USA > Vermont > Windham County > Marlboro > The history of the town of Marlborough, Windham County, Vermont > Part 4
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 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
[ 32 ]
growing out of the claims of New York to all the lands west of Connecticut River, and the part which he and his father took in those political struggles, their popularity waned, and their fellow citizens felt but a cool interest afterwards in their pro- motion.
The New Hampshire Grants of which the town of Marlborough was the third, were claimed by both the province of New York and that of New Hampshire. This conflict of title arose in consequence of the grant to the Duke of York in 1663, by the Crown of Great Britain, conveying to him all lands not previously granted, from the west bank of the Connecticut River to the east shore of Delaware Bay. Subsequent to this, the province of New Hampshire was created, extending westwardly, as was supposed, as far as the west boundary of Massachusetts, or within twenty miles of Hudson River. Thus the two provinces embraced a portion of the same lands. Hence arose the con- troversy between the provinces of New York and New Hampshire in regard to the right of possession; both claiming the same. In 1741, Benning Wentworth was appointed Governor of New Hampshire and invested with power by the King to issue grants of unoccupied lands within his province. Under the impression that the patent to the Duke of York was outlawed, or untenable, Gov. Wentworth, from time to time, granted charters of those townships known by the name of the "New Hampshire Grants." This led Lieutenant Governor Colden, then acting Governor of New York, to resist, and appeal to the King to define and settle the boundary. After due deliberation, the King in Council, on the 20th day of July, 1764, declared the boundaries between the two provinces to be the west bank of the Connecticut River. This decision of the Crown placed all the "New Hampshire Grants" so called, under the jurisdiction of the province of New York, and exposed the proprietors and settlers to a supposed liability to a loss or a re-purchase of their claims. The officials of New York pressed this measure. The settlers of the Grants resisted it, feeling themselves too poor to repurchase, and unwilling to abandon their premises after having spent so much toil and suffering to establish for themselves and their families a home in the woods. In some townships, the contention became so hot that citizens resorted to arms in re- sisting the civil authorities of New York, with the threatening
[ 33 ]
aspect of a civil war. The main body of the proprietors and settlers of the "Grants" took a decided stand against the judicial authority of New York.
In this contest, Charles Phelps, Esq., and his son Timothy, adhered to the decision of the Crown in establishing the boun- daries between the two provinces. Their course was esteemed adverse to the interest of those holding lands under the authority of New Hampshire. This rendered them unpopular with the citizens in their own settlement as well as with those of other settlements. It, however, gave them political favor with the government of New York, by which means Timothy Phelps was promoted to the honor of High Sheriff of the County of Cumberland in the State of New York, which embraced the present Counties of Windham and Windsor. Neither time, persuasions, nor governmental power could reconcile the settlers upon the "Grants" to New York authorities and their officials. In some instances the settlers had been prosecuted with an attempt of their ejection; in other cases, imprisoned, then arraigned before the New York Courts where both judge and jurors were instigated to give a verdict against them. Agitated and brought up to a spirit of desperation, under their grievances they came to the stern decision to secede and break away from every government under heaven and rule themselves. For this purpose, in July, 1776, a convention of delegates from all the settlements was called, which after due deliberation, declared the New Hampshire Grants a free and independent district. This being done, they and their constituents were without a constitution, laws, government, or officers, and stigmatised as outlaws. Although the citizens of Marlborough had not been subject to the oppressions which others had experienced, yet when called upon they sent their delegate, and united in the decisions of the Convention.
Sheriff Phelps held to his official dignity sanctioned by his father until, by the spirit of the age, they were both taken and lodged in Bennington jail for resisting the authorities. This seemed to them an unwarranted persecution, and soured their minds against the Vermont government. Not relishing their confinement nor their fare, they were brought to declare their allegiance "to the powers that be," but ever afterwards mani- fested a decided preference for laws and authorities of the State
[34 ]
of New York. It was both interesting and painful to hear Sheriff Phelps, even in old age, discourse upon the scenes of the times to which we refer, leaving the impression of approaching mono- mania upon a subject which had so intensely occupied his mind in early manhood, and of a powerful disgust in being superseded in a desirable official position. 1135727
After Esq. Phelps, other settlers followed and commenced settlements in town, among whom were Amariah Park, William Clark, Capt. William Williams, Col. Zadock Granger, Capt. Abel Dimmick, Col. Phineas Freeman, and others whose names are to be noticed hereafter, without knowing the order in which they succeeded each other.
