The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 118

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890, [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt., Vermont watchman and state journal press
Number of Pages: 1066

USA > Vermont > Washington County > The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer: > Part 118

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The first warning for freeman's meeting was in 1797.

Record of the meeting: The freemen of Roxbury, all to a man, met at the house of Jedediah Huntington, in said town, ac- cording to warning, when the freeman's oath was duly administered by the town clerk to the following men: Christopher Huntington, Roswell Adams, Isaac Lewis, David Cram, John Stafford, Benoni Web- ster, Jedediah Huntington, Perus Hunt- ington, Benjamin Hunter, Jr., Daniel Cor- bin, Chester Batchelder.

The freemen voted as follows : For Gov.,

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Isaac Tichenor 9, Nathaniel Niles 4, Paul Brigham 1; Lieut. Gov., Paul Brigham Io, Nathaniel Niles 3; Treas., Samuel Mattocks 14; for counsellors, Elisha Allen 11, Cornelius Lynde 10, Elias Stevens 9, Jonas Galusha 2, Joel Marsh 9, Reuben Hatch 2, Martin Chittenden 2, Joseph Hubbard 1, Ebenezer Walbridge 4, John French 6.

Thomas Huntington, town clerk.

Freeman's oath had previously been ad- ministered to Samuel Richardson, Thomas and Jonathan Huntington. There were just 14 voters in town, at that time. In Mar., 1799, voted that from Apr. I to May 20, it shall not be lawful for sheep or swine to run at large on the commons or high- ways, and if willfuly or negligently allowed to run, the owners thereof shall pay double damages. When there were neither high- ways or commons, even passable for swine or sheep ! They also voted, at the same time, that Joseph Newton should have approba- tion to retail liquors to travellers the ensu- ing year. For all their privations or hard struggles, these early settlers seemed to have a vein of drollery and fun underlying all. In 1802, they called a meeting to see if the town would vote to set the small pox in town. Not wanting it, voted to dissolve the meeting. Sept. 12, 1803, called a meeting to see if the town would vote to set up inoculation of small pox in town ; did not want it, and dissolved the meeting. In 1806, voted to raise 7 mills on a dollar for the purpose of buying sur- veying implements. Chose Samuel Rob- ertson surveyor for the town-to have the use of the instruments for doing the sur- veying for said town. A compass and chain was bought, a very good one for those times, and is still the property of the town. In 1811, voted to set off the east part of the town to Brookfield. Voted to petition the general assembly at their next session to be annexed to Jefferson Co., (now Washington). To be stingy and small with their neighbors did not seem to be a fault with them.

On record, Jan. 26, 1799, "I, Samuel Richardson, in consideration of the love and good will I bear to my well respected friend, Polly Corbin, gave her a deed of 20 acres of land. "

First land tax in town : Petitioned to the legislature for a land tax in 1796. The legislature, then in session at Windsor, raised a tax of one cent on an acre of land in said town. The "delinquents" lands to be soid the 8th day of May, 1798, at David Cram's dwelling-house, by David Cram, constable.

July 31, '98, vendue sale of lands at Jed- ediah Huntington's, by Abel Lyman, col- lector.

First deed upon the land records : from Asa Huntington to Daniel Kingsbury, da- ted at Brookfield, Sept. 3, 1794, recorded Mar. 24, 1796.

In June, 1812, called a meeting to see if the town would provide arms, amunition and equipments for the soldiers who have this day volunteered in the service of their country as minute men. Voted that the monthly pay of each minute man should be raised three dollars per month, while in actual service, payable in grain or neat stock. Voted to deposit magazine and public arms at the dwelling-house of Elijah Ellis, the town having received gun pow- der and lead. In 1816, voted to set off 4 tiers of lots on east side of town, to form a separate town with part of Brookfield. Passed the same vote in 1827, and seems to have been dropped there, as there is no farther record of the matter.

Christopher Huntington was the first settler. He came to the east part of the town, and built the first house, where O. A. Thayer now lives. He came from Mansfield, Conn., where his children were born, but had resided in Norwich a short time before coming here. He also preach- ed the first sermon in town, to a small but no doubt appreciative audience. He was a Universalist minister, and as the town became settled, preached in various places.

Mr. Huntington drew his goods into town on a hand-sled on bare ground, and with the other early settlers, endured pri- vations hard to realize from the stand- point of to-day. His daughter, Lydia, died Jan. 23, 1792, at the age of 17, the first death in town. Mr. Huntington re- moved to Canada in 1804. The Mr. Huntington wbo recently died in Canada, bequeathing $25,000 to the State of Ver- mont, is said to be one of his sons. Another son was several years a Baptist preacher in Braintree.

