The history of the town of Baltimore, Vermont, Part 6

Author: Pollard, Annie M. (Annie Maydora), -1946
Publication date: 1954
Publisher: Montpelier, Vermont Historical Society
Number of Pages: 238


USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Baltimore > The history of the town of Baltimore, Vermont > Part 6


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23


Ella was so interested in hearing me say the multiplication tables up to the sixes that I surprised her by saying them all up to the tens, the next time I went up to her house to borrow something. I won a $5 gold piece coined the same year as my birth when in High School. When I graduated, I needed that five dollars desperately. So Ella gave me a $5 bill for it and kept the gold piece until I taught school and redeemed it. Graduation gifts were practically un- known in my day; otherwise Ella might (?) have given me the five dollars.


Although the writing of this paper was prompted by gratitude for the bequests of the Graves family, I am glad to say I have en- joyed writing about this family because of my admiration for them and their inspiration to me.


This paper was read before the Officers and Teachers Conference in North Springfield.


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The History of


David R. Campbell


David Richard Campbell was born in the northern part of Rock- ingham near the town line of Springfield, April 25, 1794. He had four brothers and two sisters. He was the fourth child of his parents, David and Ammilla Campbell.


He lived on his father's farm and received a common education and was lucky enough to be able to go a few terms to Chester Acad- emy. He also taught school several years. The last term he taught was in Bellows Falls. The previous teacher was not able to maintain discipline; so, knowing Mr. Campbell's abilities at teach- ing the school committee hired him. He restored peace in that school for the year 1823. After he had finished there, he went to work as a merchant in the country store of Hall and Goodrich located at Bellows Falls. A large portion of the trade was carried on by boat. The firm owned two boats which went from Bellows Falls to Hartford, Conn., by the Connecticut River. The firm dealt largely in the sale of wool. Later the men who owned the business went to Honolulu.


In 1832 Mr. Campbell went to Boston. He secured a job with Charles Valentine and Company which dealt largely in the sale of salted provisions. They had a large slaughter-house in Alton, Ill. In 1854 Mr. Campbell, having become wealthy, withdrew from the firm. He lived a retired life and never took an active part in business again.


In 1876 Mr. Campbell divided $28,000 among six towns in Windsor County. Athens was given $3,000; Grafton, Chester, Springfield, Westminister, and Windsor were given $5,000 each, interest of which was to be used for the poor and paupers of each town. Later in 1885 five other towns were donated money. Rock- ingham, his birthplace, was given $20,000. Four other towns in Windsor County were given the sum of $20,000. Baltimore re- ceived $4,000; Weathersfield and Hartland received $5,000 each; and West Windsor received $6,000. In each town the income was to be used for the poor and paupers. He also left about $26,000 to his relatives.


Mr. Campbell never married; so he spent the remaining thirty-one years of his life at the home of his nephew, Hiriam Harlow, in Wind- sor. He died February 19, 1885, at the age of ninety-two and was buried in the Colonel Hiriam Harlow lot in Windsor. Mr. Camp- bell was a tall well-formed man with broad shoulders, a clean-shaven face, banged hair, and was very independent. Hiriam Harlow was a former superintendent at the Windsor State Prison for seventeen years.


Here is an interesting story of Mr. Campbell: one time when he went to Mary Sturtevant, a tailoress, to have a coat made his bill was three and nine pence, but when he went to pay her she was not at home. Later, at about the same time, they both left town. She was married, had a son, and became a widow. During this time Mr. Campbell was going through a long process of becoming


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wealthy. Years later in 1869 the tailoress received the money from him with interest. This money was given to the Consump- tive's Home.


Another story which Miss Eva Baker of Springfield told me was that Mr. Campbell had heard that if you slept with a thimble under your pillow, you would never be struck by lightning; so he had a thimble made out of steel, only much larger than an ordinary one. He slept with the thimble under his pillow until he died. Miss Lucy Abbott of Springfield has the thimble.


Maybe you would be interested to know where I got my infor- mation. Some of my information I received from Mr. Walter Pollard, the town clerk of Baltimore. Also some from Mr. Arthur Pollard, the town clerk of Chester. I went to see Miss Alice Law- ton of Chester, and she told me to see Miss Eva Baker of Spring- field. She gave me some ideas and then told me to see Mrs. Walter Burr, also of Springfield. She gave me a scrapbook that had an article in it which told me almost all I wanted to know of Mr. Campbell.


