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Full text of "History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911"

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JOMATHAN  BROWN  BRIGHT 


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HINRT  BRIGHT,  JR., 
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ROY  ALTON,    VERMONT    J^^ 

WITH 

FAMILY    GENEALOGIES 
1769-1911 

BT 

EVELYN   M.    WOOD   LOVEJOY 


Publlahed  by  th«  Town  and  Th«  Royaltoa  Woman's  Glnb 


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BOBUNQTOII,   Vebmont 

1911 


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COPTBIGHT,  1911 


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EVELYN  M.  W.  LOVEJOT 


able  assistant,  Mr.  E.  M.  Goddard,  who  is  also  librarian  for  the  Vermont 
Historical  Association.  To  the  Dominion  Archivist  at  Ottawa,  Canada, 
I  am  deeply  indebted  for  information  relating  to  the  Indian  Raid  on 
Rojralton,  October  16,  1780,  and  to  the  State  Librarians  at  Concord, 
N.  H.,  and  Albany,  N.  T.,  for  permission  to  examine  manuscripts  and 
papers  not  accessible  elscrwhere.  llie  offices  of  the  Secretary  of  State 
at  Montpelier  and  at  Albany,  N.  T.,  were  freely  open  to  me,  and  all 
needed  assistance  promptly  and  cheerfully  rendered.  The  Pension  and 
Post  Office  Departments  at  Washington,  D.  C,  responded  conrteously 
to  calls  for  information.  The  lack  of  data  r^arding  early  fiimilies  in 
town  was  in  a  measure  supplied  through  the  kindness  of  the  Hon.  T.  O. 
Seaver,  Judge  of  Probate,  Woodstock,  to  whose  records  I  was  giyen 
free  access. 

It  is  impossible  to  name  all  who  have  aided  me  in  the  preparation 
of  the  Histmy.  Credit  is  given  to  some  in  the  body  of  the  book.  Others 
who  must  be  mentioned  are  the  Royalton  Woman's  Club,  whose  mem- 
bers have  been  enthusiastic  in  gathering  material,  and  otherwise  ad- 
vancing the  interests  of  the  undertaking,  Gardner  Oox,  M.  D.,  of 
Holyoke,  Mass.,  whose  contributions  to  the  history  of  Royalton  Fort 
and  the  genealogical  portion  ot  the  book  are  invaluable,  to  Eugene  S. 
Rolfe,  Boston,  who  turned  over  to  me  his  collection  of  matter  pertain- 
ing to  the  early  history  of  Royalton  and  Tunbridge,  to  Jay  Read  Pem- 
ber.  Clerk  of  the  County  Court,  Woodstock,  to  Guy  Rix,  Genealogist, 
Concord,  N.  H.,  to  Miss  Mary  Jameson,  Chicago,  William  W.  Culver, 
Lebanon,  N.  H.,  George  H.  Harvey,  Woodstock,  Miss  Ruth  Tracy, 
Beverly,  Mass.,  Miss  Laura  Lincoln,  and  Mrs.  George  Taggart,  who 
voluntarily  gathered  the  data  for  several  families,  and  to  others  too 
numerous  to  mention.  I  am  peculiarly  indebted  to  Lyman  S.  Hayes, 
Bellows  BYUls,  the  Historian  of  Rockingham,  for  advice  and  counsel, 
and  to  the  donor  who  set  the  ball  rolling,  for  words  of  encouragement 
which  have  brightened  many  an  hour  of  hard  labor. 

Dr.  Janette  E.  Freeman's  contribution  to  the  Freeman  record 
should  be  noticed,  and  the  assistance  received  from  numerous  genealo- 
gies, especially  those  of  the  Clark,  Cleveland,  Dewey,  Fowler,  Rix,  and 
Wlaldo  families. 

I  have  not  thought  best  to  mar  the  appearance  of  the  pages  of  this 
book,  and  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  general  reader  by  frequent 
references  to  the  authorities  from  which  data  have  been  culled.  Our 
earliest  town  records  are  not  in  shape  to  be  examined,  except  with  the 
utmost  care.  They  are  on  loose  sheets  in  many  instances,  worn  and  de- 
faced. The  volumes  containing  the  early  town  records  are  not  dis- 
tinguished by  any  distinctive  mark,  and  in  one  instance  are  not  paged, 
llie  land  records  are  better  preserved,  and  are  distinguished  by  letters 
of  the  alphabet. 

"Why  did  your  town  want  a  History?"  was  a  question  asked  by  an 
outsider  during  the  past  year,  llie  reply  was,  "Because  it  has  loyal 
sons  and  daughters  who  are  still  interested  in  it,  though  living  for 
many  years  outside  its  limits,  and  because  it  is  one  of  the  most  pro- 
gressive, up-toHiate  towns  in  the  State  of  Vermont" 

A  brief  account  of  the  inception  of  the  History  and  Genealogy, 
and  of  the  action  subsequent  to  the  first  proposition  for  such  a  work 
may  be  of  interest  to  some.  The  publication  of  the  History  is  due,  first 
of  all,  to  the  Royalton  Woman's  Club.  It  was  the  active,  successful 
search  for  matter  connected  with  the  early  settlement  of  the  town  by 
members  of  this  club  that  arrested  the  attention  of  one  of  the  sons  of 
Rojralton,  who  has  retained  his  love  for  his  native  town,  and  his  in- 
terest in  its  welfare.  This  was  the  son  of  Elisha  Wild,  Daniel  G.  Wild, 
Esq.,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  who  offered  to  give  $500  towards  a  History  of 


yiii  Pbdpaci 

absolutely  neceflsary  to  obtain  a  certain  number  of  subscribers  in  order 
to  insure  the  success  of  the  undertaking.  As  our  home  list  increased, 
and  the  white  messengers  containing  the  indiyidual  pledges  came  in 
from  hearts  warm  with  tender  memories  of  the  "dear  old  town,"  the 
anxious  strain  of  weeks  gave  place  to  rejoicing  over  the  bright  prospect 
To  these  my  own  heart  goes  out  in  gratitude  and  thankfulness.  A  re- 
cent appeal  for  prepaid  subscriptions  to  enaUe  the  Association  to  meet 
its  printing  bills  was  equally  successful,  and  those  so  kindly  req;K>nding 
will  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  they  materially  hastened 
the  completion  of  the  work,  and  lessened  the  lal)or  att^idant  thereupon. 

In  selecting  the  Free  Press  of  Burlington  to  print  the  book,  and 
the  Empire  Oompany  of  Albany  to  make  the  cuts,  the  Association  was 
confident  that  the  woricmanship  would  be  creditable  to  the  town  and 
satisfactory  to  subscribers.  The  photognM^hers  furnishing  most  of  the 
pictures  were  I.  L.  Welcome  of  South  Royalton,  W.  B.  Graham  now 
of  Burlington,  Mrs.  Ada  L.  BCiUer  of  South  Royalton,  and  Oonant  and 
Conant  of  Randoli^  Ceo^r. 

llie  History  of  Royalton  is  now  offered  to  the  public  with  the  hope 
that,  whatever  faults  it  lias,  they  will  not  be  held  so  near  the  eye  as  to 
obstruct  the  view  of  any  good  it  may  contain. 

BVBLYN  M.  W.  LOVB  JOY. 

South  Royalton,  Vermont,  August  15, 1911. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Dr.  Crrw  B.  Dnk» FYontimlaM 

Chart  €t  nutltloa  oTlmd Cftdnc     tt 


Wort  DtAsaoe  at  Barnaid,  ino  . 

Zadoek  Steeto fadng  lit 

Buintac  tt  Bti^aUaa  futng  117 

The  Bacnam  Haadov  ta  Bt^alfan futac  IM 

Sttac*  tta  Indian  Bmampmant  In  Tnnbridia fudng  lU 

Tbe  a«Ilr  on  EQItaldek  FanlMr^  RaM  oCDaath facing  lU 

BXUmof^t  01daaTlnHr> taelng  144 

SobQi  TonlirMBw    Biglnfilng  of  Indian  Bald tadng  14B 

Mmvut  Hill.  BalU.  1781 btdng  14& 

Mra.  Janulia  <Blz)  ffiibddnaon  (adns  ISO 

Oaona  Atmt.  Ttken  PflaoMr  In  Shann  faclns  160 

Hn.  Lnor  (neree)  FaAbnnt  facing  ISO 

nuneaa  Pukliant,  H.  D.  tmcAag  ISO 

Amp  of  Ballca  faelng  161 

(Hd   reaper   Hoom   eudng  161 

•■Gnat  BrldgeT'  Ltrttorr  Ttdut  facing  ISi 

HmnnMnt  OomaHmantbis  tha  Boning  of  BOTaltoa facing  ITS 

Smnlel  Q.  Wild.  Bk- ftulng  179 

UnTelliBg  of  tlw  "Indian  Hannment"  fadng  18S 

Hn.  Franoea  (HttrtU)  Jolnnr fhcing  183 

First  Oongre^donal  CShnieb,  tUjuUoa  facing  244 

Town  ClmlO  Offloe,  Boyaltoa  fadng  244 

Kallmad  ftldgo,  BtvaUon  fadng  S46 

Railroad  Depot,  Rojalton  facing  246 

Site  Of  Stenna  Brldgo  and  Handf  Fordwar being  272 

First  Bridge  at  Sooth  RoTtlton  across  White  Blvar Cuilng  273 

U^of  School  Dlatriots,  UO  fadng  816 

H.  EL  <%Drch.  Sooth  Bojaltaii  being  S20 

Rt^alton  Academy,  Chartered  1807 facing  320 

Old  SchoolhoDse  In  District  17 facing  321 

South  Ror&lton  Qraded  Scboid  Bolldlng  facing  321 

JoBOpb  Tracy,  Jr.  facing  330 

SylTanns   Bates  ' facing  330 

John  IngereoU  Gilbert  facing  330 

Samael  Ward  Boardman facing  330 

Bdvard    Joseph   Hallock    fadng  330 

Edward   Conant   fadng  330 

Charlea  Noym  Cbaae   facing  331 

lire.  E>dya  M.  Lorejoy   facing  331 

Sidney  Mnnaon  H&rrlB   facing  331 

William  B.  Herrlck   facing  331 

lira.  Ellen  Lee  Steams  facing  331 

Hlas  Fannie  Eastman   facing  331 

Charles  L.  Cnrtls  fadng  331 

Facsimile  Signatures  of  Early  Settlers facing  370 

South  Royalton  Cemetery    fadng  371 

Burial  Place  of  Rev.  John  Searie facing  371 

Burial  Place  of  Oen.  Ellas  Sterens  and  Wife fadug  371 

Old  Sharon  Cemetary  fadng  371 

Burial  Place  of  Rot.  Martin  TuUar  facing  371 

Burial  Place  of  Thomas  Pember  fadng  371 

Bona]  Place  of  Peter  Button  fadng  371 

Burial  Place  of  Zebnlon  Ij on  and  Wife facing  371 

"Sonth   Royalton  Boum"    fadng  384 

Harvey   Haien    Woodard    fadng  384 


Illustbations 


Charles  Henry  Woodard   facing  384 

The  Old  Fox  Tavern   facing  385 

"Cascadnac"  Hotel  and  the  "Brick  Store" facing  385 

Percival  Furniture  Factory  facing  400 

The  Old  Treacott  Mill   facing  401 

Site  of  the  Curtis-Morgan  Mill  facing  401 

The  Hewitt  New  Orain  Mill  and  EHeyator lacing  424 

Childhood  Home  of  Rev.  Martin  TuUar facing  424 

BCartin  HooBe  on  Site  of  Pierce  TaTem facing  424 

Home  of  Dr.  Dana  K.  Dearing facing  424 

The  Gen.  Elias  Stevens  Hoose facing  424 

George  Oowdery  House  on  the  First-settled  Farm lacing  424 

Old  Academy,  Now  the  Town  Hall facing  424 

South  Royalton  after  the  I^rst  Fire,  1878 facing  425 

New  Ircm  Bridge,  South  Royalton,  1903 facing  425 

South  Royalton  Congregational  Church  facing  482 

Rev.  Henry  Bfartin  Goddard facing  482 

Rev.  James  Ramage  facing  482 

Rev.  Sidney  K.  B.  Perkins facing  482 

Rev.  Sherman  Goodwin facing  482 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Sprague facing  483 

St.  Paul's  E«piscopal  Church,  Royalton facing  483 

South  Royalton  Bank  Note  facing  502 

The  Bank  of  Royalton  Bank  Note facing  502 

James  Spenc^*  Moore facing  503 

Phineas  D.  Pierce  facing  503 

Asa  W.  Kenney facing  503 

David  Wickam  Cowdery  facing  503 

Arthur  Gilbert  Whitham  facing  534 

Herbert  Chancellor  Sm-gent   facing  534 

Dana  E.  Dearing,  D.  M.  D facing  534 

Arthur  A.  Abbott  facing  534 

Sample  of  Early  Land  Record facing  535 

Samuel  Parkman  Danforth,  M.  D facing  544 

Edgar  John  Fish,  M.  D facing  544 

Jos.  A.  Denison,  M.  D facing  545 

Henry  Harrison  Whitcomb,  M.  D facing  552 

Daniel  Webster  Lovejoy,  M.  D facing  552 

James  El  Morse,  M.  D facing  552 

David  Comstock  Moore,  M.  D facing  552 

Levi  Rix,  M.  D facing  552 

Oliver  Justin  Ellis,  M.  D. facing  553 

William  H.  Gerrish,  M.  D facing  553 

Frank  GiUis  Mills,  M.  D facing  553 

Daniel  Lillie  Burnett,  M.  D facing  553 

Clayton  Philemcm  House.  M.  D.  facing  553 

Arthur  Brown  Bisbee,  M.  D facing  553 

WiUiam  Lincoln  Paine,  M.  D lacing  553 

The  Beginning  of  South  Royalton   facing  566 

Mrs.  Rebecca  (Dickerman)  Tarbell facing  567 

Charles  P.  Tarbell facing  567 

Daniel  Tarbell,  Jr facing  567 

Luke  Tarbell  facing  567 

South  Royalton  after  the  Fire  of  1886  facing  572 

South  Royalton  in  the  1870's facing  573 

Map  of  Royalton  Village  and  South  Royalton facing  576 

Royalton  Village  and  the  "Pinnacle" facing  602 

Miss  Sarah  C.  Doubleday  facing  603 


Iu;dbtbjitiohs 


Hn.  Laura  (Chapbi)   Dutttn  facing 

urn  GeKrnde  May  Deoiaon tttcing 

Hn.  Oertmde  s.  (Jodbb)  LAlrd  lacing 

WlUlAm  Mortimer  Sargent  facing 

liswls  Cms  Dicbennan facing 

Hark  John  Sargent  facing 

Anson  Perkins  Skinner  facing 

Bniest  John   Hewitt       facing 

William  Henry  Sargent  facing 

John  Harvey  Hewitt  facing 

Uarrlti  H.  Hozen facing 

Tlie  Block,  Sontb  Royaltcxi  facing 

Old  Time  Picnic facing 

Veteran  Reunion.  1909    facing 

Announcement  of  Dedication  Ball  at  Woodard's  Hotel facing 

Arrival  ot  Roosevelt.  Aug.  30.  1602 facing 

RooeeTeit  Alighting  to  Hake  a  Speech  facing 

Vermont    AdviKaCe    facing 

Bam  on  Timothy  Durkee  Ihnn.  1780 facing 

Kettlee  Left  at  Indian  Bncampment,  RandoliAi ftuilng 

AtsoD    Lattaam         facing 

William  H.  Sallord  facing 

Mrs.  Sally  (Cole)  Latham  ftclng 

Alden  Crufl  Latham,  M.  D facing 

Beniamln  Franklin  Bosworth  facing 

Benjamin  Cole  Latham      ftcing 

Mrs,  Betsev  Bates  (Poole)  Pike  facing 


Hra.  Abbie  Taylor  (Bancroft)  DaafOrtli  facing    631 

Mra.  Jannette  S.  (Lyman)  BIgelov  ,  


l£n.   Hannah    (Curtlse)    Benson    facing 


Mra.  Sarah     Houston     Haynes  . 

Mra.  Phebe  Caiaon     Durkee     Latham    , 

Mrs.  Hary  Jane  (Gee)  Davla 

Ira  CnrtlsB    

Hias  Lucy  Skinner   

Mrs.  Haria  D.    (Clapp)    McCulkwgh   

Rulus  Batley  Cloud      

Mrs.  Betsey  (Curtlsa    Davis 

William  Rollln  Shlpmaa  

Frederick  BlUlngs  

Truman   Henry    Sallord 

Jacob   Collamer   , 

Frederick  Vose  Marcy  

Judge  Robert  E.  DeForest  

Jndge  John  Sullivan  Marcy  

Henry  SulllYaa  Marcy  

Birthplace  of  Joseph  Smith  , 

Joseph  Smith  Monument 

Dea.  Martin  Skinner  Adams 

Forrest   Adams 

David  Clark  Steams  

Dea.  John  B.  Durkee 

John  F.  Shepard   , 

James  Pike,  Jr , 

William  HajTlaon  Martin  

Mra  ElYlra   (Tucker)   Atwood  


racing 
Facing 

Facing 

racing 

'acing 
racing 
'acing 
Facing 

Facing 

Facing 
Facing 
Facing 
'acing 
'adng 

'acing 
'acing 

lacing 

facing 


Jdi  ILLUSTRATIOITS 

Elbenezer  Atwood facing  662 

Oliver  Augustine  Atwood  facing  663 

Lucia  Blylra  Atwood facing  663 

Thomas  Hammond  Atwood  facing  663 

Myron  Winslow  Atwood  facing  663 

Eaizabeth  Penn  Atwood facing  663 

Charles  Atwood   facing  663 

Nancy  Ann  Atwood fteing  663 

Charles  Morris  Lamb   f^tcing  676 

Ljrman  Benson   facing  676 

George  W.  Bradstreet facing  677 

Benjamin  Bloss   facing '  690 

Richard  Dana  Bloss.  M.  D facing  690 

Richard  Bless,  Bl  D f&cing  690 

Jabec  Parkhurst  Bloes,  M.  D facing  690 

Storrs  Lee  Howe  f^ing  691 

Norman  Francis  Howe  facing  691 

Mrs.  Mary  Jacobs  (Ljrman)  Howe facing  691 

Lyman  Howe fftcing  691 

Mrs.  Eliza  (Skinner)  Denison facing  752 

Old  Denison  House  facing  752 

Dudley  Chase  Denis<Hi   facing  753 

J.  D.  Denison facing  753 

Gamer  Rlx  Dewey  fiscing  762 

Darius  Dewey,  Jr f&cing  762 

Full  View  of  South  Royalton  from  the  Southwest facing  763 

Mrs.  Altha  (Hazen)  Dutton facing  776 

David  Hazen  Dutton  facing  776 

Henry  Walbrldge  Dutton  facing  776 

Capt  Amasa  Dutton facing  776 

Mrs.  Harriet  Diana  (Walbrldge)  Dutton fftcing  776 

Mrs.  Abbie  C.  (Dutton)  Kidder facing  776 

Mrs.  Altha  L.  (Dutton)  Hyde facing  776 

Mrs.  Laura  Anne  (Duttcm)  Dodge  facing  776 

Mrs.  Susan  (Putnam)  Bowman facing  777 

John  Bliss   facing  777 

Phineas  Stevens  facing  777 

Asahel  Clark  facing  777 

John  Lindley  Bowman facing  777 

George  Lyman facing  777 

TTie  Robinson-Lovejoy  House  facing  860 

Charles  Dodge  Lovejoy facing  860 

Ontury  Elm  Facing  Lovejoy  House facing  860 

Mrs.  Lorenza  (Havens)  Lovofjoy  facing  860 

Thomas  Lovejoy facing  860 

Mark  Henry  Lovejoy facing  860 

CJharles  Dodge  Lovejoy  facing  860 

Mrs.  Pattie  (Famham)  Ljnnan  facing  861 

Storrs  Lee  Lyman facing  861 

Mrs.  Abig^l  (Woodbury)  Lyman  facing  861 

Ellas  L3rman  facing  861 

Daniel  Lee  Lyman,  M.  D teeing  861 

Jabez  Lyman,  Jr facing  861 

Mrs.  Sarah  (Webster)  Metcalf facing  896 

Mrs.  Polly  (Gilford)  Kimball facing  896 

Paul  CTlark  facing  896 

John  Gillette  facing  896 

John  Hammond  Metcalf  facing  896 


ABBREVIATIONS. 


And. — Andoyer. 
b. — ^bom. 
Bar. — Barnard. 
Imr. — buried, 
cav. — cayalry. 


ch. — child,  children. 

colL — college. 

com. — committee,  commissioned. 

Consenr. — Gonserratory. 

C.  V.  R.  R. — Central  Vermont  Rail- 

roa4. 
d.— died. 

D. — Dutch  Allotment 
Dart — ^Dartmouth, 
dan.— daughter, 
en. — enlisted. 

gr.  sch. — grammar  school, 
grad. — graduate,  graduated, 
inf. — infantry. 
L*.  A. — ^Large  Allotment 
M.~Middle. 


m. — ^married. 

Med. — ^MedicaL 

Nat — ^NationaL 

Nor. — ^Norwich. 

prls. — prisoner. 

Rand. — ^Randolph. 

regt — ^regiment 

rem.— —removed. 

res. — ^resides,  resided,  residence. 

ret — ^returned. 

Roy. — ^Royalton. 

Sem. — Seminary. 

Surg. — Surgeon. 

Theo. — ^Theological. 

T.  P.— Town  Plot 

Tunb. — Tunbridge. 

Uniy. — ^Uniyersity. 

unm. — unmarried. 

U.  V.  IL — ^Uniyersity  of  Vermont 

V.  R.  C. — ^Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

wld. — ^widow. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTBR  I. 

ROTALTON. 

Location — ^Topography — Fauna — Flora  1 

CHAPTBR  II. 

ROTALTON  ChABTEBS. 

Deed  of  partition — New  York  Cfliartei^— Vermont  Charter— New 
Hampshire  Charter 10 

CHAPTEai  III. 

Pbofbietobs'  Recobds. 

First  recorded  meeting,  1781 — ^Method  of  allotment — Original 
grantees  and  lots  held— Cost  of  Vermont  Charter — ^"Afteir- 
divisions"— Pitches  established  18 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Contest  Ovxb  the  New  Hampshibe  Gbants. 

Grants  by  Got.  Wentworth — Claims  of  New  York  and  Massachu- 
setts— The  "Bennington  Mob" — Independence  of  the  Grants 
declared — ^Royalton  records  relating  to  the  controversy — Action 
of  Congress — Agreement  with  New  York — Admission  to  the 
Union    29 

CHAPTE3R  V. 

Counties. 

First  county  in  the  Grants — Other  counties — First  division  by  Ver- 
mont— Division  of  Cumberland  county — Attempts  to  change  the 
boundary  of  Windsor  county — Royalton's  action  in  the  matter. .     38 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Boundaries. 

Tx>ss  of  territory  by  Bethel  charter  and  surveys — Petitions  for 
changes — New  surveys  and  agreements  with  Sharon  and  Bethel 
— Tunbridge  Gore — Attempts  to  form  a  new  town — Boundary 
of  Royalton  village    43 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Earliest  Settlers. 

Settlement  of  Sharon — Joel  Shepard's  narrative — Sketches  of  men 
coming  to  Royalton  before  the  Indian  raid — Census  of  1790 58 


Xri  OONTKNTS 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Eablt  Manxebs  and  Customs. 

Husking  parties,  ai>ple  parings,  and  quiltings— Poarth  of  July 
observances— Sabbath  attendance — Outdoor  sports— Training  of 
chUdren T7 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Rotai;toit  Fobt. 

Extract  from  I>r.  Gardner  Cox's  narratiye — Provision  for  building 
the  Port— Capt  David  Woodward's  Company — Liocation  of  the 
Port— Building  of  Forts  Defiance  and  Fortitude 87 

CHAPTER  X. 

Revolutionabt  Affaibs. 

Importance  of  the  New  Hampshire  Grants  as  a  frontier — "Green 
Mountain  Boys" — ^Raising  of  men  in  1776 — ^Protection  of  the 
frontier — ^The  Rangers — Board  of  War — ^Wheelock's  corps — 
Zebulon  Lycm's  Co. — Situation  in  1777 — ^Royalton  record- 
Indian  raid    97 

CHAPTER  XI. 

ZaDOCK   STTEU5*8  NaBBATIVX  of  the  BUBNING  of  ROYAL.TON. 


Attack  of  the  savages  at  Robert  Havens'  and  John  Hutchinson'f 
Course  down  the  branch  and  river — ^Shooting  of  Phineas  Park- 
hurst — Heroism  of  Mrs.  Hendee — ^Pursuit  of  the  Indians 116 

CHAPTER  XII. 

The  Bubnino  of  Royaltox. 

Motive  for  attack — Records  at  Ottawa — Sources  of  information — 
Hutchinson  and  Havens  families — Course  of  the  Indians — 
Families  on  the  west  or  south  side  of  the  river — ^Narrative  of 
a  prisoner,  George  Avery — Heroism  of  Phineas  Parkhurst — 
Families  on  the  east  or  north  side  of  the  river — ^The  heroine, 
Mrs.  Handy — ^Pursuit  of  the  Indians — ^Troops  sent  to  Royalton — 
Jonathan  Carpenter's  diary — Randolph  sufferers — Family  tra- 
ditions— ^Anniversaries — Indian   Monument    138 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

HiSTOBY  OF  THE  CHABTEBS. 

The  petition — The  five  who  controlled  the  land — ^The  allotment  of 
each — Organization  of  the  town — ^History  of  the  Vermont  grant 
of  Royalton — Sketches  of  the  New  York  grantees 183 


T-r-.r'- 


'■Sf^'iK. 


Contents  xvii 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Ecclesiastical  Histobt. 

The  first  church— Union  of  Royalton  and  Sharon  in  supporting  a 
minister— First  church  record  in  Royalton — First  sermon  in 
Royalton— Futile  efforts  to  secure  a  minister— First  pastor — 
The  minister's  lot— Pastorates  of  the  Rev.  Azel  Washhum  and 
Rev.  Martin  Tullaj>~Short  pastorates— Call  to  Rev.  Asahel  C. 
Washburn — Pastorate  of  Dr.  C.  B.  Drake— SuppliecH-Pastorate 
of  Dr.  S.  W.  Dike— Supplies  of  recent  years 193 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Gbowth  and  Pouty  of  the  Fibst  Conqbbgational  Chuboh. 

Earliest  records — Increase  in  membership— Dissidents — ^The  Sab- 
bath school  and  its  Home  Department — Church  doctrines — 
Church  discipline— Deacons — ^Missions  and  Societies — ^Royalton 
Association — Officers  of  the  church  and  society 218 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
The  Fibst  Mebting-House. 

Lieut.  Lyon's  building — The  meeting-house  of  1790-91 — The  new 
house  of  1840 236 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
Roads. 

First  record  relating  to  roads — Division  into  highway  districts — 
Taxation  for  roads — First  recorded  survey — Change  In  the  First 
Branch  road — ^Authentication  of  roads — New  roads  and  surveys 
previous  to  1800 — The  county  road  and  others  previous  to  the 
building  of  the  railroad — Court's  Commission  of  1849 — Changes 
in  roads — Court's  committees  of  1835  and  1868 — More  recent 
surveys — Abolishment  of  highway  districts — Turnpikes — Ford- 
ways  245 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Bbidges. 

Building  of  smaller  bridgesr— First  bridge  across  White  river — 
Rebuilding  of  branch  bridges — Second  bridge  over  White  river 
—The  lottery — Bridge  at  Foxvllle,  or  N.  Royalton — South  Royal- 
ton river  bridge  266 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
Educational  Matters. 

First  division  Into  districts — Division  of  1795 — Trustees — District 
records — Means  of  supporting  schools — Abolition  of  the  district 
system — South  Royalton  graded  school — Teachers  of  the  town — 
Superintendents — ^Table  to  accompany  Map  of  School  Districts.  283 

CHAPTER  XX. 
Royalton  Academy. 

The  charter — Principals — Burning  of  the  academy  building — Union 
with  the  town  high  school — ^Last  graduation — Records  of  stu- 
dents— College  record  317 


Xyiii  OOITTBNTS 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

MATTE3S8  Relating  to  Town  Mestings. 

Officers — ^Plaoe  of  meetings — Manner  of  oonducting  meetings — 
Town  records — Town  by-laws — ^Lists  of  selectmen  and  town  rep- 
resentaUves  346 

CHAPTBR  XXII. 

The  Town's  Poor. 

Auctioneering  the  poor — Overseers — Purchase  of  a  town  farm — 
Leasing  of  the  town  farm  360 

CHAPTBR  XXIII. 


ESarliest  burials — First  action  by  the  town — Establishment  of  the 
different   cemeteries — Cemetery   associations — ^Naming  of   the 
cemeteries 371 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 


First  innkeepers— Owners  of  the  "Cascadnac" — ^The  Gilbert-Pierce 
stand — ^The  Fox  tayem — ^The  "South  Royalton  House" — ^Tlie 
"Central   Vermont  House"— "Brightwood"    379 

CHAPTBR  XXV. 

Post-Offices  and  Post-Roads. 

First  poet-route  in  Vermont — Postmasters  in  Royalton  and  South 
Royalton — ^Rural  Delivery — Stage  routes — ^Rivalry  of  stage 
drivers 386 

CHAPTBR  XXVI. 

The  Industries  of  the  Town. 

Saw  and  grist  mills — Bfanufacture  of  potash  and  pearlash — Cider 
mills  and  distilleries — ^Tanneries — Shoemakers — South  Royalton 
and  White  River  Shoe  companies — Blacksmiths — Creameries 
— ^Farm  products — ^Telephone  lines — ^Dressmakers,  milliners, 
and  tailors  397 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

The  General  Miutia. 

State  of  the  militia  previous  to  the  Revolution  and  at  its  close — 
A  muster  day  at  Woodstock — ^Equipment  of  militiamen — Legis- 
lation regarding  the  militiar— List  of  officers  connected  with 
Royalton— War  of  1812 — Stationing  of  the  militia— Controversy 
over  commanding  officers— Capt  Bingham's  Co.  428 


CJONTEWTS 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

ROTALTON  IN  THE  CiVIL  WaB. 

Soldier's  Aid  Society — Bounties  paid — ^Brief  history  of  regimei^ts — 
Roster  of  men  sent  out  by  Royalton — ^Royalton  pensioners, 
1911    443 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
Thk  BIethodist  Chubch. 

Evidence  of  early  organization — First  preserved  church  records — 
Building  of  the  first  church — ^Removal  to  South  Royalton — 
Union  church  at  S.  Royalton — ^E*rection  of  the  parsonage — 
Sketches  of  the  pastors — The  Sunday  school,  Ladies'  Sewing 
Circle,  and  Epworth  League — Gifts  to  the  church 459 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

South  Rotalton  Congbboational  Chubch. 

Organization — Sketches  of  pastors — Bequests — Merging  of  Society 
and  Church — ^Repairs — Deacons — ^The  Sunday  school — ^The 
Y.  P.  S.  C.  B.  and  Ladies'  Aid  Society— Its  policy 471 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Otheb  Religious  OaoAinzATioNB. 

The  Baptist  Church — Early  membership— Union  with  Sharon — Dis- 
ciplining of  membertH-Connection  with  ESast  Bethel  church — 
8t.  PauVs  Episcopal  Church — Organization — Erection  of  a 
church  building — Memorial  gifts — Sketches  of  rectors — Officers 
— The  Universalist  Society — New  organization  of  1893 — The 
Christian  Church — Pastors  and  members — The  Catholic  Church 
— Mission  at  South  Royalton 483 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

The  Banks. 

The  Bank  of  Royalton — Organization  and  officers — Change  to  The 
National  Bank  of  Royalton — Burglary  of  the  bank — Closing  of 
the  bank — The  South  Royalton  Bank — Its  status  in  1852 — 
Trouble  with  the  Suffolk  Bank  of  Boston — The  failure  of  the 
bank 499 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Town  Pbopeety. 

The  five  public  rights — ^Land  for  the  first  settled  minister — E3x- 
change  of  land — Leasing  of  the  public  lands — Record  of 
public  lands  for  1909 — The  Common — The  Brewster  deed — Re- 
port of  the  selectmen  in  1835 — The  South  Royalton  Park — 
Owners  preceding  the  Park  Association — ^Work  of  the  Associa- 
tion— ^Town  buildings — The  pound  S07 


ZX  OOHTKEfTB 

CHAPTEaR  XXXIV. 
Taxes  Ain>  the  Gband  Ljst. 

Land  tax — ^Proprietors'  taxes—Taxes  for  specific  purposes — ^Rates  of 
taxatioiir— Time  of  raising  taxes— Civil  war  debt— <lrand  list 
by  decades  527 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 
The  Lbgai.  Paonssiox. 

Tbe  first  lawyer — Sketches  of  the  subsequent  lawyers — ^Hon.  Jacob 
Collamer's  connection  with  Royalton — Litigation  534 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
The  Medical  Pbofbssiox. 

The  ^idemic  of  1813 — ^Licensing  physicians — Inoculation — ^The  first 
doctor  in  Royalton — Sketches  of  the  phjrsicians  practicing  in 
town — ^Dentists  545 

CHAPTBR  XXXVII. 
The  VnxjiGEs. 

Raifolton  village — Its  beginning — ^The  first  firm — Increase  in  business 
and  population — Bouth  Royalton  village — ^The  enterprise  of 
Daniel  Tarbell,  Jr. — ^ESrection  of  stores  and  residences — ^Fires 
in  S.  Rosralton— Poem  by  Mrs.  Nettie  M.  Waldo  561 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 
The  Centbal  Veemont  Raiuioad. 

Its  projection  and  building — ^First  train  through  the  town — Erection 
of  depots — Station  agents— Casualties  and  accidents  577 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 
Fbaterkal  Oboanizations. 

Rising  Sun  Lodge,  No.  7,  F.  and  A.  M. — Its  charter — Anti-masonic 
movement — ^Membership  and  officers — Order  of  the  Extern 
Star — History  of  its  organization — ^The  charter — Officers — ^The 
Washington  Benevolent  Society — ^Temperance  BCatters — ^Temper- 
ance societies — ^White  River  Grange — Organization  and  in- 
fiuence— Royalton  Woman's  Club — Its  work  for  the  improve- 
ment of  streets,  schools,  and  the  preparation  of  a  town  history 
— South  Royalton  Woman's  Club — Its  membership  and  line  of 
study — Orville  Bixby  Post,  G.  A.  R. — Organization,  membership, 
*  and  officers — Mark  J.  Sargent  Camp,  No.  74,  Smis  of  Veterans- 
Organization  and  membership — Orville  Bixby  Woman's  Relief 
Corps,  No.  37— Object,  work,  officers — ^Royalton  Lodge,  No.  74, 
I.  O.  O.  F.— White  River  Horticultural  Society— White  River 
Poultry  Association—White  River  Camp  of  M.  W.  of  A.,  No. 
10040— The  South  Royalton  Public  Benefit  Society— Gen.  Han- 
cock Council,  Jr.,  O.  TJ.  A.  M 585 


Co:!TTE17TS  XXi 

CHAPTBR  XL. 

Pbesent  Business  Men  of  South  Rotalton. 

Sketches  of  each  610 

CHAPTER  XLI. 

Miscellaneous. 

Visits  of  noted  men — ^Laf^ette— President  Monroe — President 
Roosevelt — ^The  Vermont  Advocate — Controversy  with  the 
Woodstock  Observer — Sketch  of  Wjanan  Spooner — The  Free 
Public  Library — Relics — Longevity  617 

BlOQBAPHICAL   AND   GENEAIXMIGAL   ReCOBDS. 

Ehcplanation  634 

Celebrities   635 

Biographical  Sketch  of  the  Marcy  Family  642 

The  Smith  Family  in  Vermont  644 

Genealogies  alphabetically  arranged  648 

Addenda  1049 

Errata  1051 

Index 1055 


CHAPTER  I. 


ROYALTON. 
LOCATION,  TOPOGRAPHY,  FAUNA,  AND  FLORA. 

Perhaps  not  half  a  dozen  residents  of  Royalton  could  give 
an  inquirer  the  latitude  and  longitude  of  the  town  in  which  they 
live,  nor  is  it  to  be  charged  to  general  ignorance,  if  they  fail  to 
do  so.  There  are  some  facts  which  we  carry  around  in  our 
heads,  some  in  our  note  books,  and  some  that  we  let  lie  in  bound 
volumes  on  dusty  shelves.  One  such  volume  informs  the 'reader 
that  Royalton  is  located  in  the  north  part  of  WindsoTP'  county, 
in  latitude  43  degrees  49  minutes,  and  longitude  4  degrees  and 
28  minutes  east  from  Washington.  Its  latitude  is  about  the 
same  as  that  of  Genoa  in  sunny  Italy.  Its  climate,  however,  is 
more  varied.  The  temperature  generally  ranges  from  the  90 's 
in  July  and  August  to  30  degrees  below  zero  in  the  winter 
months.  There  are  not  many  winter  days  when  the  mercury 
falls  lower  than  10  degrees  below  zero.  The  winters  are  vari- 
able, like  other  Vermont  towns.  Sometimes  wheels  run  nearly 
every  month  in  the  year,  but  usually  snow  falls  about  Thanks- 
giving time,  and  from  that  date  until  the  January  thaw,  the 
jingling  of  sleigh  bells  makes  music  on  the  frosty  air.  Heavy 
snow  storms  are  likely  to  fall  in  February  and  March,  but  the 
residents  console  themselves  with  the  thought  that  the  sun  is 
running  its  course  higher  every  day,  and  the  bed  of  downy  white 
will  soon  melt  under  its  warm  rays.  Occasionally  the  fall  of 
snow  is  so  heavy  that  the  farmers  are  unable  to  get  around  in 
their  sugar  places,  and  a  short  supply  of  the  delicious  maple 
sugar  is  the  result.  Again,  when  there  is  an  open  winter,  and 
spring  comes  earlier  than  usual,  sending  warm  thrills  through 
the  sleeping  maples,  the  buds  start  too  early,  and,  though  sap 
may  run,  it  is  not  good  for  making  sugar. 

The  town  is  a  hilly  one,  as  a  whole,  but  not  so  much  so  as 
some  of  the  surrounding  towns.  The  river  flowing  through  the 
whole  length  of  the  town,  the  two  branches,  which  would  be 
called  rivers  in  many  localities,  and  the  long  brooks,  all  have 
bordering  them  many  acres  of  meadow  land,  as  fine  as  can  be 


2  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

found  in  any  other  part  of  New  England.  The  hills  rise  one 
above  another,  and  are  of  such  altitude  as  to  be  worthy  of  the 
name  of  mountain,  could  they  be  set  down  on  a  broad  prairie. 
Not  many  of  these  hills,  mostly  crowned  with  a  luxuriant  growth 
of  trees,  have  been  given  names.  The  ** Elephant"  is  a  peak 
near  South  Royalton,  which  ambitious  youths  sometimes  climb, 
but  oftener  they  are  content  to  pick  their  way  up  the  more  mod- 
est elevation  fronting  the  hotel,  where  a  small  building  has  been 
erected.  At  Royalton  village  the  ** Pinnacle"  has  been  associ- 
ated in  loving  thought  with  many  picnics  and  other  good  times 
in  the  minds  of  those  who  spent  their  young  days  in  the  quiet 
hamlet,  or  a  few  months  within  the  academy  walls. 

A  long  range  of  hills  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town, 
back  from  the  river,  runs  in  a  graded  line  for  several  miles.  One 
part,  the  middle  and  highest  portion,  is  sometimes  called  the 
Saw-tooth  Range,  from  the  fact  that  three  sharp  cuts,  at  quite 
regular  intervals,  are  plainly  noticeable  from  several  viewpoints, 
one  being  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  near  Havensville,  and 
another  on  the  old  Royalton  &  Woodstock  turnpike,  over  the 
hills  to  Barnard.  The  ** Twins"  are  two  small  elevations  near 
the  mouth  of  the  First  Branch.  **Bald  Mountain"  is  another 
high  elevation  north  of  the  river,  the  location  of  which  can  be 
seen  on  the  map  of  ** School  Districts."  In  the  northwest  part 
of  the  town  are  high  hills,  on  one  of  which,  near  Mr.  Payette 
Green 's,  the  broadest  and  most  beautiful  landscape  can  be  viewed 
that  Royalton  affords,  stretching  off  to  the  distant  Green  Moun- 
tains, and  revealing  peak  after  peak.  A  sunrise  or  sunset 
watched  from  this  elevation  is  most  entrancing.  Almost  every 
hill  road  furnishes  new  delights  to  the  traveller. 

No  quarrying  of  any  consequence  has  been  carried  on  in 
Royalton.  The  Bethel  quarries  are  located  on  the  border  of  the 
town.  In  1846,  the  State  Geologist,  C.  B.  Adams,  in  his  report, 
in  speaking  of  a  calcareo-mica  slate  region  in  Vermont,  said  that 
that  part  of  the  slate  which  lies  east  of  the  range  from  Mem- 
phremagog  lake  to  the  State  House  at  Montpelier,  and  thence 
to  Halifax,  is  wholly  embraced  in  this  division  excepting  a  part 
of  Essex  county.  He  continues,  **  There  is  considerable  differ- 
ence perceptible  in  a  portion  of  this  division,  extending  from 
Derby  and  Holland  on  the  north,  to  Bethel  and  Royalton  in 
White  River  valley,  from  the  other  portions,  though  similar  in 

lithological  character.    In  the  calcareo-mica  slate  region, 

especially  in  that  portion  of  it  first  described,  embracing  Mem- 
phremagog  basin,  Clyde,  Barton,  and  Black  River  valley,  and 
from  thence  to  Royalton,  Barnard,  and  Sharon,  in  White  River 
valley,  the  deposits  of  muck  are  both  numerous  and  large." 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  3 

According  to  his  estimate  Royalton  and  Woodstock  contain  not 
much  less  marl  than  the  deposit  at  Williamstown,  covering  about 
fifteen  acres,  which  he  thought  would  yield  more  than  sixty 
millions  of  bushels  of  marl,  suitable  for  manufacturing  lime. 
Speaking  specifically  of  Royalton,  he  said,  **  There  is  a  large  and 
very  valuable  deposit  of  marl  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Dewey.  It 
was  deposited  in  an  ancient  beaver  pond,  and  is  now  very  acces- 
sible. It  will  supply  lime  for  the  whole  White  River  valley. 
Several  valuable  deposits  of  muck  are  found  in  the  vicinity." 

This  beaver  pond  to  which  Mr.  Adams  referred  was  an  arti- 
ficial pond  of  considerable  size  built  up  by  beavers,  that  dammed 
the  brook  running  through  the  farm  now  owned  by  Lisle  Mc- 
intosh. On  the  farm  of  Amos  J.  Eaton  was  another  beaver 
pond  of  smaller  size.  Proofs  of  the  existence  of  these  ponds  are 
to  be  seen  today.  It  may  be  that  the  Indians  in  their  migrations 
knew  of  these  ponds.  On  the  Harry  Bingham  farm  is  a  large 
boulder,  commonly  called  the  ** Indian  Rock,"  where  Indian  re- 
mains have  been  found,  and  it  is  the  tradition  that  Indians  were 
in  the  habit  of  building  a  temporary  shelter  about  it,  by  using 
limbs  of  trees. 

There  are  no  caves  of  any  note  in  town.  A  small  one  is 
found  near  the  home  of  Rev.  Levi  Wild,  and  another  of  small 
dimensions  is  on  the  hill  back  of  the  Edward  Rix  house.  It  was 
here  that  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century  some  young  mem- 
bers of  Elisha  Rix's  family  found  a  mysterious  note,  which  sent 
them  scampering  in  fear  to  the  protection  of  home.  This  note 
is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  William  Skinner,  daughter  of 
William  Rix. 

According  to  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  the  altitude  of 
Royalton  is  510  feet.  Its  geographical  center  is  on  the  **  Brad- 
street"  farm,  near  the  place  where  the  portable  sawing  machine 
was  recently  set  up,  not  far  from  the  old  school  house.  Royalton 
village  seems  to  have  been  built  up  as  near  the  center  as  prac- 
ticable. 

White  river,  the  largest  river  east  of  the  mountains,  nearly 
sixty  miles  long,  pursues  its  sinuous  course  through  the  town, 
having  been  frequently  fed  by  hillside  brooks  since  it  left  its 
birthplace  in  Granville,  and  continues  to  expand  and  deepen 
until  its  waters  mingle  with  the  Connecticut  at  Hartford.  The 
First  Branch,  its  largest  tributary,  winds  its  way  down  from 
Washington,  through  Chelsea  and  Tunbridge,  and  surrenders 
itself  to  the  larger  stream  at  South  Royalton,  while  the  Second 
Branch,  somewhat  smaller,  with  the  same  self-surrender  in  view, 
contentedly  runs  its  course  from  Williamstown,  through  Brook- 
field,  Randolph,  and  East  Bethel  to  North  Royalton.  The  town 
is  thus  supplied  with  sufficient  water  for  the  generation  of  power, 


4  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

and  for  other  purposes,  though  in  very  dry  seasons  these  streams 
and  other  smaller  ones  become  quite  low.  There  is  evidence, 
from  the  nature  and  conformation  of  the  river  banks  and  con- 
tiguous land,  that  the  bed  of  the  river  was  considerably  broader, 
when  the  first  settlers  painfully  picked  their  way  along  its  banks, 
than  it  is  today.  Some  islands  have  disappeared,  and  others 
have  formed,  so  that  a  few  deeds  of  real  estate  executed  one 
hundred  years  ago  are  now  practically  worthless. 

The  first  settlers  of  Royalton  did  not  have  the  fear  of  wild 
animals  that  some  pioneers  had  in  other  parts  of  the  country. 
There  were  bears  and  wolves,  but  they  do  not  seem  to  have  had 
very  ferocious  natures,  and  the  settler  did  not  need  so  much  to 
guard  his  life  as  his  property  from  their  greedy  jaws.  Their 
depredations  were  to  be  dreaded,  but  no  instance  has  been  forth- 
coming where  one's  life  was  really  in  danger  from  these  animals, 
if  one  were  armed  and  had  courage. 

Wolves  were  much  more  common  than  bears,  and  were  so 
troublesome  throughout  the  state,  that  bounties  were  early  of- 
fered for  them.  A  certificate  is  on  file  in  the  office  of  the  Sec- 
retary of  State  at  Montpelier,  dated  June  16,  1779,  in  which 
Isaac  Morgan  and  Comfort  Sever,  selectmen,  certify  that  in  the 
preceding  January  John  Parkhurst  of  Royalton  killed  a  wolf, 
and  brought  the  head  to  the  subscribers,  as  the  law  directed. 
On  July  6th  the  selectmen  of  Royalton  paid  Mr.  Parkhurst  £8 
bounty.  Independent  action  by  the  towns  is  shown  by  a  town 
record  dated  1795.  In  a  warning  for  a  town  meeting  to  be  held 
Dec.  8,  was  an  article  **To  see  if  they  will  join  with  a  number 
of  the  other  Towns  in  this  vicinity  to  raise  the  bounty  on  wolves 
killed  within  sd  Towns  &  to  chose  an  agent  to  meet  with  the 
agents  of  other  Towns  at  Braintree  the  10th  Day  of  Deer,  next 
on  that  business."  They  met  and  adjourned  to  the  22d,  when 
no  action  was  taken  on  this  article.  An  act  was  passed  by  the 
legislature  in  1797  offering  a  bounty  of  $20  for  everj^  wolf  or 
panther  killed  in  the  state.  The  poor  crow  was  in  disfavor  with 
Royalton  farmers  then  as  now,  and  April  24,  1806,  it  was  voted 
to  offer  a  bounty  of  twenty  cents  for  every  crow  killed  within 
the  town  from  that  date  to  August  1st.  The  treasurer's  business 
was  to  cut  off  the  head,  administer  the  oath,  and  pay  the  bounty. 

Bears  and  wolves  are  no  longer  domiciled  in  our  forests. 
The  animals  most  troublesome  to  dwellers  are  the  fox,  the  wood- 
chuck,  skunk,  weasel,  and  rat.  The  fox  has  been  persistently 
hunted,  but  he  still  holds  his  own,  and  not  uncommonly  outwits 
the  farmer,  and  dines  on  his  choicest  fowls. 

Mr.  Amos  J.  Eaton  has  very  kindly  furnished  a  list  of  ani- 
mals found  in  town.  Among  those  not  already  named  are  the 
ermine  weasel,  little  brown  bat,  white-tailed  deer,  red,  gray,  and 


BhSTORY  OP  ROYAXiTON,  VERMONT  5 

flying  squirrels,  chipmunk,  black,  and  brown  rats,  house,  and 
white-footed  wood  mice,  meadow  vole,  muskrat,  star-nosed  and 
shrew  moles,  hedgehog,  common  hare,  raccoon,  striped  garter 
snake,  chicken,  red-bellied,  and  black  snakes,  land  tortoise,  snap- 
ping turtle,  common  hyla,  green,  brown  tree,  and  common  tree 
frogs,  garden  toad,  red  lizard  and  newt.  Rarer  specimens  are 
the  northern  mink,  marten,  spotted  salamander,  deer  mouse, 
conie  rabbit,  and  Canada  lynx.  A  few  years  ago  Mr.  Eaton  saw 
a  wolf  peeping  into  Royalton  from  Strafford  line. 

There  is  not  so  large  a  number  nor  so  great  a  variety  of 
birds  in  Royalton,  as  in  former  years  before  the  pugnacious 
English  sparrow  became  so  numerous.  The  kinds  are  about  the 
same  as  in  other  towns  in  Vermont.  The  list  which  follows  was 
furnished  by  Mr.  Amos  H.  Lamb,  Mr.  Amos  J.  Eaton,  and  Miss 
Minnie  Metcalf. 

The  summer  residents  that  are  more  or  less  common  are  the 
green  heron,  American  woodcock,  spotted  sandpiper,  sharp- 
shinned.  Cooper's,  red-shouldered,  and  pigeon  hawks,  rose- 
breasted  grosbeak,  indigo  bunting,  scarlet  tanager,  cliflf,  barn, 
tree,  and  bank  swallows,  waxwing,  loggerhead  shrike,  red-eyed, 
warbling,  and  yellow-throated  vireos,  summer,  chestnut-sided, 
blackbumian,  black-throated  green,  myrtle,  parula,  white-creep- 
ing, and  Canadian  warblers,  oven  bird,  Maryland  yellow-throat, 
redstart,  catbird,  house  wren,  wood,  hermit,  and  Wilson's 
thrushes,  red-breasted  robin,  bluebird,  yellow-billed  and  black- 
billed  cuckoos,  kingfisher,  yellow-bellied  woodpecker,  flicker, 
whip-poor-will,  night  hawk,  chimney  swift,  brown  creeper,  king- 
bird, phoebe,  wood  pewee,  least  flycatcher,  crow,  bob-o-link,  cow 
bird,  red-winged  blackbird,  Baltimore  oriole,  purple  finch,  ves- 
per, chipping;  song,  and  field  sparrows,  red-headed  woodpecker, 
white-crowned  sparrow,  and  the  ruby-throated  humming  bird. 

The  rare  summer  residents  are  the  sparrow  hawk,  brown 
thrasher,  great-crested  flycatcher,  meadow  lark,  purple,  and 
bronze  grackles,  and  white-throated  sparrow. 

The  resident  birds,  remaining  through  the  year  are  the 
ruffed  grouse,  barred  owl,  saw-whet  owl,  and  screech  owl,  hairy, 
downy,  and  pileated  woodpecker,  blue  jay,  American  goldfinch, 
white-breasted,  and  red-breasted  nuthatches,  chickadee,  American 
crossbill,  and  English  sparrow.  The  robin  has  been  known  to 
winter  here. 

The  common  migrant  birds  are  the  shell  drake,  wild  goose, 
fish  hawk,  and  homed  lark.  The  rare  migrant  birds  are  the 
American  herring  gull,  great  blue  heron,  black-bellied  plover, 
fox  sparrow,  winter  wren,  golden  crowned  kinglet,  Traill's  fly- 
catcher, rusty  blackbird,  and  white-crowned  sparrow.     The  verv 


6  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

rare  migrant  birds  are  the  American  bittern,  solitary  sandpiper, 
and  wild  pigeon. 

The  summer  visitants  are  the  golden,  and  the  bald  eagle, 
both  very  rare.  The  winter  visitants  are  the  American  goshawk, 
northern  shrike,  pine  grosbeak,  pine  siskin,  snow  bunting,  tree 
sparrow,  and  red  poll,  nearly  all  of  which  are  rare. 

Regarding  the  haunts  and  the  time  of  appearance  of  some 
of  these  birds  Miss  Metcalf  writes  very  entertainingly.  In  part 
she  says,  **The  kingfisher's  shrill  whistle  is  heard  along  the  river 
banks  until  quite  cold  weather,  and  again  in  early  spring.  With 
the  advent  of  spring  the  blue  bird  appears,  enjoying  the  distinc- 
tion of  standing  at  the  head  in  the  systematic  arrangement  of 
the  birds  of  America  in  point  of  development,  as  *  it  takes  prac- 
tically none  of  man's  products  and  boards  itself.'  The  robin 
and  song  sparrow  soon  follow  the  blue  bird,  and  the  purple  finch 
only  a  little  later  completes  our  spring  quartette  of  the  roadside. 
By  May  our  fields  and  highways  are  thickly  peopled  with  sweet 
singing  and  gayly  plumaged  birds,  the  brown  thrasher,  notably 
of  the  first,  the  indigo  bunting  of  the  second,  accompanied  by  the 
plainer  little  vesper  sparrow,  the  cat  bird,  king  bird,  and  phoebe, 
while  from  the  hillside  comes  the  engaging  song  of  the  rose- 
breasted  grosbeak.  As  summer  advances,  from  the  woods  comes 
the  songs  of  the  thrushes,  the  call  of  the  oven  bird,  the  cuckoos' 
monotones,  mingled  with  the  plaintive  note  of  the  wood  pewee, 
and  the  scarlet  tanager  is  seen  flitting  about  among  the  trees. 
Among  the  low-growing  trees  and  shrubs  may  be  found  the 
white-throated  sparrow,  white-crowned  sparrow,  chewink,  golden 
crowned  kinglet,  Maryland  yellow-throat,  black  and  white  creep- 
ing warbler,  and  the  brown  creeper.  The  wiry  call  of  the  grass- 
hopper sparrow  announces  its  presence  in  the  meadow.  Along 
the  river  bank  we  may  hear  the  sandpiper's  monotonous  call, 
and  note  the  restless  flight  of  many  bank  swallows.  Occasion- 
ally we  see  a  blue  heron,  and  the  call  of  the  night  heron  is  fre- 
quently heard,  while  the  night  hawk  flies  busily  about,  *  police- 
man of  the  night,'  as  he  has  been  called." 

A  few  years  ago  two  wood  ibis  were  shot  by  Mr.  Clark 
Turner  on  the  First  Branch  in  Royalton,  and  were  mounted  by 
Mr.  Lamb.     These  specimens  are  now  owned  by  Dr.  Fish. 

Since  the  laws  for  the  protection  of  game  and  fish  have 
been  more  stringently  enforced,  our  streams,  both  large  and 
small,  but  especially  the  brooks,  are  becoming  fairly  well  sup- 
plied with  several  kinds  of  the  finny  tribe,  such  as  the  trout, 
shiner,  dace,  minnow,  and  eel.  No  fish  of  any  large  size  is  now 
taken  from  our  streams,  the  angler  feeling  well  repaid  for  sev- 
eral hours  of  trolling,  if  at  last  he  succeeds  in  hauling  in  a  two- 
pounder.    While  Charles  Lyman  owned  his  saw  mill,  he  stocked 


History  of  Koyalton,  Vermont  7 

a  pond  near  it  with  fish,  and  that  hatchery  still  exists,  the  prop- 
erty of  Fred  Fowler. 

Royalton  does  not  now  boast  of  so  large  a  variety  of  flora 
as  in  earlier  years.  The  deplorable  stripping  of  the  hills  of 
their  heavy  growth  of  trees  suitable  for  timber  has  resulted  in 
the  disappearance  of  several  shy  specimens  of  flowers  that  do  not 
thrive  in  the  open.  In  other  cases  the  reckless  gathering  of 
rather  rare  flowers  has  ended  in  the  extinction  of  that  particular 
variety.  The  trailing  arbutus  at  one  time  was  very  abundant 
in  the  vicinity  of  Royalton  village,  but  has  now  nearly  disap- 
peared. 

The  closed  gentian  and  the  hop  hornbeam  tree  are  found  on 
the  hill  road  from  South  Royalton  to  Broad  Brook.  On  this  road 
also  runs  riot  what  is  familiarly  called  viper's  bugloss.  It  is 
not  many  years  since  it  first  made  its  appearance  there,  and  it 
has  spread  with  the  rapidity  of  the  tumble  weed  on  the  prairie, 
and  what  was  at  first  admired  as  a  novelty,  is  now  called  a  pest. 
Another  beautiful  fiower,  which  the  farmers  fight,  as  a  rule,  most 
industriously  with  small  success,  is  the  yellow  and  the  ox-eye 
daisy.  A  field  white  with  the  rank  ox-eye  is  a  thing  of  beauty 
in  the  month  of  June,  but  hateful  to  the  farmer,  who  knows  his 
grass  crop  will  be  a  minus  quantity.  The  peculiar  pitcher  plant, 
quite  common  in  some  localities,  is  quite  rare  in  Royalton.  It 
is  found  on  the  Franklin  Joiner  farm. 

The  swamp  beyond  the  hills  back  of  the  Thomas  Davis  farm 
revels  in  a  rich  growth  of  mosses  of  great  variety.  Lovers  of 
the  lower  forms  of  vegetation  will  be  amply  repaid  by  a  visit  to 
this  section  of  the  town,  and  if  they  time  their  trip  in  the  month 
of  the  crimsoning  raspberry,  they  can  also  fill  their  pails  with 
this  luscious  fruit.  The  raspberry  and  blackberry  shrubs,  so 
common  thirty  years  ago,  have  largely  succumbed  to  the  ruthless 
scythe  and  the  lack  of  moisture  which  has  characterized  some  of 
our  later  seasons. 

The  dandelion,  which  is  an  uncontrollable  pest  in  some 
western  states,  occasions  no  uneasiness  here,  for  the  love  of 
** greens''  leads  the  small  boys  and  girls  to  gather  them  plenti- 
fully for  table  use  in  the  spring.  Ferns  grow  to  luxuriant  size 
along  roadsides  and  in  moist  places.  Since  the  law  requiring 
roadsides  to  be  cleared  has  been  rigidly  enforced,  many  of  our 
drives  have  lost  much  of  their  wild  beauty,  which  loss  is  not  coun- 
terbalanced by  the  more  frequent  passing  of  automobiles,  in  the 
interest  of  which  the  law  seems  to  have  had  its  inception. 

Rev.  Levi  Wild,  who  is  a  lover  of  flowers,  and  has  given 
some  time  to  the  study  of  plant  life  in  the  town,  has  very  kindly 
furnished  some  information  regarding  it  which  will  be  of  inter- 
est to  those  of  like  mind.     He  says,  **I  suppose  the  Flora  of 


8  HlSTOELY  OP  ROYALTON,  VbBMONT 

Royalton  is  in  general  like  that  of  this  section  of  the  state,  but 
there  are  some  noteworthy  exceptions.  Among  trees  we  have  a 
well  established  colony  of  shellbark  hickory  on  the  'Pinnacle' 
back  of  Royalton  village.  While  this  tree  is  common  west  of  the 
Green  Mountains,  and  in  the  Champlain  region  and  in  the  south- 
em  Connecticut  valley,  it  is  doubtful  if  it  is  found  on  the  east 
side  of  the  state  in  any  other  place  as  far  north  as  Royalton.  It 
is  doubtless  not  native  here,  but  was*  probably  introduced  at  an 
early  period  in  the  history  of  the  town.  Miss  Lucy  Skinner 
used  to  say  that  these  trees  came  from  hickory  nuts  brought  from 
Connecticut  and  planted  here  by  the  early  settlers.  Among  the 
rare  trees  may  be  mentioned  the  buttonwood  or  sycamore,  which 
is  found  occasionally  in  the  vicinity  of  White  river. 

It  is  noticeable  that  the  white  pine  has  been  spreading 
within  the  past  half  century  away  from  the  river  to  the  worn-out 
upland  pastures.  I  know  of  one  pasture  which  contained  only 
a  single  pine,  perhaps  thirty  years  ago,  and  is  now  covered  with 
a  dense  growth  of  trees  almost  large  enough  to  cut  for  lumber. 
This  tendency  of  the  pine  to  spread  should  be  encouraged  by 
the  farmers.  One  acre  of  timber  pine  is  more  valuable  than 
many  acres  of  old  pasture  overgrown  with  brakes  and  steeple- 
bush.  Pine  lumber  commands  a  high  price,  and  it  is  one  of  our 
most  rapidly  growing  trees.  Under  favorable  conditions  a  white 
pine  may  be  expected  to  make  a  growth  of  about  two  thousand 
feet  of  lumber  in  three  quarters  of  a  century. 

Leaving  the  trees  and  coming  to  other  plants,  we  may  no- 
tice among  ferns  that  the  walking  fern  has  been  found  within 
a  few  years  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  John  P.  Shepard.  It  is  sin- 
cerely to  be  hoped  that  collectors  will  not  uproot  so  many  speci- 
mens as  to  destroy  this  station;  for  this  curious  plant,  while 
common  in  western  Vermont,  is  rare  on  the  eastern  side,  and 
botanically  it  is  a  great  distinction  for  a  town  to  possess  it. 
Braun's  holly  fern,  a  somewhat  rare  fern  of  elevated  situations, 
is  also  found  in  Royalton. 

In  the  Rose  Family  I  have  seen  a  single  specimen  of  the 
shrubby  cinquefoil  in  a  pasture  near  Broad  Brook.  In  some 
towns  of  Vermont  this  is  considered  a  pest.  In  the  Pulse  Fam- 
ily the  blue  false  indigo  has  been  found  well  established  on  the 
banks  of  White  river.  The  smooth  sumach  is  found  near  the 
Sharon  line  on  the  side  of  the  river  road.  The  fringed  gentian 
is  found  in  several  places  in  Royalton.  I  think  this  is  not  so 
rare  a  plant  as  many  suppose." 

Among  the  wild  fruits  we  may  note  a  fair  supply  of  butter- 
nuts, some  thorn  apple  trees,  the  red,  black,  and  choke  cherrj-. 
the  beech  nut,  juniper,  checkerberry,  sprignet,  and  others  both 
dry  and  fleshy,  edible  and  poisonous.      Ginseng  grows  abund- 


History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont  9 

antly  in  some  sections,  and  yields  good  returns  to  those  gather- 
ing the  root.  The  wild  grape  is  rather  common  along  roadsides, 
and  with  the  clematis  and  woodbine  adds  beauty  to  the  land- 
scape. 

No  attempt  has  been  made  to  give  a  full  list  of  the  Flora 
of  the  town,  as  it  would  occupy  too  much  space,  but  other  trees 
should  be  mentioned,  such  as  the  ash,  hemlock,  spruce,  black, 
white,  red,  and  gray  birch,  red  and  black  beech,  basswood,  elm, 
hornbeam,  white  and  red  oak,  poplar,  white  and  sugar  maple, 
and  quite  a  variety  of  willows.  Few  towns  have  so  many  old 
beautiful  elms  as  has  Boyalton. 


CHAPTER  11. 


RoYALTON  Charters. 

A  reference  to  the  partition  deed  of  the  township  of  Roy- 
alton  showed  that  the  charter  of  the  town  had  been  granted  two 
years  before  the  deed  was  executed,  and  a  search  of  the  pro- 
prietors' records  revealed  the  fact,  that  the  town  was  not  in 
possession  of  the  charter.  If  the  agent  who  was  sent  for  it  in 
1779  did  really  secure  a  copy  of  it,  it  must  have  been  lost. 

The  deed  of  partition  with  the  accompanying  chart  of  allot- 
ments is  of  more  value  than  the  charter  would  be.  Many  lots 
had  been  pitched  previous  to  1779,  and  several  had  been  sold 
with  boundaries  described  as  in  the  chart,  before  the  town  awoke 
to  the  necessity  of  having  a  map  of  its  lots. 

A  search  for  the  charter  revealed  its  existence  in  manuscript 
form  in  the  oflBce  of  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Albany,  N.  Y., 
and  on  application,  permission  was  readily  and  courteously 
granted  for  the  examination  and  copying  of  it.  As  it  may  not 
be  accessible  in  printed  form  among  the  archives  of  New  York 
for  years  to  come,  if  ever,  and  as  it  is  a  document  of  more  than 
local  interest,  it  is  given  in  full. 

"George  the  Third  hy  the  Grace  of  God  of  Great  Britain  France  and 
Ireland  King  Defender  of  the  Faith  and  so  forth.  To  all  to  whom  these 
Presents  shall  come  Greeting 

Whereas  Our  loving  Subjects  William  LivingBton,  William  Smith 
Junior,  and  Whitehead  Hicks,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  twenty  seven 
other  Persons  their  Associates,  by  their  humble  Petition  unto  our  late 
trusty  and  well  beloved  Sir  Henry  Moore  Baronet  then  our  Captain 
General  and  Governor  in  Chief  of  our  Province  of  New  York,  and  read 
in  our  Council  for  our  said  Province,  on  the  third  day  of  November 
which  was  in  the  Year  of  Our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
sixty  six  did  set  forth,  among  other  Things,  That  there  was  a  certain 
Tract  of  Land  situate  on  the  West  side  of  Connecticut  River  within 
our  said  Province,  which  the  Petitioners  had  discovered  to  be  vacant 
and  unpatented; — bounded  E2asterly  by  a  Tract  of  Land  commonly 
called  or  known  by  the  Name  of  Sharon,  and  Southerly  by  another 
Tract  of  Land  commonly  called  or  known  by  the  Name  of  Bernard,  and 
Northerly  by  a  Tract  of  Land  commonly  called  or  known  by  the  Name 
of  Tunbridge,  and  to  run  Westerly  so  as  to  comprehend  Thirty  Thou- 
sand Acres:  And  therefore  the  Petitioners  for  themselves  and  their 
Associates  humbly  prayed  that  as  the  aforesaid  Lands  never  were 
granted  under  our  Province  of  New  Hampshire,  our  said  late  Captain 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  11 

General  and  (Governor  in  Chief  would  be  favourably  pleased  by  our 
Letters  Patent  to  grant  unto  them  and  their  Associates,  and  to  their 
respective  heirs  and  Assigns  forever,  the  aforesaid  Tract  of  Land  con- 
taining thirty  thousand  Acres:  And  that  the  same  might  be  formed 
into  a  Township  by  the  Name  of  Royalton  with  the  usual  Powers  and 
Privileges  that  are  granted  to  Townships  within  Our  said  Province: 
Which  Petition  having  been  referred  to  a  Committee  humbly  advise  and 
Consent  that  our  said  late  Captain  General  and  Governor  in  Chief 
should  by  our  Letters  Patent  grant  unto  the  Petitioners  and  their 
Associates  and  their  heirs  the  Tract  of  Land  aforesaid  and  that  the 
same  should  be  thereby  erected  into  a  Township  by  the  Name  of  Royal- 
ton with  the  usual  privileges,  under  the  Quit  Rent  Provisoes  Limitations 
and  Restrictions  prescribed  by  our  Royal  Instructions.  And  whereas 
the  said  William  Livingston  and  Whitehead  Hicks  by  their  humble 
Petition  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  their  Associates  presented  unto 
our  trusty  and  well  beloved  Cadwallader  Colden  Esquire  our  Lieutenant 
Governor  and  Commander  in  Chief  of  our  said  Province  of  New  York 
and  the  Territories  depending  thereon  in  America  and  read  in  our 
Council  for  our  said  Province  on  the  twentieth  day  of  October  now  last 
past,  did  set  forth  That  the  Petitioners  and  their  Associates  having 
obtained  on  their  former  Petition  an  order  of  our  said  late  Captain 
General  and  Governor  in  Chief  with  the  advice  and  Consent  of  our 
Council,  bearing  date  the  seventh  day  of  November  in  the  said  Year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty  six,  for  granting  to 
them  and  their  heirs  a  certain  Tract  of  Land  on  the  West  side  of  Con- 
necticut River  containing  thirty  thousand  Acres,  had  procured  an  actual 
Survey  thereof  at  considerable  E^pence:  That  the  same  tho'  within 
the  Lands  formerly  claimed  by  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire,  had 
not  been  granted  by  that  Government,  and  remains  still  vacant  and 
vested  in  us;  And  therefore  the  Petitioners  in  behalf  of  themselves  and 
their  Associates  did  humbly  pray  that  they  might  have  Leave  when  the 
Letters  Patent  should  issue  for  said  Lands  to  insert  as  Grantees  therein, 
the  Names  mentioned  in  the  Schedule  or  List  at  the  Foot  of  the  said 
Petition,  who  are  all  the  Persons  interested  in  the  Premises,  to  wit, 
William  Livingstone,  William  Smith  junior,  Whitehead  Hicks,  John 
Kelly,  Susannah  Livingstone,  Elizabeth  Livingstone,  John  Brevort,  Elias 
Brevort,  Thomas  Hicks,  John  Woods,  Gilbert  Hicks,  John  W.  Smith, 
Samuel  Smith,  Garret  Noel,  John  Brown,  Gerard  Bancker,  John  Robin- 
son, Gilbert  Ash,  William  Sorrall,  John  Button  Crimshier,  Garret  Roor- 
back, John  McKenney,  Isaac  Heron,  Elias  Nixon,  Robert  Hyslop,  Francis 
Child,  James  Moran,  Isaac  Myer,  John  Lewis,  and  Samuel  Boyer.  On 
reading  and  due  Consideration  whereof.  It  was  ordered  by  our  said 
Lieutenant  Governor  and  Commander  in  Chief  with  the  Advice  and 
Consent  of  our  said  Council,  that  the  Names  of  the  several  Persons  afore- 
scdd  should  be  inserted  as  Grantees  In  the  Letters  Patent  for  the  Lands 
described  in  the  said  Petition,  according  to  the  Prayer  thereof.  In 
Pursuance  whereof  and  in  Obedience  to  our  Royal  Instructions  afore- 
said. Our  Commissioners  appointed  for  the  selling  out  all  Lands  to  be 
granted  within  our  said  Province  have  set  out  for  them  the  said 
William  Livingstone,  William  Smith  junior,  Whitehead  Hicks,  John 
Kelly,  Susannah  Livingstone,  Elizabeth  Livingstone,  John  Brevort,  Ellas 
Brevort,  Thomas  Hicks,  John  Woods,  Gilbert  Hicks,  John  W.  Smith, 
Samuel  Smith,  Garrett  Noel,  John  Brown,  Gerard  Bancker,  John 
Robinson,  Gilbert  Ash,  William  Sorrall,  John  Button  Crimshier,  Garrett 
Roorback,  John  McKenney,  Isaac  Heron,  Elias  Nixon,  Robert  Hyslop, 
Francis  Child,  James  Moran,  Isaac  Myer,  John  Lewis  and  Samuel 
Bower,  All  that  certain  Tract  or  Parcel  of  Land  within  our  Province 
of  New  York  situate  lying  and  being  on  the  West  side  of  the  Connecticut 


12  HlST(»Y  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT 

River  in  the  County  of  Cumberland:  Beginning  at  the  Southwest 
Cbmer  of  a  Tract  of  Land  called  and  known  by  the  Name  of  Sharon, 
being  a  Beech  Tree  with  the  Words  The  Southeast  Comer  of  Royalton, 
and  runs  thence  North  sixty  degrees  West  six  hundred  and  twenty 
Chains;  then  North  forty  degrees  East  five  hundred  and  thirty  Chains; 
Then  South  fifty  seven  degrees  and  thirty  Minutes  "EaBt  six  hundred 
and  eighteen  Chains;  and  then  South  forty  deg^rees  West  five  hundred 
Chains,  to  the  Beech  Tree  where  this  Tract  first  began  containing 
thirty  thousand  Acres  of  Land  and  the  usual  allowance  for  Highways; 
And  in  setting  out  the  said  Tract  of  Land  Our  said  Commissioners  have 
had  regard  to  the  profitable  and  unpn^table  Acres  and  have  taken 
Care  that  the  Length  thereof  doth  not  extend  along  the  Banks  of  any 
River  otherwise  than  is  conformable  to  Our  said  Royal  Instructions,  as 
by  a  Certificate  thereof  under  their  hands  bearing  date  the  seventh  day 
of  this  Instant  Month  of  November,  and  entered  on  Record  in  our  Secre- 
tary's Office  for  our  said  Province  may  more  fully  appear.  Which  said 
Tract  of  Land  set  out  as  aforesaid  according  to  our  said  Royal  Instruc- 
tions We  being  willing  to  grant  to  the  said  Petitioners  and  their 
Associates,  their  heirs  and  Assigns  forever,  with  the  several  Privileges 
and  Powers  hereinafter  mentioned.  Know  Ye  that  of  our  especial  Grace 
certain  knowledge  and  meer  Motion,  We  have  given  granted  ratified  and 
confirmed  and  do  by  these  Presents  for  our  heirs  and  Successors 
give  grant  ratify  and  confirm  unto  them  the  said  William  Livingstone, 
William  Smith  Junior,  Whitehead  Hicks,  John  Kelly,  Susannah  Living- 
stone, Elizabeth  Livingstone,  John  Brevort,  EHias  Brevort,  Thomas 
Hicks,  John  Woods,  Gilbert  Hicks,  John  W.  Smith,  Samuel  Smith, 
Garrett  Noel,  John  Brown,  Gerard  Bancker,  John  Robinson,  Gilbert 
Ash,  William  Sorrall,  John  Dutton  Crimshler,  Garret  Roorback,  John 
Mckenney,  Isaac  Heron,  Ellas  Nixon,  Robert  Hyslop,  Francis  Child, 
James  Moran,  Isaac  Myer,  John  Lewis  and  Samuel  Boyer  their  heirs 
and  Assigns  forever,  All  that  the  Tract  or  Parcel  of  Land  aforesaid  set 
out  abutted  bounded  and  described  in  Manner  and  form  as  above  men- 
tioned, together  with  all  and  singular  the  Tenements  Hereditaments 
Emoluments  and  Appurtenances  thereunto  belonging  or  appertaining. 
And  also  all  Our  Elstate  Right  Title  Interest  Possession  Claim  and 
Demand  whatsoever  of  in  and  to  the  same  Lands  and  Premises,  and 
every  Part  and  Parcel  thereof,  and  the  Reversion  and  Reversions, 
Remainder  and  Remainders  Rents  Dues  and  Profits  thereof  and  of  every 
Part  and  Parcel  thereof — ESxcept  and  always  reserved  out  of  this  our 
present  Grant  unto  us  and  our  heirs  and  successors  forever.  All  Mines 
of  Gold  and  Silver  and  also  all  White  or  other  sorts  of  Pine  Trees  fit 
for  Masts  of  the  Growth  of  twenty  four  Inches  Diameter  and  upwards 
at  twelve  Inches  from  the  Elarth  for  Masts  for  the  Royal  Navy  of  us 
our  heirs  and  Successors.  To  have  and  to  fiold  one  full  and  equal 
thirtieth  Part  (the  whole  into  thirty  equal  Parts  to  be  divided)  of  the 
said  Tract  or  Parcel  of  Land  Tenements  Hereditaments  and  Premises 
by  these  Presents  granted  ratified  and  confirmed,  and  every  Part  and 
Parcel  thereof,  with  their  and  every  of  their  appurtenances  (except 
as  herein  before  excepted)  unto  each  of  them  our  Grantees  above  men- 
tioned— their  heirs  and  Assigns  respectively,  to  their  only  proper  and 
seperate  Use  and  Behoof  respectively  forever  as  Tenants  in  Common 
and  not  as  joint  Tenants  To  be  holden  of  Us  our  heirs  and  Successors 
in  free  and  common  Soccage  as  of  our  Manor  of  Elast  Greenwich  in  our 
County  of  Kent  within  Our  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain.  Yielding  ren- 
dering and  paying  therefor  yearly  and  every  Year  forever  unto  us  our 
heirs  and  Successors  at  Our  Custom  House  in  Our  City  of  New  York 
unto  Our  or  their  Collector  or  Receiver  General  there  for  the  Time 
being  on  the  Feast  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  13 

commonly  called  Lady  Day  the  Yearly  Rent  of  Two  Shillings  and  six- 
pence Sterling  for  each  and  every  hundred  Acres  of  the  above  granted 
Lands  and  so  in  Proportion  for  any  lesser  Quantity  thereof  saving  and 
except  for  such  Part  of  the  said  Lands  allowed  for  Highways  as  above 
mentioned  in  Lieu  and  stead  of  all  other  Rents  Services  Dues  Duties 
and  Demands  whatsoever  for  the  hereby  granted  Lands  and  Premises  or 
any  Part  thereof:  And  We  do  of  our  especial  Grace  certain  knowledge 
and  meer  Motion  create  erect  and  Constitute  the  Tract  or  Parcel 
of  Land  herein  granted  and  every  Part  and  Parcel  thereof 
a  Township  forever  hereafter  to  be  continue  and  remain  and 
by  the  Name  of  Rof/alton  forever  hereafter,  to  be  called  and  known 
And  for  the  better  and  more  easily  carrying  on  and  managing  publick 
Afl^rs  and  Business  of  the  said  Township  Our  Royal  Will  and  Pleasure 
is.  And  we  do  hereby  Us  Our  heirs  and  Successors  give  and  grant  to 
the  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Township,  All  the  Powers  Authorities 
Privileges  and  Advantages  heretofore  given  and  granted  to  or  legally 
enjoyed  by  all  any  or  either  our  other  Townships  within  Our  said 
Province.  And  we  also  Ordain  and  establish  That  there  shall  be  forever 
hereafter  in  the  said  Township  two  Assessors  One  Treasurer  two 
Overseers  of  the  Highways  Two  Overseers  of  the  Poor  One  Collector  and 
four  Constables  elected  and  chosen  out  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  said 
Township  Yearly  and  every  Year  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  May  at  the 
most  publick  Place  in  the  said  Township  by  the  Majority  of  the  Free- 
holders thereof  then  and  there  met  and  assembled  for  that  Purpose 
Hereby  declaring  that  wheresoever  the  first  Election  in  the  said  Town- 
ship shall  be  held  the  future  Elections  shall  forever  thereafter  be  held 
in  the  same  Place  as  near  as  may  be  and  giving  and  granting  to  the 
said  Officers  so  chosen  Power  and  Authority  to  exercise  their  said  several 
and  respective  Officers  during  one  whole  Year  from  such  Election  and 
until  others  are  legally  chosen  and  elected  in  their  Room  and  stead  as 
fully  and  amply  as  any  the  like  Officers  have  or  legally  may  use  or 
exercise  their  Offices  in  our  said  Province.  And  in  Case  any  or  either 
of  the  said  Officers  of  the  said  Township  should  die  or  remove  from  the 
said  Township  before  the  Time  of  their  annual  Service  shall  be  expired 
or  refuse  to  act  in  the  Offices  for  which  they  shall  be  respectively  chosen, 
then  Our  Royal  Will  and  Pleasure  further  is  And  we  do  hereby  direct 
ordain  and  require  the  Freeholders  of  the  said  Township  to  meet  at  the 
Place  where  the  Annual  EJlection  shall  be  held  for  the  said  Township 
and  chuse  other  or  others  of  the  said  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Township 
in  the  Place  or  stead  of  him  or  them  so  dying  removing  or  refusing  to 
Act  within  Forty  days  next  after  such  Contingency.  And  to  prevent 
any  undue  Election  in  this  Ca^e  We  do  hereby  ordain  and  require  That 
upon  every  Vacancy  in  the  Office  of  Assessors,  the  Treasurer,  and  in 
either  of  the  other  Offices,  the  Assessors  of  the  said  Township  shall 
within  ten  days  next  after  any  such  Vacancy  first  happens  appoint  the 
days  for  such  Election  and  give  publick  Notice  thereof  in  writing  under 
his  or  their  hands  by  affixing  such  Notice  on  the  Church  Door  or  other 
most  publick  Place  In  the  said  Township  at  the  least  Ten  Days  before 
the  Day  appointed  for  such  Election.  And  in  Default  thereof  We  do 
hereby  require  the  Officer  or  Officers  of  the  said  Township  or  the  Sur- 
vivor of  them,  who  in  the  order  they  are  herein  before  mentioned  shall 
next  succeed  him  or  them  so  making  Default,  within  ten  days  next 
after  such  Default,  to  appoint  the  Day  for  such  Election,  and  give  Notice 
thereof  as  aforesaid,  hereby  giving  and  granting  that  such  Person  or 
Persons  as  shall  be  so  chosen  by  the  Majority  of  such  of  the  Freeholders 
of  the  said  Township  as  shall  meet  in  Manner  hereby  directed,  shall 
have  hold  exercise  and  enjoy  the  Office  or  Offices  to  which  he  or  they 
shall  be  so  elected  and  chosen  from  the  Time  of  such  Election  until 


14  History  op  Royaltgn,  Vermont 

the  First  Tuesday  in  May  then  next  following,  and  until  other  or  others 
be  legally  chosen  in  his  or  their  Place  and  stead,  as  fully  as  the  Person 
or  Persons  in  whose  Place  he  or  they  shall  be  chosen  might  or  could 
have  done  by  virtue  of  these  Presents.  And  We  do  herein  Will  and 
direct  that  this  Method  shall  forever  hereafter  be  used  for  the  filling 
up  all  Vacancies  that  shall  happen  in  any  or  either  of  the  said  Offices 
between  the  Annual  Elections  above  directed.  Provided  always  and 
upon  Condition  nevertheless  that  if  Our  said  Grantees  their  heirs  or 
Assigns  or  some  or  one  of  them  shall  not  within  three  years  next  after 
the  Date  of  this  our  present  Grant  settle  on  the  said  Tract  of  Land 
hereby  granted  so  many  Families  as  shall  amount  to  one  Family  for 
every  thousand  Acres  of  the  same  Tract  Or,  if  they  our  said  Grantees 
or  one  of  them  their  or  one  of  their  Heirs  or  Assigns  shall  not  also 
within  three  Years  to  be  computed  as  aforesaid  plant  and  efTectually 
cultivate  at  the  least  three  Acres  for  every  Fifty  Acres  of  such  of  the 
hereby  granted  Lands  as  are  capable  of  Cultivation  Or  if  they  our 
said  Grantees  or  any  of  them  th^r  or  any  of  their  Heirs  or  Assigns  or 
any  other  Person  or  Persons  by  their  or  any  of  their  Privity  Consent  or 
Procurement  shall  fell  cut  down  or  otherwise  destroy  any  of  the  Pine 
Trees  by  these  Presents  preserved  to  Us  our  Heirs  or  Successors  or 
hereby  intended  so  to  be  without  the  Royal  Lycence  of  us  our  Heirs 
or  Successors  for  so  doing  first  had  and  obtained,  that  then  and  in 
any  of  these  Cases  this  our  present  Grant  and  evenrthing  therein 
contained,  shall  cease  and  be  absolutely  void,  and  the  Lands  and 
Premises  hereby  granted  shall  revert  to  and  vest  in  Us  Our  Heirs  and 
Successors  as  if  this  our  present  Grant  had  not  been  made,  anything 
herein  before  contained  to  the  contrary  in  any  wise  notwithstanding. 
Provided  further  and  upon  Condition  also  nevertheless  And  we  do 
hereby  for  us  Our  heirs  and  successors  direct  and  appoint  that  this  our 
present  Grant  shall  be  registered  and  entered  on  Record  within  six 
Months  from  the  date  thereof  in  our  Secretary's  Office  in  our  City 
of  New  York  in  our  said  Province  in  one  of  the  Books  of  Patents  there 
remaining  and  that  a  Docquet  thereof  shall  be  also  entered  in  our 
Auditor's  Office  there  for  our  said  Province  and  that  in  default  thereof 
this  our  present  Grant  shall  be  void  and  of  none  E^ect,  any  Thing 
before  in  these  Presents  contained  to  the  contrary  thereof  in  any  wise 
notwithstanding.  And  we  do  moreover  of  our  especial  Grace  certain 
knowledge  and  meer  Motion  consent  and  agree,  that  this  our  present 
Grant  being  registered  recorded  and  a  Docquet  thereof  made  as  before 
directed  and  appointed,  shall  be  good  and  effectual  in  the  Law  to  all 
Intents  Constructions  and  Purposes  whatsoever,  against  Us  our  Heirs 
and  Successors  notwithstanding  any  misreciting  misbounding  mis- 
naming or  other  Imperfection  or  Omission  of  in  or  in  any  wise  con- 
cerning the  above  granted  or  hereby  mentioned  or  intended  to  be 
granted  Lands  Tenements  Hereditaments  and  Premises  or  any  Part 
thereof.  In  Testimony  whereof  We  have  caused  these  our  Letters  to  be 
made  Patent  and  the  Great  Seal  of  our  said  Province  to  be  hereunto 
afiixed 

Witness  Our  said  trusty  and  wellbeloved  Cadwallader  Colden 
Esquire  Our  Lieutenant  Governor  and  Commander  in  Chief  of  our  said 
Province  of  New  York  and  the  Territories  depending  thereon  in 
America. 

At  Owr  Fort  in  our  City  of  New  York  the  thirteenth  day  of  Novem- 
ber in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty  nine 
and  of  our  Reign  the  Tenth  (Second  Skin,  Line  the  Nineteenth  the 
word  hereby  interlined. 

Clarke 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  15 

In  the  preceding  Certificate  and  Letters  Patent  recorded  for  William 
Livingstone  and  others  page  433  line  14  the  Word  said:  and  Line  29 
the  Words  And  the  Reversion  and  Reversions  Remainder  and  Re- 
mainders  Rents  Issues  and  Profits  thereof  and  of  every  part  and  parcel 
thereof;  and  page  435  Last  Line  the  Word  further  are  interlined 
Examined  this  23d  November  1769    By  me 

Gw.  Banyar  Deputy" 

By  the  terms  of  the  charter,  within  three  years  from  Nov. 
13,  1769,  or  by  Nov.  13,  1772,  there  must  be  settled  within  the 
township  of  Boyalton  30  families,  and  900  acres  of  land  must 
be  under  cultivation,  if  we  take  as  an  estimate  that  one-half  of 
the  land  was  arable.  It  is  not  likely  that  a  dozen  families  had 
settled  in  town  at  that  date,  and  even  in  1791,  over  twenty  years 
after  the  charter  was  granted,  the  number  of  acres  of  improved 
land  was  only  1768.  The  General  Assembly  had  some  ground 
for  stating  that  the  land  was  vacant,  when  it  meditated  the  re- 
granting  of  it  to  Danforth  Keyes  and  his  associates. 

A  careful  examination  of  the  foregoing  charter  shows  that 
(1)  the  petitioners  for  the  land  declared  it  to  be  vacant  and 
unpatented,  (2)  that  the  town  was  named  by  said  petitioners, 
(3)  that  the  grant  was  for  30,000  acres,  (4)  that  the  petitioners 
had  had  a  grant  of  this  land  three  years  before,  November  7, 
1766,  and  had  had  it  surveyed  before  the  issuance  of  the  charter, 
(5)  that  there  were  certain  reservations,  (6)  that  a  yearly  rent 
was  to  be  paid,  (7)  that  the  number  of  town  oflScers  and  manner 
of  choosing  them,  and  filling  vacancies  were  designated,  (8) 
that  certain  conditions  of  occupancy  were  specified,  (9)  and 
that  provision  was  made  for  a  permanent  record. 

It  will  be  of  interest  to  some,  no  doubt,  to  compare  this 
charter  with  the  Vermont  charter,  which,  in  accordance  with 
statute  law,  was  inscribed  on  the  first  pages  of  the  Proprietors' 
book  of  records. 

"The  Governor,  Council,  and  General  Assembly  of  the  Freemen  of 
the  State  of  Vermont, 

To  all  People  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come  Greeting, 

Know  ye  that  Whereas  Comfort  Seaver,  Esq.,  and  his  Associates 
our  worthy  Friends  have  by  Petition  requested  a  Grant  of  a  Tract  of 
unappropriated  land  within  this  State  in  order  for  Settling  A  new 
Plantation  to  be  Erected  into  a  Township,  We  Have  therefore  Thought 
fit  for  the  Due  encouragement  of  their  Laudable  Designs,  and  for 
other  Valuable  considerations  us  hereunto  moving,  and  do  by  these 
Presents,  In  the  Name  and  by  the  Authority  of  the  Freemen  of  the 
State  of  Vermont,  give  and  grant  the  Tract  of  Land  hereafter  de- 
scribed &  bounded  unto  him  the  said  Comfort  Seaver  and  unto  the 
Several  Persons  hereafter  named  his  Associates  in  equal  Shares  Viz. 

Elias  Stevens,  Blisha  Kent,  John  Kent,  Elisha  Kent  Jur.,  John 
Hibbard,  James  Hibbard,  Jedediah  Hide  (of  Royalton)  Ebenezer 
Dewey,  Ebenezer  Church,  Nathan  Fish,  John  Safford,  Benjamin  Park- 
hurste,  Simon  Sheperd,  Reuben  Parkhurste,  Daniel  Gilbert,  Daniel 
Rix,  John  Kimbal,  Garner  Rix,  Ebenezer  Parkhurst,  David  Fish.  David 
Brewster,  Robert  Havens,  William  Blackmer,  Heman  Durkee,  Ebenezer 


16  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

Brewster,  Medad  Benton,  Nathanel  Morse,  Robert  Handay,  Benjamin 
Day,  Timothy  Durkee,  John  Jillet,  Adan  Durkee,  John  Billins,  Joseph 
Fish,  John  Hibbard  Jur.,  John  Willcox,  Samuel  Benedict,  Calven  Park- 
hurste,  Josiah  Wheeler,  Joseph  Parkhurste,  EHias  Curtis,  Joseph  Havens, 
Johnson  Safford,  John  Stevens  Jur.,  Isaac  Morgan,  Zebulon  Lyon, 
Nathan  Morgan,  Daniel  Tuller,  William  Joiner,  Martin  TuUer,  Daniel 
Havens,  Benjamin  Day  Jur.,  John  Evans,  Jer^niah  Trescott,  Israel 
Wallow,  William  Jones,  John  House,  Tilley  Parkhurste,  Phineas  Park- 
hurst,  Jabez  Parkhurste,  Samuel  Clap,  and  Joel  BCarsh  (of  Sharon) 
which  together  with  the  five  following  rights  reserved  to  the  Several 
uses  in  Manner  following,  includes  the  whole  of  said  Tract  or  Town- 
ship Viz.  one  Right  for  the  use  of  a  Seminary  or  College;  one  Rig^t 
for  the  use  of  County  Grammer  Schools  in  said  State,  Lands  to  the 
Amount  of  One  Right  to  be  6  remain  for  the  purpose  of  Settlem^it  of 
a  Minister  and  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  in  Said  Township  forever; 
Lands  to  the  amount  of  one  Right  for  the  support  of  social  Worship  of 
God  in  said  Township,  and  Lands  to  the  Amount  of  one  Right  for  the 
Support  of  an  English  School  or  Schools  in  said  Township,  which  said 
Two  Rights  for  the  use  of  a  Simenary  or  College  and  for  the  use  of 
County  Grammer  Schools  as  Aforesaid,  and  the  improvements,  rights. 
Rents  Intrest  and  Profits  Arising  therefrom  shall  be  under  the  Control, 
Order,  direction  and  disposal  of  the  General  Assembly  of  said  State 
forever;  ^ 

And  the  proprietors  of  Said  Township  are  hereby  authorized  A 
impowered  to  locate  said  Two  rights  Justly  and  equitably  or  quantity 
for  quality  in  such  parts  of  said  Township  as  they  or  their  Committee 
shall  Judge  will  least  incommode  the  General  settlement  of  said  Tract 
or  To¥mship;  And  the  said  Proprietors  are  hereby  further  empowered 
to  locate  the  lands  aforesaid  amounting  to  three  Rights  assigned  for 
the  settlement  of  a  minister  and  ministers  for  their  Support,  and  for 
the  use  and  Support  of  English  Schools  in  such  and  in  so  many  places 
as  they  or  their  Ccmimittee  shall  Judge  will  best  accommodate  the 
Inhabitants  of  said  Township  when  the  same  shall  be  fully  settled  and 
improved  laying  the  same  equitably  or  quantity  for  quality  which  said 
Lands,  amounting  to  the  three  last  mentioned  Rights,  when  located  as 
aforesaid,  shall  together  with  their  improvements  Rights,  Rents,  Profits, 
dues  and  Intreste  remain  inalianbly  appropriated  to  the  uses  and  pur- 
poses for  which  they  are  respectively  assigned  and  be  under  the  charge, 
direction  and  disposal  of  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Township  forever; 

Which  said  Tract  of  Land  hereby  Given  A  Granted  as  aforesaid  is 
bounded  and  described  as  follows,  viz.  Beginning,  at  Sharon  Southwest 
comer  then  North  forty  Degrees  East  496  Chains  to  Tunbridge.  thence 
North  sixty  Degrees  West  456  Chains  to  Bethel,  Thence  South  forty 
Degrees  West  496  Chains  on  Bethel  line  to  Barnard,  Thence  South  Sixty 
Degrees  East  456  Chains  on  Barnard  to  the  Place  of  Beginning  con- 
taining 22320  Acres.  And  that  the  same  be  and  hereby  is  incorporated 
into  a  Township  by  the  name  of  Royalton,  And  the  Inhabitants  that  do 
or  shall  hereafter  Inhabit  said  Township  are  Declared  to  be  Infranchised 
and  entitled  to  all  the  Privileges  &  Immunities  that  the  Inhabitants  of 
other  Towns  within  this  state  do  &  ought  by  the  Law  and  Constitution 
of  this  State  to  Ehcerclse  and  enjoy.  To  Have  and  to  Hold  the  said 
Granted  Premises  as  above  expressed,  with  all  the  Privileges,  and 
appurtenances  thereto  belonging  and  appartaining  unto  them  and  their 
respective  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  upon  the  following  Condition 
and  Reservations  Viz.  That  each  Proprietor  in  the  Township  of 
Royalton  aforesaid  his  heirs  or  assigns,  shall  plant  and  cultivate  five 
acres  of  Land  and  build  an  House  at  least  Eighteen  feet  square  upon 
the  floor,  or  have  one  Family  settled  on  each  respective  Right  or  Share 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  17 

within  the  Term  of  Eighteen  Months  from  the  date  hereof,  on  penalty 
of  the  Forfeiture  of  each  Reepective  right  of  Land  in  said  Township, 
not  so  improved  or  settled,  and  the  same  to  revert  to  the  Freemen  of 
this  State  to  he  by  their  Representatiyes  regranted  to  Such  persons  as 
shall  appear  to  Settle  and  Cultivate  the  Same.  That  all  Pine  Timber 
suitable  for  a  Navy  be  reserved  for  the  use  and  Benefit  of  the  Freemen 
of  this  State;  In  Testimony,  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and 
Caused  the  seal  of  this  state  to  be  affixed  in  Council  this  20th  Day  of 
Deer.  1781  and  in  the  fifth  year  of  the  Independence  of  this  State 
By  His  Bzcellenc3r's  Command 

Thos.  Chittenden 
Tho.  Tolman  Dy.  Secy. 
State  of  Vermont  }         Arlington 

Bennington  County         3         December  2l8t  1781 
then  rec'd  and  Recorded  above  Charter    Tho.  Tolman  Dep  Sec'ry 
This  is  a  true  Coppy  of  the  Original 

EHias  Stevens,  Props  Clerk." 

The  charter  as  given  is  as  it  stands  in  the  oflSce  of  the  Sec- 
retary of  State.  The  town  of  Linfield,  sometimes  written  Lint- 
field,  and  Litchfield,  will  be  noticed  on  the  chart  of  Tunbridge 
Gore  as  occupying  the  territory  now  covered  by  Royalton.  Slade 
in  his  Vermont  State  Papers  gives  a  list  of  Vermont  towns 
granted  by  Benning  Wentworth,  Governor  of  New  Hampshire, 
and  includes  Lintfield  (Royalton)  as  having  been  chartered  Aug. 
4,  1763,  before  the  King  gave  New  York  jurisdiction  over  this 
territory.  On  an  old  English  map  printed  in  1774  it  is  named 
Linfield.  John  Kelly,  one  of  the  New  York  grantees  of  Roy- 
alton in  1769,  also  made  a  list  of  Gov.  Wentworth 's  Vermont 
grants,  which  he  swore  on  Mar.  6,  1771,  was  taken  from  a  N.  H. 
map,  purporting  to  be  an  authentic  draft  of  lands  granted  by 
Gov.  Wentworth  in  Vermont,  with  dates  of  patents,  in  which 
list  Lintfield  did  not  appear.  In  the  Documentary  History  of 
N.  Y.,  Vol.  IV,  pages  704-707,  it  states  that  the  copy  of  charters 
in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Montpelier,  which  was 
certified  to  by  the  Secretary  of  State  of  N.  H.  in  1857  as  correct, 
and  supposed  to  include  all  grants  in  Vermont  territory,  has 
all  towns  in  both  lists  except  Lintfield. 

No  further  proof  of  such  a  grant  has  been  found,  though 
it  would  seem  that  it  might  have  been  meditated,  else  it  would 
not  have  appeared  on  any  map.  It  was  eleven  years  after  the 
charter  is  said  to  have  been  given,  before  the  English  map  re- 
ferred to  was  printed,  and  Royalton  then  was  already  settled 
by  men  taking  their  holdings  from  the  N.  Y.  grantees.  An 
appeal  to  the  State  Librarian  at  Concord  brought  forth  the  fol- 
lowing from  his  assistant,  with  reference  to  the  statement  in 
N.  H.  State  Papers,  Vol.  26,  p.  681,  which  has  already  been  given. 
"This  statement  was  written  by  Hiram  A.  Huse,  late  of  Mont- 
pelier, and  I  can  add  nothing  to  it.  There  is  positively  no  evi- 
dence that  such  a  grant  was  ever  made  by  the  government  of 
New  Hampshire." 
2 


CHAPTER  III. 


The  PsoPBiETCHts'  Becobds. 

Probably  it  will  never  be  known  whether  all  of  the  records 
of  the  proprietors  under  the  New  York  charter  have  been  de- 
stroyed, or  whether  some  of  them  do  not  still  exist  in  musty 
archives  or  cobwebbed  garrets.  The  "Proprietor  Book"  in  pos- 
session of  the  town  deals  with  transactions  after  the  grant  by 
Vermont  only,  and  has  on  the  fly  leaf  the  date,  "February  1781.'* 
The  first  recorded  action  is  as  follows: 

''Royalton  June  5th  1781 
at  A  proprietors  Meeting,  the  Township  of  Royalton  holde  at  Lat 
Timothy  Durkee  one  of  the  Clo'k  <hi  sd  Day 

1  Chose  Calvin  Parkhnrst  Moderator 

2  Chose  Elias  Stevens  Propt  Clark 

3  Chose  Comfort  Sever  esqr  Tresure 

4  Chose  Lut  Zehulon  Lyon  Collector 

5  Chose  E^  Sever  Calvin  Parkhnrst  John  Hibbard 

A  Perdentlal  Committee 

6  Voted  that  E^rery  Proprietor  Shall  be  Quited  in  his  Possion 
Except  John  Stevens  and  he  is  to  hold  one  whole  Right  of  Land  and  no 
more  through  the  town  and  that  he  shall  hold  Right  in  Lot  No  30  in 
the  Larglotments  west  side  whitch  he  bought  of  Hibbard  and  Adams. 

7  Voted  that  E«very  man  that  Can  make  it  Apear  that  he  has 
Purchased  Land  and  has  Paid  for  the  Rite  of  Site  Shall  hold  all  he  has 
paid  for  and  a  Proprietors  Right  beside  his  paying  Charter  fee  for  the 
hole 

8  Voted  that  all  Proprietors  that  halnt  no  Land  in  Town  shall 
have  the  Liberty  to  pitch  one  hundred  Acres  in  the  individual  Lands 
Lay  this  Lot  Parel  with  the  town  Lines  North  and  South 

9  Voted  that  the  Widdow  Sarah  Rude  Shall  have  a  Right  of 
Land  through  the  town  Except  the  second  hundred  of  sd  Right  and  that 
Lot  Daniel  Billing  Son  of  BenJ  Billins  Shall  have  that  with  his  paying 
Charier  fees  for  the  same 

10  Voted  that  the  Proprietors  will  Vandue  one  hundred  Acres 
of  Land  and  that  the  Purchaser  Shall  have  Liberty  to  have  the  first 
pitch  in  the  undivided  Lands  and  that  the  perdentlal  Committee  shall 
give  the  Purchaser  A  good  Deed  of  said  Lot  and  the  Proprietors  will 
keep  them  from  harm 

11  Voted  that  BenJ  Parkhnrst  Shall  have  the  Liberty  to  Pitch 
one  hundred  acres  of  Land  in  the  undivided  Lands 

12  Voted  that  Ebenezer  Parkhurst  Shall  have  the  Liberty  to 
pitch  Lot  No  2  Larglotment  for  his  Right  of  Land  in  Royalton 

13  Voted  that  Elias  Stevens  shall  have  a  pitch  of  one  hundred 
of  Land  in  Lot  No  6  East  side  Larglotn  on  his  Right 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  19 

14  Voted  that  Israel  Wallow  shall  have  a  pitch  of  his  second 
hundred  Acres  of  his  Right  of  Land  in  Royalton 

15  Voted  that  Nehemiah  Nobles  Shall  have  the  Liberty  to 
pitch  the  second  hundred  Acres  of  Land  Belonging  to  William  black- 
mores  Right 

16  Voted  that  Samuel  Clap  shall  have  the  Lot  that  was  pitch 
for  the  first  hundred  acre  Lot  of  the  Throop  Right  in  Lue  of  his  first 
hundred  Acre  Lot  and  that  the  proprietors  will  Chop  four  Acres  for  the 
sd  Clap 

17  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  Shall  Take  the  Lot  that  is  none 
by  the  Name  of  the  Clap  Lot  and  swop  with  Mr  Elisha  Kent  for  thirty 
acres  of  Land  Adjoining  to  Lent  Benton  for  a  Ministerial  Lot  and  that 
the  perdential  Committee  shall  give  Lent  Lion  a  good  Deed  of  the  Clapt 
Lot  and  the  proprietors  will  save  them  from  harm. 

18  Voted  that  Tilly  Parkhurst  Shall  have  a  pitch  of  one  100 
in  Lot  No  31  Town  Plot  as  he  bought  it  of  the  proprietors  at  Vandue  and 
gave  twenty  pounds  Old  way 

19  Voted  to  Chose  a  Committee  to  Receive  the  Numbers  of 
Lots  and  Acres  of  Land  belonging  to  each  Proprietor  and  the  Committee 
here  After  Chosen  shall  prepare  and  Make  up  a  Draft  so  that  each 
proprietor  shall  have  three  hundred  Acres  of  Land  Laid  out  to  his 
Right  and  that  the  Committee  shall  Make  A  Return  to  the  Next  meeting 
of  their  Doings 

20  Voted  Chose  Bsq  Sever  Calvin  Parkhurst  Daniel  Rix  Joseph 
Fish  A  Elias  Stevens  A  Committee  to  Receive  the  Numbers  and  Lots 
and  acres  of  Land  and  perseed  and  Make  up  a  Draft 

21  Voted  that  the  Proprietors  will  sell  the  Right  of  Land  none 
by  the  name  of  the  throop  for  one  hundred  pounds  hard  Money  and  that 
the  Right  be  Left  in  the  hands  of  the  perdential  Committee  hand  for 
sail 

22  Voted  to  Except  the  Plan  as  it  now  stands  for  our  survey, 
and  Lots  of  Land  Laid  Down  on  sd  plan  of  sd  Town  and  Numbers  of 
Acres  to  E^ch  Lot  on  sd  Plan  of  sd  Royalton 

But  nevertheless  if  any  proprietor  is  Not  willing  to  take  his 
Lot  as  it  now  stands  on  the  Plan  he  shall  have  the  Liberty  to  mesure 
his  Lot  and  Make  Returns  to  the  Committee  before  the  next  meeting 
Otherwise  sd  plan  is  to  Remain  as  it  now  stands 

23  Voted  to  AJurn  this  meeting  till  the  21st  Day  of  this 
Instant  Month  at  the  house  of  Lut  Calvin  Parkhurst  at  twelve  of  the 
Clok  on  sd  Day 

Elias  Stevens  Pro  Clark" 

John  Stevens  was  probably  never  a  resident  of  the  town, 
but  he  had  bought  land  and  was  permitted  to  keep  it,  but  not 
allowed  an  after  division.  The  action  of  the  proprietors  as 
indicated  in  Section  7,  will  explain  why  some  of  the  grantees 
held  more  land  than  others.  Several  had  paid  the  New  York 
proprietors  or  their  agents  for  their  holdings,  they  had  been  the 
pioneers  in  clearing  land  and  making  roads,  and  it  was  deemed 
only  just  and  fair  that  they  should  share  equally  with  other 
grantees  under  the  new  charter.  Considerable  difficulty,  no 
doubt,  was  experienced  by  some  in  proving  that  they  really  had 
bought  the  land  and  paid  for  it.  The  deeds  of  many  were 
burned  at  the  time  of  the  Indian  raid,  and  they  had  little  proof 


20  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

to  show.  They  had  to  trust  to  the  honesty  of  the  original  own- 
ers, and  to  verbal  evidence. 

These  proceedings  indicate  that  Mr.  Throop,  probably  John 
Throop,  had  expected  to  have  a  right,  perhaps  to  settle  in  town. 
He  was  a  resident  of  Pomfret  and  remained  there,  one  of  the 
most  influential  of  its  early  citizens.  They  show  also,  that  for 
some  reason  Mr.  Glapp  did  not  have  the  lot  originally  intended 
for  him,  or  on  which,  perhaps,  he  had  already  settled.  Bufus 
Bude  had  died  before  the  new  charter  was  granted,  and  his 
widow  was  generously  provided  for.  The  land  records  do  not 
show  that  she  ever  had  any  land.  She  was  sixty-two  at  the  time 
this  right  was  granted  her.  Her  daughter  Sarah  married  Elias 
Stevens,  and  Bufus  Bude  wiUed  a  large  share  of  his  property 
to  Lieut.  Stevens,  with  whom  perhaps,  Mrs.  Bude  lived,  and  in 
that  case,  Mr.  Stevens  may  have  made  a  pitch  on  her  right. 

The  "first  hundred"  in  the  division  of  lots  was  in  Dutch 
Allotment,  the  second  in  Town  Plot,  and  the  third  in  Large 
Allotment.  The  most  desirable  lots  had  been  taken  previous  to 
the  grant  of  the  Vermont  charter,  and  the  grantees  who  had  not 
already  settled  in  town,  had  necessarily  to  take  less  valuable  lots. 
Doubtless,  some  of  the  grantees  had  had  no  deed  of  their  land, 
but  had  taken  a  lot  with  the  hope  or  understanding  that  they 
would  be  quitted  in  possession  after  clearing  the  land  and  build- 
ing homes.  Comfort  Sever,  as  related  in  another  place,  is  an 
example  of  this  class.  It  was  to  the  interest  of  the  New  York 
proprietors  to  secure  a  certain  number  of  virtual  settlers  to 
conform  to  charter  requirements,  and  to  enhance  the  value  of 
their  property. 

Just  how  the  lots  were  cast  is  not  stated.  From  accounts 
of  drafts  in  other  towns  it  is  learned  that  the  names  were  writ- 
ten on  pieces  of  paper  and  put  into  a  receptacle.  Then  one 
person  read  off  a  number,  and  another  drew  out  a  name  from 
the  box,  and  so  on  until  all  the  names  had  been  drawn  out.  In 
the  Hartford  records  it  is  stated  "the  first  shall  make  his  pitch 
by  monday  Next  and  get  the  two  first  letters  of  his  Name  on 
the  bound  tree  under  the  Number  that  is  on  the  bound  tree  with 
a  certificate  from  recorder  their  hand  to  be  Delivered  to  the 
Clark."  A  similar  method  was  doubtless  followed  here,  and 
had  become  so  well  known  then  that  it  did  not  need  specific  direc- 
tions. The  names  of  the  owners  were  on  trees,  and  some  of 
them,  possibly,  can  be  found  today  by  sharp  eyes. 

In  granting  the  charter,  the  Assembly  considered  the  cases 
of  non-residents.  If  the  land  was  held  chiefly  by  such  a  class, 
it  was  in  reality  vacant  land,  and  subject  to  grant.  The  proprie- 
tors of  Boyalton,  at  their  first  meeting  did  not  encourage  such 
holding  of  property,  and  in  the  cases  of  the  Blackmer  and 


HlST(»Y  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT  21 

Throop  rights,  dealt  with  them  stringently.     William  Blackmer 
was  a  resident  of  Barnard. 

They  met  a  second  time  on  June  21st: 

"1  Voted  that  the  Committee  that  was  to  Make  up  the  Draft  shall 
Make  Report  at  the  Next  meeting 

2  Voted  to  Chose  A  committee  to  see  that  the  Land  is  Cut  for 
Mr.  Clap  as  twas  Voted  Last  meeting  Chose  Jo.  Parkhurst  EBq  Sever 
EUias  Stevens  Ben]  Parkhurst  A  John  BiUins  a  Committee  to  see  to  the 
Choping  Done 

4  Voted  to  AJum  this  meeting  till  the  28th  of  this  Instant  Month 
at  the  house  of  Lut  Timothy  Durkee  At  one  of  the  Clok  on  sd  Day 

Elias  Stevens  Pr  Clark" 

They  met  according  to  adjournment,  and  the  committee  re- 
ported the  holdings  of  those  who  owned  their  land.  This  list 
shows  who  claimed  to  own  land  before  the  Vermont  charter 
was  issued,  and  not  long  after  the  destruction  of  the  town.  A 
number  had  not  received  the  allotted  300  acres,  and  the  com- 
mittee reported  that  they  had  made  a  **Lotry  to  be  Drawn  for 
the  same.'*  John  Hibbard,  Jr.,  Daniel  Rix,  Mr.  Day,  Mr.  Clapp, 
and  Mr.  Lyon  were  chosen  to  draw  the  **Lotry."  The  result 
of  the  draft  is  shown  in  the  list  by  **d."  placed  before  the  num- 
ber of  acres.  The  abbreviations  used  in  condensing  the  list  are 
A.  for  acres,  D.  for  Dutch  Allotment,  L.  for  Large  Allotment, 
T.  P.  for  Town  Plot,  N.  for  North,  S.  for  South,  E.  for  East, 
W.  for  West,  M.  for  Middle,  d.  for  draft,  and  m.  d.  for  missed 
draft,  in  which  case  the  lot  was  cast  later.  The  arrangement  is, 
first,  the  name,  second,  the  number  of  acres,  and  third,  the  lot. 

Benedict,  Samuel— 128  A.— 32  D.;  100  A.— 16  D.;  100  A.— E.  4  L. 
Benton,  Medad— 200  A.— W.  5  L.;  25  A.— 26  D.;  m.  d.  100  A.— 9  T.  P. 
Billings,  John— 255  A.— 19  &  20  T.  P.;  100  A.— W.  41    L. 
Blackmer,  William— 100  A.— E.  27  L.;  100  A.— W.  33  L.;  d.  100  A.— M. 

13  L. 
Brewster,  David— 100  A.— M.  54  T.  P.;  100  A.— 30  D.;  100  A.— E.  21  L. 
Brewster,  Ebenezer— 309 — 46  T.  P.  (D.?). 

Church,  EJbenezer— 80  A.— 3  D.;  d.  100  A.— E.  15  L.;  d.  100  A.— 24  D. 
Clapp,  Samuel— 100  A.— M.  39  L.;  100  A.— W.  27  L.;  d.  100  A.— 23  T.  P. 
Curtis,  Elias— 200  A.— 29  &  34  D.;  100  A.— W.  21  L.;  100  A.— W.  32  L. 
Day,  Benjamin— 167  A.— W.  34  L.;  100  A.— B.  14  L.;  d.  40  A.— W.  8  L. 
Day,  Benjamin,  Jr.— 100  A.— 14  D.;   100  A.— E.  25  L.;  100  A.— M.  6  L. 
Dewey,  Ebenezer— 260  A. — 4,  5  &  12  D.;  m.  d.  50  A.— N.  W.  28  L. 
Durkee,  Adan— 100  A.— M.  36  L.;  100  A.— E.  19  L.;  d.  100  A.— E.  28  L. 
Durkee,  Heman— 100  A.— N.  53  T.  P.;  175  A.— E.  30  L.;  d.  25  A.— M.  32  L. 
Durkee,  Timothy— 260  A.— 53  T.  P.;  d.  40  A.— M.  12  L. 
Evans,  John— 225  A.— 27  &  29  D.;  d.  75  A.— M.  32  L. 
Fish,  Nathan— 100  A.  15  T.  P.;  100  A.— E.  31  L.;  d.  100  A.— W.  12  L. 
Fish,  David— 100  A.  18  T.  P.;  d.  100  A.— W.  29  L.;  m.  d.  200  A.— 13  & 

22  T.  P. 
Fish,  Joseph— 100  A.— W.  54  T.  P. ;  200  A.— 10  &  11  D. 
Gilbert,  Daniel— 100  A.— 19  D.;  80  A.— 2  D.;  d.  100— E.  33  L.;  20  A.— 

17  D.  (Cut  off  by  Sharon  line.) 
Oillett,  John— 100  A.— W.  36  L.;  100  A.— W.  31  L.;  100  A.— M.  33  L. 


22  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

Handy,  Robert— 100  A.— W.  19  L.;  100  A.— M.  8  L.;  100  A.— N.  E.  22  L. 
Havens,  Robert— 137  A.— 37  D.;  100  A.— W.  35  L.;  100  A.— 3  T.  P.;  d. 

100  A.— E.  7  L. 
Havens,  Joseph— 75  A.— 36  D.;  100  A. — 44  D.;  100  A.— M.  4  L. 
Havens.  Daniel— 142  A.— 42  D.;  200  A.— W.  A  M.  23  L.;  100  A.— 18  D. 
Hibbard,  John— 204  A.— 28  A  29  T.  P.;  d.  100  A.— W.  24  L. 
Hibbard,  James— 253  A.— 37  A  38  T.  P.;  d.  47  A-— M.  29  L. 
Hibbard,  John,  Jr.— 228  A.— M.  27  A  36  L.;  100  A.— M.  7  L. 
Hide,  Jedediah— 100  A.— E.  40  L.;  d.  100  A.— W.  20  L.;  d.  100  A.— 

M.  28  L. 
House,  John— 128  A.— 32  T.  P.;  d.  100  A.— R  27  L.;  d.  100  A.— W.  15  U 
Joiner,  William- 100  A.— W.  17  L.;  100  A.— M.  19  L.;  100  A.— M.  15  L. 
Jones,  William— 100  A— 9  D.;  100  A— M.  20  L.;  m.  d.  100  A.— 8  T.  P. 
Kent,  Ellsha— 280  A.— 10  L.;  d.  20  A.— M.  25  L. 
Kent,  Ellsha  Jr.— 100  A.— E.  39  L.;  200  A.— E.  A  W.  9  L. 
Kent,  John— 100  A.— 45  D.;  80  A.— 1  D.;  100  A.— 16  T.  P. 
Kimball,  John— 50  A.— E.  8  L.;  128  A.— 35  T.  P.;  100  A.— 26  T.  P.;  (?) 

32  A. 34  T.  P. 

Lyon,  Zebulon— 100  A.— E.  54  T.  P.;  100  A-— E.  20  L.;  100  A.— W.  14  L. 
Marsh,  Joel— 100  A.— W.  37  L.;  ul  d.  100  A.— E.  24  L.;  m.  d.  66  A.— N. 

30  T.  P.;  m.  d.  36  A-— S.  W.  28  L. 
Morgan,  Nathan— 170  A.— M.  5  L.;  25  A.— 26  D.;  d.  100  A.— 17  T.  P.;  d. 

50  A.— M.  25  L. 
Morgan,  Isaac— 100  A-— 35  D.;  50  A.— 31  D.;  8  A.— N.  E.  A  S.  E.  1  U; 

d.  50  A.— M.  29  L.;  d.  100  A.— M.  27  U;  d.  100  A.— E.  32  L. 
Morse.  Nathaniel— 209  A.— 20  &  21  D.;  100  A-— W.  25  L. 
Parkhurat,  Reuben— 100  A.— E.  41  L.;  100  A.— W.  4  L.;  100  A.— 10  T.  P. 
Parkhurst,  Benjamin— 108  A.— 4  T.  P.;  100  A.— 30  T.  P.;   100  A.— BL 

41  L. 
Parkhurst,  Bbenzer— 300  A. — 2*Li. 
Parkhurst,  Jabez— 167  A.— E.  34  L.;  d.  100  A.— B.  39  L.;  m.  d.  33  A. — 

17  D. 
Parkhurst,  Phineas— 200  A.— 26  L.,  (on  the  river) ;  m.  d.  100  A.— 23  D. 
Parkhurst,  Joseph- 176  A.— E.  16  U;  100  A.— W.  6  L.;  50  A.— 31  D.;  d. 

34  A.— M.  25    L. 
Parkhurst,  Tilly— 265  A.— E.  1  L. ;  100  A.— 13  D. 
Parkhurst,  Calvin— 134  A.— W.  16  L.;  100  A.— S.  E.  22  L.;  25  A.— 26  D.; 

d.  40  A-— W.  8  L. 
Rix,  Daniel— 100  A.— 38  D.;  100  A.— 43  D.;  32  A.— 34  T.  P.;  25  A.— 26  D. 
Rlx,  Gamer— 100  A.— W.  22  L.;  100  A.— M.  26  L.;  d.  100  A.— 14  T.  P. 
Safford,  Johnson— 100  A.— S.  (?)  26  L.;  128  A.— 33  T.  P.;  64  A.— 34  T.  P. 
Safford,  John— 100  A.— W.  22  L.;  100  A.— 25  T.  P.;  d.  100  A.— 24  T.  P. 
Sever,  (Jomfort— 180  A.— 11  &  12  T.  P.;  100  A.— 40  D.;  d.  20  A.— W.  8  U 
Shepard,  Simon— 195  A.— 7  &  8  D.;  d.  100  A.— E.  13  L. 
Stevens,  John— 300  A.— W.  30  L. 
Stevens,  Elias— 100  A.— W.  1  L.;  50  A.— E.  5  L.;  100  A.— E.  6  L.;  100  A. — 

41  D.;  100  A.— 28  D. 
Triscott,  Jeremiah— 72  A-— 15  D.;   100  A.— E.  23  L.;   d.  100  A.— M.  24 

L.;  d.  28  A.— M.  12  L. 
Tullar,  Daniel— 244  A.— 38  L.;   m.  d.  56  A.— 7  T.  P. 
Tullar,  Martin— 100  A.— N.  18  L.;   100  A.— E.  12  L.;   100  A.— M.  21  L. 
Waller,  Israel— 100  A.— 6  D.;  100  A.— W.  39  L.;  100  A.— M.  14  L. 
Wheeler,  Joslah— 100  A.— 25  D.;  100  A— E.  36  L.;  100  A.— M.  31  L. 
Wilcox,  John— 100  A.— M.  37  L.;  100  A.— E.  35  L.;  100  A.— W.  7  L. 

Nathan  Kimball,  John  and  Johnson  Safford,  Daniel  and 
Gamer  Rix  held  nearly  1000  acres  of  undivided  land,  which 
makes  it  difScult  to  determine  just  which  lot«  each  held,  but  the 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vebmont  23 

list  is  nearly,  if  not  absolutely  correct.  Isaac  Morgan  seems  to 
have  relinquished  his  8  acres  in  1  L.,  and  to  have  taken  the  same 
number  of  acres  in  31  D.,  as  later  he  holds  58  acres  there. 

Some  of  these  grantees  remained  here  but  a  short  time,  and 
sold  out  for  a  mere  song  in  most  instances,  and  moved  on  to  a 
newer  portion  of  the  state.  It  is  a  credit  to  Royalton,  that, 
compared  with  many  other  towns,  a  larger  number  of  her  grant- 
ees chose  to  make  their  homes  here,  than  was  usual,  even  though 
they  are  found  among  the  original  grantees  of  other  towns  west 
and  north. 

Four  adjourned  meetings  followed  the  meeting  of  June  28, 
at  the  last  of  which  they  adjourned  to  Lieut.  Fish's  **for  half 
an  ower,''  and  finally  were  able  to  act.  The  busy  woodman  and 
farmer  was  more  interested  apparently  in  re-habilitating  his 
home  and  in  providing  for  the  winter,  than  in  the  doings  of  the 
proprietors,  especially,  as  their  meeting  had  to  deal  with  charter 
fees,  which  most  of  them  were  in  no  condition  to  pay.  This 
meeting  was  held  Oct.  4,  1781,  and  the  record  of  the  meeting 
and  of  the  subsequent  one  held  on  the  21st  is  given. 

"Ist  Voted  that  all  the  proprietors  that  want  sufferers  in  Royalton 
will  i)ay  their  Charter  feas  within  three  weeks  from  this  Day  to  their 
Ajint  who  shall  be  Chosen  hereafter  with  the  Rest  of  the  Sufferers 
Giving  their  Obligations  so  that  Our  AJint  may  Perceed  to  the  Gtovemor 
and  take  out  sd  Charter  of  Royalton 

2nd  Voted  and  Maid  Choice  of  Blias  Stevens  AJint  to  Perceed  and  take 
of  sd  Charter 

3rd  Voted  to  Raise  a  tax  of  one  Dollar  on  Each  proprietors  Right  in 
Royalton. 

4th    Chose  Elias  Stevens  Collector  for  sd  Tax 

5th    Voted  to  Ajurn  this  Meeting  till  the  21  Day  of  this  Instant  at  Lut 
Parkhurst  at  9  Clok  in  the  Morning" 
"Oct  21st  1781 

Met  According  Ajumment 
1    Voted  that  all  the  proprietors  will  pay  their  Charter  feas  to  their 
Ajint  by  the  first  Day  of  December 

2nd  Voted  that  David  Pish  shall  (have)  as  much  Land  as  a  Committee 
shall  say  to  Make  him  good  in  Lew  of  his  Drafted  Lot  as  twas  Drafted 
on  to  a  pitch  Lot  sd  Fish  is  to  have  the  Liberty  to  pitch  before  the 
Committee  shall  say  how  mutch  he  shall  have 

3rd  Chose  Leut  Durkee  Lut  Cal.  Parkhurst  Mr.  Rix  A  committee  to 
say  how  mutch  Land  Mr  fish  shall  have  in  Lew  of  his  Drafted  Lot  and 
that  the  Committee  shall  make  a  pitch  of  two  hundred  acres  on  the 
Throop  Right  as  twas  mist  in  the  Draft 

4th    Voted  All  proprietors  that  had  their  Lots  Mist  in  the  Draft  shall 
have  the  Liberty  to  Pitch  their  lots  in  the  undivided  Land 
5th    Voted  to  Ajurn  this  Meeting  till  the  first  Monday  of  Deem  Next  at 
Lut  Lions  at  9  of  the  Clok  in  the  morning 

Elias  Stevens  prs  Clark" 

Two  adjourned  meetings  follow  before  Jan.  28,  1782.     They 

met  on  that  date,  and  considered  the  expenses  of  the  agent  sent 

to  the  governor  for  the  charter. 


24  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 


"A  Return  of  the  AJint  in  Citing  the  Charter  the  Cost  of  the  Charter 
and  his  Expenses  is  £7.5.10  in  State  money  and  £3.2.0  in  hard  money 
1st    Voted  to  that  the  AJint  shall  have  the  one  Dollar  tax  that  was 
Raised  Oct  L^st  for  his  ESxpenses  and  the  Cost  of  the  Charter 

2  Voted  to  Chose  a  Committee  to  say  what  the  AJint  shall  have  for 
his  Services  in  Citing  the  Charter 

Chose  BenJ  Parkhurst  Mr.  Day  Capt  Jo  Parkhurst  a  Committee  to  the 
Report  of  the  Committee  for  the  AJints  serrice  is  that  the  AJint  shall 
have  six  pounds  Old  way  for  his  services  in  giting  the  Charter 

3  Voted  and  Except  the  Report  of  the  Committee 

4th  Voted  to  Chose  a  committee  to  treat  with  the  AJint  Conseming  the 
Charter  fes  he  Received  whether  he  Received  of  those  men  that  had 
Bought  their  Land  and  got  Deed,  or  Not 

Chose  BenJ  Parkhurst  John  Hibbard  Daniel  Gilbert  A  committee 
to  tree  (t)  with  the  AJint  and  Make  Report  to  the  Next  Meeting 
5    Voted  to  put  a  warning  for  a  proprietors  Meeting  into  the  Publlck 
prints  acording  to  Law 

Chose  EiSq  Sever  to  put  a  warning  into  the  publlck  Paper 
6th    Voted  that  the  Perdential  Committee  shall  take  a  deed  of  Mr  Kent 
of  thirty  acres  of  Land  ajind  to'  Lut  Benton  whitch  is  called  the  Min- 
isters Lot  in  Behalf  of  sd  proprietors 

7th  Voted  that  Ellas  Stevens  Shall  take  a  Bond  for  a  Deed  of  E^sq 
Joel  Marsh  for  a  Right  of  Land  in  Royalton  as  his  Name  was  put  into 
the  Charter  in  Lew  of  EiSq  throop  Name  in  Behalf  of  sd  proprietors 
7th  Voted  that  if  Tllley  Parkhurst  will  Pay  Ellas  Stevens  Six  Pounds 
Old  way  and  £<sq  Jacobs  five  Pounds  Old  way  that  the  Proprietors  will 
wait  on  him  till  Nex  fall  for  the  Rest 

8th  (Voted)  to  AJum  this  Meeting  till  the  Uist  thursday  in  March 
Next  at  Capt  Jos  Parkhurst  at  Ten  of  the  Clok  in  the  morning 

Enias  Stevens  Pros  Clark" 

Mr.  Tilly  Parkhurst  evidently  found  it  diflSeult  to  raise  the 
twenty  pounds  that  he  was  to  pay  for  the  choice  of  a  lot.  He 
had  the  whole  undivided  land  to  choose  from,  and  he  chose  to 
make  his  pitch  of  100  acres  in  the  west  side  of  31  T.  P.  He 
lived  on  the  extreme  eastern  border  of  the  town,  and  this  pitch 
was  on  the  extreme  western  border.  The  probabilities  are  that 
Mr.  Parkhurst  did  not  pay  his  twenty  pounds,  for  on  Jime  18, 
1783,  the  committee  for  the  proprietors,  Comfort  Sever,  Calvin 
Parkhurst,  and  John  Hibbard,  for  twenty-five  pounds,  deed  the 
whole  of  31  T.  P.  to  Joshua  Hutchins. 

It  was  inevitable  that  there  should  be  some  controversy 
over  the  right  to  hold  land,  especially  in  case  of  non-residents. 
The  proprietors  at  their  next  meeting.  Mar.  27,  1782,  took  the 
following  action:  "Voted  that  if  Any  Parson  or  proprietor 
that  owns  Any  Land  in  the  After  division  and  will  go  and  Con- 
tinue Settlement  thereon  shall  hold  what  Land  he  owns  toGather 
in  sd  Divition." 

The  proprietors  next  gave  their  attention  to  the  pitching  of 
the  five  public  rights,  an  account  of  which  is  given  in  connec- 
tion with  the  history  of  the  public  lands. 

After  each  proprietor  had  pitched  his  three  one-hundred- 
acre  rights,  there  still  remained  undivided  land.    This  amounted 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  25 

to  enough  to  give  each  about  thirty-three  acres  more,  provided 
his  land  did  not  exceed  in  actual  measurement,  or  fall  short  of, 
the  300  acres  belonging  to  his  right.  A  few  availed  themselves 
of  this  extra  division,  called  ** after  divisions,''  and  made  a 
further  pitch,  but  oftener,  some  one  would  buy  up  two  or  more 
of  these  "after-division"  rights,  and  adding  his  own,  pitch  the 
whole  in  one  lot  of  100  or  more  acres.  William  Downer  made 
such  a  pitch,  June  14,  1782,  in  II  Large  Allotment,  west  side, 
on  the  rights  of  Medad  Benton,  Robert  Havens,  and  Daniel 
Havens.  In  some  cases  the  necessary  amount  of  land  for  a 
one-hundred-acre  lot  was  made  out  by  getting  the  right  to  the 
land  that  was  cut  oflf  by  the  new  survey.  One  or  two  men  who 
supposed  they  had  settled  in  Royalton,  woke  up  one  morning 
after  the  survey  and  found  they  were  citizens  of  Sharon,  as 
their  houses  were  over  the  border.  It  was  this  change  in  bound- 
ary that  gave  Sharon  the  birthplace  of  Joseph  Smith,  the  Mor- 
mon. Elias  Stevens  was  frequently  employed  to  make  pitches 
of  the  sort  just  mentioned,  and  he  has  to  his  record  no  less  than 
eighteen  pitches  based  on  missed  drafts,  after-divisions,  and  land 
cut  oflP  by  town  lines. 

David  Fish  at  first  had  a  free  hand  in  making  his  pitch, 
for  it  is  recorded  that  on  Sept.  15,  1782,  he  pitched  **two  200 
acres  in  Lots  No  22  &  No  13  Town  plot  as  he  had  had  one  lot 
missed  in  the  draft  and  a  Committee  wast  to  say  how  much  of 
sd  Lots  he  shall  have."  What  the  committee  said  is  not  re- 
corded, but  in  a  schedule  of  original  holdings  made  in  1807,  he 
did  not  hold  13  T.  P. 

Some  dissension  arose  in  Royalton  and  other  towns  over  the 
action  of  the  proprietors,  and  in  the  case  of  Royalton,  she  was 
practically  an  independent  republic  of  microscopic  dimensions, 
until  the  charter  was  issued  by  the  Governor  of  Vermont.  There 
might  be  some  question  as  to  the  legality  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  proprietors,  especially  as  the  earlier  records  had  been  de- 
stroyed. Accordingly,  we  find  recorded  on  page  23  of  the  Pro- 
prietors Book  the  following: 

"State  of  Vermont  Royalton  May  4th  1783 

Whereas  Application  has  bin  maide  to  me  By  more  than  one  Six- 
teenth part  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Township  of  Royalton  in  the  County 
of  Windsor  to  warn  a  proprietors  meeting  These  are  to  warn  all  the 
proprietors  to  meet  at  Dweling  house  of  Lut  Zebulon  Lions  in  sd  Royal- 
ton on  the  19th  Day  of  August  Next  at  Ten  of  the  Clok  in  the  morning 
then  and  their  to  Act  on  the  Following  Articles  viz  1st  to  Chose  a 
Moderator  2nd  to  Chose  a  Clark  3  to  Chose  a  pros  Tresure  4  a  Col- 
lector 5  a  Perdential  Committ  6  to  see  whether  the  proprietors  will 
Astablish  the  former  Vots  and  perseeding  of  sd  Proprietors  and  to 
Transact  Any  Other  Bizness  proper  to  be  Done  on  sd  Day 

Comfort  Sever  Jus  Pease 

the  Above  is  a  true  Coppy  of  the  Original 

Elias  Stevens  Pr  Clark" 


26  History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont 


''Royalton  August  19th  1783 
Met  Acording  to  warning 
1st     Chose  Calvin  Parkhurst  Moderator 

2  Chose  Elias  Stevens  Props  Clark 

3  Chose  Esq  Sever  Treeure 

4th    Chose  Benj  Parkhurst  Collector 

a  Chose  Esq  Sever  John  Hibbard  &  Calvin  Parkhurst  A  Per- 
dential  Committee 

6th  Voted  to  ratify  and  Stablish  all  proprietors  Meeting  and  Votes 
and  Persedings  of  the  Proprietors  of  Royalton  that  was  transacted  from 
the  5th  Day  of  June  1781  to  the  27  Day  of  March  1782  whitch  sd  meet- 
ings and  Votes  are  Recorded  in  this  Book  Before 

7th  Voted  that  those  proprietors  that  have  Bin  and  Maid  Pitches 
of  their  Afterdivitions  and  hant  Maid  Settlements  on  sd  Land  accord- 
ing to  a  Vote  pased  March  last  that  they  Shall  have  three  Months  from 
this  Date  provided  they  will  Build  A  house  and  Chop  three  Acres  on 
E^ch  hundred  acres  that  is  Now  pitch  sd  pitch  is  to  Stand  good  Other- 
wise sd  pitch  is  to  be  Void  and  of  no  EfTect 

8th  Voted  that  Each  proprietor  will  Give  five  acres  of  Land  out 
of  Each  hundred  acres  for  the  use  of  Publick  hiways  in  sd  Royalton 

9th  Voted  for  the  futur  to  warn  proprietors  meeting  by  Order  of 
the  perdential  Committee  to  the  proprietors  Clark  Directing  him  to 
put  up  A  warning  in  writing  at  Least  six  Day  before  sd  Meeting  in 
some  publick  place  in  sd  Town 

10th  Voted  to  AJum  this  meeting  till  the  1st  Tusday  of  Deer  Next 
at  Lut  Lions  at  one  of  the  Clok  Afternoon 

Elias  Stevens  pr  Clark" 

The  town  had  zealous  oflScers,  who  looked  carefully  after 
its  permanent  interests,  and  did  not  allow  for  any  length  of  time 
a  mere  adventurer  or  speculator  to  profit  by  holdings  within 
its  limits.  An  examination  of  the  record  of  pitches  shows 
that  some  were  pitched  twice,  probably  because  the  original 
owner  failed  to  meet  his  obligations.  Nathaniel  Alger  of  Kil- 
lingly,  Conn.,  bought  in  1783  a  lot,  33  Dutch  Allotment,  of  Amos 
Ames.  Mr.  Ames  was  not  an  original  grantee,  and  no  pitch 
of  his  is  recorded.  He  sold  the  land  on  the  strength  of  having 
the  after-divisions  of  Benjamin  Day,  Benj.  Day,  Jr.,  and  Alfred 
Day.  Alfred  Day  was  not  a  grantee,  nor  is  any  record  found 
of  his  having  been  allowed  to  share  in  the  after-divisions,  which 
does  not  prove  that  he  did  not  have  this  right.  The  proprietors 
took  action  May  3,  1784,  voting  that  Mr.  Alger  should  have  the 
lot,  provided  he  bought  enough  after-divisions  to  cover  it,  within 
one  year.  Whether  he  conformed  to  this  requirement  or  not, 
he  sold  the  lot  the  next  July  to  Ebenezer  Woodward,  who  was 
probably  the  first  occupant  of  it,  though  not  making  an  original^ 
pitch. 

