USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 2 > Part 68
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" So early as the spring of 1784, a conven- tion from several towns was assembled at Wells, by which sundry resolutions were pass- ed in relation to the general sufferings and embaressments of the people, and a liberal amount of execration was meted out to the lawyers and sheriffs, but no disposition was manifested in this State to oppose the collect- ion of debts by force till the year 1786." Thompson's Gazetteer, in connection with re- marks on the Shay Rebellion.
Most of the first settlers in this town came from Massachusetts and Connecticut, and it is not hard even at this distant day to detect among the inhabitants traces of their Puritan origin. These early founders of the town brought an indomitable will and untiring en- ergy to their work. They were honest and industrious, but with minds as strong and sound, and bodies healthier than the present age can boast.
It is hardly possible at this late day to conceive the many obstacles with which the early settlers had to contend in obtaining food and clothing, and preparing homes for their families. The old people of to-day, remem- ber when they were obliged to go barefooted the greater part of the year, and to live, as the saying is, "from claw to bill." But the time mended when apples were very plenty, and cider was as "free as water."
There have been four distilleries in town, which manufactured brandy from cider, and whiskey from rye and corn. The first dis- tillery was owned by Peter King, and was es- tablished sometime previous to the year 1800, the second was owned and established by Abel Potter about the year 1809, the third in 1826, by Samuel Rust. The fourth and last
* See Gov. Hall's " Early History of Vermont.
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was owned and run by Elijah Parks, about the year 1829, but has been closed for many years.
In connection with the distilleries, it may not be amiss to mention the whipping-post, where evil doers were publicly punished. It was erected in the latter part of the eight- eenth century, on the common, just west of where the Universalist church now stands, and was 7 feet high and 8 inches square. The last person whipped at this post was a man about 40 years of age, who for stealing, was sen- tenced by Justice Samuel Lathrop to receive ten lashes. The punishment was inflicted by the constable and took place about 1807. The old post is gone, and only remembered as a memento of the past.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
It is not known at exactly what date the first sehool house was built. It was very early however in the history of the town and as soon as there were children enough to form a school.
The first school houses were made of logs and warmed by fireplaces. The benches were generally made of slabs, turned flat-side up, into which holes were bored and legs insert- ed.
The scholars were instructed in reading. writing, spelling, penmanship and arithmetic. Grammar was not taught in the earliest schools.
The books used were the English Reader, American Preceptor, Pike's Arithmetic and Webster's Spelling Book.
The celebrated Wm. Pitt, when the British Parliament were voting money and raising men to send across the ocean, thinking to crush American liberty by a single grip, pro- tested against the measure. Rising in his seat, he told the King and parliament, that their efforts were useless, that their hopes. were vain, that the American Colonies could not be conquered by force, that weak as they seemed they had a defence stronger than En- glish armies, one which British guns could not subdue, nor British gold corrupt. " What defence is that," says King and parliament; It is, replied the fearless advocate of Ameri- can rights, " Webster's Spelling Book." His warning was unheeded, the hosts of Britain came-for long weary years the conflict rag. ed, but the " Spelling Book " conquered. We used Webster's Spelling Book in Wells.
In 1779, the inhabitants of the town vot- ed : " to divide the town into two districts as nater has divided it, for schooling."
The division line was the Pond Mountain range, making the eastern part of the town one school district, and the western part an- other.
In 1786, the town was divided into 6 school districts. There have since been eleven though there are now only seven, with two fractional districts.
In 1803, the number of scholars between the ages of 4 and 18 years was 401 : in 1830- 288; in 1840-224 : in 1846-293 ; in 1850- 244; and in 1860-169.
The decrease in numbers noticed above, mainly arises from three causes, first, the small farms have been gradually absorbed by the more wealthy land owners, thus caus- ing the number of families to diminish. Sec- ond, the emigration of the young men to the West, or some other parts of the country, where they hope to obtain a fortune more speedily. Third, the small number of chil- dren, which, compared with former years are born in almost every American family.
THE POPULATION.
was in 1791-622: in 1800-988 ; in 1810- 1,040; in 1820-986; in 1830-880; in 1840- 740, in 1850-804; in 1860-642; in 1868, (town census) 687; in 1870-713.
EARLY CHURCH HISTORY.
"In April, 1774, the town voted to build a 'meeting house' on the east side of the chin- nel which connects the two ponds that form Lake St. Austin."