William Clark came from Hadley, Mass., and settled near where now stands the Brick School House, east of the Mathers' Mill. As early as 1768, two young women of Irish descent, by the name of McLaughlin, came and resided with him. In the autumn of the same year, one of them toward evening went out after the cow, and was supposed to have been lost, and to have perished in the woods, and devoured by wild beasts, as she was never found. People came from Brattleboro, Colerain, and vicinity, and joined the citizens in looking for her. They searched the woods far and near-the South pond-also the house, by tearing up the floor and hearth, but all to no effect. Suspicion rested upon Mr. Clark, as having taken her life that he might take the other to himself. On this point Capt. Nathaniel Whitney told the writer that he could not believe Mr. Clark was guilty. After this, he lived alone in the same house for years, and never appeared like a guilty man. Some six or seven years after this event, when Lieut. Joel Adams was building a sawmill north of the spot where Benjamin Knight built a sawmill, which is two miles west of Mr. Clark's, human bones were found which were supposed to be those of Miss Mclaughlin. A Mrs. Fox, a widow from Wilmington, said she was the eldest sister and about thirty years of age. The other sister lived in her family afterwards, married a Mr. Battis, and lived in Brattleboro.
In the year 1769, Capt. William Williams with his family moved into town from Northboro, Mass., of whom it was said "he was a handsome man" of good size, fine proportion, easy manners, and graceful deportment. He was promoted to the office of Major, and then to that of Colonel, and distinguished
[35 ]
himself at the head of his regiment in the Bennington Battle, Aug. 16, 1777, a battle in which a triumphant victory was won. The news of this battle was hailed with shouts of joy by the citizens, and by the American soldiers was received with soul inspiring enthusiasms, ensuring them of the justness of their cause and the desperation of British arms. This event was soon after followed with the surrender of Burgoyne and his army at Saratoga, Oct. 17, 1777, and ever after left the settlers upon the Grants undisturbed by British rule.
Col. Williams was an enterprising citizen as well as a brave soldier. He was thought to be as active and useful in the settle- ment of the town as any other man of his day. He was instru- mental in inducing Capt. Nathaniel Whitney and his brothers Jonas and Samuel, to visit the place. They made purchases in 1769, and settled in 1770. The Whitneys were from Shrews- bury, Mass., and through their influence came the Bellows, Pratts, and Winchesters, who bore their share of the burden of new settlers. Col. Williams erected the first framed building in town. It was a barn on the farm of the late Capt. Simeon Adams, now owned by his son T. Mather Adams. This barn was torn down in 1821, and a new barn of much larger dimensions was erected upon the same site, where it now stands. Col. Williams had two daughters, Lydia, who married Chester Packard, and Phoebe, who married Dr. Benjamin Morgan. Both settled in Wilmington and had families. He did not live many years in town, but went to Wilmington and from place to place. He and his wife both lived until 1823, and died within a short time of each other in the Province of Lower Canada. Col. Phineas Freeman, from Groton, Conn., was one of the early settlers of Marlborough. He lived in town several years, was chosen representative and town clerk, and rendered himself useful as the builder of the first Congregational Meetinghouse in 1779.
Capt. Abel Dimmick was also one of the early settlers. If we mistake not he came from Suffield, Conn., and built him a house on the knoll about ten rods north of the present residence of Dr. Ebenezer Tucker. He was esteemed an enterprising citizen. After a few years he removed to Pownal, in Bennington County. There were also others, however much esteemed, of a roving disposition, who tarried in town for a season at different periods, but did not become permanent residents.
[ 36 ]
THE GRANGER LOT
This lot, so called and well known by its name, has a history of some interest to the inhabitants of Marlborough and their descendants, which should not escape notice. It is a part of Right No. 21, and contains the first purchase of the late Capt. Nathaniel Whitney from Shrewsbury, Mass., then a young man unmarried. He commenced his labors in the wood by clearing a portion of the land and erecting the first frame house in town, and the fourth framed barn. These buildings were located about half a mile south of the site of the old Congregational Meetinghouse, on the road then in use leading from said Meeting- house southerly by the residence of the late Rev. Dr. Lyman to the residence of the late Phinehas and Timothy Mather. The buildings have long since been removed, but the foundations are still visible, and may be visited by the Antiquarian with no small degree of interest, as he studies the early history of the town. Col. Zadock Granger bought these premises, to which he removed his family from Suffield, Conn., and which he con- tinued to occupy and improve for several years until he re- moved to western New York.
