USA > Vermont > Windham County > Marlboro > The history of the town of Marlborough, Windham County, Vermont > Part 6
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In the Worden quarry are found perfect rhombic crystals of brown spar embedded in the steatite, also veins of greenish talc and crystalline magnesian carbonate of lime, of snow white- ness. In the same rock is found the miascite or fibrous spar; also near the rock is found green chlorite in which are embedded octagonal crystals of the magnetic oxide of iron. Cubic crystals of iron pyrites are not infrequent in the syenitic and mica slate rocks. There is also a fine locality of actinolite on the farm of
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Ward Bellows. Hornblende slate, containing scicular crystals cf bornbiende, is found on the form of Zenss Whitney, snd on the stage road upon the highest elevation near Wilmington. The rock on which the township rests is mics siste, with taleo- miescecas slate, occasionally interstratified with syenite, com- sisting of bornblende, spotted with feldspar, and an occasional bed of bommblende siste. Sersiches upon the surfaces of rocks exiloit evidences of heavy drift agencies from s northwesterly to s soothessterly direction, corroborated by boulders of granulsz costa not found in situ in the vicinity, and by boulders of serpentine sesttered over the easterly section of the town. which are evidently from s massive bed of that rock in the western border of the town on the form of Levi G. Ballou.
Beds of clay and sand of s good quality for brick are found. and it is our opinion that on or near the surface are found suitable stones in suficient quantity for substantial stome fences. In some localities Ene slabs of mica slate sre obisined for valuable purposes, sad fence posts are quarried of sa enduring quality.
Srzaves sbound, ci pure cold water clear ss crystal, gushing from the ground sad furnishing one of the greatest boons of mature. Occasionally one is found impregnated with sulphur and iron, which is readily recognized by the yellowish mineral sediment deposited.
STRAys. The town is well watered. Every farm has its springs and brooks and wells from living fountains, yielding s never ising supply for all desirable domestic uses. Several walesble streams have their rise in town and find their way to the Connecticut River. It is said to be a remarkable iset that sot a stream of water of sufficient site to fill s goose quill runs into town, visible on the top of the soil, but several streams take their rise, among which is s portion of the west branch of West River, and siso Whetstone brook, which flows into the Connecticut River st Brattleboro, and furnishes the water power to the many valuable mills and machines set in motion upon its banks. Branches of the Green River also have their rise in town, furnishing valuable mill seats, and wend their way through Guilford to the Connecticut River.
PoxDs. In town are two natural ponds of considerable densions. Allen's Pond is situated in the northesst corner of the town, and is about one and a half miles long and three-
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fourths of a mile wide. South Pond is situated in the south- easterly section of the town and nearly of the same dimensions. These ponds were originally well stocked with fab, which some of the early settlers took in great abundance. In a short time with hook and line they would load themselves with the beauti- fully spotted salmon-colored mountain trout, in excellence nowhere surpassed, weighing from one to two pounds each. But latterly it is not so, for the numerous anglers have to a great extent exhausted their waters of their once delicious tresaures.
Mii Parviogms. These are more numerous than per- manent. On the streams above noticed, mills have been erected, doing good business a portion of the year in the manufacture of lumber, to the great convenience and advantage of the citizens. Probably the most permament and valuable water power in town is on the stream issuing from the South Pond, on which there is a fall of any desirable amount, for the construction of improved machinery to do valuable service, sod unquestionably it will be put to the test, in addition to its present desirable use. The first mill built in town was a saw mill erected by Col. William Williams, in 1772, upon the site since known as the Underwood Mill, which has passed through the hands of several owners and is now in the possession of Absalom Snow. Since the erection of the first mill by Col. Williams, several others have been built and gone into decay. For the number of owners of those in present use, see the list in another place.
MOUNTAINS. Although the town presents seversl prominent elevations, Centre Mountain is the highest and is sitested in the center of the township, from which circumstance it receives its name. Much of it is still covered with a heavy growth of timber.
CURIOSITIES. There are no esverms in town to our knowledge, but there is over s branch of Green River's natural stone bridge of some interest, on the form of the Iste Jomss Smith, mom owned by Clark A. Winchester. It is said that the Indians, before the settlement of the town, were in the habit of following up the stream to this bridge and then returning.