The Chaplin Family


While Baltimore was still a part of Cavendish, one Ezra Red- field purchased 55 acres in the very southeast corner of that town in the Governor's farm, so-called. By so doing he stole the march on Samuel Davis who purchased the remainder of the farm for 40 shillings.


In 1798 Salmon Dutton, tax collector of Cavendish, deeded Ezra Redfield 55 acres of land "said to be in Baltimore on the right of Benning Wentworth Esq. now occupied by the said Redfield." Salmon quit "all right title interest challenge and claim" he had in the land for the sum of one dollar. Evidently there had been a vendue sale for taxes: Ezra, a relative of Everett Redfield, was selected one of the school committee for the South District in 1795, also constable. In 1796 he was re-elected for constable and voted grand-jury man. In 1797 he was one of the committee to draw the lines between the two school districts, a delicate undertaking. In 1798 Ezra was voted second selectman and surveyor of highways.


Possibly Ezra did not care for so much official duty, for in April 1799 "in the 23 year of the Independence of the United States" he sold the 55 acres to Amos Lockwood for 130 pounds legal money, a good deal for Ezra. In 1801 Lockwood sold this same tract to David Chaplin of Springfield for $432.34, a poor deal for Amos. On the same day David sold 20 acres from the south side to David Jr., a strip extending the whole length of the farm on the Chester line and wide enough to contain 20 acres or about 29 (plus) rods wide.


Then the Chaplins proceeded to divide up the land similar to a jig saw puzzle (which still has one piece missing). It appears that David had two sons, David Jr. and James. After selling the 20 acres to David Jr., he sold the 35 acres to James, also his "personal


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The History of


estate of every kind, name or nature excepting house-hold fur- niture," for $350. This indenture was in the form of a life lease as David Sr. was to have and to hold the above-granted and bargained and landlet premises clear through his natural life. "Be it remem- bered and forever understood that the said David Chaplin is not to come into possession so long as I, the said James Chaplin con- tinue to fulfill a bond for the maintenance of the said David Chap- lin and Prudence his wife and Molly Chaplin the said David's mother."


This contract evidently did not prove sufficiently binding. In June of the very next year 1805, son James signs another deed made more specific by stating therein that he is "holden and firmly bound to well and truly maintain, or cause to be maintained in a decent manner David Chaplin and Prudence Chaplin his wife and Molly Chaplin, mother of said David through their natural lives to provide all the common necessaries of life, both in sickness and in health, all and clear through each one of their natural lives."


Nothing appears on the records of 1806 about this deal; so possibly peace and harmony reigned. In July 1807 David deeded his 35 acres to James again with no mention of an encumbrance (or three of them). What might be about to happen? Just this- on September 6, 1808, David Chaplin did "remise, release and for- ever quit claim unto James Chaplin, his heirs and assigns all manner of actions, cause of actions, suits, bills, bonds, writings obligations, debts, dues, duties, reckonings, accounts, sum or sums of money, judgments, executions, quarrels, controversies, trespass, damages and demands both in law and equity, excepting a life lease which the said James has this day executed to me the said David and Pru- dence, my wife, which against him the said James I ever had or now have." We note that Molly's name no longer appears. She had probably passed on. All this "remising, releasing and quitting" ought to bring about perfect reconciliation.


The next record is an indenture wherein James grants, bargains, and farmlets to the said David Chaplin during his natural life, also to Prudence, a strip of land off the north side of the farm 1712 rods wide and 110 rods long, also "sufficient barn room in the barn that I the said James now own standing near the south line of the above described land to stable two cows and put in fodder for the same and also put in all the inglish grane" that shall be raised on the above land, with the privilege of the barn floor to thresh and clean up the same (a necessary convenience in those days), also the privilege of gathering and taking the apples from 20 trees in the orchard (here certain trees were specified for the use of David). James agreed to warrant, secure and defend all the aforesaid prem- ises, barn, and apple trees to David and Prudence his wife-and he did. The barn and apple trees were in the field directly below the sugar-house lot.


