The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 145

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 145

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On the present premises of Henry E. Hunt, in the early day, when neighbors were few and the man away from home, a bear came one time to survey the place. The first the family knew of his presence, he placed his fore-paws on the window sill and thrust his nose in to see what was inside. The woman and children were badly frightened, but bruin, after leisurely surveying the room, withdrew, doing no other damage.

Mr. N. S. Morley, who settled on Hamp- shire Hill in 1829 or 30, watched with his neighbors several nights for a large bear that visited his cornfield, and at last shot him.

Mr. Jacob Baldwin, in the account of his visit on Minister Brook in June, 1822, said : "The Haywards (John and Dodge)

had begun there and chopped a piece the year before and built a log shanty. When they burned their chopping, they also burned their house. When I was there, their pork barrel and sugar barrel stood in the small brook which runs by the place. They had put up some posts, laid on some poles and covered it with bark, and had a fire against a log to cook by. They had a straw bed on a bedstead, and three of us slept on the bed. John slept on the soft side of a spruce board on the ground be- fore the fire. One night a bear came along, and one of the dogs put after him ; the other did not dare leave the shanty, but barked so we could not sleep. The old hound was out most all night after the bear."

CHURCHES.

Who preached the first sermon in town is not now known. Rev. James Hobart and Rev. Chester Wright, of Montpelier, held meetings here at an early date. Mr. Hobart told the later inhabitants that he preached the funeral sermon of the Martin boy who was drowned soon after the town was settled.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

was formed in 1824. The original mem- bers were : Ebenezer S. Kellogg and wife Roxana, Wm. T. Hutchinson, Mary Hutch- inson, Jonas Abbott, Allen Vail, David Poor and wife Abigail, Artemas Richard- son and wife Eliza S., Amos Rice and wife Martha.

The church was organized by Rev. Jas. Hobart, and he was by a vote of the church chosen moderator, holding that place for several years afterwards. The first meet- ing after organizing was Feb. 29, 1824, when Artemas Richardson and Eliza Rich- ardson were baptized by Mr. Hobart. From this time Rev. Mr. Hobart, and Rev. Chester Wright, of Montpelier, preached for the church occasionally, as also did Rev. Geo. Freeman, Rev. Mr. Stewart, Rev. Mr. Thompson, Rev. Mr. Wheelock, whose names we find on the records to 1839, and when there was no minister, some one of the brothers would read a sermon.

Additions were made to the church from

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time to time, Jan. 8, 1832, 30 uniting with it. The articles of faith and covenant were revised in 1831, and again in 1848. Rev. John Foster was settled as first pastor Nov. 13, 1839. Ordaining council, Rev. A. Hazen, Berlin ; Rev. P. Taylor, Waits- field ; Rev. B. W. Smith, Ist church, Mont- pelier ; Rev. S. Kellogg, 2d church, Mont- pelier ; Rev. J. F. Stone, Waterbury ; Rev. S. Delano, Sec. Vt. D. M. Society ; A Hazen, moderator; J. F. Stone, scribe. While the settlement of Mr. Foster was negotiated, the subject of temperance arose, and the church came near being divided. Mr. Foster refused to be settled unless the church would declare in favor of temper- ance, and a council was called Oct. 31, 1839, to organize a temperance church. The council met Nov. 6, and investigating the matter, gave the church some good advice, recommending it to declare itself a strict temperance church, and deciding the petition asking to be organized again that way, ought not to be granted. The church adopted the recommendation, and Mr. Foster was ordained.

