The surface of the township is quite uneven, several ridges of mountainous hills passing through different parts of the town, mostly in a north and south direction. The largest of these, called Ball Mountain, located in the southern part of the town, contains about 4000 acres of land entirely worthless for purposes of cultivation. The country is watered by several small streams, the principal of which are Hubbardton River and Cogmen Creek. Hubbardton River flows through the eastern part of the township and empties into East Bay, about one mile below Carver's Falls. Cogmen Creek rises in Root's Pond, in Benson, passing through the township about three miles west from Hubbardton River, also emptying into East Bay.

      The soil varies, and taken as a whole is not much different from that of the adjoining towns, clay, perhaps, predominating. The timber is that common to all mountain districts of Vermont.

      In 1880 Westhaven had a population of 492; it was divided into seven school districts and had seven common schools, employing two male and six female teachers, at an aggregate salary of $807. 50. There were ninety four pupils attending common school, and the whole cost of the schools for the year ending October 31st, was $1,031.13. S. R. HITCHCOCK was superintendent.

      WESTHAVEN, (p. o.) a hamlet located in the central part of the township, contains a church, one store and post office, one blacksmith shop and about eight dwellings.

      HUNT's Cheese Factory, located on road 23, was built in 1875. It now uses the milk from 140 cows, from which is manufactured 40,000 lbs. of cheese per annum.

      J. & H. ADAMS & Co’s. boat yard, located on Fast Bay, was established about thirty years ago. They manufacture from one to six canal boats annually, employing from five to twenty three men.

      J. P. HUNT's saw mill, spoke and ax helve manufactory, located on Hubbardton River, near road 12, manufactures about 75,000 feet of lumber, 500 sets of spokes and 200 dozen ax helves annually.

      Westhaven was originally included within the limits of the township of Fairhaven, chartered by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont on the 27th day of October, A. D., 1779. By an Act of the Legislature approved October 220, 1792, the township was divided and formed into two townships, the eastern part retaining the name of Fairhaven, and the west taking the name of  Westhaven. The name, Westhaven, was adopted by the inhabitants of Fairhaven at a town meeting held March 27, 1792, and for the reason, without doubt, that it was the West part of the original town. The question of the division of the township appears to have been agitated a great deal by the early settlers, and they were not entirely harmonious on the subject of the dividing line between the two towns. Twenty of the citizens of the town, residing between Muddy Brook and Hubbardton River, in the central part of the township, remonstrated against the division. The town of  Westhaven took about three fifths of the area of the original township, leaving to Fairhaven the remaining two fifths. The two towns were jointly to elect one Representative to the General Assembly. This they continued to do until the annual election in 1823, when separate elections were held. Previous to this time, the annual Freemen's meetings were held, sometimes at the school house near Mr. MINOT's, in Westhaven, and at other times at the school house near Mr. STANNARD's, in Fairhaven, the people of both towns meeting together and having at times a good deal of sectional feeling in regard to their affairs.

      The settlement of the present town of  Westhaven was not begun to any extent until the year 1783. Previous to this, and it is believed before the chartering of the township, Benoni HULBERT had made a claim and commenced some small improvements near the intersection of Hubbardton and Poultney rivers; but it is not known that he became a resident of the township until the year 1781. How long he remained in the town is not known. It was but a few years at most.

      In 1782 Beriah MITCHELL, of Woodbury, Conn., began some improvements in the township, where he continued to reside until 1786, when he returned to Connecticut.

      Early in the year 1783 Capt. Eleazer DUDLEY and family, and Abijah PEET, also from Woodbury, settled in the township and began the work of clearing a farm, a little west of where Nathaniel FISH lately resided. Wm. DUDLEY was the first town clerk of Fairhaven and was interested in several proprietary shares in the township. In 1788 he sold his interest to Dr. Simeon SMITH and removed from the town. John HOWES, also from Woodbury, Elijah TRYON, of Granville, Mass., John and Henry CRAMER and others, came the same year. In 1784 Hiram BARLOW, an early settler of Tinmouth, and Cornelius BRONSON, of Woodbury, came. In 1786 Benjamin and Cooley WELLER, and Benjamin CHIPPANN, settled on the west side of Ball Mountain, on what has since been known as the "Benjamin farm." During this year, James McCOTTIN, from Pennsylvania, came into town and erected the first grist mill, near where Michael BLAKE now resides. The first saw mill was erected in 1785, on the lower fall on Hubbardton River, since known as "The Hunt Mill."

      Dr. Simeon SMITH, from Sharon, Conn., came to Westhaven in 1787, locating on the premises first settled by Capt. DUDLEY. Dr. SMITH had been a druggist and trader in Connecticut, was a physician by profession and had been compelled by business misfortunes to leave Connecticut and seek his fortune in another country. He became at once , the leading and most prominent business man in the vicinity, and at his death, February 27th, 1804, he bequeathed the town $1,000, which was to be kept at compound interest at six per cent. for a term of sixty years, at the expiration of which time the accruing interest of the accumulated fund should be appropriated to the schooling of youth, to have one good grammar school kept in Westhaven, the overplus to be used for the benefit of other schools and the support of Gospel ministry, and if any over, for the support of the poor and needy in said town. The subsequent accruing interest became available after July 13th, 1868, and at that time the fund amounted to $22,996.69. Had it not been for an early loss of $100.00 of principal, and loss of interest while waiting for investments, the sum would have reached nearer its possible earnings, $3 2,987.69.

