USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Baltimore > The history of the town of Baltimore, Vermont > Part 16
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Joseph Willard b. June 22, 1832 m. Harriet Boynton, residence North Springfield.
Levi b. Nov. 8, 1835 killed in Battle of Spottsylvania, Va. May 12, 1864.
Mary E. b. May 1, 1838 m. Roswell Chandler, settled in Kansas-6 children.
Julia L. b. Sept. 14, 1840 m. Lyman Bowles, Longmeadow, Mass .- 4 children.
Henry S. b. 1843 m. Angeline Hayden-no children-lived in Athens, Vt.
John A. b. 1846 m. Ella Marsh, Millers Falls-2 children
Joshua b. Grafton, Mass. May 22, 1794 m. Betsey Boynton of Balti- more Oct. 17, 1825 d. 1866.
Maria b. Grafton, Mass. Oct. 9, 1796 m. Henry Smith, Lowell, Vt .- 5 children.
Caleb b. Grafton, Mass. July 22, 1798 d. in that town 1818.
Lakin b. Chester, Vt. Feb. 4, 1801 m. Levi Parkhurst, settled North Troy, Vt .- 5 children.
Joseph Willard b. May 27, 1803 in Baltimore m. Martha Carter, Baltimore, d. Mar. 3, 1878-no children.
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Hannah R. b. May 28, 1803 twin sister of Joseph Willard but born next day in Baltimore m. Thomas Gilman settled in Canada- 4 children.
Charles b. Jan. 19, 1806 in Baltimore m. Lucy Perkins of Perkins- ville, Vt., settled in Lowell, Vt., where 8 children were born.
James Alonzo b. Mar. 19, 1808 m. Lucinda Chesley, settled Brooklyn, N. Y .- 3 children.
Thus it will be seen that four of Caleb and Lakin's children were born in Baltimore.
It was Caleb's twin brother Joshua Leland of Chester who first purchased from David Johnson 100 acres of land paying $375 for it, "adjoining on the southerly line of Luke Harris Land on the right of Levi Webster, to extend southerly so as to include one hundred acres with a parallel line of said right to extend through the said right east and west."-The above is a true copy of that deed and is the one continually referred to in subsequent transactions most of which were among members of the Leland family for a space of about sixty-two years.
The above deed was made out on "this fourth day of April in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand eight hundred and three and witnesses by Caleb Leland and Jabez Sargeant."
On Feb. 21, 1815, Joshua Leland of Chester sold Otis, the oldest son of Caleb and Lakin, the above tract of land for $790. This price would indicate that the land had been improved and some buildings erected thereon. Otis deeded 20 acres off the western end of this tract to his father Caleb which, by the way, was the only land in Baltimore to which father Caleb ever held a deed. Otis gave his Uncle Joshua a mortgage deed for $600; probably Otis, now 23 years old, had saved his earnings to the extent of the remaining $190. Caleb and Caleb Leland Jr. witnessed the three deeds all made out that same day, the latter being the Leland boy who died young.
Son Otis had lived in Grafton, Mass., all this time. In 1816 he sold his brother Joshua of Baltimore one-half of the 100 acres, ex- cepting the 20 acres deeded off the west end (to his father Caleb).
The year 1822 saw the Leland family changing titles seven times to that same 100 acres of land we first described, and always between members of the Leland family if we can include Henry Smith of Cavendish as being the husband of Maria. Henry was deeded 58 acres extending to a certain stake "on what was known as the flat of said land." We all know where that was.
Finally, all the land became again the property of Uncle Joshua of Chester. On Dec. 19, 1822, he sold 40 acres off the northern side to Luke and Daniel Harris. Then he sold the remainder to his nephew Joshua for $425 and took a mortgage on it for that amount payable in 12 years.
Son Joshua was very thrifty and evidently enlarged his land holdings by purchases of tracts in the adjoining towns. As early as
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1829 he bought 69 acres from Salmon Dutton lying in Baltimore and Cavendish, evidently on the mountain.
The Daniel Harris family who settled on the 40 acre strip was ill- fated, death taking the family of three in a brief space of time. Joshua was able to get possession of the land east of the road, 40 acres, on Apr. 9, 1835. In 1839 he sold 212 acres off his N. E. corner to Obed Thurston, then living on the Geo. Cook place.
