USA > Vermont > Washington County > Plainfield > The history of the towns of Plainfield, Roxbury and Fayston, Vermont : with Marshfield or Middlesex papers in fifty copies > Part 19
USA > Vermont > Washington County > Roxbury > The history of the towns of Plainfield, Roxbury and Fayston, Vermont : with Marshfield or Middlesex papers in fifty copies > Part 19
USA > Vermont > Washington County > Fayston > The history of the towns of Plainfield, Roxbury and Fayston, Vermont : with Marshfield or Middlesex papers in fifty copies > Part 19
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Elroy and others, in all 22 men, with 9 teams and plenty of axes, bars and levers, with which to clear the track, and they were joined by Stiles when they reached his place, making 23 men. When they reach- ed the woods they were again stopped, this time by 16 Worcester men with axes, who commenced to fell trees into the road, "as fully resolved to prevent any further tax to support the Downers, as the Boston "tea party " were to avoid paying the three cent tax on tea. The Middlesex men commenced clearing the road, and pro- ceeded some distance in that way, but the 16 men kept the trees so thick in the road ahead, that Herrick ordered his nien to leave the road, and cut a new road through the woods around the fallen trees. In this way they succeeded better, and when the trees became too numerous ahead, they dodged again, and brushed out a road around them, Holden following close be- hind with the family. As soon as it was certain that they would succeed, Herrick proceeded alone to the house, to protect that from being destroyed, and to have a fire when the woman and children should get there.
Very soon after he reached the house, William Hutchinson entered with a fire- brand, and was about to set fire to the house, when Herrick seized him, threw him to the floor, and seating himself on Hutchinson, held him fast. Torry Hill soon entered, with a gruff "whose here?" Herrick answered, " I am here, and here is this little Bill Hutchinson, who bothered me yesterday by felling trees into the road." "Let me have him," said Torry. Herrick released him, when he sprang for the fire, determined to carry out his purpose, but Torry seized him by the collar, and snap- ping him to the door, gave him a kick that made him say, " I'll go!" "Yes, you will go, and that d-d quick, too," said Hill, giving him another kick, that sent him many feet from the house.
out, and threatening loudly, exclaimed, " I can lick any six of you!" Torry Hill sprang in front of him, and smacking his fists together, replied, "My name is six, come on !" but no blows were struck.
Herrick was soon called before Judge Ware, of Montpelier, to answer to the charge of violating the statute against re- moving any person or persons from one town in this State to any other town in the State without an order of removal. It was proved conclusively that all the home they had was in Worcester, that they were vis- iting in Middlesex, and desired to return, and that the defendant only helped them to return to their house in Worcester. Wm. Upham and Nicholas Baylies, counsel for Worcester, and Judge Jeduthan Loomis for defendant.
Although the Worcester people were beat, they did not give up, but arranged a double sled so that the driver's seat was attached to the forward sled, and a blow or two with an axe would free the hind sled and body, and taking the family on the sled, they gave them a free ride up north, and when in a suitable place the driver de- tached the forward 'sled, and trotted off towards home, leaving the woman and children in the road, comfortably tucked up in their part of the sled, and where they would be under the necessity of so- liciting the charity of Her Majesty's sub- jects in Canada.
POPULATION AND GRAND LIST.
1783, population 1 or 2 ; 1791, 60 ; 1793, grand list £280, Ios .; 1800, population 262; 1810, population 401, list $4770.37 ; 1820, 726, $7623 ; 1830, 1156, $5720 ; 1840, 1279, $8240 ; 1850, 1365, $2952.52 ; 1860, 1254, $3459.51 ; 1870, 1171, $3584.63 ; 1880, 1087, $3128 ; 1881, $5068.
In 1794, our votes for governor were, for Thomas Chittenden 10, Elijah Paine 4, Louis R. Morris I, and Samuel Mattocks I.
It was voted to raise 3d. per pound for making and repairing roads, and 2d. per pound to defray town expenses.
