to be the County seat. The grand list of 1786 was £3664 10s.
A town meeting was held at the house of Abraham Chase, Sept. 14, 1787, Doct. Eben- ezer Tolman, moderator. A tax was voted at this meeting of two pence on the pound of the grand-list of 1786, to be paid in grain. In the fall of 1787, another list was taken, which amounted to £ 4250 5s, showing an increase of £ 585 15s in one year.
The annual meeting of 1788, was also held at the house of Abraham Chase, Jacob Eddy, moderator. 5 selectmen and 5 listers were chosen for that year. There was but one pauper in town in 1788, Sarah Barlow-the first person ever supported by the town. Zebulon 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 4s 6d, and corn at 3s per bushel. The tax, in 1789, amounted to only £ 18 ; the grand list £ 4612 6s ; in 1790 it was £ 4920 5s.
In 1791, when the first census was taken, the population of Danby was 1260. A large saw-mill had been erected by Stephen Calkins and framed houses began to be built. Rapid progress had been made in clearing up lands, schools had been organized in several dis- tricts ; a large number of roads had been laid out and the population was thriving and in. dustrious.
In 1794, 20 highway surveyors were ap- pointed for that year, and a school committee whose duty it was to make alterations in districts.
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