DISTILLERIES. In the Issi, and early part of the present century, this town was ismous for its crops of potatoes, both for their large quantity per sore and their excellent quality, some persons raising 400 bushels or more to the sore, and they
were considered a profitable crop at twelve and a half cents per bushel, probably as much so as at forty or fifty cents at the present time.
About the year 1810, John S. Strong erected buildings near the gate on the old turnpike, a mile east of the meeting house, and commenced distilling alcohol from potatoes, which received the common name of potato whiskey. Another was erected about the same time by Francis Very, on the farm now owned by Reuben Winchester; and a third one was built by Levi Barret and others on his premises, now owned by Simeon Adams. These were run only for a few years and went to ruin sooner than their influences.
ASHERIES. Several asheries have existed in town for the manufacture of both pot and pearl ashes. The first was erected by Messrs. Phinehas and Timothy Mather, near their dwellings, and afterwards the business was continued by Messrs. David, Cotton, Phinehas, Jr., and Rufus Mather, in Company. Francis Very erected a potash near his distillery; so also did John S. Strong, near his, Levi Barret and Roswell Paddleford, near theirs, and Lucius Field put up one near his store in the middle of the town, all of which did a successful business. They created a demand for ashes which were carefully saved by the citizens and sold to their own advantage and to that of the purchaser. All have gone to decay.
CHAIR FACTORY. For many years, Capt. Nathaniel Whitney and his son Solomon carried on the business of chair making, and manufactured substantial plain and fancy work which is still preserved in domestic use. For the last thirty years this business has been abandoned in town.
STARCH FACTORY. In the year 1835, Cotton and Dan Mather erected a starch factory at the Mather's Mills, so called, which did a successful business for a few years, but owing to the blight of the potato crop went into disuse.
TANNERIES. The principal manufactories of leather have been owned by the Messrs. Mather, and carried on by Capt. Timothy Mather and his son Dan, who succeeded him. As was formerly the custom, they tanned the hides furnished by their customers into leather which was manufactured for domestic uses. They also purchased stock of their own and manufactured leather for the accommodation of their patrons with a surplus for other
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markets. The business was considered good, yielding a fair profit, but from various causes for some time past it has been abandoned.
DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES. Formerly the mothers and their daughters spun and wove nearly or quite all the cloth with which their families were clad. Flax was raised and spun upon a foot-wheel and manufactured into nice linen cloth. The tow was carded by hand and spun upon a high wheel and woven into tow cloth-a substantial article for common use. For many years wool was carded by hand, spun upon a high wheel called a spinning wheel, and woven into cloth in a common hand loom. It was made into garments by the industry and in- genuity of the females. Even down to the present day we are happy to say that in many families the mothers and daughters still know the use of the wheel and loom, and garments of domestic make constitute quite an item of common wear.
FARMING. The inhabitants of Marlborough have been and still are principally farmers and mechanics. Farming is the leading business and grass the principal product. Grain is grown in sufficient quantities for bread and feed for animals. Good crops of wheat, rye, Indian corn, and oats, are annually produced for domestic use, with a surplus of potatoes for market. Formerly many hogs were fattened with boiled potatoes, milk, and meal, and carried to the Boston market. Beef was also stall-fed with potatoes and meal, and sold to drovers. Thus was formed quite an item of revenue to industrious and thriving farmers. Latterly the blight has affected the potatoes and the crop has become so uncertain as to discourage its cultivation with any reliance upon it as productive or sure, yet food enough is raised to fatten the farmers' own meat, but not enough to feed cattle for a foreign market. A small surplus, however, of oxen, cows, and young cattle, are annually furnished from the town and sold to speculators. Nearly every family furnishes a quantity of butter of an excellent quality for market. In addition to these sources of income there are several dairies in town from which several tons of cheese are annually produced, not to be surpassed in excellence, and commanding the best prices. Thus mowings and pastures furnish the great staple for the increasing wealth of the town.