Caleb Lewis and four others were appoint- ed to select a site for the house. At a meet- ing the following October, Timothy Alliny and four others were appointed to hire s minister. There is no record that this com- mittee ever acted. We next find in 1780, a committee of three were appointed to hire a minister, also in 1785, the first minister's name, - Murdock, upon the records. It is not known to what sect he belonged.
In May 1789, 10 acres of land was selected by the committee chosen for that purpose, and the town voted to build a church there- on, 36 feet in length by one story and a half high. This tract is situated on the rise of and about midway between the Pond bridge and Pond mountains and on the north side of the road.
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The church was built in 1790, but never entirely finished. This was the first house erected in town, for public worship, and was used in common by all, and after having been abandoned as a church it was for many years used as a barn, and was finally blown down during a storm, Mar. 27, 1847.
On the same tract of land with the meeting house, was laid out, also, the first burial- ground, where lie buried many of the first settlers of the town.
But no monuments are there to mark their resting place, and none now are left to weep over their dear remains. Not one to breathe a prayer for the soul departed. The old grave-yard is very neglected and lonesome.
In 1799, Simon Francis and four others were appointed "to circulate a subscription paper to procure means to build a house for public worship and town privileges." The following year, 1800, the second church was built in the village, on the site where the 'Universalist church' now stands." And like the former "meeting.house" was used in common by all. It was from 40 to 50 feet square, two stories high, without stove or chimney until about 1835. It had neither steeple, turret nor bell, and with its large roof, and brown weather beaten exterior, had far more the appearance of a large barn than of a church.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In 1780, or a little later, the first Metho- dist preacher visited Wells. His name is not remembered, but he inquired for the poorest family in town and was directed to the house of Nathaniel Lewis. Here the first meeting was held, and soon a small class was formed, of which Mr. Lewis was appointed class leader.
Rev. Darius Dunham came to Wells to preach in 1789. He had a revival and about 30 converts were made. .
REV. SHUBAL LAMB. born in Litchfield Ct. in 1771, and who came to Wells with his fa- ther and family in 1780, was one of the sub- jects of this revival and soon after he, obtained license to exhort, and soon after bis license to exhort, license to preach.
He was or lained deacon in 1305, and elder at the Poultney Conference in 1830, by Bish- op Hedding.
He labored as local preacher for almost 60 years and died in Middletown Vt., July 25,
1852. He was regarded as a good and faith- ful minister.
The noted Lorenzo Dow frequently preach- ed in Wells, about the years 1797-98.
In 1820 there was also a revival in the east part of the town, when about 25 persons professed conversion. Some 10 or 15 of whom were subjects of a peculiar manifesta- tion called the jerks. They were affected by a peculiar jerking of the head, hands and feet and sometimes of the whole body, accompan- ied by boisterous shouting, clapping of hands and wild conduct generally. Some of those would fall to the floor, and remain apparent- ly unconscious for some length of time, others would whirl around and around repeatedly while others again would hop and skip about, going through an irregular dance.
It was claimed that this condition afforded them a high state of spiritual enjoyment. These manifestations continued over a year, and then like the "Salem witchcraft" and many another unexplained phenomenon or hallucination, gradually passed away.
There was another revival at the village, and about twenty persons were converted. Rev. Lyman Prindle was the preacher at this time .*
The following were among the preachers who labored in Wells, before the circuit ap- pointments: Revs. Samuel Drapon, B. Goodsell, Jacob Beaman, Samuel Lovel, Anthony Rice, Tobias Spicer, J. B. Stratton and James Quin- land.
Since 1836 there has been appointed to this place ; Revs. S. Young, Wm. Richards, Adam Jones, A. L. Cooper, P. H. Smith, Valentine Brown, Salisbury Ford, Wm. Bedell, P. P. Atwell, B. S. Burnham, J. B. Searles, James J. Bailey, Nelson Boirt, G. H. Townsend, Moses Spencer, J. E. Walker, Wm. A. Miller, H. C. Farrar, A. Robins and Wm. Titany.
In 1823, the Sunday School was first es- tablished, at East Wells, Levi Lamb S S. Su- perintendent, and at the village, Levi Lewis Superintendent.
