854 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
SHELBURNE.
BY LYMAN THAYER.
Our ancient records are brief and indefinite, and much of
interest, undoubtedly, is beyond the reach of any now living. I have endeavored
to embody as many of the local facts and incidents of the town as can be
ascertained in the limited and brief records which were made and have been
preserved. I copy the original Charter of the town. It is a curious document as
to phraseology and conditions, showing the manner, style and literature of 100
years past:
CHARTER
OF THE TOWN OF
George
the 3d, by the Grace of God, of Great Brittain France and Ireland, King,
Defender of the faith, &c., To all persons to whom these presents shall
come,— Greeting:—Know ye, that we of our special grace, certain knowledge and
mere motion, for the due encouragement of setling a new plantation within our
said province, by and with the advice of our truly and well-beloved Bening
Wentworth, Esq., our Governor and commander in chief of our said province of
New Hampshire, in New England, and of our council of the said province, have
upon the conditions and revelations hereinafter, made, given and granted and by
these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors, do give and grant in equal
shares, unto our loving subjects, inhabitants of our said province of New
Hampshire and our other governments, and to those heirs assigns forever, whose
names are entered on this grant, to be divided to and amongst them into
seventy equal shares, all that tract and parcel of land. situate, lying and
being within our said province of New Hampshire, containing by admeasurement
23,500 acres, which tract is to contain something more than six miles square
and no more, out of which an allowance is to be made for highways and unimprovable
lands, by rocks, ponds, mountains and rivers, one thousand and forty acres free
according to a plan and survey thereof made by our said governor's order and
returned into the secretary's office and hereunto annexed, butted end bounded
as follows, viz: beginning at a stake and stones, standing on the easterly
shore of Lake Champlain, which is the northwesterly corner bounds of Charlotte,
a Township lately granted in this
SHELBURNE. 855
province, and from thence running east seven miles, partly
by Charlotte aforesaid and partly by Hinesburg to a stake and stones on the
northerly side line of Hinesburgh, from thence, turning off and running north
six miles to a stake and stones, thence turning off again and running west
about six miles to Lake Champlain, then running southerly by the said Lake as
that runs, to the northwesterly corner bounds of Charlotte, the bounds begun
at, and that the same be and hereby is incorporated into a Township, by the
name of Shelburne. And the inhabitants that do and shall hereafter inhabit the
said Township, are hereby declared to be enfranchised with and entitled to
each and every one of the privileges and immunities that other Towns within our
province by law exercises and enjoy, and further that the said Town as soon as
there shall be fifty families resident and setled therein, shall have the
liberty of holding two fares, one of which shal be held on the—and the other on
the—following the said—and that as soon as the said Town shall consist of fifty
families, a market may be opened and kept one or more days in each week as may
be thought most advantageous to the inhabitants. Also that the first meeting
for the choice of Town officers agreeable to the laws of our said province,
shal be held on the third tuesday in September next, which said meeting shal be
notified by Mr. Jesse Hallock, who is hereby also appointed the moderator of
said first meeting, which he is to notify and govern according to laws and
customs of our said province, and that the annual meeting forever hereafter for
the choice of such officers for the said Town, shall be on the second tuesday
of March annually. To have and to hold the said tract of land as above
expressed, together with all the privileges and appertinances to them and their
representative heirs and assigns forever upon the following conditions, viz:
1st.—That every grantee his heirs or assigns shal plant and cultivate five
acres of land within the term of five years, for every fifty acres contained in
his or their share or portion of land in said Township, and continue to improve
and settle the same, by additional cultivation, on penalty of forfeiture of his
grant or share in the said Township, and of its reverting to us our heirs and
successors, to be by us or them regranted to such of our subjects as shall
effectually settle and cultivate the same. 2d.—That all white and other pine
trees within said Township fit for masting our royal Navy be carefully
preserved for that use and none to be cut or felled without our special leave for
so doing first had and obtained, upon the penalty of the forfeiture of the
right of such grantee, his heirs and assigns to us our heirs and successors, as
well as being subject to the penalty of any act or acts of parliament, that now
are or that may be enacted. 3d.—That before any division of the land be made to
and among the grantees, a tract of land, as near the center of said Township as
the land will admit of shall be reserved and marked out for Town lots, one of
which shall be allotted to each grantee, of the contents of one acre.
4th.—Yielding and paying therefor to us our heirs and successors, for the
space of ten years, to be computed from the date hereof, the rent of one ear
of Indian corn only, on the 25th day of December annually, if lawfully
demanded, the first payment to be made on the 25th day of December 1763.
5th.—Every proprietor, setler or inhabitant, shall yield and pay unto us our
heirs and successors yearly and every year, forever, from and after the
expiration of ten years from the above said 25th day of December, namely, on
the 25th day of December, which will be in the year of our Lord 1773, one
shilling proclamation money, for every hundred acres he so owns, settles or
possess, and so in proportion for a greater or lesser tract of said land, which
money shall be paid by the respective persons above said, their heirs and
assigns in our council Chamber in Portsmouth, or to such officers as shall be
appointed to receive the same, and this to be in lieu of all other rents or
services whatsoever. In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our said
province, to be hereunto affixed. Witness, Bening Wentworth, Esq., our
Governor and commander in chief of our said province, the 18th day of August,
in the year of our Lord Christ 1763, and in the third year of our reign. By his
excellency's command, with advice of council.
B. WENTWORTH.
T. ATKINSON, Jun. Sec.
Province New Hampshire, August 18th 1763, recorded
according to the original Charter under the province seal,
Per
T. ATKINSON, Jun. Sec.
856
[Names of the grantees of Shelburne, Jesse Hallock, and 64
others:]
For his excellency, Bening Wentworth, Esq., a tract to
contain five hundred acres as marked B. W. in the plan, which is to be
accounted two of the within shares—one whole share for the incorporated society
for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts—one share for the glebe for
the Church of England, as by law established—one share for the first settled
Minister of the gospel there—and one share for the benefit of a school in said
Town forever.
Province New Hampshire, Aug. 18th, 1763, Recorded
according to the back of the original Charter of Shelburne, under the Province
Seal.
Per T. ATKINSON, Jun. Sec.
Prov.
The above and within is a true copy of the Charter of
Shelburne.
Attest, JOSEPH PEARSONS, Sec.
Shelburne, Dec. 14th, 1809. Received the Charter of
Shelburne, and the foregoing is a true copy,
Attest, JOSHUA ISHAM, Town Clerk.
The plan referred to in the charter is on the back, and
the government right marked B. W. is in the N. W. corner of the plan, which
would properly enbrace Potter's Point, and as it is marked in the plan, would
cover a portion of Shelburne Bay. But in locating that right it was fixed on
the east side of the Bay. Three-fourths of this right was purchased originally
by Robert Lyon, father of Jonathan and Chauncy, now residing on this right, and
the remainder by Simon and Samuel Blin. This right of 500 acres is bounded on
the S. by land now owned by Aaron Rowley, and extends E. as far as lots owned
by Simon and Samuel Blin, and all N. to the S. line of Burlington. In the names
of the original proprietors there is but the name of one individual that ever
became a resident of the town—John Potter, who settled and commenced improvements
on the Point which bears his name. It will be seen by the charter that it
covers more territory than was ever held by the proprietors by several thousand
acres. The reason for this was the lapping over of the original surveys. Two
parties were engaged in surveying the towns on the lake—one party, commencing
at the S. going N., the other commencing at the N. going S., meeting at
SHELBURNE. 857
Legislator in
There has been various controversies, many disputes, and
much litigation in the town in relation to boundaries of lots, which was caused
by there having been two different surveys. The first was made in 1775, by
Silas Hathaway, under instruction from Ira Allen, who assumed ownership of a
large part of the town. This survey was made and the boundaries fixed by chain,
with no particular regard to points of compass, measuring so many rods and
fixing a corner. In 1798, the town was surveyed by Ebenezer Cobb, under the
direction of the selectmen, by order of the town. In this survey the boundaries
were fixed by compass, and the consequence was a variation in the two surveys,
caused mostly by the variation of the surface of the earth, as by measuring
over an elevation with a chain would necessarily make a shorter line than on a
level. This has caused much difficulty and perplexity among landholders, and
some hold by one survey and some by the other. Reference is often made in the
conveyance of real estate to a certain noted line, called the Maybee line. In
Cobb's survey this line was made the basis of operation as a starting point.
It is an E. and W. line commencing at the lake shore, and is the dividing line
between Isaac Smith and Ezra Meech, is Garrid Burritt's S. line, Erwin Rowley's
S. line, and the stone wall on the line between land owned by Leander Chauvin
and H. S. Morse on the W. of the main road running through to Shelburne Pond,
and is the S. line of the lot formerly owned by Bela Chittenden, and now owned
and occupied by Timothy Peters. Cobb commenced numbering the lots N. of this
line at the lake shore and numbered all on the N. aide to the pond first. Lot
No. 1 is on the N. of this line at the lake, the lot directly S. of this and S.
of this Maybee line is No. 134, all S. of this line being the higher numbers.
This line is so called from the fact that a family of that name resided at the
time of that survey near the lake and directly on this line. There is no
evidence that there ever was a division of the town made by the original
proprietors. Some of them sold their claims to others and they made a pitch, as
they termed it, where they could. Ira Allen probably purchased some of these
rights, came here when it was a wilderness and before others, laid claim to
most of the town and made such disposition of the early settlers as suited his
purpose, and undoubtedly a large portion of the real estate which has been held
under titles from him were invalid. There is no record in the town books of any
conveyance from the original proprietors to him, but a large amount from him to
others. But reference is made in some of them to the proprietors' records which
is not to be found. The titles in early days were very uncertain. A large
portion of the real estate was sold in 1809 at vendue in the collection of a
land tax and a vendee deed given, and many hold possession under these vendue
deeds and the quieting act.
[ We don't understand how he could have made valid
conveyances in the town to others unless he first had them to convey. Our
antiquarian father, the venerable Henry Stevens, we have frequently heard
affirm that the fact that in many of the towns so few of the proprietors named
in charters appear as settlers, may be better understood when it is known that
many of the rights were, at the time of obtaining the charter, held by the
Aliens and others under fictitious names. That is, when they wished to have a
new township chartered they merely obtained a few bona fide proprietors and
filled up the required number of' grantees with assumed names from some at that
time distant point, as Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, &c.; paid the
first grantee dues, and afterward professedly bought up these claims. This may
also explain many of the uncouth and unheard of names in some of the charters,
and the altogether illegibly written ones in others, — which it is said the
true proprietors had much pleasantry in concocting. From Mr. Stevens' papers we
give the following letter from
858
Gov. Chittenden, which is favorable testimony in regard
to Ira Allen's true interest or claims in Shelburne—Ed.]
LETTER
TO IRA ALLEN.
"
SIR:—The bearer, Mr. —— , [unintelligible] has been with
me to inquire concerning the situation of the land that he has purchased and
improved in Shelburne. I am unable to inform him the particular situation it is
under at present or even your determinations respecting his claim, however I
informed him that there was no chance of his obtaining any part of his
purchases, which by his papers appear to be 3,000 acres, unless it was a farm
as a settler. And how that may be, is unknown to me. However, as it appears he
began actual settlement in his own person on land granted to him for his own
service during the last French war in America in the year 1776, and has
continued the settlement either by himself or at great expense by others until
the opening of the present war, and has actually lost more than $100 in live
stock, beside farming tools, &c., to a considerable amount, and as his improvements
have been of real service to the first New Hampshire settlers, and as it appears
altogether likely to me he was entirely deceived in taking his grants and
making his purchases, and as it appears he is willing and very desirous to come
and settle there with his sons if he can be encouraged this summer I cannot see
but he is entitled to a farm, at least on the principle of settlement as well
as other settlers, notwithstanding what his tenant has done. However it may be,
you are much more acquainted with the matter than I am. As you are a principal
owner in that town, it will be in your power — it may be in your wisdom to do
something for him, as it will set an example which may be followed if we desire
to maintain that justice we are contending for and keep the peace of
government. You have doubtless heard of the unhappy quarrel that has happened
on that account, which I have reason to believe through my influence is quieted
at present. I hope you will be at home soon so as to help me a little in drawing
an act to be published, which I think will have a very salutary effect.
I am, Sir,
Your
obedient servant,
THOMAS CHITTENDEN."
In 1787 there had about 30 families settled. March 29th
this year, the town was organized. Caleb Smith was the first town clerk. From
this period arrivals of others as settlers were numerous. The forests began to
disappear; cultivated fields were to be seen in almost every part of the
township; high‑ways were laid out and opened; bridges erected across the
streams; framed and brick houses began to take the place of log cabins,—rail
and log fence that of the brush fence which inclosed the clearings originally.
Societies, social and religious, were formed; political feelings were
manifested, and civilization was apparent in the habits, manners and customs
of the people. Schools were established and well patronized. A house for
religious worship was erected, and prosperity generally crowned the labors and
efforts of the residents.
EARLY
SETTLERS,
The first settlers were John Potter and Thomas Logan, two
Germans who came here in 1768. Potter was one of the original proprietors named
as has been said in the original charter. These two Germans located on two
different points extending into the lake, which bear their names respectively —
Potter's and Logan's Points. They were associated in getting out oak timber and
taking it to the Quebec market. In 1775, they took a raft of timber to Quebec,
sold it, and on their return the commanding officer at Montreal sent a sergeant
and two privates to protect them in passing through the Indian settlements.
They came up the river from St Johns in a small boat, encamped for the night on
a small point a short distance from the S. line of Canada. A conspiracy was matured
by the guard, and two of them engaged to murder the two Germans and secure
their money, and the other made a solemn promise, sealed with an oath, never to
divulge the secret. The deed was done, and their bodies were buried on a small
island near the point. These are known as Bloody Point and Bloody Island, named
from this circumstance. This secret disturbed the quiet of him who was sworn
not to divulge or make known, and several years after he disclosed the
committal of this act. The two were arrested, tried, condemned and exectuted,
and the other severely punished by whipping for not disclosing sooner. Whether
these two Germans ever had families is past finding out.
There had about 10 families commenced settlements near the
lake before the Revolutionary War, and there is no knowledge to be had at the
present day as to who they were, or of their return after the close of the war,
but these two Germans and Moses Piersons. At the close of the war, several
families soon came in and located in the town. In 1783, Moses Piersons
returned.
SHELBURNE. 859
Wm. Smith, Caleb Smith, Rufus Cole, Thomas Hall, Hubell
and Bush associated on Potter's Point, Richard Spears and Gershom Lyon. In
1784 and 1785, Daniel Barber, Daniel Comstock, Aaron Rowley, Capt. Samuel
Clark, Benjamin Harrington, Israel Burritt, Joshua feed, Timothy Hollabird,
Sturgess Morehouse, Remington Bitgood, and Jirah Isham located and became
residents. In the three following years Dr. Frederick Meack, Phineas Hill,
Keeler Trowbridge, Samuel Mills, and probably others came, and soon after
Bethuel Chittenden, Benjamin Sutton, Rosel Miner, Nathaniel Gage, Ebenezer
Barstow, Robert Lyon, James Hawley, Frederick Saxton, Asahel Nash, Hezekiah
Tracy, Asa Lyon, John Tabor, Robert Averill, Joseph Hamilton and several others
became residents.