Quite early in the game David Jr. had sold the eastern end of the 20 acre strip to James; so the latter owned all land east of the road at one time. In 1809 James proceeded to sell his remaining real


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estate in Baltimore. He sold his brother David Jr. the strip between what his father and mother had off the north end as a life lease and the strip David Jr. had left of the original 20 acres off the south end. In this conveyance no mention is made of any build- ings. David Jr. paid $240 for it, and now owned all the land west- of the road except his father's right by way of lease. That same day he sold to Daniel Griswold that part of the Governor's farm, so-called, bounded as follows-"Beginning at a stake and stones standing in the line between Chester and Baltimore on the Easterly side of the now travelled road then running Easterly on the town line to a beech tree which is said to be the corner bound of Chester, Baltimore, and Weathersfield." (Did the beech grow into the tall sweeping elm that is now the corner bound?) James deeded to within 1712 rods of his northeast corner, reserving the use of the barn and apple trees on this land for his parents as per agreement. In December 1809 he deeded his right in the land on which his parents held the life lease to Joshua Martin 3rd. who married Lucy Chaplin, James' sister.


No more does the name of James Chaplin appear on the records. We do not know whether he was ever married or not. In his various land transactions no woman's name appears with his on the deeds. Possibly we cannot lay the blame for the domestic in- felicity on James' frivolous young wife. Possibly a house divided between two mothers-in-law and a wife could not be shared. Probably trouble arose because the agreements were not carefully drawn, not enough of stipulation. We smile at the records wherein some of the forefathers specified even the brands of tea to be fur- nished them, possibly it was not altogether unwise.


James never held but one town office, that of hayward in 1808, which is undeniable proof that he actually resided in town.


And what had become of brother David Jr. during these years? He it was who furnished the town clerk with many papers to record as he purchased adjoining tracts of land, which finally added to- gether resulted in a well-balanced farm.


In 1802 he bought the 20 acres from his father in April. In November 1802 for $187.50 he bought the pasture in the corner where the "old road" meets the main highway containing almost 19 acres from Francis Burnam, the barn thereon being reserved by Burnam, also 32 square rods of land around it.


In 1804 David Jr. bought the barn and plot of land for $141.66. It was on this corner of land that David Jr. built his first house, probably using the Burnam barn. The cellar hole of the house still remains in good condition. The road commissioner in 1939 gained permission to draw stones for highway construction from what he supposed was a big stone heap. It proved to be the above- mentioned cellar hole which had been used as a dumping place for rocks until heaping full. The remnants of the family orchard can still be found near the cellar. Mrs. Raymenton, David's great- granddaughter, remembers picking raspberries near it with her grandmother Litch.


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In 1814 he bought two more acres from the Burnams adjoining what he had already bought, and in 1817 David Jr. secured the rest of what the Burnams owned on the east side of the old road, 14 acres for $203.44. That made four deeds to record and $562.60 spent for 35 acres of land and a barn.


We recall that James Chaplin sold all the land on the east side of the road in 1809 to Daniel Griswold, reserving the barn and apple trees. In 1813 Griswold sold David Jr. a three-cornered piece of land containing one acre 56 rods on the north side of the road near the old barn, which is now the lot where the sugar house stands. December 27, 1821 Griswold deeded 10 acres more to David Jr. adjoining the above-mentioned three-cornered piece.


In the boundary lines we find these words, "then south eighty degrees west sixty rods to a stake and stones on easterly side of road, then north twenty seven degrees west along the easterly side" of road 15 rods to a stake and stones near said James Chaplin's house." The house was probably located near the first barway on the east below the sugar house. This constituted set of buildings number one, and were probably the buildings occupied by Ezra Redfield and his family of seven in 1800. These buildings are re- ferred to in the records as the old barn and again as the old house. By the use of that definite article the together with the word old we may be right in thinking there was also a new house on the place. There still remain beside the road not many rods north of the present barn, a sill, a bed of old-fashioned yet beautiful roses, and one side of a cellar wall, unmistakable signs of a onetime habitation. Possibly James lived in the old house and his parents built house number two for themselves and later their daughter and hus- band. It would be on the strip of land on which they held a life lease. The buildings on the Burnam land in what is now the corner pasture were set number three. David Jr. built set number four where the buildings are now located, moving some of the buildings down from the Burnam lot. That house burned in 1904 and was rebuilt the following spring. Only one of the old barns remains, a new barn and stable having been built; so practically all the buildings of the set number five are new.


In 1804 David Jr. had bought what is now the Hammond's wood lot, 15 acres from Levi Davis for $150, located across the valley on top of the hill in front of the house. This furnishes the wood lot for the farm "unto this day."


In all these land transactions David Jr. was accumulating rather than speculating. The Burnams were poor people, but it is not evident that David Jr. took advantage of their straits. He was ready to buy and pay a good price as they were obliged to part with their property from time to time. He and his wife must have been industrious and thrifty to wrest a living from an acreage small at first yet ever increasing. In no instance was a mortgage recorded on their purchases.


