dJatneU Hnittecattg iHibrarg
BOUGHT WITH THE [NCOME OF THE
JACOB H. SCHIFF
ENDOWMENT FOR THE PROMOTION
OF STUDIES IN
HUMAN CIVILIZATION
1918
Cornell University Library
F 59H32 T89
History of Hartford Vermont, July 4, 17
olfn
3 1924 028 837 999
Cornell University
Library
The original of tiiis book is in
tine Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028837999
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HISTORY
OF
HARTFORD, VERMONT,
July 4, 1761-ApRTL 4, 1889.
THE FIRST TOWN ON THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS CHARTERED AFTER
THE CLOSE OF THE FRENCH WAR.
WILLIAM HOWARD TUCKER,
Membek of the Vekmont Historical Society.
BURLINGTON, VT.,
THE FREE PRESS ASSOCIATION,
1889.
3
' l\^1^7ii
Entered acoordlng to Act of Congress, la tbe year ]8S9, by
WILL^M HOWARD TUCKER,
in the office of tlie Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
PREFACE.
The author of this history has attempted to collect and prepare for publica-
tion, in a permanent form, a lai'ge amount of valuable and interesting matter,
comprising not only nearly aU the important facts found in the public records
of the town, but also incidents and events of unwi-itten . history gathered from
the Ups of the oldest surviving inhabitants, and information found in authentic
memoirs, ancient manuscripts and autograph letters; all of which he has en-
deavored to weave together in an instructive and entertaining style for the old
and the young aUke. To the older citizens of the town, especially those who
are "native to the manor born," this history will revive many pleasant mem-
ories of by-gone days. To the young it will present valuable evidences of what
the early settlei-s of the town wrought out, under grievous trials and hardships,
from the rough wilderness ; how with an axe in one hand they cleared the sturdy
forests, and with the deadly rifle in the other, resisted the encroachments of all
invaders; how, exposed for a longer probation than the children of Israel expe-
rienced, to extraordinary vicissitudes and necessities, and gaining a meagre sub-
sistence, by toil that knew no rest, from a rugged soil that often-times yielded a
reluctant return to their industry, they grew stronger as they toiled, and suffered,
and yielded not, and triumphing everywhere and in all things, transmitted to
their posterity a goodly heritage of priceless value.
AlUreaders of this history will learn facts concerning the origin, the first settle-
ment, and the organization of this town, which have not before been published,
and which the author first discovered and established. They will also, find a
clear exposition of the principles, customs and manners of the early settlers;
their civil, religious and military affairs; the progress and improvement of the
town in its agricultural, manufacturing and mechanical interests; of its educa-
tional institutions, and of its yet immense undeveloped resources.
No one but an author of a work like this can know the cost in time, in strength,
patience and money of the effort. The author has given more than four years
of unremitting attention to the preparation and publication of this history. In
the very inception of his undertaking the author discovered the annoying fact
that a considerable portion of the records of the municipal legislation of the town
was missing, probably beyond recovery. The blank space extended over a period
of twenty-four years, — 1778 to 1802 -— a very important era in the life of the town.
Tradition could not supply the missing links, and nearly every one of the worthy
people who were busy actors in the scenes of the era named, have passed from
time to eternity, and the tomb cannot be invaded for needed facts.
To bridge over, and fill up to a considerable extent, the gap caused by the loss
of the town records has been a work attended by many difficulties. To sihcom-
plish this work the author has traveled from village to village and from house to
house within his own and many other towns in Vermont; has explored both pub-
iv PREFACE.
lie and private libraries; consulted town histories, town records, the records of
historical and genealogical societies and family records, and has, at the same
time, maintained a written correspondence amounting to thousands of letters.
There are many incongurities in the early records of the town and it was sev-
eral months after the author entered upon the preparation of this history, before
he was able to solve the provoking difficulties that impeded his labors; but, during
his efforts to remove the rubbish in his way, he made discoveries that partially
compensated him for the annoyances he had experienced, to wit: that both the
date of the first settlement of the town and that of the organization of the tovrn,
as given by Thompson and other historians, ai-e erroneous by several years.
The labors of the author have been attended by much pleasure. Should any-
one ask: What is the pleasure to be found in such labor? the answer is, the
pleasure arising from a sense of having performed a duty by conveying to those
who shall come after us, precious remembrances of the lives and deeds of the
noble men and women "who laboriously and lovingly prepai-ed f or us such a
heritage of popular rights and privileges, and of personal good in many forms,
as none else on earth ever received from those who went before them." The
author has had not the least expectation of pecuniary remuneration, nor of gain-
ing present or posthumous honor. It has been to him a la bor of love, four years
of patient labor during which time, for months in succession, he has given from
ten to sixteen houi-s daily to the work.
The author has had it in view to make this an exhaustive history of the town.
The work is divided into Chapters, like things being brought together, and the
whole contents placed in such order as seemed most eligible. The consulting
apparatus consists of two copious Indexes: one, of the Chapters in their order ; the
other an Alphabetical Index of thesame. He has endeavored not to encumber
the work with notes, annotations and marginal references of an ambiguous char-
acter.
This work though written in conformity to facts is probably not exempt from
errors, but it is believed that no important anachi-onism, palpable inconsistences
or illogioal inferences will be discovered. This work is essentially original.
Transcriptions are credited to the authors from whom they are taken, or by
marks of quotation. Having done his best to produce a valuable local history
the author submits it to the public with no feeling of reluctance, er ill-foreboding
as to its reception and usage. He prefers however, that it shall be attentively
read and adversely criticised, rather than placed on the shelf for ornament only,
or " food for moths." The author has had some generous and enthusiastic help-
ers. All thanks to these appreciative souls, and also to the great majority of his
feUow townsmen for their repeated expressions of interest in liis work, as indica-
ted by their votes, in three successive town meetings.
In conclusion, the author must express his grateful recognition of the valuable
moral and material aid extended to him by appreciative friends and helpers.
Thanks are due first to Hon. Frederick Billings of Woodstock, Vt. ; Hon. W.
8. Dewey, Quechee, Vt. ; Allen L. Pease, Esq., Hartford, Vt. ; Messrs. J. C. Parker
& Co. , Qeechee, Vt. ; Hon. C. W. Porter, Montpelier , Vt. ; George W. Smith, Esq. ,
White River Junction, Vt., and Daniel O. Gillett, Hartford, Vt. ; who have assisted
me practically beyond all others in my arduous undertaking.
PREFACE.
The following contributors of dates and facts are deserving of special mention:
Rev. M. D. Bisbee, librarian Dart. Col.,
Hanover, N. H.
Rev. S. I. Briant, pastor Cong. Ch.,
Hartford, Vt.
Rev. R. L. Bruce, pastor Meth. Ch., W.
R. Junction, Vt.
Hon. Frederick Chase, treas. D. C,
Hanover, N. H.
John M. Comstock, A. B., Chelsea, Vt.
Edwin Congdon, town clerk. Claren-
don, Vt.
Royal Cummlngs, printer, W. R. Junc-
tion, Vt.
Hon. W. H. DuBois, treasurer of Vt.,
Randolph, Vt.
Hon. Amasa P. Button, Ci-aftsbury, Vt.
Hon. Samuel E. Pingree, Hartford, Vt.
Edwin L. Button, Hartford, Vt.
W. Tracy Eustis, Boston, Mass.
Col. H. E. Folsom, Supt. Pass'c. R. R.,
Lyhdonville, Vt.
Hon. W. C. French, Woodstock, Vt.
H. Allen Hazen, Washington, D. C.
Henry Hazen, Hartford, Vt.
Mss Louise Lyman Hartford, Vt.
W. F. King, town clerk, Johnston, R. I
W. G. Kingsley, town clerk, Lebanon,
Ct.
Col. W. E. Lewis, town clerk, Nor-
wich, Vt.
Hon. C. P. Marsh, Woodstock, Vt.
Mrs. Amanda Morse, Union Vniage, Vt.
Joel A. Belano, Grove, Mich.
J. G. Porter, Supt. Woodstock R. R.,
Woodstock, Vt.
Hon. John L. Rice, Springfield, Mass.
Rev. Charles H. Richards, Madison,
Wis.
Erving Russ, Hartford, Vt.
Hon. N. B. Saflord, Hartford, Vt.
Hon. Henry Safford, Quechee, Vt.
Mrs. Sophia B. Stoddard, Middletown,
Ct.
Rev. A. K. Teele, Milton, Mass.
Hon. A, B. Thompson, Sec. of Slate, N.
H., Concord, N. H.
Col. George E. Todd, Supt. Northern
R. R., Concord, N. H.
Miss Julia Tracy, W. Lebanon, N. H.
Bea. Samuel Tracy, PlatteviUe, Wis.
Thanks are due to many others, including town-clerks, clergymen and post-
masters, who have kindly furnished valuable items of information.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Portrait of "William Howard Tucker, .Frontispiece.
George W. Smith's Business Block (White River Junction). ._ 128
Portrait op Hon. Albert Gallatin Dewey facing page 356
Portrait of Hon. John Porter facing page 376
CONTENTS.
Introduction - - xiii
CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF THE TOWN — FIRST MEETING OF THE GRANTEES.
Hartford the first Township Chartered, after the close of the French War —
Date of the Charter — How the Grantees secured the first choice of Terri-
tory— Why christened " Hartford " — Form and Conditions of the Charter
— First Meeting of the Grantees under the Charter — Town OfiS.cers Chosen
— Committee Chosen to visit the Town to Lay out Roads, Lots, etc. — Re-
port of the Committee — Sequestration of Fifteen Hundred Acres of Land
— Highway from the " King's Ferry" up the Connecticut River — Drawing
of Sixty-two Lots by Lottery — Location of the Lots, and by whom Drawn
— Survey of the Town — Recapitulation of the Divisions of Territory 1
CHAPTER II.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE TOWN.
Climate — Rivers — Soil and Production — Natural Fertilizers — Geological Fea-
tures— Quechee Mineral Spring — Pot-Holes— Quechee Gulph — Terraces —
Flora and Fauna — Description of Villages and Hamlets — Account of the
Great Flood in 1867 _ _ 13
CHAPTER III.
FIRST SETTLEMENT OP THE TOWN.
Measures Adopted to Promote an Early pettlement of the Town — " Book of
Town Votes," with Records by Prince Tracy — Date of the First Settle-
ment— En-or Made by Thompson corrected — Benjamin Wright's Certifi-
cate— Squatters in the Town in 1761 — First Meeting of the Proprietors in
the Town held in the House of Solomon Strong — Last Meeting held in
Connecticut — Chronological Record of Subsequent Meetings — First Sale
of a Proprietors' Right — Early Settlers and Land-Owners _ 30
CHAPTER IV.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN.
Date of the Organization — Proprietary and Town OiHces vested in the same
Persons — Transfer of Proprietors' Meetings from Connecticut to Hartford
— Error as to the Date of the Organization of the Town — Elijah Strong, a
Good Man but an IndiflEerent Clerk — First Grand-Jurymen Elected —
Establishment of Cattle-pounds — First Vote for a Judge of Probate — Town
Offtcers Chosen at the same Meeting — Condition of the Settlers in 1778 —
• Pirating upon Public Rights — Last Record made in the " Book of Town
Votes " — Loss of Town Records — One Thousand Acres of Land voted to
Thomas Hazzen — Pitches Made by Mr. Hazen — Jonathan Birch sent to
New York — Loss of the New Hampshire Charter — Troubles with the New
York Government — Passive Policy of the People of Hartford— Failure of
Effort to Obtain Letters Patent. . _ 42
CHAPTER V.
FURTHER EFFORTS OF THE PROPRIETORS TO OBTAIN LETTERS PATENT.
Certificate sent to the New York Government — Petition of the Proprietors
and Inhabitants to the Governor of New York — Petition of Grantees to
viii CONTENTS.
Sir Henry Moore — Record of Council-^Warrant of Survey to Surveyor
General of New York— Petition of Grantees and Others to Sir Wm. Tryon
— Record of Council _ _ __. 59
CHAPTER VI.
POLITICAL AND "MILITARY AFFAIRS, 1775-6.
Meetings in the House of Widow Ruth Strong — Committee of Saifety Chosen
— Erection of Cumberland County by New York — General Conventions of
Delegates — County Convention in Westminster — Meeting Held in Chester
— Two Regiments of Militia in Cumberland County — Citizens of Hartford
Commissioned — Correspondence between the Historian and the Adjutant
General of New York — Col. Joseph Marsh severs his Allegiance to the
New York Government 69
CHAPTER VII.
HARTFORD DURING THE REVOLUTION.
Alai-m on the Frontiers — Meeting held in Hanover, N. H. — Ranging Depart-
ment Organized — Last Meeting of the Cumberland County Committee of
Safety — Stirring Events of '77 — Estates Confiscated — Delegates to the
Windsor Convention — Vote to Form a New State — Constitution and Form
of Government Adopted at Windsor — Col. Joseph Marsh, Chairman of a
Committee to Procure Arms for the State — Census Taken of Cumberland
and Gloucester Counties — Population of Hartford — Hartford Militia in
the Battle of Bennington — Men and Horses Employed in Transporting
Flour to BattenkiU — Court of Confiscation — Hartford Militia doing Fron-
tier Duty — Militia Pay-rolls for Service Against Indians 75
CHAPTER VIII.
CUSTOMS AND MATTERS IN "YE OLDEN TIME."
Character of the Pioneer Settlers — First Settlements Made on the Hills —
Methods of Clearing Land, BuUding Houses, and Making Furniture — Ar-
ticles of Food — Work of the Farmers, their Wives, and Sons and Daugh-
ters— Wearing Apparel — Marriage Ceremonies — Outfit of a Bride — Estab-
hshment of Schools — Medals for Good Scholarship — Trials and Suffering
Borne Patiently — Unity, Harmony and Love Among all Classes — Militia
Trainings — Stimulants too Commonly Indulged in — ^ Abundance of Game
and Fish — Husking-bees, Squirrel-hunts, Apple Cuttings, Quilting Parties,
Spelling, Writing and Singing Schools — Dealing upon Trust — Failure of
Crops— Scarcity of Food — Economy of Dress — Methods of Travel — Emigra-
tion to the Western States. _ __ 96
CHAPTER IX.
MANUFACTURES AND MILLS.
Labor Unaided by Labor-Saving Machinery — Rudeness of Farming Utensils
and all Tools — Industry of the People — Twenty-five Miles to a Grist-mill
by a Bridle-path — First Saw-miU and Grist-mill in the Town — FuUing and
Cloth-dressing Machines — Process of Making Maple Sugar — Manufacture
of Charcoal, Potash and Pearlash — Manufactures and Mills in Quechee —
Distilleries — Cider-making — Mills and Factories in various parts of the
Town — Marble and Granite Cutting — Cracker-baking and Other Indus-
tries __ .-..-.- 112
CONTENTS. is
CHAPTER X.
HIGHWAYS, HIGHWAY DISTRICTS, FERRIES, FORDS, BRIDGES, LOCKS, AND
STEAMBOATS.
Highways from Charlestown, N. H., to White River Junction; from Nor-
wich to Pomfret; from Connecticut River to Pomfret — Town Divided into
Highway Districts— Turnpike Roads Completed to Boston— The First
Skow Ferry-boat — Ferries on White River — Munsill's Ford— Log Bridges
— Bridge over Otta Quechee River— Lyman's Bridge over the Connecticut
River, and Litigation Connected therewith— Lottery Scheme to build a
Bridge in White River Vniage — White River Bridge Company — Bridges
at West Hai-tf ord — Locking Water Quechee Falls, White River and White
River FaUs — Steamboats on Connecticut River 139
CHAPTER XI. ,
' RAILROADS.
The First Railroad in the United States— First Locomotive Engine Built in
the United States — Miles of Raihoad in Vermont — Enhanced Value Given
to Real and Personal Estate in Hartford — Saving of Time and Money in
Transit — Litellectual and Moral Influence Exei-ted by New Methods of
Transit — Connection of Boston with Lake Erie — The Vermont Central
Railroad — Terrible Disaster at the CentrevUle Bridge — Connecticut and
Passumpsic Rivers Railroad — First Passenger Trains— Removal of Shops
■ — Lease to the Boston and Lowell, and Present Lease to the Boston
and Maine Raih-oad — Officers of the Road — The Woodstock Railroad — Its
Charter — Organization — Bonded Debt — Probable Extension _. 151
CHAPTER XII.
POST-ROADS, POSTOFFICES AND NEWSPAPERS.
First Post-Route and First Postoffices in Vermont — Post-Route from Wind-
sor to ^t. Johnsbury; and from Burlington to Montreal — Postoffices and
Postmasters in Harford — Newspapers and Editors 166
CHAPTER XIII.
POPULATION, BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS.
Statistical Table — Causes of Increase and Decrease of Population — Rank of
Eighteen Towns in Vermont in Valuation — Population of Vermont by
Counties — Tabulated Statement of Births — Births for Ten Years arranged
by Months — Classifications — Marriages — Form of Marriage Certificate —
Number of Marriages 1802-1857 — Table of Marriages Registered from 1857
to 1886 — Record of Marriages — Divorces— Table of Deaths — Fifteen Prin-
cipal Causes of MortaUty — Causes of Consumption — Old Age and Causes
Promotive of it — Deaths for Ten Years by Months — Sanitary Matters' —
Municipal Action Concerning SmallPox 173
CHAPTER XIV.
NECROLOGY, CEMETERIES, DECEDENTS IN EACH CEMETERY.
Desire of Mortals for Memory— Neglect of Burial-places— Lists of Decedents
in Ten Cemeteries — List of Decedents whose Graves have no Headstones-
Record of Deaths by Rev. Austin Hazen — Deaths, Accidental, Sudden,
and by Suicide - - 185
3 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XV.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Taxes Paid for the Support of Ministers— Constitution of the Lords— Pi'oprie-
tors of Carolina— Third Article of the Constitution of Vermont— Act of
the General Assembly— Certificates of Religious Connection— Vote to
Build a Meeting-house— First Congi-egational Preaching— Hardships of
the Early Ministers— First Congregational Society Organized— Congi-ega-
tional Church Papers— Settlement of Rev. Austin Hazen at the Centi-e
of the Town— Condition of the Church there— Record of Church-meetings
— Resignation and Dismission of Mr. Hazen — Papers Relating to Support
of Mr. Hazen— Warrant to Collector of Taxes - - - 201
CHAPTER XVI.
CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES.
Steps Taken to Build a Meeting-house, and Organize a Rehgious Society
in White River Village— Society Oiganized— Meeting-house Dedicated-
Consolidation of Two Societies, under the Title of " The Second Congrega-
tional Society," Churcli at the Centre of the Town Continued in White
River Village— Clerks of the Society— Records of the Chui-ch to the In-
stallation of Rev. S. I. Briant— Records of Baptisms — Membership of the
Church- List of Deacons— West Hai-tford Congregational Church and
Society — Meetings held by Rev. Aaron Hutchinson — List of Pastors and
Acting Pastors — Deacons and Clerks — Statistics of the Church — First Con-
gregational Society in Quechee — Meeting-house Societies — First Congrega-
tional Church— Ministers 1830 to 1887— Church Statistics— Congregational
Church in Olcott 316
CHAPTER XVII.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN DOTHAN.
Branch of the Church at Dartmouth College — Meetings Held in the House of
Thomas Hazen — Conti'oversies Arise — Members of the Hartford Branch of
the Church claim Supremacy — Members of the Hanover Branch claim In-
dependency— PubUo Interest in the Quan-el — Question Carried into Polit-
ical Strife — Rev. Eden Burroughs — Records of the Church — Rev. Austin
Hazen Installed Pastor — Trouble with a Refractory Member, who Objects
to the Polity of the Church — The Church Changes its Usages and Customs
— Rev. Cary Russell, the Last Pastor of the Church — Dissolution of the
Church — Comments _ -- 242
CHAPTER XVIII.
ROMAN CATHOLIC AND OTHER CHURCHES.
Formation of a Roman Catholic Pai'ish — Old Moseley House Converted into
a Chapel — Church Edifice BuUt — Pastorate of Rev. M. Pigeon, Rev. Daniel
Sullivan, Rev. Dennis Lynch, and Rev. James Booth Whitaker — Valuation
of Church Property — Families in the Pai-ish — The Pai'oohial School —
Methodist-Episcopal Church — First Preaching — First Meeting-house —
Preaching in White River Junction — Meeting-house Erected — Ministers —
Methodist Church in Quechee and in Olcott — Covenant Baptist Society —
Certificates of Membership — The Christian Denomination — Jasper Hazen
Set Apart to the Ministry — Society in Quechee — Rev. Moses Kidder — Dis-
solution of the Society — The Protestant Episcopal Church — History of the
Glebe and Propagatmg Rights — Glebes Sequestered for the Use of Com-
mon Schools — Occupants of Church Lands in Hartford — UniversaUst
CONTENTS. si
Society Organized— Church Edifice Erected— Pastors to the Present Tiine
—The Second Adventists— Their Camp-meeting Ground— Organization of
"White River Junction Camp-meetiag Association "—The Puritans 253
CHAPTER XIX.
EDUCATION.
Liberal Provisions by the Early Settlers to Promote Education — Legislative
Support — System of Public Instruction— The Surplus Revenue— Dona-
tions to Dartmouth College — Division of the Town into School Districts-
Lease of School Lands— First School in West Hartford— Teachers of Fifty
Years Ago— Monologue— Fu-st School White River Village— Hartford
Academy — Superintendents of Schools— Teaching a Profession — The Town
System — Prudential Committees, and Teachers — Forms in use by the Select-
men and Treasurer — The Huntington Fund, Newspapers, etc 272
CHAPTER XX.
POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES.
Local Self-government — Prevalence of Congregationalism as a Form of
Church Polity — Town Votes for Governors — Contest over the Election of a
Town Representative — Duty of Every Citizen to Exercise the Right of
Franchise — Caucuses — Members of Congi-ess, State, County and Town
Officers— The Selectmen's Book 288
CHAPTER XXI.
TAXES— GBNEKAL LIST — SUPPORT OF THE POOR.
Methods of Collecting Taxes — Minimum and Maximum Rate of Taxation —
General List by Decades — Comparative Auditors' Reports — Rank of the
Town in its Grand list and Population — Increase of Ratable Pi-operty —
Sales of Land for Taxes — Lists of Taxpayers — Grand List for 1887 297
CHAPTER XXII.
The Poor and Their Support — Sale of the Care of the Poor at Auction — Sale
of Irena Dunkin — Insane Poor Kept in Cages — Town Farm Purchased —
Annual Cost of Supporting the Poor — Overseers of the Pool' — Secret
Societies — Free Masons, KJaights of Honor, Odd Fellows, and Good Tem-
plars 305
CHAPTER XXIII.
WAR OP 1812, AND WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Quota of Vermont MiUtia called for in 1812— Militia Companies— Selectmen's
Orders for Equipments and Supplies — Supplies Furnished to the State —
War of the Rebellion — Requisition on Gov. Fairbanks for Troops — Com-
missions for Raising the 3d and 3d Vt. Regiments— Municipal War Legisla-
tion—Rosters of Volununteers from the Town During the Civil War— War
Expenses of the Town— Abraham Lincoln Post, G. A. R.— Memorial
Association — Military Necrology — A Military Incident 315
CHAPTER XXIV.
MICELLANEOUS MATTERS.
Letter from Roswell Marsh— The Old Centre Meeting-House— Two Inter-
esting Letters — Hotels and Landlords 338
xii CONTENTS.
CHAPTEE XXV.
BIOGEAPHY.
Biographical Sketches of Native and Foreign-born Citizens- 853
CHAPTER XXVI.
SKETCHES OF ALTJMNI OF DARTMOUTH AND OTHER COLLEGES.
Honorary Degrees, Conf en-ed 386
CHAPTER XXVII.
GENEALOGIES.
The Bartholomew Family 408 The Pinneo Family _ 455
TheBugbee Family .._411 The Richards Family 456
The Delano Family 413 The Savage Family .._ 458
TheDutton Family 414 The Sprague Family 460
TheGillett Family 431 The Strong Family 463
TheHazen Family 435 The Tilden Family 465
TheLeavitt Family 447 The Tracy Family 467
The Lyman Family _ _ _447 The Ti-umbuU FamUy 470
The Marsh Family 448 The Tucker FamUy _ _471
The Newton FamUy 453 The Whitney Family 475
APPENDIX.
Business Directory 1889 477
INDEX 479
INTEODUCTION.
For more than a century after the landing of the Pilgrim fathers at
Plymouth, no settlements had been made in Vermont, and prior to 1760
but a few settlements had been attempted, and such were of a military
character. Daring the colonial and Indian wars the territory of Ver-
mont, being situated between the English and French provinces, be-
came a thoroughfare over which the respective military forces of the
belligerents were almost constantly passing and re-passing, and the ter-
ritory being claimed and occupied as a hunting ground by the native
Iroquois, Cossack and St. Francis tribes of Indians, who were often at
war with each other, the settlement of the territory was regarded as
dangerous and infeasible. These and other obstacles militated against
peaceable and permanent settlements, consequently no such were
effected till after the conquest of Canada by the English in 1760.
The territor^j now constituting the State of Vermont, was anciently
claimed both by the province of New York and that of New Hampshire.
Benning Wentworth, who was commissioned goverernor of New Hamp-
shire in 1741, began in 1749 to make grants of lands situated, as he con-
ceived, within the borders of New Hampshire. These grants extended
westward within twenty miles of the Hudson, and along the shores of
Lake Champlain. The titles to these lands, so granted, were disputed
by New York, which claimed the whole of this territory to the west
bank of Connecticut river by a grant from King Charles the Second. A
lengthy correspondence between Wentworth and Governor Clinton of
New York concerning their respective titles to the lands thus granted
ended in an agreement between the two governors to submit the point
in controversy to the king, yet Wentworth disregarded the agreement
and continued to make grants west of Connecticut river till 1754, when
a renewal of hostilities between the English and French put a stop to
applications and delayed the determination of the king regarding said
boundary.
The war being closed in 1760, a treaty of peace was concluded be-
tween England and France in 1763, which secured to the British a large
tract of country situated between New England and New York and
Canada. In their expeditions against the French, the English colonists
became acquainted with the value of the lands lying between Connecti-
xiv INTRODUCTION.
c it river and the Canadian border, and at the cessation of hostilities
they were eagerly sought after by adventurers and speculators, and it
became the interest of the royal governors of New York and New Hamp-
shire to vie with each other in granting this territory and receiving the
golden emoluments arising from their grants.
Governor Wentworth availed himself of this opportunity to renew his
work of making grants, and by advice of his council ordered a survey to
be made of Connecticut river for sixty miles, and three lines of town-
ships on each side to be laid out. As applications increased, townships
of six miles square were granted, and in 1761 not less than sixty town-
ships were granted west of Connecticut river, and eighteen on the east
side. In 1763, the whole number granted on the west side amounted to
138. The passion for obtaining these lands rose to a great height, and
the new townships were ere long peopled, to a considerable extent,
with emigrants from Connecticut and Massachusetts, most of whom
were only temporary sojourners.
Belknap says : "Besides the fees and presents for these grants which
were undefined, a reservation was made for the governor of 500 acres in
each township, and of lots for public purposes. These reservations were
clear of all fees and charges. The whole number of grafts on the west-
ern side of the river amounted to 138, and the extent was from Connec-.
ticut river to twenty miles east of the Hudson, as far as that river ex-
tended northerly ; and after that, westward to Lake Champlain. The
rapid progress of these grants filled the coffers of the governor. Those
who had obtaLnfid the grants were seeking purchasers in all the neigh-
boring colonies, whilst the original inhabitants of New Hampshire, to
whom these lands had formerly been promised as a reward for their
merit in defending the country, were overlooked in the distribution ;
unless they were disposed to apply in the same manner as persons from
abroad ; or, unless they happened to be in favor. When remonstrances
were made to the governor on this subject, his answer was that the peo-
ple of the old towns had been formerly complimented with grants
which they had neglected to improve ; and, that the new grantees were
better husbandmen and would promote the cultivation of the new prov-
ince." * * *
" The grants on the western side of Connecticut river alarmed the
government of New York; who, by their agent, made application to the
crown, representing that it would be greatly to the advantage of the
people settled on those lands to be annexed to New York ; and submit-
ting the cause to royal decision. In the meantime a proclamation was
issued by Lieut.- Governor Golden, reciting the grant of King Charles
INTRODUCTION. xv
to the Dake of York, asserting the jurisdiction of New York as far east-
ward as Connecticut river ; and enjoined the sheriff of the county of
Albany to return the names of all persons who under color of the .New
Hampshire grants held possession of lands westward of that river.
This was answered by a proclamation of Governor Wentworth, declar-
ing the grant to the Duke of York to be obsolete, and that the western
bounds of New Hampshire were co-extensive with those of Massachus-
etts and Connecticut ; encouraging the grantees to maintain their pos-
sessions, and cultivate their lands, and commanding civil officers to
execute the laws and punish disturbers of the peace."
The application of New York, above named, was referred to the
board of trade, and upon their representation, seconded by a report of
a committee of the privy council, the following order was passed by the
king in council, which will doubtless interest all readers of this history :
^s.}
PRESENT.
U il)c Court of St. Sameo,
©he 20: day oi ittlj!, 1764.
The Kings Most Excellent Majesty.
Lord Stewart, Earl of Hillsborough.
Earl of Sandwich, M. Vice Chamberlain.
Earl of Halifax, Gilbert Elliot, Esq.
Earl of Porvis, James Oswald, Esq.
Earl of Harcourt.
Whereas, there was this day read at the Board a Report made by the Right
Honorable the Lords of the Committee of Connoil for Plantation Affairs, dated
the 17th of this Instant, upon considering a Representation from the Lords
Commissioners for Trade and Plantations relative to the disputes that have
soTne years subsisted between the Provinces of New Hampshire and New York
concerning the Boundary Line between those Provinces, — His Majesty taking
the same into consideration was pleased, with the advice of His Privy Council,
to approve of what is therein proposed, and doth accordingly hereby order and
Declare the Western Banks of the River Connecticut from ivhere it enters the
Province of Massachusettes Bay as far North as the forty-fifth Degree of
Northern Latitude to be the Boundary Line between the two Provinces of New
Hampshire and New York — whereof the respective Governors and Commanders-
in-Chief of His Majesty's said Provinces of New Hampshire and. New York for
the time being, and all others whom it concerns are to take notice of His Majes-
ty's pleasure hereby signified and govern themselves accordingly.
(Signed) W. BLAIR.
L. S.
Stote of Hen) l^ampsljirt,
^'' ^ttniM^'^ (§iixu, ©otttotil, |l. p.
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original document.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my official .signature and af-
fixed the seal of the State.
(Signed)
A. B. THOMPSON,
Secretary of State.
"A town exists in its Mstory— Take away the memory of the past and
what remains P A name and only a name. Take away the example of
the recorded wisdom of the past, and what ray of light would be left for
our guidance? What could we do hut wander In the maze of perpetual
childhood? If we are bound to respect the claims of posterity, we like-
wise owe a debt to our ancestors,"— C/4!>?«a«.
" A people who do not lookback to their ancestors will not look forward
to their posterity," — Burke.
" How carefully should we secure the memorials, while we may, of the
long procession of true-hearted men and women that have borne down,
with many tears and toils and prayers, the precious ark of G-od's cove-
nant and of our liberties to the present hour. We will not, we cannot,
forget those who toiled and dared and endured so much for God and for
us."— ^. JV. Dwight.
CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF THE TOWN FIRST MEETING OF THE GRANTEES.
Among the many grants made by Gov. Wentworth in 1761, was
that of Hartford, ' which was the first township chartered after the
close of the French war. The charter was granted on the 4th of July,
1T61, seven years, to a day, after the first plan of the American Union
was adopted ; fifteen years prior to the promulgation of the Declara-
tion of American Independence, and in the second year of the reign of
King George HI. of England.
Tradition does not inform us why the grantees of this Township
selected it from among the many townships which Wentworth caused
to be surveyed on the west side of the Connecticut River, nor why
they were so fortunate as to secure the first choice of territory, in every
respect the best of the river townships. Belknap, in his History of
New Hampshire, written in 1784, states his opinion in relation to the
settlements made on both sides of the Connecticut River immediately
after the close of the French war, in these words, viz. : " During the
war the continual passing of troops through these lands caused the
value of them to be more generally known, and when, by the conquest
of Canada, tranquility was restored, they were eagerly sought by
adventurers and speculators."
It may be that the fame of these lands inspired John Baldwin
and his neighbors in Windham, Ct., with the desire and determination
to possess a portion of them, but why did they select this Township,
which they christened "Hartford," ' in preference to all others ?
The writer of this History is of the opinion that the early appli-
cation made by the grantees for a charter of this particular Township
was solely due to the influence and efforts of the Strong brothers, who
were among the first settlers of this Township, and that this was
brought about by their having a personal knowledge of the Township.
When Governor Wentworth became cognizant of the fact that
the lands in New Hampshire and Vermont were " eagerly sought after,"
he hastened to have said lands surveyed and laid out into townships.
This step created a demand for surveyors. The two brothers, Elijah
' This name was chosen probably for the reason that the grantees of the
Township resided in Connecticut, of which State Hartford, in Hartford County,
is the capital. A predilection for this name was a verj natural one.
^ On a " Chorographical Map of the Northern Department of Northern
America" this Town is laid down as " Ware."
3 HISTORY OF HARTFORB.
and Benajah Strong, were by vocation land surveyors. DouBtless
they were summoned to aid in the work of surveying this and other
townships. During the progress of their work they perambulated this
Township, and, with a keen perception of comparative values, soon
discovered the superiority of this 'J'ownship to others included in their
surveys, in respect to the splendid water-power and mill-privileges
found by them on the three rivers that watered the Township ; in the
valuable pine forests that skirted these streams and extended inland,
and in the richness of the soil from river bank to mountain top. Their
favorable impressions were communicated to their neighbors in
Lebanon, Ct., and hastened their application for a charter which would
secure to them the coveted territory, and, happily for them, they
secured the first choice and, consequently, the first charter granted
after the close of the French war.
FOEM OF THE CHAKTEE.
The Charter of the Township of Hartford was granted to John
Baldwin and sixty-one other grantees, most of whom were inhabitants
«ither of Windham or Lebanon, Ct. The Charter begins as follows :
"Province of New Hampshire.
George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland,
Kjng, Befender of the Faith, etc. To all persons to whom these presents shall
come. Greeting."
The Charter proceeds to say that His Majesty of his special grace,
for the due encouragement of settling a new plantation within said
Province, by and with the advice of his trusty and well beloved
Benning Wentworth, governor and commander-in-chief of said Province
in New England, and of his council of said Province, had, upon the
conditions and reservations to be named, given and granted in equal
shares unto his loving subjects of said Province and other governments
whose names were entered on the grant, to be divided to and amongst
them into sixty-eight shares, all that tract of land within said Province,
containing by admeasurement 27,000 acres, which tract was to contain
six miles and a half square, out of which an allowance was to be made
for highways and unimprovable lands, 1,040 acres free, and the same
was incorporated into a township by the name of Hartford. The
boundary of the Township was as follows : " Beginning at a white
pine tree marked opposite to the southwest corner of Lebanon, across
the River Connecticut, from thence north 68° west seven miles ; thence
north 35° east seven miles ; thence south 60° east six miles to a hemlock
tree marked, at the head of White River Falls ; thence down the river
to place of beginning."
HISTORY OP HARTFORD. 3
The Charter conferred on the future inhabitants of the Township
all the privileges and immunities exercised and enjoyed by other 'New
Hampshire towns, provided that as soon as there should be fifty families
resident and settled therein, they should have the liberty of holding
town fairs twice annually, and also of opening and keeping a market
one or more days in each week, as might be thought most advantageous
to the inhabitants. Also, the Charter provided that the first meeting
for the choice of town officers should be held on the last Wednesday
of August, 1761, and that the annual meetings forever thereafter, for
the choice of town officers for the said town, should be held on the
second Tuesday of March. The conditions upon which the Charter
was granted were :
First. That every grantee, his heirs and assigns, should plant
and cultivate five acres of land within the term of five years for evei-y
fifty acres contained in his share, and should continue to cultivate and
improve the same under a penalty of the forfeiture of his grant.
Second. That all white_ and other pine timber (trees) within the
township fit for making his Majesty's royal navy, should be carefully
preserved for that use — and none should be cut or felled without
special license, upon a penalty of forfeiture of the right and the
penalty of any act of parliament then or thereafter enacted.
Third. — That before any division of the land should be made to or
among the grantees, a tract of land, as near the centre of the township
as the land will admit of, should be reserved and marked out for town
lots, one of which should be allotted to each grantee of the contents of
one acre.
Fourth. — Yielding and paying to hie majesty, his heirs and successors
for the space of ten years, 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, 1762.
Sixth. — That each proprietor after the expiration of ten years from the
25th day of Dec, 1762, should yearly pay to his majesty one shilling
proclamation money for every 100 acres he owned, which should be
paid in his majesty's council chamber in Plymouth, or to such officers
as should be appointed to receive the same, and this to be in lieu of all
other rents and service whatever.
On the back of the charter the names of but sixty grantees are re-
corded,' and the following endorsement, viz. :
"His excellency, Bennlng Wentworth, Esq., a tract of land containing 500
acres as mai'ked B. W. in the plan, which is to be accounted two of the within
named shares. One whole share for the incorporated society for the propagation
of the gospel in foreign parts : One whole share for a globe for the church of
»
'One name, thatof Benj. Whitney, is duplicated, two names, viz. . Elihu Hyde
and Elisha Wright, which appear in the record of first division by lottery, are
omitted on the charter. The number should be sixty-two plus four reser-
vations, and two shares for the Governor — total, sixty-eight shares.
4 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
England, as by law established : One whole share for the first settled minister of
the gospel, and one share for the benefit of a school in said township.
" Province of New Hampshire — recorded in the book of charters.
" (Signed,) Theodore /ttkinson, Secty."
Inasmuch as the pages of the old record books have become worn
and defaced by age and much hard usage, I deem it proper to copy
under their respective dates such portions of the proprietors' and early
town records as are most important in facts — at least sufficient of the
same to insure a clear and' concise connection in this work, convey an
intelligent idea of events to the reader, and preserve that which is truly
interesting and valuable.
riEST MEETING OF THE PEOPBIETORS.
In accordance with the provisions of the charter, a meeting of the
proprietors of the township of Hartford was held in Windham, Con-
necticut, August 26, 1761. The record of that meeting was made by
Prince Tracy, clerk-elect, and the following is a copy, verbatim ad litera-
tim :
At a Meating of the Proprietors of the Town of Hartford, In the Province of
New Hampshire, Legally Warned and Holden att Windham, in the Colony of
Connecticut, August ye 26, 1761. Pursuant to a Charter of sd Township, Dated
July 4, 1761 : In Said Chai-ter Mr. John Baldwin was appointed Moderator of
said Meating : At Said Meating Chosen Prince Ti-aoy Proprietors' Clerk and
Treasurer.
Foied,— That the Selectmen,^ Viz. : William Clark, Prince Tracy and John
Baldwin, Shall be Assessors for said Proprietors. Chosen Maj'r Joseph Blanch-
ard, Silas Phelps, and Moses Hebard, Collector of Taxes.s
" At Said Meating, the Said Moderator being obliged to attend another meat-
ing of another Town on Sd Day, Whereupon he Conducted Said Meating to the
Choice of another Moderator. Whereupon sd Meating Chose Capt. William -
Clarke Moderator to Conduct tlie Remaining Part of Sd Meating. Att Sd Meat-
ing Voted that they will Chuse a Committee to Go and View Sd Township and
Lay the first Division of land to Each Proprietor on Lot, and that Sd Committee
Shall Consist of six men to be Chosen for that purpos.
Voted, that Capt. William Clark, Lieut. Prince Tracy, Mr. Silas Phelps, Mr.
James Flint, Mr. Benjamin Wright and Mr. Elijah Bingham, Shall be sd Com-
mitte to G-o and View the Said Township and lay out a Town Plot, or the land
ordered in the Charter to be Laid out for Town Lots and also, to Lay out Con-
venient Rhods or highways So vsdde as sd Committee Shall Judge Convenient
and so many as they Shall Judge Neo'ary for the Present use of sd Township ;
Then to Proceed to Lay out as many Lots as there is Proprietors or Equal Shears,
' The first business transacted at this meeting was making choice of town
officers — or organizing the town — which Thompson, and other historians, have
erroneously stated did not occur until March, 1768. Thompson derived his in-
formation regarding this, and other events, from citizens of the town whose
memories were not trustworthy authority.
HISTORY OF HAETFOBD. 5
the Least of Which to Contam fifty acres, and so to Inlarge the Quantity so as to
' make them as Equal as they can. Having Regard to tlie Quality and Situation
of the Land and make a Proper Plan of their Doings on Good Pai'chment with
the Quantity, Description and Number of Each Lot therein Contained.
Voted, That a Tax of Twenty ShilUngs Lawful! money To Each Proprietor
Shall be forthwith Maid and Collected to Pay the debts of Said Town and pay the
Charge of the Comtee laying out sd Township.
"Voted, that tills meeting shall be adjourned unto the third Tuesday of No-
vember next at nine of the clock in the morning at the house of Mr. Paul He-
bard, in Windham, in the Colony of Connecticut. And said meeting was
accordingly adjourned."
Immediately after the first meeting, the committee chosen to visit
the township, make an inspection of it, and lay out the first division of
lots, proceeded to the performance of the duty assigned to them ; rap-
idly completed their work in the township ; returned to Connecticut,
and, at a meeting held in Windham pursuant to adjournment, reported
the result of their labors. The record of said meeting reads as fol-
lows:
" At a meeting of the proprietors of the town of Hartford, in the province of
New Hampshire, holden in Windham in the colony of Connecticut. November
ye 17th, 1761, by adjournment from August ye 26th, 1761 :
Voted, That they will except of the doings of the committee as they have ex-
hibited to this meeting by theu-.plan and return.
Upon the report of the committee to this meeting exhibited that they have
laid out as many lots in said township as there are proprietors. 'Tis therefore
voted that the said lots be distributed to the proprietors by a lottery, that is to
say, that the names of the proprietors shall each be written on separate pieces of
paper, and also, that the description of each lot shall be written on sepai'ate
pieces of paper, and that said names shall be put into one thing by themselves
and the said description' into another, then they shall be drawn out by indiffer-
ent persons, they not seeing which they draw, and the lot that shall be drawn
against any proprietoi's' name shall be his, and shall be recorded to Mm, his
heirs, and assigns, to hold in severalty pursuant to the charter.
And said lots were accordingly drawn by two disinterested persons and the
lots came out, or were drawn as hereafter recorded. Also voted, that there shall
be lands to the contents of fifteen hundred acres reserved and sequestered lying
in the north-west corner of said township in a squai-e body to Ue to make those
proprietors good or equal which shall not have so good lots as the proprietors
have in general.
Voted, That the treasiu-er shall pay to Mr. Jolm Baldwin the sum of tlu-ee
pounds, fifteen shUhngs and tenpence, three farthings more than he hath al-
ready had, being what he is to have for the present for his service in procuring
a charter for us.
Voted, That there shall be a committee of three men chosen to agree with the
committee that laid out the lots in said town, and adjust the same, and their
order shall be a sufilcient warrant for the treasurer to pay the sums to the per-
sons they shall agree with and order out as aforesaid.
6 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Chosen, Mr. Samuel Terry, Mr. Elias Frink, and Mr. Jonathan Martin, a com-
mittee for the purpose aforesaid.
Voted, To adjourn until Monday next, being the 23rd day of this instant, at
12 of the clock, to the house of Mr. Paul Hebard in Windham."
At the meeting held pursuant to the last named adjournment the
proprietors chose Prince Tracy their committee to apply to the com-
mittees or selectmen of the several towns lying down Connecticut
river to the Kings' Ferry above Charlestown, or " No. 4," and with
those above Hartford on Connecticut river, to join in seeking out a
public highway from said Kings' Ferry up Connecticut river. It was
also voted to raise a tax of eleven shillings ($2.66) to each share to de-
fray necessary expenses. Mr. James Flint was chosen to take effectual
care of the pine timber, both standing and lying, and improve that
already cut down, etc., and to contract with the King's surveyor for
getting masts and other timber for his majesty's navy ; and render the
profits to the proprietors. Also, that future meetings should be
wained by the selectmen by putting up a warning in writing under
their hand on the sign post, in Windham and Lebanon Conn., and
also by advertising said meeting in the " Boston Publiok Newspaper,"
at least three weeks before such meetings.
The next record is that made of the drawing of lots by lottery, viz :
" An account of the persons who drawed the lotts in the lottery. In
the open proprietors meating Nov. ye 17th, 1761, and the Lotts came
out to the several Persons as Hereafter Recorded.'"
The drawing resulted in a division of sixty-two lots. The charter
gives the number of proprietors as sixty eight. This number in-
cludes the Governor's right — (two shares) — and the four reservations for
public, pious and charitable uses. The record of the names of the
charter members found recorded on the back of the charter, contains
sixty-one names only, including one name that is duplicated, viz : Ben-
jamin Whitney. Expunging the duplication, and inserting the names
of Elisha Wright and Elihu Hyde, who are named in the list of those
who drew lots, we have the correct number, sixty-two.
It appears that some of those who had paid in money in expectation
of becoming charter members were left out. At the third meeting of
the proprietor?, March 9th, 1762, it was voted " that the treasurer shall
pay the three shillings back to those who paid the same and got left
out of the charter."
No mention is made, up to this time, of the location of the six shares
mentioned on the back of the charter. For convenience of reference,
and comparison with later divisions of land, I will here insert a list of
the proprietors who drew lots, together with the number, the location
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 7
and number of acres recorded to each proprietor. Forty-three of the lots
laid out bordered on the Connecticut river, of which twenty-four were
north of White Eiver and nineteen were south of "White River; two of said
lots bordered on both of said rivers. Fourteen lots bordered on White
river, north side, and five directly on White River, south side, — the num-
bering of each tier of lots began at the confluence of said rivers. The
figures on the left of the names indicate the . number of the lot, the
figures on the right indicate the number of acres.
10
11
13
On Connbctictjt River. North op White River.
Benjamin Whitney ... 19
Elisha Doubleday 50
Thomas BeU .50
Joseph Follett 51
Rowland PoweU 53.
Joseph Martin 53
William Temple 53
WilhamAUa 54
Ephraim Terry 54
Oliver Booth 55
Silas Phelps 56
Oliver Brewster 56
13 James Flint 57
14 ElihuHide 58
15 James Newcomb.. 59
16 Ebenezer Gillett 69
17 Joseph Newmarch . 60
18 Gideon Hebard . _ . . . . 60
19 CalebHoward 59
30 Daniel Redington 59
31 Aaron Fish 59
33 Joshua Wight, Jr 60
33 Samuel Terry 60
24 Eleazer Hebard . 60
Total number of acres 1314
Up North Side op White River
3
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Timothy Clark 31 1 8
Joseph Blanchard 5(J 9
John Rounday 50 1 10
Jonathan Simons 50 1 11
Daniel Wai-ner_
John Baldwin, Jr.
50
.50
Elisha Wright 53
Prince Ti'acy 53
N. Waldow 53
Jonathan Martin, Jr. 53
William Yongs, Jr. 59
Samuel Porter 59
7 Samuel Terry, Jr .50 14 Benjamin Wright 61
Total number of acres
Up South Side of White River.
.733
1 John Baldwin 31
3 Ezekiah Huntington 484
3 Nathaniel Holbrook, Jr 61J
Eleazer Fitch, 3d 61f
Eliphalet Phelps 65
Elijah Bingham 65
Total number of acres
On The Connecticut River, South of White River.
-333i
Nathaniel Clark 19
David Newcomb 50
Joshua Pomeroy 50|
EliasFrink 50|
Benjamin Wright, Jr . _ 50|
David Newcomb 49^
WiUiam Clark 50f
Samuel Wentworth 51
Samuel Williams 53
Total number of acres
-50
11 John Spencer, Jr
13 Nathaniel Warner
13 Daniel Pomeroy
14 Gideon Flint 58"
15 Elijah Bebbins 58/j
16 Thomas Tracy 59i
17 Jonathan Commings 58
18 Caleb Owen 58i
19 Gideon Bingham, Jr 5'^is
.938i
The Grand total of acres thus divided was 3,308f|-.
subsequently referred to as the first fifty acre division.
This division is
8 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
SUBSEQUENT DIVISIONS OF SHARES.
The question of making a second division of land was first debated
at a proprietors meeting held in Windham, Nov. 3rd, 1762, when it was
decided to make a division of one hundred acres to each proprietor,
each lot to front on the public roads already laid out, and, at the same
, time, one lot in the most convenient place for that purpose should be
reserved for the first settled minister. No further action was taken on
this subject until March 8th, 1763, when it was voted " that those pro-
prietors, etc., who shall mate their first entry on the lots of the second
division shall have their first choice, and so successively as they shall
enter on said lots." These favorable terms failed to promote emmi-
gration commensurate with the hopes and expectations of the proprie-
tors. Indeed, the committee chosen to lay out the second division,
failed to then perform that work. Certain persons had, however, en-
tered upon lands of the first division, and done some work toward
clearing and improving said lands. In the following warning for a
meeting of the proprietors one of the causes of the delay becomes ap-
parent :
" Whereas sundry of the proprietors of the town of Hartford, in the province
of New Hampsliire have applied to us for a meeting of said proprietors, some
representing that the votes already come into relating to laying out a second
division will not answer the end proposed, and others representing it best, in
their opinion, to have the whole township laid out and distributed. These are
therefore to warn said proprietors to meet at the house of Samuel Badger, inn-
holder in Windham, in the colony of Connecticut on Tuesday the 30th day of
August instant at 13 o'clock at noon, to conclude. Whether it is best to make
any alteration in said votes, and what, or whether they wiU lay out the whole
township in proper divisions, and distribute the same as justly as may be among
said proprietors and raise money sufficient with what is ah'eady raised to defray
the charge of doing the same, and also choose a committee to do said service,
etc. Given under our hands this 30th day of August, 1763.
Elias Bingham, )
Silas Phelps, V Comtee.
Thomas Tracy, )
The proprietors met in accordance with the above warning and voted
that they would change all former votes relating to a second division.
They then voted that the committee chosen to go and lay out the sec-
ond division should look out all the meadow land not yet laid out and
divide said land equally in quantity and quality to each proprietor ;
that the hundred acre lots should be laid out in any part of the town-
ship where the committee judged best, having special reference to lay
out the best land, and make the lots as equal as possible, with allow-
ance for a highway to each lot, and also, to lay out the four public lots
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 9
named in the charter, fronting on the rivers, and in as good situation
and of as much value as the first division of land ; and to lay out a
proper share of meadow, or hundred acre lots, to those who had,
labored in the town. John Spencer, Jr., Prince Tracy, and Elijah
Strong, were chosen a committee to do this work of laying out roads
and the land named, and they speedily began operations, each proprie-
tor being taxed ten shillings to defray expenses in addition to eleven
shillings on a share previously assessed, a total of about $3.15.
KEPOKT OF THE STJEVEYING COMMITTEE.
On the 31st December, 1763, the report of the committee on their
survey of the town, etc., was considered by the proprietors, and ac-
cepted. The report was in substance as follows :
" We the subscribers pursuant to the trust reposed in us did, on the 4th day of
October last, begin to run round the town of Hartford in the pi-ovince of New
Hampshire.
We began at the N. E. corner at the hemlock tree standing near the head of
White river falls, and run thence north 60° west one mile to a large black birch
tree marked 1 m. , standingon land descending a httle to the south, thence one mile
to a small Emmon-wood tree on land descending toward the south-west, marked
3 m.; thence one mile to a midUng beech marked 3 m. ; thence one mile to an
Emmonwood tree marked 4 m. ; thence one mile to a tree marked 5 m. ; thence
one mile to the corner of Hartford and marked a small Beech tree standing
on the east side of a hill between two small runs of water ranning southerly and
meeting a little south of the corner ; said tree is marked 6 m. corner op hart-
ford.
From thence we run south 34°, W. 100 rods to White river ; thence 14 rods
across said river, then proceeded out the first mile to a Hemlock marked 1 m. ;
thence one mile to a small Beech marked 2 m. ; thence one mile to a middling
Henilock marked 3 m. ; thence 54 rods to Pomfret road, then extended out the
mile to a small Beech tree marked 4 m. ; thence one mUe to a Basswood marked 5
m. , on a hill ; thence one mile to a large Hemlock tree marked 6 m ; thence o4
I'ods to Water Quechee river, thence 7 rods across said river, then extended out
the mile to a small Rook maple tree at the south-west corner of Hartford,
marked 7 mile south-west corner.
From thence we run south 68°, east one mUe to a small Hemlock tree mai-ked
1 m. ; thence one mile to a Beech tree marked 2 m. ; thence one mile to a large
Maple tree marked 3 m. ; thence to a small Rock maple marked 4 m. ; thence one
mile to a small Black oak tree marked 5 m. ; thence 333 rods to Water Quechee
river, then extended out the mile to a large White oak tree marked 6 m. ; from
thence to Connecticut river the same course and have marked a line of trees in
all of the above described lines (the east line is Connecticut river.)
" Then we proceeded to lay out a highway from the River Connecticut to Pom-
fret line." (Here follows the several courses run from a point about 200 rods
below the south bank of White River, thence over Hurricane Hill to the centre
of the town, and onward to Pomfret line, a distance of about 5i miles.) " The
10 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
above described lines was run on the northerly side of said road, ahd said road is
three rods wide from Connecticut River until it comes to the rear of White River
lots, and the remainder is eight rods wide.''
" Then we laid out forty-six hundred acre lots on the southerly side of White
River in said town, and four fifty acre lots, — wliich were reserved by the charter
for pubhc uses — fronting on Connecticut River, and we have numbered them 20,
21, 22 and 23, and have also numbered the hundred acre lots, setting the number
of each lot on the bound of said lot. We have laid out twenty hundred acre lots on
the northerly side of Wliite River, setting the number of each lot on the bound
thereof. We have also left an allowance for several highways between the lots
on southerly side of White River * * * We have also sequestered, or reserved,
lot No. 16, abating south on Pomfret road, and westwardly on land allowed for
a highway eight rods wide, for the use of the first settled minister. We have
also exliibited a plan representing the foregoing surveys bearing even date here-
with. The foregoing surveys were finished October 26th, 1763, with the assist-
ance of Mr. Aaron Storrs, surveyor, by us. i
JOHN SPENCER, )
PRINCE TRACY, [ Comtee for said purpose.
ELIJAH STRONG. )
The second hundred acre division waS' laid out between March 8th
and June 20, 1768. At the same time a survey was made of the middle
land or meadows lying on the Water Quechee River. On the 20th of
June, 1768, the proprietors voted that each proprietor should have the
right of pitching his second hundred acre division as follows : — " The
names shall each be written on a separate piece of paper and put into a
box and- be drafted for the pitchers. The first shall make his pitch by
Monday next, and get the two first letters of his name (initials) on the
bound tree under the number that is on the bound tree, with a certificate
from under his hand to be delivered to the clerk, he is to record the
hundred acre and meadow lots as they are brought in to file. Daniel
Prince and Lieut. John Strong, chosen to agree with the owners of
land for highways and exchange for them. Abel Marsh, chosen to
draw the pitchers for the 2d 100 acre division, and Elisha Marsh to
make the pitches for the school right."
On the second of November, 1772, the proprietors decided to make
a division of fifty acre lots, and also voted to advertise in the Connec-
ticut public prints that an application would be made to the committee
chosen for that purpose, to lay out to each aggrieved proprietor his
part of the land sequestered to make each lot in the first division equal,
the proprietors to pd,y the cost that should arise — the same to be done
by June Ist, 1773. On the last Monday in May, 1776, the proprietors
met at the house of widow Euth Strong, and voted that each proprietor
should have liberty to take up of the undivided land in town, 50 acres
to each original right. On the first Monday in November, 1776, the
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 11
proprietors voted to accept of the pitches that had been made, in
accordance with the vote taken in May, by Thomas Hazen, Israel Gillett,
Mitchell Clark, John Bennett, Jr., Becket Chapman. Joshua Hazen,
Benj. "Wright, John Gillett, Stephen Tilden and Simon Chapman.'
Sept. 26, 1779, Joshua Hazen, Israel Gillett and John Bennett, were
chosen a committee to lay out as much of the undivided land as they
should consider right to each man who had had his lots cut up by set-
tling disputed lines, or proprietors' grants. Dec. 29, 1780, Asa Hazen
was chosen proprietors' clerk and Joshua Hazen and Stepheb Tilden, a
committee to examine into all deeds and claims.
On Tuesday, 6th Feb'y, 1781, the proprietors voted to lay out a divis-
ipn of 40 acres to each right, and that an ample plan should be made
and also a survey of said division, both of which should be laid before
the proprietors for confirmation. Under this vote Thomas Hazen
pitched 560 acres to fourteen different 40 acre rights. This pitch was
made May 30, 1781, and the land adjoins the one thousand acres which
he received from the proprietors in 1773 for the money Joshua Hazen
hired for the proprietors. It will be observed that his pitch and the
1000 acres comprises the 1500 acres which the proprietors, on the 17th
of Nov., 1761, voted to reserve and sequester in the north-west corner
of the township in a square body, " to lie to make those proprietors
good whose lots were not as good as the proprietors have in general."
The foregoing divisions were supplemented by other later divisions.
The last meeting of the proprietors, at which current business was
transacted, was held in the house of Josiah Tilden,o in White Eiver
village, Nov. 9, 1808. Daniel Marsh was then chosen clerk, also a
committee to act with the selectmen to see if the public lands were all
laid out. From the date of this meeting to April 5, 1819, thirty-five
meetings were held, and all meetings were terminated at that time, but
nothing was recorded, in the interim, concerning further divisions of
land. Records in detail are quoted in another chapter.
1 Under this vote Thomas Hazen pitched 650 acres of land, of which 576 acres
was in one body, and constitutes what is now known as Jericho, the centre being
near the intersection of the roads leading from White River and West Hartford,
thence to Dothan.
13 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
RECAPITULATION OP DIVISIONS OF THE TOWNSHIP. •
Whole number of acres in the township as per chai-ter. _ - _ 27,000
Allowance for highways, rooks, ponds, mountains, &c 1,040
Governor's tract of land containing two shares 500
First division by lottery, 62 shares 3,309
" 100 acre lots 66 shares ■_ . 6,600
Four public lots 50 acres each 200
Second division of 100 acre lots, 66 shai-es •_ 16,600
' " " 50 " " " 3,300
Division of 40 acres, 66 shares 3,640
Other divisions as per records, including meadow and pine lands. 3,751
Total, 27,000
CHAPTER II.
PHYSICAL GEOGEAPHY OP THE TOWN.
Hartford lies between the meridians of 4° 30' and 4° 45' of west
longitude, and between the parallels of 43° 40' and 43° 55' north lati-
tude, and is bounded north by Norwich, east by Connecticut river, —
which seperates it from Lebanon, N. H. : — south by Hartland and west
by Pomfret. It lies 42 miles southeast of Montpelier ; 14 north of
Windsor, and 14 northeast of Woodstock. The total area is about 46
square miles, or nearly 27000 acres.
Climate. The climate, like that of the State in general, is cold. The
extremes of heat and cold are about 96° above, and 33° below, the zero
on Faharenheit's thermometer, the average annual temperature b§ing
about 43°. Observations made during the months of January and
February 1885, at Hartford village, showed the minimum temperature
for January to be 24° below zero, while that for February was 33°.
The highest degree for January was 50° above zero : for February 36°,
the hour of observation, T o'clock A. M. From January 4th to the 17th,
the average temperature at 7 A. M., was 27" above zero. From the Ist
to the 22d the temperature was not below zero, excepting on the 3d,
when it fell 2° below, and on the 2l8t to 6° below. For fourteen days
in February the temperature ranged from zero to 36° above, the aver-
age being 13° above. For the remaining fourteen days the tem-
perature ranged from zej'O to 33° below, the average being 10° below.
Orvis Wills of West Hartford, furnishes the following average tem-
perature for the month of February for fifteen years :
February
1871, 17
degi-ees above.
February
1879, 12+
degrees above.
1872, 7t
a
1880, 19i
1873, llf
"
1881, 14+
1874, 14i
1883, 18'
1875, 6i
"
1888, 17
1876, 16i
1884, 24
1877, n\
tt
1885, 3
1878, 14
May 14th, 1834, frost killed the maple leaves. On the next day, snow
fell to the depth of one foot. June 6th, 1816, snow fell half the day.
At night the ground was frozen. The 7th was windy and cold. On
the morning of the 8th snow covered the ground to the depth of several
inches. Very little corn and English grain were raised in 1816. Sep-
tember 10th, the water in ponds and rivers froze to some thickness.
Before the hills were denuded of the old forest growth, the crops of-
14 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD,
tener suffered from excessive wet, than by drouth.. Since the hills have
been literally scalped of trees, drouths are more frequent, that is, the
soil is continuously dryer throughout the vernal season, than before the
land was so extensively cleared as at present.' The lengthy drouths
that sometimes occurred in early times arose from an entire absence of
rain fall, while the continuous aridity of the soil at the present time is
to be attributed^ principally, if not entirely, to the cutting down of the
forests, which threw off immense quantities of vapor into the atmos-
phere, and the exposing of the surface of the ground to the direct action
of the sun and winds. Before the country was cleared, the whole sur-
face of the ground was covered with leaves and logs, and these absorbed
the rain, and the channels of outlet being obstructed, the water passed
off slowly, during a rain storm, or when the snow was dissolved. Now,
during the melting of the snow, and heavy rains, the water runs rapidly
away ; the streams are suddenly raised, and violent freshets succeed.
When the snow is gone, or rain ceases, the soil soon becomes arid, the
streams subside, mills cease to receive the necessary supply of water,
springs and wells become dry, and the land half, or wholly naked,
during the winter season, freezes to a great depth, which proves fatal to
grass and shrubbery, and young fruit trees.
Rivers. — The rivers within the town are White and Queechy rivers.
White river, called by the Indians, " Cascadnac," or pure water, enters
the town at the north west corner and runs south easterly through the
town to its confluence with Connecticut river at White River Junction.
Queechy, or Ottanquechee,^ called by the early settlers, " Water-
queechy'' river, enters the town at the Pomfret or west line of the town,
and flows in a southerly direction, and crosses the line into Hartland,
about one mile and a half above it confluence with Connecticut river.
Connecticut river washes the whole of the eastern side of the town. No
town in the state is better supplied with pure wholesome water than
' Droughts of long duration occurred in this country at intervals prior to the
time the land was extensively cleared, the most remarkable between 1620 and
1876, vfere as follows: — 1621, 24 days; 1630, 41 days; 1657, 75 days; 1626, So days;
1674, 45 days; 1688, 81 days; 1694, 62 days; 1705, 40 days; 1715, 46 days; 1728,
61 days; 1730, 90 days ; 1741, 72 days ; 1749, 108 days; "1755, 42 days; 1762, 123
days; 1773, 80 days; 1791,82 days; 1812, 28 days; 1856, 24 days; 1871, 42 days;
1875, 26 days; 1876, 26 days. In 1762 no rain from May ist to Sept. ist, and
money "was sent to England for hay and grain.
-On a map printed by John Gant, Albany, N. Y., entitled " a Chorographical
map of the Northern Department of Northern America." Waterquechee river is
laid down under the name, " Quatoqueechy river."
The valley of the Ottauquechee covers an area of 150 square miles. This is
rich in mineral and agricultural resources and is not surpassed in the State, in
tlie beauty of its scenery — mountain, hill and valley. On this stream and its tribu-
taries is a motive power of immense value, but a small portion of which is now
utilized.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 15
Hartford, and none more abundantly watered. ' The smaller streams
are separated largely by hills ranging from 100 to 500 feet above the
streams, consequently the descent is rather abrupt, and the streams run
briskly between the divides, forming a natural drainage system through
which the waters find their way to the rivers. Most of the streams
have diminished in size as the forests have been cleared up, and some
are entirely dried up in the summer time.
Soil and J^roductions. — The soil of the town is in general, a sandy
loam. Still there is a variety of soil. The soil of the interval lands, is
an alluvial deposit, thrifty and productive of large crops of corn, and
other cereals, grass and garden vegetables. The alluvial deposit is
however, not much in excess of one foot, and is underlaid by an admix-
ture of coarse sand, and pebble stones, which render deep ploughing
impracticable on account of the leachy nature of the subsoil ; conse-
quently top-dressing is becoming a very common system on other than
clayey lands. Back from the intervals the land rises abruptly into hills,
which present an irregular contour and somewhat broken aspect. The
upland farms are not, in the main, inferior in productiveness to the in-
terval farms. Fruit trees thrive better on the uplands, than near the
rivers. There is but a small portion of land in the town that cannot be
easily and profitably cultivated even to the apex of the highest hills.
The hill farms afford the very best of pasturage, and something profit-
able is done in the dairy business on most of the farms in the town, as
well as in stock raising.
Natural Fertilizers. — So long as the hills were crowded with forests,
the low lands were (tonstantly enriched from the neighboring eminences.
The decay of trees, broken down by wind or succumbing to age, the
decay of leaves annually falling, and of woodland plants constantly per-
ishing, formed in the process of time a rich mold, which was washed
down by summer rains, or gradually conveyed away by melting snows,
and distributed over the surface, affording a never-failing supply of
good manure. In many places the contour of the ground was such that
the decaying substances accumulated in basin-like repositories, where,
undisturbed by the elements, ihey annually received accessions of hke
material, which deposits are termed " muck-beds." Numerous deposits
of this kind are found in Hartford. Some of them are underlaid by a
grayish tinted plastic marl.
GEOLOGICAL FEATUKES.
The principal rocks of the town are of a mica schist formation.
Talcose schist exists to some extent. Of the three great ranges of tal-
16 HISTORY OF HAETFORD.
cose schist in Vermont, the least enters the State in Springfield, passes
out at the Weathersfield " Bow," re-enters in the south-east part of
Hartford, and continues in Vermont until it terminates near Guildhall.
Prof. A-dams discovered a deposit of gneiss in Hartford, which was
isolated from all other rocks. This was a portion of the middle range
of gneiss which extends from Halifax to the Otta Quechee river. It is
supposed that this projection of the gneiss to Hartford forms an anti-
clinal axis, underlying the calciferous mica schist.
A mile and a half southwest of White River Junction the rock is an
indurated talcose schist with sulphurets of iron and copper in small
veins scattered through it. 4- coarse rock, with black spots of argil-
laceous matter more or less calcarious is abundant about White River
Junction. Along White river are found numerous blocks of the peculiar
indurated black calcarious schist. There are obscure traces of stratifica-
tion in it, and numerous large blotches of a black argillaceous matter
which effervesces strongly with acid, are thickly strewed through it.
A porphyritic hornblend is found southwest of White River Junction,
and viens of quartz traverse the formation. At White River village a
compact hornblend rook is interstratified with soft talcose slate. An-
alagous rocks are found on the way from this vUlage to Norwich Center.
— Geology of Vermont, Vol. I, pp. 465-519.
The minerals most common iii the town are calcite, kyanite, quartz,
pyrites, and feldspar. No minerals of commercial value, with the ex-
ception of a modicum of silver, have been found in Hartford. Some
prospecting for silver ore was made several years ago on the farm now
owned by George C. Brookway, near West Hartford village, but the
enterprise ended abortively.'
QUECHEE SPKING.
This spring occurs in the calciferous mica schist formation on a
beautiful slope of land on the town poor farm, which is about two miles
distant from Quechee village, and about the same distance from the
village of West Hartford.
The water is strongly impregnated with muriate of soda and carbonate
of lime, and traces of carbonate of soda and muriate of magnesia are
plainly discernable. It is probable that iodine exists in the water in the
state of iodic acid combined with one of the alkalies. The water from
the springs has deposited beds of tufa Several inches in thickness. It
was by this deposit that the springs were first brought to public notice
' Mr. Levi Hazen of West Hartford, has collected one of the finest cabinets of
minerals to be found in the State.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 17
through the instrumentality of the "Windsor County Natural History
Society, about the year 1840. Subsequently, for a few years, the
springs were visited by a large number of people who drank the water
there, and carried it away with them, and claimed to be greatly benefitted
by its use especially in the numerous varieties of scrofulous diseases.
About the year 1846, a company was formed for the purpose of laying
a pipe from the springs to the village of West Hartford, with the view
of erecting in that village a large hotel for the accommodation of guests
who might seek the medicinal virtues of the water. The owner of the
springs declined to sell upon any terms, and not long after the springs
fell into disuse, and the waters, at the present time, have no utility
beyond tnat of occasional use by the town's poor who are quartered in
the immediate vicinity of the springs.
POT HOLES.
The existence of pot-holes in ledges of rock is regarded as proof that
a cataract once existed at the spot. Hence, whenever they occur, rivers
must have existed ; in other words, streams once ran where pot-holes
now are, and subsequently they wore out the valley to the depth at
which they now run.
During the construction of the Vermont Central Railroad between
West Hartford village and a point just west of the boundary line be-
tween Hartford and Sharon, a blast made in a rock cutting disclosed an
enormous pot-hole seventeen feet deep, the fissure leading to it from
the surface of the rock above being about six feet in length. Side by
side within this hole lay two granite boulders. These were taken out
by the workmen, who, not appreciating their great value, rolled them
into the dump or embankment near by. This fact came to the engineers
in some way, and they unearthed the buried treasures. One of these
proved to be a beautiful sphere two feet -four inches in diameter, and
as perfect and symmetrical in outline as any piece of lathe work. The
other was irregular in form, and nearly as large as its companion, but
this was not removed. The story of this discovery having reached the
ears of Prof. Edward Hitchcock, the celebrated geologist, he, with
his class in Dartmouth college, made a journey to West Hartford to see
this unequalled sphere of granite — Nature's own handiwork. Sub-
sequently Gov. Paine, president of the Vermont Central Eailroad, sent
this stone by a two horse team to Burlington, Vt., where it was placed
in front of the college buildings.
3
18 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
This stone, which " the builders did not refuse," was found at a spot
at least sixty feet above White river. Who can toll how many centuries
ago White river was coursing its way at that elevation above its present
bed, or by what process those fragements of rock were encased in their
rock-bound repository?'
QUECHEE GULPH.
In addition to the attractiveness arising from the terraces upon the
Otta Qiiechee river near Dewey's mills, another prominent and interest-
ing object is found in the extensive gorge or chasm, at the head of
which Dewey's mills are located. This is a channel cut through
schistose rock some five hundred feet in length, one hundred in width,
and varying in depth from fifty to one hundred and sixty-five feet. The
Woodstock railroad crosses this chasm over a bridge, the track of which
is one hundred and sixty-five feet above the bed of the river. This
point is a popular resort, in summer-time, for picnic parties, and is much
visited by tourists from all parts of the country.
TERRACES UPON OTTA. QUECHEE RIVER AND WHITE RIVER.
The otta Quechee river rises in Sherburne, passes through Bridgewater,
Woodstock and Hartford, and unites with the Connecticut in North
Hartland. * * * At Quechee village there is a very distinct basin.
Southeast of the village near Dewey's factory, on the southeast side of
the stream, there are seven very pleasant terraces, and four upon the
opposite side. They are, perhaps, gorge terraces, as they are at the
mouth of quite an extensive gorge and waterfall. In this very interest-
ing region there is an old bed of the river upon the east side. * * *
The river at its point of union with the Connecticut, modified the ter-
races of the latter stream. It has also carried away a large portion of
the Connecticut's terraces at North Hartland. The river falls over
strata of clay near its mouth, at least four times, and the amount of fall
is from sixty to seventy feet.-
The principal branch of White river arises from the Green Mountains
• in Hancock, Rochester and Pittsfield, passes through Stockbridge to
Bethel, where it joins the other branch coming down from Eoxbury ;
thence it follows the route of the Vermont Central railroad through
Royalton, Sharon and Hartford, to White Eiver Junction, where it
unites with the Connecticut. * * * The first basin upon White
river belongs to the ninth basin of the Connecticut, which extends from
' At Quechee village, just below the bridge over Otta Quechee river, a large
isolated flat rock may be seen near the centre of which is a large pot-hole, and at
one end of this rock is a well defined section of another pot-hole — both valuable
illustrations of such structures.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 19
Windsor to Norwich. It is quite short, extending only from White
Biver Junction to a short distance west of White Eiver village, yet the
terraces are finely developed, especially where White river unites with
the Connecticut, there being five terraces on the south side — the high-
est of which is composed of sand, and its summit is 209 feet above the
Connecticut at the railroad bridge over White river — and four upon the
north side. The second basin extends from White River village nearly to
West Hartford, and is well lined with terraces upon both sides, their
number being nowhere less than three, and never exceeding seven.
Tet the number varies every half mile. The valley varies from a quarter
of a mile to a mile in width. The third basin extends from a rocky
barrier (Rocky mountain so-called) at West Hartford to a similar bar-
rier, well marked, a mile southeast of Sharon. — G-eology of Vermont,
Vol. 1, pp. 122-123.
Of one of the terraces at White River Junction, Prof Hitchcock says :
" At this place, (White River Junction), as universally in Vermont
where two streams meet in a wide spread basin, terraces of various
heights and extensive range are found. Upon the top of one of these
terraces at an elevation of over 120 feet above the Connecticut river is
a pond covering several acres, possessing no visible inlet, but belonging
to the third class of ponds. Pond-lilies abound, and their roots form a
strong net-work capable of sustaining the weight of a man. Vegetable
matter has accumulated upon these roots to a considerable depth, and
in spots alders and other shrubs grow luxuriantly. A person may safely
walk several rods from what was evidently the original shore of the
pond. As he walks, however, there is communicated to the ground
upon which he walks a wave-like motion that visibly extends in every
direction. Here the traveler may notice the process by which the jelly-
like accumulations of matter, often met in swampy grounds, were
formed. If the agencies now at work are not disturbed, a film of vege-
table matter will ultimately extend over the entire surface of the pond,
and aiford a congenial spot for plants of larger growth, and in due time
a swamp will usurp the place now occupied by this pond."
This terrace was probably once the bed of White River, which then
entered the Connecticut river below the present junction. Upon leav-
ing White River Junction, via the Connecticut and Passumpsio Rivers
railroad, the tourist finds himself upon the second terrace from the
Connecticut, at an elevation of thirty feet above the stream. The ter-
raced hills that rise abruptly from the western side of the railroad and
hide the view from the west, gradually recede upon approaching Nor-
wich station. This road crosses the boundary line between Hartford
20 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
and Norwich about three and one-eighth miles north of White Eiver
Junction.
FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE TOWN.
The flora and fauna of the town are similar to those found in most of
the towns bordering on White river. The white pine once common on
the meadow lands and plains, and which was an object of special care,
as shown by provisions contained in the charter of the town, and util-
ized with the greatest economy, Ijas been in the march of civilization
swept nearly out of existence. These trees in many places grew to a
wonderful height, and were well adapted for masts. Trees were said to
be found on the plains exceeding 200 feet in height, and one was found
in Hanover 270 feet long. The pitch pine, or what is now termed "sec-
ond growth," is found on sandy plains bordering the Connecticut and
Otta Quechee rivers. The hemlock was once abundant in every section
of the town. The first growth equalled the white pine in diameter, and
in some instances in height. But few of these evergreens remain.
Within the last fifty years they have been felled and sawed into timber
and boards, or split into fence rails. The other evergreens, like hack-
matacks, firs, and spruces, which are common in the northern por-
tion of the State, are not found in this town. Every variety of the
maple is found, and the sugar-maple has proved a source of great profit
to our farmers. Thousands of pounds of sugar are annually made
from the sap of the maple — the average yield to a tree being about four
pounds. The beech, birch, oak and maple constitute the larger part of
the hardwood forests. The black and white ash, the bass and the
cherry, once abundant, have been ruthlessly felled, converted into lum-
ber and exported for various uses. Our white ash has been shipped to
California, and even to foreign countries. The poplar, which is quite plen-
tiful, is now being converted into paper. The butternut is preserved
mainly for its fruit, but it is extensively used in the finish of houses.
The elm, which is the most majestic and beautiful shade tree in Amer-
ica, still exists to a limited extent, but its value as a tenacious and
strong substance for carts, carriages, sled-beams, etc., has rendered it
scarce. Indeed, the woodman's axe has neai-ly denuded our hills and
valleys of their primitive glory and beauty. Wood for fuel is now so
scarce and costly that a large number of the inhabitants of our villages
burn but little else than Pennsylvania coal — Pennsylvania coal fields
furnish fuel for our grates, and for our lamps — to warm, cheer and com-
fort us. The shrubby plants are our only compensation for the loss o f
our forests. The blackberry and raspberry bushes spring up in th e
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 21
newly cleared fields ; by the roadsides, in pastures, and about hedges
and fences, and hundreds of bushels of their fruit are annually picked,
to be made into jam, jellies, and preserves. Apple orchards are com-
mon, but our severe winters militate against the cultivation of this fruit,
nor are we any more successful with plums and cherries. Strawberries
are plentiful, but are mostly of the cultivated kind.
Of the fauna of our State, this town has its proportion of the fox,
raccoon, woodchuck, grey, red and striped squirrel, mink, muskrat, rab-
bit, skunk and weasel. The assertion was made by Thomas Hobbes, a
very profound thinker, that " war is the natural condition of our race."
This predisposition to war is not confined to a war upon the genus ho-
mo, for man's inhumanity has been ventilated upon the inferior animals
to such an extent that every variety of wild animals is now nearly ex-
tinct.
VILLAGES.
Hartford has four principal villages; first, Hartford, otherwise
known as "White River Village;" second, Quechee ; third, West
Hartford; and fourth, White River Junction, all of which are post
villages.
HAETFOED VILLAGE.
This is placed first in order :for the reason that the first post office in
the town was established in this village; also, because the Town Clerk's
office is located here, which renders it a central point for the transac-
tion of public business. Prior to 1840, the public business of the town
was transacted at what is known as the " Centre of the Town," but in
that year Hon. George E. Wales, then residing in Hartford village,
was elected Town Clerk; consequently the business of that office was
transferred to said village where it has ever since been continued. The
town meetings, however, which had been held at the centre of the
town for more than seventy years prior to the election of Mr. Wales as
Town Clerk, were not held elsewhere until about the year 1872, since
which time the meetings have been held alternately in Hartford, Que-
chee and White River Junction.
Hartford village has grown to its present proportions through the
advantages afforded by its water-power, which has been well utilized
since mills were erected at this point in 1Y95. This village now has
the Town Clerk's office, the meeting-house of the Second Congrega-
tional Society, a flourishing public school, a post-office, five merchants'
stores, a hotel, a large woolen mill, a manufactory of farm implements,
a grist-mill, a carriage manufactory, a chair factory, several mechanic
33 HISTOEY OF HARTFORB.
shops, a circulating library, and. contains not far from 500 inhabitants.
This village was for several years the home of the late Andrew Tracy.
Hon. Geo. E. "Wales resided here from 1811 until his death in 1860. It
is now the home of the oldest man in Hartford, if not the oldest in
Windsor county. I allude to Phineas P. Fisher, who is now 93 years
of age, and still possesses vigor sufficient to enable him to support him-
self by manual labor, with some help from the town.
Among the earlier inhabitants, were Josiah Tilden, Edward Knee-
land, Bani Udall, Jonathan Bugbee, Abijah Taft, Justin C. Brooks,
Nathan Gere, John Grout, Erastus Clarke, Ira Moore, Wyllys Lyman,
Walter Pease, Alvan Bailey, David Trumbull and Wright Porter.
Hartford village is pleasantly situated for residences and is accessible
by the Central Vermont railway.
QUBCHEE VILLAGE.' .
The village of Quechee, now the most important village in the town
in respect to manufactures and the wealth of its inhabitants, is located
- on the Otta Quechee river, and on the line of the Woodstock railway,
seven miles from White River Junction and seven miles from Wood-
stock. The river here affords a fine water-power, and upon the banks
of the stream, which now turns many wheels, were erected the first
mills employed in the town to perform the work of drudgery incident
to the building up of new settlements. As early as 1765, the proprie-
tors of the town voted to give 600 acres of land bordering on Quechee
river, and centering on the falls, to aid in the erection of a saw-mill
and grist-mill. A saw-mill was erected prior to 1769. In 1774 action
was taken to encourage the erection of a grist-mill, which was, not long
after, accomplished, and thus the inhabitants of the town were relieved
from the onerous task of taking their grain to Charleston, N. H., to
be ground. This was the inception of the work of utilizing, the water-
power which has resulted in giving to the village of Quechee the fine
manufacturing establishments now owned and operated by A. G. Dewey
& Co., and J. C. Parker & Co., and promoting the growth of other
industries, which have served to bring wealth and material growth and
prosperity to the village, which now has the meeting-houses of the Con-
gregational Society and of the Methodist Society recently organized,
several stores, two fine factories for the manufacture of woolen goods,
a grist-mill, a tannery, mechanic shops, and about 100 private dwellings,
including those at Dewey's Mills.
' Named from the river on which it is located.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 33
Quechee village, is noted as having been the residence of several of
the most eminent and most highly honored citizens of the town during
their life time. Among these were the late Joseph Marsh, who was
the first lieutenant-governor elected in Vermont, and prominent, not
only in the political afPairs of Hartford and Windsor county, but also,
in those of the State, for nearly forty years; the late Hon. Andrew
Tracy; the late Hon. John Porter, Judge of Probate for Hartford Dis-
trict, and an incumbent of many other offices of trust and honor; the
late Hon. Albert G. Dewey, a highly esteemed citizen, a successful
manufacturer, and, for -many years, prominently identified with town
affairs; and the late Hon. William Strong, who was sheriff of Windsor
county; a representative of Hartford in the General Assembly; a mem-
ber of Congress; a judge of the Supreme Court of Windsor county; a
member of the Council of Censors, and an incumbent of other less im-
portant offices. (See biographical sketches of the above named persons
in another portion of this history). Quechee is the birth-place of Hon.
Charles W. Porter, the present Secretary of State of Vermont. It is
the place of residence of Hon. J. C. Parker, the present treasurer of
the Vermont Agricultural Society, and one of the board of State prison
directors ; of Hon. Henry Safford, the present capable and efficient
overseer of the poor; of Hon. Wm. S. Dewey, and John J. Dewey,
Esq., successful and wealthy manufacturers. Among the older citizens
now residing iu Quechee, are Harvey Thomas, a well-to-do farmer;
Charles Tinkham, for many years a successful merchant, and for
twenty years the postmaster in this village; and Charles R. Whitman,
chairman of the bOard of selectmen, from 1871 to 1888. Among those
who have passed away, were Nathaniel Thomas, Shubel Russ, Abel
Marsh, Elkanah Sprague, Abel Barron, Oscar Barron, Theophilus
Cushing, Daniel Marsh, James Udall, Lionel Udall, Elijah Mason
(grandfather of Mrs. President Garfield), John Marsh, Philip Dimmick
and John Bliss.
WEST HARTFORD.
This village is located on the Central Vt. railroad, about seven miles
north west of White River Junction, and occupies a portion of the one
thousand acres of land granted by the early proprietors of the town-
ship to Thomas Hazen, in consideration of the sum of one thousand
dollars which his son Joshua hired for the use of the proprietors,
which money was sent to New York for the purpose of procuring Let-
ters Patent from the Government of New York. Mr. Thomas Hazen
subsequently acquired 560 acres adjoining the said grant, making alto-
gether a tract of 1560 acres. Just previous to his death Mr. Hazen
24 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
divided this tract of land, giving to each one of his twelve children 120
acres, and reserving for a homestead an equal portion. More than one-
half of the whole tract (1560 acres) is now owned and occupied by the
lineal descendants of Mr. Hazen, among whom are Silas, Willis, and
Alice, children of the late Levi Hazen, Alice and Bertha, grandchildren
of Levi's, and Levi son of John Hazen, now deceased.
This village contains about thirty-five dwclUng houses, one church
edifice, two stores, hotel, post-office, school house, saw mill, a depot
and other business interests. It has become the trading centre, and
shipping point for many of the farmers and other residents of Pom-
fret, Sharon and Norwich. It is noted as being the birth place of sev-
eral men who have attained prominence in various walks of life.
Among these may be mentioned the late Brigadier General WUliam B.
Hazen, who achieved an enviable reputation during the recent civil war,
and daring the lafst six years of his life held the honorable position of
chief signal officer in the U. S. service. Also Col. Alba M. Tucker, who
is prominently identified with railway interests in Indiana and Ohio,
Among those who have lived in this village during a portion of their
lives, I will mention the late Hon. David M. Camp, who in 18fi6 was
elected lieut. -governor of Vermont, and ex-officio president of the first
senate. Col. Joel Marsh, who won his military title by service in the
revolutionary war ; and carried on the business of distilling cider brandy
on the premises recently bought by Mr. Frank Wheeler. Hon. 0. C. P.
Holden, now a wealthy and influential citizen of Chicago, lived in this
village several years during his boyhood. Francis W. Savage, an ex-
tensive land owner, and conspicuous in town affairs, kept a public house
for many years, where W. H. Gile, now lives. John Downer, an enter-
prising and very intelligent man, lived for more than thirty years with
his son-in law, Lucius Hazen, in the hou:e now owned and occupied by
Silas H. Hazen, Esq.
Among those people who lived in West Hartford fifty years ago, and
were then in the prime of manhood, were Capt. Levi Hazen, Doctor
David Ingraham, Reuben Hazen, Dr. Ira Tenney, David Hazen,
Eliphaz Hunt, Abel Camp, Abel Howard, Baxter B. Newton, Zavan
Hazen, Stephen Thurston, Reuben Wills, Stephen S. Downer, Lucius
Hazen, Thomas and Dea. Solomon Crandall, Dea. Burpee Prouty, S. A.
Ballard, Dea. Samuel Dutton, James Wade, David Wilson, Orange
Bartlett and Alvin Tucker. Most of these men lived to a good old age.
They have passed from life to death.
" Like pilgrims to the appointed place we tend ;
The world's an inn, and death the journeys end." — Dryden.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 35
GREAT FLOOD OP 1867.
The following account of an extraordinary calamity that happened to
the village of West Hartford, Feb'y 10th, 1867, is compiled from arti-
cles written for the Vermont Journal, and Boston Journal, by the
writisr of this history, who was an eye-witness to the scenes herein de-
scribed.
For more than eighty years the inhabitants living in the White river
valley have been very much disturbed by the freshets that annually
occur, and which are usually very destructive to property. The fresh-
ets of both winter and summer are much more severe than they were
before the forests were cleared away from the hills and the valleys.
Whatever snow is on the ground during a thaw in winter melts rapidly
and the water runs quickly to the streams. The same result follows
the heavy rain storms of summer and autumn, but with more sei'ious
consequences during the continuance of storms.' During winter freshets,
White river sometimes rises fifteen to twenty feet above low water
mark and has been known to rise sixteen feet in the space of one hour,
when covered with ice. At such times it sweeps away bridges, build-
ings, and all else in its way.
The greatest and most disastrous freshet ever known in the valley of White
river occurred on Sunday morning Febmary 10th, 1867, during which the village
of West Hartfoi-d was inundated, a large amount of property destroyed, and one
person was drowned. For several days preceding the calamity the weather had
been warm, and the snow melted rapidly away, and the inhabitants became
greatly alarmed, but still neglected to move their property to places of greater
security. On the evening of the 9th a heavy rain storm set in and continued
unabated until past midnight. Before day-break the wind veered from the
south into the north-west, and the temperature of the air fell nearly 40 degrees.
At 7 o'clock, a. m., on the 10th, a breakage in the ice commenced about one mile
above the village of West Hartford and extended, in about twenty minutes, to a
point of rocks situated in an abrupt bend of the river about a half-mile below
the bridge crossing. There was not a sufficient quantity of water to force the
ice past the point of rocks named, consequently the whole body of ice was sud-
denly phecked, thereby forming a dam which caused the water to set back to such
an extent that in less than twenty minutes thereafter sixteen houses in the vil-
lage were submerged above the first floor, and their occupants driven either out
of doors or to the upper stories of their dwellings.
The scene beggars description. A panic seized the minds of those in danger.
It was difficult to determine whether safety depended upon remaining indoors,
or upon reaching some place outside above the waters. In some cases there was
no alternative, because the houses were surrounded by water, and there was no
means of escape. There were almost unparalled instances of female heroism
and bravery, and men performed daring and noble deeds in behalf of their
neighbors and friends. There were miraculous escapes from death. Many peo-
ple were suiprised in bed, and had barely time to fl)^ in their nightdress to places
of greater safety. Mr. Albert Woodbury and his wife were awakened by the
crashing ice, and on looking out of a window saw that their house was waUed
in by ice, and their bed-room floor was covered with water nearly one foot
deep. They waded out of their sleeping room, ascended to the chamber, and
finally descended from the chamber window on steps cut in the ice.
' The summer freshets usually occur in the month of June. These are de-
structive to all growing crops. Occasionally there is a great freshet in the fall
of the year. That of October, 1869 was very disastrious in its effects.
36 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Mr. Charles Beckwitli carried his wife and two children some distance from
his house through two feet of water and floating ice. But a few minutes later
his house was walled in by huge cakes of ice, some of which lay as high as the
eaves of his house. His barn was crushed into kindling wood.
Mr. WiUiam Renahan and family were not awakened until the water was more
than one foot deep in their bedi-oom. This family escaped through a chamber
window, on to a shed i-oof and thence to a bank by a board walk. Mr. Thomas
Carr and family were met at the outer door of their house by the rising flood, but
escaped without trouble. Dr. Laban Tucker and family were aroused from
slumber by a very unceremonious thumping of ice against a comer of their
house. They sprang from bed and on reaching the outside door foimd that the
water was nearly three feet deep in the highway fronting their house. Mrs.
Tucker seized her httle daughter and heroically waded through the stream, a
distance of three rods to land, but the effort was so great that she had barely
strength to reach the steps of the church, opposite her home, where she and her
child were found soon after by Willie H. Tucker, a son of the writer. The Httle
girl was clad only by her night di-ess, and both mother and child suffered intense-
ly. Dr. Tucker, after liberating his valuable horse and cow from the stable,
returned into the house, but before he had completed arrangements to leave the
water had risen to a height that precluded the possibility of leaving the house.
He was taken about noon from his chamber window into a boat, and joined his
wife in safety.
Allen Hayes and family were unable to effect their escape from the house
before the flood had surrounded the house. They fled into a chamber from which
they were taken away by some boatmen. The water was eight feet deep in Mr.
Hayes' barns. He lost tlu-ee good horses, two cows, one yoke of oxen and twenty
sheep. The house of F. F. Holt was filled with water and surrounded by ice
above the windows of the first story. A lai-ge blacksmith's shop that stood on
the bank of the i-iver opposite Mr. Holts' house, made bim a morning call and
announced its visit by knocking in the parlor windows, and moving his house a
short distance southward. Mrs. Holt had left the house the night before. Mi".
Holt lost a yoke of oxen and a fine cow.
Mrs. Nancy Hazen and family escaped through a window in the north end of
her house, after seeing her bam and other buildings swept away. Silas Hazen,
who lives near the bridge crossing, lost one hundred and forty-five blooded
Merino sheep, considei-able hay and grain, and his buildings were badly damaged.
Mr. S. S. Downer and family who lived in Mr. Hazen's house, were taken from
the house in a boat. The covered bridge that had braved many hard freshets
succumbed to this. It was Hfted bodily from its foundation, and carried several
hundred feet down the river. This bridge was erected in 1837-38.
Mr. Henry West, merchant, while going from his store was caught by the
flood and swept against a maple tree, which he resolutely grasped and climbed,
where he remained an hour. • He became chilled and maintained his position
with difliculty. The water was rushing past the tree, and a fall would have been
sure death for him. , Finally, a large feed box was discovered in a barn opposite
to the tree. Ropes, were attached to this box, which was carefully floated under
the branches of the tree, and Mr. West got into the box and was hauled' to the
barn in a half -frozen condition. ' The houses of Mr. Hoyt Haaen, Mr. Benson,
and Mr. Seymour Hazen were flooded. Mr. Hoyt Hazen saved a valuable cow
by driving her into his dining room.
One incident of this freshet was of a lamentable natm-e. I allude to the un-
timely death of Miss Fi-ankie Wilhamson. Mr. Williamson's house was located
witliin a few feet of the river. The water had risen to the floor of the house,
and the ice had torn away one corner of the house. Soon the floors of the house
were forced upward. Death stared the occupants in the face. There seemed no
safety except in flight. Miss Williamson chose this course, and in company with
Col. S. E. Pingree, left the house. The water was then but about sis inches
deep in front of the house. They waded safely through this and were nearly to dry
land, when they were strack by a sti-ong current of water and forcibly separated.
Miss Wilhamson, with admirable presence of mind grasped hold of a stone-fence
post as she was forced along by the flood, to which she bravely clung till the
rising water reached her neck. Then, just as she reached one hand out to catch
'To the writer of this history, the recollection of the sorrowful scenes of
that day is attended with the pleasing memory and reflection that he was instru-
mental in providing the means by which Mr. West so narrowly escaped death.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 37
a rope thi-own her, the post gave way, and alas, she disappeared beneath the
angry waters, never more to be seen alive. Her death cast a gloom over the
entire community.
Col. Pingree was swept down by the flood to a gate by Mr. Silas Hazen's barn,
and' this, with a Superhuman effort, he grasped, and being intrepid in danger, he
gradually battled his way to the margin of the water, from which he was taken
by kindly hands. Thus in one brief hour, sixteen families were rendered home-
less, and one family deprived of a young and much loved member.
The flood subsided to some extent during the succeeding twelve hours, and the
aspect of the scene was hideous and discouraging. The highways were blocked
by ice. The interior of the inundated dwellings presented a sorrowful sight.
Valuable books, pictures, musical instmments, cai'pets, furniture, much prized
souvenirs, were u-retrievably ruined; but the end was not yet.
On the 14th of February, and before any material efforts had been made to
restore order, the water rose higher than ever before, and created another panic;
but on the succeeding day it began to subside, and retired to the bounds of its
old channel. Immediate efforts were put forth to recover the body of Miss WU-
liamson. The work continued for thirteen days, during which time the scene of
the disaster was visited by thousands of people, many of whom came a hundred
miles. Hundreds of men came prepared to assist in restoring order and to search
for the lost one. At length on the 13th day the body was found lying near the
river under about six feet of ice.
It is worthy of record that several so-called " spMtual mediums" were called
to designate the place whei-e the body of Miss wnHamson might be found, but
they signally failed to determine the point. But what mediums of the " genus
homo " could not discover, was determined by the instinct of the f eUne race. On
the morning of Feb. 22d, after a light fall of snow, a gentleman, who was inter-
ested in discovering the body, on looking over the field of ice, below the old
bridge site, observed a large number of oats' tracks all converging to a common
centi'e from many different directions. Knowing the prochvities of this animal
for the human body in a death state, he at once inferred that the body of Miss
W. must be near this place. His suggestions led to a search at that exact place,
and the body was soon found a few feet from the spot where the tracks con-
verged.
WHITE RIVER JDNCTIOJJ.'
This village owes its present importance and its growth to the con-
struction of the various railways which centre at that point. It is now
the most important railway centre north of Boston, and must ever main-
tain that supremacy. The altitude of the village above the ocean is
335 feet.
It was at this point that the committee of six persons sent hither by
the grantees of the township in the autumn of 1761, " to view the town-
ship and lay out the first division of land," began their work, and two
months later reported at Windham, Connecticut, the result of their
labor. Suffice it to say that the ]and selected by the committee em-
braced that on which "White Eiver Junction and White Biver village are
located. However sanguine Prince Tracey and his five associates in
that exploration might have been as to the future of their grant, it is
doubtful whether they would have credited, even a revelation from
heaven, that within the life of the third or fourth generation of their
' That portion of White River Junction which lies ou the north side of White
river bore the name of "Lyman's Point" until the Central, Passumpsic and
Northern railroads were completed, since which time the territory on both sides
of the river has been called White River Junction.
28 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
successors, the march of civilization would obliterate the landmarks
established by them, defined alone by blazed trees, convert their trail
along the river borders into costly lines of railways having their ter-
minus on the very ground selected by them for the first division [and
that, within the radius of a few chains' length from where their first
camp fire was lighted], the then unbroken wilderness would be trans-
formed into a scene of active life, enterprise and prosperity, such as
now presents itself to every attentive observer at White Eiver Junction,
and indicates an era of progressive civilization.
With the name of White Eiver Junction, will ever be associated the
names of Elias Lyman, 3d, and Col. Samuel Natt. The first was grand-
father of Mrs. Mary (Lyman) Allen, daughter of the late Lewis Lyman,
and also of Misses Louise and Lizzie Lyman, daughters of the late
Geo. Lyman, Esq. Elias Lyman, 3d, commenced life for himself as a
flatboatman on the Connecticut river. Prom this vocation ho passed, by
degrees, to the occupation of a merchant, and settling on the north side
of White river near its confluence with the Connecticut river, about the
year 1793, he soon becama widely known, and by a life of energy and
enterprise attained to a handsome fortune. Col. Samuel Nutt in early
manhood commenced boating on the Connecticut river. He subse-
quently became the owner of boats, and also the builder of river and
canal boats, and in the meantime purchased the land which he lived to
see occupied by the stations, offices and other buildings erected by the
railway campanies, and many dwelling houses besides his own.
White River Junction has a fine union railway station which contains
the most commodious and best furnished restaurant and dining room
to be found in New England. It is managed by Mr. E. A. Dunton,
than whom no more capable and obliging caterer can be found.
" Plenty of time ! " is his assuring exclamation to the traveler at his
table. This village has the meeting houses of the Roman Catholic,
Methodist, Universalist and Episcopal churches ; an extensive cracker
and confectionery manufactory ; two printing establishments ; a fine
hotel ; two drug stores ; a national bank with a capital stock of $100,-
000 ; a savings bank ; an Odd Fellows hall ; a steam grist mill ; granite
curbing and marble monumental works ; a wholesale jewelry store ;
numerous dry goods, clothing and hardware stores, railway shops and
offices ; two insurance agencies ; three lawyers ; two physicians, and sev-
eral mechanics. Twenty-four dwelling houses, mills and stores were
erected in this village in 1885. Among the prominent men who have
lived and died in this village may be mentioned Dr. Samuel J. Allen ; Geo.
Lyman, Esq., for many years postmaster, and N. B. Safford, Esq., for
HISTORY OF HARTFOED. 39
many years the treasurer of the Vermont State Agricultural Society ;
for several years postmaster of this village and an extensive and suc-
cessful farmer. He was largely instrumental in securing the establish-
ment of the extensive pulp and paper mills built at Olcott Palls.
Centreville is a hamlet located on White river about midway between
Hartford village and West Hartford. It has a grist mill and saw mill,
school house and a dozen dwelling houses.
Christian Street is a hamlet lying between Hartford village and Nor-
wich. The only manufacturing business carried on there is that of
brick-making by Mr. Edward N. Gillett.
Dothan and Jericho are hamlets located in the northern part of the
town. The names of these two hamlets were given to them by Rev.
Aaron Hutchinson, who, many years ago, preached in that section.
Mr Hutchinson gave the name " Goshen " to that portibn of the town
where the brothers George and Norman Newton now reside. The sec-
tion known as " Church Hill " was so named for the reason that it
comprised one of the lots that were pitched by the selectmen to the
church right.
Eusstown is a hamlet on the road leading from Hartford village to
Windsor via. George Pease's and Mrs. Daniel Simond's residences.
Several of the Rust family reside in that section, and some of the de-
scendants of Daniel Pinneo, who was one of the earliest settlers in the
town.
Olcott Falls,' the latest settled hamlet in the town, is located on the
Passumpsic railroad, two miles north of White River Junction, and is
the location of the pulp and paper mills of the Olcott Palls Corporation.
It is in the newly formed school district No. 11 ; is growing in popula-
tion rapidly, and will ere long rank as one of the principal villages in
the town, and. may become within the next decade the most important
village in the town. (See Article on Manufactories and Mills).
' On a map printed by John Gant, Albany, N. Y., entitled " A Chorographical
Map of the Northern Department of Northern America," these falls are designated
as " White Falls." The date of the publication of this map does not appear on the
map, but it was probably published a short time after the erection of Cumberland
county by the New York government.
CHAPTER III.
MEASUEES TO PEOMOTB AN BAELY SETTLEMENT OB THB TOWN.
Every available method was resorted to by the grantees to promote
an early and rapid settlement of the township. The grantees were all
inhabitants of the colony of Connecticut, and they sought purchases of
their rights in that and other colonies, and offered apparently tempting
inducements to influence emigration hither; but, notwithstanding the
inherent proclivity evinced by the Yankee to better his fortune, and to
emigrate to new and uncultivated lands, it was two years after the
grant before a settlement was made in the township. The proprietors,
however, held meetings regularly, either in Windham or in Lebanon,
Ct., and continued to legislate upon the affairs of the grant. After
disposing of the first division of land they turned their attention to lay-
ing out highways, running out the boundary lines of the township,
enforcing the collection of taxes from delinquents and making a second
division of land. Prior to this, however, several of the charter mem-
bers had deeded their shares to others who were more hopeful in the
venture. But few of the proprietors, or original grantees, ever visited
the town, and not more than half a dozen of them made a permanent
settlement in the township. Some of those who absented themselves,
but retained possession to a late day, and some of those who came into
the township, neglected to pay their taxes, and consequently, their land
was distrained, advertised and sold to make the arrearages good. The
following exhibits the measures taken by .the proprietors to promote
settlements in the town :
March 9th, 1762, Prince Tracy was chosen clerk and treasurer; Samuel Wil-
liams, Prince Tracy and James Flint, assessors; Silas Phelps, Moses Hebard and
Joseph Blanchard, collectors. At tliis meeting the collectors were instructed to
sell the land of all delinquent tax-payers. It was also voted that there should be
a premium of sixpence for each bushel of wheat, rye or Indian corn raised in
Hartford the next year (1763). Also voted that the treasurer should pay back
the three sliillings to those who paid the same and got left out of the charter.
Nov. 3d, 1762, the proprietors voted to make a second division of land of 100
acres to each right, and after reserving one lot in the most convenient place for
the first settled minister, tlien those proprietors or their assigns who would go on
to the township the next summer, or fall, should have their choice of said lots
without reserve; and that all said lots not thus taken up should be distributed
by lottery to the I'est of the proprietors as the first division were. Mr. John
Spencer and Mr. Oliver Brewster; were chosen a committee to make said divis-
ion. It was also voted to sell the rights of delinquent tax-payers; also, that
HISTORY OF HARTFOBD. 31
Prince Tracy should endeavor to get the taies which were in Maj. Joseph
Blanchard's hands; also, procure a law-book of the laws of said province of New
Hampshire for the proprietors' use. (Maj. Blanchard then resided in the prov-
ince of New Hampshire, and was a tax collector.)
March 8th, 1763, the board of town officers embraced several quasi mihtary
officers, viz. : Capt. Wm. Clark, moderator ; Lieut. Prince Tracy, clerk and
treasurer ; Ldeut. Prince Tracy and Lieut. Hezekiah Huntington, assessors ;
Lieut. Huntington and Maj. Joseph Blanchard, collectors.
The first warning for a proprietors' meeting that was entered upon
the records read as follows:
"These are to worn all the proprietors of the township of Hartford in the
province of Newhampshear to meat at the house of Capt. Jonathan Barker, inn-
holder in Lebanon in the colony of Connecticut on the 20th day of April next at
nine of the clock in the morning to conclude whether they will do anything
further to encourage settlers to go on to said town the next summer » * «
and proceed to lay out the whole township, and chuse a committee to take care
of the pine timber — also to agree on some easier way to warn meatings for the
future, and do any other business proper." This was signed by Prince Tracy,
WUUam Clark and Samuel Terry, who were chosen Selectmen at the town
meeting of March 8th, 1763, and dated March 20th, 1763.
At the meeting so warned it was voted that the further conditions on
which the proprietors should hold their choice of lots in the second
division should be that each one should clear up and sow down to grain
or grass four acres the first year, and so continue to do for three years
successively.
The last record made by Prince Tracy in the proprietors' book of
records was of the proceedings at the meeting of Dec. 21st, 1763. The
next record made by him was entered in a pamphlet-book entitled, " A
Book of Town Votes for the Town of Hartford, in the Province of
New Hampshear," and is a record of proceedings at Windham, March
13th, 1Y64. The last record ever made by Mr. Tracy as town clerk,
was entered in this pamphlet-book, and this was the record of the last
meeting held by the proprietors in Connecticut.
The records of the town now passed into the hands of the newly
chosen clerk, Benajah Strong, but no further record was entered on the
pages of the pamphlet-book until March 8th, 1168, when this book was
again brought into use by Elijah Strong, who was then elected town
clerk and thus filled the dual ofiices of town and proprietors' clerk. In
the meantime the records of the proprietors were made in a new and
larger book, now known as "Book A of the proprietors' records,"
which was opened Oct. 19th, 1764, with the record of the warning
issued for the first meeting held within the town which occurred Dec.
3d, 1764, five months prior to the last meeting held in Connecticut.
32 HISTORY OP HARTFOED.
DATE OF THE FIRST SETTLEMENT.
Thompson, in his " History of Vermont,'' fixes the date of the first
settlement of Hartford to have been in 1764, when Elijah Strong and his
brothers moved into the town. Had Mr. Thompson, or those persons from
whom he derived his information on this point, studied the records of
the town in a careful manner, he, or they, could not have failed to dis-
cover the fact that the first settlement occurred as early, at least, as the
spring of 1763.
At a proprietor's meeting, held Nov. 3d, 1762, it was voted that those
proprietors, or their assigns, who should enter on, possess and improve
the one hundred acre lots of the second division, the next summer or
fall, should have their choice of lots in said division. That this propo-
sition induced emigration to the township as early as the spring of 1763,
is shown by the record of a warning calling a meeting of the proprietors
to be held in Windham, Conn., at the inn of Samuel Badger, Dec. 21,
1763. One article in said warning is as foUows : —
" Likewise to hear and examine the evidences of those men who have
been at labor in said town this summer past, or fall, whether they have
performed the conditions on which they were to take their choice of
those hundred acre lots."
At the proprietors' meeting held pursuant to this warning, satisfactory
reports were made by said settlers, and their accounts were adjusted
accordingly. Further evidence is found in the fact that the proprietors
ia 1763, buUt a large skow ferry boat sufficiently strong to carry men
and horses and carts, and this was placed in the Connecticut river near
where Alonzo Nutt now lives. But I have recently discovered other
important evidence on this point, as will be seen by the following copy
of a certificate made by one of the few proprietors who came into the
town to eifect a permanent settlement therein.
' ■ Hartford, October, 27 1763.
These may certifie all Persons whome it may concern, that Benjamin Wright,
one of the proprietors of Scl. Hartford, persuant to the vots of the proprietors did
enter upon sd land in order to setel thearin the year 1763, and have made coyce
of the hundred achor lot No 1 Lying on the south side of the road that goette
from the great river (Connecticut) toward pomphrit (Pomfret), for the first
devison Lot caled No 8, and allso have piohed on No 2 agoining for the hun-
dred akor Lot called No 6 from Whit river down Connecticut river. The first
pick mad for the Lot orignely Cap Wm Clark's, the second orignely Benj
Wright's Junr, as witness my hand.
Test BENJAMIN WRIGHT.
This certificate establishes two facts — first, that a settlement was
made in the town in 1763, and secondly,' that Benjamin Wright was, at
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 33
least, one of the first settlers, if not the very first settler. I am able to
adduce still further tangible evidence on this point. In May, 1765,
certain of the proprietors petitioned the New York government for
Letters Patent, and in furtherance of their design they sent to New
York a certificate of sundry expenses they had incurred in procuring a
charter, laying out their lands, &c., and referring to the immigration
that had taken place they say : —
" In the Sumer 1763, There was Ten persons which Entered on the
said Town and Laboured in the same the said Sumer. And in the year
1761 There was four Persons have moved on the said Town with their
famelys and there Dwells Ever since. And the said Ten continue to
Improve the said Second Sumer ; & others Did Enter on ; and this
Present Spring 10 men have Gone on to Improve and about 10 others
Intend to Go Imediately."
I apprehend that the statement above made is, in the main, true ; but
the clause relating to four families having moved into the town in 1761,
should be taken cum grano sails. The charter was not granted until
July 4th, 1761, and the first committee sent into the township by the
proprietors to locate the first division of lots did not conclude their
labors until late in the fall of 1761, therefore ; it is not probable that
any one or more of the proprietors moved into the town prior to 1763,
for permanent settlement. There may have been and probably there
was squatters in the township — hunters and trappers, perhaps — even
before the charter was granted.
Some of the oldest persons living in the town in 1872, entertained the
opinion that Benjamin Wright was the first actual settler, and that he
moved into the town in 1763. Miss Parthena Tilden, a grand daughter
of Stephen Tilden, the elder, informed the writer, in 1872, that when a
child, she often heard her relatives conversing on this subject, and they
generally asserted that Mr. Wright was the first settler, and that he
built and lived in the first house ever erected in the town, and this was
located near Connecticut river, not far below the mouth of White river.
In the first division of land among the proprietors by lottery, in 1761,
Mr. Benjamin Wright drew lot " No. 14," up White river on the north
side. He subsequently owned nearly every other lot contained in the
first division that bordered upon the north side of White river. The hun-
dred acre lots "No. 1" and "No. 2," mentioned in the foregoing certificate
by Mr. Wright, were selected by him by virtue of his having purchased
of Benjamin Wright, Jr., lot "No. 6" of the first division, and of Capt.
Wm. Clarke, lot "No. 8" of the first division, together with all their un-
divided land in the town. He was, therefore, entitled, under the vote
passed by the proprietors, to make a pitch of two hundred acres, and
34 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
his pitch comprised the land embraced in the farms now owned respec-
tively by Charles Ballard, David Wright and George Pease.
It is probable that Mr. Benjamin Wright built his first house either
on lot "No. 6," or "No. 8." The testimony of Miss Tilden is sufBcient to
assure us on this point. Mr. Eoswell Marsh, a grandson of Gov. Joseph
Marsh, wrote, in 1870, that the first settlement in the town was made
at the mouth of White river. This is rather indefinite, but construing
it to mean " near the mouth of White river,'' lot " No. 6," south of
White river, would come within the limit so defined.
It is deemed proper to be thus particular in the exhibition of recorded
and traditional evidence concerning the first settlement of the town, in
order to correct present misapprehension, and fix with precision for all
future time, the date of this event, which has been heretofore, as much
a matter of doubt and speculation as the more important event, viz: the
date of the organization of the town.
FIRST MEETINGS HELD IN THE TOWN.
It is a matter of record that Elijah, Solomon andBenajah Strong, Jon-
athan Marsh, Noah Dewey and Benjamin Wright, together with their
families, were located in the town as early as the summer of 1764. Tra-
dition says that they came from Lebanon, Connecticut, to Hartford, via.
Northampton and Greenfield, Mass., to the Hinsdale and "Number
Pour'' forts, thence up the Connecticut river route, via. Windsor, to the
mouth of White river, bringing along, on horseback, their household
goods and farming implements.
By law and custom, whenever the actual settlers in a township came
to own one sixteenth part of the whole number of rights or shares in
said township, they might draw the meetings of the proprietors within
the limit of the township. The number of proprietors' shares in Hart-
ford was sixty-four, consequently the settlers above named constituted
more than the necessary quorum, and therefore, in accordance with the
law, they made application to one of his majesty's justices of the prov-
ince of New Hampshire requiring him to issue a warning for a meeting
of the proprietors within said township. The petition was granted and
the following warning was posted, viz : —
Whereas, application has been made to me the subscriber, one of his
majesty's justices of the peace for the province of New Hampshire, by
the owners of more than one-sixteenth part of the township of Hartford
in the province aforesaid, requiring a meeting to be warned of said
proprietors on Monday the third day of December next, for the cotents
and purposes hereinafter mentioned :
1st. To choose a moderator to govern said meeting.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 35
2d. To choose a proprietors' dark, proprietors' treasurer, and col-
lector, assessors, &c.
3dly. To see if the proprietors will do anything with regard to the
speedy settlement of said township, and to choose a committe for said
business.
4:thly. To see if they will do anything with respect to the laying out
roads and clearing roads throughout the township.
5thly. To see what methods the proprietors will come into with re-
gard to calling meetings for the future of said proprietors, and do all
such other things as ye said proprietors at their said meetings shall see
meet.
These are therefore in his majesty's name to notify and warn ye said
proprietors to assemble and meet at the dwelling house of Mr. Solomon
Strong in said Hartford on Monday ye third day of December next at
one of ye clock afternoon, to vote and act — all ye aforesaid articles as
you at your said meeting shall see fit.
Dated October 19th, 1764. (Signature omitted).
Pursuant to the above notice a meeting was held at the house of Sol-
omon Strong, which was near the centre of the town. The record of
the proceedings is as follows, viz : —
" At a meeting of the proprietors of the' township of Hartford ia the province
of New Hampshear, legally warned and holden in said Hartford, December ye
third, 1764.
Chosen, Mr. Noah Dewey, moderator.
Chosen, Mr. EUjah Strong, proprietors' clerk.
Chosen, Mr. Solomon Strong, proprietors' treasui'er.
Chosen, Mr. Elijah Sti'ong, collector.
Chosen, Mr. Noah Dewey, Benajah Strong, Solomon Strong, Elijah Strong,
and Jonathan Marsh, committee.
Voted, that all those proprietors that wiU clear three acres and stock weU with
grain or grass within one year from this time shall have then- liberty to pick
their hundred acre lot that is ali'eady laid out.
Voted, that all those proprietors that will come with their families within one
year from this time or clear and fence and manure four acres, or any that now
have their family here, or have aheady cleared four acres, shall have liberty to
pick their interval or meadow land.
Voted, that they would do something about laying out and clearing highways.
Voted, that each proprietor should work four days at clearing highways by
the first day of September next, or pay sixteen shillings lawful money.
Voted, that Mr. Solomon Strong should see that the fore voted tax should be
laid out in clearing said highways, except enough to pay for laying out said
roads.
Voted, that the proprietors shall for the future warn the proprietors' meetings
by putting a writing on the sign-post in Hartford in New Hampshear, and in
Windham, or in Lebanon in Connecticut, at least twelve days before said
meeting.
Voted, that the proprietors' clerk shall keep the law book that belongs to the
proprietors, and the Charter, and aU other public writings that belong to the
proprietors.
36 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Voted, that this meeting should be adjourned to the first Monday in May next
at one of the clock afternoon, at the dwelling house of Mr. Solomon Strong, and
said meeting was accordingly adjourned."
LAST MEETING HELD IN CONNECTICUT.
. At a meeting of the proprietors held in Lebanon, Connecticut, Mch..
19, 1765, it was voted that the proprietors 'meetings for the future
should be held in Hartford. Elijah Strong was chosen proprietors'
clerk, and Jonathan Marsh, Ebenezer Gillett and Elijah Strong pro-
prietors' committee. It was also voted that the committee should see
"that the proprietors' debts be paid, taxes collected, and paid to the
treasurer, warn proprietors' meetings, receive of the former treasurer
and clerk all the former records, law books, charter, plans and all other
papers, and give a receipt therefor." The proceedings closed with the
choice of Prince Tracy as treasurer, to succeed Solomon Strong, who
was elected treasurer at the meeting of Dec. 3rd, 1764. Prior to this
last date all the town and proprietors' public business had been trans-
acted a]te:?nately at Windham and Lebanon, Ct. But their growing
interests in the new township resulting from an increase of population,
and the need of the presence of a board of civil authority to manage
municipal affairs, together with an increasing demand for more ex-
tended facilities in the way of roads, bridges and other internal im-
provements, compatible with the best interests of all concerned, led to
a transfer of all the business of the proprietors to the township.
Henceforth, as in the past, the administration of the municipal affairs
of the proprietors and those pertaining to the town proper, was vested
in the same individuals, but the legislative acts performed by each or-
ganization, though recorded for many years by the same clerk, were
recorded in separate books from the date of the first meeting, Aug. 26th,
1761, until the final closing up of the proprietors' affairs in 1832, when,
by a vote of the town, the proprietors' records passed from the hands
of the proprietors' clerk to the archives of the town. The records made
in the small pamphlet book, which has been referred to, related ex-
clusively to the election of town officers at the annual meetings held
in March, until March, 1770, when Elijah Strong began to record on
its pages the legislative acts of the town which he and his successor in
that office continued to do until 1778. But Mr. Strong, to the confu-
sion of his posterity, ignored his official duty, to enter upon record,
anywhere, the proceedings at the annual town meetings held between
1775 and '78 ; and, added to this dereliction, his method of keeping the
records was crude, in the extreme. In fact, there are man^r real and
seeming incongruities in the records generally, for many years, that
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 37
cannot be explained without an infinite amount of research. It is
deemed proper to say that subsequent to 1774, no mention is made in
the proprietors' records of the election of any municipal officers with
the exception of proprietors' clerk, treasurer, collector and committee ;
that the same person held the dual offices of town and proprietors'
clerk, and the men who served as proprietors' committee, were also in-
cumbents of the more important offices of the town, and this arrange-
ment conserved to harmony " which is the strength of all institutions."
The first two meetings held in the township were held in the dwell-
ing house of Solomon Strong. Later meetings, in the interest of the
proprietors, were held in the dwelling houses of Elijah Strong, Christo-
pher Pease, Benjamin Wright, Daniel Pinneo and Joel Marsh, but, in
the greater number of instances in the house of Elijah Strong, while he
was town and proprietors' clerk. After the election of Amos Robinson
as clerk in 1775, the proprietors' meetings were held in the inn of Stephen
Tilden, Jr., until the year 1800 ; when James Tracy was chosen clerk, and
the meetings were held in his house during his term of office, or until
Nov. 8th, 1803. In 1808, Daniel Marsh was chosen clerk, and from this
date until 1819, the proprietors' meetings were held in the public inn of
Freegrace Leavitt at the centre of the town.
Prom 1765 to 1808, the proprietors held meetings in the town, but
not regularly. From May 17th, 1785, to February 9th, 1790, and from
March 1803, to Sept. 22d, 1808 there were no records made in the pro-
prietors' book of records. In the interim between 1765 and 1819 —
when their records were closed — many important events transpired in
the local history of the town, which will be alluded to in other por-
tions of this history. The proprietors' committees were engaged in
making divisions and sales of the land (which included a new division
and redistribution of the land included in the first division by lottery
in 1761, and that of the second division made in 1763) the establish-
ment of highways and boundary lines ; promoting immigration ; fos-
tering the improvement and cultivation of the soil by premiums paid
for crops raised; rewarding public services, and other less important
matters.
Referring to the proprietors' records I will quote, in chronological
order, the more important proceedings of the proprietors' committees
from 1764, to their last business meeting, Nov. 8th, 1808 :
June 20, 1768. — A second division of land was made by lottery. A
tax of one dollar on each share was laid to defray expenses (1st mention
made of federal currency.)
Nov. 2, 1772. — Israel and John Gillett and Joshau Hazzen were
chosen a committee to size the fifty acre lots. Voted to " advertise in
38 HISTORY OF HARTFORB.
Connecticut public prints the proprietors of Harlford to make applica-
tion to the committee chosen for that use to lay out to each agreved
proprietor his part of the sequestered land for that use in order to
make each ones share of first division equal, they paying the cost."
April 24, 1773. — In a warning for a meeting, the 2nd article related
to ousting Elijah Strong from his position as clerk, which was not ac-
complished.
Nov. 22, 1773. — Abel and Joel Marsh and Amos Eobinson were
chosen a committee to lay out in lots that body of pine land that laid
near the " Island meadows ;" one lot to each right.
April 18, 1774. — At a meeting held in the house of Elijah Strong,
Capt. Joseph Marsh was chosen moderator, and Capt. Joseph Marsh,_
Stephen Tilden and Elisha Marsh were chosen a committee to see about
settling the line between Hartford and Hertford, and erect a bound by
Connecticut river and warn oil those " who have incroached." Thomas
Hazzen, was chosen treasurer. Amos Robinson ceased to be collector,
and William Bramble and Elisha Marsh were chosen collectors. (First
mention of Joseph Marsh).
Oct. 31, 1874 — Above named committee to settle the town line, re-
ported that they cited the inhabitants of Hertford to preambulate with
them, but they did not, and the committee warned off those who were
encroaching on the pine lands belonging to Hartford.
May 16, 1775. — Amos Robinson was chosen clerk and a committee
was chosen to regulate the records (which were indeed in a confused
state as left by Elijah Strong) and thereafter, until 1780, the records
were made in the neat, uniform, but rather feminine chirography of Mr.
Robinson. At this meeting it was voted that pitches of fifty acres each
might be made by the proprietors of the undivided land.
On the first Monday of November 1776, at a meeting held in the
house of widow Ruth Strong, voted to accept the return of pitches of
the fifty acre lots made by Thomas Hazzen, Israel Gillett, Mitchell
Clark, John Bennett, Jr., Becket Chapman, Joshua Hazzen, Benj.
Wright, John Gillett, Stephen Tilden and Simon Chapman.
April 27, 1778. — The proprietors voted to procure a charter of the
township, and Stephen Tilden and Amos Robinson were chosen a com-
mittee to procure the same. Joseph Marsh and Amos Robinson, were
chosen a committee to apply to the General Assembly to have the line
between Hartford and Hertford settled. " Voted to raise one hundred
dollars to defray expense of committee."
Oct. 12, 1778. — Joseph Marsh, Amos Robinson and Stephen Tilden
were chosen a committee to settle line between Hartford and Hertford,
and they were instructed to hire a committee to begin at north west
corner of Windsor and measure Hertford west line seven miles and a
quarter.
Dec. 8, 1778. — Said committee reported a survey of the line between
the said towns, made by John Hatch, surveyor, and John Griswold,
Josiah Russell and Samuel Paine. A committee consisting of Joshua
Hazen, Amos Robinson and Joseph Marsh, was chosen to settle and
establish said line. A tax of three shillings on each proprietor's share
was voted. The line thus established was identically the same as that
named in the charter, and surveyed in 1763.
See Book A. Proprietor's records, pages 43-44.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 39
June 24, 1779. — It was voted to make another division of the com-
mon land.
Dec. 29, 1780. — Asa Hazen was chosen clerk, and it was voted that
the Selectmen should take the proprietor's records from the old clerk
(Amos Rohinson) and deliver them to the new clerk.
Feb. 6, 1781, it was voted to lay out a division of forty acres to each
proprietors' right.
Nov. 12, 1800. — Voted that each proprietor have nine acres to a right,
and to accept of all the pitches made on the nine acre division.
March, 1803. — (2d Wednesday) met at James Tracy's. Chose Amos
Robinson, Esq., committee to apply to Mr. Marion to obtain a copy of
the charter of the township of Hartford from the Secretary of New
Hampshire.
Aug. 17, 1808. — By application of more than one sixteenth of the
proprietors to Pascal P. Enos, Justice of the Peace, a meeting was
warned to be holden in the house of Josiah Tilden, the 2d Monday of
November, 1808. The business of said meeting was as follows :
^Ist. Chose Joseph Marsh, Esq., Moderator.
2d. Chose Daniel Marsh, Proprietor's Clerk.
3d. Chose Daniel Marsh a comniitteeman to act with the Selectmen of said
town to see if the pubhc lands are all laid out.
From this time to April 5th, 1819, thirty five meetings were held, at
which no current business was transacted. Mr. Marsh retained the pro-
prietors' records till 1832, when he turned them over to the Town Clerk
of Hartford.
At the last mentioned date the divisions of land among the grantees
had been amicably and satisfactorily adjusted and completed. Many of
the whole shares of the first, second and third divisions had been di-
vided and sub divided and disposed of to imigrants. Many of the
grantees had never visited the township. Some who had come into the
town with a view of settling herein, were not well pleased with the
country, or were not disposed to face the political troubles of the hour,
and, therefore, disposed of their shares for a song, and retraced their
steps, or went into more favored localities.' Thus the interests and
rights, at first vested in the grantees, passed gradually into the hands
of speculators, jobbers and land-grabbers, like Gov. Joseph Marsh and
his relatives and confreres, or to assigns of a more respectable type ;
while the judicial, executive and legislative powers vested in the gran-
tees by the charter, were by degrees vested in the town authorities by
virtue of constitutional laws.
The war of the Revolution, and the war of 1812, had both inured to
the benefit of the people, and they were now free to pursue their
respective vocations without fear of molestation or interruption frona
' Several of the grantees of this township were also grantees of other townships
chartered by Gov. Wentworth from 1760 to 1768.
40 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
without, or internecine troubles at home. The olive branch and the
laurel were intertwined with the cypress, and under the benign influ-
ences of victory, peace and mourning, our fathers were laboring to cor-
rect the anomalies which had sprung up in the political, military, judi-
, cial and fiscal departments of the new polity, and to establish all the
institutions of government on the Constitution — that magna charta
which ensures to their posterity to-day the security of property, the
peace of our streets and the happiness of our homes.
GEANTEES' FIRST SALES.
The first sale of land made by a charter proprietor was that made by
Joshua Wight, Jr., to Samuel Murdock, Jr., of one whole share, or
proprietor's right. As this was the first conveyance of right and title,
and the form and phraseology of the deed are similar to all others
found in the records of sales subsequently made, I will quote the deed
in full, viz : —
To All People To Whom These Presents Shall Come, Oreeting:
Know that I Joshua Wight Juni-. of Windham in the County of Windham
and Colony of Connecticut for the Consideration of Five Pounds Lawful money
received to my fuU satisfaction of SamI Murdock Junr of Windham aflforesd do
Give, Grant, Remise, Release and for ever quit claim, unto the said Samll Mvu:-
dock Junr, one Whole Shear or Proprietor's Right in a Township of Land, Late-
ly Granted to me and some others by the Govr. and Council of the Province of
New Hampsheax, Which Town Lies on the West Side of Connecticut River in Sd
Province, called Hartford. To Have and to Hold the Premises To the Sd Samuel
Murdock Junr, his heii's and Assigns for ever, So that Neither I the said Joshua
Wight, nor my heirs, nor any other Person, from, by or imder me Shall have
Clame, or Challenge any Right, title, or Interest in the Premises, but Shall for
ever be barred by these Presents. Witness my hand and Seal Aug-t 5th, 1761.
JOSHUA WIGHT Jun'r. [Seal.]
Signed Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of
Sam'll Gray
Mary Gray
Windham Sst Windham Novr 14th 1761, Personally Appeared Joshua Wight
Jun'r Signer and Sealer to the above Written Instrument and acknoldg the same
to be his free act and Deed.
CORAM SAM'LL GRAY, Just of ye Peace.
The fourgoing Deed Recorded March ye 23d 1762.
Attest PRINCE TRACY, Town Clerk.
The share thus conveyed was number twenty-two on Connecticut
river, north of White river, containing 60 acres. The price paid per
acre was about forty-seven cents.
The next sale made, in order of date, was made by Samuel Porter of
Lebanon, Conn., to Stephen Tilden, Jr., of the same town; being lot
"No. 13," up White river on the north side, which contained fifty-nine
acres, and was sold for a consideration of ten shillings ($2.42) or about
four cents per acre. This lot is embraced in the farm now owned and
occupied by Wm. E. Dutton.
On the 15th of March, 1762, Nathan Clark, of Windham, Ct., deeded
HISTORY OF HABTFORD. 41
to Elijah Strong, of Lebanon, Ct., lot " No. 2," on the south side of
White river, bordering on both this and Connecticut river, and contain-
ing nineteen acres. Also 360 acres, or one whole right in the township,
making altogether 379 acres for a consideration of four pounds ten shil-
lings ($21.78) or less than six cents per acre. Lot "No 2 " and lot "No.
3," drawn by Daniel Newcombe of Lebanon, Ct., and lot " No. 1" drawn
by John Baldwin, containing respectively nineteen, fifty and thirty-one
acres, constitute the location occupied by the net-work of tracks and the
depot and other buildings belonging to the various railroads centering
at White River Junction. Tradition says that the first dwelling house
ever erected in Hartford was built by Elijah Strong on lot " No 2,"
in the spring of 1764.
On the north side of White river, and bordering on the two rivers,
was lot "No. 1," owned by Benjamin Whitney, containing nineteen
acres. Adjoining this on the west was the lot drawn by Timothy Clark,
containing thirty-one acres. These and a few other adjoining lots were
subsequently owned by Messrs. Cone and Knowlton, by whom they
were sold to Elias Lyman 3d, whose heirs and assigns now live thereon.
Among the early immigrants and land-owners, are found the names of
Elijah Strong, and his brothers, Solomon and Benajah ; Noah and
Joshua Dewey ; Jonathan and Abel Marsh, Daniel Pinneo, Stephen Til-
den, Benjamin Wright, Prince Tracy, Israel Gillett, Christopher Pease,
Seth Burgess, William Bramble, John Bennett, Eleazer Robinson, Ben-
jamin Burch, Lionel Udall, John Strong and Ebenezer Gillett, all of
whom lived in the town prior to 1771. Subsequently, and down to 1778,
only six of the charter members, or grantees, had settled in the town.
There were other settlers in the town, though few in number. Between
1771 and 1778, the following names appear in the lists of town officers,
viz: Amos Robinson, John and Elisha Marsh, Thomas Richardson,
Joshua and Thomas Hazen, Samuel Udall, Joel and Joseph Marsh, Jon-
athan Burch, Mitchell Clark, Alexander Brink, Thomas Richardson,
Darius Sessions, John Giilett, Levi Demmon, Asa Hazen, David Bliss,
Simon Chapman, Samuel Webster, Thomas Emerson, Silas Hazen, An-
drew Tracy, Thomas Tracy, Elkanah Sprague, Phineas Strong, George
Smith, Asa Emerson and John Baldwin, all of whom were incumbents
either of town or proprietary offices. From 1778 to 1802, the town
records are missing, with the exception of a book used by the selectmen
of the town, beginning in 1798 and continued to the present time.
From this book will be given a list of the principal taxpayers in the
town in 1800, which will appear under the head of taxes.
CHAPTER IV.
ORGANIZATION or THE TOWN.
The organization of the town was coeval with the date of the first
town meeting. The records kept by Prince Tracy, the proprietors'
first clerk, conclusively show that the town was organized at the
date of the proprietors' first meeting, August 26th, 1761. Mr. Tracy,
Uke all the clerks who succeeded him — so long as the proprietors held
business meetings, — filled the dual position of proprietors and town
clerk, but while he held this office he kept two distinct sets of books of
records,one of which contained a record of the election of the proprietors'
officers, and their proceedings — which were the only acts of municipal
legislation recorded, — the other contained a record of the election of
town officers at the regular annual meetings. Generally the proprietary
and town offices were vested in the same persons, but not always. This
being the case it was not necessary to keep parallel records of the
municipal acts of legislation. The record book in which Mr. Tracy
entered the names of the town officers as distinct from those of the
proprietors, was designated as " A Book of Town Votes for the Town
of Hartford in the Province of New Hampshear," while the record book
containing the names of the proprietors' officers elected, etc., was desig-
nated as " Proprietors' Record." To illustrate the difference in the
two records it will only be necessary to quote the record made in each
of said books of the first meeting, August 26, 1761 ; and as the organi-
zation of the town was the first business transacted at said meeting, the
record of said meeting should be the first quoted, viz : —
" At a Town Meating of the Proprietors of The Town of Hartford in
the Province of New Hampshear, legally warned and Holden atWindham
in the Colony of Connecticut August ye 26th, 1761. Pursuant to a charter
of said Township Dated July ye 4th, 1761. In said Charter Mr. John
Baldwin was appointed Moderator of said Meeting. At the said meeting
Chosen Prince Tracy, Town Clerk ; Chosen Capt. William Clark, Prince
Tracy and Mr. John Baldwin Selectmen for said Town. Chosen Prince
Tracy, Town Treasurer.
Voted That this Meating shall be adjourned, etc.''
The record made in the " Proprietors' Record-book reads as fol-
lows :
" Att a Meating of The Proprietors, etc.:
Att said Meeting Chosen Prince Tracy Proprietors' Clerk. Voted that
the Selectmen, namely, "William Clark, Prince Tracy and Mr. John
Baldwin shall be Assessors for Said Proprietors.
Chosen Prince Tracy, Proprietors' Treasurer.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 43
Chosen Maj. Joseph Blanchard, Silas Phelps and Moses Hebard Col-
lectors of Taxes." Here follows the record of the business transacted
by the proprietors as already quoted.
As further proof of the existence of a town organization it appears
that at the town meeting held March 8th, 1763, for the election of
officers, Lieut. Prince Tracy, Capt. William Clark and Mr. Samuel Terry,
were chosen selectmen of the town of Hartford, and Lieut. Prince Tracy,
Towji Clerk, and no other officers were chosen. At the same time,
however, and for the first time, the proprietors' committee was com-
posed of different men from those chosen as selectmen, for the town.
The same moderator presided, and the same person was chosen clerk,
for both organizations, but the proprietors chose an executive commit-
tee, composed of Elijah Bingham, Silas Phelps and Thomas Tracy, to
manage the proprietors' affairs in general ; and also elected assessors
and collectors. The selectmen attended to the business especially
appertaining to their department, but also participated in the legisla-
tion on proprietary matters in general, all the officers being original
grantees, or charter members.
The last record made by Prince Tracy, as town clerk, was entered in
the pamphlet book of town votes, March 12, 176£, at which time Benajah
Strong was chosen town clerk ; Elijah Strong, Solomon Strong and
Benjamin Wright, selectmen ; John Bennett, constable, and Ebenezer
Gillett, Jr., surveyor of highways. At this meeting it was voted that for
the future the town m,eetings should be held by the inhabitants of Hart-
ford within said town, which is evidence that town meetings had been
held La Connecticut.
Prior to this last named meeting, the inhabitants of the town, com-
prising more than one-sixteenth portion of actual residents, had requested
a transfer of the proprietors' meetings from Connecticut to the town of
Hartford. Acceding to that request, the proprietors, at a meeting held
in Windham, March 19th, 1765, voted that for the future the proprie-
tors' meetings should be held in Hartford. At this meeting Elijah
Strong was chosen proprietors' clerk. Prince Tracy proprietors' treas-
urer, and Jonathan Marsh, Ebenezer Gillett and Elijah Strong, com-
mittee.
The writer of this history is thus particular to fix with precision the
date of the organization of the town for the reason that Thompson, and
other historians, have erroneously stated that this town was organized
March 8th, 1768. Their error arose from a hasty inspection of the
records, or, they drew their conclusions from the fact that Elijah Strong's
first record of the election of town officers was entered in the pamphlet
44 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
book of town votes under date of March 8th, 1768, three years subse-
quent to the date of the last town meeting held in Connecticut. Elijah
Strong kept the records of the proprietors' meeting in regular order of
date, etc., but who can account for his having failed to record in chron-
ological order, for the space of three years, the proceedings at the an-
nual town meetings 1 His silence on this point must be attributed to
one of three reasons, viz: — first, that the tenure of of6.ce of the of&cers
chosen March 12, 1765, extended to March 8, 1768 ; or secondly, that
the proprietors failed to comply with the terms of the charter requiring
annual meetings ; or lastly, that their clerk stupidly ignored his duty.
It is not at at all likely that the proprietors would have neglected so
important a duty. Elijah Strong was a good man, but in his youthful
days the schoolmaster was abroad.
At the annual town meeting March 8, 1768, the following named offi-
cers were chosen: —
Benjamin Wright, Moderator.
Elijah Strong, Town Clerk.
Christopher Pease, Solom.on Strong and John Marsh, Selectmen.
Daniel Pirmeo, Constable.
Abel Marsh and Solomon Strong, Highway Surveyors.
Abel Marsh and Elijah Strong, Tithingmen.
John Marsh and Benjamin Wright, Deer-reafs.
Elijah Strong continued to hold the office of proprietors' clerk until
May 16th, 1775 ; but was superceded as town clerk March 13th, 1769,
by John Strong, at which time the first grand jurymen were chosen.
The proceedings at this meeting were recorded in the pamphlet-book,
and the first act of municipal legislation, aside from the election of
officers, recorded in said book, was the vote to build a bridge over
Water Quechee river near the saw-mill. John Strong continued to fill
the office of town clerk until May 18th, 1773, when Amos Robinson was
chosen to fill the office. The first overseers of the poor were chosen at
this meeting, also the first fence viewers and pound keepers. Joel
Marsh was chosen supervisor, an office peculiar to the province of New
York.
May 17th, 1774, Capt. Joseph Marsh was chosen supervisor (an office
peculiar t j the province of New York and toward which Capt. Marsh
eshibited a decided leaning.) The town at that early period of its ex-
istence, had been highly honored by the choice of one of its citizens to
fill a high office in the government of the State. The town had become
occupied by industrious settlers, most of whom had come from the
towns in the colony of Connecticut. They were not a medley coUec-
tionl'of speculators, each intent on personal good alone, but they were
bound together by ties of kinship, and by unanimity of sentiment, that
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 45
assured harmony of action, success to every undertaking, stability to
all their enterprises and permanence of residence. Disaffections caused
by, or arising from, unequal divisions of land, wantages and pervers.
ions of the provisions, of the charter by some of those high in author-
ity, had been allayed by compromises, equitable settlements, as far as
possible, and other pacific measures.
The royal provincial governor of New Hampshire, for some years
subsequent to making grants, was not above the suspicion of being in
collusion with some of the land jobbers who at first infested this and
other grants ; but, however amenable to condemnation the governor
made himself, and however much he merited the retribution subse-
quently meted out to him, it is evident that Hartford, if she did not
furnish her quota of his rascally confederates, had, later, within her
borders those who did not scruple to appropriate to their own use the
valuable land set apart by the charter for public uses, and substitute
in their place, much less valuable lands in less favorable locations.
This species of pirating upon public rights, and infringing on the rights
of one's neighbors, was one of the wrongs imposed on the early set-
tlers of this town. In the light of history such deeds cannot be pal-
liated by public service ; never effectually disguised by judicial ermine,
priestly surplice, armorial bearings, or the insignia or honor of any
station in life ; nor wUl they be cancelled by the Nemesis of justice, nor
pass into oblivion unheeded by the faithful and impartial historian.
In consideration of the fact that the pamphlet-book entitled, " A
Book of Town Votes for the Town of Hartford in the Province of New
Hampshear," is exclusively devoted to records of town meetings prior
to 1779, and to preserve beyond possible loss the records contained in
said book, which is now in a dilapidated condition, and is the only
book of town records prior to 1802, it is deemed advisable to give here
a verbatim copy of all the records found therein relating to municipal
legislation. A portion of this book is devoted to family records, and a
portion' to the registration of the ear marks used by owners of sheep
and cattle. On the title page is a record of a certificate declaring that
" Ephraim Wright, Samuel Bullar and Nathan Warriner are members
of the Baptist church in Wilberham (Mass.?) (signed) Seth Clark,
Elder of said Church " This is under date of Oct. 16th, 1788. The
records are copied verbatim ad literatim,th.ose entered by E]ijah,Benajah
and John Strong, being unique specimens of clerical patch-work.
The first four pages were recorded by Prince Tracy, whose hand- writing
was elegant, but his method of spelling was ideographic. Amos Eobin-
son was methodical, usually grammatically correct, and a good penman.
46 HISTORY OF HAETFORD.
EECOEDS BY PEINCB TRACY.
"A±t a Town Heating of the Proprietors of the Town of Hartford in the Pro-
vince of New Hampshear, Legally Worned and Holden at Windham in the
Coloney of Connecticut August ye Twenty sixth 1761. Persuont to a charter of
said Township Dated July ye 4th 1761 — In said Charter Mr. John' Baldwin was
appointed Moderator of said Meating.
At said meating chosen Prince Tracy Town Clerk.
Chosen Capt. WiUiam Clark, Prince Tracy, and Mr. John Baldwin Select Men
for said Town.
Chosen Prince Tracy Town Treasurer.
Voted That This Meating Shall be Adjurned unto the Third Tuse Day of
November next at Nine of the Clock in the morning. To the House of Mr.
Paul Hebard in Windham in the Coloney of Connecticut, and said meating was
accordingly adjurned."
"At A. Town Meating of the Proprietors of the Town of Hartford, in the
Province of New Hampsheai' Holden at Windham In the Coloney of Connecticut
November ye 17th 1761. By Adjui-nment from August ye 36th 1761.
Voted — That This Meating shall be adjurned unto Monday Next, Being the 23d
Day of This Instant, at Twelve of the Clock on said Day to the House of Mr.
Paul Hebard in Windham in the Coloney of Connecticut, and said meating was
accordingly adjurned."
"Att a Town Meating of The Proprietors of The Town of Hartford, in the
Province of New Hampshear Holden at Windham in the Coloney of Conneticut
November ye 23d 1761, by adjurnment from ye 17 of November Instant.
Voted that the Methord for Worrung the Town Meatings for the futer shall be
as faUoweth. (viz) That the Select Men of the Town for the Time Being shall set
up a Worning in Writin under there Hands on the Signpost in the Towns of
Windham and Lebanon in the Coloney of Conneticut, Appointing Time, Place
and Buiseness of said Meating at Least six Days before said Meating, and Also
Advertize said Meating in the Boston Publiok Nuse Paper at Least Three weeks
before said Meating, and a Meating so Worned shall be Held and Esteened a
Legal Meating to Transact any Busseness for the futer untill said Town shall
agree upon some other methord."
"Att a Town Meating of the Proprietors of the Town of Hai-tford in the Pro-
vince of New Hampshear-, Legaly Worned and held at Windham in the Coloney
of Conneticut, March the 9th 1762.
Chosen Mr. Elijah Bingham Moderator.
Chosen Prince Tracy Town Clerk.
Chosen Mr. Samuel Williams, Prince Ti-acy and James Flint Select-men for
said Town of Hartford."
"Att a Town Meating of the Proprietors of the Town of Hartford in the Pro-
vince of New Hampshear Legaly Worned and Holden att Windham in the
Coloney of Conneticut for the Electing Town officers March ye 8th 1763. Chosen
Capt WiUiam Clark. Moderator, Chosen Lieut Prince Tracy Town Clerk.
Chosen Lieut Prince Tracy, Capt Wm Clark and Mr Samuel Terry Select-men.
Voted, that for the futer a Warning in Wrighting under the Hands of the Select-
men of said Town, set uppon the Sign Post in the Towns of Windham and Leb-
anon In the Coloney of Conneticut Ten Days before any Town Meating,
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD. 47
appointing Time, Place and Buisiness of such Meatiug shall be a Legal Warning
to hold such Meating upon, untiU such Town shall agree otherway."
"Att a Town Meating of the Proprietors of the Town of Hartford in the Pro-
vince of New Hampshear, Legaly Worned and Holden at Windham in the
Coloney of Conneticut March ye 13th 1764, for the Electing Town officers.
Chosen Jonathan Marsh Moderator, and Prince Tracy Town Clerk. Chosen
EUjah Strong, Jonathan Marsh, Prince Tracy Select-men. Chosen John Bennett
constable, and Benjamiin Wright Survayor of Highways."
"Att a Town Meating Worned and Holdin by the Proprietors of the Town of
Hartford in the Hrovince of New Hampshear, iu Windham in the Coloney of
Coimeticut March ye 13th 1765. Chosen Jonathan Marsh Moderator. Chosen
Benajah Strong Town Clerk.
Chosen EUjah Strong, Solomon Strong, Benj Wright Selectmen.
Chosen John Bennett Constable.
Chosen Ebenezer GiUett Survayor of Highways.
Voted that for the f uter the Town Meating shall be held by the Inhabetants of
said Hartford Within said Town,and that a Worning inWrighting under the hands
of the Selectmen of said Town, apointing Time Place and Buiseness of such
meating. Set up in said Town on the Signpost or Some other Publick Place, six
Days before said Meating shall be a Legal Worning for to hold such Meating
untill the Town shall agree otherwise."
EECOEDS BY ELIJAH STRONG.
"At a town meting Warned and Holden by the Proprietors of the town of
Hartford March ye 8 A D. 1768.
Chosen Benjamin Wright Moderator, Ehjah Sti-ong Town Clerk.
Chosen Christopher Pease, Solomon Strong, John Marsh, Select men.
Chosen Daniel Pumeo Constable.
Chosen Able Marsh and Solomon Strong Survaors of Highways.
Chosen Able Marsh and Elijah Strong tighing men.
Chosen John Marsh and Benj Wright Dear Reafs."
(There are no records for 1766 and 1767.)
RECORD BY JOHN STRONG.
"Att a town meting Legally warned and Holden. Chosen Mr. John Marsh
Moderater. Chosen John Strong Town Clark. Chosen Christifer Peas, John
Marsh Israel GiUett Select Men. Chosen Liomy Udael constable, Elezur Robin-
son, Benjamen Burch Benajah Strong, survaors of hiway. WUUam Bramble
John Bennet, Granjury men.
Voted to BUd a Brig over warter quechy river nere the sawmUl and do it as
hiway work, and voted that AbU Marsh should be oversere about giting the
timber ■end bulding said Bryge."
RECORD BY JOHN STRONG AND ELIJAH.
"At a town meting LegaUy warn and holden on the 13 day of March A D 1770
Chosen John Marsh Modratur.
Chosen John Strong Town Clark.
Chosen John Marsh and Cristefer Peas and Elijah Strong, Select Men. Chosen
Elezer Robinson constable. Chosen Danl Pinneo and John Marsh survaours of
the highway. Chosen David Bliss and WUUam Brambel Tihing men.
48 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Voted that the Rode from the contry Rode that goes up and down Conneotticut
River Begining nere White river, and Runing from to Pomfret shold be four
Rods wide.
Voted that John Marsh, Cristefer Peas and Elijah Strong shold be a comite to
olter the Rodes where theay want oltering and Lay out Rodes where theay are
wanting and estabelish those that the Proprietors comite Laid out and to make
there Retorn of theare Doings by the second day of April next. Voted that this
meting shold be adjourned till the second Tusday of April at one of the clock in
the after noon at the Dweliug hous of Oristofer Peas, and the meeting was
adjurned."
(Note. — The next two meetings were held in the house of Christopher Pease,
but no business was transacted excepting voting to adjoui-n.)
RECORD BY JOHN STRONG.
"Att a Town meting Legally worned and held att Mr. Benajah Sti-ong in
Hartford on the 12 day of March 1771. Chosen Mr. Abel Marsh Modurater,
chosen John Strong town dark. Chosen Lt Israel Gillitt and Abel Marsh, and
Lione Udel Select men. Chosen Elezer Robinson and Thomas Woodard con-
stables.
Chosen Thomas Saveg and Thomas Miner, Henry "Woodward and Lyne Udel
svirvaers of hihway. Chosen John Strong, Abel Marsh and Lyone Udel a
comite for to Lay out an alter highways where theay are wanted in said town of
Hartford. Voted to make a publick pond between the Dwelen hous of Mr.
Cristofer Peas and John Strong. Voted to hold the metings for the futer at
Benajah Strong."
"Att a Town Meting Legally warned and Holden on the 10 day of March A D
1773, att the DweUng Hous of Elijah Strong in Hartford, in the Contt op Cum-
berland AND Province of New York.
Maid choice of Danel Pinneo, Moderator.
Maid Choice of Jolm Sti'ong, Town Glarck.
Chosen Danel Pinneo, Lione Udael and Elisha Marsh, Towns men. Chosen
Danel Pinneo, and Wm. Bramble, Constabels. Choesen John Strong, Danel
Pinneo and Benjamin Burch, Comishenurs of hiways.
Chosen Israel Gillet, Danel Pinneo, Jonathan Biu-ch and Abel Marsh, Sur-
vaers of Hiways."
(Note. — The town was now under the jurisdiction of the New York govern-
ment, and most of the persons chosen to office at the last mentioned meeting
sided with the New York government during the memorable triangular contro-
versy between New York and New Hampsliire and Vermont.)
" At a Town Meting att. Elijah Strong's in Hartford on adj 3 Tusday of May,
A. D. 1772.
Chosen Benjamin Wright, Moderatur. Chosen John Strong, Town Glarck.
Chosen John Strong, Supervisor. Chosen Stephen Tilden and Lione Udel, Ses-
sors. Chosen Samuel Pese and Amos Robinson, Colecters. Benj. Wright and
Elisha Marsh Ovei-seers of the Poor. Abel Marsh, EUjah Sti-ong and Danel
Pinneo, Comisheners to Lay out hiways. Abel Marsh, John Mafsh, Thomas
Richardson, Israel Gillett and Danel Pinneo, Path Masters. Elisha Marsh and
Benj. Wright, fence viewers. Danel Pinneo, Israel Gillett, Joel Marsh and
Thomas Richason, Constables."
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 49
The next record relates to the measures taken by the proprietors to
secure Letters Patent from the New York government. Their efforts,
for some unknown reason, proved abortive. Nevertheless they ex-
pended a large sum of money in their efforts, and as I have already
stated, they borrowed money of Thomas Hazen for this purpose.
Oliver Willard of Hartland was employed by the proprietors as their
agent to obtain Letters Patent. In another portion of this history the
reader will find this subject elaborately treated.
" At a town meting Legally warned and held att Elijah Strong in Hartford, on
adj 9 day of July, A. D. 1773. Maid chois of Mr. Stephen Tilden, Moderator for
sd meting, and all so maid Chois of Benjamin Wright, Stephen Tilden, John
Strong, John Bennet and Elisha Marsh a Comitity to seUd with Esq. Burch for
servis don for the Town of Hartford la Gooing to New York for them in order
to Settle with Esq. WUliurd and Petition for a Paten for said Town, and all so
to Pay said Burch for it and to settle with Mr. Joshua Hazen for his troble Don
for said Town Hartford. July ye 9, A. D. 1773."
(Note. — The remaiaiQg records were written by Amos Robinson.)
" At a Town meeting Legally warned, and held the 18 day of May, 1773, at
Elijah Strong's.
Chosen, Benjamin Wright, Moderator of said meeting.
Amos Robinson, Town Clerk.
Joel Marsh, Supervisor. Danel Pinneo and Abel Marsh, Assessors. David
Wright and Joshua Dewey, Collect'rs.
John Bennet and Christopher Pease, Overseers of ye poor.
Ehezer Robinson, Elisha Marsh and Joel Marsh, Commissioners of highways.
Joshua Hazzen, David Wright, Benajah Strong, Christopher Pease, Jr., and
Samuel Udel, Path-masters.
Benjamin Wright and Samuel Pease, fence viewers.
Eliezer Robinson, Benjamin Wright, Jr., Wm. Brambel and Benajah Strong,
Constables.
"Amos Robinson, John GiUet and Elisha Marsh, Poimd keepers."
At a meeting Legally warned and held the 17th day of May, 1774, at Elijah
Strong's. (Centre of the town. — Ed.)
Chosen Capt. Joseph Marsh, Moderator of said meeting.
Amos Robinson, Town Clerk and Treasurer.
Capt. Joseph Marsh, Supervisor.
Benjamin Wright, Jr., and John Marsh, Assessors.;
Christopher Pease, Jr., and Jonathan Bennet, Collectors.
Stephen Tilden and Capt. Joseph Marsh, Overseers of ye poor.
Jonathan Burtch, Esq., Benajah Strong and Benj. Wright, Jun., Com's of
highways.
Mitchell Clark, Alexander Brink, Solomon Strong, Thomas Richai-dson and
Johsua Dewey, Surveyers of highways.
Jonathan Burtch, Esq., and Capt. Joseph Marsh, fence Viewers.
Solomon Strong, Sealer of Measures.
50 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Eleizer Robinson, Benjamin Wright, Jr., Wni. Bramble, Benajah Sti'ong,
Constables.
Voted to Build a Pound at the head of Amos Robinson's Lane' in ye corner
joining to Dea. Benjamin Wright on the west side of the country road. Amos
Robinson to buUd ye pound. Voted to buUd a pound near ye Bridge by Esq.
Burtch's, in the most convenient place. Esq. Burtch to buld ye pound. Amos
Robinson and Jonathan Burtch Esq. Pound-keepers. Voted to build a Meeting
house, etc."
(Note. — The reader is referred to the Ecclesiastical portion of this history for
a complete record of action taken by the town concerning the building of a
meeting-house at the centre of the town. — Editor.)
At the next annual meeting, held in the house of Widow Ruth
Strong on Tuesday, May 16, 1775, the following town ofiScers were
elected :
" Jonathan Burtch, moderator ; Amos Robinson, Clerk and Treasurer ; Jona-
than Burtch, Supervisor ; Amos Robinson and Jonathan Burtch, Assessors ;
John Bennet and Samuel Udall, Collectors ; Stephen TUden, and Capt. Joseph
Marsh, Overseers of the poor ; Alex. Brink and Amos Robinson and Jonathan
Burtch, Commissioners to lay out highways ; Alex. Brink, Stephen Tilden,
John GUlett, Solomon Strong, Benjamin Burtch, Abel Marsh and Newbuiy
Edde, Surveyors of liighways ; Capt. Joseph Marsh and Jonathan Burtch,
Fence Viewers ; Benj., Wright, Jr., Daniel Pinneo, Benajah Strong and Joshua
Dewey, Constables ; Solomon Strong, Sealor of Weights and Measures ; Amos
Robinson, Stephen Tilden, and Benajah Strong a committee to take care of the
School lands and rent them out."
" At a legal meeting held at the house of the Widow Ruth Strong, on Thurs-
day ye 1st day of June 1775, Chose Capt. Joseph Marsh, moderator. Chose
Amos Robinson a delegate to go to Westminster, Vt. Voted that each man pay
his equal proportion of the expenses of sending Delegates to Westminster.
Voted to treat any man with Neglect and Contempt that refuses to pay his
proportion of said expenses."
" At a legal meeting held at the house of Widow Ruth Strong, on Monday ye
19th day of June, 1775. Chose Capt. Joseph Marsh, Moderator ; Joel Marsh to
be Captain, Benjamin Wright, Jr., Lieut., Alexander Brink, Insign to a com-
pany of MUitia. Chose Capt. Joseph Marsh, Joel Marsh, Stephen Tilden, Amos
Robinson, and Joshua Hazen to be a Committee of Safety for ye Town."
"At a meeting legally warned and held at the house of the Widow Ruth
Strong, on ye 30th Nov. 1775 :
Voted to comply with the request of the Provincial Congress in choosing men
to represent this county at the Honorable Provincial Congress at New York.
Voted to raise by tax the sum of 4 pds. 17 s. 6 p.
Voted — that the assessors chosen last May make up the bUl, also that the
collectors chosen last May collect the same.
Chose Capt. Joseph Marsh, Stephen Tilden and Joel Marsh a committee to
' Amos Robinson lived at tlie foot of the lane leading to tlie ferry crossing on
Connecticut river, a short distance south of the mouth of White river, and near the
present residence of Alonzo B. Nutt, at White River Junction.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 51
treat with Amos Robinson and with Lebanon about the road and ferry. This
meeting is dismist."
"At a meeting Legally warned and held at the house of the Widow Rutli
Strong on Monday the 6th day of May, 1776, for the electiug town officers.
Chosen, Capt. Joseph Marsh Moderator.
Amos Robinson Clerk and Treasurer; Joshua Hazen and Abel Marsh assessors;
Joel Marsh and Thomas Hazzen Overseers of the Poor; John GriUet and Levi
Demmon, Collectors; Stephen Tilden, Joshua Hazzen, and Elisha Marsh, com-
missioners of highways; Jolm Bennet and John GiUit Fence Viewers; David
Wright and Asa Hazen, Constables; Solomon Strong, Sealer of Weights and
Measures; Thomas Hazzen, Sealer of Leather; Stephen Tilden, Joel Marsh,
Joshua Hazzen, Abel Marsh and Amos Robinson, Committee of Safety; David
Bliss, Simon Chapman, Samuel Webster, Joel Marsh, Levi Demmon, John
Bennet, Jr., Samuel Udel and Amos Robinson, surveyors of highways.
Voted — for the commissioners to lay out a road to meet with Lebanon at the
Potash so-called."
"At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Hartford at the house of the
Widow Ruth Strong on Saturday the 13th day of July, 1776. Chosen Capt. Abel
Marsh Moderator.
Voted, that the Town take the ammunition that the committee pm chased at
Connecticut, into their care as Town Stock.
Chosen, Capt. Abel MEirsh, to take care of the ammunition.
Voted, that Maj. Joel Marsh, Stephen Tilden and Samuel Udel be a committee
to give obligations to Capt. Marsh and Maj. Griswold for the ammunition.
Voted, that said committee proportion an assessment on the inhabitants for
the payment of the ammunition, and give a bill to the constables to collect.
Voted, that Capt. Marsh 'deal out one pound of powder to each soldier belong-
ing to this town that is gone or is going to Royalton, and lead and flints pro-
portionable to the stock, and half pound powder and flints proportionable to the
stock, to each man in town that has a gun.
Voted, that if any man wastes or any way disposes of any of his ammunition
drawn or to be drawn out of the town stock he shall pay after the rate of two
dollars per pound, and shall be held up to publick vew as an enemy to his country !
(Note. The records of the next meeting, held Feb. 7th, 1771, relate to small-
pox, and are quoted at length in another portion of this work. Also the record
of a meeting held March 17th, 1777, concerning the same matter.)
" At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Hartford on the 13th day of
March, 1777, at the dweUing-house of Solomon Strong.
Chosen, Mr. Elkanah Sprague, moderator.
Chosen, Amos Robinson and Joel Marsh, delegates to go to Windsor the 19th
inst. to show the minds of the people with regard to making money in the new
State.
Voted— that the delegates have the following instructions, viz. : that they pro-
test against emitting a bank of money in the new State until we are known and
estabUshed to be a State by the Honorable the Continental Congress, Meeting
dissolved."
" At a meeting legally warned and held at the house of Solomon Strong on
Tuesday the 1st day of AprU, 1777.
52 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Chosen, Col. Joseph Marsh, moderator; Amos Robinson, clerk and treasurer;
Lieut. Joshua Hazzen andMaj. JoeJ Marsh, County Committee ; Amos Robinson,
Col. Jos. Marsh, Stephen Tilden, Capt. Abel Marsh and Lieut. Israel GiUit, Town
Committee; Capt. Abel Marsh, Lieut. Joshua Hazzen, and Benjamin "Wright, Jr.
Commissioners of Highways ; John GiUit, Joel Marsh, Thomas Emerson, EUsha
Marsh, Daniel Pinneo, Benj. Wright, David Bliss and Jonathan Bennet, Sur-
veyors of Highways; Benjamin Wright, Jr., Thomas Tracy, Fence Vewers ,
Solomon Strong, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Thomas Hazzen, Sealer of
Leather ; Mitchel Clark and Elisha Marsh, Pound Keepers ; Wm. Bramble and
David Wright, Constables ; SUas Hazzen and Andrew Tracy, Collectors ; Joel
Marsh, Daniel Pinneo and Joshua Hazzen, Assessors.
Voted — To make sale of the ammunition that Capt. Marsh and Maj. Griswold
purchased for us at Coimecticut. Capt. Marsh to make sale of the same.
Voted — to raise by tax twenty poimds to defray the charges of the supervisors
and county committees going to Westminster, and the charge of the Royalton
department which was our quota to pay. Voted to dismiss this meeting."
" At a meeting legally warned and held at the house of Solomon Strong on
Monday the 33rd day of June 1777.
Chosen, Benjamin Wright, moderator.
Voted — To send two delegates to Windsor to attend a General Convention the
3rd day of July next.
Chosen, Col. Joseph Marsh and Joshua Hazzen, delegates.
Voted — That we do authorize and impower Col. Joseph Marsh and Lieut.
Joshua Hazzen to join with the delegates from the other towns in the State of
Vermont that are chosen to meet at Windsor on the 8rd day of July next to
draw the outhnes of Government.
Voted unmiimously, that we will join to be a New State on the New Hampshire
Grants ! "
At a town meeting legally warned and held at tlie house of Solomon
Strong on Thursday, the 9th day of April, 1778, to give in their votes
for a Judge 'of Probate and to choose town officers for the year ensu-
ing:—
Chosen — Governor Joseph Marsh, moderator.
Amos Robinson, Town clerk and Ti-easurer.
Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Ensign Elkanah Sprague and Benj Wright, Select Men.
Daniel Pinneo and Sergt. Joshua Dewey, constables.
Christopher Pease and John Bennet, Grand jurors.
Jno. Gillett, Andrew Tracy, Phin's Strong, George Smith, Benaiah Strong,
Joshua Dewey, Sam'l Pease, Asa Emerson & Jno. Bennet, Surveyors of high-
ways.
Benj Wright Jr. and John Bennet Jr. , Fence viewers.
Amos Robinson, Asa Emerson & Asa Hazzen, Listers.
Joshua Dewey and Daniel Pinneo, Collectors.
Phineas Strong and Samuel Webster Sealers of leather.
Andrew Ti-acy and Capt. Abel Marsh Tithingmen (sworn)
John Rennet and Benjamin Birch, Hog howai'ds.
Solomon Strong & Amos Robinson, Sealers of measurs, (sworn)
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 53
Abel Marsh and John Bennett, deer reafs, (sworns.)
David Brewster, Brander of horses. (Sworn)
Mitchel Clark and Elisha Marsh, Pound Keepers (sworn)
Voted that a town book of records be purchased and the purchaser paid out of
the town treasury.
LAST EEPOET IN THE PAMPHLET.
At a Town meeting Legally warned and held at the DweUing house of Solomon
Strong on Monday ye 27th day of May 1778—
Chosen, Hon. Joseph Marsh, Moderator.
Voted- — That the Select men should serve as a Committee of Safety for the
Town the year ensuing and to chuse two more to serve with y'm as a Com'tee of
Safety & Inspection.
Chosen — Capt. Abel Marsh and Mr. Thomas Emmerson, s'd Com'tee.
Chosen. Mr. Elisha Marsh Constable & Collector in the room of Sai-g't
Joshua Dewey which the Town releast.
Voted To procure a parchment to Draw a plan of the Town upon.
Voted To chuse a Com'ttee to Survey every Lot in Town to mark out the lines
& to make or set up Monuments at each comer of every Lot.
Chosen Mr. Benajah Sti-ong & Lieut. Israel Grillit to be said Com'tee.
Voted That Esq Hatch of Norwich be the Survair.
Voted To raise one Hundred & fifty pounds by Tax to defray the expence of
surveying the Town and other Town charges.
Voted That any man that pays the Com'tee or Surveyor & takes their receipt,
it shall annul so much of their rate.
Voted To dismiss this meeting." — Amos Robinson, Clerk.
The foregoing records, covering a period of nearly seventeen years,
are all that we have left of our town records for a space of nearly forty-
one years — a blank space of nearly twenty-four years in the history of
the town ! Nearly a century has since elapsed and not one of the old-
est inhabitants of the town now living retains even a dim remembrance
of the events that transpired ninety years ago, otherwise than as they
learned of them from the lips of their elders.
This pamphlet book of records contained the registration of about
125 different ear marks, used by as many stock owners to distinguish
their cattle, sheep and hogs, all of which were permitted to roam at
large, and could not be identified when found except by special marks.
As an illustration of the manner of marking then in use, I quote the
following, viz:
" Thomas Savage's ear mark, — a slanting crop of the right ear.
Philemon Hazen — ear mark: a half penny under side of the left ear.
Josiah TUden — ear mark: two slits in the end of right ear.
Thomas Hazen, ear mark: a slit in the end of right ear.
James Tracy, ear mark: a square crop of the left ear and a slit in the end of the
right.
54 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
Asa Hazen, ear mark: a squai-e crop of each ear and a slit in the end of the
right ear.
David Newton, ear mark; a slanting crop at the under side of each ear.
Stephen TUden Jr., ear mark: a half penny upper side of the right ear.
Israel Gillet, ear mark: a square crop of the right ear.
Joshua Hazen, ear mark: a crop of right ear and a slit on under side of same.
Christopher Pease, ear mark: a half crop under side of left ear, and a slot
under side same.
Joseph Marsh, ear mark: a crop off each ear and a slit under the left.
Nathaniel Dutton, ear mark: two half pennys on the under side of the right eai\
Juniah Chapman, ear mark: a swallow's taU in the end of the right ear.
The present system of marking is to puncture one ear of the animal
and insert a narrow strip of metal on -which the owner's name is
stamped, and also numbers, from one upwards as desired, and these
strips of galvanized metal are clamped secarely, and no irritation fol-
lows.
APPLICATION TO NEW YOKE FOK LETTERS PATENT.
Hartford has been erroneously classed with those townships granted
by Gov. Wentworth, that were subsequently confirmed by Letters
Patent under the great seal of New York. It is true that some of the
proprietors of this township made several applications, in the form of
petitions, to the New York governors for Letters Patent, but, for some
reason not explained in the proprietors' records, nor spread upon those
of the New York provincial government, they failed to secure a patent.
The first allusion to the New York government, found in the pro-
prietors' records is contained in the warning for the second meeting
held within the township, which is as follows, viz. :
" These are to Notefy the proprietors of the township of Hartford
Leatly Chartered by the Governor and Counsel of Newhamshier, Now
Seeded to Newyork, that they meet att the house of mr. Elijah Strong
in sd Hartford on monday the twelth day of August next at ten of the
Clock in the forenoon.'' The third article in the warning is as follows,
viz. : " Also, to see what they will Do on account of appling to his
Excelency the Governor of Newyork in order to obtain a grant of sd
township." This warning was dated " July ye 16, 1765." The record
of the proceedings of the meeting so warned contains nothing relating
to the said article in the warning.
According to the records, this subject was next considered and acted
upon September 4th, 1772, when Thomas Hazzen and Stephen Tilden
were chosen as agents to represent the affairs of the proprietors before
his Excellency the Governor of New York. The next warning for a
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 55
proprietors' meeting is very conspicuously headed, "Province of New
York, Oct. 12, 1772." At the meeting held pursuant to the said warn-
ing, the proprietors voted as follows :
" That we will give one thousand acres of land att the northwest
corner of the town for the money Mr. Joshua Hazzen hired for us in
order to settil with Esq. "Willard for his servis att Newyork."
On the 17th of November, 1761, the proprietors voted to sequester
1500 acres lying in the northwest corner of the township, in a square
body to lie to make those proprietors good or equal who should not
draw as good lots as the proprietors in general. It appears that some
of the proprietors questioned the propriety of diverting this land from
such use and giving it to Mr. Hazzen. This division of sentiment de-
layed the settlement with Mr. Hazzen. In the meantime the matter of
compensating him for his services in going to New York was settled on
the 9th of May, 1773, by the following vote :
" That we will give Mr. Thomas Hazzen the privlidge of pitching his
undivided land, and sixty acres more, if he or his son Asa will procure
a deed of sixty acres of any other proprietor, &c."
The sixty acres were secured, and on the 30th of May, 1781, Mr.
Hazzen pitched 560 acres in one body, bordering on Norwich line and
adjoining the 1000 acres which he subsequently received from the pro-
prietors. On the 12th of May, 1773, the proprietors passed the follow-
ing vote, viz. :
" That we will let Mr. Thomas Hazzen have one thousand acres of
land lying in a square body at the northwest corner of the town for the
money his son Joshua hired for us.
That the present proprietors' clerk shall give a deed of the above
voted land to Mr. Thomas Hazzen, in the name and behalf of the pro-
prietors upon his son Joshua giving up all his obligations to the clerk
that he has upon some of the propi'ietors."
(Note. — The deed executed by Elijah Strong, the proprietors' clerk, on the
14th of May, 1773, conveying to Thomas Hazzen the 1000 acres of land voted to
him May 12, 1773, is recorded in Vol. 1, page 63, of the proprietor's land records.
The conveyance was made in Rockingham County, N. H., and acknowledged
before Beza Woodward, a Justice of the Peace. Thomas Hazzen then resided in
Woodbury, Litchfield Coimty, Connecticut. On the 20th of August, 1781, Mr.
Hazzen deeded the said 1000 acres together with the 560 acres voted to him May
9, 1778, to twelve of his sixteen children, giving to each 120 acres, with a
reservation of a like quantity for himself. The village of West Hartford is
located on the land thus acquired by Mr. Hazzen. In 1776, Mr. Hazzen made
an additional pitch of 576 acres in the second division of fifty-acre lots, which
will be found recorded in Book A, page 1, of the records made of the surveys
of pitches. His subsequent purchases and pitches, prior to 1787, amounted
to fully 500 acres, giving him the ownership of at least 2600 acres of land,
or nearly one-tenth part of the whole town. His sons owned nearly 1000
acres. Mr. Hazzen moved into Hartford about the year 1785, and settled on the
farm on which his greatgrandson, Charles D. Hazen now lives,, and there lived
the remainder of his life.)
56 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
EFFOHTS TO OBTAIN LETTERS PATENT FROM NEW YORK.
In 1772, the proprietors sent one of their number, Jonathan Burch,
Esq., to New York to effect a settlement with Oliver Willard, Esq., for
his services in behalf of the proprietors, and also to petition the New
York government for Letters Patent for the town. Mr. Burch carried
the New Hampshire charter belonging to the town with him. He failed
to secure the coveted Letters Patent, but, as the sequel shows, left the
charter in the hands of the New York authorities, or otherwise unau-
thorizedly disposed of it. On the 22d of May, 1773, the proprietors
instructed their clerk to " send to New York to get the charter carried
there by Jonathan Burtch." The'effort proved.unsuccessful.
The foregoing comprises all that is contained in the records proper
concerning the efforts made by the proprietors of Hartford to obtain
Letters Patent from the New York government, or, in other words, to
comply with the arbitrary mandates and requirements imposed by that
government upon the inhabitants on the New Hampshire grants west
of Connecticut River, following upon the first order of King George in
1764. I have, however, discovered a memorandum record made by
Amos Robinson, which relates to the loss of the charter and the efforts
made by the proprietors to recover it. The record is as follows :
"Province of New York, Cumberland County, )
Hartford, 30th August, 1773. \
At a meeting of the proprietors' committy of the Township of Hartford. We
ye said committy in behalf of the proprietors, Request and Desire that Amos
Robinson make a Demand on Jonathan Burch, Esq., for the charter of the Town-
ship of Hartford, Granted by His Excellency Berming Wentworth, Esq., that he
the said Burch, hath taken away from ye proprietors and neglects to Return it
again: — that he forthwith deUver it into the hands of him ye sd Robinson whom
we Constitute and appoint to receive the same as ye said Burch will answer his
neglect at the peril of the Law: — as witness our hands
Proprietors' Com'ty,
John Bennett,
Stephen Tilden,
Israel Gillett.
On the back of the document is the following endorsement : — ■
"31st Aug. 1773. — Then made a demand of the within named Burch, in his
hearing for the within mentioned charter, in the hearing of Oliver Willard and
Amasa Wright.
Test for me Amos Robinson."
The charter was not recovered ; therefore, at a meeting of the pro-
prietors held on the second Wednesday of March, 1803, Amos Robin-
son, Esq., was chosen " a committee to apply to Mr. Marion to obtain a
copy of the charter from the Secretary of New Hampshire."
The promulgation of the decree making the western bank of the
Connecticut river the boundary line between the provinces of New
Hampshire and New York, circumscribed the jurisdiction of the gov-
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 57
ernor of New Hampshire, and left the grantees of the soil west of Con-
necticut river within the jurisdiction of the New York government.
" The grantees soon found themselves involved in a dispute with the
government of New York. Prom the words to be, in the royal declar-
ation, two very opposite conclusions were drawn. The government
supposed them to refer to the time past, and construed them as a dec-
laration that the river always had been the eastern limits of New
York ; consequently, that the grants made by the governor of New
Hampshire, were invalid, and that the land might be granted again.
The grantees understood the words in the future tense, as declaring
Connecticut river from that time to be the line of jurisdiction only, be-
tween the two provinces ; consequently that their grants, being derived
from the crown, through the medium of one of its governors, were
valid. To the jurisdiction they would have quietly submitted had no
attempt been made to wrest from them their possessions." '
The New York government ignored the opinions and declarations
of the grantees, concerning their rights under the New Hampshire
charters, and not only demanded that the grantees should deliver up
their titles derived from New Hampshire and obtain re-grants of the
same land from New York, as a confirmation of their titles, but refused
to make re-grants of the same lands to the original proprietors and oc-
cupants, unless at the rate of exorbitant fees.
The first uprising in the New Hampshire grants against the govern-
ment of New York, originated in the towns west of the mountain.
The inhabitants east of the mountain, though greatly embarassed at
the prospects before them, deemed discretion the better part of valor,
and acceeded to the requirements of the government of New York, by
relinquishing their New Hampshire charters, and purchasing, for a stip-
ulated consideration, Letters Patent under the great seal of the Pro-
vince of New York, and thus secured exemption from the hardships,
troubles and outrages experienced by those who ignored the authority
of New York and resisted the efforts of the land-jobbers to oust them
from their lands. A passive acquiescence was the only policy that
could have been safely adopted by the inhabitants of such towns as
Hartford, Woodstock and many others in Cumberland county, in each
of which, at that time, the number of inhabitants liable to do military
duty was so small, ^nd their means of defence so limited, they could
not have resisted even a corporal's guard.
It is evident from the proprietors' records, already quoted, that the
proprietors of the town of Hartford failed in their frequent attempts
'Belknap's History of New Hampshire, p. 326.
58 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
to obtain a confirmation of their titles (acquired under their New
Hampshire charters) by Letters Patent issued by the New York gov-
ernment. The evidence of the steps that were taken by the proprietors
to secure Letters Patent, is found in the Department of Manuscripts in
the New York State Library, and consists of certificates, and petitions
made by the proprietors, and inhabitants of the townships, and pre-
sented in their behalf to the New York government, by Oliver Wil-
lard, Esq., and Jonathan"Burtch, Esq., 'together with records of the
action taken concerning the same by the New York government.
Copies of all the documents pertaining to this matter, now on file in
the New York State Library, will be quoted in the next chapter begin-
ning with a certificate which preceded other papers in date.^
' The discovery of the order given by Ae proprietors, committeej to[^Amos Robin-
son, " to demand of Jonathan Burtch, Esq., the return of the charter of the town-
ship, etc., etc.," removed all doubt concerning the failure of the proprietors and in-
habitants to procure Letters Patent. They could not have succeeded without first
giving up their New Hampshire charter. Success would, therefore, have debarred
them from the privilege of regaining possession of said charter.
" In order to preserve tangible and important evidence of what was done by the
proprietors and inhabitants to obtain re-grants, or Letters Patent, from the New
York government, I shall here introduce copies of manuscript now on file in the
Department of Historical manuscripts, in the New York State Library, in Albany.
These documents are long and somewhat desultory, but as they are important to
lay the case authentically before the reader they shall be given in their own words.
1 will say that no record of a Patent for Hartford can be found, nor the New Hamp-
shire charter, of the township.
CHAPTER V.
CERTiriOATE BY THE PROPRIETORS' COMMITTEE.
These May Certifie all Persons, whome it may Consern, that The
Proprietors of Hartford which was supposed to be in the Province of
New Hampshear, which now Apears to belong to New York Province
Have Been at the Charge and Treble in Giting Said Township and Set-
ting the Same Which Amount to the Perticulers following, (viz) : To
Taxes Granted and made to Procure the Charter of said Township,
Survaying the same and Laying out Lands in said Township Thre
Pounds Lawfull Money on Each Proprietors Eights and Equal Shear
bing 64 in the Number which Amounts in the whole to £192.00.0.
Also they have Holden Eleven Proprietors Meatings Allowing but
Fifty to be Present at a Meating at the moderate Computation of five
Shillings a Peace to Each Proprietor for Each Time for his Time Travil
and Expence Amounts to £131.10.0.
Likewise they did in the year 1761 Lay out one fifty acres Lott to
Each Proprietor and Distributed them to the said Proprietors to Each
one Lott and have them Eecord to Each to hold in Severalty. Also in
the Tear 1763 they Did Survay and Lay out said Township By Runing
Round the same and making Proper bound at the Corners and in the
Line Every mile between said Corners, Then Laid out and Maid Proper
allowances for Most of the NeedfuU Highways in said Town, Then
Laid out 68 Hundread acres Lotts in said Town, Some of which are
now Taken up and Improved on, The others Lay Ready for those who
will Go on and Improve
The fore Going Facts are True Extracts from the Proprietors Rec-
ords. Attest ; Prince Tracy Proprietors Clerk.
Also these may ferther Certifie that In the Sumer 1763 There was
Ten Persons which Entered on the said Town and Laboured in the
same the said Sumer And in the year 1761 There was four Persons have
moved on the said Town with ther famelys and there Dwells Ever since
And the said Ten Continue to Improve the said Second Sumer : others
Did Enter on: and this Present Spring 10 more have gone on to
Improve : and about 10 others Intend to Go Imeduately.
Dated at Lebanon in ye Colony of Connecti cut May ye 7th 1765
Attest
PRINCE TRACY ) Propritors
JAMES PINNEO V
JONATHAN MARSH ) Comtee
The Names of the Persons who now Own the Several Rights of Land
"Which was Chartere to the origanal Proprietors of Hartford by the
Gover nr of New Hamp Shear as Neare as we are able to Informe, Are
as foUoweth "(viz) :
60 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Prince Tracy on his origanal E'ght
Jonathan Martin Assignee to Joseph Martin
Mosess Hebard, Assignee to Eleazer Hebard
Thomas Tracy on his own Right
Elijah Bingham, Ditto
Sarah Flint, Ditto
Elijah Prink, Assignee to Daniel Eedington
Elijah Dewey, Assignee to Gideon Bingham
Solomon Lord, Assignee to Eleazer Pitch 3d
Joseph PoUet on his own Right
John Spencer Junr on his one Right
John Hill, Assignee on half the Right of Jeduthan Simons
James Pinneo Janior Assignee to Hez Huntington
Elijah Strong, Assignee to Nathan Clark
John Baldwin, on his one Right
John Baldwin Assignee to I. ? Flint
John Baldwin, Assignee to John Roundey
John Baldwin Junr, on his own Right
Hezekiah Spencer, Assignee to Elisha Wright
John Bennit, Assignee to Benjamin Whitney also to Elisha Dubldee
Elijah Bebben on his own Right
Solomon Strong, Assignee to Joshua Pomeroy
Benajah Strong, Assignee to Daniel Pomroy
The Heirs of George Smith Assignee to Daniel Newcomb.
Jonathan Avery Junr, Assignee to Jonathan Martin Junr.