EVIDENCE
OF INDIAN SETTLEMENTS.
The territory embraced in the limits of Vermont previous
to any settlement by Europeans, was claimed as hunting ground by several
powerful tribes of Indians who were hostile to each other, consequently it was
often a battle field for these savage tribes. It has often been remarked as
singular, that as there had been for centuries large and powerful tribes of
Indians located on all sides and not far distant, that no permanent settlement
was effected within the limits of Vermont. The Sioux or St. Francis tribe on
the north, their principal settlement being at Montreal or Hockhelaga, as it
was then called. The Naraganset on the east—principal settlement on the
Merrimac River, N. H. The Pequoits on the south, inhabiting the northwest part
of Connecticut; and Iroquois or Mohawks as they were commonly called on the
southwest—principal settlement at Schenectaday, on the Mohawk River, N. Y. And
the territory now Vermont was claimed as hunting ground by each of those
tribes. And this was the cause which prevented the aborigines from making our
territory to any considerable extent a permanent residence. And still there are
indubitable proofs that they have at some former period resided here in
considerable numbers, and for many years. There is abundant proof that Grand
Isle was occupied by them for many years.
It was evident also that a field on the farm now known as
the Grady farm in Shelburne at the mouth of the river, was occupied by the
Indians many years as a camp field. A field of about 25 acres, on the east side
of the river near the mouth, had been cleared and cultivated for a length of
time, as there were no stumps of the original timber. This clearing was in a
square form, and a heavy growth of the original timber on all sides, and two
large trees of the original growth left standing in the clearing. There were
numerous heaps or small piles of stones on this field, which must have been
carried there, as there were no stones in the soil, probably for camp fires.
This field was evidently abandoned by the savages several years before any
settlement was made by the whites, as it was covered with a thick growth of
small trees, unlike the surrounding timber, apparently of about 30 years
growth. This held was cleared in 1803 by Benjamin Harrington, who then owned the
lot. Arrowheads, flints and other articles were to be found on this field in
considerable numbers, which was conclusive evidence of its having been occupied
by savages for many years. It is highly probable that this field was occupied
by a portion of the Canadian Indians for many years; but when discovered by
some of those other tribes, were driven away and their settlement broken up.
There were several other places near the lake where small parties of the
aborigines had evidently camped for a while, previous to settlements by the
whites. Grand Isle was occupied by the Sioux or St. Francis Indians many years
after the first settlements were made by the whites in Chittenden County. The
early settlers on the lake suffered loss and vexation by the pilfering habits
of those savages.
INCIDENTS
AND EVENTS OF THE WAR.
Several families had settled near the lake previous to the
war of the Revolution. Among the number was Moses Pierson, on what has long
been known as the Meech farm. In 1776 he had raised a large crop of wheat, and
soon after it was harvested—on the approach of the British and Indians up the
lake—he, with the other settlers, deeming it unsafe to remain, left this part
of the state. In the month of March, following, he returned with his family and
a company of armed men, under the command of Capt. Sawyer, as a protecting
party, to thresh out the wheat and secure it. Whilst engaged in
860 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
this work, they were attacked by a large party, apparently
of Indians, who, with terrific yells, made a furious attack in the latter part
of the night. The house was constructed of large logs laid close together, and
but few windows, which protected those inside from the balls of the enemy that
only came through the door or windows. A desperate encounter was held for two
hours, in the course of which the house was set on fire by the enemy, but
extinguished by some of the party inside going out and throwing on water and
returning safe; but in a short time it was fired a second time, and all the
water in the house had been used in extinguishing the fire that was first
kindled. The question was, what shall be done? Fortunately Mrs. Pierson had
made a barrel of beer but the day before, which was used in extinguishing the
second fire. The undertaking was a hazardous and dangerous one, and a reward
was offered by Pierson to the man that would put out the fire. Barnabus Barnum
made the attempt, and succeeded in extinguishing the fire by throwing on the
beer, but was shot down before reentering the house. Joshua Woodard was also
killed by a ball entering through the door. These two men by chance came to
Pierson's the previous day, for the purpose of purchasing wheat, and were under
the necessity of remaining through the night, which proved fatal to them.
There were others of the party wounded; but they succeeded in repelling and
driving off the attacking party, killing and wounding many of them, and taking
a number of prisoners. The party in the house saw them after daylight carrying
their dead to a crack in the ice, near Logan's Point, and throwing them into
the lake, and some were thrown in that showed signs of life, which were
probably considered mortally wounded.
Ziba and Uzal, sons of Moses, were young men at this time
(the one 17, and the other 15 years of age), were of the party, and were active
in this encounter. An infant daughter, who in after years became the wife of
Nehemiah Pray, was lying in a bed at the time and fortunately escaped unharmed,
although several balls were found, after the action, in the bed on which she
lay, and several went through the headboard of the bedstead.
When Capt. Robert White was attending the legislature as
representative of this town, from curiosity he was examining Henry Stevens'
(long known as the antiquarian) collection of ancient papers and documents, and
discovered a paper relating to this identical case. It is an order from the
state department, and reads thus:
TO CAPT. EBENEZER ALLEN AND ISAAC CLARK.
Gentlemen: — By
express this moment received the account of Capt. Sawyer's latesignal victory
over the enemy at Shelburne. Therefore, direct you to repair to his relief
without loss of time. You are to take post at Fort William on Otter Creek,* for
the time being. You will send scouts to protect the inhabitants, or harrass the
enemy, as you in your judgment may determine.
All the inhabitants you cannot safely protect, you are to
insist to move within your lines (to be by you prescribed) for the time being,
within a reasonable time; and all such as move, to come in, if need be, you
will assist. And those that refuse such kind invitations, you are to treat as
enemies of this and the United States of America.
If possible, you will secure the wheat at Shelburne, and
such other effects as shall be in your power. You are not to burn or destroy
any buildings or other effects.
I am, gentlemen, your obedient, humble servant.
By order of Council,
THOMAS
CHANDLER, JR.,
Secretary.
Captains ALLEN & CLARK.
Voted in the House of Representatives to be sent."
This paper is not dated, but evidently refers to this
identical case.
The party was not molested again, and the wheat was
secured. This attacking party was apparently Indians; but it was strongly
suspected at the time that many of them were in disguise, and this suspicion
was confirmed by a train of circumstances many years after this event. In the
course of the last war with England, in 1814, a number of British officers that
were captured at Missisco Bay, by Gen. Clark, were brought to Burlington, and
by chance were visited by Ziba Piersons; and in conversation with a Lieutenant,
one of the captives, revealed his name and place of residence. The Lieutenant
repeated: "Piersons — Shelburne — Shelburne and at Piersons' my father
fell, he was a Captain in the British service in the time of the Revolutionary
war, and was shot down at Shelburne and at Piersons'—his name was Larama."
This fully confirmed
—————
* Which was at Vergennes.
SHELBURNE. 861
their former suspicions. His body was probably conveyed
back to Canada, as it was known to the Piersons party that some of their dead
were carried on hand-sleds, of which they had a number. The party at Piersons'
attributed their signal success and preservation from captivity or death to the
fact that the attacking party were under the influence of intoxicating liquor,
with which they were well supplied. This engagement and defeat of the enemy at
this time and place evidently greatly exasperated the English leaders of the
army. A large bounty was offered by British authority to the person or party
that would capture and deliver to them the body of Moses Piersons, dead or
alive, and a party was sent out in April, following, for the express purpose
of capturing, if possible, this notorious rebel, as they termed him.*
After the party had secured the wheat, deeming it unsafe
to remain in Shelburne, Piersons retired with his family to Orwell. Fodder for
cattle became scarce. Ziba and Uzal, with an elderly man, were sent with a lot
of cattle to Shoreham, to browse these cattle in the forest. While thus
employed, they were surprised by this scouting party from Canada, who were in
search for Moses Piersons, or any other noted rebel. Ziba, Ural, and this
elderly man, were taken prisoners and conveyed to Montreal, where they were
confined until the next winter.
The prison in which they were confined was situated
directly on the river St. Lawrence, and when the ice formed on the river the
three found means to escape. The aged man escaped first, and the two young men
made their escape through the escapement of the privy, which was directly over
the river. The fate of the old man they never learned, they neither saw nor
heard more of him. Unfortunately for the young men a light snow fell that
night, and they knew full well that they should be pursued, and when they
reached the forest, on the opposite side of the river, they crossed and
recrossed their track, reversed their shoes on their feet and retraced a
portion of the distance they had traveled, secreted themselves in the forest,
and soon after daylight a large party was in hot pursuit of them, passed
directly by where they were concealed, and obliterated their track with their
own, and they were not discovered. They remained in their hiding place the
next night, not daring to proceed. The third night they moved cautiously forward
and made their way as best they could, traveling for sometime in the night
only, and lying concealed in the wilderness through the day. They had no means
of subsistence but what chance threw in their way, sometimes procuring milk
from the cows they found in some of the French settlements through which they
passed. They traveled most of the time in the forest, with no guide and often
in the wrong direction, as they learned when the sun revealed itself. When
about 25 days from Montreal, and near the north line of New York, they
discovered a party of lumbermen who camped in the forest in a log cabin. They
concealed themselves near by, until the workmen left in the morning, when they
approached the cabin cautiously and ascertained that but an old man was left
to take care of the cabin and its contents, and he was fast asleep and, as
they judged afterwards, intoxicated. They entered the cabin cautiously, with
the understanding that one of them was to watch the old man, and, if need be,
to dispatch him at once, to prevent a discovery, and the other to procure
provisions for present and future use. They succeeded in getting as much as
they could carry, which was a great relief to them in the remainder of their
journey. The old man on guard made no move, and they did not harm him. They
proceeded on and reached Lake Champlain, crossed the lake to the main land, as
they then supposed, not knowing the geographical location of places, but found
they were on the Grand Isle, which was then occupied by Indians in considerable
numbers, though they did not discover them. They then crossed to the main land
in Vermont, and after 40 days spent in cold winter weather, without the benefit
of fire, for fear of its being a means of their being discovered and
recaptured, they reached Shelburne, and found naught but desolation, no living
person there. They found a few peas and some frozen potatoes at their former residence,
and cooked and eat them with a relish, and proceed on to Orwell, where their
parents then were, and they were received with a joyful welcome, after almost a
year's
—————
* Additional particulars in regard to the "Shelburne
battle" appear in the next paper, furnished by Rev. Mr. Sutton.—Ed.
862 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
absence — appearing more Iike walking skeletons than
living beings.
After the close of the war, in the spring of 1783, Moses
Piersons returned to Shelburne with his family, reoccupied his former residence
and resided there until his death, which was July 28, 1805.
ZIBA
PIERSONS
located on a farm lying on the main road, in the south
part of the township; accumulated a good property, held many offices of trust
in the town, a thorough business man; died suddenly in a fit of apoplexy, Nov.
1, 1820, aged 60 years.
UZAL
PIERSONS
owned and occupied the farm near the lake, now owned and
occupied by Ezra Meech, a son of Ezra Meech, Sen. By energy and good fortune
he secured a large and valuable estate, what is termed among country farmers
wealthy; reared up a large family of children, but was unfortunate towards the
close of his business life and lost much of his wealth; came to his death by
falling from a wagon, striking upon his head, June 11, 1836, aged 72 years.
WILLIAM
SMITH
emigrated to Shelburne, and located on what has ever been
known as Smith's Point, in 1783; was familiarly known as Quaker Smith. His
family consisted of several sons and daughters, most of them settled in the
west part of the town. The old homestead has passed from one to another of his
descendants and is now owned and occupied by Isaac Smith, a descendant—one of
the third generation.
DANIEL
COMSTOCK,
one of the early settlers, located a short distance north
of Wm. Smith's, on a point which has ever bore his name. He was a man of
unblemished character; held many offices in the gift of the people, being treasurer
of the town for many years. He was a Universalist in religious sentiment, a
strict moralist, and honest man; died Jan. 11, 1810, aged 74 years.
LEVI
COMSTOCK,
son of Daniel, was town clerk for many years, justice of
the peace, and held various town offices; was a prominent man in the community;
died May 10, 1847, aged 81, universally respected.
ELISHA
COMSTOCK,
son of Daniel, owned and occupied this farm, the old
homestead, after his father's death, which is now owned by Hezekiah, son of
Elisha.
FREDERICK
SAXTON
was one of the first settlers in the town of Burlington.
Located at the head of Pearl street in 1785, resided there several years. Sold
to Col. Pearl, in 1792, and removed to Shelburne, located on a point a distance
north of Comstock's Point, now owned and occupied by Geo. Saxton, a descendant
of Frederick; resided on this point till his death in 1796, the manner of which
may be learned under head of "drowning," in this paper.
RICHARD
SPEARS
removed from Braintree, Mass. Came to Shelburne July 21,
1783, purchased a lot of land the east side of Shelburne Bay, a part of which
was in the town of Burlington; erected a log-house directly on the bank, near
the water, and but just south of Burlington line, in which he resided till his
death. This part of Shelburne was then an unbroken wilderness, no roads opened
which were passable, settlements few and far between, no grist-mill or market
nearer than Whitehall or St. Johns for two years was under the necessity of
taking his grain in a small boat to one of those places to get it ground; then,
for a while, to Willsborough Falls; there to Winooski Falls, for a time before
a mill was put in operation at Shelburne Falls. He was the father of 11
children. His children mostly located in the north part of Shelburne and south
part of Burlington, and their descendants were quite numerous. He died March
19, 1788, aged 52 years.
ELHANAN
W. SPEARS,
a son of Richard, now owns and occupies a portion of the
real estate originally purchased by his father. Was two years of age when he
came to Shelburne, and has resided on said farm since, has followed the
business of shoemaking, tanning and currying, associated with farming. Has
been successful in business; filled many offices of trust in the town, and has
retired from business in comfortable circumstances. Has reared a large family
of children, most of whom have departed this life. He is still living, 81 years
of age.
SHELBURNE. 863
WILLIAM
BLIN
emigrated to this town from Connecticut in early day, with
several sons; located on a portion of the Governor's right, a short distance
south of Spears'; did not live many years after he came to Shelburne.
SIMON
BLIN,
a son of William, owned and occupied a portion of the lot
on which his father resided; was a prominent citizen; held several offices —
constable, selectman, &c.; kept a public house for many years; raised a
large family of children. He died April 5, 1819, aged 53 years.
SAMUEL
BLIN,
a son of William, owned and occupied another portion of
the farm purchased by his father; was an enterprising and influential citizen
in the community, filled various offices in the gift of the people, kept a
public house for many years, reared a large family of children. The street on
which these two brothers were located has long been known as Blin street, and
the neighborhood as the Blin district. He died Nov. 27, 1844, aged 73 years.