Mar. 12, 1839, Joshua leased his farm to Charles Smith for five years including the mountain land. Smith was to pay $150 annual rental, but $20 a year of this amount was to be paid by building good stone wall on said farm at an average of 75 cents per rod. That would not be called "easy money" in these days (1942). Smith also was to have the privilege (?) of clearing land on the mountain and was to have proceeds of said cleared land. Leland reserved for himself a like privilege. Smith also was to have 100 sheep selected from the best in Leland's flock; so that was where the mountain pasture served a profitable purpose. Joshua continued to reside in town; so possibly Smith occupied the house that had been owned by Daniel Harris.
Some idea of the further land purchases of Joshua Leland will be related when son Charles A. Leland bought the Leland homestead in 1865. The first grand list books handed down to us began in the year 1828. They were very explicit, stating the number and kind of animals each taxpayer kept, also valued the buildings separate from the land.
We learn from that first grand list that Joshua's house was one of the poorest in town and appraised for only $106.70. He kept a yoke of oxen and 5 head of other cattle, 2 horses and only 16 sheep. He always kept a yoke of oxen, generally 2 horses but only 3 or 4 cows and never had any money to tax, at least not until 1842. After he bought his mountain pasture in 1829 he seems to have gone into the sheep industry having as many as 170 sheep in 1841. That was the last year that the grand list showed the number of head of livestock kept.
Joshua's personal property in 1846 was $233.45 above debts owing; in 1847 $390.50; by 1850 the excess was $565; next year $618.50. Then his taxable personal property decreased each year until 1857 when he evidently sold his livestock to son Charles who was married that year; at least no livestock was again listed to father Joshua. Joshua paid no poll tax either after 1857.
Although Caleb Leland was the descendant of throned monarchs, we find no evidence of his having any interest in the town affairs of Baltimore. This seems strange, coming into the town as he did in 1803 when the town was only 10 years old and needing men with interest and judgment in matters of organization and administra- tion. Certainly Caleb had no desires to wield the sceptre of the mighty as he never held a town office according to the records during the 40 years of his residence in town. In that memorable year of 1824 Caleb was on hand to elect the first town representative to the
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Vermont Legislature. This proves that that meeting was a great event, of supreme importance in the annals of Baltimore.
But Caleb's descendants were very helpful in guiding the destiny of early Baltimore. Son Otis was elected to office in 1820-21, but his residence in town was of short duration. In 1821 son Joshua began his official career as fence-viewer. In 1822 he served in the capacity of town clerk. There and then was his opportunity to leave for future generations a specimen of his handwriting with its many flourishes, really giving quite an artistic touch to the prosy picture- less records. Possibly the townspeople did not approve of such fantastic handwriting as he was never elected to that important office again. He was a man well-educated for his time, and the offices to which the voters elected him prove that the townspeople recognized his scholastic ability. He was often elected lister and prepared the grand list book, with accuracy, plain writing and perfect form.
Joshua served not less than twelve times as a selectman, but most of his activities were devoted to the welfare of the schools in town. It appears that in 1828 all towns began to elect three men in each town to serve on the superintending committee of the schools. To this board Joshua was elected six years, evidently as long as such a committee was elected. Joshua was one of three men placed on the important committee in 1839 to help run the line between Cavendish and Baltimore. This committee evidently did not accomplish its purpose, and in 1841 another committee of which Joshua Leland was a member succeeded in determining said boundary line which has remained undisputed "unto this day."
He represented Baltimore in the Legislature of 1855 and 1856.
One needs to refer to those two books of ancient appearance con- taining the earliest school records we have to gain a true impression of Joshua Leland's interest in matters of education. As early as 1821 he began his services as clerk of District No. 1, the school- house near the Dan Rich place. For nine years he kept the school records in an excellent manner. Lest the reader scoff at this ser- vice let it be known that at any time three inhabitants could request a school meeting whereupon Joshua must call a meeting, all of which meant three papers to record, the request, the warning and the proceedings of said meeting. Young Joshua served in this capacity nine years in succession, often finishing his record with characteristic flourishes of his pen.
He was almost always present at subsequent school meetings as evinced by his election to office or by the record of his bidding off the teacher to board (generally a man teacher as the distance from Joshua's house to the schoolhouse was quite long).
By 1835 excitement became very rife as to uniting the two school districts, and then it was that Joshua began to wield his pen once more. If the reader will refer to "The Story of the Schools," he will find that in 1837 a new school district to be known as Dist. No. 1 was formed extending from Joshua's to the Chester line below
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David Chaplin's place (now Hammond's). Thanks to Joshua, we have a complete record of what happened in that district from March 1837 to March 14, 1839. How the remaining families on the east side of the town managed to get educational advantages for their children is not known and may always remain a mystery as no records are available. In one year six meetings were called in the new Dist. No. 1, the proceedings of which are duly recorded to- gether with their accompanying requests and warnings.