Samuel Terry Junr, on his own Right
Samuel Terry on his own Right
Aaron Fish on his own Right
Benjamin Wright on his own Eight, also Benjamin Wright Junr
Assignee to William Clark
Ebenezer Gillet on his own Right (also Assignee to Gideon Hebard)
Epherim Terry on his own Right
William Clark, Assignee to Silas Phelps
Stephen Tilldin Junir, Assignee to Samuel Porter
Nathan Waldow on his own Right
Sam'll Williams on his own Right
Silas Sprague, Assignee to Nathaniel Warner
Nathaniel Holbrook Junr on his own Right
Rowland Powel Junr on his own Right
Christopher Pees Assignee to James Newcomb
Oliver Bruster on his own Right
Jonathan Marsh, Assignee to Caleb Howard
John Marsh, Assignnee to Caleb Owen
Jedidiah Strong, Assignee to Eliphalet Phelps, also to Joshua
Wight junr
Noah Dewey, Assignee to Elias Princ
William Bramble, Assignee to William Yongs
Daniel Downer, Half Assignee to Jeduthan Simons
PRINCE TRACT ) Proprietors
JONATHAN MARSH l
JAMES PINNEO Junr ) Comtee
HISTORY OP HAETFORD. 61
The Names of those Proprietors which were in the Charter, which
Belonged to Hamp Shear His Exelency Bening Wentworth Esqr Eights
Williani Temple
Joseph Newmarch Esqr
Thomas Bell Esq
William Alld
Daniel "Werner Esqr
Joseph Blanchard
Samuel Wiatworth
Jonathan Comings
Da'd Newcomb
These may Oertifie all Persons
whom it may Consern that
those Persons whos names
Stand against these have Never
paid into the Treasury of All
the Taxes Assessed on them in
the whole but Twelve Shillings
As Appears by the Treasurers
Accompts. Test : Prince Tracy
Proprietors Treasurer
(Endorsed)
Paper from the
Township of Hartford
No. 2
Hartford
(also in different hand :)
Hartford Eecords
PETITION OF PEOPEIETOES AND INHABITANTS.
To the Honorable Cadwallader Golden, Esqr., Levtenant Governor
and Commander-in-Chief in and Over his Majesty's Province of New
York and the Territories their to Depending in America &C :
In Council,
The Petition of OUiver Willard in behalf of the Proprietors and In-
habitants of the Township of Hartford
Humbly Sheweth
That their is a Certain Tract of Land now lying in this Province, late-
ly called by the name of Hartford, Beginning (on the Banks of Connec-
ticutt River) at the North East Corner of the Township of Hartford
and from thence Extends up the Eiver to the South East Corner of
Norwich, from thence Extends Westerly, until the full Contents of six
Miles Square is Included, as the Charter and Plan of said Township
may appear Eeference thereto [SIC ?], that your Petitioners are the
sole Proprietors of the same. That there is Thirty Inhabitants now in
Actuell Possession of said Township, — that they hold the same under
the Great Seal of the Province of New Hampshire ; That they supposed
their Title to be good until a Eesolve of the King and his Majesty's
Privy Council Came to hand ordering the West Connecticutt Eiver to
be the Boundary Lines between this Province and the Province of New
Hampshire. That they are Desireous to scure their Properties, Posses-
sions and Improvements by Obtaining a Grant of the same under the
Seal of this Province. Tour Petitioners therefore who have been at a
great Expence in Purchasing, Survaying, Dividing and Improving said
Land, humbly Prays, that in Consideration of these Cause, that your
Honours, will be Pleased by his Majesty's Letters Pattent to Grant unto
your Petitioners their Heirs and Assigns forever, the aforesaid Lands,
the number of Acres mentioned in their Grant from New Hampshire,
on such Terms as your Honours shall think Just and that the same
erected into a Township by the name of Hartford and that the same be
63 HISTORY OF HAETFORD.
Invested with such Powers and Priviledges as other Towns in this
Province have and enjoy.
And your Petitioners as in
Daty Bound shall ever Pray
New York 31st of October 1765
(Endorsed) OL'E "WILLAED
1765
Petition of the
Township of
Hartford
No. 60
Hartford
1766 November 12.
Eead and referred to a Com'ee
and reported and granted to
the Original Grantees except
4 Shares and the usual Reserva-
tion for publick Uses.
4th Nov'br, 1V65.
PETITION or GRANTEES, 1766.
To his Excellency Sir Henry Moore, Baronet, Captain General and
Governor-in Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Ter-
ritories depending thereon in America, Chancellor and Vice-Admiral of
the same.
In Council.
The Humble Petition of Oliver Willard in behalf of the Proprietors
and Inhabitants of the Township of Hartford.
Humbly Sheweth,
That the Grant of the said Township of Hartford is advised to be
made in the Names of the several Original Patentees under New-
Hampshire or those claiming under them, amounting in the whole to
upwards of 50 Persons.
That the Granting of the said Lands in the Names of so many Per-
sons will as your Petitioner apprehends be attended with very great
Inconveniences which would be avoided by having the said Grant pass
in the Names of Twenty Persons, in which case your Petitioner is wil-
ling to enter into such Security as your Excellency shall think fit to
secure the Interests of the Grantees under the Grant of New-Hamp-
shire and those Claiming under them, upon the Like Terms as are
Expressed in the Minutes of Council relative to the Townships of Cav-
endish and Springfield. Your Petitioner therefore humbly prays, that
the Grant of the said Township may pass in the names of the several
Persons following to wit : Prince Tracy, Benjamin Wright, Benjamin
Burch, Joseph, Marsh, Benajah Strong, Elisha Marsh, John Baldwin,
John Bennet, Nathaniel Holbrook, Junior, Noah Dewey, Junior, Solo-
mon Strong, Jonathan Marsh, Amos Eobinson, Eufus Baldwin, Daniel
Pinneo, Elijah Strong, Ebenezer Gillet, Junior, Giles Alexander, Abel
Marsh and Zadock Wright.
And your Petitioner will pray &C.
S::emberm6.} OL'E WILLAED.
(Endorsed :) 17th December 1766
Petition of Oliver
Willard.
3d January 1767 Eead & granted
& the Entries of 12th Novr which lie
in Draft to be made conformable
to the prayer of the petition
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 63
RECORD OF COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Port George in the City of New York on Wed-
nesday the twelfth day of November 1776.
Present
His Excellency Sir Henry Moore, Baronet, Captain, General, etc.
Mr. Horsmander i Mr. Eeade
Mr. Smith V
Mr. Apthorpe ) Mr. Morris
******
The Petition of Oliver "Willard, in behalf of the Proprietors and In-
habitants of the Township of Hartford, was presented to the board and
read, setting forth, that there is a certain Tract of Land lying in this
Province, lately called by the name of Hartford : Beginning on the
Bank of Connecticut Eiver and at the Northeast Corner of the Town-
ship of Hertford, and from thence extends up the Eiver to the South-
east Corner of Norwich ; from thence extends Westerly until the full
Contents of Six Miles Square is included ; that the Petitioners are the
sole Proprietors of the same ; that there is thirty Inhabitants now in
actual Possession of said Township ; that they hold the same under
the Great Seal of the Province of New Hampshire ; That they supposed
their Title to be good until the Order of the King in his Privy Council
came to hand, directing the West Bank of Connecticut Eiver to be the
Boundary Line between this Province and the Province of New Hamp-
shire ; that they are desirous to secure their Properties, Possessions
and Improvements, by obtaining a Grant of the same under the Seal
of this Province ; And therefore the Petitioners humbly pray, that the
said Tract of Land may be by his Majesty's Letters Patent be granted
to them and their heirs, and that the same may be erected into a Town-
ship by the Name of Hartford, with such Powers and Privileges as
other Towns in this Province have and enjoy.
On reading whereof, It is ordered, that the said Petition be referred
to the Gentlemen of the Council or any five of them.
His Excellency w^ithdrawing, the Gentlemen of the Council resolved
themselves into a Committee on the said Petition and being ready to
make their report, his Excellency returned to the Council Chamber and
took his Seat.
Ordered, that the said Eeport be made immediately.
Then Mr. Eeade Chairman of the said Committee in his place re-
ported, that the said Committee had duely weighed and considered the
said Petition, and were humbly of Opinion, that his Excellency might
grant the said Tract of Land and Premises unto Prince Tracey, Benja-
min Wright, Benjamin Burch, Joseph Marsh, Benajah Strong, Elisha
Marsh, John Baldwin, John Bennet, Nathaniel Holbrooke, Junior,
Noah Dewey Junior, Solomon Strong, Jonathan Marsh, Amos Eobin-
son, Eufus Baldwin, Daniel Pinneo, Elijah Strong, Ebenezer Gillet
Junior, Giles Alexander, Abel Marsh and Zadock Wright. Except the
Shares and Proportions of the said Tract of Land foraaerly allotted to
Daniel Warner Esqr Joseph Newmarch Esqr Thomas Bell Esqr
and Samuel Wentworth; which Shares and Proportions having no
Improvement made thereon, are to remain vested in the Crown, and
that the several Shares of the said Tract, which by the Grant or Char-
ter from New Hampshire was intended for publick uses, be granted in
Trust as foUows that is to say : One such Share for the use of the In-
64 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
corporated Society for the Propogation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts ;
a like Share for a Glebe for the use of the Minister of the Gospel in
Communion of the Church of England as by Law established for the
Time being residing on the Premisses ; a like Share for the use of the
first settled Minister of the Gospel on the said Tract ; and one hundred
Acres for the use of a Schoolmaster residing on the same Tract.
Which Eeport on the Question being put was agreed to and ap-
proved of.
And this Board doth humbly advise and Consent, that his Excellency
do by his Majesty's Lettres Patent, grant to the Persons first above
named, and their heirs the Tract of Land aforesaid, to be thereby
erected into a Township, by the Name of Ware, instead that of Hart-
ford, with the usual Privileges, Under the Quit Rent, Provisoes, Limi-
tations and Restrictions, prescribed by his Majesty's Instructions :
Excepting out of the Land so to be granted, the Shares formerly
allotted to the Persons named in the Eeport of the Committee ; And
whereon no Improvement hath been made, which are to remain vested
in the Crown : And that the several Shares heretofore intended for
publick Uses be granted in Trust, for the Uses in the said Eeport par-
ticularly declared and expressed.
And it is ordered by his Excellency the Governor with the Advice
of the Council, that previous to the Passing the said Letters Patent,
the said intended Grantees, or some Persons for them of suflicient
Ability, do enter into Bond unto our Sovereign Lord the King in the
Penalty of two thousand JPounds current money of the Province of
New York ; Conditioned that they the said intended Grantees, their
heirs or Assigns, shall as soon as may be after the Passing of the said
Letters Patent, grant and Convey in fee simple unto all and every the
other Proprietors of the said Tract of Land, under the Grant of New
Hampshire (Except the aforesaid Daniel Warner, Joseph Newmarch,
Thomas Bell and Samuel Wentworth) their heirs or Assigns the sev-
erall Lotts Shares and Proportions of and in the same, which they the
said Proprietors so respectively held, are interested in or intitled
unto, under the said Grant ; upon the said Proprietors or their heirs
or Assigns paying their respective Proportions of all Pees Charges and
Disbursements arising or growing due thereon.
WAEKANT OF STJBVEY.
By his Excellency, Sir Henry Moore, Baronet, Captain General and
Governor in Chief in and over the Provinces of New York and the Ter-
ritories depending thereon in America, Chancellor and Vice Admiral of
the same. To Alexander Colden Esquire Surveyor General of the Prov-
ince of New York, Greeting :
You are hereby directed and required to Survey and lay out for Prince
Tracy, Benjamin Wright, Benjamin Burch, Joseph Marsh, Benajah
Strong, Eliaba Marsh, John Baldwin, John Bennet, Nathaniel Holbrook
Junior, Noah Dewey Junior, Solomon Strong, Jonathan Marsh, Amos
Eobinson, Rufus Baldwin, Daniel Pineo, Elijah Strong, Ebenezer Gil-
let Junior, Giles Alexander, Abel Marsh and Zadock Wright, All that
certain Tract of Land lying in this Province, lately called by the name
of Hartford, Beginning on the Bank of Connecticutt Eiver and at the
Northeast Corner of the Township of Hertford ; and from thence Ex-
tends up the Eiver to the Southeast Corner of Norwich ; from thence
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 65
extends Westerly until the full Contents of Six Miles square is included,
Except the Shares and proportions of the said Tract of Land formerly
allotted to Daniel Warner Esquire, Joseph Newmarch Esquire, Thomas
Bell Esquu-e and Samuel Wentworth, which Shares and proportions
having no improvement made thereon, are to Remain Vested in the
Crown ; And of the Land so to be Surveyed You are hereby directed and
required to Survey and lay out, adjoining each other, certain small Lotts
or Shares, which by the Grant of the Tract of Land aforesaid, under
the Seal of the Province of New Hampshire, were Intended for Publick
uses ; and which are to be granted in Trust as follows, that is to say, .
One such share for the use of the Incorporated Society for the Propa-
gation of the Gospel in Foreign parts, — a like share for a Globe for the
use of the Minister of the Gospel in Communion of the Church of Eng-
land as by Law established, for the time being residing on the said
large Tract, A like Share for the first settled Minister of the Gospel on
the said Tract, and one hundred Acres for the use of a Schoolmaster
residing on the same Tract — In Doing whereof you are to have regard
to the profitable and unprofitable Acres and to take Care that the
Length of the said Tracts, Lotts and parcels of Land or either of them
doth not extend along the Banks of any Eiver, otherwise than is con-
formable to his Majesty's Instructions AJid of what you shall have done
herein you are to make Return to me or the Governor or Commander
in Chief within six months at farthest from the Date hereof together
with a Plott or description of the said Tract of Land thereunto annexed,
distinguishing therein such part of the said Tract as is to remain Vested
in the Crown and the particular Lotts intended to be granted for pub-
lick Uses as a:foresaid. To the Intent that the Commissioners appointed
for the setting out of all Lands to be granted within the said Province
(of whom the Surveyor General is to be one) may on the said Survey,
be the better enabled to set out the said Tracts, Lotts and parcels of
Land, in manner and form as the same are Intended to be Granted to
the said Prince Tracey and the other Parties first above named and
which together with the Lands so to remain vested in the Crown as
aforesaid, are to be erected into a Township by the name of Ware, with
the usual Priviledges, under the Quit Rent, Provisoes, Limitations and
Restrictions precribed by his Majesty's Instructions ; And for so doing
this shall be your Warrant. Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms
at Fort George in the City of New York the 'Twelfth Day of November
One thousand seven hundred and Sixty six. — H. Moore. By his Excel-
lency's Command Geo. Banyar D. Sec'y.
PETITION OF GRANTEES AND OTHERS, 1772.
To his Excellency William Taylor Esquire Captain General and
Governor in Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Ter-
ritories depending thereon in America, Chancellor and Vice Admiral
of the same.
in Council.
The Petition of Jonathan Burtch in behalf of himself and the other
Owners and Proprietors under the Grant of New Hampshire of a Tract
of Land known by the name of the Township of Hartford
5
66
HISTORY OF HAETFORD.
Most Humbly Sheweth
That Oliver Willard did on a petition in behalf of Prince Tracey and
19 other persons, proprietors of the said Township to his late Excel-
lency Sir Henry Moore Baronet Deceased, Obtain an Order of his said
late Excellency in Council bearing Date the twelfth Day of November
1776 for granting to them and their Heirs the Tract of Land aforesaid
lyiug on the West side of Connecticut River to the Northward of the
Township of Hertford and Southward of a Tract of Land called Nor-
wich except such Shares thereof as were alloted under the said Grant
of New Hampshire to Daniel Warner, Joseph Newmarch, Thomas
Bell and Samuel Wentworth.
That your petitioner and his associates are the sole proprietors of
the said Tract, that there are about 120 Inhabitants in actual posses-
sion thereof under the said New Hampshire Grant, who are desirous
of securing their said Possessions and Improvements by Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of this Province and are willing to give
the Security for the Benefit of all the Owners of the said Tract under
the said New Hampshire Grant usually required in similar Cases.
Your Petitioner therefore humbly prays that when the Letters Patent
shall issue for the said Township of Hartford, the Persons whose
names are mentioned in the Schedule hereunto Subjoined May be in-
serted as Grantees in the said Letters Patent,
that the Shares of the said Township reserved in the former
Order may be included in the Grant for the Benefit of the
Present owners thereof.
And your Petitioner shall ever pray etc.
JONATHAN BURTCH
New York, 1st April 1772. in behalf of himself and Associates.
Schedule Referred to by the foregoing Petition
George Ball.
Jonathan Buitch.
Hugh Game.
John Kane.
James Lankashire.
William Ross.
WUUam Smith.
Valentine Nutter.
Isaac Heron.
Robert Neille.
Daniel Neille.
Robert Neille, Jr.
William Young.
WilUam Todd.
Christian Will.
Johannes Will.
Peter Montaigne.
John. Schevington.
William Stott.
James Thompson.
Jam^es RoHs.
Mathew Gloves.
Christopher Dud-
ley.
John KeUy.
KECORn OP COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Fort George in the City of New York on Wednes-
day, the Eighth day of April 1772.
Present
His Excellency William Tryon, Esquire, Captain General, etc.,
Mr. Horsmanden.
Mr. Watts.
Mr. De Lancey.
Mr. Apthorpe.
Mr. Morris.
etc.
Mr. Smith.
Mr. Cruger.
Mr. White.
Mr. Astell.
The Petition of Jonathan Burch in behalf of himself and the other
Owners and Proprietors under the Grant of New Hampshire of a Tract
of Land known by the Name of the Township of Hartford was presented
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 67
to the Board and read Setting forth, That Oliver Willard did on a Peti-
tion in hehalf of Prince Traoey and nineteen other Persons Proprietors
of the said Township to his late Excellency Sir Henry Moore Baronet
deceased, obtain an Order of his said late Excellency in Council bearing
date the twelfth day of November 1766 for granting to them and their
heirs the Tract of Land aforesaid lying on the West Side of Connecticut
Eiver, to the North of the Township of Hertford and Southward of a
Tract of Land called Norwich except such Shares thereof, as were
allotted under the said Grant of New Hampshire to Daniel Warner,
Joseph Newmarch, Thomas Bell and Samuel Wentworth ; That the
Petitioner and his Associates are the sole Proprietors of the said Tract.
That there are about one hundred and twenty Inhabitants in actual
Po jsession thereof under the said New Hampshire Grant, who are desir-
ous of securing their said Possessions and Improvements and are will-
ing to give the Security usually required in Similar Cases. And there-
fore the Petitioner humbly prays that when the Letters Patent shall
issue for the said Township of Hartford, the Persons whose names are
mentioned in the Schedule thereunto subjoined may be inserted as
Grantees in the said Letters Patent and that the Shares of the said
Township reserved in the former order may be included in the Grant
for the Benefit of the present Owners thereof.
On due Consideration whereof the Council did humbly advise that
when the Letters Patent shall issue for the said Tract of Land, his
Excellency the Governor do issue the same agreeable to the said Order
of the twelfth day of November 1766, but that instead of the Persons
thereiu mentioned as Grantees, the said Letters Patent issue in the
Names of Jonathan Burtch, Hugh Gaine, John Haine, James Lankashire,
William Ross, William Smith, Valentine Kutter, Isaac Heron, Robert
Neille, Daniel Neille, Robert Neille Junior, William Young, William
Todd, Christian Will, Johannes Will, Peter Montagnie, John Scheving-
ton, William Scott, James Thompson, James Roles, Mathew Gleves,
George Ball, Christopher Dudley and John Kelly ; That the Share of
the Tract formerly allotted to Benning Wentworth remain vested in
the Crown and that the Shares of the said Tract appropriated under
the Grant of New Hampshire to the said Daniel Warner, Joseph New-
march, Thomas Bell and Samuel Wentworth be granted by the said
Letters Patent, Subject to the Conditions to be expressed in the Bond
hereafter mentioned and that the whole of the said Tract of Land be
erected into a Township by the name of Hartford with the usual
Privileges.
And it is Ordered by his Excellency the Governor with the Advice of
the Council, that previous to the passing of the Letters Patent for the
said two ' Tracts of Land called by the respective names of Cavendish
and Hartford, the Grantees to be named therein or some Persons for
them of sufficient Ability do enter into Bond unto our Sovereign Lord
the King in the Sum of two thousand Pounds current money of the
Province of New York, Conditioned that they the said intended
Grantees, their Heirs or Assigns shall as soon as may be after passing
of the said respective Letters Patent respectively grant and convey in
Pee Simple unto all and every the other Proprietors of the said re-
spective Tracts of Land under the Grant of New Hampshire, their
' A patent for the Township of Cavendish was petitioned for previous to Hart-
ford and is included in the above two. — B. F.
68 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
heirs or Assigns (except the Heirs or Assignes of the aforesaid Ben-
ning Wentworh) the several Lotts, Shares and Proportions of and in
the said respective Tracts of Land, so to be granted under the Seal of
this Province, which they the said other Proprietors, their heirs or
Assigns paying their respective Proportions of all Fees Charges and
Disbursements arising or growing due thereupon, Provided such' oi her
Proprietors their heirs or Assigns do make Applications for such Grant
and Conveyance within the space of one year after Notification in one
or more of the publiek Newspapers of this Colany of the issuing such
respective Letters Patent and of the Names of the Patentees under
the Grants of New Hampshire.
CHAPTER VI.
POLITICAL AND MILITARY AFFAIRS 1775-76.
The first recorded evidence to be found in the town records that the
town took any interest in the political affairs that so deeply absorbed
the attention of the people generally, appears in the records under
date of June 1st, 1775. This record was made by Amos Robinson,
and reads as follows:
" At a legal meeting held at the house of Widow Euth Strong, on Thursday ye
1st day of June 1775.
Chose — Capt. Joseph Marsh, moderator.
Chose — Amos Eobinson a delegate to go Westminster.
Voted — that each man pay his equal proportion of the expenses of sending
delegates to Westminster.
Voted to ti'eat any man with contempt and neglect that I'efuses to pay Ins pro-
portion of said expenses."
At a meeting held in the house of widow Ruth Strong (relic of Elijah
Strong) June 19th, 1775, Joel Marsh was chosen captain; Benjm
Wright, Jr., lieut., and Alexander Brink, ensign to a company of militia
for Cumberland County upper regiment, and at the same meeting, Capt.
Joseph Marsh, Stephen Tilden, Amos Robinson and Joshua Hazen,'
were chosen a committee of safety for the town.
Nov. 20, 1775, the town voted to comply with the request of the
New York Provincial Congress to send men to represent the county at
the Honorable Provincial Congress at New York, but the names of the
delegates chosen were not recorded. Probably Capt. Joseph Marsh
was one of the delegates chosen.
The old county of Cumberland was erected by New York July 3,
1766, and was composed of the counties of Windham and Windsor.
The freeholders and inhabitants of the county were authorized to elect
supervisors, assessors, collectors, a treasurer and other officers, at the
meeting next after their appointment, the supervisors were directed to
levy and collect of those residing or sojourning in the county a sum not
exceeding £200, to be applied in constructing a court house and jail.
Chester was selected as the location of these buildings, and here subse-
quently the justices and judges held courts. In 1768 a new charter was
granted to the county and permission was given the inhabitants to
erect a court house at their own expense. Chester was again chosen as
' These men were afterwards prominent supporters of the government of Ver-
mont.
70 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
the location of the court house and jail. At a meeting of the supervi-
sors held at Chester May 26, IV 72, Westminster was chosen as the shire
town of Cumberland County, where a good court house and jail were
built. The first County Congress of Cumberland County was therefore
held at Westminster.
At a town meeting held July 13, 1776, it was voted that the town
should take the ammunition that the committee purchased in Connecti-
cut into their care as a town stock, and Capt. Abel Marsh was chosen
to take charge of said ammunition. It was also voted, that Maj. Joel
Marsh, Stephen Tilden and Samuel Udall, should be a committee to
give obligations to Capt. Abel Marsh and Maj. Griswold for the
ammunition, and proportion an assessment on the inhabitants for the
payment of the same, and give a bill to the constables to collect. Also,
that Capt. Marsh deal out one pound of powder to each soldier belong-
ing to the town that has gone or is going to Royalton, and lead and
flints proportionable to the stock, and half a pound of powder, lead and
flints proportionable to the stock to each man in town that had a gun.
Also, that if any man wasted or in any way disposed of any of the
ammunition drawn, or to be drawn out of the town stock he should pay
after the rate of two dollars per pound, and be held up to public view
as an enemy to his country. April 1st, 1777, the town voted to sell
this ammunition, and Capt. Abel Marsh was appointed a committee to
make the sale. It was also voted to raise by tax £20 to defray the
charges of the supervisors and county committee going to Westminster,
and the charge of the Royalton department which was the town's quota
to pay.
Nothing further appears in the town records relating to the further
participation of the inhabitants in the affairs of Cumberland county;
we will, therefore, quote what we have been able to glean from other
sources concerning the identification of the leading citizens of the town
with the " Congress " and " Committee of Safety " for Cumberland
counnty.' The executive officers of the towns comprising the counties
of Cumberland and Gloucester, were styled supervisors, and these, when
at home, were chairmen of the committees of safety for their respec-
tive towns. The county committees of safety were composed of an
aggregation of town committees. Then there were General Conven-
tions of a still higher grade which were composed of delegates ap-
' Cumberland County was composed of Windham and Windsor counties.
Gloucester county embraced only Orange County. Cumberland County was
divided into districts, the most noteworthy of which was named "Hartford"
and ranked as District "Number:" and embraced the town of Hartford and
the territory north of it to the line of Gloucester County, which line was terme d
the frontier of Cumberland County.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 71
pointed by the inhabitants of the several towns, and the resolves and
votes of the Conventions were executed by committees or agents
thereto appointed by the conventions.
May 16th, 1114, a. committee of correspondence, consisting of fifty
members was formed in the city of New York for the purpose of elicit-
ing the sentiments of the people of the respective provinces, and par-
ticularly of New York, on the measures of the mother country in
respect to her American colonies. Of this committee Isaac Low was
chairman, and he addressed the supervisors of Cumberland County,
May 21, 1114, asking information as to the sentiment of the people.
The supervisors, who were all pledged to the interests of New York,
which province was then extremely friendly to the mother country and
ready to cater to her interests — took no notice of Mr. Low's letter fur-
ther than to attempt to conceal it. But by accident it was discovered,
and the supervisors were called upon to explain their reasons for with-
holding the letter. They with profuse excuses produced the letter,
whereupon a copy of it was sent to each town in Cumberland county,
and a county convention was called to meet at Westminster on the 1 9th
of October, 1114. The inhabitants of Chester anticipated the action of
the forthcoming convention by holding a meeting October 10th and ap-
pointing a committee to unite with the county committee to prepare a
report to be sent to the New York committee of correspondence. The
proceedings of that meeting were too prolix to be inserted here entire,
but as the resolutions adopted were, in sum and substance, the first
declaration of sentiments that later were elaborately enunciated in the
Declaration of American Independence, they are entitled to a place in
this history. The resolutions were as follows:
" At said meeting. Resolved, first, That the People of America are
Naturally Intitled to all the Privileges of Free Borne Subjects of Great
Britain, which Privileges they have Never Forfeited.
Secondly. Eesolved, that Every Man's Estate, Honestly Acquired,
is his Own and no person on Earth has A Right to take it Away without
the Proprietors' Consent unless he forfeit it by Some Crime of his
Committing.
Thirdly. Resolved, that all Acts of the British Parliament Tending
to take Away or Abridge these Rights Ought not to be Obeyed.
Fourthly. Resolved, that the People of this Town will Joyn with
their Fellow American Subjects in Opposing in all Lawful! ways Every
Incroachment on their Natural Rights.
Chester, April 20th, 1773."
It is not surprising that such sentiments were deprecated by the New
York authorities to whom they were indirectly aimed.
The first Cumberland county convention at which Hartford was
represented, was held at Westminster, Feb. 7-9, 1114. Jonathan Bui-ch
72 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
was the delegate from Hartford, and lie was chosen one of a committee
of correspondence, &c Twelve towns only were represented in this
convention. The animus of this convention was expressed in the 9th
vote taken, viz. : — " That this Convention Recommend it (to) their
Constituants to chuse a Man for their Supervisor at the next Annual
meeting such as they would Chouse if they ware to send him to New
York as their Assemblyman, &c."
The next in the order of revolutionary events was the massacre of
William French and Daniel Hoisington, at Westminster, May 13th,
17*7 5, by the officers of New York, which was afterwards described as
" the shedding of the first blood that was shed in America to support
Brittanic government."
It seems paradoxical that such men as Col. Joseph Marsh, Col. Simon
Stevens, Col. Benj. Wait and Col. Jacob Bayley, could have maintained
for so long a time as they did, warm, friendly relations with, and
accepted important offices at the hands of, the New York authorities,
who were guilty of undue use' and oppressive exercise of the power of
jurisdiction toward the inhabitants on the New Hampshire Grants — a
jurisdiction unfounded in right and reason — and, at the same time, not
being in the confederacy of states, nor directly sufferers from the in-
justice of the British government toward the American colonies, remain
oblivious of the similarity in the controversy between Vermont and the
government of New York, and that of the American colonies with the
British government, and unhesitatingly pledge their support and full
proportion towards maintaining a war against Great Britain, whose
iniquitous measures were endorsed by the New York government.
The Cumberland county congress again met at Westminster, on the
26th of July, 1775. In August the Province was divided into military
districts and the counties of Charlotte, Cumberland and Gloucester
were embodied in one brigade. Two regiments were formed in Cum-
berland county, one of which was designated " The North, or Upper
regiment." August 14th, 1775, at Springfield, the following list of
officers for the Upper regiment were chosen : —
Field Officers : — Simons Stevens, of Springfield, colonel ; Joseph
Marsh, of Hartford, lieut.-colonel ; and Benjamin Wait, of Windsor,
major. Among the company officers chosen from Hartford, were Joel
Marsh, to be Captain ; Benjamin Wright, lieutenant, and Alexander
Brink, ensign.'
On the 21st of November, the county "Congress " met at Westminster,
£ rst as a " Congress " to elect deputies, and then as a "Committee of
' The officers elected at this meeting were nominated in June, 1775.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 73
Safety " to nominate militia ofScers. The following persons were
nominated for the Upper Regimen,t : — Capt. Joseph Marsh, first colonel;
Capt. John Barrett, second colonel ; Lieut. Helkiah Grout, first major;
Capt. Joel Matthews, second major; Timothy Spencer, adjutant; Amos
Robinson, quartermaster.' For a Regiment of Minute men : — Capt.
Joab Hoisington, first colonel ; Seth Smith, second colonel ; Joseph
Tyler, first major.; Joel Marsh, second major ; Timothy Phelps, adju-
tant ; Elisha Hawley, quartermaster. The above named nominees were
confirmed Jan'y 4th, 1176. Col. Marsh, Amos Robinson and Maj. Joel
Marsh were citizens of Hartford.' It is probable that several citizens
of Hartford, who were then liable to military duty, were members of
the upper regiment of Cumberland county which was organized August
14, 11'75, at Springfield, Vt., and, doubtless, some were members of the
ranging department, but there is ho evidence of this in the town records.
For the purpose of obtaining more light concerning the enlistments
of citizens of the town into the above named regiments, I made appli-
cation to the adjutant general of New York, Feb. 1st, 1886, which elic-
ited the following response, viz : —
General Hbadquaetees, State op New Yoek, )
Adjutant-General's Ofeice, Albany, Feb. 5, 1886. (
Respectfully returned invitrng attention to enclosed communication from Mi-.
Femow. (Signed) J. N. PORTER,
Maj.-Oen. and Adjt.-Oen.
Mr. Fernow wrote as follows : —
'• The records, of this department give only the following list of offi-
cers commissioned for the Upper or North Regiment of Cumberland
County by the committee of safety of New York, on the 4th of January,
1776:—
Colonel — Joseph Marsh. ^ Lieut.-Col. — John Barrett.
1st Major — Hilkiah Grout. 2d Major — Joel Matthews.
Adjutant^Timothy Spencer. Quartermaster — Amos Robinson. ^
After the adoption of the State Constitution and the election of a
governor (Gov. Clinton) and a council of appointment, no further notice
seems to have been taken of the northern part of Cumberland County
by the authorities of this State. Hence the pay list, or list of certifi-
cates of indebtedness issued to the levies and militia by the treasurer of
New York does not contain the names of the officers and privates in
Col. Marsh's regiment. For further information Mr. Tucker is referred
to the ' Journal of the New York Provincial Congress.' "
(Signed; BEETHOLD FERNOW,
State Custodian of Historical Records.
Albany, Feb. 4th, 1886.
' The officers in this list took the place of those nominated in June.
' See nominations made Nov. 21, i775-
74 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
The following appears in the records of the Gloucester County com-
mittee of safety :
" At a meeting of the committees of the Counties of Cumberland and
Gloucester appointed to nominate a brigadier-general and a brigade-
major, at Windsor, on Wednesday the 22d day of May, 1776 ; made
choice of Colonel Joseph Marsh as chairman, and Major Joel Matthews
clerk ; then proceeded and made choice of Col. Jacob Bayley as briga-
dier-general and Simon Stevens Esq. as brigade-major, of said counties.
Voted, That the return of the above nominations be sent by Colonel
Marsh to the honorable Provincial Congress, who is authorized to rep-
resent this Committee at Congress." By order.
(Signed) JOSEPH MARSH, Chairman.'
JOEL MATTHEWS, Clerk.
To the Honorable Provincial Congress.
At a meeting of the Cumberland County committee of safety held at
Westminster, June 20-22, 1776, Hartford was not represented. At this
meeting it was voted to send representatives to New York to sit in the
Provincial Congress, and that the three highest in number of votes should
be the gentlemen chosen to go. Col. Joseph Marsh received 368 votes ;
Deacon John Sessions 172, and Simon Stevens Esq. 166, and they were
declared the three highest in vote. The chairman of the committee was
instructed to make out certificates that these gentlemen were duly
chosen delegates to sit in Provincial Congress."
' Col. Marsh did not, after the date of this meeting, participate in the proceed-
ings of any Congress, convention, or committee of safety, held in the interest of
the government of New York.
■^Deacon Sessions and Mr. Stevens vf^nt to New York, but Col. Marsh declined
the mission. Col. Marsh doubtless retired from all connection with the govern-
ment of New York in 1776. On the ist of April, 1777, he was chosen with Amos
Robinson, Stephen Tilden, Capt. Abel Marsh and Lieut. Israel Gillett to serve as
a town committee of safety.
CHAPTEK VII.
HARTFORD DURING THE REVOLUTION.
PROCEEDINGS AT A MEETING IN HANOVER, JULY 5TH, 1776.
At a meeting of several adjacent Towns at the ColLege Hall on Friday the 5th
day of July, 1776 (viz) Lyme, Hanover, Lebanon, Thetford, Norwich and Hart-
ford.
Chosen — Amos Robinson,' Clerk.
Chosen — Deacon Nehemiah Estabrook, Moderator.
Voted — ^to raise 50 men Exclusive of officers to Repair to Royalton to fortify
in that Town and Scout from thence to Onion River and Newbury.
Voted — To appoint one Captain and two Subalterns.
Voted — To appoint Mr. David Woodward, Captain.
Voted — To appoiat Mr. Joshua Hazzen, first-Lieut.
Voted — To appoint Mr. Abel Lyman second Lieut.
Voted — To appoint a Committee of three men to Direct the Building of the
fort at Royalton and furnish sd Fort with all necessary supphes.
Chosen Esqr Joel Marsh,' Mr. Isaac Morgan and Majr John Slapp to be sd
Committee.
Voted — To raise 350 men Exclusive of officers to go to Newbury to fortifle,
scout and guard there for three months unless sooner discharged.
Voted — To appoint Capt. Abner Seelys Major of the last mentioned Depart-
ment.
Voted — To divide sd 350 into four Companys.
Voted— To appomt Mr. Levi Willard, Mr. Oliver Ashley and Mr. Samuel
Paine to be Captains.
Voted — That the Captains appoint their Subalterns.
Voted — To appoint a Committee of three men to Direct and order the affairs
of the Newbury Department.
Voted — That Col. Bailey, Col. Johnson and Col Olcott be sd Comtee.
Voted— That this Committee engage to see that the officers and soldiers in
both the afore mentioned Departments be honorably paid for their services.
Voted To dismmiss this meeting — it is accordingly dismist.
A ti-ue copy from the Minutes.
Test : Pr me Amos Robinson, Clerk.
At a special meeting of the members of the Committee of Safety for
Cumberland county, July 23rd, 1776, Thomas Hazen, of Hartford, was
present as a member of the committee. On the 25th, the committee
voted that the powder which had been sent to the county by the Pro-
vincial Congress of New York should be dealt out to the several town
committees to be kept as a town stock, and not dealt out without some
' Amos Robinson, Joel Marsh and Joshua Hazen were from Hartford.
76 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
extraordinary caution, and if dealt out and not used to be returned.'
On this occasion it was resolved, " that any person knowing of any
criminal correspondence kept up between any person or persons in this
county and the King's officers in the army at Canaday, on giving notice
thereof, shall receive the utmost protection from this committee."
On the 6 th of August, 1776, the committee of Cumberland and Glou-
cester counties met at Windsor in order to appoint officers, such as
captains, lieutenants, &c., for a ranging department granted by the
Provincial Congress of New York, viz : — 252 men out of the two coun-
ties, to the command of which the Congress had commissioned Mr. Joab
Hoisington, of Woodstock, major. Stephen Tilden, of Hartford, was
a member of this meeting. The committee agreed to appoint 3 captains
and 4 lieutenants in the county of Cumberland, and one captain and 4
lieutenants in Gloucester county. Major Joel Marsh, of Hartford, was
appointed captain in said department. Thomas Hazen and Stephen
Tilden, of Hartford, J. Winchester Dana, of Pomfret, and lieutenant
John Strong, of Woodstock, were chosen to join a committee of Glou-
cester county to appoint their proportion of officers, and to meet at
Abner Chamberlins' in Thetford, and in case Maj. Marsh declined to
serve as captain in this department to choose a substitute.'' It was also
voted, that the sub-committees of the towns should see that a late
hand-bill from New York was signed by all citizens, and the refusers
to be dealt with according to said hand-bill.^
At a meeting of the County Committee at Westminster, June 4-5
1777. Thomas Hazen of Hartford, was present. This was the last
appearance of Mr. Hazen at the meetings of said Committee. While
Mr. Hazen was in attendance at this meeting, Col. Joseph Marsh and
Mr Steven Tilden were attending the general convention of the rep-
resentatives from the several counties and towns in the New Hamp-
shire grants at Windsor, as delegates from Hartford.
The last meeting of the Cumberland county Committee was held at
' This powder was an object of great solicitude. A guard was kept over it day
and nigiit. Julj 23rd, tlie committee voted " that landlord Nichols should provide
the guard the necessary victualing and half a pint of rum to each man once in 24
hours, and that the wages of the guard should be 3s. per day and 2s. per night.
^Mr. Marsh declined; at least he was not commissioned.
'The handbill referred to was sent to the committee from the Provisional Con-
gress of New York, and suggested the expediency of instituting civil government
according to the exigencies of the county, and the formation of a mode of gov-
ernment independent of the Crown — for the preservation of the rights, liberties
and property of the people— and requested the towns to make some expression of
their sentiment on this matter. The major part of the people of the county, in-
cluding Hartford, agreed to the proposition, elected delegates, and empowered
them with authority to agree with the Provincial Congress in favor of the proposed
action.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 77
"Westminster, Sept. 2-3, 1777. In the roll of members then present
there appears the name of Mr. Rust of Hartford, who must have been a
self-constituted representative, as he was not a member of the town
committee nor a town officer at that date. The record of proceedings of
this meeting indicates the existence of a strong sentiment against New
York. It was moved that the committee should send some sutiable
person to the legislature of New York to inform them of the conduct
of the pretended council (of safety) and pretended committees of the
State of Vermont and take their advice and directions thereon. The
vote stood four to three against the motion. It was then voted to
adjourn until the second Tuesday of November.'
STIEHING EVENTS OP 1777.
The year 1777 was fraught with important events to the whole
country, but to Vermont it was the most eventful period in her history.
Some of the important proceedings of the conventions of that year
have been already alluded to. It has been said that the convention of
June 4th appointed a committee to repair to Ticonderoga to consult
with the commander of the fort at that point respecting the regulations
and defense of the frontiers. While the committee was at that point
Gen. Burgoyne with his army appeared on the lake, and resting at
Crown Point, he sent a scout of 300, mostly Indians, to laud at the
mouth of Otter Creek, to annoy the frontiers of the State. Gen. Poor
declined to allow any troops to the committee for defense of the fron-
tiers, but allowed Col. Warner to go with the committee, who soon
raised men sufficient to repel the scouts. Such of the committee as
were members of the convention left the militia and repaired to the
convention at Windsor, July 2d.'
The convention of the 4th of June issued a proclamation for a fast to
be observed June 18th. The convention also took possession of the
common goal for the county of Cumberland, and directed that the
keeper should keep in custody all prisoners already committed by any
legal authority within the State until discharged by the convention.
The convention also notified the chairman of the Committee of Safety
for the counties of Cumberland and Gloucester to desist from longer
' During the proceedings above named (Sept. 2-3), Mr. Clay the chairman of
the council was not present. Soon after the adjournment named, Mr. Clay put
in an appearance, and the committee reassembled with him, and it was decided
to send some person to New York to make a representation of the difficulties the
county of Cumberland was laboring under, and Capt. Clay was chosen for that
mission.
■' Allen's Vt. p. 92 in Vt. Hist. Soc. Coll. Vol. i p. 382.
78 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
acting in such capacity by virtue of New York authority : ordered the
Committees of Safety acting under the authority of Vermont to take
into immediate custody all such estates of enemical persons who have
been or may have proved to be such, and empowered all town com-
mittees to seize and secure all and every person and their estates, that
appear to be enemical to their country, and them safely keep for. the
use of the State during the recess of the convention, except what may
be suiEcient to defray the necessary charges arising for trial of such
offenses ; that town committees seizing the person or estate of any sus-
pected enemies, and finding cause to proceed against the same, should
be empowered to call thirteen committeemen from adjacent towns to
act with committee of said town, to try such offenders and give sentence
against them and order judgment to be put in execution — provided the
offenders are not worthy of death or other corporal punishment — ^in
which case the committees should imprison the offenders in the common
goaP within this State there to remain without bail until a proper
court should be established in this State to try them.
Pursuant to the request of the convention the people of Hartford
met on Monday, June 23d, 1777, to elect two delegates to attend said
convention. This meeting was held in the house of Solomon Strong,
near the centre of the town. Benjamin "Wright was chosen Moderator.
Col. Joseph Marsh and Lieut. Joshua Hazen were chosen delegates.
The following vote was taken, viz:
" That we do authorize and empower Col. Joseph Marsh and Lieut.
Joshua Hazen to join with the. delegates from the other towns in the
State of Vermont, that are chosen to meet at Windsor on the 3d day
of July next to Draw the out Lines of Government.
Voted — unanimously that we will join to be a New State on the
New Hampshire Grants.
THE CONVENTION AT WINDSOE, JULY 2-8, 1777.
This convention established a constitution, and frame of government.
Col. Joseph Marsh of Hartford was chosen Vice-President of the con-
vention. Rev. Aaron Hutchinson of Pomfret delivered a sermon.
After the sermon the convention proceeded to the specific business for
which it was called. A draft of a constitution was laid befoi'e the con-
vention and read. The convention had this under consideration when
' The convention of Sept. 25th, recommended and it was voted, that a goal be,,
erected in Manchester tvs'enty feet by thirty inside, to be built of logs and earth
for the confinement of tories and other offenders. Said goal to be built of a
double wall of logs not less than twelve inches through, laid eighteen inches
between walls, the vacancy to be filled with earth about 7 feet high, then roofed,
to have a log floor, double and strong door.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 79
their attention was called away by the arrival of a dispatch from Col.
Seth Warner announcing the advance of Burgoyne upon Ticonderoga
and calling for assistance. The news greatly alarmed the convention,
as the capture of Ticonderoga, — which was regarded, as the Gibralter of
America — would leave the frontiers of the State exposed to the inroads
of the enemy. A copy of Col. Warner's dispatch was immediately for-
warded by express to the General Assembly of New Hampshire, then in
session at Exeter, with a letter from the Convention, stating the situa-
tion, and submitting the consideration of the matter to the serious
attention of the Assembly. The militia of the State were then with the
officer commanding at Ticonderoga. Consequently the convention
could take no other measures to reinforce the beleagured fortress. It
therefore proceeded to consider the constitution. It remained in session
tintil July 8th, when its deliberations were again interrupted by the
arrival of a dispatch from Gen. St. Clair, returning his thanks for the
exertions made by the convention to reinforce Ticonderoga, but an-
nouncing the evacuation of the place on the morning of the 6th of July.
This news caused great alarm. Many of the members were for leaving
and flying to the defense of their homes, but a severe thunder storm
came on which compelled them to remain awhile, and in the interim
they were persuaded by other members, less alarmed by the news, to
conclude their business. The constitution was read for the last time
and unanimously adopted. It was then ordered that an election should
be held in December, 1111, for the election of representatives to the
General Assembly to meet at Bennington in January, 1778. Col. Joseph
Marsh, Joseph Williams, and Timothy Brownson were appointed a
committee to procure a supply of arms, for the State, with instructions
to draw them, if possible, from governmental arsenals. A council of
safety was appointed to administer the affairs of the State until some
other provision should be made. The convention voted to establish a
loan office and appointed Ira Allen its trustee. After a session of six
days the convention adjourned.
The battle of Bennington has been declared the decisive battle of the
Revolution, for the reason that there can scarcely be a doubt that a
contrary result would have exposed all New England to devastation.
The British Colonel Baura had boasted that he would march through
Vermont to Boston, which he doubtless would have succeeded in doing
had victory not perched on the banners of the gallant American forces.
"One more such strike," said Washington, "and we shall have no great
cause for anxiety as to the future designs of Britain."
The only adducible evidence that Hartford contributed men to the
80 HISTOEY OF HAETFOED.
militia marched by Col. Joseph Marsh to reinforce Gen. Poor, at Ticon-
deroga, or to the forces sent to Bennington from the grants, is found in
the records comprised in the Vermont Historical Society's collections,
now deposited in Montpelier.
The records of the town are very meagre concerning military affairs.
Indeed, the entire records of the legislative action of the town, for a
period of seventeen years, ITS 1-1 778, were kept in the small pamphlet
book, heretofore alluded to, and the proceedings specifically relating to
military matters are recorded on less space than two pages of foolscap
paper. Our ancestors were men of brawn, and not given to buncombe
demonstrations. Their legislative proceedings were brief in character,
and only stubborn facts for present reference dotted the pages on which
they inscribed the record of their action. They formed but few plans,
but these they executed with perseverance and heroism worthy of the
cause they were striving to maintain. The number of those, however,
who took up arms and entered the arena of actual hostilities must have
been small, for the reason that the whole number of inhabitants in the
town, at the date of the Bennington battle, was less than two hundred,
and of these none but able bodied men between sixteen and sixty years
of age were liable to do military duty.
In 1765, the government of New York divided a portion of the New
Hampshire grants into a new county by the name of Cumberland which
embraced the territory now constituting Windham and Windsor coun-
ties. This county they divided into military districts, of which Hart-
ford and all towns north to the south line of Gloucester county (now
Orange), formed the 1st district, which was entitled "Hartford
District."
In ITYl, the New York government caused a census to be taken of
the aforesaid counties. At this time Cumberland county contained
3,94T inhabitants ; Hartford contained but 191, while the whole number
in the State did not exceed 7,000. The eastern half of the State con-
tained the largest part of the population. Dr. Williams estimated the
population of Cumberland and Gloucester counties to be at least two-
thirds of the people in the whole State, or territory ; and in 1791 the
number on the east side was 43,970; on the west side 41,569, total
85,539. Hartford, in 1791, had a population of 988. The probable
number of her inhabitants at the commencement of the Revolution was
about 300. On a call for troops her full quota (eliminating those en-
titled to exemption from military duty, could not have exceeded fifty
• men — probably not 40.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 81
It seems probable that the militia of Hartford were employed to do
frontier duty against innovations made by the Indians ; and to repel
any attempted overt acts on the part of the New Yorkers ; also, to do
duty in behalf of the Continental Congress. They were under the com-
mand and authority of committees of safety, who were considered as
the supreme executive, and whose orders and recommendations were
regarded as the law of the land, the infraction of which was punished
with severity. Though Vermont was not in the Union, and was denied
admission to it, the people of Hartford, in common with those of other
towns, when the controversy with Britain approached open hostilities,
imbibed the spirit of opposition that grew out of the coercive measures
taken by the mother country, and responded to every call made upon
their patriotism, both to defejad their personal rights and the cause of
the country at large.
An examination of the records in possession of the Vermont Histor-
ical Society, reveals some interesting facts that are entitled to a place
in this history. The first document found, in the aforesaid records,
relating to Hartford, in the Bevolution, is found in Vol. I., under date
11th August, 1777, which shows that on that date the coimcil of safety
sent an express to Colonel Joseph Marsh of Hartford to march one-
half of his militia to Bennington. Jones Fay, vi'ce-president of the
council, in a letter to Maj. Israel Smith of Strafford, under date of
August 13th, wrote :
" Deab Col. : By express this day received from the commanding
officer of the Northern Department, we learn that a door has now
opened for the troops of this State to do duty on this side the north
river which will be clear from Gen. Schuyler's command, and as an ex-
pedition is on foot of the greatest importance, which is to remain a
secret till the troops are collected, these are therefore the most positive
terms to require you, without a moment's loss of time, to march one-
half of the regiment under your command to this place. No small
excuse at this juncture can be received. * * * You wUl hurry
what Rangers forward are recruited with all speed. Now is the time,
gjj, * * » J desire you would, By Order of Council send this Ex-
press to General Bayley, Peter Olcott, Col. and Col Marsh."
As this order was issued only three days prior to the day of the bat-
tle, it could not have reached Col. Marsh in time to enable him to col-
lect his men (who were not in garrison) and march them to Bennington
by the 16th, but it appears of record, that he did collect his men and
started on the 16th for Bennington. This is shown by the following
documentary evidence to be found in Vt. His. Soc. Coll. Vol. 2, p. 379,
entitled :
" A Pay roll of Capt. Seth Hodges' company in Col. Joseph Marsh's
6
82 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
xegiment of militia for the bounty allowed by the State of Vermont,
Pomfret, Oct.- 7, 1777.
Corporal Asa Emerson, Privates Jonathan Burch, Eddy Barch,
Becket Chapman, Mitchell Clark, Wm. Curtis, Bary Damon, Hezekiah
Hazen, Jno. Hill, Abel Marsh, Elisha Perkins, Phineas Strong, Seth
Savage, Elkanah Sprague, Stephen Tilden, Andrew Tracy, Josiah Til-
den, Wm. Udall, Benjamin Wright," Samuel Webster, Timothy Hard-
ing, Wm. Eanney, Nath'l Troop, John Watkins." '
This roll is made up in a tabulated form and states that the time of
entering service was Aug. 16th, 1777, that with few exceptions, they
remained in service to October 4th (fifty days), that the monthly pay of
each of the men was at the rate of £2, 10s.; that the miles travelled
were IBO ; each man's mileage pay was 15s. and the whole pay to each
man who served the full time was £4, 18s., 4p. On 'the back of the
roll is the following endorsement by Col. Marsh :
" In Council, Hartford, July 14th, 1778. The withm pay-roll accepted and
approved, the sum of which is £197-1-8 which sum the treasurer is desired to
pay; per order of Council. (Signed) JOSEPH MARSH."
A family tradition is that Col. Marsh was in the battle of Bennington.
Paul Spooner mentioned in his letter to Brig. Gen. Bayley under date
of the 11th August, that an express was that day sent to Col. Marsh
ordering him to march one-half his command to Bennington. Mr.
Spooner was deputy secretary to the council, and knew whereof he was
writing. The express could have occupied not less than two days en
route from Bennington to Hartford, under the most favorable circum-
stances the militia could not have been collected, provisioned and
marched to Bennington, by the most available route, in less than four
days. It is therefore probable that Col. Marsh's regiment did not
march before the 16th, and, as Gov. Hall suggests, was in service on
the Hudson, instead of being at Bennington.^
The next document, in chronological order, was a return of the num-
ber of men and horses employed by Capt. Abel Marsh in carrying
flour from some point on the Connecticut river to Battenkill.
A return of the Men and Horses employed by Capt. Abel Marsh in
Carrying Flour from Connecticut Elver to Battenkill for the use of the
Northern Army by order of Jacob Bayley, B. D. G., 13 October, 1777.
' The first nineteen were citizens of Hartford.
^ The last five were citizens of Pomfret.
" The late Hon. Roswell Marsh of Steubenville, Ohio, grandson of the lieu-
tenant governor, in whose family he lived until he was i8, was certain that
leading public men and members of the family spoke of his having a share at
Bennington and of camp-life while the regiment guarded the river to prevent
Burgoyne's retreat, and cut off supplies from Canada. Governor and Council,
Vol. I, p. 237.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
83
Men's Names. No. days No. of
Service. Horses.
Joseph Marsh 1
Nathan Howling 15 1
Josiali Lamb __.15 1
John Strong 9 1
Joseph SafEord 9 1
"Wm. Powers 9 1
Ohver Kidder _ 10 S
Israel Burlingame 10 2
Jerathmael Powers 10 1
Roger Bates 10 1
Samuel Scott 10 1
Elijah Mason ___ ___ 1
James Burch 6 1
Elkanah Sprague 9 1
Zebulon Lyon _15 1
Eldad Hubbard. 1.5 1
Joel Marsh 1
Roswell Morgan 16 1
LVett Benson 16 1
Joshua Spear 1
Levi Baldwin. _ 1
Elijah Smalley ..16 1
Abner Howard 16 1
Oliver Udal 1
Darius Sessions 1
Peter Thatcher 1
Dan'l Waterman 1
David Staton 3 1
Nath'l Boardman 3 1
Joseph Hatch 3 1
Cash expended on the Voige
Attest,
No. of
Expenses per
miles
oay, men
Sum Total
travel.
and horses
Due.
s.
M
s. p.
140
4
3
0 10
140
12
9
0 0
140
13
9
0 0
80
12
5
8 0
80
13
5
8 0
80
12
5
8 0
120
16
8
0 0
130
16
8
0 0
120
12
6
0 0
120
13
6
0 0
120
12
6
0 0
120
4
3
0 0
80
13
3 12 0
80
12
5
8 0
140
12
9
0 0
140
12
9
0 0
140
4
3
0 0
160
12
9
12 0
160
12
9
12 0
160
4
3
5 4
160
4
3
5 4
160
13
9 12 0
160
12
9
12 0
140
4
3
0 0
80
4
1
16 0
140
4
3
0 0
140
4
3
0 0
45
13
1
16 0
12
1
16 0
12
1
16 0
3
16 0
£168
2 8
Abel Mabsh.
On the back of the return are the following endorsements : —
" This certifies that by direction of Gen. Lincoln, I ordered the within
supplies of flower which was delivered to the commissary at Battenkill
at the time within specified when the baggage horses were dismissed.
JACOB BAYLEY, B. G.'
Pay Eoll Office, Charlestown, N. H., Oct. 25, 1781.
The within account examined and there is allowed thereon £78. Is.
4p., and the treasurer is directed to pay the same to Capt. Abel Marsh
or bearer.
TIMOTHY BROWNSON,") Committee
THOMAS CHANDLER, [■ of
JOHN STRONG. j Pay Table.
Treasurer's Office, Charlestown, "
Oct. 24, 1781. Received of the treas-
urer the contents of this order in be-
half of Capt. Abel Marsh.
PETER OLCOTT.
'In September 1777, Gen. Bajlej was at Castleton on military business and
affixed the initials "B. D. G." to his name, which probably was meant for Briga-
dier General. He was commissary General of the northern department when the
above named order was given.
84 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
On the 26th of March, 1778, ihe Governor and Council, empowered
by the General Assembly, appointed a court to confiscate and order the
sale of the estates, both real and personal, belonging to the enemies of
the United States, which laid within the limits of Vermont. Two courts
were established, one for Cumberland, the other Bennington County.
The court for Cumberland county consisted of Lieut. Governor
Marsh, Jacob Bayley, Thomas Murdook, Peter Olcott, Benjamin Emmons
Paul Spooner, and Benjamin Carpenter. Any four of these were to be
a quorum. The court for Cumberland County found many causes for
confiscation, but it does not appear of record that any estates were con-
fiscated in Hartford, or that any punishment was inflicted upon any of
her inhabitants. Still, there may have been cases of sequestration, as
there wer* in the adjoining town of Hartland, and in Windsor. Corpo-
real punishment was inflicted in many portions of the State. One case
will be sufficient to illustrate the intent, if not the application of the
law of chastisement. One Francis Breakenridge had been arrested for
inimical conduct, and after being kept in durance vile for some time,
asked leave to return home. Leave was granted in the following
terms : —
" Francis Breakenridge is permitted to return home and remain on
his father's farm, and if found off to expect 39 lashes of the Beach Seal,
until further order from this Council."
One Zadock Wright, of Hartland, rendered himself very obnoxious
to his neighbors, and in consequence his property was seized by order
of the Council, his farm was rented to Moses Evans, with some excep-
tions in favor of his wife. It is supposed that the following voucher of
expenses, or return of services by a guard or guards relates to the said
Wright, for the reason that the men named as guards were members of
the militia of Hartford and Hertford (Hartland).
A Eeturn of the gard that garded Maj. Wright : — Elkanah Sprague,
Thomas Eitcheson (Eichardson), Jeremiah Eust, Phineas Eust, Eli
Willard and Achial Eust. Time three days and three nights at one
pound six shillings each. Total £10. 4s.
Test Elkanah Sprague ofeser of the gard. Hartford, June, 1778.
A return of another gard that gearded said Wright : — Joseph Marsh,
Jr., Andrew Tracy, Stephen Tilden, Jr., and David Wright. Time 3
days and 3 nights. Wages £1. 6s. each. Total £7. 4s.
Esq. Dana, Zebulon Lee and Joseph Marsh, Jr., who guarded said
Wright to " No 4," 2 days with horses and expenses 2 pounds, 15 shil-
lings each. Total £8 5s.
Test David Wright, sargent of the gard, June, 1778.
Hartford, Oct. 24th, 1778. This may sartify that the above gards were
ordered by me. 10.4
7.4
JOSEPH MASH,' Major of geard 8.5
■' Son of Lt.-Gov. Joseph Marsh. £25.13.0
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 85
The foregoing will convey a very clear idea of the course pursued by
the -Council toward the enemies of the State and U. S. government.
Doubtless punishment was administered in many instances with un-
called for severity. Proscription and confiscation was the rule against
every expression of loyalty to the old regime. Those who had been loyal
subjects of the King, were, doubtless, unable to suppress their prefer-
ences in that direction, and to those who were struggling against every
obstacle to maintain what they deemed a righteous cause, every mani-
festation in opposition to that cause was magnified into dangerous hos-
tility, and those who were lukewarm, as well as those who assumed a
hostUe attidude, were denounced as tories, or traitors, and an indiscrim-
inate poHcy of warfare was visited upon them. A sweeping system of
confiscation, ostracism and corporeal punishment was practiced against
the inimical, and they in turn hounded on the savages to butcher with
the tomahawk or maim with the scalping knife, the neighbors with
whom, in other days, "they took sweet counsel and walked to the house
of God in company." Some compassion was shown to the families of
the proscribed, but nothing was left of movable property but such
articles as human compassion revolted against appropriating. "Those
who are not for us, are against us," was the rule of action. " Woe to
the vanquished," cried the conquering Gaul Brennus, as with false
weights he appropriated the redemption money of the Eomans ; " Woe
to the vanquished," was the rule by which Ira Allen j)roposed to sup-
port and pay a regiment of Eangers in the work of seizing the property
of enemical persons, including the passive and the active, the fighting
and the flying ; " Woe to the vanquished," was the rule of Congress to
replenish an empty treasury.
MILITIA or HAETFOBD DOINH FRONTIER DUTY.
From the journals of the Governor and Council, and the Council of
Safety, recently published, I have gathered facts showing that on
several occasions men were drafted in Hartford for service in defending
the frontier of the State from the date of the Dorset convention to the
cessation of the troubles between Vermont and New York.
It appears that there were six regiments of militia in the State in
1777. One of these regiments was commanded by Col. Joel Marsh of
Hartford. On the 2d of AprU, 1779, the Governor and Council, as
Board of War, ordered a draft of men to reinforce the military on the
northern frontiers of the State. Orders were sent to the following
colonels, viz: Col. Samuel Fletcher, Col. Samuel Herrick, Col.
Marsh, and Col. Gideon Warren. Of the one hundred men, exclusive o
86 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
commissioned officers, to be raised, the quota of Col. Marsh of Hartford
was fixed at one 1st lieutenant and thirty non-commissioned officers and
men, and these were to be drawn from towns in Cumberland County, as
well as some of those raised by the other colonels above named.
On the 5th June, 1779, the Board of War made another call for men
to serve as a guard at Eutland and the frontiers of ihe State. Col.
Marsh's quota comprised one captain, one ensign, three sergeants, and
thirty rank and file, total thirty five. On the 30th July, 1779, an addi-
tional twenty-six effective men of the militia were raised to be sent to
Eutland. Of this number Col. Marsh furnished six privates, all citizens
of Hartford.
April 6th, 1780, the Board of War resolved, " That one company of
75 men exclusive of officers be immediatley raised to joinMaj. Ebenezer
Allen's for the defence of the frontiers." The proportion from Col.
Joel Marsh's regiment was 12 men, some of whom were from Hart-
ford.
On the 11th of May, 1780, at Arlington, the Board of War resolved
that, in consideration of the fact that continental provision of sub-
sistence for troops on the frontiers was stopped, and that the soldiers
were without meat, the selectmen of each town in the State should
collect thirty pounds of salt pork for each man raised in said towns,
and, if said pork could not be collected otherwise, the selectmen should
take the same from the inhabitants in proportion to what each family
possessed ; an account of the pork to be kept and expense of trans-
portation of the same to Eutland for which the State would pay. The
amount proportioned to Hartford was 180 pounds, showing that Ihe
number of her citizens' then in service at Eutland was six.
On the 18th of August, 1780, the Board of War resolved that Col.
Joel Marshj of Hartford, and other officers, should be a committee to
station Capt. Safford's and Capt. Cox's companies of rangers : and "that
said committee should stake out the grounds for forts and give direc-
tions how said forts should be built — having reference to the present
campaign only, as the lands that the several surveyors are now survey-
ing to the west and north of you will be a settling next spring."
The foregoing is all that appears in the records of the Governor and
Council concerning the participation of Hartford people in the defence
of the frontiers ; which service, it must be remembered, was performed
in the interest of the C!!ontinental government.
On the 24th of April, 1778, the Governor and Council sent by express
to Lieut. Governor Marsh, of Hartford, a letter, ordered by the follow-
ing resolution that day passed in Council, viz : —
Eesolved, that his Excellency the Governor write to (Lieut.) Governor
Marsh to acquaint him that it is the Eesolution of this CouncU that the
whole of the Troops that were to be raised to fill Col. Warner's regiment
to march fortwith to Eutland, which is the Eesolution of this Council
and Governor Marsh is to be requested and ordered, to order the officers
commanding the said Troops to march them to be raised in Cumberland
county to Eutland, and the Governor is to order the commanding
officer of the Two Eegiments in this (Bennington) county, to order their
men immediately to march.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. • 87
Pursuant to this request, Governor Marsh ordered the officers com-
manding troops in Cumberland county to collect their men and march
to Butlaud. One of the commanding officers in said county was Colonel
Joel Marsh, of Sharon, who, on receipt of a copy of said order, wrote
the following letter to Simon Stevens of Springfield : —
Honoured Sib : —
These are to inform you that it is ordered by ye Governor and Coun-
sell that the men that are raised in my regiment be ordered to meet at
Windsor in order to cheuse their officers for said company in order to
march to Rutland as soon as may be. I have therefore appointed next
Thursday, to be ye time to meet at Landlord Hastings house in Windsor
at 10 o'clock in ye forenoon for said purpose, and desire your assistance
in collecting said men, Sir, I should be glad if you would order Rock-
ingham, Kent (Londonderry), Springfield, Chester, Andover, Weathers-
field, and Cavendish to send their men on said day, and I should be
glad if Tou would meet with us if you can. I am sir with great respect
your most humble servant,
JOEL MARSH,' Colo.
Hartford, May ye 9th, 1778.
In the Vermont Historical Society's collection of documents relating
to the events of the American Revolution, I have discovered several
papers of an interesting nature, and valuable withal in view of the fact
that they afford the only adducible evidence on record of the part taken
by the inhabitants of Hartford in the said Revolution. These papers
are mostly in the form of pay-rolls, and vouchers for services performed
by scouting parties, guards and detachments, under the command both
of commissioned and non-commissioned officers, according to the nature
of the service in which they were respectively engaged. The service of
guards over inimical persons has already been alluded to. Other cases
will now be quoted, viz: —
" A pay-roll of Sergeant Nathaniel Throops gard ordered out by Col.
Joel Marsh to be under direction of John Benjamin, High Sherifif in the
State of Vermont, to guard Enemical Persons from Windsor to Albany,
from thence to Bennington, from the time of engaging until discharge
by the Sheriff, commencing the 17th of July and ending the 1st of
August, 1778, both days included.
Men's names — Nathaniel Throop, sergeant; Abel Davis, corporal;
privates — John Gillett, Daniel Ainsworth, Oliver Wilhams, Ellet Por-
ter, Vespasia Norsiton, John Darling, Silas Bannester, Denison Emer-
son. Wages of sergeant and corporal, 3f. Privates, 3 — per day. 2
horses 14 days. 2 pack horses 120 miles at 6d per mile per horse, facit
£6—0—0.
'Joel Marsh resided in West Hartford until 1777, when he removed to Sharon.
He was chosen to be Captain of a company of militia in the Upper regiment of
Cumberland County in 1775; Nov. 21, 1775, he was nominated by the Committee
of Safety for Cumberland County to be 2d Major in the said regiment. June
4th, 1777, he was one of the delegates from Sharon to the General Convention at
Windsor. The date of his commission as colonel of a Vermont regiment does
not appear.
88 • HISTOEY OF HARTFOED.
Endorsements on back of roll — " The committee to examine accounts
having examined the within find due thereon £28 — 13 — 0.
PAUL SPOONER,") p .,,
BEN J. EMMONS, j '^''"i^i^ee.
To Ira Allen, Treasurer, You are hereby ordered to pay Nath'l.
Throop the within roll which amounts to £28 — -13.
THOMAS CHITTENDEN.
"Received, Windsor Oct. 26, 1778, of Ira Allen, treasurer, £28— 13 in
full. Endorsed by John Benjamin, Sheriff."
The next paper in order of date relates to scouting service: — "A re-
turn of a scout sent out by Capt. (Joshua) Hazzen (Hazen) June, 1778.
Andrew Tracy, Stephen Tilden, Wm. Allen, out 7 days, at 12 shillings
per day per man finding their own provition £12.12s."
" Return of a scout sent out by Capt. Hazzen, Aug. 1778. Israel Gil-
lett, Asa Hazen, John Button, Elias Chapman, 7 days at 36 shillings a
day, finding their own provitions, £16. 16s."
" A return of a scout sent out by Col. Marsh Aug. 1778 — Beriah
Green, Silas Newton, and Wm. Freeman, 16 days at 36 shillings per day
finding themselves, £28.16s.
Hartford Oct. ye 24th, 1778, in pursuants to orders received from the
Mai general ' the above scouts was sent out.
By me, JOEL MARSH, C61."
During the wars between Great Britain and France, the Indian tribes
of Canada found service, first with the French and then with the Eng-
lish, as interest or passion dictated them. The Indians were first stim-
ulated by the French to murder and pillage the defenceless inhabitants
of the American-English colonies, and this procedure was received by
the English with execrations. But during the Revolutionary war,
England employed the same savages as allies to pillage and massacre
their own brethren ; and it is more than probable that merciless savages
were incited by the government of New York to do murderous work
upon the inhabitants of Vermont.
Dr. Dwight, speaking of the perilous situation of the eary settlers of
New England, says :
" The greatest of aU the evils which they suffered were derived from
the savages. These people kept the colonists, after the first hostilities
commenced, in almost perpetual terror and alarm. The first annunci-
ation of an Indian war is its actual commencement. In the hour of
security, silence and sleep, when your enemies are supposed to be
friends quietly employed in hunting and fishing, when they are believed
to be at a distance of several hundred miles, and perfectly thoughtless
of you and yours ; when thus unsuspecting, slumbering on your pillow,
your sleep is broken up by the war-whoop ; your house, your village are
set on fire ; your family and friends are butchered and scalped ; your-
'The ist section of the "Militia Act," passed in February, 1779, made the lieu-
tenant-governor major-general. In a letter written by Gov. Chittenden to Lieut-
Gov. Marsh, 29th of April, 177S, he addressed him as major-general.
HISTORY OF HARTFOED. 89
self and a few other wretched survivors are hurried into captivity to be
roasted alive at the stake, or to have your body stuck full of skewers
and burnt by inches. Tou are a farmer and have gone abroad to the
customary work of the field ; there you are shot down from behind a
tree ; or you return at evening and find your house burnt and your
family gone ; or perhaps discover their half -consumed- bones mingled
with the ashes of your dwelling, or your wife murdered and your little
ones lying beside her, after having been dashed against a tree."
If one would learn something of the horrors of an Indian massacre,
let him read the records of the bloodshed and violence perpetrated in
the Wyoming, Mohawk, Schoharie, and Cherry Valleys, by tories and
Indians in 1778. Or coming nearer our own homes, peruse the tales of
inhuman atrocities by the St. Francis Indians — the savage rangers of
the French and Indian wars, — in the valley of the Connecticut, in the
Cohos * region, as late as 1760 ; and in Vermont stUl later. The history
of the attack on Boyalton in 1780, and on Peaeham in 1781, is familiar
to nearly every student of history in Vermont. The following tran-
scripts of pay-rolls will give an idea of the services rendered by the
militia of Hartford in guarding the frontiers and repelling invasions by
Indians: —
" A pay-roll of Capt. Joshua Hazen's Company that turned out by the
order of Col. Joseph Safford to the intent to head that party of the
enemy (Indians) that was suppbsed was going to Cohoss in their return
in October last A. D. 1780. Our march was as far as Bethel."
(The pay-rolls are made up in tabulated form and cannot be given
here in the original form, but the names of officers and privates engaged
in service, together with the number of days they served, wages per
day, miles traveled, mileage pay and total amount of pay-roll will be
given.)
" Officers — Capt. Joshua Hazen ; Lt Wm Bramble, Sergiant David
Wright, Corporals John Gillett, and Hezekiah Hazen.
JPrivates — Solomon Hazen, Erastus Chapman, Joseph Chapman,
Jonathan Wright, Barnabas Tisdel, Josiah Tilden, James Tracy, Seth
Savage, John Cheney, Enoch Emerson.
Service 3 days each ; Captains pay 16s pr day ; Lieuts do 12s ; Ser-
geants do, 4s 10 ; Corporal's do 4s 5. Privates do 4s. Miles of travel
by each 30, at 10s mileage. Total £12-11-8.
Captains and Lieutenants rations 2 days each."
This roll was attested by Capt. Joshua Hazen ; sworn to by him at
Norwich before Nathaniel Brown, Justice of the Peace ; examined and
approved June 23d, 1781, at Bennington, by Pay Table committee,
1 Cohos or Coos is an Indian name, signifying " crooked," and is said to have
been given originally to a bend in Connecticut river and the territory belonging
on either side of it, including in New Hampshire, Lancaster, Northumberland
and Stratford, and in Vermont, Lunenburg, Guildhall and Maidstone.
90 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
who directed its payment to Joshua Hazen or bearer, and was paid June
23, 1781.
The following is the sum and substance of a pay-roll that will be read
with interest. It is the only record extant of the names of the citizens of
Hartford in 1780, and contains the names of a great majority of the
voting portion of the population at that period. It is a register of the
ancestors of a large number of the present citizens of the town, and is a
matter of history worthy of preservation on other accounts.
The number of days service, number of miles travel and traveling
wages were, for both officers and privates, the same, viz : — three
days service ; forty miles travel ; thirteen shillings four pence traveling
wages. The wages for service were as follows : Captain, 16 shillings ;
Lieutenant, 12s ; Ensign, 8s ; Sergeant, 4s. 5p ; Clerk, 4s. 5p ; C(»poral,
4s. 2p. and privates, 4s. Rations for Captain, Lieutenant and Ensign,
three days.
The roll is headed, " A Pay-roll of Capt. Joshua Hazen's Compan y
in Col. John Wood's regiment, that marched to Brookfield in the larm
Oct 1780."
"Names of Officers — Capt Joshua Hazen; Lieut. Wm. Bramble; Ensign
Elkanah Sprague; Sergeants Ellas Chapman, Asa Hazen, Andrew Tracy and
David Wright; Clert, Asa Emerson; Corporals, Wm. Dunha,m, John Gillett,
Hezekiah Hazen and Stephen TUden.
Privates — Elnathaa Allen, Wm Allen, Jonathan Bennett, David Bliss, Wm
Burch, Erastus Chapman, Joseph Chapman, Simon Chapman, John Cheney, Dan'l
Clark, Nehemiah Closson, Simeon Curtis, Barjone Demmon, Levi Demmon,
Jolm Dutton, Enoch Eaton, Enoch Emerson, Daniel O. Gillett, Ezekiel GiUett,
Isai-ael Gillett, Jacob Hall, Jonathan Hall, Willis Hall, Daniel Hazen, Solomon
Hazen, Thomas Hazen, Thomas Hazen, Jr., Thomas Holbrook, Timothy
Johnson, Abel Marsh, Samuel Marsh, John Marsh Lieutenant-Oovemor
Joseph Marsh, Joseph Mai-sh, Jr., Roger Marsh, Elijah Mason, David New-
ton, Christopher Pease, Daniel Pease, Samuel Pianeo, EUot Porter, Calvia
Powell, Luther Powell, Rowland Powell, Rowland Powell, Jr., Jonathan
Reynolds, Jehial Robbins, Fi-ancis W. Savage, Seth Savage, Solomon Sitzele,
Ashbell Smith, Ignatius Sprague, Benajah Strong, Phiaeas Strong, Solo-
mon Sti-ong, Solomon Strong, Jr., Josiah Terry, Josiah Tilden, Stephen TUden,
Barnabas Tisdel, James Ti-aoy, Thomas Tracy, Lemuel White, Joseph Williams,
Benjamin Wright, Jonathan Wright. Total number of officers and privates, 78.
Amount of pay, £60.5s.7p.
A true copy of the pay-roll, attest Joshua Hazen Capt Norwich June ye 9th
1781.
Then personally appeared Capt Joshua Hazen, of Hartford, and made oath to
the within pay-roll that it was made according to the best judgnaent.
Before me Nath'l Brown, Justice Peace.
Pay-roU office, Bennington, June ye 33, 1781.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 91
The within account examined and approved and the ti-easurer is directed to
pay the same which is £60.7s.5p.i
JOHN FASSETT )
[■ Committee
TIMOTHY BROWNSON )
June 33d 1781. Received of Ira AUen treasurer the contents of this order. —
Elkanah Sprague."
It will be seen that Lieut. -Governor Marsh served as a private in this
expedition, and that the list comprises six of the Marsh family then liv-
ing at Quechee.
In October, 1780, Capt. Edmund Hodges' company, in Col. Joseph
Safford's regiment, did service for fourteen days at Fort Fortitude,
Bethel, Vt. Among the members of said company were Lieut. Asa
Hazen, Sergt. Elijah Mason, Sergt. Andrew Tracy, Corporals Stephen
Tilden and Asa Emerson, and Privates Wm. Burch, Nehemiah Closson,
Luther Powell, Jacob Hall, Francis W. Savage, Thomas Tracy, Solomon
Strong, Phineas Wright, all of Hartford.
An attack was made on Peacham, Vt., March 8, 1781. Col. Thomas
Johnson of Newbury, who had engaged to erect a grist mill at Peacham,
arrived at the house of Jonathan Elkins on the evening of the 7th of
March. About 1 o'clock the next morning a party of Indians from Can-
ada, invaded the house of Mr. Elkins, and made prisoners of Col. John-
son, Jacob Page, and young Jonathan Elkins, and took them to St.
Johns, P. Q. The news of the foray reached Hartford by express sent
by Gen. Bayley, who requested immediate help. Capt. Joshua Hazen
promptly responded to the requisition and marched with a portion of
his company to Piermont, N. H., but there learning that the enemy
could not be overtaken, he retraced his steps. A portion of Capt. Haz-
en's company was at Quechee when the dispatch was received by that
officer. On receiving notification from Capt. Hazen to march to Peach-
am, Lieut. Wm. Bramble collected the members of the company at
Quechee, and proceeded toward Peacham, but had marched no further
than Dresden (Hanover, N. H.) when Capt. Hazen arrived there on his
return from Peacham, and all returned to Hartford to rendezvous until
again called into service.
" A pay-roll of Capt. Joshua Hazen's company who marched to Peir-
mont upon Gen. Bayley's request, March 9th, 1781. Capt. Joshua Haz-
en ; Sergeants Elias Chapman, Asa Hazen, Andrew Tracy and David
Wright ; Corporals, John Gillett, Hezekiah Hazen and Stephen Tilden ;
Privates, Jonathan Bennett, Nath'l Bugbee, Benjamin Burk, Erastus
and Joseph Chapman, Nehemiah Closson, Simeon Curtis, Enoch Eaton,
Israel Gillett, Solomon and Thomas Hazen, Timothy Johnson, Calvin
and Luther Powell, Artemus Eobinson, Seth and Thomas Savage, Solo-
'An error in favor of the State. Amount should be £68.18.9.
92 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
mon, Jr., and Wm. Strong, Josiah and Stephen Tilden, Josepli
and Thomas Tracy, Benjamin and Redington Wright. Service 2 days,
travel 60 miles.
Roll approved June 22d, and paid to Elkanah Sprague, June 23d,
1781."
The company from Quechee consisted of Lieut. Wm. Bramble, Sergt.
Asa Emerson, Corporal Wm. Dunham, Privates Elnathan Allen, James,
Jonathan and Wm. Burch,.John Carpenter, Wm. Curtis, Joshua Dewey,
Jacob and Jesse Hall, Isaac Jones, Abel, Daniel, Joseph Jr. and Roger
Marsh, Eliot Porter, Jonathan Reynolds, Thomas Richardson, Elkanah
Sprague and Oliver Waterman.
Services 2 days, miles travel 12. Total pay £7.12.4.2.
Approved at Bennington, June 22d, and paid June 23d, to Elkanah
Sprague.
In June, 1781, a portion of Capt. Joshua Hazen's company were on
scouting duty, with headquarters at Strafford. The scouts comprised
men from Hartford and Norwich, who were under the immediate inspec-
tion of Col. Peter Olcott.
In August, 1781, a company was ordered out under the command of
Capt. Wm. Bramble, to march to the fort in Bethel. The company com-
prised Capt. Wm. Bramble, Lieut. Asa Hazen, Ensign David Wright,
Sergt. Andrew Tracy, Asa Emerson, and Wm. Dunham. Privates —
Jonathan Burch, Erastus Chapman, Levi Demmon, Gershom Dunham,
Eliphalet Marsh, Matthew Ransom, Artemus Robinson, Thomas Savage
and Solomon Strong. Service 4 days, miles travel 25. Total pay
£12.5s.2p.
Under date of Oct. 9th, 1781, Capt. Hazen seat to the pay-roll com-
mittee the following voucher, viz : —
" Hartford, Oct. 9, A. D. 1781.
A pay-roll of the men that was out in the Royalton larm last October,
who through mistake was left out of the roll that I sent in at the ses-
sion of June last, viz : Samuel Webster, Wm. Powers, Christopher
Pease, Elisha Marsh, Benjamin Steetson, Wm. Porter, Benjamin Burch,
Wm. Curtis and Benjamin Kingsbury.
JOSHUA HAZEN, Capt.
Days service 3, at 1.4 per day. Travel 34 miles. Pay 11.4. Amt.
15.4. Total amount £6.18. Approved by committee."
" Pay-roll for company that marched to Bethel fort in Aug. 1781,
being called out by authority under Elkanah Sprague Capt, viz : Elka-
nah Sprague, captain ; privates, Benjamin Wright, John Carpenter,
Thomas Hazen, Wm. Powers, Jonathan Powers.
(Signed) ELKANAH SPRAGUE, Cap^."
The foregoing pay-rolls constitute the only adducible evidence on
record of the services actually performed by the citizen militia of
Hartford for and in behalf of the State of Vermont. The last records
of the town undoubtedly contain evidence of an important nature relat-
ing to this subject.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 98
HAKTFOBD ABANDONS NEW YORK.
The Declaration of Independence rendered the situation of the in-
habitants on the New Hampshire Grants worse than before. New Hamp-
shire had severed all political connection with them ; their controversy
with New York was at a white heat, and Congress ignored their every claim
to a recognition. The Convention of New York had, August 2d, 1776,
unanimously voted " That all quit-rents formerly due to the Crown are
now due and owing to this convention, or such future government as
shall hereafter be established in this State." To submit to such claims
was to reduce themselves to^ a condition of slavery and beggary. To,
openly rebel against such extortion would probably bring on a violent
contest with New York, and with Congress also, and " to continue with-
out some form of government for the protection of their just rights was
regarded as impossible." This condition of things urged action in the
direction of establishing the independence of Vermont. No measures
were more necessary and no better time could be chosen. They had'
never, acceded to the claims of New York, and the Declaration of Inde-
pendence severed every tie to Great Britain. The claims of New York
were founded alone upon an arbitrary decree of the King surrepti-
tiously obtained, and the dissolution of all connection with Britain ren-
dered the King's decree null and void. The people were, as they
expressed it, " reduced to a state of nature," or left free to form a
government for and by themselves.
The open declaration of these sentiments, together with the efforts
made by the people on the grants, on the west side of the Green Moun-
tains, at length resulted in rousing the inhabitants on the eastern side
of the grants to a sense of duty. They were driven by force of popu-
lar sentiment to abandon their conservative position and unite in form-
ing a government suitable to their condition. In this crisis the leadins;
men of Hartford no longer talked of compromises, nor of the policy of
temporizing.
On the 15th of January, 1777, a convention of delegates from both
sides of the Green Mountains assembled at Westminster. In this con-
vention Hartford was represented by Stephen Tilden, than whom no
better man could have been chosen a delegate. Woodstock was repre-
sented by Benj. Emmons; Norwich, by Jacob Burton, and Maj. Thonjas
Moredock ; Pomfret, Barnard and Royalton, were each represented by
a letter voting for a new State. Ebenezer Hoisington represented
Windsor. The delegates were all " good men and true.''
The convention was opened with Capt. Joseph Bowker, in the chair.
Doct. Reuben Jones was chosen clerk pro tempore, the convention then
94 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
adjourned to the 16th inst. On re-assembling Thursday n^orning,
Lieut. Leonard Spaulding, Ebenezer Hoisington and Major Thomas
Moredock, were chosen to examine into the members that had voted for
the district of the New Hampshire Grants to be a separate State from
New York, and how many were known to be against it, and to report as
soon as may be. The committee made the following report : —
" We find by examination that more than three-fourths of the people
in Cumberland and Gloucester counties, that have acted, are for a new
State ; the rest we view as neuters."
The convention then adjourned for one hour. Convention opened
at time, and voted N. C. D. i
" That the district of land commonly called and known by the name
of New Hampshire Grants be a new and separate State ; and for the
future conduct themselves as such.
Voted. That Nathan Clark, Esq., Mr. Ebenezer Hoisington, Capt.
John Burnham, Mr. Jacob Burton, and Col. Thomas Chittfinden, be a
committee to prepare a draught for a decls,ration for a new and separate
State, and report to this Convention as soon as may be.
Voted: That Capt. Ira Allen, Col. Thomas Chandler, Doctor Eeuben
Jones, Mr. Stephen TUden and Mr. Nathan Clark, Jr., be a committee
to draw a plan for further proceedings, and repoi-t, &c.
The Convention then adjourned until the next morning.
On Friday niorning the committee chosen to bring in a draught of a
declaration, reported in substance as follows "? —
1st. That whenever protection is withheld, no allegiance is due or
can of right be demanded.
2d. That whenever the lives and properties of a part of a community
have been manifestly aimed at by either the legislative or executive
authority of such community, necessity requires a separation. And
whereas the Congress of the several States did, in said Congress, on
the 15th of May, A. D. 1776, in a similar case, " Resolve that it be rec-
ommended to the respective assemblies and conventions of the United
colonies, where no government sufficient to the exigencies of their
affairs, hath been hitherto established, to adopt such government as
shall in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce
to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular and
America in general.'"
Your committee offer the following declaration, viz : —
This convention whose members are duly chosen by the voice of their
constituents, do hereby proclaim and publicly declare that the district
of territory comprehending and usually known by the name and descrip
tion of the New Hampshire Grants, of right ought to be, and is hereby
declared forever hereafter to be considered as a free and independent
jurisdiction or State, by the name and forever thereafter to be called,
known, and distinguished by the Name of New Connecticut ; and that
'John Adams originated this resolution for the purpose [of suppressing govern-
ments under the Crown in the then United Colonies.
HISTORY OF HARTFORB. 95
the inhabitants that at present are, or that may hereafter become
resident either by birth or emigration within said territory, shall be
entitled to the same privileges, immunities, and enfranchisements as
are allowed, and"on such condition and in such manner as the present
inhabitants shall or may enjoy ; which are and shall be forever con-
sidered to be such privileges and immunities as are allowed to any in-
habitants of the independent States of America. Such shall be regulated
in a bill of rights, and by a form of government to be established at
the next session of this Convention.
The Convention immediately informed Congress of these proceedings,
and at the same session appointed a Committee of War on the east side
of the mountains of which Mr. Stephen Tilden, of Hartford, was made
a member. Mr. Tilden was also appointed one of a committee to draw
a letter forbidding the delegates from Cumberland County sitting in
the Provincial Congress of the State of New York."
'June 20, 1776, Col. Joseph Marsh, Deacon John Sessions, and Simon Stevens
were appointed " Representatives to go to New York" by the Cumberland County
Committee of Safety, and not by the people. Col. Marsh did not attend. Messrs.
Sessions and Stevens attended, and the said letter was addressed to them only.
CHAPTER VIII.
CUSTOMS or THE OLDEN TIME.
The old Latin maxim : " Omnia mutantur nos et mutamur in illis,"
has an exemplification in the remarkable changes that have occurred in
the customs, habits and manners of the people of New England within
the last eighty years. Whether there has been a marked progression or
a retrocession in the moral and social condition of the people at large
during the period named, is a question that cannot be properly consid-
ered nor discussed by the writer at this time. " History is philosophy
teaching by example.'' Whatever was right and commendable in the-
manners and customs of our ancestors, as well as those things which
were wrong and reprehensible, should be impartially chronicled by the
historian of to-day, that the rising generations may avoid their errors
and mistakes, and emulate only their virtuous actions. A distinguished
historian has said : "This I hold to be the chief ofiice of History, to rescue
virtuous actions from the oblivion to which a want of records would
consign them, and that men should feel a dread of being considered
infamous in the opinions of posterity, from their depraved expressions
and base action."
Our ancestors, the pioneer settlers of Hartford, were a people of
simple, frugal habits ; they were warm-hearted, generous-minded, and
self-sacrificing in their intercourse with each other, hospitable to friends
and strangers alike ; outspoken, earnest and fearless in the avowal and
defense of their religious principles and political sentiments; con-
scientious and honest in their business dealings with others. They
were cheerful, contented amid the privations they experienced, lovers
of fun, fond of athletic sports, courageous in danger, patriotic at all
times. They were given to drinking flip, toddy and sling, which was
not considered venial unless indulged in to the extent of habitual inebri-
ation. Owing, however, to the plainness, and oftentimes scantiness of
their daily food, their out-of-door manual labor and their many pri-
vations, their habitual use of such stimulants proved to them less
harmful than it would had they been as daintily bred as the people
of this generation.
When the first settlers came into the township they found the land
covered with a dense growth of timber; that on the low lands adjacent
to the rivers being chiefly white pine of a large size, with elm and black
HI8TOEY OF HARTFORD. 97
ash, while the hill lands were covered with maple, beech, birch, oak and
hemlock. The first settlements were made on the hills. This occurred
for several reasons: Ist, because the opinion prevailed that the hill
lands, being thickly covered with a vegetable mold formed from leaves
falling for a long succession of ages, were more friendly to every species
of vegetation than the pine lands; secondly, because the hill lands being
more lightly timbered than the low lands, were more easily cleared;
thirdly, because the hill regions were considered more healthful than
the swampy low lands, and lastly because the timber on the hills fur-
nished material for making charcoal, and potash, and for the production
of maple sugar and at the same time the woodland was valuable on
account of the food and shelter it afforded for cattle and other live
stock.
The first business of the settlers was the clearing of a portion of their
land and building thereon a temporary dwelling house built up of logs, and
rudely constructed. In this work the settlers assisted each other, and in
this, and in other similar works when neighbors turned out to lend a help,
ing hand, they regarded it a frolic, and worked with willing hearts and
ready hands. There were two methods practiced in clearing land. The
general practice was to cut down and remove such trees as was best
suited for houses, and for fencing, and to set fire to the rest and the rub-
bish on the field, and thus to proceed in the work until the required
number of acres for cultivation were cleared. In other cases the whole
wood was cut. down, the trees trimmed of their branches which were
thrown into piles, and after laying until sufficiently dry, fire was set to
the whole. The logs remaining unburnt were thrown into piles, after
which the cleared ground was sown with wheat, or planted with corn or
potatoes, which generally gave the cultivator a fine crop. Sometimes,
in the process of clearing land, the timber was utilized in making char-
coal and potash. Sometimes the largest trees wei-e girdled — that is, the
bark near the foot of the tree was cut around so as completely to destroy
the vessels by which the progress of circulation is conducted, and their
decay was rapid. After saw-mills came into use, and matters were so
far arranged that the settlers had means and leisure to erect comfortable
dwelling houses and other buildings, they proceeded to clear the pine
lands, and not many years elapsed before they had unwisely stripped
their land of the most valuable timber then standing. Thousands upon
thousands of white pine trees were consigned to fire, or rolled into the
rivers because they were considered less valuable than the land upon
which they grew.
7
98 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
The first settlers were poor in worldly means, and had but little more
than enough money to enable them to make the journey from Connec-
ticut to this town, and erect a log-house. Indeed, had they been
wealthy they could not have provided themselves with better, nor with
more, desirable dwelling houses. They laid up logs for a house, using
poles for rafters and covered these with elm, or hemlock bark, for a
roof. For floors they laid split and hewed logs. The crevices between
the logs were chinked with clay. Small apertures were left for windows,
and paper, or thin white cloth was used as a substitute for glass. Fire-
places were built of stone, and for a hearth they laid the longest and
widest flat stone, or stones obtainable. Chimneys were built partly of
stone and partly of short logs laid up in clay, and they often proved
very objectionable on account of a lack of proper draught. The fire-
places were of liberal dimensions, and it was not an easy matter to fill
one of them with woo(^. A huge back log from six to eight feet long,
was first drawn in — oftentimes by a horse, or oxen — and placed on the
back of the hearthstone. Another smaller log was placed on top of the
back-log and a third in front of it. Above this pile dry branches were
laid. This sufficed to make a cheerful fire for a day's time and with
proper care was maintained day and night the year round.'
'Witliout friction matches — what did people do ?
We caU them necessities now ; it is true
They are a gi-eat blessing, yet folks had a way
Of doing without them in grandmother's day.
The huge open fire-place was deep, and 'twas wide.
And grandfather often has told us with piide,
Of oxen he trained to drag over the floor,
The great heavy back-logs they burned there of yore.
The fire on the hearth 'twas an understood thing,
Must never die out from September to spring ;
In live coals and ashes they buried from sight
The log to hold fire throughout the long night.
And this, in the morning, they opened ,with care,
To find brightest embers were glimmering there.
To then make a blaze, it was easy to do,
With wood and a puff of the bellows, or two.
But sometimes in summer the fire would go out —
A fiint and a steel must be then, brought about,
A spark from them caught in the tinder near by —
Before-hand prepared, and kept perfectly dry.
Once grandmother told me how tinder was made ;
They took burning linen, or cotton, and laid
It down in the tinder-box — smothered it there —
A mass of scorched rags to be guarded with oare^
And when they could find it they took from old ti'ees,
Both touch-wood and punk, and made tinder of these,
By soaking in niter : but all of these thi-ee —
Flint, tinder and steel — we shall very soon see,
Would not make a blaze : so they called to their aid,
Some matches, not " Lucifers," but the home made.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 99
These matches were slivers of wood that were tipped
With sulpliur ; when melted, they in it were dipped ;
The spark in the tinder would cause one to burn,
And that lit the candle — a very good turn —
For when it was lighted all trouble was o'er
And soon on the hearth, flames were dancing once more.
If damp was the tinder, or mislaid the flint.
They rubbed sticks together (a very hard stint)
UntU they ignited ; the more common way
Was borrowing fire, I've heard grandniother say.
Indeed it was nothing imcommon to do
To go for a fire-brand a half mUe or two.
Good Housekeeping.
A long iron crane was hung on one side of the fire-place. This swung
in and out as required, and from it were suspended, on hooks, pots and
kettles used for cooking and other purposes. Iron kettles provided
with long legs, and heavy covers and used for baking bread, corn cake,
&c , were set on coals, and were called " Dutch ovens.'' These were
superceded by tin ovens which were set near the fire. Potatoes and
eggs were roasted in hot ashes on the hearthstone. Later when saw-
mills came into use they began to build frame houses, generajUy of one
story, with a huge chimney in the middle which had a fireplace on each
of its four sides, and a large oven in connection with the kitchen fire-
place.
At first their house keeping articles were few in number and of the
most primitive kind. An iron kettle or two, a frying pan, a Dutch oven,
a few wooden trenchers, pewter platters, plates, spoons and cups, wooden
handled knives and forks, water paUs, or buckets made of staves shaped
out of pine wood, water dippers made of gourds, three-legged stools to
sit upon and set various articles upon, tables made of spUt-logs, hewn
on one side as smoothly as possible, and supported by legs made of
small saplings cut in proper lengths ; beds of straw laid on bark or
hemlock branches, a loom in one corner and spinning wheels here and
there. Over the fire place hung the trusty rifle by the aid of which a
supply of game was obtained.
The food of the early settlers consisted wholly of the products of
their cultivated patches of land, and of game and fish, then easily ob-
tainable. Their customary daily fare consisted of corn-food, such as
Johnny-cake, porridge, mush, hulled corn, puddings, and green corn ;
buckwheat cakes, rye and wheat brea;d, bean porridge, hot or cold, and
" best when nine days old," potatoes roasted in the ashes, pumpkin pies,
and, now and then, a partridge or a squirrel stew. Though, as a gen-
eral thing they had sufficient food, there were times of scarcity caused
by a failure of their crops in inclement seasons, like that of 1780, that
necessitated rigid economy and great self-denial. Tradition informs us
100 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
that in 1780 the settlers suffered greatly for food, and many times went
supperless to bed.
The men and women of those early times earned their bread by the
sweat of their faces. The men felled the forests, cleared the land, cul-
tivated the soil, and garnered the products of their labor. In due pro-
cess of time the result of their efforts was seen in fields of waving grass
and golden grain, in well-stocked pastures, thriving orchards, well- filled
granaries, and substantial, pleasant homes.
" Oft did the haxvest to their sickle yield,
Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke;
How jocund did they drive their teams afield;
How bow'd the woods beneath their sturdy stroke."
The boys of that period were taught to believe in the motto which
Mr. Spooner had chosen, and placed in the heading of the Vermont
Journal : " The freedom of the people cannot be supported without
knowledge and industry," and they rendered valuable assistance to their
fathers in every phase of their labor, such as chopping down trees,
splitting raUs, making fences, clearing land, mowing grass, reaping grain
and threshing it, getting out flax, holding the plow, and working out
taxes.
The women were quite as industrious as were the men, and nobly
bore their part as supporters and comforters with unshrinking firmness
and inspiring love.
A certain writer has said :
" In each house might be seen a foot wheel, or two, for spinning the
flax, and as many large ones for spinning wool ; a pair or two of hand-
cards for the tow, a hatchel, and in every two or three houses a loom.
The women manufactured the cloth with which they and their families
were clothed, and made up the same into garments. They made their
own fine white diaper table cloths and towels, their fine white underlin-
ing, their striped gowns, checked handkerchiefs and aprons, clean and
well-ironed, and in which dress they were fitted out for any company in
any place. -They also manufactured their husbands' and sons' white
summer shirts, frocks and trousers. They knit stockings for themselves
and for the family besides, and leggings for their boys — as boots for
boys were not then known — and did their own housework."
The girls were instructed by their mothers in the art of housekeeping.
They received practical lessons in cookery and could prepare good and
wholesome victuals. They learned to spin, weave, sew and darn, and
patch garments, do nice laundry work, make butter and cheese, sweep
house with a broom made of birch, by their fathers or brothers, and
they also assisted in out-of-door work, such as milking the cows, feed-
ing the pigs and poultry, carrying wood and water, and, in haying time,
raking after the cart ; nor did they feel degraded by such work ; indeed,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 101
to.be useful was considered as an imperative duty, and the art and econ-
omy of housekeeping was an accomplishment that every woman should
tafee pride in acquiring.' Much open-air exercise conduced to good
health and long life. They were much in the habit of exercising on
their feet, both in walking abroad and at the great wheel. They ap-
peared at meeting, and elsewhere, clad in home made garments, with
ruddy countenances, strong and active bodies and limbs, and a cheerful
and vigorous mind. In those days the useful was not subordinated to
the ornamental. Every young lady who could procure it by her own
labor had one calico dress. They worked at spinning and weaving for
fifty cents a week to enable them to purchase such a dress, at a dollar
a yard Six yards constituted a dress pattern, therefore it required
twelve weeks' work to pay for a dress, besides the trimming and making.
Grown up daughters made good wives and willing helpmates. Their
husbands were not necessitated to employ a governess, a wet nurse, and
a waiting maid to care for the children ; a maid-of-all-work to keep the
house in endurable condition, and their mothers-in-law for monitors and
advisors in general. Our grandmothers gave no time to spinning street
yarn, retailing gossip, annoying their neighbors by a relation of their
family troubles, complaints against their husbands, nor to sewing seeds
of discord among their neighbors. How is it now ?
The ceremony of marriage, among the early settlers of the town, was
unattended by the furore that characterizes this ceremony now-a-days.
There was no exelusiveness in giving out invitations. Neighbors then
dwelt together in a spirit of unity, mutually dependent on each other,
and practiced the amenities o:^ social, civilized life. The bans were
publicly proclaimed in advance. All relatives, and all neighbors were
invited. The occasion was one of unalloyed happiness to both the old
' In marked contrast to the condition of things at that time, when girls willing-
ly went away from hoihe to do housework, I quote the following statement from
the Waterloo, P. Q^ Gazette of August 28, 1885 ;
A Waterloo man was sent out the other day by Ma wife to And a hired girl. The case
was urgent and Ms instructions were not to come back without the desired article. He
scoured a wide section of country, calling at scores of houses where there were girls, and
eloquently pleading his mission. But it was all In vain. Everywhere he met with a re-
fusal. The girls dld'nt want to do housework at any price or for anybody. He could have
hired forty teachers, and as many more girls for a knitting factory. It is clear that house-
work is not popular with the rising generation of girls. What is the reason ? The average
country school teacher gets fifteen dollars per month and boards herself. A good Mred
girl can command ten dollars per month and a comfortable home in a respectable family.
In point of wages the Mred girl's position is the best. As a training school for the respon-
sible duties of wife and mother— as the head of a household— her situation is incompar-
ably better than the teacher's. Yet ten young women aspire to be poorly paid teachers
where one will hire out to do housework and train herself for those duties of life which
fall to the lot of nine-tenths of woman-kind. Teaching is rather more high toned. It
secures better social advantages. It affords more leisure. But after all it is a question if
the hired girl is not the better off. At any rate the teacher is being overproduced. There
is a glut in the market. The hired girl, on the other hand, is growing scarcer, and her
value is rising in the labor market. People who want a hired girl get down on their
knees to her. She is mistress of the situation and can within limits dictate her own
terms. She can, for instance, have her afternoons out, her Sundays off, and her evenings
for receiving her best young man. These are all material advantages which flow chiefly
fro m the scarcity of the article.
103 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
and the young. The service was of a simple and solemn nature. The
benediction invoked of heaven upon the married couple by the beloved
pastor, was supplemented by unequivocal, heartfelt expressions of good-
will and good wishes on the part of relatives and friends. There were
no costly gifts ostentatiously displayed. There was no long, tiresome,
bridal trip. The young couple entered upon domestic life in a quiet,
sensible way, having that assurance of happiness which may be reason-
ably expected where there is a likeness of disposition and manners, and
accordance of hearts : —
' ' Where friendship full exerts her softest power,
Perfect esteem enlivened by desire
Ineffable and sympathy of soul :
Thought meeting thought, and will preventing will,
With boundless confidence ; for naught but love
Can answer love, and render bliss secure."
The laws regulating marriage, prohibited intermarriage within the
following degrees of kinship, viz: — "No man shall marry his mother, step-
mother, sister, father's sister, mother's sister, daughter, son's daughter,
daughter's daughter, brother's daughter, sister's daughter. No woman
should marry her father, step-father, brother, father's brother, mother's
brother, son, daughter's son, son's son, brother's son, sister's son." Every
such intermarriage was to be deemed incestuous and ipso facto null and
void, and the issue illegitimate. Ministers of the gospel and justices of
the peace were the only persons authorized to solemnize marriages. The
intention of marriage between any two persons must b^ published in
some public meeting in the respective towns or places in which the
parties resided, by the minister of the gospel, town or parish clerk ; or
be posted at some public place, at least eight days before such intended
marriage. This act did not affect the right of Friends or Quakers to
solemnize marriage in the manner usually practiced in their meetings.
Every marriage was to be recorded in the book of records belonging to
the town. — Clerk's fee for record was six cents.
" All things change and we change with them," is a maxim, that is
well illustrated by the striking difference between the outfit now
deemed essential to enable a young married couple to begin housekeeping
in respectable style, and that which in former times was regarded as
sufficient to render the same class of people both comfortable and happy.
The contrast between the provision made by parents for their daughters
on the occasion of their marriage, in the olden time, and the trousseau,
or general outfit of brides at the present day, is shown by the following
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.' 103
Statement copied from an old account book, used for many years by a
former well-to-do farmer of Hartford, viz :
Hartford, January 1, 1823.
Artickals wich my daughter had at her marriage: $7.00; forty yards of
lionensheating, ^13.33; twelve yards of Unnen piUow-cases, |4.00; tlu-ee sheets of
flannel, §7.50 ; thi-ee Kersey blankets, $11.00 ; bed quilts and coverlaids, §11.00 ;
two bedsteads and beads, $24.00 ; fire shovels and tongs, S3.00 ; ^oot wheel and
reel, $3.50; great wheel, $1.00; coffeepot, .30; give, .30; looking glass, S3. 00 ;
crockery at Tenney's store, §5.72 ; spoons, knives and forks at Boston, $6.93 ;
n-on ware at 'Lyman's, $3.50 ; 1 small brass kettle and gober, §1.90 ; one brass
kettle, $7.00; baihng, iron and brass ware, §4.91 ; brass skimmer, .83 ; thirteen
chau-8, $16.00 ; total, $127.72. One cow, five sheep."
The above named trousseau comprises only such things as were truly
useful. — Other gifts were contributed to the welfare of the young
people by the family of the bridegroom. The presence of a foot wheel,
a reel and a great wheel indicates that the bride was accustomed to their
use, and doubtless she had assisted in spinning the flax and the wool
composing the sheets and cases named, and also in making up the
articles of bedding enumerated. Tradition says that this young lady,
like many of her female associates, was well versed in the art of house-
keeping; that she had been taught how to prepare a wholesome,
palatable meal of victuals; that she could deftly spin, weave, sew, em-
broider, knitj crochet, darn, patch, and otherwise repair articles of cloth-
ing, and was an adept at nice laundry work ; that she was brought up
to be tidy and methodical in her habits; to have proper places for every
thing and keep things in their proper places, and as she grew up to
womanhood she was led under the Christian influence of her parents to
cultivate a gentle, loving and obliging disposition, and an amiable de-
portment. Although at her marriage she brought to her husband but a
small outfit of worldly goods, she possessed the best dowry a parent can
bestow — chastity and modesty.
Thus endowed, educated and prepared for the married state, she
assumed and performed the various duties devolving upon her at her
own fireside, and elsewhere, in all the relations of life, with that assi-
duity to be and do good, that characterizes domestic worth and Christian
excellence. — Such a devotion to home interests, such a disposition to
promote the happiness and welfare of others, such eminent qualifications
for married life as our heroine possessed, supplemented by like qualities
in a husband, and a disposition on the part of both husband and wife to
quietly settle their trifling disaffections by mutual concessions, and,
above all, to conceal within their own breasts their petty family jars,
and thereby avoid public ridicule, would prove efliective as the ounce of
preventive against the evils of divorce ; at least more effective than the
pound of cure which is being administered in homoeopathic pellets to
eradicate the evil while slighting the causes of its existence.
104 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
In the matter of education it is due to our progenitors to say, that
although most of them possessed but little common school education,
they recognized the value of it, and whenever a sufficient number of
scholars could be gathered in any locality a school was established, and
for want of better places, schools were opened in private dwellings, and
often in barns. The branches taught were English reading, writing
and arithmetic. These were designated by the law of the State respect-
ing schools. Grammar was not taught in the common schools of this
town until about the time when school districts were first organized,
nor did the girls study arithmetic until a still later time. Boys rarely
ever went to school, except in the winter, after they were old enough to
work on the farm, or in the workshop. None but male teachers were
employed, and these boarded around among the families that sent
children to school. Many families lived a long distance from the school-
house, and their children trudged to school in all seasons of the year,
and in all weather, carrying bundles of books and luncheon, and they
seldom received a tardy mark or missed a recitation. Proficiency, espe-
cially in spelling, was regarded with great favor, and for the purpose
of encouraging greater diligence in the study of spelling lessons, special
inducements were presented to the scholars. Medals consisting of silver
coin of a value not less than twenty-five cents, perforated, and strung
singly on a ribbon or small cord, were prepared by the teacher, one for
each spelling class. The scholars were then informed that the boy or
the girl in each class, who stood at the head of his or her class, when
the spelling lesson was over each day, should have the class medal to
wear until the opening of school the next day, and, at the end of the
term, the scholars who had worn the medals the most times should be
presented with some special reward of merit: —
And, to their credit be it said,
Girls were as often at the head
As their more -robust friends the boys,
And won the prize with much less noise!
During winter evenings the boys and girls of a family might be seen
in the chimney-corner poring over their lessons, and aiding each other
over hard places, having no other light than that given out by the
cheerful fire. They mastered the branches they studied; their progress
was not measured by the number of pages passed over during a term of
school, but by the actual amount of knowledge they acquired and thor-
oughly digested. Aside from their school books, they had but little
other reading matter. The family Bible, catechism, psalm-book and a
few religious tracts formed the greater part of their libraries. They
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 105
soon learned the substance of the few books they po'ssessed, ,and com-
prehended what was taught therein, without the aid of learned ex-
egetists.
The children of the early settlers were taught to reverence the aged,
to honor and obey their parents, to respect their teachers, and to com-
port themselves modestly and deferentially in the presence of their eld-
ers. They were taught the value of habits of industry, economy and
honesty, and to limit their wishes and desires within the bounds of
prudence, and to deny themselves many things rather than oke out their
existence in idleness and uselessness, or to resort to every possible ex-
pedient to live at other people's expense — too many instances of which
are observable at this time.
The early settlers were exposed to many hardships and drawbacks of
a discouraging nature, and oftentimes lacked food. They had hours of
mental anguish and physical suffering such as puts us mortals in mind
of our mortality and calls for the sweet offices of mercy and love. At
such times they found a great solace in the friendship, good-will and
sympathy expressed by their neighbors who, not being untutored in
suffering, learned thereby to pity and aid others in their affliction.
" One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
The spirit of harmony, brotherly love and good-will, was manifested
in kind, timely services at the bed side of the sick and the dying ; in
readiness to render assistance in the work of clearing land, raising build-
ings, harvesting crops, at social gatherings, where all met on terms of
equality, and the scene was not marred by the least semblance of envy,
jealousy or airs of superiority such as we often see exhibited now-a-days
by people whose only passport from insignificance to social or political
prominence is worldly possessions, often acquired by dishonest means,
and whose ridiculous pretentions and airs of importance are credentials
of impotence !
It has been said by one writer that " there was one trait in the char-
acter of the early settlers which it would be well for the present gener-
ation to imitate ; if one had hard thoughts of his neighbor, he did not
ventilate them in private slander — there was no ' snake in the grass '
management ; he went with bold step, erect gait, and clear voice to
expostulate with the offender. If their anger was easily kindled, it was
as easUy appeased."
Not many years after the town was settled militia companies were
organized, and military trainings were had at least two days in each
year, one in the month of June and one in October, and once in every
two or three years a general or regimental training lasting two or three
106 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
days, whixsh were very expensive affairs both for the officers and men ;
and, so far as practical results were concerned, it was " much ado about
nothing." ' The town militia bore the name of "flood-wood companies "
for the reason that the men were not uniformed when on parade, but
each wore the same clothes that he wore in his daily work at home, and
their guns and other accoutrements were as dissimilar and odd as their
dress. Those trainings were demoralizing to all who participated in
them. The burning of powder was commenced at midnight before the
houses of the officers, who were expected to answer by treating all
hands, and, after going the rounds, firing guns, halloing and drinking
until morning, it is safe to say that many were in a maudlin condition.
To be a captain, or subaltern of a military company, was a much cov-
eted honor, and it was expected that every officer-elect would express
his obligation to his comrades by a liberal contribution of free rum, or
whiskey, on training day. " A man's a god whose hogshead freely
bleeds." The effects of the rum drank on these occasions lasted for
several days. Query — Are the pleasures of getting drunk greater than
the pains of getting sober ?
But not alone at trainings was liquor freely indulged in. Rum,
brandy, whiskey, cider, in the form of punch, sling, toddy, flip and egg-
nogg, were indulged in at raisings, haying, harvesting, at social parties,
in cold weather and warm, in wet and dry, in sickness or in good health,
in prosperity and in adversity. People treated each other as a pledge of
friendship, and " put an enemy to their mouths to steal away their
brains!" It seems somewhat paradoxical to us, that our forefathers,
who were, in the main, sober-minded, law-abiding, morally and relig-
iously inclined, earnestly disposed to educate their children, and pos-
sessed of many virtues, should have been so oblivious of the divine pre-
cepts against the intemperate use of intoxicants. They must have
observed the evil effects of the habit; they must have been conscious
that their example would readily and deeply corrupt their children.
It is probable, however, that but few drank to excess, and the majority
were blessed with a constitution " so treacherously good that it never
bends until it breaks;" nevertheless, they violated the laws of their
being, and entailed upon their posterity the evils engendered by the
non-observance of said laws. In the final day of judgment it will be
seen that Hartford has a large representation among the victims of in-
temperance. " Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient
is a devil."
' The Legislature of Vermont, Oct. 30, 1844, repealed every act in relation to
the militia.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 107
In the times of which I am speaking, game was abundant in the woods,
and trout in the streams. Bears were sometimes seen, but they did but
little damage. The first and only one killed in the to*n was shot by
Maj. David Wright. It was first discovered by Mrs. Peter Rider, who
was on her way home from Maj. Wright's, where she had been visiting.
She was afoot and alone, and was not far distant from Maj. Wright's
house when she discovered Bruin directly in her path, whereupon she
set up screaming, and woman-like flirting her apron at the bear, which,
being quite as much frightened as his new-made acquaintance betook
himseK to a tree. Maj. Wright, hearing the screaming, seized his
loaded rifle, and following the path taken by Mrs. Rider, soon found
her standing in the path shaking her apron at the bear. A successfully
made shot brought the animal to the ground. It proved to be a young
bear, and probably it had never before encountered anything noisier than
a screech owl, and wearing a petticoat. Foxes were plenty and they
made sad havoc in the sheep-fold and poultry yard. Fox hunting with
hounds was exciting sport, for Reynard was seldom captured before he
had led his pursuers in a chase long and exhaustive, though generally
running in a circle round his hole. Bounties were paii for killing
foxes. Raccoons were plenty. They were fond of poultry and green
corn. They were hunted at night with dogs, and when fat, their flesh
made very good eating. Squirrels were plenty — to use a homely phrase,
"the woods were full of them." Among the varieties were the Ameri-
can gray, the European red, the American flying, and the striped, or
chip munk. Occasionally a black squirrel was found. Skunks infested
poultry yards, but its faculty of annoying its enemies by the discharge
of a noisome fluid caused it to be shunned rather than hunted. Its skin
was valuable for robes, but the smallest drop of the fluid emitted by the
animal is sufiicient to render a garment detestable for years. Smoking,
baking and burying articles of dress in the ground are inefficient for its
removal. Woodchucks infested clover fields; their skins were some-
times sold at a dollar apiece. Mink and muskrats were plentiful. The
latter are found quite often now. Mink pelts were sold at from twenty
to forty cents each; they are now sold for $10 each. Muskrat pelts
then brought more than mink.
Pigeons were very numerous, especially during the season of harvest-
ing wheat and oats. During their migrations in search of food, the air
was literally full of them. Of late years but few are found in any
portion of Vermont. Partridges were numerous, but the clearing up
of the woodlands which formed their common resort has sufficed to
render them scarce. What few remain are so persistently hunted that
108 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
their cunning and instinct seem to be sharpened thereby, and quite
superior to the hunter's skill, though not to that detestable cowardice
that places an invisible snare in their path. That noble bird, the golden
eagle, that built his nest on the highest cliffs of our mountains is rarely
ever seen here now. That vigorous-winged and well known bird, the .
American fish hawk, which was the formidable rival of the eagle in
strength and rapacity, has, like the eagle, nearly disappeared before the
march of civilization. The white-headed or bald eagle, was occasionally
seen in the White river valley, perched on the high dead limb of a large,
tree that commanded a wide view of the river, waiting, perhaps, in
readiness to descend like a whirlwind upon his prey, or to snatch from
a fish hawk the dainty morsel he had secured and was exultingly
bearing away. Then, as now, the quacking of wild geese above the
clouds announced the advent of the vernal season, or the approach
of winter. The lazy-winged, slender crane, and wild duck habited our
rivers. The former is seldom seen now; the latter are still quite
numerous. The hen hawk and the crow which were numerous a cen-
tury ago, are not less so now. Trout are still caught in our brooks, but
the brooks are rapidly diminishing in size, and there are fishermen, and
fishermen, and trout are not permitted to attain much growth. There
are no evidences that wolves troubled the early settlers of this town,
nor do the oldest people now living here remember having seen deer;
but as deer reeves were among the officers elected at town meetings, it
is reasonable to infer that there were deer to be protected.
Although the early inhabitants were isolated from each other in
respect to their dwelling places, yet, in their work, as well as recreations,
they often met together from all parts of the town, and after combin-
ing their strength to complete the work of building a log-house, clear-
ing a green fallow, or harvesting a crop, they indulged in wrestling,
ball-playing, rifle-shooting and other athletic sports. The men also had
their husking-bees and hunting-parties. In the autumn after harvest-
time they had what were termed "squirrel hunts." After collecting
at some previously chosen rendezvous — generally a public house — the
men and boys collectively chose two men, termed captains, from their,
number, to lead in the hunt. The captains drew lots to see which
should have the first choice of men in the formation of two parties, and
made their selections alternately until each party had an equal number
of hunters. The day for the hunt was then fixed upon, the only condi-
tion involved being that the party which brought in the least game, at
the end of the hunt, should provide and pay for a supper for all con-
cerned on both sides. There were different methods of counting the
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 109
game, but in all cases a squirrel counted as one or as the unit of enu-
meration; then each crow, hawk, partridge, mink, woodchuck, muskrat,
skunk, fox, rabbit, coon, etc., represented a specified number of squir-
rels, as per preliminary agreement. No limit was fixed to the territory
to be hunted over. Usually, each hunter was privileged to go wherever
he pleased, and where a hunt lasted two or three days in succession,
some of the hunters visited other towns, as far away as Bethel.
In Hartford, the two parties mutually agreed to divide the territory
between them, one taking the south side, and the other the north
side of White river. At the conclusion of the hunt the game
taken by each party was separately counted by tellers, after which a
substantial supper was eaten, with a bout or two at the whiskey bottle.
During these hunts every expedient, even to artifice was resorted to for
obtaining game; and, like " that heathen Chinee," for ways that were
dark, and tricks that were vain, those hunters were very peculiar.
It must not be inferred that the men and boys monopolized the social
enjoyments, or left the women and girls at home when they turned out
to assist a neighbor in his work, or to unite in sports of various kinds.
On such occasions they were accompanied by their wives and daughters
who took along their knitting-work, or plain sewing, and meeting
together " on terms of amity complete " passed the time as interested
observers of the work and the athletic sports of the other sex, or in kindly,
pleasant intercourse that denoted similarity of mind, taste and feeling,
and like experiences in their daily life.
" Held within modest bounds the tide of speech
Pursues the course that truth and nature teach."
But, while the men and boys had their games, and sports, the women
and girls found social enjoyments in their quiltings, and apple-cutting
parties, and occasional neighborly visits, and it was customary for the
young people, without distinction of sex, to attend husking-bees ; and,
later on, as the population increased, and schools were opened, there
were spelling, writing and singing schools, which took place on winter
evenings, and served to break up the monotony that would have other-
wise prevailed. Every reader of these lines who ever attended any one
or all of the meetings here mentioned, must have experienced feelings
of regret that those customs of the early times have become obsolete,
for the reason that such occasions marked an era of frank, unequivocal
expressions of neighborly good will and kindness, unity of purpose and
action. Christian endeavor and practice. There was no shirking of duty,
no insensibility to the misfortunes, troubles, and sufferings of others,
no exclusiveness nor vicious pride, no back wounding calumny.
110 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
The system of dealing upon trust was more in vogue in former times
than it is now. It was then the custom for merchants to deal almost
wholly upon trust, and to trust every body. Of course they sold at a
great profit, and as many failed to pay, those who did pay, made good
what was lost by the failure of others. People took advantage of this
system by buying extravagantly, or by buying many things which they
could not have obtained under the cash system of trade; but when pay
day came, or the creditor deemed it hazardous to extend further credit,
if the payment was not made, there followed all the concomitants of
expensive and ruinous litigation. There was much sueing, much going
to jail, much false swearing, much ill-will engendered among neighbors.
Victory was often a disgrace to the creditor, and often entailed misery
upon the debtor and his family. None were benefitted but attorneys
who let out for hire their passions and their words, " Iras et verba
locant / " justices, sheriffs, constables and jailors, who thrived upon
costs and fees, or rather upon the folly and ignorance of others.
I have already stated that the pioneer settlers were sometimes com-
pelled to live on short rations. This was owing to a failure of crops,
and had game been scarce, there must have been many cases of death
from starvation. Grist mills were few and far between, and it was
difficult to get grinding, even if they raised wheat and corn in abundance.
It was customary in such exigencies to boil corn and wheat in a whole
state, or pound it up in large mortars. Roast potatoes were a prominent
article of food. As salt was scarce, meat was preserved by smoking
and drying it. This was the custom in vogue among the native Indians.
Tea and cofPee were little known. Broths of various kin^s were in
constant use, and also hasty pudding and milk. Dishes were scarce as
well as knives and forks. Wooden spoons were much used, and it was a
common thing for the whole family to eat broth, porridge, &c., from
one dish. Mr. Henry Clark, in an address given at Poultney, Vt., re-
lates the following anecdote: —
" A party of young people once assembled at a neighbor's in early
times for social intercourse. The supper — What was it ? Not a modern
supper of roast turkey, oysters, &c., but hasty pudding and milk. There
being but three spoons, one division of their guests sat down to table,
then another division and another till all had been served. All went
off well, and it was considered a fashionable, well managed affair."
Owing to the limited extent of pasturage, and the depredations made
upon sheep by wild animals, the settlers kept but few if any sheep.
Great economy was necessary in the use of woolen clothing. The men,
when at work, wore tow shirts, coarse woolen frocks, and leather
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. Ill
aprons, made of hides tanned by themselves. The women wore short
frocks and petticoats, while engaged in home work. The best suit of
woolen cloth was reserved for Sabbaths and special occasions, and lasted
several years. Mr. Clark further said: —
"In the winter they wore shoes, excluding the snow by a pair of
leggings fastened over the mouth of the shoe by strings. Boots were
rare, surtouts or overcoats were rarer still. A pair of boots wpuld last
a man many years. In summer neither men nor women wore shoes at
home.' On the Sabbath the women often carried their shoes (and stock-
ings ?) in their hands till they came near the meeting-house (to save wear)
— when they put them on. Sometimes, in winter, families were con-
veyed to meeting, or to a social visit, through deep snow, on an ox-sled.
In summer time, the man, if he was the owner of a horse, rode to meet-
ing with his wife seated on a pillion behind him, one arm circling his
body, and, if they had children, one rode seated on a pillow before the
man, and another and smaller child in the mother's lap, encircled by
one of her arms.''
" As a sample of the usages of the time, it may be stated that at the
raising of a meeting-house a lunch was prepared for the raisers, of
bread, cheese and dry fish." A barrel of cider or rum was freely bled
and this last occurred at all raisings, whatever the building might be.
A large number of the sons and daughters of Hartford have emigrated
to the Western States. Between 1820 and 1840 the tide toward Ohio
and Illinois was the greatest that it has ever been. Great canvas covered
wagons drawn by horses and destined for Ohio, were often seen leaving
this town, and they took from our midst a class of people whose places
have not been well filled. Emigration and the building of railroads
have been followed by a decadence in the moral and religious condition
of the people. There has not been a progression in the physical, mental
and moral condition of the people commensurate with the constantly
increasing means, opportunities and facilities for developing and im-
proving the minds and the hearts of our citizens in general.
'The writer remembers seeing children barefooted in the winter. Hon. C. C. P.
Holden, now a wealthy citizen of Chicago, when six years of age, and living in
West Hartford, went barefooted all winter, as did some of his brothers and sisters.
They were rosy-cheeked and healthful children and made energetic men and
women.
CHAPTER IX.
MANUFACTORIES AND MILLS.
The labor of the early settlers was not materially aided by water-
power, nor by labor-saving machinery to any great extent. Farming
utensils were of very simple construction, and largely constructed at
home, and were, for the want of good tools, very rudely made, and such
tools as augurs, bits set in crooked stalks of wood, hatchets, etc., that
have been preserved as relics of the past, are looked upon with a degree
of interest and curiosity akin to that excited by the exhibition of the
stone implements fashioned by the native Indian tribes that once inhab-
ited this section of the country. The great majority of the settlers of
Hartford came into the town in an indigent condition, to better their
fortunes, and for many years were under the necessity of practicing the
strictest economy in all matters. But the actual wants of nature are
but few, and the people being, by habit and custom, contented with
their privileges and surroundings, their lack of what is to-day consid-
ered essential to promote or complete personal happiness and comfort,
was not by them considered in the light of a privation, and, therefore,
caused no complaints against Providence, or repinings against fortune.
The necessity of laboring diligently to clear and improve their lands, to
live in log houses, to travel on foot, or on horseback, to dress simply,
and live sparingly, were blessings in disguise.
" They builded better than they knew."
A wonderful change has taken place in the industrial habits and cus-
toms of the people during the past sixty years, especially among the
farming population. In the olden days while the men worked from early
morn till late at night, the women delved, both in and out of doors ; in-
doors they were busy at their wheels or looms, dipping their own can-
dles, making their own clothing, as well as that for the rest of the fam-
ily— they generally had a large number of children — making their own
carpets, and in doing all manner of other household work ; out of
doors they assisted their- husbands in doing various kinds of farm work.
They were adepts in handling horses, rode much on horseback, and
transacted much business that would now be considered unbecoming
for the gentler sex to engage in. Mrs. Gov. Chittenden, on one occa-
sion at least, rode on horseback to a carding machine, taking a load of
wool on her horse behind, from Williston to Hinesburg ; had her wool
carded, and returned home with her rolls the same night.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 113
The first business of the settlers after reaching the town, was to pro-
vide themselves with shelter. The land was then covered with heavy
timber. After fixing upon a place to settle or build upon, they cut the
timber, cleared a patch, and proceeded to build a log house. There
were no boards to be had and they were without the means of procuring
them. In the absence of saw mills they had to substitute logs for
frame timber, poles for rafters, bark of trees for shingle, hewn logs lit-
tered with straw, or leaves of trees, for flooring of boards, benches and
seats of hewn logs for tables and chairs. Eough stone were used in
place of brick for chimneys, and clay formed a very good substitute for
lime-mortar in filling crevices, and in building chimneys. Tables, bed-
steads, etc., were made with no other tools than a saw, axe and augur.
The next thing in order was clearing up land for planting and sowing
of grain. To make grain available for family use a grist mill was neces-
sary, but these pre-requisites to real comfort were some years in coming.
For several years subsequent to the first settlement of the town, the
inhabitants were compelled to go to Charleston (No. 4) to have their
grain ground. The distance was twenty-five miles, and the roads were
bridle-paths, or but Uttle better — designated by spotted trees on either
hand. A journey to mill was a serious job — a two days' adventure.
The late Miss Parthena Tilden informed the writer some years ago, that
her uncle, Stephen Tilden, when a boy, was sometimes sent to Charles-
town to mill on horseback ; that her grandfather used to tie the bags of
grain securely to the old saddle-horse, and then tie Stephen to the bags,and
thus mounted, the brave boy rode off through the wilderness to Charles-
town, and never failed to go and return safely. The boys of that gen-
eration were the heroes of a later revolution " that tried men's souls."
Tradition informs us that our grandmothers sometimes pounded corn
and wheat in mortars to a consistency for hominy, and in certain exi-
gencies boiled both kinds of grain in a whole state, which was called,
when cooked, "firmaty." Their drink was coffee made of roasted rye
and wheat boiled in water. Tea was made of dried raspberry leaves.
Kye was much used for bread, and buckwheat for warm cakes, but
wheat and corn were the staple articles of food, and when the lands
were at first cleared they bore abundantly of both these cereals.
But to remedy the trouble of going so far to mill, and to provide for
building material, the proprietors of the town, at a meeting held Sep-
tember 16, 1765, voted to give three hundred acres of land on the north
side of Water Quechee river, and three hundred acres on the south side
of the same river, centering on the falls between Jonathan and Abel
114 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
Marsh's property — ipeadow land to be excluded — to aid in the erection
of a saw-mUl and grist-mill ; the former to be finished by Jane 1st,
1767, and the latter by June, 1769. The saw-mill was completed prior
to 1769, as we find that a bridge buUt, or voted to be built that year,
was to be located just below the saw-mill. At a meeting held June 23d,
1768, the proprietors voted to give Benjamin Burtch, Abel Marsh
and Joshua Dewey, the privilege, of the stream on the fourth part of
the falls in Quechee river, from the mouth, with a suitable place for a
log-way, as long as the grantees would maintain a saw-mill thereon.
This influenced the grantees to build said mUl.
—-Oct. 24:th, 1774, the proprietors voted to John Marsh, his heirs, and
assigns forever the great falls on Quechee river to his use and behoof,
to build a saw-mill and grist mill within two years thereafter. It
appears that John Marsh, or Joseph Marshy prior to 1778, built a grist-
mill, or, what is more probable, Jonathan Burtch, aided by the Marsh's,
built a grist-mill, saw-mill and fulling.mill, prior to 1778. May 22,
1783, the proprietors voted to give to Joseph Marsh the privilege of
the falls on Quechee river above the bridge, where he then had a grist-
mill, with two acres of land adjoining said mill, to be and remain to
him, his heirs and assigns, as long as he or they should keep grist-mill
there in good repair.
Mills for carding wool and dressing cloth were among the earliest
wants of a people whose clothing was almost wholly of domestic manu-
facture. The first carding machines were introduced into this country
about the year 1800. Pulling and cloth-dressing machines have been
in use in this town since 1775. Before the introduction of carding
machines wool was carded by hand, indeed most of the cloth, woolen
and linen, used in f amUies was made at home. The price for a week's
work spinning was four shilling (sixty-six and two-thirds cents) with
board. When Gov. Chittenden kept an inn in Charlotte, Vt., a gentle-
man who called to see him afterwards related the following fact con-
cerning his visit : " After the Governor's wife had with her own hands
prepared supper and cleared up things, she took her position by the
kitchen fire and carded wool till a late hour, while the Governor was in
the bar-room alternately transacting official business and waiting on
customers at the bar."
Nearly every house had its spinning wheels and loom. The wool
after being cleansed was carded into rolls by the farmer's wife and
daughters ; spun into yarn upon the " great wheel," and then wove into
flannel cloth, which was then sent to the fulling-mill and there prepared
for men's or women's clothing. That for men was colored and the nap
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD. 115
shortened by heavy iron shears. That for women's wear was not fulled,
but was dyed some favorite color, and, after being pressed and taken,
home, was made into dresses, sensible in style, and pattern, neat, warm
and durable.
Flax was raised by nearly all farmers. This was prepared for the
distaff by the farmer and his sons. It was first rotted in the field,
then passed under a hand-break, and the swinging knife to remove the
outer covering ; then through the hackle ; then tied in bunches, in
which condition it was taken in hand by the women. The flax was
wound upon the distaff and spun upon the " little wheel," into linen
yarn or thread ; then woven into cloth which was used for such pur-
poses as cotton and linen cloth are now used.
Maple sugar, the salts of ashes, and charcoal were among the earliest
and most important manufactures in the town. That the general pro-
cess of manufacturing each of these articles of commerce may be per-
fectly understood, the manner of producing them must be separately
described, begining with maple sugar.
The process of making maple sugar was unlike that of the present
time, in some respects. Instead of boring into the trees, and inserting
spiles of sumach to conduct the sap from the tree into tin or wooden
buckets, they were boxed with an axe, making an incision in the tree
from which the sap was conducted to troughs cut out of soft wood.
The sap was boiled in the same kettles that were used in making
potash. The following verses clipped from the Lyndon Union, pub-
lished by 0. M. Chase in Lyndon, Vt., are descriptive of the scenes of
sugar-making, and are worthy to be used in this connection :
• SUGAR MAKING.
When come the first warm days of spring
Then boys look out for fun,
For when the brooks begin to sijig
The sap begins to run.
Then in the woods a merry sound,
Of shouting and of rapping,
The boys are scattering buckets 'round
While older ones are tapping.
When every maple's been rimmed out
With bucket hanging to it,
And just above a tiny spout
With sweet sap trickUng through it,
Then start the fires whose cheery Light
Shines brighter than a lamp,
And to the sled yoke Broad and Bright
And haul the sap to camp.
Then bubble, the big sap pan goes
And bubble goes the kettle.
And sweeter yet the syrup grows
While it is growing little.
116 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Oh! there is fun on land and sea
And many kinds of bliss,
No better sport is there for me
Then boiling sap like this.
And when it chance, as oftentimes
Your sweethearts with you there,
Then all the bliss e'er told in rhymes
Cannot with this compare.
For sugar pans no secrets tell
Of wishes and desires.
But mind their own sweet business well
If you but mind the fires.
'Though many a tale they might have told
Of many a plighted troth,
And many a kiss that dimples hold
Far sweeter than their broth.
CHARCOAL.
Charcoal is an artificial coal consisting of wood burned witl\ as little exposure
to the action of the air as possible. Common charcoal intended for use for fuel
in tinmen's furnaces, blacksmith's forges, &c. , is prepared by cutting pieces of
wood from one to three inches in diameter into lengths from one to three feet,
forming them into a conical pile, ends up, and covering them with turf or clay ;
leaving two or three small holes close to the ground for lighting the wood, and
boring through the turf in the upper part of the cone, a few small holes for the
escape of smoke. The pile being lighted at the several . holes along the
bottom, continues burning with a slow smoulderuig fiame for a week or two,
and is allowed to cool before the turf is removed. In the case of very high winds
the holes to the windward are stopped to prevent combustion f romgoing on with
too great rapidity. In case of too rapid combustion the covering falls in, and
the pile is burned to "ashes. To prevent this, those employed at the work are
compelled to expose themselves to great danger from fire. Lives have been lost
at such times. As constant watchfulness and care is reqtiisite, the workman
generally stay in shanties erected near the coal-jfits during the bru-ning of the
wood into coal.
Charcoal is now made in kilns built of brick; Such may be seen near the line
of the Passumpsic railroad in Thetford, Vt. Charcoal obtained by distOling
beech-wood, log-wood, willow and other woods which are free from resin, is
called cylinder charcoal. The charcoal employed in the manufacture of gun-
powder is now so prepared.
POTASH AND PEARLASH.
Where timber was an incumbrance upon the soU, it was felled, piled up in
pyramids and burned solely with the view to the manufacture of potashes. The
ashes were put into wooden receptacles [often the shell of trees decayed within and
hoUowed out], at other times boxes of boards having a false bottom, with a plug
at the bottom of one of the sides under the false bottom, or a box or hogshead
open at both ends and standing on a broad flat stone shghtly hollowed in the
middle, and raised a foot or more above the ground. Resting upon the bottom
was a rack composed of twigs, or split sticks, and above this straw was laid,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 117
thus f ormiag a filter under the ashes. A quantity of quicklime was miked with
the ashes, then a moderate quantity of water was poured upon the mass, and this
was continued until aU the soluble matter was taken up, and passed off in the
form of lye. This was evaporated to dryness in kon pots or kettles of lai-ge
capacity, and finally fused at a red heat into compact masses, gray on the out-
side and pink-colored within.
Pearlash is prepared by calcining potashes upon a reverbatory hearth, tiE the
whole carbonarious matter, and a greater part of the sulphur, is dissipated, then
laxiviating the mass in a cistern having a false bottom covered with straw,
evaporating the clear lye to dryness in flat iron pans, and stming it toward the
end into white lumpy granulations.
MAMUFACTOKIES AND MILLS IN QUECHEE VILLAGE.
I will now refer to most of the transfers made of mills and factories
built on Water Quechee river at Quechee from 1771 to 1857 : —
Dec. 29, 1771, Benj. Burtch, Abel and Elisha Marsh, and Joshua
Dewey deeded their saw mill and two acres of land to Jonathan Burtch
for £86. 13s. 5 pence. Jonathan added a grist mill and fulling mill, etc.,
and Sept. 10, 1778, sold the entire property, with mill privileges, to
Lionel TJdall, of Stephentown, N. ¥., for £2,000 ($10,000). Sept. 24,
1778, Liionel Udall sold his purchase to Joseph and Elisha Marsh for
£2,000. Nov. 5, 1781, Joseph and Elisha sold pne-half of the same mills
to Thomas W. Pitkin. August 2, 1779, Joseph and Elisha conveyed to
John Carpenter the fulling mill and clothiers' shop and utensils, and
thirty-nine acres of land, for £212. 10s. Nov. Ist, 1788, John Carpenter
deeded to Jonathan Burtch, Jr., of Wells, Vt., the same mills and ma-
chinery, and thirty acres of land, for £200. Feb. 19, 1789, Jonathan
Burtch and Jonathan Jr. sold the same property to William Stewart of
Stephentown, N. Y., for £100. Feb. 28, 1789, Stewart conveyed the
same, viz : — Thirty acres of land, a fulling mill, clothiers' shop, and ap-
purtenances, to Elisha Marsh for £100. Elisha Marsh, March 19, 1807,
deeded his purchase to Eleazer Harwood with the privilege of dam for
putting up a carding machine. March 17, 1807, Elisha Marsh deeded
the grist mill, a house and shed, with land attached thereto, and water-
right, to Milo Marsh for $2,000. Feb. 3, 1812, Milo Marsh deeded to
Eleazer Harwood and Matthew Eanson, his said purchase for $2,000, and
Elisha Marsh deeded Harwood and Kansom the fulling mill, etc., for
$500, with the privilege of the stream from bank to bank. These pur-
chases put Harwood and Ransom into full possession of all the mills,
houses, mill privileges, etc., at Quechee village at' that time.
Prior to Oct. 2, 1813, Harwood had erected a brick factory building,
and on that day he deeded to Abel Penfield one-third of the whole prop-
erty for $1,400. Sept. 17, 1819, Penfield conveyed his interest to Sam-
118 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
uel Tyler, Abel P. Chamberlin, James Harrenden and David D. Win-
chester, of Woodstock, Ct., for $3,140. December 7th, 1824, Samuel
Tyler and A. P. Chamberlin deeded their interest to D. D. Winchester,
for $1,500. April 26th, 1825, Winchester and Harrenden deeded all
their interest to Elihu Eansom. Sometime in 1825, the entire property
passed into the hands of John Downer, Elihu Bansom and Chester
Davis, (John Downer & Co.,) who built the brick factory now standing.
Downer & Co. soon failed, but arranged with their creditors, and July
17, 1826, sold the mUls and other property to the Quechee Manufactur-
ing Co. for the sum of $12,000. This company failed in 1828, and the
property passed into the hands of parties in Boston, who continued
business there by their agent, W. M. Towne. Wm. Jarvis, John Page
and F. B.- Nichols were associated with Towne. March 21, 1836, Towne
sold the property to Josiah Pierce, Lewis Mills and Jonathan D. Wheel-
er for $3,600 (his right). Dec. 22, 1836, Pierce, Mills, Wheeler, Isaac
Livermore and H. B. Kendall deeded the mills, etc., to Wm. Jarvis,
Daniel Bowman, Lyman Mower, G. H. Mower, O. P. Chandler and
Hamden Cutts, who, the same day, deeded their purchase to the Mal-
lory Woolen Co., for $27,914.34. Jan. 8th, 1843, the Mallory Woolen
Co. mortgaged to Wm. jarvis for $24,582..'50, which was not redeemed.
March 11th, 1857, Wm. Jarvis sold the entire property, then in his pos-
session, to Messrs. Taft and Parker of Barre,, Vt., for $8,500, sustaining
a loss of $16,082.50 in the transaction.
The investment by Messrs. Taft and Parker proved to be a fortunate
one. On the 2d of November, 1858, Mr. Taft retired from the partner-
ship, and Mr. Parker continued the business alone till March 21, 1866,
when he entered into partnership with W. S. Dewey and Wm. Lindsey,
each of these gentlemen taking an undivided fourth interest in the con-
cern. On the 21st of March, 1876, Mr. Dewey sold an undivided third
of his interest to Mr. Lindsey, and the balance to Mr. J. C. Parker, and,
on the same day, Mr. J. Walter Parker became a partner with his father
and Mr. Lindsey by purchasing an undivided half of his father's inter-
est, or one-third of the entire property.
During the great freshet which occurred in October, 1869, Messrs.
Parker, Dewey and Lindsey suffered the loss of the north wing of their
factory, which was undermined and precipitated into the river, involv-
ing the loss of a large quantity of wool, and much damage to valuable
machinery. The work of rebuilding was soon after commenced, and
rapidly pushed to completion.
The following statistics relating to the business of this firm in 1870,.
are taken from the U. S. census report of that year, viz :
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 119
Name of manufaotm-e — Flannel: Capital invested, $100,000. Motive power,
water; horse power, 70. Machinery: looms, 26; cards, 38 sets; spindles, 3,800;
elevator, 1.
Hands employed— Males above 16 years, 30; females above 15 years, 25; chil-
dren, 5. Wages paid dui'ing the year, |18,000.
Material used, including miU supplies and fuel— Wool, 100,000 ffis; value of
same, 140,000. Wood, 200 cords; value, $1,000. Lumber, 35,000 feet; value,
S300. Soap, 15,000 Ifes; value, $750. Burlaps, 2,500 yards; value, $500. Tota
value of material, $42,550.
Production— 39,500 yards flannel; value, $100,000.
In addition to the above business, this firm was engaged in wool-pull-
ing and tanning, as shown by the following statistics : —
Capital invested, $30,000; motive power, 5-horse water; machinery, 1 Bark
mill, 1 wheel, 1 pump; help, males above 16 years, 4; material used, pelts, 35,000,
value $30,000; bark, 100 cords, value $800; hen-manure, 20 bushels, value $10;
salt, 12 bushels, value |13; total value material, $30,832; wages paid, $3,000; pro-
duction, wool 71,000 as., value $38,000; pelts 30,000, value $6,000; total, $34,000.
This company is now (1888) operating seven sets, employs seventy-
five hands, manufactures 1,500 yards per day of superior white flannel,
and produces annually about $150,000 in value.
dewey's mills.
The large woolen factory which is located on the Otta Quechee river
about one mile south of Quechee village, and now owned by A. G. Dewey
& Co., was erected and opened in 1836, by Messrs. J. P. and C. Strong
& Co., for the manufacture of fine satinets. The financial crisis of
1837 compelled this company to suspend operations. The factory
remained unoccupied until 184(1, when Mr. A. G. Dewey leased it. About
the year 1840, Reuben Daniel of Woodstock conceived the idea of con-
verting or reducing soft woolen rags to fibre, denominated "rag-wool."
Following up this idea, Mr. Daniel invented a machine for picking rags
into fibre, and the first machine was put in operation in the woolen
factory at Quechee village in 1840. This was the first inauguration of
shoddy in the United States.
In 1841, Mr. A. G. Dewey, leased the lower factory, and commenced
the manufacture of what was then termed " rag clothj" and what is
now designated as '■'■shoddy." The varieties now made by A. G.
Dewey & Co., are known all over the country as " Dewey's Grays.'
During the past forty-five years Mr. Dewey and his associates have
manufactured many rnillions of yards of this cloth. The maximum
capacity of their factory is about 2000 yiirds per day. They have six
sets in operation, and employ eighty hands. They manufacture two
varieties of cloth — one from "tailor's clippings" — (remnants of new
130 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
cloth) — and the other from soft woolen rags of every description
except fulled cloths. Eighty per cent, of the above named material
mixed with twenty per cent, of fine wool constitute tjie filling of this
cloth. The warp is cotton. It forms a warm, comfortable and econom-
ical material for clothing, and is worn by all classes of people.
The motive power at Dewey & Co.'s factory is a Hathaway wheel of
eighty horse power under a fall of twenty-five feet of water. The con-
trol of the stream is secured by a very simple and inexpensive structure
— a sufficient reserve being maintained at all times. The supply of
water is large and constant, indeed but thirty per cent, of the stream
at this point is utilized. The location of this factory is a very
romantic one — ^being at the head of the celebrated Quechee Gulph,
which has become a popular place of resort for tourists and pleasure
seekers generally. Mr. W. S. Dewey and his brother, John J. Dewey,
are the active members of the firm, and continue the business under the
title of A. G. Dewey & Co.
DISTILLERIES.
Prior to the year 1800, there were several distilleries in operation in
the town for the manufacture of potato whiskey, new rum, and cider
brandy. The annual product of the distilleries is not known, biit the
business was for many years a lucrative one. Cider brandy was a
staple commodity of the town. Farmers were prompted to convert
their cider into an article of greater commercial value than cider ; and
also, by a desire to obtain a beverage more palatable, and stimulating.
During the war of 1812, Preegrace Leavitt and Thomas King, had a
distillery at the centre of the town. They made potato whiskey. Dur-
ing the war of 1812, whiskey was scarce, and brought $1.50 per gallon.
The business paid a large profit until the close of the war. The next day
after peace was declared, the price of whiskey declined from $1.50 to
thirty-three cents per gallon. Leavitt and King had in store, unsold,
■ 2000 gallons of whiskey. The decline, therefore, made a difiference to
them of $2340, which led them to suspend business in that line.
In those days, it was customary for farmers to club together in the
busiaess of making cider — the same as they do now to have their mUk
converted into cheese, — :and to establish creameries. One of their
number was chosen " cider monger" or superintendent of the work of
making the cider for all members of the association. Oct. 16, 1816,
Philemon HazeD,of Jericho, was chosen " cider monger." He held the
office for several years thereafter. From a day-book kept by him it
appears that there were twenty-three members in the Jericho association,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. ISl
and that in 1816 the product of his mill was 288 barrels; in 1817, 271
barrels; in 1818, 317 barrels ; 1819, 554 barrels. The product for 1819
would have given an average of 24 barrels to each member, or nearly
nine gallons to each person in the town.
The names of the farmers who composed the association of 1819, and
the number of barrels of cider proportioned to each member were as
follows : —
■WiUiam Pixley, 31; John Tracy, 37^; Zebulon Delano, 26; Reuben Tenney, 70;
Philemon Hazen, 57; Chester Richards, 11; Abiather Austin, 14; Asa Pixley, 19;
Hai-vey Gibbs, 8 ; Noah B. Hazen, 17; Daniel Hazen, 51; Reuben Wills, 8i; Philo.
Sprague, 9; Luther Bartholomew, 68; G. R. Dunham, 45; Thomas Savage, 61;
Joshua Cushman, 8; William Savage, 16; Stephen Tilden, 3.— Total, 554. It
must be remembered that this number of barrels was not more than one-fifth of
the whole number made in the town in 1819. The whole quantity made in town
that year, if equally distributed, would have given one barrel each to every
person then living in the town.
MILLS AND FACTORIES IN HAKTFOBD VILLAGE.
In making the survey and laying out of the lots first divided among
the proprietors in 1761, fourteen lots were laid out on the north side of
and bordering upon White river, and six lots were laid out on the south
side of and bordering on "White river. Lot " No. 8," on the north side
of the river, was drawn by Elisha Wright. This lot extended up the
river so far as to include all the water power in use on the north side of
the river in said village since the first mills were erected there. Lot
" No. 6," on the south side of the river, extended up nearly to the present
bridge crossing on the road to Windsor, and included the site of the
mill lately built by the Hartford Woolen Co.
In the second division of lots (100 acres each) John Baldwin drew
" No. 19.'.' This lot was bounded on the north by White river, east by
lot " No. 6," and extended up the river about one hundred and seventy
rods, and included all the water power now in use by French, Watson
& Co. On the 12th of August, 1782, lot " No. 19 " was purchased by
Joel Tilden, of Lebanon, N. H. December 1st, 1795, Mr. Tilden sold
to Josiah Cleveland one and one-fourth acres of land bordering on
White river, which comprised the land on which French, Watson &
Co's mills are located. The price paid was $193.60.
On the 9th of January, 1795, Josiah Cleveland bought of Benjamin
Wright, Jr., three-fourths of an acre of lot " No. 8," on the north side
of the river (riparian right) paying for the same 138.72. This purchase
gave Cleveland the ownership of the riparian rights on both sides of
the river above the bridge. May 5, 1795, Josiah Cleveland deeded his
entire interest in the above named riparian rights, to Jacob Murdock
for the sum of $3,500, agreeing to build a dam across the river and erect
a grist-mill and saw mill on the north side of the river, all of which he did
within one year thereafter including also an oil-mill. March 24, 1797, Mur-
122 HISTORY OF HARTFORB.
dock deeded one-half of the whole property to Ebenezer Broughton, and
the other half to Trumbull & Ellsworth. January 9th, 1799, Broughton
sold his half to Perez Jones for $2,000. Jones sold to Caleb Tuttle one-
half of his claim, and Tuttle sold the same to Elias Lyman, 3d on the
18th of July, 1803. The entire property then comprised tw^o saw-mills,
one grist-mill, one oil- mill and three-fourths of an acre of land on the
north side of the river, and one and one-fourth of an acre of land on the
south side of the river.
Lyman, and Trumbull & Ellsworth, erected a saw-mUl on the south
side of the river in 1803-4 On the 29th of January, 1805, they sold
said mill, the land, and one-half of the dam, to Wharam Loomis for
$2,000. June 24th, 1805, Lyman sold his interest in the entire property
to Trumbull & Ellsworth.
MILLS AND SHOPS ON NOKTH SIDE OF WHITE EIVEB.
The history of the Riparian rights, and mills on the north side of
White river has been given to June 24, 1805, when Elias Lyman, 3d, sold
one half of the mills, and one-fourth of the dam to Trumbull & Ells-
worth. On the same day Joseph Dorr bought of Trumbull & Ellsworth
their entire interest in the mills and water power for the sum of $2000.
July 28, 1810, Mr. Dorr sold the same property to Benjamin Lamphear.
Lamphear sold to William Scales, July 11, 1811, and Scales deeded the
whole property to President John Wheelock of Dartmouth College.
From the latter the property passed in the hands of Charles W. Win-
ship of Roxbury, Mass. Subsequently this property was transferred
from one party to another until December 28th, 1836, when it was sold
by James Appleton to Lucius W. Tilden, (i. e., fth including the lease
of the toll-house at the north end of the White river bridge.) Subse-
quent owners were Saihuel and Alonzo Moore, Edward Hazen, James
Puller, Sylvester Morris, Edward Morris, John Dwight Strong, Moore
& Madden, Z. B. Clark, Jonathan Bugbee. On the morning of January
20, 1886, the grist-mill belonging to Moore & Madden, the box factory
owned by Zerah B. Clarke, and the carriage shop and blacksmith shop
owned by Jonathan Bugbee, were totally destroyed by fire — the total
loss being not far from $20,000, with but $8000 insurance.
March 15, 1886, Moore & Madden conveyed to E. W. Morris their
grist-mill right, power, privilege and property — excepting a mill house.
March 11, 1887, Zerah B. Clarke sold to Isaac Gates, the site on which
his box shop stood for the sum of eighty-five dollars. During the
autumn of 1886, Jonathan Bugbee, built a blacksmith shop, carriage
and paint shop on the sight of the buildings burned. In the summer of
18 87 Isaac Gates erected a three-story building on the land he bought
of Z. B. Clarke — to be used as a chair factory.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 123
MANUrAOTOKIES ON SOUTH SIDE OF WHITE EIVEE.
After running the saw-mill until October 1st, 1806, Wharam Loomis
disposed of his purchase to Eiias Lyman, 3d. March 25, 1807, Mr. Lyman
leased a lot of ground 20x40 next east of the saw-mill to Absolom Ball,
with the privilege of taking sufficient water from the dam to carry a
fulling-mill, a machine for dressipg cloth, a machine for cutting dye-
stuff and| a grindstone. On this lot Mr. Ball built a fulling-mill in
1807. On the same day (March 25) Mr. Lyman leased to Joseph H.
Kneeland, a lot of land 29x40, adjoining that leased to Ball, with the
privilege of using water sufficient to carry a cardiug machine, spinning
and weaving, turning a lathe and a grind stone. On the 26th of July,
1808, Mr. Kneeland deeded to the "Hartford Manufacturing Com-
pany,'" all his right, title and interest acquired by virtue of said lease.
Absolom Ball continued in business at this point until his death in
1822. May 12, 1823, Elisha Fowler of Bethel, Vt., deeded the leased
premises, buildings, etc.-, to Joseph Fowler. April 8, 1831, Joseph
Fowler sold the same property to John S. Haines, who on the 19th of
February, 1833, sold the fulling-mill and machinery therein to Justin
Lyman, and some land with a dwelling-house and barn, west of the
saw-mill, to .Thomas Belknap, a son-in-law of Justin Lyman's. The
lease given to Joseph H. Kneeland by Mr. Lyman, and by Kneeland to
the " Hartford Manufacturing Co.," lapsed after some years, and the
factory was in disuse until 1831.
On the dissolution of partnership between Elias and Justin Lyman in
1829, Elias deeded to Justin all the property they had jointly owned on
the south side of the river, including the saw-mill, old and new factories,
mill privileges, etc., — subject only to the lease given to Absolom Ball —
for the sum of $15,000. This sale included the new cotton factory
erected by Elias Lyman, just east of the bridge in 1823. On the 4th of
June, 1831, Justin Lyman leased the factory built by Joseph Kneeland,
and a dwelling-house, to Noah B. Hazen. Mr. Lyman refurnished the
factory with new machinery for the manufacture of woolen goods. The
yearly rental was $200 for the factory, $45 for the house, and twelve
per cent, on the machinery, the lease to run three years. Soon after
effecting this lease, Mr. Hazen formed a partnership with Foster Sturte-
vant who came from Perkinsville, Vt. This partnership ended in 1832,
through the defalcation of Hazen. Attachments placed upon the prop-
'Incorjiorated November 7, 1807, by the General Assembly then in session in
Woodstock. The corporators were Samuel Horr, Guy Trumbull, Joseph H. Knee-
land, Thomas Hartwell, and Amos Bugbee. The factory then standing on the
leased ground was built by this corporation prior to the time Kneeland made over
his lease.
134 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
erty of the company, led to a suspension, and a Sale of their property,
at auction. Aaron Willard was the principal purchaser, and in 1833,
he entered into a partnership with Mr. Sturtevant, and they continued
the manufacture of woolen goods in the old factory until 1839, when
the partnership was dissolved.
In the meantime, Foster Sturtevant purchased of Frances, widow of
Justin Lyman, the factory and machinery, the saw-mill, a dwelling house,
one and one-fourth acres of land, and one equal half of the dam and
water, and use of water in the canal. Two days later, June 15, 1886,
Thomas Belknap sold to said Sturtevant the land and buildings thereon,
sold to said Belknap by Joseph Fowler in 1833. Mr. Sturtevant con-
tinued the manufacture of woolen goods in said factory until 1848,
when his factory was destroyed by fire. This loss added to Hazen's
defalcation, was a severe trial to Mr. Sturtevant, and was probably the
principal cause of his death, which occurred by suicide March 17, 1849,
at the age of forty-eight years.
On the 16th of September 1852, Alvin Braley of Eoxbury, Vt., pur-
chased of the legal representatives of Foster Sturtevant all the real
estate left by Mr. Sturtevant, and at once commenced to build a factory
on the foundation of the one burned. He paid $2,200 for said property
and before his new factory was completed he disposed of his purchase
as follows : One- eighth to Dolphin G. Smith, one-fourth to John Van
Ornum, one-fourth to Justus W. French, and retained three-eights.
The four then united in a partnership under the title of " Van Ornum,
Braley & Co," for the purpose of manufacturing hay forks, garden rakes
and other steel implements for farming purposes.
October 7, 1856, D. G. Smith sold his interest to J. W. French. Jan-
uary 10, 1859, the fork factory, so-called, was destroyed by fire, but the
company rebuilt and resumed business during that year. July 15, 1861,
John Van Ornum sold out to J. W. French. Nov." 16, 1861, A. Judson
Van Ornum purchased one-fourth of all owned by French & Braley.
Dec. 28, 1865, Alvin Braley sold his share in the concern to J. W.
French. July 20, 1866, George Bannister purchased one-eighth of the
property, and a new partnership was formed under the title of " French,
Van Ornum & Co." On the 11th of April, 1868, A. J. Van Ornum sold
out to Edwin C. Watson, when the title was changed to " French, Wat-
son & Co.," which continues to be the title. H. C. Pease, proprietor.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 185
NAIL MANUFAOTOKY.'
The manufacture of cut nails was carried on in Wtiite Kiver village,
on the south side of White river, in a building that stood near the east
end of the saw mUl, as early as the year 1800.'' The first recorded evi-
dence that this business was carried on in this village at an early date,
is found in Vol. 6 of the land records of the town, and is in the form of
an agreement, of which the following is a true copy : —
" In consideration of David Matson this day selling his buildings in which his
naU mesheen stands to Absolom Ball, I hereby agree to let the said David have
a privilege to set his nail mesheen in the under part of a building I am about to
erect near the saw mill on the south side of White river as soon as the buildings
shall be built, so it is practable erecting the same, and he is to have sufELcient
room for his nail mecheen and to work the same as long as the said David wishes
personally to carry on the nail cutting business, &c.
Signed JOSEPH H. KNEEL AND & CO. (
ABSOLOM BALL. )
Hartford, 35th of March, 1807.
MILLS IN CENTREVILLE.
In the second division of one hundred acre lots among the proprie-
tors, lot " No. 64," on the north side of White river, and bordering on
the river, was drawn by Benjamin Whitney. This lot comprised the
location of the hamlet known as Centreville. After several transfers this
lot became, in 1791, the property of Elias Wilson. On the 26th of
August, 1798, Mr. Wilson sold seventeen acres bordering on the rivir
with all the water privileges belonging thereto, for the sum of eighty-
five doUars, Lemuel Cone being the purchaser. In 1801, Jesse Stoddard,
a constable, levied upon the premises owned by Cone, to satisfy a direct
tax of $5.33 asst. to said Cone, under an act of Congress passed July
14, 1798, to raise two mUlion dollars to support government. In 1803, the
property levied upon was sold at auction to Peter Miller for the said tax
and costs of sale. April 22d, 1805, Miller sold to Jedediah Strong fifty-
one acres, including twenty-one sold to him by Stoddard, with a grist-
' The first machine for making cut nails was invented in Massachusetts about the
year i8oo, by a Mr. Odion. Soon after another was contrived by a Mr. Reed, of
the same State. Before these machines were introduced the strips of iron of suit-
able widths for conversion into nails were cut into wedge-like pieces by an instru-
ment which acted on the principle of the shears ; and these were afterwards headed
one by one with a hammer. Tacks were made by the same process.
'' The only evidence in support of the fact that nails were made in this village as
early as iSoo, is the statement made by Mr. S. B. Farman, who says that his grand-
father Farman, was engaged in the business of nail making in White River village
in i8oo, and, perhaps, at an earlier date. Mr. Farman's n^me does not appear in
the voting-list of the town, nor anywhere else in the town records. It is, therefore,
probable that he was ouly an employe in the nail works. Nails were then headed
with a hammer. Mrs. Farman worked at heading small nails and tacks with a ham-
mer in i8oo.
126 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
mill, saw-mill, blacksmith's shop, dwelling-house, and the water privileges
for the sum of $2,000. Feb. 12th, 1808, Mr. Strong sold to Joshua
Cushman and Jesse Bridgman twenty-one acres and the mills, &c. In
1811, John Tracy bought of Cushman & Bridgman, the blacksmith shop
and the privilege of using water to run a trip-hammer, paying for
all f 200. February 25th, 1815, Cushman & Bridgman sold their pur-
chase to Jedediah Strong, who, after running the mills until 1827, sold
out to his son, John Strong, thirty acres and the mUls, &o.
In 1839, through the efforts of John Strong, a company was formed
under the title of " The White Eiver Mill Co," for the purpose of re-
pairing the mills, and dam, and increasing the facilities for grinding
grain, sawing lumber, carding wool, &c.
The members of this association were John Porter, John Downer,
John Strong, Thomas Crandall, Norman Tilden, Wm. Shepperdson,
Lucius Hazen, John Tracy, Stephen S. Downer, James Wood, Norman
Savage, Samuel Tracy, WiUiam Savage, Columbus Tracy, of Hartford,
Nathan Snow, of Pomfret, and Daniel Cobb, of Strafford. The capital
stock of this association was $10,000, or fifty shares at a par value of
$200 each. The enterprise proved to be an unprofitable one. The
stockholders realized less than six per cent, annual interest on their
investment, and on the dissolution of the -association, in 1854, the
shares were bought by John D wight Strong, at a discount of ninety
per cent, from the original par value. John Strong, alone, found it to
be a profitable venture.
J. Dwight Strong paid $1,000 for the entire premises. April 18th,
1857, he sold the same to Lu,cien B. Bliss. The owners of the property
since 1857, have not until quite recently found business there fairly
remunerative. Mr. Bliss sold to Jonas G. Lamphire in April, 1865.
Lamphire sold to Milo G. Gilbert, April 29, 1865. Gilbert sold to
Oscar P. Barron, March 1st, 1866. Between 1866 and 1886, the mills
were run by various parties on leases and otherwise. On the 2d of
April, 1886, David H. Moore and Edgar M. Madden purchased the
property, including a grist-mill, a saw-mill, dwelling-house and all
water privileges, paying for the same $2,250. In a word they paid but ■
two hundred and fifty dollars more than they received for their mill
site and water privilege in White Eiver village. They have the entire
water-power in CentrevUle, do a good custom business there, in addition
to their flour and meal trade in White Eiver village.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 137
MILLS IN WEST HARTFORD.
So far as I can learn, it seems probable that a saw mill was built in
"West Hartford by Daniel Eansom in the year 1794. An addition was
made to this mill not long afterwards, in which the dyeing and carding
of wool was carried on for several years. These buildings stood on the
spot now occupied by the saw mill in use by H. D. Barrows, built in
1813. The owners of the premises since 1815 have been as follows :
David Wilson, 1815 to 1837 ; Henry Faunce, 1838 ; Zacheus Wheeler,
1838 to 1843 ; John Fuller and Charles H. Thurston, 1843 to 1855 ;
Charles H. Thurston, 1855 to 1872; Hamilton D. Barrows, 1872 to
1889.
As early as 1819, David Hazen oWtied a tanning establishment, which
was located closely adjacent to the saw mill. Mr. Hazen sold the tan-
nery, a dwelling house, etc., to Noah Dutton in 1835. February 2, 1843,
Mr. Dutton sold the tannery, dwelling house, and several acres of land,
to Isaac Dexter. In 1845, the premises were bought by Willard W.
Low, who after doing a thriving business for several years, fell into
habits of dissipation, and in 1868 died of delirium tremens. Since the
settlement of his estate nothing has been done at tanning in that vil-
lage. The premises are now owned by A. H. Colby, Esq.
In 1856, Alvan Tucker commenced the manufacture of spring-beds,
hand-rakes, etc., by the use of steam-power, but relinquished the busi-
ness two years later. In 1830, Peter Whitney and his sons John and
Ebenezer, had a furnace for manufacturing castings of various kinds.
After the removal of the Whitneys to Ohio in 1838, their business was
continued by Zavan Hazen. The business terminated in 1843, when Mr.
Hazen moved to Newburg, Indiana.
In 1854, Carlos Hazen began the manufacture of tin and sheet-iron
ware, in the shop previously occupied by James Wade, a cabinet maker.
After a few years' stay there Mr. Hazen removed to Lowell, Mass.
Amos Bartholomew, a very eccentric man, carried on the wheelwright
busintess in that village for many years.
MANUPACTUEING IN WHITE EIVER JUNCTION.
Steam is the only available motive power in White Kiver Junction,
and this has not been utilized there to any great extent. In 1849, Ar-
thur Latham, of Lyme, N. H , purchased land of Col. Samuel Nutt,
upon which he erecte.d a foundry, a machine shop, and several boarding
houses, and opened the business of manufacturing and repairing loco-
motives, railway cars, etc. After continuing this ..business but a few
years he suspended under heavy liabilities. The result proved nfore
128
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
ruinous to his creditors than to Mr. Latham and his family, in a finan-
cial point of view. The business was not again revived there. The
machine shop was converted into a peg-factory, which was in operation
until 1882 under the superintendence of Mr. A. H. Wolfe. After the
discontinuance of the peg business the buildings stood unused until
1884, when they passed into the hands of W. L. Mclntire, a contractor
and builder, who refitted them with machinery for making mouldings,
general house finish, clothes pins, etc. In 1886, after making an addi-
tion of another building to the works, Mclntire suspended and left the
town.
In 1884-5, Joseph Mace erected a grist mUl near the Central railroad
round-house. It proved to be too 'heavy an undertaking for Mr. Mace
to carry through with success. ' The heavy expense of building and run-
ning a first-class mill in the face of competition, and other drawbacks,
led to a temporary aberation of his mind, and caused his withdrawal
from business. Subsequently business in this miU was commenced by
Byron Tilden and Fred Grover. After running the mill about one year
at a sacrifice, they closed it in the autumn of 1886, and the mill stands
unused.
GEOEGE W. SMITH S CKAOKEK FACTORY.
This representative house is one of the oldest in New England in the
combined cracker and confectionery business, having been established
in Hanover, N. H., in 1837, by Mr. E. K. Smith, who by keen fore-
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 139
sight, sound judgment and a thorough devotion to his business, suc-
ceeded in building u^, while in Hanover, an extensive and profitable
trade, thus exemplifying the truth of the theory that from small begin-
nings a person possessed of industry, honesty and perseverance, may
obtain pre-eminence in any branch of business.
With a clear perception of the many advantages to be secured by
removing their business to White Eiver Junction, the site now occupied
was taken in 1871, and this is one of the most desirable locations in
Vermont. Mr.- E. K. Smith, the founder of the firm, died in 1877, since
which time the business has been conducted solely by his son, George
W. Smith, who is, in every sense of the word, a first-class business man.
This house has not been entirely exempt from losses during its exist-
ence of more than half a century, but has never failed. In 1884 the
premises were badly damaged by fire, but they were soon rebuilt, and at
the same time an extensive annex was made, which was demanded by a
largely increasing business.
While making a specialty of crackers, in which business he has
achieved an unrivalled reputation and phenomenal success, Mr. Smith
also carries a full line as displayed in confectionery, cigars, and other
things suited to the demands of the wide market in which he seeks to
serve and satisfy his patrons by a progressive system of business deal-
ing. He aims to sell the best goods at fairly remunerative prices, and
by pursuing this policy is enabled to secure a large share of the best
trade.
He buys the materials required in his business on an extensive scale,
and, consequently, everything is secured at the lowest prices. He
aitnually converts from thirty to forty car loads of flour, of choice
brands, into " Hanover " crackers, in which business he also uses at
least 300 barrels of lard. He now makes 65,000 crackers daily, or about
fifty barrels. In the manufacture of confectionery, he uses at least 500
barrels of sugar annually, or about 140,000 pounds. In addition to his
own manufactures he carries in stock fifty varieties of fancy cakes and
crackers, and about 400 varieties of confectionery. He employs ten to
twelve men in his bakery ; keeps on the road five salesmen, who sell by
samples, and has a weekly pay-roll of $200.
As an illustration of the extent of Mr. Smith's cracker making, it may
be said that his annual production is 1,625,000 dozens. If this number
were placed in a pile twenty-five feet square, and one hundred and
thirteen feet in height, sixty men could stand side by side around such
130 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
a pile, and if each man should eat three dozen daily until the entire lot
was consumed, the pile would last thirty years. Or if his annual pro-
duction was equally divided among the inhabitants of Vermont, every
person would receive five dozens.
MARBLE AND GEANITE CUTTING.
The manufacture of marble monuments, tablets and head- stones, was
commenced in White Eiver Junction by John Harding, April 12, 1878.
Mr. Harding uses but little other than Italian marble.. His work is
equal to tjiat produced in any works in Vermont, in point of design and
finish. His productions range in value from twenty up to one thousand
dollars. He deals in granite monuments, made of the fine red variety
found in Red Beach, Maine. His principal carver and cutter is Mr. J.
M. Hodet.
Samuel Carlton opened the business of getting out granite curbing
and monuments in White Eiver Junction in 1881. He uses, principally.
Concord granite, and produces work ranging in price from twenty-five
to one thousand dollars. His work is excellent in finish and quahty,
and finds a ready market. His principal assistant is Mr. Jeff Durgin, a
skillful cutter and designer.
THE WHITE EIVER PAPEK COMPANY.
This corporation, located in White Eiver Junction, was established
for the purpose of "manufacturing books, printing, publishing or deal-
ing in newspapers, blank books, blanks, stationery, music and musical
instruments, and for procuring a place of business and incurring such
other expenditures as maybe necessary for the commencement and pros-
ecution of the business above named." The capital stock was origi-
nally $5,000, or 100 shares at $50 each, the actual amount paid in at the
date of organization, April 19, 1881, being $3,500. The president is
George W. Smith, the directors Alma C. Farman, Geo. W. Smith and S.
L. Farman. Place of business, basement of Smith's block.
bogle's JEWELEEY ESTABLISHMENT.
The Wholesale Jewelry business of T. F. & M. J. Bogle, located in
Smith's Block, at White River Junction, is worthy of notice, as showing
perseverance and enterprise ; it being the only wholesale house of the
kind in Vermont or New Hampshire.
The business was started eight years ago, by its present manager,
Mr. 0. C. Bogle, who then lived at West Lebanon, N. H. He com-
menced selling goods to the trade in a small way, by driving one horse,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 131
and carrying a few goods -with him in two small trunks. Their business
now extends through the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont
and New York. They employ two salesmen on the road, and a corps
of efficient clerks at the store ; dealing exclusively in "Watches, Clocks,
Jewelry, Silver Plated Ware, Gold Pens, Spectacles and Eye Glasses,
Watchmaker's Tools and Materials ; and in these goods can compete
successfully with the New York and Boston Houses.
OLCOTT FALLS PAPER AND P0LP MILLS.
One of the most important manufacturing enterprises ever inaugurated
in Vermont, is that now well established at Olcott Falls on the Connec-
ticut river, two miles above White Eiver Junction, — one of the two
pulp mills being located upon ihe New Hampshire side of the river in
Lebanon.
Tills location on the west bank of the Connecticut river was known to the
early settlers of Hartford as " White River Falls," the water power at that point
being designated in the charter of township by that name and doubtless, for the
reason of theii- near proximity to the mouth of Wliite river. The Proprietors'
Committee, who came into the town in 1761 to lay out the boundary lines of the
town, reported that they commenced their work at the north-east comer of the
town " at the marked tree standing near the head of Wliite River Falls." There
ai-e, in fact, two principal falls, distinguished as " The Upper " and " The Lower
Falls," both of which are included in that portion of the river between lots "14"
and " 24," of the original division of lots, north of White river, bordering on the
Connecticut river. The extent in length of both falls is about 400 rods, and the
power afforded by them, jointly, is excelled by a few others only in New England
— ^beiug not less than 7000 horse power at low water ; with a possible 40 feet
faU.
The mill privileges at the lower falls were utiHzed, on both sides of the river,
as early as 1785. The lot of land immediately adjacent to the river at what is
termed the " lower bar of the falls " was, in the first division, number " 19" and
was drawn by Caleb Howard. April 10, 1769, Howard deeded this lot to Joel
Marsh. Oct. 23, 1769, Marsh deeded the same to Israel Gillett, who, by various
transfers to him, became possessed of all the original shares from " 18 " to " 23,"
inclusive. The water privilege, together with about four acres of land bordering
on the river, subsequently passed into the hands of John Payne, of Hanover,and
John Payne, Jr., and Elizabeth Turner, of Hartford, who erected thereon a corn
mill and saw mill. June 14, 1787, the Paynes and Miss Turner, for a consider-
ation of $72.60, granted to Joseph Fowler of East Haddam, Ct., and Dr. Joseph
Lewis and Samuel Hutchinson of Norwich, the privilege of setting a fulling
mill at their (the grantors) mills^ and to draw water from the bulkhead neces-
sary to run said fulling mill. The grantees did not erect a fulling mill, but, on
the 19th of October, 1795, they deeded the right of water for a fulling mill to
Elisha Fowler, who on the 7th of October, 1793, had bought of Israel Gillett one
acre and thirteen rods of land on which to erect a fulling mill. EUsha Fowler,
133 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
about this time purcliased of Franqes W. Savage, 15 acres of land bordering on the
river, which Fowler sold to Erastus Chapman July 29, 1790. Mr. Chapman was
by trade a blacksmith and he built on this land, a blacksmith's shop. Bhsha
Fowler, about this time, built a house near the falls.
On the 4th of April, 1790, John Payne of Hanover, N. H., deeded to Capt.
Daniel Phelps four acres of land, one-eighth of a corn mill, three-eighths of a
saw mUl, and water power at the lower fall. Captain Phelps, after buying the
interests of John Payne Jr. , and EUzabeth Turner and EHsha Fowler, on the 31st
of January, 1804, sold the wholer property, including water power, to Daniel
Green. Daniel Green sold to Gordon Whitmore. In August, 1817, said Whit-
more and Josiah Bellows deeded three undivided fourths of all the land and MUls
and power to Mills Olcott of Hanover, for the sum of |1500. Zerah Brooks,
father of the late Justin C. Brooks, deeded the remaining one-fourth to said
Olcott for the sum of |1000. About the same date, said Olcott bought the
riparian rights on the Lebanon, N. H., side of the river, and erected a saw mill
on the site.
The ' ' White River Falls Company " — Mills Olcott and others corporators —
was chartered by the New Hampshu-e legislature, June 12, 1807. This company
commenced building locks and canals on the same in 1810 at an expense of nearly
140,000. Mills Olcott was then about tliirty years of age. At first the amount of
business afforded no dividends, but later, it became a source of satisfactory
revenue. Mr. Olcott was,, however, subjected to almost constant litigation,
annoyance and anxiety for nearly forty years.
A corporation under the title of "The White River Falls Corporation" was
established by the Legislature of New Hampshire, June 23d, 1848. The corpora-
tors were James Han-is, Rufus Choate, Joseph Bell, Edward R. Olcott, Wm. H.
Duncan and Chas. E. Thompson. The authorized capital stock was |500,000.
This corporation was formed for the purpose of " maintaining a dam and water
power on Connecticut river, at White River Falls." On the 17th of AugTist,
1848, Rufus and Helen (Olcott) Choate, C. H. Olcott, Jane E. Heydock, Wm. A.
Olcott, (by Harriet A. Olcott) Wm. H. and Sarah (Olcott) Duncan, Edward R.
Olcott, Charles E. and Mary (Olcott) Thompson and Joseph and Juliana B. Bell,
deeded to Joseph Bell of Boston all the land and MUls owned by Mills Olcott
(three-fourths in Hartford) and all in Lebanon, for a consideration of $80,000. At
the same time James Harris and vdfe, deeded to said Joseph Bell, their interest
of one-fourth of the premises in Hartford, for a consideration of 120,000, — the
entire amount of property deeded " to be held in trust by said Bell to and for the
use of White River Falls Corporation, so long as the same remains unchanged by
any material amendment, etc.
Although the ostensible object of the corporation, as expressed in their charter,
was " to maintain a dam and water power at Wliite River Falls," they soon after
put this property on the market, hoping to effect a sale; but the price fixed, or
asked, (825,000) precluded the possibility of effecting a sale. Finally, Daniel G.
Blaisdell, treasurer of the corporation, announced an auction sale of the property,
including all riparian rights on both rides of the river, the privileges of the stream,
a saw mill on the Lebanon side, together with the locks and canal on the same
side, but, on the day named for said sale, not a bidder appeared; and all subse-
quent efforts made to dispose of the property proved futile until many years
later.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 133
In 1865 Israel Gillett, 3d, and Horace P^encli, erected a paper mill on the west
side of the Connecticut river and near the " Upper falls," so called, where they
manufactured paper from straw, until 1873, when the mill was washed away and
they suspended business at that point. Recognizing the value of the immense
water power afforded by the two falls and having often heard their relative,
Daniel O. Gillett, express his willingness to donate forty-five acres of land lying
adjacent to the river at that point, to encourage the utilization of said water
power, they called the attention of the late N. B. Saflford to the matter. This
public spirited gentleman being ever ready to promote the weU-f are and pros-
perity of his fellow citizens, proceeded to make an inspection of the water power
at the falls, with which he was very favorably impressed; and he resolved to
malie an effort to interest several wealthy manufacturers in the enterprise of pur-
chasing and utilizing said water power to its fullest capacity. Earnest and enthus-
iastic in this project, he soon succeeded in enlisting Messrs. Jones and Lamson,
manufacturers of cotton goods, Windsor, Vt., and through them, Messrs. Floyd
Bros. & Co., of Boston, in the project.
As a preliminary step, toward the consummation of their design, Mr. Safford
was delegated to confer with the owners of the water power and the riparian
rights adjacent thereto, on both sides of Connecticut river, to learn upon what
terms a title to the same could be acquired. With the land-ownprs on the Ver-
mont side of the river he was eminently successful. Daniel O. GiUett, a level-
headed, public-spirited gentleman, not only conflimed his (previous) offer to give
forty-five acres of land in aid of the enterprise, but took upon himself the work
of soliciting voluntary subscriptions to the amount of $4000 toward a purchase of
the interests of the "White River Falls Corporation," which he readily accom-
plished. He was also largely instrumental in influencing other land holders to
unite with himself in bonding over 100 acres to Mr. Safford, viz: Daniel O.
Gillett forty acres, Azro Gillett twenty, Orrin Taft twelve, Reuben Loveland ten,
Wm. J. Chandler twenty.
Wm. H. Duncan, who owned about fifty acres in that vicinity, declined to
gratuitously contribute land, but offered to sell ten acres for a consideration of
of 12000, which Mr. Safford decided to pay. Pending fm-ther negotiations how-
ever, Mr. Safford and his associates decided to apply to the General Assembly of
Vermont for an act of incorporation under the title of the " Hartford Mills Com-
pany," which they secured Nov. 36, 1872. The corporators were Noah B. 8af-
sord, RusseU L. Jones, Eastbum E. Lamson, Hiram Harlow, Daniel O. Gillett,
Chas. J. Jones, Edward E. Floyd, Samuel J; Whitton, Joseph A. Call and their
associates; incorporated for the purpose of manufacturing cotton and woolen
goods, etc. The capital stock was to be one hundred thousand dollars with the
right to increase the same to any sum not exceeding two million dollars; the
shai-es to be one hundred dollars each.
At this juncture of affairs, when success seemed assured beyond doubt, Mr.
W. H. Duncan, who was vacillating, and too easily influenced by some of his
narrow-minded neighbors, raised an insuperable obstacle to further negotiations,
by declining to deed any portion of the propei-ty unless the " Hartford Mill Co.
would agree to erect their first mill, or mills, at the ' lower falls,' or in the im-
mediate vicinity of the residue of his land adjoining the aforesaid ten acres.''
To this condition the would-be purchasers would not submit, and the trade fell
134 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
tlu'ough. Mr. Duncan lived to see and acknowledge his error, and make honor-
able amends.
Having received assurance that Mr. Duncan had finally decided to give ten
acres of land in aid of the enterprise, and that Messrs. GriUett, Taft, Chandler,
Loveland and others, vs^ould renew their former bpnd to deed the quantities of
land offered by them in the premises, and also, that the water power and ripariaii
rights could be purchased on more favorable terms than formerly, Mr. Safiord
began anew in 1880, to accomplish his long cherished purpose. The first re-
sponse to his efforts, came from Mr. D. P. Crocker, a wealthy resident of Spring-
field, Mass., who, after a careful inspection of the water power at the falls, and
due consideration of the liberal inducements offered, concluded a purchase of the
water and riparian rights owned by the " White River Falls Company," for the
sum of four thousand dollars. He also purchased about fifty acres of land on
the Lebanon side of the river for which he paid three thousand dollars, while, at
the same time, he received at the hands of the above named land-owners a gift
of about one hundred and thirty acres of land on the west side of the river, most
of which hes east of the Passumpsic railroad.
On the 33rd of June, 188G, Mr. Crocker conveyed his right, title, and interest
in the above real estate, and 1000, shares of the stock to ' White River Falls Co.' —
reserving twenty acres of land on the west side of the railroad, and this he sub-
sequently deeded to the " Olcott Falls Co.'' In 1881, by an act of the New Hamp-
shire legislature, the title of the " White River Falls Company," was changed to
" Olcott Falls Co."
On the 10th of August, 1882, the " Olcott Falls Co." commenced th« work of
constructing a dam across Connecticut river. This was completed Jan. 10th,
1883. The length of the dam is 808 feet, wood work 608 feet, abutments 300 feet.
Nearly 1,700,000 feet of lumber and 3300 perches of stone were used in the dam.
The cbst of the dam was about §50,000. A pulp mill was completed Aug. 26th,
1883. Twelve thousand yards of stone were removed in forming the wheel-pit.
By one blast with 650 pounds of dynamite, 600 cubic yai-ds of rock were removed.