The first church edifice was erected in East Wells about 1805 or 06,-a poor structure, and never finished, and which in 1813, was taken down and removed to the present site of the church put up and finished, bu: 15 1856, it was again taken down and a new one
* Decoaxed ut the age of 78, Sopt. 21, 1959, one of the early and valiant introducera of Methodist in the State-a member for over 40 years,-ED.
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erected in its place of more modern style and in 1842, a new church edifice, respectable both in size and appearance, was erected at the village.
There have been three camp-meetings held in this town in 1855, 56 and 58.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Soon after the settlement of the town of Wells, several Episcopal families, mostly from Connecticut, emigrated to this place.
They were destitute of Episcopal services, except occasionally.
The first minister of whom there is any ac- count, was the Rev. Bethuel Chittenden, brother of Thomas Chittenden, first Governor of Vermont. We next find the Rev. Abra- ham Bronson who resided in Manchester, Vt., and held services in Wells from time to time.
About 1810, Rev. Steven Jewett came in to these parts and preached in Wells and Paw- let. In 1815, there was an Episcopal church edifice erected at Granville Corners, N. Y., and the Episcopalians of Wells, united with those of Granville and became members of that parisb. The Rev. Steven Jewett be- came their rector and preached a number of years.
St. Paul's Church was organized in Wells, April, 1824 : the first members were Robert Hotchkiss, Raymond Hotchkiss, David Lewis, Daniel Goodrich, John Pray, John C. Hop- son, David B. Lewis, Rufus Graves, Harvey Parks, Almon Hopson, John C. Hopson, Jr., and John H. Pray, and Rev. Palmer Dyer was their rector both in Wells and Granville. In 1836, Rev. Darwin B. Mason, became rec- tor, andi remained until 1839, when the Rev, Lucius M. Purdy became rector. During his ministry the church edifice was built which was consecrated Jan. 26, 1842 by the Right Rev. John H. Hopkins, Bishop of the Diocese of Vermont.
In 1841, Rev. Louis Mc'Donald became rec- tor and remained some 3 years. Rev. Moore Bingham from Hampton, N. Y., succeeded Rev. Mr. Mc' Donald, and preached occasion- ally, for a time
In 1847, Rev. Oliver Hopson accepted a call from the vestry to become rector of the parish and remained until August 1868, when he resigned.
The present rector is Rev. James Upjohn, who resides in Granville, N. Y.
There have been since 1836, adult bap-
tisms, 23; infants, 41; marriages, 16 ; con- firmations, 47; burials, 35. The parish at present numbers about 30 communicants.
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
Quite a number of the early settlers in this town were of- this faith. Among whom may be mentioned Samuel Culver, Wm. Pot- ter, Josiah Goodspeed, Winslow Goodspeed, An- sel Goodspeed and Elijah Parks, all members before 1800. To whom since from time to time, have been added others, so that this congregation has always been of a very re- spectable number.
In 1821, Rev. Aaron Kinsman located here. He was their first settled minister and remained until 1826. This same year " the General Convention of Universalists conven- ed in Wells.
In 1855 the old meeting-house was taken down and a pretty church edifice was erected on the same site. Rev. Mr. Page, Rev, Mr. Aspinwall, Rev. H. P. Cutting, Rev. E. S. Foster, Rev. Mr. Knappin and the Rev. A. N. Adams of Fairhaven have been the minis- ters since 1826.
The membership of this church is said to be larger than that of any other denomina- tion in town.
THE PROTESTANT METHODISTS
have also a very small society and a small church of worship in the east part of the town, which was built a few years since. They have no settled minister. Rev. George Smith, of Hebron, N. Y., has officiated at times.
The membership of this church is very small, and they only have occasional services.
SELECTMEN.
1773-Ogden Mallory 3 years, Daniel Cul- ver 9 years, Joseph Lawrance 1 year, Abner Howe 5 years, John Ward 1 year.
1775-Zaccheus Mallary 3 years, Caleb Smith 1 year, Caleb Lewis 1 year.
1778-Gideon Searles 3 years, Abel Merri- man 3 years.
1779-Timothy Moss 1 year.
1780-Barnabas Moss 1 year, Ebenezer Sumner 4 years.
1781-Joseph Spaulding 1 year.
1782-Reuben Searles 3 years.
1783-Isaac Andrews 1 year.
1784-Joshua Howe 4 years.
1785-Jehial Beardsley 2 years, Daniel Wyman 2 years.