He was required to quit-claim to the town for the use of schools the lot of land set to the first settled minister, which had long before this been leased by the town, and was improved land. A large minority of the church, still dissatisfied in regard to the temperance matter, kept agitating it, and trouble ensued. Mr. Foster sent in his resignation as pastor, and a council met March 18, 1840, which voted unan- imously, " That unless by 9 o'clock to- morrow morning a number of the church sufficient to sustain the pastor shall be found prepared to take such ground in re- lation to those subjects upon which the church is divided, as shall in the judgment of the council render it practicable for the pastor to continue his labors in this place with the prospect of usefulness and com- fort, the following shall be the result :" This was, that the pastoral relation should be dissolved. The church voted to meet, and did meet; next morning, 21 of the male members united in an agreement " to stand by the pastor," and declared their adhesion to the principles upon the subject

of temperance expressed in the recom- mendation of the council of Nov. 6, 1839, two before having voted to rescind the temperance resolution. Since that time the church has been a temperance church. Mr. Foster withdrew his resignation, and continued pastor until from ill health he resigned ; dismissed by a council, July 6, 1841. Until 1844, the church was without a regular minister, but continued to hold " reading " meetings.

In 1844, Rev. Carey Russell came from Hartford, and preached here, except one year, until 1852, and a meeting-house was built, the location of which again divided the church, and a large number left its communion ; were cut off, and a bitter feel- ing was engendered, which did not wholly subside for years. Council after council was called to settle difficulties and advise on the location of the house.

The records of this period are largely made up of the doings of these councils. The church voted, June 28, 1844, "to build a house of worship," and a subscrip- tion was started. July 6, " voted to locate the house on the west side of the road near the burying-ground." The meetings were held at this time in the school-house in district No. 2, just north of the present Methodist meeting-house. From this time there appears to have been continual strife, until at length the matter was for a time compromised by the Methodists, by the erection of a union house at the "Corner," March 25, 1846, when the church " voted to hold their meetings in the meeting- house so much of the time as the Congre- gationalists own in said house, not to ex- ceed one-half of the time."

Those members living in the northerly part of the town, however, feeling their interests were not properly regarded. soon asked for a council, the recommendation of which was, " That the church secure a house to be controlled exclusively by them- selves, which led to their buying out other parties in the union house. Still 'those in the north part of the town were no better off, and several withdrew from the meet- ings, and united with others in forming a Methodist church. Some years later, mu-

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tual confessions were made, they were re- stored to the church, and took letters to the Methodist church, thus establishing ec- clesiastical relations between the churches.

After buying the meeting-house, the church and society were heavily in debt, and Feb. 28, 1848, they " voted that Rev. C. Russell should visit other churches and solicit aid in paying for the church," which he did, and procured $291.97, and the house was paid for, and the church have since occupied it as a place of public wor- ship.

Rev. C. M. Winch commenced preach- ing for the church Mar. 3, 1853, and was ordained pastor June 28, and dismissed Sept. 26, 1861, since which the ministers have been : Rev. J. F. Stone, part of one year ; Rev. David Perry, 40 years ; Rev. A. F. Shattuck, I year; Rev. Mason Moore, I year ; Rev. Wm. Schofield, third pastor, from June 1873 to May 1876; ordained Feb. 24, 1874; dismissed May 2, 1876; Rev. R. D. Metcalf, 13 year; and since Jan. 1878, Rev. P. H. Carpenter, who united by letter from the Methodist church in this town. Jan. 21, 1879, a council convened, and Rev. Mr. Carpenter was installed pastor of the church, he being the fourth pastor. Besides these stated ministers, students from theological sem- inaries have supplied this church under the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society, which has always helped sustain preach- ing here. The society have had two bells in their meeting-house, both procured by subscription. The first, through Dea. C. C. Closson, cost $125 ; broken, about 1865 ; the present one from the foundry of Jones & Co., Troy, N. Y. ; weight, 646 lbs. ; cost, $287.00. Hon. T. Fairbanks, of St. Johns- bury, and Capt. A. Richardson's family, of Brooklyn, N. Y., contributed to procure with some in Montpelier.

Original members, 12; admitted by profession since -, 145 ; by letter, 61 ; whole No. 218; dismissed by letter, 97 ; died, 52 ; excommunicated, 28; dropped, 3 ; restored on confession, 12 ; present no. 50 ; non-residents, 22; Dec. 1878, resi- dent members, 28.