Soon after both parties arrived at the house, and the family was escorted in about daybreak. A war of words followed, with The 5d. on a pound was 2 1-12 per ct. of the grand list, which was a great varia- some threatening. One tall, muscular, Worcester man, named Rhodes, stepped | tion from the 125 to 150 per ct. raised by
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the town for a few years past for necessary expenses and highways.
SCHOOLS.
The first district extended along the river, but we have not learned the exact location of the first school-house. The district was divided in 1794. the line be- tween lots 6 and 7 on the river, and one school-house built near where the No. 1 school-house now stands, and No. 2 school- house, which was washed away by the freshet of ISIS, about half way from the village to where the road leading towards the Centre passes under the railroad.
As the town became settled, new dis- tricts were organized until they numbered 13, but at present only 11 support schools, two having been divided and set to other districts. With two or three exceptions, the school-houses have been newly built or repaired within a few years, and are in good condition, and the schools will com- pare favorably with the common schools of surrounding towns.
The natural division of the township prevents any natural central point in town, and no high schools of any grade have been established here, but many of the larger scholars attend the high schools and seminaries at Montpelier, Barre, Water- bury and elsewhere.
The nun:ber of families having children of school age is about 170, and the num- ber of school children only about 225. consequently our schools are all small compared with the schools of early days. About the year 1825 Stephen Herrick Taught at the Centre and had 75 scholars ; Hubbard Willey sending 10, Ezra Nichols 7. and others nearly as many.
TOWN OFFICERS.
1831; Wm. J. Holden, 1838; Leander Warren, 1841, '44. '58, '59; Horace Hol-" clen, 1842, '43; W'm. H. Holden, 1845; Joseph Hancock, 1846, '48; John Poor. 1349, '50; Oliver A. Chamberlin, 1851, '52. '55; Moses Holden, 1853, '54; Geo. Leland, 2d, 1856, '57 ; James H. Holden, IS60; Jacob S. Ladd, 1861, '62; Wm. E. McAllister, 1863; C. C. Putnam, 1864. '65 : Rufus Warren, 1866, '67 ; Charles B. Holden, 1868, '69; Jarvil C. Leland, 1870; Jacob Putnam, 1872; Sylvanus Daniels, 1874; C. C. Eaton, 1876; Myron W. Miles, 1878; Wm. Chapin, 18So.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS .- David Goodale was chosen in 1846; Aaron Ladd, 1847. '48, '49 ; Stephen Herrick, 1850, '56. '66; George Bryant, IS51 ; Wm. H. Hol- den, 1852; W'm. Chapin, 1853, '57, '69: H. Fales, 1854; Anson Felton, 1855 ; H. L. McElroy, 1858, '61 to '66; Marcus Gould, 1859. '60; W. L. Leland, 1867; C. C. Putnam, Jr .. 186S, '70; Elijah Whitney, 1879. 'So; V. V. Vaughn, 1871 to '79, '81.