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1787-Abner Cone 2 years, Samuel La- throp 2 years, Joseph Button 8 years.
1788-David Lewis 8 years.
1781-James Paul 1 year.
1791-Gill Mal.ary 4 years.
1795-David O. Blossom 2 years, Israel Johnson 2 years.
1796-Andrew Clark 14 years.
1798-Azariah Darby 2 years, Josiah Goodspeed 9 years.
1802-John Pray 15 years.
1804-Jedediah Darby 1 year.
1806-Elijah Park 2 years.
1808-Socrates Hotchkiss 2 years.
1809-Samuel Culver 1 year, Simeon Park 3 years.
1810-Alona Rust 2 years, Levi Lamb 3 years.
1812-Aaron Mosher 8 years, Raymond Hotchkiss 8 years.
1813-Benjamin Lumbard 4 years.
1817-Benjamin Lewis 2 years.
1819-Jared Francis 5 years.
1820-Joseph Park 17 years.
1823-Steven Paul 1 year.
1824-Seth Blossom 1 year.
1825-Aaron Tyler 3 years.
1826-Frederick Pember 3 years.
1828-Elijah Button 2 years, Samuel Cul- ver jr. 2 years.
1830-David B. Lewis 9 years.
1836-Anaposa Rust 1 year.
1837-John Barden 11 years.
1839-Nelson Paul 8 years, Wesley Clem- ons 7 years, William Lamb 5 years.
1844-John S. Hulett 10 years.
1849-Nathan Francis 3 years.
1850-John C. Hopson 4 years.
1854-James Cox 4 years.
1855-Allen Grover 4 years, Winslow Goodspeed 6 years.
1856-Henry Goodspeed 3 years.
1858-Orlin Lewis 2 years, Alonzo Stevens 1 year.
1859-Wilder Lewis 1 year, Calvin Farrar 1 year.
1860-D. A. Everts 1 year, Russel Pember 1 year.
1861-Alvah Mitchell 3 years, Darwin Hulett 3 years.
1862-James Parks 6 years.
1863-Rodney Lewis 1 year.
1864-Phinelas Paul 1 year, Marcellus Francis 1 year.
1865-Darius Park 1 year.
1866-Martin Park 1 year.
1867-Nathan Crandall 1 year, Alfred Lewis 3 years.
1868-B. F. Hadaway 1 year.
TOWN REPRESENTATIVES SINCE 1778.
Daniel Culver 1778; Ithamer Hibbard 1778-9 ; Barnabas Moss 1780 ; Daniel Culver 1781-4; Abel Merriman 1782 -- 3-5-6-8 ; Samuel Lathrop 1787-9-90-1-3-5-6-7; Jo- seph Button 1892-4-1811; Simon Francis 1798-9-1800-1-2-3-5; Andrew Clark 1804- 6-7; Samuel Mix 1808 ; Ira Mix 1809; Wil- liam Potter 1810; Aaron Mosher 1812-13- 14-16; Shubael Lamb 1815-17-26; Ansell Goodspeed 1818-19-20-1-9; Jared Francis 1822-3 : Seth Blossom 1824-5-7-8-30; Wil- liam Potter Jr. 1831-3 ; Calif Munroe 1832 ; Joseph Park 1834-5-6; Samuel Culver 1837; Allen Grover 1838-9; David B. Lewis 1840- 1-54; John Barden 1842-3-4-5-60-1 ; John S. Hulett 1846-7; Harvey Parks 1848-9 John C. Hopson 1850-1; Nathan Francis 1852-3; Nelson Paul 1855-6-7; James Cox 1858-9; Hiland E. Paul 1862-3 ; James Parks 1864-5; Marcus D. Grover 1866-7-8- 9-70.
TOWN CLERKS.
John Ward 1773-76 Caleb Smith 1777, Nehemiah Higbee 1778, Abner Howe 1779- 81, Isaac Andrews 1782-4, Asa Osborn 1785, Thomas Lathrop 1786-90, Elijah Park 1761-8, Ansel Goodspeed 1799-1845, (Making 46 years service). Artemas Lewis 1846, William Lamb 1847-64, Rodney M. Lewis 1865-70.
The town clerk has with very few excep- tions been Town Treasurer.
CONSTABLES.