NOTICES OF DEACONS AND ORIGINAL MEM- BERS.

Deacons .- Ebenezer S. Kellogg, chosen Feb. 28, 1824; Allen Vail, David Poor, Mar. 9, 1826 ; David Poor, Nathan Adams, Jonas Abbott, Oct. 7, 1835; Charles C. Closson, July 5, 1851 ; Samuel Andrews, April 23, 1871 ; Ebenezer R. Kellogg, Sept. 6, 1872.

EBENEZER S. KELLOGG

came from Brookfield in the spring of 1822, and bought the place of Amos Merriam, on Hampshire hill, now occupied by Mr. Law- rence. He sold here and bought on Min- ister brook, where he cleared up a farm and raised a large family of children, some of which are yet living in town.

About 1859, he sold his second farm and removed to the village, and kept a hotel for awhile. He lived in Worcester until 1868, when he went to Hanover, N. H., to live with his youngest son, Ebenezer R. Kellogg, where he died in 1872. Mrs. Roxana Reed Kellogg, his widow, still lives there with her son.

DEA. ALLEN VAIL,

says his obituary, "died in Worcester, May 22, 1860, aged 81 years. He was born in Lynn, Conn., 1779 ; moved with his father to Pomfret, Vt., in 1782, where he lived much respected till 1821, when he came to Worcester with a large family. There were only five families in town when he came here, and up to this time there had been no religious meetings on the Sabbath here, or district school. He immediately conferred with some two or three others, and they commenced meetings on the Sabbath, in the barn of Amasa Brown, in the spring of 1822, by singing, prayer, and reading of sermons, and the people all turned out to meetings in the winter, com- ing in with their families on ox teams. In early childhood, the deacon had a faithful and pious mother, and in 1807, was led to seek his soul's salvation. As an officer in the church, he never refused to bear his own burdens nor the burdens of the church. No matter the weather or his business, he was always ready to serve the church bus- iness or devotion. He was repeatedly sent by the citizens of the town, also, as their

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representative to the Legislature. He re- mained a model member of this church up to May 30, 1847, when he removed his re- lation to the church in Montpelier, of which he was an honored member at his death."

He lived in Montpelier from 1847 until just previous to his death, he came back to Worcester to the residence of his eldest son, Allen, where he died.

ALLEN L. VAIL, his eldest son, has been representative of his town, also a constable 26 consecutive years; and one of his daughters married Dr. Skinner, the first physician here, and now lives in Michigan.

DAVID POOR

and his wife Abigail, came from Berlin and settled in this town in 1822, first occupying the same farm on which he lived for many years afterward. His land comprised the greater part of the territory on which the village now stands, and which he sold in small parcels as were wanted for building lots. He was one of the first deacons of the Congregational church, and, except a few years when he returned to Berlin to live, 1832 till the spring of 1835, continued in the office until his death in 1863, age 65. Dea. Poor was a man of firm religious principles, honest in his dealings with his neighbors, and gave liberally of his sub- stance for the support of his church and charitable purposes. Dea. Poor had two wives ; he married second, Miss Clara Car- penter, who died in 1865.

DEA. JONAS ABBOTT,

born in Henniker, N. H., Feb. 11, 1802, removed with his father to Thetford, Vt., in 1803 ; lived there until of age, and be- came interested in religion under the preaching of Rev. Asa Burton, D. D., pastor there. He came to Worcester with J. P. B. Ladd early in 1823, and settled on the Minister brook about one mile from the " Corner." He resided on his farm until 1844, when he moved to the "Cor- ner," kept a small store, and did shoe- making many years. In his later years he was more engaged in mercantile business, in which he failed. Jan. 16, 1826, he married Minerva E. Vail, daughter of

Allen Vail, Esq., who is yet living. Dea. Abbott died Apr. 5, 1875, aged 73.