The pulp mill has two stories and a basement. The machinery consists of eleven
Himt water wheels, each of 300 horse-power. Water is conducted to these
wheels through two iron pent stocks, each eight feet in diameter and 120 feet in
length, the fall being forty feet. The machines for reducing wood to pulp con-
sist of nine Tower grinders, each capable of grinding five tons per day of wet
pulp, and other machines in general use. With a run of twenty-four hours, this
mill produces about forty-five tons of wet pulp, using nearly thirty cords of tim-
ber per day. The gi-ound plan of this mill is 86x86 feet.
The paper mill comprises six divisions, viz: — an engine-room, 64x119; a bleach
liouse, 48x66; a machine room, 60x138; a finishing room, 36x90; a boiler house,
40x42; and a stock house, 38x150, all built of brick, and mainly, one story in
height. In the construction of the buildings and chimney about 2,000,000 brick
were used. The chimney is 100 feet in height. The whole ground space occu-
pied by all the buildings named is nearly 37,000 square feet. The machinery in
the paper mill comprises four boilers, each of ninety horse-power; two paper-
making machines, each having a capacity of nine tons per day, together with
the necessary Hunt water wheels which are fed through a pent stock of the same
dimensions as those above named.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 135
The dam and mills were built by S. 8. Ordway, conteaotor; Stone Bros., of
Laconia, N. H., being sub-contractors for laying brick, plastering, etc. The tim-
ber for the dam was fm-nished mostly by Pattee & Perley, of Lebanon, N. H.
The stone was blasted out on the spot, with the exception of granite, most of
which, including door and window caps and sUls, were obtained of D. TUton,
Enfield, N. H. The brick were made at Orford, N. H., by the O. F. Co. The
southern pine came from the New Haven Lumber Co. The machinery was man-
ufactm-ed as follows: Water wheels, Rodney Hunt, Orange Mass.; grinders,
Holyoke (Mass.) Mfg. Co.; boUers, H. Loruag, South Boston, Mass.; paper ma-
chines. Union Machine Co., Fitchburg, Mass.
The paper made at Olcott is exclusively for city daUy newspapers. This paper
is formed of the filaments of spruce and poplar wood, and some waste cotton,
and by an adjustment of machinery of extraordinary delicacy, the pulp formed
of these substances is converted into an endless web of paper, as long at least as
the machines are suppUed with pulp. The paper made at this mill is made into
rolls weighing 600 pounds. Much of the spruce and poplar comes from Canada
ready to be fed to the grinders.
The Olcott Falls Co. is constructing a new pulp mill on the Lebanon side. This
mill has ten giinders requiring a total of 2250 horse power. The pulp produced
in this mill will be conveyed to the paper miU on the opposite side of the river
in pipes laid upon a foot bridge spanning the river. There are only three
or four houses on the Lebanon side. Probably other manufacturing
estabUshments will be put ia operation in Olcott at no distant day, and
the many hundred available building lots there wiU be occupied; and it will
become the most important village in Hartford, if not in Windsor county. The
nucleus now formed comprises about fifty dwelling houses, a commodious school
house, a post office, a dry goods and gi-ocery store, a public hall with a seating
capacity of 150 persons, a livery stable, etc. A congregational chirrch was
organized here Oct. 14, 1888, under the name of the " United Church of Christ in
Olcott." The property of this company, in Hartford, now exempted from taxa-
tion amoimts to |227,300, divided as follows : for ten years from April 1, 1885,
177,300; for ten yeai-s f rom AprU 1,1888, |150,000. It is, however, safe to say
that the increase in the valuation of real estate, including buildings, resulting
from the establishment of the mills ali-eady in operation at that point, is largely
in excess of the amount exempted for ten years from April 1, 1885.
This enterprise will conduce to the growth, wealth and prosperity of the town.
Our farmers will experience an inci'eased demand for their farm produce. Good
prices and a ready mai'ket are the natural results of the estabUshment of manu-
factories in our midst. Farming in particular is rendered more profitable and
pleasant as a calling. Increased and continuous profits on labor and capital
furnish means wherewith to meet taxation, the payment of help and interest
money, to raise mortgages or to obviate giving them, and to secure increased
comforts of life and more agreeable surroxmdings. Like benefits accrue to all
classes of society. These benefits are too obvious to need enumeration further
than to say that factories and mills such as exist in Hartford add largely to the
taxable property of a town, and increase the number of taxpayers, thereby lessen-
ing per capita taxation. They also afford employment to many persons who
would otherwise be idle, and very likely worse than idle, " idleness being the
mother of niischief."
136 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
THE HABTFOED WOOLEN COMPANY.
The site occupied by this company, on the south side of White river, is
the north end of lot " No. 6," which, in the first division of land among
the proprietors of Hartford, was drawn by Elijah Bingham, and con-
tained sixty-five acres. This lot, after several transfers had taken place,
became the property of Josiah Tilden in 1800. In January, 1807, Mr.
Tilden sold to Elias Lyman three-fourths of an acre off the end of this
lot, bordering on the south side of the turnpike. This slip of land has
been since 1761 the subject of numerous transfers, the owners having
been as follows : Elijah Bingham, Nehemiah Closson, Josiah Tilden,
Elias Lyman, 3d, Jonathan Bugbee, David Kneeland, Joseph H. Knee-
land, Edward Kneeland, Sylvester Morris, E. W. Morris, and the Hart-
ford Woolen Co. That portion of the lot lying between the turnpike
and White river has changed hands as follows : Elijah Bingham, 1761;
Nehemiah Closson, 1772 ; David Wright, 1783; Josiah Tilden, 1800;
Joseph Buckingham, 1804 ; John Gilbert, 1806 ; Elisha Hotchkiss, 1808 ;
David Matson, 1809 ; Elias Lyman, 3d, 1815 ; Justin Lyman, 1829 ;
Sylvester Morris, 1853 ; E. W. Morris, 1857 ; Hartford Woolen Co.,
1886.
The site on which the Hartford Woolen Company have erected their
mill is invested with a degree of interest that seldom attaches to building
sites, for the reason that one of the first two factories built in Vermont
for the manufacture of cotton goods was here located. I allude to the
factory erected on this site by Elias Lyman, 3d, in 1823, which was the
second cotton factory established in Vermont, and one of the first 100
put in operation north of the Potomac river. In November, 1829, on
the dissolution of the partnership between Elias and Justin Lyman, this
factory came into Justin's hands. On the 27th of August, 1831, Mr.
Lyman leased his factory and four dwelling houses to Horace Barbour
and Stephen Kimball, of Lowell, Mass., for a term of five years, com-
mencing March 1st, 1832. In 1835, this factory was destroyed by fire.
Mr. Lyman did not deem it advisable to rebuild, and the site remained
vacant until 1853, when Mr. Sylvester Morris, of Norwich, Vt., pur-
chased the foundation of the factory, one two-story dwelling house, one
one-story dwelling house, one store house, and an equal half of the dam
for the sum of $2000. Mr. Morris erected a mill on the foundation of
this factory, and into this mill he put machinery for grinding plaster.
In 1855 he added "the business of getting out chair stock.
In 1857, Mr. Morris sold the premises and business to his son, Ed-
ward W., who added a saw mill to the establishment, fitted up the mill .
HISTORY OF HARTFOED. 137
with machinery for manufacturing chairs, and also built the store house
now standing near the raUroad opposite the factory.
This company was organized on the 14th of October, 1886. The arti-
cles of association were signed October 9th by Ephraim Morris, Edward
W. Morris, Henry H. Hanchett, Daniel L. Gushing, Vincent J. Brennan,
Charles M. Cone, and Dr. Joseph B. Eand, of Hartford, and Dr. "Wm.
T. Smith, of Hanover, N. H. The amount of capital stock is $100,000,
or 1000 shares at a par value of $100. Officers : president, Ephraim
Morris ; secretary, E. W. Morris ; treasurer, C. M. Cone ; superintend-
ent, Vincent J. Brennan. Mr. Brennan soon retired and sold his stock.
The mill is 174 feet iu length by 50 feet in width and four stories in
height, with a corner tower 20x20 feet and 65 feet in height. The chim-
ney is 85 feet in height. The whole mill is brick lined and is extremely
well lighted throughout. The machinery consists of two sixty-horse
power Risdon water wheels, two seventy -five-horse power boilers, one
sixty-horse power engine, eight 300 spindle spinning mules, six sets of
cards, thirty broad fancy looms, together with pickers, finishing machin-
ery, and all other appurtenances requisite to a first-class mill. The tow-
er is surmounted by a fine bell weighing 500 pounds. The method of
heating is by steam. The use of automatic sprinklers, well distributed
and placed, in every apartment of the mill, and fed with water from two
1200-gallon tanks located in the tower, together with a Daniels rotary
water pump and a Dean steam pump, afford means for extinguishing
fires, that reduce probabilities of losses by the devouring element to a
minimum, and consequently rates of insurance are materially reduced.
The lumber used in the construction of this mill was bought of Mr.
Austin Howard, the well-known leading manufacturer and wholesale
dealer in lumber, who resides in West Hartford. The windows, doors,
casings, etc., were furnished by Charles A. Bacon, of West Lebanon,
N. H.
The daily product of the mill has been 600 yards of double-width
cloth for gentlemen's suitings, with a weekly pay-roll of $800. When
running full the company will employ from 125 to 150 hands, to pro-
duce daily 1000 yards of double-width goods.
The location of this manufacturing establishment is a very desirable
one in respect to the available water power afforded by the White river,
the superior facilities for transportation by rail, both in receiving sup-
plies of new material and the shipment of manufactured goods, the
remarkable healthfulness of the climate of this section, also in being in
the heart of a productive agricultural region where food is plentiful.
138 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
good and cheap, and with a few exceptions rents are reasonable, though
tenements of a desirable kind are wanting.'
THE HAETEOED CEEAMEET.
The following article written by the historian for the " Vermont
J'ournal" published in Windsor, appeared in that paper under date of
April 18, 1888:
The farmers of Hartford ai'e manifesting great interest in the matter of estab-
lishing creameries' in the town. The subject has been discussed in all its bear-
ings for some weeks past, and one of the practical results following therefrom,
is the organization of the Hartford Creamery Company, which oocun'ed on
Wednesday, the 11th inst., at Hartford village, the foUowing named oflEicers
being chosen: President, Harper Hazen ; vice-president, G. H. Savage ; secre-
tary and treasurer, A. L. Pease ; manager, Albert B. Chandler. This company
has leased a building and water-power of Messrs. Moore & Madden at Centi'e-
ville, and will at once put in a separator of the most improved kind, with a
capacity equal to the extent of business that may reasonably be anticipated.
Milk for 100 poimds of butter per day is assured with the surety of a large in-
crease in the future.
Centreville was chosen as a location for the creamery for the reason that a
very desirable degree of patronage can thereby be secured in Pomfret and West
Hartford.
It is to be hoped that this new enterprise will prove a successful one.' Some-
thing should be done to render the work of farmers' wives less burdensome.
Science and art have been taxed to their utmost resources in the production of
labor-saving machinery for the benefit of the male portion of the community.
The work of the farmer has been wonderfully Ughtened and lessened by the in-
troduction of improved implements of husbandry. Horse, or steam power, ren-
ders his work comparatively easy and pleasant. But, what has been done to
reheve farmers' wives of the drudgery to which they are continually subjected?
The sewing machine may render then- family sewing less onerous, but the
motive power necessary to accompUsh this work is found alone in then- own
muscles and nerves. In no phase of then- labor can they avail themselves of
horse and steam power ! The patient endurance of farmers' wives is something
almost marvellous to witness.
Now just see what an immense saving of drudgery to farmers' vrives this
creamery will be ! Instead of having a large munber of pans of millf to skim
and empty ; pans to wash and scald, and set in the sun ; butter to churn, wash,
work over and stamp, or , pack dowm ; a number of swiU-pails or barrels sitting
around with more or less unpleasant odor, they have a few pails to wash, and
their dairy work is completed.
' To encourage this enterprise the town voted in 1885 to exempt the property from
taxation for five years. The amojint exempted from April i, 1887, to April I, 1892,
is Sio.ooo; from April i, 1888, to April i, 1893, 122,300. Total, §32,300.
° Business was suspended at this creamery in the fall of 1888.
CHAPTER X.
HIGHAVAYS, TURNPIKES, BTC.
It has already been stated that the proprietors sent a committee into
the township as early as 1761 to lay out lots and highways. The action
of the proprietors relating to highways will now be quoted from the
records.
August 26th, 1761. Voted to lay out convenient roads so many as the com-
mittee shall Judge necessary.
Nov. 23d, 1761. "Voted that one or more persons shall be chosen to apply to
a committee or selectmen of the several towns that he down the Connecticut
river from Hartford unto the King's ferry above Charlestown, or Number four
so-called, on the west side of said river, and also to comply with those above on
said river, if appUed to, to join with us to search out a pubUck road from the
said King's ferry in the most convenient place through said towns to accomo-
.date traveling to and through said towns, and mark out and clear the same so
much as to make feasible traveling."
The committees who had visited the town came up the Connecticut
river by " Number 4 " fort, to the mouth of White river through a
dense wilderness, their course being marked by blazed trees. By this
primitive bridle-path the first settlers found their way into the town-
ship, bringing on horse-back all their worldly goods wherewith to begin
house-keepiilg, and tilling the soil.
March 9th, 1763. Prince Tracy and John Baldwin were chosen a committee
to agree with the proprietors of other towns below Hartford to find out where
the best place was for the aforesaid road, and mark it out, and hire men to clear
it as cheap as they could. November 3d, 1768, it was voted to lay out a high-
way through the town eastward from the Connecticixt river to Pomfret line ;
also to lay out a road from the Norwhioh line to Quechee, the two roads to' cross
each other at the centre of the town as the land wiU conveniently admit of with
a suitable place of parade. Dec. 3d, 1764, it was voted that each proprietor
should wori: four days at clearing highways by the 1st of September or pay
sixteen shillings tax.
Sept. 19, 1767, it was voted to lay out a highway from that leading from
Connecticut river to Pomfret up said river to White river, thence up said river
as far as may be thougKt best, thence to steer the nearest and best way across the
town over to or near the saw mUl of Abel Marsh & Co.' Stephen TUden, EUjah
.Strong and John Marsh were chosen a committee to lay said road. It was also
voted to pay £1 13s money, or do eight days' work upon each share, on highways
that fall. Also, that Solomon Strong and Abel Marsh should view the road
from Daniel Pinneo's to Hertford^ and pay for the labor done on it out of the
above voted tax. October 7th, 1768, Abel Marsh, John Marsh and Benjamin
Burtch were chosen a committee to lay out a road from the saw-mill (Quechee)
to Pomfret line; also from said miU to the centre of the town.
' Quechee Village. " Hartland.
140 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
September 18, 1769, it was voted to accept the reports of all the comnaittees on
roads and the settlement of land damages was enti'usted to Eleazer Robinson,
Abel Marsh and Benajah Strong. Nov. 16th, 1775, Capt. Joseph Mai-sh, Stephen
Tilden and Joel Marsh were chosen a committee to treat with Amos Robinson
and with Lebanon about a road from the Connecticut river road to the f eriy on
the Lebanon side of the river.
The foregoing constitutes all the important action of the proprietors,
and of the town up to 1775, on roads. In 1821, the town was first
divided into highway districts, twenty-three in number. In March,
1822, the first district surveyors were chosen (twenty-three). Seven
districts have since been added. TJie following list comprises the full
number of districts, the name of the first surveyor chosen in each dis-
trict and date of the organization of each district.
MAECH 33, 1832. f
District No. 1, Billy GUlet; (2) Dan Hazen; (3) Joseph Crandall; (4) Allen
Smith; (5) Joseph Tracy; (6) Thomas Savage; (7) NoaJi B. Hazen; (8) Reuben
Tenney, Jr. ; (9) Edward Kneeland; (10) Hyde Clark; (11) Charles Pinneo; (12)
Levi Russ; (13) S. G. Gardner; (14) Joseph Fowler; (15) W. Jennings; (16) Daniel
Marsh; (17) Jacob Dimmick; (18) Jonathan Smith; (19) Reuben Hazen; (20) H.
Marsh; (21) Roswell Deming; (22) Chiistopher Pease; (33) Nathaniel Thomas.
March 4th, 1883. No. 24, Eli Harrington; (25) Jessie P. Hatch. March 4th,
1845, (26) Zerah B. Clark. March 4th, 1850, (27) Norman Tilden; (28) William
Savage; (29) Loren B. Dudley. March 4th, 1863, (80) John C. Head.
The limits of this history will not permit of a detailed statement
relating to the building of all the highways in town— ^aggregating at
least 200 miles.
The first highway on the north side of "White river leading up said
river from Connecticut river, was laid out pursuant to the following
petition, to wit :
To the Selectmen of the Tovsm of Hartford in Windsor County, Vt:
The appUcation of us the subscribers, freeholders of said town humbly showeth
that there is no road or highway laid out on the north ride of White river from
the f ordway a little below Capt. Andrew Tracy's to the great river at the mouth
of White river, near Mr. Jno Bennett's about two miles in length, and that there
is great need of, and even necessity for a liighway in the place abovementioned
to acconmaodate the publie, as there is and must be of necessity much travel,
thereon, and of gi'eat public utility, as well as private advantage and conven-
ience. We do therefore pray the said Selectmen to repair to the place, above
mentioned and lay out a highway, and survey the same and make return of their
doings in the premises, into the Town Clerk's office as the law directs.
Dated at Hartford this ) Signed DAVID JANES
31st day of June 1790. \ STEPHEN TILDEN JUN )
BENJ WRIGHT JUN l Freeholders.
ROWLAND POWELL )
Parsant to the above application the selectmen laid out a road from
the west end of Capt. Tracy's interval to John Bennett's at the
mouth of White river, the entire distance being one mile and two hun-
dred and fifty-four rods. The ferry above alluded to was used from
1764 until 1852. The highway was built about six years before a dam
was built at White Eiver Village.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 141
The first movement toward building a turnpike, or toll road, through
Hartford, was made by Col. Joel Marsh, Elias Stevens and George
Dana, who petitioned the General Assembly of Vermont Oct. 13, 1800,
for " the exclusive privilege of making a turnpike road on northerly side
of White river, through Hartford, a corner of Pomfret, Sharon, and to
the mouth of the second branch of said river in Royalton, under the
corporate title of ' The "White River Turnpike Company.' " An act in-
corporating said company was passed November 1st, 1800. On the 11th
of Nov., 1802, Elias Stevens and Elias Curtis, road commissioners,
completed the survey of said turnpike from Lyman's Point to Sharon
line, a distance of seven and three-fourths miles and forty-six rods. The
distance from Lyman's Pt. to the terminus in Royalton was not far
from twenty miles.
On this turnpike road toll gates were erected, the first in Hartford,
being located at or near Munsill's Ferry (See Ferries). Later this was
removed about one mile further north near to the residence of Abel
Camp's (now Levi Hazen's), and one at John Downer's inn on the Sharon
line (now the home of Harry Parkhurst). In 1852, the stockholders
voted to give up this turnpike to Hartford, Sharon and Royalton, when
the three towns would, together, pay $30, or when any one of them
would pay $10, to the corporation, such town should be entitled to that
part of said turnpike that lay in said town. George Lyman was appoint-
ed agent to close up the affairs of the corporation and all books and
papers passed into his hands. The proposition to the towns was
accepted by each of them, the gates were taken down, and another step
toward a more enlightened civilization was accomplished.
Prior to 1836, nearly all the West India and dry goods, hardware,
&c., used in this section of the State, came from Hartford, Connecticut,
by flat-boats. This was owing to a lack of good roads to Boston. The
roads were then almost impassable by one horse teams, yet, in cases of
urgency, or expediency, two-horse teams were sent over the road via.
Concord to Boston. It is related of Elias Lyman that he, on a certain
time, desired to send $1,000 in money to Boston, and adopted a novel
method of sending it. Wishing, at the same time to send some clover
seed to Boston he enclosed the .money in a bag of the seed, and sent it
forward by a two-horse team as freight. The team was on the road 8
days, but reached Boston safely, and then, for the first time, the team-
ster learned the nature and value of his load.
The general freight and passenger business in those days was confined
to the Connecticut river. The mode of conveyance was by flat-boats.
The round trip between this town and Hartford, Ct., occupied 15 days
143 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Steamboats were run up the river, a few times, as far as Dalton, N. H.,
but owing to a dif&culty in passing them through the locks, they were
withdrawn. In consequence of the completion of turnpike roads to
Boston in the year 1836, trade was diverted from Hartford to Boston,
and river transportation praiCtically ceased.
FEEEIES AND FOEDS.
Ferries preceded bridges by some years. The proprietors being de-
sirous of opening communication with the town of Lebanon voted April
29th, 1763, "that a good skow ferry boat twenty-five feet long and
eight feet wide sufficient to carry men, horses or carts, or the like,
should be built for the proprietors' use, and upon the proprietors' cost,
which should be kept in Connecticut river against said town." John
Baldwin was chosen to build this boat, and assisted by John Bennet
and Elijah Strong, completed and launched it as designated, in 1764.
It is proba]Dle that this was the only method of crossing the river until
Elias Lyman b'uilt the first bridge over the Connecticut river, near the
confluence of this stream with White river, in the year 1800.
A ferry existed near the mouth of White river, between the north
and south side of said river, as early as 1808, and probably much earlier.
On the 14th of April, 1817, the authorities of the town established a
rate of ferriage for this ferry and one existing at Hartford village.
Jonathan C. White, was appointed ferryman at the mouth of White
river and Wharam Loomis to the same office at Hartford.
THE BATES OF TOLL.
Eaoh footman, 3c.; horse and rider, 5c.; one horse and wagon, lOc; two
horses and wagon, 15c.; loaded wagon, 20c.; chaise and horse, ISJo.; two-horse
carriage, 35c.; one do do, 34o. ; each sheep or swine, Ic; each horse Or mule, 3c.;
each neat cattle, 3c. _; cart by two cattle, 15c.; cart loaded, 30c.; each additional
beast, 3|o. ; (4th April, 1818), mail coach each time, 17c. ; f our-horse team, 35c.
Prior to 1820 a ferry existed at West Hartford near where the bridge
now stands. A canoe dug out of a log was first used to convey pas-
sengers only. The river was forded at numerous points between
Lyman's bridge and Sharon line. The following is found in the town
records :
" At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Hartford legally warned and
holden at the meeting-house on Tuesday the fourth day of September, 1798,
acted as follows, viz. : First chose Gov. Marsh moderator to govern sd meeting.
Voted to stop all the pubUc roads to and from White river from Connecticut
river to Stephen TUden's, Jr., house, when a good bridge shaU be built near
Benjamin Wright's. Voted to dismiss this meeting and it was accordingly dis-
missed."
FOEDWATS.
The selectmen of the town in 1799 established a fordway on White
river, crossing from Samuel Wells' land to the farm of Widow Smith,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 143
since then the town poor farm. This was called " Munsel's ford." '
Thare was also a fordway near the residence of Abel Camp at West
Hartford, where Levi Hazen now lives, and this was the chief crossing
place on the route to Woodstock and Pomfret prior to 1820. A ford-
way existed near Wood's tannery, above Hartford village, until within
a few yeai's past. Zenas Cleveland was ferryman at Hartford village
several years, subsequent to 1836. There was a fordway just south of
the bridge crossing at Hartford. In 1805 the directors of the White
River Bridge Company gave Maj. David Wright power to confer with
the town about stopping up this fordway under the bridge and the
roadway across the river near Trumbull's mills (just above said, bridge)
on the ice ; whereupon, the town voted " that if said corporation would
set their gates open for the inhabitants of said town so that they might
cross either way free of expense, the said corporation might stop the
said fordways at its own expense and keep them stopped so long as the
corporarion would keep their gates open and no longer." A compro-
mise was some time after this effected, by which the fordways were
closed to public travel.
The first bridges were strong, rudely constructed structures. Logs
composed the foundation and abutments, and the coverings were of
poles with a heavy log placed at each end of the bridge to hold down
the poles, and guard from running off teams. Such bridges answered
for brook crossings, and if often swept away by high water, were easily
replaced. But settlements had been made on both sides of the rivers,
and communication between these by fordways was liable to be sus-
pended by high water, and the ferries were insufficient to transport all
teams from shore to shore, and, in such exigencies, bridges were needed.
In selecting a site for river bridges, convenience of location would
naturally govern the choice made ; but, if practicable, this would be
subordinated to the desirability of economizing time, space and money,
by building over a narrow channel, which, in the course of nature,
would be rock bound, and points offering this double advantage of
narrow width and rock foundation were often utilized on the score of
'The following record is found in the Selectmen's Book: "June 14, 1799.
Road to Munsil's Ferry, beginning on the south bank of White river where the
road strikes said river which is laid through Eliphalet Marsh's land, thence west-
wardly up said river on the side of the bank thereof as near the river as may be
convenient as far as to the west side of the first brook which empties into said
river. No damages assessed to the owner of the land. Laid and established by
us.
DANIEL HAZEN, ) ^^,^„^^„
ABEL BARRON, [-Selectmen.
144 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
economy, though our ancestors soon learned that the narrowest channels
had the highest water, especially during spring freshets, and that, then,
the swollen streams freighted with ice, and all manner of flood-wood,
could not be confined within limits prescribed by men, and played fan-
tastic and vexatious tricks with the experimental structures first thrown
across the rivers. Eighty years later the civil engineers who laid out
the first culverts built along the line of theVt. Central Eail way, heedless
of the voice of reason and experience, were soon taught by the voice of
angry-rushing waters, the fallacy of trusting to unaided human judg-
ment. They did not " build better than they knew."
BRIDGE OVER OTTAQTJECHEE RIVER.
The records inform us that a bridge was built over the Water Quechee
river, near Marsh's saw mill, in the year 1769, and that Capt. Abel Marsh
was chosen to oversee the work of constructing the same. This bridge
was, doubtless, made after the plan of the "king-post" bridges then in
vogue, which required but little mechanical skill in their construction.
In 1803, the town was indicted for neglecting to keep this bridge and
one at Neal Rust's in repair. Joseph Marsh was chosen agent to defend
the suit commenced against the town. At the -same time the town de-
cided to replace the bridge at Marsh's mills, and repair or condemn the
bridge near Neal Eust's. Mitchell Clark, David Newton and Asa Tilden,
were entrusted with this duty.
Lyman's bridge.
On the 21st of Oct., 1795, the Legislature of Vermont passed an act
to incorporate certain persons for locking falls, cutting canals, and
building bridges over Connecticut river between the mouth of White
river and two miles north of the mouth of Minkbrook in Hanover, N. H.
The corporators were Ebenezer Brewster and Rufus Graves, of Hanover,
and Aaron Hutchinson, of Lebanon, N. H., under the title of "The
Proprietors of White River Falls Bridge." The Act fixed the rate of
tolls for passing bridges and locks. That for boats was as follows : " for
each boat and loading, not exceeding two tons weight, one dollar ; if
more than two tons, fifty cents for each additional ton, including the
toll for the boat ; for each thousand of boards, twenty-five cents, and
other lumber in proportion, — the rates of toll to continue thirty years
from the passing of this Act — after which the net proceeds of the toll
should not be less than twelve per cent per annum of the first cost, after
deducting the annual expenditures for repairs. The above named cor-
porators sold their franchise to Elias Lyman, 3rd, for the sum of
in 1801-2.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 145
About the year 1800, Elias Lyman, 3d, built an open, or King-post
bridge, across Connecticut river, just above the embouchure of White
river. This bridge was taken down in 1835, and in 1836 the Lyman
Bridge Co. erected the present covered bridge. The Lyman Bridge Co.
was incorporated in 1836 — the act being approved Dec. 8, 1836. The
charter was given to Francis Lyman, Thomas Belknap and Wm. J.
Hamersley, their associates, &c., with the right to build a bridge on, or
across the Connecticut river, between the towns of Lebanon and Hart-
ford, at any place between the lower bar of White river falls and the
south line of Lebanon. Francis Lyman was empowered to call the first
meeting on or before the first Wednesday of June. The capital stock
was fixed at 200 shares, par value, $100 per share. It was enacted that
the toll should be fixed by the justices of the Superior Court of Judi-
cature, who should, every five years thereafer, add to or reduce the
toll as should appear equitable, provided, however, that the net proceeds
from said toll should not exceed ten per centum per annum on the cost
and expenditures incurred on account of said bridge. It was further
enacted, that said corporation, by their directors, should, at the' next
stated term oif said Superior Court, and once in every five years there-
after, cause an exhibit to be made under oath to the justices of said
court, showing a true account of the cost and expenditures incurred on
account of said bridge, together with an account of all the tolls received
therefrom, down to the time of making such exhibit, and, upon an
omission to cause suth an exhibit to be so made, all the rights, &c., of
said corporation should be subject to forfeiture.
This act was signed by C. G. Atherton, speaker of the house, and
James Clark, president of the senate, and approved by Isaac Hill, gov-
ernor, Dec. 8, 1836.
The above named conditions were never complied with, but instead,
the incorporators watered the stocks, from time to time, to make it
appear that the large amount of toll taken did not exceed ten per cent,
on its value and expenditures, and thus continued to bleed the public.
Later, this bridge fell into the hands of a citizen of Hartford, who paid
about $2500 for the bridge, land, toll-house, etc., but the rates of toll
established at first were never reduced. Subsequently, the citizens of
Lebanon made an effort to have the charter forfeited by the court, on
the ground that the tolls were not proportionate to the cost and expen-
ditures, and that neither the corporators nor their assigns had ever
made to the court the required exhibit upon which said court was to fix
the rate of toll. The assign, then in possession, made oath that the
10
146 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
tolls yearly collected by him amounted to less than one-half of ten per
cent, on the cost, to him, of said bridge, and expenditures ; and upon
this, and other pleas, he gained a longer tenure of possession. StUl
later, the citizens of Lebanon petitioned the court to appoint a commit-
tee to appraise the value of said bridge property, whereupon, the said
assign, true to his instincts, made oath that the said property was pay-
ing him about $1800 per year, or more than seventy per cent, on his in-
vestment ; in other words, to prevent a forfeiture of the charter, he
made oath that he was receiving less than five per cent, on his iavest-
ment ; but, when it became apparent that Lebanon was determined to
buy the property, he changed his tactics, and made oath — simply, that
he committed perjury in the first instance ! Finally, the bridge was
made free to the public, and Hartford paid for her proportion the sum
of $1000, or about one-fifth of the amount jointly paid by Lebanon and
Hartford for the said bridge property.
In early times, the practice of raising money by lotteries for various
purposes, was sanctioned by the Legislature of Vermont. In an abstract
of all the acts granting lotteries, which were passed by the Legislature
of this State I find the following : — ■ " To raise £500 for building a
bridge over White river at Hartford, passed Nov. 8, 1792." This scheme
was probably gotten up by the " Connecticut river turnpike company,''
to provide means for building a bridge at White River vUlage, but for
some reason the project failed, and was not revived in this form ; but,
later, efforts to obtain an act of incorporation were' successful. On the
27th of October, 1795, the General Assembly of Vermont passed an act
granting to Stephen Jacob, Amasa Paine and Oliver Gallup, et als., the
exclusive privilege of building a toll-bridge over White>iver, " within
two miles of the place where this stream unites with Connecticut
river." I think the bridge was built not later than 1796. In 1814, it
was carried away by a flood. Many of the citizens of the town were
very much opposed to paying toll, and considerable trouble ensued in
consequence. Charles Pinneo cut the toll gate down, in the winter of
1811. At the town meeting in March following, the claim for damages
demanded by the bridge company was considered, when it was voted
" that the town would do nothing in restitution, and that ' no one
should be holden excepting those who held up their hands.'' " No one
voted.
In 1815, an effort was made to obtain the aid of the town to re-build
the bridge, but without success. This action was taken in behalf of
the Connecticut River Turnpike Co.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 147
THE WHITE RIVEK BRIDGE 00.
This company was incorporated Nov. 10, 1815, and was organized in
1818. Prior to its organization, the company delegated Joseph Dorr,
Nathan Gere and Levi Bellows, a committee to confer with the Connec-
ticut River Bridge Company to obtain the right to erect a bridge where
the former bridge stood. At a town meeting held March 12, 1816, the
the town, having under consideration the subject of assisting the White
River. Bridge Company, voted, that as soon as said company should
erect a good bridge, to the acceptance of the justices of the county
court, near the lower mill dam, then the twro highways (fordways) lead-
ing across said fiver — the one across the mill dam, and the other below
said dam — should be discontinued ; and that, so long as a good bridge
should be maintained by said company, the town would not open the
said highways, nor any others across said river within one mile above
or below said dam ; on the penalty of paying to said company all the
damage sustained by it in consequence of opening said highways. It
was stipulated that '' said contract should not extend beyond fifty
years."
The " "White River Bridge Company " was organized in 1818, with
twenty-seven enrolled members, and Geo. E. Wales, clerk and treasurer.
In the autumn of that year the second bridge was opened for public
use. Dec. 17, 1832, the company discussed the subject of taking down
their bridge, or repairing it, but nature decided that point. In the
spring freshet of 1833, the bridge was carried away by the ice. Aug.
1, 1833, the company decided to build another bridge, to be completed
by September, 1834. The bridge was not completed until 1836. The
records of the company between August, 1833, and November, 1848,
are missing. Nov. 1, 1848, the third book of the company's records
was opened. At a meeting held that day, Justin C. Brooks was chosen
clerk and treasurer, which offices he continued to hold until 1858. The
number of shareholders in the meantime was 118, and the stock paid a
quarterly dividend of $1.50 to each share. In 1854, the town bought
the bridge for $2265, paying out the surplus money borrowed for that
purpose. About as large a sum was subsequently expended in repairing
the bridge, and it still remained a weak, unsightly structure. April 14
1858, the White River Bridge Company was dissolved by mutual con-
sent, when a final dividend of $1.60 was paid on each share.
THE PIEST BRIDGE BUILT AT WEST HARTFORD.
The first bridge built over White river at West Hartford was built in
1820. It was an open or " King-post " bridge, and, principally, built
148 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
of timber floated down said river from the vicinity of Rochester. It
was an ungainly structure, and was necessarily taken down in 1827. A
covered bridge was then built by Daniel Baldwin of Montpelier. The
town voted March 3d, 1828, that the selectmen should draw money
from the treas iry to make the first payment on this bridge, the cost of
which was about $4000. This bridge stood until Feb. 10, 1867, when
it was carried away by the ever-to-be-remembered flood of that date.
The present lattice bridge was bult in 1867, by a Mr. Tasker, at a cost
of $6,110.79. Messrs. Bement aad Adams built the first bridge at West
Hartford. The bridge was built by subscription. When it was taken
down in 1827, Nathaniel Dustin took a portion of the timber and put it
into the frame of the house now standing on the river bank, in front of
the meeting house at West Hartford. The river at the bridge crossing
was then but eighty feet wide.
Iq 1827, while Mr. Baldwin was at work on the second bridge, a great
flood came and washed away his trestle work, and considerable of his
frame timber. At the same time, about forty feet in width of the east
bank was washed away, and with it John Tenney's store, a potash and
other buildings. Stephen Downer and another man, while endeavoring
to save the trestle timber were surrounded by the rising water, and
escaped by being hauled ashore at a rope's end. In 1833, a Mr. Bullaid
and his daughter of Pomfret were one night crossing the West Hartford
bridge, when the horse became frightened, and all were precipitated
into the river thirty feet below. Miss BuUard was killed outright. Mr.
BuUard and his horse were but a trifle injured. The old man had been
drinking New England rum, the last glass of which he took at the store
of Baxter B. Newton,' but a few minutes preceding the accident. In
the autumn of 1848, John Steele, then a merchant at West Hartford,
went out with some of the village boys to inspect some melon patches.
While returning to Steele's store the party hearing a team approach-
ing them ran into the north side of the river bridge to escape discovery.
During the day before the flooring had been removed from the south
side of the bridge. Forgetful of this fact; young Steele got over the
dividing partition between the two sides, and over the obstruction
put up to prevent teams passing, and missing his foothold, feU to
the solid rock about fifteen feet below, and was nearly killed. He
lived but a few years thereafter, and never fully recovered from the
injuries received by that accident. He, however, recovered in a suit
for damages against the town about $1500 — an unjust decision against
the town !
' Since converted into the dwelling house now occupied by Mr. Hoyt Hazen, the
present postmaster and railroad agent in that village.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 149
June 29th, 1831, a board of commissioners laid out a bridge at Tafts-
ville over the Otta Queohee river. Hartford, Hartland, Pomfret and
Woodstock were each required to pay one-fourth of the cost of its con-
struction, and maintainance. In 1868 the tovra built a lattice bridge
over White river at White River Junction. The contract was let to a
Mr. Tasker. The cost of this bridge including litigation was $13,-
426.62. In the fall of 1885 the bridge at Quechee village, built in 1803,
was taken down, and a new covered bridge was erected at a cost of
about $1100.
LOOKING WHITE RIVER AND WATER QUEOHEE FALLS.
I have alluded to legislation concerning locks and canals on Connec-
ticut river. On the 2d of November, 1797, the General Assembly of
Vermont passed an act granting to Elkanah Stevens and others the
exclusive right of locking White river. The preamble and first section
of said act were as follows : —
" Whereas Elkanah Stevens, Daniel Gilbert and Jacob Smith, all of Royalton,
ia the_ County of Windsor, and State of Vermont, have petitioned, that the
exclusive privilege of locking and continuing locks on White river,, from the
mouth of said river, up the same as far as Royalton meeting house may be granted
to them their assigns and heirs forever.
Therefore, 1. ' It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of
Vermont. That Elkanah Stevens, Daniel Gilbert, Jacob Smith and their asso-
ciates, be and they hereby are formed into, constituted and made a body politic
and corporate, by the name of ' ' The Company for Looking White River," and they
and their successors, and such other persons as shall be hereafter admitted mem-
bers of said company, shall be, and continue a body poUtic and corporate, by
the same name forever. And the said company shall have the exclusive privilege
of erecting and continuing locks on White river, in the State of Vermont, m
such places as they think necessary, from the mouth of White river up said
stream, as far as Royalton meeting house, under the following limitations and
restrictions, to wit, etc."
This company was made liable to forfeit all right of locking said river
if they failed, to complete the work within the ensuing ten years. Toll for
conveying loaded boats through each lock was fixed at twenty cents per
ton, and the same for every thousand feet of boards and timber, etc.
The general stage of water in those days was favorable for looking.
Now it is impossible to row a skiff on White river excepting on stretches
of water above dams. In other words, the stream is now so affected by
droughts that are the result of denuding the hills and valleys of timber,
that were the dams .removed, the usual depth of water would not per-
mit the passage of a loaded skiff from the mouth of the stream north-
ward but a small portion of the distance to Royalton. The same is true
of Water Quecheg river, and the Connecticut to some extent.
LOCKS ON WATBB QTTBCHBB I'ALLS.
On the 22d of October, 1794, an act was passed by the General As-
sembly granting to Perez Gallup and his associates the exclusive priv-
150 HISTOEY OF Hj4.RTF0RD.
ilege of locking, and continuing locks on Water Quechee falls on Con-
necticut river (falls at North Hartland) through, his own land in Hart-
land, under limitations and restrictions similar to those provided for
the locking of White river. The toll for conveying loaded- boats
througli said locks was fixed at eighteen pence per ton, and nine pence
per ton on empty boats, eighteen pence for every thousand feet of
boards and timber, and for every 6000 of shingles, etc., the same rates
to continue forever excepting the same should be reduced by the
supreme court, which at the end of the term of twenty-one years should
examine into the state of the accounts of said company, ascertain the
cost of erecting, maintaining and attending to said locks, the net pro-
ceeds, etc., and if the net proceeds had averaged more than twelve per
cent, upon the actual expenditures, to said court to lessen the said toll
to such sum as to them appeared reasonable. The name of the com-
pany was " The company for rendering Connecticut river navigable by
Water Quechee Falls." (See History of Olcott Falls relating to Look
and Canal.)
STEAMBOATS ON CONNECTICUT EIVEE.
On the 29th of October, 1829, the Legislatures of Vermont and New
Hampshire passed acts incorporating the "Connecticut River Steam-
boat Company." Nov. 5, 1830, the charter was altered to the "Con-
necticut River Valley Steamboat Company," allowing the corporation
to purchase, hold and convey real estate to the value of $20,000. Canals
and locks were built at rapids and falls of the river from Hartford,
Ct., to Dalton, N. H. There were three in Vermont, one at Bellows
Falls, one at Sumner's Falls in Hartland, and one at Olcott Falls on the
Lebanon side of the river. Below Sumner's Falls steamboats were
regularly plied. Col. Samuel Nutt in 1830, built a boat for the pur-
pose of locking it through the entire length of the canals to avoid
taking passengers and freight around said rapids and locks. ' The first
attempt to navigate the river was in 1827 when the "Barnet " was run
to Bellows Falls. She made but this one trip. In 1829 the "Blanch-
ard " and the " Vermont " were put on the river and run a few trips
between Bellows Falls and Barnet, but the enterprise was not success-
ful, and the method of plying boats between the locks only was con-
tinued. (See Biographical Sketch of Col. Samuel Nutt.)
CHAPTER XI.
EAILEOADS.
"Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain shall be laid low ; and
the crooked shall be made straight and the rough places plain." So spake the
prophet Isaiah, with clear vision looking down through the vista of coming
ages. — Isaiah 40^.
The first railway act in the United States was passed by the Legisla-
ture of Pennsylvania, March 31, 1823, authorized the construction of a
road from Philadelphia to Columbia, but the grantees failed to meet
the terms of the charter, and the act was repealed. The next act was
passed in the same State in 1826, incorporating the Columbia, Lancas-
ter and Philadelphia Railroad, which road was completed in 1834, being
eighty-one and a half miles in length, and, at that time, the work was
considered as a remarkable achievement. But the first railroad actually
built and operated in the United States, was in 1826, in Quincy, Mass.
It was but three miles long and was built to carry granite from the
quarry to the tide-waters of the Neponset river. The most important
railroad enterprise commenced in the United States, prior to 1840, was
that of building the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, the corner-stone of
which was laid July 4th, 1828, by Charles Carroll of Carrolton, then a
nonagenarian and the last of the signers of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence. On that occasion Mr. Carroll said : " I consider this among
the most important acts of my life, second only to my signing the
Declaration of Independence, even if second to that."
The first locomotive engine imported into the United States was the
" Robert Fulton " built by George Stevenson in England and sent here
in 1831. The first locomotive constructed in the United States was
built at the West Point foundry in 1830, for the Charleston and Ham-
burg railroad in South Carolina, which history informs us was the first
road in the world built expressly for locomotive power for general
freight and passenger business. Since then there has been a remarkable
increase of railroad mileage in the United States, of which Vermont
has had a continuous proportion since 1848. She has now within her
borders nearly 950 miles of railroad track, exclusive of sidings, giving
facilities of trade and travel to nearly 200 cities, villages and hamlets
situated directly on the various railroad lines, and to every farm, mill-
152 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
privilege and quany in .tlie State an enhanced value.' Population and
business gravitate toward cities and villages situated along lines of rail-
ways and this changes centres of population ; hamlets are transformed
to thriving villages, and villages are bereft of their importance as
centres of trade.
Sixteen different roads, comprising nearly 1000 miles, have been con-
structed and equipped in Vermont at a cost of nearly $38,000,000, and
this has been accomplished within the last forty years.'' Some of the
original stockholders of these roads have incurred the direct loss of
their subscriptions, and in some instances these are still brooding over
the loss of their investments, forgetting that the seed they sowed is
being returned to them an hundred fold by the enhanced value of their
real estate, the facilities of marketing the products of their farms, etc.
Consider the advantages the people of Hartford have gained by the
construction of the four lines of railroad that centre at Wbite River
Junction. Let those who cavilled against what they termed " infringe-
ments upon private and public rights," and resisted, with every means
at their command, the progress of this step in the march of civiliza-
tion, compare the general-list of Hartford for 1840 with that of 1888,
and see, not " as in a glass darkly," the influence of railroads, in the
wonderful increase in the value of real estate during the last forty-
eight years !
In 1840, before the construction of the Vt. Central Eailroad, the
total value of all the real estate in the town was $216,781.40. In 1888,
the total value of the same was $1,103,320,00, an increase of $886,538.60.
The number of miles of main line of railway built in the town since
1840 is about twenty-three. Estimating the cost of construction and
equipment at $36,000 per mile, the total cost for 23 miles amount to
$828,000, or less by $58,538.60 than the increased value of real estate.
The total value of all taxable personal property in the town in 1840, less
exemptions, was $87,863.65. In 1888, the total value of this class of
property, less exemptions, was $902,985.36 ; an increase of $815,121.71,
which, added to the increase of value in real estate, gives a grand total
of $1,643,121.71. This is not to be attributed to accessions to the
' It is assumed that a line of railway gives access to fifteen miles square of coun-
try on each side of it, or thirty square miles altogether. The influence of this
method of transit upon every branch of industry is therefore not easily estimated.
No vocation is so inconspicuous, no hamlet so secluded, no farm-house so isolated
as to be exempt from its power. No person is so high as to be independent of it,
no one so low as not to be affected by it. — Hon. j. N. Patterson.
' In i886, the capital stock of railroads in Vermont was $24,548,300. Funded
debt, $14, 113,000. Total investment 140,832,767. Cost of roads and equipment
fo7i932,276. Gross earnings 13,940,064. Net earnings 11,143,590.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 158
population by immigration, and the incoming of wealth thereby, but to
a rise in values. The annual per centage of increase ia the population
between 1848 and 1888, was probably about 1.14, while the increase
in the total valuation exceeded 11 per cent. The increase represents
simply that which was added to the general comfort and welfare of the
people of the town.
Time is money. In 1840, a journey from Hartford to Boston and
return, consumed not Ifess than six days. Now the same journey can
be made in fifteen hours ; or, by takirg the present 3.15 A. M. train at
W. R. Junction, one may reach Boston at 9.35 A. M., remain in that
city nearly ten hoars, and return to White River Junction at 12.40
A. M., or have three hours in Boston and return to White River Junction
at 5.25 P. M., same day. In other words, one can go from White River
Junction to Boston, spend three hours there on business, and, return-
ing, reach home all within the space of fourteen hours ; the distance
traveled being 290 miles ; a saving in time of four days between the old
and the new methods of travel, or sufficient time to perform a journey
to Chicago and return. Who can compute the annual saving to the
public, in time and money, secured by the adoption of this new mode of
transit ?
But the advantages are not limited to an increase of material pros-
perity.
" New methods of transit exert an intellectual and moral influence
upon the minds and hearts of men, and modify social Ufe. They mul-
tiply public meetings and conventions, and facilitate and extend the
intercourse of society. Thought travels upon the raU, and art, science,
and literature are diffused. The products of the teeming brain are car-
ried to the remotest hamlet. The best thinkers and orators speak to
the country as often as to the city. Information is disseminated and
mental activity stimulated. This diffusion of intelligence tends to level
society and destroy individual prominence, and intellectual dictatorship.
* * * This new method determines largely the material prosperity and
civil power of nations, and affects, directly or indirectly, their relations
and character. * * * Railroads have not simply added to the articles
of commerce and consumption, by opening new fields to enterprise, but
also by bringing about a universal division of labor, and so increasing
the rapidity and perfection of productive work. They stimulate pro-
duction by removing limitations upon its markets. No man now works
for his neighborhood, but for aU mankind. Steamships and steam cars
take the grains of our fields and the fabrics of our factories to the most
distant nations and bring back for our consumption the fruits of every
clime and handicraft of the world." — Hon. J. W. ^Patterson.
What person, among those. who subscribe for and take daily news-
papers, would forego the pleasure and profit derived from the perusal
of his daUy, morning or evening paper — the vade mecum of the whole
154 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
world's daily life and history 1 No improved methods of transit are
probable, none are likely to supercede those of to-day. No agent of
locomotion will ever be so generally utilized as is steam at the present
time, though electricity will become a formidable rival to it.
The honor of first suggesting a connection of Boston with Lake
Ontario is due to John L. Sullivan, a prominent civil engineer of Mas-
sachusetts ; the credit of indicating the line on which the work was
constructed, and of instituting the measures whi'ch led to the inaugura-
tion of the work belongs to Montpelier, whUe the honor of securing tlie
completion of the enterprise is chiefly due to the late Gov. Charles
Paine, of Northfield. The discussion of the enterprise was commenced
by Montpelier newspapers, notably by the Watchman, some years be-
fore the first New England railroad had been completed. The first
charter for the Vermont section of this great line of road, was passed
Nov. 15, 1835, imder which nothing highly important was accomplished.
The second charter of the Vermont Central Eailroad Company passed
Oct. 31, 1843, and the work of securing subscriptions was at once com-
menced. Jan. 8, 1844, a Eailroad Convention was held at Montpelier,
Hon. Charles Paine, of Northfield, was president ; Hon. Elijah Blaisdell,
of Lebanon, N. H., Gen. Joel Bass, of WUliamstown, Simeon Lyman, of
Hartford, and Hon. Joseph Howes, of Montpelier, vice presidents ; and
Hon. Oramel H. Smith, of Montpelier, and Halsey E. Stevens, of Leb-
anon, N. H., secretaries. At that convention James E. Langdon, Esq.,
of Montpelier, advanced ten thousand dollars for making surveys from
Connecticut river to Lake Champlain. The surveys were completed
that season, and a favorable report was made Nov. 20, 1844.
The books were opened in Boston June 10, 1845 ; July 23d the first
meeting of stockholders was held at Montpelier at which time the com-
pany was formally organized with a subscribed capital of $2,000,000.
The amount obtained in Vermont was $500,000, of which $200,000 was
subscribed in Montpelier. Hon. E. P. Walton of Montpelier is entitled
to great credit for the aid rendered by him in the projection of the
great enterprise which gave to Vermont her first railroad, and Hnked
Boston with Ogdensburg, in a chain 400 miles in length ; and has fur-
ther resulted in giving to Vermont other important lines of railroad,
the combiaed length of which is not less than 950 miles, including
sidings.
The Vermont Central railroad was incorporated, as expressed in the
charter, " for the purpose of building a railroad from some point on the
eastern shore of Lake Champlain, up the valley of the Onion river and
e xtending to a point on Connecticut river most convenient to meet a
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 155
railroad either from Concord, N. H., or Pitchburg, Mass. The route
chosen was from Windsor up the Connecticut river, to the mouth of
White river, thence up said river to the source of its third branch, thence
via. Roxbury and down the Dog river to the Wiaooski valley about one
mile west of Montpelier, thence up said valley to Burlington, a distance
of 114 miles. Ground was first broken at Windsor, Dec. 15th, 1845, on
the farm formerly owned by Judge Elijah Paine, father of Charles
Paine, where the latter was born. This was the first ground broken in
Vermont for a railroad. The contract to build the entire road was let
to Sewal P. Belknap. The first rail was laid at White River Junction
on the farm of Col. Samuel Nutt, early in 1847. There were present Col-
James Moore, chief engineer of the road, R. W. Baker, division engineer,
and Jacob M. Clark, Samuel B. Tucker and Isaac B. Culver, assistant
engineers, together with many of the workmen on the road and a large
number of citizens. As assistant engineer of the division on which the
first rail was laid, Isaac B. Culver was accorded the honor of driving
the first spike in the track of this road.
Regular passenger trains first passed over the road from White River
Junction to Bethel, June 26, 1848 — this was the first railroad train and
first passenger train run in Vermont. About one years later, June 20,
1849, the road was opened through for bueim ss to Burlington. The
Central railroad enters the town of Hartford at the Sharon line, one
mile above the village of West Harford, and follows White river to
White River Junction, thence down the Connecticut river valley to the
Hartland line, a distance of about twelve miles. At White River Junc-
tion, it connects with the Northern New Hampshire to Concord and
Boston ; with the C. and P. R. R. R. to Wells River, Newport and
Sherbrooke ; and with the Woodstock R. R. for Woodstock. Henry E.
Tinker is the efficient and popular local agent of this road at White
River Junction. The general offices are at St. Albans.
Since the opening of this road several shocking accidents have occurred
on that portion of the line within the town of Hartford, each involving
loss of hfe. One of the most appalling accidents, that ever occurred in
this country was that which took place on this road Feb. 5, 1887.
THE HAKTrOBD DISASTER, FEB. 5, 1887.
The writer was personally cognizant of the history of this horrible
railway disaster. He visited the scene of the wreck about day hght
on the morning of the accident ; visited and conversed with the survi-
vors from the ill-fated train, from time to time, during their convales-
cence ; observed the reprehensible conduct of the officials of the Cen-
156 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
tral railroad, in their premature attempts to effect settlements with the
mangled, tortured survivors of that holocaust. Justice, humanity and
decency were set at defiance by the attorneys and the Vial-lainous ame
damnee representing said corporation, who did not hesitate to villify
and traduce those who were not obsequious to their will, or ready to
be their time servers at the price of an annual pass.
The following report of the railroad commissioners concerning the
disaster of Feb. 5, 1887, is an acceptable showing of facts, but the
number of passengers aboard the train is, and ever will be, a matter of
mere guess-work. As to the speed of the train on approaching the
bridge and crossing it, it is sufficient to say that the Leightons, who
live near the bridge, concur in saying that the speed of trains was rarely
ever perceptibly diminished while crossing it. It is too much to believe
that the ill-fated train, which was nearly two hours late, was slowed up
to one-half of the schedule rate before reaching the bridge. Under
positive proof that he was running in excess of schedule time. Engineer
Pierce could not escape the penalty of manslaughter. As to the responsibil-
ity of the corporation, testimony recently given conclusively shows' that
the track from the end of the said bridge, for several hundred feet had
been not long before the accident, relaid with much worn iron — some of it
re-curved in a cold state, and that it was unfit to use for mogul, engines,
and the very heavily loaded trains constantly passing over it. The
sum and substance of the commissioners' report is as follows :
The facts and circumstances attending the above named disaster, as developed
by the testimony taken by the board, and an inspection of the premises shortly
after the accident occurred, are as follows:
Train No. 50, known as the " night express," left White River Junction for
Montreal at 2.10 o'clock, on the morning of the 5th instant.
The train was one hour and thirty minutes late. The schedule place of meet-
ing the night express bound south from Montreal to Boston, is Randolph. That
train was correspondingly late, and train No. 50 was under orders to meet it at
Randolph as usual, and started out accordingly at the hour above indicated.
The number of passengers aboard the train was seventy-nine. The trainmen
were the conductor, engineer, fireman, two braiemen, baggage man, express
messenger, two postal clerks, a Pullman conductor, and two ftiflman porters.
The distance from White River Junction to' Hartford (formerly known as the
Woodstock) bridge, is about four miles. South of the bridge is a ctnve of three
degrees and forty-five minutes in the track, which becomes straight again about
142 feet from the bridge, and so continues for some rods beyond the bridge.
From a point some fifty rods south of the bridge to a point about 142 feet there-
from the gi-ade is slightly downward, when it becomes level and so continues to
a point just beyond the bridge.
At a point 510 feet from the abutment at the south end of the bridge, while the
train was moving at a speed of less than twelve miles an hour, the rear sleeper
" Pilgrim " was throvioi from the rails, but kept the roadbed until it came upon
the bridge, when the rear end swung to the right side of the track to the deck of
the bridge, and thence to the frozen river below, a distance of forty-three feet,
drawing with it the sleeper and the two coaches in front, all of which were
crushed in the wreck upon the ice. The coupling between the Boston coach and
the combination mail and smoking car broke or tmclasped, so that the rest of the
train was saved.
HISTORY OB' HARTFORD. 157
Fire soon broke out from the wreck in several places, and it is clearly in proof
before the board that some of the cars immediately took fire and within fifteen
minutes of the time they fell to the ice they were all enveloped in flames, which
reached and set fire to the bridge, which soon fell alongside the burning cars, the
wind blowing the flames of the burning timbers directly upon them. The in-
tensely cold weather— eighteen degrees below zero— added to the peril of those
who survived.
THE DEAD.
The list of passengers who lost their lives in the disaster is as follows: Edward
F. Dillon, Springfield; James A. Stone, Burlington; Edgar Wilder, St. Albans;
D. D. Woodwai-d, Waterbury; Sam'l S. Westcott, Bmiington; George J. Bell,
Bellows Falls; Mrs. William Devino, Winooski; Frank L. Wesson, Springfield,
Mass. ; Harry Brooks, Boston, Mass. ; P>ancis Flynn, Worcester, Mass. ; Peter
Blais, Warren, Mass. ; Fred Blais, Warren Mass. ; Francis Boulanger, Holyoke,
Mass. ; Miss Anastisa Boulanger, Holyoke, Mass. ; Miss Nancy Dunbai-, Somer-
ville, Mass. ; Miss Delima Brodeur, Nashua, N. H. ; Louis B. James, New Haven,
Conn. ; Charles Cadieux, RockviUe, Conn. ; Herbert A. Thayer, Chateaugay, N.
Y. ; Cephas Mills, Iroquois, Ont. ; Peter McLain, Acton ville, P. Q. ; Dieudonne
Maigret, Shawinigan, P. Q. ; Miss Arminie Guu-ard, Upton, P. Q. ; Miss Agnes
Rogers, Lakefleld, P. Q.
And that of the trainmen is as follows: Smith C. Sturtevant, St. Albans, Vt.,
conductor; Edward Brocklebanks, Lebanon, N. H., brakeman; M. R. Burgess,
Boston, Mass., Pullman conductor; A. J. Hammer, Maiden, Mass., colored por-
ter " Pilgrim "; J. H. Jones, Boston, Mass., colored porter " St. Albans."
THE mJXTRBD.
The list of passengers known to be injui-ed is as follows: Hon. Henry Mott,
Alburgh; Hemry W. Tewksbury, West Randolph; Julius C. Hutchins, Montgom-
ery; F. W. Tuttle, Tunbridge; William Devino, Jr., Winooski; Miss Persis H.
FoUet, Staron; Miss Katie CahiU, Boston, Mass.; Frank M. Pratt, Springfield,
Mass. ; J. Herbert Cushing, Middleboro, Mass. ; Joseph E. Jacques, Fitohburg,
Mass. ; Andrew A. WTieeler, Fitchbm-g, Mass. ; Howard A. Smith, Gloucester,
Mass. ; Fred A. Fisher, Gloucester, Mass. ; Bennie Boulanger, Holyoke, Mass. ;
Mitchell LacaiUade, Lawrence, Mass. ; August LeBoeuf , Lynn, Mass. ; Alex. La-
vaUe, Greenfield, Mass.; Mrs. Mary J. Graham, Bedford, Mass.; Mrs. Charles
Kastner, Boston, Mass. ; Miss Annie Murphy, Boston, Mass. ; Miss Polly Arel,
Chicopee Falls, Mass. ; Miss Margaret Walsh, Greenfield, Mass. ; Horace Juneau,
East PeppereU, Mass. ; J. S. Suit, New Haven, Conn. ; H. G. Wflcox, Malone, N.
Y. ; Louis Combremont, New York City, N. Y. ; James Kjley, Burke, N. Y. ; Jo-
seph Jeannette, Sciota, N. Y. ; O. S. Boisvert, St. Angebne, P. Q. ; Moses Pouliot,
Quebec, P. Q. ; George Lowe, Montreal, P. Q. ; Joseph Libby, St. "Valere, P. Q. ;
Mrs. W. S. Bryden, Montreal, P. Q. ; Mrs. O. Boisvert, St. AngeUne, P. Q. ; Miss
Emma. Lovell, Montreal, P. Q. ; Miss Maria E. Sadler, Ormstown, P. Q. One
trainman, George H. Parker, brakeman, was injured.
There was but one house within, a long distance of the scene of the wreck, and
the only help at hand were the few who were left on the engine and the mail
and baggage car, and such of the passengers as were not wholly disabled. This
corps did all that men could do to save lives in the few minutes they could work
upon the vpreck. .
The cars struck the ice upon the right side or the right top corner as the tram
ran, and they were crushed diagonally toward the surface. The management of
the train appears to have been as follows:
Conductor Sturtevant was in the forward passenger coach collectmg tares and
examining tickets when the first trouble in that car was noticed. He immedi-
ately puUed the bell and Engineer Pierce took the alarm thus given from the bell
and instantly let on full brakes. Then lookiag back he saw the rear sleeper
swing off the bridge. He thereupon let off brakes, opened the throttle of his
engine, and pulled away from the rest of the train, stopping his engine and the
two cars saved as the rear car, combination mail and smoker were partly ott the
"^aFsoou as the engine was stopped on the dump, beyond the bridge, Engineer
Pierce ran back over it, met Brakeman Parker, who had jumped from the rear
of the forward coach before it went upon the bridge and was following up the
train, and sent him to the Junction to give the alarm and get help there as
158 HISTOEY OF HAETFOED.
quickly as possible, which he did, getting a team at Centerville, a half nule
below.
Thien Engineer Pierce, Fireman Thresher, Baggage Master Cole, Express Mes-
senger Eobbins, and Postal Clerk Perkins took axes, shovels and bars, hurried to
the rescue of the sufferers, and worked manfully until driven from, the wreck by
the flames. The rescued hurried, or were helped, to the house of one Oscar
Paine, about twenty-five rods away.
The attempts to stop the fires within the cars availed nothing, as the same
could not be gotten at in season, and accordingly aU the efforts of these men and
the passengers who were not disabled were directed to the releasing of those con-
fined. The cars were all heated by coal stoves, and lighted by lamps with min-
eral sperm oil which was 300 degrees fire test. The brakes were the Westing-
house automatic an- brakes.
There were flange marks on the ties and frozen earth, and also indications of
heavy blows upon some of the ties and earth for several rods before the bridge
was reached, continuing to the abutment; also abrasions as scrapings of the inner
side of the left hand rail at different points, so as to leave impressions and in-
dentations as if made by some substance as hard as itself, trying to climb those
rails.
The new iron bridge on the Central Vermont railroad to replace the
one destroyed, as related in the foregoing account, was completed
November 6th, ISSY.
" The bridge which has replaced the ill-fated one is of more than
ordinary interest on account of the accident, and the travelling public
will be glad to know something of the success which attended its
rebuilding.
This is the longest railroad bridge in Yermont, and the longest on the
line between the Victoria bridge at Montreal and Boston. It is of the
most approved pattern, and the strongest also. Its length is 650 feet,
and it is composed of four spans of 150 feet each and one of fifty feet.
The abutments rise twenty feet above the water and are built of granite
blocks with a filling of looser stone. Since the accident these piers have
been made solid with cement filling, hundreds of barrels of the material
having been used in the operation. The upper tiers of stone which
were damaged by the fire have been replaced by new courses of masonry,
rendering them more solid and substantial than at first. The bridge is
twenty-four feet high from the base to the top, making the distance
forty -four feet from the water. About 440 tons of iron have been used
in the construction, from which it will be seen that the weight of each
of the longer spans is over 100 tons.
The weight which the bridge is constructed to carry is 3000 pounds
per foot, or 225 tons to the span. But this weight mathematically is
known to be only one-sixth of the loading which would become neces-
sary to break the structure ; 1350 tons per span. The severest test that
can be applied, and one that cannot occur in actual business, is the
placing of three mogul engines on each span, all they will hold, at a
weight of 270 tons in the aggregate. So it will be seen that but a
small proportion of the real strength of the bridge can be ascertained
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 159
by actual test. The final test was made, consisting of twelve mogul
engines, all that could be placed upon the bridge from end to end.
What to the uninitiated would be considered as an exceedingly-
difficult task, the placing of the spans in position, is easily accomplished.
A temporary bridge is built upon postings set in the river alongside of
the position the bridge is to occupy, and here the parts as they have
left the shop are put together and riveted. Some idea of the extent of
this work may be gathered from the statement that over 30,000 of these
seven-eighth inch iron rivets were used in the last process, and this is
but a meagre portion of the number used from first to last.
When the span is finished the trestle work is removed except from
either end, where heavy track timbers remain at right angles with the
bridge. Four traverse jack screws are inserted under each end of the
weighty load and standing on these ways the bridge is lifted by these
jack screws so the weight of the bridge is borne by them altogether,
each screw being capable of sustaining a weight of thirty tons. The
jack screws are made to move on a sub-base of polished steel, well
lubricated all at right angels with the bridge, which is carried sideways
by means of other screws working from the sub-base against the base
of the jack screw, the bridge by this process being patiently slid into
position. When the screws have reached the limit of their own track
they are relieved of their weight and a new hold taken. The span is
moved at each operation about fourteen inches." — St. Albans Messenger.
THE CONNEOTIOUT AND PASSUMPBIC EIVEES RAILWAY.
The Connecticut and Passumpsic Eivers Eailroad was first chartered
Nov. 10, 1835, but some difficulty was experienced in securing subscrip-
tions to stock, and the charter became void. The second charter was
secured Oct. 31, 1843. The road was to run from some point near the
Connecticut river, on the Massachusetts line ; up said river and the Pas-
sumpsic river to some point in Newport or Derby ; but in 1845, the
right was secured to divide the route near the mouth of White river ;
the northern portion to be called the " Connecticut and Passumpsic
Rivers Eailroad, "and south of White river was given over to the Connec-
ticut Eiver Eailroad, on condition that the stock already subscribed
should be retained by the former. The road was organized Jan. 15,
1846, with Erastus Fairbanks, president. The survey was commenced
in April, 1846, ground was broken Sept. 7, 1846 ; the first rail was laid
July 15, 1847. Oct. 10, 1847, the road was opened, and the first pas-
senger train was run to Bradford, twenty-nine miles from White Eiver
Junction. Nov. 6, 1847, the road was opened to Wells Eiver, forty
IBO HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
miles ; in 1852, to St. Johnsbury, sixty-one miles, which remained the
terminus of the road for several years thereafter. In the autumn of
1853, surveys for an extension of the road were made to Newport, with
trial lines from West Burke, via. Glover to Barton, and from Barton
via, Brownington to Derby. Owing to some cause, the surveys were
discontinued in the autumn of 1854, and work was not resumed until
the autumn of 1855, when grading was commenced. Barton, twenty-
nine miles from St. Johnsbury, was reached in 1859, and Newport in
1863, in which year the grading was completed to the Canada line, a
distance of about 110 miles from White River Junction.
Then occurred another suspension of work until the completion of
the Massawippi Valley Railway, July 1, 1870. This road is thirty-four
miles in length, and is operated by the C. & P. railroad, under a lease of
999 years. It forms the connecting link between the C. & P. raUroad
and the Grand Trunk Railway. The present terminus of the Connecti-
cut and Passumpsic Rivers Railroad is at Sherbrooke, P. Q., 145 miles
from White River Junction.
July 30, 1854, Henry Keyea of Newbury, was elected president of the
company. Owing to some difficulties between Mr. Keyes and the Tair-
banks's, the former used his influence to effect the removal of the prin-
cipal offices and workshops of the road to Lyndonville, which took
place in June, 1868. Mr. Keyes died in 1870. He was succeeded in
the presidency, Oct. 26, 1870, by Emmons Raymond, a well-known cap-
italist and prominent citizen of Boston, who held the position until Sep-
tember, 1886, when he was succeeded by A. B Harris, of Springfield,
Mass. In 1880 the Union passenger station at White River Junction
was taken down, and replaced by a costly structure. The work was
superintended by President Raymond, and it is due to him to say, was
accomplished with that promptness and perfection which characterizes
whatever work he essays to accomplish.
On the first day of January, 1887, the C. &. P. R. R. R. was leased to
the Boston and Lowell, possession being given on the first day of June
following. On the first day of April, 1887, the Boston and Lowell,
together with its leased roads, was leased to the Boston and Maine —
possession being given to the latter Oct. 17, 1887. The C. & P. R. R.
R. is, therefore, designated as the " Passumpsic Division — in the Lowell
system of the' Boston and Maine Railroad." This division enters Hart-
ford at Norwich line and runs to White River Junction, a distance of
about three and one-fourth miles, where it connects with the Northern
New Hampshire, the Central Vermont, and the Woodstock railroads.
The C. & P. railroad is taxed in Hartford on three acres of land and
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 161
one tenement. This corporation owns one-third of the Union passenger
station at White Kiver Junction, the one-third interest being valued at
$10,000. Its other buildings at that point comprise a new and com-
modious freight house, a repair shop, wood shed, etc. The tonnage over
this road via. White River Junction for the current year ending June
30, 1887, was 305,000 tons, while its passenger business was propor-
tionately large. This was but a portion of the business of the road ;
much of its freight and passenger traffic being sent to Boston over the
B. C. & M. railroad from Wells River.
The present officers of this corporation are as follows : President, A.
B. Harris ; vice do., W. K. Blodgett ; treasurer, J. H. Williams; super-
intendent, Col. H. E. Folsom ; roadmaster, Wm. G. Roberts ; local agent.
White River Junction, Wesley A. Davis.
Mr. Folsom is the youngest railway superintendent in New England,
and none excel him in administrative abUity and well deserved popular-
ity. The general management of this road is characterized by open,
honorable measures, and fair, generous dealing.
THE WOODSTOCK BAILEOAD.
The act to incorporate the Wookstock Railroad Company was
approved Oct. 30, 1863. This act conferred the right of building a
railroad, with a single or a double track, from some point in the village
of Woodstock to some point on or near White river or Connecticut river,
either in the town of Hartland or Hartford, as said company might elect,
and passing through either or any of the towns of Woodstock, Pomfret,
Hartford, as said company might elect, with the right of crossing the
railroad of any other railroad company, for the transportation of persons
and property by team or horse power.
Section two of said act made it obligatory upon said company to com-
mence the construction of said road within eght years, and expend
thereon at least five thousand dollars, and complete said road and put
it in operation within fifteen years. By section three, the capital stock
of said company was fixed at one hundred thousand dollars, with privi-
lege of increasing the same to an amount sufficient to complete said road
and furnish all necessary apparatus for conveyance, suitable depots,
etc., the shares to be fifty dollars each.
By section four, Thomas B. Powers, Eliakim Johnson and Lewis
Pratt of Woodstock, and Albert G. Dewey and Joseph C. Parker of
Hartford, were designated as commissioners for opening books of sub-
scription for the stock of said company at Woodstock and elsewhere.
11
163 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
On the same day, Oct. 20, 1863, an act was passed by the General
Assembly,authorizing the town of Woodstock to raise by tax on the grand
list of said town, at a meeting called for that purpose, a sum of money
not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, or any part of said sum, to be
appropriated to the building of said road. (For other sections of said
act see "Laws of Vermont " passed at the annual session of 1863.)
The company was temporarily organized Jan. 9, 1867, with the late
A. G. Dewey of Hartford chairman, and L. O. Greene secretary pro
tern., when the following board of directors were chosen : Peter T.
Washburn, Thomas E. Powers, A. G. Dewey, Charles Dana, Francis W.
Clarke, Lewis Pratt, Frank N. Billings, Chas. S. Eaymond, and Otis
Chamberlin. The organization was completed Jan. 23 by electing P.
T. Washburn, president ; L. O. Greene, clerk ; S. B. Hunger, treasurer.
The surveys of the line were made by the late Hosea Doton, a scientific
and capable civil engineer. Ground was first broken on the farm of
Ezra A. Champion in Hartford, by President Washburn, April 21, 1868. ,
The construction of the road was contracted to Ealph Jones & Co.
They proceeded with the work of construction into the season of 1869,
when, owing to want of funds, the contractors suspended operations.
In January, 1870, the company voted to bond the road to the amount
of $250,000, and to execute a mortgage of the road and franchise there-
of, with all appurtenances and appendages, the rate to be seven per
cent, payable semi-annually, the principal to be payable in twenty years
from date of mortgage. The company failed to realize any money on
the bonds. At the session of the Legislature of Vermont in October,
1872, an act, entitled, " An act to authorize the town of Woodstock to
guarantee the interest on the bonds of Woodstock Railroad " was passed
and approved. On the 2d of April, 1873, the town of Woodstock, at a
meeting legally warned, voted to guarantee the interest on $250,000 of
the bonds of the Woodstock railroad for the period of fifteen years —
the same to terminate in fifteen years from the time of the completion of
the road, which will end on the 15th day of April, 1890. This interest,
amounting to $17,500 a year, has been voted and promptly paid by the
town of Woodstock annually to the present time. This road was com-
pleted to Woodstock village by the contractor, S. S. Thompson, in Sep-
tember, 1875. The first rail was laid at White River Junction, May 21,
1875. On the 12th of August, following, the fine " Howe truss '' bridge,
built over the celebrated " Quechee Gulf," near Dewey's factory in Que-
chee, was so far completed that an engine was run over it. On the follow-
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 163
ing day nearly 3000 people assembled at that point to celebrate the long
anticipated event. Four brass bands made music, and great enthusiasm
prevailed. A grand ball at Quechee village in the evening terminated
the festivities of the occasion. The road was formally opened for busi-
ness Sept. 28, 29 and 30, 1875, with a series of excursions to the
thirtieth annual fair of the "Windsor County Agricultural Society at
Woodstock, arranged and conducted by the Central Vermont EaUroad
Company, by invitation of the Woodstock Eailroad Company. The
length of the main liae of this road is 13 ^^ miles, with three-fourths
mile of side track. Of the main line there are in Hartford 9 ximu
mUes. Eleven miles and a fraction over of the track is of iron
rails, and two and one-half miles of steel rails. The road is divided
into three sections, with three men to each section. There are
four stringer bridges over highways, and two over brooke, each
of twenty-five feet span. There are no trestles. The "Howe
truss " bridge over Quechee gulf is 250 feet in length, and the deck is
163 feet above the stream. The capital stock of this road has a nomi-
nal value only. The capital stock is $259,000. The cost of the road
as evidenced by the stock and bonds was $509,000. It is due to the
people of Woodstock to state that the town in its corporate capacity, in
addition to obligating itself to pay $17,500 yearly for fifteen years on
the company's bonds, subscribed and paid $100,000 for two thousand
shares of the stock at $50 par value. It has been a great tax upon the
resources of the people of Woodstock, but they have promptly met
every requirement and obligation with unflinching energy and perse-
verance, and they now have a first-class road in every respect. Material
aid was furnished by the people of Bridgewater and Hartford.
The twentieth annual report of the directors to the stockholders of
the Woodstock Railroad for the year ending Sept. 30, 1887, is as fol-
lows : Gross earnings, $24,266.63 ; expenses (less $1,028.06 received
from sale, of old rails), $16,159.45; paid town of Woodstock interest
account $8,107.18 (nearly one-half the interest on the bonded debt) ;
number of passengers carried, 15,146 ; tons of freight transported,
11,845 ; not an accident occurred, and no loss by damage to freight in
transit.
Before the era of railroads, and when Rutland was but a mere hamlet,
Whitehall, N. ¥., was the entrepot from which numerous towns east of
the Green Mountains, in Windsor and Orange counties, imported their
supplies of flour, lime, salt, and other commodities, all of which were
transported over the mountains, via. Rutland, Sherburne and Wood-
stock, by two-horse teams, mostly belonging to and driven by their
164 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
owners — well-to-do farmers, — who, in this way, supplied their own
wants, and earned many an honest penny in the service of the merchants
and traders. Beyond Woodstock, and following, with some deviations,
the same route over the mountain to Butland as that travelled by the
teamsters of those days, the Woodstock Railroad will be, at no distant
day, extended to Rutland ; possibly by a combined effort of the Boston
and Lowell and the Delaware and Hudson railroad companies, but
probably by the latter alone, for the purpose of establishing an outlet
(more desirable than via. Bellows Palls), to White River Junction, and
opening up a new route to the West, at least sixty miles shorter than
the present route by rail between White River Junction and Rutland.
To consumate such an enterprise the town of Hartford might profitably
bond herself in the sum of $25,000. As one of the results, White River
Junction would become the most important railroad center in New
England. The passenger traffic over the new route would be simply
immense. Our prince of caterers, E. A. Dunton, who never fails to
give ^^ plenty of time,'" and plenty to eat, as well, would wax rich, and
find much enjoyment in feeding hungry crowds by night and by day.
Our genial friend Porter would find the office of superintendent of the
Vermont division of the road a partial reward for his faithful, efficient
endeavors. The people of Wotodstock would be relieved of burdensome
taxes, and find in the annual dividends of interest upon her $100,000 of
stock, and the revival of her manufactures, some compensation for
sacrifices heroically made, and difficulties bravely met and overcome ;
and lastly, the travelling public would be immeasurably benefited by a
saving of time and money — three hours of time and about two dollars
car fare to each adult person, — while to the tourist in search of enjoy-
ment the route over the mountain, via. Woodstock, presents a great
diversity of charming scenery that could not fail to attract and satisfy
the eye that slumbers not nor sleeps, amid the beautiful creations of
nature.
The present directors of the Woodstock raUroad are Frederick Bil-
lings, Lewis Pratt, P. N. Billings, Justin P. Mackenzie, Woodstock ; S.
S. Thompson, Lyndon; Wm. C. Raymond, Bridgewater; John J.
Dewey, Quechee ; president, Frederick BilHngs ; vice-president, Justin
P. Mackenzie ; clerk, Charles P. Marsh ; superintendent and treasurer,
James G. Porter (appointed in January, 1876).
The returns made to the railroad commissioners and the commis-
sioner of state taxes for 1888 show the gross income, operating expenses
and net income of the railroads in Vermont for the year ending June
30, 1888, to have been as follows : Gross income, $4,884,372 ; operating
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 165
expenses. $3,319,964; net income, $1,564,408. Included in the operating
expenses is the annual item of $100,000 in round numbers for state
taxes. .The gross earnings and net earnings of the principal railroads
in the state for the year .ending June 30, 1888, were as follows :
Name of road. Gross income. Net earnings.
Central Vermont. $2,649,169 1693,133
Pass (Boston & Maine lessee) 765,467 240,817
Vermont Valley. _, 186,894 75,900
Bennington & Rutland. _ 259,124 91,092
Montpelier & Wells River 99,583 28,978
St. Johnsbury & L. Champlain 365,020
CHAPTER XII.
POST-EOADS AND POST-OFFICES.
The first post-route in Vermont was establislied by the Governor and
Council June 19th, 1781, while in session in Bennington. It was solely
for the benefit of the Governor. At the session of the General Assembly
in Bennington in 1783, a post-route was established, for the first time,
for the benefit of the public, and the post-rider was to go weekly from
Bennington to Albany.' An act for establishing post-ofBices in the
State passed the General Assembly March 5th, 1784, and on the same
day, Mr. Anthony Haswell was appointed Postmaster General within
and for the State of Vermont." Five post-ofiices were established by
this act, viz., one in each of the towns of Bennington, Rutland, Brattle-
borough,. Windsor and Newbury, under such regulations as governed
the post-ofiices in the United States. These offices were to open a
regular communication throughout the State.
" Meagre as the postal service established by Vermont seems to us to
have been, yet it was extended very slowly by Congress." The first
act by Congress March 1791, provided that " the Post-master General
shall be and he is hereby authorized to extend the carrying the mail from
Albany, N. Y., to Bennington." In June, 1792, only four post-routes
had been established in Vermont by Congress. Three of these were
weekly, and one semi-monthly. One of these routes was from Brattle-
borough to Charleston, N. H., and Windsor to Hanover, N. H., once
a week.
On the 26th of October, 1795, the General Assembly, then sitting in
Windsor, passed an act empowering and directing certain persons to
lay out and survey a post-road from Massachusetts Line to the north
line of the town of Newbury in the County of Orange, Vt. Under the
provisions of this act a survey was commenced in the Spring of 1796,
' Extract from the Journal — "Resolved, that Mr. Samuel Sherman be paid Nine
Shillings per week out of the public treasury, for riding. Post, carrying and bringing
the Public Intelligence to and from this (Bennington) to Albany (N, Y.) until the
sitting of the General Assembly in February next : — He to be accountable for all
the money he shall receive as Postage on Letters, etc," The Vermont Gazette oi
Nov. 27, 1783, informed its readers that, " by this act of the Assembly, the post-
ofBce business will be transacted at the Printing office, and the greatest care will be
taken to forward letters, etc., as expeditiously as possible. Postage will be under
the same regulations as in the United States; the postage of all letters addressed to
persons out of the State, must be paid at the time of leaving them at the office as
far as Albany.''
'^ Mr. Haswell was one of the firm of Haswell & Russell, publishers of the Ver-
mont Gazette, established in Bennington, June 5th, 1783.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 167
under the direction of committees named by the General Assembly.
The committee of three chosen to lay said road through Windsor
County consisted of Hon. Paul Brigham of Norwich, Gen'l Lewis R.
Morris of Springfield, and Oliver Gallup of Hartland. A plan of the
survey and location of said road, as laid through the town of Hartford,
was filed in the Town Clerk's office August 3 1st, 1796, and recorded in
Vol. 6, pages 70-71. The report reads as follows :
"A survey of a post-road laid out by the Hon. Paul Brigham, Lewis
R. Morris and Oliver Gallup, Esquires, a committee appointed by the
Hon. Legislature of the State of Vermont, at their session at Windsor
October, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, for the purpose
of laying out a post-road from the north line in Windham County to
the north line of Windsor County ; beginning at the north line of Hart-
land. (Here follows a statement of the compass lines from station to
station through Hartford, with distances in chains, terminating at Nor-
wich line.) The report is signed by the committee and by Marston
Cabot, County Surveyor, by whom the compass work was performed,
and the report was written. A rudely drawn sketch of the compass
lines, accompanies the report, which defines the location of Maj. David
Wright's house, the point of crossing White River, and the location of
Widow Hazen's house near Norwich line. This post-road is the present
highway leading from Norwich line to Hartford village (the Christian
St. road), thence across White River to Hartland, passing the present
residences of Charles B. Ballard, Rev. H. Andrews, Mrs. Daniel Simonds,
Seth B. Wright, W. H. Braley, Ervin Russ, Barney McCabe, Frank
Huntoon, and so on to Windsor via. North Hartland.
On Monday Oct. 24th, 1796, Oliver Gallup and others presented a
petition to the General Assembly, then in session in Rutland, praying
for the avails of the Connecticut River Lottery " which remains not
expended, for the purpose of appropriating the same on the post-road
on the west side of Connecticut River, etc., being read and by the
House referred to the Lottery Committee, resolved to join accordingly."
In 1792, June 1st, additional post-offices were opened in Manchester,
Burlington and Vergennes. The Vermont Register (almanac) for 1797,
gave a list of eight different routes then established in Vermont,
together with th« towns then having mail service. Route "No. 6"
was from Windsor to Newbury and St. Johnsbury. The towns along
this route, with their respective distances from Windsor and the post-
riders along the route were as follows : Windsor to Hartland, five miles,
post-rider. Lull ; Windsor to Hartford, fourteen miles, rider, Hazen ;
Hartford to Norwich, two miles, rider, Bunton ; Norwich to Thetford,
eleven miles, rider, Childs ; Thetford to Fairlee, nine miles, rider,
Freeman ; Fairlee to Bradford, s'ix miles, rider, Stebbins ; Bradford to
Newbury, five miles, rider. Mills ; to next office in Newbury, three
miles, rider, Lovell ; to another office in Newbury, one mile, rider,
Johnson ; Newbury to Barnet, fifteen miles, rider, Gilchrist ; to next
168 HISTORY OF HAETFORD.
in Barnet, two miles, rider, Stevens ; Barnet to St. Jolinsbury, eleven
miles, rider, Lord.
The Megister further says : — " A Post-Eoad is established between
Burlington and Montreal in Canada and a British carrier arrives at
Burlington every fortnight. Rate of postage of every single letter by
land, 30 mUes, 6 cts.; 60 m., 8 cts.; 100 m., 10 cts.; 150 m , 12|- cts.;
200 m., 15 cts.; 250 m., 17 cts.; 350 m., 20 cts.; 450 m. 22 cts. For
more than 450 m. 25 cts.
No allowance is to be made for intermediate miles. Every double
leiter is to pay double the said rates ; every triple letter triple ; every
packet weighing one ounce, at the rate of four single letters for each
ounce.''
The number of deputy postmasters in Vermont in 1797 was 10, viz.:
— Bennington, Brattleborough, Burlington, Manchester, Middlebury,
Newbury, Rutland, Vergennes, Westminster and Windsor.
Mr. E. P. Walton, of Montpelier, in speaking of the mail service in
Vermont, in March, 1784, says : — " In these days of railroads and tele-
graphs the condition of the service at that time may provoke a smile ;
but in fact Vermont, at that time, provided mail facilities quite equal to
those furnished by the United States for any but the largest towns and
cities. The following, nearly eight months later is to the point " :
Hartfoed (Conn.), November 2.'
" A stage wagon has lately been erected to run, with four horses,
between the city of New York and Stratford ferry, in Connecticut,
which completes the stages from Portsmouth, in the State of New
Hampshire, to Richmond, in the State of Virginia, a distance of up-
wards of 700 miles." —
POST OFPIOBS.
Through the courtesy of Hon. W. W. Grout, M. C, I have obtained
from Hon. A. E. Stevenson, First Assistant Post-Master General, the
names of the post-masters, and the dates of their appointment respect-
ively, at the offices of Hartford, Quechee, West Hartford and White
River Junction, which I give in the order of the date of the establish-
ment of said offices, viz.: —
HAKTFORD.
Joseph Dorr, 31 July, 1806 Justin C. Brooks 15 Nov. , 1850
Derrick Stebbins 7 May, 31 Henry B. Brown 33 Apr., 56
Andrew Tracy 15 Jan'y, 34 Justus W. French 38 May, 56
Phineas Kimball 13 Apr., 27 Justin C. Brooks 19 Mch., 63
Oramel H. Nichols.. 3 Aug., 33 Willis S. Brooks 3 Nov., 75
Moses French 23 Jan'y, 41 AUen L. Pease. 8 Apr., 81
Justin C. Brooks 8 June, 41 Nellie L. Brooks 14 July, 84
OramelH. Nichols... 36 Jan'y, 47
'From the Vermont Gazittc oi'ifoy. 15, 1784.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 169
QXTECHEE VILLAGE.
Shubael Russ 8 May, 1827 Joseph K. Edgerton 17Mch.,1860
Jacob Dimmick 36 May, 30 Chas. W. Harrington 9 Oct., 60
Wm. S.Carter 33 Aug., 47 Shubel Russ 3 July, 61
Joseph K. Edgerton. 17 June, 53 Chas. Tinkham 39 Oct., 67
Name changed to Name changed to Que-
Queechy 36 July, 55 chee 16 Mch., 68
Shubel Russ 30 July, 57
WEST HAETPOED.
Phineas Pai-khm-st.. 2 Apr., 1830 Lucius Hazen _ 7 Oct., 1850
Baxter B. Newton. _ 33 Sept., 30 Albert E. Williamson.... 18 Apr., 54
Ebenezer J. Whitney 39 May, 33 Wm. L. Brockway 7 Aug., 61
Chas. Tinkham 15 Dec, 37 Levi Hazen _. 34 Mch.. 64
W.H.Steele- 9 July, 39 W. Howard Tucker ,13 Apr., 69
Sam'l G. Steele 240ct., 44 ,Hoyt Hazen 30 July, 69
JohnSteele 11 July, 49 R. Munsil... 88
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION.
Samuel Nutt 30 Oct. , 1850 Noah B. Safford. _ 18 Aug. , 1879
Luther S. Grover 10 Dec, 59 Sanford H. Potter' 31 Apr., 86
Geo. Lyman 12 Apr., 61
NEWSPAPERS AND EDITORS.
The first attempt to establish a printing office and a newspaper in
Hartford was made by Dr. Ira Davis, of Norwich, associated with Mr.
E. Southworth, in October, 1852, when they started a newspaper under
the title of " The White Eiver Advertiser and Vermont Family Gazette.".
It was established by removing the " Federal Gazette " from Bradford,
Vt. Some time in 1853 the office of this company was destroyed by fire
and the paper was discontinued.
The next paper pubUshed in town was the " Eepublican Observer,"
commenced by Thomas Hale, at White Eiver Junction, January 1, 1878,
'Mr. Potter is the fifth postmaster here since the office was established in the
spring of 1849. ^°'- Samuel Nutt, a Democrat, was the first postmaster, appoint-
ed under Zachary Taylor's administration. The office at first had a very small
patronage and was kept in the postmaster's house. In a few months a depot was
built, and the office was moved into that. Col. Nutt held the office until Dec. 12,
1859, when Luther Grover, also a Democrat, received the appointment. Soon
after the change to a Republican administration, or May 20, i86i, George Lyman
received the appointment, and held the office until his death, July 11, 1879. Miss
Louise Lyman, daughter of George Lyman, then became acting postmistress for
the bondsmen, and did the business until N. B. Safford received the appointment
and took the office, Sept. 1, 1879. ^^ held the office until his death, March 10,
1886, when Herbert L. Dutton was acting postmaster for the bondsmen until the
appointment of Sanford H. Potter. There have therefore been but four post-
masters in the thirty-seven years of the existence of the office, two Democrats
and two Republicans. Both of the latter died in office. The office survived one
fire — the burning of the depot in which it was located, in 1862. All the books,
papers, mail matter and fixtures were saved. It was assigned a place in the new
depot, when rebuilt, where it remained until that was torn down and a new de-
pot built in 1880. It was then given a place in a shed, and set out doors, where
it has remained to this day. During Mr. Grover's postmastership the office paid
about $600; now it pays the postmaster $1,200 with about $100 fees on money
order business, and an allowance of $300 for clerk hire. — Valley Sun.
A post office was established in Olcott village 1887.
170 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
and continued until June 1, 1880, when it was removed to Keene, N. H.
Hale started the Observer with a list of about 1600 subscribers, which
he had oJDtained by personal persistent teasing,' and had he been able
to subdue his nomadic propensities, and make his expenditures and in-
come commeasurable, he could not have failed to make his venture here
a perfect success. Mr. Hale was, in a literary point of view, an able
editor. He possessed a remarkable memory, and was thoroughly con-
versant with the political history of the country, and knew much of men
eminent in the fields of literature, science, art and politic?, both in this
and other countries. He was a ready writer, and, when not moved by
impecunious considerations, was very entertaining in conversation. But
he was egotistical, fractious and insolent in his treatment of his com-
positors and other assistants, though obsequious to those who held any
kind of a whip-lash over him ; negligent of, and indifferent to his pecu-
niary obligations; extravagant in his mode of living; treacherous in
social obligations, and the butt of ridicule everywhere.
He was near-sighted, but disliked to be reminded of this defect of
vision. Once, when about to cross a railroad track in front of a moving
locomotive, a youth who knew him caught hold of him unceremoniously
and hurried him beyond danger. Hale construed this as an imposition,
and manifested a disposition to give the preserver of his life a good
threshing, but the young fellow was no chicken, and the threatened can-
ing was indefinitely postponed.
In August, 1880, a stock company composed of capitalists in Keene,
N. H., started the "New England Observer" in that town, with Mr.
Hale as editor-in-chief and manager ; but, in a few months thereafter he
had antagonized the principal stockholders, and not being able to recon-
cile differences, he stepped down and out, and there closed his career as
an editor. " Qualis vita finis ita."
" The Sun " was established at White River Junction by Royal Cum-
mings on the 9th of December, 1881. Three months later it was pur-
chased by A. A. Earle, and converted into the hybrid, or combination
patent- and-home-made production, y-cleped " The Landmark," (March
12, 1882.')
The " Valley Sun " was commenced by Royal Cummings at White
River Junction, January 18, 1884, with a patent outside. In July, 1885,
the size of the paper was reduced, and subsequently issued as an " all-
at-home " printed paper, and was the only paper so printed between
' Hale manifested a persistence in teasing that would have rendered him an inval-
uable lightning-rod agent. His remarkable tenacity gave rise to the following con-
nundrum : — " Why is Tom Hale like the Hoosic tunnel ? " Ans.— " Because he is
a wonderful bore."
HISTORY OB' HARTFORD. 171
Montpelier and Concord, N. H. It was Republican in politics, excluded
patent-medicine and other questionable advertisements, and was a neat,
newsy, readable paper, and it is to be regretted that Mr. Cummings was
compelled to suspend its publication. Dr. Talmadge, in a sermon
preached to newspaper men on a recent Sunday, said : " There are only
two kinds of newspapers — the one good, very good ; the other bad, very
bad. A newspaper may be started with an undecided character, but
after it has been going on for years, everybody finds out just what it is,
and it is very good or very bad. The one paper is the embodiment of
news, the ally of virtue, the foe of crime, the delectation of elevated
taste, the mightiest agency on the earth for making the world better.
The other paper is a brigand amid moral forces, it is the beslimer of
reputations, it is the right arm of death and hell, it is the mightiest
agency in the universe for making the world worse and battling the
cause of God. The one an angel of intelligence, the other a fiend of
darkness."
Chief Justice Parker once said : " The liberty of the press is always
a subject of discussion ; the press is the chief engine to create and sus-
tain civil, political and religious liberty. But the press is not invested
with the power or right of invading private character, or of circulating
falsehood against public or private men. It may promulgate truth,
however harsh and severe, with a good purpose, and with an honest view
to expose and reform, but it cannot, with impunity, under the garb of
good motives, and justifiable ends, traduce and calumniate . Powerful
as the press is, it has a master, and that master is the law, which, when
it trangresses its legitimate bounds, will punish the transgressors. * *
The imputation of crime is not necessary to constitute a libel. Any
opprobious terms calculated to expose the party of whom they are used
to contumely, may be libelous. * * * If the words of a supposed
libel are not calculated to injure the party of whom they are used in the
community, they have no noxious meaning, or tendency, and such tend-
ency is an essential ingredient of offence. • * * If a publication is
unjustifiable, and its natural tendency is to create hostile feelings, aver-
sion and hatred, malice is inferred by law."
The Landmark was sold by Mr. Earle to Charles R. Jameson in
December, 1888. The new owner assumed control of the paper Decem-
ber 14 Mr. Jameson is a practical printer, and has ability to publish a
first-class paper. The paper already exhibits marked improvement in
its general make-up.
CHAPTER XIII.
POPULATION.
In a petition made by Prince Tracy and others to the New York
government for Letters Patent it was stated that the population of the
town in 1765, was thirty persons. The population in 1771, as shown by
i census taken of the towns in Cumberland County (comprising Wind-
iam and Windsor Counties) was 190 persons. In 1791, when the first
jensus of Vermont was taken, the population of the town was 988 per-
sons, an increase of 608 in twenty years. The nest census was taken in
the year 1800, when, according to the TJ. S. census reports, the popula-
tion was 1094 persons. The census from 1800 to 1880 by decades was
IS follows : In 1810, it was 1881 ; in 1820 it was 2010 ; in 1830, it was
2044 ; in 1840, it was 2194 ; in 1850, it was 2159 ; in 1860, it was 2396 ;
in 1870, it was 2480 ; in 1880, it was 2954 ; the increase during the last
ieeade was 474, a percentage of increase of 19.1 per cent.
Taking the above figures as the basis of calculation, it appears that
;he increase of population for 109 years, 1771-1880, has been 2764
— a mean annual increase of 25.36 per cent., of which nearly one-sixth
occurred in the decade between 1870 and 1880. The increase from 1771
bo 1791 was mainly from immigration ; that from 1791 to 1800 was
probably due to the excess of births over deaths during that period,
with some immigration. Between 1800 and 1810, the tide of emi-
gration began again to flow into the town ; but from 1810 to 1820, the
war of 1812 and the fearful epidemic of 1814r-15 not only decimated the
town, but served to check the tide of emigration, and the increase was
chiefly of indigenous growth. Between 1820 and 1850 the philosophy
af the decrease is difficult to understand. The construction of railways
induced immigration to a considerable extent, but this was of a tran-
sient and temporary character. The depletion might have been caused
by the " Western fever," which continued to influence emigration from
this section of Vermont for a longer period than in other portions of the
State. It wUl be seen that the increase between 1820 and 1830 exceeded
the mean annual increase for 109 years, but the actual loss between 1840
and 1850 is an anomaly not wholly attributable to decimation by emi-
gration. In the absence of official registration reports, and other
statistical data, it is impossible to determine what were the actual causes
of the variable increase and decrease of the population, or to make
satisfactory deductions relating to the same.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 173
The increase in population between 1850 and '60, must be attributed
to the completion of several railways to White River Junction, which
led to the establishment, at that point, of numerous offices and work-
shops connected therewith, and, also, to the impetus thereby given to
almost every- branch of industry, all of which resulted in an influx of
railway officials and workmen, and laborers to factories, farms and
other departments. From 1860 to "70, there was but a slight increase.
The civil war with its disturbing influences, the decimation by recruit-
ing, supplemented by the depletion consequent upon diphtheria, which
was epidemic in 1863-4-5, all militated against a gain in population.
The excess of births over deaths during the decade was only 33. The
total gain in population during the decade being 84, we gained by im-
migration 51, or about 6.5 per cent, of the whole gain, probably more,
as there must have been a depletion by emigration.
Between ISVO and '80, the increase was 474, a rate of increase of 47.4
per annum, and a percentage of 19.11. The excess of births over
deaths during the decade was 262. Deducting this froin 474 we find
that the gain by immigration was 212 or 44.6 per cent, of the total
gain; and 8.5 per cent, on the population. These figures make the
causes of increase perfectly obvioup. In March, 1878, there were 619
families in town. Families with children 417. Children under 5, 302;
5 to 10, 290; 10 to 15, 278; 15 to 20, 230; aggregate, 1100. These
figures show that the number of single persons over 20 years of age
was about 520; children of school age, 798; the total population being
about 2858.
The rates of increase of population during the last decade 1870-'80
is larger than that of any other town in Vermont. The population of
the State in 1870 was 330,551; in 1880, 332,286, showing an increase of
1,735 only in ten years, or a percentage of .00525, nearly. The fore-
going table shows that the actual increase of population in Hartford
during the same period exceeded one-fourth of the total gain in the
State; the percentage of increase being 19.11, or 27.32 per cent., nearly,
of the total gain in the State.
Doubtless many of the readers of this history will be interested in
the following comparative statement of the population of Vermont by
counties in 1880 and 1870, showing the gains and losses during the
decade in the counties respectively :
Addison county, population in 1880, 24,174 ; in 1870, 23,484 ; gain 690.
Bennington " " " " 21,945; " " 21,335; " 620.
Caledonia " " " " 23,609; " " 32,335; " 1,373.
Chittenden " 33,798;" " 36,480 ; loss 3,683.
174
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Essex
coun
ty,
population in 1880
, 7,931
Fi-anklin
30,235
Grand Isle
4,134
Lamoille
13,684
Orange
33,529
Orleans
23,083
Rutland
41,880
Washington ' '
35,403
Windham
"
36,763
Windsor
a
35,193.
Total gain,
7,471
total loss, 5,736. Excess of j
during decade was
474
in 1870,
6,811 ;
gain
1,130.
30,391 ;
loss
66.
4,083
gain
42.
13,448
((
236.
23,090
a
439.
21,085 ;
(C
1,047.
40,651 ;
"
1,179.
36,520
loss
1,117.
26,086 ;
gain
726.
36,063 :
loss
871.
BIRTHS.
In 1856 the General Assembly of Vermont passed an act relating to
the registry and return of births, marriages and de'aths, by town and
district clerks, and the annual publication of the same by the secretary
of State.. The practicability and utility of this measure has been
clearly demonstrated. It ensures greater accuracy, and affords facts
from which yaluable conclusions and inferences may be drawn concern-
ing the three eras of human life, viz. : Birth, marriage and death,
" upon which, to a very great extent, are dependent the physical, moral
and civil condition of the human family."
In the following table are grouped together the whole number of
births registered by the town clerks of Hartford during the thirty
years 1857-86 inclusive; together with the average birth-rate, popula-
tion to one birth, number of each sex and nativity for six quinquennial
periods, the last period being computed upon the average of the sup"^
posed population for said period, the estimated increase from 1880 to
1886 being 400 :
It
No.
SEX.
NATIVITY.
YEARS.
Births.
H
Male.
Female.
Unk.
Am.
For.
Unk.
1857—1861
3869
221
Ill
110
180
24
17"
53.6
1.87
1863—1866
2480
246
133
123
1
185
48
13
49.4
3.03
1867—1871
3479
301
147
149
5
195
95
11
41.3
3.43
1872—1876
2670
351
171
180
335
133
3
38.0
3.63
1877—1881
2911
318
170
143
190
103
20
46.5
3.15
L883— 1886
8220
338
170
158
212
114
3
50.0
3.03
Totals
1760
891
868
6
1187
507
66
Average _-
3680
58.7
29.7
28.8
0.3
39.6
16.9
3.3
The ratio of males to females is as 103.34 is to 100.
From the foregoing table it appears that the whole number of births in
,he town was one thousand seven hundred and sixty- This number esxseeds
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 175
the whole number of deaths during the same period by five hundred and
sixteen. Eliminating the number of still-born (twenty-nine) these
figures indicate an increase of the population of four hundred and
eighty-seven. According to the U. S. census reports the actual gain in
population between 1850 and 1880 was seven hundred and ninety-five.
A proportionate gain between 1857 and 1880 would be six hundred and
twenty-nine. Assuming that the population in 1886 was thirty-three
hundred and fifty-four, the total gain for thirty years— 1857-86, was
one thousand twenty-nine. Hence the increase by immigration was five
hundred and forty-two, and by excess of live births over deaths, four
hundred and eighty-seven. The annual average number of births
exceeds the annual average number of deaths by a fraction more than
seventeen.
Those of my readers who are conversant with statistics on this sub-
ject, will observe that notwithstanding the fact that the births in Hart-
ford are remarkably few in proportion to the population, the number of
births and the proportion of births to the population are not less than
in many other towns in Vermont. In 1884 the proportion of births to
population in Windsor County was one to every 67.9 of its inhabitants,
while in nine other counties in Vermont the proportion was less than
in Hartford.
One birth occurs annually in Massachusetts to every thirty-five per-
sons ; in France one to every thirty-five persons ; in England one to
every thirty-one persons ; in Vermont one to every fifty persons ; in
Hartford one to every forty-six persons.
In the following table the births that have occurred in the town for
ten years, 1877-86 inclusive are arranged by months.
MONTHS.
NUMBER
SEX.
EXCESS
OP
BIRTHS.
■ MALE.
FEMALE.
MALES.
71
35
36
49
24
25
51
24
27
54
31
23
8
50
35
35
47
27
30
7
69
39
30
7
45
38
17
11
67
37
20
7
52
32
20
2
48
35
23
3
50
34
36
653
351
303
46
EXCESS
OF
FEMALES.
Januaxy
February
March _ .
April
May
June
July - -
August
September
October
November
December
Totals
176 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
From the above table it will be seen that January was the most fruit-
ful month, and August the least so. We also see that the number of
births varied but little with the seasons. During the months of winter
there were 170 births ; spring, 155 ; summer, 161 ; autumn, 167.
JPlural Births. — During a period of thirty years only fourteen child-
ren were born in couplets. Of these twelve were males, and two
were females. This is one couplet in every 251.4 births.
Illegitimates. — Nine cases are recorded, three of which were females.
This is one in every 195.5 births.
Still-born. — The statistics on this point are unreliable. I obtain the
number here given from the Town Clerk's registry of deaths. The
number recorded is twenty-nine, of which thirteen were males ; thirteen
females, and three unknown. This is one to every 60.7 of all births.
Parentage^ — ^Of the whole number of births 67.4 per cent, were of
American parentage ; 28.9 per cent, of foreign parentage, and 3.7 per
cent, were of unknown parentage. The greatest proportion of Ameri-
can births to every one hundred of population, was in 1858, and the
least was in 1884. On the other hand, the foreign births were greatest
in proportion in 1874, and the least in 1861. In 1858, the proportion
of American to foreign births was twelve to one ; in 1870 it was 1.91 to
one, and in 1880 it was 2.08 to one. Of the whole number of births
from 1860 to 1870, seventy-five per cent, were American, and twenty-
five per cent, were foreign. Prom 1870 to 1880, sixty-one per cent,
of the births were American, and thirty-nine per cent, were foreign,
From 1882 to 1886 inclusive, sixty-five per cent of all births were
American, and thirty-five per cent, foreign. In the latter class the
excess of births over deaths, for thirty years 1857-86 inclusive was 436;
while in the A.merican class the excess was only eighty-one. The excess
of births over deaths in the foreign class in 1885-86 was eighteen. In
the American class, the excess of deaths over births during the same
period was twelve. The ratio of increase in the foreign births in this
town, and elsewere, is suggestive of the thought that the foreign popu-
lation in this country may eventually, by natural increase, outnumber
the American population.
MAEKIAGES.
Prior to 1857, it was customary for ministers of the gospel and mag-
istrates who performed the marriage service to make a certificate of the
marriage in duplicate, one copy of which was given to the married
couple and the other was deposited with the town clerk for official rec-
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
177
ord. As a specimen of the usual form of certificate thus made, I will
quote that of a marriage performed in 1807, viz : —
State of Vermont, )
Windsor County, ss. j
Be it remembered that at Hartford, in said County, on the 6th day of January,
in the year of om- Lord 1807, Pomp Quaw and Lucy Smith (both blacks) both of
Hartfordj in the State and County aforesaid, were duly joined in mamage by
me. Attest: SHERMAN DEWEY, Justice Peace.
Hartford, March 31, 1807.
The foregpiug is a true copy of the original.
Attest: FREEGRACE LEAVITT, Town Clerk.
The whole number of marriages recorded in the town records for sev-
enteen years — 1802-1819 — is about 200. The number recorded from
1819 to 1857 — thirty-eight years — is 515, or a total of 715 couples in
fifty-five years. The annual average is thirteen couples. On the basis
of the average population as given in the U. S. census reports, there was
one marriage to every 146 persons.
The following table exhibits the whole number of marriages regis-
tered by the town clerks during thirty years — 1857-1886, inclusive — to-
gether with number of persons married, their nativity, population to
one marriage, etc., arranged in six quinquennial periods on a basis of
the average population, estimating the population at 3354 in 1886 :
Average
Population.
No.
Couples
No.
Persons.
NATIVITY.
Population to
Am.
For.
Un.
1 Marriage.
1857-1861
1863-1866
3369
3430
3479
3670
3911
3330
64
47
90
133
135
133
138
94
180
366
370
366
135
94
150
333
335
333
3
185
359
1867-1871
1873-1876
1877-1881
1883-1886
30
33
45
33
138
100
108
131
Totals.
603
301
1304
403
1060
353
141
47
3
1
Average.
3680
133
The ratio of increase from 1850 to 1860, is 33.7; 1860 to 1870, is 8.4; 1870 to
1880, is 47.4; and from 1880 to 1886, is 66.7.
I am unable to obtain reliable data concerning the number of first
marriages ; the first of men ; the subsequent of women ; of widowers to
maids ; of widowers to widows ; and of the actual number of divorces.
So far, however, as my personal observation extends, I can endorse the
opinion entertained by a well-known statistician, i.e.: that in the first
marriage of men the bridegroom is generally the elder ; that bachelors
are quite apt to succumb to the charms of widowhood, and often take
partners older than themselves ; that the widower marrying a maid
seeks one who is younger than himself ; that in the union of widowers
with widows, they find oongenialty in partners nearer their own age ;
13
178 HISTORY OF HAETFORD.
that too many people marry in haste, to repent at leisure ; and, finally,
that in marriage, as in many other things, there is no accounting for
tastes !
The number of marriages found recorded in the town clerk's office
prior to the year 1857, or between Jan. 1, 1802. and Dec. 31, 1856, is
not far from 250. As the records are in a very good state of preserva-
tion during that period, it is not deemed advisable to give a list of them
in this work. The author has, however, copied nearly every marriage,
and all who desire to refer to his list are at liberty to examine it at any
time. The number of marriages for ten years — 1877-86, inclusive — ar-
ranged by months, are as follows : January 32, February 16, March
18, April 16, May 18, June 18, July 12, August 14, September 25, Octo-
ber 30, November 43, December 26 ; total, 268. Arranged by seasons,
they are : Winter 74, spring 52, summer 44, autumn 98.
DIVOECES.
It is probable that the number of appellants to the courts from Hart-
ford has been as great, in proportion to the population of the town, as
those from any other town in the State. The number of divorces
granted in Windsor County for seven years — 1880-86, inclusive — was
as follows : In 1880, 5, or one in every 56 marriages ; in 1881, 21, or
or one in every 12 marriages; in 1882, 17, or one in every 15.6 mar-
riages; in 1883, 23, or one in every 12.4 marriages ; in 1884, 26, or one
in 9.35 marriages ; in 1885, 11, or one in 26 marriages ; in 1886, 12, or
one in 20 marriages. Divorce is preferable to an unhappy, quarrelsome
alliance.
DEATHS.
In the following table may be found a resume of the mortality of the
town for thirty years, 1857-86 inclusive, giving the number of decedents
of each sex at different ages, the annual average number, the population
for one death and the percentage, arranged in five quinquennial periods,
1857-81 ; one triennial period, 1882-84, and for the years 1885-86 an-
nually.—Collated from records in Town Clerk's office.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
179
Total.
4J
lO
ui
o
^
o
o
^
o
o
o
o
1
a
a
8)
o
«
^
in
t-
00
cs
OS
fi
Years.
1
§3
1
o
lO
B
o
3
s
o
CO
3
5
B
o
B
3
?
8
o
1
a3
1
1
1
<1
1
B
t
1^
■<
Ph
1857-61
M.
13
3 1
6
4
3
1
4
9
8
4
1
3
56
3
58
11.6
94
1.1
F.
7
4i 1
3
10
5
3
6
8
7
6
3
6
63 6
68
13.6
1863-66
M.
36
10
1
8
10
10
4
5
10
11
6
3
101
1 3
103
20.6
53
1.9
F.
40
13
7
5
13
8' 3' 7
14
9
11
3
138[ 3
130
26.0
1867-71
M.
31
4
1
6
5
4 4 7
5
15
12
3
96
1
96
19.3
60
1.7
F.
28
4
8
14
4 3 5
14
30
10
3
3
107 3
109
31.8
1873-76
M.
35
3
3, 3
8
7 "ilO
17
13
3
8
98
3
101
20.3
63
1.6
F.
28
8
3, 5
11
8 7 16
10
12
8
1
3
112
3
114
33.8
1877-81
M.
39
3
5 5
13
1 > 1 t
7
19
7
3
110
110
33.0
63
1.6
F.
30
4: 5
5
10
8
10, 6
11
16
14
8
133
133
34.4
1883-86
M.
85
3
3
9
4
911
16
16
11
1
110
1
113
33.4
62
1.6
F.
19
3
1
5
19
9
11' 7
18
30
8
5
1
130
1
121
24,3
Total,
306
49 35 61
134
7669
9l'il39
1^5
100
18
31
573
65131
1244
41.5
65
1.5
The aggregate ages of all the decedents is 47,072 ; the average age is
37.84. Excess of females, 84. The number of decedents under one
year of age was 159 ; from one to two, 58 ; from two to three,35 ; from
three to four, 35 ; and from four to five, 19 : total, 306, or nearly on e
fourth of the whole number of decedents. The number under one year
of age (less the still born) was 130 or more than one-tenth of the entire
mortality of the town. Two centenarians are among the decedents,
viz.: — Mrs. Jane Bethel, a widow of Irish nativity, died March 21, 1875,
aged 103 years. Mrs. Isaac Fouse Baker, a Canadian, died Oct. 13,
1880, aged 100 years.
Of the whole number of decedents (1244) eleven hundred and fifty-
three, or 92.7 per cent, were of American parentage, and ninety-one, or
7.3 per cent, were of foreign parentage. In the latter class the number
of males was 41, females 50. Of the ninety-one decedents, twenty-seven
died during the eighteen years ending Dec. 31, 1874 ; thirty-nine in
the ten years ending Dec. 31, 1884, and twenty-five in the two years
1885-6 inclusive. The above figures show that there was a rapid in-
crease in the death-rate in the foreign class during the last decade. The
birth-rate, however, was largely in excess of the death-rate, the number
of births being 240 to 64 deaths. There was also an increase of the
foreign population by immigration with but little if any emigration. It is
therefore probable that the death-rate, during the last decade, was not
greater in proportion to the population, than it was during the preceding
decade. In the foreign class the decedents numbered one to every 884
of the entire population, or one in every one hundred of this class. The
180
HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
increase ia the percentage of decedents was simply commensurate with
the increase of population.
It is gratifying to note the fact that the death-rate, on the whole, has
materially decreased from year to year, notwithstanding the fact that
the rate of mortaUty in Windsor county, in the classes of diseases most
prevalent in this town, is in excess of that in most of the other counties
in Vermont, — the rate of mortality being greatest in the counties bor-
dering on Connecticut river, especially in consumption, cancer, typhoid
fever, and heart disease.
CAUSES OF DEATH.
It is not practicable, to present a complete nomenclature and classi-
fication of all the causes of mortality as found recorded, or, as used by
nosologists and statisticians.
In the following table may be found an exhibit of the number of de-
cedents in the fifteen principal causes of death for twelve years, 1875 -
1886 inclusive, arranged in the order of their f atahty, together with the
sex, population to one death, and the annual average : —
Diseases.
No. OF Decedents.
Males. Females.
Total.
Pop'lation
to
1 Death.
Annual
Average.
Consumption
Pneumonia _ _
Old Age
Heart Disease
Cancer
Apoplexy __-!
Cholera Infantum.
Typhoid fever
Paralysis
Tuberclosis
Lung Fever
Dropsy
Diphhteria
Scarlatina
Bright's Disease
22
18
9
10
8
11
32
17
21
15
13
8
10
10
7
4
7
7
4
1
1
54
35
30
35
21
19
18
18
14
12
11
10
9
6
1033
1305
1445
1721
1902
2007
2007
3581
8011
3285
3614
4015
6033
6033
4.5
3.9
3.5
3.1
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.5
1.2
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.5
0.5
Aggregate .
131
157
288
125.5
24
The whole number of decedents from all causes, during the twelve
years above named, was 541, or one among every 67 of the population:
consequently the number of decedents specified in the above table is
53.2 per cent of the entire mortality, the proportions of the sexes being
23.2 per cent, of males to 29 per cent of females.
From the foregoing table we glean a number of interesting facts. It
appears that consumption and other lung diseases and fevers comprise
a large per cent, of all the decedents. Consumption leads the above
list, as it ever has the lists of the registration reports of the State. The
HISTORY OF HAETFORD. 181
decedents fi-om this disease are found at every period of life, but the
largest number succumb between the ages of twenty and thirty. It is
said that, if the seeds of death from this disease do not mature at forty,
the victims may run on to sixty or seventy. The foregoing table shows
that more than three-fifths of the whole number of decedents from this
disease were females. So long as this is a hereditary disease, the excess
of females is a sad commentary on the non-observance of those laws of
health which alone conduce to good health and long life. The customs
of society, the lack of open air exercise, the constant respiration of
vitiated air — ^heated to excess by the cremating stove, and poisoned by
the odors of cookery, or ill- ventilation in every apartment, especially in
sleeping rooms — all militate against customary or continuous good
health. I do not assume that the avoidance of, or entire removal from
these and kindred causes, will do more than diminish the mortality of
this disease when it is hereditary in character, but, with this, and all
kindred diseases, the ounce of prevention, which consists of a knowledge
and practice of the laws of health, will be worth more than the pound of
cure, oftentimes vainly sought for in the skill of learned pathologists but
never found in the nostrums that patent medicine imposters from
Warner down to those arrant knaves, retired clergymen, and nomadic
quacks, like Gage, flamingly advertise, and gain thrift by, simply
because their deluded victims, like drowning men, clutch at and cling
to straws, and with like results.
Old Age. — This is classed by Nosologists among Developmental
diseases. It is not properly termed a disease, though it is a fruitful
source of mortality. In many instances where death is attributed to old
age, or senility, the decedent had not attained to seventy years of age.
It seems probable that in these cases the decedents must have been
subject to constitutional disease of some kind. Many persons at seventy
■ years of age have a greater prospective tenure of life than others have
at the age of fifty. Old age is, as a rule, the result of causes that con-
duce to long life, viz: —
Habits regular, and good,
Wholesome and nutritious food,
Exercise in open air,
Contentment and little care;
These, with cleanliness combined,
Win ensure to aU mankind
Health of body, health of mind;
These united, — I presage, —
Conserve life to good old age.
183
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Premature old age is often the result of constitutional diseases, or it
may be the result of deep mental suffering, but, as a rule, it is caused
by habits of dissipation that tend to abbreviate life.
The number of decedents reported under the head of " Old Age " for
twelve years, 1875 to 1886 inclusive, was thirty. During this period
the number of decedents at the age of seventy and upward, including
two centenarians, was 149, while the whole number at seventy and
upward for thirty years, 1857-86, was 283 ; males 129, females 154.
The aggregate of their ages was 25,480 years, the averages being
respectively 79.5 of females and 79.1 males. The number of aged dece-
dents in the hill districts largely exceeded the number in the districts
bordering on the rivers.
In the following table the whole number of deaths that occurred in
town during a period of ten years, 1877-86, inclusive, are arranged by
months : —
SEX.
i
1-3
1
1
i
1
1
n
4
1
B
I
53
1
O
1
1
i
a-
1
Male
16
18
18
13
33
20
31
16
14
18
10
13
18
31
24
26
26
29
24
30
17
19
15
33
330
Female
235
Aggregate ___
34
31
52
31
33
23
39
50
55
44
36
38
465
From the above table it will be seen that March, August and Septem-
ber gave the greatest number of deaths, the aggregate being nearly 34
per cent, of the entire number. The mortality by seasons was as fol-
lows : Winter 103, per cent. 22.2 ; Spring 115, per cent. 24.7; Summer
112, per cent. 24.1; Autumn 135, per cent. 29.
In concluding this subject, I will say that it is assumed by statisticans
that a mortality of two per cent., or one death among every fifty indi-
viduals, may be fixed upon as a healthy and natural standard. The
greater number of the countries in the world, however, show a mor-
tality of about 2.5 per cent., or one death among every forty persons.
It will be noticed that the mortality of this town has been, since 1857,
only 1.5 per cent., or one .death among 65 persons. This is a wonderful
low mortality. The percentage of decedents of both sexes in Vermont
in 1884 was 1.57.
SANITARY MATTERS.
The early settlers adopted very stringent precautionary measures to
protect themselves from the ravaging effects of epidemic and contagious
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 183
diseases. The small-pox was their scourge for many years. Consump-
tion, catarrhal fevers, canker rash, and the dysentery were common, but
not as fatal as in some other sections of the State. The spotted fever
was epidemic in the years 1811-12, and carried off about sixty persons.
But no disease produced a couttauous feeling of alarm excepting the
small-pox. This was very much dreaded, for, where it did not prove
fatal, it disfigured the countenance and changed beauty into homeli-
ness.
Natural small-pox is a most fatal disease at aU periods of life ; the
most so in infancy and advanced life. The mortality in the natural
smallpox is from one-fifth to one-third of all it attacks. The practice
of inoculation, or the engrafting of the matter of small-pox, was effica-
cious in mitigating the danger and severity of the disease, in saving life
and preventing deformity. It is asserted that, with proper care, not one
in 1500 died of the engrafted disease. Other authorities say that " one
in 300 is the proportion of the inoculated that will surely die." The
practice of vaccination renders inoculation unnecessary, excepting in
. cases where no vacine matter is obtainable.
The smaU-pox caused a great commotion in this town in 1777, and the
action of the town authorities on the occasion was of a serio-comic na-
ture, calculated to excite a smile on the face of the reader of the records
of their proceedings at two meetings, viz :
" At a meeting of the iahabitants of the town of Hartford, verbally warned by
the committee of safety of said town, and holden at the dwelling house of Solo-
mon Strong, on Monday ye 7th day of February, 1777. Chosen — Col. Joseph
Marsh, Moderator. Voted unanimously, tliat we will not admit of the small-pox
being set up in this town by any persons! Chosen — Amos Robinson, Silas Hazen
and Samuel UdaU a committee to take care that the small pox is not introduced
into town."
The succeeding meeting seems to have been an indignation meeting
over the same subject. The unanimous vote of the February meeting
had failed to produce the desired effect.
" At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Hartford, verbally warned by
the committee of safety to meet at the house of Capt. Abel Marsh, on Monday,
17th day of March, A. D. 1777, to take into consideration the alarming conduct
of some persons belonging to this town and the town of Pomfret, in introducing
the small-pox into this town, contrary to a former unanimous vote of this, town
against the same:
Voted— To conflne both the persons who are infected with the small-pox and
John XJdall that has inti'oduced the small-pox into town.
Voted— That the committee be empowered to hire twelve men that have had
the smaJl-pox to guard said persons who have the small-pox.
184 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Voted — To empower said committee to take sufficient bonds of John Udall for
Ms good behavior with regard to the small-pox — ^he paying the charges the town
has, or may be put to, on account of his inti-oducing the small-pox into town, or,
an liis refusing to give such bonds, to commit him to the county jail until he
san be tried by the county committee and make such satisfaction as they shall
award."
However ludicrous or however severe the action taken by the town
in this instance may seem to us, it should be remembered that, at the
time named, natural small-pox was the only existing form of the disease;
inoculation was the prevailing method of treating the disorder (the first
ease of vaccination being practiced very nearly twenty years later,) and
while the advantages of this practice were, to the individual, obvious, the
absolute mortality was increased for the reason that inoculation did not
serve to prevent contagion nor to eradicate pestilence, but, as before
remarked, simply mitigated the severity and danger of the disease.
These facts were potent to the early settlers, hence defensive measures
against the introduction of the dreadful disease were imperatively de-
manded, and compulsion in some form justifiable, especially if in the
least objectionable form of a fine. " Tho'," says an eminent authority,
'' it may be doubtful how far it is justifiable to compel a person to take
care of his own life, or that of his offspring, it can scarcely be disputed
that no one has a right to put in jeopardy the lives of his fellow crea-
tures."
At the present time the appearance of small-pox creates a furore not
less intense than that which was excited by the recurrence of the dis-
ease before medical science had rendered it less fatal in its effects. A
classified list of epidemic diseases, in the order of their fatality, may be
found on page 180 ante.
CHAPTER XIV.
NBCKOLOGT.
" Let not ye dead forgottonly
Least men forget that they must die." '
The aspiration for immortality is common to all mankind. The
Almighty has bestowed upon the human race every requisite of a happy
life. " But, if life itself be pleasing, and even though there were no
existence beyond the grave, life might be still, by the benevolence of
Him who conferred it, have been rendered a source of pleasure; (a
pleasure made for the soul and the soul for that) it is not wonderful
that we should desire futurity, since futurity is only protracted life.
It would, indeed, have been worthy of our astonishment if man, loving
his present life, and knowing that it was to terminate in the space of a
few years, should not^have regretted the termination of what he loved ;
that is to say, should not have wished the continuance of it beyond the
period of its melancholy close.
, The universal desire then, even if the desire were universal, would
prove nothing but the goodness of Him who has made the realities of
life, or, if not the realities, the hopes of life, so pleasing that the mere
loss of what is possessed, or hoped, appears like a positive evil of the
most afl3.icting kind." "
" For who, to dumb forgetfubiess a prey,
This pleasing anxious being e'er resign'd.
Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day.
Nor cast one longing, ling'ring look behind ?"
— Oray's Elogy.
Akin to the desire for immortality, or continuance, is the desire of
memory, fame and celebration. We devoutly hope to share the atten-
tion of future times and that our names and deeds shall not be forgot-
ten. The consciousness that we are not to sink into oblivion, but that
after the close of our brief existence on earth, our bodies will be con-
signed to a resting-place amidst scenes of beauty, where our surviving
friends will erect some monument over us, expressive of their love, and
to perpetuate our memory, and will often plant or strew flowers on our
graves ; this will rob death of half its terrors.
'Epitaph on the grave-stone of Isaac Williams. Obit 1789. In cemetery on
south side of White river at White River Junction, adjacent to the Catholic cem-
etery.
^ Dr. Brown's Moral Philosophy, Sec. 97.
B6 HISTORY OF HAETFORD.
It has been said that " so useful and elevating a contemplation as
lat of the soul's immortality cannot be resumed too often." In no
ther place will our minds be brought to such a contemplation so surely
s at the graves of our friends. It behooves us then to often visit the
allowed ground where they repose, and to beautify and make attrac-
Lve the places of their sepulture.
There are, at least, eleven cemeteries in Hartford, including two pri-
ate burial places. Four of the whole number are appropriately and
leasantly located and well-cared for, a few are in a deplorable condi-
Lon. In all there are more or less graves without head-stones, and
lany head-stones are broken, or in a dilapidated condition, that pre-
ludes the possibility of deciphering the inscriptions on them. This
tate of things is deprecable. Costly monuments are suitable to com-
lemorate the virtues, or the worthy deeds of good and great men, but
he graves of the humblest and kiost indigent of mortals should be
aarked by durable head-stones, and be as well cared for as those of
heir more fortunate fellow-beings. How this may be accomplished is
hown by the action of the late William S. Carter of Quechee. This
;entleman was richly endowed with a sense of the proprieties of life,
,nd possessed a noble and generous heart. He exemplified these quali-
ies by donating to the Quechee Cemetery Association, the sum of $500, .
he annual interest of which is to be expended in improving and em-
lellishing the cemetery at Quechee villiage. This beneficent deed — -
haracteristic of the man— is worthy of emulation by others.
It is impossible to determine in which of the cemeteries in this town
he first burials were made. Admitting that the first settlements were
,t White River Junction, it does not follow that the first death or
Leaths occurred there, nor, if such was the fact, that the first dece-
lents were buried in the cemetery there. Many of the earliest settlers
vho died in the town, were taken to their native places for sepulture.
The graves of many of those who were first interred in the cemeteries
if the town, are without head-stones, and many head-stones bear no
nscriptions, while others are distinguished by initial letters only. Most
if the earlier settlers were in the prime of life, and but few deaths
(ccurred among them during the first twenty years succeeding the first
ettlement. Probably many children were interred on the home prem-
ses even after the establishment of burying-grounds.
The following lists of decedents comprise those whose graves are
narked with head-stones. I have personally visited every cemetery in
he town and copied the inscriptions from nearly every head-stone, but
lave omitted the names of children and youth with a few exceptions,
HISTORY OF HARTB'OBD.
187
from these lists. The cemeteries are classified in the order in which
the first burial was made in each, and for convenience of reference the
burial-place of each decedent is given, also the year in which each per-
son died, arranged in chronological order. The number of decedents
in each cemetery, or burial-place, as shown in the following lists, is as
follows, viz.: Christian street, 123 ; Quechee village, 232 ; White
River Junction, south side of White river, 56 ; Delano cemetery (on
river road between O. M. Paine's and Harper Savage's), 80; centre of
the town, 54 ; Russtown, 51; private cemetery at West Hartford (near
W. H. Giles' house), 26; White River Junction, north side of White
river, 137 ; West Hartford, 12'7 ; Catholic, in White River Junction,
76 ; tomb, near David Wright's house, 6 ; private cemetery, near the
town poor house, 20 ; total, 814.
Figures on the left of name, signify date of death ; those on the
right signify the age of decedent.
Year.
1807
1813
CHRISTIAN STREET CEMETERY.
Name of Decedent. Age. Year. Name of Decedent. Age.
1823
1827
1837
1839
1840
1847
1859
1865
1869
1871
(I
1875
1792
1799
1809
1823
1833
1833
i(
1839
1853
1856
1861
1863
1875
1799
1813
1814
1813
1815
1823
1824
1830
BeU, Samuel 89
Bartholomew, Mabel P 37
Bartholomew , Noah 82
Burroughs, Mrs. Abigail
Burroughs, Rev. Eden 76
Boardman, Mercy 36
Bartholomew, Azubah 60
Brooks, Mrs. Mary 91
Bartholomew, Luther 83
Bartholomew, Diadama 73
Burton, Elijah H 53
Bartholomew, Delana S 54
Brockway, Wm. E 74
Bartholomew, Sheldon _ .
Bartholomew, Amos F._
Bartholomew, Noah
Brockway, Mrs. Anna B_
Chapman, Simeon
Chapman, Mrs. Alice.
81
71
70
84
69
77
Clark, Mrs. Sarah 95
Clark, Mrs. Deborah.. 77
Clark, Mrs. Lydia 79
Clark, Mitchell. 86
Clark, John 88
Clark, Mrs. Ruby 56
Clark, Mi-s. Betsy H 73
Crandall, Joseph 65
Clark, Hyde 83
Crandall, Mrs. Abigail 66
Carlisle, Charles 74
Dutton, Thomas 98
Dutton, John.... 71
Dutton, Mrs. Hannah 37
Dutton, Thaddeus... 38
Dutton, Reuben 29
Dutton, Nathaniel 76
Dutton, Mrs. Sarah 75
Dutton, Mrs. Experience 54
1833
1838
1840
1843
1861
1867
1870
1873
1874
It
1875
1878
1885
1798
1813
1826
1811
1819
1831
1829
1839
1831
1835
it
1836
1839
1841
1844
1845
1855
1856
1857
1868
Dutton, Asahel 64
Dutton, EUjah 62
Dutton, Mrs. Emiline 32
Dutton, David 69
Dutton, Harriet 17
Dutton, Mrs. Naomi 77
Dutton, Lorenzo 57
Dutton, Mrs. Irean 74
Dutton, Dea. Alonzo 67
Dutton, Mrs. Sarah 84
Dutton, Maria G. 57
Dutton , Thaddeus 60
Dutton, Thomas 78
Dutton, John. 72
Dutton, Mrs. Emily S 64
Dudley, Mrs. PoUy (Gibbs)
Newton 75
Fuller, Mrs. Mariah 73
Fox, John 55
Fox, Chester 43
Fuller, Archippus 91
Gillett, Roger .53
GUlett, Mrs. Susan.. 77
Gillett, Lieut. Israel 91
GiUett, John 85
Gillett, Mrs. Ruby 58
Gillett, Mrs. Jemima 86
GiUett, Israel, 2d 58
Gillett LauraG.. 36
GUlett, Johns 34
GUlett, Dea. Wm 42
GiUett, BUla 70
GiUett, Justus. 39
GiUett Mrs. Harriet B 45
GiUett, Carlos D 17
Gillett, Mrs. Mary 76
Gillett, Mrs. Elizabeth 66
GiUett, Jasper A 29
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
ear. Name of Decedent.
Age.
178 GiUett, Nathan - - - 75
i83 GiUett, Azro 76
187 GiUett, Henry 38
" GiUett, Enos 41
'82 Hazen, Thomas, 3d_ 63
'96 Hazen, Joshua_- 51
102 Hazen, Mrs. Ann 76
113 Hazen, SUas 32
114 Hazen, Daniel 58
119 Hazen, Asa _. 69
120 Hazen, Mrs. Susannah 62
124 Hazen, Mrs. Mercy _ _ _ 76
Hazen, Susan __ 26
127 Hazen, Mrs. Theodora 65
129 Hazen, Hezekieih 74
130 Hazen, Franklin 35
;35 Hazen, Thomas, 4th 77
137 Hazen, Mrs. Eleanor 67
141 Hazen, Mrs. Amy 43
145 Hazen, Mrs. OUve 85
' Hazen, Philemon 79
147 Hazen, Mrs. Abigail 47
!49 Hazen, Capt. Solomon 89
i52 Hazen, Mrs. Kezia_ 75
Hazen, Mrs. Parthena 60
!53 Hazen, Mrs. Sarah M 90
!54 Hazen, Rev. Austin 68
!57 Hazen, Mrs. Lora ._, 73
!58 Hazen, Reuben_ 75
171 Hazen, Allen 76
173 Hazen, Alvin 81
' Hazen, Mrs. Hannah , 73
174 Hazen, Celinda 55
Hazen, Daniel, 2d __ 79
i79 Hazen, Mrs. Hannah D 75
184 Hazen, Nelson S___ _- 59
!87 Hazen, Elijah 91
!02 Ingraham, Jeremiah 54
!27 Latham, John 79
' ' Latham, Mrs. Esther
!28 Mosely, Prince _ _ _ 75
115 Newton, EUzabeth. _ 35
123 Newton, Mrs. Laurena 39
139 Newton, David 87
Year. Name of Decedent.
1849 Newton, Sheldon 75
1854 Newton, Mrs. Catherine. -_ 68
1856 Nevrton, Abner 69
" Nott, Hiram 66
1865 Newton, David, 2d 87
1867 Newton, Mrs. Sabriel _ 75
1868 Newton, Andrew. __ _ 88
1870 Newton, Lucy-. --.-,. 79
1871 Nott, Mrs. Susan S 79
1872 Newton, Elizabeth __ 82
1818 Pease, Mrs. Hannah 96
Pease, Christopher
1836 Pixley, Mrs. Eunice 62
1827 Pixley, Capt. Wm 76
1871 Pike, Hezekiah 65
1775 Redington, Mi-s. Dorothy . _ 75
1812 Richards, Joel 45
1827 Reynolds, Lucy. 42
1828 Richards, Gardner 16
1855 Richards, Mrs. Merriam S. 82
1798 Savage, Thomas 84
1823 Savage, Mrs. Rhoda 65
1827 Smith, CaroUne 16
1829 Smith, Lieut. Seth 78
1831 Sprague, Mrs. Clarissa 61
1835 Sanborn, Mrs. Clarinda...- 29
1856 Sprague, Philip 91
" Strong, Orange 54
1861 Smith, Mrs. Susanna 78
1869 Shephardson, Mrs. Mar-
garet .- 79
1872 Spaulding, Rulof 76
1876 Sprague, Jedediah 72
1880 Spaulding, Mr-s. Dorothy. . . 85
1884 Savage, Jasper H 44
1838 Tenney, Homer 36
1832 Tenney, Harper 36
1835 Tracy, James, 2d 55
1840 Tenney, Mrs. Rebecca 70
1852 Tracy, Mrs. Mary 74
1794 Wright, Mrs. Ann 64
1803 Wright; Benjamin, 2d 67
1844 Waterman, Ezra 51
1857 WUson, Mrs. PoUy. 78
CEMETERY AT QTJECHY VILLAGE.
ear. Name of Decedent.
Age. Year. Name of Decedent. Age.
'77
'87
'97
101
102
105
it
106
107
!09
(10
Strong, Mary 44
UdaU, Abigail
Marsh, Mary B 85
Pitkin, Thomas W 37
Demmon, Levi
Marsh, Elisha 35
Bramble, DeaAbel 87
Case, Hubbard W 79
UdaU, Samuel 67
Thomas, Esther 56
CaU, James 79
Bramble, Lucy 32
Porter, Mary 51
Humphrey, AUce 51
Marsh, Dorothy 78
1810
1811
1813
1814
1816
1818
1820
1821
Ransom, Daniel 47
UdaU, Olive --. 64
Marsh, Joseph 85
Bramble, WiUiam 44
Dewey, Sherman 40
Porter, WUIiam 68
Shattuck, Jerusha ..- 48
HaU, Esther. 45
HaU, Rebecca 78
Pease, Dr. Leonard 27
Hagar,EUza 53
Sessions , Melinda 30
Bramble,' Oman , 43
Marsh, Mary 1 84
Russ, Benjamin 61
HISTORY OP' HARTFORD.
189
Year. Name of Decedent. Age. Year.
1833 Braley, Wing ._-. 38 1843
" Bramble, EUzabeth _.- 79 "
" Wheelock, Luke 71
1833 Mai-sh, Elisha 87
" Pease, Rebecca --. 71 "
" Pease, Sarah 67
1835 Udall, Lydia; 83
" Wheelock, Esther 73 1848
1836 Braley, Sarah 45
1837 Bramble, Capt. Wm 86 1844
" Foster, Fordyce 47 1844
1837 Fui-ber, Abigail 63
" Hall, Liberty-... .. 53
" Tinkham, PoUy 43 1845
1838 Dimock, Paul 34 1846
" Marsh, Eunice 58 "
" Porter, Eliot. 70 1847
' ' Richardson, Thomas 85 "
1839 Howe, Rhoda 61
" Howe, Steward. 67
" Marsh, Daniel 69 "
1830 Braley, Mary 77 1848
" Jones, Lemuel 33 "
" Udall, James 76
1831 GaUup, Joseph... 83
" Hall, Esther 41
" Porter, Amedia 67 1849
1833 Paige, John 57
" Ransom, Ruth 76 "
1834 Dewey, Joshua 91 1850
" Dimock, Joab 59 1851
" Harrington, Dr. Abel 25 1853
" Lamphire, Harry 41 "
1835 Richardson, Esther 83
" Udall, Anstes- 73
.1836 Furbur, Nathaniel 74 1853
" Flint, Eliza 37 "
1837 Marsh, Joseph 81
1838 Lucas, Elisha 75
" Pease, Samuel 88 1854
" Raymond, Mary. 61 1855
" Sessions, Capt. Sanford 44 "
" Stevens, Mai-y A 38 "
" Stevens, Ziba. .- .■ 52
1839 Barron, Susan 39 "
" BuHard, Asa 87
" Demnaon, Dorcas 88 "
" Dutton, OUver 73 1856
" Dewey, Mary 89 "
" Eddy, Lucy 34 1857
" Pitkin, Mary 57
" Sears, Edwin M.. 30
" Smith, Jonathan 73 1858
1840 Blanchard, Nancy 38 "
" HaU, Jacob 93
" HaU, Willis 36
" Sessions, Darius: 63 "
• ■' Strong, William 77
1841 Marsh, Erepta 83
Name of Decedent. Age.
Bullard, Marcy 71
Ohamplin, Content.. 84
Ethex-idge, Wm. C 37
Jennings, Wm 55
Pease, Christopher. 91
Udall, Mehitabel 70
Whitman,Wm 80
Barron, Betsy 77
Lamphire, Harriet 45
Colbm-n, David. 83
Marsh, Isaac 75
Parsons, John 63
UdaU, Wm. Wallace 33
Demmon, Aurelia F 41
Colbui-n, Sarah 83
Eddy, Sarah A 36
Alexander, Quartus 86
Lamphire, Lucy Ann 33
Lucas, Rebecca 80
Shattuck, Ephraim. 75
Lucas, Elisha 80
BuUard, Asa G 33
Carlisle, Horace 37
Champlin, Wm 91
Demmon, Altheda 68
Russ,01ive 83
Braley, John 65
Hall, Martha .... 63
Thomas , Nathaniel 74
Thomas, Abbam 29
Hagar, Jason 60
Ames, Rebecca 70
Dexter, Lucinda 24
Dutton, Huldah 78
Thomas, Esther 50
Barron, Chloe 85
Blanchard, Wm. D 37
Braley, Susannah 54
Bramble, Emma 73
Dimmick, Anna 75
Marsh, Mrs. Boyde 47
HaU, Lucy 62
Paige, Elizabeth 76
Richardson, Lionel 77
Rock, Maria A 37
Shattuck, Rebecca 72
Trescott, Wm 73
BuUard, Reuben 86
Thomas, Esther W 77
GaUup, Sally 75
Wheelock, Jonathan 73
Parsons, Laura.. 71
Dean, Harrison 34
Lucas, Zilpha. 63
Marsh, Gratia 73
Raymond, May.. 61
Shattuck, Sophia 80
Whitman, Thirza 77
w
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
'ear. Name of Decedent. Age. Year,
359 BuUard, Pliebe 88 1873
" Edgerton, Ariel 70 "
" Waldron Eliza 37
B60 Alexander, Mary 90
" Dutton, Ariel. 65
" Strong, Abigail H 88
" Trescott, Susan 78 1873
861 Demmon, Eoswell 72 "
" Pitkin, Thomas W 88
" Porter, Luther 83
862 Braley, Elder Asa 83 1874
" Udall, Lionel 83 1875
863 Gushing, Lucinda 69 "
" Dutton, Belinda 69
'• Pitkin, Olive.. .1 47 1876
" Tewksbury, Deborah 64 "
864 Barron, Sally 75
" Case, Phileta 55
" Clough, Robert 74 1877
" Eddy, James 54 "
Newton, Francis 89 "
" Newton, Lois P 87 1878
865 Stevens, Nancy H 80
" Strong, Jasper 67 "
866 Burtch, Isaac 88
" Gushing, Sarah 36 "
" Shattuck, Albert L 38
' ' Tewksbury, Mills 69 1879
867 Kenyon, Benjamin 79
" Strong, Thomas J 55
" UdaU, James 88
868 Foster, Ehzabeth 85 1880
" Wolcott, Elizabeth 85
869 Gushing, Theopilus 78 1883
" Hutchinson, Betsy H 73 1883
870 Dutton, Harriet Ann 47
" Hagar, Ahnina 78 1884
" Nash, Louisa 73
" Richardson, Glarissa 85 1885
871 Burclr, Hannah 80'
" Dewey, Elisha 63 1886
" Fogg, Hannah 85 "
" Spalding,' Eliza D 63 1887
Name of Decedent. Age.
Clough, Susan 72
Hall, Lucinda 94
Harrington, EU.. 71
Herron, Catherine M 75
Jennings, Jane 80
Spalding, Uriel 64
Boyd, James 76
Demmon, Levi 93
Dimmick, Jacob 83
Dimmick, Susan 83
Richardson, Abigail 88
Bethel, Jane 103
Dewey, Emily 68
Marsh, Roswell 83
Barron, Benjamin 89
Piatt, James H 77
Piatt, Sophia R 76
Shattuck, Betsy E 81
Barron, Rufus 71
GroweU, Sarah N 53
Winslow, Warren W 53
Alexander, Consider 78
Harlow, Mary 77
Humphrey, Nelsoli 69
King, Alice 53
Newton, Hannah 81
Parkhurst, Rudolph 74
Dutton, Daniel. 79
Kenyon, Alvin 63
Thomas, Betsv 63
Udall, Sophia b.C". 87
Pitkin, Thomas W. Jr 78
Shattuck, MarindaA .31
Dutton, Sarah A 59
Bragg, RuthTinkham 73
Porter, Anna 86
Carlisle, Lucinda 65
Perrin; Cahsta "77
Alexander , EmUyH 79
Harrington 77
Dewey, A. G 80
Porter, John 88
Hudson , Jonathan B 58
CBMBTBET AT WHITE RIVER JUNCTION.
South side White River adjacent to Catholic Cemetery.
fear. Name of Decedent. Age. Year. Name of Decedent. Age.
Robinson, Amos 78
Kibbe, Capt. EHjah 49
Gillett, Nathaniel 43
Bugbee, Mrs. Sarah 93
Waterman , John O. 63
King, Mrs. Sarah M
Bugbee , Ben j amin 60
King, Daniel. -67
Lord, Matilda 39
Brooks, Elam 58
Bugbee, Mrs. Lois 70
Bugbee, Mrs. Olvard 48
King, Mrs. Sarah 85
Kibbe, Austin 40
Patch, William 34
780 Robinson, Mrs. Daborough. 44 1813
785 Pinneo, Daniel Jr 14 "
789 WiUiams, Isaac... 71 1813
790 Wright, Policy 29 1815
798 WiUiams, Mrs. Rachel 81 ' "
Wright, Benjamin 83 1817
799 Cone, Samuel 34 1830
800 Wright, Keturah 89 1835
803 Wright, Capt. Jonathan. . . 48
804 Bennett, Jonathan 55 1837
805 Pease, Mrs. Sally 18
806 Bennett, Roswell 35 1830
808 Bubgee, Nathaniel ... 96
81 1 Terry, Mrs. Dorothy 40 1843
Warner, Mahitabel 37
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
191
Year. Name of Decedent. Age. Year.
1844 Kibbe, Mrs. Hannali 49 1864
1848 Pinneo, Charles.. 80 1865
Pinneo, Mrs. Charles 81 1866
1854 Patch, Mrs. Adeline W.... 39
Pmneo, Daniel 56 1867
1855 Kneeland, Edward 34 1868
Paddleford, George 53
1858 King, Daniel 73 1869
1860 Ford, Jessie A 43 1870
1863 Chamberlin, Mrs. Hai-riet
Tucker 38 1871
Kneeland, Edward 80 1871
Nutt, Mrs. Ruth A 39 1879
" Pinneo, Mrs. Martha C... 65
Name of Decedent,
Bugbee, Olvard 89
Clark, Mrs. Altha 57
KJneeland, Mrs. Charity 86
Goss, Mrs. Mary Ann 35
Griffin, Albert 33
Patch, Charles W 3.>
Porter, Mrs. Rachel 69
Kneeland, Mrs. Delia A... 44
Nutt, Mrs. Hannah K 73
Smith, Hubbard L. 37
Nutt, Col. Samuel 79
Pinneo, Cliarles 75
Chilson, Mrs. Judith A 39
This cemetery comprises the graves of a portion of the Protestant
population who have died in White River Junction since 1846,
together with those who were transferred in 1846 from the old bury--
ing-ground, then appropriated to the use of the Vermont Central rail-
road, which contained about two acres, and was located on lot "No. 4,"
drawn to the original right of Joshua Pomeroy, in the 1st division of
lots in 1761.
DELANO CEMETERY.
Year. Name of Decedent.
Near G. H. Savage's.
Age. Year. Name of Decedent.
Age.
Wliite, Noadiah ■' 71
White, Mrs. Mary « 74
Delano, Mrs. Lusina 46
WalUng, Ezekiel 34
Fenno, Joseph 65
Pixley, Benjamin Jr 39
Bartholomew, Daniel 44
Hazen, Mrs. Luoretia 53
Noble, Shadrack 85
Culver, James... 71
Fenno, Ralph 36
Prouty, Lucy... 60
Tilden, Stephen Jr 73
Whitney, EU 34
Carlisle, David . . 45
Marsh, Eliphalet 86
Frink, Nathan 34
Whitney, Dan 25
Delano, Mrs. Abigail 58
Doubleday, Asahel 31
Dustin, Nathaniel 57
MiUer, Sylvanus C 31
' This cemetery is in a deplorable condition. A few head stones are lying upon
the ground. Several graves have no head-stones. Several head-stones bear no
inscriptions whatever. For these reasons I have deemed it expedient to copy all
legible inscriptions, excepting those on the head-stones of the graves of young chil-
dren, that some memory of the place of burial of those interred in this cemetery
may be preserved.
'A pine tree, nearly eighteen inches in diameter and about fifty feet in height, has
grown out of the graves of Noadiah White and his wife, a growth attained in the
space of about fifty years.
1790
Powell, Mrs. Mary Anne
39
1816
1797
Tilden, Mrs. Roxalany
33
"
1801
Powell, Rowland .■
70
1818
1803
Savage, Mrs. MoUy
45
1831
1806
Powell, Mrs. Mary Ann
77
1833
1807
Pixley, William
1883
1808
Savage, Alice
33
1833
((
Cushman, Mrs. Bethsheba.
57
((
1810
Richardson, Amos
68
f (
1811
Delano, Jonathan
79
1884
it
Dustin, Mrs. Elcy
30
"
1813
Sprague, Daniel
38
1886
1813
Bartholomew, Bethen
30
ii
ii
Camp, Lucy
34
ii
li
Dunham, Mrs. Sally
39
1888
ii
Munsil, Dan'lG
30
55
it
(I
Munsil, Eliakim
1889
it
Munsil, Eliakim, Jr
38
"
(I
Pixlpy, Benja.min
68
1831
((
Whitcomb, Mrs. Ohloe
52
1814
Munsil, Mrs. Hannah
54
1833
1816
Delano, Mrs. Ann
83
1834
92
HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
Teai'.
835
836
837
838
841
it
843
848
846
847
849
850
851
853
855
Name of Decedents. Age.
Noble, Mrs. Lucy 91
Pixley , Mrs. Celia 83
Pixley, Mrs. Mary 76
Tracy, Mrs; Clarissa 46
Dodge, Clarissa H 19
Savage, Mrs. Clara 71
Savage, Thomas 83
Frink, Mrs. Debby 76
Delano, Sarepta C 15
Savage, Amanda M 37
Worth, Mrs. Clarissa L 25
Delano, Emily C 31
Prouty, Burpee 87
Gates,MaryE ._.___._ 38
Redlngton, Mrs. Olive 75
Tenney, Russell. - 18
Delano, Zebulon 84
Gates, George H 19
Prouty, Mrs. Mai-tha. . : 77
Year. Name of Decedents. Age.
1855 Tenney, Reuben 57
1856 Cutting, Palmer . .-; 70
1857 Gates, George 50
1858 Tenney, Jasper. 30
1859 Frink, Calvin 92
1860 Delano, Zebulon W 68
" Fenno, Mrs. Margaret 93
Tilden, Mrs. ArabeUa L 47
1863 Howe, Mrs. Abby L 69
1865 Tracy, John 80
1867 Carlisle, Mrs. Sa;rah 83
TUden, Mrs. Elizabeth 91
Tilden, Jed Norton 67
1870 Cutting, Mrs. Hannah 85
1877 Tenney, Mrs. PoUy Savage. 78
1880 Tracy, Mrs. Mary 50
1887 Tracy, James Carlton ) 70
Since Removed to Vernon,
N. Y.
CBNTEB TOWN CEMETERY.
fear. Name of Decedents. Age. Year. Name of Decedents. Age.
798 Smith, Mrs. Anne. 74
800 Eider, Peter 85 1837
" Strong, Solomon 71
801 Tracy, Mrs. EUzabeth 78 1843
803 Tracy, Capt. Andrew 48 1844
809 Smith, John 53 1848
813 Gates, Noadiali 70 1849
" BUss, David 77
813 Tilden, Stephen 89 1850
" Whitney, Dea. Jonathan... 53 1851
814 Tracy, Mrs. Sarah 53
816 BaU (Ensign), Absolom 36 1853
817 Wood, James 60 1855
" Tracy, Mrs. Rizpah. 45 1857
831 Tracy, Thomas 95 1859
833 Sti-ong, Mrs. Mary 81 1863
" Rowland, Sylvester 23 1864
.834 Ti-acy, Mrs. Mary 71 1865
.838 Eider, Alva. 29 1867
.839 Ti-acy , Dea. Joseph 65 1869
.881 Dimmick, Mi-s. Sibbel 83 1871
" Morse,CadyC 44 1873
.833 Strong, Jedediah 80 1878
.833 Dimmick, Philip. 84 1879
.834 Gates, Mi-s. Martha 88
" Tracy, James 74 1880
.885 Eowland, Mrs. Sarah 66 1888
Woodward, EUhu 80
Sleeper, Dudley 65
Strong, Mrs. Mary
Bliss, Jabez 66
Tilden, Mrs. Susannah 66
Strong, Mrs. Euth 89
Tilden, Capt. Josiali 89
Phelps, Cadwell 84
Tracy, Mi-s. Mercy 87
Gage,' James 71
Smith, Mrs. Sai'ah 84
Phelps, Mrs. Jane 77
Fogg, Ebenezer 69
Gage, Mrs. Clarissa. . ; 74
Marston, Jacob 81
Champion, Mrs. Harriet 76
Case, Amos 63
Sleeper, Joseph 60
Shalhes, Joseph 84
Majrston, Mrs. Phebe 81
Eider, Mrs. Sophia 68
Elmer, Mai-tin C 83
Morse, Mrs. Sarah C 86
Euss, Mrs. Lois W 90
Champion, John 86
ShaUies, Mrs. Mary C 80
Sleeper, Mrs. Lucy 72
STear.
:802
1804
:805
1809
1813
[830
[831
EDSS-TOWN CEMETERY.
Name of Decedents. Age. Year. Name of Decedent.
Morgan, Joseph.. 39
Rust, Mrs. Lucy 73
Rust, Matthew 77
Russ, Lemuel, Sen 43
Euss, NieL. 56
Packard, Mrs. Eunice 29
Try on, Capt'. Stephen 45
Johnson, Mrs. Mary 71
Age.
1834 Rust, Mrs. Mary 35
" Rust, Mrs. PoUy Jennings.. 35
1826 Johnson, Mrs. Lucy 37
1827 Russ, Mrs. Submit 57
1829 Huntington, Mrs. Mary 62
1839 Russ, Mrs. Betsy. 45
1831 Rust, Mrs. Mai-y 78
1832 Rust, Phineas. 78
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
193
Year. Name of Decedent. Age.
1838 Neal, Oscar M 14
1839 Neal, Mrs. Cynthia L 45
1845 Neal, Orson 26
" Rust, Lemuel, Jr 36
" Rust, Mrs. Rebecca 79
" Rust, William. _ 45
1846 Fish, Otis -... 61
1850 Neal, EmUy 23
1853 Bai-den, Mrs. PoUy 70
" Johnson, Ulyssis 70
1854 Fish, Louisa M 22
' ' Jennings , Clarinda M 33
1855 Russ, Mi-s. Laura P 48
1859 Barden, EUjah 76
1861 Russ, Mrs. Ruby 63
1862 Dewey, Mrs. Rhoda_ 82
1863 HiUiard, James 36
" Russ, Mrs. Susan S 34
" Woodward, Mrs. Rhoda 89
1864 Russ, Horace P 17
' ' Johnson, Mrs. Mary 81
Year.
1866
1867
1868
1869
1871
1872
1873
1878
1879
1881
1884
1885
1886
Name of Decedent. Age.
Huntoon, Jane A 16
Tryon, Stephen, Jr 60
Dewey, James 91
Neal, Alfred 73
Russ, Phineas- 70
Ti-yon, Mrs. Abigail 94
Neal, Mrs. Lucy B 66
Huntoon, Joshua 82
Russ, Mrs. Phebe 64
HiUiard, IvoH 18
Russ, Orson. __ 77
Russ, Jeremiah 88
Russ, Mrs. Pemilia 87
Badger, Mrs. Charlott B... 68
Neal, John 84
HUHard, Mrs. Lucy A 53
Russ, Arthur- E. . 23
Huntoon, Mrs. Deborah 99
Russ, Mrs. Lucy M _.- 50
Russ, Mrs. Sarah 78
PRIVATE CEMETERY, WEST HARTFORD (BY W. H. GILES'.)
Year. Name of Decedent.
Age.
1817 Savage, Francis W 55
1819 Richardson, Mrs. Relief 38
1830 Ingraham, Mrs. Lois 38
1826 Hazen, Mrs. DoUy 31
1^38 Ingraham, Mrs. Anna 43
1834 Ingraham, Thomas 33
' ' Richardson, Electa 42
1837 Newton, Mrs. Ermina 37
1838 FuUer, Ehza C 36
" WiUs, NoahL 30
1839 Camp, Abel 83
1842 Bartholomew, Simeon H_.. 38
1844 Culver, Mrs. Susannah D... 84
" Dutton, Mrs. Nancy Wilson 34
Year.
1847
1848
1851
1853
1855
1858
it
1863
1869
1874
1B79
1881
1885
Name of Decedent.
Age.
Savage, Mrs. Abigail Hazen 79
Wliitcomb, Orra... 76
Camp, Mrs. Katurah Tucker 51
Hazen, David _ _ 63
Whitcomb, Alonzo 43
Ingraham, Dr. David 78
■Downing, Ellen 13
Whitcomb, WUhs (soldier). 25
Downer, Mrs. Abigail Sav-
age 79
Ingraham, Mrs. Mary
Hazen, Mrs. Nancy Savage.
Whitcomb, Mrs. Harriet L.
Hazen, Mary Frances 61
83
71
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION CEMETERY.
North Side of White River.
Name of Decedent. Age. Year. Name of Decedent.
Year.
1819 Pease, Mrs. Eunice 58 1843
1830 Knowlton, Wm..._ 53
1833 Bailey, Mrs. Polly 54
1824 Gere, Nathan 50 1843
1829 Marsh, Mrs. Mary 54 "
1830 Lyman, EUas 3d 62 1844
1831 Marsh, Roger 64
1833 TrumbuU, David 60
1834 Brown, Amos 54 1845
1835 Bailey, Mrs. Phebe.- 60
' ' Bugbee, Mrs. Betsy 68 1846
1837 Grout, Mrs. Hannah 51 1847
" Lyman, Lewis 46 "
1838 Grout, John __ _. 60
1839 Bailey, Samuel -. 84
1840 Brown, Mrs. Polly 56
13
Age.
Bailey, Judah 72
Francis, Thomas 72
Rowell, Thomas 75
Leavitt, Freegrace 79
Porter, Mrs. Harriet P 43
Gere, Mrs. Nancy 64
Lyman, Mrs. Anna. 72
White, Jonathan C 64
Cobb, Nathan 82
Cobb, Mrs. Lydia Bliss 80
Wright, Dr. Dan... 69
Bailey, Dan .-. 42
Bailey, Mm. Mary 83
Cobb, Nathan Jr , 58
Ham, Mrs. Betsy 73
Hoit, Benj. J.. 65
194
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Year. Name of Decedent. Age. Year.
1847 Sturtevant, George - 72 1867
1848 Hunter, Jabesh 79 1868
" UdaU, Bani_ 63
1849 Bugbee, Jonathan 84
" Snow, James.-- 48 "
" SturteTant, Foster 48 "
1850 Francis, Mrs. Max-y 73. 1869
' ' Bugbee, Mrs. Mabel - - 77
" Nichols, Mrs. Almira- 51 1870
" TUden, Asa 82
1851 Bugbee, Jonathan - - . - 56 1871
1853 Wales, Mrs. Amanda 63
1853 AUard, Lemuel 50
1854 Knowlton, Mrs. Betsy 76
" Taft, Abijah 68 1873
" Willard.Aaron 76 '•
1855 Kendrick,Hai-vey.-- 54 1873
1856 TrumbuU, Mrs. Hannah--- 78 1874
1857 Camberlain, Mrs. Ruby 69 1875
" Strong, John 64
1858 Gere, Lucy 53 1876
" Merrill, David 66
1859 Ham, Orel 53
" Pierce, Mrs. H. N 45
' ' Underbill, Susan 83 1878
1860 Wales, Geo.E 69
" Webb, LuciusR 57
1861 Chamberlain, John P 80 1879
" Porter, Sarah 77 "
1862 Benson, Sylvia 58
" Clark, Mrs. Parthena 75 1880
" Hoit, Mrs. Abigail 79 "
" Hunter, Mrs. Mary «-- 87 1881
" Sturtevant, Mrs. Betsy 84 "
" TUden, Mrs. Hannah- 89 "
1863 Leighton, Mrs. Jemima-.- 60 1882
1864 Hxmtoon, Mrs. Isabella 51
" Lyman, Mrs. Mary B 64
" Lyman, Ziba- 74 1883
" Swinburne, Mary K 52 1884
1865 Bailey, Alvin 73
'■ Richards, Mrs. Fidelia 64
" Sti-ong, Mrs. M. G 61 1886
1866 Braley, Geo. W 69
" Moore, Ii-a- 70 "
1867 Clark, Erastus 84 1887
" Richards, Chester 71 "
Name of Decedent. Age.
Richardson, Mrs. Polly 75
Bugbee, Mrs. Cynthia P.-- 68
Landers, David -. 75
Tilden, Sarah M --- 60
Willard, Mrs. Mary W 87
Sturtevant, Mrs. Mary 64
Lyman, Livinia T 75
Moore, Mrs. Roxana 73
Pease, Walter 83
Wood, Geo. E 46
French, Amos 57
Taft, Mrs. Betsy ' 81 •
Tracy, Columbus .55
Tracy, Thomas-- 83
Ray, Rev. B. F 47
Tracy, Deborah 82
French, Moses 67
French, Justus W 58
Brooks, Justin C 74
Whittier, Mrs. M. C 57
Chapman, David S 73
Hazen, Hezekiah 55
Hazen, Melvin 66
Pease, Luther 61
Fenno, Joseph W 67
Ferguson, Joseph - _ - 79
Leighton, Isaac T-- _. 70
Bailey, Mrs. Mary 75
Lyman, George ....- 73
Ti-acy, Mrs. Esther P ^90
Freeman, John '89
Rowell, Thomas G 65
Ruggles, Jonathan F 81
Pierce, Ai-chibald T 70
Tracy, Mrs. Elizabeth 81
Freeman, Mrs. C. G -- 88
Simonds, Daniel W 67
Wood, Ora 80
Porter, Wright 84
French, Mrs. Almira. 63
Hamilton, C.S 76
Wood, Mrs. Maa-v P 75
AUen, Dr. S. J 68
Fisher, Mrs. Mary 84
Gardner, Perry C 78
Brooks, Mrs. J. C -.. 82
Ray, Mrs. B. F
New Portion of Cemetery.
Yeai-. Name of Decedent. Age. Year. Name of Decedent. Age.
1864 Horton,Wm 54
1867 Pitkin, Lucius - . . 55
1874 Safford, Chas. H 50
1875 Russ, Stephen J ._ 57
1879 Hanchett, Louise H. B.--- 45
1883 Dutton, Ann M. F 56
" Russ, Amanda M 55
1885 Marston, Jacob 67
" Tracy, James Harvey 84
1886 Brown, Nathan 63
" Safford, N.B 68
' ' Sawyer, Mrs. S. A. D 46
" Trescott, Lorenzo 72
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
195
WEST HARTFORD CEMETERY.
Teai-. Name of Decedent.
Age.
1830 Pai-khurst, Phineas 57
1831 Newton, Daniel 38
1883 WUson, Mrs. Eunice _ 85
1834 Wilson, Jeremiah 87
1835 Newton, Flora 29
1836 Dimick, Henry 25
1838 Dimick, Mrs. Sarah 55
1841 Thurston , Louisa D 27
1843 Brockway , Jolm N 76
" Savage, Mrs Temperance.-- 35
" Tenney, Dr. Ira- 48
1843 Simons, Mrs. Fanny 60
" Thurston, Hannah 33
1844 Brockway, Desire --- 36
" Simons,Dan_ 67
1847 Brewer, Mrs. Sarah 76
Dexter, Mrs. Sarah 79
" Downer, Mrs. Hannah . 73
1848 Dimick, JoabB --- 23
" Fuller, Mrs. Anna 49
" Newton, Truman 69
1849 Pike, Mrs. Hannah 31
1850 Hunt,SarahP_ 34
1851 Dexter, Mrs.Keturah Tucker 51
' ' EUiot, Mrs. Sophia 47
Hazen, Mrs. Rebecca T 24
" Low, Mrs. AdeUne C 33
Marsh, Wm. B 45
1852 Hazen, Reuben 84
1853 Hunt, Eliphaz - 82
" Lamb, .Alpheus 58
" Porter, Simon B 21
" Wills, Reuben - - 72
1854 Hazen, Mrs. Eliza J 28
" Hazen, Solon- 28
1855 Hazen, Levi --_ 73
" Hunt, Emeline 23
1856 Brockway, Hannah 91
" Dimick, Orin- -- 57
" Hazen, George. 23
" Marsh, Lewis 60
1857 Smith, Rev. EHhu - - - 79
" AVhitcomb, Alvan 30
1858 Hunt, Mrs. Anna 77
1859 Bartlett, Mrs. Minerva 67
" Wallace, Maria 21
1860 Hazen, Mrs. Miriam 89
1861 Fuller, Dea. John - . 72
" Porter, Samuel 68
1863 Dimick, Joel 83
" Dimick, Martin.. 34
Tenney, Mrs. Clarissa O 34
" WiUs, Mrs. Mai-y 60
1863 Cowen, Mrs. Eliza 39
" Downer, John .- 92
" Gihnan, James 32
" Hazen, John 78
" Low, Willard W. 61
' ' Whitcomb, Nelson 31
" Wood, Mrs. Clarissa 88
1864 Ballard, S. A.... 80
' ' Lamb, Mrs. Clarissa 76
Year
1864
1865
1866
Name of Decedent.
Age.
Savage, George O
Thurston, Stephen
Morse, Mrs. Celeste
TambUng, Geo. H
Dimick, Mrs. Clarissa
" Dutton, Jacob G
" Dimick, Mrs. Lucy
" Page, Mrs. Lucy B
' ' Porter, George B
" Wilhamson, Mrs. Dorris...
1867 BaUard, Amarillis.
" Ballard, Edwin L
' ' Bartlett, Orange
' ' Hazen, Dan
" Hazen, Mrs. Phinette
" Noble, Mrs. Charity
" Thurston, Mrs. Philena
Wilhamson, Francis D
Fuller, Dea. Abner ..-
Hazen, Mary W
Tucker, Mrs. Abigail M. Tos-
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
(t
II
li
1877
1878
it
1879
1880
1881
1883
1884
Marsh, Emma P
Brockway, George
Newton, Mrs. Eunice
Smith, Alden
WiUiamson, Mrs. Martha- -
Smith, Mrs. Chloe -.
Tenney, Mary E
Hazen, Mrs. Sarah H
Mosher, Mrs. Lora
Noble, Harvey
Hazen, Seymour-
Foster, Mrs. Mary
Newton, Calvin
Pitkin, Otis W
RoweU, Mrs. Lucy
Hazen, Elisha
Hazen, William
Marsh, Mrs. Anna L
Thurston, Volney - .
Smith, Mrs. Cynthia
Hazen, Mrs. Abigail
Dimick, Chancy
Tucker, Alvan
Hazen, Franklin S - - -
Hazen, Fi-ed A...
Puller, Mrs. Caroline
Bartholomew, Harvey C
Hazen, Mary B
Porter, Mary -
Porter, Retta W
Tenney, Carlos
Tenney, Mrs. Sophia (Hazen)
Dutton, Mrs. Abigail (Ha-
zen)
Thurston , Mrs . Paulina
Dimick, Mrs. Percy (Bug-
(bee) (Hyde)
Hazen, Abel H
Howard, Mrs. Mary E.
(Hunt)
31
83
38
23
69
55
54
66
18
63
74
34
78
76
70
66
86
31
81
35
75
23
31
86
75
49
82
39
74
20
79
57
65
66
68
52
80
39
64
69
86
87
74
75
48
21
71
44
81
77
83
55
85
66
70
77
56
78
196
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Year.
1884
1885
Name of Decedent.
Age.
Hunt, Phelps 70
FuUer, Mrs. Mary (Savage). 89
Howard, Abel _ 80
Merchant, James 72
Wmiamson, A. E 64
Year.
1885
Name of Decedent.
Age.
Downer, Stephen S 83
Newton, Edward N 39
Rowell, Mrs. Mary A.
(Hunter)-.. 79
WEST HAKTFORP CEMETERY.
Within a few years past (I think since 1885) a great improvement has
been made in this cemetery. In the older portion the headstones have
been placed in an upright position, and cleaned of moss that obscured
the inscriptions. The briars and weeds have disappeared from the
walks, the tops of the graves have generally been new sodded, and an air
of proper neatness marks this home of the dead. A much needed addi-
tion or extension has been made to the cemetery, and the annex is being
laid out into lots to suit purchasers.
Daring the construction of the Vermont Central railroad in 1846-47
the east end of the cemetery was cut off, and several skeletons were
exhumed, but principally from graves unmarked by headstones. Doubt-
less the first interments made in this cemetery ante date, by many years,
that of Mr. Phineas Parkhurst, whose graye stone bears the earliest
recorded inscription to be found in this cemetery. Some of the first
settlers were buried in the Delano cemetery, which was established as
early as 1794, and others were interred at the centre of the town. The
healthfulness of the climate in this vicinity is indicated by the longevity
of a great majority of the decedents.
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION (ROMAN CATHOLIC) CEMETERY.
Year. Name of Decedent.
1859 Gihnore, EUen C 35
1870 Filiar, Mrs. Eveline 33
Lee, John,... 78
" Toughy, James 76
1871 Butler, James 29
" Ducharme, Mrs. Maggie 36
" Lawrence, Mrs. Catherine. 60
Sullivan, Mrs. Hannah H-. 43
1873 Goff , Mrs. Catherine 34
" Mongeon. Mrs. AgJaie 36
1873 Dwyer, Mrs. JuUa 60
McCabe, Owen 79
1874 Clancy, Mrs. Hannah 53
' ' Enright, Mrs. Mary 75
1875 Enright, Edward 60
Enright, Mrs. Ellen B 77
Keegan, Alice E 19
Neil, JohnO 63
1876 Daley, Patrick 66
Farrell, John Jr 37
Fushy, Mrs. Emily 23
" Haley, John ., 49
" Messier, Francois 70
Year.
1877
a
1878
1879
Name of Decedent.
Age.
1880
Coutermash, Mrs. Julia 87
Maher, Mrs. EUen 36
DonneU, Mrs. Mary 39
Ashey, Mrs. Catherine 79
Ashey, Louis 88
Flood, Mrs. Catherine 58
McCarty, Mrs. Mary C 75
Marrion, Mi-s. Ellen 51
Marrion, James 23
Roberts, Mrs. Archangel C. 67
Roberts, Stephen 66
Ti-attier, Aristide 17
Wheeler, Mrs. Margaret... 40
Burns, Thomas Jr 39
Canfleld, Mrs. Mai-y 43
Coutermash, Joseph 44
Griffin, John 60
Gleason, Mrs. Mary 79
Haley, Pati-ick 38
Hinchey, Mrs. Mary G 81
Hodet, Maiy J A. ., 18
Maynes, John 58
McCarthy, Mrs. Joanna D. 56
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 197
Year. Name of Decedent. Age. Year. Name of Decedent. Age
1880 O'Neil, WmJ 18 1884 Cummings, Mrs. Susan.... 28
1881 Cowith, Clai-a. 16 " Degnan, John. 24
GodseU, Arthur.... 73 " O'Leary, Cornelius 63
Irving, Mrs. Ellen H 52 " ScanneU, Jeremiali 68
" Lynch, Richard 45 " Starr, James 28
McDonneU, Thomas 73 1885 Baker, Mrs. Mary A. 39
1881 McNamara, Mrs. Honora E 99 " Blessington, Mi-s. Sophia .. 24
O'Day, Dennis _ 84 " Enright, Wm 25
Veyette, John 75 " Flood, Mary Ann 25
1882 Cotee, Phihp P 25 " Keegan, Mrs. Bridget 37
GodseU, John 19 " Veyette, Mrs. AureUa T.._ 60
KeUy,Kitty 28 1886 Callahan, Mrs. Mary H..._ 49
Murphy, Mrs. NeUie R 73 " McCarty, Mrs. Bridget W.. 50
1883 Agan, William 75 " McCarty, Patrick 25
" Banagan, Mrs. Mary 75 " Murphy, John 71
The Roman Catholic cemetery is located closely adjacent to their
place of worship. It is laid out with a greater degree of regularity
than any other in the town, and a very commendable disposition is
manifested by the lot-owners to keep the place cleanly and attractive to
the eye. The site is not sufficiently large for a place of sepulture, but
an important addition may be gained by terracing the hill-side, as has
already been done in a few instances.
The above list embraces all decedents but children under sixteen
years of age. I will add that nearly every grave is marked either by
a handsome marble stone or monument. A few graves are marked by
wooden crosses, but all, with a very few exceptions, are properly desig-
nated.
TOMB NEAR DAVID WEiaHT's HOUSE.
Date. Name of Decedent. Age. Year. Name of Decedent. Age.
1814 Wright, Mrs. Hannah 62 1822 Wright, Maj. Davis... 73
1817 Wright, David Jr 42 1839 Wright, Bela 43
1818 Wright, EUzabeth 37 1846 Wright, Mrs. Betsy 56
The following list embraces those decedents who have died since
1859, whose graves are not marked by head-stones ; at least not in the
cemeteries in Hartford. Pi'obably quite a number have been interred
in other towns This list includes only those seventy years old and up-
ward.
Date. Name of Decedent. Age. Year. Name of Decedent. Age.
1860 SaUy Porter 78 1863 Wm. Crichton 78
1861 Esther Perrm . 82 " Charlotte Spencer 85
" Nicholas Mosher 83 1864 Jerusha Kenyon 74
1862 Mary Dewey 79 " Timothy, Hodgman 72
AnnaGage 87 1864 Lucy MiUer. 84
" Zenas Paddock 71 " Nancy Spaulding 74
Gideon Shurtlefl 73 1865 Simeon Kent 70
Anna Goff 76 " David Kilburn 80
" Stephen Parker 81 " Sarah A. Bowman 94
1863 Clarrisa Chamberlin 75 " Lydia Cone 79
198
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
Year. Name of Decedent. Age.
1866 Ellen Blessington 77
Cyrus Chandler 76
Lucinda ^mith 89
" Oliver Bugbee '- 93
1867 AsaChase 81
' ' Mary Coutermash 70
1868 ShubelRuss 87
DanielFields 79
1868 PoUy Birch 81
" Samuel BeU 95
" Philo Sprague 81
" Ezra Hazeu_ 75
' ' Harriet Shepardson 82
" Lucy Cutter 71
" Asher Tarbell 71
" Cushman Wood___ 78
" Mary Colbum . 70
1869 Benjamin F. GaUup 85
" Maria MerriU 78
" Stanforth Warner _ 71
" Susan Simonds 72
" Lydia Moore 80
1870 Louisa Jones 72
" Sophia Whitney _ 73
" Henry Morse 79
" Thomas A. King_.. 78
" Rembleton Hodgman 72
" Leonard Marsh 71
" Rebecca Kennison 79
' ' Elizabeth B. Mosher _ . 85
1871 Abigail Wood 74
" Louisa Gummer 70
" Eleanor Hazen 78
" Polly D. Merriam 85
1872 Catherine Hart 75
" Esther B. Watson 78
" Susan Lewis 96
1873 MaryTatro- 84
" James Boyd 76
' ' Eunice Chamberlain 80
1874 Hannah Fogg 85
" Alpheus Howe 82
" Lucy Moseley 77
" Rhoda Atwood 71
1875 MaryDimick 73
" Saradi Paine 70
1876 Annie Lombard__ ___ 98
" John C. Head ____ 73
" Hannah Pixley 87
" Solon Newton 76
" Jeremiah Huntoon__ _ 82
" George Washburne 79
" John Marsh 73
1877 Uriah Kimpton 82
" Horace Colburn 77
" John C. Allen 78
" MatUda B. Newton 76
" Polly S. Tenney 78
" Laura H. Sprague 83
1878 Betsy Blaisdell 78
" James L. Raymond 79
" Sarah Morse __ 86
Year. Name of Decedent. Age.
1878 BeUnda Childs 83
" Nathan Holt 91
" Mabel Gibbs 78
" Nancy Bagley- 83
■" Jerusha Wright 88
" Moses Seavy 84
" WiUiam Winslow 71
" Lam-a Matthews --- 70
1879 Andi-ew Willey 79
" Mary Porter -_. 75
" SarahP. Smith 77
" Katie S. Ashey 75
" Harriet Buck 84
" JosephGrey 91
1880 Hannah Gibbs 84
" Arthur GodsiU 73
" Mary Cain 78
" John Gay ...- 78
" Mrs. L F. Baker 100
" Mary Hazen 80
" Betsy BeU 72
" EUzaGoff__ 71
" Parthena Tilden_ ___ 84
" AchsahTilden 86
1881 Alvah Jennings.--. 79
" Eunice Jennings 81
" Josiah T. Page 78
" Raphael Carter 75
" David Dole 88
1883 Mary Curtis 73
" GeorgeFrye 81
" Wm. Eagan 80
" Margaret Chase - 80
" Julius Hazen 80
1883 Lovina Brown 95
" Fidelia Woods 73
" Lawrence Fie 75
" Annie Drown 86
" Abigail KUbum 91
" Jerrard Huntington 87
" Percy Dimick 77
" Wai-ren Gibbs 76
" Mary Newton 90
" Rufus Downing 74
" Francis Smith : 72
" Sarah Pierce 73
" Margaret McDonald -. 73
1884 Paschal P. Shattuck- 84
" Lucy Head 73
" Jonas G. Lamphire 73
" Betsy Atkinson -- 84
" Sai-ah Stanley 70
' ' Amanda Woodcock 74
Mary Fi-ye 78
1885 Jno. Roberts---- - 73
" SaUy Currier --.. 79
" Polly Dudley 75
" Joab Young 76
" Marcus Leach 75
" James H. Tracy 84
1886 John Vaughn 86
" SarahJudd :..- 87
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 199
Year. Name of Decedent. Age. Year. Name of Decedent. Age.
1886 Hannah Flanders $5 1886 Mary RowelL.. 77
'' SarahRoUins 78 " Benj. F. Sisco 73
Susan Skinner.-- 82 " Minerva Fogg 71
■' Clement Tatro-- 78
Rev. Austin Hazen, who was pastor of the Centre Congregational Church for
many years kept a record of the annual number of deaths from Jan. 1, 1812, to
Dec. 31, 1828.. The number was as foUows :— 1812, 24; 1818, 63; 1814, 33; 1815,
31; 1816, 19; 1817, 38; 1818, 16; 1819, 15; 1830, 14; 1831, 24; 1833, 17; 1828, 38;
1834, 30; 1835, 19; 1836, 23; 1837, 37; 1838, 35, a total of 415 decedents in 17 years,
a yearly average of 24.4, or one death to every 88 of the average population.
ACCIDENTAL AND SUDDEN DEATHS.
Brooks, WyUys H., overdose of morphine, July 31, 1881. Age 29.
Burr, Willie, di'owned in White river, June, 1888. Age 14.
Burton, Elijah, killed on railroad bridge near Delano's place, by a blast in 1847.
Age 53.
Clarke, Mrs. Parthena, burned by clothes taking fire Dec. 34, 1862. Age 75.
Demmon, Roswell, died in a fit, March 26, 1861. Age 70.
Denison, Samuel, heart disease, 1887.
Dinmiick, Oren, lockjaw from cut on hand, Nov. 11, 1856. Age 57.
Dimmick, , by a falling tree while chopping.
. Gillett, Henry, struck on head by a board flung by a circular saw in his mill.
GiUett, Enos, heart disease.
Hazen, Andrew T., heai-t disease, Aug. 7, 1868. Age 58.
Hodgeman, Timothy, run over by cars, April 5, 1864. Age 72.
Lamphere, Galusha, heart disease, March 10, 1864. Age 35.
Majors, Jason, drovpned at Olcott.
Marston, Jacob, heart disease, Feb. 20, 1859. Age 81.
Paddock, Zenas, found dead in his room, Aug. 16, 1863. Age 71.
Pitkin, Thomas W., drowned in Otta Quechee river, May 3, 1787. Age 37.
Russ, Ruby, overdose of opium, Jan. 14, 1861. Age 63.
Snow, Cyrus, fell from staging at Quechee village.
Southgate, Rev. Robert, heart disease, Feb. 6, 1878. Age 65.
Sturtevant, kOled by blast on C. V. R. R.
Tilden, Jedediah N., feU dead Aug. 3, 1867. Age 67.
Tinkham, Albert D. , drowned in White river, 1873.
Trumbull, Asaph, caught in machinery of oil mill, April 13, 1813. Age 6.
White, , caught in machinery.
Williamson, Frances, drowned at W. Hartford, Feb. 10, 1867. Age 21.
Winslow, Chester, by blast of rocks.
White, Wm. , injuries on raih'oad, June, 1868. Age 32.
DEATHS BY SUICIDE.
Benson, Mrs. Rufus, Russtown, hanging.
Blaisdell, B. Franklin, Hartford village, hanging, Feb. 10, 1888.
Brooks, Elane, White River Junction, hanging, 1837. Age 58.
Cave, Amos, Hartford village, drowned himself March 26, 1864.
Dutton, Henry A., Hartford village, shot himself Jan. 19, 1880.
Drown, , Quechee, drowned himself in White river.
Frink, James, huug himself.
Gage, Charles, White River Junction, hanging.
George, Josiab, White River Junction, shot himself.