BENJAMIN
HARRINGTON,
for many years a sea-faring man, emigrated to this place
from Connecticut, soon after the Revolutionary war, in company with his father
and his brother, Wm. C. Harrington, who was the first lawyer that settled in
Burlington. Benjamin and William purchased the lot at the end of Potter's
Point, and previously occupied by Hubbell and Bush, and traded for a while in a
log building erected by Hubbell and Bush and occupied by them as a store. In
1788 Benjamin purchased a lot at the center of the town, erected a log cabin
and removed to that place, it then being an unbroken wilderness, a hemlock
swamp, and a frog pond the year round where Simonds store now stands. In 1789
he erected a frame-house a few rods back of where Col. Frederick Fletcher now
resides (the cars now passing directly over where this building was erected),
cleared up the land, caused a public road to be laid out and opened from
Middlebury to Burlington, known as the main road. In 1796, soon after this road
was laid out, he erected the large building which has ever been used as a
public house, now owned and occupied by Cornelius H. Harrington, a descendant
from him. He was one of the most enterprising business men in the community;
entered largely into business; added farm to farm, and accumulated wealth. He
was the contractor, in 1807, for building the white church edifice, as it is
called, and completed it to the satisfaction of the people, with dispatch and
credit to himself. Was associated with Jedediah Boynton for several years in
mercantile business. Was the father of several sons and daughters; Henry, the
youngest, now owns and occupies most of his real estate at the center of the
town. But he was arrested in the prime of manhood and in the midst of his
business operations by a fatal disease, and closed his earthly labors Jan. 17,
1810, aged 48 years, and was buried the day that has ever been known as the
cold Friday.
JOSHUA
ISHAM,
one of the early settlers, emigrated from Williamstown,
Con.; made a pitch, as he terms it in a memorandum made by him at the time, in
St. George, Mar. 17, 1784, where he resided 9 years; purchased the lot east of
the Falls in Shelburne, now owned and occupied by John Clark, and removed to
that place Feb. 28, 1793; erected the dwelling now occupied by Clark that year;
purchased the store at the Falls, long known as the old red store, goods, land
and potash owned by Thadeus Tuttle, and removed to that place Jan. 1, 1796;
shortly alter purchased the grist-mill, sawmill and all the water privileges
formerly erected and owned by Ira Allen; owned and occupied the grist-mill and
saw-mill through life; erected the dwelling now owned and occupied by Geo.
Bliss, a descendant of his, in 1804; was a thorough business man; traded many
years in the old red store; was generally fortunate in business, and the owner
of valuable real estate at the time of his death. He was a leading man in his
day; held many public offices in the town: was town clerk for many years, and
for years a member and principal supporter of the Episcopal church. In this
place, at the time he came to St. George, there was no settlement whatever at
Shelburne Falls, an unbroken wilderness. He died April 9, 1840, aged 82 years.
JIRAH
ISHAM,
a younger brother of Joshua, accompanied him from
Williamstown, in 1784, and purchased a lot of land a few years after in the S.
E. corner of Shelburne. He was a man of enterprising habits and good moral
charac‑
864 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
ter; but situated so remote from the business places of
Shelburne and so much nearer Hinesburgh village that his business associations
were more in Hinesburgh than in Shelburne, and hence he was not so much known
in this town as many other business men. His energies and good fortune secured
to him a real estate of several hundred acres and other accumulations of
wealth. He raised up a large family, many of them now living. He was a man that
was fond of hunting and fishing. On the 9th of December, 1837, he took his gun
in the afternoon, went into the woods near Shelburne Pond, which was but a
short distance from his residence, in search of game; but not returning that
night, search was made in the morning for him. His hat and gun were found on
the ice that covered the pond, and his lifeless body at the bottom in about 12
feet of water. It was evident that he was attempting to cross a small bay,
deeming it safe. The ice gave way under him, and laboring under the infirmities
of age, he could not work his way to the shore, which was but a few feet from
where he was found. He had broken his gun-lock in his efforts to reach the
shore, but probably soon became exhausted, and left his hat and gun as a guide
to where his body might be found, and sank to the bottom. [We here omit a
complimentary, but brief notice of Rev. Bethuel Chittenden in Mr. Thayer's
paper, having had a more complete paper furnished by Rev. Mr. Bailey, as appears
further on.—Ed.]
LUTHER
CHITTENDEN,
a son of Bethuel, a respectable farmer, having a family
of four children: whilst engaged in stoning a well for Remington Bitgood, by
accident fell into the well and was so badly injured as to cause his death in a
short time. He was insensible when taken from the well. This was on the 15th of
November, 1816, just one week before Bitgood committed suicide. He was 52
years of age.
ASA.
R. SLOCUM,
one of the early settlers in the N. E. part of the town, a
citizen of enterprise, respectability and wealth, who held many town offices,
having a numerous and respectable family: returning from Burlington in the
evening of Jan. 3, 1830, called at a near neighbors for some purpose, and, as
it appeared, in attempting to reenter his wagon (there being snow on the
ground), made a miss-step and probably fell between his spirited horses, as the
neighbor observed from the sound of the wagon on the frozen ground indicated
that they were soon going at a rapid rate. His foot caught between the
whiffletrees and his lifeless and mangled body was found dragging under the
wagon when the team reached his place of residence. He was 63 years of age.
NATHANIEL
GAGE,
who settled at an early day in the N. E. part of the town,
was an enterprising citizen, owned a valuable real estate and other accumulations
of wealth. He held various offices in the gift of the people, and was justice
of the peace for many years. He was a leading member of the M. E. Church from
its earliest history in this town, and often engaged and officiated as
preacher, and was regarded as father to the church of that order, and contributed
largely to its support. But in a later day he with others dissented from some
of the principal tenets and forms of government adhered to by that
denomination, who seceded from them and joined themselves to the Reformed or
Protestant Methodist church, the government of which was more democratic; and,
with a view of establishing this order on a more firm basis, caused a small,
neat church edifice to be erected in the N. E. part of the town in 1844, where
services have generally been held since. This church edifice is known, and
probably ever will be, as the Gage meeting-house—a memorial of his benevolence
to the order he was striving to establish, and of his devotion to the cause of
the Redeemer. He died November 27, 1854, aged 89 years.
JOSHUA
REED,
one of the early settlers, located in early day near the
center of the town geographically. He was a man of enterprise and industry, and
accumulated a valuable real estate; was a leading citizen for many years, and
filled several offices of trust in the town; was a member and deacon of the
Congregational church for several years; reared up several children; gave one
of his sons (Almon) a liberal education, who emigrated to the state of
Pennsylvania and became a noted lawyer, a member of the state legislature
several years, and member of Congress from that state several terms. He died
April 30, 1843, aged 84 years.
SHELBURNE. 865
JAMES
HAWLEY
emigrated from the town of Arlington to this town in early
days, located on a lot near Joshua Reed's, now owned and occupied by Myron
Reed, a millwright by profession, was master-builder of the first grist-mill
erected at Shelburne Falls by Ira Allen, and superintended its running for a
time; a prominent citizen; father of several respectable children, some of
them still living.
EBENEZER
BARSTOW
was born in Canterbury, Conn., in 1756, was a Sergeant in Col.
Canfield's regiment of Connecticut Volunteers in the Revolutionary war, and
received a Sergeant's pension from Government. He emigrated to this town soon
after the close of the Revolutionary war, settled in the eastern part when it
was an unbroken forest; married Esther Owen, who emigrated from Connecticut,
and erected a log cabin in the forest a few feet back of the dwelling-house now
owned and occupied by Heman Barstow, in which they resided several years. Their
energies secured for them the means for a comfortable subsistence. They were
blest with 13 healthy children, 11 of them living to mature age. He was a man
of unblemished character; never made a public profession of religion, but lived
and died a strict moralist; had a fair education for his day, and filled many
important offices in town. His 11 children settled so near that he visited them
all about one week before his death, and was impressed with the belief, and so
expressed it, that it was his last visit. He died of pleurisy and bowel complaint,
March 30, 1834, aged 78 years. His wife was a respectable member of the
Congregational church formally years, —died in 1824.
HEMAN
BARSTOW,
second son of Ebenezer, was born in the log cabin 1790, is
in the 73d year of his age (1862), and resides, and ever has, on the old
homestead. He was celebrated when a boy for his skill in throwing small stones.
Crows, hawks, partridges, pigeons, squirrels, and all kinds of small game, were
almost sure to fall, if within gunshot distance and a stone was hurled at them
by him; and when about 10 years of age he killed an eagle with a small stone,
which measured nearly 8 feet from the extremities of his wings.* He was rather
a dull scholar, but of very industrious habits. He has filled many public
offices in this his native town, has represented the same in the legislature,
and the county in the senate. There is a remarkable case in the history of his
family. He has two daughters and a son who are perfectly deaf and have been
from childhood, who can read and write as well as most persons, and converse
freely with each other and their intimate acquaintances, by the motion of the
lips and the organs of speech; they are otherwise endowed with the common
faculties of nature; they are all members of the church, and generally attend
and can understand preaching. One of the daughters was married, at a suitable
age, to a respectable man, and now resides in Michigan. The other daughter and
son still live with their father on the old homestead, and constitute his
family.
HON.
EZRA MEECH
was born in Connecticut, 1773, emigrated with his father
and family and located in the town of Hinesburgh, in 1785; was engaged in
trapping and gathering furs for several years, catching what he could and
purchasing of other hunters, and became engaged in the fur trade to
considerable extent; going into Canada and purchasing furs —bringing large
packs on foot through the wilderness; was successful in his trade, and in 1795
opened a store and commenced trade at Charlotte Four Corners, so called, still
dealing in furs. In 1800, married Mary McNeil; continued in trade and
accumulated wealth. In 1806, purchased the farm in Shelburne near the lake,
formerly owned by Moses Piersons, in the S. W. corner of the town and removed
to that place; kept a small store of goods for some years; continued dealing
in furs, and engaged in the manufacture of potash, purchasing ashes and salts
of the settlers in this and adjoining towns for some years. About the year
1810, commenced lumbering and dealing quite extensively in oak timber
principally, taking, it to Quebec market. When war was declared in 1812, by the
United States Government, against Great Britain, he was at Quebec with timber
and could not close his business im-
—————
* Was this eagle story received from tradition, it might
be taken as fabulous; but the actor is still living on the same farm, and I
have the statement from his own hand and verbal affirmation, and if any doubt
the truth of the assertion he will at any time testify to its being a fact, and
point them to the very spot where the deed was done.
866 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
mediately, and so applied to the authorities and obtained
a permit to remain for 30 days, and closed his business as best he could in
that time and left the province. He then engaged largely in supplying the
American army with provisions, such as pork, beef, flour, &c., while the
war continued. At the close of the war, reengaged in the lumber trade and was
generally successful in business. He had not the benefit of a liberal
education—a man of strong mind, an accurate judgment, and strong intellectual
powers—was a self-made man. He filled many offices of trust in the town;
represented the same in the legislature, and was county judge for several
years. He was also elected a member to Congress in 1819, and served one term,
and again in 1825 represented the state honorably. He was the democratic
candidate for governor in 1830, 1831 and 1832, but unsuccessful. In 1833 he
became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and remained a worthy and
influential member until his death, and was instrumental in building up and
establishing that church in this town on an enduring basis. Fortunate in
business, he added farm to farm, and accumulated wealth and fame, and, at the
time of his death, was the owner of some 3500 acres of land. His real estate
was appraised at $125,000, exclusive of his personal property. He was,
perhaps, the largest land holder in the state. He was the father of 10
children; but two have survived him — two sons that now reside a short distance
from the old homestead. In 1826, while absent at Washington, his wife died; and
subsequently he married Mrs. L. C. Clark, who is still living and holds
possession of the old homestead. His estate was divided in accordance to his
will. He died Sept. 23, 1856, aged 83 years; and a plain, neat, well-finished,
substantial monument, in the central burying ground, marks his resting place.
RUTH
THAYER,
was a daughter of Roderick Messenger, one of the early
settlers of the town of Jericho in this county. He removed from Connecticut to
Jericho in 1770, cleared some land and commenced improvements on a farm
situated on Winooski river, near the west part of the town. In 1776, when the
state was invaded by the British and Indians, he, with all others of the early
settlers, left this part of the state. He with his family made their way as
best they could to the town of Pawlet, in the south part of the state. Many
hardships were experienced, much extreme suffering had to be endured, many
difficulties overcome in making their way through the then almost unbroken forest
and roads, of which the present generation can have no adequate conception.
The then residents of the town of Pawlet were not very numerous, and had but
few of the conveniences and necessaries of life, when compared with those of
the present day. These accommodations while they remained in Pawlet were very
limited, and their wants but poorly supplied. They left Jericho about the first
of September, and on the 24th the wife of R. Messenger gave birth to a pair of
twins, of which Ruth, who in after years married Eli Thayer, was one. The wife
and mother survived but a few days; she died when Ruth was but nine days old,
the other twin lived but four days. Ruth was left in care of a sister but 11
years of age, who cared for her as best she could some 9 weeks, when the father
bargained with Daniel Barber, then a resident of Sunderland, to take the
child, and she was subsequently adopted by him, and was ever after considered
as one of his children. At the close of the war in 1784, Barber came to
Shelburne with his family, purchased a lot of land, the farm now owned and
occupied by Lee Tracy, a descendant of Barber, in the west part of the town,
erected a log cabin for the time being and occupied this lot through life. Ruth
was then 8 years of age. There were then but eight families resident of the
town. These were Moses Piersons, Wm. Smith, Rufus Cole, Caleb Smith, Thomas
Hall, Hubbel and Bush associated, Richard Spears and Gershom Lyon. These were
all the residents of Shelburne, and not a solitary family resident in the town
of Burlington. Ruth the subject of this memoir was employed when quite young in
teaching school in the district where she resided, known as the Corner
district; was married to Eli Thayer, December, 1795. They owned and occupied a
small farm at the head of the bay on the west side of Plot river. She was the
mother of ten children two of them died when quite young, of the scarlet fever
or canker rash; eight of them — three sons and five daughters—universally
enjoying good health, lived to what is termed
SHELBURNE. 867
middle age. Several of them became heads of families, when
one after another became victims to that fatal disease, consumption, which
prevails to so alarming an extent in the New England States. She followed seven
of her children and her husband to the grave in so many years. She saw all her
family but one laid in the tomb, and still lived like some blighted tree in the
world's wilderness, sad monument of bereavement. Her life began in sorrow, and
she experienced a full share of affliction through its course. She was a person
noted as having a remarkable memory—could tell the date of most of the
principal events which happened in the town, age and date of birth of most of
its natives, and the notable events in the county. Her family connections were
noted for their longevity—universally living to a good old age. Death ended her
sorrows the 9th of October, 1861, in the 86th year of her age. She closed her
earthly existence with a full expectation of entering into that rest which
remains for the people of God. She was for many years a member of the Episcopal
church.