DEA. NATHAN ADAMS

came here in 1824, from Alstead, N. H .; bought his land of E. S. Kellogg, and was. one of the first permanent settlers on Hampshire Hill. He removed from town, near 1844, to the " West."

DEA. CHARLES C. CLOSSON,

born in Thetford, Oct. 15, 1799, when a young man went to Northfield and cleared a farm, and acquired a considerable prop- erty. In March, 1848, he moved here on to the Closson farm, living there until 1867, and was one of the largest paying members of the church for many years. He was one of a family of 13 children, 12 of whom lived to have families of their own, and all but one, members of Con- gregational churches, that one being a deacon of a Baptist church. One sister, wife of Daniel Abbott, and the writer's mother, lived in this town many years, and died here.

Dea. Closson had three wives ; his first, a Miss Davis, of Fairlee; the second, Marcia Gurley, of Berlin ; the third, Mrs. Harriet Dunham, of Northfield, who still survives him. In 1867, he removed to a place he bought of E. C. Watson, near Clark's mill ; lived there some 4 years, and then where S. M. Seaver now lives, where he died Mar. 10, 1872, aged 72.

DEA. SAMUEL ANDREWS,

born in New Hampshire about 1797, mar- ried Jane Blanchard in 1818, and resided in New Boston, N. H., till he came here. He first lived on the brook between A. P. Slayton's mill and Wm. P. Moore's pres- ent residence about 3 years, when he bought Rufus Reed's place near the village, and went to blacksmithing, and was many years the only blacksmith in town ; but for the last 20 years of his life, labored when able on his small farm. He was post- master and town clerk several years ; also a justice of the peace. Conscientious in all his dealings, firm in what he believed to be right, constant in all his duties both to the public and to the church, of which he was a member from 1832 to his death,

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Oct. 8, 1878, at 81 years. He and his wife lived together upwards of 60 years.

DEA. EBENEZER R. KELLOGG,

born in this town Dec. 31, 1830, son of E. S. Kellogg, now resides at Hanover, N. H.

WILLIAM T. HUTCHINSON

came with his father from Norwich about 1822 or '23, and settled on the farm where Phineas A. Kemp now lives. He removed to the West about 1846. Artemas Rich- ardson and wife, Eliza S., came from Leo- minster, Mass., and made a settlement on Hampshire Hill, on the Farris Leonard farm, in 1821. Mr. R. came the year be- fore and located his land, and chopped a few acres, returning to Massachusetts to spend the winter. He was born Feb. 1790 ; was a combmaker by trade, and worked at that business many years. When quite young, he was chosen captain in the militia, and was ever known in this town as " Captain " Richardson. He was one of the first abolitionists in the community, and never swerved for office ; thus was not so often on the winning side in political matters as some of his neighbors of the dominant parties, but lived to see his principles adopted by the nation. He was a genial companion, and loved to tell a good story, although it was not always of his own triumph. Mrs. Richardson car- ried on the knitting and crocheting busi- ness several years, making a large amount of work for the women and children in this and neighboring towns. She has been one of the most active and consistent members of the church. She and Mrs. Kellogg are the only survivors of the orig- inal members. Mr. Richardson died here in 1865, aged 75. Mrs. R. lives with her children in Brooklyn, N. Y.

Amos and Martha Rice came from Dover about 1823. He purchased some land, which he cleared, and by the hard labor of many years, made into one of the best farms in town. He died here, and his son-in-law, Crismon Hancock, resided here many years. Mr. Rice was town clerk, justice of the peace, the first postmaster, etc. He died Oct. 20, 1854, at 75 years. Mrs. Rice died Aug. 12, 1865, aged 87.

A FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH was organized June 15, 1826, by Elders Ziba Woodworth and Josiah Weatherly.