FIRST SELECTMEN .- Thomas Mcad. 1790, '95, '96; Samuel Harris, 1791 ; Seth Putnam, 1792, '98, 1803, '4. '14, '15 ; Levi Putnam, 1793; Josiah Hurlburt, 1794; Leonard Lamb, 1797 ; Henry Perkins, 1799 ; David Harrington, 1800, '1, '2; Ephraim Willey. 1So) ; Elisha Woodbury, 1806; Josiah Holden, 1807, 'S; Nathaniel Car- penter, 1809, '11, '13. 'IS, '19, '20, '21 ; Joseph Hutchins, IS10; Ephraim Keyes, IS12 ; Daniel Houghton, 1816; Jacob Put- nam, 1817 ; Horace Holden, 1822, '23, '27. '35. '36. '39. '46, '47 ; James Jordan, IS28 ; John Vincent, 1829. '30, '31, '34 ; Wm. H. Holden, 1833: Aaron Ladd, 1837 ; S. C. Collins, 1833 ; Leander Warren, 1840, '57; Geo. H. Lewis, 1841, '42, '53; O. A. Chamberlin, 15.43, '44. '48, '49, '51; Sam- uel Daniels, 18.45 ; George Leland, 1850, '52; C. C. Putnam, 1854. 71, '72. '73: Jacob S. Ladd, 1855 ; Moses Holden, 1856; Wm. D. Mcintyre. 1858; David Ward, 1859, 60, '66. '67, '68; Osgood Evans, 1861; Andrew A. Tracy, 1862; Jas. H. Holden, 1863. '64 ; D. P. Carpenter, 1865 ;
REPRESENTATIVES Samuel Harris was representative In 1791 : Seth Putnam, 1792, '93 . '28 . 06 . '97 10 1500 , ' 3 . A . ' 5 . 7 . "8 . '13 to '17. '22; Josiah Hurlburt, 1795. Henry Perkins, 1801, '2, '6; David Har- nington, 1Soy to 1813, '17. '19. '21 ; Na- thaniel Carpenter. 1818, '20, Josuh Hol- den, 18:3. '24. 23, '29; Holden Putnam, 18:5. 25, 27. '38. '36. 10 . John Vincent. 1830. '33. '35. '37. W'm H Holden. Jarvil C. L.cland. 186); jacob Putnam,
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1870; Gardner Sawyer, 1874, '81; Elijah Somers, 1875 ; Wm. B. McElroy, 1876; Hiram A. Sawyer, 1877; Norris Wright, 1878; D. R. Culver, 1879; C. J. Lewis, 1880.
all the time till his death, in 1865; Wm. T. Clark, 1842; Thomas Stowell, 1843; John Poor, 1853; Jas. H. Holden, 1864, '65, '67 to '72 ; Marcus Gould, 1866; C. C. Putnam, 1872, '73, '74, '75 ; D. P. Carpen- ter, '76, '77, '78, '80. Seth Putnam, first
CONSTABLES .- The first constable elect- ed was Edmond Holden, in 1790; Daniel justice in 1789, held the office of justice 26 Hoadley, 1791 ; Jacob Putnam, 1792 ; Seth years ; David Harrington, 15 years ; Thos. Stowell, 12 years; John Poor, 14 years ; Nathaniel Carpenter, first justice, 20 years, and Horace Holden was justice at least 38 years. Putnam, 1793; Samuel Harris, 1794, '97, '98, '99; Josiah Hurlburt. 1795 ; Wm. Hol- den, 1796, 1820; Henry Perkins, 1800; Rufus Chamberlin, 1801 ; David Allen, .1802; Ira Hawks, 1803; Thomas Mead, TOWN AGENTS .- Stephen Herrick, 1842, '52. '57, '58, '60, '61, '66, '72; Geo. H. Lewis; 1843, '44; John Poor, 1845, '53; Holden Putnam, 1846 to '51 ; George W. Bailey, 1855, '56; Wm. D. Mcintyre, 1859; Leander Warren, 1862, '63, '64, '65, '71, '73; D. P. Carpenter, 1867, '68, '69 ; David Ward, 1870; C. C. Putnam, 1874, '75; Wm. Chapin, 1876, '77, '78, '80, '81 ; Rufus Warren, 1879. 1804, '5, '6; David Harrington, 1807 to '13 ; Josiah Holden, 1814 ; Horace Holden, 1817, '19, '24 ; Luther Haskins, 1818 ; Dan- iel Houghton, 1821 ; Jeduthan Haskins, 1822 ; Alexander McCray, 1825; Ira Mc- Elroy , 1825; O. A. Chamberlin, 1828; Wm. A. Nichols, 1829; Luther Farrar, 1830, '31 ; D. P. Carpenter, 1833, '34, '36, '37 ; Gideon Hills, 1835 ; Stephen Herrick, 1838, '39, '40, '42, '45 ; Geo. Leland, 1841 ; COUNTY JUDGES .- Hon. James H. Hol- den, Hon. Don P. Carpenter. Philander Holden, 1843, '44, '46; Geo. H. Lewis, 1847, '48, '49; Wm. H. Holden, MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVEN- TION .- Seth Putnam was member in 1793 ; Rufus Chamberlin in 1814, '22, '28 and '36; Wm. H. Holden in 1843; O. A. Cham- berlin in 1850. 1850, '51; Wm. Slade, 1852; Frank A. Blodgett, 1853, '54; Curtis Haskins, 1855; Ezra Ladd, 1856, '57 ; Wm. Chapin, 1858, '59 ; C. B. Holden, 1860 to '74 ; Myron W. Miles, 1874 to the present, 1881.