ELI
THAYER
was born in Thompson, Conn., 1773. His father died' when
he was but two years of age. He came to Shelburne in 1788; married Ruth
Messenger, December 1795; owned and occupied a small farm at the mouth of the
Plot river; was a joiner by profession; held several offices in the town; was
constable and collector for the town 22 years; collector of the direct tax in
1815 and 1816, in the counties of Chittenden and Addison. His ancestry and
family connections were noted for their tendency to consumption, many of them
having large families, and almost universally dying with that disease. Such has
been the case for several generations. He died of consumption, October 26th,
1838, aged 65 years.
LYMAN
THAYER,
a son of Eli and Ruth, born 1799, married Laura Blin, a
daughter of Simon Blin, in 1821, is a native of this town and has always
resided here;* has had six children—two sons and four daughters; all have
become victims to that prevailing disease, consumption. His brothers and
sisters, his father and his ancestry for several generations back, have died
of consumption, most of them in middle life. It may reasonably be inferred that
he partakes more of his mother's family tendency to longevity than of his
father's family tendency to consumption,—he now being the only remaining
representative of several numerous Thayer families.
JONATHAN
LYON,
with a family of two sons and four daughters, emigrated
from Reading, Conn. to this town, in 1788, in company with Dan Fairchild and
two sons. Lyon's sons were Robert and William; Fairchild's sons were Jacob, Reuben
and Henry. Robert Lyon and his father purchased three-fourths of the Governor's
right in this town and settled on that as it was located, and the Fairchilds
purchased a portion of Lyon's claim and settled on the same right. They came
from Connecticut in the winter season, bringing their effects with an ox team
on a sled,—a mode of traveling that would be considered rather slow in these
days of steamboat and railroad facilities, reaching Shelburne in the month of
March, some six weeks from the time of starting. Jonathan Lyon died in the
spring of 1791. His sons resided on this right for many years, and Jonathan, a
son of Robert, is still living, owning and occupying a portion of that right.
Tho Fairchilds all left Shelburne in 1813, emigrating to Ohio.
PHYSICIANS.
Frederick Meack, a noted and successful! physician,
settled in the east part of this town at an early day; was the only one here
for several years. He accumulated a valuable real estate, and raised up a
large family of active children. Jacob, his eldest son, was educated at the
University at Burlington, has been for many years a noted lawyer in Chittenden
County. Frederick, his second son, now owns and occupies the old homestead. The
Doctor was a man of impulsive temperament, using strong terms of expression at
times, but understood his profession; was an able physician and safe
counselor. He died June 30th, 1826, aged 61 years.
In 1810, ISAAC C. ISHAM, a brother of Joshua Isham, came
to this place and located near the center, and engaged as a practicing physician.
He was a plain, unassuming man, but able in his profession and generally
successful, and followed his profession to the,
—————
* Till the past Spring, (1866) when he removed to Burlington,
where he now resides.—Ed.
868 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
close of his life, July 1st, 1829, aged 58 years.
In 1826, JOEL FAIRCHILD, a young physician, located at
the village, and practiced as such for several years. He received a good
patronage and was generally successful, but removed to the state of Michigan in
1836;
And ELMER BEECHER took his place and officiated as
physician for two years, and then retired.
In 1838, EDWIN H. SPRAGUE, a young physician, commenced in
Shelburne village and followed his profession with profit to himself and
satisfaction to the people for several years, but became disaffected at length
and left for Ohio in 1848.
HENRY H. LANGDON took his place and practiced as physician
for about six years and then left, removing to the State of New York.
SAMUEL H. CURRIER purchased the residence of Langdon, and
practiced as physician about 3 years and then left town, and is now a surgeon
in the army.
JONATHAN TAYLOR, an old experienced physician, removed to
Shelburne from Georgia in Franklin County, in 1839, and still resides and
practices here.
HUGH TAGGART, a young but successful physician, located in
the east part of the town; has practiced for several years and is still
practicing with good success, and has the reputation of being an able
physician.
Most of the medical practice in this town at the present
time is performed by physicians that are residents of Burlington.
CASES
OF DROWNING.
April 28th, 1796, Col. Frederick Saxton, Jared Post and
two of his sons—all citizens of this town—started in a log canoe to cross Lake
Champlain from Saxton's Bay to Willsborough Point directly opposite. When about
a mile or so from the Point the wind, which had been increasing from the time
they first set out, had become so strong that the canoe filled with water, and
the whole party were drowned. Their bodies were never found.
In the spring of 1803, John Patrill, while engaged in
catching fish with a seine at the mouth of Beaver or Monroe's brook, in the
night time, in attempting to reach the boat, —which had drifted some distance
from the shore—on a rudely constructed raft hastily thrown together for that
purpose, was precipitated into the water, and being unable to swim, was
drowned. He was a resident in the west part of the town.
In February, 1810, Myron Newell, a son of John Newell, of
Charlotte, crossed the lake on business at Essex, N. Y. He, with a span of
horses and sleigh, started from Essex in the evening, intending to cross over
to Charlotte; but probably losing his course steered too far north. He did not
return to his family, and search was made for him; but no discovery could be
made as to what had become of him, and various suspicions were entertained and
expressed as to his fate or cause of absence, until he had been missing some
four weeks. There seemed a mystery in the case; and it is said that a young man
discovered in a dream where he might be found, and pointed out the spot, which
was a short distance from Meech's Point in the lake, and where some part of the
sleigh-box that was loose from the sleigh was found in the ice. The horses,
sleigh, and the body of Newell were hauled up from the bottom,—he still holding
the lines in his hands. He probably lost his course, it being in the night
time, and drove into a crack in the ice. He had married the eldest daughter of
Joshua Isham some two years previous. His widow married a few years after
Argalus Harmon, and by this union became the mother of William Harmon, our
present town clerk and treasurer.
In the spring of 1814 Edward Curry, a son of Samuel P.
Curry, a small boy some six or seven years of age, in company with several
other lads sporting in a leaky boat on the saw-mill pond at Shelburne Falls,
the boat filling with water capsized, and they were all in the water and in
danger of drowning. A good swimmer being at the saw-mill immediately swam to
their relief, and succeeded in saving all but Edward, who was drowned. His
body was not found until 24 hours after.
April 28th, 1826, Zalmon Drew, a son of Sturgess Drew one of
the early settlers of the town, was engaged on the steamboat Phcenix, the boat
coming into Burlington in the night with a raft of timber and wood; while
engaged in securing the boat and timber to the wharf, by some unlucky step
young Drew fell into the water and was drowned. His body lay in the water some
seven weeks before it was recovered.
SHELBURNE. 869
August 18th, 1834, Mary Ann Tracy, wife of Guy Tracy and
daughter of Alpheus Fletcher, was drowned in Winooski river. She, in company
with her husband, Emma Thayer, a daughter of Eli Thayer, and Reuben Nash, was
returning from Colchester Point, to which place they had been for the purpose
of gathering whortleberries, and drove their team to the river for the purpose
of watering their horses. The two men leaving their seats in the wagon for the
purpose of loosening the check reins on the horses, were standing on either
side of them. The horses were in the habit of stepping into the water in the
lake while in the act of drinking, and stepped forward into the water. It
being an abrupt descent from the water's edge downward, they lost their
foothold, and the horses, wagon and two women were soon in deep water beyond
the reach of those on shore. Tracy, frantic with excitement, made a desperate
effort to reach them; not being much of a swimmer and encumbered as he was with
boots and coat he plunged into the water, but soon found he could render them
no assistance while thus encumbered; he returned to the shore to divest himself
of his coat and boots; but when he made the second attempt to save his wife,
before he could reach her she had sunk to rise no more. A citizen residing near
by came to their assistance soon enough to seize Miss Thayer, when sinking
probably for the last time, and brought her to the shore in an insensible
state, but by proper appliances she was restored to life. The body of Mrs Tracy
remained in the water several hours before it was recovered. She had been
married but a short time; was 21 years of age.
Jirah Isham, drowned in Shelburne pond Dec. 9, 1837. (See
biographical sketches.)
In the spring of 1812 Kilburn Hill, a son of Phineas Hill
who was one of the early settlers in the eastern part of the town, while
engaged with others in catching fish in the river below the falls with a scoop
net, unexpectedly stepped into a deep hole in the river where the water was
beyond his depth, and being no swimmer sank to the bottom; but one of his
comrades by diving in brought him to the shore, and by the most strenuous
efforts succeeded in restoring him to life. He is still living—an aged man and
respectable citizen.
In 1812 Jedediah Burt, a shoemaker by profession, known by
the nickname Crapo, who then resided near the mouth of Platt river,
accidentally fell into the stream and was drowned to all appearance, but
luckily was taken from the water in time, so that by strong and thorough
application of proper means he was reanimated. It so happened that whilst the
operation of restoring him was going on that a Methodist preacher came that
way, and, when he had recovered his consciousness and speech, questioned him as
to his thoughts and feelings whilst in the water drowning, and one question put
was: "Did you not think when drowning of dying and going into eternity
unprepared?" "Yes," said Burt, "I thought some about dying,
but a d—— sight more about living." This was an uncivil and ungodly answer
truly; but it is a leading principle in man's nature. Mankind almost
universally reflect but little about dying, but bestow all their thoughts upon
living.
SUICIDES.
David Beard, an individual of some literary
attainments—engaged several years in teaching school—noted for his piety and
exemplary habits—deacon of the Congregational church several years, lost his
wife by death in 1810. He was the father of three sons; the eldest he was
endeavoring to educate at Middlebury college. His means were limited; and his
embarrassed circumstances, with the loss of his wife and other difficulties,
caused a partial derangement of his mind, which resulted in his committing
suicide by hanging himself, in the fall of 1813, at the residence of Uzal
Piersons.
Remington Bitgood—one of the early settlers in the east
part of the town—was the owner of a good farm and accumulated comfortable
estate. He reared up a family of children. He conducted himself strangely for
some time—showed symptoms of insanity before the evening of Nov. 9, 1816, when
he committed suicide by hanging himself in his collar kitchen.
Hezekiah Fletcher—a man of singular habits and peculiar
notions—living entirely by himself for many years, the derangement and
wanderings of his mind led him to commit suicide by cutting his throat with a
razor in the spring of 1817. He left one daughter.
EMPLOYMENTS,
HABITS, MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
Few of the early settlers enjoyed any other advantages of
education than a few months
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attendance at primary schools as they existed in new
England previous to the Revolution. But those advantages had been so well
improved, that nearly all of them were able to read and write a legible hand,
and had acquired a sufficient knowledge of arithmetic for the transaction of
ordinary business. They were in general men of strong and penetrating minds,
and clearly perceiving the numerous advantages which education confers, they
early directed their attention to the establishment of schools. But for many
years there were obstacles in addition to those incident to all new
settlements, which prevented much being done for the cause of education. The
controversies in which they were involved, and the war of the Revolution, both
of which threatened the annihilation of Vermont as an independent state, and
the ruin of many of the settlers by robbing them of their farms, employed
nearly all their thoughts and all their energies previous to their admission
into the Federal Union.
In a new settlement the first business of the husbandman
is to cut down the woods, to clear up the lands, to sow them with grain; to
erect the necessary buildings and to open the roads, and thus to connect and
form a communication between the scattered settlements and make the most of his
labor. Amidst the hard living and hard labor that attends the farming in a new
settlement, the settler has encouragements. One hundred acres of land in a new
town does not generally cost him more than the wages of one or two years.
Besides maintaining himself, the profits of his labor will generally enable a
young man in that period of time to procure himself such a tract of land. When
he comes to apply his labor to his own land, the first crop of wheat will
generally pay him for all the expense he has been at in clearing up, sowing and
fencing his land, and at the same time increases the value of his land eight or
ten times the original cost. In this way the profits attending labor on a new
settlement are the greatest that ever can take place in agriculture—the laborer
continually receiving double wages. Most of the early settlers were engaged in
agriculture, living in log houses. The
early settlers were mostly from Connecticut and Massachusetts. As is the case
in all new settlements, a natural friendship and good will was manifested. The
nearest equality that can take place among men will be found among the
inhabitants of a new country—their employments and pursuits being the same, and
all depending on their own labor and industry for support. The early settlers
were not noted for their piety or religious attainments. Their habits and
customs were not of a religious character. They were in the habit of using
spirituous liquors rather freely, as was the custom in all other places in
those days. They must be had in preference to anything else; were necessary on
all occasions and under all circumstances, and were an antidote for all the
ills of life and a remedy for every disease. From 1805 to 1815, there was
probably more liquor used in Shelburne, and throughout the state, than at any
other period of the same number of years before or since. Previous to that time
the population was not so great and the facilities for obtaining it were not so
good; and from about 1815 there began to be some temperance advocates, and they
have been increasing in numbers and influence from that day. In those days
there were some 200 distilleries in the state of Vermont. There were 30 of them
in the county of Chittenden, and four of them in the town of Shelburne; and
they were all in full operation. There were perhaps from 20 to 25 hogsheads of
liquor sold annually at the stores in Shelburne. There was one tavern at the
village and four others on the road to Burlington, which made five rum-selling
and dram-drinking establishments in so many miles. I have known even ministers
of the gospel who made no secret of taking a glass of grog before entering the
pulpit to preach, declaring that it assisted them to preach and many of their
hearers carried their flasks of cider brandy in their pockets to church, and
they were freely and fearlessly passed around at intermission with the
understanding that if it assisted the minister to preach, it also assisted them
to hear and understand. There were no temperance organizations previous to 1830.
In that year a temperance society was organised. Col. Horace Saxton was
appointed president; George Cloyse, vice-president; and Asahel Nash, secretary.
A constitution was drawn up and subscribed to by 156 residents of the town,
headed by Rev. Louis McDonald, an Episcopal clergyman. This organization for
many years was the means of effecting a very
SHELBURNE. 871
desirable change in the morals and habits of the people in
the community. This society held their stated meetings for 28 years, but has
been suspended by other temperance organizations. There was an organization of
the order of Recabites in 1847; and this was resolved into an organization of
Sons of Temprance known as the Oaken Bucket Division No. 75 in Shelburne. This
order has a convenient hall for their weekly division meetings, which have been
and still are regularly attended and now number some 100 members.
In reviewing the past, we can but be satisfied that the
friends of the temperance cause have not been laboring in vain; great and important
changes have been wrought. The morals and customs of society have been greatly
improved. Distilleries—once so numerous, manufacturing and dealing out
destruction morally and physically—have all been demolished, and the places
they occupied have become fruitful fields. Public houses, where once was heard
the clamor of the drunkard and the revel of the debauchee, have been converted
into quiet farm-houses. Those signs which were so numerous and so conspicuous
in all our public thoroughfares—not emblems of peace, but of intemperance and
immoralities—have disappeared. Intoxicating liquors, which were once the
leading article of trade in all our country stores, are no part of their trade
at the present day. In private families they have been entirely banished from
their sideboards, and are wholly out of use as a beverage to be presented to
friends on social occasions. At public gatherings, where once it was used as
freely as water, and drunkenness and brawls and fightings and fatal accidents
were among the results, no man now dare offer the maddening poison openly; and
consequently general temperance, peace and security are the order of the day.