First members .- David Folsom, Mat- thias Folsom, Wm. Bennett, Lydia Ben- nett, Polly Smith, Jesse Abbott, Sarah Abbott, Levi Pratt, Edward Clough, Jr., Wm. Arbuckle, Polly Arbuckle, Abraham Abbott, Abigail Abbott, Ruth Clough, 2d, Abigail Bussell, Nathan Abbott, Eliza Folsom, Ruth Clough, Fanny Flint, Clar- issa Peck, Lucy Clough, Mehitable Folsom, Barney Sanders, Betsey Sanders, Ephraim Abbott, Susan Abbott, Jane Hunt, Cath- arine Abbott, Rachel Pratt. Matthias Flint was deacon, and Wm. Bennett church clerk ; and meetings were held in Jesse Flint's house and O. L. Smith's house, and also in the school-house in Dis. No. 4, which was then on the farm now owned by Horatio Templeton. Mr. Wood- worth and a Mr. Chatterton from Middle- sex, preached for them some, and May, 29, 1840, Elder Moses Folsom became their pastor, during which time grevious differences arose; the church preferred charges against their pastor, " for consent- ing to conversation upon subjects unprofi- table" before a committee from the Con- gregational church. Elder Folsom was dismissed June 3, 1846. After him, Rev. Lucius F. Harris was pastor for 2 years, or until 1848. "Sister Ruth Clough" was the first person added to this church after its organization, July 9. Its whole num- ber of members was 93. It lost its or- ganization soon after Elder Harris ended his ministrations ; and but one now of its members is living in town, and who has not united with any other church, Mrs. Elizabeth Folsom, widow of Dea. Folsom, who lives with her son-in-law, Horatio Templeton, and is upwards of 80; and it cannot be now easily known, the records do not know, where the organization was. According to the recollections of some, it was in the old block school-house. Meetings were held there, also at the house of Oramel L. Smith, whose wife was one of its first members ; also were held in the Templeton school-house, and at other private houses on Minister brook.

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DEA. MATTHIAS FOLSOM,

born in Gilmanton, N. H., Oct. 4, 1791. In 1792, removed with his parents to Tun- bridge, Vt., and lived there until 31 years of age, when he came to Worcester, Oct., 1822. He was in the war of 1812-15, and near its close came home to Tunbridge, where he was married to Elizabeth Stevens, Feb. 5, 1815. He moved with his family into a small shanty on the farm of Jesse Flint, till he could make a home for them, where he had bought on the Minister brook, where he lived till he removed to a place near the village, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was a man faithful in the discharge of all his religious obligations.

He had a habit of using quaint, or odd expressions, which were sometimes very amusing to those who heard them. It is said he was one winter hired to teach school, and on commencing his school, the open- ing address was, " Boys and girls, I have come to keep school. Silver and gold learning, and such as I have give I thee," and as he was in earnest, he probably suc- ceeded in imparting to his puplis of his "abundance."

have I none, but I have an abundance of John Brigham, Milton Brown, Abel Whit-

He was an active member of the church while its meetings were sustained; and when they were discontinued he became a constant attendant of the Congregational church, not only on the Sabbath, but at the prayer-meetings also, helped by his presence and prayers ; and thus continued as long as his health permitted. His last sickness was short, and his end peaceful. " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."

A PROTESTANT METHODIST CHURCH was organized in 1832, but soon became extinct. Rev. Mark P. Ladd, for many years a resident of the town, was a min- ister of that denomination, and combined farming and preaching in his life.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH in Worcester was formed from 1841-'46. The names of the first members I have not been able to ascertain. The society was formed Mar. 17, 1848. The meeting

at which it was organized was held at the school-house in district No. 2, and was signed by A. M. Kelley, Crismon Han- cock, Amos Rice, Leonard Hamblet, Daniel A. Frost, John Clark, David Hancock, Alex. Dingwall, 2d, John Brigham, Alex. Dingwall, Ist, Abel Whitney, Aaron Kemp, Milton Brown, David L. Frost, William H. Cooper, Farris Leonard.