One piece was missing from this jig saw puzzle for a space of 50 years, the field in the corner where the elm tree stands that is the


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"corner bound." That piece of land was never regained by a Chap- lin. It passed from Daniel Griswold to Daniel Griswold Jr .; he sold to Lucius Griswold, who sold it to Joel Woodbury, owner of the Bibens' farm in 1859.


The field was regarded as part of the homestead place evidently, as Joel's wife Elizabeth signed with him when in 1859 he sold it to Lyman Litch who had married Prudence Chaplin.


And another strip is still missing-Joshua Martin 3rd. did not sell that strip 1712 rod wide on which David Sr. and Prudence held a life lease until 1848 when it was conveyed to Lewis Bemis. He in turn sold the same land "said to be ten acres" to Daniel Chittenden. In recent years Henry Hammond bought the five acres bordering the highway, but the lower five acres bordering Weathersfield line is still needed to complete the original tract of 55 acres.


March 23, 1833, David Chaplin Jr. sold his son Matthew one un- divided half of all the land he owned in Baltimore together with one-half of all the buildings and privileges and appurtenances for $800. April 6, 1833, son Matthew also bought the Glynn place from Joseph Atherton. The next April, 1834, Matthew sold all the land he owned to Socrates Hastings. Probably David, the father, did not like this arrangement, and on June 25 of that year he bought from said Socrates all the land Matthew had deeded him.


In 1834 David sold again to son Matthew who gave David and Lydia a bond in the penal sum of $2000 "and shall during the natural lives of David and Lydia provide and furnish for them at all times in sickness and infirmity, suitable nursing, doctoring, washing and attendance, suitable house room and firewood well cut, and split and fitted for the stove or fireplace as the case may be, provide and keep for their use a suitable horse, wagon, sleigh, harness, also a good cow, also each year ten dollars in money, 250 lbs. good pork, 100 lbs. good beef, 15 bus. of corn and rye, 3 lbs. souchong tea, two pounds Hyson tea, 20 bus. potatoes, 10 lbs. good sugar, 3 gals. molasses, pepper, spice, and saleratus, 12 lbs. good wool, 12 lbs. flax, 20 yds. good cotton cloth, 3 bus. good wheat or 12 barrel good flour (it appears they wanted everything to be good) 9 lbs. tallow, necessary and suitable boots and shoes, provide a suitable garden in a convenient spot, comfortable supply of apples and cider, all the salt they may need, pay for carding their wool and dressing their cloth. If Matthew shall fully do and perform all the above named services then this deed to be null and void." Speaking of a stipulation, this might have been a case of too much of a good thing.


On October 18, 1836, Matthew deeded it all back to his father David, and his name appears only once more on the Baltimore records, in David's will.


On June 13, 1840, David "being in a very infirm state of health sensible too of my liableness to sudden death-I do hereby make my last will and testament". After providing for the payment of his just debts he gives, devises and disposes of the remainder of his


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The History of


estate as follows: "I give to my son Matthew and to his heirs and assigns two dollars. I give Prudence and to her heirs and assigns two dollars. I give to my beloved wife Lydia during her life the use of the remainder of my estate both real and personal. I also give to my daughter Prudence and to her heirs and assigns at the death of my beloved wife Lydia all the residue and remainder of all my estate not herein otherwise disposed of." David Jr. lived two years and was tenderly cared for by his daughter, Prudence Chaplin Litch.


Mrs. Raymenton relates that her great-grandmother Chaplin once planted an apple tree near the corner of house number 3 facing the road. It was grafted until five different varieties of apples grew upon it. Grandma Chaplin lived to see her great-grandchild- ren enjoy the fruit from this tree.


It is interesting to note that no family on the Hammond farm has ever had a large number of children, but it has often been the home of old people in their last years. There were David and Prudence and Molly, David's mother, in the very first Chaplin home as will be recalled. Phebe Gates, a pauper, who lived to be very old, died in the Chaplin home in 1831. David Jr. and Lydia cared for Sarah Pierce Hedson, Lydia's sister in her declining years. Abner Field settled her estate which amounted to $205.39. There were two notes amounting to $150.00 and personal property for the rest. It is interesting to read the original copy of the appraisal; bandboxes, combs, and articles of underwear even were appraised in the list which Miss Bertha Field still keeps. Sarah's will was in favor of Lydia. David and Lydia were cared for by their daughter Pru- dence Litch. Grandma Litch came to the Chaplin home in her old age. Mrs. Raymenton remembers her two great-grandmothers, each in her comb-backed rocker. Then there were Prudence and Lyman Litch and recently Mr. Foster Hammond. Surely the place has been a "Home for the Aged."


