USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Baltimore > The history of the town of Baltimore, Vermont > Part 21
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all the Baltimore land, about 50 acres, to Burrows and Hunt of Vernon for an even $5. He had owned it just one week. Washburn wanted only the quarry part evidently and did not value his Balti- more holdings very highly. It was soon after this, 1858, that young Zenas Graves bought this land below the road for $100 which was certainly cheap enough. After buying the land above the road in 1860 Zenas owned both sides of the road, and the farm that Col. Joshua Martin divided between his two sons was again joined to- gether. Zenas owned it eleven years some of which time he rented it to the late Geo. Piper's father.
In 1871 Zenas sold this farm to Orson Freeman of Weathersfield for $2500, thereby making $1050 on the deal. The farm was worth what Mr. Freeman paid for it and be it said in passing that Mr. Freeman was a thrifty progressive farmer. His crops and cattle were good to see and he also kept a large flock of sheep. Before becoming very old he began to be affiicted with a severe illness each spring which greatly hindered his farm operations. Finally, one spring he took his bed for his last illness.
According to the good old custom of that day, the neighboring men took turns as "watchers" through the night. The writer's father had cared for him during a particularly hard night, and in the morning Mr. Freeman asked if he would grant him one more favor before he left. "I do wish I knew how my new-seeded patch came through the winter, the one up under the mountain. Would you be willing, Fred, to go up and look it over and tell me what you think of it?" Of course Father acceded to his wish and was able to report truthfully that there was a fine stand of grass, thanks to Mr. Freeman's careful cultivation. Father was amply repaid for this last favor by the look of pride and satisfaction that spread over the older man's countenance. Baltimore owes much today to such as he who loved their acres.
To return to Zenas and Emily. What became of them after renting their first home? It appeared that not all was harmony in the family relations between Marvin and wife and Luther, espec- ially after Dorcas' death in 1857. Finally, the younger couple went to Massachusetts, and Zenas moved his family down to care for his father. Evidently Luther was not planning on dying young as he was 80 yrs. old when in Mar. 1860 he deeded Zenas "all the land I now own", which was about 200 acres free from all encum- brance but with the following proviso, "if I the said Zenas H. Graves shall allow the said Luther Graves to have the exclusive use and occupancy of the two southwest corner rooms in the house on said premises . . . shall furnish him the said Luther with all suitable fire, provisions, washing, ironing, lodging, nursing and doctors ac- cording to his condition and circumstances the provisions to be provided on Luther's table to eat by himself if he prefers and shall at all times when required furnish the said Luther with a steady horse, harness and carriage to ride when he pleases and shall harness the same for the said Luther and shall pay said Luther the sum of fifty dollars at the end of every year. . and shall treat him the
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said Luther with suitable respect and kindness and attention then this deed to be void . "
According to the tales handed down, Marvin's wife had been known to answer Luther back when she considered him too over- bearing; so this indenture above was to prevent daughter-in-law Emily from becoming too strong-willed and sharp-tongued. It was also told that Luther asserted his rights by demanding that Emily serve him his meals privately, even when she was extremely busy with hired men and children.
But not for long. Feb. 28, 1861, Luther passed to his reward and was buried in Baltimore with Dorcas and his only daughter Are- thusa. Viewed from a cold financial standpoint this proved an im- mensely profitable venture for Zenas. Possibly Marvin's wife be- moaned the fact that her patience failed her when the goal was just around the corner.
Luther's great accomplishment was to build the new house that is now standing; the exact date of its erection is not known, but probably it was built in 1838 as then Luther's house was appraised $350, twice as much as in 1828. It was large, plain, and substan- tially built with four large rooms and four large chambers, located on higher ground so that the view of the surrounding hills and valleys was simply marvellous until the erection of a new horse barn across the road by son Zenas partially obstructed the same.