Hatch, Lewis, Hartford village, shot himself.
Hazen, Franklin S., W. Hartford, hanging, Oct. 7, 1879. Age 48.
Lamb, Alpheus, West Hartford, hanging, Aug. 3, 1853. Age 58.
Pease, John D., Hartford village, hanging, Nov. 6, 1869. Age 43.
Porter, Edward D., Hartford vUlage, hanging, Nov. 33, 1873. Age 36.
Planter, Mrs. J., Hartford village, poison.
Snow, James, Hartford village, hung himself in 1849. Age 49.
Sturtevant, Foster, Hartford village, hung himself in bam. May 17, 1849.
Age 48.
200 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Ti-acy, James. H. Jr., Hartford village, poison, July 23, 1873. Age 31.
Tryon, Stephen Jr., Russtown, poison, 1886. Age 60.
"WMtcomb, Wm., Hartford village, poison, 1887.
Wright, Hannah, wife of David, drowned in a well, into which she pitched
head foremost.
la concluding this subject, the writer will say that one of the first
objects for which he enquires on visiting a new place, is the cemetery.
The selection of a site for a burying-ground, the manner of caring for
it, the character of the monuments, the inscriptions to the memory of
the dead, are a very correct index to the taste, if not to the intelligence
of the inhabitants — the moral physiognomy of the place.
It is well for the living to often turn away from the busy scenes of
the world to the cemetery where repose the remains of those who have
gone to " that bourne from which no traveler returns."
" The body to its place, and the soul to Heaven's grace,
And the rest in God's own time."
And there, with nothing to disturb the universal silence of the scene,
save the beating of one's own heart, contemplate the memorials which
have been reared above the slumberers beneath — the rich and the poor,
the humble and the great, — and there study the inscriptions that indi-
cate in turn ostentation or modest simplicity , affectation of grief, or
sincerity of affection ; refinement or want of taste ; knowledge or ignor-
ance. Here, a rudely-hewn and unlettered stone speaks poverty's lov-
ing remembrance ; there, a modest tablet marks the repose of the hum-
ble ; here, a cross, the sigu of the Christian believer, stands near a lofty
and costly memorial over the remains of one distinguished in life for
nothing but wealth, or perhaps for what the world calls greatness. But
who in such a congregation as this can be accounted great ?
' ' Wliat gold survives the crucible of death? "
Death is no respector of persons. Its triumphs and trophies include
the king and the peasant, the most exalted in rank, title and wealth, and
the most humble and obscure of mortals. Mankind must aU come to
the level of the grave. Our bones must mingle in one common mass.
" We can learn nothing from the living which the dead do not teach
us. Would beauty be- modest and unpretending, let her quit the ball
and the festival for a moment and carry her toilet to the tomb. Would
the proud learn humility — the resentful, good nature — the penurious,
charity — the frivolous, seriousness — the bigoted, philanthropy ? Would
the scholar ascertain the true objects of knowledge— the man of the
world the true means of happiness here and hereafter — the ambitious
the true syurces of greatness — let him retire awhile from the precincts
of the living, busy world, and commune with the dead."
CHAPTER XV.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
In foriner times the alliance between Church and State was stronger
than the spirit of republicanism now sanctions. Every citizen was as
much obligated to pay his tax for the support of a minister as he now
is to pay his highway or school tax. He must also declare his religious
preferences, if he entertained any. It mattered not whether he attended
upon religious worship, or whether the minister held sentiments not in
accord with his own, the payment of a tax for the minister's support
was not to be evaded.
The form of government, or fundamental constitution established by
the lords and proprietors of Carolina, in March, 1699, contained the fol-
lowing articles, which illustrate' the spirit that governed the early set-
tlers of this country who fled from England to avoid persecution.
" XCV. — No man shall be permitted to be a freeman of Carolina, or to have
any estate or habitation within it, that doth not acknowledge a God, and that
God is publicly and solemnly to be worshipped.
C. — In the terms of communion of every church or profession, these following
shall be three, without which no agreement, or assembly of men under pretence
of rehgion, shall be accounted a chiu-ch or profession within these rules:
I. — That there is a God.
II. — That God is pubUcly to be worshipped.
III. — That it is lawful and the duty of every man, being thereunto called by
those who govern, to bear witness to the truth, etc.
CI. — No person above seventeen years of age shall have any benefit or protec-
tion of the law, or be capable of any place of profit or honor, who is not a mem-
ber of some church or profession, having his name recorded in some one, and but
one record at once.
CVI. — No man shall use any reproachful, reviling or abusive language against
the religion of any church or profession.
CIX. — No person whatsoever shall disturb, molest, or persecute another for his
speculative opmions in religion, or his way of woi-ship."
The lords and proprietors of the Province of Carolina were adherents
to the Church of England. They believed that the religion of that
church was the only true and orthodox religion, and, it being the na-
tional religion of all the kings' dominions, it alone should be allowed to
receive a public maintainance; nevertheless, they were not bigoted, nor
intolerant of any other religions and professions. They held that there
can be no Christianity where there is no charity. Their highest aim
and purpose was to found the government upon the firm basis of relig-
ion and morality; and they properly required every member of the body
politic to publicly avow his religious preferences, contribute to the sup-
202 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
port of some form of religious worship, and act in sympathy with the
religious feelings of the community in which he lived.
The (XCVII) ninety-seventh article of the laws of Carolina, framed
by the proprietors of that province, is expressive of the liberal, chari-
table and Christian spirit that pervaded the hearts, and regulated the
conduct of that representative body of churchmen in their treatment of
dissenters, and professors of other rehgions in general, and of non-pro-
fessors as well. The article alluded to is so replete with Christian sen-
timent, so strongly illustrative of the doctrine taught by Christ, while
on earth, and so valuable aS' a rule of Christian conduct, that I shall
quote it verbatim, viz : —
" But since the natives of that place (Carolina) who will be concerned in our
plantation, are utterly strangers to Christiajaity, whose idolatry, ignorance, or
mistake gives us no right to expel, or use them ill; and those who remove from
other parts to plant there, will unavoidably be of different opinions concerning
matters of religion, the liberty whereof, they wiU expect to have allowed them,
and it will not be reasonable for us on this account to keep them out; that civil
peace may be maintained amidst the diversity of opinions, and our agreement
and compact with aU men may be duly and faithfully observed; the violation
whereof, upon what pretence soever, cannot be without great offence to Almighty
Ood, and great scandal to the true religion, which we profess ; and also that
Jews, heathens, and other dissenters from the piurity" of Christian religion, may
not be feared and kept at a distance from it, but, by having an opportunity of
acquainting themselves with the truth and reasonableness of its docti-ines, and
the peaceableness and inofifensiveness of its professors, may by good usage and
persuasion, and all those convincing .methods of gentleness and meekness suit-
able to the rules and design of the gospel, be won over to embrace and unfeign-
edly receive the truth ; therefore, any seven or more persons agreeing in any re-
ligion, shall constitute a church or profession, to which they shall give some
name to distinguish it from others."
CEETIT'ICATES OF EBLIGIOUS CONNECTION.
On the 16th of March, 1780, the General Assembly of Vermont on
motion made after a long debate, resolved that the following amend-
ment be made to the " Act empowering the inhabitants of the respec-
tive towns in this State to tax themselves for certain occasions," viz:
" Always provided that no person be compelled by the major vote of said town
to build or repair a meeting house, or support a worship, or a minister of the
gospel, contrary to the dictates of his conscience ; Provided, said person or per-
sons shall support some sort of religious- worship as to them may seem most
agreeable to the word of God, anything in this act to the contraiy notwithstand-
ing." The ayes and nays being demanded whether the last clause, or provision,
of the amendment stand, the vote was ayes 23, nays 14. So it weis resolved in
the affirmative.
This provision was evaded by requiring a man, who refused to pay
his tax for the legally appointed clergyman, %o prove that he belonged
to another denomination. But, as many sought by this method to
evade taxation altogether, the General Assembly in October, 1Y83,
passed an act to remedy all trouble on this point, viz :
" Be it enacted that every person or persons, being of adult age, shall be con-
sidered as being of, opinion with the m^/jor part of the inhabitants within such
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 303
town or parish where he, she, or they shall dwell, until he, she, or they shall
bring a certificate, signed by some minister of the gospel, deacon or elder, or the
moderator in the church or congregation to which he, she, or they pretend tobe-
' long, being of a different persuasion ; which certificate shall set forth the party
to be of their persuasion ; and until such certificate shall be shown to the clerk
of such town or parish (who shall record the same) such party shall be subject to
pay all such charges with the major part, as by law shaU. be assessed on his, her
or their polls or ratable estate."
The above named act met with much opposition. The number of
the minor sects in most of the towns was quite large. The opposition
increased to such an extent that, in 1801, the Legislature repealed the
clause in the act enabling any individual to obtain a certificate to ex-
empt him from paying taxes, and enacted the following as a substitute :
" That every person of adult age, being a legal voter in any town or
parish, shall be considered as of the religious opinion and sentiment of
such society as is mentioned in said act, and be liable to be taxed for
the purposes mentioned in said act, unless he shall, previous to any
vote authorized in and by said act, deliver to the clerk of said town or
parish, a declaration in writing, with his name thereto subscribed, in
the following words, to wit ; ' J do not agree in religious opinion
with a majority of the inhabitants of this town.'' "
This did not remove all objections, nor sUence complaints, and at
every session of the Legislature efibrts were made to repeal the act.
Finally, in 1807, the offensive parts were repealed, " divesting the towns
of all power to act or pass any vote for the building of meeting-houses
or the support of ministers, leaving every individual to decide for him-
self whether he would contribute anything for the promotion of those
objects."
The following certificates, which were made to comply with the re-
quirements of the several acts, I have quoted, are found recorded in the
records of the town, certified by the Town Clerk, whose certificate need
not be quoted. The respective dates of the certificates indicate the
legislative acts under which they were made.
This may certify that Francis Whare ShaUis, of Hartford, State of Vermont,
professeth and belongeth to the Episcopalian church of England and has joined
said church in this place.
Given under my hand this 14th day of August, 1785.
JOHN HOUSE, Church Warden.
By the authority invested by the Ai-chbishop of Canterbury, the Right Father
in God. By the Rev. Ranna Cosset, Missionary.
These may certify that Mr. Benjamin Burtch, of Hartford, in the county of
Windsor and State of Vermont is a member of the Baptist society in Woodstock.
Woodstock Mch ye 18, 1786.
Attest, JOSEPH CALL, Deacon of Baptist Ch in Woodstock.
Hanover, 4th Jan'y 1790 : — To all whom it may concern : It is hereby certi-
fied that Messrs. Hezekiah Hazen, Thomas Hazen, Solomon Hazen, David New-
ton and Erastus Chapman are members of the Church of Christ at Dartmouth
College, which church is Presbyterian in persuasion and discipline, and that
they and each of them are in full communion and regular and good standing
with us.
By JOHN SMITH, Pastor of said Church at Dartmouth College.
304 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Bridgewater, Vt., December ye 19th, 1791 : These may certify all that it may
concern, that William Porter of Hartford is a member of the Baptist church <X
Christ in Woodstock and Bridgewater, therefore, let the oppressed go free.
Attest, WILLIAM GROW, Minister of the Gospel. '
" To all whom this may concern it is hereby certified that Joshua Hazen, Esq;,
is a member of the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College (which is a Presbyter-
ian Church) and an Elder in the same. He has been for more than fifteen years
last past and now is in full communion and regular and good standing with us,
his opinion in the doctrine of religious and ecclesiastical discipline is the same
with ours.
Certified by John Smith, Pastor of said Church at Dartmouth College.
Hanover 31st Jan'y 1792."
' ' These certify that William Colston of Hartford, is a professed Universalist,
a:nd is a member of the Universalist Society in Woodstock. Attest, ISRAEL
RICHARDSON, Moderator.
Woodstock, December 37th, 1793."
' ' This may certify that Hezekiah Lincoln, Gersham Dunham, Juniah Chap"
man, Justin Smith, David Whitcomb, Daniel Hazen, Asa Pixley, Putnam Wil-
son, Philip Spi'ague, Wm. Pixley, Joel Richards, Philemon Hazen, each and
every of them, belong to the Calvinistic society composed of the North of Hartford
and South of Norwich, and pay for the support of pi-eacliing here and each pro-
fesses the principle above described.
Attest, SYLVANUS SMITH, Moderator."
January 7, 1795.
' ' This is to cei-tif y to whom it may concern that Isaac Turner of the town of
Hartford, County of Windsor and State of Vermont is a member of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church and regularly contributes to the support of the ministry
of that order.
Given under my hand this 12th day of March, A. D. 1800. Shadrock Bostwick,
presiding elder in said church and district including the town aforesaid."
" This will certify that I am not of the religious sentiment of the majority of
this town." Signed. SAMUEL PEASE.
Hartford, Nov. 31, 1805.
" This is to certify that I Daniel Sprague am not of the Religious sentiment
that the majority of this town is of. Therefore I don't wish to join society with
them." Signed. DANIEL SPRAGUE.
Harteord, May 15, 1805.
" This may certify that Capt Stephen Try on is a member of the protestant
Episcopal church in this town; that he contributes foy the support of said denom-
ination and therefore is exculpated by law to suppoii; any other in Hartford."
Hartford, Sept. 20, 1805. Certified by me RUSSEL CATLIN, Rector.
The severance of the relations between church and State, or cutting
the churches loose from dependence on State support, and throwing
them wholly on their own resources, thereby establishing the voluntary
system, met with strong opposition, but it placed the respective denom-
inations on a footing of equality, removed iavidious distinctions, and, in
time, those who had most strongly upheld the time-honored relation,
pronounced the " Toleration A.ct," a good and wholesome law.
The early settlers, as well as the proprietors of the town of Hartford,
recognized the fact that constitutional freedom is ever insecure unless
it is founded upon the immutable laws of God. They believed with
Demosthenes, that all law is the invention and gift of Heaven, the reso-
lution of wise men, the correction of every offence, and the general com-
pact of the State ; and with Grotius, that God approves and ratifies the
HISTORY OF HAETFOED. 205
salutary constitutions of government made by men. Actuated by these
sentiments, the proprietors made early and liberal provisions for the
support of the Gospel at home, and its propagatiom in foreign countries.
The charters of all the townships on the New Hampshire Grants, con-
tained provisions for the sequestration of lands for public, pious and
charitable uses, among which one whole share was to be reserved for
the first settled minister.
At a proprietors' meeting held in Windham, Gt., November 3d, 1762,
the following vote was passed, viz ; " That in making a second division of
lots among the proprietors, a one hundred acre lot, in the most conven-
ient place, shall be reserved for the first settled minister." ' The first
official action taken relative to erecting a meeting house was May 17th,
1774, viz :
"At a meeting legally warned and holden the 17th day of May, 1774, at the
house of Elijah Strong.
Voted — To build a meeting house as near the centre of the town as is conven-
ient for a building spot, and the dimensions of the house "to be 35 feet by 50, and
two story high.
Chosen — Darius Sessions to make a survey to And the centre of the town.
Chosen — Darius Sessions, Capt. Joseph Marsh, and Amos Eobinson a com-
mitty to set down the stake where the meeting house shall be."
The committee reported as follows : —
" We the subsci'ibers being chosen a committee to find a spot to build a house
upon, for the worship of God, met and agreed as follows, viz: — finding the
centre of said Hartford to be East 18 degrees South 35 rods from the south-west
corner of a lot of land called ' the Minister's lot,' from thence south ten degi-ees
west 16 rods, — and there stuck a stake for the spot to build the house."
The town adopted the report and voted £100 lawful money of New
Hampshire, to build said house, which was to be completed by Septem-
ber 1st, 1775. Capt. Joseph Marsh, Jonathan Birtch, Esq., and Amos
Robinson, Esq., were chosen a committee to supeiintend the buL\ding
of the house. John Marsh then owned the land upon which the house
was to be built, and the building committee were instructed to
agree with said Marsh for the land to set the meeting house on and
enough for a convenient green.
Subsequently the land on which the house was to be built passed
into the possession of Daniel Dewey. May 3, 1791, the selectmen of
the town made an arrangement with Mr. Dewey by which he deeded to
the town " the land lying in the meeting-house square," in exchange for
other land. The record of this transaction may be found in Vol. 2,
page 59, Land Records.
For some reason, not expressed in the records, the building commit-
tee did not then proceed to the work of building a meeting-house, and
'This lot was deeded by Rev. Thomas Gross to Bani Udall, March 30th, 1808,
for a consideration of $2717, and is now owned and occupied by Franlc McCarty.
206 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
it appears by the following record that several years elapsed before the
subject was again publicly acted upon. The record is as follows : —
" At a meeting legally warned and liolden at the house of David Bliss on the
9th day of September, 1783:—
Chosen — Govr. Marsh moderator as mentioned in the Covenant.^
Voted — To build a meeting-house in the centre of the town.
Voted — To choose a comtee to buUd sd meeting-house.
Chosen — Govr Marsh, David Wright, Oliver Udall, Thos. Wl\ite Pitkin and
Andrew Tracy sd comtee.
Voted — To petition the Gen'l Assembly to grant the town libei-ty to tax their
land in the town for the purpose of building a meeting-house in town.
The Legislature at the October Session in 1783, passed an act author-
izing towns and parishes to erect proper houses for public worship and
support ministers of the Gospel.
It seems very likely that this action by the General Assembly resulted
from the petition made to that body in conformity to the above vote of
the town, which ante-dated the passage of said act about one month.
One of the probable results of the enactment of this law would be the
building of a meeting-house by the petitioners in this case, very soon
thereafter. It is a fact that the selectmen of the town, in June 1781,
pitched two or more 100 acre lots to the ministerial right, the first
being " No. 16," at the centre of the town, pitched in accordance with
the vote of the proprietors, November 3d, 1762. This lot was desig-
nated as the " Minister's lot," but there is no evidence that it was
occupied as such by any settled minister prior to the time that Mr.
Gross took possession of it, by virtue of the provisions named in -the
charter of the town.
riBST CONOREGATIONAL PREACHING.
The first congregational preaching in Hartford was by Rev. Aaron
Hutchinson, about the year 1774, possibly earlier by a year or two. In
the records of the town of Woodstock, Vt., under date of September 3,
1774, the following entry is found : —
" The free-holders and other inhabitants being assembled in town
meeting — voted to hire Mr. Aaron Hutchinson for five years in connec-
tion with Hartford and Pomfret." "
This method of hiring a minister was in accordance with the system
pursued at that time. There was at the time of these proceedings no
congregational church nor society in Hartford. The arrangements for
preaching were made by the town. Were our town records not lost, it
is probable that we might find therein a record of the action taken by
'The existence of a Covenant implies the existence of an organized society of
some kind.
''Mr. Hutchinson settled in Woodstocli in 1776, and continued to preach there
until 1781, when the firstcongregational church in Woodstoclc was formed.
History of hartford. 307
the town, in connection with Woodstock and Pomfret, in regard to
hiring Mr. Hutchinson. It is now the prescribed rule in calling minis-
ters, for the letters to be issued by a committee of the church joined by
a committee of the society. " The call should proceed from the church,
in the first instance in order that it may have ecclesiastical or binding
force as a religious ordinance ; the action of the society is merely sub-
sidiary, and has reference only to temporalities, such as salary, settle-
ment, use of parsonage, &c. Such rights, towns in their corporate
capacity continued to exercise, — a concurrence on their part with the
church being requisite for the lawful settlement of a minister until the
Legislature passed acts taking away from towns all such power, and
societies came in place of towns in contracts for hiring and settling
ministers." — Formerly meeting-houses were built and owned by towns :
now they are built and owned by societies ; yet, as a rule, congrega-
tional societies embrace more or less church members.
During the period when the towns hired and settled ministers, clergy-
men were more highly venerated and honored by the people at large,
than they are at the present time. "The clergyman, in those days, was
the minister; that is, the servant of the town and people ; but the pas-
tor, that is, the keeper, the shepherd of the church. Then permanence
gave dignity and authority to the office ; gravity, learning, and a pater-
nal interest and care for the whole people, made the minister the first
and principal man in the town, whose character, especially if for good,
impressed itself thoroughly and permanently upon the whole town, and
all its interests and institutions." * * * "What a change a half cen-
tury with its new notions has brought about 1 The reverence paid, and
authority yielded to the clergy, is gone — and with them are gone much
of the peace, order, sobriety and prosperity of our communities, especi-
ally in the agricultural regions. The old-fashioned charity, hospitality,
and brotherly kindness, have vanished away, and their place has not
been supplied by any gifts or graces, that should cause their loss not to
be noticed and lamented. Possiby in worldly prosperity, some show of
advance has been made, but in domestic felicity and neighborly good
feelings, the by-gone days may fearlessly challenge a comparison with
the present times." — John JS. Hill.
We are wanting in the piety and devotedness of our fathers and moth-
ers. In those early days, all made it a point to attend meeting every
Sabbath in some way. They would travel many miles over bad roads
and in the worst of weather, on foot and on horseback, to attend relig-
ious worship. Of the early ministers it is said that "they toiled in the
cold and in the heat, by day and by night, traversing the wilderness
208 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
from one solitary dwelling to another, by marked trees and half-made
roads, fording rivers and other streams." They were mostly itinerants,
receiving but little pay, but they persisted in doing the Master's duty,
without money or price. They did service for the dead and for the liv-
ing alike ; gave solace to the dying, spiritual aid and comfort to the
living, — indeed, they were pastors, advisers, genial companions — ^in a
word, Christians in practice, as well as in profession. They possessed
no great literary qualifications, yet their ministrations were well adapted
to the condition of the people whom they visited. Though having no
" summer vacations " at Saratoga, or other fashionable resorts ; though
not domiciliated in cozy parsonages, but a stone's throw away from
places of worship, nor having the advantage of the modern labor-saving
system of exchanging sermons, whereby one and the same sermon may
go the rounds to edify an indefinite number of congregations, they gen-
erally died at a green old age and in the harness.
THE FIBST CONGEEGATIONAL SOCIETY.
A Congregational Society was formed at the centre of the town in
1805. This was, probably, the first religious society formed in the town,
and took the place of the town in regard to hiring and settling minis-
ters, supporting a preached gospel, and building meeting houses, par-
sonages, etc. Below is given the petition for a meeting of the inhabit-
ants ; the warning issued by the town clerk for said meeting, and the
proceedings of the meeting, as found in the town records : —
PETITION.
" We the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Hartford, in the County of
Windsor, and State of Vermont, being sensible of the broken situation of the in-
habitants of said town in respect to religious order; and being desirous that some
method may be agreed upon by said inhabitants whereby a preached gospel may
be regulary administered and supported among us: — do hereby, as the law di-
rects, petition the Town Clerk of Hartford to warn a meeting of said, inhabitants
(excepting such as have heretofore entered into covenant for the same purpose
at the north meetuig-house in said town, or are otherwise cleared as the law
directs) to see if they will form themselves into a society as the law duects, for
the above mentioned purpose; and, if so, to choose such ofi&cers, and make such
further regulations in said society, as they shall think best.
Hartford, 20th Mai'oh, 1805.
Signed — Elisha Marsh, Benjamin Russ, Abel Marsh, Milo Marsh, Wm. Perry,
Paul Pitkin, Olmstead Gates, Daniel Ransom, Jonathan Whitney."
WARNING.
" By a petition of a number of the inhabitants of the town of Hartford, to
warn a meeting for the purpose of forming themselves into a regular society in
the centre of said town for the support of the gosyel ministiy, according as the
law du-ects: — This is therefore to warn the inhabitants of said town to meet at
the meeting-house in the centre of the town, on Wednesday the 6th day of June
next, -at 1 o'clock P. M. for the above purpose.
FREEGRACE LEAVITT, Town Clerk."
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 209
PEOCEBDINGS OF THE MEETING.'
" Wednesday, June 6th, 1805. — After said meeting was opened made choice of
Joseph Marsh Esq. for Moderator.
Motioned and seconded to try the mind of said town — whether they would act
on the above warning or not ?
Voted — That they would.
Made choice of Freegrace Leavitt for their Clerk.
On motion — Voted to raise money from the above date, to the 35th of Decem-
ber next, to pay Mr. Gross his annual salary, and to continue to support order in
the centre of said town, by a tax, untU it shall be othei-wise agreed on.
Made choice of for their committee — Elisha Marsh, EUjah Mason.
Treasurer, Freegrace Leavitt; Collectors, Roger Marsh and Roger GUlett.
Attest: FREEGRACE LEAVITT, Town Clerk."
CONGREGATIONAIi CHURCH PAPERS.
The first Congregational organization ia Hartford was the church
formed at the centre of the town. The records, both of the church and
the society at the centre of the town have disappeared, and nothing
remains to the historian to enable him to arrive at any satisfactory con-
clusion regarding the date of the organization of the first Congrega-
tional church. It has already been shown that Eev. Aaron Hutchinson
preached at the centre of the town, and elsewhere in the town, as early
as 1 774. Rev. Thomas Gross who was the first settled minister in the
town, was ordained, according to Thompson, June 7, 1786. The follow-
ing item from the record of the Congregational church in Woodstock
clearly proves that the church in Hartford was organized some time
before the ordination of Mr. Gross : —
" May 21st [1786] a Letter from the Chh. at Hartford was read requesting the
assistance of this Chh by their Pastbr and a Delegate to assist at the ordination
of Mr. Thomas Gross. The Chh voted to comply with their request and Br EUas
Thomas was chosen as a Delegate."
June 30th, 1787, the church was invited to a Council in Pomfret. Mr.
Gross was present and offered the concluding prayer at the installa-
, tion of Eev. Benjamin Bell, over the churches of Windsor and Cornish,
N. H., Dec. 1, 1790. He was also in Woodstock July 22d, 1792,
when the church there renewed their covenant.
The foregoing comprises all of the tangible evidence now in posses-
sion of the historian relating to the church prior to 1812, with the
exception of the fact that Mr. Gross was dismissed in February, 1808.
By whom he was succeeded, previous to the ordination of Rev. Austin
Hazen in 1812 is a matter of conjecture only. After Mr. Hazen's ordi-
nation, a reorganization of the church took place, and owing to the con-
' This action of the settlers appears to have been in their capacity as a town or-
ganization ; this society probably having the character of a " parish " — such as ex-
isted at that time in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
14
310 HISTOE.Y OF HARTFORD.
fused state of previous records, a new record book was opened, into
which was copied the covenant originally made, and a list of the mem-
bers of the church at that time. The new record book was in use until
July, 1860. This book, which was in possession of Eev. Mr. Eay as late
as 1870, has disappeared, consequently the church has suffered the
irreparable loss of its records covering a period of at least three-fourths
of a century. Fortunately, however, the historian made copious extracts
from the record book opened in 1812, whUe engaged in the work of col-
lecting data for a history of the town in 1869-70, the greater portion of
which is contained in the following history of the church.
On the l2th of May, 1812, Rev. Austin Hazen was settled over the
church and society at the centre of the town, and on the 27th of May
following was ordained as pastor. The following extract is taken from
the new record book opened on that day, begining at p. 3, viz :■ '' The
brethren of the Chh being deeply impressed with the importance of
keeping a fair record of their proceedings for their own and for the
benefit of those who may hereafter be admitted to their fellowship, and
finding former records, in several respects, very deficient, and being
unable to correct them, have deemed it expedient to preserve them in
their original form — to ascertain as accurately as possible their situa-
tion on the 27th of May, 1812, at which time the Eev. Austin Hazen was
regularly ordained as their pastor, and from that date m^ke a new rec-
ord, opening with
THE CONFESSION OP FAITH.
You believe that there is one eternal only living and true God, Father, Son and
Holy Ghost; that God entered into a covenant of works with man upon condi-
tion of perfect obedience — that our first parents, by eating the forbidden fruit,
cast themselves and their posterity into a state of sin and misery — ^that God of His
mere mercy hath sent His only begotten Sou into this world, who, in our'nature,
hath borne the curse, and answered the demands of the law for us — that aU who
believe in Him are justified and shah, be kept by the mighty power of God imtq
salvation — that at the day of judgment Christ shall descend from heaven' and
shall condemn all ungodly men into everlasting fire with the devil and his angels,
and shall invite His saints to the possession of a kingdom prepared for them
before the foundation of the world. This you profess to believe ?
THE COVENANT.
You do now in the presence of God and this assembly take the Lord Jehovah,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to be your God, and do give yourself (selves) to be
His, and promise that you will make the word of God the rule of your faith and
practice — that you wiU make it your great concern to work out youi' own salva-
tion with fear and trembUng — that you wiU submit yourself to the establishment
of Christ's church regularly administered in this place, and that you wUl, in
brotherly love, seek the peace and welfare of this church so long as God
shall continue you here. This is as far as you know your own heart(s), divine
grace assisting, your determination."
On a thorough examination it was ascertained that the church then
consisted of the following members : —
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
211
*Stephen Tilden,
*Thomas Ti-acy,
*Abel March,
*Dorothy Mai-sh,
*Israel Gillet,
*John Gillett,
*Jemiina Gillet,
*David BUss,
*Phebe Bliss,
*Mary Strong,
*Jaoob Hall,
*Esther Hall,
*DeBire Morse,
*Mary Brooks,
fMary Wood,
jjerusha Tilden,
*Martha Gates,
Olmsted Gates.
fMarahah Holbrook.
*CyntMa White,
*Hannan Pease,
*David Wright,
*Hannah Wright,
*Polly Tracy,
*Mrs. Wilson,
*John Clark,
*Deborah Clark,
*Noah Bartholomew,
*Abigail Chapman,
+Ruth Ti-acy,
*Abigail Whitney,
*Jonathan Whitney,Dea,
*Jedediah Strong,
*Rebecca Eider,
*Abigail Wright,
*Sai'ah Tracy,
*Israel Webster,
*Sophiah Webster,
*Dolly Bill,
*Joanna King,
*Thomas Savage,
*Sybbel, Dimmock,
*Anna Lyman,
March, 1813
Jan. 38, 1831
Dec. 1831
Sept. 1813
July, 1839
Jan'y, 1829
Nov. 1838
May, 1813
July, 1834
April, 1823
Feb. 1814
Jan'y 1816
Jan'v 5, 1837
Sept. 1, 1847
Dec. 1828
Aug. 3, 1834
July. 1813
Nov. 1838
April, 1818
Feb'v, 1833
June, 1814
Feb'v, 1834
Feb'y, 1813
Jan'y, 3, 1833
May, 1823
Feb'y, 1813
May, 1838
Oct., 1814
, Jan'y 7, 1813
Feb. 25, 1832
June, 1814
Jan'y 2, 1813
Sept., 1814
Oct. 29, 1841
Apr. 25, 1831
1844
*Luci'etia Cooley,
*Mabel Bartholomew,
*Sarah Udall,
*Anna Woddward,
Charity B. Kneeland,
■Solomon Strong,
•James Tracy, 3d,
•Wm. Webster,
• Lydia King,
Lucy Whitney,
*Rizpah Ti-acy,
tSaUy Clark,
*Kirby Clark
Susanna Smith
Sylvia Pease
*Joanna King,
Eliphalet Smith,
tWm. Marsh,
*Joshua Clark,
t Abigail Clark,
*Hannah Smith,
f Daniel Clark,
fJohn D. Hazen,
fWintlu-op D. CiUey,
Jonathan Cilley,
tPolly Pitkin,
tBetsy BiU,
{Wealthy Woodworth,
Abel Dunklee,
Ruth Dunklee,
fPaul Pitkin,
fSamuel Whitney,
*Rachel Stone,
*Polly Noble.
*Susannah French,
fLaura Miner,
Betsy Tilden,
*Daniel Marsh,
■ Rizpah Dutton,
• Eleazer Harwood,
■Abigail Harwood,
Total, 84.
Sept. 1813
Feb'y, 1813
1835
Sept. 26, 1800
Sept. 19, 1834
Dec, 1813
May, 1823
June 16, 1817
Dec, 1813
1840
June 33, 1817
Sept. 1815
Oct. 1813
Nov. 1813
Apr. 1831
Nov. 1816
Sept. 1, 1823
Dec 1813
Feb., 1828
Mch., 1814
Feb., 1831
May. 1833
Dec. '7. 1853
Julv. 1813
Nov. 6, 1857
Dec. 11, 1839
May, 1833
Sept., 1816
*Date of death, f Date of dismissal by letter.
[Note. — Dates of death later than 1829 inserted by historian.]
RECOED OF CHURCH MEETINGS 1813-1830.
Sept., 1813. — A proposition was unanimously adopted to hold an annual con-
tribution for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the communion table at a
preparatory season, in preference to contributions on the Sabbath immediately
after communion. Mch. 1813. — Eleazer Harwood was chosen deacon in place
of Jonathan Whitney deceased. Bro. Hai-wood requested time to consider the
subject. May 1813. — It was stated that Abel Marsh expressed dissatisfaction
with the result respecting his complaint against Eleazer Harwood, May 8th,
1813, and desired the privilege of submitting the case to a council of laymen. It
was voted to grant his request and Deacons Clark and John Gillet were chosen
to agree with him as to who should compose the council. July 8, 1813. — At a
meeting held to consider Mr. Marsh's complaint against Mr. Harwood — the coun-
cil, composed of Jacob Bennett of the chh in Woodstock, and Hezekiah and Solo-
mon Hazen of the chh of Dartmouth College, decided unanimously that the com-
plaint was not supported.
March 15, 1815. — Brother Harwood finally declined accepting the oflfice of a
deacon, and Daniel Marslj was chosen. Doubting his qualifications to fill the
important office, Mr. Marsh requested time to consider the subject.
312 HISTORY OF HAETFORD.
Dec. 4, IS 15. — Brother Marih declined accepting the office of a deacon and the
chh. chose Paul Pitkin. Brother Clark being disqualified by the infirmities of
age requested that some one might be chosen in his place. Judah Bailey was
designated. These brothers asked time to consider whether it was their duty to
accept the appointment.
JarCy 4, 1816. — Brothers Bailey and Pitkin, with becoming difSldenoe, ex-
pressed their wUlingness to serve as deacons according to their abfiity.
June 3d, 1816. — The constitution of the Union Consociation was laid before the
church, with a request from the Consociation to send a delegation to their next
meeting with a view to membership. Sabbath, June 9th, it was voted to adopt
said Constitution, and Dea. Judah Bailey was chosen to attend the next meeting
of the Consociation, with the pastor. June 12th, the chh. was admitted as a mem-
ber of the Union Consociation.
Dec. IS, 1816. — Bro. David Wright, with whom the Chh. had long been labor-
ing, made a confession which was accepted as prepaiing the way for his restora-
tion to fellowship. Bro. Abel Marsh with whom also the Chh. had been laboring,
asked for further forbearance. Granted.
Dec. 1, 1817. — After a full and candid discussion adjusted the unhappy diffi-
culty which has long subsisted with brother Marsh by mutual concessions.
From the above date no case of discipline occurred which was not
adjusted by explanation and concession, or public confession, without
being reported to the church, for more than nine years. During these
years the church transacted its ordinary business at its stated con-
ferences, and nothing was transacted except the admission and dismis-
sion of members which it was deemed important to record, and those
are recorded in their proper places.
At a meeting of the church held at the house of the pastor Feb. '20th,
1827, the question of temperance was discussed, after which two-thirds
of the members present expressed a willingness to wholly abstain from
the use of ardent spirits, as a drink, for one year. Inasmuch as there
was a distillery located but a few rods away from the parsonage, and
some members of the church were engaged in manufacturing whiskey
there, this action of the church members was carrying the war into
Africa with commendable zeal, and it evidences the fact that there was
a need of reformation in that quarter. Tradition informs us that it was
customary, in Mr. Gross's time, for members of his church and congre-
gation, to resort to the tavern at noon-time on the Sabbath, and indulge
in a mug of hot flip, or sling, and that even the preacher was not free
from this propensity.
At the meeting of Feb. 20th, the following question was proposed :
" Will the church as a body do anything towards supporting the ordi-
nances of religion among them ? " No vote was taken at this time. At
a meeting of the church, January 10th, 1829, the question was proposed:
" Will it be expedient to maintain meetings statedly at the centre meet-
ing-house when meetings shall have been regularly established at the
new meeting-house 1 Voted that in our opinion it will not be expedient."
The pastor being invited to preach in the new meeting-house, Sunday,
January 11th, the brethren advised him to accept the invitation. January
HISTORY OF HAETFORD. 313
22d, after prayer and considerable deliberation, it was decided not to be
expedient to divide the church at that time. It was voted "to establish
a monthly meeting for the edification of the church." It was also voted
to hold the next communion in the new meeting-house ; ' also that bro-
thers H. P. Leavitt and Samuel Tracy, be a committee to settle with the
pastor in regard to his salary.
At a meeting of the church held April 23d, 1829, Mr. Hazen present-
ed the following communication : —
"Dear Bhethben: —
" Late events of providence among us clearly indicate to my mind
that it is my duty to seek a dissolution of the connection which has so
long subsisted between us, and which on many accounts has been very
pleasant to me. When I acceded tn your invitation to settle among you
in the christian ministry, I anticipated a division of the parish. I sup-
posed the time would arrive when meetings would be established in the
two principal villages'' in the town, in which case the old meeting-house
would be abandoned and your pastor left to seek another field of labor.
Tbat period has arrived. Meetings have been commenced in these
villages, a,nd another in addition within the original limits of my parish.'
In consequence of these divisions I am left without a prospect of sup-
port, and see no alternative but to request you to unite with me in
calling a council to dissolve my pastoral relations to you. I trust you
will readily perceive the propriety of this request, and cheerfully grant
it." (Signed) AUSTIN HAZEN.
It was voted to accede to the request, and H. F. Leavitt and Daniel
Marsh, were made a committee to agree with the pastor on the churches
to compose the council. The record of the council is as follows : —
" At an Ecclesiastical Council convened at the house of Rev. Austin Hazen, in
the South parish of Hartford, mutually called by the church of Christ in that
place and their pastor by letters missive, on the 39th day of April, 1839. —
Present : —
Rev. Samuel Goddard, pastor, and Brother John Emerson, delegate, North
Church, in Norwich.
Rev. Samuel Bascom, pastor, and Brother Abijali Burbank, delegate, church
in Sharon.
Rev. Abraham Brown, pastor and Bro. Asahel Dutton, delegate. North church
in Hartford.
Rev. John Richards, pastor, and Dea Daniel Dana, delegate, church in Wood-
stock.
Rev. James W. Woodward of Norwich.
The council organized and chose Rev. Samuel Goddard, moderator, and Rev.
J. W. Woodward, scribe. Opened with prayer by the moderator. The Rev.
Geo. W. Campbell of the State of Maine, an agent of the A. C. Society, being
present, was by consent of the pastor and committee of the church, invited to
sit in council.
The request of the pastor for a mutual council with a view to the dissolution
of his pastoral connexion, and the vote of the church complying, were commu-
nicated.
The council, after maturely deliberating upon the question submitted to them,
unanimously came to the conclusion that Brother Hazen's support having failed
in consequence of local divisions in the society, it is expedient that his pastoral
' At White River Village. ' W. Hartford and White River Villages. ' Quechee.
314
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
relation to this church and people be, and hereby accordingly is, dissolved on
the 4th day of May next."
After expressing their sympathy for Mr. Hazen, in the circumstances
of trial in which he was placed, and their condolence to the church, the
council closed as follows :
" The council also feel it their duty, besides, a testimonial of the fidelity of the
pastor which they have with this people, to recommend in consideration of the
pecuniary sacrifices he has incurred during his connection with them, and which
must probably be enhanced by this separation, that his present dismission be
accompanied by some proof of their justice and of their estimate of his charac-
ter and services. They feel that in so doing the command of the Savior will be
fulfilled, " Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you do ye even so
them." Signed, SAMUEL GODDARD, Moderator.
JAMES W. WOODWARD, Scribe.
I have recently found some papers that show conclusively that the
tax upon the grand list of Mr. Hazen's parishioners, added to dona-
tions, must have been entirely inadequate to his support, even under
the strictest system of economy possible" at that period. The entire
amount raised from all sources in 1818 was as follows : 1st voluntary
subscriptions :
Thomas RoweU $3.00
Capt. Josiah Tilden 3.00
Elam Brooks, Esq 8.00
Mr. Foster 1.00
Samuel Dorr 1.00
Erastus Clark 3.00
Joseph Fenno _ _ _ - _ 1.00
Total, 124.50.
ON GRAND LIST OF PAEISHIONERS.
Dericke Stebbins Sl-OO
Major D. Wright & Son 3. 00
Dan. D.Wright 2.00
Thomas Savage 1.00
Ira Gates _ 1.50
Jonathan Hoit 2.00
Eliot Porter 3.00
GiUett, Billa $393.50— $13.43
GiUet, Israel, Jr: 231.50— 9.84
Geer, Nathan 65.00— 3.76
Hazen, JohnD 83.25— 3.54
Kneeland, Edward 33.38— 1.43
Marsh, Roger 341.00— 10.24
Marsh, PoUy 16.75— 3.69
Taft, Abijah 136.50— 6.00
Trumbull, David 34.30— 1.45
Ti-acy, James 310.50— 8.75
Tracy, Thomas, Jr 30.00— .85
Tracy, John.__ __ 48.25— 2.05
N. Cobb's bill, $1.95;
Ti-acy, James, 2d 55,
TUden, Stephen 344,
Mai-sh, Joseph H 128
Smith, Ashbel _,
Spooner, Daniel 68,
Stone, Enos 97
Terry, John 36
Tracy, Joseph 179.
Webster, Wm __. 75,
Wales, Geo. E 71,
White, Jonathan. 97,
Total
Paul Pitkin, $4.74.
00— 2.34
50— 14.64
.50— 5.46
.35—
63—
.75—
.50—
00—
50—
37—
25—
2.82
2.93
4.16
1.55
- 7.61
- 2.36
- 3.03
- 4.14
$189.40
6.69
Elias Lyman $.5.00.
Zerah Brooks 3.00.
Asa TUden /.-_ 3.00.
Zebulon Delano... 1.00.
$34.50.
DONATIONS.
John Emerson 1.00.
Noadiah White 1.00.
Warren Lord 1.00.
John Strong 1.50.
Total, $36.50.
Tax, &c., $146.09. Donation,
$146.09
Benj. Green _-_ 5.00.
Abigail Savage 3.00.
Samuel Weld 1.00.
Eleazer Davis 2.00.
$36.50. Grand total.
to the collector of the tax was as fol-
Subscription
$197.09.
The form of warrant issued
lows :
State of Vermont, ) To George E. Wales, one of the collectors of the 1st
Windsor County, ss. ) Congregational Society in the town of Hartford, for the
support of the Gospel for 1818. Greeting:
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD. 215
By the authority of the State of Vermont, you are hereby commanded to levy
and collect of the several persons named in this Rate Bill, herewith committed
to you the sum of money assessed to each person respectively, and pay the sum
to the Treasury of said Society on or before the first of April next. And if
any Person shall refuse or neglect to pay the sum in which he or she is assessed
in said Rate Bill, you are hereby commanded to distrain the goods, chattels or
estate of such person so refusing and the same dispose of according to Law for
the satisfying the said sum with your own fees, and for want thei-eof you are
hereby commanded to take his or her body and him or her commit to the keeper
of the Goal in the County of Windsor, within said Prison, who is hereby com-
manded to receive such person, and him or her safely keep untiU he or she pays
the simi assessed with legal cost together with your fees, or be otherwise Re-
leased or discharged according to law.
Given under my hand this 33d day of Deo'r, 1818.
(Signed) JAMES TRACY, Justice Peace.
CHAPTER XVI.
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY.
At a meeting of citizens friendly to the project of erecting a meeting
house in the vicinity of White River village, held in the dwelling house
■of Phineas Kimball, agreeable to a previous notice, on the 5th of Nov.,
1827, Hon. George E. Wales was chosen moderator and John Strong
clerk. A committee consisting of John Grout, Zerah Brooks, David
Trumbull, Jonathan Bugbee and John Strong was chosen to select the
best place for erecting a meeting house, within one mile of the school
house in said village ; to devise means to raise money for the purpose
named-; to make an estimate of the cost of said house, and report at a
future meeting.
Nov. 12th inst., an adjourned meeting was held in the house of
Phineas Kimball, when, on motion, it was resolved, — 1st. That a relig-
ious society be formed to be denominated the Congregational Society
of White River village ; 2d. That the committee appointed at the pre-
vious meeting, be authorized to draw a plan of a meeting house to be
built; circulate a subscription, etc. Nov. 26th inst. Meeting was
again convened and the building committee reported a plan for a meet-
ing house fifty by seventy feet, divided into eighty pews, and fixed the
price of each at fifty dollars ; and decided that the site at the vvest end
of the village was the most eligible. They reported that the gross
expense of site and building was estimated at $4000. At this meeting
H. F. Leavitt was chosen clerk of the society. Dec. 3d, Phineas Kim-
ball, Wylys Lyman and H. F. Leavitt were chosen a committee to draft
a code of by-laws for the society.
December 25, 1827, the by-laws and constitution were submitted, con-
sidered and adopted. The organization was completed January 7th,
1828, by the election of officers, viz : Clerk, H. E. Leavitt ; treasurer,
John Grout ; prudential committee, John Grout, David TrumbuU, John
Strong, Phineas Kimball and Zerah Brooks. At the annual meeting,
Dec. 25th, 1828, the price of slips was fixed at fifty-two dollars, and
January 8th, 1829, was chosen as the day for dedicating the meeting
house. January 1st, 1829, it was resolved "that this society most
respectfully and cordially invite the North church and congregation to
meet and uniie with us at our new meeting house in religious wor-
ship as one society," and a committee was chosen to carry the resolu-
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 217
tion into effect. This communication was discussed by the people of
the North church, January 5th, when it was decided to be expedient to
form the union. H. F. Leavitt, John Strong and Wylys Lyman were
chosen a committee to supply the society with preaching, and instructed
to hire Eev. Austin Hazen for twelve Sabbaths.
January 19th, the society extended an invitation to the church and
society which had hitherto worshipped at the Centre meeting house to
make the new meeting house in White Eiver village their stated place
of worship. This invitation was accepted. Thus the two societies
were consolidated under the title of " The Second Congregational
Society," and the Congregational church at the Centre simply trans-
ferred itself, so to speak,to White River village, and there still preserves
its identity as " The Congregational church." Eev. Austin Hazen was
hired to preach twelve Sabbaths at the rate of $400 per year, if for only
for three months ; and $300, if continued through the year. At the
expiration of the twelve Sabbaths Mr. Hazen was dismissed, and imme-
diately after sought a new field of labor.
CLERKS OP THE SOCIETY.
Nov. 5, 1827, to Nov. 26, 1827, John Strong of CeutreviUe.
Nov. 26, 1827, to Dec. 25, 1829, H. F. Leavitt of centre of the town.
Dec. 25, 1829, to Dec. 15, 1832, WyUys Lyman of Lyman's Point.
Dec. 15, 1832, to Dec. 14, 1867, Justin C. Brooks, White River village.
Dec. 14, 1867, to Deo. 16, 1871, Charles H. Tenney, White River village.
Dec. 16, 1871, to Dec. 20, 1884, Ephraim Morris, Wliite River village.
Dec. 20, 1884, to Dec, 1886, N. W. White, White River vUlage.
CONGKEGATIONAL CHFECH, WHITB EIVBE TILLAGE.
At a meeting of the church at the house of Mr. John Grout, held
March 10th, 1830, it was voted that Rev. Charles B. Haddock, a pro-
fessor at Dartmouth College, be appointed moderator of the church,
and also as scribe.' It was also voted, "that in future the chui-ch
would worship at the meeting-house in White River village."
June 15th, 1830, at a meeting of the church, it was voted that
brothers Reuben Hazen and Joel Dimmick, and sisters Almira A. Dun-
bar, Sybel Dimmick, Jane Phelps and Charity Noble, at their request,
be recommended to the Congregational church in West Hartford.
Dec. 30th, the following persons received permission to unite with the
contemplated church whenever formed at Quechee, viz. : Elihu Wood-
ward, Mary Pitkin, Lucy Russ, Olive Russ, Rebecca Pease, Susan
Jennings, Erapta Marsh, Percy Marsh, Gratia Marsh and Mary Childs.
Oct. 12th, 1831, at a meeting of the church, it was voted, "That it is
' March lo, 1830, Mr. Haddock was hired to preach by the Sabbath at I4.00 per
day. He continued a stated supply nearly twelve years.
318 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
inconsistent with the rules of the gospel for professors of religion to
send or permit of their children's attending dancing schools and balls."
June 13th, 1832, Ephraim W. Page, was accused of intemperate drink-
ing, performing secular labor on the Sabbath, falsehood, profane swear-
ing, and neglecting to attend the ordinances of the gospel : John Strong
was the complainant. Brother Page, unlike Sister Riggs, declined
to patch up his sins, or whitewash them over, by accepting the means
proposed by the church to restore him to saving grace; nor would he
consent to put on an appearance of virtue as a means of reconciliation
with the church; and thus add hypocrisy to his other sins. He was
therefore excommunicated.
September 28th, 1832. Iia Tracy, having received license to preach
the gospel, was ordained at W. E. Village as a missionary to China.
On this occasion the following churches were represented by pasto? s
and delegates: North Hartford, West Hartford, South Norwich,
North Norwich, Strafford, Hartland, Windsol-, Woodstock, Royalton,
Sharon, Windsor (by Joseph Tracy, a brother of Ira Tracy) and Leb-
anon, N. H. August 29th, 1833, Bani Udall was indicted for having
laid violent hands upon his neighbors, for profanity, etc.; and persist-
ing in vindicating his conduct, was suspended. Oct. 9th, Mr. Udall
plead NOT GUILTY and an investigation was postponed until after the
December county court. Nov. 20th, Mr. Udall made confessions and
was restored to full communion. Dec 23d, 1835, after laboring with
Mr. Udall for six months for profanity, without success, he was ex-com-
municated. Other cases of discipline occurred during Rev. Mr. Had-
dock's term of service, which expired in 1841.
Feb. 2d, 1841, the church having enjoyed the labors of Mr. Geo. T.
Smith of Salem, Mass., for three Sabbaths, and having succeeded in
raising a subsciiption of $500 for his support, extended a call to that
gentleman to be ordained their minister. Mr. Smith gave a negative
reply. August 25th, 1841, a call was extended to Mr. John K. Loid, of
Hanover, which was accepted, and his ordination took place November
3d, 1841. For the purpose of showing who were then Pastors and act-
ing Pastors of neighboring churches, the proceedings on this occasion
are quoted in detail.
" Pursuant to letters missive from the Chui-cli of Christ at White River vil-
lage, Hartford, Vt., an Ecclesiastical council was convened at the meeting house
ia this place on the 3d of Nov. 1841, for the purpose of ordaining Mr. John K.
Lord to the work of the gospel ministry.
Present from the Church of Christ.
From Hanover Plain — Rev. Nathan Lord, DD., Rev. C. B. Haddock, Rev.
John Richards Acting Pastor. Norwich North — Rev. Samuel Goddard, Pastor,
Dea. Cyrus Partridge, Delegate. Norwich Plain — Rev. Roswell Shurtleflf, DD.,
Acting Paster, Bro. I. B. C. Burton, Delegate. Woodstock — Rev. Worthington
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 219
"Wright, Pastor, Dea. Daniel Dane, Delegate. Lebanon, N. H.— Rev. Phineas
Cook, Pastor, Bro. Jedediah Dana, Delegate. Berlin — Rev. Austin Hazen, Pas-
tor, Brother Allen Hazen, Delegate. West Hartford— Rev. Roldin A. Watkins,
Acting pastor, Brother Lucius Hazen, Delegate. Hartford North— Rev. Carey-
Russell, Pastor, Brother Abner Newton, Delegate. Quechee — Bro. Shubel Russ,
Delegate.
Rev. Ira Tracy being present vi^as invited to sit in council as a corresponding
member.
The Council was organized by choosing the Eev. Eoswell Shurtleff,
DD., moderator and Eev. Carey Eussell, Scribe. Prayer by Moderator.
Evidences were then laid before the Council exhibiting the invitation of
the Chh. and society to Mr. Jno. K. Lord to become their pastor and
teacher. His answer was also given in the affirmative. The Council
then proceeded to an examination of the candidate in relation to his
doctrinal and experimental knowledge of Divine subjects. After a sat-
isfactory examination the council voted unanimously lo proceed to the
ordination of Mr. Lord as pastor of the church in this place. .
Voted, that the several parts of the ordination exercises be perf oi med
as follows :
Eev. Mr. Watkins — Invocation and reading of the scriptures. Eev.
Mr. Cook — Introductory prayer. Eev. Prest. Lord — Sermon. Eev.
Mr. Goddard — Ordaining Prayer. Eev. Mr. Hazen — Charge to the
Pastor. Eev. Mr. Eussell — Eight hand of Fellowship. Eev. Mr.
Haddock — Address to the people. Eev. Mr. Wright — Concluding
Prayer. Hymn and benediction by the Pastor.
Voted to adjourn till to-morrow morning at a quarter before ten, to
meet at the White Eiver hotel. Met according to adjournment. Then
proceeded to the meeting-house and ordained Mr. John K. Lord Pas-
tor of this church according to previous arrangements.
(Signed) EOSWELL SHUETLEFP, Moderator.
(Signed) CAEY EUSSELL, Scribe.
Attest— A true copy of record. CAEY EUSSELL.
A true copy from the records of the Council.
Attest. SAMUEL TEACY,
Clerk of the Church.
Dec. 8, 1846, at a called meeting, the church chose Samuel Tracy,
agent on the part of the charch, to execute a deed and bond of sale of
the parsonage. July 3, 1847, Eev. Mr. Lord, having received an invita-
tion to become pastor of the First Congregational church in Cincinnati,
Ohio, requested the church to unite with him in calling a council. John
Strong, Allen Hazen, and Samuel Tracy, were chosen to act with the
^ pastor in calling a council, but the step taken by Mr. Lord met with
great disfavor and evoked a spirited protest from the church. July 11,
Samuel Tracy was chosen to present the case before the feouncil, at
which time the church adopted several resolutions expressive of regret
that the pleasant relations which had existed for nearly six years be-
220 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
tween the pastor and the church and society, should, contrary to their
wishes, be broken ; and of their disapprobation of the practice of dis-
turbing the pleasant and profitable relations between a pastor and his
people, that he may occupy a new and untried field, and that, without
consulting the wishes and opinion of those who are thus to be bereft of
a pastor, — that it tends greatly to discourage those churches and par-
ishes who take a moderate view of their own importance, and to encour-
age dissatisfaction and instability among those who think themselves
(with or without reason) to be the important ones ; and tends, also, to
lead ministers of the gospel to think too much of the approbation of
man to the neglect of the humble and faithful preaching of " Christ and
his cross," and gives great occasion to the enemies of religion to think
and speak of pastors as mere hirelings, and leads all to think lightly of
a settled ministry ; that it was only in view of the unscriptural practice
contemplated in the foregoing resolutions, and the urgency of the call
at Cincinnati, that the church would not make an effort to prevent the
dissolution of that connection which had hitherto so happily subsisted
between them and their pastor. The council dismissed Mr. Lord, and
his ministry at White River village terminated July 16, 1847.'
February, 1848. — The church having enjoyed the labors of Mr. Jo-
siah Merrill, for several Sabbaths, extended to him an invitation to be
ordained as their pastor, which he accepted and was ordained March 1,
1848.
Nov. 1st, 1849. — A letter missive was received from sundry individu-
als at West Lebanon inviting attendance by pastor and delegate in coun-
cil to assist in organizing a Congregational church in that place, and in
the dedication of their meeting-house to Almighty God. Mr. John
Strong was chosen delegate.
Nov. 18, 1849. — ^A letter missive from the First Congregational church
in Lebanon, was received inviting us by our pastor and delegate to meet
in council on the 21st inst. to advise and assist- in the installation of
Rev. C. H. Downs, as their pastor. Chose Br. Geo. Lyman, delegate.
June 15, 1847. — A letter missive from the church in W. Lebanon, N.
H-, was received inviting us to a council for the installation of Rev. Ru-
fus Case. Br. John Strong was appointed delegate. (A. Bailey substi-
tuted for Mr. Strong.) (Should have been inserted elsewhere.)
Dec. 12, 1851. — Alvan Bailey was delegate to an exparte council
called by a minority of the church in Hartland.
' Mr. Lord labored in Cincinnati with his native ardor and fidelity, and with great
success, till, in the summer uf 1849, ^^^ cholera terminated his ministry, — all too
brief as it seemed to those who mourned his loss. But, in his own words, — " his
record is on high."
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 221
Samuel Tr9,cy was delegate for the installation of Eev. Dr. Clement at
Woodstock (1851).
Nov. 4, 1853 — John Strong, Allen Hazen, Nathan Gillett, Alvin Bai-
ley, and Samuel Tracy, were chosen a committee to consider and report
a plan for providing a vestry.
March 30, 1854. — Dea. Samuel Tracy being about to leave town for
Platteville, Wisconsin, himself, wife and daughter received dismission
and recommendation to any church where the providence of God might
call them.
Eev. J. Merrill, the pastor, was chosen clerk of the church.'
April 25, 1854 — Bro. John Strong was a delegate to sit in council at
West Hartford to advise with reference to the dismission of Rev. Wm.
Glaggett. (Mr. Claggett was not dismissed until May, 1859.)
On Nov. 3d, 1854, Mr. Ora Wood was chosen deacon in place of Dea.
Samuel Tracy who has gone to Wisconsin.
May 7th, 1854 — Agreeable to a letter missive, Mr. Allen Hazen was
appointed delegate to sit in council at Norwich North with reference to
the dissolution of that church.
Sept. 19 th, 1856 — -At a church meeting a committee was appointed to
confer with the pastor with. regard to a communication read by him to
the congregation on the previous Sabbath requesting the church to
unite with him in calling a council with reference to his dismissal.
This committee was authorized to take measures to adjust some dif-
ficulties existing between the pastor and some disaffected individuals in
the society.-
Sept. 26th, 1856 — It was voted that the church unite with the pastor
in calling a mutual council to act with regard to his dismissal. The
ecclesiastical council called on this occasion consisted as follows : —
Hanover — Rev. J. Richards, D.D., Pastor. Prof. S. G. Brown, Del.
Woodstock — Rev. J. Clement, D.D., Pastor. Benjamin S. Marsh, Del.
Quechee — Rev. Heman Rood, Pastor. Wm. L. Bragg, Del.
West Hartford — Julius Hazen, Del.
Sharon — Rev. John Adams, Pastor.
West Lebanon, N. H. — Rev. Rufus Case, Pastor. O. L. Stearns, Del.
Council was organized by the choice of Rev. H. Rood, Moderator. Rev. Jno.
Adams, Scribe.
After consultation, the Council resolved : that in view of the inadequacy of
the salary the pastoral i-elations existing between Mr. Merrill and the church
should be dissolved."
The last entry made in the missing book was as follows : —
March 4, 1859 — At a preparatory lecture, Mr. Edwin Goodell was chosen a
delegate to sit in Council at West Hartford ia reference to the dismission of Rev.
WilEam Claggett.
' Mr. Tracy was clerk of the church from June, 1832, to March 30, 1854 — twenty-
one years and seven months; and deacon from Jan. 11, 1832, to March 30, 1854, a
period of twenty-two years and three months.
232
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
The foregoing constitutes nearly everything of material interest found
on the pages of the church record book commenced by Mr. Hazen with
the exception of the names of all persons, infants and adults, baptized,
and of those admitted to church membership from the date of Mr.
Hazen's ordination to July 1st, 1860, during the ministry of Rev. B. F.
Eay. These were copied in 1870, and, being the only authentic copies,
it is deemed proper to use them in this connection with a view to their
future preservation. It is probable that ■ not more than forty of those
whose names appear in the list of church members are now living.
INFANT BAPTISMS BY EBV. AUSTIN HAZEN.
Names.
Date.
Names.
Date.
Alvin Wood June 1813
Carlton Clark " - "
Larnud Clark " "
Mary Alexander Bang July "
Lucy KJmg " "
Azeeba King_ " "
Hopkins B. Pease _-- " "
Sawyer S. Stone... "
Emily B.Stone "
Siloh Dunklie :.-.. "
Mary Dunklie ... "
Lucia Dunklie "
Paschal Dunklie "
Thomas W. Pitkia Sept. "
MaryPitkin " . "
Lucius Pitkin " "
Persis Stone ... " "
Roswell Marsh .-. July 1813
James Marsh " "
Percy Marsh " "
Louisa Marsh " "
Leonard Marsh " "
Arabella Marsh "
EmilyMarsh " '■
Daniel Marsh "
Rebecca Pitkin " "
George Pitkin " "
Joseph Tracy Aug. 1814
Ezra Carter Tracy " "
Myron Tracy " "
Warner Tracy " "
Ira Tracy. " "
Samuel Tracy "
Stephen Tracy. "
Elizabeth Harwood Sept. "
MeUnda Wood "
Hannah Lyman " "
Charles Gage Mch. 1816
Samuel Augustus Gage.-- " "
ElizaPitkin June "
Ruth Ann Dorr Nov. "
SheUys-..- Sept. "
List of persons admitted to the church from the beginning to the
close of Rev. Austin Hazen's ministry, May 1812, to July 1st, 1828. In
this table p, signifies admitted by profession ; 1, by letter ; *, dead ; J,
Joel Dimock
Mch.
1817
Joseph Wood Dimock
"
Calvin Dimock
(1
Bartlett Dimock
Sarah Dimock
a
Henry Dimock
a
Hannah Dimock
It
George Dimock
it
Wm. Sanford Hazen
July
Ebem-. Payson Dorr
"
Mary Ann Stone
'^
Erastus Feno
. May
Sibbfil Dimink Fpno
a
Sophia Dmiham Feno
li
Philip Dimick Feno
a
Clarissa Feno
li
Hannah E. Hutchinson. -
Oct.
Wm. Austin Hutchinson.
"
Hazeah N. Penfield
"
Wealthy Wright
. Mch.
1818
EKza Wright
"
Austin Hazen Wright
(t
Sylvester Edson Feno
Jime
1819
Sophia Dana Hazen
Oct.
1820
Joseph Hazen
Deo.
Chas. Chapman Marsh- --
May
1831
Levi RusseU Marsh
ti
Edward Warren Marsh.-.
"
Benj. Franklin Marsh
"
Allen Hazen '.
. May
1833
Cynthia Bugbee - .
. Mch.
1834
Geo. Pease Bugbee
((
Sarah Blake Lyman
. Nov.
1838
Charles Blake Stone
. July
1835
Henry Morril Stone
EmUy Dora Hazen
. May
1836
Jane Lyman
- July
Mary Jane Lyman
"
Jonathan Bugbee
- Aug.
1838
Total
82
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
233
dismissed by letter ; o, excommunicated ;
membership given ; a, ordained.
Year. Month. Name.
b, baptized; c, certificate of
Year. Month.
Name.
p Joseph Tracy |
p Mrs. Brown i
1 Wni. Hutchinson |
p Ira Tracy, ordained
p Samuel Ti-acy |
p Roger Marsh *
p Mary Marsh t b *
1 Abigail Field *
p Mary Cliild b t
p Sally Porter b *
1 Cynthia Bugbee
p Stillman Simmons b
p Nancy Marsh b |
p Jei-usha Wright b |
p Orpha Fox *
p Nancy Hale
p Polly Wood
p Rhoda Eiggs b *
p Sarah A. Weld t
I Mrs. Christopher Pease^
1 Mrs. Jerusha Leavitt*
Polly Smith*
Lucy Whitney^:
Abraham Marsh a
Eliza Russt
George Lyman|
Stephen Tracy
Martha Pinneo
Clarissa Tracy b *
Mary Strong b
Harriet Brooks b |
Laura Brooks b X
Ruby Gillett b t
Clementine Lyman b X
Lydia B. King b |
Nancy E. Douset
Harriet B. Porter b J
1 Mary B. Lyman J
1 Harvey F. Leavettl a
1 Minerva L. Leavitt*
1 Gershom Rice^:
1 Sarah Rice|
p Olive Russ b X
The two years following the dismissal of Mr. Merrill, preaching was
supplied from Hanover, N. H., and by Rev. O. B. Hitchcock, Rev. L.
R. B. Perkins, and Rev. E. T. Rowe, the two latter nearly a year each.
Rev. B. F. Ray commenced his labors in November, 1859 ; was installed
Feb. 7, 1860, and after a successful ministry of nearly eleven years was
dismissed July 11, 1870. His salary at first was seven hundred dollars
and the use of the parsonage, which was increased to twelve hundred
some time after. He removed to New Ipswich, N. H., where he died
January 7, 1872. His burial was in Hartford cemetery, at the request
of his former parishioners, who erected a monument there as a token
of their respect and affection.
1813 July,
p Percy Whitney |
1819 July
" Nov.
p Benjamin Clark, Jr X
" Mch.
1813 Mch.
D Mercy Strong X
Reuben Hazen t
" May
" May
1830 Sept.
f ( a
1 Polly Bailey*
II <<
1814 Mch.
p Judah Bailey *
1 Abel Penfield :j:
1831 Mch.
" Aprn
(( H
" June
p Jane Phelps X
1823 Sept.
" July
p Joseph Tracy *
ct u
1815 Sept.
p Timothy Lester X
" Nov.
" Nov.
p Anna Gage
i( ii
1816 Jan.
p Wm. Webster *
1833 May
" Mch.
p Mrs. Emily H. Shellys *
ki ii
" May
p Abigail Pitkin X
" July
a ii
Abigail Bliss *
ii i,.
u ti
Mariuda Hazen X
" Sept.
" Sept.
1 Nancy Dorr X
1834 Mch.
" Oct.
1 Samuel Weld X
" "
<.. ((
1 Sally Weld X
" May
" Nov.
p Ruth Tracy *
1824 Nov.
'■
p Elizabeth Hutchinson *
1825 Mch.
" •
p Lora Marsh X
" "
IC ii
p Lyman Marsh b *
" "
ii a
5 Mi-on Tracy X a
" May
a it
Orpha Clark
1826 July
1817 Jan.
p Erepta Marsh X
'■ Sept.
ii ii
p Gratia Marsh X b
p Olive Loomis X
p Joel Dimock X
!! !!
(4 Ii
H i(
p Elizabeth Feno
p Amira Smith X
.1 II
1817 Jan.
p Ezekiel Evans *
II
" May.
p Hannah Kibby *
1826 Sept.
" July
p ElDiu Woodward X
II it
" "
p Abigail Baker X
II II
" Oct.
p Susan Jennings X b
II II
(( ((
p Mary Green *
" Nov.
tf (I
p EUzabeth Wright *
U ((
" ''
p Melinda UdaU |
1827 July
" "
p Lucy HaU
ii U
1818 Nov.
p Ruth Pitkin *
1838 Feb'j
1819 Mch.
p Lucy Russ b %
i< II
" July
1 Frances M. D. Hazen *
" July
234 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
On the 11th of September, 1871, the church and society voted to ex-
tend a call to Rev. Robert Southgate to become pastor, and offer him a
yearly salary of one thousand dollars and the use of two rooms in the
parsonage. Oct. 24, 1871, the offer was amended by offering, in ad-
dition to the above, a yearly vacation of four Sabbaths, and that Mr
Southgate should preach two sermons on the Sabbath whenever re-
quested to do it. This offer was accepted and Mr. Southgate was in-
stalled. His labors were terminated by his sudden death, while on a
visit at Woodstock, Feb. 6, 1873, at the age of sixty-five.
The church was next supplied, for a year from Nov., 1873, by Rev.
John Rogers. March 8, 1875 the church and society voted to give a
call to Rev. S. IngersoU Briant, with a salary of twelve hundred dollars
and the use of the parsonage. Mr. Briant accepted the call and was
installed pastor, May 20, 1875, in which relation he stUl continues,
(1889.)
The parsonage was built in 1848, and the vestry in 1860. The first
pipe-organ was put into the meeting-house by Phineas Fisher in
1885. It was built by a Mr. Phelps of Brookfield, Vt. In 1872, March
9th, the pew-holders voted to repair the interior of the meeting-house,
putting in new pews, furnace, &c., and in addition the old organ was
replaced by the one now in use, which cost $1700. The old organ was
sold to be placed in a Catholic church edifice in St. Albans. The cost
of repairs, including carpet and cushions was $5,575. The bell now in
iise is the fifth in number that has occupied the belfry, and may it be the
last. A bell to be used for no other purpose than that of calling peo-
ple to meeting at a permanently established, well-known hour, is quile
as superfluous as a bell to call people to a public concert, or other
secular entertainment. People who attend religious exercises should
consult their time -pieces with the same degree of interest that is mani-
fested by them regarding the hour fixed for opening places of amuse-
ment.
The total number of members admitted to the church since its organ-
ization, as appears of record, is as follows :
Number at the date of Mr. Kazan's ordination 85
admitted during his pastorate 86
" " ministry of Prof . Haddock 95
ofMr.Lord 69
ofMr.MerriU ..38
Nov. 1856 to Feb. 7, 1860 35
' ' to July 1st, during ministry of Mr. Ray _ 14
between July 1, 1860 and Jan 1,1887 248
Membership dissolved by death 333
by letter 345
" " withdrawal 5
660
472
Membership January 1st, 1887. _ 188
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 335
The membership of the church at stated periods has been as follows :
May 27, 1812,' 85 ; January 1, 1831, 91 ; Sept. 1, 1833, 56; Aug. 1, 1835,
59; Aug. 1, 1836, 65; Aug. 1, 1837, 60; Aug. 1, 1838, 57; Aug. 1,
1839, 56 ; Aug. 1, 1840, 58 ; Aug. 1, 1841, 61 ; Aug. 1, 1845, 128 ; Jan'y
1, 1858, 115; Jan. 1, 1870, 181; Jan. 1, 1887, 188.
The number of 'baptisms between Jan. 6,^1859 and Jan. 1,
1887, is 78. For further statistical facts see record book in the hands
of the clerk, Eev. Mr. Briant. The deacons of the church since its or-
ganization are as foUowfe : In ofSce in 1812, Jonathan "Whitney ; ap-
pointed Jan'y 4, 1816, Paul Pitkin, Judah Bailey ; Jan'y 11, 1832, Sam-
uel Tracy, William Gillett ; May, 1845, Nathan Gillett ; Nov. 5, 1854,
Ora Wood.
WEST HAETFOED CONGEEGATIONAL CHUEOH AND SOCIETY.
From the first settlement of the town until 1828, the religious life of
the town flowed in a smooth channel. The Centre church and the church
at Dothan were associated until 1805 with Dartmouth College. A re-
arrangement, under the modern impulse to forsake the hills, and abide
in the valleys, or business centres, was in progress from 1828 to the date
of the dissolution of the Dothan church in August, 1847. The church
at Dothan was the parent of the church at West Hartford. At a meet-
ing of the church at Dothan, May 2d, 1830, the following petition was
presented by David Ingraham, Elder : —
" To the pastor and church and society, called Dothan Society, in
Hartford, greeting :
We whose names are underwritten being providentially situated at an
inconvenient distance to attend generally the meetings of the church to
which we belong, and in a neighborhood which has of late formed a re-
ligious society for the purpose of supporting the preaching of the gos-
pel, and as some of our neighbors who are members of other churches
agree with us on the expediency of forming a visible church in the soci-
ety, known by the name of West Hartford, present our request for let-
ters of recommendation to a council which may he called for the express
purpose of forming a church in the above named society, and until said
church shall be formed wish not to consider our relation removed.
N. B.: It is understoood that we expect to be in fellowship with the or-
thodox churches in the neighborhood, and hope to be established by
voice of a council already appointed for that purpose."
' During the pastorate of Mr. Hazen, a period of seventeen years, eighty-six per-
sons united with his church. During that time he baptized eighty-two persons. He
recorded the date of the death of fifty persons who were members of his church at
the date of his ordination in 1812, and of about twenty-five of those admitted to his
church during his ministrations. Therefore the number of living resident and non-
resident members of his church at the date of his dismission in 1829, was ninety-six,
provided that his record of the whole number of decedents was correct.
15
226
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
The petition was dated " West Hartford, April 29, 1830," and was
signed by David Ingraham, Truman Newton, Burpee Prouty, Zavan Ha-
zen, David Wilson, Polly Wilson, Abigail Hazen, Sophia Ingraham, Ee-
becca Smith, Daniel Newton, Sabra Newton, Bachel Burton, Eunice
Newton, Abigail Savage, Lucius Hazen, and David Hazen.
On receiving this petition, the church appointed, as a committee to
confer with the petitioners, Brothers Solomon Hazen and Asahel Dut-
ton. May 8th, the committee reported their conference with the peti-
tioners, and recommended that their petition be granted. Whereupon
the church voted to give their consent, etc. Subsequently the church at
Dothan granted letters of recommendation to the church in West Hart-
ford to the following named persons : Eeuben Hazen, Alandrus In-
graham, Elijah Hazen and wife, Luna Dutton, Carlton D. Hazen and
wife, Deborah Hazen, Norman Hazen, Dea. Julius Hazen, Solomon
Crandall, Hannah D. Hazen, Avice Prouty, Dea. John Fuller and wife.
Harper T. Savage and wife, Mrs. Abigail H. Dutton, and others.
CONGKEGATIONAL SOCIETY.
The Congregational Society in West Hartford was organized January
29th, 1829. The first meeting was held in the little brick school-house
in this village on the above date. Dr. David Ingraham was chosen mod-
erator ; Phineas Parkhurst, clerk and treasurer ; Zavan Hazen, collector;
and David Hazen, Harvey Noble, and Joel Dimmick, prudential com-
mitte.
The constitution then ordained and established was then signed by
the following persons : —
Elijah H. Burton,
Thomas Crandall,
Calvin Dimmick,
Chaunoey Dimmick,
Joel Dimmick,
Oren Dimmick,
Samuel B. Dinmiick,'
James Dunn,
Jason Downer,
John Downer,
Stephen S. Downer,
James Gage,
Dan Hazen,
David Hazen,
EUsha Hazen,
Levi Hazen,
Lucius Hazen,
Lyman Hazen,
Reuben Hazen,
Reuben Noble Hazen,
Stillman Hazen,
Zavan Hazen,
Abel Howard,
Eliphaz Hunt,
David Ingraham,
Baxter B. Newton,
Tiaiman Newton,
Harvey Noble,
Hu-am Parkhurst,
Phiueas Parkhurst,
Oadwell Phelps,
Morris Phelps,
Jolm Pinks,
Burpee Prouty,
John Reddington,
Wm. A. Simonds,
Ii-a Tenney,
James Wade,
Asa Whitcomb, Jr.,
WUlard White,
Noadiah White,
Thomas Whitney,
David Wilson.
Prior to the formation of this society many of the people in this sec-
tion attended religious meetings at the Centre of the town. Others at-
tended the meetings which were held by the Baptists, in the house of
Col. Joel Marsh, at West Hartford, and in the brick school house. Con-
' Mr. S. B. Dimmick is the only surviving member who signed the constitution.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 337
verts to the Baptist faith were baptized in the river near where the
old hotel now stands. A Mr. Martin, who was a Christian minister,
preached here a few times about 1819. There is a blank in the records
of this society from January 7th, 1833, to January, 1838. During this
interim a meeting-house was built in 1882. The cost of this house, the
sale of pews, the registration of the pew-holders ; in a word, all the
bushiess transactions of the society during those five years, are matters
of doubt and uncertainty, owing to the culpable negligence of the clerks.
Dr. Ira Tenney and W. L. Bragg.
The church was organized June 3d, 1830. In pursuance of letters
missive from a committee at "West Hartford, who were members of Con-
gregational churches in other parts of the town of Hartford, an ecclesias-
tical council convened in the house of Dr. David Ingraham, in that vil-
lage, consisting of the following pastors and delegates, viz : —
North Church, in Norwich^Rev. S. Goddard, pastor, and J. Emerson,
delegate.
North Church, in Hartford— Eev. Austin Hazen, pastor ; A. Dutton,
delegate.
Sharon — Rev. Samuel Bascom, pastor ; Samuel Steele, delegate.
Pomfret — Dea. David Dana, delegate.
Royalton — Rev. A. C. Washburn, pastor ; George Rix, delegate.
Council was organized with Rev. S. Goddard, moderator ; and Rev.
A. C. Washburn, scribe. After proceeding to business, there appeared
Gershom Rice and Roger Marsh, as delegates from the church at White
River village. After long and serious deliberation, the council resolved
to form a church to be called " The Congregational Church of West
Hartford."
The following order of exercises was adopted : Sermon, Rev. A. C.
Washburn; fellowship of the churches. Rev. S. Goddard. The public
exercises were then proceeded with. The sermon by Mr. Washburn
was founded on 1. Thess. 2: 11, 12.: "And ye know how we exhorted
and comforted and charged every one of you as a father his children,
etc."
The following persons were then organized into a church, all of them
being recommended to the council from other churches, viz: David In-
graham, Truman Newton, Burpee Prouty, Zavan Hazen, David Wilson,
Polly Wilson, Eunice Newton, Lucius Hazen, Abigail Hazen, Sophia
Ingraham, Rebecca Smith, Daniel Newton, Sabra Newton, Rachel Bur-
ton, Abigail Savage, David Hazen, from the North church at Dothan ;
with two from the church at the Centre of the town, making a total of
eighteen members. During the year 1830, the membership of the
church was increased to thirty-seven, of whom six only were by profes-
sion.
228 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Before the meeting-liouse was built, religious meetings were held in
the brick school-house by the Congregationalists, and in the house of
Joel Marsh by the Baptists. Eev. A. 0. Washburn was the first preacher
employed by the Congregational Society. He preached often during the
years 1828-29. Eev. Joseph White was the second acting pastor. His
ministrations extended to January 1st, 1833. Much religious prosperity
attended his labors. In a little more than one year sixty-seven united
with the church — fifty-five by profession. Prom January, 1833, to May,
1836, the pulpit was supplied by Eev. Samuel Bascom of Sharon, Eev.
Joseph White and Esthers. Eev. E. A. Watkins was acting pastor from
May 27, 1836, to January 12, 1845. During his ministry in 1842, there
were large accessions to the church. The next supply was Eev. Samuel
M. Stone, who preached from May 16, 1845, to August, 1846.'
Eev. William Olaggett, who was the first and only pastor of this
church, came with his family in December, 1846. He was installed Jan-
uary 31, 1849. The record of the council is as follows, viz :
" Pursuant to letters missive from the Congregational church in West
Hartford, an Ecclesiastical council convened at that place at 2 o'clock
p. M. for the purpose, if thought proper, to assist in the installation of
Rev. Wm. Claggett, as their pastor. The Council consisted of the fol-
lowing pastors and churches :
Pomfret, Rev. Elihu Smith, acting pastor; White River village.
Rev. Josiah Merrill, pastor ; Br. John Strong, delegate ; Norwich,
north, Rev. E. B. Emerson, pastor; Dea. Samuel Goddard, delegate ;
Quechee, Rev. John Dudley, acting pastor ; Dea. Solomon Crandall,
delegate; Sharon, Dea. Timothy Marsh, delegate.
Rev. Nelson Barbour, agent for the American Prot. Society, Rev.
John Adams and Rev. J. Richards, D. D., were present. After an in-
vestigation, the council voted to proceed with the installation. The
parts were then arranged as follows :
Invocation and reading Scriptures, Rev. E. B. Emerson ; introduc-
tory prayer. Rev. John Adams ; sermon. Rev. J. Richards, D. D. ; in-
stalling prayer. Rev. Nelson Barbour; charge to the pastor, Rev. Elihu
Smith; address to the people. Rev. John Dudley; fellowship of the
churches. Rev. Josiah Merrill; concluding prayer, Rev. E. B. Emerson;
benediction by the pastor. Rev. Wm. Claggett.''
The council then adjourned to meet at the house of the pastor-elect
on the following morning.
Jan. 31st, Council met as per adjournment, and voted to proceed to
' Mr. Stone met with a fatal accident in August, 1846. While on his way to Han-
over, N. H., to attend commencement exercises, he was thrown from his carriage
and his right leg was broken. From this accident he soon after died.
' Mr. Claggett was dismissed in May, 1859. He died in Washington, N. H.,
August 1st, 1870.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 339
the meeting-house and engage in the services, which were pei-f ormed
according to the arrangement.
ELIHU SMITH, Moderator.
JOHN DUDLEY, Scribe.
Attest, LUCIUS HAZEN", Clerk of Church and Society.
Rev. James B. Gilbert supplied the pulpit from June 1st to Septem-
ber 1st, 1859. He was succeeded by his brother, N. P. Gilbert, who
preached from October 16th, 1859, to Feb. 12th, 1860. From this last
date until the arrival of Rev. Horace Wellington, the society was sup-
plied by Rev. Heman Rood. Rev. Horace Wellington commenced his
labors in November, 1860, and continued until January Slst, 1869.
From Jan. Slst to April 4th, 1869, the church was supplied by Prof.
Henry C. Parker of Dartmouth College, who also preached several
times subsequently during the following five months. Prof. Parker
was very much liked. To a fine physique, he added a gracefulness of
manner, a pleasing address, deep learning, unquestionable piety, and a
fervent, earnest delivery.
Mr. Parker was succeeded by Messrs. Pierson and Frary, of Andover
Theological Seminary; Profs. Noyes and Packard of Dartmouth Col-
lege; Rev. Geo. E. Byington; Rev. Dr. Clement of Norwich, and Rev.
Mr. Smith of Hanover Centre, till Sept. 19th, 1869. Rev. Asa liem-
menway, formerly connected with the Siam mission, and late of
Mooers, N. Y., commenced his ministry in this parish, Sept. 18th, 1869,
and remained until January 1st, 1871. The pulpit was next supplied
by Rev. Bezaleel Smith, from April 9th, J 871, to January 1st, 1878.
Mr. Smith was succeeded by Rev. Frederick Newport, July 14th, 1878.
He preached until Feb., 1880. Rev. Robert D. Miller commenced his
labors Feb., 1880, and continued until 1885. Rev. S. L. Vincent, the-
present acting pastor, began his labors May 1st, 1885. Dismissed in
1887.
RECAPITULATION — PASTOKS AND ACTING PASTORS.
*Rev. Azel Washburn, A. P 1838. Jan. 1831.
Rev. Joseph White, A. P. _ - -Jan. 1831. Jan. 1833.
*Rev. Samuel Bascom, A. P __ July 1834. Jan. 1836.
*Rev. R. A. Watkins, A. P. May 1836. July 1845.
*Rev. Samuel M. Stone, A. P May 1845. July 1846.
*Rev. Wm. Claggett, Pastor Dec. 1846. May 1859.
Rev. James R. Gilbert, A. P_ May 1859. Oct. 1859.
*Rev. Nath. P. Gilbert, A. P Oct. 1859. Feb. 1860.
Rev. Heman Rood, A. P _ Feb. 1860. Nov. 1860.
Rev. Horace Wellington, A. P Nov. 1860. Jan. 1869.
Rev. A. Hemmenway, A. P _ _ . -Sept. 1869. Jan. 1871.
Rev. Bezaleel Smith, A. P Apr. 9, 1871. Jan. 1, 1878.
Rev. Frederick Newport, A. P July 14, 1878. Feb. 1880.
Rev. R. D. Miller, A. P Feb. 1880. Apr. 1885.
Rev. S. L. Vincent, A. P - -May 1, 1885. Apr.35, 1888.
*Known to have deceased.
230 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
There have been fewer cases of discipline and excommunication in
the "West Hartford Congregational church than in the churches in other
parts of the town. Four cases only of excommunication have occurred
during a period of fifty-five years.' All of these were caused by a
withdrawal of the niembers, from the watch and care of the church,
this being the only misdemeanor charged against them. One of this
number was afterwards reinstated, and received a letter to the church
at White River village.
February 3d, 1861, the members of the church assented to a newly
framed confession. The fourth clause of the confession is here quoted
as it shows to what a deplorable condition a church, or a community
may be brought by the evil disposition and habits of a few individuals,
including both professors and non-professors of religion. The fourth
clause of the confession is as follows :
" We acknowledge to a great delinquency throughout this church in
respect to christian conduct and example, whereby the cause of Christ
has been much dishonored. We acknowledge the obligation upon us
as professed christians to seek the purity and honor of the church to
which we belong. And while there have been, and are still, to some ex-
tent, evils among us which dishonor the christian name, such as an undue
license of the tongue,'' attendance upon balls and dancing-parties, and
a lack of christian integrity in business engagements, we disclaim all
sympathy with such evils, and acknowledge our obligation and inten-
tion to seek to have them removed from the church for the honor of
Christ and the christian name."
DEACONS OP THE CHUECH. '
*David Ingraham _._ June 1830 Mar. 1835.
*Burpee Prouty June 1830 Feb. 1849.
Solomon CrandaU___ Feb. 1835 _ Aug. 1840.
Constance Sheppard Jan. 1836 Mar. 1840.
*John Fuller July 1841 ...Sept. 1861.
Harper T. Savage Aug. 1845 _._Oct. 1856.
■*Snas Ingraham Jan. 1860 Mar. 1865.
Carlton D. Hazen Jan. 1860 Jan. 1870.
Sherburn D. Hutching ...Apr. 1865 Apr. 1867.
*Fi-ankUnS. Hazen Feb. 1870 .. 1879.
JohnH. Hazen Feb. 1870 1887.
Geo. T. Hazen .May. 1882 "
*Dead.
' The members of the church referred to were Noah Dutton, Enos Newton, Laura
Ann (nee Dutton) Newton, and Charles H. Thurston. In 1843, the first three be-
came "Second Adventists," but failing in their expectation to " go up," at the time
designated by Miller, their prophet, they renounced the church, and turned to the
"world." C. H.Thurston was cut off from the church March 29th, i866. After
a full confession made Feb. 17th, 1875, he was restored. Feb. 29th he was recom-
mended to the White River village church.
' " The censorious cultivate the forms of religion that they may more freely in-
dulge in the only pleasure of their lives — that of calumniating those who to their
other feelings add not the sin of hyprocricy." — Colton. The most ridiculous de-
riders of piety, and the most bloodthirsty pirate upon the high seas, [are white souled
and harmless as doves in comparison with the man or woman, who play the infer-
nal roles of tale-bearers and scandal mongers against their neighbors. This class of
humanity are a deadly bane to society at large, and an incubus upon the churches
which they bring into contempt and decay.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 331
The clerks of the church and society are not all named in the re-
cords. The list of clerks of the church since June, 183.3, are as follows :
Samuel Dutton, Jr., June 1833 — Feb. 1835 ; Rev. Samuel Bascom,
Feb. 1885— Feb. 1836 ; Solomon Crandall, Feb. 1836— May 1836, and
Jan'y 1845— May 1845 ; Eandall A. Watkins, May 1836— Jan'y 1845 ;
Samuel M. Stone, May J846— Aug. 1845 ; Lucius Hazen, Aug. 1846—
May 1854 ; James B. Gilbert, May 1859— Oct. 1859 ; N. P. Gilbert,
Oct 1859— Feb. 1860 ; Loren B. Dudley, Feb. 1860— Nov. 1861 ; Carl-
ton D. Hazen, Nov. 1861 — Feb. 1870 ; Henry H. Hayes, (present clerk)
Feb. 12, 1870-1889.
The whole number connected with the church since its organization
is 303. The statistics of the church in January, 1885 were as follows :
Organization of the church, 1830 ; Minister, Eev. Robert D. Miller, A.
P.; church members, 21 males, 48 females. Total, 69 ; Sabbath-school
scholars, 50 ; families, 88 ; benevolent contributions, $30 ; house expen-
ditures, $400.
In 1860, the meeting-house underwent thorough repairs. The pews
were changed, the gallery was lowered a few feet, the walls were pa-
pered and the floors were carpeted. A new pulpit was built, and nice
lamps were affixed to this and to the walls of the house. Nearly the
whole expense of the repairs was defrayed by the Ladies' Sewing Society
of this parish, and the work was superintended by Messrs. Alvan and
Samuel B. Tucker. The late Abner Fuller, bequeathed to this society
the sum of $400, the interest of which was to be used for the support
of preaching. The late Thaddeus Dutton was constituted executor of
the will. March 24th, 1870, after much disagreement, the society ap-
pointed Bartlett Dimmick trustee of the fund. Later the fund was in-
vested in a parsonage, which was the first the society ever owned.
In 1884, the Congregational society expended about $1200 in making
improvements within and without their meeting-house. The pews,
pulpit and gallery for the choir, were constructed anew. The gallery
was placed in the corner of the house to the left of the pulpit and
facing the pews. New carpets were laid, new windows and blinds sub-
stituted for the old, new pulpit furniture and new heating apparatus
supplied, and the walls handsomely kalcomined. The new stoves were
the gift of Mr. Carlos Hazen, of Lowell, Mass., a native of West Hart-
ford. The pulpit furniture was contributed by the ladies of the parish.
CHABACTEEISTICS OP MINISTERS.
In consideration of the limited salary, offered and paid by this so-
ciety, it has been fortunate in obtaining many ministers of marked abil-
ity, and none, with one or two exceptions, who have not labored accept-
ably and successfully in the vineyard of the Lord.
332 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Eev. Eandall A. Watkins, the first settled minister, was a man of ec-
centric character. He was however a deep thinker, and a profound
theologian. He had none of those prepossessing ways that mark the
popular preacher. His sermons were purely doctrinal, and he dealt
ponderous blows against the bulwarks of satan. He preached without
gesticulation, and in nasal tones, and on summer days, the most wake-
ful members of his congregation became a trifle drowsy, when the good
preacher reached the " fifthly " of the fifth division of his sermon. Mr.
Watkins was an inveterate smoker, and the weed being very offensive to
Mrs. Watkins, she arranged the matter to their mutual comfort and
satisfaction by having a hole cut through the fireboard, into which he
put his pipe, and the noxious fumes went up the chimney. Several
years after he left West Hartford, Mr. Watkins removed with his
daughter Elizabeth, near Chicago, 111., where in 1870, he died in a state
of wretchedness, filth and destitution, to which he had voluntarily aban-
doned himself, and subjected his daughter. An account of the matter
first appeared in the Chicago papers, which was copied by the press all
over the aountry.
Rev. Horace Wellington, who was acting pastor from 1860 to 1869,
was an able preacher, and during his ministry large accessions were
made to the church. He was not, however, one of those men who attract
by personal magnetism, and win friendly regard by deeds of loving
kindness. He cultivated acquaintances with but a few of his parishioners.
Had he been as attentive to all the sheep of his flock, as he was to a
few cossets, his services would have been generally more profitable to
the flock, and quite as acceptable to the Great Shepherd.
Eev. A. Hemmenway was a very popular man with all classes of his
parishioners, especially with the poor. From the time he began his
labors he brought many people out to meeting who had seldom, if ever
before, attended religious services. He acted the part of a Christian
gentleman, and won love and respect by being deserving of both. He
passed much of his time among his parishioners, ingratiated himself
into their favor by a uniform expression of kindly interest, ajid made
himself beloved and welcomed by every one. Consequently, he was
successful in his endeavors to promote the Master's cause. " Ubi mel,
ihi apes." Where there is a pleasing attraction there will be no want of
followers.
.HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
335
The signers to the constitution at this meeting were as follows: —
A. G. Dewey,
S. J. MeiTUl,
H. E. Gilson,
Wm. L. Bragg,
Wm. Lindsey,
T. C. Slayton, '
U. H. Chui-ch,
Clark Newton,
L. M. Benson,
D. L. Gushing,
Wm. 8. Carter,
J. C. Parker,
P. M. Anderson,
Urial Spalding,
G. W. Fogg,
Chas. K. Whitman,
Henry Safford,
Lucius Morse,
Willie C. Bliss,
Albourne Lull,
H. P. Taylor,
G. D. Eastman,
Jas. H. Tracy,
Oliver D. Tewksbury,
L. H. Cady,
Jacob Dimiok,
N. S. ShaUies,
Jos. C. Aikens,
E. P. Lamphire,
E. F. Sisco,
Ormon W. Wood,
Jno. C. Head,
Wm. WaUis,
J. C. Morse,
F. A. Sumer,
Clias. H. Gardner,
Jesse S. Gardner,
John Porter,
Jolin T. Sisco,
Nathan Haxlow,
Orman B. Head,
Frank S. Hewitt,
Chas. Tinkham,
Albert Smith,
Chas. H. Shattuck.
S. P. Buckman,
Asa Russ,
John L. Coolidge,
Thos. S. Carter,
Channing WUliams,
Wm. S. Dewey,
H. O. Stephens,
N. S. Holt,
Eugene Church,
Scott Tinkham,
Frank Saxie,
C. W. Cowen,
J. W. Parker,
Chas. A. Sperry,
Benj. Carpenter.
The first annual meeting was held Oct. 31, 1871, at which time John
Porter was elected president, and D. L. Gushing secretary of the soci-
ety. A committee of three, consisting of Charles E. "Whitman, Urial
Spalding and tJ. M. Church, was appointed by the president to present
the names of three members to act as a prudential and building com-
mittee for the year ensuing. On the 7th of November following, the
election of officers was completed by the choice of W. S. Dewey as treas-
urer, and Chas. E. "Whitman, collector. A building committee was then
chosen, consisting of J. C. Parker, D. L. Gushing, and TJ. M. Church.
The society voted to locate the meeting-house on what was known as
the " Euss place," ' owned by "W. S. Carter, and then occupied by John
Hart and E. F. Sisco.
At a meeting held Nov. 21, 1871, the building committee were in-
structed to employ Mr. T. "W. Silloway, of Boston, as architect. The
meeting-house was completed and dedicated on Thursday, May 23,
1873. The dedicatory exercises were conducted by Eev. Jonathan
Clement, D. D., assisted by Eev. "Wm. Sewall, of Lebanon, N. H., and
Eev. B. Smith, of "West Hartford.
Pursuant to notice given on dedication day, a meeting of the society
was held in the meeting-house May 24, 1873, J. C. Parker presiding.
On motion of Mr. James H. Piatt, the pews were sold at auction to the
highest bidders. Fifty-seven of the sixty-two pews in the house were
thus solid, the amount realized being $1393. The sale was made for a
fractional part of the year, terminating December 31, 1871.
' This meeting-house occupies the site on wliich for many years stpod a brewery
or distillery.
236 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
Dec. 31st, 1873, the society decided to build a parsonage,' and chose
for a building committee Messrs. W. L. Bragg, J. C. Parker, D. L. Gush-
ing, and Sylvester Merrill. Dec. 20, 1879, John F. Sisco was elected
clerk of the society, which office he has continuously held to the present
time (1889).
At the annual meeting of the society Dec. 25, 1886, the following
named officers were elected: President, Henry Safford; committe, L.
H. Cady, C. E. Whitman, and E. W. Church ; treasurer, F. S. Hewitt ;
secretary, J. F. Sisco ; collector, H. O. Stephens. At the annual sale of
pews, Jan. 1, 1887, forty-five in number, the sum realized was $1184.50.
The salary of the pastor was fixed at $800, with free use of the parson- ,
age, and an annual vacation of four weeks, at the time Eev. N. F. Carter
was engaged to preach. This is equivalent to a monied salary of
$1000.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN Q0ECHEE VILLAGE.
The first Congregational church in Quechee village was organized
Jan. 13, 1881. The records of this church open as follows :
"Hartford, Quechee Village, December 23, 1830."
To take into consideration the expedience, and, if judged expedient
to form a church in this place, a council by letters missive were con-
vened this day at the house of widow Marsh, consisting of:
Samuel Goddard, Pastor, Thomas Hazen, Del., Norwich, Vt.
Austin Hazen, Pastor, Daniel Hazen, Del., Dothan (Hartford.)
Daniel Dana, Del., from Woodstock.
Samuel Delano, Pastor, Seth Tinkham, Del., Hartland.
Joseph Marsh, Pastor, Peter Abbott Del., Pomfret.
Samuel Goddard was chosen Moderator and Joseph Marsh Scribe.
Meeting was opened with prayer by the moderator. The brethren who
were expected to be embraced in said church not all being present, a com-
mittee of three, viz : Samuel Goddard, Austin Hazen and Samuel De-
lano, were appointed to confer with them, and the council adjourned
till nine o'clock to-morrow morning."
December 24th, the council met as per adjournment, at the house of
Ethan Burnap, when it was deemed advisable to postpone proceedings,
to give time for further preparations. The council therefore adjourned
to January 13, 1831. On the day appointed the council convened at
the house of widow Marsh. Rev. John Richards, pastor of the church
in Woodstock, was present. After hearing a report of what had been
dfne since the adjournment, and of the state of things at the present
time, and all inquiries having been satisfactorily answered by Rev. Mr.
Stone, the council then examined the articles of faith and covenant pro-
fessed to be adopted, and finding them satisfactory, voted, unamiously, to
proceed in the formation of a church with such individuals as were ready
to be received. After addressing the throne of grace by the moderator,
a church was then formed consisting of the following named persons :
' The parsonage is located on the site formerly occupied by the store of Barron
& Ransom, merchants.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 337
By letter — Zenas Darling, Benjamin Abbott, Dorcas Abbott, Olive
EiUSB, Rebecca Pease and Susan Jenning.
By profession — Elihu Ransom, Elihu Woodward, Jr., Esther Page
and Mariah Woodward.
The first communion was administered, February 6, 1831, by Rev. J.
F. Stone, who was the first acting pastor. On this occasion, the follow-
ing named persons joined the church, viz: Percy Marsh, Jane Randall,
Gratia Marsh, Mary Pitkin, Erepta Marsh, Emily Marsh, Molly Ses-
sions and Hannah Pease."
or MINISTERS.
I shall quote, verbatin, the records made by the clerks of the church
concerning ministers, from the organization of the church to the instal-
lation of the Rev. N. F. Carter.
" 1830, 1st Sunday in Feb. — Rev. John P. Stone, commenced preach-
ing and continued his labors for one year.
1831, August. — Mr. Goddard preached three or five Sabbaths.
About the first of September, this year. Rev. Joseph Marsh commenced
preaching and continued for six months.
1832, March. — Rev. Mr. Marsh preached three Sabbaths. June and
July Mr. Goddard of Norwich preached three Sabbaths. September
3d, Rev. Mr. Shurtleff of Hanover, commenced preaching, and preached
seventeen Sabbaths.
1833. — We were supplied by Mr. Shurtleff through the year.
1834, Feb. 6. — At a meeting of the church holden at the dwelling
house of E. Burnap, the church voted that they should be highly grati-
fied if the labors of Rev. Harvey Leavitt can be obtained. Also voted
that a committee of two be appointed to join the committee of the Con-
gregational society, and the committee of the Meeting- House Society
and unitedly give Mr. Leavitt a call, &c. (This proved unsuccessful.)
1834. — In October, Mr. Shurtleff discontinued preaching. In No-
vember, Rev. Mr. Taylor, preached three Sabbaths.
1835. — A protracted meeting was held for eight days in succession,
carried on by neighboring ministers, (thirty-four persons were added
to the church.) April 12, Mr. Wood (Rev. Luke) commenced preach-
ing here and preached five Sabbaths, then returned home.
tTune 30, 1835. — At a meeting of the Congregational church of
Quechy Village, holden at the Meeting house, — Voted, that we invite
Rev. Luke Wood, of Killingworth, Conn., to settle with ns in the Gospel
Ministry, as our iPastor & Teacher. Voted that we will give Mr. Wood
Three hundred dollars per year, provided the Congregational Society
in this place concur in the above votes. Voted that the Moderator, &
Mr. Shubel Russ (clerk) apply in behalf of the Church of the V. D. M.
Society for one hundred dollars to aid in supporting Rev. Luke Wood
the ensuing year, as our Pastor and Teacher.
August 26, 1835. — After mature deliberation Rev. Luke Wood con-
cluded to accept the invitation of the church and people of Quechy
' December 14, 1830, the Congregational church of White River village passed
the following vote : — "That the following persons, viz : Elihu Woodward, Mary
Pitlcin, Lucy Russ. Olive Russ, Rebecca Pease, Susan Jennings, Erepta Marsh,
Percy Marsh, Gratia Marsh and Mary Childs, be permitted to unite with the con-
templated church, whenever formed, in Quechee village, and that when so united
they be considered as dismissed from our particular connection,"
338 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
Village, and this day he was installed to the pastoral care of said church
and people, by a convocation of ministers convened for that purpose.
May 15, 1837. — On the ground that his salary vras inadequate to a
support, the Rev. Luke Wood vf as regularly dismissed from his pastoral
relation to the church and society in this place. In September, Eev.
L. Bliss, commenced preaching as stated supply, and continued to
supply until December, 1839.
1840. — Rev. Thompson Bird supplied us for about three months. In
May — Rev. Job Oushman commenced preaching and continued until
March 1841. 1841, — 2d Sabbath, — Sewall Paine commenced preaching.
1842, March or April, discontinued.
1842, April 28. — Rev. George Butterfield commenced preaching and
closed his labors Jan'y 1st, 1845, when Rev. Abram Jackson com-
menced preaching and preached twelve Sabbaths.
1845, Apr. 5th.— Rev. Jno. Dudley, commenced preaching and
ministered to this church for the space of five years, when, having an
invitation to labor with the church at Danville, he felt it to be his duty
to accept, and left us in the Spring of 1850.
2rf Sabbath in June 1850, Rev. Abram Jackson resumed labors among
us and served the church as a stated supply until the fall of 1852. Rev.
Heman Rood commenced preaching as stated supply the third Sabbath
of January 1853, and left April 1st, 1858. — Eev. Mr. Haddock, of
Lebanon, N. H., commenced preaching in the Spring of 1858.
1861. — Rev. Prof. Charles B. Haddock's ministry here was terminated
by sudden death early in January. While stated supply here his
residence was in West Lebanon, N. H. Eev. Prof. S. G. Brown, of
Dartmouth College, supplied from the time of Prof. Haddock's death
till the last of July, 1861. Rev. Royal Parkinson began to minister, as
stated supplv, Aug. 1st,, 1861, and continued until March, 1868. Rev.
Prof. Aiken (Dart OoL), succeeded Mr. Parkinson, and preached till
August or Sept., 1863, when Mr. Wm. Bacon came. Mr. Bacon left for
Shoreham Jan'y 1, 1864, at which time Prof. Aiken again commenced
preaching and supplied the pulpit until about April 1st, 1865.
On the 12th of June, 1866, the church and society united in inviting
Rev. J. W. Kingsbury to become their pastor. Mr. Kingsbury ex-
pressed his acceptance on the 15th inst., and on the 28th inst. pursuant
to letters missive, a council convened in the house of worship, in Que-
chee Village, consisting of the following named churches : —
Hartford — Rev. B. P. Ray, pastor ; Charles D. Hazen, delegate.
West Hartford — Rev. H. Wellington, acting pastor.
Norwich — Rev. Wm. Sewall, acting pastor ; John Wright, delegate.
Pomfret — Rev. W. H. Kingsbury, acting pastor ; Elisha Hewitt,
delegate.
Woodstock — Dea. Dana Pierce, delegate.
Hartland — Eev. Chas. W. Clark, acting pastor ; EUas Bates, delegate.
Windsor — Eev. E. H. Byington, pastor.
W. Lebanon, N. H. — Eev. J. H. Edwards, pastor ; Dan'l Eichardson,
delegate.
The council was organized by the choice of Eev. B. P. Eay, Moderator,
and Eev. Charles W. Clark, Scribe. After a due consideration of the
call extended to Mr. Kingsbury, his letter of acceptance and other
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 339
papers, and a relation of the candidate's christian experience, followed
by an examination as to his theological belief, the council voted to
proceed with the services of ordination and installation, with the follow-
ing order of exercises :- —
Invocation and reading of the Scriptures, Rev. 0. W. Clark ; sermon,
Rev. J. H. Edwards ; ordaining and installing prayer. Rev. H. Welling-
ton ; charge to the pastor, Rev. E. Byington ; fellowship of the
churches. Rev. W. H. Kingsbury ; address to the people, Rev. B. F.
Ray ; concluding prayer. Rev. Wm. Sewall ; benediction by the
Pastor.
The exercises were performed at 1.30 p. m., and the council dissolved.
The pastorate of Mr. Kingsbury continued until Sept. 28, 1869, when
in accordance with the advice of a council composed of the churches in
Woodstock, Hartland, Hartford, and West Hartford, a dissolution of
his pastoral relation terminated. Mr. Kingsbury was succeeded by
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Clement, who preached as supply until November,
1874.
On the 12th of Nov. 1874, Rev. Melvin May was installed pastor by
an ecclesiastical council, the following churches being represented : —
Hartford — Ephraim Morris, del.; West Hartford — Rev. Bezaleel Smith,
A. P.; Woodstock — Rev. L. W. Hicks, pastor; Dea. Thompson, del.;
Pomfret — Rev. D. Goodhue, A. P.; Dea. E. Hewitt, del.; Sharon — Rev.
E. B. Chamberlain, A. P.; Windsor — Rev. R. T. Searle, pastor; Dea. C.
D. Hazen, del.; West Lebanon, N. H. — Rev. A. B. Rich, D. D., pastor ;
Dea. Saml. Wood, del.; Norwich — Rev. Wm. Sewall, pastor ; E. B.
Phelps, del. Also, Rev. A. D. Smith, D. D., president Dartmouth Col-
lege ; Rev. Jonathan Clement, D. D.; Rev. J. L. Pitch, from the church
in Hartford.
Rev. B. Smith was chosen moderator ; and Rev. Wm. Sewall, scribe.
The installation services took place at 1.30 p. m., in the brick church
edifice.
Mr. May was dismissed October 20, 1875. Next came Rev. A. B.
Chase, who was ordained Dec. 14, 1876. The council consisted of the
churches in West Hartford, Norwich, Hartford, Pomfret. Sharon and
Springfield. Rev. Dr. J. Clement was chosen moderator, and Rev. S. I.
Briant, scribe. Mr. Chase preached as stated supply until some time in
1879. The clerk of the church has omitted to record the date of Mr.
Chase's dismissal, nor is there any record of the council convened on the
occasion of his dismissal.
Under date of Dec. 13, 1878, 1 find the following, viz :—
" At a meeting duly notified for doing church business, Henry Safford
and Luther H. Cady were elected deacons by every member present bal-
loting."
340 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Eev. N. F. Carter, after preaching eight months on trial, accepted the
following invitation to become pastor :
QuBOHBE, Feb. 2, 1880.
Rev. N. F. Carter :
Dear Beothee: — The imdersigned, on behalf of the Congregational church of
Christ, in Quechee, and the ecclesiastical society connected therewith, beg leave
respectfully to submit to your consideration the invitation or call to become pas-
tor of said church and society, together with the expression of oiir earnest hope
that you will be able to conclude it to be the desire of the Great Head of the
church that you accept the call and name an early day for the installation ser-
vice. Yours in the Gospel,
DANIEL L. GUSHING, )
WM. L. BRAGG, [ Com. of Society.
J. C. PARKER.
HENRY SAFFORD, )
L. H. CADY, [ Com. of Church.
R. A. SEAVER. \
Mr. Carter's letter of acceptance was dated Feb. 5, 1880. Feb. 11th,
letters missive, signed by the members of tBe above named committee,
were sent to various churches. Feb. 18, 1880, pursuant to the letters
missive, an ecclesiastical council convened in the house of worship in
Quechee village. Eev. E. B. Chamberlin called the council to order ;
Rev. A. B. Dascomb was chosen moderator, and offered prayer ; after
which Kev. E. B. Chamberlin was chosen scribe.
After the usual preliminary proceedings, the council voted to proceed
to the installation of Mr. Carter ; and the moderator, the scribe, and
pastor-elect were appointed to arrange the order of exercises for the in-
stallation.
The order of exercises was duly observed, after which the council
dissolved.
Mr. Carter continued pastor of the church until September 22, 1887,
when he was dismissed. He was the twenty-fourth minister emyloyed
by the church and society in Quechee during a period of about fifty-
seven years. The pastorate of Mr. Carter extended over a period of
seven years and seven months. The number of members received into
the church during his pastorate was sixty-seven.
The total number of church members, as exhibited by the church
record, to 1887, is 300, of which number about 100 were admitted dur-
ing the first five years of the existence of the church. The unclerical,
unmethodical, manner of keeping the church records subsequent to
1837 is a reproach to those whose duty it was to make a clear, correct
and plainly legible record; The status of the church is given but
twice,' viz., in May, 1845, and in June, 1846. That of May is as fol-
' I have said that the membership of the church is given but twice, to wit : May,
1845, and June, 1846. I have discovered under the head of " Miscellany," the fol-
lowing note: "1862, May ist, report 3, M.Ms. 29, fms — total, 32. Absent 5; 73
in S.S," which means that the number of church members, at that time, was 32 ;
males, 3; females, 29. Number of Sabbath-school scholars, 73.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 341
lows : Whole number of members 52 ; resident, 43; non-resident, 9 ;
females, 30; males, 13. That of June, 1846, is as follows : Whole
number, 65; resident members, 56; non-resident, 9; males, 21; females,
44 ; received by letter, 11 ; by profession, 4 ; dismissed by letter, 2 ;
net increase, 13.
There were but a few cases of discipline during a period of thirty-
seven years, ISSO-ISCV. Five persons only were excommunicated.
Owing to the incoherent manner of keeping the records, it is impossi-
ble to determine the names of the clerks and the deacons of the church.
It seems evident, however, that Shubel Russ officiated as clerk for
more than -thirty years from Jan'y, 1832. Among the deacons, were
Elihu Woodward, George Udall, Elisha Kinney, John Chase and
Solomon Crandall.
THE UNITED CHUECH OF CHRIST IN OLCOTT.
Religious services were held in Olcott, from the earliest settlement
(1886), in private houses and in the school house, mainly under the
du-ection of the Christian young men at Dartmouth College, with the
aid of the neighboring pastors. In December, 1887, it was thought
that the work could be better carried on by a church organization, and
at a meeting of all interested, it was unanimously voted to form a
Union Evangelical Church. A lot of land, at first offered for a Con-
gregational church, was donated to the proposed church. A creed,
covenant and rules of order were adopted and letters were secured by
several members, to such church; but, before the organization was
completed, the withdrawal of the Methodist members led to the aban-
doninent of the union enterprise.
The remaining members at a meeting held Aug. 9th, 1888, voted to
form a Congregational church. The gift of land was renewed to this
church. A council of the. neighboring churches at Hartford, Quechee
and Norwich, Vt., and Hanover, Lebanon apd West Lebanon, N. H., met
Oct. 14th, 1888, and after reviewing the proceedings of the church pro-
ceeded to recognize it as " The United Church of Christ " in Olcott.
It comprised eleven members. The devotional exercises were con-
ducted by Revs. E. T. Farrill, scribe, and R. C. Lansing. The mem-
bers were received and addressed by Rev. S. P. Leeds, moderator. The
prayer of recognition was by Rev. C. E. Havens, and the right-hand of
fellowship by Rev. S. I. Briant, with a response by Rev. A. S. Chase,
who is serving as pastor. Union services have been held in Cushman's
Hall since the Spring of 1888, and a Sunday-school with Edward Goss
as superintendent.
16
CHAPTEE XVII.
PEESBYTBEIAlsr CHTTECH IN DOTHAlf.
The first Presbyterian church collected in this region was organized
in Hanover, N. H., in January, 1111, by Dr. Eleazer Wheelock, the
first president of Dartmouth College. In his pastorate in Lebanon,
Ct., Dr. Wheelock was a Congregationalist. When he came to Han-
over he deemed it expedient in the organization of the new church to
adopt the Presbyterian form of government. The benefactions pro-
cured by Dr. Wheelock to increase the means of improvement were
contributed by friends of religion and humanity in different parts of
America, in England, and in Scotland. The money collected in Eng-
land was put into the hands of a board of trustees, of whom the Earl
of Dartmouth was at the head ; and that collected in Scotland was com-
mitted to the society for promoting Christian knowledge. The Scotch
fund for the education of Indians, in connection with Moor's Charity
School, was therefore controlled by Presbyterians, and a cordial sym-
pathy with the donors was regarded as essential to the highest success
of their benefaction.
The original membership of this church was twenty-seven, and com-
posed of persons on both sides of Connecticut river; or, in fact, it was
a church consisting of two branches, one of them being in Hanover,
and the other in Hartford. Worship was held alternately in Hanover,
and in Dothan parish, in Hartford. Dr. Wbeelock ofl5.ciated as pastoi
until his death, April 24th, 1119. He was succeeded by his son-in-law.
Rev. Sylvanus Ripley, Professor of Theology in Dartmouth College,
who continued in the pastorate till his death, February 5th, 1787. Ir
1782, Rev. John Smith, D. D., became associate pastor, and continuec
in that capacity until his death, April 30th, 1809, at the age of 59.
The first meeting-house was erected in Hanover in 1796, and ii
Dothan about 1798. Previous to the erection of the meeting-house ii
Hanover, meetings were held in private houses, and then in the colleg
chapel. At Dothan, meetings were held for some time in the house o
Thomas Hazen, where Leonard Hazen -now lives. The Presbyteria]
Society built an extension to Mr. Hazen's house, to provide a large
apartment for church services. The Society at Dothan never possesse
a bell. For many years the people were summoned to meeting by th
unharmonious but far-reaching notes of a conch-shell, which was blow
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 243
by Mr. Hazen whOe he lived. After he passed away no one was found
competent to fill his place in sounding it.
Toward the close of the last century a controversy arose. As early
as 1784, Dr. Eden Burroughs, pastor at Hanover Centre, renounced
Presbytery and a schism took place in his church. The tendency of the
region did not favor the more prelatical form of government. Nearly
all the churches were organizing under the Congregational form of
government. Personal questions relating to the policy in the college
government, became associated in the said church polity, and the dis-
cussions were of a very earnest nature.'
Dr. Worcester declined to accept the professorship tendered to him
and Roswell Shurtleff was elected to that chair in 1804. This appoint-
ment put a new face upon the controversy. A majority of the church
members resided in Hartford. It was in their power to control all the
plans of those who resided in Hanover. Along correspondence ensued;
various propositions were made by the minority, but all were rejected,
that portion of the church and congregation who resided in Hanover,
with few exceptions, desired tl at Prof. Shurtleff should officiate as
colleague to Dr. Smith. This request was preferred to him in September,
1804. He declined the invitation. Then the Hanover branch requested
the Hartford branch to allow Prof. Shurtleff to receive " ordination at
large," and take pastoral charge of the Hanover people, whUe Dr. Smith
should continue to officiate in Hartford. This proposition was declined.
Thea the Hanover branch petitioned for a mutual council to determine
whether two churches should be formed, by a local division, — one in
Hanover and one in Hartford. This petition was rejected. Thereupon
the Hanover people called an ex parte council to advise with them con-
cerning their difficulties. The council recommended a division. This
result was not accepted by the Hartford people. The trustees were
requested to interpose their official power and settle the dispute. They
so far succeeded as to secure a mutufel council, who said : ''We judge
'Judge Nathaniel Niles, a trustee of the college as early as 1793, writes of the
inception of this controversy as follows: — "Although they thought themselves
Presbyterians, they often found it convenient to have church meetings. They met
on the occasion of the election of Dr. Worcester, as professor of Divinity, and
passed several votes expressive of their being and designing to continue to be Pres-
byterians,, and that Dr. Smith was, and that they chose he should continue to be
their pastor. This was an offensive disappointment to the body of professors and
others on the Plain. They had on some account become dissatisfied with Dr. Smith,
both as pastor and teacher, and though they loved him as a man and a neighbor,
and having expected that the professor of Theology would be both teacher and
pastor, and the election of Dr. Worcester being highly pleasing to them, they found
themselves highlj disappointed in their hopes by these votes, which they suspected
had been passed with a view to prevent the pastor-elect from accepting the appoint-
ment, and still to hold them unpleasantly confined under the administration of Dr.
Smith." 4&
244 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
it expedient that there be but one church at present in connection with
Dartmouth College, denominated as formerly, consisting of two bran-
ches, one on the east side and the other on the west side of Connecticut
river, under the same covenant as heretofore ; that each branch, also,
have the exclusive privilege of employing and settling a minister of
their own choice," with other exclusive rights and powers to be enjoyed
by each branch, as though it constituted a distinct and separate church.
This decree was variously interpreted ; the Hartford branch claimed,
under its provisions, supremacy in the government of the entire church ;
and the Hanover branch claimed independency, from the same authority,
and proceeded to adopt a congregational form of government.'
On the 5th of July, 1805, the Congregational church in Dartmouth
College was organized by Eev. Isaiah Potter, of Lebanon, Kev. Asa
Burton, of Thetford, Yt., and Rev. Sylvanus Dame, of Orford. Prof.
Shurtleff was invited to act as pastor of the new church. He accepted
and remained in that relation until 1827. Prof. Shurtleff was the
representative of the new order ; Prest.' "Wheelock, the younger, of the
old order, which, by the new movement, became limited to Dothan
parish on the west side of Connecticut river. President Wheelock,
Prof. Smith and a number of Hanover people continued in the old
church and for many years came to Dothan to communion. During bis
later life and troubles with the college. Dr. Wheelock had warmer
friends and adherents in Hartford than in Hanover. It was through
his influence with the Hartford branch of the church that the petitions,
propositions and overtures made by the Hanover branch for a dissolu-
tion of the union were rejected, and a separate existence denied them.
Dr. Wheelock refused his consent for the reason that his influence and
power would be materially weakened by placing him in the minority of
the Hanover church. " He regarded the ecclesiastical feud as the fruit-
ful source of all his woes. It was a nucleus about which other official
difficulties clustered * * * Here was planted a seed which grew and
became a mighty tree whose branches, in some sense, overshadowed the
whole land ! "
"From 1804 to 1814, the controversy was chiefly local, disturbing the
harmony of the village church, and impeding the vigorous administra-
tion of the college, both in the faculty and board of trust. At the lat-
ter date, the public became interested in the quarrel and began to take
sides as their political or religious preferences inclined. During the
whole of the year 1815 the press in New Hampshire probably devoted
as much space to Dartmouth college as to political matters. In
'Sanborn's History of New Hampshire, p. 271,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 245
some instances the leading journals of the state devoted five' or six col-
umns to original articles pertaining to the college controversy. The
parties mutually charged each other with bigotry, intolerance and hy-
pocricy. The dispute soon became political in its character, and feder-
alists and republicans became earnest defenders of particular forms of
ecclesiastical government. The republicans in this case were generally
Presbyterians and the federalists Congregationalists. The former as-
sailed, the latter defended the action of the majority of the faculty and
trustees.'
Gov. Hill of New Hampshire, in his support of Thos. Jefferson, en-
tered into a bitter crusade against the Congregational churches and
ministers in the state of New Hampshire. , It suited well with his pur-
pose that he should espouse the cause of Dr. Wheelock. It was thus
carried into all the fierceness of New Hampshire political strife and as-
sumed in the end the formidable proportions of rival colleges and pres-
idents, and all that was involved in the Dartmouth college case in which
Webster's defence of alma mater and vested rights are so memorable.
From a sketch of President Francis Brown, by Rev. Henry Wood,
the following paragraph relating to the controvery is selected :
"Never has a cause been litigated in our country more important
from the principle to be established, and the interest remotely involved.
The existence, not only of this, but of all seminaries for education, and
of all corporate bodies whatever, was suspended upon the present de-
cision. The permanence of all the institutions of our country, whether
charitable, literary, or religious, and indeed the, very character of the
nation in its future stages, were connected with this adjudication upon
a point of constitutional law."
Referring to the importance of this case. Prof. Sanborn says:
" After the lapse of fifty years we are astonished at the evidence of
party feeling which the college controversy elicited. When it passed from
the academic shades of Hanover and entered the halls of legislation it be-
came a mere political question, and the common and vulgar weapons of
party warfare were used by the combatants. Imaginary foes, called by
one party bigots, fanatics, and aristocrats, and by the other infidels,
agrarians, and jacobins, were set up and hurled down by political and
literary knights on many a hard-fought field." In consideration of the
fact that this case grew out of the ecclesiastical strife betwen the two
branches of the church of Christ, the one in Hanover, and the other in
Hartford, one may exclaim, '' Behold how great a matter a little fire
kindleth ! "
The pastorate of Prof. Smith ceased with his death in 1809. Novem-
ber 1st, 1809, Rev. Eden Burroughs took upon himself the charge of
the church. The following entry, in his own handwriting, appears in
the church records :
' Sanborn's New Hampshire, p. 273.
246 HISTORY OF HARTB'ORD.
" Took upon me the charge of the church of Christ at Dartmouth
college Nov. 1st, 1809, and removed with my family into Hartford, in
the State of Vermont, on the 30th day of October (1810) following."
Sometime about the last of May, 1811, the following notification was
sent to the Rev. Prof. Shurtleff, to be published in the assembly on the
Sabbath, viz :
"As the reverend Londonderry Presbytery proposes at their ad-
journed meeting at this place, (Dothan) to consider the grounds and
progress of the difficulties which have and do subsist at the church of
Dartmouth College in its relations and concerns with those who were
formerly members and left the same ; it is hereby desired that any who
have objections to any of the measures and proceedings of said church
in regard to the above, or the conduct of any of its members, appear
and offer their objections to the said reverend Presbytery at their said
meeting."
(Signed) EDEN BUEROUGHS, pastor.
I shall now make some quotations from the records of the church : —
" At a meeting of the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College held in
the meeting-house in the vicinity of said college, Nov. 15, 1811 :
Voted, and chose Maj. Wm. H. Woodward to the office of an elder in
this church.
Voted — To invite the reverend Prof. Moore to become the pastor of
this church to take the particular pastoral care of that part of the
church who reside east of the Connecticut river, and that the reverend
Dr. Burroughs and Maj. Woodward be a committee to wait on the said
Prof. Moore with the above request ; and, that our said committee con-
fer with the said Prof. Moore and agree with him upon the circum-
stances under which he may comply with the above invitation."
" On the 23d of February, 1812, Maj. Wm. Woodward and David In-
graham were set apart and consecrated to the office of elders in this
church."
" In 1817, Wm. H. Woodward was elected clerk to keep the records
on the east side of Connecticut river, and Hezekiah Hazen to keep the
records on the west side of said river."
"At a church meeting holden at the meeting-house Sept. 26, 1813,
voted unanimously that Rev. J. W. Woodward be requested to act as
moderator of this church for the time being."
" At a church meeting holden at the meeting-house May 10, 1822,
voted to invite the Rev. James W. Woodward to take the pastoral care
of this church for the time being."
" June 9th, the Rev. J. W. Woodward gave his answer, 'that he ac-
cepted of the invitation to perform all the duties of a pastor which
would not interfere with the duties of his office at the Scientific Acad-
emy at Norwich, and the distance he was placed from us.' "
" At a meeting of this church Oct. 2, 1825, voted that the Rev. Ben-
nett Tyler, L. L. D., be the moderator of this church."
' Mr. Burroughs died at Dothan, May 22, 1813, at the age of 76. His remains
rest in the cemetery at Christian Street, in the east part of the town. He preached
the first election sermon before the General Assembly of Vermont in October, 1778
at Woodstoclc.
HISTOEY OF HAETFORD. 247
" August 7th, 1826. — At a church meeting at the meeting-house, it
was unanimously voted to invite Mr. Abram Brown to settle here to be
our minister. Sept. 27th, Mr. Brown was ordained pastor of this
church. Present — Eev. Samuel Goddard, North ch. in Norwich ; Rev.
James R. Wheelock, South ch. in Norwich ; Eev. Samuel Bascom, Sha-
ron ; Eev. Josiah Towne, Hanover ; Rev. Caleb Cutler, Lebanon ; Rev.
Austin Hazen, South ch. in Hartford ; Eev. Theopilus Packard, D. D.,
Rev. John Dutton, Rev. Samuel Marsh, Rev. Fayette Sheppard, and
Rev. Bennet Tyler, L. L. D., invited to sit with council.
Ordination exercises — Introductory prayer, Eev. Josiah Towne ; ser-
mon, Eev. Bennet Tyler ; ordination prayer, Eev. Samuel Goddard ;
charge, Eev. Samuel Bascom ; right hand of fellowship, Eev. Austin
Hazen ; address to church and people, Eev. .J. E Wheelock ; conclud-
ing prayer, Eev. Calvin Cutler.
SAMUEL GODDAED, Moderator.
AUSTIN HAZEN, Scribe."
" Mr. Brown was dismissed Sept. 22, 1829. After Mr. Brown left the
church had no moderator nor clerk until Feb. 3d, 1830, when Eev. Aus-
tin Hazen was installed pastor. The following pastors and delegates
were present at the council and installation : — North ch. in Norwich,
Rev. Samuel Goddard ; South ch. in Norwich, Rev, J. W. Woodward ;
delegate, Jacob Burton ; Sharon, Abijah Burbank, delegate ; Pomfret,
Rev. Joseph Marsh; Hartland, Rev. Samuel Delano : Hanover, Rev.
Nathan Lord ; Royalton, Rev. A. C. Washburn."
Mr. Hazen was dismissed Jan. 24, 1837. He removed to Berlin, where
he died in office in 1855. During the pastorate of Mr. Hazen the church
had a protracted difficulty with a refractory member, Capt. Dan Hazen,
who, in the premises, had asked for a letter of recommendation for him-
self and wife to the South church in Norwich, for the reason that " his
feelings had been injured by some of the members of the church — that
the brethren had lost confidence in him, and that he should enjoy him-
self better somewhere else." His request and complaint were referred
to various committees, in and out of the church, and finally he was paci-
fied, and peace prevailed for a short period ; but it was a calm before a
storm. May 21, 1837, Joseph Crandall, a member of the church, entered
a complaint against Mr. Hazen containing two counts ; first, that he
had laid violent hands on the son of Mr. Crandall, and traduced his
.character ; secondly, that he refused to settle a book account with said
Joseph Crandall. This resulted in the suspension of Mr. Hazen from
communion; whereupon, he asked for a mutual council, which was
granted, and the matter was referred to a committee consisting of the
pastors and delegates from the churches in Sharon, Strafford and Dart-
mouth College. During the deliberation of the council Mr. Hazen and
Mr. Crandall adjusted their difficulties, and Mr. Hazen was restored to
communion. He then renewed his request for a letter, and being pressed
for his reasons for wishing to leave, presented the following in writing
248 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
"First — I do not believe the government of the church is according
to the word of God.
/Secondly — Z have no heart to try to do anything where there is
no confidence in me. This from, a poor, sinful, depraved and de-
graded brother.''''
The church voted that the reasons were unsatisfactory, and refused
to grant a letter. In March, 1839, Mr. Hazen reiterated his request for
a letter, with the reasons above named. March 6, 1839, Dea. Julius
Hazen preferred a complaint against Mr. Hazen for living in constant
neglect of the ordinances of the church. This complaint was disregarded
by the church, but Mr. Hazen's letter was referred to an ecclesiastical
council.
It is evident that Mr. Hazen, in this juncture of the trouble, occu-
pied the vantage ground, at least in respect to the first reason he had
given for desiring to dissolve his connection with the church, which
was, in this matter, pursuing the same policy to perpetuate a reluctant
union with themselves, that had characterized their action toward the
Hanover branch of the church. Mr. Hazen was not alone in the opin-
ion he entertained respecting the policy of the church. There was a
growing tendency in favor of the more democratic form of government
of the Congregational church. Dr. Burroughs had renounced Presby-
tery as early as 1784, and notwithstanding he had subsequently ac-
cepted the pastorate of the Presbyterian church in Dothan, this step
simply evidenced his catholicity of sentiment. The renunciation of
Presbytery by the Hanover church was a supercession compatible with
the progressive spirit of the times. Furthermore, the church at Do-
than occupied an isolated position, that is, it had no connection with
any Presbytery. It was at this time under the pastoral care of a reg-
ularly ordained Congregational minister, installed over the church by a
purely congregational council. It had so far gravitated towards Con-
gregationalism, as to refer cases of discipline to the church for adjudi-
cation.
In this condition of things, the church commendably decided to lay-
aside the remaining peculiarities of Presbyterianism in order to accom-
modate the views of Mr. Hazen and certain others, and remove any
prejudices that existed in some nlinds, and give the church strictly and
entirely a Congregational character. Accordingly, the following action
was taken by the church, four days prior to the meeting of the ecclesi-
astical council : —
" 1839, April 5tl). At a full meeting of the church, according to no-
tice previously given, for Ihe purpose of changicgits forms, usages and
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 349
customs from that of Presbyterian to that of the Congregational form
of government, it was voted : —
' That hereafter, instead of referring cases of church discipline to the
elders of the church, they should be referred to the church for decision.
After which vote the elders individually wished to be released from
their office, and it was voted that their request should be granted.' "
The ecclesiastical council above referred to met in Dothan, April 9th,
1839. It was composed of Rev. Samuel Goddard, pastor, and Deacon
Dutton, delegate, from the North Norwich church ; Deacon Samuel Tracy
from the White River village church, and Rev. H. Wood, from the Han-
over church. A comprehensive statement of all the difficulties that had
occurred was made to the council, which, after a proper consideration
of the evidence adduced, reported :
'• That it was sorry to have witnessed anything like a spirit of crimi-
nation on the part of the church against Mr. Hazen, in respect to past
proceedings of the church. In difficult cases even good men may differ
in their judgment; with the best feelings and intentions they may en-
tertain different opinions on the matters before them. In such cases
instead of charging our brethren with improper motives we should
cherish the charity which helpeth all things and thinketh no evil, leav-
ing the motives to the judgment of God who alone knows the heart."
Council then intimated that " individuals may have spoken unkindly of
Mr. Hazen and been too inquisitive about little things in his private
concerns ; this deserves reproof.^'' Mr. Hazen erred in leaving worship
before he had asked and received a regular dismission His objections
to the church as Presbyterian were without foundation since it was ev-
ident that the church had but few features of Presbyterianism and
these quite harmless, though perhaps inconvenient, and we think the
objections removed when the church consented to abandon its peculiar-
ities to accommodate Mr. Hazen's views and desires. Council advised
all parties to endeavor to live together in christian forbearance and
unity, but in case the above result was not accepted»by both parties,
then, for the honor of religion and the peace of the church, a letter of
dismission should be given Mr. Hazen. Council commended the church
for having exhibited an enlarged and liberal spirit worthy of all praise,
in laying aside the remaining peculiarities of Presbyterianism, &c.
November 21st, 1838, Rev. Cary Russell was installed pastor of the
church. He was dismissed January 2d, 1844. He was the last pastor.
The council that dismissed him recommended that letters of dismissal
be granted to all who desired to unite with other churches in fellowship
with this. Nov. 14th, 1844, the following communication was handed
to the moderator : —
" To Dea. Julius Hazen, moderator of the church in North Hartford : —
Tou are hereby requested to notify a meeting of the church on Fri-
day the 22d, inst., at 6 o'clock, p. m., at the school house in Dothan, to
see if the church will vote to place themselves under the pastoral care
of Rev. Mr. L6rd at White River village and give letters of recommen-
dation to those who may wish to go to other places."
250 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
At the meeting held pursuant to the above roll-call, no action was
taken concerning a dissolution of the church. It was, however, voted
" that the delinquents on Mr. Eussell's salary ought to pay their assess-
ments." On Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1844, it was voted to place the church
under the pastoral care of Eev. Mr. Lord, and Wm. Savage and Dea.
Allen Hazen were chosen a committee to notify Mr. Lord. On the 23d
of March, 1847, another meeting was held, at which Eev. Wm. Claggett,
of West Hartford, was appointed moderator of the church. August 31,
1847, at an adjourned meeting, it was voted to dissolve the church, giv-
ing the clerk authority to grant letters of recommendation to those who
might call for them in due time.
Thus was dissolved a church that had existed for upwards of seventy
years. It embraced some of the most eminent divines of the country,
some of the most prominent men of the town, some of the most devout
Christians of the age. It was the parent of the church and society in
West Hartford ; it gave new life to the church in White Eiver village in
the decade between 1835 and 1845, and its Christian influence will extend
through all time, and only be fully known when time shall be no more ;
when the seal of the great record of human actions shall be broken be-
fore the throne of God, and every man shall be called to render an ac-
count of his stewardship on earth. The practical work of this church
was finished many years since, but its influence survives. Its members
have gone forth to strengthen other churches near and far. Something
of sadness gathers about a light departed, a church that has ceased to
be, but —
" Many shall rise up ia the great day and call it blessed."
In this connection, I will say that Hartford has sent forth a large
number of Congregational ministers. The following list embraces those
who were native and to the manor born: Austin Hazen Wright, Harvey
P. Leavitt, James Marsh, Abraham Marsh, John Safford Parsons, J. De
Forrest Eichards, Cyrus S- Eichards, Joseph Tracy, Ira Tracy, Myron
Tracy, John Button, Nathaniel Dutton, Daniel O. Gillett, Daniel Gibbs,
Austin Hazen, Allen Hazen, Austin Hazen 2d, 'William S. Hazen, Nor-
man Hazen, Henry A. Hazen, Benjamin Ela, George D. Marsh, Henry
D. L. Thurston, Fred L. Allen, Ebenezer Carter Tracy, Lewis Green.
" Some of these have served their kind, in deed and word, faithfully
and well. Three have been missionaries of the American Board in Chi-
na, Persia and India. President James Marsh has left the impress of
his richly cultivated mind and elaborate scholarship upon all those who
enjoyed his acquaintance as a teacher, a pastor, or a friend ; and also
upon the religious philosophy and belles lettres of the country. Joseph
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 251
Tracy is widely known as the editor of the Vt. Chronicle, Recorder and
Observer, the sagacious manager of the Massachusetts Colonization So-
ciety, the founder of Liberia College, the historian of the American
Board, and the " Great Awakeniag ; " and, generally, as an acute thiaker
and able writer. Ebenezer Carter Tracy, the founder and chief- edi-
tor of the Vt. Chronicle, (in 1826) filled his position for many years
laboriously, and was one of the finest models of a religious editor the
world ever knew. He was always candid, courteous, truthful and wise.
Through the paper he so ably edited he disseminated the principles that
marked his personal, exalted Christian life, and Congregationalism in
Vermont owes more to him than to any other mdividual for its main-
tainance and predominance as a form of church government."
CHAPTER XVIII.
EOMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
There were no regular ministrations in Hartford, according to the
forms of the Catholic church, prior to 1870. During the time of the
construction of the Vermont Central railroad through the town — 1846-7
— a large number of Irishmen were employed on that work. Many of
these, together with others who were employed in the building of the
Passumpsic railroad, became permanent settlers in the town, the larger
number being located in White Kiver Junction. This class of our popu-
lation being Roman Catholics in their religious belief, there were fre-
quent visitations by Catholic priests to the laity here for many years
before the creation of a parish. About the year 1870, Eev. M. Pigeon,
» Canadian priest, was sent to reside in Hartford. He lived here until
May, 1880, when he was sent to Underbill, Vt. Father Pigeon bought
the old Mosely house, in White River Junction, in 1870, and converted
it into a chapel, which was used until the erection of the present church
edifice in 1873, when the chapel was converted into a residence for the
priest. After the departure of Father Pigeon, Rev. Daniel Sullivan from
Burlington became pastor of the Catholic congregation. Father Sulli-
van remained about eighteen months. He was succeeded by Rev. Den-
nis Lynch from Brandon, who officiated as pastor until September 4th,
1884, when he was replaced by the present pastor. Father James Booth
Whitaker from St. Dennis' church, Montreal.
The church or parish property in White River Junction cost, in 1870,
the sum of $1800. Improvements, and the rapid increase in the prices
of real estate, give to this property at the present time a valuation not
far from $7000. This includes a school building, and also a church
burying ground in use since 1872. The church edifice is a neat and
pretty structure containing 128 pews, with a seating capacity for at least
400 persons. The church was dedicated to St. Antony, by which title
it is known. The number of families constituting the whole parish is
220, of which about sixty are located in White River Junction. The
congregation is probably the largest in the town. The school building
is closely adjacent to the church edifice. The number of pupils in the
parochial schools is now nearly sixty. The Sabbath school has some
over 120 pupils.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 253
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHDKOH IN HAETFOED.
The first Methodist preaching in the town of Hartford, so far as I
have been able to learn, wp,s in the year 1811, but as early as the year
1800, the town was included in a district, of which Shadrack Bostwick
was the presiding Elder. This fact is established by a certificate given
under the hand of Mr. Bostwick, of which the following is a true copy,
viz:
" This is to certify that Isaac Turner, of the town of Hartford, county
of Windsor, state of Vermont, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and regularly contributes to the support of the ministry of that
order. Given under my hand this 12th day of March, A. D. 1800.
(Signed) SHADEACK BOSTWICK.
Presiding Elder in said church and district, including the town afore-
said."
Inasmuch as there were many Methodists in this region, it seems
probable that the ordinances of baptism, marriage, and the burial of the
dead were, occasionally, at least, administered in the town either by the
presiding elder or by some itinerant deacon or preacher, prior to 1811.
In support of the opinion that there was Methodist preaching in the
town as early as 1811, 1 will here present a copy of a certificate of con-
secration made by Bishop Asbury in 1808,. and filed in the town clerk's
office of Hartford in 1811, viz :
" Know all men by these presents : that I Francis Asbury, Bishop of
the Methodist Episcopal church in America, under the protection of
Almighty God, and with a single eye to his glory, by the imposition of
my hand and prayer, have this day set apart Eleazer Wells, for the
office of Deacon in said Methodist Episcopal church — a man whom I
judge to be well qualified for that work — and do hereby recommend him to
all whom it may concern, as a proper person to a proper person to admin-
ister the ordinance of Baptism, marriage, and the burial of the dead, in
the absence of an Elder, and to feed the flocks of Christ so long as his
spirit and practice are such as become the gospel of Christ, and he con-
tinueth to hold fast the form of sacred words according to the estab-
lished doctrine of the Gospel.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this
nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eight. Done at N. London.
FRANCIS ASBURY, (L. S.")
Hartford, August 25th, 1811.
The foregoing is a true copy of the original certificate.
Attest, FREEGRACE LEAVITT, Town Clerk.
The foregoing certificate was given to Mr. Wells as a passport upon
which he could travel as an itinerant, and also, as an indorsement of his
religious persuasion and christian character that would not only ensure
to him a favorable reception and friendly greeting by members of his
354 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
own sect, but serve as a safeguard against undue interference in his
spiritual work, by those who might be disposed to question his creden-
tials.
Mr. Wells had been a resident of Hartford prior to the date of his
confirmation. On the 2d day of May, 1809, he was married to Olive
Bartholomew, a sister of the late Noah and Sheldon Bartholomew, and,
as appears by the date of the record of this certificate, was residing in
the town, or preaching here in 1811. Hence, we have good reason for
believing that he preached in the town during the years immediately
following his investment with the office of deacon, but no one now
residing in town is able to tell how many years thereafter, nor by whom
he was succeeded prior to 1845. There is authority for saying that as
early as 1841, Hartford belonged to the " Sharon, Norwich and Strafford
circuit,'' and that there was at that time Methodist preaching in the old
brick school house in the district known as " Jericho."
In 1845 the first Methodist meeting-house was built in Jericho during
the pastorate of P. T. A.lbee, who planned the house and assisted in
building it. It cost about $1000 and would seat about two hundred
persons. The building committee were Noah Bartholomew, Truman
H. Savage and probably Mr. Albee. The number of members at that
time was about twenty-five. Eegular preaching services were main-
tained for a little more than twenty years, until death and emigration
had so thinned the ranks as to render further efforts to maintain services
apparently useless, and therefore they were discontinued, and the
remaining members of the church resorted to other places for worship.
In 1874 the meeting-house was sold and removed to North Hartland;
where it is now being used for business purposes. The proceeds of the
sale were invested in building a meeting-house in Hartland.
In 1877 Methodist preaching was commenced in "White Eiver Junc-
tion, in the hall of the hotel which was loaned by the owner for that
purpose. The preacher in charge was the Eev. A. J. Hough. During
the second year of Mr. Hough's pastorate (August 10, 1878), the hotel
was burned, leaving the society houseless. In the autumn of 1878 a
meeting-house was built, 35x60 in size, at a cost of $2,700. The building
committee were Darius Eu^s, H. E. Tinker, and A. C. Martin. This
house has a seating capacity of about 400, and is a neat, airy and appro-
priate structure, and to the great credit of the society every dollar of
the expense incurred in buUding it was paid prior to the dedication of
the same in 1885.
Mr. Hough remained pastor for three years and was succeeded in
1880 by L. O. Sherburne, who remained three years. Mr Hough then
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 255
returned for a period of three years, at the end of which time Eev. E
L. Bruce became pastor and is now (1887) in charge. During the year
1886 a vestry was finished, also horse sheds, all of which cost abaut
$700. The present church membership is forty-four. The few in
numbers of this church and society, in the presence of obstacles of an
almost discouraging nature, have risen above every difficulty and have
accomplished good work in the vineyard of the Divine Master. No
people have been more fortunate than they in the assignment of pastors
made to them, and to no other church is the future seemingly more prom-
ising of progress and prosperity.
The following statistics will prove interesting :
" The first Methodist preaching in Eastern Vermont was by the cele
brated Nicholas Snethen, who was appointed to the Vershire circuit in
1796. A class was formed there, another followed in Barnard, and a
third was soon started in Barre, where the first Methodist meeting-house
in the Vermont Conference was built in 1801. From , these humble
beginnings the wort gradually and steadily spread until to-day the
Vermont Conference includes the greater part of the state, portions of
Chittenden, Addison, Eutland and Bennington counties being in the
Troy Conference. In 1846 the Vermont Conference had over 8000
members ; ten years later about the same ; in 1866, 10,615 ; in 1876,
12,810 ; and in 1886, 12,874 members and probationers. There are in
the Conference 140 church edifices worth over $450,000, and 98 parso n-
ages worth over $120,000.
Methodist preaching was first commenced in Quechee in the summer
of 1882, by Eev. A. S. Maxham, who was then stationed at Hartland
Mr. Maxham first went to Quechee as an experiment, and meeting with
a very cordial reception he continued to preach there untU the spring
of 1884, when he was removed by the expiration of his term of service
at Hartland, and Quechee was united with White Eiver Junction. Eev.
A. J. Hough then became the pastor and preached there until the
spring of 1886, when he too was removed by his term of service at the
Junction. During all this time there had been more or less talk about
building a church, but nothing definate had been accomplished in that
direction. In the spring of 1886 Eev. E. L. Bruce was appointed pas-
tor of the charge ; he soon became convinced that the interests of the
church at Quechee demanded the erection of a house of worship. In
January, 1887, under the inspiration of a very generous offer by one of
the members, a subscription paper was started for that purpose. The
results exceeded the most sanguine expectation. An eligible site was
presented by a lady friend ; plans were procured of B. D. Price of Phila-
delphia ; a donation of $300 was secured from the board of church ex-
tension, and as soon as the ground was free from frost in the spring the
work of laying the foundation was commenced. On account of the lo-
256 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
cation it was necessary to lay a wall at the rear end fifteen feet high and
six feet thick at the bottom. The front wall is twelve feet high and five
feet thick at the bottom. The entire cost of stone work was $235.00.
The contract for the carpenter work was let to Mr. J. M. Quimby, of
White Eiver Junction, and it is but simple justice to him to say that
every part of it was done in the most thorough and workmanlike man-
ner. The house is 28x45 feet, with octagonal recess four feet deep at
the rear, for the pulpit ; it is fourteen feet posted above the basement
and finished to twenty feet in the centre inside. The tower is about
sixty feet high and 9x9 feet at the base. It contains a fine-toned bell,
cast by H. H. McShane of Baltimore, Md., weighing 518 pounds, the
gift of two members of the church. Both the tower and roof are slated.
The interior is handsomely finished in brown ash, which is filled and
finished with two coats of white shellac. The walls are painted two
coats, inside and out, and the ceiling kalsomined. A nice ingrain car-
pet, furnished by the ladies of the society, covers the floor. The house
is lighted with a Bailey ten light reflector, and heated with a furnace.
It is seated with A. H. Andrews & Go's patent assembly settee, a very
handsome and comfortable seat, requiring no cushions. The windows
are of cathedral glass and have diamond lights of colored glass at the
top. The basement is 28x32 feet, and twelve feet posted, and is fin-
ished in pine, with plain glass windows. It has closets and various
conveniences. Besides the bell, the organ, pulpit, ' sofa, chairs, lamps,
and street lamp were individual gifts. The entire cost of the building
and furnishing, including lot and plans, was $2,317.13. The building
alone cost 1,452.22. On level ground, without basement and built in
ordinary style, it would cost $1600 to $1800. It is pronounced by all
who have seen it, to be a gem of neatness within and without. The dedica-
tory sermon was preached by. Eev. A. J. Hough. Of the entire cost, less
than $300 is at present unprovided for and it is confidently expected
that the entire amount will be raised before Jan. 1, 1889. The sacrifi-
ces of the members of the church and the liberality of their friends in
the accomplishment of the results thus far attained have been remarka-
ble and worthy of the highest commendation.
COVENANT baptists' SOCIETY.
Among what were known as the " Minor Sects" none were earlier or
more numerously represented in Hartford than were the Baptists. The
earliest recorded certificate of religious persuasion, made in compliance
with the act of the General Assembly in 1783, in favor of a citizen of
Hartford, reads as follows : —
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 257
" These may certify that Mr. Benjamin Burtch of Hartford in the County of
Windsor, and State of Vermont, is a member of the Baptist Society in Wood-
Attest: JOSEPH CALL, Deacon of Baptist, Ch., Woodstock."
Hartford, Mai-ch ye 18, 1786.
Among other certificates found in our town records are the following:
" Bridgewatee, December ye 19, 1791.
These may certify, all that it may concern, that William Porter of Hartford
is a member of the Baptist church of Christ, in Woodstock and Bridgewater,
therefore Let the oppressed go free.
(Signed) WILLIAM GROW,
Minister of the Gospel."
" This may certify that Hezekiah Lincoln, Gersham Dunham, Juniah Chap-
man, Justin Smith, David Whitcomb, Daniel Hazen, Asa Pixley, Putnam Wil-
son, Philip Sprague, William Pixley, Joel Richards and Philemon Hazen, each
and every of them, belong to the Calvinistic Society composed of the North of
Hartford and South of Norwich, and pay for the support of preaching here, and
each professes the principles above described.
Attest: SYLVANUS SMITH, Moderator."
January 7, 1795.
The first evidence to be found in our town records relating to the
presence of a Baptist minister in the town, is contained in the following
certificate, viz : —
" HaETFOED, 8th OCTOBEE, 1809.
This certifies that nuptials between Nathaniel Hammond and Polly Ball, both
of this town, were celebrated by me.
Attest: URIAH SMITH, V. D. M."
Mr. Smith, who was a native of Plainfield, N. H., was set apart by
solemn ordination to the ministry by a council composed of the Baptist
churches of Woodstock, Windsor, and Plainfield and Newport, (N. H.)
convened in Plainfield, June 24, 1804, but there is no evidence that he
was ever permanently settled in Hartf or,d.
A Baptist church existed in the eastern part of the town in 1806. I am
unable to learn whether this body was Anti-Mission, Brethren, Calvin-
istic, Campbellite, Free-Christian, Free-WUl, Regular Baptist, Eiver
Brethren, Seventh Day, or Six Principle. It is probable, however, that
it was Calvinistic in dogma. The male members of the church were
David Colburn, Amos Robinson, Thomas Holbrook, Jabez Baldwin,
Stewart Haw, Salan Colburn, Charles Pinneo, Paul Clark, Benjamin
Clark, Amasa Watkins, William MerrUl, Abraham Hoit, Benjamin Bug-
bee, Isaac Williams, Mitchell Clark, Andrew Pinneo, Joseph Chapman,
Jacob Clifford, Daniel Robinson, Hyde Clark, Jacob Colburn, Luther
Cora, William Hoit, Thomas Moxley, Neal Rust, John Hunter, Phineas
Rust and Samuel Rust.
This church was probably a member of the "Woodstock Association"
of Baptist churches, which was formed in 1783, and of which Rev. Tim-
othy Grow was the presiding elder. The Baptists in Hartford had no
17
258 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
stated place for public worship, nor were they regularly supplied with
preachers. Itinerant preachers conducted the religious meetings, and
administered the ordinances of baptism, marriage, the Lord's supper,
and the burial of the dead, performing these duties whenever and wher-
ever occasion required. Although the Baptists continued to hold meet-
ings in the town untU 1820, there was no Baptist church then in exist-
ence in the town.
THE CHRISTIAN SOCIETY.
" The Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch," Acts XL 26.
Generically the name Christians is given to those who believe in the
Christian religion. In a theological sense Christians are those who
really believe the gospel, imbibe the spirit, are influenced by the grace
and obedient to the will of Christ. Believers in the Christian religion
include Protestants, Roman Catholics, the Greek, Armenian, Nestorian,
Coptic, Syrian and Abysinnian churches, though the members of the last
named church are Christians only in form. The denominations of
Christians are as follows : — Bible Christians, Christian Connection,
Christians of St. John (Mendoeano), Christians of St. Thomas (Nesto-
rian), Syrian Christians, and United Christians.
" The ' Christian Connection,' or Christians, oftentimes erroneously
pronounced Christ-iB,ns, is a religious denomination that originated in
the United States about the year 1800. This sect recognizes no indivi-
dual as its leader or founder, no one to whom they refer as an authority
for articles of faith, and rules of practice. In New England, where the
Christian denomination seems first to have attracted attention by any
public demonstration or organization as a distinct sect, it was composed
chiefly of individuals who separated from the Calvinistic Baptists. Soon
after the formation of their first churches, several large churches of the
Calvinistic Baptists declared themselves independent of the Baptist
association and united with the Christians. In the Southern states, the
first association of this sect consisted mostly of seceders from the
Methodists, and, in the western states, from the Presbyterians. The
leading purposes of this sect, at first, appear to have been not so much
to establish any peculiar and distinctive doctrines as to assert, for
individuals and churchmen, more liberty and independence in relation
to matters of faith and practice, to shake off the authority of human
creeds and the shackles of prescribed modes and forms, to make the
Bible their only guide, claiming for every man the right to pledge, for
himself, what are its requirements, and in practice to follow more
strictly the simplicity of the apostles and primitive Christians. They
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 259
profess to deprecate what they consider an undue influence of a mere
sectarian spirit, a tenacious adherence to particular dogmas, as an in-
fringement of Christian liberty, as adverse to the genius of the gospel
and the practical influence of true rehgion."
" The principle upon which their churches were at first constituted,
and upon which they still stand, are the following : — The Scriptures are
taken to be the only rule of faith and practice, each individual being at
liberty to determine, for himself, in relation to these matters, what they
-enjoin ; no member is subject to the loss of church fellowship on
account of his sincere and conscientious belief, so long as he manifestly
leads a pious and devout life. The name Christian to be adapted to
the exclusion of all sectarian names, as the most appropriate designa-
tion of the body and its members. The only condition of admission as
a member of a church is a personal profession of the Christian religion,
accompanied with satisfactory evidence of sincerity and piety, and a
determination to live according to the divine rule of the gospel of Christ.
Each church is considered an independent body, possessing exclusive
authority to regulate and govern its own afifairs." — See ' Encyclopedia
of Eeligious Knowledge,' pp. 362, 363.
There never was an organized Christian church in Hartford. This
•denomination held meetings in the neighborhood of Jericho, many years
ago. It seems probable that James Spencer was the first Christian
minister who preached in the town. He lived in this town for several
years. After Mr. Spencer came Jasper Hazen, who lived and preached
in the town as early as 1810, probably with regular appointments. In
the town records I find the following entry : —
" Hartford, 26 December, 1810 : — Now there was in the church of
Christ, at Hartford, Vt., certain teachers and preachers, and they
ministered to the Lord and fasted, and they felt an impression of the
Holy Ghost to set apart Jasper Hazen to the work of the ministry.
These are therefore to certify that he was this day set apart publicly
according to the New Testament, by fasting, prayer, and laying on of
hands of us. — Elias Cobb, Uriah Smith, James Spooner, and Frederic
Plummer, Elders."
Mr. Hazen removed to Woodstock in 1815, and subsequently there
was nothing more than an occasional sermon untU Eev. Moses Kidder
began filUng regular appointments in Quechee Village, in 1843. In 1845
the Christian Society of Quechee Village and vicinity was organized,
but there was no independent church formed ; the members there form-
ing a branch of the Christian Church in Woodstock. During the first
year of Mr. Kidder's ministry in Quechee, meetings were held in Bar-
ron's hall. During the year 1844 a meeting-house was erected there.
On the first of January, 1845, the society was formed and a constitution
860 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
adopted, as appears by the following extract from the records of the
society : —
"We the undersigned inhabitants of Quechee Village and vicinity do
hereby associate together and form ourselves into a society for the pur-
pose of supporting the gospel, and maintenance of public v^orship, and
to hold and keep in repair a house of public worship, agreeably to the
eighty-first chapter of the Eevised Statutes, by the name of the Christian
Society of Quechee Village, and do hereby establish the following writ-
ten articles as a Constitution of said society."
The second article of the constitution provided that the first meeting
of the society should be held in the new meeting-house on the 20th of
January, 1845, for legal organization. The Constitution was signed by
the following named persons : — Theodore Gallup, F. A. Sumner, Elias
Williams, Lester Richardson, Charles Tinkham, Harvey Thomas, Nelson
Humphrey, Lionel Richardson, Daniel N. Dutton, John Porter, and
Nathaniel Thomas.
The meeting-house was opened for meetings on the 1st of January,
1845. On the 20th January, the society was organized by the choice of
Elias Williams, as chairman, and Harvey Thomas, as clerk. The Pru-
dential Committee then chosen consisted of F. A. Sumner, Lester
Richardson and Theodore Gallup.' Mr. Kidder continued to preach
for said society one-half of the time for four years. After that his
brother, Abiah Kidder, then residing in Pomfret, supplied the pulpit
one-half the time for about one year. He was succeeded by Lewis
Phillips for about the same time. There was no more stated preaching
after Mr. Phillips left. On the 5th of December, 1863, the following
notice was sent to the clerk of the Society: —
" To Harvey Thomas, Clerk of the Christian Society of Quechee
Village : — We the undersigned members of said Society, hereby request
you to warn a meeting of said Society for the purpose of altering the
Constitution of said Society so as to authorize the Clerk of said Society
to sell and convey the meeting-house and the land connected therewith
to any person or persons he may choose to.
Signed, JOHN PORTER,
F. A. SUMNER,
CHARLES TINKHAM.
Pursuant to this notice, a meeting of the Society was held in the
counting-room of J. C. Parker, December 14th, 1863, when it was voted
'The pew-holders in the meeting-house were as follows : — Theodore Gallup,
Nathaniel Thomas, Harvey Thomas, Lionel Richardson, Francis A, Sumner,
Nelson Humphrey, John Porter, Charles Tinkham, Charles Brown, Daniel H.
Dutton, Daniel Taft and Sons, Elias Williams, Abel Barron, Theophilus Gushing,
George Holbrook, Joel Simons, Widow Abigail Strong, Albert G. Dewey, Thomas
Rowell, John P. Strong, Charles R. Whitman, James Boyd, Jacob Dimick, Joseph
K. Edgerton, J. C. Parker, — The total number of pews was forty-six. Preaching
was supported by voluntary subscriptions only.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. ■ 261
to change the Constitution agreeable to the warning. The meeting-
house was sold to parties in Quechee Village and vicinity, and occupied
as a hall until its destruction by fire.
It appears in the records of the Congregational church in Dothan,
that several members of that church went over to the Christians, among
whom were Daniel Hazen, Olive Hazen, and Diadama Bartholomew.
April 17th, 1811, the following draught was communicated to the
church and congregation in Dothan, viz : —
" To Olive, wife of Daniel Hazen, and Diadama Bartholomew, once
members in covenant : Whereas, you, and each of you, after having sol-
emnly professed to give yourselves to the Lord, and to us by the will
of God ; and after having taken thfi vows of God upon you to walk with
us in all the ordinances and commandments of the Lord, and to seek
the peace and welfare of this church so long as God should continue
your lot among us, you have departed from what, in our view, is the
faith once delivered to the saints, by joining yourselves in fellowship
with such as teach doctrines which are not according to Godliness :
We do now declare you to have gone out from us, and that you are no
more of us, and that the hand of fellowship and christian and brotherly
care, and watch over you are from henceforth withdrawn."
(Signed) EDEN BUEEOUGHS, pastor.
The farcical nature of the foregoing communication must have elic-
ited a smile of derision in angelic circles. The spirit of intolerance, un-
charitableness and bigotry evinced by the church toward the dissenting
members was inconsistent with the principles of the christian religion.
The indocile members were amenable to no other charge than that of
recantation. Yet, they were anathematized by the church and treated in
an unchristian manner. Dr. Burroughs, the pastor of said church, whose
voice was dominant in urging, and whose hand indited the letter of ex-
communication, was more amenable to condemnation than were the dis-
senting members. He had not only renounced Presbytery, and em-
braced Congregationalism, but he had subsequently assumed the pas-
torate of the Presbyterian church at Dothan. The differences between
Presbyterianism and Congregationalism were no bar to a change of
church relationship, when this clergyman found the change desirable ;
and some years later, the church that had, under his leadership, anath-
ematized two inoffensive women for changing their church relationship,
renounced Presbytery and went over to Congregationalism. In a word,
the church that had withdrawn the hand of fellowship, and all chris-
tian and brotherly care, from two members who had joined the Chris-
tians, openly acknowledged the inconsistency of their conduct, and the
untenability of their position, and vindicated the wisdom of their
263 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
former companions, by renouncing Presbytery for something, no better
than the Christian church, which they had so lately declared heretical in
doctrine.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHDEOh/
In the grants of land made under the New Hampshire charters, three
rights in each township were resei ved for religious purposes. One of
these was a Glebe for the Church of England, as by law established, or,
in other words, for the support of an Episcopal clergy in the then col-
ony of New Hampshire. Gov. Wentworth was an Episcopalian, but
the numbers of that sect, then on the grants, was exceedingly small.
They were indeed a minor sect, as they have to this time remained, and
will continue to remain. A great majority of the colonists were Con-
gregationalists, and that denomination was by the colonial government
considered and treated as the established religion; consequently the one
right in each township reserved for the first settled minister fell into
possession of the Congregationalists, and became ia fee, the property of
the ministers of that denomination.
Prompted by the expectation that both the Glebe and the Propaga-
ting right would ultimately enable them to support their own minis-
ters, and erect churches, Episcopalians were induced to remove into
the newly chartered townships of Vermont ; but the predominance of
the Congregationalists, and the prejudices entertained against the
Episcopalians, militated against the progress of this sect to such an
extent, that during the session of the General Assembly in Rutland, in
the autumn of 1794, an attempt was made to sequester the lands of the
Propagating Society to the use of the University of Vermont. Failing
in this, the advocates of the measure took steps toward diverting both
the Glebe and the society lands from their intended use. As a result,
laws were enacted which confiscated the whole property of the Episco-
pal church, in Vermont, to the State.
The first general convention of the Episcopal Diocese in Vermont was
held in Arlington in September, 1790. Twenty-one lay and clerical del-
egates were in attendance. This convention requested two of its mem-
bers, Messrs. Gifford and Todd, to endeavor to obtain an act of the
Legislature for the purpose of securing possession of their lands — the
society and Glebe lands. "
' Owing to the rtegligence of Rev. Mr. Flanders, rector of the Episcopal church ia
Hartford, to furnish me with data concerning his church, I am unable to present
any facts relating to the history of that church in this town.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 363
(Mr. Todd was then a member of the Legislature from Arlington.) No
effort was made by these laymen in the Legislature that year.
The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts was
incorporated by a charter granted by William III of England, in the
thirteenth year of his reign, (_1702), in order that a better provision
might be made for the preaching of the gospel, and the maintenance of
an orthodox clergy in the colonies of Great Britain. "This society took
an early notice of the grants made to it by Gov. Wentworth. In July,
1762, an acceptance of the donation was expressed. On the 20th of May,
1785. the society instructed their secretary to write to some one or more
members of the Church of England in each of the States of America, in
which the society had property to take all proper care in securing said
property ; and further, to inform such persons that the society intended
to make over all such property to the use of the Episcopal church in
this country."— Peters' Eeports, Vol. IV., pp. 482-483.
In June, 1785, the Legislature of Vermont held a session in Norwich.
In pursuance of an act passed at that session, a charter was issued to
President Wheelock of Dartmouth College for a tract of land six miles
square. This grant was named Wheelock. In October of that year,
during the session of the Legislature in Windsor, President Wheelock
proposed to the Legislature of Vermont the sequestration for the use of
said college of the rights of land reserved for the Propagation Society,
and for the purpose of Glebes, etc. The business was referred to the
next session of the Legislature. At the next session, in the ensuing
February, the matter was disposed of by the resolution : " That the
proposals from Dartmouth College are such as cannot be accepted." —
Am. Quar. Reg., Vol. XIII, p. 395.
The committee appointed in October, 1786, on the subject of Dart-
mouth College, gave, in their report, the following opinion respecting
the fee of the lands granted to the Propagation Society : " In the opin-
ion of this committee, the lands formerly claimed by the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, in consequence of the revo-
lution, are now become the property of the citizens of Vermont." In
October, 1787, an act was passed, authorizing the selectmen of the sev-
eral towns to take care of and improve the Glebe and society lands for
the space of seven years, and to apply the incomes to the improvement
of the lands. An exception was made of those Glebes which might be
in the actual possession of Episcopal ministers. — Williams' Hist. Vt.,
Vol. IL Chap X.
At the convention of the Episcopal church in Vermont, in 1793, Eev.
Dr. Edward Bass, of Newburyport, Mass., was elected bishop of Ver-
364 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
mont, but he was not consecrated. At a special convention of the dio-
cese holden in Manchester, Feb. 27, 1794, Col. John A. Graham of Eut-
land, nominated for bishop the Rev. Samuel Peters, L. L. D., and he
■was elected. Dr. Peters was then residing in London. Coll Graham
was sent to England to secure the consecration of Dr. Peters, and also,
as agent and attorney of the church in Vermont to procure a convey-
ance of the land of the Propagation Society within this State to himself
and certain other gentlemen. Mr. Graham failed in his mission. The
Archbishop of Canterbury declined to consecrate Dr. Peters, and the
Propagation Society declined to convey their lands to Col. Graham. —
Documentary Hist. Prot. Epis. Ch. in Vt., pp. 16-46.
I deem it proper for the information of my readers to lay before them
an account of the action taken by the Legislature of Vermont respect-
ing the Society and Glebe reservations in the New Hampshire grants,
also of the action taken by the Propagation Society, as well as the efforts
put forth hf the Episcopalians to secure to themselves the possession
of both the Glebe and society lands, this being a part of the history of
the church, as well as of the time. I will, therefore, insert here so much
of the journal of the session of 1794, as relates to the two bills passed
that session concerning the sequestration of the society and Glebe lands
to the use of the State :
" On Friday, October 17, 1794, on motion of Ira Allen, Resolved,
That His Excellency the Governor and'Oouncil be requested to join the
House in Grand Committee to-morrow morning, to take into considera-
tion the propriety of disposing of the land in the several towns of this
State, reserved for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts."
On the 18th of October, agreeable to the order of the day, the governor
and council and the house joined in grand committee to consider the
propriety of disposing of the rights reserved for the Propagation of the
Gospel in Foreign Parts. After the charter of the town of Rutland,
issued by Gov. Wentworth, and the treaty of peace concluded between
the United States and Great Britain, in 1783, were read, the committee
adjoarned until October 21. The committee met pursuant to adjourn-
ment, and resolved : " That it is the opinion of this committee that the
lands in this State, granted by the late Governor Wentworth of New
Hampshire to the Society for the' Propagation of the. Gospel in Foreign
Parts, does of right belong to this State."
On motion of Ira Allen a committee of one from each county was ap-
pointed to report their opinion to the grand committee, as to what use
should be made of the rights granted to the Propagation Society. This
committee reported their opinion to be that the Legislature had sole
right to dispose of the right in each town called the propagation right,
and that they be disposed of for the use and benefit of common schools,
in the several towns in which they lie. Also, that for the better im-
HISTORY OF HAETFORD. 365
provement of the Glebe lands, the selectmen of the several towns should
take possession of the same. On "Wednesday, Oct. 29th, a bill entitled
an act directing the uses of the rights of land in this State heretofore
granted by the British Government, as Glebes, for the benefit of the
Church of England was read a second time. On the question, will the
House accept said bill ; it passed in the afBrmtitive. Teas, 100, nays,
15. The bill directing the appropriation of the society lands was also
read and adopted. These bills then went to the Governor and Council
for concurrence. They were returned to the House October 30th, 1794,
and became laws. The law relating to Glebes gave the selectmen of
those towns in which there were Glebe rights, power to take possession
of them, to lease them for a term of years, not exceeding fourteen, and
to distribute the income in case there was more than one rehgious
teacher in the respective towns, for the support of such teachers in
proportion to the number of ratable polls belonging to the respective
congregations and residents in such towns. The law relating to the
Propagation lands, provided that the selectmen should take possession
of said lands and lease them out, and the rents and profits should be
distributed in the several school districts, annually, in proportion to the
number of ratable polls in such district, the lease to be perpetual.
The first effort made to take possession of the Glebe-lands was a suit
in ejectment brought by the selectmen of Manchester to recover the
Glebe, which was in the hands of Rev. Daniel Barber. The ground ta-
ken by the prosecution was, that the Glebe grants were void because
the grantees named in the charter were not in existence to receive.
Against this it was contended, that, at the time of the grants, the church
of England had a corporate existence. The court, Patterson, judge,
decided in favor of the defendant, pronouncing the act of 1794 uncon-
stitutional and void. No appeal was taken from this decision. In
obedience to this decision of the U. S. Circuit Court, the Legislature in
1799 passed an act repealing the act of 1794. The Glebe rights in
those towns in which there was an Episcopal church were at once leased.
In 1802, the Legislature, setting in Burlington, again considered the
subject of sequestering the Glebe reservations. The question was refer-
red to a committee, who reported as their opinion " that the Glebe
lands are vested in and at the disposal of the State, and that said lands
ought to be granted and appropriated to and for the use of county
grammar schools, in the several counties in which they lie " The sub-
ject was referred to the next session of the Legislature, when, after an
effort to sequester the Glebe lands for the use of schools, the subject
was dismissed.
366 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
In 1805, the General Assembly held its session in Danville, Vt. At
this session the situation of the Glebe lands was again considered, and
a committee was appointed to whom were referred several petitions on
that subject. This committee reported a bill entitled, " An act direct-
ing the disposal of the Glebe lands in .this State." The report was ac-
cepted, and on Saturday, November 2d, the bill was passed in the
affirmative ; yeas, 95, nays, 63. On the 5th, it was approved by the
Governor and Council and became a law. By this law the several
rights of land in Vermont, granted under the authority of the British
Government to the Church of England, were granted, severally, to the
respective towns in which such lands laid, to their respective use and
uses forever, in the manner following: —
" It shall be the duty of the selectmen, in the respective towns, in the
name and behalf, and at the expense of such towns, if necessary to sue
for and recover the possession of such lands, and the same to lease out,
according to their best judgment, reserving an annual rent therefor,
which shall be paid into the treasury of such town, and appropriated to
the use of schools therein, and shall be applied in the same manner as
moneys arising from school lands are, by law directed to be applied." —
Laws of Vt, compiled by William Slade, Jr., p. 198."
In the Episcopal convention of 1805 held in Arlington, a resolution
was passed directing the standing committee to take measures for pro-
curing a conveyance of the lands originally granted to the Propagation
society. A resolution was passed requesting Bishop Moore, of New
York, to take the church in Vermont under his care. He consented
with a view of giving more efficacy to the petition for a conveyance of
said lands. — Episcopal Recorder, March 7, 1835.
The petition was not heeded, and it viras determined at the next ap-
plication to ask for a power of Attorney, but nothing was done till the
return of peace, though the business was not wholly neglected. The
Convention of the church held in Middlebury in 1810, formed and
adopted a new constitution. This was a convention of the clerical and
lay delegates of the churches of the Eastern Dioeeise, consisting of the
churches of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Ver-
mont. In 1810, Rev. Alexander V. Griswold of Rhode Island was
elected Bishop of the Eastern Diocese, and was canouically consecrated
by Bishops White, Provost and Jarvis, in Trinity church, in the City
of New York, on the 29th day of May, 1811.
In July, 1808, Rev. Charles Stewart, a missionary in Canada, and sub-
sequently bishop of Quebec, tendered his services to the church to pro-
cure from the Propagation Society a conveyance of their lands. In July,
' Sherman Dewey , Representative from Hartford, voted in the affirmative.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 367
1815, Dr. Stewart, after visiting Vermont, set off for Europe, bearing a
petition from the church. In December following, the society passed a
resolution to grant to the church a power of attorney, but this was not
received until 1817. This paper, with others, were put into the hands of
Daniel Chipman, attorney for the church, who took two years for
the examination of the case before commencing any process. Then he
brought a suit for land in New Haven, which was defended by a grant
of money from the State, and in March, 1823, decided in the Supreme
Court of the TJhited States in favor of the church. Mr. Hopkinson, of
Philadelphia, argued the case for the society, and Daniel Webster, of
Boston, for the defendants.
The agents of the church met in Middlebury, April 30, 1823, to take
measures to lease the lands, when it was unanimously agreed to lease
them to the tenants then in occupation — the buildings and betterments
made on the lands by the tenant to be his, and the land leased to him at
a rent proportional to the value of the land without reference to the
buildings and betterments made by him — conditional, however, upon
the surrender of his lease from the town. — Agents' Report, June 26th,
1823.
In the year 1810, an action of ejectment was brought by the town of
Pawlet against Daniel Clark and others to recover possession of the
Glebe lot in that town. In 1815 this suit was decided by the Supreme
Court of the United States in Washington, in favor of the town. This
case was argued in 1814, by Messrs. Pitkin and Webster for the town,
and by Mr. Sheperd for the defendants. At the February term, 1815,
Mr. Justice Story delivered the opinion of the majority of the court. —
See Documentary Hist. Church in Vt., pp. 137-140.
This suit involved all the Glebe reservations in the New Hampshire
grants. The decision of the Supreme Court sustained the act of the
General Assembly of 1805, and all controversy between the State and
the church was thus terminated. Nevertheless the church deemed the
action of the Supreme court a great wrong. It was not till 1831 -3, that
the long series of difficulties which the church had to encounter were in
the main removed. Judgments had been rendered in favor of the soci-
ety in all cases carried into court to that time.
By mutual consent and permission of the Convention of the Eastern
Diocese and of the conventions of the several States composing said
diocese, the Protestant Episcopal church in Vermont was separated
from the Eastern Diocese in 1832, and became an independent and dis-
tinct Episcopal jurisdiction under the name of the " Diocese of Ver-
268 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
mont." On Thursday, May 31, 1832, the Eev. John H. Hopkins was
duly elected bishop of the Episcopal church in Vermont.
On retiring from the Eastern Diocese, Bishop Griswold delivered an
address before the convention of said diocese, in Trinity Church in Bos-
ton, Sept. 26, 1832, in which he said of the church in Vermont :
"Eighteen years ago they had but one, or at most two, officiating clergy-
men ; now they have twelve. Then they had not one church edifice ; now
they have twelve new ones which are consecrated, and five or six more
which are building. Then they had three organized parishes ; in their
late convention twenty-four were represented. Thousands of dollars
they have expended in obtaining possession of the lands which belong
to this church ; now, as we hope, the business is settled and these ex-
pensive litigations at an end."
Owing to the non-fulfillment of a promise made by the rector of the
Episcopal church in Hartford I am without reliable data concerning
the history of his church. Whether he acted ex mero niotu, or ex
necessitate rei, I am unable to say, but I should purchase expecta-
tion, in this case, at a dear rate, if the public were left to infer that the
absence of said history was attributable to ill-intention or indifference
on my part.
In the absence of other information concerning the Episcopal sect in
Hartford in early times I will quote a letter written by Rev. Ranna
Cossit, an Episcopal missionary, about the year IVZS, viz.:
"There were chui-ch people settled scattering for above 150 miles on Con-
necticut river. The nearest of these to any clergyman is 130 miles. * * *
Twenty-four mUes above Springfield, Vt., Dr. Wheelock hath a college and in-
forms the church people that he will supply them with ministers. There is a
considerable number of church people opposite Dr. Wheelock, on New York
side of the river and some on the same side with hmi, who constantly meet to
read prayers among themselves."
Mr. Cossit returned to England for holy orders in December, 1772,
and was ordained there in 1773, by the bishop of London. He re-
turned to this country and settled in Claremont, N. H., as the first
Episcopal minister of that place. He removed from Claremont to
Cape Breton in 1785.
The following table exhibits the names of the present occupants of
the propagating lands in Hartford; the' number of acres leased by each;
the rent paid by each lessee, and the value of each leased lot :
Lessees. No. Acres. Rental. Value.
Downing, Portus 30 $5 00 $500 00
Mossey, David 30 5 00 300 00
Newton, Solon, Est 12 2 00 120 00
Sprague, Israel 6 100 60 00
Toughy, Martin 50 6 00 700 00
West, M. H.,Jr 24 4 00 500 00
Whitman & Cowen 190 3135 750 00
Totals - ---- 342 $54 25 $3930 00
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 269
The rent derived from the above named lands is now paid to Geo. R.
Chapman, Woodstock, Vt.
UNIVEKSALISTS.
The first Universalist society in the town was organized at a meeting
held in Grover's Hall, White River Junction, May 3, 1878. After
some discussion it was voted to organize a society to be known as the
" First Universalist Society of White River Junction." A constitu-
tion was adopted and the organization completed by the election of the
following officers: Moderator, E. H. Bagley ; clerk, A. J. Rollins;
treasurer, H. H. Hanchett ; collector, Fred Hanchett.
Executive Committee, White River Junction, A. C. Bean, S. A. Pot-
ter, A. T. Pierce ; Hartford village, Mrs. C. S. Hamilton, Mrs. S. M.
Pingree; West Lebanon, N. H., J. M. Ralstone.
Trustees, W. W. Barnes, Irvin Russ, David H. Moore.
In September, 18 78, the society commenced the work of building
their present church edifice, which was completed and dedicated in
June, 1879. The building committee consisted of Messrs. E. H. Bag-
ley, Irvin Russ and Allen L. Pease. The architect and builder was
Mr. Irvin Russ. The cost of the structure was about $2500.
The society's records have been indifferently kept, both as regards
facts and dates. There is no record of the dedicatory exercises, nor of
the exact time of their occurrence. The pastors of the church and
society thus far have been as follows : J. C. Farnsworth, Wm. E.
Copeland, George W. Barnes, and the present pastor, Walter Dole.
There are about twenty familes in the parish, nearly all of which live
within a radius of one mile of their place of worship. The choir com-
prises Mr. N. S. Eddy, Mr. S. H. Potter, Mrs. S. H. Potter, Miss Win-
nie Barnes, Mrs. Dr. Watson and Miss Olea Bean. Both vocal and
instrumental music are of a high order.
THE SECOND ADVENTISTS.
This is a religious sect of recent origin. Its beginning was in the
year 1842-3. They recognize William Miller as their leader, to whom
they refer as an authority. They believe in and preach the speedy
second coming of Christ. Miller prophesied that the second coming of
our Lord would occur in the year 1843. He preached in this section
first in Pomfret in the autumn of 1842, and a large number were then
converted to his faith or belief, and many of his converts in Pomfret,
and surrounding towns, were so deeply affected by the expectation that
his prophecy would be fulfilled, that they relinquished nearly all world-
ly business of a secular nature, and gave away their property. Some
370 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
went so far as to declare that, if all earthly things failed to end as pre-
dicted by Miller, they would no longer take the Holy Bible as the rule
of faith and manners, nor repose faith in God as a Supreme Being ! So
great was the excitement created by the preaching of Miller that many
of his followers became hopelessly insane; and when the utter falla-
ciousness of his predictions became evident, many of his converts who
had previously been exemplary members of some religious body, be-
came apostates and bitter adversaries of Christianity, and finally lapsed
into spiritualism, or some other phase of infidelity. For some years
subsequent to 1843, there were several of this class of people in Hart-
ford. They were called "Millerites." Those who now hold to the
docti'ine that the second coming of Christ is not far distant, are known
as Second Adventists.
On the 16th of August, 1887, certain members of this sect purchased
of Orren A. Taft, six acres of land lying on the west side of Connecti-
cut river about one mile above White River Junction, and closely ad-
jacent to the Passumpsic railroad. This place was selected for an
Advent camp-meeting ground. The first camp-meeting held on this
ground commenced August 8th and ended September 11th, 1887. This
meeting attracted a large attendance of people, who found the location
pleasant, the preaching entertaining and instructive, and the exercises
in general interesting. Order, proper decorum and solemnity charac-
terized the occasion. All who attended the services were favorably
impressed by the candid, intelligent exposition of the tenets and belief
of the Adventists made by their preachers. The earnestness, serious-
ness and whole deportment of the Adventists, during this meeting,
proved that they were not nominal Christians, and that their worship
was influenced by a Christian spirit. No room was left for unkindly
comments or invidious criticism.
On the 3d of September, 1887, an organization was effected under
the name of the " White River Junction Campmeeting Association,"
for the purpose of holding public worship and religious meetings by
Advent Campmeetings. The articles of association were signed by
John Couch, R. N. Stetson, Wm. Guild, Luther E. Lord, P. G. Lord,
Daniel Johnson, Wm. C. Bugbee, Ezra Willey, David H. Bragg, Ballard
B. Chedell, L. C. McKinsley, Myron H. Wilmot, and E. A. Stockman,
corporators. Royal N". Stetson was elected President and Wm. Guild
Secretary. The ground purchased is to be known under the title of
" The White River Junction Advent Ground."
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD. 371
PURITANS.
This sect existed in Hartford for several years. Its beginning was
about the year 1820. Their meetings were held in private houses, un-
der the cover of darkness. Their form of worship was characterized
by scenes at once ludicrous and immoral. They endeavored to exclude
from their meetings all who did not endorse their tenets and practice,
but they could not, for a long time at least, conceal their flagrant
violations of law and order, and were compelled to discontinue their
meetings in this town. This body was not in any respect like the New
England Fathers who bore the same title, but a small sect that later
arose and assumed the same name.
CHAPTER XIX.
.EDUCATION".
Most of the early settlers of Hartford came here from Connecticut,
in which State liberal provisions were, at that period, made for the sup-
port of common schools. They possessed nothing more than a common
school education, which was then limited to English reading, writing,
and arithmetic. But though they had received but little education,
and had but little time to devote to reading and study, they were not
unappreoiative of the advantages resulting from these, hence, they made
the most liberal provisions in their power for the establishment and
support of common schools and other institutions of learning. They
attached equal importance to the support of schools and the gospel.
The subject of education has been a theme upon which there has been
but little, if any, division of sentiment, or fluctuation of interest among
the inhabitants of the town, and the same may be said of the people of
Vermont in general. In framing the constitution of the State, our
fathers were not unmindful of the importance of making liberat"provis-
ions for promoting the cause of common education. Section 40 of the
constitution says : — " A school or schools shall be established in each
town by the legislature for the convenient instruction of youth * * *
One grammar school in each county, and one university in this State,
ought to be established by direction of the General Assembly."