In  a  few  instances,  where  it  seemed  difficult  to  lay  dividing 
lines  through  the  thick  forests,  or  for  some  other  reason,  two 
or  more  pitched  lots  in  common,  and  sold  in  common,  or  later 
made  a  division.  The  case  of  Daniel  Rix,  John  Saflford,  John 
Eimball,  Johnson  Safford,  and  Oamer  Rix  has  been  noted  before. 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  27 

They  made  a  division  of  their  land  in  1789,  but,  unfortunately, 
the  allotments  of  only  two  are  recorded,  and  in  consequence 
there  is  more  confusion  regarding  the  land  owned  by  these  men, 
than  in  that  of  almost  any  others.  In  a  tax  table  of  1807  the 
land  assigned  to  each  does  not  agree  in  every  case  with  deeds 
given  later.  The  five  men  just  named  employed  Reuben  Spald- 
ing of  Sharon  and  John  Kimball  of  Royalton  to  survey  their  lots. 

Other  matters  requiring  the  attention  of  the  proprietors 
were  **the  New  Lines  Run  by  the  Survare  General,"  the  charter 
fees,  and  the  building  of  a  bridge  across  White  river,  but  to 
avoid  repetition,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  topics  of  Boimd- 
aries.  Charters,  and  Bridges. 

Pitches  continued  to  be  made  from  time  to  time  until  1801. 
The  last  two  were  made  by  Elias  Stevens.  One  was  made  on 
June  1,  1799,  of  fifty  acres  in  N.  W.  28  Large  Allotment,  to 
offset  the  land  cut  off  by  Sharon  line  from  Nos.  4  and  5  Dutch 
Allotment.  The  other  was  a  pitch  made  by  Mr.  Stevens  for 
Ebenezer  Dewey,  of  twenty-five  acres,  an  after-division,  in  M. 
17  Large  Allotment.  With  two  men  as  keen  as  Elias  Stevens 
and  Zebulon  Lyon  on  the  watch  for  vacant  land,  it  is  safe  to 
say,  when  they  had  ceased  to  make  pitches,  there  was  no  more 
undivided  land  to  come  into  their  hoppers.  If  this  be  true, 
then  all  the  land  had  been  taken  within  thirty  years  from  the 
time  the  first  settler  built  his  log  cabin  in  the  New  York  town 
of  Royalton.  In  Sharon,  Solomon  Downer  made  a  pitch  as  late 
as  Mar.  18,  1831,  and  other  pitches  were  made  still  later,  in 
1855  and  1881.  Possibly,  some  enterprising  person  may  find 
that  there  is  still  vacant  land  in  Windsor  county,  and  that  he 
does  not  need  to  go  West  in  search  of  it. 

The  Governor  and  Council,  Nov.  5,  1800,  concurred  in  a 
bill  passed  by  the  Assembly  at  Middlebury,  which  was  entitled, 
**An  act  authorizing  the  Proprietors  and  Landowners  of  the 
town  of  Royalton  to  establish  the  division  of  lands  heretofore 
made."  This  bill  was  the  result  of  the  action  taken  by  the 
town  at  a  special  meeting,  Sept.  2,  1800,  when  it  was  voted  by 
the  town  **to  apply  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Ver- 
mont at  their  next  session  for  an  act  impowering  the  Proprie- 
tors &  Land  owners  of  sd  Royalton  to  establish  the  Proprietors 
Proceedings  &  Divisions  of  Land  heretofore  made  in  sd  Town 
according  to  the  comers  &  Lines  they  now  hold  too.*'  Jacob 
Smith  was  chosen  as  agent  to  attend  to  this  matter.  The  pro- 
prietors and  the  town  acted  together  in  warning  a  meeting,  and 
their  records  are  identical. 


28  History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont 


«i 


'Royalton  June  25th  1801 
Proprietors  and  Land  owners  met  agreeable  to  Warning 

Chose  Jacob  Smith  moderator 

Voted  to  Chose  a  committee  of  seven  to  examine  the  proprietors 
record  and  pint  out  the  ways  and  meens  by  whitch  the  proprietors  and 
Landholders  may  cary  the  Act  of  the  General  Assembly  past  Last 
session  inabling  them  to  ratify  the  vote  of  the  proprietors  and  Land 
owners  of  Royalton  into  effect 

Chose  Abel  Stevens  Jacob  Smith  Elias  Stevens  John  Billings  Ben- 
jamin Bozworth  William  Watterman  and  Isaac  Skinner  for  the  Above 
Committee 

Voted  to  AJum  this  meeting  to  the  Second  thursday  of  August  next 
at  ten  o'Clok  in  the  forenoon  at  this  place  (the  meeting  house) 

Elias  Stevens  Proprietors  Clark" 

"Royalton  August  13th  1801 

Proprietors  and  Land  owners  met  acording  to  AJumment 

Voted  to  ratify  establish  and  confirm  the  proprietors  Votes  per- 
ceedings  in  the  town  of  Royalton  and  County  of  Windsor  hereto  (fore) 
made  relitive  to  the  Divition  of  Land  in  said  town  into  Severilty 
except  9th  vote  of  a  meeting  held  on  the  5th  of  June  1781  voting  that 
the  widdow  Sarah  Rude  shall  have  a  part  of  a  rite  of  Land  ftc  whitch 
votes  are  recorded  in  the  proprietors  book  in  said  town  of  Reyalton 

Likewise  voted  to  ratify  establish  and  Confirm  the  proprietors 
perceedings  in  the  town  of  Royalton  and  the  Divitions  and  Pitches  of 
Land  heretofore  maid  in  said  town  by  said  proprietors  acording  to  the 
Comers  and  Lines  by  whitch  the  Land  in  the  town  of  Royalton  are  now 
and  have  heretofore  ben  held  whitch  comers  and  Lines  ware  maid  and 
run  by  Thomas  Vallentine  for  William  Livingston  Goldsbrow  Banyar 
Whitehead  Hicks  William  Smith  and  John  Kelley  reference  to  said 
Comers  and  Lines  being  had  provided  no  pitch  whitch  has  been  maid 
to  supply  the  wantage  land  in  any  right  or  Lot  Land,  except  where  a 
Lot  is  cut  Short  by  Town  Lines,  shall  be  considered  as  astablished  or 
in  any  way  affected  by  this  vote 

Voted  to  Dissolve  this  meeting 

Attest    Elias  Stevens  Proprietors  Clark" 

By  this  enactment  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  the  action 
of  the  proprietors  and  land  owners  of  the  town  thereon,  all 
question  of  the  legality  of  bounds  and  holdings  was  settled,  and 
the  land  from  that  time  on  was  held  in  severalty.  There  was 
no  further  work  for  the  proprietors,  and  their  records  ceased. 
There  is  no  evidence  of  any  meeting  of  the  proprietors  between 
March  16,  1786,  and  the  meeting  just  noted.  The  business  of 
the  town  for  the  intervening  years  had  really  been  in  the  hands 
of  all  the  voters. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


The  Contest  Over  the  New  Hampshire  Grants. 

To  understand  clearly  the  situation  in  Royalton  during  the 
early  years  of  its  settlement,  it  is  necessary  to  review  some  of 
the  conditions  that  obtained  in  the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  so- 
called,  prior  to  1771  and  continuing  to  the  end  of  the  controversy 
over  the  disputed  territory.  As  excellent  gazetteers  and  his- 
tories containing  a  full  treatment  of  the  troubles  leading  to  the 
Revolution,  and  of  the  controversy  over  the  ownership  of  the 
Grants  are  accessible  to  almost  every  one,  only  so  much  of  the 
history  of  this  period  will  be  given  as  is  needful  for  a  proper 
connection  of  events,  and  an  understanding  of  the  actions  and 
temper  of  the  early  settlers.  It  is  the  aim  of  this  work  to  give 
as  much  space  as  possible  to  local  history,  which  thus  far  has  not 
been  preserved  in  permanent  form. 

At  the  time  of  the  French  and  Indian  War  Vermont  was 
an  unbroken  wilderness,  through  which  troops  passed  and  re- 
passed on  their  way  to  and  from  Canada.  The  Indians  had 
used  it  as  a  battle  ground  rather  than  as  an  abiding  place.  The 
hostile  French  and  Indians  on  its  borders  had  thus  far  rendered 
it  too  exposed  to  be  an  object  of  settlement  to  the  British.  After 
the  conquest  of  Canada  by  the  English  conditions  changed,  and 
men  who  had  been  needed  as  soldiers  were  now  ready  again  for 
service  with  the  ax  and  the  plough.  No  doubt  many  of  those 
who  had  tramped  along  the  banks  of  our  beautiful  streams  saw 
the  possibilities  of  development,  and  very  much  as  Connecticut 
was  settled  by  emigrants  from  Massachusetts,  who  made  its 
acquaintance  on  the  war  path,  so  what  is  now  Vermont  had 
thrown  its  spell  over  those  sturdy,  enterprising  men,  who  helped 
to  win  Canada  for  England. 

Soon  after  New  Hampshire  was  separated  from  Massachu- 
setts, and  Benning  Wentworth  was  appointed  Governor  in  1741, 
he  began  to  look  with  covetous  eyes  upon  the  rich  lands  west  of 
the  Connecticut  river,  and  had  visions  of  wealth  that  might  be 
his  by  land  grants,  in  each  of  which  a  goodly  section  should  be 
reserved  for  himself.  He  was  not  long  in  finding  a  basis  for 
making  a  claim  to  the  land,  namely,  that  as  New  Hampshire  had 


30  HiSTOBY  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT 

been  a  part  of  Massachusetts,  her  claim  westward  extended  as 
far  as  that  of  the  mother  state.  By  the  charter  of  Massachu- 
setts, she  was  to  own  the  territory  westward  until  she  came  to 
the  jurisdiction  of  some  other  colony. 

It  was  just  here  that  there  was  a  loophole  for  conflicting 
claims.  New  York  and  Massachusetts  claiming  jurisdiction  over 
the  same  territory,  and  finally  settling  the  matter  between  them- 
selves. (Jov.  Clinton  of  New  York  notified  Governor  Wentworth 
that  New  York  claimed  the  land  to  the  Connecticut  river,  but 
was  politely  informed  by  (Jov.  Wentworth  that  he  had  already 
chartered  Bennington,  which  was  in  the  disputed  territory.  The 
two  referred  the  matter  to  England,  but  as  it  required  some  time 
to  get  a  return  from  the  King,  Gov.  Wentworth  improved  the 
interval  in  making  more  grants.  The  King  in  Council  on  July 
20,  1764,  declared  the  west  bank  of  the  Connecticut  river  to 
be  the  dividing  line  between  the  two  colonies.  Then  the  contro- 
versy waxed  warm.  The  settlers  in  towns  chartered  by  New 
Hampshire  ejected  the  New  York  farmers  from  their  lands,  and 
the  New  York  sheriffs  busied  themselves  in  arresting  the  New 
Hampshire  grantees,  and  no  end  of  the  difficulty  seemed  in  view. 
New  York,  however,  wishing  to  restore  quiet,  and  acknowledging 
the  claims  of  New  Hampshire  grantees  who  had  improved  their 
land  in  good  faith,  decided  in  1765,  May  22,  that  occupants  of 
land  who  had  settled  before  that  date  should  retain  possession 
of  their  land. 

This  might  have  ended  the  difficulty,  if  patentees  of  New 
Hampshire  had  all  settled  on  their  land,  but  many  had  not,  and 
held  it  merely  for  speculation.  Such  land  was  re-granted  by 
New  York,  and  this  led  to  further  trouble.  On  July  24,  1767, 
the  King  in  Council  ordered  New  York  to  make  no  more  grants 
of  land  patented  by  New  Hampshire.  Disorders  continued,  and 
settlers  were  divided  in  their  sentiments.  A  large  number  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Cumberland  and  Gloucester  counties  on  Nov. 
1,  1770,  petitioned  the  King,  complaining  of  the  riotous  obstruc- 
tion of  the  courts  of  law  by  the  government  and  people  of  New 
Hampshire.  New  Hampshire  followed  suit  the  following  year, 
petitioning  the  King  for  the  annexation  of  the  Grants  to  that 
province.     The  dispute  continued,  and  troubles  increased. 

On  September  30,  1771,  the  year  when  the  first  settler  came 
to  Royalton,  the  Council  of  New  York  issued  an  order  for  the 
arrest  of  Ethan  Allen,  Remember  Baker,  and  other  ** rioters." 
New  York  had  found  great  difficulty  in  deciding  disputed  claims, 
and  so  required  the  New  Hampshire  grantees  to  appear,  prove 
their  claims,  and  take  out  new  patents,  paying  new  fees  therefor. 
It  was  complained  by  these  grantees  that  the  fees  for  granting 
a  township  were  $2000  or  over,  while  the  Governor  of  New 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  31 

Hampshire  charged  only  $100,  but  they  seemed  not  to  take  into 
consideration  the  fact,  that  Gov.  Wentworth  reserved  500  acres 
for  himself  in  each  township  granted.  (Jov.  Moore  of  New  York, 
June  9,  1767,  in  a  letter  to  Lord  Shelburne  defending  himself 
from  charges  brought  against  him,  declares  that  town  fees  have 
been  only  from  twenty  to  forty  pounds.  Many  got  confirmations 
of  their  patents  from  New  York.  Gov.  Wentworth  himself 
applied  for  a  confirmation  of  5000  acres  in  Rockingham. 

Bennington  was  a  hotbed  of  discord.  It  favored  New  Hamp- 
shire, as  was  natural,  being  the  first  town  on  the  Grants  pat- 
ented by  that  state.  The  temper  of  the  people  of  that  section 
was  well  expressed  by  Ethan  Allen,  who,  s&ys  Benjamin  Buck, 
when  he  read  the  governor's  name  to  the  New  York  proclamation 
in  1771,  laying  claim  to  all  land  as  far  east  as  the  Connecticut 
river,  broke  out,  **So  your  name  is  Tryon,  tri  on  and  be  Damn." 
The  riot  at  Bennington  and  other  disturbances  led  the  govern- 
ment of  New  York  to  apply  to  Gen.  Haldimand  and,  later,  to 
Qen.  Gage,  to  furnish  troops  to  aid  in  keeping  the  peace.  They 
both  demurred.  Gen.  Haldimand  on  Sep.  1,  1773,  replied,  "The 
idea  that  a  few  lawless  vagabonds,  can  prevail  in  such  a  Govemt 
as  that  of  New  York,  as  to  oblige  its  Govr  to  have  recourse  to 
the  Regular  Troops  to  suppress  them,  appears  to  me  to  carry 
with  it  such  refiection  of  weakness  as  I  am  afraid  would  be  at- 
tended with  bad  consequences." 

This  could  not  have  seemed  very  complimentary  to  New 
York,  and  shows  that  these  **few  lawless  vagabonds"  had  been 
striking  terror  into  the  hearts  of  their  opponents.  Property 
was  burned,  sympathizers  with  New  York  were  publicly  whipped 
and  driven  from  their  holdings,  and  officers  of  New  York  intimi- 
dated by  what  their  enemies  were  pleased  to  term  the  *  *  Benning- 
ton Mob,"  under  Allen,  Warner,  Baker  and  others.  The  settlers 
of  Charlotte  county  were  the  chief  complainants  and  sufferers. 
A  proclamation  was  issued  for  the  arrest  of  the  leaders  of  the 
**mob."  The  whippings  and  ejections  continued,  and  rawhides 
and  writs  were  plentiful.  New  York  failed  in  her  effort  to  have 
the  King  order  a  military  force  to  her  aid.  The  home  govern- 
ment at  this  time  was  too  busy  with  colonial  disaffection  to 
attend  to  particular  calls  of  that  sort. 

The  riot  at  Westminster  was  the  natural  outcome  of  these 
disputes.  By  this  time  the  '*Benningtoa  Mob,"  in  opposing 
New  York,  felt  themselves  opposing  the  aggressions  of  Great 
Britain  herself,  and  so  the  blood  of  French  at  Westminster  is 
regarded  by  Vermonters  as  the  first  blood  shed  in  the  Revolu- 
tion. When  Ports  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point  fell  into  the 
hands  of  Ethan  Allen  and  the  Green  ^lountain  Boys,  June  7, 
1775,  the  controversy  took  on  a  different  aspect.     This  was  a 


32  History  op  Royalton,  Vebmont 

victory  in  which  all  patriots  rejoiced,  and  in  which  men  from 
both  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  aided.  The  action  of  New 
York,  on  recommendation  of  the  Continental  Congress,  in  form- 
ing a  battalion  of  Green  Mountain  Boys  tended  to  produce  a 
better  state  of  feeling.  On  July  20,  1775,  Ethan  Allen  wrote  a 
very  polite  letter  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York  assur- 
ing them  that  their  **  respectful  treatment  not  only  to  Mr.  War- 
ner" and  himself,  but  to  the  Green  Mountain  Boys  in  general 
were  by  them  duly  regarded,  and  he  would  be  responsible  that 
they  would  "retaliate"  that  favor  by  wholly  hai^arding  their 
lives,  if  need  be,  in  the  common  cause  of  America. 

The  convention  at  Dorset,  Sep.  25,  1775,  made  up  of  fifty- 
six  delegates  from  thirty-six  towns  indicated  their  desire  to  be 
formed  into  a  district  distinct  from  New  York.  This  action 
alarmed  New  York,  which  refused  to  furnish  arms  to  a  people 
who  were  likely  to  use  them  in  a  revolt  against  her  authority. 
The  Declaration  of  Independence  fostered  the  spirit  of  freedom 
which  nowhere  found  a  richer  soil  than  in  the  hearts  of  the 
settlers  on  the  Grants.  The  Continental  Congress  in  its  efforts 
to  raise  troops  looked  to  the  valorous  sons  of  the  Grants,  and 
took  steps  to  secure  a  force  independent  of  New  York,  a  course 
which  New  York  openly  resented. 

January  15,  1777,  at  Dorset  a  Convention  of  delegates  from 
the  Grants  declared  their  independence,  and  assumed  the  name 
of  New  Connecticut.  Thomas  Young,  under  date  of  April  11 
of  the  same  year,  wrote  to  the  people  of  the  Grants  encouraging 
them  in  their  course,  and  advised  them  to  choose  delegates  to 
Congress,  ensuring  them  of  success  at  the  ** risque"  of  his  repu- 
tation. Those  who  think  graft  is  a  sin  of  recent  years  alone, 
may  learn  otherwise  from  his  advice:  **Let  the  scandalous 
practice  of  bribing  Men  by  places  Commissions  &c  be  held  in 
abhorrence  among  you.    By  entrusting  only  Men  of  Capacity 

and  Integrity  in  public  Affairs is  your  liberties  well 

secured."  On  complaint  of  New  York  to  Congress,  that  body 
resolved  that  Young's  representations  were  grossly  wrong,  and 
Congress  could  not  receive  delegates  from  Vermont.  Copies  of 
this  action  of  Congress  were  sent  to  the  Vermont  towns  with  the 
request  that  they  be  read  in  the  town  meetings.  The  name  of 
the  new  state  had  been  changed  at  Windsor  by  a  convention 
which  met  June  4,  1777,  from  New  Connecticut  to  Vermont,  as 
they  had  learned  that  a  district  of  land  on  the  Susquehanna 
river  already  bore  the  name  first  selected. 

February  23,  1778,  the  legislature  of  New  York,  fearful  of 
losing  the  Grants,  made  a  great  reduction  in  fees  and  quit-rents, 
and  offered  to  confirm  those  actually  possessing  and  improving 
their  lands  under  title  from  New  Hampshire,  although  such  land 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  38 

might  have  been  afterward  granted  by  New  York.  This  and 
other  overtures  were  made  on  condition  that  the  independence 
of  Vermont  should  not  be  recognized.  There  were  many  settlers 
who  were  loyal  to  New  York,  and  who  hated  Ethan  Allen  as 
much  as  the  woman  whom  he  married  did,  when,  as  a  maiden, 
she  first  knew  him.  When  urged  by  a  relative  to  marry  Allen, 
saying  if  she  married  Gen.  Allen  she  would  be  Queen  of  the 
State,  she  passionately  replied,  **Yes,  if  I  should  marry  the 
Devil  I  should  be  Queen  of  Hell. "  New  York  loyalists  from  nine 
towns  met  at  Brattleboro,  May  4,  1779,  and  petitioned  New  York 
for  protection  from  the  officials  of  the  new  state,  and  subse- 
quently declared  that,  if  the  Governor  of  New  York  did  not  take 
steps  for  their  relief,  their  persons  and  property  **must  be  at 
the  disposal  of  Ethan  Allen  which  is  more  to  be  dreaded  than 
Death  with  all  its  Terrors." 

The  first  record  which  we  have  of  Royalton  having  a  part 
in  the  controversy  is  dated  May  15,  1779:  **At  a  meeting 
Legaley  Warned  first  made  choice  of  Let  Jo  Parkhurst  modera- 
tor. 2d  The  Question  sent  us  By  the  Commitee  apinted  by  the 
Convention  held  at  Cornish  December  Last  Viz  Was  Putt 
Whether  this  town  is  Willing  that  the  assembly  of  New  Hamp- 
shire Extend  their  Claime  and  jurisdiction  over  the  Whole  of 
the  Grants  New  Hampshire  at  the  Same  time  Submitting  to 
Congress  whether  a  New  State  Shall  be  Established  on  the  Grants 
&c  but  we  Resarved  to  ouerSelves  a  Right  To  Vendecait  ouer 
claime  to  be  a  New  State  3d  Dissolved  the  meeting"  At  an- 
other meeting  held  July  12,  1779,  they  **  Chose  Lieut  Joseph 
Parkhurst  agent  to  Seet  in  Convention  at  Drisden  the  20th  of 
this  instant'*  and  ''3d  Voted  to  support  the  yeomen  for  a  distinct 
state  on  the  ( )  of  the  Grants  4th  Voted  in  case  the  yeo- 
men cant  be  supported  we  are  to  be  annexed  to  New  Hamp- 
shire." These  records  show  that  the  sentiment  of  the  people 
was  in  favor  of  independence,  and  more  friendly  to  New  Hamp- 
shire than  to  New  York. 

The  new  government  of  Vermont  had  avowed  its  loyalty  to 
the  government  of  the  United  States,  and  was  active  in  raising 
a  militia  force  to  aid  in  the  Revolution.  Those  favoring  New 
York  refused  to  be  drafted  by  the  authority  of  Vermont  oflficers, 
or  to  furnish  arms,  and  so  were  severely  dealt  with.  Congress, 
as  is  well  known,  procrastinated  in  its  action  on  the  numerous 
petitions  from  both  Vermont  and  New  York.  September  24, 
1779,  it  passed  resolutions  advising  the  states  affected  by  the  dis- 
putes to  authorize  Congress  to  settle  them.  Meantime  the  Presi- 
dent of  Dartmouth  College,  desirous  of  having  the  college  part 
of  Hanover,  called  Dresden,  given  a  separate  existence  by  New 

Hampshire,  and  failing,  favored  the  plan   of  uniting  sixteen 
3 


84  History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont 

towns  on  the  Connecticut  river  with  Vermont,  in  the  hope,  as 
is  thought  by  some,  of  making  Dresden  the  capital.  These  towns 
had  been  dissatisfied  with  their  representation  in  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Assembly.  Two  towns  were  often  paired,  sending  only  one 
representative.  They  turned  to  Vermont,  and  claimed  that  by 
Mason's  grant  New  Hampshire  had  no  legal  right  to  exercise 
jurisdiction  over  them.  Vermont  was  not  very  anxious  to  re- 
ceive them  into  her  fold,  but  she  saw  in  such  a  union  a  way  to 
increase  her  numbers  and  her  influence  with  Congress,  and  June 
11,  1778,  this  union  was  effected,  and  Dresden  was  admitted  as 
a  separate  town,  making  seventeen  towns  in  all  that  were  ad- 
mitted. A  few  days  later  it  was  voted  to  take  the  incorporated 
University  of  Dartmouth  under  the  patronage  of  the  state,  and 
President  Wheelock  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace. 

New  Hampshire  took  action  to  bring  her  refractory  children 
to  submission.  Vermont  lost  rather  than  gained  with  members 
of  Congress  by  this  political  move.  On  Oct.  21,  1778,  three 
propositions  were  before  the  assembly  of  Vermont:  (1)  Whether 
the  counties  should  remain  as  they  were  the  last  March,  when 
the  whole  state  was  divided  into  two  counties;  (2)  whether  the 
coimties  east  of  the  Connecticut  river  which  had  been  joined  to 
the  state  should  be  included  in  Cumberland  county;  or  (3) 
should  they  be  erected  into  a  separate  county!  On  the  first 
question  the  affirmative  was  carried,  and  the  vote  was  negative 
on  the  two  others,  which  showed  that  Vermont  declined  to  do 
anything  further  in  the  matter  of  union,  and  the  New  Hamp- 
shire representatives  withdrew.  The  question  of  dissolving  the 
union  was  referred  to  the  freemen  of  the  state,  who  before  voted 
on  the  admission  of  these  towns.  A  minority  of  the  legislature 
invited  all  the  towns  on  both  sides  of  the  Connecticut  river  to 
meet  in  convention  at  Cornish,  N.  H.,  on  December  9th.  They 
met  and  agreed  to  unite,  snapping  their  fingers  at  the  boimdary 
line  established  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Connecticut  river  in 
1764,  and  coolly  laid  down  an  ultimatum  to  New  Hampshire. 
Only  eight  Vermont  towns  were  in  this  convention,  one  of  which 
was  Royalton,  as  the  following  record  shows,  the  earliest  of  all 
the  town  records: 

"Royalton  December  1st  1778 
At  a  meeting  Legally  Warned  made  Choice  of  Mr.  Rufus  Rude  Moder- 
ator 2d  Voted  that  it  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Town  that  the  Votes  or 
Resolves  passed  in  the  General  Assembly  Oct  21  Viz  1st  The  countys 
Remain  as  thay  ware  2d  the  towns  on  the  East  Side  of  the  River  Shall 
not  be  enexed  to  Cumberland  3d  Nor  Shall  form  a  County  by  themselves 
are  unconstitutional  41y  Voted  that  this  town  ac  (accept?)  of  the  Protest 
Signed  by  Lent  Jo  Parkhurst  and  approve  of  the  Same  Sly  Chose 
Elias  Curtis  to  Repersent  this  Town  in  a  convention  to  Be  holden  in 
Cornish." 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  35 

Boyalton  was  then  evidently  training  with  the  minority,  and 
was  in  sympathy  with  the  aspirations  of  Dresden.  On  Feb.  12, 
1779,  the  legislature  voted  to  dissolve  the  union.  The  Cornish 
convention  proposed  that  the  dispute  over  the  towns  be  sub- 
mitted to  Congress  or  to  arbitrators,  or  else  that  the  whole  of 
the  Grants  become  a  part  of  New  Hampshire.  According  to 
Ira  Allen,  New  Hampshire  advised  Vermont  to  allow  her  to  put 
in  a  claim  to  the  whole  of  the  territory  of  Vermont,  with  the 
ostensible  purpose  of  defeating  New  York,  but  the  leaders  of 
Vermbnt  believed  New  York  and  New  Hampshire  to  be  in  collu- 
sion. Massachusetts  would  not  agree  to  submit  the  boundary 
dispute  to  Congress,  and  pushed  her  claim,  which  action  has  since 
.been  shown  to  have  been  an  expression  of  good  will,  intended  to 
defeat  both  the  other  claimants,  and  to  preserve  the  integrity  of 
the  state.  The  decision  of  Royalton  over  the  question  of  unit- 
ing with  New  Hampshire  has  already  been  given  in  the  record 
dated  May  15,  1779. 

Vermont  was  not  represented  in  Congress,  and  now  asserted 
her  rights  more  vigorously  than  ever  before.  Appeals  were 
made  to  other  states,  and  agents  were  sent  to  them  to  work  in 
the  interest  of  the  young  republic.  It  has  been  said  that  the 
second  plan  of  union  of  New  Hampshire  and  New  York  towns 
with  Vermont  in  1781  was  chiefly  due  to  Ira  Allen  and  Luke 
Moulton.  The  question  of  this  second  proposed  union  of  New 
Hampshire  towns  was  submitted  to  the  people.  The  vote  was 
overwhelmingly  in  favor  of  it.  Thirty-five  towns  were  accord- 
ingly admitted  from  New  Hampshire  and  twelve  from  New  York, 
a  step  which  increased  the  territory  of  Vermont,  and  gave  her 
better  facilities  for  defence  against  the  common  enemy.  By 
secret  intercourse  with  agents  of  Gen.  Haldimand  the  state  was 
preserved  from  attacks  of  the  British,  and  Congress  became 
alarmed  lest  Vermont  should  go  over  to  the  enemy.  The  loy- 
alty of  the  Green  Mountain  State  and  its  leaders  is  now  well 
established,  but  at  that  time  there  was  great  uneasiness  regarding 
negotiations  which  were  thought  to  be  going  on  between  the 
British  and  the  head  officials  of  Vermont.  The  evasive  policy 
of  these  leaders,  who  never  really  pledged  support  to  the  English 
government,  resulted  in  protecting  their  frontiers,  and  in  secur- 
ing the  good  will  of  the  British  in  case  it  was  needed  to  resist 
any  attempt  Congress  might  make  to  enforce  either  the  claims 
of  New  York  or  of  New  Hampshire. 

Acting  on  the  petition  of  Vermont  for  admission  in  1781, 
Congress  signified  its  willingness  to  admit  the  new  state,  if  she 
would  resign  her  claims  to  the  towns  lately  united  with  her. 
After  a  sharp  refusal  to  do  this,  the  attitude  of  the  inhabitants 
was  changed  by  a  wise,  conciliatory  letter  from  Gen.  Washing- 


36  History  of  Royalton,  Vermont 

ton,  and  Feb.  22,  1782,  Vermont  relinquished  all  claim  to  the 
territory  lately  annexed.  She  expected  Congress  to  fulfill  her 
part  of  the  conditions,  but  she  was  sadly  disappointed.  A  policy 
of  delay  succeeded,  most  exasperating  and  injurious  to  Vermont. 
It  was  to  be  expected  that  many  who  had  been  beneficiaries  of 
New  York  through  large  grants  or  holding  of  ofiice,  should  be 
opposed  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Vermont.  This  opposition  was 
so  violent  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state  that  an  armed  militia 
was  needed  to  keep  the  peace  and  resist  the  Yorkers.  New  York 
finally  grew  weary  of  attempting  to  subdue  her  refractory  pos- 
session, and  shared  with  Vermont  her  distrust  of  the  good  inten- 
tion and  ability  of  Congress  to  end  satisfactorily  the  controversy. 
Every  day  this  wayward  child  of  hers  was  waxing  stronger. 
After  the  war  closed  emigrants  thronged  to  it,  induced  partly  by 
its  freedom  from  obligations  to  help  pay  the  national  debt.  The 
estates  of  tories  were  dealt  with  summarily,  and  the  treasury 
of  the  state  replenished  thereby.  By  being  good-natured  and 
conciliatory  New  York  realized  that  she  would  gain  more  than 
by  attempting  force.  So  in  1789  we  find  commissioners  from 
both  states  meeting  and  arranging  the  questions  of  boundary 
and  indemnity  in  a  very  amicable  frame  of  mind.  Vermont  was 
to  pay  $30,000  indemnity  for  lands  confiscated,  and  in  1790  New 
York  gave  her  consent  to  the  admission  of  the  state  of  Vermont 
into  the  union  of  the  United  States  of  America.  Thus  the  old 
foe  of  Vermont  paved  the  way  for  the  admission  of  the  state  in 
1791. 

One  thing  more  should  be  added  in  relation  to  the  attitude 
of  Royalton  toward  the  new  state.  In  the  Archives  of  the  State 
Department  at  Washington  is  found  in  Vol.  I  of  the  **N.  H. 
Grants,"  No.  40,  page  311,  a  copy  of  a  petition  purporting  to 
come  from  the  towns  of  Hartford,  Norwich,  Sharon,  Royalton, 
Fairlee,  Newbury,  and  Bamet,  dated  March,  1779,  and  pre- 
sented to  Congress  in  the  August  following  by  Peter  Olcott. 
That  part  of  the  petition  which  is  pertinent  to  the  union  of  the 
N.  H.  towns  with  Vermont  is  quoted. 

"About  the  time  of  the  declaration  of  independence  of  the  united 
States,  sundry  persons  from  the  western  part  of  said  Grants  made 
known  to  us  that  the  inhabitants  west  of  the  Green  Mountains  were 
very  desirous  of  having  a  new  State  formed  on  the  said  New  Hampshire 
Grants — ^that  many  among  us  expressed  our  willingness  for  such  an 
event  in  case  the  Grants  east  of  the  Connecticut  river  might  join  us 
in  pursuing  that  object,  as  we  have  ever  thought  their  circumstances 
in  almost  every  respect  similar  to  ours — they  having  received  the 
grant  of  their  landed  property  in  the  same  channel,  their  manners  and 
habits  the  same,  and  the  local  situation  of  the  country  such  as  makes 
it  very  inconvenient  for  us  to  be  divided  from  them  &c. — That  we  were 
by  an  arbitrary  decree  of  the  King  unjustly  deprived  of  that  union  with 
the  Grants  east  of  the  river,  and  that  we  are  well  assured  the  Grants  in 
general  have  ever  been  desirous  of  having  it  restored  and  influenced 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  87 

principally  by  a  prospect  of  such  union  a  considerable  number  of  towns 
from  among  us  did  unite  with  the  inhabitants  west  of  the  green  mount- 
ains in  forming  a  constitution  for  a  State. — That  the  towns  on  the 
Grants  east  of  the  Connecticut  River  were  about  the  same  time  invited 
to  join  in  pursuing  that  object  and  in  conformity  to  such  invitation  a 
number  of  towns  east  of  the  river  were  in  the  month  of  June  last  re- 
ceived into  union  with  said  new  State  (then  known  by  the  name  of 
Vermont)  by  a  resolve  of  the  Assembly,  the  members  thereof  being  pre- 
viously instructed  so  to  do.  That  said  Assembly  have  since  in  violation 
of  their  faith  and  honor,  deprived  the  towns  east  of  the  river  of  their 
protection  and  actually  extinguished  the  union  with  them.  In  con- 
sequence whereof  a  large  number  of  the  members  of  the  council  and 
Assembly  have  withdrawn  their  connection  with  that  Assembly,  to  the 

very  general  approbation  of  their  constituents. ^We  are  assured  that 

the  members  who  continue  to  act  in  Assembly  have  last  month  ap- 
pointed a  Committee  to  apply  to  Congress  for  an  establishment  of  a 
State  on  the  said  Grants  west  of  Connecticut  river,  which  in  the  present 
situation  of  affairs  we  beg  leave  to  represent  that  we  utterly  refuse 
our  compliance  with. 

We  therefore  humbly  pray  that  Congress  will  be  pleased  to  do 
nothing  relative  thereto  which  may  in  the  least  encourage  the  establish- 
ment of  a  State  under  those  disagreeable  circumstances,  but  on  the 
contrary  that  they  will  in  some  way  express  their  disapprobation  of  it, 
and  grant  such  relief  to  their  injured  petitioners  as  in  their  wisdom 
may  seem  fit" 

In  the  town  records  of  Royalton  only  two  meetings  are  re- 
corded prior  to  this  petition,  and  no  reference  whatever  is  made 
to  it.  It  is  very  doubtful  if  the  town  as  an  organization  au- 
thorized any  such  petition,  yet  it  is  worthy  of  notice  that  it  sent 
no  representative  to  the  Assembly  in  1779,  and  was  not  at  first 
in  high  favor  with  the  state  government. 


CHAPTER  V. 


CJOUNTIBS. 

The  first  county  erected  on  Vermont  territory  was  organized 
by  New  York,  July  3,  1766,  and  named  Cumberland,  possibly 
after  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  the  second  son  of  (George  II.  On 
its  northern  border  were  the  townships  of  Linfield  (Royalton), 
Sharon,  and  Norwich.  The  King  declared  this  act  void,  June 
26,  1767,  as  it  was  contrary  to  his  orders  regarding  claims  to 
the  land  in  dispute  between  New  York  and  New  Hampshire. 
There  was,  however,  an  urgent  demand  for  some  county  organi- 
zation where  courts  could  be  held  and  cases  tried,  and  the  county 
was  re-established  by  Letters  Patent,  Mar.  19,  1768. 

A  Court  of  Common  Pleas  had  been  established  before  the 
annulling  act  was  known,  and  provision  had  been  made  for  the 
erection  of  county  buildings  at  an  expenditure  not  exceeding 
two  hundred  pounds.  Supervisors  and  other  officers  were  or- 
dered to  be  elected,  and  the  supervisors  were  to  meet  and  choose 
a  shire  town,  and  levy  the  tax  for  erecting  the  necessary  build- 
ings. Chester  was  selected  as  the  county  seat,  and  a  Court  of 
General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  was  established,  to  meet  twice  a 
year  at  the  same  time  as  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 

When  the  county  was  re-organized  in  1768,  the  people  were 
allowed  to  erect  county  buildings  at  their  own  expense.  There 
was  some  opposition  to  the  selection  of  Chester,  as  there  was  a 
strong  feeling  there  antagonistic  to  New  York,  and  it  was  far 
from  the  Connecticut  river,  along  which  were  the  most  advanced 
settlements.  Thomas  Chandler,  the  first  judge,  came  to  the 
support  of  Chester  by  volunteering  to  erect  a  suitable  court 
house  and  jail  at  his  own  expense. 

Mr.  Child  in  his  Gazetteer  of  Windsor  County  gives  a  de- 
scription of  the  jail,  which  was  found  in  an  old  chancery  docu- 
ment. It  states  that  the  jail  was  in  a  comer  of  a  hut,  ''the  walls 
of  which  house  were  made  of  small  hackmatac  poles  locked  to- 
gether at  the  comers  by  cutting  notches  into  the  poles."  The 
cracks  between  pole  and  pole  were  filled  with  tow,  moss,  or  clay. 
This  primitive,  loosely  constructed  affair  afforded  small  security 
against  the  escape  of  prisoners.    Chandler's  court  house  was  no 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  39 

more  pleasing  to  the  county  than  his  jail,  though  he  planned  a 
building  thirty  feet  by  sixteen,  which  would  be  convenient  when 
** finished,*'  and  he  had  it  partly  erected  in  1771,  the  year  the 
first  settler  came  into  Royalton. 

Notice  was  given  that  on  the  third  Tuesday  in  May,  1772, 
each  town  should  elect  one  supervisor,  two  assessors,  two  collec- 
tors, two  overseers  of  the  poor,  three  highway  commissioners,  as 
many  surveyors  as  each  town  thought  necessary,  two  fence  view- 
ers, and  four  constables.  The  supervisors  were  directed  to  meet 
at  Chester  at  the  ** Court  House,"  and  select  a  place  for  a  court 
house  and  a  jail.  After  a  struggle  Westminster  was  selected 
on  May  26th  of  that  year,  and  the  proper  buildings  were  erected 
there.  The  population  of  Cumberland  county  in  1771  was  but 
3947,  which  was  divided  among  several  towns.  In  some  of  the 
towns  there  could  hardly  have  been  voters  enough  to  go  around 
in  the  distribution  of  offices. 

In  the  meantime  Gloucester  county  had  been  chartered, 
Mar.  7,  1770,  by  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York,  and  New- 
bury was  selected  as  the  shire  town.  This  included  all  the  ter- 
ritory north  of  Cumberland  and  east  of  the  Green  mountains. 
Both  counties  were  sparsely  settled.  The  census  taken  by  the 
authority  of  New  York  in  1771  showed  that  in  May  of  that  year 
Gloucester  had  762  inhabitants.  Charlotte  county  was  formed 
in  1772,  its  southern  boundary  being  Sunderland  and  Arlington. 
It  included  the  territory  west  of  the  mountains  on  both  sides  of 
Lake  Champlain  to  the  Hudson  river.  The  part  of  Vermont  on 
the  west  side  of  the  mountains  south  of  Charlotte  county  was 
included  in  Albany  county. 

The  first  Cumberland  County  Convention  met  at  Westmin- 
ster Oct.  19,  1774,  and  occupied  the  new  ** County  Hall."  Stir- 
ring times  were  witnessed  there,  both  before  and  after  the  mem- 
orable massacre,  in  which  the  first  blood  of  the  Revolution  was 
shed,  as  many  Vermonters  claim. 

This  was  the  status  of  the  counties  when  Vermont  declared 
her  independence  in  1777.  The  next  year,  Mar.  17,  the  General 
Assembly  divided  the  entire  state  into  two  counties,  Bennington 
west  of  the  mountains,  and  Unity  east  of  them.  A  few  days 
later  ** Unity'*  was  discarded  for  the  old  name,  Cumberland,  and 
the  next  year  a  line  of  division  was  established.  The  next  change 
occurred  in  October,  1780,  under  an  act  to  establish  county  lines, 
and  Cumberland  was  divided  into  Cumberland  and  Gloucester, 
the  division  between  the  two  running  on  the  north  line  of  Wind- 
sor county  about  as  it  is  today.  The  two  counties  east  of  the 
mountains  were  now  nearly  the  same  as  they  had  been  under 
Xew  York.  Of  course  New  York  retained  the  original  names, 
and  therefore  much  confusion  in  the  names  of  counties  is  found 


40  HiSTOBY  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT 

in  old  deeds.  Sometimes  Royalton  is  in  Cumberland  county. 
New  York,  again  in  Cumberland  county,  Vermont,  and  a  third 
time  in  Gloucester  county,  New  York,  and  so  on,  with  other  vari- 
ations. 

In  February,  1781,  the  population  of  the  state  had  so  far 
increased  that  a  new  division  was  decided  upon,  and  Cumber- 
land county  as  it  was  in  1778  was  divided  into  Windham,  Wind- 
sor, and  Orange  counties,  and  the  old  names  finally  disappeared. 
All  north  of  Windsor  county  was  called  Orange.  Various 
changes  have  been  made  in  the  boundaries  of  Windsor  and  Wind- 
ham counties,  but  space  forbids  a  further  account,  except  to  say, 
that  on  March  2,  1797,  the  state  was  divided  into  eleven  counties, 
which  number  was  later  increased  to  fourteen  by  the  organiza- 
tion of  Grand  Isle,  Washington,  and  Lamoille,  the  last  and 
youngest  being  incorporated  in  1835. 

The  boundaries  given  to  Windsor  county  in  1797  have  re- 
mained unchanged,  though  efforts  have  been  made  to  effect  a 
division.  The  county  includes  twenty-four  towns,  is  forty-eight 
miles  long  by  thirty  wide,  and  contains  900  square  miles.  Wind- 
sor was  designated  as  the  shire  town  of  the  county  by  act  of  the 
legislature  October,  1781.  Legislative  sessions  had  been  held 
there  in  the  early  part  of  the  year,  and  members  favored  that 
location,  though  the  later  settled  town  of  Woodstock  was  ambi- 
tious to  secure  the  county  seat.  This  led  to  attempts  to  have  the 
county  divided  into  two  shires,  of  one  of  which  Windsor  should 
be  the  county  seat,  and  Woodstock  of  the  other.  The  matter 
came  up  in  the  Assembly  as  early  as  June,  1781,  when  they  voted 
not  to  divide  the  county.  The  selection  of  Windsor  did  not  put 
an  end  to  the  rivalry  between  the  two  towns.  The  next  step 
was  to  get  an  expression  of  opinion  from  the  inhabitants  of  the 
county,  as  to  the  best  place  for  the  county  buildings,  which  had 
not  yet  been  erected.  A  meeting  called  by  the  authority  of  the 
county  was  held  at  Windsor  in  March,  1784,  but  not  enough  were 
interested  to  make  a  quorum.  At  this  juncture  some  of  the  pub- 
lic spirited  citizens  of  Windsor  subscribed  about  $500  towards 
building  a  court  house  fifty  feet  by  thirty-four,  and  at  once 
began  its  erection. 

Woodstock  was  not  thus  to  be  baffied.  The  Hon.  Benjamin 
Emmons,  the  representative  from  Woodstock,  declined  the  honor 
of  an  appointment  to  a  vacancy  in  the  Council,  that  he  might 
fight  for  his  home  town  in  the  Assembly,  and  had  the  satisfaction 
of  winning  a  victor>%  when  the  bill  for  establishing  Woodstock 
as  the  shire  town  was  approved,  Oct.  27,  1786.  Now  the  pro- 
prietors of  ** Windsor  Court  House''  began  to  be  busy.  What 
was  to  become  of  their  new  building,  if  Woodstock  was  to  be 
the  shire  town?    Petitions  besieged  the  legislature,  and  the  mat- 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  41 

ter  was  compromised,  according  to  the  account  of  Mr.  Child, 
by  legislative  enactment  in  1787,  directing  the  courts  to  be  held 
at  Windsor  till  the  inhabitants  of  Woodstock  should  build  a  satis- 
factory court  house. 

The  act  of  the  legislature  dividing  Windsor  county  into  two 
half  shires  was  approved  Oct.  27,  1790.  The  court  houses  were 
to  be  finished  by  the  respective  towns  without  any  expense  to 
the  county,  and  ready  for  occupancy  before  the  next  term  of 
court.  The  news  of  this  action  was  hardly  announced  to  the 
residents  of  the  county,  before  an  opposing  element  appeared, 
and  secured  the  introduction  into  the  House  of  an  act  to  repeal 
this  act  of  division.  The  House  voted  to  repeal,  Jan.  17,  1791, 
refused  to  refer  to  the  next  session,  and  sent  it  to  the  Governor 
and  Council,  who  promptly  refused  to  approve  it,  after  hearing 
the  attorneys  of  both  parties,  and  sent  it  back  for  amendments. 
Amended,  it  ordered  the  two  shires  to  remain  in  force  three 
years,  after  which  Woodstock  was  to  be  the  shire  town.  This 
lively  rivalry  between  Windsor  and  Woodstock  resulted  in  les- 
sening the  rate  of  taxation  for  the  county,  as  each  town  sub- 
scribed liberally  in  erecting  the  required  buildings. 

There  seemed  to  have  been  a  mania  for  burning  court  houses 
in  1790,  so  much  so  that  the  legislature  passed  an  act  in  1791 
recommending  the  governor  to  take  effectual  measures  to  **  sup- 
press the  recent  villany  of  burning  court  houses.''  Woodstock 
lost  her  building  by  fire,  October  24,  1791,  possibly  due  to  the 
warm  controversy  over  the  county  seat.  Mr.  Henry  Swan  Dana 
in  his  History  of  Woodstock  says  that  a  negro  was  suspected 
of  setting  fire  to  the  building,  but  the  evidence  was  not  strong 
enough  to  hold  him.  A  new  building  was  erected  in  1793,  which 
in  turn  was  burned  July  4,  1854,  having  caught  fire  from  fire- 
crackers thrown  on  the  roof.  Another  court  house  was  erected 
the  same  year. 

Before  Woodstock  was  declared  to  be  the  shire  town  of 
Windsor  county,  regular  sessions  of  the  court  were  held  at  Wind- 
sor, but  special  sessions  were  itinerant  like  a  hand-organ.  When 
the  cases  were  ground  out  in  one  town,  the  court  moved  on  to 
another.  This  was  true  also  of  probate  courts  for  some  years, 
so  that  Royalton  had  its  probate  court  sittings  from  time  to  time. 

How  much  ground  there  was  for  the  charges  of  a  correspond- 
ent of  the  Woodstock  Observer  in  the  issue  of  August  7,  1827, 
cannot  be  affirmed.  **Por  some  time,"  he  writes,  **a  few  rest- 
less and  aspiring  individuals  on  White  River  have  been  brooding 
over  a  scheme  for  dividing  the  county  of  Windsor,  and  raising 

Royalton  to  the  peerage. The  magnets  of  the  north 

assembled  in  that  snug  little  village and  determined  it  to 

be  expedient  and  advantageous  -  -  -  -  and  drew  up  a  petition 


42  HlST(»Y  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT 

to  the  legislature  for  a  division  of  our  ancient  and  honorable 
county,  which  they  have  since  been  circulating  in  the  disaffected 
district  for  signatures."  He  adds  that  Orange,  Caledonia,  and 
Essex  are  to  feel  the  knife,  and  ''poor  Essex  is  to  be  literally  cut 
up  and  extinguished."  He  complains  that,  if  the  project  suc- 
ceeds, the  money  spent  on  the  jail  and  court  house  will  be  lit- 
erally thrown  away,  **all  to  gratify  the  whims  of  a  few  conceited 
county-makers  in  Royalton." 

The  Observer  squarely  charged,  that  efforts  were  making  to 
constitute  Royalton  and  Windsor  shire  towns.  Another  short 
article  in  the  same  paper  stated,  that  a  meeting  was  held  the  pre- 
ceding Saturday  at  Royalton  to  see  how  much  those  interested 
would  put  up  for  a  ''stone  jug  and  court  house."  Mr.  Spooner, 
who  was  then  editing  the  Advocate  in  Royalton,  in  his  next  issue 
denied  that  any  petition  for  a  division  of  the  county  had  been 
circulated,  but  owned  that  the  matter  had  been  discussed.  He 
made  light  of  the  charges  of  the  Observer,  which  fails  to  con- 
vince one  that  there  was  no  such  meeting. 

Jacob  Collamer  was  the  town  representative  that  year,  and 
it  is  likely  that  he  was  one  of  the  "magnets"  referred  to  by  the 
editor  of  the  Observer.  Certain  it  is,  that  he  did  present  the 
petition  of  Elias  Stevens  and  others  for  a  division  of  the  county 
to  the  next  session  of  the  Assembly,  and  ably  advocated  it,  but 
it  was  postponed  to  the  next  session.  This  petition  came  before 
the  (Jovemor  and  Council  Oct.  17,  1829,  having  enjoyed  a  leth- 
argic retirement  for  two  years.  It  was  referred  to  a  committee 
raised  on  a  bill  for  establishing  a  new  county  by  the  name  of 
Cumberland.  It  seems  to  have  relapsed  into  a  state  of  insensi- 
bility from  which  it  never  recovered.  The  aspirations  of  Roy- 
alton were  not  realized,  and  she  has  ever  since  allowed  Woodstock 
to  enjoy  the  prestige  of  being  the  shire  town  unmolested. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


BOUNDABIES. 

It  was  more  than  half  a  century  from  the  time  Royalton  was 
chartered  by  New  York  in  1769,  before  its  inhabitants  ceased 
to  consider  a  change  in  its  boundary.  By  the  New  York  charter 
Royalton  was  to  have  30,000  acres,  and  her  territory  included 
two  whole  ranges  of  lots,  which  are  not  hers  today.  She  will, 
probably,  always  think  with  regret  over  the  action  of  the 
** fathers  of  the  town"  in  allowing  such  a  divorcement  of  terri- 
tory. It  is  necessary  to  review  the  history  relating  to  this  loss, 
in  order  to  understand  how  it  ever  occurred. 

Although  Royalton  was  loyal  to  the  cause  of  freedom,  she 
did  not  at  first  show  such  a  respect  for,  and  acquiescence  in,  the 
early  proceedings  of  the  new  State,  as  most  of  the  towns  mani- 
fested. She  did  not  make  haste,  as  the  saying  goes,  ''to  jump 
on  to  the  band  wagon."  The  General  Assembly  did  not  look 
upon  the  town  with  an  especially  favorable  eye ;  therefore,  when 
a  new  survey  of  the  towns  in  the  State  was  ordered,  and  the 
Surveyor  General  pared  off  a  large  slice  of  Royalton  on  the  west, 
which  had  already  been  included  in  the  Bethel  charter,  and  a 
thinner  one  on  the  east,  and  left  a  gore  on  the  north,  Royalton 
had  to  suffer  without  redress.  She  did  not  endure  without  a 
protest,  though  she  seemed  to  care  less  for  the  loss  on  the  west 
than  on  the  east.  A  short  history  of  the  Bethel  grant  may 
explain  this. 

In  the  year  1777,  on  December  29th,  eighteen  **  adventurers, " 
as  they  styled  themselves,  among  them  Comfort  Sever  of  Han- 
over, and  Benjamin  Day  of  Royalton,  met  in  that  hot-bed  of  rest- 
lessness, Dresden,  and  organized  into  a  company  for  the  purpose 
of  settling  a  new  tract  west  of  the  Connecticut  river.  The  next 
day  they  again  met  and  voted  to  petition  the  Honorable  Council 
of  Safety  for  a  charter  for  the  northwesterly  part  of  Royalton, 
and  that  part  of  Middlesex  (part  of  Bethel  and  Randolph)  which 
abutted  on  Royalton,  taking  from  Royalton  a  tract  two  and  one- 
half  miles  in  breadth,  the  whole  to  be  about  six  miles  square. 
In  their  meeting  the  next  day,  they  named  the  tract  Bethel,  and 
chose  Comfort  Sever  treasurer. 


44  HiSTOBY  OP  ROYALTOX,  VERMONT 

In  their  petition  thev  say  that  they  understand  these  lands 
were  granted  by  the  late  (Jovemor  of  New  York,  contrary  to 
royal  proclamation,  to  certain  persons,  the  greater  part  of  whom 
have  gone  over  to  the  enemy.  In  a  note  it  is  stated,  that  before 
the  petition  was  presented  to  the  Council  of  Safety,  Mr.  Com- 
fort Sever  was  employed  by  a  number  of  the  members  to  apply 
to  the  inhabitants  of  Boyalton  for  their  consent  to  the  annexation 
of  the  two  and  a  half  miles  then  forming  the  northwesterly  part 
of  the  town.  He  reported  that,  in  talking  with  the  principal 
inhabitants,  they  appeared  willing,  but  upon  further  consulta- 
tion, they  informed  Mr.  Sever  that  they  would  consent  to  the 
annexation  of  the  two  tiers  of  300-acre  lots  on  the  northwest, 
leaving  Royalton  six  miles  square.  It  was  said  that  Mr.  Sever 
had  received  a  letter  from  the  town  clerk  of  Boyalton  to  that 
effect.  This  report  did  not  reach  the  proprietors,  until  the  peti- 
tion had  been  sent  in,  and  they  say  that  they  now  expect  only 
the  two  tiers  of  300-acre  lots. 

On  February  11th  the  number  of  subscribers  was  increased 
to  fifty.  Abel  Curtis  was  appointed  to  look  up  the  ownership 
of  the  land.  He  was  instructed  to  see  the  New  York  proprietors, 
and  buy  the  land,  if  he  could.  The  lots  insisted  upon  were  49, 
56,  57,  47,  48,  and  a  common  lot.  The  other  lots  named  included 
all  in  the  two  tiers  except  50  and  59.  They  chose  Jdm  Payne 
an  agent  to  attend  the  Assembly  at  Windsor,  Mar.  17,  1778. 

Mr.  Curtis  found  ilr.  Banyar  at  Livingstone  Manor,  where 
William  Smith  was  a  prisoner.  Messrs.  Banyar  and  Smith  would 
sell  their  lots  nearest  the  river  for  eighteen  shillings  an  acre,  and 
the  others,  for  fourteen  shillings.  Y.  C.  He  did  not  buy,  but  got 
a  refusal  of  the  lots  until  June  15. 

The  agent  that  was  sent  to  the  Assembly  reported,  that  that 
body  would  grant  their  petition  as  soon  as  the  circumstances  of 
the  State  would  admit  of  it.  A  membership  of  forty-six  was 
required,  and  $2000  on  loans  was  to  be  paid  into  a  Loan  OflSce 
to  be  established  in  the  State.  This  sum  was  raised,  April  28, 
1778.  A  committee  was  chosen  at  the  same  time  to  survey  the 
proposed  town,  and  this  committee  reported  on  May  19,  that 
they  employed  Mr.  Zenas  Colman,  and  as  they  could  not  find 
the  upper  bounds,  they  hired  Esquire  Marsh  of  Sharon.  They 
voted  to  buy  all  lots  embraced  within  said  line  of  Bethel,  except 
such  lots  as  belonged  to  persons  inimical  to  the  United  States. 
They  chose  Capt.  Abel  ^larsh  to  go  to  New  York  and  buy  the 
lots  of  Messrs.  Smith,  Banyar,  and  Livingstone.  This  agent  re- 
ported June  30,  that  Gov.  Livingstone  was  not  at  his  own  home, 
and  could  not  get  at  his  writings,  but  he  took  the  agent's  name, 
and  assured  him,  that  any  settlers  going  on  his  land  would  be 
well  used.    Mr.  Banyar  conveyed  lots  56,  57,  44,  45,  46,  54 ;  ilr. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  45 

Smith,  47,  48,  43,  52.  Eighteen  shillings  in  silver  or  gold  or 
New  York  currency  equal  to  it  were  to  be  paid  in  four  years 
for  each  of  lots  56,  57,  47,  and  48,  and  fourteen  shillings  for  the 
others. 

Comfort  Sever  resigned  as  proprietor  in  1779,  and  Zebulon* 
Lyon  was  added.    John  Payne  received  from  the  Governor  and 
Council  on  Dec.  23,  1779,  the  charter  for  Bethel.     This  was  the 
first  town  grant  made  by  the  new  State  of  Vermont. 

The  survey  set  forth  in  the  charter  began  at  a  point  six  and 
one-half  miles  on  a  straight  line,  N.  61  degrees  west  from  the 
northwest  comer  of  Sharon,  thence  south  33  degrees  west  six 
miles,  sixty  rods,  thence  north  61  degrees  west  six  miles,  thence 
north  33  degrees  east  six  miles  and  sixty  rods,  thence  south  60 
degrees  east  six  miles  to  the  point  making  the  first  bound. 

Prom  the  foregoing  it  is  plain  that  the  original  New  York 
proprietors  still  owned  in  1777  the  land  in  the  two  tiers  bor- 
dering Bethel,  and  they  must  have  also  held  a  large  part  of  the 
rest  of  Royalton.  The  inhabitants  might  have  petitioned  the 
Assembly  for  a  new  charter  to  include  this  land,  but  there  were 
reasons,  no  doubt,  why  this  did  not  seem  advisable  at  this  time. 
The  town  was  already  chartered,  the  residents  had  probably,  in 
most  cases,  paid  for  their  individual  holdings,  and  felt  it  to  be  un- 
just to  have  to  pay  a  second  time.  It  was  a  repetition  of  the  New 
York  and  New  Hampshire  controversy  so  far  as  paying  twice 
for  their  land  was  concerned.  They  had  no  claim  to  the  unoccu- 
pied land,  and  if  they  retained  it  as  a  part  of  the  town,  would 
have  to  buy  it  of  the  New  York  proprietors.  Comparatively  few 
in  numbers,  as  they  were  at  this  time,  that  could  scarcely  have 
been  possible.  Besides,  it  was  by  no  means  certain  that  Vermont 
could  maintain  her  right  of  statehood  against  New  York  and 
New  Hampshire,  and  in  case  of  failure,  the  charters  granted  by 
the  state  would  be  null  and  void.  When  all  points  are  consid- 
ered, no  blame  will  be  attached  to  the  inhabitants  of  Royalton 
for  taking  the  action  which  they  did,  but  they  should  rather  be 
commended  for  saving  so  much  of  the  original  grant,  as  they 
succeeded  in  doing. 

Trouble  over  the  boundary  between  Bethel  and  Royalton  did 
not  cease  with  the  granting  of  the  Bethel  charter.  The  lines  of 
the  town  had  evidently  followed  the  course  of  the  Connecticut 
river,  and  did  not  run  due  north  and  south.  The  Royalton  set- 
tlers may  have  consciously  or  unconsciously  infringed  upon  the 
Bethel  land,  for  in  May,  1787,  a  committee  was  appointed  by 
Bethel  to  prosecute  any  person  that  should  interfere  over  the 
old  lines  of  Bethel.  Some  towns  in  the  State  were  much  dis- 
satisfied with  the  new  survey  made  by  the  Surveyor  General,  and 
the  Assembly  was  deluged  with  petitions  begging  for  a  change 


46  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

in  the  survey  or  for  the  establishment  of  old  lines.  Both  Roy- 
alton and  Bethel  were  among  the  petitioners  in  June,  1785.  The 
committee  of  the  Assembly  appointed  to  report  on  these  petitions, 
declared  that  the  lines  were  run  according  to  charter,  but  advised 
the  postponement  of  the  establishment  of  them  until  -the  next 
General  Assembly.  Dea.  Dudley  **Chace"  opposed  the  report, 
and  it  was  dismissed.  Then  the  House  took  up  the  petitions  and 
dismissed  them. 

Meanwhile  the  charter  had  been  granted  to  Royalton,  and 
her  boundaries  had  been  established  by  it.  The  survey  made  by 
Joel  Marsh  agrees  with  the  charter  survey,  viz.:  "Begin  at 
Sharon  S.  W.  corner,  thence  N.  40  degrees  E.  496  chains  to  Tun- 
bridge,  thence  N.  60  degrees  W.  456  chains  to  Bethel,  thence  S. 
40  degrees  W.  496  chains  on  Bethel  line  to  Barnard,  thence  S. 
60  degrees  E.  456  chains  on  Barnard  line  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning, containing  22,320  acres." 

In  a  petition  to  the  Assembly  regarding  taxes,  sent  by  sev- 
eral towns,  including  Bethel,  Royalton,  and  Sharon,  dated  Oct. 
2,  1784,  one  reason  assigned  for  complaint  was,  that  the  Sur- 
veyor General  had  altered  lines  and  taken  their  land  from  them 
in  violation  of  the  thirteenth  article  of  the  Bill  of  Rights. 

The  boundary  lines  established  by  her  charter  did  not  give 
Bethel  the  whole  of  the  two  tiers  which  had  before  formed  a  part 
of  Royalton.  By  referring  to  the  chart  of  Tunbridge  (Jore,  it 
will  be  seen  that  a  gore  of  considerable  size  was  left  between  the 
two  towns.  Bethel  petitioned  the  Assembly  on  Oct.  21,  1783, 
for  a  gore  **that  is  Cut  of  from  sd  Bethel,  containing  about  1400 
acres."  She  did  not  get  it.  In  1785,  June  2,  Silas  Williams 
and  Elias  Stevens  petitioned  in  behalf  of  Royalton  to  have  the 
old  lines  established. 

The  town  took  action  but  once  regarding  the  new  survey, 
and  seemed  to  leave  the  matter  in  the  hands  of  the  proprietors, 
until  1786,  and  then  they  did  not  consider  boundaries,  but  bit- 
terly opposed  taxation  for  the  purpose  of  paying  for  running 
the  new  lines.  The  action  of  the  proprietors  respecting  the  new 
survey  follows: 

"These  are  to  warn  the  Proprietors  of  the  Township  of  Royalton 
to  Meet  at  the  house  of  Zebulon  Lion  on  Monday  the  twenty  ninth 
Day  of  this  Instant  Month  at  one  of  the  Clok  Afternoon 

1st    to  Chose  A  moderator 

2  to  see  if  the  Proprietors  will  Chose  A  Ajlnt  to  send  to  the 
Governor  to  see  Conseming  the  Land  that  is  Cut  of  from  sd  (town?) 
by  the  New  Lines  Run  by  the  Sevare  General 

and  to  transact  Any  Other  Bisness  proper  to  be  Done  on  sd  Day 
By  Order  of  the  Perdential  Committee 

Elias  Stevens  Pr  Clark" 


History  of  Royalton,  Vermont  47 


"Sept  29th  1783 

Met  Acording  to  warning 
Ist    Choee  Calvin  Parkhurst  Moderator 

2nd  Chose  Elias  Stevens  Ajint  to  go  to  the  Governor  to  see  him 
Conseming  the  Land  that  Is  Cut  of  By  sd  New  Lines  Maid  by  the 
Servare  General  and  to  see  whether  he  Cant  Get  the  old  Lines  EiStab- 
lished 

3d    Voted  to  Desolve  this  meeting 

Elias  Stevens  Pr  Clark" 

The  question  naturally  arises,  Why  did  they  petition  the 
Governor  instead  of  the  Assembly?  They  may  have  had  little 
hope  of  receiving  attention  from  the  legislators,  or  the  old  habit 
of  referring  disputes  to  their  rulers  may  have  actuated  them. 
What  they  expected  the  Governor  to  do  is  not  easily  understood. 
They  wanted  the  old  lines  established.  To  secure  this,  thfe  Gov- 
ernor would  either  have  to  apply  to  the  Assembly,  or  ride  em- 
pirically over  the  decision  of  the  Surveyor  General.  The  meet- 
ing of  the  Assembly  at  Westminster  was  near  at  hand,  and  their 
first  session  opened  October  9th.  The  work  of  the  Surveyor  Gen- 
eral was  not  finished,  as  on  the  23d  instant  the  Governor  and 
Council  concurred  in  an  act  to  enable  him  **to  compleat  a  Sur- 
vey of  the  Town-Lines  of  this  State."  Their  hope  may  have 
rested  in  this  fact,  that  the  final  word  had  not  been  spoken.  The 
Governor,  no  doubt,  told  them  that  the  proper  course  was  to 
petition  the  Assembly. 

The  next  record  of  the  proprietors  is  dated  Dec.  2,  1783, 
when  they  met  according  to  adjournment,  which  leads  one  to 
suppose  that  the  record  of  some  meetings  in  the  interval  between 
Sep.  29,  when  they  dissolved,  and  this  meeting  were  omitted. 
They  merely  adjouhied  at  this  time  to  Jan.  6,  1784 : 

"Met  Acording  to  Ajumment 

Ist  Voted  to  Chose  an  Ajint  to  Atend  the  General  sembly  at  their 
sitting  in  Bennington  in  February  Next  to  Put  in  a  Petition  to  the 
General  sembly  for  the  Land  that  Is  Cut  of  from  sd  Royalton  Between 
Tunbridg  and  Royalton  and  Betwene  Bethel  and  Royalton  and  to  Git 
a  grant  of  sd  Land  if  posable 

2nd    Chose  Elias  Stevens  Ajint  to  Atend  the  asembly 

3d  Chose  John  Hibbard  Jun  Benj  Parkhurst  Calvin  Parkhurst  A 
Committee  to  git  a  County  survear  and  to  survey  the  Land  that  is 
Cut  of  from  sd  town  and  Make  Returns  to  the  Next  meeting 

4  Voted  to  Rais  a  tax  of  one  Dollar  on  EJach  proprietors  Right 
in  Royalton  to  pay  for  Surveying  and  the  Expense  for  the  Ajent 

5th  Voted  that  Standish  Day  pitch  of  Three  Afterdivition  shall 
stand  Good  whitch  was  pitch  June  8th  1783  in  Lot  No.  21  Town  plot 

6th  Voted  to  Ajum  this  Meeting  to  the  sixteenth  Day  of  March 
Next  at  one  of  the  Clok  on  sd  Day 

Ellas  Stevens  Pr  Clark" 

This  petition  from  Comfort  Sever,  Calvin  Parkhurst,  and 
John  Hibbard,  prudential  committee  of  Royalton,  came  up  in  the 
Assembly  March  5th,  and  its  consideration  was  postponed  until 


48  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

the  next  session.  Their  agent,  Elias  Stevens,  was  also  the  town 
representative  in  1783,  but  Silas  Williams  was  the  representative 
in  1784.  The  proprietors  met  Sep.  7th  of  1784  and  chose  Mr. 
Williams  as  their  agent  to  look  after  the  petition  that  had  been 
presented  by  Mr.  Stevens.  The  Journal  records  of  the  Assem- 
bly at  their  October  session  do  not  show  that  the  petition  came 
up  again  for  consideration.  In  June,  1785,  the  petition  of  Silas 
Williams  and  Elias  Stevens  to  have  the  old  lines  established  was 
before  the  House.  This  was  probably  the  petition  that  was  put 
over  to  the  October  session  of  1784,  or  it  may  have  been  the  one 
which  the  town  authorized,  March,  1785.  Its  fate  in  this  session 
was  like  that  of  a  petition  from  Bethel  of  June  3,  asking  for  the 
establishment  of  the  old  lines,  which  was  ordered  to  lie  on  the 
table.  It  is  no  wonder  if  the  Assembly  did  grow  weary  of  a 
steady  diet  of  petitions  relating  to  land  boundaries,  and  if  they 
sometimes  gave  them  scant  attention,  so  that  the  petitioners  com- 
plained that  they  could  not  get  their  petitions  even  read. 

Royalton  seems  to  have  had  hope  that  she  would  yet  win 
her  case.  The  Proprietors  met  Aug.  9,  1785,  and  chose  Elias 
Stevens,  Joseph  Parkhurst,  and  Calvin  Parkhurst  a  committee 
to  go  and  measure  the  line  between  Sharon  and  Royalton  and  to 
make  returns  at  the  next  meeting.  They  were  looking  now  to 
some  arrangement  between  the  towns  themselves.  At  their  next 
meeting  on  Sep.  6th  they  chose  Esquire  Dewey,  Elias  Stevens, 
Calvin  Parkhurst,  Esquire  Sever,  and  Benjamin  Parkhurst  a 
committee  to  treat  with  Sharon  or  their  committee  in  establishing 
the  line  between  the  two  towns.  At  the  same  time  they  chose 
Daniel  TuUar  and  Israel  Waller  to  measure  the  line  between 
Bethel  and  Royalton,  and  to  report  at  their  next  meeting. 

Their  hope  revived  before  this  meeting  on  the  20th  of  the 

month.     Elias  Stevens  was  again  their  representative,  and  he 

was  chosen  to  attend  to  the  matter  and  see  if  he  could  not  get 

the  land  that  was  cut  off  by  the  new  survey.     They  dismissed 

ilr.  Waller  and  Mr.  Tullar  **from  running  the  Line  Between 

Royalton  and  Bethel."     They  ** Chose  Calvin  Parkhurst  and 

Benj  Parkhurst  a  Committee  to  go  and  Run  the  Line  Round 

the  Town  and  git  A  inDifferent  Chainman  and  in  Differ  survere 

to  Run  Round  sd  Town  and  git  the  Distant  of  the  Old  Lines  and 

New  and  draw  a  plan  of  the  Old  Line  and  New  and  Make  Return 

to  the  Next  meeting."     There  is  no  record  of  the  adjourned 

meeting,  but  in  the  warning  for  a  meeting  on  Nov.  29th,  one 

article  provided  for  the  report  of  the  agent.     Pour  adjourned 

meetings  follow,  the  record  of  the  last  of  which  is, 
"Januy  3d,  1786 

Met  Acording  to  Ajumment 

1    Voted  to  Ajum  this  meeting  to  Let  Lions  for  fifteen  minits 
Met  Acording  to  Ajumment 

the  Report  of  the  AJint" 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  49 

This  is  the  last  word  said  by  the  proprietors  about  the 
boundaries. 

It  is  quite  possible  that  the  ** Stevens  and  Williams"  peti- 
tion was  one  of  the  five  petitions  from  as  many  towns,  including 
Bethel  and  Royalton,  which  were  referred  to  a  joint  committee 
on  June  5,  1785,  and  that  the  following  action  was  the  result  of 
it.  This  is  recorded  in  ** Governor  and  Council,''  under  date  of 
Oct.  22,  1785: 

"Whereas  the  Charter  of  Incorporation  of  the  Township  of  Royal- 
ton was  Issued  in  the  Absence  of  the  Surveyor  General,  ft  without 
proper  Bounds  from  him.  Therefor — Resolved,  that  the  Surveyor 
General  be  directed  to  resurvey  the  said  Township  of  Royalton  as 
near  agreeable  to  the  original  design  of  the  Grant  and  the  present 
wishes  of  the  Proprietors  as  may  be,  and  lay  the  same  before  this 
Council  in  order  for  a  new  Charter  to  be  given  accordingly.  The 
Survey  ftc.  to  be  at  the  Cost  of  the  proprietors." 

It  would  appear  that  a  "Correct  Survey"  was  made,  either  by  the 
proprietors  or  the  Surveyor  General.  On  Oct.  27,  1785,  the  Governor 
and  Council  passed  the  following  Resolution: 

"Whereas  the  Charter  of  Royalton  was  Issued  in  the  Absence  of 
the  Surveyor  General,  and  it  appears  on  a  Correct  Survey  not  to  comport 
with  the  Instructions  of  Council,  and  the  wishes  of  the  people,  therefore. 
Resolved,  that  Joel  Bftarsh  ESsqr  be  and  he  is  hereby  requested  to 
preambulate  (perambulate)  the  lines  of  Royalton  ft  Bethel,  as  near 
as  may  (be)  to  the  wishes  of  the  proprietors  of  both  Towns  ft  make 
a  return  of  such  Survey  with  the  Difference  there  may  be  between  that 
ft  the  lines  run  under  the  direction  of  the  Surveyor  General  to  the 
Secretary  of  Council  the  expense  to  be  paid  by  those  applying  therefor." 
They  further  "Resolved  that  the  land  that  shall  be  found  on  the  Survey 
this  day  allowed  to  be  made  in  the  Town  of  Royalton,  not  yet  paid 
for  by  the  proprietors,  be  paid  for  at  the  same  price  pr  acre  that  was 
given  for  the  Township  Together  with  the  Intrest  thereof  from  the 
time  of  the  other  payment,  in  Hard  money  orders  of  this  State." 

Conforming  to  these  resolutions  the  town  would  be  to  con- 
siderable expense  in  making  surveys,  and  in  paying  for  the  land 
which  had  been  cut  off.  The  Surveyor  General,  Ira  Allen,  had 
employed  James  Whitelaw  as  one  of  his  assistants,  and  the  new 
lines  bounding  Royalton  were  called  ** Whitelaw 's  Lines."  Mr. 
Whitelaw  later  became  Surveyor  (Jeneral. 

The  opposition  to  the  new  surveys  culminated  in  1785  in 
the  House  proposing  an  act  annulling  the  surveys,  and  directing 
a  discontinuance  of  such  surveys.  On  October  27th  a  Committee 
of  the  Whole  considered  the  bill.  The  Council  had  proposed  to 
postpone  it  until  the  next  session,  but  the  proposition  was  voted 
down.  The  Governor  and  Council  then  asked  for  a  Grand  Com- 
mittee of  the  two  Houses,  which  voted  to  postpone.  These  rec- 
ords register  the  general  feeling  throughout  the  State,  and  prove 
that  Royalton  was  not  alone  in  strenuously  opposing  a  change 
in  boundary. 

Neither  Bethel  nor  Royalton  seemed  willing  to  accept  the 
line  established  between  them.  On  Sep.  13,  1791,  Bethel  chose 
4 


50  History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont 

Joel  Marsh  to  act  with  the  prudential  committee,  and  they  were 
empowered  to  agree  with  the  committee  of  Royalton  and  Ran- 
dolph, and  settle  the  town  lines  between  said  towns.  Whether 
it  took  the  committee  a  year  to  conclude  negotiations,  or  whether 
they  failed,  and  a  new  committee  was  appointed  is  not  evident, 
but  the  final  record  bears  date,  Sep.  6,  1792: 

"An  agreement  between  the  proprietors'  committees  of  Bethel  and 
Royalton.  We  do  agree  for  ourselves  and  in  behalf  of  the  aforesaid 
proprietors,  that  the  old  known  line,  on  which  the  lands  in  each  of 
said  towns  are  settled,  and  the  old  known  comer,  which  is  a  maple 
tree  with  stones  about  it,  marked  'B.  L.'  on  the  South  West  side,  being 
456  chains  from  Sharon  line,  be  the  N.  W.  comer  of  Royalton,  and  the 
N.  E.  comer  of  Bethel;  then  running  S.  40  degrees  W.  496  chains  to 
Barnard  line  be  and  forever  to  remain  to  be,  the  settled  and  established 
line  between  the  above  said  towns,  and  we,  in  our  capacity  as  com- 
mittee men,  do  release  and  quit  all  right  and  title,  interest  or  claim  to 
any  land  on  ^ther  side  of  the  above  said  line.  And  we  farther  agree 
that  the  above  said  agreement  be  recorded  in  each  proprietors'  books. 
In  witness  whereof  and  in  testimony  of  our  mutual  agreement  we 
have  herewith  set  our  hands  this  sixth  day  of  September,  1792. 

Comfort  Sever,  EHias  Stevens,  committee  for  Royalton, 
Joel  Marsh,  David  Copeland,  Timothy  Hibbard,  Committee  for  Bethel." 

This  record  which  was  to  have  been  inserted  in  the  records 
of  each  town  is  not  found  in  Royalton  records.  The  agents, 
Comfort  Sever  and  Elias  Stevens,  were  probably  appointed  by 
the  proprietors.  The  last  record  of  a  prudential  committee  in- 
cluded Mr.  Sever,  but  not  Mr.  Stevens.  The  town  is  indebted 
to  Bethel  for  the  preservation  of  this  important  history  in  con- 
nection with  the  settlement  of  her  boundary  lines.  Referring 
to  the  diagram  showing  the  boundaries  of  the  town,  it  will  be 
noticed  that  the  Whitelaw  line  did  not  take  off  so  large  a  tract 
from  Royalton,  as  this  agreement  allowed.  In  all  probability 
there  had  never  been  any  authorized  action  granting  to  Bethel 
the  two  tiers  which  she  claimed,  and  the  new  survey  called  the 
attention  of  the  inhabitants  to  the  possibility  of  having  the  origi- 
nal boundary  re-established.  The  compact  of  1778  was  ratified 
by  this  agreement  between  the  two  towns,  and  Bethel  holds  a 
part  of  her  territory  by  consent  of  Royalton,  and  not  by  charter. 
Possibly  the  proprietors  never  ratified  the  action  of  their  com- 
mittee, but  it  is  more  likely  that  the  clerk  was  remiss  in  not  re- 
cording the  agreement. 

The  eastern  line  of  Bethel  was  found  by  Mr.  Child,  land 
surveyor  for  many  years,  not  to  be  a  straight,  but  a  crooked  line, 
varying  from  S.  38  degrees  W.  to  S.  42  degrees  W.  He  states 
that  the  north  line  of  Royalton,  and  consequently  the  north  line 
of  the  two  tiers  is  considered  to  run  60  degrees  E.,  notwith- 
standing it  is  stated  on  the  plan  as  running  57  and  one-half  de- 
grees E. 


History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont  61 

The  boundary  between  Boyalton  and  Bethel  was  at  last 
amicably  settled,  but  there  was  still  some  uncertainty  regarding 
the  eastern  boundary  of  the  town.  Some  who  had  built  their 
homes  in  Boyalton,  as  they  supposed,  do  not  seem  to  have  taken 
kindly  to  a  shift  of  jurisdiction,  especially,  as  they  were  living 
in  the  same  house.  This  is  inferred  by  finding  a  petition  before 
the  House  Oct.  15,  1808,  coming  from  **  sundry  inhabitants  of 
Boyalton  and  Sharon  regarding  jurisdictional  lines.'*  No  evi- 
dence is  found  that  the  town  of  Boyalton  authorized  the  petition, 
and  it  probably  emanated  from  a  few  dissatisfied  inhabitants  of 
the  two  towns.  It  was  referred  to  a  joint  committee,  came  up 
again  Oct.  20,  1809,  and  once  more  was  referred  to  a  joint  com- 
mittee. These  joint  committees  seemed  often  to  serve  as  con- 
venient wells  for  sinking  troublesome  bills.  If  they  were  never 
heard  from  again,  the  legislators  could  look  their  constituents 
placidly  in  the  face,  and  say,  **  We  acted  on  your  petition."  The 
Boyalton  settlers  who  had  lost  land  from  pitches  bordering  on 
Sharon  had  been  recompensed  by  additional  pitches  in  the  still 
imdivided  land.  Nothing  more  is  heard  regarding  the  eastern 
boundary,  and  it  appears  to  have  been  settled  as  the  line  was 
run,  and  as  it  stands  today. 

The  Tunbridge  Gore  was  coveted  by  numerous  would-be 
grantees.  Sauthier's  Map  of  1779  shows  no  gore  between  Boy- 
alton and  Tunbridge,  and  it  has  been  supposed,  that,  at  first,  a 
part  or  all  of  this  gore  was  considered  as  belonging  to  Boyalton. 
The  existence  of  a  gore  bordering  Boyalton  was  surely  recog- 
nized as  early,  at  least,  as  1780.  John  Hutchinson  and  others 
petitioned,  Feb.  5,  1780,  for  the  grant  of  a  gore  between  Sharon, 
Boyalton,  Middlesex,  and  Tunbridge.  A  petition  dated,  Nor- 
wich, Oct.  3,  1778,  from  Experience  Davis,  asks  for  a  gore  at 
the  S.  W.  corner  of  Tunbridge  of  1440  acres.  He  says  he  had 
built  a  house  on  it  and  lived  there  two  or  three  years,  and  that 
he  would  still  live  there  had  it  not  been  **  dangerous  on  account 
of  the  Enemy  of  this  and  the  United  States.'*  Aaron  Stores 
(Storrs)  petitioned  the  Surveyor  General  for  definite  instruc- 
tions as  to  the  boundary  of  Bandolph,  saying  that  he  was  like  to 
lose  it  for  want  of  these  instructions.  His  petition  was  granted 
June  27,  1781.  Experience  Davis  was  a  Bandolph  settler.  Pos- 
sibly, some  of  the  land  for  which  Mr.  Davis  petitioned  was  in- 
cluded in  the  gore  seen  on  S.  Gale's  Map  of  1774.  This  map 
with  its  explanation  accompanied  a  petition  of  James  Nial  to 
New  York  for  the  gore  lettered,  CDEF.  Thomas  Gage  attached 
his  certificate,  saying  that  Mr.  Nial  **was  a  Capt.  of  Bangers  in 
His  Majesty's  service  during  the  War  in  North  America  and  was 
reduced  in  said  capacity."  There  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that 
Mr.  Nial  ever  occupied  the  land,  if  he  got  it,  and  if  he  favored 


52  Hl8T(»Y  OP  BOYALTON,  VeBMONT 

the  British,  no  Yankee  would  scruple  to  settle  on  it.    We  may 

conclude,  then,  that  the  stiff-spined  Experience,  who  merely 

winked  at  the  warnings  of  Governor  and  Council,  cared  not  a  jot 

for  the  claim  of  any  British  sympathizer,  when  he  fenced  in  his 

** Squatter"  lot  in  1776.    Mr.  Gale  in  explanation  of  this  gore, 

CDEF,  says: 

"At  the  Time  of  the  Passing  of  the  Grant  for  the  Township  at 
Middlesex  (which  has  its  place  of  beginning  at  the  point  Z)  It  was 
supposed  that  the  southeasterly  Comer  of  that  Township  would  have 
coincided  with  the  southwesterly  Comer  of  the  Township  of  Royalton 
represented  by  the  point  A  (which  last  mentioned  Tract  has  its  place 
of  beginning  as  at  M)  whereby  the  Fourth  Comer  of  Middlesex 
was  supposed  to  be  coinciding  with  the  Northwesterly  Comer 
of  Royalton  r^resented  by  the  Point  a  ft  whereby  also  the 
Fifth  Boundary  line  of  the  Township  of  Middlesex  was  sup- 
posed to  be  (coinciding  with  the  Northerly  bounds  of  Royal- 
ton represented  by  the  line  aF  Till  it  should  meet  with  the 
Westerly  bounds  of  Tunbridge  as  at  F.  The  Township  of  Royalton 
was  laid  out  in  the  year  1770  by  Thomas  Valentine  and  the  several 
lines  and  (Vomers  Marked.  The  Township  of  Middlesex  was  laid  out 
by  mjTself  in  the  year  1772  and  Run  into  Lots  by  which  survey  the 
southeasterly  comer  of  the  Township  of  Middlesex  instead  of  coincid- 
ing with  the  Northeasterly  Comer  of  Royalton  as  at  a  proved  to  be  at 
the  Point  represented  by  D.  And  the  Fifth  boundary  line  instead  of 
coinciding  with  the  Northerly  bounds  of  Royalton  (aF)  proved  to  be 
as  represented  by  the  line  DB  in  consequence  of  which  the  space  CDESP 
Remains  Vacant 

S.  Gale  Surveyor." 

The  grant  of  the  Tunbridge  (Jore  was  made  by  the  Assem- 
bly June  18,  1785.  The  Council  of  that  date  **  Resolved  that  the 
fees  on  the  Gore  of  Land  Granted  to  Governor  Spooner,  and 
others,  be  one  shilling  pr.  acre  to  be  paid  in  hard  money  within 
one  Month  or  Revert  to  the  State."  The  grantees  were  Gov. 
Paul  Spooner,  Hon.  Peter  Olcott,  Rev.  Lyman  Potter,  Robert 
Havens,  Joseph  Havens,  Calvin  Parkhurst,  John  Hutchinson, 
Abijah  Hutchinson,  John  Parkhurst,  Abel  Hendrick,  Moses  Ord- 
way,  Benjamin  Ordway,  Elias  Stevens,  and  Widow  Lois  Button. 
Nathan  Woodbury  was  not  named  in  the  list  recorded  in  Tun- 
bridge, but  is  named  in  the  apportionment  of  acres.  The  fees 
were  promptly  paid,  evidently,  as  on  the  15th  of  the  month  the 
Council  directed  Col.  Ira  Allen  to  accept  £5  in  public  securities 
from  Gov.  Spooner,  and  £5  in  ** States  notes''  in  a  ** Settlement 
for  the  fees  of  said  Gore,"  and  to  discharge  Nathan  Woodbury 
that  sum  on  the  granting  fees  due  from  him  for  his  Right  of 
Land  between  Tunbridge  and  Royalton.  The  Chart  of  Tun- 
bridge Gore  shows  the  number  of  acres  held  by  each  grantee,  but 
the  divisions  are  disproportionate,  as  they  so  stood  on  the  dia- 
gram filed  in  the  town  clerk 's  office  in  Tunbridge,  and  it  was  not 
deemed  best  to  change  them. 


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54  HiSTOBT  OP  BOYALTON,  VERMONT 

The  Grant  stated  that  the  Gore  hereafter  was  to  be  a  part 
of  Tunbridge.  The  boundary  began  at  a  beech  tree  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Tunbridge  marked  ''Strafford  Comer  1783,"  being  the 
southeast  comer  of  Tunbridge,  then  N.  58  degrees  East  six  miles 
in  Tunbridge  line  to  stake  and  stones  seven  links  from  a  hemlock 
tree  marked  Tunbridge  ''S.  W.  comer  1783,"  then  S.  26  degrees 
and  66  chains  and  fifty  links  to  N.  W.  comer  of  Boyalton,  then 
S.  60  degrees  E.  466  chains  in  N.  line  of  Boyalton  to  the  N.  E. 
comer  of  Boyalton. 

At  a  proprietors'  meeting  held  Nov.  4,  1788,  at  John  Hutch- 
inson's, Hezekiah  Hutchinson  was  chosen  clerk,  and  CoL  Stevens, 
Moses  Ordway,  and  John  Hutchinson,  prudential  committee. 
Whether  this  grant  was  pleasing  to  Tunbridge  or  not  can  only  be 
conjectured.  In  June  of  the  next  year  she  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  ascertain  the  ''antient"  bounds  of  the  town,  and  placed 
Elias  Curtis  on  a  committee  to  draft  a  remonstrance  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  against  granting  any  more  land  within  her  bound- 
ary. 

The  boundaries  of  Boyalton  would  now  seem  to  have  been 
permanently  established,  but  there  were  still  restless  spirits  look- 
ing, like  Alexander,  for  more  worlds  to  conquer.  Some  of  them 
were  on  this  very  gore.  It  is  difficult  to  understand  just  what 
motives  prompted  them  to  meditate  the  formation  of  a  new  town, 
by  taking  portions  from  Boyalton,  Bethel,  Tunbridge,  and  Ban- 
dolph.  It  has  not  been  ascertained  with  whom  the  idea  origin- 
ated, but  it  was  evidently  hatched,  and  grew  most  lustily  on  this 
gore.  A  petition  was  sent  to  the  Assembly,  which  considered  it 
Oct.  13,  1809.  It  was  referred  to  a  joint  committee.  Jacob 
Smith  was  the  representative  from  Boyalton  at  that  time.  The 
petition  was  signed  by  Jonathan  Whitney  and  others.  The  Coun- 
cil received  from  the  House,  Oct.  16,  1810,  a  bill  providing  for 
a  committee  to  examine  the  towns  of  Bethel,  Bandolph,  Boyalton, 
and  Tunbridge,  which  had  been  referred  to  a  committee  of  four, 
and  the  Council  concurred  in  the  reference. 

Of  course  this  attempt  to  found  a  new  town  failed,  but  the 
question  was  only  dormant,  not  dead.  It  revived  ten  years  later, 
and  a  petition  from  the  same  towns  was  before  the  House  Oct. 
20,  1820,  which  was  referred  to  a  joint  committee  of  six.  It 
went  over  that  session.  Unless  records  are  at  fault,  Boyalton 
took  no  part  as  a  town,  in  the  earliest  project  of  forming  a  new 
town,  though  some  of  her  citizens  did.  She  was  passive,  also, 
as  regards  the  petition  of  1820.  We  may  infer  that  the  forming 
of  a  new  town  was  left  to  an  expression  of  the  voters  of  the  sev- 
eral towns  concerned.  In  the  warning  for  the  March  meeting 
of  1821  the  following  article  was  inserted :  *  *  To  see  if  they  will 
agree  to  have  a  town  formed  by  taking  a  part  of  Boyalton,  Bethel, 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  55 

Randolph,  and  Tunbridge  to  be  called  Munroe/'  The  article 
was  laid  over  to  an  adjourned  meeting  and  then  they  voted 
against  forming  such  a  town.  So  far  as  has  been  ascertained, 
the  other  towns  that  took  any  action  at  all  in  the  matter,  voted 
against  it.  The  boundaries  of  Royalton  were  still  undisturbed 
and  have  so  continued  to  the  present  time.  This  bill  was  before 
the  Grovemor  and  Council  Oct.  21,  and  Mr.  Chittenden  was  chosen 
to  join  the  committee  from  the  House.  Probably  no  further 
action  was  taken.  The  petition  emanated  from  **  sundry  in- 
habitants," and  apparently  was  not  authorized  by  the  towns  con- 
cerned. Royalton,  as  has  been  said,  had  already  expressed  its 
disapproval  of  the  scheme. 

In  1829  the  selectmen  of  the  town  were  requested  to  estab- 
lish the  limits  and  bounds  of  Royalton  village,  agreeable  to  an 
act  of  the  Legislature  passed  November  11,  1819.  The  bound- 
aries are  recorded  as  **  beginning  in  the  center  of  the  turnpike 
road  south  of  the  dwelling  house  of  Solomon  Wheeler,  Jr.,  thence 
up  the  turnpike  as  far  as  the  house  formerly  owned  by  Jacob 
Cady,  thence  extending  each  way  from  the  center  of  the  turnpike 
the  above  distance  forty-five  rods."    Dated  March  20,  1829. 

No  definite  limits  have  been  set  to  the  village  of  South  Roy- 
alton. By  the  charter  of  incorporation  granted  by  the  legisla- 
ture Jan.  15,  1909,  which  will  be  operative  only  when  a  majority 
of  the  legal  voters  in  the  proposed  district  shall  vote  to  incor- 
porate, the  bounds  extend  as  follows: 

"Beginning  at  a  point  in  the  easterly  line  of  the  right  of  way  o£ 
the  Central  Vermont  railway  opposite  the  southeasterly  comer  of  the 
southerly  abutment  of  the  railway  bridge  crossing  White  River,  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Jessie  F.  Benson,  on  the  bank  of  said  river,  thence 
southerly  on  the  west  bank  of  said  river  including  lands  of  G.  W.  Smith 
and  Mrs.  Maxham,  the  Whitham  farm  now  owned  by  Caspar  P.  Abbott 
(now  owned  by  Charles  Southworth),  and  the  N.  I.  Hale  place,  to  a 
point  opposite  the  north  bound  of  the  A.  P.  Skinner  meadow  ground, 
on  the  east  side  of  said  river,  thence  across  said  White  river  to  said 
Skinner's  northerly  bound,  thence  on  said  Skinner's  northerly  bound, 
of  said  meadow  piece,  to  the  highway  on  the  east  side  of  said  river, 
thence  northerly  on  the  west  line  of  said  highway,  to  a  point  opposite 
the  northerly  bound  of  the  Riverview  cemetery,  thence  on  the  northerly 
bound  of  said  cemetery,  and  including  said  cemetery,  to  the  northerly 
line  of  said  A.  P.  Skinner's  farm,  thence  easterly  and  northerly  on 
said  Skinner's  line  to  the  highway  leading  to  the  A.  C.  Blake  farm, 
thence  southerly  on  the  westerly  line  of  said  highway  to  the  land  of 
Gertrude  Patten,  thence  on  said  Patten's  line  and  said  highway  to  a 
point  opposite  the  westerly  abutment  of  the  third  covered  bridge  across 
the  first  branch  of  VHiite  river,  (from  its  mouth)  thence  across  said 
highway  to  the  S.  E.  comer  of  said  bridge  abutment,  thence  across  said 
Branch  river  to  the  S.  E.  comer  of  land  owned  by  Albert  Waterman  and 
wife,  on  the  easterly  bank  of  said  branch  thence  southerly  on  said 
branch  river  bank  to  a  point  opposite  the  northeasterly  bound  of  W.  N. 
Salter  and  E.  A.  Woodward's  land,  thence  across  the  highway  leading 
to  the  hill  road  and  C.  W.  Seymour's  farm,  to  said  Salter's  and  Wood- 


56  HlffTGRY  OF  BOYALTON,  VERMONT 

ward's  northeasterly  bound,  thence  following  the  lines  of  said  Salter's 
and  Woodward's  property  so  as  to  include  all  the  same,  and  including 
all  of  the  M.  V.  B.  Adams  land,  (the  property  lately  deeded  to  Jesse 
Cook)  the  Mary  L.  Mudgett  piece,  so-called,  the  Robinson  place  and 
the  H.  C.  Tenney  land,  to  land  of  N^tie  li.  Waldo,  thence  following 
the  southeasterly  line  of  said  Waldo  land  on  the  height  of  land  called 
the  ESephant,  to  the  comer  of  land  now  owned  by  Frank  Fay,  thence 
on  said  Fay's  land  to  the  main  highway  easterly  of  White  riTer,  thence 
across  said  highway  to  said  Fay's  line  again,  and  on  said  Fay's  land  to 
the  easterly  bank  of  said  river,  thence  crossing  said  White  river  at 
.right  angles  to  the  land  of  S.  S.  Brooks  on  the  westerly  bank  of  said 
river,  thence  southerly  on  said  river  bank  to  the  line  of  land  owned 
by  O.  S.  Curtis,  including  the  land  of  D.  W.  Blake,  and  the  Flint  meadow 
so-called  (now  owned  by  W.  El  Webster),  thence  on  said  Curtis'  land 
westerly  to  the  easterly  line  of  the  public  highway,  thence  on  said 
highway  southerly  to  said  Curtis'  land  again,  thence  crossing  said 
highway  at  right  angles  and  following  said  Curtis'  line  of  land  across 
the  railway  and  over  the  hill  southerly  and  westerly,  crossing  the 
Broad  Brook  highway,  including  the  lands  of  C.  El  Flint  and  I.  B. 
Spaulding,  the  D.  W.  Blake  pasture,  and  the  Lamb  pasture,  to  the  L.  C. 
Tower  pasture,  thence  on  the  S.  W.  line  of  said  Tower  pasture  to  the 
Bl  H.  Hazen  pasture,  and  on  said  Hasen's  southwesterly  line  to  the 
J.  W.  Woodward  land,  thence  on  said  Woodward's  southwesterly  line 
to  the  pasture  land  of  C.  P.  Abbott  (CTharles  Southworth),  and  thence 
on  his  southwesterly  and  westerly  lines  to  the  great  ledge  and  land 
of  W.  B.  Could,  thence  on  said  great  ledge  to  the  land  of  C.  W.  Ehiglish 
and  wife,  thence  on  said  English's  line  to  land  now  owned  by  C.  W. 
Benson,  (formerly  the  Ellen  Woodward  land)  thence  on  said  Benson 
and  Ehiglish's  lines  to  the  rig^t  of  way  of  said  (Central  Vermont 
Railway  Co.,  thence  at  right  angles  across  said  railway  land  to  land  of 
Jessie  Benson,  thence  on  said  Benson's  northwesterly  bound,  to  the 
highway,  thence  across  said  highway  and  following  said  Benson's 
northwesterly  bound  again,  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

Under  the  authority  vested  in  them  by  legislative  enactment 
the  selectmen  of  Royalton  established  Fire  District,  No.  1,  in 
August,  1884.     The  following  bounds  were  then  set: 

"Not  exceeding  2  miles  Sqr.,  on  the  highway  leading  to  Sharon 
from  So.  Royalton  ft  on  the  So.  Royalton  side  of  White  River  as  far 
and  including  the  farm  of  O.  S.  Curtis,  on  the  highway  leading  from 
So.  Royalton  to  Rojralton  same  side  of  White  River  as  far  ft  including 
the  farm  of  John  Braley,  (now  owned  by  Jessie  Benson)  on  the  highway 
leading  from  So.  Royalton  to  Woodstock  as  far  ft  including  land 
owned  by  A.  H.  Lamb  ft  wife  also  including  the  new  highway  leading 
from  the  Woodstock  road  near  Isaac  Northrop  to  the  Sharon  road  near 
James  N.  Cloud,  on  the  highway  leading  from  So.  Royalton  to  C!helsea 
as  far  ft  including  the  new  Factory  of  M.  S.  Adams,  and  on  the  highway 
leading  from  the  (Hielsea  Road  around  by  John  A.  Slack  (now  C.  W. 
Seymour),  as  far  and  including  the  Ira  Pierce  place  ft  now  owned  by 
M.  S.  Adams,  on  the  highway  leading  from  P.  D.  Pierce  to  Royalton 
as  far  ft  including  the  James  Buck  farm,  on  the  highway  leading  to 
Sharon  as  far  as  P.  D.  Pierce's  southerly  line." 

In  1885,  on  petition,  all  north  of  the  river,  the  John  B. 
Braley  and  William  C.  Smith  premises,  those  of  Oliver  Curtis. 
Benjamin  Flint,  Rufus  and  JameB  X.  Cloud  were  omitted,  bring- 
ing the  southern  bound  as  far  north  as  the  new  highway  laid  in 


HiSTOBT  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT  57 

1885  between  James  N.  Cloud  and  L.  C.  Tower,  running  to  the 
Woodstock  road  or  Pleasant  street.  In  1893  the  district  was 
extended  to  include  all  along  the  new  road  by  Danforth  Day's 
to  the  river,  the  P.  D.  Pierce  place,  and  Charles  Vial  place  be- 
tween the  Pierce  farm  and  the  river. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


The  Earliest  Settlebs. 

The  course  of  settlement  from  Massachusetts  and  Connecti- 
cut was  continually  northward  and  westward.  Pioneers  in  one 
town  often  remained  only  long  enough  to  secure  title  to  their 
pitches,  and  then  moved  on  further  into  the  wilderness.  Thus 
settlers  in  Sharon,  Vermont,  had  itching  feet  for  land  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  town.  There  is  some  difference  of  opinion  as  to 
who  were  the  first  settlers  in  Sharon.  A  paper  of  reminiscences 
prepared  by  Joel  Shepard  at  the  age  of  ninety-two  is  very  inter- 
esting reading,  and  deserves  to  pass  into  history.  He  was  the 
son  of  William  Shepard,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Sharon. 

Sharon  was  chartered  Aug.  17,  1761,  by  Governor  Benning 
Wentworth  of  New  Hampshire.  The  first  recorded  meeting  was 
held  in  Plainfield,  Conn.,  Nov.  18,  1761,  when  Lieut.  Joseph 
Parkhurst  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  John  Parkhurst,  Clerk. 
They  voted  to  allow  the  charges  of  the  committee  for  their  jour- 
ney to  and  from  Sharon,  amounting  to  sixteen  pounds.  Town 
oflScers  were  chosen  in  Plainfield,  March  9,  1762.  Lieut.  John 
Parkhurst  received  £6  on  Mar.  8,  1763,  for  going  to  Portsmouth 
for  the  charter.  Lots  on  the  first  right  had  been  laid  out  in  part, 
and  were  drawn  by  lot  Nov.  15th  of  that  year.  Capt.  John 
Parkhurst  received  £1.10  for  surveys,  riding  his  horse  to  Sharon. 
The  committee  that  went  to  Sharon  to  lay  out  the  lots  were  Capt. 
Timothy  Wheeler,  Capt.  Silas  Hutchins,  Jo.  Parkhurst,  Jr.,  John 
Stevens,  and  Curtis  Spaulding.  The  proprietors  offered  to  any 
ten  or  five  who  would  go  to  Sharon,  clear  three  acres,  sow  to 
English  grain,  and  build  a  house  sixteen  feet  square,  by  the  first 
of  November,  1763,  their  choice  of  lots  laid  out.  Evidently  no 
one  accepted  the  offer,  and  it  was  renewed  to  any  five  on  April 
12,  1764,  with  the  privilege  of  selecting  any  100  acres  in  the 
undivided  land,  only  ten  of  which  could  be  intervale.  In  Novem- 
ber the  right  was  extended  to  any  one.  The  first  town  meeting 
in  Sharon  was  held  July  1,  1765,  but  in  December  one  was  held 
in  Plainfield,  and  also  in  1767.  In  1766,  March  11th,  a  meet- 
ing was  held  in  Killingly,  which  adjourned  to  Plainfield,  and 
Joel  Marsh  received  for  a  survey  of  the  town  and  the  100-acre 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  59 

lots  £6.2.6,  and  Robert  Havens  received  six  shillings  for  assist- 
ing the  committee  in  laying  out  the  town. 

The  Havens  and  Shepard  families  are  connected  with  Roy- 
alton, as  well  as  with  Sharon,  and  their  earliest  experiences  in 
this  vicinity  are  related  by  Joel  Shepard  as  follows : 

**The  proprietors  of  Plainfield,  KiUingly  and  Canterbury, 
Conn.,  bought  the  number  of  the  town  now  called  Sharon.  They 
were  to  settle  the  town  in  this  way — four  were  to  be  there  through 
the  summer,  and  one  at  least  in  the  winter.  They  met  together 
to  see  who  would  turn  out,  but  all  appeared  loth  to  go.  Then 
they  voted  to  give  the  four  that  would  go  and  settle  first — and 
one  of  the  four  to  stay  through  the  winter — they  gave  them  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  where  they  see  fit.  This  was 
gratis  for  settling.  Isaac  Marsh,  my  grandfather,  Willard  Shep- 
ard, my  father,  one  Parkhurst  and  one  Havens  turned  out  to  go 
the  next  Spring.  They  got  ready  in  the  Winter.  They  set  out 
the  next  spring  with  their  provisions  and  farming  tools,  and  other 
necessaries,  and  went  with  an  ox  team  as  far  as  Old  Hadley,  and 
they  put  up  at  a  tavern ;  his  name  was  Kellogg  and  there  was  a 
boat  going  up  to  Charlestown,  No.  4.  They  put  their  effects  on 
board  the  boat  and  went  up  and  sent  the  team  home.  They  got 
to  Charlestown  safe.  Then  there  was  no  road,  nor  no  inhab- 
itants, all  a  wilderness,  and  it  was  sixty  miles.  They  built  them 
a  log  canoe,  and  loaded  and  went  on,  and  when  they  came  to  falls 
and  could  not  get  up  with  their  canoe,  they  would  back  round 
their  effects  and  go  above  the  falls,  and  build  another  canoe,  and 
then  load  and  go  on.  They  had  several  sets  of  falls  to  pass  in 
the  same  way,  but  at  last  they  got  there  safe,  and  they  found 
the  comers  of  the  town  and  the  number  and  each  one  made  his 
pitch  where  his  grandson  now  lives.  Where  Isaac  Marsh  made 
his  pitch  is  where  Timothy  Marsh,  his  grandson,  now  lives.  Wil- 
lard Shepard  made  his  pitch  at  the  upper  part  of  the  town, 
and  the  other  two  made  their  pitches.  Each  one  built  him  a  log 
hut.  All  would  work  for  one  a  week,  for  another  a  week,  and 
so  on  round,  and  on  the  Sabbath  day  they  would  resort  to  Isaac 
Marsh's  hut;  and  there  one  Sabbath  after  meeting,  it  being 
warm,  they  walked  down  to  the  river  where  it  was  cooler.  Some 
were  reading  and  some  were  talking.  Isaac  Marsh  had  a  stick 
in  his  hand  as  he  sat  talking,  now  and  then  picking  a  little  in 
the  leaves  and  dirt.  At  last  he  picked  up  a  ring  that  was  in  the 
dirt,  and  come  to  rub  up  the  ring  they  found  it  to  be  a  plain 
gold  ring,  and  on  the  inside  was  carved  in  small  letters,  *  Re- 
member the  giver. '  This  was  a  wonder,  how  the  ring  came  there, 
miles  from  any  inhabitants,  and  all  a  wilderness.  He  laid  up 
the  ring.     They  went  to  their  work,  which  was  chopping.     Each 


60  HlST(»Y  OP  BOYALTON,  VERMONT 

one  sowed  a  patch  of  turnips.    They  reaped  some  water  oats  on 
an  island  in  White  River  and  saved  them. 

Come  fall  they  were  all  eager  to  go  home,  but  one  had  to  stay 
to  keep  the  charter  good.  Finally,  Isaac  concluded  to  stay;  he 
had  provisions  enough  to  last  him  till  they  came  up  in  the  spring. 
They  started,  meaning  to  get  home  to  Thanksgiving,  and  left 
Isaac  Marsh  alone.  Not  long  after  they  were  gone,  one  morning 
as  he  was  going  to  his  work,  he  met  an  Indian  and  his  squaw 
and  four  children.  They  shook  hands  and  it  was  peace.  The 
Indian  appeared  to  be  glad  to  see  the  white  man,  and  Mr.  Marsh 
invited  him  to  go  to  his  log  house,  and  he  gave  the  Indian  and 
squaw  a  dram  each,  and  that  suited  well,  and  he  gave  them  a 
breakfast.  Then  they  sat  and  talked.  The  Indian  said  he  had 
come  from  Canada  into  this  part  in  order  to  trap  for  beaver, 
and  was  about  building  him  a  wigwam  for  his  family.  'But  I 
should  think/  said  the  Indian,  'that  your  wigwam  would  hold 
us  both.'  *Yes,'  said  Mr.  Marsh,  and  they  set  his  eflfects  all  on 
one  side  and  the  Indian  took  the  other,  and  then  made  a  mark 
from  the  fireplace  to  the  middle  of  the  door  and  told  his  children 
not  to  step  across  that  mark,  and  they  did  as  they  were  bid.  He 
followed  trapping  and  had  good  success.  He  would  hunt  a  deer 
in  the  morning  while  his  wife  was  getting  breakfast,  and  com- 
monly kill  a  deer  and  draw  it  home,  and  say  to  Mr.  Marsh :  *  Skin 
um  and  you  shall  have  half  of  um. '  Marsh  would  dress  the  deer 
and  take  his  half,  and  the  Indian  would  sit  and  tell  his  war  and 
hunting  stories  with  some  Indian  remarks,  and  it  was  good  com- 
pany. His  squaw  was  industrious  and  neat,  and  of  good  govern- 
ment over  her  children,  and  pleasant  to  her  husband.  Their 
oldest  son  was  about  twelve  years  of  age.  Mr.  Marsh  cut  down 
some  small  trees,  and  the  boy  would  cut  them  up  to  keep  a  good 
fire  day  and  night,  and  he  made  the  boy  a  hand-sled,  and  he 
commonly  got  home  enough  to  last  through  the  night  by  noon. 
One  day  the  boy  was  eying  Mr.  Marsh's  fish  pole  and  line.  The 
boy  takes  a  coal  and  a  flat  stone,  and  marked  out  a  fish ;  then  he 
patted  Mr.  Marsh  on  the  shoulder,  and  then  pointed  to  the  pole ; 
then  he  struck  the  fish  in  two  with  the  coal ;  then  made  a  motion 
to  share  one  half  with  him,  then  pointed  to  the  pole.  Mr.  Marsh 
knew  what  he  wanted,  and  gave  him  the  pole  and  some  rinds  of 
pork  for  bait.  Come  night  the  boy  brought  home  a  good  string 
of  trout  and  laid  them  into  two  piles,  and  pointed  to  Mr.  Marsh 
to  take  his  half,  and  he  did.  The  largest  ones  he  corned  down 
and  smoked  them  for  the  next  summer,  and  the  boy  followed 
fishing  through  the  winter.  Mr.  Marsh  made  some  sap-trays  and 
tapped  some  maple  trees.  Come  night  he  would  bring  in  the 
sap  and  the  squaw  would  boil  it  away,  and  they  made  molasses 
and  sugar — the  squaw  used  what  she  wanted.    About  this  time 


62  HiSTOBY  OP  BOYALTON,  VeBMONT 

very  short  time  they  were  in  the  part  of  the  town  where  I  was. 
All  was  murder  and  confusion.  The  young  man  took  his  arms 
and  fought  bravely ;  at  last  he  was  shot  down.  I  was  near  him. 
I  raised  him  up  and  he  said,  '^I  am  dying/'  and  took  my  hand. 
** Farewell  forever," — and  he  soon  breathed  his  last.  I  was 
taken  prisoner.  The  ring  was  on  my  finger.  I  took  it  off  and 
wrapped  it  in  my  bosom,  and  by  sunrise  the  town  was  destroyed. 
Some  made  their  escape,  but  most  were  killed  or  taken  prisoners. 
About  sunrise  we  went  off  east.  Come  night  they  divided  their 
prisoners,  and  I  was  set  off  to  an  Indian.  The  next  morning  I 
was  loaded  with  the  spoils.  What  horses  they  got  were  loaded, 
and  we  were  on  the  march  as  soon  as  it  was  light,  and  by  slow 
marches  we  got  up  against  the  mouth  of  White  River,  and  then 
we  crossed  the  Great  River — the  women  and  children  on  a  raft. 
We  encamped  at  the  river  that  night.  We  went  up  White  River 
the  next  day.  Come  night  we  encamped  on  the  river  bank.  At 
night  I  had  the  ring  in  my  bosom.  There  was  an  island  in  White 
River  against  where  we  encamped.  Come  morning  I  missed  the 
ring.  I  hunted  for  the  ring  until  I  was  ordered  to  march.  They 
went  up  the  lake.  They  then  put  their  loading  on  board  of 
their  canoes  and  went  on  to  Canada.  There  I  was  sold  to  a 
Frenchman.  Then  I  was  put  into  the  kitchen  to  do  all  kinds  of 
drudgery.  They  styled  me  a  Yankee  slave,  and  I  continued  in 
this  sort  until  I  was  redeemed.  Then  I  was  sent  round  by  Hali- 
fax to  Boston.    Then  I  got  home  as  I  could.' 

This  ended  the  evening  discourse.  The  next  morning  Mr. 
Marsh  asked  what  he  had  to  pay.  *  Nothing  at  all,'  said  the  old 
lady,  *your  returning  the  ring  more  than  pays  me.'  The  next 
morning  he  went  home  and  found  all  to  be  well.  The  next  spring 
he  started,  and  some  others  with  him,  and  the  town  began  to 
settle  fast.  The  first  settlers  began  to  raise  bread-stuff  to  sell, 
the  other  towns  settling  fast.  This  season  there  came  some  men 
to  view  Royalton,  a  town  above  Sharon.  But  they  thought  they 
never  could  get  a  road  by  the  Point  of  Rocks.  Willard  Shep- 
ard's  pick  was  above  the  Rock  and  he  had  given  it  up  as  lost. 
There  was  a  Scotchman  in  the  company.  He  said  he  could  blow 
the  rocks  high  and  dry  in  a  short  time.  He  said  he  was  a  miner 
by  trade.  He  went  to  work  and  soon  made  a  passable  cart  road 
at  the  Point  of  Rocks.  Since  that  there  has  been  a  turnpike 
up  and  down  the  river.  But  now  there  is  a  railroad  where  it 
was  once  said  there  never  could  be  any  roads  got  there ;  and  the 
country  never  could  be  settled,  and  it  was  not  worth  settling. 
But  now  see  the  difference.  See  the  different  factories  of  all 
kinds,  villages,  the  streets  of  houses  and  all  the  comforts  of  life, 
the  produce  they  raise  such  as  neat  stock,  butter  and  cheese, 
sheep  and  wool  pork  and  store  hogs,  hay  seed  and  the  like.    And 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  63 

it  is  said  that  there  is  no  state  in  the  Union  that  sends  more  to 
market  than  Vermont  does — according  to  the  value  of  the  state — 
and  we  may  set  it  down  as  the  Lord  said  in  Genesis,  first  chapter, 
last  verse:  'When  the  Lord  had  made  all  the  world,  and  com- 
pleted the  whole,  He  looked  at  it  and  behold  it  was  all  very  good. ' 
But  we  weak-minded  people  cannot  see  the  goodness  of  the  land 
and  the  privileges  at  the  first  glance.  We  are  apt  to  think  our 
judgment  to  be  good  and  the  Lord's  not." 

Dr.  Cyrus  B.  Drake  visited,  many  years  ago,  Mrs.  Lorenza 
(Havens)  Love  joy,  daughter  of  Robert  Havens,  and  questioned 
her  regarding  the  early  settlement  of  Sharon  and  Royalton. 
When  she  died  in  1853  he  wrote  her  obituary,  in  which  he  stated 
that  Robert  Havens  came  to  Sharon  in  1765,  that  the  family 
spent  the  first  winter  in  Sharon  alone,  and  toward  spring  men 
came  from  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  to  fijid  them,  fearing  they  had  per- 
ished. He  states  that  at  the  end  of  a  year  Mr.  Spalding  and 
Mr.  Marsh  came  to  the  town.  The  names  of  Mr.  Havens  and 
Isaac  Marsh  do  not  appear  in  the  list  of  original  grantees  of 
Sharon.  Robert  Havens  owned  over  200  acres  of  land  there,  as 
deeds  of  sale  show,  and  he  lived  there  between  five  and  six  years 
before  removing  to  Royalton.  The  Havens'  descendants  have 
always  understood  that  Robert  was  the  first  settler  in  Sharon. 
The  first  settlers  of  Sharon  must  have  come  in  1764  or  1765, 
presumably  the  latter  year,  but  without  specific  dates,  it  cannot 
be  stated  who  was  the  first  pioneer  of  that  town. 

Robert  Havens,  the  first  settler  of  Royalton,  is  said  to  have 
come  from  Killingly,  Conn.,  to  Sharon  in  the  summer  of  1765. 
He  made  a  pitch  on  the  East  Hill  two  miles  from  the  present  vil- 
lage. He  removed  to  Royalton  some  time  in  1771,  and  settled 
on  the  place  later  known  as  the  George  Cowdery  farm,  where 
Mr.  Cowdery 's  son-in-law  now  resides,  Mr.  Irving  Barrows.  Here 
Mr.  Havens  remained  five  years.  No  deed  of  sale  is  found  re- 
corded, and  no  record  showing  how  he  got  possession  of  this  land. 
He  seems  to  have  met  some  of  the  New  York  proprietors,  Mr. 
Kelly  in  particular,  and  may  have  been  offered  inducements  to 
begin  settlement  in  the  new  town  of  Royalton,  chartered  two 
years  before.  He,  like  many  other  pioneers,  was  not  able  to 
write,  but  was  a  good  business  man,  possessed  of  uncommon 
energy,  courage,  and  good  sense.  When  he  came  to  Sharon  he 
was  forty-seven  years  old,  and  at  the  time  of  the  Indian  raid 
he  was  sixty-two,  not  an  **old  man,"  as  Steele  styles  him,  at 
least,  he  would  not  be  so  called  today.  Just  how  long  he  re- 
mained on  his  farm  near  South  Tunbridge  is  not  known,  but  he 
sold  out  and  removed  to  South  Tunbridge  in  his  old  age.  He 
died  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-seven,  having  survived  all  the  hard- 
ships of  pioneer  life  for  a  long  period  of  years.     He  was  elected 


64  HiSTCttT  OP  BOTALTON,  VeBMONT 

to  different  town  offices  in  Sharon,  from  that  of  fence  viewer  to 
selectman,  and  was  employed  as  surveyor  in  laying  out  roads. 
In  1768  he  was  one  of  a  committee  to  locate  the  grist  mill  and 
to  lay  out  the  third  division  of  100-acre  lots.  He  seems  to  have 
taken  no  very  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  Boyalton,  if  one  may 
judge  from  the  rare  occurrence  of  his  name  in  the  town  records. 
He  was  once  on  a  committee  for  building  a  bridge,  and  once  was 
elected  as  highway  surveyor.  His  eldest  daughter,  Hannah, 
married  Daniel  Baldwin  of  Norwich,  and  two  of  her  sons,  Daniel 
and  Sylvester,  have  left  honorable  records  as  citizens  of  Mont- 
pelier.  A  daughter,  Eleanor,  married  William  Lovejoy  of  Sha- 
ron, and  another  daughter,  Lorenza,  married  Daniel,  son  of  Wil- 
liam Lovejoy.  Joseph  Havens,  a  son,  was  taken  prisoner  at  the 
burning  of  Royalton,  returned,  married,  and  settled  in  town,  but 
after  a  few  years  removed  to  York  state.  Another  son,  Daniel, 
lived  and  died  in  town,  leaving  descendants,  some  of  whom  are 
still  residents  of  Royalton,  Mrs.  John  F.  Shepard  and  son  Fred. 
Other  descendants  of  the  first  settler  who  are  now  living  in  town 
are  Mrs.  Betsey  Davis,  Mrs.  Hannah  Benson  and  her  family,  and 
the  family  of  the  late  Charles  D.  Lovejoy,  who  descended  tkrough 
Lorenza  Havens. 

Who  the  second  settler  was  in  Royalton  cannot  be  positively 
stated.  Tradition  says  it  was  Elisha  Kent.  Mr.  Kent  was  the 
son  of  a  clergyman.  He  settled  near  the  present  village  of  South 
Royalton,  and  the  South  Royalton  cemetery  was  once  a  part  of 
the  Kent  farm.  His  first  log  hut  was  on  the  meadow,  east  of  the 
road.  He  was  probably  about  forty  when  he  migrated  to  Roy- 
alton, and  had  two  or  three  sons.  Joseph  Moss  was  bom  in  1774, 
and  may  have  been  born  in  Royalton.  Mr.  Kent  was  a  man  of 
influence  in  the  town,  and  amassed  considerable  property  for 
those  days.  He  had  a  family  of  eight  children.  The  oldest, 
John,  removed  to  New  York.  None  of  his  descendants  are  living 
in  to\vn.  A  grandson,  Archibald,  son  of  Elisha,  Jr.,  was  the  last 
of  the  Kent  name  to  own  the  old  farm. 

Benjamin  Parkhurst  was  another  early  settler,  generally 
thought  to  be  the  third  one.  Some  account  of  him  is  given  in  the 
chapter  on  the  ** Burning  of  Royalton.*'  In  his  obituary  it  is 
said  that  he  came  to  Royalton  in  his  19th  year,  when  no  one  was 
living  here.  His  father  was  Joseph  Parkhurst,  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Sharon.  If  his  father  was  the  Parkhurst  mentioned 
by  Joel  Shepard  in  his  narrative,  and  Benjamin  came  with  him, 
it  would  establish  the  date  of  the  four  settlers  named  by  Mr. 
Shepard,  as  the  summer  of  1764,  as  Benjamin  was  bom  in  1745, 
Dec.  10,  and  wwild  not  be  19  until  Dec.  10,  1764.  According  to 
Mr.  Shepard  *8  account  the  others  except  Mr.  Marsh  returned 
before   Thanksgiving.     When  Benjamin   came  from  Plainfield, 


History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont  65 

Coim.,  to  settle  in  Sharon,  he  passed  through  Pomfret,  where  he 
hired  men  to  cut  a  road.  He  settled  on  the  Dana-West  farm  in 
Sharon  and  Boyalton,  where  he  lived  five  years  before  he  removed 
to  his  ** pitch"  above  Eoyalton  village  in  4  Town  Plot.  When  he 
transfeired  his  goods  to  that  place,  he  had  no  road,  but  followed 
the  beach  of  the  river  on  either  side,  as  best  he  could.  Quoting 
again  from  his  obituary:    ''He  helped  raise  the  first  mills  in 

Norwich,  Sharon,  Pomfret,  Eoyalton,  Bethel,  and  Eandolph. 

Mr.  Parkhurst  assisted  in  preparing  the  timber  which  was  used 
in  the  first  framed  building  at  Hanover  Plain.  His  hands  aided 
ill  the  first  erection  for  the  College,  which  has  been  so  useful  and 
become  so  distinguished.  The  honorable  men  of  its  alumni,  whose 
eloquent  voices  are  heard  in  the  pulpit  and  in  the  halls  of  Con- 
gress, may  reflect  with  veneration  and  affection,  that  the  hands 
of  this  aged  man,  just  cold  in  death,  originally  had  part  in  rear- 
ing the  seat  of  learning  where  they  were  fitted  for  public  life. 
He  contributed  liberally  to  the  College,  for  one  in  his  circum- 
stances. Some  of  the  Professors  were  frequently  at  his  house, 
and  occasionally  spent  a  vacation  there.  The  same  was  also  true 
of  the  students  who  were  from  Connecticut."  Further  facts 
relating  to  Mr.  Parkhurst  and  his  family  will  be  found  in  the 
genealogical  part  of  this  book. 

Isaac  Morgan  was  here  in  1775,  and  perhaps  before  that 
time.  This  year  he  bought  of  Whitehead  Hicks  211  acres  in 
5  L.  A.  and  100  acres  in  1  L.  A.  A  few  years  later  he  is  found 
running  Curtis'  Mills,  and  they  are  now  called  Morgan's  Mills. 
He  was  living  at  the  Mills  in  1780.  Later  he  bought  the  place 
now  called  the  **Buck  Place."  He  had  married  a  second  time 
when  he  came  to  town,  and  had  seven  children.  Five  more  were 
bom  in  Eoyalton  presumably.  Isaac,  Jr.,  was  bom  Feb.  3,  1776, 
and  if  bom  in  Eoyalton,  may  have  been  the  first  white  male  child 
bom  in  town,  unless  Joseph  Moss  Kent  had  that  honor.  Mr. 
Morgan  took  a  foremost  part  in  the  affairs  of  Eoyalton.  At  the 
first  recorded  March  meeting  in  1779,  he  was  elected  to  the  offices 
of  selectman,  surveyor,  lister,  sealer  of  weights  and  measures, 
and  a  member  of  the  ministerial  committee.  He  is  the  only  one 
of  all  the  officers  to  be  styled  ** Esquire,"  which  title  the  clerk 
was  very  careful  to  prefix  to  his  name  each  time  it  was  mentioned. 
He  lived  until  1815,  an  honored  citizen  of  the  town.  He  was 
eighty-four  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  son  Isaac 
resided  in  Eoyalton,  and  like  his  father  had  a  large  family  of 
children,  some  of  whom  also  lived  here  for  a  while,  but  no  de- 
scendant is  known  to  be  here  at  the  present  time. 

Elias  Curtis  was  probably  in  Eoyalton  in  1775  or  before. 
It  is  somewhat  difficult  to  determine  his  residence  at  any  certain 
date,  as  he  seems  to  have  altiernated  between  Eoyalton  and  Tun- 
5 


66  History  op  Boyalton,  Vebmont 

bridge.  He  was  an  original  grantee  of  Tunbridge  in  1761,  and 
was  chosen  clerk.  He  was  one  of  a  committee  to  lay  ont  that 
town  into  100-acre  lots.  He  built  a  saw  and  a  grist  mill  there. 
The  first  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  John  Hutchinson.  In 
1783  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Curtis  in  Boyalton, 
though  why  they  came  to  Boyalton  is  not  clear.  He  was  one  of 
the  leading  settlers  of  Tunbridge,  and  represented  that  town  in 
the  General  Assembly,  and  was  active  in  promoting  its  interests, 
political  and  religious.  He  has  the  honor  of  erecting  the  first 
saw  mill  and  grist  mill  in  Boyalton.  Isaac  Morgan  was  associ- 
ated with  him  in  building  these  mills,  and  soon  ran  them.  Mr. 
Curtis  lived,  probably,  on  the  lot  which  he  got  from  the  proprie- 
tors for  erecting  these  mills,  namely,  35  Dutch  Allotment.  He 
held  also  39  Dutch.  He  was  a  blacksmith  in  1780,  or  at  least, 
had  a  shop  near  his  house,  where  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the 
Indians.  When  he  returned  from  captivity  he  built  a  fine  resi- 
dence in  Tunbridge,  though  he  seems  to  have  lived  some  of  the 
time  in  Boyalton.  He  was  a  resident  of  Boyalton  in  1779,  and 
chosen  moderator  at  the  March  meeting.  He  was  elected  grand 
juryman  in  1782.  The  next  year  he  was  on  the  Society  commit- 
tee. In  1771  when  he  deeded  land  he  was  a  resident  of  Norwich. 
In  Hartford  town  records  he  is  found  April  21,  1777,  selling  land 
in  Hartford,  at  which  time  he  gave  Itoyalton  as  his  residence. 
In  1783  he  was  elected  selectman  in  Boyalton,  and  was  then 
styled  Colonel  Curtis.  The  next  year  he  was  placed  on  a  com- 
mittee to  see  about  the  new  surveys.  In  1791  he  was  sent  by 
Tunbridge  as  a  member  of  the  Convention  which  met  at  Benning- 
ton to  adopt  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  In  1800  he 
was  one  of  three  to  petition  for  the  right  to  lay  out  White  Biver 
Turnpike.  Mr.  Curtis  spent  his  last  days  in  Tunbridge,  and 
after  a  life  of  great  usefulness,  he  died  there  in  1827,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-nine. 

From  the  town  meeting  records  it  appears  that,  besides  those 
already  named,  there  were  in  town  March,  1779,  Comfort  Sever, 
Lieut.  Timothy  Durkee,  Lieut.  Elias  Stevens,  Nathan  Morgan, 
Lieut.  Joseph  Parkhurst,  Mr.  Wallow,  (Israel  Waller),  Mr. 
Hebard,  (John  Hibbard),  Mr.  Day,  (Benjamin),  Lieut.  Benton, 
(Medad),  Eufus  Eude.  and  Tille  Parkhurst.  This  did  not  in- 
clude all  male  voters  of  the  town,  of  course,  but  probably  did  rep- 
resent most  of  the  families.  At  a  ]SIay  meeting  of  the  same  year, 
Calvin  Parkhurst  is  named,  and  at  a  December  meeting,  Daniel 
Gilbert  and  Lieut.  Moors  (Nathaniel  Morse).  John  Parkhurst 's 
name  is  added  at  a  January  meeting.  1780,  as  is  also  Daniel  Bix's. 
At  the  March  meeting  following  David  Brewster  was  elected 
brander  of  horses^  These  are  all  the  men  noted  in  the  town  meet- 
ing records  prior  to  1781.     Of  these  there  is  space  only  to  give 


HlST(»tY  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT  67 

some  account  of  the  ones  most  closely  identified  with  the  early 
history  of  the  town,  and  the  records  of  the  others,  so  far  as  has 
been  ascertained,  will  be  found  in  the  genealogical  half  of  the 
History.  Prom  land  and  Revolutionary  records,  and  Steele's 
narrative  it  is  known  that  Robert  Handy,  Jeremiah  Trescott, 
John  Billings,  Joseph  Eneeland,  John  Evans,  and  families  by 
the  name  of  Fish  and  Downer  lived  here  on  or  before  1780. 

A  petition  of  Comfort  Sever  to  the  General  Assembly  shows 
that  he  came  to  Royalton  in  March,  1778,  and  settled  on  11  Town 
Plot,  and  expected  a  deed  also  of  No.  12,  Town  Plot.  This  land 
included  the  site  of  the  present  schoolhouse  at  North  Royalton. 
Mr.  Sever  was  a  man  whose  light  could  not  be  hid,  and  he  had 
scarcely  set  foot  in  town  before  he  was  called  upon  for  advice 
and  service.  Perhaps  he  was  too  much  interested  in  projects 
emanating  from  Hanover,  N.  H.,  as  witness  his  agency  in  secur- 
ing to  Bethel  a  portion  of  Royalton.  However,  he  was  ever  after 
a  loyal  citizen  of  the  town,  and  had  weight  in  its  counsels.  In 
the  Hanover  records  we  are  told  that,  in  the  plans  for  a  larger 
college  building  between  1771  and  1773,  the  authorities  were  in 
consultation  with  Comfort  Sever  of  Stillwater,  N.  Y.  He  was  a 
carpenter,  and  settled  near  the  College  in  1773,  under  the  patron- 
age of  President  Wheelock.  He  served  as  a  military  man  before 
cbming  to  Royalton,  and  was  commissioned  as  Captain,  and  was 
one  of  the  few  called  true  soldiers  when,  in  1777,  Major  Wheelock 
found  so  many  had  deserted  at  Pishkill,  N.  Y.  He  was  Lieu- 
tenant at  this  time,  and  served  112  days.  He  was  chosen  town 
clerk  of  Royalton  in  1779,  which  position  he  held  until  1788. 
That  same  year,  1779,  he  was  employed  by  the  **  inhabitants  and 
owners  of  land  in  Royalton"  to  petition  the  Assembly  to  defer 
the  granting  of  Royalton,  as  had  been  decided  upon  a  short  time 
before,  by  which  grant  many  of  the  land  owners  would  lose  their 
rights.  This  action  does  not  appear  in  the  town  or  proprietors' 
records.  The  legislature  appointed  a  committee  to  go  to  Royal- 
ton, investigate,  and  report.  The  petition  was  dated  Nov.  6, 
1779.  At  each  town  meeting  that  year,  with  one  exception,  and 
there  were  six  meetings,  Capt.  Sever  was  called  upon  to  attend 
to  some  important  business.  He  was  chosen  justice  of  the  peace 
on  Dec.  30,  and  the  next  January  he  began  service  as  moderator, 
and  was  appointed  an  agent  to  treat  for  the  town  with  the  As- 
sembly respecting  the  property  of  non-residents.  That  year  he 
was  chosen  clerk,  selectman,  and  treasurer,  and  was  one  of  the 
ministerial  committee.  He  was  early  identified  with  the  First 
Congregational  church,  and  his  name  is  on  the  list  of  members 
who  solemnly  renewed  covenant  in  1782.  He  continued  in  pub- 
lic service  until  1788.  In  1789  he  deeded  Bradford  Kinney  part 
of  11  and  12,  Town  Plot,  and  contracted  for  the  support  of  him- 


68  History  op  Royalton,  Vebmont 

self  and  wife.  This  action  may  have  been  due  to  ill  health.  In 
1793  Mr.  Kinney  gave  Mr.  Sever  a  mortgage  on  this  land  to 
secure  pa3rment  yearly  of  £24  during  Mr.  Sever 's  life,  which 
mortgage  was  discharged  two  years  later.  Asa  Perrin  in  his 
diary  speaks  of  the  funeral  of  ISIrs.  Sever  at  the  red  schoolhouse 
on  Sep.  5,  1792,  and  of  the  funeral  of  Sally  Pish  at  Mr.  Sever 's 
house  June  3, 1804.  Mr.  Sever  married  the  widow  of  David  Pish 
in  1794.  His  name  does  not  appear  in  the  first  town  list,  1791, 
though  it  is  found  in  the  census  of  1790.  Prom  1799  to  1804  he 
is  listed,  but  paid  no  poll  tax  after  1799,  from  which  it  may  be 
inferred  that  he  was  sixty  in  1800.  His  family  at  the  time  of 
the  census  consisted  of  only  himself  and  wife.  He  removed  to 
New  York  state,  probably  about  1805,  where  all  trace  of  him  is 
lost,  except  in  1809,  as  guardian  of  Elijah  and  John  Pish,  sons 
of  David,  he  disposed  of  land  belonging  to  David's  estate.  He 
was  then  in  Jefferson,  N.  Y.  Reading  between  the  lines,  one 
can  say  that  Capt.  Sever  was  a  man  of  good  judgment,  reliable, 
one  whose  opinions  were  respected,  and  whose  advice  greatly 
aided  Boyalton  in  her  early  struggles  for  existence. 

Jeremiah  Trescott  was  another  Hanover  man.  His  lineage 
has  not  been  traced,  but  it  is  probable  that  his  father  was  Jere- 
miah, a  citizen  of  Hanover,  and  he  may  have  had  an  uncle  Ex- 
perience there.  The  family  seems  to  have  been  a  military  one. 
Jeremiah  is  credited  to  Boyalton  in  Capt.  Samuel  Payne's  Com- 
pany in  1777,  and  he  shares  with  Capt.  Sever  in  the  commenda- 
tory remarks  alluded  to  in  the  sketch  of  Mr.  Sever,  as  being  true 
to  his  colors,  when  other  soldiers  deserted  at  Pishkill.  He  was 
set  down  as  twentj^-six  years  old  in  Capt.  Payne's  muster  roll  in 
1777,  but  his  headstone  gives  his  death  as  occurring  Nov.  6,  1824, 
and  his  age  then  as  seventy-five.  He  lived  where  John  P.  Shep- 
ard  now  lives,  and  is  supposed  to  have  built  the  old  saw  mill 
still  running  on  Mill  brook.  He  seems  to  have  had  some  pecu- 
liarities of  character,  but  was  a  substantial  and  worthy  citizen 
of  the  town.  His  son  Thomas  succeeded  him  on  the  farm,  but 
all  trace  of  the  family  is  lost  now.  Experience  Trescott,  a  brother 
of  Jeremiah,  came  to  Royalton  some  years  later,  and  settled  on 
land  bought  of  Jeremiah,  the  place  known  as  the  Franklin  Joiner 
farm. 

Elias  Stevens  shared  with  Comfort  Sever  the  honor  of  being 
the  most  influential  citizen  of  Royalton  during  the  first  decade 
of  its  existence.  While  Mr.  Sever 's  advice  was  sought,  Lieut. 
Stevens  was  recognized  as  a  man  who  **does  things."  As  col- 
lector, constable,  and  lister  in  1779,  he  aided  in  keeping  up  the 
business  end  of  the  town's  affairs.  Gen.  Stevens  had  lived  in 
Sharon  before  coming  to  Royalton.  In  1777  he  was  on  a  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  there.     He  took  the  freeman's  oath  in  Sharon 


HiSTOBY  OP  ROYALTON,  VeBMONT  69 

March  3,  1778,  on  April  24th  he  gave  in  a  deed  his  residence  as 
Sharon,  and  on  June  5th  in  another  deed  his  residence  is  given 
as  Boyalton,  which  would  show  that  he  came  to  Boyalton  between 
the  last  two  dates.  The  inscription  on  his  tombstone  states  that 
he  came  to  Boyalton  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  He  was  bom  in  1754 
in  Plainfield,  Conn.  He  would  have  been  sixteen  in  1770,  be- 
fore Boyalton  was  settled,  so  there  seems  to  have  been  a  mistake 
in  the  inscription.  This  inscription  also  states  that  as  a  Revo- 
lutionary soldier  he  was  at  Bunker  Hill  and  Saratoga.  Gen. 
Stevens  first  settled  on  the  Buck  place,  his  home  being  on  the 
west  side  of  the  road.  It  was  on  the  meadow  near  his  home  that 
the  Indians  gathered  in  their  plunder  before  returning  after  the 
raid.  He  removed  from  this  farm  after  1780,  and  lived  for 
many  years  on  the  farm  below  South  Boyalton,  now  called  the 
Howard  place,  on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  A  few  years  be- 
fore his  death  he  moved  to  a  house  below  his  large  two-story 
house,  and  sold  a  part  of  his  farm  to  William  Harvey.  He  first 
represented  the  town  in  the  General  Assembly  in  1783,  and  at 
different  dates  between  that  time  and  1816  he  held  the  ofSce  for 
eleven  years.  He  was  placed  on  important  committees,  and  hon- 
ored by  an  election  to  the  Council  in  1815.  As  a  member  of  the 
militia  he  received  the  title  of  General,  and  his  record  will  be 
found  in  the  account  of  the  ** General  Militia."  His  promotions 
were  well  merited,  and  his  Bevolutionary  service  fitted  him  for 
command.  He  resigned  the  oflSce  of  Major  General  in  1799.  He 
was  active  in  promoting  the  establishment  of  a  new  county  to 
be  called  Cumberland.  He  was  an  enterprising  man.  He  was 
one  of  the  owners  of  the  White  Biver  Turnpike  Company,  which 
furnished  a  good  river  road  through  Boyalton  at  a  time  when  it 
would  have  been  a  heavy  tax  upon  the  town  to  build  such  a  road 
and  keep  it  in  repair.  He  was  engaged  extensively  in  land  deals. 
Chase  in  his  History  of  Dartmouth  calls  him  and  others  land 
speculators.  They  had  petitioned  the  Assembly  for  land  set 
apart  for  the  use  of  Moore's  Charity  School.  The  petitioners 
asserted  that  such  a  school  never  had  an  existence.  No  other 
Boyalton  man  approached  him  in  the  number  of  land  transac- 
tions for  a  quarter  of  a  century  from  1780.  Although  his  name 
is  not  found  as  a  communicant  of  the  church,  he  was  associated 
with  others  in  conducting  its  affairs,  and  several  of  his  family 
were  members.  Mr.  George  H.  Harvey,  now  a  resident  of  Wood- 
stock, when  a  young  boy  lived  in  the  house  with  Gen.  Stevens  a 
year.     This  is  his  description  of  hira : 

**G^n.  Elias  Stevens  was  more  than  six  feet  in  height,  broad- 
shouldered,  and  a  little  stooping,  large  features,  long  nose,  end 
quite  prominent;  eyes  gray.  He  would  be  called  very  plain. 
He  had  a  commanding  personality,  strong  voice,  great  will  force 


70  History  op  Royalton,  Vebmokt 

and  mental  power.  He  was  not  a  professor  of  religion,  but  was 
strictly  moral  and  upright,  and  temperate.  He  was  ready  at  all 
times  to  give  hearty  support  to  all  efforts  for  law  and  good  gov- 
ernment." 