In farming and other laborious employments very little is used at the present
day where once it was very common. Let us therefore give no heed to the false
outcry that no good has been done, but thank God and take courage. The enactment
of the prohibitory law of our state in 1852 was to become a law provided a
majority of the people sanctioned that enactment; and the votes of Shelburne
were almost unanimous in favor of its becoming a law of the state; only three
votes being cast against it, and these were known to have been cast by
foreigners. Shelburne was known to be the banner town of the state. For several
years there has been no liquor sold in town, having no agent under the law.
Thus customs have materially changed and fashions varied.
MARRIAGE.
Justices were almost universally employed to perform the
marriage ceremony, and the marriage fee was one dollar; and the officiating
magistrate was considered very penurious if he did not make a present of that
dollar to the bride; and in many cases an amount of flax was purchased with
that dollar and manufactured ink, linen for family use—hetcheled, carded, spun
and in some instances woven with her own hands. Household or domestic labor was
not considered derogatory, and a calico dress was a respectable marriage
outfit. I recollect in one instance, in performing the marriage ceremony the
justice and the father of the bride having a relish for gin and having imbibed
freely of that cordial previous to the ceremony, when the happy couple presented
themselves ready for the ceremony with their gloves on, the justice required
them to remove their gloves, as his custom was to marry skin to skin.
Fashions and ceremonies have materially changed. It would not be considered
respectable at the present time to have a marriage solemnized by a justice.
These rites must be performed by the pastor or some noted clergyman, and $10 dollars
is considered a moderate marriage fee. A notable change also has been gradually
manifesting itself in regard to families. Most of the early settlers had
families numbering from 8 to 15 children, and in some cases even more. John
Hadley's family numbered 25 children, Benjamin Sutton's 24, Ebenezer Barstow's
13, and many other families from 10 to 15 children. From 1810 to 1825 the
school-houses in every part of the town were filled with scholars, numbering
from 50 to 100 in each district. But at the present time in several districts
barely a sufficient number for a small class can now be gathered.
Another custom which everything tends to introduce in a
new country is early marriage. Trained up to regular industry and economy, the
young people grow up to maturity in all the vigor of health, and bloom of
natural
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beauty. The ease with which a family may be maintained,
and the wishes of parents to see their children settled in the way of virtue,
reputation and felicity strongly invite to an early settlement in life. The
practice becomes universal, and it generally takes place as soon as the laws
of society suppose the young people of sufficient age and discretion to
transact the business of life. Nature leads the way; all the lovely train of
virtues, domestic happiness, and the greatest public benefits, and a rapid
population are found to be the fruit. No people have so few diseases, multiply
so fast, or suffer so little from sickness. Activity and labor do more for them
than art and medicine. The disorders which wear away the inhabitants of wealthy
cities are almost unknown in the woods; very few die but under the unavoidable
decay of nature, and the deaths are to the births in no higher proportion than
1 to 6 or 8.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
About the time of the commencement of the 19th century
there first began to be some religious feeling manifested, and some feeble
efforts made to institute Christian worship among the people. A Congregational
church was organized about this time, comprising but a limited number as
members. Occasional meetings were held in private houses and in barns for
several years, but no regular services were held until the church edifice known
as the White or Union Church was completed, in 1808. This church was erected to
be occupied by the different denominations in proportion as each should hold
stock in the same. The original arrangement of this church was a lobby, as it
now remains, three aisles on the ground floor, two rows of body pews of square
form, seats on all sides, and a single tier of like construction around the
outside called wall pews, with a wide gallery on the front and two sides above,
and a large elevated pulpit in the extreme back end of the building. No
arrangements were made for warming the house, not even a chimney or a place for
a stove; and the house was occupied and service held for many years without any
warming apparatus. The contract for erecting this church, and to furnish the
land for the same and a common or green in front, was taken by Benjamin
Harrington for the sum of $5000, guaranteed to him by several of the principal
men of the town; and when completed the pews on the ground floor were sold to
the highest bidder, to raise the funds for the payment of the contract; and
each purchaser became a stockholder in the property in proportion to the amount
of his purchase, and could assign his interest to any order of Christian
worship he chose. Pew No. 1 was bid off by Uzal Piersons at $630, No. 2 by Ziba
Piersons at $550; and they ranged down to $20. The whole sum raised from the
sale of the pews amounted to nearly $6,000.
After the completion of this church edifice the
Congregational church increased largely in membership and popularity, and held
service in the house most of the time for the next 10 years. The services of
Rev. Dr. Sanders, the first President of the University of Vermont (located at
Burlington), were engaged, and he preached several years, most of the time
here, and other clergymen of that order at different times. The Methodists held
a small interest in the house, as did the Universalists also, and occupied the
house occasionally. There was also a limited number of residents in the east
part of the town who were Episcopalians, who formed themselves into a society
at an early day, under the supervision of Bethuel Chittenden as their pastor,
and held service in that part of the town in private residences and
school-houses. They held but little stock in the White Church originally. A
small society of Methodists formed also at an early day, and held religious
meetings occasionally in private houses, in barns and in the forest. It will be
seen by the charter a lot was reserved to become the property of the first
settled minister. In 1819 a move was made by Dea. Josiah King, being the
principal manager in the matter, to settle a minister as pastor on the
conditions that he should convey the title of the minister's lot to the
Congregational church, and that it should become the property of that church
forever wholly. But a short time before the consummation of his plans, some of
the principal men of the town were informed of what was intended and was about
to be accomplished, and immediately commenced a counteracting move which soon
aroused the whole community. Their plan was to settle a minister on the
conditions that he should convey the lot to the town for the benefit of all
orders of Christians. And the first inquiry was to
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find a suitable clergyman; no particular preference was
felt as to what denomination he belonged. A merchant in the town by the name of
Peckham was brother-in-law to Joel Clapp, then residing in the town of Sheldon
in Franklin county, who had just completed his studies for the ministry of the
Episcopal order and was seeking a place of labor. He was applied to
immediately, and an engagement entered into on those conditions. He was
settled forthwith, and the lot became the property of the town; is rented and
the rent-money divided annually among the several churches in the town, and is
denominated minister-money. This event created a general feeling in favor of
the Episcopal order. Mr. Clapp proved an exemplary man and a sound preacher,
and the Episcopal church soon gained members, popularity and influence.
The Episcopal church was reorganized and took the name of
Trinity Church. The Congregational church from that period began to wane, and
is almost blotted out. Mr. Clapp occupied the White Church for several years
almost wholly; and after he left, the Rev. Lewis McDonald and the Rev. Charles
Cleveland of the same order were severally called and officiated as rectors of
the church.
About, the year 1825 the Methodists began to increase in
numbers and influence and to feel the want of a suitable place of 'worship. As
most of the stock of the White Church was owned and controlled by the friends
of the Episcopal order, an effort was made to raise the means and erect a
Methodist church, which was effected in 1831. A neat and comfortable brick
chapel was erected on the south side of the green or common, a few rods from
the White Church, at a cost of about $2,000; and has been occupied since by
that order, which is far more numerous as to membership at the present time
than all others. When the effort was made for the erection of a Methodist
church, a counteracting move was made by those in the interest of the
Episcopal order to build a parsonage for their minister, and an effort was put
forth with the obvious intention of enlisting the mass of the people in favor
of that order, and if possible to prevent the erection of the Methodist house,
and thus establish the Episcopal church on a more permanent basis; and again an
excited feeling was created in the community and a strife as to which party
should prevail. The result was both houses were erected at the same time. But
the Methodists gained the most favor in the community as a whole, and the
Episcopal society began to wane, and there has been no regular service of that
order for several years past; only occasional service is held.
About the year 1845, a portion of M. E. ministers seceded
from that church and organized a new order known as Wesleyan Methodist. The
leading principles of this new order was non-fellowship with slaveholders and
also a more democratic form of government; and a church was organized in this
town, comprising about 40 members. Rev. Cyrus Prindle, one of the seceding
ministers was the officiating clergyman. These were mostly seceding members
from the M. E. church. The Episcopalians then occupying and controlling the
White Church, the Wesleyans must needs have some suitable place to worship in,
and they immediately commenced the erection of a small church edifice between
the other two houses of worship, and completed a comfortable house in a short
time where service was held, which was well attended for several years. About
the year 1840, a small number of the members of the M. E. church in the
north-east part of the town seceded and organized a church under the leadership
of Nathaniel Gage, long a resident in that part of the town—styling themselves
Protestant Methodists. The material difference in the two orders is in the
church government—the Protestants adopting a more democratic form in the
appointment and location of ministers, preachers and members having a voice in
the matter of appointments. They also must needs have a place for worship; and
a small, neat brick chapel was erected in 1844, by the friends of that order in
the N. E. part of the town, known as the Protestant or Gage meeting-house. And
the residents of that part of the town and the S. E. part of Burlington here
meet for worship most of the time on Sabbath days since the erection of this
house. In 1850 the Episcopalians became so reduced that they suspended
service in the White Church, and it was free for any denomination of Christians
when not occupied. The Wesleyan church having lost several of their leading
members by death and removal, and not well able to sustain regular preaching,
a remnant of the
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Congregational Church united with the Wesleyans, and they
occupied the White Church conjointly, employing preachers of each order to
occupy the pulpit alternately, preaching to the same congregation; and this was
the order for several years. The small Wesleyan house in which that order
worshiped for many years, was then converted into a parsonage and has been
occupied by the preachers of that order since. The Congregational church has
become so reduced by removal and death, that they have not sustained preaching
for the past two years; and the Wesleyans and the Protestant Methodists are
associated in employing a minister to preach alternately in the white house and
the Gage meeting-house. And the Methodist Episcopal church is the only one
that sustains constant, regular preaching.
ELECTIONS.
Elections have, as a general thing, passed off quietly.
From 1810 to 1815 parties were nearly equally divided, known as Federals and
democrats; and considerable party feeling existed in those days. The Democrats
prevailed for the most part. From the time of the Hartford Convention the
Federalists became unpopular and died out here, the Democrats having their own
way for many years. But they were superseded by the National Republican party;
then the Whig party, and the Republican party, which is now in the ascendency.
There has been a small party styling themselves Modern Democrats for several
years, but these have always been in the minority. In 1847 Elijah Root was
elected to represent the town in the General Assembly by the Whig party. In
1848 the Free Soil party became somewhat popular in this place. The Democrats
and Abolitionists uniting as Free Soilers, nominated as their candidate Henry
S. Morse, who had for several years been the nominee of the Democratic party,
and elected him over Mr. Root the Whig candidate for reelection. A strife for
the next year soon commenced, intended at first to be carried on privately, but
soon became open and general by both parties, and was carried to extremes.
Votes were bought, and men were bribed in every way possible; money was freely
and largely offered. The whole country was ransacked for absent voters who had
not lost their residence by limitation. Foreigners of all nations and tongues
were naturalized by both parties; and many kept under guard as it were for
months previous to election day. Individuals hired by one party and their
families supported, mysteriously disappeared a short time before election.
Laboring men were kept in employ through the season who were unprofitable, in
order to secure their votes. In brief, no means were left untried or unused by
either party that could secure a vote; and no means however dishonorable were
resorted to by one party which the other party was not guilty of. But election
day came, and the contest was a scrutinizing one. Legal advisers were employed
on either side to attend the examination of voters. Charles Adams by the Whig
party, and William Weston by the Free Soil party, and almost every voter had to
pass a scrutinizing examination; and it was late in the evening before the
examination was closed. When all had voted, the box was taken by the authority
to a side apartment away from the multitude that thronged the town room, and
none admitted but those qualified by law. Many had come from adjoining towns to
learn the result. Both parties had their hopes and fears. The result of the
balloting was such that the multitude was kept in anxious suspense for some
time—there being 107 for Mr. Morse, 104 for Mr. Root, 2 scattering, and 3
blanks or pieces of newspaper. Some of the Root party contended strongly that
these 3 blanks must be counted as scattering votes—which would constitute no
choice. Others contended that blanks could not be deemed votes and should not
be counted, and that Mr. Morse was elected. A warm debate was held for some
time, and at one time a personal encounter was imminent. But the question was
finally referred to Mr. Adams, who had retired from the town room. He was sent
for; and on entering, the question was put to him: "Do blank votes count?"
Not knowing how the case stood, he promptly answered "No;" which
decided the case in favor of Mr. Morse, which was heralded to the anxious
multitude—kept for a long time in suspense—and caused a shout of triumph from
the Free Soil party, and an almost instant disappearance of the Whig party. It
is earnestly hoped that another like contest will never occur.
STREAMS.
Plot river is the only stream of any size
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running through this township. This stream takes its rise
in the S. E. part of Hinesburg, and, running through the N. E. corner of
Charlotte, and through Shelburne Falls into Shelburne Bay. It is about 15
miles in length, and affords several mill sites. The circumstance which gave
name to this river, happened in the fall of 1775. A party of Indians was
discovered, probably from Grand Isle, making their way up Shelburne Bay, in
their bark canoes. From the head of the Bay, they proceeded about 100 rods up this
stream and landed on the west side—and having drawn their canoes on shore, and
concealed them among the bushes, proceeded cautiously forward for the purpose
of plundering the settlers. Their motions having been watched and the alarm
spread among the settlers, they were mustered to the number of ten, and a
consultation was held with regard to the course to be pursued. Concluding that
the Indians if vigorously attacked, would make a precipitate retreat to these
canoes, it was decided that three of their number should proceed to their
place of landing and disable their canoes, by cutting slits through the bark in
various places, and then conceal themselves near by and await the result—while
the other seven should make a furious and tumultuous assault upon the enemy,
who had already commenced their work of plunder. The plot succeeded
beyond their most sanguine expectations. The onset of the seven, favored by the
darkness of the night, was made with so much show and spirit, as to lead the
Indians to suppose that they were assailed by a force far superior to their
own, and that their only chance of escape consisted in a hasty retreat to their
canoes. They accordingly betook themselves to flight, and being closely
pursued, when they reached their landing place they seized their canoes,
hurried them into the stream, and leaped on board with the utmost precipitation.
But what was their surprise when they found their canoes were disabled and were
all filling with water. In this forlorn condition they were attacked by the
three men, who had lain concealed on the bank, and the pursuing party soon
coming to their aid the Indians were all shot while struggling to keep
themselves afloat, or sunk to rise no more, not an individual being allowed to
escape to tell to their kindred their tale of woe. This well contrived and successful
stratagem, gave the name to this stream—Plot River. Relics of guns were found
in the stream at this place not many years after.
The next stream in size is Cogman's Brook, which rises in
Charlotte, runs northwesterly through Shelburne into Plot River some 200 rods
from its mouth. This stream took its name from an old hunter of that name who
lived in a log cabin on its bank at an early day.
Beaver Brook is a small stream rising in the east part of
the town, which running in a northwesterly direction falls into Shelburne Bay
on the east side not far from the head. This stream is so called from its
having been the resort and abiding place of the beaver. There were beaver dams
constructed in several places on this stream. It is known near the outlet as
Monroes' Brook, from the fact of the Monroes owning the land at the mouth.