Caleb Lewis 1774, Ogden Mallary 1775, Abel Merriman 1776, Samuel Culver 1777-8- 8-3-4-90-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8, Reuben Searles 1779-80, Joshua Culver 1781, Joseph Lamb 1782, Shubael Sumner 1785, David C. Blossom 1786, Gill Mallary 1787, Simon Francis 1789, James Dunscomb 1799, Socrates Hotchkiss 1800-1, Ansell Goodspeed 1802 John Pray 1803, David Lewis 1804-5, Seth Potter 1806- 7, Simeon Park 1808, Reuben Lewis 1809-12, Joseph Lumbard 1810-11-13, Aaron Tyler 1814-15-16, Nathan Mitchell 1817-18-20, John Broughton 1819, Levi Thompson 1821- 2-3, Win. Lamb 1824, Jared Francis 1825- 6-7, Wma. Blossom 1828, Allen Grover 1820-
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30-1-45-6, Apollos Hastings 1832-3, Hiram Hastings 1834-5-6, Orlin Pember 1837-8-9, John Howe 1840-1-2-3-1, Joseph Smith 1847, Hiram Francis 1843-9-50, Barden Beals 1851, James Hastings 1852-3, James J. Rowe 1854-6, Charles Lamb 1855, Hiram W. Lewis 1857-8-9-60-1-2-3-4-9-70, Edgar Barden 1865, Robert Wakely 1869, Henry Clark 1867-8.
SOLDIERS' RECORD.
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS OF WELLS- Peter Blossom, Phineas Lamb, Robert Hotch- kiss. Nathan M. Lounsbury, William Hart, Timothy Moss.
We had also a small sprinkling of tories among us. The farms of four tory families were confiscated.
SOLDIERS OF 1812-14 .- Taylor Samuel Stevens.
SOLDIERS IN THE FLORIDA WAR-Bradley Lewis, Samuel Lamb.
SOLDIERS IN THE MEXICAN WAR-George Kilborn, Daniel Bemis.
CIVIL WAR OF 1861-64.
Volunteers from this town who enlisted be- fore the 14th Vt. Regiment were mustered in received no town bounty. Volunteers from this town who served in the 14th Vt. Reg. re- ceived a town bounty of $ 100.
This town paid for bounties and other ex- penses incurred in the late war, 15,057. The bounties ranged from $100 each for the nine months men, up to $ 1,000 and $ 1,150 for three years men. We give below the names and regiment to which each soldier belonged. Those whose names are starred were not residents of the town.
FIRST VERMONT CAVALRY.
Lewis Conger, *George Livinston, *Charles Cowles, *Andrew Taylor, *Peter Dickey.
SECOND REGIMENT.
Charles D. Castle, Ozro Sprague, Willard Woods.
FIFTH REGIMENT.
Albert Brookins, William H. Lincoln, Roswell Fuller, Hiram D. Munroe,
SIXTH REGIMENT.
* John Upton.
SEVENTH REGIMENT.
Henry Beebe, Ariel Howard, James
Sprague, Thomas C. Reid, Harvey Guilder, Edwin Saunders, Albert J. Reid, *Thomas Downing, *John Moore, *John Newcomb, *Charles Riley, John Watts.
NINTH REGIMENT.
Herbert Barden, Hiram Wood, *Nye O. Blake, *Franklin Accome, *William T. Fry.
TENTH REGIMENT.
*Homer Bradley.
ELEVENTH REGIMENT.
*Edward M. Gee.
FOURTEENTH REGIMENT.
Phineas E. Paul, Wilder Lewis, Alfred Lewis, Merrit Lamb, William Moody, Lysan- der Palmer, Warren A. Pierce, Geo F. Brown, Seth Geer, Elisha Wales, David F. Youngs.
NAVAL SERVICE.
Cyrus Foster, Edwin F. Lewis, Theodore F. Lewis.
DRAFTED MEN.
Adam Barden, Marcellus Francis, George W. Hadaway, Edward F. Hopson, Hiram W. Lewis, Orestes J. Merrill, Hiland Paul, James H. Potter, Horace Spaulding, Harlan P. Lew- is.
Of the above drafted men all paid commu- tion, ($ 300,) each, except Harlan P. Lewis who procured a substitute for the sum of $325.
The following named soldiers were either natives or residents of this town, but enlisted in other states.
HARRIS LIGHT CAVALRY OR FIFTH N. Y. REG.