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SUGAR. The manufacture of sugar from the rock maple (acer saccharinum) from the earliest settlement of the town has been a rich and delicious source of profit. The introduction of modern improvements both diminishes the toil and increases the value of the product. The old troughs and tapping irons are laid aside and pine buckets and hollow tubes for spouts take their place. Few of the tall massive trees of the olden time which have endured the winter blasts of centuries still yield their annual supply of sap. Beautiful groves of maples have sprung up, self planted on grounds once cleared, and where crops were grown and gathered, and now constitute the principal sugar orchards in town. In or near these orchards are erected convenient sugar houses in which are the boiling apparatus set in arches, tubs or reservoirs for holding sap, buckets and tubs when not in use, and seasoned wood for the furnaces. The sap is gathered from clean buckets and conveyed by teams to the sugar house, where it is boiled without exposure to injury from ashes, smoke, or dust, and made into sugar approaching a snowy whiteness. It is then put into tubs or run into tin moulds and thus prepared for domestic use or market. Some twenty tons or more are annually made in town and consumed or sold; with an abundance of trees for enlarged operations when the demand shall require it.
TURNPIKE. The Green Mountain Turnpike was chartered to a company of stockholders, and passed through the center of Marlborough across the Green Mountains from Brattleboro to Bennington. It opened one of the great thoroughfares of travel for emigrants and men of business or pleasure passing from the east to the west. It also opened facilities for market, increased the income of public houses, and tended in no small degree to bring the town into notice, and to improve the appear- ance and wealth of the place. Like similar enterprises in the state the burden of the expense fell upon a few and it was aban- doned as a lucrative investment of capital.
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CHAPTER V
First Congregational Society-Covenant Dr. Gershom C. Lyman Settled-Diary-Ordination Confession of Faith and Covenant Life and Character of Dr. Lyman List of his Publications-Epitaph
About the year 1770, a number of families from the Counties of Worcester and Hampton, Mass., and Hartford County, Conn., strengthened by their arrival the infant settlement.
Some of them were professed and hopeful followers of our Divine Redeemer, and united in establishing the order of the public religious worship of God; they conducted the services of their meetings by reading sermons, by prayers, and singing. They were few in number, but united and persevering in the support of religious order and the Lord blessed them in laying a good foundation for future action. The late Mrs. Deborah Morgan Underwood, widow of Jonathan Underwood, informed us that she "used to attend meeting at Col. Granger's, where they used to read sermons and pray." She said "the people were punctual in their attendance and great harmony prevailed in town in its first settlement."
In 1774, the Rev. Abner Reeves of Brattleboro came and preached the first sermon delivered in town by a regular minister, from Mark 16. 15, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." By the year 1776, about 40 families had joined this settlement in the wilderness, some of whom were anxious to enjoy the ordinances of the gospel, and the privileges of gospel ministry, and be bound together by covenant vows, to watch over each other in love and Christian fellowship.
On an application to the late Rev. Joseph Lyman, D.D., of Hatfield, Mass., he came, and after due preparation, on the 20th day of October, 1776, organized the Congregational Church in Marlborough, consisting of nine males and eight females. upon the following platform:
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COVENANT ON WHICH THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH WAS FORMED
We the subscribers inhabitants of the town of Marlborough being sensible of our obligation to walk together in all the ordinances of God's word blameless and to be in mutual fellow- ship and Communion as disciples of our common Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and fellow heirs of the promises; and having received counsel and advice of certain Ministers of the Gospel, do hereby with the assistance of the Rev. Joseph Lyman of Hatfield, Pastor of the Church there, jointly combine together in the sacred relation of Christian brethren in the firm and con- fident belief of the following articles as the doctrine of our religious faith, viz .: we believe
1. That there is one God, the creator and governor of all worlds, possessed of all natural and moral perfections in an infinite degree.
2. That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the word of God, given by inspiration from Him and that they contain every thing which it is necessary for us to believe and practice in order to our present and future well being.
3. That these Holy Scriptures reveal the character of God as existing in three persons, in one undivided God head, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, each of these three persons being equal from eternity and having every essential natural and moral perfection.
4. That God made man at first, upright and placed him in a state of holiness and complete happiness under a covenant of works; by keeping of which covenant he would have secured to himself and his posterity the everlasting favor of God; but that man being left to the freedom of his own will, fell from that state of moral rectitude and divine favor into a state of sin and misery and deprived himself of the image of God and a title to his love and complacency.