There is also a small brook in the S. W. part of the
township, running into Lake Champlain, known as the Maybee Brook,— a family by
that name residing directly on the bank of this brook near the lake, in early
day.
PONDS.
Shelburne Pond in the N. E. part of the township, covers
about 600 acres, is noted for the fine pickerel and bass which are caught by
anglers in large numbers, and is the resort of many sportsmen and gentlemen of
leisure, both in summer and winter. Its outlet is called Muddy Brook. This
stream is the dividing line between Burlington and Williston, and flows into
the Winooski river, just above the narrows or high bridge.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The early settlers dwelt in log cabins rudely
constructed—used temporary hovels as an apology for barns, with a portion of a
hollow log as rack and manger Their clearings were enclosed with a brush
fence—so their highways were laid out with no system, and but poorly worked
foot-paths from one clearing to another, indicated by marked trees. They had no
grist-mills—no saw mills—no bridges across the streams—no stores and no
blacksmiths for several years. The first settlement commenced at Shelburne
Falls, was in 1785 by Ira Allen, then a resident in the town of Colchester at
what is known as
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Winooski village. A rudely constructed log bridge was
built across the Plot river—a dam was constructed some 10 rods above the
present saw-mill dam—a saw-mill erected on the north side of the stream, and a
forge on the south. In 1786 a dam was constructed at the lower end of the
falls, and a grist-mill put in operation the next season. Clothing works were
erected and put in operation between the grist-mill and saw-mill, in 1789, by
David Fish, which was purchased by Samuel Fletcher, in 1805, owned and
occupied by him until his death, April 23, 1852, since which time it has
remained unoccupied, and in the spring of this year (1862) was swept away by a
freshet, as was also the old stone building formerly used as a grist-mill.
The first saw-mill erected in this town, was located
directly east of the public house, now kept by C. H. Harrington, the dam
extending from the high bank on the west side of the stream, to the bluff rock
on the east side, raising the water and covering the interval above nearly to
the falls. This was built by Lazel Hatch, in 1784; the bottom being of light
soil and the dam but imperfectly constructed, it was soon carried away and the
work abandoned.
The first dwelling other than a log house, was the
block-house now occupied by Tristam Conner, on Potter's Point, by Hubbell and
Bush in 1784. In 1790 a house was erected by Moses Piersons in the S. W. corner
of the town, and is a portion of the dwelling owned and occupied by Ezra Meech.
The first framed house erected was by Lazel Hatch east of the village, near the
saw-mill erected by him—a small building about 12 by 16 feet, in 1784.
It has been occupied as a dwelling-house—as a store—a
slaughter-house—a currying-room—a cooper's shop—a joiner's shop—a barn—a hog
house—a lumber room—a hen house, and for almost every conceivable purpose, and
in various places. About the year 1855, it became rather the worse for wear,
and was taken down by Nelson Newell, 78 years from the time of its erection.
The original covering, shingles and all, still remained secured with wrought
nails, some of which he has now on hand.
The second framed house was built in 1789 by Benjamin
Harrington, a few rods west of the present residence of Col. Frederick
Fletcher.
The public house was erected in 1796, and from the
commencement of the 19th century framed houses began to multiply in all parts
of the town, but it was many years before log cabins wholly disappeared.
Before bridges were erected across the Plot river, the
travel mostly passed through the river at the falls, the principal highway leading,
in going north, by the present residence of John Clark, to the former residence
of Joshua Reed, now occupied by Clayton Reed, a descendant of Joshua; thence
north, west of the ledge, continuing east of the main road as it is now
traveled, intersecting the present road near where Catlin now lives in Burlington.
Citizens in the west part of the town in going east or north, passed around the
mouth of the river on the sand bar, most parts of the year, and in going north
traveled a rough road near the bank of the bay through to Burlington, near
where the cars now pass. The main road was laid out, and a bridge erected north
of the village in 1796. A bridge was constructed across near the mouth of the
river in 1801, and the highways soon became passable. Settlers multiplied;
mechanics of all professions came among them, and general prosperity manifested
itself.
The year of 1788 has been remembered throughout the state
as one of scarcity and want of the necessaries of life, the previous season
being cold and unproductive; 1813 was also a cold unproductive season, causing
much want and privation in the community. A fatal epidemic prevailed to an
alarming extent in the community in 1813, which caused many deaths in this
town, in some instances two and even three funerals in the same day.
Limestone of the first quality, and in great amount, is to
be found in Shelburne. Several ledges or marble quarries are to be found which
have all the appearance, so declared by those having had experience in other
marble quarries, of containing an abundance of marble of the first quality.
Several ineffectual attempts have been made to open these ledges, but failed
for lack of means. No doubt, however, with enterprise and capital, large profit
might be realized, by opening and successfully working these quarries.
POPULATION
OF THE TOWN.
In 1791, 389; in 1800, 723; in 1810, 987;
SHELBURNE. 877
in 1820, 936; in 1830, 1123; in 1840, 1089.
The town was organized in 1787. The first Town Clerk
was,—from 1787, Caleb Smith, to 1791; from 1792, Daniel Castle, one year; from
1793, Joshua Isham, to 1812; from 1813, Joshua Morgan, to 1818; from 1819, Levi
Comstock, to 1836; from 1837, Elma Beecher, to 1838; from 1839, Lyman Hall, to
1854; from 1855, Wm. Harmon, to 1862.
REPRESENTATIVES.
There is no record of any Freemen's meeting until 1809.
Frederick Meack was elected representative of the town in that year and the
following; Joshua Isham, 1811, 3 years; Joshua Morgan, 1814, 2 years; Ziba
Pierson, 1816, 2 years; Burgess Hall, 1818, 2 years ; Levi Comstock, 1820, 3
years; Garrad Burritt, 1823, 2 years; Burgess Hall, 1825, 2 years; Levi
Comstock, 1827, 1 year; Hyman Hollabird, 1828, 2 years; Heman Barstow, 1830, 2
years; no choice, 1832; John Tabor, 1833, 2 years; Horace Saxton, 1835, 2 years;
Samuel Fletcher, 1837, 2 years; Elhanan W. Spears, 1839, 2 years; Robert White,
1841, 2 years; Ira Andrews, 1843, 2 years; Wm. Harmon, 1845, 2 years; Elijah
Root, 1847, 1 year; Henry S. Morse, 1848, 2 years; Elijah Root, 1850, 1 year;
Lyman Hall, 1851, 2 years; Geo. Saxton, 1853, 2 years; Pierpoint Smith, 1855, 2
years; Guy Tracy, 1857, 2 years; C. P. Williams, 1859, 2 years; Frederick
Fletcher, 1801.
FACE
OF THE TOWNSHIP,
AND
SHELBURNE BATTLE.
BY REV. GEO. F. SUTTON.
Shelburne, named in honor of the Earl of Shelburne, for
beauty of location, fertility of soil, variety and excellence of products,
prosperity, high moral character, and intelligence of her citizens,
constitutes no unworthy member of the common sisterhood of towns that stretch
along the shore line of the Champlain valley, and slope away on either hand
from the Green Mountain Ridge, which forms as it were the back bone of
the State. Especially in respect to the beauty of location, it is surpassed by
few if any of the towns lining the lake. Situated about midway on the line of
the shore, a little to the south of the broad lake, the view sweeps away to the
west and east, taking in the Adirondac on the one side, and the Green Mountain
Range on the other. And in no other place are the highest peaks of either
range—their bald summits white with almost perpetual snow—so full in view.
Most of the eastern shore rises perpendicularly above the
water, and viewed from the opposite side presents a wall of solid rock, whence
at intervals high bluffs, presenting a bold appearance, project into the water.
But for picturesqueness, and quiet rural beauty, the
western part presents a scene fit, for the eye of the contemplative Wordsworth,
or Thompson of the inimitable Seasons.
The land generally level, is however gently rolling, and
in the center is a considerable swell, yet so gradual, and almost unnoticeable,
especially on the eastern side, as to effectually disclaim the dignity of a
high hill, much less of a mountain.
The reentrant shore of the lake forms two points of land,
formerly designated by the names of the two first settlers of the
town—Pottier's Point, and Logan's Point.
The former projects into the lake on the S. W. side of
Shelburne Bay—an arm of the lake extending about four miles into the township,
in a southwesterly direction. The bay is only shut off from the main channel of
the lake, by this point, which at its conjunction with the main land is quite
wide, but after a short distance is suddenly narrowed, whence it becomes a
slender tongue of land of almost uniform width, until it terminates abruptly,
and perpendicularly, in a bold promontory several feet high.
Deer were formerly met with, as also the lynx; and wild
cat-and also beaver dams were very prominent, on the flats about the pond, and
near its tributaries.
Timber is principally hard, the soil clay and loam, and in
some places an admixture of both clayey and sandy loam.
Of geological characteristics. I might mention the very
peculiar character of the limestones in the eastern section, on the farm now
owned by Mr. Barber—also on the eastern and western shores of the pond. These
rocks have been visited by scientific men, and their strata examined, which
they pronounce to be some variety of marble—that on the eastern shore of the pond
of a very excellent quality. But whether they are really good marble, or an
inferior kind, or only limestone in some other of its varieties—saccharoid
limestone perhaps—remains to be proved by further trials.
873 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
Thompson in his Gazetteer says this river undoubtedly took
its name from the point in the west part of Shelburne, called on early French
maps, Pointe au Platre, or Plater Point. It was formerly often written La
Platte. [We omit here, as Mr. Thayer has given an account of the same.—Ed.]
Now if these two accounts of the origin of the name La
Plot, the one by Mr. Thayer, and the one to which Thompson gives credence, and
which rests entirely on the authority of etymology, the former has both the
evidence of well authenticated tradition and of etymology. Besides, the
derivation of the word Laplot, from the two French words La and Platre, is no
more evident than its derivation from the French words La, and Complot. Indeed
how natural the corruption from Lacomplot to Laplot. Add to this the very
respectable testimony furnished by the oldest men, and the fact that it is
nowhere denied, or called in question in any of the early records, and the
evidence decidedly preponderates to the side of the very interesting
tradition, on page 875, and this tradition should be received as the true
account of the origin of the name.
Tradition locates an Indian village on the farm now owned
by O. Grady, near the mouth of the river, and an Indian burying-ground on the
opposite side, at the mouth of Cogman's brook.
Shelburne was then settled so rapidly that in 1791 its
population was above that of Burlington. When the Piersons left in 1777 they
had harvested a large crop of wheat, and returned during the winter to thresh
and secure it. Meanwhile they were menaced by tories and Indians. A Col. Thomas
Sawyer of Clarendon, being apprised of it, with Lieut. Barnabas Barnum and
Corporal Williams, and 14 soldiers, hastened to the exposed frontier. It was
the month of January, and the weather was very cold. They marched through the
trackless wilderness about 90 miles, all on foot except Col. Sawyer, who rode a
fine stallion.
Once they came very near yielding themselves to fate, but
through the energy and art of Col. Sawyer they were animated to surmount the
very extremes of cold and hunger until they arrived safely at the house of the
Piersons. There they remained strengthening the place some seven or eight
weeks, when suddenly the foe who had been lurking about disappeared. Col.
Sawyer suspected this to be a stratagem, and learned that one Philo, a tory,
who had gone to Canada on skates, had returned with a considerable force, 57 in
all. Accordingly all were immediately set at work barricading their house, and
when night came on had made all parts secure except one window. The attack was
made that night, and through that window two men who had stopped and put up for
the night, sharing the homely hospitality of the place, were killed at the
first fire of the enemy. Their names were Woodard and Daniels. They were met by
an incessant fire from the besieged for three-fourths of an hour through port
holes made for that purpose. During that time the Indians twice fired the
house; and Col. Sawyer offered his watch as a reward to any one who would
extinguish the flames. There was no water in the house; but Mrs. Pierson had
been brewing beer that day, and Joseph Williams entered the chamber and,
breaking a hole through the roof, extinguished the flames with the contents of
the beer barrel, under a deadly fire from the savages without. Col. Sawyer
faithfully kept his word and gave Williams his watch. The enemy were finally
repulsed and closely pursued, and two prisoners taken; the enemy also lost one
officer and one Indian chief, who were found dead in the field, besides several
who were thrown through a hole cut in the ice. This battle occurred on the 12th
of March, 1778. Of the brave little band who defended the house, Lieut. Barnum,
according to Thompson and Downing, was killed, though his name is not mentioned
anywhere in connection with the narrative of the battle I have given. Col.
Sawyer cut from the nose of the Indian chief who was killed, his jewels, and
secured his powder-horn and bullet-pouch, as trophies of his victory. The
following lines were composed to celebrate this exploit. Monkton claims the
author of this battle song, as also the "hero" slain.
"On the twelfth day of March in the year
seventy-eight,
The Britons and Indians invaded our State;
'Twas in Shelburne brave Sawyer these wretches did meet,
And fully determined not to retreat.
The first in command was Thomas Sawyer by name;
In the next unto him were the elements of fame—
'Twas young Barnum the hero, he fought like a man,
Saying: "Fight on brave boys,"—but quickly was
slain.
SHELBURNE. 879
Our men numbered twelve, and the enemy fifty-seven;
But with this vast odds, when aided by Heaven,
We drove them, we beat them, and caused them to fly,
While others lay wounded and left there to die.
There are three of our men lying dead on the ground,
The rest have returned, and are yet safe and sound;
The enemy lost twelve, and the rest they soon fled—
Some went on their feet, others drawn on a sled.
May the name of the hero be never forgot,
Who determined to beat or to die on the spot;
Let the youths of our land his example pursue,
Give the glory to God and to whom it is due."
TRINITY
CHURCH.
BY GEORGE BLISS.
There were many Episcopalians in this town and vicinity as
early as 1790. At some time in that year the Rev. Bethuel Chittenden* removed
here from Tinmouth, Vt. Services were probably held regularly from that time
till Mr. Chittenden's death in 1809, and after that time services were kept up
by lay reading, with occasionally a visit from a clergyman.
Dr. Garlick—a practicing physician on Grand Isle, but
ordained deacon by Bishop Seabury in Middletown, Conn., July 29th, 1787—often
visited and preached in this parish. There are no records of the parish, but
from reports to conventions, &c. the church in 1810 must have numbered
about 25 communicants, increasing between that time and 1820 to about 80, and
remaining about that number for 10 or 15 years.
Dr. Joel Clapp† was the first regular settled clergyman
over the parish. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Griswold at Greenfield,
Mass., the 2d October, 1818, and priest by Bishop Griswold, at Windsor, Vt.,
the 17th Sept. 1819, and instituted rector of Trinity Church by the Rev.
Stephen Beach, assisted by the Rev. James Read, the 27th Oct. 1819. He resigned
his charge the 20th Sept. 1827. The Rev. Louis McDonald commenced his services
as rector the 1st Nov. 1827, and resigned the 1st May, 1834. The Rev. S. A.