OVERSEERS SINCE 1841 .- Robert Mc- -Elroy, 1842; Selectmen, 1843, '75 ; Jedu- than Haskins, 1844; D. P. Carpenter,. 1845 ; Wm. S. Clark, 1846; Wm. D. Mc- Intyre, 1847, '67, '68, '69; Enos Stiles, 1848, '49; Thomas Stowell, 1850; Benja- min Scribner, 1851, '53, '54, '64; Stephen Herrick, 1852, '58; Daniel B. Sherman, 1855, '56; Geo. R. Sawyer, 1857 ; W. H. Clark, 1859; C. C. Putnam, 1860 to '67 ; David Ward, 1870; Elijah Somers, 1871, '72, '73, '74; Seaver Howard, 1876, '77; Putnam W. Daley, 1878; H. A. Sawyer, IS79, '80, '81.
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FIRST JUSTICES .- Seth Putnam, 1789, 1811, '12; Nathaniel Carpenter, 1813, '14, '15, '17, '18, '23 to '30, and '33 to '39; Rufus Chamberlin, 1816; Daniel Hough- ton, 1819, '20, '22; David Harrington, 1821 ; Wm. H. Holden, 1831, '32, '33 ; Horace Holden, 1839, '40, '41, '44, nearly
POSTMASTERS .- Theophilus Cushman was postmaster in 1824 ; Daniel Houghton, 1828 ; Aaron Ladd, 1829; Moses L. Hart, 1830; Nathaniel Bancroft, 1831 ; Moses L. Hart, 1832, '33 ; Hiram McIntyre, 1834 to '38 ; Ransom B. Jones, 1838, '39; Horace Snow, .1840 to '45 ; Wm. C. Stowell, 1845, '46; Harris Hoyt, 1847; A. A. Haskins, 1848, '49 ; A. H. Hayes, 1850 ; Jesse John- son, Jr., 1851, '52 ;. Anson G. Burnham, 1853, '54; Geo. H. Lewis, 1855 to '59; Simpson Hayes, 1859, '60, '61 ; James H. Holden, 1862 to 1881, inclusive.
PHYSICIANS .- A doctor by the name of Billings practiced and resided in Middle- sex in 1821 ; Holdridge soon after ; Joseph Lewis, 1825 ; Samuel Fifield, 1830; Daniel Kellogg, '33 ; Henry Dewey, '34 ; H. Dewey and Jona Webster, '35 ; Jona Webster, '36, '37 ; Rial Blanchard, '40, '41, '42 ; David Goodale, '44; F. B. Packard, '45 ; Chand- ler Poor, dentist, '45 ; David Goodale, '46,
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'47 ; A. H. Hayes and B. L. Conant, '48; A. H. Hayes, '49; Horace Fales, '50 '5t. '52, '53. '54. '55; J. W. Sawin, '58, '59; H. L. Richardson, '6t, '62, '63; O. L. Watson, "65, '66; - Risdon, '79; W. C. Church. 'So and 'S1.