Every old homestead in Baltimore has or had its nearby well. For some years it was supposed that this was one house built in town without its accompanying well. The present owner tore down a lean-to on the back of the house, lately, that used to serve as a milk room. While taking up the floor he nearly dropped feet foremost into a deep, deep well. Probably before the days of lead pipe and running water this well furnished the water supply for the house.
Zenas bought no more land; neither did he sell any, but he tilled his large farm with its steep hillsides until it became very produc- tive. He never saw the bottom of his grain bins and was very suc- cessful with his sheep. He always wore a frock when doing his work, made like a shirt, that extended to his knees, which he pulled over his head. The cloth was dark-blue material flecked with white. He was of a jovial disposition and a kind, accommodating neighbor, but careful in money matters.
Zenas Graves was a most useful townsman, serving his day and generation almost as well as did Jonathan Woodbury. For a fair example the town meeting records for the year 1866 show Zenas to have been elected selectman, lister, auditor, highway surveyor. Evidently the legal voters even then had not heard of such a thing as incompatibility of town office. He served as justice of the peace for years, also was superintendent of school until it was deemed safe and more expedient to let Ella his daughter hold the office; the records show she had always performed the duties thereof.
Otis took the Freeman's Oath in 1874, but, unlike his father, he did not hold a town office for several years. When a comparatively
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young man he went to Tomah, Wis., where he spent several years. Some of the Gregory cousins owed Otis or his father quite a sum of money; so Otis seeking adventure as well as to recover the family fortune betook himself to that distant state.
He came back to Vermont when his father's health began to fail and carried on the farm in a truly husband-like manner until after his mother died in 1901. After her death he and Ella had an auction of 1001 articles and sold the old farm to Preston and Bryant in 1902. Otis then went west again to live with his Gregory cousins; they were his nearest relatives and he liked that country. He was killed on the morning of Nov. 24, 1920, when he went into a creamery to get the milk supply for the family where he lived as was his daily custom. A boiler burst near him causing his death. Thus passed from life a plain, industrious man of rare common sense and friendly mien. He was brought to his native state for burial in the family lot at North Springfield. Neither Otis nor Ella ever married, so with their passing came the end of this branch of a fine old family. Out of appreciation for Ella E. Graves, the town's benefactress, a section is reserved for her apart from the family sketch.
Martin Genealogy
The Martin family has an interesting ancestor in the person of Susannah North Martin who was hanged as a witch July 19, 1692, on Gallows Hill, Salem, Mass. The main reason why the persecu- tors became suspicious of. this woman was that when walking in muddy weather her skirts did not become drabbled. What an awful delusion obsessed those people!
When passing through Amesbury, Mass., if a person locates the Whittier House, corner of Pickard and Friend Streets, he will find on Route 110 at 5.1 a junction with a dirt road. At the left on this road is a shrub-concealed boulder marking the site of the home of Susannah Martin. A tablet on the boulder bears this inscription- "Here stood the house of Susannah Martin an honest hard working Christian woman accused as a witch tried and executed at Salem July 19, 1692, a martyr of superstitution."
Susannah was buried in Amesbury, Mass. The poem "The Witch's Daughter" by John Greenleaf Whittier is said to have been inspired by this incident.
The genealogy follows so far as the Martins of Baltimore are concerned:
George Martin, blacksmith died 1686
George Martin Jr.
b. 1648 d. 1734
b. 1686 Joshua b. Dec. 18, 1717
m. Susannah North died 1692
m. 1st Hannah 2nd Elizabeth Durkee
John
m. Jane Durkee
Apr. 29, 1710
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1st. married Sarah Story daughter of Ephraim Story. This last name was most popular among the Martins. Several men in Massachusetts of that name became well-known as lawyers, judges, sculptors. It was the name of outstanding men related to the Martins, hence its popularity. It must be admitted that some con- fusion is apt to arise because of Joshuas and Ephraims.