Crane officiated every other Sunday from the 14th Sept. 1834, for a year or
more. The Rev. Charles Cleveland was in charge of the parish from the summer of
1840 to the summer of 1848. The Rev. R. F. Cadle from December, 1848, to
January, 1851. Services were suspended from this time—with the exception of
occasional visits from neighboring clergymen, and a lay service which was
maintained from the fall of 1856 till the summer of 1857—until September, 1860,
when the Rev. J. Isham Bliss assumed the rectorship of the parish, and remained
in charge until March, 1862. The Rev. Mr. Eastman of Vergennes now officiates
every fourth Sunday. (1863.)
MEMOIR
OF THE REV. BETHUEL CHITTENDEN,
The first Clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church
ordained for Vermont.
BY THE REV. A. H. BAILEY, OF SHELDON, VT.
The Church in Vermont owes the tribute of a grateful
memory to this excellent man, who labored for them as few of them have ever
done for themselves. No sufficient and satisfactory memorial of him has yet
been given to the public; and the following account is also confessedly
incomplete, and may require corrections, since its materials were derived in
fragments from various sources, including oral tradition. It is here put forth
in the hope of eliciting further information. The writer can be addressed at Sheldon,
Vt.
The scenes of the public life of Mr. Chittenden were among
the hills, lakes and streams on either side of the Green Mountains. The time
comprehended the period of most active emigration into the "New Hampshire
grants," and extended to nearly twenty years after the admission of
Vermont into the sisterhood of the Union. And the man is remembered as a large,
portly, and very strong man, very sociable and full of anecdote, usually
habited in a long coat with great pockets, and often seen journeying upon his
horse over the rude ways from place to place amidst the new settlements.
He was born in Guilford, Connecticut, in or about the year
1739, being some ten years younger than his brother Thomas, who became the
first Governor of Vermont. Both of these brothers were destitute of any better
education than they could obtain in the common schools of Connecticut at that
day, but were possessed of an unusual share of natural ability, in which
respect the writer has the best authority for saying that the younger was not
inferior to the elder. Both became pioneers in Vermont Bethuel settled within
the present Rutland county, in Tinmouth, before the organization of that town,
which took place in 1774. There he felled
—————
* See biography by Rev. Mr. Bailey.
† A biography by Rev. Dr. Hicks will appear in the history
of Montgomery, Franklin County.—Ed.
880 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
the forest, and secured himself a farm in the wilderness,
and in company with Major Royce, the ancestor of a distinguished family of
that name, built the first saw-mill in the town.
He was a man of unsullied probity, and a conscientious
Christian. It is probable, from evidences that need not be detailed here, that
he commenced reading the Prayers of the Church on Sundays, with such sermons as
he could procure, before his family and as many neighbors as were disposed to
meet with them, several years prior to his ordination. The circumstances under
which he devoted himself to the ministry were remarkable, and must be understood
before the act can be appreciated. The proportion of friends of the Church of
England in the settlements was not less, but probably greater than in
Connecticut and Massachusetts, from which most of the settlers came. New
England Churchmen cannot have been wholly uninfluenced by the important
inducements held out to them to migrate hither, in the charters issued by the
Governor of New Hampshire, to which province the territory of Vermont was
supposed to belong. In each township one right, which should have been about
one-seventieth of the whole, was reserved for a glebe for the Church of England,
and another was appropriated for the benefit of the Society of the Propagation
of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Episcopalians must have argued that with these
aids for the maintenance of the Church gradually becoming available, they
would, after some years of privation, have a fuller enjoyment of the privileges
of the Church than in the older States.
The war of the Revolution threatened the destruction of
these hopes, and of the Church also. The time was unfavorable for religious
improvement in any form; the hatred of everything British which was aroused by
it intensified all prejudices against the established Church. The Society for
Propagating the Gospel could not be expected to aid the people while at war
with the mother country, nor in the event of their ultimate independence; and
it required little sagacity to foresee that the chartered rights of the Church
of England would be greatly endangered.
The elder brother, Thomas Chittenden, was not a Churchman,
and naturally viewed the great questions then at issue in their political
aspects only. By his earnest efforts to promote the American cause, and to
secure for Vermont a good government and an honorable place among the States of
the Republic, he gained for himself the confidence and honor of the people, and
a distinguished place in the history of the State.
It was equally in the power of the younger brother to do
the same thing if his aims were in the same direction. But his mind was not one
which could easily break loose from the past for any experiments, however
flattering in appearance. The tradition received by the writer is, that, in a
public meeting of the citizens of his town, assembled to consult about the
crisis, "He declared with tears in his eyes, that he could not lift his
hand against the king." And it adds, that "He was never molested for
his unpopular scruples." The writer has no written evidence of these
statements. It is probable that Mr. Chittenden was not without sympathies for
the cause in which his brother and fellow-citizens were engaged, but was
restrained, conscientiously, from an active participation in it. His scruples
were set at rest by the event, if not before. In 1796, he objected to the
consecration of Dr. Peters, then Bishop elect of Vermont, on this ground among
others, that the Doctor (a violent royalist) had acted a part, during the war,
that was offensive to the Dissenters and to a majority of the Episcopalians.
When the war was over, the prospects of the Church were
dreary in the extreme. Not an Episcopal clergyman yet resided within the State.
In 1784, one was settled in Arlington, and two years later another in
Manchester, both toward the south western part of the State. Of these two, one
soon manifested his unworthiness; and the other could not, if disposed, attend
to his parish and the whole State besides. Who now should go through the State,
and "seek for Christ's sheep that were dispersed abroad," feed them with
the bread of life, gather their lambs into the fold, and encourage them to
fidelity in the time of adversity, in the patient hope of brighter days to
come? Who that was competent for it, would accept the life of obscure toil and
of "journeyings oft," and endure the prejudices and suspicions which
it involved? And where were the means for his support, if such an one was
found? Or must the Church's heritage be
SHELBURNE. 881
diverted to other uses, as plainly it soon would be, if
not in the practical possession of its proper owner, and these scattered
disciples and their children be left to wander hopelessly?
The first practical answer to these questions was given
on the 1st of June, 1787, when in Stamford, Conn., this energetic and
successful pioneer, the plain farmer of Vermont, in the 49th year of his age,
made his vows, and was ordained, by Bishop Seabury, to the office of a Deacon
in the Church of Christ. Bethuel was the "man of God."
Mr. Chittenden commenced his official ministrations in
his own neighborhood, with his children and a few other persons for his congregation
there, visiting other places from time to time. The author of "Tinmouth
and its Pioneers," an article in the Rutland Herald of April 6,
1855, thinks there was no Episcopal church organized there in those days.
Probably there was none which would be regarded as sufficiently organized for
this day; perhaps there was nothing written; yet the parish in Tinmouth was
represented in some of our earliest Conventions, in which the "members
presented their credentials and took their seats." But Mr. Chittenden
seems to have been defective in being too inattentive to the value of proper
organizations and records. Indeed, much inquiry has failed thus far to
discover a single parochial organisation made under his auspices, or even so
much as a record, a letter, or a scrap of any kind written by his own hand. It
is hoped that some of his letters and other papers, may yet come to light.
His parish in Tinmouth was certainly very humble. The town
never became populous. He remained there less than three years after his
ordination. But his labor there was not in vain. Though the parish has never,
since he left it, had a resident clergyman, except once very transiently, and
generally no regular pastor, several families well known, and two or three of
high distinction, besides two persons who became clergymen, have gone from that
place and done much for the Church elsewhere. And to this day there are a few
names there of persons who are strongly and intelligently attached to the
Church. The foundation of all this was the labor of Mr. Chittenden.
In 1790 he removed to Shelburne, in Chittenden county and
purchased a farm of 50 acres, subsequently increased to 150, which was his
residence for the rest of his life. His four sons and one daughter also settled
near him, along the same road, called, from the circumstance, Chittenden
street. About a dozen families, including those of his children, are now
remembered to have belonged to his congregation there. His time was spent
chiefly away, in the work of an itinerant evangelist. In 1794 he took the time
to revisit Connecticut, and on the 29th of June was ordained Presbyter, in New
London, by Bishop Seabury.
The extent of his field of labor may be inferred from the
localities where his visits for official purposes are mentioned. He is known to
have officiated in Franklin county, much in Fairfield, and occasionally in Sheldon;
in Chittenden county, frequently in Jericho, besides Shelburne, the place of
his residence; in Addison county, occasionally in Middlebury and Salisbury in
Rutland county, much in Tinmouth, his first residence, in Rutland, Castleton
and Poultney occasionally, and in Wells and Pawlet frequently—all of these west
of the Green Mountains; in Windsor county, in Bethel and Weathersfield,
repeatedly; and in Windham county, in Rockingham, occasionally—these being on
the eastern side of the range. Other places in the vicinity of these, where
there were little clusters of Church people, no doubt shared his attention,
though the want of records and other means of information prevents the
addition of their names. The venerable Bishop Philander Chase thus mentioned
his visit to Cornish, N. H.: "Being invited, he came across the Green
Mountains to preach and administer the ordinances in Cornish, where the writer
and his friends lived; and it was at the hands of this pious ambassador of
Christ that he received for the first time the blessed Sacrament of the Body
and Blood of Christ. Never will the impressions made by this divinely
appointed means of grace be obliterated from the writer's conscious mind."
(Reminiscences, Vol. I., p. 18.)
Those, now aged, who were children of the Church, in his
day, remember the pleasure which Mr. Chittenden's arrival gave to their
households, and the satisfaction with which they themselves accepted a seat
upon his knees. Cheerful and genial at heart, ready in conversation, argument,
and illustration,
882 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
it is here supposed that his influence was gained quite as
much in private as in public.
The Rev. Abraham Bronson, in his letters on the History
of the Prot. Epis. Church in Vt., published in the Gambier Observer and
in the Episcopal Recorder in 1834 and 1835, said that Mr. Chittenden
"was respectable for talents and Christian character," and
"was fond of controversy and skillful in it." But the general
impression of him derived from those letters is diminutive, compared with that
obtained from all other sources. Without entering into particulars, it may be
admitted that his preaching was more controversial than our time would require,
or even than is best at any time, without affecting our judgment of his aims,
or seriously lessening our estimate of his wisdom. The literature of the
saints and martyrs of the primitive Church was chiefly apologetic. But it
should be noticed firstly, that Mr. Bronson wrote those letters without his
memoranda before him, a quarter of a century after Mr. Chittenden had gone to
his rest and was certainly mistaken in a number of his statistics respecting
Mr. C.. and his parishes, and the field generally; secondly, that after Mr.
C.'s decease there was a confessed change in Mr. Bronson's own opinions
respecting the characteristics of true piety, and the means to be employed to
promote it, in accordance with which all the New-England clergy, his former
self not excepted, were comprehended in his censures; and thirdly, that the Historical
Letters exhibit throughout the predominant desire of the writer to recommend
by his experience and observation "the measures" which he practiced,
to universal adoption. To the Rev. Mr. Bronson, the Church in Vermont can never
assign an inferior place in the memory of her early worthies; but it is right
that these facts should be duly weighed, if the tone of those letters would
prevent us from justly appreciating the excellent character of Mr. Chittenden.
Bishop Philander Chase called him "this pious
ambassador of Christ." Bishop Carleton Chase mentioned him first of all
in his list of the "excellent and steadfast men," of whom "he
confessed with unfeigned satisfaction, his admiration." (Thompson's Hist,
of Vt., Part II., p. 196.)
The survivors, among those who knew him in their youth,
give but one opinion—that he was an honest, capable, faithful, and
self-sacrificing minister of Christ. And the Convention of the Diocese
annually elected him their President, from 1798 to 1808 inclusive, even when he
was absent, appointing also on such occasions presidents pro tempore. He
was a member of the standing Committee from 1796 or '97 till his decease, and
was a member of other important special Committees.
In the spring of 1809 he became too infirm to travel, but
continued to officiate in Shelburne till his decease, which was a fitting
termination of such a life, On Sunday morning, Nov. 5, 1809, being then in his
71st year, with his congregation around him in the house of his son-in-law, he
had concluded the devotions and commenced his sermon, which was to be followed
by the holy Communion, when he sank back into his chair, and thence to the
floor. His spirit was released before his friends could minister to him.
There is no way to arrive at any definite estimation of
the value of his services. Records are wanting, and parochial reports were not
yet made in the Diocese. Mr Chit- tenden was not a parish clergyman, in such a
sense that his parish should be an adequate exhibition of the fruit of his labors.
In each place of his residence he gathered a small congregation, and in neither
has the love of the Church ever since been extintinguished. If statistics of
his whole field could be found, covering the time of his ministry, it is
probable that they would exhibit a gradual decrease of members. The Church was
Episcopal without a bishop—that is, most inefficiently organized; was mostly
without ministerial services; was despoiled of her property by the State; and
was enduring the full weight of popular prejudice and opposition, as
aggravated by the recent war. It was Mr. Chittenden's work to "strengthen
the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees." And to his efforts, under
God, is to be ascribed very much of the steadfastness of that noble band who remained
firm through every trial, kept the Church together and active, and ready for
advancement under the apostolic Griswold, when the brighter day dawned.
But the example of the man—who left the comforts of his
farm, and for most of the time, of his home, at the age of fifty, and
SHELBURNE. 883
devoted himself to such a life, enduring its toils, and
encountering its oppositions, for a waning Church, without reasonable recompense,
and without the stimulus of present, or the prospect of future distinction, and
persevered in it through all the infirmities of age, until the very moment of
his final summons—is one which neither the Church nor the world can afford to
lose.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
BY DEA. H. BARSTOW.
A Congregational church was formed at Shelburne, Jan. 29,
1807, by the Rev. Jedediah Bushnell, of Cornwall, consisting of ten
members—three males and seven females. Up to Aug. 1814, they had increased to
21 members; from this period to Sept. 1817, 12 had been added; from this, to
May 16, 1819, 27 were added; from this to Nov. 1823, 17 were added from this
period to Feb. 1832, 10 were added—making a total of 87 members. Making no
allowance for deaths, removals, or expulsions, the above is a total of the admissions.
I believe there has never been more than 30 members at any one time from 1807
to 1832. They never succeeded in building a church or settling a minister. They
struggled hard and faithfully to sustain themselves, but seemed to be
peculiarly unfortunate. About this period, by and with the advice of
neighboring clergymen of the same church, the remaining members, with a few
individual exceptions, in connection with a remnant of the Free Will Baptist
church of about the same number, concluded to make a virtue of necessity—by
uniting with the M. E. church. They were cordially received, and have
generally walked harmoniously with them to the present time (Nov. 30,1860.)
March 27, 1851, a Congregational church was organized at
Shelburne, by the following named gentlemen, who composed the ecclesiastical
council convened for that purpose, viz: Revs. J. K. Converse, John Wheeler and
R. Case, of Burlington; O. S. Hoyt, of Hinesburgh; J. C. Bingham, of Charlotte;
J. Leavitt, of Vergennes; S. Hurlburt, of New Haven. On the same day 27 persons
were admitted—10 males and 17 females. The Congregational church of Shelburne
now numbers 17 members—5 males and 12 females. The foregoing statistics are
taken from recollection and records. They have no preaching at the present
time, but are faithful attendants with other denominations.