Gen.  Stevens  had  eleven  children,  all  of  whom  were  probably 
bom  in  Royalton.  Only  a  few  of  them  lived  in  town  after  reach- 
ing maturity.  Descendants  of  Phineas  are  now  living  in  Syca- 
more, Illinois. 

Lieut.  Joseph  Parkhurst  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Royalton.    He  was  here  in  1778,  and  probably  some  time  before 
that.    A  Joseph  Parkhurst  figures  in  the  early  history  of  Sha- 
ron, but  Joseph,  the  father  of  Benjamin,  is  known  to  have  lived 
there,  and  it  is  possible  that  Joseph,  the  father  of  Lieut.  Joseph, 
may  also  have  settled  there  for  a  time.     The  place  from  which 
our  Lieut.  Joseph  came,  when  he  removed  to  Royalton,  cannot 
be  affirmed.    At  a  March  meeting  in  Sharon,  1768,  both  **  Jo- 
seph" and  ** Lieut."  Parkhurst  were  chosen  assessors.     There 
was,  then,  in  Sharon  a  Lieut.  Parkhurst,  who  was  not  our  Lieut.' 
Joseph,  as  he  was  bom  in  1750,  and  would  then  be  only  eighteen. 
Among  the  original  grantees  of  Sharon  in  1761  were  Joseph  and 
Joseph,  Jr.    If  Benjamin  Parkhurst  had  a  brother  Joseph,  this 
Joseph,  Jr.,  may  have  been  he.    Our  Lieut.  Joseph  appears  in 
the  record  of  the  first  town  meeting,  Dec.  1, 1778,  when  the  voters 
approved  of  his  protest.     This  protest  was  his  negative  vote  in 
the  General  Assembly,  Oct.  21.  1778,  on  the  question,  whether 
the  counties  should  remain  as  they  were,  which  vote  was  to  de- 
cide whether  the  New  Hampshire  towns  should  become  a  part 
of  Vermont  or  not.     The  reason  given  by  the  minority,  which 
voted  No,  was,  that  in  March  the  whole  state  was  divided  into 
two  counties,  and  the  towns  east  of  the  Connecticut  had  not  then 
joined,  and  so  were  never  annexed  to  any  county,  and  would  be 
out  of  the  protection  and  privileges  of  the  state.    When  the  vote 
was  declared,  the  minority  protested  and  withdrew,  Lieut.  Joseph 
among  them.     He  was  our  first  representative.     He  was  chosen 
as  an  agent  to  sit  in  Convention  at  Dresden,  at  a  meeting  held 
July  12,  1779.     He  was  Captain  of  a  militia  company  in  1780, 
the  muster  roll  of  which  may  be  found  in  the  chapter  on  **  Revo- 
lutionary Affairs."    He  was  probably  unmarried  when  he  came 
to  Royalton  and  settled  on  16  L.  A.,  near  the  Handy  fordway. 
His  father's  death  in  1779  is  recorded  here,  and  his  parents  may 
have  lived  with  him.     His  mother  died  in  this  town  in  1797. 
Asa  Perrin  in  his  diary  refers  to  her  funeral  in  the  meeting 
house,  January  18th,  calling  her  the  mother  of  Joseph.     He  had 
three  wives  and  eleven  children.     A  daughter,  **Sukey,"  mar- 
ried William  Woodworth,  and  another,  Alvira,  married  Oramel 
Sawyer,  men  well  known  in  Royalton.     One  of  Alvira 's  daughters 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  71 

married  Gen.  Alonzo  Jaekman.  Capt.  Parkhurst  continued  to 
serve  the  town  in  various  capacities  for  a  score  of  years.  Like 
Qen.  Stevens,  he  does  not  seem  to  have  joined  the  church,  but 
he  was  called  upon  to  act  for  it  on  many  occasions.  His  mother, 
Judith,  was  one  of  its  members.  He  died  in  1830,  and  Dea. 
Joseph,  his  son,  succeeded  him  on  the  farm. 

Calvin  Parkhurst  was  a  brother  of  Joseph,  about  three  years 
younger.  He  was  even  more  of  a  public  servant  than  was  Joseph. 
It  is  likely  that  the  two  brothers  came  to  town  about  the  same 
time.  Calvin  was  elected  collector  in  1779.  He  served  in  the 
militia,  and  was  a  member  of  Capt.  William  Heaton's  Company. 
He  was  then  sergeant,  and  served  thirty-six  days,  having  enlisted 
Sep.  20,  1777.  He  was  placed  in  command,  as  captain,  of  the 
eight  men  raised  by  Royalton  and  Sharon  for  guarding  the  fron- 
tier in  1780.  He  served  as  lieutenant  in  his  brother's  company 
of  militia.  The  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  in  his  ability 
and  uprightness  did  not  wane,  and  we  find  that  he  was  elected 
to  the  legislature  in  1780,  1782,  1786,  1788-9.  He  voted  against 
admitting  the  New  York  towns  to  Vermont,  at  the  session  of  the 
Assembly  in  Windsor,  April  11,  1781.  In  1789  he  was  one  of  a 
committee  to  count  the  votes  for  governor,  and  was  one  of  the 
two  from  Windsor  county,  who  were  chosen  with  a  like  number 
from  each  of  the  other  coimties,  to  escort  Governor  Robinson 
into  the  town  of  Westminster,  where  the  Assembly  was  gathered. 
He  had  been  elected  Colonel  in  the  militia  on  or  before  1789, 
and  is  thus  called  in  the  Assembly  Journal  of  Oct.  15th,  when  he 
was  placed  on  a  committee  for  nominating  a  committee  to  draft 
a  constitution  for  a  college  in  Vermont.  He  was  also  a  member 
of  a  committee  for  nominating  a  committee  for  receiving  sub- 
scriptions and  donations  to  the  college.  He  was  **  Major  Park- 
hurst" in  1791,  when  he  presented  the  petition  for  a  lottery  to 
be  granted  for  building  a  bridge  over  White  river.  An  act  was 
passed  Oct.  28,  granting  such  a  lottery.  In  1782-3  he  was  chosen 
selectman  in  Royalton.  In  1784,  ** Captain"  Calvin  Parkhurst 
was  placed  on  a  committee  by  voters  of  the  town,  and  the  next 
year  ''Major"  Calvin  Parkhurst  was  elected  selectman.  That 
year  he  was  chairman  of  a  committee  to  prepare  a  petition  to 
the  Assembly  to  alter  the  act  concerning  the  survey  of  town  lines, 
or  to  have  it  repealed.  He  served  the  town  many  times  as  mod- 
erator. He  married  Permela  Robinson  soon  after  the  burning 
cf  Royalton,  and  had  four  children.  He  died  of  small  pox  at 
Rutland,  in  the  prime  of  life.  His  place  of  burial  is  not  known, 
but  his  wife  is  buried  in  Norwich.  She  married  for  a  second 
husband,  Walter  Waldo. 

John  Billings  came  to  Royalton  about  1778.  From  the  His- 
tory of  Woodstock  it  is  learned,  that,  as  a  young  man,  he  made 


72  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

several  voyages  from  New  London,  Conn.,  to  the  West  Indies, 
and  that  in  1775  he  enlisted  as  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  He  set- 
tled in  Royalton  in  the  west  part  of  the  town,  and  was  original 
grantee  of  19  and  20  Town  Plot.  The  name  of  Mr.  Billings 
does  not  appear  in  the  town  meeting  records  until  September, 
1781.  The  three  succeeding  years  he  was  chosen  lister.  In  1786 
he  is  called  ** Captain"  Billings,  and  was  elected  fence  viewer. 
He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  though  dif- 
fering somewhat  in  the  matter  of  belief.  His  wife,  Olive,  also 
had  her  own  opinions  regarding  religious  faith  and  practice,  and 
the  church  spent  considerable  time  and  energy  in  an  effort  to 
convince  them  of  their  error.  He  was  employed  by  his  neighbors 
in  the  settlement  of  estates,  and  withal  was  a  man  of  integrity 
and  ability.  He  had  a  wife  and  three  children  when  he  removed 
to  Royalton.  He  was  the  father  of  Oel  Billings,  at  one  time  a 
merchant  in  Royalton.  The  Hon.  Frederick  Billings,  son  of  Oel, 
was  his  grandson. 

John  Hibbard  was  a  man  highly  respected  by  his  townsmen. 
He  was  entrusted  with  the  duty  of  securing  the  charter  for  the 
town  in  1779,  when  the  voters  awoke  to  the  fact,  that  they  really 
did  not  know  what  the  divisions  of  the  town  were,  and  they 
needed  the  charter  to  substantiate  their  claims  before  the  state 
government.  He  made  the  journey  to  New  York  state  between 
the  dates,  June  28  and  August  23,  and  received  as  remuneration 
for  obtaining  the  charter  £151.1.  The  same  year  he  acted  as 
**corester"  for  the  church,  and  served  two  or  more  years  as  tith- 
iugman.  He  continued  to  serve  the  church  in  different  ways, 
though  not  as  a  communicant,  until  a  Baptist  church  was  formed. 
He  then  became  an  active  member  of  that  church.  He  was  in- 
terested in  higher  education,  and  was  one  of  the  men  who  en- 
deavored to  secure  a  grammar  school  for  Royalton  in  1782.  He 
was  elected  to  various  town  offices,  and  placed  on  committees 
for  the  transaction  of  important  town  business.  He  seems  to 
have  served  in  the  militia,  and  in  1786  in  a  town  meeting  record 
he  is  called  ** Lieut."  Hibbard.  He  had  five  children,  four  of 
them  sons.  These  children  were  probably  all  bom  before  he 
came  to  Royalton.  One  son,  John,  Jr.,  was  a  Baptist  minister  in 
town  for  several  years.  Gen.  Lovell  Hibbard  was  his  grandson. 
Polly,  a  daughter  of  Elder  John  Hibbard,  married  Daniel  Wood- 
ward. John  Hibbard  was  original  grantee  of  28  and  29  Town 
Plot.  His  home  was  so  far  west  that  it  did  not  suffer  at  the 
hands  of  the  redskins. 

Another  solid  citizen  of  the  town  in  its  earliest  days  was 
Daniel  Rix,  who  came  from  Preston,  Connecticut.  He  was  one 
of  the  settlers  who  had  families  of  considerable  size  when  remov- 
ing to  Royalton.     Of  his  seven  children  only  one,  Jerusha,  could 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  73 

have  been  bom  in  this  town.  If  he  came  here  before  the  sum- 
mer or  fall  of  1779,  the  records  do  not  show  it.  It  would  seem 
that  any  newcomer  who  was  capable  of  holding  town  oflSce,  was 
at  once  put  into  the  harness  by  the  voters.  Mr.  Rix  was  put  on 
a  ministerial  committee  Dec.  15,  1779,  which  is  the  first  mention 
made  of  him.  At  the  next  March  meeting  he  was  chosen  mod- 
erator, selectman,  sealer  of  weights  and  measures,  and  member 
of  the  ministerial  committee.  The  next  year  he  was  moderator, 
selectman,  pound  keeper,  member  of  the  ministerial  committee, 
and  grandjuryman.  His  numerous  oflSces  must  have  been  sat- 
isfactorily filled,  for  the  following  year  he  was  moderator,  select- 
man, and  treasurer,  and  that  he  might  not  have  any  idle  time, 
they  elected  him  hoghayward,  and  fence  viewer,  and  placed  him 
on  a  committee  to  see  that  three  bridges  were  built.  That  year, 
as  one  of  the  selectmen,  he  aided  in  dividing  the  town  into  dis- 
tricts. Later  in  the  same  year  he  was  on  a  committee  for  hiring 
a  minister.  Whether  it  was  that  his  honesty  was  above  that  of 
his  fellow  citizens,  or  he  had  a  better  equipment,  certain  it  is 
that  his  steelyards  were  made  a  standard  of  weight  in  1782.  He 
continued  using  his  time  and  his  talents  in  the  service  of  the 
town  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  In  May,  1780,  he  bought  fifty 
acres  of  Elisha  Kent  on  the  east  side  of  10  Large  Allotment. 
That  was  where  he  was  living  on  October  16,  when  his  home  was 
destroyed  during  his  absence  in  Connecticut,  as  noted  in  the 
"Burning  of  Royalton."  The  minister's  lot  of  thirty  acres 
joined  his.  The  last  years  of  his  life  were  spent  on  the  farm  in 
53  Town  Plot,  which  his  son.  Elisha,  bought  in  1812,  after  selling 
the  Kent  place.  Elisha 's  father  had  deeded  this  place  in  1798, 
and  evidently  gave  up  active  life  on  the  farm.  Daniel  Rix  is 
buried  in  the  North  Royalton  cemetery,  which  was  originally  a 
part  of  the  farm  where  he  died,  and  his  son,  Elisha,  and  grand- 
son Edward.  A  reference  to  the  genealogy  of  the  Rix  family 
will  show  that  many  of  them  lived  in  town  a  part  or  all  of  their 
lives,  and  were  among  the  most  prominent  and  valued  citizens 
of  Royalton.  William  Rix  descended  through  Elisha  Lee,  and 
Daniel  6.  Wild,  the  chief  donor  to  this  volume,  descended  through 
Gamer  Rix,  another  son  of  Daniel  the  pioneer.  Of  his  descend- 
ants now  residing  in  town  there  are  Pearl  Dewey  and  family, 
his  brother  Glenn  Dewey,  Dea.  John  Wild  and  sons  John,  Jr. 
and  Rev.  Levi,  and  Mrs.  William  Skinner,  daughter  of  William 
Rix.  The  name  Rix  has  disappeared  from  the  town  list,  the  last 
of  the  name  to  die  here  being  Edward,  who  died  in  1907.  Daniel 
Rix  is  described  as  being  six  feet  in  his  stockings  and  straight  as 
an  arrow.  He  was  chosen  deacon  of  the  church  in  1787.  The 
history  of  the  church  shows  that  he  was  independent  in  thought, 
and  tenacious  of  his  opinions.     He  was  liberal  in  his  religious 


74  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

views,  too  much  so  for  the  strictest  orthodox  members,  and  the 
result  was  complaints  that  he  was  ''embracing  and  propagating 
sentiments  contrary  to  the  Oospel."  This  was  in  1814,  and  the 
Deacon  was  not  allowed  to  hold  his  views  in  peace  until  after 
1822. 

In  a  marriage  record  of  Coventry,  Conn.,  we  are  told  that 
Daniel  Qilbert  of  Sharon,  Vermont,  married  Jerusha  Benton  on 
Oct.  2,  1772.  By  this  means  it  is  known  that  Mr.  Gilbert  was 
settled  in  Sharon  that  year.  In  March,  1773,  he  appears  in 
Sharon  records  as  collector.  In  August,  1776,  he  was  there 
chosen  as  one  of  a  committee  ''to  meet  in  the  county  to  do  Busi- 
ness Respecting  the  New  Government,"  which  shows  that  he  was 
thought  to  be  a  man  of  judgment  and  reliability.  On  Feb.  20, 
1777,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  committee  to  ask  the  advice 
of  neighboring  ministers  in  getting  a  candidate  to  preach  on  pro- 
bation for  Sharon  and  Soyalton.  The  May  following  he  was 
chosen  a  "dillicate"  to  the  Convention  at  Windsor,  to  be  held  in 
June.  It  was  in  this  Convention  that  the  name  "New  Connecti- 
cut," first  given  to  the  New  Hampshire  Grants  when  they  de- 
clared their  independence,  was  changed  to  Vermont,  and  his  vote 
was  given  for  this  change.  In  a  memoir  of  William  Gallup  by 
his  son,  Dr.  Joseph  A.  Gallup,  is  found  a  list  of  delegates  to  the 
Convention  held  at  Windsor,  July,  1777,  for  adopting  the  Con- 
stitution of  Vermont.  In  this  list  Daniel  Gilbert  is  credited  to 
Royalton.  This  is  probably  a  mistake,  as  his  residence  at  that 
time  seems  to  have  been  Sharon.  He  took  the  freeman's  oath 
there  March  3,  1778,  and  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  as  repre- 
sentative that  year,  and  he  also  represented  the  town  in  1782-83, 
1785,  and  1791.  Sharon  sent  him  to  the  Convention  at  Benning- 
ton, which  adopted  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  in  1791. 
His  first  appearance  in  Royalton  records  is  under  date  of  June 
28,  1779,  when  it  was  voted  that,  if  the  town  was  chartered  again, 
Daniel  Qilbert  should  be  accepted  as  one  of  the  proprietors,  and 
he  accordingly  became  one  of  the  original  grantees.  He  settled 
on  the  Dana- West  farm,  mostly  in  Sharon.  From  this  time  Capt. 
Gilbert,  like  Elias  Curtis,  vibrated  between  two  towns,  in  his 
case,  Royalton  and  Sharon.  As  nearly  as  can  be  made  out  from 
deeds  and  other  records  he  was  in  Sharon  between  the  dates, 
1772-79,  1782-91,  1811-1818,  and  in  Royalton  the  other  years 
between  the  dates  1779  and  1811.  He  died  in  Sharon  in  1818, 
and  is  buried  in  the  South  Royalton  cemetery.  Soon  after  the 
death  of  his  wife  in  1799,  he  bought  what  is  known  as  the  "Pierce 
Tavern,"  and  removed  there,  where  he  kept  a  hotel  and  did  a 
thriving  business.  The  house  is  spoken  of  in  one  record  as  a 
"red"  house,  and  he  left  it  with  much  the  same  appearance  as 
it  left  the  hands  of  Phineas  Pierce,  Jr.    Capt.  Gilbert  did  not 


History  of  Royalton,  Vermont  75 

hold  so  many  and  important  offices  in  Soyalton  as  he  did  in 
Sharon.  He  was  placed  on  a  ministerial  committee  Dec.  15, 1779. 
On  his  return  to  the  fold  of  Royalton  after  his  sojourn  in  Sharon, 
the  voters  seemed  rather  shy  about  putting  him  into  office.  It 
is  not  until  1793  that  he  appears  as  a  town  officer  in  the  capacity 
of  lister  and  highway  surveyor.  In  1796  he  was  chairman  of  a' 
committee  to  estimate  the  cost  of  building  a  bridge  over  the 
mouth  of  the  First  Branch.  In  1799  he  was  employed  as  agent 
to  treat  with  the  town  of  Ellington,  Conn.,  regarding  the  care  of 
Abial  Craw,  a  man  whom  the  town  had  supported  in  his  sick- 
ness. For  this  service  he  received  $78.67.  His  name  is  found 
in  the  first  list  of  the  town,  1791.  His  list  was  £20.10.  In  1803 
he  had  prospered  to  such  an  extent  that  he  led  all  in  the  size  of 
his  list,  which  was  $546.  He  was  the  only  man  that  had  money 
at  interest  that  year,  according  to  the  record,  and  he  owned  to 
having  $3333.33.  He  was  last  listed  in  1810.  He  was  married 
^  three  times,  his  last  wife  surviving  him.  By  his  first  wife  he  had 
no  children,  but  they  adopted  a  niece  of  his  wife,  Nancy  Benton, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Cornelius  Goodell.  He  was  a  kind  father 
to  Nancy,  as  he  was  to  his  step-children,  the  offspring  of  his  third 
wife  by  a  former  husband.  To  one  of  these  he  deeded  *'for 
love'*  a  generous  lot  of  land.  His  military  record  will  be  found 
under  another  head.  In  the  ** Royalton  Alarm''  his  company  of 
eighteen  men  pursued  the  retreating  Indians,  while  Capt.  Park- 
hurst's  Company  evidently  staid  at  home  to  guard  the  town. 

The  list  of  families  in  town  as  given  in  the  census  of  1790 
follows.  The  first  figure  opposite  a  name  shows  the  number  of 
free  white  males  of  16  years  and  upward,  including  heads  of 
families,  the  second  figure  indicates  the  number  of  free  white 
males  under  16  years,  and  the  third  figure  stands  for  the  free 
white  females,  including  heads  of  families.  The  spelling  as  given 
in  the  census  has  not  been  changed. 

Allyn,  Silas,  2-4-3;  Anderson,  Thomas,  1-1-2;  Anderson,  William, 
1-1-2;  Back,  Lyman,  1-1-3;  Backus,  Stephen,  1-1-2;  Banister,  Artimus, 
2-0-4;  Banister,  Timothy,  1-2-3;  Bacon,  Jarub,  1-1-4;  Bacon,  Thomas, 
2-0-3;  Benton,  Medad,  2-0-2;  Billings,  John,  2-2-6;  Bingham,  Thomas, 
3-5-5;  Bliss,  Jonathan,  3-3-3 ;  Bloyes  (Bloss),  Reuben,  1-0-2;  Boardman,  Jo- 
seph, 2-4-1;  Bowen,  David,  2-0-2;  Brown,  Aaron,  1-2-1;  Brown,  Alexander, 
1-1-5;  Burbank,  Abijah,  1-2-3;  Burbank,  Abijah,  1-0-2;  Burbank,  Henry, 
1-2-1;  Burroughs,  John,  1-0-2;  Burroughs,  Stephen,  1-0-2;  Church, 
Ebenezer,  2-1-3;  Clapp,  Daniel,  1-1-2;  Clapp,  Samuel,  1-3-2;  Cleaveland, 
Chester,  1-0-3;  Cleaveland,  Jedediah,  1-1-4;  Cleaveland,  Samuel,  1-1-1; 
Cleaveland,  William,  1-0-2;  Crane,  John,  2-0-0;  Crandall,  Gideon,  1-2-3; 
Curtis,  Samuel,  2-2-2;  Curtis,  Zabad,  2-2-2;  Dame  (Dains),  Ebenezer, 
1-1-3;  Day,  Benjamin,  2-2-2;  Day,  Benjamin,  Junr,  1-2-2;  Dewey,  Darias, 
1-1-2;  Dewey,  Ebenezer,  4-0-2;  Dewey,  Ebenezer,  1-1-1;  Dewey,  Pollus, 
1-3-2;  Dunham,  Ebenezer,  1-0-3;  Dunham,  Jesse,  1-2-3;  Durfy,  Benjamin, 
2-1-4;  Durfy,  James,  1-2-1;  Durkee,  Timothy,  1-1-3;  Durkee,  Hermon 
(Heman),  3-2-2;  Durkee,  Timothy,  2-1-2;   Dutton,  Amasa,  3-3-3;   Ehrlns, 


76  HlSTOBl    OF  BOYALTON,  VERMONT 

Cotton,  2-1-1;  Fairbanks,  Luther,  1-1-6;  Fitch,  Bbeneser,  1-1-3;  Flih, 
David,  3-5-4;  Freeman.  Joshua,  2-0-0;  Fuller  (Tullar?),  Daniel,  2-1-2: 
Gates,  Rosimond,  0-1-5;  Gilbert,  Nathaniel,  1-0-0;  Green,  Adrijah 
(Irijah),  1-1-2;  Havens,  Daniel,  1-1-2;  Havens,  Joseph,  1-2-4;  Haveos. 
Robert,  1-1-1;  Hibbard,  James,  4-0-2;  Hibbard,  John,  1-3-6;  How,  Samn^ 
1-2-1;  How,  Squire,  1-1-4;  How,  Theodore,  1-3-5;  Hutchinson,  Jirfm,  2-0-4: 
Kent,  Elisha,  1-2-2;  Kent,  Elisha,  1-1-2;  KimbaU,  Jared,  1-0-2;  Klmhall. 
John,  2-1-3;  Kimball,  John,  1-2-5;  Kimball,  Richard,  1-0-3;  Kingsley. 
Elias,  1-0-1;  Kinney,  Bradford,  2-0-4;  Lion,  Zebulon,  1-3-2;  LTiuan. 
Asa,  1-0-2;  Lyman,  E3iphalet,  1-0-1;  Lyman,  Daniel,  1-0-2;  Ljnuui, 
Ezekiel,  2-0-3;  Lyman,  Samuel,  1-2-1;  Ljrman,  William,  1-0-2;  Medcalt 
Samuel,  2-0-2;  Miles,  Ephraim,  1-3-2;  Morgin,  Isaac,  1-3-4;  Morsln, 
Nathan,  1-2-5;  Morse,  Nathaniel,  1-0-3;  Munroe.  Isaac,  1-3-1;  NoUea. 
Nehemlah,  1-4-2;  Page,  Nathan,  1-2-2;  Palmer,  Paul,  1-3-1;  Parichnnt, 
Benjamin,  1-3-5;  Parkhurst,  Calvin,  3-1-5;  Parkhurst,  Jabea,  2-0-4;  Paik- 
hurst,  Joseph,  2-1-5;  Parkhurst,  Tilley,  1-1-2;  Parks.  John,  2-1-1;  FauL 
Hibbs  (Kiles),  1-3-2;  Perrin,  Asa,  1-0-3;  Perrin,  Asa,  1-3-1;  Perrin, 
Nathaniel.  1-0-2;  Pierce,  Jeddediah,  3-3-4;  Pierce,  Nathaniel,  2-1-1; 
Pierce,  Palmer,  1-3-1;  Pierce,  Willard,  1-2-2;  Pinney,  Asa,  1-2-8;  Reed* 
Nathaniel,  1-2-2;  Richardson,  Godfrey,  n  1-2-3;  Richardson.  Jesse,  1-2-3: 
Richardson,  Sanford,  1-1-2;  Rlx,  Daniel,  4-0-3;  Rugg,  David,  1-1-2;  Rut, 
Jeremiah,  1-1-2;  Safford,  Jacob,  1-0-2;  Serls,  Samuel,  1-2-2;  Serls,  John. 
2-0-3;  Sever,  Comfort,  1-0-1;  Sheppard.  Timothy,  3-1-1;  Skinner,  Inac, 
1-1-2;  Skinner,  Luther,  1-1-1;  Smith,  Mary,  0-1-4;  Stevens,  Abrt,  2-1-6; 
Stevens,  Ellas.  3-2-8;  Sylvester,  Seth.  2-2-1;  Taylor,  snnathan,  1-0-2; 
Terry,  Daniel,  1-0-3;  Stone,  Nathan,  1-1-2;  Triscott,  Experience,  1-0-2; 
Triscott,  Jeremiah,  1-2-4;  Waller,  John,  1-0-0;  Warriner.  John,  1-04; 
Washburn,  Asahel,  1-0-1;  Waterman,  Abraham,  1-4-2;  Waterman,  Wil- 
liam, 1-1-1;  WelU,  Ebenezer,  1-0-6;  Wells,  Jonathan,  1-0-2;  WtlUama, 
Silas.  1-4-3;  Wheeler,  Joeiah,  1-5-3;  Woodward,  Ebeneser,  1-1-4;  Wood- 
worth,  Timothy,  1-3-4;  Toung,  Ebenezer,  1-3-2. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


Early  Manners  and  Customs. 

We  pride  ourselves  on  our  advance  in  civilization,  and  some- 
times think  with  pity  of  our  forefathers,  who  were  content  to 
live  their  simple  lives,  who  could  find  abundant  enjoyment  in 
their  homely  duties,  and  were  not  daily  seeking  some  new  diver- 
sion, some  new  discovery,  or  some  new  method  of  rapidly  acquir- 
ing wealth.  If  we  have  gained  in  some  respects,  are  we  sure 
that  we  have  not  lost  in  others? 

How  do  the  social  gatherings  of  the  present  compare  with 
the  old-time  days  of  cheer  and  jollity  ?  It  is  true  that  there  was 
not  80  much  time  for  relaxation  then,  but,  for  that  reason,  per- 
haps it  was  all  the  more  enjoyed  and  appreciated.  Each  season 
brought  its  round  of  social  festivities.  In  early  fall,  there  was 
the  husking  party  in  some  large  barn.  The  floor  was  cleared 
and  well  swept,  and  made  suitable  for  the  seats  of  the  fair  maid- 
ens, who  were  to  sit  on  bundles  of  cornstalks,  and  deftly  strip 
the  dry,  yielding  husks  from  the  golden  ears.  Each  maid  must 
be  wary,  for,  if  by  chance  a  red  ear  is  spied  in  her  hand,  she 
must  pay  the  forfeit  to  the  one  whose  quick  eye  first  detects  it. 
As  the  ripe  fruit  bounds,  ear  by  ear,  into  the  baskets  or  on  a 
pile,  the  merry  jest  goes  round,  and  the  laughter  of  youths  and 
maidens  scares  the  tiny  mice  from  their  hiding  places,  and  then 
what  a  scampering  of  feet,  mingled  with  feminine  shrieks  of  real 
or  assumed  fear! 

After  the  shocks  of  corn  have  all  been  denuded  of  their  fruit- 
age, comes  the  bountiful  repast,  the  delicious  cooking  of  the  skill- 
ful housewife;  no  fancy  dishes  served  a  la  mode,  but  good  old 
fashioned  cakes,  cookies,  pies  and  doughnuts,  passed  around  on 
pewter  platters,  for  each  to  take  just  what  he  likes  best,  and  all 
he  wants.  Last  of  all  the  barn  floor  is  once  more  cleared  and 
swept,  and  then  follow  the  old  games,  in  which,  perchance,  there 
is  a  little  too  much  running  and  saluting,  but  better  in  the  open 
than  on  the  sly.  They  begin  early,  and  are  all  at  home  and  asleep 
before  the  striking  of  the  midnight  hour. 

The  apple  parings  were  somewhat  similar,  except  the  gath- 
erings were  in  the  house.     Two  or  more  young  men  would  bring 


78  HiSTOBY  OP  ROYALTON,  VeBMONT 

out  the  apple  parers,  fastened  to  one  end  of  a  board,  and  plac- 
ing the  board  in  a  chair,  sit  on  it  to  keep  it  in  place,  then  select 
an  apple,  fasten  it  to  the  fork  of  the  parer,  take  the  specially 
constructed  knife  in  the  left  hand,  and  beginning  at  the  blossom 
end,  deftly  move  the  knife  over  the  surface  of  the  fruit,  while, 
with  the  right,  they  turned  the  crank  that  made  it  revolve.  Oflf 
went  the  sheared  apple  into  a  tray,  and  a  ready  worker  seized 
it,  quartered  it.  and  snatched  the  next  one  as  it  bounded  into 
her  dish.  A  third  person  cored  the  quarters,  which  were  handed 
to  still  another,  who  was  armed  with  a  long  wire  or  needle,  bent 
over  at  one  end,  to  which  a  long  piece  of  twine  was  attached, 
and  it  was  her  business  to  string  the  apple  quite  in  the  middle 
of  each  piece,  so  that  it  would  not  break  off,  and  when  the  string 
was  filled,  its  two  ends  were  fastened  together,  and  the  skein  of 
apples  was  taken  by  still  another  worker,  and  fastened  to  a 
wooden  frame  for  drying.  The  young  men  in  their  awkward 
attempts  to  help  or  hinder  had  to  endure  the  raillery  and  mock 
reproofs  of  their  fair  companions.  Both  sexes  had  a  part  in 
these  recreations,  though  they  may  seem  more  like  work  than 
play. 

The  quiltings  were  the  especial  pride  of  the  feminine  part 
of  society.  They  often  betokened  an  approaching  wedding,  and 
then  what  an  opportunity  for  discussing  the  prospects  of  the 
bride-to-bel  One  set  of  quilting  frames  sometimes  did  duty  for 
a  whole  neighborhood,  and  when  a  boy  was  seen  carrying  them 
by  a  house,  all  the  women  therein  began  to  speculate  on  the  proba- 
bility of  their  having  an  invitation  to  the  quilting.  Some  quilt- 
ings were  very  select.  It  would  not  do  to  ask  everybody,  unless 
the  owner  of  the  quilt  was  indifferent  to  the  length  and  quality 
of  the  stitches.  Then,  too,  swiftness  was  considered,  for  it  was 
desirable  to  get  the  quilt  off  in  one  day,  or  perhaps,  in  one  after- 
noon. If  the  four  working  on  one  side  were  slow,  then  the  swift 
ones  on  the  other  would  have  to  roll  up  their  side  oftener,  and 
it  was  best  to  keep  the  two  sides  even.  There  was  often  much 
keen  rivalry  to  see  which  side  would  be  ready  *'to  roll"  first. 
The  lines  had  to  be  straight,  and  the  chalked  string  held  by  two 
and  snapped  so  as  to  leave  a  mark,  was  in  constant  demand. 
When  the  last  stitch  had  been  taken,  the  bars  were  quickly  un- 
rolled, out  came  the  pins  holding  the  quilt  in  place,  and  it  was 
shaken  and  ready  for  the  binding.  The  supper  crowning  the 
work  was,  generally,  a  marvel  of  good  things,  and  recipes  were 
freely  interchanged. 

Donation  parties  were  the  especial  privilege  of  the  minister. 
It  was  an  easy  way,  sometimes  the  only  one  of  paying  church 
dues.  Though  much  has  been  said  about  these  parties  contrib- 
uting undesirable  additions  to  the  larder  of  the  minister's  wife. 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  7* 

and  subtracting  therefrom  what  they  could  not  well  spare,  yet 
generally  they  were  the  reverse  of  this,  and  much  appreciated 
by  the  pastor  and  his  family,  and  looked  forward  to  with  pleasant 
anticipations.  Just  as  one  has  a  feeling  of  excited  curiosity  when 
he  puts  his  hand  in  a  grab  bag,  so  the  minister  and  his  helpmeet 
grew  light-hearted  and  joyous  over  the  discovery  of  valuable 
gifts  in  the  neatly  tied  bundles.  It  brought  pastor  and  people 
into  closer  touch  with  each  other,  and  was  not,  by  any  means, 
wholly  one-sided. 

The  most  noteworthy  public  day  of  the  year  was  the  folirth 
of  July.  It  had  not  become  an  old  story  in  those  days.  The 
eagle  was  still  screaming,  and  the  boom  of  cannon  was  not  so 
far  away  as  to  fail  to  awaken  a  feeling  of  patriotism  at  the  dawn- 
ing of  Independence  Day.  Royalton  had  its  **  Fourth  *'  like  other 
towns. 

Zebulon  Lyon,  Isaac  Skinner,  and  Stephen  Backus  adver- 
tised on  June  22,  1814,  that  there  would  be  a  celebration  at  Roy- 
alton on  July  4th.  A  procession  was  to  form  at  the  academy  at 
10  a.  m.,  and  go  to  the  meeting  house  for  a  sermon  and  oration. 
These  gentlemen  were  the  corresponding  committee  for  the  Wash- 
ington Benevolent  Society.  They  announced  that  accommoda- 
tions would  be  provided  at  the  public  house  of  E.  Stevens,  Esq., 
probably  Elkanah  Stevens.  Reporters  were  not  so  numerous  as 
Umbs  on  a  tree  in  that  early  time,  and  no  further  notice  of  the 
celebration  has  been  found,  nor  is  it  known  whether  or  not  the 
fund  of  the  Benevolent  Society  was  increased  thereby. 

The  observance  of  the  day  in  1827  was  on  a  grander  scale, 
and  from  the  ** Advocate"  published  here  at  that  time,  an  ac- 
count of  the  proceedings  has  been  gleaned.  The  committee  of 
arrangements  were  Harry  Bingham,  Elisha  Rix,  Dr.  Joseph  A. 
Denison,  Oliver  Willes,  Silas  Packard,  Peter  Wheelock,  Jr.,  and 
Franklin  Hunter.  The  morning  was  ushered  in  by  a  salute  of 
thirteen  guns.  A  procession  formed  at  11  a.  m.  at  Moses  Cut- 
ter's tavern,  imder  the  direction  of  Col.  Fowler  as  marshal,  as- 
sisted by  Capt.  Bingham  and  Capt.  Asa  Partridge,  and  proceeded 
to  the  meeting  house  under  the  escort  of  the  Woodstock  artillery, 
commanded  by  Capt.  O.  N.  Dana. 

There  exercises  were  held,  beginning  with  an  anthem  from 
the  choir  led  by  A.  C.  Noble.  Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Kit- 
tredge  ( ?)  Haven,  and  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  read 
by  Jacob  Collamer,  preceded  and  followed  by  appropriate  re- 
marks. An  oration  was  delivered  by  the  editor  of  the  '*  Advo- 
cate, ' '  Mr.  Spooner,  spoken  of  as  a  chaste,  eloquent,  and  patriotic 
production,  which  did  honor  to  the  head  and  heart  from  which 
it  emanated.     There  was  delightful  music  by  the  choir. 


80  History  of  Boyalton,  Vebmont 

After  the  exercises,  dinner  was  served  at  Cutter's  hoteL  No 
one  need  to  have  gone  away  hungry,  for,  if  Mr.  Gutter  was  unable 
to  entertain  all  the  guests,  there  was  a  rival  tavern  at  the  upper 
end  of  the  village  kept  by  Simon  S.  Stone,  who  had  advertised 
for  this  day,  that  he  would  accommodate  all  who  would  call  on 
the  Fourth,  and  give  them  all  the  rare  vegetables  of  the  season, 
''such  as  green  peas,  fresh  meats,  beef,  pork,  roasted  pig,  lamb, 
etc." 

At  the  dinner,  toasts  were  given  accompanied  by  the  dis- 
charge of  cannon.  Gen.  Elias  Stevens  presided,  supported  by 
Dea.  John  Billings  and  Qen.  Mills  May.  Oel  Billings  was  master 
of  toasts.  There  were  twenty-four  regular  toasts  and  thirteen 
volunteer  ones.  Among  them  were,  **  Vermont — ^Pirm  among 
her  green  hills,  she  stands  unrivalled  in  patriotism,  and  plain 
good  living";  ''Slavery — Emancipation  shall  be  our  motto,  until 
all  are  free";  Heman  Durkee  offered  the  volunteer  toast,  "Hon. 
William  Slade — Like  polished  steel,  the  more  it  is  rubbed,  the 
brighter  it  shines."  Wyman  Spooner,  the  editor  of  the  "Advo- 
cate," who  had  been  picking  flaws  in  the  state  constitution,  of- 
fered this:  "The  constitution  of  Vermont — May  it  receive  of 
the  spirit  of  the  age — internal  improvement."  Another  toast 
was  in  honor  of  Lafayette,  the  pleasure  of  whose  visit  was  still 
fresh  in  mind:  "Gen.  Lafayette — A  nation's  friend  receives  a 
nation's  gratitude."  An  effort  had  been  making  for  a  canal,  and 
Elias  Lyman  offered  the  following:  "Vermont — On  the  sea- 
board by  an  independent  canal  on  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut." 

The  account  of  this  Fourth  which  was  celebrated  eighty- 
three  years  ago,  proves  that,  whatever  were  the  limitations  of  the 
inhabitants  of  those  days,  they  had  the  ability  to  plan  and  carry 
out  a  rather  pretentious  program  with  distinguished  success.  We 
can  imagine  the  sheds  and  streets  crowded  with  the  farmers' 
teams,  hay-ricks  changed  to  carry-alls  by  a  carpet  of  fresh  straw 
and  a  draft  on  the  kitchen  chairs,  with  a  rocker  here  and  there 
for  Qrandsir,  who  fought  in  the  Revolution,  and  whose  deaf  ear 
could  still  hear  the  roar  of  cannon,  bringing  back  the  day,  when 
he  snatched  his  flint  lock,  and  in  homespun  marched  to  the  de- 
fense of  Bunker  Hill.  The  quaint  little  women  in  their  sun 
bonnets  and  pantalets  listened  with  delight,  partly  to  the  music, 
and  partly  to  the  boast  of  their  boy  comrades,  whose  faces  shone 
under  their  broad-rimmed  hats,  as  they  talked  of  the  day  when 
they  should  beat  the  drum,  or  carry  a  gun  and  fight  for  the 
father-land. 

On  such  days  as  this  the  whole  town  came  together,  but  a 
better  means  of  forming  close  companionships  were  the  neigh- 
borly visits.  It  is  doubtful  if  our  grandfathers  and  grand- 
mothers realized  what  a  blessing  these  visits  were  to  them.     It 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  81 

established  a  bond  of  sympathy  and  mutual  helpfulness,  which 
the  formal  call  of  to-day  does  not  foster.  It  was  a  time  to  get 
acquainted,  not  only  with  one's  neighbors,  but  with  their  homes, 
their  hopes,  their  trials.  If  Mrs.  A.'s  hens  were  on  strike,  and 
Mrs.  B.'s  were  filling  to  overflowing  her  store  basket,  then  a 
dozen  eggs  would  be  sent  the  next  day  to  Mrs.  A.,  who  did  not 
forget  the  favor,  but  reciprocated  when  opportunity  oflPered. 

The  long  stocking  legs  grew  inch  by  inch,  as  the  two  women 
chatted  and  measured  yam  to  see  which  would  knit  up  to  the 
knot  first.  It  was  easy  to  knit  and  talk  too ;  one  could  knit  with 
shut  eyes,  if  no  stitches  were  dropped.  After  dinner  when  the 
dishes  were  done,  in  which  work  both  visitor  and  housewife  en- 
gaged, there  was  the  afternoon  to  look  over  the  carpet  rags, 
nearly  all  colored,  sewed,  and  ready  for  the  loom,  and  to  inspect 
the  last  piece  of  linen,  which  had  a  new  pattern  in  its  weaving. 
Sometimes  Mrs.  A.  would  take  her  Mehitable  along  with  her, 
who  was  about  the  age  of  Mrs.  B.'s  Preelove,  and  the  two  girls 
would  have  their  visit  in  the  sitting  room,  while  their  parents 
chatted  in  the  parlor. 

The  men  looked  over  the  stock  and  guessed  on  the  weight 
of  the  hogs,  and  the  visitor  praised  the  fine  points  in  the  horses 
and  cows,  or  perchance  they  traded,  each  exchanging  animals 
for  those  better  suited  to  his  own  purpose.  Thus  passed  the  day, 
and  it  was  not  until  after  tea,  when  chore  time  came,  that  the 
team  was  brought  around,  and  with  many  warm  invitations  to 
come  again,  the  good  host  and  his  wife  allowed  their  guests  to 
depart  to  their  own  home. 

In  Royalton,  before  bridges  were  built  across  the  river,  the 
women  sometimes  took  their  chairs  and  their  knitting  to  the  river 
bank,  and  visited  across  the  stream. 

The  yearly  singing  school,  taught  in  the  winter  by  some  one 
who  usually  spent  the  rest  of  the  year  working  on  the  farm,  was 
a  time  of  both  profit  and  pleasure  for  the  young  people.  These 
schools  for  some  years  were  held  in  the  hall  in  Fox's  tavern  at 
N.  Royalton.  The  singing  master  was,  generally,  a  good  disci- 
plinarian, and  did  not  allow  any  levity  while  he  was  instructing 
his  class,  but  there  was  the  intermission  of  ten  or  fifteen  minutes, 
when  fun  ran  riot,  and  the  young  men  improved  it  to  secure 
their  partners  in  the  walk  home,  unless  they  had  driven  in.  In 
that  case,  the  blooming  lasses  who  were  tucked  into  the  sleigh 
for  a  ride  home  were  the  envy  of  all  the  rest. 

The  old  tunes  were  simg  with  fervor,  and  if  there  were  not 
so  many  fine  solos  as  are  heard  to-day,  there  were  more  persons 
who  could  and  would  sing,  whether  true  to  time  and  pitch  or  not. 
Royalton  had  some  fine,  well  cultivated  voices  in  those  days,  as 
well  as  now,  and  there  was  no  dearth  of  talent,  when  concerts 

6 


82  HiSTOBT  OF  BOYALTON,  VeBMONT 

or  other  special  occasions  were  planned.  Alden  C.  Noble,  Mrs. 
Eliza  S.  Denison,  Martin  Skinner,  and  Thomas  Atwood,  ''the 
singing  teacher"  of  later  time,  and  his  accomplished  brothers  and 
sisters,  and  many  others,  could  always  be  relied  npon  to  do  honor 
to  any  projected  festivity  where  music  was  desired. 

The  early  settlers  in  Boyalton,  like  those  of  other  sections 
of  New  England,  were  Puritanical  in  thought  and  feeling.  The 
dance  and  the  card  table  were  tabooed  as  a  general  thing,  and 
indulgence  in  either  betokened  a  ''worldly  spirit"  that  needed 
reproof.  There  was,  however,  enough  of  a  liberal  element, 
coupled  with  the  "unruly  blood  of  youth,"  to  introduce  both 
pastimes  occasionally  into  the  pleasures  when  young  people  gath- 
ered for  enjoyment.  There  is  no  evidence  that  gambling  was  any 
part  of  their  games.  The  old  fashioned  square  dances  were  de- 
corous and  bred  no  undue  familiarity.  The  greatest  danger 
seems  to  have  arisen  from  the  common  custom  of  both  saint  and 
sinner  of  indulging  in  a  too  free  use  of  cider,  wine,  and  other 
stimulants. 

The  charges  brought  against  members  of  the  church  that 
had  been  guilty  of  dancing  or  playing  cards,  usually  stated  that 
the  covenant  had  been  broken,  although  the  complainants  ac- 
knowledged that  the  offenders  had  kept  good  hours.  There  were 
members  of  the  "Church  of  Christ"  in  Royalton  in  the  1790*8 
who  did  not  think  it  wrong  to  allow  these  pastimes  in  their  homes, 
and  stoutly  maintained  their  liberty  of  conscience,  when  chained 
with  "allowing  Frolicking  in  their  house,"  "vain  mirth  and 
Jollity  in  their  house  by  Chanting  to  the  sound  of  the  viol," 
which  the  stricter  ones  supposed  "to  be  a  mispence  of  time,  and 
not  at  all  attending  to  the  glory  of  God." 

One  family  of  too  much  importance  to  be  simply  excom- 
municated, created  such  a  storm  of  protest  by  allowing  dancing, 
that  the  church  appealed  to  Rev.  Storrs  for  advice.  He  appears 
to  have  been  a  man  free  from  prejudices,  calm  in  judgment,  and 
he  did  not  condemn  these  pleasures  wholesale,  but  said  the  one 
who  "wantonly"  indulged  in  them  was  subject  to  reproof. 

Among  the  outdoor  sports  in  the  fall  were  turkey  shoots  and 
squirrel  hunts.  In  the  latter,  captains  were  chosen  for  each  of 
the  two  rival  sides,  the  town,  and  sometimes,  neighboring  towns 
were  divided  off,  a  certain  time,  usually  two  or  three  days,  was 
agreed  on  for  the  hunt  to  cease  and  for  the  game  to  be  brought 
in  and  counted.  Tellers  were  appointed  for  this  purpose.  A 
squirrel  counted  as  one,  and  other  game  as  agreed  upon,  and  the 
whole  ended  with  a  feast.  The  turkey  shoot  held  its  own  until 
quite  recent  years,  and  even  now  one  occasionally  hears  of  such 
a  contest.  Other  games  for  men  and  boys  were  wrestling,  pitch- 
ing quoits,  ball  playing,  and  other  athletic  sports. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  83 

In  the  winter,  coasting,  as  now,  was  a  prime  enjoyment,  in 
which  both  sexes  joined.  The  old-style  sled  would  hold  two  or 
more,  and  the  traverse,  several.  Alas  for  any  old  sleigh  that 
might  be  drowsing  in  a  comer!  It  would  at  once  be  declared 
contraband,  and,  packed  with  girls,  with  one  or  two  boys  to  steer, 
would  go  dashing  down  the  hills,  threatening  the  lives  of  those 
within  it,  who  never  thought  of  danger  in  the  midst  of  their 
hilarity. 

There  is  little  of  such  mingling  of  work  and  play  to-day 
as  obtained  in  ''ye  olden  time"  at  huskings,  quiltings,  nutting 
parties,  and  raisings.  If  a  farmer  then  wished  to  build  a  bam 
or  a  house,  he  did  not  let  the  contract,  go  his  way,  and  come 
around  a  few  weeks  after,  to  take  possession  of  his  new  building. 
When  the  timbers  of  the  house  were  all  hewed  and  framed  to 
measure  on  the  spot  where  the  building  was  to  stand,  every  man 
and  boy  in  the  neighborhood  was  on  hand  for  the  ** raising.*' 
Each  put  his  shoulder  to  the  work,  and  worked  lustily  until  the 
frame  was  up.  Then  came  the  lunch  prepared  for  the  occasion, 
eaten  from  the  hands  and  washed  down  with  frequent  gulps  from 
the  cider  pitcher,  or  from  something  stronger.  This  was  the 
time  for  visiting  with  a  neighbor,  for  telling  stories  about  other 
raisings,  and  often  for  the  playing  of  jokes  upon  a  comrade. 
Sometimes,  if  the  cider  pitcher  had  been  passed  around  before 
the  frame  was  up,  an  unsteady  foot  slipped,  and  a  bad  accident 
marred  the  occasion. 

No  misfortune  could  happen  to  one  family  without  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  whole  neighborhood,  and  oflPers  of  friendly  assistance. 
Many  a  growing  breach  was  healed  by  the  kind  act  of  a  seeming 
enemy,  in  time  of  sore  need.  Was  a  man  sick  and  unable  to  do 
his  haying?  Joining  hands  and  teams,  his  neighbors  went  into 
his  fields,  and  in  one  day  accomplished  what  it  would  have  taken 
weeks, -perhaps,  for  him  to  have  done  alone.  **Bees,"  these  good 
deeds  were  called.  There  were  sewing  bees  for  a  sickly  wife 
with  a  brood  of  small  children,  haying  bees,  husking  bees.  In 
fact,  any  worthy  person  in  distress  could  count  on  help  without 
the  asking.     Hearts  were  open,  hands  were  ready. 

Trained  nurses  were  in  no  demand.  Almost  every  wife  and 
mother  understood  the  art  of  soothing  the  sick,  and  of  skillfully 
seconding  the  drugs  of  the  doctor,  even  of  applying  the  simple 
remedies  obtained  from  field  and  forest.  Both  men  and  women 
took  turns  in  watching  with  the  sick  ones  near  them.  In  every 
town  there  were  always  a  few  who  showed  a  special  aptitude  in 
the  care  of  the  diseased,  and  so  they  came  to  be  neighborhood 
nurses.  Wheu  doctors  were  far  away,  it  was  necessary  that  some 
one  should  have  sufficient  experience  and  knowledge  to  apply 


84  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

the  needful  remedies.    Some  of  the  first  mothers  in  Boyalton 
walked  many  a  weary  mile  to  bring  relief  to  stricken  ones. 

Funerals  were  occasions  requiring  great  preparations  for 
the  entertainment  of  relatives  and  friends,  who  would  be  likely 
to  come  to  pay  the  last  rites  to  the  departed  one.  Families  were 
large,  and  relatives  were  numerous,  but,  as  travel  was  slow,  the 
number  that  could  be  present  was  considerably  lessened.  It  was 
a  matter  of  pride  to  have  a  bountiful  table,  to  which  the  mourn- 
ing guests  were  invited.  Gloomy  as  all  funerals  must  necessarily 
be,  those  of  early  days  were  peculiarly  so,  rendered  thus  by  the 
concomitants  of  dress  and  ceremony,  and  the  lack  of  hopeful 
consolation,  which  marks  such  occasions  at  the  present  time. 

The  early  settlers  of  New  England  were  pre-eminently  a 
church-going  people.  They  were  here  that  they  might  enjoy  re- 
ligious liberty,  and  they  did  enjoy  it  to  the  full.  Headaches  as 
an  excuse  for  non-attendance  at  church  service  were  unheard  of. 
It  was  a  matter  of  course  that  the  whole  family  should  go  to 
meeting,  from  the  baby  just  cutting  its  teeth,  to  the  grandfather, 
whose  polished  head  had  to  be  covered  by  a  bandana  to  protect 
him  from  a  draught.  The  baby  might  cry,  but  there  were  others, 
and  the  preacher  could  drown  a  regiment  of  such  infantile  wails. 
The  grandfather  might  drop  oflP  during  the  long  prayer  or  ser- 
mon, and  interject  a  snort  at  other  times  than  when  the  '' Amens'' 
were  shouted,  but  he  always  woke  at  the  right  time,  in  season  to 
shake  the  parson  by  the  hand  and  tell  him  what  an  edifying  ser- 
mon they  had  had,  and  what  parson  would  complain,  after  re- 
ceiving such  a  compliment? 

Two  sermons  a  day  was  the  rule.  At  noon  the  congrega- 
tion gathered  in  groups  outdoors  in  the  summer,  in  the  meeting 
house  in  cold  weather,  and  ate  their  lunches,  and  discussed  the 
events  of  the  past  week,  and  the  points  in  the  sermon.  No  Sun- 
day schools  as  yet.  The  afternoon  service  was  similar  to  the 
morning  service,  except,  it  may  be,  somewhat  shorter,  so  that  the 
farmers  would  have  ample  time  in  winter  to  reach  their  homes 
and  do  their  chores. 

At  first  no  such  thing  as  stoves  was  known.  Frequently 
nothing  but  foot  stoves,  containing  coals  carried  from  home  fur- 
nished warmth,  and  sometimes  not  even  these  were  at  hand.  The 
tall  pulpit  reached  by  a  flight  of  steps,  and  arched  overhead  by 
a  sounding  board,  literally  raised  the  minister  above  the  plane 
of  his  parishioners,  as  he  was  held  above  them  in  respect  and 
reverence.  Everything  that  resembled  the  formality  of  the  Ro- 
man and  the  English  Church  was  discarded,  but  the  attitude 
during  prayer  was  usually  a  standing  one. 

The  meetings  in  Royalton  were  first  held  in  private  houses 
or  barns,  and,  later,  when  a  meeting-house  was  built,  it  was  also 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  85 

used  for  town  meetings,  and  it  is  likely  that  the  feeling  of  sanc- 
tity common  in  those  days  in  connection  with  a  church  building, 
was  considerably  lacking  here.  The  spirit  of  worship  was,  how- 
ever, truly  sincere  and  srenuine. 

Children  were  not  allowed  the  liberty  that  is  theirs  to-day. 
Their  will  was  not  considered  in  the  matter  of  church  attend- 
ance. They  were  expected  to  be  silent  when  their  elders  had 
company,  and  especially  at  table.  There  they  were  to  eat  what 
was  put  before  them,  and  to  ** clean  up  their  plates."  Moral 
suasion  was  not  resorted  to  for  disobedience  so  often  as  the  rod. 

At  school  the  ferule  was  a  familiar  weapon  in  the  hands  of 
the  pedagogue,  and  came  down  hard  on  the  hands,  and  some- 
times, the  heads  of  the  unruly.  The  child  punished  at  school, 
as  a  rule,  expected  a  second  chastisement  at  home.  Now  and 
then,  when  the  teacher  lacked  personal  force,  and  often  applied 
the  rod,  the  parent  grew  tired  of  repeated  floggings,  and  sent 
word  to  the  pedagogue  **to  whip  John  hard  so  it  would  last.'' 
John  did  not  always  improve  under  this  heroic  treatment. 

Each  child  at  home  had  his  stated  tasks,  and  learned  to  know 
what  responsibility  meant.  Children  grew  up  to  be  very  capable 
and  very  good,  or  else  good  for  nothing.  There  were  few  **half- 
ways"  under  this  training.  They  were  taught  to  be  respectful 
to  their  elders,  especially  the  aged,  and  at  school  to  treat  the 
stranger  with  courtesy.  It  was  no  unusual  sight  in  country 
schools  to  see  the  pupils  at  recess  lined  up  to  bow  to  a  passing 
stranger. 

The  ** scholar*'  who  could  spell  the  school  down  and  do  the 
knottiest  problems  in  arithmetic  was  the  honor  man.  The  boys 
got  their  physical  culture  behind  the  plough,  by  swinging  the 
scythe  or  axe,  and  the  girls,  over  the  wash  tub,  or  in  handling 
the  broom.  Both,  usually,  were  rosy-cheeked  and  healthy.  Be- 
fore boy  or  girl  was  sixteen,  either  was  capable  of  filling  father's 
or  mother's  place  in  case  of  emergency.  They  had  learned  some- 
thing, and  learned  it  well.  If  their  curriculum  was  not  enriched, 
it  was,  at  least,  sound,  and  gave  them  moral  and  mental  stamina. 

Boys  were  fortunate,  if,  after  they  were  fourteen,  they  had 
a  chance  to  go  to  school  more  than  three  months  in  the  year; 
the  girls  from  four  to  six  months.  Their  school  days  could  not 
be  extended  at  will,  for  there  were  spinning,  carding  of  wool, 
and  weaving  to  be  done.  The  young  maiden  must  know  how  to 
do  all  this,  to  cook,  to  make  her  own  outfit  of  neatly  sewed  bed 
and  table  linen,  ready  for  the  day,  when,  as  a  blushing  bride, 
she  should  go  to  a  home  of  her  own.  Before  that  time  came,  she 
had  learned  to  make  her  own  garments  out  of  material  of  her 
own  handiwork.     Only  the  wealthy  could  aflford  *' store  goods." 


86  HlST(»Y  OF  BOYALTON,  VeBMONT 

Brothers  and  sisters  grew  np  to  be  much  attached  to  each 
other.  They  shared  together  whatever  privations  were  theirs, 
and  were  interested  in  each  other's  welfare.  After  marriage,  it 
was  an  annnal  event  at  Thanksgiving  or  other  time,  for  all  to 
meet  again  under  the  old  home  roof,  when  the  tables  really 
groaned  under  their  burdens  of  good  cheer.  The  poor  were  re- 
membered, and  one  or  more  poor  relatives  often  found  this  one 
day  the  silver  spot  in  a  year  of  shadows. 

To  the  community  life  of  that  early  period  may  be  largely 
traced  the  spirit  of  brotherhood,  which  is  a  distinguishing  trait 
of  the  best  class  of  our  citizens  of  to-day.  They  rejoiced  un- 
selfishly in  each  other's  success,  and  a  friendly  regard  for  the 
rights  of  others  was  engendered,  as  well  as  sympathy  in  suffer- 
ing, and  the  holding  in  abeyance  of  personal  wishes,  if  they  ran 
counter  to  the  public  good. 


i 


CHAPTER  IX. 


RoYALTON  Port. 

Reference  has  been  made  in  the  Preface  to  my  indebtedness 
to  Dr.  Gardner  Cox  of  Holyoke.  Mass.,  for  valuable  information 
regarding  the  history  of  Koyalton  Port.  Very  few  people  in 
Royalton  ever  heard  of  the  fort,  and  the  references  to  it  in  the 
town  records  are  meager.  Dr.  Cox  has  prepared  a  full  account 
of  the  Barnard,  Bethel,  and  Royalton  forts  in  connection  with 
his  history  of  the  Cox  family  in  Barnard,  which,  if  not  already 
published,  will,  no  doubt,  soon  be  in  book  form.  An  extract  from 
his  narrative  of  Royalton  Port  follows: 

**  During  the  Revolution  forts  were  built  in  the  towns  of 
Royalton,  Bethel,  and  Barnard,  and  so  near  each  other  that  they 
were  really  within  the  radius  of  a  single  township.  While  there 
were  many  blockhouses  and  fortifications,  there  were  few  forts, 
not  above  ten  being  mentioned  in  the  records  of  the  state.  Of 
these  three  only  the  Bethel  and  Barnard  forts  were  contempo- 
raneous. The  three  towns  were  the  frontier,  few  towns  having 
been  named,  and  less  surveyed,  to  the  north  of  them,  and  the 
wild  moose  was  monarch  of  the  mountains  from  Mount  Hunger 
to  Montreal. 

No  sooner  had  the  reverberations  of  the  cannonading  of  Bun- 
ker Hill  died  away  than  the  country  was  talking  about  the  enemy 
to  the  north  of  them,  and  scouts  were  sent  out  to  look  for  *  Regu- 
lars, Roman  Catholics,  Indians,  and  Frenchmen.'  What  they 
meant  by  *  Regulars'  I  know  not,  unless  they  were  paroled  sol- 
diers, or  pretended  deserters  from  the  British,  and  what  harm 
the  Catholics  ever  did  them  is  not  explained  in  any  of  their 
numerous  petitions,  or  by  any  knowledge  we  have  had  of  them 
since,  but  probably  they  considered  them  one  with  the  French, 
and  therefore  enemies. 

There  were  fortifications  up  and  down  the  Connecticut,  and 
along  the  lakes  to  the  West,  but  the  center  of  the  state  was  de- 
fenceless. They  soon  organized  a  line  of  scouts  from  Newbury 
along  the  Onion  river,  Newbury  being  a  Babylon  of  activity,  and 
Haverhill  on  the  New  Hampshire  side  a  center  of  defiance. 


L 


88  History  of  Royalton,  Vermont 

Times  grew  apace,  and  the  inhabitants  along  the  Connectient 
were  wont  to  assemble  and  talk  the  matter  over.  Hanover  as 
a  center,  included  a  number  of  towns  on  either  side  of  the  river, 
Hartford,  Thetford,  Norwich.  Lebanon,  and  Lyme,  all  of  which 
felt  that  they  were  a  little  better  than  the  rest  of  the  earth,  for 
they  were  not  sure  whether  they  belonged  to  New  Hampshire, 
Vermont,  New  Connecticut,  or  whether  they  were  little  kii^^oms 
all  by  themselves.  So  the  surrounding  towns  were  more  or  leas 
the  body  politic  in  all  of  the  Hanover  deliberations.  My  great- 
grandfather, who  built  and  commanded  at  the  Barnard  fort,  was 
once  a  member  of  a  Vermont  legislature  that  sat  in  Charlestown, 
N.  H." 

The  failure  of  the  attack  on  Quebec,  and  the  prospect  that 
the  British  would  advance  into  the  colonies  from  the  Canada 
side,  caused  the  settlers  of  the  Grants  to  be  in  a  constant  state 
of  fear  and  anxiety.  Hanover  shared  in  this  unrest.  The  climax 
of  alarm  in  Hanover  resulted  on  July  5,  1776,  in  the  calling  to- 
gether of  the  Conmiittee  of  Safety  from  Lyme,  Hanover,  Leb- 
anon. Thetford.  Norwich,  and  Hartford  in  College  HalL  The 
record  of  this  meeting  is  found  in  the  N.  H.  State  Papers,  Vol- 
ume VIII.  page  297. 

**Cho8en — ^Amos  Robinson,  Clerk 
Chosen — Deacon  Nehemiah  Elstabrook,  Moderator 

Voted,  To  raise  50  men  Exclusive  of  officers  to  Repair  to 
Royalton  to  Fortefie  in  that  Town  it  Scout  from  thence  to  Onion  River 
it  Newbury. 

Voted — ^To  apoint  one  Captain  it  two  Subalterns. 
Voted— To  apoint  Mr.  David  Woodward,  Captain. 
Voted — ^To  apoint  Mr.  Joshua  Hazzen  first  Lieut. 
Voted — To  apoint  Mr.  Abel  Lyman  second  Lieut. 
Voted — To  apoint  a  Committee  of  three  men  to  Direct  the 
Building  of  the  fort  at  Rojralton  it  furnish  sd  Fort  with  all  neces- 
sary supplies. 

Chosen,  Esqr  Joel  Marsh.  Mr.  Isaac  Morgan,  it  Majr  John  Slapp 
to  be  sd  Committee." 

Amos  Robinson.  Joel  Marsh,  and  Nehemiah  Estabrook  were 
Hartford  men.  Mr.  Robinson  was  ferrjnnan  in  Hartford  for 
many  years.  At  the  same  time  that  provision  was  made  for  Roy- 
alton fort,  it  was  also  voted  to  raise  250  men  in  four  companies 
to  go  to  Newbury  and  '*fortifie.  seout  and  guard.''  The  chair- 
man of  the  committee  asked  the  New  Hampshire  government  for 
aid,  and  the  Central  Committee  of  Safety  on  the  11th  authorized 
Captain  Woodward  to  raise  30  men  for  three  months,  unless 
sooner  discharged,  "as  scouting  parties,  to  explore  the  woods  and 
watch  or  oppose  the  motions  of  enemies  coming  against**  the 
frontier  settlements.  They  were  to  take  orders  from  GoL  Jacob 
Bayley.  Col.  John  Hurd,  and  Col.  Charles  Johnson,  or  any  two 
of  them.    Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Capt.  Woodward  s  company 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  89 

was  cut  down  from  50  to  30  men,  and  he  was  to  enlist  only  **  able- 
bodied,  efficient  men,  fit  for  such  service. ' ' 

Whether  Capt.  "Woodward  took  his  orders  from  two  of  the 
committee  or  acted  on  his  own  responsibility  is  not  known,  but 
he  certainly  did  not  seek  advice  from  Col.  Hurd.  This  military 
man  with  hurt  pride  wrote  from  Haverhill  on  the  11th  of  July 
to  Meschech  Weare,  then  at  Hanover,  as  follows:  *'I'm  just 
now  informed  by  a  person  from  the  college  that  Capt.  Woodward 
has  raised  his  men  and  gone  out  into  the  woods  to  a  place  called 
Boyalston — I  suppose  about  midway  between  Connecticut  river 
and  the  lake — to  erect  some  stockade  or  fortification  there  from 
whence  they  may  keep  their  scouts  going;  but  they  have  not 
thought  proper  to  inform  the  Committee  what  their  plan  may  be, 
or  anything  of  their  intentions."  This  letter  shows  that  Capt. 
Woodward  made  quick  work  of  his  recruiting,  and  was  probably 
on  the  ground  where  the  fort  was  located  within  a  week  or  so 
after  he  received  authority  for  his  action.  The  committee  gave 
him  time  to  report,  which  he  evidently  failed  to  do,  as  on  Aug. 
3d  Col.  Hurd  again  wrote,  *'The  Committee  have  wrote  to  Capt. 
Woodward,  desiring  he  would  come  to  Haverhill  to  consult  with 
us  respecting  his  scouts."  The  enterprise  of  Dr.  Cox  secured 
the  fact  that  Col.  Hurd  employed  Capt.  Samuel  Paine  to  carry 
his  message  to  the  too  independent  captain  at  Boyalton.  This 
Capt.  Paine  kept  a  diary,  and  in  it  under  date  of  Aug.  3,  1776, 
he  wrote,  **Also  Caryd  a  Letter  on  public  Service  from  Colo. 
Hurd  &  Colo.  Baley,  the  Committee,  to  Capt.  Woodward,  and 
went  out  from  Lebanon  to  Royalton  with  sd  letter,  25  miles, 
thence  by  desire  of  ye  Committee  I  returned  to  Haverill." 
Lebanon  was  the  place  of  his  abode  as  stated  in  his  diary.  Capt. 
Woodward  could  have  lost  no  time  in  complying  with  the  request 
of  the  Committee.  On  the  12th  of  August  he  was  detached  from 
his  company  and  sent  from  Haverhill  to  Exeter,  then  the  seat  of 
government  for  New  Hampshire,  with  a  tory  as  prisoner  of  war, 
and  an  orderly  sergeant.  Chase  in  his  History  of  Dartmouth 
says  that  Joseph  Curtiss  of  Hanover  took  command  at  Royalton 
while  he  was  absent.  The  Committee  of  Safety  at  Exeter  under 
date  of  Aug.  20th  say  they  have  received  letters  from  Col.  Hurd 
by  Capt.  Woodward. 

The  pay  roll  of  Capt.  Woodward's  company  was  accident- 
ally discovered  by  Dr.  Cox.  The  original  is  in  the  Pension  De- 
partment at  Washington.  The  pay  of  the  captain  was  £6  per 
month,  of  the  lieutenant,  £4,  of  the  commissary,  £3,  of  the  ser- 
geants £2-4,  and  of  the  corporals  £2-4  per  month.  The  privates 
each  received  two  pounds  per  month,  and  all  except  the  com- 
missioned officers  received  a  bounty  of  £1-10.  They  were  mus- 
tered out  October  4,   1776.     The  pay  of  the  entire  company 


i 


90  History  of  Boyalton,  Vebmont 

amounted  to  £249-6-9,  their  ''Billiting"  or  board  biU  to  £99-15-1, 

and  their  doctor's  bill  to  £2-7-5,  making  a  total  of  £351-9-3.  This, 

of  course,  does  not  represent  the  cost  of  the  fort,  as  they  were 

no  doubt,  during  these  three  months,  engaged  in  scouting  much 

of  the  time.    Gapt.  Woodward  receipted  for  the  sum  total  as 

follows : 

"Exeter  Oct  24t]i  1776 
Received  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  the  above  smn  of  Three  hundred 
and  fifty  one  pounds  nine  shillings,  and  three  pence  by  order  of  the 
Treasr. 
Copy  exm  J.  Gillman. 

David  Woodward  Capt'* 

The  pay  roll  included  the  following  names: 

David  Woodward,  Capt.,  enlisted  July  5;  Abel  Lyman, 
Lieut.,  July  5;  Joshua  Hazen,  Gommis.,  July  5;  John  Bacon, 
Sergeant,  July  7;  John  Colbum,  Sergt.,  July  8;  Joel  Brown, 
Sergt.,  July  7 ;  Benjamin  Davis,  Corporal,  July  7 ;  Ashael  Tucker, 
Corp.,  July  7;  Elkanah  Sprague,  Corp.,  July  8;  privates,  Asa 
Hodge,  July  7;  Canet  Sawyer,  July  7;  David  Haze,  July  7; 
Daniel  Bliss,  July  8 ;  Eleazer  Woodward,  July  8 ;  Qershom  Dun- 
ham, July  8 ;  Experience  Trisket,  July  7 ;  Jeremiah  Meacham, 
July  8;  John  Lyman,  July  8;  Isaac  Bridgman,  July  7;  Luther 
Lincoln,  July  7 ;  Luther  Wheatley,  July  8 ;  Nathan  Chaffe,  July 
7;  Samuel  Baley,  July  8;  Silas  Tinney,  July  7;  Thomas  Hails, 
July  7 ;  Walter  Peck,  July  8 ;  David  Wright,  Aug.  16 ;  Jonathan 
Wright,  Aug.  16;  Nathaniel  Burbe,  July  8.  Of  this  number 
Benjamin  Davis,  David  Haze  (Hayes?),  Qershom  Dunham, 
Samuel  Baley,  and  David  Wright  were  pensioners,  and  possibly 
others. 

This  list  gives  twenty-nine  names  besides  commissioned  ofiS- 
cers,  but  money  orders  were  drawn  for  thirty  members.  The 
name  of  Joseph  Curtis  is  not  in  this  list,  but  he  may  have  been 
the  thirtieth  man,  whose  name  was  accidentally  omitted.  Why 
he  should  have  been  given  the  command  in  the  absence  of  Capt. 
Woodward,  as  stated  by  Mr.  Chase,  is  not  clear.  One  would 
suppose  that  the  next  oiBeer  in  rank  would  have  filled  the  va- 
cancy. 

Where  was  the  Royalton  fort  located?  has  been  a  question 
most  difficult  to  answer.  In  the  first  recorded  survey  of  roads, 
1783,  mention  is  made  of  the  **old  fort  fordway,"  which  was  82 
rods  below  the  mouth  of  the  First  Branch.  This  places  the 
''fort  fordway*'  where  a  ford  way  still  exists  on  the  farm  of  the 
late  James  Bingham,  the  fordway  that  connects  with  the  Sharon 
road  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  fifty  or  more  rods  from  the 
old  Pierce  hotel.  In  another  survey  made  in  1793  the  heading 
reads,  ''Survey  of  the  road  from  ye  fordway  at  ye  old  fort  &c." 
"Beginning  at  ye  usial  place  of  fording  the  river  thence  N  32 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  91 

W  26  rd  to  the  Great  road  going  up  &  down  ye  river  This  line 
describes  ye  scentre  of  this  road  being  three  rods  wide."  This 
is  plainly  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  as  the  distance  from  the 
road  to  the  river  on  the  south  side  is  80  or  more  rods.  At  a 
meeting  held  March  20,  1781,  it  was  voted  to  build  a  pound  at 
the  crotch  of  the  road  west  of  the  old  fort.  In  1780  Elisha  Kent 
had  been  chosen  pound  keeper.  Mr.  Kent  lived  on  the  south  side 
of  the  river,  and  one  of  his  descendants  says  that  his  first  house 
was  on  the  east  side  of  the  present  road,  now  known  as  Windsor 
street.  In  1781  Daniel  Rix  was  chosen  pound  keeper.  He  also 
lived  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  in  1780.  In  Sharon  records 
the  place  of  holding  Sabbath  services  as  agreed  upon  between 
Sharon  and  Royalton  in  1777  was,  for  Royalton,  **in  the  crotch 
of  the  road  near  the  fort." 

Now,  it  would  not  be  supposed  that  Mr.  Kent  or  Mr. 
Rix  would  be  expected  to  cross  the  river  in  their  care 
of  the  pound,  especially  as  their  land  was  on  the  south  side  of 
the  stream.  The  Sunday  meetings  must  have  been  in  some  house 
or  bam.  In  1777  it  is  very  probable  that  the  river  road  on  the 
south  side  did  not  extend  much,  if  any,  above  the  fort  fordway. 
There  would  then  be  a  **croch"  where  the  road,  which  then  ran 
nearer  the  river  than  now,  turned  almost  at  right  angles  toward 
the  river.  Mr.  Kent 's  house  might  have)  been  near  the  old  fort, 
if  the  fort  were  on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  What  more  prob- 
able than  that  meetings  were  held  at  his  house?  His  father 
was  a  minister  and  preached  the  first  sermon  in  town,  and  the 
Kent  house  was  conveniently  located  to  accommodate  the  major- 
ity of  the  inhabitants  at  that  date.  Henry  Manchester,  who  came 
to  Royalton  when  a  young  boy,  says  that  with  other  boys  he 
used  to  play  on  the  Kent  meadow,  and  there  was  then  pointed 
out  to  him  the  location  of  the  old  fort,  and  at  that  time  remains 
of  some  of  the  earthworks  thrown  up  could  be  seen.  He  is  not 
able  to  locate  it  definitely  now,  as  the  meadow  has  been  greatly 
changed.  A  son  of  Mr.  Kent  diverted  the  water  course  on  the 
hills  southwest  of  the  village,  and  washed  much  of  the  hill  on 
to  the  meadow  to  fill  in.  Did  he  think  to  do  this,  because  the 
stream  had  once  been  brought  down  to  supply  the  fort?  The 
meadow  has  also  been  changed  by  filling  in  at  the  time  the  race 
course  was  laid  out.  By  the  fordway  on  the  south  side  runs  a 
stream,  now  small,  but  at  one  time  large  enough  to  run  a  saw 
mill,  the  remains  of  which  can  still  be  seen. 

It  has  been  thought  by  some  that  the  fort  was  located  where 
the  Gilbert-Pierce  hotel  was  later.  The  record  of  1781  relating 
to  the  poimd  locates  the  crotch  of  the  road  west  of  the  foft.  If 
the  fort  were  on  the  site  of  the  Pierce  hotel,  the  road  then  ran 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  house  from  what  it  does  now.     No 


98  Hestoby  of  Eoyalton,  Vermont 

evidence  has  as  yet  been  fonnd  that  it  ever  ran  in  that  direetion. 
That  location  wonld  lav  the  fort  open  to  the  weapons  of  the  In- 
dians and  British  on  the  surrounding  hills,  from  which  they 
could  get  plain  views  of  the  garrison,  and  besides  it  does  not  seem 
to  tally  with  the  other  records  which  refer  to  the  fort  The 
river  would  separate  the  fort  from  the  steep  hills  on  the  north 
side,  if  it  were  located  on  the  Kent  meadow. 

A  reference  to  the  fort  was  found  in  an  index  to  the  ''Ste- 
vens Papers,"  but  diligent  search  and  inquiry  brought  out  the 
fact,  that  neither  at  Albany,  N.  T.,  Burlington,  nor  Montpelier 
could  that  particular  volume  be  found.  A  marginal  note  in  the 
office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Montpelier  stated  that  certain 
volumes  of  the  Stevens  Papers,  that  one  among  them,  were  lost 
to  the  state,  and  at  Albany  it  was  claimed  that  the  volume  with 
others  had  been  sent  to  the  Vermont  government  offiksials  some 
years  before.  It  is  doubtful  if  it  will  ever  be  known  positively 
just  where  the  old  fort  was  located. 

How  long  the  fort  was  utilized  for  a  garrison  can  only  be 
conjectured.  It  was  thus  occupied  during  the  three  months  that 
Capt.  Woodward  made  it  a  center  from  which  he  sent  out  his 
scouts.  It  is  likely  that  it  never  afterwards  was  thus  used  ex- 
cept for  a  brief  time.  The  local  militia  may  have  made  a  camp 
of  it  on  training  days.  There  was  such  a  training  in  May,  1780, 
when  Jonathan  Carpenter  attended.  Other  troops  may  have  ako 
used  it  as  a  camping  place.  A  part  of  Capt.  Jesse  Safford's 
Company  was  sent  to  **Camp''  at  Royalton  in  July,  1780.  (Ver- 
mont Revolutionary  Rolls,  page  185.)  In  this  company  was 
Experience  Trescott,  who  drew  pay  for  fifteen  miles'  travel.  One 
detachment  was  sent  at  the  time  of  the  Indian  raid  on  Bar- 
nard. Aug.  9,  1780,  when  a  band  of  twenty-one  Indians  and 
tories  came  up  Lake  Champlain  and  over  to  Stockbridge  in  search 
of  Major  Ben  Whitcomb,  who  had  killed  Gen.  Gk)rdon  near  Three 
Rivers,  Canada.  Baffled  in  their  object  they  went  on  to  Bar- 
nard, where  they  captured  David  Stone,  Timothy  Newton, 
Thomas  Martin  "Wright,  and  Prince  Haskell.  The  news  of  the 
raid  soon  spread,  and  Capt.  Elisha  Burton's  company  from  Nor- 
wich was  sent  to  **Head  Quarters''  at  Royalton.  They  drew 
pay  for  two  days'  service  and  eighteen  miles  of  travel.  The  old 
fort  may  have  sheltered  these  troops.  In  this  company  were 
Samuel  Curtis,  Roswell  and  Cyprian  Morgan.  The  fort  may 
have  also  done  service  for  Capt.  Joseph  Parkhurst's  company 
called  out  at  the  same  time,  and  composed  of  Royalton  and  Shar- 
on men. 

The  Barnard  Alarm  resulted  in  an  immediate  gathering  of 
selectmen  and  militia  officers  at  Captain  Marsh's  in  Hartford, 
as  stated  in  the  diary  of  Jonathan  Carpenter,  who  was  then  in 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 


93 


Pomfret.  This  impromptu  body  planned  the  two  forts  at  Bar- 
nard and  Bethel,  later  called  Fort  Defiance  and  Port  Portitude. 
Their  action  was  sanctioned  by  the  Board  of  War  sitting  at 
Arlington  after  the  fortifications  were  well  under  way.  The  fort 
at  Barnard  was  begun  in  a  few  days  after  the  raid,  and  no  doubt 
the  Bethel  fort  was  begun  about  the  same  time.  This  fort  is  of 
especial  interest  to  Royalton  people  from  the  fact,  that  Capt. 
Joseph  Parkhurst's  company  was  detailed  to  build  it,  which  they 
did  in  six  days.  The  record  of  the  cost  of  this  fort  as  given  in 
the  Vermont  Revolutionary  Rolls,  page  704,  follows: 

"State  of  Vermont. 
Names  it  Rank 

Jo.  Parkhurst,  Capt. — To  six  days  at  7/4  per  day 
Medad  Benton  To  six  days  at  5  per  day     1 

Carting  boards  2  yoke  of  Oxen  at  %  pr  day ) 
Time.  Durkee  To  six  days  at  5/  pr  day,  1  day 

Carting  do  do  2.  0.0 

Daniel  Havens  To  six  days  at  5/  pr  day  1  yoke  Oxen 

six  days  at  2/  do  2.  2.0 


John  Hebbard  Jr. 


To  six  days  at  5/  pr  day  oxen  6  days 

Carting  Boards 


Robt    Handy 

«< 

Israel  Wallow 

it 

Benjn    Day 

«< 

Ebenr  Parkhurst 

«< 

Saml  Ladd 

«< 

John  Crara 

«i 

Wm.  Crara 

« 

Elisha  Kent 

(1 

Stephen  Powel 

(4 

John  Billings 

i< 

« 


« 


l< 


«< 


4« 


It 


it 


it 


tt 


tt 


tt 


tt 


tt 


It 


tt 


tt 


tt 


tt 


tt 


« 


tt 


it 


Jonathan  Wow(Waugh?)" 
Ellas  Curtis 
Daniel   Lovejoy 
Nathl  Morse 


1  yoke  oxen 
6  days  12/ 


it 


it 


a 


it 


tt 


Robt.  Havens 

Ebenr  Bruster 
Zeb.  Lyon 
Timo.  Durkee 
Danl  Rix 

Nathan  Morgan 

John  Hebbard  Jr 
BenJn  Parkhurst 
EHias  Stevens 
Jer.  Parkhurst 
Medad  Benton 


1  yoke  oxen 
6  days  12/ 
'*  six  hundred  &  fifty  feet  of  Board  at 

3/  pr.  hund. 
"  1000  ft.  Boards  at  1/10  pr  1000 
"  1500  ft.        "        "     3/     "     100 
"  1600  ft.        •'        "     **      "     " 
Carting  Baggage  6  Boards  2  days, 
2  yoke  oxen 
Boards  1  day 

2  yoke  oxen 


it 


it 


it 


it 


a 


it 


tt 


it 


II 


ti 


it 


it 


tt 


tt 


tt 


it 


it 


it 


To  Carting  Boards  1  day  2  yoke  oxen 
'*  six  days  work  of  oxen  at  2/  pr.  day 


Dr. 

£2.  5.0 
2.10.0 


2.12.0 
1.10.0 
1.10.0 
1.10.0 
1.10.0 
1.10.0 
1.10.0 
1.10.0 
1.10.0 
1.10.0 

2.  2.0 
1.10.0 
1.10.6 
1.10.0 

2.  2.0 

0.16.6 
1.10.0 
2.  5.0 
2.  8.0 

1.  0.0 

10.0 
10.0 
10.0 
10.0 
10.0 
12.0 


£44.14.6 


9*  History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont 

These  may  certify  the  within  acct.  is  true. 

Woodstock,  Sep.  25th  1780. 

Jesse  Safford  Capt 

State  of  Vt.  Windsor  Coy,  Sharon  Feb.  13th, 
A.  D.  1783.  Personally  appeared  Capt  Jo.  Parkhurst,  and  made  solemn 
oath,  that  the  within  is  a  just  acct  errors  excepted. 

Before  me,  Joel  Marsh,  Jus.  Peace. 

Pay  Table  Office       ) 

Feb.  20th  1783  )         The  within  acct  examined  it  approved,  the 

Treasurer  is  directed  to  pay  the  same  to  Capt  Jos.  Parkhurst  or  bearer, 
it  being  forty-four  pounds  fourteen  shillings  it  six  pence. 

£44.14.6  John  Strong,  Isaac  Tichenor.  Come 

Treasurer's  Office,  7 

Windsor  Feb.  24th  1783  )  Reed  of  Ira  Allen,  Esqr  Treasr  the  con- 
tents of  the  above  order,  being  forty-four  pounds  fourteen  shillings  if 
six  pence,  lawful  money.  Calvin  Parkhurst" 

Prom  this  table  it  is  seen  that  nineteen  men  were  employed 
in  the  actual  construction  of  Fort  Fortitude,  and  the  same  num- 
ber of  yoke  of  oxen,  and  there  were  about  forty-four  days'  work 
with  the  oxen  all  told,  mostly  two  yoke.  Boards  were  purchased 
to  the  amount  of  4750  feet.  Daniel  Bix  was  one  who  carted 
''Baggage"  and  boards.  He  lived  at  this  time  near  the  Eoy- 
alton fort,  if  it  were  located  on  the  Kent  meadow.  The  fact 
that  Capt.  Parkhurst 's  company  was  detailed  to  build  the  fort 
at  Bethel,  that  so  much  carting  was  required,  also  that  so  few 
boards  were  bought,  has  led  to  the  inference  tliat  Boyalton  fort 
was  taken  down  and  transported  to  Bethel  to  build  Fort  Forti- 
tude. All  three  forts  must  have  been  rather  primitive  affairs. 
At  the  time  Royalton  Fort  was  built,  there  was  no  saw  mill  in 
town,  the  certificate  of  the  completion  of  the  first  saw  mill  being 
dated  January,  1777.  The  lumber  for  the  fort  could  not  have 
been  obtained  nearer  than  Sharon.  Joel  Marsh  had  a  mill  there, 
but  there  was  complaint  in  1777  that  it  was  not  kept  in  repair 
for  use.  so  that  it  is  quite  likely  the  lumber  in  part,  at  least,  was 
brought  from  Hartford,  and  that  hewn  logs  ready  at  hand  fur- 
nished the  greater  part  of  the  material  used  in  the  erection  of 
the  fort.  Volume  II  of  Governor  and  Council,  page  38,  contains 
the  following  Resolve  of  the  Board  of  War  sitting  at  Arlington, 
Aug.  21st. 

"Resolved  that  Colo.  J.  Marsh.  Colo.  J.  Safford.  Maj.  B.  Wait,  Capt 
Sever.  Capt  J.  (probably  Jesse)  Safford.  ft  Capt  (Benjamin)  Cox  be 
a  Committee  to  station  (}apt.  Safford's  ft  Capt.  Cox's  Companies  of 
Rangers.  That  they  stake  out  the  ground  for  fourts  and  grive  direc- 
tions how  said  fourts  and  covering  shall  be  built  That  said  building 
shall  be  erected  in  the  cheapest  manner  having  refferance  to  the  pres- 
ent campaign  only,  as  the  lands  that  the  several  surveyors  are  now 
surveying  to  the  W.  ft  North  of  you  will  be  a  settling  next  springy 
which  will  make  it  necessary  that  a  line  of  fourts  should  be  erected 
further  back." 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  95 

It  was  not  expected  that  these  forts  would  be  used  for  any 
length  of  time,  as  the  frontier  was  a  moving  line.  The  reference 
to  the  fort  at  Boyalton  in  the  Sharon  church  records  indicates 
its  existence  in  February,  1777.  If  it  was  removed  to  Bethel  in 
August,  1780,  it  had  an  existence  of  about  four  years.  Port 
Fortitude  is  said  to  have  been  located  just  south  of  the  old  pas- 
senger depot,  and  some  remains  of  it  were  dug  up  when  the  rail- 
road was  built  through  Bethel.  The  first  garrison  was  Jesse 
Safford's  Company,  composed  of  men  who  had  volunteered  from 
several  towns,  including  Royalton,  Pomfret,  and  Sharon.  Among 
Capt.  Saflford's  men  were  Lieut.  Zebulon  Lyon,  Heman  Dargy 
(Durkee),  Experience  Fassett  (Trescott),  Jona.  Benton,  John 
Kent,  Cippom  (Cyprian)  Morgan,  Jabez  Parkis  (Parkhurst) 
and  John  Willcocks  (Wilcox),  who  were  either  at  that  time  or 
later  residents  of  Royalton.  They  enlisted  between  the  dates, 
July  27  and  Aug.  20,  and  were  discharged  Dec.  1,  1780.  The 
name  of  Josiah  (Goodrich  does  not  appear  in  the  Pay  Roll  of  the 
Company,  but  is  found  in  the  Archives  of  New  York.  Capt. 
Safford  gave  Goodrich  a  certificate  stating  that  his  name  was 
accidentally  omitted,  and  that  eighteen  shillings  and  eight  pence 
were  due  him.  Goodrich  addressed  the  following  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  Pay  Table,  and  the  sum  due  was  paid  to  Mr.  Bur- 
ton. "Norwich,  Feb.  5th  1781,  Ira  Allen,  Sir,  Please  to  pay 
to  Elisha  Burton,  all  my  wages  due  to  me,  while  I  was  with  Capt. 
Safford  at  Royalton.'*  Capt.  John  Benjamin's  Company  was 
stationed  at  Fort  Fortitude  a  part  of  1781.  He  was  followed  by 
Capt.  Beriah  Green  of  Barnard.  At  the  time  of  the  Royalton 
Alarm  a  number  of  companies  were  called  to  the  Bethel  Fort, 
but  space  forbids  naming  them.  During  its  history  about  400 
men  either  visited  or  garrisoned  the  fort.  In  1782  Corporal  Ex- 
perience Trescott,  Joseph  and  David  Waller,  militiamen  from 
Royalton,  joined  Capt.  Green's  forces  at  Bethel,  and  three 
days  later  three  men  from  Sharon,  William  Walbridge,  Pardon 
Mosher,  and  Nathaniel  Wheeler,  all  being  discharged  October 
20,  1782. 

Benjamin  Cox  brought  in  an  account  of  44  days'  labor  at 
4/  per  day,  and  oxen  10  days  at  2/  per  day,  amounting  to 
£9.16,0  for  building  Fort  Defiance  at  Barnard  in  August  and 
September,  1780.  His  account  was  paid  June  25,  1781.  The 
cost  of  Fort  Defiance  was  only  about  one-fifth  that  of  Fort  For- 
titude. The  Barnard  fort  was  erected  around  Bicknell's  house, 
and  80  considerable  expense  was  saved.  Amos  Bicknell  was 
Assistant  Commissary  of  Issues  for  the  troops  of  the  State,  which 
were  stationed  at  Barnard  from  Sept.  3,  1780,  to  Nov.  15,  1780. 
Dr.  Cox  is  a  descendant  of  Capt.  Cox,  and  has  in  his  possession 
the  powder  horn  which  the  Captain  carried  during  the  Revolu- 


i 


96  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

« 

tionary  War.  On  this  horn  is  carved  a  picture  of  Barnard  fort, 
a  reproduction  of  which  Dr.  Cox  very  generously  furnished  for 
the  History  of  Royalton.  These  forts  were  probably  piquet  forts, 
with  bastions  at  the  corners, — flankers  they  called  them«  Logs 
were  sharpened  at  one  end  and  set  upright  in  the  ground  so 
that  they  worked  on  the  same  principle  in  keeping  the  enemy 
out,  as  picket  fences  do  in  keeping  chickens  in  an  enclosure. 
The  flanker  allowed  a  man  to  stand  within  it  and  protect  the  side 
where  it  was  located. 

While  searching  the  manuscript  records  in  the  office  of  the 
Secretary  of  State  at  Montpelier  I  found  the  following  bills. 
Huckens  Storrs  was  owner  of  the  saw  mill  later  known  as  the 
Pierce  mill. 

"Royalton  June  1781  State  of  Vermont  Dr.  by  order  of  Capt 
Benjamin  Commandant  £SD 

''for  Sawing  of  Timber  800  feet  at  6  S  pr  Hundred  2. 8. 0 

for  Sawing  of  Slit  work  100  feet  0. 1. 0 

for  Sawing  of  Bords  1050  feet  at  Is  and  6d  pr  Hundred      3. 5. 3" 

This  bill  was  due  to  Huckens  Storrs  and  Daniel  Gilbert 
receipted  for  him. 

"Roialton  June  1781 

State  of  Vermont  to  John  Hawkins  Dr. 
by  agreement  with  John  Benjamin  Ck>mmanding  officer  at  that 
poet  to  Build  a  blockhouse  for  which  I  was  to  have  four  pound  Lawfall 
money. 
£4.0.0        atest    John  Benjamin  Capt' 


vif 


Oct.  27,  1785,  at  Windsor  the  account  was  examined  and  al- 
lowed, Timothy  Brownson  and  Israel  Smith  being  the  Committee. 
The  same  day  John  Hawkins  receipted.  Capt.  Benjamin's  Com- 
pany was  stationed  at  Fort  Fortitude  from  March  3,  1781,  until 
Nov.  25,  1781.  (Vt.  Rev.  Rolls,  page  790.)  The  first  bill  may 
have  been  for  repair  of  the  fort  or  for  the  building  of  the  block- 
house. **That  post''  in  the  second  bill  makes  the  meaning  am- 
biguous as  to  the  location  of  the  blockhouse.  Was  it  in  Bethel 
or  Royalton?  Dr.  Cox  says  there  were  three  blockhouses  in 
Barnard.  None  are  known  to  have  been  in  Royalton.  No  per- 
son by  the  name  of  Hawkins  appears  in  the  records  of  Royalton 
in  the  early  years.  The  bills  were  probably  made  out  about  the 
time  the  debt  was  incurred,  and  Hawkins  may  have  been  staying 
temporarily  in  Royalton. 


vTiitiSI' 


ailSl^trtll^li' 


■  K  AT  llAIiNAIili.   IT- 


CHAPTER  X. 
Revolutionary  Affairs. 


When  the  Revolutionary  War  broke  out,  when  the  signal 
for  a  general  uprising  spread  from  town  to  town  in  the  Ameri- 
can Colonies,  when  the  shot  was  fired  ** heard  round  the  world," 
Royalton  had  few  settlers,  perhaps  not  more  than  half  a  dozen 
families,  and  lacked  a  town  organization.  The  history  of  1775 
must  deal  largely  with  general  conditions,  and  the  action  of 
towns  then  organized  on  the  Connecticut  river  in  the  near  neigh- 
borhood of  the  young  settlement  at  Royalton. 

The  New  Hampshire  Grants  which  had  been  exposed  to  the 
depredations  of  French  and  Indians  in  previous  years,  now  be- 
came an  opposing  frontier  to  the  British  and  their  savage  allies. 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point  were  most  important  posts,  hold- 
ing the  key  which  unlocked  the  door  for  a  free  entrance  into 
New  York  and  the  Grants,  and  through  them  to  the  New  Eng- 
land colonies.  Ethan  Allen,  called  a  Green  Mountain  boy, 
though  bom  in  Connecticut,  with  the  energy  and  courage  which 
ever  characterized  him,  lost  no  time  in  an  effort  to  get  posses- 
sion of  these  coveted  posts,  and  his  success  has  passed  into  his- 
tory, and  given  lasting  glory  and  honor  to  his  name.  In  a  cer- 
tain sense,  then,  Vermont  took  the  lead  in  winning  the  first 
substantial  victory  of  this  great  conflict. 

Murmurings  of  rebellion  had  been  heard  long  before  the 
Lexington  alarm.  The  colonists  foresaw  the  certainty  of  a  re- 
sort to  arms,  ere  they  could  gain  their  rights.  With  their  accus- 
tomed sagacity  they  made  such  preparations  as  their  limited 
means  and  opportunities  afforded.  As  early  as  March  4,  1775, 
Hanover,  the  wide-awake  New  Hampshire  town,  had  appointed 
Israel  Curtis,  Capt.  Edmund  Freeman,  and  Lieut.  Timothy  Dur- 
kee  to  engage  a  man  to  come  there  and  make  guns.  It  would 
be  interesting  to  know  how  long  it  took  this  man  to  make  a  gun, 
v/hat  facilities  and  materials  for  work  he  had,  and  the  style  and 
power  of  the  weapon  he  manufactured. 

New  York  was  a  claimant  of  the  Grants  in  1775,  and  took 
active  steps  to  conciliate  the  disaffected  ones.  The  Continental 
Congress  also  realized  the  service  the  men  on  the  Grants  might 


98  History  of  Botalton,  Vebhont 

render  the  American  cause,  and  gave  due  credit  to  the  achieve- 
ment of  Ethan  Allen  in  securing  the  two  posts  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  June  23,  1775,  it  voted  to  pay  the  men  engaged  in 
capturing  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and  recommended  the 
employing  of  the  Green  Mountain  men.  John  Hancock,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Congress,  wrote  the  next  day  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  New  York,  informing  it  of  the  measures  proposed,  stat- 
ing that  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  Continental  Congress  ''that 
the  Employing  the  Green  Mountain  Boys  in  the  American  Army 
would  be  advantageous  to  the  conmion  Cause,  as  well  on  account 
of  their  scituation  as  of  their  disposition  &  alertness,  they  are 
desirous  You  should  Embody  them  among  the  Troops  you  shall 
raise.  As  it  is  represented  to  the  Congress,  that  they  will  not 
serve  under  any  officers  but  such  as  they  themselves  Choose, 
You  are  desired  to  consult  with  General  Schuyler,  in  whom  the 
Congress  are  informed  these  People  place  a  great  Confidence, 
about  the  Field  officers  to  be  set  over  them." 

The  Provincial  Congress  voted  to  employ  the  Green  Moun- 
tain Boys,  and  received  Ethan  Allen  in  consultation.  In  raising 
the  proposed  number  of  500  men,  they  were  to  choose  their  own 
officers,  except  the  field  officers,  and  could  express  their  prefer- 
ence in  the  selection  of  these.  These  troops  were  to  be  an  inde- 
pendent body.  Allen  presented  a  list  of  officers,  in  which  he 
nominated  himself  and  Seth  Warner  as  field  officers,  but  com- 
mittees from  towns  west  of  the  Green  Mountains  met  at  Dorset 
and  chose  Seth  Warner,  Lieut.  Colonel,  and  Samuel  Safford. 
Major.  The  Provincial  Congress  not  wishing  to  decide  the  con- 
troversy over  field  officers,  left  the  selection  to  (Jeneral  Schuyler, 
who  politely  declined  the  honor,  saying  it  was  too  delicate  a 
matter  for  him.  This  threw  the  responsibility  back  upon  the 
Provincial  Congress,  which  shouldered  it,  and  made  the  appoint- 
ments for  which  the  men  had  shown  a  preference.  Allen  did  not 
sulk,  but  continued  to  serve.  He  joined  Schuyler  without  a 
commission,  and  raised  a  body  of  250  Canadians,  with  one-half 
of  which  he  attacked  Montreal,  but  owing  to  the  superior  force 
of  the  enemy  he  had  to  yield  himself  a  prisoner. 

The  men  in  this  independent  regiment  were  to  be  provided 
with  coats  of  coarse  green  cloth,  faced  with  red,  and  250  of  the 
coats  were  of  large  size,  a  proof  of  the  fine  physique  of  the 
**Boys."  The  company  was  to  be  a  part  of  the  Seventh  New 
York  brigade. 

Hartford  had  been  dallying  with  New  York  in  reference  to 
procuring  a  new  charter,  as  she  had  first  been  chartered  by  New 
Hampshire,  but  she  never  really  acknowledged  the  authority  of 
New  York.  At  a  town  meeting  held  June  19,  1775,  several  days 
before  the  action  taken  by  the  Continental  Congress  in  raising 


HlSTCXKY  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT  99 

a  regiment  of  Green  Mountain  Boys,  the  town  had  elected  Joel 
Marsh  as  Captain  of  a  company  of  militia  for  Cumberland 
county.  Probably  this  company  was  not  wholly  made  up  of  Hart- 
ford men,  but  it  looks  like  independent  action  on  the  part  of 
this  lively  and  patriotic  town,  which  then  was  close  to  the  fron- 
tier. 

In  1775  two  regiments  were  formed  in  Cumberland  county, 
the  Upper  one  organized  Aug.  14,  at  Springfield,  and  the  Lower 
organized  considerably  later,  owing  to  controversies  over  the  offi- 
cers.  Provision  was  also  made  for  raising  a  regiment  of  Minute 
men. 

By  a  reference  to  the  tabulated  list  of  men  serving  in  the 
War  of  the  Revolution,  who  subsequently  became  residents  of 
Boyalton,  it  will  be  seen  that  several  had  part  in  the  struggle 
during  the  year  1775.  There  were  others  also  who  served  this 
year,  that  were  more  or  less  connected  with  the  history  of  this 
town.  The  Assembly  of  New  Hampshire  was  petitioned  on  Sept. 
10,  1776,  by  John  House,  Ist  Lieut.,  and  Daniel  Clapp,  2nd 
Lieut.,  both  of  Hanover,  N.  H.,  for  bounty  as  other  soldiers  had 
received  for  volunteer  service  under  Capt.  Israel  Curtis.  They 
state  that  they  with  thirty-four  other  men  equipped  at  their  own 
expense,  marched  to  St.  Johns  in  Canada,  and  were  ordered  by 
€tai.  Montgomery  to  join  Col.  Bedel's  regiment.  They  did  duty 
until  Nov.  18, 1775,  when  they  engaged  to  serve  through  the  win- 
ter. Their  prayer  was  not  granted.  This  company  had  volun- 
tarily been  formed  in  response  to  Gen.  Schuyler's  call  for  help 
in  September,  1775.  No  list  has  been  preserved  of  the  men. 
Under  date  of  Nov.  3,  Curtis  wrote  that  the  General  would  not 
allow  them  to  leave  until  Montreal  had  been  taken.  This  com- 
pany was  on  the  Plains  of  Abraham  in  December.  In  April  of 
the  next  year,  after  defeat,  on  account  of  small  pox  it  was  sent 
home,  but  Capt.  Curtis  got  his  promotion  of  Major  and  Lieut. 
House  that  of  Captain.  This  action  of  Captain  House  goes  to 
show  that  he  was  a  man  of  courage,  and  a  loyal  citizen,  despite 
what  has  been  said  of  him  because  of  his  failure  to  attack  and 
capture  the  Indians  at  the  time  of  the  raid  upon  Royalton. 

The  year  1776  was  to  prove  even  more  eventful  than  the  one 
which  had  passed.  The  Declaration  of  Independence  added  new 
and  stronger  motives  for  exertion  on  the  part  of  the  colonists. 
The  die  was  cast,  and  every  man  was  expected  to  do  his  full 
duty  as  a  loyal  American  citizen,  determined  to  win  freedom 
from  British  oppression.  The  frontiers  now  required  the  most 
watchful  guarding,  and  the  Grants  were  fully  alive  to  the  im- 
portance of  checking  any  threatened  advance  from  the  Canada 
side.  The  frontier,  starting  with  Haverhill,  stretched  on  a  radius 
of  about   thirty  miles,   with   Hanover  as  a  center,   extending 


100  HiSTOBT  OF  ROYALTON,  VeBMONT 

through  Newbury,  Corinth,  Boyalton,  and  Barnard.  The  local 
militia  looked  after  the  frontiers.  In  the  year  1776  Gen.  Gkites 
called  it  out  to  protect  Ticonderoga.  Scouts  were  sent  out,  some- 
times of  one  man  only,  again  of  several  under  a  leader.  Hart- 
ford in  a  town  meeting  of  July  13,  1776,  voted  that  Capt  Abel 
Marsh  should  deal  out  one  pound  of  powder  to  each  soldier  be- 
longing to  the  town  that  had  gone  or  was  going  to  Boyalton,  and 
lead  and  flints  proportionable  to  the  stock.  They  also  voted  to 
raise  by  a  tax  £20  to  defray  charges  of  the  supervisors  and 
county  committee  going  to  Westminster,  and  the  charge  of  the 
Boyalton  department,  which  was  the  town's  quota  to  pay. 

Boyalton  was  on  the  frontier,  and  it  must  have  been  stirring 
times  for  the  few  settlers  that  were  here  at  that  time,  increas- 
ing in  number,  of  course,  but  doubtless  not  numbering  twenty 
families.  This  was  the  year  when  small  forts  were  built,  and 
Boyalton  had  hers,  an  account  of  which  is  given  in  another  place. 
The  action  of  Hartford  just  mentioned  probably  was  taken  with 
reference  to  this  fort.  We  may  be  sure  that  the  families  which 
took  so  active  a  part  in  succeeding  years  in  the  struggle  that 
was  waging  for  freedom,  were  no  less  alert  and  serviceable  this 
year,  though  the  records,  which  are  very  incomplete,  do  not  make 
much  mention  of  them.  Doubtless  they  did  their  share  in  guard- 
ing the  frontier,  and  in  preparing  ammunition.  Saltpetre  was 
in  great  demand.  An  anonymous  letter  in  the  New  Hampshire 
Gazette  of  January  9,  1776,  by  a  writer  not  in  favor  of  independ- 
ence, says  that  the  making  of  saltpetre  had  made  such  rapid 
progress,  especially  at  Portsmouth,  where  both  clergy  and  laity 
were  employed  sii^  days  in  the  week,  and  the  seventh  was  seasoned 
with  it,  that  he  begged  leave  to  withdraw  his  assertion  that  Am- 
erica could  be  conquered  without  ammunition. 

The  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York  on  July  23,  1776,  re- 
solved that  252  men  be  employed  as  scouting  parties  to  be  raised 
in  the  counties  of  Cumberland  and  Gloucester,  for  the  defence 
of  those  counties,  to  be  divided  into  four  companies,  each  com- 
pany to  have  one  captain,  two  lieutenants,  three  sergeants,  three 
corporals,  and  fifty-four  privates.  The  commissioned  officers 
were  to  be  nominated  by  mutual  consent  of  committees  from  both 
counties.  Each  non-commissioned  officer  and  private  was  to  have 
a  bounty  upon  his  passing  muster.  The  officers  and  privates 
were  to  furnish  themselves  each  with  a  good  musket  or  firelock, 
powder  horn,  bullet-pouch,  tomahawk,  blanket,  and  knapsack. 
The  next  day  the  Congress  on  recommendation  from  members  of 
Cumberland  county,  Messrs.  Sessions,  ilarsh,  and  Stevens,  nomi- 
nated Joab  Hoisington  to  be  Major  of  these  troops,  who  were 
called  Bangers.    The  Congress  advanced  to  deputies  from  Cum- 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  101 

berland  county  £1200  for  the  Rangers  in  Cumberland  and  Glou- 
cester counties,  one  half  of  the  bounty  resolved  upon. 

The  year  1776  saw  also  the  beginning  of  the  Board  of  War 
for  Western  Vermont,  which  was  given  jurisdiction  over  the 
whole  of  the  Grants.  This  Board  appointed  twelve  men  to  at- 
tend as  a  committee  upon  the  next  convention,  which  body  of 
men  is  said  to  be  the  beginning  of  the  Council.  The  Board  ap- 
pears to  have  been  appointed  from  time  to  time  by  the  Assembly, 
and  to  have  held  office  until  a  new  one  was  named.  For  a  short 
time  the  Governor  and  Council  constituted  it,  and  later  it  was 
made  up  chiefly  of  councilors.  Its  duties  and  powers  were  prac- 
tically the  same  as  those  of  the  governor  today  in  case  of  war. 

Whatever  may  be  thought  regarding  the  dealings  of  New 
York  with  the  settlers  on  the  Grants,  it  is  certain  that  these 
settlers  had  to  depend  on  New  York  more  than  once  for  financial 
assistance,  during  the  period  when  the  controversy  over  the 
ownership  of  Vermont  was  waging.  On  January  14,  1777,  the 
New  York  Convention  agreed  to  loan  Cumberland  county  a  sum 
not  exceeding  £300,  and  it  furnished  the  representatives  of  the 
county  £70  as  wages  in  advance.  Major  Hoisington  went  to 
Fishkill,  N.  Y.,  to  settle  with  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  had 
to  apply  to  them  for  funds  to  get  home.  It  would  appear  that 
his  Bangers  had  not  been  called  upon  for  any  very  arduous  labor 
as  yet,  for  as  late  as  Feb.  24,  Col.  Bedel  in  a  letter  to  Gen.  Schuy- 
ler declared  that  the  Rangers  had  not  done  three  days'  duty. 
The  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York  decided  May  28,  1777, 
that  they  needed  some  exercise,  and  it  ordered  that  Gen.  Bayley 
be  requested  to  order  one  of  the  companies  of  troops  raised  in 
Cumberland  and  Gloucester  counties,  called  Rangers,  to  march  to 
E[ingston  in  Ulster  county,  without  delay,  to  follow  the  further 
directions  of  the  Council  of  Safety  or  executive  power  of  the 
state.  Gen.  Bayley  was  in  sore  straits.  On  the  14th  of  June 
he  wrote  from  Newbury  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  Kingston, 
*'The  calling  for  the  Rangers  is  stripping  the  frontier  of  Men 
&  Arms,  which  order  I  received  from  Major  Wheelock  with  a 
Verbal  Account,  that  the  others  would  soon  follow.  I  gave  the 
orders  for  the  march  of  the  first  Company,  but  had  no  Money  to 
March  them,  which  they  Insist  upon.  They  Insist  that  if  the 
Conditions  they  were  raised  upon,  is  altered  in  one  part,  it  must 
be  in  all  before  they  March  they  say  their  Subsistence  Money 
will  not  half  Support  them  on  their  March  nor  at  Kingston  when 
they  arrive."  From  this  will  be  seen  the  spirit  of  independence 
manifested  by  the  Rangers,  a  spirit  to  be  commended  usually, 
but  which  often  interfered  with  military  discipline  in  the  early 
days  of  the  war.     It  illustrates  also  the  difficulties  under  which 


*!   I  »-^.    »  f  ■.-.-.,        •,,.._, 


; 


,■♦. « 


102  HlST(»Y  OP  ROYALTON,  VeBMONT 

the  officers  frequently  labored,  through  lack  of  funds  to  pay  their 
men. 

An  attempt  had  been  made  in  April  to  raise  three  companies 
in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  Grants,  under  the  direction  of 
Major  John  Wheelock.  Commissions  were  not  to  be  issued  until 
150  men  should  be  enlisted.  Major  Wheelock  obtained  only 
eighty  men,  even  after  an  extension  of  time,  owing  to  open  defec- 
tion against  the  authority  of  New  York  in  that  part  of  the  state. 
Provision  was  made  for  accepting  what  he  had,  if  six  super- 
numerary officers  would  discharge  themselves  when  he  should 
arrive  with  the  men  at  Kingston.  There  seems  to  have  been 
plenty  of  men  who  were  willing  to  serve  as  officers,  but  appar- 
ently they  were  not  sufficiently  self-sacrificing  to  "discharge 
themselves,"  for  on  Aug.  30,  Wheelock 's  corps  was  declared  dis- 
banded, and  he  was  ordered  to  settle  his  accounts.  When  he 
went  to  Fishkill  to  get  what  was  left  of  his  men,  he  found  that 
''many  had  dispersed  contrary  to  order."  Capt.  Payne  was  in 
command  of  them,  and  among  the  loyal  ones  were  Comfort  Sever 
of  Hanover,  later  of  Royalton,  Jeremiah  Trescott  of  Royalton, 
and  Lieut.  Aaron  Storrs  and  Abel  Curtis  of  Norwich.  Wheelock  *8 
men  had  been  intended  for  Col.  Warner's  regiment.  From  the 
Henry  Stevens  Papers  the  following  is  taken: 

"Majr  John  Wheelock  Sir  where  as  we  the  suhscribera  did  inlist 
in  the  Ck>rp8  Commanded  By  you  as  we  understand  Said  Corps  is  dis- 
banded by  order  of  Council  of  Safety  of  this  State  we  therefore  require 
of  you  a  Sartificate  as  we  cannot  Ingage  in  any  other  Service  til  we 
are  Regularly  Discharged  By  you  we  also  are  willing  the  value  of  our 
Cloathing  be  Reduckted  out  of  our  Back  pay  so  no  more 

We  remain  your  Humble  Servants" 

Signed  by  Charles  Tilden,  Sergt.,  and  nine  others,  including 
Jeremiah  Trescott,  and  dated  Kingston,  Sept.  4,  1777. 

This  unique  request  goes  to  show  that  these  men  were  not 
only  loyal,  but  honest,  and  ready  for  further  service. 

If  the  Rangers  were  not  busy  in  the  field,  they  and  the  in- 
dependent companies  were  employed  in  other  ways.  A  Roll  of 
Zebulon  Lyon 's  company  is  recorded,  which  did  duty  in  August, 
1777,  by  order  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Windsor  and  ad- 
jacent towns.  They  were  called  upon  to  guard  the  Committee 
at  Windsor,  and  to  guard  Col.  Stone  and  others  to  Springfield, 
etc.  Zebulon  Lyon  was  lieutenant  of  the  company,  James  Smal- 
ley,  sergeant,  Moses  Evans,  sergeant,  all  of  whom  were  allowed 
pay  for  fifteen  days'  service;  James  Sterrod  or  Herrod,  sergeant, 
for  seven  days;  privates,  Elijah  Smalley,  Jesse  Williams,  David 
Hunter,  Zebina  Curtis,  for  fifteen  days;  James  Sanders,  Eben- 
ezer  Call,  James  Call,  Jr.,  Joseph  Call,  John  Billings  or  Belknap, 
Abijah    Lamphere,    Luke    Lamphere,    Sylvanus    Owen,    Elijah 


i 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  103 

Brown,  Nathan  Chaflfey,  Bliss  Hosenton  (Hoisington),  Phineas 
Powers,  Timothy  Knox,  James  Call,  John  Kelliam,  for  seven  days 
each. 

The  first  half  of  the  year  1777  was  a  gloomy  one  for  the 
colonists,  and  an  especially  strenuous  one  for  the  Grants,  which, 
under  the  name  of  Vermont,  had  declared  its  independence.  It 
was  natural  that  there  should  be  differences  of  political  opinion. 
Some  were  supporters  of  New  Hampshire  in  her  claim,  others 
of  New  York,  and  a  considerable  number  were  still  loyal  to  Great 
Britain,  so  that  efforts  to  raise  men  for  service  were  not  always 
successful.  The  loss  of  Ticonderoga  in  July  made  the  people 
of  the  Coos  region  panic  stricken.  It  looked  as  if  the  British 
would  win.  Some  of  those  nearest  the  British  posts  chose  to  be 
on  the  winning  side,  whichever  it  was.  Strafford  and  Thetford 
had  had  squads  of  men  doing  garrison  duty.  Col.  Bayley  de- 
clared that  thirty  of  them  deserted  in  this  critical  time,  leaving 
the  towns  unguarded.  No  doubt  Royalton  with  the  adjoining 
towns  participated  in  the  general  alarm,  but  as  our  records  were 
destroyed  in  1780,  there  is  no  evidence  of  her  action  or  of  the 
anxiety  which  she  felt.  She  still  had  her  fort,  and  even  without 
a  garrison  it  would  furnish  some  protection.  Wild  beasts  in  the 
forests,  wild  men  on  the  borders,  and  a  bitter  foe  at  the  door 
ready  to  take  advantage  of  every  weak  position  was  the  situation 
at  this  time. 

The  Canadians  were  seeking  new  and  shorter  routes  to  the 
settlements  south  of  them.  John  Williams,  secretary  of  the  New 
York  Convention,  stated  on  June  23  that  they  had  found  a  road 
across  the  mountains  to  Otter  Creek,  and  could  come  in  twelve 
days.  To  be  aware  of  danger  was  to  take  steps  to  avert  it.  Capt. 
Jesse  Safford  was  in  command  of  forty-two  men.  Part  of  them 
were  ordered  to  Pittsfield,  and  went  in  July.  A  part  were  or- 
dered to  Royalton,  and  probably  came  at  the  same  time,  and 
occupied  the  fort  built  the  preceding  year,  and  served  as  a  pro- 
tection to  the  inhabitants  and  neighboring  towns. 

The  victory  over  Burgoyne  heartened  the  colonists.  On 
Mar.  23,  1778,  the  Assembly  voted  to  fill  up  Col.  Warner's  regi- 
ment. On  June  12th  they  voted  that  100  men  out  of  Col.  Bedel's 
regiment  be  sent  to  guard  the  frontier  west  of  the  mountains. 
On  June  18th  it  was  decided  to  raise  twenty  men  to  guard  the 
frontiers  from  White  river  to  Strafford  and  Corinth,  to  the  lakes, 
etc.,  and  that  Capt.  Hodges  have  the  command  of  said  guard  as 
a^  subaltern.  Some  time  previous  to  Aug.  29,  1777,  the  Council 
of  Safety  had  **  Resolved  that  375  men  of  the  militia  of  this  State 
should  be  Raised  for  the  defence  of  this  and  the  United  States  of 
America."  As  cost  of  living  was  high,  they  voted  fifty  shillings 
per  month  to  each  person  so  serving  in  addition  to  his  continental 


104  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

pay.  The  (Jeneral  Assembly  voted  Mar.  25,  1778,  to  add  to  sol- 
diers' wages  that  were  to  be  raised  by  a  vote  of  that  House  enough 
to  make  their  wages  four  pounds  per  month.  In  June  they 
added  forty  shillings  bounty  to  this  stipend. 

The  proposed  expedition  to  Canada  was  the  military  event 
of  1778  in  which  Vermont  would  have  had  the  largest  part  and 
interest,  but  after  making  provision  for  300  volunteers,  the 
Council  of  Safety  two  weeks  later  declared  the  expedition  like 
to  fall  through,  and  ordered  the  enrollment  of  men  to  cease. 
There  is  no  evidence  from  the  scanty  town  records  of  1779  left 
to  us,  that  Royalton  took  any  action  in  raising  men  or  provisions, 
but  the  record  of  service  in  another  part  of  this  chapter  shows, 
that  some  who  must  have  been  residents  of  this  town  at  that  time 
were  in  active  service.  The  Vermont  militia  in  1779  were  en- 
gaged in  scouting  and  protecting  the  frontier. 

At  a  special  meeting  in  Royalton  held  Jan.  22,  1780,  we  get 
the  first  record  of  the  active  participation  of  the  town  in  the 
events  of  the  Revolution.  At  that  time  it  was  voted  to  raise  five 
men  for  immediate  service,  who  were  to  be  under  pay  at  two 
pounds  per  month,  equal  to  wheat  at  five  shillings  a  bushel.  Esq. 
Morgan,  Lieut.  Durkee,  and  Daniel  Rix  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  see  the  five  men  equipped,  and  Lieut.  Morse,  Capt.  Joseph 
Parkhurst  and  Benjamin  Parkhurst  were  chosen  another  com- 
mittee to  give  Lieut.  Parkhurst  his  (illegible).  At  their  March 
meeting  they  voted  to  discharge  the  five  men  raised  in  January. 
There  is  no  record  showing  who  these  men  were,  but  it  may  be 
inferred  that  Lieut.  Parkhurst  (Calvin?)  was  one.  From  the 
Vermont  Revolutionary  War  Rolls  the  following  is  taken: 

"A  Pay  Roll  of  Lieut.  Calvin  Parkhurst  and  eight  privates  who  have 
been  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  one  month  and  a  half  in  guard- 
ing the  frontiers  of  this  state,  the  winter  past,  viz: 

One  subn  45  days  149  8/  per  day £324.0.0 

Eight  privates  45  days  each  53  8/4  per  day  each £9$0.0.0 

£12S4.0.0 
Calvin  Parkhurst,  Capt 
Westminster,  March  IS,  1780,  In  Council  The  above  pay  roll  ex- 
amined and  approved  by  order  of  the  Governor  and  Council. 

Jos.  Fay,  Sec'y. 
Pay  Table  Office,  23d  Feby.  1781.    The  Treasurer  is  directed  to 
allow  on  the  above  order  thirty-two  pounds  two  shillings,  lawful  money. 
Thomas  Chittenden,  Timo.  Brownson,  Comee. 

Received  of  the  Treasurer  the  contents  of  the  above 
order. 

Aaron  Storrs." 

This  pay  roll  probably  includes  the  five  men  raised  by  Roy- 
alton, and  refers  to  the  same  men  as  the  following  2>etition  in 
the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Montpelier.    It  will  be 


i 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  105 

observed  that  the  amount  allowed  on  the  bill  was  only  a  small 
part  of  it,  due,  doubtless,  to  the  depreciation  of  continental 
money. 

"To  his  Excenency  the  Govr.  his  honbl.  Council  and  General  As- 
sembly of  the  State  of  Vermont  now  sitting  at  Westminster — 

The  Petition  of  the  Subscribers  Humbly  Sheweth,  that  whereas  the 
present  Winter  has  been  such  and  the  repeated  Intelegence  from 
Canada  that  great  apprehension  arose  in  the  minds  of  the  frontier 
Inhabitants  that  the  Enemy  would  Attempt  an  invasion  upon  some 
Quarter,  and  as  your  petitioners  and  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Towns  of 
Royalton  ft  Sharon  whom  we  have  the  honor  to  represent  was  frontiers 
and  Exposed  to  Such  Invasion — did  by  the  advice  of  one  of  the  Mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  War  and  others.  Raise  one  subaltern  and  Eight 
privates  to  reconnoiter  the  Wood^  and  keep  guard  for  this  Country, 
and  Engaged  to  pay  them  (viz)  the  Subaltern  Elqual  Wages  allowed  by 
this  State  ft  Each  private  forty  shillings  pr  Month  and  Money  made 
Good  as  in  this  year  1774  on  condition  this  State  would  not  pay  them 

And  whereas  your  Petitioners  are  of  opinion  that  said  Scout  so 
Raised  was  of  public  Service  to  this  State;  do  therefore  pray  your 
honors  to  take  the  Matter  under  Consideration  and  if  Consistent  Grant 
that  said  Subaltern  ft  Eight  men  be  paid  out  of  the  public  Treasury 
of  this  State  or  such  other  relief  as  your  honors  in  your  Wisdom  shall 
judge  requisite  and  for  the  best  Good  of  this  State,  and  as  your  peti- 
tioners in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray — 
Westminster  12th  March  1780 

Elias   Stevens    )  Representatives 
Daniel  Gilbert  )  for 

sd  Towns" 

The  statement  was  made  that  this  guard  was  in  service  one 
and  one-half  months. 

The  line  of  frontier  on  the  west  side  of  the  mountains  was 
set  by  the  Board  of  War  on  Mar.  12,  1779,  at  Arlington.  **  Re- 
solved that  the  north  line  of  Castleton  the  west  and  north  lines 
of  Pittsford  to  the  foot  of  the  Green  Mountains  be  and  is  hereby 
Established  a  line  between  the  Inhabitants  of  this  State  and  the 
Enemy,  and  all  the  Inhabitants  of  the  State  living  to  the  north 
of  said  line  are  directed  and  ordered  to  immediately  move  with 
their  families  and  Effects  within  said  lines."  These  quotations 
will  give  a  good  idea  of  the  state  of  feeling  of  those  living  on 
or  near  the  frontiers. 

The  Indian  raid  at  Royalton  was  the  event  of  1780  which 
sent  a  thriU  of  terror  throughout  all  the  towns  of  eastern  Ver- 
mont and  adjoining  sections  of  New  Hampshire.  To  Zadock 
Steele,  Historian,  we  are  indebted  chiefly  for  a  connected  and  full 
account  of  that  awful  tragedy.  The  debt  of  gratitude  we  owe 
him,  and  the  honor  due  his  memory  for  his  laudable  effort  to 
preserve  the  trials  and  sufferings  of  the  early  inhabitants  of  Ver- 
mont should  not  grow  less,  because  as  time  has  gone  on,  new  evi- 
dence and  new  information  have  been  secured,  which,  in  some 
instances,  shows  that  his  account  is  not  wholly  correct.     That  is 


106  History  op  Royalton,  Vebmont 

true  of  all  histories.  Mr.  Steele  was  not  a  resident  of  the  town, 
and  it  was  nearly  forty  years  after  the  raid  occurred,  when  he 
sought  from  residents  of  Boyalton  information  regiurding  the 
events  of  that  momentous  day.  It  is  almost  strange  that  not 
more  errors  are  found.  His  narrative  is  first  given  just  as  it 
stands  in  the  original  edition  of  1818,  and  it  is  followed  with 
another  account  based  on  the  narratives  of  others  who  were  pres- 
ent at  that  time  of  devastation,  and  on  such  records  as  have  been 
furnished  from  reliable  sources.  It  is  in  no  spirit  of  criticism 
that  the  second  account  is  given,  but  with  a  sincere  desire  to 
supplement,  and  render  more  valuable,  if  possible,  the  record  of 
what  seemed  to  those  present  on  Oct.  16,  1780,  as  the  death  kneU 
of  the  infant  settlement.  The  correspondence  of  the  leader  of 
the  Indian  band  and  of  Capt.  Matthews,  which  is  now  given  to 
the  public  for  the  first  time,  it  is  believed,  will  be  found  of  con- 
siderable value  and  interest. 

A  reference  to  the  letter  of  Capt.  Matthews,  secretary  of 
Gen.  Haldimand,  will  show  that  an  exchange  of  prisoners  had 
been  asked  of  Gen.  Haldimand  before  the  raid  of  Oct.  16,  1780. 
It  does  not  state  that  the  request  came  from  Gov.  Chittenden, 
but  it  is  probable  that  it  did.  According  to  the  '^  Haldimand 
Correspondence"  in  Vol.  II  of  ** Governor  and  Council,"  the 
Governor  wrote  regarding  an  exchange  of  prisoners  in  Septem- 
ber. It  is  not  at  all  unlikely  that  friends  of  the  men  taken  pris- 
oners in  Hoyalton  asked  the  Governor  to  take  steps  to  secure  their 
release,  but  it  seems  probable,  also,  as  measures  had  already  been 
taken  for  an  exchange,  that  no  new  request  was  made.  Prison- 
ers taken  from  the  British  by  the  Vermont  soldiery  were  turned 
over  to  the  United  States  authorities,  and  so  the  state  did  not  hold 
any  considerable  number  of  prisoners  available  for  exchange 
independent  of  action  on  the  part  of  Washington,  Commander-in- 
chief,  to  whom  Gov.  Chittenden  applied. 

The  negotiations,  however,  dealt  with  the  proposal  to  make 
Vermont  a  loyal  supporter  of  England,  and  with  this  object  in 
view  the  British  general  readily  agreed  to  a  truce,  which  freed 
the  state  from  a  constant  dread  of  invasion,  and  which  finally 
resulted  in  the  exchange  of  nearly  all  those  who  had  been  taken 
as  prisoners  to  Canada  after  the  raid  of  Oct.  16,  1780. 

It  is  not  pertinent  to  the  purpose  of  this  book  to  decide 
whether  the  Vermont  leaders  were  patriots  or  traitors  in  carrying 
on  these  negotiations,  neither  is  it  the  place  to  defend  or  condemn 
the  course  they  adopted.  It  is  enough  to  say,  that  by  these  nego- 
tiations the  British  were  led  to  believe  that  they  could  gain  Ver- 
mont, and  that  Vermont,  which  had  pluckily  and  successfully 
held  her  own  against  the  claims  of  neighboring  states,  did,  by 
the  representations  of  her  leaders,  steer  the  ship  of  state  safely 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  107 

through  a  most  perilous  time  in  her  history,  and  not  only  fur- 
thered her  own  cause,  but  that  of  the  united  colonies  as  well. 

The  provisioning  of  troops  was  a  serious  matter,  a  source 
of  anxiety  to  boards  of  war,  commanders  in  the  army,  and  to 
town  officials.  The  removal  of  the  hardiest  and  best  men  to 
serve  in  the  army  depleted  the  ranks  of  the  laboring  class  in 
Vermont.  Royalton  in  1780  had  been  stripped  of  the  larger 
'part  of  her  supplies  by  the  ruthless  red  man.  Soon  after  the 
raid,  November  9th,  at  a  town  meeting  held  in  Lebanon,  N.  H., 
Huckens  Storrs  was  appointed  to  remove  the  public  provisions 
from  Strafford  to  Royalton  in  case  soldiers  were  ordered  to  that 
town.  In  Royalton,  Zebulon  Lyon's  house  was  a  storage  place 
for  supplies,  and  in  Sharon,  Samuel  Benedict's. 

-  Col.  Bedel  in  his  attack  on  St.  Johns  in  1775  wrote  to  the 
Committee  of  Safety  in  New  Hampshire,  **This  moment  I  have 
possession  of  St.  Johns  and  the  Post  -  -  -  -  to-morrow  shall  march 

for  Montreal. In  about  4  days  we  shall  have  either  a 

wooden  leg  or  golden  chain  at  Montreal.  For  God's  sake  let 
me  know  how  I  am  to  supply  my  men."  Some  of  the  sufferings 
of  the  men  in  Warner's  Regiment  in  the  attack  on  St.  Johns 
have  been  recounted  in  the  diary  of  Lieut.  John  Fassett,  who 
was  in  Capt.  Hawkins'  Company.  Col.  Warner  was  both  doctor 
and  officer.  Lieut.  Fassett  under  date  of  Oct.  27th  wrote,  **  David 
Brewster  is  very  sick.  Sent  for  Col.  Warner  and  he  gave  him  a 
portion  of  jallap.  Jacob  Safford  not  very  well,  nor  has  not 
been  for  several  days."  Two  days  later  he  entered  in  his  diary, 
**Col.  Warner  blooded  Jacob  Safford.  David  Brewster  is  some 
better."  In  their  attack  on  St.  Johns  they  suffered  from  both 
cold  and  himger.  He  wrote  on  Nov.  12,  **12  o'clock.  E.  Smith, 
Jacob  Safford  and  I  have  been  buying  an  apple  pie  and  a  sort 
of  floured  short  cake  and  apples.  Have  eaten  so  much  as  we 
can,  which  makes  us  feel  well."  Gov.  Chittenden  wrote,  May 
22,  1778,  that  he  was  informed  Col.  Bedel's  regiment  was  not  in 
actual  service  for  want  of  provisions.  On  June  12,  Col.  Bedel 
was  empowered  to  buy  grain  and  other  provisions. 

On  Oct.  20,  1780,  Calvin  Parkhurst  was  put  on  a  committee 
by  the  General  Assembly  for  the  purpose  of  getting  provisions 
from  the  towns.  That  year  acts  were  passed  by  the  legislature 
prohibiting  sending  provisions  out  of  the  state.  In  1781  it  ap- 
peared that  the  supplies  set  for  the  soldiers  were  not  enough, 
and  a  provision  tax  was  levied.  In  1780  the  quota  of  provisions 
for  troops  was,  for  Royalton,  1392  pounds  of  flour,  464  pounds 
of  beef,  232  pounds  of  salted  pork,  99  bushels  of  Indian  corn, 
and  191^  bushels  of  rye.  The  provision  tax  of  1781  levied  on 
ratable  polls  and  estates  was  20  ounces  of  wheat  flour,  6  ounces 
of  rye  flour,  10  ounces  of  beef,  and  6  ounces  of  pork,  on  a  pound. 


108  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

At  a  town  meeting  held  Dec.  27,  1781,  Royalton  voted  to  raise 
five  bushels  of  wheat  in  lieu  of  the  beef  for  the  state  troops,  and 
to  raise  wheat  in  lieu  of  rye  flour.  It  chose  Lieut.  Durkee  to 
receive  the  wheat,  and  also  the  pork  that  was  to  be  raised,  which 
was  to  be  well  salted,  and  he  was  to  find  the  salt  for  five  bushels 
of  wheat.  They  also  voted  to  raise  three  bushels  of  wheat  in 
lieu  of  a  hundred  of  flour,  and  voted  to  raise  and  bring  in  the 
whole  of  the  provisions  in  January  next  following.  The  Board 
of  War  had  proposed,  April  8,  1780,  that  each  town  by  taxation 
pay  its  own  men,  each  man  to  provision  himself,  the  state  in  final 
settlement  repaying  what  had  been  expended  since  the  rising  of 
the  last  Assembly,  which  had  authorized  such  action. 

In  the  town  meeting  records  there  is  but  one  more  notice 
of  any  action  of  the  town  in  raising  men  for  military  service  in 
the  Revolutionary  war.  This  was  April  3,  1782,  when  it  was 
**Voted  to  raise  one  man  as  the  cotoo  (quota)  for  the  town.** 
They  chose  a  committee  to  make  a  report  in  what  manner  to 
raise  said  man,  and  next  voted  to  give  John  Wilcox  when  enlisted 
15  (torn  off)  of  good  dry  sugar  to  be  delivered  at  Lieut.  Lyon's 
house  as  a  bounty.  Every  one  that  was  delinquent  in  paying 
his  sugar  by  the  third  Tuesday  of  the  next  April  was  to  paj 
''dubel"  his  proportion  of  tax. 

Regarding  the  character  of  Vermont  soldiers,  among  them 
Royalton  men,  it  is  sufficient  to  quote  from  a  letter  which  Gten. 
BurgojTie  sent  to  England:  **The  New  Hampshire  Grants  in 
particular,  a  country  unpeopled  and  almost  unknown  in  the  last 
war,  now  abounds  in  the  most  active  and  rebellious  race  on  the 
continent,  and  hangs  like  a  gathering  storm  on  my  left." 

We  shall  never  know  who  of  those  living  in  town  at  the  time 
they  served  their  country  in  the  Revolution,  lie  sleeping  in  our 
cemeteries.  Many  early  graves  are  unmarked.  Of  this  number 
it  is  very  probable  that  some  were  soldiers.  In  the  list  of  Revo- 
lutionary soldiers  which  follows,  the  final  resting  place  of  those 
who  are  buried  in  town  is  noted,  so  far  as  known. 

Some  of  these  patriots  died  before  any  pension  law  was 
enacted  that  would  benefit  them.  The  first  pension  law  was 
passed  as  a  resolution  by  the  Continental  Congress  at  Philadel- 
phia, Aug.  26,  1776.  It  provided  for  partial  and  total  disability. 
If  partial,  the  disabled  ones  were  to  be  formed  into  an  invalid 
corps.  It  took  effect  from  its  passage,  but  in  1778  it  was  made 
retroactive,  so  as  to  include  all  so  disabled  on  and  after  April  19, 
1775.  They  were  to  receive  half  pay  during  continuance  of  disa- 
bility. 

On  ^lay  15,  1778,  upon  recommendation  of  Gen.  Washing- 
ton, the  Congress  passed  a  law  providing  for  pensioning  all  mili- 
tary officers  commissioned  by  Congress,  who  should  serve  during 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  J  09 

the  war,  and  not  hold  any  office  of  profit  or  trust  in  any  of  the 
states.  They  were  to  receive  half  pay  for  seven  years,  if  they 
lived  80  long.  Officers  alone  were  benefited  by  this  enactment. 
The  first  provision  for  widows  and  orphans  was  made  Aug.  24, 
1780.  This  benefited  only  the  families  of  officers.  They  were 
to  have  the  benefit  of  the  law  of  May  15,  1778,  in  case  of  the 
death  of  the  officer  before  the  expiration  of  seven  years.  The 
widows  and  orphans  of  soldiers  other  than  officers  were  pensioned 
by  act  of  Aug.  11,  1790.  A  five-years'  half -pay  law  was  passed 
July  4,  1836,  which  by  repeated  extensions,  became  the  basis  of 
the  present  law  relating  to  widows  and  orphans. 