Many of those older men seemingly withdrew from town office before becoming very old, but Joshua Leland retained his active interest in the town's affairs as long as he resided in it. As late as 1863 we find him serving in his usual capacity of moderator, select- man, and superintendent of schools. It was in 1862 that young Walbridge A. Field, destined later to be a prominent Congressman, also a Supreme Judge in Massachusetts, approached Mr. Leland, Supt., with all due respect and humility for a recommendation as to his teaching qualifications. The following is the reply to that request:
Baltimore May 7th; 1852 Mr. W. A. Field
Sir. I received a few lines from you requesting me to favor you with a recommend as a school teacher in common district schools. I would frankly say to whom it may concern that I am personally acquainted with Mr. W. A. Field and likewise with his literary and other requisite qualifications as a school teacher and with out exaggeration would say that he would rank with the first class in the above named business.
Joshua Leland, Town Superintendent. Common Schools Baltimore, Vt.
It is gratifying to know that Mr. Leland was not without honor even in his own country. In the 1855 town-meeting records we find the following-"Voted that the town give their thanks to Mr. Joshua Leland for his able address as Superintendent of Common Schools." He represented Baltimore in the Legislature.
So much for Joshua Leland's splendid service to Baltimore. But not to Baltimore alone did Mr. Leland give his time and talents. The following words of appreciation are taken from Oscar H. Le- land's genealogy: "He was a very conscientious and worthy Man". He taught school seventeen consecutive winters. About 1825 he joined the Universalist Church in Cavendish, Vt., was baptized by immersion by the Rev. Warren Skinner and licensed to preach. His son Oscar remembered hearing him preach in Chester a number of times, also remembered his preaching the funeral sermon of William Thayer on Parker Hill, Springfield, Vt., in 1830. In 1833 Joshua Leland made the prayer at the dedication of the Uni- versalist Church in Springfield.
Mr. Leland sold the home place to his son Charles in 1865. He was in town for March meeting of that year being elected as petit juror; he moved to Springfield where he died the following year, May 27, 1866.
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Although son Charles did not buy his father's farm until April 8, 1865, it is probable that Charles and his wife always lived with his parents after their marriage in March 24, 1857.
It was Joshua Leland who built the fine stone house in 1843 that now stands on the Leland homestead. Charles, when an old man, liked to relate how he and his brother Oscar used to vie with each other to see who could bring in the biggest stone on his wheelbarrow from the quarry back of the present buildings. "Oscar usually beat but, after all, he was six years the older." Two families of Lelands enjoyed the new stone house and grandmother Lakin lived in it until Feb. 17, 1862, being 93 years old when she died. Her husband Caleb died the year the new house was built, aged 78.
Joshua and Betsey Leland deeded their son not only the original 100 acres in Baltimore but also what was probably 80 acres lying east of the road in Chester and adjoining the old farm. It will be recalled that the road into Chester at that time led past what is now known as Rocky Ridge. Son Charles already owned land on the south and east of his father's farm so he must have been quite a landowner in 1865.
But not for long. Aug. 30, 1866, Charles and wife deeded the premises they had so recently purchased from Father and Mother Leland to Putnam J. Thompson, reserving the possession of the stone house and a privilege in the barn until the first day of April next, "also the right to the growing crops with the right to harvest the same. It is agreed that a kettle which is set in an arch on the premises passes with the real estate."
The reason is apparent why Charles wished to retain his residence in town until the following April, 1867. At the town meeting held in Mar. 1866, Charles was showered with town offices, lister, audi- tor, fence-viewer and highway surveyor being among them. On the first Tuesday in Sept. 1866, after he had sold his farm on Aug. 30, he was elected town representative to the General Assembly; so he could well afford to make arrangements to hang around town a few months longer. The deed was not presented for record until Feb. 1867.
Charles had served his native town faithfully and well as select- man, lister and some of the minor offices, but be it remembered that his father Joshua never relinquished town office in favor of the younger generation.
It was a distinct loss to the town when the Leland family moved away. Charles settled in North Springfield where he conducted a store and cheese factory for several years. Many now living re- member him when he and his son George ran a general store in Springfield.
