The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1, Part 67

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: White River Junction VT : White River Paper Co.
Number of Pages: 868

USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 67

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* The Hymns, or writings of Ithamer Hibbard are no longer extant; at least to my knowledge.

" Peace to his ashes."

To furnish a sketch of this man's life might be claimed as a right, both by the compiler of Poultney and Hubbardton history. Of his early life I know nothing, but considered, as the good people of Poultney closed the church doors upon him, and as he received a welcome in this less pretentious town, that it properly belonged to me.

RUFUS WILMOT GRISWOLD,

The well known compiler of American litera- ture, spent the greater part of his boyhood in this town, where his only surviving parent still lives, at a very advanced age. He was descend- ed, on the paternal side. from an old Connecticut farmer : one of his maternal ancestors was Thomas Mahew, the first governor of Martha's Vineyard. Casting himself adrift on the world at an early age, he traveled over most parts of his own country and in Europe. Of an active mind which was somewhat erratic in its opera- tions, he studied divinity ; then took to edit- ing. About 1837 he published a paper in Ver- gennes for a short time; but soon went to New York, where he associated himself with Horace Greeley in editing the New Yorker .- He afterward became connected with several eminent journals : and in 1842 and '43 with Graham's Magazine, which, under his manage- ment received an amount of patronage and public favor it had never before attained. He shortly afterward established his reputation as a man of letters, by publishing liis " Poets and Poetry of America :" and afterward of Eng- land, with his "Prose Writers of America." His writings were widely diffused through the periodicals of the day. A few years before his death he produced his " Republican Court," the merits of which posterity will appreciate.

As a man he had his foibles and peculiaritics, yet was warm, generous and impulsive in his friendships, and of deep research and extensive literary acquirements. No person was more opposed than he to national cant and deprecia- tion. To the imputation of De Tocqueville that America had never produced any great histori- an nor noer (before the names of Prescott and h had adorned our annals)

m her historical, political

and social circumstances, the improbability of any great genius ever arising in either of those walks, Mr. G. said :

"There is connected with this country no

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lack of subjects for poetry and romance. The perilous voyages of the old Norsemen, the sub- lime heroism of Columbus-his triumphs and his sufferings; the fall of the Mexican and Pe- ruvian empires ; the vast ruins, indicating where annihilated nations once had their capi- tols: the colonization of New England by the Puritans ; the persecutions of the Quakers and Baptists; the wars of Philip of Mount Hope ; the rise and fall of the French dominion in Canada; the extinction of the great confedera- cy of the Five Nations ; the settlement of the several States by persons of the most varied and picturesque characters; the sublime and poetical mythology of the aborigines; and that grand Revolution. resulting in their political in- dependence, and the establishment of the dem- ocratie principle which forms, for the present, a barrier between the traditionary past and our own time, too familiar to be moulded by the hand of fiction :- all abound with themes for the poet.

"Turning from subjects for heroic to those of descriptive poetry, we have a variety not less extensive and interesting. The mountains of New England and the West; the great inland seas between the Placea and the St. Lawrence, with their ten thousand Islands, and the lesser lakes; the majestic rivers and their cataracts ; the old and limitless forests; the sea-like pra- ries ; the caves, in which whole cities might be laid ; the pure and beautiful climate of the North-

" That threads

Her clear, warm heaven at noon; the mist, Her twilight hills, her cool and starry eves ; The glorious splendor of her sunset clouds ; The rainbow beauty of her forest leaves That greet his eye, in solitude and clouds, Where 'er his web of song her poet weaves Her Autumn scenery;

and surpassing in gorgeous magnificence all sights in the transatlantic world, and all the varieties of land, lake, river, air and sky, which lie between the Bay of Hudson and the Straits of Panama, afford an unbounded diversity of subjects and illustrations for the poet of na- ture."

The latter days of Mr. Griswold were unhap- py. Worn with study and toil; unfortunate in his domestic relations, he passed from youth to a premature old age. In the summer of 1857 he perceived that his life was drawing to an end, and sought the humble and perhaps almost forgotten home of his youth to die, but which he never reached; having proceeded as far as Cambridge, it was deemed advisable to return to New York city, where he died soon after, in the 43d year of his age.

Much of our country's traditionary lore per- ished with him. His private library, carefully selected, was the most extensive and valuable in the United States.