The  first  dependent  pension  law  was  passed  March  18,  1818. 
This  provided  for  those  in  need  of  assistance,  who  had  served 
in  the  Revolution  nine  or  more  months.  The  pay  was  $20  a 
month  for  officers,  and  $8  for  others.  May  15,  1828,  full  pay 
was  allowed  for  life  to  the  survivors  of  the  Revolution  who  en- 
listed for  and  during  the  war,  and  continued  in  its  service  until 
Its  termination.  This  act  was  extended  June  7,  1832,  to  those 
who  could  not  draw  pensions  under  the  act  of  1828,  provided 
they  had  served  in  the  Continental  Line,  or  state  troops,  volun- 
teers or  militia,  at  one  or  more  terms,  a  period  of  two  years. 
They  were  to  receive  full  pay  according  to  rank,  but  not  exceed- 
ing the  pay  of  a  captain.  Those  who  had  served  less  than  two 
years,  but  not  less  than  six  months,  drew  a  sum  proportionate 
to  their  term  of  service  as  compared  with  two  years. 

Several  laws  were  enacted  for  the  benefit  of  those  engaged 
in  Indian  wars,  the  first  being  April  30,  1790,  and  also  for  those 
in  the  Regular  Army.  Laws  were  passed  in  1836  and  1846  pro- 
viding invalid  pensions  for  those  engaged  in  the  Mexican  War. 
Pension  laws  have  been  too  numerous  to  mention  them  all.  The 
drift  has  been  more  and  more  toward  a  generous  policy  in  re- 
warding the  services  of  those  who  endangered  their  lives  that 
their  country  might  live.  Some  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolution 
surrendered  their  rights  under  one  enactment,  to  avail  themselves 
of  a  more  liberal  provision  under  a  later  one.  This  will  explain 
how  it  chanced  that  some  were  pensioned  more  than  once. 

Those  soldiers  connected  with  Royalton  that  are  known  to 
have  received  pensions,  have  the  fact  recorded  in  the  list  at  the 
end  of  this  chapter.  It  cannot  be  hoped  that  this  list  is  complete. 
Some  omissions  may,  perhaps,  be  found  in  the  genealogies  of 
families,  and  others  can  be  remedied  only  by  those  who  know 
that  such  exist.  It  could  be  wished  that  not  one  of  those  who 
bravely  fought  in  our  struggle  for  independence,  and  who  ever 
called  Royalton  their  home,  should  fail  of  recognition  in  our 
town  History,  but  the  lapse  of  time  and  imperfect  records  must 


110  HiSTOBT  OF  Boy  ALTON,  Vermont 

be  the  excuse,  if  such  is  the  case:    A  list  of  present  pensioners 
will  be  found  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  the  Civil  War. 

The  Pay  Roll  of  Capt.  Joseph  Parkhurst's  Company  of 
Militia  for  the  service  in  the  alarms  on  Aug.  9,  Boyalton,  1780, 
is  given  in  the  Vermont  Revolutionary  Bolls,  pages  191-92.  The 
men  all  enlisted  Aug.  9th,  and  aside  from  the  officers  received 
one  shilling,  four  pence  per  day.  The  Boll  included  Capt.  Jo- 
seph Parkhurst,  serving  3  days,  Lieut.  Calvin  Parkhurst,  6  days, 
Lieut.  Elias  Stevens,  6  days,  Sergt.  Walbridge,  3  days,  Sergt. 
Foster,  3  days,  Sergt.  Wheeler,  6  days,  Sergt.  Haven  (Havens T), 
6  days,  Sergt.  Billings,  3  days,  Corpl.  How,  3  days,  CorpL 
Mosher,  3  days,  John  Crary,  3  days,  John  Hoboot  (Hibbard),  3 
days,  Aaron  Mosher,  3  days,  Bobert  Handy,  6  days,  Daniel  Love- 
joy,  6  days,  Daniel  Havens,  6  days,  Joseph  Fish,  3  days,  Medad 
Burton  (Benton),  3  days,  Jeremiah  Presot  (Trescott),  6  days, 
Nathan  (Nathaniel)  Morse,  6  days,  Beuben  Parkhurst,  6  days, 
Luther  Ede,  3  days,  Adam  Durkee,  6  days,  Elisha  Kent,  6  days, 
Matthew  Harrington,  3  days,  Abel  Fairbanks,  3  days,  Zacheus 
Downer,  3  days,  Lackin  (Larkin)  Hunter,  3  days,  Nehemiah 
Lovejoy,  3  days,  Jason  Downer,  3  days,  Asa  Stevens,  3  days, 
Benj.  Parkhurst,  3  days,  Benj.  Day,  3  days,  Standish  Day,  3 
days,  Phineas  Parkhurst,  3  days,  Penl  Parkhurst,  3  days,  and  a 
name  erased.    The  Pay  Boll  ends  with  the  following: 

"Pay  Table  Office.  The  within  pay  roll  examined  and  approved 
and  the  Treasurer  is  directed  to  pay  the  same  to  Capt  Joseph  Park- 
hurst or  bearer,  being  the  sum  of  seventeen  pounds  eleven  shlUings 
and  three  pence,  with  the  addition  of  rations,  lawful  money. 

Thos.  Chittenden,  )  r^xtninitfc^ 
Arlington,  12  Jan.  1781.  John  Fasset,  j^mmmee 

Vermont,  Windsor  County,  ss.    May  23.  1781.    Sworn  before 

Joel  Marsh,  Justice  of  Peace. 
Reed,  of  the  Treasurer,  in  behalf  of  Capt.  Joseph  Parkhurst,  the 
contents  of  the  within  roll.    12th  June  1781. 

Amos  Robinson" 

The  roll  of  his  company  serving  three  days  in  the  Boyalton 
alarm  was  smaller  and  quite  different.  It  included  Lieut.  Elias 
Stevens;  Sergts.  Jos.  Edson,  John  Billings,  and  Isaac  Pinney; 
Corps.  Heman  Durkee  and  Phineas  Parkhurst;  Joseph  Green, 
Oliver  Pinney.  Timothy  Hibbard,  Balph  Day,  Bobert  Handy, 
Elisha  Hart,  Daniel  Havens,  John  Evans,  Medad  Benton,  Joseph 
Wallow  (Waller),  Bufus  Rude  (he  was  not  living  at  this  time), 
Xathl.  Moss  (ilorse),  Nathan  Morgan.  Stephen  Burrus  (Bor- 
roughs),  Zebulon  Burrus,  Samuel  Joslin,  Jeremiah  Triscut,  and 
Comfort  Sever,  privates. 

Capt.  Daniel  Gilbert's  Company  pursued  the  enemy,  trav- 
elled 30  miles  and  served  four  days  at  the  time  of  the  Indian  raid. 
The  Captain  drew  twenty  shillings  a  day,  the  Lieutenant  fifteen. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  111 

the  Sergeants  six,  the  Clerk  six,  the  Corporal  five  and  six  pence, 
and  the  privates  five  shillings.  The  Pay  Boll  shows  the  follow- 
ing membership :  Daniel  Qilbert,  Capt.,  Abel  Fairbanks,  Lieut., 
John  Walbridge,  Sergt.,  Jacob  Foster,  Sergt.,  Zacheus  Downer, 
Clerk,  Simeon  How,  Corp.,  Jonathan  How,  Samuel  Ladd,  Larkin 
Hnnter,  Jason  Downer,  Wright  Spalding,  John  Crery,  Stephen 
March  (Marsh?),  Elisha  Kent,  Daniel  Love  joy,  Ashbel  Ladd, 
Pierce  Parkhnrst,  Azel  Spalding,  Joel  Marsh,  privates.  His  Pay 
Boll  ends  as  follows: 

"The  within  pay  roll  is  for  service  done  in  Royalton  Alarm  the 
16th  Oct.  1780.  Daniel  Gilbert,  Capt. 

Pay  Table  OflEice,  Oct.  24,  1781.  The  within  Pay  Roll  examined 
and  approved  and  the  Treasurer  is  hereby  directed  to  pay  to  Daniel 
Gilbert  or  order  the  within  sum,  being  sixteen  pounds  two  shillings  and 
ten  pence,  lawful  money 

Timo  Brownson,      1 

Thos    Chandler,       v   Comee. 

John  Strong,  J 

Date  above  rec'd  of  the  Treasurer  the  contents  of  the  above  order 
in  behalf  of  Danl  Gilbert.  Joel  Marsh." 

ROYALTON'S  REVOLUTIONARY  ROLL. 
Name  Col.  or  Regt        Capt.  or  Co.        State  Year 

Ames,  David  R.  Dow     \  N.  H.  1775 

LiUey  J.  House   J  N.  H.  Cont.    1776 

Burled  in  Havens  Cem. 
Atherton,  Matthew  Mass.  Cont. 

Pensioned  under  Act  of  1832.    Buried  in  N.  Royalton  Cem. 
Back,  Lyman  Conn.  Militia 

Pensioned  June  21,  1833.    Buried  in  S.  Royalton  Cem. 
Backus,  Stephen  8th  2nd  Conn.  Cont.     1775 

Pensioned  Sep.  25,  1833.    Buried  in  N.  Royalton  Cem.    Fifer. 
Bacon,  Jareb         D.   Brewster  J.  Packard  Mass.  1775 

Corp.    Re-enlisted  in  1777. 
Banister,  Jason    B.  Wait  J.   Benjamin  Vt.  Militia      1781 

Pensioned  under  Act  of  1832.     Drummer. 
Banister,  Timothy  Elias  Wild      )       Vt.  Militia       1780 

B.  Wait  J.  Benjamin   5       Vt.  Militia       1781 

Drummer  in  1780,  Fifer  in  1781. 
Benton,    Jonathan  J.  Safford    \  Vt.  Rangers 

Peter  Olcott  Tim.  Bush  J  Vt.  Militia       1781 

Benton,  Medad  Strong  )         N.   Y.  1776 

Abel  Marsh  J         Vt.  Militia       1777 

Buried  in  S.  Royalton  Cem.    Lieutenant. 
Billings,  John  Conn.  Cont.    1775 

Pen.  Nov.  3,  1819  and  June  7,  1832.     Buried  N.  Royalton  Cem. 
Bingham,  Thomas  Wales  Conn.  Line     1775 

Served    also    in    1777-78.    Received    $240    yearly    pension    1819; 

dropped  in  1820.    Buried  in  Havens  Cem. 
Boeworth,  BenJ.  Mass. 

Served  in  1775  in  Lexington  Alarm;  en.  in  Capt.  Nath.  Carpen- 
ter's Co.,  Col.  Tim.  Walker;   July  1,  1776,  en.  with  Capt.  Isaac 

Hodges,  Col.  Eben.  Francis;  Jan.,  1777,  with  Capt.  Stephen  Bui- 


lis  History  op  Botalton,  Vebmont 

Name  Col.  or  Regt  Capt  or  Co.         State  Tear 

lock,  Col.  Thos.  Carpenter;  fall  of  1777  as  Corp.  with  Capt  NatlL 

Carpenter,  Col.  Whitney;  late  fall,  1777,  in  Peleg  Peck's  Regt; 

May  1,  1778,  Orderly  Serg.  with  Capt  Jacob  Fuller,  Col.  John 

Jacob;  winter,  1780-81,  Ldeut  with  Col.  Hathaway;  July  1.  1781, 

Lieut  with  Capt  Elisha  Gifford,  Col.  William  Turner;  went  with 

Generals  Spencer  and  Sullivan  in  the  Expedition  to  R.  I.    Pen- 
sioned in  1832.    Buried  in  the  Ldndley  Cem. 
Brewster,  David  P.  Olcott  J.  Hazen  Vt  Militia      1777 

Cheedle,   Timothy  B.  Durkee  Vt.  MUitia      1781 

Buried  in  Royalton  Broad  Brook  Cem. 
Clapp,  Samuel,  Jr.  Mass.  Cont 

Pensioned  July  14, 1819;  suspended  under  Act  of  1820.    Buried  in 

N.  Royalton  Cem.    Sergeant. 
Clark,  Paul  Silas  Wild     )       Mass.  Cont     1775 

Eliph.  Sawen  ]      Mass.  Cont     1777 

Served  until  1780.    Pensioned  under  Act,  1818.    Buried  in  Wil- 

liston. 
Cleveland,  Squire  Branch  Conn.  Mil.     ) 

Conn.  Cont)  1778 

Pensioned  Mar.  5,  1819,  and  again  June  7,  1832.    Buried  in  Bast 

Bethel. 
Cleveland,   Sam'l  Conn. 

Pensioned  Aug.  31,  1833. 
Cole,  Benjamin     Ledyard  A.  Waterman        Conn.  Militia  1777 

Served  1778  and  1779  with  Captains  Tyler  and  Josh.  Bottom; 

Corp.  with  Capt.  Bottom,  Col.  Wells,  in  1780;  Corp.  with  Capt 

Robbens,  Col.  McClellan,  1781;  last  service  as  substitute  for  his 

father;  pensioned  as  Sergt  under  Act  of  1832.    Buried  in  Dewey 

Cem. 
Crandall,  Gideon  Averill  Conn.  Bfilitia  1782 

Served  also  in  R.  I.  Militia.    Pensioned  Sep.  30,  1833.    Burled  in 

Branchview  Cem. 
Curtis,  Samuel      Hoisington  Hatch  N.  T.  MiliUa  1776 

Served  with  Capt  William  Heaton  In  Vt  Militia,  1777;  with  Capt 

Sol.  Cushman,  Vt.  Volunteers,  1778,  with  Captains  E.  Burton  and 

Tim.  Bush,  Col.  Olcott,  1780. 
Davis,  Nathan  N.  H.  Cont. 

Pensioned  under  Act  of  1818. 
Day,  Benjamin  J.  Parkhurst         Vt  MiliUa      1780 

Burled  in  N.  Royalton  Cem. 
Day,  Standish  J.  Parkhurst  Vt.  MiliUa      1780 

Day,  Ralph  J.  Parkhurst         Vt  MiliUa      1780 

Dewey,  Darius,  Corp.  Conn.  Cont. 

Pensioned  April  4,  1834.    Buried  in  S.  Royalton  Cem. 
Dewey,  Ebenezer  Ashley  E.  Mack  N.  H.  MiliUa  1777 

Buried  in  Dewey  Cem. 
Durkee,  Heman    Maj.  E.  Allen        J.   Safford  Vt.  Rangers    1780 

Corp.   Also  in  J.  Parkhurst's  Co.    Buried  in  N.  Royalton  Cem. 
Durkee,    Timothy  J.    Safford  Vt   Rangers    1780 

Also  in  J.  Parkhurst's  Co.    Buried  in  N.  Royalton  Cem. 
Evans,  Cotton  Lieut.    Morris )     Conn.  Militia  1776 

Spalding  (     Conn.  MiliUa  1778 

Evans,  John  J.  Parkhurst         Vt.   Militia      1780 

Fairbanks,  Calvin  Mass.  Cont 

Pensioned  Oct  4,  1833. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 


113 


Name 


Col.  or  Regt. 


Capt.  or  Co. 


State 


Year 


Fish,  Joseph  J.  Parkhurst         Vt.  Militia      1780 

Fowler,  BHlsha  A.  Branch  Conn.  Cont.     1778 

Pensioned  Dec.  2,  1819,  and  under  Act  of  1832. 
Gains,  James  Mass.  Cont. 

Pension  secured  by  town  under  Act  of  1818.    Died  Jan.  11,  1825; 

probably  buried  in  town. 
Gilbert,  Daniel      8th  3d  Conn.  1775 

Corp.  with  Capt.  William  Heaton,  Vt.  Militia,  Col.  Peter  Olcott, 

1777;  Lieut,  with  Capt.  B.  Parkhurst,  Vt.  Militia,  1781.    Burled 

in  S.  Royalton  Cem. 


Green,  Irijah 

Pensioned  July  7,  1819. 
Handy,  Robert     Peter  Olcott 

Havens,  Daniel 


W.  Heaton     ) 
J.  Parkhurst ) 


Havens,  Joseph    8th 


Havens,  James 


Peter  Olcott 
Vose 


Mass.  Cont. 

Vt.   Militia  1777 

Vt.   MiliUa  1780 

Conn.  1777 

Vt.  Militia  1780 

Conn.  1775 

N.  Y.  Militia  1776 

Vt  Militia  1777 

Mass.   Cont.  1775 


J.  Parkhurst 
7th 

Strong 
W.  Heaton 
D.  Sears 

Served  till  spring  of  1783;  pension  secured  by  town  under  Act 
of  1818;  died  in  1825;  probably  burled  in  town. 
Hibbard,  John,  Jr.  J.    Parkhurst        Vt.  Militia      1780 

Burled  in  N.  Royalton  Cem. 
Hide,  Jedediah  Branch  Conn.  Militia  1778 

Howard,  William  Conn.  Militia 

Pensioned  Aug.  28,  1833.    Buried  in  Branchview  Cem. 
Howe,  Samuel  N.  H.  Cont. 

Pensioned  May  14,  1833.    Burled  in  Havens  Cem. 
Howe,  Squire  Conn.  Militia 

Pensioned  Oct.  4,  1833;  probably  buried  in  Bamston,  Que. 
Hutchinson,  John  Hoisington  J.  Hatch      )  N.   Y.  1776 

Peter  Olcott  W.    Heaton  J  Vt.  1777 

Pensioned  April  30,  1833;  buried  in  N.  Royalton  Cem.     Served  in 
Conn.  Militia. 
Huntington,  Jas.  J.  Huntington       8th  Conn.  Cont. 

At  Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill.    Buried  in  Howard  Cem.    Sergt. 


Jones,  William 
Joiner,  William 

Corporal. 
Kent,  Elisha 


E.   Allen 
Lee 


Jo.  Marsh 


Buried  in  S.  Royalton  Cem. 
Kent,  John  T.  Beedle 

E.  Allen 


Branch 
J.  Safford 
O.   Train 

Strong  1 

Tim.  Bush       V 
J.  Parkhurst] 


S.   Cushman 
J.   Safford 


! 


Conn.  Militia  1778 

Vt.  1780 

Vt.  Militia  1781 

N.   Y.  1776 

Vt.  1777 

Vt.  Militia  1780 

N.  H.  1778 

Vt.  Militia  1780 


Taken  prisoner  Oct.  16,  1780. 
Lovejoy,  Daniel    J.  Marsh  T.  Bush        1         Vt.  1777 

Tim.   Beedle  S.  Cushman  3         N.  H.  1778 

With  the  Rangers  under  Lieut.  Beriah  Green  in  1781;  enlisted 

five  times,  and  served  20  months;  pensioned  under  Act  of  1832; 

buried  in  Sharon  Broad  Brook  Cem. 
Lovejoy,  William  James   Fry  B.  Ames  Mass.  1775 

At  Lexington;  buried  in  Sharon  Broad  Brook  Cem. 


8 


114  History  op  Boyalton,  Yebmont 

Name  Col.  or  Regt.         Capt  or  Co.         State  Year 

Lsrman,  Ezekiel     J.  Huntington       B.  Throop  Conn.  Line     1777 

Served  three  years.  Is  thought  to  have  been  a  soldier  In  the 
French  and  Indian  War  in  Capt.  John  Terry's  Co.,  Ist  Regt,  in 
campaign  of  1755,  under  Major  Phineas  Lsrman,  and  to  have  been 
pensioned  under  Act  of  1818.  Supposed  to  have  been  buried  on 
the  Lewis  Skinner  farm. 

Lyon,  Zebulon,  Lieut  B.  Wait  N.  Y.  1776 

E.  Allen  J.  Safford  Vt  IftiUtia      1780 

With  Capt  Abel  Marsh,  N.  H.  troops,  1777;  buried  in  N.  Royal- 
ton  Cem. 

Metcalf,  Sami,  Jr.  Conn.  Militia 

Pensioned  Aug.  31,  1833;  buried  in  Metcalf  Cem. 

Miles,  Ephraim     B.  Wait  J.  Benjamin  Vt  Iftilitia      1781 

In  battle  of  Saratoga.    Buried  in  Potsdam,  N.  Y. 

Morgan,  Benj.  C.  Cilley  N.  H.  1776 

See  cut  of  commission.    Buried  in  Rojralton  Broad  Brook  Cem. 

Morgan,  Nathan  Peter  Olcott  W.  Heaton       )     Vt  1777 

J.  Parkhurst   {     Vt  IftiUtia      1780 
Corporal. 

Morgan,  Roswell  A.  Marsh  N.  H.  1777 

T.  Bush  Vt  Militia      1780 

Recruited  for  Seelye  in  1778,  served  under  him  as  Lieut  in  1782. 
Buried  in  S.  Royalton  Cem. 

Morse,   Nathaniel 

Probably  in  the  Lexington  Alarm,  from  Preston,  Conn.    Burled 

lit     TTaVATICI     f^^TTl 

Noble,   Nehemiah  Calkins  Conn.  IftiUtia  1777 

Buried  in  Bethel. 
Packard,  Benj.  Bftass.  Cont 

Sergeant    Pensioned  Oct.  12,  1818.    Burled  in  Royalton  Broad 

Brook  Cem. 
Parkhurst,   Benj.  J.  Marsh  T.  Bush  )       Vt  1777 

J.  Parkhurst  5       Vt  MiliUa      1780 

Buried  in  N.  Royalton  Cem. 
Parkhurst  Calvin  Peter  Olcott         W.  Heaton  Vt  1777 

Sergeant    Burled  in  Rutland  probably. 
Parkhurst,  Jabez  E.  Allen  J.  Safford  Vt.  1780 

Parkhurst,  Joseph  Vt  Militia      1780 

Captain.    Burled  in  S.  Royalton  Cem. 


N.  Y.  1776 

Vt  MiliUa  1777 
N.  H.  1778 


Parkhurst,  Phin.  Hoisington 

Peter  Olcott  W.  Heaton 

T.  Beedle  S.  Cushman 

Flfer.    Buried  in  Lebanon,  N.  H. 
Paul,  Kiles  Branch  Conn.  Militia  1778 

Pensioned  Mar.  8,  1833.    Probably  buried  in  Howe  Cem. 
Perrin,  Asa  Williams  Paine  Conn.  Cont    1777 

Buried  in  Perrin  Lot  No.  1. 
Pinney,  Isaac  Branch  Conn.  BfiUtla  1778 

Sergeant.    Buried  in  N.  Royalton  Cem. 
Richardson,  G.      J.  Reed  P.  Thomas  N.  H.  Cont     1775 

Wait  Vt  1780 

Pensioned  Oct  11,  1833;  buried  in  E.  Bethel. 
Root,  John  Conn.  Militia 

Pensioned  June  21,  1833.    Buried  in  Havens  Cem. 
Rude,  Rufus  8th  10th  Conn.  Cont    1776 

Buried  in  S.  Royalton  Cem.    Died  in  1779. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  115 

Name  Col.  or  Regt.  Capt.  or  Co.         State  Year 

R1188,  Jeremiah  J.   Safford  )  Vt.  1778 

E.  Weld       ]  Vt.  1780 

Corp.  In  Capt  J.  Benjamin's  Co.,  Col.  Bexg.  Walt  1781.    Burled  In 

N.  Royalton  Cem. 
SeTer,  Comfort      Wheelock  S.  Payne  N.  Y.  1777 

Lieut   In  Capt.  Payne's  Co.;  Capt.  of  a  Company  of  Vt.  Mllltla 

In  1781. 
Skinner,  Isaac  Conn. 

Burled  In  N.  Royalton  Cem. 
Skinner,  Luther  Conn.  Mllltla 

Pensioned  Sept  25, 1833.    Died  In  Royalton,  probably  burled  here. 
Stevens,  Abel  Salisbury  Vt  Cont         1777 

As  Capt.  he  had  a  Co.  In  Col.  Nichols'  N.  H.  Regt  In  1780. 
Steyens,  Ellas      Holslngton  J.  Hatch  N.  Y.  1776 

Beedle  S.  Cushman  N.  H.  1778 

Sergt.  In  1776,  Lieut  In  1778.    Pensioned  Sep.  25,  1833,  on  his 

service  In  the  Conn.  Mllltla  as  Sergt.  and  Lieut.    Burled  In  S. 

Royalton  Cem. 
Stevens,  Elkanah  Conn.  Mllltla 

Pensioned  Aug.  24,  1833. 
Storrs,  Huckens    B.  Walt  E.  Gates  Vt  1781 

Burled  In  S.  Royalton  Cem. 
Taggart,  Joseph  N.  H.  Cont. 

Corporal.    Pensioned  July  7,  1819,  under  Act  of  1832. 
Trescott,  Experience  D.  Woodward        N.  H.  1776 

J.  Chase  1779 

E.   Allen  J.  Safford  Vt  1780 

With  Lieut  Berlah  Green,  Vt  Mllltla,  1782.    Burled  In  Royal- 
ton Broad  Brook  Cem. 
Trescott  Jeremiah  D.  Woodward)     N.  H.  1776 

S.  Payne  J     N.   Y.  1777 

Burled  In  Havens  Cem. 
Walbrldge,  Isaac  J.  Chase  N.  H.  1777 

Sergeant.    Burled  In  N.  Royalton  Cem. 
Waldo,  Zacharla  J.  Durkee  Conn.  1781 

Burled  In  N.  Royalton  Cem. 
Waller,  Joseph  B.  Green  Vt  Mllltla      1782 

Waller,  Israel  J.  Parkhurst         Vt.  Mllltla      1780 

Burled  In  Howe  Cem. 
Waterman,   Abra.,Jr.  Conn.  Cont. 

Pensioned  Sep.  25,  1833.    Burled  in  Branchview  Cem. 
Waterman,  Wm.    Putnam  4th  Conn.  Cont.    1775 

Sergeant;  wounded  at  White  Plains;  pensioned  Mar.  4,  1795;  pen- 
sion increased  twice;  buried  in  Havens  Cem. 
Wheeler,  Josiah  E.  Parkhurst         Vt.  Militia      1781 

Sergeant.    Buried  In  Bamston,  Que. 
Wills,  Sylvanus    J.  Chase  N.  H.  1777 

Pensioned  Sep.  26,  1833,  on  service  In  Conn.  Cont. 
WllcoXi  John         E.   Allen  J.  Safford  Vt  1780 

Wait  B.  Green  Vt.  1781 

Woodworth,  Tim.  J.   Huntington       Ely  Conn.  Cont     1777 

Served  till  1780.    Pensioned  under  Act  of  1818. 
Woodward,  E.  Sr.  A.  Ward  B.  Cutler  Conn.  1776 

Pensioned  in  1818.    Buried  In  N.  Royalton  Cem. 
Wooley,  Jona.       A.  Scammel  W.   Ellis  N.  H.  1777 


CHAPTER  XI. 


(A  Reprint  of  the  Narrative  of  Zadogk  Steele.) 


THE 


INDIAN  CAPTIVE 


OR  A 


NARRATIVE 


OF   THE 


(Satttiititg  anb  ^v^txvxQfk 


OP 


ZADOGK  STEELE. 


RELATED  BY  HBISELF. 


TO  WHICH  IS  PREnXKD  AN  ACCOUNT 


OF   THE 


BURNING  OF  ROYAXTON. 


Hath  this  been  in  your  days,  or  even  in  the 
days  of  your  fathers?  Tell  ye  your  children  of  It, 
and  let  your  children  tell  their  children,  and  their 
children  another  generation. 

Joel. 

MONTPELIER,  VT. 

PUBLISHED    BY   THE   ALTHOB. 

E.  P.  Walton,  Printeb. 
1818. 


m^'^kd 

W^S 

J&SS'      zS»^  * 

^^1 

r 

?0 

m 

^Ikm^^vS  - ' 

^^^^W^  ^ 

History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  117 

District  of  Vermont,  To  wit : 

(  L.  S. )  Be  it  remembered,  that  on  the  twenty-fifth  day 
of  January,  in  the  forty-second  year  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  Horace  Steele,  of  the  said  District, 
hath  deposited  in  this  office,  the  title  of  a  Book,  the  right  whereof, 
he  claims  as  Proprietor,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

**The  Indian  Captive;  or  a  narrative  of  the  captivity  and 
sufferings  of  Zadock  Steele.  Related  by  himself.  To  which  is 
prefixed,  an  account  of  the  burning  of  Royalton.  Hath  this  been 
in  your  days,  or  even  in  the  days  of  your  fathers  ?  Tell  ye  your 
children  of  it,  and  let  your  children  tell  their  children,  and  their 
children,  another  generation. — Joel." 

In  conformity  to  the  act  of  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
entitled,  **An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing 
the  copies  of  Maps,  Charts,  and  Books  to  the  authors  and  pro- 
prietors of  such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned." 

Jesse  (Jove    >Clerk  of  the  District  of  Vermont. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

The  Author  of  this  work  neither  seeks,  nor  expects  praise. 
To  preserve  in  memory  the  sufferings  of  our  fathers,  is  the  prin- 
cipal object  of  its  publication.  As  no  particular  account  of  the 
burning  of  Royalton,  had  ever  before  been  published,  it  was 
thought  advisable  that  it  should  be  prefixed  to  the  ** Narrative," 
which  was  about  to  be  printed. 

The  great  confusion  which  prevailed  on  that  dreadful  day; 
the  long  lapse  of  time  since  the  event;  the  disadvantages  result- 
ing from  the  frailty  of  human  recollection,  and  the  writer's  inex- 
perience, is  the  only  apology  he  offers  for  the  imperfections  of 
the  work. 

For  the  information  respecting  this  tragical  scene,  he  is  in- 
debted to  the  goodness  of  General  Stevens,  Colonel  Edson,  and 
others,  who  were  eye-witnesses. 


118  HiST<»T  OP  Roy  ALTON,  Yebmont 

BURNING   OF   BOYALTON. 

As  an  unioD  of  interest  always  strengthens  the  bonds  of  affec- 
tion; so  a  participation  in  extreme  suffering  will  never  fail  to 
produce  a  mutual  sensibility.  Prompted  by  a  generous  glow  of 
filial  love  and  affection,  we  generally  take  delight  in  surveying 
whatever  gave  our  forefathers  joy ;  and  are  ready  to  drop  a  sym- 
pathetic tear,  when  we  review  the  sufferings  which  they  have 
undergone.  But,  contrary  to  the  laws  of  sympathy,  and  justice^ 
the  attention  of  the  public  is  often  engrossed  with  accounts  of 
the  more  dreadful  conflagrations  of  populous  cities  in  foreign 
countries,  or  the  defeat  of  armies  in  the  field  of  carnage;  while 
the  destruction  of  small  frontier  settlements,  by  the  Indian  tribes, 
in  our  own  country,  is,  at  the  same  time,  little  known,  if  not 
entirely  forgotten.  Thus,  the  miseries  of  our  neighbors  and 
friends  around  us,  whose  bitter  cries  have  been  heard  in  our 
streets,  are  too  often  suffered  to  pass  unnoticed  down  the  current 
of  time  into  the  tomb  of  oblivion. 

The  burning  of  Boyalton  was  an  event  most  inauspicious  and 
distressing  to  the  first  settlers  of  that  town.  Nor  is  it  a  little 
strange,  that,  among  the  numerous  authors,  who  have  recorded 
the  events  of  the  American  revolution,  some  of  them  have  not 
given  place  in  their  works  to  a  more  full  detail  of  that  afflictive 
scene. 

Laboring  under  all  the  difficulties  and  hardships  to  which 
our  infant  settlements  were  generally  subject;  and  striving  by 
persevering  industry  to  soar  above  every  obstacle,  which  might 
present  itself  to  obstruct  their  progress;  they  had  filled  their 
bams  with  the  fruits  of  the  land ;  their  store-houses  were  crowded 
with  the  comforts  of  life,  and  all  nature  seemed  to  wear  a  propi- 
tious smile.  All  around  them  promised  prosperity.  They  were 
far  removed  from  the  noise  of  war,  and,  though  conscious  of  their 
danger,  fondly  hoped  they  should  escape  the  ravages  of  a  savage 
foe. 

Royalton  was  chartered  in  the  year  1779.  A  considerable 
settlement,  however,  had  taken  place  previous  to  that  time;  and 
the  town  was  in  a  thriving  condition.  Large  stocks  of  cattle, 
which  would  confer  honor  upon  the  enterprise  of  farmers  in  old 
countries,  were  here  seen  grazing  in  their  fields. 

United  by  common  interest;  living  on  terms  of  friendship, 
and  manifesting  that  each  one  in  a  good  degree  '4oved  his  neigh- 
bor as  himself,"  harmony  prevailed  in  their  borders;  social  hap- 
piness was  spread  around  their  firesides;  and  plenty  crown^ 
their  labors.  But,  alas!  the  dreadful  reverse  remains  to  be  told! 
While  joys  possessed,  were  turned  to  sorrows,  their  hopes  for  joys 
to  come,  were  blasted.    And  as  the  former  strongly  marked  the 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  119 

grievous  contrast  between  a  state  of  prosperity  and  aflSietion; 
the  latter^  only  showed  the  fallacy  of  promising  ourselves  the 
future.  "— **  —^^ 

'  On  the  morning  of  the  16th  of  October,  A.  D.  1780— before 
the  dawn  of  day,  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  were  surprised  by 
the  approach  of  about  three  hundred  Indians,  of  various  tribes. 
They  were  led  by  the  Caghnewaga  tribe,  and  had  left  Canada, 
intending  to  destroy  Newbury,  a  town  in  the  eastern  part  of  Ver- 
mont, on  Connecticut  Eiver.  A  British  Lieutenant  by  the  name 
of  Horton,  was  their  chief  commander,  and  one  LeMott,  a  French- 
man, was  his  second.  Their  pilot  or  leader,  was  a  despicable 
villain,  by  the  name  of  Hamilton,  who  had  been  made  prisoner, 
by  the  Americans  at  the  taking  of  Burgoyn,  in  1777.  He  had 
been  at  Newbury  and  Royalton  the  preceding  summer,  on  parole 
of  honor,  left  the  latter  place  with  several  others  under  pretence 
of  going  to  survey  lands  in  the  northern  part  of  this  State,  and 
went  directly  to  the  enemy.  He  was  doubtless  the  first  instigator 
of  those  awful  depredations  which  were  the  bitter  fruits  of  this 
expedition,  and  ought  to  stamp  his  name  with  infamy  and  dis- 
grace. 

On  their  way  thither,  'tis  said,  they  came  across  several  men 
from  Newbury,  who  were  engaged  in  hunting,  near  the  place 
where  Montpelier  Village  now  stands,  and  made  them  prisoners. 
They  made  known  their  object  to  these  hunters,  and  enquired  of 
them  whether  an  armed  force  was  stationed  at  Newbury.  Know- 
ing the  defenceless  state  of  that  town,  and  hoping  they  should 
be  able  to  induce  the  Indians  to  relinquish  their  object  and  return 
to  Canada,  they  told  them  that  such  an  armed  garrison  was  kept 
at  Newbury,  as  would  render  it  extremely  dangerous  for  them  to 
approach.  Thus  artfully  dissembling  by  ambiguity  of  expres- 
sion, the  true  condition  of  their  fellow  townsmen,  and  like  Rahab 
the  harlot,  saved  their  father's  house  from  destruction. 

Unwilling,  however,  that  their  expedition  should  prove 
wholly  fruitless,  they  turned  their  course  to  Royalton.  No  argu- 
ments which  the  prisoners  could  adduce,  were  sufficient  to  per- 
suade them  from  that  determination. 

Following  up  Onion  River  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  Ste- 
vens' branch,  which  empties  into  the  river  at  Montpelier,  they 
steered  their  course  through  Barre,  at  that  time  called  Wilders- 
burgh;  proceeded  up  Gaol  branch,  which  forms  a  part  of  Stevens' 
branch,  and  travelled  over  the  mountains,  through  Orange  and 
Washington;  thence  down  the  first  branch  of  White  River, 
through  Chelsea  and  Tunbridge  to  Royalton.  They  laid  there  in 
encampment  at  Tunbridge,  not  far  distant  from  Royalton,  dur- 
ing the  Sabbath,  the  day  preceding  their  attack  upon  the  latter 
place,  for  the  purpose  of  concerting  measures,  to  carry  into  effect 


120  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

their  atrocious  and  malignant  designs.  Here  were  matured  those 
diabolical  seeds  of  depi^edation  and  cruelty,  from  which  sprang 
bitterness,  sorrow,  and  death ! 

As  they  entered  the  town  before  daylight  appeared,  darkness 
covered  their  approach,  and  they  were  not  discovered  till  Monday 
morning,  at  dawn  of  day,  when  they  entered  the  house  of  Mr. 
John  Hutchinson,  who  resided  not  far  from  the  line,  separating 
Royalton  from  Tunbridge.  He  was  totally  ignorant  of  their  ap- 
proach, and  wholly  unsuspicious  of  danger,  till  they  burst  the 
door  upon  him. 

Here  they  took  Mr.  John  Hutchinson,  and  Abijah  Hutchin- 
son his  brother,  prisoners,  and  plundered  the  house;  crossed  the 
first  branch,  and  went  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Robert  Havens,  who 
lived  at  a  small  distance  from  Mr.  Hutchinson's.  Mr.  Havens 
had  gone  out  into  his  pasture  in  pursuit  of  his  sheep ;  and  having 
ascended  a  hill  about  forty  rods  firom  his  house,  hearing  his  neigh- 
bor Hutchinson's  dog  bark,  halted,  and  stood  in  pensive  silence. 
Here  he  listened  with  deep  anxiety  to  know  the  extent  of  the  evil 
he  feared.  But  alas !  he  little  expected  to  find  a  herd  of  savage 
men.  It  was  his  only  fear  that  some  voracious  animal  was  among 
his  sheep,  which  so  disturbed  the  watchful  dog.  While  he  lis- 
tened in  silence,  with  his  thoughts  suspended,  he  heard  a  noise, 
as  of  sheep  or  cattle  running,  with  full  speed,  through  the  water. 
Casting  his  eye  to  the  west,  towards  his  own  dwelling,  he  beheld 
a  company  of  Indians,  just  entering  the  door!  Seeing  his 
own  danger,  he  immediately  laid  down  under  a  log,  and  hid  him- 
self from  their  sight.  But  he  could  not  hide  sorrow  from  his 
mind.  Here  he  wept !  Tears  trickling  down  his  withered  cheeks, 
bespoke  the  anguish  of  his  soul,  while  he  thought  upon  the  dis- 
tress of  his  family.  With  groanings  unutterable  he  lay  awhile ; 
heard  the  piercing  shrieks  of  his  beloved  wife,  and  saw  his  sons 
escaping  for  their  lives. 

Bath'd  in  tears  the  hoary  sage 

In  sorrow  lay  conceal'd;   while  death 

In  frightful  form,  stood  thick  around  him. 

With  bow-bent  readiness,  and  arrows  dip'd 

In  venom,  promiscuous  flying. 

Vigilance  with  his  years  had  fled, 

And  hope  was  almost  out  of  sight; 

Safety  quite  gone,  and  far  beyond  his  reach. 

Laden  with  the  weight  of  years,  decriped  and  infirm,  he 
was  sensible  if  he  appeared  in  sight,  it  would  prove  his  death. 
He  therefore  resolved  not  to  move  until  a  favorable  opportunity- 
presented.  His  son,  Daniel  Havens,  and  Thomas  Pember,  were 
in  the  house,  and  made  their  appearance  at  the  door,  a  little 
before  the  Indians  came  up.  Beholding  the  foe  but  few  rods 
distant,  they  run  for  their  lives.     Daniel  Havens  made  his  escape 


s 

10 

l^^^^^l 

y 

Hr4    ^1 

k^^^H 

u 

History  of  Royalton,  Vermont  121 

by  throwing  himself  over  a  hedge  fence,  down  the  bank  of  the 
branch,  and  crawling  under  a  log ;  although  a  large  number  of  the 
Indians  passed  directly  over  it,  in  pursuit  of  him.  Who  can  tell 
the  fears  that  agitated  his  bosom,  while  these  savage  pursuers 
stepped  upon  the  log  under  which  he  lay !  And  who  can  tell  the 
joys  he  felt,  when  he  saw  them  pass  off,  leaving  him  in  safety! 
A  quick  transition  from  painful  fear,  and  iminent  danger,  to 
joyful  peace  and  calm  retirement. 

They  pursued  Thomas  Pember,  till  they  came  so  near  as  to 
throw  a  spear  at  him,  which  pierced  his  body,  and  put  an  end 
to  his  existence.  He  run  some  time,  however,  after  he  was 
wounded,  till  by  loss  of  blood,  he  fainted,  fell,  and  was  unable 
to  proceed  farther.  The  savage  monsters  came  up,  several  times 
thrust  a  spear  through  his  body,  took  off  his  scalp,  and  left  him, 
food  for  worms!  While  they  were  tearing  his  scalp  from  his 
head,  how  did  his  dying  groans  pierce  the  skies  and  call  on  Him, 
who  holds  the  scales  of  justice,  to  mark  their  cruelty,  and  avenge 
his  blood! 

He  had  spent  the  night  previous,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Ha- 
vens, engaged  in  amorous  conversation  with  a  daughter  of  Mr. 
Havens,  who  was  his  choice  companion,  the  intended  partner  of 
his  life. 


«i 


-What  Jealous  cares 


Hang  on  his  parting  soul  to  think  his  love 
Bxpos'd  to  wild  oppression  and  a  herd 
Of  savage  men:"  while  himself  lay 
With  his  eyes  uplifted,  fainting,  doom'd 
To  wait,  and  feel  the  fatal  blow. 

By  imagination  we  view  the  fair  survivor,  surrounded  by 
the  savage  tribe,  whose  frightful  aspect  threatened  ruin;  her 
soul  overwhelmed  with  fear,  and  stung  with  grief,  bereft  of  her 
dearest  friend.  Hear  her  exclaiming,  with  sorrowful  accents,  in 
the  language  of  the  Poet: 

"You  sacred  mourners  of  a  nobler  mould, 
Bom  for  a  friend  whose  dear  embraces  hold 
Beyond  all  nature's  ties;  you  that  have  known 
Two  happy  souls  made  intimately  one, 
And  felt  the  parting  stroke;  'tis  you  must  feel 
The  smart,  the  twinges,  and  the  racks,  I  feel; 
This  soul  of  mine,  that  dreadful  wound  has  borne  ] 
0£P  from  its  side  its  dearest  half  is  torn,  I 

The  rest  lies  bleeding,  and  but  lives  to  mourn."     J 

They  made  the  house  of  Mr.  Havens  their  rallying  point,  or 
post  of  observation,  and  stationed  a  part  of  their  company  there 
to  guard  their  baggage,  and  make  preparations  for  retreat,  when 
they  had  completed  their  work  of  destruction.  Like  the  mes- 
senger of  death,  silent  and  merciless,  they  were  scarcely  seen  till 
felt.     Or  if  seen,  filled  the  mind  with  terror,  nor  often  afforded 


124  HisroBT  OF  RoTALTON,  Vebmont 

to  make  their  escape.  Frightened  at  the  horrible  api>earance  of 
their  riders,  who  were  in  no  way  qualified  to  manage  them,  the 
horses  served  rather  to  impede  than  hasten  their  pngrem. 

Instigated  by  "the  powers  of  darkness;"  fired  with  rage; 
eager  to  obtain  that  booty  which  they  acquired  by  the  pillage 
of  houses ;  and  fearful  at  the  same  time,  that  they  should  them- 
selves fall  a  prey  to  the  American  forces,  th^  pursued  their 
ravages  with  infuriated  zeal,  and  violence  and  horror  attended 
their  movement. 

"Uproar,  revenge,  and  rage,  and  bate  appear 
In  all  their  marderoos  forms;  and  flame  and  blood. 
And  sweat,  and  dost  array  the  broad  campaign 
In  horror;  hasty  feet,  and  sparkling  eyes. 
And  all  the  savage  passions  of  the  soul. 
Engage  in  the  warm  business  of  the  day." 

Gen.  Elias  Stevens,  who  resided  in  the  first  house  on  the 
river  above  the  mouth  of  the  branch,  had  gone  down  the  river 
about  two  miles,  and  was  engaged  at  work  with  his  oxen  and 
cart.  While  busily  employed  in  loading  his  cart,  casting  Us  eye 
up  the  river,  he  beheld  a  man  approaching,  bare-headed,  with 
his  horse  upon  the  run;  who,  seeing  Gren.  Stevens,  cried  out  ''for 
(Jod's  sake,  turn  out  your  oxen,  for  the  Indians  are  at  the  milL" 
Gren.  Stevens  hastened  to  unyoke  his  oxen,  turned  them  out,  and 
immediately  mounted  his  horse,  and  started  to  return  to  his 
family,  filled  with  fearful  apprehensions  for  the  fate  of  his  be- 
loved wife,  and  tender  offspring !  He  had  left  them  in  apparent 
safety,  reposing  in  the  arms  of  sleep.  Having  proceeded  on  his 
return,  about  half  way  home,  he  met  Capt.  Joseph  Parkhurst. 
who  informed  him  that  the  Indians  were  but  a  few  rods  distant. 
in  swift  pursuit  down  the  river,  and  that  unless  he  returned 
immediately  he  would  inevitably  fall  into  their  hands. 

Apprized  of  his  danger,  he  turned,  and  accompanied  the 
Captain  down  the  river.  Conjugal  and  paternal  affection  alone 
can  suggest  to  the  imagination  of  the  reader,  what  were  the  feel- 
ings of  Gen.  Stevens,  when  compelled  for  his  own  safety,  to  leave 
the  wife  of  his  bosom,  and  their  little  ones,  to  the  mercy  of  a 
savage  foe!  What  pains  did  he  feel  when  he  found  himself 
deprived  of  all  possible  means  to  afford  them  relief!  Xor  could 
he  expect  a  more  favorable  event,  than  to  find  them  all  sacrificed 
at  the  shrine  of  savage  barbarity!  Who.  not  totally  devoid  of 
sympathy,  can  refrain  to  drop  a  tear,  as  he  reflects  upon  those 
painful  emotions,  which  agitated  the  (Jenerars  breast,  when  he 
was  forced  to  turn  his  back  upon  his  beloved  family,  while  thus 
exposed  to  danger !  Indeed,  it  was  his  only  source  of  consolation, 
that  he  might  be  able  to  afford  assistance  to  his  defenceless  neigh- 
bors.    And  as  they  soon  came  to  the  house  of  Deacon  Daniel 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  126 

Rix,  he  there  found  opportunity  to  lend  the  hand  of  pity.  Gen. 
Stevens  took  Mrs.  Rix  and  two  or  three  children  with  him  upon 
his  horse;  Capt.  Parkhurst  took  Mrs.  Benton,  and  severaj  chil- 
dren upon  his  horse  with  him,  and  they  all  rode  off  as  fast  as 
possible,  accompanied  by  Deacon  Rix  and  several  others  on  foot, 
till  they  arrived  at  the  place  where  the  General  first  received 
the  alarm.  Filled  with  anxiety  for  his  family,  and  not  having 
seen  any  Indians,  Gen.  Stevens,  here  concluded  again  to  return, 
hoping  he  should  be  able  to  reach  home  in  time  to  secure  his 
household  from  danger,  before  the  Indians  arrived.  Leaving 
Mrs.  Rix  and  children  in  the  care  of  a  Mr.  Burroughs,  he  started 
for  home  and  had  proceeded  about  half  a  mile,  when  he  discov- 
ered the  Indians  in  the  road  ahead  of  him,  but  a  few  rods  dis- 
tant. He  quickly  turned  about ;  hastened  his  retreat ;  soon  over- 
took the  company  he  had  left,  and  entreated  them  immediately 
to  leave  the  road  and  take  to  the  woods  to  prevent  being  taken. 
Those  who  were  on  foot  jumped  over  the  fence,  hastened  to  the 
woods,  out  of  sight  of  the  Indians,  where  they  remained  in  safety, 
undiscovered  by  the  savage  foe,  who  kept  the  road  in  pursuit  of 
Gten.  Stevens.  He  passed  down  the  road  about  half  a  mile,  and 
eame  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Tilly  Parkhurst,  his  father  in  law. 
Seeing  his  sister  engaged  in  milking  by  the  bam,  he  ''told  her 
to  leave  her  cow  immediately  or  the  Indians  would  have  her," 
and  left  her  to  secure  her  own  retreat.  They  were  now  in  plain 
sight,  not  more  than  eighty  or  an  hundred  rods  off.  The  road 
was  full  of  them,  running  like  blood-hounds.  The  General  rode 
to  the  house,  told  them  to  run  for  their  lives,  and  proceeded  to 
warn  others  who  lived  contiguous.  By  this  time  the  way  was 
filled  with  men,  women  and  children,  and  a  large  body  of  Indians 
in  open  view,  but  just  behind  them.  The  savage  tribe  now  began 
to  make  the  surrounding  wilderness  re-echo  with  their  frightful 
yells.  Frightened  and  alarmed  for  their  safety,  children  clung 
to  their  parents,  and  half  distracted  mothers,  filled  with  fearful 
apprehensions  of  approaching  destruction,  were  heard  to  make 
the  air  resound  with  their  cries  of  distress!  Gen.  Stevens  en- 
deavored to  get  into  the  woods,  out  of  sight  of  the  Indians.  Fear 
had  usurped  the  power  of  reason,  and  wisdom  *s  voice  was 
drowned  in  the  torrent  of  distraction.  There  was  no  time  for 
argument.  All  was  at  stake.  The  enemy  hard  by,  and  fast  ap- 
proaching. Defenceless  mothers,  with  helpless  infants  in  their 
arms,  fleeing  for  their  lives!  Despair  was  spread  before  them, 
while  the  roaring  flood  of  destruction,  seemed  rolling  behind 
them!  Few  could  be  persuaded  to  go  into  the  woods,  and  most 
of  them  kept  the  road  till  they  arrived  at  the  house  of  Capt.  E. 
Parkhurst,  in  Sharon.  Here  they  halted  a  moment  to  take 
breath,  hoping  they  should  not  be  pursued  any  farther.     The 


i 


126  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

Indians  being  taken  up  in  plundering  the  houses,  had  now  fallen 
considerably  in  the  rear.  But  the  unhappy  victims  of  distress, 
had  not  long  been  here,  when  the  cruel  pursuers  again  appeared 
in  sight. 

Screaming  and  crying  now  witnessed  the  horrors  of  that 
dreadful  scene.  Groans  and  tears  bespoke  the  feelings  of  a  heart 
agitated  with  fear,  and  swollen  with  grief!  There  was  no  time 
to  be  lost.  While  they  waited,  they  waited  for  destruction. 
Children  hanging  to  their  mother's  clothes;  mothers  enquiring 
what  they  should  do,  and  calling  for  assistance;  floods  of  tears, 
and  piercing  shrieks,  all  presented  to  view  a  most  painful  scene. 
Seeing  the  Indians  approaching  with  hedious  yells,  that  thrilled 
the  heart  of  every  one,  Qten.  Stevens  put  his  mother  and  sister 
upon  his  own  horse;  Gapt.  Joseph  Parkhurst  put  Mrs.  Bix  and 
three  of  her  children  upon  another  horse,  without  a  bridle,  and 
ordered  them  to  hasten  their  flight.  There  yet  remained  the  wife 
of  Gapt.  E.  Parkhurst,  who  stood  in  the  most  critical  situation, 
in  which  a  woman  can  be  placed;  begging  and  crying  for  help; 
surrounded  by  six  small  children,  clinging  to  her  clothes,  and 
pleading  with  her  for  protection;  Alas!  how  awful  was  the 
spectacle,  how  affecting  the  scene !  To  see  a  woman  in  this  de- 
plorable condition,  pleading  for  succor,  when  none  can  help; 
when  safety  and  support  had  fled;  and  dangers  rushing  upon 
her!  a  heart  not  devoid  of  sympathy,  could  not  fail  to  weep! 
Gonscious  of  her  wretched  situation;  feeling  for  her  dear  chil- 
dren; being  told  there  was  no  probability  for  her  escape;  gath- 
ering her  little  ones  around  her  she  wept  in  bitterness  of  soul; 
tears  of  pity  ran  down  her  cheeks,  while  she  waited  the  approach 
of  the  savage  tribe  to  inflict  upon  her,  whatever  malice  could 
invent,  or  inhumanity  devise ! 

Her  husband,  to  whom  she  fain  would  have  looked  for  pro- 
tection was  gone  from  home,  when  all  her  woes  fell  upon  her! 
Well  might  she  say,  ** Therefore  are  my  loins  filled  with  pain; 
pangs  have  taken  hold  upon  me,  as  the  pangs  of  a  woman  that 
travaileth,"  **my  heart  panted,  fearfulness  affrighted  me;  the 
night  of  my  pleasure  hath  he  turned  into  fear  unto  me."  While 
Mrs.  Parkhurst  saw  her  friends  and  neighbors  fleeing  from  her; 
and  beheld  the  Indians  approaching  with  impetuous  step;  her 
bosom  throbed  with  anguish ;  horror  seized  her  soul ;  and  death ! 
immediate  death,  both  to  her  and  her  children,  *' stood  thick 
around  her,"  threatening  to  thrust  his  dagger  into  her  aching 
heart.  There  was  no  time  to  decide  on  the  priority  of  claims  to 
pity,  or  the  demands  of  justice.  Those  who  were  nearest  at  hand 
first  received  assistance;  not  however,  without  regard  to  that 
affection  which  arises  from  consanguinity  or  matrimonial  con- 


HlST(»T  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT  127 

nexion.    And  these  relations  not  only  unite  the  hearts,  but  con- 
nect the  hands  in  scenes  of  distress. 

At  the  time  Oen.  Stevens  put  his  mother  and  his  sister  upon 
his  horse,  the  Indians  were  not  eight  rods  from  him.  They, 
in  company  with  Mrs.  Rix  and  her  children,  rode  oflP  as  fast  as 
possible.  The  General  followed  .with  several  others  on  foot.  Part 
of  the  Indians  pursued  them,  while  others  entered  the  house, 
and  plundered  it  of  its  furniture.  They  took  her  eldest  son  from 
her,  then  ordered  her,  with  the  rest  of  the  children,  to  leave  the 
house.  She  accordingly  repaired  into  the  fields  back  of  the  house, 
with  five  of  her  children,  and  remained  in  safety  till  they  had 
left  the  place.  Soon  after  Gen.  Stevens  started,  his  dog  came 
in  his  way,  and  caused  him  to  stumble  and  fall;  which  so  re- 
tarded his  progress  that  he  was  obliged  to  flee  to  the  woods  for 
safety,  leaving  the  women  and  children  to  make  the  best  of  their 
retreat.  The  Indians  pursued  down  the  road  after  them,  with 
frightful  yells,  and  soon  overtook  those  who  were  on  foot.  They 
took  Gardner  Rix,  son  of  Deacon  Rix,  a  boy  about  fourteen  years 
old,  just  at  the  heels  of  his  mother's  horse;  while  she  was  com- 
pelled to  witness  the  painful  sight.  Alas!  what  distress  and 
horror  filled  her  bosom,  when  she,  with  three  of  her  children,  no 
less  dear  than  herself,  fleeing  from  the  savage  foe,  mounted  upon 
a  horse,  snorting  with  fear,  having  nothing  but  a  pocket  handker- 
chief in  his  mouth  for  a  bridle,  saw  her  wearied  son,  faint  for 
want  of  breath,  fall  a  captive  to  this  barbarous  crew!  Cruel 
fate !  The  trembling  youth,  overwhelmed  with  fear,  and  bathed 
in  tears,  was  now  torn  from  his  tender  parents,  and  compelled 
to  roam  the  wilderness  to  unknown  regions!  Nor  was  the  dis- 
consolate mother,  with  her  other  little  ones,  left  in  a  much  more 
safe  condition. 

Exposed,  and  expecting  every  step  to  fall  to  the  ground, 
which,  if  it  proved  not  their  death,  would  leave  them  a  prey  to 
the  savage  monsters!  No  tongue  can  tell  the  pains  she  felt,  nor 
pen  describe  the  horrors  of  her  soul!  To  behold  her  little  son, 
while  fleeing  for  his  life,  fall  into  the  hands  of  these  sons  of 
cruelty,  what  kind  and  tender  mother,  would  not  feel  her  heart 
to  bleed! 

May  we  not  listen  to  the  voice  of  imagination,  and  hear  her 
say: 

"Oh!     infinite  distress!     such  raging  grief 
Should  command  pity,  and  despair   relief, 

Passion,  methinks,  should  rise  from  all  my  groans, 
Give  sense  to  rocks,  and  sympathy  to  stones/' 

The  Indians  pursued  the  women  and  children  as  far  as  the 
house  of  Mr.  Benedict,  the  distance  of  about  a  mile.  They  ef- 
fected their  escape,  though  surrounded  with  dangers,  and  pur- 


128  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

sued  with  impetuous  and  clamorous  steps.  Here  they  discovered 
Mr.  Benedict  on  the  opposite  side  of  a  stream  called  broad-brook, 
which  ran  near  the  house.  They  beckoned  to  have  him  come  over 
to  them.  Choosing,  however,  not  to  hazard  the  consequences  of 
yielding  obedience  to  their  request;  he  turned  and  ran  a  short 
distance  and  hid  himself  under  a  log.  He  had  not  long  been 
in  this  situation,  when  these  blood-thirsty  wretches,  came,  and 
stood  upon  the  same  log,  and  were  heard  by  him  to  exclaim  in 
angry  tone,  ''if  they  could  find  him,  he  should  feel  the  toma- 
hawk." 

After  standing  upon  the  log  some  time,  and  endeavoring 
to  espy  the  concealed,  trembling  object  of  their  pursuit;  they 
left  him  and  returned  to  the  house.  Ah!  what  joy  filled  his 
bosom,  when  he  saw  these  messengers  of  death  pass  away  leaving 
him  in  safety!  How  must  his  heart  have  glowed  with  grati- 
tude towards  the  ** Great  Preserver  of  men,"  at  this  unexpected 
deliverance  from  the  most  iminent  danger. 

His  joys,  however,  were  not  unmingled  with  sorrow,  as  the 
fell  destroyers  were  still  at  his  house,  committing  ravages  and 
wasting  his  property.  But  no  man  can  be  supposed  to  put  his 
property  in  competition  with  his  life. 

The  Indians  pursued  down  the  river  about  forty  rods  far- 
ther, where  they  made  a  young  man,  by  the  name  of  Avery, 
prisoner,  and  then  concluded  to  return. 

While  they  were  at  the  house  of  Tilly  Parkhurst,  aforemen- 
tioned, which  was  about  six  miles  from  the  place  they  entered 
Royalton,  his  son,  Phineas  Parkhurst,  who  had  been  to  alarm 
the  people  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  just  as  he  entered  the 
stream  on  his  return,  discovered  the  Indians  at  his  father's  door. 
Finding  himself  in  danger,  he  immediately  turned  to  go  back, 
and  the  Indians  just  at  this  time  happened  to  see  him,  and  fired 
upon  him.  This  was  the  first  gun  they  fired  after  they  entered 
the  town.  The  ball  entered  his  back,  went  through  his  body, 
came  out  under  his  ribs,  and  lodged  in  the  skin.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  wound,  he  was,  however,  able  to  ride,  and  continued  his 
retreat  to  Lebanon,  in  the  State  of  New-Hampshire,  the  distance 
of  about  sixteen  miles,  with  very  little  stop,  supporting  the  ball 
between  his  fingers.  He  now  resides  in  that  town,  and  sustains 
the  character  of  a  useful  physician,  and  an  industrious,  inde- 
pendent farmer. 

That  party  of  Indians,  which  went  down  on  the  east  side  of 
the  river,  extended  their  ravages  as  far  as  the  house  of  Capt. 
Gilbert  in  Sharon,  where  a  public  house  is  now  kept,  by  Capt. 
Dana.  Here  they  took  a  nephew  of  Capt.  Gilbert,  by  the  name 
of  Nathaniel  Gilbert,  a  boy  about  fifteen  years  of  age.  They 
now  resolved  to  return,  and  commenced  that  waste  of  property. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  129 

which  tracked  their  progress.  As  they  retraced  their  steps,  they 
set  fire  to  all  the  buildings  they  found,  of  every  description. 
They  spread  desolation  and  distress  wherever  they  went.  Houses 
filled  with  furniture,  and  family  supplies  for  the  winter;  barns 
stored  with  the  fruits  of  industry,  and  fields  stocked  with  herds 
of  cattle,  were  all  laid  waste. 

They  shot  and  killed  fourteen  fat  oxen  in  one  yard ;  which, 
in  consequence  of  the  inhabitants  being  dispersed,  were  wholly 
lost.  Cows,  sheep,  and  hogs ;  and  indeed  every  creature  designed 
by  the  Qod  of  nature,  to  supply  the  wants  of  man,  which  came 
within  their  sight,  fell  a  prey  to  these  dreadful  spoilers.  Parents 
torn  from  their  children;  husbands  separated  from  their  wives; 
and  children  snatched  from  their  parents,  presented  to  view  an 
indiscribable  scene  of  wretchedness  and  distress.  Some  were 
driven  from  their  once  peaceful  habitations,  into  the  adjacent 
wilderness  for  safety;  there  to  wait  the  destruction  of  their 
property;  stung  with  the  painful  reflection  that  their  friends, 
perhaps  a  kind  father,  and  an  affectionate  brother,  were  made 
captives,  and  compelled  to  travel  with  a  tawny  herd  of  savage 
men,  into  the  wild  regions  of  the  north ;  to  be  delivered  into  the 
hands  of  enemies,  and  undergo  the  fatigues  and  dangers  of  a 
wretched  captivity :  Or  what  wa$  scarcely  more  to  be  deplored, 
learn  with  pain  that  they  had  fallen  the  unhappy  victims,  to  the 
relentless  fury  of  the  savage  tribe,  and  were  weltering  in  their 
gore,  where  there  was  no  eye  to  pity,  or  friendly  hand  to  admin- 
ister relief! 

The  third  party  of  Indians,  who  went  up  the  river,  first 
came  to  the  house  of  Gen.  Stevens.  Daniel  Havens,  whose  escape 
I  have  mentioned,  went  directly  there,  and  warned  the  family 
of  their  danger.     Trembling  with  fear,  he  only  stepped  into  the 

house,  told  them  that  **the  Indians  were  as  thick  as  the  D 1 

at  their  house,"  and  turned  and  went  directly  out,  leaving  the 
family  to  secure  their  own  retreat. 

Mrs.  Stevens  and  the  family  were  in  bed,  excepting  her  hus- 
band, who,  as  before  stated,  had  gone  down  the  river,  about  two 
miles  from  home.  She  immedately  arose  from  her  bed,  flung 
some  loose  clothes  over  her;  took  up  her  child,  and  had  scarcely 
got  to  the  fire,  when  a  large  body  of  Indians  rushed  in  at  the 
door. 

They  immediately  ransacked  the  house  in  search  of  men ;  and 
then  took  the  beds  and  bedding,  carried  them  out  of  doors,  cut 
open  the  bed-ticks,  and  threw  the  feathers  into  the  air.  This 
made  them  sport  enough.  Nor  did  they  fail  to  manifest  their 
infernal  gratification  by  their  tartarean  shouts,  and  disingenu- 
ous conduct. 

9 


i 


130  HlST(»Y  OP  ROYALTON,  VeBMONT 

Mrs.  Stevens  entreated  them  to  let  her  have  some  clothes 
for  herself  and  child;  but  her  entreaties  were  in  vain.  They 
were  deaf  to  the  calls  of  the  needy ;  and  disregarded  the  demands 
of  justice.  Her  cries  reached  their  ears,  but  nothing  could  excite 
one  single  glow  of  sympathy.  Her  destitute  and  suffering  condi- 
tion was  plain  before  their  eyes,  but  they  were  blind  to  objects 
of  compassion.  Alas!  what  bitterness  of  soul;  what  anguish; 
what  heart  rending  pangs  of  fear,  distressed  her  tender  bosom! 
Surrounded  by  these  pitiless,  terrific  monsters  in  human  shape, 
with  her  little  o&pring  in  her  arms,  whose  piercing  shrieks  and 
tender  age  called  for  compassion ;  exposed  to  the  raging  fire  of 
savage  jealousy,  unquenchable  by  a  mother's  tears;  anxious  for 
the  safety,  and  mourning  the  absence  of  her  bosom  friend,  the 
husband  of  her  youth ;  it  is  beyond  the  powers  of  the  imagination 
to  conceive,  or  language  to  express  the  sorrows  of  her  heart ! 

At  one  moment  securely  reposing  in  the  arms  of  sleep,  with 
her  darling  infant  at  her  breast;  the  next,  amid  a  savage  crew, 
whose  wicked  hands  were  employed  in  spreading  desolation  and 
mischief;  whose  mortal  rage,  exposed  her  to  the  arrows  of  death! 
After  plundering  the  house,  they  told  Mrs.  Stevens,  to  ''begone 
or  they  would  burn."  She  had  been  afraid  to  make  any  attempt 
to  escape;  but  now  gladly  embraced  the  opportunity.  She  has- 
tened into  the  adjacent  wilderness  carrying  her  child,  where  she 
tarried  till  the  Indians  had  left  the  town. 

"Strangers  to  want!     can  ye,  presumptuous  say, 
No  clouds  shall  rise  to  overcast  your  day? 
Time  past  hath  prov'd  how  fleeting  riches  are, 
Time  future  to  this  truth  may  witness  bear; 
By  means  no  human  wisdom  can  foresee. 
Or  power  prevent,  a  sudden  change  may  be; 
War  in  Its  route  may  plunder  all  your  store 
And  leave  you  friendless,  desolate  and  poor." 

Noyes. 

A  boy  by  the  name  of  Daniel  Waller,  about  fourteen  years 
old,  who  lived  with  (Jen.  Stevens,  set  out  immediately  to  go  to 
the  General,  and  give  him  the  information.  He  had  proceeded 
about  half  a  mile,  when  he  met  the  Indians,  was  taken  prisoner, 
and  carried  to  Canada. 

They  left  the  house  and  barn  of  Gen.  Stevens  in  flames,  and 
proceeded  up  the  river  as  far  as  Mr.  Durkee's,  where  they  took 
two  of  his  boys  prisoners,  Adan  and  Andrew,  and  carried  the 
former  to  Canada,  who  died  there  in  prison. 

Seeing  a  smoke  arise  above  the  trees  in  the  woods  adjacent, 
the  hostile  invaders  directed  their  course  to  the  spot,  where  they 
found  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Prince  Haskell,  busily  en- 
gaged in  chopping  for  the  commencement  of  a  settlement.  Has- 
kell heard  a  rustling  among  the  leaves  behind  him,  and  turning 


History  of  Royalton,  Vermont  131 

around  beheld  two  Indians,  but  a  few  feet  from  him.  One  stood 
with  his  gun  pointed  directly  at  him,  and  the  other  in  the  atti* 
tude  of  throwing  a  tomahawk.  Finding  he  had  no  chance  to 
escape,  he  delivered  himself  up  a  prisoner,  and  was  also  carried 
to  Canada.  He  returned  in  about  one  year,  after  enduring  the 
most  extreme  sufferings,  in  his  wanderings  through  the  wilder- 
ness, on  his  way  home. 

A  Mr.  Chafee,  who  lived  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Hendee,  started 
early  in  the  morning  to  go  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Elias  Curtis  to 
get  his  horse  shod.  On  his  way  he  saw  Mr.  John  Kent  ahead 
of  him,  who  was  upon  the  same  business.  Wishing  to  put  in  his 
claim  before  Mr.  Chafee,  he  rode  very  fast,  and  arrived  at  the 
house  first.  He  had  scarcely  dismounted  from  his  horse,  when 
the  Indians  came  out  of  the  house,  took  him  by  the  hair  of  his 
head,  and  pulled  him  over  backwards.  Seeing  this,  Mr.  Chafee 
immediately  dismounted,  jumped  behind  the  shop,  hastened  away, 
keeping  such  a  direction  as  would  cause  the  shop  to  hide  his  re- 
treat. Thus  he  kept  out  of  sight  of  the  Indians,  effected  his 
escape,  and  returned  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Hendee.  On  receiving 
the  alarm  given  by  Mr.  Chafee,  Mr.  Hendee  directed  his  wife  to 
take  her  little  boy  about  seven  years  old,  and  her  little  daughter, 
who  was  still  younger,  and  hasten  to  one  of  their  neighbors  for 
safety,  while  he  should  go  to  Bethel,  the  town  west  of  Royalton, 
and  give  the  alarm  at  the  fort. 

Mrs.  Hendee  had  not  proceeded  far,  when  she  was  met  by 
several  Indians  upon  the  run,  who  took  her  little  boy  from  her. 
Feeling  anxious  for  the  fate  of  her  child,  she  enquired  what  they 
were  going  to  do  with  him.  They  replied  that  they  should  make 
a  soldier  of  him;  and  then  hastened  away,  pulling  him  along  by 
the  hand,  leaving  the  weeping  mother  with  her  little  daughter, 
to  witness  the  scene,  and  hear  the  piercing  shrieks  of  her  darling 
son. 

This  leads  me  to  notice  one  instance  of  female  heroism, 
blended  with  benevolence,  displayed  by  Mrs.  Hendee,  whose  name 
deserves  ever  to  be  held  in  remembrance  by  every  friend  of  hu- 
manity. 

She  was  now  separated  from  her  husband,  and  placed  in  the 
midst  of  a  savage  crew,  who  were  committing  the  most  horrid 
depredations,  and  destroying  every  kind  of  property  that  fell 
within  their  grasp.  Defenceless,  and  exposed  to  the  shafts  of 
envy,  or  the  rage  of  a  company  of  despicable  tories  and  brutal 
savages,  the  afflicted  mother,  robbed  of  her  only  son,  proceeded 
down  the  river,  with  her  tender  little  daughter  hanging  to  her 
clothes,  screaming  with  fear,  pleading  with  her  mother  to  keep 
away  the  Indians! 


132  HiSTOBY  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT 

In  this  condition,  possessing  uncommon  resolution,  and  great 
presence  of  mind,  she  determined  again  to  get  possession  of  her 
son.  As  she  passed  down  the  river,  she  met  several  tories  who 
were  with  the  Indians,  of  whom  she  continued  to  inquire  what 
they  intended  to  do  with  the  children  they  had  taken,  and  re- 
ceived an  answer  that  they  should  kill  them.  Still  determined 
not  to  part  with  her  son,  she  passed  on,  and  soon  discovered  a 
large  body  of  Indians,  stationed  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 
Wishing  to  find  the  commanding  officer,  and  supposing  him  to  be 
there,  she  set  out  to  cross  the  river,  and  just  as  she  arrived  at 
the  bank,  an  old  Indian  stepped  ashore.  He  could  not  talk  Eng- 
lish, but  requested  by  signs  to  know  where  she  was  going.  She 
signified  that  she  was  going  to  cross,  when  he,  supposing  she 
intended  to  deliver  herself  up  to  them  as  a  prisoner,  kindly 
offered  to  carry  her  and  her  child  across  on  his  back;  but  she 
refused  to  be  carried.  He  then  insisted  upon  carrying  her  child, 
to  which  she  consented.  The  little  girl  cried,  and  said,  ''she 
didn't  want  to  ride  the  old  Indian."  She  was  however  per- 
suaded to  rids  the  old  Ifidian,  and  they  all  set  out  to  ford  the 
river. 

Having  proceeded  about  half  way  across,  they  came  to 
deeper  and  swifter  water,  and  the  old  Indian,  patting  the  mother 
upon  the  shoulder,  gave  her  to  understand  that  if  she  would  tarry 
upon  a  rock  near  them,  which  was  not  covered  with  water,  till 
he  had  carried  her  child  over,  he  would  return  and  carry  her  also. 
She  therefore  stopped,  and  sat  upon  the  rock  till  he  had  carried 
her  daughter  and  set  it  upon  the  opposite  shore;  when  he  re- 
turned and  took  her  upon  his  back,  lugged  h^r  over,  and  safely 
landed  her  with  her  child. 

Supported  by  a  consciousness  of  the  justice  of  her  cause, 
braving  every  danger  and  hazarding  the  most  dreadful  conse- 
quences, not  excepting  her  own  life  and  that  of  her  children,  she 
now  sat  out  to  accomplish  her  object. 

She  hastened  to  the  Commanding  Officer,  and  boldly  in- 
quired of  him  what  he  intended  to  do  with  her  child.  He  told 
her  that  it  was  contrary  to  orders  to  injure  women  or  children. 
**Such  boys  as  should  be  taken,  he  said,  would  be  trained  for  sol- 
diers, and  would  not  be  hurt.'* 

You  know  said  she,  in  reply,  that  these  little  ones  cannot 
endure  the  fatigues  of  a  march  through  the  vast  extent  of  wilder- 
ness, which  you  are  calculating  to  pass.  And  when  their  trem- 
bling limbs  shall  fail  to  support  their  feeble  bodies,  and  they  can 
no  longer  go,  the  tomahawk  and  the  scalping  knife  will  be  the 
only  relief  you  will  afford  them!  Instead  of  falling  into  a 
mother's  arms,  and  receiving  a  mother's  tender  care,  you  will 


i 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  133 

yield  them  into  the  arms  of  death,  and  earth  must  be  their  pil- 
low, where  the  howling  wilderness  shall  be  their  only  shelter — 
truly  a  shelter,  from  a  mother's  tears,  but  not  from  the  jaws  of 
wild  beasts,  nor  a  parent's  grief.  And  give  me  leave  to  tell  you, 
added  she,  were  you  possessed  of  a  parent's  love — could  you  feel 
the  anguish  of  a  mother's  heart,  at  the  loss  of  her  ''first  bom," 
her  darling  son,  torn  from  her  bosom,  by  the  wicked  hands  of 
savage  men,  no  entreaties  would  be  required  to  obtain  the  release 
of  my  dear  child ! 

Horton  replied  that  the  Indians  were  an  ungovernable  race, 
and  would  not  be  persuaded  to  give  up  anything  they  should  see 
fit  to  take. 

You  are  their  commander,  continued  she,  and  they  must 
and  will  obey  you.  The  curse  will  fall  upon  you,  for  whatever 
crime  they  may  commit,  and  all  the  innocent  blood  they  shall 
here  shed,  will  be  found  in  your  skirts  **when  the  secrets  of 
men's  hearts  shall  be  made  known;"  and  it  will  then  cry  for 
vengeance  on  your  head ! 

Melted  into  tears  at  this  generous  display  of  maternal  af- 
fection, the  infamous  destroyer  felt  a  relenting  in  his  bosom, 
bowed  his  head  under  the  weight  of  this  powerful  eloquence  and 
simple  boldness  of  the  brave  heroine:  and  assured  her  that  he 
would  deliver  her  child  up,  when  the  Indians  arrived  with  him. 
The  party  who  took  him  had  not  yet  returned.  When  he  arrived, 
Horton,  with  much  diflSculty,  prevailed  on  the  Indians  to  de- 
liver him  up.  After  she  had  gained  possession  of  him,  she  set 
out,  leading  him  and  her  little  girl,  by  the  hand,  and  hastened 
away  with  speed,  while  the  mingled  sensations  of  fear,  joy  and 
gratitude,  filled  her  bosom.  She  had  not  gone  more  than  ten 
rods,  when  Horton  followed,  and  told  her  to  go  back,  and  stay 
till  the  scouting  parties  had  returned,  lest  they  should  again  take 
her  boy  from  her.  She  accordingly  returned  and  tarried  with 
the  Indians  till  they  all  arrived  and  started  for  Canada.  While 
she  was  there,  several  of  her  neighbor's  children,  about  the  same 
age  of  her  own,  were  brought  there  as  captives.  Possessing 
benevolence  equal  to  her  courage,  she  now  made  suit  for  them, 
and,  by  her  warm  and  affectionate  entreaties,  succeeded  in  pro- 
curing their  release.  While  she  waited  for  their  departure,  sit- 
ting upon  a  pile  of  boards,  with  the  little  objects  of  charity 
around  her,  holding  fast  to  her  clothes,  with  their  cheeks  wet 
with  tears,  an  old  Indian  came  and  took  her  son  by  the  hand 
and  endeavored  to  get  him  away.  She  refused  to  let  him  go, 
and  held  him  fast  by  the  other  hand,  till  the  savage  monster,  vio- 
lently waved  his  cutlass  over  her  head,  and  the  piercing  shrieks 
of  her  beloved  child  filled  the  air.  This  excited  the  rage  of  the 
barbarous  crew,  so  much  as  to  endanger  her  own,  and  the  life  of 


134  HiSTOBT  OF  ROTALTON,  VeBMONT 

the  children  around  her,  and  compelled  her  to  yield  him  into 
his  hands.  She  again  made  known  her  grievance  to  Horton, 
when,  after  considerable  altercation  with  the  Indians,  he  obtained 
her  son  and  delivered  him  to  her  a  second  time ;  though  he  might 
be  said  to  ''fear  not  Gk)d,  nor  regard  man."  Thus,  like  the 
importunate  widow  who  ** troubled  the  unjust  judge,"  tiiis  young 
woman  obtained  the  release  of  nine  small  boys  from  a  wretched 
captivity,  which  doubtless  would  have  proved  their  death!  She 
led  eight  of  them  away,  together  with  her  daughter,  all  lnni£riwg 
to  her  own  clothes,  and  to  each  other,  mutually  rejoicing  at  their 
deliverance.  The  other,  whose  name  was  Andrew  Durkee,  whom 
the  Indians  had  carried  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Havens,  was  there 
released  according  to  the  agreement  of  Horton  with  Mrs.  Hen- 
dee,  and  sent  back,  on  account  of  his  lameness. 

Being  told  that  the  great  bone  in  his  leg  had  been  taken 
out,  in  consequence  of  a  fever  sore,  an  old  Indian  examined  it, 
and  cried  out  ''no  boon!  No  go!"  and  giving  him  a  blanket 
and  a  hatchet,  sent  him  back. 

Mrs.  Hendee  carried  two  of  the  children  across  the  river 
on  her  back,  one  at  a  time,  and  the  others  waded  through  the 
water,  with  their  arms  around  each  other's  neck.  After  crosB- 
ing  the  river,  she  traveled  about  three  miles  with  them,  and 
encamped  for  the  night,  ''gathering  them  around  her  as  a  hen 
gathereth  her  chickens  under  her  wings."  The  names  of  the 
children  who  were  indebted  to  her  for  their  release  from  the 
savage  tribe,  were  Michael  Hendee,  Roswell  Parkhurst,  son  of 
Capt.  Ebenezer  Parkhurst,  Andrew  and  Sheldon  Durkee,  Joseph 
Rix,  Rufus  and Pish,  Nathaniel  Evans,  and  Daniel  Dow- 
ner. The  latter  received  such  an  affright  from  the  horrid  crew, 
that  he  was  ever  afterwards  unable  to  take  care  of  himself, 
wholly  unfit  for  business:  and  lived  for  many  years,  wandering 
from  place  to  place,  a  solemn,  tho'  silent  witness  of  the  distress 
and  horror  of  that  dreadful  scene. 

Mrs.  Hendee,  now  (1818)  lives  in  Sharon,  where  the  author 
visited  her,  and  received  the  foregoing  statement  of  this  noble 
exploit  from  her  own  mouth.  It  is  also  corroborated  by  several 
gentlemen  now  living,  who  were  eye  witnesses. 

She  has  buried  her  first,  and  second  husband ;  and  now  lives 
a  widow,  by  the  name  of  ^loshier.  Her  days  are  almost  gone. 
May  her  declining  years  be  crowned  with  the  reward  due  to  her 
youthful  deeds  of  benevolence.  She  has  faced  the  most  awfol 
dangers,  for  the  good  of  mankind,  and  rescued  many  from  the 
jaws  of  death! 

In  view  of  the  exceeding  riches  of  that  mercy  which  has 
protected  her  through  such  scenes  of  danger,  may  she  devote 
her  life  to  the  service  of  the  Mighty  Gk)d,  and,  at  last,  find  a 


i 


HlSTOBT  OF  ROYALTON,  VERMONT  135 

happy  seat  at  the  right  hand  of  Him,  '*who  gave  himself  a  ran- 
som for  all."  And  thus  let  the  children,  who  are  indebted  to 
her  bravery  and  benevolence,  for  their  lives,  **rise  up  and  call 
her  blessed."  Gratitude  forbids  their  silence.  For,  to  maternal 
affection  and  female  heroism  alone,  under  God,  they  owe  their 
deliverance  from  savage  cruelty.  The  boldest  hero  of  the  other 
sex,  could  never  have  effected  what  she  accomplished.  His  ap- 
proach to  the  savage  tribe  to  intercede  in  behalf  of  those  de- 
fenceless children,  most  surely  would  have  brought  upon  himself 
a  long  and  wretched  captivity,  and  perhaps  even  death  itself ! 

The  Indians  having  accomplished  their  nefarious  designs, 
returned  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Havens,  with  their  prisoners,  and 
the  plunder  of  houses  which  they  had  devoted  to  destruction. 
Here  was  the  place  where  they  had  commenced  their  ravages. 
The  old  man,  as  before  observed,  having  concealed  himself  under 
a  log,  at  the  time  he  espied  the  Indians  in  the  morning,  while 
hunting  for  his  sheep,  still  remained  in  sorrowful  silence  undis- 
covered. He  had  considered  it  unsafe  to  move,  as  a  party  of 
the  crew  had  continued  there  during  the  day,  and  had  twice  come 
and  stood  upon  the  log,  under  which  he  lay,  without  finding  him. 

After  collecing  their  plunder  together,  and  distributing  it 
among  them,  they  burnt  the  house  and  bam  of  Mr.  Havens,  and 
started  for  Canada.  It  was  now  about  two  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon. They  carried  off  twenty-six  prisoners  from  Royalton,  who 
were  all  delivered  up  to  the  British,  as  prisoners  of  war. 

They  all  obtained  their  release  and  returned  in  about  one 
year,  excepting  Adan  Durkee,  who  died  in  camp  at  Montreal. 

Twenty  one  dwelling  houses,  and  sixteen  good  new  barns, 
filled  with  hay  and  grain,  the  hard  earnings  of  industrious  young 
farmers,  were  here  laid  in  ashes,  by  the  impious  crew.  They 
killed  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  head  of  neat  cattle,  and  all 
the  sheep  and  swine  they  found.  Hogs,  in  their  pens,  and  cattle 
tied  in  their  stalls,  were  burnt  alive.  They  destroyed  all  the 
household  furniture,  except  what  they  carried  with  them.  They 
burnt  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Hutchinson,  and  giving  his  wife  a 
hatchet,  and  a  flint,  together  with  a  quarter  of  mutton,  told  her 
"to  go  and  cook  for  her  men."  This,  they  said  to  aggravate 
her  feelings,  and  remind  her  of  her  forlorn  condition. 

Women  and  children  were  left  entirely  destitute  of  food, 
and  every  kind  of  article  necessary  for  the  comforts  of  life; 
almost  naked,  and  without  a  shelter.  Wandering  from  place  to 
place,  they  beheld  their  cattle  rolling  in  their  blood,  groaning  in 
the  agonies  of  death;  and  saw  their  houses  laid  in  ruins.  Dis- 
consolate mothers  and  weeping  orphans,  were  left  to  wander 
through  the  dreadful  waste,  and  lament  the  loss  of  their  nearest 
friends,  comfortless  and  forlorn. 


136  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

The  Indians  took  away  about  thirty  horses,  which  were  how- 
ever of  little  use  to  them,  but  rather  served  to  hinder  their  prep- 
ress. Their  baggage  was  composed  of  almost  every  article  com- 
monly found  among  farmers;  such  as  axes,  and  hoes,  pots,  ket- 
tles, shovels  and  tongs,  sickles,  scythes,  and  chains;  old  side 
saddles,  and  bed-ticks  emptied  of  their  feathers,  warming  pans, 
plates  and  looking-glasses,  and  indeed  nearly  all  kinds  of  arti- 
cles, necessary  for  the  various  avocations  of  life. 

On  their  return,  they  crossed  the  hills,  in  Tunbridge,  lying 
west  of  first  branch,  and  proceeded  to  Randolph,  where  they 
encamped  for  the  first  night,  near  the  second  branch,  a  distance 
of  about  ten  miles.  They  had,  however,  previously  dispatched 
old  Mr.  Kneeland,  a  prisoner  whom  they  considered  would  be  of 
the  least  service  to  them,  with  letters  to  the  militia,  stating  that, 
**if  they  were  not  followed,  the  prisoners  should  be  used  well — 
but  should  they  be  pursued,  every  one  of  them  would  be  put  to 
death. ' ' 

The  alarm  had  by  this  time  spread  thro'  the  adjacent  towns, 
and  the  scattering,  undisciplined  militia,  shouldered  their  mus- 
kets, and  hastened  to  pursue  them.  They  collected  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Evans  in  Randolph,  about  two  miles  south  of  the  encamp- 
ment of  the  Indians.  Here  they  formed  a  company,  consisting 
of  about  three  hundred  in  number,  and  made  choice  of  Col.  John 
House,  of  Hanover,  N.  H.,  for  their  commander.  They  supposed 
the  Indians  had  gone  to  Brookfield,  about  ten  miles  from  that 
place,  up  the  second  branch.  With  this  expectation  they  took 
up  their  march  about  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  hoping  they  should 
be  able  to  reach  Brookfield,  before  light,  and  make  them  prison- 
ers. They  had  scarcely  started,  when  the  American  front  guard, 
to  their  utter  surprise,  were  fired  upon  by  the  rear  guard  of  the 
enemy.     Several  fires  were  exchanged,  and  one  of  the  Americans 

wounded,  when  Col.  H ,  through  cowardice,  or  want  of  skill, 

commanded  them  to  halt,  and  cease  firing.  He  then  ordered 
them  to  make  stand,  and  kept  them  in  suspense  till  the  Indians 
had  made  their  escape.  To  hasten  their  flight,  the  savage  tribe 
were  compelled  to  leave  at  their  encampment  a  considerable 
quantity  of  their  plunder;  nearly  all  of  the  horses,  and  made 
good  their  retreat. 

Here  they  killed  two  of  their  prisoners,  by  the  name  of 
Joseph  Kneeland,  and  Giles  Gibbs.  The  former  was  found  dead, 
with  his  scalp  taken  oflf,  and  the  latter  with  a  tomahawk  in  his 
head. 

At  day  light.  Col.  H courageously  entered  the  deserted 

camp,  and  took  possession  of  the  spoil,  but  alas,  the  enemy  were 
gone,  he  knew  not  where !  Urged  by  his  brave  soldiers,  who  were 
disgusted  at  his  conduct,  he  proceeded  up  the  second  branch  as 


J 


History  of  Royalton,  Vermont  137 

far  as  Brookfield  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  not  finding  them, 
disbanded  his  men  and  returned. 

Had  Col.  H possessed  courage  and  skill  adequate  to  the 

duties  of  his  station,  he  might  have  defeated  the  enemy,  it  is 
thought,  without  the  least  difficulty,  and  made  them  all  pris- 
oners. His  number  was  equal  to  that  of  the  enemy,  well  armed 
with  muskets  and  furnished  with  ammunition.  The  enemy, 
though  furnished  with  muskets,  had  little  ammunition,  and  were 
cumbered  with  the  weight  of  much  guilt,  and  a  load  of  plunder. 
They  had  encamped  upon  a  spot  of  ground  which  gave  the 
Americans  all  the  advantage,  and  their  only  safety  rested  in  their 
flight.  The  American  force  consisted  of  undisciplined  militia, 
who  promiscuously  assembled  from  different  quarters,  but  were 
full  of  courage,  animated  by  the  principles  of  justice,  and  de- 
termined to  obtain  redress  for  the  injuries  they  had  received 
from  the  barbarous  crew. 

Many  of  them  likewise  had  friends  and  connexions,  then  in 
possession  of  the  Indians,  to  obtain  whose  freedom,  they  were 
stimulated  to  action.  But  alas !  their  determination  failed,  their 
hopes  were  blasted!  They  were  forced  to  relinquish  their  ob- 
ject, and  suffer  their  friends  to  pass  on,  and  endure  a  wretched 

captivity. They  however  forced  the  Indians  to  leave  the 

stream,  and  take  their  course  over  the  hills,  between  the  second 
and  third  branch,  which  brought  them  directly,  and  unexpect- 
edly, to  the  house  of  Zadock  Steele,  whom  they  made  prisoner, 
and  took  to  Canada. 

To  his  ** captivity  and  sufferings,''  as  related  by  himself,  in 
the  following  pages,  the  reader  is  referred  for  a  further  account 
of  the  expedition  of  the  Indians,  and  its  dreadful  consequences. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


The  Burning  of  Koyalton. 

WITH  NEW  PACTS  AND  TRADITIONS. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  New  Hampshire  Grants  were  in  con- 
stant danger  of  invasion  by  the  British  with  their  blood-thirsty 
redskins.  As  has  been  said,  the  frontier  was  kept  quite  con- 
stantly guarded,  but  this  guard  was  not  sufSeiently  large  to  pre- 
vent incursions  of  small  bodies  of  the  enemy,  who,  favored  by 
the  dense  forests,  and  entirely  familiar  with  their  ground,  slipped 
in  from  Canada,  took  the  settlers  unawares,  accomplished  their 
purpose  of  capture  or  destruction,  and  fled  back  to  their  covert 
in  Canada,  generally  without  loss  to  themselves.  They  avoided 
places  where  fortifications  were  built,  unless  they  knew  that  no 
force  was  in  possession. 

The  raid  on  Barnard,  August  9, 1780,  had  added  new  anxiety 
to  the  already  agitated  minds  of  the  settlers  in  Boyalton  and 
vicinity,  but  the  building  of  forts  at  Barnard  and  Bethel  seemed 
to  oflFer  protection.  The  fort  at  Boyalton,  which  now,  since  the 
s<ittlement  of  Bethel,  was  no  longer  on  the  extreme  frontier,  had 
probably  been  removed  to  furnish  material  for  Port  Fortitude. 
For  some  reason  the  inhabitants  were  looking  for  the  approach 
of  the  enemy  from  that  direction,  though  now  it  is  generally 
understood  that  the  old  Indian  trails  led  northward  in  that  direc- 
tion, and  their  southern  route  was  oftener  by  way  of  the  First 
Branch  of  White  river.  So  few  remains  of  Indians  have  ever 
been  found  in  the  town,  that  it  seems  quite  certain  it  was  never 
occupied  as  a  hunting  ground  by  them,  only  as  a  camping  place 
on  their  migrations  to  and  from  Canada.  Tradition  says  one  of 
their  camping  grounds  was  at  the  mouth  of  the  First  Branch. 

There  seem  to  have  been  two  routes  very  generally  used  by 
the  Indians  in  their  migrations;  one  by  the  St.  Lawrence  and 
connecting  streams  to  Lake  Champlain,  down  the  lake  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Winooski,  following  that  river  as  far  as  practicable, 
then  striking  a  branch  of  White  river,  down  this  river  to  the  Con- 
necticut, and  so  on  to  the  Sound.  Another  route  was  to  paddle 
from  the  lake  up  the  Otter  Creek,  then  by  carry  to  Black  river, 
thence  to  the  Connecticut  river. 


i 


HiSTQBT  OP  BOYALTON,  VERMONT  139 

Today  this  region  of  Vermont  in  which  is  Koyalton,  with  its 
denuded  hills,  open  roads,  telegraph  and  telephone  facilities,  and 
automobiles,  would  offer  little  chance  to  a  horde  of  savages  for 
an  onslaught  without  warning.  The  thick  forests  of  1780,  the 
sparse  settlements,  and  slow  communication,  made  the  raid  of 
Oct.  16,  1780,  possible  and  terribly  destructive. 

The  motive  for  this  attack  has  been  variously  given.  The 
murder  of  Gteneral  Gordon  was  no  doubt  the  prime  one.  No  ex- 
cuse seems  to  have  ever  been  offered  for  that  dastardly  deed, 
though  a  proper  apology  might,  perhaps,  have  saved  the  colon- 
ists much  suffering.  **A11  is  fair  in  love  and  war'*  was  a  dis- 
carded watchword  with  honorable  rivals  and  foes  even  in  those 
days.  That  the  British  bitterly  resented  this  act  cannot  surprise 
any  right-thinking  person,  but  it  does  not  excuse  such  deeds  as 
the  destruction  of  Koyalton,  and  the  emplo3anent  as  soldiers  of 
those  who  were  known  to  be  ungovernable  and  savage.  Yet  if 
we  stop  to  think  what  the  verdict  upon  Gteneral  Sherman 's  march 
to  the  sea  would  have  been,  had  the  Confederates  won,  there  will 
be  some  hesitancy  in  a  wholesale  denunciation  of  the  British  in 
their  methods  of  warfare. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  feeling  of  the  British  over  the 
death  of  Gten.  Gordon,  the  substance  of  a  petition  of  John  Powell 
and  Nehemiah  Lovewell  to  the  General  Assembly  in  1796  is  given. 
They  asked  reimbursement  for  debt  incurred  in  December,  1777, 
when  they  had  been  sent  to  Canada  as  a  Flag  of  Truce.  On 
account  of  the  affront  the  British  commander  had  received  by 
the  death  of  General  Gordon,  they  were  not  received  as  a  flag, 
but  imprisoned  twelve  months.  To  save  themselves  from  perish- 
ing, they  had  drawn  on  Col.  Bedel  for  fifty  pounds,  which  was 
not  protested,  though  he  did  not  honor  it.  After  his  death  these 
men  were  sued,  and  obliged  to  pay  forty  pounds.  The  Assembly 
did  not  grant  their  prayer,  on  the  ground  that  the  matter  be- 
longed to  the  United  States. 

The  route  that  the  Indians  took  is  probably  given  nearly 
correct  in  Steele's  ** Narrative. "  By  application  to  the  Archivist 
at  Ottawa  some  further  information  has  been  obtained,  which  is 
now  given  to  the  public  for  the  first  time.  In  response  to  the 
first  inquiry  a  memorandum  was  sent: 

"In  re  Lieutenant  Houghton,  who  destroyed  Royalton,  Vermont,  in 
1780. 

Richard  Houghton,  (not  Horton)  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  53rd 
Regiment  of  Foot  when  the  War  of  the  Revolution  broke  out  and  he 
came  over  to  America.  He  was  removed  from  the  Light  Infantry  and 
appointed  a  Deputy  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  at  Caughnewaga. 
ThiB  post  he  kept  until  1777,  when  having  been  severely  wounded  be- 
fore the  lines  of  Ticonderoga,  he  was  rendered,  for  a  time,  incapable 
to  continue  his  service.  In  a  petition  dated  November  1782,  in  which 
be  asks  for  a  promotion  to  Captaincy,  he  recalls  his  services.     Amongst 


140  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

other  things  he  says  that  he  purchased  an  Ensigncy  in  1768  and  his 
Ldeutenancy  in  1771. 

Herewith  Is  an  analysis  of  several  documents  concerning  him  and 
his  expeditions  to  Vermont  during  the  War,  wliich  are  to  he  found  in 
the  Archives. 

F.  J.  Audet 
Division  of  Manuscripts, 

January  14th..  1908." 

From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  the  leader  has  been  wrongly 
named,  due  doubtless  to  the  similarity  of  sound  in  pronuncia- 
tion. The  analysis  sent  with  the  memorandum  included  all  there 
was  found  in  the  records  of  Ottawa  relating  to  Lieut.  Houghton. 
Sc^me  of  them  are  not  pertinent  to  our  subject,  but  a  few  dealing 
with  events  prior  to  October  16,  1780,  are  given,  to  show  that  the 
''scout"  sent  to  Boyalton  was  not  an  isolated  case,  but  work  that 
the  Lieutenant  was  expected  to  do. 

"St.  Regis,  June  12,  1779. 
Lieut.  Richard  Houston 

to  Lieut.  Col.  Camphell. 
Reports  having  landed  at  Pine  Ridge  nine  miles  from  Fort  Stan- 
wix  and  sent  La  Motte  and  thirty  Indians  as  a  scouting  party  with 
orders  to  get  within  firing  distance  of  the  Fort  Having  received 
La  Motte's  report  Lieut  Houghton  joined  him.  They  kill  eight  men 
and  take  seven  prisoners  from  whom  they  get  some  valuable  infomuir 
tion." 

"Montreal,  March  30,  1780. 
Lieut.  Richard  Houghton  to  Captain  Mathews. 

The  Indian  scouts  sent  out  under  Mr.  Bluercy  have  returned.  Mr. 
Bluercy  surprised  the  port  at  Skinesburgh  capturing  prisoners  and  de- 
stroying houses  and  cattle." 

"Montreal,   Aprtl  3.   1780. 
Lieut.  Richard  Houghton 

to  Captain  Mathews. 
The  scouts  sent  out  from  Oswegatchue  in  February  under  Captain 
Robertson  have  returned.  They  were  joined  by  a  party  of  Mohawks 
and  the  joint  scouts  struck  the  settlements  below  Fort  Harkimer  on 
the  Mohawk  River  and  took  some  prisoners.  There  is  a  scout  out  from 
Carleton  Island  consisting  of  fourteen  soldiers  and  fifty  Indians.  Mr. 
Crawford  of  the  Indian  Department  and  Mr.  Cleyles  (?)  of  the  34th 
Regiment  are  with  the  scout  and  had  orders  to  strike  at  Conisburg(?)." 

An  analysis  of  the  scout  at  Royalton  was  sent  also,  and  on  a 
second  application  to  the  Archivist  the  full  accounts  which  fol- 
low were  promptly  forwarded.  The  first  is  the  letter  of  Lieut 
Houghton  to  General  Haldimand. 

"Montreal  26  of  October  1780. 
Sir. 

Colonel  Campbell  being  very  busy  has  desired  me  to  inform  of 
what  was  done  by  my  scout. — 

I  was  discovered  several  times  on  my  march  by  some  hunters  and 
two  small  scouts  of  Whitcombs'  from  Cohos  which  obliged  me  to  alter 
my  course  &  struck  upon  White  River  about  eighteen  miles  from  wher« 
it  emptys  itself  in  Connecticut  River  the  Name  of  the  place  Royal 
Town,  I  burned  twenty  eight  dwelling  Houses,  thirty  two  Bams  full 


4 

i 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  141 

of  grain  and  one  new  bam  not  quite  finished,  one  Saw  and  one  Gris 
Mill»  killed  all  the  black  Cattle,  sheep,  Piggs  6c  of  which  there  was  a 
great  quantity,  there  was  but  very  little  hay.  We  burned  close  to  a 
Stocaded  Port  wherein  there  was  a  Captain  and  60  men  but  they  could 
not  turn  out  after  us. — 

I  marched  from  the  settlements  that  evening  and  decamped  in  the 
wood  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  one  of  my  out  Posts  was  at^ 
tacked  and  a  little  after  our  Camp — we  were  ready  to  receive  them  ft 
had  some  brisk  firing  for  a  few  minutes  untill  they  retired  a  little 
they  intended  to  surround  us,  I  heard  their  officers  giving  them  direc- 
tions upon  which  we  retreated  with  almost  all  our  packs,  but  most  of 
our  provisions  we  were  forced  to  leave  behind  it  being  cooking  at  the 
time  they  attacked  us. —  I  had  but  one  Indian  wounded  What  mischief 
we  done  them  I  cant  say  as  they  were  too  strong  for  us  to  look  for 
scalps,  but  as  they  came  on  in  great  numbers  ft  we  had  the  advantage 
of  the  moon  should  suppose  we  killed  a  good  many  of  them. 
I  beg  you  will  lay  this  before  his  Excellency. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be 
Your  most  obedt. 
Humb.  Servant 

Richard  Houghton 
Indn  Residt 

P.  8. 

I  got  32  Prisoners  ft  4  scalps 

the  Country  was  alarmed  by  Whitcomb 

the  day  before  I  got  there — " 

Prom  this  letter  no  other  motive  appears  for  the  attack 
than  the  ones  that  led  to  sending  out  other  scouts,  but  their  pilot 
may  have  had  special  reasons  for  leading  them  to  Royalton  which 
Lieut.  Houghton  would  not  be  called  upon  to  mention  in  an  offi- 
cial report.  The  purpose  of  all  these  scouts  seems  to  have  been 
to  weaken  their  enemy  by  destroying  supplies  and  taking  pris- 
oners, and  they  killed  those  resisting  whenever  they  could.  Then, 
too,  such  incursions  would  tend  to  intimidate  the  weaker  colon- 
ists, and  make  them  willing  to  seek  the  protection  guaranteed 
under  English  rule.  But  the  men  of  Vermont  were  not  of 
the  weaker  sort,  though  through  the  subtle  negotiations  of  Allen 
and  Warner,  the  authorities  in  Canada  were  led  to  believe  that 
they  would  at  a  favorable  time  announce  their  allegiance  to  the 
British  crown.  This  movement  of  Lieut.  Houghton  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  ordered  by  any  superior  authority,  indeed,  it 
was  felt  to  have  been  a  mistake,  as  is  shown  by  the  following,  for 
which  we  are  also  indebted  to  the  Archivist  at  Ottawa,  the  Hon. 

Arthur  6.  Doughty. 

"Quebec  9th  November  1780 
Sir 

I  am  commanded  by  His  Excellency  General  Haldimand  to  signify 
to  you  his  desire  that  you  will  not  send  or  permit  any  scouts  to  go  out 
to  the  Eastward  of  the  Hudson's  River  or  to  any  Port  which  can  be 
conmidered  belonging  to  the  State  of  Vermont  until  further  orders  Lieut 
Houghton  acted  for  the  best;  but  it  was  very  unfortunate  that  he 
cbanged  his  Route,  or  appeared  at  all  in  that  Quarter,  as  they  have 


142  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

made  proposals  for  an  Exchange  of  Prisoners,  which  His  Excellency 
has  paid  some  attention  to— 

I  am  ftc 

(signed)  N  Matthews — 
Lieut  Col  Campbell" 

There  was  also  received  from  the  Archivist  the  ''Memoriar* 
of  Lieut.  Houghton,  in  which  he  gives  an  account  of  his  military 
service.  This  will,  no  doubt,  be  of  interest  to  those  who  would 
like  to  know  something  more  of  the  man  who  commanded  the 
force  attacking  Boyalton,  and  who  capitulated  to  the  eloquent 
entreaties  of  the  heroic  Mrs.  Handy. 

"To  His  Excellency  Frederick  Haldimand  Esq.  General  and  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  His  Majesty's  Forces  in  the  Province  of  Quebec  and 
Frontiers  thereof  ftc.  Ac.  ftc. 

The  Memorial  of  Lieutenant  Richard  Houghton  of  the  Fifty-third 
Regiment  of  Foot 
Humbly  Sheweth 

That  your  memoralist  purchased  an  Ensigncy  in  the  said  Regi- 
ment in  August  1768,  and  a  Lieutenancy  in  April  1771»  and  both  Com- 
missions at  very  advanced  prices — 

That  during  the  Campaign  1776  your  memorialist  was  removed  by 
order  of  His  Excellency  General  Carleton  from  the  Light  Infantry  to 
do  duty  with  the  Indians,  and  that  by  the  particular  desire  of  Lieu- 
tenant General  Burgojme  and  Brigadier  Fraser,  he  continued  in  the 
same  department  during  the  campaign  following  of  the  year  1777. 

That  your  memorialist  in  the  course  of  that  year  received  two 
severe  wounds  before  the  lines  of  Ticonderoga  that  rendered  htm  In- 
capable of  serving  during  the  remainder  of  that  campaign  which  cir- 
cumstance alone  prevented  his  getting  a  captain  lieutenancy  and  com- 
pany in  the  year  1778. —  Since  that  period  your  memorialist  has  had 
the  mortification  to  see  ten  Junior  officers  get  ranks  over  him  withont 
purchase. — 

Your  memorialist  declined  very  flattering  offers  of  promotion  In 
Europe,  least  they  might  recal  him  from  a  scene  where  he  hopes  for 
active  employment,  has  thereby  incurred  the  displeasure  of  some  of 
his  nearest  relations  and  best  friends. — 

But  he  begs  leave  to  assure  your  Excellency  that  he  wishes  to 
serve  in  his  present  Employ  in  the  Indian  department  or  in  any  other 
situation  where  you  may  think  him  useful!  tho'  he  declares  he  did  not 
at  first  accept  of  his  Indian  office,  nor  has  he  since  retained  it  from 
consideration  of  any  additional  Pay  he  receives  by  it,  and  as  he  flat- 
ters himself  that  his  Endeavors  to  give  satisfaction  have  not  met  with 
the  disapprobation  of  your  Excellency,  or  his  Superiors  in  the  Depart- 
ment. He  is  encouraged  to  submit  to  your  Excellency  the  mortifying 
situation  in  which  he  finds  himself  at  present  from  the  many  Provin- 
cial officers  he  sees  promoted  over  him  particularly  Captain  Crawford 
of  the  King's  Royal  Regiment  of  New  York  who  was  but  very  lately 
an  Ensign  in  the  same  Corps,  and  an  inferior  officer  to  him  in  the 
Indian   Department. 

Your  memorialist  humbly  hopes  that  your  Excellency  will  conceive 
his  feelings  better  than  he  can  express  them  and  Prays  that  you  will 
be  pleased  to  grant  him  Rank  of  Captain  to  prevent  your  memorialist 
being  on  the  above  disagreeable  situation. 

Your  memopfelist  begs  leave  to  add  that  his  mentioning  Captain 
Crawford's  name  does  not  proceed  from  envy  of  that  officers  promotion 


i 


HiSTOEY  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT  143 

(whose  merit  is  acknowledged  by  all  who  are  acquainted  with  him) 
but  to  Illustrate  his  own  case. 

Which  Is  humbly  submitted" 

Nothing  further  has  been  learned  regarding  Lieut.  Hough- 
ton. Among  the  prisoners  from  Burgoyne's  army  who  were 
quartered  at  East  Windsor,  Conn.,  was  Lieut.  Houghton,  com- 
mander of  Canada  troops,  attended  by  two  servants.  At  Lafay- 
ette's suggestion  they  were  employed  in  planting  trees  by  the 
highways.  It  is  possible  this  was  the  same  man,  as  he  was  with 
Burgoyne  at  Tieonderoga,  where  he  says  he  was  wounded.  As 
late  as  1784  he  was  still  Lieutenant,  occupying  the  same  position, 
80  one  can  infer  that  he  did  not  get  his  captaincy.  Possibly  it 
was  due  to  his  unwarranted  attack  on  Royalton. 

The  further  facts  which  will  be  given  relating  to  the  raid 
have  been  obtained  from  Mrs.  Huldah  Morgan,  a  grand-daughter 
of  Lorenza  (Havens)  Love  joy,  from  Mrs.  Coit  Parkhurst,  a 
grand-daughter  of  Daniel  Havens,  from  Eugene  Rolf e,  bom  in 
Tunbridge,  who  secured  his  information  from  Daniel  Kelsey,  who 
in  1783  lived  on  the  lot  north  of  Robert  Havens,  and  from  Ben- 
jamin Cushman,  whose  father,  Capt.  Solomon  Cushman,  com- 
manded the  Norwich  troops  that  pursued  the  Indians  towards 
Brookfield,  and  from  James  Kenworthy.  In  addition  use  is  made 
of  the  narratives  of  Simeon  Belknap  and  of  George  Avery,  both 
of  whom  were  taken  prisoners,  and  of  reminiscences  and  anec- 
dotes that  have  been  handed  down  from  generation  to  genera- 
tion, and  of  such  data  as  appears  trustworthy,  that  were  spoken 
or  published  on  the  occasions  of  the  Centennial  of  the  burning 
of  Royalton  and  the  Dedication  of  the  monument. 

The  Indians  had  intended  to  make  the  attack  on  Sunday, 
when  they  supposed  many  would  be  absent  from  their  homes  at- 
tending divine  service.  No  service  was  held  that  Sunday,  and 
they  remained  quietly  in  their  camping  place  over  the  brow  of 
the  hill  west  of  the  First  Branch,  nearly  opposite  and  in  the  rear 
of  the  house  of  Robert  Havens.  One  must  remember  that  the 
road  along  the  branch  at  first  ran  along  the  west  side  of  the 
stream,  from  what  is  now  South  Tunbridge  down  to  the  saw  and 
^ist  mills  generally  known  as  the  Pierce  mills,  also  that  a  bridle 
path  extended  from  Peter  Button's  around  the  hill  west  of  the 
Chester  Dodge  place  and  Arunah  Woodward 's  to  the  branch  road 
just  below  Elias  Curtis'  and  north  of  the  Ransom  Reynolds 
bridge. 

The  Indians  had  singly  done  some  reconnoitering  during 
Sunday.  Mrs.  John  Hutchinson  had  gone  Sunday  to  get  some 
hemlock  for  a  broom.  She  passed  over  a  cleared  space  and  stood 
on  a  log  to  reach  the  branches.  An  Indian  told  her  the  next 
day  that  he  was  hiding  there,  and  could  have  touched  her  dress. 


144  History  op  Koyalton,  Vermont 

When  asked  what  he  would  have  done,  if  they  had  discovered 
him,  ** Killed  you,  of  course,"  he  answered.  According  to  Mr. 
Bolfe,  the  Indians  left  their  encampment  in  two  detachments, 
one  going  directly  down  the  slope  to  John  Hutchinson's,  and  the 
other  to  the  house  of  his  brother  Abijah,  who  lived  beyond  him 
in  the  direction  of  Tunbridge  Market.  A  descendant  of  Heze- 
kiah  Hutchinson  says  that  John  Hutchinson  had  charge  of  the 
powder  for  the  town  of  Tunbridge.  When  he  saw  the  Indiana 
lie  took  the  powder  and  ran  into  the  woods  to  hide  it,  and  hia 
house  was  burned  while  he  was  away,  but  he  was  taken  prisoner. 
Mrs.  Hutchinson,  w^ho  was  in  bed,  was  not  harmed.  She  had  a 
babe  about  tw^o  months  old,  and  after  she  had  found  a  horse  that 
had  escaped  destruction,  she  mounted  with  her  babe  and  started 
for  Connecticut. 

This  party  of  Indians  next  crossed  the  branch  and  went  to 
the  house  of  Robert  Havens.  He  was  located  nearly  opposite 
John  Hutchinson.  Mr.  Hutchinson 's  house  was  on  the  other  aida 
of  the  road  from  where  the  house  now  is  on  the  ** Wells'*  plaee. 
It  was  near  the  foot  of  the  sand  terrace  over  which  the  highw^f 
leads  to  the  **Bowell  neighborhood." 

Mr.  Havens'  family  consisted  of  himself,  wife,  two  sonSy 
Joseph  and  Daniel,  and  a  daughter,  Lorenza.  All  three  children 
were  expecting  soon  to  be  married.  Daniel  had  lot  42  and  hia 
father  lot  37  Dutch  Allotment.  He  had  a  house  and  bam  on  hk 
lot  at  the  place  now  known  as  the  Ward  place.  Joseph  was 
building  at  the  mouth  of  the  First  Branch,  on  the  site  of  the 
old  Gilbert  tavern.  Lorenza  was  engaged  to  Thomas  Pember  of 
Randolph,  and  they  were  only  waiting  for  his  father  to  arrive, 
who  was  on  his  way  from  Connecticut,  and  then  they  were  to 
solemnize  their  marriage.  Thomas  Pember  and  his  brother  Sam- 
uel were  in  the  habit  of  coming  to  Royalton  every  week  to  have 
their  washing  and  cooking  done  for  them.  They  boarded  with 
the  Kneelands,  who,  according  to  the  Havens  tradition,  were  liv- 
ing in  the  house  of  Daniel  Havens  while  they  were  building  their 
own.  Mrs.  Havens  had  old  fashioned  consumption,  and  she  had 
been  more  than  unusually  ill  that  Saturdaj'  night  preceding  the 
attack.  A  tradition  outside  of  the  family  says  that  a  merry  party 
had  gathered  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Havens  that  Saturday  night. 
Some  of  them  were  to  leave  very  soon  for  their  Connecticut 
homes  to  spend  the  winter  and  bring  their  brides  back  with  them 
in  the  spring. 

The  Kneeland  house  seems  to  have  been  located  on  42  Duteh, 
on  the  east  side  of  the  road  near  the  bridge  at  the  Ward  place. 
It  is  quite  likely  that  Daniel  Havens  had  sold  them  a  part  rf 
his  lot,  and  that  when  the  family  was  so  broken  up  and  scattered 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  146 

the  land  came  back  into  his  hands,  and  as  the  land  records  were 
destroyed,  no  evidence  of  this  transfer  is  found. 

The  sons  of  Robert  Havens  had  neglected  to  shut  up  the 
sheep  that  Saturday  night  as  usual,  and  he  was  anxious  about 
them,  fearing  the  wolves  would  destroy  them.  He  rose  early  in 
the  morning  of  the  16th  of  October  and  went  on  to  the  hill  east 
of  the  house  in  search  of  his  property.  He  called  to  Daniel  and 
told  him  to  come  out  and  assist  him  as  soon  as  it  was  light  enough 
to  see.  Daniel  arose  earlier  than  usual  and  went  over  to  his 
house  and  called  out  Thomas  Pember,  telling  him  to  hurry. 
Pember  came  out  with  his  shoes  on  down  at  the  heels.  While 
they  were  talking  they  saw  some  one  moving,  and  passing  around 
the  comer  of  the  bam  to  see  more  distinctly,  they  came  upon  a 
body  of  Indians.  Daniel  ran  in  one  direction  down  stream,  and 
Pember  in  another,  across  the  meadow  and  swamp  towards  the 
hills.  Pember  was  a  fleet  runner,  and  would  perhaps  have  es- 
caped, had  not  a  spear  pierced  him.  He  ran  a  considerable  dis- 
tance after  being  wounded,  but  finally  fell,  and  was  overtaken 
and  cruelly  dispatched  and  scalped.  He  had  a  double  crown, 
and  the  Indians  were  very  joyful  over  the  double  bounty  which 
they  would  secure.  Daniel  Havens  threw  himself  over  the  bank 
of  the  branch,  and  secreted  himself  under  a  log  on  the  west  side 
of  the  stream  near  the  north  end  of  the  bridge  as  it  now  is. 

These  Indians  then  joined  their  company  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Havens.  The  two  women  were  alone  in  the  house.  Lorenza 
heard  a  noise  and,  thinking  her  mother  wanted  something,  she 
arose  and  went  to  her  in  her  night  robe.  The  Indians  carried 
her  mother  outdoors,  and  put  her  husband's  hat  and  shoes  on 
her,  and  got  a  quilt  and  wrapped  around  her.  Lorenza  asked 
the  officer  for  some  clothing,  and  he  got  a  quilt,  red  on  one  side 
and  green  on  the  other,  and  told  her  to  put  it  on  with  the  green 
side  out,  or  the  Indians  would  take  it  away  from  her.  She  saw 
an  Indian  have  one  of  her  shoes,  and  a  second  one  the  other  shoe. 
She  snatched  one,  but  the  Indian  shook  his  tomahawk  over  her, 
and  the  officer  said  it  was  the  buckle  that  the  Indian  wanted,  so 
she  took  off  the  buckles  and  got  her  shoes.  She  saw  the  Indians 
shaking  the  double  crowned  scalp  of  her  lover,  but  did  not  know 
it  was  his,  supposing  they  had  killed  two  persons. 

Robert  Havens  heard  the  dog  of  John  Hutchinson  bark  and 
thought  it  was  wolves,  but  looking  back  he  saw  the  Indians  at 
his  house.  He  secreted  himself,  not  under  a  log,  but  in  the  hol- 
low of  an  uprooted  tree.  He  was  not  a  very  old  man  at  that  time, 
only  sixty-two,  and  lived  twenty-five  years  after  that  trying  time. 
As  a  frontier  man  for  years,  he  knew  the  Indians  would  seek  the 
men,  and  as  he  was  unarmed,  there  was  nothing  to  do  but  keep 

10 


146  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

under  cover,  which  he  did  until  the  Indians  left,  after  their  day 
of  pillage. 

The  party  of  Indians  that  went  to  the  house  of  Abijah 
Hutchinson  found  him  in  bed.  In  his  memoir  published  by  his 
grandson,  E.  M.  Hutchinson,  in  1843,  he  says  that  a  sturdy  In- 
dian seized  him  by  the  throat,  and  brandishing  a  tomahawk  over 
him,  ordered  him  to  dress  at  once,  then  bound  him  with  a  strong 
cord.  It  is  said  that  from  the  house  of  Abijah  Hutchinson  the 
house  of  Peter  Button  could  be  seen.  Mr.  Button  had  taken  a 
load  of  grain  on  his  shoulder  and  was  going  along  the  bridle  path 
to  carry  it  to  the  mill.  He  was  seen  by  the  Indians,  who  gave 
pursuit,  and  he  turned  down  the  ravine  and  was  there  overti&en. 
killed  and  scalped.  The  Indians  had  now  killed  two  and  taken 
two  prisoners.  They  made  the  Havens  place  their  rendezvous, 
and  leaving  a  party  there  pushed  on  to  the  house  where  the 
Eneelands  were.  Some  think  they  were  living  at  the  time  in 
their  own  house  and  not  in  the  house  of  Daniel  Havens.  At  any 
rate  it  was  here  they  found  Samuel  Pember,  Simeon  Belknap. 
Edward  Ejieeland,  Sr.,  Joseph  Eneeland,  and  Edward  Eneeland. 
Jr.  Simeon  Belknap  was  on  his  way  from  Randolph,  where  he 
had  settled,  to  his  old  home  in  Connecticut.  These  five  were 
taken  prisoners,  with  Giles  Gibbs  and  Jonathan  Brown.  If  there 
were  two  detachments,  they  probably  came  together  where  the 
bridle  path  joins  the  main  road,  and  went  on  to  the  home  of 
Elias  Curtis,  who  lived  near  the  Pierce  mills,  probably  either 
v/here  John  Slack  lived  later,  or  above  the  furniture  factory.  It 
is  not  possible  to  say  just  where  the  house  was  located,  although 
it  is  known  what  land  he  owned. 

Mr.  Curtis  does  not  seem  to  have  been  warned,  which  makes 
it  probable  that  he  lived  on  the  east  side  of  the  branch,  for  Dan- 
iel Havens  went  down  on  the  west  side  of  it,  and  would  have  been 
likely  to  call  to  him.  Mr.  Curtis  had  a  blacksmith  shop  near  his 
house,  and  it  was  to  his  shop  that  Mr.  Chafee  and  John  Kent 
were  going  to  get  their  horses  shod,  and  there  that  John  Kent 
was  taken  prisoner  as  he  dismounted.  The  Indians  had  been  so 
quiet  and  swift  in  their  movements,  that  their  presence  was  not 
known,  until  Daniel  Havens  had  reached  the  home  of  Elias  Ste- 
vens. From  the  stray  morsels  of  information  picked  up  here 
and  there,  it  would  appear  that  Daniel  stopped  at  Mr.  Moi^an's, 
the  miller,  who  delayed  long  enough  to  throw  a  chest  down  the 
sand  bank,  then  took  his  wife  and  child  and  escaped  to  the  woods. 
Mr.  Curtis  was  not  so  fortunate,  having  received  no  warning. 
He  was  a  brother-in-law  of  John  Hutchinson,  having  married 
Sarah  Hutchinson.  Mrs.  Curtis  was  in  bed,  and  it  is  not  strange 
if  she  thought  the  Indian  who  brandished  his  tomahawk  over  her 
was  intending  to  kill  her.     Considering  their  treatment  of  the 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  147 

women  during  the  day,  and  the  fact  that  they  often  swung  toma- 
hawks to  frighten  or  secure  their  end,  it  is  more  likely  that  he 
did  this  to  make  her  give  up  her  beads.  The  thread  was  cut  or 
broken,  and  the  beads  rolled  off,  and  she  retained  them,  and  they 
are  religiously  preserved  by  a  great-grand-daughter  living  in 
Seattle.  At  the  house  of  Mr.  Curtis  three  prisoners  were  taken, 
himself,  John  Kent,  and  Peter  Mason. 

When  Daniel  Havens  reached  the  house  of  Elias  Stevens, 

he  found  Mrs.  Stevens  in  bed.    **You  had  better  get  up,"  he 

called  out.    **The  Indians  are  thick  as  the  devil  at  our  house, 

<and  will  be  along  here."    As  he  hurried  out  of  the  back  door 

to  reach  the  river  on  his  errand  of  warning,  the  red-skins  entered 

'the  front  door.     The  house  of  Mr.  Stevens  on  the  place  now 

Imown  as  the  Buck  place  was  on  the  meadow  on  the  other  side 

^f  the  road  from  its  present  location.    Daniel  found  a  log  canoe 

^ind  paddled  across  the  river,  and  on  reaching  the  other  side  and 

looking  back,  he  saw  Indians  on  the  bank  which  he  had  just  left. 

Be  went  down  the  river  on  the  west  side.    He  went  to  the  house 

^Df  Dea.  Daniel  Bix,  and  the  other  houses  on  the  road  until  he 

^^me  to  the  mouth  of  Broad  Brook,  when  he  went  up  the  brook 

'^o  the  house  of  William  Lovejoy,  who  had  married  his  oldest 

sister,  and  was  living  in  Sharon.    They  all  went  into  the  woods. 

Daniel  later  went  back  in  sight  of  his  own  house,  and  after  the 

Xndians  had  left,  the  family  got  together  and  went  to  the  home 

of  William  Lovejoy.    It  is  said  that  there  were  more  women  in 

-^lie  Lovejoy  house  that  night  than  there  were  floor  boards. 

Lieut.  Stevens  owned  a  lot  down  the  river,  what  is  now 
o^dled  the  Howard  place.  He  had  arisen  early  and  with  his  oxen 
gone  down  to  this  farm  to  get  a  load  of  pumpkins.  He  also 
a  horse  with  him  and  his  dog.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  con- 
'fcir'adietion  regarding  the  doings  of  Lieut.  Stevens  on  this  day. 
^>iie  who  claims  to  have  heard  the  story  from  his  mouth,  says 
^Imat  when  he  was  told  the  Indians  were  coming,  he  hitched 
is  oxen  in  the  brush  near  the  William  Goff  house,  now  the  Wal- 
Webster  place,  and  started  for  home.  As  he  was  running 
\%iB  dog  got  in  his  way  and  tripped  him.  lie  heard  the  Indians 
co^ng  and  turned  to  flee,  was  again  tripped  by  his  dog  and  had 
to  take  to  the  woods.  This  would  throw  out  the  whole  story  of 
bis  service  in  helping  others  to  escape.  According  to  the  tradi- 
tion that  has  come  down  in  the  Rix  family  Mrs.  Rix  mounted  her 
own  horse,  and  used  for  a  bridle  a  neck  scarf,  as  she  did  not  have 
^e  to  get  the  bridle  from  the  lower  barn,  some  distance  from 
*«c  house.  Some  critics  of  Gen.  Stevens,  who  thought  he  took 
^  much  credit  to  himself  in  giving  his  account  of  the  raid  to 
^oek  Steele,  have  said  for  publication  that  he  ran  to  Barnard 
•^^  staid  several  days.     The  Vermont  Revolutionary  Rolls  dis- 


148  HiSTORT  OP  BOTALTON,  VeRHOKT 

proves  this.  He  was  engaged  with  others  in  Capt.  Parkhnnt'a 
Company.  The  charge  would  be  unnoticed  had  it  not  already 
been  made  public. 

When  the  Indians  reached  the  mouth  of  the  branch,  where 
Joseph  Havens  was  erecting  a  house,  they  set  fire  to  the  building, 
but  it  would  not  bum,  the  timbers  were  so  green.  Joseph  was 
with  them  as  a  prisoner,  or  else  was  captured  there.  It  is  not 
certain  where  he  was  taken.    When  he  saw  them  firing  his  house, 

he  cried  out,  ** you!    Cut  it  down."    They  tried  to  do 

so,  but  gave  it  up.  That  building  was  taken  down  afterwards, 
and  taken  to  the  Robert  Havens  farm  and  erected  into  a  house 
for  the  family,  but  not  on  the  same  site  on  which  the  first  build- 
ing had  stood.  At  the  mouth  of  the  branch  the  savages  divided, 
one  party  went  down  the  river  on  the  east  side,  another  on  the 
west  side,  and  a  third  went  up  the  river  on  the  east  side.  There 
was  no  road  then  on  the  west  side  beyond  the  Handy  fordway, 
near  Capt.  Joseph  Parkhurst's. 

The  party  going  down  on  the  west  side  had  to  ford  the  river. 
The  red  men  must  have  known  where  the  old  fort  fordway  was, 
and  perhaps  crossed  there.  If  so,  some  of  them  went  up  the 
river  as  far  as  the  Handy  fordway,  and  it  was  probably  these 
Indians  whom  Mrs.  Handy  met.  The  main  body  went  down  the 
river,  and  would  first  come  to  the  house  of  Elisha  Kent,  where 
Lester  Corwin  now  lives.  Mr.  Kent  thought  his  wife  too  feeble 
to  walk  to  Sharon,  and  they  went  to  the  house  of  their  nearest 
neighbor,  Daniel  Rix,  and  took  two  of  the  Rix  girls  with  them 
into  the  woods,  according  to  the  Kent  tradition.  Mrs.  Rix  fled 
as  before  stated.  The  Rix  family  say  that  Mr.  Rix  was  in  Con- 
necticut at  this  time,  and  of  course  could  not  assist  in  the  escape 
of  his  family.  Pretty  good  evidence  that  he  was  not  in  Royalton 
is  the  fact,  that  he  was  neither  in  Capt.  Parkhurst's  company 
nor  that  of  Daniel  Gilbert,  when  he  pursued  the  enemy,  and  it  is 
most  improbable  that  he  failed  to  shoulder  his  gun  and  march 
with  the  rest,  if  he  were  in  town.  A  mere  handful  of  the  older 
men  were  left  at  night  to  gather  up  what  remained  of  their  once 
happy  homes. 

Mrs.  Rix  bad  a  young  babe,  Jerusba,  less  than  two  months 
old,  and  six  other  children,  the  eldest,  Susan,  then  sixteen  years 
old,  the  next.  Garner,  eleven  years  old.  It  is  hardly  likely  that 
she  could  take  six  children  on  her  horse,  so  it  seems  quite  prob- 
able that  the  Kent  tradition  is  correct,  and  the  two  girls  went 
with  the  Kents  to  a  hiding  place  in  the  woods.  The  settlers  knew 
it  was  the  men  and  boys  whom  the  savages  would  capture.  Little 
Dan  was  then  five  years  old,  and  as  he  saw  the  old  white  horse 
led  to  the  door,  he  thought  the  family  was  going  to  meeting,  and 
clapping  his  hands,  exclaimed,  ^'Danie  dot  on  his  meetin'  toat 


History  of  Eoyalton,  Vermont  149 

Danie  doin'  to  ride  on  old  Whitey's  back.*'    Mrs.  Rix  ordered 
Gamer  to  hide  the  old  Bible  or  take  it  with  him.     He  hid  it 
in  a  hollow  log,  and  it  was  the  only  thing  saved  from  the  house 
except  the  clothing  on  their  backs.     Garner  had  to  follow  as  well 
as  he  could  the  flying  heels  of  **old  Whitey/'  but  he  was  not 
swift  enough,  and  the  Indians  caught  him.     He  had  a  little  club 
.  and  he  showed  fight.    When  Mrs.  Handy  begged  for  his  release, 
his  captor  said,  '*No,  No  I    Big  heap  fight  in  that  boy.    He  make 
brave  Injun  warrior."    The  ten-year-old  Joseph  was  snatched 
from  the  arms  of  the  agonized  mother,  who  was  forced  to  ride  on 
with  only  three  of  her  brood  of  seven  children,  not  knowing  what 
would  become  of  the  others.     In  all  likelihood  they  would  have 
taken  her  horse  from  her,  had  it  been  a  young  and  valuable  one. 
The  next  family  below  Mr.  Rix  was  that  of  Medad  Benton, 
who  all  escaped,  but  whose  house  was  burnt.    As  far  as  can  be 
judged,  this  family  consisted  of  Medad,  now  about  fifty,  his  wife 
and  four  or  five  children.     His  only  son  Jonathan  was  now  seven- 
teen, old  enough  to  carry  a  gun  and  fight  for  his  country.     The 
youngest  child  had  her  sixth  birthday  the  Saturday  before.    Me- 
flad's  name  is  in  the  list  of  soldiers  belonging  to  Capt.  Joseph 
^arkhurst's  company.     This  list,  however,  is  not  strictly  to  be 
^relied  upon.     Rufus  Rude  is  named  as  one  of  this  company,  but 
lie  died  the  year  before.     It  is  possible  that  he  had  a  son  of  the 
^ame  name,  but  there  is  no  proof  of  this. 

Below  Mr.  Benton  was  the  land  of  Nathan  Morgan.  There 
is  nothing  to  show  that  he  had  a  house  or  a  family.  He  may 
liave  lived  with  his  father,  Isaac.  He  also  was  in  Capt.  Park- 
liurst's  company. 

The  lot  of  Elias  Stevens  was  below  that  of  Mr.  Morgan.     If 
'there  was  a  house  on  it  which  was  occupied  by  a  family,  the  fact 
is  not  known.     Mr.  Stevens  was  here  at  work  as  has  before  been 
stated.     Hurrying  on  in  their  fiendish  attack  the  Indians  next 
c^ame  to  the  house  of  Tilly  Parkhurst,  what  is  known  as  the  Wil- 
liams  place.     The  family  had  been  warned  as  stated  by  Mr. 
^Steele.     Mr.  Parkhurst  was  about  seventy  years  old,  and  did  not 
J  oin  in  the  pursuit  of  the  savages.     He  had  four  children,  Molly, 
len  sixteen,  being  an  only  daughter.     She  is  said  to  have  been 
diking  when  Lieut.  Stevens  warned  her.      She  was  his  half 
ater,  Mr.  Parkhurst  having  married  the  widowed  mother  of 
ieut.  Stevens.     Her  brother  Phineas  was  on  the  other  side  of 
^1:^6  river  doing  duty  in  warning  the  people.     The  family,  in- 
-■iding  two  younger  boys,  escaped. 

The  woods  held  a  considerable  number  of  the  terrorized  set- 

;,  and  the  road  was  filled  with  many  others  fleeing  in  the 

'ection  of  Sharon.     The  house  next  in  the  course  of  the  savages 

that  of  Ebenezer  Parkhurst,  probably  near  the  Quimby  place. 


160  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

Mr.  Parkhurst  was  attending  the  session  of  the  Legislature  at 
Bennington,  as  a  representative  from  Sharon.  On  the  minutes 
of  the  Journal  of  the  House,  October  21st,  is  this  record :  *  *  Capt. 
Ebenezer  Parkhurst  desired  leave  to  return  home  on  account  of 
the  invasion  of  the  enemy — Granted."  News  traveled  slowly  in 
those  days,  yet  it  seems  strange  that  it  should  have  been  four 
da^'s  before  he  heard  of  the  raid,  esx>ecially  as  the  militia  turned 
out  for  miles  around.  Owing  to  the  absence  of  her  husband  and 
the  fright  of  her  fleeing  neighbors  and  friends,  Mrs.  Parkhurst 
was  left  to  take  care  of  herself  and  children  as  best  she  could. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Reuben  Spalding  of  Sharon.  She  had 
good  reason  to  fear  the  Indians,  for  her  mother  when  a  child  in 
Connecticut  had  witnessed  a  Sabbath  Day  massacre  of  all  the 
children  of  the  settlement,  who  had  not  succeeded  in  making 
their  escape.  Mrs.  Parkhurst  had  six  children  at  this  time,  the 
oldest  but  ten,  and  the  youngest  fourteen  months  old.  Her 
daughter  Polly  was  bom  on  the  8th  of  the  following  January. 
Roswell,  whom  the  Indians  captured,  was  not  quite  seven.  The 
rest  of  the  family  were  allowed  to  go  unharmed. 

The  next  place  was  Samuel  Benedict's,  who  lived  not  far 
from  the  cemetery  at  the  mouth  of  Broad  brook,  perhaps  near 
the  Chilson  residence,  as  a  broad  brook  ran  near  his  house.  The 
story  of  the  destruction  of  the  Benedict  home  has  been  written 
by  Joel  Blackmer,  a  son  of  Miriam  Benedict,  who  married  a 
Blackmer.  Miriam  was  the  oldest  child  of  Samuel  Benedict,  and 
nearly  five  years  old  at  the  time  of  the  raid.  The  dreadful  scenes 
she  witnessed  were  indelibly  stamped  in  her  memory.  Her  story 
is  given  in  ^Ir.  Blackmer 's  words,  as  it  was  told  to  him  by  his 
mother. 

"When  it  was  told  at  her  father's  that  the  Indians  were  coming, 
she  and  her  little  brothers  and  sisters  ran  out  and  hid  by  the  bank  of 
the  White  river.  This  was  in  the  morning  and  both  her  iMtrents  were 
gone  from  home.  Soon  after  the  Indians  came  to  the  house,  her  father 
was  about  returning,  and  was  observed  by  them.  They  beckoned  to 
him  to  come  to  them,  but  perceiving  that  their  dress  was  different 
from  the  English,  and  mistrusting  that  they  were  Indians,  he  stepped 
out  one  side  the  road  and  secreted  himself  behind  a  log. 

While  he  was  thus  concealed,  but  imperfectly,  strange  as  it  may 
seem,  an  Indian  actually  came  and  stood  up  on  the  very  log  behind 
which  her  father  lay,  and  the  Indian's  shadow  was  seen  by  him.  The 
Indian  stood  a  few  moments,  when  another  one  was  heard  to  exclaim, 
'Up  the  hill  he  runs  like  the  Devil!'  upon  which  he  left  the  log  and 
ran  up  the  hill.    Mr.  Benedict  remained  still  in  his  hiding  place. 

While  the  Indians  were  pillaging  the  house,  Mrs.  Benedict  who  had 
rode  away  that  morning  on  horseback,  returned.  As  she  rode  up  to 
the  door  an  Indian  from  the  other  side  of  the  house  presented  him- 
self with  a  gun  in  his  hand  and  pointed  it  at  her  at  first.  He  then 
laid  down  his  gun  and  approached  her  with  a  hatchet,  shaking  it  and 
saying  to  her,  'OfT!  Off!'  She  complied  and  the  Indian  took  the  horse. 
She  went  into  the  house  then  and  found  two  others  there  gathering  up 


1^ 

^^^^^^^^^_^^H 

Taken  prlHoner  l[i  Shanm. 
Mrx.    I.iiiy     iVlerrp)     Parkhnrst.  I'liiiU'ns   rniklinrsl.   M.   D. 

Wife    of    l>r.    I'nrkhurst.  W.ntn.lccl    liy    n   -U.pl    rmiii    [lii'    Indian 

ll<i<l>'    ici    lA'tMinon.    .\.    II..    Klvhie    II 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  151 

articles  of  clothing,  Ac.  In  the  house  to  carry  away.  Soon  they  stepped 
to  the  door,  upon  which  she  cut  her  gold  beads  from  her  neck,  and  kept 
them  In  her  hand,  thus  securing  them  from  the  savages.  The  Indians 
seemed  to  be  in  great  haste.  They  took  what  they  could  easily  carry 
or  find,  and,  leaving  the  house  unbumt,  they  departed. 