There might have been physicians in town previous to any named, but I have no such record or evidence. In addition to those named, other physicians have lived in town, among whom is Dr. Zela Richardson, a son of Frederick Richard- son, who was one of the first inhabitants of Stowe. The Dr. was born in Stowe in Dec. 1799, went to Castleton when about 22 years of age, and studied for the pro- fession under Dr. Thompson, and com- menced practicing according to the Thomp- sonian system in Brandon and vicinity in about 1824. He moved to Stowe in 1833. and practiced some there till tS40. when he moved to where Silas Mead now re- sides in Moretown, where he lived until t846, when he moved across the river to Middlesex village, where he has ever since resided, but for the last thirty years he has nearly discontinued practice.
Among others who have lived and prac- ticed in town a short time each are a doc. tor by the name of Conant, and Dr. Spicer, Dr. Scott and a cancer doctor named Hill. and perhaps a few others.
THE CLERGY OF THE TOWN.
No record has been found of the first p:caching in Middlesex, but it is known that about t812 the Methodist minister of the Barre circuit preached occasionally in town, and that in tSt 3.
KEV. STEPHEN HERRICK.
of Randolph, took the place of the Barre circuit preacher, and in his circuit visited Middlesex often, and usually held meet- ings in the school house, then standing on the north side of the road, very near the present line between the farmis now occu- pied by Stephen Herrick and Joseph Ar- buckle. About the same time,
NATHAN HUNTLEY
that of the Free Will Baptists. Elder Huntley continued his labors until about 1822. when through his advice the society decided to disband, and many of the men- bers joined the other churches.
ELDER BENJAMIN CHATTERTON
was probably a resident of Middlesex longer than any other preacher that has ever re- sided here. He was a member of Elder Huntley's church, and was ordained Elder. and commenced preaching soon after the society to which he belonged disbanded. He was a Free Will Baptist, and continued to preach in town occasionally until near his death. He was buried on the farm where he lived, on East Hill, now owned by Charles Silloway.
A list of many of the clergymen who have labored in this town, with dates to show about what time they were preachers in Middlesex : John F. Adams, Methodist, circuit preacher in 1821 ; E. B. Baxter, Congregationalist, 1831; Benjamin Chat terton, Free Will Baptis:, 1834; E. G. Page and Isaiah Emerson, Meth .. '35 : J. T. Pierce, Cong., '38 ; Edward Copeland. Meth., '39; Hiram Freeman, Cong., '39 and '40; W. N. Peck, Meth., '40, '41 ; El- bridge Knight. Cong. ; and W'm. Peck and Israel Hale. Meth., '42 ; John H. Beckwith, Cong., and H. P. Cushman, Meth., '43. '44, '45 ; P. Merrill, Meth .. '46; N. Web- ster in '47; D. Willis, Meth .. '48; E. B. Fuller, Free Will Baptis:, '51, '52; Joshua Tucker, Free Will Baptist. '53: 1 .. H. Hooker, Meth., and - Cummings, Free Will Baptist. '54; E. Dickerman. Meth., and O. Shipman, Free Will Baptis:, '55. '56; Abner Newton, Meth .. '57; J. S. Spinney, Meth., '58. '59; N. W. Aspin- wall. '60, '6t ; W. E. McAllister, Meth .. '62. '63; T. Drew, Meth., '64 ; F. H. Rob- erts, '65, '66; A. Hitchcock, '67; D)yer Willis, '68; - Goodrich, '(); W. A. Bryant, Meth., '71, '72, '73 : 0. A. Farley. '74. '75 ; L. O. Sherburn, '76, C. S. Hurl- burt, '77, 78; T. Trevillian. 79. So ; W. H. Dean, 'S1.