Previous to this period, on the 17th of March, 1768, by the authority of New York, was chartered the county of Cumber- land, Province of New York, then embracing the present counties of Windham and Windsor in Vermont, over which New York claimed jurisdiction. "After the organization of the State Government, this County retained the name (Cumberland) till Feb. 11, 1779, when it was changed to Windham" (see Thomp- son's Gazetteer of Vt., Cumberland Co.). After the erection of the County of Windham the courts were held alternately at Westminster and Marlborough for many years until they were removed to Newfane (see Article, Westminster in Gaz. as above). By this act Marlborough for a period of years was considered the half shire of the County, entitling it to a distinction worthy of remembrance. It was at the house of Col. Granger, above described, that the courts were held. These were, it is supposed, some of the first in the county if not in the State. Here civil and criminal cases were tried and decided with their usual exciting results. One, in particular, is in remembrance, as narrated by the early settlers who were eye witnesses. Two
[ 37 ]
women were arrested for criminal conduct, tried, and sentenced by the court to be whipped; they were tied to the whipping post and upon their naked backs received the lashes of the whip to answer the penalty of the law. During this process the in- tention of marriage was published in behalf of a couple wishing to join "in sacred wedlock" according to the law and usage of the times.
Here also was erected a county jail, supposed to be among the first built in the state. It was built of heavy logs and was used once if not oftener for the confinement of a prisoner.
It has been said of Col. Granger that he was a man of noble spirit and a useful citizen; that he was an ardent friend and patron of the Rev. Dr. Lyman, and was instrumental in pro- curing his services at Marlborough as a minister. Previous to the settlement of the Rev. Dr. Lyman, Col. Granger's house was opened for religious worship on the sabbath when the congregation assembled to hear a sermon read and prayers offered. In this house occurred the death of James Ball, the first, death in town.
COURTSHIP
The first courtship which probably occurred in town is not wholly devoid of interest, as may be truthfully said of many since.
About the year 1770, Mrs. Stockwell, wife of Abel Stockwell, the first settler, made a quilting which was fashionable in those days and has continued so for several years since. Among those invited was Dinah Fay, who came with Col. Williams's family from Northboro, Mass., and Molly Gale.
From the late Mrs. Hannah Mather (wife of Maj. Timothy Mather) the writer received the following particulars, as narrated to her by Mrs. Stockwell.
At the time the young ladies, Dinah Fay and Molly Gale, were coming to the quilting, her boys, Abel and Perez Stockwell were at work piling and burning brush. As they espied the young misses tripping through the woods and over logs, Perez started up and said to Abel, "Come let us throw a stone at that bird perched upon yonder twig and see who shall have the old maid" (i. e. Dinah Fay). Perez cast the first stone and knocked over the bird, giving him a fair claim to the young damsel fifteen
[ 38 ]
years older than himself. At evening, Perez accompanied Miss Dinah through the woods to her residence at Col. Williams's. As his return would be dark and dreary, alone by night, he was induced to tarry until morning. Being much delighted with his interview, and with a hospitality so cordially bestowed, he took courage, and returned home full of animation. He went into his chamber lively enough, to exchange his best for his working suit, and then began to sing and dance. In the midst of his rapture he flung out the following stanza:
"Life won't last forever Beauty will decay Rambling is no pleasure And I'll have Dinah Fay."
All the little circumstances which followed in settling the preliminaries of
THE FIRST MARRIAGE
were not told; but ere long the happy wedding day arrived. It was in the Autumn of 1771. The Rev. Abner Reeve of Brattle- boro was invited to solemnize the first marriage in Marlborough, when Perez Stockwell was married to Dinah Fay. All the inhabitants of the town were invited as guests to the wedding; they were quite punctual in their attendance and all tarried through the night. The wedding took place in a log house of one room, with a stone chimney and large fireplace with high jambs and a broad back to hold a pile of wood for a big fire to keep them warm. When the hour of rest arrived, with these accommodations, which were the best the house afforded, all lay down on the floor for the night. It should have been said all were provided with a wedding supper. The good lady of the house apologised for having pumpkin sauce as the only dessert on her table. To relieve her embarrassment, good parson Reeve related this story.
"A man having moved into a new country wrote a letter to his friends in which he expressed the value of the pumpkin in the following lines:
"Punkin bread and punkin beer, If 'twa'n't for punkin we could not live here, Punkin pudding and punkin pie,
If 'twa'n't for punkin we should die."