Here  was  Joy  In  the  midst  of  sorrow!  Their  house  was  plundered, 
and  that  in  a  new  country,  and  the  winter  just  approaching.  Yet  the 
family  by  a  remarkable  Providence  were  permitted  to  remain  together 
and  mutually  console  each  other  in  this  season  of  distress." 

A  short  distance  below  Mr.  Benedict's  was  the  shanty  of 
George  Avery.  Mr.  Avery  wrote  an  account  of  his  early  life 
and  capture  by  the  Indians.  A  part  of  his  narrative  is  given 
here.  His  picture  will  be  found  with  the  group  of  ** Sufferers." 
The  manuscript  was  loaned  by  a  great-great-granddaughter, 
Mrs.  S.  L.  Clark  of  Plainfield,  N.  H. 

"I  was  21  years  old  Jany  23rd  day  AD  1780.  I  had  left  my  parents 
care  and  thelre  good  rules  and  admonitions;  I  was  an  unsteady  youth 
and  leaving  strict  discipline  seemed  to  be  set  more  at  liberty  from  Its 
yoke.  This  was  In  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war  that  separated 
the  American  provinces  from  Great  Brltan.  I  was  a  soldier  stationed 
at  Mllford,  Connecticut  that  winter.  The  next  summer  in  august  I 
was  In  Sharon  Vt  clearing  land  Intending  to  be  a  farmer.  A  giddy 
youth  with  vain  expectations  to  be  something  in  the  world.  I  come- 
pare  myself  to  the  words  of  the  poet.  Through  all  the  follies  of  the 
mind,  he  smells  and  snuffs  the  empty  wind. 

I  was  too  regardless  of  the  Sabbath,  lived  a  careless  loose  life  with 
other  comerads  of  the  same  cast  which  I  resided  with  occupied  in  the 
same  way.  One  Sabbath  forgltting  the  day  of  the  week,  we  wear  at 
work,  at  husking  com.  An  old  lady  passed  by  us  with  solemn  coun- 
tenance agoing  to  meeting.  She  never  chid  us,  but  I  began  to  think 
there  was  something  wrong,  and  told  my  mates,  I  guessed  it  was  Sab- 
bath day.  Why  they  replied.  My  reply  was,  The  old  lady  had  on  her 
Sabbath  day  mouth;  It  was  my  rudeness  alltho  I  had  strong  convic- 
tions of  our  carelessness  forgltting  the  Sabbath. 

That  night  following  I  slept  with  my  comerads  on  the  floor  of  the 
shantee.  I  dreamed  I  was  beset  by  serpents  the  most  hideous  and 
numerous  that  I  ever  saw,  and  awoke  in  the  horrible  fright;  but  my 
fears  soon  vanished,  and  I  was  soone  asleep  again,  and  dreamed  of 
being  besett  by  Indians  and  as  frightfully  awakened  as  before —  But 
haveing  no  faith  in  dreams,  my  fears  soone  vanished,  it  was  now  broad 
daylight.  That  morning  I  went  to  a  neighbor  for  our  bread,  while  my 
mates  cooked  breakfast  When  I  returned  I  met  my  companions  af- 
frighted running  to  the  woods,  but  I  did  not  apprehend  so  much  danger 
as  they  did  from  Indians.  I  thought  of  going  to  the  camp  and  save 
my  deaths  I  made  light  of  it,  and  told  them  I  would  get  my  break- 
fast first — I  went  and  got  my  cloaths  and  hid  them.  I  but  tasted  the 
breakfast  I  saw  others  flying  for  safety,  and  spoke  to  one.  He  said 
some  had  turned  to  go  and  fight  the  Indians.  I  thought  of  going  a 
very  short  distance  from  us  and  I  should  know  if  they  had.  But  turn- 
ing a  few  rods  I  was  surprised  by  the  sight  of  two  Indians  very  near 
me.  The  foremost  one  with  tomohok  In  hand  we  were  face  to  face 
suddenly  berth  stopped  He  waved  his  hand  Come  Come  I  answered 
the  Indian  Come  and  took  to  my  heeles  and  ran  for  escape  followed 
the  road  on  the  River  bank  but  a  little  Jumped  Into  the  bushes  on 
its  bank  out  of  his  sight  and  made  for  foarding  the  River    the  two  fol- 


152  History  of  Rotalton,  Vermont 

lowed  me  the  tommahok  one  caught  me  in  the  back  of  the  collar  of 
my  cloaths  and  gave  me  a  few  blows  with  his  instrument  and  a  few 
greeting  words  How  How  (that  is  Run  Ron)  Here  I  was  as  really 
aftrighted  as  I  was  in  my  dreams  but  a  few  hours  before  (But  the 
dreams  did  not  here  occur  to  my  mind)  The  two  Indians  stripped  me 
of  my  outside  garments  I  being  lame,  at  that  time.  They  took  me  by 
each  arm  and  I  ran  between  them,  to  return  to  theire  company  which 
they  left  that  were  destroying  Horses  and  cattle  and  had  taken  pris- 
oners They  had  killed  two  of  the  inhabitants  in  pursuing  them  tIx 
pember  and  Button.  They  spent  the  chief  part  of  the  day  in  burning 
and  killing  property. — 

The  night  they  encamped  near  the  place  of  theire  distruction.  This 
first  encampment  was  in  Randolph  Woods  the  16th  of  Octr  1780  About 
350  Indians  and  26  prisoners.  The  Indians  made  flers  and  shelters  of 
Hemlock  boughs  to  encamp  by  for  the  night  as  many  as  20  or  more. 
The  prisoners  had  different  masters  at  different  camps.  The  prisoners 
Tibere  striped  of  outer  garments  by  their  masters  and  collected  at  the 
chief  officer's  encampment.  We  stood  huddled  together  the  fler  between 
us  and  the  officer  An  Indian  came  to  a  prisoner  took  him  by  the  hand 
to  lead  him  off.  The  head  officer  told  the  prisoner  to  go  with  him  and 
hede  fare  well;  A  prisner  nearby  me  whispers  me,  I  believe  he  will  in 
another  world — I  asked  why — He  replied  He  had  contenental  cloth  and 
was  a  soldier  when  taken  By  this  I  was  frightened.  Then  others 
were  led  off,  in  the  same  way — I  think  my  turn  might  be  about  the 
6th  or  7th  Judge  reader  my  feelings  if  you  can,  for  I  am  not  able 
to  express  them  in  any  other  way  but  by  confusion  in  thoughts,  like 
one  to  die  violently.  I  expect  I  became  quite  fantick.  When  I  was 
led  a  short  distance  through  woods  to  the  camp  where  the  Indiana  were 
cooking  all  looked  calm  and  peaceable  to  my  view  and  astonishment 
The  silly  phantick  thought  struck  my  mind  Theyl  fat  me  before  they 
kill  me.  Soone  however  they  brought  a  strong  belt  to  bind  me  aimed 
ii  at  my  body  to  put  it  around  me,  then  took  me  to  a  booth  (or  shelter) 
1  was  laid  down  under  it  feet  to  the  fier  Stakes  drove  down  in  the 
ground  each  side  of  me,  my  belt  tied  to  them  stakes  Thus  1  was  staked 
to  the  ground:  To  look  up  there  was  long  Indian  Knives  fastned  to 
the  boughs.  This  condition  looked  frightful — but  I  had  gone  through 
the  greatest.     Still  here  Is  no  Safety. 

They  gave  me  here  of  their  supper  but  I  cannot  tell  the  relish  of 
it  that  night,  after  supper  4  Indians  lay  on  my  belt  that  tied  me  to 
the  stakes  two  upon  each  side  of  me  so  that  I  could  not  move  but  that 
they  all  would  feele  the  belt  move  When  I  looked  at  the  fier  there 
was  the  guard  an  Indian  Smoking  In  the  morning  The  Vermont 
Melisha  routed  them  They  fired  on  the  Indian  out  guard  The  Indians 
in  confusion  and  rage  onstaked  theire  prisoners  My  belt  was  taken 
and  put  round  my  neck  and  tied  to  a  sapplin  another  I  see  bound  to  a 
tree  while  they  packed  up.  Theire  eyes  looked  like  wildfler.  One 
uttered  to  his  prisoner  bumby  bumby  (as  tho  death  at  hand)  After 
ready  to  march  I  was  loosed  from  the  Sapplin  loaded  with  a  pack  and 
led  by  the  halter  on  my  neck  and  my  leader  with  tommahok  in  hand 
and  to  follow  after  my  file  leader  Each  master  of  a  prisoner  (as  I 
understood  afterward)  had  orders  to  kill  his  prisoner  if  closely  per- 
sued  and  then  they  could  take  their  flight  from  their  enemies  in  the 
woods  In  this  case  no  one  could  predict  the  result;  life  and  death  is 
set  before  us 

Here  must  follow  a  multitude  of  thoughts  which  none  can  know 
but  by  experience  Many  vain  wishes  I  had  in  this  unreconselled  state 
O  that  I  were  nothing  so  that  they  could  not  torment  my  body    Then 


History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont  163 

again.  Why  is  it  thus  with  me,  is  the  reasonahle  enquiry  (It  seemed 
according  to  the  circumstances  when  I  was  taken  I  might  have  got 
out  of  the  way)  Now  my  dreams  rushed  to  my  mind.  This  made  me 
feele  that  I  had  to  do  with  my  Maker  Ood.  I  felt  in  His  hand  a  guilty 
sinner.  I  compared  myself  like  unto  a  bullock  unaccustomed  to  the 
yoak.  Such  feelings  I  never  had  before  in  my  life  brought  to  my  view; 
my  sins  roled  over  me  like  the  waves  of  the  sea,  roling  after  each  other 
untill  I  was  overwhelmed,  it  seemed  He  told  me  all  ever  I  did.  I  felt 
the  evil  of  my  life,  and  the  Divine  Justice  of  providence  I  was  still 
as  to  a  murmur  against  God  I  was  soone  calmed  in  mind.  I  saw 
they  were  overruled  by  God  the  Indians  could  do  no  more  than  they 
were  permitted  to  do.  They  could  do  no  more  than  a  Wise  and  good 
disposer  pleased  I  seemed  to  feele  that  calmness  to  think  that  were 
the  Indians  permitted  to  kill  I  could  look  them  in  the  face  calmly  The 
words  in  Isaiah  came  to  my  mind  He  was  led  as  sheap  to  the  slaugh- 
ter and  as  a  lamb  dumb  before  his  shearer  was  dumb  so  opened  he  not 
his  mouth.  As  I  was  literally  so  led;  I  have  thought  on  my  tryals 
sence  it  might  be  the  occasion  of  these  blessed  words  of  coming  to 
mind.  My  mind  in  this  tryal  was  calm  I  was  silent  as  to  a  murmur. 
I  opened  not  my  mouth  My  soul  was  stilled    it  was  God  that  did  it. 

But  who  can  give  peace,  and  still  the  murmor  of  an  unreconciled 
mind,  but  God;  under  such  tryals  of  mind  and  providence?  (But  I 
have  enough  to  complain  of  myself  as  a  sinner  against  Divine  goodness 
which  provokes  chastisement) 

I  had  at  this  time  the  Holy  Bible  and  Watts  Hymn  Book  in  my 
boeom,  tliat  we  used  to  read  and  meditate  in  our  Journey,  which  I  took 
from  a  house  that  the  Indians  burned  The  Indians  would  take  this 
from  my  bosom  to  see  what  I  had  got  and  return  them.  In  one  of  our 
stops,  in  reading  the  38th  psalm  as  applicable  in  part  to  our  case,  it 
drew  many  tears  from  sum  of  us — These  books  was  read  by  us  on  our 
Journey  to  Cannada  and  consoling  to  use  when  prisoners  We  had  no 
where  to  look  but  to  Ck)d  in  our  troubles  But  as  sinners  we  have  still 
that  body  of  sin  that  provokes  chastisement  and  causes  grief  to  the  soul 
which  we  hope  will  mortify  the  deeds  of  the  Body  to  die  unto  sin  to 

live  unto  (Sod I  have  digressed  from  the  Historical  part 

of  my  work  to  show  the  exercises  of  the  mind  in  such  tryals  and  the 
goodness  of  God  in  them  is  more  than  I  can  express.  I  now  return 
to  the  Indian  history: 

I  traveled  with  them  5  days  Taken  by  them  on  monday  Octr  16th 
we  came  to  Lake  Shamplan  on  friday  20th  at  Colchester  and  crossed 
over  in  Battowse  to  the  Grand  He  that  day.  (They  had  killed  two  of 
the  inhabitants  in  persuing  them  viz  Button  and  Pember  AUso  in  the 
camp  the  first  night  they  killed  two  of  thelre  prisoners  viz  Kneeland 
and  Gil>s)  Nothing  further  transpired  thus  far  that  is  very  interest- 
ing to  relate.  We  went  down  the  Lake  from  the  Grand  He,  to  the 
He  o  Noin  Saturday  21st  tarried  there  that  night  for  refreshment  by 
victuals  ft  rum  Sabbath  22  we  arrived  at  St  Johns  Cannada,  where  was 
more  Rum,  that  day  and  a  market  for  theire  plunder.  I  was  dressed 
drolely  I  had  on  an  Indian  blanket  with  my  head  poked  through  a  hole 
in  its  middle,  hanging  over  my  body,  with  a  high  peaked  cap  on  my 
head,  my  face  painted  with  red  streaks,  being  smoked  over  theire  fiers 
looked  very  much  like  an  Indian,  being  sett  at  a  parsel  of  their  plun- 
dered goods.  The  refugees  at  St  Johns  came  to  the  parsel  that  I  was 
set  at  to  buy,  looking  at  me  one  of  them  says  to  his  mate,  is  that  an 
Indian;  his  mate  replied  no,  his  hair  is  not  Indian  (Thus  look  and  se 
Indian  captives)  The  Indians  this  day  (Sabbath)  take  up  there  march 
for  thire  Home  Cahnawaga,  many  of  them  very  drunk  and  often  those 


164  History  op  Royalton,  Vebmont 

loaded  down  with  theire  plundered  goods  would  sowsed  down  in  mud 
as  road  was  much  soaked  by  the  snows  melting  of  at  this  time.  Some 
of  those  loaded  drunken  Indians  in  this  plight  were  three  days  traT- 
ellng  25  milds 

I  was  taken  by  my  Master  Indian  to  Cahnawac^k  at  his  home  we 
arrived  on  monday  or  tuesday  from  St  Johns.  I  tarried  there  at  my 
keepers  two  or  more  days  when  all  the  party  or  the  scout  of  Indians 
came  in.  Then  the  Sachem  Fooumo  came  to  my  quarters,  and  took  me 
to  the  centre  of  Village,  Where  the  Indians  and  Squaws  gathered  around 
I  was  on  a  seat  at  the  Chiefs  feet,  He  making  a  Speech  over  me  to  his 
audience  I  sat  In  suspence  (not  knowing  his  language  or  deeigns  I 
had  fears  as  might  be  to  run  the  gauntlet  or  some  evil  But  my  sob- 
pence  soone  ended.  I  was  led  off  by  an  Indian  lad  bye  past  the  Specta- 
tors to  the  door  of  a  house  and  meet  by  Squaws  with  a  Blanket  it  hat. 
and  Water  and  soap  to  wash;  and  found  that  was  the  place  of  my 
residence  Theire  I  found  another  young  man  a  prisoner  to  them  I 
enquired  of  him  if  he  understood  the  meaning  of  this  last  manoTer 
I  had  passed  through.  He  said  he  did.  He  had  experienced  the  same 
We  were  both  of  us  (by  this  Seremony)  adopted  into  that  family  to 
fill  the  places  of  two  Indians  which  had  recently  died  there  and  we 
made  up  theire  loss.  I  enquired  of  him  how  he  knew.  He  answered 
the  Indian  interperter  Tracy  told  him.  But  what  I  saw  afterward 
which  was  more  affecting.  That  they  displayed  the  Scalps  of  our  pris- 
oners (those  they  killed)  in  the  same  seremony. 

I  lived  with  them  something  6  or  7  weeks  perhaps  until!  my  owner 
belonging  to  another  tribe  came  for  me,  and  took  me  to  Montreall  to 
take  his  bounty  for  me  I  was  dressed  decently  to  follow  him  by  two 
old  squaws;  as  soon  as  I  was  sold  and  Delivered  to  the  Brittiah  a 
prisoner  I  was  stripped  to  the  shirt  by  my  former  Indian  owner — 
I  was  taken  thence  to  the  guard  house  allmost  naked  they  covered 
me  with  an  old  thin  blanket  coat  in  the  cold  season  of  the  last  of  Novr 
keept  under  guard  naught  to  eat  for  2  or  more  days  before  I  had 
orders  for  rations,  from  thence  I  was  taken  to  grants  Hand  near  the 
City  a  Rany  night  followed  the  prisoners  was  in  tents  then  in  cold 
winter  weather  We  prisoners  had  no  tent  pitched  for  the  night  we 
roled  ourselves  in  the  tent  cloth  for  a  cold  weet  night — I  never  drew 
rations  on  the  Island  I  complained  to  the  officer  of  prisners  of  lame- 
ness, and  carried  from  thence  to  the  Hospital  half  starved  the  next 
day,  being  shifted  without  orders  for  provision  (from  place  to  place). 
I  was  allmost  starved.  I  was  lame  when  I  was  taken  with  a  scorfionl- 
ous  humor  in  my  legg  A  surgeon  and  phisian  tended  the  Hospital 
they  were  kind  to  me,  especially  the  Doctor  When  I  got  better  of  the 
sore  leg  the  phicisian  ment  to  take  me  to  his  House  to  serve  him  I 
was  borth  very  dirty  and  naked 

from  thence  I  was  conducted  in  such  a  plight  in  a  cold  winter  day 
to  the  commesarys,  (by  the  Orderly  man  of  the  hospital)  for  cloathing, 
and  got  none  from  thence  to  the  Doctors,  lef  there  for  the  night  chilled 
with  cold  fatigued  and  sick — hardly  able  to  rise  next  morning  I  was 
called  upon  by  the  Doctor  examined  by  Him,  and  sent  back  to  the 
Hospital  a  mild  to  travill  in  a  cold  N  Wester  I  went  directly  there 
and  took  my  place  in  the  Bunk;  I  was  soone  senseless  of  all  that 
passed.  The  time  was  lost  to  me,  for  a  space  and  deranged  views  and 
thoughts  followed  When  I  had  come  to  reason  or  sense  of  feeling  I 
had  acute  pain  in  the  head,  my  eyes  seemed  as  if  theyd  be  thnmpped 
out  in  this  case  the  Doctor  ordered  half  of  my  head  shaved  the  left 
side  Three  blister  plasters  were  applied  on  my  head  neck  and  back 
that  on  head  and  neck  never  blistered — and  the  back  one  scarce  a  bUs- 


HiSTOBY  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT  155 

ter.  When  I  had  got  to  know  myself  I  was  amasiated  to  a  Skilleton 
When  I  got  cloaths  to  put  on  my  overalls  looked  like  tongs  in  them 
my  ear  to  see  through  my  nose  and  face  peaked  and  dirty  and  lowsy 
as  if  one  ded  all  as  they  lay  in  the  Bunk — I  used  to  bake  the  rags  of 
my  shirt  on  the  stove  when  I  had  got  so  much  strength,  better  to  kill 
lice  off.  Through  the  mercy  of  God  I  recovered  from  this  distress; 
and  when  better  of  it  I  was  amasiated  to  a  scalaton — and  in  recovering 
in  this  weak  condition  I  had  to  take  hard  fare. 

I  write  now  that  was  done  about  65  years  ago  in  the  year  1781 
feb;  Now  July  20,  1846  And  now  what  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for 
His  astonishing  goodness  I  will  take  the  cup  &c  what  stupid  hardness 
must  it  be  not  to  notice  the  Divine  hand  The  Doctor  still  showing 
his  kindness  to  me  (he  did  not  need  me  as  a  water  to  himself)  but  he 
sought  for  places  for  my  abode  where  I  was  needed,  (to  my  relief  from 
confinement)  He  had  two  places  in  view  for  me,  One  was  to  live  with 
a  Jewess  in  Montreal,  the  other,  to  live  with  a  Jew  at  Barkey  (as  I 
might  choose)  This  Jew  was  a  merchant  45  mild  distant;  I  put  it  to 
the  Doctor  to  choose  for  me.  He  thought  it  best  to  go  to  Barkey  in 
the  country  away  from  the  city —  The  refugees  aften  quarraled  and 
complined  of  the  prisoners  at  liberty  in  the  city  and  got  them  into 
prison  again.  I  went  by  his  choice.  The  Jew  was  a  country  trader 
with  but  very  little  learning  but  of  strong  memory  and  head  to  cast  up 
accounts  without  the  use  of  figures  or  writing.  He  had  and  did  employ 
frenchmen  to  make  up  his  accounts.  Very  shortly  after  I  went  there 
I  kept  his  accounts.  (When  the  Doctor  chose  this  place  for  me  to  live 
I  told  him  I  should  loose  of  being  exchanged  being  so  far  from 
other  prisoners  or  of  writing  to  my  parents;  he  answered  that  could 
be  accomedated  by  writing  to  Mr  Jones  the  Provost-master  at  Montreal) 
When  I  went  to  live  with  the  Jew  my  clothing  was  but  poor  an  old 
blanket  loose  coat,  the  rag  of  a  shirt  that  I  burned  the  lice  from  and 
overallB  that  I  can  describe  I  drew  also  a  shirt  with  my  overalls; 
and  a  prisoner  died  and  I  had  his  old  shoes  when  I  went  with  the  Jew 
to  live  A  shirt  was  the  first  I  most  needed,  and  the  first  thing  I  was 
supplied  with  from  him,  and  that  was  made  from  ozinbrigs  (coarse 
wrapping  cloth)  washed  in  cold  water  and  dried  for  me  to  put  on  by 
an  old  matroon  the  Jews  housekeeper;  when  I  put  this  shirt  on  the 
meanest  I  ever  wore  except  the  old  dirty  lousy  ragged  one,  it  daunted 
my  Spirits;  otherwise  I  had  better  fare,  and  when  better  acquainted 
he  needed  my  assistance  to  keep  his  accounts  and  in  his  store. 

He  married  a  wife  soon  after  I  went  there  to  live;  She  was  a  Jew- 
ess. His  family  before  was  the  old  french  woman  &  twin  children 
be  had  by  a  squaw  when  a  trader  with  the  Indians  which  he  was 
obliged  to  leave  in  Upper  Cannada.  But  after  he  married  I  fared  better 
for  cloathing  by  her  means  I  was  dressed  descent  I  tarried  with  them 
until  the  next  August  The  Jew  left  home  for  Quebeck  while  gone  I 
wrote  to  Mr  Jones  informing  him  where  I  was,  and  to  know  if  there 
was  any  exchange  of  prisoners,  or  that  I  could  write  to  my  parents. 
I  wanted  the  benefit  of  it.  Mr  Jones  wrote  immediately  to  the  Jew 
to  send  me  to  Montreal,  and  then  I  was  exchanged  and  to  be  sent  home. 
This  letter  came  when  Mr  Lions  the  Jew  returned  from  Quebeck,  and 
1  was  absent  from  home,  on  an  errand.  When  I  returned  in  the  even- 
ing The  Jew  enquired  of  me  what  I  had  been  about  while  he  was  gone 
to  Quebeck  Why  I  answered.  He  responded  I  have  received  a  Letter 
from  Mr  Jones  at  Montreall  and  I  dont  know  what  they  are  going  to 
do  with  you  it  may  to  put  to  Jaile  (He  could  not  read  the  letter  at  all, 
neither  his  wife  so  as  to  understand  it)  He  wanted  me  to  read  it  to 
them.    I  took  it  and  looked  it  through,  and  then  read  to  them,  gladly, 


156  History  of  Rotalton^  Vebmont 

that  I  was  exchanged  to  go  home  and  that  he  must  send  me  directly 
to  Montreal!  Then  says  he  what  shall  we  do,  for  you  hare  kept  my 
books  while  here  Tou  and  Mrs  Lyons  must  sett  up  all  night  and  she 
must  write  over  the  head  of  each  mans  account  his  name  in  Hebrew 
characters,  for  she  did  not  know  how  to  write  english  or  french  well 
enough,  and  we  spent  the  night  in  this  way. 

The  next  morning  I  sett  out  for  Montreal!  arriyed  there  the  next 
day,  when  I  came  to  Mr  Jones;  I  was  told  I  might  have  been  at  home 
by  this  time.  That  I  was  exchanged  by  name  and  17  others,  and  that 
they  had  gone  in  a  carteele  home  and  that  I  had  to  wait  there  untUl 
another  carteele  of  prisoners  might  go.  He  told  me  I  could  draw  pro- 
visions (and  have  my  liberty)  and  be  bileted  with  prisoners  that  were 
on  parole  untill  I  could  go.  So  I  lived  with  others  drew  my  provlsioiiB 
weakly  and  worke  out  as  I  pleased.  I  thus  employed  myself  to  gain 
something  to  cloathe  and  to  spare  to  the  poor  sick  prisoners  in  the 
hospitial  that  I  before  suffered  in.  The  next  June  a  carteele  of  pris- 
oners came  into  the  state  and  I  with  the  rest  and  was  landed  at  the 
head  of  Lake  Shamplane,  at  what  is  now  Whitehall  N  York.  Prom 
thence  I  traveled  on  foot  to  Windsor  Connecticut  to  my  Sisters  and 
was  gladly  and  surprisingly  welcomed  for  they  knew  nothing  but  that 
I  was  dead  and  scalped  untill  they  saw  me.  (for  by  mistake  my  name 
had  been  returned,  and  published  as  dead)  I  tarried  at  Windaor 
through  that  summer,  and  wrote  to  my  parents  in  Truro  Mass.  I 
worked  and  bought  me  hors  to  go  Home;  on  the  first  of  Sept  following 
I  sett  out  for  Truro  and  arrived  in  the  neighborhood  of  my  fathers; 
and  Sent  a  neighbor  to  notify  my  parents  that  I  was  come,  that  theire 
lost  had  arrived,  not  to  shock  them  too  suddenly.  My  mother  and 
sister  had  gathered  themselves  in  a  roome  to  meete  me.  Soon  I  met 
them  in  that  roome,  at  the  sight  of  me  my  mother  left  the  roome. 
Judge  Reader  If  you  can  of  her  emotions  off  mind  and  ours  I  feele 
the  emotions  now  when  writing  My  father  was  absent  from  home  at 
this  time,  but  had  heard  of  my  arrival  before  he  came  home  that  even- 
ing with  his  mind  more  composed.** 

The  sufferings  in  captivity  which  Mr.  Avery  in  his  old  age 
recounted  cannot  but  awaken  sympathy  in  the  minds  of  all  who 
read  them,  yet  they  were  not  so  great  as  the  trials  of  some  others 
which  ^Ir.  Steele  has  narrated  in  his  account  of  the  raid.  Let 
us  return  to  the  events  of  that  day. 

Phineas  Parkhurst,  son  of  Tilly,  had  staid  at  the  home  of 
an  acquaintance  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  the  Sunday  night 
before  the  raid.  The  name  of  this  family  is  not  known  to  his 
descendants,  but  according  to  their  tradition  the  family  was  at 
breakfast  when  they  saw  the  Indians,  and  Phineas  at  once  took 
the  wife  and  daughter  of  his  host  on  horseback,  crossed  the  First 
Branch  and  rode  down  the  east  side  of  the  river  to  a  place  of 
safety.  He  then  returned  and  had  reached  the  fordway  oppo- 
site his  father's  house  just  as  the  Indians  made  their  appearance 
at  the  house.  He  was  about  to  cross  when  he  discovered  the  In- 
dians, and  he  turned  his  horse  to  flee.  A  shot  from  an  Indian 
pierced  his  body  and  seriously  wounded  him,  but  the  ball  re- 
mained in  a  cul  de  sac  beneath  the  skin.  The  mother  saw  her 
boy,  saw  the  blood  burst  from  the  wound  as  he  galloped  away 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  167 

down  stream,  one  hand  clutching  the  ball.  In  after  days  in 
recounting  the  experiences  of  the  day  she  was  wont  to  exclaim, 
"Phinnie  wounded!  blood  a  running!  Oh,  dear!  I  on  a  strad- 
dle without  any  saddle,  and  a  pocket  handkerchief  for  a  bridle, 
Oh,  dear!"  Her  brave  boy  pursued  his  course  down  the  river 
through  Sharon,  giving  the  alarm  as  he  went,  on  to  Stephen 
Tilden's  tavern  in  Hartford,  where  a  minute  later  his  signal  was 
answered  by  the  alarm  gun  to  call  the  militia  together.  A  mile 
or  so  farther  on  he  crossed  White  river,  then  the  Connecticut  by 
Robinson's  ferry,  and  at  last  his  long  exhausting  ride  was  over, 
and  the  skillful  surgeon.  Dr.  Gates  of  Lebanon,  was  working  over 
the  wounded,  fainting  youth.  Brave  heart!  So  long  as  the 
name  of  Royalton  shall  live,  so  long  as  she  has  a  son  or  daughter 
to  feel  a  thrill  of  pride  in  her  history,  so  long  will  the  heroic 
deed  of  Phineas  Parkhurst  be  recalled  with  loving  gratitude  and 
admiration. 

The  party  that  went  down  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  may 
have  come  first,  after  Joseph  Haven's  place,  to  the  house  of 
Nathaniel  Morse,  near  what  has  been  known  as  Onionville.  (As 
this  term  is  objectionable  alike  to  the  people  living  in  that  vicin- 
ity and  the  town  in  general,  the  place  hereafter  will  be  spoken 
of  in  this  History  as  Havensville,  an  appropriate  name,  as  the 
Havens  families  lived  there  or  near  there  many  years,  and  the 
Havens  cemetery  is  located  there.)  The  Morse  family  had  been 
warned,  probably  by  Phineas  Parkhurst,  and  Mrs.  Morse  was 
fleeing  on  horseback  with  her  daughter  Abigail  in  her  arms,  when 
the  Indians  captured  them,  seated  them  on  a  log,  and  swung  their 
tomahawks  over  them,  but  left  them  to  destroy  their  house  and 
bam  and  seven  fat  oxen  among  their  stock.  Three  silver  but- 
tons that  Mrs.  Morse  had  on  when  she  was  overtaken  are  now  in 
the  possession  of  her  great-granddaughter,  Mrs.  Adelia  M.  Car- 
penter Taplin  of  Middlesex.  Mr.  Morse  did  duty  in  Capt.  Jo- 
seph Parkhurst 's  company. 

Below  the  Morses  on  the  John  F.  Shepard  farm  lived  the 
Revolutionary  war-horse,  Jeremiah  Trescott.  His  family  went 
into  the  woods  back  of  the  house  and  secreted  themselves.  Jere- 
miah followed  the  brook  near  by  until  he,  too,  was  safely  hid. 
Here  in  his  hiding  place  he  saw  the  Indians  enter,  pillage,  and 
burn  his  house  and  destroy  his  property.  He  saw  them,  also,  on 
their  return,  and  as  an  Indian  heavily  laden  with  plunder  lagged 
behind,  the  old  martial  impulse  drew  his  gun  to  his  shoulder  for 
a  shot,  but  the  hitherto  trusty  weapon  failed  him,  and  did  not 
go  off.  In  lowering  it  to  see  what  was  the  matter,  it  was  acci- 
dentally fired.  The  Indian  looked  up,  grunted,  **Ugh !"  and  ran 
gwiftly  on.  That  is  said  to  be  the  only  gun  fired  by  the  inhab- 
itants that  day.     Another  tradition  varying  somewhat  from  this, 


168  HiSTOBY  OP  ROTALTON,  VERMONT 

which  John  P.  Shepard  took  from  the  lips  of  Mary  (Trescott) 
Baker,  a  grand-daughter  of  Jeremiah  Trescott,  is  that  the  Indians 
went  down  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  crossed  to  the  east  side 
near  the  mouth  of  Broad  Brook,  and  burned  and  pillaged  as  they 
went  back.  The  granite  boulders  beside  which  the  Trescott 
women  lay  were  on  the  Simon  Shepard  farm.  They  staid  there 
until  the  evening.  Mr.  Shepard  writes,  **They  found  the  Shep- 
ard family  had  gone,  so  they  went  to  the  house  and  got  in  and 
lighted  a  light  and  built  a  fire,  and  got  something  to  eat,  and 
staid  there  in  the  house  that  night.  Trescott  hid  in  the  alder 
and  willow  bushes,  in  what  is  now  the  mill  pond,  and  saw  them 
bum  his  house  and  destroy  his  stock,  but  did  not  dare  to  make 
a  move  until  they  were  all  gone,  as  he  supposed,  when  one  Indian 
alone  came  along  loaded  with  plunder.  Trescott  fired  at  him, 
and  he  dropped  his  load  and  ran.  The  house  which  they  burned 
stood  some  ten  or  twelve  rods  southeast  of  the  present  house,  and 
the  road  came  up  east  of  the  house,  not  between  the  house  and 
river  as  it  does  now.  The  location  of  the  house  and  some  of  the 
road  can  still  be  seen."  According  to  Dr.  Alden  C.  Latham, 
Sarah,  the  daughter  of  Jeremiah,  was  an  unfortunate,  who  could 
talk  very  little.  Her  defect  was  attributed  to  fright  and  ex- 
posure at  the  time  of  the  raid. 

Daniel  Gilbert,  who  first  settled  in  Sharon,  and  resided  part 
of  the  time  in  Royalton  and  part  of  the  time  in  Sharon,  was 
living  in  Royalton  on  the  Dana-West  farm  when  the  Indians  came 
to  town.  He  built  there  a  comfortable  log  house  and  outbuild- 
ings, had  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  large  stock  of  other  animals.  In 
the  morning,  while  the  family  were  at  breakfast,  townsmen  came 
into  the  yard  to  notify  him  that  the  Indians  were  coming,  and 
he  was  called  to  take  command  of  the  Company  of  which  he  was 
captain,  and  to  aid  in  repelling  the  savages.  Mrs.  Oilbert 
brushed  the  dishes  and  the  provisions  from  the  table  into  her 
apron,  and  with  the  hired  girl  started  to  find  a  place  of  safety 
in  the  woods.  The  girl  had  a  new  bonnet  of  which  she  was  quite 
proud.  She  was  naturally  anxious  about  it.  She  said  to  Mrs. 
Gilbert,  **What  shall  I  do  with  my  bonnet — put  it  on  the  tees- 
tf r  ? "  by  which  she  meant  the  covered  part  of  a  high  posted  cur- 
tained bedstead.  Mrs.  Gilbert  replied,  **No,  child,  put  it  on  your 
head.  The  Indians  will  burn  the  house."  They  found  a  place 
in  the  woods  commanding  a  view  of  the  house,  where  they  re- 
mained unmolested,  and  watched  the  proceedings  of  the  enemy. 
Mrs.  Gilbert  saw  them  take  out  her  feather  beds,  rip  them  open. 
and  throw  the  feathers  in  the  air,  dancing  and  hooting.  They 
butchered  the  cattle,  and  when  there  was  no  more  mischief  they 
could  do,  they  set  fire  to  the  house,  and  Mrs.  Gilbert  from  her 
hiding  place  watched  her  home  go  up  in  smoke. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  169 

At  Capt.  Gilbert's  his  nephew,  Nathaniel,  was  taken  pris- 
oner. The  story  of  his  capture  and  release  was  related  in  1910 
by  Mr.  Henry  C.  Gilbert  of  Randolph,  grandson  of  Nathaniel. 
Nathaniel's  father  was  dead,  and  he  had  come  from  Connecticut 
with  his  uncle.  According  to  this  account  the  family  were 
warned  by  a  man  on  horseback,  perhaps  Phineas  Parkhurst. 
Capt.  Gilbert  sent  Nathaniel  to  warn  a  neighbor  over  the  hill 
beyond  them.  While  he  was  away  the  Captain  saddled  two 
horses  ready  for  flight  to  the  fort  at  No.  4,  Charlestown,  N.  H., 
but  it  would  seem  that  the  family  were  not  able  to  avail  them- 
selves of  this  means  of  escape,  before  the  Captain  had  to  leave, 
and  the  Indians  were  upon  them.  When  Nathaniel  returned,  he 
saw  the  horses  at  the  door,  but  nothing  suspicious.  He  went  into 
the  house,  and  first  noticed  feathers  on  the  floor.  While  look- 
ing at  them  an  Indian  came  out  from  another  room  and  gave  the 
usual  grunt,  "Ugh!"  but  did  not  take  much  notice  of  the  boy. 
Nathaniel,  terrified,  turned  about  and  started  to  go  back  over 
the  hill.  He  went  through  a  hollow,  and  when  he  looked  again 
toward  the  house,  he  saw  at  one  comer  of  it  the  same  red-skin 
that  showed  himself  inside.  The  Indian  beckoned  to  him,  and 
called  out,  "Come  back!"  This  only  added  to  his  fear,  and  he 
w^as  about  to  increase  his  speed,  when  he  saw  another  savage  at 
another  comer  of  the  house,  who  stood  with  his  gun  pointed  at 
him.  The  gun  was  persuasive,  and  he  went  back.  They  tied 
him  with  a  string  to  a  nail  under  the  looking  glass. 

In  their  camp  that  night  they  tied  his  hands  behind  him, 
and  secured  him  to  a  small  tree  near  where  Joseph  Kneeland  was 
tied.  He  saw  an  Indian  advance  upon  Kneeland,  swinging  his 
tomahawk,  and  could  avoid  seeing  the  brute  scalp  his  quivering 
victim  only  by  closing  his  eyes.  He  was  in  a  state  of  terror, 
when  the  Indian  came  toward  him.  The  savage  examined  his 
fastenings  and  went  oflf.  Later  Nathaniel  asked  him  why  he 
killed  Kneeland,  and  he  answered,  "Broad  shoulders,  straight 
leg,  and  keen  eye,  and  me  know  never  could  get  him  to  Canada." 

In  Canada  Nathaniel  was  adopted  by  a  squaw,  and  when  he 
had  the  choice  of  staying  with  the  Indians  or  enlisting  in  the 
British  army,  he  chose  the  latter.  Mr.  H.  C.  Gilbert  has  Nathan- 
iel's original  discharge,  a  copy  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  gene- 
alogy of  the  family.  After  his  discharge  he  went  on  foot  to 
Connecticut.  His  mother  had  married  a  man  who  had  two  grown 
daughters.  When  he  went  to  his  mother's  house,  he  asked  her 
if  she  could  keep  a  traveller.  The  girls  heard  him,  and  called 
their  mother  to  them  and  said,  "Don't  keep  him.  He  wears  the 
British  uniform,  and  will  kill  us  all  before  morning."  Not  car- 
ing to  make  himself  known  that  night,  he  went  to  a  neighbor's 


160  History  of  Botalton^  Vebmont 

and  staid,  and  told  them  who  he  was.  The  next  morning,  when 
he  appeared  at  his  home,  his  mother  recognized  him. 

He  could  not  in  all  his  after  years  free  his  mind  from  the 
bloody  scenes  which  he  had  witnessed.  Even  after  he  had  chil- 
dren of  his  own,  he  sometimes  sprang  from  his  bed  in  his  sleep, 
crying  out,  ''The  Indians  are  coming!"  Once  he  sprang  into  a 
tub  of  water,  which  chanced  to  be  on  the  floor,  in  which  the 
clothes  had  been  put  to  soak  for  the  next  day's  washing.  When 
he  died  he  left  an  injunction  to  his  family,  which  is  still  observed 
by  this  generation,  never  to  send  a  man  hungry  away  from  the 
door. 

Simon  Shepard  lived  just  across  the  B^alton  line  in  the 
edge  of  Sharon.  When  warned  the  family  left  everything  and 
went  two  or  three  miles  below  Sharon  village  to  Mr.  Marsh  *s« 
and  staid  there  that  night.  Mr.  Shepard  went  back  in  the  even- 
ing to  see  if  the  Indians  had  burned  his  house,  and  seeing  the 
light  of  the  Trescott  women  concluded  the  Indians  were  there, 
and  did  not  dare  go  to  the  house.  He  went  back  to  ]Mr.  Marsh's 
and  reported  that  the  Indians  were  still  there,  but  had  not  burned 
his  house. 

The  family  of  Josiah  Wheeler  participated  in  the  panic  of 
this  day.  Mr.  Wheeler  was  a  resident  of  Sharon  in  1778.  He 
does  not  appear  in  Royalton  town  meeting  records  until  1782. 
In  that  year  he  bought  land  in  town.  Prom  Sharon  town  records 
it  would  seem  that  he  lived  on  the  river.  If  so,  he  was  so  far 
down  stream  that  the  Indians  did  not  reach  his  dwelling.  If 
in  Royalton,  a  possible  location  would  be  lot  25  or  26  Dutch,  far 
enough  back  from  the  river  to  escape  destruction.  The  Indians 
did  not  go  back  on  the  hills.  When  Mr.  Wheeler  heard  of  the 
attack  of  the  savages,  he  placed  his  wife  and  four-dajrs-old  baby 
on  one  horse,  his  sister  and  eldest  son  on  another,  and  followed 
on  foot.  With  a  narrow  escape  they  reached  the  settlements  on 
the  Connecticut  river.  Their  property  was  not  destroyed.  The 
Indians  did  not  go  do\vn  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  much,  if 
any,  below  Capt.  Gilbert's,  and  that  was  the  last  house  which 
they  burned. 

Another  family  whose  exact  residence  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained, is  the  Downer  family.  Mrs.  J.  B.  Bacon  of  Chelsea,  a 
great-granddaughter  of  Ephraim  Downer,  has  furnished  some 
facts  connected  with  this  familj',  as  has  also  2^Irs.  A.  Olsen  of 
Tucson,  Arizona,  anothei  descendant,  being  the  granddaughter 
of  Sally  Downer.  Mrs.  Bacon  states,  '*^Iy  great-grandfather, 
Ephraim  Downer,  was  a  widower  with  three  small  children,  Eph- 
raim, Daniel,  and  Sally.  The  two  boys  were  at  home,  but  Sally, 
who  was  a  wee  tot.  was  cared  for  in  the  family  of  Tilly  Park- 
hurst,  a  fellow-townsman.     Early  on  the  morning  of  the  burning 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  161 

of  Royalton,  my  (great) -grandfather,  who  was  a  carpenter,  was 
in  a  loft  over  the  shed  looking  over  some  lumber,  when  the  Indians 
suddenly  sprang  upon  him.  They  dragged  the  two  boys  from  their 
beds,  frightening  the  youngest  so  that  he  never  recovered  from 
the  shock,  and  died  not  long  afterward.  All  three  were  taken 
captive  and  started  for  Canada.  The  youngest  boy  was  one  of 
the  children  whom  the  heroine,  Mrs.  Hendee,  recovered,  but  the 
others  were  taken  to  Canada  and  there  spent  their  lives."  Mrs. 
Bacon  is  of  the  opinion  that  Ephraim  Downer  lived  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  South  Royalton.  If  so,  he  may  possibly  have  lived  near 
the  miUs,  and  so  have  been  one  of  the  first  to  suffer  from  the 
savages. 

The  party  of  Indians  that  went  up  the  river  on  the  east  side 
came  first  to  the  house  of  Elias  Stevens.  Mrs.  Stevens  is  said 
to  have  had  a  struggle  with  an  Indian  in  a  vain  attempt  to  save 
her  feather  bed.  Many  of  the  women  displayed  great  courage 
and  presence  of  mind  when  'they  were  so  suddenly  attacked  by 
the  savages.  David  Waller,  the  son  of  Israel  Waller,  who  was 
then  Uving  in  the  western  part  of  the  town,  was  working  for 
Lieut.  Stevens.  He  was  captured  by  the  Indians,  taken  to  Can- 
ada, sold  to  a  Frenchman,  and  dressed  in  livery.  He  returned 
to  Royalton,  when  there  was  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  Mrs. 
Stevens  had  two  small  children  at  this  time,  the  elder  not  three 
years  old.  Her  condition  must  have  been  sad  indeed.  She  was 
surrounded  by  Indians,  who  made  the  Stevens  meadow  their  ren- 
dezvous. The  people  above  her  would  flee  north,  and  those  below 
had  probably  fled  south  before  she  could  reach  any  of  them.  The 
Indians  allowed  her  to  seek  safety  in  the  woods.  Lieut.  Stevens' 
name  is  found  in  Capt.  Parkhurst's  Company,  which  is  thought 
to  have  done  duty  at  home,  as  they  drew  no  mileage.  The  Wal- 
ler boy,  who  might  have  given  her  some  aid,  was  taken  prisoner, 
but  no  doubt  she  was  kindly  cared  for  as  soon  as  the  scattered 
settlers  dared  to  return  to  their  desolate  homes. 

Ebenezer  Brewster  of  Dresden,  a  non-resident,  owned  the 
land  along  the  river  from  the  land  of  Lieut.  Stevens  to  what  is 
now  the  upper  part  of  Royalton  village.  This  strip  was  prob- 
ably unsettled.  A  Mr.  Evans,  whether  John  or  Cotton  cannot 
be  positively  aflSrmed,  is  said  to  have  lived  in  1780  not  far  from 
Royalton  village.  It  is  known  that  John  Evans  lived  in  Royal- 
ton before  1780.  Mrs.  Coit  Parkhurst,  in  recounting  the  events 
of  the  day  twenty-five  or  more  years  ago  stated  that  Nathaniel 
Evans  was  taken  prisoner  in  Royalton,  but  was  supposed  to  have 
lived  in  Randolph.  There  is  no  proof  so  far  as  known,  that  Cot- 
ton lived  here  so  early  as  1780.  It  is  believed  by  the  descendants 
of  Nathaniel  that  he  was  the  son  of  Cotton.  There  is  a  tradition 
that  he  put  his  face  in  a  log  fence  and  thought  he  was  safe.     He 

11 


i 


16i  HiSTOBY  OP  BOTALTOX,  VeXMONT 

was  bnt  seven  years  old.  He  lived  to  many  and  hare  ehildren. 
and  his  only  son  Charles  was  one  of  the  victims  in  an  TnHimii 
massacre  in  Texas.  The  Evans  family  mnst  have  been  warned. 
Mrs.  Evans  is  said  to  have  taken  her  silver,  tied  it  in  an  apron, 
and  hid  it  in  a  well,  and  then  to  have  hidden  herself  and  her 
children  in  the  woods.  John  Evans  was  in  Capt.  Joseph  Park- 
hnrst's  company. 

Timothy  Dorkee  had  been  in  town  about  a  year«  located  on 
the  lot  later  known  as  the  Biz  place,  not  far  from  the  North 
Boyalton  cemetery.  They  destroyed  everything  here  except  a 
small  bam.  which  was  too  green  to  bum.  This  served  as  a  house 
for  the  family  for  the  winter,  and  it  is  in  part  still  standinf^  on 
the  same  place,  but  on  the  other  side  of  the  road.  A  cut  of  it  is 
shown  in  this  History.  Two  sons  of  Mr.  Durkee  were  taken  pris- 
oners. Andrew  and  Adan.  Andrew  was  released,  but  Adan  was 
taken  to  Canada  and  died  there  in  prison. 

Benjamin  Parkhurst  lived  a  short  distance  above  Lieut. 
Durkee.  about  one  hundred  rods  up  the  river  from  the  Gifford 
house,  which  was  burned  a  few  years  ago.  The  house  was  sur- 
rounded by  trees,  and  the  Indians  did  not  see  it.  The  family 
were  warned,  and  ^Irs.  Parkhurst  tied  up  a  sheet  full  of  articles, 
and  her  husband  carried  them  into  a  swamp  opposite  their  house. 
then  he  took  his  two  little  girls  over  and  his  wife,  and  came  back 
for  a  Mrs.  Lieazer,  a  neighbor  weighing  200  pounds.  He  waded 
the  river  at  each  load,  and  carried  over  provisions  and  his  gun. 
They  staid  there  through  the  night,  but  the  Indians  came  no 
farther  than  the  Second  Branch  bridge,  which  was  only  a  tree 
felled  across  the  stream.  The  next  spring  Mr.  Parkhurst  found 
a  blanket  and  a  tomahawk  near  the  spot  where  the  Gifford  bam 
once  stood.  The  next  day  Mr.  Parkhurst  took  his  family  back 
home,  and  the  morning  after  the  father  of  Mrs.  Parkhurst  came 
to  visit  her  from  Connecticut.  From  Mr.  Parkhurst 's  obituary 
printed  in  1843.  the  following  is  taken:  **The  savages  were 
every  moment  expected  at  ^Ir.  P's.  He  told  his  family  to  remain 
v*'here  they  were,  and  he  would  defend  them  as  long  as  he  had 
e  breath  of  life;  but  the  enemy  not  appearing,  he  removed  his 
family  across  the  river  and  concealed  them  in  a  thick  swamp, 
where  they  remained  till  the  next  day.  It  has  been  thought, 
and  with  much  probability,  that  his  house  was  spared  through 
the  influence  of  a  man,  known  to  have  been  with  the  Indians,  who 
not  long  before  had  staid  a  fortnight  at  Mr.  P's,  and  shared 
freely  in  the  kindness  and  hospitality  of  the  family.  Mr.  Park- 
hurst was  verj'  active  and  very  generous  in  relieving  the  suffer- 
ers on  that  distressing  occasion.  He  had  just  harvested  a  fine 
crop  of  grain,  amounting  to  300  bushels  of  wheat  and  corn,  which 
was  liberally  distributed  among  his  neighbors;  to  some  it  was 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  168 

lent;  from  others  almost  anything  was  received  in  pay.  None 
were  asked  over  a  moderate  price,  and  only  ten  dollars  in  cash 
were  received  for  the  whole,  and  that  from  a  man  who  was  abund- 
antly able  to  pay  money. The  day  on  which  the  soldiers 

returned  who  had  been  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians,  they  called 
at  Mr.  Parkhurst's  for  refreshment,  and  were  bountifully  sup- 
plied. The  next  morning  the  family  found  that  they  had  given 
away  all  their  flour  and  meal,  without  any  forethought,  and  the 
mill  was  burnt,  and  they  were  obliged  to  subsist  for  a  little  time 
without  bread.  About  that  time  the  inhabitants  were  in  constant 
fear  of  the  Indians.  Mr.  Parkhurst  labored  in  his  field  armed, 
ready  for  an  attack  at  any  moment.  His  wife  could  not  go  out 
for  water  without  carrying  one  child  in  her  arms,  and  the  other 
clinging  to  her  clothes,  and  not  knowing  but  the  enemy  would  be 
ui>on  her  before  she  returned.  The  children  would  even  rise  in 
their  sleep  and  hide  under  their  parents'  bed,  and  find  themselves 
there  on  awakening.  Mr.  P.  with  others  watched  on  patrol.  He 
and  another  man,  on  one  occasion,  gave  a  false  alarm,  which 
spread  through  the  settlement;  but  the  supposed  enemy  proved 
to  be  hunters,  accoutred  so  as  to  give  them  the  appearance  of 
Indians." 

Lieut.  Houghton  in  his  report  says  that  they  burned  close 
to  a  stockaded  post.  This,  of  course,  was  Fort  Fortitude  at 
Bethel,  which  was  four  or  more  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Second  Branch.  It  could  hardly  be  said  to  be  close  to  North 
Royalton,  except  in  comparison  with  the  distance  the  enemy  were 
from  their  Canadian  home.  It  made  his  undertaking  seem  a  lit- 
tle more  daring  thus  to  report  it.  Prince  Haskell  was  not  taken 
prisoner  at  this  time.  He  was  captured  August  9,  1780,  when  a 
party  of  twenty-one  Indians  made  a  raid  on  Barnard,  and  with 
other  prisoners,  Thomas  M.  Wright  and  Timothy  Newton,  was 
carried  to  Canada,  where  he  was  kept  in  confinement  until  the 
autumn  of  1781,  when  he  was  exchanged. 

If  the  Indians  at  the  mouth  of  the  First  Branch  crossed  at 
the  old  fort  fordway  to  go  down  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
they  would  miss  two  or  more  dwellings  north  of  that  fordway. 
It  seems  likely  that  they  knew  this,  and  sent  a  small  number 
north  on  the  west  side.  They  would  come  first  to  the  house  of 
Joseph  Parkhurst,  probably  not  very  far  from  the  present  South 
Boyalton.  They  did  not  find  him  at  home,  for  he  had  galloped 
down  the  river  to  give  the  alarm,  to  aid  others  in  escaping,  and 
no  doubt  to  give  directions  for  gathering  his  company  of  militia 
for  pursuit,  for  Mr.  Avery  in  his  narrative  says  that  with  the 
word  of  warning  came  notice  that  some  had  turned  to  follow  the 
enemy.  It  would  have  been  foolhardiness  for  a  mere  handful  of 
men  to  attack  a  body  of  300  or  more  Indians.     The  date  of  Capt. 


164  History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont 

Parkhurst's  first  marriage  has  not  been  ascertained,  bat  his  first 
child  was  bom  nearly  three  years  after  the  raid,  and  it  may  be 
that  he  had  no  family  at  this  time.  That  was  also  probably  true 
of  Lieut.  Calvin  Parkhurst,  who  may  have  lived  with  Joseph, 
or  on  his  own  land  farther  up  stream.  Lieut.  Calvin  was  mar- 
ried Nov.  9, 1780.  He  was  in  Bennington  at  the  time  of  the  raid 
as  a  representative  from  Royalton,  and  a  similar  record  is  found 
on  the  Journal  of  the  House  as  is  found  in  the  case  of  Capt. 
Ebenezer  Parkhurst.  Both  were  given  leave  of  absence  to  re- 
turn home  on  account  of  the  invasion  of  the  enemy. 

The  definite  location  of  the  "Handy  fordway,"  one  rod  above 
Stevens  bridge,  locates  the  Handy  lot  as  the  place  where  Milo 
Dewey  formerly  lived,  where  Miss  Jessie  Benson,  a  great-grand- 
daughter of  the  first  settler  now  resides.  A  plausible  explanation 
of  this  being  a  part  of  the  Handy  lot  is,  that  the  line  of  the  lot 
on  the  east  then  ran  or  was  supposed  to  run  straight  up  to  the 
river,  touching  the  river  near  the  Stevens  bridge,  and  not  as 
shown  on  the  original  chart  of  the  town.  When  Robert  Handy 
sold  this  lot,  N.  E.  22  Large  Allotment,  in  1781,  the  boundary 
began  on  "the  Banck  of  White  River  and  on  the  comer  of  Lent 
Calvin  Parkhursts  Lot  West  Side  thence  up  Said  River  to  the 
Lore  End  of  the  large  Island  operset  Conll  Ebnzer  Brusters  Lot 
thence  Back  from  Said  River  to  contain  one  hundred  and  teen 
acers."  This  was  ten  acres  more  than  he  had  as  original  grantee. 
Some  years  afterwards  Lieut.  Calvin  Parkhurst  obtained  posses- 
sion of  this  lot. 

Mr.  Steele  says  that  Mr.  Handy,  when  warned  by  Mr.  Chafee, 
told  his  wife  to  take  the  children  and  seek  one  of  the  neighbors. 
They  could  have  had  little  expectation  that  the  savages  would 
be  upon  them  so  quickly,  for  it  is  said  that  Mrs.  Handy  had  gone 
but  a  short  distance  when  she  met  Indians  on  the  run,  who  took 
away  her  seven-year-old  boy,  Michael.  When  the  Indian  told 
her  he  would  make  a  soldier  of  him,  she  spiritedly  replied,  **A 
good  deal  you  will.  The  tomahawk  is  all  you  will  give  him.  I  will 
follow  you  to  Canada  before  I  will  give  up  my  boy.*'  Accord- 
ing to  a  tradition  of  the  descendants  of  Lucretia,  the  little  daugh- 
ter who  was  some  years  younger  than  Michael,  Mrs.  Handy  rec- 
ognized among  the  Indians  one  whom  they  had  fed  and  kindly 
treated  at  one  time,  and  it  was  he  who  carried  her  over  the  river, 
and  who  interceded  in  her  behalf  in  the  release  of  the  children. 

Mrs.  Handy  is  said  to  have  been  about  27  years  of  age  at 
this  time,  and  from  a  description  of  her  as  she  appeared  in  old 
age,  there  is  no  doubt  that  she  was  a  young  woman  of  attractive 
personality.  Young  Lieut.  Houghton  could  not  withstand  the 
charm  of  the  agonized  mother,  beautiful  in  the  strength  and  cour- 
age of  her  mother-love,  and  his  better  nature  was  awakened  by 


History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont 


166 


her  unselfish  and  fearless  pleading  for  her  neighbors'  children. 
This  surrender  to  the  higher  dictates  of  his  conscience,  and  the 
kind  act  of  the  Indian  in  aiding  Mrs.  Handy  across  the  river, 
are  almost  the  only  touches  that  relieve  the  brutal  savagery  of 
the  events  of  this  day.  One  cannot  easily  picture  the  joy  of  each 
household,  scattered  here  and  there,  as  she  restored  to  the  sor- 
rowing parents  their  children,  or  they  received  word  that  their 
loved  ones  were  safe  through  the  heroism  of  this  noble  woman. 
There  was  one,  Daniel  Downer,  motherless,  and  now  fatherless, 
for  his  father  was  taken  to  Canada,  for  whom  no  parents'  arms 
were  outstretched  in  loving  welcome.  It  is  not  strange  that  he 
pined,  and  never  afterward  knew  the  gladness  of  protected  and 
tenderly  nurtured  childhood. 


Mrs.  Hannah  Hanot's  Spool  Holdeb. 

It  would  seem  that  the  memory  of  Mrs.  Handy 's  deed  would 
be  kept  green  in  the  hearts  of  those  benefited  thereby,  and  that 
some  suitable  recognition  of  her  merit  would  have  been  given  ere 
this  by  them  or  their  descendants.  She  sleeps  today  in  an  un- 
known grave.  Tradition  says  that  she  did  receive  a  brooch  or 
medal  in  honor  of  her  heroism,  but  patient  and  long  inquiry  fails 
to  verify  it,  or  find  any  trace  of  its  existence.  TracUtion  also 
says  that  she  was  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  in  the  lower  part 
of  Sharon  village,  on  the  supposition  that  she  died  in  Sharon. 


166  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

She  married  for  her  second  husband  Gideon  Mosher,  and  lived 
in  Sharon.  Mr.  Mosher  died  about  1818.  Her  daughter  Luere- 
tia  had  married  David  Bamhart  of  Hoosick  Falls,  who  was  a 
man  of  considerable  property,  and  she  went  to  live  with  this 
daughter  some  time  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Mosher,  which  oc- 
curred evidently  at  the  home  of  his  son-in-law,  James  Carpenter 
of  Sharon. 

Mr.  Mosher  had  children  by  his  first  wife,  but  none  by  Mrs. 
Handy,  so  far  as  can  be  learned.  The  descendants  of  Lucretia 
are  sure  that  ''Granny  Mosher,"  as  she  was  affectionately  called, 
died  in  Hoosick  Falls.  Whether  she  was  buried  there  or  brou^^t 
to  Sharon  they  do  not  know,  and  no  records  can  be  found  that 
throw  any  light  on  the  subject.  Some  lasting  monument  to  her 
memory  should  be  reared,  and  as  her  resting  place  is  unknown 
and  likely  to  remain  so,  no  more  fitting  place  for  a  monument 
can  be  found  than  in  the  vicinity  of  South  Royalton,  where  her 
imperishable  deed  was  performed.  But  one  article  is  known  to 
exist  that  belonged  to  her,  and  an  outline  of  it  is  shown  on  page 
165.  It  is  a  spool-holder  and  is  the  property  of  Miss  Belle 
Gregory  of  Sandgate,  a  great-granddaughter  of  Mrs.  Hannah 
(Hunter)  Handy-Mosher.  It  may  be  asked  why  a  change  has 
been  made  from  **Hendee"  to  Handy.  The  reason  is  that  they 
wrote  their  name  Handy,  and  their  descendants  continue  to  so 
write  it,  in  distinction  from  another  branch  which  has  adopted 
the  form,  **Hendee."  Further  particulars  regarding  the  Handy 
family  will  be  found  in  the  genealogical  part  of  this  book. 

Considerable  difference  of  opinion  has  existed  regarding  the 
place  where  Mrs.  Handy  forded  the  river.  Though  not  very  im- 
portant, it  may  be  well  to  give  some  evidence  as  to  the  exact 
locality.  If  she  lived  at  the  Milo  Dewey  place  she  was  near  the 
Handy  fordway,  and  came  away  from  it  down  the  river.  The 
next  fordway  was  the  old  fort  fordway  eighty  rods  below  the 
mouth  of  the  First  Branch.  The  Indians  were  gathered  on  the 
Stevens  meadow  as  has  always  been  supposed,  about  half  way 
between  the  two  fordways.  One  can  ford  the  river  here,  and 
that  is  the  place  which  Dr.  Daniel  L.  Burnett  assigned  in  an 
article  of  his  printed  in  the  Inter-State  Journal  of  October,  1903. 
His  authority  was  Edward  Rix,  who  stated  that  his  father,  who 
was  brother  of  Joseph  Rix,  one  of  the  children  rescued,  often 
told  him  that  the  place  where  Mrs.  Handy  crossed  the  river  with 
the  children  was  at  the  head  of  the  island  near  the  Nathan  H. 
Hale  house,  straight  across  to  the  Stevens  meadow,  now  owned 
by  Herbert  L.  Pierce.  Mrs.  Coit  Parkhurst  understood  that  it 
was  below  Martin  Skinner's,  which  would  make  it  the  Handy 
fordway.  If  Mr.  Steele  has  given  her  course  correctly,  then  she 
probably  crossed  with  her  daughter  midway  between  the  two 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  167 

fordways,  but  when  she  returned  with  tlie  children,  she  would  be 
likely  to  seek  a  safer  and  easier  f ordway,  and  the  Handy  fordway 
was  not  far  from  the  Stevens  meadow. 

Two  other  families  suffered  from  the  raid,  that  of  David 
Pish  and  the  Widow  Rude.  It  cannot  be  stated  where  either 
was  living  at  this  time.  Rufus  Fish,  one  of  the  boys  captured, 
una  a  son  of  David  Fish,  and  probably  the  other  boy  named  Fish 
was  his  brother,  perhaps  Nathan  or  John.  Joseph  had  a  lot  in 
54  Town  Plot,  and  the  boys  may  have  been  there.  Their  father 
had  18  T.  P.  under  the  Vermont  charter  as  a  part  of  his  holding, 
which  would  not  be  very  far  from  Joseph's  lot,  on  the  line  of 
the  Indians'  course  to  North  Royalton.  The  will  of  Mr.  Rufus 
Rude,  who  died  in  1779,  was  burned  by  the  Indians,  but  there  is 
DO  clue  to  the  residence  of  his  widow,  unless  she  was  living  with 
Lieut.  Stevens,  who  married  one  of  her  daughters.  Mr.  Rude 
willed  the  bulk  of  his  property  to  Lieut.  Stevens. 

Early  in  the  afternoon  the  savages  retraced  their  way  to  the 
rendezvous  at  Mr.  Havens'  house,  which  they  did  not  bum  until 
they  had  gathered  their  plunder  together  and  were  ready  to 
retreat,  which  was  about  2  p.  m.  After  they  had  left,  the 
Havens  family  got  together  again  at  night.  Daniel  had  gone  back 
to  the  vicinity  of  his  home.  It  was  a  sad  reunion — their  three 
homes  destroyed,  one  son  a  prisoner,  the  betrothed  of  the  daugh- 
ter killed,  the  mother  a  confirmed  invalid.  As  an  illustration 
of  the  atrocious  nature  of  the  savages,  it  may  be  related  that  one 
of  them  ripped  open  a  heifer  that  strayed  into  the  yard  from  the 
woods,  and  left  her  dragging  her  entrails  on  the  ground.  A 
pig  that  crawled  out  of  a  haystack  some  days  after,  and  the  sheep 
on  the  hill  that  Mr.  Havens  was  searching  for,  were  all  that  the 
family  had  left  to  them  for  winter  provisions. 

A  few  hours  after  the  departure  of  the  enemy,  the  militia 
and  minute  men  began  to  gather.  Capt.  Gilbert  collected  his 
company  of  18,  mostly  Sharon  men,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference 
to  the  list  connected  with  ** Revolutionary  Affairs."  First  on  the 
ground  would  be  Capt.  Joseph  Parkhurst's  Company,  seven  of 
whom  had  near  and  dear  relatives  in  the  hands  of  the  cruel  sav- 
ages, and  more  than  half  of  whom  had  had  their  own  homes  de- 
stroyed. From  Pomf ret  soon  came  Lieut.  Bartholemew  Durkee  's 
Company  of  36  men,  three  of  whom  had  become  footsore  and 
were  sent  back.  Pomfret  did  not  hesitate  to  send  on  her  militia, 
though  her  own  inhabitants  were  terrified  and  left  their  homes 
for  Qie  woods,  or  for  some  secluded  dwelling  where  numbers 
gathered  for  greater  security.  John  Throop,  the  Captain  of  this 
company,  was  in  Bennington,  a  member  of  the  State  Council. 
Thetford  sent  her  militia,  who  on  their  way  called  on  Dr.  Asa 
Burton  to  pray  for  them,  which  he  did.    They  reached  Royalton 


168  HiSTOBY  OF  BOTALTON,  VeBHONT 

at  daylight  the  next  day,  and  pursaed  the  enemy.  From  Hart- 
land  came  Elias  Weld's  Company  of  66  men,  among  the  number 
Jeremiah  Rust  and  Timothy  Banister.  From  Woodstock  came 
John  Hawkins'  Company  of  Minute  men.  From  Barnard  fort 
went  Capt.  Benjamin  Cox's  Company  of  24  men.  Capt.  Joshua 
Hazen  was  sent  with  a  full  company  by  Col.  Peter  Olcott  Capt. 
John  Marcy's  Company  from  Windsor  marched  in  the  Alarm 
with  29  men.  Major  Elkanah  Day  of  Westminster  started  oat 
the  17th  with  a  large  company. 

From  New  Hampshire  town  accounts  the  following  was 
taken:  Hanover,  ''To  their  pay  Boll  on  alarms  to  Boyalton, 
Newbury,  &c.  £131.19.5";  Cornish,  "To  Capt.  Solomon  Chase's 
Boll  to  Boyalton  in  1780,  £60.15.9";  Bindge,  "To  account  on 
alarm  at  Boyalton,  1780,  £38.18.9";  FitzwiUiam,  "To  a  pay  EoU 
to  Boyalton,  1780,  £5.11.6";  Temple,  "Gershom  Drewry's  EoU 
at  Boyalton  Alarm,  £8.18.6";  Canaan,  "To  Lieut.  Jones'  Boll 
at  Boyalton  Alarm,  £28.10.7";  Lempster,  "To  their  account  go- 
ing on  alarm  at  Boyalton,  £8.10.2";  Alstead,  "To  Lieut.  Waldo's 
Boll  to  Boyalton,  £27.14";  Chesterfield's  account  was  £37.14.1, 
Marlow's,  £34.1.5,  Unity's  £4.12,  Ackworth's  £23.2.4.  Li  War- 
ner records  it  is  stated  that  they  sent  8  men  to  Boyalton  serving 
five  days  on  town  cost,  £5.10.  This  is  a  good  indication  of  the 
general  alarm  for  miles  below  Boyalton,  and  of  the  generous 
assistance  furnished  by  near  and  distant  towns. 

Soon  after  leaving  the  Havens  rendezvous  the  Indians  steered 
their  course  from  the  First  to  the  Second  Br^ch,  striking  Ban- 
dolph  at  the  southeast  comer,  where  they  camped  for  the  ni^t 
on  the  land  of  Simeon  Belknap,  one  of  the  prisoners.  This  fi^m 
is  now  owned  by  George  E.  Brigham.  In  going  up  the  Branch 
the  site  of  the  encampment  may  be  found  across  a  little  stream 
at  the  left,  at  the  foot  of  Sprague  HilL  The  farm  came  down 
to  Mr.  Brigham  through  Moses,  brother  of  Simeon  Belknap.  His 
daughter,  ^Irs.  Susan  Miles,  lived  on  that  part  of  the  farm,  and 
from  her  Mr.  Brigham  had  the  site  located.  On  their  line  of 
march  the  Indians  had  captured  Experience  Davis,  the  first  set- 
tler in  Bandolph,  William  Evans,  John  Parks,  Moses  Pearsons, 
and  Timothy  Miles. 

The  militia  which  had  gathered  at  Boyalton  chose  Col.  House 
as  commander,  and  followed  the  Indians  by  the  route  the  savages 
had  taken,  the  First  Branch,  then  crossed  to  the  Second,  coming 
unexpectedly  upon  their  camp  early  in  the  morning,  where 
a  brisk  skirmish  followed.  Mr.  Steele  himself  says  that  the  In- 
dians had  orders  to  kill  all  the  prisoners  if  sharply  pressed  by 
the  Americans,  yet  he  severely  criticises  Col.  House  for  refrain- 
ing to  do  this.  All  the  evidence  goes  to  show  that  a  victory  for 
the  militia  would  have  been  gained  at  the  expense  of  the  lives 


History  of  Royalton,  Vermont  169 

of  the  twenty-six  or  more  prisoners,  thirty-two,  according  to 
Lieut.  Houghton's  report.  What  would  have  been  gained?  The 
Indians  would  mostly  have  escaped,  as  an  ambuscade,  through 
the  vigilance  of  the  enemy's  sentinels,  was  impossible.  They 
would  have  shown  the  Indians  that  their  incursions  could  not  be 
carried  on  without  greater  risk  to  themselves  than  formerly,  but 
the  politic  negotiations  with  Gen.  Haldimand  put  a  stop  to  these 
depredations.  Most  of  the  plunder  came  back  into  the  hands  of 
the  Americans.  It  was  not  pusillanimity,  but  humane  considera- 
tions and  wisdom  that  actuated  Col.  House.  The  message  sent 
by  Edward  Ejieeland,  and  the  familiarity  of  Col.  House  and  the 
other  ofScers  with  Indian  vindictiveness  were  enough  to  deter 
them  from  making  an  attack.  The  sight  of  the  scalpless  head  of 
young  Ejieeland  and  the  mutilated  body  of  another  victim,  when 
they  entered  the  deserted  camp,  ought  to  have  silenced  the 
charges  of  cowardice  made  at  the  time,  and  which  have  been  kept 
up  more  or  less  ever  since. 

The  force  that  left  Barnard  under  Lieut.  Green  went  first 
to  Bethel  fort,  then  struck  out  for  the  heights  of  land  in  Mid- 
dlesex, where  they  were  joined  by  other  militia  from  Middlesex, 
now  Randolph.  They  failed  to  find  the  enemy.  An  account  of 
their  march  has  come  down  to  us  through  Jonathan  Carpenter. 
He  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  who  came  to  Pomfret  from 
Rehoboth,  Mass.  He  went  on  a  tour  of  inspection  from  Guilford 
to  Royalton,  then  chose  Pomfret,  went  back  and  bought  100  acres 
of  land.  He  kept  a  diary,  which  by  some  fortunate  circumstance 
came  into  the  hands  of  Robert  A.  Perkins,  Editor,  who  gave  it 
to  the  public.  It  was  printed  in  1898  in  the  Carpenter  Gene- 
alogy, by  Amos  Bugbee  Carpenter.  From  it  is  selected  his  ac- 
count of  the  events  connected  with  the  destruction  of  Royalton. 

Carpenter  enlisted  August  15th,  1780,  in  Capt.  Benjamin 
Cox's  Company  of  Rangers,  stationed  at  Fort  Defiance,  Barnard. 

"Oct  16.  This  morning  we  were  alarm'd  by  Inteligence  that  the 
enemy  were  burning  and  Plundering  at  Royalton  and  It  was  supposed 
that  ye  woods  were  full  of  them  I  went  out  on  a  scout  round  ye  north 
I>art  of  Barnard  about  10  miles  &  in  again  but  Discovered  nothing. 
by  this  time  some  of  ye  inhabitants  had  come  into  the  garrison,  and 
a  Party  went  to  meet  the  enemy  (or  at  Least  to  look  for  them) 

at  about  twelve  o'clock  at  Night  I  went  out  in  a  Party  of  11  men 
with  Lieut  Green,  with  4  days  provisions  we  marched  (by  night)  to 
bethel  fort  from  whence  upwards  of  100  men  had  just  gone  under  Capt. 
Saiford  to  Royalton — ^ye  17  from  thence  we  marched  to  Col  Woodwards 
at  Middlesex  about  15  miles  from  Barnard  fort  and  8  from  Bethel  fort. 
(It  snowed  almost  all  day)  there  we  were  Joined  by  19  more  &  sot 
of  toward  the  hlght  of  Land  in  hopes  of  coming  across  our  main  boddy, 
4b  coming  to  a  house  in  Middlesex  burning  which  we  Judged  to  have 
been  fired  by  the  enemy  about  4  hours — we  took  their  (trail)  and  fol- 
lowed Into  Brookfleld  &  finding  our  men  did  not  follow  we  encamped 
that  night,  but  ye  Middlesex  men  returned  back,  but  ye  next  morning 


170  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

ye  18th,  we  followed  on  about  4  miles  further  onto  ye  heighth  of  Land 
&.  finding  we  should  not  be  Joined  by  more  men  &  our  Party  but  14 
which  we  thought  to  smal  a  number  to  ingage  whom  we  judged  to  be 
300  by  ye  path  they  made  which  was  very  easy  to  follow  in  ye  night — 
we  left  ye  chase  &  returned  that  day  to  coll.  Woodward  (back  again) 
having  march'd  over  as  fine  level  a  tract  of  Land  as  I  have  seen  in 
this  Country,  we  went  thro  Brookfleld  Dearfield  &  into  Northfleld 
(light  timbered  with  maple  Beach  Birch  &c,  at  Coll  Woodwards  we 
heard  that  the  Enemy  had  burnt  and  Destroyed  Rojralton,  k  some  houses 
in  Sharon  &  Middlesex  Ac  and  have  taken  ofT  upwards  of  20  prlsonerB 
and  killed  7.  Notwithstanding  they  were  fired  upon  by  ye  advance 
guard  of  upwards  of  400  men,  which  indeed  put  them  to  great  Confu- 
sion but  they  killed  2  prisoners  k  flew  while  the  Cowardly  Colo  House 
was  forming  his  men,  hooting  with  a  mock  pretence  of  having  a  field 
fight  with  Indians  in  the  Bush,  which  gave  them  time  to  get  off  (they 
were  commanded  by  one  Colo  Peters  a  tory. 

Oct.  ye  19.  we  returned  home  in  Peace,  some  moveing  off  over 
Connect.  River,  and  our  savage  Enemy  gone  with  flying  Coulers  into 
Canada  which  is  a  poor  story  for  a  Whig  to  tell. 

ye  20th,  We  hear  that  the  aforesaid  enemy  were  attached  f6r 
Cowas  after  Major  Whitcom,  Ac.,  but  find  their  mistake,  took  it  into 
their  heads  to  Plague  us." 

The  Pay  Roll  of  Capt.  Jesse  SaflPord's  Company  throws  no 

light  on  their  part  in  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy.    Carpenter  says 

he  left  Fort  Defiance  at  midnight,  marched  to  Port  Fortitude, 

and  found  that  Capt.  Safford  with  his  men  had  just  gone  to 

Royalton.    Robert  Handy  had  early  in  the  morning  gone  to 

Bethel  fort  to  notify  them  of  the  attack.    If  **  just"  means  what 

it  usually  does,  the  Bethel  company  did  not  start  out  until  after 

Col.  House  had  reached  and  attacked  the  Indians,  for  Steele 

says  that  House  reached  the  Evans  lot  about  midnight.     The  men 

from  Fort  Defiance  under  Lieut.  Elias  Keyes  were  more  prompt, 

and  joined  the  militia  at  Royalton  which  went  up  the  First 

Branch.     The  division  under  Lieut.  Green  starting  much  later 

showed  commendable  courage  in  carrying  their  pursuit  of  the 

enemy  farther  than  any  other  force.     Information  of  the  raid 

reached  Dresden  probably  through  the  news  carried  by  Phineas 

Parkhurst.     The  following  circular  was  sent  out  from  there : 

"Dresden,  Oct.  16   (11  o'clock)   1780. 
This  may  inform  by  the  last  express  that  there  is  a  large  party 
of  the  enemy  have  burnt  Capt.  Ebenezer  Parkhurst's  house  and  taken 
his  family. 

Assistance  is  desired. 

I  am  yr 

humble  servt 

Ebenr  Brewster.*' 

Dresden  and  Hanover  furnished  about  50  militia  under 
Capt.  Samuel  MeClure  and  Capt.  John  House,  afterwards  Col- 
onel House.  The  companies  that  participated  in  the  attack  on 
the  Indians  appear  to  have  come  from  Fort  Defiance,  Dresden, 
Hanover,  Windsor,  Hartford,  Sharon,  Pomfret,  and  perhaps  Nor- 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  171 

wich.  Capt.  Joseph  Parkhurst's  Company  apparently  did  duty 
at  home  in  protecting  and  providing  for  the  inhabitants,  and 
several  other  companies  marched  to  Royalton,  and  no  doubt  aided 
in  furnishing  temporary  shelter  and  provisions.  The  following 
bill  found  in  manuscript  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State 
shows  what  some  of  the  provisions  were  for  the  militia: 

"Taken  from  Joseph  Parkhurst  for  the  benefit  of  Militia  Ac  in  the 
Alarm  at  Royalton  in  Octr  last 

Six  quarts  &  pint  rum  @  9/ £0.14.0 

one  hundred  and  thirty  eight  pounds  flour  neat  wt  (Q  15/  pr  112  lb 
£0.1S.6    Total  £1.13.1 

Certified  by  order  of  the  Select  Men  this  6th  day  Feby  1781 

pr 

Abel  Curtis  T  Clerk." 

Lebanon  town  records  of  Nov.  9,  1780,  show  a  vote  to  pay 
their  proportion  of  thirteen  gallons  of  rum  delivered  to  the  sol- 
diers ''when  passing  thro  in  the  late  alarm." 

There  were  few  settlers  in  Randolph  in  1780.  The  town  was 
not  yet  chartered.  Experience  Davis  had  been  the  pioneer,  tak- 
ing his  own  choice  of  land  and  as  much  of  it  as  he  chose.  His 
farm  was  on  the  line  of  march  of  the  Indians,  and,  taken  by  sur- 
prise, he  had  to  yield.  He  was  kept  a  prisoner  two  years.  Ran- 
dolph is  indebted  to  him  for  a  bequest  of  all  his  land  for  the 
benefit  of  the  common  schools,  and  the  town  placed  a  monument 
at  his  grave  in  East  Bethel,  commemorating  this  gift  from  an 
''honest  man  and  friend  of  humanity." 

Timothy  Miles,  another  Randolph  prisoner,  went  to  the  east 
part  of  the  town  on  the  16th  of  October.  Mrs.  Miles  was  warned, 
and  took  some  blankets  and  her  two  children,  got  them  to  sleep 
and  secreted  them  under  a  bank.  She  then  crept  cautiously  back 
to  the  house  and  peeped  in,  and  saw  a  man  that  in  the  dark  she 
took  to  be  an  Indian,  so  she  returned  to  her  hiding  place.  The 
next  morning  she  discovered  her  husband  in  the  doorway,  whom 
she  had  mistaken  for  an  Indian.  He  went  again  to  the  east  part 
of  the  town,  and  that  day  the  Indians  caught  him.  She  started 
on  foot  for  her  father's  in  Dresden.  When  she  reached  North 
Royalton  she  was  perplexed  at  seeing  no  means  of  crossing  the 
river,  but  soon  a  horse  feeding  near  by  caught  her  eye,  and  she 
quickly  made  a  bridle  of  her  garters  and  secured  the  horse,  guid- 
ing him  across  the  stream  by  the  improvised  bridle.  At  Sharon 
she  was  too  ill  to  go  farther,  and  word  was  sent  to  her  father, 
who  came  for  her.  Soon  after  reaching  her  old  home  she  gave 
birth  to  a  son,  which  she  named  Timothy.  He  died  at  the  age 
of  seventeen,  always  having  appeared  strangely,  and  lacking  in 
intelligence.  She  remained  in  delicate  health  until  her  husband 
was  restored  to  her,  when  they  returned  to  Randolph.  Steele  in 
his  narrative  makes  no  mention  of  the  capture  of  Miles.     The 


i 


172  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

facts  here  given  were  furnished  by  Eugene  E.  Rolfe,  and  taken 
from  Volume  II  of  the  Vermont  Historical  Magazine. 

Julius  Converse  Green  is  now  living  on  the  Evans  lot  in  Ban- 
dolph.  He  has  some  of  the  charred  com  which  was  found  several 
years  ago  when  a  cellar  was  dug  on  the  place,  and  which  is  a 
memento  of  the  burning  of  the  old  log  hut.  The  story  of  the 
immersion  of  Mrs.  WiUiam  Evans  in  the  stream  has  been  denied, 
but  Mr.  Green  vouches  for  its  accuracy,  as  it  has  come  down  to 
him.  The  tradition  is  that  Mrs.  Evans  was  a  little  too  careless 
of  her  personal  appearance  even  for  an  Indian,  and  they  took 
her  down  to  the  water  and  gave  her  a  thorough  bath.  Edward 
Evans  had  gone  to  Boyalton  to  mill  in  the  morning,  and  hearing 
of  the  Indian  attack,  he  had  dropped  his  load  and  hurried  back 
as  fast  as  he  could  go,  but  reached  home  only  to  see  the  last  logs 
of  his  house  burning  away. 

Hiram  A.  Huse  related  that  Mrs.  Benedict  staid  that  night 
beside  Mrs.  Miles.  He  asserted  that  it  was  she  and  not  Mrs.  Evans 
who  was  immersed.  In  the  morning  her  husband  discovered  her 
in  her  sad  plight,  her  skirts  covered  with  frost.  With  open  arms 
and  tearful  eyes  he  advanced  and  embraced  the  conglomerate 
mass  which  she  had  now  become,  exclaiming,  "My  dear,  be  thee 
alive?"  Mrs.  Miles  said  she  could  scarcely  keep  from  laughing, 
terrified  and  suffering  as  she  was.  He  had  ignominiously  taken 
his  dog  and  fled  to  the  woods,  leaving  the  fat,  unwieldy  wife  to 
look  out  for  herself. 

Samuel  Pember,  one  of  the  prisoners  taken  in  Boyalton,  had 
been  clearing  land  in  Randolph  for  a  home,  and  as  usual  had 
come  to  Royalton  to  have  his  washing,  baking,  and  ironing  done 
for  the  week,  as  did  also  his  brother  Thomas.  This  accounts  for 
their  being  at  Mr.  Kneeland's  on  the  morning  of  October  16th. 
J.  Read  Pember,  Esq.,  of  Woodstock,  says  that  the  Indians  en- 
camped on  the  land  that  Pember  had  taken.  Fearing  an  attack 
the  Indians  boimd  Pember  to  a  tree,  and  others  also,  stationed 
an  Indian  with  raised  tomahawk  as  a  sentinel  over  him,  informed 
them  all,  if  attacked  they  should  be  instantly  killed.  The  next 
day  Pember  was  given  in  charge  of  another  Indian  with  the  in- 
junction to  **keep  him  well  and  keep  him  close,  koz  him  got 
round  straight  leg,  stiff  whisker  and  squaw  at  home."  Mr. 
Pember  related  after  his  return  from  captivity,  that  there  was 
another  prisoner  whom  the  Indians  used  to  send  off  away  from 
camp  for  water,  milk,  etc.,  and  gave  him  many  chances  to  escape, 
but  he  always  returned  and  came  to  camp  whistling  or  singing, 
when  the  Indians  would  laugh  among  themselves,  and  tapping 
their  foreheads,  would  say,  **him  some  fool  in  here,  him  one 
fool." 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  173 

From  family  traditions  it  seems  that  Edward  Kneeland, 
father  of  Joseph,  had  come  to  Royalton  and  begun  clearing  a 
lot,  and  building  a  house  for  his  son  Joseph,  who  had  married 
in  1778.  A  granddaughter  of  Daniel  Havens,  and  a  granddaugh- 
ter of  Lorenza  Havens  Lovejoy  stated  more  than  twenty-five  years 
ago  that  the  Eneelands  were  living  in  the  house  of  Daniel  Havens 
at  the  time  Royalton  was  destroyed.  If  so,  they  probably  had 
their  own  house  nearly  ready  for  occupancy,  as  Daniel  was  soon 
to  be  married.  The  brother  of  Joseph,  Edward,  Jr.,  was  taken 
prisoner  also.  He  was  then  thirteen  years  old.  From  that 
branch  of  the  family  it  is  learned  that  Edward  was  retained  by 
the  Indians  for  two  or  more  years,  that  he  traveled  with  them 
from  the  source  to  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut  river  and  back 
again,  was  sold  to  a  Frenchman  who  had  often  seen  and  admired 
him,  and  wished  to  adopt  him  as  his  own  son,  but  as  he  desired 
to  return  to  his  own  people  he  was  allowed  to  do  so.  His  father 
was  dead,  his  home  burned,  and  his  mother  not  to  be  found.  He 
wandered  down  into  Massachusetts,  and  at  last  found  his  mother 
in  Hadley.  He  settled  there  in  1788,  and  married  Elizabeth 
Peck  of  Rehoboth.  He  retained  many  of  his  Indian  character- 
istics to  the  day  of  his  death.  According  to  the  tradition  in  his 
family,  Joseph  was  killed  because  he  persisted  in  asking  for 
clothing  for  his  younger  brother,  who  was  taken  from  bed  with 
little  to  protect  him  from  the  keen  October  air. 

At  the  Hutchinson  house  the  Indians  indulged  in  a  frolic. 
They  sawed  off  one  leg  of  a  table,  so  as  to  let  it  down,  and  then 
jumped  on  it,  hooting  and  laughing.  After  Mr.  Hutchinson  re- 
turned, the  leg  was  replaced  and  the  table  used  many  years. 
That  leg  is  still  preserved  in  the  family  of  Daniel  Bliss,  and  can 
be  seen  in  one  of  the  cuts  of  relics.  Mrs.  Hutchinson  was  al- 
lowed to  talk  with  her  husband  before  he  was  taken  away,  and 
he  told  her  to  get  word  to  Lieut.  Stevens  or  some  others  that,  if 
they  could  collect  200  men,  they  could  attack  the  Indians  success- 
fully. After  his  departure  Mrs.  Hutchinson  mounted  a  horse 
that  had  escaped  in  the  jungle,  and  took  the  trail  for  Connecticut, 
with  her  two-year-old  Rebecca  in  her  arms.  There  her  husband 
found  her  on  his  return  a  year  later.  He  enlisted  there  for  three 
months,  and  at  expiration  of  the  time  returned  to  Tunbridge 
and  built  another  log  house. 

Mrs.  Benjamin  Parkhurst  went  to  Norwich  with  her  father 
on  his  return  from  his  visit  to  her,  and  she  remained  there  that 
winter,  though  their  house  was  not  destroyed. 

A  Hartford  man  came  to  William  Lovejoy 's  the  next  day 
after  the  raid,  and  said  he  could  take  one  back  with  him.  Lo- 
renza Havens  went  with  him,  riding  on  his  horse.  When  he 
reached  home  he  found  his  child  dying,  and  she  remained  there 


174  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

for  some  time,  then  went  to  Norwich,  where  her  sister  Hannah 
lived,  who  married  Daniel  Baldwin.  Her  brother  Joseph  re- 
turned from  his  captivity  Sep.  27.  1781,  and  most  of  the  other 
prisoners  were  exchanged  in  about  one  year,  except  Adan  Durkee, 
who  died  in  captivity. 

The  majority  of  the  settlers  in  Royalton  remained  and  made 
the  best  of  their  sad  fortune.  Assistance  from  outside  was  ren- 
dered and  provisions  came  in.  Temporary  homes  were  built. 
The  mill  was  burned,  and  a  bee  was  made  for  rebuilding  it,  but 
it  was  some  time  before  it  was  available  for  preparing  lumber. 
Daniel  Havens  carted  boards  from  the  Qeorge  Cowdery  place  on 
his  back  to  his  lot,  and  put  up  a  house  and  was  married  Nov. 
30th  of  that  year.  The  deprivation  and  suffering  of  that  winter 
never  has  been  written  and  never  can  be.  Neighbors  shared  their 
last  loaf  of  bread  with  each  other,  and  to  make  the  meal  go  as 
far  as  possible  in  satisfying  the  cries  of  their  children,  it  was 
made  into  gruel.  Some  of  these  heroic  souls  sleep  uncared  for 
in  our  cemeteries  today,  and  this  generation  enjoys  the  fruits  of 
their  self-sacrifice. 

Reasons  have  been  sought  why  the  Indians  selected  Royalton 
for  attack.  It  had  been  a  frontier  town,  headquarters  for  the 
militia,  had  had  a  fort,  but  was  now  defenceless,  was  a  thriving 
farming  town,  and  a  place  familiar  to  the  Indians  and  tories  in 
the  company  making  the  attack.  These  would  seem  sufficient 
reasons,  without  seeking  a  personally  vindictive  motive.  Such. 
however,  have  been  sought  and  given.  One  offered  by  Dr.  Alden 
C.  Latham  is  quoted. 

*'In  the  spring  of  1780  as  Mr.  Robert  Havens  was  making  maple 
sugar  in  the  woods,  in  Royalton,  a  stranger  tired  and  nearly  starved 
came  to  his  boiling  place  and  stated  that  he  was  lost  and  had  been 
wandering  for  a  long  time  without  food.  Mr.  Havens  gave  him  the 
remains  of  his  dinner,  asked  him  some  questions  and  advised  him  to 
go  into  a  corner  (where  he  had  provided  straw  for  himself  to  rest  upon 
when  he  had  to  boil  late  at  night)  and  get  some  sleep.  This  he  did, 
and  as  soon  as  he  slept  Mr.  Havens  called  Daniel  Havens,  his  son,  and 
told  him  to  go  to  the  house,  take  a  horse  and  go  for  Capt.  E.  Parkhurst 
who  was  an  officer  of  the  peace  and  lived  in  the  first  house  in  Sharon, 
Just  below  Dr.  John  Manchester's.  He  came  and  the  man  was  ques- 
tioned; stated  that  he  had  travelled  through  Canada  and  did  not  know 
where  he  was  or  where  he  was  going.  'I  think,'  said  Capt.  P.  ^at 
your  business  is  such  that  we  must  look  you  over,*  and  thereupon  he 
searched  him,  found  papers  secreted  in  his  boots,  took  him  prisoner, 
and  sent  him  to  Albany,  the  capital  of  the  country  under  York  claims, 
where  the  man  was  executed  as  a  spy.  While  Mr.  Havens  lay  hidden 
on  the  day  of  the  burning  of  Royalton.  he  heard  men  come  and  stand 
on  the  log  in  which  he  was,  and  say  in  effect,  that  if  they  could  find 
old  Havens  and  Capt.  Parkhurst,  it  would  be  worth  more  to  them  than 
all  the  plunder  and  all  the  other  prisoners.  Is  not  this  the  secret  cause 
of  the  attack  on  Royalton?  Was  it  not  done  to  revenge  the  death  of 
that  British  spy?" 


i 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  175 

There  is  no  record  yet  found  in  the  New  York  archives 
verifying  the  death  of  this  spy.  No  one  of  the  three  grand- 
children of  Robert  Havens  now  living  has  any  clear  remembrance 
of  such  an  incident.  Huldah  Morgan,  a  granddaughter  of  Lo- 
renza  Havens  Lovejoy,  related  in  1880  that  at  one  time  a  hungry 
Indian  came  to  the  house  of  Robert  Havens,  who  fed  him,  took 
his  gun  from  him  and  sent  him  away,  and  presumably  he  died, 
as  he  was  half  starved.  When  the  Indians  were  ransacking  the 
house  of  Mr.  Havens  they  found  this  gun,  and  began  a  great 
chattering.  These  may  be  two  incidents,  or  versions  of  the  same 
one,  both  perhaps  differing  from  the  real  facts.  Dr.  Latham 
took  great  pains  to  get  all  possible  information  regarding  the 
burning  of  Royalton,  and  seems  to  have  been  satisfied  that  this 
was  authentic. 

Not  till  the  generation  which  had  participated  in  the  tragedy 
of  October  16th,  1780,  had  passed  away  was  any  effort  made  to 
live  over  again  the  events  connected  with  that  day.  During  the 
Civil  War  the  Royalton  Soldiers*  Aid  Society  in  its  efforts  to 
raise  money  to  send  to  the  boys  in  blue  planned  an  entertainment 
commemorative  of  the  Indian  raid,  to  be  given  April  1,  1863. 
A  band  gave  its  services,  and  a  program  of  seventeen  numbers 
was  prepared,  the  chief  feature  of  which  was  to  be  a  dramatiza- 
tion of  scenes  from  this  eventful  day  in  the  history  of  the  town. 
There  were  eight  scenes,  three  of  which  are  preserved,  the  pos- 
session of  Miss  Gertrude  Denison.  The  characters,  as  was  be- 
fitting, were  mostly  women,  boys  and  Indians,  who  enacted  the 
horrors  of  savage  attack,  using  the  words  as  given  in  Steele's 
narrative.  Mesdames  Downer,  Hutchinson,  and  Belknap  ap- 
peared on  the  stage,  though,  according  to  the  Downer  family 
record,  Mrs.  Downer  was  dead  at  the  time  of  the  raid,  and  Simeon 
Belknap  was  not  married  until  three  years  afterwards,  but  then. 
who  wants  to  be  true  to  facts  in  a  drama?  Mrs.  Hendee  and 
Lieut.  Horton  of  course  were  present,  and  her  eloquent  pleading 
no  doubt  drew  tears  from  the  patriotic  and  admiring  audience. 
As  a  sample  of  the  drama,  which  netted  a  nice  sura,  there  being 
no  expense  in  staging  it,  Scene  1  is  given. 

"Scene   1. 
Early  morning — ^Mistress  of  house  and  young  lady  preparing  for 
breakfast    Children  with  uncombed  hair.     Suddenly  a  man  puts  his 
head  in  at  the  door  and  exclaims, 

The  Indians  are  coming!' 
Women  and  children  cry  'Oh!'  and  run  about.    The   Indian  war 
whoop  is  heard,  and  immediately  afterward  several  Indians  rush  in. 
Great  consternation.    Children  try  to  hide.     Indians  seize  all  the  valu- 
ables they  can  find  and  while  they  are  dragging  off  the  boys, 

(Curtain  Falls.)" 

When  the  centennial  anniversary  of  the  burning  of  Roy- 
alton approached,  the  to^^Ti  voted  to  observe  it.     There  was  a 


176  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

little  hitch  in  the  preparations  for  it,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the 
exercises  could  not  be  held  in  both  villages,  but  as  South  Roy- 
alton was  better  adapted  to  entertaining  guests,  that  place  was 
chosen  for  holding  the  celebration.  A  committee  of  arrangement 
was  selected,  composed  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  C.  Jones,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  J.  O.  Belknap,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  J.  Sargent,  Mr.  A.  H.  Lamb, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Manchester,  and  Mrs.  D.  W.  Lovejoy. 

The  day  was  ushered  in  by  the  firing  of  cannon.  A  collec- 
tion of  rare  relics  had  been  gathered,  and  were  exhibited  in  the 
vacant  store  of  A.  N.  King.  Mr.  Asa  Perrin  furnished  thirty- 
six  articles  and  W.  W.  Culver  nearly  the  same  number.  There 
was  a  chair  which  had  belonged  to  Qen.  Stevens,  a  horn  from  the 
first  ox  killed  in  town,  the  first  flax  wheel  brought  into  Boyalton, 
once  the  property  of  Lorenza  Havens,  shoe  buckles,  pocket  book 
and  coin  taken  from  the  body  of  the  murdered  Pember,  the 
bosom  pin  that  Mrs.  John  Hutchinson  put  in  her  mouth  to  save 
it  from  the  Indians,  a  piece  of  the  quilt  which  the  savages  gave 
Mrs.  Elias  Curtis  to  protect  her  from  the  cold,  and  other  articles 
to  the  number  of  270.  many  of  them  of  great  value.  All  day 
long  the  room  was  thronged  when  no  special  event  was  going  on 
outside,  and  the  old  lady  spinning  flax  in  one  comer  was  a  great 
curiosity  to  the  young  people. 

At  ten  every  one  was  alert  to  see  the  street  parade,  headed 
by  Marshal  D.  C.  Jones  and  his  aides,  M.  J.  Sargent  and  C.  H. 
Woodard.  In  succession  came  the  South  Royalton  comet  band, 
the  drum  corps.  Home  Militia  Guards  commanded  by  Capt.  A.  H. 
Lamb,  the  President  of  the  day,  Hon.  C.  !M.  Lamb  and  aid.  clergy- 
men, speakers  and  invited  guests,  gentlemen  on  horseback  in 
holiday  attire,  and  one  young  lady.  Miss  Mary  Durkee — great- 
granddaughter  of  Lieut.  Timothy  Durkee — ^wearing  dress  and 
bonnet  a  century  old,  and  seventeen  wagons  containing  ancient 
and  modern  agricultural  and  household  implements  under  the 
charge  of  E.  F.  Parkhurst,  all  provided  with  appropriate  ban- 
ners. The  costumes  of  cavaliers  and  gentlemen  of  ye  olden  time 
were  very  elegant.  The  procession  started  from  the  hotel  and 
passed  several  times  around  the  common,  and  then  left  the  arti- 
cles there  on  exhibition. 

At  noon  more  than  twenty  of  the  nearest  descendants  of  the 
sufferers  were  entertained  at  dinner  at  the  hotel,  and  about  300 
who  took  part  in  the  exercises  of  the  day  were  served  in  Tar- 
hell's  hall.  The  people  of  the  village  also  entertained  a  large 
number  of  guests. 

At  one  0  'clock  the  president  of  the  day  called  the  multitude 
to  order  from  the  balcony  of  the  hotel,  and  Rev.  S.  K.  B.  Per- 
kins offered  prayer.  Hon.  D.  C.  Denison  then  addressed  the 
people  for  an  hour  on  the  settlement  of  the  country,  and  of  Ver- 


I" 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  177 

mont  and  Boyalton  in  particular,  closing  with  a  prophecy  of  the 

glory  and  prosperity  of  our  nation.    Col.  Samuel  E.  Pingree 

followed  in  an  eloquent  address,  in  which  he  paid  a  fitting  tribute 

to  the  heroism  of  Mrs.  Handy.    Bev.  S.  K.  B.  Perkins  was  the 

third  speaker,  whose  account  of  some  of  the  early  settlers  was 

interrupted  by  the  sudden  appearance  of  the  Indians  on  the  hill 

in  front  of  the  hotel.    A  log  hut  was  standing  on  the  hill,  and 

from  out  this  hut  rushed  the  terrified  mother,  who  mounted 

a  horse  and  rode  towards  the  woods  followed  by  the  screaming 

children.    A  feather  bed  was  tossed  out  by  the  savages,  and 

emptied  of  its  contents  amid  their  exultant  yells.    Windows  were 

destroyed  and  everything  else  the  house  contained,  then  it  was 

fired.    As  soon  as  the  flames  rose  up  the  savages  became  furious, 

ranning  about  the  building  and  throwing  burning  brands  upon 

tie  roof.    Soon  they  gathered  the  captured  children  together 

md  began  a  war  dance  around  them.    The  firing  of  guns  at  their 

left  instantly  hushed  their  hooting,  and  leaving  the  children  they 

ntreated  to  the  right  among  the  hills  and  made  a  stand.    A  body 

of  militia  approached  on  the  left,  and  below  another  body  was 

Wd  in  reserve.    The  red-skins  were  surrounded  and  driven  into 

einip,  and  after  a  hundred  years,  if  Jonathan  Carpenter  had 

beei  living,  he  would  have  had  a  good  ' '  story  for  a  Whig  to  tell. ' ' 

TUi  part  of  the  program  was  admirably  carried  out  by  Edwin 

F.Smith. 

There  were  present  of  the  nearest  descendants  of  the  suf- 
ferers Daniel  and  Pearl  Belknap,  Mrs.  Marion  Weston  and  Mrs. 
Lydia  Beard,  children  of  Simeon  Belknap,  Mrs.  Hannah  Curtis, 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Lorenza  (Havens)  Love  joy,  and  Mrs.  Huldah 
Coahman,  granddaughter  of  the  same,  William  Smith,  grandson 
of  Zadock  Steele,  Mrs.  Samuel  Pingree,  granddaughter  of  the 
same,  and  Judge  William  Steele  and  D.  Z.  Steele,  nephews  of  the 
nme,  and  Edward  Bix,  grandson  of  Daniel  Rix.     In  the  village 
at  the  time  were  Mrs.  Louisa  M.  Lamb,  Mrs.  Emily  R.  Morse,  and 
Mrs.  Laura  Poster,  children  of  Jerusha  Rix,  the  daughter  of 
Daniel  Rix. 

It  was  estimated  that  4,000  were  present  on  this  occasion. 
A  fourth  of  a  century  after  this  centennial  it  came  into  the 
heart  of  one  of  Royalton 's  loyal  and  distinguished  sons,  Daniel 
G.  Wild  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  to  contribute  toward  the  perpetua- 
tion of  the  memory  of  this  saddest  day  in  the  history  of  the  town. 
The  thought  fruited  in  the  form  of  a  gift  of  $200  placed  in  the 
kandi  of  the  Woman 's  club  of  Royalton,  for  the  purpose  of  secur- 
ing the  erection  of  a  monument  at  some  suitable  place  in  the 
lonm.  The  club  accepted  the  commission  with  enthusiasm,  and 
proceeded  to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  the  donor.  The  site  se- 
for  the  monument  was  the  small  village  ** Green''  on  the 


I 


12 


178  History  op  Royalton,  Vebmont 

west  side  of  the  main  street  in  Boyalton,  and  directly  facing  what 
is  known  as  Bridge  street.  The  monument  was  made  from  Barre 
granite,  and  the  work  was  entrusted  to  W.  V.  Soper  of  South 
Boyalton.  The  inscription  on  one  side  is  shown  in  the  cut.  The 
reverse  side  has  the  following: 

oommemobatino 

The  Burning  of 

Royalton 

BY 

Indians 
Oct.  16,  1780. 

The  monument  as  it  stands  is  six  feet  high,  three  and  one-half 
feet  wide,  and  two  feet  thick. 

Wednesday,  May  23,  1906,  was  selected  as  the  date  for  the 
unveiling  of  the  monument,  which  has  come  to  be  called  the 
''Indian  Monument."  The  program  was  arranged  by  the  Wom- 
an's club,  which  made  Mrs.  Charles  W.  Joiner  President  of  the 
day,  an  office  which  she  very  admirably  filled.  A  platform  was 
erected  near  the  monument,  where  the  exercises  began  in  the 
presence  of  about  700  people,  with  a  prayer  by  Rev.  Joel  P. 
Whitney.  A  poem  written  by  Col.  C.  W.  Scarff  of  Burlington 
was  recited  by  Miss  Katharine  Dewey,  and  then  the  monument 
was  unveiled  by  four  children.  Max  Bliss,  David  Wild,  Helen 
and  (Gertrude  Dewey.  Max  Bliss  is  a  great-great-grandson  of 
John  Hutchinson,  David  Wild  a  great-great-grandson  of  Gamer 
Rix,  and  the  Dewey  children  are  great-great-granddaughters  of 
the  same  man. 

After  the  unveiling,  the  rest  of  the  program  was  carried  out 
in  the  Congregational  church.  Here  prayer  was  offered  by  Rev. 
E.  E.  Wells,  the  33d  Psalm  was  read  by  the  Rev.  Sherman  Good- 
win, and  a  solo  was  finely  rendered  by  Mrs.  Perley  S.  Belknap. 
The  audience  then  gave  their  attention  to  the  orator  of  the  day. 
Rev.  William  Skinner  Hazen,  D.  D.,  of  Beverly,  Mass.,  a  grand- 
son of  Rev.  Azel  Washburn,  one  of  the  first  pastors  of  Royalton. 
His  address  was  an  interesting  resum^  of  the  events  of  Oct.  16. 
1780.  Of  especial  interest  was  his  account  of  the  story  of  the  cap- 
ture of  Gamer  Rix,  as  it  was  told  by  Dea.  Rix  when  an  old  man. 
An  excerpt  is  given  with  the  suggestion  that  some  margin  must  be 
allowed  for  statements  regarding  a  fort  so  near  them,  and  the 
presence  of  men  in  the  company  when  the  Indians  surrounded 
the  fugitives.  A  seven-year-old  child  could  hardly  be  expected 
to  remember  accurately  the  details  of  such  a  frightful  time. 

"From  different  sources  I  have  gathered  the  following  facts  which 
I  will  give  mostly  in  the  language  of  Grandpa  Rix  in  his  talks  with 
the  children.  'As  we  hurried  on/  he  says,  'we  encountered  dozens  of 
men,  women  and  children  who  had  fled  from  their  homes  terror  stricken. 
seeking  some  place  of  safety.    Some  fled  to  the  mountains,  others  to 


OMMl:.\|ilHATIM 


(-i^^-«^      fi^<x-^^ 


S-l^^f(r^4. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  179 

the  woods,  while  larger  numbers  kept  the  road,  following  down  the 
river  road  towards  the  fort,  some  four  or  five  miles  distant.  We  trav- 
elled on  with  all  possible  speed,  but  were  not  within  a  mile  of  the  fort 
when  the  terrible  war  whoop  of  the  savages  resounded  in  our  ears. 
On  they  came  yelling  and  shouting  and  hideous  in  their  fantastic  dress 
and  war  paint  In  a  few  minutes  they  have  overtaken  and  surrounded 
us,  a  little  company  of  defenceless  men,  women  and  children.  My  little 
brother,  Joe,  and  myself  were  torn  from  mother  notwithstanding  her 
piteous  pleadings  and  entreaties.  I  had  a  stout  club  in  my  hand  with 
which  I  tried  to  defend  myself,  determined  to  sell  my  liberty  as  dear 
as  possible,  but  that  was  quickly  wrested  from  me.  We  were  securely 
bound  and  marched  back  to  the  place  where  the  captain  of  the  band 
awaited  the  coining  of  the  raiding  party.  Oh,  the  scenes  of  that  ter- 
rible day,  dear  children,  seem  burned  on  my  memory,  and  even  today, 
I  can  hardly  think  of  them  with  any  degree  of  composure.'  Then  de- 
scribing the  efforts  of  Mrs.  Hendee  to  secure  the  release  of  the  boys  of 
which  we  have  already  spoken,  Mr.  Rix  says,  'I  could  never  describe 
to  you  the  utter  despair  which  took  possession  of  me  when  I  found 
Mrs.  Hendee's  efforts  for  my  release  were  in  vain.  My  disappointment 
and  grief  were  too  deep  for  tears,  and  to  be  torn  from  my  parents  in  ^ 
this  cruel  manner  seemed  worse  than  death.  It  was  a  long  march 
through  the  wilderness  and  with  other  prisoners  I  was  taken  to  Mon- 
treal/ 

He  was  loaded  with  heavy  packs  which  he  carried  as  long  as  he 
could  and  then  fell  under  them.  He  said  if  he  had  been  told  that 
he  would  be  killed,  he  could  not  have  carried  the  burden  farther.  When 
his  Indian  keeper  took  in  the  situation,  the  boy  was  relieved  of  a  part 
of  his  burden.  But  to  continue  the  narrative  in  Mr.  Rix's  own  words, 
'A  kind-hearted  French  lady  saw  me  and  became  interested  in  my  be- 
half, and,  at  length,  succeeded  in  obtaining  my  release  from  the  Indians. 
She  took  me  to  her  home  and  treated  me  with  the  utmost  kindness, 
and  at  last  was  instrumental  in  sending  me  home.  In  parting  she  made 
me  a  present  of  a  gold  guinea.'  'Did  you  spend  it  on  the  way  home, 
Grandpa?'  'No,  but  I  will  tell  you,  children,  how  I  did  spend  that 
guinea.  A  few  Sabbaths  after  I  reached  home,  a  young  minister  came 
to  preach  for  us.  The  price  of  his  services  was  a  guinea  a  Sunday. 
As  father  was  treasurer  of  the  society,  the  duty  of  paying  the  minister 
devolved  on  him,  but  there  was  no  money  in  the  treasury.  I  went  to 
the  little  box  in  which  I  kept  my  small  treasures  and  brought  the  guinea 
to  father  to  pay  the  minister.'  'That  is  a  noble-hearted  boy,'  said  my 
father,  'but  you  shall  never  lose  anything  by  this,  my  son.' 

Mr.  Rix  describes  his  reception  on  reaching  home  in  this  inter- 
esting manner.  'One  Sabbath  morning  In  October,  the  family  were  at 
breakfast,  when  suddenly  the  door  opened  and  I  bounded  into  the  room 
and  was  clasped  in  my  parents'  arms.  "Bless  the  Lord,  oh  my  soul!" 
exclaimed  my  father.  "We  have  trusted  in  Thee  and  Thou  hast  brought 
it  to  pass,  that  Thou  hast  restored  to  us  our  dear  son,  blessed  be  Thy 
holy  name!"  My  dear  little  brothers  and  sisters  crowded  around  me 
almost  wild  with  Joy.  as  my  mother  said,  "I  think  this  is  the  happiest 
day  of  all  our  lives.'" 

After  the  address  a  prayer  written  by  Prof.  William  Rix  of 
Utica,  N.  Y.,  was  read  by  Rev.  Levi  Wild.  Mr.  Rix  is  a  grand- 
son, and  Mr.  Wild  a  great-grandson  of  Gamer  Rix. 

The  next  number  of  the  program  was  an  original  poem  by 
Bev.  J.  Newton  Perrin  of  Sanbornton,  N.  H.  Mr.  Perrin  is  a 
great-grandson  of  Gamer  Rix.    The  poem  follows. 


180  History  of  Royalton,  Vermont 


The  Burnino  or  Rotaltoh. 

The  cabin  of  the  pioneer. 

Dotting  White  River  lands,  had  come 
To  where,  with  mingled  hope  and  fear, 

Was  christened  soon  fair  Royalton. 

O  Royalton,  our  Royalton, 

Mother  of  loving  children  thou: 
Of  whom  the  many  have  passed  on; 

While  these  thy  wings  are  nesting  now; 
Others  claim  heritage  in  thee 

From  where'er  winds  of  heaven  blow. 
Still  cherishing  the  dear  roof-tree 

Though  by  strange  waters  they  may  sow. 

The  settlers,  beating  measures  true 

Against  the  woody  giants,  clear 
The  virgin  soil  till  not  a  few 

Wide  farms  and  tillages  appear. 
Sleek  sheep  and  cattle  graze  the  slopes 

Of  rounded  hills;  and  oft  are  found 
Bams  that  are  tested  to  their  copes. 

For  peace  and  plenty  here  abound. 
Sounds  of  blithe  industry  and  cheer 

Float  from  the  dwellings.    At  the  mill 
The  old  stone  swirls  to  noisy  gear. 

Led  by  the  streamlet  from  the  hilL 
The  calm-eyed  oxen  press  the  yoke. 

Their  burdens  slowly  gaining  ground. 
While  hoof  of  horse  with  rapid  stroke 

Awakes  betimes  the  echoes  round. 
And  children  play  about  the  home. 

Nor  share  their  guardians'  alarms. 
The  maiden  deftly  plies  the  loom. 

The  mother  holds  the  babe  in  arms. 

Dread  war!     The  crimes  done  in  thy  name 

Pierce  to  the  skies,  nor  die  away! 
And  blood  and  woe  have  cried,  "For  shame! 

Since  men  first  fought  in  ancient  day. 
A  Briton's  blood  the  border  stains; 

Revenge  no  golden  rule  may  know; 
England  her  red  men  fierce  retains; 

And  settlements  must  be  laid  low! 
Yet  all  is  fair  in  war  forsooth? 

Then  is  much  foul  which  men  call  fair. 
As  when  on  happy  hearths  the  sleuth 

Steals  suddenly  and  unaware! 
Filling  primeval  water-ways 

Down  from  the  wigwams  of  the  north, 
A  cruel,  sullen  horde  forays 

To  ruin  homes  of  noble  worth! 

October  as  a  glad  surprise 

Floods  the  far-famed  Green  Mountain  state. 
Then  hills  bouquets  toss  to  the  skies. 

With  autumn's  coloring  replete. 


fi 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  181 


A  peaceful  Sabbath  day,  begun 

In  rest  and  worship,  had  its  fill. 
And  at  the  nightfall  dropped  the  sun 

Behind  his  well-accustomed  hill. 
The  sturdy  farm  folk  are  awake 

By  the  first  glint  the  dawn  affords, 
And  some  the  morning  meal  partake, 

And  some  have  gone  to  fields  and  woods, — 
When,  as  a  herd  let  loose  from  hell. 

The  Redcoats'  troop  of  Copperskins, 
With  knife  and  noose  and  torch  and  yell 

And  gun  and  tomahawk,  begins 
Wild  havoc  homestead  haunts  among! 

Falls  the  forged  bolt  as  from  clear  sky! 
Who  stays  behind  meets  captive  thong; 

Who  turns  to  flee,  if  seen,  must  die. 
And  those  there  were  of  tender  years. 

And  women  left  alone  that  mom, 
Who  rose  to  weep  most  bitter  tears. 

And  find  their  loved  ones  from  them  torn! 

Alas  the  day!     Around  the  hearth 

When  grandsires  told  it  to  the  young. 
All  hushed  would  be  the  cry  of  mirth. 

And  children  to  their  mothers  clung. 
The  dreadful  scourge  had  passed  full  soon: 

But  on  those  dimly  burning  pyres 
Hopes  of  the  desolate  consume; 

While  hapless  husbands,  lovers,  sires. 
Sons,  brothers,  in  captivity 

Or  death  are  held.    "O  Lord  how  long?" 
Vengeance  belongeth  unto  Thee! 

And  mercy  doth  to  Thee  belong! 
Oh,  silence,  smoke,  and  sacrifice! 

Yet  sufTering  captives  shall  retrace 
The  trail,  homes  on  these  ruins  rise. 

And  industry  here  throb  apace. 
But  never  will  the  dead  return! 

Nor  life  be  as  it  was  before, 
For  howe'er  much  may  memory  spurn 

Her  tragic  guest,  he's  at  the  door! 

Vicarious  fathers,  in  those  days 

Ye  dared  life  for  the  race  unborn! 
And  heartily  we  speak  your  praise; 

The  cup  of  eulogy  we  turn. 
Fadeless  exemplars!     Hero  band! 

Strong  and  unconquerable  were  ye, 
Upspringing  to  possess  the  land 

When  crushed  by  sad  adversity! 
And,  daughters  of  this  vicinage. 

By  whose  good  auspices  we  meet. 
What  high  ideals  in  that  age. 

Of  womanhood  both  brave  and  sweet 
Adown  the  vista  we  can  see! 

Those  annals  never  shall  be  told 
Without  a  meed  to  Dame  Hendee 

And  heroines  of  dauntless  mold! 


182  History  of  Royalton,  Vebmomt 

Ah,  Royalton,  old  Royalton, 

The  stately  centaries  glide  by! 
Yet  hearts  will  never  cease  to  turn 

Back  to  the  dire  calamity 
Which  tried  thee  as  the  gold  is  tried. 

Nor  in  the  furnace  found  thee  dross. 
But  of  true  worth  and  purified — 

That  crucible  thy  lustrous  cross! 

Following  the  poem  were  short  speeches  by  Gk)v.  Charles  J. 
Bell,  Judge  Hiram  B.  Steele  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  a  grandson  of 
Zadock  Steele,  and  Ex-Gov.  S.  E.  Pingree  of  Hartford.  The 
singing  of  America  and  the  benediction  by  Bev.  C.  E.  Beals 
closed  the  literary  program.  Close  to  the  church  stands  the  fine 
old,  colonial  house  of  the  Denisons,  and  there  a  reception  was 
given  by  Mrs.  Clara  Denison  McClellan,  assisted  by  Mrs.  Henry 
W.  Dutton,  president  of  the  Woman's  club,  Mrs.  Levi  Wild,  Mrs. 
O.  A.  Laird,  Mrs.  B.  B.  Oalusha,  Mrs.  A.  W.  Lyman,  Miss  Ger- 
trude M.  Denison,  Miss  Alice  Chase  Denison,  Mrs.  P.  S.  Belknap, 
and  Miss  C.  L.  Stickney. 

A  souvenir  of  the  day  was  issued  in  the  form  of  a  collection 
of  the  papers  presented  on  the  program,  a  sketch  of  the  life  of 
Dr.  Phineas  Parkhurst,  an  account  of  Lafayette's  visit  to  the 
town,  and  various  other  articles  connected  with  the  history  of 
the  town.  This  was  handsomely  printed  in  pamphlet  form  and 
also  in  cloth  binding,  the  clever  work  of  Miss  Ivah  Dunklee  of 
Weymouth,  Mass. 

Among  the  notables  present  on  the  occasion  were  Gov.  and 
Mrs.  C.  J.  Bell,  Col.  C.  W.  Scarflf,  Judge  and  Mrs.  Hiram  B. 
Steele,  Ex-Gov.  and  Mrs.  S.  E.  Pingree,  Mrs.  John  H.  DeGraflf 
of  Amsterdam,  N.  Y.,  Gardner  Cox,  M.  D.,  of  Holyoke,  Mass., 
Mrs.  A.  D.  Tiffany,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  P.  Hendee  of  Pittsford. 

Lieut.  Houghton  in  his  report  stated  that  he  took  thirty-two 
prisoners.  If  he  included  the  four  killed  in  this  number,  that 
would  leave  twenty-eight  who  were  taken  to  Canada.  Steele  does 
not  give  the  names  of  all  the  prisoners,  and  included  Prince 
Haskell  who  was  at  that  time  a  prisoner  in  Canada.  The  boy 
Daniel  Waller,  spoken  of  as  being  at  Gen.  Stevens',  was  probably 
David  Waller.  Other  persons  who  are  known  to  have  been  cap- 
tured and  are  not  mentioned  by  Mr.  Steele  are  Edward  Enee- 
land,  Jr.,  Ephraim  Downer,  Sen.,  Ephraim  Downer,  Jr.,  and 
William  Evans  and  Timothy  Miles  of  Bandolph. 

In  the  application  for  pension  by  Cotton  Daniel  Evans  he 
states  that  at  the  burning  of  Boyalton  he  was  taken  prisoner, 
carried  to  Montreal,  and  kept  in  King's  prison  thirteen  months 
and  three  days,  when  he  was  exchanged.  This  adds  one  more 
to  the  list  of  prisoners.    He  was  in  Boyalton  March,  1782. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


HiSTOBY    OP    THE    CHARTERS 
AND 

Sketches  of  New  York  Qrantees. 

As  was  usual  in  land  grants,  most  of  the  men  to  whom  New 
York  granted  Boyalton  were  mere  figure-heads,  whose  names  were 
added  to  make  the  required  number  of  grantees.  On  July  12, 
1768,  ''subscribers"  named  in  the  petition  to  the  King  for  a 
grant  of  1000  acres  for  each  in  Boyalton,  stated  that  the  names 
of  each  of  them  were  made  use  of  in  trust  only,  to  and  for  the 
proper  use  and  behoof  of  William  Livingston,  Esq.,  of  New 
York,  his  heirs  and  assigns  and  such  persons  as  he  should  nomi- 
nate and  appoint  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  and  they  agreed 
to  claim  no  part  of  the  land  when  granted,  and  at  the  request 
of  Livingston  to  convey  to  him  and  his  heirs  all  their  rights  in 
said  land,  Livingston  saving  them  free  from  all  expense  by  rea- 
son of  the  use  of  their  names  in  the  petition.  It  was  signed  by 
William  Sorrel  alone. 

John  Kelly  took  the  initiative,  and  on  Nov.  15,  1769,  by  pay- 
ing £50  to  each  he  secured  the  shares  of  Robert  Hyslop,  Elias 
Nixon,  Isaac  Heron,  John  McKenney,  and  Ganet  Roorback. 
Three  days  later  William  Smith,  Jr.,  secured  the  shares  of  Eliza- 
beth Livingston,  John  W.  Smith,  Samuel  Smith,  Ganet  Noel,  and 
John  Brown,  by  paying  only  ten  shillings  to  each.  Four  days 
after  this  Livingston  began  to  look  after  his  own  interests,  and 
purchased  from  William  Sorrel,  Gilbert  Ash,  and  John  Robinson 
their  shares,  paying  only  five  shillings  for  each.  November  24th 
he  and  his  wife  Susannah  deeded  her  share  to  Gerard  Banker  for 
ten  shillings,  and  on  the  30th  Banker  deeded  her  share  and  his 
own  to  Livingston  for  ten  shillings.  On  Dec.  6,  Whitehead  Hicks 
paid  £5  each  for  the  shares  of  Gilbert  Hicks,  John  Woods, 
Thomas  Hicks,  John  Brevort,  and  Elias  Brevort. 

An  outside  party  now  appeared.  Goldsbrow  Banyar  bought 
for  £50  each  the  shares  of  John  D.  Crimshier,  Francis  ChUd, 
James  Moran,  Isaac  Myer,  John  Lewis,  and  Samuel  Boyer,  and 
the  30,000  acres  were  now  equally  divided  among  Livingston, 


184  History  op  Royalton,  Yebmomt 

Smith,  Kelly,  Hicks,  and  Banyar.    The  next  step  was  to  divide 

and  allot  the  land.    This  was  done  under  date  of  Aug.  9,  1771. 

Three  allotments  were  made,  the  Dutch,  Town  Plot,  and  Large 

Allotment,  consisting  respectively  of  forty-six,  forty-one,  and 

fifty-nine  lots.    They  then  proceeded  to  draw  by  baUot.    Each 

drew  29  lots  except  Whitehead  Hicks.    The  records  show  that 

Livingston  and  Banyar  both  drew  Lot  49  L.  A.,  which  must  be 

a  mistake.    It  was  drawn  by  Livingston,  and  Banyar  probably 

drew  fifty-nine.     In  the  individual  deeds  the  lots  of  Banyar  do 

not  entirely  agree  with  those  named  in  the  deed  of  partition. 

The  list  of  holdings  follows,  and  the  number  of  acres  in  each  lot, 

according  to  the  first  survey,  which,  however,  did  not  prove  to 

be  correct  in  every  case. 

LivingBton  drew  Dutch  lots,  Nos.  7-100  acres,  14-100,  15-72»  34-100, 
36-76.  38-100,  42-145,  44-100,  45-100;  Town  Plot  lots,  Nos.  8-100  acres, 
13-127,  18-100,  24-100,  28-100,  30-160,  35-128^,  62  not  given,  but  400  or 
more  acres;  Large  Allotment  lots,  Nos.  30-566  acres,  31-300,  33-S00» 
35-300,  36-300.  37-300,  39-300,  40-300,  49-300,  51-428,  53-299,  55-301  acres* 
making  a  total  for  him  of  6102%  acres.  Banyar  drew  Dutch  lots,  Noa. 
1-100  acres,  6-100,  13-100,  21-113,  23-100,  26-127,  28-100,  29-100,  43-100; 
Town  Plot  lots,  Nos.  4-100,  15-100,  21-132,  23-100,  27-100,  29-104,  34-128%, 
54-416;  Large  Allotment  lots,  Nos.  8-300,  28-300,  29-300,  32-300,  34-334%, 
38-244,  41-300,  45-300,  46-300,  49-300,  56-302,  57-303%,  making  his  total 
5604  acres.  Hicks  drew  Dutch  lots,  Nos.  2-100,  8-137,  9-112,  10-100, 
18-100,  30-100,  37-137,  39-100;  Town  Plot  lots,  Nos.  2-100,  16-100,  17-100, 
19-100,  20-151,  31-128%,  36-128%;  Large  Allotment  lots,  Nos.  1-405  and 
an  island,  2-300,  3-300,  4-300,  5-435  and  two  islands,  6-300,  7-300,  18-300, 
13-300,  21-300,  42-315,  50-300  acres,  making  5547  acres  in  all.  Smith 
drew  Dutch  lots,  Nos.  3-100  acres,  4-100,  11-100,  16-117,  19-100,  24-100, 
27-127,  31-104,  40-100  acres;  Town  Plot  lots,  Nos.  3-100,  5-146,  7-135, 
9-100,  11-100,  25-100,  32128%,  37-128%  acres;  Large  Allotment  lots,  Nos. 
9-300,  10-288  and  an  island,  11-300,  16-325  and  an  island,  17-300,  18-300, 
25-300,  26-497  and  an  island,  43-300,  47-300,  48-300,  52-298  acres,  in  all, 
5694  acres  besides  the  islands.  Kelly  drew  Dutch  lots,  Nos.  5-100  acres, 
12-100,  17-100,  20-100,  22-122,  25-100,  32-132,  33-100,  41-107,  46-309  acres; 
Town  Plot  lots,  Nos.  1-90  acres,  6-135,  12-95,  14-100,  22-100,  26-100, 
33-128%,  38-135,  53-360  acres;  Large  Allotment  lots,  Nos.  14-300,  15-300, 
19-300,  20-300,  22-407,  23-300,  24-300,  27-300,  44-300,  54-300  acres,  a  total 
of  5620  and  one  half  besides  the  islands.  Banyar  had  two  islands  in 
34  L.  A. 

Only  a  few  records  have  been  found  of  the  transfer  of  these 
lands  to  other  persons  by  the  New  York  grantees.  In  the  County 
Clerk's  office  in  Chelsea  is  an  old  book  of  deeds  of  Gloucester 
county.  In  this  is  found  a  mortgage  by  Daniel  McAlpine,  Cap- 
tain in  his  Majesty's  60th  Regt.  of  Foot,  on  Lot  No.  12  in  Roy- 
alton, probably  in  Town  Plot.  This  is  dated  Oct.  10,  1774.  In 
the  same  book  is  a  record  of  the  deed  of  37  Dutch  from  Hicks 
to  Eleazer  Davis  of  Hanover,  also  of  11  Town  Plot  from  Smith, 
and  10  L.  A.  from  Smith,  42  Dutch  from  Livingston,  53  Town 
Plot  from  Kelly.  These  transfers  are  dated  July  10, 1773.  Eben- 
ezer  Brewster  of  Preston.  Conn.,  bought  of  John  Kelly,  on  I>ec. 


i 


HiSTOBY  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT  186 

12,  1774,  41  and  46  Dutch.  Bobert  Havens  bought  of  Eleazer 
Davis  of  Hanover  37  and  42  Dutch  on  Jan.  14,  1774,  and  Joseph 
Parkhurst  bought  126  acres  in  16  L.  A.  of  William  Smith,  Dec. 
24, 1774,  and  Isaac  Moi^^an  bought  of  Whitehead  Hicks  211  acres 
in  5  L.  A.,  and  100  acres  in  1  L.  A.  on  Dec.  14,  1775.  William 
Livingston  sold  Elias  Curtis  34  Dutch,  May  28,  1777. 

The  Declaration  of  Independence  resulted  in  nullifying 
many  grants  made  to  sympathizers  with  the  home  government, 
and  the  New  York  proprietors  were  no  exception.  It  is  npt 
likely  that  any  one  of  them  realized  much  from  the  sale  of  land 
in  Boyalton. 

It  is  not  known  when  the  town  was  organized.  That  it  was 
later  than  March,  1772,  is  evident  from  the  Sharon  records.  At 
their  meeting  March  10,  1772,  they  voted  that  Robert  and  Joseph 
Havens  should  be  voters  at  that  meeting.  It  will  be  recalled  that 
the  Havens  family  had  removed  to  Royalton  in  1771.  It  was 
later  ascertained  that  their  meeting  was  illegal,  because  they  had 
chosen,  ^'some  x>erson  or  persons  in  the  township  of  Boyalton  to 
serve  as  oflScer  or  oflScers  in  the  town  of  Sharon  for  the  year 
ensuing,  which  town  of  Boyalton  is  granted  and  pattented  under 
New  York  the  Great  Seal  of  the  Province  aforesaid  which  pro- 
ceeding in  sd  meeting  with  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Boyalton 
voting  in  said  meeting  makes  Sd  Meeting  Illegal  and  is  Null  and 
▼oid  in  Law  -  -  -  there  is  an  act  of  this  province  that  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  townships  that  are  not  incorporated  shall  meet  on 
the  1st  Tuesday  in  April  to  choose  ofScers."  A  meeting  was 
warned  for  April  7th.  Before  and  after  this  year  Sharon  had 
her  town  meetings  for  the  election  of  officers  in  March. 

It  would  seem  certain  from  this  action  that  the  organiza- 
tion of  Boyalton  took  place  between  1772  and  1777.  In  this  lat- 
ter year  the  town  voted  in  favor  of  the  new  State,  making  their 
action  known  to  the  convention  at  Westminster  through  a  letter. 
In  a  petition  of  Comfort  Sever 's  dated  1777  he  speaks  of  the 
**town  clerk"  of  Boyalton,  but  does  not  name  him.  It  is  doubt- 
ful if  there  were  settlers  enough  before  1776  to  eflfect  an  organiza- 
tion, unless  the  town  was  organized  by  the  original  grantees  in 
New  York.  In  the  case  of  the  settlement  of  Sharon,  the  proprie- 
tors met  and  elected  their  ofiBcers  in  Plainfield,  Conn.,  for  some 
years,  amtil  the  town  had  a  fair  number  of  settlers. 

Boyalton  was  not  represented  by  a  delegate  in  any  of  the 
eonventions  of  the  state  prior  to  1778.  Joseph  Parkhurst  was 
our  first  representative  to  the  Assembly  in  October,  1778,  and  his 
action  in  that  Assembly  has  already  been  noted.  The  sentiments 
of  the  minority  in  that  body  were  very  detrimental  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  new  state,  which  was  struggling  to  maintain  her  ex- 
istence against  so  many  claims,  and  the  attacks  of  the  British 


186  History  op  RoYAiiTON,  Vermont 

and  Indians.  She  needed  money.  In  Royalton  were  many  acres 
of  land  held  by  non-residents  under  the  New  York  charter.  The 
inhabitants  were  indifferent  to  the  welfare  of  the  state,  the  lead- 
ers thought.  Numerous  applicants  were  clamoring  for  grants, 
some  of  whom  petitioned  for  the  township  of  Royalton.  Eliakim 
Spooner  and  Danforth  Keyes  were  the  most  persistent  or  the 
most  influential.  It  is  likely  that  they  had  made  proposals  to  the 
citizens  of  the  town  to  join  with  them  in  their  petition,  for  the 
next  town  meeting,  which  was  held  June  28,  1779,  recites  that 
they  voted  against  joining  with  Messrs.  Spooner  and  Keyes  in 
their  petition  for  a  grant  of  Boyalton.  Some  of  the  citizens  of 
Royalton  had  been  fully  alive  to  their  danger.  Comfort  Sever 
was  one  of  them.  His  x>etition  is  on  file  in  the  office  of  the  Sec- 
retary of  State  at  Montpelier,  and  shows  his  foresight.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  copy: 

"The  Petition  of  Comfort  Sever  of  Royalton  in  said  State — 
Humbly  sheweth 

That  he  removed  with  his  family  to  said  Royalton  last  March  and 
settled  on  the  hundred  acre  Lot  No.  11  in  the  Town  Plot  on  the  north 
side  of  White  River  near  the  Second  branch,  in  expectation  of  having 
a  conveyance  of  it  from  Wm  Smith  Esq  late  of  New  York,  and  of  the 
ninety  acre  lot  No  12  adjoining  south  on  the  aforementioned  Lot  of 
G.  Bansrar  Esq  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

That  your  Petitioner  has  laid  out  considerable  labor  thereon  to 
put  them  in  a  situation  for  improvement  That  the  said  Wm  Smith 
(owner  of  the  first  mentioned  Lot)  is  lately  gone  to  the  Enemy,  and 
that  the  last  mentioned  Lot  (it  appears)  was  sold  to  one  Capt.  McAlpine 
an  officer  in  the  British  service,  on  which  account  is  apprehended  the 
disposal  of  those  Lots  will  belong  to  the  honorable  General  Assembly 
of  this  State 

Your  petitioner  therefore  humbly  prays  That  this  honorable  As- 
sembly will  be  pleased  to  pass  a  resolve  whereby  your  Petitioner  may 
become  (owner?)  of  the  Lots  before  mentioned  at  a  reasonable  price, 
whenever  they  shall  see  fit  to  dispose  of  them,  or  otherwise  secure  your 
petitioner  (so  far  as  the  Assembly  may  be  concerned  therein)  from 
any  injury  he  may  be  exposed  to  sustain  on  account  of  his  settlement 
and  improvement  on  said  lots  as  before  mentioned 

And  your  Petitioner  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray  Ac. 

Comfort  Sever 
Royalton  Oct  1  1778" 

The  confiscation  of  tory  land  was  ordered  in  1777,  and  se- 
vere action  taken  with  regard  to  tories,  so  that  Mr.  Sever  had 
good  reason  to  suppose  that  his  petition  would  be  favorably  con- 
sidered. No  action,  however,  seems  to  have  been  taken  on  it, 
when,  on  Oct.  26,  1779,  Ethan  Allen,  chairman  of  the  committee 
appointed  by  the  Assembly  to  consider  claims  to  land,  reported 
favorably  on  granting  to  Col.  Keyes  and  his  associates  the  tract 
of  land  called  Royalton.  The  result  of  their  report  is  seen  in 
the  following  extract  from  Vol.  II  of  Governor  and  Council, 
page  13:     **  Whereas  the  Assembly  have  Resolved  to  Grant  to 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  187 

Mr  John  Payne  &  his  associates  the  Township  of  Bethel 

And  to  Col.  Danforth  Keyes  and  others  his  associates  the  tract 

of  Land  called  Royalton Resolved  that  his  Excelency  the 

Governor  &  Council  be  desired  to  carry  the  above  Resolves  into 
Execution."  Provision  was  made  that  real  settlers  should  not 
be  disturbed  if  they  paid  their  share  of  costs,  and  each  was  to 
have  100  acres.  The  next  day  the  Assembly  set  the  price  of 
Royalton  at  $2.00  an  acre  to  be  paid  by  the  proprietors. 

There  is  no  indication  in  the  town  records  of  any  meeting 
being  held  to  act  in  this  critical  period  of  the  town's  history. 
If  the  charter  should  be  issued  to  Keyes  and  his  associates,  dis- 
putes and  ejectments  similar  to  the  disturbances  with  the  New 
Yorkers  would  be  likely  to  result.  There  is  no  town  meeting 
record  between  July  12  and  Dec.  15  of  this  year,  but  some  action 
was  taken  either  by  the  selectmen  or  the  inhabitants,  for  the  fol- 
lowing petition  is  recorded  in  the  oflBce  of  the  Secretary  of  State : 

"To  his  Excellency  the  Qovemor  and  the  honorable  Council  of  the 
State  of  Vt — ^The  remonstrance  and  petition  of  the  Inhabitants  and 

owners  of  lands  in  the  township  of  Royalton ^That  persons  to  the 

amount  of  sixty-one  in  number  have  within  the  term  of  about  seven 
years  last  past  purchased  and  become  possessed  of  Lots  of  Land  in  said 
Royalton  that  about  fifty  of  these  persons  are  now  inhabitants  thereof 
and  forming  settlements  in  the  town,"  and  it  goes  on  to  say  that  they 
have  been  to  expense  of  roads  to  give  access  to  the  town,  that  they 
have  built  mills  etc.  "This  being  the  case  it  is  with  great  astonish- 
ment and  surprise  they  understand  of  late  that  the  Hon'ble  General 
Assembly  at  their  last  session  have  ordered  a  charter  of  said  township 
to  be  made  out  to  a  list  of  grantees  in  which  the  names  of  many  of  the 
owners  and  inhabitants  are  omitted  and  without  ever  calling  on  them 
to  appear  and  shew  reason  why  it  ought  not  to  be  done  The  Inhab- 
itants have  good  reason  to  apprehend  that  the  Assembly  have  been  in- 
fluenced by  undue  representations  thereto  or  they  would  not  have 
ordered  the  grant  without  notice  to  the  public  and  particularly  to  the 
Inhabitants  as  is  usual  in  such  cases  in  the  New  England  States." 
They  say  the  only  knowledge  they  have  comes  from  vague  reports,  and 
ask  that  no  action  be  taken  until  they  can  be  heard  at  the  next  session, 
"or  otherwise  secure  your  petitioners  those  lands  which  they  have  pur- 
chased or  otherwise  rendered  valuable  at  their  own  expense." 
Signed  "Royalton  Nov  6  1779  Comfort  Sever  Agent." 