Genealogy of the Joshua Leland Family
Joshua Leland
married Betsey Boynton
b. Grafton, Mass., May 22, 1794
Oct. 17, 1825 b. Baltimore,
Vt., Nov. 4, 1800
d. Springfield, Vt., May 27, 1866
d. Chester, Vt., Oct. 1, 1884
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Their Children:
Oscar Hopestill-b. July 21, 1826 m. Frances Chamberlin
two children:
David C. b. Oct. 29, 1868 in Texas
Oscar H. Jr. b. Aug. 1, 1873 d. Aug. 24, 1873
Marcella D .- b. Dec. 17, 1830 m. Thomas L. Jenkins of Spring- field, moved to Chester
Five children:
Chas. L. b. Oct. 17, 1856 in Baltimore d. Dec. 22, 1920 in Charleville, Queensland, Australia
Nellie b. Dec. 30, 1857 m. Chas. A. Williams d. Dec. 1883
George O. b. Oct. 28, 1859 m. Minnie Robey two children-Walter M. and Ralph C.
Lucie b. Dec. 9, 1864 m. Albert E. Sawyer
three children-Lena, Thomas, Helen
Hattie E. b. July 10, 1870 m. Fred O. Stearns, Weathersfield
Charles Alonzo-b. Nov. 15, 1832 m. Susan Farnham b. 1833 d. 1906 One child:
George F. b. Jan. 25, 1858 m. Nellie A. Pierce descendant of John Pierce who came to America in 1637, settled in Watertown, Mass., a weaver by trade. (Also an ancestor of the writer).
Two children: Arthur b. Aug. 28, 1886
Mary A. b. June 29, 1890 d. 1941, m. Willard Lawrence
Oscar went to school winters in Baltimore until he was 21, working on his father's farm summers. After reaching his majority he fitted for college in Black River Academy, Ludlow, and Springfield Wesleyan Seminary. He entered Norwich University then at Norwich, Vt., in 1851. His lungs were affected by pneumonia and, not deeming it wise to risk the rigors of another Vermont winter, he went south in Dec. 1853 to Georgia. He taught school there until Dec. 1855 when he went to Texas. There he taught school and studied law.
The last six months of 1856 he was a tutor in Baylor University. In December of that year he took the degree of A. B. and was elected Professor of Mathematics, Astronomy and Mechanical Philosophy. In 1860 he received the degree of A. M. In 1865 he left this institution to serve in the U. S. Internal Revenue De- partment five years, finally resigning to assume duties of Presiding Justice of the McLennan County Court. He was postmaster at Waco, Texas, eight years or until 1898 when he bought a farm in MacGregor, Texas, where he was living when he compiled the genealogy of his ancestors. He was a soldier in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
Marcella Danell Leland Jenkins had a thorough English educa- tion. It may be remembered that she was the first woman entrusted to teach a winter term of school in the stone schoolhouse. She was a
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very successful teacher as her heritage might lead us to expect, also a notable housekeeper and mother of five enterprising, highly desirable citizens.
Geo. F. Leland was honored by many positions of trust. He was a Representative to the General Assembly from the town of Spring- field in 1892, a Senator from Windsor County, for ten years President of the Village of Springfield, and Chairman of the Board of School Directors in Springfield nearly 20 years. He served on the Gover- nor's staff, which gave him the title of Colonel.
Joseph Willard Leland
Joseph Willard Leland married
had a twin sister Hannah
b. in Baltimore May 27, 1803
d. in Baltimore Mar. 3, 1878 Age 74 yrs. 9 mo. 7 days no children
Martha Carter
b. Wilmington, Mass. d. Baltimore Mar. 10,
1878
Age 74 yrs. 10 mo. 5 da.
The two words immediately above probably explain why the family sketch of Joseph Willard Leland is necessarily short. No generations of progeny between him and the writer to furnish infor- mation concerning this worthy couple. We have already used all the facts given us in Oscar Leland's genealogy.
The town records, however, furnish us with some data which per- haps is worth mentioning.
In 1845 Joseph W. Leland of Baltimore purchased from Luke Harris all the land which said Luke owned in Baltimore, 68 12 acres, paying $1000 for it. Joseph and his wife were no longer young as their birth dates will show, both being 42 years of age.
April 27, 1849, Joseph bought 45 acres off the western end of what was once the John Woodbury farm, Abner Field that same day buying the other half or the east end, thereby dividing what may be for all time the John Woodbury farm. He sold at least a portion of this land to Betsey Davis in 1855 for $375.22, taking a mortgage back for the full amount of the purchase money. According to the grand list book Joseph did not sell Betsey all the 45 acre tract as he owned 7734 acres in 1856, or an increase of 914 acres added to what was left of the original Harris farm.