[39 ]
CHAPTER III Grave Yards-Public Buildings Casualties-Conflagrations-War Achievements
1. The first grave yard in town, if we are permitted so to call it, was in the forest where no tree was cut. Afterwards the ground was cleared and became the site of the First Con- gregational Meeting House. The first death known to have occurred in town was, as has been already narrated, that of James Ball from Hadley, Mass., a young man of a fine con- stitution, who was taken sick with a fever and died at the house of Capt. Nathaniel Whitney, situated on what is called the Granger lot, on the 27th of January, 1773, in the 26th year of his age. For his remains a grave was dug in the woods and it was the first grave known to have been dug in town, and his burial the first interment. Near this grave, in April, 1782, was buried an infant son of Samuel Pratt and Catherine, his wife. These graves were near the northwest corner of the first meeting house. When that ground was selected for a meeting house it was abandoned as a burial place for the ground hereafter described.
2. The second grave yard was selected and located in the body of woods south of the Phelps burying place, and easterly from the central one.
About the year 1776, the trees were cut down, the ground cleared; in the course of five or six years about 30 persons were buried there. Many of the graves may be distinctly traced. Since that period a second growth of timber has sprung up, and there are now standing upon some of those graves trees 20 inches through. The first person buried there was Molly, daughter of Capt. Nathaniel Whitney. Among others there buried, lie the mortal remains of Jonas, the son of Jonas Whitney, Esq., Abel Stockwell, the first settler of the town, and his son Perez, the first wife of Capt. Jonathan Warren, the first wife of Elnathan Allen, Esq., Morris Rising, killed by the falling of a tree in 1777, the second wife of Timothy Mather, an infant daughter of Zarager Bartlett, three children of Joseph Giles-all that he had, a child of Amariah Parks, two children of Perez Stockwell,
[ 40 ]
three children of Abel Stockwell, one child of Moses Church- all these children buried in 1777, Joseph Giles and a child of Moses Church in 1780, and two more Church children in 1781. There is no monument or gravestone for any of the graves and this is their only earthly memorial.
3. About the same time in which the latter grave yard was selected another was designated in the west part of the town, on the height of ground about 40 rods north of the old parade ground, where several graves may be traced.
4. The last mentioned grave yard was soon abandoned and another selected on the farm of Capt. Samuel Whitney, now owned by Ira Adams, Esq. This was used for many years and contains many graves and several head stones with appropriate inscriptions. The ground was too wet, and had to be abandoned.
5. For a substitute the selectmen of the town in 1815 selected a piece of ground on the farm of Clark Warren, near the inter- section of the Dover road with the old turnpike. This contains a large number of graves and many white marble grave stones. The yard is enclosed by a wall.
6. After the grave yard in the woods, described as No. 2, had been used a few years, it was abandoned, and a substitute selected on the well known Thaddeus Underwood farm, now owned by L. Clark Adams. This may be called the Central grave yard, and is beside the stage road, about half a mile north of the Congregational meeting house. It contains more graves and grave stones with inscriptions commemorative of departed worth than any other yard in town. This has been enlarged by an addition on the north side, divided into lots and sold to pur- chasers; on one of which Gen. Phinehas Mather erected in 1860 a fine obelisk marble monument and enclosed the same in a substantial iron fence. This is the first and only monument of the kind in town. The whole yard is fenced with a heavy stone wall; and excepting the addition referred to is free to those wishing to use it.
7. This is a neighborhood grave yard of long standing in the east part of the town near the Brattleboro line on a part of the farm of Luther Ames, Esq. It contains many graves and several headstones. It is also walled in.
8. Of the family burial places, we may mention that of the Phelps family, on the Phelps farm, containing several graves
[ 41 ]
and headstones commemorative of the deceased members of the family. It was enclosed by a stone wall under the direction of Charles Phelps, Esq., in the autumn of 1824, at which time the grave stones were put up.
9. Boomer Jenks selected a place in his orchard in which were buried several members of his family.
10. Robinson Winchester has also a family burying place surrounded by a wall on his own farm in which are deposited the remains of several members of his family.
11. A burying ground was commenced in Feb., 1847, in the north part of the town on the farm of Eli Dunklee, west of the Branch, in which the remains of the following persons have been interred, viz .: Eli Dunklee, Cyrus Stearns, George Richard- son and daughter, Nehemiah Willis Fisher and daughter, Josiah Parks and wife, Anna and Eli, children of Benoni W. Blake, Mary, wife of John Davenport, Henry H. Barret, son of Pardon Barret, and perhaps others.