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SAMUEL RICHARDSON

was the first to settle in the west part of the town. He was born in Stafford, Conn., June 13, 1750, and was a veteran of the Revolutionary War, having " been out" nearly half the war. His wife, Susanna Pinney, was born July, 1749. After their marriage, they came to Randolph and set- tled. When the Indians burned Royal- ton, they passed through Randolph and burned the house next to theirs, but it be- ing somewhat retired, they probably did , not discern it. Mr. R. came to this town in 1790, and built a small log-house near where the watch factory now stands, and returned home to come back again in the early spring with his son, Uriah, whom tradition has it, brought a five-pail iron- kettle on his back through the deep snow, with marked trees for roads. A niece of his has injured the story, by declaring her ancestor to have been a brave lad and a willing one, but that he was not a Hercu- les, and it was really a seven-pail brass- kettle. Well, even that seems almost in- credible, considering the distance, and roads. After the sugar-making was well begun, Mr. Richardson returned to Ran- dolph, leaving his son alone in the wilder- ness for 6 weeks. No one to speak to, no daily or weekly paper; but the solemn hoot of the owl, the lonesome winds through the trees, the howling of the hun- gry wolves about his cabin, as he said, made weird music, not exactly conducive to sleep. But his father came with the rest of the family as soon as snow was gone. There are said to have been several reasons why Mr. Richardson moved into this wild- erness. One, he was greatly averse to his children marrying, and his sons were be- coming sturdy young men, and his daugh- ters tall and handsome. And he was not the only one who seemed to realize the fact. Beaux would drop in of an evening ; the little by-play on the old settle by the fireplace-naming the rosy-cheeked apples, and comparing them to the not less rosy cheeks of the maidens, going on under pater familias' eye, not unnoticed ; no sym- pathetic chord in his heart vibrating to the echo of "long ago," when he leaned

over the gate, and made love to the fair Susanna after escorting her home from spelling-school, away down in old Con- necticut. To keep the necks of his off- spring out of the " noose," he reflected the surest way was to get them where beaux and belles were not, and removed his fam- ily to the wilderness ; but even there, four of them out-generalled him at last. His eldest daughter, Sarah, and Chester Batch- elder, Jan. 27, 1799, by Israel Converse, justice of the peace, were made one, and this was the first marriage in town. Hannah, taking courage from the example of her elder sister, married Peter S. P. Staples. Lydia married Charles Cotton, hesitating- ly, not swiftly, as lovely maidens should be expected to wed-her lithe form had lost some of its willowy grace, her cheek its first youthful bloom ; she was a bride of 45 summers. Samuel married Sally Ellis. Half his children were gone, but by the care and admonitions of this tender sire, half his family were still preserved, four perpetually saved from marriage fate.

That the " females" of this unmated half of the Richardson family were able to care for themselves, and give a helping hand to the weak of the stronger sex, the following proveth : "Tim" Emmerson had a large amount of grain to be harvest- ed, and no help to be had at any price ; it was already over-ripe; Susan and Mary Richardson, who were noted for thrift, and disliked to see anything go to waste, offer- ed, if their brother would accompany them, to give the poor man a lift. The men folk smiled as the resolute damsels came into the field, but as the golden grain fell before their gleaming sickles, and was dex- terously bound and placed in stooks by their deft hands, the men hung their di- minished heads, and the perspiration coursed down their brown cheeks as they vainly strove to keep pace with their fair reapers. Before night tradition saith each masculine had fallen meekly to the rear. Mary and Susan sheared their own sheep, and if occasion required, could chop off a 2 foot log as soon as most men.

Susan Richardson was once going home from " squire " Robertson's, through the

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woods. She heard a strange cry as of some one in distress. It was growing dusk, the sound came nearer and nearer ; she could see it was gaining upon her at every step. She was a very courageous person, not easily scared, but as those quick, sharp screams fell upon her ears, the grass didn't grow under her feet until she reached the clearing : but, once out of the woods, she gathered her sheep into a place of safety before she sought shelter for herself. It was found, the next day, a catamount had followed her; his tracks were plainly visible in the soft earth. It had followed her to the edge of the woods, which reached nearly to her house. At another time, she, with a friend who was visiting her, went to a neighbor's for an " afternoon tea." It was late before they got started for home, and all the way through the woods. They heard the dis- mal howling of wolves. Susan knew the sound very well, but her friend, unused to pioneer life, had no idea, and wondered, as Susan took her babe from her arms and hurried rapidly forward. When they reach- ed the clearing, and Susan had gathered in her sheep, and they were safe in the house, she told her friend it was wolves they had heard, and they would surely have got her baby had they not quickened their pace.

fast as his clumsy limbs could carry him, preferring to go without his supper to mak- ing it off a boy who could scream so loud.