Children of Joshua Sr. and Sarah Story m. June 1, 1744; b. 1726, d. 1751, (All born Chebacco Parish, Ipswich, Mass.):
Ephraim Story-baptized 1745; d. 1833 Baltimore-m. Sept. 19, 1769, Mary Burnham-b. 1746; d. 1813.
Joshua, Jr .- b. 1751 m. Phebe Bradstreet.
Mary-b. 1748; d. in Paw Paw, Ill., age 92 yrs .- m. Samuel Hast- ings.
Children of Ephraim Story and Mary Burnham-Descendants living 1940:
Sally-b. 1770; d. 1852-m. Jonathan Boynton-9 children- Alma Clark, Orvis L.
Polly-b. 1773; d. 1846-m. Amos Piper-5 children-Winfield Piper, the late Geo. Piper.
Jane-b. 1775; - m. Robert Works-9 children-(moved to Jay, N. Y.).
Ephraim S., Jr .- b. 1777; d. 1842-m. Nancy Haywood-Will Fuller, Minnie Stewart.
Dorcas-b. 1779; d. Sept. 20, 1857-m. Luther Graves.
John-b. 1780; - m. Clarissa Cook (moved to Jay, N. Y.)
Susan-b. 1781 ;- m. Asa Lawrence (moved to Jay, N. Y.).
Thomas-b. 1783 ;- m. Betsey Bowman (moved to Jay, N. Y.) Mehitable-b. 1785; d. 1812 ;- m. Ira Boynton (moved to Jay, N. Y.) one child died young
Lucy-b. 1789; d. 1870 m. Paul Hayward-6 children
It has been stated that Ephraim, Joshua and Mary and their father Joshua Sr. all came to Baltimore in the 1790's. The records show that on May 3, 1794, "Joshua Martin Jun. Esq." of Lunenburg, Mass., paid £80, to Thomas Hutchins and Syrell Hutchins for 113 acres of land. In 1796 Ephraim Martin of Baltimore bought 100 acres of land of Peter and Jane Robinson now of Weathersfield. Peter and Jane must have had some kind of habitation here because they had six children on moving to Baltimore and one more, Dean Tyler, was born to them June 4, 1794. Jane signed the deed with Peter which indicates she was deeding away her homestead. This land is now the place where Henry Allen lives.
Probably Ephraim lived here some time. On Dec. 19, 1797, he sold 50 acres of the land to Jonathan Boynton who married Sally Martin, Ephraim's oldest daughter. The Boynton farm was what is now occupied by Henry Allen.
In the 1800 census Ephraim Martin was listed as having one boy under 10, one boy and two girls between 10 and 16, and he and his wife were over 45. In 1803 the names of Ephraim and Ephraim Martin Jr. appear on the check list. In 1797 mention was made of
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Ephraim Martin's farm when the town was being divided into school districts. In that year Ephraim was elected grand juror man. All these matters on record tend to prove that Ephraim brother of Joshua Sr. lived here before moving to Springfield. Pos- sibly he and his family and the Boyntons lived together for a time.
In 1801 Ephraim bought two pieces of land of John Briton Curtis "cordwiner." This included the Margaret Robinson homestead back of Arthur Basso's which she was to have and occupy during her natural life. We have proof Margaret was living as late as 1819 but no evidence that she was occupying her place in Baltimore. So probably Ephraim lived there for a time. In 1804 in the record of a deed reference is made to a stake and stones by the side of the road which passes by Ephraim Martin's to said Harrises (now Slay- ton Kendalls). In 1810 Ephraim sold one piece of land to Jona. Woodbury, the other to Seth Houghton who could not have full possession of it until Wd. Margaret died. She outlived Seth. But Sally and Polly married Baltimore boys and spent their lives in Baltimore while Dorcas who married Luther Graves came here to live in 1815 until her death.
Ephraim died Aug. 8, 1833, age 85 years, and Mary Jan. 1, 1813, age 68. Both are buried in North Springfield cemetery.
Ephraim married a second wife, Jerusha Lyndes, who died 1831. She was much younger than Ephraim and lived where John Guerney now lives near the airport.