On the 31st of October, 1797, an act for the support of schools was
passed by the General Assembly of Vermont. The first clause of sec-
tion one of said act reads as follows: — "That each organized town in this
State shall keep and support a school or schools for the instruction of
youth in English reading, writing, and arithmetic."
Our governors have not failed to recommend to the General Assembly
to cherish with guardian care our primary schools, and to make suitable
provisions for maintaining the same. In his speech to the General
Assembly in 1800, Governor Tichenor said: — "In every attempt to
promote the interests of science, the education of youth, or to render
respectable the institutions and precepts of Christianity, we shall be in
the discharge of a duty highly useful in a chi-istian country, and every
way interesting to a free people." In 1810, Governor Galusha said to
the General Assembly: — " Your attention, gentlemen ought not to be
HISTORY OP HARTFOED. 373
wholly confined to the higher institutions of literature; neither should
the means of knowledge be restricted to one class of people, but liberally
imparted to all." In 1821, Governor Skinnef said to the General As-
sembly:— " A general diffusion of useful knowledge, and an improved
state of science afford the best security to civil and religious liberty * * *
A diligent and persevering attention to the education of our children, is
that without which we cannot expect the people will long retain a
republican form of government." Like sentiments have been reiterated
in the messages of succeeding governors, and their recommendations
and suggestions have been followed by wise and progressive legislation
to foster the interests of literature, the sciences, seminaries, and com-
mon schools.
During the long pending controversy between the " Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," and those who desired to
sequester the lands set apart by the several charters to the use of said
societj'-, for the support of schools in Vermont, those who favored the
sequestration claimed that the use of the rental of said lands for the sup-
port of schools, would be of greater benefit to the public than the rental
could be for religious purposes. While denying this proposition, the
Propagating Society paid an eloquent tribute to the benefits of secular
education.
Our forefathers entertained the same enlightened views concerning
the principle of popular education that were expressed by the patriots
of the French Revolution of 1789. The laws, conceived, prepared, sus-
tained and executed in regard to primary instruction, were the noblest,
wisest creations of the age in which they lived. By the side of the hum-
ble parish church was erected the modest school-house where the chil-
dren of the rich and the poor alike resorted for knowledge, " that other
bread of the soul which was to support them through the rough trials
of life."
Public instruction in Vermont is divided generally into four kinds:
Primary or common schools, so-called ; high schools, more recently called
academies ; Normal schools, and colleges ; or, where professional educa-
tion is added, universities. These four classes of institutions convey
four gradations of education. The primary schools are of three kinds ;
the public or common schools, the parochial or church schools, and pri-
vate or individual schools. In these primary schools the children of the
people in general, whatever their condition, are educated in those ele-
ments of knowledge which are considered most useful in common life —
18
374 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
ranging according to the age and capacity of pupils, from spelling and
definition, reading, writing, grammar, including composition, elements
of drawing, geography. United States history, history of Vermont, men-
tal and written arithmetic, natural history, music, elements of natural
philosophy, and of algebra, analysis of language and declamation.
The object of high schools and academies is to give some knowl-
edge of higher studies, such as mathematics, history, or the classics.
The object of colleges is to afford what is termed a thorough classical
education, being a course of instruction in the sciences, the classics, phil-
osophy, and belles lettres. To this course is generally added a supple-
mentary one in law, medicine and theology, open to volunteer students
for professional life. "When a college has classes in these subjects it
is termed a university, an institution in which, it is presumed, all
branches of study are taught. In addition to these means of instruction,
there are three normal schools in which those who design to teach school
can obtain professional training in the subjects to be taught ; the sci-
ence of the mind, and the best methods of teaching. The sources of
income for school purposes are the interest of the United States deposit
money, the rent of lands set apart for the support of common schools,
the incotoe from funds donated to the State and to towns by individ-
uals, and town and district taxes.
In 1836, Vermont received on deposit from the United States govern-
ment, the sum of $669,086.79, being its share of the surplus revenue,
divided, and loaned to the several States. The Legislature enacted that
the money be apportioned to the several towns, in proportion to the
population as shown by the census of 1830, and that each town elect
trustees to loan and care for the same, who should be accountable for
the return of said money, or any part thereof, to the State treasury,
whenever called for by the treasurer, upon the requisition of the United
States, or for the purpose of a new apportionment. Also, that the inter-
est of said money loaned to the several towns, should be appropriated
to the support of common schools ; provided, that, if a town has other
school funds, the income of which is sufficient to support schools in all
the districts in such town for six months in each year, such town may
appropriate the income received from its share of such money to the
support of schools, or to any other purpose.
The first division of the surplus revenue to towns in Vermont,
occurred in 1838. Hartford then received about $4780. The town then
voted to divide the interest of this fund equally among all the school
districts in the town. The first trustees of that fund, chosen by this
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 275
town, were John Porter, William Savage and Lewis Lyman. The pres-
ent and sole trustee of the fund is Hon. Wm. S. Dewey of Quechee vil-
lage. Ill 1852, the town purchased the toll bridge at White Eiver vil-
lage, and borrowed the public money to pay for said bridge, in which
property it is still invested. On the census of 1880 the amount appor-
tioned to Hartford was $5,948.14. Since 1883, the interest devoted to
schools has been, annually, $357.15.
The first action taken by Hartford relative to the school land, was
under date of March 19, 1769, when the proprietors chose Lieut. John
Strong to take care of said land and rent it out in order to make it
profitable to the town. In 1770, Dr. Wheelock asked the proprietors of
the town to donate the Glebe lands of the town to Dartmouth college.
At a town meeting held in the dwelling house of Joel Marsh, at West
, Hartford, March 13, 1770, for the purpose of considering Dr. Wheelock's
proposition, it was voted " that we wiU do nothing in respect to the
schoiol to be erected by Dr. Wheelock."
Dr. Wheelock was more successful in his appeals to the generosity of
several land-owners of Hartford. In the year 1771, Messrs. Abel Marsh,
Israel Gillett, John Gillett, Ruf us Baldwin, William Bramble and Eben-
ezer Bliss, each donated land to Dartmouth College ; in all, sis lots, con-
taining 450 acres. In 1783, Eleazer Eobinson donated 100 acres to the
same institution. Referring to the land record book of 1771, I find
recorded, under date of January 4th, a deed given by Israel Gillett to
Dr. Wheelock and the trustees of Dartmouth College, which is quoted
here, pro forma, for the benefit of all who are interested in such docu-
ments : —
" To all people to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: —
Whereas, it has pleased his excellency John Wentworth, Esq., Govei'nor and
Commander-in-Chief of the Province of New Hampshire, with the advice of his
Majesty's Council for said Province, for the benefit and instruction of Indian
youth begun, and for several years last past, carried on by Eleazer Wheelock, D.
D., as well as the liberal education of any others who will accept the same, to
erect and constitute a coUege in the west part of said province by the name of
Dartmouth College, and by a charter under the great seal of said province, to
endow the same with many noble franchises and privileges, as well as to make
generous donations toward a fund for supporting the same; therefore, in consid-
eration of the extensive charity of the design, and in addition to said fimd, I,
Israel GiUett, of Hartford, in the County of Cumberland and State of New York,
yeoman, have given, granted, and by these presents do absolutely give, grant,
convey and confirm to the Trustees of Dartmouth CoUege, and to their succes-
sors in that trust for the use and benefit of said college, one hundred acres of un-
divided land, in Hai-tford, in the county of Cumberland, in the pi'ovince of New
York, to be laid out to the right which was originally gi-anted to Daniel Reding-
ton, as by the charter and schedule of said township may appear."
The first mention made, in the town records, of the number of schol-
ars in any one district, or of school districts, is under date of March 11,
276 HISTORY OF HARTFORD
1805, wherein Daniel Ransom, clerk of the 3d district (Queohee) re--
ported the number of scholars, over four and under eighteen years of
age, in said district, to be sixty-five. A return made March 13th, 1805,
bj^ Zerah Brooks, clerk of the " Christian street " district gave the num-
ber of scholars, over four and under eighteen, to be thirty-two. Prob-
ably there were, at that time, but three districts in the town, that is to
say, there were but three schools in the town, and these, for conven-
ience sake, were designated by numbers, though as yet they were not
organized.
In March, 1806, a committee consisting of Daniel Marsh, Reuben
Tenney, Daniel Ransom, Josiah Tilden and Abel Barron, was chosen
to divide the town into school districts. This committee reported, in
town meeting, March, 1807, that they had divided the town into seven-
teen districts. Geographically the districts were located as follows : —
No. 1, centre of the town ; (2) Thomas Pitkin' ; (3) Christopher
Pease's, (Quechee) ; (4) James Burtch's ; (5) Abel Camp's, (West
Hartford) ; (6) David Ingraham's ; (7) Wm Pixley's, (Jericho) ; (8)
Dothan meeting-house ; (9) Israel Gillet's, (Christian St.) ; (10) Luther
Powell's, (Centerville) ; (11) Capt. Dorr's, (Lyman's Point) ; (12) Joel
Brink's, (Rustown) ; (13) Mitchell Clark's, (W. R. Junction) ; (14)
south side of White River, (Geo. Pease's) ; (15) at the brick school
house, (James Udall's) ; (16) Joel Dimick's and Cad well Phelps',
(Arthur Hazen's; ; (17) White River village, north side of the river.
The earliest records of the leases of lands for the use of schools, in-
cluding all sequestered for that purpose, are found in Volumes 2 and 3
of Land Records. Among the lots set apart to the Ministerial Right,
or for the first settled minister, was lot No. 31, a hundred acre lot in
the second division of land made by the proprietors. The first settled
minister. Rev. Thomas Gross, sold this lot to John Dutton in 1786, by
whom it was sold to Joseph Marsh, Oct. 13th, 1788. In 1792, the se-
lectmen of the town took possession of said lot, and leased it by a com-
mittee for the benefit of schools, it being the first lease found on record.
The lease reads as follows, viz : —
"This indented lease made this 19th day of Sept. 1792, by and be-
tween Joshua Hazen, David Wright and Amos Robinson, all of Hart-
ford, in the county of Windsor, and State of Vermont, a committee ap-
pointed by s'd Town of Hartford to take care of and to lease the
school lands in said Town of Hartford, on the one part, and Jonas
Bruce of s'd Hartford on the other part, Witnesseth : that we the said
Joshua Hazen, David Wright, and Amos Robinson, for the considera-
tion hereafter mentioned, and by virtue of the power in us vested by s'd
Town of Hartford, do by these presents demise, lease and to farm let to
the said Jonas Bruce, his heirs and assigns, one certain hundred acre
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 377
lot in s'd Town of Hartford, and is ' No. 31 ' in the second division of
hundred acre lots in said Town, which was drawn or pitched to the
School Right in s'd Town. For him the said Jonas Bruce his heirs or
assigns to have, hold, US3, occupy and improve according to the rules of
good husbandry for and during the full term of Nine Hundred and
Ninety-nine years from the date hereof, thence to he complete and
ended ; the said Bruce at the end of six years from this date to pay into
the Treasury of s'd Town of Hartford five pounds ($24.20) then in a
year after that five pounds ten shillings, then a year after that six
pounds, and to continue to pay six pounds yearly to the end of the term
of 999 years, the payment to be made in neat stock or grain at money
price ; and on the first failure of the payment of the yearly rents as
aforesaid the s'd Bruce, his heirs and assigns to forfeit all right or title
to the said letten premises, and the same to revert back to the said
Town of Hartford. In witness whereof the parties have hereinto set
their hands and seals. — (signed) Joshua Hazen, Amos Robinson, Jonas
Bruce.
The foregoing form was observed by said committee in making sub-
sequent leases, whether of Propagating, Church of England, or other
sequestered lands. In a book, entitled, " A Journal of the Town of
Hartford," now known as " The Selectmen's Book," on page one may be
found a record of sundry demands in favor of the town for the use of
supporting schools, included in which are ten notes against Charles and
John Pinneo, amounting to $175. On page seven of said book, is the
following entry : — "Hartford April 1801, Received of Benjamin Pixley
eight dollars and thirty-four cents as a rent for one-half of the school
lot."
The lot named was ' No. 14,' of the first division of hundred acre lots,
and was leased Dec. 30, 1794, one-half to. said Pixly, the balance to
Putnam Wilson. The first payment of rent to be made by eatch in
four years from Dec. 25, 1795, was fifty shillings, with an annual rise
of ten shillings to four pounds ten shillings, the maximum rent thei-e-
after. Lot ' No. 14,' above named, was pitched to the school right, June
27, 1781. It is located on what is known as the Goshen road, and em-
braces sixty acres, now leased and occupied by Charles Hatch, the bal-
ance being leased to another party.
Lot ' No. 6,' in the first hundred acre division, is on the north side of
White River, and was laid out to the Glebe Right. A lease of the
west half was given to Hezekiah Hazen, in 1809, and of the east half to
Billa Gillett, in 1807, for the use of schools. Lot 'No. 6 ' adjoins the
Propagating lot ' No. 15,' of one hundred acres, and the present lease
holders are Reuben Loveland (50 acres), M. Hazen, West (30 acres).
These two lots are embraced in that portion of the town familiarly
known as " Church Hill."
378 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
riEST SCHOOLS IN THE TOWljr.
The first school in West Hartford was taught in the dwelling house
of Reuben Hazen, in the summer of 1795. The winter term of 1796
was taught by Lionel Udall. Mr. Udall was a severe disciplinarian, and
the boys of that period who were under the vigilant eye of this teacher
were given to understand that respect was better procured by exacting
it than by soliciting it. Corporeal punishment was deemed requisite
and proper to keep the urchins in the path of duty, and Mr. Udall ex-
ercised his prerogative in that direction, as could have been established
by the mouths and backs of many witnesses. The first school-house in
West Hartford was built on the bank of White river, near the present
home of the Misses Ballard. This school-house was removed and con-
verted into a dwelling-house, which now constitutes the ell portion of
the dwelling-house directly fronting the meeting-house. The little
brick school-house, now standing on the bank of the river, opposite the
residence of Mrs. Allen Hayes, was built in 1820, and John T. Pratt
taught the first school in it. It was in use until the fall of 1884, when
it was vacated for the handsome and commodious school-house which
was erected that year. The old school-house, in common with others
of its class, was a perfect death-trap. Many children therein contracted
diseases incident to an ill-ventilated, over-crowded room, either too hot
or too cold, which resulted fatally.
It seems, however, to be almost sacrilegious to pull down the old-
time school-houses, around which cluster a thousand pleasant memories
of our youthful days. They were the scenes of a multitude of events
of a varied character, of associations durable as life. The old school-
house at West Hartford was used for many years as a place for holding
religious services on the Sabbath day, and, after the church was built,
it continued to be t,he place for prayer meetings. It was also used as a
place for holding singing and spelling schools, lyceums, law-suits, trials
before justices and juries, lectures, etc. Prom acquaintances made and
friendships formed within its walls, resulted many marriages — some of
a happy, others of an unhappy nature.
We now have better school-houses, and, perhaps, greater facilities for
acquiring a common school education than were enjoyed by the children
of half a century ago, but more commodious and more healthful school-
rooms, with the greater degree of comfort and pleasure afforded by im-
proved systems^ have not given to the world a more perfect manhood
or womanhood than existed under the system that prevailed a century
ago. The enterprise that has formed states, churches, schools, and
colleges, that has reared cities, built railroads, established telegraph
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 279
lines, promoted rapid ocean transit, and brought our country to its
present degree of prosperity, has been that of men who were educated
under old time systems, established with high religious as well as edu-
cational aims, and on the principle that " Knowledge and Virtue are the
main pillars of a free government."
The teachers of fifty years ago, to whom we owe a great veneration,
seem to have been inspired with a desire to improve both the minds and
the hearts of their pupils, and to impress upon them the conviction that
they should strive to become useful and virtuous members of society,
and that their condition would be improved, and their usefulness greatly
increased by the acquisition of useful knowledge and sound information.
They stimulated their pupils to a course of industry and perseverance,
that would serve to advance them to the honors and emoluments of
public employment ; or, if not ambitious of public distinction, to im-
prove their worldly condition and bring themselves into associations
with the learned and the good.
The spirit that animated the old time teachers is illustrated in a
monologue written by Mrs. L. F. Camp, entitled " Old Time Scholars."
The scene is a country school-house; Time, afternoon, as the scholars
are preparing to resume their books, when the teacher addresses them
as follows: —
" Boys, to your studies once again,
For, If you live, you'll soon be men;
'Tis my ambition you should be
So learned and good that all may see
My labors have not been in vain,
What I did teach was for your gain;
'Twill be my pride to see you fill
Places of trust at public will."
" Girls, too, store knowledge grain by grain.
Which joined with virtue can but gain
The praise none ever need disdain,
Nor seek for that indeed in vain.
And be content whate'er your lot,
As flowers that bloom in lowly spot.
Modest and sweet are often sought
While others gayer are forgot."
Thus spoke the master to those youth,
And they received it as the truth,
For they had learned ne'er to despise
His kindly words and counsels wise."
Tradition says that the first school in White River village, was kept
in Josiah Tilden's barn, on the south side of the river, about the year
1800; but with the exception of the school commenced in West Hart-
ford, there is no recorded evidence that there was any other school in
the town prior to 1805. Nevertheless, it seems probable that there
were several schools in the town as early as the year 1800; the popula-
tion that year being 1094; of which number there must have been at
least 200 persons over four and under eighteen years of age.
280 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
After the division of the town into school districts in 180V, a school-
house was built in district 'No. 14,' by Asa and Josiah Tilden and
Wharam Loomis. This house stood on the ground now occupied by the
dwelling-house-of the late Frank Blaisdell. In 1850, that portion of
district 'No. 14' in which said school-house was located, was divided
between 'No. 13' and 'No. 17.' In 1856, this school-house was sold
at auction, since which time there has been no school in that portion
of district ' 17,' south of the bridge. By the division of the town in
1807, 'No. 17,' included all the inhabitants living between Lyman's
Point (White River Junction) and Stephen Tilden's (now Wm. But-
ton's residence). At first, the school-house in 'No. 17,' stood just
west of the present (Hartford) cemetery. In 1817 a portion of ' No.
17' was set off to formj 'No. 11,' and this house was removed to
Lyman's Point and placed on land just opposite to the residence of
Asaph Taft, but some years later it gave way to a new house. After
the "consolidation of districts 'Nos. 13 ' and ' 11 ' in 1884-5, this school-
house was sold to Noah B. Hazen, who converted it into the dwelling-
house now (1887) occupied by the Methodist pastor, Rev. R. L. Bruce.
In 1818, district 'No. 17' built a school-house on land belonging to
Bani Udall, near the present dwelling-house of Charles W. Pease. This
house was in use until 1848, when the district bought what was known
as the "Hartford Academy,'" paying for the same 1337.50, and this
has since been turned one-quarter around, remodeled and an annex
28x30 made.
HAETFORD ACADEMY SUPEEINTENDBNTS OF SCHOOLS TEACHING AS A
PROFESSION.
In October, 1839, an academy was incorporated, under the name of
"Hartford Academy." It was located in White River village. This
institution had but a brief existence. Its close proximity to other and
much better patronized schools precluded the possibility of permanent
success, or a long continued existence. In 1848, district '17' pur-
chased the academy building for a school-house. In 1846, the first
superintendents of common schools were appointed. The following
named gentlemen have served the town as superintendents in the years
named :
1846-7, John K. Lord and Rev. John Dudley; 1848, '49, '50, Revs. John Dud-
ley, Josiah Merrill and WUliam Claggett ; 1851, Leonard Levering ; 1852, Henry
Walcott ; 1858, Rev. J. Merrill ; 1854, Revs. J. Merrill, Heman Rood and Wm.
Claggett ; 1855-56, Samuel J. Allen, M. D. ; 1857, Revs. Heman Rood and Wm.
' Dr. Bancroft, the very capable superintendent of the New Hampshire Stale
Insane Asylum, was a teacher in this seminary for about one year before the
building was sold to district " 17."
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 381
Claggett ; 1858, Daniel Needham ; 1859, Edwin Goodell; 1860, '61, Samuel E.
Pingree ; 1863, '63, '64, George Tenney ; 1865, S. E. Pingi-ee ; 1866, Rev. J. W.
Kingsbury ; 1867, Charles H. Tenney , M. D.; 1868, William H. Downing; 1869,
Charles H. Tenney; 1870 to 1881, inclusive, N. B. Haaen;. 1883-3, N. "W. White ;
1884^5-6, J. G. Hai-vey ; 1887, N. B. Hazen ; 1888, W. H. Currier. Vocation of
incumbents : Ministers of the Gospel, six ; lawyers, three ; physicians, three ;
farmers, five ; jewelers, one; school teachers, one ; total number nineteen, in
forty-three years.
In 1861, the superintendent's annual reports were first printed; 500
copies were then printed. The clearest, most comprehensive and inter-
esting report made by any superintendent, was that made by Rev. J. W.
Kingsbury in March, 186V. Alluding to the condition of the school-
bouses in the town, Mr. Kingsbury said :
" Our school houses cry loudly for reforni. Their very walls and timbers
groan and lament and cry out to the citizen and stranger! A very few school
houses are comparatively suitable and convenient. Ill-constructed, iU- ventilated
and inconvenient school houses, with poor teaching' secured at cheap rates, will
assuredly yield a poor crop of scholars, while the opposite mode of management
that shall give to the scholars a good room, weU-ventUated, and the best of in-
struction, will send forth those who shall do honor to themselves and the schools
from whence they came, and repay an hundred fold to our country and the
world, all that has ever been expended in then- behalf. Children are sent to
school to be educated in the largest and most liberal sense of the tei-m, and the
very buildings and grounds have ai^art in that educating process."
In 1878, at the annual March meeting, the town appointed a commit-
tee to consider the advantages of a central school or schools and report
' There is a growing sentiment among the thoughtful, that teaching should be
a profession ; that the teachers of our primary schools should have professional
training to fit them to enter upon the vocation of teaching, and when further qual-
ified by experience, they should be employed in preference to undisciplined, inex-
perienced persons, who have no other incentive to enter upon the vocation of
teaching than that of pecuniary profit; in a word, who undertake the work as a
temporary expedient for supporting themselves.
When the great importance of the teachers' mission is considered, it must be
apparent that it is necessary for the highest welfare of children that they shall be
placed under the tuition of those who are thoroughly imbued with a high sense
of their important duties and responsibilities. Teachers should possess qualifica-
tions other than those that fit them to teach children to read, write and cipher.
In the school-room the teacher fills the place of a parent, and under his examples,
precepts and guidance, the minds and hearts of his pupils are moulded and di-
rected for time and for eternity. " Knowledge," said Daniel Webster, " does
not comprise all which is contained in the large term of education. The feelings
are to be disciplined, the passions are to be restrained; true and worthy motives
are to be inspired; a profound religious feeling is to be instilled and pure moral-
ity inculcated under all circumstances. All this is comprised in education."
In a circular addressed by Mr. Guizot, minister of public instruction in France,
in 1832, to the teachers of the communes, he enters with paternal solicitude into
the most insignificant details of the relations of the teacher with children and
parents ; rebukes sectarian spirit ; stretches forth his hand with touching famili-
arity to the village school teacher, elevates him in the eyes of all, and especially
in his own eyes, and fills him with the importance of his mission. His words are
worthy of a place in this connection :—
" No sectarian or party spirit in your school ; the teacher must rise above the
fleeting quarrels which agitate society. Faith in Providence, the sanctity of duty,
submission to parental authority, respeci for the laws, the rights of all — such are
the sentiments he must seek to develope."
282 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
some practical plan for establishing the same, and the estimated ex-
pense. Nothing was accomplished by the committee. In 1879, the
town voted to purchase and hold text-books. N. B. Safford and T. W.
Gilson were chosen text-book committee, and N. B. Hazen, text-book
agent, and the agent was directed to draw from the town treasury a sum
not to exceed $600 for the purchase of books. In 1880, the town author-
ized the text-book committee to draw f 100 annually from the treasui;y
for the purpose of supplying the requirements and keeping up the sys-
tem. In 1881 the town voted to subscribe for the Hemmen way Gazetteer
of Vermont. In 1882, the town appointed a committee consisting of
Revs. S. I. Briant, N. F. Carter, and R. Miller and N. B. Hazen, to con-
sider the practicability and desirability of adopting the town system of
schools. The committee reported favorably to the town system (March
1883), but it was voted 105 to 81 to indefinitely postpone the subject.
In 1884 the subject was passed over. In 1885, after a lengthy discus-
sion, the vote stood ayes 51, noes 219. In 1886, the subject was again
considered. No arguments were presented by the friends to the town
system, but much opposition was manifested, and the vote stood yeas
40, nays 181.
The Prudential Committees of the several school districts for the year
ending February 17th, 1886, was as follows : —
No. 1, C. O. Fogg; No. 2, Owen McCabe; No. 3, Dan'l L. Gushing; No. 4,
Trumbull Hunt; No. 5, Wm. H. Tucker, Jr.; No. 7, Geo. T. Hazen; No. 8, I. G.
Sprague; No. 9, Edward Gillett; No. 10, Geo. H. Fuller; No. 12, Frank Huntoon;
No. 13, Henry CarroU; Geo. W. Kenney; Alex. W. Davis; No. 14, Benjamin
Wood; No. 15, W. H. Seaver; No. 17, S. I. Briant; C. W. Pease; Mrs. E.
Morris.
The three following forms are those used by the selectmen and treas-
urer of the town in connection with the school fund. They exhibit the
amount of moneys received from all sources for school purposes; the
division of the same by the selectmen, and the distribution made of the
moneys to the several school districts of the town for the year 188V.
These tables are introduced here for the information of young men who
are liable to be chosen to fill town offices, and therefore should become
familiar with the system observed in this matter. These things, of a
practical nature, appertaining to the every-day affairs of life, should
be more generally understood. Every boy and girl should be educated
in a way that will make them good and useful citizens, and fit them to
fill those responsible positions in life to which they may rightfully
aspire, and honorably seek to attain, only when duly and truly prepared,
worthy, and well qualified.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
383
AMOUNT OF MONEY EBCEIVED FOR SCHOOL PUEPOSBS. 1877.
Occupants of Lands.
Received of Barron, A. T...
Beaudette, C
Acres. Value.
Rent.
S6 00
6 00
75
4 50
75
13 56
3 30
4 80
1 75
4 25
13 00
3 00
6 00
10 44
12 00
3 75
5 50
3 75
3 00
$108 00
99 39
2219 06
357 13
53
S3784 10
DIVISION OF SCHOOL MONEY BY THE SELECTMEN IN THE YEAR 1887.
Clarke, Z. B_
Gilmore, Patrick __
Hackett, Kimball.
Hatch, Charles
Hazen, Carlos
Hazen, Cyras
Hazen, Willis
Howard, Austin
Hunt, Ti-umbuU...
Loveland, Reuben.
McCabe, Barney.. .
Newton, George. . _
Parker, J. C __
Shattuck, Joseph..
Shattuck, Paschal -
Shattuck, Willis...
Wood, George C...
43
50
13
60
13
60
16
34
16
40
60
50
18
51
39i
m
90
63i
30
?300 00
400 00
300 00
800 00
300 00
700 00
400 00
300 00
150 00
400 00
1000 00
300 00
500 00
750 00
300 00
300 00
600 00
300 00
150 00
Total... 826* $8050 00
Received of State Treasurer proportion of income aiising from the
Huntington Fund _ _
Selectmen's order for school fund
Interest on the surplus revenue __
On hand from last year undivided _
No. District. Part of District.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
12
13
14
15
17
18
1
1
1
.8636
.9473
.2631
1
1
.9454
1
1
1
1
.5
1
.1903
Aggregate
Attendance.
495
3,787
11,807
1,652
3,315
1654
1,878
2,132
3,033
l,946i
3,307i
20,518
910
706
16,100
330
Am't of Money to Am't of Money to
part of District. Aggregate
Attendance.
S67 69
69 69
69 69
58 46
64 12
17 81
67 69
67 69
63 99
67 69
67 69
67 69
67 69
33 84
67 69
12 88
S 13 93
73 77
308 38
43 13
86 55
4 33
49 03
55 41
78 90
50-82
86 35
535 73
33 76
18 43
430 37
8 63
Am't of Public
Money given to
District.
S 80 61
140 46
375 .97
101 59
150 67
32 13
116 71
123 10
143 89
118 51
154 04
603 41
91 45
53 37
488 06
31 50
16 13.7097 71,061 |928 00 ,§1,855 37 |2,783 37
(Total amount of money for sc{iool purposes, |3,784 10. Fractional loss in divis-
ion, 73c.)
The above is a statement of the division of the school money as made by us
this 25th of March, A. D., 1887.
C. R. WHITMAN, )
JOHN H. HAZEN, [ Selectmen.
JOHN BARROWS, )
DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOOL MONEY IN 1887.
School money in account with H. C. Pease, Town Treasurer.
Eeeeived of H. C. Pease, Town Treasurer, the several sums affixed to
284 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
our names, being the amount of school money divided and due to each
district and paid on selectmen's order in 1887.
Dist. To Wliom Paid.
No.l O. D. Tewksbury . . $80 61
3 0. R. Whitman _ _--. 140 46
3 C. R. Whitman 375 97
4 J. H. Hazeu 10159
5 J. H. Hazen 150 67
6 R. W. Wood. 32 13
7 N. B.Hazen 116 71
8 LeonardHazen 123 10
9 C.B.Stone 143 89
10 A. P. Howe.... 118 51
12 B. McCabe. 154 04
13 George W. Smith 603 41
14 B. P. Wood . 91 45
15 O.R.Whitman 53 37
17 AlleuL. Pease 488 06
18 Darius Russ 31 50
Total, 13,783 37
On hand for next year (73) seventy-three cents.
THE HUNTINOTON SCHOOL FUND.
In 1876, Arunah Huntington of Brantford, in the Province of Onta-
rio, and Dominion of Canada, by his last will and testament devised and
bequeathed to the State of Vermont, as a common school fund, an
estate valued at over two hundred thousand dollars. The donor of
this munificent gift, by his noble act, placed himself in the list of
great public benefactors, and, as the people of Hartford are now bene-
ficiaries under said will, I deem it eminently proper to place before the
readers of this history, a brief sketch of the life of Mr. Huntington,
together with the most salient provisions of said will ; that the memory
of his noble deed may be preserved through all time, and his name be
honored as that of one, whose actions were great because they were
the result of a gr'eat and grand design.
Arunah Huntington was born in Roxbury, Washing-ton Co., Vermont, Feb-
ruary 33d, 1794. His father died when he was a child and he lived with his
grandfather untU he was eleven years of age, when he went to live with his
uncle Downer (supposed to have lived in Sharon) working on a farm imtilhe was
sixteen years old. He afterwards worked at tanning leatherand shoe making,
teaching school m the winter months, until about the year 1828, when he had
saved five himdred doUars, and went to Brantford, Province of Ontario, Canada.
He there started a shoe making business, employing four or five journeymen,'
boarding them in his own house, and working diligently with them. It became
profitable, and he soon had money to invest outside his regular business, and he
purchased building lots in the then growing city of Brantford. His invest-
ments proved profitable, and in 1843 he was worth $30,000.
In 1861, he was worth about $80,000, and having gi-eat faith m the finan-
cial soundness of the United States, he purchased heavily of American secu-
rities, at that time much depressed, particularly in Canada, and in this manner
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 385
and by gi-eat economy all his life, he finally at his death had amassed a fortune
of over 1300,000. Mr. Huntington for five years before his death, which occui-red
January 10, 1877, was in delicate health, and the executor of his will, for some
years before his death, assisted him in his aflfairs. He once went to Europe, but
had not visited Vermont for many years, and the first that was known of his
desire to bequeath his property to his native State, was dui-ing the latter part of
the Legislature of 1876, when Governor Fairbanks received a letter from him in
relation to it. Later, Gov. Fairbanks sent his private secretary to Brantford to
confer with Mr. Huntington, but he did not arrive there until the day of Ms
funeral. Distant relatives contested the wiU for six years, but a final decree
was obtained giving the personal property and its accumulations to the State.
Clause 3d of the Will, relating to said bequest, is as follows:— " It is my wUl
that my said executor shall, as soon after my decease as may be found conven-
ient, sell and convert all my said estate into cash, and after paying my funeral
and testamentary expenses, and of proving and registering this my will, pay and
deliver the rest and residue thereof to the Government and Legislature of the
State of Vermont, one of the United States of America, to be disposed of by the
said Government and Legislature as they shall deem best, having regard to the
recommendations hereiaafter contained." The first recommendation relates to
the appointment of three trustees for the control and distribution of said fund.
Second. — That the capital of said fund be employed in the establishment of a
banking institution to be called the "Vermont District School Bank," or of an
institution for investing the said capital in mortgages or real estate.
Third. — That the profits to arise from the investment of said fund should be
added to the principal, until the accumulation should amount to a sum sufiflcient,
when distributed, to pay to each county in the State the sum of one hundred
thousand dollars.
Fourth. — "That thereafter the profits arising annually from the investments
of the said capital, shall be divided by the said trustees, under regulations to be
framed by the Government and Legislature, equally among the several counties
composing the State, for the use and benefit of conmion or district schools."
At the biennial session of 1878, the Legislature passed the following
joint resolution, viz : —
" Whereas, Arunah Himtington, a native of Vermont, and late of Brantford,
Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, deceased, by his last will and testa-
ment, bequeathed to the State of his nativity, as a common school fund, an es-
tate valued at over 1200,000; and '
Whereas, It is due to the memory of the deceased that the State should
through its legislature, place upon record an expression of its appreciation of his
generous bequest; therefore.
Resolved, That we accept the bequest of the said Arunah Huntington, with
grateful recognition of his affectionate regard for his native State, and his dona-
tion, and assume the duties of the trust with a determination to pei-form them
with fidelity and zeal."
November 25, 1882, the General Assembly authorized and empowered
the State treasurer to settle with the executor of the last will and testa-
ment of Mr. Huntington, and adjust and settle all claims and liens
against said fund, and to receive aU the property specified in the will.
286 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
etc., etc. On the 25th of April, 1883, the executor of said estate, Eben-
ezer Eoy, delivered to State Treasurer DuBois the net proceeds of said
personal estate, which, after all claims and liens had been adjusted and
expenses of litigation paid, amounted to $205,111.22.
Nov. 25, 1884, the General Assembly passed an act relating to the
disposition of the Huntington fund. Section one, authorized the treas-
urer in his discretion, to convert into cash, from time to time, the secu-
rities of said fund,, and the proceeds might be used for the general pur-
poses of the State.
Section 2d, requires the treasurer to annually apportion the interest at six per
cent, on the amount converted to the use of the State, and the income arising
from unconverted portions of the fund, to the several towns and unoi-ganized
towns and gores in proportion to the number of inhabitants in each based on the
census of 1880.
Section 3d, directs that the money received by the towns shall be divided by
them to the schools of the towns for school purposes as other public moneys are
divided by law, " but no school or school district which has not maintained
twenty-four weeks of schooling in the preceding year, shall be entitled to receive
any share of this fund.
Section 5th, directs the treasurer to make the first division of income and in-
terest in the year 1886. The treasurer made the first division in March, 1886, and
the town of Hartford received the sum of |88.62.
A very good criterion by which an estimate may be formed of the
general intelligence of the people of any town is found in the character
of the books, newspapers and magazines they read, and in the number
of such publications taken by the inhabitants individually and col-
lectively. The present rules and regulations of the post oiRce depart-
ment preclude the possibility of learning the number of different news-
papers and magazines that are received and distributed at the five post
offices in the town at the present time. In 1810, however, I learned
that the number of copies of newspapers and magazines taken by regular
subscribers, at each of the four offices was as follows : —
West Hartford. — DaUies, none; Semi-Weekties, 2; Weeklies, 111; Quaiiierly
Magazines, 2; Free Papers, 107; Monthly Magazines, 1. Total, 223.
White River Village. — Dailies, 10; Semi-Weeklies, 29; Weeklies, 153; Quarterly
Magazines, none; Free Papers, 107; Monthly Magazines, 97. Total, 395.
White River Junction. — Dailies, 7; Semi- Weeklies, 1; Weeklies, 75; Quarterly
Magazines, none; Free Papers, 31; Monthly Magazines, 67. Total, 181.
Queohee. — Dailies, 15; Semi- Weeklies, 10; Weeklies, 96; Quarterly Magazines,
37; Free Papers, 97; Monthly Magazines, 12. Total, 267.
Free papars were those printed within the County of Windsor. Week-
ly papers were those printed out of the county, and like the daily and
semi-weekly papers, were mostly published in Boston and New York.
More than eight-tenths of all the newspapers subscribed for were repub-
lican in politics. There is a greater diversity of reading matter at
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD. 387
the present time tlian ever before, and the number of newspapers now
taken embraces New York papers, such as the Tribune, the Weekly
Mail and Express, both republican ; the N. Y. World and Herald,
democratic ; the Pilot, catholic ; the Boston dailies, including the
Journal, Advertiser, Record, Traveler, Commercial Bulletin, all republi-
can ; the Post, Globe and Herald, democratic. These are supplemented
by our own Vermont dailies, the Rutland Herald, Burlington Free
-Press and St. Albans Messenger, all Republican. Prominent among
the weekly papers taken are the Vermont Journal (Windsor) ; The
Granite State Free -Press (Lebanon, N. H.); Vermont Watchman
(Montpelier) ; Woodstock Standard; JBrattleboro Reformer; Manches-
ter (N. H.) Union, and the Argus and -Patriot (Montpelier).
CHAPTER XX.
POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES.
The grantees of Hartford, in common with those of all the townships
in Vermont, east of the Green Mountains, were for the most part citizens
of Connecticut, and, with a few exceptions, the early settlers came from
the same State ; therefore, for many years, the Connecticut element in
the population greatly predominated. In a paper read before the Con-
necticut Valley Historical Society, by John L. Rice, Esq., of Springfield,
Mass., in 1879, the speaker said :—
" Under their liberal charters the settlers speedily developed a system of town
government surpassing in its spirit of independence and unbridled democracy,
even that of its prototype, the Massachusetts and Comiecticut town. Their re-
moteness from the seat of Provincial Government at Portsmouth, the sparseness
of the population and the consequent danger from the Indians, naturally led to
this result among a people already, by previous training, deeply imbued with the
idea of local self-government. The strength of the religious sentiment, and the
almost universal prevalence of Congi-egationalism as a form of belief and of
church polity, greatly intensified this spirit and lent a powerful impulse to all
its manifestations. * * « The unity of religious and poUtioal sentiment among
them had also been remarked. * * * AH the settlers had brought with them the
idea that the popular branch of the legislature should be supreme in a constitu-
tional government, a habit of thought which had grown from that of Enghshmen
looking to the Commons as their peculiar guardian against the tyranny of the
Crown. In Massaclrusetts, the long conflict between the Assembly and the Ex-
ecutive had resulted in a deep-rooted prejudice against both the Executive and
the Judiciary, and the people of that colony, at the time of emigration to the
grants, had imbibed the belief that a state of perfect security and happiness
would be theirs if they could be permitted to elect annually aU the ofiicers of
government. The influence of John Adams, and the other political scientists of
his day, which gradually overcame that belief, arrived too late to affect the
radicals who went to the grants. They were still intoxicated with the idea that
the right of suffrage, and the town system, pure and simple, were the panacea
for all political ills and the sole security of hberty and happiness. The people of
Connecticut had by their charter the right of suffrage and the privilege of elect-
ing annually all their oiHoers. Under this system and the pecuUar blending of
church and State which obtained in that colony, they had enjoyed a great degree
of happiness and security, especially as the great majority of them were of one
religious faith and practice."
The vote in Hartford for governor prior to 1803, is not obtainable on
account of the loss of the town records from 1779 to 1802 inclusive. It
is evident, however, that the majority vote was given to the Republican
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 389
or Anti-Federal candidate, for the reason that the Connecticut element
in the population predominated, and as before stated that element
w as inimical to the system of centralization, and regarded the federal
c ompact aa leaning too much toward a monarchy ; indeed, they bestowed
upon the Federalists the title of " British partisans,^' while they, in
turn, were derided by the Federalists as the " French party," for the
reason that the French nation, after throwing off the yoke of royalty,
had proclaimed a republic " one and indivisible," or one federal govern-
ment similar to that of the United States.
GUBERNATOEIAL VOTE OP HARTFOKD.
The vote of Hartford for governor of Vermont from 1803 to 1886
inclusive is recorded as follows : —
1803, Isaac Tichenor, 58; Jonathan Robinson, 93; Paul Brigham, 133.
1807, Israel Smith, 83; Isaac Tichenor, 74; scattering, 3.
1809, Jonas Galusha, 144; Isaac Tichenor, 114; scattering, 7.
1813, Martin Chittenden, 151; Jonas Galusha, 155; scattering, 3.
1830, Richard Skinner, 96; (no other candidate balloted for).
1833, C. P. Vati Ness, 41; Dudley Chase, 19; scattering, 1.
1826, Ezra Butler, 31; "W. Hall, 2; scattering 5.
1828, Samuel C. Craft, 77; (only candidate balloted for).
[Note. — At freeman's meeting in 1813, forty -seven men took the freeman's
oath and voted. Among the number were Thomas Gross, son of the first settled
minister in Hartford, Rev. Eden Bm-roughs, pastor of the Presbyterian church
in Hartford and one of the trustees of Dartmouth College; Daniel O. Gillett,
Wm. Savage, and Samuel Gage. In 1817, twenty-seven men took the freeman's
oath and voted. Among the number were Daniel, Elijah and Thomas J. Hazen,
Charles Pinneo, Benjamin Porter and Harper Tenney. The voting hst on that
day included the names of thirteen naen by the name of Hazen. In 1886 the tax
hst of the town included thirty persons named Hazen, twenty-five of wliom
were voters.]
1830, Samuel C. Crafts, 156; W. A. Palmer, 34; Ezra Meach, 34.
1831, W. A. Palmer, 47; S. C. Crafts, 150; Ezra Meach, 35.
1835, Silas H. Jennison, Lt. Governor, acting chief magistrate.
1836, Silas H. Jennison, 196; W. C. Bradley, 75.
1841, Charles Paine, 111; Nathan Smiley, 98; Titus Hutchinson, 15.
1843, John Mattocks, 305; Daniel Kellogg, 138.
1844, WUUam Slade, 359; Daniel Kellogg, 90.
1846, Horace Eaton, 188; John Smith, 70; L. Brainerd, 20.
1848, Carlos CooUdge, 313; Paul Dillmgham, 98; O. L. Shatter, 77.
1850, Charles K. WiUiams, 332; L. B. Peck, 131.
1853, Erastus Fairbanks, 184; Jno S. Robinson, 63; L. Brainerd, 53.
1853, Jno S. Robinson, 143, Erastus Fairbanks, 183; L. Brainerd, 33.
1854, Stephen Royce, 334; Merritt Clarke, 137; W. R. Shaffer, 19.
1856, Ryland Fletcher, 280; Hem-y Keyes, 77; Fred Holbrook, 1.
1858, Hiland Hall, 194; Henry Keyes, 65.
1860, Erastus Fairbanks, 373; Jno G. Saxe, 101; Rob't Harvey, 6.
1861, Frederick Holbrook, 135; Andrew Tracy, 47; B. H. Smalley, 10.
1863, J. G. Smith, 336; T. P. Redfleld. 47:' Andrew Tracy, 1.
1865, Paul Dillingham, 158; C. N. Davenport, 33.
1867, John B. Page, 184; J. L. Edwards, 30.
1869, Peter T. Washburn, 188; Homer W. Heaton, 38.
1870, George W. Hendee, Lieut. -Governor, acting in place Gov. Washburn,
1870, Jno W. SteWart, 136; H. W. Heaton, 34.
19
290 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
1872, Julius Converse, 377; A. B. Gardner, 91.
1874, Asahel Peck, 229; W. H. H. Bingham, 74.
1876, Horace Faii-banks, 303; W. H. H. Bingham, 127.
1878, Redfleld Proctor, 238; W. H. H. Bingham, 91; 0. C. Martin, Gr. B., 3.
1880, RosweU Farnham, 407; E. J. Phelps, 171; M. O. Heath, 4.
1882, John L. Barstow, 265; G. E. Eaton, 71.
1884, Samuel E. Pingi-ee, 327; L. W. Redington, 119; W. E. Pingree, 1.
1886, Ebenezer J. Ormsbee, 277; S. C. ShurtleflE, 114; H. M. Seely, 7.
1888, W. P. Dillingham, 449; S. C. ShurtleflE, 165; H. M. Seely, 1.
It is with feelings of pleasure and pride that I am able to record the
fact that a great majority of the inhabitants of Hartford have, generally
speating, been distinguished for an intelligent understanding and -wise
treatment of all the important political questions or issues that have
from time to time engaged their attention, whether of a local, or a more
extended interest. In all measures that have conserved to the honor,
the <lignity, the prosperity and the perpetuity of the national govern-
meuf, they have patriotically acted with devotion to the Union, and ii;
obedience to the Constitution. Prior to the Eevolution they were loyal
to the British government, until reason forbade a longer allegiance.
During the New York and New Hampshire controversies,* they were not
however at first favorable to the independence of Vermont, and her ad-
mission to the Confederation. During the Eevolution they gave both
moral and physical support to the cause of American independence. (It
is not known that there was a tory in the town during the eventful
period of the Revolution.) They were late in understanding the value
of the Federal Union, but were among the foremost in defending and
maintaining it when its existence was threatened in 1820. They then,
for the first time, became almost a unit in their recognition of the wis-
dom and prudence of Washington and Hamilton, and plainly saw that
the Constitution of 1787 contained the requisite remedies for those po-
litical disorders which had threatened the destruction of all public and
private credit, upon which depended the perpetuation of the American
Union. During the thirty years' existence of the whig party — 1825-55
— the comparative vote of the whigs and democrats in Hartford was as
three to one. In 1830, when three gubernatorial candidates were started,
viz: Crafts, national Eepublican, and Masonic — Palmer, national Repub-
lican and anti- Masonic, and Meach, the Democratic candidate, the vote
stood as follows: Crafts, 156; Palmer, 24; Meach, 24; the combined
republican vote having a majority equal to the vote cast for Crafts.
(There was no election by the people, but after thirty-two ballotings in
the General Assembly, Crafts was chosen.) In 1833, the tables were
turned in favor of Palmer. He had a majority of five in Hartford, and
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 291
after nine trials in the General Assembly, was chosen by a majority of
one vote.'
In 1859, a lively contest took place over the election of town repre-
sentative. The first ballot developed the fact that there were fifteen
candidates in the field, viz : Eepublicans, Daniel O. Gillett, N. B. Saf-
ford, Ai G. Dewey, J. C. Brooks, Benjamin Porter, Thaddeus Dutton,
Allen Hazen, Truman H. Savage, L. Pease and Edward Kneeland; dem-
ocrats, Selah Smith, Wni. S. Carter, J. K. Edgerton, A. B. Russ and
John Beard. On the sixth ballot the number was reduced to three, viz:
Messrs. Safford, Carter and Gillett, who were the only candidates from
the sixth to the sixteenth ballot. After the eleventh ballot the meeting
was adjourned until the following day, when voting was resumed, and
four additional ballots were taken without effecting a choice. The re-
publicans then decided to unite on a new man, and Edward P. Sprague
was put in nomination in opposition to Wm. S. Carter, a conservative
democrat, than whom no man in Hartford was more highly respected
and beloved. The result was a foregone conclusion. On the seventeenth
ballot Mr. Sprague was elected by a vote of 166 to 157. It was per-
fectly obvious that Mr. Carter, though defeated, had received at the
hands of several republicans a flattering expression of their high regard
for him as a gentleman and a worthy citizen.
The number of polls registered in Hartford is 844. The number of
legal voters exceeds the polls to the number of twenty, probably. It is,
therefore, evident that the stay-at-home element, on election days, com-
prises, on an average, three-fifths of the voting population. In other
words, this number of voters reprehensively shirk the duty and respon-
"sibility incumbent on all citizens who have the right and privilege of the
franchise. What a spirit of indignation would be excited in the breasts
of the stay-at-home class of voters, provided they were denied the right
of suffrage, for reasons as trivial as the excuses they plead for their
dereliction or evasion of duty ! The citizens of Hartford, in general,
favor the system of holding caucuses for the choice of delegates to rep-
resent them in both State and county conventions ; yet, as a rule, there
is a surprising paucity of voters in attendance at all caucuses held in
this town.
Our fathers fought, bled and died, to secure the right of representa-
tion with taxation. With an intelligent understanding of all matters of
public interest and importance gained by direct participation, and an
' In 1832, no choice of governor was made by the people. Palmer was re-elected
in the Assembly at the forty-third trial. Many Masonic lodges were about this
time disbanded, particularly the Grand Lodge of Vermont. In the presidential
canvass of 1832, Vermont had her Anti-Masonic candidate, and gave her vote for
Win. Wirt — standing before the Union alone and single-handed. — Beckley.
392 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
equal voice in discussing measures of public polity, they fully compre-
hended their duty and their responsibility, and patriotically met both,
even at a sacrifice of fortune and life. A neglect to attend public meet-
ings held for discussing measures of importance relating to the public
weal, and a neglect to attend town and freeman's meeting, and therein
exercising the right of suffrage, is as reprehensible, in principle, as is
desertion from the ranks in time of battle. The arbitrary and illegal
methods pursued in the Southern States to deprive colored voters of
the right of franchise, by intimidation and actual violence, is censured
and denounced in unmeasured terms by all liberty-loving people, the
world over. But, if the colored people of the South were free to exer-
cise the right of suffrage, and voluntarily failed to do so to the same
extent as do the voters of Hartford, should we not charge them with
insensibility to one of the dearest blessings attendant upon their eman-
cipation from slavery, and reasonably feel that, so far as their personal
condition is involved, they might as well have remained in slavery ; un-
privileged to participate in legislation, and subject to the will of a few
masters, as to be invested with the rights of citizenship, and, failing to
exercise the privileges, and performing the duties thereof, leave the
legislation affecting their dearest interests, and the honors and emolu-
ments of offices that should be conferred on and enjoyed by capable
and worthy citizens, to the iands of a few unscrupulous, political hacks
and office-seekers ?
U. S. STATE, COUNTY AND TOWN OFFICERS.
Citizens of Hartford ivlio have held Ciinl Offices in the Qovernvient of the
United States.
Members of Congress — Rrepresentatives, George E. Wales, 1835-1829; William
Strong, 1810-15 and 1819-21; Andrew Ti-acy, 1854.
Citizens of Hartford who have held Civil Offices in the Government of the State.
Governor — Samuel E. Pingree, 1885-86.
Lieutenant Governors— Joseph Marsh, 1778-79, 1788-89; David M. Camp,
1836-41; Samuel E. Pingi-ee, 1883-84.
Secretary of State— Charles W. Porter, 1885-86-87-88-89-90.
Speakers of the General Assembly — George E. Wales, session 1833-34; Andrew
Tracy, 1842-43^:4^45.
Preachers of Election Sermons before the General Assemby — Rev. Thomas
Gross, at Woodstock, Octobers, 1807; Rev. Daniel Mai-sh, at Montpelier, October
14, 1813.
Members of the Council of Censors.
Joseph Marsh, 1785; Rev. Thomas Gross, 1806; Elijah Strong, 1813; William
Strong, 1834.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 293
Members of Constitutional Conventions.
John Clark, 1793; Frederic Mather, 1814; Geo. E. Wales, 1833; Wylys Lyman,
1838; Andrew Tacy, 1836 and 1843; John L. Lovermg, 1850; Rev. B. F. Ray,
1870.
State Senators.
Andrew Tracy, 1839; John Porter, 1843-43; Daniel Needham, 1861; Albert G.
Dewey, 1869-70-71; J. C. Parker, 1874^75; Daniel L. Gushing, 1886-87.
Judges of the Supreme Court.
Joseph Marsh, (Chief Judge), 1787-1795; WilUam Sti-ong, 1817.
Judges of the Probate Court.
James Udall, 1839-40; George E. Wales, 1843-47; John Porter, 1850-1886.
County Representatives to General Assembly.
Joseph Marsh and Joshua Hazen, 1st session, at Bennington, Jan'y 31st to Feb.
28th, 1782; 3d session, at Windsor, June 13th to June 21st, 1782; 3d session, at
Manchester, Oct. 10th to Oct. 34th, 1783; Joshua Hazen and Stephen TUden, 1st
session, Bennington, Feb. 19th to March 9th, 1784; 3d session, at Rutland, Oct 14th
to 39th, 1784.
State's Attorneys.
Wylys Lyman, 1837-31; Samuel E. Pingi-ee, 1867-69.
Sherifif— William Strong, 1803 to 1810.
State Railway Commission.
Samuel E. Pingi-ee, Chairman, 1886-87-1888-89.
TOWN OFFICERS, 1761-1887.
The town was organized, August 26th, 1761, at the first meeting of
the proprietors. A clerk, treasurer, three selectmen and three collec-
tors of taxes were then elected. Of the officers elected at and since the
organization of the town, none will be herein named excepting clerks,
treasurers, selectmen, overseers of the poor, superintendents of schools
and representatives to the General Assembly.
Town Clerks.
Prince Tracy, Aug. 36th, 1761, to Moh. 12th, 1765; Benajah Strong, Mch. 13th,
1765, to Mch. 8th, 1768; Elijali Strong, 1768; John Sti-ong, 1769, '70, '71, '72; Amos
Robinson, 1773 to 1780;' Asa Hazen, 1781 to 1796; James Tracy, 1797 to 1803;
Freegi'ace Leavitt, 1802 to 1836; George Udall, 1837, '38, '39; George E. Wales,
Mch. 1840 to January 14th, 1860; Justin C. Brooks, 1860-'63; Samuel E. Pingi-ee
1861; George Tenney, 1863-'64 Samuel E. Pingree, 1865 to 1889.
Town Treasurers.
Prince Ti-acy, Aug. 36th, 1761, to May 16th, 1775; Amos Robinson, 1775 to
1780; Asa Hazen, 1781 to 1795; James Tracy, 1796 to 1838; John Grout, 1829 to
1838; Justin C. Brooks, 1839 to 1874; Horace C. Pease, 1875 to March 5, 1889, at
which time John L. Bacon was elected treasurer.
' The loss of the town records irom 1778 to 1802, renders it uncertain who were
the incumbents of this office during that period, but inasmuch as the town clerks
officiated as the proprietor's clerks and vice versa, for many years, it is probable
that the list given is correct.
294 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Select Men.
Prince Tracy, 1761, '63, '63, '64; William Clark, 1761, '63; John Baldwin, 1761;
Samuel Williams, 1763; James Flint, 1762; Samuel Terry, 1763; EHjah Strong,
1764, '65, 1770; Solomon Strong, 1765, '66, '67, '68; Benjamin Wright, 1765, '66,
'67; Christopher Pease, 1768, '69, '70; John Marsh, 1768, '69, '70; Israel GUlett,
1769, '71, '90; Abel Marsh, 1771; LioneU Udall, 1771, '72; Daniel Pinneo, EUjah
Marsh, 1773;' Thomas Tracy, 1778; Elkanah Sprague, 1778, '80, '82, '83, '87;
Benjamin Wright, 1778; Joshua Hazen, 1780, '81, 1801; Joseph Marsh, 1781; Ste-
phen Tilden, 1780, '81; Amos Robinson, 1783 '88, 1801; David Wright, 1782, '83,
'96, 1801; unknown, 1784, '85, '86; John Marsh, 1787; unknown, 1788, '89; E.
Carpenter, 1790; Hezekiah Hazen, 1791, '92, '93; Peter Rider, 1791, '92, '93; Sam-
uel Udall, 1791, '92, '93; John'GiUett, 1794; Paul Pitkin, 1794; Jedediah Strong,
1794, '95, '96, '97; John Clark, 1797; Oliver UdaU, 1797, '98, '99; Benjamin Russ,
1799, 1806; Daniel Hazen, 1798, '99, 1800; Ehsha Marsh, 1798, 1800; Joshua
Hazen, 1801; Amos Robinson, David Wright, 1801; Erastus Chapman, 1802, '83;
William Strong, 1802, '86; MitcheU Clark, 1802; Daniel Marsh, James Tracy, 1803,
'4, '5; Paul Pitkin; 1804, '5; Charles Pinneo, 1804, '5, '27, '28; Benjamm Russ,
1806; Freegrace Leavitt, 1806, '7, '8, '9, '20, '21, '32, '33; EHjah Mason, 1807, '8, '9,
'10, '11; Philemon Hazen, 1806, '7, '8, '9; Luther Bartholomew, 1810, '11; Elam
Brooks, 1810, '11, '12, '13, '14, '15, '16; David TrumbuU, Nathaniel Thomas, 1812;
Daniel Marsh, 1813, '14, '15, '16; Hezekiah Hazen, 1813; Daniel Spooner, 1814,
'15; Reuben Tenney, 1816; James Udall, 1817, '18, '19, '20, '34, '35, '36; Wm.
Knowlton, 1817, '18; Daniel Newton, 1817, '18, '19; Zerah Brooks, 1819 to 1836
inclusive; Adino Udall, 1821; George E. Wales, 1832, '23, '24; ShubelRuss, 1822,
'23, '34; '37, '28, '39, '30, '41, '42, '47; Abel Barron, John Downer, 1825; Wylys
Lyman, 1836, '37, '38, '39, '30; Allen Hazen, 1839, '30, '31, '33, '33; Nathaniel
Thomas, 1831, '3, '3; Ira Tenney, 1831; John Porter, 1834, '5, '6, '7, '8, '9, '40, '3,
'4; John Strong,1834, '5, '6, '7, .43, '4; Ben Porter, 1837, '8, '9, '40, '1, '3, '5, '6, '7,
'8, '9, '53, '4, '6; Jonathan Bugbee, 1838, '9, '40, '41; Aaron Willard, 1843, '7; Lu-
cius Haaen, 1844, '5, '6, '50, '1, '3; Theophilus Cushing,^1845, '6; John L. Lov-
ering, 1848, '9, '50, '1, '3, '3, '4; L. B. Dudley, 1848, '9; Nathan GiUett, 1850, '1,
'2; Norman Tilden, 1853, '4; Charles Tinkham, 1855, '6, '7; W. W. Low, 1855;
Carlos Hamilton, 1855, '6; O. F. BaiTon, 1857; Thaddeus Dutton, 1857 to
1869, 13 years; A. G. Dewey, 1858 to 1865, 8 years; Daniel O. GiUett, 1859 to
1865, 7 yeaa-s; Ora Wood, 1866, '7; W. S. Carter, 1868, '9, '70; Nelson G. Hazen,
1866; Daniel Cushing, William G. Chandler, 1867; 0. B. Stone, 1868, '9, '70, '71,
'73; A. P. Howe, 1870, '1, '3, '3; C. R. Whitman, 1871, '3, '3, '4, '6, '7, '8, '9,
'80, '1, '3, '3, '4, '5, '6, '7; Darius Russ, 1873; Silas H. Hazen, 1874, '5, '6; Z. B.
Clark, 1874, '5; W. Clark, 1875, '6; H. H. Hanchett, 1876, '7, '8, '9; Levi Hazen,
1877,, '8, '9, '80, '1; E. H. Bagley, 1880, '1, '3; John H. Hazen, 1883, '3, '4, '5, '6,
'7; Geo. W. Smith' 1883; John Barrows, 1885, '6, '7; E. H. Bagley, Harvey
Thomas, Jr., G. H. Javage, 1888. Jolm Barrows, Frank L. Hewitt, Arthur H.
Hazen, 1889.
Toivn Representatives.
Stephen Tilden, 1778, '83, '84; Amos Robinson, 1779; Elkanah Sprague, 1780,
'81; Joshua Hazen, 1783, '5, '6, '7, '8, '90, '1, '3; Ehsha Marsh, 1789, '93; John
' There is no record of the election of selectmen for the years 1773 to 1777. The
town seems to have been controlled by those in the interest of the New York
authorities.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 295
Clai-k, 1794, '5, '6, '7; William Strong, 1798, '9; 1801, '3, '14, '15, '16, '17, '18; Ben-
jamin Russ, 1800; William Perry, 1808, '4; Sherman Dewey, 1805, '6, '7, '8, '9;
Elijah Mason, 1810; Nathan Gere, 1811, '13; Abel BaiTon, 1813; James Udall,
1819, "30; George E. Wales, 1831, '3, '3, '4; WyUys Lyman, 1835 to '33; Andrew
Tracy, 1833 to '37; John Porter, 1838, '39, '40, '1, '4, '7, '8; Shubel Russ, 1842, '3;
Allen Hazen, 1845, '6, '9; A. G. Dewey, 1850, '1, '63, '64; George Lyman, 1852, '3;
Lucius Hazen, 1854; Daniel Smith, 1855, '6; Daniel Needham, 1867, '8; Edward
Sprague, ' 1859, '60; Benjamin Porter, 1861, "3; Wm. G. Chandler 1865, '6; J. C.
Parker, 1867, '8; Noah B. Safford, 1869, '70, '71; Stephen M. Pingree, 1873, '73
E. C. Watson, 1874, '5; WiUiam Lindsay, 1876, 'T; Noah B. Hazen, 1878, '9
Dr. S. J. Allen 1880, '1; Daniel L. Gushing, 1883, '3; Allen L. Pease, 1884, '5
Wm. S. Dewey, 1886, '7; Chas. B. Stone,;i888-9.
Overseers of the Poor.
The selectmen of the town prior to 1817 : Zebulon Delano, 1817, '18, '19, 'SO,
'23, '33, '34, '25, '26, '37, '28, '29, '31, '33, '34; Selectmen 1831,-1835, to 1854 inclu-
sive, '56, '57, 1874, '5, '6, '7, '8; Hyde Clarke, 1830; Ben Porter, 1855, '58, '59 '60,
'61; Tliaddeus Dutton, 1861 to '71, inclusive; Wm. Clai-k, 1872, '3; Henry Safford
1879 to 1889.
selectmen's book.
A book for the special use of the selectmen of the town, and
termed a " Journal for the Town," was purchased by the selectmen in
1799, at a cost of $2.33. This book was used as a vade mecum and con-
tains a registration of selectmen's accounts with the town, auditors'
reports, orders given and paid to sundry parties, grand lists for 1798-99,
1800-01, a record of moneys received from rent of school lands, orders
for equipments and supplies furnished the militia during the war 18] 2-
1814 ; rate bills for taxes, division of school moneys, etc., terminating
with the auditors' report for the fiscal year ending Feb. 14, 1879.
The first entry made in this journal is as follows : —
" AprU 3, 1799.
We the subscribers this day met and according to the most accurate stating
which we can make the situation of the Town is as follows, viz: — The sum of
the Bills against the Collectors, viz: Luther Powell, Paul Pitkin, and Wm.
Bramble, is _ §405.68
The Orders now existing against sd Town 363.68
Balance $42.00
BENJAMIN RUSS )
DANIEL MARSH j Auditors for the
Tovm."
Then follows an account of demands in favor of the town for the use
of supporting schools, which is continued to and concluded on page 7.
On pages 2 and 3 is recorded the general list for the year 1798,
embracing 227 individuals, with a total Hsfc of $24,447.10, including
special assessments on mills, etc., of $440 against sundry persons.
' Spracjue was elected as a compromise candidate on the i6th ballot, against W.
S. Carter, Democrat.
396 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
On page 4, of said journal, is a record of orders given previous t.o
1799, including three to Doctor Jonathan Fuller, for doctoring the poor
of the town, and one to Benj. Pixley, date April 30, 1799, in full for keep-
ing Urena Dunkin, a Black Girl, and her child, Sam, $23.29.
Oa page 5 of the journal, are the following entries : —
" 1799, October — A tax of half a cent on the dollar raised by the Town.
Put into the hands of Freegrace Leavitt, Town Collector rate biU sum 82.19
Billa Gillett, Town Collector bill sum 51.08
Total S133.27
" 1800 Orders given by the Select Men on the Ti-easurer:
'to Mitchel Clark 6 doUars dated April 8— 6
to freegi-ace Levit, 1 Dollar 13 cents. " 1.12
to Elishar Marsh for Servis Doen for the town
as Seltmau in 1798. Dated AprU 13, 1800,— _ 6
to Marthew Ransom for Gide Bords April 13, 1800, 6. 69
to Joseph marsh jr, for Keeping the Black Gal
one year dated April 29, 1800 39.00
to Daniel hayson (Hazen) of three doUars for
Services Don for the town as ft Selet man for year 1799. . 3.
do Abel Barren Date December 16, 1800 _ _ _ 6.
do 3 to Ashbil Smith dififerant times 1800 25. 50
893.31
Pages 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the journal contain general lists of the town
for 1799 and 1800, the last copied in full into this work under the sub-
ject of taxes.
A record of the auditors' report for the year ending March 26th, 1804,
is here quoted verbatim :
" Be it remembered that on this 26th Day of March 1804, we the subscribers
Auditors apointed by the Town of Hartford to Audit & adjust the accounts of
Treasurer & examine into the accounts, Orders, &c Drew on said Treasurer by
the said Selectmen, after every enquiry that we found the Town on his Receipts
which he sd Treasurer has reed of the Several Collectors after every Order drew
byjsd Selectmen being exhibeted & Ballanced, tlieir then appeared due from said
Treasurer to said Town sixty Dollars and Fifty Two cents, money expended on
the Bridge over Quechy river is the amount of one Hundred & Eighty eight Dol-
lars & Twenty cents, the money Mkewise for other Town matters is Two Hundred
& ten DoUars & Fifty five cents. The Collecters Bills, viz:
Daniel Ransom bills amounted to $ 157.
Israel GiUett junr bills " 73.32
159.33
one Ballance Due from the Treasurer dated 7.
April 1801. 113.54. do 15 Mch 1803 on settlement 55.58. 69.13
459.37
Treasurer's orders being substracted 398.75
leave as above stated Sixty Dollars & 53 cents 160.53
now due tlie said Town as above stated.
Attest pr us JED'H STRONG )
HEZ HAZEN [ Auditors
BENJAMIN RUSS )
The 2 Bills of Daniel Ransom on examining find that th ey amount to Ninety
,eight cents over what is stated above.
CHAPTER XXI.
TAXES.
Generally speaking, the first constable has been the collector of taxes.
It is his duty by virtue of statute law. For several years, however, in
the history of the town, the office of collector has been a separate one
from that of constable, and even two or more collectors have been elected.
Prior to 1818, two constables were elected ; in 1818 only one was
elected ; from 1820 to 1830, two ; excepting the year 1826, when only
one was elected ; 1834-5, two ; from 1836 to 1851, but one ; 1851, one ;
from 1852 to 1887, only one each year.
This town has quite often put up the collection of taxes at auction,
the lowest bidder being elected constable and collector. In March,
1825, Reuben Tenney offered to give the town a premium of $15 to se-
cure the office of collector and constable ; O. H. Nichols offered $22 in
1826, and $40 in 1832, and both were elected. In March, 1860, Alfred
Neal was chosen constable on condition that he should collect all taxes
for $50 pay. In 1862, William L. Bragg, constable, collected all taxes
for $96 pay. In 1863, the constable collected for $80 pay ; In 1864,
for $45; in 1865, Wm. L. Bragg collected for $99.50 pay. In 1867-8-9,
collector received $145.00 yearly.
In 1870, the collector received two per cent, the lawful commission.
In 1871, C. R. Whitman was paid $110, and in 1872, $120. In 1873, H.
N. Savage received $125. In 1874-5, C. R. Whitman received $125
yearly. H. N. Savage was paid in 1876-7-8-9, $125 annually. In 1880-
81, $200 annually. In 1882, R. H. Simonds was paid legal commission.
In 1883, J. G. Lesure was elected constable and collector, but failing to
qualify, H. N. Savage was elected at a special meeting, and received $250
for collecting all taxes. In 1884, at March meeting, it was voted that
all taxes be collected by the treasurer. The constable received in 1885,
for collecting arrearages of taxes, $10 for the first $100 ; eight per cent,
for the second $100 ; six per cent, for the third $100 ; four per cent,
for the fourth $100 ; and the statute rates for all over $400.
The average per cent, of tax annually raised in town from 1803 to '85,
is shown in the following resume made up from the records of the town
[the highway tax from 1827 to 1872 being additional to that required
by the statutes.] From 1803 to 1812, the average ordinary tax was 0.6
on the list; 1813-26, ordinary, 2 cents; 1827-42, ordinary, 6.9, high-
398 HISTORY OF HAETFORD.
way, 3.4 ; 1843-53, ordinary, 21.2, highway, 6.1; 1854-63, ordinary, 36.5,
highway, 7.0 ; 1864-68, ordinary, 1.51, (no highway) ; 1869-75, ordinary,
70, highway, 18.7 ; 1876-85, ordinary, 35.3, highway, 20. In 1885, 6, 7,
the highway tax was included in the 75 cents raised for debts and cur-
rent expenses; 1888, total, 50 ; 1889, total 85 cents.'
An extra tax of eight cents on the grand list was raised in 1828 to pay
for a bridge built over White river at West Hartford, completed' that
year at a cost of $1431.31 for masonry and carpentry. An extra tax of
twenty- five cents on the grand list was raised in 1850, to, pay for build-
ing a highway from Woodstock station, on the Vermont Central rai'road
to Taftsville. The heavy rate of taxation from 1860 to 1875 inclusive,
was levied to liquidate the war debt of the town, aggregating $55,029.91,
together with the payment made for the lattice bridge built over White
river at West Hartford, costing $6,110.79, and the lattice bridge built
over said river at White River Junction, costing, in litigation and con-
struction, $13,426.62 ; and the cost of repairing sundry roads and
bridges which were damaged by the remarkable freshet of October 4,
1869.
The minimum rate of taxation between 1802 and 1887, was one half
of one per cent, in 1803-4-6-9. The maximum rate was reached in 1865,
it being 300 cents. In 1864-67-68, the ordinary tax was respectively 100,
100 and 105 cents. It will be observed that no extra highway tax other
than that fixed by law was raised prior to 1829, and none from 1864 to
1869. The average extra highway tax from 1827 to 1873, or foity six
years, was five cents yearly. From 1873 to 1883, it was twenty- five cents
yearly.
The following table exhibits the general list of the town by decades,
from 1781 to 1880, and yearly in '85-86-87, together with the number of
polls, the deductions made for debts owing, and the lists for State taxes,
so far as obtainable from existing records :
' At the March meeting, 1889, the town voted to make the first constable the
collector of taxes. By statute law the fee of the constable for the collection of
taxes is two per cent, on the list. This is decidedly a much more expensive system
than that of collecting by the treasurer, therefore the practical expediency of
changing back to the old system may be reasonably questioned. The custom of
allowing a, rebate on all taxes paid to the collector by November ist, has prevailed
in this town for many years, and has prompted the payment of a large proportion
of the rate bills on or before the day of freeman's meeting in September. This has
obviated, to a considerable extent, the necessity of borrowing money to meet
current expenses. No provision was made at the last town meeting to continue
this judicious measure.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
299
G
•ENEEAL LIST.
Total
Total Valua-
Total
Years.
Valuation
tion Personal
Valuation of
Real Estate.
Property less
Real & Personal
Exemptions.
Estate.
17H1
.§ 15,115 00
s
s
1791
. 30,395 00
1800
. 25,719 00
1810_
> 11,445 50
18,561 75
30,007 35
isao.
. 210,550 80
13,777 00
234,337 80
1880 _
. 193,410 35
58,738 00
358,148 35
1840.
. 316,781 40
87,863 75
304,645 15
1850.
. 480,089 00
95,185 00
575,274 00
1860.
. 579,266 00
133,163 00
701,439 00
1870.
. 649,506 00
180,450 00
829,956 00
1880.
. 738,673 35
384,184 00
1,032,856 35
1885.
.1,053,830 00
713,581 00
1,766,411 00
1886.
.1,076,628 00
855,693 00
1,933,331 00
1887.
.1,080,530 09
841,786 00
1,933,306 00
1888.
.1,103,330 00
903,985 36
3,006,305 00
Deduc- List for
No. tions Ac- State
Polls, count of Debts 1'axes.
Owing.
... 8 S
140
186
@|30)
193 f 8 1,714 16
277 2,797 27
301 4,113 48
. 331 3,708 45
388 6,538 74
462 7,938 39
547 9,393 56
697 11,633 56
751 118,761 87 19,166 11
763 133,754 00 30,847 21
775 136,860 00 20,773 06
844 178,853 00 31,751 05
For the purpose of showing the comparative magnitude of the affairs
of the town in 1805 and 1885, I quote the auditor's report in full for
1805, and an abstract of the auditor's report for 1885 :
REPORT OF 1805.
"March 7, A. D. 1805. — The subscribers, auditors to settle with the selectmen,
and treasurer of Hartford, for the year past, find the following to be a true state-
ment of said town affaii-s, viz : —
Collector's bills, viz: Roger Gillett bill, 1804 S 80 13
Also, for year 1804, Oman Bramble, bill 52 51
Also fines received of John Clark, Esq. ~ 00
Total, S134 64
We find paid to Shadi-ach Noble for keeping black girl . .8 33 13
Paid to Frances W. Shellis for work on pound 7 33
Also to David Bliss " " " '• 3 50
Paid Jonathan Bugbee for pound spikes. 3 39
Paid Mathew Ransom 88
Paid as fine on judgment of county court 34 19
Paid Allen Cai-ver for highway. 31 00
Paid Zerah Brooks for services 3 00
Abatement on Israel Gillett's bill for 1803. 1 53
Also abatement on do. for 1803 6 13
8111 97
We find a balance due to said town of 887.14.
On examining the accounts of the following gentlemen, we allow for their ser-
vices as follows, viz: —
To James Tracy, treasurer, for four years services as treasurer 813 00
To s'd Tracy for two years service as selectman 13 50
To Charles Penioh (Pinneo) one year service as selectman 6 00
To Paul Pitkin, for service as selectman, one year 6 50
To s'd Pitkin, for articles provided, and money paid for town 16 59
The above services reach down to this 7th day of March, A. D. 1805, which, when
settled, will be in fuU for all those gentlemen's services to this date."
JOHN CLARK, )
Signed, , WILLIAM PERRY, [ Auditors.
PETER RIDER.
'Forty-two militia polls exempt, $840; also, four horses exempt, $54 — $53.50
added aJter list was taxen. Total number of names on rate bill, 366. Exempt
from poll tax, 74=|1480.
300 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
AUDITORS' RBPOET,
For the Year Ending February 17, 1885.
H. C. Pease, Treasurer, Dr.
To cash on hand Feb. 17, 1884 5 2,189 40
Received of H. N. Savage on highway bills 346 26
Amount collected by treasurer on town and school tax bills 5,410 29
Amount paid in by J. P. Aiken 290 43
Amount borrowed by A. L. Pease, trustee 2,092 00
Amount paid as contribution by KeUey estate for road 125 00
do. do. W.Sawyer 25 00
do. do. W.J.King 25 00
Received on L. Pitkin's note (interest) 6 00
" for old stove at tovrai house 5 00
" from S. E. Pingree, from dog license 1B8 60
110,652 97
H. C. Pease, Treasurer, Cr.
By orders drawn by selectmen for bridges S 955 83
do. highways 3,974 00
do. ordinary expenses 1,168 35
do. land damages -- . 365 00
do. insane at asylum ^ 520 00
do. reform school and Garland case 51 44
do. damage by doge and expenses. _ 37 00
do. for school books 128 51
do. town supts., 3 years 199 36
do. overseer of the poor. _ _ 2,196 73
do. selectmen to town debts & interest 1,319 97
Cash in treasury 736 98
110,652 97
The ratable property in Hariford in the year 1781 exceeded in value
that of any other town in Windsor county. In 1870 this town ranked
the fourth in the county in its grand list, and, in the State, the sixth in
per capita valuation. la 1880 it ranked the third in its grand list, and
the third ia population in the county, and in the State, the thirteenth in
its grand list, and the eleventh in its population. In 1887 it ranked the
first in its population, and grand list in Windsor county, and in its
grand list the eleventh in the State, there being but eighteen towns in
the State that had a grand list exceeding $16,000.
The remarkable increase in the valuation of ratable property in the
interim between 1850 and 1880 is to be attributed, in a large measure, to
the construction of raUroads through the town. It is pertinent to say
that from 1850 to 1880, the increase in the valuation of the real and per-
sonal estate of the town was $447,582.25, or nearly 78 per cent., a sum
equal to the cost of grading the Vermont Central railroad from Hart-
ford line to Sharon line, and the Connecticut and Passumpsic Rivers
railroad from White River Junction to Norwich line. If, in 1840, the
town had gratuitously contributed the sum of $100,000 to secure the
construction of a railroad from Boston to Ogdensburg, the investment
would have been a judicious one, for the reason that the sum named at
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 301
compound interest (six per cent.) would not amount to a sum equal to
that representing the increased value of real estate since 1840.
In 1781 the General Assembly granted a tax on all lands in the State,
except public rights and college lands. The form of collecting said fax
is shown by the following copy of the warrant issued to Asa Emerson,
constable of Hartford : —
" To the constable of the Town of Hartford. Greeting: — Wliereas the General
Assembly at their session in Windsor in April, 1781, did grant a tax of ten shil-
lings on each hundred acres of land in the Town of Hartford, excepting Public
Rights and College lands. This is therefore to command you to coUect of the
several persons owning lands in the Town of Hartford, Ten shillings on each
hundred acres, and in the same proportion for a greater or lesser quantity any
person or persons may respectively own as aforesaid, and pay the same into
the treasury on or before the first day of April next, and if any person or persons
shall refuse or neglect to pay his, her or their just proportion of said tax, you
are commanded to distrain his, her or their goods or estate and the same dispose
of as the law directs and also satisfy your own fees.
Given at the Treasurer's office in Sunderland this 3d day of Nov. 1781.
Signed. IRA ALLEN Treasurer."
In May, 1782, the constable sold such portions of the original rights
of Joseph PoUett and John Spencer as were necessary to satisfy the tax
and his fees. The lots were laid off by Benajah Strong and sold at
public vendue to the highest bidder, Mr. Strong being the purchaser of
one and Gov. Marsh of the other.
In October, 1812, the General Assembly at their session in Montpel-
ier, granted a tax of one cent on each acre of land in the State, except-
ing public rights, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of govern-
ment, the tax to be collected in each town by the constable, and paid
into the treasury in hard money, bills of the Vermont State Bank, Treas-
urer's notes, orders drawn by the Supreme Court of Judicature or orders
drawn by the auditor of accounts against the State. The amount assessed
in Hartford was $270, or on 27,000 acres. In this instance the rate bill
comprised the names of 213 land owners. The amount of individual tax
varied from one cent to seven dollars and sixty-five cents. The delin-
quents numbered thirty-five, some of whom permitted their entire farms
to be sold at vendue. One of these was Noadiah Gates, a well-to-do
farmer, whose farm comprised 250 acres, being that now owned by Geo.
C. Brockway in West Hartford. Of course the owners of said property
redeemed it in due time.
A direct tax was laid by the Congress of the United States July 14,
1798, for the sum of two million dollars. This tax was collected in the
fourth collection , district of Vermont, by Jesse Stoddard of Norwich.
There were a few delinquents in Hartford. It appears of record that
several of the delinquents were non-resident of the town, who did not
appear to pay their tax, in the above named cases, nor did they all
redeem their lands thus sold.
303
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
a geneeal list of the tax-payees in the year 1800, as wb,itten in the
selectmen's book.
Names. List.
Austin, Abiatlier § 74 00
Barron, Benjamin 48 00
BrooksElam 110 00
Bemis, Simeon 36 00
Barron, Abel 203 00
Bennett, Jolrn 114 35
BraleyJohn 157 00
Bramble, Abel 146 00
Bingham, Elias 95 00
Bingham, Asahel 83 50
Burch, Mehitabel 50 50
Bugbee, Benjamin 111 50
Bramble, Oman _l 38 50
Bm-tch, William 383 00
Burtch, James 336 00
Baley, Jude 3 50
Brinii, Galley 33 50
Bliss, David. .:.-_ 107 25
Bramble, Wm. , Juu 66 35
Brooks, Zerah 40 00
Burtch, Edy 181 25
Bramble,Wm 346 35
Burtch, Benjamin 274 00
Bugbee, Nathaniel 6150
Bugbee, Olvard 56 00
Bartholomew, Noah 90 00
Bliss, Jabez , 59 50
Bartholomew, Luther 107 50
Bliss. David, Jim 86 00
Bill, Eliphalet 98 00
Bennett, Jonathan 134 75
Bill, Benazah 108 75
Brewer, Joseph 38 50
Cuipmins, Joseph 36 50
Chapman, Elias _._ 175 50
Cone, John 36 50
Cowen, AUen 69 50
Clark, Mitchell 333 00
Colburn, David, Jun 148 50
Cole, John 110 00
Clark, Paul 84 00
Coats, Thomas 83 50
Colburn, Laton 41 00
Colburn,Abia 60 00
Chapman, Erastus 150 35
Clark, Hyde 133 00
Cooley, Horace 68 00
Chapman, Juuiah 133 50
Clark, John 171 75
Delano, Hibbard 77 50
Delano, Zebulon 130 35
Dutton,John. 90 50
Dutton,Jesse 348 00
Dutton, Daniel 46 50
Dutton, Asahel _ _ . . 171 50
Dutton, Nathaniel 312 00
Dimock, Philip 104 35
Dimick, Joab .__. 50 50
Dimiok, Philip, Jun_ _ 33 00
Dewey, Josliua 196 00
Dewey, John 39 00
Dunham, Gersham 138 00
Nanres.
Demmon, Dorcas
Dean, Nathan
Demmon, Wm
Dewey, James
Emerson, Harry
Estabrooks, Porter. . -
Eaton, Brigham
Elmore, John
Ehnore, William-....
Fermon , Chester
Fuller, Seth
Fuller, Jonathan
Gillett, Roger
Gillett, John
Gillett, Billa
Gillett, Israel
Gibbs , Harvey . .
Gould, George
Gilbert, Nathaniel
How, Stewart
Huntington, John
Hazen, Asa
Hazen, Hezekiah
Hazen, Thomas
Hazen, Solomon
Hazen, Daniel
Hazen Philemon
Hazen, Reuben _
Hazen, Mercy
Hall, Jacob
Holbrook, Thomas
Hadlock , John
Hager, Lemuel
Hunter, John
Ingraham, Friend
Ingi-aliam, Simeon . . _
Ingraham, David
Ingraham, Jeremiah.
Ingals, Jonathan
King, Hoplini
King, Daniel
King, Asahel
Jones, David, Jun
Leavitt, Freegrace
Lawrence , EUas
Lyman, Elias
Miller, Peter
Marsh, Joseph, Jr
Marsh, Joseph. . . .'
Marsh, Elisha
Marsh, Joel
Marsh, Wm
Marsh, Abram
Marsh, Daniel
Mai-sh, MUo
Marsh, Roger
Marsh, Elisha, Jun...
Munsil, EUakeniS
Miller, Nathaniel
Marsh, Russell
Marsh, Eliplialet
Newton, Slielden
List,
335 00
36 50
133 35
30 00
83 50
71 35
58 00
38 50
38 50
36 00
43 75
74 75
11-0 00
330 00
'88 00
359 00
77 50
96 50
36 50
461 50
21 00
364 75
350 00
323 00
173 50
281 00
188 00
130 00
184 50
195 25
52 50
119 00
23 50
30 00
43 50
46 50
83 50
136 50
38 50
11 00
46 00
66 50
77 00
156 35
69 00
48 35
53 35
303 50
65 50
154 50
57 50
163 50
257 50
363 50
329 00
242 75
181 30
113 50
99 55
63 50
139 50
100 00
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
803
Names. List.
iSTewton, David 310 00
Noble, Shadrack 68 00
Newman, Samuel 33 50
Noble,Simeon 33 50
Palmer, Roderick R 26 Oq
PoweU, Luther 157 00
Pease, Samuel 198 50
Phelps, Cadwell 95 50
Pease, Jesse 85 50
Peak, Lemuel... 40 00
Porter, EHot 112 75
Pixley, Asa ._ 123 75
Paddock, John 148 50
Pease , Christopher 251 00
Pixley, Benjamin 73 00
Pixley, William 201 50
Pinneo, Charles and John.- 17175
Peak, Thomas. 26 50
Pratt, Lewis . 26 00
Powers, William 176 50
Porter, WiUiam 234 00
Pease, Benjamin ... 33 50
Parker, Ephraim 33 00
Pitkin, Paul 362 oO
Pen-y, William 33 50
Power, Wm., Jun 49 50
Robinson, Wm 40 50
Rust, Niel 180 00
Robinson, Daniel 20 00
Richards, Joel 96 50
Rioliardson, Frederick 26 50
Rust, Phineas 88 50
Rider, Zenas 183 50
Robinson, Amos 212 00
Rust, Lemuel 86 50
Richardson, John 46 50
Richardson, Thomas 100 50
Razey, Joseph 46 50
Richardson, Amos 53 00
Rider, Peter 167 50
Rider, Joshua 214 00
Rust, Benjamin 166 25
Ransom, Matthew 84 00
Ransom, Daniel. 71 50
Raymond, Liberty 50 00
ShalUs, Francis. 75 50
Strong, James 127 25
Savage, Seth 181 75
Shattuck, Ephraim 56 50
Strong, Solomon, Jr 134 50
Sprague, Daniel... 44 00
Strong, WiUiam 86 50
Savage, Thomas 194 00
Spear, Elijah 116 50
Savage, Francis W 229 50
Smith,Asa. 132 00
Smith, Sylvanus 89 00
Sprague, Philip. 146 75
Shattuck, Reuben 63 00
Strong, Solomon. 82 50
Names. List.
Scott, John, Jr 33 50
Staple, Amos 33 50
Smith, Justin 84 50
Smith, Ashbel 140 50
Sti'ong, Jedediah 114 50
Tenney, Reuben. 231 35
Trumbull, David 37 35
Ti-acy, James 228 50
Ti-acT, Andrew 148 75
Tracy, Joseph 156 00
TUden, Stephen, Jun 331 00
TUden, Asa 341 25
Turner, Isaac . 54 50
Tilden. Josiah 292 50
Taylor, Hezekiah 26 50
Udall, Oliver 398 50
Udall, Sam'l, Jr 181 50
Udall,Samuel 34100
Waldo, Walter 36 50
Webster, Samuel 138 35
Wilson, Putnam 46 50
Wright, Benjamin 213 50
Wilson, EUas 74 50
Witherell, Obadiah 38 50
Wright, Jonathan 300 00
Whitcomb, David 83 50
Wood, Eplu-aim 26 50
Wright, David, Jr 68 50
Wilson, Isaac 38 75
Whitney Jonathan 106 00
Wright, David 292 50
White, Noadiah.. 20 00
Woodward, Elilm 37 50
Webster, Israel 143 50
Webster, William 39 50
Total 126,069 30
ASSESSMENTS ON MILL PKOPERTT.
Elias Lyman S 130 00
Elisha Marsh 80 00
David TnambuU .-. 150 00
Peter Miller 70 00
Marsh & Pitkin 40 00
Hazen & Newton 20 00
Jonathan Fuller 40 00
Liberty Raymond 40 00
Erastus Chapman 30 00
Lewis Pratt 30 00
Jesse Dutton 30 00
Jedediah Strong 50 00
William Pen-y 30 00
Jesse Pease 30 00
Total .$36,839 30
Total number of taxpayers 219
Tax raised on the doUar 005
Total amount of rate bill $134 15
304 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
GRAND LIST OF THE TOWN OF HAETFOED FOR THE YEAE 1887. ^
Real Estate, 1st class, No. acres 531f , Valuation of $557,375 00
2d class, No. acres 25,163i, Valuation of 538,345 00
Total amount of Real Estate $1,080,530 00
Personal Estate _ 841,786 00
Total amount of Real and Personal Estate §1,933,306 00
PoUs— No. 775, assessed at $3 is § 1,550 00
Add one per cent, of all Real and Personal Estate 19,333 06
Total List 130,773 06
Amount of Rate bill at 75c on the doUar 15,579 80
The total amount of deduction made on account of debts owing is §136,860.
The total amount of exemptions is §109,700.
The whole number of taxpayers in town is 1063, divided as follows : —
Persons paying less than one doUar, 13.
Persons paying a fall tax only 384. '
Others paying less than ten dollars, 343.
Persons paying from |10 to $35, 185.
Persons paying from |25 to |40, 74.
Persons paying |40 and over, 65 = 1063.'
The number of corporations and companies in town is 31 ; the number of
estates is 34; the number of women separately taxed is 115; men and their wives
or other female relatives associated, 19; the sixty-five persons who pay $40 each
and upward, pay very nearly one-half the whole rate-bill above named.
'In i888, April ist, the number of polls was 844; number taxpayers, 1136;
amount deduction account debts owing $178,852; amount manufacturers exempted,
$280,000; number- women taxpayers, 114.
CHAPTEK XXII.
THE town's poor AND THEIR SUPPORT.
Not the least among our varied duties is that of making a liberal
provision for the poor, and the unfortunate of every kind in our midst.
This town, in common with all other towns in the State, now makes a
generous provision for the poor, and to aid all who are justly entitled
to help. The old system of selling the town's poor to the lowest bid-
der was reprehensible in the extreme. The poor were then often hud-
dled together like so many cattle, without respect to age, sex, or pre-
vious condition, and were treated in a way that would, at least, ensure
to their keepers a fair remuneration when the price bid exceeded one
dollar per week for each pauper. A spirit of heartlessness character-
ized the action of the early settlers regarding the poor. Hundreds of
families were legally warned and driven out of town pi-ior to 1819.
The banished included the old and the young, the married and the
single, widows and orphans, all who had not become legally chargeable
in case aid was needed.' The last families warned out were those of
Nicholas Hartford, 15th July, 1817, and Benjamin Hart, June 10th,
1817. As the constables of the town served the warnings, and drew
fat fees therefor, it is more than probable that they were over-officious
in the removal of many who should have been permitted to remain.
The first precept issued by the selectmen of Hartford relating to the
eviction of people from the town, was that served on one Wilson, under
date of April 30, 1803, and as the process in this case was similar to
that pursued in general, I will here quote the same pro forma, viz. :
State of Vermont I To either of the constables of Hartford in said County —
Windsor ss j Greeting — You are hereby requested to summons Joseph
WOson now residing in sd Hartford, with his wife and f amUy, to depart sd
town. Hereof, faU not but of this precept and your doings herein due return
make according to law. Given under our hands at Hartford, this 25th day of
April, 1808.
ERASTUS CHAPMAN)
DANIEL MAESH [ Selectmen.
JAMES TEACY )
Windsor Coimty ss. At Hartford,
the 30th day of April, 1803, I served this precept by leaving a true and attested
copy of the original with my return thereon with a suitable person of discretion.
Fees 25 cts.
Attest DANIEL EANSOM, Constable.
' The citizens of Hartford were particular in having such men for citizens as
would not be a burden upon the town. The town records show that emigrants had
much difficulty in obtaining a permanent residence unless they were able to support
themselves.
20
806 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
The first record made relating to the poor was that of the election of
Abel Marsh, Elijah Strong and Daniel Pinneo, overseers of the poor, at
a town niee;ting held at the house of Elijah Strong on the 3d Tuesday
of May, 1772. The town records from 1778 to 1S02 are not in the
town clerk's oflSce, nor have they been for several years, consequently
we have no data regarding the poor, the number, cost, etc., from the
settlement of the town in 1764 to 1808, excepting what relates to warn-
ing the poor to leave town, and what is recorded in the " Selectmen's
Journal," under date of April 30th, 1779. The following is from
Selectmen's Journal :
The first record of an order drawn for the support of the poor was
in 1779. It was given to Benjamin Pixley, April 30th, for keeping
Irena Duncan (a colored girl) and her child, a portion of sd year
($23.90), also, to David Bliss, for keeping a black boy $2.00. April
29th, 1800, Joseph Marsh, Jr., was paid $39.00, for keeping Rena Dun-'
can (" the black gal ") one year.' This "black gal," was a town charge
until March, 1816, when she died. Rena and her child, and one other
child were all the paupers supported by the town until 1805, when
Olive Bates was added to the number. In 1806-7 Saphrona Wood and
Thomas Drew were added to the list.
The following is a record of a town meeting at which Rena Duncan
was bid off by Joseph Marsh, Jr. :
"At a meeting of the Inhabetanoe of the Town of Hartford Legally warned and
holden at the Meeting house in sd Hartford on Thursday the 36 day of Septem-
ber, 1799, acted as follows (viz)
1st. Chose Gov. Marsh Moderator to govern sd meeting.
2d. Chose Abel Barron Vandeu master to bid of Lurana Dunkin to the loest
Bidder to kep til Next March meeting. Sd Barron bid of sd Lurana to Joseph
Marsh jun'r at five shilling a week to Board and Cloth.
3d. Voted to rase a tax of half a cent on a dollar on the List of the year A. D.
1799.
Voted to Dismiss this meeting and it was accordingly Dismissed."
Let us next turn to the town records, where, under date of Sept. 6,
1808, we find that at a special town meeting held that day for the pur-
pose of seeing what the town would do about their public lands, and
the support of the poor, the town first voted to sell the town's poor, to
the lowest bidder, and then, and there, proceeded to sell Thomas Drew,
and he was sold to Timothy Eldridge for one dollar per week ! I find
no record relating to who were overseers of the poor subsequent to
1776, until March, 1809, where it is mentioned that the selectmen are
overseers of the poor. Nothing further appears in the town records on
' The proper name of this girl was "Lurana Dunkin.'' She was the daughter of
Thomas Dunlcin, a well-to-do colored man, who owned lot No. lo, of the first fifty-
acre division, lying on Connecticut river, south of White river. He died in 1777-
Lurana being his only surving relative, and being non compos mentis, she became a
town charge. On the 2gth of December, 1791, Hezekiah Hazen, Peter Rider and
Samuel Udall, selectmen of Hartford, deeded lot No. 10 (fifty-two acres) to Mitchell
Clark, for a consideration of §242.00, " for the support of Lurana Dunkin."
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 307
this point until 181'7, when Zebulon Delano was elected overseer. In
1811, the town voted to sell Rena Duncan, to Elijah Mason at $2.00
per week, Molly Ryder to James Udall at $1.50 per week, and the Sax-
ton child to Milo Marsh at sixty cents per week. In 1813, it was voted
to place the town's poor under the special care of the overseers; i.e., not
to sell them. From this time forward until about 1832, the poor were
bandied about, like tennis balls, from place to place under the illiberal
system then in vogue.
Turning once more to the Selectmen's Journal, we find that Putman
Proctor "Wilson, and family, became town's poor, in 1811. Mr. Wilson
had formerly occupied one of the leased school-lots, ' No. 14,' but
subsequently moved to Plainfield, N. H., where he became insane, and
in 1811, was brought to this town from Plainfield by Luther Bartholo-
mew. From this date, he and his family were cared for by different
families — Reuben Hazen's, Ben Pixley's, Hezekiah Hazen's, and others.
In 1814, it became necessary to place Mr. Wilson in irons, and the
selectmen employed Jonathan Bugbee, at White River Village, to make
a chain and footlocks for that purpose. In 1816, Feb. 18, the selectmen
gave an order to David Trumbull for sawing plank for said Wilson's
cage. The cage was constructed, probably, on the premises of Benja-
min Dutton,' who kept said Wilson from May 15th, 1815, to 22d Mch.,
1816, and probably until 1820, when, according to the town records,
Charles Pinneo's house was made the town poor house. In Mch., 1821,
the town's poor were disposed of as follows : — '' Put Wilson and Charles
Mattoon (both lunatics) to Sheldon Newton's for one year, at seven
shillings per week each ; Diadama Bartholomew for same price to Har-
vey Gibbs ; The widow Carey, and her two children, at Charles Pin-
neo's, he to find provisions, and the said widow to cook them, and Pin-
neo to have the first cost of provisions."
In Mch.j 1826, Philemon Hazen bid off all the town's poor in one lot,
for one year, for $580, but it is probable that Wilson and Mattoon
remained at Sheldon Newton's until 1832, and that said Hazen's contract
expired in Mch. 1827, for the reason that orders were given to several
different persons in 1827, including two, of $100 each to Thomas Tracy,
for keeping four children, " until they are of age." In 1831, the town
purchased Walter Smith's farm for the poor farm. This farm is on the
west side of White river about two miles south of West Hartford vil-
lage. It was deeded to the town Oct. 22, 1831, the price being $1400
for 134 acres, exclusive of sixteen and one-half acres, belonging to Mrs.
Smith, which the selectmen leased for two years at $45 yearly. April 1,
1836, the selectmen leased of widow Smith her dower, during her natural
life, for $35 yearly. In 1832, the selectmen contracted with Lovell
Hibbard to build a new house thereon, for which he was paid $518, and
' Now the home of Charles Hatch.
308 HISTORY OF HAETFOED.
for an apartment especially for Put. Wilson, coniaining a cage, said Hib-
bard was paid $55 extra. At the March meeting of the town it was
voted " to set the pauper house into District No. 16, and that year, 1832,
most of the town's poor were moved into the new house, including Put.
Wilson and Charles Mattoon, and, I think, another insane person,
Isaac Perry. These men were raving crazy most of the time, and there,
caged up like wild beasts in narrow filthy cells, the writer often saw
them, and viewing their Hcanty, ragged attire, their pallets of straw,
and their pitable condition, was impressed with the conviction that the
inhuman treatment to which they were subjected, was sufficient of itself
to make lunatics of all men. Poor old Put. had some rational moments,
was always pleased to see children, to whom he would sing the old song,
"Friendship to every willing mind," &c., as often as requested.
In 1830, Messrs. John Strong, John Grout and Daniel Hazen, were
chosen a committee to confer with other towns concerning co-operation
for the support of the poor. If they did their duty, they made no
public report. In 1852, Hon. John Porter, town agent, sold the Smith
farm — thirty eight acres to S. B. Dimick for f400, and the balance of
about 100 acres with buildings, for $1900. The town's poor were not
removed from this farm until about 1866, when the town purchased, of
Jonas G. Lamphere, his farm of 160 acres, together with some stock
and farm utensils, paying about $5,000 therefor. No change has since
been made.
The following figures exhibit the cost of supporting the town's poor
for the years named (including the insane poor at the Vermont asylum,
Brattleboro), from 1800 to 1885, viz :— 1800, $39.00; 1801, $30.33;
1805, $33.12; 1807, $131.35; 1810, $198.03; 1820, $457.70; 1830,
$814.06 ; 1840, $774.05 ; 1850, $765.97 ; 1860, $1017.57 ; 1864, $2004.-
30; 1870,11954.06; 1875, $1734.72 ; 1880, $2082.50; 1881, $1783.55;
1882, $1425.51 ; 1883, $1816.29 ; 1884, $2153.30 ; 1885, $1947.09 ; 1886,
$2291.89 ; 1887, $745.36 ; 1888, $2245.54. The office of overseer of the
poor is the most important in the administration of town affiairs. Its
duties are arduous, its responsibilities weighty, and a proper management
implies a full understanding of the statute laws made and providedfor the
guidance of the i ncumbent of the office. It is, therefore, eminently just
and proper to make the tenure of this office dependent upon a humane,
judicious and intelligent management of its affau-s, without fear or
favor. Our citizens have exhibited their good sense by continuing in
the offices of overseer of the poor, town agent and listers the same men
year after year. Perhaps the incumbents have not always been wisely
selected, nor the most capable in point of sound sense and business
capacity, but the knowledge they gain by experience renders them emi-
nently serviceable and valuable in the affairs of their respective offices,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 309
and, for this reason, frequent rotation in these ofdces is not good policy.
Perhaps the same may be true as to the office of selectmen.
The list of overseers of the poor from 1772 to 1887 inclusive, is given
elsewhere. I find that from 1772 to 1816, inclusive, the care of the
town's poor was in the hands of the selectmen. In another portion of
this history may be found a list of the selectmen of the town from 1765
to 1887, so far as the records enable me to give the incumbents ; there-
fore, I shall not repeat all of their names here. The first election of
selectmen took place on the third Tuesday of May, 1772, at a meeting
held in the house of Elijah Strong. Abel Marsh, Elijah Strong and Dan-
iel Pinneo were elected. In 1773, John Bennett and Christopher Pease
were elected. In 1774, Stephen Tilden and Capt. Joseph Marsh. In
1776, Col. Joel Marsh and Col. Joshua Hazen. From the last named
date until March, 1809, there is no record concerning who were chosen
selectmen. In March, 1809, Philemon Hazen, Preegrace Leavitt and
Elijah Mason were chosen selectmen and overseers of the poor. The
next mention of overseers of the poor appears under date of March,
1811, and so on to 1817, when a departure from the former custom was
made and the office was entrusted to one person for many years there-
after.
MASONIC AND OTHER SOCIETIES.
The United Brethren Lodge, No. 21, . F. & A. M., of Hartford, Vt.,
celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary and tenth annual sociable on
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 1887. In 1878, the brethren of this lodge, ani-
mated by the noble purpose of enlarging the sphere of brotherly inter-
course, and fraternal regard, that should characterize the life of all mem-
bers of the Masonic craft, inaugurated a series of Masonic sociables, to
be held annually under the auspices of the lodge at its home in White
River village.
The first sociable was held on the 8th of March, 1878, and proved to
be a notable and exceedingly pleasant event. The interest created in
these sociables has been increasing steadUy with each year, and it is safe
to say that this interest has reached a point beyond the most sanguine
expectations of all who participated in the inauguration of the plan,
while those who have had the privilege of participating in the exercises
of the annual reunions have been more than ever deeply impressed with
the conviction that Freemasonry, in its better part, makes of the whole
human race one family of brothers, united by wisdom, labor and love.
Pleasant and cool weather, and the anticipation of a good time, in-
duced a large attendance upon the occasion of the tenth annual sociable.
310 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Seventeen lodges were represented, including brethren from the States
of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York. The very interest-
ing programme arranged for this anniversary and sociable was fully and
successfully carried out. At 3.30 p. m., a lodge was opened in due form
in the third degree in Masons' hall, Bro. Geo. P. Flanders in the east.
Then followed a neat and pertinent address of welcome to visiting
brethren by Bro. D. L. Gushing, after which the master's chair was
taken by Bro. A. L. Pease, secretary of U. B. Lodge, No. 21.
Next in order came an eloquent and highly interesting address by M.
W. Alfred A. Hall, of St. Albans, grand master of the grand lodge of
Vermont.
The worshipful master next introduced Bro. N. W. White, who read
a historical sketch of United Brethren Lodge, covering a period of
seventy-five years. This was listened to with a great expression of in-
terest, and the historian must have felt highly gratified by the commen-
dations passed upon his effort. The following is an abstract of the
sketch :
HISTORICAL ADDRESS BY BRO. N. W. WHITE.
Seventy-flve years ago the 87th day of August last, a few masons met in the
town of Norwich, at a private house, the home of WiUiam Little, to consider a
proposition for the organization of a masonic lodge. Reuben Hatch was chosen
moderator of that httle meeting, and WiUiam Little secretary. At this meeting
they nominated for their first offices — should they succeed in getting a lodge —
Reuben Hatch for master, Lyman Fitch for S. W. and Zerah Brooks for J. W.
They then appointed a committee, consisting of Bros. Enos Lewis, Luther Dyer
and WiUiam Little, to correspond with adjacent lodges, and get their consent for
the organization of a new lodge to be located in the town of Norv^ioh. This com-
mittee were instructed to report at an adjourned meeting to be held the first Mon-
day in October following at the same place.
According to adjournment they met Oct. 5, when the committee i-eported that
they had obtained the approbation of "Vermont lodge. No. 1, in Windsor, and of
Warren lodge, No. 23, in Woodstock. They then adjourned to Oct. 30. The
petition to the grand lodge had been prepared and forwarded prior to this meet-
ing of Oct. 5, with the signatures of the following named petitioners: Theodore
Cooley, Roger Gillett, Thomas Gross, Jr., Lyman Lewis, Zebulon Delano,
Phineas Parkhurst, Jr., Reuben Hatch, Wm. Little, Asa Richardson, Asa Tilden,
Zerah Brooks, Enos Lewis, Luther Dyer, John Hall, Amos Bugbee, Elijah T.
Willey, Ephraim Hall, Calvin Seaver, Jasper Johnson, John Tracy, Abel Dunk"
^ee, Ethan Burnap, O. G. Bui-ton, James UdaU, Daniel Spooner, Warren Laird,
Joseph Styles, George E. Wales, Stephen Underwood, Benjamin Green, Robert
Nichols, Samuel Sargent, Arthur Latham, Noadiah Kibbee, — ^thirty-four in all.
This petition was received in the grand lodge, Oct. 5, 1818, and referred to Bros.
Edward Ellis, Joseph Winslow and Ezra Bliss who reported favorably the next
day, and the same was adopted by the grand lodge, after changing the name of
^he lodge in the petition from St. John's to United Brethren.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 311
The meeting held pursuant to adjournment (Oct. 30) was recorded as a regular
communication of United Brethren lodge, No. 35, at Masons' hall, and was opened
with ancient ceremonies in due form. The officers chosen pro tern,, were as fol-
lows: Lyman Lewis,. W. M. ; William Little, S. W.; Enos Lewis, J. W.; Francis
Sawyer, treasurer; Roger Gillett, secretary; John Tracy, S. D.; Joshua Ashman
J. D. ; John Hall, tyler. Other brethren present were Zebulon Delano, Joseph
Lyman, George Olds, Jr. , and Jabez Parkhurst. This was the first meeting held
under the charter. At this meeting a committee, consisting of Lyman Lewis,
"Wm. Little and Jabez Parkhurst was chosen to draft by-laws. Two weeks later
Nov. 3, a special communication was held to hear and consider the report of the
committee on by-laws, on which occasion Reuben Hatch filled the station to which
he was assigned in the charter. Also, at this meeting, we find George E. Wales,
who figures so conspicuously in the subsequent history of the lodge, and who was
the first and only member of United Brethren lodge to attain to the Grand East.
Thus was organized United Brethren lodge and fully launched upon the high tide
of masonic prosperity. Work flowed in and the communications were attended
with a promptness and enthusiasm hardly paralleled in later years. The lodge
continued to hold conununications in Norwich until 1815. In Jvily of that year
George E. Wales introduced a resolution to petition the grand lodge for permis-
sion to move the lodge to Hartford. The grand lodge sitting in Windsor, Oct. 9,
1815, granted the petition. Seven days later a communication of the lodge was
held in White River Village, Hartford, in a house on the south side of White
River; subsequently, meetings were held on the north side of the river, in the
upper room of Bani Udall's hotel — what is now the " Cone store," so-called — in
which the last meeting, in 1839, was held.
In August, 1838, occurred the last election of officers before the dissolution of
the lodge in the great anti-masonic cyclone: The officers were as follows: Wyllys
Lyman, W. M.; Samuel Nutt, S. W.; John Wright, J. W.; Zebulon Delano,
treasurer; E. S. Gage, secretary; Jonathan Bugbee, S. S.; Ehner Tracy, J. D.;
Joseph Styles, Tyler; John Tracy, Calvin Seaver, Luther Delano, stewards; John
Wright, George Roice, Issac Kimball, censors; Daniel Hazen, chaplain. From
this time until November, 1839, communications were held from time to time,
but there is no record of meetings during the months of June, July, August and
September, 1839. The record of the last two meetings was made on a sheet of
paper fastened into the lodge record book by wafers on the back of which we
read, " Proceedings of the last two communications of United Brethren Lodge
No. 35, Hartford." The first epoch in the history of this lodge closed in Novem-
ber, 1839. The first suggestion concerning the re-organization of the U. B.
Lodge came from Wm. Pierce, a member of Rising Sun Lodge of Royalton, but
now a member of U. B. Lodge, though living in Royalton, at the advanced age
of 87 years. Business brought him to White River Village in 1845, and he then
suggested to Bani Udall the idea of resuscitating the lodge. The two agreed to
consult Judge Wales, who favored their purpose, and notified the brethren to
meet at his office. Mr. Pierce says that there were present at that meeting, George
E. Wales, Samuel Nutt, John Tracy, Bani Udall, Abel Howard, and himself.
Other meetings were held. Brethren from Royalton came down to assist in
organizing, and they soon got to work in regular order. The record of organiza-
tion is as follows :
312 HISTORY OF HARTFOKD.
" United Brethren Lodge, No. 31, after a suspension of its labors as No. 35, and
under lease of the Grand Lodge met at Mason's hall, in Hartford, on the 8th day
of April, 1851, and proceeded to reorganize the lodge, and the brethren present
were, George E. Wales, John Traoy, John Wright, Theophilus Gushing, Oramel
Nichols, Samuel Nutt, Ai-thur" Latham, and Bros. Hitchcock, Emmons and Gif-
ford. On motion proceeded to the choice of officers. Chose, Geo. E. Wales, W.
M.; John Tracy, S. W.; John Wright, J. W.; Geo. Lyman, Sec'ty; RosweU
SartweU, Treas. ; Samuel Nutt, S. D. ; Arthur Latham, J. D. ; Wm. Pierce, tyler;
Theophilus Gushing, steward. The lodge opened and closed in due form on the
first degree of masomy. Attest : GEO. E. WALES, W. M."
The lodge was now fairly under way, applications for degrees were frequent,
and thereafter the life of the lodge was a prosperous one. The communica-
tions of the lodge were held in a haU over the Union store in White River Junction ,
from the date of its reorganization until April, 1858, since which time the lodge
has been domiciled in White River Village. ' The following is a Hst of the Past
Masters of the lodge since organization :
Reuben Hatch ___ _ 1813-13
George E. Wales _ - 1813-19, 1830-31, 1832-34, 1851-53
Benjamin Green _ 1819-30
Stephen Underwood_ _ . .1831-22
Wyllys Lyman 1834^51
Samuel Nutt 1853-54
Jolm F. Austin _ _ _ 1854^55
J. S. Farnsworth : 1855-57
James Gifford 1857-60, 1861-63
S. H. Pierce 1860-61
Justus W. French 1862-64
Joseph K. Edgerton 1864^67
Charles H. Tenney 1864-67
Nelson W. White __ 18Yl-7'3, 1885-86
Edward Blaisdell __. 1883-84
AUenL. Pease 1874-77, 1878-79, 1884r-85
Asaph T. Taft _ 1877-78
Joseph P. Aikens _ _ _ _ 1879-81
BenK. Wright 1881-83
Lowell M. Weeks _._ _ 1882-83
Wesley P. Davis. .1883-84
Charles H. Hackett 1886-87
Daniels. Willard .1887-88
At 6 o'clock, p. M., the bretluen were called from labor to refreshment, and
soon after repaired to the dining hall of Pease's hotel, where mine host, Davis,
treated them to a banquet which in quantity and quality fully sustained his rep-
utation as a first-class caterer to the wants of the inner man, and elicited at the
same time comments highly complimentary to the amiable hostess, whose hand
was evident in the preparation of the dainty menu served on this occasion. The
post-prandial exercises took place in Masons' haU commencing at 7:30 p. m., and
consisted of sentiments' and responses, reminiscences, short addresses, etc., imder
the direction of Bro. W. H. S. Whitcomb, of Burlington, toastmaster, who per-
formed the duties of that office in his usual felicitous style.
The historian was made a F. & A. M., in 1858, in U. B. L. No. 21.
KNIGHTS OF HONOR.
A branch of this order entitled Hartford Lodge, No. 1671, was instituted in
Hartford village June 23, 1879, with the following named charter members, viz:
' Hall destroyed by fire Jan. 24, 18S9. Lodge since located in White River
Junction, in Odd Fellows hall.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 313
W. C. Gk)ff, H. H. Peck, H. C. Stevens, J. H. Hunter, C. W. Pease, A. L. Peck,
Peter Teri-iU, W. H. Brooks, A. B. Fi-ench, A. L. Pease, J. P. Aiken, Geo. E.
Cone, S. J. Allen, Jr., G. L. TarbeU, H. E. Harris, Suniner Nims, B. D. Huse.
The officers of this lodge then chosen were as foUows: — A. L. Pease, P. D.; W-
C. Goff, D.; J. P. Aiken, V. D.; J. H. Hunter, A. D.; C. W. Pease, R.; H. H.
Peck, F. R.; A. B. French, T.; Geo. E. Cone, C; H. C. Stevens, G.; B. D. Huse,
Guar.; Peter Terrill, S.; S. J. Allen, J., Med. Ex.; Tmstees, A. B. French, W.
H. Brooks, G. L. TarbeU.
The lodge now comprises twenty-three members and is in a flourishing condi-
tion. It is a beneficiary, fi-aternal institution, and holds monthly meetings on
the fourth Friday of each month. Since the organization of Lodge 1671, three
members have died, whose families have been promptly paid the death benefit.
ODD FELLOWS.
Myrtle Lodge, No. 27, was instituted Sept. 29, 1887; the charter was gi-anted
same date. The charter members were James G. Harvey, Wesley P. Davis, W.
H. Laird, C. H. Hackett, David A. Perrin, L. E. Kent and John L. Bacon.
The first officers were as follows: — W. P. Davis, N. G.; J. G. Harvey, V. G.;
D. A. Pen-in, R. Sec'y; L. E. Kent, Per Sec'y; J. L. Bacon, Treasurer and acting
P. G.; G. F. Flanders, R. S. N. G.; G. F. Blanchard, L. S. N. G.; F. S. Hatch,
R. S. V. G.; Charles Brown, L. S. V. G.; C. H. Hackett, Warden; W. S. Laird,
Conductor; J. A. Cooper, Inside Guard; C. S. Wilson, Outside Guard; D. S.
Ashley, R. S. S.; L. A. Gibbs, L. S. S.; L. D. Wheeler, Chaplain. Hall in Smith's
block. Main Street, W. R. Junction.
This society has one of the finest halls in Vermont. The architect was F. A.
Davis of Lebanon; the builder, W. P. Morse, W. R. Junction. The entire wood-
work is of Southern Pine with oil finish. The walls are handsomely frescoed.
The furniture is upholstered with old gold and maroon crushed plush. The car-
pet is velvet plush. The suite of rooms are light, airy, commodious and elegant
in design and finish. The regaUa of the lodge is like that of other subordinate
lodges — beautiful and highly attractive.
GOOD TEMPLARS.
A lodge of Good Templars was organized in Hartford village on Wednesday,
February 18, 1874. The following account of the proceedings of the first meet-
ing is copied from the records of the lodge: —
" Pursuant to notice given the following persons met at Masonic Hall on Wed-
nesday evening, February 18, 1874, for the purpose of organizing a lodge of
Good Templars, viz: — Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Pingree, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. French,
Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Morris, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Bugbee, Mr. and Mrs.
A. L. Pease, Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Madden, Miss E. L. Brooks, Miss May French,
Messrs. Luther Pease, H. H. Bemis, H. C. Pease, W. F. Johnson, Lewis Burton,
E. W. Tinkham, H. H. Peck, Alfred Watson.
After explanations and remarks by the G. W. C. T. , Col. Mead and others,
regarding the object of the society, obligations, etc., Bro. Mead proceeded, with
the assistance of Brothers Levi Belknap and EUis, to organize a lodge of Good
Templars to be known as Hardf ord Lodge, No. 179, I. O. G. T. After being duly
obligated and initiated the lodge proceeded to the election of offioei's with the
following results: —
314 HISTORY OF HARTFOBD.
W. C. T., S. E. P'ingree. W. I. G., Miss Mary French.
W. V. T., Mrs. E. Morris. W. O. G., E. M. Madden.
W. S., A. L. Pease. W. D. M., Miss E. L. Brooks.
W. F. S., E. W. Tinkham. W. A. S., Mrs. J. W. Frencli.
W. T., Mi-s. S. E. Pingree. R. H. S., Mrs. J. Bugbee.
W. C, H. H. Bemis. L. H. S., Mrs. A. L. Pease.
W. M., E. W. Morris. P. W. C. T., Luther Pease.
After election the officers were duly installed by G. W. C. T. Mead, as G. W.
M. The W. C. T. appointed a committee of three members to confer with a like
number from the Masonic Lodge in reference to renting their haU; also to nego-
tiate with the proprietor of the (public) house for entrance thereto.
A. L. PEASE, Secretary.
During the tirst eighteen months of its existence this lodge was in a flourishing
condition, but by degrees the interest at first manifested in the meetings subsided,
and, as early as September 6th, 1875, the beginning of the end of the existence of
the lodge became apparent. The number of members was then fifty-nine. Dec.
13th, 1875, Mr. E. W. Morris offered the following resolution:—" Resolved, That
this lodge suiTender its chai'ter and dissolve." This was not carried, but Dec.
27th, 1875, the lodge unanimously voted to dissolve.
In January, 1879, a movement was made to organize another lodge of
Good Templars. On the 10th of January, H. M. Bryant, State .Deputy,
organized a lodge known as " Friendship Lodge, No. 179." This lodge
had a short-lived existence. The records of the lodge do not disclose
the causes that led to its dissolution. It is stated, however, that utility
to the cause of temperance was not the rule of action with many mem-
bers of the lodge, and that their conduct brought reproach upon the
lodge, which hastened its dissolution.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE WAE OP 1812.
War with England was declared by act of Congress of June 18, 1812.
Two months previous, April 10, 1812, Congress authorized the Presi-
dent to detach 100,000 militia to be organized and held in readiness to
march at a minute's notice, and to serve six months after arriving at the
place of rendezvous. May 28, 1812, the Secretary of War appointed
3,000 to Vermont. On the 1st of May, 1812, Gov. Galusha ordered and
directed that this detachment of Vermont militia should form one brig-
ade to consist of four regiments, to be formed into ten companies each
— eight of infantry, one of artillery, and one of cavalry — and to be fur-
nished from the several militia divisions, including that to which the
militia of Hartford belonged.
There is no evidence in our town records of the existence of a mili-
tary organization in the town prior to June, 1813. Nevertheless, it is a
fact that for many years before this time, in conformity to the laws of
the State, all the able-bodied citizens of the town between the ages of
18 and 45, were enrolled members of the militia, and that, at least, two
companies of infantry had existed in the town for several years before
the war of 1812. The order of Gov. Galusha was respoiided to promptly,
and, doubtless, the detached militia that marched to the defence of
Plattsburgh, comprised members of the militia of Hartford. Nov. 6,
1812, the Legislature passed " an act to provide for the raising of a vol-
unteer corps, for the service of the United States," consisting of sixty-
four companies of infantry, two of artillery, and two of cavalry, to be
divided into brigades, for which the governor and council appointed the
necessary officers.
Among the captains of infantry elected for this corps, was Lionel
UdaU of Hartford. This corps probably consisted of persons who were
exempt from military duty — "friends to their country, and its Constitu-
tion, to internal peace, quiet, and good order," — ia brief, a police for the
suppression of insurrection, repelling invasion, etc.
I regret that complete rolls of the detached militia of Hartford, and
her volunteers, both officers and privates, in the war of 1812, cannot be
given in this history. These rolls are not in our State archives, and, if
they are deposited in Washington, they are not obtainable except by a
tedious process of circumlocution, which renders the attempt impraoti-
cabl e. /
316 HISTORY OF HAETFORD.
By reference to "Book A" of Hartford town records,.! find the first
and only records to be found relating to military organizations in the
town. These records were written by Freegrace Leavitt, and are as fol-
lows : —
" Hartland, June 36, 1813.— This certifies that the following persons belonging
to Hartford, viz: —
WUUam Waite, Timothy Eldi-idge,
Bani Udall, Andrew Newton,
Elihu Ransom, Reuben Demmon,
Chauncey Gates, Royal Claverly,
Daniel King, Jr. , Zebina Turner,
Joshua Cushman, Jr., Theodore Gallup,
Abel Dunklee, Jonathan P. Barron,
Daniel O. GiUett, Christopher Pease, Jr.
Jacob Hall, Jr.
are equipt members of the first company of cavalry in the squadron in the brig-
ade of the fourth division of the State of Vermont.
Hartford, Feb. 13, 1814. ) Attest: H. ROOD, Captain.
The foregoing is a true copy [
of the original record. ) Attest: FREEGRACE LEAVITT, Town Clerk."
Eighth company, first regiment, first brigade, and fourth division,
Vermont militia, June 1st, 1813. The following ofiicers and soldiers be-
longing to said company, appeared on the military parade completely
equipped as the law directs for the annual training in June: —
Commissioned Officers.
Adino UdaU,
Urnan Bramble,
James Udall.
Sergeants^-Elihu King, Absolom Ball.
Corporals — Bela Wright, David Colburn 3d.
Music — Jeremiah Rust, Alvan Bailey, Winthrop CiUey.
Privates.
Joshua Dewey, Jr., David Matson, Jacob Gile,
Warren Stannard, Thomas King, Thomas Turner,
Elisha Hutchinson, Matthew Rust, Asa Woodward, Jr.,
Timothy Lester, Jonathan Pitkin, Jonathan Wilson,
Levi Coburn, Jason Hager, Joel Dimmick,
Isaac Burtch, RosweU Marsh, James Wood.
Amos Richardson,
A true return. Attest: ADINO UDALL, Capt.
Hartford, Feb. 13, 1814. )
The foregoing is a true copy [ Attest: FREEGRACE LEAVITT, Town Clerk,
of the original return. )
State of Vermont ^ I^*"™ of the Militia equipt in the 3d company 4th
■ S division, 1st regiment, 1st brigade.
Levi Haven, Lewis Savage, Wm. Pixley, 3d,
Dan Hazen, David Trumbull, Luther Bartholomew, Jr.,
James H. Delano, Harvey D. Noble, OranFox,
Ezra Hazen, John D. Hazen, Wm. Savage,
Daniel Newton, Philo Sprague, Daniel Clark,
Benj. Pixley, Jr., Geo. E. Wales, Elihu Walker,
Ira Tenney, Harry Richardson, Flavel Nye,
Hastings Savage, Stilman Hazen, John Thurstin,
Abiathan Austin, Jr. , Sheldon Newton, Stephen Thurston,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 317
Jonathan Bugbee, Jr., Daniel Strong, Jolin Tiacy,
Sheldon Bartholomew, Reuben Dunham, Osman Pixley,
Joseph H. Kneeland, Franklin Hazen, John Hazen,
John Fuller, Samuel Atwell, SUas Dutton. = 41.
Justin Smith, Lyman Hazen,
Hartford, June 27, 1813. Attest, Levi Hazen, Capt.
Hai-tford, Feb. 13, 1814. )
The foregoing is a true [ Attest, FREEGRACB LEAVITT, Town Clerk,
copy of the original return. )
An act of the General Assembly, Nov. 9, 1812, directed the mode of
detaching the militia for service in the war, and required the selectmen
of each town in the State to furnish the non-commissioned officers,
musicians and privates of their respective towns with arms and equip-
ments, if unable to arm and equip themselves, also a knapsack, and
blanket to each, also camp utensils, cartridges, flints, rations sufficient
for each detachment to rendezvous, and transportation for necessary
baggage.
By reference to a book known as " The Selectmen's Book," which is
used by that board of officers, principally for the record of orders drawn
by them on the town treasurer for the liquidation of sundry expense
bills, I find the following items relating to the war of 1812-13-14 : —
Oct. 5, 1812 — Gave Mr. Benjamin Stead an order on the treasurer for
one dollar and twelve cents for his cutting and making knapsacks for
the men detached for the service of the United States.
February, 1813 — Paid Benjamin Warner one dollar town money for
digging a grave for the soldier who died at Widow Bennett's. Also
paid Lake Eobinson for the use of his gun by Elisha Hutchinson to
Burlington.
March 2, 1813 — Gave Mr. Elisha Walker an order for twenty-one
dollars and fifty cents, it being for cartridge-boxes, bayonet belts, and
scabbards, strapping, canteens, &c.
March 6, 1813 — Gave an order to Samuel Horr, for baking bread,
making knapsacks for soldiers, $2.39.
March 25, 1813— Gave Frederick Mosher an order on the treasurer
for nine dollars and thirty cents, it being for articles for Huron Patter-
son, and two blankets for the drafted mihtia.
Gave Levi Bellows an order for twenty- eight dollars and sixty-three
cents, it being for articles said Bellows found for the detached miiitia
at Burlington.
Gave Col. Wm Perry an order for sixteen dollars and one cent, it
being the amount of his account for serving warnings providing for
Thomas Patterson, and pork for the detached militia.
Gave Levi Demmon an order for twelve dollars for the gun bought
of him for the use of the detached militia.
April 5, 1813 — Gave Joab Dimmick an order for fifteen dollars, it
being for 'a gun bought of him for the detached militia to Burhngton.
318 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
Gave Matthew Eansom an order for $1.46, it being for necessaries h(
found Solomon Lombard's family while said Lombard was gone tc
Burlington in the detached militia.
April 12, 1813 — Gave Eleazer Davis an order for thirteen dollars foi
a gun bayonet bought of him for the detached militia.
February 23d, 1814 — Gave the selectmen of Norwich an order foi
" 3.90, being for one-half of the expense of baggage wagon to carry th«
baggage of the detached militia of Norwich and Hartford to Burlington
Dec. 30, 1814 — Gave Horace Oobley an order for $3.00 for a bayonel
lost and damage to gun in the militia service in Burlington.
April 13, 181 — Gave Roger Gillett an order on the treasurer foi
$64.40, for which said Gillett paid and took up a note against the select
men given for powder bought for this town by Elijah Mason, Elam
Brooks and Luther Bartholomew (selectmen).
By the act of Nov. 1813, the Auditor of Accounts against the State
was authorized to draw orders on the State Treasurer for the pay
provided for in sec. lO of the act of Nov, 9, 1812, and also for the ex-
penses of selectmen incurred under sec. 2 of the same act. The follow-
ing voucher for supplies furnished by the selectmen of Hartford, was
found in the Vermont Historical Society's collection of papers relating
to the military operations of 1812, viz.: —
MILITARY EXPENDITURES OP VERMONT.
September 1812. — The selectmen of Hartford for supplies furnished the militia
detatohed from said town.
3 bushels wheat, $4.00. Baking bread, 75c § 4 75
86a>s pork, $10.75. 43i11>s cheese, $3.54. )
5 gallons of gia at fl.OO. ) 19.2£
One-half expense 2 horses, wagon, man, etc., and one-half
expense of one horse wagon, man, etc. , iu transporting
baggage to Burlington, 90 miles 20.00
Received an order on the treasurer for the same. $44 04
Paid, April 1814, DANIEL MARSH, $44.04.
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
At the opening of the late civil war Vermont had no military organiza-
tion of an effective character, — nothing better than a few unskilled com-
panies of uniformed militia in some of her principal villages. The laws
of the State requiring the listers to make returns of citizens who wer«
subject to do military duty was not properly observed. Consequently,
when it became evident that a requisition for troops might be made
upon Vermont, the Go\ ernor of the State found no reliable data as to
the number of citizens enrolled under the provisions of the law. He
therefore issued an order, dated January 25th, 1861, requiring the
officers charged with the duty, to make returns of the enrolled militia
and at the same time he issued a general order requiring the command
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 319
ing officers of the uniformed militia companies to adopt measures for
filling vacancies, and to have their men properly drilled and uniformed.
But a few companies complied, and but little was accomplished, until
the people were awakened to a lively sense of their duty and responsi-
bility by the requisition received by telegraph, from the Secretary of
war upon the Governor of Vermont, April 15, 1861, for one regiment
of infantry, being the quota for Vermont of the 75,000 troops called for
by President Lincoln's proclamation of that date.
Gov. Fairbanks immediately issued a proclamation for a special ses-
sion of the Legislature, and also orders for detailing ten companies
from the uniformed militia, and for furnishing the regiment with its
outfit. The Legislature assembled at the capitol April 23d, when Gov.
Fairbanks delivered an address before the joint assembly upon the
duties of the citizens of Vermont to rally at once for the protection of
the Union and the integrity of the general government, and then
informed the assembly that under the call for the militia of the several
states of the Union, the quota required of Vermont was one regiment
of seven hundred and eighty officers and privates.
'' On the 25th, the Legislature passed an act appropriating $1,000,000
for arming, &c., the militia of Vermont ; and on the 26th, certain other
acts were passed, for organizing and paying the above named regiment,
also, " an act to provide for raising six special regiments for immediate
service for protecting and defending the constitution and Union." The
responsibility of raising, organizing, equipping, arming and subsisting
the regiments was placed in the hands of the Governor, with authority
to draw his warrants on the State treasurer for all expenditures. The
Legislature adjourned on the 27th, and on the same day a general order
was issued by the commander-in-chief, designating the companies de-
tailed for the first regiment, and requiring them to hold themselves in
readiness to march to the place of rendezvous, to be thereafter desig-
nated, on twenty-four hours' notice.
On the 2d day of May, the first regiment was mustered in Rutland
under the command of Col. J. W. Phelps and Lieut. P. T. Washburn,
and on the 9th it left its encampment for Old Point Comfort. On the
7th of May commissions were issued for recruiting the 2d and 3d regi-
ments of volunteers for three years' service, or during the war. These
regiments were quickly filled and were mustered, the 2d in Burlington,
and the 3d in St. Johnsbury. The 2d regiment under the command of
Col. Henry Whiting and Lieut.-Col. G. F. Stannard, left their encamp-
ment for Washington city, June 24th, and, not one month later, partici-
pated in the battle of Bull Run, and there suffered the loss of sixty-six
330 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
men, in killed, wounded and prisoners. The 2d and 3d regiments were
armed with Enfield rifle muskets.
The history of the 3d re.giment is of greater interest to the people of
Hartford than that of any other Vermont regiment for the reason that
Co. F was composed largely of soldiers raised in this town.. The 3d
regiment remained in camp in St. Johnsbury until the 24th of July.
During the time of their encampment in that place, there were between
200 and 300 oases of measles, and about fifty men were unfit for service
when the regiment was ordered to the front. The regiment, under the
command of Col. W. F. Smith, and Lient.-Col. B. N. Hyde, arrived in
"Washington city July 2'7th, and was at once ordered forward to Chain
Bridge. Here the men did important service in making rifle-pits and
forming intrenchments on the Maryland side of the Potomac, and were
subsequently sent into Virginia without tents, being near the enemy,
and for ten consecutive days and nights bivouacked while constructing
the abattis and earth-works at Fort Marcy.
Company F went to the front in command of Capt. T. O. Seaver,
1st Lieut. Samuel E. Pingree ^nd 2d Lieut. Edward A. Chandler. For
a roster of the volunteers from the town during the civil war the reader
is referred to the abstract taken from Adjutant General Washburn's
report, which follows the record of the municipal legislation of the
town, on this subject.
During the war of the rebellion, the military record of Hartford
compared favorably with that of any other town in the State. Every
encouragement was offered to the general government, every call for
troops was freely and promptly responded to. There were rebel sym-
pathizers in the town, but these were men of but little intelligence, and
were regarded with feelings of pity rather than of contempt. The
board of selectmen, consisting of A. G. Dewey, Thaddeus Dutton and
Daniel O. Gillett, was an able and efficient one — the right men in the
right place, and they were generously and enthusiastically supported
by the majority of the leading citizens of the town, notably among
whom were Samuel E. Pingree, William S. Carter, Daniel Needham,
Dr. J. H. Piatt and Darius Eust. At the request of S. E. Pingree,
T. O. Seaver was sent to Hartford as a recruiting officer, but not until
Mr. Pingree and others had succeeded in securing over eighty men for
service, fifty-seven of whom were citizens of this town.. Enlistments
were commenced May 8th, 1861.'
' The original roll of enlistments for Co. F, Third Regt. Vt. Vols, is on file in
the custody of Hon. S E. Pingree, Town Clerk of Hartford. One hundred and
thirty-three signatures appear on said roll, of which number 104 were affixed be-
fore the company was. mustered into service ; the balance were added after the
company went to the front. Many were rejected on surgeon's examination.
HISTOIJY OF HARTFORD.
831
In order to show what action was taken by this town to furnish its
quota of men for military service during the rebellion, it is deemed
proper to quote from the records of the town, every act of municipal
legislation by the town during that eventful period, together with com-
plete rolls of all men furnished by the town, as shown by the report of
the Adjutant General of the State. This with the records of the Hart-
ford Memorial Association, will serve as a valuable memorial for all
On receipt of the news of the bombardment of Port Sumpter, the cit-
izens of the town manifested their patriotism by taking measures to
form a volunteer company of infantry ready to respond to the first call
of the President for troops. The following is a copy of the written
agreement entered into on that occasion and the names of the subscrib-
ers thereto, viz : —
We, the undersigned, hereby agree to aid in forming, and to enlist in what-
ever uiiiform.ed Volunteer Company of Infantry shall be organized, or proposed
to be organized by and pursuant to the directions of the Governor and Adjutant
General pf the State of Vermont, witloin the limits of the Town of Hartford and
towns adjoining ; hereby engaging to give oiu- earnest support to the formation
of such company uutU the same shall be organized and ofBcered according to
law.
S. E. Pingree,
E. W. Morris,
J. H. Piatt, Jr.,
S. E. Cliflford,
F. Gallagher,
G«o. F. Bemis,
Reuben L. Barron,
Thomas McHugh,
H. S. Button,
Chas. B. Carhn,
Delanney Sharp,
James Welch,
N. J. Whitcomb,
L. A. Rider,
David N. Winslow,
CorneUous Robinson,
Wm. O. Pitkin,
H. P. Abbott.
Bernard McCabe,
Wm. P. Winslow,
Philander Kemp,
T. C. Curtis,
Edward Lyman, .
Robert Orr,
Jas. H. Tracy, Jr.,
S. P. Roberts, (music)
H. S. Holt,
Frank G. MorriU,
Jno. S. Brockway,
S. H. Hamblet,
H. B. Porter,
B. Welch,
Austin Brockway,
StUhnan N. Smith,
Jas. E. Morse,
John Lymaugh,
Thomas H. Fargo,
Leander Spauldlng,
P. V. Thomas,
Chas. T. Tilden,
Geo. Kabbee,
Yusebe Faneuf,
Edward Trask,
Peter TerriU,
John Cuthbert,
Chas. S. Barber,
H. H. Daniels,
Horace Badger,
Frank E. Reed,
Horace French,
Henry Davidson,
Jared Smith,
Austin W. Barrett,
John H. WUdrow,
Henry C. Alexander,
Aleck Miles,
Amos Stevens,
R. A. Pixley,
J. W. Norton,
Louis BrunneU,
James Gallup,
Fred E. Blaisdale,
Edward Richards.
MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION, 1861-67.
At a special town meeting held August 16th, 1862, the town voted
to ratify the action of the selectmen in offering a bounty of fifty dol-
lars to each able-bodied man who should, on, or before Aug. 15th, 1862,
enlist into the service of the United States, the bounty to be paid when
he was accepted and mustered into service. (Twenty -four men had
21
do
3d do
do
4th do
do
5th do
do
6th do
do
^7th do
■f
the town ratified
33,
all
former
333 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
already enlisted.) It was also voted that the selectmen should continue
to pay $50.00 bounty, and guarantee the payment of seven dollars per
month to each soldier, if the State failed to. It having been suggested
by the selectmen that the additional number of volunteers called for
would be at least thirty-three, offers to pay the required bounty were
made as follows : John Porter, $5.00 each to the first five volunteers.
A. G. Dewey, $5.00 each to 2d five.
Daniel Needham,
Justin Paddleford,
C. S. Hamilton,
N. B. Safford,
Asa Hazen,
At the annual March meeting, li
doings of the selectmen in paying bounties and other expenses in rais-
ing and forwarding volunteers for the Seventh and Sixteenth regi-
ments of Vermont, and making provisions for paying the same.
At a special meeting held August 8th, 1863, the town instructed the
selectmen to pay the sum of $300 to each drafted man who faight go
to the war from this town, or furnished an acceptable substitute, to be
paid on his being mustered in.
At a special meeting Nov. 28, 1863, the selectmen were instructed to
raise the quota of men assessed- by general order of Nov. 2d inst., and
pay a bounty not to exceed $300, and pledge the credit of the town for
the money ; and also, voted to raise an extra tax of fifty cents on the
dollar toward paying said bounty.
At the annual town meeting in March, 1864, the town voted to pay
drafted men who entered the United States service, furnished substi-
tutes, or paid commutation, $325 each, upon surrendering the dis-
charges, and becoming legally liable to another draft within thirty days
— otherwise the sum of $100 each. Also authorized selectmen to offer
$300 bounty until March, 1865.
At a special meeting, Aug. 9th, 1864, the selectmen were instructed
to procure the men to fill the town's quota for the last call for 500,000
men, the amount of bounty, time of service, and way of raising the
money to pay bounties being left discretionary with the selectmen. It
was voted to raise 200 cents on the dollar.
At the March meeting in 1867, A. G. Dewey, Wm. S. Carter and Col.
S. E. Pingree were elected a committee to inquire into, and report as to
who had been paid for going to the war, or sending substitutes ; also as
to those who went for nothing, and as to how much each class ought to
be paid
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD. 323
In due time said committee reported — 1st. " That early in the war
some fifty-seven men volunteered and were credited to the quota of the
town and served honorably — receiving no town bounty ; 2d. Soon
after twenty more volunteered and went in like manner, receiving a
town bounty of fifty dollars each.
3d That still later some twenty-five men more were drafted, and
sent substitutes.
4th. That three men paid commutation."
The committee recommended that above named receive the following
sums: — 1st class in order named $100 each
2d class '• " " 50 each
3d " " " " 125 each
4th " " " " 100 each,
and that the amount required for said purpose would not exceed the
sum of $9200. The report of the committee was tabled.
The following roster of volunteers from the town during the civil
war, is taken from Adjutant General Washburn's reports-:
ROSTER or OFFICERS, THIRD REGIMENT, THREE TEARS.
Samuel E. Pingree.— Com. 1st Lieut. Co. F, May 24, 1861 ; Pro.
Capt. Co. F, Aug. 13, 1861 ; wounded severely April 16, 1862 ; Pro.
major Sept. 27, 1862 ; Br. Lt. Col.- Jan'y 15, 1863 ; mustered out of ser-
vice July 27th, 1864.
Horace French.— Private, Co. F. May 10, 1861; Sergt., July 16,
1861 ; 2d Lieut. Co. F, Jan'y 15, 1863 ; Trans, to Co. B, July 25, 1864 ;
Pro. Capt. Co. K, Mch. 28, 1865 ; mustered out of service, July 11,
1865.
Frank E. Kew.— Private, Co. F, May 10, 1861 ; Sergt., July 16, 1861 ;
Eegt. Qr. Mr. Sergt. July 1, 1862 ; 2d Lieut. Co. E, Nov. 10, 1862 ;
1st Lieut. Co B, Jan'y 15, 1863 ; mustered out, July 27, 1864.
Philip V. Thomas.— Private, Co. P, May 10, 1861 ; 1st Sergt., July
16, 1861 ; resigned Oct. 18, 1862.
ROSTER OF OFFICERS POTTRTH REGIMENT, THREE YEARS.
Samuel J. Allen. — Surgeon, commissioned Aug. 15, 1861 ; mustered
out of service, Sept. 30, 1864.
James H. Platt. — ^^Com. Capt. Co. B, Aug. 30, 1861 ; taken prisoner
May 30, 1864 ; paroled and mustered out of service, Nov. 21, 1864.
ROSTER OF OFFICERS, SIXTH BEGT., THREE YEARS.
Sumner H. Lincoln. — Private Co. B, Sept. 17, 1861 ; corporal, Oct-
15, 1861 ; adjutant, Feb. 3, 1863; wounded. May 5, 1864, and Sept. 19,
1864 ; major, Oct. 21, 1864 ; Lieut.-Col., Jan. 7, 1865 ; Col., June 4,1865;
mustered out as Lieut.-Col., June 26, 1865. (The only person who rose
from a private to a colonel through all the grades in the regiment in
which he enlisted.)
334 HISTORY OF HAETFOED.
EOSTEE or OFFICEES SEVENTH EEGT., THREE YEARS.
Mahlon M. Young. — Com. Capt. Co. H, Feb. 3, 1862 ; killed in action
at Mariana, Pla., Sept. 27, 1864
EOSTER ELEVENTH BEGT., FIEST BEGT. H. AEt't., FEOM DEC. 10, 1863.
Eli E. Haet.— Private Co. H, Aug. 7, 1862 ; 1st. Sergt., Oct. 23,
1863; 2d Lieut., Co. H, Dec. 28, 1863; wounded, June 1, 1864; 1st
Lieut., Co. M, May 13, 1865; mustered out as 2d Lieut., Co. H, June
24, 1865.
Edward Blaisdell. — Private Co. H, Aug. 7, 1862 ; corporal, Dec. 12,
1862 ; Sergt., May 22, 1863 ; 1st Sergt., June 22, 1864 ; mustered out as
1st Sergt , June 24, 1864.
EOSTEE OF OFFICERS SIXTEENTH EEGT., NINE MONTHS MEN.
Joseph C. Sa-wyer. — Com. Capt. Co. H, Sept. 18, 1862; resigned Dee.
26, 1862.
ROSTER OF OFFICERS FIRST EEGT. CAVALEY, THREE YEARS.
Andrew J. Geovee. — Com. 1st Lieut. Co. E, Oct. 16, 1861; Capt. Co.
K, Feb. 1st, 1863; wounded, May 5, 1864; Pro. major, July 7, 1864;
mustered out Nov. 18, 1864.
VOLUNTEERS FOR THEEB YEARS CEBDITED PREVIOUS TO CALL FOR 300,000
volunteees of OCT. 17, 1863 :
Name. Co. Eegt. When Enlisted. Wlien Discharged.
Abbott, Nathan A_ H -11 Aug. 8, '63
Deserted Sept. 13, 1864.
Adams, Cyrus A H BB Apiil 17, '63 June 39, '65
Brigade band.
Bailey, Wm. W H 11, Aug. 7, '63 July 24, '65
Wounded; in general hospital, Aug. 31, '64.
Bartholomew, Albert F 3 June 1, '61
Died June 28, '64, of wounds received in action.
Bartholomew, Harvey B 4 . Aug. 19, '61 Sept. 30, '64
Bemis, Geo. F F 3 June 1, '61
Died May 8, '64, of wounds received in action.
Buel, Oliver B 6 Dec. 10, '63
Date of enlistment not given.
Caraway, Joseph L 11 June 15, '63 May 13, '65
Carltn, Charles F 3 June 1, '61 May 15, '63
Clark, Benj.E H 11 Aug. 7, '63 June 34, '65
Clement, Oliver B 4 Aug. 33, '61
Wagoner; trans, to Inr. Corps, July 27, '63.
Courser, Robert B 4 Aug. 10, '61 May 3, '62
Curtis, Geo. A E 1st Cav. Oct. 11, '61 Oct. 19, '64
Curtis, Timothy C H 7 Nov. 25, '61
Pro. Sergt., Oct. 1, '63.
Cuthibert, John F 3 June 1, '61
Killed near Funkstown, Md., July 10, '63.
Daniels, Henry H F 3 June 1, '61
Not accounted for.
Davidson, Henry F 3 June 1, '61
Deserted Jan. 4, '62.
Demmon, Levi Jr _. F 3 June 1, '61
Deserted July 27, '63.
Downer, W. H F 3 June 1, '61
Killed at Lee's Mills, April 16, '62.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Name. Co. Eegt. Wliea Enlisted.
Drake, Henry S H 11 Aug. 8, '63
Sick In general hospital, Aug. 31, '64.
Dutton, Horace 8 H 11 Aug. 7, '63
Died In Florence, S. C.
Field,. Wm. A B 6 Sept. 16, '61
French, Arthur M H 11 Aug. 8, '63
Gallagher, Francis F 3 June 1, '61
Killed near North Anna river, May 20, '64.
Gallup, James _, F 3 June 1, '61
Oilman, James R B 6 Aug. 36, '61
Gorham,Isaac B 4 Mch. 18, '62
Recruit; deserted April 26, '63.
Greenwood, Jno. F... H 11 Aug. 7, '63
Died Jan. 3, '64.
Hardy, Geo. W K 4 Aug. 36, '61
Harvey, Jno. S __. H 11 Aug. 7, '63
HiU, Chas. H C 6 Feb. 25, '63
Hunt,Lyman _ H 11 Aug. 8, '62
Killed by accident when on guard Dec. 9, '62.
Kibbee, Charles F 3 June 1, '61
Kabbee, Ed. W :.... K 4 Aug. 37, '61
Kibbee, George F 3 June 1, '61
Killed at Lee's Mills, April 16, '62.
Knowles, CroweU M H 11 July 31, '63
Died at Andersonville, Sept. 16, '64.
Lyman, Edwaxd _ F 1 S. S. Sept. 11, '61
Pro. Corp. Aug. 75, '63; died June 25, '64.
McHugh, Thomas F 3 June 1, '61
Pro. Corp. ; re-enUsted Dee. 21, '63.
Messer, Moses F 3 Nov. 20, '61
Miles, AlvinN B 4 A-ug. 10, '61
Miner, Joseph C H 4 Mch. 13, '62
MorriU, French, _ F 3 June 1, '61
KiUed-atXee's Mills, April 16, '62.
Norton, Joseph W F 3 June 1, '61
Deserted March 26, '63.
Orr, Robert /. F 3 June 1, '61
Died April 15, "62.
Parker, Sam'l S H 11 Aug. 4, '62
Died at Florence, S. C, Oct. 26, '64.
Pierce, Oscar C 6 Mch. 30, '63
Ke-enlisted Mch. 31, '64, Pro. Corp. May 12, '65.
Pierce, Sydney H 11 Aug. 4, '63
Pro. Corp.
Powers, Chas. C H 11 Aug. 9, '63
Musician.
Richards, Ed. C _... F 3 Sept. 17, '61
Rider, Lucien A F 3 Nov. 15, '61
Died of wounds received in action May 15, '64.
Robinson, Samu'l F .-_. F 3 June 1, '61
Rock, Wm. H F 3 June 1, '61
Rowland,Ed. P F 3 June 1, '61
Not accounted for.
Sharpe, Delancy - F 3 June 1, '61
Deserted January 2, '62.
Sleeper, James M B 4 Aug. 14, '61
Sleeper, Martin V B 4 Aug. 24, '61
Ee-enllsted Feb. 16, '64, Pro. Corp.
335
When Discharged .
June 34, '65
Aug. 18, '65
Jan. 1, '63
Oct. 13, '61
Dec. 6, '63
July 13, '65
June 34, '65
Aug. 10, '63
July 27, '64
Deo. 34, '64
Feb. 31, '65
Mch. 32, '64
Sept. 30, '64
April 12, '65
June 26, '65
May 13, '65
June 24, '65
Sept. 17, '63
May 34, '63
Nov. 11, '62
Apr. 29, '62
July ,13, '65
336
HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Name Co.
Smith, Portus B. , Corporal.. H
Keg. When Enlisted. When Discharged
11 Aug. 7, '63 June 34, '65
Smith, Stillman N. F
Pro. Corporal.
Spaulding, Leander, Corporal F
Stafford, Wm E
Blacksmith, re-enllsted Dec. 28, '63.
Strong, Henry B. H
Terrell, Peter F
Ee enlisted Dec. -21, '93.
Thurston, Valoris E
Trask, Edward ' E
Wounded, in General Hospital Aug. 31, '6i.
Udall, Engedi B K 4
Died May 24, '63.
Washburne, H. M .- B 6
3 June 1, '61
3 June 1, '61
IstCav. Oct. 13, '61
11 Aug. 7, '62
8 June 1, '61
1st Cav. Sept. 35, '61
3d 8. S. Oct. 10, '61
Aug. 30, '61
July 11, '65
Feb. 26, '63
Aug. 9, '65
Feb. 6, '64
July 11, '65
Nov. 18, '64
Nov. 9, '64
Sept. 30, '61 June 36, '65
Re-enllsted Dec. 16, '63, Pro. Corp. Jan. 1, '65. Pro. Sargt, June 19, '65.
Webb, Chas. H.. H 7 Nov. 35, '61
Corporal.
Welch, Bartholomew F 3 June 1, '61
Deserted March 24, '64.
Welch, James F 3 June 1, '61
Weston, Edwin W_ H 11 Aug. 8, '62
Pro. Corp. July 26, '63; Serg't Jan. 23, '64; taken prisoner June 23
Sept. 16, '64.
Whitcomb, Nelson J F 3 June 1, '61
Died in West Hartford.
Whitcomb, WilUs A F 3 June 1, '61
Died May 19, '62, of wounds received at Lee's Mills.
Willard, Wm. E H 11 Aug. 7, '63
Pro. Corp. Jan. 23, '64. Died Jan 8, '64 from wounds received in action.
Wright, Alexis.. F 3 Nov. 36, '61 July 23, '63
Feb. 35, '63
July 37, '64
64; died in prison
May 15, '63
White, Henry K H
Died June 3, '64.
11
Aug. 7, '63
CREDITS UNDER CALL OF OCI. 17, 1863, FOR 300,000 VOLUNTEERS, AND SUBSE-
QUENT CALLS FOR THREE TEARS.
Name. Co.
Austin, Abraham C
Died Apr. 20, '65.
Babcock, David C D
Missed in action May 10, '64.
Babcock, James M.. H
Prisoner June 24, '64.
Baker, William C
Kecrnit, trans, to Co. A, June 13, '65.
Beach, Chas. H E
Deserted Sept. 11, '64.
Boyd, Franklin H F
Killed in Wilderness May 5, '64.
Boyd, Kingsbury F
Brown, William F
Not accounted for.
Burdette, James E
Recruit, trans. Co. B, June 13, '65.
Burdick, O. F..._ D
Sick in GeneraJt Hospital June 29, '65.
Chaurain, Benj H
Died July 12, '64.
Cooke, Chester v.. H
Deserted before leaving the State.
Dew, Francis B
Sick in General Hospital Aug. 21, '64.
Douse, Lewis 1st Bat.
Died Mch. 20, '64.
Faneuf , Eli H
Died Jan. 5, '65.
Keg.
9
When Enlisted.
Dec. 30, '63
When Discharged.
6
Dec. 17, '63
11
Dec. 4, '63
June 34, '65
9
July 5, '64
Aug. 5, '65
1st Cav.
Sept. 2, '64
3
Dec. 7, '63
3
Dec. 7, '63
July 11, '65
3
Dec. 10, '63
9
Dec. 25, '63
Aug. 5, '65
5
Dec. 35, '63
11
Dec. 5, '63
11
8
June 5, '64
Jan. 5, '64
Jime 38, '65
11
Dec. 15, '63
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 327
Name. Co. Reg. When Enlisted. When Discharged.
Fogg, Geo. E.._ _... F 3 Feb. 16, '64 May 31, '65
Fosia, Joseph ___ F 3 Dec. 34, '68 May 18, '65
FrankHn, S. B...- H 3d 8. S. Deo. 31, '63 July 13, '65
Trans, to Co. H, tth Vt , Volunteers, Feb. 25, '65.
Frost, Geo. B __. F 3 Feb. 10, '64 July 11, '65
Granger, Joseph D 17 Feb. 4, '64
Deserted Mch. 16, '64.
Hagar, Abraham D 5 Dec. 35, '63 Mch. 30, '65
Hand, Joseph D 17 Nov. 19, '63 Oct. 36, '64
Wounded. In General Hospital, Aug. 31, '64.
Hammer, J. C 9
Not in 9th, probahly a recruit.
Hammond, Leslie - _ _ 3d Bat. Aug. 13, '64
Unassigned recruit. Not accounted for.
Hill.Hial B 10 Dec. 13, '63 May 15, '65
Sick in General Hospital, Aug. 31, '64.
Hodsdon, Thomas C F 3 Jan. 5, '64
Died Aug. 13, '64, of wounds received at Spottsylvania.
Hoyt, Wm. B__ _... E 9 Dec. 17, '63 Aug. 5, '65
Trans, to Co. B, June 13, '65.
Hunt, John F 3 Deo. 25, '63 July 39, '65
Lawrence, M. B D 5 Dec. 35, '63 Mch. 8, '65
Loud, Geo. W A 9 Dec. 33, '63 Mch. 8, '65
Missed in action Feb. 2, '64.
Mitchell, Geo. N H 9 Dec. 29, '63 June 33, '65
Moses, Alonzo D D 9 Dec. 35, '63 June 32, '65
Died Sept. 17, '64.
Norton, Andrew H 3d Bat. Nov. 39, '64 June 15, '65
Rice, Felix _ " H 11 Feb. 11, '63 Aug. 35, '65
Trans. Co. B. June 34, '65.
Robinson, Dan'l M _ Feb. 1 1 , '63 Aug. 35 , '65
Robinson, John F 3 Nov. 15, '61 Aug. 35, '65
Not accounted for.
Shay, John O F 3 June 1, '61 Aug. 25, '65
No report of since muster roll.
Sheehe, Patrick A 9 Dec. 29, '63. Aug. 35, '65
Recruit.
Smith, Jason A 9 Dec. 31, '63
' Not accounted for.
Stanhope, Obed A 9 Dec. 31, '63 July 18, '65
Waterman, D.P ___ _.. A 9 Dec. 31, '63 July 18, '65
Sick in General Hospital, Aug. 31, '64.
Waiard, Frank O H 11 Dec. 10, '63
Died June 7, '64.
"WiUs, Lewis T _ B 4 Nov. 38, '63 June 19, '65
Corporal.
Wrisley, Warren W F 17 Mch. 9, '64 June 34, '65
Wounded, in General Hospital Aug, 31, '64.
VOLUNTEERS FOR ONE YEAR.
Name. Co. Reg. When Enlisted. When Discharged.
Arnold, Lyman G 4 Sept. 7, '64 June 19, '65
Badger, Horace I 9 Aug. 33, '64 Sept. 24, '64
Brackett, Thomas G 4 Sept. 7, '64 June 19, '65
Brown, Nathan.-. G 16 Sept. 4, '63 Aug. 10, '63
Burns, Patrick .. _ -_.. I 9 Sept. 8, '64
Uuassigned recruit deserted Sept. 11 , '64.
328 * HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Names. Co. Eeg. When Enlisted. When Discharged.
Cuthbert, Robert J E 1st Cav. Aug. 16, '64 May 30, '65
Unasslgued Eeorult.
Dean, Charles E 1st Cav. Aug. 19, '64
Deserted Sept. 16, '64.
Edwards, Lawrence..- Gr 4 Sept. 7, '64
Killed at Cedar Creek Oct. 19, '64.
Faneuf , Dostie. F 9 Aug. 10, '64 June 13, '65
Glidden, Milo H I 8 Mch. 16, '65
Deserted June 1st, '65.
Holt, Franklin I 9 Aug. 15, '64 June 13, '65
Kibbee, A. N I 10 Aug. 10, '64 June 13, '65
KimbaU, J. A B 10
Not acconnted for.
McKinley, Wm. H E Ist Cav. Sept. 6, '64 June 21, '65
McLeod, Daniel A 1st Cav. Aug. 16, '64 June 21, '65
Munfae, Fi-ancis E 1st Cav. Sept. 1, '64 June 21, '65
Pitkin LeviC I 9 Aug. 15, '64 June 13, '65
Trans. Co. C, 3d Vt. Vols , Jan. 20, '65.
Pitkin Wm. O I 9 Aug. 18, '64 Oct. 8, '64
Pollard, W. H .... 3d Bat. Aug. 34, '64 June 15, '65
Porter, Carlos S... G 9 Aug. 11 , '64 June 13, '65
Porter, Wm.B G 9 Aug. 22, '64 June 13, '65
Streeter, Warren G 4 Sept. 7, '64 June 19, '65
Swinburn, Geo G 4 Sept. 7, '64 June 19, '65
Tambliu, Geo. H.... G 4 Sept. 3, '64
Died May 22, '65.
Thomas, John E 1st Cav. Deo. 36, '63
Assigned to Co. D. Deserted Nov. 12, '64.
Wan-en , Wallace B.... I 9 Aug. 10, '64 June 13, '65
Williams, Jno E 1st Cav. Nov. 25, '62 Aug. 4, '65
Trans, to V. E. C. March 2, '64.
Robinson, D. M C 4 Feb. 18, '65 July 13, '65
VOLUNTEERS RE-ENLISTED.
Geo. P. Bemis, Edward E. Caswell, Timothy C. Curtis, Calvin Dyke,
Marshal P. Felch, Edward P. Gould, Thomas McHugh, Lucien A. Eider,
Stillman N. Smith, William Stafford, Peter Terrell.
ENROLLED MEN WHO FURNISHED SUBSTITUTES.
George Barnes, William S. Carter, Daniel L. Cashing, Wm. S. Dewey,
Charles B. Stone.
NAVAL CREDITS.
John Cain, Peter Cole, Alonzo B. Davis, James Davis, Dennis W.
Downing, Joseph Hippolite, Eugene W. Hubbard, Jerry Lee, Alex.
McDonald, James McGinnis, John O'Donnell, Jno. J. H. Schmalfeldt,
Sam'l H. Smith, Theodore H. Smith, Charles T. Tilden, John White,
Henry Williams.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 329
VETERAN RESERVE CORPS.
Jerome Loucks, Franklin B. Osmore, James Williamson.
MISCELLANEOUS NOT CREDITED By NAME. 13 Men.
VOLUNTEERS FOR NINE MONTHS.
Names. Co.
Abbott, Isaac W G
Ball, Alaraander G
Barron, R. L. , Sergt G
Blaisdell, Frank H
Brockway, Geo. B ___ G
Brooks, Charles G
Brothers, Wm ___ G
Brown, Nathan _ G
Cargill, Chas. G ____ G
Carlysle Jno H
Wounded. Left at Gettysburg, July S,
Case, Chas. E _. H
Dana, Cjrrenus _ H
Davis, Jos. R. G
Downing W. H., Corporal.. G
Dutton, Benj. C G
Fisher, Richard G
Gardner, Chas. S G
Gilbert, Jas. N G
Pro. Corporal, March, '63.
Goss, Loren D _. G
Gunn, Lyman O G
Hall, John H
Siek In Gen. Ho8., Aug. 10, '63.
Hazen, Albert E _ G
Pro. Corporal, Feb. U, '63.
Hazen, Haider G
Hazen, William G
Hathaway, H. F _ G
Hoisington, Orange H
Johnson, A. H H
Kijibee, A. N., Musician G
Morse, Cyrus W __ G
Newton, James - H
Packard, F. R., Sergeant... H
Pease, Chris. C H
Pierce, Chas G
Eeg.
When Enlisted.
When Disci
large
16
Sept.
4,
'63
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'62
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'62,
Aug. 10
'68
16
Sept.
18,
'63
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'62
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'62
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'66
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'62
Aug. 10
'68
16
Sept.
4,
'68
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
18,
'62
Aug. 10
'68
16
Sept.
18,
'62
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
18,
'63
Aug. 10
'68
16
Sept,
4,
'62
Aug. 10
'68
16
Sept.
4,
'63
Feb. 13
'68
16
Sept.
4,
'62
Aug. 10
'68
16
Sept.
4,
'62
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'62
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'62
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'62
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'63
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'62
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'62
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'63
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'63
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'62
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'63
Nov. 28
'62
16
Sept.
18,
'62
Feb. 11
'63
16
Sept.
18,
'62
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'63
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
18,
'63
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
18,
'63
Aug, 10
'63
16
Sept.
18,
'63
Aug. 10
'63
16
Sept.
4,
'62
Aug. 10
'63
Eeg.
Wlien Enlisted.
When Dlsohi
irge
16
Sept. 4,
'63
Aug. 10,
'63
16
Sept. 4,
'62
Aug. 10,
'63
16
Sept. 4,
'62
Aug. 10,
'63
16
Sept. 4,
'63
Aug. 10,
'63
16
Sept. 4,
'63
Aug. 10,
'63
16
Sept. 18,
'63
Aug. 10,
'63
16
Sept. 18,
'62
Aug. 10,
'63
16
Sept. 18,
'63
Aug. 10,
'63
16
Sept. 18,
'62
Aug. 10,
'63
16
Sept. 4,
'63
Aug. 10,
'63
16
Sept. 4,
'62
Aug. 10,
'63
330 HISTORY OF HARTFORD,
Names. Co.
Pillsbury, A. H G
Porter, Calvin G
Roberts, Dan'l W_ G
Russ, Geo. C.--- ___ G
Savage, Jasper H., Corporal. G
Sawyer, Joseph C H
Saxey, Frank H
Sleeper, Chas. G H
Thurston, L. C H
Died, at Brattleboro, Aug. 7, '63.
Winslow, D. N G
Wood, John Q _. G
PDKNISHED UNDER DRAFT AND PEOOtJRED SUBSTITUTES.
Geo. T. Alexander, Miner W. Allen, Silas Birch, Josiah H. Case, Jno.
T. Cisco, Jesse Gardner, John S. Gates, Abel H. Hazen, Charles Hazen,
David D. Hazen, Henry S. Huntoon, Edward P. Lamphear, Jason Moffit,
Edward W. Morris, S. C. Morse, Justin Paddleford, Henry 0. Pennock,
Chas. A. Pitkin, William Porter, John Euss, N. H. Shattuck, T. J.
Shurtleff, O. D. Tewksbury, Geo. E. Thompson, Chas. T. Tilden.
PAID COMMUTATION.
Chas. B. Ballard, Noah B. Hazen, Jacob N. Perkins.
ENTERED SERVICE.
Joseph Bean, Byron Hunt.
WAR EXPENSES OF HARTFORD DURING THE REBELLION.
To March 1st, 1866.
64 men three years' service, no bounty.
30 " ' September, 1862, % 1,000 00
44 " nine months " October, 1862, 2,900 00
Expenses on the above. 129 84
34 men, three years' service, July 5, 1864, less one deserted,|300.00 10,875 00
14 veterans, tlu-ee years' service, February, 1864, 4,350 00
5 men, " " " . " .1,200 00
3 " drafted and entered service, March, 1864, " 600 00
7 " three years' service, September 5th, 1864, 4,400 00
37 " one " " " " J3,167 00
2 colored men entered in the South " 801 70
17 men, three years' service in navy, February 15, 1865, 10,000 00
1 man, 600 00
Expenses on the above, 606 37
22 men, drafted and furnished substitutes, 3,300 00
359 men _. |53,739 91
To March, 1866.
1 three years' service man since 1865, I 600 00
2 one year's service men, " " 1,300 00
3 men who paid commutation, 300 00— $3,100 00
365 men 154,839 91
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
To March, 1S67.
Two himdred and sixty-seven men furnished by the town in
1863-63-64. Amount of bounties and costs of which, includ-
ing bounties paid to men who were drafted, and who fur-
331
nished substitutes,
Paid three men who paid conunutation,"
Total,
$54,829 91
300 00
$55,139 91
ROSTER OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OP ABRAHAM LINCOLN POST, NO. 85, G. A. R.
(ORGANIZED MAY 3, 1885), IN DECEMBER, 1887.
OFFICERS — 1887.
A. B. Flanders _ Chap.
James A. Cooper O. D.
Joseph M. Hodet O. G.
Sidney E. Pierce S. M.
A. C. Inman Q. M. S.
A. W.Davis. P.O.
AnthonyC. Ray. S. V. C.
Edgar F. Sisco J. V. C.
A. B. Voodry __Adj't.
Joseph M. Quimby _ Q. M.
James M. Wilson- Surg.
Stephen M. Pingree, Sanford H. Potter, Past Commanders.
Bernai-d McCabe, Samuel A. Currier, Alpha H. Colby, Relief Committee.
Stephen M. Pingree, George W. Kenney, David Paine, Finance and Auditing
Committee.
Alvin C. Bean, Bernard McCabe, Sidney E. Pierce, Entertaining and Memorial
Committee.
Regular meeting first Saturday in each month.
Muster-in fee, including badge, $1.50.
Dues, quarterly in advance, twenty-five cents.
Aiken, Joseph P., . A, 4th Vt. V. Inf.
Bean, Alvin C, 15th N. H. V. Inf.
Bruce, S. B. O., K, 11th Vt. V. Inf.
Clifford, Chai-les L., G, 16th Vt. V. Inf.
Cooper, James A., E, 31st Mass. V. Inf.
Carpenter, Wm. B., I, 6th Vt. V. Inf.
Chambers, Henry, E, 36th Mass.V. Inf.
Currier, S. A., C, 15th N. H. V. Inf.
Colby, Alpha H., D. 13th Vt. V. Inf.
Davis, Alex. W., D, 6th Vt. V. Inf.
Daley, Edward, A, 9th Vt. V. Inf.
Durphey, Wm. H., C, 6th Vt. V. Inf.
Fargo, James C, H, 4th Mass. H. Art.
Fenton, Barth. G, 6th Vt. V. Inf.
Flanders, A. B., Chap. 4th R. I. Inf.
French, Horace, K, 3d Vt. V. Inf.
Hunter, J. H., E, 5th N. H. V. Inf.
HUl, Charles H., C, 6th Vt. V. Inf.
Hodet, J. M., G., unass'g'd Mass. R.
Imnan, A. C, D, 17th Vt. V. Inf.
Kenney, Geo. W., H, 17th Vt. V. Inf.
Kent, Lorenzo E., K, 7th Vt. V. Inf.
Kimball, Ben. F., D, 17th Vt. V. Inf.
McCabe, Bernard, A, 6th Mass. V. Inf.
Metcalf, Henry H., C, 6th Vt. V. Inf.
Pierce, Wm. L., F, 1st Vt. Fr'nt Cav.
Pierce, Sidney E., H, 11th Vt. V. Inf.
Pingree Stephen M.,
Paine, David,
Peck, Henry H.,
Potter, Sanford H.,
Porter, Orvis W.,
Porter, Wm. B.,
Preston, Geo. W.,
4th Vt. V. Inf.
A, 9th Vt. V. Inf.
I, 3d Vt. V. Inf.
1st Vt. Cav.
G, 17th U. S. Inf.
G, 9th Vt. V. Inf.
E, 3d Vt. V. Inf.
Quimby, Joseph M., A, 15th Vt. V. Inf.
Rollins, A. C, C. 15th N. H. V. Inf.
Ray, Anthony C, G, 16th Vt. V. Inf.
Rand, Homer E.,
Saxie, Frank,
Sisco, Edgar F.,
Sti'ong, S. J.,
P. M. U. S. N.
H, 16th Vt. V. Inf.
K, 13th Vt. V. Inf.
C, 5th N. H. V. Inf.
Trask.Chas. M., Surg. 5th N. H.V. Inf.
TerrUl, Peter,
Voodry, Adna B.,
WUson, James M.,
Wolfe, Austin H.,
Wood, John A.,
Young, Leander,
B, 3d Vt. V. Inf.
E, 17th Vt. V. Inf.
P. M. U. S. A.
B, 14th N. H. V. In.
G, 16th Vt. V. Inf.
I, 1st Me. H. Art.
' A palpable error. According to the report of Adjutant General Washburn, but
three men paid commutation — viz : Charles B Ballard, Noah B. Hazen and Jacob
N. Perliins. The total amount paid should be $54,829.91. The total number men
furnished was 265.
383 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
HARTFOBD MBMOEIAL ASSOCIATION.
This association was born of a desire on the part of the surviving
soldiers of the late civil war, who went from Hartford, to properly
honor and perpetuate the memory of those of their comrades who, in
the hour of the nation's greatest peril, enlisted from this town, and lost
their lives in defence of the Union. It is but simple justice to say that
those who enlisted from this town were chiefly men of intelligence and
sustained a good moral character ; and that, in the hour of trial, they
proved to be brave, true and faithful soldiers. They left their fire-
sides, their kindred, their business, all that was dear to them, and went
forth to endure the hardships of military service, in camp and garrison,
on tented field, and in toilsome marches. They suffered from exposure
to extremes of heat and cold ; from privations of food and raiment ;
from disease ; from wounds received in many a terrible conflict facing
a stubborn foe, and many there met death and found graves far away
from home, with not one loving hand to ease their pathway to the
tomb.'
" Some home to village graves were borne,
Love plants the Myrtle o'er their tomb ;
Some far away in graves unknown,
Sleep where no flowers of love m^ay bloom.
Some in the nation's hallowed ground
Sleej) royaUy then- last, long sleep; i
Some lie where no carved stone is found,
No kindred nigh, no friends to weep."
The survivors who served out, faithfully, their terms of enlistment,
returned to their homes, and a useful citizenship, and not a few of
these have received such honors and gifts from the hands and hearts of
their fellow-citizens, as a grateful people may well bestow as the reward
of patriotism.
But we owe a great debt, and unstinted honor, to those who fell in
battle. Their heroic deeds should be transmitted to coming genera-
tions in song and story, on enduring monuments of marble and in the
' Hon. P. T. Washburn, Adjutant General of the State, in his reports, Oct. i,
1865, to Oct. I, 1866, gives a list of at least 125 battles and engagements in which
Vermont troops toolc part, between Big Bethel, June 10, i85i, and Appomattox
Court House, April g, 1865. An average of one battle or engagement ever)- ten
days. A Vermont regiment was the first to enter Richmond at its capture April,
1865.
The whole number of volunteers and drafted men furnished by Vermont was
34,238. The number of wounded was 4,360. The number of deaths in field and
hospital during the whole war was 5,128. More than one-half of these perished
during the last year of the war.
The number of volunteers and drafted men, furnished by Hartford was 267. The
number killed in engagements and battle was 8 The number of deaths in hospital
was 5. The number who deserted was 9. The number wounded 10, of whom 5
died. Killed by accident- i. Died in Andersonville prison 2. Died elsewhere
from sickness 16. • Total number of deaths during the war 37.
HISTORY OF HARTFOED. 333
continual observance of decoration day. Let us decorate their graves,
and crown their monuments with flowers emblematical of virtue, heroic
valor and immortality, and rehearse to our children and grand-children,
the story of their deeds, that they may be inspired with a sense of their
obligation to our fallen braves; of the gratitude due to the survivors,
and their duty to their country in the hour of her peril and danger
from foes within and foes without.
" Toll for the noble brave,
Borne to a gory grave,
Wreath ye the bier;
Whisper each deathless name,
Give them to God and Fame,
Di-op ye love's tear."
On the 30th May, 1880, a number of veteran soldiers met at the
Hartford cemetery to decorate the graves of their fallen comrades with
flowers. After performing this memorial service a brief address was
made by Col. S. E. Pingree, upon the duties which the surviving sol-
diers owe to their dead comrades,- and upon his motion, a temporary
organization was made for the purpose of perpetuating the proper
observance of decoration day. Capt. A. W. Davis, 6th Vt. Regt., was
chosen president ; Capt. J. Aiken, 4th Vt. Regt., secretary; Col. S. E.
Pingree, 3d Vt. Regt., Maj. A. J. Grover, 1st Vt. Cav., and Lieat.
E. H. Nye, 6th Vt., executive committee. This meeting was adjourned
to meet at the said cemetery the first Saturday in May, 1881, for the
purpose of forming a permanent organization.
Agreeable to adjournment a meeting was held at the Hartford cem-
etery May lib, 1881, when a constitution and by-laws were presented
by Col. S. E. Pingree, with appropriate remarks thereon, and after due
consideration the same were referred to a committee consisting of Col.
S. E. Pingree, G. D. Keyes and B. F. Eaton, with instructions to report
such amendments and alterations as proper for ratification at the annual
meeting. May 30th, 1881. The association met at 1 o'clock p. m., May
30th, 1881, at the east gate of the cemetery, when the report of the
committee on the constitution and by-laws was rendered by Col. S. E.
Pingree, to wit :
Preamble : — For the due observance of the day which a national cus-
tom has consecrated to the offering of floral tribute to the natinn's
dead, and for the better and more constant cherishing of ihe memoiies
of our more immediate comrades and townsmen who fell in defence ■ f
their country's integrity and honor, we, the Hartford Memorial At<hOria-
tion, hereby adopt the following- constitution for the general guidai.ce
and government of our organization.
334
HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
The officers and committees for the association were: — President,
Col. Stephen M. Pingree, 4th Yt.; Vice-Presidents, Maj. Andrew J.
Grover, Lieut. Benjamin F. Eaton ; Secretary, Capt. Joseph P. Aiken ;
Treasurer, Henry H. Peck, 2d Vt.
Committee on Arrangements — Capt. A. W. Davis, Capt. J. P. Aiken
and H. H. Peck.
Committee on Floral Decoration — Comrades P. B. Smith, Peter
Terrill, A. E. Hazen, A. J. Grover and Wm. B. Carpenter.
Committee to designate soldiers's graves and mark the same — Col. S.
E Pingree.
The following list comprises the names of the members, past and
present of the association, together with the company and regiment in
which each member enlisted :
Samuel E. Pingree. Co. F, 3d Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
Stephen M. Pingree. Co. E, 4th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantiy.
Joseph P. Aiken Co. D, 4th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantiy.
G. D. Keyes.... Co. D, 4th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
J. T. Shepard Co. G, 4th Eegt. Vt. Cavalry.
S. J. Allen, Surgeon. 4th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
Henry H. Peck Co, I, 3d Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
Horace French Co. F, 8d Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
Peter Terril Co. F, 3d Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantiy.
A. W. Davis.. Co. D, 6th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantiy.
Wm. B. Carpenter. Co. D, 6th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
Charles G. Sanderson Co. F, 8th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantiy.
JohnG. Lesure ....Co. G, 8th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
William B. Porter Co. G, 9th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
P. B. Smith Co. H, 11th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
Alpha H. Colby Co. D, 12th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
A. E. Hazen. ..Co. G, 16th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
J. H. Savage Co. G, 16th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
Frank Blaisdell. Co. H, 16th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
Anthony C. Eay Co. G, 16th Regt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
Charles Pierce Co. G, 16th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantiy.
Harper Hazen. Co. G, 16th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantiy.
Jasper H. Savage Co. G, 16th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
Charles L. Clifford. Co. G, 16th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantiy.
Geo. A. Griswold Co. A, 10th Regt. Vt. Vol. Infantiy.
A. C. Inman Co. C, 15th, Co. D, 17th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantiy.
David Paine . .Co. A, 15th and 9th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantiy.
Ceorge C. Stevens Co. A, 3d Eegt. N. H. Vol. Infantiy.
Sewell D. Batchelder Co. G, 3d Eegt. N. H. Vol. Infantry.
John H. Hunter .Co. E, 5th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantiy.
Henry Silver .Co. I, 17th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
A. J. Grover 1st Eegt. Vt. Cavalry.
J. C. Fargo Co. H, 4th Eegt. Mass. . Artillery.
Thomas Moran. Co. I, 21st Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantry.
D.W.Pierce Co. B, 1st Eegt. Vt. Cavalry.
John Dezealer Co. H, 17th Eegt. Vt. Cavalry.
William J. Gray. Co. C, 16th Eegt. N. H. Cavalry.
Josiah L. Elder, major 40th Eeg-t. Mass. Vol. Infantry.
H. A. Bennett Co. B, 25th Eegt. Mass. Vol. Infantry.
E. H. Nye Co. D, 6th Eegt. Vt. Vol. Infantiy.
J. H. Modet... Co. G, Regt. Mass. Vol. Infantry.
Orrin Watkins Co. H, 7th Regt. N. H. Vol Infantiy.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 335
MILITARY NECROLOGY BOLL OF HONOK.
The names of those soldiers who served in the Revolutionary v?ar,
and their respective places of burial have been designated as follows :
Luther Bartholomew, a pensioner, buried in Christian Street Cemetery.
Samuel Bailey, buried in the Hartford Cemetery.
Nathan Cobb, '
Joseph Fenno, " " CentrevUle "
Phiaeas Russ, " " Russtown "
Stephen Tilden, " " Centre of Town Cemetery.
Elihu Woodard, " " " " "
Elijah KIbbie, " " Junction "
Roger Huntington, member of the 4th Conn. Regt. whose name will appear
among those of the war of 1813, was buried in tlie Russtown Cemetery.
William Champlin, buried in Quechy Cemetery.
Burpee Prouty, " " Delano "
Sherebiah Ballard, " "W.Hartford"
LIST OF SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812.
Sheldon Bartholomew, buried in Chi-istian Street Cemetery.
John Freeman, fif er in Capt. Phelps' Co. , Col. Davis' regt. , Gen. Dearborn's
army, which took part in the battle of Plattsburgh; buried iu Hartford ceme-
tery.
Ulysses Johnson, buried in Russtown cemetery.
SoUman Lombard, of Capt. Ethan Beemis' Co., Col. Williams' regt.; buried in
Quechee cemetery.
Philip Sprague, buried in Christian Street cemetery.
James 'Tracy, " Centre of Town "
Josiah Tilden,
Stephen Tilden,
George Washburn, corpl. of Capt Merrill's Co., 31st regt., of Gen. Dearborn's
army; buiied at W. R. Junction cemetery.
EHjah Kibbie, buried beside his father, W. R. Junction cemetery.
Roger Huntington was enlisted in the 81st regt. for one year, and afterward in
the 11th for five years, and served until close of the war; buried in Russtown
cemetery.
Alva Rider, buried in Centre Town cemetery.
I find one name only of those who served in the Mexican war, viz: that of
Myron T. Strong, of Col. T. B. Ransom's regt., Gen. Franklin Pierce's brigade,
Gen. Scott's army; buried at Centi-eof Town cemetery.
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
1 Wm. H. Allard. Co. G, 6th Vt. Vols., died March 15, 1864; buried in the
Hartford cemetery.
2 Hemy C. Alexander, 1st Vt. Bat'y, died Jan. 23, 1864; buried in Quechee cem-
etery.
3 Albert L. Bartholomew, corpl. Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols., mortally wounded at
Cold Harbor, Va. ; buried in Christian St. cemetery.
4 Geo. F. Bemis, Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols., mortally wounded and died in hospital
May 8, 1864; buried on the field.
5 Elmer Bragg, 9th N. H. Vols., died Aug. 20, 1864; buried in Quechee ceme-
tery.
6 Franklin Boyd, Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols., killed at the Wilderness, Va.; buried on
the field.
7 George B. Brockway, Co. H, 16th Vt. Vols., died after the war; buried m the
Hartford cemetery.
8 John Cuthbert, Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols., killed at Funkstown, Md., July 10, 1863;
buried on the field in the same grave with Geo. W. Ball, 4th Vt. Vols.
9 Charles C. Davis, Co. H, 11th Vt. Vols., died Sept. 30, 1870; buried in Hart-
ford cemetery.
10 Wm. H. Downer, Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols., kiUed at Yorktown, Va., AprU 16, '62;
buried on the field.
11 Horace Dutton, Co. — , regt. Vt. Vols., died in rebel prison; name inscribed
on Benj. Dutton's mon't., Hartford cemetery.
336 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
12 Harry Durphy, Co. 0, 6th Vt. Vols, died June 18, 1864; buried in Quechee
cemetery.
13 Arthur M. I"rench, Co. H, 11th Vt. Vols., taken prisoner at the battle of the
Weldon R. R., Va., June 23, 1864; in prison at AndersonviUe, Ga., until
exchanged; died at Annapolis, Md., on his way home from his captivity,
Jan. 1, 1865; buried in Hartford cemetery.
14 Frank Gallagher, Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols., killed at the battle of No. Anna, Va.,
May 20, '64; buried on the field.