FARLY INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES.
organized a religious society, commonly called Elder Huntley's church, which in The following account of the hardships belief and manner of worship was nearest of the first family who made a scellement
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in this town, from Deming's Vermont Offi- cers, 1851, written by Horace Holden :
"Thomas Mead was the first settler in the town and the first in the county. He came from Westford, Mass., having pur-1 chased a right of land in Middlesex. He came as far as Royalton with his wife and two or three children. Here he shouldered his gun, knapsack and ax, and set forward alone to find Middlesex, on Winooski river. He went from Brookfield through the woods to the head of Dog river, fol- lowing that down to its junction with the Winooski, and over that river to Middle- sex, having informed his wife that in a given time he should return, unless he sent her word to the contrary. On his arrival he found Mr. Jonah Harrington had made a pitch, and commenced chopping about 2 miles below Montpelier village, where he tarried till morning when he went down the river about 3 miles to the farm now owned by Thomas Stowell, where was formerly a { to "go ahead," and crossing the almost tavern. Here he made his " pitch," and impassible mountain, and following on, found the cows near the present railroad depot in Waterbury, 6 or 7 miles from home. a very good one too for a farmer ; but had he continued down to the village of Mid- dlesex it might have been much better around the falls in that place.
into town. Mr. Mead's third son, Joel, was born in Lebanon, N. H., Jan. IS, 1785, she having gone there for better ac- commodations than Middlesex then af- forded. Some time in June, 1785, Mrs. Mead was gone from home on a very cloudy afternoon. Mrs. Mead had to look for her cows, which ran in the woods at large. She started in good season, leaving three small children, one a nursing infant 5 months old, alone in the house. Not hearing the bell on the cows, she took their tracks and followed down the river about 13 miles, found where they had fed apparently most of the day, but no bell to be heard. She then sought their tracks, and found they had gone down. the river, and over "Hog back mountain" to Waterbury, one of the roughest places in all creation, almost ; but cows must be found, or children go to bed supperless. She made up her mind
" By this time it had become dark, and " He was so pleased with swinging his ax backed up by a tremendous thunder- among the trees on his own land, subsist- shower; rendered it so dark, that return- ing over that mountain in the night was out of question. In this unpleasant sit- uation, she found her way to Mr. James Marsh's, the only hut in that village, and stayed till the first appearance of daylight, when she started her cows for home on a double quick time, where she safely ar- rived before any of her children had com- pleted their morning nap. She concluded the children had so long a crying spell before going to sleep, they did not awake as early as usual." ing on such game as he took with wooden traps and his gun, that his promise to his wife to return was not fulfilled. She be- came alarmed about him, procured a horse, loaded it with provisions, and set forth to find her husband; following up White river to its source in Granville, thence down Mad river through Warren, Waits- field and Moretown to its junction with the Winooski about half a mile below Middlesex village, crossed that river and travelled up it about one mile, where, to , her joy and his surprise, she found her About 1795, Mr. Mead kept a few sheep, the only sheep kept in town at that time. He had to keep a close watch of them and yard them nights, to keep them from falling a prey to the bears that were then plenty in the woods. husband in the afternoon of the third day, doing a good business among the maples, elms and butternuts. From Royalton to Rochester she had a bridle path, then to Middlesex were only marked or spotted trees ; was often under the necessity of un- "loading her horse to get him past fallen timber, and often had to lead him some distance. Mr. Mead's family soon moved
One morning he found his sheep had broken out of their pen, and following them a short distance northerly from his house, he found a sheep that had been
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killed and partly eaten by the bears. He | the guide-board now is, near the Centre, returned to his house, took his gun, and started in search of the intruders. He had not proceeded far into the woods before he came in sight of a bear that was on the re- treat. He proceeded cautiously after bruin, keeping the bear to the windward, and fol- lowed up the hill in a northern direction. until he came near the top of the hill, when he again came in sight of his game, and was skulking along to get a better chance to shoot, when his wife, who had become · alarmed by his absence and followed him, came in sight and halloed to him. This started the bear, but a quick shot rolled the sheep-thief over on the ground lifeless. The courageous woman told her husband she had seen another bear while she was searching for him, and they started back in the direction where she had seen it. They had not proceeded far when they came in sight of the second bear, which Mr. Mead also killed with one shot from his faithful gun. They then returned towards where the sheep had been killed. thinking to pick up and save the wool that had been scattered by the carniverous shearers.