Ephraim Martin moved to the place beyond the Butterfield farm on French Meadow road. Paul Hayward who built the Butterfield house was probably his son-in-law.
Ephraim Martin enlisted at Lunenburg, Mass., Feb., 1781, and was sergeant in Capt. Hollister's Company.
The writer has at hand the family record of Ephraim S. Martin Jr. which may be helpful to someone. It was carefully compiled by Minnie Martin Fuller.
Ephraim S. Martin Jr.
b. 6/10/1777
m. 11/1/1807
Nancy Hayward d. 6/2/1842
Dexter b. 5/13/1809 Grandfather of Mrs. Walter Allen Lloyd D. Martin Ernest Parker, et al
Children d. 4/13/1880
m. 12/8/1833 Charlotte Lee, Granddaughter of Richard Lee, well known as an itinerant preacher.
John Hayward b. 2/13/1811 Lucy Ann-
Ira-b. 10/14/1816; d. 8/15/1880; m. Jane S. Boyd.
Philena Ann-b. 2/6/1813; d. 2/13/1889; m. James Spencer Cook 5/19/1844.
Hannah-b. 4/18/1820; d. 4/14/1912; m. Bailey N. Fletcher 5/15/1844 (Flora Adams' mother).
Jonas Galusha-b. 7/19/1821; d. 5/21/1862; m. Betts. Their son George was Supt. of Sewers in Brooklyn. His son Geo. Jr. Court Justice of Kings Co. for 13 years.
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David H. Martin-b. 2/29/1824; d. 8/6/1861; m. Nancy Brown. Mary Jane-b. 6/1/1827; d. 4/8/1916; m. Wm. McGurn 5/1/1850. Catherine-b. 12/18/1831; d. 11/22/1910; m. Asa Fuller 12/16/ 1866, Mother of W. E. Fuller.
Lewis-b. 6/13/1832; d. 10/5/1849.
These eleven children were all born on what is still known as the J. C. Bowen farm at Kendricks Corners.
We will now draw the curtain on this branch of the Martin family and retrace our steps to Baltimore to consider the fortunes of those Martins who lived there, some of whom died and many of whom were buried in Baltimore.
As previously noted, Joshua Martin Jr. Esq. bought his farm in 1794. He seems to have been a colonel in the Revolution as his name was often spoken of as Col. Joshua Martin Jr. His father Joshua Sr. was an old man when he came to Baltimore, being 93 when he died in Oct. 1810. He is buried in Baltimore cemetery. Sarah his first wife died the year Joshua Jr. was born, 1751. His second wife was Elizabeth Knowlton whom he married in 1752. She had three daughters, Elizabeth b. 1753, Jane b. 1754, Mary b. 1761.
Children of Joshua Jr. and Phebe Bradstreet were:
Joshua 3rd m. 1st Lucy Chaplin, 2nd Wd. Sally Billings; Samuel (once lived on quarry place) m. Betsy Kimball; Ephraim S. m. Susannah Boynton b. Aug. 29, 1783 d. 1836 (Children- · Louisa; Elvira-deaf and dumb, went to Northampton, became tailoress; Julia; Horace m. Lorinda Woodward, Children-Mary and Augusta; Haskell); Phebe m. Lothrop Cheney; Ebenezer m. Hannah; Betsy m. Jonathan Lawrence; Abigail m. Ephraim Leland.
Probably many of the first habitations in Baltimore were log cabins. Strangely enough, the only one ever mentioned in the records is the one occupied by Joshua Martin Jr. which was on the south side of the road 4 rods west of the corner of the 38 acres of land owned by Ahimaaz Sherwin, said land bordering on the Baltimore town line. The tenth of January 1795 Joshua Jr. bought this land which had some kind of a dwelling on it as Ahi- maaz's wife Ruth signed the conveyance with him. The late George Piper remembered a barn on this land standing near an apple tree, also two acres across the road. Poor Ahimaaz had not been able to keep two jumps ahead of the sheriff it would appear. In 1795 Sheriff Walt Panney was on his track and served three writs, taking first 3 acres 12 sq. rods, then 11/2 acres and 8 rods, then 2 acres 16 rds, something like 7 acres in all, in favor of Caleb Winn. Later Winn deeded these pieces, probably all in one tract, to Joshua Martin Jr. for £20.