BATTLE OF HUBBARDTON.

Before day-break, July 6, 1777, St. Clair re- luctantly evacuated Ticonderoga, and retreated toward Castleton. The enemy perceiving the movement, revealed by the accidental burning of a log-house, dispatched General Frazer, with nearly 1200 men-light infantry and grenadiers served with artillery, soon followed by Reidsel with part of the Brunswick regiment in pur- suit. On the morning of the 7th they came up with the American rear guard, composed of the regiments of Cols. Warner. Francis and Hale, which were placed under Warner's com- mand by St. Clair, who had imprudently pushed on to Castleton, 6 miles beyond. His force, as stated by the enemy, amounted in the aggregate to not less than 1500 men ; but as he was en- cumbered with the refuse of the army, and some of his own men unfit for duty, it did not proba- bly number more than 800 or 1000 which were brought into action: these last, however, were chosen troops, in good part "Green Mountain Boys." At an early hour the belligerents drew up their forces in line of battle, but did not presently engage, (as each awaited the arrival of reinforcements,) until Warner made a fierce onslaught, throwing the enemy into confusion, who, rallying again, advanced upon the Amer- icans, but were brought to a stand. The action had now become general, and Francis was kill- ed at the head of his regiment, which was then driven to the woods at the point of the bayouet. At this critical juncture Reidsel's reinforcement arrived. The Americans, supposing the whole German force was at hand, were seized with a panic, and gave way ; when Warner's regi- ment, which had fought with invincible cour- age, began to break. The sturdy and intrepid Colonel, throwing himself down on a log, pour- ed forth a torrent of curses and execrations on the flying troops ; but when perceiving the day was lost, he sprang to his feet, and in the cool- est possible manner ordered the regiment to assemble at Manchester, which those who heard hun obeyed to the number of about 200; the others joining the remains of Francis' regiment, repaired to the main army at Fort Edward .- Hlale's regiment was not brought into action, but was, in part, surrendered to the enemy without striking a blow. That officer's conduct, although severely censured by some high in au- ¡ thority, has been by others excused. The Eng- lish loss in this battle, as stated by their official returns, in killed and wounded was 183-inelnd- ing among the former 20 officers ; of whom was

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a major Grant. I believe the American loss is, peaceful and quiet homes in the counties of unknown : as stated by the enemy, in round numbers, it was 200 killed-as many prisoners, beside a large number wounded, most of wliom perished miserably in the woods .* [See His- tory of Reign of King George III.] Ethan Al len, in his off-band, decisive manner, states : " our loss at 30 killedt-the enemy's at 300.' His figures I consider somewhat apocryphal. Those who have given the subject particular attention. have estimated the American loss at 324 killed, wounded and prisoners. [See Thompson's Vermont.]

This battle, the only considerable one ever fought in Vermont, was lost by the indiscretion of St. Clair who, having left his rear-guard at such a distance from his advance, as to render any support useless in case of victory, and per- haps adding ruin to misfortune, in event of de- fuat [See Chipman's Life of Allen and Warner.]

Hubbardton battle-field is one of those beau- tiful and picturesque spots so often met with among the hills and valleys of Vermont. Many points celebrated in history and romance are easily recognized. Mount Zion on the south, over which the troops of Warner passed on their way to Manchester, is said to have received its name from Allen. who, usually more forcible than appropriate in his application of Scripture. surveyed from its summit the " land of promise," as he looked over into old Ti., when on his memorable expedition thither. Toward the south the road taken by St. Clair is plain.

On the 7th of July, 1859, an appropriate mon- ument of marble was erected on this ground, near the spot where Francis was killed, " By the citizens of Hubbardton and vicinity, To the Memory of those men who here laid down their lives in the defence of their country's riglits and liberties,"# after the place had lain neglect- ed and almost forgetten for $2 years. An his- torical address was delivered by Henry Clark, and an oration by E. P. Walton of Montpelier.

That anniversary will not soon be forgotten. Over the thousands there assembled from their

* History has generally stated the British loss in killed at 140.

t Did not Allen refer to the loss of Vermont troops

# In June, 1777, Congress adopted the present Flag of the nation by an act which was not published until the August following : but it seems to have been pre- viously used in the army, and probably for the first time at Hubbardton. This was of rather primitive mnaterini, and made by the officers at Ticonderoga from their own clothes ; one of them giving a coat for the blue field of the Stars .- I make this statement mainly on the au- thority of Mr. B. F. Wiustow of Pittsford.