15 Henry L. Jones, Co. C, 6th Vt. Vols., died July 14, 1864; buried in Quechee
cemetery.
16 Thomas S. Hodsden, Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols., mortally wounded May 12, '64, at
Spottsylvania, Va., died Aug. 13, '64; buried on the field.
17 George Kibbie, Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols., kUled AprU 16, '62, near Yorktown, Va.;
buried on the field.
18 Edward Lyman, corpl. Co. F, 1st U. S. C. S., mortally wounded at the bat-
tle before Petersburg, Va., died June 35, '64; buried in Hartford cemetery.
19 Frank Morrill, Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols., kiUed at Yorktown, Va., April 16, '62;
buried on the field.
20 Albourn Nash, Co. F, 52d Mass. Vols., died March 16, 1860; buried in Hart-
ford cemetery.
21 Robert Orr, Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols., killed at Yorktown, Va., April 16, '62;
buried on the field.
33 Edward Richards, Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols., died of disease contracted in service
in the Peninsular campaign, Sept. 17, '63, having served one year to a day;
buried in Hartford cemetery.
33 Leonard Rowland, fifer, Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols., died at Lee's Mills, Va., May 1,
'62; buried on the field.
24 Lucien A. Ryder, Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols., mortally wovmded in the battle of the
Wilderness, died in hospital, May 15, '64; buried in hospital grounds.
25 Geo. H. Tambling, Co. G, 4th Vt. Vols., died on the field, remains brought
home and buried in West Hartford cemetery.
26 Lorenzo C. Thurston, Corp'l, Co. H, 16th Vt. Vols., died in hospital, Aug.
7, '63; buried in Hartford cemetery.
37 James W. Thomas, buried in Quechee cemetery.
38 Nelson J. Whitcomb, Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols. , died of disease contracted in ser-
vice; buried in West Hartford cemetery.
29 Willis Whitcomb, Co. F, 3d Vt. Vols., mortally wounded before Yorktown,
Va., Apr. 16, '63, and died in hospital. May 19, 1862, and buried on the
field.
80 John Greenwood, Co. — Regt. — Vt. Vols. ; buried in Junction cenaetery.
31 Edward Nash, 1st U. S. S. S., killed May 5, '64; buried on the field.
32 Mahlon M. Young, kiUed at Mariana, Fla., Sept. 37, '64; buried on the field.
33 E. B. UdaU, died May 14, '63; buried on the field.
34 Wm. Hazen, Co. G, 16th Vt. Vols. ; buried West Hartford cemetery.
35 Harvey Bartholomew, Co. B, 4th Vt. Vols.; buried West Hartford cemetery. ,
36 Heni-y O. Washburne, Co. C, 6th Vt. Vols., died Nov. 12, '81; buried in
Hartford cemetery.
87 Benjamin Howe, 5th N. H. Vols. ; buried in the Hartford cemetery.
38 Patrick Kavanaugh, killed on railroad at White River Junction; buried in
Catholic cemetery.
39 Thomas Moran, 17th U. S. Infty., died July 31, '83; buried in Hartford cem-
etery.
40 Jasper H. Savage, Co. G, 16th Vt. Vols., died 1884; buried in Christian St.
cemetery.
41 James B. Gilman, W. Hartford cemetery.
43 Edwin L. BaUard, Co. K, 16th Vt. Vols., W. Hartford cemetery.
43 Samuel Johnson Allen, buried in Hartfoi-d cemetery, W. R. Junction.
44 Samuel Marden Wilson, paymaster U. S. Vols.; buried in cemetery, W.
R. Junction.
45 Patrick Cavanaugh, 3d U. S. Regulars; buried in Catholic cemetery, W. R.
Junction.
46 John Ashey, killed at Meriden, N. H. ; buried in Catholic cemetery, W. R.
Junction.
47 Albert Martin, Co. K, 7th Vt. Vols. ; buried in Catholic cemetery, W. R.
Junction.
HISTORY OF HARTFOBD. 337
A MILITARY INCIDENT.
The house of StepLen Tilden, located two miles above White River
village, on the north side of White river, was designated as an alarm
post during the Revolutionary waV. Not long since I was permitted
to inspect the old Queen's arms gun which Mr. Tilden kept for the
purpose of hunting, in times of peace, but which he used during the
war to alarm the settlement in time of danger, and calling the settlers
together for action. The first time this gun was used for the last
named purpose, was on the morning of Oct. 16, 1780, when the Indians
invaded Royalton. The news of the attack upon that village was an-
nounced to Mr. Tilden by Dr. Phineas Parkhurst of Lebanon, N. H.
Dr. Parkhurst, then a young man, had gone to Royalton on the 12th
July to see his sweetheart. The Indians made an attack on the town
very early the next morning, and Dr. Parkhurst considered it best to
take leave of his charmer. On attempting to escape, the disciple of
^sculapius lost his hat, but got a bullet in exchange. Though seri-
ously wounded, he mounted his horse, and putting spurs to the animal,
eluded capture by out-riding John Gilpin on his way homeward. When
he arrived opposite to Mr. Tilden's tavern, the doctor shouted the un-
welcome news, and not many minutes later the old " Queen's Arms "
rang out the needful warning. A company of militia started to join
in the defense of Royalton, but failed to reach there in season to be of
any service.
22
CHAPTER XXIV.
[Letter from Roswell Marsh, Esq.]
INCIDENTS OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
(The following letter was written by the late Hon. Eoswell Marsh, a gi-andson of
Governor Joseph Marsh.)
Steubenville, O., April 18, 1870.
Dear Sir : — It is probable I have as much personal and traditional
knowledge of the early settlement of Hartford as any one now living.
There are but a few now living older than I am, who were born in Hart-
ford. I was born in Hartford, in January, 1793, and when I was old
enough to take a lively interest in whatever related to the early events
in the town, most of the first settlers were living. My grandfather's
house was a place of much resort, and early events were the standard
topic of conversation as grave matters, and for anecdote. *****
Most of the proprietors were from Lebanon, Ct. The plan for the
purchase and the division of the town was made in Lebanon, and the
proprietary meetings were held there for several years. Many of the
proprietors did not remove to Hartford, but sold out their shares very
cheap. Some of the best lands were bought for one shilling per acre.'
Very erroneous ideas existed as to the quality of the land.
The first settlement was made at the mouth of White Eiver,'' the next
on the Quechee meadows. Abel and Elisha Marsh settled in Quechee
in 1772-73. My father, when eighteen years old went up to Quechee
in the spring of 1774, and raised some corn on an island. The rest of
the family, including nine other children, moved there in the fall of the
same year.
The first grist-mill was built in Quechee by Elisha Marsh. He sold
the mill in 1812 to Matthew Ransom, a carpenter and joiner who had
long lived by the burying ground. Daniel Gushing afterwards owned
the mill. You will find an early deed of a clothier's shop, from Lionel
TJdall to Elisha Marsh. Isaac Marsh carried on the clothing mill until
he became deranged. Eleazer Harwood, from Pittsford, then bought
the mill, and after some years sold to Abel Penfield, who sold to a com-
pany which enlarged the mill and introduced spinning and weaving.
Liberty Raymond put up the first trip hammer shop in 1814. Daniel
Ransom, son-in-law of Elisha Marsh, had the first store in Quechee.
' Elijah Strong, who settled at the month of White river in 1764, bought lot (No.
2), south side of White river down Connecticut river, containing nineteen acres, to-
gether with 360 acres of undivided land, for the sum of $22.50, or jess than six
cents per acre. Deed Samuel Porter, of Lebanon, Ct. , to Stephen Tilden, Jr., of
Leoanon, Ct., Nov. 10, 1761, one proprietor's right (No. 13), on north side of White
river, containing fifty-nine acres, for 10 shillings, or $2.42=4 cents i mill per acre.
Deed Henry Piescott to Thomas Savage, March 23, 1769; sixty acres (No. 17) Jo-
seph Newmarch, up Connecticut river, $i 21, or 2 cents per acre.
' It is probable that Solomon, brother of Elijah Strong, settled at the Centre of
the town nearly at the same time that Elijah settled at the mouth of White river.
The proprietors' first meeting in the town was held in the houseof Solomon Strong,
Dec. 3, 1764.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 339
William Perry established the first tan-yard. William Birtch, a son-in-
law of Samuel TJdall, established a brick-yard, but failed, and ran away.
The sawmill (one mile below Quechee) was built by Abel and Joseph
Marsh in 1775. They ran the mill alternately a week each, but the
relations soon became unfriendly. Abel could not sell his lumber as
his more popular brother could. When Abel left the mill Saturday
nights he hid aU the files, mill bars, etc. They soon dissolved. * * *
The pine timber on the plains was superior to that on the lower
meadows, and soon every one who wanted the pine claimed to own a
lot, and proceeded to cut the best wherever it could be found. The
plain was soon covered with the tops. In May, 1802, Jesse Peak, by
burning a brush heap on a windy day for the purpose of making a
garden, set a fire to the pine tops, and in six hours had a fire covering
the whole plain, and up the hill sides as far as there was combustible
matter. Sodom and Gomorrah must have resembled it ! It was, by far,
the most sublime sight I ever witnessed. Not a live tree was left, and
in two or three years the tall pines were heaped across each other often
five or six deep. Not half of the timber had been cut. * * * The hUl
west of the town-house was swept by a tornado soon after the settle-
ment of the town. (Ever since known as " Hurricane Hill.") The grist-
mill at Sucker City (Centreville) was buUt about the same time as that
in Quechee. For some years the two mills ground for Hartford, Hart-
land, Pomfret, Norwich, Sharon, and Woodstock. In a very hard winter,
I think in 1783, White and Quechee Elvers were so low and hard frozen
that the mills could not grind but little grain, and grist accumulated a
month in advance. A boy from Sharon came to Quechee to mUl. Being
asked why he did not stop at the Sucker mills, he repUed : — " They
don't grind but d — d little there, and what they do grind they don't
grind but little ! "
Elias Lyman settled at the Point about the year 1790. He built Ly-
man's bridge. Lewis Lyman and I, rash boys, crossed over and back
on the timber before the floor was laid, and we had good reasons for re-
membering it.
The leading and most influential families of the town were the Hazens,
Marshes, Tildens, Pitkins, Deweys, Udalls, Gilletts, Strongs, Demmons,
and Ransoms. Freegrace Leavitt, Capt. William Bramble, Abel Bar-
ron, and Amos Eobinson, were leading men. Seth Cole, a very large
man, furnished facts drawn from imagination. Zealon Case, a lean, hun-
gry-looking man, liked a fat turkey, which, with proper dressing and
^read and vegetables, he considered "a reasonable allowance for one,
"but not enough for two ! " Matthew Eansom, in a moment of passion,
vrould bite the skin from his knuckles, and his wife was always "already
mad." You know something of Ephraim Shattuck's wife, who might
have presided as the oracle of Delphi. « * * * »
There was a minister settled in town before Mr. Gross, and he sold a
110-acre lot, which is in the James Udall, or Wm. Marsh farm. I think
his name was Turner. He turned out a very corrupt man. His deed
will give his name. «**»«*
In an old deed once in my possession, the point where the Quechee
l)ridge crosses the river was called " Pinneo's Point." A guard to watch
tories was kept there during the Eevolution. Gov. Marsh was active in
the negotiations long carried on, but never intended to be brought to a
point, between the British and Vermonters. Capt. Abel Marsh, alias
■" Capt. Snag," was the first military captain. Eeport said, when I was
MO HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
a boy, that they elected a captain, a lieutenant, an ensign, four ser-
geants and five corporals, and had one private left, and they drilled him
untU he lay down all tired out.
The old meeting-house at the Centre of the town was built about
1790. Eev. Mr. Gross settled there at an early day. Eev. John Button
was employed to preach a year or two before Mr. Goss, with a view to a
settlement, and this so nearly resulted that the fact was used in 1806 in
a law suit against Mr. Goss's title to the ministerial land. '
THE OLD CENTBE MEETING-HOUSE.
" I will not give sleep to mine eyes, nor slumber to my eyelids, until I find out a place
for tlie Lord, an habitation for the Mighty God of Jacob."— Psalms 132 -A, 5.
Our Puritan fathers were eminently devout worshippers of the
Supreme Being. They believed that in the God of Israel they lived,
moved and had their being. They believed that the Christian religion,
and religious worship formed the corner stone of civil liberty, and that
it was their duty and obligation to sustain the public worship of God.
Although they believed in a " Church without a Bishop, and a State
without a King," yet, they recognized the fact that, in many respects,
matters of civil and religious polity were, necessarily, intimately con-
nected, and that religious freedom was the handmaid of civil liberty.
Therefore, they first laid the foundation and established the form of
civil government, after which they proceeded to make provision for the
maintainance of public worship. They were prompted to build places
for public worship by that spirit which manifested itself in the purpose
of the son of Jesse to provide a habitation for the mighty God of
Jacob.
According to the records of the town, the first official action taken by
the inhabitants relative to erecting a meeting-house was on the 17th of
May, 1774, when it was voted " to build a meeting-house as near the
centre of the town as is convenient for a building spot, and the dimen-
sions of the house to be thirty-five by fifty feet, and two stories high."
A committee was chosen to make a survey to find the centre of the
town, and there "to set down the stake where the meetinghouse shall
be." The committee performed their duty, and fallowing upon their
report the town voted £100 ($484) to build said house which was to be
completed by Sept. 1, 1775. For some unrecorded reason the work
of building was delayed, and the ark of God found no resting place
until some years later. Meetings were held in private houses, and in
barns, by itinerant preachers, and all made it a point to attend with
their families, every Sabbath, preaching or no preaching.
^ There are no written records by which the date of the organization of the church
at Centre of the town can be fixed. It is quite probable that a church existed there
prior to the ministry of Mr. Gross.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 341
It seems probable that the first meeting-house was built about 1784
at the middle of the town, where it now stands. It appears of record
that a meeting of the inhabitants of the town was held in the house of
David Bliss, at the middle of the town,on the 9th of Sept., 1783, to con-
sider the important matter of building a meeting-house. It was then
decided to buUd ; and also, as a necessary preliminary step, to petition
the General Assembly to grant the town liberty to tax their land for the
purpose of building a meeting-house. At its session, in October follow-
ing the above named meeting, the General Assembly passed an act
enabling towns and parishes to erect proper houses for public worship,
and the support of ministers of the Gospel. All the conditions being
now settled in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants of the town,
it is safe to conclude that they proceeded to build their meeting-house
and that it was completed prior to the installation of Rev. Thomas
Gross, which occurred June 7th, 1786.
The architecture of the old meeting-house was very plain, both with-
in and without. Its dimensions were fifty feet in length, thirty-five in
width and two stories in height. The entrance way was on the east
side. The pews were square with high backs. The pulpit, which was
nearly thirteen feet high, was on the west side of the house. Over the
pulpit was suspended a bell-shaped sounding board, possessing acous-
tic properties that gave distinctness to the preacher's words. The gal-
lery was on both ends and one side fronting the pulpit. There was but
one row of seats in the gallery and these were occupied by the younger
portion of the congregation. The house was without means of warm-
ing it in the winter, and other inclement seasons of the year, but nearly
every family took one or more foot stoves to meeting. The men, women
and children were warmly clad in home made garments, and being
habituated to much out-of-door life, were capable of withstanding a
degree of winter temperature that would congeal many modern people,
who are reared as delicately as hothouse plants.
There is subject enough in the history of this venerable old meeting-
house for much thought and reflection, as well as for a lively and pleas-
ing exercise of the imagination. For nearly fifty years it was the only
church edifice in the town, south of White river, and, for more than
three-fourths of a century, it served as a place for holding town meet-
ings of every kind. It was the scene of many funerals, of many mar-
riages, of christenings, and social church gatherings. Here, at free-
man's meetings, hundreds of young men took the freeman's oath, and
for the first time exercised the right of suffrage. Here little great men,
aspirants for town offices, fawned and truckled to attain their heart's
343 HISTORY OF HAETFOED.
desires. Here bargains were struck and compromises were made to
ensure petty offices to candidates who bartered their modicum of man-
hood for political pottage. Here, times without number, the freemen
of the town cast their votes, or gave their voices for the election of
candidates put in nomination by a clique, or ring, who ursurped the
prerogative of the freeman at large, and ignoring the wise maxim that
" the public good should be preferred before private advantage," made
up a slate comprising such of their townsmen as they conceived could
be counted on as ready to reciprocate the effort to elevate them
to positions of consequence, not attainable by virtue of native ability,
by any degree of subserviency necessary to promote the selfish interests
of their scheming abettors. Here noisy, senseless buncombe drowned
the voice of reason and triumphed over common sense. Here close-
fisted chronic grumblers, stickled for penny-wise and pound foolish leg-
islation. Here modest worth, and genuine merit, were ignored, while
ignorance, and oftentimes Jinebriated impudence, found favor and sup-
port.
By way of illustration let us turn for a moment to a Sabbath day
scene in the olden time. Taking our position near the entrance way
of the meeting-house, on a Sabbath morning in summer time, an hour
before the opening of divine service, we shall find pleasant and instruc-
tive occupation in watching the arrival of the people. Some afoot and
some on horseback. Many of the worshippers live miles away from the
meeting house, but they rarely ever stay away from meeting. As the
people arrive they gather in groups, here and there, and exchange
kindly and cordial greetings. Each new-comer is welcomed with une-
quivocal expressions of gladness and good will, indicating the entire
absence of envy, enmity and dissimulation. Contentment and cheerful-
ness mark the appearance of the most austere and puritanical here
present.
The time for opening religious services has arrived, unheralded by
the din of a bell, or other useless noise. The arrival of the pastor is the
signal for assembling within the place of worship. The people rever-
ently seek their respective seats; the elderly portion occupying the
high square box pews in the body of the house ; the youth resorting to
seats in the gallery. The deacons and the tithing men take their accus-
tomed places, and assume a staid and dignified demeanor becoming
those whose duty lay in maintaining order and decorum, especially
among the youthful members of the congregation. The introductory
services of invocation an d reading the Scriptures, are followed by sing-
ing a hymn, in the old-fashioned way, line by line. Dea. Preegrace
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 343
Leavitt, or Dea. J ohn Gillett, give out the tune, and sound the key-note
from a wooden pitch-pipe, and then all join presently in singing in a
manner truthfully described in the following verses, since composed by
an aged worshipper :
" I wish you'd heard the singing — it had the old time ring ;
The preacher said with fervent voice, ' Let all the people sing ';
The tune was Coronation, and the music upward rolled
"Til I thought I heard the angels striking on their harps of gold,
My deafness seemed to melt away, my spirit caught the fire ;
I joined my feeble, trembling voice with that melodious chou-.
And sang as in my youthful days, ' Let angels prostrate fall ;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all.' "
A lengthy prayer followed the first singing ; then came the singing of
the second hymn, after which the preacher gave to his congregation a
sermon from the following text : — " Let us hear the conclusion of the
whole matter ; Fear God, and keep his commandments ; for this is the
whole duty of man," Ec. 12:13. The sermon may be described in the
language of the writer above quoted : —
" The preachin' ! Well, I can't just tell all that the preacher said ;
I know it wasn't vrritten ; I know it wasn't read ;
He had'nt time to read it, for the Ughtning of his eye
Went passing long from pew to pew, nor passed a sinner by.
The sermon wasn't flowery, 'twas simple gospel truth ;
It fitted poor old men like me ; it fitted hopeful youth ;
'Twas full of consolation for weary hearts that bleed ;
'Twas full of invitations to Christ, and not to creed."
The sermon was followed by singing, the third time, after which the
congregation were dismissed with a benediction. During the intermis-
sion between the morning and the afternoon services, the congregation
repaired to Leavitt's tavern, or to their homes, if near by, where they
partook of refreshments, and, in the season of cold weather, replenished
their foot-stoves. Drinking together was freely indulged in, even on
the Sabbath. Tradition informs us that Eev. Mr. Gross, and Deacons
Leavitt and Gillett, united with other members of the congregaticfc in a
social glass of flip, or sling, or toddy, as their tastes inclined, and, in
the words of the poet,
" All drank as 'twere their mother's milk and not a man afraid."
Freegrace Leavitt, one of the deacons of the church, had a distillery,
which was located near by the meeting-house, which verified the truth
of the old adage : —
" Wherever God erects a house of prayer.
The devil is sure to buUd a chapel there."
The town records containing an account of the date of building the
Centre meeting-house, its cost, etc., are lost. The building is upwards
of a ceutury old. It has not been in use for the past fifteen years. But,
whether occupied or not, it should be preserved with religious care.
344 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
"Rsmove not the ancient landmarks which thy fathers have set." — ■
Proverbs, 22:28.
TWO INTEEESTING LETTERS.
The following is a copy of a letter written to the late Lucius Hazen,
■who was a native of Hartford, and for many years a resident of West
Hartford. The original letter was written in Chicago, and sent from
that point by express to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, to be mailed. At the
time this letter was written, there was no U. S. mail service west of Ft.
Wayne, and Chicago was an unimportant frontier settlement com-
posed of Yankees, Indians, and U. S. soldiers and officers ; the latter
doing military duty at Port Dearborn. At that time the journey from
Hartford to Chicago, occupied about seven weeks time. At present the
entile journey is made in about thirty-six hours.
THE LETTER.
FoKT Deaebobn, Chicago, State op Illinois.'
Dear Sir : —
You have perhaps, been anxiously looking for a letter from me a
long time, but you must pardon the delay, if such you consider it. In
the first-place I must tell you I was six weeks in getting to head quar-
ters, and on my arrival there I learned I had some hundred miles more
to travel before I should reach my station, but this, as I had become so
much accustomed to traveling, gave me no uneasiness. As I well know
the desire you have to learn the particulars of this country, I feel a
degree of hesitancy in attempting the description, not feeling myself
able to do justice to your wishes. I found many parts of the country
from Albany to Buffalo very interesting and pleasant, but I found no
perfect elysian — every place bore something of the character of incon-
venience and perplexity. I passed through the promised lands of the
Holland purchase and New Connecticut, which names formerly re-
sounded in your country as furnishing everything desirable, but I
found the country very indifferent, and indeed almost repulsive. From
Buffak) to Detroit my mode of conveyance was by water. I landed at
several pleasant places in the states of Penn., and Ohio, and indeed
passed the shores of an interesting country.
Detroit is a tolerably pleasant place, the country around a fine one,
but the inhabitants generally very little more refined than the savages.
After leaving Detroit about fifty miles, you have gone past all settle-
ments. For some hundreds of miles the first considerable one you come
to is Mackinaw. It appeared delightful from the water, but is valuable
only for its situation as respects trade ; it is cold and barren as Green-
land, the country mostly from Detroit to Mackinaw, from the specimens
I saw, I think will never admit of cultivation. It is a cold, swampy wil-
derness. From Mackinaw to Green Bay, about 250 miles, there is no
settlement. I saw but little land, at places where I went on shore, that
would admit of one. At Green Bay the country wears a dififerent aspect.
On the banks of Fox river, which enters into Green Bay, the land is fine
' Admitted into the Union Dec. 3, 1S18.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 345
and fertile. The fort stands near the mouth ; the French settlement is
above the fort. There are extensive tracts on which there is no timber,
others are finely timbered. I have seen a larger growth of almost every
kind of grain in this country than I have ever seen east of the Hudson
river. It will some day, no doubt, be an admired country, when the
idle, strutting Indians and the no better French are driven out by the
Yankees.
The society of the officers at Green Bay is very good, but their fami-
lies undergo many privations. Chicago, my present abode, is like all the
Western world — an extensive level. Its situation renders it delightful.
It is situated on the lake, a noble river runs through it, fertile prairies
occasionally interspersed with large wood lots surround it. The fort
and quarters are handsome and convenient. Our society is small but
refined and agreeable. There are but five officers here ; two are mar-
ried. Two families live in the vicinity. There is but one unmarried
lady within 300 mUes of us, and she, I hear, is going to be married to
our ladian agent soon. She was educated at Windsor (Vt.) under Supt.
Dunbar; her father lives here. * * * The Indians, at present, are
out hunting, though they occasionally come in, so I amuse myself with
them. They are, since the whites arrived, harmless and inoffensive. I
have learned some of their language, and by the help of an interpreter,
have obtained a tolerable vocabulary. I am much pleased with this lan-
guage. It has a softness and sweetness, and I shall endeavor to become
fluent in it. * * * I have not heard from your country since I left
it. Direct : Chicago, State of Illinois, via. Fort Wayne, Indian Ter-
ritory. Yours,
I. D. HOPSON."
The foregoing letter was not enclosed in an envelope, but was folded,
fastened with a wafer, and the postmark, "Fort Wayne, 17th January,"
was written ; the postage was indicated by the written number " 25 " on
the upper right hand corner. Postage stamps and cancelling utensils
were not then in use.
The next letter written by Lieut. Hopson to Mr. Hazen is dated " Ft.
Dearborn, June 13, 1823," and relates principally to a journey he had
recently made to St. Louis, Mo. His experiences and observations dur-
ing that journey are related by him as follows : —
" I left this place on the first of April for the purpose of exploring
that country which I had always fancied to be the best in the world. I
know not the reason of it, but ever since I first read of the western
country, the State of Illinois was my land of promise. I went as far as
St. Louis, nearly 500 miles, but I scarcely found a spot such as my im-
agination had painted it. I found in some places a country beautiful al-
most beyond description, but when I considered the disadvantage attend-
ant on a life led there, the idea almost staggered me. There are but a few
settlements in the State of Illinois where the inhabitants enjoy a toler-
able degree of health. In most places where it is healthy, the land is
not good. There are places in which corn sells for twelve and a half
cents per bushel. The country is good for grazing also. These are all
the advantages that these places possess over the most wretched. Their
streams are all dull and sluggish, and most of their land covered during
346 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
the year with stagnant water. There is scarcely a time when the inhab-
itants inhale a pure and serene atmosphere. I must acknowledge I left
the country willing never again to see it. I would sooner live in Ver-
mont, bleak and rugged as it is, than any country of pestilential vapors
like this. In this part of the State where Chicago is situated the land is
not as good as some other, but owing to the breezes of the lake, the
place is. perfectly healthy and serene.
I expect to leave in a few days for the Southern country to purchase
provision for the garrison. If I live through the hot season and the
mosquitoes, I shall think myself proof against a warm country. The
manners of the people are rude and uncultivated. What few prof eg.s re-
ligion are Methodists. Thus far of this country. I hope in the course
of a few years to describe to you some other, although imperfectly. I
can probably say nothing of this place that will interest you. Our soci-
ety is very small and we are secluded from the world ; have but little to
do unless it is to lay plans for the future, or think over the past. * *
Please inform those surviving of my family that I have not heard from
them since my sister wrote me in February. * * *
Yours sincerely,
I. T>. HOPSON."
HOTELS AND LANDLORDS.
Before the era of railroads in Vermont, the turnpike located on the
north side of "White river, between Lyman"s bridge, at White River
Junction, and the town line between Hartford and Sharon, formed the
main route of tiravel between Liverpool, England, and Montreal, Canada,
via. Boston, Concord, and White Eiyer Junction. Over this great
thoroughfare there was an almost incessant stream of travel. The road
was lined with vehicles for pleasure, travel and business purposes, in-
cluding ponderous eight-horpe freight teams ; handsome Concord
coaches for the conveyance of passengers, and the bi-weekly and tri-
weekly mails ^wo-horse, or " pod " teams, and a great variety of other
vehicles, some of a nondescript kind. It was then not an uncommon
thing to see, on a winter's day, as many as thirty two-horse teams
passing down the White river valley en route to Boston, each team
being driven by its owner, and each owner as happy as genial good
company, vigorous health, a contented mind, and the associations of the
day could make hitn. ^aThe farmers of the hill-sides and valleys then
made annual trips to Boston, taking along with them the surplus pro-
ducts of their farms, including beef, pork, poultry, dairy products, peas,
beans, &c., and returning with groceries, knicknacks for their dear wives
and " bonnie bairns," and, very likely, a demi-john of old-time unadul-
terated speerits for toddy, flip, or sling.
„ Those were golden days for inn-keepers and jolly days for stage- -
drivers and teamsters, who took their toddy straight and smoked "long-
nines " at Boniface's expense, or at moderate expense included in their
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 84T
reckoniDg. Oftentimes a severe storm set in which impeded travt
a day or two ; then landlords wore their blandest smiles, and gra
catered to their storm-bound guests. They were all honey
who eat their bam and eggs, imbibed their rum, and treated irei
puffed away their cigars and paid the regular reckoning ; but fo^
who economized by carrying their own oats, lunching on their own cold
snack, and imbibing cold water, and toasted their shins by the bar^rgom...
fire, there was little more than frigid indifference on the part.of Boniface.
Neverthelesp, a spirit of happiness pervaded the minds and hearts of
those who followed the road in both storm and sunshine. They eat,
drank, worked hard from early morn till late at night, and laid down to
sleep soundly and dream pleasantly, little thinking how near at hand,
was the time when the stage-coach, the great wagons and the pod teams
would be counted among the things that were, and space and time
would be, as it were, annihilated by steam and lightning, and their oc-
cupation, like Othello's, would be gone.
I am unable to determine in what part of the town the first public
inn was located. The first mention made in the town records of an inn
relates to that kept by Stephen Tilden, Jr., in 1775, which was located
on the river road about four miles from White River Junction, and a
few rods west of the present dwelling-house of William Dutton. This
house was not built specially for a hotel. Mr. Tilden was extensively
engaged in farming, between which and tavern-keeping his time was
about equally divided. He was prominently identified with the muni-
cipal affairs of the town, and his house becanie head-quarters for the
transaction of public business. After the election of Amos Robinson as
Town Clerk, in 1775, the proprietors' meetings were held in the inn of
Stephen Tilden until the year 1800.
In his history of Northfield, Rev. John Gregory states that the pro-
prietors of that town, after obtaining a charter, held a meeting on the
second Tuesday of November, 1784, in Burch's Inn, in Hartford. I am
told by Joseph K. Egerton, Esq., the present Town Clerk of Northfield,
that the proprietors of Northfield held several meetings in Hartford :
first, in the house of Capt. Wm. Gallup, Quechee, Nov. 11, 1783, which
was adjourned to meet at the dwelling-house of Mr. Benjamin Burch,
inn holder, in Hartford. Five other meetings were also held there.
The two next meetings were at the house of Asa Taylor, in Hartland.
The next meeting was held in the dwelling-house of Capt. Abel Marsh,
inn holder, in Hartford (Quechee). It may be that the same hotel was
kept successively by Burch and Marsh.
It has been suggested that the inn kept by Benj. Burch was located
348 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
in that part of the town known as the " Burch neighborhood," which is
about midway between Quechee and West Hartford villages. At the
period of which I am speaking, the mail route from North Hartland to
Pomfret passed the house of Walter Pease (present home of Geo.
Pease), thence over Hurricane Hill, past Oapt. Benjamin Porter's to the
centre of the town, thence to the Burch neighborhood, where it inter-
sected the road leading from West Hartford to Quechee, thence over
the hill to Pomfret. Benjamin Burch owned land in the Burch neigh-
borhood, and may have then lived there. But he also owned nearly
five hundred acres of land in the Ottaquechy river valley, southwest of
Quechee village, and, as early as 1771, he was associated with Capt.
Abel Marsh, Elisha Marsh, and Joshua Dewey, in the ownership of the
first saw-mill erected in the town. He was one of the proprietors of
Northfield, and, doubtless, for this reason alone, the proprietors of that
town held some of their earliest meetings in his house. It seems
probable that the inn kept by Stephen Tilden was the first one in the
town, and the nest was that kept by Benj. Burch, at or near Quechee
Village.
The first hotel in West Hartford was built about the year 1790, by
Francis W. Savage, who kept it until his death in 1817. Soon after his
death this house was closed as an inn. His son-in-law, David Hazen,
subsequently lived in the same house until his death in 1854. It then
passed into the hands of W. H. and S. B. Tucker, and after several
transfers, became the property of W. H. Gile, the present occupant.
In 1838, Alvan Taoker opened a hotel in the village of West Hartford,
which was kept by him untU 1840. The proprietors of this house, in
the order of occupancy, have been as follows : — Alvan Tacker, Samuel
C Sawyer, C. C. Eowell, Stephen S. Downer, James Merchant, Joseph
Morrill, Albert E. Williamson, Chas. H. Thurston, Harry M. Cutting,
Alpheus Kempton, and Frank Wheeler, who has recently purchased the
premises, and is now making extensive alterations and improvements on
the buildings. This hotel is located on the south side of the highway,
opposite F. F. Holt's store, and is one of the oldest houses in the town.
It was built for a brewery, and was the only establishment of the kind
ever known in the town.
The first building in Hartford village serving as a public house was
the residence of the late Josiah Tilden, on the south side of the river
near railroad station. Mr. Tilden bought the land on which he
built this house, of Jabez Baldwin. The first school in this village
was kept in Mr. Tilden's barn, and the last meeting held by the pro-
prietors of this town was held in his house. The first public house on
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 349
the north side of the river, was kept by Asa Richardson, in the house
occupied by the late M. R. Cone. In 1812, Mr. Richardson sold this
hotel to William Strong of Quechee, who kept it untU March 25th,
1815, and then sold it to Noah Ashley. Four months later Mr. Ashley
sold it to Consider Bardwell. Mr. Bardwell sold it to Theodore Cooley,
Aug. 16, 1815. Mr. Cooley sold it to George and Bani Udall, Feb. 21,
1820. The latter then closed the Richardson hotel, and continued the
business in a house standing on the site occupied by Pease's hotel.
July 6th, 1821, George Udall sold his interest in the hotel and some
land attached to the same, to Bani Udall. Some years later Mr. Udall
became financially embarrassed, and disposed of his interest in the said
property to Hodgman and others. Ultimately this party sold their
purchase to Tracy & Converse, lawyers in Woodstock, and this law firm
sold their interest in the property to Luther Pease, Dec. 4, 1848. This
famous hotel was burned January 24, 1889. It was the subject of
numerous transfers and leases. The owners have been Asa Richardson,
Wm. Strong, Noah Ashley, Consider Bardwell, Theodore Cooley, Geo.
and Bani Udall, Hodgman, Tracy & Converse, Luther Pease and Horace
C. Pease, the latter receiving it as his share of Luther's estate. The
lessees have been Samuel Whitney, Phineas Kimball, Wm. Spooner,
Geo. Sturtevant, Sturtevant & Webster, Ira Gates, O. H. Nichols, Chas.
J. Holmes, Thompson, John Pease, George Pearson, Alonzo P. Gage,
H. E. Harris and its last occupant, M. S. Davis. Charles W. Pease
run this hotel for some years after the retirement of H. C. Pease, and,
during one year, at least, used his fine residence on School street for a
public house.
On the site of the elegant mansion recently erected at White River
Junction, by Wm. Roberts, Esq., there once stood a hotel which was
opened to the public for the first time by Consider Bardwell,' in 1811.
Bardwell sold this hotel to Noah Ashley, Nov. 7, 1815. Ashley sold the
same to Elias Lyman, June 22, 1816. Among the later proprietors of
the hotel were Luther Delano and Ahira Gillett, the latter in 1825.
A public inn was opened at the centre of the town at an early day. The
' Consider Bardwell was an eccentric man, irascible in temper, and consequently,
often at variance with others. But, though prone to quarrel, he loved a good joke
at the expense of his acquaintainces, and seldom let slip an opportunity to indulge
this propensity. On one occasion, after an altercation with one of his customers,
over their cups, they mutually agreed to settle their differences by a duel with shot-
guns. At the appointed hour his adversary put in his appearance, armed with a
shot-gun. Being busily engaged in some duty Bardwell said to the man : — " Tom,
I'll tell you what I'll do : you go out and set up a board about my size, and shoot at
it, and if you hit it I'll acknowledge myself killed and treat the crowd! " This
ludicrous proposition had the effect of oil upon troubled waters, and ended the
farce, much to the satisfaction of the crowd who drank all round at the expense of
both parties to the quarrel.
350 HISTORY OF HAETFORD.
first landlord there, so far as I am able to learn, was Freegrace Leavitt,
who moved from Hanover, N. H., to the centre of the town, January 4,
1794, after which time his house bore the title of " Leavitt's Inn.'" All
the public business of the town was transacted at that point until 1840.
Mr. Leavitt was elected town clerk in March, 1802.
Prior to the completion of the Central Vermont railroad, the main
route of travel between the eastern portion of Hartford and "Wood-
stock, passed directly by Leavitt's Inn. Mr. Leavitt was a shrewed,
keen observer of men and things, and he was not long in learning the
fact that a great majority of those who went to court at Woodstock to
obtain justice, found themselves in the end, in the condition of the man
who went for wool and returned home shorn. Mr. Leavitt was some-
thing of a wag, and he hit upon a novel way of pointing a moral for all
those who traveled to and from the county seat. On the sign board
suspended from a tall post standing in front of his house, he caused to
be painted two pictures. One represented a genteelly-dressed man
mounted on a spirited-looking, finely caparisoned horse, on the road to
Woodstock. Below this figure was the legend, " I'm going to court ! "
The picture on the reverse side of the sign, represented a man return-
ing from Woodstock, and in a pitiable plight. His face wore an expres-
sion of sullen despair ; his hat was awry ; his garments were thread-
bare, and the animal he was riding resembled that described in the old
song : —
" Tom Bolin rode an old gray mare,
Her back humped up, her bones all bare."
"Under this picture was the apt and instructive legend, " I've been to
court ! " This sign taught a lesson, which, if properly heeded, would
lead all persons to submit matters of disagreement to the consideration
and decision of two or three men chosen by mutual consent, rather than
enter into law suits which impoverish litigants on both sides of a case
for the benefit of lawyers only.
About the time of the construction of the Vermont Central railroad,
Col. Samuel Nutt, recognizing the importance of having hotel accom-
modations, at White River Junction, went to Endfield, N. H., and pur-
chased the old "Grafton House," of a Mr. Willis. This he took down
and transferred to W. E. Junction, where he reconstructed it, and opened
it to the public under the name of the Junction House, of which he was
sole proprietor and landlord for several years thereafter. On the 27th day
of March, 1856, I. B. Culver, a son-in-law of Col. Nutt's, sold the bote
to Carlos S. Hamilton, who, 25th March, 1859, sold one-half to the
' Now the dwelling house of Oliver Tewksbury.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 351
Barrens. About the year 1852, Elizur Southworth erected a hotel on
the site now occupied by N. P. Wheeler's store. August 3, 1853, this
hotel was bought by John P. Williams, and March 11, 1854, he sold it
to one of the Barrons. It was soon after moved and united with the
Junction House. On the 10th of August, 1878, this hotel was en-
tirely destroyed by fire. It was a den of wickedness and its destruction
should have been regarded by the senior proprietor thereof as the
natural sequence of the unrestricted looseness that characterized his
system of running this public house. The present Junction House was
completed in 1879. The proprietors since that time have been respect-
ively as follows : Ballard & Andrews ; Chas. Ballard ; Van Ness
Spaulding, and now. Lavender & Eddy.
On the site of Channing Williams' store in Quechee village, there
once stood a hotel, which was destroyed by fire in . Among the
preprietors of this hotel were, George Udall, the builder of the house
together with a store, Daniel Gushing (1838), Wm. E. Eastman (1839),
Lester Richardson (1841).
Geo. Udall kept a hotel for some time on the old Woodstock road
west of the James Udall place. Zebulon Delano kept a hotel for a num-
ber of years at the junction of the Whita river turnpike and the Jericho
road, where Fred Huse resides. Joshua Eyder kept a hotel two miles
from White River village on the hill road to Windsor.
CHAPTER XXV.
BIOGRAPHY.
A famous author once said : " No species of writing seems more
worthy of cultivation than biography, since none can be more delightful
or more useful ; none can enchain the heart with irresistible interest, or
more widely diffuse instruction to every diversity of condition."
In preparing the following sketches of citizens " native to the manor
born," and others, as well, I have aimed to exhibit merely a chronologi-
cal series of actions or experiences, or facts, the most important and
interesting in the lives of those of whom I write, ignoring the minute
details of their daily life, and laying open to posterity but little, if any-
thing, of their private and familiar character. They are not accorded
a place in this history out of respect for their learning, integrity or
piety, nor because especially distinguished by any striking or wonder-
ful vicissitudes of fortune, or destiny, but simply because they may be
looked upon as representative men and citizens, whose characters,
though not worthy of the highest panegyric, should be deemed emi-
nently worthy of emulation and remembrance.
Samuel Johnson Allen.
Eighth child of David and Hannah (Wilcox) Allen, was born in New-
port, N. H., Jan. 8, 1819, and died at his residence in White River
Junction at half past five o'clock on Sunday afternoon last, at the age
of sixty- seven years, six months and twenty days.
Dr. Allen was educated in the common schools and academies of his
native section, and chose the profession of medicine. In 1839 he com-
menced the study of medicine with Dr. John L. Swett of Newport, and
subsequently studied with Dr. Dixi Crosby. He graduated from Castle-
ton Medical CoUege in 1842. In October of the same year he settled in
Norwich, where he performed his first surgical operation in the success-
ful removal of a tumor from the body of a womaai. From Norwich he
returned, in Jan., 1844, to Woodstock, where he opened a drug store in
connection with his practice. In June, 1845, he settled in Hartford,
Conn., and there resided until March 1847, when he returned to Ver-
mont and settled in White River Junction, where he has since resided.
On the opening of the civil war, he volunteered his services to the
government, and in July, 1861, he was commissioned as surgeon of. the
Fourth Vermont Volunteer Militia, and went to the front of hostilities,
where for one year he attended to the needs of his regiment, but subse-
quently, until the expiration of his term of enlistment, was detailed on
special service. On the 15th of Dec, 1862, he was appointed surgeon
of the Vermont brigade, which office he filled for three months. He
was then promoted to the post of surgeon of the Second Division, Sixth
HISTORY OF HARTB'ORD. 353
Army Corps. This position he filled until Sept. 21, 1864, when he was
honorably mustered out of service, and returned home for a brief visit.
He soon returned to the army and was appointed Acting Staff Surgeon
U. S. A., and was assigned to duty in the Sixth Army Corps as Medical
Inspector, which office he retained until his final muster out in July,
1865. Dr. Allen was present at every notable engagement in which his
command bore a part from after the battle of Bull Run to the close of
the war. He was twice wounded in the course of the same day at
Opequan Creek. ,
On his return to civil life Dr. Allen resumed the practice of his pro-
fession at White River Junction. His ability and skill have given him
fame and an extensive practice beyond the limits of his state. In the
courts of Vermont and New Hampshire his services as an expert have
often been called into requisition. His contributions to medical science
and surgical art have been of remarkable value. He discovered the
simplest and best method known to the profession of reducing disloca-
tions of the hip ; he introduced a new method of treating fractured and
dislocated clavicle so as to avert the usual resultant deformity ; and in-
vented a new method of finding bullets in the body without using the
probe. The first discovery was effected while he was a student in 1841,
and is now known as the automatic metbod of reduction.
Dr. Allen was a member of several medical societies. In 1878 he was
elected president of the "White Mountain Medical Society, and in 1883
was sent as a delegate by the Vermont Medical Society to the American
Medical Association convened in Cleveland, O. He was one of the con-
sulting surgeons of the Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington from its
organization until his decease. He represented the town of Hartford
in the General Assembly of 1880 and '82, and officiated as chairman of
the Committee on the Insane, and also as chairman of the committee of
the Board of Health. In 1880 he was chosen chairman of the Board of
Supervisors of the Insane, to which office he was re-elected in 1882. He
was a member of the Congregationalist church in West Lebanon, N. H.
He was a member of United Brethren Lodge, F. & A. M., of Hartford,
and was post surgeon of Abraham Lincoln Post No. 85, of Hartford.
Dr. Allen was married on the 11th of June, 1844, to Mary J., daugh-
ter of the late Lewis Lyman of Hartford, and has, since 1847, resided
in the house where Mrs. Allen was born. The issue of this marriage is '
three sons, Samuel Johnson, Jr., Fred Lyman and Harry Bruce.
Justin C. Beooks.
Son of Zerah Brooks, born March 16, 1801, was a merchant by vocation.
He served an apprenticeship with Emerson and Davis, merchants in
Hartford village. Before settling in business in Hartford, he went to
Springfield, Vt., where he remained about three years. The exact date
of his return to Hartford and beginning business for himself, is a mat-
ter of doubt. On the 30th of May, 1831, he bought of Thomas Emer-
son the premises how known as the " Brooks residence," where he lived
during the remainder of his life. His mercantile career extended over a
period of more than fifty years, and, during that time, he won an envi-
able reputation by his many noble qualities of mind and heart, daily ex-
emplified by manly, upright, uniformly affable and obliging conduct in
his business and social relations with all men; strictly honest, methodi-
cal, conscientious, habitually accurate and a beautiful penman, it was a
33
354 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
pleasure to transact business with him, whether of a public or a private
nature.
Mr. Brooks was elected treasurer of the town in March, 1839, and
held that office continually until March, 1875, when failing health led
him to decline a re-election. He held the office of town clerk for three
years, 1860-62, and was clerk of the White River Bridge Co. from Nov.
1, 1848, to the date of the dissolution of that company, April 14,
1858.
In March, 1875, Mr. Brooks resigned the office of town treasurer.
The following extract taken from a record of the town meeting, held
soon after he tendered his resignation, shows how highly his services
were esteemed by his fellow townsmen, viz :
" In corLsideration of the invaluable services of Justin C. Brooks, for the last
thirty-eiglit years ti'easurer of the tovsna, and who declines a re-election, and for
reasons of his peouUar care for the interests of the town, and general and partic-
ular faithfulness in said office; it was moved, and unanimously voted, that the
selectmen be instructed to pay him out of the town ti-easui-y the sum of §500,
after full settlement be had with him and his bondsmen." — Vote passed Mai-cli 2,
1875.
David M. Camp,
the son of Abel and Anna Manning Camp, was born in Tunbridge, April
21, 1788. Abel, the father, removed with his family to West Hartford,
in 1804, and having accumulated considerable property, he at once took a
prominent place in town affairs, and lived and died a highly respected
citizen. He was a very intelligent man, and recognizing the value and
importance of a good education, he evinced a liberal spirit in helping
his children to obtain the same. The subject of this sketch had the com-
mon experience of Vermont boys in those days. He was reared in a ver-
itable log-cabin, to the age of 14, having a sister and two brothers older
than himself. In the autumn of 1806, when 18 years of age, he entered
Burlington college with seventeen others who graduated with him,
among whom were several distinguished men afterwards in Vermont,
chief among them being the distinguished Senator Jacob Collamer and
the accomplished Secretary of State Norman Williams. It was a re-
markable coincidence that Mr. Camp was the first president of the Ver-
mont Senate, and Mr. Williams the first secretary. Their portraits now
grace the Senate Chamber.
Mr. Camp was graduated in 1810. He returned to Hartford soon
after, and at freeman's meeting, in September of that year, took the
freeman's oath and voted for Jonas Galusha for governor. Mr. Camp
adopted the law as his profession, and began his studies with Wm.
Bray ton, Esq., S wanton, Vt. He was admitted to the Franklin county
bar at the August term, 1812, and as a lawyer stood well. In the war of
1812, he was chosen collector of customs, and after a short service at
Swanton, he went to Derby, where the greater part of the smuggling
was carried on. The business was very distasteful to him, but, after a
few years, when the embargo was removed and an ppen and friendly in-
tercourse established, he chose to continue at his post, and remained as
collector until 1829. In 1815, he was State's attorney of Orleans county.
In 1816-17, he represehted Derby in the General Assembly. He was
assistant judge of the Orleans County Court in 1830, '32, '34, '35, and
1843. In 1834-5, he again represented Derby in the Legislature.
In 1836, when the amended constitution of the State creating a Sen-
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 355
ate went into operation, and the new State House was completed, he
was elected lieutenant-governor and ex-officio president of the Senate,
which ofB.ce.he held for five consecutive years. Afterwards, in 1842, '3,
^4, he was county senator from Orleans county, his last official services.
Mr. Camp was a man of large intelligence, strong convictions, and was
conscientious and fearless in the discharge of every duty. He was fore-
most in efforts for the promotion of education and the reformation of
society. In 1831, he reported a resolution to the Congregational church
of Derby against the traffic in, and common use of ardent spirits, which
was adopted 13 to 7 ; and, in 1842, he reported to the same church a
series of anti-slavery resolutions, and they were unanimously adopted.
These measures indicate the character of the man.
Mr. Camp was twice married, first to Sarepta, daughter of Francis
W. Savage of West Hartford, Sept. 28, 1815. The fruit of this mar-
riage was thirty-seven years of pleasant domestic life, and three child-
ren, Norman, now residing in Washington, D. C. ; Hoel H., who re-
sides in Milwaukee, Wis., and Mrs. Harriet Weed, who resides in
Minneapolis, Minn. The family circle was broken by the death of
Mrs. Camp, May 15, 1852, aged 59. His second' marriage was with
Miss Almira Howe of Montpelier, who survives him. Mr. Camp died
in Derby, Feb'y 20, 1871, aged 83, minus two months; ending a life of
honor and usefulness in a peaceful death, and passing from this to an
eternal life in the ripeness of a good old age.
Nathan Cobb.
(Sketch contributed by Nathan B. Cobb.)
Nathan Cobb, son of Stephen and Abigail (Chipman) Cobb, was
b)orn in Sandwich, Mass., August 13, 1763. He was fourth in line of
descent from Henry Cobb, long a ruling elder in Rev. John Lothrop's
church in Barnstable, Mass.
Nathan entered the American army in April, !|.776, before he had
arrived at the age of thirteen years. Was enlisted by Lieut. Stephen
Fish, his brother-in-law, in a company commanded by Capt. Grannis,
for the term of six months. He was immediately sent to Naushon
Island, where the company was stationed for the purpose of guarding
the fort and military stores at that place. While he was on the island
a British tender ran under the guns of the fourt. A cannon was fired
at her and the shot cut off her yard-arm. The vessel immediately
" cleared out," leaving word at Martha's Vineyard, as we heard, " that
the British fleet would pay us for it."
Nathan's term expired after " Indian harvest," to use the term he
used in his pension declaration, and he returned to his parents in Sand-
wich. In July, 1779, he re-enlisted, joining a company of minute men
commanded by Capt. Joshua Toby, and called out to defeat the threat-
ened attempt of the loyalists and refugees to Falmouth. The enlist-
ment was for the term of three months. Nearly half this tiine the
company was at Howland's Ferry, R. I., to which point it first marched,
and about half the time at Falmouth. His brother Jacob enlisted when
Nathan did, serving with him during the term, and was discharged at
the same time.
At the close of the war Nathan bade adieu to his home and went to
Randolph, Vt., where had settled his brother Jacob and his brother-in-
law, Stephen Fish, mentioned above. Many stories had been told in
356 HISTORY OF HARTFORD
the army of the wonderful richness of the soil "way up in Vermont."
" Why, the very mountain-tops were fertile and you could get good
crops as high up as you could get oxen and plough ! " But Nathan did
not like here and, in a little while, he made his way to Hanover, N. H.,
and there engaged in his occupation of blacksmith. The writer of this
account heard him narrate that walking along the street, one day, he
saw sitting at a chamber window a young lady, a stranger, attired in
low dress with short sleeves. As he looked upon her it was impressed
upon him, in a supernatural way, as he believed, that she was to be his
wife. He soon ascertained that the maiden was Lyclia Bliss of Lebanon,
Conn., and then visiting her relatives, President Wheelock and the
Pinneos in Hanover. A mutual attachment sprang up between these
young people and the impression soon was realized, — Nathan accom-
panying Miss Lydia to her home in Connecticut and marrying her there.
After their marriage, his wife resolved to be a help meet indeed,
learned to perform some of the lighter work of her husband's trade,
among other things the pointing of shoeing nails. Nathan held the
office of deputy sheriff in this town nine years.
In 1805 he removed to Hartford, living upon a farm in Centreville
until the infirmities of age came upon him. He died in this town
March 24, 1845, aged 81 years, 8 months, V days. His wife, Lydia
(Bliss), survived him only five days, dying at the age of 78 yeai's, 8
months, 21 days. The remains of this aged couple were interred at
the burying ground near " the Point." Nathan was tall and erect in
form ; a member of the Congregational church ; in politics, a whig.
He had five children, all born in Hanover, namely: Daniel, who be-
came a lawyer and settled in Strafford, dying in that town July 26,
1868, at the age of 81 ; ' Nathan, Jr., a blacksmith, whose life was
passed in Hartford and, who deceased June 3, 1847, aged. 58; Samuel
B., a merchant in Montreal, and then in New York city, where he died
Aug. 7, 1829, at the age of 37; Lydia, who became the wife of David
Landers of Hartford, in which town she died July 18, 1843, aged 49;
and David Webster, an importer in Charleston, S. C. He died in that
city Sept. 8, 1835, at the age of 34.
Hon. Albert Gallatin Dewey.
The subject of this sketch was born in Hartford, Vt., December 16,
1805, and died Aug. 26, 1886, aged 80 years, 8 mos. and 10 days. He
was the eldest child of John and Mary (Wright) Dewey, and was a
member of the seventh generation in lineal descent from Thomas
Dewey, who emigrated- to America in 1633 from Sandwich, county of
Kent, England, and settled in Dorchester, Mass. John Dewey, father
of Albert G., was a farmer who, though having limited pecuniary means,
was, nevertheless, possessed of sterling moral and intellectual qualities,
which were transmitted in an eminent degree to his descendents. He
died November 23, 1823, leaving a wife and five children, three of whom
were under 8 years of age. By the death of his father Albert G., then
eighteen years of age, became charged with the support of his mother,
brother, and three sisters. At this period of his life he had received no
education, in a literary sense, and though he had not been subjected to
the blighting influences of poverty that surround thousands in early
' Nathan B. Cobb, the present (1889) Town Clerk of Strafford, Vt. , is a son of
Daniel Cobb, and a grandson of Nathan Cobb, the subject of the above sketch.
^y.
Jdkircfj?olitanIUbU3hin0 dSn^ravniQ Co.Boatorh.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 357
life, and was not able to bear the bitter testimony which many young
men of his age could have given of actual want and suffering, yet he
had been the subject of circumstances which tended to hamper genius
and keep in a latent state the higher faculties of his heart and mind.
But, now, on the verge of manhood, a weighty responsibility was im-
posed upon him, and to his infinite credit he proved to be equal to the
exigencies of the occasion. With an intuitive sense of his responsibilities,
with a brave, warm, susceptible heart, a determined will and self-reliance,
he cheerfully and manfully accepted the situation and faithfully devoted
his time and his earnings to the work until his brother and sisters were
able to support themselves. In order to effectually perform this work
of love young Dewey left home to learn the carpenter's trade. He
served an apprenticeship of three years with Elihu Ransom of Quechee
village, in Hartford, during which time his sole compensation consisted
of his board and clothing, but in the meantime he worked nearly every
day far beyond the allotted hours in order to earn extra wages. His
habits of industry and his exemplary conduct gained him several
warm friends and sympathizers, who gave him credit for articles of sub-
sistence and loaned him money wherewith to accomplish his noble pur-
pose. During his apprenticeship in 1825 young Dewey, with two or
three other apprentices were taken by their employer to Boston in order
to obtain more profitable employment than was to be obtained at home.
The party set out to walk the entire distance, but after walking all day,
all but young Dewey concluded to ride the remaining distance. He,
however, continued the journey on foot, until he reached Cbarlestown,
Mass., from which place he secured a ride into Boston on a pedlar's
cart. This incident in his career fully illustrates the tenacity of pur-
pose and indomitable will which contributed largely to his eminent
success in business life. The experience of these three years was of
inestimable value to young Dewey. It taught him the value of self-
reliance, of industrious habits, and especially of the value of a good
moral character, all of which qualities he exemplified in his after life.
At the termination of his apprenticeship Mr. Dewey was discharged
as a journeyman carpenter, receiving from Mr. Bansom the customary
gift of a freedom suit of clothes. For several years 'thereafter he pur-
sued his trade near home. In 1831, with a desire to change his vocation
for one more compatible with his tastes, he sought and obtained em-
ployment in the machine shop of Daniels & Co., of Woodstock. The
reputation of this firm was such at that time that his successful applica-
tion for a place in this shop was a flattering recognition of his mechan-
ical skill. Rev. B. F. Dwight, in his " Notes of the Early History of
the Dewey Family," published in the New York Genealogical and Bio-
graphical Record, says : — " Mechanical instincts, tastes and capabilities
have been leading characteristics of a large number of this family."
Mr. Dewey had an instinct for handicraft, but he achieved his skill by
accurate observation and reflection. He had the power of mechanical
analysis which enabled him to master all the technicalities and prin-
ciples of construction of machinery entirely new to him. In the short
space of four months from the time he commenced work with Daniels &
Co., he was sent out by them to set up their machinery in different
places, which he did, travelling from factory to factory until 1836.
In 1835 Mr. Dewey, in company with others, commenced the erection
of what is now known as Dewey & Co.'s factory on the Ottaquechee
river, one mile and a half below Quechee village. Here he commenced
358 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
the manufacture of woolen fabrics, but the venture proved unsuccessful,
and at the end of two years he found himself involved almost hopelessly
in debt, lacking $15,000 to liquidate his obligations. But he con-
tinued to run the mill with a force of from thirty to sixty operatives,
though there was not a day between 1838 and 1850 in which he could
have met the claims of his creditors at a sacrifice of all he possessed.
Nevertheless he kept his creditors fully informed of his affairs, promptly
met his papers at maturity and paid his employees in full every pay
day. Furthermore, he spared no pains to improve the quality of hi&
manufactures. He was particular in the minutest details, aimed at
excellence, and exhibited that carefulness and accuracy in turning out
good work which demonstrated that his heart was in it. This proved a
first rate investment for securing to himself the enviable reputation and
large fortune resulting therefrom.
Prior to 1841 Mr. Dewey used fine new wool in the goods made by
him. In that year he commenced using what was then known as rag-
wool, and the cloth made by him was called rag-cloth. In 1846 he came
into possession of all the machinery then in use by other parties in
Quechee. From 1846 to 1848, when the Bays of Franklin, Mass.,
started in the business, Mr. Dewey was the only manufacturer making
or using shoddy yarn and weaving it into cloth, in this country. Con-
sequently he manufactured this kind of cloth a longer time than any
other manufacturer in the United States.
Shoddy itself, as material for the manufacture of woolen goods was
first made in this country by Daniels & Co., at Quechee, in 1840. Not
until the late civil war, however, was the word "shoddy " known to the
trade in A.merica. In England it had long been a familiar appellation of
the fibrous material obtained by tearing into fibres soft woolen rags.
" Mungo," another material used in the manufaciure of cloth, differs
from shoddy, being made from hard woolen rags, and from it is made a
cloth of much finer quality than that of which shoddy forms a part.
" DevU's-dust " is the the material obtained from cutting the fibres of
mungo or shoddy into dust. Shoddy is a valuable article of manufac-
ture and is wronged by the application of the name to shameless cheats
and frauds.
April 1, 1858, the firm of A. G. Dewey & Co., was formed by the asso-
ciation with Mr. Dewey of his brother-in-law, Justin T. McKenzie, and
his wife's nephew, William S. Carter. Changes in the firm, of which
Mr. Dewey remained the head, have since occurred. In 1873 Mr. Carter
died, and on the 1st of January, 1874, John J., son of the senior partner,
purchased Mr. Carter's interest in the firm. On the first of January, 1876,
William S., another son of the senior partner, was admitted to equal part-
nership. The two last named gentlemen, with Mr. McKenzie, are the
surviving members of the firm.
In 1858 the mUl of this firm contained only two sets of machinery,
capable of producing about 450 yards of textile fabric daily. In 1870
the firm bought the mill till then leased by them, enlarged it, substi-
tuted new and improved machinery, and in 1863 they had a capacity of
1300 yards daily. Since then continued improvements have been made,
and their present production is not far from 2500 yards daily. Their
fabrics are made from the same kind of stock used by Mr. Dewey in
1841, and have a reputation in the markets of the country for general
excellence which creates a demand proportionate to the means for pro-
duction. This is the legitimate result of an intelligent, upright system
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 359
of doing business, the employment of skilled laborers, who have been
treated with a liberal consideration of their wants and dues.
Mr. Dewey was always interested in everything promotive of the
growth and prosperity of his section, and, favoring internal improve-
ments, he was an active promoter and one of the original incorporators of
the railroad from White River Junction to "Woodstock. Being a large
stockholder, he was elected a member of the board of directors on the
organization of the company, and on the death of Gov. P. T. Washburn,
in February, 1870, he was chosen to tie office of president. He
retained this office until January, 1883, when he declined further re-
election.
In political life, Mr. Dewey acceptably filled all offices of trust to
which he was called. He possessed eminent business qualifications.
He was firm in his convictions, prompt and energetic in the per-
formance of duty. He was frank, thouroughly conscientious, modest
and deferential, yet genial and agreeable withal, and by these qualities
he gained the confidence of all with whom he had social or business rela-
tions ; and he deserved, as he received, the approbation and respect of
his fellow townsmen. In a word, he won the hearts of people by mak-
ing them feel that it was his pleasure to serve them.
Mr. Dewey represented the town of Hartford in the General Assem-
bly in 1850-51-63 and '64. In 1858 he was elected one of the board of
selectmen, and held that office continuously until 1866. During the
recent civU war he displayed fine executive ability in the onerous work
of filling the quota of troops required by the national government.
Every requisition was promptly met at the least possible expense to the
town. In 1869, he was elected to the State Senate from Windsor
county, and was again elected to the same office for two years in 1870.
Though ever ready to act the part of a good citizen, and participate in
a proper manner in public affairs, he refrained from soliciting public
office, believing with General Grant, that it is men who wait to be
selected, and not those who seek, from whom we may always expect the
most efficient service.
On the 18th of June, 1840, Mr. Dewey married Emily, daughter of
Hon. William Strong of Hartford. Mrs. Dewey was in all respects
worthy of the character of her husband, and went hand-in-hand with
him through the vicissitudes which marked his struggles to maintain
himself in business, and his character unimpeachable. Three children
were the fruit of this union, two sons, William S. and John J., and a
daughter, Emma F., now the wife of Henry C. Dennison of New Bed-
ford, Mass. Mrs. Dewey died April 23, 1875. On the 26th of August,
1876, Mr. Dewey married Miss Eveline Trumbull of Hartford, who sur-
vives him.
Rev. Thomas Gross.
[The first settled Minister in Hartford.]
Rev. Mr Gross graduated from Dartmouth college in 1784 at the age
of 25 years. His ministry over the church in Hartford lasted nearly
twenty-two years. He was emphatically, an able preacher, and by his
presence in church councils, and his services on public occasions, be-
came well known throughout the State. He preached the election ser-
mon before the Legislature of Vermont, in Woodstock, Oct. 18, 1807.
He was resolute in purpose, and persistent in adherence to his personal
360 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
convictions on all matters of importance, whether affecting his own or
the interests of others. These traits he exemplified on one occssion,
July 22, 1792, when he was invited by the church in Woodstock to ad-
minister to them the sacrament of the Lord's supper. He went and the
church unamiously renewed their covenant. Mr. Gross likewise insisted
that they should renew their assent to their articles of faith mid
refused to administer to them unless they would do it. " This," in the
words of the record, " brought on a long dispute which lasted till ye
time for the afternoon service to begin. After ye afternoon service ye
matter was taken up anew, and all that were present both males and
females, did renew their articles of faith save only Dr. Emmons, who
objected against having any other test besides the Sible. * * Upon
this Mr. Gross offered to administer to ye rest of ye church hut not to
him. After much time spent in disputation ye vote was called, whether
ye church would defer ye administration of ye sacrament for ye present.
Past in the affirmative." Mr. Gross was sustained.
Mr. Gross was twice married. He married first Judith Carter, by
whom he had Thomas Gross, Jr., who was for several years associated
with a Mr. Wells in the mercantile business, in Hartford, Vt. Mrs.
Judith Gross died June 28, 1790. He married for his second wife the
widow of Thomas White Pitkin, and a daughter of Lt. Governer Joseph
Marsh of Hartford, by whom he had two sons. Dr. Pitkin Gross, for
some time a resident of Kingston, P. Q., Canada, and Horace Gross
who died in early manhood. Mrs. Ehoda Gross, his second wife, died
Aug. 7, 1805. The remains of both wives were interred in the cemetery
at the centre of the town. The head stones erected to their memory
bear respectively the following inscriptions : — " Judith, ye amiable con-
sort of Eev. Thomas Gross, June 28, 1790. Aetatis sum, 27. Negue
ulla ertant m,agro aut parva lethefuge." " Rhoda, amiable consort of
the Eev. Thomas Gross, who de})arted this life Aug. 7, 1805. Aetatis
Sum 51. Gurlugem,us am,ieus seperatos morte In credo est pax.''''
After his dismissal from the church in Hartford, Mr. Gross removed
to Batavia, N. Y., where he died March 1843, aged 84 years.
Gen. Wm. B. Hazen,
Son of Stillman and Perona Penno Hazen, was born in West Hartford,
Vt., Sept. 27, 1830, and died in Washington, D. C, Jan. 16, 1887, aged
56 years, 4 months and 19 days. Of the six children of his parents, Wil-
liam was the fifth born. He had three sisters and two brothers.
Stillman Hazen was the second son of Eeuben and Lucretia Noble
Hazen. Eeuben was a farmer by occupation but spent much of bis
time in other pursuits. He was passionately devoted to music and did
much to encourage young people in its study. He was very ingenious,
and when upwards of sixty years of age made one of the finest double
bass viols to be found in this or any other country. This instrument
he presented to the Congregational society in West Hartford.
!1ji 1834 Stillman Hazen removed with his family to Hiram, Portage
County, Ohio. The journey was commenced in January and consumed
about six weeks' time.' Mr. Hazen settled upon an unimproved place
in the heart of a wilderness, built a comfortable log house to live in,
and entered upon the work of securing to himself a permanent home.
'At present the journey can be made in 36 hours.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 361
In speaking of his remembrances of the events of his early life. Gen.
Hazen said to the writer of this sketch, " We went upon a place without
a tree cut upon it. I remember very well when we went to live for a
few days with Mr. John Durkee Hazen in Garretsville, while the men
built us a log house, and the day we moved into it. How there was no
floor to a part of it, and how new and fresh the chips looked between
the sleepers, and how, for a long time, I was lifted up to sleep at night
in the half story chamber, before there were any stairs."
The neighborhood was made up entirely of Vermonters, and it was
but a short time before a log school house was one of the attractions of
that locality, drawing the young men and women from the whole coun-
try about. It was in that school house that Wm. B., received his early
schooling. The school house was half a mile away from his father's
house and the path to it was indicated by blazed trees. Along this
path for many years, in company with his brothers and sisters, William
trudged morning and night during school term, carrying his basket of
dinner and bundle of books, until he was sixteen years old. Subse-
quently, until he became of age, he passed several terms at academies
and select schools," but during this time he assisted in the farm work
at home during the spring and summer months ; in fact, since that time
and once when he was a major general, he assisted in the field at what-
ever work was going on.
At the age of eighteen William had earned money by piece work,
sufficient to enable him to make a journey away from home, and he
availed himself of an opportunity to visit Cincinnati. While making
this trip by the way of Pittsburg and down the Ohio river, life unfolded
itself to him in a broader and more attractive way than ever befoie, and
seemed to embrace much not attainable on a little farm. It became ap-
parent to him that a first class education was the leading consideration
for a young man desiring to succeed in the higher walks of life. How
to attain such an education without money and without influential
friends was his constant thought. West Point had been named to him,
but it seemed to him to be almost unattainable, in fact a charming
mythical creation beyond his reach. But by giving the matter closer
attf'ntion, which he was enabled to do by the aid of a schoolmate who
had a cousin at West Point, William found that this academy gave not
only a superior education, but a living profession on graduation, besides
inestimable social advantages ; combining, in fact, more benefits to con-
fer upon its alumni than any other school in the land, while the govern-
ment paid the expenses.
Without a single predi'ection for military life, or knowing the differ-
ence between a sergeant or a sergeant-major, our hero concluded that
West Point was the place to strive for, and he went to work determined
to accomplish his object. He learned that it would be two years before
there would be a vacancy, and he had not a friend possessing the neces-
sary influence to gain him the desired appointment. He therefore be-
tools: himself to the newspaper publishers, and all officials of prominence
in the nineteenth congressional district, and he soon found that hishon-
'Gen. Hazen was a classmate of the late President Garfield at the Hiram, Ohio,
Eclectic Institute. When the latter entered this Institute as a pupil his attention
was attracted to a class of three in geometry. The three persons in the class were
William B. Hazen, George A. Baker, now a leading citizen of Cleveland, Ohio, and
Miss Almeda A. Booth, who was teaching in the school and at the same time pur-
suing her studies in the higher mathematics and classics.
363 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
est, determined ways had made him many valuable friends ; yet, while
many encouraged him to proceed, others threw obstacles in his way.
After he had obtained the promise of the appointment from the M. C. of
the nineteenth district, the school-mate above referred to, whom he had
made his confidante, and whose father, rich and influential, held some
whip-hand over the M. 0., got the appointment away from William. But
young Hazen had the satisfaction of seeing his rival fail to pass an es-
amination, and at last gained the warrant as cadet, but so late, after so
much trouble, that it gave him only a few days of grace to report at
West Point before he arrived at an age that would have excluded him
from the academy. He entered in time, however, and his military life
since has been the result.
Cadet Hazen entered the academy in 1851 with a class of ninety-seven,
of whom twenty-nine graduated, and his will to go through with honor
was so strong that had the work before him been much more difficult,
he would have persevered and accomplished his wishes. His life at
West Point was one of unremitting toil. The. course of study is very
full and extended, and the degree of proficiency required very perfect.
Yet, he saw in graduation so many advantages that all his life there
seemed to him pleasant, and its associations among the dearest of his
life. In a letter to the writer of this sketch. Gen. Hazen says : ''I
never fail to visit West Point whenever opportunity permits, and each
year adds new charms to it for me, and after many years of army life
since leaving it, I repeat that, in my opinion, no institution in our coun-
try, and probably in all the world, offers young men without fortune so
many tangible advantages in its education as West Point."
While at West Point, Cadet Hazen was cognizant of the fact that the
Southern chivalry controlled the academy. A few Southern young men
regulated its social affairs, and could pronounce their asgis and social
interdiction upon whom they saw fit. The flunkeyism of a majority of
young men of the North was very mortifying to Cadet Hazen. Going
as he did from the western reserve of Ohio, the congressional district of
Giddings and Ben Wade, and fully indoctrinated with the democratic
idea of social rights based upon personal character, and the enormity of
the crime of slavery, he came in for the lion's share of ill-will, but spoke
his sentiments freely and stood upon his rights as a man.
Cadet. Hazen graduated in June, 1855, and was at once appointed a
Brevet 2nd Lieut., 4th TJ. S. Infantry, and served with his regiment in
California and Oregon until 1857, when he joined the 8th Infantry in
Texas, to which he was promoted a 2nd Lieut, as early as September,
1855. While in Oregon he was engaged in several sharp Indian engage-
ments, and finally conducted to their reservation, at Grand Eonde
Agency in Yamhill county, the Eouge Eiver Indians'. During the years
1858-9, Lieut. Hazen, while on duty in Texas, was almost constantly on
scouting duty againstlndians, who then, as now, slipped away from their
reservations to maraud upon the people of Texas. On five successive
occasions he succeeded in surprising parties of Indians that had mur-
dered families and stclen their property.
Nov. 3, 1859, Lieut. Hazen received a dangerous gun shot wound
while in one of these encounters, which terminated his services in Texas.
For his services in Texas, he was complimented in orders from Gen.
Smith's headquarters five times; was brevetted a 1st Lieut, by the gov-
ernment, April 1, 1860, (the first compliment of the kind for Indian ser-
vice since the Florida war), and was presented with a sword by the peo-
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 363
pie of Texas ; May 14, 1860, he was made a captain. His wouDds did
not permit Mm to resume military duty for one year, when he was ap-
pointed an instructor in infantry tactics at West Point, where he re-
mained untilthe breaking out of the Rebellion.' He then received the
appointment of colonel of the 4th Ohio Volunteers, which he recruited
and organized at Columbus, Ohio, in the autumn of 1861. Col. Hazen
joined the Army of the Cumberland at its organization in November,
1861, and served with that division of the army until near the end of the
war.
In January, 1862, he was assigned to the command of a brigade which
formed a part of the famous division of Gen. Nelson, which coming to
the support of the Army of the Tennessee at Shiloh, assisted greatly in
restoring the fortunes of the battle to the Union arms, and in saving the
entire destruction of that already discomfited army. Col. Hazen's brig-
ade opened the battle on the second day, and its services were conspicu-
ous, sustaining more than half the entire loss of the division. For this
service he was appointed by the president a brigadier-general, but anti-
West Point influences acting upon the Senate defeated his confirmation.
He assisted in the operations about Corinth ; commanded at Murfrees-
boro until our forces fell back to Louisville, and then participated at
Perry ville and in the pursuit of the rebel Gen. Bragg.
At Murfreesboro Col. Hazen commanded the extreme left, holding
the only portion of the original line that was held by the Union forces,
and behind which the army was reformed, facing at a right angle to its
original position. For this service he was again appointed and con-
firmed brigadier-general, in May, 1862. Continuing with the army in its
operations about Tulahoma, and in its advance to Chatanooga, Gen.
Hazen was given command of all the forces in front of that place and
some seventy miles above to demonstrate before the enemy, while the
main army moved to the right and effected a crossing of the Tennessee
river below the city. He then moved over and participated in the bat-
tle of Chatanooga, being in the thickest of the battle both days, and his
was the last organized command to withdraw from the battle-field. He
was in the defence of Chicamauga, and it was his command that was
selected to pass down the Tennessee river in fifty- two pontoon boats, the
night of Nov. 27, 1863, past Lookout Mountain and five miles of rebel
pickets, to seize Lookout valley, turn the rebel position and open our
line of supplies by the Tennessee river. This was successfully done,
and was the beginning of the Union successes resulting in the victory at
Mission Eidge.
On Dec. 23, 1863, Gen. Hazen's brigade, now consisting of nine regi-
ments, was directed to move out of Chatanooga to the enemy's picket
position near Orchard Knob. It did so in splendid style, capturing at
that position the 28th Alabama Infantry almost entire. The success was
so complete that orders were at once given to fortify the position, and
from this point the initiative movement was made which resulted in the
splendid victory of Mission Eidge, two days later. Gen. Hazen remained
'After the fall of Ft. Sumpter Gov. Dennison of Ohio appointed Garfield lieut.
col. and sent him to the western reserve to raise a regiment, promising to place a
West Point graduate in command. Garfield suggested his old friend and school
mate, Capt. Hazen, then in the regular army, for colonel. Gov Dennison solicited
of the war department the services of Capt. Hazen, but Gen. Scott declined to re-
lease him. Consequently Garfield was appointed colonel of the regiment raised by
him. Later, however. Gen. Hazen obtained leave of -absence to take command of
the forty-first regiment Ohio volunteer infantry.
364 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
in active service during the remainder of the vrar, being engaged in
nearly all the engagements in the Atlantic campaign, and vyas August
17, 1864, transferred to the Army of the Tennessee and assigned to the
command of the 2nd division of the 15th army corps. At the battle of
Jonesboro, resulting in the evacuation of Atlanta, Gen. Hazen's division
bore a conspicuous part, and in the campaign to the sea his division
formed the right of Sherman's army. At the assault and capture of Ft.
McAllister, near Savannah, Dec. 13, 1864, by Gen. Hazen's divisions, he
directed the movement in person, and by it opened up the supplies to
the famishing army and made complete a campaign of the utmost im-
portance to the Union arms.
Gen. Hazen's division bore a part in the battle of Bentonville, N. C,
and he w^as May 18, 1865, assigned by the president to the command of
tlie fifteenth qrmy corps, having been appointed a major-general of vol-
unteers for the capture of Port McAllister, to date from Dec 13, 1864.
At the close of the war, Gen. Hazen spent the summer of 1866 in inpect-
ing the vrestern country. He traveled through Nebraska, Colorado,
Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Utah and Nevada, reaching Calafornia in
November, returning by the Isthmus of Panama. On his return he
found himself colonel of the 38th infantry, but he was in May, 1869,
transferred to the 6th infantry, as colonel of that regiment, with the
rank of brevet major-general, and was stationed at Fort Gibson, Texas,
until 1871. In September, 1871, Gen. Hazen went to Europe and joined
the headquarters of the German army then closing its lines about Paris,
and remained at Versailles until he had thoroughly studied the organiz-
ation and characterstics of that army. He also gathered there the
material for a work published by the Harpers, entitled " The School
and the Army in Germany and France." Before going to Europe, Gen.
Hazen had married Miss Millie, daughter of Washington McLean, Esq.,
of Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb. 15, 1871.
On his return from Europe Gen. Hazen was sent with his regiment to
Fort Buford, Dakota, where he remained till 1879, except in 1876-77,
when he was military attache at Vienna. 1880, after a brief service in
Colorado, he was appointed by President Hayes a brigadier general, U.
S. A., and chief signal officer, and stationed in Washington, which posi-
tion he continued to fill until his death.
Gen. Hazen was assigned to the command of the signal service
December 15, 1880, and, on the 17th of that month, he accepted the
position and immediately entered upon his duties. He succeeded the
late Gen. Meyer, and on taking charge he began to inaugurate such
changes in the system of the service as he thought beneficial. During
the first year of his command he established the school of instruction at
Fort Meyer, and through his efforts brought that place up to a high
service of efficiency. He also raised the personnel of the corps, inaugu-
rating improvements in the form of receiving and distributing the weather
reports. He instituted the press bulletins and the system of forecasts
of weather for periods exceeding twenty-four hours. He also entered
into communication with international bodies, thereby creating an
exchange of weather reviews, and among other things, were the exten-
sion of special frost warnings for the protection of farmers and their
crops. He also prepared new hygrometric tables and arranged for orig-
inal investigations into atmospheric electricity. He made improve-
ments in aerometry and actrinometry. He published in quarto form a
number of professional papers. To secure efficiency in the signal corps,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 365
and to induce others to become interested on the subject of meteorolo-
gy, he offered prizes for great merit for meteorological subjects. He
originated the two arctic expeditions in 1881, one to Franklin Bay ; and
the other to Point Barrow, both co-operating with similar expeditions
for scientific research in the polar region from foreign countries.
Through his instrumentality he greatly improved the methods of dis-
seminating predictions, by adding the railway bulletin, railway signal,
and weather and temperature signals.
As he continued in office Gen. Hazen made other improvements, and
important changes in the internal workings of the central office by estab-
lishing the office of an auditor, whose duty was to examine all accounts and
disbursement of funds ; by the establishment of a laboratory, creating a
bureau of marine divisions and by instituting a permanent indication
board. He increased the signal stations in Alaska and in the distant
northwest. He did all that he could to advance scientific research, in
order that his office might thereby he benefited. He introduced meth-
ods of improved barometric observations. He constantly added im-
provements to the monthly reviews and summary of the weather ; also
in the text books and charts. He stimulated the formation of State
weather bureaus, believing that each State could make up its own local
forecasts, while the predictions of general storms and severe weather
could be left with the signal office. As a consequence, twenty -five States
are now carrying out his ideas.
Gen. Hazen died of diabetic coma. His wife and son were in France
at the time of his heath. The funeral took place from St. Johns church
Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 19. The remains, followed by a military escort,
signal service officers and a large number of citizens, were taken to
Oak Hill and there placed temporarily to await Mrs. Hazen's return. A
large number of army and navy officers attended the funeral, among
them Gen. Sheridan and staff, Gens. Eucker, Townshend, Meiggs,
Ingalls ; Admirals Worden, Eogers and Fabre.
Gen. Hazen was a brave officer, cool and collected on the battlefield,
was a good strategist and an able commander ; was greatly respected
and honored in military circles, and sustained a clean record as a citizen-
soldier. He was a genial companion, an accomplished scholar, a devoted
lover of his country, and his name will ever be associated with those of
the firm and faithful, the tried and the true. Of such a man the people
of his native town may well be proud.
Haevey Freegbace Leavitt.
Son of Freegrace and Jerusha (Loomis) Leavitt, was born in Hart-
ford, Vt., Dec. 1, 1796. He prepared for college at Royalton Academy
and at Moore's Charity School, Hanover, N. H. In 1812, he entered
Dartmouth College, where he remained three years, and then, on account
of the bitter political controversy involving the college, he transferred
his connection to Yale, where he was graduated in 1816.
After graduation he pursued the study of law in the office of Eeeyes
& Gould in Litchfield, Conn., about one year, completing his studies
with Shipherd & Parker in Granville, N. Y., and was admitted to the
bar of the Supreme Court of New York in Albany, Jan. 9, 1820. He
immediately formed a co-partnership with Hon. Henry Walton of Sara
toga Springs, which continued for six years with increasing success. At
Saratoga he first made a profession of religion, uniting with the Pres-
366 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
byterian church, in which he also became an elder and the superintend-
ent of the Sabbath School. He developed rare gifts and zeal in methods
of Christian activity and thus began his practical study of theology. In
1826, his business partnership was dissolved and he removed to his
native town, Hartford, continuing there his law practice in connection
with farming until the summer of 1828. His activity in Christian labor
was also continued in the Sabbath School and in conference meetings,
established and sustained in White River Village, chiefly by himself.
Here occurred the crisis in his mind which induced a change from
his chosen profession to that of the ministry. His purpose was to go
immediately to Andover, but by the advice of Eev. Samuel Goddard and
others he was persuaded to apply to the Windsor Association for license,
which was granted at once, and in January, 1830, he commenced labor
as stated sxipply of the church in Strafford, Vt., at which place he was
ordained as an evangelist 29th June following. Mr. Leavitt remained
upwards of six years receiving a salary of from $235 to $350, $100 of
which was regular from the Vt. Domestic Missionary Society. During
this period, amidst an unparalleled opposition, the little church was
nearly quadrupled in membership ; a meeting-house was erected, and
also a parsonage, in which work the sympathy and aid of neighboring
churches was secured to the amount of nearly $1,000 by Mr. Leavitt's
own efforts.
He removed from Strafford to Vergennes, in July, 1836, and Aug. 31,
1836, was installed pastor of that church. During his pastorate here of
nearly twenty-four years, the church became strong and influential and
for several years was the second in membership in the county. March
19, 1860, he was dismissed by advice of council, at his own request.
He immediately removed to Middlebury, where, in 1861, he assumed the
charge of the Female Seminary, his wife becoming the Principal. There
he remained six years. In 1867, on account of the failure of the health
of Mrs. Leavitt, her position in the Seminary was relinquished, and by
invitation of the church in Perrisburg he removed to that place where
he remained about two and one-half years, and then returned to Middle-
bury, relinquishing all purpose of further regular ministerial labor.
Early in 18 "7 3, by the death of Mrs. Leavitt, his home was broken
up, and a few months later he removed to Grinnell, Iowa, where he was
again married, and soon passed to his reward. He died Nov. 11, 1874,
of pneumonia, and his remains were brought to Vergennes for burial.
Mr. Leavitt was married Feb. 6, 1821, to Miss Minerva S. Shipherd
of Granville, N. Y. She died at Vergennes, Oct. 10, 1843. He mar-
ried 2d, Aug. 12, 1845, Mrs. Nancy Miranda Miner, widow of Rev.
Lamson Miner. She died at Middlebury, March 20, 1873. He was
again married Nov. 20, 1873, at Grinnell, Iowa, to Mrs. Elizabeth L.
Chatterton, who survives him. He had three children, all of whom
died in early life. He was corresponding secretary of the general con-
vention from the institution of the office in 1845 to 1852; for many
years was one of the directors of the Vermont Domestic Missionary
Society, and upon the creation of the Fairbanks Board for the relief of
disabled and needy clergymen, in 1856, to his removal from the State
in 1873, was annually chosen a member of the Board and was its chair-
man for many years. By a legacy and contributions from a few of the
churches, secured through his efforts, there was also formed the nucleus
of a permanent fund for the relief of orphans and widows of deceased
ministers of the State. In 1839 he was chosen a member of the cor-
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 867
poration of Middlebuiy College, and for thirty-five years was almost
uniformly present at its meetings and active in its interests. He re-
ceived the honorary degree of A. M. from Williams College in 1820,
and from Middlebnry in 1857.
Elias Lyman, 3d.
The puritan founder of the Lyman family in America was Richard
Lyman, who was born at High Ongar^ England, in 1580.
His wife was Sarah Osborne, a lady of some wealth, and good social
standing, but who was willing to abandon the comfortable English
home to seek, with her husband, amid the dangers of colonial life,
" freedom to worship God."
Thev sailed, with their children, on the ship Lyon, for America in
1631. '
Among the sixty passengers who made the voyage were Martha
Winthrop, third wife of Gov. John Winthrop; and John Elliot, the
celebrated apostle to the Lidians. The Lyon made Boston harbor Nov.
4, 1631, and was received by the colonists with great joy. For a week
the newly arrived guests were treated to every delicacy the country
could produce — venison, wild fowl and the fish of the streams and sea
being brought to them in abundance.
Mr. Lyman resided in the vicinity of Boston for about a year, and in
November, 1632, joined the colonists who made the dangerous and
memorable journey from Massachusets to Connecticut, where they
founded the city of Hartford, and where Richard Lyman died in 1640.
It is said, in the early records of the settlement, that at one time Mr.
Lyman's religious faith became clouded, but that he experienced " some
reviving " under Elliott's fervid preaching, and that at the last, the
cloud lifted. His name is inscribed on the monument raised to the
memory of the founders of the city.
His three sons were Richard, John and Robert. John removed to
Northampton, Mass., where he died in 1690. His son John resided at
South Farms, Northampton, and there kept a public house. He was
succeeded by his son, Elias, and he in time by a son and namesake, who
raised a large family of sons and daughters.
The eldest child was Justin, and the second Elias 3d, the subject of
this sketch. Elias Lyman, 3d, wasborta at Northampton, Feb. 23, 1768.
His father was a farmer and a sterling man of affairs, but he was not
able to assist his elder sons to obtain a liberal education, although two
of the younger sons, Simeon and Job, were graduated at Dartmouth.
Justin and Elias learned what they could in the Northampton schools
and meanwhile worked manfully on the farm and at flat boating on the
river, until each obtained his majority, when they left the hospitable
old homestead, already overflowing with younger children, followed by
a loving mother's prayers and the father's confident prediction of
success.
The father was able, however, to assist the sons in buying or building
a flat boat for their own use, with which they began what proved to be
aa important business career. The beginnings of the river trade were
so humble that neither of the brothers had the slighest conception of
the magnitude to which it afterwards grew, or how important, in later
years, articles of partnership would become. Neither could ever pro-
duce a scrap of writing to cover any agreement for a partnership, and
368 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
later, this omission of a simple business precaution became the source
of great worriment and anxiety to both families, and a tedious suit in
equity that dragged its devastating course through the United States
courts for Vermont for many years.
Their only agreement was a verbal one that they would do business
together under the firm name of J. and E. Lyman. Their partnership
began with the flat boat above mentioned, and was not dissolved until
their ships had touched at many foreign ports, and they had suffered
many losses from both French and English crusiers, and also from ship-
wrecks in the coast and West India trades.
When the flalt boats had increased in numbers, the Lymans began
speculating in produce for themselves. Justin established himself at
Hartford, Conn., and Elias established himself in a store at Weathers-
field, Vt. The former purchased and forwarded West India goods to
Elias, who in turn sent the boats down the river laden with grain, pork
meat and all country produce. Just as fortune seemed to smile upon
these young men, and they were feeling reasonably secure of their fu-
ture, an apparent disaster occurred in the burning of the Weslthersfield
store. Elias Lyman, was, at first, discouraged ; but after a close study
of the situation, he determined if able to build again, to do so at the
mouth of White river in Hartford, having in his trips up the Connecti-
cut conceived a love for the beautiful valley as " one of the fairest spots
God ever made."
He was enabled to make satisfactory business adjustments and he
built, as he desired, on the Point. He also built a dwelling house near
the store — opposite ferry lane, and moved his family, consisting of a
wife and three young children, (Lewis, Fanny and Normand,) from
Weathersfield to Hartford in 1796.
The first child born in the new home was Wyllys, in 1797.
The firm of J. and E. Lyman now drove an extensive and prosperous
trade, both inland and foreign, for many years, — Justin removing in the
meantime to New York city.
They engaged in the manufacture of cotton cloths, building and
owning the dam across White Kivor at Hartford ; also the flume and
brick factory, the former site of which is now occupied by the woolen
mill of the Hartford Woolen Company ; also the aqueduct at the Point,
the toll bridge across the Connecticut river, several private residences
of value. Furthermore they acquired many farms in this and adjoining
counties and states.
About 1812, a difference of opinion arose in the firm as to the best
method of conducting their complicated business. From the deposi-
tion of Simeon Lyman given in 1825, a younger brother and employe
and trusted agent of the firm from his graduation at Dartmouth in
1801, until the dissolution of the firm in 1820, and who spent a large
portion of the time abroad as supercago of the ships, it appears that
the losses of the firm at sea, were at a moderate estimate $91,113.
It appears in evidence from the files now in the office of the clerk of
the United States courts for the District of Vermont, that Elias Lyman
and his elder sons had vigorously and repeatedly protested against the
foreign trade, and that Justin, after severe losses had promised to ab-
stain from all active business, begging that the firm of which he was
proud, should not be dissolved.
Another unfortunate venture, a purchase of wild lands in New York
state by the senior member of the firm, caused the younger brother
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 369
to publish Jan. 22, 1820, a notice of the dissolution of the partnership.
For the ensuing decade the famous suit of Justin Lyman, orator, vs.
Elias Lyman & Sons, defendants, which family tradition sadly asserts,
sank nearly one hundred thousand dollars, dragged on.
The younger members of the family were born and reared under this
impending sTiadow.
The home life of Mr. Justin Lyman was early saddened by the death
of his wife.
The only child that attained maturity, Theodore, after graduating at
Dartmouth, and, later, the Litchfield Law School, died of consumption
while on a tour for his health. ,
Mr. Lyman again married, and this lady survived him, also an adopted
daughter, who afterwards became Mrs. Belknap.
The home life of Mr. Elias Lyman was a happy one. He had a
family of fourteen children, twelve of whom lived to marry and rear
families of their own. Mr. Lyman was noted for his kind and liberal
dealings with these children, and, numerous as they were, he always
felt that there was not one to spare and that each was the " apple of
his eye."
One who saw Mr. Lyman toward the close of his life — in 1828 —
describes him as a little above the medium height, squarely and solidly
built, of a pale, clear complexion, deep blue eyes, and silvery hair, but
wearing no beard ; his face was always clean shaven ; his features were
good, being clear cut, and expressive of firmness and decision of char-
acter.
He was noted, throughout life, for his great industry and unflagging
energy, and by doing whatever he undertook, most thoroughly and \i ell ;
and for a generous hospitality and thorough probity of character. He
had great personal magnetism, and always threw the force of his whole
nature along the lines of his beliefs.
In politics he was a Jeffersonian democrat, and an ardent supporter of
the government during the war of 1812-15. He loved his country, and
his country's flag — and these qualities he transmitted to the brave
grandsons who sprang to arms at the drum beat of the nation in 1861.
At the conclusion of the lawsuit, which eventually resulted in the sale,
at public auction, of all properties owned by the firm, in order to make
a just and equitable decision thereof, Mr. Elias Lyman, although nearly
drained of money and convertible assets, was planning in his usual in-
domitable way for new enterprises.
Geoege Lyman.
Seventh son of Elias (3) and Anna (White) Lyman, was born in Hart-
ford, Vt., April 6, 1806 ; died July 11, 1879, in the house in which he
was born, aged 73. He was the last, residing in Vermont, of the Lyman
family, which, for more than three-fourths of a century was prominent
in the social and business circles of the State:
Mr. Lyman began his business life in the stoire of his father at what
was then known as " Lyman's Point," now White Eiver Junction. At
the age of twenty years, he entered into the mercantile business for
himself in Eoyalton, where he remained sixteen years. He then re-
moved to Norwich where he was in trade five years. In 1847 he returned
to White River Junction, having bought the old homestead and some
34
370 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
twenty-five acres of land of his elder brother Lewis. Here he resided
during the remainder of his life. He was, for many years in public life.
Prior to the construction of the Vermont Central railroad he held the
office of treasurer of the White Eiver Turnpike Co. For several years
he was justice of the peace, and twice represented this town in the
legislature. He was also a trustee and vice-president of Tilden Ladies'
Seminary, W. Lebanon, N. H. For the last eighteen years of his life
he was postmaster in White Eiver Junction.
Mr. Lyman first united with the Congregational church at the centre
of the town in September, 1826, from which time he was an exemplary
christian worker. He was a member of United Brethren Lodge, No. 21,
Freemasons. He was a man of fine personal appearance, affable and
genial in social life ; hospitable, neighborly and kind at all times, and
retained, to the last, the respect, confidence and warm esteem of a host
of acquaintances. On the 30 Dec, 1828, he married Minerva, daughter
of E. D. Briggs, of Eochester, with whom he shared upwards of fift.y
years of blissful life. They had eleven children, seven of whom survive.
One daughter is the wife of Edward Lyman, a leading citizen of Bur-
ling ton ; another is the wife of George King, manager of the Bank of
Nevada, and two remain ftt home. Two sons are successful merchants
ia Illinois, and one is the general superintendent of the Bonanza gold
and silver mills in Nevada. Mrs. Lyman survives her husband, and
now (1889) occupies the pleasant old homestead on the point.
Joseph Marsh.'
Joseph Marsh was descended from John Marsh who came from Eng-
land to Massachusetts in 1633, and removed with Eev. Thomas Hooker
to Hartford, Conn., in 1635. John Marsh married Anne, daughter of De-
puty Governor John Webster ; and after her death he married the widow
of Eichard Lyman of Northampton, Mass. Joseph Marsh, who settled
in Lebanon, Conn., in 1697, was grandson of John Marsh ; and a grand-
son of Joseph was the father of Vermont's first lieutenant-governor,
Joseph Marsh of Hartford, Vt. Mr. Marsh was born in Lebanon, Conn.,
Jan. 12, 1726, O. S., and Jan. 10, 1750, married Dorothy Mason, who
was a descendant from Major John Mason (afterward major general of
all the Connecticut forces) who, in 1630, came from England to Dor-
chester, Mass., being one of the first settlers. Major Mason removed to
Windsor, Conn., in 1634, became very famous as commander of the
English in the Peynot Indian war, (of which he wrote a history) and
was deputy-governor from May, 1660 to May, 1670, when he voluntarily
retired and removed to Norwich, Conn., where he died about 1672. The
wife of Mr. Marsh was a sister of Col. Jeremiah Mason of Lebanon,
Conn., who was father of the late very distinguished jurist, Hon.
Jeremiah Mason of Boston. The high expectations from such an ances-
try have been remarkably fulfilled in Joseph Marsh and his descend-
ants, among whom are the late Hon. Charles Marsh of Woodstock, the
late Professor and President James Marsh of the University of Ver-
mont, the late Dr. Leonard Marsh of Burlington and the late Hon. Geo
P. Marsh of Burlington, who commanded through his great attainment
the homage of the best scholars in Europe and America. The descend-
ants of Joseph Marsh, specially those just named, possessed to a remark-
' Governor and Council of Vermont, Vol. pp. 1235-38.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 371
able degree, the intellectual qualities ascribed to him by his grandson,
Boswell Marsh, as hereinafter noticed.
Joseph Marsh settled in Hartford in 1772, and soon was engaged
actively and influentially in public affairs. He was then, of course, a
resident of Cumberland County and under the jurisdiction of New
York. He was lieutenant-colonel of the upper regiment of that county
in 1775 ; colonel in January, 1776, and a member of the provincial Con-
gress of New York for the sessions commencing in February, May 14,
and June 9th, 1776. He was absent during the whole of the February
and part of the July session. In February, 1777, he received an order
from Maj. Gen. Schuyler to enlist every fifth man of his regiment for
the purpose of reinforcing the continental army at Ticonderoga, which
he executed promptly. la July of that year his regiment came under
the jurisdiction of Vermont, and Aug. 13th, he was ordered by the
Council of Safety to march one-half of it at once to Bennington. A family
tradition is that he was in the battle of Bennington, which Gov. Hall
doubts, but adds that he may have been subsequently in service on the
Hudson. The Hon. Eoswell Marsh of Steubenville Ohio, grandson of
Col. Marsh, in whose family he lived until he was eighteen, is certain
that leading public men, and members of the family spoke of his having
a share at Bennington, and of camp life while the regiment guarded the
river to prevent Bargoyne's retreat and cut off supplies from Canada.
He ailed that Rev. Lyman Potter (formerly of Norwich, Vt., and after-
ward a resident of Ohio,) was chaplain of Col. Marsh's regiment and was
at B mnington (after the battle most probably) and in camp at White-
hall, Port Ann, Fort Edward and Sandy Hill. Gov. Hall is undoubt-
edly correct since the order dated at Bennington Aug. 3d, could not
possibly reach Col. Marsh at Hartford in time for him to get his men
into the battle at Bennington on the 16th ; but the order confirms the
remiinder of Roswell Marsh's statement.
Col. Marsh was a member of the Windsor convention of June 4 ; also
July 2 and Dec. 24, 1777, being vice-president; and by the July con-
vention he was appointed chairman of the committee raised to secure
arms to supply the State. In March, 1778, he was elected lieutenant
governor, to which office he was re-elected in 1779, and annually from
1787 to 1790.' In the same month he was designated member and
' Aug. I2th, 1790, Lieu-Gov. Marsh declined being a candidate for re-election to
that office in the following letter •
To the Freemen of the State of Vermont :
Fellow Citizens : — Your confidence in my integrity and abilities has for several
years (since the independence of this State has been contended by her citizens) led
you to give me your suffrages for the second office in the supreme executive branch
of the government. As I deemed it my indispensable duty, so I have made it my
highest ambition, in the execution of the business annexed by the constitution to
this office, always to adopt and appear in favor of those measures which would con-
duce most to the public weal, and in the most effectual way promote the interest
and welfare of this State. * * *
Permit me, fellow citizens, on this occasion, to tell you with what real satisfaction
I have received the repeated manifestations of your confidence exhibited toward
me in calling me from my private station to share in the government of our free
republic. Permit me likewise to anticipate with you the happy day when the State
of Vermont shall not be the least pillar in the support of that confederate govern-
ment which is cemented by a constitution that does honor to mankind and is a de-
monstrative proof that the United States, in political genius, are not inferior to the
boasted courts of Europe.
JOSEPH MARSH.
Hartford, 12th August, 1790,
378- HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
chairman of the court of confiscation for Eastern Vermont. He was
chairman of a committee of safety fcr a section of Vermont, and appar-
ently of New Hampshire also, with headquarters in Dresden, which was
that part of the territory of Hanover that was then owned by the cor-
poration of Dartmouth College. He represented Hartford in the Gen-
eral Assembly of 1781 and 1782. He was one of the first council cen-
sors in 1785. From 1797 to 1775,* he was chief judge of "Windsor
County Court, his last public office.'
Elijah Mason.
Son of Peleg Sanford Mason of Stonington, Conn., and Mary Stan-
ton of Charleston, R. I., was born in Lebanon, Conn., Sept. 26, 1756.
His brothers and sisters were Peleg Sanford, Jr., Esther, who married
Daniel Tilden, one of the noted men of Lebanon, Conn., and a relative
of the late Samuel Tilden of New York city ; Mary, Lucy and James.
Elijah was twice married. He married first in 1778, his second cousin Mary
Marsh, the daughter of Lieut. -Gov. Joseph Marsh of Hartford, Vt. She
was born in 1758, and died in 1794. Her children were Clarissa, born
in 1779, died about 1840 ; Mary, born in 1782, died Sept. 11, 1816 ;
Jtoswell, born Dec. 23, 1784, died between 1850 and '55 ; Peleg, born
Dec. 18, 1786, died Aug. 8, 1825 ; Farthenia, born 1790, died 1795 ;
Marinda, born July 1, 1794, married John Durkee Hazen, son of Joshua
(See Hazen family.)
Mr. Mason married second in 1795 Lucretia Green. Her children
were Betsey, born 1796, died 1820 ; Parthenia, born 1798-9, died
about 1865; Emeline, born 1802, died 1881 ; farwo*, born 1804, died
1887 ; John, born 1806, died 1887 ; Arabella, born April 18, 1810, mar-
ried Oct. 7, 1830, Zeb Eudolph, from a Maryland family, died July 24,
1879. One of their children, Lucretia Eudolph, born April 19, 1832,
was married Nov. 11, 1858, to James A. Garfield who was born in
Orange, Ohio, Nov. 19, 1831 ; served in the Union army as Colonel,
Brigadier-General, and Major-General, 1861-1863 ; was a Eepresenta- ■
tive from Ohio 1863-1881 ; was President of the United States from
March 4th, 1881, until having been assassinated on the morning of Sat-
urday, July 2d, he, after weary weeks of torture, died in Elberon, N. J.,
on the sea shore, Sept. 19, 1881.
Elijah Mason came from Lebanon, Conn., to Hartford about the year
1800.' He made extensive purchases of land in this town in 1783
'^ Oct. 15, 1796, Judge Marsh tendered his resignation of the office of Chief Judge
of Windsor County court in the following letter ; which was read in the Assembly
Oct. i8th.
To the Legislature of the State of Vermont now sitting at Rutland :
Gentlemen: Age, infirmity, and the wish not to stand in the way of the use-
fulness of one better qualified, forbid my longer exercising the office of Chief Justice
of the County Court for the County of Windsor. Therefore with a grateful sense
of the honor done me by your former appointments, I must request you to con-
sider me no longer as a candidate for that office.
JOSEPH MARSH.
Hartford, Oct, 15, 1796.
' On the nth or December, 1886, Mrs. Garfield wrote to the historian giving him
a brief history of her grandfather, Elijah Mason. In this letter Mrs. Garfield ex-
pressed the belief that Mr. Mason moved from Lebanon, Ct., to Hartford about
1806, and removed to Ohio about 1818 ; that he lived in Quechee the last two years
preceding his removal to Ohio, and that the farm on which he lived was sold to a
Mr. Harrington. On the 7th of March, i88g, Mrs. Garfield gave to the historian
additional facts, concerning the Mason family, which are embodied in the foregoing
sketch. Mr. Elijah Mason died in Ohio about fourteen years after he left Hartford.
(See Marsh family.)
HISTORY OF HARTFOBD. 378
among which was the real estate which Elijah Strong left to his eight
heirs. On the 27th of Nov., 1804, he bought a portion of lot " No. 20,"
which was drawn to the original right of Benjamin Wright, Jr., which
land is now included in the town poor farm, and also lot " No. 18,"
which adjoined lot " No. 20.'" This land embraced in the last two pur-
chases was sold by Mr. Mason to Samuel Harrington, Nov. 11, 1814,
and by Samuel to his son Eli Harrington, Apr. 24, 1824. It was on
this farm that Mr. Mason resided for sevaral years previous to his de-
parture for Ohio in 1814
Mr. Mason was conspicuously indentified with the affairs of the town
during his residence here. In 1805, he was one of a committee on the
organization of the first Congregational society formed in the town.
He was one of the selectmen for five years, 1807-1811 inclusive, and in
1810 represented the town in the General Assembly.
Col. Samuel Nutt.
Son of Johu and Sarah (Bigley) Natt, was born in Topsham, Vt., Dec.
23, 1791, and died in Randolph, Jan. 1, 1871. He was one of eighteen
children. He bought his time of his father, some years prior to arriv-
ing at age, and went to Hanover, N. H., and worked out until he had
earned money enough to enable him to buy a cow, which he drove to
Topsham, and turned over to his father to pay for his time. He then
went to West Lebanon, N. H., where he hired out to Erastus Chamber-
lin, who then kept a tavern in that place. After completing bis term of
service with Mr. Chamberlin, our hero engaged in the boating business
on Connecticut river. Soon after he was of age, he invested his capital
in building a flat-boat. When completed, this boat was taken up White
river to White River village and loaded with lumber destined for Hart-
ford, Cfc. While going down White river his boat struck a rock and was
completely wrecked. Young Nutt swam to the shore, sat down, and
cried bitterly over his misfortune ; and there^ in tears
Such as the maiiliest men, in their ci'oss'd lives
Are sometimes forced to shed,
he was found by Elias Lyman, a noble-hearted gentleman, who said to
him, "Sam, don't give up; I'll lend you money to start again!" and
that promise was fulfilled to the letter. Samuel suffered the loss of his
boat and a portion of the cargo, but he gained thereby what was infi-
nitely more valuable to him in after life, in all his subsequent under-
takiugs, the unwavering friendship and material support of Mr. Lyman.
From this time, for upwards of twenty years, he followed the river.
He built a large number of boats of various kinds, some of which he
used in freighting copperas, potash, etc., to Hartford, Ct., with re-
turn cargoes of salt, iron, and West India goods ; others he sold for
use elsewhere. During one spring he built nine river and two canal
boats — the latter for the Farmington Canal Company. In the year
1829, the Connecticut River Steamboat Company was formed, and soon
after a steamboat, the " John Ledyard," was put upon the river and
Col. Nutt was chosen captain. This boat made but one trip between
Hartford, Ct., and Wells River. It, was received at various places along
the river with speeches and other demonstrations of pleasure. A lady
374 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
in Haverhill wrote a poem appropriate to the occasion, the first two
lines of which were as follows :
All hail the day when Captain Nutt
Steamed up the fair Connecticut!
At Wells Eiver the advent of this boat was celebrated by the firing of
cannon and hurrahs of a large crowd of people. A short distance above
Wells Eiver, Col. Nutt found obstructions which he was unable to sur-
mount. The boat was pushed up the river to a bar, and there a long
rope was attached to her, and two or three hundred Scotchmen, who
were anxious to have the steamer proceed farther, attempted to diaw
her over the bar, but after raising her so far from a horizontal position
that an explosion of the boiler was imminent, the attempt was relin-
quished. It took a large force of men to pull the boat back to deep
water. She was put about, made the return trip in safety, but never
came back.
The next season another steamer, the " Adam Duncan," was built at
"Wells River under the superintendence of Captain Nutt, for the com-
pany for which he was the agent. This steamer was designed to ply
between Wells River and Olcott Locks, but, owing to low water and
river obstructions, the venture proved unsuccessful. The boat was
attached for debt, her machinery was taken out and sold, and, until a
recent date, her hull might have been seen lying near the shore a short
distance above Olcott Palls. During the year 1831, five steamboats,
including the " Adam Duncan," were constructed and put on the river
at different sections between Hartford and "Wells River. The names of
the boats and commanders were as follows : " Adam Duncan," Horace
Duncan, captain; " David Porter," John W. Andrus, captain ; " Wm.
Holmes," James Davenport, captain ; "Ariel Cooley," Hiram Smith,
captain; " Wm. Hall," Peletiah Ely, captain. These boats were run
about a year, but in 1832 the whole concern went up, and the boats
were withdrawn.
On Dec. 17, 1817, Col. Nutt was married to Miss Hannah Kibbee of
Hartford, "V"t. By her he had eight children, two boys and six girls.
The Christian name of each of his children begins with the first letter
of the alphabet, and each name is composed of six letters, viz : Alonzo,
Almena M., Almanda, Almena, Albert, Amelia, Almira and Adelia. The
eldest son, Alonzo, was born Oct. 5, 1819. He married Alpha Louise
Kneeland, and now resides in White River Junction. Almena M.,
Amanda and Adelia died at an early age. Almena, third daughter,
married Mr. I. B. Culver, a civil engineer on the "Vermont Central rail-
way in 1848, and, later, the chief engineer of the National railway be-
tween New York and Washington. Amelia is the wife of George W.
Blodgett of Amherst, Mass. Almira married Mr. H. L. Smith. Albert,
the youngest son, resides in Jersey City, N. J. Mrs. Hannah Nutt,
the parent, died at White River Junction, Feb. 6, 1870.
About the time of his marriage. Colonel Nutt purchased, of Elias
Lyman, a house and forty acres of land on the south side of "White
river, bordering on both the White and Connecticut rivers. He sub-
sequently bought other farms, adjoining his first purchase, until his
home farm embraced 500 acres of valuable land; and at the time the
Vermont Central Railway was located, his real estate was valued at
$30,000, in addition to which he had a large amount of valuable per-
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD. 375
sonal property. This entire property lie had acquired by persevering
industry. His manly, energetic and persistent efforts to succeed in life
are worthy of imitation by every young man.
At the age of 58, Colonel Nutt had acquired a handsome fortune,
and he could then have retired from active life with the most pleasing
prospects for the future, but he ignored the thought of retiring from
business; he thought not of rest. In the year 1849, he had the satis-
faction of seeing the Vermont Central Railway in successful operation
between Windsor and Burlington; the Connecticut and Passumpsic
Rivers Railway completed to St. Johnsbury, and a durable connection
formed between these and the Northern (N. H.) Railway — the junction
of the three lines being on land near his residence. Colonel Nutt was
one of the first subscribers to the stock of the Central Railway Com-
pany, and that of the Vermont and Boston Telegraph Company, and
he used his best endeavors to make both of these important enterprises
completely successful.
The union of the above named railways at once created a necessity for
hotel accommodations at White River Junction, and Colonel Nutt fully
appreciated the importance of having a first-c^ass hotel. He therefore
went to Enfield, N. H., and purchased the Grafton House of a Mr. Wil-
lis ; took it down, transferred it to and put it up in White Eiver Junc-
tion, and opened it to the public under the name of the Junction House,
of which he was proprietor and landlord for several years thereafter.
Colonel Nutt was a Jeffersonian Democrat of the old school — strong
in the faith, unwavering in principle, yet not fanatical nor illiberal ia
spirit. He was patriotic in every emergency, and during the war of the
Rebellion, supported the war measures of the Republican administra-
tion. He was complimented by his political opponents as being a fair-
minded, capable and trustworthy man,
of soul sincere,
In action faithful, and in honor clear;
Who broke no promise, served no private end.
In 1849, on the establishment of a postoffice at White River Junction,
Colonel Nutt received at the hands of the Whig administration, the ap-
pointment of postmaster, which office he retained about ten years.
Colonel Nutt was not a member of any church, nor a professor of any
form of religion. He viewed Christianity in a comprehensive way, and
therefore was neither apathetic nor impious. Moral honesty was his re-
ligion, and that prevented him from affecting the air of a saint, or carry-
ing on a coasting trade with religion. He did not endeavor to keep his
head in heaven by standing ' tip toe on earth. He was catholic in
thought, feeling and action ; slave to no sect. His whole creed was
briefly this: —
To live uprightly then is sure the best,
To save ourselves and not to damn the rest.
He was a constant attendant upon church worship, and contributed
liberally for the support of the gospel ; but, when giving of his means
for religious and charitable purposes, he gave for the benefit of the hea-
then in his own parish, and the needy in his own neighborhood, in pref-
erence to adopting the erosive process of conveying it to the heathen in
terra incognita / his theory being that in any given locality in Africa,
SI'e HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
or other foreign field of missionary labor, the moral condition of the
human species compares favorably with that of thousands of people in
puritan New England, who live in a state of moral destitution and su-
perstition, and an idolatry of the world, the flesh and the devil, without
ever experiencing in their homes a visitation by the clergy or laity of
any church ; whose thresholds are never darkened by the shadow nor
the substance of a colporteur, an itinerant or an iconoclast, and who sel-
dom, if ever, visit the house of God! Had these unfortunates been born
black, and reared in a tropical clime, they would be considered fit sub-
jects for missionary reclamation, and no pains or pennies would be
spared to effect their regeneration !
Colonel Nutt was made a Freemason, ,Tan. 1, 1822. In 1850-52 —
Masonry having somewhat declined in Hartford — Colonel Nutt, George
E. Wales, and a few others, .revived United Brethren Lodge, and for
some years thereafter this lodge was located in White River Junction.
At the time of his death. Colonel Nutt was a member of Vermont Com-
mandery. His remains were brought to Hartford for interment, and
were buried in the cemetery in White River Junction, under Masonic
honors, the writer of this sketch acting as marshal of the day. The
funeral services were the most imposing of the kind ever witnessed in
Vermont.
John Portek.
Son of William and Mary (Hodges) Porter, was born in Hartford, Vt.,
April 8, 1798.
The Porter patronymic is deservedly held in high honor by citizens of
the United States. Those who bear it in New England have not been
the least effective in adding to its claims. Mr. Porter was one of the
decendants in the fifth generation of John Porter, who was born in
1590 at Wraxall Abbey, near Kenil worth, in the county of Warwick,
England. He sailed from London for America in the ship Anne, ac-
companied by Rose Porter, his wife, and their children, and arrived in
Dorchester, Mass., on the 30th of May, 1627. Remaining in Dorchester
until 1635, they removed in that year to Windsor, Connecticut. Their
descendants were among the pioneer settlers of Windsor, Hartford, and
Lebanon, Connecticut.
William, the father of Judge Porter, was born in Lebanon, Connec-
ticut, on the 1th of September, 1749; removed from thence to Hartford,
Vermont, in 1780, and afterward married Mary Hodges. Nine children,
all of whom were sons, constituted the issue of their union. John
Porter received the best education that the common schools of his
vicinity could afford, and mastered the elementary branches of science
therein inculcated. At the age of eighteen he taught school in the
vicinity of his native town. Soon after that he was called upon to take
charge of a school in Rodman, Jefferson county. New York, and upon
two or three occasions made the entire journey of three hundred miles,
there and back, on foot. Energy and persistence characterized both
his private and public life. •
In 1840, '41 and '42, he represented Hartford in the legislature of
Vermont ; In 1843 and '44 was a member of the State Senate from
Windsor County, and was again returned to the House in 1845, '48 and
'49. In 1851 he was elected Director of the Vermont State Prison, and
' /4^ --T--^^ t/^y-.
'^y-^
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 377
again in 1852. In 1850 he was elected Judge of Probate for the District
of Hartford, in Windsor County, and held this office by consecutive
elections to the time of his death.
During the existence of the Whig party, he was one of its most zeal-
ous adherents, and for several years was a member of the Whig State
Committee. On the organization of the Republican party in 1856, he
was chosen one of the presidential electors of Vermont. In 1858 he
was appointed a commissioner in conjunction with George P. Marsh
and Norman Williams, to prepare a plan for the erection of the persent
State Capitol, and also to superintend its construction. Upon the
organization of the Woodstock bank, more than forty years ago, Mr,
Porter was elected a director, and continuously held that office until the
bank was reorganized, when he was elected a director of the Woodstock
National bank, which position he held the remainder of bis life.
Mr. Porter died Nov. 12, 1886, aged 88, and was interred in the
cemetery in Qaechee village. A large congregation of citizens attended
his obsequies.
Mr. Porter was married on the 30th of May, 1831, to Jane Frances,
daughter of Pordyce Foster, of Hartford. Six children were the fruit
of their marriage, three of whom are now living. Of these, Jennie F.
is the widow of the late Charles T. Smith, of Colchester, Connecticut ;
Louise A. is the wife of John H. Denison, of New Bedford, Massachu-
setts ; and Charles W. is a resident of Montpelier, Vt., and is the present
Secretary of State of Vermont.
Hon. William Strong.
[6th Gen. from American Ancestor, Elder John Strong of Northampton, Mass.]
William, son of Benajah and Polly (Bacon) Strong, was born in 1763
in Lebanon, Ct. Benajah, the parent, with his two brothers, Elijah and
Solomon Strong, emigrated to Hartford in 1764, and, according to
Thompson, the three brothers were the first actual settlers in the town.
Benajah Strong bore a conspicuous part in the political affairs of the
town until the year of his death, which occurred June 28, 1840.
William Strong was a self-made man. Deprived in early life of the
advantages of a common school education, he studied nature instead of
books, and found time to hear and talk a vast deal. Meditation took
the place of study with him during the first fifteen years of his life, but
he subsequently read and studied such books as he could procure from
the scantily furnished libraries of his neighbors. In the chimney corner
of his father's house he studied with avidity, and putting his mental
acquisitions into practice, qualified himself for a land surveyor, and was
for several years engaged in making extensive surveys in Grand Isle
county.
On the 17th of June, 1793, Mr. Strong was married to Miss Abigail
Hutchinson, of Norwich, by whom he had nine children.
Mr. Strong represented the town of Hartford in the General Assembly
in the years 1798-'99, 1801, '2, '15, '16, '17, and '18, altogether eight
terms. He represented the 2d congressional district of Vermont from
1810 to 1814 inclusive, and from 1819 to 1821 inclusive. He was a
judge of the supreme court of Windsor county in the year 1817, and
was a member of the Council of Censors in 1834. In all these posi-
378 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
tions he did honor to himself and his ooiistitueats. He was a man of
sterling integrity, and diligent in the discharge of those daties which
are founded on virtue, or moral goodness. He was involved in political
events of great significance during the greater part of his life, yet he
was not actuated by petty ambition nor by a desire to reach that emi-
nence of reputation which politicians, as a class, believe is conferred by
office, but rather preferi-ed the gratulations of his own conscience to the
empty bauble of fame.
Mr. Strong was one of nature's noblemen. He preserved that dignity
which is requisite to a good decorum, but was infinitely removed from
that ill-judged haughtiness which deprives men in his station of the
most agreeable pleasure in life, that of conversing freely and sociably
with persons of merit, though they are of inferior station and less
favored of fortune in worldly goods. He was humane and generous in
proportion to his income, and the pooi" and needy found in him a ready
helper. He was not one of those who found it easier to be on their
knees than to rise to good actions. He was not one of those men who
are to be measured by Sundays, who give lai'gely to foreign missions,
and who rise after sermons and cozen and cheat as soon as they return
hom.e ; his doctrine and his life were coincident in all the relations of
life. He died January 28, 1840, aged 77 years.
Mr. Strong was blessed in his family relations. He found in the un-
wavering devotion and affection of his amiable wife an unfailing source
of happiness, and the greatest of all inspirations to ui'ge him onward
and upward in the path of duty and preserve him from evil. Mrs.
Strong was in every sense a helpmeet. In the absence of her husband
she managed all the affairs of the farm successfully ; managed her
household affairs with ability, and brought up a numerous family of
children with care and tenderness. When considering the true sphere
of a wife it must be admitted that Milton recognized the proper allot-
ment when he said : — '
" For nothing lovelier can be found
In women, than to study household good,
And good works in her husband to promote."
Of such was Mrs. Strong, to whom was allotted a kind of domestic
empire and government which she administered by reason, good nature
and gentleness, and which gave her almost innumerable occasions for
the exercise of the valuable and excellent qualities of a wife, mother,
friend and helpmeet. Mrs. Strong died in June, 1860, aged 88 years.
(See Strong family.)
Dr. Charles H. Tenney.
Son of Harper and Cynthia (Marsh) Tenney, born in Hartford. Vt.,
21st Feb., 1830, married Fanney W. Nutt, Nov. 25, 1862 ; died in Brat-
tleboro, 23d April, 1874. She died Nov. 8, 1864. He graduated from
Dartmouth Medical College in 1858, also at the New York Medical Col-
lege in 1859. Besides a number of years' experience as a general prac-
titioner, he had a years' army experience in the civil war. In the early
part of 1871, he was elected to succeed Dr. D. H. Lovejoy as second
assistant physician in the Vermont asylum for the insane in Brattleboro.
In August, 1872, upon the election of Dr. Rockwell, Jr., to the superin-
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 379
tendency, he was promoted to the first assistancy, which position he
held to the time of his death, of apoplexy.
From a memoir published in the " Transactions of the Vermont Med-
ical Society, 1874," I quote the following: . "In my inquiries I have
failed to ascertain any specially notable incidents in his life, but as one
has expresse'd it, ' the whole was so made up of kind and worthy acts that
no one prominent deed outshone all others.' His was the exemplifica-
tion of a thouroughly useful Christian life. Governed in everything by
high and uncompromising principle, yet painfully sensitive to the opin-
ions of others, no man was more truly benevolent and humane in his
feelings, and no one more charitably disposed in his judgments of
others than he. Firmness was a prominent trait, and conscientious-
ness a ruling principle of action. He was the last man to be approached
or influenced by sinster proposals in any way, and in all his fraternal
relations was scrupulous and mindful of his obligations. To the insti-
tution with which he was connected he brought superior qualifications.
To his professioBal acquirements were added mature judgment and
social qualities of a high order. In music he delighted, and many an
hour was passed in this indulgence with those under his professional
charge, and many in this way were undoubtedly drawn into nearer re-
lations with him, and realized more fully that he was in sympathy with
them, than otherwise they might, have supposed. He saw clearly the
great power of moral agencies in the treatment of the disordered mind,
and exerted himself to aid in every possible way in the diversions of the
inmates, even at the cost of personal convenience and comfort. Espec-
ially was this manifest during the last winter of his service, when, not-
withstanding his growing indisposition, he relinquished no effort, but
more than ever before studied the wants of those under his care and
mistered to them with ever increasing assiduity and conscientious-
ness." The historian can heartily endorse the above as a just tribute.
Andrew Tracy.'
Andrew Tracy, second son of James and Mercy (Richmond) Tracy, was
born in Hartford, Vt, December 15, 1797, and lUed in Woodstock, Vt.,
October 28, 1868, aged 70 years, 10 months, 13 days. Thomas Tracy
the grandfather of Andrew, had eight children, James, the father of
Andrew, being his fifth child, born January 28, 1760, in Windham,
Conn. James married Mercy Richmond, October 22, 1795. They had
nine children, Andrew being their second child. Thomas Tracy came
into the town in the year 1776 — fifteen years after the organization and
first settlement of the town — and settled upon the farm where Andrew
was born James Tracy was then sixteen years old.
It was the intention of his father to bring up Andrew to the occupa-
tion of farming, but the latter not feeling himself physically able to
work upon the farm, consulted his mother about getting an education.
She induced his father to allow Andrew to attend the academy in Roy-
alton, Vt., and afterwards, the academy in Randolph, Vt., then under the
charge of that accomplished educator, Rufus Nutting — and where he
fitted for college. He entered Dartmouth College in the same class
'lam indebted to Hon. Warren C. French ofWoodstock, Vt., for a large portion of
this narrative, which is taken from his memorial address on Mr. Tracy, delivered
before the Vermont Bar Association, Oct. 28, 1883.
880 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
with his friend, Leonard Marsh, a brother of James Marsh, all of Hart-
ford. He remained in college but two years.' After leaving college
he taught school two or three years in Troy, N. Y., and thfn entered
the law office of Hon. George E. Wales, in Hartford, with whom he
studied law. On the 15th of January, 1824, while pursuing his legal
studies with Mr. Wales, he was appointed postmaster at White River
ViDapfe in place of Derrick Stebbins. He held this office until April 12,
1827, when he was succeeded by Phineas Kimball.
Mr. Tracy was admitted to the bar at the December term of the
Windsor county court in 1826. Upon being admitted to the bar, he
commenced practice in Quechee village, in Hartford, where he remained
until the autumn of 1837. He represented Hartford in the Legislature
three years, 1833-35 inclusive During his stay in Quechee he was en-
gaged in most of the important trials in Windsor county and obtained a
state reputation. Late in the autumn of 1887, he rerrioved to Wood-
stock, Vt., where he resided the remainder of his life.
On the first day of January, 1838, Mr. Tracy formed a partnership
with Norman Williams, which continued until the spring of 1839, when
Mr. Williams became county clerk. In ] 839, he was elected a State
Senator. In 1840 he formed a law partnership with Julius Converse,
which continued until he was elected to congress in 1853. In 1840 he
was a candidate before the Whig convention for a seat in congress
against Horace Everett. Much to his chagrin he was defeated. In
1842-'43 and '44, he represented Woodstock in the Legislature, and
was Speaker of the House during the same period. In the summer of
1849, the firm of Tracy & Converse, received James Barrett as a part-
ner with them.
In 1852, Mr. Tracy was again a candidate for Congress. He was
nominated and elected as a Whig, and served one term. While in Con-
gress he was attentive to his duties, and attended regularly the sessions
of the House, but seldom participated in the debates. He formed a
very low estimate of certain wordy members, who figured largely in
the newspapers and reports of Congress. These he rightly regarded as
shallow demagogues. He hated all shams and pretences, judged men
well, and appreciated sterling worth and true merit. His brief experi-
ence in congressional life satisfied his political aspirations. He declined
a re-election, and returned with pleasure to the practice of his profes-
sion, in which he diligently labored, until his death. He was engaged
in almost all of the jury trials in Windsor county after he located in
Woodstock, until he went to Congress, and, after that, in the most im-
portant trials in Windsor and other counties in the State, as long as he
lived. =
Mr. Tracy was a tall, slim, cadaverous man, and to a stranger would
seem to be in the last stages of consumption. But his step was ever
' In 1835 the University of Vermont conferred upon Mr. Tracy tiie honorary de-
gree of Master of Arts.
^ Mr. Tracy was remarkably successful in jury trials. His personal appearance,
his earnest manner, and his impassioned eloquence, were fascinating and magnetic
in their influence upon jurymen On one occasion, after he had made a masterly
plea in behalf of his client, and the jury were out engaged in making up their ver-
dict, one juryman, on being asked by the foreman, '■ Are you for the plaintiff or the
defendant ?" replied : " I don't know anything about plaintiff or defendant, I go for ,
Tracy,"
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 381
quick and elastic, and he had a great amount of energy and an in-
domitable will, though never a well man. Indeed, it seemed as though
his will-power alone sustained him during the last few years of his
life; when, after talking a half hour or so, in the argument of a case,
he seemed wholly exhausted.
Mr. Tracy's power and strength as a lawyer and advocate consisted
in his wonderful quickness of perception; the rapidity with which he
could adapt facts to legal principles; his quick comprehension of the
full merits or demerits of a case; his keen discriminating analysis of
facts; the nervous power and eloquence with which he presented the
facts to a jury, and in his masterly power of sarcasm and invective.'
It was as a jury advocate that he appeared at his best, and this was
ever his most delightful field of labor. Of his manner and style, it has
been said, that he often carried his sarcasm and denunciation of parties
and witnesses too far. His words often left a sting in the heart, which
rankled there for years afterwards. It sometimes happened in his later
years of practice that men on whom, as parties or witnesses, he had
used his vituperative powers would be returned as jurors; such men
were hard to convince that the side of Mr. Tracy was right.
'The following anecdote is related of Mr. Tracy, as illustrating one of his
characteristics, viz. : Among the many notable lawyers, who in former days have
practiced at the Windsor county bar, few excelled Andrew Tracy in power of
sarcasm. His ability in this direction he exercised more commonly in attack,
but sometimes in defense, an instance under the latter head running somewhat
as follows ; During the summer of 1840, when the weather was warm, and the
political atmosphere still warmer, Mr. Tracy was called over into New Hamp-
shire to attend a justice court. The counsel on the other side was Judf<e P., a
prominent politician of that State, and a good lawyer besides. When the case
came on, the judge, not being much acquainted with Mr. Tracy, conceived a poor
opinion of him, as he looked him over, which was not so very strange. A care-
less observer, looking for the first time, would be likely to entertain dim notions
of the fire which lurked within the bosom of that thin and ghastly figure, sitting
at the table and quietly taking notes. Moreover the judge, besides being a
strong democrat, had a very good opinion of himself, which helped on the
illusion. When therefore he rose for his argument, in the course of it he had
much to say about the cheap value of imported counsel, especially when appear-
ing in the guise of a thin gentleman in delicate health, and thinner still in legal
attainments; adding some inuendoes concerning the moral qualifications neces-
sary for the make-up of a good lawyer, and in general using the cudgels with the
zest which members of the profession exhibit, when battering one another. Upon
the whole it was a good performance in its way, but it was untimely. When the
judge was ended, Mr. Tracy rose to take his turn. The occasion was a capital
one for him to exhibit his peculiar power, as the life and history of the judge
furnished ample material for sharp criticism. He had been many times a mem-
ber of the Legislature in New Hampshire, a judge of probate some years, and a
representative in Congress for six years. He had been born and brought up a
federalist; when Jackson was elected president, he turned democrat, a change
which proved most opportune for his own political advancement; he was familiar
by experience with the whole system of intrigue which controlled the politics of
his native State ; a system never too elevated or too pure, and never less so than
in the days when Isaac Hill ruled New Hampshire. All this Mr. Tracy knew by
heart; he had been provoked to exercise his knowledge, and he was not sparing in
the exhibition of it. The spirit of Tippecanoe that was abroad in his veins did
not abate the rigor of his tongue, and with such swift and keen blows did he ply
the matter that was in him, that in a few moments the work of destruction was
completed. The judge in the meantime sat aghast and helpless at the unex-
pected onslaught, nor did he make any effort to avert the storm of sarcasm which
swept over him. And ever afterwards he entertained enlarged respect for lawyers
from the west side of the river. — Vermont Journal.
382 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Mr. Tracy was not what would be called a learned lawyer; he rarely
read text-books or reports, but consulted them in connection with his
cases. He was well grounded in the principles of common law, and in
his ai-guments of legal points, reasoned from first principles, and rarely
cited or referred to decisions. In the flood of business which was
thrown upon the courts, growing out of the great crash of 1837, Mr.
Tracy took a prominent and leading part. For several years the dock-
ets were crowded, and at some terms the firm of which he was a mem-
ber entered in court more cases than the whole entry at present made
in Windsor county; and they ajspeared in, more cases each term than
the entire present docket of the court. These were years of immense
labor to Mr. Tracy.
Mr. Tracj'^ died of pneumonia, the result of a cold which he con-
tracted on one of his professional trips, and not from the effects of his
life-time ailments. His mind remained pei'fectly clear to the last. His
remains lie on the banks of the beautiful Otter Quechee river, in the
village of Woodstock, in the same cemetery with the remains of Charles
Marsh, Jacob Collamer, Titus Hutchinson, Norman Williams, Benja-
min Swan and Peter T. Washburn.
CoL. Alba Mark Tucker.
Fourth son of Alvan and Abigail Mary (Tossey) Tucker, was born
in West Hartford, Vt., Nov. 14, 1836. Previous to reaching the
age of sixteen years, he attended the common schools of his native
village, studying the English branches taught therein, and making a
commendable record. During vacations, after he was ten years old, he
worked at home, assisting on the farm and about the hotel kept by his
father, and in 1847, during the construction of the Vermont Central
railroad, he worked as a teamster for Messrs. Clark and Chase, contrac-
tors, and continued in their service, and in that of other contractors,
until 1850. In 1852, or '53, he entered Newbury Seminary to
pursue a collegiate course, but insufiiciency of means and other causes
necessitated a relinquishment of that purpose, and he turned his atten-
tion to civil engineering for a short time thereafter, his first service in
that business being that of rodman to his brother W. Howard Tucker,
then 1st assistant engineer in the engineer corps engaged in surveying
a line for the extension of the Passumpsic Railroad from St. Johnsbury
to the Canada line ; his term of service extending from April 26th, 1854,
to the 15th of the following September.
Having a predilection for railroad business, and having ingratiated
himself into the good will of Col. James Moore, the chief engineer of
the Vermont Central railroad, when the latter was made superintendent
of the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana R. R., in 1855, he gave
to young Tucker the position of clerk in the freight department of that
road, at Tecumseh, Michigan. His railroad career to the present time
is exhibited in the following data published in the second volume of the
" Biographical Directory of the Railway Ofiicials of America."
Date of entering Railway Service — 1847.
Position first occupied. — Teamster, Vermont Central R. R.
Succeeding positions in their order, with dates of entering and retiring from
each: —
1850 — Track laborer, same road.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 383
April 26th, 1854, to Sept. 15th, 1864.— Rodman Engineer Corps, Extension Pas-
sumpsic and Connecticut River R. R.
May 10th, 1855, to August 1st, 1855.— Freight Clerk, Michigan Southern &
Northern Indiana R. R., Tecumseh, Mich.
Aug. ad, 1855, to Oct. 14th, 1855.— Freight and Ticket Clerk, Elkhart, Indiana.
October, 15th, 1855, to May 1st, 1857. — Freight and Ticket Agent, same road,
same place.
July 15th, 1857, to May 22d, 1858.— Fi-eight Clerk, Milwaukee & Mississippi R.
R., Janesville, Wis.
May 23d, 1858, to August 31, 1858.— Joint Ticket Agent, Milwaukee & Missis-
sippi R. R., Chicago, St. Paul & Fond-Du-Lac R. R., and Southern Wisconsin
Branch of the Milwaukee & Mississippi R. R., Jane.sville, Wis.
Sept. 2d, 1858, to Jan. 20th. 1859.— Clerk to General Superintendent Michigan
Southern & Northern Indiana R. R., Toledo, Ohio.
March 1st, 1861, to July 31st, 1863. — Clerk General Freight Office, same road,
same place.
October 3d, 1863, to Nov. 30th, 1863. — Captain and Assistant Quartermaster in
charge of constructing U. S. Military R. Rs. , at Louisville, Ky. , and Jefferson-
ville, Ind. , and changing gauge of Louisville & Frankfort, and Lexington &
Frankfort R. R. 100 mUes.
Dec. 1st, 1863, to March 1st, 1864.— Quartermaster U. S. Military R. Rs., for
the Departments of the Cumberland, of the Ohio and the Tennessee, NashvUle,
Tenn.
May 7th, 1864, to December 7th, 1865. — Disbursing Quartermaster, Louisville,
Ky. , and in charge of the examination and payment of all railroad accounts for
transportation of Government supplies.
Jan. 14th, 1878, to July 1st, 1885. — Assistant Superintendent Michigan Division
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern R. R. , Elkhart, Ind.
July 1st, 1885, to February 15th 1887. — Superintendent Western Division,
New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio R. R., Gallon, O.
February 15th, 1887, to Dec. 15th, 1887. — Superintendent Susquehanna Division,
New York, Lake Erie & Western R. R. Company, Office, Elmira, N. Y.
Sept. 15th, 1888.— Appointed General Supei-intendent of the N. Y., P. & O.
R. R., leased lines and branches (540 ms.) with office in Cleveland, O.
Col. Tacker sastained an honorable record in tlie War of the Rebel-
lion, as shown by the following statement : —
August 1st, 1862. — Enlisted as a Private.
August 14th, 1862.— Promoted to Second Lieut. 100th Regt. Ind. Vol.
Sept. 9th, 1862.— Promoted to First Lieut, and Q. M. 100th Regt. Ind. Vol.
Oct. 1st, 1862. — Post Q. M. and Commissary Camp Morton; Indianapolis, Ind.
November 13th, 1863.— Q. M. 100th Regt. Ind. Vol. 3d Brigade, 1st Div. 16th
Army Corps.
March 8th, 1863.— Promoted to A. A. Q. M. 1st Brigade, 1st Div. 10th Army
Corps.
June 14th, 1863.— Promoted to A. A. Q. M. 1st Div. 16th Army Corps.
July 21st, 1863.— A. A. Q. M. 4th Div. 15th Army Corps.
August 15th, 1863.— Promoted to Captain and A. Q. M. U. S. Vol., by the rec-
ommendation of Gen. U. S. Grant.
March 13th, 1865.— Promoted to Brvt. Major and A. Q. M. Vol.
March 13jfch, 1865.— Promoted to Brvt. Lieut. Colonel and A. Q. M. Vol.
March 13th, 1«65.— Promoted to Brvt. Colonel and A. Q. M. Vol.
December 8th, 1865. — Resigned and mustered out of service.
Total Term of Service, 3 years, 4 months and 7 days.
CIVIL EECOHD.
The civil record of Col. Tucker may be adduced as an evidence of the
high esteem in which he is held by his townsmen, and of their estimation
of his enterprise, his energy, his ready business capacities and his ver-
satile talent — qualities necessary to success, and a high degree of use-
fulness in every public station. Col. Tucker has held the following
civil offices : —
384 HISTORY OF HAETFOED.
May 4th, 1866, to Nov. 1st, 1867.— President Board of Tcwn Trustees, Elkhaxt,
Ind.
Nov. 1st, 1867, to Nov. Ist, 1875.— Auditor Elkhart County, Indiana.
1868 to 1875. — Chairman Republican County Central Committee.
April 5th, 1876, to Jan. 16th, 1884.— President St. Joseph Valley Bank, Elk-
hart, Ind.
May 1st, 1878, to May 1st, 1880.— Mayor of the City of Elkhart, Ind., and
President Ex-Soldiers' Association of the same city.
March 7th, 1883, to August 1st, 1885.— Post-master, Elkhart, Ind., and Presi-
dent Monumental Association of the .same city.
Geohge Bdwaed Wales.
At the eighty-eiglith aunaal communication of the M. W. Grand Lodge
of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Vermont, held in Burling-
ton, June 9-10, A. D., 1880, Grand Secretary Henry Clark, in behalf of
the members of United Brethren Lodge No. 21, of Hartford, presented
the portrait of Past Grand Master George E. Wales, and spoke sub-
stantially as follows :
" M. W. Or and Master aiid Brethren of the Crrand Lodge:
I am commissioned by the bretliren of United Brethren Lodge, No. 21, to pre-
sent to you in their behalf, the portrait I hold in my hand, of one of the early
grand masters, George E. Wales. He presided with a grace and dignity that has
characterized but few of the brethren who have occupied the Oriental Chair in
this jurisdiction. A genial, large-hearted man and Mason — accomplished, learned
and eloquent — he drew around Mm a large coterie of friends and admirers —
which was possibly the cause of his later misfortunes in life — such as have fallen
to many another, in the earlier and later history of the Grand Lodge of Vermont
— but his brethren, with that large-hearted charity so characteristic of the craft,
endeavored to throw the mantle of oblivion over his failings.
George E. Wales was born in Westminster, Vt., May 13, 1793. He had the ad-
vantages of the schools of that early day. He studied law with Gen. Stephen R.
Bradley, of Westminster, and Hon. Titus Hutchinson, of Woodstock, two of Ver-
mont's most eminent lawyers. He was admitted to the Windsor county bar in
1812, removing to Hartford the same year. He married Miss Amanda Lathrop,
of Sharon, Vt., in Janiiary, 1813, by whom he had seven children.
In 1822, '33, '24, Mr. Wales represented Hartford in the General Assembly. No-
vember 11, 1822, Hon. Azro D. Buck resigned the office of speaker of the house,
and Mr. Wales was elected in his stead. He was also elected speaker of the house
in 1823, and again in 1834.
He was a member of Congress from 1835 to 1839, having as colleagues from
Vermont, RoUin C. MaUory, Wm. C. Bradley, Azro A. Buck, Ezra Meech, Jolm.
Mattocks, Heman Allen, Benjamin Swift, Jonathan Hunt, and Wm. Cahoon.
He entered Congress at the same session with Daniel Webster, where he formed
the habits which caused his downfall in public life. After leaving Congress, he
located in different places in Windsor county, practicing his profession; finally
removing to Hartford, where he was elected town clerk in 1840, which office he
held until his death, January 8, 1860.
He was made a Mason in Wai-ren Lodge, No. 23, Woodstock, in 1812, being
proposed April 23, elected and initiated May 3; passed August 30, and raised to
the sublime degree of a master, Nov. 12. He was one of the charter members of
United Brethren Lodge, No. 31, Hartford, Vt., being appointed its first secretary
Dec. 15, 1812; was its master in 1813-24; 1851-53. He was grand master two
years, 1835 to 1837. A man of excellent capabilities, a kind heart, and generous
to a fault — possessing those virtues so much revered by Masons."
Mr. Wales settled in Hartford village in 1812. Pr»m that time until
1822, he was prominently identified with the political affairs of the town,
and was often elected to offices of importance, which he filled in a capa-
ble and faithful manner. In November, 1847, he was elected by the
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 385
General Assembly, judge of probate for the district of Hartford, which
office he held for three years only. In 1823, Dartmouth Collegre con-
ferred upon Mr. Wales the honoraiy degree of A. M. In 1825, he
reoeiyed a like honor from the University of Vermont. He was
appointed a member of " The American Legal Association " on the 14th
of June, 1851.
25
CHAPTER XXVI.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE ALUMNI OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.
1801.
John Dutton, the son of John and Mary (Savage) Duttou, was born
in Hartford, Nov. 29, 1776, and died in No. Haverhill, N. H., May 18,
1848, aged 71. He studied divinity with Eev. Dr. Joseph Lyman, in
Hathfield, Mass.; was ordained or installed pastor of the Secrnd Congre-
gational church in No. Yarmouth, Me., Oct. 1, 1806 ; was dismissed Aug.
3, 1814 ; then preached in Kittery, Me., a few years, after which he re-
turned to Yarmouth, and there buried his first wife. Leaving his young
sons, Joseph and Jacob H., in Yarmouth, he returned to Hartford, and
lived awhile with his brother Asahel ; was settled over the Congrega-
tional church in Pomfret, in March, 1819 ; dismissed in June, 1824 ;
went to Topsham, where he remained until 1833 ; thence to No. Haver-
hill, N. H., where he continued tUl death. He married, 1st, Dorcas,
daughter of Jacob Hayes, of No. Yarmouth, Me., May 28, 1810 ; 2nd,
Betsy, daughter of "Webster Bailey, of Newbury, Vt., May 19, 1819.
1802.
Nathaniel Dutton, son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Hazen) Dutton, was
born in Hartford, Sept. 28, 1779, and died in Champion, N. Y., Sept. 9,
1852, aged 73, minus nineteen days. He studied divinity with Rev. Dr.
Joseph Lyman, in Hatfield, Mass.; was ordained an evangelist; installed
pastor of the First Congregational church in Champion, N. Y., May 21,
1807, and there passed his life. He married 1st, Sally, daughter of
Josiah "Ward, of Middlebury, Ct., at Champion, Feb. 15, 1808 ; 2d, Eliza-
beth F. Bostwick, at Canaan, N. Y., Oct. 3, 1830; 3d, Mrs. Clarissa Stir-
ling Fish, daughter of Capt. Wm. Stirling, of Lynn, Conn., and relict of
Calvin B. Fish, of Rutland, N. Y., at Champion, N. Y., in January, 1847.
Jacob Gillett, A. M., son of Israel and Susannah (Durkee) Gillett,
was born in Hartford, March 9, 1780, and died in Newark, N. J., in
1866. He was a teacher, settling in New York City ; removed, after
many years of professional life, to Newark, N. J., and there settle.d-
He married Catherine, daughter of John Simonson, of "Westbury, Long
Island, N. Y., April 8, 1810,
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD. 387
180Y.
Austin- Hazen, A. M., son of Asa and Susannah (Tracy) Hazen,
was born in Hartford, June 25, 1786, and died in Berlin, Vt., Dec. 25,
1854, aged 68. He taught in Buckingham, Pa., one year; studied
divinity with Rev. Ebenezer Porter, (D. C, 1'792), in Washington, Conn.,
from 1808; was ordained pastor of the Cong, church in Hartford, May
27, 1812; dismissed April 29, 1829; preached a few Sabbaths in White
River village; installed in North Hartford, Feb. 3, 1830; dismissed in
1837; installed in Berlin, Oct. 4, 1837, and died in office. He married
■ 1st, Frances Mary, daughter of Col. Israel Putnam Dana, of Danville,
Vt.; 2d, Lucia, daughter of Rev. Azel Washburn, (D. C, l786), in
Royalton.
1812.
Asa. Hazest, A. M., son of Asa and Susannah (Tracy) Hazen, was
born in Hartford, Dec. 9, 1792. He read law; went into practice in
Olean, E". Y., remaining there manj"- years; taught one year in Hunts-
ville, Ala; then practiced law in New Albany, Ind; eventually removed
to EUicotville, N. Y., where he died in May, 1866, unmarried.
1814.
Joseph Carter Tract, A. M., son of Dea. Joseph and Ruth (Carter)
Tracy, was born in Hartford, Nov. 3, 1794, and died in Beverly, Mass.,
March 24, 1874, aged 79. He studied divinity; was ordained pastor of
the Cong'l churches in Post Mills and West Fairlee, June 26, 1821;
dismissed in 1829; then edited the " Vermont Chronicle " in Windsor,
for five years; then the " Boston Recorder," for one year, and, for a
time, was employed on the " New York. Observer," where he was in-
timate with Prof. S. F. B. Morse, while the great invention of the tele-
graph was taking shape. Feeling a profound interest in the anti-slavery
cause, and in the scheme of African colonization, he abandoned his
career as an editor to become secretary of the Massachusetts Coloniza-
tion Society and also of the American Colonization Society for Mas-
sachusetts. The Republic of Liberia owes much to Mr. Tracy for
valuable aid. His reputation stood high as an able scholar and
christian writer, he having published as follows: "Four Last
Things," "History of the American Board," "The Great Awakening;"
several missionary maps, occasional sermons, with many articles in
periodicals. He married, 1st, the daughter of Rev. Azel Washburn,
(D. C, 1786), of Royalton, Vt.; 2d, Sarah C. Prince, of Beverly, Mass.,
June 3, 1845.
388 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
1815.
Enos Wood Newton, son of Dea. David and Mary (Hazen) New-
ton, was born in Hartford, Aug. 18, 1V94, and died Sept. 28,1866, aged
12. He taught in N. Yarmouth, Me., Danvers, Mass., and Hillsborough,
Va.;, edited a paper in Wheeling, Va., several years, and was a long
time editor of the " Kenawha Republican," in Va. He married Sarah
Work, of Hillsborough, N. H.
ISIV.
James Maesh, A. M., D. D., son of Daniel and Marian (Harper)
Marsh, was born in Hartford, July 19, 1V94, and died in Colchester
July 3, 1842, aged 48, minus 16 days. He studied divinity at the
Andover Theo. Sem. one year in the class of 1820; was tutor in Dart-
mouth from 1818 to 1820; returned to Andover and graduated in 1822;
was ordained an evangelist in Hanover, N. H., Oct. 12, 1824; became
professor of languages in Hampden, Sydney College, Va., from 1824 to
1826; was president of the University of Vermont from 1826 to 1833,
and then professor of Moral and Mental Philosophy to his death. He
was an estimable man, an elaborate scholar, and a profound thinker.
Columbia College, N. Y., conferred his honorary degree in 1830, and
Amherst College in 1833. He published his inaugural address as pres-
ident of the University of Vermont; Essay to Coleredge's "Aids to
Reflection; " Selections from the old English writers on Practical The-
ology; Translation of Herder's Hebrew poetry; a short treatise on
eloquence, " Hegewisch's Chronology," and many articles in periodicals.
He married, 1st, Lucia, daughter of James Wheelock, D. C, 1776, of
Hanover, N. H., Oct. 14, 1824. 2d, Laura, her sister, January 7, 1835.
1819.
JosiAH Tracy Tildbn, son of Capt. Josiah, and Elizabeth (Tracy)
Tilden, was born in Hartford, Feb. 13, 1795, and died in Orange Co.,
Virginia, Aug. 14, 1820, aged 26. He taught at Kimball Union
Academy, Meriden, N. H., a short time, then went to Va., and was a
tutor in a private family.
Ebbnezee Caetee Teact, son of Dea. Joseph and Ruth (Carter)
Tracy, was born in Hartford, June 10, 1796, and died in Windsor, May
15, 1862, aged 65. He studied divinity in Andover Theological Semi-
nary two years in the class of 1824; was licensed but never ordained;
was tutor in Dartmouth College from 1823 to 1824, from which he
turned to the enterprise of establishing a religious newspaper in Ver-
mont, and issued the first number of the " Veemont Cheonicle," April
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 389
14, 1826, at Bellows Falls, from which place it was removed to Windsor
the same year. The work of starting a religious paper was of an oner-
ous and discouraging nature, but he persevered, and in the end achieved
success. In 1829, however, he surrendered the editorship of the Chroni-
cle to his brother Joseph, while he went for a short time, to the New
York Journal of Commerce, thence to the Observer office, in the same
city. Subsequently he edited a temperance paper in Andover, Mass.,
then the Boston Recorder. In 1834 he resumed the editorship^ of the
Chronicle, in which position he remained the rest of his life. He mar-
ried Martha Sherman, daughter of Rev. J. Evarts, of Boston, Mass.,
Sept. 13, 1832. John Jay Tracy, (D. C, 1864), was his son.
1820.
Jaspbh Newton, son of Dea. David and Mary (Hazen) Newton, was
born in Hartford, Feb. 20, 1798, and died in Hillsborough, Md , Nov.
9, 1821, aged 23. He taught in an academy in St. Mary Co., Md., and
went thence to Hillsborough. He was one of ten brothers, each of whom
was over six seet in height, and was one of sixteen children in the same
family, all of whom are now dead. Their united ages aggregated up-
wards of 1,200 years. Enos Wood Newton, (D. C, 1815,) was one of
the ten brothers.
Joseph Poetee, son of William and Mary (Hodges) Porter, was
born in Hartford, Vt., 1796, and died in Jericho, July 9th, 1829,
aged 33. He read law with Hon. Joseph Bell, (D. C, 1807,) in Haver-
hill, N. H., and settled in practice in Jericho, Chittenden Co., in 1824.
A fall from his horse caused his death. He married Laura Bliss, of
Jericho.
1825.
Abeam Maesh, A. M., son of Abram and Mary (Button) Marsh,
was born in Hartford, June 15, 1803, and died in Tolland, Conn., Sept.
2, 1877, aged 75. He was principal of Thetford academy in 1827 ;
studied divinity in Andover Theological Seminary, class of 1828 ; was
ordained an evangelist in Reading, Vt., June 23d, 1829 ; installed pas-
tor of the Cong'l church in Tolland, Conn., November 30, 1831 ; dis-
missed in 1869 ; removed to West Woodstock, Conn., in 1874, where
he continued until 1877 ; then returned to Talland where he died. He
was president of the Connecticut Bible Society 1868-77 ; and agent
from 1869-71. He married first, Rhoda, daughter of Rev. Silvan Short,
of Meriden, Conn., June 27, 1827 ; second, Mary Cooley, of Norwich,
Conn., April 6, 1842.
390 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
1827.
Leonaed Maesh, a. M., son of Daniel and Marion (Harper) Marsh
was born in Hartford, June 29, 1800. He studied medicine in New
York City with Dr. Valentine Mott, and at Dartmouth medical college,
graduating M. D., in 1832 ; then began practice in Hartford, Vt., from
which place he removed in 1840 to Burlington, Yt., and there continued
his profession until elected to the professorship of Greek in the Univer-
sity of Yermont in 1855. In 1857, he was transferred from the depart-
ment of languages to that of Yegetable and Animal Physiology, and
Comparative Anatomy. In 1868, he was attacked by a painful and
dangerous disease from which he suffered till his death in 1870. Dr.
Marsh was a man of learning and great acuteness of mind. Some of
his writings show an extensive and profound acquaintance with ancient
literature. Of a stock that have always loved liberty and justice, and
abhored everything tending to the degredation of man, he early used
his pen with great boldness and vigor against the system of human
slavery which was cursing our beloved country, and he continued his
eif orts till the system was destroyed. He married Anna L, daughter of
Hon. Alvin Foot, (D. C, 1798), of Burlington, who survives him.
1829.
Iea Caktbe Teacy, son of Deacon Joseph and Ruth (Carter) Tracy,
was born in Hartford, January 15, 1806, and died in Bloomington, 111.,
Nov. 10, 1775, aged 69 years 9 months. When fourteen years of age
he made a public profession of his faith in Christ, and at about the
same time the reading of a tract entitled " The claims of six hundj'ed
millions," kindled that missionary zeal which was the inspiration of his
whole life. After graduating at Dartmouth College in 1829, where he
stood 'first in his class, and having completed his theological studies at
Andover in 1832, he was ordained as a missionary in Hartford, Sept. 28,
1832. On Sabbath eve, June 9, 1833, in the Murray street church
edifice. New York city, he and Mr. S. Wells Williams, received their
instructions as missionaries to China. They sailed from New York,
June 15, 1833, and arrived in Canton, Oct. 26.
Mr. Tracy was the second missionary of the American Board in
China. Singapore was considered an important point from which to
reach many people and to circulate christian literature. Mr. Tracy
arrived there July 24, 1834, and very soon made his home in a Chinese
family, the more quickly to learn the language, and the more thoroughly
to study the people. It indicates the zeal with which he set about his
work, that in less than ten months he was able to preach in Chinese.
He baptized the first Chinese convert of the American mission.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 391
Miss Adeline White, born in West Brookfield, Mass., Sept. 25, 1809,
left Boston July 2d, 1834 ; reached Signapore January 12, and was
married to Mr. Tracy, January 15, 1835. Overwork and exposure to
the intense heat prostrated Mr. Tracy in '39, and in November of that
year he went to Southern India ; but he was obliged to leave India for
the United States, to which he returned Aug. 8, 1841. After four years
of patient waiting, doing the little his health would permit, seeing no
hope of resuming his work abroad, he was released from his connection
with the American Board, and commenced work as a home missionary
in Ohio, preaching in Franklin, and Streetsborough, from 1846 to 1851.
In 1851, he went to the town of Patch Grove, Wisconsin, though his
field covered what is now Bloomington, also. As pastor of the Congre-
gational church, he was untiring in his efforts for the spiritual welfare
of the community, preaching in the school houses, visiting the families
and distributing religious books. He also secured the erection of a
church edifice. His wife having died before he went to Winconsin, he
married in Oct., 1852, Mrs. Elizabeth Charlton Gleason, of East Wind-
sor Hill, Conn.
In the spring of 1856, after a precious revival of religion, and large
additions to the church, he went to Spring Valley, Minnesota, and or-
ganized the first Congregational church in Filmore county. Here he
did his last work as a pastor. In the spring of 1861, after another
marked revival, his health failed, and he was compelled to relinquish
the active duties of the ministry. He returned to his old home in
Bloomington, where he spent fourteen years on a small farm, but
preached occasionally as his strength permitted, and was always a de-
voted friend and helper of the church with which he was identified.
Doing good was his ruling passion, and his usefulness as a man and
christian ended only with his life.
In 1873, Mr. Tracy came East, partly to visit the Chinese Commis-
sioner, Lai Lun, who came to this country having charge of a number
of Chinese youth he had induce.d the Chinese government to send to
this country to be educated under his superintendence. Lui Lun, when
a boy, was found in the jungles by Mr. Tracy, and taken into his
school where he learned of Christ and became a christian. Mr. Tracy
visited Lui Lun in Springfield, Mass., and was received by his former
pupil with flattering expressions of cordiality, and subsequently they
exchanged letters. It was doubtless the greatest joy of Mr. Tracy's
life to see one whom he had i-escued from heathenism, occupying the
honored position of a christian statesman, and engaged in a work of
incalculable benefit to his benighted race.
393 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
In October, 1875, lie attended the annual meeting of the American
Board in Chicago, greatly to his delight. On his way home from this
meeting he visited his only remaining child, Rev. A. E. Tracy, and
preached for him Sabbath, October 10th, the last sermon he ever
preached. Returning home he was busily engaged in preparing for
the winter, when Saturday eve, November 7th, after returning from
the village, he was suddenly stricken with paralysis. He lived till
Tuesday morning, November 10th, but without being able to speak or
communicate his wishes to the friends around him.
The children of Mr. Tracy were: Edwin Allen, born in Singapore,
Jan'y 29, 1836; died on the ocean. May, 1841. Ira White, born Sept.
2d, 1841, in Philadelphia; died in Montgomery, Ala., May 2d, 1865, a
member of Co. D, 33d regiment, "Wisconsin volunteers. Alfred Ed-
wards, born in West Brookfield, Mass., July 2d, 1845, now a Congre-
gational minister in Foxboro, Mass.
In a paper prepared by Mr. Tracy to be read at his funeral, he says:
" I may not say, 'Let there be no weeping here; ' for perhaps some few
may feel, by natural' impulse, disposed to weep at one's final parting
on earth, and that impulse should not be violently restrained; but I do
say, ' Let there be thanksgiving and rejoicing at my funeral.' If I die
a christian as I am sure I shall, then in me grace has triumphed, the
battle of life is fought and the victory won, Christ has led one more of
His chosen and redeemed ones to the end of his trial — ^life. * * *
For yourselves, my friends and neighbors, I pray you in Christ's
stead, he ye reconciled to God. Be willing to have Him for your
own God and Father, and treat Him as such from this day forward.
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Be ye faithful
unto death. God shall give you a crown of life. Amen,"
1830.
Austin Hazbn Wright, son of David and Elizabeth (Hazen) Wright,
was born in Hartford, Nov. 11, 1811, and died in Oroomiah, Persia,
January 4, 1865, aged 53. He taught in Richmond, Va., some years,
studied divinity in Union Theological Seminary in Prince Edward
County, Va., and also medicine, graduating M. D. in the University of
Virginia; was ordained an evangelist; sailed for Persia as a missionary
March 9, 1840; arrived in Oroomiah, July 25, 1840; was there very
successful in his ministry till 1860; then visited the United States, but
returned to his station in 1864 where he soon died. Dr. Wright was
one of the best oriental scholars this country ever produced. He mar-
ried Catherine A. Myers of Whitehall, N. Y., in Oroomiah, June 13,
1844.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 393
1831.
Benjamiit Ela, son of Benjamin and Abigail (Emerson) Ela, was
born in Hartford, August 4, 1809; fitted for college at Meriden, N. H.;
taught at Glens Falls, N. Y., 1831-2 ; studied theology at Andover,
1832-5, graduating in 1835; studied also as a resident graduate in East
Windsor, Conn., Theo. Sem. one year from May, 1837; was ordained a
Congregational evangelist in Billerica, Mass., May 29, 1841; preached'
in Marlboro, Conn., 1838-9; in Bristol, Conn., 1840-1; was New York
correspondent of the " Christian Recorder and Congregationalist,"
1843-48; associate editor "Merry's Museum," also of the "Mother's
Magazine," New York, from 1848 or '49 to 1853; editor of Parley's
Magazine, 1853-55; then lived on a farm in Merrimack, N. H., till his
death, April 30, 1881, of organic disease of the liver. He was made
an honorary member of A. B. C. P. M. in 1839; member of New
Hampshire Legislature, 1870-71; town clerk, 1872, till his death; su-
perintending school committee five years. He married Angeline,
daughter of Samuel and Anna (Buxton) McCouihe of Merrimack,
April 10, 1849.
1835.
Cyrus Smith EiOHiEos, L. L. D., was born in Hartford, Vt., March 11,
1808. His grandfather, Jonas Eichards, who married Hannah Wheeler,
about ten years before the Revolutionary war, removed with her from
Plainfield, Ct., to Norwich, Vt., about 1767. Their journey was on
horseback, the road much of the way being a mere bridle-path. He was
one of the first settlers of Norwich, purchasing and clearing a farm in
the almost unbroken wilderness, about a mile from the "plain."
In this pioneer home in 1767, was born Joel Richards, the father of
the subject of this sketch, the first male child born in Norwich. Al-
though he enjoyed very limited opportunities for education, he grew up
to be a capable, industrious and highly respected man, and was at least
during his later years, a devoted christian. He married Miriam Smith,
Dec. 5, 1794, the daughter of Sylvanus Smith of Hadley, Mass. He
took a new farm on the line between Hartford and Norwich, and under-
took the work of clearing it with great energy. He died Aug. 12, 1812,
leaving nine children, one other child having died in infancy.
The eldest son, Chester, not yet 17 years old, then undertook the
management of the farm, and with the wise counsel and direction of his
mother, succeeded well. In this frugal and hard-working family, Cyrus,
the eighth child, grew up, clad in homespun, and disciplined by the hard
394 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
work of the farm. His early education was scanty, such as might be
gained from two months' schooling in the winter, and from reading and
studying at home. But he made the most of these slender advantages,
and was reputed to be among the best scholars of the neighborhood.
In 1824, at the age of 16, he left home to live till his majority, with
Mr. Elijah Hazen, whose wife was the daughter of Mr. Seth Savage, who
afterward married Mrs. Miriam Eichards, the mother of Cyrus. They
were excellent christian people, and strongly attached to the boy who
had come into their home, and they exerted over him a strong influence
for good.
As a boy, he was a member of the first Sunday school in Hartford
(and perhaps in that part of New England), which was organized under
the suggestions and direction of Mrs. Sheldon Newton. Always seri-
ous, and sensitive to religious impressions, he did not come out into a
clear and outspoken faith till his twentieth year ; but from that time he
was an ardent christian, and began to plan to study for the ministry.
A keen delight in study had already seized him. One of his teachers.
Forest Shepard, first put into his mind the idea that he might possibly
get a college education, and other teachers encouraged him. He resolved
to go. Accordingly, in September, 1828, he entered Kimball Union
Academy at Meriden, N. H., of which Eev. Israel Newell was then the
principal. Here he remained most of the time for three years, standing
high in his class as a scholar.
In 1831 he entered Dartmouth College in a class of seventy freshmen,
of whom fifty-one graduated. It was a superior class, including such
men as ex Gov. Washburn, of Vermont ; Hon. Amos Tuck, of New
Hampshire; Hon. John P. Healy, L. L. D., of Boston ; Hon. T. C. Wood-
man, of Maine; Eev. Stephen S. N. Greeley, and others. Amorg his
college mates were President S. C. Bartlett, Samuel H. Taylor, L. L. D.,
of Andover; Prof. E. A. Lawrence, D. D., of East Windsor; Profs. E.
D. Sanborn, Noyes, Chase, and others. He graduated under the presi-
dency of -Dr. Lord in 1835.
While in college he had shown marked ability, both as a scholar and
a teacher, for his winters were usually occupied in teaching. He had by
this time taught both day school or singing school (and sometimes both)
in Hartford, Lebanon, Meriden, Cornish, Boseawen, and Concord. He
was, all his life, a remarkably sweet singer, having a high, pure tenor
voice. During his last year in college, Mr. Newell's failing health com-
pelled him to call for assistance in the academy, and Mr. Eichards was
invited to take bis classes during a part of the winter and summer.
On the day he graduated from Dartmouth, in August, 1835, he was
HISTORY OF HARTFOBD. 395
elected as principal of Kimball Union Academy, a position which he
filled (with the intermission of but a single term) for the next thirty-six
years. Here he developed remarkable executive ability in organizing
and managing the school, and great skill and thoroughness in teaching.
In 1840, a female department was added to the academy, and its courses
of instruction were extended and enlarged. The school grew steadily
under the new administration, and instead of an attendance of 100 stu-
dents, there were more than 200, and sometimes more than 300 there.
The institution for more than a quarter of a century ranked among the
foremost academies in New England, and its principal was recognized
as one of the best educators there. He was ably supported by teachers
of high character and ability. A marked feature of the school was the
moral and religious tone that characterized it ; many an earnest chris-
tian life was begun within its walls. Eleven hundred and eighty stu-
dents graduated from the academy under his instruction, having taken
the full course, many of whom afterwards attained eminence as ruinis-
ters, missionaries, college professors, jurists and journalists. Several
thousands of other pupils took a partial course under his principalship.
Failing health obliged him to relinquish so arduous a work, in a climate
peculiarly trying to him, and he offered his resignation in the summer
of 1871.
On the very day he resigned the principalship of the academy at Mer-
iden, he received an appointment as professor in Harvard University,
Washington, D. C, and in the autumn he assumed charge of its prepar-
atory department, where he continued for fourteen years, winning for
the institution the same reputation for thoroughness of work, and im-
pressing his character and principles in the same marked way upon the
students, as at Meriden. His associates in the University, including
Gen. Howard, and Rev. Dr. Patton, the Presidents, bore testimony to the
enthusiasm, vigor, and great success of his work, even to his seventy-
eighth year.
His eminence, as an educator, received frequent recognition from his
co-laborers in that field. He was President of the New Hampshire State
Teachers' Association in 1863 and 1864, and frequently presented papers
and led discussions m such gatherings. He received the honorary degree
of Doctor of Laws from Dartmouth College in 1865. At the National
Educational Association, held at Madison, Wis., in 1884, Gen. John
Eaton, Commissioner of Education in the United States, mentioned him
as having the special distinction of having fitted more students for
college than any man in the country.
His marked religious character found expression in other ways than
396 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
in school. He had intended, when he went to Meriden as Principal, to
teach a few years, and then take up his chosen work of the ministry.
In 1847 he resigned and went to Andover Theological Seminary to com-
plete his studies for that work. But being told by many that his great-
est usefulness was to be found in educational work, he yielded to the
solicitations of the trustees and returned to the academy. He received,
however, approbation as a preacher, and occasionally occupied the pul-
pits of the surrounding towns. He was deacon and clerk of the Con-
gregational church in Meriden during nearly his entire residence there.
His intellectual activity also manifested itself in authorship. In 1859
he published " Latin Lessons and Tables," for elementary classes, which
was received with much favor by classical teachers, and passed through
several editions. The plates of this book were destroyed by the great
Boston fire in 1872. In 1882 he published " Outlines of Latin Grammar,"
which the Journal of Education calls a "marvelous condensation," and
"far in advance of any book that we have ever seen professing to give
merely the ' outlines ' of latin grammar." This was followed by a com-
panion volume in 1883, entitled, "Introduction to Csesar; first Latin
Lessons." He was also an occasional writer for various religious and
literary journals.
He was married, Aug. 1, 1836, to Helen Dorothy Whiten, daughter
of the Eev. Dr. John M. Whiton, who was for forty-four years pastor of
the Presbyterian church in Antrim, N. H. She was a woman of lovely
christian character, and of uncommon intellectual gifts and culture. She
wrote much for religious periodicals, and was the author of several
juvenile books. She died March 10, 1860, greatly lamented by the
entire community, to whom her social gifts and warm sympathies had
much endeared her. Six children were born to them, two died in early
childhood. Those who survive are as follows, viz.: Helen Morris, wife
of the Eev. George F. Herrick, D. D., Marsovan, Turkey ; The Eev.
Charles Herbert Eichards, D. D., Madison, Wis.; Abbie Louise, wife of
the Eev. Frank P. Woodbury, D. D., Eockford, 111., and William Evarts
Eichards, Esq., New York city.
He was married again, April 30, 1861, to Maria WUliams Parker, of
Boston, Mass., the daughter of Oliver W. Parker, Esq., of Plymipton,
Mass. She had been for three years a successful teacher in the Boston
public schools, and was warmly sympathetic and helpful in his work
both at Meriden and Washington.
In the summer of 1885 he completed his fiftieth year as a teacher,
and graduated his fiftieth class for college. , His former students,
remembering him with honor and affection, sent him a testimonial for
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 397
his semi-centennial, accompanied by a purse of $500 in gold. His liealth,
however, was rapidly giving way. His son brought him in June to his
home in Madison, Wis., hoping that the change of scene and climate
would reinvigorate him. But after rallying a httle at first, his powers
gave way under the weight of years and disease, and he died of bron-
chial consumption, July 19, 1885, in his seventy-eighth year. On a
Sunday night he passed from the praises of earth, which he so dearly
loved, to the praises of heaven, which he had long anticipated. His
body, was taken for interment to Meriden, which had been his home so
long, and the scene of his most important work. A funeral service was
held at Madison, where he died, and memorial services were also held
at Meriden and at Washington.
1836.
J. De Forrest Eiohahds, L. L. D., son of Joel and Miriam (Smith)
Richards, was born in Hartford, Dec. 28, 1809. He was tutor in Mari-
etta College, Ohio ; studied divinity in Union Theological Seminary in
New York City, and in Andover Theological Seminary ; graduating at
the last in 1840 ; was ordained pastor of the Congregational church in
Charlestown, N. H., May 28, 1841 ; dismissed Oct. 14, 1851 ; installed
pastor in Chester, June, 1853 ; dismissed in 1857 ; removed to Weath-
ersfield, and was stated supply there until 1862, when he went to Mon-
roe, Mich ; was principal of female seminary at College Hill, O., 1863-
65 ; professor of astronomy and acting president of Alabama Stat e Uni-
versity 1869-72. He married Hannah Bartlett, daughter of Hon. Wm.
Jarvis of Weathersfield, Aug. 9, 1843.
1840.
Norman Hazen, son of Solomon and Deborah (Fuller) Hazen, was
born in Hartford, Sept. 7, 1814, and died in Royalstoa, Mass., Feb 13,
1852, aged 37. He studied at Andover Theological Seminary, graduat-
ing in 1844 ; was ordained pastor of the Cong'l church in Eoyalston,
Mch. 24, 1847, and died in office. He married Martha, daughter of
Hon. John Vose, of Atkinson, N. H., Sept. 17, 1845.
1842.
Allen Hazen, A. M., son of Rev. Austin, (D. C, 1807), and Frances
Mary (Dana) Hazen, was born in Hartford, Nov. 30, 1822. He studied
divinity in Andover Theological Seminary, graduating in 1845 ; was or-
dained an evangelist in Berlin, July 1, 1846 ; sailed from Boston to In-
dia as a missionary, Sept. 26, 1846 ; arrived in Bombay, Feb. 27, 1847,
and in Ahmednugger, his station, Mch. 30, 1847 ; left for Servor, Aug.
398 HISTORY OP HARTFORD.
5, 1847, and after remaining some time, returned to Ahmednugger
where his mission was chiefly made ; returned to the United States in
1858 ; returned to Ahmednugger until 1872 ; returned to United States ;
preached in Springfield, Mass., 1874 ; Pomfret, Vt., 1875-77 ; Norwich,
1877-79 ; Agawam, Mass., 1880-81 ; Deerfield, Mass., 1882. He mar-
ried Martha Ramsay, daughter of Oliver Chapin, of Somers, Conn.,
Sept. 18, 1876. (See family record of Rev. Austin Hazen.)
1849.
Charles Habpeb Stkong, son of John and Mary (Gates) Strongs was
bora in Hartford, Moh. 23, 1828, and died in Utica, N. T., May 11,
1851, aged 23. He was an operator in a telegraph office at Rochester,
N. Y., in 1850, and in Utica afterwards. Obituary notices were highly
commendatory. (See family record of the Strong Family.)
1854.
Henry Allen Hazen, son of Allen and Hannah P. (Dana) Hazen, born
in Hartford, Vt., Dec. 27, 1832. Andover Theological Seminary, 1857;
ordained in St. Johnsbury, Vt., 1858, Feb. 17, and preached in Bridge-
water, Barnard, Hardwick, 1859 ; Barton, 1860 ; West Randolph 1861.
Installed, Plymouth, N. H., Jan. 21, 1863 ; dismissed July 15, 1863.
Installed Lyme, N. H., Sept. 2, 1868 ; dismissed Sept. 30, 1870. In-
stalled Pittsfield, Mass., Dec. 22, 1870 ; dismissed Nov. 30, 1872. In-
stalled Billerica, Mass., May 21, 1874; dismissed May 4, 1879.' Trus-
tee of Kimball Union Academy since 1869 ; of the Howe school 1875 to
1886 ; of the New Hampshire Missionary Society 1872-4 ; Statistical Sec-
retary New Hampshire General Association 1872-4. Member of the
Vermont and New Hampshire Historical Societies and of the N. E.
Historic Genealogical Society. Associate editor Congregational Quar-
terly, 1876-8 ; Secretary Andover Alumni Association since 1878 ; edi-
tor General Catalogue, Andover Theological Seminary since 1880 ; Sec-
retary of the National Council of Congregational churches of the United
States since 1883 ; edited Ministers National Council 1883-86 ; edited
the Congregational year book 1884-5-6-7. He has published (1) man-
ual of the Congregational church, Plymouth, N. H ; (2) Historical Dis-
course commemorative of the centennial anniversay of the same church,
1875 ; (3) Ministry and churches of New Hampshire ; (4) Pastors of
New Hampshire ; (5) History of Billerica, ' Mass. He married July 9,
1863, Charlotte Eloisa, daughter of Dr. Geo. B. Greene of Windsor, Vt.
She died in Auburndale, Mass., Feb. 8, 1881, aged 47 years 10 days.
Children : Mary, born Nov. 23, 1861, died Sept. 30, 1865 ; Emily, born
Aug. 5, 1866 ; Charlotte, born Nov. 6, 1868.
' Removed from Billerica to Auburndale.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 399
1855.
John Foster Porter, son of John and Jane Frances (Foster) Porter,
was born in Hartford, May 11, 1834, and died in Hartford Sept. 6, 1885,
aged 51. After graduation he taught a select school in Troy, N. Y. He
was with the firm of Seymour and Van Sautvoord, in Troy, in 1856 and
'57 ; was a member of the Albany Law School during the year 1857 ;
was admitted to the bar in Albany, Dec. 8, 1857, and practiced his pro-
fession in Troy until his death. He was Police Justice in 1861-62,
and clerk of the board of Supervisors 1873 to '75; was vice-president
and a director of the Commercial Telephone Co. He was married June
2, 1870, to Mary E. Blair, of Troy, by whom he had one son and two
daughters. He was a man of high character, and an honor to his pro-
fession which can ill-afford to lose a member whose life, private and pro-
fesnonal, was exceptionally unblemished.
1856.
Daniel Bliss Dudley, son of Loring Bailey and Sarah (Bliss) Dudley,
born in Lebanon, N. H., Dec. 25, 1833 ; lived in West Hartford many
years when a youth, and until after his graduation ; fitted at Meriden,
N. H. Taught in La Grange, Ga., 1856-7 ; Abbeville, Ala., 1857 ; then
for eighteen months taught and lectured on the Morrisonian system of
English grammar, in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. Studied theol-
ogy at Union Seminary, New York City, 1859-60 ; then read law at Al-
bany Law School, 1860-2 ; assistant editor Vt. Journal (Windsor) over
five years, from Dec, '62 ; clerk in War Department in Washington, D.
C, Oct., 1863, till March 1, 1864. Practiced law in New York City from
March, 1864, till his death, April 24, 1884, of apoplexy. Was also clerk
in the New York custom house, 1869-70, and traveled in Europe, 1867-
'68. Married Feb. 14, 1867, Elizabeth George, daughter of Wm.
George and Elizabeth Eule, of New York, who survived him without
children.
1857.
Samtel Everett Pingree, son of Stephen and Judeth (True) Pingree,
was born in Salisbury, N. H., August 2, 1832, and located in Hartford
in 1859. He was fitted for college at the Salisbury and Andover (N. H.)
academies, and at Mclndoes Falls, Vt., entered the sophomore class of
Dartmouth College, and was graduated in the class of 1857. He studied
law in the office of Hon. A. P. Hunton, of Bethel, and was admitted to
the bar of Windsor county in 1859. In January, 1860, he began prac-
tice, where he has since resided.
400 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
At the opening of the rebellion,- he assisted in recruiting and enlisted
as a private in Co. F, 3d Eegt. Vt. Vols. Upon its organization, he was
chosen its first lieutenant, and afterwards its captain. At the battle of
Lee's Mills, April 16, 1862, at the head of four companies, he charged
upon the rebel lines, and wading Warwick Creek, breast-high, under
severe fire from the enemy, drove thsm from their rifle-pits. He was
twice wounded in this battle, and was thereby in hospital during the
seven days around Richmond, under McClellan, which was the only im-
portant battle in which the Army of the Potomac was engaged when he
was not present. Subsequently, he was promoted to be major and lieu-
tenant-colonel of his regiment. During the first days' battle of the
Wilderness he was ordered to take command of the 2d Vermont, and he
continued in command until it was mustered out of service, June 29,
1865. In the fall of 1863, he was for a while in command of the 7th
Maine Vols., and at another time of a New Jersey regiment. On his re-
turn to civil life, he resumed the practice of his profession, and was
elected State's attorney for Windsor county in 1867-8. He raised the
8th regiment of Vermont militia, and was its colonel during its exist-
ence. He was president of the Reunion Society of Vermont Officers
and Soldiers, in 1865. In 1868 he was one of the delegates-at-large to
the Republican national convention at Chicago, and in 1882 he was
elected lieutenant-governor of the State. In 1884 he was elected, as a
Republican, governor, receiving 42,524 votes, against 19,820 votes for
Lyman W. Redington, Democrat ; 635 votes for Samuel Soule, Green-
backer ; 200 votes for Charles M. Stone, Independent ; and ten scatter-
ing.
Under an act to create a board of railroad commissioners, passed by
the General Assembly of Vermont, and approved November 22, 1886,
the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, selected ex-
Governor S. E. Pingree for chairman of said board for the term of two
years from and after December 1st, A. D., 1886. In Dec, '88, he was
again appointed chairman of said board for the term of two years. Mr.
Pingree has practiced his profession, since his return from the war, in
Hartford village. He was married Sept. 15, 1869, to Lydia M. Steele,
of Newport, Vt. No children.
1860.
Daniel Ashley Dickenson, son of Wright S. and Martha (Dennison)
Dickenson, born in Hartford, Vt., 28 Oct., 1839. Fitted at Meriden,
N. H., spent the fall of 1860 with a classmate, Charles Lee Foster, in a
pedestrian tour through Great Britain and Ireland, going out before
the mast, but returning as passenger. Studied law in West Lebanon,
N. H., till Sept., 1861 ; then at Pittsburgh, N. Y., till June, 1863. Ad-
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 401
mitted to the bar. Acting Asst. Paymaster U. S. N., June, '63, to
Jan'y, 65, being attached to gunboat Freeborn, of Potomac flotilla.
Finished legal studies in Albany Law School ; Practiced law in office of
Smith M. Weed, Plattsburgh, N. ¥., from Jan'y, 1865, and became his
partner, Jan. 1, 1867 ; removed to Mankato, Minn., May, 1868, where he
practiced in the firm of Severance & Dickenson. Became Judge of the
District Court in 1874 ; appointed associate justice of the Supreme
Court in 1881, to fill a vacancy, and elected to same office that year ;
re-elected for second term in 1886. Married, 11 June, 1867, Mary E.
Weed, of Plattsburgh, N. T. Has two daughters living, and one is
dead.
1861.
Abel Trumbull Howard, born in W. Hartford, Vt., Nov. 1, 1830, the
eldest son of the late Abel and Mary (Hunt) Howard. His father was a
farmer, and at 18, after a district school education, the son commenced
teaching. His leisure time was spent at home, assisting on the farm.
Between 18 and 26 he fitted for college at Kimball Union Academy, in
Meriden, N. H. After fitting for college course, he spent two years in
Virginia, teaching, for which he obtained money for his college educa-
tion. After his graduation in Aug , 1861, he was married to Anna
Holyoke Cutts, daughter of Hon. Hampden Gutts, of Brattleboro, and
took the position of principal in the High School at Walpole, N. H., in
the winter of 1861 and '62. In Brattleboro, he held the same position
for a year, until 1863, at which time he went to Brooklyn, N. Y. There
he taught in a private boys' school, a few months, and then went to
Chester, N. J., where he and his wife and Rev. Mr. Stoutenbergh, were
associated with Chester Academy, as Principals. In 1865, the following
year, he and his wife went to Matawan, N. J., as principals and proprie-
tors of Glenwood Collegiate Institute. They spent seven years and a half
there, and then returned to Brooklyn where they have lived ever since.
He taught in a private school a few years and then embarked in the
commission business. He has four children living. Cecil Hampden,
born Sept. 5, 1862 ; Mary Cutts, born Feb. 22, 1865 ; Charles Trumbull,
born Oct. 18, 1876 ; Edward Eliot, born July 2, 1876 ; he has also lost
8 children by death.
1862.