5. That fallen man could never recover himself again to a state of holiness and the divine favor.
6. That for man's recovery it was necessary he should have a surety, sufficient to answer the demands of God's law both by obeying its requirements and fulfilling its penalties.
7. That Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the second person in the adorable God head, is the surety of man by whom alone any of the race of Adam can obtain salvation to Eternal life.
8. That in order to become a proper and sufficient surety or mediator between an offended God and sinful man he assumed human nature and thus became God and man in two distinct natures and one person forever; by obeying the whole law and suffering the whole penalty due the sins of man, by laying down
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his life on the cross and rising again on the third day, ascending up into heaven and sitting at the right hand of the Father as the prevailing intercessor for sinners, he hath fully opened the way for their pardon and salvation.
9. That as a Mediator, Christ sustained the office of a Prophet, Priest and King.
10. That in order to be benefitted by the merits of Christ's atonement, sinners must be elected to eternal life; must be born again of the Holy Spirit by his unmerited and super- natural influence; must receive the gift of faith, exercise true repentance for sin, and live a life of sincere obedience to the precepts and ordinances of the Gospel.
11. That man cannot be justified, either in whole or in part, on account of any works of righteousness which he can perform, but solely on account of what Christ has done in his behalf.
12. That believers can do nothing of a gracious nature without the assistance of the Holy Spirit to enable them to do it.
13. That mankind must all die and give up an account of their conduct in this world to Christ who is the judge of the quick and the dead, and that immediately upon death the souls of men are doomed either to a state of endless happiness or woe.
14. That there will be a resurrection of the bodies of all men at the time of the general judgment when the wicked shall go away into everlasting burnings; but the righteous into life eternal.
15. That Christ hath instituted in his church two kinds of officers, Ministers or Bishops, and Deacons; and two sacraments, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, which offices and sacraments are to be religiously kept up in his Church until his second coming to judgment.
16. That Christians united in particular church relation are bound to walk together in love, to watch over one another in the Lord, to exhort each other to the performance of all gospel duties, especially of love to God and love to the brotherhood, to train up their children in the admonition of the Lord, to maintain family religion and government, and the public and secret worship of God.
To these articles we sincerely subscribe as the doctrines of our Christian faith and fellowship one with another. And we being sensible that it is an awful thing to transact with the living God do mutually covenant with God in the words following, viz .:
We do now in the presence of God and this congregation avouch the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to be our God; we give up ourselves to be his wholly and forever; we promise by his grace enabling us, to yield ourselves at all times
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to be his willing and obedient subjects, sacredly to keep all his commands, and to walk in all the ordinances of the gospel blameless; we covenant by assistance of his grace to devote our children to him and train them up for his kingdom, to walk in his church as the faithful subjects of his kingdom and children of his family, to watch over one another with all faithfulness, Christian tenderness, and jealousy, as joint heirs of his grace, and will submit ourselves to the gospel administration, dis- cipline, and instruction of the Church of Christ in this place.
JOHN CHURCH, CHARLES PHELPS, WILLIAM MATHER, OLIVER COOLEY, SOLO. PHELPS, ABEL STOCKWELL, ABEL STOCKWELL, JR., SAM'L. NEWTON, TIMOTHY MATHER.
The foregoing confession of faith and covenant now subscribed by the persons above named, was assented to by the following sisters of the Church, viz .:
SARAH STOCKWELL, DINAH STOCKWELL, PATIENCE STOCKWELL, JEMIMA CHURCH, ESTHER CHURCH, SARAH COOLEY, ANNA NEWTON, MARTHA MATHER.
The church being thus formed the brethren, under the advice of Rev. Mr. Lyman, chose a Moderator to preside in their church meetings and William Mather was the person voted to be their Mod'r.
Dated at New Marlboro, Oct. 20, A, D. 1776.
Attest Joseph Lyman, pastor of the Chh. in Hatfield, Mass.
In 1777, they procured the services of Mr. Gershom C. Lyman, a candidate for the gospel ministry from Lebanon, Conn., who came and preached several Sabbaths during the summer and in the autumn went back to Connecticut, giving them encourage- ment that he would comply with their solicitations and return the coming year.