The  Governor  and  Council  considered  this  petition  Nov.  12, 
and  appointed  as  a  committee  Hon.  Benjamin  Emmons,  John 
Throop,  Samuel  Robinson,  and  Capt.  Edmund  Hodges,  any  three 
of  whom  were  empowered  to  act,  to  go  immediately  to  Royalton, 
inquire  how  many  settlers  were  actually  on  the  premises,  when 
they  entered,  how  many  had  made  actual  improvements  and  were 
not  on  the  premises,  and  to  inquire  into  any  other  matters' of 
grievance,  and  report  as  soon  as  might  be.  Their  evidence  was 
to  be  under  oath.  Subsequently  Jonath^  Fassett  was  named 
in  place  of  Samuel  Robinson.  The  committee  had  not  made  their 
visit  evidently,  Jan.  13,  1780,  for  on  that  date  a  meeting  was 


188  HiSTOEY  OP  ROYALTON,  YeBMONT 

held,  and  it  was  voted  to  postpone  the  matter  respecting  paying 
the  money  or  incorporation  fees  for  the  town  nntil  a  hearing 
could  be  had  from  the  committee.  Comfort  Sever  was  chosen  as 
agent  to  treat  with  the  Governor  and  Council  respecting  the 
claim  of  the  town  to  non-residents'  property.  This  honorable 
body  on  Jan.  26,  at  Manchester,  took  the  following  action: 

"The  Proprietors  of  the  Township  of  Royalton  having  laid  befors 
this  Council  the  dispute  between  them  with  respect  to  granting  such 
said  Township  to  the  Inhabitants  thereof,  ft  a  number  of  non-residents, 
who  by  a  resolution  of  the  Council  of  the  24  December  last  was  to 
appear  this  day  ft  receive  the  Charter  of  Incorporation  ft  pay  the  Orant- 
Ing  fees — but  as  It  appears  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Town  did  (not?) 
fully  understand  the  Intentions  of  the  Resolution  aforesaid— Tberef6re 
Resolved  to  postpone  the  Making  out  the  Charter  of  Incorporation  of 
said  Town  until  the  Next  Session  of  Assembly  In  ICarch  Next 

Attest       Joseph  Fay,  Secy." 

On  March  14  the  petition  of  Comfort  Sever  &  Comi>aiiy  was 
called  up,  and  a  committee  of  two  appointed  to  confer  with  the 
(Governor  and  Council,  who  soon  made  a  verbal  report.  It  was 
called  up  again  in  the  afternoon  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 
Finally,  Mar.  16,  it  was  ''Resolved,  that  a  resolution  of  this 
Assembly  passed  the  last  session  directing  the  Governor  and 
Council  to  make  out  a  charter  of  the  township  of  Royalton  be 
and  hereby  is  repealed  by  the  consent  of  the  parties  concerned." 

The  conmiittee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the  peti- 
tion of  Sever  and  Company,  brought  in  the  following : 

"That  It  Is  our  opinion  that  a  grant  Issue  to  the  present  Inhab- 
itants of  the  township  of  Royalton  as  specified  In  the  petition  of  Com- 
fort Sever  and  Company.  And  to  the  end  that  equal  Justice  be  done  to 
all  parties  concerned  as  non-resident  petitioners  for  said  town  do 
earnestly  recommend  that  said  non-resident  petitioners  respectively 
have  an  equivalent  for  their  respective  shares  In  some  vacant  lands  in 
this  state  granted  them  as  soon  as  may  be. 
All  which  is  humbly  submitted 

Ira  Allen  for  the  Commute" 

The  report  was  accepted,  and  the  Assembly 

"Resolved  that  there  be  and  hereby  is  granted  unto  Capt  Sever 
and  Company  being  sixty-one  in  number  a  township  of  land,  as  speci- 
fied in  their  petition,  by  the  name  of  Royalton  lying  and  being  in  this 
state  containing  about  24,000  acres  And  the  Qovemor  and  Council  are 
hereby  requested  to  make  out  a  charter  of  the  aforesaid  township  of 
Royalton  and  ascertain  the  bounds  unto  the  said  Comfort  Sever  and 
Company  upon  such  conditions,  limitations  restrictions  and  reserva- 
tions as  they  shall  Judge  necessary  for  the  benefit  of  this  state. 

Resolved  That  the  Qovemor  and  Council  be  and  they  are  hereby 
requested  to  direct  the  Surveyor  General  to  issue  out  an  order  of  sur- 
vey for  a  township  of  land  to  Eliaklm  Spooner,  Danforth  Keyes  and 
Company  to  whom  was  granted  the  township  of  Royalton  the  last 
session  of  Assembly— as  an  equivalent  for  said  grant  provided  th^f 
there  be  sixty  in  number  of  such  proprietors."  Col.  Keyes  and  his 
associates  received  the  town  of  Hardwlck. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  189 

The  governor's  attention  was  quite  fully  occupied  with 
guarding  the  frontiers  and  provisioning  the  militia  during  the 
next  few  months,  and  before  he  had  made  out  the  charter  and  the 
fees  were  ready,  the  terrible  calamity,  known  as  the  Burning  of 
Royalton,  had  almost  destroyed  the  young  settlement,  and  left 
the  inhabitants  in  no  condition  to  pay  anew  for  their  lands.  The 
town  records  are  silent  from  Mar.  6,  1780,  to  Mar.  20,  1781. 
Three  meetings  are  recorded  in  the  year  1781,  with  not  a  single 
reference  to  their  disaster,  and  none  to  the  chartering  of  the 
town.  It  is  certain  a  petition  was  prepared,  for  the  following 
records  are  found  in  the  Journal  of  the  Assembly  for  1781.  On 
Feb.  12,  1781,  a  petition  signed  by  a  number  of  suflfering  pro- 
prietors of  Royalton  praying  for  relief  was  referred  to  a  com- 
mittee of  five,  and  they  reported  next  day.  The  Assembly  *  *  Re- 
solved that  Comfort  Sever  and  Joel  Marsh  Esquires  and  Mr. 
Wm  Humphrey  be  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  a  committee 
for  the  purpose  mentioned  in  the  report."  The  report  itself  was 
not  found.    The  day  following  this  the  Assembly 

"ReaolYed  that  so  much  of  the  petition  as  prays  that  the  suffering 
Proprtetors  of  Royalton  be  discharged  from  their  granting  fees  that 
is  due  to  this  state  be  granted,  and  Resolved  that  a  committee  of  three 
be  appointed  to  make  inquiry  and  report  who  are  the  sufferers  that 
ougbt  to  be  released  from  paying  the  granting  fees  as  aforesaid." 

This  committee  must  have  been  prompt  and  active,  for  the 
same  day  the  legislature  passed  the  following: 

"Whereas  a  Number  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Royalton 
bave  suffered  greatly  by  the  late  ravages  of  the  Enemy  in  that  Town, 
lyy  which  Misfortune  they  are  so  reduced  as  to  be  unable  to  pay  their 
charter  fees.  Due  for  the  grant  of  said  Town:  And  whereas  this  As- 
sembly Tiew  them  as  Persons  worthy  the  compassion  ft  benevolence  of 
this  Legislature: 

Therefore  resolved  that  the  said  sufferers  (viz)  Timothy  Durkee, 
Heman  Durkee,  Aden  Durkee,  Timothy  Durkee,  Jr.,  David  Fisk,  (Fish), 
Joseph  Flsk  (Fish),  David  Brewster,  Zebulon  Lyon,  Ellas  Stevens, 
Robert  Handy,  Calvin  Parkhurst,  James  C^ooper,  Joseph  Parkhurst, 
BHisha  Kent,  Daniel  Rlx,  John  Hibbard,  Joseph  Johnson  Rix,  Medad 
Benton,  Jonathan  Benton,  Nathan  Morgan,  John  Billings,  Benjamin  Day, 
Israel  Wallow  (Waller),  Tilley  Parkhurst,  Phineas  Parkhurst,  Jabez 
Parkhurst,  Ebenezer  Parkhurst,  Daniel  Gilbert,  Simon  Shepherd,  Jere- 
miah Treacott,  Nathaniel  Morse,  Joseph  Havens,  Widow  Sarah  Rude, 
Isaac  Morgan,  Ellas  Chirtis,  Robert  Havens,  Daniel  Havens,  John  Evans, 
Martin  Tullar,  Ckimer  Rix."  •  -  -  - 

On  the  back  of  the  manuscript  it  is  stated  that  these  suflfer- 
ers  were  discharged  of  their  dues,  which  statement  is  erased  and 
**re-con«idered''  written.  The  Assembly  reconsidered  this  action 
on  Feb.  22,  and  instead  of  discharging  the  proprietors  from  pay- 
ing their  charter  fees,  they  postponed  the  payment  of  them  five 
years.  The  Governor  and  Council  further  resolved  that  the  fees 
for  the  remaining  proprietors  should  be  postponed  until  the  fol- 
lowing April.    The  charter  was  finally  made  out  Dec.  20,  1781. 


L 


190  History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont 

For  the  action  of  the  proprietors  regarding  charter  fees  the 
reader  is  referred  to  Chapter  III. 

A  sketch  of  the  five  men  who  expected  to  control  the  settle- 
ment of  Boyalton  under  the  New  York  charter  may  not  be  unin- 
teresting. From  **Halsey's  New  York  Frontier"  and  other 
sources  we  learn  that  Goldsbrow  Banyar  was  bom  in  London* 
England,  that  he  came  to  New  York  City  in  1737  or  1738.  In 
1746  he  was  deputy  secretary  of  state,  registrar  of  the  Colonial 
Court  of  Chancery  in  1755,  an  officer  of  the  Prerogative  Court  in 
1753,  1756,  and  1769.  When  the  Revolutionary  War  broke  out 
he  retired  to  a  place  on  the  Hudson  river.  He  was  a  tory,  and 
his  name  appears  in  a  list  of  suspected  persons^  Jan.  15,  1776. 
He  seems  to  have  remained  unmolested  at  his  home,  Bed  Bank, 
later  called  Rhinebeck.  As  an  example  of  his  discretion,  it  is 
related  that  a  British  officer  was  sent  to  him  for  advice.  Banyar 
sent  him  away  with  a  sealed  letter,  which  was  found  to  rend, 
** Banyar  knows  nothing."  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  lived  in 
Albany.  He  grew  blind  in  his  old  age,  and  was  led  about  the 
streets  by  a  colored  servant.  He  died  Nov.  15,  1815,  at  the  age 
of  ninety-one.  It  is  said  of  him,  **He  preserved  his  character 
from  reproach  on  the  other  side  of  the  water,  and  his  lands  from 
confiscation  on  this."  By  the  terms  of  his  will  the  name  Golds- 
borough  must  survive  with  the  ownership  of  the  property,  and 
though  he  died  childless,  today  there  exists  on  the  premises  an 
opulent  gentleman  of  this  name.  He  claimed  more  than  six 
townships,  and  asked  for  more  yet.  When  the  $30,000  which 
Vermont  paid  to  New  York  was  divided,  he  received  more  than 
one  fourth  of  it.  In  1786  there  were  granted  him  5000  acres  in 
New  York,  perhaps  as  an  equivalent  for  what  he  had  lost  in  the 
N.  H.  Grants.  The  original  grantees  under  New  York  did  not 
submit  without  protest  to  the  re-chartering  of  their  town.  A 
*' caveat"  was  entered  by  Mr.  Banyar,  who  gives  a  history  of  the 
grant,  and  petitions  the  Vermont  Assembly  in  relation  thereto. 
An  extract  from  the  petition  follows. 

"The  subscriber  Goldsboro  Banyar  being  a  proprietor  and  owner  of 
certain  Letts  of  land  in  the  above  described  township  of  Rojraltoa 
doth  hereby  in  behalf  of  himself  and  the  other  proprietors  thereof  enter 
a  caveat  against  granting  the  whole  or  any  part  of  the  said  township 
to  Capt.  Comfort  Sever  and  Company  or  other  persons  under  the  state 
of  Vermont  or  against  fixing  the  Seal  of  the  said  State  to  any  Letters 
patent  or  Charter  for  the  same  Township  until  the  Subscriber  is  heard 
by  himself  or  counsel 

Bennington,  22  June  1781  O  Banyar" 

In  1788  Solomon  Cushman,  tax  collector,  sold  parts  of  fifty 
or  more  lots  to  satisfy  the  two  penny  tax  which  was  delinquent. 
On  Nov.  28  he  stated  that  he  had  received  from  Goldsbrow  Ban- 
yar the  sum  needed  for  freeing  a  considerable  number  of  these 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  191 

lots.    The  following  record  made  by  the  town  clerk  relates  to 

this  sale: 

"Royalton  29Ui  Norember  1788  Sir. 

On  examining  of  Solomon  Cushman's  Records  I  find  that  Lot  No. 
fonr  was  sold  the  Twenty  second  Day  of  the  Month  I  desire  you  will 
mark  that  Number  on  your  Records  so  that  it  may  be  known  that  the 
Redemtion  money  is  not  paid  on  that  Lot  I  have  mark  (four)  in  this 
way  in  the  receipt  let  it  be  done  on  your  records  the  same  way  then 
they  will  both  be  alike 
Abel  Sterens    Town  Clerk 

In  Royalton  J  V  Benthey  ( ?) 

Attorney  To 
Qoldsbrow  Banyar 
Town  Clerk's  office  Royalton  Jan  9th  1789 
Recorded  and  Bzamlned 

Attest    Abel  Stevens  Clerk" 

Whitehead  Hicks  was  mayor  of  New  York  City  in  1778.    He 
owned  many  lots  in  Hertford,  now  Hartland.    On  Mar.  24,  1778, 
the  Assembly  of  Vermont  declared  the  land  forfeit,  and  gave 
William  Gallup  liberty  to  dispose  of  it.    They  claimed  to  be  act- 
ing according  to  the  advice  of  Congress  in  making  immediate 
aale  of  the  enemies'  land,  so  we  must  conclude  that  Hicks  was  a 
tory,  less  discreet  and  cautious  than  Banyar.    In  1778  William 
Qallnp  as  Commissioner  of  Sales  reported  more  than  1000  acres 
of  land  sold  which  belonged  to  Whitehead  Hicks. 

John  Kelly  was  an  attorney.    He  appears  to  have  been  very 
energetic  in  pushing  his  claims,  and  seems  to  have  kept  the  good 
^^rill  of  Vermonters.    It  is  quite  probable  that  he  visited  the 
:jregion,  Sharon  and  Royalton,  soon  after  the  grant  of  Royalton. 
a  deposition  of  his  made  Mar.  6,  1771,  he  stated  that  Robert 
tvens  of  Sharon  showed  him  a  petition  received  from  Benjamin 
[JBellows,  Jr.,  son  of  a  N.  H.  magistrate  at  Walpole,  and  which 
been  circulated  in  favor  of  annexation  to  N.  H.,  and  only 
right  or  nine  names  were  on  it,  and  Havens  said  they  were  the 
»]ily  ones  in  Sharon  that  would  sign  it.    If  he  had  a  personal 
"i^aterview  with  Havens,  that  may  account  for  the  fact  that  Rob- 
Havens  was  the  first  one  to  settle  in  Royalton.     In  a  petition 
►r  land,  1787,  Kelly  said  he  owned  111  rights.     In  March  Ver- 
00Dt  granted  him  69,000  acres.     He  succeeded  in  getting  his 
^^^ts  under  N.  Y.  confirmed  in  some  instances,  and  permission 
to  locate  on  unchartered  land  as  an  equivalent  for  losses  in  others, 
*  good  indication  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by 
^  ruling  powers.     The  following  year  he  interested  himself  in 
we  Welfare  of  Vermont,  and  wrote  to  Gov.  Chittenden  to  know 
On  what  terms  the  Grants  would  come  into  the  Union,  saying 
there  were  friends  of  Vermont  who  would  gladly  serve  the  inter- 
esta  of  the  state.     He  suggested  that  Congress  exonerate  Ver- 
moiit  from  paying  taxes  of  the  War,  and  if  claimants  to  land 
wbich  had  not  been  chartered  would  accept  of  wild  land  to  the 


198  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

west,  that  Yermont  might  be  satisfied,  and  that  CoL  Hamilton  to 
whom  he  had  proposed  this,  thought  such  a  settlement  could  be 
eflfected.  He  certainly  was  either  a  good  friend  to  Vermont,  or 
led  her  leaders  to  think  so,  for  Nov.  5,  1792,  he  obtained  anoliier 
grant,  this  time  one  of  12,000  acres  joining  land  granted  him  in 
1791  near  Jay  and  Newport.  He  was  an  attorney  for  Ambas- 
sador Jay,  and  successfully  conducted  cases  in  which  Jay  had 
claims  to  land. 

William  Livingston,  LL.  D.,  was  bom  in  Albany,  1723.  He 
graduated  at  Yale  in  1741.  He  was  Governor  of  N.  J.  from 
1776  to  1790.  He  was  a  patriot,  and  was  elected  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  of  1774,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  of  1787.  He  was  a  jurist,  legislator,  magis- 
trate, and  an  author  of  several  legal  and  political  treatises.  He 
died  in  1790.  He  apparently  was  the  leader  in  first  petitioning 
for  the  grant  of  Royalton,  which  in  1766  was  named  Loyalton. 
In  1769  he  and  Hicks  petitioned  for  leave  to  insert  names  in  the 
schedule  annexed  in  the  letters  patent  for  this  tract.  He  had  a 
manor,  in  which  Abel  Curtis,  the  agent  of  Bethel,  found  William 
Smith  a  prisoner,  and  Mr.  Banyar  visiting  him,  and  where  he 
negotiated  for  the  two  tiers  of  lots  belonging  to  the  western  part 
of  Royalton. 

William  Smith  was  a  member  of  the  New  York  Council  for 
a  considerable  time.  On  Oct.  20,  1769,  the  Council  had  advised 
the  practical  violation  of  the  King's  order  forbidding  further 
grants,  and  it  was  the  next  month  that  Royalton  was  granted. 
He  became  a  tory,  and  the  Council  of  Safety  ordered  him  to  the 
Manor  of  Livingston,  June,  1777.  He  escaped  being  included 
under  an  attainder  act  through  the  powerful  influence  of  the 
Livingston  family,  with  which  he  was  connected  by  marriage,  so 
he  received  a  share  of  the  $30,000  indemnity  paid  by  Vermont, 
about  one  sixth  what  Banyar  received.  He  was  a  distinguished 
judge  of  New  York,  and  his  legal  advice  was  sought  in  the  dis- 
cussion of  the  Haldimand  correspondence.  He  afterwards  be- 
came Chief  Justice  of  Canada,  and  died  there  in  1793. 

It  will  be  seen  from  these  sketches  that  political  discord 
probably  reigned  in  the  meetings  of  the  New  York  proprietors, 
and  that  some  of  them  must  have  been  too  busy  in  looking  after 
their  own  personal  safety  to  give  much  time  to  their  infant  child 
here  in  the  Vermont  wilderness.  Royalton  may  well  feel  proud 
of  the  high  social  and  intellectual  standing  of  these  first  owners 
of  the  soil,  though,  possibly,  no  one  of  them  ever  set  foot  on  the 
grant  of  Nov.  13,  1769.  They  employed  Thomas  Valentine  to 
survey  the  town. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


i 


Ecclesiastical  History. 

THE  FIRST  CHURCH. 

It  is  noteworthy  that  one  of  the  first  things  the  pioneers  of 
New  England  considered  in  establishing  settlements,  was  the 
provision  for  supplying  their  spiritual  needs.  The  settlers  of 
Royalton  could  hardly  have  numbered  one  hundred,  all  told, 
when  they  gave  their  attention  to  the  matter  of  stated  preaching. 

In  its  earliest  days  Royalton  was  closely  associated  with 
Sharon  in  religious,  as  well  as  in  civic  matters.  It  is  in  Sharon 
records  that  we  find  the  first  steps  taken  to  secure  a  minister  for 
the  two  towns.  The  inhabitants  of  Sharon  and  Royalton  met 
in  Sharon  Feb.  11, 1777.  Joel  Marsh  was  chosen  moderator,  and 
Benjamin  Spalding  clerk.    They  vote, 

''that  the  Towns  of  Sharon  and  Royalton  will  unite  to  have  a  gospel 
minister  Setled  amongst  them  and  to  be  in  conjunction  or  union  in 
order  to  Support  the  gospel  amongst  them  for  and  Dureing  the  term  of 
Ten  years  from  and  after  this  meeting. 

Voted  that  they  will  hold  Publick  worship  in  two  Places  in  the 
following  manner  Namely  for  Sharon  on  the  Roade  Between  Mr.  Rosel 
Morgans  grist  mill  and  the  Dwelling  House  of  Mr.  Joseph  Parkhurst 
Near  the  Second  Bridge  on  Quallion  Brook  about  20  Rods  below  sd 
Bridge  and  at  Royalton  in  the  Crotch  of  the  Roads  Near  the  foart,  and 
that  the  Preaching  Shall  be  held  in  Each  Town  and  in  Each  Place  as 
stated  in  Proportion  to  what  each  Town  Pays. 

Voted  that  the  Towns  of  Sharon  and  Royalton  will  Support  the 
g:o8pel  Ministry  amongst  them  by  a  Rate  made  on  the  Poles  and  Reat- 
able  Estates  of  the  inhabitants  in  Each  Town. 

Voted  that  Joel  Marsh  Esqr  Lieunt  Medad  Benton  and  Ben-jn  Spald- 
ing; Ensign  Isaac  Morgan  Shall  be  a  Comtee  to  treat  with  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Judson  to  Preach  in  sd  Towns  on  Probation. 

Voted  that  the  aforesd  comtee  Shall  Set  up  warnings  for  meetings 
for  the  future. 

test    Benjn  Spalding  for  sd  meeting." 

A  few  days  later  this  other  record  was  entered: 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Towns  of  Sharon  and  Roy- 
alton Leagueally  Warned  and  held  in  sd  Sharon  February  the  20th  A  D 
1777. 

Then  Lieutenant  Medad  Benton  was  chosen  moderator  for  sd  meet- 
ing: 

then  Benjn  Spalding  Chosen  Clark 

33 


194  History  of  Royalton,  Vermont 

then  Voted  to  Chuae  a  Comtee  to  ask  the  advice  of  the  nel^borlns 
ministers  to  git  a  Candidate  to  preach  on  Prohation  and  Yoted  that 
Mr  Benjn  Spalding  Lieutnt  Medad  Benton  and  Mr  Daniel  Qilhert  Shall 
be  a  Comtee  for  the  Purpos  aforesd  and  for  sd  Comtee  to  make  a  Retam 
to  sd  meeting." 

The  meeting  adjourned  to  Mar.  18.  At  this  meeting  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  take  a  list  of  the  polls  and  ratable  estates 
of  the  two  towns.  The  rate  was  to  amount  to  £50  legal  mon^. 
Benj.  Spalding,  Daniel  Oilbert  from  Sharon,  Elias  Curtis  and 
Benjamin  Parkhurst  from  Boyalton  were  the  committee  to  make 
a  rate. 

This  action  probably  proved  unsatisfactory,  for  on  May  20, 
1777,  it  was  voted  to  raise  money  by  subscription,  and  Benjamin 
Spalding,  Joel  Marsh,  and  Tilly  Parkhurst  were  chosen  to  re- 
ceive the  money,  and  hire  a  minister  on  probation.  It  has  not 
been  ascertained  whether  the  two  towns  did  really  employ  the 
same  minister  or  not.  The  Bev.  Mr.  Judson  mentioned  was. 
doubtless,  Andrew  Judson,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  in  1775. 
He  was  bom  in  Stratford,  Conn.,  1748,  and  was  a  missionary. 
He  may  have  preached  in  one  or  both  towns  while  engaged  in  this 
work.  It  is  not  probable  that  he  was  secured  ''on  probation." 
since  he  was  pastor  in  Eastford,  Conn.,  1778-1804,  dying  in  the 
latter  year. 

The  arrangement  made  was  likely  to  prove  unsatisfacUnyy 
as  the  amount  of  service  in  each  town  would  vary  according  to 
the  sum  each  town  paid,  and  as  Sharon  had  been  settled  several 
years  before  Royalton,  her  population  would  have  been  greater 
at  this  time.  The  compact  must  have  been  dissolved  before  Aug. 
26,  1778,  the  earliest  record  of  the  Royalton  church  which  has 
been  preserved.  That  record  comprises  only  the  following:  "At 
a  Church  meeting  in  Royalton,  August  the  26,  1778.  at  the  house 
of  Lieut  Joseph  Parkhurst 

I  Chose  Rufus  Rude  Moderator  and  Clerk*' 

On  the  19th  of  October  of  the  same  year  the  Royalton  church 
voted  to  give  Rev.  Asa  Burton  a  call,  and  in  case  he  declined,  to 
''apply  to  the  Presbetry  for  their  advice  and  assistance  to  get  a 
minister.*'  No  record  is  found  of  the  organization  of  the  Roy- 
alton  church.  Dr.  Drake  states  that  some  old  residents  affirmed 
that  it  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1777.  If  so,  it  would  leave 
scant  time  between  the  last  union  meeting  of  the  two  towns,  the 
canvass  provided  for.  and  the  organization  of  the  Boyalton 
church.  Is  it  possible  that  the  meeting  in  Sharon,  Feb.  11,  1777. 
was  really  the  time  the  old  residents  had  in  mindT 

Sharon  seems  to  have  bad  a  resident  missionary  in  1778. 
Under  date  of  Aug.  20,  1781,  they  gave  a  deed  of  100  acres  to 
Mr.  Thomas  Kendall,  preacher  and  missionary,  as  he  had  resided 
in  Sharon  three  years.    That  may  partly  account  for  the  separa- 


k 


HiSTOBY  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT  195 

tion  of  the  two  towns  in  church  matters.  It  is  not  unlikely  that 
Mr.  Kendall  may  have  occasionally  preached  in  Royalton,  before 
the  town  secured  a  supply.  This  missionary  may  have  been  the 
Thomas  Kendall  who  graduated  from  Dartmouth  in  1774,  was 
pastor  in  Foxboro,  Mass.,  from  1786  to  1800,  chaplain  in  the  War 
of  1812,  and  who  died  in  Lebanon,  N.  Y.,  in  1836. 

Mrs.  Lorenza  Havens  Lovejoy  is  authority  for  the  statement 
that  the  first  sermon  preached  in  town  was  in  the  house  of  her 
father,  Robert  Havens,  who  was  then  living  on  the  Gteorge  Cow- 
dery  place,  the  Irving  Barrows  place  at  present.  The  date  is  not 
known.  The  preacher  was  Rev.  Elisha  Kent,  whose  son  Elisha, 
it  is  said,  came  to  Royalton  in  1772.  Rev.  Elisha  Kent  died  July, 
1776.  His  visit  to  his  son,  who  lived  where  his  grandson  Archi- 
bald Kved  later,  and  where  Lester  Corwin  resides  today,  was 
between  1773  and  1776.  Probably  it  was  not  earlier  than  1774. 
He  was  bom  in  1704,  so  that  he  was  about  seventy  at  this  time. 
To  Mrs.  Lovejoy 's  youthful  eyes  he  was  **an  old  man." 

He  was  very  fleshy  and  somewhat  infirm,  and  preached  sit- 
ting in  ''the  great  chair."    It  is  told  of  him  that  in  the  midst 
of  his  sermon  he  stopped  and  said  to  Mrs.  Havens,  ''Madam, 
your  pot  is  getting  dry."    He  was  not  so  lost  in  his  discourse, 
that  he  did  not  have  an  eye  on  the  savory  meat  that  the  good 
wife  was  "potting  down"  for  his  dinner,  when  the  long  sermon 
should  be  ended.    We  can  imagine  the  company  gathered  in  the 
little  log  house  in  the  forest,  the  kindly  Benjamin  Parkhurst  and 
wife,  who  had  found  their  way  on  horseback  along  a  trail  that 
could  have  been  only  partially  cleared  at  this  time;  Isaac  Mor- 
gan and  wife,  who  had  waded  the  river,  if  it  were  summer,  or 
crossed  on  the  ice  if  in  winter;  Elisha  Kent,  Jr.,  and  his  whole 
Axnily,  for  John  and  Elisha  third,  then  striplings,  would  wish 
to  hear  "grandfather"  preach,  and  perhaps  Joseph  Moss,  a  babe 
^  arms,  helped  in  the  music  too.     From  Sharon  Ebenezer  Park- 
^njTfit  and  family  would  be  sure  to  be  on  hand.      The  people  of 
Ton  had  had  no  settled  minister  as  yet.     If  the  sermon  of  this 
of  Yale,  preached  in  the  wilderness  to  the  heroic  souls 
in  that  rude  home  had  been  preserved,  how  it  would  be 
by  present  and  coming  generations  of  Royalton ! 
A  careful  examination  of  Sharon  records  reveals  that  no 
r  was  called  by  the  town  till  ten  years  from  the  time  of  the 
^^ttipact.     On  July  9,  1788,  they  voted  to  give  Lathrop  Thomp- 
^J2]^7    candidate,  a  call  to  settle  as  a  minister  in  their  town.     Mr. 
^-houapgon,  who  had  graduated  from  Dartmouth  in   1786,  ac- 
^^?0jted  and  remained  with  them  five  years.     He  then  went  to 
^th  Britain,  Conn.,  in  1799  to  Chelsea,  Vt.,  in  1810  to  Southold, 
*I^g  Island,  where  he  remained  sixteen  years.     He  returned  to 
Chelsea  and  died  there  July  19,  1843. 


196  History  of  Botalton,  Vebmomt 

From  Hartland  records  of  May  10,  1779,  it  is  gleaned  that 
the  town  voted  not  to  call  Mr.  Tullar  to  the  work  of  the  ministry 
"at  present,"  but  they  agreed  to  hire  ''Bev.  Martin  Tnllar''  ten 
Sabbaths  more.  They  voted  to  meet  the  first  three  Sabbaths  at 
Dr.  Spooner's  bam,  the  next  two  at  0)1.  Lyman's  bam,  and  ao 
on.  He  was  to  have  twenty  shillings  a  Sunday.  How  long  he 
staid  there  is  not  made  clear,  but  in  December,  1780,  th^  caJled 
another  minister,  without  first  paying  for  service  already  re- 
ceived, it  would  seem.  As  late  as  March  14, 1786,  they  appointed 
a  committee  to  settle  with  Mr.  Tullar,  and  any  arrearages  were 
to  be  made  up  from  the  town  treasury.  It  is  more  than  prob- 
able that  this  was  the  same  man  who  was  called  by  Bpyalton  in 
December,  1779,  who  was  present  and  accepted  the  call,  and  who. 
Dr.  Drake  says,  went  back  to  Connecticut  and  was  prevented 
from  returning  to  Royalton  by  the  disaster  of  1780. 

Sunday  services  must  have  been  more  or  less  regularly  held 
before  a  pastor  was  settled.  At  the  March  meeting  in  1779.  Mr. 
Kent  and  Comfort  Sever  were  chosen  "thythingmen,"  Mr.  Kent 
and  Mr.  "Wallow"  were  appointed  to  read  the  Psalm,  and  Mr. 
Hebard  and  Mr.  Day  to  serve  as  ''coresters."  A  mimsterial 
committee  was  chosen,  made  up  of  Comfort  Sever,  Bufns  Rude, 
Lieut.  Benton,  Tilly  Parkhurst,  and  Esquire  Morgan.  Li  July 
Comfort  Sever,  Medad  Benton,  and  Esquire  Morgan  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  procure  100  acres  for  the  first  settled  minister. 
In  the  New  York  charter  no  provision  was  made  for  the  first  set- 
tled minister,  and  it  would  be  necessary  for  the  town  to  offer  as 
good  inducements  as  were  offered  by  towns  chartered  by  New 
Hampshire.  Such  provision  was  made  in  the  Vermont  charter. 
No  large  salary  could  be  offered  to  any  candidate.  The  salary 
of  Mr.  Tullar  when  first  called  was  to  be  £50  the  first  year,  in- 
creased with  the  list  until  it  reached  a  maximum  of  £85. 

Less  than  a  year  after  the  Indian  raid,  Sep.  4,  1781.  they 
voted  to  apply  to  the  President  of  Dartmouth  for  a  ministerial 
supply,  and  to  ask  him  to  ascertain  if  Dr.  **Witecor"  was  dis- 
charged. This  was  perhaps  Dr.  Nathaniel  Whittaker,  who  had 
received  the  honorary  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Dartmouth  in  1780, 
and  who  had  preached  in  Norwich.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Prince- 
ton. Whether  President  Wheelock  sent  them  a  supply  or  not 
is  not  recorded.  It  may  be  that  Mr.  Ripley  was  sent,  and  so  the 
church  had  an  opportunity  to  become  acquainted  with  him  be- 
fore it  voted  to  give  him  a  call. 

Both  the  town  and  the  church  voted  on  Aug.  8,  1782,  to  call 
Mr.  Ripley,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  make  proposals  of 
salary.  At  the  same  time  the  town  voted  to  raise  fifty  buahela 
of  wheat  to  defray  expenses  of  preaching.  Nothing  more  is  told 
us  of  Mr.  Ripley,  and  we  can  only  conjecture  that  he  may  have 


HiSTOBY  OP  BOYAIiTON,  VERMONT  197 

been  Sylvanus  Ripley,  who  was  connected  with  Dartmouth  as 
tutor  and  pastor  of  the  college  church,  and  who  died  in  Hanover 
in  1787.  Mr.  Azel  Washburn  studied  theology  with  him  while  in 
Dartmouth.    Mr.  Ripley  was  not  secured. 

Every  call  thus  far  had  been  unsuccessful.  The  induce- 
ments which  they  could  ofifer  were  not  tempting,  but  there  were 
many  devoted  men  in  those  early  days  who  counted  salary  of  lit- 
tle account,  if  they  were  sure  of  a  livelihood,  esteeming  it  a  privi- 
lege to  carry  the  Gospel  into  the  frontier  towns. 

The  next  call  extended  to  Rev.  John  Searle  on  Aug.  12, 1783, 
by  both  church  and  town,  was  accepted.  They  agreed  to  build 
him  a  house  twenty-eight  feet  square,  one  story  high,  finished 
outside,  to  furnish  two  rooms,  build  a  chimney,  dig  and  finish  a 
cellar.  They  also  agreed  to  give  him  thirty  acres  of  land  south 
of  Mr.  Rix's  lot,  abutting  on  White  river,  and  100  acres  belong- 
ing to  the  first  minister's  right.  They  agreed  to  give  him  £55 
the  first  year,  and  to  rise  with  the  list  to  £80.  For  his  present 
support  ttiey  were  to  furnish  twelve  score  of  pork,  fifty-two  bush- 
els of  wheat,  and  400  pounds  of  beef.  At  a  subsequent  meeting 
they  provided  for  wagons  and  teamster  to  transport  Mr.  Searle 's 
goods  to  Royalton.  Mr.  Searle  was  to  give  a  deed  of  the  remain- 
der of  the  land  that  belonged  to  the  first  minister's  right.  It  is 
understood  that  he  came  from  Stoneham,  Mass.  Quoting  from 
Dr.  Drake:  ''Mr.  Searl  was  a  poor  boy,  sought  out  by  Jonathan 
Edwards,  and  encouraged  to  seek  an  education,  and  after  gradu- 
ating he  studied  theology  with  Mr.  Edwards.  He  was  a  chaplain 
for  a  considerable  time  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution.  Oct.  21, 
1783,  the  town  'voted  to  raise  a  tax  on  the  list  of  1783,  of  eighty 
bushels  of  wheat  for  the  use  of  Mr.  Searl. '  The  church  and  town 
both  voted  to  have  the  installation  Nov.  19,  and  the  church  se- 
lected and  called  six  ministers  on  the  council,  viz.:  Mr.  Bur- 
roughs of  Dresden,  (now  Hanover),  Mr.  Hutchinson  of  Pomfret, 
Mr.  Ripley,  Mr.  Potter  of  Lebanon,  Mr.  Fuller  of  Vershire,  and 
Mr.  Potter  of  Norwich.  Tradition  says  that  Mr.  Potter,  of  Leb- 
anon, preached  the  sermon.  Pastorates  in  those  days  were  long, 
and  installations  were  great  events,  and  drew  large  assemblies. 
Councils  at  such  times  were  honored  by  being  duly  escorted  in 
procession,  with  bands  of  music,  to  and  from  church,  and  sumptu- 
ously dined  at  a  hotel.  This  being  the  first  event  of  the  kind  in 
town,  it  was  of  absorbing  interest."  There  was  no  meeting- 
house at  this  time  and  no  hotel,  as  such.  The  ordinary  program 
must  have  been  somewhat  changed.  At  a  later  installation  it 
is  stated  that  the  council  was  to  meet  at  Zebulon  Lyon's,  and  as 
town  business  had  already  gravitated  there,  it  is  reasonable  to 
suppose  that  this  first  council  held  its  meeting  in  his  house.  If 
not  there,  possibly  at  Mr.  Durkee's,  whose  bam  might  furnish 


198  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

accommodations,  in  case  the  weather  should  prove  too  cold  for 

outdoor  exercises.    The  day  selected  for  the  *' re-installing"  of 

Mr.  Searle  was  Nov.  19,  1783. 

The  day  before  this  event,  the  proposals  made  to  Mr.  Searle 

were . recorded  as  follows: 

"Royalton  18th  Nov  1783 

Relation  to  ye  Proposals  made  by  ye  town  to  ye  Revd  Mr. 
Searle  for  his  Support  among  them  It  being  Expressed  in  the  Vote  of 
the  Town  that  they  give  Such  a  particular  Sum  to  ye  Revd  Mr  John 
Searle  During  the  continuance  of  his  Pastoral  Relation  to  them  The 
town  Signified  to  the  Counsel  to  which  also  ye  Revd  Mr  Searle  con- 
sented that  ye  vote  be  considered  and  understood  with  this  Limitation 
(viz)  that  the  Sum  voted  be  paid  in  full  to  the  sd  Mr  Searle  During 
ye  time  of  his  Executing  ye  office  and  Duties  of  a  Pastor  among  them — 
after  which  time,  should  he  live  and  have  Pastoral  Relation  continue 
ye  town  are  Not  held  to  continue  the  same  Support  in  full  but  ingage 
to  do  that  which  is  Right  and  Christian  like  in  the  matter  in  the  opinion 

of  disinterested  and  Proper  Judges John  Searle 

Signed  in  presence  of  the  council 

Isaiah  Potter  -  -  Scribe" 

It  will  be  noted  here,  that  it  was  the  town  and  not  the 
church  that  entered  into  an  agreement  with  Mr.  Searle.  He 
appears  to  have  expressed  a  wish  to  build  his  own  house,  and 
at  a  later  meeting  it  was  agreed  to  furnish  the  material  for  it, 
and  whatever  it  cost  above  the  estimated  cost  of  a  house  twenty- 
eight  feet  square  was  to  be  deducted  from  his  salary.  On  Jan. 
6,  1784,  they  proceeded  to  divide  the  town  into  five  districts  from 
which  to  collect  materials  for  Mr.  Searle 's  house.  The  first  dis- 
trict was  **east"  of  the  river  from  Sharon  to  the  First  Branch 
and  to  Tunbridge,  Joseph  Havens,  collector;  the  second,  all  be- 
tween the  First  Branch  and  Second  Branch,  Timothy  Durkee, 
collector;  the  third,  all  between  the  Second  Branch  and  Bethel 
and  Tunbridge  lines.  Comfort  Sever,  collector;  the  fourth  was 
south  of  the  river  from  Bethel  line  to  the  center  of  the  town  and 
to  Barnard  line,  Samuel  Clapp,  collector;  the  fifth  was  south  of 
the  river  from  the  center  of  the  town  to  Sharon  and  Barnard 
lines,  including  Mr.  Joiner,  Lieut.  Stevens,  collector.  On  the 
26th  instant  they  voted  to  raise  £100  to  build  Mr.  Searle 's  house. 

Mr.  Searle  was  about  sixty-three  when  he  assumed  the  pas- 
torate of  the  Royalton  church.  He  graduated  from  Yale  in  1745. 
In  Yale's  biographical  sketches  it  is  said  that  he  preached  the 
funeral  sermon  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons  of  Newburyport, 
Mass.,  who  was  a  firm  friend  of  Whitefield.  It  was  in  Mr.  Par- 
sons' house  that  Whitefield  died  suddenly,  and  at  his  own  request 
was  buried  under  Mr.  Parsons'  pulpit.  Rev.  Searle  had  before 
that  preached  the  funeral  discourse  of  Mrs.  Parsons,  which  was 
thought  worthy  of  publication.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  most 
estimable  man,  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  but  his  health 
failed,  and  some  of  his  parishioners  were  not  over-considerate 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  199 

of  his  physical  disability.     The  agreement  of  1783  showed  a 

truly  Christian  spirit,  which  was  not  so  apparent  at  the  close  of 

his  ministrations.    He  was  dismissed  June  21,  1787,  and  died 

July  5th  following,  after  a  pastorate  of  less  than  four  years.    He 

is  bnried  in  the  South  Royalton  Cemetery,  and  his  tombstone 

bears  this  stanza: 

"Here  lonely  sleeps  the  clay,  the  spirit  fled; 
And  from  this  monument  man's  doom  Is  read; 
All  nature  bows  at  the  Almighty  rod. 
Prepare  ye  living  then  to  meet  your  God." 

Mr.  Searle's  death  had  probably  been  expected.  The  town 
had  neglected  to  give  him  a  deed  of  the  thirty  acres  agreed  upon, 
or  to  take  from  him  a  release  of  the  200  acres  of  the  first  minis- 
ter's right.  On  March  14,  1787,  they  instructed  the  selectmen 
to  attend  to  this  matter.  They  did  so,  giving  Mr.  Searle  a  deed 
April  8,  and  taking  his  release  May  8. 

Five  days  after  his  death  a  town  meeting  was  held,  at  which 
they  voted  to  **hier  preaching  constantly  if  to  be  obtained." 
The  committee  chosen  were  to  hire  a  candidate  that  there  was  a 
probability  of  settling,  and  if  **Non  Such  can  be  had  without 
Trobel  that  they  hier  one  that  is  Not  Likely  will  be  Settled  with 
US:  Not  exceding  six  Sabbaths  and  that  they  Ingage  Not  more 
than  one  pound  four  shillings  per  Sabbath  to  be  paid  in  Prod- 
uce/' 

The  committee  appear  to  have  secured  Mr.  Benjamin  Chap- 

Bum,  probably  the  one  who  graduated  at  Dartmouth  with  an 

-A.  M.  degree  in  1784,  was  pastor  at  Granby,  Mass.,  1790-97,  and 

died  in  1804.    A  vote  on  Aug.  27,  1787,  instructed  the  minis- 

^rfal  committee  to  hire  Mr.  Chapman  for  eight  or  nine  Sab- 

'^ths  more  on  probation.     They  were  rather  slow  in  judging  of 

*'^-   Chapman's  acceptability,  but  by  the  6th  of  November  the 

^^lijch  had  decided  to  call  **Mr.  Benjamin  Chapman,  Jr.''  Seven 

later  the  town  took  similar  action,  and  sent  a  committee  of 

men.  Comfort  Sever,  Calvin  Parkhurst,  John  Kimball,  and 

on  Lyon,  to  propose  that  they  pay  a  debt  of  £30,  and  £100 

paid  in  wheat  at  five  shillings  a  bushel  or  neat  stock  equal 

^eto  to  be  paid  in  one  year  after  ordination,  his  salary  to 

^n  at  £55,  and  rise  with  the  list  to  £80  a  year.     If  he  chose 

ould  have  the  town  land  of  200  acres  and  one  after  division, 

of  the  £100.     Perhaps  he  was  not  attracted  by  the  pros- 

of  a  winter's  preaching  in  Mr.  Lyon's  summer  house,  or  he 

have  had  a  better  call  elsewhere;  at  any  rate,  he  did  not 


At  the  town  meeting.  Mar.  18,  1788,  Dea.  Daniel  Rix,  Eben- 
^^"^  Dewey,  and  Dea.  David  Fish  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
^Pply  the  pulpit.     This  committee  secured  Azel  Washburn  on 
\^\)ation,  and  on  the  16th  of  the  following  April  the  inhab- 


I 


200  History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont 

itants  met  to  see  if  he  should  be  employed  longer,  and  choae  a 
committee  to  make  proposals  to  him.  At  the  same  time  it  was 
voted  to  exchange  the  town's  land  of  200  acres  for  a  lot  suitable 
for  a  minister  to  live  on,  and  the  ministerial  committee  would 
not  proceed  until  the  committee  that  was  to  effect  the  exchange 
had  reported.  At  the  end  of  eight  days  the  exchange  of  the 
town 's  land  with  Zebulon  Lyon  for  forty  acres  below  the  meeting 
house  was  consununated.  Part  of  this  forty  acres  was  in  the 
Brewster  lot,  46  Dutch,  and  part  in  the  Lyon  lot,  54  T.  P.,  on 
which  lot  Mr.  Lyon  had  his  house. 

The  committee  that  pitched  the  ministerial  land  did  as  was 
done  in  other  towns,  selected  the  lots  that  no  one  else  was  anx- 
ious to  acquire.  The  200  acres  in  the  western  part  of  40  L.  A. 
would  offer  little  inducement  to  a  minister.  In  addition  to  the 
forty  acres,  which  was  well  located,  Mr.  Washburn  was  offered 
eleven  and  one  half  acres  which  public  spirited  individuals  had 
contributed  as  an  inducement  and  as  a  bonus  to  a  minister,  also 
they  agreed  to  clear  seven  acres  fit  to  sow,  and  build  a  house  40 
by  16  and  finish  it  in  one  year  from  ordination,  the  whole  esti- 
mated at  £300.  He  was  to  have  a  salary  of  £45  the  first  year, 
changed  soon  to  £55,  which  was  to  rise  vdth  the  list  to  £75; 
twenty-five  cords  of  wood  were  to  be  drawn  to  his  door  yearly, 
but  the  wood  was  not  to  be  his  until  he  began  to  have  a  family. 
The  dimensions  of  the  house  were  changed  to  20  by  30  feet.  This 
call  was  rather  fiattering  for  that  time,  and  it  has  not  been  here- 
tofore understood  why  Mr.  Washburn  declined  it,  as  he  did,  the 
church,  which  had  also  called  him,  receiving  his  declination  on 
June  21.  It  has  recently  been  ascertained  that  the  reason  of 
this  non-acceptance  was  that  Mr.  Washburn  had  not  completed 
his  theological  studies,  and  wished  to  go  to  Newburyport,  Mass., 
to  study  with  Dr.  Spring. 

On  the  14th  of  the  following  August  the  town  voted  that 
the  ministerial  committee  be  directed  to  supply  the  pulpit  as 
soon  as  convenient.  The  warning  for  the  meeting  for  Nov.  20, 
contained  this  article:  **To  see  if  they  will  renew  ye  call  which 
they  formerly  gave  to  Mr.  Washburn."  No  action  on  this  is 
recorded,  but  they  voted  **the  ministerial  committee  apply  to 
Mr.  Harris  to  preach  in  this  town  on  probation  for  settlement." 
Again  on  Dee.  19,  the  committee  was  directed  '*to  apply  to  Mr. 
Harris  to  continue  to  suply  ye  pulpit  by  way  of  probation.'* 
This  Mr.  Harris  may  have  been  Walter  Harris,  who  graduated 
at  Dartmouth  in  1787,  receiving  the  degree  of  A.  M.  and  D.  D. 
in  1826.  He  served  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  was  pastor  at 
Dunbarton.  N.  H.,  1789-1830,  and  died  Dec.  24,  1843.  Mr.  Har- 
ris soon  left  them,  and  on  the  16th  of  January  a  special  meeting 
was  called,  and  the  committee  were  instructed  to  "send  to  Mr. 


i 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  201 

Harris  to  return  &  Preach  again  in  this  Town."  They  did  not 
exx>ect  him  for  some  time  evidently,  as  they  voted  to  have  the 
committee  apply  to  Mr.  Lyman  of  Lebanon  to  supply  the  pulpit 
through  the  winter.  An  Elijah  Ljonan,  bom  in  Lebanon,  Conn., 
was  a  class-mate  of  Mr.  Harris,  and  he  may  have  been  the  one 
referred  to.  He  preached  in  Brookfield  in  1789,  and  died  in 
1828. 

Ever  after  Mr.  Washburn  had  preached  on  probation  there 
seems  to  have  been  a  strong  desire  on  the  part  of  some  for  his 
return  as  a  settled  pastor.  A  meeting  was  called  by  petition  on 
the  23d  of  March,  1789,  when  they  voted  to  renew  the  call  to  him, 
had  a  letter  prepared,  and  sent  it  by  ** express,"  a  special  mes- 
senger. There  was  some  doubt  as  to  the  legality  of  this  action 
in  calling  Mr.  Washburn,  and  another  petition  brought  the  people 
together  on  Aug.  18,  when  they  confirmed  the  doings  of  the  pre- 
vious meeting.  He  was  present,  accepted  the  call,  and  the  coun- 
cil for  the  ordination  was  provided  for  by  electing  Esquire  Sever, 
Dea.  Biz,  Dea.  Fish,  Captain  Kimball,  and  Esquire  Dewey  a 
committee  of  arrangements.  If  there  were  any  discontented  ones, 
they  were  not  in  evidence,  for  the  vote  was  unanimous.  The 
church  had  extended  a  call  the  same  day  on  which  the  town  took 
action,  and  the  two  acted  in  harmony  in  planning  for  the  or- 
dination. The  church  appointed  the  third  Wednesday  of  August 
as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  and  voted  that  the  council  should 
meet  at  the  house  of  Zebulon  Lyon.  The  ordination  was  set  for 
Sep.  2nd. 

From  Dr.  Drake  it  is  learned  that  Dr.  Spring  was  the 
preacher  on  this  occasion.  The  vast  concourse  of  people  gath- 
ered on  the  intervale  above  the  brick  house  now  occupied  by 
Mr.  Joy.  A  platform  was  erected  for  the  council.  It  was  prob- 
ably the  most  imposing  ordination  ever  seen  in  Royalton.  It  is 
safe  to  say  that  every  one  in  town  who  could  be  present,  was 
there,  and  a  large  attendance  from  adjoining  towns  swelled  the 
numbers. 

Some  business  items  connected  with  the  event  may  be  of  in- 
terest. Zebulon  Lyon  was,  no  doubt,  the  ** express,'*  as  on  De- 
cember 25th  he  was  allowed  £6.12  for  eleven  days'  service  in 
^oing  after  Mr.  Washburn,  and  he  was  allowed  £4.7.6  for  board- 
ing him  thirteen  weeks.  Mr.  Washburn,  then,  began  preaching 
the  last  of  May,  for  which  service  he  received  £16.16.  From  this 
time  onward  the  town  seems  to  have  taken  no  part  in  calling  a 
minister.    They  paid  for  this  ordination  £11.10.2. 

Mr.  Washburn  was  a  young,  unmarried  man,  who  had  been 

granted  an  A.  M.  degree  by  Dartmouth  in  1786,  and  was  elected 

to  Phi  Beta  Kappa.    With  the  bright  promise  of  his  youth,  and 

^  high  scholarship  combined  with  the  true  missionary  spirit,  it 


[ 


202  History  of  BoYAiiTON,  Vermont 

seemed  that  the  church,  after  so  many  trials,  was  at  last  war- 
ranted in  looking  forward  to  a  steady  and  fruitful  pastorate. 
So  it  proved  for  a  time,  but  a  lung  trouble  soon  manifested  itself , 
and  Mr.  Washburn  was  advised  to  take  a  horseback  journey  into 
New  York,  where  he  visited  an  old  classmate  of  his.  He  pur- 
chased some  land  in  Granville,  N.  T.,  and  sent  for  his  family. 
He  had  married  Miss  Sally  Skinner,  the  step-daughter  of  Zebu- 
Ion  Lyon.  He  preached  in  the  vicinity  of  his  new  home  as  he 
was  able,  until  his  return  to  Vermont.  His  family  lived  in  Boy- 
alton  village,  and  he  acted  as  itinerant  missionary  for  the  ^ 
England  and  New  York  Conferences.  He  preached  more  or 
until  1840,  though  subject  at  times  to  mental  aberration.  He 
was  warmly  welcomed  in  the  pioneer  homes,  and  often  contrib- 
uted of  his  means  to  their  comfort.  He  maintained  a  heroic 
struggle  against  mental  disease,  and  did  good  service  in  his  Mas- 
ter's cause.  The  record  of  his  sons  and  grandsons,  which  will 
be  found  in  the  genealogical  part  of  this  book,  is  a  remarkable 
one. 

Mr.  Washburn's  dismissal  occurred  Aug.  31,  1791,  but  he 
filled  the  Royalton  pulpit  occasionally,  when  he  was  in  town  and 
the  church  was  without  a  pastor.  There  are  no  records  to  supply 
the  interim  between  his  dismissal  and  the  second  call  of  Bev. 
Martin  TuUar,  who  accepted  the  call  and  was  installed  Nov.  27, 
1793.     There  is  in  existence  the  original  call,  which  follows: 

"At  a  legal  adjourned  meeting  of  the  first  society  of  Royalton 
holden  on  the  25th  day  of  Sept.  1793  st  voted  to  give  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Martin  Tuller  fifty  five  pounds  the  first  year  one  quarter  part  in  money 
the  other  in  wheat  at  4/  pr  hushel  and  then  to  rise  annually  five  poands 
until  it  amounts  to  eighty  pounds  and  that  to  he  his  annual  support 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry 

We  likewise  engage  to  find  the  said  Mr.  Tuller  twenty  five  cords 
of  fire  wood  yearly  so  long  as  he  shall  continue  to  he  our  ministei'  with 
a  proviso  that  the  said  Mr.  Tuller  shall  find  the  wood  on  his  own  land 
so  long  as  is  convenient  for  him  to  have  the  wood  got  oft  of  his  land 
and  then  the  society  to  find  said  wood,  and  said  wood  to  he  got  on  the 
first  Monday  of  January  annually. — 

2nd — Voted  to  give  the  said  Mr.  Tuller  the  society  land  and  house 
as  a  settlement  said  land  estimated  at  fifty  one  acres  and  an  half.  We 
further  agree  to  move  Mr.  Tuller's  family  and  effects  from  Derby  to 
this  place  with  a  proviso  of  his  finding  the  money  to  bear  the  expense. 

The  affirmative  vote  40 the  negative  1 

Test    Benjn  Parkhurst 
Clerk  protem" 

Mr.  Tullar  had  been  preaching  in  Derby,  Conn.,  for  about 
ten  years.  He  was  connected  with  the  Joiner  family  by  mar- 
riage, William  Joiner  having  married  his  sister  Paulina  for  his 
first  wife.  His  father,  John  Tullar,  had  five  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. He  is  said  to  have  given  his  sons  a  choice  of  $2000  or  a 
college  education.  Two,  Martin  and  David,  chose  the  college 
education.    David  was  a  minister  located  for  a  time  in  Wood- 


J 


HiSTOBY  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT  203 

stock.  John  and  each  of  his  sons  were  within  an  inch  of  being 
six  feet  tall.  We  can  picture  Mr.  TuUar  as  he  came  to  his  in- 
stallation, erect,  ¥rith  a  pleasing  countenance,  dressed  as  usual 
in  short  clothes  and  knee  buckles,  **a  real  gentleman  of  the  old 
school." 

He  had  graduated  at  Yale  in  1777,  and  by  nature  and  edu- 
cation seemed  well  prepared  to  lead  the  church  forward  in  ma- 
terial and  spiritual  growth.  He  was  not  only  a  good  speaker, 
but  he  had  literary  and  executive  ability.  He  received  the  hon- 
orary degree  of  A.  M.  from  Dartmouth  in  1798,  and  was  trustee 
cf  Middlebury  college  from  1805  until  his  death  in  1813.  He 
was  active  in  originating  the  General  Convention  of  Vermont, 
and  was  its  first  preacher  at  Rockingham.  In  the  Windsor 
Gazette  of  June  8,  1802,  is  the  following: 

"Just  published  and  for  sale  at  this  office 

price  40  cents 
A  System  of  Family  Duty  containing  the  duty  of  husbands  to 
wards  their  wives.    The  properties  of  a  duti 

ful,  virtuous  wife.  The  duty  of  Parents  in 
training  up  their  Children,  and  the  duty  of 
Children  towards  their  parents,  with  addres 
ses  to  each  character. 

By  Rev.  Martin  Tuller,  A.  M. 
Subscribers  are  desired  to  call  either  on  the  Author 
or  at  this  office  and  take  their  books." 

Perhaps  some  one  who  reads  this  will  recall  seeing  a  copy 
of  this  work. 

While  Mr.  Tullar  was  a  pastor  in  Royalton  he  buried  his  first 
wife  under  most  pathetic  circumstances.  She  was  buried  with 
her  new-bom  twins,  one  on  either  arm.  He  married  for  his 
second  wife  a  niece  of  Mrs.  Judson,  the  mother  of  Adoniram 
Judson,  the  missionary.  When  a  young  lady,  she  had  a  home 
with  a  wealthy  uncle.  Her  bridal  trousseau  was  a  gift  from  him, 
ordered  from  England.  Mrs.  Brown,  of  LaCrosse,  Wis.,  a  de- 
scendant, writes,  **I  have  heard  my  mother  describe  some  of  the 
dresses,  which  were  so  magnificent,  that  I  have  often  wondered 
if  they  did  not  cause  a  little  commotion  among  some  of  the  good 
people  in  her  husband 's  parish. 

Another  gift  to  her  from  this  uncle  was  a  handsome  solid 
mahogany  bookcase  and  secretary  combined.  It  was  made  for 
her  at  a  cost  of  $300.  It  stands  over  seven  feet  high,  and  is  a 
very  ingenious  and  unique  piece  of  mechanism,  containing  twenty- 
four  drawers,  large  and  small,  together  with  numerous  pigeon 
holes  and  places  of  concealment  for  valuables,  which  the  most 
accomplished  burglar  never  would  have  dreamed  of. 

It  was  at  this  desk  that  Rev.  Tuller  did  all  of  his  writing 
after  their  marriage,  and  it  was  very  highly  valued  by  them 
both." 


204  History  of  Boyalton,  Vebkont 

This  little  tench  of  home  life  makes  the  people  of  that  far 
off  time  seem  a  bit  more  reaL  The  desk  spoken  d  was  willed  to 
Nabby,  daughter  of  Mr.Tullar,  by  his  first  wife,  who  afterwards 
married  Henry  Whitney,  "Mr.  TuUar's  step-son.  Mrs.  Abby 
Whitney  Brown  is  their  child.  Mrs.  Brown  is  an  authoress  of 
considerable  reputation.  Some  reminiscences  from  her  pen  will 
be  found  in  the  Tullar  genealogy. 

For  twenty  years  Mr.  Tullar  ministered  to  the  Boyalton 
church  with  great  acceptance.  He  was  called  to  his  reward  and* 
denly  in  the  pulpit,  and  died  almost  immediately  from  a  stroke 
of  apoplexy,  Oct.  1,  1813. 

The  records  are  silent  regarding  the  ministers  who  may  have 
supplied  the  pulpit  from  1813  to  the  time  when  the, church 
called  ]Mr.  Halping.  Rev.  Bascom  of  Sharon  was  chosen  mod- 
erator ex-officio  at  their  first  meeting  after  Mr.  Tullar 's  death. 
He  may  have  preached  for  them  occasionally,  and  Bev.  Joel  Davis 
of  Barnard,  and  other  neighboring  clergymen.  Disturbances  in 
the  church  broke  out  almost  immediately  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Tullar,  and  the  records  deal  chiefly  with  matters  of  discipline, 
but  they  must  have  had  preaching  some  of  the  time,  as  members 
were  received  into  the  church.  From  another  source  it  is  learned 
that  Job  Sedgewick  Swift,  a  licentiate,  preached  for  the  church 
more  or  less  in  1815  and  1816.  He  probably  supplied  only  on 
Sundays,  as  in  the  business  meetings  and  coxmcils  held  during 
that  time  his  name  is  not  mentioned,  and  the  ordinances  of  bap- 
tism recorded  are  by  other  hands.  He  graduated  from  Andover 
Theo.  Sem.  in  1815.  He  was  a  preacher,  teacher,  business  man. 
and  planter  in  Georgia  for  many  years,  dying  in  Dalton,  ChL, 
June  30.  1859,  unmarried. 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Halping  was  ordained  and  installed  Oct.  21, 
1818.  Eight  towns  were  represented  by  pastors  and  delegates, 
and  five  other  ministers  were  present.  Rev.  Jacob  Allen  of  Tun- 
bridge  preached  the  sermon.  Dr.  Drake  says:  "Mr.  Halping 
was  a  native  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  a  young  man,  having  studied 
theology  with  Rev.  Mr.  Sage  of  Westminster,  who  recommended 
him  to  the  people  of  Royalton.  But  he  did  not  long  satisfy  them, 
nor  please  their  tastes,  and  his  pastorate  was  short  for  that  daj. 
He  was  dismissed  Feb.  27,  1822.  It  should  be  added  that  Mr. 
Halping  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request.  While  in  Royalton 
he  was  married  to  Maria  Terry  of  this  town,  the  service  being 
performed  by  Rev.  Samuel  Bascom  of  Sharon,  on  Oct.  19,  1819. 
-A  daughter,  Rachel  Denison,  was  baptized  here  in  the  church  in 
1824.  His  pastorate  does  not  seem  to  have  been  fruitless,  as 
there  were  added  to  the  church  twenty-one  members  during  the 
time  of  his  service.    He  afterwards  became  a  Baptist,  and  died 


i 


HiSTOBT  OP  ROYAIiTON,  VERMONT  206 

on  board  a  steamboat  on  the  Ohio  river  in  1849,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-seven. 

After  Mr.  Halping  left,  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  diflEer- 
ent  ones  for  about  a  year,  among  them  being  Rev.  Azel  Wash- 
bum,  Rev.  Jacob  Allen  of  Tunbridge,  and  Rev.  A.  Nieholds, 
probably  of  Braintree. 

Mr.  Joseph  Torrey  of  Salem,  Mass.,  had  been  preaching  some 
Sabbaths  for  the  church,  when  it  voted,  Feb.  18,  1823,  to  ask 
him  to  continue  his  labors  to  the  amount  of  fourteen  weeks  from 
the  time  he  began  preaching  for  them.  He  was  formally  called 
Mar.  28,  1824.  Five  churches  were  represented  in  the  council 
for  ordination,  Aug.  25,  and  Rev.  Austin  Hazen  and  Rev.  Eben- 
ezer  Halping  were  also  present.  The  sermon  was  preached  by 
Rev.  Silas  McKeen  of  Bradford,  and  Mr.  Halping  offered  the  con- 
cluding prayer. 

Mr.  Torrey  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  in  1816,  receiving 
the  A.  M.  degree,  was  in  Andover  Theo.  Sem.  in  1819,  and  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Harvard  in  1850.  He  was  born 
in  Rowley,  Mass.,  Feb.  2,  1797.  He  gave  great  satisfaction  in 
his  pastoral  efforts,  and  the  outlook  for  the  church  was  again 
bright  Such  talent,  however,  could  not  be  hidden,  and  the  com- 
paratively young  University  of  Vermont  called  him  to  another 
field  of  work.  He  was  dismissed  June  27,  1827,  and  that  year 
began  his  professional  duties  in  the  University,  teaching  Greek 
and  Latin  xmtil  1842,  and  Moral  and  Intellectual  Philosophy 
from  1842  to  1867.  In  1862  he  was  elected  President,  serving 
with  distinction  until  1866.  He  died  in  Burlington,  Nov.  26, 
1867.  One  son  of  his,  Joseph,  was  also  a  Congregational  minis- 
ter, receiving  the  D.  D.  degree,  and  another,  John  Paine,  gradu- 
ated from  the  U.  V.  M.  with  an  A.  M.  degree.  He  was  a  teacher, 
and  died  in  Beverly,  Mass.,  in  1863.  One  of  Pres.  Torrey 's 
daughters  married  a  Professor  in  the  U.  V.  M. 

On  May  26,  1828,  the  church  gave  a  call  to  Rev.  Asahel  C. 
Washburn,  who  had  probably  been  preaching  for  them,  as  he 
was  present  and  accepted  the  call.  The  installation  was  set  for 
June  11,  and  an  unusually  large  council  was  invited,  embracing 
the  towns  of  Windsor,  Woodstock,  Barnard,  Brandon,  Braintree, 
Randolph,  Montpelier,  Chelsea,  Sharon,  Bradford,  and  Barre. 
President  Bates  of  Middlebury  college  preached  the  sermon.  The 
next  record  is  in  the  handwriting  and  with  the  signature  of  the 
pastor,  and  is  characteristic  of  a  man  who  does  much  and  says 
little.  It  is  simply  this :  **  Wednesday  June  11,  1828  Rev.  A.  C. 
Washburn  was  regularly  constituted  the  Pastor  of  this  Church 
agreeable  to  arrangements  made  on  the  25th  ult.'*  From  Miss 
Alice  Grant  of  Royalton,  a  niece  of  Mr.  Washburn's  wife,  fur- 
ther information  has  been  obtained  regarding  the  occasion,  and 


206  History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont 

the  life  history  of  Mr.  Washburn.  To  his  intimate  friends  he 
wrote,  ''The  procession  was  escorted  across  the  common  from 
the  Academy  to  the  church  by  a  fife  and  drum,  and  from  the 
church  to  the  tavern  to  have  dinner.  There  was  some  wine  on 
the  table,  enough  to  make  every  one  drunk,  but  it  was  all  re- 
moved before  the  blessing  was  asked."  That  was  probably  the 
first  public  fimction  in  Boyalton,  where  such  a  pointed  rebuke 
was  given  to  the  custom  of  indulging  in  the  use  of  stimulants, 

Asahel  Cornwall  Washburn  was  the  son  of  Asahel  and  DoUy 
(Hamilton)  Washburn.  He  was  bom  in  Leicester,  Mass.,  Dee. 
20,  1800.  He  prepared  for  college  in  the  Montpelier  academy, 
and  graduated  from  Middlebury  College  in  1825.  He  kept  a 
family  school  in  Washington,  D.  C,  for  two  years,  and  studied 
theology  at  the  same  time  with  Rev.  Reuben  Post,  D.  D.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  1827.  He  was  pastor  in  Royalton,  1828- 
36.  More  members  were  added  to  the  church  during  his  minis- 
trations than  in  any  other  like  period  of  time.  In  July,  1835, 
after  a  series  of  protracted  meetings,  in  which  the  evangelist, 
Bev.  Jedediah  Burchard,  assisted,  no  less  than  101  persons  were 
received  into  the  church,  one  only  by  letter.  Of  this  number 
fifty-nine  were  baptized. 

Mr.  Washburn  was  profoundly  religious,  and  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his  people. 

He  married  Miss  Emma  Grant  of  Bloomfield,  Conn.,  Sep. 
24,  1828.  From  this  union  two  children  were  bom  in  Boyalton, 
Emma  Grant,  bom  Apr.  3,  1831,  and  Wadsworth  Grant,  bom 
Aug.  15,  1836.  Emma  was  characterized  by  unusual  seriousness 
and  interest  in  spiritual  things.  She  was  converted  in  Boyalton 
during  one  of  her  father's  revivals.  At  the  age  of  eleven  she  had 
a  severe  attack  of  measles,  which  undermined  her  health,  and  in- 
directly was  the  cause  of  her  early  death  while  at  Mt.  Holyoke 
Seminary,  May  24,  1848.  She  was  very  solicitous  for  the  salva- 
tion of  her  schoolmates,  and  as  an  aid  in  this  direction,  her  father 
published  a  small  book  containing  a  sketch  of  her  beautiful  life. 
As  an  illustration  of  her  deep  sense  of  obligation  to  her  Creator, 
ho  relates  that  when  a  mere  child,  being  very  thirsty  from  play, 
she  asked  for  a  drink  of  water,  and  before  she  had  hardly  taken 
the  cup  from  her  lips,  she  said,  **Tank  Qod  for  good  warm  cold 
water!''  Wadsworth  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Antietam,  Sep- 
tember, 1862.     Another  child,  Gertrude,  was  born  in  Connecticut. 

Mr.  Washburn  removed  from  Royalton  to  Suffield,  Conn., 
where  he  remained  until  1851.  He  then  became  Connecticut 
Agent  for  the  American  Bible  Society,  serving  until  1860.  In 
1868  he  removed  to  Syracuse,  X.  Y.  For  seven  years  he  was 
chaplain  of  Onondaga  County  Penitentiary.  He  and  his  wife 
were  devoted  members  of  Plymouth  church,  in  the  parlors  of 


i 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  207 

which  their  golden  wedding  was  celebrated  Sep.  24,  1878,  an 
anniversary  in  which  the  church  as  a  whole,  and  other  friends 
participated.  In  his  remarks  at  that  time  he  said  he  had  preached 
over  6000  sermons,  married  300  couples,  and  attended  about  1000 
funerals.  His  theology  was  so  healthy  that  it  had  never  needed 
doctoring.    He  died  suddenly.  Mar.  23,  1883. 

The  church  seems  to  have  had  some  difficulty  in  devising 
ways  and  means  for  the  support  of  preaching  after  Mr.  Wash- 
bum  went  away.     One  plan  was  to  adopt  the  old  compact,  pro- 
vided they  could  get  eighty  male  members  over  twenty-one  to 
sign  it.    They  did  not  depend  in  those  days  on  the  ** Ladies' 
Aid,*'  suppers,  et  cetera,  for  the  raising  of  the  necessary  funds. 
Whether  the  omission  was  due  to  chivalric  motives,  or  a  distrust 
of  woman's  ability,  no  female  signed  the  compact.     It  did  not 
work,  and  they  cut  the  number  eighty  down  to  sixty,  and  secured 
this  number  of  names.    Having  provided  for  a  minister's  salary, 
they  were  ready  to  call  a  minister.     This  they  did  Mar.  18,  1837, 
extending  a  call  to  Mr.  Archibald  Fleming.     He  had  been  preach- 
ing for  them.    He  was  a  Scotchman,  a  graduate  of  Glasgow, 
Teceived  the  A.  M.  degree  from  the  U.  V.  M.  in  1828,  was  or- 
4iained  in  1832,  preached  in  Whitehall,  N.  Y.,  1832-38,  was  uni- 
^ersity  lecturer.  New  York  constable,  and  author  of  several  sci- 
entific and  religious  works,  evidently  a  man  of  great  versatility. 
The  church  left  the  naming  of  the  salary  to  the  Society,  and  it 
entrusted  the  matter  to  Dea.  Salmon  Joiner,  Elisha  Wild,  and 
forest  Adams.     The  result  is  not  recorded,  but  it  failed,  as  is 
^^i<ient  from  the  action  of  the  church  on  May  30,  in  calling  Rev. 
G   £.  Drake,  who  had  been  preaching  for  them  in  his  vacation. 
Rev.  Cyrus  Bryant  Drake,  son  of  Asaph  and  Louisa  (Beld- 
^8r>    Drake,  was  bom  in  Weybridge,  Aug.  18,  1812.     He  pre- 
P^**^d  for  college  in  the  Addison  County  Grammar  School,  gradu- 
*^^ci    from  Middlebury  College  in  1834,  and  from  And.  Theo. 
SeJ^Kt-  in  1837.     His  youth  had  been  free  from  the  contaminating 
touc*li  of  evil,  and  he  had  joined  the  church  at  Weybridge  at  the 
ag^     cf  seventeen.    He  came  to  the  church  at  Royalton  with  no 
gbadcws  on  his  past,  a  remarkably  pure,  upright  man.     His  in- 
stB^^^lation  occurred  Oct.  12,  when  Dr.  Thomas  Abbott  Merrill  of 
^i^<31ebury  preached  the  sermon.     Eight  churches  were  repre- 
^et^'^^,  Middlebury,  Rochester,  Bethel,  Barnard,  Brookfield,  Chel- 
gie^»  Sharon,  and  Lebanon,  N.  H.     The  council  took  their  usual 
^ipxier  at  the  hotel,  kept  by  Samuel  Blodgett.     They  were  es- 
Q0t^^  to  dinner  by  Darius  Dewey. 

Dr.  Drake  is  the  only  pastor  that  Royalton  has  ever  had, 
^Jiose  whole  life  service  was  spent  here.  He  was  of  an  affection- 
ate disposition,  and  soon  won  the  hearts  of  his  parishioners,  but 
pot  always  their  heads.    He  had  opposition  to  overcome  from 


208  History  of  Boyalton,  Vebmont 

the  beginning,  troubles  within  the  church,  and  evil  without,  but 
he  had  the  happy  and  somewhat  rare  faculty  of  keeping  his 
own  course,  and  still  retaining  the  esteem  of  his  opponents.  He 
soon  reach^  a  foremost  place  in  the  clerical  circles  of  Vermont. 
His  sound  scholarship  and  talent  as  an  orator  and  preacher  were 
recognized  by  his  alma  mater,  of  which  institution  he  aenred 
as  an  honored  trustee  from  1859  until  his  death.  From  it  he 
received  the  degrees  of  A.  M.  and  D.  D.  Though  qualified  to 
command  a  high  salary  in  larger  places,  his  genuine  missionary 
spirit  and  strong  attachment  to  his  people  kept  him  in  Boyalton. 

He  married,  Oct.  6,  1840,  Maria  Louisa,  daughter  of  Fred- 
erick Smith  of  Strafford,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Louisa  Bry- 
ant, bom  June  15,  1843,  now  married  to  BoUin  Shaw  of  Wey- 
bridge,  and  living  there.     She  has  no  children. 

Their  home  was  saddened  by  the  failing  health  of  Dr.  Drake. 
A  severe  bronchial  affection  led  him  to  resign  in  1846,  but  the 
council  refused  to  dismiss  him,  and  advised  rest.  His  pulpit 
was  then  supplied  by  Bev.  T.  S.  Hubbard  and  Bev.  Aaron  Pease. 
Mr.  Hubbard  had  been  a  classmate  of  Dr.  Drake's,  and  had  been 
preaching  in  Stockbridge,  and  went  to  Chelsea  from  Boyalton. 
He  had  been  ordained  at  Stockbridge  in  June,  1839,  as  a  mis- 
sionary, expecting  to  go  to  a  foreign  country.  Mr.  Aaron  Gay- 
lord  Pease  graduated  from  the  U.  V.  M.  in  1837,  was  ordained  in 
1842,  had  been  preaching  in  Poultney,  and  went  to  Waterbury 
in  1847,  where  he  preached  six  years.  He  was  in  Boyalton  in 
the  spring  months  of  1847. 

The  Society  voted  a  vacation  of  ten  months  for  their  be- 
loved pastor.  During  this  time  he  acted  as  secretary  of  the  Ver- 
mont Domestic  Missionary  Society.  In  his  centennial  address 
he  says  of  this  connection:  **I  was  strongly  urged  to  continue 
as  secretary,  Mr.  Lewis  Delano  of  Hardwick  offering  a  liberal 
sum  annually  toward  the  salar>%  if  I  would  continue  to  fill  the 
office.  But  I  was  morally  bound  to  decline,  to  be  true  to  my 
church,  and  to  the  council  which  had  already  refused  to  dismiss 
me."  In  these  words  one  can  see  his  keen  sense  of  moral  recti- 
tude. From  time  to  time  Dr.  Drake  had  to  lay  aside  his  pastoral 
duties,  and  rest.  The  church  continued  his  salary  when  the  sus- 
pension was  short,  which  shows  their  strong  attachment  to  him, 
for  it  was  a  constant  struggle  to  raise  the  necessary  salary  for 
the  support  of  preaching. 

On  the  seventeenth  anniversary  of  his  ordination  the  church 
met,  and  took  a  retrospective  view  of  the  changes  and  the  work 
accomplished.  In  the  fall  of  1857  Dr.  Drake  had  to  suspend 
labor  once  more,  and  the  church  was  ministered  to  by  Bev.  Ezra 
Hoyt  Byington,  who  took  an  A.  M.  degree  from  the  U.  V.  M. 
in  1852,  and  a  D.  D.  degree  from  And.  Theo.  Sem.  in  1890.     He 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  209 

Vfss  ordained  in  1859,  then  preaching  at  Windsor.  He  was  a 
learned  man  of  pleasing  address,  a  fluent  speaker,  teacher,  and 
an  author  of  some  note.  He  was  bom  in  Hinesburgh  in  1828, 
and  died  in  Newton,  Mass.,  in  1901.  Rev.  Israel  Hall  Levings 
preached  several  months,  as  stated  by  Dr.  Drake,  following  Mr. 
Byington.  He  was  a  self-made  man,  had  worked  his  way  through 
the  U.  V.  M.,  graduated  from  And.  Theo.  Sem.  in  1851,  and  was 
ordained  in  1858.  His  birthplace  was  Fairfax,  and  he  died  in 
Madrid,  N.  Y.,  July  20,  1871,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1863  Dr.  Drake  was  again  unable  to 
continue  his  labors.  Mr.  W.  I.  P.  Morrison  seems  to  have 
preached  some  in  the  summer  of  1864.  Rev.  James  Clay  Hough- 
ton supplied  in  1865,  and  perhaps,  in  a  part  of  1864  and  1866. 
He  was  bom  in  Sutton  in  1810,  and  died  in  Montpelier  in  1880. 
The  records  of  the  Society  and  of  the  treasurer  seem  to  indicate 
that  Dr.  Drake  received  some  salary  during  the  time  when  he 
was  unable  to  preach,  and  supplied  the  pulpit.  On  July  9,  1864, 
the  Society  voted  him  leave  of  absence  until  Jan.  1,  1865,  and 
again  on  Mar.  8,  1865,  they  granted  him  leave  of  absence,  and 
agreed  to  supply  the  pulpit  themselves.  He  had  tendered  his 
resignation  in  1862,  which  had  not  been  accepted. 

The  church  was  very  fortunate  in  securing  the  services  of 
the  sturdy,  scholarly  Dr.  James  Caldwell  for  four  and  one-half 
of  the  nine  years  that  Dr.  Drake  was  incapacitated  for  ministerial 
effort.  He  had  been  preaching  about  a  year  when  the  Society 
on  Jan.  5,  1869,  passed  the  following  resolution:  '* Resolved, 
That  we  recognize  the  Rev.  James  Caldwell  as  a  faithful  Gospel 
Preacher  possessing  in  an  eminent  degree  those  qualifications 
which  render  him  an  acceptable  Christian  teacher  and  spiritual 
guide, 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  we  request  the  Committee  of  the 
first  Congl.  Society  to  secure  his  services  for  the  year  ensuing." 

Dr.  Caldwell  had  been  preceded  for  a  short  time  by  Rev. 
George  Byington.  Dr.  Caldwell  was  a  Scotchman,  a  graduate  of 
Glasgow.  He  was  honored  by  Middlebury  with  a  D.  D,  degree 
in  1871,  while  laboring  in  Royalton.  He  preached  later  in  Post 
Mills.  He  died  in  1885.  He  was  somewhat  eccentric,  and  spoke 
with  a  slight  brogue.  He  was  well  liked,  for  he  preached  vigor- 
ous sermons,  and  handled  sin  without  gloves.  His  gestures  par- 
took of  early  day  power,  and  some  timid  ones  trembled  for  the 
dearly  loved  old  Bible  when  his  clenched  fist  came  down  hard 
upon  it.  Notwithstanding  his  impassioned  manner,  he  was  gen- 
tle of  nature,  and  almost  as  helpless  as  a  child  in  caring  for  his 
personal  needs.  In  argument  he  was  no  mean  antagonist.  As 
a  man  his  life  was  above  reproach,  and  his  personality  was  so 

14 


i:. 


210  History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont 

marked,  that  his  sermons  and  himself  will  long  be  remembered 
by  those  who  listened  to  him. 

Dr.  Drake  was  so  far  recovered  the  first  of  the  year  1872, 
as  to  be  able  to  resume  again  his  pastoral  duties.  In  spite  of 
his  long  continued  periods  of  illness,  the  church  clung  to  him, 
and  would  not  let  him  go,  though  he  resigned  again  in  1871.  No 
doubt  some  of  his  illness  may  be  attributed  to  overwork.  He 
did  not  spare  himself.  He  was  in  great  demand  at  marriages 
and  funerals.  One  writer  of  an  article  printed  about  the  time 
of  his  death  says,  ''The  sick  man  welcomed  his  coming  as  bring- 
ing a  healing  balm  to  his  spirit  and  helping  him  to  forget  the 
infirmities  of  the  flesh.  The  yoxmg  saw  in  him  the  realizmtion 
of  true  godliness  and  drew  from  his  example  inspiration  to  well 
doing;  and  the  little  child  climbed  upon  his  knee,  and  looking 
into  the  light  of  his  clear  eye,  felt  that  he  had  found  a  true 
friend.  -  -  -  -  He  was  universally  esteemed  by  his  brethren  in  the 
ministry,  and  many  a  young  minister  received  from  him  encour- 
agement,  advice,  and  a  higher  ideal  of  what  it  is  to  be  a  true 
minister  of  Jesus  Christ." 

At  the  time  of  the  Centennial  of  the  church,  Dr.  Drake  gave 
an  admirable  address,  covering  in  a  succinct  manner  the  whole 
history  of  the  church.  He  sx)oke  of  his  love  for  the  people,  and 
said  he  had  thought  he  would  resign  at  that  time,  but  left  it  with 
them.  As  an  evidence  of  his  affection  he  gave  the  church  $1000 
as  a  nucleus  of  a  fund,  which  was  soon  increased  to  $5000,  Hon. 
Frederick  Billings  of  Woodstock  also  giving  $1000.  In  these 
touching  words  he  introduced  his  puri>ose  of  making  the  gift 
alluded  to:  **The  Savior  having  loved  his  own,  loved  them  unto 
the  end.  I  feel  that  whatever  diversities  the  future  may  bring 
I  shall  love  you  *to  the  end.'  "  His  closing  words  were,  **  'The 
grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  with  you  all.'  Yes,  beloved. 
whenever  you  think  of  me,  while  memory  lasts,  let  these  words 
be  ever  flowing  from  my  lips,  conveying  an  electric  current  of 
love  and  prayer,  streaming  from  my  heart  to  yours,  speeding  by 
way  of  the  throne  of  God,  -  -  *  The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
be  with  you  all.     Amen.'  " 

At  a  meeting  of  the  church  soon  after  this  a  set  of  resolu- 
tions was  adopted  expressive  of  the  love  and  gratitude  of  its 
members  for  Dr.  Drake's  faithful  service  and  loving  care  of  theuL 

Dr.  Drake,  like  Rev.  Martin  Tullar.  was  stricken  in  the  pul- 
pit. He  tried  to  preach  April  14,  1878,  but  was  so  unwell  that 
he  had  to  leave.  It  was  forty-one  years  that  day  since  he 
preached  his  flrst  sermon  in  Royalton.  He  grew  worse  and  died 
the  following  Sunday,  April  21st.  Dr.  James  Caldwell  preached 
the  funeral  sermon  the  next  Wednesday,  and  President  Horlbert 
of  Middlebury  made  the  address.     Fifteen  clergymen  were  pies- 


i 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  211 

ent.  Thus  passed  away  one  of  earth's  noblemen,  a  man,  who 
more  than  any  other  had  given  tone  and  character  to  the  social, 
civic,  domestic,  and  religious  life  of  the  town,  and  whose  influ- 
ence will  live,  not  only  in  Royalton,  but  throughout  every  state 
in  the  Union. 

Dr.  Drake  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  North  Royalton, 
beside  his  wife,  who  had  died  Nov.  6,  1870.  The  church  received 
from  the  County  Conference  held  in  Woodstock  in  June,  a  set 
of  resolutions  as  follows : 

"Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Gyrus  B.  Drake,  this  Con- 
ference of  Congregational  pastors  and  churches  recognizes  the  fact  that 
God  has  come  near  and  removed  one  from  among  us  who  was  eminent 
as  a  Christian,  a  scholar,  a  pastor,  and  a  friend;  who  was  lovely  in 
life,  wise  in  counsel,  and  whose  influence  for  good  will  long  continue 
among  the  churches,  and  throughout  our  State.   - 

Resolved,  That  we  hereby  express  our  heartfelt  sympathy  with  the 
church  in  Royalton  in  this  bereavement,  and  pray  that  it  may  be  di- 
vinely guided  in  its  effort  to  secure  another  pastor,  and  to  maintain 
the  institutions  of  the  Gospel. 

Resolved,  That  we  also  send  words  of  sympathy  to  the  daughter 
of  the  deceased,  commending  her  to  Him  who  can  care  for  her  more 
tenderly  than  any  earthly  friend,  and  guide  her  in  the  way  heaven- 
ward." 

After  the  death  of  Dr.  Drake  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by 

several  clergymen,  among  them  Rev.  Mr.  Plummer  of  Maine, 

:Jtev.  S.  W.  Dike  of  Randolph,  Rev.  S.  K.  B.  Perkins  of  South 

.^toyalton,  and  a  theological  student,  Mr.  Root.    In  the  fall  the 

^imrch  at  South  Royalton  proposed  that  the  two  churches  unite 

iTi  the  support  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  Society  had  taken  favorable 

^<?tfon,  when  they  were  notified  that  the  offer  was  withdrawn. 

^  Nov.  29th  the  church  voted  to  hire  Rev.  Samuel  W.  Dike  for 

•  year  if  he  could  be  secured.    Mr.  Dike  accepted  their  offer  and 

^©ved  to  Royalton  in  April,  1879.     He  was  born  in  Thompson, 

^On.,  Feb.  13,  1839,  graduated  with  high  honors  at  Williams 

^ll^ge  in  1863,  studied  theology  two  years  at  East  Windsor  Hill, 

Con  XI.,  and  graduated  from  And.  Theo.  Sem.  in  1866.     He  was 

•ctixig  pastor  and  pastor  at  West  Randolph  from  Jan.  1,  1867, 

until  near  the  close  of  1877. 

Dr.  Drake  had  been  in  the  habit  of  calling  on  him  for  special 

gefV'ice  for  some  years,  so  that  he  was  no  stranger  to  the  people. 

He   lived  in  Royalton  until  April,  1887,  when  he  moved  to  Au- 

YyO^^dale,  Mass.     He  was  installed  as  pastor  at  Royalton  Apr. 

2,1--  1880.    The  council  was  composed  of  pastors  and  delegates 

frO^  eleven  towns.     The  sermon  was  preached  by  Pres.  Buckham 

^f  the  U.  y.  M. 

Mr.  Dike  strove  to  stimulate  an  interest  in  missions,  especi- 
ally in  the  young  people,  who  prepared  maps  and  studied  the 
jiirtory  of  the  moue  recent  mission  fields.     His  work  as  the  origi- 


212  Hl8TC»Y  OF  BOYALTON,  VeKMONT 

nator  of  the  Home  Department  of  the  Sunday  School  will  be 
found  under  that  head.  While  he  was  pastor  he  wrote  consid- 
erable on  the  Divorce  Question,  including  his  Boston  Monday 
Lecture,  which  immediately  brought  him  and  his  work  into  wide 
notice,  and  led  to  his  dismission  to  become  the  Secretary  of  the 
New  England  Divorce  Reform  League,  which  after  one  other 
change  became  the  National  League  for  the  Protection  of  the 
Family.  Some  of  the  other  of  Sb.  Dike's  important  papers  on 
the  Divorce  Question  were  written  while  he  was  living  in  Boy- 
alton,  as  well  as  the  series  of  articles  in  the  Andover  Beview, 
which  opened  the  discussion  of  the  Beligious  Problem  of  the 
Country  Town.  He  proposed  and  helped  shape  the  famous  Fair- 
banks' investigation  of  the  condition  of  44  towns  in  Yermonty 
etc. 

At  his  own  request  he  was  dismissed  Aug.  22,  1882.  The 
council  expressed  its  estimate  of  his  services  by  saying,  "We 
heartily  commend  Bro.  Dike  as  an  able,  diligent,  faithful  and 
discreet  minister  of  the  Gh)speL"  The  church  had  previously 
put  on  record  its  testimony  in  the  following  words:  ''We  can 
but  express  our  great  regret  at  the  cause  that  impels  his  depart- 
ure, and  at  our  prospective  loss  of  the  service  of  him  who  has 
endeared  himself  to  us  by  his  Christian  instruction  and  kindly 
care  of  this  flock  in  the  few  short  years  he  has  been  with  us.'' 

For  five  years  longer  he  maintained  his  home  in  Boyalton, 
and  his  subsequent  work  has  been  largely  the  development  of  the 
ideas  and  plans  which  he  formed  here.  While  his  home  was  here 
he  became  a  member  and  contributor  of  papers  to  one  or  more 
of  the  Social  Science  Associations  of  the  country,  and  began  lee^ 
turing  in  seminaries  and  colleges.  He  received  the  degree  of 
LL.  D.  from  Williams  College  in  1888. 

It  would  seem  that  Bev.  William  Denison  Smith  of  South 
Boyalton  filled  the  pulpit  after  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Dike,  ^y 
informal  action.  June  29,  1883,  the  committee  was  instructed  to 
take  measures  to  secure  him  another  year. 

In  the  interim  after  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Smith  and  before 
union  with  the  Bethel  church  in  hiring  a  minister,  Bev.  Herbert 
Marston  Andrews,  A.  M.,  supplied  the  pulpit.  He  was  a  gradu- 
ate of  Union  Theo.  Sem.  in  1879,  of  Dartmouth  in  1876.  He 
later  became  a  missionary  to  Jamua  Mission,  Allahabad,  North- 
west Prov.,  India. 

On  Oct.  10,  1884,  it  was  voted  to  unite  with  the  Bethel 
church  in  the  ordination  of  Elisha  Smith  Fiske,  and  the  services 
took  place  in  the  Boyalton  church  Oct.  22,  1884.  When  this 
connection  was  severed  is  not  recorded  in  the  minutes,  but  Jan. 
1, 1886,  another  pastor  was  serving.  Mr.  Fiske  was  bom  in  Shel- 
bume,  Mass.,  April  11,  1853.    He  was  connected  for  a  time  with 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  213 

Williams  College,  but  did  not  graduate;  graduated  from  Yale 
Divinity  School  in  1883.  He  preached  at  Bethel  from  June  1, 
1884,  to  June  1,  1887.  He  preached  in  Waitsfield  1887-1897. 
Since  that  time  his  health  has  not  been  sufficient  for  a  pastorate, 
and  he  is  living  in  Montpelier,  engaged  in  insurance  business, 
and  preaches  occasionally. 

Albert  Ira  Dutton  began  preaching  for  the  church  in  the 
fall  of  1885.  He  was  installed  as  pastor  Sep.  1  of  that  year,  and 
dismissed  Sep.  26,  1887,  on  account  of  ill  health.  His  relations 
with  the  church  had  been  pleasant,  and  his  labor  had  been  faith- 
ful and  devoted.  He  was  bom  in  Stowe,  Aug.  5,  1831.  He 
graduated  from  Middlebury  College  in  1858,  studied  two  years 
at  Hartford  Theo.  Sem.,  and  graduated  from  And.  Theo.  Sem. 
in  1863.  He  was  ordained  over  the  church  in  Shirley,  Mass.,  in 
1863,  where  he  remained  six  years.  He  served  the  East  Long- 
meadow  church  sixteen  years,  then  removed  to  Minnesota,  from 
which  state  he  came  to  Royalton.  When  he  left  Royalton  he  as- 
somed  charge  of  a  Ministers'  Home  in  So.  Framingham,  Mass., 
where  he  died  suddenly,  Feb.  13,  1892. 

Rev.  Solomon  Paine  Giddings  preached  for  some  months 
after  Mr.  Dutton  left.    He  was  bom  in  Poultney,  Dec.  2,  1812 ; 
JSmduated  from  Middlebury  College  in  1838;  studied  at  Yale 
JI1839-41,  and  at  Lane  Theo.  Sem.  in  1842.    He  was  ordained  as  an 
'^^angelist  at  Poultney,  Sep.  28,  1842,  and  did  home  missionary 
m^ork  in  Tennessee  for  a  time.    He  preached  at  several  places  in 
"Vermont  and  Massachusetts  prior  to  1863,  when  he  took  a  clerk- 
ship in  one  of  the  departments  at  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he 
^as  residing  at  last  accounts. 

Rev.  Levi  Wild  has  supplied  the  Royalton  pulpit  at  different 
tJOies,  when  a  stated  supply  has  been  lacking.  His  record  will 
he  found  in  the  history  of  the  Wild  family. 

Rev.   Hiram   Quintillian   Ward   began   preaching   for  the 

chojirch  in  1889,  and  continued  until  June  1,  1892.     He  was  born 

10  I>anville,  March  15, 1857 ;  graduated  at  Dartmouth,  1883,  from 

Cb-ioago  Theological  Seminary,  1887.     He  was  ordained  June  30, 

XSS7,  at  Pecatonica,  111.,  where  he  was  preaching.    After  leav- 

tJi8  lloyalton  he  preached  in  Canaan,  N.  Y.,  a  short  time,  then 

\)e^Hine  Principal  of  Glenwood  Collegiate  Institute,  Metawan, 

-jj,  J.    Later  he  was  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Physics  in 

j^e  Charles  College,  La.,  from  which  he  sent  an  appeal  for  the 

)l)0titution  to  the  Royalton  church.     He  was  pastor  at  Orford, 

ji.  H.,  1905,  and  at  last  accounts  was  stationed  in  Brookfield. 

Eev.  James  Ramage,  the  pastor  of  the  South  Royalton  Con- 
gregational church,  filled  the  pulpit  from  July,  1892,  to  July, 
j893.  The  church  continued  its  connection  with  the  South  Roy- 
^ton  church  through  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Henry  M.  Goddard, 


214  History  op  Boyalton^  Vekmont 

from  Oct.,  1893,  to  May,  1899.  When  Rev.  Wilfred  B.  Mann 
was  secured  at  South  Royalton,  he  acted  as  pastor  for  the  church 
from  June,  1899,  to  Jan.,  1902. 

In  this  year  the  church  found  itself  able  to  engage  the  aenr- 
ices  of  Rev.  Joel  F.  Whitney,  a  returned  missionary,  who  had 
settled  in  the  village.  He  was  bom  Mar.  30,  1843,  in  Wadhama 
Mills,  N.  Y. ;  graduated  from  Barre  Academy  1864,  from  Middle- 
bury  College,  1868,  from  Andover  Theo.  Sem.,  1871.  He  mar- 
ried May  3,  1871,  Louisa  Marette  Bailey,  bom  June  4,  1844,  and 
was  ordained  on  the  same  day.  They  served  as  missionaries  ten 
years  in  Micronesia  under  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  He  returned  in 
1881  and  has  had  pastorates  in  Wadhams  Mills,  N.  Y.,  Woloott, 
St.  Johnsbury  East,  Jamaica,  and  Marshfield,  Vt.,  and  Coventry- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  and  other  New  York  towns.  He  came  to  Royalton 
1902,  and  preached  for  the  church  three  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Whitney  have  been  very  active  in  all  the  social  and  educational 
enterprises  of  the  little  village.  Mrs.  Whitney  is  a  graduate  of 
Mt.  Holyoke,  and  is  a  writer  of  some  reputation.  She  haa  pub- 
lished one  book,  '"(^oldie's  Inheritance."  Their  two  older  chil- 
dren were  bom  in  Micronesia:  John  Russell,  bom  Oct.  31,  1874, 
died  Oct.  19,  1897;  entered  Middlebury  College,  '95.  Edward 
Fisk,  bom  Aug.  29,  1877,  living  at  home  unmarried.  Their  only 
daughter,  Mary  Etta,  was  bom  June  15,  1882.  She  haa  inher- 
ited considerable  literary  and  artistic  talent. 

June  11,  1905,  Rev.  Charles  E.  Beals  began  his  labors  for 
the  church.  He  was  a  student  completing  his  college  course  at 
Dartmouth.  He  was  bom  in  East  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  June  24, 
1877.  He  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  that  town  in  1894, 
and  from  Bangor  Theo.  Sem.  in  1909.  He  took  his  A.  B.  degree 
from  Dartmouth  in  1907,  with  Phi  Beta  Kappa  rank.  He  re- 
ceived the  Story  prize  in  philosophy.  He  was  ordained  in  Roy- 
alton, June  28,  1906.  Ten  churches  were  represented.  The  ser- 
mon was  preached  by  Rev.  C.  A.  Beckwith,  D.  D.  On  July  17, 
1907,  he  married  Anna  M.  Bourne  of  Bangor.  He  closed  his 
labors  in  Royalton  Sep.  15,  1907.  He  taught  in  Bangor  Semi- 
nary 1907-08  and  took  post-graduate  work,  receiving  the  degree 
of  B.  D.  in  1908.  He  has  since  been  pastor  of  churches  in  Hallo- 
well  and  Eastport,  Maine.  He  has  one  daughter,  Mary  Antoin* 
ette,  born  June  14,  1908.  Mr.  Beals  won  the  hearts  of  his  Roy- 
alton parishioners  by  his  sincere  piety  and  kindly  interest  in 
their  welfare,  and  his  scholarly  and  convincing  sermons  satisfied 
the  taste  of  the  most  critical.  The  church  parted  with  him  with 
great  regret. 

Rev.  Willis  Sparhawk,  clergyman  and  lecturer  from  Ran- 
dolph, supplied  the  pulpit  the  next  four  months,  then  Thomas 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  215 

N.  Ross  of  Northfield  was  hired  for  a  short  time.  Mr.  Ross  is 
now  a  student  in  Bangor  Seminary. 

Again  the  church  secured  a  Dartmouth  student,  Rev.  Henry 
N.  Pfeiffer.  Mr.  Pfeiflfer  was  bom  July  3,  1876,  in  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.;  graduated  from  New  York  University,  1899,  from 
Oberlin  College,  1906,  from  Dartmouth,  1909.  He  was  pastor  of 
churches  in  Middletown,  N.  Y.,  and  Meriden,  N.  H.,  before  com- 
ing to  Royalton.  Mr.  Pfeiflfer  is  a  man  of  unusual  talent  and 
indefatigable  energy,  and  at  the  end  of  a  year  he  was  called  to 
a  wider  field.  He  is  now  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church, 
Bensonhurst,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

His  successor  was  Rev.  Newell  Carroll  Maynard,  another 
Dartmouth  student.  He  was  bom  in  Marshfield,  Me.,  Nov^  26, 
1880.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Bucksport  Seminary  in  1902,  of 
Bangor  Theo.  Sem.  in  1907,  and  of  Dartmouth  in  1910.  He  be- 
gan to  preach  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  while  in  the  preparatory 
school  at  Bucksport.  He  was  pastor  of  churches  at  China  and 
N.  Palermo,  Me.,  1903-05,  at  Milford,  Me.,  1905-06,  at  Lincoln, 
Me.,  1907,  and  assistant  minister  at  Eliot  Church,  Newton,  Mass., 
1908.  He  was  ordained  at  Newton,  Mass.,  June  28,  1907.  The 
church  prospered  under  the  able  ministrations  of  Mr.  Maynard, 
and  was  loth  to  release  him  at  the  end  of  his  year. 

The  work  of  the  Dartmouth  students  has  been  so  satisfac- 
tory that  still  another  was  hired  in  1910,  Rev.  John  Lemley 
Holden.  Mr.  Holden  was  born  July  9,  1887;  graduated  from 
Bangor  Seminary,  1910.  He  was  ordained  in  Royalton,  Aug.  9, 
1910.  Dr.  Eugene  W.  Lyman,  Professor  at  Bangor,  preached, 
and  Dr.  Merrill  gave  the  ordaining  prayer.  Mr.  Holden 's  home 
is  Ticonderoga,  N.  Y. 

Asa  Perrin,  Sen.,  kept  a  diary  for  many  years.  These  dia- 
ries have  been  mostly  preserved.  Those  dealing  with  the  church 
date  from  1785  to  1810.  He  jotted  down  each  Sunday  the  name 
of  the  preacher,  or  the  reader  of  a  sermon,  if  there  was  no  preach- 
er, and  the  text.  Asa  Perrin 's  name,  whether  Senior  or  Junior 
is  not  stated,  is  in  the  list  of  those  who  were  members  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  in  1793,  when  Mr.  Tullar  was  in- 
stalled. Asa,  Sen.,  seems  to  have  attended  the  Baptist  church 
occasionally,  and  it  is  not  easy  to  determine  in  all  cases  whether 
it  was  the  Baptist  or  Congregational  meeting  of  which  he  gives 
an  account,  but  the  data  which  follows  is  thought  to  belong  only 
to  the  history  of  the  Congregational  church. 

The  places  of  meeting,  aside  from  the  meeting-house,  are 
given  by  him  as  Zebulon  Lyon's,  the  schoolhouse  in  his  district, 
the  **red  schoolhouse"  near  Mr.  Sever 's,  Mr.  Durkee's,  Esquire 
Dewey's,  Mr.  Hibbard's  when  Mr.  Tullar  preached,  Capt.  Bil- 
lings's, Sally  Perrin 's  bam,  Lyon's  bam,  Capt.  Kimball's,  school- 


216  Hl8TC»Y  OF  BOYALTOK,  VERMONT 

house  in  the  village.  Esquire  Tullar's.  Capt.  Burbank's,  Nathan- 
iel Morse's,  BIr.  Dunham's,  Daniel  Havens',  Esquire  Bix'a,  the 
academy,  and  BIr.  Bloss',  which  list  indicates  an  effort  to  have 
preaching  in  all  parts  of  the  town,  when  no  meeting-house  ex- 
isted suitable  for  holding  Sunday  services.  Some  of  these  meet- 
ings were  held  in  the  evening,  and  the  services  were  preafthing, 
a  lecture,  or  reading  of  sermons  by  laymen. 

Some  of  the  readers  mentioned  are  Esquire  Sever  and  Dr. 
Samuel  D.  Searle,  both  of  whom  often  read  when  there  was  no 
pastor  or  when  Mr.  Tullar  was  absent  on  his  father's  frequent 
vacations  to  see  his  father,  to  attend  conventions,  and  ecoifer- 
ences,  and  to  ''get  him  a  wife,"  besides  enforced  vacations  when 
he  was  ill  or  lame.  Other  readers  were  Capt.  Eamball,  Pitcher 
Tucker,  Mr.  Dutton,  Silas  Williams,  Mr.  Chapin,  the  academy 
principal,  Greenfield  Perrin,  and  ''Smith  the  school  master," 
possibly  an  academy  principal,  whose  record  has  not  been  found. 

Mr.  Perrin 's  diaries  show  that  Bev.  and  Dr.  Abial  Jones 
preached  occasionally,  also  Mr.  Brainard  and  Mr.  Thompson. 
He  states  that  on  Oct.  11,  1795,  Mr.  Tullar  sang  Psalm  134,  and 
then  dismissed  them,  probably  on  account  of  ill  health.  His 
diaries  are  chiefly  devoted  to  facts  regarding  Sunday  services^ 
baptisms,  councils,  persons  "cried"  and  married,  and  family 
records,  but  they  are  well  worth  the  reading  by  any  one  inter- 
ested in  such  matters. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  learn  what  natives  of  Royalton  be- 
came ministers.  Those  who  will  be  named  are,  doubtless,  only  a 
part  of  the  number  that  might  be  ascertained  with  more  ample 
time  and  facilities.  Further  records  of  these  sons  of  Royalton 
will  be  found  in  the  genealogical  half  of  this  volume. 

Lyman  Daniel  Ames,  bom  Aug.  21,  1812.  Baptist  minister 
in  Royalton  and  other  Vermont  towns.  Died  in  Randolph.  Jan. 
22.  1879. 

Enoch  Cleveland,  son  of  Bethabra,  bom  Aug.  16,  1823.  be- 
came a  minister  of  the  Christian  denomination,  preaching  in 
Hyde  Park,  Sutton,  and  other  places.  The  date  of  his  death  is 
not  known,  but  it  was  before  August,  1896. 

Nathaniel  Wright  Dewey,  son  of  Rodolphus,  born  Jan.  1, 
1810,  graduated  at  Dartmouth  as  divinity  student,  1837,  and  died 
Jan.  11,  1839,  at  Lane  Theo.  Sem.,  unmarried. 

Lewis  Francis,  son  of  John,  bom  Sept.  14,  1836,  graduated 
at  the  U.  V.  M.  in  1856,  and  at  Andover  Theo.  Sem.  in  1860.  He 
received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Rutgers  in  1898.  At  present 
he  is  Pastor  Emeritus  of  Kent  Street  Reformed  Church,  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y. 

John  Perrin,  son  of  Greenfield,  bom  March  8,  1803,  died 
Aug.  3,  1896.     He  was  a  Methodist  minister. 


J 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  817 

Henry  Safford,  son  of  Jacob,  born  Oct.  8,  1793,  graduated 
at  Dartmouth,  1817,  at  Princeton  Theo.  Sem.,  1820.  He  was  a 
missionary,  and  died  Oct.  8,  1870,  at  Greensboro,  Oa. 

DePorest  Safford,  son  of  Truman  Hopson,  bom  Mar.  17, 
1840,  was  in  Harvard  University  one  and  one-half  years,  then 
enlisted  in  the  Union  army.  He  graduated  from  Union  Theo. 
Sem.  in  1869,  and  preached  in  various  places  in  Vermont  and 
New  Hampshire.  He  has  been  located  in  Peterboro,  N.  H.,  since 
1892,  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church. 

N.  Pay  Smith,  son  of  Henry  Christopher,  and  grandson  of 
Stillman  P.,  born  Peb.  6,  1866;  graduated  from  Moody  Bible 
Institute,  Chicago,  1893 ;  pastor  of  E.  Northfield,  Mass.,  Congre- 
gational church  since  1903. 

Boyal  Washburn,  son  of  Rev.  Azel,  born  Dec.  6, 1797,  gradu- 
ated from  the  U.  V.  M.,  1820,  from  Andover  Theo.  Sem.,  1824, 
and  died  at  Amherst,  Mass.,  Jan.  1,  1833.  He  was  a  Congrega- 
tional minister. 

Levi  Wild,  son  of  John,  bom  June  29,  1859,  graduated  at 
Dartmouth,  1883,  at  Union  Theo.  Sem.,  1886.  He  held  several 
pastorates,  and  at  present  is  living  in  Boyalton,  caring  for  his 
aged  father. 

Stephen  Eastman  Boot,  bom  Oct.  18,  1834,  began  preaching 
at  the  age  of  sixteen.  He  was  educated  in  Hillsdale  College, 
Mich.,  and  held  pastorates  in  Maine  towns.  He  was  a  Baptist 
minister,  but  later  became  a  physician,  and  practiced  in  Roches- 
ter, N.  H. 

Cyrus  Tracy  Tucker,  born  Dec.  2,  1818,  worked  his  way 
through  college,  and  began  his  first  pastorate  at  Marshfield, 
Mass.,  when  thirty  years  of  age.     He  removed  to  Wisconsin. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


The    Growth    and   Polity    op   the    First    Congregational 

Church. 

The  First  Congregational  Church  of  Boyalton  was  the 
fifteenth  formed  in  Vermont.  If  it  was  organized  in  1777,  it 
probably  had  a  very  small  membership,  and  there  is  no  means 
of  ascertaining  who  the  members  were.  There  may  have  been 
residents  in  town  who  left  before  the  first  record  of  membership 
was  made  in  1782,  who  were,  possibly,  charter  members  of  the 
church. 

The  earliest  recorded  date  is  found  in  a  little  unbound 
pamphlet  four  by  six  inches,  containing  four  leaves.  On  the 
second  page  is  found  the  record  of  a  meeting  Aug.  26,  1778, 
at  the  house  of  Lieut.  Joseph  Parkhurst.  Lieut.  Parkhurst  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  here.  His  first  land  record  shows 
that  he  owned  176  acres  comprising  the  north  part  of  the  present 
village  of  South  Royalton.  Where  his  house  stood  cannot  be 
afiSrmed,  but  probably  not  far  from  the  Lyman  Benson  house 
of  later  days.  Rufus  Rude  was  the  moderator  and  clerk  at  this 
meeting,  and  it  is  safe  to  assume  that  he  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers, also  Judith  Parkhurst,  mother  of  Joseph,  and  Sarah  Rude, 
daughter  of  Rufus,  who  married  Elias  Stevens. 

In  another  pamphlet  of  eight  leaves  is  recorded  the  meeting 
of  June  2,  1782,  ** Lord's  Day,"  when  *'the  Church  Solemly 
Renewed  Covenant  viz.":  Israel  Waller,  Timothy  Durkee,  Com- 
fort Sever,  Judith  Parkhurst,  Sarah  Rude,  Anna  Durkee,  Anna 
Waller,  Sarah  Stevens.  This  is  the  first  meeting  recorded  after 
the  Indian  raid.  Of  these  eight,  it  is  known  that  Comfort  Sever 
came  to  town  in  1778,  and  it  is  quite  certain  that  Israel  Waller 
and  Timothy  Durkee,  whose  wife  was  Anna,  did  not  come  to 
Royalton  until  after  1777.  At  the  time  the  church  renewed 
covenant,  eighteen  others  joined  it  in  ** solemn  covenant,"  one 
of  whom,  Anna  Kent,  was  baptized.  They  were  William  Joiner, 
Daniel  Rix,  David  Fish,  Zebulon  Lyon,  John  Evans,  Edward 
Spear,  Joseph  Waller,  Rebecca  Rix,  Anna  Kent,  Paulina  Joiner, 
Sybil  Fish,  John  Hutchinson,  Elionor  Lyon,  Luther  Skinner, 
John  Hutchins,  Polly  Kent,  Lucy  Durkee,  Lydia  Durfee.  It  is 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  some  were  unable  to  be  present,  who 


History  of  Royalton,  Vermont  219 

would  rightfully  belong  in  the  list  with  the  eight  old  members. 
On  Nov.  4,  1787,  there  were  received  by  letter  Dea.  Ebenezer 
Dewey,  and  his  wife,  Christian  Dewey,  Ebenezer  Dewey,  Jr., 
Temperance  Dewey,  and  Mrs.  Temperance  Kilbum,  also  John 
and  Jerusha  Kimball,  Joseph  Pierce,  Mrs.  Susannah  Pierce, 
wife  of  Jedediah,  and  Ruth  Pierce,  her  daughter. 

The  membership  was  increased  Mar.  22,  1789,  by  the  ad- 
dition of  Elisha  Kent,  Isaac  Skinner,  Harvey  Skinner,  Jared 
Kimball,  Apollos  Dewey,  William  Prince  (Pierce!),  David 
Dewey,  Gamer  Rix,  John  Searle,  Daniel  Rix,  Jr.,  Bethesda 
Havens,  (wife  of  Daniel),  Sally  Searle,  (wife  of  Dr.  Samuel  D. 
Searle),  Zaviah  Burton,  Sintha  Kimball,  Rebecca  Rix,  Sally 
Skinner,  Roxalana  Perrin.  On  the  26th  of  the  next  month  the 
following  united  with  the  church:  Samuel  D.  Searle,  John 
Warner,  William  Waterman,  Elias  Kingsley,  Elisha  Kent,  Jr., 
Nathan  Kimball,  Squire  Howe,  Alexander  Brown,  James  Sei^rle, 
PoUy  Safford,  Lois  Pierce.  On  June  21,  Mary  Morse,  (probably 
the  wife  of  Nathaniel),  and  Priscilla  Pierce  united  with  the 
church,  and  on  Sep.  20,  Jemima  Kinney,  John  Kimball,  Eliza^ 
beth  Tullar,  Rachel  Dewey,  Mary  Allen,  Mary  Morgan.  On 
July  5th  Richard  Kimball  and  Susanna  Kimball  united,  and 
on  Sep.  20,  Jemima  Kinney.  Between  this  last  date  and  the  date 
ol  the  installation  of  the  Rev.  Martin  Tullar,  Nov.  27,  1793,  there 
is  no  record  of  admissions.  There  is,  however,  a  list  of  the  mem- 
hen  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Tullar 's  installation.  There  were  then 
67  members.  The  new  members  were,  Azel  Washburn,  Amasa 
Datton,  Nathaniel  Pierce,  Darius  Dewey,  Asa  Perrin,  Capt. 
Abijah  Burbank,  Richard  Bloss,  Lucy  Bloss,  Silas  Williams, 
Samuel  Clapp,  Daniel  Tullar,  John  Kimball,  Jr.,  Hepzibah  Ba- 
con, Nancy  Shepard,  Aaron  Brown,  Azubah  Brown,  Jedediah 
Pierce.  The  annual  additions  were  small  for  the  next  eight 
Jears.  On  June  19,  1794,  they  were  Mrs.  Mary  Tullar  and  Mrs. 
&rah  Benton ;  on  the  29th,  Nathan  Stone,  Ebenezer  Dewey,  Jr., 
«ad  Jerusha  Dewey ;  on  July  23,  Nathan  Page,  and  Ruth  Buck- 
^ftnd;  on  June  14,  1795,  Joseph  and  Priscilla  Dutton;  on  July 
S,  Samuel  and  Mary  Bills;  on  July  10,  1796,  Lot  and  Polly 
[er;  on  July  15,  Thankful  Storrs;  on  Aug.  28,  Roiiolphus 
rey;  on  Nov.  13,  Mrs.  Deborah  Coy;  on  Sep.  3,  1797,  Mrs. 
Stevens;  on  Feb.  5,  1798,  Samuel  Dutton;  on  Dec.  16, 
W^illiam  and  Esther  Hawes ;  on  June  8,  1800,  Alexander  Wood- 
^€>nh;  on  June  20,  1801,  Peter  Whitney  and  wife. 

In  the  spring  of  1802  there  had  been  an  awakening,  and  on 

^t^y  2,  Gideon  Crandall,  Ashbel  Buckland,  Joseph  Kirbee,  Kiles 

Y^xJ,  Alexander  McKenstry,  Mary  Burbank,  Bathsheba  Bur- 

\>^3ik,  Hannah  Page,  and  Levina  Paul,  were  added  to  the  church. 

3<>hn  Storrs  had  joined  on  Feb.  7,  and  Mrs.  Martha  Kirbee  was 


2S0  History  of  Boyalton,  Vekmont 

admitted  July  18,  making  eleven  additions  in  tliis  year.  For 
the  next  eight  years  the  additions  would  scarcely  balance  the 
dismissions  and  losses  by  death.  On  July  10,  1803,  Esther 
Crandall  united;  on  April  15,  1804,  Mrs.  Charlotte  Tullar;  on 
June  17,  Mrs.  Eleanor  Lovejoy ;  on  Aug.  19,  Walter  Chapin ;  on 
Feb.  16,  1806,  Storrs  Hall;  on  Dec.  21,  Sarah  Green;  on  June 
7,  1807,  Charlotte  Whitney ;  on  July  5,  Lucretia  Olcott ;  on  June 
19, 1808,  Jotham  Dyer ;  on  July  10,  James  and  Eunice  Morrill ;  on 
Dec.  11,  Lydia  Dewey  and  Susannah  Pierce;  on  June  25,  1809, 
Polly  Bacon  and  Nabby  Tullar ;  on  Aug.  20,  Eliphalet  Davis ;  on 
Mar.  25,  1810,  Temperance  Skinner;  on  Sep.  23,  Jedida 
(Jedediah?)  Seabury;  on  Dec.  16,  Jareb  Bacon. 

The  first  rich  harvest  of  the  church  was  in  1810,  under  the 
ministration  of  Rev.  Martin  Tullar.  On  Dec.  16,  twentynsix 
united  on  profession  of  faith.  Twenty-five  united  at  different 
times  during  the  next  year.  Unfortunate  dissensions  arose  in 
the  church  about  this  time  and  continued  for  several  years. 
There  was  no  settled  pastor  for  a  time  after  Mr.  Tullar 's  death, 
and  the  church  received  few  additions.  After  Mr.  Halping 
was  called,  it  began  to  increase  in  numbers.  On  Aug.  29,  1819, 
twelve  united,  and  during  his  pastorate  the  membership  was 
increased  by  thirty-one.  In  1826,  when  Mr.  Torrey  was  the 
minister,  52  were  received  into  the  church,  one  of  whom  was  the 
Hon.  Jacob  Ck)llamer,.  The  year  previous  Oel  Billings,  the 
father  of  the  Hon.  Frederick  Billings,  had  been  admitted,  and 
also  John  Francis,  Esq.,  the  lawyer. 

It  was  while  Rev.  A.  C.  Washburn  was  pastor  that  the 
church  nearly,  it  not  quite,  doubled  its  membership.  He  was 
a  believer  in  revivals,  and  had  fears  for  a  church  without  these 
seasons  of  spiritual  regeneration.  In  the  fall  and  winter  of 
1831  an  extensive  revival  brought  a  large  number  into  the  fold 
of  the  church.  On  Jan.  1,  1832,  forty-nine  were  admitted,  of 
whom  twenty-seven  were  baptized.  The  next  great  revival  was 
in  1835,  in  the  busiest  time  of  the  year.  On  July  10th  of  that 
year  forty-two  joined  the  church,  of  whom  twenty-five  were 
baptized,  and  two  days  later  fifty  were  added,  of  whom  thirty 
were  baptized.  What  a  sensation  such  an  occurrence  would 
cause  in  a  country  town  today !  In  the  list  of  names  are  found 
many  of  those  who  were  then,  and  ever  afterward,  among  the 
most  reliable,  intelligent,  and  worthy  citizens  of  the  town.  Dur- 
ing the  eight  and  more  years  that  Mr.  Washburn  was  pastor 
here,  the  whole  number  added  to  the  church  was  254.  Dr. 
Drake  states  that  some  of  these  were  residents  of  other  towns, 
drawn  here  to  hear  Mr.  Burchard,  and  that  later  they  took  let- 
ters to  other  churches. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  221 

Dr.  Drake's  pastorate  was  so  broken  that  it  is  not  easy  to 
determine  the  frnits  of  his  labors  as  regards  the  increase  in 
membership.  There  was  an  awakening  in  the  spring  of  1842, 
which  resulted,  May  1st,  in  adding  the  names  of  forty-two  per- 
sons to  the  membership  list,  eighteen  of  whom  were  baptized, 
and  during  the  year  twenty-two  others  were  added.  Again  in 
the  spring  of  1875  there  was  a  large  increase  in  the  membership 
of  the  church,  thirty-two  uniting  on  May  21.  Of  this  number, 
six  are  residents  of  the  town  today,  and  active  members  of  the 
same  church.  One  of  them,  Seymour  Culver,  has  served  as 
deacon  for  twenty-four  years.  Another,  Elba  Corbin,  has  also 
been  deacon  for  eighteen  years.  Mrs.  Emma  G.  Bement,  now 
Mrs.  Seymour  Culver,  served  for  a  long  period  of  years  as  or- 
ganist for  the  church,  faithful  and  regular  in  attendance,  and 
is  still  teaching  in  the  primary  department  of  Sunday  school. 
Still  another  was  Levi  Wild,  who  became  a  Congregationalist 
minister,  preaching  with  great  acceptance,  until  his  health  com- 
pelled him  to  relinquish  his  labors.  He  is  now  a  tower  of 
strength  in  the  church  of  his  forefathers.  Mrs.  Elba  Corbin, 
who  sang  in  the  choir  and  was  organist  for  several  years,  and 
Miss  Lucy  Wild  make  up  the  six  now  resident  in  town. 

Since  the  death  of  Dr.  Drake  there  have  been  no  large  ad- 
ditions to  the  church  at  any  one  time.  For  several  years  it  lost 
by  death  and  removal  more  than  it  gained.  Perhaps  the  great- 
est diminution  occurred  while  Dr.  Dike  was  pastor.  During 
the  four  years  of  his  pastorate  no  less  than  sixty  members  of 
the  congregation  moved  away  or  died,  and  less  than  a  dozen 
persons  took  their  places.  In  these  later  years  families  have 
been  growing  smaller  and  smaller,  and  the  schools  as  well  as 
the  churches  have  suffered  a  like  diminution  in  the  number  of 
their  members.  No  new  names  were  added  to  the  church  roll 
in  1898.  In  1909  twelve  new  members  were  enrolled.  The  orig- 
inal membership  was  eight  according  to  the  record  of  1782. 
When  Mr.  TuUar  assumed  the  pastorate  it  was  sixty-six.  Under 
Mr.  Torrey  it  reached  109,  and  in  1838,  under  Rev.  A.  C.  Wash- 
bum  it  had  grown  to  314.  Just  half  a  century  later  it  had 
fallen  to  seventy-four,  in  1907  to  forty-nine.  The  membership 
today  is  eighty,  twenty-three  of  these  males.  Eleven  were  added 
to  the  church  in  1910. 

It  would  be  unjust  to  compare  present  figures  with  those 
of  the  time  when  this  was  the  only  church  in  town.  It  had 
been  in  existence  less  than  fifteen  years  when  the  Baptist  So- 
ciety was  organized.  The  Legislature  in  1783  passed  an  act 
commonly  called  the  ** Ministerial  Act,"  which  enabled  towns 
to  erect  houses  of  worship  and  support  ministers  of  the  Gk)spel. 
This  placed  the  authority  in  the  hands  of  the  town,  when  called 
on  to  act  by  seven  of  the  freeholders.    It  provided,  also,  for 


S22  History  of  Boyalton,  Vebmont 

non-support  by  any  tax-payer  who  should  bring  a  certificate 
from  specified  persons,  stating  that  the  bearer  belonged  to  a 
different  persuasion  from  the  one  to  which  the  majority 
belonged.  If  residents  of  Boyalton  presented  such  certificates 
before  the  organization  of  another  Society  in  town,  they  are  not 
recorded.  Jedediah  Cleveland  had  one  dated  1789,  but  it  was 
not  recorded  until  1792.  Prom  1791  to  1795  twelve  of  these 
certificates  are  on  record,  one  person  belonging  to  the  Chuieh  of 
England,  one,  Timothy  Durkee,  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  of  Bethel,  ilr.  and  Mrs.  Durkee  had  not  found  the 
Congregational  church  conducive  to  their  sanctification,  and 
had  objected  to  some  of  the  articles  embodied  in  a  platform 
which  seems  to  have  been  drawn  up  Aug.  12,  1789.  Th^  were 
labored  with  for  some  time,  but  finally  he  joined  this  church  in 
Bethel,  and  three  months  later  the  church  in  Boyalton  excom- 
municated him  with  the  usual  formula,  ''Let  him  be  unto  thee  as 
a  heathen  and  a  publican."  Those  giving  the  other  ten  cer- 
tificates averred  that  they  were  of  the  Baptist  persuasion. 

By  later  legislative  enactment  it  was  only  necessary  to  say 
that  a  person  did  not  agree  with  the  majority  in  religious  sen- 
timent, to  be  excused  from  supporting  the  church  which  the  ma- 
jority supported.  Prom  1801  to  1806  forty-one  such  certificates 
were  filed,  two,  Thomas  Bingham  and  David  Bugg,  stating  that 
they  were  Universalists.  and  one,  Godfrey  Bichardson,  that  he 
was  a  communicant  of  the  Church  of  England.  Of  course,  there 
was  a  loophole  here  for  the  escape  from  all  responsibility  in  sup- 
porting the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  church  suflFered 
somewhat  on  this  account.  On  the  other  hand  it  would  be  more 
favorably  regarded  by  the  minority,  since  support  by  them  was 
now  voluntary. 

It  seems  probable  that  several  years  before  there  was  a 
formal  organization  of  the  Methodist  church,  there  were  meet- 
ings held,  which  would  tend  to  draw  from  the  membership  of  the 
Congregational  church.  About  1834  a  particular  form  for  dis- 
missal to  the  Methodist  church  was  adopted,  but  soon  a  more 
liberal  spirit  was  manifested.  It  was  difficult  for  the  ** Mother" 
church  to  see  the  necessity  for  another  religious  organization  in 
town,  and  some  friction  arose  at  first,  which  happily  disappeared 
as  time  went  on,  and  the  older  residents  realized  that  new  gen- 
erations had  new  ideas  and  new  aims,  and  that,  as  there  was 
no  longer  any  need  for  strenuous  exertion  in  obtaining  a  liveli- 
hood, so  the  later  generations  had  come  to  desire  less  effort  in 
securing  their  spiritual  food.  A  ride  of  from  three  to  five 
miles  was  more  burdensome  to  them,  than  the  plodding  over 
fallen  trees  and  stony  paths  had  been  to  their  fathers  and 
mothers. 


i 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  223 

The  most  trying  ordeal  was  to  come  when  the  Congrega- 
tional church  at  South  Royalton  was  proposed.  On  Jan.  11, 
1868,  the  church  considered  a  letter  missive  signed  by  W.  C. 
Smith,  M.  S.  Adams,  and  J.  B.  Durkee  of  South  Royalton,  ask- 
ing the  propriety  of  organizing  a  Congregational  church  at  that 
place.  Deacon  Daniel  Riz  was  appointed  a  delegate,  and  in- 
structed ''to  use  his  influence  against  the  organization  of  a  Second 
Congregational  Church  in  town."  Loving  his  people,  as  Dr. 
Drake  did,  it  is  easy  to  understand  his  reluctance  in  consenting 
to  any  separation  of  the  members  of  his  flock.  In  his  centennial 
addr^  he  thus  refers  to  that  time:  ''No  mortal  can  tell  how 
sad  it  made  me,  when  a  new  village  became  inevitable,  and  pros- 
pective separation,  commercial  and  religious,  loomed  up. I 

utter  not  a  syllable  of  blame,  but  allow  an  old  man  to  mourn 
over  the  loss  of  half  his  former  parish,  every  farmhouse  of  which 
was  endeared  to  him  by  touching  associations."  Dr.  Drake 
was  too  kindly  a  man,  too  great-hearted,  too  true  a  Christian 
not  to  give  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  to  the  new  church  when 
it  was  once  established,  and  the  old  and  the  new  have  lived  side 
by  side,  as  it  were,  in  amity,  often  working  together  in  the  em- 
ployment of  one  pastor,  when  circumstances  required  it. 

Two  votes  passed  by  the  church  in  1788  are  worthy  of  men- 
tion. One  passed  January  9th  was,  "Voted  that  this  Church 
Do  view  frolicking  fidling  and  Dancing  or  allowing  of  it  in  any 
of  their  houses  to  be  a  violation  of  the  gospel  Rule  and  a  breach 
of  Church  Covenant  in  any  of  its  members,  and  this  Church  Do 
bear  testimony  against  the  same  and  without  gospel  Satisfac- 
tion each  and  every  transgressor  shall  be  Debarred  Church  Priv- 
ileges." The  other  was  passed  April  16:  "Voted  that  the 
Power  of  Discipline  is  in  the  Church  only  and  Not  in  a  Counsel." 
Could  there  be  a  greater  contrast?  By  the  first  they  strictly 
prohibit  liberty  of  conscience  in  their  members,  and  by  the  other, 
stoutly  maintain  their  liberty  of  action  in  spite  of  councils. 

It  was  the  policy  of  the  early  church  to  look  closely  after 
non-attendants,  and  to  encourage  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath. 
The  various  auxiliaries  of  the  church  also  have  always  received 
prayerful  attention.  The  Sabbath  School  dates  back  to  1818, 
when  the  Rev.  Joseph  Tracy,  D.  D.,  then  principal  of  Royalton 
Academy,  efl!ected  an  organization.  It  was  held  at  nine  o'clock 
on  Sabbath  mornings  in  the  academy  on  the  common  opposite 
the  church.  Only  children  and  youth  attended  it,  and  they 
marched  in  procession  from  the  academy  to  the  meeting-house, 
and  when  the  first  one  set  foot  in  the  church,  the  last  was  leaving 
the  academy.  ' '  They  had  children  in  those  days,  and  they  went 
to  the  house  of  Gk)d,"  says  Dr.  Drake.  If  any  separate  records 
of  the  Sabbath  School  were  kept,  they  are  not  Imown  to  exist 


224  History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont 

today.  The  first  church  record  relating  to  it  is  dated  Feb.  9, 
1840,  when  the  church  resolved  itself  into  '"The  Boyalton  Sab- 
bath School  Society,"  and  adopted  a  constitution,  which  pro- 
vided for  visiting  families,  procuring  teachers,  furnishing  books, 
and  assisting  the  Superintendent. 

There  was  a  movement  in  1876  toward  widening  the  in- 
fluence of  the  Sunday  School.  Dr.  Drake  had  in  his  early  pas- 
torate held  meetings  in  the  outlying  districts  of  the  town.  He 
had  come  into  close  S3anpathy  with  the  people  all  over  the  town, 
and  understood  their  limitations  and  needs.  This  year  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  composed  of  John  Wild  and  Isaac  Skinner 
to  confer  with  a  committee  from  the  South  Boyalton  church,  to 
see  if  it  was  advisable  to  organize  Sabbath  Schools  in  the  out 
districts  of  the  town.  If  these  were  to  be  independent  of  each 
other  and  the  parent  church,  that  would  be  an  idea  differing 
from  that  of  Dr.  Duncan,  who,  in  1880,  started  the  Home  Class 
Sunday  School,  which  was  practically  a  sub-Sunday  School  like 
sub-libraries.  The  Home  Department  of  the  Sunday  School  had 
its  origin  in  Boyalton.  While  Dr.  Dike  was  living  here  late  in 
1884  he  conceived  the  idea  of  the  Home  Department,  suggested 
it  in  the  Vermont  Chronicle  of  January  9, 1885,  and  to  the  Con- 
gregational S.  S.  and  Publishing  Society  a  little  later,  and  with 
the  hearty  co-operation  of  the  Bev.  Elisha  S.  Fiske,  his  successor, 
and  of  the  Boyalton  people,  the  first  Home  Department  of  the 
thousands  that  have  since  come  into  being  was  organized,  and 
speedily  grew  to  a  membership  of  sixty.  Unfortunately,  Mr. 
Fiske 's  successor  did  not  see  his  way  to  continue  it,  and  it  was 
permitted  for  some  years  to  drop  into  disuse.  In  this  way 
it  missed  a  fame  similar  to  that  of  the  first  Christian  Endeavor 
Society  in  Portland,  Maine. 

In  1855  the  Sunday  School  had  a  July  4th  celebration,  with 
tables  of  entertainment,  a  band  of  music,  and  addresses.  Some 
neighboring  schools  joined  with  them.  In  more  recent  years 
these  picnics  occur  almost  yearly.  The  present  Sunday  School 
under  the  able  leadership  of  Mrs.  Gleorge  Laird  has  an  excellent 
record  for  comparatively  large  and  regular  attendance,  and  from 
its  ranks  a  goodly  number  have  been  added  to  the  church. 
Deacon  John  Wild  served  long  and  faithfully  as  its  superin- 
tendent, until  the  weight  of  years  compelled  him  to  resign.  For 
several  years  it  has  maintained  a  thriving  Home  Department 
under  the  care  of  Bev.  Levi  Wild. 

The  church  has  been  progressive,  and  bold  in  its  stand  for 
the  right.  It  early  discouraged  civil  suits  between  members, 
and  strove  to  have  disputes  settled  through  the  good  offices  of 
the  church.  It  was  foremost  in  the  advocacy  of  temperance, 
and  made  a  vigorous  campaign  against  the  habitual  use  of  in- 


History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont  225 

• 

toxicants  as  early  as  1827.  During  its  first  decade  it  disciplined 
its  members  for  intoxication,  but  looked  with  a  lenient  eye  upon 
a  moderate  use  of  alcoholic  beverages.  It  was  members  of  the 
church  who  drew  up  the  first  temperance  pledge  ever  circulated 
in  the  town,  and  one  of  its  deacons  made  a  house  to  house  can- 
vass with  it,  and  is  said  to  have  made  the  first  temperance  ad- 
dress ever  heard  in  town.  It  was  a  long  stride  from  the  time 
i^hen  a  respected  pastor  is  said  to  have  become  dozy  over  his  cups, 
to  the  time  when  tippling  came  to  be  considered  disreputable. 

Fifteen  years  before  the  slaveholders  fired  their  guns  at 
Port  Sumter  the  church  recorded,  **  Resolved  that  we  will  hear 
our  minister  or  any  whom  we  shall  see  fit  to  invite  to  address 
us  on  the  subject  of  slavery  on  the  Sabbath  once  or  twice  a 
year."  A  lively  sentiment  in  opposition  to  this  blot  upon  our 
nation's  fame  was  awakened  in  the  town,  and  several  families 
lent  their  aid  to  the  operation  of  the  ** Underground  Railroad." 
A  number  of  bondmen  and  women  found  their  way  to  Canada 
through  the  kind  offices  of  citizens  of  Royalton,  acting,  as  they 
thought,  in  accord  with  righteousness. 

There  are  three  precious,  old,  worn  pamphlets  of  the  orig- 
inal records  of  the  church,  dating  from  August  26,  1778,  to 
March  27,  1790,  with  many  omissions  between  dates.  There  is 
no  entry  from  December  30,  1779,  to  June  2,  1782.  The  three 
entries  in  the  years  1778  and  1779  were  probably  entered  after 
the  reorganization  of  the  church  in  1782.  One  of  these  pamph- 
lets contains  the  *'Pour  Rules,"  ** Confession  of  Faith,"  and 
"Covenant"  of  the  church.  These  are  here  given  exactly  as 
they  stand  on  the  original  record: 

"To  open  the  way  for  the  advaiicement  of  Christ  Church  in  this 
town,  and  for  the  satisfaction  of  those  who  desire  to  Join  us  being 
friendly  to  the  same  Cause,  we  hereby  Declare  it  to  be  our  view 

1  That  the  Visible  Church  of  Christ  in  a  town  is  a  body  made 
up  of  Visible  Christians  in  that  town  united  together  in  solemn 
Covenant  to  walk  together  in  all  the  ordinances  of  the  Lord  as  De- 
ciples  and  followers  of  Christ 

2  That  Christian  fruit  Contained  in  Love  to  God  good  will  to  men, 
manifested  hy  an  answerable  Life  and  Conversation  is  the  Proper 
ground  of  Christian  Charity  and  what  we  Look  upon  as  the  Requisite 
Qualification  for  our  fellowship  one  with  another,  in  the  ordinances 
of  Christ  house. 