Robert H. Parks, Henry Clark, Edgar B. Henshaw.
NINETY-THIRD N. Y. REG. William Cooper, Alix P. Ayott.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THIRD REG.
William Norton, Phillip Potter, Franklin Cook, Horace Tooley, William Tooley.
THIRTEENTH ILLINOIS REG. Elvin Reid.
FIFTH MINNESOTA REG.
Milton H. Pember.
It will be seen from the foregoing record, that this town from a population of 687, fur- nished 60 actual soldiers in the late war for the preservation of the Union, besides 10 who were drafted and paid commutation, making o fraction over one tenth of the whole popula.
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tion. Truly a roll of honor for this our na- tive town. Of the 60 men who went into the field, some few returned untouched by sick- ness or by wounds, more with shattered health or poor maimed bodies. Some laid down their lives for their country amid the smoke and din of battle, while others still more unfortunate, were dragged to a captivi- ty worse than death, and after counting a few weary weeks or months amid the untold horrors of a Libby prison or an Anderson- ville slave-pen, insulted by brutal keepers, wasted by disease and emanciated by starva- tion, when hope was dead and life had be- come a burden, at last they too yielded up their lives martyrs to their country's cause.
All honor to the noble dead, and the brave who live.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ANECDOTES &C. OGDEN MALLARY,
The first actual settler, came into town in 1768, was moderator of the first town meet- ing, and for many years one of the principal men of the town. He died in 1811, aged 91 years; Children : Silas, Gill, Stephen and Justin. . .
ZACCHEUS MALLARY
Came into town about the same time with his brother Ogden. We have no record of his history, except that he was a delegate to the Dorset convention.
DANIEL CULVER
Settled in town 1771, and was the first representative elected to the general as- sem bly, from this town. The first marriage recorded is that of his daughter Catherine to Ebenezer Welton in 1775. His son Samuel was the proprietors' clerk for many years, and held many town offices. He was born in 1748 and died in 1831. He was one of the leading Universalists in the town. Daniel had a brother Joshua who also settled here at the same time that he did.
ABEL MERRIMAN
And his wife Betsey settled in 1771. Their children were Caleb, George, Samuel and Ab- igail. He was a very genial, social man in his character and very fond of a joke. At that time much land was sold by description to people living at a distance. One winter when the pond was covered with ice and snow, he actually sold and deeded it as an el- egant tract of intervale land with no trees or stumps upon it ?
Samuel his son lived and died in town aged 86.
CARLOS, Son of Samuel went to Illinois. He entered the Union service, and soon after died.
TIMOTHY MOSS
Immigrated here from Farrington, Ct., in 1772. He served in both the French and Revolutionary War . Joseph his brother al- so settled in town but being a tory soon had occasion to remove to Canada, the air and climate of Wells not agreeing with him.
Mr. Timothy Moss died aged 90 in 1828, and his wife aged 88 in 1833. Mr. Moss nev- er had the Doctor till his last sickness, it is told, never lost a meal-His family was one of those who fled at the approach of Burgoyne to Bennington. His wife was a sister of the Churchills of Hubbardton-(See history of Hubbardton this volume).
JAMES LAMB
Came into town from Norwich, Ct., in the year 1778. He reared 6 children, and died in 1809 aged 73 years. His widow died in 1825 being 92 years of age.
JOHN PRAY
With his son, John jr., came from Connec- ticut in 1778. The father died in a few years; the son married Elizabeth Bellamy and settled on a farm a short distance East from the Pond bridge. Their children were Elijah, John H., (a lawyer, residing in Har- mony, N. Y.,) Marcia, Amanda, Malinda, Bet- sy, Kezia, Maria, Sally and David. John Pray jr., was much respected for integrity and a worthy member of the Protestant Epis- copal Communion, and was selectman many years. He removed to Harmony, N. Y., in 1835, and died in 1844, aged 74.
Elijah, oldest son of John, jr., died in Ter- sham, aged 74, and was the father of Frank- lin, who enlisted in the Union service.
LEVI FRY
Settled here in 1873. He was remarkable for nothing, except that he was a believer in the rod-men's humbug, and was always dig- ging for money, which he never found .* He died in 1820.
Mrs. David Fry, sister-in-law of Levi, died in this town, aged 90. She had an only daughter, Maria, who married a man by the
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