Rutland and Addison, to look upon the humble pageant, the sky was perhaps as blue, and the sun as bright, as when, on that day of mortal strife the wilderness resounded with the echo of the deep-mouthed cannon, and the rattle of musquetry, intermingled with many a death- moan, as the armed men of two kindred nations bathed the soil in their fraternal blood. HOY changed was all else beside ! There, as stated by tradition, the ' Stars and Stripes." the tag of our nation, were first unfurled before the gaze of the dread Lion of England. Now se- renely waving its ample folds in the sommer air, while on their azure field were clustered the emblems of more than thirty united States- springing into existence (as it were) but yester- day: a nation like Pallas from the brain of Jove, spreading over a boundless continent. the mighty rivers of which were but the paths of their commerce. They seemed likely to present in their future progress a spectacle of human greatness superior to any which the ancients ever knew-a nation on which has been lavish- ed the spoils of time-receiving in its right hand, with the emigration, the arts, the sciences and the literature, of the old world.

As on that day, from reviewing the past we contemplate the future, who did not say " it is good to be here"? Who then heard the still, small voice of the dead answering back from the silent earth: "With our life's blood we bonght that freedom you so much affect to bon- or-the duties of which are liere neglected. and then forgotten; and the privileges of which are esteemed but as they are subservient to base utility."

Among that living throng were none who acted a part in the scenes of that day: and but one was known to be living .* Who that was present, either in the pride and strength of manhood, or the opening bloom of youth, will stand beside that monument four-score years from then ?

SOMETHING CONCERNING THE GENERAL CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE 60, 50, AND AS LATE AS 40 YEARS AGO.

The trees were plenty, and the dwellings of man were built with logs; some of the houses were hewed inside and some were not; the floors were mostly made of split logs, bewed on one side. Their chimneys were made large,

* Benjamin Hickok spent the latter part of his life in West Haven, and died a year or two after the event here referred to.

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high in the chimney was a pole laid crosswise | the habit of exercising on their feet, both in to hang the trammel on. Each chimney had one or two long iron-trammels to hang the por- ridge-pot and dish-kettle on. The windows were of grained sheep-skin, or greased paper.

In these dwellings might be seen the matron carding wool or tow. with hand-cards, or spin- ning flax at the Dutch wheel; the oldest girl, at her great spinning-wheel, near the sheepskin or paper window, and the younger ones knit- ting. In the chimney-corner, in the evening, might be seen a boy reading, writing, cypher- ing, or teaching his younger brothers and sisters to read by the light of pine splinters which he had prepared for that purpose. Men might be seen out clearing their land, gathering in their crops, sowing, planting. browsing their cattle, or defending their rights against invaders, both human and beastly.

After a while their log-houses began to decay. Saw-mills coming into use, they began to build frame-houses. generally of one story with a chim- ney in the middle 10 or 12 feet square, with three fire-places and a large oven. The kitchen fire- place was a large one, with a heavy iron-crane with hooks to hang the pots and kettles upon : this crane was quite a convenience, for it swung out into the room.

Soon after the settling commenced, ministers of the gospel might be seen traversing the woods, and hunting up the scattered sheep in the wil derness. They would ride on horseback, or go on foot, as they might be able, with no other equipage than a bridle, saddle, and a pair of sad . dlebags containing a Bible, psalm-book, and a spare shirt or two, or, if on foot. with less bag. gage. Thus equipped they would travel through the woods, mud, and snow, preaching at the doors of log-houses, or in the forest any where that was most convenient. And in some cases they have been overtaken in storms, lost their way and have lain out all night. Witness this in Elder Caleb Blood.

Women would ride on ox-sleds; men, boys and young women, would walk two or three miles through the woods, over hills, on a new road, or where there was no road to get to meeting.

The writer has seen a woman and her children riding on an ox-sled in a deep snow, while the man walked by the side of his team, with a shovel in one hand and a shaingar weapon in the other, going to meeting, with hay on his sled for his oxen to eat while he was worshiping, and a chain to fasten them to a stump.

walking abroad, and at the great-wheel. They appeared at meeting, or any where else, clari :5 garments of their own manufacture, with ruddy countenances, active and healthy bodies and limbs, and a cheerful and vigorous mind. Low is it now ?