Another reason given (to return to Mr. Richardson's reasons for coming to this town), was that when the bass viol was carried into church at Randolph, it was more than his orthodox nerves could . stand, and he preferred the primeval forest, "God's own temple," with the birds to sing anthems of praise, and no profane, new-fangled instrument, made by the hand of man, with which to worship God for him. He was a Congregationalist deacon, and his wife was a member of the Baptist church. They lived in their log-house only about a year, and then moved farther up, where they built the first framed house in town-where Julius Kent now lives- many years afterwards sold to Jonathan Burroughs, and moved near the village, and is the frame of Mrs. Martell's house.

Mr. Richardson built a saw and grist- mill above where Mr. Kent now lives, and a larger house leading to the S. E. Spaul- ding place. A grand-daughter of theirs, who is now 79 years of age, and who spent much of her childhood with them, tells me Mr. Pinney, the father of her grand- mother Richardson, was high in the es- teem of King George, and was commis- sioned by him to attend to a great deal of business for His Majesty in New England. GEORGE the Third, by the Grace of GOD of Great Britain, France and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, &c.

A grand-daughter of Mrs. Richardson's told me another little incident that occur- red when she was a child of twelve. Her- self and a younger brother were in the woods gathering flowers, they had wander- To all to whom these Presents shall come, GREETING. ed some ways farther than they were KNOW YE, That We have assigned, constituted and appointed, and by these Presents do assign, constitute and appoint Our trusty and well beloved Subject, Isaac Pinney, Esq,, to be Judge of Our Court of Probate, to be holden within the District of Stafford, in our Colony of Connecticut, in New England, with the Assistance of a Clerk, to hold our said Court of Probate of Wills, granting of Administration, ap- pointing and allowing of Guardians, with full Power to act in all Matters proper for a prerogative Court. aware, the sister was wakened to a realiz- ing sense of it when she spied, but a few feet from them, a large white-faced bear, erect on his hind paws, coming towards them. Not wishing to frighten her broth- er, who was very timid, and fearing he would be overcome with terror, she took him by the hand and strove to hurry him away ; but no, just a few more flowers, he said. He was determined not to go home. " See there," said she, pointing to the In Testimony whereof, We have caused the Seal of Our said Colony to be hereunto affixed. Witness, Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., Governor of our said Colony of bear, who stood contemplating the situa- tion. The boy beheld, and gave so terrific a scream, that the bear turned and fled as | Connecticut, and with the Consent of the

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General Assembly of the same in Hart- ford, this first Day of June, in the 13th Year of Our Reign, Annoque Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy- three. By His Honor's Command,

JON'A. TRUMBULL, Gov. GEORGE WYLLYS, Sec'y.

At one time he received important mes- sages from the King, and although he had six clerks, he took his daughter, afterward Mrs. R., from school as his private secre- tary. His daughters were all taught the science of medicine, and Mrs. R. attended to the sick in this town before other phy- sicians came in, and some afterwards, going about on horseback, with a heavy riding dress for unpleasant weather. She never shrank where duty called, and not expecting other recompense than the grat- itude of those she served; for in those primitive days the few inhabitants were not burdened with riches, and were neigh- borly to each other.

One fall, seeing the destitution around them, Mr. R. took a yoke of oxen to Wil- liamstown, exchanged them for potatoes, and divided them among the destitute, taking his pay in work as they could do it. Mrs. Richardson at this time gave her family two meals per day, with a cup of milk for supper, giving what they saved by so doing to the needy ones.

Living on the road that crossed the mountain to Warren, the glimmer of light from their windows was often a most wel- come sight to the benighted traveler. A man overtaken by night, with intense cold and darkness, crawled on his hands and knees for miles, fearing he should lose the track that led to their house, knowing if he did he must perish. Large, warm hearts these people had, with a hand ever out reached to help any poorer than them- selves. Their noble charities, their ex- emplary Christian characters amid all the struggles and hardships of pioneer life, are most worthy of imitation. They, with their children, all of whom reached ma- turity, now rest in the old burying-ground, near the residence of O. A. Staples.