Geo. B. Patch, son of William and Adeline (Wright) Patch, born in
Hartford, 6 May, 1837. Fitted at Thetford Academy. City missionary
in Washington, D. C, 1862-3, in employ of the First Presbyterian
36
402 HISTORY OF HAETFOED.
church. In Juae, 1863, became a clerk in the United States Treas-
ury Department. Was pastor of the Easton Presbyterian church
in Washington, 1875-1881, then resigned to begin a new church
enterprise in the north- west portion of the city, which resulted in the
organization of Unity Presbyterian church, of which he was installed
pastor, 19 April, 1882. He traveled in Earope in the summer and fall of
1878. Has published a volume of poems. Married 13 Jan'y, 1864,
Elizabeth Walker. Has no children.
1871.
H Allen Hazbn, son of Rev. Allen and Martha (Chapin) Hazen, and
grandson of Rev. Austin Hazen, (D. C, 1807), was born in Servor, British
India, Jan'y 12, 1849. At that time Rev. Allen Hazen was doing mis-
sionary work in Servor, but he soon after removed to Ahmednugger,
where his mission was chiefly made. He returned to the United States
in 1858, with his family, and, after remaining here a short time, returned
to Ahmednugger, leaving his son Allen in this country. At the age of
sixteen, young Hazen went to St. Johnsbury, Vt., for the purpose of
fitting for college, at the academy there, of which Prof. J. K. Colby was
the principal, but, owing to the death of Prof. Colby, he completed his
academical course at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H. From
this institution he entered Dartmouth College with seventeen of his
classmates, in 1867. For one year after his graduation he studied in the
Thayer School of Engineering, in Hanover. In the autumn of 1872,
Mr. Hazen went to New Haven, Conn., and there took up the study of
mechanical drawing, astronomy and chemistry, in the Sheffield Scientific
School, in which school he was an instructor in drawing for five years.
In the autumn of 1877, he was assistant in meteorology and lectures in
physics to Prof. Elias Loomis. In May, 1881, he entered the signal
service, in Washington, D. C, where his work since has been mostly in
the line of special investigations on weather predictions, thermometer
exposure, thunder storms, tables of reduction, sky-glows, balloon ascents
and other subjects. In 1884 Mr. Hazen was awarded the Warner gold
medal for " scientific discovery," for an essay on sky-glows. Among
his literary productions, which have appeared in scientific journals, are
twenty papers, on meteorological subjects. In 1879 he devoted much time
to collecting genealogical notes on the Hazen family, and obtained
nearly four thousand names.
1874.
Febd L. Allen, son of Dr. Samuel J. and Mary (Lyman)^Allen, was
born in Hartford, July 7, 1848 ; fitted at Meriden ; graduated at And-
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 403
over, 1877 ; ordained Sept. 26, 1877, at Walpole, N. H..: dismissed, 1884;
began present ministry in Henniker, N. H., Nov. 1, 1884.
1878.
Chaklks Ahthuk Tucker, A. M., son of Samuel Baseom and Amanda
(Hazen) Tucker, was born in West Hartford, March 31, 1855. Fitted for
college at Meriden, N. H.; book-keeper for Mr. Hayes, Elizabeth, N. J.,
1878 ; taught in high school in Manchester, Delaware Co., Iowa, Jan., 1879,
to September of same year ; first assistant teacher in high school, Lan-
sing, Iowa, to September, 1880 ; professor in Lenox Collegiate Institute,
Hopkinton, Iowa, 1880-81. In September, 1881, became principal of
the Centre school, Norwalk, Ct., which position he has since retained.
Married, Aug. 1, 1883, Mary Caroline, daughter of Wm. L. and Lydia
E. Quintard. No children.
1888.
Bennie Bdrton Gillett, son of Daniel O. and Julia (Burton) GUlett,
born in Hartford, July 21, 1865 ; fitted for college at St. Johmsbury
academy ; is a fine musician, and an abcdmplished organist.
1888, D. 0. AGE. COL.
Geo. E. Pobtek, son of "Wm. B. and Ruth (Whitney j Porter, born in
Hartford.
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE GRAB DATES.
Bachelors of Arts.
1787— Daniel Ordway GUlett, A. M., do. Won's 1797; died 1823, aged
63.
Bachelors of Science.
1863— Noah Bartholomew Hazen. 1874 — Tillotson Wheeler Gilson,
Walter Parker. 1875— Charles Morris Cone. 1881— Charles Herbert
Hazen, Frank Marston. 1885 — Allen Hazen.
Doctors of Medicine.
1819— Ira Tenney, died 1843, aged 48. 1839 — Thomas Green
Hazen, died 1875, aged 60. Joseph Nathan Stiles, died 1875. 1856
Homer Hopson Tenney, died 1881, aged 55. 1859 — Charles Harper
Tenney, died April 23, 1874, aged 44. 1869— Albert Smith, died 1880,
aged 37.
404 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
GRADUATE OF TUFTS COLLEGE.
Elam Porter, son of Benjamin and Eachel (Gile) Porter, was born in
Hartford, Vt., April 22, 1837. After acquiring a good, common school
education, he fitted for Tufts College at the South Woodstock (Vt.)
academy, in company with his life-long friend, Eev. E. H. Capon, with
whom also he graduated at Tufts in the class of 1860. While in college
he taught the grammar school in Stoughton, Mass., to the full satisfac-
tion of all who were interested in its welfare. He gained many warm
friends there, by his manly, generous qualities, his social powers, and
his noble talent. After his graduation, he was for some time principal
of the high school in South Eeadirg, Mass. While there he pursued
the study of law under Judge Healy of Boston, and was admitted to
the bar. About the year 1865, he remoyed to Ohio, and was admitted
to the bar there. He finally settled in Cincinnati, where he rapidly
gained a lucrative practice. While in South Reading he was the super-
intendent of the Universalist Sunday school, and in Cincinnati he was
a member of the Bible class in connection with the First Church.
The death of Mr. Porter was of a tragical nature and cast a deep
shadow over the lives of his many admiring friends and acquaintances.
The following vivid account of his untimely death is copied from the
sermon preached at his funeral in Stoughton, Mass., by Eev. A.. St. John
Chamber, pastor of the First Parish Church, Sunday, December 29th,
1867 :—
" We have all been startled by the frightful catastrophe on the Lake
Shore E. E. The night express train for Albany, left Cincinnati on
Tuesday evening, the 17th inst., laden with its freight of human souls
and human hopes. All went well until Wednesday afternoon, when
owing to some cause not yet clearly made known, as the train neared
Angola, west of Buffalo, the cars were thrown from the rails. Two cars
went over the embankment, one on either side of the track. Down some
sixty feet, on one side, plunged a car, to be utterly wrecked by the ter-
rible descent. All the passengers were precipitated into one end. This
was horrible. But the horror was intensified by the igniting of the
shattered mass from the live coals of the overturned stoves. Almost
instantaneously the whole was a sheet of flame, and nearly fifty human
beings, so latelyfull of bright hopes, and blissful anticipations were con-
sumed. It was impossible to render adequate assistance, although every
effort was made by the inhabitants of Angola. The steep and ice cov-
ered slope was little favorable to the aid that numberless brave and
pitying hearts would gladly have rendered. Nor could the raging fire
be quenched. Of those consumed in that car were a bridal party on
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 405
their wedding tour ; the superintendent of our Sunday school in Mai-
den, engaged to be married on Christmas day, and Mr. Elam Porter,
whom you all know, who on the same Christmas day was to have led to
the sacred alter his choice out of the world. He was to visit his sick,
and perhaps dying mother, in Vermont, and then to meet his affianced
here. Only a bunch of keys, with his name and residence on the ring
that bound them, was left to tell the awful tale. His body, with many
others could not be recognized." * * *
Mr. Porter's fiancee was Miss Mary Melcher, of Stoughton, Mass.
He held a policy of insurance on his life to the amount of $5,000, which
was made payable to Miss Melcher.
Honorary Degrees Conferred by Various Colleges.
1820— Williams College. 1837— Middlebury College.
Honorary degree of A. M. — Rev. Harvey F. Leavitt.
University of Vermont.
Honorary degree A. M.— Geo. E. Wales, 1823 ; Andrew Tracy, 1835 ;
Eoswell Marsh, 1837.
Dartmouth College.
Honorary degree A. M. — George Edward Wales, 1823 ; Andrew
Tracy, 1852 ; Charles Marsh, 1859.
CHAPTER XXVII.
GENEALOGIES.
No one who has not made genealogical researches, can form a just idea
of the difficulties of gathering facts requisite to completeness in the
work. The formation of a historical memorial of a family, even of the
least volume, cannot be accomplished without the co-operation of many
williag hearts and hands, especially in the absence of full and complete
written records, such as should be kept by every family in the land. It
is surprising that there are so many people who take but little, if any,
interest in the story of their lineage, or in the perpetuation of their own
memory, or, at least, sufficient interest to lead them to prepare and care-
fully preserve a memorial relating to the special branch of the family to
which they belong. How few there are who know anything of their
ancestry back of their grand parents ! And, why is it that many people
who are able to trace their paternal ancestry back for several 'genera-
tions, are unable to trace their maternal ancestry even to their grand
parents ?
During the compilation of the following family records the author has
written at least 500 letters to obtain facts and dates. A large number
of these letters, accompanied by return postage, fell into the hands of
those who appropriated the stamps, but maintained a careless or impat-
ible silence — (there are few forms of ill-breeding more ungracious than
this) — other letters elicited brief or superficial outlines of family histo-
ries, while some brought a large harvest of facts ; but the information
obtained was such as should have been found recorded in family Bibles
within the town.
The author has endeavored to arrange the following genealogies in
such a way that each branch of the family at large, and of every specific
family belonging to it, is pursued, from its beginning to its end, by
itself ; the antecedent and sequent connections of anj individual family
being presented in one connected view. This system is regarded by the
author as preferable to that of presenting all those belonging to a given
generation together in one view, which involves a tedious investigation,
as the antecedent and sequent connections of any individual family must
be repetit^ously sought for one by one. The system observed by the
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 407
author in the following genealogies is such that no lengthy researches
will be necessary in tracing out one's immmediate relatives.
To the careful reader of these genealogies, many points of special in-
terest of a biological and sociological kind will be observed. It will be
seen that fewer children are among our native population in modern,
than in by-gone days ; that both sexes are shorter-lived than formerly,
and that there is a much greater diversification of business at present,
as compared with the almost universal uniformity of employment at first
in tilling the soil. No longer than sixty years ago there was in one
school district in Hartford six families whose total membership, parents
and children, was ninety- nine persons, viz: — David Newton and wife,
and 16 children ; Sylvanus Smith and wife, and 20 children ; Samuel
Dutton and wife, and 16 children; Philip Sprague and wife, and 12 chil-
dren ; Harvey Gibbs and wife, and 10 children ; Daniel Benedict Dutton
and wife, and 13 children : number of children, 87. The number of other
children in the same district at that time swelled the aggregate to nearly
120, lu the same school district, to day, in an equal number of fami-
lies, there are less than 20 children. Sixty years ago, the number of
children of school age in the town was about 700. The number of fami-
hes then in the town was about 300 ; the average number of children of
school age to each family being three. To-day, there are about 700 fam-
ilies in the town, which have, altogether, not more than 700 children of
school age, or an average of one to each family. Eliminating the for-
eign population, say 100 families, in which the number of children as
compared with those of native citizens is as three to one, and we have
in 600 families of the native born population but 400 children of schoo^
age (5 to 20 years of age). (Query.) How soon will the people of Anglo-
Saxon nativity, in this town, be supplanted by other and more prolific
races, that are observant of the Divine command — "Be fruitful and mul-
tiply"—(Gen. 1.28)? .
The author regrets that the histories of some other families are not
among those here presented. It is not, however, the author's fault that
other histories are not included. The descendants of some of the early
settlers who have been urged to loan written and printed data in their
possession, have wantonly or negligently withheld the same, seemingly
grudging for a history of themselves and their kindred the moiety of
time and effort they bestow upon " trifles light as air."
In conclusion, the author has to say that he feels confident that the
long series of earnest efforts made by him to obtain and preserve,
through all coming time, the family histories here presented, will be
408 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
held at a high estimate by those for whose pro at and pleasure he has
unremittingly labored.
The abbreviations are: b. (bDrn), m. (married), d. (died), unm. (un-
married), ch. (children).
THE BARTHOLOMEW FAMILY.
1. William Bartholomew, the emigi-ant ancestor of the New England
family, was born in 1602 or '3, in Burford, Eng. On the 18th of Sept., 1634, he
arrived in Boston, in the sMp Griffith, with some forty others of his counti-ymen.
He was soon after made a freeman of Boston, and April 25, 1635, was granted
several ti-acts of land in Ipswich. May 6, 1635, he appeared at the General Court
in Boston as the representative of the inhabitants of Ipswich. He had then been
in America only seven months. He removed from Ipswich to Boston in 1660,
and from Boston to Charlestown in 1679, in which city he died Jan. 17, 1680.
(1681, new style).
2. Noah Bartholomew, a lineal descendant of William, and the son of Wil-
liam (4), was born wi Brantford, Conn., in 1732-3 ; married in Litchfield, Conn.,
Mabel, daughter of Thomas Parmely, about 1756-7. He removed from Litchfield
to Hartford, Vt., in 1798, where he died 16 Feb., 1813. She died 24 Feb., 1813.
Their children yvere:— Luther, b. 18 Feb. 1758; d. 5 May, 1839. Olive, b. 7
Nov., 1759; m. 3 Feb. 1789, Daniel Hazen; d. 19 Apr., 1845. (See Hazen Family.)
Mabel, b. 30 Dec, 1761; m. 14 Dec, 1783, Joseph Clark, 4 oh. Bether,h. 9
July, 1764; d. 18 Sept. 1832 (never lived in Hai-tford). Diadama, b. 13 Mar.,
1767; d. unm. 26 Nov., 1849; £e. 73. Sarah, b. 21 June, 1769; m. 1 Aug., 1790,
James Woodruff; d. in Litchfield, Ct., 2 March, 1855, ». 85, ch 2. Polly, b. 4
June, 1773; m. 11 Oct., 1795, Harvey Gibbs; d. 3 Feb. 1843. Daniel, b. 22
May, 1775; d. 4 Deo. 1776. Charlotte, b. 29AprU, 1777; m. Elder Spencer; d.
4 Oct., 1863, £6. 86. Daniel, b. 18 May, 1779.; d. 29 Sept., 1823. human, b. 27,
July, 1783; d. 1 June, 1832.
3. Luther, son of Noah (2), b. in Washington, Conn., 18 Feb., 1758; m. Azubah
Farnum of Litchfield, Conn. He moved to Hartford in 1794. He and his sons
were noted for their great physical strength. Having received a good education,
his services as a teacher of the district schools were always in demand, and he
taught no less than twenty-eight terms. During his married life his home was
the constant resort of itinerant Methodist clergymen , and he was libei'al in sup-
port of the church. He was patriotic in principle and action and made a good
record in the Revolutionary war, and in that of 1812. He worked on his farm
until the day of his death, which was preceded by only a few hours of sickness.
He died 5 May, 1839, as. 81. His wife died 18 Sept., 1827, se. 60. Children:—
Lucy, b. 9 Feb. 1786; m. John Reynolds, of Strafford, Vt.; d. 25 Sept., 1837;
One daughter d. young; the other went west as a teacher. Sheldon, b. 28
Sept., 1787; d. 28 Aug., 1868, se. 80. Luther, Jr., b. 25 Aug, 1789; d. 38 May,
1880, te. 90. Olive, b. 35 Dec, 1789; m. Rev. Eleaaer Wells, 2 May, 1809;' d.
childless in Portland, Me., 11 Sept., 1825. He was for 46 years a Methodist min-
ister; d. 25 April, 1852. Amos Farnham, b. 1 Jan., 1796; d. 12 Oct., 1871, se. 75.
Bether, b. 24 Dec, 1793; d. 7 Jan., 1812. Noah, b. 26 Sept., 1800; d. 17 March,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 409
1871, 86. 70. Azubah, b. 39 Feb., 1804; m. 9 Jan., 1825, Rev. Elijah Spear, and
d. in Pomfret, Vt., 37 Dec, 1863. Elder Spear was, at the time of his death,
serving his fiftieth year as a minister of the Methodist church, and forty-first
year as an elder.
4. Olive, dau. of Noah (3), wasb. 7 Nov., 1759; m. 3 Feb., 1789, DanielHazen;
d. 19 April, 1845, in Hartford, Vt., as. 85. She was well versed in physic and the
<3are of the sick, and was often called upon to attend persons living at a distance.
She was a wonderfully brave woman, as an incident wUl show. She received
an urgent call one dark night following a storm. The invalid was five miles
away across White river, which was swollen, deep and swift; there was no
means of crossing except to ford it. Nothing daunted, she ordered her favorite
horse, and being tied to his back, the horse swam the river and carried her safely
to her sick friend. Their children: ason,h. 5 Feb. 1790. Jasper, b. 2 Dec,
1790; d. in his ninetieth year. Laura, b. 15 April, 1793; m. Philo Sprague;
d. 36 March, 1877. Daniel, b. 5 June, 1795; d. 34 Oct., 1874, -ai. 80. Noah
B.,h. 5 Aug., 1797.
5. Polly, dau. of Noah (3), b. 4 June, 1773; m. 11 Oct., 1793, Harvey
Gibbs; d. 3 Feb. 1843. He was b. 14 June, 1765; d. 11 Feb. 1845. Child-
ren: Lucy, b. 36 Aug. 1793; d. unm. 30 Feb., 1848. Julia, b. 6 Apr.,
1795; m. Alvan Hazen, 31 Oct., 1818. He was b. 28 Aug., 1792; d. 13 Aug.,
1873, 86. 81. She d. Jan. 25, 1887. Mabel, b. 9 Jan. 1799; d. unm. 37 March,
1878, 86. 78. Harvey, b. 30 Jan., 1801; m. 15 June, 1837, Almira Baboock;
She d. 5 Aug. 1851; he m. 3nd, Mrs. Lucy Washburn; he d. 25 Nov. 1884, in St.
Johnsbury, Vt. Philemon, b. 37 June, 1803; d. unm. 1 Jan., 1844. Warren,
b. July 30, 1805; m. 1st. Catherine M. Taft, 29 Nov., 1849; she d. 26 April,
1864, ». 45; he m. 2nd, Louisa Staples ; he d. 18 Feb., 1883. Daniel, h. 12 Nov.,
1807; Congregational minister; d. in Hai-tford, Conn., 37 Apr., 1881, ae. 73.
Polly, b. 13 Feb., 1810; m. 11 Sept., 1838, Wm. Newton; he d. 5 Sept. 1863;
she m. 3ad, 3 Dec., 1869, Loren. B. Dudley; she d. 3 Apr., 1885, se. 75. Lucius
H., b. 15 Mch., 1817 (twin); m. 1st, Belinda Boylston; 2nd, Mrs. Mary Frye;
res. Brooklyn, N. Y. Julius B., b. 15 Mch., 1817 (twin); m. twice; resided
in Princeton, Minn.
6. Daniel, son of Noah (2), b. 18 May, 1779; m. Judith ; d. 29 Sept.,
1833. Mrs. Judith subsequently joined the ^hakers, taking her five children
with her.
7. LxjMAN, son of Noah (3), b. 37 July, 1783; m. in 1804, Ruth Ann, dau. of
Jeremiah Ingraham, of Washington, Ct., andd. 1 June. 1833; she m. 3nd, Roger
Caldwell, and d. Mar. 1869, se. 85. Mr. Bartholomew was a successful farmer,
living in Hartford, Vt., untU Oct., 1819, when he removed to Wayne, Ashtabula
Co., Ohio, where he died. They had nine children, five sons and four daughters.
8. Sheldon, son of Luther (3), b. 23 Sept. 1787; m. Anna Chapman, 28 Aug.,
1811; d. 28 Aug., 1868, se. 80; she was b. 28 Aug., 1793; d. 4 Sept. 1867, se. 74;
Capt. Bartholomew was drafted in the war of 1813, but after a month's service
he hired a substitute and returned home to see his new-born son for the first
time. He was a farmer in Hartford; held various town offices, and was for
several years captain of a military company. Children: — John W., b. 33 June,
1813; when twenty-one, moved to N. Y. and m; in 1841, removed to Niles, Mich.,
410 HISTORY OF HAETFORD.
where he buried his wife and two only children; he was drowned in the Missis-
sippi river, 5 July, 1845. Simon H., b. 32 Feb., 1814; d. 35 Aug., 1843.
Ezra W., b. 18 Aug., 1816; m. 3 Dec, 1843; d. 9 Dec, 1864. Arvin S., b. 16
Nov., 1823; resides in Plainfleld, N. H. Jefferson F., b. 37 Sept., 1838; resides
in Tombstone, Arizona. Laura A., b. 10 Aug., 1833; m. 27 Dec. 1853, Har-
rison M. Cutting, b. in Hanover, N. H., 15 Feb., 1839; d. in Boston, 9 Mar. 1887.
She d. in Hartford, 5 Oct., 1887. ChUdren :—OZara A., b. 29 June, 1854; m.
Daniel C. Badger. Fannie M., b. 16 Dec, 1859; res. in Boston, unm. Josiah S.,
b. 18 Sept., 1861; m. Aug., 1884, Theresa Glosson. Elvira, b. 5 Oct., 1863; m.
30 Apr. 1883, Morris L. Darling.
9. Luther Jr., son of Luther (3), b. in Litchfield, Ct., 25 Aug., 1789; m. 22
July, 1815, Fannie Fox, of Hartford, Yt., and d. 38 May, 1880. She was b. 17
July, 1799; d. 31 Aug., 1881. He. was a farmer in Bai-nard, Vt. Children:—
Mary A., b. 17 Oct., 1816; m. Aug., 1839, Arthur Hathaway, and d. in Char-
lestown, Mass., 34 Sept., 1860; he has been chief of the private watch in Boston
for over 30 years, ch. 6. Amanda L., b. 33 Jan., 1819; m. 3 June, 1838,
Joseph E. Davis, b. 37 Nov., 1805; a farmer in E. Barnard, Vt., ch. 7. Lucy
M., b. 8 May, 1831; m. June, 1840, Lucian Howitt; d. Apr., 1880, ch. 6.
Caroline A., b. 12 May, 1823; m. 9 Mch. 1848, Rev. Jeremiah W. Bemis, pastor
of the M. E. church, ch. 4. Eleazer, b. 9 Dec, 1825; crippled for life in U. S.
military service; resides on the old homestead in E. Barnard, Vt. George W.,
resides in Eureka, Nev., where his wife d. in 1881. Miranda D., b. Nov.,
1828; m. Marcus (her cousin.) (See Noah Bartholomew.) Persis A., m. 1st,
Alvin Russ; 2nd James H. Page, a merchant in Boston.
10. Amos Farnham, son of Luther (3), b. in Hartford 1 Jan., 1796; m. 16 Sept.,
1833, Martha Button, b. 10 June, 1801, and d. Deo. 30, 1827; he m. 3nd, 34 May,
1829, Delaney Sargent, b. 26 Dec, 1804; d. 24 Jan. 1859; he d. 13 Oct., 1871;
Children:— iJ/ioda J"., b. 14 June, 1833; m. 7 Jan. 1847, Melvin Wing, who d.
11 Sept., 1854; she m. 3nd in Montpelier, Vt., Rev. W. J. Kidder, who joined the
M. E. Conference in 1831, and presiding Elder of the Montpelier district for four
years. ChOdren:— Henry M., b. 9 Feb., 1851; d. 24 Nov., 1853. Melvin D., b. 9
Feb., 1854; d. 39 May, 1854. Martha Delaney, b. 21 Feb., 1838; m. 3. Oct.,
1854, Rev. G. H. Tracy, who was lost at sea, 16 May, 1856; ch. 3, one only of
whom sui-vives, viz.: Martha R., m. Charles Owles of Boston. Harvey Chase,
b. 19 Feb., 1836; m. 28 June, 1856, Rosetta S. Hanrington; d. 6 July, 1880, in
Keene, N. H. ; ch. : (a) William; (bj Charles.
11. Noah, son of Luther (3), b. in Hartford, 36 Sept., 1800; m. 1826, Mary
[dau. of Thomas and Rebecca (Swift) Freeman, of Barnard, Vt.]; b. 3 June, 1803;
d. 19 Mch., 1871; she hves with her son Marcus. Mr. Bartholomew was en en-
tei-prising farmer, a devoted member and liberal siipporter of the M. E. church
in Hartford, and a good citizen. Children: — Marcus F., b. 35 Aug., 1830; m.
Feb. 26, 1856, his cousin, Mu-anda D. Bartholomew; he lives on the old home-
stead in Hartford, and is a worthy member of the Congregational church in
Hartford village. Children: Walter M., b. 36 May, 1858; hves in St. Louis, Mo.;
Ernest J., b. 15 Sept., 1854; lives in St. Paul, Minn. Albert Vinton, b. 35 June,
1861; Benjamin Hoit, b. 38 July, 1867. The last two live in Hartford, on the
homestead with their father. Geo. K'., b. 4 July, 1835. (See D. C. Alumni.)
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 411
THE BUGBEE FAMILY.
The written history concerning the Bugbee family, like that of too many fam-
ilies, is meagre, and, to the genealogist, very unsatisfactory. In the cemetery
on the south side of White river, at White River Junction, adjacent to the Cath-
olic cemetery, there are five headstones bearing respectively the following inscrip-
tions, viz:
1. Nathaniel Bugbee, d. July 33, 1808, se. 96; Mrs. Saeah Bugbbe, wife of
Nathaniel Bugbee, d. March 18, 1815, se. 93. Benjamin Bugbee, d. Apr. 8, 1830
se. 60. Mrs. Pattee Bugbee, wife of Olvard Bugbee, d. 1830, se. 48. Olvard
Bugbee, d. Aug. 28, 1864, se. 89. Benjamin was son of Nathaniel and Sarah
Bugbee, and brother of Jonathan 1st, who came from Summers, Tolland
county. Conn., to Hartfor'd about the year 1800. Olvard was a grandson of
Nathaniel.
3. Jonathan, son of Nathaniel (1) and Sarah Bugbee, b. in Ashford, Conn.,
May 19, 1765; m. about 1784, Esther Colton, b. Sept. 9, 1765; d. Mar. 4, 1793. He
m. 3d, Betsy Colton, sister of his first wife, b. Jan. 8, 1768; d. Nov. 17, 1835. He
m. 3d, Mar. 10, 1836, Mrs. Mabel (Colton) Guild, a sister of his two former wives.
He d. Apr. 33, 1849; she d. Apr. 15, 1860. The chUdren by the first wife were:
Amos, b. Nov. 5, 1785; Esther, b. Jan. 28, 1788; m. Aug. 11, 1815, Lyman
Haze. Betsey, b. Apr. 18, 1790. Children of second wife: Jonathan 2d, b.
Jan. 26, 1795; Horace, b. Feb. 1, 1797; Martin, b. Aug. 14, 1802; Orrhi, b. Aug.
29, 1807; Theodore, b. June 3, 1810.
3. Betsy, dau. of Jonathan (3) b. April 18, 1790, m. June 16, 1812, AbijahTaft,
b. in Mendon, Mass., Dec. 7, 1786, (Son of Artemus Taft.) He d. Aug. 23, 1754;
Betsy his wife d. AprU 6, 1871. Their children were: Asaph, b. Nov. 3;
1813; lives in W. R. Junction, unm.; Josiah, b. July 16, 1815, d. Jan. 3, 1816,
Sorace, b. Jan. 30, 1817, d. May 31, 1858, unm; Victor, F. b. Jan. 3, 1819,
d. Dec. 14, 1876, unm.; Catherine, M., b. April 10, 1831, m. Nov. 39, 1849,
Warren Gibbs, d. AprU 26, 1864; Elizabeth A., b. Feb. 15, 1833, d. June 3,
1874, unm.; Artemus O., b. May 26, 1826, m. April 3. 1878, Ellen Nason;
Theodore G., b. Sept. 15, 1830, d. April 25, 1863, unm.; Clementine M., b.
Mar. 33, 1833, m. July 6, 1850, Geo. L. TarbeU; Sarah J., b. Aug. 3, 1833;
lives unm. with her brother, Asaph. ■
4. Jonathan 2d, son of Jonathan (3) b. Jan. 26, 1795, m. May 31, 1821, Cynthia
Pease, b. May 27, 1799, (dau. of Levi and Lucy Pease.) He d. Oct. 4, 1851. His
wife d. Feb. 4, 1868. They had Cynthia, b. Feb. 11, 1822, m. Mar. 18, 1850,
Geo. W. Tilden, b. June 20, 1819, [Son of Josiah and Susannah (Clark) Tilden.]
George, P., b. Oct. 18, 1823; Amos, b. Oct. 1, 1835, m. April 37, 1859, Susan
L. Disbrow; he d. March 18, 1863; she d. Dec. 34, 1864; Jonathan 3d, b. Nov.
30, 1837; Emeline, b. Sept. 39, 1839; Clara, b. Aug. 19, 1834, m. June 30,
1879, James Steele; he d. Aug., 1880. No further information can be gained
concerning the children of Jonathan 3d.
5. George P., son of Jonathan (4) b. Oct. 18, 1833, m. 1st, Ellen H. Sturtevant,
"b. June 13, 1825, (dau. of Foster and Mary (Willard) Sturtevant, of Hartford.)
She d. Oct. 11, 1873. He m. 3d, June 1, 1874, Mary A. Piatt, b. Dec. 39, 1838,
(dau. of James H. and Sophia (Russell) Piatt.) His children by first wife were:
413 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Ellen, b. Aug. 3, 1848, d, Feb. 4, 1865; Mary S., b. Sept. 24, 1849, d. May 18,
1869; Albert (?., b. March 17, 1851, m. June 1, 1875, Sarah M. Clark, b. Dec.
35, 1853, (dau. Zerah B. and Jenette (Pinney) Clark.) She d. Dec. 3, 1877. He
m. 3d, March 10, 1881, Sarah A. Eddy, (dau. of Charles A. and Sarah C. (Bacon)
Eddy, of Erving, Mass.) Had one child, Mary S., b. Feb. 9, 1884. Willis T.,
b. Jan. 36, 1853, d. March 13, 1853; Frank J., b. Sept. 29, 1855, d. March 24,
1856; Edward, b. Oct. 30, 1859, d. Feb. 33, 1865; Amos, b. Aug. 7, 1864, d.
Oct. 11, 1865; Ernest F., b. Jan. 4, 1867. No children by last marriage.
6. Jonathan, 8d, son of Jonathan (4,) b. Nov. 20, 1837, m. 1st, Jan. 1, 1855,
Helen M. Morse, b. Oct. 10, 1836, (dau. of Jolin and Harriet (Scott) Morse.) She
d. Feb. 24, 1860. He m. 8d, June 34, 1863, Ellen A. Lewis, b. Nov. 30, 1837,
(dau. of George G. and Addie (Larabee) Lewis.) By his first wife he had Amos,
b. Oct. 12, 1855, d. July 18, 1863; Willis D., b. Dec. 21, 1857, d. July 4, 1863;
Eugene M., b. Dec. 14, 1859, m. June 33, 1886, Hattie M. Clark, b. Feb. 80, 1865,
(dau. of Kelso B. and Lucy M. (Nichols) Clark); they have one child, Helen E., b.
Aug. 31, 1887. Children by second wife: Frank L., b. Feb. 17, 1865; Edmund
J., b. Dec. 3, 1866; Charles L., b. Dec. 27, 1867, m. Dec. 35, 1888, Lizzie H.
Simonds; Adeline C, b. Jan. 31, 1869, d. Aug. 33, 1869; Marion L., b. Sept.
3, 1871; Arthur G., b. April 17, 1873; Louis 8., b. Aug. 36, 1875; Isabel K.
b. July 19, 1877; Helen J., b. March 3, 1880.
7. Emblinb, dau. of Jonathan (4) b Sept. 29, 1829, m. Sept. 14, 1850, Chai'les B.
Stone, b. Feb. 22, 1822, (son of Enos and Rachel (Blake) Stone). They had Frances
E., b. April 28, 1851, m. Dec. 28, 1873, Charles H. Dimmick of Randolph, Vt.
They had one child, Grace, b. Dec. 26, 1874. Mr. Dimmick d. Aug. 3, 1874. His
widow m. 2d, Oct. 18, 1876, Albert T. Pike. They have had one child, Mildi-ed,
F., b. Sept. 11,1882; Charles B. Jr., h. Nov. 17, 1852, m. March 1884, EUa
Gile. They have three children; Ella E., b. Nov. 11, 1854, m. Apr. 29, 1874,
Charles H. West, (son of Caleb and Laura E. (Pratt) West), b. 1852; a farmer in
Hartford ; he d. Sept. 23, 1886, leaving one child; George C, b. Feb. 3, 1878.
His widow resides in Olcott Village (in Hartford, Vt.)
THE DELANO FAMILY.
According to tradition, the emigrant ancestors of the Delano family in this
country were Huguenots, who were expelled from France prior to the Massacre
of St. Bartholomew, and took refuge in England about 1570; further, that Jona-
than Delano, the grandson of one of the refugees, and the emigrant ancestor of
this family, when 16 years of age, sat on the walls of London and witnessed the
entry of CromweU and his army into that city a few weeks after the mem.orable
battle of Naseby, June 14, 1646. Afterwards coming to America, Jonathan set-
tled in Windham County, Ct. Of his descendants in the fourth genei'ation, was
Jonathan Delano, who emigrated from Connecticut to Hai'tford, Vt., about
1793.
After his an-ival in Hartford, Jonathan bought, June 13, 1793, the home farm
of Rowland Powell, Jr. , which comprised the farms now owned and occupied by
Frederick A Huse, and his next door neighbor, George H. Savage, who reside on
the White River turnpike, about three miles west of Hartford village. Jonathan
Delano was born in 1733. He married Anna Ladd, born in 1734, by whom he
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 413
had five sons and four daughters, all born in Tolland, Ct. Three of his sons, Ja-
bez, Jonathan and Philip, were soldiers in the Revolutionary army. Jabez died
in the army. Philip was a captain in the war of 1813. Zebulon and Hibbard,
the other sons, came to Hartford with their father in 1793. His daughters,
Anna, Esther, Chloe and Margaret, married respectively men named Moxley,
"Wright, Ingals and Webster. Jonathan, parent, died Sept. 28, 1811; Anna, his
wife, died Feb. 11, 1816.
Shortly before his death, Jonathan Delano conveyed his home farm to his son,
Zebulon. Frora the family Bible of Zebulon Delano, I ti-anscribe the following
crudely kept record of his family. The date of his marriage is not given:
Zebulon Delano, b. Feb. 19, 1767. Lusina Powell, b. July 7, 1773.
Uhildren.
Clarissa, b. July 9, 1791. Zebulon W., b. May 6, 1797.
James H., b. July 18, 1793. Peospee P., b. June 10, 1799.
Zebulon Jr., b. Dec. 9, 1795. Joshua R., b. Sept. 12, 1807.
ROXALENA Powell, daughter of Stephen and Lusania Powell, b. Aug. 3, 1799,
in Sheldon, Vt., wife of James H. Delano. Lusina, daughter of James H. and
Roxalena Delano, b. Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1818.
Maria Doolittle, b. Feb. 6, 1805, Johnson Delano's wife, married by Rev. Mr.
Bascomb of Sharon Vt.
Z. WoosTER Delano and Mercy Savage, m. Oct. 3, 1820. He d. 1860, June 36.
Prosper P. Delano and Ann Weld, m. by Rev. Austin Hazen, March 1, 1834.
George Delano, son of Prosper P. and Ann Delano, b. Feb, 7, 1825. Lmiim,
daughter of Z. W. and Mercy Delano, b. Sept. 33, 1821, m. Harrison Alexander.
Abigail, b. Dec. 4, 1823. Emily C, b. June 4, 1826; d. May 5, 1847. Sarepta C,
b. Sept. 2, 1838; d. Sept. 23, 1843.
DEATHS.
• Zebulon Delano, Jr., d. Feb. 39, 1796, 11 weeks old ; Lusina, wife of Zebu-
lon, d. May 3, 1818, aged 45 years 10 mos; Widow Abigail Allen, d. July 10,
1831, in 59th year of her age; Widow Polly Marsh, d. April 36, 1851; Clarissa
Delano) Tracy, wife of John, d. Aug. 9, 1837.
MARRIAGES.
At Stowe, vt., Oct. 10, 1831, Zebulon Delano to Widow Dodge.
The foregoing record was evidently written by Zebulon Delano. The dates of
his first, second and third marriages are not recorded in the family Bible. His
first wife was probably the daughter of Rowland PoweU, Jr. He married 3nd,
Nov. 26, 1818, Widow PoUy Marsh, relict of Abraham Marsh, with whom he
lived but a short time— (the cause of their separation is not divulged). He mar-
ried 3rd, Widow Abigail Allen. After her death he married Widow Mary Dodge.
He was for many years the overseer of the poor, and also a justice of the peace.
On the 13th of Feb., 1847, he sold his home farm to his son, Z. W. Delano, who
lived upon it until his death, June 36, 1860. Zebulon, parent, d. Feb. 24, 1850.
Zebulon W. Delano, m. Mercy, daughter of Francis W. and Abigail (Hazen)
Savage; she d. Jan., 1889— (See Savage family). Abigail, daughter -of Z. W. De-
lano, b. Dec. 4, 1833; m. 1st, Samuel G. Steele, of Sharon, Vt., Feb. 5, 1845; she
m. 2nd, April 1, 1874, Dea. G. S. Nott, of Sharon, Vt.
414 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
Clarissa, daughter of Zebulon andZiUsina Delano, m. John Tracy. (See Tracy
family). Mrs. Mercy Delano, the mother, d. Jan. 25, 1889.
HiBBAED Delano, son of Jonathan and Anna (Ladd) Delano, b. in 1776, m.
in Hartford, Vt., Jan., 1797, Anna Wright; d. Feb. 28, 1863. Their children
were: Sylvester, b. in Hartford, October 34, 1797; Hibhard, b. 1805, lives in Ke-
okuk, Iowa; George, Dorothy, Joel and Sophia.
Sylvester Delano, b. 1797; m. Dec. 6, 1827, in Richford, Vt., Parthena Blais-
deU, by whom he had ten children, viz : George and Joel A. , b. in Richford; Melvin
and Mary, b. in Erie Co., N. Y.; Stephen, Hannah, Charles, Dennis, David and
Josiah, b. in Mt. Auburn, Shelby Co. , Ind. ; all dead but Joel A. and Dennis, who
live in Grove, Newaygo Co., Mich. I ana indebted to Joel A. for valuable facts
-concerning the Delano family.
THE DUTTON FAMILY.
The Duttons in America are of Saxon nativity. The ancient family of Duttons
assumed then- sirname from the place of their residence— -Dimfuue— now con-
tracted to Dutton, a townsliip lying about five miles east of Frodsham, on the
river Wever, in Cheshu-e. The Duttons in Vermont are descendants of the Dut-
tons who emigrated to New England about 1630, many of whose descendants
settled in Connecticut. The Duttons in Hartford are lineal descendants of Thos.
Dutton of WalUngford, Ct.
1. Thomas Dutton, of Wallingford, Ct.,-was b. March 1, 1707; was m. May 6,
1799, to Abigail Merriam, b. 1708, died April 6, 1799, in Wallingford; he d. in
Royalton, Vt., in 1803. Their children were: John, b. Feb. 6, 1730, d. 1842;
Abigail, b. July 8, 1733; Thomas, b. Jan. 31, 1735, m. Mar. 1756, Anna Rice,
d. Jan. 29, 1806; Samuel, b. Feb. 3, 1737; Lois, b. Nov. 8, 1738, m. Dec. 17,
1759, a Mosely, and settled in Poultney, Vt. ; Matthew, b. Nov. 11, 1740, d.
young; John, b. April 14, 1743; Amasa, b. July 31, 1745; Nathaniel, b. June
5, 1747; Phebe, b. Oct. 11, 1749, d. 1825; Asahel, b. Feb. 3, 1753; Asenath.
3. Samuel, son of Thomas (1), b. in Washington, Ct. ; m. Dec. 6, 1754, Joanna
Root, b. Jan. 1, 1737, d. in Woodstock, Vt., 1773; he m. 3d, Oct. 7, 1773, Rachel
Benedict, b. April 14, 1751, d. in Hartford, July 31, 1838; he d. in Hai-tford, Feb.
22, 1813. Mr. Dutton moved from Woodbury, Ct., to Woodstock, Vt., in 1778,
and there bought the home farm of Abraliam Powers, which he occupied until
1796, when he removed to Royalton, Vt. , where his brother Amasa had aheady
-settled. Mr. Dutton was a cai-penter and house-joiner by trade. Wlule in Wood-
stock he carried on farming, and was quite prominent in town affairs. March
38, 1783, he was chosen to be a deacon of the First Congregational church, then
called "Mr. Hutchinson's Church." On the 6th of AprU, 1803, Mr. Dutton bought
a 100-acre lot of land in Hartford, of Ehas Lawrence, and moved into this town
prior to ApiH, 1803. A portion of the land he then bought is now occupied by
David D. Hazen. Mr. Dutton died in Hartford, July 31, 1838. His chUdi-en by
his first wife (all born in Connecticut) were ': Olive, b. Aug. 17, 1761, m. about
' Columbus Delano, of Mt. Vernon, O., who was Secretary of the Interior in
Grant's Cabinet, was born in Cambridge, Vt. Milton Delano, M. C. i6th Dist. of
N. Y., was also born in Cambridge, Vt. Both are, doubtless, lineal descendants
■of Jonathan Delano, the emigrant ancestor.
HISTOEY OF HARTFORD. 415
1780, Seth Fuller of Hartford, d. Aug. 17, 1838; Abigail, b. Aug. 30, 1763, m.
June 7, 1779, Thomas Hazen 4, (See Hazen family); Lois, b. Aug. 18, 1765, d.
Jan. 7, 1772; David, b. Aug. 17, 1767, d. Feb. 26, 1813; Joanna, b. 1769, (fur-
ther history not recorded); Samuel, b. June 1, 1771. The children by liis sec-
ond wife were: Daniel Benedict, b. Aug. 22, 1773; Thaddeus, b. Nov. 3, 1775,
d. Feb. 18, 1818; Hannah his wife, d. Feb. 24, 1813, aged 37; Matthew, b. April
5, 1778; Esther, b. July 24, 1770, m. Oct. 9, 1814, Joseph Savage, b. Oct. 15,
1780, (son of Lt. Seth and Rhoda (Bacon) Savage), d. March 14, 1857; JRaohel,
■ b. Oct. 17, 1783, d. Sept. 30, 1783; Rachel, b. June 30, 1784, d. June 3, 1795;
Reuben, b. July 34, 1786, d. Sept. 38, 1815; Asa, b. Dec. 33, 1789, d. Oct. 39, 1790;
Chloe, b. Sept. 29, 1793, d. same day.
3. Samuel, son of Samuel (2), b. 1771, m. 1st Olive Thomas, b. Oct. 6, 1781 ; she
d. Dec. 1, 1809, leaving no children; he m. 2d, Mary M. Ricker, b. Aug. 6, 1788.
Mr. Dutton was a shoemaker by trade, but after settling in West Hartford about
1833, he engaged in the tanning business for a short time. In 1834 he relinquished
this business, sold out to his son Noah, and resumed shoemaking. About 1834,
he became infatuated with the Thompsonian system of medicine, and essayed
the practice of it for some time, but this lobelia sweating process, pursued by our
shoemaker, made such Uvely work for the undertaker and the sexton, that the
self-constituted doctor found it expedient to abandon that avocation. ' ' Let the
shoemaker stick to his last!" Mr. Dutton moved to Waterbury, Vt., thence to
the west in 1849, but returned to Vermont to the home of his son Thomas in Hyde
Park Vt. , where he died. He had eighteen chOdren — of these, three only lived
in Hartford, viz: Harper, who m. Sept. 39, 1839, his cousin Daphne, b. Nov. 1,
1807, (daughter of SUas and Hepzibah (Black) Dutton), she d. childless, March 1,
1832; Noah, b. July 10, 1812, m. Feb. 13, 1837, Nancy, dau. of David Wilson, she
d. in West Hartford^May 31, 1844; later he went west; Lucy Ann, b. Aug. 13,
1818, m. Oct. 8, 1839, Enos, son of Truman and Eunice (Smith) Newton, b. May
14, 1817, he d. May 11, 1888, in Terra Haute, Indiana, where his wife now re-
sides.
4. Daniel Benedict, son of Samuel (2), b. 1773, m. Dec. 5, 1796, Lorana
Smith, b. Feb. 15, 1779, (dau. of Sylvanus and Dina (Fisk) Smith); he d. Sept. 1,
1849, in Norwich, Vt. ; she d. iu Noi-wich, Sept. 15, 1857. Their chUdi-en were :
Matthew, b. July 16, 1798, d. Nov. 17, 1820; Marvin, b. Nov. 30, 1799, m. 1st,
April 5, 1836, Ruhana BaiTows, 2nd, June 10, 1830, Eunice. Hazen, b. Jan. 10,
1799, (dau. of Philemon and Eunice (Marsh) Hazen of Hartford), he d. April 11,
1873; Rachel, b. Oct. 7, 1801, m. Dec. 5, 1822, Moses Thompson, died July 31,
1861; Louisa, b. May 13, 1803, d. Sept. 6, 1830; Aaron, b. Aug. 4, 1804, m.
Phebe Tracy; Samuel, b. Sept. 6, 1806, m. Nancy Smith; Olive, b. April 8, 1808,
m. Dec. 31, 1838, a King, d. Jan., 1877; Norman, b. Feb. 14, 1810, m. wido«r of
his brother Samuel; JEsther, b. Jan. 15, 1813, m. Jan. 31, 1837, Morgan L. Cros-
by, d. March 37, 1878; Thaddeus, b. Nov. 33, 1814, m. March 31, 1840, Emily
Sprague, b. Dec. 13, 1813, (dau. of Philo and Laura (Hazen) Sprague), he d. Dec.
19, 1874, she d. Aug. 3, 1878, children three; Daniel B. Jr., b. Aug. 30, 1816, m.
CorneUa Howland; John, known as Dea. John, b. Aug. 23, 1818, m. Harriet
Lord; Louisa A., b. Feb. 8, 1830, d. Oct. 31, 1851.
416 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
5. John, son of Thomas (1), known as Dea. John Button, m. April 22, 1765,
Martha Savage, b. June 18, 1746, (dau. of Thomas and Martha (Whitmore) Sav-
age) a farmer in Hartford, Vt. Mai'tha d. Oct. 18, 1786, and he m. 3d, 1788, Susan-
nah Goodwin, she d. without issue, July 6, 1831, aged 69; he d. Oct. 38, 1767.
Children by Martha were: Mary,b. Aprill, 1766, d. Oct. 28, 1767; Asahel, b.
March 8, 1768; JohnF.,h. Feb. 2, 1770, d. July 2, 1774. Gideon, h. Aug. 3,
1773, d. July, 1836; David, b. Oct. 11, 1774; John, h. Nov. 29, 1776; Mary, b. Sept.
36, 1778, m. May 3, 1800, Dr. James Tracy, 3d, b. Aug. 11, 1777, (son of James
and Phebe (Richards) Ti-acy), he d. Jan. 4, 1833; she d. Aug. 33, 1853; Silas, b.
Feb. 18, 1781; Martha, b. Sept. 36, 1784, d. Oct. 4, 1784.
6. Asahel, son of John (5), b. 1768, m. Feb. 13, 1793, Naomi Tracy, b. Aug. 7,
1765, (dau. of James and Phebe (Richards) Tracy), a farmer in Hartford, Vt.
He d. Jan. 3, 1833; she d. Dec. 33, 1843. Their children were: Asahel, b.
March 22, 1793, d. next day; Rizpah, b. May 12, 1794, m. Jan. 6, 1833, Samuel
Whitney, Ch. 1; Thomas Tracy, b. Dec. 19, 1795; Luna, b. May 33, 1798, d.
unm. Oct. 6, 1863; Elias C, b. May 16, 1801.
7. Thomas Tracy, son of Asahel (6), b. 1795, m. March 34, 1817, Sarepta
Latham, (dau. of Isaac and Jemima (Poor) Latham.) He d. Feb. 1, 1874, she d.
May 31, 1844. Their cliildren were: Louise, b. March 38, 1818, m. Dec. 11,
1849, Hezekiah Pike, b. April 8, 1805 (son of Nathan and Hannah (Ensworth)
Pike.) He d. Feb. 3, 1871; she lives with Albert Pike in Hartford; Reuben, b.
July 34, 1830, m. Oct. 5, 1846, Sarah Jane Campbell; had one child, Martha, who
m. Alfred Manchester, of Norwich, Vt.; Martha, b. Sept. 38, 1828, m. Jan.,
1843, John Newton, (son of Shelden Newton,) d. July 4, 1844; Harriet, b. Aug.
15, 1836, d. Oct. 11, 1843, unm.; Almira, b. April 30, 1839, m. March 10, 1848,
William Morse, b. Oct. 3, 1830, (son of Ehjah and Susannah (Gibson) Morse.)
He d. in Union Village, Vt., Oct. 13, 1885; his widow li>ves in that village.
Elizabeth, b. Aug. 15, 1833, m. Oct. 25, 1853, Norman Newton, b. May 37, 1833,
(son of Wm. and Emeline (Ingraliam) Newton) a farmer in Hartford, Vt. ; Ben-
jamin C, b. April 20, 1835, d. April, 1879, unm.
8. Elias C, son of Asahel (6), b. 1801, m. Jan. 25, 1824, Sarali BUss, b. Feb. 23,
1796, (dau. of Dea. S. C. and Sarah (Griswold) Bliss, of Glover, Vt.) He d. Oct.
18, 1861, she d. June 36, 1864. Children: John B., b. Nov. 14, 1824; Uves in
Ballard, Cal. ; Asahel, b. April 16, 1836, d. May 14, 1826; David b. April
34, 1838, m. April 19, 1834, Emeline C. Gilbert, who d. Nov. 13, 1885; Thomas,
b. Nov. 11, 1831, m. Dec. 1, 1859, Mary Gary. She d. leaving two children;
Sarah Ann, b. Nov. 14, 1885, m. Nov. 6, 1863, Edward L. Dutton, (see Lorenzo
Dutton); Adeline T., b. Aug. 9, 1889, m. June 5, 1863, David D. Hazen. (See
Julius Hazen's family.)
9. David, son of John (5), b. 1774, m. Oct. 7, 1803, Experience Hai-tshorn, b.
1776. She died Oct. 4, 1830. He m. 3d, Dec. 4, 1831, Irena West, b. 1793. She
d. Dec. 19, 1867, he d. Nov. 23, 1843. Their children were: Maria M., b. Oct.
12, 1805, m. June 14, 1825, Juhus Hazen, (see Hazen Family); Sophronia, b.
1807, m. Jan. 36, 1831, Julius Hazen, (see Hazen Family); John, b. Dec. 15,
1803; Sophia, b. 1813, d. July 17, 1834; David, b. 1817, d. Aug. 16, 1835.
10. John, son of David (9), b. Dec. 15, 1803, m. Sept. 20, 1886, EmUy Hazen, b.
March 24, 1813, (dau. of Amos and Phila (Brownell) Hazen), a farmer of Hart-
HISTORY OF HARTFORD, 417
ford, Vt. He d. March 9, 1875. His widow lives in Hartford. Their children:
Willian E., b. July 20, 1837, m. Nov. 14, 1866, Altha E. Tracy, b. July 31, 1845,
(dau. of Columbus and Mary Ann (Dutton) Tracy), a fai-mer in Hartford. They
had 8 children. Sophia, b. July 22, 1840, d. Sept. 23, 1841; Susan Alice, b.
Sept. 10, 1845,. m. July 19, 1867, Noah B. Hazen, (son of Daniel and Hannah
(Bliss) Hazen), a farmer in Hartford on the homestead; town Supt. of schools
1870-8.1; '86-7; represented the town in the legislature 1878-9; on duty in the
Provost Mai'shall's Dept. in Virginia 1864. They have 5 children, F. Harper,
b. Feb. 11, 1854, m. July 28, 1876, Susan Iva Rodgers, b. July 22, 1855, (dau. of
Jeremiah and Mary (Compton) Rodgers), children 2.
11. John, son of Jolm (5), b. Nov. 29, 1796, (see Dart. Col. Alumni, 1801. )
13. Silas, son of John (5), b. 1781, m. Oct. 31, 1805, Hepzibah Black, b. ApriU,
1787; a farmer in Hartford. He d. March 4, 1819, she d. March 15, 1831. Their
children were: Daphne, b. Nov. 1, 1807, m. Sept. 89, 1839, Harper Dutton, b.
1803, (son of Samuel and Olive (Thomas) Dutton.) She d. March 1, 1833; Asahel,
b. May 19, 1809, d. July 11, 1813; Jacob O., b. March 30, 1811; Altha, b. Oct. 7,
1813, d. Sept. 14, 1833; Mary Ann, b. Sept. 30, 1817.
13. Jacob G., son of Silas (12), b. 1811, m. AprU 5, 1838, Abigail Hazen, b. Feb.
37, 1815, (dau. of Dan and Abigail (Batchelder) Hazen), a farmer in West Hart-
ford; a fine tenor singer and viola player; eschewed politics, but deUghted in
music. He d. May 6, 1866, in West Hartford. His wife d. in Newbury, Vt., at
the home of her daughter EUen, Feb. 6, 1881. They had three children: Julia
Ellen, b. Nov. 8, 1839, m. Jan. 26, 1865, Henry W. Bailey, 3d, of Newbury, Vt.
Mrs. Bailey inherited her father's musical tastes and abilities. Jacob Carlton,
b. Feb. 2. 1850, resides in New York City; Sarah A., b. Feb. 3, 1853, resides in
Boston, unm.
14. Maby Ann, dau. of SUas (13), b. 1817, m. 1st, March 28, 1841, Columbus
Tracy, b. Feb. 8, 1816; 2d, Deacon Julius Hazen. (See the Hazen and Tracy
Family histories.)
15. Amasa, son of Thomas (1), m. Oct. 1, 1766, Sarah Parmalee, b. Nov. 35, 1748.
She d. Sept. 9, 1805, leaving seven children. He m. 2d, March 10, 1806, Ruth,
widow of Jeremiah Ingraliam, b. 1755, d. April 15, 1826, without issue. He d.
in Eoyalton, Vt., Sept. 30, 1831. Children: Susannah, b. Nov. 25, 1767, d.
April 18, 1770; Reuben, b. Feb. 3, 1771, d. early; Benjamin, b. Dec. 9, 1773;
Sally, b. Sept. 17, 1776, d. young; Susannah, b. Sept. 27, 1781; Amasa 2d, b.
Nov. 31, 1783; Thomas P., b. Jan. 14, 1787; John &., b. Nov. 18, 1879, d. young.
16. Benjamin, son of Amasa (15), b. Dec. 9, 1773, m. Clarissa Thomas, b. March
15, 1771, d. Oct. 15, 1852. He d. in Brookfleld, Vt., Feb. 3, 1866. Their children
were, Abial, b. March 28, 1797; Ira, b. Jan. 1, 1799, and several others.
17. Abial T., son of Benjamin (16), b. March 38, 1797, m. Feb. 23, 1833, Dora
Hazen, b. July 1, 1801, (dau. of Hezekiah and Sarah (Marsh) Hazen.) She d. in
Burlingame, Kansas, the present residence of her Jiusband. They had ten chil-
dren: Benjamin, b. Aug. 11, 1833; Simeon M., b. May 5, 1835, d. m Texas,
1848; Julia E., b. Aug. 38, 1828, d. June 14, 1831; Harvey A., b. Dec. 7, 1830,
lost at sea in Dec, 1853; Horace S., b. Sept. 27, 1833, d. in rebel prison about
37
418 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Dec. 15, 1864; Loren, b. Dec. 20, 1835, kUled ia. tattle Sept. 1, 1861; Edwin,
b. April 24,' 1838, d. in U. S. army, Feb. 28, 1863; Henry, b. Oct. 10, 1840;
Alice M., b. May 24, 1843; Daphne 8., b. Jan. 9, 1847.
18. Benjamin, son of Abial T., (17), m. 1st March 33, 1849, Louise Howard, b.
Oct. 23, 1836. Shed. June 29, 1850, without issue. He m. 2d Sept. 8, 1851. Celina L.
Reed, b. Oct. 3, 1827, (dau. of J. W. and Ruhama (Tenney) Reed.) Children:
William T., b. June 7, 1851; Helen M., b. Oct. 8, 1855, d. Aug. 35, 1865; Henry
A., b. Sept. 9, 1857, shot himself Jan. 19, 1880; Loren A., b. Oct. 19, 1864; Cliar-
lotte, b. Oct. 35, 1866.
19. Amasa, Jr., son of Amasa (15), b. 1783, m. 1st, Nov. 14, 1805, TamasinAsh
craft. She d. July 11, 1817. He m. 3d, Oct. 36, 1817, Altha Hazen, b. Sept. 14,
1788, (dau. of Thomas 4, and Abigail (Dutton) Haaen, of Hartford, Vt.) a farmer
in Royalton, Vt. He d. April 1, 1863; she d. Sept. 14, 1877. ChUdren by first
wife were: Harry, b. Aug. 3, 1806, d. Sept. 23, 1806; Carlos, b. March 8, 1808,
d. June 11, 1874; Carlton, b. Jan. 30, 1813; Harry B., b. July 14, 1844; the
last two both dead. Children by 2d wife: Altha Louisa, b. Jan. 5, 1819, m.
Nov. 30, 1844, J. Newcomb Kinney of Cincinnati, Ohio, d. July 3, 1853; Amasa
Parmalee, b. June 34, 1830; David H, b. Jan. 13, 1833; Tamasin, b. Deo. 30,
1838; Eleanor M.,h. Nov. 3, 1837, d. Dec. 5, 1834; Sarah R., b. Aug. 17, 1839;
Edward F., b. May 4, 1833.
30. Amasa Paemalee, son of Amasa (19), b. in Royalton, Vt., 1820; m. Feb.,
1845, Mary M. Mason, b. Nov. 15, 1818, (dau. of Stephen and Eunice (Hazen)
Mason, of Hanover, N. H.) Mr. Dutton is a successful farmer in Craftsbiu-y, Vt.,
one of the assistant judges of the Orleans County Court, and is a highly honored
and influential citizen — one of the self-made men of the time. They have liad
four children: John M., b. Apr. 14, 1844, graduated from Dart. Coll., 1873,
B. D. Yale, 1876; m. May 18, 1876, Flora B. Maltby, of New Haven, Ct., is now
(1888) preaching in Great Falls, N. H. Eliza, b. Oct. 18, 1849; m. Aug. 24,
1869, L. H. Thompson, of Irasburgh, Vt.; d. Mch. 34, 1881. Henry li., b.
June 18, 1854; m. Feb. 22, 1876, Jennie P. Lyons; has one son and two dau.
Edward A., b. June 19, 1864; m. Feb. 25, 1886, Catherine Anderson.
21. David H., son of Amasa (19), b. 1833; m. Nov. 4, 1825, Diana M. Wal-
bridge; b. Dec. 14, 1821; a farmer in Royalton, Vt. Their children are: Henry
W., b. Apr. 6, 1847; m. Mch. 17, 1880, Laura Chapiu; b. Apr. 34, 1860. Ahhie
C, b. Mch. 8, 1856; m. Oct. 23, 1883, C. M. Kidder.
22. Tamasin, dau. of Amasa (19), b. 1833; m. Nov. 3, 1848, Samuel W. Mcintosh,
son of Samuel and Phebe (Wj'att) Mcintosh; b. Mch. 15, 1830; a farmer in Bethel,
Vt. They have two children: Edward,\).T>ec. \o, 1851. Carlton W., b. May
21, 1857.
33. Sarah, dau. of Amasa (19), b. 1829; m. May 31, 1852, R. D. Kinney; b.
Aug. 30, 1828. Children: J'ojiaffioi), b. Apr. 39, 1853. Abiffai?, b. Jan. 3, 1857.
24. Edward F., son of Amasa (19), b. 1882; m. Aug. 30, 1854, Polly G. Bald-
win; b. in Strafford, Vt., Oct. 7, 1838 (dau. of Dr. Eleazer and PoUy (Ladd)
Spaulding), a druggist in Barton, Vt. Altha L., their only child, b. July 3, 1855;
m. Sept. 9, 1874, Horace C. Pierce, of Boston, Mass,
25. Nathaniel, son of Thomas (1), m. about 1770, Sarah Hazen, b. about 1749
(dau. of Joseph Hazen, of Grand Isle, Vt); a farmer m Hartford, Vt. ; d. Aug.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. .■ 419
32, 1823; she d. Mch. 14, 1835, se. 75. Their children were: Clarissa, b. Jan.
28, 1770; m. May 7, 1831, Philip Sprague (see Sprague Family). Mary,h. Jan.
26, 1773. Elijah, b. 1766. Nathaniel, b. Sept. 38, 1779. Sarah, b. May 30,
1787; d. Dec. 5, 1870, unm. Susan, b. Aug. 24, 1791.
36. Mary, dau. of Nathaniel (35), b. 1790; m. Jan. 25, 1790, Abraham Marsh;
he d. Jan. 25, 1790; she m. 2nd, Nov. 56, 1818, Zebulon Delano (son of Jonathan
Delano, of Hartford), with whom she lived but a short time; she d. Apr. 26,
1851. Her children by Mr. Marsh were: Lora, b. Jan. 6, 1791; m. Timothy
Percival, had nine children. Sarah M., b. Nov. 1, 1792; m. Alvah Sabin,
without issue. Lyman, b. Mch. 3, 1795; d. in early manhood, unm. Mary,
h. Aug. 7, 1797; m. Francis Morrill, had one child. Hammon, b. Jan. 2, 1801;
m. Catherine Eldridge, had lour children. Abram, b. June 15, 1803; m. 1st,
Rhoda Short, by whom he had two sons; 2nd Mary Cooley. Alice Ann, b.
June 25, 1805, lives in Norwich, Vt., with Carlton D. Nott. Levi H., b. Jan.
7, 1808; m. 1st, Mch. 13, 1842, Edith Cooper; 2nd, Edith Hall; he had by his first
wife two children, of these one is dead, the other is Mrs. Ellen L. Clapp, of Bur-
lington, Vt. By his second wife he had six children. None of Abraham Marsh's
family are living, excepting Alice Ann, and Catherine, widow of Hammon.
27. Elijah, son of Nathaniel (35), b. 1766; m. Susan Hoar, b. May 13, 1784
(dau. of Samuel and Rebecca (Dutton) Hoar, a fai-mer in Norwich, Vt. He d.
June 11, 1838; she d. Jan. 37, 1844. Their children were: Alonzo, b. Jan. 8,
1803. Lorenzo, b. Nov. 4, 1803. Clarinda, b. 1806. Emeline, b. Jan. 11,
1808. Azro, b. Apr. 13, 1810. Sarah Cornelia, b. Apr. 3, 1813. (See Gillett
FamHy.) Ahnira. b. Feb. 19, 1816; m. July 29, 1839, Israel P. Dana, b. May
27, 1809. He d. in St. Johnsbury, Vt., May 37, 1875; she Uves in St. Johnsbury.
Laura A., b. Juae 20, 1818; d. .luly 27, ISlo, unm. Susan A., b. Dec. 20,
1822, lives in St. Johnsbury, Vt., unm. Mary Jane, b. Nov. 4, 1826. Wil-
liam E., b. Mch. 15, 1830; d. July, 31, 1850, in DanviUe, Vt.
Alonzo, son of Elijah (27), b. Jan. 8, 1803; m. Jan. 15, 1832, Mary Ann BUss,
b. Sept. 24, 1811 (dau. of Ziba and Mary (Tribou) Bliss), a farmer in Norwich, Vt.
He d. Sept. 8, 1870. She lives in Norwich. They had: Martha A., b. Aug. 35,
1840; Sanford A., b. Jan. 3, 1845.
39. Lorenzo, son of Elijah, (15), b. Nov. 4, 1843 (nine months and twenty-six
days after Alonzo was bom); m. Sept. 16, 1835, Maria GiUett, b. Jan. 6, 1815
(dau. of BiUa and Ruby (Marsh) GiUett, of Hartford. He d. Mch. 30, 1861; she
d. Aug. 10, 1873. Then- childi-en werfe: Edward L., b. June 35, 1836; m. Nov.
6, 1863, Sarah A. Dutton, b. Nov. 14, 1835 (dau. of Elias C. and Sarah (Bliss)
Dutton). They have but one child: Herbert L., b. Nov. 2, 1863. Lewis B., b.
Sept. 17, 1840; d. Dec. 28, 1840. Julia M., b. June 7, 1843; m. Nov. 20, 1873,
James A. Thompson; she d. Jan. 19, 1886.
30. Clarinda, dau. of Elijah (37), b. 1806; m. Apr. 3. 1834, George P. Sanborn
of Strafiford, Vt., b. Apr. 7, 1810; she d. Mch. 14, 1835. He m. 3nd, June, 7,
1837, Emeline S. Baker, b. Nov. 31, 1813; she d. Aug. 14, 1871. He d.. Oct. 14,
1873. Child by first wife: George, b. Mch. 8, 1835. Child by second wife: Wm.
R., b. Apr. 17, 1842; m. Oct. 25, 1866, Nancy M. Sprague. (See Sprague Family.)
Mr. Sanborn was a bridge builder by trade, and after attaining manhood, went,
fii-st, to Springfield, Mass.', where he was engaged in bridge building for several
420 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
years. When the construction of the New York and New Haven R. R. was
commenced, he was placed in charge of the construction of all the bridges on
that road, and, after the completion of the road, he was made supervisor, which
position he held for twenty-one years. After his retirement from the road, he
held several positions of trust, and, at the time of his death, he was a member of
the Board of Road and Bridge Commissioners of Bridgeport, Ct. (See Sprague
Family.)
31. Emblinb, dau. of Elijah (27), b. 1808; m. Oct. 14, 1834, Ira Button, b. Jan.
1, 1801 (son of Benjamin and Clarissa (Thomas) Button). She d. July 26, 1840.
He m. 2nd, Beo. 1840, Lydia Strong, b. Bee. 26, 1806 (dau. of Bea. Benajah
Strong, of Bethel, Vt.), by whom he had two children. He d. in Brookfield, Vt.,
Mch. 35, 1867. Children by Emehne, his first wife: George H., b. Oct. 6, 1835;
d. June 5, 1836. Charles A., b.- Mch. 13, 1837. Henry E., b. July 1, 1829; d.
Apr., 1870; Albert Ira, b. Aug. 5 1831; Cfeorge E., b. Bee. 23, 1833; d. Nov. 5,
1864. Children by Lydia,. his second wife: Laura E., b. June 31, 1844; m.
Henry Woodward, b. May 19, 1841 (son of Benjamin and Polly P. Lacoimt
Woodward. They have eleven children. Ormoji D., b. May, 31, 1848.
35. AZRO, son of Elijah (37), b. 1810; m. 1st, Bee. 5, 1843, Mary Jane Gibson,
b. Mch. 25, 1819 (dau. of John Gibson of Ryegate, Vt.) She d. Nov. 9, 1856. He
m. 2nd, Bee. 21, 1858, Ann M. Freeman, b. June 17, 1836 (dau. of John and
Clarissa (Goff) Fi-eeman, of Hartford, Vt.) She d. Feb. 33, 1883. Children by
his first wife: Francis G., b. Sept. 11, 1849. Wm. P., b. Nov. 33, 1852. Mary
J., b. Feb. 17, 1856; m. June 16, 1887, Percy M. Button.
(Note.) — Not one of the nine children of EUjah (15) is able to tell at what time
he was born or" when married, — Ed.)
33. Mary Jane, dau. of EUjah (37), b. Nov. 4, 1836; m. June 6, 1849, John
Newton, b. Oct. 18, 1818, son of Sheldon Newton. Children: Wm. D., b. Aug.
31, 1850; m. Aug. 12, 1874, Almira Louise, b. Apr 1. 1852. Caroline, b. July 8,
1856. John L., b May 25, 1862; m. Sept. 1, 1886. Louis, b. Mch. 31, 1871.
34. Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel (25), b. 1779; m. 1st, Feb. 15, 1809, Sallie
Ward (dau. of Josiah Ward of Middletown, Ct.) She d. Jan. 3, 1830, leaving
seven children: — Mary Hedges, b. Jan. 5, 1809; d. Jan. 3, 1811. Erastus B.,
b. Oct. 19, 1810. Mary H, b. Aug. 16, 1812; d. Jan. 15, 1832. Sarah W.,
b. Sept. 2, 1814; m. Oct. 39, 1834, Iverson B. Graves. John H.,h. Mch. 1st,
1817; d. Mch. 3, 1860, unm. Eunice H.,h. Bee. 1, 1818; m. Nov. 2, 1845,
Thos. S. Baker. Elizabeth, b. May 8, 1821; d. May 37, 1823. His second wife
was Eliza F. Bostwick, of Lebanon, N. Y., whom he m. Oct. 3, 1830, and had
by her, Mary E., b. Jan. 8, 1832; m. 1867, C B. Pace. Harriet, b. Sept. 17,
1838; d. Aug. 81, 1887. He m. 3rd, widow Clarissa Sterling, Feb. 3, 1848 (dau.
of Wm. Sterhng, of Lyme, Ct. No children. (See Bart. CoU. Alumni, 1802.)
35. Susan, dau. of Nathaniel (25), b. Aug. 24, 1791; m. Benjamin Hatch, Jr.,
of Norwich) Vt. (son of Capt. Benjamin Hatch). Their children were: Paschal,
b. Sept. 34, 1806; m. Minerva Hazen. (See Hazen Family). Partus, b. Sept.
13, 1808r d. Aug. 1, 1813. Woloott, b. Apr. 3, 1811; m. May 8, 1886, Mary GiUett.
(See GiUett Family.) Susan, b. July 13, 1813; m. an Eldridge. Louisa, b.
Mch. 31, 1816. William, b. Bee. 7, 1819; m. CaroUne TUden. (See TUdea,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 431
FamUy,) Mary, b. July 24, 1833. Edward, b. Apr. 13, 1835. George, b. Sept.
34,1837. The last two went west before marrying. Benjamin, Jr., the father,
d. June 30, 1865. Susan, the mother, d. 1873.
THE GILLETT FAMILY.
The following memorial is copied from the family Bible of Lieutenant Israel
GiUett:—
" My grandfather, John Gillett, Jr., was taken by the Indians Sept. the 16th,
1696, and returned hom and dyed at Lebanon, Ct., in April, 175.5. Connecticut.
My father,. Ebenezer Gillett, was born June the 5th, 1705, and dyed October the
19th, 1776, in 71 year of liis age. My mother, Mary Gillett, dyed September the
4th, 1791, in her eightyeth year. I have about forty grandchildren and as many
grate grandchildren — have one grate granddaughter a married woman has two
children, but the summer before last they both sickened and dyed.
(Signed) ISRAEL GILLETT."
1. John Gillet, Jr. , above named, was a son of John Gillet, who was one of
the fifty-one charter proprietors of Lebanon, Ct. John m. Jan. 3, 1700, Experi-
ence Dewey of Lebanon, Ct., by whom he had John Jr., and several other chil-
dren. John Jr., b. Oct. 7, 1703, m. Deo. 30, 1726, Abigail Lee, b. Feb. 37, 1704,
(dau. of Stephen Lee and Elizabeth Woodward) by whom he had Ebenezer, father
of Lieut. Israel Gillet, and other children; he d. April, 1755.
3. Ebenezek Gillet, son of John Jr. (1), b. June 5, 1705, m. Sept. 33, 1730,
Mary Ordway, b. Aug. 16, 1712, (dau. of Jacob Ordway and Rebecca Wright), he
d. Oct. 19, 1776, she d. Sept. 4, 1791. He was one of the charter proprietors of
Hartford, his share in the first division being lot "No. 16," lying on Connecticut
river, north of White river. After purchasing the entire right of Gideon Hebard,
he gave to his sort J'ohn, Dec. 33, 1767, one whole share, his original right, and
on the same day he gave to his son Israel the whole right purchased of Gideon
Hebaid, excepting a few acres located in Quechee. Ebenezer never came to
Hartford. The children of Ebenezer and Mary (Orda way). GiUett, were: Israel,
bap'd Sept. 17, 1738; Rhoda and Ezehiel, bap'd Mai-ch 27, 1743; John, bap'd April
7, 1745; Mary, bap'd Feb. 33, 1747; Isaac and Rebecca, bap'd Sept. 17, 1749; Eb-
enezer, bap'd Sept. 29, 1751; Jacob, bap'd Oct. 28, 1753. Jacob was a soldier of
the Revolution, was in the battle of Bunker HUl; d. of small-pox in the U. S.
army, in New Jersey.
3. Lieut. Israel Gillett, son of Ebenezer (2), b. Sept. 17, 1738, m. Jan. 8,
1761, Martha Throope, b. May 17, 1739, (dau. of Wm. and Elizabeth Throope of
Lebanon, Ct.), she d. July 4, 1763; he m. 2nd, Nov. 15, 1764, Susanna Dm-kee' of
Woodbury, Ct. ; he d. July 8, 1829, she d. July 36, 1831. Israel GiUett moved
from Lebanon, Ct., to Hartford about 1768, and first settled in the immediate
vicinity of White River Falls, now Olcott, and soon became an extensive land-
ovsmer, in the town. In after years he built and removed to the house now the
residence of Daniel O. GiUett, where he died. He was fond of public life, and
participated largely in the aflEairs of the town; he was one of the selectmen for
three years, 1769-71; one of the Committee of Safety in 1777; took an active part
in military matters, and was an energetic, public-spirited man. On the 4th of
' Married in Lebanon, Ct. — Rode on horseback to Hartford, bringing her infant
child, Martha, in her arms, and on the horn of the side-saddle, a pail of apple-
sauce.
422 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
June, 1771, he donated 100 acres of land to Dartmouth College. He had by his
first wife: Daniel Ordaway, b. in Lebanon, Ct.^ March 23, 1762; graduated from
Dartmouth College in 1787; went west and there d. in 1823. Children by second
wife: Martha, b. in Lebanon, Ct., Sept. 21, 1765, m. Deo. 9, 1802, David Haze, d.
June 17, 1833, accidently drowned in Connecticut river while crossing from Nor-
wich to Hanover; the horse driven by Mr. Haze became unmanageable and Mrs.
Haze was thrown from the carriage into the river. Roger, b. in Lebanon, Ct. ,
Aug. 6, 1767, m. Mary Marsh of Queohee, Vt., he Uved and died where Reuben
Loveland now lives; Susanna, b. Jan. 31, 1769, d. Dec. 18, 1779; Mary, b. July
22, 1770, m. Oct. 19, 1809, John Smith of Hanover, N. H. ; Ebenezer, b. June 27,
1772, d. AprU 24, 1859; Abel, b. May 17, 1774, m. Keziah Thurston, he d. May 15,
1852, she d. May 7, 1852; Israel, b. April 7, 1776; Rhoda, b. April 17, 1778, d.
Oct. 23, 1780; Jacob, b. March 9, 1780, m. April 8, 1810, Catheriae Simonson, d.
1866; Susanna R., b. Sept. 4, 1788, m. Aug. 17, 1841, John Smith of Hanover,
N. H.
4. ISEABL, son of Lieut. Israel (3), b. April 7, 1776, m. Mary Sanborn of Haver-
hill, N. H., b. May 12,1779, a farmer in Hartford, Vt., had Elizabeth S., b. Sept.
21, 1801; Nathan,h. Sept. 18, 1803; Justus, b. April 12, 1806; Martin G.,h. June
26, 1808; Athela, b. Jihy 17, 1810; Naiicy M., b. Feb. 27, 1813; John, b. Oct. 12,
1814, d. May 3, 1839, unm.; Mary, b. Jan. 15, 1817; Daniel O., b. March 31, 1819.
Their father, Israel GiUet 3nd, d. Jan. 5, 1835; Mary, the mother, d. Feb. 29,
1856.
5. Elizabeth, dau. of Israel 2d., (5), b. Sept.21, 1801, m. Deo. 3, 1835, Edward
P. Harris, b. Nov. 17, 1802, (son of Samuel and lUith (Pratt) Harris); he fitted for
college at Phillips' Academy, Exeter, N. H., and at Atkinson, N. H. Academy;
graduated at Dartmouth College in 1836; he was principal of the academy in
Bradford, Vt., and of Chesterfield, N. H., Academy, being at the latter place in
1827-8; he studied law vsdth Horace F. Everett, of Hartford, Vt., practiced law
several years in White River Junction, Vt. ; removed to Michigan in 1836; set-
tled in Rochester village, in Avon township, Oakland county, and practiced law
there until his death. He was postmaster in Rochester in President Fillmore's
term; was Circuit Court commissioner for Oakland county two terms, 1859-60
and 1861-62, elected by the people; and was a delegate to the convention to revise
the State Constitution in 1867. He married 1st., June 29, 1829, Eliza, Wright —
(See Hazen family); he d. March 19, 1868; Elizabeth, his wife, d. April 23, 1877.
Their children were: an infant b. in Hartford, Vt. ; Samuel, h. Sept. 15,1836,
m. for his first wife. May 28, 1858, Sarah H. Richardson of Rochester, Mich., b.
May 8, 1841; had by her Fi-ances A., b. June 10, 1860, d. AprU 9, 1862; Chai-les
S., b. Feb. 28, 1866; Edward P., b. Sept. 29, 1870, d. Feb. 1, 1871; Sarali, the
mother, d. Nov. 2, 1871, and he m. 2d, Nov. 25, 1872, Sarah S. Ladd, b. May 11,
1852, by whom he had one chUd, Sarah E., b. in Chicago, 111., June 20, 1874.
Samuel, the father, resides in Chicago; has invented an improved kind of sta-
tionary engine; is a dealer iij machinists' supplies.
6. Nathan, son of Israel (5), b. Sept. 18, 1803, m. April 2, 1833, Sarah Cornelia
(dau. of Elijah and Susanna (Hoar) Dutton), b. April 3, 1812. He was a farmer
in Hartford; one, of the selectmen 1850, '1, '3, and held minor offices at various
times; he d. July 15, 1878; his widow is now living with her son Edward A., on
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 423
the old homestead in Hartford. Their children were: Infant dan., h. Feb. 27,
1834, d. March 14, 1834; Infant son, b. Jan. 21, 1835, d. March 17, 1835; Charles,
b. June 23, 1836, d. May 27, 1838; Laura G., b. March 21, 1838, m. May 22, i860.
Charles H. Dana of West Lebanon, N. H., b. Feb. 22, 1830 (son of Jedediali and
Martha (Wood) Dana), an inventor and patentee of a hand corn-planter, and a
valuable system of marking and numbering domestic animals; is now president
of the Lebanon Creamery Co.; their children are as follows: Charles H. Jr., b.
March 31, 1861; Emma L., b. July 20, 1862; Wm. W., b. Aug. 12, 1867, d. April
11, 1884; Mary H., b. Mai-ch 27, 1876. Cummings J. , b. March 27, 1840, d. July
13, 1841. -Mary E., b. Aug. 30, 1841, m. AprU 4, 1865, Horace French, b. Feb. 16,
1837 (son-of Phineas and Betsy (Foster) French), a wholesale dealer in stationery
and notions at West Lebanon, N. H. ; during the late war he enlisted as a private
in Co. F, 3d Regt. Vt. Vols., for three years; pro. to Sergt, July 16, 1861; 2nd
Lieut. Co. F, Jan. 15, 1863; trans, to Co. B, July 35, 1864; pro. to Capt. Co. K,
March 28, 1865; mustered out July 11, 1865; they have had eight children: Bessie
F., b. Jan. 8, 1886; Nathan G., b. Sept. 8, 1867, d. Aug., 1868; Martin G., b. Sept.
8, 1867,"d. Feb., 1872. Samuel P., b. May 6, 1871; Frederick R., b. Sept. 25, 1873;
Robert H., b. June 20, 1875, d. Aug. 24, 1875; Ernest E., b. May 3, 1878; John
McQuesten, b. April 21, 1879. Maria S., b. July 2, 1844, m. Oct. 11, 1870, George
T. Hazen— (See Kazen family). Israel N., b. June 5, 1846, d. Jan. 14, 1872,unm.
Jennie Francis, b. July 26, 1853, m. Oct. 11, 1877, James Pratt (son of Edward
and Sarah (Vining) Pratt), a merchant in Longmeadow, Mass. Edward A., b.
Deo. 21, 1857, m. Sept. 19, 1888, Angelina M. Burns, b. Aug. 2, 1856 (dau. of Hi-
ram N. and Helen (Leishman) Bums, of Lachine, P. Q.), a farmer and manufac-
turer of brick in Hartford. Henry D., b. Dec. 23, 1859; killed in his saw-mill in
Olcott, March 26, 1887.
7. Justus, son of Israel (5), b. April 12, 1806, m. Nov. 22, 1836, Harriet Batch-
elder, b. Dec, 1809, (dau. of John and Eliza (Godfrey) Batchelder, of Strafford,
Vt. He d. Dec. 23, 1845; she d. AprU 3, 1855.
8. Martin, L., son of Israel (5), b. June 26, 1808, m. Oct., 1837, EUza Burton, b.
May 3, 1819, (dau. of Jacob B. C. and Susan, (Loveland) Burton of Norwich), a
farmer in Hartford.
9. Athela, dau. of Israel (5), b. July 17, 1810, m. Aug. 21, 1829, Jedediah
Sprague. (See Sprague family.)
10. Nancy, M., dau. of Israel (5), b. Feb. 27, 1813, m. Sept. 12, 1833, Albert
Buel, b. AprU 8, 1807, (son of John and (Stevens) Buel,) a house carpenter. He
d. June 10, 1887. His widow resides on the homestead in Hartford.
11. Maky, dau. of Israel (5), b. Jan. 15, 1817, m. May 8, 1836, Woloott Hatch, b.
AprU 3, 1811, (son of Benjamin and Susan (Dutton) Hatch, of Norwich, Vt.)
They moved to the state of New York many years ago, and no record of the
famUy can be obtained.
12. Daniel O., Son of Israel (5), b. March 21, 1819, m. Sept. 25, 1843, Julia A.
Burton, b. Oct. 33, 1831, (dau. of Jacob B. C, and Susan (Loveland) Burton, a
farmer and extensive land holder in Hartford on the old homestead; one of the
selectmen from 1858 to 1865 inclusive; a public spirited, hospitable and worthy
citizen. His wife d. Oct. 21, 1873, leaving two children: Susan A., b. Oct. 8,
424 HISTORY OF HARTFOBD.
1850, m. Nov. 30, 1879, Charles C. Kinsman, b. July 30, 1858, (son of John and
JuUa A. (Heath) Kinsman.) They have children: Harry G., b. Jan. 16, 1881;
Julia B., b. Feb. 38, 1884; Belle H., b. Aug: 10, 1885; Lawrence 0., b. June 11,
1888; Bennie B., b. July 21, 1865; graduated from Dartmouth College, 1888; an
organist and teacher of music in Boston. ■
13. CUMMINGS, sou of Israel (5), b. Nov. 6, 1831, d. Sept. 1841.
14. Jasper, son of Israel (5), b. 1834, d. March 9, 1863.
15. Carlos, son of Israel (5), b. 1889, d. Deo. 33, 1856.
16. John, son of Ebenezer (3), baptized April 7, 1745, m. 1773 Jemima Smalley.
He came from Lebanon, Conn. , to Hartford with his brother Israel, in 1768, and
with liim erected a log house, near Wliite River Falls, in which they lived for
several years. Later, John built, and removed to, the house which is the present
home of Mrs. Azro Gillett, on Christian St. John and Israel were enterprising,
progressive men, and were the incumbents of many offices of honor and trust in
the town for nearly half a century. On the 5th of March, 1772, John donated to
Dartmouth College, to promote the cause of education, sixty acres of land lying
in Hartford. He d. Jan. 19, 1839. Mary, his wife d. Jan. 81, 1835. Their chil-
dren were; Jemima, b. about 1769, d. in 1775; the first native born white child
that died in tlie town; Sendea, b. 1773, d. May 5, 1776; Billa, b. June 7, 1774,
Sendea, b. 1777, d; Feb. 18, 1786; Jemima, b. 1778, d. Nov. 22, 1828, unm; Anne,
b. 1788, d. April 6, 1808, unm; Levina, b. March 16, 1790.
17. Billa, sou of John (16), b. June 7, 1774, m. May 28, 1795, Ruby Marsh, b.
Sept. 16, 1773, (dau. of Abel Marsh (probably.) She d. Deo. 38, 1831. He m. 2d,
Aug. 12, 1833, Elizabeth Tilden, b.' Sept. 12, 1791, (dau. of Josiah and Elizabeth
(Tracy) Tilden, of Hartford.) He d. April 5, 1844; Ehzabeth, his widow, m. 2nd
Abel Marsh, of Quechee; d. Nov. 26, 1857, without issue. The children of Billa
(17), by his first wife were: Jasper, b. Aug. 15, 1796, m. Nov. 3, 1824, Sarah A.
R. Thomas, of Eolla, N. C, by wliom he had one child only, George Zimmerman
h. 1835, d. Oct. 21, 1831. Jasper the father d. March 10, 1827, his widow d. May
4, 1833; Billa, known as Deacon Wm. Gillett, b. May 14, 1799, m. March 8,
1837, Laura Griswold of Randolph, Vt. She d. Feb. 18, 1836, aged 36. He
m. 2d, Almira Partridge (dau. of Dea. Cyrus and Mary (Loveland) Part-
ridge, of Norwich, Vt. He d. in Sharon, Vt., March 29, 1841. His widow
went west and there died. His children by his first wife were Clarissa, who m.
James, son of Ebenezer Sawyer, of Hartford, Vt. ; went to Fond Du Lac, "Wis.,
and there died; Nancy, b. March 19, 1834, m. in Galesbury, lU., Jan. 35, 1856,
Prof. J. B. Roberts, (son of John M. and Mary W. (Burbons) Roberts, of Morton,
111.) They have had six children: Wm. B., b. Dec. 12, 1857; Edward W.,b.
Dec. 6, 1863; Clara, G., b. Sept. 9, 1865; George B., b. April 7, 1867; Margaret
A., and John G., (twins) b. April 9, 1873. Edward and Clara are dead. Deacon
Gillett had by his second wife two sons who reside in California. Ruby, b.
July 7, 1804, m. Nov. 16, 1830, Dr. Constance Abbott, b. July 31, 1803, (son of
Elijah and Lydia Abbott.) Their children are: Carolina M., b. Oct. 9, 1833, m.
June 18, 1857, Thomas S. Page of Cordora, lU.; Louisa P., b. June 3, 1836, m.
March 9, 1865, Isaac N. Sweet, of Washburne, lU. ; William GiUett, b. Nov. 10,
1837, m. Sept. 21, 1865, Lydia T. Toy, of Washburne, 111.; Frances Ann, b. July
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 425
I, 1843, m. Sept. 31, 1865, Peleg N. Carson, of Washburne, 111. Mrs. I. N. Sweet,
(nee) Abbott, resides in Ohenoa, 111. Azro, b. Jan. 31, 1807, m. Nov. 34, 1829,
Emily Stone, b. March 20, 1811, (dau. of Enos and Rachel (Blake) Stone of Hart-
ford.) They had eight children, viz: Jasper A., b. June 19, 1833, d. March 9,
1863; Henry B., b. Nov. 30, 1836, m. Nov. 19, 1857, Arabella Wilkins, b. Oct. 10,
1839, (dau. of Hiram and Margaret C, (Manter) Wilkins, of Litchfield, N. H.)
Their children are: Emily M., b. March 16, 1861, m. Nov. 20, 1879, "Walter S.,
(son of Amos and Hannah (Green) Heath;) Harriet Belle, b. July 14, 1864, m.
May 16, 1852, William S., (son of Wm. D. and Emma H. (Brainard) Moody.)
Charles E., and Carlos B., (twins) b. March 28, 1839; Charles E., d. Dec. 23,
1839; Carlos B., d. Dec. 33, 1856. £:nos Stone, b. May 3, 1846, m. Oct. 15, 1868,
EmUy E. Pike, b. Jan. 16, 1846, (dau. of Hezekiah and Fannie (Thomas) Pike) a
farmer in Hartford, Vt. He d. suddenly June 18, 1887. His widow and an only
child, Clara, b. Aug. 31, 1870, reside on the homestead in Hartford. Infant,
b. Oct. 1, 1808, d. Dec. 17, 1808. Charles, b. March 13, 1813, d. May 5, 1813.
Norman, b. AprU 18, 1813, d. Oct. 14, 1813. Maria G., b. Jan. 6, 1815, m.
Sept. 16, 1835, Lorenzo Dutton. (See Dutton family.)
18. Levina, dau. of John (4), b. March 16, 1790, m. Oct. 3, 1810, Amos Wal-
bridge, of Randolph, "Vt. Their cliildren were: Louisa, b. Sept. 30, 1811, m.
April 2, 1838, John C. Underwood, of Quincy, Mass., d. April 9, 1864, leaving
one daughter; Levina, b. July 5, 1813, d. Sept. 27, 1833; Martha, b. April 29,
1815, m. 1st, Dec. 1, 1836, Geo. Newell, of LoweD, Mass., and had one daughter;
2d, Geo. W. Tuckerman, of Boston. She d. April 38, 1878; John G., b. Vlarch
II, 1817, m. Jan. 38, 1839, in Lowell, Mass., Lavinia Moore; d. in Cottage Grove,
Wis., Feb. 1883, leaving one son and two daughters; Amos, b. March 2, 1819, d.
July 4, 1821; Levi, b. Feb. 3, 1821, m. 1st, Isabel Lovering, of Exeter, N. H., 2d,
Josqphine Newell, of Boston, Mass. ; Lucinda J., d. in infancy; Caroline C, b.
Jirne 9, 1835, m. Jan. 9, 1849, in Boston, Ira W. Hill;, no issue; Frederick G., b.
Feb. 14, 1838, m. Nov. 8, 1851, Lydia A. Gray, of Boston, has one son; LuciusH.,
b. March 31, 1830, m. Nov. 7. 1853, Ellen Dunn, of Boston, has two children. La-
vina, parent, d. in Boston, July 4, 1860, aged 70-3-18.
THE HAZEN FAMILY.
The only authentic recorded data concerning the Elazen family in this country
dates no further back than 1649, when Edward Hazen, the American ancestor,
came over from England and settled in Rowley, Mass. The history of his de-
scendants to the third generation at least, is exceedingly meagre. I am indebted
to Mr. Henry Allen Hazen, of Washington, D. C; for valuable genealogical facts
concerning the Hazen family, a portion of which were contributed by Mr. Hazen
to the New England Historical and Genealogical Register for April, 1879, but the
space allotted to genealogies, in the original plan of this history, precludes the
use of all the facts compiled by him, and I shall transcribe from his compilations
only such facts in the history of Edward Hazen and his descendants as, added to
facts in detail derived from other sources, enable me to form an interesting his-
torical memorial of the Hazen family; and enable the present generation to trace
the family history from its first beginnings in this country to tlie present day,
having special reference to the descendants of Thomas Hazen 3d, a large number
of whom now reside in Hartford.
426 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
The origin of this family beyond^the sea has not been traced. Recent informa-
tion locates a family bearing the name in Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the last cen-
tury, and possibly the fact may afford a clue to the English home of the Puritan
Edwaid.
Edward Hazen was the immigrant ancestor. The first mention of the name,
which has been found, occurs in the records of Rowley. "Elizabeth, wife of Ed-
ward Hassen, was buried 1649, Sept. 18." He was a man of substance and influ-
ence in the town; was overseer or selectman in 1650, '51, '54, 1660, '61, '65, and
1668, and judge of delinquents 1666. In the records of surveys, Feb. 4, 1661, he
appears entitled to " seven gates.'' These related to cattle rights on the town
commons ; the average number being three, and no one had more than seven.
The inventory of his estate amounted to £404:7:8.
Of his first wife, Elizabeth, nothing is known, or where, or how long they had
been married. He married 2d, in March, 1650, Haaanah, dau. of Thomas and
Hannah Grant. He was buried in Rowley, July 22, 1683. His widow m. 2d,
March 17, 1683-4, George Browne of Havei-hill, who, Sept. 9, 1693, adopted her
youngest son Richard as the sole heir to his large estate. Lieut. Browne d. Oct.
31, 1699, aged 76; his wife d. Feb., 1715. The children of Edward and Hannah
(Grant) Hazen, all born in Rowley, were: Elizabeth, b. March 8, 1650-1, m.
Api-il 1, 1670, Nathaniel, son of John and Bridget Harris of Rowley; Hannah,
b. Sept., 1658, m. William Gibson, and (^. before 1683, leaving three children;
John, b. Sept. 22, 1655; Thomas, b. Feb. 39, 1657-8, d. in Norwich, Ct., April
13, 1735; Edward, b. Sept. 10, 1660, died 1748; Isabella, b. July 31, 1662, m.
Jan. 16, 1680, John, son of Thomas and Ann Wood of Boxford; Pricilla, b.
Nov. 35, 1664, m. July 21, 1681, Jeremiah, son of John and Dorcas Pearson of
Rowley; Edney, b. June 30, 1667, m. Aug. 2, 1686, Timothy, son of Rev. Wil-
liam and EUzabeth (Wooton) Perkins of Topsfield; Richard, b. Aug. 6, 1669, d.
in HaverhiU, Mass., Sept. 25, 1733; Hipzebeth, b. Dec. 22, 1671, m. 1689, d. in
Rowley, Nov. 29, 1689; Sarah,'b. Aug. 22, 1673, m. June 27, 1690, Daniel Wicom,
Jr., of _Rowley.
Thomas' (Edward') owned a farm in Rowley at his father's death; he re-
moved to Boxford before March 33, 1689-90, where he was made freeman; he
was dismissed from the church in Topsfield, to become one of the constituent
members of the church in Boxford ia 1703, and in 1711 again removed to Nor-
wich, Ct., where he d. April 12, 1735, aged 77 yeai-s. * * * He m. Jan. 1,
1683-3, Mary, dau. of Thomas Howlet; she d. Oct, 24, 1727. Their chiLdren were:
John, b. 1683^, Mai-ch 23, m. Mercy Bradsti-eet; Hannah, b. Oct. 10, 1694, in
Rowley, m. July 13, 1727, Joshua, son of Benjamin Morse of Newbury, Mass. ;
Alice, b. in Boxford, June 16, 1686; Ednah, b. (when?), m. Oct. 21, 1724, Joshua
Smith of Norwich, Ct.;' Thomas, bapt. Topsfield, Mass., May 4, 1690, d. in Nor-
wich, Ct., 1776-77; Jacob, bapt. Topsfield, April 34, 1693, d. in Norwich, Ct.,
Dec. 32, 1755; Mary and Lydia, bapt. Topsfield, Sept. 9, 1684; Lydia m. March
17, 1713-14, Benjamin, son of Caleb and Margaret (Post) Abell of Norwich, Ct.;
Hepzibah, bapt. Topsfield, May 16, 1697, m. Oct. 1, 1716, David Ladd of Nor-
wich, Ct., d. March 13, 1728; Ruth, b. Oct. 23, 1699, d. in Norwich, Ct., Feb. 18,
1739-40; Jeremiah, bapt. Topsfield, May 3, 1702.
John" {Thomas'', Edward^ ), b. Mch. 23, 1683; m. Mars, dau. of John and
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 43T
Sarah (Perkins) Bradstreet, and gr.-dau. of Gov. Simon Bradstreet, and of Rev.
William Perkins. She d. Nov. 33, 1725, in Norwich, Ct., and he m. there 3nd,
May 31, 1736, Elizabeth, prob. dau. of Daniel and Elizabeth (Douglan) Dart. Ch.
13. * t^ * To the line of this John it is pi'obable that the extensive families in
New Jersey belong, from which offshoots are foixnd in Pennsylvania, and in
Walsingham, Ontario, Canada. Among its present representatives are Abraham
Hazen, a successful ' merchant in Broadway, New York city, and the Hon.
Abraham D. Hazen, of Pennsylvania, now (1889) third assistant Post Master
General.
Thomas' (Thomas^, Edward' ), m. Sept. 30, 1714, Sarah Ayer, of Norwich,
Ct. She d. Sept. 16 1753, and he m. 3nd, Mrs. Elizabeth Bacon. Children all b.
in Norwich, Ct. : Sarah, b. Sept. 13, 1715. Joseph, b. June 30, 1717 ; m.
Dec. 8, 1740, Elizabeth Durkee, of Norwich. Thomas, b. Sept. 80, 1719.
Alice, b. Apr. 30, 1733. Martha, b. July 3, 1735; m. Deo. 4, 1753, Jacob, son
of Jacob and Hannah (Kingsbury) Hyde, of Haverhill, Mass. Moses, b. Dec.
1, 1731; d. July 11, 1812; m. Nov. 13, 1755, Elizabeth Merrill. She d. Jan. 4,
1776, and he m. 3nd, Jan. 9, 1783 Joamia Sampson, of Norwich, who d. May
39, 1813.
Moses' (Richard'. Edward'), b. May, 17, 1701; m. Mch. 5. 1737-8, Abigail,
dau. of John and Lydia (Gilman) White. The Worshipful WiUiam White, of
Haverhill, was grandfather of John White. Their children born in Haverhill,
Mass., were: Abigail, h. Jan. 7, 1728; m. Nov. 16, 1749, Moses Moors. Gen.
Benjamin Moors, of Plattsburg, N. Y., was their son. John, b. Aug. 11, 1731,
d. probably in Haverhill, N. H., before the Revolution. After the French and
Indian war broke out he distinguished himself by good service. In the Crown
Point expedition, . 1757, he was lieutenant in Capt. Jacob Bayley's company,
Capt. Meserve's regiment from New Hampshire. * * * After the war, he and
Col. Bayley joined in the enterprise of settling the rich Coos country, and be-
came, in 1761, the first settler of Grafton County, N. H., at HaverhiU. Bayley
occupied Newbury, on the opposite side of the Connecticut, the next spring.
He m. Nov. 30, 1753, Anne Swett, of Haverhill, who d. Sept. 39, 1765. * * *
Moses, b. June 1, 1733; d. Feb. 4, 1803 in Troy, N. Y. Like his brother he
was in the French war, and distinguished himself under Wolfe on the Plains
of Abraham, where he was severely wounded. After the war he retired on half
pay for life in the British army, and settled at St. Johns, Canada, where he
married a French lady, Charlotte La Sausu, but had no children. When the
Revolution came, he joined the patriot cause, sacrificing a large estate and his
half-pay for life, raised a regiment of Canadians, which was recruited from aU
quarters as the war proceeded, and known variously as " Congress's Own," and
" Hazen's Own.'' The traitor Arnold honored him by baseless charges of in-
subordination, but the record proves his good conduct and? he was Brigadier-
General at the close of the war. He cut a mihtary road through northern. Ver-
mont, from Peacham to Hazen's Notch, in Montgomery, which stiU bears his
name.
Joseph^, {Thomas^, Thomas'^, Edward ), b. June 30, 1717; m. Dec. 8, 1740,
Elizabeth Durkee, of Norwich, Ct. He removed, about 1780, with his sons to
Grand Isle, Vt., where they were among the first settlers, and where the family
has been numerous and honored.
428 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
The number of Joseph's children is not known to the author. He had, how-
ever, six daughters, three of whom, Sarah, Mercy and Mary, married respectively
Nathaniel Button, Joshua Hazen and David Newton, all farmers of Hartford,
Vt. Three other daughters married respectively: Capt. Rouse, after whom
Rouse's Point, in New York, was named; Capt. Wood, and an Armstrong, of
Poultney, Vt.
The foregoing facts are taken, chiefly, from Mr. Hazen's history of the flrst
four American generations of the Hazen family. I am also indebted to him for
valuable information concerning the following history of the first four genera-
tions of the descendants of Thomas Hazen 3d. '' (Thomas", Thomas'^, Edward^ ).
Thomas 3d was of the fourth American generation, but a new classification will
be observed in respect to the history of himself and his descendants. He wUl b.e
classed as Thomas 3d (1st Gen.); his children (3d Gen.); Ms grandchildren (3d
Gen.); his great grandchildren (4th Gen.)
In my researches for data concerning the Hazen family, I discovered in an old
account book, found among the effects of the late Dea. Philemon Hazen, the fol-
lowing memorial:
" The first Hazen in America had three sons, Richard, Thomas and Edward.
The sons of Thomas were John, Thomas 2d, and Jacob. The sons of Thomas 3d,
are Joseph, Thomas 3d, and Moses. Thomas 3d married Ann Tenney, and had
by her:
1. Eunice, born April 1, 1743; died Oct. 18, 1753.
3. Joshua, bom Oct. 19, 1745; died April 22, 1796.
8. Abia, (Hopson) born Sept. 5, 1747; died Oct. 27, 1819.
4. Asa, born Nov. 16, 1749; died March 13, 1819.
-5. Reuben, born April 12, 1751; died Feb. 18, 1760.
6. Elijah, born Oct. 35, 1752; died Feb. 2, 1833.
7. Silas, born Sept. 17, 1754; died Nov. 24, 1778.
8. Hezbkiah, born March 15, 1756; died July 25, 1839.
9. Thomas 4th, born March 13, 1758; died Aug. 9, 1835.
10. Solomon, bora Nov. 4, 1759; died July 26, 1849 (ts).
11. Daniel, born July 17, 1761; died Nov. 32, 1814.
13. Ann, born Feb. 17, 1763; died Sept. 80, 1765.
18. Eunice, born Jan. 20, 1765; died May 27, 1836.
14. Philemon, born Nov. 16, 1766; died Dec. 19, 1845 (ts).
15. Reuben, born AprU 7, 1768; died June 18, 1853 (ts).
16. Ann (Burton) born Feb. 21, 1771; died April 31, 1859 (ts)."
(ts). Dates taken from tombstones in Christian St. Cemetery.
All of the children above named were born in Connecticut. Eunice, born in
1743, Reuben, born in 1751, and Ann, born in 1763, died in Connecticut. From
the above memorial, and data gathered from other sources, I have formulated a
genealogical record of the first four generations of the descendants of Thomias
Hazen 8d, of Woodbury, Ct.
Thomas Hazen" (Thomas", Thomas'-, Edward'), h. Sept. 30, 1719, m.
March 7, 1743, Ann Tenney of Norwich, Ct., b. 1736; he d. Aug. 19, 1783; she d.
HISTORY OF HAETFORD. 429
July 39, 1802. The fruit of their marriage is seen in the foregoing list. He
moved from Woodbury, Ct., to Hartford, Vt., about 1771, and soon became a
prominent actor in the municipal affairs of the town.
In 1765, the proprietors made an effort to obtain a grant of the town from the
governor of New York, and employed as their agent Oliver Willardof Hartland,
Vt. In prder to settle with Willard for his services, the proprietors applied to
Joshua Hazen for the money. He borrowed of his father, Thomas Hazen 3d, the
required amount. On the 13th of May, 1773, the proprietors voted to let Thomas
Hazen 3d, have one thousand acres of land lying in a square body at the north-
west corner of the town for the money his son Josliua hu-ed for them. In the
meantime, the proprietors had sent Thomas Hazen 3d, to New York to endeavor
to obtain a gi-ant of the town from Lieut. -Governor Golden. For this service Mr.
Hazen was granted the privilege of pitching his undivided land in any section of
the town then unappropriated. He pitched 560 acres adjoining the 1000 acres
previously voted to him; his pitch was made May 30, 1781. On the 30th of Au-
gust, 1781, he gave to each of twelve of his children 130 acres of said land, and
reserved the same quantity for himself: total, 1560 acres. He subsequently
pitched and pm-chased more than 1000 acres ia the town, and his sons obtained
possession of an additional 1000 acres. He built, in 1775, the first two-story
house in the town, in which he lived with his son Asa, their home farm being
afterwards the home farm of his grandson, the late Allen Hazen, and now the
home farm of his great grandson, Charles D. Hazen.
SECOND GENERATION.
1. EUNICE HAZEN (dau. of Thomas Hazen 3d,) b. April 1, 1743; d. Oct. 18,
1753.
3. JOSHUA HAZEN (son of Thomas 3d), b. Oct. 19, 1745; m. Mercy Hazen, of
Litchfield, Gt., (daughter of Joseph Hazen, and b. about 1748). He removed from
Woodbury, Ct., to Hartford about 1770, and settled in the northeastern part of
the town on a farm given to him by his father, Thomas Hazen 3d. He at once
became actively connected with the political and religious interests of the town,
and in the mannagement of its affairs, both civil and military, he displayed
superior executive abilities, discretion, tact and energy. He was especially con-
spicuous in military life, and during the period of the Revolution he won envi-
able distiaction as an officer of the militia detailed to defend the frontier against
the invasions of the Fi-ench and Indians. His name, with that of other citizens
of the town employed in scouting service, building forts, etc., may be found in
that portion of this history relating to events during the Revolution. He repre-
sented the town in the Legislature in 1783, '85, '86, '87, '88, '90, '91 and '93. He
was, with Col. Joseph Marsh, county repi'esentative to the General Assembly, at
the three sessions of 1773, and served in the same capacity with Stephen Tilden
at the two sessions held in 1784; was one of the selectmen, and a justice of the
peace for several years; an intelligent, upright, valuable citizen. He d. AprU 19,
1796; his wife survived him until Aug. 13, 1834.
THIRD GENERATION.
1. Abigail, dau. of Joshua(3), b. Sept. 14, 1868; m. March 11, 1790, Frances
W. Savage. (See Savage family).
430 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
3. Fbederick, (son of Joshua (2 ), b. 1771; d. Oct. 5, 1775.
3. Molly, (dau. of Joshua (3), b. April 9, 1774; m. Mosely Clark, b. Nov. II,
1774, (son of John Clark and Deborah Mosely); she d. Jan. 8, 1806.
4. Susannah, dau. of Joshua (2), b. July 34, 1777; m. March 4, 1796, John
Clark, Jr., b. Nov. 17, 1770, (son of John Clark and Deborah Mosely, a farmer in
WiUiamstown, Vt.); he d. (when?) Their children were: (4th gen.) Susannah, b.
Feb. 37, 1798; John, b. May 3, 1800; Eunice, b. April 37, 1803; Joshua H., b.Sept.
30, 1804; Deborah, b. Nov. 21, 1806; Ormon, b. July 6, 1810; Daniel, b. Nov. 1,
1813; Wealthy, b. March 39, 1816.
FOURTH GENERATION.
Eunice Clark, b. April 37, 1803, m. 1st, Elisha Hutchinson, who was killed
by a stone from a blast Sept. 19. 1833; they had one son, John C, who resides in
Gladstone, Mich. She m. 3d, July 33, 1835, John Brigham of Alsted, N. H., by
whom she had — (5th gen.): Lydia, b. June 7, 1836; Susan, b. Aug. 35, 1838;
George,,h. Dec. 30, 1840; Silas H., b. May 17, 1843; Marshall G., b. Juqe 1,1846.
Eunice, parent, d. March 13, 1860. Only two of her children are living, Mrs.
Susan Bailey of Hardwick, Vt., and Marshall, who m. EUa King of Bradford,
Vt., and lives in Worcester, Vt. ; they have two children, John W. and Alfred M.
5. Joshua, Jr., (3d gen., son of Joshua (3), b April 3, 1781, m. Ruth Knee-
land, and had by her (4th gen.): Catherine, d. young; Horace, b. Jan. 14, 1805,
m. Jan. 3, 1833, Marcia P. Boardman, who d. Aug. 3, 1832; he m. 3d, Nov. 4,
1853, Mary P. Stone; children, (oth geij.): Oscar C, b. Nov. 39, 1835, m. Mary
Niles, Jan. 1, 1860; Julius M., b. July 3, 1839; Harriet M., b. Aug. 32, l^U Ed-
ward K., d. young; Harriet, m. Kimball Bailey; Charles J., b. Feb., 1815, ia\.
Caroline Smalley.
6. Wealthy, dau. of Joshua (3), b. June 4, 1783, m. Dec. 1799, Noadiah White;
went to Ohio.
7. Catherine, dau. of Joshua (3), b. Oct. So, 1785, m. Nov. 18, 1833, Andrew
Newton. (See Newton family.)
8. Eunice, dau. of Joshua (3), b. May 18, 1788, m. Feb. 30, 1816, Stephen Ma-
son, b. Jan. 6, 1793, (son of Robert Mason and Judith Wi-ight), a farmer in Han-
over, N. H. He d. Sept. 26, 1836. She d. Aug. 30, 1876. Tlieir children (4th
gen.) were: — Catherine M., b. Dec. 13, 1816, m. July, 1854, Abel D. Johnson, d.
March 12, 1863; Mary M., b. Nov. 15, 1818, m. Feb. 30, 1845, Amasa P. Dutton.
(See Dutton family.) JulinsJ., b. Aug. 14, 1821, m. Nov. 14, 1844, Sarali A.
Camp. She d. March 12, 1828, leaving oiae child. He m. 2d, Aug. 20, 1850, Ly-
dia Chandler, b. Sept., 1830, (dau. of La,ban and Lydia R. T. Chandler). 12ch.
John W., b. June 23, 1823, d. Jan. 23, 1847; Caroline A., b. July 30, 1835, m.
April, 1847, Philander W. Durkee, of Hanover, N. H. Moved west.
9. John Durkee, son of Joshua (3), b. 1794, m. Marinda Mason, b. July 1,
1794, (dau. of Elijah and Mary Mason, dau. of Lt. Gov. Joseph Marsh, of Hart-
ford, Vt.) Their children (4th gen.) were: Joseph, who m. Jane Taylor, of Hi-
ram, O., lived in Garrettsville, O., and had two children; (5th gen.) Florence,
who m. a Humeston, now living in Humeston, Iowa. Joseph, who m. Ida Ma-
son and lives in Chicago. Miranda, who m. a Paine. Emily, who m. John
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 431
Reed of Kent, O. He d. in Chatanooga, Tenn. She lives on Capitol Hill, Wash-
ington, D. C. They had thi-ee children. (5th gen.) John, Marinda, who died
in infancy, John, who d. at 20.
3. ABIAH HAZEN, (dau. of Thomas Hazen (3), b. Sept. 5, 1747, m. Capt. John
Hopson, b. 1743-8, a fai-mer in Norwich, Vt. He d. March 26, 1796. She d. Oct.
27, 1831. Their children, (3d gen.) were: Anna, b. Jan. 30, 1766, m. about 1801
Nathan Safford, of Royalton, Vt. Their children, (4th gen.) were: Charlotte,
b. Mai-ch 10, 1808, m. Feb. 34, 1835, Erastus P. Wilhams, of Royalton; Tniman
H., b. Feb. 19, 1810; Sarah, b. July 3, 1767, d. in 1786, \inra.;.John, b. May 34,
1769, m. 1794, Polly Noble, b. about 1771, (dau. of Shadrack and Lucy Noble), a
farmer in Norwich, Vt. He d. May 28, 1824. She d. Nov. 13, 1833. Their chU-
dren (4th gen.) were: AmeHa, b. July 31, 1795, d. July 31, 1833; John Deforest,
b. Feb. 37, 1799, graduated at West Point about 1821, m. Ann Herron, of St.
Louis, Mo. He d. in Louisville, Ky., Feb. 17, 1839. She d. in St. Louis in 1837.
They had one child who d. young. Sarah, b. Sept. 11, 1801, d. April 18, 1803;
Rebecca, b. Jan 31, 1771, m. Feb. 31, 1793, Reuben Tenney, b. July.39,1760, (son
of James Tenney, of Hanover, N. H.,) a. farmer in Hartford, Vt. He d. Feb.
36,1837. She d. July 16, 1840. Their children (4th gen.) were: Ira, b. Jan.
38, 1794, m. Feb. 35, 1823, Sophia Hazen, (dau. of Thomas 4th); Harper, b. Aug.
81, 1796, m. Nov. 30, 1819, Cynthia Marsh. He d. Aug. 31, 1833. She m. 3d,
Truman H. Savage. (See Savage family.) Ch. 8. Reuben, b. April 15, 1798, m.
Mai-ch 11, 1823, PoUy Savage, (See Savage famUy.) Homer, b. June 5, 1808, m.
Perces Perry, (dau. of Isaac Perry and Rebecca Newton.) He d. Aug. 12, 1838.
She m. 3nd, a Lawton; Lucy, b. Aug. 38, 1811, m. Nov. 1, 1830, Samuel B. Dim-
mick, (son of Joel and Sarah W. (Wood) Dimmick), a farmer in Hartford, Vt.
She d. June 34, 1866. Children (5th gen.): Laura, b. Feb. 4, 1885; Susan, b.
Nov. 6, 1836; Ruth, b. March 14, 1838. William, son of John Hopson, b. April
13, 1773, m. Dec. 39, 1797, Sarah Smalley, b. Dec. 31, 1780 (dau. of Lieut. James
and Sarah (Bartlett) SmaUey of Norwich, Vt.); he d. Dec. 38, 1838, she d. Feb.
12, 1850. The children of William Hopson (4th gen.) were: Lemira, b. Nov. 3,
1800, m. March 20, 1835, Isaac N. Mosely, he d. Feb.,1837; she m. 3d, Oct. 1845,
Thos. Poole, he d. Nov. 80, 1848; she d. Nov. 3, 1856. Silas N., b. July 39, 1803,
d. Nov. 19, 1869, unm. William Hazen, b. April 29, 1810, m. Dec. 1883, Cordelia
B. Houghton, she 4. Oct. 10, 1845; he m. 2d, July, 1846, Mary Blood, b. Feb.
1821 (dau. of Levi Blood and Fannie Smith of Norwich), he d. May 33, 1860, she
d. Oct 38, 1868. Mary, b. Nov. 33, 1815, m. May 10, 1835, Samuel Sproat, b.
March 6, 1808 (son of Samuel and Sarah (Delano) Sproat of Windsor, Vt.), a
mason by trade, at which he has worked sixty-two years, first in Windsor, then
in Norwich, Vt. ; Mrs. Sproat is a very intelligent woman, and she furnished
many facts concerning the Hopson family— children, 10. The other children of
John Hopson (4th gen.) were: Maiy, b. Jan. 11, 1775, d. Sept. 33, 1775; Silas, b.
July 36, 1776, d. Feb. 8, 1779; Mary, b. Jan. 18, 1779, d. March 39, 1783; Asenath,
b. Dec. 31, 1781, d. unm. in Royalton, Vt., Feb., 1849; Truman, b. July 4, 1788;
Lucy and Lucinda (twins), b. April 21, 1785, Lucy m. Dec. 12, 1805, John Savage,
(See Savage family), Lucinda d. unm. in Royalton, Vt., about 1834; Daniel, b.
July 36,1787, d. in Norwich in 1849; Abiah, b. April 34, 1789, m. Levi Barker, he
d. Feb. 36, 1885.
433 HISTORY OF HAETFORB.
4. Asa Hazen (son of Thomas 3d), b. Nov. 16, 1749, m. Dec. 7, 1780, Susan-
nah Tracy, b. July 3, 1758, (dau. of Thomas Tracy and Elizabeth Warner),
a farmer in Hartford; his farm of about 300 acres is located in the northeast cor-
ner of the town, is bounded on the north by Norwich town line, east by Connec-
ticut river, and west by the highway leading from Hartford village to Norwich
and Hanover, N. H. It is the home of Mr. Charles D. Hazen, son of the late Al-
len Hazen. Asa was chosen proprietors' clerk in 1780, and probably emigrated
from Woodbury, Conn., to Hartford with some of his brothers, several years be-
fore their father settled in the town Asa d. March 13, 1819, his wife d. Nov. 30,
1830. Their children were as foUows: Elizabeth, b. Nov. 37, 1781; Lora, b. Jan.
13, 1784, d. May 37, 1857; Austin, b. June 35, 1786; Thomas, b. Aug. 39, 1788;
Ira, b. Jan. 19, 1791; AsaSd, b. Dec. 9, 1793; Allen, b. Aug. 6, 1795; Susannah,
b. Nov. 5, 1797, d. July 7, 1834, unm.; Lucius, b. Feb. 14, 1801; Andrew T., b.
Dec. 30, 1804.
1. Elizabeth Hazen, (3d gen., dau. of Asa (4), b. Nov. 37, 1781, m. April 16,
1801, David Wright, Jr., b. Feb. 11, 1775 (son of David Wright and Hannah Bai-
ley), a farmer in Hartford, Vt.; he d. May 10, 1817, she d. March 11, 1818; their
children (4th gen.) were: Wealthy, b. Feb. 34, 1803, m. May 37, 1819, Alvin Bai-
ley, b. April 30, 1793, a farmer in Hartford; he d. July 11, 1865, she d. 1841;
Eliza, b. Sept. 8, 1804, m. June 39, 1839, Edward P. Harris, b. in Ashburnham,
Mass., Nov. 17, 1803 (son of Samuel Harris and Ruth Pratt), she d. in Hartford,
Sept. 1, 1834, leaving on child, (5th gen.) Edward W., b. May 4, 1831; he m. 3d,
Dec. 3, 1835, EUzabeth S. GiUett, b. Sept. 31, 1801, d. AprU 33, 1877. (See Gil-
lette family). Austin Hazen, b. Nov. 11, 1811, m. June 13, 1844, in Oroomiah,
India, Catherine A. Myers of Whitehall, N. Y., d. in Oroomiah, Jan 4, 1865. (See
Dartmouth Alumni, 1830).
3. Austin Hazen (son of Asa (4), b. June 36, 1786; m. Junel, 1819, Fran-
ces Mary Dana, b. June 13, 1800 (dau. of Israel P. and Sarah (Smith) Dana, of
Danville, Vt.); She d. June 11, 1831, and he m. 3d, Mch. 35, 1834, Lucia Wash-
burn, b. Dec. 36, 1806 (dau. of Rev. Azel Washburn and Sarah Skinner, of Roy-
alton, Vt.) He d. Dec. 35, 1854; she d. Dec, 1888, in Middletown, Ct.
Four of Mr. Hazen's sons are ministers. Allen was, for 37 years, a mission-
ary in India; Austin^ was pastor of the Cong'l Church in Norwich for some
years, and in Jericho Centre, and is now (1888) in Richmond, Vt. William S.''
has been pastor of the church in Northiield, Vt., for twenty-five years. Azel W.
has been over the North Church in Middletown, Ct. , about twenty years. Lucius
is an earnest christian worker, though he is in secular business. Frances has
been a teacher for several years in Mt. Holyoke Seminary. (See sketches D. C.
alumni (1807) (1848.) The children of Austin (4th gen.) were: —
1. Sophia Dana, b. July 33, 1830; m. Feb. 14, 1851, Rev. David T. Stoddard,
b. Dec. 3, 1818 (son of Solomon Stoddard and Sarah Tappan, of Northampton,
Mass.) He d. Jan. 33, 1857, in Aroomiah, Persia, and she m. 3d, Sept., 1867,
'Austin prepared for college at St. Johnsbury Academy ; graduated at U. Vt. ,
1855, Andover Theo. Sem., 1859.
^ Wm. S. fitted for college at Washington Co. Grammar School and Royalton
Academy ; graduated at U. Vt.. 1858. Andover Theo. Sem., 1863.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 438
Wm. H. Stoddard, brother of her first husband, b.-Moh. 5, 1804. He d. June 14,
1884. No Children.
3. Allen, b. Nov. 30, 1823, m. Sept. 18, 1846, Martha R. Chapin, b. April 9,
1833 (dau. of Oliver Chapin and Ann Pierce, of Somers, Ct.) Their children (5th
gen.) vrere: — Henry Allen, b. Jan. 13, 1849, in Seroor, India; grad. D. C. 1871.
(See D. C. Alumni.) Wm. Oliver, b. in Seroor, Aug. 31, 1850; gi-ad. D. C, d.
July 88, 1871, on his way to India; Frances A., b. in Seroor, July 9, 1853; grad.
Mt. Holyoke Sem., 1875; m. Oct. 30, 1875, Rev. L. S. Gates, missionary A. B. C.
F. M., Solapur, India. Mary Sophia, b. Ahmednugger, India, Nov. 4, 1854; grad.
Mt. Holyoke Sem., 1877. Harriet Stoddard, b. Bombay, India, Oct. 10, 1857; d.
Oct. 11, 1857. Martha Chapin, b. Somers, Ct., May 18, 1859; d. Sept. 3, 1859.
Charles Chapin, b. Newbury, Vt., Aug. 17, 1863; d. Aug. 31, 1863.
3. Frances Emily, b. Dec. 13, 1835; d. Aug. 3, 1880.
4. Israel P. D., b. Sept. 7, 1830; d. April 18, 1881.
The children of Austin and Lucia (Washburn) Hazen (4th gen.) were;
5. Austin, Jr., b. Feb. 14, 1835; m. Feb. 13, 1863, Mary Jane Carlton, b. Oct.
18, 1839 (dau. of David Carlton and Mary Wheeler, of Barre, Vt.) She d. April
18, 1880, and he m. 3d, June 1, 1881, Almira F. ElUott, b. Feb. 31, 1838 (dau. of
Ezra Elliott and Eliza Hall, Jericho Center, Vt.) Children (5th gen.): Austin, Jr.,
3d, b. Sept. 30, 1863. Carlton, b. June 14, 1865. Allen, b. May 13, 1867. Frank,
b. Jan. 7, 1869. William, b. Nov. 3, 1870. -Robert, b. Dec. 3, 1873. Tracy, b.
July 4, 1874. Mary, b. July 30, 1875; d. Jan., 1876.
6. William Skinnee, b. Aug. 18, 1836; m. Sept. 36, 1866, Martha Ann Mer-
rill, b. Apr. 13, 1833 (dau. of Wm. S. Merrill and Martha Ann Carpenter, of
Providence, R. I.) She d. Aug. 38, 1874, and he m. 3d, Oct. 13, 1883, Laura E.
Maxham, b. June 17, 1845 (dau. of Geo. W. Maxham and Laura Cady, of North-
field, Vt.) Children (5th gen.): Martha Merrill, b. Aug. 35, 1874; Wm. Mer-
rill, b. July 38, 1873; d. Sept. 7,
7. Lucia W. Hazen, b. Apr. 14, 1889; d. Oct. 38, 1854.
8. Azel W. Hazen, b. Apr. 10, 1841; m. Sept. 1, 1869, Mary B. Thompson,
b. Jan. 28, 1846 (dau. of Prof. Wm. Thompson and Elizabeth Wells Butler, of
South Windsor, Ct.) Children (5th gen.): Frances Elizabeth, fc. and d. Dec. 5,
1873; Mary Washburn, b. Aug. 4, 1874; d. Jan. 36, 1875. Maynard Thompson,
b. Sept. 31, 1887.
9. Frances Mart Hazen, b. Feb. 15, 1844, living unmarried.
10. Lucius R., b. Feb. 6, 1848; m. Feb. 16, 1875, Maria B. Humphrey, b. Jan.
3, 1854 (dau. of Edwiu W. Humphi-ey and Helen Maria Martin, of Jericho Cen-
tre, Vt.) Children (5th gen.): iMcia Washburn, b. Dec. 18, 1875; Harriet Matilda,
b. Aug. 31, 1878; Edwin Humphrey, b. Sept. 15, 1883; Helen Bradford, b. May
31, 1885; Lucius Randolph, b. Nov. 33, 1886.
11. Susan Hazen, b. May 6, 1851; d. Nov. 14, 1851.
4. Thomas Hazen (3d gen., son of Asa 4), b. Aug. 39, 1788, m. Dec. 18, 1830,
Caroline Ensworth, b. Aug. 6, 1804, (dau. of Hezekiah Enswoi;th and Erepta
Pike). He d. April 10, 1870, iu Norwich, Vt. She d. July 31, 1879. (4th gen.)
38
434 HISTOEY OF HAETFOED.
children of Thomas (4): Lova E., b. Nov. 25, 1831, d. Oct. 9, 1843; Thomas E.,
b. Aug. 38, 1833, lives in Newton Falls, Mass., unm.; Caroline E., b. Aug. 10,
1835, d. Sept. 3, 1857, unm.; Frances S., b. Nov. 13, 1837, d. Oct. 12, 1844; Eliza
Erepta, b. Sept. 27, 1841, lives in Newton, Mass., unm.
5. IBA Hazbn (3d gen., son of Asa (4), b. Jan. 19, 1791, m. Dec. 20, 1819, Mary
Marsh, b.' 1794, (dau. of Joseph Marsh 2d, and Erepta Weld,) a farmer in Nor-
wich, Vt. He d. May 23, 1868. She d. June 6, 1861. Their children (4th gen.)
were: Asa, b. April 22, 1822, m. Jan. 3, 1850, Clementine Port«r, b. June 18,
1827, (dau. of Wm. Porter and Anna Kempton), a farmer in Hartford, Vt.
Mary Louisa, b. Oct. 7, 1822, m. Aug. 26, 1850, Jolm Paul. She d. April 18,
1854; Susan J., b. Feb. 14, 1825, m. Nov. 27, 1849, Francis Boaxdman, b. Nov.
13, 1811, (son of Thomas Boardman and Lucy Barron), a farmer in Newport, N.
H.; Joseph M., b. April 19, 1827, d. Aug. 28, 1853, unm.; Ellen Erepta, b. July
7, 1830, d. Nov. 11, 1875, unm.; Walter Scott, b. May 4, 1833, m. Sept. 18, 1861,
Caroline Fowler, b. May 1, 1842, (dau. of Lewis Fowler and Fanny Howard), a
farmer in Norwich, Vt.; Gratia M., b. April 22, 1836, d. Aug. 16, 1837.
6. Asa Hazen, 2d (3d gen., son of Asa 4), b. Dec. 9, 1792, d. May 18, 1866,
unm. (See Alumni D. C. 1811.)
7. Allen Hazen "(3d gen., son of Asa (4), b. Aug. 6, 1795, m. Feb. 15, 1832,
Hannah P. Dana, b. March 6, 1804, (dau. of Israel P. Dana and Sarah Smith), a
farmer in Hartford, Vt. Eepresented the town in the Legislature in 1845-'46-'49;
was selectman five years, 1829-1833, and held, at various times, other town offices.
He gave liberally of his means for the support of the Gospel, and for the cause
of education; a man of literary tastes, reflective habits and energetic in action.
(4th gen.) children of Allen, (7): Henry Allen, b. Deo, 27, 1832, m. July 9, 1863,
Charlotte E. Green, b. Jan. 30, 1834, (dau. of Dr. Geo. B. Green, and Mary H.
Jones of Windsor, Vt.) (See D. C. Alumni, 1854.) Israel Putnam, b. April 28,
1837, d. Jan. 4, 1838; Charles Dana, b. Feb. 11, 1842, m. May 28, 1868, Abbie
M. Coleman, b. March 16, 1844, (dau. of Horace P. Coleman and Martha L.
Dewey), a farmer on the old homestead. Children: Allen, b. Aug. 28, 1869;
Annah P., b. Sept. 32, 1873; Louise C, b. Jan. 1, 1877; Charles D. Jr., b. Feb.
3, 1881; Eichard, b. July 13, 1887; Emily Hannah, b. Aug. 2, 1844, living unm.
9. Lucius Hazbn (8d gen., son of Asa (4), b. Feb. 14, 1801, m. April 11, 1836,
Hannah B. Downer, b. Nov. 4, 1798, (dau. of John Downer and Hannah B. Hunt),
a farmer in West Hartford, Vt., and Newbury. Moved to Newbury, Vt., spring
of 1857, where he d. Aug. 27, 1862. She d. in St. Johnsbury, Vt., May 26, 1875.
(4th gen.) children of Lucius, (7): Frances, b. AprU 28, 1839, d. March 6, 1838;
Lucius D., b. Jan. 1, 1834, m. June 13, 1861, Orinda G. KimbaU, b. April 1, 1834,
(dau. of Lloyd Kimball, and Lois Griswold), a lumber dealer etc., in St. Johns-
bury, Vt. Louis Tracy, b. July 11, 1836, m. Oct. 9, 1863, E. Francis Johnson, b.
April 5, 1838, (dau. of Frank P. Johnson and Eleanor Stevens, of Newbury, Vt.,)
a lumber dealer, farmer and extensive daii-yman in Whitefield, N. H., which
town he represented in the N. H. legislature in 1886-7. Moved from Newbury
to Barnet, Vt. , thence to Whitefield. Children: Frank, b. in Newbury, May
34, 1866; Maria.F., b. in Barnet, Jan. 18, 1868; John D., b. in Barnet, June 15,
1870; Louis T., b. in Whitefield, N. H., Oct. 5, 1871; d. Nov. 26, 1871; Grace S.,
b. in Whitefield; Nov. 5, 1875; Hannah Mai-ia, b. July 31, 1841, m. March 20,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 435
1866, Dr. Henry C. Newell, b. Oct. 19, 1835, (son of Selim Newell and EmeUne
Denison), grad. D. C, 1860, M. D., 1864. Served in civil war as surgeon 3d
Eegt. Vt. Vols.
10. Andrew Tracy Hazen (3d gen., son of Asa (4), b. Dec. 80, 1804, m. Jan.
6, 1831, Sarali W. Dimick, b. May 14, 1810, (dau. of Joel Dimick and Sarah W.
Wood), a farmer in Hartford, Vt. ; he d. Aug. 7, 1863. The children of Andrew
T. 10th (4th gen.) were: Calvin Tracy, b. Jan. 34, 1833, m. April 14, 1857, Clara
N. Barnes (dau. of Gilbert W. Barnes and Elizabeth Burchard of E. Chester, N.
Y.); childi-en (5th gen.): Lizzie, b. April 13, 1859; Sarali L., b. Jan. 15, 1861, d.
Feb. 6, 1863; LiUian, b. Nov. 3, 1863; Edith, b. Nov. 38, 1864; Clara, b. Sept. 5,
1867; Thomas-D., b. April 16, 1873; Claudine, b. Dec. 15, 1876. Sarah E., b.Oot.
33, 1833, m. June 30, 1868, Geo. Messenger, b. Jan. 31, 1835, (son of Erastus and
EUza (Hatch) Messenger), a tanner in Norwich, Vt. Thomas A., b. Jan. 31, 1841,
m. Jan. 8, 1878, Lizzie M. Loveland, b. March 4, 1855, (dau. of John W. and
Maria (Boardman) Loveland), a tanner in Noi'wich, Vt. ; cliildren (5th gen.):
Andrew T., b. Nov. 9, 1878, d. Aug. 15, 1883; John L., b. June 30, 1881; Conrad
P., b. AprU 7, 1884. Susan S., b. Oct. 37, 1843, d. March 38, 1869, unm. Wil-
liam A., b. Jan. 33, 1859.
5. REUBEN HAZEN (3d gen., son of Thomas 3d), b. April 13. 1751, d. Feb.
18, 1760.
6. ELIJAH HAZEJT (3d gen., son of Thomas Hazen 3d), b. Oct. 25, 1753, m.
Jan. 25, 1781, Esther, (dau. of Capt. Gideon and Patience (Hurd) HoUister), she d.
June 13, 1817, he d. Feb. 2, 1832. Their children (3d gen.) were: Norman, b.
Feh. 33, 1783, m. 1st, March 12, 1804, Annis Wheeler, she d. Jan. 19, 1833; he m.
3d, Theodosia Frisbie, he d. July 30, 1856; they had (4th gen.): EUjah W., b.
April 23, 1807, m. May 13, 1838, Sarah Logan; Ursula M., b. June 8, 1815, m.
Sept. 25, 1837, Titus A. Bryan, d. Sept. 32, 1864; Celina, b. March 32, 1840, d.
May 14, 1842; Howard M., b. Oct. 1, 1845, ra. Oct. 1, 1867 Ellen, Titus, d. July
27, 1869. Theodosia, b. May 19, 1784, m. Jan. 7, 1809, Daniel T. MitcheU, d. AprU
8, 1813, he d. Nov. 33, 1867; they had (4th gen.) one chUd, Simeon, b. Oct. 33,
1809, m. (after 60) April 30, 1874, Keziah Ferrand. Esther, h. Oct. 18, 1791, m.
Jan. 10, 1813, Samuel Leavitt, d. Jan. 11, 1836, he d. May 8, 1844; they had (4th
gen.) children: Theodosia, b. Jan. 10, 1813, m. David Fen-and; Silence, b. Oct.
3, 1814, m. May 30, 1838, Thomas F. Brinsmade, d. June 3, 1843; Elizabeth, b.
July 31, 1818, m. July 31, 1844, Thomas F. Brinsmade (widower), d. Oct. 33,1850,
he d. April 18, 1878.
7. SILAS HAZEN (3d gen., son of Thomas Hazen 3d), b. Sept. 17, 1754, d.
Nov. 24, 1778, unm.
8. HEZEKIAH HAZEN (3d gen., son of Thomas Hazen 3d), b. Mai-. 15, 1756, m.
Nov. 37, 1781, Sarah Marsh (dau. of John Marsh and Sarah Hammond), a farmer
in Hartford, Vt. ; he d. July 35, 1839, she d. Jan. 4, 1853. Their children (3d gen.)
were: Levi, b. Jan. 11, 1783; John, h. Oct. 6, 1784; Amos, b. Aug. 36, 1786;
Sarah, b. Feb. 11, 1789; Dam, b. March 13, 1791; Alice, b. March 19, 1793, d. Oct.
15, 1849, unm; Elisha, b. May 10, 1796; Polly, b. Feb. 38, 1799; Dora, b. July 1,
1801; Hezekiah, b. March 4, 1803; Moses, b. June 39, 1805, d. Feb. 3, 1813; Alice,
b. March 19, 1793, d. Oct. 15, 1849, unm.
436 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
1. Levi (3rd gen., son of Hezekiah (8), b. Jan. 11, 1783; m, Moh. 13, 1821,
Sarah Hyde, b. Sept. 14, 1779, (dau. of Silas Hyde and Sarah Armstrong);
a farmer in Hartford, Vt. He died July 8, 1855; she died November 13, 1873.
(4th gen.) Children of Levi (1). Silas Hyde, b. Nov. 34, 1831. Living unm.
in West Hartford, Vt. Sarah Hammond, b. July, 13, 1823; m. Moh. 16, 1848,
Ebenezer Gile, Enfield, N. H. Alice, h. July 39, 1826; Hving uimi. in W. Hart-
ford, Vt. Abel H, b. Oct. 30, 1838; d. Deo. 12, 1884, unm. John H, b. Moh.
17, 1833; m. Mch. 33, 1859, Mehssa FuUer, b. June 16, 1839 (dau. of Peter Fuller
and Alice A. Perry, 3 ch.) A farmer. William, h. Sept. 19, 1886; m. Nqv. 33,
1871, Ruth Dimick, b. Mch. 14, 1833, (dau. of Samuel B. Dimiok and Lucy
Tenney); a farmer in Hai-tford, Vt. He d. May 19, 1876; she d. Mch. 34, 1886.
No ch. Willis, twin to Wm., b. Sept. 19, 1836. Livmg unm. in W. Hartford,
Vt. Arthur H., b. Oct. 11, 1843; m. Dec. 81, 1869, Susan Dimiok, b. Nov. 6,
1836 (dau. of S. B. Dimick and Lucy Tenney); a farmer in Hartford, Vt.
2. John (3rd gen., son of Hezekiah (8), b. Oct. 6, 1784; m. Sept. 17, 1818, Phi-
nette WiUard, b. Aug. 18, 1797 (dau. of Francis WiUard and Abigail Hill). He d.
Mch. 36, 1863; she d. Oct. 15, 1867; a farmer in Pomfret, Vt. Their children
(4th gen.) were: Diana, b. Apr. 13, 1821; m. Mch. 27, 1839, Aaron Q. Noyes, b.
Feb. 14, 1816. Ann D., b. Oct. 28, 1833: m. 1847, Hon. Joseph H. Pratt, b. Feb.
15,1837; a farmer in Pomfret, Vt. , a member, three times, of the Vt. Legis-
lature. Ch. 5. Levi, b. Oct. 19, 1835; m. June 6, 1849, Mary R. Perry, b. June
33, 1826; a farmer and land surveyor. Ch. 5. John W., b. July 15, 1838; m.
Apr. 16, 1851, Sarah O. Clark; d. in California. Harvey, h. Aug. 6, 1880;livingin
California. Qeo. C. b. Nov. 37, 1833; d. Nov. 6, 1856, unm. Edward, b. Dec.
36, 1838; m. Sept. 34, 1863, Ellen M. Snow; d. Oct. 29, 1886; a mechanic in "West
Hartford; ch. 6. Jason, b. Oct. 12, 1840; hving in California.
3. Amos (3rd gen., son of Hezekiah (8), b. Aug. 36, 1786; m. 1st, Phila
Brownell. She d. Apr. 1826. He m. 2d, Eleanor Gibson. He d. 1885; she d.
Nov. 13, 1871. Children (4th gen.) by first wife: Emily, b. Mch. 24, 1813; m.
Sept. 20, 1836, John Duttou. (See Dutton Family.) Almira, b. June 1, 1815; m.
Aug. 17, 1884, Wm. A. Ela, of Lebanon, N. H. He went to Kansas City and
d. m Mch. 1855, leaving 4 children. John B., b. Feb. 38, 1817; m. Jan. 14 1843,
Mary A. Rust, b. June 22, 1831 (dau. of Mathias Rust and PoUy Bailey.) Ch. 8.
iSegmoitr, b. Jan. 29, 1819; m. 1st, Dec, 1842, Rebecca Rust (dau. of Mathias
Rust and Polly Bailey); she d. Jan. 2, 1851; he m. 2d, Jane E. Wallace; she d.
Jime 39, 1854; he m. 3d, Caroline Wallace. He d. July 7, 1876; 4 oh. Hezekiah,
b. May 13, 1821; m. May 4, 1868, Ellen Orr, b. Jan. 22, 1840 (dau. of John Orr
and Roxy Griffin); a farmer in Hartford, Vt. He d. Sept. 11, 1856; ch. 4. Hoyt,
b. June 4, 1835; m. Jan. 19, 1851, Sylvia A. Snow, b. Jan. 18, 1831 (dau. of Mar-
vin Snow and Sylvia Waters). He is Station Agent C. V. Railroad in West
Hartford, Vt., is the oldest resident station agent on this road.
4. SABAH(3dgdn., dau. of Hezekiah (8), b. Feb. 11, 1789; m. 1813, Darius
West, b. Jan. 81, 1783 (son of Caleb West and Ruth Benton); shed. Apr. 34, 1855;
he d. June, 1840. Children (4th gen.) Hazen,h. Mai-. 25, 1818; m. Mch. 39, 1836,
Mary A. Cloud, b. Oct. 19, 1815 (dau. of Norman Cloud and Ruby Wright). Ch.
(5th gen.) Maria H., b. Mch. 3, 1837; m. Deo. 1, 1857, Calvin F. Seaver. Henry,
b. Feb. 9, 1840; m. June 1, 1866, Hannah C. Downer, b. Sept. 31, 1848 (dau. of
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 437
Stephen S. Downer and Caroline C. Wade); a merchant in Tlietford, Vt., and
for several years past the clerk and treasurer of said town. His wife d. Sept. 13,
1867; he m. 2d, Mch. 7, 1871, Nellie D. Lucas, b. June 3, 1851 (dau. of Chas. D.
and Emeline F. (Tyler) Lucas. Child by first wife: Georgie b. Mch. 8, 1867; m.
June 19, 1885, Wm. A. Hutchinson. Moses H., b. Apr. 18, 1843; m. Mch. 15,
1867, Luna Downing, b. Sept. 7, 1848 (dau. of Bela Downing and Permelia
Hovey); she d. Feb. 4, 1887. They had one child: Joseph D. Mary E., b. Apr.
35, 1853; m. Sept. 13, 1877, Charles E. Tinkham, b. July 36, 1853 (son of William
Tinkham and Vienna Goodell); a dentist in Fitchburg, Mass. She d. Aug. 18,
1884; Children: Willie, b. Feb. 9, 1879; two d. in infancy. George, b. June 11,
1819. Living in Royalton, Vt., with Charles West. Caleb, h. Apr. 3, 1833; m.,
1847, Laura E. Pratt, b. Feb. 15, 1830 (dau. of Francis and Roxanna (Strong)
Pratt); a farmer in Norwich, Vt. He d. Apr. 3, 1885; She lives in Arkansas
city, Kan. Children (4th gen):,Frank E. Chas. H., b. 1853; m. Apr. 39, 1874,
EllaE. Stone, b. Nov. 11, 1854 (dau. of Chas B. and Emeline (Bugbee) Stone); a
farmer in Hartford. He d. Sept. 24, 1886. Child: George C, b. Feb. 3,1878.
Joseph C.
5. Dan, (3d. gen., son of Hezekiah (8), b. March 13, 1791, m. Feb. 36, 1813,
Abigail Batchelder, b. Sept. 3, 1789, (dau. of Jethro Batchelder and Deborah
Leavitt), a farmer in Hartford, Vt. He d. Feb. 34, 1867. She d. July 16, 1877.
Their children (4th gen.) were: Abigail, b. Feb. 37, 1815, m, April 5, 1838,
Jacob G. Dutton, d. Feb. 6, 1881. (See Dutton family. Harriet A., b. Feb. 24,
1818, m. Aug. 19, 1839, Carlton D. Tracy. (See record Tracy Family.) Sarah, b.
Jan. 31, 1833, m. March 5, 1855, Charles Newton, (son of David Newton and Sa-
briel Tracy.) Solon, b. April 3, 1836, d. Feb. 36, 1854, unm.
7. Elisha, (3d gen., son of Hezekiah (8), b. May 10, 1796, m. March 4, 1833,
Mary Bush, (dau. of Fairbanks Bush and Amy Emmons), a farmer in
Hartford, Vt. He d. Feb. 19, 1876. She d. Jan. 4, 1880. (4th gen.) ChOd-
ren of EUsha (7) :* Mary Eliza, b. Jan. 5, 1834, m. Feb. 33, 1847, James
Cowen. She d. Oct. 4, 1863; Carlos, b. Feb. 2, 1827, m. March 4, 1851, Jane
Marsh. She d. 1868. He m. 3d, March 35, 1872, JuUa Brockway, (dau. of John
Brockway and Desire Simons), a hardware dealer, Lowell, Mass. Ch. 1. Cyrus,
b. Oct. 8, 1832, m. March 17, 1873, Sophia Wood, b. 1849, (dau. of James Wood
and Armona Snow), a farmer in Hartford, Vt. Ch. 3.
8. Polly, (3d gen., dau. of Hezekiah (8), b. Feb. 38, 1799, m. June 9,1819,
Wm. Savage, b. June 33, 1793, (son of Seth Savage and Rhoda Bacon.) (See
Savage Family.)
9. DOEA, (3d gen., dau. of Hezekiah (8), b. July 1, 1801, m. Feb. 34, 1833, Abial
Dutton, b. March 38, 1797, (son of Benjamin Dutton and Clarissa Thomas.) She
d. (when?) He is hving, (1888), in Burlingame, Kan. Children: Benjamin, h.
Aug. 11, 1823. Simeon M., b. May 5, 1825, d. in Texas, 1858; -Harvey H., b. Dec.
7, 1830, lost at sea Dec, 1853; Horace S., b. Sept. 27,1833, d. in rebel prison,
Dec. 15, 1864; Loren, b. Dec. 30, 1835, kiUed in battle Sept. 1, 1861; Edwin, b.
April 34, 1838, died in U. S. army Feb. 38, 1863; Henry A., b. Oct. 10, 1840;
Julia E., b. Aug. 38, 1838, d. June 14, 1836; Alice M., b. May 24, 1843; Daphne,
b. Jan. 9, 1847.
10. Hezekiah Je., (3d gen., son of Hezekiah (8), b. March 4, 1803, m. Nov.
438 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
28, 1835, Maria Cloud, b. March 5, 1807, (dau. of Norman and Ruby (Wright)
Cloud.) They had but one oliild: Ruby W., b. Nov. 3, 1836. She was married
March 36, 1846, to WiUiam E. Lewis, of Norwich, Vt., b. May 35, 1815, (son of
Bnos and Keturah (Dennison) Lewis.) Mr. Lewis has been town clerk of Nor-
wich for 46 years, and was also, treasurer of the town from 1871, to March, 1889.
He represented Norwich in the legislatm-e of Vermont 18 . They have had
chUdi-en: Lucy A., b. Feb. 19, 1847, m. Nov. 3, 1870, Joseph F. Foote, (son of
Daniel and Martha (Burr) Foote); Wm. H., b. Jan. 35, 1849, m. Jan. 1, 1884,
Stella L. Hubbard, (dau. of Thaddeus F., and Caroline (Cave) Hubbard.) Maria
Louise, b. Sept. 15, 1851, m. Sept. 14; 1876, Wm. W. Mon-ill, (son of Josiah R.
and FeHnda (Weeks) Morrill. Katy D., b. July 18, 1857, d. Aug. 17, 1858.
Charles F., b. Aug. 36, 1859, m. April 31, 1886, Fhebe E. Cook, (dau. of Royal E.,
and Louise (Lyman) Cook.) Mary D., b. Aug. 14, 1863, d. Aug. 33, 1865.
9. THOMAS HAZEN, 4th (8d gen., son of Thomas 3d), b. March 13, 1758, m.
1st, June 7, 1779, Abigail Dutton, b. Aug. 80,1763 (dau. of Deacon Samuel Button
and Joanna Root, of Washington, Conn.,) a farmer in Hartford, Vt. She d.
May 6, 1811. He m. 3d, Mrs. Eleanor (Greene) Garfield, b. 1777. She d. Aug.
17, 1837. He d. Aug. 9, 1835. Their childi-en (3d gen.) were: Silas, b. July 4,
1780: Lois, b. Feb. 10, 1783, d. Nov. 34, 1830; Abigail, b. April 36, 1785; Altha,
h; Sept. 14, 1788; David, b. March 14, 1791; Ezra, b. March 34, 1793; Sophia,
b. April 30, 1795; Thomas, b. Aug. 25, 1818. (Son of second wife.)
Silas, (3d gen., son of Thomas 4th, (9), b. 1780, m. Jan. 1, 1805, Polly Board-
man, b. June 6, 1784, (dau. of Jonas and Loraine Boardman.) He d. March 8,
1813. She d. Aug. 30, 1833. Their children (4th gen.) were: George, b. March
29, 1806, d. April 9, 1831; Charles, b. Oct. 27, 1807, m. 1st, Dec. 1, 1830, Martha
Hardy, b. Sept. 18, 1810, (dau. of Charles and Nancy H. Hardy.) She d. June
28, 1852. He m. 2d, June 8, 1865, Mira Bliss, b. Feb. 24, 1831. He d. Aug. 4,
1876. Ch. 2. Manj E., b. May 6, 1810, m. Jan. 19, 1831, Thomas B. Pike. He
d. Jan. 19, 1869. She m. 2d, Stebbins. 5 ch. Maria E' b. Jan., 1813, m.
June 2, 1832, Timothy Lyman, b. Nov. 19, 1805, (son of Timothy Lyman and
Ruby Beach, of Glover, Vt.), a farmer in Glover. She d. May 28, 1855. He d.
Dec. 12, 1883.
2. Lois (3d gen., dau. of Thomas 4th), b. Feb. 10, 1783, m. Sept. 30, 1802, Dr.
David Ingraham, b. March 10, 1770, (son of Jeremiah and Ruth Ingraham); she
d. Nov. 24, 1820; he m. 2d, Jan. 9, 1821,.Anna Bliss; she d. Jan. 20, 1828; he m.
3d, Mary Bliss; he d. Jan. 4, 1858, in W. Hartford, Vt.; she d. Sept. 16, 1874, in
Royalton, Vt. Children (4th gen.): Alandrus, b. Sept. 15, 1803; Sophia, h. June
1, 1806, m. Ludovicus Weld, d, 1854; Ermina, b. Sept. 27,' 1809, m. Jan. 1, 1838,
Wm. Newton, b. Feb. 13, 1804, (son of Sheldon Newton and Betsy Sanderson);
she d. AprU 37, 1837; he m. 2d, Polly Gibbs, Sept. 11, 1838, he d. Sept. 5, 1863;
Thomas H., b. May 38, 1813, d. March 35, 1834; Silas, b. March 31, 1815, m. 1st,
Sybil Morgan, Dec. 5, 1837, (dau. of Isaac and Hannah Morgan), she d. Jan. 30,
1849; he m. 3d, Feb. 29, 1849, Caroline Bliss; he d. Aug. 30, 1883; Lois E., b. July
35, 1818, m. Daniel Morgan.
3. Abigail (3d gen., dau. of Thomas 4th), b. April 26, 1785; m. Mai-ch 33, 1810,
John Boardman, b. Feb. 33, 1783, (son of Jonas and Loraine Boardman); she d.
March 10, 1851, he d. July 4, 1851. Then- children (4th gen.) were: Abigail Dut-
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 439
ton, b. JaH. 1, 1813, m. April 14, 1833, Henry Cutler (son of Nathan Cutler of
Glover, Vt.) Eliza Jewett, b. Nov. 13, 1817, m. Aug. 30, 1837, Fordyce S. French,
b. Jan. 3, 1810, (son of Samuel and Mary French); she d. Sept. 18, 1848; he m.
2d, Feb. 33, 1849, Mai-tha Hazen, b. May 13, 1831, (dau. of David Hazen and
Nancy Savage); he d. Sept. 26, 1871; she d. Aug. 25, 1888, in Barton, Vt.
4. Altha (3d gen., dau. of Thomas 4th), b. Sept. 14, 1788, m. Oct. 26, 1817,
Amasa Dutton, b. Nov. 21, 1783, (son of Thomas Dutton and Abigail Merriam);
she d. Sept. 14, 1877, he d. April 1, 1863. Their children (4th gen.) were: Altha
Louisa, b. Jan. 5, 1819; m. Nov. 20, 1844, J. N. Kinney, d. in Cincinnati, O., July
2, 1853. Amasa Parmalee, b. June 24, 1830; m. Feb. 20, 1845, Mary M. Mason,
b. Nov. 15, 1818, (daughter of Steven Mason and Eunice Hazen), a farmer, asst.
judge Orleans county, etc., etc., Craftsbury, Vt. David H., b. Jan. 13, 1833; m.
Nov. 4, 1845, Diana H.Walbridge, b. Dec. 14, 1831. Tamesin A., b. Dec. 20, 1823;
m. Nov. 2, 1848, Samuel Mcintosh. Eleanor M., b. Nov. 2, 1837; d. Dec. 5, 1834.
Sarah P., b. Aug. 17, 1829; m. May 31, 1852, R. D. Kinney. Francis Edward,
b. May 4, 1833; m. Aug. 30, 1854, PoUy G. Baldwin, b. Oct. 7, 1833, (dau. of Dr.
Eleazer and Polly (Ladd) Baldwin.) (See Dutton family).
5. David (3d gen., son of Thomas 4th), b. March 14, 1791; m. Jan. 24, 1819,
Nancy Savage, b. Oct. 12, 1797, (dau. of Francis W. Savage and Abigail Hazen),
a farmer in West Hartford, Vt. He served an apprenticeship at the tanner's
• trade, and carried on that business in W. Hartford, Vt., for several years. A
few years after his marriage he bought the Francis Savage liomestead, and began
farming. In middle life he became very corpulent, and was unable to do mucli
manual labor, but by sagacious management he made his farm remunerative,
reared a large farhily, and at his death owed but a nominal sum on his farm
Mrs. Hazen was a prudent, industrious wife, and reared her daughters in an ex-
emplary manner. They were deft at the great and the httle spinning wheel and
at the loom. They worked out of doors on the farm, in cases of emei-gency. He
was an amateur in music; played the violincello skillfully, brought up his chil-
dren to sing well, and with them contributed largely toward maintaining excel-
lent church music in West Hartford until the time of his last illness. The chil-
dren of David Hazen (4th gen.) were: Martha, b. May 13, 1821; m. Feb. 22,
1849, Fordyce S. French of Glover, Vt.(son of Samuel and Mary French), a far-
mer in Glover, Vt.; he d. Sept. 26, 1871, she d. childless, Aug. 25, 1888, after a
protracted sickness of several years, at the home of her stepdaughter, Mrs. Ow-
ens, Barton, Vt. Fanny, b. Sept. 3, 1833, d. June 30, 1885, unm. Susan, b.
March 1, 1836; m. Aug. 29, 1849, Wm. Howard Tucker, b. June 19, 1826, (son of
Alvan Tucker and Abigail M. Torsey), a civil engineer, historian of Hartford,
Vt., resides in Hai-tford, Vt. ; ch. 4. Amanda, b. May 28, 1828; m. Sept. 15, 1851,
Samuel Bascom Tucker, b. May 30, 1838, (son of Alvan Tucker and Abigail M.
Tossey), a civU engineer, resides in Elizabeth, N. J., ch. 3, (See Tucker family).
Eleanor, b. May 6, 1833, d. May 6, 1834. Harriet, b. Aug. 8, 1834; m. Harvey
Lesure, no children. Whitmore D., b. Aug. 13, 1838; m. July 31, 1860, Martha
Hummer, Goflstown, N. H. Ermina, b. Oct., 1843, d. May 15, 1843.
6. Ezra Hazen (3d gen., son of Thomas 4th). b. Mai-ch 34, 1793; m. April 6,
1816, Nancy Bachelder, b. Deo. 10, 1795, (dau. of Jethro Baohelder of Strafford,
Vt.), a farmer in Hartford, Vt. ; he d. Aug. 17, 1868, she d. June 6, 1863. Their
440 HISTOEY OF HARTFOED.
children (4th gen.) were: Eliza, b. April 12, 1817; m. June 17, 1841, Charles
S. Brown, b. AprU 28, 1813, (son of Moses and Keziah (KambaU) Brown); he d.
Feb. 13, 1867, she d. March 4, 1888; their childi-en were: EUzabeth, b. Oct., 1843,
d. Oct., 1850; John H., b. Feb. 25, 1845. Moses E., b. Jan. 5, 1847. Leonard, b.
May 4, 1819; m. Jan. 13, 1842, Lois Crandall, b. Dec. 8, 1820, (dau. of Joseph
Crandall and Abigail Fuller), a farmer on the old Hazen homestead; oh. 2, Wm.
E. and Ella.
7. Sophia (3d gen.-, dau. of Thomas 4th), b. April 20, 1795; m. Feb. 25, 1822,
Dr. Ira Tenney, b. Jan. 28, 1794, (son of Eeuben Tenney and Eebecca Hopson);
he d. Jan. 8, 1842, in West Hartford, she d. March 10, 1880, in Newbury, Vt.
Theu- children (4th gen.) were: Emily, b. Jan. 81, 1827; m. April 14, 1851, Dr.
E. Virgil Watkins, b. May 11, 1823, (son of Miner Watkins and Anna Barr); he
d. Dec. 18, 1888, in Newbury, Vt., a prominent practitioner in Vermont and
New Hampshire. George, b. Sept. 6, 1830, d. Aug. 16, 1852, unm. Lois, b. Aug.
15, 1835, d. April 24, 1884, unm.
8. Thomas G., (3d. gen., Thomas 4th, son of 2d wife), b. Aug. 25, 1815; m. Nov.
4, 1841, Asenath Mills (dau. of Isaac Mills and Asenath Merrill), a physician in
New Hartford, Ct.; he d. Sept. 21, 1875; his widow resides in New Hartford, Ct.;
Ch. : Ellen Josephine, Georgia Anna.
10. SOLOMON HAZEN (2d gen., son of Thomas 3d),, b. Nov. 24, 1759; m. Dec.
17, 1780, Theodora Pease, b. March 28, 1762, (dau. of Christopher and Hannah
Pease); she d. March 21, 1827; he m. 2d, Widow Sarah Kilburn of Strafford, Vt.;
he d. July, 1847. His chUdren (3d gen.) all the issue of his first marriage, were:
Lyman, b. Jan. 21, 1782, d. Jan. 23, 1782; Reuben, h. Feb. 18, 1788; Clarissa, b.
Nov. 19, 1784; Hannah, b. Nov. 1, 1786, d. Sept. 2, 1788; Solomon Jr., b. Aug.
22, 1788; Lyman, b. March 14, 1790; Alvin, b. Aug. 28, 1872; Zavan, b. June 19,
1796; Norman, b, Oct. 20, 1808.
2. Reuben 3d, (3d gen., son of Solomon (10), b. 1783; m. Nov. 16, 1806, Far-
thena Wilson, b. 1792, (dau. of — WUsonandSaUy (Wheeler) Wilson); he. d. April
1, 1858, his wife d. April 21, 1852. Their children (4th gen.) were: Myron,h. Feb.
24, 1808; Melvin, h. Sept. 4, 1809; m. Nov. 1, 1848, Abigail Brockway, b. July 25,
1807, (dau. of Wm. E. and Anna (Briggs) Brockway of Haitford); he d. June 12,
1876; children, 4. Sanford, b. July 10, 1811; m. April 7, 1840, Sarah Wood, b.
Aug. 14, 1818, (dau. of Henry G. Wood and Betsy Gerrish). Edmund, b. April
12, 1813. Minerva, b. AprU 4, 1815; m. May 14, 1833, Paschal Hatch, b. Sept. 24,
1806, (son of Benj. and Susan (Dutton) Hatch); she d. Jan., 1886. Willard, b.
April 13, 1817; m. April, 1875, Maria Eastman of Manchester, N. H. Celinda, b.
March 11, 1819, d. April 28, 1874, unm. Orvis W., b,. Jan. 26, 1821; m. Jan. 12,
1852, Caroline French, b. Aug. 18, 1825, (dau. of Jacob French and Matilda Pal-
mer); he d. April 21, 1887. Charles R., b. March 4, 1883; m. Aug. 5, 1866, Fan-
nie H. Titus (dau. of Simeon B. and Ehza J. (Morris) Titus of Vershire, Vt; their
cluldren (5th gen.): Martha D., b. May 12, 1868; Edward E., b. Aug. 3, 1872, d.
in infancy; Elbert T., b. July 6, 1874, d. in infancy; Rosooe E., b. June 5, 1877;
Sophia, b. June 35, 1834; Simon Peter, b. June 4, 1826, d. Aug. 30, 1827; Parthe-
na, b. March 15, 1828, d. Nov. 28, 1829; James, b. May 1, 1887, d. April 6, 1838.
3. Clarissa, (dau. of Soloinon (10), b. Nov. 19, 1784. (Nothuig further ob-
tainable.)
HISTORY OF HAETFORD. 441
5. Solomon Hazen 3d (son of Solomon (10), b. Aug. 33, 1788; m. Dec. 33, 1813,
Deborah Fuller, b. Jan. 8, 1793 (dau. of Seth Fuller and OHve Dutton); a farmer
in Hartford. He d. Oct. 39, 1834; she d. Jan. 4, 1858. Their children (4th gen.)
were: Norman, b. Sept. 7, 1814; m. Sept. 14, 1845, Martha Vose, b. Oct. 33, 1815
(dau. of Hon. John Vose and Lydia Webster). He d. Feb. 13, 1853. (See D. C.
Alumni, 1840.) Children (5th gen.) Mary Webster, b. Sept. 14, 1846; Wm. N.,
b. Feb. 13, 1849; both d. in Royalton, Mass., Feb., 1850. Prof. John Vose Hazen,
b. Nov. 33, 1850; graduate, 0. S. D., Dart. Col., 1875. After leaving the Scien-
tific Department he entei'ed the Thayer school, graduating the following May.
In the fall of 1876 he was eraployed on the Manchester & Keene Railroad as as-
sistant division engineer in Hancock. In November the road suspended oper-
ations, and he returned home. February, 1877, found him teaching the high
school at Hancock. When the term closed he went into the office of D. H. An-
drews, Boston, Mass., as draughtsman; he I'emained in this position until the
last of August, when he returned home to Atkinson, N. H., to take charge of
the academy. In September, 1878, he accepted the position of Tutor of Mathe-
matics in the Chandler Scientific Department, Dart. Col. In June, 1880, he was
elected Professor of Theoretical and AppUed Mathematics and Instructor of
Civil Engineering m the C. S. D. , which position he has since held. January 30,
1881, he was married to Miss Harriet Augusta Hurlburt, of Hanover, N. H.
They have two children, a daughter bom December 11, 1883; a daughter born
April 11, 1887. Carlton.D., b. June 1, 1816; m. Oct. 33, 1839, Frances E. Stiles,
b. Sept. 38, 1819 (dau. of Joseph Stiles and Jemima Sawyer), a farmer in Hart-
ford, Vt. Lives now (1888) in Greely, Colorado. Children (5th gen.): Norman
F., b. Sept. 5, 1840; m. Nov. 7, 1865, Mary Aiken, b. Apr. 11, 1846 (dau. of M.
Aiken and Chloe Mix); clerk of State Board of Land Commissioners, Colorado;
3 ch. Frances J., b. May 4, 1847; d. Sept. 8, 1847. Emma J., b. Mch. 6, 1849;
m. June 30, 1870, Ronaldo B. Harrington, b. Mch. 17, 1845 (son of Eli Harrington
and Mary A. Barron); children, 3. Theodora, b. May 5. 1863; m. Nov. 33, 1883,
"Edward K. Packard, b. Apr. 17, 1858 (son of A. K. Packard and Caroline M.
Carleton); ch. 3. Edward, b. July 5, 1818; m. Aug. 34, 1844, Sarali F. Tilden,
b. Jan. 33, 1836 (dau. of Josiah Tilden and Susannah Clark); ch. (5th gen.):
Susan D. b. Mch. 39, 1846; m. Aug. 35, 1875; ch. 2. Geo. E. b. May 18, 1849; m.
Jan. 15, 1878, Hattie Loveland, b. Feb. 3, 1854 (dau. of George Loveland and
Ruby Hatch); no childi-en. Perley F., b. July 11, 1854; m. April 14, 1881, Min-
nie F. Baker, b. April 39, 1857 (dau. of Andrew O. Baker and Pamela S. Deni-
son, of Hartfotd, Vt.); no children.
6. Lyman Hazen (3d gen., son of Solomon (10), b. Mch. 14, 1870; m. Aug. 11,
1815, Polly Ingraham; she d. in 1836. He m. 3d, Mch. 9, 1831, Mrs. Betsy (How-
ard) Dana, b. May 34, 1803 (dau. of Adam and Polly Howard; a manufacturer of
rakes in Pomfret. Vt. His children by his first wife were: Horace, Zibos and
Martin. No response to letters of inquiry concerning children by 2d wife, ex-
cepting the following: " Mary EmUy, married John Dorby of Newburgh, Ind.;
died there and has a daugliter there, Mrs. Albert Au-shire. EUen Matilda,
married, first, a Campbell, second, Neal Huntoon, of Hartford, Vt., in 1870;
died Feb. 1, 1883, aged 45, minus 13 days. Had one son by first marriage, who
lives in W^yoming Ter. Jane Maria, married Edgar Harrington, Pomfret, Vt.
Myra Betsy, b. Jan. 30, 1848, m. Sept. 33, 1867, William Vaughan, who d. Oct.
13, 1873. They had one child, Emma H., b. Aug. 38, 1869."
443 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
7. ALVAn, (3d gen., son of Solomon (10), b. Aug. 38, 1793, m. Oct. 31, 1818,
Julia M. Gibbs, b. April 6, 1795, (dau. of Harvey Gibbs and Mary Bartholomew,)
a farmer in Hai-tford. He d. Aug. 13, 1873. She d. Jan. 35, 1887. No children.
8. Zavan, (3d gen., son of Solomon (10), b. June 19, 1796, m. Sept. 38, 1818,
Abigail P. Patterson, b. March 36, 1797, (dau. of Patterson and Lucy Smith
of Henniker, N. H. ,) a mechanic. Lived in W. Hartford till about 1845. Re-
moved to Newburgh, Ind., thence to Evansville, Ind., where he d. Dec. 36, 1874.
She d. in Newburgh, Ind., Feb. 9, 1870. He served in the war of 1813, for which
he received a pension. (4th gen.) children of Zavan (8), Son, b. July 14, 1819, d.
young; Robert Smith, b. Oct. 31, 1830, m. Barbara d. in Sacramento,
Cal., Nov. 1, 1850; Albert, b. Nov. 3, 1833, m. Dec. 6, 1846, Eliza Ann Roberts;
Theodora, b. April 3, 1834, m. 1st, March 30, 1848, Henry Cappellar. He d. in
LouisviUe, Ky., Aug. 16, 1849. She m. 3d, Nov. 3, 1853, Dr. R. C. Slaughter,
(son of R. C. Slaughter.) Ch. 4. Dyer B., b. Mai-ch 36, 1837, m. 1st, Oct. 10,
1849, Minerva Jane Lull. She d. in Newburgh, Ind., Nov. 34, 1855. He m. 3d,
Oct. 8, 1857, Elizabeth Selby. Ch. 11. Lucy Maria, b. May 13, 1839, d. in W.
Hartford, Vt., Oct. 9, 1834; Honier Zavan, b. Feb. 33, 1834, d. in Newburgh
Ind., July 3, 1846; Lucij Maria .2nd, b. Feb. 3, 1836, m. Frankhn C. Bethell.
No issue. Norman, d. young.
11. DANIEL HAZEN(3dgen.,sonof Thomas 3d), b. July 17, 1761, m. Feb. 35,
1789, Olive Bartholomew, b. Nov. 7, 1759, (dau. of Noah Bartholomew and Mabel
Parmely.) He d. Nov. 33, 1814. She d. April 9, 1845. (3d gen.) cliildren of
Daniel (11): Anson, b. Feb. 6, 1790, d. next day; Jasper, b. Dec. 3, 1790; Laura,
b. April 35, 1793; Daniel, 3d, b. June 5, 1795; Noah B., b. Aug. 5, 1797.
3. Jasper (Bd gen., son of Daniel (11), b. Dec. 3, 1790; m. Nov. 11, 1813, Abigail
C. Thomas, b. June 10, 1793, (dau. of Elias Thomas and Sylva Thompson.) He
d. March 39, 1883. She d. Dec. 39, 1878. Mr. Hazen was the founder of the
Christain Church in Woodstock, Vt. , about 1807, and was its pastor for thirty-five
years, until called to Albany, N. Y. He was succeeded by his son-in-law. Rev.
Moses Kadder, who has been pastor of the church for forty-five years, and during
that time "has married 1100 couples, and attended 3300 funerals," (to July,
1888.) (4th gen.) Children of Jasper: Ursida, b. Oct. 36, 1814, m. Dec. 8, 1843,
Lorenzo Richmond, (son of Ebenezer Richmond and Abigail Walker), b. Aug.
16, 1806; Daniel T., b. Oct. 31, 1816, m. 1843, Hannah E. Webster, b. Jan. 31,
1833; Edivin, b. Oct. 35, 1818, m. July 6, 1843, Ann J. H. Page, b. Feb. 10,
1833, (dau. of Guardian Page and Pluma McKenstrie); Jasper, Jr., b. Dec. 31,
1830, m. July 3d, 1848, Achsah Cone, b. Oct. 81, 1833, (dau. of Morris and Lydia
(Farrington) Cone.) She d. March 11, 1888; Laura W., b. Sept. 80, 1833, m.
Aug. 39, 1844, Rev. Moses Kidder, b. Nov. 14, 1817; Jacob T., b. Dec. 4, 1834, m.
Sept. 35, 1855, Emma C. Hazen, b. March 33, 1837, (dau. of Daniel Hazen, 3d.,
and Hannah Bliss); Olive M., b. Nov. 33, 1836, m. Dec, 1845, Geo. E. Guernsay,
M. D., b. Jan. 37, 1833; Abigail T. H., b. July 34, 1839, d. Mai-oh 16, 1833;
Noah B.,h. Nov. 31, 1833, d. Oct. 31, 1854.
3. Laura (3d gen., dau. of Daniel (11), b. April 35, 1798; m. May 7, 1811,
Philo Sprague, d. March 38, 1 877. (See family record of Philo Sprague).
8. Daniel 3d (3d gen., son of Daniel (11), b. June 5, 1795; in. Dec. 3, 1834,
Hanna C. Bliss, b. Jan. 9, 1803, (dau. of Samuel Bliss and Sarah); he d.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. US
, Oct. 34, 1874, she d. March 13, 1873. The children of Daniel 4th (4th gen.) were:
Emma C, b. Mch. 33, 1837; m. Sept. 35, 1855, Jacob T. Hazen, b.- Dec. 4, 1834,
(son of Jasper Hazen and Abigail C. Thomas), his cousin. Marcia E., b. March,
1834, d. 1883, unm. Maria 8., b. Sept. 30, 1838, d. Feb. 9, 1859, unm. Daniel
B., b. Dec. 6, 1835, d. June 1, 1849. Noah B., b. April 3, 1841;- m. Alice S. Dut-
ton, b. Sept. 10, 1845), dau. of John Dutton and EmUy Hazen).
5. Noah B., (3d gen., son of Daniel (11) b. Aug. 5, 1797, died in parts unknown
to his relatives. Children (4th gen.): Octava, b. April 17, 1834, d. March 15,
1836. Abbey J., b. ; m. May 15, 1860, Dr. Chas. M. Chandler, b. July 1,
1837, (son of Dr. Charles B. and Nancy A. (Horton) Chandler of MontpeUer, Vt.;
he settled as doctor in So. Strafford, Vt.; went, Oct. 19, 1861, as surgeon to the
6th Vt. Regt.; was surgeon-in-chief to Vt. Brigade; was in battles of Lee's
Mills, Williamsburg, Fredericksburg, 3d Bull Run, etc. ; returned home in Oct. ,
1863; had charge of military hospital in Montpeher in 1865; has been president
of the Vermont Medical Society. He d. in Montpeher, March 19, 1889.
13. ANNA (3d gen., dau. of Thomas 3d), b. Feb. 17, 1763; d. Sept. 80, 1765.
13. EUNICE (3d gen., daughter of Thomas Hazen 3d), b. Jan. 30, 1765; m. May
30, 1785, Wm. Hxley; he d. May 37, 1836, she d. March 14, 1837; no issue.
14. PHILEMON HAZEN (3d gen., son of Thomas Hazen 3d) b. Nov. 16, 1766
m. Jan. 31, 1793, Eunice Marsh, b. Sept. 7, 1770, (dau. of John and Sarah
(Hammond) Marsh, a farmer in Hartford, Vt. He was a very active and useful
citizen; weis four years, 1766-69, one of the selectmen of the town; and, at va-
rious times, held other town offices. He d. Dec.l9, 1845; she d. Jan. 9, 1833.
Their children (3d gen.) were: FranMin, b. April 5, 1794; Elijah, b. April 1,
1796; Eunice, b. June 10, 1799; Julius, b. March 6, 1801; Anna, b. May 13, 1803;
Perces, b. Feb, 19, 1805, d. Aug. 12, 1806; Albert, b. May 20, 1810, d. April 25,
1832.
1. Franklin (3d gen., son of Philemon (14), b. 1794; m. Jan. 24, 1831, Amy
Smith (dau. of Sylvanus and Amy (Sprague) Smith), a farmer in Hartford, Vt. ;
he d. Oct. 3, 1830, she d. Dec. 36, 1841. Their children (4th gen.) were: Azro,
b. Nov. 7, 1833; m. Elizabeth Parmely; d. July 31, 1887, in El Paso, 111. Susan,
b. Sept. 31, 1835; m. Jan. 8, 1853, Fred T. Waite; d. Aug. 13, 1883. Franklin S.,
b. March 18, 1831; m. Melvina C. Howard, b. July 8, 1834, (dau. of Seth and
Ehza (Lamberton) Howard Of Pomfret, Vt.); he committed suicide by hanging
himself, Oct. 7, 1879; she m. 3d, Fred T. Waite of El Paso, 111., Feb. 5, 1885.
2. Elijah ^3d gen., son of Philemon (14), b. 1796; m. March 8, 1823, Rhoda
Savage, b. Sept. 1, 1800, (dau. of Seth and Rhoda (Bacon) Savage), a farmer in
Hartford; she d. June 11, 1849; he d. May 11, 1887. Their children (4th gen.)
were: Nelson,h. May 14, 1823; m. Sept. 22, 1853, Sarah L. Newton, b. March
16, 1839, (dau. of Truman and Eunice (Wilson) Newton, a farmer in Hartford;
he d. Feb. 13, 1884; she lives in Hartford.
3. Eunice (3d gen., dau. of Philemon (14), (b. June 10, 1799; m. June 10, 1830,
Marvin Dutton, b. Nov. 30, 1799, (son of David Benedict and Lorana (Smith)
Dutton), a farmer in Stowe, Vt. Children of Marvin Dutton (4th gen.): Susan
R., b. June 37, 1833; m. April 4, 1865, Frank Robinson; 1 ch. Louisa M., b. June
33, 1833, d. Sept., 1840. Elvira F., b. April 19, 1835; m. June 37, 1867, Lester B.
444 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Barton; ch. 4. Almira M., b. Jan. 18, 1838; m. Sept. 5, 1865, Theodore S. Bar-
ton; he d. Feb. 11, 1888; 3 ch. Ann S., b. May 18, 1840; m. May 8, 1861, Joseph
W. Adams; ch. 3.
4. Julius Hazein, (3d gen., son of Philemon (14) b. March 16, 1801; m. 1st,
June 14, 1825, Maria M. Button, b. Oct. 12, 1805, (dau, of David Dutton and
Experience Hartshorn). She d. Oct. 1, 1830. He m. 8d, Jan. 26, 1831, Sophrana
Dutton, b. 1807, a sister of his first wife. She d. Nov. 1, 1845. Hem. 3d, April
7, 1846, Susan Dutton, b. 1811, a sister of his two former wives. She d. July 11,
1873. He m. 4th, Oct. 5, 1873, Mrs. Mary Ann (Dutton) widow of Columbus U.
Ti-acy, b. Sept. 30, 1817, (dau. of Silas Dutton and Hepzibah Black). He d. Jan.
30, 1812, a farmer in Hartford, Vt. (4th gen.) Children of Julius (4), first mar-
Tiage: Francis M., b. May 8, 1826, d. May 35, 1836; Maria Adeline, b. Dec. 6,
1827, m. Jan. 3, 1866, Charles Clifford. He d. March 2, 1879. Ch. 2. George
T., b. Nov. 7, 1>'29, m. 1st, June 6, 1855, Ellen E. Fisk, b. Oct. 18, 1835, (dau. of
Nathan Fisk and Vinai Wheatly). She d. June 18, 1859. Hem. 2d, Mary G.
Walbridge, b. Jan. 27, 1834, (dau. of Amos Walbridge and Susan Perry). She
d. Dec. 19, 1869. He m. 3d, Oct. 10, 1870, Maria S. Gillett, b. July 2, 1844, (dau.
of Nathan Gillett and Cornelia Dutton); a farmer in Hartford, Vt. Childi-en 6.
Children of Julius, second marriage: Henry, b. Oct. 30, 1831. Living in Hart-
ford, unm. Harper T., b. Dec. 33, 1833, m. Nov. 3, 1870, Ursula Dutton, b. May
19, 1843, (dau. of Thaddeus Dutton and Emily Sprague), a farmer in Hartford,
Tt. Ch. 3. DauidX)., b. Feb. 5, 1836, m. June 5, 1863, Ada T. Dutton, b. Aug.
9, 1839, 'dau. of Elias C. Dutton and Sarah Bliss), a farmer in Hartford. Ch. 5.
Albert E., b. April 1, 1842, m. May 15, 1867, EUa J. WUliamson, b. March 7,
1848, (dau. of A. E. Williamson and Martha Scott \ a produce dealer in Hartford,
Tt. Ch. 2. Julius M, b. March 25, 1849, d. April 20, 1873, unm; Susan, b. AprU
7, 1855, d. Feb. 4, 1874, unm.
5. Anna Hazen, (3d gen., dau. of PhUemon (14) b. May 12, 1803, m. Dec. 31,
1831, Oramel H. Nichols, from whom she parted after a few years. She d. Nov.
11, 1888. Their children, (4th gen.) were: Albert, b. Dec. 2, 1822, m. Aug. 31,
1852, Delia A. Tisdale; Almira, b. Aug. 17, 1834; Maria, b. Feb. 23, 1838,
m. 1856, Woodbridge Watson. She d. March, 1862.
6. Pehsis HAZEN,(3dgen., dau. of Philemon (14) b. Feb. 19, 1805, d. Aug. 12, 1806.
7. Albert Hazen, (3d gen. , son of PhUemon (14) b.May 20, 1810, d. April 25, 1822.
15. REUBEN HAZEN (3d gen., son of Thomas 3d), b. April 7, 1768, m'. April
15. 1790, Lucretia Noble, b. 1771, (dau. of Shadrach and Lucy Noble). She d.
Dec. 1, 1823. He m. 2d, Mrs. Mariam Jackman. He d. June 18, 1852. She d.
Julys, 1860. (3d. gen.) Children of Reuben (15): Simeon, b. Jan. 6, 1791, d.
Jan. 8, 1791 ; Stillman, b. Aug. 3, 1792 ; Luna, b. Oct. 10, 1794, d. Oct. 17, 1796 ;
Anna, b. Dec. 31, 1797, d. Oct. 17, 1798 ; Lucretia, b, Oct. 34, 1799, d. Sept. -24,
1802 ; .Lucy, b. July 27, 1807, d. March 20, 1808 ; Reuben Noble, b. March 24, 1809.
3. Stillman, (3d gen.) b. Aug. 3, 1793, m. Oct. 1, 1815, Sophrona Fenno, b.
Sept. 15, 1796, (dau. of Lazarus Fenno), a farmer in West Hai-tford until 1833,
when he moved to Hiram, O., where he d. of old age, Jan. 12, 1880. She d.
Sept. 23, 1864. Children of Stillman (2), (4th gen.): Lucy Ann, b. Sept. 16,
1816, m. 1st, Dec. 25, 1856, Wm. Garfield, of Boston, Michigan, b. Aug. 12, 1813,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 445
in Vt. He d. March 31, 1857. She m. 2d, July, 1858, Isaac W. Smith, b. 1809,
d. July 10, 1875, in Tallyi-and, la. She d. Nov. 39, 1863. Reuben Whitmore,
b. West Hartford, Vt., April 9, 1830, m. 1st, March 1, 1844, Amanda P. AUen, b.
Feb. 13, 1833, (dau. of Amos and Minerva Allen of Bracefield, O.) She d. Aug.
31,1853. He m. 3d, April 3, 1853, Mrs. Harriet E. Davis, of Kingsman, O. , b.
Jan. 13, 1839. He moved to Hu-am, O., in 1833; removed to Fremont, Nebraska,
May, 1858, is still there. Ch. by 1st m. 3, by 3d m. 6. Emeline L., b. Aug. 39,
1831. Resides in Hiram, O., unm; Fannie M., b. Jan. 1, 1834, in West Hartford,
moved to Hu-am, O., Sept., 1841, and there d. May 11, 1843, m. Josiah P. Hib-
bard. Ch. 1. ' Gen. Wm. B., b. W. Hartford, Vt., Sept. 37, 1830. (See bio-
graphical sketches). Ch. 3. George S., b. in Hiram, O., Sept. 17, 1838, m. Sept.