In those early days children Lad but lite chance for learning except what they could pick up at home by diligence. The writer of this article was but little over 8 years oldl wi.en be came to Vermont ; had no chance at sch of te- til the winter after he was 15, when he went to school 10 weeks in the back room of a log-Louse to a very ordinary teacher. He never studied any book at school but the New England primer and Dillworth's spelling-book; these be leares by heart. In those books the spelling was like this : mix-ti-on, ques-ti-on, ex-haus-t-on, bil- i-ous, fu-si-on, op-ti-on, de-fi-ci-ent. etc. In my first going to school, in reading where the article appeared, I was taught to say, a by itself, also of the pronoun I, or the interjection O. etc. He never had a sum given to him at seLool to work in arithmetic. He never was clorel. or ove :- gorged with reading, as most children are now a-days on account of the delnge of books. The first newspaper he recollects of seeing was the Vermont Gazette, printed at Bennington by Haswell and Russel. It came into his hands in the evening, and did not go out until he bad seen every word it contained, and he Lad looked it all over to find more. It is not those who are the most overgorged with books who are best informed. Few books are better for children than many. Where they have too many. they cannot learn them all, and they become disgust- ed with them.

After people began to build meeting-houses- and to meet in them, there was no such thing as a stove thought of for warming them. fr many years, except the women's foot-stov.s. It was encouraging both to minister, and people in a cold day, to see a good supply of them come in well filled.

Formerly farmers calculated much on a gooi crop of flax. The seed was ready cash, and the fiber 9 pence per lb. The getting it out furnish- ed the men with business in the winter. acd the business was profitable, even taking it in the raw state. The writer has known a piece of ground of one and one-half acre sown, one acre with oats, and by its side the one-half acre sowa with flax. The seed of the flax that grew co the one-half acre was sold for more money than

Young women in those days were much in the whole of the oats that grew on the one dere

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In each house miglit be seen a foot-wheel, or | pared for it with strong loops at each corner of two, for spinning the flax, and as many large the hind end. The gentleman would furnish himself with a horse and saddle, ride up to the door where his partner was and alight; she would then hand him her pillion ; he would tie it on and mount, then ride up to the log on which she would be standing. She would jump on behind him, and away they would ride with much glee and merriment. Men and their wives were often seen coursing their way after this fashion. ones; a pair or two of hand-cards, for the tow ; a hatchel, and as often as onee in two or three families a loom. The women all, old and young, understood manufacturing it, and with their own fingers would furnish materials for their finest and best garments, and were their own mantua makers. This was strong and substan- tial, good and wholly in use. They would make their own fine white diaper table cloths and towels, their fine white under lining, their striped This mode of travel was the occasion of a rid- dle, as follows : gowns, their cheek handkerchiefs and aprons, etc, clean and well ironed, and in which dress My body is strange, apt subject to change. With three heads do I often appear ; they were fitted out for any company, in any place. They would also manufacture their hus- With two I converse, but one is perverse, Not endowed with reason nor fear. band's, father's and brother's white summer shirts, frocks and trousers. Tow cloth had a As to legs I have eight, some small and some great ;- Yet what will surprise you still more, ready market; brown 2s; whitened, 2s 3d; striped, 2s 6d.

Farmers did not keep many sheep. It was an object with each one to keep as many as would produce enough wool to clothe his family with their winter garments, or as much as the women could work up. Cards, wheels, looms, were almost always in motion. Butternut bark. sumack berries, &c., were in demand for dyeing. Black and white wool mixed was first-rate -- often wove double, and warm enough for any weather. This cloth would stand the brush ; the substance was not seratehed away by the cloth dressing operation. As the danger from wolves grew less, sheep increased. cloth dress- ing came into vogue, and woolen cloth became an article in demand; but there was not enough to supply the demand until the Legislature took up the subject to encourage the growth of wool. Sheep had never been taxed; and about the year 1810 or so, the Legislature passed an act. freeing each man's poll from the list, who had that year, sheared 20 sheep. From that time sheep began to multiply until now the greatest share of farmers' stock is sheep.