DAVID CRAM, ·

born Mar. 18, 1795, was the first male child born in town. Lydia Huntington, daughter of Jedediah H., got four days start of him, so the honor of being the first child born in town rests upon her. Whether she is living, I am unable to say; but Philip Cram married Abigail Heath, of Randolph, and is now living in Brook- field.

Daniel Corbin came from Randolph about this time, and Isaac Lewis, David, Robert and Jonathan Cram located on farmis now owned by Messrs. Chatterton, Bowman and Orra Boyce.

Benoni Webster came, in 1798, I think, from Connecticut, and located on the place now occupied by James Steele. Mr. Web- ster came from Connecticut with an ox- team, rather a slow mode of conveyance for the distance, but " patience and perse- verance" were household words in those days. The "blue laws" did not allow people to be moving on Sunday in the old state, and Mr. Webster was stopped in a small village to give an account of him- self. He declared it was against his principles to be traveling on the Sabbath, but his wife had been exposed to the small pox, and he was in great haste to get to his journey's end. He was allowed to pass on. His oldest son, Charles, born in Connecticut, married Eleanor P. Ryder, and settled in the east part of this town, where his second son, Aaron, now resides, and is the only one of the family in the State.

Charles Webster was killed by being thrown from his carriage in 1834. Benoni Webster, the youngest of the family, is still living, at an advanced age, in North- field. He was born in a barn, not a mod- ern affair, but an old log-barn. Whether he was cradled in a manger, tradition saith not. One of the children being so ill he could endure no noise, to secure him the quiet needed to save his life, the rest of the family moved into the barn, with the exception of one to nurse the sick child, and there they remained until he

one of the next to come into town, was was restored to health, which was over a from Lyndsboro, N. H. His son, Philip, year.

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JOEL HILDRETH

came to this township in the autumn of 1797, from Cornish, N. H., and boarded with a family who lived on the farm now owned by G. L. Walbridge, while he built his log-house on the place now owned by Mr. George Williams, who purchased of Mr. Hildreth's grand-son, Samuel A. Hil- dreth, a few years since. One morning soon after Mr. Hildreth was settled in his cabin, he heard a rooster crow to the east- ward, and as the ringing notes came across the wooded valley, it fell upon his ears like music. He followed that " crow" for four or five miles, and at last found his new neighbors in Northfield, near where William Winch now resides.

Mr. Hildreth, with his trusty rifle, was a terror to the denizens of the forest, hav- ing, to use his own words, " unbuttoned many a bear's shirt collar." Upon one oc- casion returning late in the evening from his day's work, he heard a bear clambering down a tree close at hand. He could hear his claws clinging in the bark, and could just discern in the darkness the dim out- lines of his unwieldy figure. He was alone in the forest, a great ways from home ; thoughts of the dear ones there awaiting him nerved his arm. He dealt the bear a powerful blow with his ax, and fled. Returning next morning to the " scene of carnage," they found he had decapitated a huge hedge-hog, and pinned him to the tree with his ax. Mr. Hildreth resided on the place he had cleared up until his death in 1844.

WILLIAM GOLD,

known as Deacon Gold, came to town with Samuel Robertson, and after working for him one year, bought a piece of land, a mile east of Dog river, and built a log- cabin. This is where he had a famous bear fight. The bears had been making havoc with the Deacon's cornfield, and he swore a " pious oath " [made a pious re- solve would be better for a deacon], the thieves should be captured. A trap was devised that none but a very wise bear would fail of walking straight into, for a taste of the tempting bait. The bear that came was not a wise one, for when the

Deacon appeared on the ground next morning, bright and early, sure enough there was a great surly fellow, with one of his hind paws fast in the trap. The Deacon seized a club and rushed forward, old bruin equally ready and delighted with an interview, striking the club from his hand like a flash, cordially clasped the Deacon in his furry arms, and had about squeezed the life out of him, when the hired man, Paddleford, came to the rescue with an axe. "Don't cut the hide !" gasped the Deacon, as bruin clasped him in a still more fervid embrace. The hide was cut in several places before the poor Deacon was released, who, though " pure grit," came out of the combat in a sadly demol- ished condition, and carried the marks of bear teeth and claws to his grave.