At the annual meeting, Jan. 28, 1847, it was " voted to instruct the committee to hire preaching after the expiration of Rev. Mr. Guernsey's time" (Mr. Guernsey died Mar. 17, 1847), and to hold the meetings at the usual place. After Mr. Guernsey's death, Rev. Sumner Tarbell was hired, and preached some 2 years.

Mar. 1848, a church society was formed, with the powers and privilege by chap. 81, of the Revised Statutes of Vermont, offi- cers of which were: Milton Brown, pres- ident ; Wm. H. Cooper, secretary ; John Clark, collector; Abel Whitney, John Brigham, Crismon Hancock, trustees ; ney, standing committee.

Several meetings were held previous to March, 1850, to devise ways to finish pay- ing for the meeting-house and furnishing the same, which was finally accomplished. The church has continued to hold its meetings in this house since its comple- tion.

The names of those admitted in full in 1848 were: Wm. H. Cooper, Abigail L. Cooper, Aaron Kemp, Dolly Kemp, Betsey Kemp, Elvira A. Frost, John Brigham and Eunice Brigham. There have been sev- eral revivals in this church since its form- ation, and many have been added to it. It now has 98 members. Many have gone out from this, as well as from the other churches, to other places, and especially to the West. Rev. Sumner Tarbell closed his labors with this church in the spring of 1850, and was succeeded by Rev. Harvey Webster, who labored here two years. Since, the ministers have been : Lorenzo B. Pettengill, 1 year ; Daniel A. Mack, I year ; Aaron Ball, I year and part of another; Joseph House, 2 years and | part of another ; Freedom Hill, 1 year ;

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Ira Lebarron, I year; Geo. F. Wells, I year ; Reuben W. Harlow, 2 years ; C. P. Taplin, 2 years; James S. Spinney, 2 years ; A. Z. Wade, 2 years; P. H. Car- penter, 3 years ; Dyer Willis, I year ; James S. Spinney, second time, 2 years; Geo. L. Wells, 3 years; J. M. Rich, present pastor.

JOHN BRIGHAM

was born at Alstead, N. H., Apr. 1793, and came to Worcester when a young man, being one of the first permanent set- tlers on Hampshire Hill. His wife was Eunice (Clark) Hutchinson, to whom he was married July 22, 1835, by Rev. Chester Wright, of Montpelier. After their mar- riage, they always resided on the " Hill," and Mr. B. cleared up a farm, bearing all the toils and privations incident to new settlements. They were members of the Congregational church many years. With- drawing from that in consequence of in- ternal difficulties in it, they were among the founders of the Methodist church, and were of its most constant and active mem- bers. Mrs. Brigham died in Worcester, Mass., Mar. 13, 1860, where she had gone to visit a daughter. Mr. Brigham died at his home in this town, June 29, 1875, coming to his grave " In a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season."

The Methodist society have a good metal bell on their meeting-house, and also own a parsonage.

SIMON C. ABBOTT,

the compiler of " A Record of the Births and Deaths in Worcester," published in Pamphlet by the town, was born in Thet- ford, May 28, 1826, and from his youth evinced a fondness for study. At twenty, he entered a printing-office, and was in that business till compelled by sickness to relinquish it. J. W. Wheelock, then of the Freeman, in a notice of him after his death, says :

He was by trade a printer; served his apprenticeship in the office of the old Family Gazette, at Bradford; worked at several places in this State and Massachu- chusetts, spending those intervals of time in which feeble health unfitted him for labor, at his home in Worcester. No se- rious alarm was felt concerning him until

last summer (1857), when he returned from Massachusetts, to die at home. The seeds of disease, long since sown, had ripened into consumption. He was a young man of more than ordinary intellectual attain- ments, possessed of an uncommonly re- tentive memory, and books and papers were his constant companions. His con- tributions to the press ever evinced sound common sense, and a deep research into the thoughts of others. His character was unsullied, and so mild and urbane in his disposition, it is doubted whether he had an enemy in the whole world.

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The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 145

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