In the early times in this country, and prob- ably in others, when horses began to be more in use, and people to think more of using them as a locomotive, and somewhat to lose their de- pendence on their own feet, saddles began to be about as plenty as saddle horses. But they were inconvenient, and not safe for women to ride on ; and, of course, each woman, especially each young woman (lest it so happened that some young man might give her an invitation to ride with him, ) must have a pillion on which to ride to meetings, balls and on other excursions, and even on long journeys. The saddles were pre-

You plainly may see-on one side I've three, On the other side half a half score.

Some pretend I've a tail ; I'm female and male; And to form me both sexes unite.

I'm smooth yet I'm rough, I'm tender yet tough ; I am fair-oft black and oft white.

I am very devout, I am known all about ; At church once a week I am found.

The markets I visit ;- now tell me what is it Does in such contradictions abound !

Soon after the towns in Rutland Co. began to be settled, militia companies were organized, and military trainings were kept up two whole days every year, with some half-days ; and once in every two or three years a general training in some part of the regiment or brigade two or three days, which was very expensive, both for officers and men, and of no profit. In some they would have what they called " Indian fights," in which companies were divided-a part assum- ing the character of, and pretending to act like Indians, when not one in twenty ever saw an Indian. Those trainings were very demoraliz. ing to the community. Often the burning of powder would commence at 12 o'clock the night previous by way of waking up officers and get- ting a treat. They would go from one to anoth- er, firing, drinking, halloing, swearing, until morning. New rum and wiskey must be plenty all day ; many would not get over the effects of them for a number of days : and so at raisings which were frequent; at bees; and at almost all gatherings. Also at haying, harvesting, and almost every other kind of business, the liquid fire had to be a prominent article.

The first settlers were generally very careful to plant nurseries and to raise apple-trees. The consequence was that orchards and apples bo-

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came very plenty, and every neighborhood had ; would himself make the remainder of the plow a cider-mill. Cider was a prominent article in of wood. The axes, hoes, scythes, pitchfork3 and other farming utensils were all of domestic manufacture; the neighborhood blacksmith forg- ing the iron parts, while each one supplied the wood-work for himself. every family ; it became an every day drink at meals, and at any time of the day,-especially for men in cold weather. Apples must not be wasted, most of them must be made into cider ; and in the Spring most of what had not been In those days farmers raised their own bread- corn, even to the finest wheat. drank in the winter must be taken to the distill- ery, converted into cider brandy, and drank in that shape. All tended to bring on diseases.

The writer is of opinion that some of his con- nections and many of his acquaintances wlio were about his age, who had large orchards, have shortened their days by relaxing from their business and making a free use of cider and cider brandy; not, however, that they drank to excess, but wasted their powers by moderate drinking. He also supposes that he has pro- longed his time here on earth by diligent exer- cise, and by refraining wholly, for more than 30 years, from the use of intoxicating liquors, in any form whatever. The pure unmixed water is the natural and only healthy drink as a daily bever- age. About 50 years ago, one Jolin Merriam traded in Pittsford. The writer was at his store one Friday morning, when a man came in with his jug and asked for rum. Merriam said he was out, and added, " I have tapped a hogshead eve- ry Monday morning for 5 weeks, and shall not tap another until next Monday morning." What did the people do for rum those three days ? This was the last of August.

In former times farmers were clearing their land and raising wheat for their money; this was carried to Troy and sold. It took 8 days to carry a load of 20 bushels by wagon and re- turn with the same weight of loading, and even to accomplish this, the man must be diligent and go on foot up the hills to lighten the load. In clearing land the timber was all burnt on the ground, and the ashes were saved to pay store- debts. Contracts were made and notes given payable on the first of October in neat cattle ; bulls, stags and old odd oxen excepted; or in grain on the first of January following. The first of October was a great day for paying debts ; cattle all to go at the appraisal of men chosen for that purpose, and perhaps a few hundred dollars worth of cattle would pay as many thousands by passing through eight or ten hands from first to last, at one appraisal. A great number of inen were assembled at such places, and of course much new rum drank.

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The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1, Part 67

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: White River Junction VT : White River Paper Co. Number of Pages: 868

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: White River Junction VT : White River Paper Co.
Number of Pages: 868