In connection with the foregoing history of grave yards it is proper to state that the families living in that part of the town called the Branch have buried their dead principally across the town line in the south border of Newfane. This yard is fenced and furnished with a goodly number of grave stones. In these several burial places above described are deposited the remains of nearly all persons who have died in town and in a few instances, six generations of the same family. These several burying grounds, if in one body, would occupy several acres and embrace a large congregation, with constant additions thereto. Among the numerous graves, there are not a few containing remains of whom there is now no knowledge.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
The first meeting house in Marlborough erected by the citizens for religious worship, was for the use of the Congregational Church and Society. Most of the early settlers, being from Massachusetts and Connecticut, were of that denomination, and were solicitous, as soon as their means would allow, of laying a good foundation for religious privileges for their own improve- ment and that of their posterity. The preliminary measures which they took may be learned from an extract from the first book of their town records, and is as follows, viz .:
[ 42]
THE PHELPS FAMILY
GRAVEYARD
"At a legal town meeting in New Marlborough on the 30th of October, 1777, after choosing John Church Moderator to order said meeting passed the following votes:
1st That we should build a meeting house by subscription.
2d Voted to set it west of Abel Dimmicks in the most con- venient place so soon as it rises the hill.
3d Voted Capt. Granger, Jonathan Warren and Samuel Whitney a committee to oversee said house.
4th Voted to have a candidate on trial for settling the Gospel in this place.
5th Voted that Capt. Granger, Jonathan Warren and Nathaniel Whitney be a committee to apply for a preacher.
6th Voted to raise thirty pounds lawful money for preaching by rate.
7th Voted to have aforesaid meeting house 45 feet in length, 35 in width 2 story high.
Attest : WILLIAM MATHER, Town Clerk"
At a subsequent "legal meeting on the first Monday in Decem- ber, 1777, the site and dimensions of the house were confirmed as follows:
1st Voted the aforesaid meeting house should be set on the same place mentioned in the foregoing meeting and to be of the same bigness.
2d Voted to add two more committee men for the purpose of overseeing said house.
3d Voted William Mather and Joseph Winchester should be the additional committee.
Attest: WILLIAM MATHER, Town Clerk"
According to the foregoing proceedings the inhabitants of the town on the following year erected their house of worship. The location was upon an eminence presenting a landscape far- reaching to the east and the west. To the west the eye stretches over the billowy mountain ranges verdant with their evergreen forests, until it rests upon the light blue tints of the distant and more prominent elevations of the Green Mountains, which bound the western prospect. To the east the vision is unbroken across the great valley of the Connecticut where abounds luxuri- ant alluvial deposits, fertile meadows, and cultivated fields with their golden harvests, until it rests upon the granite hills of New Hampshire where rises in full view the lofty Monadnoc, standing majestically, the monarch of the range.
[ 43 ]
This sightly elevation-a choice site for a windmill to face the stiff blasts of western gales-the fathers chose as their place "to go up to worship." Here was located their first meeting house in 1778, a substantial building of the best timber selected from the surrounding forests, 48 feet long, 35 feet in width, two stories high and placed upon a firm foundation, well boarded, shingled, clapboarded with wrought iron nails, and glazed, a plain structure having neither porch nor steeple. In the course of time it was finished but not painted either without or within. The entrance was by a double door in front and a single door opening into each of the two side aisles at the back of the house. The lower floor was finished into high square pews, owned by their respective occupants, with a broad aisle through the center from the front door to the pulpit, and a narrow aisle on each side, separating the wall pews from the centre. There was a high pulpit over which was an immense sounding board in the shape of a wide spread umbrella, secured from falling by bars of iron. In front of the pulpit, at its base, were the deacons' seats and a semi-circular falling leaf, to be used as a table in the administration of the Lord's Supper. In the deacons' seat stood the moderator of Town meetings and other public gatherings of the citizens, when the table was occupied by the town clerk on which he wrote the doings of the meeting. In the southeast and southwest corners of the lower floor were stairs leading to the gallery, which ran around upon three sides, and was finished with wall pews and long free seats. The seats in front of the pulpit were occupied by the choir of singers celebrated for their number, fine voices, good taste and excellent performance, which added much to enliven the exercise of divine worship. In those days the males all sat upon the west side and the females on the east side of the gallery as was the universal custom at that time.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.