Feb. 13, 1816, Jonathan Atherton of Cavendish sold Joshua what is still known as the Jewell Lot nearly 27 acres, "hitherto occupied by Wm. Jewell." Tradition says that the Jewell family spent their first night in this field with nothing for a shelter except the
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overturned body of their dump cart in which all their household equipment had been moved. The Jewells were ordered out of town in Jan. 1813. No trace of their home has been found as yet, but the name lives on. The 113 acres that Joshua Jr. first purchased were all north of the road. With these additional purchases of land south of the road he had a large farm.
Joshua must have felt himself to be growing old, for in 1822 he divided his real estate between his sons Ephraim and Joshua 3rd. These oldtime deeds give an insight into the method by which old people gave their property to their children in return for certain consideration which they were very careful to specify.
Phebe, wife of Joshua, had died on Feb. 25, 1807, and Joshua had taken unto himself another wife, Charlotte by name. He deeded his son Joshua Martin of Weathersfield, living on what is now the quarry place, "all the land I now own in Baltimore lying south of the road leading from Weathersfield line to Joseph Atherton's ex- cepting one half on the barn and one half the yard annexed thereto, said piece of land containing seventy acres by the same more or less."
To son Ephraim he deeded "all the land I now own in the town of Baltimore lying north of the road with the house standing on the same excepting one undivided half of the west part of said house . reserving to myself the use and occupancy of said undivided half of said house during my life time and the life time of my wife and one half of the barns standing on the south side of road and one half the yard annexed thereto, said land estimated at 118 acres be the same more or less." That very day Ephraim sold the two acres above the road to Joshua, his brother.
Father Joshua did not exactly give his property away as a reading of the following proviso will prove. We will write Joshua's obliga- tion in full:
"This deed is given to secure the payment of the following sums in the following manner viz. first-Two Hundred Dollars to be paid Betsey Lawrence wife of Jonathan Lawrence of Weathersfield
2nd. Seventy five Dollars to be paid Thusa Fidella daughter of Ebenezer Martin deceased and Hannah Martin whenever she should here after be about to be married (Hope Thusa did not elope suddenly. A. M. P.). The following articles and conditions annually to be complied with and paid in to the said Joshua Martin and Charlotte Martin his wife during the said Joshua's natural life. But if the said Charlotte Martin should outlive the said Joshua Martin then one half of the following articles was to be paid to the said Charlotte: one hundred and fifty pounds of good pork, one hundred and twenty five pounds of beef, ten pounds of tallow (for candles probably.)
"Fifteen pounds of poultry. Seventeen and one half bushels rye and corn half of each, five bushels oats, five bushels wheat, sixty pounds butter, seventy five pounds cheese, twenty pounds flax, half the green sauce and garden sauce they may need, fifteen pounds veal, fifteen pounds lamb, seven and one half pounds wool, twenty
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bushels potatoes, four barrels cider, half the apples they want to make use of, the keeping of one horse and one cow during their natural lives, three pounds tea, half Souching the other half Hyson, one and one half gallons molasses, six pounds brown sugar, four pounds loaf sugar, one dollar for spices, half the wood cut, and split and put in the wood shed ...... and the proportion of the expense of all sickness and nursing the said Joshua and Charlotte may have and the expense of funeral charges of both as 1000 is to 1150."