      About 1790 the first store was started, located on the knoll northeast of where J. G. BRIGGS now resides, SMITH & WOODWARD, proprietors; the business was afterwards carried on at the same place by Charles RICE and Bohan SHEPARD, and later by SHIPHERD, RICE and HIGGINS. Another store was kept near where Mrs. Adaline HITCHCOCK now resides, by Lemuel HYDE and John BRONSON. The firm was dissolved prior to 1800, and the business continued at the same place by John VAN ALLEN, and perhaps others, for a few years, and then discontinued. A carding machine and clothing works were established by Erastus COLEMAN, on the upper falls of Hubbardton River, about the year 1802, and continued for about thirty years, when he erected a woolen factory on the same ground and continued in the manufacture of woolen cloth until 1844, since which time the building has been taken down and all business discontinued at that place.

      Oliver CHURCH, from New Marlboro, Mass., purchased, June 30, 1780, of Samuel ALLEN, of Tinmouth, the right of Nathan CLARK in the town of Fairhaven. He did not become an inhabitant of the town until about ten years afterwards. In 1801 he removed to the farm first settled by Hiram BARLOW, and continued his residence there until his death, in 1826. In the year 1800 he married Lucy BARKER, who survived him a number of years, dying in 1859, aged 76. Of their large family there are now living, Mrs. Calista ADUM, in Westhaven, Mrs. Lucy TYLER, in Portland, N. Y., and Oliver CHURCH, in Pike, N. Y. During all the period that he resided in the town, Esquire CHURCH, as he was called, was a prominent and influential citizen. He represented the towns of Westhaven and Fairhaven in the Legislature of the State, in the years 1803, 1806, 1807, 1810, 1811 and 1819. He held the office of justice of the peace for many years, and possessed the confidence of the people of the town in a remarkable degree, doing almost all the conveyancing and justice business for many years.

      Samuel ADAMS, from Suffield, Conn., came to Westhaven in 1792, with his wife, four sons and one daughter, locating on road 6, upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Samuel. Horace resided with his father upon the old homestead until his father's death, when his property reverted to, him. He was a popular and influential citizen, and a representative in the General Assembly three years. He died March 28, 1866, aged 82 years. At his death the property came into the possession of his son, Samuel, who still retains it. Samuel represented the town in 1864 and 1865, and has for a number of years held the office of justice of the peace.

      Oliver HITCHCOCK was born March 12, 1776, at Bristol, Conn. He came to Vermont early in the present century, but did not permanently settle in Westhaven until 1821. He was well known to "old stagers" of fifty years ago as the jolly landlord of the "Gleason Stand." Willard, Miriam, Oliver Franklin, Alman and Rollin, were all children of Oliver, and were all residents of Westhaven for a number of years. One only, Rollin, now resides in the township, he having one son residing near him, on the Downs farm, and another, Oliver Orville, residing with him on the old homestead. Willard, eldest son of Oliver, was born in Bristol, Conn., July 22, 1799. He married Adaline WELTON in 1822, came to Vermont in 1832, and bought the place now owned by William PRESTON, near the Apollos SMITH place. Mr. HITCHCOCK here, associated with a Mr. HILL, also from Connecticut, established a depot and salesroom for the "Terry Mantel Clock." They employed peddlers, and, though almost the first in the enterprise, soon furnished Vermont with plenty of these time keepers, many of which – heirlooms -- are running yet. After a few years, on account of failing health, Mr. HITCHCOCK removed to the old homestead, where he died in 1842, leaving a widow and four children, of whom Mrs. HITCHCOCK, Willard L. and Anna, are still living in the township, Mrs. H. at the age of 77 years.

      Gideon BRIGGS, from Deerfield, Mass., came to Castleton early in the present century, and subsequently settled in Westhaven in 1824, locating upon the farm now owned by John CARTY, on road 24. He died in Castleton in 1857, aged 81 years. His wife, Hannah, died in 1861, aged 76 years. Their son, Justus BRIGGS, now resides upon the GILBERT place, on road 9 1/2. He married Sarah Ann HARRINGTON, and has a family of one son and two daughters, all residing at home.

      James FIELD came to Westhaven, with his son, in 1834, locating on what is called the Com farm. He died March 6, 1851, in his 73d year. His wife, Hannah, died April 10, 1856, aged 73 years. His son, Rodney, located upon the farm now owned by V. H. FORBES, in 1835, remaining there one year, when he removed to the place he now occupies on road 9.

      James ADAMS came to Westhaven from Somerset, England, in 1830, locating upon the farm now owned by his sons, James, Henry and George, on road 23. He is still living at the age of 86 years.

      The First Baptist Church, located at the village of Westhaven, was organized in 1803, consisting at its organization of only nine members, with William Ellis PATTERSON as their first pastor. The society now has thirty-four members, but no settled minister. The church building was erected in 1831, at a cost of $2,000, and will seat 200 persons The property is not valued at $8,000.

Gazetteer and Business Directory of  Rutland  County, VT.;
1881-82, Compiled and Published by Hamilton Child;
Syracuse, N.Y.; Printed at the Journal Office
August 1881, Part Two, Pages 256-8 – 256-12.

Transcribed by Karima Allison 2004