In presenting to the public the "Gazetteer and Business Directory of Washington County," we desire to return our sincere thanks to all who have kindly aided in obtaining the information it contains, and thus rendered it possible to present it in the brief space of time in which it is essential such work should be completed. Especially are our thanks due to the editors and managers of the local papers for the uniform kindness they have evinced in calling public attention to our efforts, and for essential aid in furnishing material for the work. We have also found valuable aid in the writings of the various authors in Miss Hemenway's "Historical Magazine"; "Thompson's Vermont"; "Deming's Vermont Officers"; Hall's "Early History of Vermont"; the "Documentary History of New York"; in the reports of the Adjutant-General and State School Superintendent; F. W. Beers & Co's "Atlas of Washington County"; and also the geological reports of Hitchcock & Hagar. Our thanks are also due to the clergy throughout the county, and to Hon. E. P. Walton, Charles H. Heath, Esq., C. De T. Bancroft, and Hon. William A. Huse, of Montpelier; Mr. J. K. Egerton, of Northfield; Hon. William Chapin, of Middlesex, and to many others throughout the county, who have rendered valuable aid.

      That errors have occurred in so great a number of names, dates, and statements, is probable, and that names have been omitted which should have been inserted, is quite certain. We can only say that we have exercised more than ordinary diligence and care in this difficult and complicated feature of book-making. Of such as feel aggrieved in consequence of errors or omissions, we beg pardon, and ask the indulgence of the reader in noting such as have been observed in the subsequent reading of the proofs, and which are found corrected in the Errata at the close of this volume.

      It was designed to give a brief account of all the churches and other societies in the county, but owing in some cases to the negligence of those who were able to give the necessary information, and in others to the inability of any one to do so, we have been obliged to omit special notices of a few.

      We would suggest that our patrons observe and become familiar with the explanations at the commencement of the directory, on page 3, part 2d. The names it embraces, and the information connected therewith, were obtained by actual canvass, and are as correct and reliable as the judgment of those from whom they were solicited renders possible. Each agent is furnished with a map of the town he is expected to canvass, and he is required to pass over every road and call at every dwelling and place of business in the town in order to obtain the facts from the individuals concerned whenever possible.

      The margins have been left broad to enable any one to note changes opposite the names.

      The map inside the back cover will be found, in connection with the directory, valuable.

      As the, hole county is in north latitude, and longitude is reckoned east from Washington, the words north and east are omitted when giving the latitude and longitude of the various towns.

      We take this occasion to express the hope that the information found in the book will not prove devoid of interest and value, though we are fully conscious that the brief description of the county the scope of the work enables us to give, is by no means an exhaustive one, and can only hope that it may prove an aid to future historians, who will be better able to do full justice to the subject.

      While thanking our patrons and friends generally, for the cordiality with, which our efforts have been seconded, we leave the work to secure that favor which earnest endeavor ever wins from a discriminating public, hoping they will bear in mind, should errors be noted, that "he who expects a perfect work to see, expects what ne'er was, is, nor yet shall be."
 

Gazetteer Of Washington County, Vt. 1783-1899, 
Compiled and Published by Hamilton Child,
Edited By William Adams.
The Syracuse Journal Company, Printers and Binders.
Syracuse, N. Y.; April, 1889.

Transcribed by Karima Allison, 2003.