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From a fragment of his journal we extract the following:
Jan. 1st, 1778, Thursday. Set out on a journey to New Marlboro-rode as far as Windsor, [Conn.]-gave a poor object 2 /-spent the evening agreably with a friend, tarried the night. Friday. This morning my horse was corked in the thigh-not- withstanding I proceeded on my journey to Infield, when my horse had to go so lame that I was obliged to put him into the care of a farrier-was very hospitably and agreably entertained by Mr. Peter Reynolds. Saturday. Hired a horse and went to Long Meadow on a visit to Doctor Williams. Lord's Day. Preached for Deac. Williams-had opportunity of communing with the church here at the Lord's table. O, how good is God to me! How does he load me with privileges and benefits, and how do I misimprove them! how unthankful-how barren! May he enable me to bring forth more fruit and to live more devoted to his service. Monday. Returned to Infield. Tarried with Mr. John Reynolds. Tuesday. Visited Rev. Mr. Potter and several friends. Tarried the night with Doc't Field. Wednes- day. My horse continuing lame, I took another, and came home and through the goodness of God, found my friends com- fortable. Saturday, 10th. Set out again-came to Ellington- preached for Mr. Bliss. Monday. Proceeded to Infield [left his hired horse and took his own] and in the afternoon came to Springfield ferriage-lodged with Mr. Lathrop. Tuesday, 13th. Came to Hatfield-proceeded on my journey, being prevented last week by the inclemency of the weather. Lodged with Mr. Nathaniel Montague. Wednesday. Dined at Northfield with Mr. Hubbard and came as far as Brattleboro-tarried with Mr. Reeves. Thursday, 22nd. Arrived at Marlboro."
This journal fixes the date of Mr. Lyman's second visit to this place on the 22nd day of January, 1778, after a trip of twenty-two days from his father's in Lebanon, Conn. The following extract from the continuation of his journal will show the difficulty in which ministerial exchanges of pulpits were made in those days, even for necessary assistance in the adminis- tration of the Lord's Supper.
"Monday, Feby. 16. Went to Northfield-lodged with Mr. Hubbard. Tuesday. Went to Hatfield-tarried till Thursday -then came to Greenfield-tarried with Mr. Newton. Friday dined at Hinsdale-came to Brattleboro-lodged with Mr. Reeves. Saturday returned to Marlborough-went this journey to exchange with some one who might administer the sacrament to this church, but was disappointed."
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The ministerial labors of Mr. Lyman were so highly satis- factory both to the church and congregation that town meetings were held, the records of which are as follows:
"At a legal town meeting on the 2d Monday in April, 1778, of a number of the free holders of the inhabitants of New Marl- borough; viz .: that mutually entered into a covenant to settle and support the Gospel in this place, after choosing Jonathan Underwood Moderator to order said meeting passed the follow- ing votes, viz .:
Voted William Mather their clerk to make and keep all the records of the votes that are passed at all their legal meetings as their covenant directeth.
2d. Voted unanimously to give Sir Gershom Clark Lyman a call to take the pastoral care of the church and congregation in this place.
3d. Voted to choose of five men to view the Minister Lot to know the value thereof and procure a settlement lot for a minister and make proposals for settlement and salary for said Mr. Lyman, and also to engage said Mr. Lyman to continue preaching in this place until the matter can be determined.
4th. Voted John Church, Capt. Zadock Granger, Isaac Pratt, William Mather, Jonathan Underwood should be said committee.
Attest per me William Mather, Town Clerk."
"At a legal meeting of the suscribers to the covenant mentioned in our last meeting on the 15th day of this July instant (1778) at Mr. Jonas Whitney's, after choosing Mr. Jonathan Underwood Moderator to order said meeting passed the following votes:
Ist. Unanimously voted to request Mr. Clark Lyman to continue preaching here until after our next meeting.
2d. Voted to raise sixty pounds lawful money to support the Gospel in this place on the list that was last taken in this town.
3d. Voted that Abel Dimick and Samuel Whitney should collect said rates.
5th. Voted to adjourn this meeting three weeks from this day at one of the clock in the afternoon at the meeting house in this place.
Attest per me William Mather, Town Clerk."
NOTE-The vote of Oct. 30, 1777, in the foregoing article on "Public Buildings," was to build a meeting house. From the 5th vote on July 15, 1778, as above we have the evidence that the said meeting house had been built probably during 1778.
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