Joshua's mortgage was $1000, Ephraim's $1150. Of course if they met all the above conditions, the mortgage note would be null and void. Let us see what son Ephraim agreed to pay and furnish. He was to pay "the following sums in the following manner" viz. first two hundred dollars to be paid Phebe Martin (She had to wait for hers until her father died. A. M. P.) 2nd. One Hundred Dollars to be paid Lucina Martin daughter of Ebenezer Martin deceased and Hannah Martin whenever the said Lucina should be about to be married, fifty dollars to be paid to Ephraim and Abigail Leland's heirs whenever they became of age, Seventy five Dollars to be paid Sam. Martin's heirs. Son Ephraim was to furnish the old people with exactly the same amount of provisions as Joshua but in addition he was to supply "two and one half gallons West India rum and two and a half gallons of New England rum, half a quintal of codfish, two and a half bushels salt, but no keeping for the horse and cow."
It would appear that Joshua and Ephraim had to engage in di- versified farming to supply all these various commodities, green sauce, flax, tallow and what not. What did they need of 120 pounds of butter and 150 pounds cheese? Perhaps they sold it or maybe the eight barrels of cider attracted company that liked to eat as well as drink. It was certainly a good proposition for the old folks. Joshua lived until Feb. 16, 1836, age 85 or 84 years. Char- lotte two years longer, Jan. 27, 1838, age 84 years. Buried in Baltimore.
About this time Ephraim's wife Susannah died and was buried in Baltimore. A gravestone leaning against the stone wall states that she died Jan. 10, 1836 age 53. Another stone at the head of a grave bears the inscription Susannah B. wife of Capt. Ephraim Martin died Nov. 9, 1837 aged 53 years. Probably the first-mentioned stone is in error.
Alas! on further search we find on May 24, 1822, Ephraim deeded back to Joshua, but if Ephraim kept one horse and one cow half the time, then this deed was to be null and void. Ephraim did not get any advantage in that respect after all.
Ephraim and Susannah's children were probably all born in Bal- timore. In 1839 and 1840 son Horace tried his young wings as hayward. In the latter year Ephraim sold to Horace all the land and buildings, who mortgaged the same to Dr. Ariel Kendrick. The Martins' finances were not very promising. We cannot wonder at it particularly if Ephraim met all the conditions imposed upon him as stipulated in his father's deed of 1822. Those early settlers
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were pardonable for considering the acres they had wrested from the wilderness as being very valuable. They had acquired them by the sweat of their brow and rigid economy. We of this day and age regard as precious anything we have gained by personal and persistent effort. However, when they passed those prized possessions on to their children with all the provisions and stipula- tions connected therewith, legacies to be paid the other heirs at un -* certain dates, etc., who among us of today would care to assume Ephraim's obligations toward his father and stepmother?
Horace mortgaged the farm again to Socrates Hastings, the moneylender of this vicinity, but he soon sold the farm to Marvin Graves who assumed all mortgages due upon it.
Ephraim married for his second wife Mrs. Trussell of Perkins- ville, and lived on the place with the brick house on the road to lower Perkinsville now owned by his great-grandson Louis Hopkins.
Horace Martin married Lorinda Woodward sister of Lucinda Woodward who married Oren Averill, a one-time resident of Bal- timore. After leaving Baltimore, Horace lived for some time in North Springfield in the large square house on the corner below the Field residence, now owned by Wm. Fuller. Here for several years he kept a tavern. Later he moved to Perkinsville where he owned and operated the soapstone quarry for a time, also kept a store. He was an auctioneer and his wit and cleverness at repartee added much to his popularity and efficiency. To Horace and Lorinda Martin two daughters were born, Augusta and Mary. Augusta married a Perkins from whose family the village derived its name. In early life she was left a widow and lived with and cared for her aunt Mrs. Averill in her declining years. Mary Cheney married the Rev. A. J. Hopkins and spent the last of her married life in Perkinsville where her husband was the beloved pastor of the Bap- tist Church until his resignation shortly before his death, 1924. Mr. Hopkins enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him as did his widow who lived in the home of her girlhood days. She died Jan. 14, 1941.
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