Joseph and his wife were in comfortable circumstances it would seem. The grand lists after 1841 did not reveal so much of livestock kept and money on hand of each taxpayer; but the amount of personal property each person had, including money over and above debts owing, was a matter of record then as well as now.
No mortgages for Joseph to pay were ever placed on record. In 1851 he was taxed $410 on personal property; in 1855 that item had increased to $591.50. The next year it was $979, but Joseph had sold some or most of the Woodbury tract. It was that year that Joseph and Martha built the new house and the valuation of his
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real estate was raised $500. They did not value a good new house very high in 1857. That house if built today (1942) would cost probably $2500 to $3000 with no modern plumbing or heating de- vices.
It was one of the most attractive houses ever built in Baltimore, a well-built front hall and stairway, four fair-sized pleasant rooms downstairs, three well-arranged chambers and a convenient back stairway, all well-finished. The old house stood nearer the road, about two rods south from the present house, and was never a very valuable structure. A well was located near it, and the story has been handed down that Mrs. Leland was subject to mental derange- ment at times. On one such occasion she attempted suicide by jumping from a window into the well but with no fatal results. Joseph and Martha Leland were born within just three weeks of each other and their deaths occurred just one week apart.
Joseph died first; so the property fell to Martha's heirs, all of whom lived outside this state. Charles Leland, Joseph's nephew, was administrator. Otis' son, Willard Leland, whose full name was also Joseph Willard, spent much time with his uncle and aunt.
It would seem that in younger years Joseph did not live in Balti- more, at least after he reached his majority, until he finally bought the Harris farm. His name does not appear on the lists as a poll taxpayer until 1845. He was not very active in affairs of the town, was selectman at least seven different years, four of them in succes- sion, also performed the arduous duties of highway surveyor five or six years. Joseph Willard was never such a prominent town official as was his brother Joshua. Having no children in school, he probably had little interest in the school.
Jonathan Woodbury Family (Arthur Basso Place)
If the writer were asked to name the man who was most progressive in the earliest days of the town of Baltimore and who was foremost in promoting the general welfare of the new-born town, in her hum- ble opinion that honor should be accorded Jonathan Woodbury. During all the years of residence within the narrow boundaries of the town, Jonathan Woodbury was always industrious, enterpris- ing, and sharing in a faithful and efficient manner all those duties which a newly organized town imposed upon a few men. Women had no share in the responsibility of town office in those days- "'petticoat rule" was unknown.
It was in 1791 that Jonathan Atherton of Cavendish, one of that town's largest landholders, sold a parcel of land to Jonathan Wood- bury of Royalston, Mass., of the following description-"Beginning at a hemlock tree, standing in the north line of Wm. Chaplin's land No. 39 thence north 80 degrees west one hundred forty eight rods to a beach tree thence north 22 degrees east twenty rods to a beach tree thence north 35 degrees east fifty nine rods to a beach tree, thence 80 degrees east one hundred twenty-six rods to a beach
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tree, thence north eight rods to a birch tree thence north eighty degrees east fourteen rods to a stake thence southerly 130 rds to the begun bounds and containing 93 acres be the same more or less and is on the original right of Henry Hilton."
How many readers of today would think the beech trees men- tioned could definitely and permanently mark the boundary lines for this young man of vision and energy? And how fortunate that a tree was always found at exactly the right spot!
Faith in his project and confidence in his own ability must have been rampant in young Jonathan's heart, for the next year, 1792, he purchased 30 acres more from the same Atherton, "beginning at the south east corner of said Woodbury's land at a hemlock (probably the same hemlock, the first mentioned tree in deed above) then North 12 degrees east hundred rods to a Basswood, then south 80 degrees east forty eight rods to a corner, then south 12 degrees west one hundred rods to the north line of Wm. Chaplin's land then on said north line westwardly to the begun bounds."
It meant two trips for the writer to the town clerk's office in Cavendish to determine the exact location of Wm. Chaplin's north line, as his land transactions were all over before the Baltimore records began. It was found that, contrary to a previous state- ment, Wm. Chaplin first owned the original right of Levi Webster Lot No. 39 and he sold to Aseph Fletcher. This was the 312-acre tract which is now occupied by Henry Allen, Slayton Kendall and Mr. Loomis. The southern boundary now of Arthur Basso's farm was the Wm. Chaplin north line in the early 1790's.
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