From John Gregory's History of Northfield. DEA. WILLIAM GOLD,

born in Springfield, Mass., Oct. 30, 1780 ; came to Roxbury in 1801, and settled upon one of the highest mountains in that town. He was a deacon of the Baptist church. Any one at this day looking the mountain land over where he located, can see under what discouraging circumstances this early settler was placed.

In 1847, he removed to Northfield. He married Annevera Dewey, who was born in 1780 ; had 7 children : Annevera, Wil- liam, Sherman, Buel, Joseph, Mary, Sophia, all born in Roxbury. Deacon Gold died in 1859 ; Mrs. Gold in 1856.

JOHN B. CRANDALL

moved into town in 1804; was eccentric, quite a pettifogger, and always called " Judge." One time, having a lawsuit, he became disgusted with his counsel, con- sidered an able lawyer, paid him off and dismissed him before the suit was fairly commenced, plead his own case, and won it. Another time he went to Waitsfield to take charge of a lawsuit. Knowing his opponent, an attorney from Montpelier, to be extremely fastidious in his tastes and manner of dress, he chose the other ex- treme, an awfully shabby coat, and trow- sers that suggested the idea that some time in an earlier stage of existence they

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had been the property of a Methodist preacher-they had certainly done a great deal of knee service-a dilapidated hat, a boot on one foot, an old shoe on the other, completed his outfit. The fine gentleman strutting back and forth in dignity, won- dered why Mr. Crandall did not arrive, when some one turning to Mr. C., intro- duced them. The Montpelier attorney looked at Mr. C., surprise and contempt expressed in every feature. "What, that creature !" he at last blurted out ; " why, he don't know enough to say boo to a goose." The " Judge " drew his grotesque figure to its full height, made a low bow, and said " boo !" very emphatically in the face of the offended lawyer, which brought down the house, and the sleek gentleman was yet more discomfited when he lost his case, and the "Judge " won the laurels he had anticipated.

Mr. Crandall's widow married Jonathan Lamson, of Fayston, where she died a few years since, at the advanced age of 108. (See History of Fayston.)

LEWIS CHATFIELD

came to town in 1810, and settled on the farm now occupied by his son, Lewis. He was a man of peculiarities, but sterling worth. He, like many of the early set- tlers, had a hard struggle to feed and clothe his family. One winter he fortu- nately captured a huge bear, whose meat and lard kept grim want from the door till spring. He made a business of hop rais- ing the last 40 years, and through indus- try and frugality, acquired a competence. He died in 1880, aged 94.

' BILLA WOODARD

came from Tolland, Conn., in 1802 ; set- tled on East Hill, and was for many years engaged in the manufacture of saddle-trees, and the only one in New England for a long time in that business.

HON. CHARLES SAMSON

came here in 1810. Z. S. Stanton, in his Historical Centennial Address, thus speaks of him :

He accompanied his father, Benjamin Franklin, who was a veteran of the Revolu- tion, and participated in the battle of Lex- ington and Bunker Hill.

Mr. Samson bought the place where L. A. Rood now lives. The previous oc- cupant was Dr. Stafford, who kept a tav- ern, and the first in town. Charles Sam- son settled where Mr. Wetmore lives. He has been closely identified with the affairs of this town ever since, and is still per- mitted to be with us. He has represented the town in the legislature of the State for 13 sessions, and has held many other im- portant positions in the town and county. It was owing to his exertions that Roxbury was transferred from Orange to Washing- ton County, in 1820. In those days the main road through the west part of the town, which was also the stage road, led from where A. J. Averill now lives past where the residences of W. I. Simonds and S. G. Stanton now are, and intercepted the mountain road near where Mrs. Brack- ett now lives, thence up where the present road is as far as the old mill above Royal Batchelder's house, and then past the pres- ent residence of O. A. Staples, down to the " Branch road," where Samuel Ed- wards now lives. From here it followed its present course. There was also a road through the eastern part of the town, and also the central part, where E. K. Young now resides. Elijah Ellis lived where Mrs. Brackett now does. He built the house at this place, and it was the first house built in town that was arranged for the use of stoves, 1 am informed. He had no fireplace or "stack of chimneys," as they were called, and people thought it a great departure from the old ways. He built the first clover-mill that was erected in this town, on the site now occupied by S. N. Miller's carriage-shop. He also erected a saw-mill at this place.

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The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 118

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890, [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Montpelier, Vt., Vermont watchman and state journal press Number of Pages: 1066

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890, [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt., Vermont watchman and state journal press
Number of Pages: 1066