METHODISM IN SHELBURNE.
BY REV. A. CAMPBELL.
It is not certainly known that there was Methodist
preaching in Shelburne before 1800. Still it is quite probable that the Rev.
Joseph Mitchell, who preached on the Vergennes circuit the two preceding years,
might at some time have preached in Shelburne.
In 1800, the Rev. Henry Ryan preached on the Vergennes
circuit, and established an appointment in Shelburne. His first sermon was
preached at the residence of Mr. Joshua Read, from the following text:
"And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a
setter forth of strange gods; because he preached unto them Jesus, and the
resurrection." Acts xvii. 18.
Mr. Ryan was not very cordially received by the clergymen
of the town, and some others. He was denounced as an intruder, and almost
anything else but an ambassador of Christ.
The preaching was principally confined to the east part of
the town for many years. A society was soon organized. Among its early members
were Nathaniel Gage, John Simonds, Phinehas Hill, and their wives. Among its
most devoted and worthy members was Mr. James Simonds, the father of the Rev.
S. D. Simonds, formerly of the Troy, and now a prominent member of the California
Conference.
The preachers who succeeded Mr. Ryan on the Vergennes
circuit, and consequently preached at Shelburne, were R. Dyer, E. Chichester,
William Anson, J. M. Smith, S. Cochran, S. Draper and Dexter Bates. In 1808,
the name of the circuit was changed to Charlotte, and Shelburne remained
connected with it until 1837. During this period, the following preachers
labored on the circuit, viz.: A. McKain, M. Richardson, S. Sormborger, A.
Scolfield, T. Madden, G. Lyon, J. Haskins, J. Byington, W. Boss, D. Lewis, J.
Beman, N. White, B. Landon, T. Benedict, S. Silliman, A. Dunbar, H. DeWolf, J.
Youngs, S. Covel, B. Goodsell, L. Baldwin, J. Covel, L. C. Filley, N. Levings,
J. Poor, C. Meeker, B. Griffin, T. Seymour, Hazleton, E. C. Griswold, R.
Wescott, J. Ayers, C. R. Morris, J. Ames, P. C. Oakley, J. Gobbitt, J. D.
Marshall and William Griffins.
884 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
Under the labors of the last two named ministers a very
extensive revival of religion was enjoyed, in which Shelburne shared very
largely.
The following year, Z. Phillips and C. De Vol were
appointed to the circuit, and labored together one year, when the circuit was
divided, and Shelburne became a distinct charge. Since Z. Phillips left
Shelburne in 1838, the following ministers have occupied the charge, viz.: C.
Prindle, A. Witherspoon, H. Meeker, H. L. Starks, H. Dunn, R. T. Wade, J. D.
White, J. F. Yates, S. L. Stillman, J. M. Edgerton, G. C. Wells, O. J. Squire,
and A. Campbell, the present pastor. In 1833, the brick church now occupied was
erected. Since that time the interior has once undergone an entire renewal.
The present number in the society is 140. The following is
a list of its official board: Stewards, Ezra Meech, Robert White, L. Blair, N.
Newell, R. J. White, H. Russell, R. Rogers and L. Tracy. Class leaders, H.
Barstow, L. B. White, J. F. Wells, E. Meech, S. Curry and R. Rogers. Local
preachers, George F. Sutton, H. F. Fisk and G. Yager.
Of the vicissitudes common to the Christian church,
Methodism in Shelburne has shared its due proportion. While seasons of special
prosperity have not been few, seasons of trial have been encountered.
In 1843, through the efforts of a former pastor, Rev. C.
Prindle, an excitement on the subject of slavery was produced, and a secession
of about a score of members: and the organization of the Wesleyan society was
the result. No pains were spared to bring the M. E. church into disrepute, and
to effect its overthrow.
Again in 1851, after a very gracious revival of religion
under the pastoral oversight of the Rev. J. F. Yates, through the efforts of a
Dr. Sprague, a small secession was induced for the purpose of organizing a
Congregational church in town.
But in reviewing the past, it is gratifying to realize
that the numerous vicissitudes encountered have tended to the promotion of
spiritual stability and advancement.
Special attention has been given to the Sabbath School for
a number of years. Occasional conversions have been realized among its members.
In this respect it has been more than usually prosperous for the last few
months—about a score having been converted since the beginning of autumn
(1861.)
Thus the church is strengthened to stand forth a rebuke to
sin, a light to the benighted, and an asylum for the penitent believer.
"A proverb of reproach and love."
JOHN
TABOR.
BY C. F. TABOR, OF TROY, N. Y.
John Tabor, though not one of the first, was an early
settler in Shelburne, and was often heard to say that he helped raise the first
frame building in town. He was a native of Princeton, Rhode Island, and
removed with his father and family from there to Rutland County, Vt., in 1788,
where—excepting himself—the family settled; the town of Mount Tabor taking its
name from them. John penetrated farther into the wilderness, and settled in
Shelburne about this time. He immediately took up land, a portion of which was
situated upon that beautiful point made by Shelburne Bay and Lake Champlain, known
as Potter's Point. He about this time married a Miss Smith, who soon died; and
for his second wife married Jemima Trowbridge.
The lands he purchased were entirely new. He entered at
once upon subduing them, and continued to occupy them, or a portion of them,
until his death, which occurred in 1813, at the age of 47 years; leaving a
widow and a family of eight children. His prosperity had been such that he left
his children in a condition better than his own at their age. They each took by
inheritance a small farm. of land both in quality and beauty of location not
excelled.
He possessed the qualities necessary to successful pioneer
life; was an energetic, industrious, honest, courageous man, of good sense and
judgment. Any sketch of the early history of this town would be deficient which
should omit mention of his name.
His numerous descendants now residing in several of the
different states, are an illustration of the nomadic character of the race.
HON. ALMON H. READ.*
FROM MR. STURGEON'S ADDRESS.
U. S. SENATE, WASHINGTON,
June 10, 1844.
A message was received from the House, announcing the
death of Hon. Almon H. Read, late a representative from the state of
—————
* This paper is furnished by his son—Ed.
SHELBURNE. 885
Pennsylvania, and that resolutions had been adopted
testifying the respect of that body for the memory of the deceased, and asking
the concurrence of the Senate therein; which being read, Mr. Sturgeon rose and
addressed the Senate as follows:
MR. PRESIDENT: The message just received, announces to us
that death has again been in our midst. Whilst we have been earnestly engaged
in the vain struggles of this mortal life, death has often, since the
commencement of the present session, intruded itself, and selected its victims,
to remind us that we are but pilgrims and sojourners on this earth, as our
fathers were.
Almon H. Read, our late esteemed associate and friend, is
no more. He died at his residence in Montrose, Susquehanna County, Penn.,
surrounded by an affectionate family and sympathizing friends, who did all that
human kindness could do to alleviate the sufferings of his last illness, and smooth
his passage through the dark valley of the shadow of death.
Mr. Read was born at Shelburne, on the 12th of June, 1790.
He received his education partly in the University of Burlington, in his
native State, and partly at Williamstown College in the state of Massachusetts,
and was a good classical scholar. In 1814 he settled in Montrose, Penn., where
he commenced the practice of law, and resided to the day of his death.
My acquaintance commenced with Mr. Read in 1827, when he
first took his seat in the Legislature of Pennsylvania. Our friendship
continued uninterrupted from that time till a few weeks since, when he left the
seat of government for his home, to leave his remains among those who knew him
best and loved him most. Mr. Read was elected to the popular branch of the
Pennsylvania Legislature five successive sessions. Although he could not be
called the originator of our state internal improvement system, yet it owed
much of its progress to, completion to his energy, activity and perseverance.
In 1832, he was elected a member of the state Senate, and for four years was
actively engaged in carrying out his early views on the subject of our
improvement system. In 1836, he was elected a member of the Convention to
amend the Constitution of the State; and here, although on a new theater and
having new subjects to engage his attention, the character of Mr. Read for
talents lost nothing by the change. He appeared to much advantage when coming
in mental collision with the talented men who were assembled together on that
occasion. He showed himself intimately acquainted with our forms of government.
He was bold in announcing his views, and energetic in carrying them out. The
various speeches made by him on that occasion will hand down his name to
posterity as a civilian of the first order,—logical in debate, and energetic in
action. A short time after the dissolution of the Convention he was elected
state treasurer, in which situation he served one year. He was subsequently
elected twice as a member of Congress. Here his talents were not so
conspicuous, nor could they be properly estimated, because, previous to his
taking his seat, that fell destroyer—so flattering in its progress to the
subject of it, yet holding out no consoling hopes to the observant friends—had
marked him for his victim. He died of consumption, on the 3d inst., in the 54th
year of his age.
Mr. Read was a sincere friend, an affectionate husband,
and a kind and tender parent. He left no wife to sorrow over his grave—the
partner of his bosom having preceded him to the tomb but a few short months;
but he has left an amiable and interesting family, to whom the bereavement must
be peculiarly poignant. Let his example urge them on to imitate his course; and
while they lament his death, they lament not as those without hope. He died as
he had lived, "an honest man, the noblest work of God."
Mr. S. concluded by submitting the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Senate has received with deep
sensibility the communication from the House of Representatives, announcing the
death of the Hon. Almon H. Read, and that as a mark of respect, they will wear
the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.
The Senate then adjourned.
There was also an eulogy pronounced in the House, but the
main incidents of his life are mentioned in Mr. Sturgeon's address. I think it
unnecessary to repeat them.
Our County Court was in session at the time of his
decease. A meeting of the bar was called, and resolutions passed to wear crape
on the arm for thirty days, to adjourn court and attend the funeral in a body.
At the close of the Reform Convention for revising the
Constitution, composed of 133 members, the chairs occupied during the session
were sold at public auction. My father's brought $14, the highest price of any
one sold, which shows the estimation he was held in by a Philadelphia
community. They were all alike, and the remaining 132 were sold at varying
prices from $2 to $10.
I have also a valuable cane in my posses-. sion, presented
him by the citizens of Erie—made from the Flag Ship Lawrence—for distinguished
services in the Reform Convention. The top of it is of octagonal
shape—interlaid with silver, on which is the engraving.
886 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
THE
EPHEMERA.
BY LUCELLA READ.
[Lucelia Read was born in Shelburne, in 1822. She early
exhibited a decided precocity of intellectual activity and poetic talent, but
in consequence of prolonged ill health and other unfavorable influences at an
early period In life, she was forced to abandon intellectual pursuits, writing
but little subsequent to the age of 20. She died in May, 1861.]
I was born in the heart of the lovely wild rose,
And cradled amid its perfume,
And save when my eyelids in slumber would close,
I saw but its beauty and bloom.
O sweetly the hours of my infancy fled,
As I dwelt in that charming bower,
Till I winged my way from the rosy bed,
In the heart of the wild wood flower.
In the morning beams I have floated along,
While the air with melody rung,
And at noontide warbled my merriest song
The violet blossoms among.
And oft in the jessamine pure and sweet,
I have frolicked, and danced, and laughed,
And oft as I rested my wearying feet,
Of the dewy nectar quaffed.
To the heart of the lily I've often crept,
When wearied with music and mirth,
And there in her bosom have peacefully slept,
As few may e'er slumber on earth.
I have rested oft 'mid the splendor and light
Of blossoms whose rainbow-like leaves
Enshrouded me there amid tissues more bright
Than the labor or man ever weaves.
I am told that the sunlight will soon be gone,
That my race will soon be run,
But still I am carollng on,
In the rays of the setting sun.
THE GOLDEN WEDDING.
AN EXTRACT.
The "golden wedding" of the Hon. Robert White,
of Shelburne, was commemorated Jan. 15th, 1860. On which occasion a poem was
read from the pen of Nancy T. Colamer, which opens thus:
Just fifty years ago to-night,
Ah me! how long it seems,
This aged pair were then quite young
And full of life's bright dreams.
To tread life's ever-changing path,
To share its joy and woe,
With hearts so full of hope and love,
Just fifty years ago.
UNDERHILL.
BY GAY H. NARAMORE, ESQ.
This township originally contained 36 square miles, but in
1839 one-third (i. e. 12 square miles) of the town of Mansfield was annexed. It
lies in the N. E. corner of Chittenden county, and connects with four other towns, to wit:
Westford, Fairfax, Fletcher and Cambridge.
1765, June 8, the town was chartered by the governor of
New Hampshire to Joseph Sackett, Jr., and 64 others,* for $230,40, there being
71 shares in all.
Underhill was named after two brothers who held shares
under the original charter. The first survey was made in 1785, and it is
supposed that one Darius Post, in the same year, settled within the limits of
this town, on the site of the present village of Underhill Flats. Said Mr.
Post was married to Miss Bostwick in 1788, but he must have soon removed as he
did not attend the first town meeting, March 9, 1795, and does not appear after
this date on the records.
The first permanent settlement was made by Moses Benedict
and Abner Eaton about 1786. The last named lived for a number of years on the
old post road, about half way between Underhill Flats and Cambridgeboro'. Here,
five miles from any neighbor, he built a log house, and commenced clearing up
the woods. This was a, desirable location at that time, on account of the
beaver meadows which covered some 50 acres on either side of a small branch of
the Lamoille. Sufficient wild grass and hay for the support of a yoke of oxen
and a cow were readily obtained here without waiting the slow destruction of
the forest and the growth of tame grasses, hence the choice of this remote and
comparatively sterile farm in preference to the rich bottom lands of
Burlington, Essex, and Jericho, which then could have been bought at the same
price.
The warning for the first town meeting was made by
Jonathan Castle, Esq., justice of the peace, of Jericho, Feb. 23, 1795. The
first town clerk and representative, William
—————
* Joseph Sackett, Jr., James H. First, Peter First, Joseph
First, Edward Earle, Marmaduke Earle, James Jameson, Cornelius Low, Jr. Esq.,
Jona. Dayton, Jr., Jona. Heard, Andrew Anderson, James Anderson, John Yeats,
Jas. Sackett, Sant. Sackett, Joe. Sackett, David Mathews Andrew Ten Eike. Jr.,
William Sackett, Joseph Savage, Daniel Vorhes, Micael Butler, Samuel Wall,
Joseph Ball, Jeremiah Allen, Henry Allen, John Freeborn, Robert Freeborn,
Samuel Browne, Carey Dunn, Wm. Sands, Benja. Underhill, Peter Allen, William
Allen, Henry Franklin, Bishop Hadley, James Horton, Sen., Silvanus Horton,
Underhill Horton, Maurice Salts, Lewis Riley, James Reid, Peter Ten Eike, Jr.,
Isaac Adolphas, Samuel Judea, Myer Myers, Solomon Marache, Jacob Watson, Joshua
Watson, Silvanus Dillingham, William Butler, Robert Midwinter, John Midwinter,
Derrick Amberman, Joseph Holmes, John Cokle, Jona. Copland Uriah Woolman, John
Sears, Hon. John Temple, Theo. Atkinson, M. H. I. Kentworth, Dr. John Hale, and
Maj. Samuel Hale. [From the papers of Henry Stevens.—Ed.]