Chaplin Genealogy David Sr. Married Prudence His mother's name was Molly


Their children:


James-


David, Jr .- b. 1779; d. July 27, 1842; m. Lydia Pierce-b. Apr. 12, 1782 in Ashburnham. Parents were Matthew and Sally Pierce; d. Aug. 29, 1867 of consumption.


Lucy-m. Joshua Martin 3rd.


Children of David, Jr. and Lydia:


Prudence-b. July 1808; d. Nov. 7, 1893; m. Lyman Litch- b. 1803; d. Jan. 7, 1894; age 90 yrs. 8 mos.


Matthew-m. Lorinda Howe. Lived first in Baltimore, settled in Montpelier.


Children of Matthew-Louise M. Ewers, Lucia M. Cross.


Children of Lucia-Charles Cross, Boston, and Carrie Cross, : Montpelier.


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Baltimore, Vermont


Children of Prudence Betsy, b. Feb. 5, 1832; d. Aug. 25, 1896; m. Seaman Ward-Lydia, b. Sept. 21, 1840; d. June 14, 1873 of consumption; m. F. H. Hodgeman-Emily, b. Aug. 13, 1838; d. Sept. 22, 1840 Mary, b. Oct. 29, 1842; d. Mar. 17, 1854. Great-grandchildren of David, Jr .:


Fannie A., b. Sept. 26, 1859; m. Raymenton 1890-Nellie E., b. Dec. 17, 1861; d. May 12, 1906; m. Chas. Whitcomb-Charles L., b. Aug. 4, 1857; d. Aug. 10, 1926; m. 1881 Mary Piper, b. Sept. 28, 1851-Marion, b. Jan. 31, 1891; m. 1931 to Callahan, --- Ralph Piper Ward, b. Oct. 21, 1883.


Levi Davis Family


When Samuel Davis, Gent., obtained a full title to the "Gover- nor's farm so called" for 40 shillings, he straightway deeded two sizable portions to his sons Samuel and Levi, the latter choosing 100 acres on the Weathersfield line. Probably if Ezra Redfield had not already obtained a deed to the 55 acres in the very south- east corner, Levi would have had 150 acres more or less as did brother Samuel. Perhaps that may explain why the very day Samuel of Windham deeded to Samuel of Baltimore his 155 acres, the latter deeded back the 55 acres which now constitute the Baltimore mowings on the Pollard farm. No partiality shown.


Levi's farm would have been hilly for the most part, but it had a sunny exposure, was well-watered with some fertile, fairly level fields. It comprised what is now the big Pollard pasture, being a 20 acre strip north and adjoining that and all the land between said pasture and the town line now owned by Dan Davis and Henry Hammond.


Levi obtained his deed in 1795, but he was living here in 1794 when the town was divided into school districts. The next year 1795 he was elected one of the three listers, also for the following year. In 1799 he was elected "tyding man", in 1800 highway surveyor for "South Destrect."


In 1800 the selectmen laid out a road that might have materially affected the Levi Davis homestead and added to its permanency. The year before they had employed the county surveyor to come and survey the road they had previously laid out beginning at Levi Davis' southeast corner 80 rods north from the "corner bound" of the four towns. This next year the selectmen laid out a road "beginning at an old basswood stump on the road leading from James Chittenden's to Francis Burnam's (probably the road above mentioned A. M. P.) then running north four degrees east (quite a turn A. M. P.) eighteen rods nearly to Levi Davis' dwelling house, then north twenty three degrees west sixty rods, then north 36 de- grees thirty four rods to the road near the house formerly occupied by Daniel Farr" (near the bridge on the old road A. M. P).


Now where was that old basswood stump? It is evident this road did not follow the brook as it was too deviating in its course.


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Nobody as yet has discovered the site of the Levi Davis' habita- tion. Perhaps Levi decided he had better be more zealous in at- tending town meetings if he wanted a road. In 1801 he was present and was elected lister, constable and collector, fence-viewer. And the town voted to accept the road from Levi Davis to Wm. Wilder (or Farr) as surveyed.


Levi continued as constable and collector, was one of the twelve that brought in their votes at Freeman's meeting in Feb. 1803 to elect a Representative to Congress. In 1803 Capt. Levi Davis was elected pound-keeper; in 1806 he was a fence-viewer. After that his name appears no more as an office holder.




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