17, 18q8, Pauline, (dau. of Horace and Pauline Samson, of Troy, N. Y.,) b. April
6, 1839, in Washington, D. C. She d. Jan. 17, 1871. He served in the rebellion
as Sergeant 4th Battery, Ohio Volunteer Artillery, Oct. 11, 1861, promoted to
3d Lieut., Sept. 10, 1862, and to 1st Lieut., Dec. 5. 1862. Ch: Anges, b. Dec. 16,
1860; Grace E., b. Oct. 17, 1866.
7. Reuben Noble Hazen, (3d gen), b. March 34, 1809, m. Dec. 31, 1839, Isa-
bella Hoit. Went West.
16. ANN HAZEN (dau. of Thos. Hazen 3d), b. Feb. 31, 1771 ; m. Mch. 10, 1791,
Henry Burton, b. July 16, 1759 (son of Stephen Burton and Anna Pierce); a
farmer in Norwich, Vt.; he d. Sept. 1, 1841; she d. Apr. 31, 1859.
Children op Henry Burton. (3d Qen.)
Anna Burton, b. Jan. 6, 1793. Cynthia Burton, b. Aug. 13, 1799.
Henry S. Burton, b. Feb. 19, 1793. Alonzo Burton, b. May 11, 1804.
Elijah H. Burton, b. Nov. 6, 1795. Susan Burton, b. Nov. 3, 1805.
Asa Burton, b. July 19, 1797. ' Caroline Burton, b. Aug. 15, 1807.
Alonzo, b. June 9, 1809.
1. Anna Burton (3d gen.), b. Jan. 6, 1793; m. Apr. 8, 1815, Ralph Waterman,
b. Oct. 38, 1791 (son of Daniel Waterman and Haimah Fellows); a farmer in
Norwich. She d. Mch. 4, 1875.
Theu- chhdren were: Annette H., b. Jan. 3, 1816; m. 1st, Oct. 31, 1838,
Curtis Hatch; b. Dec. 23, 1810 (grandson of Capt. Benjamin Hatch and Susan
Dutton, of Norwich, Vt.) He d. May 13, 1863; she m. 3d, Aug. 38, 1866, Royal
Taylor, b. in Middlefield, Mass. (son of Samuel Taylor, who was the first white
child born in Pitsfield, Mass., and a lineal descendant of Rowland Taylor, who
was burned at the stake in Hatfield, Eng., Feb. 9, 1555, and Sarah Jagger.
Thomas Tracy, b. Jan. 23, 1818; m. Sept. 18, 1841, Sarah F. Peacock. They had
only one child: Frank Waterman. Asa Burton b. Dec. 38, 1819; m. Mch. 3,
' Henry E , (whose name was changed to Hazen) b. Nov. 3, 1840, W. Hartford,
Vt. Studied at Hiram and Kenyon colleges, C, till he was 17; moved to Texas
and staid till 1 861 Served in rebellion with troops in the field, held several com-
missions—appointed 2d Lieut., Aug. 5, 1861, Brevet ist Lieut., for gallantand meri-
torious service in Peninsula campaign, July 4, 1862; 1st Lieut., Oct. 3, 1864; Bre-
vet Capt., Dec. 30, 1864, for gallant service at battle of Frederickburgh, Va. ; Capt.,
Feb. .18, 1869. Died in Chattanooga, Tenn., Aug. 14, 1869.
446 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
1850, Cornelia Sheldon. Four children; two sons living, Newton S. and Dwight;
two d. young. Harriet, b. Mch. 22, 1822; d. Feb. 22, 1823. Alcmzo, b. Dec. 1,
1833; m. Mch. 11, 1850, Fidelia Badger, a granddaughter of B«v. Joseph Badger,
one of the earliest missionaries to the country northwest of the Ohio River. Two
children, Hebert and Ada. Henry, b. May 3, 1826; m. Sept. 17, 1850, Isabella
Townshend, of Norwich, Vt. They have seven children: Charles, Myron A.
Isabella, Carrie, William, Frank and Dennis. Hdrvey, b. June 8, 1828; m. Apr.
16, 1867, Ellen J. Hatch. Two children: Custis H. and Anna B. Andrew, h.
Oct. 21, 1830; m. 1858, Anna Bu-dseU, of Ravenna, O.; m. 3d, Oct. 8, 1866, Mrs.
Jane Beach. Two children: Annette and NeUie. Infant, b. Deo. 17, 1831; lived
only three days.
2. Henky Smith Burton (8d gen.), b. Feb. 19,1793; m. Dec. 37, 1821, Laura
Baxter (dau. of Ira Baxter); a farmer in Norwich, Vt. He d. Nov. 5, 1883.
Their children (4th gen.) were: Caroline 0., h. Sept. 8, 1834; m. Henry Burton,
son of Asa Burton of Norwich, Vt. Henry Carlton, b. Aug. 22, 1835; m. Aug.
18, 1859, Martha H. Waterman, b. Mch. 3, 1840 (dau. of Harvey H. and Diana
(Johnson) Waterman. She d. about 1866. He m. 2d, Nov. 18, 1867, Edna Slack,
dau. of Prosper Slack, of Norwich, Vt. Ira, b. Mch. 8, 1837; m. Sept. 1, 1859,
Emily D. Waterman, b. Sept, 17. 1837 (dau. of Harry H. Waterman and Diana
Johnson); children 3.
3. Elijah H. (3d gen.) b. Nov. 6, 1795; m. 1st; about 1835, Rachel Sprague (dau.
of Daniel Sprague); shed. Sept. 5, 1837. Hem. 3d, Mch. 4, 1843, LucyB. Lawton,
b. Mch. 3, 1819 (dau. of Geo. Lawton and.Fannie Bailey). He was accidentally
killed, Nov. 2, 1847, while standing, with several other persons, on a bridge near
the present residence of Geo. H. Savage, watching the process of blasting rock
in a cutting on the line of the Vt. Central R. R'y- He was struck by a rock
which took ofi the top of his head, from which death shortly ensued. He left
one child, Lucy A., b. July 10, 1845.
4. Asa (3d gen.) b. July 19, 1797.
5. Cynthia (3d gen), b. Aug. 13, 1799; m. Feb. 16, 1836, Timothy Hutchinson,
b. Sept. 8, 1798, (son of Sam'l Hutchinson & Hannah Burr), farmer in Norwich, Vt.
He d. April 30, 1880, she d. Jan. 89, 1866. Children (4th gen.): Hannah, b. Feb.
31, 1827, d. Mai-ch 33,' 1837. Frederick H., b. April 38, 1838. Franklin, b. Sept.
28, 1830. William, b. March 8, 1835, d. Aug. 35, 1835. William, b. July 31, 1836.
Aloneo B., b. Feb. 31, 1838, d. April 23, 1869. LvAilla C, b. May 3, 1840. Austin,
b. Aug. 9, 1843.
6. Alonzo (3d gen.) b. May 11, 1804.
7. Susannah (3d gen.) b. Nov. 3, 1805, d. Oct. 5, 1883, unm.
8. Caroline (3d gen.), b. Aug. 15, 1807; m. Sept. 38, 1841, Samuel Goddard,
b. June 11, 1808, (son of Rev. Samuel Goddard and Abigail Goddard), a farmer
m Norwich, Vt. He d. Aug. 13, 1879; she d. July 37, 1886. Children (4th gen.):
Infant daughter. Henry S., b. July 4, 1844; m. Nov. 29, 1866, Sarah A. Folsom,
to. Sept. 28, 1844, (dau. of James Folsom and Mary Butters), a farmer in Norwich,
Vt.
,9. Alonzo (3d gen.), b. June 9, 1809; living in Iowa.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 447
THE LEAVITT FAMILY."
Freegrace Leavitt, b. inSuffleld, Ct., Jan. 16, 1764; m. Bee. 39, 1788, Jeru-
sha Loomis, b. in Suffleld, Ct., Aug. 14, 1770. He moved from Suffield, Ct., to
Hanover, N. H., Feb. 20, 1789, and removed from Hanover to Hartford, Jan. 4,
1794. He settled at the Centre of the town, and there resided the remainder of
his Ufe. He d. April 9, 1843; the date of the death of his wife is not a matter of
record in Hartford.
Their first child, Jerusha Leavitt, b. in Hanover, N. H., Dec. 19, 1789; m.
Nov. 8, 1807, Dr. Dan Wriglit, b. Sept. 26, 1777, (son of Maj. David and Hannah
(Bailey) Wright), a physician in Hartford. He d. Deo. 20, 1846; she d. Jan. 37,
1878.
Arabella, their second cliild, was b. in Hanover, July 15, 1793.
Harvey F., their tliird child, was born m Hartford, Dec. 1, 1796. (See Bio-
graphical Sketches).
Freegrace Leavitt was chosen town clerk of Hartford in 1803, and held the
office continuously until March, 1837. He was a farmer, and hotel-keeper, and
was also for several years associated with Hoi'ace Cooley and M. King in the
business of distUling whiskey. He lived on the place now the residence of Mr.
Oliver Tewksbury, which is a short distance easterly of the old meeting-house at
the Centre of the tovim. He was one of the selectmen of the town 1820-31; 1832-
33.
THE LYMAN FAMILY.
In another poi'tion of tliis work tlie i-eader will find a biogAphical sketch of
EUas Lyman 3d. Tlie following record of his family is contributed by his grand
daughter, Miss Louise Lyman:
Elias Lyman 3d, b. in Northampton, Mass., Feb. 23, 1768; m. Dec. 30, 1790,
Anna White, b. in Hatfield, Mass., Dec. 14, 1772. He d. Nov. 33, 1830; she d.
Feb. 11, 1844. Children: Lewis (m. Mary Blake Bruce of Boston) b. in Hatfield,
Mass., Dec. 17, 1791; d. in Hartford, Vt., Jan. 39, 1837. Fanny (m. Charles
Dodd), b. in Weathersfield, Vt., Aug. 36, 1793; d. Feb. 36, 1816. Normand (m.
Elizabeth Walker, Providence, R. I.), b. in Weathersfield, Vt., Feb. 33, 1795; d.
Feb. 16, 1865. Wyllys (m. Sarah Marsh, Woodstock, Vt.), b. in Hartford, Vt.,
May 5, 1797; d. Dec. 1, 1863. Sarah, his wife, d. Sept. 1, 1841. Anna{xa..
Charles Dodd; after his decease m. Dr. Spaulding), b. in Hartford, Vt., Nov. 18,
1798; d. Dec. 11, 1856. Elias 4 (m. Cornelia Hall, Troy, N. Y.), b. in Hartford,
Vt., July 8, 1800; d. Sept. 5, .1870. Horace, b. in Hartford, Vt., Mch. 15, 1803;
d. Aug. 20, 1814. Theodore, b. in Hartford, Vt., Oct. 27, 1803; d. in infancy.
Clementina (m. Joseph F. Tilden), b. in Hartford, Vt., Sept. 19, 1804; d. Oct. 14,
1883. Oeorge (m. Minerva Briggs, Rochester, Vt.), b. in Hartford, Vt., April 6,
1806; d. July 11, 1879. Charles (m. Maria SpauMing, Montpeher, Vt.), b. in
Hartford, Vt, Oct. 5, 1808; d. in Washington, D. C, May 3, 1888. He was for
many years chief of the Dead Letter Office. Simeon (m. Lucinda Hall, Troy,
N. Y.), b. in Hartford, Vt., Aug. 16, 1810; d. Oct. 1, 1855. Hannah (m. George
Kendi-ick;, b. in Hai-tford, Vt., July 7, 1813; d. Mch. 14, 1857. Jane (m. Harvey
King), b. in Hartford, Vt., Aug. 7, 1816; d. Apr. 11, 1852.
' The only family of this name that ever lived in Hartford.
448 HISTOEY OF HARTFOED.
THE MAESH FAMILY.'
Among the fii'st permanent settlers of Hartford were several members of the
Marsh family, who, with one exception, located in Quechee. Among those who
located in that part of the town were the four brothers, Joseph, Abel, Eliphalet,
and Elisha, and John and Jonathan. Col. Joel settled in West Hartford. Jona-
than came into the town with the Strong's and Noah Dewey, in the summ.er of
1764. Jolin came in 1767. His name first appears in the records March 8, 1768.
Abel and Joel are first mentioned in the records Nov. 22, 1773. Joseph and Elisha
are first mentioned April 18, 1774 — the first-named being designated as Capt.
Joseph Marsh.
The Marslis above named, together with many of their descendants in the
first and second generations, were infiiiential, entei-prising, and highly honored
citizens in the communities in wliich they resided. They possessed physical and
mental characteristics of a high order, and few families have had more liberally
educated and successful men in all the walks of life, among them, scholars,
preachers, lawyers, physicians, judges, legislators, military officers, and other
vocations.
1. John Marsh, the inmiigrant ancestor, of the Marsh family, came over
from England about 1633, and settled in the colony of Massachusetts; removed
thence, in 1686, to Hartford, Ct. , where he settled, and had a numerous family.
2. John (son of John (1), b. about 1643; m. 1st, Sarah Lyman, Nov. 38, 1666;
settled In Hartford, Ct., on the Marsh homestead; had John, b. 1668. Nathaniel,
b. March 5, 1671; his twin brother, Joseph, b. March 5, 1671. Sarah, b. Feb. 17,
1678. Elizabeth, bapt. June 27, 1675. Hannah, b. Dec. 3, 1677. Ebenezer, b.
Feb. 38, 1679. Hannah, b. April 10, 1681. Ruth, m. William Cad well, Oct. 31,
1711. Lydia, b. Jan. 13, 1684. Hepzibah, b. June 6, 1686; m. 1711, to Jonathan
Wadsworth. Jonathan, b. Aug. 7, 1688. John, the father, m. 3d, Susannah
Butter, Jan. 1, 1708, and had Susannah, b. Feb.^ 1710 or '11.
3. Joseph (son of John (2), known as Capt. Joseph Marsh, m. Hannah ,
about 1696; became a proprietor in Lebanon, Ct., 1697; had Elizabeth, bapt. Jan.
30, 1697-98. Joseph, b. in Hartford, Ct., Dec. 5, 1699. Hannah, bapt. in Leba-
non, Ct., Nov. 9, 1704. Pelatiah, bapt. Dec. 8, 1707. Jonathan, bapt. Sept. 23,
1713.
4. Joseph (son of Joseph (3), known as Ensign Joseph Marsh; m. Mercy Bill,
b. 1704, Sept. 35, 1723; settled in Lebanon, Ct.; had Mercy, b. 1725; m. Israel
Loomis, 1747, and resided in Connecticut. Joseph, b. Jan. 13, 1736, old style.
Anna, b. 1739; m. Pelatiah Marsh, Jr., Dec. 28, 1753', and i-esided in Connecticut.
Abel, b. 1735. Elisha, b. 1736-7. Eliphalet. Joseph, the father, d. in Lebaaon,
Ct., 1753, and the four sons above named, with their widowed mother, moved to
Hartford, Vt., 1772-3, where ,she d. May 20, 1786, se. 85.
5. Joseph' (son of Joseph (4), m. Jan. 10, 1750, Dorothy Mason, b. in Nor-
wich, Ct., April 9, 1783, (dau. of Jeremiah and Mary (Clark) Mason). He d. Feb.
'By permission of Hon. Frederick Billings, who holds the copyright to the History
of Woodstock, Vt., prepared by Henry Swan Dana, I have copied from the history
of the Marsh Family, contained in that work, such data as added to that previously
collected from other sources, renders this a very interesting memorial of the Marsh
family.
HISTOEY OF HARTFOED. 449
9, 1811: she d. ^pril 14, 1810. Their children were: Ijydia, b. Nov. 5, 1750. Dor-
othy, b. April 20, 1753. Rhoda, b. June 30, 1754. Joseph, b. Jan. 1, 1757. Mary,
b. Feb. 8, 1758. Daniel, b. Jan. 2, 1761. Eoswell, b. March 36, 1763. Charles,
b. July 10, 1765. Roger, h. Aug. 17, 1767. Parthena, b. Nov. 3, 1769. William,
b. Oct. 1, 1773. Betsy, b. April 18, 1776,— all having been born in Lebanon, Ct.,
except Betsy, b. in Hartford, Vt. (See biogi-aphical sketch of Joseph Marsh 5).
6. Lydia, dau. of Joseph (5), m. Josiah Eockwell, and remained in Lebanon,
Ct. Her chUdi-en were Lothrop, Asahel, Daniel, Josephs Erastus, Jabel (or Ja-
bez), Lydia, Clarissa and Rhoda.
7. Dorothy, dau. of Joseph (5), m. Eliphalet Bill, and had : Benajah, Eliph-
alet. Mason, Roswell, Noadiah, Mary, Dorothy, Betsy and Almyra.
8. Ehoda, dau. of Joseph (5), m. for her first husband Thomas Wliite Pitkin.
Their cliildren were: Thomas W., Lucy, Samuel, Rhoda, Ruth and Rebecca.
Of these, Thomas W. m. his cousin, Mary BiU, and had children: Thomas W.
and Lucius (^vho m. Ellen, dau. of Ora Wood of Hartford, and lived in New
York City). Lucy, b. Feb. 8, 1784; m. at Balston, N. Y., Eobert EUis, and had
two sons, Eobei-t Ellis and Thomas Pitkin Ellis, both living, a few years ago, in
New York; upon the death of Mr. EUis, Lucy m. for her second husband Joseph
Bishop Abrams, and had two daughters, Lucy EUis Abrams, who m. James San-
ford of Mobile, Ala. ; and Mary P. Abrams, who m. James Stevens, recently of
PhUadelphia., Rhoda, who was b. 1774,_d. 1858; m. her cousin. Dr. Mason BiU.
Samuel was a physician, and resided in Balston, N. Y., m. Betsy HamUn. Col.
Thomas Wliite Pitkin, Jr., the husband of Mary BUI, d. May 30, 1861, re 88; lus
wife d. May 9, 1839, se 57. Thomas White Pitkin, the husband of Ehoda Marsh,
was drowned in the Otta Quechee i-iver. May 3, 1T87; Ehoda m. 3d, Eev. Thomas
Gross, who was the first settled minister in Hartford, Vt. They had thi-ee sons.
Dr. Pitkin Gross, recently living in Kingston, Canada; Horace Gross, who died
after finishing his law studies, and Thomeis Gross 3d, who was a merchant in
White Eiver viUage (Hartford) for several years. Ehoda Marsh was the second
wife of Rev. Thomas Gross; she d. Aug. 7, 1805, and was buried in the cemetery
at the Centre of the town (Hartford).
9. Joseph, son of Joseph (5), m. Erepta Weld, lived in Hartford on a farm,
now the home farm of Asa Hazen, and died there April 16, 1837, aged 81. His
wife died Sept. 5, 1843, aged 83. They had Gratia, who died at the old home-
stead, AprU 35, 1858, aged 73; Joseph Henry, who married and had several chil-
dren, lived in OberUn, O. ; Mary, who married Ira Hazen, of Norwich, Dec. 30,
1819, d. June 6, 1861. (See Hazen FamUy. t
10. Mary, dau. of Joseph (5), b. Feb. 8, 1758, m. 1777-8, her second cousin,
, EUjah Mason, (son of Peleg Sanford and Mary i Stanton) Mason), of Lebanon,
Conn. He was b. Sept. 26, 1756, came from Lebanon to Hartford about 1800;
settled near the center of the town, but subsequently removed to the farm west
of Quechee village, which is now the town poor farm, where he lived untU 1814,
and then removed to Trumbull Co. , Ohio. He was chairman of the board of
selectman of Hartford 1807 to 1811 inclusive; represented the town in the legis-
lature, 1810, and was prominent in pubUc affairs during his residence here. Their
children, aU born in Connecticut, were: Clarissa, b. 1779, m. a Fitch, d. about
39
450 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
1840; Mary, b. 1782, d. Sept. 11, 1816; Roswell, b. Dec. 33, 1784, lived in Warren,
Ohio, 1808. Died between 1850 and 1855; Peleg, b. Deo. 18, 1786, d. Aug. 8.
1835; Parthenia, b. 1790, d. 1795; Marinda, b. July 1, 1794, m. John Durkee,
(son of Col. Joshua and Mercy (Hazen) Hazen), of Hartford; moved to Ohio; d.
about 1850. Of their children, Emily married a Reed, and now (1889; resides on
Capitol HUl, Washington, D. C. Mary, vrife of EUjah Mason, died in Lebanon,
1794. He m. 3d, 1795, Luoretia Greene, by whom he had, Betsy, b. 1796, d. 1830;
Parthenia, b. probably, 1798, d. about 1865; Emeline, b. 1802, d. 1881; Carnot, b. '
1804, d. 1855; John, b. 1806, d. 1887; Arabella, b. April 18, 1810, m. Oct. 7, 1830,
Zeb. Rudolph, from a Maryland family. Of their children, Luoretia R., b. April
19, 1832, married Nov. 11, 1858, James Abram Garfield, the late lamented Presi-
dent of the United States. Mrs. Garfield, to whom I am indebted for the fore-
going memorial of Elijah Mason's family, resides in Mentor, Ohio.
11. Daniel, son of Joseph (5;, b. Jan. 3, 1761, m. Jan. 36, 1793, Marion Har-
per. He lived and died on the old homestead in Queohee, which after his death,
was purchased by the late Judge John Porter, and is now the residence of his
widow. Daniel d. Dec. 11, 1829. His wife Marion, d. in Quechee, March 18,
1851. Their children were: Roswell, b. Jan. 36, 1793, lived at home until eigh-
teen years old: studied law, married, settled and became a proniinent lawyer in
SteubenviUe, Ohio, died there Aug. 16, 1875, and was buried in the cemetery of
his native village. He received the honorary degree of A. M., conferred by the
Universy of Vermont, in 1837. James, b. July 19, 1794, graduated at Dartmouth
College, 1817. He m. 1st, Oct. 14, 1834, Lucia, dau. of James Wheelook, of
Hanover, N. H. She d. Ang. 18, 1838, and he m. 2d, Jan. 7, 1830, Laura, sister
to his first wife. She d. Aug. 13, 1838. He d. in Burlington, Vt., July 3, 1843.
Their clifidren were: Sidney, who became President of University of Oregon;
James, who d. in 1858, at the Sandwich Islands, where he had been sometime
Superintendent of Public Instruction; Joseph, a teacher in Canada. (See
sketches Dartmouth Alumni, 1817). Percy, b. June 19, 1796, d. umn. 1844;
Leonard, and Louise, (twins) b. June 39, 1799. Leonard graduated at Dart-
mouth College, 1827, m. Aug. 33, 1847, Ann, dau. of Hon. Alvan Foote, [D. C,
1798] of BurUngton, Vt. ; had Mary Moore, who d. Nov. 10,' 1869, se. 21. Wm.
Foote, [U. V. M., 1870]; George Foote, [U. V. M., 1873]; Chaiies Leonard, and
Anna Louisa. Leonard, the father, d. 1870. (See Dartmouth College Alumni,
1837.) Louisa, m. George, son of OUverand Anstes Udall, of Hartford, b. Oct.
6, 1797; Arabella, b. Oct. 26, 1804, m. Chaunoy Goodridge, of Burlington, and
had two children, Marion and Arabella. Emily, b. Oct. 8, 1806, m. Thomas
Reed, of Burlington, and had children;- Daniel 2d., b. Jan. 19, 1809, m. Lucinda
Hall, of Hartford, by whom he had, Roswell, Mary, and several other childi-en.
12. Roswell, son of Joseph (5J, b. Mar. 26, 1762; d. unm. 1784.
13. Charles, son of Joseph (5), b. July 10, 1765 ; graduated at Dart. Coll.
1786; also at the law school of Judge Reeves in Litchfield, Ct., in 1788; settled
in Woodstock, Vt., where he practiced law upwards of sixty years; was elected
one of the board of trustees of Dart. Coll. in 1809, retaining the ofifioe during
the remainder of his life; was district attorney of Vermont (appointed by Presi-
dent Washington) in 1797-1801; was representative in Congress 1815-17; was, a
leading lawyer, and an eminently useful citizen. He m. 1st, Nancy Collins of
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 451
Litchfield, Conn. Their children were; Charles, b. in Woodstock, Oct. 7, 1790;
gi-aduated at Dart. CoU. 1813; studied law, and settled in Lansingburgh, N. Y.,
where he m. Mary Leonard, Nov. 27, 1816; d. July 3, 1817, in Louisville, Ky.,
where he had gone for the benefit of his health. His wife survived him but a
year or two. Ann C, b. in Woodstock, June 10^ 1793; m. John Burnell, M. D.
of Woodstock. Mrs. Nancy (Collins) Marsh, d. in Woodstock, June 18, 1793.
Mr. Marsh m. 2d, June 3, 1798, Susan Arnold, widow of Josias Arnold of St.
Johnsbury, Vt., and dau. of Elisha Perkins, M. D. of Plainfleld, Ct. She d. in
Woodstock, Jan. 31, 1853, se. 76; he d. Jan. 11, 1849. Their children were :
Lyndon Arnold, b. Feb. 26, 1799; graduated at Dart. Coll. 1819; studied law and
was admitted to the bar of Windsor county at the September term, 1822; estab-
lished himseU in Woodstock; was register of jsrobate for about thirty-three
years for the district of Hai-tford; Nov. 5, 1829, he m. Lucy G., dau. of Benja-
min Swan of Woodstock. He d. Oct. 29, 1872. George Perkins, b. Mar. 15,
1801; graduated from Dart. CoU. 1820; studied law with his father; was admit-
ted to the bar in 1825; settled in Burlington, Vt., in the practice of law; was a
representative in Congress 1843-49; in 1849 was appointed minister resident of
the United States at Constantinople, where he remained until recalled in 1853;
in 1861, was appointed minister to Italy, which position he continued to hold
tUl his death in Valambrosa, July 23, 1882. He was the author of a " Grammar
of the Icelandic Language," " Lectures on the English Language,'' and other
valuable literary productions. His erudition in literature, science, and the fine
arts, gave him pre-eminence among the most renowned savants of the period in
which he lived. He married for his first wife, HaiTiet, dau. of Oaias Buell of
Burlington, who lived but a few years thereafter. He maiTied for Ms second
wife, Caroline Crane of Berkley, Mass; Joseph, b. April 16, 1807; studied med-
icine; received his diploma at Dart. Med. school, 1830, and, after several years'
of successful practice in his profession, was appointed Professor of Theory and
Practice in the University of Vermont. He died in Woodstock, Nov. 7, 1841.
Sarah Burrill, b. June 5, 1809; m. Oct. 1, 1828, WyUys Lyman of Hartford, Vt.,
son of Blias Lyman 3d; a lawyer by profession. She d. Sept. 1, 1841. He d.
Dec. 1, 1862. Charles, b. May 10, 1821; resided in Woodstock on the family
estate, which he conducted for several years, tUl, in 1869, he disposed of the
property to Frederick Billings, Esq. He d. May 13, 1873, at San Diego, Cal.,
where he had gone for his health.
14. ROGEK, son of Joseph (5), b. Aug. 17, 1767; m. Mary Chapman, and had
Levi, who d. unm. in the West; Charles C, who graduated at Dart. Coll. 1838;
married and settled. in New York; deceased; Edward W., graduated from the
University of Vermont, 1836; married and settled as a lawyer in New York; d.
in 1868; Franklin, d. unm. 1856, in New York, where he had been a successful
merchant.
15. Parthbnia, dau. of Joseph Marsh (5), m. Elijah Brainerd, and had Nancy,
Parthenia; Lavinia; Mary; Susan; Henry; William; Columbus; Joseph.
16. William, son of Joseph (5), m. Sarah Marshall. She d. without children
many years ago. He settled in Pawlet, Vt.
17. Betsy, dau. of Joseph (5;, m. Robert Ham, and had Ida ; Sylvia, who m.
452 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
1st, James Snow, who d. without children; 2d, James Benson, of South Royal-
ton, Vt.
18. Abel, son of Joseph (4), m. Deo. 2, 1754, Dorothy Udall, of Stonington,
Ct., and h&d Abel, Boger, Dolly, Samuel, Milo and Sarah. Of these, Samuel
married and left Otis, who formerly lived near Taftsville, Vt. Otis had several
children, one of whom, a physician, married a Blish of Woodstock, Vt.; Milo
married and left Wealthy, who married Luther Porter. Luther died Oct. 14,
1861, aged 82. Sarah married Ignatius Sprague. Abel, the father, died aged 87.
19. Elisha, son of Joseph (4), born 1735-6; m. Mary Terry, and had by her,
Elisha, Isaac, Polly and Christiana. Elisha, Jr. , m. Eunice Paine. He d. June
10, 1801, aged 35. His wife d. Aug. 4, 1828, aged 58. Isaac d. Apr. 20, 1844,
aged 75. One of the daughters married a Ransom (Matthew, probably), and thd
other a Perry. Elisha, the father, d. Moh. 13, 1823, aged 87. Mary, the mother,
d. Aug. 15, 1820, aged 84. (See their gravestones, Quechee.)
30. Eliphalet, son of Joseph (4,) married and had children, viz. : Russell,
Sarah and others, one of whom, a daughter, married a Morgan. Sarah married
John C. Smith, a farmer ui Hartford, and was the mother of Walter H.,Almira,
Sarepta and other children. Almiva, married 1st, a Dunbar, and 2d, a Crombie.
Sarepta married Thomas Crandall, of West Hartford, Vt., Nov. 5, 1820, and,
several years thereafter, they moved to Milwaukee, Wis. (The home farm of
John C. Smith is now owned by Joseph W. Leighton, and adjoins the home
farm of Samuel B. Dimmick, on the south. Walter H. Smith bought'this farm
of his father, and on the 22d of October, 1831, the selectmen of Hartford bought
it for a home for the town's poor). John C. Smith died Feb. 7, 1809, aged 52 ;
Sai'ah, his wife, died Apr. 19, 1851, aged 84. Anna. Smith, who d. in Quechee,
May 5, 1798, was, probably, the mother of John 0. Smith.
THE NEWTON FAMILY.
Remarkable Family Record.
The following family record of David Newton of Hartford, is believed to be
the most remarkable one known in the United States, if not in the world, in re-
spect to the number of children, their individual length of life, and the aggre-
gate of the ages of the whole family. The record, as found in then' family Bible,
is as follows:
David Newton, was born March 25, 1753.
Mary Hazen, was born September 11, 1754.
David Newton, was married to Mary Hazen, Sept. 16, 1778.
(SECOND generation)— THEIR CHILDREN.
Years. Mos. Days.
1. Sheldon, born July 1, 1774; died Jan. 2, 1849; aged _74 6 1
2. RuFUS, bora July 18, 1775; died Dec. 28, 1854; aged_ 79 5 10
3. AviCE, born Sept 3, 1776; died Aug. , 1862; aged 85 11 —
4. DAViD2d, born March 18, 1778; died Jan. 17, 1865; aged.. 86 9 29
5. Truman, born Oct. 1, 1779; died Dec. 30, 1848; aged .69 2 29
6. Andrew, born Jan. 36, 1781; died Aug. 18, 1868; aged 87 6 32
HISTORY OF HARTFOBD. 453
7. Anna, born March 18, 1783; aied March 21, 1839; aged 56 0 3
8. Rebecca, born Nov. 16, 1784; died May 12, 1850; aged 65 5 36
9. Polly, born Feb. 6, 1786; died Nov. 8, 1857; aged 73 9 2
10. Abner, born Nov. 19, 1787; died Jan. 26, 1856; aged 68 2 7
11. Elizabeth, born May 21, 1789; died Feb. 17, 1873; aged. .83 8 26
13. LXJCT, born Aug. 9, 1791; died March 17, 1870; aged 78 7 8
13. Daniel, bom Feb. 8, 1793; died April 11, 1831; aged 38 2 3
14. EnosW., born Aug. 18, 1794; died Sept. 28, 1865; aged... 71 1 10
15. Jasper, born Feb. 30, 1798; died Nov. 9, 1831 ; aged 33 8 19 -
16. Solon, born AprU 15, 1799; died March 11, 1876; aged..,. 76 10 26
David, parent, died Dec. 29, 1839; aged 86 9 4
Mary, parent, died Sept. 4, 1833; aged _68 5 33
When Sheldon, the first born child, was 31 years of age, there were fourteen
•children living at home with their parents. Mary, the mother, had been mar-
ried a few months more than twenty-flve years. She had reached the age of 44
years and 7 months when her last child (Solon) was born. The first death
in the family occiuTed nearly fifty-two years after the marriage of the parents.
The second death was that of Mary, the mother, in 1823, at which time her eld-
est child was in his 48th year, and her youngest child was nearly 24. The aver-
age age of the sixteen children was nearly 70 years; their added ages, with that
of their parents, was 1273 years.
1. Sheldon, son of David, b. 1774; m. 1st, Betsy Sanderson, b. 1773. She d.
Oct. 1, 1807. Hem. 2d, Nancy Wilder. He d. Jan. 2, 1849. Children by first
wife, Isaac, Norman, Benjamin, William, Reuben, Children by second wife,
Betsy, Emeline, Maria, John. Norman, son of Sheldon (1), m. Mary A. Walker.
He d., and she m. 2d, Hezekiah Pike. She d. Jan. 25, 1840. William, son of
Sheldon (1), b. Feb. 12, 1804; m. 1st, Ermina Ingraham, Jan. 1st, 1838 (dau. of
David and Lois (Hazen) Ingraham); she d. Apr. 37, 1887. He m. 2d, Sept. 11,
1838, Polly Gibbs (dau. of Harvey and Mary )Bartholomew) Gibbs), b. Feb. 12,
1810. He d. Sept. 5, 1863; she d. Apr. 3, 1885. His children by first wife were:
George, b. Feb. 24, 1830; m. Jan. 1, 1861, Catherine F. Poole. Norman, b. May
27, 1882; m. Oct. 25, 1855, Lizzie Dutton. Jo7m, son of Stieldon (1), b. Oct. 13,
1818; m. 1st, Jan. 2, 1843, Martha S. Dutton. (See Dutton Family.)
2. Rupus, son of David, b. 1775; m. Sept. 26, 1803, Theda Brown, b. Sept. 16,
1783 (dau. of Israel Brown); she d. Nov. 17, 1849; he d. Dec. 38, 1854. Their
•children were: Orra, b. May 4, 1804; m. Nov. 10, 1841, Stephen Boardman; d.
Dec. 28, 1842. Nelson, b. Dec. 37, 1806; m. Nov. 3, 1835, Mary Partridge, b.
Mch. 7, 1810. He d. Dec. 17, 1878; she d. June 36, 1885. They had three chU-
dren: Lucy A., b. Sept. 35, 1836; Edna O., and Edward N. (twins), b. June 39,
1847.
3. AviCE, dau. of David, b. 1776; m. Nov. 36, 1795, Justin Smith, b. Jan. 30,
1779 (son of Sylvanus and Dma (Fisk) Smith); she d. Aug., 1862; he d. 1845.
Their children were: Alden, b. Sept. 17, 1796. Truman, b. Apr. 16, 1798. Horace,
b. Feb. 32, 1801. Cephas, b. Apr. 16, 1805. Laura, Carlos D., and Caroline B.
454 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
(twins), b. June 15, 1811. Laura A., b.' Mch. 4, 1819. Alpha, b. Aug. 1, 1815.
4. David Jr., son of David, b. 1778, m. 1st, Elizabeth Partridge, of Norwich,
Vt.; 2d, Sabriel Tracy, of Hartford, Vt., Feb. 37, 1819; a farmer in Hai-tford,
Vt.; she d. Jan. 23, 1867. He d. 1865. Their children were: Flora, b. Feb. 11,
1807; m. Jan. 27, 1828, her cousin, Baxter B. Newton, of Hartford, a merchant
in W. Hartford. Charles, b. 1809; d. Mch. 11, 1813. Samuel, b. Oct. 23, 1810.
Mary, b. Feb. 4, 1813; m. June 9, 1881, Willard S. White, b. Dec. 4, 1807 (son
of Noadiali and Mary White of Hartford). Charles, b. Dec. 9, 1833: m. Mch. 5,
1855, Sarah Hazen, b. Jan. 31, 1823 (dau. of Dan. and Abigail (Batchelder)
Hazen, of Hartford. Jasper, b. Dec. 20, 1825. Silas, b. June 13, 1830; m. Har-
riet Sprague, b. May 19, 1830 (dau. of Jesse, Jr., and Susan Elkins). Shed.
July 3, 1874. He m. again, lives in Hartford.
6. Truman" son of David, b. 1779, m. Dec, 1807, Eunice Wilson, b. Aug. 30,
1785 (dau. of Jeremiah and Eunice (Whitcomb) Wilson, of Norwich, Vt.) He d.
Dec. 30, 1848; slie d. Feb. 23, 1871. Their chUdren were: Calvin, b. Sept. 6,
1808; m. Oct. 5, 1834, Sarepta Whipple, b. Aug. 16, 1806 (dau. of Samuel Whip-
ple and Mai-y Chaflfee); she d. Nov. 5, 1840; he m. 2d, Oct. 3, 1843, Mary H.
Spencer, b. Sept. 18, 1816 (dau. of Charles Spencer and Lucy Dewey). He d.
May 15, 1875. She Uves is West Hartford, Vt. Children: Reuben W., b. Oct. 5,
1835. ElizabethS.,h. Feb. 8, 1838. Maria L., b. May 15, 1830. Carlton S., b.
Sept. 8, 1852; d. Oct. 3, 1881. Lucy Ida, b. Mch. 11, 1856. Eunice-, b. May 14,
1810; m. Nov. 18, 1833, Joseph Whipple, b. May 3, 1803 (son of Samuel Whipple
and Mai-y ChafCee). Hed. Jan., 1878; ch. 3. Orson, b. Nov. 24, 1811; m. Apr.
8, 1840i Harriet BuUard, b. Apr. 18, 1831; ch. 5. Daniel, b. Aug. 26, 1813; m.
July 16, 1837, Martha Foster, b. July 14, 1812. He d. Mch. 29, 1859; ch. 5.
Russell, b. Apr. 33, 1815; d. July 30, 1818. Enos 8., b. May 4, 1817; m. Oct. 9,
1839, Lucy A. Dutton, b. Aug. 13, 1818 (dau. of Samuel Dutton and' Olive
Thomas). Hed. May 11, 1888; ch. 4. Laura A., b. Jan. 9, 1831; m. Aug. 31,
1860, H. N. Savage, b. May 5, 1821. Both are living in Hai-tford; oh. 3. Joseph
T., b. Nov. 21, 1822; m. 1844, Emily Merrill, b. 1817. He d. Feb. 7, 1869; ch. 3.
Edibard 0., b. June 39, 1826; m. Mch. 16, 1851, Emily O. Richards, b. Dec. 21,
1835 (dau. of Chester Richards and Fidelia Whitcomb); she d. Mch. 30, 1883;
ch. 8. Leonard, b. June 39, 1836; d. Sept. 4, 1826. Sarah L., b. Mch. 16, 1829;
m. Sept. 22, 1853, Nelson S. Hazen, b. May 14, 1833. He d. Feb. 13, 1884. She
lives in Hartford.
6. Andrew, son of David, b. 1781, m. 1st, Lorena Waterman, b..l785. She d.
April 30, 1833. He m. 2d, Nov. 18, 1823, Catherine Hazen, b. Oct. 25, 1785,
(dau. of Col. Joshua and Mercy) Hazen (Hazen), a farmer in Hartford, Vt. She
d. May 26, 1854. He d. 1868. Their children were: Melvin, Alandus,
Janette, Major, Joseph, b. Nov. 15, 1828, m. Aug. 16, 1855, Celina S. Burnham,
b. April 12, 1835, (dau. of Joseph and Nancy (Sawyer) Burnham). Ch. 6.
7. Anna, dau. of David, b. 1783, m. Daniel Sprague, (son of Jesse and Esther
(Dexter) Sprague). He d. Dec. 21, 1812, as. 38. She d. 1839.
8. Rebecca, dau. of David, b. 1784, m. S6pt. 29, 1802, Isaac Perry. She d.
May 12, 1850. He became insane, was confined in a cage in the poor house in
'Truman Newton was the first child born in that part of the town called Dothan.
His children were all born in Norwich, Vt. '
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 455
Hartford where he died many years ago. They had childi-en: Alanson,
Ltunen, Homer, Perses, who m. Homer Tenney, Eliza, Lucy, Mufus, Sabra.
9. Polly, dau. of David, b. 1785, m. June 34, 1809, David, (son of Jeremiah
and Eunice (Whitcomb) Wilson). They hved in West Hartford, where he had
a saw miU which he built in 1813. He moved to Illinois in the spring of 1837,
and there died. His wife died in 1857. They had, Jason, Cromwell, Jasper,
Rufus H., Diantha, Mary, Nanoy, who m. Noah Dutton, d. May 31, 1844.
10. Abnek, son of David, b. 1787, m. Dec. 17, 1830, Mary Blanchard, b. April
11, 1793, (dau. of Robert and Jemima (Chapman) Blanchard), a farmer in Hart-
ford, Vt. He d. Jan. 26, 1856. She d. June 15, 1883. They had but one child,
James, b. Oct. 37, 1821, m. July 17, 1850, Martha L. Thayer. He was for many
years a dentist in Hanover, N. H. They now reside in Boston, Mass.
11. Elizabeth, dau. of David, b. 1787, d. unm. Feb. 17, 1873.
13. Lucy, dau. of David, b. 1791, d. unm. March 19, 1870.
13. Daniel, son of David, b. 1793, d. 1831, m. Sabria Gray, liad children:
Sara, Rebecca, Louise, Susan.
14. EnosW., son of David, b. 1794, (Dartmouth College, 1815), m. Sarah
Work, d. Sept. 28, 1865. Ch. 5.
15. Jasper, son of David, b. 1798, (Dartmouth College 18^0), d. unm. Nov. 9,
1831.
16. Solon, son of David, b. 1799, m. Nov. 17, 1830, Caroline M. Blanchard,
(dau. of Robert and Jemima (Chapman) Blanchard), a fai-mer in Hartford. They
had: Ellen, Mary, Tyler. The latter now lives on the old home farm.
THE PINNEO family.
The recorded data concerning that branch of the Pinneo family whose descend-
ants have lived in Hartford, is meagre and unsatisfactory. The only male rep-
resentative of the family, now living in the town is John Pinneo, a descendant
in the fourth generation from Daniel Pinneo of Lebanon, Ct., and the only facts
in his possession, relating to the family were sent to him by a distant relative
whose efforts to obtain facts have apparently been unsuccessful. From the said
facts, and other recorded data I have framed the following history of the family:
1. Daniel Pinneo 3d, b. in Lebanon, Ct., about 1738; m. a Miss Hill of Leba-
non, Ct. ; moved from Lebanon to Bolton, Vt., thence to Hartford, Vt., in
1765-6, and settled in the immediate vicinity of the place where Charles Ballard
now lives. His name first appears on the proprietors' records under date of
Sept. 19, 1767. On the 33d of June, 1768, he was chosen one of a committee of
two " to agree with the owners of land, for land for highways, and exchange
for them." In 1778, he was one of the three selectmen, his associates being
Lionel UdaU and EUsha Marsh. Nothing more is said of him in the records of
the town. The date of his death, the date of his wife's death and the place of
their burial are not known; but, inasmuch as his eldest son, Charles, and some
other members of his famUy were buried in the old cemetery, on the south side
of White river at White River Junction, it is probable that Daniel and his wife
were ?ilso interred there. Their children, all born in Hartford, were as follows:
X^dia, married but d. childless. DameZ 5d, b. 1771; d. 1785. Charles, h. 1768.
456 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
John, m. Sally Root of Plainfield, N. H. , lived in Bolton, Vt. Daniel 4th, m.
Huldah Demmon; lived in Waterbury, Vt. Oiles, m. a Miss Davis; lived in
Duxbury, Vt. Andrew, went to Ohio. Anna, m. David Morse, lived in Dux-
bury, Vt. Eunice, lived in Bolton, Vt. Heman, of whom nothing is known
here.
2. Charles, son of Daniel, Jr., (Ij, b. 1768; m. Lydia Clark, b. 1767. Charles
was the first white male child born in Hartford. He lived on the old home-
stead with his father, and there died Nov. 33, 1848, aged 80. The house in
which he lived was built on the spot where Charles A. Ballai-d lived for several
years until the loss of his house by fire in 1887. Mr. Pinneo was an enterprising
and active citizen; was one of the selectmen of the town for two years, 1804-5,
and held minor offices during his life. Lydia, his wife, died Oct. 37, 1848.
Their children were: Charles, born 1796. Daniel 5th, born 1800; d. Jan. 10,
1854. Jasper, b. 1802; m. Betsy Lane; d. April'28, 1877. Lester, d. 1854, in St.
Paul, Minn. Lydia, resides in the West. Annie, married and went West.
Three or four other children died young.
3. Charles, son of Charles (2), b. 1796; m. Martha Coombs of Thetford, Vt.,
b. 1796. He was a farmer; was one of the selectmen of Hartford in 1837-8.
Martha, his wife, d. July 20, 1862. He died June 6, 1871. Their children were:
Justin, b. Aug. 11, 1821. Martha E., b. Dec. 10, 1833. Frances A., b. Feb. 33,
1835; m. in 1846, Silas H. Walling of Lebanon, N. H. She d. in Newport, N.
H., Sept. 3, 1872, leaving one child, Charles E., b. Deo. 3, 1847. Solon M., b.
May 19, 1827; d. in Texas, 1884. John, b. Jan. 14, 1830; m. Aug. 31, 1871, Emily
P. Gardner, dau. of Perry and Jane (Patch) Gardner. She d. Jvily 22, 1880,
leaving Lillie F., b. Sept. 3, 1873. Rosette, b. Jan. 10, 1832; d. 1836. Josephine,
b. Oct. 3, 1839 ; m. Horace Pierce of Lyme, N. H. , their present home.
THE RICHARDS FAMILY.
Joel Richards, whose family record is given below, resided in the northwest-
ern part of Hartford, on the road between the village of West Hartford and the
hamlet known as Jericho, and a few rods to the north of the present residence
of Charles Wallace.
Joel Richards, (son of Jonas and Hannah (Wlieeler) Richards, and grandson
of WiUiam and Rebecca ( ) Richards), b. Nov. 36, 1767; m. Dec. 5, 1794,
Miriam Smith, b. March 16, 1774, (dau. of Sylvanus and Dina (Fisk) Smith.)
Joel Richai-ds d. Aug. 30, 1813; his widow, June 30, 1835, m. 3d, Seth Savage,
who, after some six years, left her again a widow. She d. Dec. 19, 1855. The
children of Joel and Miriam Richards were:
1. Chester, b. Sept. 14, 1795; m. March 11, 1833, Fidelia Whitcomb, b. July
3, 1867. She d. Nov. 6, 1865. They had: Joel, b. Jan. 31, 1823, d. Aug. 34, 1847.
Orra Emily, b. Dec. 33, 1834; m. March 16, 1857, Orvis Newton, reside in Nor-
wich. Mark, b. Oct. 3, 1836; m. April 33, 1855, Harriet Newell Whedon, resides
in Michigan. David, b. Feb. 33, 1839. Norman, b. March 36, 1881, d. July,
1863. Rebecca Susan, b. July 24, 1833; m. March 30, 1864, Lieut. Thomas Ens-
worth, who d. in Battle of Wilderness, May 6, 1864; m. 3d, Aug. 8, 1876, David
HaU of Lexington, Mass. Ellen, b. Dec. 17, 1835; m. Jan. 13, 1858, Jefferson Bar-
tholomew; d. May 31, 1867. Edward, b. Dec. 3, 1843, d. Oct. 30, 1863.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 457
3. Philena, b. Oct. 30, 1797; d. unm., Feb. 23, 1869.
3. Rkbecoa, b. May 5, 1799; m. Sept. 13, 1833, Friend Ingraham, and went to
Grange, O. She d. April 4, 1889. They had: Julia P., b. Aug. 35, 1833. Cyrus
Richards, b. May 33, 1835, d. in War of the Rebellion. De Forest, b. Nov. 34,
1836, d. in war. Miriam, h. Oct. 13, 1839, d. Oct. 18, 1847. Asa, h. Nov. 31,
1841. David, b. Aug. 8, 1847.
4. Joel Azro, b. Dec. 13, 1800; m. Oct. 33, 1833, Maria Burton (dau. of Dea.
Jacob Burton, Norwich); reside in Hinkley, O. They had: Eliza Burton, h.
March 9, 1834, d. Sept. 5, 1856. A daughter, b. April 3, 1836, d. April 18, 1836.
Isdbelle Maria, b. Sept. 15, 1839; m. Rev. G. H. Damon. Henry Morris, b. Oct.
13, 1846. George Ashnum, b. Nov. 13, 1853.
5. Aeba, b. March 30, 1803; m. March 3, 1836, Emily Kelsey of Wales, N. Y.;
d. Aug. 11, 1870. They had: Octavia, b. July 17, 1837; m. Rev. D. L. Eaton,
Oct. 3. 1860. Thales W., b. Feb. 30, 1841, d. young. Emily Rosetta, b. Feb. 30,
1845, d. young. HoraXx, b. Dec. 14, 1850, d. young. Ellen, b. Dec. 14, 1855, d.
young.
6. WiLLAKD, b. Aug. 33, 1804; m. Nov. 37, 1858, Alvira Ann Wheaton, of
Hinkley, O., d. Jan. 36, 1876. They had: Myron, b. Jan. 8, 1840. Charlotte, b.
Nov. 6, 1841; m. Wm. Piper. Jlfaria, b. March 31, 1843; m. Mr. Swift. David,
b. Feb. 33, 1846, d. Feb. 36, 1846. Ann, b. Feb. 18, 1850. Dan, b. Sept. 10,1853.
May, b. Aug. 12, 1856; m. Rev. .
7. Alvin, b. July 36, 1806; d. se 3 years.
8. Gyrus Smith, b. March 11, 1808; m. Aug. 1, 1836, Helen Dorothy Whito
(dau. of Rev. Dr. John M. and Abby (Mon-is) Whiton of Antrim, N. H.) She d.
March 10, 1860; m. 3d, April 30, 1861, Maria Williams Parker, (dau. of OHver W.
Parker of Plympton, Mass.) Cyrus S. Richards d. July 19, 1885. Cyrus S. and
Helen Dorothy (Whiton) Richards had: Helen Morris, b. June 13, 1837; m. Aug.
16, 1861, Rev. George F. Herrick, D. D., residing in Marsovan, Turkey. Charles
Herbert, b. March 18, 1839; m. Nov. 18, 1868, Marie M. Miner (dau. of Rev. A.
Miner); reside in Madison, Wis. AVbie Louise, b. June 39, 1843; m. July 19, 1866,
Rev. Frank P. Woodbury, D. D.; reside in Minneapolis, Minn. James Morris,
b. April 3, 1845, d. July 16, 1846. Frederick Whiton, b. Dec. 6, 1850, d. Dec. 5,
1854. William Evarts,\>.yi.axch.%,\%5a; m. Nov. 19, 1877, Elnora L. Barnes;
res. New York City.
Jonas Deforest, b. Dec. 38, 1809; m. Harriet Bartle^t Jarvis (dau. of Hon.
William and Ann (Bartlett) Jarvis), Aug. 9, 1843; d. Deo. 3, 1873. They had:
William Jarvis, b. June 11, 1844, d. Oct. 31, 1849. De Forest, b. Aug. 6, 1846;
m. Elise ; res. in Chadi-on, Neb. Anna Bartlett, b. April 18, 1849, d. March
13, 1858. Jarvis, b. Sept. 15, 1853; res. in Chadron, Neb. Sarah Margaret, b.
Oct. 31, 1857; m. Hocks; res. in Wyoming. Bartlett, b. Jan. 6, 1861; res. in
Chaldron, Neb.
,10. Gardner, b. April 3, 1813; accidentally drowned, Sept., 1838.
458 HISTOEY OF HARTFORD.
THE SAVAGE FAMILY.
The history of the Savage family will be limited to the first three generations
of the descendants of Thomas Savage of Washington, Ct.
1. Thomas Savage, b. in Washington, Ct., Deo. 15, 1714, m. Feb. 24, 1744,
Mai-tha Wliitmore, b. Dec. 11, 1719. He moved from Washington to Woodbury,
Ct., where he resided several years, and removed to Hartford, Vt., in the sum-
mer of 1768. His first purchase of land in Hartford was made of Elihu Hide,
June 38, 1768, and was "No. 14," in the first division of fifty acre lots. At the
time he made this purchase he lived in Woodbury, Ct. After coming into
Hartford he bought of Isaac Winchester about 400 acres of land in that part of
the town known as Jericho. His home farm is now the home farm of W. G.
Chandler, located on Christian St., about two miles north of Hartford village.
On the 7th of Dec, 1784, he gave to each of his sons, Seth and Thomas Jr., 160
acres of the land in Jericho, upon which they settled and lived the remainder of
their lives. Jan. 17, 1788, he gave to his son Francis W., a 100 acre lot, " No.
32," in the 2d division, and 15 acres lying on Connecticut river, near White
River falls. After the death of his wife in 1767, his daughter Abigail became
his house keeper, and he continued to live with her until his death. He d. Oct"
11, 1798.
1. Martha, (2d gen., dau. of Thomas (1), b. June 18, 1746, m. April 22, 1765,
Deacon John Dutton, b. April 14, 1743, (son of Thomas and Abigail (Merriam)
Dutton.) (See record of Dutton family.)
2. Sakah, dau. of Thomas (1), b. June 9, 1748, m. Martha Logan.
3. Abigail, dau. of Thomas (1), b. June 9, 1748, m. Oct. 31, 1775, Elias Chap-
man, to whom in 1788, and 1789, Thomas Savage sold his home farm, and with
whom he lived for ten years thereafter. The children of Elias Chapman (3d
gen.) were: Jedediah, b. Oct. 10, 1776. Elias, b. May 13, 1781. Abigail, b.
July 29, 1784. Thomas, b. May 23, 1787. I find nothing further relating to
the family of EHas Chapman. On the 28th of Aug. 1800, he sold his farm to
Zerah Brooks and, probably, emigi'ated to the west.
4. Seth Savage, (2d gen., son of Thomas (1), b. Oct. 6, 1756, m. 1st, AprU 15,
1779 Rhoda Bacon. She d. April 19, 1823. He m. 2d, June 30, 1825, Mrs. Mir-
riam (Smith) Richai-ds, widow of Joel Richards, and (dau. of Sylvanus Smith
and Diana Fisk , a farmer in Hartford. On the 38, Jan. 1819, he sold to his son,
Wm. Savage, his home farm with a reservation of forty'acres. After the death
of his father, William bought the reservation. He d. Sept. 13, 1839. His wife d.
Dec. 19, 1855. No issue by second wife. (3d gen.) Joseph, son of Seth (4), b.
Oct. 15, 1780, m. 01ive,'*(dau. of Sylvanus and Diana (Fisk) Smith). John, son
of Seth (4), b. Oct. 7, 1782, m. Dec. 12, 1805, Lucy Hopson, b. April 21, 1785,
■(dau. of John and Abiah (Hazen) Hopson). He d. Sept. 7, 1855. She d. June
3, 1838. (4th gen.) children of John (2): Seth, b. Jan. 27, 1807, m. Feb. 27,
1834, Martha C. Spaulding. Died Aug. 4, 1883. Rebecca, b. March 12, 1808,
m. Dec. 1, 1839, John Leavitt. Truman, b. Feb. 12, 1810, m. 1st, July 13, 1834, Mrs.
Cynthia (Marsh) Tenney, Shed. Sept. 23, 1868. Hem. 2d, Mai-ohlO, 1869, Mrs. Jane
(Farnham) Tryon. Hed. Jan. 1, 1875. Ch. by first wife 3. Benjamin F., b.
Sept. 19, 1811, m. May 14, 1841, Mary Martin. Sophia M., b. May 6, 1813, m.
March 4, 1838, Wm. R. Stockwell. John Jr., b. March 7, 1815, d. Aug. 26, 1837.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 459
■Hiram, b. Sept. 21, 1817, m. Sept. 38, 1843, Alpa Tenney. Wesley, b. July 12,
1819, m. March 3, 1847, Eliza M. Clough. William, b. Aug. 23, 1820, m. Mcy,
1843, Philena Hodge. Hazen N., b. May 5, 1832, m. 1st, May 25, 1843, JuUa A.
Tenney. She d. April 6, 1860. He m. 3d, Aug. 24, 1860, Laura A Newton. Ch.
3. Whitmore, b. Aug. 7, 1833, d. Sept. 1, 1833. Jason, b. May 19, 1825, m. May
1849, Mai-ia Martin. Lucy A., b. Aug. 19, 1829, m. Nov., 1849, Geo. F. Stone, d.
Aug. 16, 1854. Patty, dau. of Seth (4), b. April 7, 1786, m. Don Noble, Feb. 21,
1810. Hasting, son of Seth (4), b. Nov. 20, 1789, m. July 4, 1815, Sarah Fuller.
William, son of Seth (4), b. June 23, 1791, m. June 9, 1819, Polly Hazen, b. Feb.
28, 1799, (dau. of Hezekiah Hazen and Sarah Marsh . He d. in Lawrence, Kan.,
Nov., 1874. She d. in Lawi-ence, Aug. 3, 1874. (4th gen., ch. of William (5):
Mai-ia, b. March 29, 1820, m. Feb. 11, 1845, J. E. Hood, b. 1815, (son of Joseph
Hood and JerushaWorthen). He d. in Denver, Col., in 1871. Their son, Wm.
Hood, b. Feb. 4, 1846, is chief engineer of the Southern Pacific railroad system.
They had six children. Joseph, b. Jidy 28, 1822, m. June 17, 1847, Amanda B.
Crandall, b. Aug. 2, 1837, (dau. of Joseph Crandall and Abigail Fuller). She d.
June 17, 1857. He m. 3d, 1858, Mary B. Burgess. Children (5th gen.) : Henry,
Daphne, Joseph, Charles and Jennie. AU d. young but Daphne, who m. D. D.
Alford, A. M. Joseph Savage lives in Lawrence, Kansas. Forrest, b. Sept. 37,
1836, m. 1849, Lydia E. Worth, b. 1830, (dau. of Nathaniel Worth and Patty
Chandler). Children (5th gen.): Wm. W., Emma A., Mary A., Frank J. For-
rest lives in Kansas. Daphne, b. Sept. 21, 1834, d. in Hartford June. 18, 1845.
Olive (dau. of Seth (4), b. July 12, 1796, m. Jan. 36, 1814, Abner FuUer, b. 1787,
(son of Seth Fuller and Olive Dutton). He d. Nov. 13, 1868. Rhoda, dau. of Seth
(4), b. Sept. 21, 1800, m. March 8, 1823, Elziah Hazen. (See Hazen family).
5. Thomas Savage, 2d gen., son of Thomas (1), b. Feb. 9, 1759; m. Oct. 11,
1784, Lavina Chapman; she d. Oct. 29, 1841. He m. 3d, Nov. 26, 1789, MoUy
PoweU; she d. Aug. 5, 1803. He m. 3d, March 32, 1804, Clarissa Noble, b. Feb.
9, 1759. He d. Oct. 39, 1841; she d. Sept. 28, 1841. Children of Thomas (5) (3d
gen.): Alice, h. Nov. 16, 1785, d. Jan. 5, 1808, unm. Sarah, b. Jan. 27, 1787;
m. June 33, 1813, Russell Smith. Justus, b. Aug. 5, 1803; m. Nov. 15, 1836, Eliza
Alger of Straflford, Vt., b. Aug. 5, 1806, (dau. of Aaron and Lusina (Powel) Bad-
ger). He d. in Strafford, Vt., April 9, 1888. Norman, b. Sept. 22, 1805; m. Jan.
1, 1849, Sarah K. Edgerton; he d. Dec. 13, 1873; 1 ch., d. young. Orinda, b.
March 16, 1807. Amanda, b. May 14, 1809, d. Nov. ,31, 1846, unm. Aurora, h.
June 21, 1811; m. July 26, 1835, Dr. J. N. Stiles; she d. Jan. 29, 1859, in Windsor,
Vt.; he d. in Windsor, Aug. 31, 1875, ae 63. Polly, b. Aug. 18, 1798; m. March 11,
1823, Reuben Tenney 2d, b. April 15, 1798, (son of Reuben Tenney and Rebecca
Hopson) ; he d.March 3,1858; shed. Feb. 9, 1877. Thomas Whitmore, b. Aug. 35, 1800.
6. Francis Whitmore, (2d gen., son of Thomas (1), b. in Washington, Ct.,
Nov. 25, 1762; m. March 11, 1790, Abigail Hazen, b. Sept. 14, 1768, (dau. of Col.
Joshua Hazen and Mercy (Hazen) Hazen), a farmer and hotel-keeper in West.
Hartford, Vt. He d. Sept. 23, 1817; she d. Aug. 20, 1847. (3d gen.): Abigail,.
b. Jan. 13, 1791; m. Dr. Thomas Downer, of Stowe, Vt.; d. Dec. 23, 1869. Sa-
repta, b. Feb. 8, 1793; d. May 15, 1852; (See biography D. M. Camp.) Mary, b.
Sept. 37, 1795; m. Abner Fuller; d. Sept. 36, 1885; no children. Nancy, b. Oct.
12, 1797; d. Nov. 15, 1879; (See Hazen family). Thomas,h. April 7, 1810; m. Jan.
13, 1823, Martha MoMaster, b. Sept. 11, 1799, (dau. of Samuel and Lucy (Pen-
460 HISTORY OF HAETFOED.
nook) McMaster); lie d. June 15, 1871; she d. May 23, 1856. Children of Thomas
<5) .(4th gen.): Miranda J. Savage, b. July 31, 1834, d. May 33, 1856; Harriet E.,
b. June 13, 1838, m. Sept. 19, 1865, Samuel McMaster, Strafford, Vt.; oh. of Har-
riet: Martha A., b. Aug. 5, 1867, m. Fi-ed H. "West. Martha A., b. June 37, 1831,
m. Deo. 7, 1855, Henry Hannahs. Thomas D., b. Nov. 14, 1837. Mercy, b. May
19, 1803; m. Oct. 3, 1830, Zebulon W. Delano; he d. June 24, 1869; she d. Dec.38,
1888; ohUdren: Louise, b. Sept. 31, 1831, m. Harrison Alexander; Abigail, b. Deo.
4, 1833, m. Feb. 5, 1845, Samuel G. Steele, b. Jan. 34*, 1817, (son of Wm. Steele
and Lydia Gleason of Sharon, Vt.); he d. May 11, 1873; she m. 3d, April 1, 1874,
O. S. Nott of Sharon, Vt., (son of Simeon Nott.) Emily C, b. June 4,, 1826, d.
May 5, 1847. Sarepta C, b. Sept. 3, 1828, d. Sept. 33, 1843. Partus, (3d gen.)
b. Nov. 8, 1804; m. Oot. 15, 1830, Clarissa Eaymond; she d. Jan. 31, 1833; he m.
2d, Dec. 13, 1832, Emily Eaymond; he d. May 13, 1871, she d. Oct? 24, 1865.
Their children (4th gen.) were: Mary E., b. July 5, 1831, d. July 2, 1833; Fran-
•cis P., b. Aug. 39, 1838; Henry W., b. July' 30, 1840; George W., b. Oct. 15,1846.
Fitch E., b. Oct. 36, 1856. Caroline (3d gen.), b. Dec. 14, 1807; m. Feb. 33, 1849,
John Fuller; he d. Sept. 14, 1861, she d. Feb. 3, 1879— no issue. Francis Whit-
more Jr., (3d gen.), b. Deo. 5, 1811; m. Nov. 21, 1838, Mary Clapp Wales, b. Aug.
28, 1815; children (4th gen.): Francis W. SaVage 8d, b. Feb. 8, 1841; m. Oot. 3,
1866, Charlotte Purdy; he d. Dec. 24, ; Edward P., b. Oct. 13, 1845, m. Sept.
33, 1874, Belle H. Noble; Mary Louisa, b. July 11, 1848. FaraUies live in Lake
View, 111.
THE SPRAGUE FAMILY.
The Spragues of Hartford, are descendants of Eufus and Hannah Sprague of
Johnston, R. I. Their son Jessie Sprague, purchased the homestead of his father,
Jan. 9, 1767. He sold the same Feb. 1, 1768, to one Joseph Randall, and not long
afterwards, moved with his family to Clarendon, Vt., (then Durham) where he
spsnt the remainder of his life. He married Ester Dexter of Johnston, E. I. ,
May 38, 1735. She survived him many years and died March 22, 1840, at the
lemarkable age of 103 years, 9 months and 34 days. Her mental and physical
abilities continued to the last. A few days only before her death, she visited
"through the neighborhood on foot, a distance of half-a-mile. She died almost
instantaneously. She rose in the morning, well as usual, eat breakfast, aud was
walking about the house as usual till within a few minutes of dying. She was
the mother of the late Capt. Durham Sprague, who was the first male child born
(1770) in the then town of Durham, near Clarendon, , who she named after the
town."
The children of Jesse Sprague, were : Amey, born Feb. 18, 1764; Philip, born
Jan. 8, 1765; Abraham, born Nov. 8, 1768; all born in Johnston, E. I. Durham,
born June 8, 1770 ; Anna, born March 30, 1771 ; Hannah, born July 28, 1778;
Daniel, born Aug. 21, 1775; Elizabeth, born Aug. 33, 1777; Paul D., born March
17, 1881; all born in Clarendon, Vt. Two of his sons, Philip and Daniel, moved
from Clarendon to Hartfoi'd, about 1780.
Phillip, born in Johnston, E. I., Jan. 9, 1765, married about 1784, Clarissa
Dutton, born Jan. 38, 1770, (daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah (Hazen) Dutton of
Hartford), and settled in that part of the town called Dothan, where his grand-
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 461
son, Israel G. Sprague, now lives. Philip died March 31, 1856. Clarissa, his
wife, died May 6, 1831. ChUdren :
1. ASENATH, born Jan. 23, 1785 ; mai-ried Sept. 39. 1803. Ira Baxter, bom
Nov. 20, 1779, son of Elihu Baxter and Triphenia Taylor. He died in Norwich,
Vt., March 11, 1888. She died June 30, 1853. Children: Laura, born April
34, 1803 ; Carlos, born Aug. 1, 1804 ; Carlton, born 1805 ; Arabella, born Sept.
33, 1807 ; Alpa, born 1809 ; Caroline, born Deo. 15, 1811 ; Marshal, born March
17, 1817 ; Henry, born April 15, 1831 ; Harriet,hoTn April 16, 1838.
3. Philo, born May 16, 1787; married May 7, 1811 ; Laura Hazen, born April
35, 1798, (daughter of Daniel Hazen and Olive Bartholomew): a farmer in that
part of Hartford caUed Jericho. He died Oct. 17, 1868; she died March 38, 1877.
Their children were: Jasper, born June 6, 1813 ; married July 16, 1840, Dulcina
C. Town, had, Laura Anna, born Sept. 34, 1843 ; Harriet L., born Feb. 3, 1846;
Charles T., born Sept. 39, 1854; Carrie J., born 1856 ; died 1858. Emily, born
Dec. 13, 1813 ; died Aug. 7, 1878. (See Dutton Family.) Edward, born July 17,
1816 ; married Dec. 3, 1851, Ellen Freeman, born April 33, 1835, (daughter of
John Freeman and Clarissa Goss) : a farmer in Hai'tford. She died Mai'ch 15,
1887. Children : Frank M., born May 17, 1853, died July 4, 1863 ; Fannie E.,
born May 39, 1857 ; Jennie M., born Oct. 3, 1864.
3. Ester, born June 19, 1789 ; married Sept. 5, 1808, Lemuel Parker; died
Nov. 10, 1860.
4. Anna, born May 34, 1791 ; married Nov. 11, 1813, Job Dinsmore.
5. Susannah, bom Jan. 38, 1793; married March 3, 1816, Hiram Nott,
born in Springfield, Mass., May 9, 1789, (son of Selden Nott, );a
farmer in Norwich, Vt.; he died Feb. 16, 1856 ; she died Dec. 31, 1871. Children :
Carlton B., born Dec. 33, 1816; married Feb. 20, 1856, Jane L. Hilton, born
June 6, 1835, (daughter of John Hilton and Experience Lewis), she died April 7,
1866. He married 3d May 8, 1873. Lucinda M. Root, born April 27, 1838,
(daughter of John R. Root and Leantha Hedges) ; a farmer in Norwich. Children
by first wife : H. L. Nott, born Dec. 7, 1857 ; Frank S., born Aug. 16, 1864.
Clarissa, born Jan. 3, 1838 ; married Aug. 1851 ; Carlos Tenney, born July 31,
1824, (son of Reuben Tenney and Polly Savage), she died March 15, 1863. He
married 3d, June 18, 1873 ; Anna Howard, died Feb. 9, 1880.
6. Ethan, bom Oct. 14, 1795, died Feb. 9, 1813, unmarried.
7. Allen, bom Aug. 10, 1787 ; rnarried Feb. 33, 1818, Lucinda Bachelder,
bftm Oct. 18, 1794, ( daughter of Jethro Batchelder and Deborah Leavitt of
Strafford, Vt.); a manufacturer. He died Sept. 1846. Widow lives in Montpe-
lier, Vt. Had several children.
8. "WOOSTBR, bom Oct. 35, 1799 ; married 183», Nancy Young, born March
17, 1805, (daughter of Samuel and Rebecca P. (Burnham) Yoimg.) He died.
Jan. 14, 1888. Widow lives in MontpeUer, Vt. Seven children.
463 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
THE STRONG FAMILY.
From a book entitled " The history of the descendants of Elder John Sti-ong,
of Northampton, Mass., by Benjamin W. Dwight," I have selected the genealo-
gical record of those members of the Strong family who have been, or now are
residents of Hartford, from the 5th to the 9th generation, from the above named
American ancestor.
Elder John Strong was born and hved in England, at Taunton, in Somerset-
shire. He came to America in the year 1630, and settled in Dorchester, Mass.
He afterwards removed from Dorchester to Windsor. Ct. He hved there several
years and from thence removed to Northampton, in the year 1659-60, where he
died April 14th, 1699, aged about 94 years. The grandfather of Elder John
Strong was, according to tradition, a Roman Cathohc and Uved to a great, age.
The Strong family has borne out remarkably, the historical genuineness of its
name, in its wide-spread characteristics of physical vigor and longevity, and the
large size of very many of its numerous households. Elder Strong was a tanner,
and was an extensive land owner in and around Northampton; He had . up to
the time of his decease, 160 descendants, viz. : eighteen children, fifteen of whom
had famUies; one hundi'ed and fourteen grandchildren, and thirty-three great
grandchildren at least. The two eldest and youngest children were 39 years
apart in age. His first wife he married in England. She died on the passage,
or soon after landing, and in about two months afterwards her infant child {2d
child) died also. He married in December, 1630, for a second wife, Abigail Ford,
of Dorchester, with whom he lived in wedlock for fifty-eight years. She died,
the mother of 16 children, July 6, 1688. She was not, probably, more than 16
years of age at her marriage, at which tine he was but 35.
The Strongs who first settled in Hartford, Vt., were descendants of Lt. Jede-
diah Strong, of Lebanon, Ct. (4th gen.), the great gi-andson of Elder John Strong.
The genealogical record, beginning with the 4th gen. , is as follows : (quoting
those only who have been, or are residents of Hartford.)
Lt. Jedediah Strong (son of Jedadiah, Jr., and Abiah (IngersoU) Strong), b.
Jan. 15, 1700; m. Dec. 4, 1723, Elizabeth Webster, b. Feb. 36, 1700-1; a farmer
in Lebanon, Ct. (5th gen.) Children of Lt. Jedediah Strong: Capt. John Strong,
b. Sept. 5, 1723. He was a farmer in Hartford, Vt., 1769-73, and is recorded as
town clerk for the same period of time, and also appears as a land surveyor. In
1773, he, with a few others, began the settlement of Woodstock, Vt. With his
son-in-law, Benjamin Burch, he put up a log house and opened the first tavern
in the town. (Benjamin Burch kept a tavern in Hartford, Vt., in 1784.) Jede-
diah Strong, b. Nov. 8, 1728; m. Jan. 10, 1751, Hepzibah Webster, b. Oct. 31,
1737, a farrner iniebanon, Ct. (6th gen.) Children: Jedediah Strong 2d, b. Oct.
23, 1751; m. Sept. 1, 1778, Ruth Harper, of E. Windsor, Ct., b. Sept. 1st, 1759
(dau. of Dea James Harper and Sarah Burroughs), a farmer and miller in Hart-
ford, Vt. (a miller in Centreville, where Moore and Madden now (1888) are run-
ning a grist miU). He was elected a selectman in 1794r-95-96-97. He d. Feb. 3S,
1833; shed. Sept. 18, 1839. (7th gen.) Children of Jedediah Strong: John Strong,
b. Mch. 6, 1793, m. April 15, 1834, Mary Maria Gates, b. Mch. 36, 1804; a farmer
and miller (succeeding his father at Centreville) ; pursued a part of the college
com-se. He d. Jan. 1, 1857; she d. May 8, 1865. Harper Strong, b. May 18,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 468
1797; d. in Hartford, Vt., Oct. 28, 1828. (8th gen.) Children of John Strong:
John Dwight Sti-ong, b. Nov. 24, 1835; m. June 6, 1865, Delia Morris, b. Sept. 15,
1840 (dau. of Edward Morris, of Hartford, Vt.); a miller in Hartford (Oentreville
and Hartford village), and afterwards a hardware merchant in Zanesville, O.,
and at the time of his death a traveling agent in Louisiana and Texas, for the
sale of safes. He d. of consumption in Lawrence, Kansas, Sept. 19, 1868. He
had one child: Beulah, b. Dec. 30, 1866, in New Orleans, La. (now, Oct., 1888,
traveling with her mother in Europe.) Cliarles Harper Strong, b. Mch. 33, 1838;
d. May 11, 1851, of quick consumption, at Utica, N. Y. (See D. C. Alumni,
1849.) Mary Annette Sti-ong, b. Apr. 19, 1833; m. Sept. 13, 1860, as his 3d wife,
Stephen Guthrie, a merchant in Zanesville, O., for 35 years, and since 1850 a
manufacturer of salt there. Edward Payson Strong, b. Nov. 5, 1889; m. Sept.
13, 1865, Mary C. Guthiie, b. Deo. 5, 1845 (dau. of Stephen H. Guthrie and Ruth
Metcalf, his first wife). James Henry Strong, b. May 3, 1842; d. July 36, 1843.
5. Solomon Strong (5th gen. , son of Lt. Jedediah Strong and Ehzabeth Web-
ster), b. Oct. 6, 1730; m. about 1756, Mary White, b. Oct. 16, 1738, who d. June
10, 1777; and he m. for 3d wife, July 5, 1782, Mary Hutchinson, nee Wilson, b.
Aug., 1744, (whose dau. Abigail was the wife of Hon. William Strong, M. C.)
He was a farmer and surveyor in Lebanon, Ct., and after the summer of 1764,in
Hartford, Vt., of which he was one of the first settlers. He was a selectman in
1765, '66, '67 and '68, and held other town offices. The first meeting of the pro-
prietors of the town of Hartford, held within the town, was held in his house,
which was located not far from where Ezra Champion now lives. He d. Sept.
26, 1800, in Hartford. She d. March 21, 1833. (6th gen.J: Freelove Strong, b.
Jan. 20, 1857. Molly Strong, b. June 3, 1758. Lydia Strong, b. March 17, 1760.
Solomon Strong, Jr., b. Jan. 19, 1763; m. March 12, 1795, Ruth Tracy of Hart-
foi'd, Vt. ; a :Jarmer in Hartford, Vt. (7th gen.): Children of Solomon Strong, Jr. ,
Allen Tracy Sti-ong, b. Dec. 16, 1795; m. Mary Hart, b. in Dunbarton, April 30,
1802; a farmer in Hartford, Vt. He d. in Hyde Park, Vt., May 18, 1857. She
resided in Hartland, Vt. (8th gen.): Wm. Gideon Strong, b. in Hartford, Deo.
3, 1846; m. in 1868, in Manchester, N. H.., D. Hurd; resided in 1871, in Hartland,
Vt. (6th gen.): James Strong, (son of Solomon Strong and Mary White), b. May
3, 1768; m. in 1799, Catherine Clifford of Canaan, N. H., b. Feb. 34, 1780, (dau.
of Jacob Cnflord and Priscilla Howe); a farmer in Hartford, Vt., (1789-1817); Sha-
ron, Vt., and Clean, N. Y., (1819-21); at Burton, N. Y., (1831-52). He d. April 20,
1839; she d. Aug. 16, 1852. (7th gen.): Children of James Strong, Almeda Strong,
b. in Hartford, Vt., Dec. 20, 1799; m. Nov. 17, 1822, Gideon Bingham of Royal-
ton, Vt., a farmer. He d. there June, 1865: she d. March, 1858; ch. 2.
6. Elijah Strong (5th gen., son of Lt. Jedediah and Elizabeth Webster), b.
Aug. 11, 1738; m. March 18, 1756, Ruth Loomis, b. June 14, 1729; a farmer in
Lebanon, Ct. , and Hartford, Vt. ; came to Hartford in 1764, and settled at the
Centre of the town. He was elected town clerk in 1768, and served one year.
He was elected a selectman in 1764, '65, 1770. He was one of the Council of Cen-
sors in 1813. He was clerk for the proprietors of the town from 1766 to 1775. He
d. in 1774-5; she d. . After his death, a considerable portion of his real
estate was purchased of his heirs by Elijah Mason, grandfather of Mrs. Lucretia
Garfield, widow of the late President Garfield. (6th gen.): Children of Elijah
464 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Strong, Olive Strong, b. Jan. 7, 1758, in Lebanon, Ct. Elizabeth Strong, b. June
10, 1759, in Lebanon, Ct.; m. March 3, 1780, Jonathan Reynolds, and had a dau.,
Ruth Reynolds, b. Dec, 1784, who m. a Mr. Gilbert. Elijah {2), b. July 4, 1760,
in Lebanon, Ct. Ruth Strong, b. Aug. 19, 1763, in Lebanon, Ct. Submit Strong,
b. Oct. 19, 1763, in Lebanon, Ct. Joanna Strong. John Strong, lived and died
in Bridgewater, Vt. Ebenezer Strong, b. Feb. 13, 1770, in Hartford, Vt. Ann
Strong.
7. Benajah Strong (5th gen., son of Lt. Jedediah and Elizabeth "Webster),
b. Jan. 17' 1784-5; m. Polly Bacon of Lebanon, Ct. ; a farmer and surveyor in
Hartford, Vt., in wliich town he settled with his brothers Solomon and Elijah in
1764. He was town clerk of Hartford from March 13, 1765, to March 8, 1768,
and in 1774 constable and commissioner of highways. His first wife d. Aug. 8,
1790. Soon after her death he removed to Bethel, Vt. , and there m. for his 2nd
wife Widow Elizabeth Wilson. He d. in Bethel, March, 1815; she was b. May,
1748, and d. Jan. 26, 1831. (6th gen.): Children of Benajah Strong, Barnabas
Strong, a revolutionary soldier; m. Lydia (dau. of Soloinon Strong); a farmer,
settled on the Holland Purchase in N. Y. ; had five children,one of them, Charles,
a lawyer. Polly Strong, b. Dec. 13, 1760, in Lebanon, Ct. ; m. Ashbel Smith of
Hartford, Vt. She d. Oct, 17, 1806; he d. in New Haven, Ct. Hon. Wm. Strong,
b. in 1763, in Lebanon, Ct.,_ (See biogi-aphical sketch of Mr. Strong in another
portion of this work). Mercy Strong, m. July 13, 1786, Isaac Hincher; he d. Feb.
9, 1840; she d. Aug., 1848. The issue of this mai-riage were 8 children. Eliza-
beth Strong, m. Simeon Brooks of Bethel, Vt. Tryphenia Strotig, b. June 13,
1770; m. Joel English of Woodstock, July 35, 1788; he d. Dec. 19, 1853, she d.
Dec. 38, 1846; eight children. Dea. Benajah Strong, b. Deo. 8, 1771; m. July,
1798, Polly Bacon, b. 1778; a cooper in Bethel, Vt. Fredonia Strong, m. Lem-
uel Wood of Randolph, Vt. ; ch. 4. Lydia Strong, m. Henry Walbridge of Ran-
dolph, Vt. ; ch. 10. (6th gen.): Children of Hon. Wm. Strong and Abigail
Hutchinson.
1. Almira Strong, b. Dec. 14, 1795; m. Eleazer Davis, a merchant in Hart-
ford village, made suddenly insane for Ufe about 1830, by falling into a sti-eam.
whose bank caved under his feet in a freshet. He d. about 1836, and she m. for
her 2d husband, Gen. O. H. Nichols; she d. of cancer, Sept. 5, 1850, and he m.
again; ch. 3 by Mr. Davis.
3. Jasper Strong, b. May 5, 1798; m. Widow Underbill, nee Nixon, of New
Orleans, La. She d. without issue, and he m. for his 3d wife her sister, Eliza
Julia Nixon. He was graduated at West Point, and stationed as an officer of
the IT. S. A. at Baton Rouge, La. He resigned his commission, and, in com-
pany with a Mr. Underbill, a class-mate at West Point, took the contract, after
building two forts below New Orleans, of building Ft. Pickens at Pensacola,Fla.,
for $900,000. Underbill dying the first season of the contract. Strong carried the
job through to completion, and divided half the profits, $300,000, with the heirs
of Underhill. He afterwards built Ft. Barancas, and other fortifications at Pen-
sacola. He owned, at the breaking out of the late rebellion, about 100 middle-
aged slaves, all mechanics, and aU at work for the Government at $1.50 per day.
He was a man of very superior executive abilities; he d. in Quechee, Vt., Nov.
6, 1865. Children by second wife: Henry Chase Strong. Harvey Leverich
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 465
Strong. Jasper Strong, d. at Pensacola, Fla., of yellow fever. Charles Mahews
Strong. Mentoria Nixon Strong. John Hunt Strong, d. of brain fever near
Benton, Miss.
3. Lauba Strong, b. May 3, 1800; m. June 19, 1823, Dr. Thomas Carter. She
d. of a cancer, Oct. 7, 1850; children: William Strong Carter, m. Mary Jones;
children: William E. Carter, Louisa Maria Carter. Mary Carter, m. Henry Wal-
cott; she d. ; children: Fanny Walcott, Laura Walcott. Laura Carter, m. Oscar
F. Barron; children: Laura Amanda Barron, Mary Barron, FranMin O. i^arron,
Ozias Barron, Thomas Strong Carter.
4. Thomas J. Strong, b. Mch. 11, 1803; d. Feb. 7, 1857, unm.
5. Albert Gallatin Strong, b. May, 1804; d. Oct., 1837, on return from a
whaling voyage.
6. Emily Strong, b. Apr. 33, 1807; m. June, 1840, Hon. Albert Gallatin
Dewey, b. Dec. 16, 1805 (son of John Dewey and Mary "Wright, who were m.
Jan. 33, 1805; he d. Nov. 33, 1833, and was the son of Joshua Dewey, of Lebanon,
Ct.) She d. Apr. 38, 1875. He m. 3d, Eveline Trumbull. (See biographies).
Children: William Strong Dewey, h. Aug. 3, 1841; a manufacturer of woolens
in Quechee ; represented Hartford ia Legislature 1886-7; elected trustee of pubUo
money, 1887-8-9; not mamed in 1888. John Jasper Dewey, b. Apr. 8, 1846; m.
Jan. 21, 1869, Anna Frances Metcalf, of Boston, b. Jan. 16, 1847 (dau. of Erastus
B. Metcalf, b. in Franklin, Mass., Aug. 9, 1820, and Anna Sophia Downs, b. Nov.
11, 1830; m. Apr., 1841; d. Dec. 9, 1866); a member of the firm of A. G. Dewey
& Co., extensive manufacturers in Quechee, Vt. Children: Alice Louise Dewey,
b. Aug. 19, 1870 ; Ida G., b. Dec. 19, 1873 ;' Annie M., b. Jan. 24, 1875 ; Mary
M., b. Jan. 21, 1877; Emily D., b. March 6, 1885. Emma Frances Dewey, b.
July 16, 1848; m. Apr. 19, 1878, Henry C. Dennison, of New Bedford, Mass.
(son of Daniel Dennison and ParmeUa Head.)
7. John Palmer Strong, b. June, 1809; m. Sarah Fifield, of Orange, Vt.; a
woolen manufacturer in Quechee, Vt. Children: Geo. W. Strong, Helen Strong.
8. George Strong, b. in 1810; d. young.
9. Charles Strong, b. May 13, 1814; m. Sept. 7, 1853, Abby Greely, b. Sept.
6, 1830 ; a farmer in Lebanon, N. H. , in 1871 ; a woolen manufacturer in Quechee
Vt., 1836-41; an inventor of valuable improvements in combinations of ver-
tical and horizontal motion^ Children: Frank, b. Miay 1, 1853; d. Apr. 5, 1859.
Fanny E., b. Sept. 39, 1856. Wm. Greely, b. June 1, 1858. Grace E., b. June 13,
1864.
THE TILDEN FAMILY.
Stephen Tilden, of Lebanon, Ct., removed from that town to Hartford, Vt.,
in 1767, and settled on the south side of White river, about two miles above
White River Junction. He purchased of Samuel Porter, one of the original
proprietors of the town, Aug. 37, 1761, one whole right, or proprietor's share,
contairdng about 400 acres of land, for the sum of ten shillings (|3.50). Under
the distribution of land by pitches to the original right of Samuel Porter, Mr.
Tilden acquired 90 acres of land, now owned and occupied by Mr. EKjah Bur-
roughs, which he gave to his son, Josiah, Sept. 3, 1783. He next pitched lot
30
466 HISTORY OF HARTFOED.
No. 63, of the second 100-aore division, drawn to the original right of Samuel
Porter. This lot he gave to his son, Stephen,;jr., Sept. 3, 1784. It is now owned
and occupied by Mr. Wm. E. Dutton. On the 13th of August, 1797, he gave to
his son, Asa, one-half of the home farm, or 80 acres adjoining, on the south, the
home farm of Thomas Tracy, on which Leonard Trumbull now lives. In 1791,
and later, Mr. Tilden purchased several other original rights and portions of
rights, some of which he held until his death.
Mr. Tilden was an inteUigent, public-spirited citizen, and was prominently
identified with the civil and military affairs of the State and his town during his
life time. He is first mentioned in the town records in 1775, when he was chosen
a highway surveyor, and one of a committee to have charge of the school lands
of the town. In 1776, he was one of the Committee of Safety, and was also
Commissioner of Highways. He represented the town in the Legislature in
1778, '83, '84, '85, dui-ing which sessions he was placed on important committees
— first, as one of the Committee on War; secondly, as one of a committee to
draw a letter forbidding delegates from Cumberland County to sit in the Provin-
cial Congress of the State of New Yoi-k, and also one of a committee to consider
proceedings of the Court of Confiscation. In 1776, he voted in favor of the
Bettbement Act. In the troublous events of the Revolutionary period, and
during the controversy with New York, he was loyal to the best interests of the
State. In 1780-81, he was one of the selectmen of the town. In all positions of
trust he was faithful, energetic, and unselfish, and by his upright conduct in-
voked even the universal esteem of his political enemies. Though lacking in
book knowledge, he derived from experience a fvmd of solid knowledge of a
practical kind, and tliis, with instincts that led him, generally, in the right
direction, fitted him well for the duties incumbent upon him, both in private and
in public life.
FAMILY KBCORD.
Stephen Tilden (son of Stephen Tilden and Isabel Tednaugh), b. in Lebanon,
Ct., inl734; m. 1st, April 33, 1749, Abigail Richardson; shed, in 1798. Hem. 3d,
Widow Jerusha Farman; he d. March, 1818. She m. 3d, April 7, 1815, Abel
Marsh of Queohee, Vt. , fHartf ord). Their children were :
1. Abigail, b. May 19, 1751; m. Benjamin Wright.
3. Stephen, b. March 19, 1753; m. Sept. 7, 1785, Roxalena Powell, b. Sept. 39,
1766, (dau. of Rowland Powell); she d. Oct. 21, 1797. He m, 3d, Oct. 11, 1798,
Elizabeth Tilden, b. Sept. 1, 1775. He d. Sept. 8, 1836; she d. Feb. 1, 1867. Chil-
dren by first wife: Lanson and Lyman, b. May 21, 1786; Lanson d. June 3, 1786,
Lyman m. Abigail Hersey, d. April 17, 1845. Lucinda, b. Oct. 6, 1787; m.
Bunnell, d. April 18, 1854. Joshua, b. March 7, 1790; m. Squiers, d. Oct.
5, 1846. Luther, b. March 8, 1792, d. March 1, 1852. Lucy, b. March 36, 1794; m.
Othnial Clapp, d. Aug. 15, 1791. Stephen 3d, b. May 38, 1796. Children by 3d
wife: Jedediah Norton, b. Dec. 10, 1799; m. Dec. 6, 1830, Arabella Lombard, b.
July 30, 1813; he d. Aug. 3, 1867, she d. Dec. 6, 1860. Elizabeth, b. July 3,1801;
m. Daniel Robertson. Norman, b. Feb. 21, 1806; lives in West Lebanon, N. H.,
unm. Sarah M., b. Aug. 38, 1808, d. Aug. 21, 1868, unm. Daniel, b. March 11,
1814; m. July 17, 1844, Emily Jones, b. Feb. 13, 1833; she d. May 34, 1865; he lives
in W. Lebanon, N. H.
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 467
The children of Daniel and Emily (Jones) Tilden, are: Martha J., h. June 16,
1848; resides unm. in W. Lebanon, N. H. Stephen H., b. May 31, 1851; m.
Sept. 7, 1876, Lucy A. Hubbard, b. Jan. 4, 1856, (dau. of James and Sarah J.
(Alden) Hubbard of Lebanon, N. H. Oh. 3. Ellen M.,h. Jan. 35, 1855; m.
June 30, 1876, George H. Taylor, b. May 10, 1853, (son of John Taylor). Ch. 3.
Achsah, b. July 10, 1857; resides, unm. in West- Lebanon, N. H.
3. Thboday, b. July 18, 1755; m. James Richardson.
4. Joshua, b. April 19, 1757, d. at ag^ of 16.
5. JosiAH, b. AprU 19, 1760; m. Jan. 14, 1790, Elizabeth Ti-acy, b. AprU 15,
1765, (dau. of Thomas Tracy and Elizabeth Warner); a farmer and hotel-keeper
in Hartford. She d. June 3, 1800; he m. 3d, Susannah Clark, b., Feb. 18, 1779,
(dau. of John Clark and Deborah Mosely). She d. Dec. 3, 1844. ChUdi-en: Eliza-
beth, b. Sept. 13, 1791. Nabba, b. March 31, 1793. Josiah T., b. Feb. 13, 1795. d.
Aug. 14, 1830; (See D. C. Alumni, 1819). Joseph F., b. March 3, 1797; m. Clem-
entina Lyman, Jan. 16, 1838. Myi-a, b. Feb. 11, 1799. Daniel C, b. Dec. 5, 1801,
d. June 15, 1810. Alpa, b. Aug. 33, 1803. Lucius W., b. Aug. 37, 1805. Oren,
b. July 36, 1807. JuUus C, b. Sept. 7, 1809. Frances M., b. Aug. 31, 1811; m.
Samuel Smith; she d. Nov. 35, 1883, he d. Oct. 7, 1887. Caroline L., b. July 13,
1816; m. June 34, 1845, Wm. Hatch (son of Benj. Hatch and Susan Dutton); he
d. Oct. 38, 1885. George W., b. June 30, 1819; m. March 17, 1850, Cynthia L.
Bugbee. Sarah S., b. Jan. 33, 1836; m. Aug. 7, 1844, Edward Hazen. (SeeHa-
zen family).
6. Esther, b. May 15, 1763; d. May 5, 1777.
7. Mary, (nothing besides her name appears of record.)
8. Asa, b. 1768; m. Feb. 14, 1793, Hannah FoUett, b. Nov. 5, 1773 (dau. of
Benjamin and Thankful Follett.) He d. Apr. 33, 1850; she d. Aug. 19,1862.
CMldren: Achsah, b. Dec. 33, 1793; d. Apr. 13, 1880, unm. Parthena, b. Dec. 3,
1795; d. Feb. 30, 1880, unm. Louisa, b. Feb. 38, 1798; m. Jan. 38, 1818, Ahnon
Bennett; d. July 14, 1862. Horace, b. Mch., 38, 1800; m. Lucy Waldo. Cyrus,
b. July 4, 1803; m. Jan. 38, 1832, Eliza MUler; d. Sept. 7, 1805.
THE TRACY FAMILY.
The immigrant ancestor of the Traceys, who were among the first settlers of
Hartford, was Stephen Tracy who came to Plymouth, Mass., in the ship Ann, in
1623. John Tracy, his son, born in 1673, lived in Duxbury, but d. in Windliam,
Ct., in 1718. He married Maiy Prince and had by her two sons, John, Jr., and
Stephen, and a daughter, Alphia, who married a Span'ow; John, Jr., Uved in
Duxbury. Had a daughter, Sarah, who d. in Windham, Ct., unmarried.
1. Stephen, son of John, Sen., bom in 1673, m. Deborah Bingham, June 36,
1707; d. Dec. 19, 1769. Their children were: Mary, b. Aug. 26, 1708. Prince,
b. Jan. 37, 1710. Deborah, b. June 8, 1714. John, b. Apr. 35, 1718. James, b.
June 15, 1730. Nathaniel, b. June, 2, 1723; d. Oct. 11, 1750. Thomas, b. Aug.
19, 1735.
468 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
2. Prince, son of Stephen (1), -was chosen clerk of the charter proprietors at
then- first meeting held in Windham, Ct., Aug. 31, 1761, and also, at the same
time, was chosen one of the three selectmen of the town. He acquired by pur-
chase an extensive landed property in this town and was for some time a resident
of the town. He was a very efficient clerk, a sagacious business man, and his
penmanship was exceedingly fine. He was one of the charter proprietors.
3. James, son of Stephen (1), m. Susannah Bishop, May 26, 1748, and d. in Ft.
Edward, Sept. 21, 1856. Children: Stephen, b. Apr. 27, 1749. Nathaniel, b.
Oct. 31, 1750.
4. Thomas, sou of Stephen (1), m. Oct. 28, 1751j EHzabeth "Warner, b. 1727, in
"Windham, Ct. He d. Jan. 38, 1821, ae. 95; she d. Mch. 35, 1811, se. 73. Thomas
Tracy was one of the charter proprietors of Hartford, and in the first division of
land by lottery, drew " No. 16," on Connecticut river, south of White river.
April 20, 1780, he bought the whole right of Nathaniel Holbrook. May 35, 1781,
he bought the whole right of Daniel Newcomb. These purchases, with his own
right, arid the pitches he made, gave him the proprietorship of about 1400 acres
of land. He took a prominent part in the municipal affairs of the proprietors
and the town; served as lieuteflant in the mihtia doing frontier service, and was
an upright, highly esteemed citizen. Children:
Mary, b. Nov. 12, 1752. James, b. Jan. 28, 1760.
Andrew, b. Aug. 1, 1754. Thomas, b. Sept. 4, 1761.
Deborah, b. March 10, 1756. Joseph, b. July 18, 1763.
Susanna, b. July 7, 1758. Elizabeth, b. April 15, 1765.
All of these children were born in Windham, Ct. The fom' sons, Andrew,
James, Thomas and Joseph,probably cameto Hartford with their parents in 1778-
9. Andrew bought of Asa Hazen the 100-acre lot, cornprising the present home
farm of his grandson, Charles Tracy, and there settled in 1788. Jg,mes settled
where Leonard Trumbull now lives, which was the home farm of his father,
Thomas Tracy. Joseph settled on the place subsequently occupied by his son,
Dea. Samuel Tracy, and now owned by Harper T. Hazen.
ANDREW TRACY'S FAMILY.
5. Andrew (son of Thomas (4), b. Aug. 1, 1754; m. Deo. 2, 1784, Sarah BUss,
b. 1763, (dau. of David BUss and Polly Porter); a farmer in Hartford, Vt. ; was
register of deeds several years, and held various town offices. He d. Aug. 26,
1803; she d. in 1814, se 52. Children: James C. and John (twins), b. Sept. 3, 1785.
But little is known of James C. Tracy. He was appointed a deputy sheriff of
Windsor Co. in 1818 ; defalcated and absconded, and never returned to Hart-
ford.
6. John Tracy (son of Andrew (5), b. Sept. 3, ,1785; m. Dec. 26, 1811, Clarissa
Delano, b. July 9, 1791, (dau. of Zebulon Delano and Lusina Powell); a black-
smith in Hartford. She d. Aug. 9, 1837; he m. 2d, Fanny Smith of Vershire, Vt.
He d. Aug. 31, 1865. Children by his first wife: Mary Emeline, b. Sept. 31, 1813;
m. April 5, 1831, George H. Gates; he. d. Jan. 18, 1857. James Carlton, b. July
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 469
13, 1814; m. Aug. 19, 1839, Harriet Hazen. Lionel C, b. Feb. 8, 1816; m. March
38, 1841, Mary Ann Button, b. Sept. 30, 1817, (dau. of Silas Dutton and Hepzi-
bah Black. He d. April 3, 1871, leaving one dau., Altha Stella, b. July 31, 1845;
m. Wm. E. Dutton, Nov. 14," 1866. Harvey Nelson, b. Nov. 7, 1817; living in Col-
orado. George A., b. Aug. 13, 1819; m. July 16, 1867, Mary T. Black of Charles-
ton, S. C, b. Oct., 1839, (dau. of Alex W. and Harriet S. Black); she d. Aug. 6,
1880; he m. 3d, Lizzie' Preston, b. June 13, 1853, (dau. of Charles Preston and
Martha Morse); a blacksmith in Hartford. Clarissa L., b. Sept. 16, 1831; m.
April 10, 1843, John C. Worth; d. Oct. 3, 1846. John L., b. April 11, 1834; m.
Jan. 31, 1849, Deborat Myera. Lusina, b. Feb. 38, 1839; m. Edvein C. Chandler;
d. Jan. 38, 1873. Ann, b. Jan. 17, 1831; d. Feb. 31, 1831.
7. Thomas Tracy son of Andrew (5), b. Dec. 21, 1787; m. March 15, 1835, Es-
ther P. Lamphere, b. Aug. 1, 1789; a farmer in Hartford. He d. April 7, 1871;
she d. July 17, 1879. Children: Charles, b. Oct. 24, 1827; m. 1st, Jan. 22, 1866,
Amanda D. Babcock, b. Feb. 33, 1837, (dau. of Henry and Abigail Babcock of
New Brunswick); she d. July 19, 1881. He m. 3d, June 85, 1887, Mary Roberts,
b. Oct. 17, 1853, (dau. of Lucien Roberts and Adeline Roberts); a farmer in Hart-
ford; children 2.
8. Deborah, (dau. of Andrew (5), b. March 10, 1790, d. March 33, 1773, unm.
9. Stephen and Naomi, children of Andrew (5), (twins), b. Oct. 15, 1793, d.
Nov. 3, 1793.
10. Polly, (dau. of Andrew (5), b. May 33, 1794, m. Nov. 6, 1816, Thos. Porter
Moore, b. Oct, 16, 1785, (son of Thomas Moore and Mary Whiting). She d. Oct.
35, 1842. Their childi-en were: Infant dau. b. Sept. 38, 1817; Sarah B., b. Dec.
26, 1818; Andrew W.. b. April 30, 1830; Thomas P., b. Nov. 33, 1831; Cyrus T.,
b. March 7, 1833; Nathaniel D., b. June 18, 1834; Solomon H., b. Sept. 34, 1835; .
Horace D., b. March 5, 1837; Edson J., b. Feb. 38, 1828; Wm. H, b. July 14,
1829; Nancy A., b. Aug. 11, 1830; Almira A., b. June 33, 1833; Iniant son, b.
Aug. 7. 1833; Zuar, b. Sept. 6,'l834; Frances E., b. Oct. 4, 1836.
11. Cyrus, son of Andrew (5), b. Nov. 18, 1796, m. April, 1839, Mary P. FuUam,
b. Jan. 3, 1810, (dau. of Levi FuUam and Sally Hale). He d. Feb. 35, 1879.
Children-: Sarah H., b. Jan. 18, 1841, livmg in Norwich, single; Cyrus, b.
Oct. 8, 1844; Jas. B., b. Sept. 1, 1847; Mary B., b. Sept. 39, 1849.
13. Elizabeth, (dau. of Andrew (5), b. Feb. 33, 1800, d. Sept. 7, 1881, single.
13. James Tracy, (son of Thomas (4), b. Jan. 38, 1760, m. Oct. 32, 1795, Mercy
Richmond, b. June 15, 1773, (dau. of Ebenezer and Mercy Richmond), a farmer
in Hartford. Clerk of the charter proprietors 1800 to 1809, treasurer of the
town 1802 to 1838 inclusive. He d. Sept. 19, 1834. She d. Oct. 19, 1859. Chil-
dren.
14. Ebenezer, b. July 18, 1796, m. Feb. 32, 1837, Anna Richmond, b. Oct. 2,
1803, (dau, of GUbert Richmond and Mary WilUams). He d. Sept. 23, 1864. She
d. Jan. 3, 1889. Children: J. H. Tracy, b. June 6, 1828; Edward L., b. May
32, 1833; Andrew E., b. May 36, 1837.
15. Andrew, b. Dec. 15, 1797, d. Oct. 38, 1867. (See biographies).
16. Jambs Harvey, b. July 19, 1800, m. Nov., 1835, Harriet Trumbull, b.
Oct. 9, 1810, (dau. of David Trumbull and Hannah Richardson), a farmer in
470 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
Hartford. He d. March 17, 1885. She d. Dec. 16, 1878. Children: Julia
Harriet, b. Sept. 17, 1836, living (Jan. 1, 1888), unm.; Susan Eugenia, b. Jan.
29, 1838, d. March 23, 1841; Jak'es Harvey M., b. Feb. 17, 1843, d. by suicide,
July 33, 1873; Emma Arabella, b. April 10, 1844, unmarried in 1888; Anna
Elizabeth, b. Jan. 14, 1847, unmarried in 1888; Kate Florence, b. Aug. 35, 1849,
unmarried in 1888.
17. Elisha Richmond, b, Aug. 13, 1803, d. March 10, 1834, unm.
18. Dan Wright, b. Aug. 13, 1805, d. June 13, 1855, unm.
19. Susannah, b. June 38, 1807, m. March 1833, Wm. Taylor. Died Nov. 14,
1888.
20. Edward P., b. July 27, 1809, d. July 18, 1833, unm.
21. Anna S., b. Nov. 19, 1811, d. Feb. 5, 1813.
33. Arabella, d. an infant.
23. Joseph Tbacey, son of Thomas (4), b. in Windham, Ct., July 18, 1763, m.
Dec. 36, 1793, Ruth Carter, b. Dec. 7, 1773, a farmer in Hartford, Vt. He was a
pious, intelligent and companionable man. Had no taste for public office, but
was fond of study, and was a civilian of the highest type. He transmitted to
his sons high qualities of intellect and character. He secured for his children
the best education compatible with his means. Four of his sons were ministers
of the Gospel. Tliree of them graduated from Dartmouth College — Joseph Car-
ter, 1814; Ebenezer Carter, 1819; Ira Carter, 1829. Joseph, the parent, d. March
10, 1839. His wife d. Feb. 30, 1845. Children:
34. Joseph Jr., b. Nov. 3, 1793, d. Beverly, Mass., March 37, 1874. (See D.
C, Alumni 1814).
35. Ebenezer Carter, b. June 10, 1796, d. in Windsor, Vt., May 15, 1862.
- (See D. C, Alumni, 1819).
26. Myron, b. April 30, 1798, d. Hudson, O., March 37, 1855.
37. Wm. Warner, b. Dec. 13, 1801.
38. Ira, b. Jan. 15, 1806, d. Bloomington, lU., Nov. 10, 1875. (See D. C.
Alumni, 1839).
29. Samuel, b. April 14, 1808, m. May 7, 1833, Emeline Newton, b. Nov., 1815,
(dau. of Shelden Newton and Nancy Wilder), a farmer in Hartford, on the old
homestead till 1854, when he moved to Platteville, Wis., where he now (1888)
Hves. He was a deacon of the Congregational church, Hartford Village, up-
wards of twenty years. Children: Lucia M., b. Feb. 20, 1834, d. April 2, 1842;
Martha E., b. Dec, 29, 1836; Mary W., b. July 31, 1838, d. Oct. 31, 1839; Eliza-
beth N., b. March 35, 1841; Samuel M., b. AprU 30, 1847; Alice E., b. Aug. 11,
1853.
30. Stephen, b. Feb. 25, 1810, d. in Andover,.Mass., Jan. 13, 1873.
31. Ezra, b. June 5, 1813, d. in Hartford, Aug. 5, 1813.
THE TRUMBULL FAMILY.
The history of this family is limited to David Harper Trumbull, and the first
two generations of his descendants.
David Harper Trumbull, b. in East Wiodsor, Ct. , in July, 1773, m. Oct. 19,
1800, Hannah Richardson, b. Jan., 1778. He came from Connecticut to Hartford
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 471
in 1795. On the 34th of March, 1797, he and his partner in business purchased a
half interest in the mills then standing on the north bank of White river, in
White River Village. This and other real estate they sold to Joseph Don-, June
24, 1805. Subsequently he entered into partnership with Joseph Don- and Geo.
W. Zeigler, in the business of distilling and milling in White River Village, in
which they continued until the death of Mr. Dorr, in 1831. On the 23d of
November, 1832, Mr. Trumbull leased the property, comprising a grist null, saw
miU, oil mill and distillery, and continued in business at this point until his death,
July 3, 1838. His wife d. Apr. 16, 1856. Children:
David Harper, Jr., b. July 25, 1803.
Sarah, b. May 9, 1804; m. Nov. 15, 1836, Justin C. Brooks, b. Mch. 16, 1806
(son of Zerah and Lydia Brooks), a merchant in Hartford, Vt. He d. Oct. 20,
1875; she d. May 30, 1886. Children: Henry, b. Aug. 30, 1837; d. Mch. 17, 1833.
George T., b. Nov. 30, 1833; m. Jan. 2, 1862, Georgia E. Wilson. Sarah, b. Oct.
22, 1835; m. Dec. 29, 1858, Justus W. French, a manufacturer in Hartford — one
of the firm of French, Watson & Co. ; a very estimable gentleman, and valuable
citizen. He d. Sept. 5, 1874. WyUys, b. June 14, 1842; m. Sept. 33, 1875, in
Louisville, Ky, Hattie Smith Russell. He d. in Hartford, July 31, 1881. EUen
.Louise, b. May 26, 1844; resides in Hartford, unm; is postmistress in Hartford
Village.
Asaph, b. Mch. 36, 1806; d. Apr. 13, 1813.
Eveline, b. Jun^ 36, 1808; m. Aug. 31, 1876, A. G. Dewey. He. d. Aug. 36
1886.
Harriet, b. Oct. 9, 1810; m. Nov. 4, 1835, J. H. Tracy. (SeeTi-acy Family.)
Ouy, b. Jan. 15, 1812.
Horace, b. Oct. 4, 1814; m. Nov. 20, 1847, Moriah H. Gordon. She d. Apr. 10,
1854. Hem. 3d, Oct. 31, 1860, Almira, nee Root^Clapp. She d. July 5, 1880.
Children by first wife: Leonard G., b. April 11, 1850; m. May 37, 1886, Emma L.
Taylor. He is a farmer residing on the old Tracy homestead. Horace F.,b.
Dec. 30, 1852; d. Dec. 15, 1880. Child by second wife: Allie Maria, b. July 30,
1863; m. Jan. 37, 1882, Wm. Kolbe. Ch. 3.
THE TUCKER FAMILY.
Most of the Tuckers in New England are descendants of Robert Tucker, who
came from England about 1630, and first settled in Weymouth, Mass. , and after-
wards, in 1639, moved to Milton, Mass.
1. Joseph Tuckee, a hneal descendant of Robert, in the 5th generatioii, and
born in Kingston, N. H., June 9, 1753, was probably the first member of this
family who settled in Vermont. He married, June 1, 1783, EUzabeth Rollins,
bom in Exeter, N. H., Aug. 1, 1759, and settled in Andover, N. H., in June, 1783,
from which town he moved to Norwich, Vt., in 1788. He bought 160 acres of
land, most of which was heavily timbered, and which he cleared with his own
hands. On this place he lived the remainder of his life — 53 years. Prior to his
marriage he served as a private soldier in the revolutionary war.
At the time Mr. and Mrs. Tucker came from Andover, they left their first-born
child, Betsy, with relatives in Andover. After they had built a log house, Mrs.
472 HISTORY OF HARTFORD,
Tucker returned to Andover on horseback, the only road being a bridle-path
and brought back her daughter, and a feather-bed, and other things, on horse-
back, a distance of 45 miles.
(SECOND GENEEATION)— CHILDREN OP JOSEPH AND ELIZABETH (EOLLINS) TUCKER.
1. Betsy, b. in Andover, N. H., Oct. 3, 1784; d. in Albion, Me., Oct., 1868.
2. Joseph Jr., b. in Andover, N. H., July 8, 1786; kiUed at the raising of a
barn in Norwich, July 4, 1808.
3. Nathaniel, b. in Norwich, Vt., Oct. 8, 1788; suffocated in a burning buUd-
ing in Boston, April 10, 1847.
4. Hannah, b. in Norwich, Vt., Jan. 26, 1791; d. in West Hartford, Aug. 4,
1878.
5. Lydia, b. in Norwich, Vt., Oct. 9, 1793; d. in DanviUe, Vt., June 6, 1846.
6. David, b. in Norwich, Vt., Feb. 14, 1796; d. in Waterbury, Ct., Jan. 9,
1842. • J. . .
7. James, b. in Norwich, Vt., March 6, 1798; d. (place unknown).
8. Keturah, b. in Norwich, Vt., May 25, 1800; d. in West Hartford, Vt., ,
April 19, 1851.
9. Alvan, b. in Norwich, Vt., Jan. 13, 1803; d. in Elkhart, Ind., Nov., 1878.
10. Jasper, b. in Norwich, Vt., April 3, 1805; d. in insane asylum, Worces-
ter, Mass., Sept. 4, 1854.
9. Alvan Tucker, b. in Norwich, Vt., Jan. 12,1803; m. in Shai-on, Vt.,
Aug. 14, 1835, Abigail M. Tossey, b. June 36, 1794, (dau. of Wilham and Sarah
<Grow) Tossey of Andover, N. H.); a house-painter by trade, fettled in West
Hartford, Vt., in 1833; a hotel-keeper (the first) in W. Hartford, 1837-40; a far-
mer in Norwich, April, 1841, to April 1, 1843; a hotel-keeper in the old Downer
stand in Sharon, one mile west of West Hartford village, 1843-48; a manufactur-
er, etc., in West Hartford, 1849-75. His wife d. Aug. 15, 1869. He went, in 1875,
to Elkhart, Ind., to live with his son, Col. A. M. Tucker, and died there Nov.,
1878. The children of Alvan Tucker were:
1. William Howard b. in Sharon, Vt., June 19, 1826, went to Dan-
ville, Vt., with his father in 1827; thence to Haverhill, N. H., in 1838, and
came to West Hartford in the spring of 1833. At the age of ten he commenced
to work with his father at house-painting, in which trade he continued until he
was nineteen, in the meantime attending winter terms of district schools, and,
at the age of fourteen, one term at Norwich academy. In the fall of 1845, he
entered Kimball Union academy, Meriden, N. H., to prepare for coUege, but
after three terms, was compelled by poor health to relinquish his studies at that
institution. In 1846, he entered the service of Col. James Moore, then chief en-
gineer of the surveys made for the Vermont Central r-aih-oad, as rodman and
chainman, in which work he continued two years; then returned home and went
to work on his father's farm. In the spring of 1851, he went to Plattsburgh, N.
Y., where he resumed railroad Ufe, as assistant to his brother, Samuel B. Tucker,
who had charge of the construction of a division of the Plattsburgh and Mon-
treal railroad, and there remained for nearly two years. In the autumn of 1853,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 473
he was appointed assistant engineer on the surveys for the extension of the Con-
necticut and Passumpsic Rivers railroad, from St. Johnsbury, Vt., to the Canada
line, after which he was assistant engineer on the survey of the hne between
Plattsburgh, N. Y., and Whitehall, N. Y., which ended his career as a civil en-
gineer.
In 1856, Mr. Tucker canvassed Vermont and Canada east, for the Tucker Mfg.
Co., of Boston, and, in 1857, canvassed the State of New York, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Virginia, Indiana, the New England States and a portion of Canada, for
the same firm.
In 1857, he entered into partnership with his brother, Samuel B. Tucker, and
purchased of the heirs of the late David Hazen the home farm in West Hartford.
August 28, 1858, he was solicited by Messrs. Mitchell & Rammelsburg of Cincia-
nati, manufacturers of furniture, to become their traveling salesman and collec-
tor in the southern and southwestern States, which position he accepted at a
handsome salary. Messrs. Mitchell & Rammelsburg were the most extensive
manufacturers and dealers in furniture in the United States. They had a branch
establishment in St. Louis, Mo., employed a force of 800 men, and their annual
sales throughout the States above named exceeded $400, 000. Owing to an almost
entire suspension of trade between the slave and free States, in 1860, Mr. Tucker
suffered the loss of his position with Messrs. Mitchell & Rammelsburg; but, soon
after, became chief clerk in the fi-eight office of the Pan Handle railroad in Cin-
cinnati, which position he held until March, 1862, when he was appointed chief
clerk and cashier of the Commissary Dept. of the Army of the Cumberland, then
commanded by Gen. O. M. Mitchell, and entered the serviceatShelbyville,Tenn.,
April 2, 1862, after which date until August 1, 1866, he continued to hold the
same office in various departments of the miUtary service, viz: — at Huntsville,
Ala., with Capt. S. S. Slocum, A. Q. M., May 1, tb July 31, 1863; with same offi-
cer in Ordnance Dept., Cincinnati, Ohio, August 1, 1862, to April, 1863; then
with Capt. A. M. Tucker, while he fiUed the following offices, viz: Asst. Quar-
termaster, in charge of the constniction of U.S. military railroads, at Louisville,
Ky., Oct. 3 to Nov. 30, 1863; Quartermaster U. S. military railroads for the de-
partments of the Cumberland, the Ohio, and the Tennessee, Nashville, Tenn.,
Dec. 1, 1863, to March 1, 1864; Disbursing Quartermaster, in Louisville, Ky., and
in charge of the examination and payment of all railroad accounts for transpor-
tation of government supplies. May 7,1864, to Dec. 7, 1865, (at which time he was
mustered out of service); and, finally, with Capt. J. R. Del Vecchio, Quarter-
master of transportation, LouisviUe, Ky., Dec. 8, 1865, to August 1, 1866. Dur-
ing his term of service as cashier in the above named departments, the cash dis-
bursemients were not less than $15,000,000.
After leaving the army, Mr. Tucker was, for a short time, employed by cer-
tain steamboat owners as their attorney, to settle their claims against the gov-
ernment for the transportation of troops and supplies. Returning to Vermont,
in September, 1866, he was soon after tendered by the New York Life Insurance
Co., of New York City, the position of' general agent for the State of Ohio, with
headquarters in Cincinnati; but, after visiting Cincinnati to consult with the
general manager on the subject,. Mr. Tucker then doubting his ability to succes-
fuUy conduct a business of such magnitude without the least experience in the
business, declined to accept the agency, a decision which he has had abundant
474 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
reasons to regret. In 1869, at the request of Hon. John Porter and other citizens
of Hartford, he engaged in the work of preparing a history of Hartford for pub-
lication in Miss Hemmen way's " Vermont Gazetteer." While engaged in this
work he found considerable time to devote to attendance upon musical conven-
tions held in various portions of New England, including the great Peace Jubilee
held in Boston in 1869, and reporting the proceedings of these to various news-
papers and musical journals. In the spring of 1871, after placing his manu-
script history of Hartford in the hands of Miss Hemmenway, Mr. Tucker went
to New Yoi'k City, to become the editor of the '' Musical Review" then pub-
lished by Charles W. Harris, but failing to make satisfactory business arrange-
ments with Mr. Harris, he obtained a place on the staff of the New York Daily
Globe, as financial reporter, which position he resigned a few months later, and
returned to West Hartford, Vt. During the years 1872-3-4, he devoted the
greater portion of his time to attendance upon musical and pohtical conventions,
conferences of the churches, agricultural fairs, etc., and repoi-ting th^proceed-
ings of the same.
During the winter and spring of 1874, Mr. Tucker was the guest of Prof. W.
O. Perkins, of Boston, the eminent composer of music, who was, at that time,
vice-president of the Handel and Haydn Society, and president of the Theodore
Parker Memorial Association of Boston. Diu-ing his stay with Prof. Perkins, he
had the rare privilege of attending the regular weekly rehearsals of the Handel
and Haydn Society, conducted by Carl Zerrahn; also those of the Harvard and
the Apollo Clubs. By invitation of Prof. Lowell Mason, superintendent of mu-
sic in the public schools of Boston, he visited, in company with that gentleman,
nearly every public school in that city, and in addition to this rare treat, found
time to visit the studios of the eminent sculptor Huam Powers, and other artists;
public libraries, galleries of famous paintings, and many public institutions.
In 1875, Mr. Tucker entered into the wholesale lumber business at White River
Junction, in which he continued until 1880. In 1876, he was appointed Vermont
manager of the New York Associated Press, which office he held until April 1887.
From January 1, 1880, to August 1, 1885, he was the general agent of the Morris
& Ireland Safe Co. of Boston, and the Mosler Bahmann Safe Co. of Cincinnati,
Ohio, for Vei'mont, Western New Hampshire and Canada. In September, 1885,
he entered upon the work of prepai'ing and publishing a history of Hartford,Vt.,
which he completed in May, 1889.
Mr. Tucker m, 1st, Aug. 29, 1849, Susan J. Hazen, b. March 1, 1826, (dau. of
David and Nancy (Savage) Hazen of West Hartford). They separated in Dec,
1873. He m. 2d, July 22, 1885, Evagene Ryder, b. July 28, 1854, (dau. of Lucian
A. Ryder of Hartford, a soldier in the late civil war). His children by his first
wife we\-e: William Herbert, b. in West Hartford, Aug. 8, 1852; m. Nov. 17,
1879. Ella B. Waterman (dau. of Christopher and Emeline (Clai-k) Waterman of
Sharon, Vt.); a farmer in West Hartford, Vt. They have had children: Freder-
ick S., b. Jan. 4, 1881; d. Sept. 7, 1881 ; William C, b. Jan. 26, 1882; Charles
H., b. Sept. 5, 1884; Susan E., b. July 10, 1886; Goldie A., b. July 6,1888.
Flora Abbie, b. in St. Johnsbury, Vt., May 1, 1854; m. Nov. 22, 1877, F. Hazen
of Anaheim, Cal., who deserted her in 1886; her children are: Willie P., b.
March 11, 1879; iVnna L., b. Oct. 2, 1880; Herbert H., b. Oct. 21, 1884. Anna K.,
HISTORY OF HARTFORD. 475
. in "West Hartford, Dec. 15, 1859. Louise Lincoln, b. in Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb.
8, 1862.
2. Samuel Bascom, b. in Haverhill, N. H., May 30, 1828; m. Sept. 15, 1851,
Lmanda M. Hazen, b. May 28, 1828, (dan. of David and Nancy (Savage) Hazen);
, civil engineer on the construction of the Vermont Central railroad, New Jer-
ey Central, and other raUroads; resided in West Hartford till 1863, then moved
o Elizabeth, N. J. , where he has since lived. Children (4th gen.): Julia F.,h.
a West Hartford, July 4, 1858; m. July 4, 1883, Wm. MiUer of EUzabeth, N. J.,
ihildren: Samuel J., b. July 4, 1884; Sarah H. M., b. March 24, 1887. Charles
irthur, b. in W. Hartford, March 31, 1855. (See D. C. Alumni, 1878).
3. Albert Henet, b. in West Hartford, Vt., May 23, 1833, m. Dec. 31, 1870,
Frances A. Folsom, b. Sept. 4, 1846, (dan. of Horace and Candies (Tucker) Fol-
om, of Enfield, N. H.,) a farmer in West Hartford untU 1873, when he moved
o Lebanon, N. H., where he worked for several years in the furniture factory
)f Sturtevant & Co. He went to Adrian, Michigan, in 1877, where he was for
ome time employed as clerk in the freight office of the Michigan Southern and
•Northern Indiana raih'oad. In 1883, he was appointed station agent at Waterloo,
:nd., on the M. S. & N. I. R. R. On the death of his wife, which occurred Feb.
I, 1887, he removed to Elkhart, Ind. The loss of his wife, and ill-health, soon
ifter'rendejed him insane, and he was taken to the State Insane Asylum in
indianapoUs, where he died childless, Dec, 1887.
4. Alba Mark, b. in West Hai-tford, Nov. 14, 1836, m. Dec. 17, 1857, Sai-ah
r. Henry, b. Dec. 36, 1840, (dau. of Dr. John and Isabel (Wallace) Henry, of
Slkhart, Ind.) (A history of his Ufe may be foimd under the head of biograph-
cal sketches in another portion of this book). Children: Mary Isabel, b. in
Slkhai-t, Ind., Sept. 34, 1858, m. Oct. 39, 1884, Lewis W. HaUock of EDdiart;
Wm. H., b. Dec. 6, 1859, d. Marchl, 1864; Julia C, b. Jan. 20, 1862, d. April
i6, 1874; Hallet K., b. Oct. 19, 1870.
THE WHITNEY FAMILY.
Benjamin Whitney, of Windham, Conn. , was one of the Charter proprietors of
lartford. In the first division of land among the proprietors, in 1761, he drew
ot " No. 1,'' comprising nineteen acres, located on the north side of White river
,t its confluence with Connecticut river. This lot was purchased by Elias Lyman
d, about 1795, after which time, until the completion of the Passumpsic R. Rd.,
hat portion of the town was called " Lyman's Point." Mr. Whitney subsequently
iwned lot " No. 64,'' on which is now located the hamlet known as CentrevUle,
lut it is not known that he ever lived in this town.
A family of Whitneys lived in West Hartford for many years prior to 1838.
i'he father of the family, Peter Whitney, carried on the manufacture of castings
f various kinds. He had several children. One of his sons, Ebenezer, was
ostmaster in West Hartford in 1833. The entire family emigrated to Ohio in
838.
Jonathan Whitney, better knovra as Deacon Whitney, resided in Quechee
s early as the year 1800. He was a farmer by occupation; a deacon of the First
longregational Church at the centre of the town, and was influential in the civil
476 HISTORY OP HARTFORD.
and religious affairs of the town. He was probably a lineal descendant of Ben-
jamin Whitney, above named. The following brief history of his family is taken
from a record found in the office of the Town Clerk of Hartford, viz: —
Jonathan Whitney's Family.
Jonathan, son of Nathan and Abigail Whitney, b. July 16, 1761; m. Mary
Woodward, March 3, 1785, and had Polly, b. Aug. 6, 1785 (a premature birth),
Mary, parent, died Aug. 20, 1785. Jonathan- m. Lucy Woodward, Aug. 19,
1786. Their childi-en were: Ira, b. May 25, 1787; Irena, b. Feb. 17, 1789; d. Feb.
4,1813. Jonathan (2), b. Feb. 2, 1791; d. May 10, 1812. Samuel, b. Nov. 23,
1792. David, b. Deo. 12, 1794. PoUy, b. July 23, 1796; d. Nov. 4, 1798. RusseU,
b. May 5, 1798; d. May 30, 1798. Dolly, b. Jan. 16, 1800. RusseU, b. Feb. 2,
1802. Lucy, b. Oct. 2, 1804. Delinda, b. Mch. 6, 1806. Lurinda, b. Feb. 12,
1810.
Dea. Jonathan Whitney died Jan. 29, 1813, aged 52.
APPENDIX.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY, 1889.
Hartford, Windsor County, Vermont. Population (census 1880) 3,954. South"
ist from MontpeUer, 64 ms. R. Rd. stations: Hartford and West Hartford, on
. V. R. R. ; Olcott, on Passumpsic R. R. ; Hartford, Dewey's Mills and Quechee,
a Woodstock R. E. ; White River Junction, at the Junction of the Northern N.
[. R. R. ; the Passumpsic R. R. ; the C. V. R. R., and the Woodstock R. R.
Town Officers: CTer/c, S. E. Pingree, Hartford Village; Constable and Collector,
[. A. Randall; W. R. Junction; Treasurer, J. L. Bacon, W. R. Junction; Select-
len, John Barrows, Hartford Village, Prank S. Hewitt, Quechee, Arthur H.
lazen. West Hartford. Trustee of pubhc money, Wilham S. Dewey, Quechee;
[gent, C. B. Stone, Hartford VU. Overseer of the Poor, Henry SaflEord, Quechee.
Haktford Village.
Church, Congregational, 8. I. Briant. Druggist, F. H. French. Lawyers,
. E. Pingree, S. M. Pingree. Manufacturers — Carriages and Sleighs, J. Bugbee;
Ihairs, Isaac Gates; Harnesses, W. L. Bugbee; Satinets, Hartford Woolen Co. ;
iteel Goods, French, Watson & Co. ; Tinware, L. Pease & Sons. Merchants — Dry
roods, &c., A. L. Worthen, French Bros.; Flour and Meal, Moore & Madden;
liimiture, Ernest Johnson; Gi-oceries, A. L. Worthen, French Bi'os., George E.
^one, P. M. Dutton; Millinery, Mrs. H. J. Banagan; Hardware, Stoves, Tinware,
'aints and Oil, L. Pease & Son. Physicians, J. B. Rand, H. L. Watson. Post-
listress. Miss NelUe Brooks. R. Rd. Sta. Agent, Ben. Briggs. Tel. Agent, A. L.
'ease.
West Hartford.
Church, Congregational (no settled minister). Hotel, Frank Wheeler. Manufac-
urers — Blacksmith, Wm. MunseU; Lumber, H. D. Barrows. Merchants, F. F.
lolt, C. M. Hazen. Postmaster, R. Munsell. Sta. and Ex. Agent, Hoyt Hazen.
Vholesale lumber dealer, Austin Howard.
Olcott.
Churches — Congregational, A. S. Chase; Methodist, J. Hamilton (supply); Livery
table, O. J. Eastman. Manufacturers, Pulp and Paper, Wilder & Co. ; Merchants —
)ry Goods, F. P. Marston; Groceries, F. W. Morris, J. L. Cushman. Physician,
;. B. Mack. Postmaster, F. P. Marston. Sta. and Ex. Agent, C. C. Center.
Quechee.
Churches— Congregational, R. C. Lansing; Methodist, J. Hamilton (supply),
ilanufacturers— Flannels, J. C. Parker & Co.; Flour, Meal, &c., J. C. Parker &
!o.; Lumber, O. H. ChamberUn; Woolen Goods (at Dewey's MiUs) A. G. Dewey
fc Co. Merchants— Scott Tinkham, Geo. J. Abbott & Co. Hardware, Stoves, &c.,
. Larabee. 'Physicians, C. A. SpeiTy. Postmaster, Scott Tinkham. Sta. Agent,
^ S. Hewitt.
478 HISTORY OF HARTFORD.
White River Junction.
Banks — National Bank of White River Junction, Geo. W. Smith, Pres.; John
L. Bacon, Cash. White River Savings' Bank, S. E. Pingi-ee, Pres. ; Curtis Kibling,
Treas. Churches — Episcopal . Methodist, J. Hamilton ; Roman Catholic, J. B.
Whittaker; Universalist, . Druggists, C. M. Trask &Co., O. W. Daley.
Hotel, Junction House, N. F. Eddy. Insurance Agents — J. B. Pike, J. G. Harvey,
J. J. Simonds. Lawyers, J. G. Harvey, J. J. Simonds. Livery Stables — O. A.
RandaU, L. A. Gibbs. Manufactiu-ers — Crackers, Confectionery, &c., Geo. W.
Smith. Contractors and Builders — W. P. Morse, H. H. Hanchett; Granite,
Curbing and Monuments, S. Carleton. Marble monuments, John Harding.
Plumbing, Steam-fltting and Supphes, H. L. Nott. Photographers, Fellows &
Burr. Picture Mouldings, F. T. Williams. Printers — Royal Cummings, C. R.
Jameson. Tailor, D. P. Ring. Merchants — J. O. Neil & Co., N.P.Wheeler,
W. W. Barnes, W. H. Laird & Co. Boots and Shoes, A. Brouillette. Clocks
and Watches — H. A. Holton, Bogle Bros. Clothing, &c. , Wheeler Bros. Flour and
Lime, D. Hinckley & Son. Furniture, C. W. Pierce. Jewelry (wholesale).
Bogle Bros. Meat, Edson & Chadwick. Millinery — Flora Shaw, Mrs. S. BouteUe.
Stationery, Blank Books, Wall Paper, &c.. White River Paper Co. Stoves, Tin,
Hardware, Coal, &c., E. H. Bagley. Variety Store, M. R. Wari'Bn. Physicians —
Samuel J. Allen, Jr., O. W. Daley, F. C. Manchester; Homeo.,C. S. Bray. Dentist,
G. W. Hoffman. Postmaster, Sanford H. Potter. R. R. Restaurant, E. A.
Dunton ("Plenty of Time.") Sta. Agents— C. V. R. R., H. E. Tinker; Passumpsic
R. R., W. P. Davis; Woodstock R. R., James Cooper. Ex, Agent, W. E. Huntoon.
Tel. Agent, C. T. Currier.
INDEX,
Adams, Prof., 16.
Adams, Rev. John, 232, 328.
Adams, John, Pres't. U.S., 94, 287.
Adams, Mrs. Mary, 353.
Aiken, Rev. Prof., 338.
Albee, Rev. F. T.,254.
Allen, Ebenezer, 86.
Allen, Rev. F. L., 250, 402.
AUen, Heman, 385.
Allen, Ira, 79, 85, 88, 94, 264, 301.
Allen, Mrs. Mary, 28.
AUen, Mrs. Mary J. , 353.
Allen, Dr. Samuel J., 28, 352, 353.
Allen, Samuel J. Jr., 353.
Alexander, Giles, 63, 63, 64.
AUd, WiUiam, 61.
Alumni, Dartmouth College, 386.
Appleton, James, 122.
Asbuiy, Bishop Francis, 253.
Ashley, Oliver, 75.
Atkinson, Theodore S., 3.
Avery, Jonathan, Jr., 60.
Bacon, Charles A., 137.
Bacon, Rev. Wm. B., 238.
Badger, Samuel, 32.
Bagley, E. H. 369.
Bailey, Alvin. 33,331.
BaUey, Judah, 235.
Baker, George A., 361.
Baker, Mrs. I. F., 179.
Baldvrin, Daniel, 148.
Baldwin, Jabez, 348.
Baldwin, John, 1, 2, 4, 5, 41, 43, 60, 62,
63, 139,142.
Baldwin, John, Jr., 60, 63, 63, 64.
Baldwin, Rufus, 62, 63, 64, 273.
Ballard, Charles B., 37, 167.
Ballard, S. A., 34.
BaU, Absalom, 123, 125.
Bancroft, Dr. C. P., 279.
Bannister, George, 124.
Banyar, George, 65.
Baptisms, Infant, 333.
BardweU, Consider, 349.
Barber, Rev. Daniel, 365.
Barbour, Rev. Nelson, 228.
Barnes, Rev. G. W., 369.
Barnes, W.W., 369.
Barrett, James, 380.
Barrett, John, 73.
Barron, Abel, 143, 839.
Barron, Oscar F., 33, 126, 136, 234.
Barrows, Hamilton D., 137.
Bartholomew, Amos, 127.
Bartholomew, Luther, 131, 307.
Bartholomew, Noah, 254.
Bartholomew, Sheldon, 854.
Bartlett, Orange, 34.
Bartlett, Rev. Samuel C, 394.
Bascom, Rev. Samuel, 313, 337, 288, 247.
Bass, Dr. Edward, 263.
Bass, Joel, 154.
Baum, Col., 79.
Bayley, Col. Jacob, 73, 74, 81, 83, 83, 84.
Bean, A. C, 269.
Beard, John, 391.
Bebbins, Elijah, 60.
Benjamin, John, 87.
Beckwith, Charles, 36.
Belknap's History, .57.
Belknap, Thomas, 123, 134.
Bell, Rev. Benjamin, 309.
Bell, Joseph, 133, 389.
Bell, Thomas, 61, 63, 64, 66.
BeUows, Levi, 146, 317.
Bellows, Josiah, 132.
Bennett, John, 47, 49, 50, 53, 53, 56, 60,
63, 63, 64, 309.
Bennett, John, Jr., 11, 38, 41, 43, 51,
60, 62, 63, 64.
Bennett, Jonathan, 49, 52.
Bethel, Mrs. Jane, 179.
BiUings, Frank N., 162, 164.
Billings, Frederick, 164, 234.
Biagham, Elias, 8.
Bingham, Elijah, 4, 43, 46, 60, 136.
Bingham, Gideon, 60.
Births, 174.
Blaisdell, Elijah, 154.
Blaisdell, Daniel, G., 132.
Blanchard, Joseph, 4, 30, 31, 43, 60.
Bliss, Ebenezer, 273.
Bliss, David, 41, 51 53, 306, 399.
Bliss, John, 33.
Bliss, LucienB., 136.
Blodgett,W. K., 161.
Bogle, C. C.,130.
Bogle, M. F. & F.-J., 130.
Bostwick, Rev. Shadrack, 304, 353.
Bragg, David, 370.
Bragg, W. L., 323, 340, 297.
Braley, Alvin, 134.
Braley, Wm. H., 167.
Bramble, William, 38, 41, 47, 49, 50,
53, 60, 89, 273.
Bi-eckenridge, Francis, 84,
Brennan, Vincent J. , 137.
Brewster, David, 53.
Brewster, Ebenezer, 144.
Brewster, Oliver, 30, 60.
Briant, Rev. S. I., 324, 325, 239, 241, 383.
480
INDEX.
Bridgman, Jesse, 136.
Bridges, 143.
Briggs, E. D.,370.
Brigham, Paul, 167.
Brink, Alexander, 41, 49, 50, 69, 73.
Brockway, Geo. C, 301.
Brooks, Elam, 318.
Brooks, Justin C, 6, 22, 133, 147, 217,
291 353
Brooks, Zerah, 132, 216, 853.
Broughton, Ebenezer, 122.
Brown, Rev. Abel, 347.
Brown, Rev. Abraliam, 213.
Brown, Pres't. Francis, 245.
Brown, Nathaniel, 89.
Brown, Prof. S. G., 231, 388.
Brownson, Timothy, 79, 83.
Bruce, Rev. R. L., 255, 279.
Buck, AzroD., 384.
Buckingham, Joseph, 136.
Bugbee, Amos, 123.
Bugbee, Jonathan, 22, 30, 133, 136, 216.
Bugbee, Nathaniel, 91.
Bugbee, W. G., 370.
BuUar, Samuel, 45.
Burbank, Abijah, 313, 347. '
Burch, Benjamin, 47, 50, 63, 63, 64,
114, 117, 189, 303, 347.
Burch, Jonathan, 41, 49, 50, 56, 58, 65,
66, 71, 117, 305.
Burgess, Seth, 41.
Burgoyne, Gen. , 77.
Burnap, Ethan, 236.
Burnham, John, 94.
Burroughs, Rev. Eden, 243, 245, 246,
261.
Burton, Rev. Asa, 244.
Burton, Jacob, 93, 94, 347.
Butterfleld, Rev. George, 338.
Byington, Rev. E. H., 388.
Byington, Rev. Geo. E., 239.
Cady, L. H., 336, 339,240.
Gaboon, Wm., 380, 885.
CaU, Joseph A., 133, 203, 257.
Camp, Abel, 34, 141, 143.
Camp, David. 24, 292, 354.
Camp, Mrs. L. F., 278.
CampbeU, Rev. G. W., 314.
Capon, Rev. E. H., 404.
Carlton, Samuel, 130.
Carpenter, Benjeimin, 84.
Carpenter, John, 117.
CaiT, Thomas, 36.
Carroll, Charles, 151.
Carter, Rev. N. F., 236, 340, 381.
Carter, William S., 186, 284, 291, 295,
322 358
Case.Rev'. Rufus, 193, 196, 230.
Case, Zealon, 339.
Catlin, Rev. RusseU,304.
Cemeteries, 187—197.
Chamber, Rev. A. St. John, 404.
Chamberlain, Abel P., 118.
Chamberlain, Abner, 36.
Chamberlain, Rev. E. B., 239, 240.
Chamberlain, Otis, 162.
Champion, Ezra A. , 163.
Chandler, A. B., 138.
Chandler, Thomas, 83, 94.
Chandler, W. G., 123.
Chapman, Becket, 11, 38.
Chapman, Erastus, 132, 203, 305.
Chapman, Elias, 88.
Chapman, Geo. R., 369.
Chapman, Juniah, 54, 204.
Chapman, Simeon, 51.
Chapmauj Simon, 11, 38, 41.
Charter, The Town, 3.
Chase, C. M., 115.
Chase, Rev. A. S., 341.
ChedeU,B. B., 370.
Chipman, Daniel, 267.
Chittenden, Thomas, 88, 94, 114.
Chittenden, Mrs. Thomas, 112.
Choate, Helen, 133.
Choate, Rufus, 133.
Chi-istian Society, 334.
Church, E. W., 336.
Church, The First in Hartford, 209.
Chui-ch, U. M., 235.
Claggett, Rev. Wm., 222, 228, 250.
Clark, Rev. Charles W., 238.
Clark, Daniel, 267.
Clark, Erastus, 22.
Clark, Henry, 110, 384.
Clark, Jacob M., 155.
Clark, James, 145.
Clark, John, 299.
Clark, MitcheU, 11, 38, 41, 49, 52, 53,
144. '
Clark, Nathan, 40, 60, 94.
Clark, Seth, 45.
Clark, Timothy, 41.
Clark, Zerah B., 122.
Clark, William, 4, 31, 83, 42, 43, 46, 60,
136.
Clay, Capt., 77.
Clement, Rev. J., 321, 229, 239.
Cleveland, Josiah, 121.
Cleveland, Zenas, 142.
Closson, Nehemiah, 136.
Cobb, Daniel, 126.
Cobb, Elias, 259.
Cobb, Henry, 355.
Cobb, Nathan, 855.
Cobb, Nathan B., 855.
Colby, A. H., 127.
Golden, Alexander, 64.
Golden, Cadwallader, Gov. N. Y., 61.
Collamer. Jacob, 354, 382.
College, Dartmouth TUumni, 386.
Colston, Wm., 204.
Comings, Jonathan, 61.
Cone, Chai-les M., 137, 403.
Cone, Lemuel, 125.
Cone, Mark, R., 849.
Congregational Societies, 308, 234.
Connecticut River Turnpike Co., 60,
146.
Converse, Julius, Gov. Vt., 880.
Cook, Rev. Phineas, 219.
INDEX.
481
Cooley Theodore, 349.
Copeland Rev. W. E., 269.
Cossett, Rev. Ranna, 203, 368.
Couch, Rev. John, 270.
Council, The King's, 66.
CrandaU, Joseph, 140, 347.
Crandall, Solomon, 24, 228.
Crandall, Thomas, 34, 126.
Crocker, D. B., 134.
Crosby, Dr. Dixi, 353.
Culver, Isaac B., lo.5, 350.
Cumberland County, 29, 48, 69, 70, 80.
Cummings Royal, 170.
Cushing, David L., 235, 236, 240, 338,
351.
Cushing, Theopilus, 23.
Cushman, Joshua, 121, 126.
Curtis, Elias, 141.
Cutter, Rev. Caleb, 247.
Dame, Rev. Sylvanus, 244.
Dana, Charles, 162.
Dana, Dea. Daniel, 313.
Daija, Dea. David, 237.
Dana, George, 141.
Dana, Israel P., 387.
Dana, Jedediah, 319.
Dana, J. Winchester, 76.
Daniel, Reuben, 119.
Dartmouth College, 17, 243.
Dartmouth, The Earl of, 243.
Dascomb, Rev. A. B., 340.
Davis, Eleazer, 318.
Davis, Ira, 169.
Davis, Wesley A., 161.
Deaths, 178.
Delano, Luther, 349.
Delano, Rev. Samuel, 236, 347.
Delano, Zebulon, 131, 395, 307.
Demmon, Levi, 41, 51, 317.
Dennisou, Henvy C., 359.
Dennison, John H. , 377.
Dennison, Wm. , Gov. of Ohio, 363. -
Dewey, Albert G., 23, 119, 161, 163,334,
291, 332, 356.
Dewey, Daniel, 305.
Dewey, Elijah, 60.
Dewey, John, 356.
Dewey, John J., 23, 130, 164.
Dewey, Joshua, 41, 49, 50, 53, 53, 114,
117, 348.
Dewey, Noah, 34, 35, 41, 60, 63, 63, 64.
Dewey, Sherman, 177.
Dewey, Thomas, 356.
Dewey, William S., 33, 118, 120, 373,
355.
Dexter, Isaac, 137.
Dickinson, Daniel A., 400.
Diminick, Jacob, 334.
Dimmick, Joab, 317.
Dimmick, Philip, 33.
Dimmick, Samuel B., 226, 331, 308.
Divorces, 178.
Dorr, Joseph, 122.
Doton, Hosea, 162.
Downer, Daniel, 60.
I Downer, John, 88, 136, 241, 274.
Downer, Stephen S., 26, 136.
Downs, Rev. C. H., 220.
DuBois, W. H., 285.
Dudley, Daniel B., 399.
Dudley, Rev. John, 238, 338.
Dunbar, Almua, 817.
Duncan, Irena, 306.
Duncan, Sarah O., 132.
Duncan, Wm. H., 132, 133.
Dunham, Gershom, 204.
Dunton, E. A., 164.
Durgin, Jeflf, 130.
Dustin, Nathaniel, 148.
Dutton, Asahel, 313.
Dutton, Daniel L., 260.
Dutton, Herbert L., 169.
Dutton, John, 88, 374.
Dutton, Rev. John, 350, 340, 386.
Dutton, Nathaniel, 54, 386.
Dutton, Rev. Nathaniel, 350, 386.
Dutton, Noah, 137, 330.
Dutton, Samuel, 84.
Dutton, Thaddeus, 331, 291.
Dutton, Wm. E., 279, 346.
Dwight, Rev. B. F., 357.
Dwight, Dr., 88.
Earle, a. a., 170.
Eastman, W. E., 351.
Eaton, John, 395.
Edde, Newbm-y, 50.
Eddy, N. S., 269.
Edgerton, J. K., 391, 347.
Edwards, Rev. J. H., 238.
Ela, Rev. Benjamin, 350, 393.
Eldridge, Timothy, 306.
Elkins, Jonathan, 91.
Emerson, Asa, 41, 53.
Emerson, Rev. E. B., 328.
Emerson, John, 213.
Emerson, Thomas, 53, 53, 353.
Emtaons, Benjamin, 84, 88, 93.
Enos, Paschal P., 39.
Estabrook, Nehemiah, 75.
Evans, Moses, 84.
Everett, Horace, 380.
Factories and MiUs, 118—136.
Fairbanks, Erastus, 159, 384.
Farman Alma C. , 130.
Farman, S. B., 135, 130.
Farnsworth, Rev. J. C, 369.
FarreU, Rev. E. F., 341.
Faunce, Henry, 127.
Fay, Jonas, 81.
Fernow, Berthold, 73.
Ferries and Fords, 142.
Fish, Aaron, 60.
Fish, Lt. Stephen, 355.
Fisher, Phineas P., 33, 334.
Fitch, Eleazer, 60.
Fitch, Rev. J. S., 369.
Flanders, George F., 310.
Fletcher, Samuel, 85.
Flint, James, 4, 6, 30, 46.
31
483
INDEX.
Flint, Sarah, 60.
Floyd, Edward E., 133.
FoUett, Joseph, 60, 301.
Folsom, H. E., 161.
Foote, Alvln, 380.
Fordways, 143.
Foster, Charles Lee, 400.
Fowler, Elisha, 133, 131.
Fowler, Joseph, 133, 134, 131.
Freeman, Wm., 88.
French, Horace, 133.
French, Justus W., 184.
French, Warren C, 380.
French, "William, 72.
Frmk, Elias C, 60.
Fuller, Abner, 231.
Ftdler, John, 137, 330.
Fuller, Dr. Jonathan, 396.
Fulton, Robert, 151.
Gallup, Oliver, 146, 167.
Oallup, Perez, 149.
OaUup, Theodore, 360.
Gallup, William, 347.
Galusha, Jonas, Gov. of Vt., 272, 354.
Gant, John, 39.
Garfield, James A., 361, 373.
Garfield, Mrs. LucretiaR., 373.
Gates, Isaac, 122.
Gates, Olmstead, 208.
Genealogies, 407.
General List, 299, 303.
Gere. Nathan, 22, 147, 331.
Gibbs, Rev. Daniel, 350.
Gibbs, Harvey, 121, 807.
Gilbert, Daniel, 149.
Gilbert, Rev. James B, 329.
Gilbert, John, 136.
Gilbert, Rev. Nathan, 229.
Gillett, Ahii-a, 349.
GiUett, Azro, 133.
Gillett, Bennie B., 403.
Gillett, Daniel O., 133, 381.
GUlett, Ebenezer, 36, 41, 43, 47, 60, 63,
63, 64, 373.
GiUett, Edward A., 39.
GiUett, ReV. D. O., 350, 403.
GiUett, Israel, 11, 37, 38, 41, 47, 48, 53,
53, 54, 56, 74, 131, 273.
Gillett, Israel 3d, 133.
GiUett, Jacob, 386.
Gillett, John, 11, 37, 38, 41, 49, 50, 51,
53, 87, 89, 211, 273, 343.
Gillett, Nathaniel, 225.
GiUett, Roger, 309, 318.
GiUett, WiUiam, 225, 276.
Gilson, T. W.,281, 403.
Glebe Lands, 262, 363, 364, 365, 266.
Goddard, Rev. Samuel, 313, 319, 237,
236, 247, 249, 366.
Goddard, Samuel, 338.
Good Templars, 313.
GoodeU, Edwin, 333.
Goodhue, Rev. D., 339.
Goss, Edward, 341.
Graham, John A., 263.
Grand Army Post, 331.
Grand List, 304.
Grantees, Original, 7, 66, 67.
Graves, Rufus, 144.
Gray, Mary, 40.
Gray, Samuel, 40.
Greeley, Rev. S. N., 394.
Green, Daniel, 133.
Green, Rev. Lewis, 250.
Greene, Dr. George B., 398.
Gregory, Rev. John, 347.
Griswold, Rev. A. V., 266.
Griswold, John, 38, 53, 70.
Gross, Horace, 260.
Gross, Pitkin, 260.
Gross, Rev. Thomas, 205 306, 209, 374,
340, 359.
Grout, Hilkiah, 73.
Grout, John, 22, 216, 293.
Grout, W. W., 168.
Grover, Fred, 138.
Grow, Rev. Timothy, 257.
Grow, Rev. Wm., 203, 357.
Gubernatorial Vote, 388.
Gmld, WiUiam, 270.
Guizot, Francois, Pierre, Ouillaume,
280.
Haddock, Rev. Charles B., 317, 319,
238.
Haines, Johns., 133.
Hale, Thomas, 169.
HaU, Alfred A., 310.
HaU, Hiland, 83.
Hamilton, C. S., 350.
Hammersley, W. J., 145.
Hanchett,H. H., 136, 369.
Harding, John, 130.
Harlow, Hiram, 133.
Harrenden, James, 118.
Harrington, EU, 373.
Harrington, Samuel, 373.
Harris, A. B., 160, 161.
Harris, James, 133.
Hartford Mfg Co., 133.
Hartford MUls Co., 133.
Hartford Woolen Co., 121, 136, 368.
HartweU, Thomas, 123.
Harwood, Eleazer, 117, 211, 338.
HasweU, Anthony, 166.
Hatch, Charles, 276, 307.
Hatch, John, 38, 53.
Havens, Rev. E. C, 241.
Hawley, Elisha, 73.
Hayes, AUen. 26, 377.
Hayes, Henry H., 231.
Hazen, Alice, 34.
Hazen, AUen, 321, 250, 391.
Hazen, Allen, Jr., 403.
Hazen, Rev. Allen, 350, 397.
Hazen, Asa, 11, 39, 41, 51, 53, 54, 88,
293.
Hazen, Asa Jr., 387.
Hazen, Rev. Austin, 209, 210, 213, 217,
337, 236, 247, 350, 387.
Hazen, Bertha, 34.
INDEX.
48a
Hazen, Carlos, 127, 331.
Haaen, Carlton D., 230, 331.
Hazen, Charles D., 55, 338.
Hazen, Charles Herbert, 403.
Hazen, Dan, 247.
Hazen, Daniel, 121, 143, 304, 336, 261.
Hazen, David, 34, 127, 348.
Hazen, Edward, 133.
Hazen, Fi-anklin S., 330.
Hazen, George T., 330.
. Hazen, Harper T., 188.
Hazen, H. Allen, 402.
Hazen, Rev. Henry A.. 350, 398.
Hazen, Hezekiah, 82, 89, 203, 246, 376,
296.
Hazen, John, 34.
Hazen, John Durkee, 361.
Hazen, Joshua, 11, 37, 38,41,49,51, 53,
54, 55, 69, 75, 78, 88, 89, 93, 374, 309.
Hazen, Julius, 333, 348.
Hazen, Leonard, 242.
Hazen, Levi, 24.
Hazen, Levi, 3d., 16, 141, 143.
Hazen, Lucius, 34, 339, 344.
Hazen, Nancy, 26.
Hazen, Noah B., 381, 403.
Hazen, Rev. Norman, 250, 397.
Hazen, Philemon, 53, 130, 121, 204, 307.
Hazen, Reuben, 24, 277.
Hazen, Seymoui', 36.
Hazen, Silas, 53, 183.
Hazen, Silas H., 34, 37.
Hazen, Solomon, 89, 203.
Hazen, Stillman, 360.
Hazen, Thomas, 11, 23, 38, 41, 49, 51,
.52, 53, 54, 55, 75, 76, 203, 286, 242.
Hazen, Thomas Green, 403.
Hazen, Gen. Wm. B., 24, 860.
Hazen, Rev. Wm. S., 350.
Hazen, Willis, 24.
Hazen, Zavan, 24.
Healey, John P., 394.
Hebard, Eleazer, 60.
Hebard, Gideon, 60.
Hebard, Moses, 30, 48, 60.
Hebard, Paul, 5, 6, 46.
Hemenway, Rev. Asa, 229, 281.
Herrick, Samuel, 85.
Hewitt, Elisha, 238.
Hewitt, Franks., 286.
Heydock, Jane E., 132.
Hibbard, Lovell, 307.
Hicks, Rev. L. W., 239.
Highway Districts, 140.
Highway Surveyors, 140.
HiU, Isaac, Gov. N. H., 145, 345.
Hm, John, 60.
HiU, JohnB., 307.
Hitchcock, Prof. Edward, 17, 19.
Hitchcock, Rev. O. B., 224.
Hodet, J. M., 130.
Hodges, Seth, 81.
Hoisington, Daniel, 73.
Hoisington, Ebenezer, 94.
Hoisington, Joab, 76.
Holbrook, Nathaniel, 60.
Holbrook, Nathaniel, Jr., 63, 64..
Holbrook, Thomas, 257.
Holden, C. C. P., 34, 111.
Holt, Francis F., 26, 348.
Hooker, Rev. Thomas, 370.
Hopson, Lt. I. D., 345, 846.
Horr, Samuel, 123, 317.
Hotchkiss, 136.
House, John, 203.
Howard, Abel, 24.
Howard, Abel T., 401.
Howard, Austin, 137.
Howard, Caleb, 60, 181.
Howes, Joseph, 154.
Humpiu-ey, Nelson, 260.
Hunt, Eliphaa, 24.
Hunt, Jonathan, 385.
Hunt, Rodney, 135.
Huntington, Arunah, 288.
Huntington, Hezekiah, 31, 60.
Hunton, A. P., 399.
Huntoon, Frank, 167.
Huse,' Frederick, 351.
Hutchinson, Rev. Aaron, 78, 144, 306,
209.
Hutchinson, Elisha, 817.
HutcMoson, Samuel, 181.
Hutchinson, Titus, 882, 384.
Hyde, B. N.,320.
Hyde, Elihu, 8, 6.
Ingi'aham, David, 34, 235, 337, 330, 346.
Ingraham, Silas, 330.
Jackson, Rev. Abram, 338.
Jameson, O. R., 171.
Janes, David, 140.
Jarvis, Wilham, 118, 397.
Jefferson, Thomas, Pres. U. S., 345.
Johnson, Eliakim, 161.
Johnson, Daniel, 270.
Jolmson, Thomas, 91.
Jones, Charles J., 133. '
Jones, Perez, 122.
Jones, Ralph, 163.
Jones, Reuben, 94.
Jones, RusseU L. , 133.
Judges Probate Court, 393.
Judges Supreme Court, 393.
Kempton, Alpheus, 348.
Keyes, Henry, 160.
Kidder, Rev. Moses, 259.
Kimball, Phineas, 316, 380.
Kimball, Stephen, 136.
King, George, 370.
King, Thomas, 120.
Kingsbury, Rev. J. W., 238,280.
Kingsbury, Rev. W. H., 238.
Kneeland, David, 136.
Kneeland, Edward, 23, 186.
Kneeland, Joseph H., 133, 125,136.
Lamphire, Benjamin, 122.
Lampbire, Jonas G., 126, 308.
Lampsouj E. E., 138.
484
INDEX.
Langdon, James R., 154.
Lansing, Rev. R. C, 241.
Latham, Arthur, 127.
Lawrence, E. A., 394.
Leavitt, Fi-eegraoe, 37, 130, 177, 208,
209 258 339
Leavitt, Rev. Harvey F., 213, 237, 250,
405.
Leeds, Rev. S. P., 241.
Leighiton, Henry, 156.
Leighton, Joseph, 156.
Letters Patent, 56, 68.
Lewis, Joseph, 131.
Lincoln, Hezekiah, 204.
Lindsey, William, 118.
Locks on White River, 149.
Locks on Water Quechee River, 149.
Lombard, Solomon, 318.
Loomis, Wharam, 128, 279.
Lord, Rev. John K., 218.
Lord, Luther E., 270.
Lord, Rev. Prest. Nathan, D. C, 219,
247.
Lord, P. G., 270.
Lord, Solomon, 60.
Loring, H., 135.
Loveland, Reuben, 133, 376.
Lovejoy, Dr. D. H., 879.
Low, Isaac, 71.
Low, Willard W., 127.
Lun, Luin, 391.
Lyman, Abel, 75.
Lyman, Edward, 370.
Lyman, Elias, 3d, 38, 41, 122, 123, 136,
141, 144, 145, 319, 367.
Lyman, Francis, 145.
Lyman, George, 38, 141, 169, 221, 369.
Lyman, Joseph, 386.
Lyman, Justin, 133, 124, 136.
Lyman, Lizzie, 28.
Lyman, Louise, 38.
Lyman, Richard, 367, 370.
Lyman, Simeon, 154.
Lyman, Wylys, 22, 316, 817, 393.
Lynch, Rev. Dennis, 252.
Mace, Joseph, 128.
MacKensie, J. F., 164, 358.
McCabe, Barney, 167.
McCarty, Frank, 205.
Mclntire, W. L., 128.
McKinsley, Rev. L. C, 370.
McShane, H. H., 256.
Mallory, EoUin C, 385.
Mallory Woolen Co., 118.
Marion, Mr., 56.
Marriages, 176.
Marsh, Abel, 10, 23, 88, 44, 48, 50, 52,
62, 64, 70, 74, 83, 114, 139, 183, 208,
339.
Marsh, Abraham, 250.
Marsh, Abram, 389.
Marsh, Benjamin S., 221.
Marsh, Charles, 370, 405.
Marsh, Charles P., 164, 370.
Marsh, Daniel, 11, 23, 37, 39, 213, 395,
309, 318.
Marsh, Eliphalet, 143.
Marsh, Elisha, 10, 38, 41, 48, 49, 51, 53,
.53, 62, 68, 64, 117, 208.
Marsh, Rev. George D., 350.
Marsh, George P., 377.
Marsh, James, 350, 370, 388.
Marsh, Joel, 24, 37, 38, 41, 48, 49, 50,
51, 52, 69, 70, 73, 75, 76, 85, 86, 87,
131, 137, 141, 226, 228, 373, 309.
Marsh, John, 38, 41, 44, 47, 48, 60, 114,
189, 305.
Marsh, Jonathan, 84, 35, 36, 43, 46, 47,
59, 60, 63, 63, 64.
Marsh, Joseph, 33, 34, 88, 41, 49, 50, 51,
52, 53, 34, ■62, 63, 64, 69, 72, 73, 74, 76,
78, 79, 80, 81, 83, 84, 86, 88, 95, 114,
140, 183, 305, 214, 309, 870.
Marsh, Joseph, Jr., 84.
Marsh, Rev. Joseph, 336, 347.
Marsh, Leonard, 890.
Marsh, Milo, 117, 308, 307.
Marsh, Roger, 309, 227.
Marsh, RosweU, 34, 82, 888, 370, 405.
Marsh, Rev. Sainuel, 247.
Marsh, Timothy, 338.
Mai-ston, Frank, 403.
Martin, A. C,, 354.
Martin, Jonathan, 6, 60.
Martin, Joseph, 60.
Mason, Elijah, 33, 91, 209, 309, 378.
Mason, Jeremiah, 370.
Mason, John, 370.
Matson, David, 125, 186.
Matthews, Joel, 73, 74.
Mattocks, John, 385.
Mattoon, Charles, 307.
Maxham, Rev. A. S., 255.
May, Rev. Melvin, 339.
Meech, Ezra, 885.
Members of Congress, 392.
Memorial Association, 338, 334.
Merrill, Rev. Josiah, 230.
Merrill, Rev. Sylvester, 336.
Military Necrology, 335.
MiUtia Pay-rolls, 83, 88, 84, 87, 89, 90,
91, 93.
MUler, Peter, 125.
MUler, Rev. Robert, 229, 281.
Mmer, Thomas, 48.
Moore, Alonzo, 122.
Moore, Sir Henry, 63, 63, 64, 65, 66.
Moore, Ira, 22.
Moore, James, 155, 884.
Moors' Charity School, 242.
Moredock, Thomas, 94.
Morgan, Isaac, 75.
Morris, Edward, 122.
Morris, Edwai-d W., 136.
Morris, Ephraim, 137, 317, 239.
Morris, Lewis R., 167.
Morris, Sylvester, 122, 136.
Morse, Prof. S. F. B., 387.
INDEX.
485
Mott, Dr. Valentine, 390.
Mimger, S. E., 163.
Murdook, Jacob, 121.
Mnrdock, Samuel, 40.
Murdock, Thomas, 84.
Neal, Alfred, 397.
Necrology, 185.
Nelson, Gen. S. B., 363.
Newcomb, Daniel, 41, 60.
Newcomb, James, 60.
Newmarcli, Joseph, 61, 63, 64, 66.
Newport, Rev. Fred., 329.
Newton, Baxter B., 24, 148.
Newton, David, 54, 144. 203.
Newton, Enos, 330.
Newton, Enos W., 388.
Newton, George, 39.
Newton, Jasper, 389.
Newton, Norman, 39.
Newton, Silas, 88.
Niles, Nathaniel, 243.
Noble, Charity, 217.
Nutt, AlonzoB., 32, 50.
Nutt, Samuel, 28, 127, 151, 169, 350,
374.
Odd Fellows, 313.
Olcott Falls Co., 134.
Olcott, Harriet, 133.
Olcott Mills, 133.
Olcott, Peter, 81, 83, 84.
Olcott, Wilham A., 183.
Ordway, S. S., 135.
Ottauquechee River, The, 14.
Overseers of the Poor, 295.
Owen, Caleb, 60.
Packard, Rev. Theophilus, 247.
Paddleford, Justin, 323.
Page, Ephraim W., 318,
Page, Jacob, 91.
Paine, Amasa, 146.
Paine, Charles, Gov. Vt., 17, 146, 307.
Paine, Elijah, 155.
Paine, O. M., 187.
Paine, Samuel, 38, 75.
Parker, Prof. H. C, 329.
Parker, Joseph C, 33, 118, 161, 334,
340, 293. ■
Parker, J. Walter, 118, 403.
Parker, Oliver W., 396.
Parkhurst, Harry, 141.
Parkhurst, Phineas, 337.
Parkinson, Rev. R., 338.
Parsons, Rev. J. S., 350.
Partridge, Cyrus, 219.
Passumsio Railroad, 159, 251.
Patch, George E., 401.
Patterson, J. N., 152, 153.
Payne, John, 131.
Pay-Roils, Military, 87, 89, 90, 91, 92.
Pease, Allen L., 138, 269, 295, 300, 310,
314.
Pease, Charles W., 379, 349.
Pease, Christopher, 37, 41, 44, 47, 48,
49, 54, 60, 309.
Pease, Christopher, Jr., 49.
Pease, George, 39, 34.
Pease, H. C, 293.
Pease, Samuel, 48, 49, 204.
Pease, Walter, 23, 348.
Penfleld, Abel, 117, 338.
Perkins, Rev. L. R. B., 224.
Perry, Isaac, 308.
Perry, Wm., 208, 299, 317.
Peters, Samuel, LL. D., 368.
Phelps, Daniel, 133.
Phelps, Eliphalet, 60.
Phelps, Col. J. W., 320.
Phelps, Silas, 4, 8, 43, 60.
Phelps, Timothy, 73.
Pigeon, Rev. M., 253.
Pingree, S. E., 26, 27, 393, 393, 399.
Pingree, Mrs. S. M., 367.
Pinneo, Charles, 146, 307.
Pinneo, David, 37, 41, 44, 47, 49, 50,
53, 62, 63, 64, 139, 306.
Pinneo, James, Jr., 59, 60.
Pinneo, John, 276.
Pitkin, Paul, 208, 212, 325.
Pitkin, Thomas W., 117, 306, 360.
Pixley, Asa, 121, 204.
Pixley, Benjamin, 276, 806.
Pixley, WiUiam, 121, 204.
Piatt, James H., 235.
Plummer, Frederick, 259.
PomeroY, Daniel, 60.
Pomeroy, Joshua, 60.
Poor, General, 77, 80.
Porter, Benjamin, 291, 395, 348.
Porter, Charles W., 38, 393, 377.
Porter, Elam, 404.
Porter, George E., 403.
Porter, Gen. J. N., 73.
Poi-ter, James G., 164.
Porter, John, 23, 126, 334, 360, 273,293,
308, 377.
Porter, John Foster, 899.
Porter, Joseph, 389.
Porter, Samuel, 40, 60.
Porter, WiUiam, 204.
Porter, William B., 403.
Porter, Wright, 22.
Postmasters, 168, 169.
Post Offices, 168, 169.
Potter, Rev. Isaiah, 244.
Potter, Rev. Lyman, 372.
Potter, Sanford, 169, 269.
Powell, Rowland, Jr., 60, 140.
Powers, Thomas E., 161, 162.
Pratt, Lewis, 161, 164.
Pratt, JohnT., 377.
Price, B. D., 255.
Prince, Daniel, 10.
Propagating Lands, 268.
Propagation Society, 268, 364, 266.
Prouty, Burpee, 34, 330.
Queohee Gulph, 163.
486
INDEX.
QueoheeMfg. Co., 118.
Quechee Meeting-house Society, 333.
Quimby, J. M., 256.
Quotoquechee, The, 14.
Railroads, 154-161.
Ransom, Daniel, 137, 208, 305, 388.
Ransom, EUhu, 357.
Ransom, Matthew, 117, 318, 338.
Ray, Rev. B. F., 222, 224, 338.
Raymond, Emmons, 160.
Raymond, Charles S., 162.
Raymond, W. C, 164.
Redington, Daniel, 60.
Renahan, William, 26.
Rice, Gershom, 227.
Rice, JohnL., 287.
Rice, Rev. A. B., 239.
Richards, Chester, 121.
Richards, Rev. Cyi-us S., 250, 393.
Richards, Joel, 204, 383.
Richards, Rev. John, 313, 319, 238, 336.
Richards, Rev. John DeForrest, 250,
397
Richards, Wm. Evart's, 396.
Richardson, Asa, 349.
Richardson, Daniel, 338.
Richardson, Israel, 204.
Richardson, Lester, 360, 351.
Richardson, Thomas, 41, 48, 49.
Rider, Joshua, 357.
Rider, Peter, 399, 306.
Rider, Mrs. Peter, 107.
Ripley, Rev. Sylvanus, 242.
Roberts, Wm. G., 161, 349.
Robinson, Amos, 37, 38, 39, 41, 44, 45,
48, 49, 50, 51, 52,53, 56, 62, 63, 64,69.
73, 74, 75, 140, 183, 305, 357, 378, 274,
Robinson, Eleazer, 41, 47, 48, 49, 50,
140.
Rogers, Rev. John, 224.
Rood, Rev. Heman, 222, 238.
Rosters, Military, 323.
Roundy, John, 60.
Rowe, Rev. E. F., 234.
Rowell, C. C, 348.
Roy, Ebenezer, 385.
Russ, A. B., 291.
Russ, Benjamin, 208, 295.
Russ, Darius, 254.
Buss, Irvin, 167, 269.
Russ, Jeremiah, 84.
Russ, Phineas, 84.
Russ, ShubeU, 23, 219, 237.
Russell, Rev. Gary, 219, 249.
Russell, Josiah, 38.
SaflEord, Henry, 33, 336, 339, 340, 295.
Saflford, Joseph, 89.
Safford, N. B., 28, 183, 169, 281, 291,
Sanborn, Prof. E. D., 394.
Savage, Pi-ancis W., 24, 131, 355.
Savage, George H., 138.
Savage, Harper T., 330.
Savage, Norman, 136.
Savage, Seth, 82.
Savage, Thomas, 48,53, 131, 140.
Savage, Truman H., 254, 291.
Savage, William, 136, 250, 373.
Scales, Wm., 132.
School Districts, 374.
School Money, 283.
School Superintendents', 379.
Searle, Rev. R. T., 339.
Seaver, R. A., 340.
Seelys, Abner, 75.
Selectmen, 294.
Sessions, Darius, 41, 205.
Sessions, John, 95.
Sewall, Rev. Wm., 335, 338.
SheUis, Francis W., 303.
Sheppard, Constance, 230.
Sheppard, Rev. Fayette, 247.
Shepperdson, Wm., 136.
Sherburne, Rev. L. O. , 354.
Sherman, Samuel, 166.
Short, Rev. Silvan, 389.
Shurtlefle, Rev..Roswell, 319, 343.
Silloway, T. W,, 235.-
Simons, Jeduthan, 60.
Simonson, John, 386.
Sisco, E. F., 335.
Sisco, John F., 336.
Skinner, Richard, Gov. Vt., 372.
Slade, WiUiam, 366.
Slapp, John, 75.
Smith, Albert, M. D., 403.
Smith, Rev. Asa D., 339.
Smith, Rev. Bezaleel, 339, 335, 339.
Smith, Charles T., 377. ,
Smith, D. G., 134.
Smith, Rev. Elihu, 338.
Smith, E. K., 138, 139.
Smith, George, 41, 53, 60.
Smith, George T., 318.
Smith, George W., 128, 139, 130.
Smith, Israel, 81.
Smith, Jacob, 149.
Smith, Rev. John, 203, 204, 343.
Smith, Justin, 304.
Smith, Dr. J. L., 353.
Smith, Oramel H. , 154.
Smith, Seth, 73. ■
Smith, Sylvanus, 304, 257, 383.
Smith, Uriah, 257, 259.
Smith, Walter, 307.
Smith, W. F., 330.
Smith, W. T., 187.
Snow, Nathan, 126.
Southgate, Rev. Robert, 234.
Spaulding, Leonard, 94.
Spencer, Hezekiah, 60.
Spencer, Rev. James, 359.
Spencer, John, 301.
Spencer, John, Jr., 9, 10, 30, 60.
Spencer, Timothy, 73.
Spooner, James, 359.
Spooner, Paul, 83, 84, 88.
Sprague, Daniel, 304.
Sprague, Edward P., 391.
INDEX.
487
Sprague, Elkanah, 23, 41, 51, 53, 93.
Sprague, 'Philip, 304.
Sprague, Philo, 13i.
Sprague, Silas, 60.
Stannai-d, Lt.-Col. G. F., 330.
State Officers, 393.
Steamboats, 150.
Steai-ns, O. L., 333.
Stebbins, Derrick, 880.
Stephens, H. O., 336.
Stetson, Royal N., 370.
Stevenson, A. E., 168.
Stevenson, George, 151.
Sterling, Capt. Wm., 386.
Stevens, Elias, 141.
Stevens, Elkanali, 149.
Stevens, Halsey R., 154.
Stevens, Simon, 73, 74, 95.
Stewai-t, Rev. Charles, 366.
Stewart. Wm., 117.
Stiles, Joseph N., 403.
Stoddard, Jesse, 135, 301.
Stockman, E. A., 270.
Stone, Rev. Samuel, 338.
Story, Chief Justice, 267.
Strong, Benajfch, 3, 31, 34, 35, 43, 45,
47, 50, 53, 53, 60, 62, 64, 140.
Strong, Charles H., 398.
Strong, EHjah, 3, 9, 10, 31, 32, 34, 35,
36, 37, 41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 55,
60, 62, 63, 64, 69, 139, 142, 205, 306,
809.
Strong, Jedediah, 60, 125, 126, 296.
Strong, John, 10, 41, 45, 47, 48, 49, 76,
83, 136.
Strong, J. Dwight, 123, 126.
Strong, John P., 119.
Strong, Phineas, 41, 52.
Strong, Widow Ruth, 10, 38, 50, 51, 69.
Strong, Solomon, 34, 35, 36, 37, 41, 43,
44, 47, 49, 50, 51, 53, 53, 60, 63, 63,
64, 139.
Strong, Wm., 33, 93, 393, 298, 349, 359,
378.
Sturtevant, Foster, 133, 134.
Suicides, 199.
Sullivan, Rev. Daniel, 353.
Sullivan, Rev. John L., 154.
Suniner, H. A., 260.
Surveyors of Highways, 140.
Swan, Benjamin, 882.
Taft, Abijah, 33.
Taft, Orrin A., 183, 370.
Taylor, Samuel H., 394.
Taylor, Wilham, 65.
Temple, William, 61.
Tenney, Dr. Charles H., 317, 879, 408.
Tenney, Homer H., 403.
Tenney, Dr. Ira, 34, 337, 408.
Tenney, John, 148.
Tenney, Reuben, 131, 397.
Terrv, Ephraim, 60.
Terry, Samuel, 31, 43, 46, 60.
Terry, Samuel, Jr., 60.
TewJcsbury, Oliver, 350.
Thomas, Harvey, 33, 360.
Thomas, Nathaniel, 33, 360.
Thompson, Charles E., 183.
Thompson, Mary O., 133.
Thompson, S. S., 163, 164.
Throope, Nathaniel, 87.
Thurston, Charles H., 137, 330.
Thv/rston, Rev. D. L., 250.
Thurston, Stephen, 34.
Tichenor, Isaac, Gov. Vt., 272.
Tilden, Asa, 144.
TUden, Byron. 128.
Tilden, Joel, 131.
Tilden, Josiah, 11, 23, 39, 53, 83, 136,
278' 279
Tilden, Josiah T., 388.
Tilden, Lucius W., 122.
Tilden, Norman, 136.
Tilden, Parthenia, 38, 113.
Tilden, Samuel, 373.
TUden, Stephen, 11, 38, 41, 48, 49, 50,
51, 53, 54, 56, 69, 76, 84, 93, 94, 95,
131, 139, 293, 309, 337. ■
Tilden, Stephen, Jr., 87, 40, 54, 60, 84,
118, 140.
Tinker, Henry E., 155, 254.
Tinkham, Charles, 23, 260.
Toby, Capt. Joshua, 355.
Tomb, 197.
Town Clerks, 393.
Town Representatives, 297.
Town Treasurers, 398.
Towne, Rev. Josiah, 347.
l^acy, Andrew, 33, 41, 53, 82, 84, 206,
292, 880, 405.
Tracy, Rev. A. E., 391.
Tracy, Columbus, 126.
Tracy, Rev. Ebenzer C, 250, 351, 388.
Tracy, Ira C, 318, 250; 890.
Tracy, James, 87, 39, 53, 215, 305.
Ti-acy, John, 121, 126.
Tracy, Joseph, 140, 218.
Tracy, Rev. Joseph, 350, 387.
Tracy, Rev. Miron, 350.
Tracy, Prince, 4, 6, 9, 27, 80, 81, 36, 40,
41, 42, 48, 45, 46, 47, 59, 60, 61, 62,
63, 64, 66, 70, 74, 139, 140, 172.
Tracy, Samuel, 213, 219, 220, 221, 225,
249.
Tracy, Thomas, 8, 41 43, 53, 60, 307.
Trumbull, David, 33, 133.
Trumbull, Guy, 128.
Tiyon, Stephen, 304.
Tryon, Wm., Gov. N. Y., 66.
Tuck, Amos, 394.
Tucker, Alba M., 24, 883.
Tucker, Alvan, 34, 137, 381, 848.
Tucker, Charles A., 403.
Tucker, Laban, 36.
Tucker, Samuel B., 155, 3'31, 348.
Tucker, W. Howard, 348.
Turner, Elizabeth, lijl.
Turner, Isaac, 204, 253.
Tuttle, Caleb, 122.
Tyler, Rev. Bennett, LL. D., 346, 347.
Tyler, Samuel, 118.
488
INDEX.
Udall, Baiii, 23, 305, 318, 379, 349.
Udall, George, 349, 351.
Udall, James, 33, 393, 339.
Udall, Jolin, 183, 184.
UdaU, Lionel, 33, 41, 47, 48, 377.
Udall, Oliver, 306.
Udall, Samuel, 41, 50, 51, 70, 183, 306.
Udall, WiUiam, 83.
United Brethren Lodge, (21), 309, 370,
376.
Vt. Agricultural Society, 39.
Vt. Central Railroad, 17, 18.
Vt. Clu-onicle, The, 388.
Vt. Journal, The, 35, 138.
Van Ornum, A. J., 134.
Van Ornum, John, 134.
Vincent, Rev. S. L., 239.
Vose, John, 397.
Wade, Benjamin, 363.
Wade, James, 34, 137.
Wait, Benjamin, 73.
Waldow, Nathan, 60.
Wales, George E., 31, 33, 147, 315, 316,
383, 393, 380, 384, 405.
Walton, E. P., 154, 168.
Ward, Josiah, 386.
War Records, 318.
Ware 1.
Warner,' Daniel, 61, 63, 64, 66.
Warner, Nathaniel, 60.
Warner, Col. Seth, 77, 79, 86.
Warren, Gideon, 85.
Warriner, Nathan, 45.
Washburn, Rev. A. C, 337, 347, 387.
Washburn, P. T., Gov. Vt., 163, 330,
333, 359, 383.
Washington, George, Prest. U. 8., 79.
Watchman, The Vt., 154.
Water Quechee, The, 9, 10, 14, 144.
Watkins, Rev. R. A., 319, 328, 233.
Watson, E. C, 134.
Webster, Daniel, 267, 380, 385.
Webster, David, 356.
Webster, John, 370.
Webster, Samuel, 41, 51, 53.
Weed, Mrs. Harriet, 355.
Wellington, Rev. Horace, 239, 333.
Wells, Eleazer, 353.
Wells, Samuel, 143.
Wentworth, Beuuiag, Gov. N. H., 1,
3, 3, 39, 54, 56, 373.
Wentworth, Samuel, 61, 63, 64, 66.
West, Henry, 36.
West, Moses H., 276.
Wheeler, Frank, 34, 348.
Wheeler, N. P., 351.
Wheeler, Zacchrus, 137.
Wheelock, Eleazer, D. D., 242.
Wheelock, Rev. James R., 347, 388.
Wheelock,. John, 133.
White Falls, The, 39.
White, Jonathan C, 142.
White, Rev. Joseph, 388.
White, N. W., 317. 810.
White River Bridge Co., 146.
White River Falls, 2.
White River Falls Co., 133, 134.
White River Mill Co., 136.
White River Turnpike Co., 141.
Whitcomb, David, 304.
Whiting, Col. Henrv, 330.
Whitman, C. R., 335.
Whitmore, Gordon, 133.
Whitney, Benjamin, 6, 60, 135.
Whitney, Ebenezer, 137,
Whitney, Jonathan, 208, 311, 335.
Whitney, Peter, 127.
Whittaker, Rev. James B., 253.
Whitton, S. J., 133.
Wight, Joshua, 40, 60.
Willard, Aaron, 134,
WiUard, Oliver, 49, 55, 56, 58, 61, 63,
66.
Williams, Channing, 35.
WiUiams, Elias, 360.
WiUiams, Isaac, 185.
Williams, John P., 351.
WilUams, Joseph, 79.
WiUiams, J. H., 161.
WiUiams, Norman, 354, 377, 883.
WiUiams, Samuel, 30, 4», 60.
WUUams, Dr., 80.
WUliamson, A. E., 348.
Williamson, Frances, 36.
Wills, Orvis, 13.
WUls, Reuben, 34, 131.
Wilmot, M. H., 370.
WUson, David, 34, 137.
WUson, Elias, 135.
Wilson, Putnam, 376, 307.
Winchester, David D., 118.
Wolfe, A. H., 138.
Wood, Rev. Hemy, 245, 349.
Wood, James, 126.
Wood, Jolin, 80.
Wood, Rev. Luke, 337.
Wood, Ora, 331, 335.
Wood, Dea. Samuel, 338.
Woodbury, Albert, 5.,
Woodbury, Rev. Fi-ank, 296.
Woodman, T. C, 384.
Woodvrard, Beza, 55.
Woodvsrard, David, 75.
Woodward, Rev. Jas. W., 214, 247.
Woodward, W. H., 246.
Worcester, Dr., 248.
Wright, Amasa, 56.
Wright, Austin H., 250, 392.
Wright, Benjamin, 11, 83, 33, 84, 37
38, 41, 43, 44, 47, 49, 52, 60, 63, 63,
64, 69, 73, 78.
Wright, Benjamin, Jr., 49, 50, 60,
121, 140.
Wright, David, 34, 49, 51, 107, 136,
167, 306, 313, 274.
Wright, EUsha, 3, 6, 60, 131.
Wright, Ephriam, 45.
Wright, John, 338.
Wright, Jonathan, 89.,,
Wright, Rev. Worthin^a,-219.
Wright, Zadock, 62, 63, 64, 84.
Yongs, WiUiam, 60.
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