As they came in sight of the spot, bruin number three was finishing his morning meal. Mr. Mead immediately settled his account with this bear in the same way he settled with the other two, and went home feeling very well after his before-breakfast exercise. He then informed the few neigh- bors in town of what he had done, who collected together, helped get the three bears out of the woods and dress them. and all had a "jovial time" and joyful feast.
and " all hands " started in pursuit. Geo. Holden, then living at the Centre, where Mrs. Daniels now resides, started with a pitchfork, the weapon he happened to have in his hands when he first heard the cry. "a bear ! a bear!" The bear was chased down towards the Winooski, and made his way to somewhere near the river on the Governor's Rights, where, being worried by dogs and hotly pursued by men, he un- dertook to climb a tree that stood on a very steep side-hill. Mr. Holden, then a strong. courageous young man, was near, and ran to the foot of the tree as the bear was hitching up it, and stuck the pitchfork into the bear's posterior. Bruin, notliking to be helped up in that way, dropped upon his hind feet, and threw his fore feet around Mr. Holden's body. Holden at the same time seized the bear "at a back-hug hold." and they tumbled over on the ground, and rolled over and over to the foot of the hill. and some say into the river, where they quit their holds, and Sruin ran until he was out of the way of men and pitchforks, and went up another trec. The word spread rapidly that the bear was up a tree, and the men gathered together and commenced shooting at him. Many shots had been fired when Horace Holden put in an ap- pearance. After amusing himself and others present for a few minutes by crack- ing jokes and telling stories at the expense of the sharp-shooters, who were too ex- cited to kill a bear, he expressed a desire to try it himself. No sooner did his rifle crack than the bear loosened his hold on the tree and fell to the ground.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS IN THE LAST PART OF TILE TOWN.
As the number of settlements in town increased, the bears became less numerous, Jacob Putnam settled where Elijah Whit- ney now lives in 1802; Micah Hatch on the old Hatch place, so-called, the same year ; W'm. Lewis on the Lathrop Lewis farm in iSos ; John Arbuckle where Put- nam Daley now lives, about 1805 ; Lewis McElroy where Dudley Jones now lives, in 1822; Caleb Bailey and -- York lived on the George Heinck farm In 1823; ich- abod Cummings began on the Ziba Smith and when one was seen it was often the occasion of a lively and exciting chase. Sometimes nearly all the men within four or five miles would join in the chase, or surround the woods In which the bear was known to be. and lucky was the animal If he escaped unharmed. Three bears were killed one year at three such hunts. At one time, about the year 18gn, a bear was discoverel somewhere near the spot where farm in 1824, lived there one year, and re
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moved the next year to the farm where he with his Oramel, now live; Daniel Colby lived on the farm where Frank Maxham and son now live, in 1826.
The most ancient writings with a pen in town, are probably in the possession of James Vaughn, among which is a book commenced by George Vaughn in Oct. 1687 ; the writing done by him being very neatly executed, and a commission of 1696, given here et literatem :
"William Stoughton Esqr Lieutent Governour and Comander in chief in and over his Matys Province of the Masssa- chusetts Bay in New England. To Jo- seph Vaughn Greeting, By virtue of the power and authority in and by his Matys Royal Commission to me granted, I do by these presents constitute and appoint you to be Ensign of the Foot Company of Mili- tia in the Town of Middleboro within the County of Plimouth whereof Jacob Thompson Gent is Lieutenant. You are therefore carefully and diligently to dis- charge the duties of an Ensign by order- ing and Exercising the sd Company in arms both Inferiour Officers and Souldiers Keeping them in good order and Disci- pline, Commanding them to obey you as their ensign, And yourself to observe and follow such orders and directions as you shall receive from your sd Lieutenant and other your Superiour Officers, according to the Rules and Discipline of War pursuant to the trust reposed in you. Given under my hand & seal at arms at Boston the Fifth day of August, 1696, In the Eighth year of the Reign of our sovereign, Lord William the Third, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
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