3  That  the  manner  of  admitting  members  into  the  Church  untill 
such  time  as  we  shall  have  a  gospel  minister  settled  among  us  shall 
be  by  such  Persons  manifesting  their  Desire  to  Join  to  the  Church 
to  the  moderator  of  the  Church,  the  moderator  then  to  Notify  the 
Church  of  their  Desire,  and  the  Church  to  appoint  such  time  as  they 
shall  think  Convenient  to  meet  together  for  a  free  Christian  Confer- 
ence with  such  Person  or  Persons  that  they  may  obtain  mutual  satis- 
faction of  his  meetness  for  a  member  of  their  Community. 

That  a  Perticular  Relation  of  Bxperiences  is  not  to  be  made  a 
term,  but  fruit  evidential  of  real  Christianity  to  be  viewed  as  sufficient 

15 


S26  History  of  Boyalton,  Vebicont 

4  that  the  following  ConfeBsion  of  faith  and  Coreiiaiit  whidi  we 
adopt  and  will  make  use  of  in  future  Practice  shall  be  PropoQiided 
to  them  by  some  neighboring  Minister  or  the  moderator  of  the  Church 
in  a  Publick  assembly  for  Divine  worship  in  this  Place;  to  which  tbsj 
giving  their  Assent  shall  be  Received  as  members  of  thia  Ghnrch. 

THB  0ONFE8SIOK  OF  FAITH 

1  you  believe  there  is  one  god  and  but  one  snbalstliig  In  three 
Persons  Father  son  holy  Ghost  by  whom  the  world  with  all  Its  In- 
habitants was  made 

2  You  believe  the  scriptures  of  the  old  and  New  teatament  to 
/(S  C    be  Divine  Revelation  from  God  a  Pure  system  of  Doctrine  which  we 

are  bound  to  believe  and  a  perfect  Rule  of  Practice  according  to  wUA 
we  are  bound  to  walk. 

3  you  believe  that  god  made  Bfan  originally  uprii^t  In  his  own 


'i^-^ 


z'- 1  -. 


K 


\ 


4  you  believe  that  our  first  Parents  fell  into  a  state  of  aln  and 
\f.r\        that  all  their  Posterity  Come  into  the  world  in  a  state  of  Total  De- 

^  pravity  and  Ruin  fiSQ^TTfH 

5  You  believe  the  Necessity  of  Regeneration  of  being  bom  of    v\£ 
the  Spirit  and  becoming  holy  in  order  to  see  the  Kingdom  of  God.  \'^^ 

6  you  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  son  of  God  that  he  Came 
into  the  world  Died  to  Save  Sinners  and  Rose  again  for  oar  Joatifyca- 
tion 

7  you  believe  that  god  according  to  the  Dictates  of  hia  Infinite 
wisdom  has  Elected  Some  to  E^rerlasting  Life  and  LeaTss  othen  to 
work  out  their  own  Damnation  by  Sin — 

"^  S    you  believe  the  Resurrection  of  the  Dead  and  EStemnl  jQdg> 

ment  that  Christ  will  at  the  Last  Day  appear  in  glory  with  hla  bely 

Angels  gather  all  Nations  before  him  will  Judge  and  Reward  Bfery 

^  <>j    one  in  that  Day  according  to  their  works  the  wicked  he  will  send 

'  L.^  away  into  Everlasting  Punishment^  and  Receive  the  Righteoos  Into 
Life  Eternal 

THE   COVENANT 

You  do  now  so  far  as  you  do  know  your  own  heart  in  the  Presence 
of  god  angels  as  men  give  up  yourself  and  your  all  to  god  in  an  Ever- 
lasting Covenant,  most  heartily  takeing  god  to  be  your  god  hia  word 
to  be  your  Direction,  his  Law  for  your  guide  and  Rule,  his  son  Jens 
Christ  for  your  mediator  and  Saviour,  and  the  holy  Ghost  for  yoor 
sanctifier 

You  solemnly  engage  to  walk  in  all  his  ordinances  as  becomes  a 
Deciple  and  Follower  of  Christ  to  sanctify  his  Sabbaths  Reverence  his 
Sanctuaries,  attend  and  Join  in  his  Worship  from  time  to  time  as  he 
in  his  Providence  Shall  give  you  opportunity  Maintain  the  worship 
of  God  in  your  family  at  all  Proper  seasons  especially  morning  and 
evening.  Counsel  and  instruct  your  Children  and  all  who  are  under 
you  to  keep  the  way  of  the  Lord. 

You  solemnly  Covenant  to  walk  in  Fellowship  with  this  Church 
in  the  fear  of  god  and  as  an  Heir  of  the  grace  of  Life,  to  Live  In  Lote 
as  Christ  himself  hath  Loved  you  and  behave  in  all  Respects  towards 
your  Brethren  and  towards  all  mankind  as  Becometh  a  real  Chriatiaa 
and  Saint,    this  you  Covenant  with  God  and  this  Church' 


>•• 


The  foregroing  is  undated,  but  is  immediately  followed  by 
the  renewal  of  covenant  of  the  eight  members  on  June  2,  1782. 
When  this  was  copied  into  the  first  bound  book  of  records  it 
was  headed.  **Aug.  12,  1783/*  but  there  is  no  record  of  the 


HiSTOBY  OP  Boy  ALTON,  Vermont  227 

church  taking  any  such  action  on  that  date.  It  held  a  meeting 
of  that  date  for  the  calling  of  Mr.  Searle. 

The  Confession  of  Faith  does  not  differ  materially  from 
that  of  other  orthodox  churches  of  the  day.  Its  rigidity  of 
doctrine  probably  kept  many  out  of  the  church,  but  it  was 
modified  from  time  to  time  as  more  liberal  and  intelligent  ideas 
prevailed. 

Prom  1795  onward  for  half  a  century  the  church  was 
struggling  against  the  ''new  lights."  A  few  of  its  members 
were  especiaUy  active  in  entering  complaints  against  offending 
brothers  and  sisters,  who  had  so  far  fallen  from  grace  and  sound 
orthodoxy,  as  to  believe  in  the  final  redemption  of  all  men.  jrj^  S 
Heretic43,  they  were  sometimes  called.    If  the  offending  mem-  '  ^^ 

ber  persisted  in  his  belief  after  he  had  been  labored  with  by  a 
committee,  and  had  been  cited  to  appear  before  the  church,  and 
letters  of  admonition  had  been  sent  him,  either  a  council  was 
ealled  or  he  was  excommunicated. 

Some  of  the  best  Christians  were  thus  turned  out  in  the 
cold,  and  in  one  or  two  instances  of  suspension,  died  while  there 
was  a  ban  on  them.  Weak  sisters  whose  sharp  tongues  had  led 
them  astray,  were  called  to  account  by  a  zealous  deacon,  and  re- 
quired to  confess  and  bury  the  hatchet.  Wo  betide  the  man 
who  tried  to  save  a  penny  by  working  on  Sunday.  Gkx>d  old 
Deacon  Joseph  Parkhurst  was  complained  of,  because  he  had 
driven  his  cattle  on  the  Sabbath  Day.  With  tears  in  his  eyes 
he  confessed  that  he  had  started  out  on  Saturday  with  some  cat- 
tle, and  not  being  able  to  reach  his  destination,  and  not  feeling 
that  he  could  be  to  the  expense  of  staying  .over  Sunday,  he  had 
driven  on.    He  asked  their  forgiveness,  which  was  granted. 

The  effort,  which  was  apparently  genuine  in  most  cases  of 
discipline,  to  secure  the  reform  of  the  individual,  and  not  his 
punishment  simply,  and  the  spirit  of  love  generally  manifested 
toward  an  offender,  are  worthy  of  all  commendation.  The  fol- 
lowing excerpt  from  Dr.  Drake's  address,  relating  to  some 
troublesome  cases  of  discipline  in  the  early  church,  will  give  the 
reader  a  better  idea  of  the  church  problems  of  that  day  than 
the  writer  can  possibly  give. 

''The  church  has  asked  aid  of  councils  in  maintaining  its 
discipline  three  times  in  the  century.  The  first  case  was  a  long 
difference  between  two  brethren,  which  the  church  itself  settled 
in  1799,  after  the  trouble  of  a  council,  by  passing  a  resolution 
of  mutual  confession,  forgiveness  and  love.  The  second  case 
was  passed  upon  by  two  councils,  one  in  1815,  on  which  was 
Bev.  Lemuel  Haynes,  the  widely  known  colored  preacher,  and 
another  in  1817,  on  which  was  Dr.  Merrill  of  Middlebury.  It 
related  to  the  orthodoxy  of  one  of  the  deacons.    He  was  new 


228  History  of  Boyalton,  Vebmont 

school,  while  the  majority  of  the  church  were  old  school,  in 
theology.  The  difference  was  like  that  involved  in  the  trials 
of  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  and  Albert  Barnes  before  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  but  unlike  in  results,  the 
latter  produced  disruption,  while  the  former  by  forbearance 
led  to  harmony,  and  the  good  deacon  was  in  full  fellowship  up 
to  his  death. 

The  third  case  was  when  the  church,  having  given  its  ver- 
dict on  a  trial,  afterwards  the  major  part  of  them  became  con- 
vinced that  it  had  judged  wrongly,  that  it  should  not  have  ac- 
quitted the  accused.  Then  the  question  was,  should  the  case 
be  retried.  To  do  it,  would  be  contrary  to  the  general  judicial 
rule.  And  so  it  was  not  done,  but  many  of  the  members  per- 
sisted in  confessing  that  they  voted  wrongly  when  the  case  was 
tried;  and  then  a  resolution  was  passed  by  a  strong  majority, 
that  their  decision  at  the  time  of  the  trial  was  wrong.  In  1860 
a  council  decided  that  such  cases  should  not  be  retried.  But 
some  thought,  and  still  think,  that  while  this  is  general,  it  should 
not  be  the  universal  rule.  And  probably  the  case  in  hand  was 
an  exception,  where  a  mere  rule  should  not  have  kept  the  church 
from  correcting  a  confessed  and  obvious  wrong.'' 

The  church  reached  out  a  helping  hand  to  the  needy  of  its 
flock.  In  1800  it  voted  that  "the  Church  will  hold  an  annual 
meeting,  at  which  the  necessities  of  any  needy  brothers  shall  be 
considered  &  their  needs  supplied  by  the  Church,  according  to 
their  judgment  &  direction,  by  an  equality  on  the  whole  body, 
according  to  what  they  possess,  regulated  by  their  annual  list.'' 

Some  changes  in  the  observances  of  the  church  are  noted  by 
Dr.  Drake.  **In  December,  1842,  the  time  of  the  monthly  con- 
cert was  changed  by  vote  of  the  church,  from  Monday  to  Sab- 
bath evening.  The  church  also  voted  May,  1842,  to  maintain 
bi-weekly  a  meeting  for  prayer  and  business,  and  it  was  regularly 
held  for  nearly  thirty-five  years,  but  it  was  changed,  January, 
1877,  to  a  monthly  meeting.  In  the  summer  of  1875,  it  was 
voted  by  the  church  to  suspend  the  afternoon  meeting  on  the 
Sabbath  until  otherwise  ordered,  and  it  has  been  since  sus- 
pended." For  many  years  a  weekly  prayer  meeting  has  been 
held.  Since  college  students  have  been  supplying  the  pulpit, 
the  prayer  meeting  is  held  on  Sabbath  evening,  and  the  mid- 
week meeting  is  conducted  by  the  Christian  Endeavor  Society. 

The  Congregational  church  has  always  stood  for  simple 
forms  of  service.  The  earliest  deacons  were  elected,  and  be- 
gan their  service,  so  far  as  can  be  learned,  without  any  cere- 
mony. Their  office  was  an  important  one,  more  so  then  than 
now,  for  when  the  church  failed  of  a  pastor,  it  was  their  duty 
to  lead  in  the  church  service  and  to  preside  at  church  meetings. 


HiSTOBT  OF  BOTALTON,  VERMONT 


239 


To  give  greater  sanctity  to  the  office  it  was  voted  July  1,  1806, 
that  their  deacons  should  be  ordained,  and  October  21st  was  set 
as  the  day  for  this  purpose.  A  council  was  called  almost  as 
large  as  for  the  instdlation  of  a  pastor.  The  council  met,  but 
the  rite  was  not  performed  ''on  account  of  doubts  in  ye  minds  of 
some  of  ye  council  respecting  the  rite."  Nothing  more  is  heard 
of  ordaining  deacons  until  1833.  Bev.  A.  C.  Washburn  secured 
a  set  of  resolutions  emphasizing  the  need  of  prayerful  selection 
of  deacons,  their  duties,  their  fitness  to  act  as  leaders,  and  the 
necessity  of  their  being  ordained.  The  next  deacons  elected 
were  Joseph  Parkhurst  and  John  S.  Storrs,  who  were  ordained 
August  30,  with  Dea.  Joiner  and  Dea.  Kinney. 

The  following  table  shows  the  deacons  who  have  held  office 
since  the  organization  of  the  church  so  far  as  records  indicate : 
Israel  Waller,        elected    1783 ;  joined  the  Baptists  about  1791. 


Daniel  lUz,                 ' 

'         1787 ; 

,  resigned  1815. 

David  Fish, 

1788  i 

died  1795. 

Daniel  Tnllar,            ' 

1795 ; 

died  1833. 

Ebenezer  Dewey,        ' 

1795; 

died  1820. 

Bodolphus  Dewey,      ' 

1815 ; 

,  died  1839. 

Jaeob  flafford,            ' 

1815 ; 

,  died  1829. 

Salmon  Joiner,           ' 

1829  i 

,  died  1854. 

Jcmathan  Euiney,      ' 

1829  i 

,  died  1851. 

Joseph  Parkhnrst,      ' 

1833  i 

removed  1840. 

John  S.  Storrs,           ' 

1833; 

removed  1842. 

Sylvanus  Bates,          ' 

1842 ; 

removed  1845. 

Archibald  Kent,          ' 

1842 ; 

died  1849. 

Bodolphiifl  K.  Dewey,  ' 

1849 ; 

died  1864. 

Simeon  Nott,              ' 

1855 ; 

removed  1860. 

Asahel  Clark,             ' 

1860; 

died  1884. 

Daniel  Bix,  jr.,          ' 

1860 ; 

died  1877. 

-rJohn  Wild, 

~» Seymour  Culver,         ' 

1878 ; 
1886 ; 

living.-^'     '•  ^^.y 
living. 

Elba  A.  Corbin,          ' 

1892 ; 

Henry  W.  Dutton,      ' 

1910; 

living. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  January,  1901,  three  deaconesses 
were  chosen,  Mrs.  George  Laird,  Mrs.  Seymour  Culver,  Mrs. 
Henry  W.  Dutton,  who  held  the  office  until  1908,  when  Mrs. 
Joel  F.  Whitney,  Mrs.  Luke  Kendall,  and  Mrs.  Levi  Wild  were 
elected.  For  1911  the  deaconesses  are  Mrs.  George  Waterman, 
Miss  Mary  Whitney,  and  Mrs.  E.  S.  Kendall. 

The  mission  spirit  of  the  church  was  stimulated  in  the 
1830 's  by  the  preaching  of  Rev.  A.  C.  Washburn  and  by  the 
eonaecration  of  one  of  its  members  to  mission  work  in  a  foreign 
field.  At  the  Centennial  Hon.  Frederick  Billings  referred  to 
this  event  in  the  history  of  the  church  in  the  following  words: 


230  History  of  Boyalton,  Vebmont 

''I  was  only  eight  years  old  when,  in  1831,  David  Belden  Lyman, 
a  young  man  just  out  of  Andover,  going  to  the  then  far-off,  far- 
off  Sandwich  Islands,  and  in  search  of  a  wife,  appeared  here 
and  proposed  to  one  of  tiie  deacon's  daughters,  Sarah  Joiner. 
What  a  commotion  there  was  in  the  church!  To  go  to  those 
far-off  islands,  associated  with  Capt.  Cook  and  Cannibals,  was 
to  depart  never  to  return,  and,  so  solemn  was  the  question,  the 
church  came  together  and  discussed  and  prayed  over  it  before 
Mr.  Lyman  gained  his  suit.  She  was  my  school  teacher  and  had 
to  discipline  me  because,  no  doubt,  I  was  a  mischievous  boy, 
and  so  I  was  in  favor  of  her  accepting  Mr.  Lyman,  and  prayed 
in  my  young  heart  to  the  Lord,  that  she  might  go,  and,  when 
she  got  there,  that  the  Cannibals  would  eat  her  up !  Dear,  good 
Mrs.  Lyman!  That  I  ever  should  have  had  such  a  wish  for 
her!  But  I  trust  that  she  long  since  forgave  me,  for  she  sent 
loving  messages  to  me  when  I  lived  in  California.''  Some  ac^ 
count  of  the  work  of  Mrs.  Lyman  and  her  husband  will  be  found 
in  the  family  record  of  the  Joiners. 

For  many  years  the  mission  collections  have  been  divided 
among  several  missionary  organizations.  In  1882  the  benevolent 
collections  amounted  to  $483.15.  Since  1880  the  church  has 
contributed  for  benevolent  purposes  over  $1,200.  For  a  coun- 
try church  with  a  membership  averaging  not  over  seventy  this 
is  a  very  good  showing.  The  Sarah  Skinner  Memorial  Society 
is  the  Woman's  missionary  organization  of  the  church.  It 
was  formed  soon  after  the  death  of  Mass  Sarah  Skinner  in  1888, 
and  was  named  to  honor  the  memory  of  this  beloved  member 
of  the  church,  who  was  interested  in  everything  pertaining  to 
the  missionary  cause.  The  work  of  the  society  has  been  along 
the  lines  employed  by  similar  organizations.  Several  barrela 
of  clothing  have  been  sent  to  missions,  meetings  have  been  held 
for  mission  study,  and  no  inconsiderable  sum  of  money  has  been 
sent  from  year  to  year  to  the  Vermont  Branch  of  the  Woman's 
Board  and  the  Vermont  Woman's  Home  Missionary  Union. 

From  1889  to  1898  a  Ladies'  Aid  Society  was  actively  at 
work  in  the  church.  Under  the  auspices  of  this  society  enter- 
tainments and  socials  were  held.  When  the  church  was  re- 
paired in  1890  the  society  furnished  new  carpets  for  church  and 
vestry.  Later  it  bought  an  organ  for  the  vestry,  gave  sub- 
stantial aid  to  the  choir,  and  contributed  toward  the  supx>ort 
of  preaching.  In  1898  the  work  of  this  society  was  transferred 
to  the  social  committee  of  the  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E. 

A  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  was  or- 
ganized Dec.  7,  1885,  through  the  efforts  of  Rev.  A.  I.  Dutton 
and  his  wife.  For  two  years  the  work  of  the  society  was  ac- 
tively carried  on,  and  then  it  was  discontinued  until  Nov.  27, 


i 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  231 

1891,  from  which  date  meetings  were  regularly  held  until 
August  of  the  following  year,  when  the  society  ceased  to  exist. 
A  new  society  was  organized  Oct.  5,  1894,  which  has  continued 
its  work  without  interruption  to  the  present  time.  Several 
members  of  the  church  have  been  received  from  the  society,  it 
has  been  active  in  home  benevolence,  in  giving  aid  to  the  Sun- 
day School,  and  in  the  social  life  of  the  community.  It  has 
contributed  to  both  home  and  foreign  missions,  to  the  support 
of  preaching,  and  very  largely  to  the  expense  of  repairing  the 
church  in  1905-6. 

Dr.  Drake  is  authority  for  the  statement  that  on  Feb.  6, 
1793,  the  church  ''voted  that  the  deacons  purchase  two  tankards, 
six  pint  cups,  two  platters,  one  basin.  Voted  Amasa  Dutton  be 
a  committee  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  grain  to  pay  for  the 
above  vessels,  in  Dea.  Bix's  absence."  This  communion  set 
was  used  by  the  church  until  March,  1874,  when  a  new  set  was 
purchased,  which  was  discarded  about  nine  years  ago  for  indi- 
vidual service.  One  of  the  original  pint  cups  is  shown  in  a  cut 
of  relics.  The  two  communion  plates  now  in  use  were  presented 
to  the  church  by  Mrs.  William  Rix,  June  23,  1901.  In  1892, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  W.  Eenney  presented  the  church  with  a  com- 
monion  table,  and  Miss  Alice  Denison  with  a  Bible,  in  memory 
of  her  mother,  Mrs.  Eliza  Skinner  Denison.  In  1895  Mrs.  Ly- 
man S.  Hayes  gave  a  set  of  pulpit  chairs,  and  Mrs.  William  Bix 
a  i>air  of  hanging  lamps. 

From  the  beginning  considerable  attention  was  paid  to 
music  in  their  church  services.  Choristers  were  elected  annually 
in  the  town  meetings  in  the  early  days.  Later,  after  the  town 
ceased  to  hire  the  minister,  this  matter  was  left  to  some  officer 
of  the  church.  Mr.  Hebard  and  Mr.  Day  are  the  first  recorded 
**coresters."  Alden  Noble  is  said  to  have  led  the  choir,  and 
Mrs.  Eliza  Skinner  Denison,  and  in  more  recent  years  D.  C. 
Woodward,  and  Henry  Dutton,  also  E.  A.  Thacher,  and  Mrs. 
QeoTge  Laird.  It  was  a  considerable  period  of  years  between 
the  time  when  the  church  condemned  using  a  fiddle  in  the  home 
and  the  day  when  bass  viols  and  flutes  were  heard  in  their  serv- 
ices. Martin  Skinner  played  the  bass  viol  for  many  years. 
Asahel  Nash  was  chorister  and  singing  master  in  early  days. 

The  date  of  the  purchase  of  the  first  melodeon  has  not  been 
ascertained,  but  it  was  not  far  from  1860.  In  1862  an  organ 
was  obtained  on  trial,  and  set  up  on  a  platform  over  some  of  the 
pews,  there  to  remain  until  they  decided  to  buy  it.  What  the 
effect  of  the  music  was  when  the  organ  was  perched  on  its  tem- 
porary scaffolding,  organ  to  the  rear  of  them,  choir  in  front  of 
them,  as  they  stood  facing  the  gallery,  can  only  be  imagined. 
The  first  organ  was  played  by  Miss  Maria  Skinner,  daughter  of 


L 


232  HistOby  of  Boyalton,  Vebmont 

William  Skinner.  Mrs.  D.  C.  Woodward,  Mrs.  Emma  Corbin, 
and  Mrs.  Emma  Bement  Culver  have  been  organists  for  con- 
siderable periods  of  time.  The  present  organist  is  Miss  Mary 
Whitney. 

Although  singing  schools  had  been  held  from  time  to  time, 
the  church  took  the  initiative  in  1850,  and  again  in  1853.  Dur- 
ing all  the  years  of  its  existence  it  does  not  seem  to  have  lacked 
for  the  necessary  talent  to  make  its  regular  services  attractive 
and  inspiring  through  songs  of  praise  rendered  by  a  faithful  and 
excellent  choir. 

After  the  town  ceased  to  have  a  part  in  the  calling  and 
paying  of  the  pastor,  the  Society  looked  after  the  financitd  con- 
dition of  the  church.  Their  early  records,  if  any  were  kept 
separate  from  those  of  the  church,  have  been  lost.  In  1858, 
May  29,  the  society,  called  The  First  Congregational  Society 
in  Boyalton,  was  organized  and  a  constitution  adopted.  It 
seems  to  have  been  resuscitated  in  1863,  and  again  in  1879. 
After  the  creation  of  the  fund  of  $5,000,  greater  responsibility 
rested  upon  it,  and  new  regulations  regarding  loans  were  made. 
A  majority  of  the  trustees  decide  in  the  making  of  loans.  The 
fund  has  been  reduced  somewhat  through  unfortunate  invest- 
ments, but  it  has  proved,  and  still  proves,  a  valuable  aid  in  the 
support  of  preachmg.  Mrs.  Henry  W.  Dutton  has  been  the  sec- 
retary of  the  society  since  1902. 

The  Boyalton  Parsonage  Association  was  organized  April 
9,  1856.  The  next  day  the  trustees,  Daniel  Bix,  Martin  T.  Skin- 
ner, and  Calvin  Skinner,  bought  of  Darius  Skinner  the  Dr. 
Bichard  Bloss  residence  for  use  as  a  parsonage.  Dr.  Drake 
occupied  it  for  sixteen  years.  The  trustees  by  the  vote 
of  the  shareholders  sold  the  property,  Nov.  9,  1872,  to  Mrs. 
Eatherine  Bix  Skinner.  These  shareholders  were  obtained 
by  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Bix  and  Martin  Skinner,  who  went  around 
with  subscription  papers.  Some  of  the  known  shareholders 
were  (George  Bradistreet,  Stillman  Smith,  Franklin  Joiner, 
Messrs.  Burbank  and  Harvey,  also  Asahel  Clark,  and  Heman 
Durkee.  In  Mr.  Durkee's  will  he  bequeathed  his  shares  to  the 
Congregational  Society,  to  be  expended  annually  for  "preach- 
ing of  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  If  the  parsonage 
was  sold  the  avails  were  to  be  divided  between  the  children  of 
his  daughter  Emily.  The  church  has  had  no  parsonage  since 
the  sale  of  this  one. 

ROYALTON  ASSOCIATION. 

The  date  of  the  organization  of  the  Boyalton  Association  of 
ministers,  the  place,  and  circumstances  attending  such  organ- 
ization, have  not  been  learned.    The  first  mention  of  it  thus 


HiSTOBY  OF  BOTALTON,  VERMONT  233 

far  found  is  in  the  minutes  of  a  convention  made  up  of  dele- 
gates from  the  '' Several  Bodies  of  Ministers  in  the  State  of  Ver- 
mont, convened  by  circular  letter  at  the  house  of  President 
Wheelock,  August  27,  1795."  There  were  present  Messrs.  Job 
Swift,  Samuel  Whiting,  Lyman  Potter,  Asa  Burton  and  Martin 
Tullar.  This  convention  planned  for  future  general  state  con- 
ventions, set  the  first  meeting  at  Rockingham  on  the  third  Tues- 
day of  the  next  June,  and  left  the  choice  of  a  preacher  to  the 
^'Koyalton  Association." 

This  record  makes  it  certain  that  the  Boyalton  Association 
was  in  existence  at  this  time,  and  still  another  record  proves 
that  it  had  had,  at  least,  one  meeting  before  this.  In  the  Royal- 
ton  church  records,  under  date  of  Sep.  9,  1795,  it  appears  that 
the  church  chose  three  deacons  to  attend  the  next  meeting  of 
th6  Boyalton  Association,  and  ask  their  advice  in  a  case  of  dis- 
cipline. The  church  possesses  records  of  the  doings  of  the 
Aflsoeiation  from  1803  to  1810  inclusive.  As  Mr.  Tullar  was  in- 
stmmental  in  the  organization  of  a  General  Convention  for 
Vermont,  it  is  not  unlikely  that  it  was  through  his  agency  that 
the  Boyalton  Association  was  formed,  and,  perhaps,  soon  after 
coming  to  Boyalton  in  1793. 

It  was  customary  to  have  a  public  lecture  at  their  meet- 
ings, and  to  discuss  questions  of  doctrine  and  polity,  and  to 
angn  a  text  for  members  to  write  upon  and  read  at  the  next 
meeting.  Bemarks  were  made  upon  these  sermons,  perhaps  in 
the  nature  of  criticism.  Later  the  sessions  extended  over  two 
days,  and  candidates  were  examined  for  the  ministry,  and  min- 
isters already  ordained  were  given  a  standing  on  request.  The 
attendance  upon  these  gatherings  varied  greatly.  The  meet- 
ings were  usually  held  three  times  a  year,  in  the  first  months, 
June,  and  in  the  fall.  On  Oct.  18,  1803,  the  Association  met 
at  the  house  of  Bev.  Martin  Tullar  in  Boyalton.  Four  min- 
isters were  present,  Jos^h  Bowman  of  Barnard,  Mr.  Tullar, 
Lathrop  Thompson  of  CnelseaT  and  Elijah  Lyman  of  Brookfield. 
Bev.  Samuel  Cheever  of  Hartland  being  present  was  invited 
to  sit  with  them.  They  discussed  the  filling  of  vacancies  and 
other  matters. 

The  meeting  in  June,  1804,  was  at  Hartland,  at  Mr. 
Cheever 's  house.  The  same  persons  were  present.  They  de- 
cided that  each  member  should  spend  one  Sabbath  the  ensuing 
season  with  one  week  before  and  after,  by  consent  of  their  re- 
spective people,  in  missionary  labor.  Delegates  to  the  conven- 
tion to  be  held  in  Boyalton  the  next  September  were  appointed. 
In  Feb.,  1805,  they  met  at  the  house  of  Zaeharia  Perrin  in  Ber- 
lin. Three  candidates  were  present.  Mr.  Thompson  was  voted 
a  letter  of  recommendation  with  a  view  to  his  becoming  a  mis- 


234  HiSTOBT  OF  BOTALTON,  VERMONT 

sionary.  In  June  they  met  at  Waitsfield,  at  the  house  of  Bev. 
William  Salisbury.  Two  candidates,  Messrs.  Waldo  and  Nichols 
were  present.  They  met  next  in  Brookfield,  at  the  "dedication 
of  the  new  meeting-house."  In  October,  1806,  they  met  again 
in  Boyalton,  when  Samuel  Bascomb  of  Sharon,  and  Na&an 
Waldo  of  Williamstown  were  received  as  members. 

Though  the  membership  was  small,  the  Association  was 
progressive.  When  it  met  in  Brookfield,  Feb.  10,  1807,  they 
voted  to  send  a  committee  of  two  to  attend  the  next  meeting  of 
the  Orange  Association,  to  confer  with  them  regarding  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  religious  periodical  work,  also  the  formation  of  a 
missionary  society.  In  October  they  met  in  Waitsfield.  Only 
Messrs.  Waldo  and  Salisbury  were  present.  Mr.  Waldo 
preached  to  Mr.  Salisbury  sitting  comfortably  in  his  own  home 
as  scribe,  then  moderator  Waldo  and  the  scribe  arranged  for 
the  next  meeting.  There  was  a  large  attendance  at  the  meet- 
ing in  Bandolph,  June,  1808.  Bev.  Azel  Washburn,  Walter 
Chapin,  Chester  Wright,  and  Amos  Bingham  were  candidates. 
Mr.  Tullmr,  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  Convention  at  Windsor 
in  September,  was  desired  to  invite  the  Convention  to  meet  at 
his  home  the  next  year,  and  to  make  out  a  bill  of  expense,  which 
the  Association  would  pay.  In  1809  they  decided  the  order  of 
the  meetings  should  be  Barre,  Berlin,  Braintree,  Bochester, 
Barnard,  Sharon,  Boyalton,  Bandolph,  Brookfield,  Williamstown. 
At  one  of  their  sessions  in  1809  they  adjourned  to  meet  at  five 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  a  sure  proof  that  they  were  not  slothful 
in  business. 

In  1824  members  came  from  the  towns  of  Pittsfield,  Brook- 
field, Berlin,  Bandolph,  Sharon,  Montpelier,  Braintree,  Waits- 
field,  Bochester,  Barre,  and  Cabot.  In  1867  thirteen  towns  were 
represented.  As  years  went  on,  new  associations  were  formed, 
the  railroad  was  built,  and  for  other  reasons,  the  interest  in  this 
particular  association  seems  to  have  dwindled.  When  Bev.  Joel 
P.  Whitney  came  to  Boyalton  in  1902,  he  made  an  effort  to 
enliven  the  Association  and  increase  its  membership,  but  was 
met  with  indifference  explained,  no  doubt,  by  good  and  suf- 
ficient reasons.  He  states  that,  finally,  in  1906  the  membership 
had  fallen  to  six,  three  of  these  non-residents,  and  two  of  them 
aged  men  unable  to  attend  and  take  part  in  the  meetings.  A 
change  was  decided  upon  for  these  reasons:  **The  changes  so 
frequent,  the  inconvenience  of  getting  together  by  rail  without 
loss  of  time,  and  the  lack  of  enthusiastic  support  led  to  the 
merging  of  the  Association  with  the  White  Eiver."  This  was 
done  in  1906. 

It  seems  a  pity  that  an  Association  so  venerable,  and  that 
might  be  productive  of  so  much  good,  though  shorn  of  some  of 
its  powers  and  responsibilities,  should  die  through  lack  of  inter- 


HiSTOBT  OF  BOYALTON,  VERMONT  285 

est,  and  its  name  after  a  century  and  more  of  existence,  should 
disiappear  from  the  records  of  the  (General  Convention. 

OFFICERS  OF   THE   CHURCH  AND  SOCIETY. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  not  already  named  are, 
Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Emma  Bement  Culver;  Chorister, 
Mrs.  Clara  Dyer  Harvey ;  Assistant,  George  Waterman ;  Benevo- 
lence Committee,  Rev.  Levi  Wild  and  Mrs.  Culver;  Executive 
Committee  of  the  Society,  Bev.  Levi  Wild,  Chairman,  Edward 
A.  Daniels,  and  Mrs.  E.  S.  Kendall;  Treasurer,  Dea.  Elba  Cor- 
bin;  Collector,  George  Waterman. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


The  FmsT  Mebtino-Housb. 

Beference  has  already  been  made  to  the  fact  that  Sabbath 
services  in  town  were  held  for  a  number  of  years  in  private 
dwellings  or  bams.  With  the  increase  in  population  some  dif- 
ferent arrangement  was  demanded.  The  matter  came  up  at  a 
Freeman's  meeting  on  Dec.  30,  1779.  It  must  have  been  either 
formally  or  informally  discussed  before  this.  This  meeting 
contains  only  the  terse  record,  ''Voted  to  have  the  meeting 
house  stand  on  Lieut  Stevens  lot  on  the  river  road  above  his 
house."  Lieut.  Stevens  then  lived  on  what  in  later  years  has 
been  known  as  the  "Buck"  place,  now  owned  by  Mr.  Pierce. 
The  terrible  disaster  of  1780  must  have  rendered  naught  any 
elBFort  that  may  have  been  made  to  erect  a  house  there.  They 
still  had  in  view  this  location,  Mar.  20,  1781,  when  they  voted  to 
set  up  stocks  and  sign  post  at  the  ''meeting  house  building 
spot. ' ' 

The  next  month  was  to  change  all  their  plans  as  to  location. 
On  April  3,  1781,  Capt.  Ebenezer  Brewster  of  Dresden  (a  part 
of  Hanover),  gave  to  the  town  of  Eoyalton  a  portion  of  lot  46 
Dutch,  which  he  then  owned.  This  was  to  be  used  for  a  meet- 
ing-house lot  and  for  other  purposes.  The  deed  of  conveyance 
is  given  in  the  chapter  relating  to  "Town  Property."  At  that 
time  Dresden  considered  itself  an  independent  town  forming  a 
part  of  the  New  Hampshire  Orants,  and  Capt.  Brewster  prob- 
ably realized  the  advantage  it  would  be  to  him  to  have  on  his 
land  a  center  of  attraction  like  a  meeting-house.  Be  that  as  it 
may^  his  deed  was  one  meriting  the  thanks  of  all  citizens  of 
Boyalton,  past,  present,  and  future.  It  had  the  effect  of  de- 
ciding where  the  first  village  should  begin  to  grow.  At  the  time 
it  was  determined  to  build  a  house  on  the  lot  of  Lieut.  Stevens, 
he  was  probably  the  most  influential  man  in  the  settlement,  and 
no  doubt  would  offer  good  inducements  to  have  the  meeting- 
house located  near  him.  Capt.  Brewster  had  the  advantage  of 
location,  his  land  being  very  near  the  exact  center  of  the  town. 

The  inhabitants  of  Boyalton  had  a  hard  struggle  to  make 
a  living  and  to  start  afresh  after  their  homes  were  burned.  There 
were  bridges  to  build,  the  salary  of  a  minister  to  raise,  and  a 


HiSTOBY  OP  BOYALTON,  VERMONT  287 

house  to  be  provided  for  him.  It  is  not  strange,  then,  that 
nothing  is  said  of  a  meeting-honse  again  until  Jan.  6,  1784.  At 
this  meeting  they  ''Voted  and  Excepted  of  Lent  Lyons  Pro- 
posals to  Build  a  house  30  by  28  feet  for  the  use  of  the  town 
for  the  term  of  ten  years  &  Sd  Lyons  to  have  a  Good  Deed  of 
one  quarter  of  an  Acre  of  Land  of  the  meeting  house  Lott  North 
of  the  Road  &  a  Spot  of  ground  to  Set  Sd  house  on  and  Sd  Lyon 
to  Be  Released  Paying  town  taxes  two  years  Prom  Jany  6th 
1784  to  Jany  6th  1786." 

These  fathers  of  the  town  did  not  seem  to  consider  whether 
by  the  terms  of  Capt.  Brewster's  deed,  they  had  the  right  to 
deed  a  part  of  the  land  to  an  individual  or  not.  They  wanted 
a  meeting-house,  they  had  been  wanting  one  for  years,  and  here 
was  a  chance  to  get  it,  and  to  have  it  without  any  great  effort 
on  their  part,  so  they  accepted  Lieut.  Lyon's  offer.  They  chose 
Mr.  John  Hibbard,  Capt.  Joseph  Parkhurst,  and  Lieut.  Elias 
Stevens  a  committee  to  give  Lieut.  Lyon  a  deed  of  this  one  fourth 
acre,  and  to  take  a  bond  of  him  to  build  the  house  as  he  had 
offered  to  do.  In  their  surprise  and  enthusiasm  over  this  gen- 
erous offer  they  lost  sight  of  the  fact,  that  there  was  already 
recorded  the  action  of  the  town  in  locating  the  meeting-house 
on  Elias  Stevens'  land.  It  was  not  even  mentioned  at  a  sub- 
sequent meeting  on  Jan.  26,  but  some  one  soon  woke  from  this 
state  of  intoxication  over  the  prospect  of  having  a  meeting-house. 

When  they  gathered  again,  Feb.  16,  1784,  the  meeting  was 
devoted  almost  wholly  to  the  subject  of  a  meeting-house.  They 
met  at  Lieut.  Lyon's,  and  first  "recoled"  the  vote  of  1779 
establishing  the  house  on  Mr.  Stevens'  land,  and  then  estab- 
lished it  on  "Coll  Ebenezer  Brewsters  Lott  Neare  the  Center 
of  the  Town  on  the  west  side  of  the  River."  They  did  not  yet 
appear  to  have  come  into  possession  of  the  Brewster  deed,  for 
they  chose  Comfort  Sever  to  take  a  deed  of  Col.  Brewster  of  the 
land  on  which  to  set  the  house.  For  some  reason  they  voted 
that  Lieut.  Lyon  build  a  house  18  by  40  feet,  instead  of  30  by 
28  feet  as  originally  proposed,  giving  a  little  less  fioor  space, 
but  probably  better  suited  to  their  needs. 

Lieut.  Lyon  must  have  had  materials  already  on  hand,  and 
have  found  abundant  assistance,  for  in  the  following  June, 
when  they  met  at  his  house  to  discuss  bridges,  it  is  recorded  that 
they  adjourned  to  the  meeting-house  and  finished  their  busi- 
ness. We  can  imagine  the  satisfaction  and  pride  that  they 
must  have  felt,  after  gathering  so  long  in  private  dwellings,  as 
they  entered  a  real  meeting-house  once  more,  and  one  that  tiiey 
might  call  their  own.  It  could  not  have  been  fully  completed, 
but  they  would  not  be  in  a  critical  mood,  and  they  needed  no 
very  warm  protection  on  a  June  day.    Their  March  meeting, 


288  History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont 

1785,  was  held  in  the  meeting-house,  and  all  others  until  Feb. 
5,  1787,  when  for  some  reason  they  adjourned  to  Isaae  Skin- 
ner's. 

In  November  of  that  year  there  is  evidence  that  the  Iodk- 
desired  house  was  not  meeting  expectations.  Th^  chose  a  com- 
mittee of  three  to  '^Settel  with  Zebn  (they  do  not  say  Lieut,  this 
time)  Lyon  consaming  the  meeting  house  that  It  may  be  made 
comfortable  to  meet  in."  As  they  sat  or  stood  around  with  tihe 
November  winds  chattering  to  them  through  the  crackBy  wifli 
their  hands  in  their  pockets  to  keep  them  warm,  we  can  ftn^ 
that  the  gratitude  which  they  once  felt  towards  Lieat.  iQron 
was  fast  congealing. 

In  the  succeeding  two  years  the  house  evidently  did  not  im- 
prove as  a  winter  residence,  and  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  votera 
had  been  on  the  increase.  They  no  doubt  expressed  to  Lieut 
Lyon  their  discontent,  but  he  might  with  propriety  have  said 
to  them,  ''All  I  got  out  of  it  was  two  years'  taxes.  What  did 
you  expect,  anyway!  Qo  ahead,  and  build  one  youraelvea,  if 
you  can  do  any  better."  David  Fish,  Bradford  Kinney,  Com- 
fort Sever,  Ebenezer  Dewey,  Asa  Clark,  Daniel  Bix,  John  Km- 
ball,  Benjamin  Day,  and  Elias  Stevens  finally  petitioned  tor  a 
meeting,  and  they  gathered  again  on  the  glad  day  of  the  year, 
December  25th.  They  met  at  the  meeting-house,  but  adjoorned 
for  fifteen  minutes  to  meet  again  at  Mr.  Lyon's.  The  rest  of 
the  meeting  was  no  doubt  warm  enough.  They  voted  to  boild 
a  meeting-house,  if  a  subscription  could  be  raised  sufficient  to 
''set  up  ye  frame  by  ye  first  Day  of  Nov  next  &  then  ye  floors 
to  be  cut  into  pews  and  sold  at  publick  vandue  to  ye  highest 
bidders  and  that  whatever  any  one  subscribes  shall  be  taken  oat 
of  the  bid."  They  voted  that  the  building  should  be  fifty-six 
feet  in  length  and  forty  in  width,  with  a  porch  at  each  end. 
They  chose  Col.  Stevens,  Doctor  Allen,  Calvin  Parkhnrst,  Mr. 
Curtis,  Mr.  Williams,  Capt.  Burbank,  and  Esquire  Dew^  a 
committee  to  collect  what  sum  they  could  by  subscription.  This 
meeting  was  adjourned  to  Feb.  1,  1790,  when  the  report  of  the 
committee  must  have  been  encouraging,  as  they  chose  CoL  Elias 
Stevens,  Col.  Calvin  Parkhurst,  and  Capt.  Daniel  Clapp  for  a 
committee  to  build  the  meeting-house.  It  seems  quite  proper 
that  the  church  militant  should  have  selected  three  military  men 
for  this  important  office.  The  committee  which  had  been  choaen 
to  solicit  subscriptions  were  instructed  to  call  on  the  sub- 
scribers and  take  notes  and  deliver  to  the  building  committee, 
which  would  lead  one  to  infer  that  the  greater  part  of  the  new 
church  was  to  be  built  on  paper  security.  Probably  their 
obligations  were  met  at  harvest  time,  if  not  before. 


HiSTOBY  OP  BOYALTON,   VERMONT  239 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  Aug.  6,  1790,  originally  called 
by  petition  to  discuss  the  building  of  the  meeting-house  that 
year  and  the  pastor's  house,  the  only  action  taken  was  to  elect 
Zebulon  Lyon  and  Dea.  Daniel  Rix  an  addition  to  the  building 
committee.  They  adjourned  to  the  12th,  on  which  date  no 
action  whatever  is  recorded  relating  to  the  meeting-house.  They 
did  provide  for  building  their  pastor's  house,  which  was,  prob- 
ably, all  that  they  felt  they  could  do  in  one  year. 

It  will  be  observed  that  in  choosing  committees  for  the 
church  building  Zebulon  Lyon,  who  was  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent men  in  town  matters,  had  been  left  out  in  the  cold,  per- 
haps because  they  had  suffered  too  much  from  the  cold  in  his 
meeting-house.  But  somehow  the  new  meeting-house  did  not 
materialize.  The  frame  was  to  be  up  and  covered  by  Novem- 
ber, 1789.  In  the  fall  of  1790  they  were  still  discussing  whether 
or  no  they  should  build  that  year.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that 
Mr.  Lyon  would  subscribe  very  liberally,  if  at  all.  Perhaps 
others  followed  his  example.  At  any  rate,  by  August,  1790, 
it  was  deemed  expedient  to  add  him  and  Dea.  Daniel  Rix  to  the 
building  committee. 

The  committee  now  went  ahead,  and  no  other  action  by 
the  town  was  needed,  so  we  find  no  further  mention  of  this  new 
meeting-house  in  the  town  records.  No  records  of  the  Society 
have  been  found  earlier,  than  about  the  middle  of  the  last  cen- 
tury. In  the  probate  records  at  Woodstock  pertaining  to  the 
settlement  of  Calvin  Parkhurst's  estate,  the  administrators  had 
a  claim  of  £12  on  the  committee  of  Royalton  for  building  and 
furnishing  the  meeting-house.  This  was  dated  Dec.  9,  1791, 
so  it  is  quite  certain  that  the  house  was  built  or  completed  in 
1791,  as  it  could  scarcely  have  been  built  in  1790  after  the  meet- 
ing in  August.  To  strengthen  this  assumption  there  is  found 
the  town  record  of  the  selectmen  in  1835.  They  had  investigated 
the  condition  of  the  public  lands,  and  the  right  of  the  town  in 
the  meeting-house.  They  say  that  no  appropriation  was  ever 
made  by  the  town,  that  in  the  year  1791  the  town  clerk  warned 
a  meeting  of  the  First  Congregational  Society,  to  see  about  the 
building  of  a  meeting-house,  and  from  that  time  the  Society  took 
upon  itself  to  build  and  complete  the  house.  The  probate 
record  referred  to  shows  that  a  committee  of  the  town  was 
chargeable  for  debt  to  Calvin  Parkhurst  deceased.  No  such 
item  is  found  in  the  town  record  of  that  year,  and  why  the  town 
clerk  should  have  called  a  meeting  of  the  Society  is  not  easily 
explained,  unless  he  chanced  to  be  also  the  clerk  of  the  Society. 
This  does  not  seem  likely,  since  his  name  is  not  found  anywhere 
on  the  church  books.  An  examination  of  the  church  records 
fails  to  show  any  action  in  building  a  meeting-house.       Such 


i 


240  History  of  Botalton,  Vebmont 

action  would  be  entered  in  the  Society  records,  which  are  lost 
The  selectmen  who  made  the  report  may  have  secnred  informa- 
tion from  some  persons  then  living,  who  remembered  how  fhe 
church  was  built,  but  two  things  are  quite  certain,  that  the 
church  was  built  by  subscription,  and  mostly,  if  not  wholly,  in 
1791. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  town  used  the  meeting-houae 
for  holding  its  meetings,  it  was  voted  in  1823  to  spend  $200  in 
repairing  the  building.  As  new  people  came  to  town,  and  those 
who  had  helped  to  build  the  house  had  died  or  moved  away, 
some  question  arose  as  to  whether  the  town  had  any  right  in  tihe 
building,  and  in  1835  a  committee  was  appointed  to  investigate 
the  right  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  house,  and  it  was  this  com- 
mittee of  selectmen  whose  report  has  already  been  noted. 

In  fixing  the  form  and  location  of  Lieut.  Lyon's  meeting- 
house, and  also  that  of  1791,  dependence  has  rested  mainly  on 
tradition.  Dr.  Drake  in  his  centennial  address  said  that  the 
first  building  stood  just  ''this  side  of  the  passenger  depot'' 
When  he  spoke  those  words  he  was  standing  in  the  CSongre- 
gational  church  in  Boyalton  village,  and  that  meant  that  the 
first  church  stood  very  nearly  where  the  freight  depot  stands, 
about  opposite  the  old  Dr.  Lyman  residence.  No  doubt  some 
one  was  living  who  was  able  to  satisfy  him  on  this  point.  The 
church  built  in  1790-91  stood  about  where  the  present  one 
stands,  only  nearer  the  road.  The  road,  however,  had  two 
courses,  one  running  through  the  present  yard  of  the  Old  Deni- 
son  House,  and  the  other  some  distance  below  at  the  foot  of  the 
incline. 

From  Asa  Perrin's  diary  it  is  learned  that  the  first  meet- 
ing in  the  new  church  was  held  July  10,  1791.  It  is  said  that 
there  was  never  any  real  dedicatory  service,  that  Deacon  Joiner 
stood  on  the  gilded  dome  and  made  a  dedicatory  prayer.  Mr. 
Perrin  says  that  Lyman  Potter  preached  from  Matthew  22 :4  in 
the  forenoon,  and  from  Colossians  3 :14  in  the  afternoon.  Mr. 
Potter  was  a  graduate  of  Yale,  and  was  probably  located  at 
Norwich  at  this  time.  ^Ir.  Perrin  has  preserved  the  order  of 
service. 

The  meeting-house  of  Sir.  Lyon  was  doubtless  a  very  simple 
structure,  not  more  than  one  story  in  height.  It  was  probably 
framed,  as  other  framed  houses  are  known  to  have  been  erected 
in  town  before  this  time.  No  one  has  been  found  who  recalls 
ever  having  heard  it  described.  There  is  so  much  contradictory 
evidence  as  to  the  way  the  new  building  stood,  that  it  is  impos- 
sible to  say  just  what  its  position  was.  In  deeds  mention  is 
made  of  a  north  porch  and  a  south  porch,  and  once  of  a  south- 
west porch,  and  of  pews  north  and  south  of  a  broad  aisle.    This 


"i. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  241 

would  indicate  that  the  side  of  the  church  stood  next  to  the 
street,  with  a  broad  entrance  there,  and  perhaps  the  porches 
were  at  the  ends  in  front,  with  entrances  from  each.  Mrs.  Eliza 
Denison  Jameson  was  positive  that  the  building  stood  just  as 
the  present  one  does,  with  the  end  next  to  the  road.  When  the 
repairs  were  made  in  1823  it  is  probable  that  some  changes  were 
made,  and  it  may  be  that  one  or  both  porches  were  removed. 
Those  now  living  who  remember  the  building  were  very  young 
when  it  was  burned  in  1839.  Very  few  can  minutely  describe 
a  building  with  which  they  are  daily  familiar,  to  say  nothing 
of  going  back  to  early  childhood  for  mental  pictures.  All  agree 
that  the  building  was  two  stories  high,  that  it  had  two  porches, 
a  cupola  over  one,  that  it  had  a  bell  and  a  gilded  dome  with 
a  spire  tipped  with  a  ball. 

In  the  interior  box  pews  with  doors  were  arranged  on  three 
sides  of  the  room,  with  seats  on  three  sides  of  the  pews.  Pews 
or  slips  were  set  also  in  the  center.  It  had  the  usual  high  pulpit 
with  sounding  board,  and  a  communion  table  was  in  front  of  it 
hung  on  hinges,  so  as  to  be  out  of  the  way  when  not  in  use. 
The  seat  of  the  deacons  was  in  front  of  this  communion  seat. 
By  the  arrangement  of  seats  in  the  pews  some  sat  with  their 
backs  to  the  minister,  and  roguish  boys  would  have  to  keep  an 
eye  on  the  tythingman,  if  they  would  not  be  taken  off  guard. 
If  wary,  they  could  bump  heads  with  their  neighbors  sitting 
backs  to  them  in  the  pew  behind.  The  gallery  ran  around  three 
sides  of  the  church,  and  had  three  rows  of  seats,  elevated  one 
above  the  other.  The  seat  of  the  singers  was  in  front,  facing  the 
pulpit,  which  faced  the  street.  The  backs  of  the  square  pews 
on  the  main  floor  were  finished  with  turned  spindles.  These 
spindles  had  a  habit  of  turning  with  a  squeaky  noise,  which  one 
who  remembers  it,  says  "gave  a  naughty  child  great  pleasure." 

Mrs.  Jameson  in  describing  the  interior  wrote  in  October, 
1909,  "All  was  unpainted,  I  am  sure.  I  cannot  remember  any 
heat  but  of  footstoves.  Prom  a  seat  in  a  gallery  pew,  where  my 
mother  used  to  sit,  just  behind  and  above  the  singers'  seats, 
just  opposite  the  pulpit,  I  recollect  seeing  distinctly  the  Rev. 
Daniel  Wild  giving  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  to  the  young 
minister.  Rev.  Cyrus  B.  Drake  on  the  occasion  of  his  ordination 

as  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church The  entrance  of  the 

meeting-house  was  opposite  the  entrance  of  the  old  academy,  on 
the  other  side  of  the  common.  There  was  quite  a  slope  beyond 
the  road — now  smoothed  away — and  steps  were  cut  in  the 
gravelly  earth,  and  a  kind  of  walk  existed  from  one  entrance  to 
the  other." 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  church  kept  no  record  of  the 
sale  of  the  pew  ground.    It  would  be  very  interesting  to  know 

16 


342  History  of  Botalton,  Vermont 

who  the  original  owners  were,  though  not  of  so  much  importance 
as  it  would  be  if  the  house  were  still  in  existence.  It  is  likely 
that  a  few  of  the  most  ''forehanded"  bid  off  considerable  space, 
to  aid  in  raising  money  to  finish  the  building,  or  with  an  eye 
to  future  gain.  The  earliest  recorded  sale  of  floor  space  is  Jan. 
11,  1794,  when  Samuel  D.  Searle  sold  to  Daniel  Gilbert  two  pew 
grounds,  Nos.  14  and  29,  for  £40.  He  states  that  he  bid  them 
off  at  vendue.  The  lower  floor  seems  to  have  had  a  broad  aisle 
extending  from  the  front  door  to  the  deacons'  seat  in  front  of 
the  pulpit,  and  to  have  had  north  and  south  alleys  leading  from 
the  north  and  south  porches  to  the  broad  aisle.  The  same  num- 
bers seem  to  have  been  given  to  seats  on  the  left  of  the  aisles 
as  to  those  on  the  right.  The  highest  number  observed  is  forty- 
one.    The  entrances  into  the  gallery  were  from  the  two  porches. 

No  deeds  from  the  ofiScials  of  the  church  to  pew-holders  have 
been  found.  A  few  of  the  records  that  give  some  idea  of  the 
seating  of  the  church,  and  a  picture  of  the  worshippers,  as  they 
sat  drinking  in  the  sound  orthodoxy  of  the  early  pastors  follows. 

In  1796  Zebulon  Lyon  sold  Nathaniel  Morse  No.  10,  lower 
floor,  "on  the  right  as  you  go  in  from  the  north  porch."  Dr.  Silas 
Allen  was  original  owner  of  a  wall  pew  in  the  gallery,  facing 
the  pulpit.  Peter  Mills  was  also  original  owner  of  a  gallery 
pew,  which  he  sold  to  Levi  Mower.  Jacob  Safford  was  the  first 
owner  of  Nos.  22  and  24,  lower  floor.  In  1805  John  C.  Waller 
sold  one  half  of  No.  5,  and  Daniel  Havens  sold  No.  2  at  the  left. 
Elkanah  Stevens  had  No.  26  at  the  left.  Cotton  Evans  owned 
No.  35  in  the  ''southeast  corner,"  and  sold  it  in  1812.  Qodfrey 
Richardson  had  one  half  of  No.  7,  and  sold  it  in  1816,  and  the 
same  year  Ebenezer  Dewey  sold  Stafford  Smith  one  half  of  No. 
38.  Salmon  Joiner,  in  1824,  sold  one  half  of  No.  25,  lower, 
''south  of  the  broad  aisle."  When  Jedediah  Pierce  sold  No. 
40  in  1826,  he  stated  that  he  had  occupied  it  for  years.  Samuel 
Clapp  the  same  year  sold  one-half  of  Xo.  37,  saying  it  joined  Staf- 
ford Smith  and  John  Hutchinson,  "on  the  alley  from  the  S.  W. 
porch  to  the  broad  aisle."  In  1815  Amasa  Dutton  sold  one  half 
of  No.  31,  lower.  Partridge  and  Lincoln  had  one  half  of  No. 
20  in  the  gallery, ' '  the  north  pew  in  the  body  adjoining  the  alley 
from  the  north  porch  into  the  front  seat."  In  1829  Moses  Cut- 
ter sold  No.  26,  joining  a  pew  owned  and  occupied  by  Jacob. 
Collamer. 

This  meeting-house  satisfied  the  needs  of  the  people  until 
1837.  On  the  first  of  February  of  that  year  a  committee  was 
appointed  by  the  church  "to  take  into  consideration  the  ex- 
pediency of  building  a  new  Meetinghouse  or  repairing  the  old." 
This  committee  reported  Mar.  1st  that  it  was  not  expedient  to 
remove  or  repair  the  building.     About  two  years  later  they  de- 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  248 

cided  to  build  a  new  church,  and  sold  the  old  building  to  the 
town  for  $125.  No  record  of  this  action  is  found  on  the  church 
books. 

In  October  and  November  of  that  year  nine  orders  were 
drawn  by  the  selectmen  for  removal  of  the  town  house,  amount- 
ing in  all  to  two  hundred  dollars.  There  appears  to  have  been 
considerable  gratuitous  service  rendered  in  the  removal  of  the 
old  church  to  the  other  side  of  the  common.  George  Harvey 
recalls  that  as  a  boy  of  eleven  he  went  with  his  father  and  a 
yoke  of  oxen  to  aid  in  this  undertaking.  The  hill  between  the 
church  and  the  old  academy  was  steeper  then  than  it  is  now,  and 
it  had  first  to  be  leveled  down.  The  evidence  of  this  rather  steep 
incline  still  remains  in  ^ront  of  the  Denison  house.  The  poor 
old  church  was  first  shorn  of  its  glory,  the  gilded  dome  and  ball, 
the  cupola  itself  being  removed  before  it  started  on  its  migra- 
tion. The  long  string  of  oxen  was  brought  up  and  hitched 
to  the  undergirding,  the  boys'  halloos  drowning  the  men's  calls 
to  the  patient  beasts,  the  decrepit  old  structure  trembled  a  mo- 
ment loath  to  leave,  almost  preferring  to  drop  then  and  there, 
but  life  was  dear,  and  after  a  moment  of  hesitancy  it  resignedly 
started  on  its  travel  eastward.  Little  by  little  it  was  prodded 
on,  until  finally  it  stood  on  the  northeast  comer  of  the  common 
near  the  old  academy.  A  ** sorry  spectacle"  indeed,  crowded 
into  a  small  space,  out  of  harmony  with  its  surroundings.  It 
had  not  long  to  mourn  over  departed  days,  for  in  the  spring 
of  1840  a  stray  spark  from  the  near-by  forge  of  Bela  HaU  lighted 
upon  its  dry  covering,  and  with  a  glad  cry  of  release,  the  worn- 
out,  mourning  edifice  yielded  up  its  life  to  the  ravaging  flames. 
One  correspondent  writes,  '*This  fire  was  incidentally  the  cause 
of  the  death  of  Eleanor  Skinner,  who  joined  the  young  people 
at  that  fire  in  a  line  to  the  river  to  help  pass  buckets  of  water. 
She  took  a  cold  from  which  she  never  recovered.  She  was  mar- 
ried to  Qeorge  Rix  April  28,  1840,  went  immediately  to  the 
South,  and  died  there  June  16,  1841." 

The  building  of  the  new  church  went  on,  and  it  is  recorded 
under  date  of  Mar.  18,  1840,  *'New  Meeting  House  was  this 
day  dedicated  to  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost."  The  first 
change  of  any  importance  in  this  building  was  the  moving  of 
the  singers'  seats  from  the  gallery,  which  was  on  the  end  next 
to  the  street,  to  the  main  floor  near  the  pulpit.  This  was  in 
1869.  Minor  repairs  were  made  from  time  to  time,  but  in  1906 
the  inside  of  the  church  was  thoroughly  renovated,  and  the 
steeple  repaired,  the  whole  costing  about  $1212.  It  was  re- 
dedicated  in  1907. 

Provision  for  building  sheds  was  made  Mar.  14,  1797  in 
town  meeting,  when  it  was  **  Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of 


S44  History  of  Botalton,  Vermont 

three  to  direct  the  mode  of  Building  sheds  by  the  meeting  house 
&  direct  the  places  where  each  Person  that  has  a  desire  to  build 
a  shed  shall  build."  This  seems  to  imply  that  each  was  to 
build  his  own  shed.  In  18Q2,  a  committee  of  three  was  chosen 
to  ''fix  on  a  place  for  horse  sheds."  If  these  sheds  are  the  ones 
standing  today,  they  are  over  a  century  old,  and  they  certainly 
looked  decrepit  enough  for  that  age,  until  very  recently. 
Dilapidated,  dry  as  tinder,  for  years  they  have  been  a  blot  upon 
the  fair  appearance  of  the  church  lot,  and  a  menace  to  the  build- 
ing itself,  having  caught  fire  now  and  then  from  sparks  flying 
from  the  railway  engines.  In  1910  a  new  metal  roof  was  placed 
on  the  sheds,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 


FIKST     CONUREUATIONAL     CHLRCII.     ROYAI.TON. 


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CHAPTER  XVII. 


Roads. 


The  Indians,  who  had  been  in  the  habit  of  following  the 
First  Branch  to  White  river,  and  then  passing  down  the  river 
to  the  Connecticut,  must  have  made  some  sort  of  a  trail,  before 
white  men  reached  the  wild  region  now  known  as  Royalton.  If, 
as  is  asserted  by  some,  they  had  a  summer  camp  at  North  Royal- 
ton,  and  then  went  on  up  the  Second  Branch  in  their  migrations 
to  Canada,  there  would  naturally  be  a  trail  along  these  streams. 
The  white  settler  would  at  first  avoid  these  trails  for  his  high- 
way, on  account  of  greater  exposure  to  the  foe,  so  we  may  sup- 
pose that  all  the  roads  of  the  first  settlers  were  made  through 
unbroken  forests.  There  was  no  machine  for  pulling  stumps, 
and  there  were  too  many  of  these  headless  trunks  to  make  it  an 
easy  matter  to  get  rid  of  them  by  burning.  Possibly  they  were 
split  or  sawed  close  to  the  ground  in  some  cases. 

Whatever  the  method  of  making  highways,  concerted  effort 
would  be  needed.  Roads  were  a  necessity,  and  some  one  must 
be  responsible  for  their  making  and  maintenance.  The  first 
recorded  action  of  this  nature  is  found  under  date  of  Mar.  23, 
1779,  when  Nathan  Morgan,  Joseph  Havens,  Esquire  Morgan, 
probably  Isaac,  and  Benjamin  Parkhurst  were  chosen  surveyors. 
Mr.  Parkhurst  was  at  North  Royalton,  Nathan  Morgan  down  the 
river  on  the  Barnard  side  toward  Sharon,  Mr.  Havens  at  the 
Phineas  Pierce  place  as  later  known,  and  Isaac  Morgan  at  the 
Mills.  There  was,  then,  a  road  up  the  First  Branch  to  Tun- 
bridge,  one  from  Sharon  on  the  south  or  west  side  of  the  river 
as  far  as  the  fordway  at  the  ** Handy  lot,"  doubtless,  and  one 
on  the  Tunbridge  side  from  Sharon  to  the  Second  Branch,  at 
least.  John  Hibbard  was  living  in  town  then  toward  Bethel, 
but  may  have  had  only  a  bridle-path  to  the  main  road.  Bethel 
was  as  yet  a  wilderness,  a  prospective  town  with  a  covetous  eye 
on  the  western  part  of  Royalton. 

At  the  next  March  meeting  the  same  number  of  surveyors 
was  chosen,  showing  that  settlements  did  not  yet  require  new 
roads.  Lieut.  Durkee,  Daniel  Havens,  and  Lieut.  Parkhurst 
were  the  surveyors  that  year.  In  September,  1781,  they  voted 
that  each  man  should  work  four  days  on  the  highways,  and 


246  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

elected  five  surveyors,  John  Billings,  living  not  far  from  John 
Hibbard,  looking  after  the  road  in  their  direction.  Bethel  was 
now  chartered,  and  settlers  were  coming  in,  which  necessitated 
the  extension  of  roads  leading  to  that  town. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  selectmen  June  25,  1782,  they  divided 
the  town  into  eight  highway  districts;  first,  from  the  (river!)  to 
the  Second  Branch ;  second,  from  the  Second  Branch  to  the  First 
Branch;  third,  from  Sharon  line  to  the  fordway  at  the  **hendy 
lot,"  probably  just  north  of  Stevens  bridge;  fourth,  from  Sharon 
on  the  north  side  of  the  river  to  the  First  Branch;  fifth,  from 
White  river  up  the  First  Branch  to  Tunbridge  line ;  sixth,  from 
Bethel  line  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  to  Lieut.  Durkee's 
fordway;  seventh,  from  Bethel  line  down  the  Second  Branch  to 
Esquire  Sever 's;  eighth,  from  Barnard  line  to  Lieut.  Durkee's 
fordway.  By  means  of  the  map  these  divisions  can  easily  be 
traced.  Esquire  Sever  was  in  II  Town  Plot,  and  Lieut.  Durkee 
in  the  southeastern  part  of  53  Town  Plot.  As  nearly  as  can 
be  judged,  Benjamin  Parkhurst  was  surveyor  for  the  first  dis- 
trict, Lieut.  Durkee  for  the  second,  Joseph  Parkhurst  for  the 
third,  Josiah  Wheeler  for  the  fourth,  Huckens  Storrs  for  the 
fifth,  Samuel  Clapp  for  the  sixth,  Godfrey  Richardson  for  the 
seventh,  and  Lieut.  Wilber  for  the  eighth.  Benjamin  Wilber 
and  Aaron  were  in  town  about  this  time.  Benjamin  owned  no 
land  then,  as  the  records  show.  He  was  an  ensign  in  1780  in 
Capt.  Benjamin  Cox's  Company  of  Barnard.  This  company 
followed  the  Indians  to  Brookfield  Oct.  16,  1780.  Aaron  in 
1783  bought  M.  25  Large  Allotment. 

In  1783  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to  raise  a  tax  for  re- 
pairing roads  as  they  should  judge  best.  The  width  of  the 
roads  was  decided  upon  at  a  January  meeting  of  the  next  year, 
when  they  voted  that  they  should  be  two  rods  wide.  They 
changed  this  to  three  rods  in  the  March  meeting  following.  At  a 
proprietors'  meeting  held  Aug.  19,  1783,  it  was  voted  that  each 
proprietor  should  give  five  acres  out  of  every  hundred  for  pub- 
lic highways.  The  first  recorded  survey  of  highways  took 
place  May  24,  1783.  No  survey  of  the  road  to  Tunbridge  is 
found.  As  the  pages  of  records  are  loose,  badly  torn  and  worn, 
it  may  be  that  some  of  the  surveys  have  been  lost.  It  is  not 
thought  best  to  give  them  in  full,  for  lack  of  space  and  of  inter- 
est to  the  general  reader. 

The  survey  of  the  river  road  on  the  north  side  began  on  the 
Bethel  line.  The  number  specifying  the  distance  of  the  starting 
point  from  the  river  is  torn  oflP.  The  first  mile  ended  with 
John  Hibbard's  house,  the  second  mile  tree  was  near  the  tan 
yard  at  North  Royalton,  200  rods  from  the  bridge  over  the  Sec- 
ond Branch,  the  third  mile  ended  with  Heman  Durkee's  house. 


HiSTOBT  OF  BOTALTON,  VERMONT  S47 

the  fourth  mile  with  ''Sargents'  house,"  the  fifth  at  the  bridge 
place,  the  sixth  at  the  old  fort  fordway,  the  seventh  at  Nathaniel 
Morse's  house,  and  the  eighth  on  Sharon  line  about  forty  rods 
from  the  river. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  river  the  survey  began  where  the 
Sharon  line  crosses  the  stream,  and  the  first  mile  ended  south 
of  Lieut.  Benton's;  the  second  one  was  in  Joseph  Parkhurst's 
field,  then  the  road  extended  208  rods  to  the  river,  and  across 
to  the  third  mile  tree  at  the  fordway  on  the  Brewster  lot.  This 
makes  the  river  road  on  the  south  side  end  with  this  fordway. 

The  third  survey  began  up  the  Second  Branch  on  Bethel 
line  at  the  northwest  comer  of  the  Hutchins  lot,  and  crossed 
the  branch  one  mile  and  twenty-three  rods  from  the  Bethel  line. 
It  then  followed  the  branch  on  the  west  side,  joining  the  river 
road  at  Esquire  Sever 's,  two  miles  and  thirty-six  rods  from 
where  it  crossed  the  stream.  This  is  the  original  Second  Branch 
road. 

The  fourth  survey  began  on  Bethel  line  at  Daniel  Tullar's 
lot,  and  extended  through  lots  38  and  34  Large  Allotment, 
winding  down  a  valley  to  the  river  at  the  ''head  of  Dr.  Allen's 
island."  This  road  terminated  at  the  old  fordway  near  John 
Marshall's  in  later  days. 

In  1785  it  was  decided  to  make  an  alteration  in  the  road 
between  the  mouth  of  the  Second  Branch  and  Bethel  line,  and 
a  committee  was  appointed  to  see  if  it  was  advisable  to  alter 
the  road  from  Storrs'  mills  up  the  First  Branch.  This  com- 
mittee reported  Aug.  24th  in  favor  of  changing  from  the  west 
to  the  east  side  of  the  First  Branch,  which  report  was  accepted. 
The  survey  was  to  go  through  the  land  of  Mr.  Storrs  and  Mr. 
Curtis.  At  this  time  there  was  a  road  extending  from  the  First 
Branch  to  Brookfield. 

The  following  year  at  the  March  meeting  it  was  voted  to 
extend  the  district  for  roads  up  the  river  on  the  south  side  as  far 
as  Capt.  Clapp's  lot,  and  they  chose  eleven  surveyors,  increased 
to  thirteen  in  1787.  In  1787  Calvin  Parkhurst  was  given  leave  to 
hang  a  gate  for  the  summer  ' '  at  the  croch  of  Road  at  His  House 
&  leading  to  the  White  river."  Mr.  Parkhurst  had  bought  the 
west  100  acres  in  10  L.  A.,  and  this  may  refer  to  the  ** croch" 
at  the  old  fort  fordway,  or,  if  he  were  living  on  16  L.  A.,  it  might 
refer  to  the  bend  at  the  Handy  fordway,  which  is  the  more 
probable,  as  there  would  be  less  travel  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river. 

In  June,  1787  a  road  was  laid  out  from  Jesse  Dunham's 
in  Barnard  line  to  Bethel  line,  probably  the  road  seen  on  the 
1869  map,  passing  by  H.  Dunham's  and  J.  Robinson's  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  town.    Before  Nov.  14th  of  that  year 


248  History  of  Botalton,  Vermont 

a  road  had  been  laid  from  the  house  of  John  Hibbard  to  that 
of  his  son  John,  Jr.,  as  on  that  date  it  was  decided  to  which  dis- 
trict this  road  should  belong.  This  year  they  voted  to  lay  out 
a  sum  not  to  exceed  £10  on  the  roads,  said  sum  to  be  taken  from 
the  penny  tax  granted  by  the  Assembly  at  Bennington.  Before 
1788  a  road  was  laid  out  leading  by  Silas  Williams'  to  Barnard. 

In  1792  the  selectmen  were  thus  instructed:  ''to  proceed 
immediately  and  authenticate  such  roads  in  town  as  they  think 
proper  where  they  find  they  are  not  laid  out  according  to  Law," 
and  it  was  voted  that  the  selectmen  lay  out  the  river  roads  four 
rods  wide,  if  there  was  sufficient  land  in  the  lots.  The  next  year 
twenty  surveyors  were  chosen. 

In  accordance  with  the  foregoing  vote,  a  survey  of  the  river 
road  on  the  south  side  was  made.  No  special  difference  between 
this  and  the  survey  of  1783  is  observed.  It  ran  past  Gkn. 
Stevens'  house  to  ** Pierce's"  bam,  by  Daniel  Bix's  to  the  bank 
of  the  river  by  the  ** Great  Bridge."  The  river  road  on  the 
north  side  was  also  surveyed.  It  began  on  Bethel  line  100  rods 
north  of  the  river,  onward  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  about  tWenty 
rods  above  the  fordway  to  Mr.  Pinney's,  then  to  within  ten  rods 
of  the  Second  Branch  bridge,  on  past  Isaac  Morgan's,  Nathaniel 
Morse's,  Jeremiah  Trescott's,  to  Sharon  line.  These  river  roads 
were  now  laid  out  four  rods  wide. 

A  road  was  laid  out  from  Squire  Cleveland's  to  Nathaniel 
Perrin's,  a  distance  for  nearly  two  miles,  April  16,  1793,  and  the 
next  day  another  was  laid  out  from  Bethel  line,  beginning  twen- 
ty rods  from  Thomas  Anderson's  (30  T.  P.)  onward  to  the  river, 
the  east  side  of  the  Second  Branch  bridge  by  Benjamin  Park- 
hurst's.     This  was  over  three  miles  in  length. 

The  first  recorded  survey  of  the  road  to  Tunbridge  is  dated 
May  25,  1793.  It  began  about  three  rods  north  from  the  lower 
side  of  the  south  end  of  the  bridge  at  the  mouth  of  the  First 
Branch,  running  thirty-three  rods  to  about  two  rods  south  of 
the  southerly  corner  of  Capt.  ** Gilbert's  red  house,"  then  156 
rods  to  where  the  road  turns  down  to  the  grist  mill  (**Here  a 
road  turns  down  to  the  Grist  mill  running  from  ye  last  station 
N  11  W  9  rods  to  the  southwest  corner  of  ye  Grist  mill"),  then 
317  rods  to  the  bank  of  the  branch,  on  the  bank  of  the  branch 
fifty-four  rods,  diverging  from  the  branch  for  ninety-six  rods, 
then  on  the  branch  18  rods,  then  sixty-nine  rods  to  Tunbridge 
line,  the  road  to  be  three  rods  wide.  On  the  same  day  a  new 
road  was  laid  from  ** Gilbert's  red  house  nigh  ye  mouth  of  the 
first  branch  of  white  river  toward  Nat.  Morses  &c — ^Beginning 
two  rods  from  the  red  house  at  ye  root  of  a  pine  stump  which 
is  ye  comer  of  a  road  going  up  ye  branch  to  Tunbridge — ^thence 
S  34  E  34  rods  thence  S  52  E  26  rods  into  the  old  road." 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  249 

• 

In  July  of  this  year  a  road  was  laid  out,  which  began  the 
west  side;  of  the  road  from  Lieut.  Benton's  to  Nathaniel  Pierce's, 
south  of  Jonathan  Benton's  comer,  then  150  rods  to  Samuel 
Curtis',  thence  283  rods  to  Experience  Trescott's,  then  158  rods 
to  a  road  on  the  south  side,  then  92  rods  to  a  road  on  the  north 
side,  then  154  rods  to  a  road  by  Ebenezer  Parkhurst's,  then  98 
rods  to  the  south  bank  of  White  river.  This  was  a  hill  road 
which  ran  by  the  houses  on  the  hill  in  the  rear  of  the  Oliver 
Curtis  and  Qeorge  Cowdery  houses,  and  on  to  the  Salmon 
Joiner  hill  farm,  and  by  the  Harvey  houses,  considerably  dif- 
ferent from  the  present  course  of  the  road,  and  probably  reached 
the  bank  of  the  river  at  a  fordway  in  the  village.  The  present 
road  from  South  Royalton  to  Broad  Brook  runs  over  a  part  of 
this  survey,  and  traces  of  the  unused  portion  can  still  be  seen. 

The  same  year  another  road  was  laid  out  beginning  in 
Barnard  line  near  Joseph  Bowman's  bam  (probably  W.  25 
L.  A.)  extending  to  Luther  Fairbanks'  blacksmith  shop,  on  to 
the  river  near  Abel  Stevens'  (N.  30  L.  A.).  A  road  was  also 
surveyed  near  the  **red  schoolhouse"  to  Bethel  line  near  Capt. 
Kinney's  in  32  Town  Plot. 

A  Broad  Brook  road  was  surveyed  in  1794  from  Barnard 
line  near  Benjamin  Morgan's  (4  L.  A.)  onward  to  Sharon  line 
near  William  Love  joy's,  afterwards  the  Isaac  Parkhurst  place. 
Morgan  lived  where  Ichabod  Davis  resided  later.  This  road  is 
said  to  have  run  by  the  Carlos  Miller  place,  past  Calvin  Qoff's 
and  Joseph  Cole's,  running  between  the  A.  J.  B.  Robinson  and 
Albert  Snow  houses. 

A  road  three  miles  in  length  was  laid  out  the  same  year 
beginning  at  a  road  near  Silas  Williams',  and  extending  to  the 
east  bank  of  White  river,  then  on  the  bank  of  the  river  316  rods 
to  the  east  end  of  the  "Qreat  Bridge  at  Mr.  Deweys."  This 
seems  to  be  the  road  across  26  and  22  Large  Allotment.  On  the 
same  day,  Dec.  4,  1794,  a  road  was  laid  out  over  two  miles  long 
from  the  Broad  Brook  road  near  Storrs  Hall,  probably  the 
Love  joy  place,  extending  to  Nathaniel  Reed's,  who  owned  land 
in  M.  18  Large  Allotment.  That  would  give  the  hill  road  by 
the  Thomas  Davis  and  the  Franklin  Joiner  places.  A  new  sur- 
vey of  this  same  road  seems  to  have  been  made  in  1799,  starting 
south  of  Experience  Trescott's  bam  and  extending  to  Broad 
Brook  road. 

In  1795  a  survey  was  made,  starting  about  fifty  rods  from 
the  northeast  of  5  T.  P.,  and  extending  across  the  First  Branch 
to  the  road  on  the  east  side.  This  same  year  a  new  road 
was  constructed  up  the  Second  Branch.  The  survey  was 
made  from  the  land  of  Amasa  Dutton,  extending  one  and  one 
third  miles  into  the  highway  on  the  north  side  of  the  river. 


260  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

There  seems  to  have  been  some  objection  to  paying  the  charges 
for  this  road.  At  a  December  meeting  they  first  voted  not  to 
raise  a  tax  to  pay  for  the  same,  then  re-considered  and  voted  to 
pay  the  selectmen's  bill  at  three  shillings  a  day,  amounting  to 
£  11.  16.  0.,  and  to  pay  £  1.  12.  0.  for  ram. 

In  1800  a  road  was  laid  out  from  Nehemiah  Leavitt's  on 
Broad  Brook  to  the  road  leading  from  Experience  Trescott's  to 
Amos  Robinson 's,  the  Love  joy  place.  This  is  the  road  from  the 
Horace  Boyce  place  by  the  Phineas  Qoff  and  Heman  Durkee 
places.  Another  road  was  surveyed  beginning  a  few  rods  south 
of  Jedediah  Pierce's  on  the  west  side  of  the  road,  and  extending 
to  Mr.  Tullar's  house,  about  three  fourths  of  a  mile,  probably 
from  the  Qee  farm  or  the  one  beyond  it,  to  the  Cloud  place. 

The  next  year  a  new  road  was  established  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river  between  ^* landlord  Dickenson's  and  the  meeting 
house,"  running  sixty-five  rods  to  the  southeast  bank  of  the 
river,  then  120  rods  to  the  old  road  northeast  of  Ebenezer  Park- 
hurst,  then  on  the  old  road  a  few  rods,  then  S.  87**  W.  54  rods, 
thence  S.  51**  W.  30  rods  to  the  old  road.  Twenty-two  sur- 
veyors were  elected  this  year.  It  would  seem  as  if  that  force 
ought  to  be  sufficient  for  keeping  the  highways  in  good  repair, 
l}ut  such  did  not  prove  to  be  the  case.  In  1806,  when  they  had 
only  one  less,  they  found  it  necessary  to  elect  an  agent,  Jacob 
Smith,  to  defend  a  suit  brought  against  the  town  for  keeping 
bad  roads.  Said  case  was  to  be  tried  at  the  County  court  in 
Woodstock. 

In  1799  guide  posts  were  erected  according  to  law,  but  there 
was,  doubtless,  some  laxity  in  carrying  out  the  requirement, 
as  the  selectmen  received  instructions  again  the  next  year  to  con- 
form to  the  law. 

The  General  Assembly  in  October,  1804,  appointed  John 
French,  Benjamin  Clapp,  and  Stafford  Smith  a  committee  to 
lay  out  a  road  from  White  river  in  Royalton  by  Randolph  meet- 
ing-house to  the  turnpike  of  Elijah  Paine  in  Williamstown. 
The  road  in  Royalton  began  on  the  east  line  of  Bethel,  east 
of  the  Second  Branch  on  Daniel  Kinney 's  meadow,  six  rods  east 
of  the  branch,  and  extended  to  a  point  five  rods  west  of  the  west 
end  of  the  bridge  that  crossed  the  Second  Branch  near  Benjamin 
Parkhurst's.  Mr.  Parkhurst  was  allowed  $65.65  as  damages  on 
account  of  the  road  passing  through  his  interval.  The  surveyor 
was  Richard  Kimball. 

The  selectmen  of  Tunbridge  made  a  new  survey  of  the 
road  along  the  First  Branch  in  1815,  and  that  necessitated  a 
new  survey  in  Royalton.  This  survey  extended  a  distance  of 
about  one  and  one  fourth  miles.  A  road  was  surveyed  in  1819 
from  Asahel  Cheney's,  who  was  then  the  owner  of  the  Capt. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  261 

Gilbert  stand.  It  began  one  rod  east  of  his  house,  then  ran 
N.  28°  E.  70  rods,  then  N.  23°  E.  20  rods,  then  N.  17°  E.  17  and 
one  half  rods,  then  N.  10°  E.  24  rods  to  the  old  road. 

In  1820  a  road  was  laid,  beginning  on  Pomfret  line,  south 
of  Timothy  Cheedle's  house  where  the  Pomfret  road  strikes 
the  Royalton  line,  and  extended  over  two  miles  to  a  road  from 
Amos  Robinson's  grist  mill  aeross  the  brook  to  his  saw  mill. 
These  mills  were  below  Horace  Royce's  on  a  brook  emptying 
into  Broad  Brook.  Mr.  Cheedle  was  located  in  southeast  4 
Large  Allotment.  What  was  called  the  Johnson  Hill  road  was 
laid  out  in  1823.  It  began  at  a  road  leading  from  Peter 
Wheelock's  by  Amos  Bosworth's  to  White  river,  and  extended 
to  the  Broad  Brook  road  four  rods  west  of  Luther  Hunting's, 
later  the  Benjamin  Day  place. 

The  road  commissioners  were  called  out  in  1828  to  lay  a 
rbad  from  the  northeast  corner  of  Barnard,  down  Broad  Brook 
to  Sharon.  Those  receiving  pay  for  damages  were  (Jeorge 
Gterry,  Philip  Royce,  Jr.,  Eastman  Royce,  Ira  Packard,  Lucinda 
Packard,  Silas  Packard,  Widow  Packard,  David  A.  Adams, 
Arunah  Clark,  Wright  Clark,  and  Jonathan  Leavitt.  The  dam- 
ages were  assessed  at  $47.42,  of  which  stmi  Royalton  was  to  pay 
$25.00,  and  to  have  the  road  open  in  two  years.  There  is  nothing 
to  prove  that  Broad  Brook  was  especially  avaricious  in  the  mat- 
ter of  getting  roads,  but  it  remains  a  fact,  that  in  September 
of  this  same  year  the  commissioners  were  again  called  out  to 
lay  a  road  from  Royalton  village  to  Broad  Brook,  then  up  said 
brook  to  the  ** harbor"  in  Barnard,  and  on  towards  Woodstock, 
until  it  should  intersect  the  Royalton  and  Woodstock  Turnpike. 
It  began  in  the  village  on  the  White  River  Turnpike,  then  went 
across  the  bridge  and  onward  over  the  Joiner  hill  to  the  road 
by  Robinson's  mills.  Those  receiving  damages  were  Zebina 
Curtis,  Ebenezer  Parkhurst,  Daniel  Rix,  Salmon  Joiner,  Jabez 
Hinkley,  Jonathan  Leavitt,  and  Paul  Clark.  One  of  the  com- 
missioners was  Daniel  Rix.  The  damages  and  commissioners' 
bill  amounted  to  $224.60,  which  the  town  was  to  pay  and  open 
the  road  in  two  years.  This  survey  is  called  the  ** County  road" 
by  the  selectmen,  when  they  give  their  orders  two  years  later. 
Their  orders  amounted  to  $801.91  the  entire  expense  of  the  road. 
The  county  road,  then,  ran  along  Broad  Brook,  over  the  Joiner 
hill  to  Royalton  village.  Jeremiah  Gay  seems  to  have  had  the 
contract  for  building. 

The  survey  from  Barnard  to  Sharon,  and  the  one  for  the 
county  road  would  run  over  the  same  ground  along  Broad  Brook, 
and  we  find  the  same  people  receiving  damages.  It  is  not 
strange,  then,  that  in  1829  a  petition  of  David  H.  Parks  and 
others  was  considered,  and  the  road  commissioners  threw  up 


252  History  of  Boyai/ton,  Vermont 

the  survey  from  Barnard  to  Sharon  from  a  point  in  Packard's 
land  to  Sharon  line.  They  had  been  asked  to. set  aside  the 
whole  of  the  survey,  and  on  the  same  date  were  petitioned  to 
alter  it.  An  alteration  was  granted  from  Sharon  line  to  Mr. 
Clark's,  and  a  change  was  also  made  from  a  point  in  Packard's 
land  to  a  point  east  of  Jonathan  Leavitt. 

After  the  railroad  came  into  Boyalton,  Daniel  Tarbell,  Jr., 
made  strenuous  efforts  to  get  a  bridge  across  White  river  at 
South  Boyalton,  and  a  survey  made  connecting  the  village-to-be 
with  the  Chelsea  road.  A  stafSon  at  South  Boyalton  was  con- 
tingent on  the  building  of  the  bridge.  Mr.  Tarbell  met  with 
strong  opposition.  He  himself  says  that  he  was  supported  by 
Lyman  Benson,  Phineas  Pierce,  and  Cyrus  Safford,  and  the  busi- 
ness men  of  Chelsea  and  Tunbridge,  and  opposed  by  the  vil- 
lages of  Boyalton  and  Sharon,  both  of  which  wished  to  retain 
their  trade  and  prestige.  He  appealed  to  the  selectmen  and 
to  the  road  commissioners  to  lay  out  a  road  and  build  a  bridge 
without  avail.  He  and  his  supporters  secured  the  bridge  by 
subscription,  then  he  petitioned  for  a  Court's  Conmiittee,  which 
was  granted  by  the  Orange  County  Supreme  Court.  This  com- 
mittee made  a  survey  in  October,  1849.  It  followed  the  old 
road  most  of  the  way,  varying  in  some  places  to  avoid  steep 
hills.  These  variations  were  near  Oel  Cleveland's,  Tyler  Bur- 
bank's,  and  David  F.  Slafter's.  Mr.  Cleveland  was  awarded 
as  damage  $7,  Mr.  Slafter  $125,  Phineas  Pierce  $65,  Lyman 
Benson  $100,  and  to  Phineas  Pierce,  Lyman  Benson,  Cyrus  Saf- 
ford.  Orison  Foster,  and  Benjamin  H.  Cushman  '*to  be  held 
either  in  their  own  right  solely  or  as  well  for  themselves  as  also 
in  trust  for  the  other  contributors  towards  the  Bridge  leaving 
that  matter  to  be  adjusted  by  those  claiming  an  interest  accord- 
ing to  their  respective  rights  the  sum  of  $4000." 

The  committee  considered  that  the  bridge  was  likely  to  be 
of  equal  benefit  to  Boyalton,  Tunbridge,  and  Chelsea,  and  that 
they  **  ought  to  contribute  in  equal  proportions  towards  the  orig- 
inal costs  and  expenses  of  the  same  as  well  as  the  future  main- 
tenance of  the  bridge."  They  proposed  that  in  lieu  of  liability 
for  future  maintenance  of  the  bridge,  Tunbridge  and  Chelsea 
should  pay  $450  each  to  Boyalton.  and  the  assessments  for  the 
two  towns  were  based  on  this  proposition.  Chelsea  was  to  pay 
Boyalton  $2542.50,  and  Tunbridge,  $1227.25.  They  said  in  case 
the  Court  should  decide  that  the  bridge  had  been  dedicated 
to  public  use  in  such  a  sense  that  no  damage  should  be  assessed, 
then  Chelsea  should  pay  to  Boyalton  $1103.08.  and  to  Tunbridge 
$106.09.  They  estimated  the  bridge  at  $4000,  and  the  whole 
expense  for  damages  and  building  in  Boyalton  at  $5174.50,  in 
Tunbridge  $1527.50,  in  Chelsea  $212.25.     The  cost  of  laying  out 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  263 

and  surveymg,  $498.72,  was  apportioned  equally  to  the  three 
towns. 

It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  all  three  towns  would  be 
satisfied  with  the  report  of  the  commissioners,  Edwin  Hutchin- 
son, Bliss  N.  Davis,  and  Timothy  P.  Redfield.  The  matter  was 
continued  from  term  to  term  until  December,  1850.  The  Court 
then  decided  that  the  bridge  belonged  to  the  subscribers,  and 
reduced  the  assessment  on  it  one  half,  which  was  to  be  paid  to 
the  committee  that  built  the  bridge  by  April  1,  1851.  Mr.  Tar- 
bell  in  his  published  autobiography  says  the  bridge  cost  $3600, 
and  that  he  lost  $800  on  it.  The  Court  also  set  aside  the  prop- 
osition of  the  committee  relating  to  the  future  support  of  the 
bridge,  and  ordered  that  *^the  three  towns  remain  liable  to  & 
for  said  support  in  the  proportion  fixed  by  the  commissioners 
until  such  proportion  shall  be  varied  by  proper  authority."  The 
petition  had  asked  for  a  survey  to  Broad  Brook,  and  this  was 
rejected,  and  a  deduction  on  account  of  that  survey  was  ordered 
made  from  the  costs.  The  road  was  to  be  open  for  travel  Oct. 
1, 1852.  It  was  laid  three  rods  wide  except  from  Pierce's  tavern 
to  the  depot,  which  part  was  to  be  four  rods  in  width. 

Many  changes  had  taken  place  in  the  roads  before  this  time. 
Only  a  few  of  them  can  be  noted.  In  1827  the  First  Branch 
road  was  changed,  beginning  twenty-six  rods  from  Pierce's  mills 
down  the  road  forty-two  rods  to  the  old  road.  The  next  year 
the  road  was  altered  by  Capt.  Bix's,  beginning  sixty-four  rods 
from  his  saw  mill,  extending  eighty-nine  rods  to  the  old  road, 
and  the  old  part  was  set  to  Ebenezer  Parkhurst.  The  road 
above  Royalton  village  was  changed  in  1854.  It  was  to  begin 
fourteen  rods  north  of  Simeon  Nott's  (James  Henry  place), 
and  extend  across  the  railroad,  and  across  Calvin  Skinner's  land 
and  Oramel  Sawyer's  (the  Jacob  Cady  place),  to  Parkhurst 
Barrett's.  An  open  road  leading  from  Polydore  Williams'  land 
through  Ebenezer  Day's  farm  to  the  road  leading  from  the 
Royalton  and  Woodstock  Turnpike  was  made  into  a  pent  road 
in  September,  1827.  At  a  later  date,  1860,  the  Johnson  Hill 
road  was  discontinued.  The  road  by  the  Washington  Leonard 
place  near  Barnard  line  was  changed  in  1862  by  road  com- 
missioners, so  as  to  avoid  keeping  in  repair  two  bridges  close  to- 
gether. By  this  new  survey  the  road  ran  in  the  rear  of  Mr. 
Leonard's  house. 

After  the  dissolution  of  the  Randolph  Turnpike  Company, 
the  selectmen  in  March,  1835,  set  oflf  that  road  and  the  road 
leading  from  it  to  the  west  side  of  the  Second  Branch  into  a 
district  by  themselves,  called  No.  23.  About  this  time  Jacob 
Fox  began  his  eflPorts  to  get  a  new  bridge  at  North  Royalton, 
and  to  have  the  old  turnpike  road  changed.     The  town  did  not 


254  History  op  Royalton,  Vebhont 

even  consider  such  a  change  in  town  meeting,  so  far  as  records 
show,  but  Mr.  Fox  kept  busy.  The  first  intimation  that  some 
progress  had  been  made  is  found  in  the  warning  for  a  meeting, 
dated  Nov.  4,  1835,  which  has  this  clause:  ''To  see  what  order 
the  town  will  take  respecting  the  new  road  lately  laid  out  up  the 
2d  Branch  of  White  River  by  the  Courts  Committee."  The 
article  was  passed  over.  They  evidently  did  not  intend  to  act 
unless  compelled  to  do  so.  In  the  warning  for  a  meeting  on 
May  17,  1836,  one  article  reads:  ''to  see  if  the  town  will  take 
measures  to  make  the  new  road  laid  out  by  a  courts  committee 
and  confirmed  by  the  supreme  court  at  its  last  session  at  Chel- 
sea, up  the  2d  branch  of  White  river."  They  had  paid  little 
regard  to  the  Court's  Committee,  and  were  not  to  be  awed  into 
obedience  even  by  the  Supreme  Court  itself,  as  the  following 

action  will  show : 

"Voted  Ist  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  ascertain  If 
the  Town  Is  legally  obliged  to  make  the  road  supposed  to  have  been 
ordered  by  a  conunittee  appointed  for  that  purpose  by  the  Supreme 
Court  and  the  report  of  said  committee  accepted  by  said  Court  at  their 
session  in  the  County  of  Orange  last  March  Term  said  road  leading 
from  Fox's  tavern  in  said  Royalton  up  the  Second  branch  and  then 
through  Bethel  and  Randolph 

2d  If  in  the  opinion  of  said  conmiittee  the  Town  is  obliged  to 
make  said  Road  then  that  said  committee  be  authorized  and  directed 
to  cause  the  same  to  be  made,  by  selling  the  making  thereof  either 
all  together,  or  in  sections,  either  at  private  sale  or  publick  auction, 
as  said  committee  may  judge  expedient. 

3d  That  said  committee  be  instructed  that,  when  disposing  of 
the  making  of  said  roexi,  it  be  a  condition  precedent  to  the  receiving 
of  any  pay  by  those  who  may  take  it  to  make,  that  it  be  accepted 
by  the  authority  legally  empowered  to  ax^cept  the  same." 

Garner  Rix,  Elisha  Rix,  and  Harry  Bingham  were  chosen 
a  committee  for  the  above  purpose. 

Of  course  the  road  had  to  be  built.  A  special  meeting  was 
called  for  July  9,  1836,  to  instruct  further  the  building  com- 
mittee regarding  the  connection  of  the  new  survey  with  the  old 
road  near  Jonathan  Kinney's.  The  survey  extended  from  Ben- 
jamin Parkhurst's  to  the  road  north  of  Amasa  Button's.  By 
this  survey  two  bridges  were  to  be  built,  one  of  them  by  Wight's 
mills.     The  road  was  to  be  completed  by  July  1,  1837. 

The  damages  assessed  by  the  Court's  Committee  were  not 
satisfactory,  and  the  persons  interested  agreed  with  the  town 
on  May  17th,  in  the  selection  of  a  committee  of  reference.  From 
the  selectmen's  orders  it  is  learned  that  the  road  was  built  in 
sections,  fifteen  at  least,  and  that  John  Brooks,  Oliver  and  John 
Warren,  and  Jedediah  Cleveland  were  the  workmen.  The 
amount  of  damages  for  which  orders  were  issued  was  $618.50, 
and  the  bill  for  building  was  $619.65.  This,  probably,  does  not 
include  the  whole  expense,  as  items  for  lumber  do  not  state  for 
which  bridge  they  were  used.     This  road  was  one  of  the  most 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  256 

expensive  which  the  town  was  called  upon  to  build,  and  it  must 
have  been  a  rather  heavy  burden  for  the  tax-payers,  consider- 
ing they  were  compelled  to  erect  the  Fox  bridge  about  the  same 
time.  At  the  March  meeting  in  1837  the  selectmen  were  di- 
rected to  change  the  survey,  and  lay  a  road  **  across  the  neck 
of  a  pond  on  Jonathan  Kinney's  land."  It  is  said  that  the  old 
branch  road  ran  farther  north,  over  the  hills  down  by  the  pres- 
ent Gteorge  Taggart  place. 

In  1852  a  road  was  laid  out,  beginning  eighty-six  and  one 
half  feet  from  Bufus  Kendrick's,  and  extending  forty  rods 
across  the  railroad  to  the  gate  in  Daniel  Tarbell's  pasture.  This 
seems  to  be  a  survey  of  what  is  now  called  North  street  in  South 
Royalton. 

In  1868  a  petition  was  before  the  Court  of  Windsor  county 
asking  for  a  road  to  be  laid  from  South  Royalton  over  the  hill, 
connecting  with  the  road  from  Royalton  village  to  East  Barnard 
near  the  Broad  Brook  schoolhouse.  The  voters  at  their  March 
meeting  instructed  the  selectmen  to  oppose  the  building  of  it. 
Those  in  favor  of  the  road  did  not  let  the  matter  rest  here.  A 
hearing  was  held  at  Woodard's  hotel  April  27th,  at  which  time 
the  petitioners  and  their  counsel,  Charles  M.  Lamb  and  Stephen 
M.  Pingree,  Esquires,  were  heard,  also  the  selectmen  with  their 
counsel,  D.  C.  Denison  and  Henry  H.  Denison,  Esquires.  The 
hearing  continued  three  days.  After  an  examination  of  the 
premises  and  both  sides  had  been  heard,  the  commissioners  de- 
cided that  a  pent  road  should  be  laid  from  South  Royalton  vil- 
lage to  connect  with  the  Joiner  road  to  Broad  Brook.  It  be- 
gan at  the  tavern  barn  in  South  Royalton.  Gates  were  to  be 
erected  on  the  lines  dividing  the  land,  to  be  kept  closed  from 
April  1st  to  November  15th.  The  survey  states  that  *'said  line 
of  Road  above  described  runs  nearly  in  the  course  of  an  old 
road  partly  worked  from  a  point  where  the  above  described  line 
strikes  the  land  of  D.  B.  King  through  the  entire  length." 

The  commissioners  advised  the  continuation  of  the  road  to 
the  center  of  the  highway  three  and  one  half  rods  from  the 
northwest  comer  of  the  brick  schoolhouse  on  Broad  Brook,  and 
the  cutting  down  and  grading  of  **Clay  Hill."  The  survey 
ran  a  little  east  of  the  old  road.  The  selectmen  were  asked 
to  make  this  an  open  road,  and  they  granted  the  petition  after 
a  hearing  in  August,  1870.  They  assessed  the  damages  at  $13.56. 
The  making  of  this  road  drew  heavily  on  the  tax-payers,  and 
that  year  100  cents  on  the  dollar  was  voted.  The  road  was 
legally  opened  March  16,  1871. 

In  1878  the  selectmen  were  requested  to  widen  what  is 
now  called  Chelsea  street.  The  stores  on  the  Park  side  of  the 
street  had  lately  been  burned.    The  selectmen  ordered  a  side- 


256  History  of  Rotalton,  Vermont 

walk  three  and  one  half  feet  in  width  to  be  built,  and  that  no 
hitching  posts  should  be  allowed  on  either  side  of  the  street. 
They  were  also  petitioned  to  lay  out  a  road  in  the  rear  of  the 
burnt  stores,  and  they  did  so,  extending  a  road  four  rods  wide 
across  the  Park.  The  owners  of  the  land  through  which  the 
road  passed  were  to  receive  damages  as  follows:  Lawrence 
Brainard,  $383.33,  Lewis  Dickerman,  $100,  Aaron  N.  King, 
$58.33.  The  road  was  to  be  completed  and  open  for  the  public 
Nov.  15,  1878.    A  protest  served  to  nullify  this  action. 

Li  1883  a  road  was  laid  out  in  South  Boyalton  from  Isaac 
Northrop 's  across  the  land  of  James  Cloud  and  Lyman  C. 
Tower,  and  across  the  railroad  to  the  Sharon  road.  This  is 
what  is  now  named  South  street. 

In  1903  Bethel  had  to  lay  out  a  road  to  the  lands  of  the 
Woodbury  Qranite  Company  in  Bethel,  and  Royalton  had  to 
lay  out  a  road  to  accommodate  the  Bethel  Electric  Light  & 
Power  Company,  and  the  lands  of  these  two  companies  were 
contiguous  and  near  the  line  between  the  two  towns.  On  June 
20th  the  two  towns  entered  into  the  following  agreement: 
"Whereas  a  highway  on  said  line  between  said  towns  from 
said  main  highway  to  the  lands  of  the  Central  Vermont  Bail- 
road  opposite  the  lands  of  the  sd  Granite  Company  &  near  lands 
of  the  Electric  Light  Co.  would  fill  &  meet  all  the  requirements 
of  the  two  said  companies  for  a  highway,  &  whereas  it  is  im- 
practicable because  of  the  position  of  the  land  to  lay  out  and 
maintain  a  highway  on  sd  town  line — sd  towns  in  accordance 
with  Sec.  3335  of  Vermont  Statutes,  agree  to  ligr  out  and  main- 
tain a  highway  near  sd  town  line  in  the  town  of  Bethel  running 
from  the  main  highway  to  the  lands  of  the  C.  V.  R.  R."  Royalton 
agreed  to  pay  $200  towards  the  road,  and  Bethel  agreed  to  main- 
tain it  for  fifty  years,  if  the  Electric  Co.  or  its  successors  or  as- 
signs should  need  it  for  so  long  a  time,  and  to  save  Royalton 
harmless  from  all  claims  for  damages,  costs,  or  expenses.  The 
Electric  Light  &  Power  Co.  agreed  not  to  make  any  further 
request  of  Royalton  for  any  highway  for  the  same  period  of 
time. 

There  are  several  railroad  crossings  in  Royalton,  some  of 
which  are  very  dangerous.  The  C.  V.  R.  R.  Company  petitioned 
the  Railroad  Commissioners  of  the  State  of  Vermont  in  1908  for 
an  underpass  near  the  residence  of  Patrick  McGuinness.  A 
hearing  was  held  at  Royalton,  April  16,  1908,  when  commis- 
sioners John  W.  Redmond,  Eli  H.  Porter,  and  S.  Hollister 
Jackson,  and  the  clerk,  Rufus  W.  Spear  were  present.  C.  W. 
Witters  appeared  as  attorney  for  the  railroad,  Tarbell  &  Whitham 
for  Royalton,  and  E.  R.  Buck,  State's  Attorney  for  Windsor 
County  and  the  State  of  Vermont  was  also  present.     The  pe- 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  267 

tition  was  granted  June  20,  of  that  year.  The  railroad  was 
ordered  to  build  the  underpass  495  feet  north  of  the  grade  cross- 
ing. The  dimensions,  manner  of  construction,  drainage,  and 
grading  of  the  road  were  specified.  It  was  to  be  twelve  feet 
high  and  twenty  feet  wide.  The  highway  was  to  be  three  rods 
wide,  the  roadway  twenty  feet  wide.  The  underpass  was  to  be 
completed  Nov.  15,  1908,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Board.  Royal- 
ton  was  to  pay  10%,  the  State  25%,  and  the  Railroad  75%  of 
the  exi)ense.  The  total  cost  was  $5330.24,  of  which  sum  Royalton 
had  to  pay  $533.02.  The  road  was  accepted,  but  the  crossing  is 
quite  as  dangerous  as  before,  not  from  the  risk  of  railroad  ac- 
cidents, but  because  the  turn  is  so  abrupt  that  autos  cannot  be 
seen  until  close  at  hand. 

The  highway  districts  were  abolished  in  1892,  when  by 
legislative  enactment  road  commissioners  were  to  be  elected 
by  each  town.  The  next  year  Selden  S.  Brooks  was  elected 
road  commissioner  for  Royalton.  A  road  machine  had  been 
purchased  a  year  or  two  before.  The  highway  bills  for  repairs 
now  increased  considerably,  but  the  expense  was  offset  in  a 
measure  by  the  money  drawn  from  the  State.  The  following 
year  George  Ellis  was  elected  to  the  ofiSce  of  road  commissioner, 
and  held  it  by  re-election  until  1900,  when  C.  C.  Southworth 
was  chosen.  In  1899  the  highway  expenses  were  $2335.79.  The 
increase  in  expense  was  due  in  large  degree  to  the  making  of  per- 
manent roads,  small  portions  being  made  in  different  parts  of 
the  town  each  year.  The  succeeding  commissioners  have  been 
Samuel  L.  Slack,  1902-05,  John  A.  Button,  1905-07,  C.  C.  South- 
worth,  1907-08,  A.  N.  Merrill,  1908-. 

In  1907  the  town  voted  to  lay  out  $300  additional,  and  thus 
take  advantage  of  the  law  passed  in  1906  encouraging  the  build- 
ing of  permanent  state  roads.  There  were  built  in  1908,  249^ 
rods  of  state  road,  at  an  expense  of  $1218.02.  The  entire  bill 
for  highways  that  year  was  $3915.83.  There  were  received 
from  the  State  $917.94. 

There  are  about  ninety-one  miles  of  public  highway  in  town, 
not  counting  pent  roads.  The  roads  are  probably  in  better  con- 
dition than  they  ever  were  before.  The  two  main  roads  on 
either  side  of  the  river  and  the  Chelsea  road  are  much  fre- 
quented by  autos,  and  no  more  beautiful  drives  can  be  found 
anywhere,  than  in  following  the  sinuous  courses  of  the  river 
and  the  two  branches,  with  their  green  islands  and  tree- 
bordered  banks,  and  letting  the  eye  delight  in  the  forest-crowned 
hills  that  feed  these  lovely  streams.  There  is  an  auto  station 
at  South  Royalton  near  the  new  iron  bridge,  and  the  hotels  at 
either  village  welcome  the  weary  and  hungry  traveler,  and 
send  him  on  his  way  with  pleasant  recollections  of  the  beauti- 
ful, old  historic  town. 
17 


258  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

By  the  establishment  of  turnpike  companies  towns  were  re- 
lieved from  excessive  taxation  for  the  purpose  of  building  roads, 
and  from  the  care  and  responsibility  of  the  main  roads  of  the 
town.  By  a  system  of  tolls  it  was  expected  that  the  traveling 
public  would  pay  the  expense  of  construction  and  maintenance, 
and  bring  to  the  companies  a  good  return  for  the  money  in- 
vested. There  is  no  doubt  but  that  they  did  prove  a  blessing  to 
the  towns  for  a  while,  but  it  is  a  question  if  they  proved  very 
productive  to  the  corporations.  In  some  cases  the  turnpikes 
were  not  kept  in  proper  repair,  there  was  more  or  less  quarreling 
over  toll  exactions,  and  the  people  came  to  realize  after  a  time 
that  they  were  really  paying  for  the  roads  themselves,  and  they 
might  as  well  have  the  oversight  of  them. 

The  year  1800  was  a  prolific  one  for  the  birth  of  turnpikes. 
It  was  now  five  years  since  the  first  suggestion  of  a  turnpike, 
according  to  the  Hon.  E.  P.  Walton,  came  from  Sherbum  Hale 
of  Rockingham,  who  petitioned  the  Assembly  to  have  the  exclu- 
sive right  to  build  a  road  in  Rockingham  and  receive  toll  for 
passengers  like  ferrymen. 

On  Oct.  13,  1800,  the  Assembly  considered  a  petition  from 
Joel  Marsh,  Elias  Stevens,  and  G^rge  Dana  ''praying  that  the 
Legislature  will  pass  an  act  granting  to  them  and  their  asso- 
ciates the  exclusive  privilege  of  making  a  Turnpike  Road  from 
the  mouth,  and  on  the  northerly  side  of  White  River  as  near  said 
River  as  may  be,  through  Hartford,  a  comer  of  Pomfret  and 
Sharon,  to  the  mouth  of  the  second  branch  in  White  River  in 
Royalton,  being  about  twenty  one  miles."  The  bill  was  referred 
to  a  committee,  of  which  Jacob  Smith  was  a  member.  This  com- 
mittee reported  that  it  ought  to  pass,  and  it  received  the  ap- 
proval of  the  governor  and  council  Nov.  1,  1800.  Elias  Stevens 
and  Elias  Curtis  were  appointed  a  committee  by  the  company, 
to  survey  the  road.  They  completed  the  survey  to  Sharon 
Nov.  11.  The  survey  in  Royalton  began  at  the  old  Sharon  line 
forty-seven  rods  from  the  center  of  the  road  by  (Jeorge  Dana's 
horse  sheds,  and  extended  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  passing 
Capt.  Gilbert's  house  two  miles  from  Sharon  line,  running  on 
to  Isaac  Morgan's,  148  rods,  then  122  rods  to  Flint's  potash 
works,  then  68  rods  to  the  lower  end  of  Cotton  Evans'  meadow, 
then  258  rods  to  the  south  side  of  the  meeting-house,  then  211 
rods  to  Capt.  Skinner's  house,  then  341  rods  to  Benjamin  Park- 
hurst's  house. 

Two  gates  were  allowed,  which  were  to  be  open  when  no  one 
was  attending  them.  One  of  these  gates  was  on  Sharon  line. 
The  corporation  was  liable  for  damages  on  account  of  defective 
roads  or  bridges.  Commutation  was  allowed  by  paying  a  cer- 
tain sum  monthly  or  yearly.    At  each  gate  were  to  be  sign 


History  of  Botaltok,  Vebhont  259 

boards  with  the  rates  of  toll,  and  if  a  stingy  man  tried  to  avoid 
the  toll  by  driving  around  the  gate,  he  was  to  be  fined.  Toll 
was  not  exacted  of  those  going  to  or  from  public  worship,  or  to 
or  from  any  grist  or  saw  mill,  or  on  military  duty,  or  on  ordi- 
nary domestic  duties.  Accounts  were  to  be  laid  before  the 
Supreme  Court  every  fifteen  years,  and  when  expenses  and  in- 
terest at  the  rate  of  twelve  per  cent  were  paid,  the  Court  had 
power  to  dissolve  the  corporation,  and  vest  the  property  of  the 
road  in  the  State. 

Boyalton  seems  generally  to  have  had  very  peaceable  rela- 
tions with  this  corporation  for  fifty  odd  years.  This  harmony 
was  doubtless  due  to  the  fact,  that  there  were  no  bridges  to 
maintain.  The  selectmen  drew  an  order  in  favor  of  Daniel 
Woodward  for  $30,  on  Aug.  20,  1844,  ' '  it  being  the  sum  he  paid 
the  road  commissioners  for  sitting  on  the  subject  of  White  River 
turnpike  this  month,  as  per  order  of  court."  This  would  in- 
dicate that  there  was  a  little  breeze  of  discord  at  that  time.  Fifty 
years  is  long  enough  to  change  the  personnel  of  any  organiza- 
tion, and  the  conditions  under  which  it  was  formed.  Many  of 
the  turnpike  corporations  had  ceased  to  exist  before  1850,  and 
it  is  very  likely  that  toll  had  ceased  to  be  exacted  rigidly  in  the 
later  years  of  their  existence.  On  Jan.  1,  1852,  the  White  River 
Turnpike  Company  met  at  Sharon  and  voted,  that  when  Hart- 
ford, Sharon,  and  Royalton  or  their  agents  should  pay  $30,  or 
any  one  of  the  towns  should  pay  $10,  they  should  be  entitled 
to  the  turnpike  road  in  such  town.  George  Lyman  was  chosen 
agent  to  close  and  finish  up  the  business  with  the  power  of  di- 
rector. 

There  had  been  some  tentative  negotiations  before  this,  for 
a  special  meeting  was  called  Sep.  2,  1851,  when  it  was  voted  to 
take  the  turnpike  ''on  the  same  principles  that  the  towns  of 
Hartford  &  Sharon  have  by  paying  the  nominal  sum  of  ten  dol- 
lars, and  instruct  the  selectmen  to  repair  the  same  and  divide 
it  into  Highway  Districts."  George  Lyman  as  agent  for  the 
corporation  receipted  for  the  ten  dollars  received  at  the  hand 
of  Forest  Adams,  selectman,  March  24,  1852,  and  this  turnpike 
was  a  thing  of  the  past  in  Royalton. 

The  petition  of  Charles  Marsh  and  Levi  Mower  and  their 
associates  for  a  turnpike  from  Woodstock  Court  House  to  the 
meeting-house  in  Royalton  was  granted  Nov.  6,  1800.  The  con- 
ditions of  this  turnpike  were  almost  identical  with  those  of  the 
preceding.  A  part  of  the  toll  rates  were  **for  every  four- 
wheeled  pleasure  carriage  drawn  by  one  beast,  thirty  cents — 
for  each  wagon  or  cart  drawn  by  two  beasts,  fifteen  cents — for 
each  sled  or  sleigh  drawn  by  two  beasts,  twelve  cents — for  all 
horses,  mules,  or  neat  cattle  led  or  driven,  besides  those  in  teams 
or  carriages,  one  cent  each. 


S60  HiSTOBT  OF  ROl  ALTON,  VERMONT 

By  some  strange  oversight  the  survey  of  this  turnpike  is 
not  recorded  in  Boyalton.  The  subsequent  alterations  ^  are 
found.  The  turnpike  entered  Boyalton  in  25  Large  Allotment, 
and  ran  through  lots  25,  24,  28,  27,  26,  30,  and  across  the  bridge 
at  "Foxville"  a  little  farther  down  stream  than  the  present 
bridge. 

Other  members  of  the  corporation  not  named  were  Jacob 
Smith,  William  Leverett,  Zebulon  Lyon,  and  Stephen  Jacob. 
The  first  meeting  was  to  be  held  at  Joel  Dickenson's  in  Boyalton 
on  the  second  Monday  of  December,  1800.  Three  years  were 
allowed  for  completing  the  road  to  the  acceptance  of  the  judges 
of  the  County  Court.  Two  toll  gates  were  allowed,  and  the 
company  could  erect  others,  but  not  exact  additional  toll. 

To  placate  Pomfret  and  Woodstock,  which  towns  did  not 
take  kindly  to  the  turnpike,  considerable  favoritism  was  allowed 
at  the  toU  gate  near  Daniel  Dana's  in  Woodstock.  In  the 
course  of  events  David  Bosworth  in  1838  was  appointed  gate 
keeper.  The  gate  had  been  open  a  part  of  the  time  before  his 
advent,  but  Mr.  Bosworth  was  going  to  live  up  to  the  law  in  let- 
ter and  spirit,  and  seemed  to  think  that  ''domestic  concerns" 
had  been  given  too  broad  an  interpretation.  Accordingly,  he 
exacted  toll  of  every  one.  Naturally,  this  course  created  a  stir 
and  opposition.  Mr.  Dana  in  his  History  of  Woodstock  says, 
"On  one  side  was  a  powerful  party  consisting  of  the  town  of 
Woodstock  and  the  people  living  adjacent  thereto,  and  on  the 
other  side  was  a  powerful  party,  consisting  of  David  Bosworth." 
And  Mr.  Bosworth  won  out,  setting  up  the  toll  gate  when  the 
authorities  tore  it  down,  and  continuing  placidly  to  exact  toll 
with  impartiality. 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  dissatisfaction  in  Boyalton  re- 
garding this  turnpike,  and  the  condition  of  the  bridge  over  the 
river  which  it  was  to  support.  The  road  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  a  paying  investment,  and  it  was  not  kept  in  proper  repair, 
the  bridge  becoming  really  unsafe.  The  company  tried  to  avoid 
responsibility  by  changing  its  route  and  crossing  the  bridge  at 
the  center  of  the  town.  Their  right  to  do  this  was  questioned, 
but  finally  at  a  meeting  Sep.  9,  1830,  the  town  voted,  **That  if 
the  Boyalton  &  Woodstock  Turnpike  company  will  lay  out  & 
support  their  road  across  the  bridge  over  White  Biver  near 
Boyalton  Meeting  house  &  support  sd  Bridge  as  part  of  sd 
turnpike  the  town  of  Boyalton  will  pay  the  sum  of  twenty 
five  Dollars  annually  for  the  term  of  twenty  years  to  said  com- 
pany towards  the  support  of  sd  Bridge."  On  the  13th  of  the 
same  month  Edwin  Edgerton  as  sole  director  of  said  company 
accepted  the  proposition,  and  became  bound  to  support  the 
bridge. 


History  op  Botalton,  Vermont  261 

A  legislative  act  of  1839  made  it  within  the  power  of  the 
supreme  court  and  county  courts  to  take  the  turnpikes  whenever 
the  public  good  required  them  for  public  highways.  The  pe- 
tition of  Titus  Hutchinson  and  ninety-nine  others  for  a  free 
road  from  the  house  of  Jacob  Fox,  ''crossing  the  bridge  over  the 
river  and  coming  on  the  present  Turnpike  road  as  much  of  the 
way  as  shall  be  necessary,  laying  out  new  routes  by  some  of  the 
steep  hills,  laying  the  same  through  a  part  of  Royalton,  Barnard, 
Pomfret  and  Woodstock  to  the  Court  House  Common  in  Wood- 
stock," came  up  in  the  May  term  of  court  at  Woodstock  in 
1841.  The  petitioners  were  represented  by  Titus  Hutchinson, 
and  the  Turnpike  Company  by  Tracy  &  Converse,  Boyalton  by 
the  Hon.  J.  S.  Marcy.  The  company  asked  that  the  petition  be 
dismissed,  on  the  ground  that  the  road  was  to  run  over  the 
whole  route  of  the  turnpike,  but  they  were  overruled,  and  ex- 
ceptions were  taken.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  lay  out  a 
road,  if  they  should  think  the  public  good  required  it.  They  did 
so,  their  report  was  accepted  at  the  November  term,  exceptions 
>were  taken,  the  report  was  recommitted,  and  ordered  to  be 
brought  in  at  the.  next  term.  The  petitioners  were  allowed  to 
amend  their  petition  so  that  the  road  should  begin  at  the  meet- 
ing-house, as  it  stood  in  1800. 

The  company  made  a  list  of  eighteen  objections,  the  chief 
being,  that  the  report  showed  no  need  of  a  new  highway,  that 
the  legislative  act  under  which  the  commissioners  acted  was  void 
and  unconstitutional,  the  damages  too  small,  there  was  no  serv- 
ice of  said  petition,  and  no  notice  to  appear  in  court,  all  of 
which  were  overruled,  and  the  road  ordered  to  be  open  by  May 
1,  1842.     The  turnpike  died  hard,  but  it  was  dead. 

The  lack  of  a  recorded  survey  of  this  turnpike  may,  per- 
haps, be  explained  by  a  reference  to  Zebulon  Lyon's  letter  in 
reply  to  an  inquiry  in  1810  of  the  Surveyor  General  regarding 
the  accuracy  of  maps  and  surveys.  Mr.  Lyon  wrote  that  the 
turnpike  in  almost  every  instance  was  the  same  as  the  old  road, 
except  straightened  where  there  were  short  brooks.  The  old 
road  was  laid  out  in  1793,  and  the  places  then  mentioned  were 
Joseph  Bowman's,  Luther  Fairbanks',  and  Abel  Stevens'. 
When  the  turnpike  took  the  risk  of  the  center  bridge,  a  new 
survey  was  made.  Beginning  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  south  of 
David  Williams',  it  ran  122  rods  to  Williams'  line,  200  rods  to 
the  gulf,  110  rods  to  the  Ross  house,  96  rods  to  the  Rix  bridge, 
84  rods  to  the  Rix  road,  66  rods  to  E.  Parkhurst's  land,  31  rods 
to  the  schoolhouse,  into  the  county  road,  and  so  on  to  the  meet- 
ing-house in  Royalton  village.  In  1838,  after  the  town  had 
built  a  bridge  at  ''Foxville,"  a  new  survey  began  at  the  same 
place  as  before,  extending  236  rods  to  a  point  opposite  E.  Rix's 


262  History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont 

bam,  76  rods  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  214  rods  to  the  bridge, 
across  it,  then  26  rods  to  the  White  River  Turnpike.  Of 
course  from  this  time  the  town  would  not  pay  the  $25  yearly 
agreed  upon  for  the  support  of  the  center  bridge,  as  the  com- 
pany had  turned  back  to  its  old  route. 

The  Center  Turnpike  Company  was  incorporated  in  1800, 
Nov.  4,  extending  from  Middlebury  to  the  courthouse  in  Wood- 
stock, and  also  a  road  was  to  leave  ''the  aforesaid  road  at  the 
most  convenient  place,  and  to  extend  to  the  mouth  of  the  sec- 
ond branch  of  the  White  River  in  the  town  of  Royalton."  One 
gate  was  to  be  allowed  on  the  extension  to  Royalton.  The 
Royalton  and  Woodstock  Turnpike  seems  to  have  served  the 
purpose  of  this  extension.  The  Center  company  had  a  survey 
made  of  the  White  River  branch  Nov.  8,  1806.  It  began  a  few 
rods  east  of  the  Second  Branch  where  the  White  River  and 
Randolph  turnpikes  met,  and  extended  up  the  river  as  the  old 
road  ran  to  Samuel  Wheeler's,  past  Joseph  Bowman's,  the 
houses  of  John  Bliss  and  Thomas  Bacon,  crossing  the  road  at 
the  last  point,  then  on  to  Bethel  line.  Jesse  Williams  was  the 
surveyor.    This  gave  an  extension  towards  West  Bethel. 

Leonard  Farewell  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Randolph 
Turnpike  Company.  He  had  to  wait  a  year  before  he  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  a  charter.  The  road  was  incorporated 
Nov.  8,  1805.  The  Legislature  appointed  Elias  Stevens,  Cor- 
nelius Lynde,  and  Nathaniel  Wheatley  as  commissioners  to  lay 
out  the  road.  The  survey  was  made  on  the  20th  of  the  same 
month.  It  began  at  the  north  end  of  the  White  River  Turn- 
pike, five  rods  south  of  Jacob  Fox's,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Second  Branch,  and  extended  to  Bethel  line,  then  on  through 
Bethel  and  into  Randolph.  Daniel  Paine  was  the  surveyor.  It 
seems  to  have  followed  the  old  road  up  the  Second  Branch,  with 
one  exception.  John  Kimball  was  the  only  one  receiving  any 
damages,  and  he  was  to  have  $35  if  the  old  road  was  discon- 
tinued, otherwise,  $60. 

The  following  attested  by  Leonard  Farewell,  clerk  of  the 
Randolph  Turnpike  Company,  is  recorded  in  the  town  records 
under  date  of  Nov.  30,  1833:  **At  a  meeting  of  all  the  pro- 
prietors &  owners  of  the  Randolph  Turnpike  holden  at  the  house 
of  Jacob  Fox  in  Royalton  in  the  County  of  Windsor  on  the 
18th  day  of  November  1833  voted  unanimously  by  the  pro- 
prietors of  sd  Turnpike  that  they  from  this  time  surrender  up 
their  charter  of  incorporation  &  surrender  up  sd  Road  to  the 
public  agreeable  to  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of 
Vermont  Passed  on  the  sixth  day  of  November  1833." 

The  fordways  in  Royalton  were  an  important  part  of  its 
road  system  for  twenty  or  more  years.    It  is  very  likely  that  the 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  268 

Indians  in  their  journeys  up  and  down  the  river  had  already 
left  a  trail  indicating  some  of  them.  Perhaps  the  one  used  by 
the  first  settler,  Robert  Havens,  was  one  later  spoken  of  in  1792 
as  leading  from  Nathaniel  Morse's  to  Daniel  Rix's.  It  was  259 
rods  south  of  the  mouth  of  the  First  Branch. 

The  first  mention  of  any  fordway  in  the  records  is  that  of 
the  "old  fort  fordway"  in  1781,  when  the  pound  was  located 
west  of  it.  It  must  have  been  used  as  early  as  the  building  of 
the  fort  in  1776.  It  is  still  an  available  fordway  for  the  town. 
It  was  surveyed  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  in  1797,  on  the 
line  between  Blisha  Kent,  Jr.,  and  Joseph  Safford.  It  was  sur- 
veyed on  the  north  side  in  1829.  It  was  discontinued  Jan.  15, 
1849,  on  condition  that,  if  the  public  convenience  required  it  at 
any  time,  the  selectmen  were  to  have  the  right  to  open  it,  and 
the  town  would  not  be  liable  for  damages  to  those  owning  the 
premises.  The  last  time  that  it  was  re-opened  was  during  the 
building  of  the  new  iron  bridge  at  South  Boyalton. 

The  Durkee  fordway  and  the  Handy  fordway  are  referred 
to  in  1782.  What  seems  to  be  the  former  was  surveyed  in  1795. 
It  began  on  the  line  between  Isaac  Skinner's  and  Jacob  Saf- 
ford's,  on  the  road  from  Daniel  Clapp's  to  Darius  Dewey's,  run- 
ning to  the  south  bank  of  the  river,  across  it  into  the  road  by 
the  meeting-house.  This  is  generally  called  the  ''Bix  ford- 
way." It  must  have  been  used  from  the  earliest  days,  as  it 
was  not  far  from  this  fordway  that  Benjamin  Parkhurst  settled. 
The  Handy  fordway  is  described  as  being  one  rod  above  Stevens 
bridge.  One  might  think  this  received  its  name  from  the 
heroine,  Mrs.  Hendee,  but  it  is  referred  to  as  at  the  **hendy  lot." 
It  is  impossible  to  connect  this  lot  with  any  land  belonging  to 
Bobert  Handy.  He  may  have  lived  near  the  Milo  Dewey  place 
before  the  land  was  allotted  under  the  Vermont  charter,  as 
Bobert  Havens  lived  on  the  George  Cowdery  place.  Perhaps 
they  took  ** squatters*  rights,"  as  so  many  others  did  in  those 
days. 

One  other  fordway  is  mentioned  as  early  as  1792,  then  called 
a  fordway  to  Pinney's,  which  is  probably  the  same  as  the  one 
near  John  Marshall's,  now  the  home  of  Mrs.  John  Hinkley.  A 
fordway  still  earlier  mentioned  was  connected  with  a  second, 
the  two  lying  at  opposite  ends  of  an  island.  These  are  named 
first  in  a  deed  of  1787,  given  by  Calvin  Parkhurst,  when  he  sold 
a  four-acre  island  located  between  a  fordway  called  **  Shorts 
intervail  fordway"  and  the  one  leading  from  Zebulon  Lyon's 
to  John  Kent's.  The  course  of  the  river  and  the  islands  in  it 
have  changed  so  much  that  it  is  difiScult  to  verify  the  places 
mentioned,  but  this  island  seems  to  have  been  partly  in  the  rear 
of  the  common  in  Boyalton  village,  extending  above  the  present 


264  History  of  Rotalton,  Vermont 

bridge.  No  trace  of  ''Short"  has  been  found,  and  it  may  have 
been  a  nickname,  or  he  may  have  rented  land.  This  island  ap- 
I>ear8  to  have  come  into  tiie  possession  of  Dr.  Denison.  The 
Lyman  f ordway  referred  to  so  frequently  may  have  been  the 
upper  one  of  these  two,  which  is  thought  to  be  the  one  near  Mr. 
Cteorge  Joy's  in  the  village.  There  was  surely  one  f ordway,  at 
least,  leading  to  the  center  of  the  town,  as  Mr.  Lamb,  in  re- 
porting on  places  for  building  a  bridge  refers  to  it. 

Another  fordway  of  which  little,  if  any,  mention  is  made 
in  deeds  and  surveys,  is  the  one  where  Tilly  Parkhurst  lived  at 
the  time  of  the  Lidian  raid,  and  where  his  son,  Phineas,  was  shot 
by  the  Indians,  when  he  attempted  to  cross  White  river.  This 
has  later  been  known  as  the  James  Williams  fordway.  The 
Williams  farm  is  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Delia  H.  Tenney. 

It  is  not  likely  that  the  town  would  survey  and  maintain 
any  considerable  number  of  fordways.  That  did  not  prevent 
the  use  of  what  might  be  called  private  fordways,  of  which,  no 
doubt,  there  were  several,  and  of  which  no  record  has  been 
found. 

Elias  Lyman,  a  merchant  at  Hartford,  was  a  middleman 
for  the  transmission  to  Boston  by  boat  of  farm  products  for 
the  surrounding  towns.  White  river  empties  into  the  Con- 
necticut at  Hartford,  and  it  occurred  to  some  enterprising  heads 
in  Boyalton  that  it  would  be  a  good  thing  to  have  water  com- 
munication with  the  Connecticut  river,  and  thus  increase  facili- 
ties of  transportation.  Accordingly,  the  legislature  in  October, 
1796,  was  petitioned  by  Elkanah  Stevens,  Daniel  Gilbert,  and 
Jacob  Smith,  all  of  Boyalton,  for  a  grant  to  them  of  the  ex- 
clusive privilege  of  locking  White  river  from  its  mouth  as  far 
as  the  meeting-house  in  Boyalton.  The  petition  was  referred 
to  a  joint  committee,  and  allowed  to  lie  until  the  next  session 
in  February,  when  it  was  favorably  considered  by  the  Assembly, 
but  the  Governor  and  Council  decided  it  should  be  put  over  until 
the  following  session.  The  petition  was  granted  and  the  bill 
concurred  in,  Nov.  1,  1797.    A  part  of  the  bill  reads  as  follows: 

**It  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
of  Vermont.  That  Elkanah  Stevens,  Daniel  Gilbert,  Jacob 
Smith  and  their  associates,  be  and  they  hereby  are  formed  into, 
constituted  and  made  a  body  politic  and  corporate,  by  the  name 
of  *The  Company  for  Locking  White  Biver/  and  they  and  their 
successors,  and  such  other  persons  as  shall  be  hereafter  admitted 
members  of  said  company,  shall  be,  and  continue  a  body  politic 
and  corporate,  by  the  same  name  forever.  And  the  said  com- 
pany shall  have  the  exclusive  privilege  of  erecting  and  con- 
tinuing locks  on  White  river  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  in  such 
places  as  they  think  necessary,  from  the  mouth  of  white  river 


History  op  Botaltok,  Vermont  265 

up  said  stream,  as  far  as  Royalton  meeting  house,  under  the  fol- 
lowing limitations  and  restrictions." 

The  company  was  to  forfeit  all  rights  if  the  work  was  not 
completed  in  ten  years.  Toll  for  loaded  boats  was  to  be  twenty 
cents  a  ton,  and  the  same  for  every  thousand  feet  of  boards  and 
timber.  How  much  work  was  ever  done  on  this  system  of  lock- 
ing, and,  if  completed,  how  long  it  was  operative,  has  not  been 
learned.  Mr.  Stevens  became  involved,  and  it  may  be  that  the 
enterprise  was  abandoned,  but  it  shows  the  wide-awake  spirit  of 
the  men  who  were  working  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  town. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


Bridges. 


It  is  likely  that  some  small  bridges  were  built  by  individuals 
before  the  Indian  raid.  If  the  construction  of  any  of  the  larger 
bridges  was  discussed,  it  would  have  appeared  in  the  records  of 
the  proprietors,  which  were  burned  in  that  catastrophe.  The 
Connecticut  Courant  was  for  a  time  the  paper  patronized  by 
Vermonters  for  their  advertisements.  In  it  Vermont  advertised 
at  one  time  a  State  lottery,  and  through  it  she  sent  out  her 
''Appeal  to  the  World."  In  this  same  paper  Comfort  Sever, 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  on  July  11,  1780,  three  months  before  the 
raid,  gave  notice  of  a  proprietors'  meeting  to  be  holden  at  the 
house  of  Lieut.  Elias  "Stephens"  on  the  second  Tuesday  of 
September  at  1  o'clock,  to  choose  officers  and  "to  see  if  the 
proprietors  wiU  build  a  bridge  across  the  first  branch."  What- 
ever their  action  was,  the  project  was  delayed  for  nearly  two 
years. 

The  first  bridges  to  be  built  in  town  were  over  the  smaller 
streams.  The  river  was  fordable  in  various  places,  and  the  ex- 
pense of  a  bridge  across  it  was  too  heavy  for  the  comparatively 
few  settlers  previous  to  1784.  So  we  find  that  the  earliest  men- 
tion of  bridges,  dated  Mar.  21,  1782,  dealt  with  the  building  of 
the  smaller  bridges.  This  was  the  day  of  their  regular  town 
meeting,  and  it  was  voted  to  raise  two  pence  on  the  acre  on  all 
the  land  in  the  town  except  public  land  and  the  undivided  land 
for  the  use  of  building  three  bridges,  one  half  to  be  paid  Oct. 
1,  1782,  and  the  other  half  to  be  paid  Oct.  1,  1783.  The  money 
was  to  be  paid  to  the  committee  or  collector  in  hard  money  or 
labor.  Benjamin  Parkhurst,  John  Hibbard,  Lieut.  Durkee,  Mr. 
Rix,  Lieut.  Parkhurst,  and  Lieut.  Stevens  were  the  committee 
to  see  that  the  bridges  were  built.  Elias  Curtis  did  not  wait  for 
the  committee  to  act,  but  erected  a  bridge  at  his  own  lot,  per- 
haps near  where  the  second  bridge  is,  over  the  First  Branch 
above  Pierce's  Mills.  He  owned  34  and  39  Dutch.  The  voters 
met  again  August  8th  to  see  about  hiring  a  minister,  and  at  this 
time  they  voted  to  relinquish  the  taxes  of  Mr.  Curtis  for  build- 
ing this  bridge  on  his  lot.     They  also  chose  Huckens  Storrs, 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  367 

Robert  Havens  and  Joseph  Havens  a  committee  to  build  the 
bridge  or  oversee  the  work  at  the  mills  of  Mr.  Storrs. 

The  three  bridges  were  not  completed  Mar.  27,  1783,  when 
it  was  voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  committee,  and  their 
amounts  for  building  the  three  bridges,  the  total  being  £135. 
The  committee  was  to  stand  good  and  finish  the  bridges.  On 
Christmas  day  of  that  year  the  committee  were  instructed  to 
add  to  their  accounts  the  labor  done  in  raising  the  bridges,  and 
on  June  19,  1784,  a  committee  of  three,  all  of  whom  were  on 
the  building  committee,  were  chosen  to  adjust  the  accounts  of 
the  building  committee.  It  found  that  the  town  was  in  debt 
£22.  19.  This  was  to  be  raised  on  "the  Poles  and  Raitable 
Estates." 

On  Jan.  6,  1784,  the  committee  that  had  built  the  three 
bridges,  except  Mr.  Durkee,  was  chosen  to  draw  up  a  subscrip- 
tion paper  to  see  what  could  be  obtained  towardls  building  a 
bridge  across  White  river.  It  would  seem  that  the  efforts  of 
this  committee  were  not  very  fruitful.  It  must  be  remembered 
that  the  town  was  erecting  a  house  for  the  minister,  and  laying 
out  new  roads,  and  had  just  built  three  bridges,  probably  over 
the  two  branches.  The  town  records  do  not  show  it,  but  the 
selectmen  chosen  in  1783  petitioned  the  Legislature  Feb.  28, 
1784,  for  permission  to  raise  the  money  for  the  proposed  bridge 
by  lottery.  Lotteries  were  so  common  for  building  roads  and 
bridges,  that  they  were  scarcely  thought  of  then  as  wrong  in 
principle  or  harmful  in  practice.  Yet  they  had  to  conform  to 
law,  and  be  legalized  by  legislative  enactment.  The  following 
bill  was  passed  March  2,  1784: 

'That  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Royalton,  in  Windsor  C6unty, 
which  shall  be  chosen  in  the  present  year,  have  liberty  to  raise  by 
way  of  lottery,  a  sum  not  exceeding  one  hundred  and  forty  pounds, 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a  bridge  over  White  River  in  said  town, 
about  twenty  rods  below  a  place  commonly  known  by  the  name  of 
the  Handy  Pordway,  under  such  regulations  as  the  authority  in  said 
town  shall  direct;  they  the  Selectmen  giving  sufficient  bonds  to  said 
authority  for  the  faithful  performance  of  their  trust.  And,  that  it 
be  understood  that  this  State  are  in  no  wise  accountable  for  the  same." 

The  bridge  place  had  been  selected  some  time  before,  as 
the  road  surveys  of  May  24,  1783,  refer  to  the  ** bridge  place." 
This  site  was  not  far  from  the  site  first  selected  for  a  meeting 
house,  and  had  the  advantage  of  rocky  projections  on  either  side 
of  the  river,  making  the  stream  narrow  at  that  point,  and  fur- 
nishing a  solid  foundation  for  the  abutments. 

The  next  notice  of  the  bridge  is  dated  Aug.  9,  1785,  when 
it  was  voted  that  the  tickets  of  the  Royalton  bridge  lottery  so- 
called  that  remained  unsold  at  the  close  of  the  drawing  of  the 
lottery  should  be  at  the  ** risque"  of  the  town.    And  again  on 


268  History  of  Royaltok,  Vermont 

Nov.  29th  Elias  Curtis,  Lieut  Lyon,  and  Major  Calvin  Park- 
hurst  were  chosen  a  committee  to  take  charge  of  all  the  tickets 
that  should  remain  unsold  at  day  of  drawing,  for  use  of  the 
town.  How  successful  this  lottery  was,  we  shall  probably  never 
know,  but  it  is  quite  evident  that  it  did  not  net  the  necessary 
amount  for  building  the  bridge,  for  on  April  17,  1786,  it  was 
voted  to  try  to  raise  the  remainder  of  the  money  for  building 
the  bridge  over  White  river  by  subscription,  and  if  the  whole 
of  the  money  that  the  managers  of  the  lottery  were  bound  to  pay 
for  said  bridge  more  than  was  already  raised  could  not  be  raised 
by  subscription  in  six  months,  then  the  subscription  was  to  be 
null  and  void,  and  the  same  was  to  be  raised  on  the  polls  and 
ratable  estates  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  to  be  paid  in  wheat 
at  six  shillings  a  bushel  by  the  first  day  of  November,  1787.  On 
Mar.  16th  previously,  the  proprietors  had  voted  ''That  the 
proprietors  will  give  all  the  money  that  is  in  the  hand  of  the 
Perdential  Comitt  for  the  use  of  Building  or  help  building  a 
Bridge  over  white  River  in  Royalton  near  the  handy  fordway 
and  that  the  Manargers  of  Royalton  Lottry  give  Bond  to  sd 
Committee  for  their  faithfull  performance  in  Laying  out  the 
money  on  sd  Bridg."  Lieut.  Lyon,  Deacon  Fish,  and  Benja- 
min Day  were  chosen  a  committee  ''to  call  on  the  Perdential 
Commt  for  the  money  that  is  in  their  hands,  and  the  perdential 
Comtt  are  Ordered  to  Deliver  it  to  the  Above  Comt  and  the 
sd  Lion  fish  and  Day  are  Ordered  to  Delivered  to  the  Manergers 
of  Royalton  Lottry  and  take  Bonds  of  sd  Manergers  for  the 
same  that  it  shall  be  Laid  out  on  sd  Bridg  that  is  Mentioned 
in  the  second  vote  of  this  Meeting."  Not  enough  funds  were 
yet  collected,  and  the  next  September  the  town  voted  to  pay  to 
the  managers  of  the  lottery  the  grain  collected  for  the  men  for 
raising  the  large  bridge  over  White  river  to  the  amount  of  195 
days'  work.  They  chose  John  Hibbard,  Esquire  Curtis,  and 
Elias  Stevens  a  committee  to  examine  Mr.  Wilcox's  accounts  in 
regard  to  said  bridge,  and  make  report  to  the  town. 

No  one  can  say  when  work  on  the  bridge  began  or  when  it 
ended.  It  probably  began  some  time  before  all  the  money  was 
raised,  and  was  not  ended  Feb.  5,  1787,  when  a  committee  was 
chosen  to  consult  the  managers  of  the  lottery  to  see  what  sum  to 
petition  the  General  Assembly  for  as  a  land  tax  for  the  use  of 
building  the  "Great  bridge."  The  Governor  and  Council  con- 
curred, Feb.  21,  1787,  in  passing  a  bill  granting  Royalton  a  two 
pence  land  tax  for  finishing  the  bridge  over  White  river.  There 
were  many  who  failed  to  pay  their  taxes  for  bridges,  and  es- 
pecially for  the  one  over  the  river,  and  their  land  was  sold  to 
meet  the  requirement.  Though  the  fathers  seem  not  to  have 
told  their  sons,  nor  the  sons  their  sons,  when  the  bridge  was 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  269 

finished,  they  did  hand  down  a  tradition  of  an  incident  connected 
with  its  completion  that  gave  name  to  the  bridge,  by  which  name 
it  will  probably  always  be  known. 

It  is  said  that  one  Stevens  was  anxious  for  the  honor  of 
carrying  the  first  load  over  the  bridge  after  its  completion,  and 
he  used  the  strongest  and  most  persuasive  inducement  to  se- 
cure his  end.  He  promised  to  give  a  barrel  of  rum  for  the  priv- 
ilege, which  was  granted.  When  they  had  gathered  to  celebrate 
the  event  towards  which  they  had  been  working  for  three  or 
more  years,  he  swung  a  buxom  lass  on  his  back  and  trotted  over 
to  the  other  side  of  the  river.  As  the  story  goes,  the  head  of  the 
barrel  went  in,  and  the  cheers  went  up  as  the  rum  went  down, 
and  to  this  day  the  old  bridge  is  called  Stevens  bridge.  It  is 
difficult  to  think  of  the  dignified  G^n.  Elias  Stevens  serving  as 
a  donkey  for  a  giggling  girl,  and  there  was  only  one  other 
Stevens  in  town  so  far  as  is  known,  and  that  was  Esquire 
Stevens,  the  Abel  Stevens,  who  was  the  first  town  clerk,  but 
then,  even  the  staidest  men  have  done  some  grotesque  things 
under  excitement  and  the  added  stimulus  of  whiskey. 

Though  the  location  of  the  bridge  had  its  advantages  of 
narrowness  and  solidity,  these  were  more  than  offset  by  the 
obstruction  that  y^as  pretty  sure  to  follow  a  freshet  or  the  break- 
ing up  of  the  ice  in  spring,  when  the  swirling  mass  would  ram 
against  the  primitive  abutments,  which  in  all  likelihood  were 
made  of  logs.  It  occasions  no  surprise,  then,  to  read  that  on 
Aug.  18,  1789,  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to  repair  the 
abutments  of  the  *  *  Great  bridge. ' '  The  bridge  over  the  Second 
Branch  had  required  repairing  in  1788,  and  again  in  1790, 
June  20th,  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  repair  this  bridge, 
and  also  the  one  over  the  *  *  main  River  in  ye  easyest  &  best  man- 
ner for  ye  good  of  ye  town,'*  and  to  dispose  of  the  bridge  over 
the  mill  pond  in  the  best  manner  for  the  good  of  the  town.  It 
must  have  been  rather  discouraging  to  see  for  the  third  time  the 
object  of  their  care  and  pride  tottering  on  its  foundations,  and 
timber  by  timber  go  sailing  down  stream.  Yet  again  they 
turned  courageously  to  its  repair  on  September  20,  1791,  and 
chose  a  committee  to  repair  the  **  great  bridge,  and  to  dispose 
of  the  plank  to  the  best  advantage."  Once  more  the  town 
records  must  be  supplemented  by  facts  found  elsewhere.  The 
legislative  committee  on  petitions  reported  Oct.  24,  1791,  that 
the  following  petition  ought  to  be   granted: 

"To  the  Honbl  Genl  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Vermont  Now  sit- 
ting  

the  petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Royaltoo  in  the  County  of  Wind- 
sor Humbly  Sheweth  that  the  bridge  over  white  river  in  the  sd  Town 
of  Royalton  is  so  far  out  of  repair  that  it  is  rendered  impassable  and 
that  the  repairing  the  same  would  be  very  difficult  unless  the  E^z- 
pens  or  some  part  thereof  could  ( — ?)  in  the  Pattronag  of  the  Publick  it 


270  History  of  Boyalton^  Vermont 

that  the  sd  bridge  being  on  the  great  Road  from  the  eastern  part  of 
this  State  ft  New  Hampshire  to  the  Northern  Part  of  the  State  Into 
Canada  ft  that  the  sd  White  RiTor  being  impassable  at  certain  seaaims 
of  the  year.  Your  Petitioners » therefor  pray  their  case  may  be  taken 
under  your  wise  consideration  ft  either  by  a  Lottery  or  in  Some  other 
way  your  Petitioners  may  be  Enabled  to  Raise  the  Sum  of  <me  hundred 
ft  fifty  pounds  to  be  laid  out  in  repairing  sd  bridge  in  such  a  way  and 
under  such  regulations  as  your  Honors  Shall  think  may  be  safe  ft 
EiZpedient  ft  as  your  Petitioners  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray 

Calvin  Parkhurst" 

The  bill  was  passed  and  approved  by  the  Governor  on  the  28th 
of  October,  except  the  amount  is  then  stated  to  be  one  hundred  pounds. 
In  a  torn  piece  of  paper  filed  with  Spooner's  Vermont  Journal  in  the 
Williams  library,  Woodstock,  the  following  was  found: 

"Drawing  of  RojneUton  Great 
Bridge  Lottery 

The  Publick  are  informed  that  the  drawing  ci  Royalton  Great 
Bridge  Lottery  will  commence  on  the  11th  of  September  next,  at  my 
house  in  Royalton. 

Sam.  Searle,  Bianager. 

Aug.  14,  1792." 

This  suggested  that  a  search  for  the  files  of  the  Vermont 
Journal  might  reveal  more  of  the  history  of  the  bridge  lottery. 
A  remarkably  full  and  well-arranged  collection  of  Vermont 
newspapers  in  the  State  Library  gave  the  opportunity  desired. 
The  following  additional  information  was  derived  from  this 
source. 

"Royalton  Lottery. 
For  raising  One  Hundred  and  Fifty  Pounds  for  the  purpose  oC 
repairing  the  Great  Bridge  in  Royalton,  on  the  great  road  leading 
from  New  Hampshire  to  Canada,  Ac,  granted  by  the  General  Ass^nbly 
of  this  State,  at  their  present  session  in  Windsor — consisting  of  2200 
Tickets  at  One  Dollar  each — 713  of  which  are  benefit  tickets  drawing 
prizes  of  the  following  value,  viz. 

1  prize  of  100  Dollars,  is  100 

1  50  50 

2  25  50 
4                     10  40 

25  4  100 

680  2  1360 

2200  Dollars  in  Tickets 
1700  Paid  out  in  Prizes 


500  to  make  Repairs  as  above 
Cash  or  Wheat  at  3s  per  bushel,  or  Neat  Stock  at  cash  value 
(where  a  large  number  of  Tickets  are  purchased)  will  be  received  in 
payment  for  Tickets;   as  also  Notes  for  the  same,  to  either  of  the 

managers. Prizes  to  be  paid  in  like  manner,  in  20  days  from  the 

completion  of  the  drawing  of  the  said  Lottery. 

As  the  design  of  this  Lottery  is  to  promote  the  good  of  the  public, 
and  the  sale  of  the  Tickets,  as  to  price  and  payment,  being  adapted  to 
the  lowest  circumstances,  as  well  as  to  that  of  the  most  opulent,  with 
about  two  blanks  to  a  prize;  and  especially  with  the  prospect  of  obtain- 
ing several  valuable  prizes,  it  cannot  be  doubted  but  all  persons  whose 
local  circumstances  do  admit,  will  wish  to  become  adventurers  con- 
sequently a  speedy  sale  of  the  tickets  may  be  expected,  on  which  the 


HiSTOBY    OP    EOYALTON,    VeBMOKT  271 

drawing  will  commence — a  list  of  prizes  made  out  and  published  in 
the  Vermont  Journal  in  due  time.  Those  persons  who  do  not  apply 
to  either  of  the  Managers  to  receire  their  prizes  within  six  months 
after  publishing  the  same,  will  be  deemed  as  generously  giving  them 
to  the  undertaking 

Samuel  D.  Searle         \ 
Zebulon  Lyon  >  Managers 

Benjamin  Parkhurst    ) 
Nov.  1,  1791" 

This  notice  was  made  out  three  days  after  the  grant  of  the 
lottery.  The  sale  of  tickets  went  on  with  sufficient  rapidity, 
so  that  the  drawing  was  set  for  Sep.  11th  of  the  next  year,  as 
already  stated.  Before  that  time  another  notice  was  inserted 
in  the  Vermont  Journal  to  this  effect : 

"The  Managers  of  the  Royalton  Great  Bridge  Lottery  request  all 
those  who  have  receipted  Tickets  to  dispose  ci  them  as  fast  as  possible 
— and  make  returns  to  them  in  five  weeks  from  this  date,  as  the 
drawing  will  probably  commence  as  soon  as  conveniently  may  be  after 

that  time. ^Those  who  have  not  purchased,  are  invited  to  become 

adventurers. 

Samuel  Searle,  Manager. 

Royalton,  July  4, 1792" 

A  quite  careful  scrutiny  of  the  files  of  the  Vermont  Jour- 
nal for  the  rest  of  the  year,  1792,  failed  to  show  any  list  of  those 
drawing  prizes.  The  litigation  which  followed  may  have  ren- 
dered the  list  uncertain,  yet  it  would  seem  that  the  method  of 
notifying  successful  ''adventurers"  was  to  be  through  the  nevra- 
paper,  and  not  by  private  message.  The  first  notice  of  the  draw- 
ing was  in  the  issue  of  August  20,  and  the  one  seen  in  Wood- 
stock was  in  the  issue  of  September  3,  1792. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Walter  E.  Perkins  of  Pomfret, 
a  cut  of  one  of  the  tickets  of  this  lottery  is  shown  in  this  book 
in  connection  with  other  relics.  Who  had  the  ticket  is  not 
known,  or  whether  it  was  a  **fortinet"  ticket  or  not.  Dr.  Searle 
says  in  his  advertisement  that  a  few  tickets  are  left,  and  can  be 
had  if  applied  for  immediately.  The  office  of  manager  was  no 
sinecure.  The  justice  courts  of  Hon.  John  Throop  of  Pomfret 
show  that  considerable  litigation  arose  after  the  drawing.  Some- 
times the  managers  were  the  plaintiffs  and  again  the  defendants, 
but  it  is  noticeable  that  the  managers  generally  lost  whichever 
position  they  held.  The  trouble  seems  to  have  been  in  con- 
nection with  prize  tickets.     One  case  only  is  quoted: 

"State  of  Vermont   )    Roialton  January  21st  AD  1793  at  a  Justice 

Windsor  ss  j    Court  held  on  sd  Day  Present  John  Throop 

Justice  a  Peace  for  sd  County  cause  brought  by  Samuel  D  Serls  of 
sd  Roialton  a  maniger  of  Roialton  grate  Bridge  lottery  vs  Timothy 
hibard  of  Bethel  in  the  county  aforesd  on  a  note  of  hand  the  cause 
being  called  the  Defendant  defends  Pleads  and  says  that  the  Plff 
writ  (?)  ought  to  abate  and  be  dismit  for  two  Resons  first  because 


272  HiSTOEY  OP  EOYALTON,  VeBMONT 

that  Asa  Child  Did  not  return  (?)  on  the  writ  where  the  Defendant 
lived  Secondly  the  writ  was  not  senred  a^rreeable  to  the  law  of  the 
State  but  against  the  law  passed  October  1792  repeling  the  Deirart- 
aging  for  the  serving  of  writs  which  took  place  December  last  Fast 
by  order  of  the  Legislature  of  thia  State  and  the  Defendant  derirea 
liberty  to  alter  his  Plea  and  the  Defend  Praya  for  Judgment  the  De- 
fendant for  himselfe  this  court  is  adjourned  to  thuraday  the  24  Day  oC 
Instan  January  at  the  Dwelling  house  of  John  Throop  in  P<«ifret  in 
the  county  aforesd  at  one  of  the  clock  afternoon  then  the  court  will 
Declare  Judgment  and  the  Parties  are  to  take  notice  accordini^y 

John  Throop  Justice  a  Peace." 

In  this  suit  the  defendant  won  his  ease.  It  was  declared 
that  he  held  a  ''fortinet  ticket,"  and  he  got  a  balance  of  six 
shillings.  The  records  in  these  cases  reveal  that  Zebulon  Lyon 
and  Benjamin  Parkhurst  were  co-laborers  with  Dr.  Searle  in 
the  management  of  the  lottery. 

It  is  not  easy  to  determine  whether  the  bridge  was  put  in 
thorough  repair,  ** re-built,"  at  this  time  or  not.  In  May  a 
committee  was  chosen  to  repair  the  bridge  for  the  **time  being." 
In  October  of  that  year,  1792,  it  was  voted  to  raise  a  tax  of 
fifteen  pounds  in  cash  and  another  tax  of  fifty-two  pounds  in 
wheat  at  five  shillings  a  bushel  to  be  paid  by  the  first  day  of 
November,  **to  pay  such  contract  as  ye  Town  have  entered 
into."  There  is  no  record  of  any  other  undertaking  that  would 
require  this  outlay,  but  they  reconsidered  the  vote.  If  the 
bridge  was  rebuilt,  it  lasted  but  a  short  time.  At  an  adjourned 
meeting  at  the  house  of  Elkanah  Stevens  Oct.  20,  1795,  it  was 
decided  to  take  some  measure  for  re-building  **ye  Great  bridge 
in  this  Town."  Elkanah  Stevens,  Daniel  Gilbert,  Abel  Stevens, 
and  Luther  Fairbanks  were  chosen  to  view  **ye  place  for  building 
sd  bridge  at  ye  mouth  of  ye  first  branch  and  where  ye  bridge  now 
stands  &  make  an  estimate  of  ye  cost  of  building  at  each  place 
&  make  report  at  ye  next  adjourned  meeting."  The  commit- 
tee reported  Nov.  7th  that  in  their  opinion  a  bridge  at  the  mouth 
of  the  First  Branch  might  be  built  for  £400,  and  a  bridge  where 
it  then  stood  for  £200.  On  Dec.  8,  they  voted  to  build  the 
bridge  where  the  old  one  stood,  and  chose  a  committee  to  see 
what  could  be  raised  by  subscription.  Evidently  this  committee 
succeeded  in  an  encouraging  degree,  for  Feb.  16.  1796,  they 
chose  Elias  Stevens,  Abel  Stevens,  and  Daniel  Tullar  to  rebuild 
**ye  great  bridge  or  ye  bridge  over  white  river  in  sd  Town  where 
ye  old  bridge  now  stands  in  ye  easiest  &  best  manner  for  ye 
good  of  ye  Town."  John  Flint  was  later  chosen  in  ^Ir.  Tul- 
lar's  place,  and  Luther  Fairbanks  and  Zebulon  Lyon  added  to 
the  committee. 

On  December  6th  the  bridge  seems  to  have  been  completed. 
They  met  at  Elisha  Bartholemew 's  and  voted  to  dismiss  the  ar- 
ticle in  the  warning  to  see  if  the  town  would  raise  a  tax  to  de- 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  273 

fray  the  expense  of  building  the  bridge,  but  the  selectmen  were 
instructed  to  draw  on  the  town  treasury  in  favor  of  Elkanah 
Stevens  for  what  should  appear  to  be  due  towards  the  build- 
ing of  the  bridge  after  deducting  as  much  of  the  subscriptions 
as  were  thought  to  be  collectable,  which  seems  very  much  like 
trying  to  draw  water  from  a  dry  well.  In  less  than  two  years 
there  was  another  call  for  a  new  bridge,  but  it  was  not  built  at 
that  place.  Recapitulating  the  history  of  the  Stevens  bridge, 
it  may  be  assumed  that  it  was  first  built  in  1787,  chiefly  by  lot- 
tery; that  it  had  to  be  repaired  within  two  years;  that  it  was 
repaired  in  1790;  that  it  was  rebuilt  in  1792,  again  by  lottery, 
that  it  was  necessary  to  re-build  in  1795,  and  this  time  the 
money  was  raised  by  subscription  chiefly,  and  Elkanah  Stevens 
either  took  the  contract  or  furnished  the  balance  needed  to  pay 
for  it;  that  repeated  disasters  to  the  bridge  led  to  the  choice  of 
another  place. 

Before  following  the  history  of  the  new  bridge,  the  bridges 
over  the  two  branches  claim  attention.  They  too  had  proved 
elusive,  slipping  away  in  part  or  in  whole  without  warning  In 
September,  1796,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  estimate  the  co>t 
of  re-building  the  bridge  over  the  mouth  of  the  First  Branch. 
As  no  previous  mention  of  this  bridge  is  found,  it  is  pretty  con- 
elusive  evidence  that  it  was  one  of  the  three  bridges  first  built 
in  town.  A  few  days  after  this  meeting  it  was  voted  to  build 
the  bridge  and  raise  a  tax  of  three  pence  on  a  pound  for  the 
purpose.  In  1797  the  bridge  over  the  Second  Branch  needed 
re-building,  and  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  call  on  Daniel 
Rix,  Elisha  Bartholomew,  and  Ezra  Benjamin  for  highway  work 
that  could  be  spared  out  of  their  districts  and  use  it  in  re-build- 
ing this  bridge,  which  was  **nigh  the  mouth." 

It  is  probable  that  the  ** Great  bridge"  was  only  repaired, 
when  it  was  said  to  be  re-built,  and  like  the  old  lady's  stocking, 
which  she  ** footed  up"  one  year,  and  gave  a  new  leg  the  next, 
it  was  not  thought  of  as  a  really  new  bridge.  In  a  deed  of  1798 
it  is  spoken  of  as  ** Stevens  bridge." 

On  May  28,  1799,  Daniel  Clapp,  Jacob  Smith,  John  Billings, 
Isaac  Skinner,  and  Elias  Stevens  were  chosen  a  committee  to  see 
what  was  to  be  done  about  building  a  bridge  over  White  river. 
This  committee  reported  June  25th,  that  they  employed  Mr. 
Lamb  of  Montpelier  for  the  purpose  of  inspecting  the  different 
places  **in  contemplation  for  building  bridges,"  and  he  said  he 
would  build  the  bridge  at  Mr.  Walbridge  *s  for  $1000,  but  would 
not  warrant  the  same  for  that  sum,  that  there  would  be  no 
essential  difference  between  that  spot  and  the  place  against  Mr. 
Wheeler's,  that  he  would  build  a  bridge  below  the  fordway 
leading  to  the  center  of  the  town  for  a  thousand  dollars  and 

18 


274  HiSTOBY    OP    BOYALTON,    YeBMQNT 

warrant  the  same  for  ten  years,  that  the  expense  of  building 
several  rods  above  the  f ordway  would  not  vary  much  from  the 
expense  below.  Mr.  Lamb  made  no  particular  offer  as  to  the  old 
place,  as  he  said  others  had  offered  to  build  a  bridge  there 
cheaper  than  he  could  do.  As  to  the  place  by  Capt.  Oilbert's, 
Mr.  Lamb  stated  it  would  cost  more  at  that  place  than  at  either 
of  the  places  mentioned  before,  as  the  distance  across  the  river 
would  be  greater. 

They  accepted  the  report,  and  voted  to  take  some  measoies  to^ 
build  a  bridge  "near  ye  center  of  ye  Town,"  and  to  build  it  by 
subscription,  and  to  appropriate  all  the  money  which  "shall  re- 
main due  ^m  ye  Town  of  Ellington  after  paying  costs  of 
prosecuting  the  suit  against  Ellington  for  the  purpose  of  build- 
ing a  bridge  in  ye  center  of  the  Town,'*  conditioned  on  the 
sum  subscribed  combined  with  the  balance  from  Ellington  being 
sufficient,  and  that  the  bridge  be  built  in  eighteen  months.  Jacob 
Smith,  Zabad  Curtis,  Zebulon  Lyon,  Gardner  Rix,  and  Elias 
Stevens  were  a  committee  to  procure  subscriptions,  and  when 
enough  were  procured  they  were  empowered  to  employ  some 
person  to  build  the  bridge.  The  voters  kept  an  eagle  eye  on 
their  committee,  and  in  the  warning  for  a  meeting  in  March, 
1800,  they  proposed  to  call  on  this  committee  to  make  report  of 
their  doings,  and  "if  they  have  not  pursued  the  votes  of  the 
Town  with  respect  to  that  matter  then  to  reconsider  sd  Votes." 
Their  suspicions  seem  to  have  vanished  before  the  meeting,  and 
they  did  not  call  on  the  committee.  On  November  18th  they 
voted  to  accept  the  bond  which  the  bridge  committee  took  of 
Leonard  Lamb  for  the  building  of  the  bridge. 

Mr.  Lamb,  then,  was  the  architect.  No  repairs  of  any  amount 
were  called  for  on  this  structure  for  some  years.  In  1809,  $250 
were  laid  out  on  it  in  repairs.  Two  decades  had  not  passed 
before  there  was  need  of  a  new  bridge.  Perhaps  this  was  the 
bridge  which  played  a  trick  on  Dr.  Denison,  Senior.  He  was 
coming  home  one  night  from  a  Broad  Brook  trip.  During  his 
absence  the  north  abutment  of  the  bridge  tipped  over,  and  a  sec- 
tion of  the  bridge  fell  down.  The  faithful  old  horse  went  on 
and  trotted  down  the  steep  incline,  tipping  the  Doctor  into  the 
river.  He  gathered  up  his  saddle  bags  and  walked  home,  while  his 
horse  followed  the  river  bank  and  the  lane  by  the  schoolhouse. 
both  reaching  home  at  the  same  time.  A  meeting  was  called  by 
petition  for  Dec.  22,  1818.  A  motion  to  raise  $2000  for  build- 
ing a  bridge  was  lost,  likewise  one  for  raising  $1000,  but  they 
chose  a  committee  to  make  a  draft  of  a  bridge,  to  calculate  the 
probable  expense,  to  circulate  a  subscription  paper,  and  to  re- 
port later.  On  Feb.  2,  1819,  it  was  voted  to  give  $400  toward 
building  a  bridge  where  it  then  stood,  provided  it  should  be  built 


HiSTOBY   OF    BOYALTON,    VeBMOKT  275 

on  two  stone  piers,  and  a  stone  "buttment"  on  the  west  shore 
were  put  in  agreeable  to  the  draft  of  the  committee.  The  money 
was  not  to  be  applied  to  this  purpose,  until  after  the  bridge  was 
in  every  way  **  completed  and  finished,  for  the  space  of  four 
months,  and  then  and  not  till  then  the  treasurer  is  authorized 
to  pay  over  the  above  sum  of  $400."  Therefore,  we  may  con- 
clude that  the  bridge  was  completed  the  middle  of  December, 
1819,  when  Garner  Bix  was  given  three  orders  amounting  to 
(400  for  the  building  of  the  bridge. 

A  change  in  location  did  not  remove  the  necessity  for  fre- 
quent repairs  on  the  bridge.  The  turbulent  river  had  a  habit 
of  responding  in  a  destructive  way  to  freshets,  and  so  we  find 
in  a  warning  for  a  meeting  Feb.  12,  1824,  this  clause:  ''To 
see  whether  the  town  will  raise  money  to  repair  or  rebuild  the 
bridges  in  town  which  have  been  destroyed  by  the  late  f reset." 
At  an  adjourned  meeting.  Mar.  15th,  it  was  voted  that  the  sum 
of  $400  be  paid  out  of  the  town  treasury  to  the  order  of  the  se- 
lectmen towards  building  a  bridge  across  White  river  near 
Boyalton  village,  ''provided  a  sufficient  number  of  men  will 
advance  their  highway  taxes  to  be  credited  to  them  for  succeed- 
ing years  to  build  said  bridge  to  the  acceptance  of  the  select- 
men." Jan.  1,  1825,  Amos  Robinson,  contractor,  received  four 
one  hundred  dollar  orders  through  Jacob  Collamer,  agent,  for 
building  the  bridge  across  White  river  in  the  village,  and  it 
may  be  supposed  that  the  balance  was  credited  on  the  highway 
bills. 

The  town  does  not  seem  to  have  been  called  upon  for  much 
outlay  on  the  village  bridge  from  this  time  until  the  Boyal- 
ton and  Woodstock  Turnpike  Company  assumed  its  risk,  and  the 
town  obligated  itself  to  pay  yearly  the  sum  of  twenty-five  dol- 
lars to  said  company.  The  bridge  was  in  need  of  extensive  re- 
pairs by  1838,  as  the  Turnpike  company  seem  to  have  been  lax 
in  fulfilling  their  contract.  The  town  met  on  December  18th  of 
that  year  to  consider  the  repairing  of  the  bridge,  and  instructed 
the  selectmen  to  act  on  their  contract  with  the  Turnpike  com- 
pany, and  repair  the  bridge  if  they  thought  best.  The  select- 
men were  also  directed  to  act  on  a  resolution  of  Samuel  Blodgett, 
which  directed  them  to  pay  the  company  the  annual  sum  of  $25 
due  September  14th  for  keeping  the  bridge  in  repair,  and  also 
the  sum  due  in  September,  1833,  with  interest  thereon,  which 
had  not  been  paid. 

It  was  noted  under  the  subject  of  roads  that  the  Turnpike 
company  turned  their  road  back  to  the  bridge  at  North  Boyalton, 
after  the  town  had  built  a  new  bridge  there,  and  thus  shirked 
their  responsibility  for  keeping  the  village  bridge  in  repair. 
They  could  claim  that  the  town  on  its  part  had  not  fulfilled  its 


276  History  of  Boyalton,  Yebmont 

contract  to  make  annual  payments,  and  to  take  the  wind  out  of 
their  sails,  this  proposition  to  proffer  the  deferred  payments 
was  doubtless  made.  On  Mar.  4,  1839,  it  was  voted  that  the 
selectmen  be  directed  to  see  if  the  Woodstock  Turnpike  Com- 
pany had  a  right  to  turn  their  road  across  the  bridge  near  Jacob 
Fox's.  The  next  May  a  committee  was  appointed  to  repair  the 
bridge  by  rebuilding  two  reaches  and  repairing  the  other,  and 
the  abutments  and  piers,  and  the  selectmen  were  to  furnish 
the  funds.  The  committee  reported  in  December  that  the  work 
had  been  done  at  a  cost  of  $587.70  by  Jabez  Lyman,  Jr.  and 
Daniel  Rix,  2nd,  they  being  the  lowest  bidders.  John  Francis 
was  appointed  as  agent,  who,  after  obtaining  legal  advice,  if  it 
was  thought  advisable,  was  to  prosecute  the  claims  of  the  town 
against  the  Boyalton  and  Woodstock  Turnpike  Company.  What 
the  result  was  is  not  known,  but  Mar.  8,  1841,  a  vote  was  taken 
to  repair  the  bridge,  provided  the  Turnpike  company  neglected 
to  do  it,  which  looks  as  if  the  town  still  had  a  claim  on  the  com- 
pany. An  abutment  was  built  that  year  costing  $359.04.  When 
the  turnpike  became  a  free  road  in  1842,  of  course  the  town 
became  responsible  henceforth  for  all  its  bridges. 

When  the  Boyalton  and  Woodstock  Turnpike  Company 
was  incorporated  in  1800,  its  route  in  Boyalton  was  over  a  road 
already  laid,  but  it  came  to  the  river  at  North  Boyalton  where 
there  was  no  bridge,  only  a  fordway.  It  is  understood  that 
the  company  built  the  first  bridge  there,  probably  very  soon 
after  incorporation,  and  that  it  was  near  Jacob  Fox's.  As  has 
been  seen,  the  bridge  like  the  town  bridges  suffered  from  the 
erratic  action  of  the  stream,  though  it  may  have  been  some- 
what  more  substantial,  and  have  needed  less  repairs.  When 
the  company  turned  their  road  over  the  hills  by  the  Bradstreet 
place  and  down  to  the  village  bridge,  this  bridge  at  North  Royal- 
ton  was  in  all  probability  unsafe  for  travel,  and  the  fordway 
not  far  from  it  would  have  to  furnish  the  means  of  crossing 
there.  Jacob  Fox  had  land  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  and  he 
and  others  as  well,  no  doubt,  chafed  over  this  inconvenience. 

Those  in  favor  of  a  bridge  at  North  Boyalton  secured  the  in- 
sertion of  an  article  in  the  warning  of  Feb.  23,  1831,  **  to  see  if 
the  Town  will  vote  to  raise  money  to  build  a  bridge  across  White 
Biver  near  Mr.  Fox's."  This  article  was  dismissed  at  an  ad- 
journed meeting,  March  8th,  and  the  selectmen  were  directed 
to  take  individual  security  of  the  Turnpike  company  as  further 
security  against  loss  by  risk  of  the  village  bridge.  Mr.  Fox  was 
not  accustomed  to  submission,  and  called  out  the  road  com- 
missioners to  change  the  road  survey  up  the  Second  Branch  and 
to  order  a  bridge  built  near  him.  The  commission  rejected 
his  petition  regarding  the  road,  but  ordered  a  good  permanent 


History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont  277 

bridge  to  be  erected  across  the  river,  on  the  place  where  the  last 
bridge  stood  near  Mr.  Fox's  tavern,  and  gave  the  following  di- 
rections: ''The  abutment  on  the  westerly  side  is  to  be  built 
with  stone,  &  the  earth  to  be  dug  out  under  that  part  of  the 
abutment  nearest  the  water  several  feet  deep,  &  if  the  earth 
should  prove  sandy  when  excavated,  to  place  good  timbers  at 
the  bottom  of  sd  excavation  for  a  foimdation  to  build  sd  abut- 
ment on — a  double  trussel  to  be  erected  in  or  near  the  center 
of  sd  River,  whose  bed  piece  is  to  be  about  sixty  feet  long,  and 
good  &  sufScient  braces  extending  from  sd  trussel  both  up  & 
down  sd  River,  sd  trussel  and  braces  to  be  planked  on  both  sides 
&  filled  with  stones — ^both  abutments  to  be  of  equal  height  and 
to  be  raised  from  one  to  two  feet  higher  than  the  one  now  is 
which  stands  on  the  easterly  side  of  sd  River,  the  timber  part 
or  frame  of  sd  Bridge  to  be  eighteen  feet  wide,  if  the  easterly 
abutment  will  admit,  all  of  which  is  hereby  ordered  to  be  built 
by  sd  town  of  Royalton  &  completed  on  or  before  the  first  day  of 
December  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1832.'' 

The  town  decided  on  Nov.  30th  to  have  the  selectmen  enter 
an  appeal.  A  committee  was  chosen  to  examine  the  groiuid 
for  a  bridge  and  to  solicit  subscriptions  therefor,  to  ascertain 
the  expense  of  an  arched  bridge,  and  to  report  the  first  Tues- 
day in  January.  They  met  on  that  date  and  adjourned  sine 
die.  At  the  March  meeting,  1832,  they  "Resolved  that  the  town 
appoint  an  agent  to  prosecute  the  appeal  which  is  entered  from 
the  decision  of  the  Road  commissioners  order  for  building  a 
bridge  across  White  River  near  Jacob  Foxes,  &  also  to  negotiate 
with  the  Royalton  &  Woodstock  Turnpike  corporation  to  give 
up  their  right  in  the  bridge  across  sd  River  in  Royalton  Village 
by  paying  them  a  reasonable  stipulated  consideration  for  their 
repairs  of  sd  Bridge,  &  for  making  a  road  to  the  old  turnpike 
at  Williams'  meadow,  &  sd  corporation  take  the  responsibility 
of  building  a  bridge  near  sd  Foxes,  &  report  his  doings  to  the 
next  meeting."  Their  agent,  Jacob  Collamer,  reported  Sep. 
4,  1832,  but  the  report  is  not  recorded.  He  was  probably  un- 
successful, as  they  voted  that  the  moderator  should  appoint  a 
committee  of  three  to  nominate  a  committee  of  five  to  "ascertain 
what  will  be  the  cost  of  a  plank  arch  bridge  there  (at  Jacob 
Fox's)  &  to  take  such  further  measures  in  relation  thereto  as 
they  shall  think  proper,  but  not  to  build  a  bridge  until  they 
make  report  to  the  town." 

This  committee  made  its  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting, 
Nov.  13,  1832,  and  they  then  voted  that  Jacob  Collamer  con- 
tinue his  agency  in  defending  the  town  from  building  a  bridge 
across  White  river  near  Mr.  Fox's.  At  their  March  meeting, 
1833,  the  voters  refused  to  consider  the  question  of  further 


278  HlSTWY    OF    BOTALTON^    YeBMONT 

action  in  the  Fox  bridge  matter.  They  met  again  May  7,  in  re- 
sponse to  a  petition  asking  if  the  town  would  build  or  assiat 
to  build  a  bridge  where  the  last  turnpike  bridge  stood  near 
Jacob  Fox's.  Daniel  Rix,  Jireh  Tucker,  and  Elisha  Bix  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with  the  corporation  of  the 
Royalton  and  Woodstock  Turnpike  Company  in  relation  to  this 
bridge  matter.  The  result  of  this  conference  is  not  given, 
but  they  voted  to  adopt  a  Resolution  of  Nathaniel  Sprague,  as 
f oUows : 

"If  Jacob  Fox  will  build  or  wiU  iHrocare  to  be  boUt  ft  compleled 
by  the  first  day  of  March  A.  D.,  1834,  to  the  acoeptanoe  oC  the  select' 
men  of  Rojraltoii  a  bridge  after  the  form  of  Towne's  patent  with  only 
one  span  at  the  place  near  J.  Foxes  tavern  in  sd  Royalton  which  was 
designated  by  the  Courts  Oommittee  in  August  1832,  to  be  not  less  than 
25  feet  wide,  to  be  roofed,  ft  shinned,  ft  covered  on  the  sides,  ft  oC 
sufficient  height,  two  pathways,  to  be  made  and  finished  in  aU  re- 
spects in  a  substantial  and  perfect  manner,  ft  with  good  ft  suitaMe 
materials,  and  the  stimework  to  wit,  the  abutments  to  be  good  and 
substantial  ft  to  be  to  the  acceptance  of  sd  selectmen,  then  the  town 
wiU  assign  over  to  the  sd  Fox  all  the  subscriptions  which  have  been 
raised  running  to  sd  Royalton  to  aid  in  building  said  bridge  ft  will 
raise  ft  pay  to  sd  Fox  the  sum  of  fourteen  hundred  dc^lars  to  be  paid 
one  half  at  the  acceptance  of  the  bridge  by  said  Selectmen,  ft  the  other 
half  in  one  year  after  sd  acceptance,  the  ^iproaches  to  sd  bridge  to 
be  made  so  as  to  be  good  passing  to  ft  from  sd  bridge  with  carriages  ft 
teams  sd  Fox  on  accepting  the  conditions  of  the  above  resolution  shall 
give  bonds  to  the  Selectmen  for  the  faithful  performance  ci  the  same 
according  to  its  conditions." 

Mr.  Fox  accepted  the  conditions  and  built  the  bridge  in 

1833.  It  does  not  seem  to  have  been  accepted  that  year.  On 
September  3,  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  secure  the  abut- 
ment on  the  east  side  from  washing  out,  and  on  January  16, 

1834,  a  meeting  was  held  to  consider  the  Fox  bridge.  The 
warning  reads,  **  Whereas  the  Bridge  across  White  River  near 
Jacob  Foxes  has  failed  &  is  in  such  a  bad  condition  as  requires 
early  &  expensive  repairs,  therefore,"  etc.  The  bridge  had 
probably  been  accepted  at  this  time,  and  may  have  failed  by 
reason  of  a  freshet.  On  January  24th  Mr.  Fox  received  from 
the  selectmen  two  one-hundred-dollar  orders  for  the  bridge,  on 
the  4th  of  March  an  order  for  two  hundred  dollars  and  another 
for  three  hundred  dollars.  On  January  29th  of  the  next  year 
he  was  paid  $400,  and  March  13th  $300,  so  that  he  was  paid 
according  to  contract. 

When  the  voters  met  Jan.  16th,  1834,  Lawyer  Francis 
presented  the  following  resolution  which  was  adopted:  ** Re- 
solved that  a  committee  of  4  be  appointed  in  conjunction  with 
the  selectmen  with  power  if  they  think  it  expedient  to  take 
down  the  bridge  across  White  River  at  Jacob  Foxes  &  secure  it 
by  piling  the  same  on  the  bank  of  the  River,  provided  in  their 


HiSTOBY    OF    BOTALTON^    VeBMOKT  279 

opinion  the  town  will  come  tinder  no  liability  in  so  doing — 
nnless  the  sd  committee  shall  in  their  opinion  think  the  ad 
bridge  can  be  repaired  substantially  for  the  sum  of  three  hun- 
dred dollars,  in  which  case  the  sd  committee  are  authorized  to 
lay  out  that  sum."  John  Marshall,  Edwin  Pierce,  Calvin 
Parkhurst,  and  Harry  Bingham  were  chosen  for  the  committee. 
Nathaniel  Sprague  then  offered  the  following  resolution,  which 
was  adopted:  ''Resolved  that  the  foregoing  committee  be  in- 
structed to  report  at  the  next  town  meeting  (in  case  the  com- 
mittee take  down  the  bridge)  the  mode  or  modes  of  repairing 
the  same,  &  the  expence  of  each  mode  &  of  rebuilding  the  same." 
On  March  3d  the  selectmen  were  empowered  to  make  what  dis- 
position they  pleased  of  the  timber  and  materials  saved  of  the 
bridge  near  Jacob  Fox's,  and  to  report  at  next  March  meeting, 
so  tie  bridge  was  probably  taken  down.  On  the  13th  of  the 
month  the  selectmen  were  again  petitioned  to  call  a  meeting  by 
Jacob  Fox  and  seven  others  to  ti^e  action  on  building  a  bridge 
across  the  river  at  Jacob  Fox's.  The  bridge  was  down,  but  the 
question  would  not  stay  down.  They  voted  70  to  57  to  take 
no  action. 

Both  Mr.  Fox  and  the  town  were  pretty  well  occupied  with 
the  new  road  up  the  Second  Branch  in  1835,  and  the  bridge  was 
allowed  to  rest  for  a  short  time.  The  town  had  seemed  to  be 
invariably  worsted  when  pitted  against  a  Court's  Committee, 
but  failure  did  not  intimidate,  and  so  Mar.  7,  1836,  they  chose 
John  Francis,  Daniel  Rix,  and  Stephen  Freeman  to  oppose  the 
building  of  the  bridge  near  Jacob  Fox's.  The  futility  of  op- 
position became  apparent  before  May  17th  of  that  year,  when  at 
a  special  meeting,  they  voted  65  to  47  to  dismiss  the  committee 
appointed  to  defend  the  bridge  case.  It  was  then  moved  that 
an  agent  be  appointed  to  see  at  the  next  County  Court  to  the 
taxing  of  the  costs  of  the  hearing  before  the  commissioners,  and 
also  to  the  ordering  of  the  time  for  the  building  of  the  bridge. 
When  the  attorneys  for  the  petitioners  assured  them  that  no 
more  costs  and  no  earlier  time  than  that  set  by  the  Committee, 
would  be  asked  for,  the  motion  was  lost,  and  quiet  reigned  once 
more. 

The  Court's  Committee  had  ordered  the  bridge  to  be  built 
"the  next  season."  The  voters  met  November  8th  and  ap- 
pointed T.  H.  Saflford,  Stephen  Freeman,  and  John  Marshall 
to  ascertain  for  what  sum  a  bridge  could  be  built,  and  to  su- 
perintend the  building,  if  the  bridge  was  built.  Gamer  Rix 
and  Harry  Bingham  were  added  to  this  committee  on  Dec.  6th, 
with  instructions  to  fix  upon  a  plan  for  the  bridge,  and  to  sell 
the  building  of  it  in  all  its  parts  to  the  lowest  bidder  at  public 
auction  January  1,  1837.    The  bridge  was  to  be  built  by  Dec. 


280  HisT(»Y  OP  BoYALTON,  Vebmont 

1,  of  that  year,  and  be  accepted  by  the  committee  before  pay* 
ment  should  be  made.  The  committee  could  dispose  of  the 
building  by  private  sale  within  six  days  after  the  auction,  if 
deemed  best.  Mr.  Fox  had  on  his  side  now  such  able  men  as 
Dr.  Richard  Bless,  Daniel  Woodward,  and  the  lawyer,  A.  C. 
Noble.  When  they  met  again  Jan.  28,  1837,  the  committee  was 
authorized  to  proceed  and  build  the  bridge,  and  was  limited  in 
the  expense  to  $1600,  this  to  include  all  the  expense  except  the 
approaches  to  and  from  the  bridge.  The  committee  was  em- 
powered to  borrow  $1000  of  the  trustees  of  the  surplus  revenue, 
who  were  authorized  to  lend  the  same  at  six  per  cent  interest 
The  building  committee  reported  September  5th  that  the  bridge 
was  built,  and  at  a  cost  of  about  $1566.69,  which  report  was  ac- 
cepted, and  once  more  Mr.  Fox  and  the  town  had  a  bridge  over 
the  river  at  North  Boyalton.  Horace  Childs  was  the  architect, 
and  received  on  April  5,  1838,  $182.56  for  patent  fee  on  the 
bridge  ** built  by  him." 

Again  in  1866  the  bridge  needed  rebuilding,  and  seventy- 
five  cents  on  a  dollar  was  voted  for  this  purpose  at  a  special 
meeting  in  August.  No  record  has  been  found  of  the  cost  of 
the  bridge,  but  it  is  said  to  have  been  built  by  the  same  archi- 
tects that  built  the  last  bridge  at  the  center  of  the  town.  The 
selectmen  were  instructed  to  build  it  ^' after  the  plan  of  the 
Bridge  across  White  River  in  Royalton  Center  Village."  This 
bridge  erected  in  1866  has  stood  the  test  of  freshets  and  other 
wear,  and  is  still  in  good  condition. 

In  the  town  meeting  of  1852  an  article  was  inserted  "to 
see  what  measures  the  Town  will  take  with  regard  to  the  River 
Bridge."  It  was  passed  over,  and  no  record  has  been  found 
showing  that  the  town  authorized  the  bridge  to  be  built  there 
that  year,  yet  one  was  built,  and  the  selectmen  drew  orders  that 
year  for  the  payment  of  it.  Samuel  P.  Thrasher  built  the  two 
abutments,  and  James  Tasker  probably  did  the  wood  work,  be- 
ing paid  at  one  time  $1400.  The  whole  expense  as  reported  in 
town  meeting,  1853,  was  $3550.  This  was  a  covered  truss 
bridge,  thoroughly  built,  and  stands  today,  and  bids  fair  to  last 
another  half  century,  barring  some  unusual  river  disturbance. 

As  soon  as  Daniel  Tarbell,  Jr.  determined  that  there  should 
be  a  village  at  South  Royalton,  he  worked  indefatigably  for  a 
bridge  across  the  river  at  that  point.  To  continue  crossing  by 
the  fordway  was  not  to  be  thought  of,  and  to  compel  people  to 
go  to  Royalton  village  to  cross  the  river  there,  where  a  center 
of  business  was  well  established,  was  to  defeat  his  own  purpose. 
A  bridge  South  Royalton  must  have,  and  a  bridge  it  was  going 
to  have.  The  selectmen  were  not  responsive  to  his  appeals, 
neither  was  the  Road  Committee,  so  one  Sunday  Mr.  Tarbell 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  281 

drove  to  Tunbridge,  and  sought  out  his  old  neighbor,  but  young 
friend,  Lewis  Dickerman,  a  man  of  means  and  influence.  He 
persuaded  him  that,  if  he  signed  his  name  to  a  subscription  pa- 
per, promising  $1000,  with  the  help  of  a  few  others  like  Lyman 
Benson,  Phineas  Pierce,  and  Cyrus  Safford,  the  bridge  was  a 
sure  thing,  and  they  would  never  have  to  pay  a  red  cent  of  their 
subscriptions,  and  so  it  proved. 

Lyman  Benson  took  the  contract  for  the  south  abutment, 
and  Orison  Poster  of  Tunbridge  for  the  north  one,  and  Cyrus 
Safford  did  the  wood  work.  The  bridge  was  built  and  completed 
in  1848.  Two  gates  were  set  up  and  John  Parker  was  installed 
as  gate  keeper.  The  public  would  rather  pay  a  few  cents  toll, 
than  to  drive  two  miles,  then  back  two  miles  just  to  get  across 
the  river,  though  some  were  so  indignant  over  the  building  of 
the  bridge,  that  they  did  this  very  thing  for  some  time. 

When  the  road  was  laid  out  from  Chelsea  to  South  Royal- 
ton  a  little  later,  the  Court's  Committee  assessed  the  bridge  at 
$4000,  but  the  Court  changed  the  damages  and  cut  down  the 
bridge  to  $2000,  and  the  three  towns  of  Royalton,  Tunbridge, 
and  Chelsea  were  to  share  equally  in  maintaining  the  bridge. 
In  March,  1853,  the  selectmen  report  an  order  given  for  $2000, 
and  acknowledge  receipt  from  Tunbridge  and  Chelsea  for 
$1536.41.  The  two  towns  continued  to  contribute  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  bridge  for  a  time,  then  Mr.  Dickerman,  who  was 
selectman  in  Tunbridge,  thought  his  town  ought  to  pay  less,  and 
quietly  got  a  bill  through  the  Legislature  by  which  means  the 
share  of  Tunbridge  was  cut  down  to  one  fourth.  Time  went 
on,  and  Mr.  Dickerman  was  sent  to  the  Legislature  as  represen- 
tative from  Tunbridge.  He  was  then  instrumental  in  having 
a  bill  passed  which  made  it  incumbent  upon  towns  that  were 
able  to  maintain  their  own  bridges  to  do  so,  and  from  that  date 
Royalton  has  had  to  pay  her  own  bridge  bills.  Daniel  Tarbell 
in  his  autobiography  states  that  the  bridge  cost  $3600.  It  was 
subsequently  made  free  by  a  subscription  of  $1800. 

In  1903  the  town  voted  to  build  a  new  bridge  at  South 
Royalton.  It  was  decided  to  have  an  iron  bridge,  and  the  con- 
tract was  let  to  the  United  Construction  Company  of  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  for  the  sum  of  $6750.  The  abutments  were  put  in  by 
A.  S.  Douglass,  at  an  expense  of  $4903.30.  The  survey  was  made 
by  R.  R.  Harris,  to  whom  was  paid  ninety  dollars.  The  new 
bridge  when  complete  cost  $12281.96,  and  is  a  credit  to  the 
town. 

The  branch  bridges  have  required  considerable  expenditure. 
The  bridges  over  the  Second  Branch  were  repaired  or  rebuilt  in 
1805,  1824,  and  1833,  and  at  other  times.  The  expense  of  the 
bridge  at  the  last  date  was  $537.    The  bridges  over  the  First 


282  HiBTOBY    OF    BOYALTON,    VERMONT 

Branch  are  the  more  numerous.  Two  of  them  lead  to  houses 
off  from  the  main  road,  the  Sanborn  and  the  Ward  places.  In 
all,  the  town  maintains  five  bridges  across  the  First  Branch. 
In  earlier  years  some  of  these  were  built  by  those  living  near, 
in  consideration  of  having  their  taxes  remitted  for  a  period  of 
years.  The  one  near  Pierce's  mills  has  been  the  most  e3q[>en8tve. 
It  has  needed  rather  frequent  repairs,  and  was  rebuilt  in  1846 
at  a  cost  of  $300.  Three  bridges  are  supported  over  the  Second 
Branch,  and  two  of  some  size  over  Broad  Brook,  besides  numer- 
ous smaller  ones  in  different  parts  of  the  town.  More  thoroufi^ 
work  in  recent  years,  and  fewer  destructive  frediets  have 
lessened  the  cost  of  maintaining  the  bridges  in  town.  Although 
this  expense  has  probably  been  second  only  to  the  cost  of  her 
public  schools,  Royalton  would  not  part  with  her  lovely,  fitful 
streams  for  the  sake  of  being  relieved  of  this  burden. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


Educational  Matters. 

The  intelligence  and  enterprise  of  any  community  can  be 
gauged  by  the  interest  shown  in  the  education  of  its  youth.  No 
doubt,  if  the  earliest  records  had  not  been  destroyed,  there 
would  be  ample  evidence  to  prove  that  proper  provision  was 
early  made  for  the  instruction  of  the  children  of  the  infant 
town  of  Royalton.  There  is  a  tradition  that  Benjamin  Park- 
hurst  taught  the  three  B's  in  his  own  log  house,  long  before  a 
school  building  was  provided.  It  is  quite  probable  that  s(»ne 
one  was  found  in  two  or  three  sections  of  the  town,  who  was 
deemed  capable  of  gathering  the  children  of  that  vicinity  in  a 
home  convenient  to  all,  and  of  teaching  the  subjects  common  in 
the  schools  of  that  day.  The  children  in  the  southeast  part  of 
the  town  were  first  taught  by  Lydia  Richards,  in  the  house  of 
Gapt.  Ebenezer  Parkhurst,  who  lived  on  the  river  below  the 
mouth  of  Broad  Brook,  in  Sharon. 

The  first  preserved  record  relating  to  schools  is  dated  the 
third  Tuesday  of  November,  1782.  The  town  at  that  time  was 
divided  into  three  school  districts,  the  first,  from  Sharon  line 
on  **both  sides  of  the  river  to  Josiah  Wheeler's,"  and  on  the 
south  side,  from  Sharon  line  to  the  Handy  lot  at  the  fordway. 
At  that  time  Mr.  Wheeler  owned  all  of  25  Dutch  and  three 
fourths  of  26  Dutch.  By  the  help  of  deeds  the  **  Handy  ford- 
way"  is  quite  definitely  located.  It  connected  the  banks  of  W. 
17  Large  Allotment  and  46  Dutch.  An  editor's  note  on 
"Steele's  Narrative,"  published  fifty  or  more  years  ago,  locates 
Mr.  Handy  on  W.  16  L.  A.,  but  when  the  new  charter  was 
granted  in  1781,  Robert  Handy  had  N.  E.  22  Large  Allotment. 
The  eastern  line  of  this  last  lot  may  have  run  down  the  river 
farther  than  is  indicated  on  the  ** Original  Deed  of  Partition." 

The  second  district  extended  from  the  Brewster  lot  to  "said 
Wheeler's,"  and  up  the  Branch.  The  Brewster  lot  was  46 
Dutch.  The  third  district  extended  from  Lieut.  Lyon's,  prob- 
ably the  east  side  of  54  T.  P.,  to  Bethel  on  both  sides  of  the 
river.  No  very  sharp  lines  needed  to  be  drawn  in  those  days, 
with  settlers  few  and  scattered.  In  which  district  Mr.  Wheeler 
was  is  not  stated,  the  division  in  both  cases  where  he  is  men- 
tioned, being  to  his  lot. 


S84  History  of  Botaltok,  Vebmont 

Something  more  was  needed  to  provide  the  yoiing  men  tnd 
women  nearing  their  majority  with  means  of  culture,  and  we 
find  that,  at  this  same  meeting,  Lieut.  Stevens,  John  Hibbard. 
and  Lieut.  Calvin  Parkhurst  were  chosen  a  committee  to  draw 
up  a  subscription  paper  in  order  to  promote  a  '^greanuny" 
school.  As  grammar  schools  were  established  by  authority  of 
the  Greneral  Assembly,  it  may  be  that  thus  early  effarti  were 
made  to  induce  the  Assembly  to  locate  the  first  Windsor  CSounty 
Orammar  School  in  Royalton.  We  know  from  other  aourees. 
that  there  was  academical  instruction  in  Royalton,  before  fhe 
establishment  of  Royalton  Academy  in  1807.  A  separate  chap- 
ter is  devoted  to  that  old  institution. 

By  the  year  1786  the  population  had  so  increased,  that  it 
was  voted  to  set  off  the  inhabitants  on  the  south  side  of  the  river 
as  far  down  as  Esquire  Stevens'  lot  into  a  district,  and  those 
on  the  north  side  of  the  river  as  far  as  Huckens  Storrs'  lot  into 
another.  Pupils  now  would  not  have  to  cross  the  river  in  going 
to  and  from  school,  which  must  have  been  difficult  and  even 
dangerous,  if  fordways  were  used,  or  required  considerable  ex- 
tra travel  if  the  Stevens  bridge  was  crossed.  Huckens  Storrs 
owned  the  Alill  Lot,  35  Dutch,  and  the  Stevens  lot  was  prob- 
ably what  has  lately  been  known  as  the  Howard  place  in  E.  5, 
Large  Allotment. 

In  1792  a  district  was  set  off  including  Dutch  lots.  5,  6.  13, 
14-21.  Thomas  Bingham  now  owned  13.  John  Warner,  5, 
Jedediah  Pierce,  19,  and  William  Waterman,  20.  The  north- 
west part  of  the  town  was  divided  into  two  school  districts 
by  a  committee  chosen  in  1794.  The  first  of  these  two  began 
at  the  northwest  corner  of  Royalton.  and  included  lots  in  Town 
Plot,  numbered  30-35.  the  parts  of  18  and  26  above  the  Second 
Branch,  and  lots  13-16,  all  of  10  above  the  Branch,  and  1  to  9 
inclusive.  Asa  Perrin  was  then  owner  of  18,  Luther  Skinner 
of  17.  and  Nathaniel  Perrin  of  10  Town  Plot. 

The  same  day  Elias  Stevens.  Abel  Stevens,  and  John  Bill- 
ings were  chosen  to  divide  the  town  into  school  districts  and  to 
number  them.  This  committee  reported  Jan.  13,  1795,  and 
vrith  this  di\'ision  the  more  stable  existence  of  the  districts  be- 
gins. 

District  Number  One  included  lots  1.  5,  10,  16,  all  of  11 
except  a  portion  owned  by  Experience  Trescott,  the  east  third 
of  12.  and  north  half  of  6  Large  Allotment.  Number  Two  com- 
prised the  district  set  off  in  1792.  Number  Three  was  made  up 
of  Dutch  lots  1-4.  9-18,  22-24.  Number  Four  included  the 
Dutch  lots  27-40,  42-44.  Number  Five  was  composed  of  lots 
2-4,  7-9,  13-15.  and  the  south  half  of  6  Large  Allotment.  The 
Center  District,  which  must  have  had  much  the  largest  number 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  285 

of  residents,  was  made  up  of  Dutch  lots  41,  45,  46,  and  54  Town 
Plot.  The  two  districts  set  off  in  the  northwest  part  of  the 
town  in  1794  were  now  numbered  Six  and  Seven  respectively. 

Number  Eight  comprised  lots  17-19,  parts  of  11  and  12  not 
included  in  the  first  district,  22,  23,  and  the  N.  E.  comer  of  26 
Large  Allotment.  Number  Nine  lay  on  both  sides  of  the  river, 
including  lot  30,  and  the  part  of  26  L.  A.  not  included  in  Dis- 
trict Eight,  and  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  in  Town  Plot, 
the  west  pa^  of  53,  4,  11,  12,  the  southwest  comer  of  10,  parts 
of  18  and  26  south  of  the  Branch,  and  lots  19,  20,  27-29,  36-38. 
District  Ten  was  the  smallest  of  all,  made  up  of  lots  34,  35,  38,  and 
all  of  39  L.  A.,  except  the  south  half  of  the  west  third.  District 
Eleven  was  composed  of  lots  32,  33,  36,  37,  40,  41,  and  the  part 
of  39  L.  A.  not  included  in  Number  Ten.  Number  Twelve  in- 
cluded lots  20,  21,  24,  25,  28,  29  L.  A.,  and  also  Joseph  Eirbee's 
and  David  Rugg's  farms,  which  seem  to  have  been  in  31  L.  A. 

Several  unimportant  changes  took  place  in  the  boundaries 
of  the  districts  previous  to  1803.  At  the  March  meeting  of 
that  year  two  new  districts  were  provided  for.  Number  Thir- 
teen was  to  have  lots  31,  27,  26  L.  A.,  except  what  Daniel  Gil- 
bert owned,  and  the  farms  of  Benjamin  Clark,  Daniel  Clapp, 
Daniel  Rix,  and  Silas  Williams  in  lot  30  L.  A.  District  Four- 
teen embraced  the  whole  of  the  Simpson  lot. 

At  nearly  every  town  meeting  some  one  would  ask  to  be 
divorced  from  the  district  where  he  had  belonged,  and  to  be 
united  with  some  other.  Occasionally  a  man  in  some  district 
became  so  influential  as  to  give  his  name  to  it,  and  the  number 
was  superfluous.  It  must  have  tickled  the  pride  of  such  an  one 
to  have  the  town  vote  to  set  off  Mr.  Jones  to  Capt.  Doe's  district. 
The  town  finally  grew  weary  of  continual  changes,  and  turned 
a  cold  shoulder  to  petitions  to  be  **set  off,"  and  for  a  new 
division  into  districts. 

In  1808  a  trustee  was  chosen  for  each  district.  Elias 
Stevens  for  No.  1,  William  Pierce  for  No.  2,  Ebenezer  Dewey 
for  No.  3,  Nathaniel  Evans,  No.  4,  Benjamin  Packard,  No.  5, 

VJared  Kimball,  No.  6,  Joseph  Pierce,  No.  7,  Ebenezer  Parkhurst,     —44" 
No.  8,  Joseph  Bowman.  No.  9,  Benjamin  Day,  No.  10,  Thomas      jii^ 
Wheat,  No.  11,  Stephen  Freeman,  No.  12,  Silas  Williams,  No.    ^^ 
13.     All  act  was  passed  Oct.  31,  1797,  providing  for  dividing 
towns  into  school  districts,  and  saying,  **the  inhabitants  of  such 
towns  shall  appoint  one  or  more  judicious  person  or  persons,  in 
each  district,  who,  in  conjunction  with  the  selectmen  of  such 
town,  shall  be  and  continue  the  trustees  of  the  several  schools 
in  such  towns,  till  others  are  or  shall  be  appointed."    If  the 
town  had  taken  action  in  accordance  with  this  provision  pre- 
vious to  1808,  the  records  seem  to  be  silent  regarding  it.    Some 


286  HiSTOBY    OF    BOTALTON,    VeBMONT 

of  the  districts  had  failed  to  organize  properly,  and  in  1805 
and  1806  such  districts  were  warned  by  the  selectmen  to  meet 
and  organize  by  the  election  of  the  proper  officers. 

In  1816  a  committee  was  appointed  to  set  off  a  school  dis- 
trict in  the  Samuel  Metcalf  neighborhood.  The  conmiittee  rec- 
ommended that  there  be  set  off  all  the  tract  of  land  that  had 
not  been  set  off  or  annexed  to  any  other  school  district,  aho 
comprehending  the  farm  of  Dolly  Smith,  and  the  Buck  farm  on 
which  James  Riggs  was  living,  and  that  the  district  be  called 
the  fifteenth.  This  new  district,  which  may  not  have  included 
more  than  a  half  dozen  families,  had  twenty-nine  *' scholars." 
District  sixteen  was  made  out  of  twelve  and  five  by  taking  all 
the  people  on  the  east  side  of  Lyman  brook,  all  on  Lot  15  and  on 
the  middle  and  west  of  Lot  14  Large  Allotment,  and  Amos  Bos- 
worth  was  chosen  trustee. 

In  1829  the  seventeenth  district  was  established,  beginning 
on  the  turnpike  at  Baldwin  Russell's,  (then  apparently  living 
in  26  Dutch),  and  extending  up  the  turnpike  to  Calvin  Skin- 
ner's, with  Isaac  Morgan  in  the  center,  on  what  has  lately  been 
known  as  the  Buck  farm  in  41  Dutch,  and  running  up  the  north 
road  to  Abraham  Hoit's  farm,  the  Grammar  School  lot.  This 
district  perfected  its  organization  at  Phineas  Pierce's.  Daniel 
Morgan  was  chosen  clerk,  and  Phineas  Pierce,  Daniel  Morgan, 
and  Thomas  B.  Russell  were  the  first  committee.  For  the  next 
decade  and  more  the  boundaries  of  the  districts  continued  to 
shift.  In  some  cases  the  petitioners  were  allowed  to  send  where 
they  pleased,  by  furnishing  a  certificate  that  they  had  sent 
somewhere.  Each  district  was  a  little  republic  by  itself,  and 
did  not  always  submit  tamely  to  the  will  of  the  majority  as 
expressed  in  town  meeting. 

With  the  erection  of  the  fifteenth  district,  the  fourteenth 
appears  to  have  languished,  and  in  1844  the  Center  District 
ceased  to  be  known  by  its  old  name,  and  was  called  the  Four- 
teenth. The  town  passed  the  following  resolution  at  its  March 
meeting  of  that  year:  ** Resolved — ^that  the  14th  School  Dis- 
trict have  the  privilege,  at  their  own  risk  in  relation  to  any  fu- 
ture action  of  the  Town,  to  Erect  a  School  House  on  S.  E.  cor- 
ner of  the  Common  as  near  the  Pound  'as  that  will  allow,  mean- 
ing between  the  Pound  and  Mr.  Sprague's  buildings." 

' '  Voted  that  the  Center  School  District  be  requested  to  move 
their  School  House  oflf  the  Common  as  soon  as  convenient."  Both 
of  these  votes  evidently  refer  to  the  same  district,  under  the  old 
and  the  new  name. 

The  last  district,  the  eighteenth,  had  its  birth  in  the  middle 
of  the  nineteenth  century,  at  a  December  meeting,  when  it  was 
voted  that  all  the  land  in  District  Xo.  1  north  of  the  line  of  the 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  287 

Kent  farm  so-called,  should  constitute  a  separate  district.  That 
was  the  beginning  of  the  South  Royalton  Graded  school  district. 
This  period  was  the  high  water  mark  of  the  district  system. 
Soon  some  districts  showed  a  surprising  decrease  in  the  num- 
ber of  pupils,  while  others  had  more  children  than  their  small 
buildings  coiild  accommodate.  Part  of  seventeen  was  set  off 
and  called  fifteen  in  1850.  Two  years  later  the  two  were  united. 
This  did  not  prove  satisfactory,  and  the  next  year  a  new  dis- 
trict was  formed  from  seventeen  and  four,  and  named  fifteen, 
extending  to  Tunbridge  line. 

Only  a  few  of  the  records  of  the  early  school  districts  have 
been  found,  although  diligent  search  has  been  made  for  them. 
District  No.  2  has  the  earliest  preserved  records.  The  first 
recorded  meeting  was  April  6,  1798.  Benjamin  Cole  was  Mod- 
erator, William  Pierce,  Clerk,  Thomas  Bingham  and  Benjamin 
Cole,  Committee,  Daniel  Havens,  Treasurer.  They  voted  to 
raise  $133.33  to  build  a  schoolhouse,  payable  in  neat  stock  or  in 
wheat.  They  voted  to  set  the  building  as  near  the  crotch  of  the 
road  on  Daniel  Havens'  land  as  might  be  convenient.  The  house 
was  to  be  20  by  23  feet.  March  28,  1799,  they  met  and  accepted 
the  schoolhouse.  This  house  either  proved  unsatisfactory  or 
was  destroyed.  On  Jan.  1,  1813,  they  voted  to  build  a  brick 
schoolhouse  twenty  feet  square,  and  to  raise  money  by  tax 
on  polls  and  ratable  estates.  Thomas  Trescott  was  chosen  a 
committee  to  build  the  house.  There  wa&(  a  delay  in  the  matter. 
On  April  13,  1814,  they  met  at  Daniel  Havens',  and  voted  to 
unite  with  District  No.  3,  and  to  accept  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee appointed  to  set  the  schoolhouse,  and  chose  a  conmiittee 
to  draft  a  petition  to  lay  before  the  town.  The  town  does  not 
seem  to  have  acted  on  the  petition,  and  the  next  month  they 
met  and  voted  to  build  a  brick  house  18  feet  square  with  a  por- 
tico of  wood  on  the  outside.  The  house  was  built  and  accepted 
in  December.  This  probably  served  them  until  1854  or  1855. 
We  find  them  voting  on  Jan.  30,  1855,  to  build  a  schoolhouse 
on  the  site  of  the  old  one  and  to  raise  $150  for  this  purpose. 
They  got  into  a  tangle  about  the  location  and  voted  not  to  build 
that  year,  but  Dec.  18,  they  **  Voted  to  locate  the  schoolhouse 
on  a  side  of  the  rode  from  whare  the  old  won  was  burnt,"  and 
May  30,  1856  they  accepted  the  building. 

For  many  years  no  mention  is  made  of  a  summer  school, 
and  the  winter  term  extended  over  three  or  four  months. 
The  records  between  1799  and  1811  were  lost,  so  it  cannot  be 
stated  how  they  supported  their  schools,  but  in  1811  they  ap- 
propriated the  public  money  for  that  purpose,  and  voted  to  pay 
the  remainder  of  the  expense  according  to  the  number  of  days 
each  man  sent  to  the  school.    They  voted  to  find  half  a  cord 


S88  HiSTOBT    OF    BOYALTON,    VERMONT 

(numing  cordT)  of  wood  to  the  scholar,  the  committee  to  find 
the  rest  if  needed.  From  1811  to  1824  they  supported  the 
school  by  subscription,  except  the  public  money  drawn.  From 
1821  onward  they  had  two  terms  of  school  varying  in  length 
from  five  to  seven  months.  Like  the  other  districts  th^  had  a 
separate  meeting  for  each  term  of  school  In  1891  the  eommit- 
tee  were  instructed  "to  hire  out  the  summer  term  at  Sooth 
Royalton,"  if  they  could.  In  1893  they  voted  to  unite  with 
South  Royalton,  by  a  vote  of  13  to  6,  and  the  South  Boyalton 
District  voted  to  receive  them,  and  that  cloeed  the  existenee  of 
District  No.  2. 

The  names  of  the  early  teachers  have  not  been  learned.  In 
1851  Abbie  Stevens  and  Mary  Wheeler  were  the  teachers,  in 
1853  Frank  Fay  and  Augusta  Perry,  in  1855  Mary  Dewey  and 
Ruth  S.  Gowdery,  in  1857  Levi  Baker,  in  1859  Darwin  Boyd, 
and  in  1859-60  Maria  M.  Calder,  George  A.  Bingham,  and  Ellen 
Hackett. 

The  following  petition  to  the  General  Assembly  is  of  inter- 
est in  connection  with  the  history  of  this  district : 

"Gentlemen  LegislatorB.  We  yoar  petitioners,  tarn  our  faces 
towards  you  and  make  our  complaints,  and  we  state  to  you  with  mudi 
assurance,  that  a  good  schoolhouse,  well  located  for  the  convenience 
of  all  our  district  (except  one  funUy,  which  is  an  extreme  esse) 
would  have  been  built  and  finished  by  the  16th  day  of  June  last 
according  to  vote  of  the  district — ^we  should  have  been  benefited  by  a 
summer  school,  and  been  in  readiness  for  a  winter  schocrf,  also  been 
entitled  to  our  share  of  the  public  money,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the 
opposition  of  the  above  named  law  (law  of  1852).  Our  children  are 
the  sufferers,  not  one  of  them  have  had  the  privilege  of  a  school  for 
almost  a  whole  year — haying  had  our  school  house  destroyed  by  fire 
in  the  beginning  of  last  winter." 

They  asked  for  a  repeal  of  the  law.  This  law  gave  the 
minority  right  of  appeal  to  the  selectmen  in  ease  of  disagreement 
in  locating  a  school  building,  and  the  decision  of  the  selectmen 
was  to  be  final. 

The  records  of  District  Xo.  13  date  back  to  Oct.  12,  1803. 
The  voters  were  warned  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Williams 
to  act  on  the  following  articles:  1st  to  organize  and  form  into 
a  regular  society;  2nd  to  choose  all  necessary  society  officers; 
3d  to  do  any  other  business  thought  proper  when  met.  Nathan 
Page  presided  as  selectman.  Daniel  Rix,  Jr.  was  elected  Clerk, 
Silas  Williams,  Benjamin  Clark,  Levi  Parker,  Committee,  Da- 
vid Maynard,  Collector.  The  next  month  they  voted  to  build 
a  schoolhouse  16  by  20  feet,  and  to  set  it  in  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  Mr.  Williams's  field  northeast  of  his  house.  They  voted 
to  give  Daniel  Rix  $125  for  building  it.  In  May  the  next  year 
they  voted  to  have  a  school  that  summer,  and  to  raise  $11  to 
pay  the  expense,  and  to  give  Sarah  Flynn  five  shillings  and  six 
pence  per  week.    The  house  was  accepted  in  October.    In  1805 


^ 


History  of  Rotalton,  Vermont  289 

they  voted  to  have  ^'a  woman  school  three  months  the  winter  en- 
sueing,"  and  a  tax  of  $12  paid  for  the  summer  school  and  one 
of  $16  paid  for  the  winter  term.  David  Williams  served  as 
clerk  the  greater  part  of  the  time  from  1811  to  1847.  A  new 
schoolhouse  was  built  by  Mr.  Hatch  and  accepted  Dec.  23,  1832. 
This  building  was  soon  in  need  of  repairs,  and  in  1851  they 
voted  to  build  a  new  house,  and  Charles  Clapp  bid  off  the  con- 
tract for  $195.  The  old  house  was  sold  at  auction  to  Oscar 
Henry.  Some  of  the  residents  of  the  district  named  between 
1806  and  1823  were  Eliphalet  Davis,  Zacharia  Waldo,  Ephraim 
Barnes,  Levi  Parker,  Royal  Spaulding,  Howe  Wheeler,  Poly- 
dore  WiUiams,  Richard  Smith,  David  Bosworth,  and  Luther 
l^SOanBLU.    The  last  meeting  was  held  March  28,  1893. 

The  records  of  District  No.  5  begin  with  the  year  1827.  In 
March  of  that  year  the  selectmen  were  requested  by  Amos  Rob- 
inson and  son  Amos,  Silas  Packard,  Wright  Clark  and  Luther 
Hunting  to  call  a  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  dis- 
trict. It  is  hardly  to  be  supposed  that  the  district  had  never 
been  organized,  and  this  action  may  have  been  due  to  taking  off 
a  part  of  the  district  to  form  No.  16.  The  meeting  was  opened 
on  the  12th  by  the  first  selectman.  One  week  later  Isaac  Park- 
hurst  was  chosen  committee  and  collector,  and  they  voted  a 
school  of  five  months  in  the  summer  and  four  in  the  winter.  This 
district  was  one  of  the  largest  and  most  progressive.  It  had 
annual  meetings  much  earlier  than  most  of  the  others,  more 
months  of  schooling  in  a  year,  supported  the  school  by  taxation, 
and  has  always  had  one  of  the  best  school  buildings  in  town. 
In  1828  they  had  a  writing  school  for  a  month,  and  in  1830 
mention  is  also  made  of  such  a  school.  In  1834  the  school  was 
so  large  that  they  considered  the  advisability  of  having  two 
schools.  In  1850  they  appointed  Job  Bennett,  Hiram  Hinkley, 
William  Leonard  a  committee,  one  of  whom  was  to  visit  the 
school  every  two  weeks.  They  believed  in  supervision.  The 
boarding  around  system  was  practically  abandoned  in  1865. 
There  are  many  who  will  remember  the  old  brick  building,  with 
its  rows  of  seats  facing  each  other,  and  its  great  box  stove,  al- 
ways red  hot  on  cold  winter  mornings.  Perhaps  it  was  seventy 
years  or  more  ago  that  Giles  Allen  taught  the  Broad  Brook 
school,  as  it  was  called.  He  was  a  great  rhymester.  One 
day  there  was  to  be  a  ball  at  Sharon.  A  number  of  teams  with 
ball-goers,  for  a  lark,  stopped  in  front  of  the  schoolhouse.  Allen 
took  his  pupils  to  the  door  and  gave  them  the  following  rhyme : 

"Here  are  twenty  boys  that  are  full  of  noise, 

With  horses  from  the  stall; 
Here  are  twenty  girls  with  bows  and  curls, 

That  are  going  to  the  ball." 

19 


290  BjgroBY  OP  Boyalton,  Vermont 

Other  teachers  were  Lueian  Hewitt  of  Pomfret,  Laura  J. 
Wood,  1854,  Norman  FoUeU,  1855-6,  Sarah  Fiah,  1858;  from 
1859  to  1861,  Bradley  Moore,  Jeanette  Bix,  Qardner  Cox, 
Annette  Woleott,  Caroline  Aspinwall;  from  1863  to  1870,  Emma 
Leonard,  Oscar  Allen,  Emma  (Gordon,  Osbom  Ashley,  Martha 
P.  Pettingill,  Evelyn  M.  Wood,  D.  W.  Lovejoy,  Laura  Foster, 
C.  W.  Slack.  The  old  brkk  building  was  replaced  in  1883  with 
a  new  one  of  wood. 

District  No.  1,  one  of  the  three  oldest  districts  in  the  town, 
has  no  records  previous  to  1831,  when  Joseph  Parkhurst,  Cyrus 
Safford,  and  Willis  Kinsman  petition  for  a  meeting.  The  usual 
procedure  was  to  petition  for  a  meeting  before  each  term  of 
school  They  were  having  two  terms  in  the  year.  In  1836 
William  Harvey  was  the  petitioner,  and  Dr.  Ingraham  served  as 
moderator.  The  committee  was  instructed  to  secure  Miss 
Woodward  of  Chelsea  or  Miss  Skinner  of  Royalton  for  the  win- 
ter term.  In  1840  Lyman  Benson  and  Archibald  Kent  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  visit  the  school,  and  see  if  it  was  ex- 
pedient to  continue  singing  in  the  school,  so  we  may  infer  that 
some  i)edagogue  in  advance  of  her  time  was  taking  the  time  tot 
music  that  she  ought  to  have  employed  in  teaching  the  three  B's. 
The  next  year  the  committee  was  instructed  to  hire  Oel  Buck, 
if  he  could  be  had.  The  work  of  the  committee  seems  to  have 
been  all  done  for  him  beforehand,  by  the  wise  heads  of  the  dis- 
trict. They  paid  $1.00  a  term  for  building  fires,  and  Jonas 
Flint  got  the  dollar  in  1842. 

The  railroad  surveyors,  when  they  ran  the  road  through 
the  town,  paid  no  attention  to  a  little  obstruction  like  a  school- 
house,  and  so  the  road  was  surveyed  right  through  the  school 
building.  It  had  to  be  moved,  and  as  it  was  an  old  building, 
now  was  a  good  time  to  erect  a  new  one.  The  location  of  the 
site  and  the  plan  for  the  new  house  were  left  to  Cyrus  Safford, 
Cyrus  Hartshorn,  and  Oliver  Curtiss.  The  last  two  with  John 
Manchester  were  the  building  committee.  They  placed  the 
house  on  Joseph  Lee's  land.  Cyrus  Safford  bought  the  old 
house  and  shed,  and  took  the  contract  for  the  new  one  at  $189, 
and  was  to  have  the  building  ready  for  the  winter  term, 
1847.  With  the  growth  of  South  Royalton  the  little  schoolhouse 
began  to  be  crowded,  and  the  budding  village  desired  a  school 
of  its  own  in  1850,  so  they  voted  to  pay  South  Royalton 
$25,  if  they  supported  a  school  of  their  own.  As  the  village 
school  increased  and  offered  better  and  better  facilities,  they 
found  it  was  near  enough  to  dispense  with  a  separate  school, 
and  after  1884  no  more  records  are  found. 

The  records  of  District  No.  6  date  from  1846  to  1893.  In 
1846  they  voted  to  move  the  schoolhouse  on  to  the  west  point  of 


HiSTOBT    OP    ROYALTON,    VERMONT  291 

Amasa  Dutton's  land,  and  then  to  repair  it.  Two  or  three 
meetings  followed,  in  which  they  voted  and  rescinded  alternate- 
ly, but  finally  they  voted  quite  extensive  repairs  inside  and  out. 
Miss  £.  J.  Perham  taught  in  1855-56,  also  Miss  S.  D.  Shipman. 
Between  1872  and  1881  the  question  of  building  came  up  re- 
peatedly, but  no  harmony  of  action  could  be  secured.  The  se- 
lectmen were  called  out,  who  located  the  house  and  ordered  it 
built,  which  was  done  in  1882.  Mrs.  Henry  W.  Dutton  was  one 
of  the  teachers  in  this  district. 

The  records  of  District  No.  10  begin  with  the  year  1857, 
when  David  ToUes  was  moderator  and  John  Williams  clerk.  The 
length  of  their  school  year  for  a  period  of  years  varied  from 
ten  weeks  to  eight  months.  In  1884  they  voted  to  arrange  for 
schooling  pupils  at  some  common  or  high  school.  The  school 
building  was  in  need  of  repairs,  but  efforts  to  put  it  in  good  con- 
dition were  voted  down.  In  1892  they  transported  their  pupils 
to  Bethel,  and  when  they  disbanded  as  a  district  they  had  money 
in  the  treasury. 

The  first  record  of  District  No.  11  is  dated  March  30,  1880, 
when  they  "Voted  to  procure  a  new  book  to  keep  the  records 
in  place  of  the  one  burnt,'*  so  all  the  early  history  of  this  dis- 
trict is  probably  lost. 

In  lieu  of  the  records  of  District  No.  9,  which  have  not  been 

obtained,  an  extract  from  a  letter  of  Jacob  Pox,  Jr.,  written 

from  Big  Bock,  111.,  about  1860,  is  given. 

"I  recall  with  distinctnees  my  early  school  days,  when  clad  in  home- 
spun I  trudged  the  pleasant  river  road,  and  ofttimes  the  river's  pebbly 
edge,  to  the  old  red  schoolhouse,  where,  under  the  mild  sway  of 
Lucy  Backus,  Zabad  Mosher,  and  Harvey  Carpenter  I  first  learned 
my  a-b-abs  and  my  c-a-t-cat  &c.  Oh  glorious  old  school  house!  how 
often  have  I  thought  of  thee,  and  of  the  many  happy  hours  passed 
within  thy  portals!  Thou  wast  so  modest  in  thy  attire,  and  so  unpre- 
tending, boasting  no  adornments,  but  conscious  of  thy  merits,  thou 
didst  deserve  a  better  fate.  Old  friend,  farewell!  Pardon  this  apostro* 
phe  to  the  friend  of  my  better  days,  for  whenever  the  old  schoolhouse 
comes  up  in  my  memory,  it  seems  as  though  I  was  young  again.  And 
no  wonder,  for  I  do  not  believe  that  in  the  whole  State  of  Vermont 
there  existed  at  that  time  a  school  district  containing  so  much  native 
talent,  such  indomitable  perseverance,  as  did  congregate  in  that  dear 
old  red  edifice.  And  then  what  strife  for  superiority,  and  what  won- 
ders were  accomplished  in  incredibly  short  periods  of  time.  For 
besides  Sister  Betsey  A  you  ft  I  ft  Dear  Louisa,  was  not  Lucretia 
Bowman  ft  Melissa  Hibbard  ft  Eliza  Dewey  ft  Henry  Billings  and  Cal- 
vin  Bliss  with  one  arm  and  a  moiety  of  another,  were  they  not  of  that 
same  class  that  received  the  rudiments  of  their  education  in  the  dear 
old  fabric?  And  then  what  spelling  schools  with  their  usual  accom- 
paniments, such  as  sliding  on  the  ice  and  speaking  pieces.  I  remem- 
ber how,  Hope  L.  Dana  being  teacher,  the  Sharonians  used  to  come  up 
and  participate,  and  George  Dana  was  wont  to  rehearse  the  fable  of 
the  spider  and  the  fly.  I  remember  how  one  cold  wintry  morning  us 
children  all  had  a  cry  in  the  comer  of  the  old  chimney  because  Sister 
Betsey  thought  she  had  frozen  her  thumb.    I   remember  when  the 


292  History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont 

lurid  flames  shot  from  the  roof  of  oar  Alma  Bfater  and  inyolyed  in 
one  common  ruin  our  books  and  summer's  tuition.  Then  it  was  I 
think  I  made  my  flrst  acquaintance  with  the  walls  of  the  Royaltmi 
Academy,  situated  at  the  upper  end  of  the  village,  where  I  think 
Eunice  Backus  dispensed  books  and  birch  very  treeHy,  and  as  became 
one  of  her  dignified  mien,  and  thus  ended  my  scholastic  course  in  the 
old  red  house." 

Coming  back  to  the  town  records  we  find  a  new  schoolhonae 
was  built  in  No.  4  in  1853,  when  the  selectmen  were  called  out 
to  locate  the  building.  Number  17  retained  its  boundaries 
scarcely  two  years  in  succession,  and  finally,  in  1872,  on  i>etition 
of  its  inhabitants  it  was  dissolved,  and  part  of  it  set  to  Number 
14  at  Boyalton  village,  and  the  rest  to  Number  18  at  South 
Royalton.  Then  began  the  decay  of  the  old  schoolhouse,  dear 
to  the  hearts  of  many  of  its  former  occupants,  until  it  presented 
the  appearance  seen  in  the  cut  of  schoolhouses,  and  soon  it  was 
removed  as  an  offense  on  the  highway.  The  same  year  District 
18  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  Number  8. 

In  1876  Number  17  had  lost  its  organization,  and  petitioned 
the  selectmen  for  relief,  who  appointed  the  proper  ofiBcers.  In 
1853  the  South  Royalton  district  purchased  of  William  C.  Flint 
the  lot  of  land  which  it  still  owns  and  uses  as  school  grounds. 
November  1st  of  the  same  year  Number  13  leased  of  Silas  R. 
Williams  a  lot  of  land  for  its  schoolhouse.  In  1856  Number  4 
obtained  its  lot  of  James  A.  Slack,  and  Number  2  bought  a  site 
of  Harvey  Reynolds.  The  following  year  Number  10  secured 
from  David  Tolles  land  for  a  school  building.  In  1893  Number 
18  bought  an  addition  to  its  lot,  and  again  in  1909.  In  1910 
another  addition  was  made  to  the  ball  ground  in  the  rear  of  the 
schoolhouse. 

The  first  recorded  mention  of  a  schoolhouse  is  Mar.  18,  1788, 
when  the  voters  of  the  town  evidently  found  the  meeting-house 
too  cold  for  comfort,  and  adjourned  to  the  **Sentre  School 
house,"  but  it  would  seem  that  their  quarters  there  were  not 
satisfactory,  for  they  again  adjourned  for  ten  minutes  to  meet 
again  at  the  meeting-house.  In  1792  the  town  voted  to  buy  that 
part  of  the  meeting-house  lot  that  had  been  sold  to  Lieut.  Lyon, 
and  the  building  **nigh  ye  meeting  house  formerly  occupied  as 
a  school  house  and  commonly  known  by  ye  name  of  ye  Sentre 
School  house."  Probably  this  was  the  first  schoolhouse  of  the 
Center  District,  and  the  first  in  town.  From  the  records  of 
1798,  Elisha  Durfee  seems  to  have  bought  this  house  and  to  have 
received  a  bond  for  a  deed.  The  to\\Ti  voted  that,  if  anybody  ap- 
peared with  the  bond  and  secured  the  town  for  balance  due,  he 
should  have  a  deed  of  the  house.  Whether  Elkanah  Stevens  and 
Isaac  Skinner  appeared  with  the  bond  or  not,  cannot  be  stated, 
but  the  next  year  they  sold  this  house  to  Jacob  Smith  for  $90. 


HiSTQBY    OF    BOTALTON,    VeBMONT  298 

In  1802  the  town  gave  leave  to  build  a  schoolhouise  20  by 
40  feet,  with  a  cupola  in  front  twelve  feet  square,  on  the  meet- 
ing-house Green,  ''provided  it  should  be  set  as  far  back  in  the 
rear  as  the  make  of  the  land  would  admit,"  and  it  was  ''to  stan^ 
there  no  longer  than  it  is  kept  for  the  use  of  schooling,  and  if 
the  Proprietors  should  put  anybody  into  sd  building  to  live  or 
carry  on  any  kind  of  business  their  right  of  keeping  the  build- 
ing on  the  ground  aforesaid  shall  be  forfeited."  The  work  of 
sticking  the  stake  was  entrusted  to  three  deacons,  Billings,  Tul- 
lar,  and  Rix. 

In  1844  a  new  schoolhouse  was  erected  on  the  common  near 
the  pound.  It  was  not  to  exceed  $350  in  cost  exclusive  of  the 
old  house.  This  was  repaired  in  1852.  In  1878  the  warning 
contained  a  clause  to  see  if  they  would  build  a  new  schoolhouse. 

Comfort  Sever  was  a  man  who  was  greatly  interested  in 
education.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  he  himself  employed  some  of 
his  time,  especially  in  the  winter  months,  in  teaching.  In 
1809  reference  is  made  in  a  deed  to  Sever 's  school,  and  the  red 
schoolhouse.  He  owned  Lots  11  and  12  Town  Plot,  and  the 
"red  school  house"  may  have  stood  where  the  present  house 
stands  in  District  No.  9,  and  it  was  no  doubt  the  same  building 
that  Jacob  Fox  says  was  burned.  In  1792  Ebenezer  Fitch  sold 
one  ninth  part  of  " Sever 's  school  house,"  which  may  indicate 
that  the  house  was  not  built  by  taxation,  but  by  subscription^ 
to  which  Mr.  Sever,  who  was  well  off  in  worl<Uy  goods,  may 
have  contributed  much  the  largest  share.  District  No.  5  bought 
land  in  1826  of  Arunah  Clark,  for  a  schoolhouse  site.  In  1828 
Greenfield  Perrin  deeded  fifteen  rods  of  land  to  District  No. 
7  for  a  schoolhouse.  In  1831  Isaac  Morgan  sold  land  for  a 
schoolhouse  to  District  No.  17. 

The  earliest  schools  were  supported  mainly  by  voluntary 
subscription,  then  by  the  districts  voting  a  tax.  In  the  year 
1800  an  effort  was  made  to  have  the  town  vote  a  tax  to  main- 
tain {schools.  No  action  was  taken  at  the  first  meeting,  and  at 
an  adjourned  meeting  they  voted  not  to  raise  a  tax.  In  1811 
a  small  appropriation  for  the  support  of  schools  was  made  by 
the  town.  The  school  law  of  1797,  before  referred  to,  gave  the 
districts  power  to  raise  money  by  subscription  or  taxation,  and 
also  gave  the  town  power  to  raise  money  for  school  purposes, 
which  money  was  to  be  divided  equally  according  to  the  num- 
ber of  children  in  each  district  between  the  ages  of  four  and 
eighteen.  The  law  seemed  to  leave  the  matter  of  maintaining 
a  school  with  the  district,  but,  if  it  failed  to  do  so  for  a  year,  it 
forfeited  all  right  to  a  share  of  the  public  money.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1810,  an  act  was  passed  making  it  the  duty  of  the  select- 
men in  the  organized  towns  of  the  state  to  assess  a  tax  of  one 


S94  BiSTOBY    OP    BOYALTON,    VERMONT 

cent  on  a  dollar  on  the  list  of  polls  and  ratable  estates  of  the  in- 
habitants, for  the  purpose  of  schooling,  which  assessment  was 
increased  to  two  cents  on  a  doUar  in  1824. 

Subsequent  legislation,  influenced  by  recommendations  from 
the  governors  of  the  state  and  superintendents  of  schools,  and 
by  requests  from  the  best  and  most  progressive  portion  of  the 
teaching  force  of  the  state,  has  continually  tended  towards  cen- 
tralization. This  tendency,  and  the  great  decrease  in  the  size 
of  families  have  caused  a  gradual  abolition  of  school  districts, 
and  the  throwing  of  the  support  of  the  public  schools  into  the 
hands  of  the  town  and  state. 

Vermont's  share  of  the  surplus  revenue,  which  the  United 
States  government  loaned  to  the  several  states  in  1836,  was 
$669,086.79.  This  money  was  apportioned  to  the  several  towns 
of  the  state  according  to  the  population,  based  on  the  census 
of  1830.  On  December  21st,  1836,  the  town  chose  Oramel  Saw- 
yer, John  Marshall,  and  Thomas  Rust  as  trustees  of  this  pros- 
pective money,  and  they  were  instructed  to  loan  it  on  good  se- 
curity, not  more  than  $500  to  any  one  person,  nor  less  than  $100. 
If  all  was  not  applied  for  within  fifteen  days,  the  trustees  were 
to  loan  at  their  discretion.  It  does  not  seem  to  have  been  loaned 
in  that  time,  for  January  28,  1837,  the  selectmen  were  author- 
ized to  borrow  $1000  at  six  per  cent,  interest.  The  trustees  re- 
ported at  their  March  meeting,  1839,  that  they  received  the  first 
installment  at  Woodstock  Bank,  Feb.  13,  1837,  amounting  to 
$1506.34,  a  similar  sum  on  April  14,  and  a  third  installment  on 
July  5th.  The  interest  which  had  accrued  Feb.  16,  1838,  was 
$219.95.  The  rest  of  this  money,  aside  from  what  the  town  bor- 
rowed, was  loaned  to  individuals  in  sums  of  $100  each,  and  notes 
were  taken  on  demand,  with  responsible  names  thereon. 

Another  source  of  income  is  the  Huntington  fund.  This 
came  through  the  will  of  Arunah  Huntington,  who  was  bom 
in  Roxbury,  Feb.  23,  1794,  and  died  in  Brantford,  Province  of 
Ontario,  Jan.  10,  1877.  It  is  said  that  he  lived  at  one  time  with 
his  uncle  Downer,  supposed  to  have  lived  in  Sharon,  that  he 
worked  at  tanning  leather,  shoe  making,  and  teaching  school, 
by  which  means  he  gathered  together  enough  to  start  a  small 
shoe  business  in  Brantford.  By  judicious  management  he 
amassed  a  fortune  of  over  $200,000.  The  will  was  contested  for 
six  years,  but  Vermont,  the  legatee,  finally  won  the  suit.  By  the 
terms  of  the  will  the  State  could  use  the  gift  as  it  deemed  best, 
but  it  was  recommended,  that  the  profits  should  be  annually  di- 
vided among  the  counties  for  the  benefit  of  common  or  district 
schools.  The  Legislature  acted  upon  the  bequest  in  1884,  re- 
quiring the  treasurer  to  apportion  annually  the  interest  on  the 
fund,  to  the  towns  and  gores  in  proportion  to  the  inhabitants. 


HiSTOBT    OF    BOTALTON,    VERMONT  295 

The  towns  were  to  apportion  the  sum  received  to  the  school  dis- 
tricts as  other  public  money  was  divided,  but  a  district  had  to 
maintain  a  school  twenty-four  weeks  the  preceding  year  in  order 
to  claim  a  share  in  the  division.  The  first  division  was  made  in 
March,  1886,  and  Royalton  received  her  share,  probably,  but 
the  fund  was  not  included  in  the  town  report  as  a  separate  item 
until  1891,  when  $54.61  were  reported,  and  about  the  same  sum 
yearly,  until  the  fund  became  a  part  of  the  permanent  school 
fund. 

In  1902  a  reserve  fund  was  set  apart  from  the  state  school 
tax,  for  the  purpose  of  equalizing  taxation  and  school  ad- 
vantages in  the  state.  The  rest  of  the  tax  was  to  be  divided 
among  the  cities  and  towns  according  to  the  number  of  legal 
schools  maintained.  Those  benefited  by  this  reserve  fund  had 
to  raise  at  least  fifty  cents  on  a  dollar  of  their  grand  list  for 
school  purposes  exclusive  of  buildings.  In  1904  this  act  was 
amended  by  increasing  the  fund  to  $45,000.  The  same  year 
a  permanent  fund  was  created  by  setting  apart  the  $240,000 
which  the  national  government  had  paid  into  the  treasury  of 
Vermont  in  settlement  of  war  claims.  This  was  to  be  the 
nucleus  of  a  permanent  fund.  In  1906  the  Huntington  fund 
was  added  to  it  and  the  United  States  deposit  money  which  the 
state  had  loaned  to  the  towns.  The  trustees  of  public  money  in 
each  town  were  to  collect  and  pay  into  the  state  treasury  before 
Dec.  31,  1907,  the  money  apportioned  to  it,  unless  the  money 
had  been  loaned  the  town,  in  which  case  the  town  was  to  pay  in- 
terest until  such  time  as  the  money  should  be  returned.  From 
this  permanent  fund  $15,000  were  reserved,  to  be  divided  in  the 
same  way  and  under  the  same  conditions  as  the  $45,000  reserve 
fund. 

In  1906  the  Legislature  set  aside  $20,000  for  aiding  towns 
that  furnish  transportation  and  board  to  resident  pupils  in  at- 
tendance upon  elementary  schools,  limited  and  apportioned  ac- 
cording to  the  sum  expended  by  said  towns  for  school  pur- 
poses. The  same  year  a  law  was  passed  providing  for  re-im- 
bursing  such  towns  as  should  have  paid  tuition  for  higher  in- 
struction of  its  pupils,  conditioned  and  apportioned  according 
to  amount  spent  for  school  purposes  and  for  such  higher  tuition. 

The  first  record  of  the  number  of  children  in  town  is  found 
in  1809.  At  that  time  District  No.  One  had  46  children,  No.  Two, 
27,  No.  Three,  26,  No.  Four,  73,  No.  Five,  39,  No.  Six,  59,  No. 
Seven,  51,  No.  Eight,  25,  No.  Nine,  65,  No.  Ten,  33,  No.  Eleven, 
77,  No.  Twelve,  62,  No.  Thirteen,  37,  No.  Fourteen,  the  Center 
School,  85,  total,  705.  In  1811  No.  Four  crowds  close  on  the 
Center  School  with  81  children,  but  in  1814  the  Center  has 
reached  109.      The  largest  number  recorded,  740,  was  in  1817, 


296  HiST(»Y  OF  BoYAiiTON,  Vbbmont 

these  being  children  between  four  and  eighteen  years  of  age. 
From  that  time  the  number  ahnost  continuously  decreases.  In 
1847  it  was  594,  No.  Nine  having  the  largest  number,  66. 

In  1831  the  report  of  the  number  of  the  children  included 
the  names  of  the  clerks  as  follows:  No.  1,  Oliver  Curtis,  clerk, 
had  30 ;  No.  2,  G.  Bingham,  36 ;  No.  3,  R.  K.  Dewey,  23 ;  No.  4, 
William  Woodworth,  43;  No.  5,  A.  J.  B.  Robinson,  52;  No.  6, 
J.  Richardson,  52 ;  No.  7,  T.  Rust,  22 ;  No.  8,  D.  Rix,  27 ;  No.  9, 
Andrew  Backus,  72 ;  No.  10,  M.  Tullar,  22 ;  No.  11,  T.  Wheat, 
28;  No.  12,  O.  Willes,  44;  No.  13,  J.  Waldo,  32;  No.  14,  J. 
Sprague,  79 ;  No.  16,  J.  Johnson,  17,  No.  17,  D.  Morgan,  37. 

In  the  report  of  1858  the  names  of  the  families  in  each  dis- 
trict and  the  children  attending  school  are  given.  The  follow- 
ing heads  of  families  each  had  six  children  of  school  age :  John 
Hinkley,  Jesse  Button,  Chauncey  Tenney,  Aurin  Luce,  Elisha 
Howard,  Mrs.  £.  Denison.  The  two  districts  having  the  largest 
number  of  pupils  were  No.  14  with  68,  and  No.  4  with  54  chil- 
dren. 

The  amount  of  school  money  divided  among  the  districts 
has  not  been  found  prior  to  1837.  There  were  then  628  chil- 
dren in  seventeen  districts,  and  the  total  sum  divided  was 
$507.68.  The  next  year  there  was  reported  from  the  state  school 
tax  $440.22,  from  land  rentals,  $52,  and  from  interest  on  the 
surplus  revenue,  $201. 

The  town  system  of  schools  was  a  plant  of  slow  growth  in 
Vermont.  The  towns  were,  as  a  rule,  reluctant  to  adopt  it.  It 
was  voted  on  in  Royalton  several  times  between  1872  and  1893, 
but  with  large  majorities  opposed  to  adoption.  A  law  was 
passed  in  1892  abolishing  the  district  system,  and  the  towns  had 
no  choice.  The  number  of  schools  in  town  under  this  new  sys- 
tem has  greatly  decreased,  so  that  now  there  are  but  six,  exclu- 
sive of  the  town  High  School  and  Academy,  and  the  South 
Royalton  Graded  School.  The  number  of  children  of  school  age 
is  now  294. 

In  the  division  of  public  money,  the  income  from  the  per- 
manent school  fund  and  the  state  school  tax  are  apportioned  ac- 
cording to  the  number  of  legal  schools.  A  legal  school  is  one 
maintained  at  least  twenty-eight  weeks  in  a  year,  with  an  aver- 
age daily  attendance  of  not  less  than  six  pupils,  taught  by  a  duly 
qualified  teacher,  whose  register  has  been  kept  according  to  law. 
The  division  of  all  other  public  school  money  is  based  on  attend- 
ance. In  1909  the  town  received  for  school  purposes  the  fol- 
lowing amount  of  public  money :  Land  rent,  $15.85 ;  for  trans- 
portation, $234.24;  tuition  reimbursement,  $55.50;  permanent 
school  fund,  $100.59 ;  state  school  tax,  $343.32 ;  from  $45,000  re- 


BmroBY  OF  Boyalton,  Ysbmont  297 

serve  fund,  $108.09;  from  $15,000  reserve  fund,  $36.11;  total, 
$893.70. 

The  South  Boyalton  Graded  School  District  received  in  1909 
on  the  $15,000  reserve  fund,  $134.59;  on  the  $45,000  reserve 
fund,  $403.58 ;  transportation,  $103.31 ;  state  school  tax,  $245.23 ; 
p^manent  school,  fund,  $71.85 ;  land  rent,  $28.15 ;  total,  $986.71. 

The  amount  of  money  received  from  town  taxes  for  school 
purposes  was  $2,322.61,  which  with  the  public  money  and  $200 
of  the  Academy  fund  made  the  sum  of  $5,631.89  available  to 
the  town  for  conducting  its  system  of  schools,  during  the  school 
year,  1909-10. 

The  South  Boyalton  Graded  School  was  not  established 
without  a  struggle.  Its  nucleus  was  District  Eighteen.  This 
district  had  maintained  two  schools  in  a  two-story  building  most 
of  the  time  from  1875  to  1892.  The  superior  advantages  oflEered 
by  these  schools  attracted  pupils  from  other  districts,  but  it 
was  the  policy  of  the  controlling  officers  to  discourage  the  at- 
tendance of  tuition  pupils,  because  it  would  necessitate  more 
room  and  more  teachers,  and  they  were  not  quite  ready  for  en- 
largement. 

In  1882  the  two  schools  were  graded,  and  a  primitive  course 
of  study  was  adopted.  The  committee  chosen  to  prepare  this 
course  was  composed  of  Rev.  S.  K.  B.  Perkins,  Superintendent 
of  Schools,  M.  J.  Sargent,  Prudential  Committee,  and  Mrs.  D.  W. 
Lovejoy,  Principal  of  the  two  schools.  This  course  outlined  the 
studies  to  be  pursued  for  five  years  in  the  primary  department, 
and  for  five  years  in  the  grammar  department.  Drawing  was 
introduced  and  practical  subjects  emphasized. 

In  1883  the  school  building  was  repaired,  and  the  next 
year  tuition  pupils  were  admitted.  The  school  increased  in 
numbers,  and  it  soon  became  evident  that  more  commodious 
quarters  would  have  to  be  provided.  This  was  not  done  until 
1892. 

On  petition  a  meeting  was  called  for  March  30,  1892,  to 
see  if  the  district  would  vote  to  establish  a  graded  school.  When 
met,  it  was  unanimously  voted  to  establish  a  graded  school  of 
four  or  mx)re  departments  with  three  or  more  grades.  The 
prudential  committee,  J.  B.  Durkee,  A.  P.  Skinner,  and  J.  H. 
Hewitt,  with  the  clerk,  M.  J.  Sargent,  were  constituted  a  board 
to  establish  such  a  school,  and  to  prepare  plans  for  reconstruct- 
ing the  old  building  or  erecting  a  new  one,  and  to  choose  a  lo- 
cation. The  board  was  instructed  to  use  all  reasonable  effort 
to  induce  Districts  One  and  Two  to  unite  with  Eighteen. 

The  board  canvassed  Districts  One,  Two,  and  Pour,  ascer- 
tained the  grand  list  of  the  three  districts,  learned  that  a  good 
majority  were  in  favor  of  the  union,  and  also  ascertained  the 


298  HiErrmY  of  BoYAutas,  YmtMOSsrr 

cost  of  different  lots  snitable  for  the  location  of  a  bnilding.  Th^ 
reported  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  when  it  was  voted  to  pro- 
cure a  lot  of  John  Mudgett,  and  to  raise  100  cents  on  a  dollar 
for  purchasing  the  land  and  for  building  a  schoolhouse.  The 
board  resigned,  and  Henry  Manchester,  John  Mudgett,  Chester 
Pierce,  Joel  Phelps,  and  W.  Y.  Soper  were  elected  a  building 
committee. 

The  movement  seemed  now  well  under  way,  and  to  be  pro- 
gressing favorably,  but  an  opposing  element  was  at  work.  This 
was  manifested  at  the  next  meeting,  when  a  motion  was  made 
to  rescind  the  vote  to  establish  a  graded  school.  This  was  lost,  the 
vote  standing  23  to  47.  A  motion  to  instruct  the  building  com- 
mittee to  buy  the  land  was  lost  by  a  small  majority.  At  a  sub- 
sequent meeting  it  was  voted  to  rescind  all  action  relating  to  the 
matter  of  providing  for  a  graded  school,  except  the  establish- 
ment of  such  a  schooL  They  then  voted  to  hold  a  meeting  prop- 
erly warned  for  voting  to  receive  Districts  One,  Two,  Three,  and 
Four.  These  districts  with  the  exception  of  No.  3  had  alraidy 
voted  to  unite  with  the  South  Boyalton  district. 

There  seems  to  have  been  some  question  as  to  the  legality 
of  some  of  the  proceedings,  but  finally  they  were  organized  as 
a  graded  school  district,  and  elected  J.  B.  Durkee  1st  Committee, 
Charles  Black,  2nd,  Charles  West,  3d,  Ira  Spaulding,  4th,  and 
G.  W.  Ward,  Sth.  Nothing  more  was  done  about  a  building  or 
lot,  except  to  appoint  a  committee  to  examine  informally  the 
locations  for  a  school  building.  At  a  meeeting  on  April  17, 
various  motions  looking  toward  providing  a  building  were  lost, 
then  they  voted  to  appoint  a  building  committee  of  five  to  build 
a  house  on  the  present  site  with  the  addition  of  the  Mudgett 
land,  not  to  exceed  $6,000.  They  voted  to  raise  a  tax  of  fifty 
cents  on  a  dollar  and  bond  the  district  for  the  rest,  and  left  dis- 
cretionary powers  in  the  hands  of  the  building  committee. 

It  looked  as  if  something  would  really  materialize  now,  but 
almost  at  once  a  petition  signed  by  fifty  or  more  voters  was  out, 
asking  for  another  meeting  to  rescind  everything  voted,  except 
the  establishment  of  a  graded  school.  When  met,  they  voted  to 
pass  over  the  article  relating  to  rescinding,  and  then  adjourned* 
The  building  committee  went  forward  and  bought  the  Mudgett 
land  to  enlarge  the  original  school  lot  of  one  fourth  of  an  acre 
bought  in  1853.  The  expense  of  the  land  and  completed  build- 
ing was  $6,495.54.  Four  schools  were  opened  in  the  new  build- 
ing, but  an  increase  in  attendance  necessitated  an  outlay  the 
next  year  of  several  hundred  dollars.  The  debt  incurred  by 
the  district  yearly  decreased  until  1900,  when  new  heating  and 
ventilating  apparatus  was  put  in,  costing  over  one  thousand 
dollars.    The  attendance  in  the  high  school  has  been  so  large  the 


History  of  Boyalton,  Yebmont  299 

past  few  years  that  the  space  which  was  ample  in  1900  is  now 
too  small,  and  more  room  is  demanded.  The  building  is  a  credit 
to  the  village,  well  equipped  for  physical,  chemical,  and  commer- 
cial departments,  as  compared  with  the  average  high  school  of 
Vermont. 

The  first  principal  of  the  graded  school  was  Edward  Sher- 
man Miller,  a  native  of  Byegate,  and  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth 
in  1893,  who  later  taught  in  Lancaster,  N.  H.  He  had  charge 
of  the  high  and  grammar  departments  in  one  school.  The 
spring  term  had  an  enrollment  of  45  students,  the  intermediate 
of  27,  with  Miss  Maud  M.  Kendall,  teacher,  and  the  primary,  36 
pupils,  with  Miss  Ella  C.  Latham,  teacher.  The  next  year  the 
grammar  school  had  a  separate  room,  and  was  taught  by  Miss 
E.  R.  Pratt. 

In  1895  William  Cyprian  Hopkins,  Jr.,  was  secured  as  prin- 
cipal.  He  was  bom  in  Hannibal,  Mo.,  1869;  graduated  at  the 
U.  V.  M.,  in  1894  with  an  A.  B.  degree ;  principal  of  Waterbury 
schools  1894-95.  He  remained  at  South  Boyalton  two  years. 
The  enrollment  in  the  high  school  had  not  reached  forty.  From 
South  Boyalton  Mr.  Hopkins  went  to  Wenosha,  Wis.,  where  he 
was  superintendent  of  schools  two  years.  He  then  spent  one 
year  in  study  in  the  University  of  Chicago,  and  later  was  in- 
structor in  history  in  Princeton- Yale  school,  Chicago,  and  was 
employed  in  the  Shattuck  school,  Faribault,  Minn. 

Mr.  Hopkins  sent  out  the  first  graduating  class  in  1897. 
From  the  Latin-Scientific  Course  were  graduated  Sfa  May  Ward, 
and  Cecilia  Wynn ;  from  the  English  Course,  Clara  Elvira  Da- 
vis, Ila  May  Button,  Luna  May  Leavitt,  Edith  Nellie  Skinner. 
Pupils  attended  the  high  school  that  year  from  six  dilBferent 
towns,  not  including  Royalton. 

Mr.  Hopkins  was  succeeded  by  Frank  Kilbum  Graves.  Mr. 
Graves  was  bom  in  Waterbury,  Sep.  28,  1862.  He  was  the  son 
of  Levi  J.  and  Analyse  (Kilbum)  Graves.  He  graduated  from 
the  U.  V.  M.  in  1886,  with  A.  B.  degree.  He  was  principal  of 
high  school,  Essex,  N.  Y.,  1886-88;  at  GranviUe,  N.  Y.,  1888-90; 
at  Swanton,  Vt.,  1890-93;  principal  of  Burr  and  Burton  Sem- 
inary, Manchester,  1893-94;  at  South  Royalton,  1896-1901; 
Bnosburg  Falls,  1901-02;  teacher  in  Berea  College,  Berea,  Ky., 
1903-04 ;  teacher  in  Sterling,  Conn.,  1904-07 ;  at  present  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools  for  the  towns  of  Elmore,  Morristown,  and 
Stowe.  He  married  June  14,  1887,  Miss  Eva  E.  Wyman  of  Wa- 
terbury, and  has  three  children,  Mildred  W.,  Osborne  H.,  and 
Harold  F.  Graves. 

The  enrollment  in  the  high  school  at  South  Royalton  was 
twenty-seven  when  he  took  charge  of  it,  and  sixty  when  he  left. 
In  1898  ten  were  graduated,  in  1899,  seven,  in  1900,  six,  in 


300  HSVQBT    OP   BOTALTOK,    YOKMOaiT 

1901.  two.  In  the  fall  term  of  1900  an  aiwmtant  was  Idred  for 
the  high  sehooL  Miss  Amy  L.  Kibbr.  Teadiing  school  with 
Principal  Graves  was  something  mare  than  hearing  Ifionona  He 
aimed  to  improve  the  tone  of  the  schools,  and  to  foster  a  heattl^ 
moral  as  well  as  intelleetnal  growth  in  his  stodents. 

In  1902  Arthur  R.  Butler  became  principal  of  the  graded 
schools.  He  remained  two  years.  There  was  quite  a  decrease 
in  the  attendance,  perhaps  partly  due  to  increase  in  the  rates  of 
tuition.  3^[rs.  Harriet  Seymour,  a  graduate  of  Mount  Hf^yoke, 
was  secured  as  assistant.  Twelve  students  were  graduated  that 
year. 

Mr.  Butler  was  succeeded  by  Julius  V.  Sturtevant,  a  native 
of  New  Haven  and  a  graduate  of  Middlebury  in  1885.  He  had 
taught  in  various  towns  in  Vermont,  including  Essex  Junction, 
Stowe.  and  Cambridge.  He  married  Lucy  Ellen  Batchelder, 
Mar.  11,  1891.  He  was  in  South  Boyalton  one  year,  when  he 
went,  as  principal  of  Boyalton  Academy,  to  the  other  village, 
where  he  remained  one  year.  He  then  went  as  principal  to  Con- 
cord, and  at  present  is  located  in  UnderhilL 

The  attendance  in  the  graded  school  was  smaller  than  usual, 
but  it  sent  out  a  graduating  class  of  eleven  in  1904.  Miss  Fannie 
Eastman  was  his  assistant  a  part  of  the  year. 

A  new  period  of  growth  and  prosperity  began  with  1905, 
when  John  Edward  Stetson  became  principal  of  the  graded 
schools.  He  was  bom  in  Hanover,  Mass.,  Sep.  10,  1878,  the  son 
of  William  H.  and  Delia  F.  (Carey)  Stetson.  He  graduated 
from  Middlebury  in  1900;  principal  of  grammar  school,  Man- 
chester Center.  1900;  principal  of  grammar  school,  Bennington, 
1901 :  principal  of  high  schooL  and  superintendent,  Wilmington, 
N.  H..  1901-05:  at  South  Boyalton,  1905-07;  principal  of  high 
school,  Springfield,  1907  to  present  time.  He  married  July  31, 
1907,  Miss  Minnie  E.  Blodgett  of  Bandolph  Center,  daughter 
of  Loren  and  Luthena  (Marsh)  Blodgett,  who  had  been  very 
successful  as  a  primary  teacher  in  the  South  Boyalton  schools. 

There  were  seven  to  graduate  in  1905  and  two  in  1906.  Six 
received  diplomas  in  the  following  year.  The  entering  classes 
were  now  much  larger,  and  assured  larger  senior  classes  in  the 
future.  The  enrollment  in  1907  was  over  sixty.  Mr.  Stetson 
was  universally  popular,  a  good  instructor,  a  worthy  example 
for  his  students  to  imitate,  and  the  district  was  loath  to  part 
with  his  services. 

In  1907  Earle  E.  Wilson  was  engaged  as  principal  of  the 
graded  schools.  He  graduated  from  Dartmouth  College  in  1903, 
and  took  an  A.  M.  degree  from  Dartmouth  in  1909.  The  state 
course  of  study  took  the  place  of  the  former  courses,  and  re- 
quired the  employment  of  three  teachers  in  the  high  school  to 


History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont  301 

maintain  its  standing  as  a  school  of  the  first  grade.  Miss  Edith 
Chaffee  was  engaged  as  the  third  teacher.  In  1908  a  class  of 
six  was  graduated.  That  fall  sixty-seven  students  were  enrolled 
in  the  high  school,  coming  from  eleven  different  towns.  One 
half  of  the  list  was  from  Royalton.  In  1909  the  graduating  class 
numbered  an  even  dozen,  only  five  of  whom  were  from  Eoyalton, 
and  one  from  the  village  of  South  Royalton. 

The  fall  term  of  1909  opened  with  an  enrollment  of  eighty 
students,  a  senior  class  of  fourteen  and  a  freshman  class  of 
twenty-eight.  Of  the  seniors,  eight  were  from  Boyalton,  and 
six  of  these  from  South  Royalton  village.  The  school  in  1909 
took  quite  a  prominent  place  in  athletic  contests,  winning  sev- 
eral fine  prizes.  Mr.  Wilson  labored  faithfully  for  the  best 
interests  of  the  school,  and  secured  the  largest  enrollment  in  its 
history.  Courses  in  shorthand,  typewriting,  and  elementary 
agricTilture  were  introduced.  Five  new  standard  typewriters 
were  purchased.  Mr.  Wilson  was  elected  District  Superinten- 
dent for  the  towns  of  Royalton,  Bethel,  and  Tunbridge  in  1910, 
and  severed  his  connection  with  the  South  Royalton  schools. 
James  Monohan  is  the  present  principal  of  the  high  school. 

Several  teachers  in  the  grades  have  served  for  considerable 
periods  of  time.  Miss  Ella  Latham,  a  graduate  of  the  Randolph 
Normal,  taught  with  marked  success  in  the  primary  department 
from  1893  to  1901,  when  ill  health  compelled  her  to  resign. 
She  did  not  recover,  and  her  death  was  sincerely  mourned  by 
pupils  and  patrons.  Miss  Jennie  B.  Godfrey  taught  in  the 
grammar  school,  1895-1901.  Miss  Minnie  E.  Blodgett  served  in 
the  primary  department,  1901-07.  It  was  chiefly  through  her 
instrumentality  that  drawing,  painting,  and  other  manual  work 
received  its  first  strong  impetus  in  the  grades.  Miss  Hattie  Fay 
taught  1905-09.  Miss  Jessie  Benson,  a  Randolph  graduate,  be- 
gan teaching  in  the  lower  grades  in  1904,  and  is  still  faithfully 
working  in  the  second  primary.  She  was  assistant  in  the  Royal- 
ton High  School  and  Academy  for  several  years,  and  has  been 
very  successful  in  her  department.  Miss  Emma  B.  Rowell,  now 
Mrs.  Arthur  A.  Abbott,  taught  in  the  grammar  room  from 
1906  to  1910. 

The  other  present  teachers  are  Miss  Marion  Wynne,  and 
Miss  Viola  M.  Fenton  in  the  grades,  Miss  Mary  Story,  A.  B.,  a 
graduate  of  Boston  University  in  1909,  and  Miss  Isabel  D.  Mc- 
Clare,  A.  B.,  a  graduate  from  the  same  class,  both  teachers  in 
the  high  school. 

The  total  enrollment  in  the  graded  school  in  1910  was  170, 
of  which  number  seventy-six  were  in  the  high  school,  and  of  this 
seventy-six,  forty-three  were  tuition  pupils. 


302  HiSTCttY    OF   BOYALTON,    VlBMONT 

It  wonld  be  interesting  to  know  who  were  the  earliest  teach- 
ers in  town,  but  unfortunately  there  are  no  means  of  ascertain- 
ing their  names.  Those  who  might  remember  have  long  ago 
passed  away.  Benjamin  Parkhnrst  and  Comfort  Sever  have 
already  been  mentioned  as  possible  pedagogaes,  and  Ljdia 
Richards  as  one  well  authenticated.  Zebulon  hyaa  had  a  tAep^ 
daughter,  Sally  Skinner,  who  was  quite  a  remarkable  girl,  even 
in  those  days,  when  girls  assumed  heavy  responsibilities  much 
younger  than  they  do  today.  She  was  six  years  old  when  she 
came  to  town  with  her  new  step-father,  who  seems  to  have  been 
duly  proud  of  her.  "My  Sally  is  as  old  as  most  girls  of  twenty 
years,"  he  is  quoted  as  saying,  when  she  was  twelve  years  of 
age.  At  that  age  she  was  hired  to  teach  the  village  school,  in  a 
log  house,  no  doubt,  and  she  taught  it  with  success.  When  a 
rainy  day  in  haying  or  harvest  came  the  large  boys  all  struck 
a  bee  line  for  "Sally's  School"  She  later  said  that  she  dreaded 
to  see  a  cloud  all  that  summer,  for  she  had  to  look  up  into  the 
faces  of  all  those  tall  boys  and  teach  them  to  spell  and  to  figure, 
and  that  the  earth  is  round  like  a  balL  Sally  must  have  been 
a  winsome  lass,  for  the  Rev.  Azel  Washburn,  whose  wife  she  be- 
came, fell  in  love  with  her  almost  at  first  sight.  Her  summer 
term  of  school,  when  she  was  twelve,  was  taught  in  1787. 

Several  early  teachers  have  already  been  incidentally  re- 
ferred to.  Some  of  those  moitioned  later  in  the  records  as  hav- 
ing been  examined  in  Algebra,  Arithmetic,  Geography,  Grammar, 
Beading,  Writing  and  Orthography  and  licensed  to  teach  in  any 
district  in  the  town,  were  Hiram  C.  Young,  1846,  Helen  E.  Wil- 
liams, Lucia  A.  Peabody,  Frances  Pember,  Mary  M.  Pierce, 
Elizabeth  T^f.  Blodgett,  Cfeorge  A.  Bingham,  Stephen  H.  Pierce, 
Egbert  Woodward,  (Jeorge  W.  Burgett,  Andrew  C.  Hebard,  H. 
Latham,  G.  S.  Shepard,  Abbie  S.  Stevens.  Eliza  Bobinson,  James 
Davis,  and  Lucian  Hewitt,  in  1850  and  1851. 

Lucian  Hewitt  was  a  resident  of  Pomfret,  a  farmer,  who 
taught  school  winters.  He  was  a  tall,  broad-shouldered  man, 
firm  in  discipline,  yet  kindly  withal,  and  was  in  great  demand 
in  districts  where  the  discipline  had  been  lax.  It  was  the 
writer's  good  fortune  to  attend  one  of  his  schools,  and  it  is 
recalled  that  he  once  told  some  of  his  pupils,  that  he  tau^t 
the  first  term  of  school  in  the  new  schoolhouse  on  Broad  Brook, 
and  he  told  the  pupils  the  first  day  that  there  must  not  be  so 
much  as  a  scratch  of  a  pin  to  deface  the  new  desks,  and  he 
ended  the  term  with  the  building  entirely  uninjured.  At  that 
time  there  were  over  fifty  pupils  in  the  district,  and  Mr.  Hewitt 
was  justly  proud  of  his  battle  with  the  ever-present  jackknife, 
itching  to  start  a  sliver  on  the  unpainted  desk  of  the  idle  boy. 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  303 

He  has  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Albert  Merrill,  the  youngest  child  of 
the  family,  who  is  now  living  in  this  town. 

Miss  Hattie  Pike  taught  in  the  upper  department  of  the 
South  Boyalton  school,  and  her  sister  Edna  in  the  primary  school 
for  several  years.  No  teachers  in  this  school  ever  gave  better 
satisfaction.  They  were  greatly  beloved  by  their  pupils,  and 
when  Mark  J.  Sargent  persuaded  Miss  Hattie  to  take  a  smaller 
school  for  life,  and  Ransom  D.  Crain  was  equally  successful  in 
enticing  away  Miss  Edna,  long  and  loud  were  the  lamentations. 
The  writer  recalls  that  at  the  wedding  of  Miss  Hattie,  after  the 
ceremony  she  slipped  out  to  the  lawn  to  greet  the  bevy  of  chil- 
dren, who  had  gathered  to  take  in  as  much  of  the  nuptials  as 
possible,  seeing  they  could  not  prevent  them.  When  Miss  Edna 
took  the  train  on  her  bridal  tour,  a  few  pupils  had  obtained  per- 
mission to  go  to  the  station  to  bid  her  good-by.  The  others  hear- 
ing of  it,  indignantly  exclaimed,  **We  are  as  much  related  to 
Edna  Pike  as  they  are,'*  and  so  they  all  got  a  furlough,  which 
they  gleefully  enjoyed,  as  the  train  was  late.  Miss  Alice 
Brownell  is  another  teacher,  who  has  taught  many  years  in  the 
district  schools  of  the  town  and  in  Boyalton  village. 

Prom  the  diaries  of  Asa  Perrin  the  early  teachers  of  dis- 
trict. No.  7,  were  ascertained.  They  were  as  follows:  sum- 
mer terms,  Anna  Ellsworth,  1796,  Polly  Waller,  1797, 
Anna  Whitney,   1798,   Eunice  Metcalf,   1799,  Polly  Hibbard, 

1800,   Elizabeth  H ,   1801,   Chanlot   P ,    1802, 

Charles  Praser,  1803,  Polly  Peak,  1804,  Sally  Kelsey,  1805,  Polly 
Bacon,  1806,  Sally  Kelsey,  1807,  Fanny  Skinner,  1808,  Fanny 
Parkhurst,  1809,  Phebe  Adams,  1810-11;  winter,  Samuel  Hib- 
bard, 1800-02,  John  Fish,  1802-03,  Bateman,  1803-04,  1809- 
10,  Cellic,  1805-06,  1810-11,  Enoch  Green,  1806-09,  1811- 
12.  On  Feb.  22,  1795,  he  says  they  held  services  in  the  "new 
schoolhouse,'*  but  whether  this  was  in  their  own  district  or  in 
the  village,  cannot  be  stated.  On  Nov.  12,  1794,  he  noted  the 
funeral  of  ** schoolmaster  Hunting's  wife"  at  the  **red  school- 
house.  ' ' 

Supervision  of  schools  was  of  a  very  primitive  nature  for 
the  first  half  century  of  the  town's  existence.  Some  member 
of  the  school  district  was  occasionally  assigned  this  duty,  or,  as 
has  been  noted,  the  trustees  of  the  town,  who  dealt  mostly  with 
the  financial  side  of  school  matters,  were  to  have  control  of  the 
schools.  The  only  specific  power,  however,  delegated  to  them 
was  the  power  to  appoint  and  remove  school-masters. 

In  1827  a  law  was  passed  providing  for  the  election  of  from 
three  to  seven  superintendents,  whose  duty  it  was  to  look  after 
the  schools  themselves.  The  next  year  the  town  chose  Jacob 
Collamer,  Harry  Bingham,  and  Daniel  Bix  as  a  committee  to 


304  HiSTCttY    OF   BOYALTON,    VeBMONT 

nominate  seven  for  superintending  school  committee.  These 
seven  were  Nathaniel  Sprague,  John  Francis,  GKdeon  Bingham, 
Jonathan  Kinney,  Jr.,  Wyman  Spooner,  Rev.  Mr.  Buck,  and 
Michael  Flynn,  representing  the  law,  the  ministry,  the  presB, 
and  the  farming  interests.  Surely  the  schools  ought  to  have 
taken  a  great  stride  forward  with  so  large  and  well-equipped 
board  of  supervisors. 

The  next  year  Rev.  Mr.  Kimball  took  the  place  of  Mr.  Buck, 
A.  C.  Noble  of  Lawyer  Francis,  and  Rev.  A.  C.  Washburn  of 
Wyman  Spooner.  The  following  year  Jo  Adam  Denison  took 
the  place  of  Mr.  Kimball,  and  in  1832  John  Francis  is  found  on 
the  list  and  Gideon  Bingham  has  disappeared  from  it.  In  1831 
the  town  voted  that  the  superintending  school  committed  should 
report  the  condition  of  all  the  schools,  showing  a  commendable 
interest  in  the  cause  of  education.  As  no  report  is  found,  it 
may  be  supposed  that  they  failed  to  do  so,  at  any  rate  in  1833 
they  had  a  house  cleaning,  and  four  new  members  were  elected, 
Jacob  Collamer,  John  Billings,  Truman  Safford,  Calvin  Skinner, 
Jr. 

From  this  date  until  1846  the  records  are  silent  regarding 
the  supervision  of  schools,  when  Dudley  C.  Denison,  Samuel 
W.  Slade,  and  Cyrus  B.  Drake  were  elected,  and  served  also  the 
next  year,  except  Dr.  Drake,  who  was  elected  with  Calvin  Skin- 
ner the  following  year.  They  had  begun  to  think  of  having 
only  one  superintendent,  but  rejected  the  idea.  In  1849  Wil- 
liam H.  Saflford  and  Thomas  Atwood  served,  and  Mr.  Safford 
was  elected  alone  the  two  succeeding  years.  From  this  date  to 
1858  those  serving  in  successive  years  were  Gteorge  A.  Bingham, 
C.  G.  Bumham,  S.  R.  Williams,  Hiram  Latham,  Edgar  A.  Max- 
ham,  Clark  Shipman.  Edward  Conant  served  two  years,  and 
was  followed  by  Dr.  Drake,  and  he  by  J.  I.  Gilbert. 

Dr.  Drake's  report  in  1861  was  of  such  excellence  that  it 
called  out  a  vote  of  thanks,  and  an  order  to  have  it  spread  on  the 
records  of  the  tovm  (which  does  not  seem  to  have  been  done), 
and  to  have  it  printed  in  such  papers  of  the  state  as  would  print 
it  free  of  charge,  and  1000  copies  were  to  be  printed  in  pamphlet 
form.  If  this  was  done,  some  one  ought  to  have  a  copy  in  ex- 
istence today.  This  was  a  precedent,  so  the  next  year  Supt, 
Gilbert's  report  was  ordered  to  be  printed  in  the  Vermont  Jour- 
nal, and  500  or  1000  copies  to  be  circulated  in  town. 

The  succeeding  superintendents  in  order  were  Dr.  Drake, 
who  resigned,  and  Rev.  M.  C.  Henderson  was  appointed,  elected 
1867-68,  when  he  resigned,  and  Henry  H.  Denison  was  ap- 
pointed, Daniel  W.  Fox,  E.  F.  Wright,  and  E.  A.  Thacher. 

Mr.  Thacher 's  school  report  for  his  first  year,  1872,  was 
ordered  printed  and  100  copies  circulated  in  the  several  districts. 


History  op  Eotalton,  Vermont  306 

He  continued  to  serve  as  superintendent  with  great  acceptance 
until  1881,  and  taught  winters  much  of  the  time.  His  work  for 
the  educational  interests  of  the  town  is  worthy  of  especial  men- 
tion. In  1874  the  town  passed  the  following  resolution: 
''Resolved  that  the  thanks  of  the  town  be  manifested  to  E.  A. 
Thacher,  Superintendent  of  Common  Schools  for  his  impartial 
and  thorough  report  of  the  condition  of  the  schools  in  town  the 
past  year." 

In  1881  Rev.  S.  K.  B.  Perkins  was  elected  superintendent, 
and  was  also  placed  on  the  text-book  committee.  He  took  an 
active  interest  in  the  schools,  and  was  helpful  with  suggestions 
as  well  as  with  kindly  criticism.  He  was  re-elected  in  1882,  but 
resigned,  and  Dr.  A.  B.  Bisbee  was  appointed  in  his  place,  and 
elected  in  1883,  followed  in  1884  by  Mr.  Thacher. 

The  first  woman  superintendent  was  Mrs.  Evelyn  M.  Love- 
joy,  elected  in  1885,  and  followed  the  next  year  by  Dr.  Clayton 
P.  House,  who  served  two  years.  Dr.  I.  P.  Dana  succeeded  him 
and  held  the  office  three  years.  He  was  elected  in  1890  a  mem- 
ber of  the  County  Board  of  Education.  This  board  superseded 
the  town  superintendent.  In  1891  Dr.  Dana  was  elected  super- 
intendent, followed  the  next  year  by  Rev.  James  Ramage.  In 
1893  the  town  by  law  was  compelled  to  adopt  the  town  system 
of  schools,  and  directors  were  elected,  who  appointed  the  super- 
intendent. Mrs.  E.  Lee  Steams  was  called  by  them  to  the  of- 
fice. She  had  taught  in  the  Academy,  and  her  ability  was  well 
known.  That  she  had  high  ideals  regarding  the  kind  and  quality 
of  instruction  that  should  be  given  in  the  public  schools  is  shown 
by  the  following  extract  from  her  report  of  that  year:  *'The 
parents  do  not  perceive  a  fault  which  it  must  be  confessed  does 
exist  in  greater  or  less  degree  in  nearly  every  teacher's  work. 
They  proceed  as  if  education  were  a  mere  accumulation  of  facts 
in  the  mind  of  the  child,  with  little  training  by  which  he  may 
apply  his  knowledge  or  acquire  the  practical  mental  discipline 
which  would  fit  him  for  business.  Neither  do  the  teachers 
sufficiently  realize  their  duty  to  make  a  moral  impression  upon 
their  pupils. 

Both  the  necessity  and  the  difficulty  of  their  work  arises 
from  the  same  cause — the  absence  of  morality,  thrift  and  culture 
in  the  homes.  A  teacher's  efforts  in  this  direction  are  liable  to 
be  misunderstood  and  even  resisted  by  the  parents,  because  they 
do  not  see  that  it  is  of  infinitely  greater  importance  that  their 
child  should  learn  honesty,  diligence,  self-reliance,  good  manners, 
and  the  ability  to  reason  intelligently,  than  that  he  should  memo- 
rize a  list  of  names,  dates  and  rules,  with  no  power  of  assimilating 
or  using  his  knowledge,  and  no  stability  of  character  on  which 
to  stand  in  the  world." 
20 


306  HiSTCttY    OF    BOYALTON,    VeBMONT 

Mrs.  Steams  held  the  office  of  saperintendent  until  1900, 
with  the  exception  of  one  year,  1896-97.  That  year  Prin. 
Charles  L.  Curtis  was  elected  to  the  office.  That  was  the  year 
that  a  change  was  effected  in  the  school  in  the  academy.  The 
following  is  an  extract  from  his  report  for  the  year,  in  which 
this  change  is  explained  and  defended:  ^'Upon  the  urgent  re- 
quest of  your  superintendent  and  many  citixens  of  this  town, 
it  was  decided  to  unite  with  the  trustees  of  the  academy,  to 
abolish  the  school  on  the  common,  and  in  the  so-called  Bonell 
district,  and  to  establish  a  central  graded  school  in  the  academy 
building,  to  be  taught  by  three  teachers  and  to  comprise  four 
grades,  primary,  interm^ate,  grammar  and  high. 

By  this  step  the  necessity  of  dividing  the  old  village  school 
and  hiring  an  extra  teacher,  of  extensive  repairs  there  and  at 
the  Bussell  school,  was  eradicated ;  and,  to  allay  the  cost  of  trans- 
portation of  the  (then)  eight  pupils  of  the  Bussell  school,  these 
savings,  added  to  the  academy  fund,  and  the  considerable  amount 
paid  for  tuition  at  the  academy,  were  presented. 

The  result  has  been  largely  satisfactory  to  scholars  and 
parents  interested,  at  a  very  slight  additional  cost  to  the  town. 
The  town  now  has  a  graded  school  prepared  in  all  de- 
partments to  accommodate  any  number  of  pupils  that  can  be 
expected,  at  no  additional  cost,  and  furnishing  a  thorough  course 
to  any  pupil  in  our  town  district,  free  of  all  cost.  This  obviates 
entirely  the  necessity  of  our  bearing  the  expenses  of  any  pupils 
in  the  schools  of  our  adjacent  towns." 

In  1900  Prin.  Fannie  Eastman  was  elected  by  the  board 
of  directors  as  superintendent.  She  held  the  office  until  1904. 
Miss  Eastman  was  very  energetic,  and  worked  hard  to  bring  the 
schools  up  to  a  high  standard  in  all  fimdamental  subjects.  A 
number  of  her  own  graduates  from  the  academy  were  among 
the  teachers,  whom  she  inspired  to  their  best  efforts.  She  was 
succeeded  by  Mrs.  Prances  M.  Joiner,  who  held  the  office  until 
her  death  in  the  summer  of  1907.  Mrs.  Joiner's  great  contribu- 
tion to  the  schools  was  the  enforcement  of  the  compulsory  at- 
tendance law.  She  realized  how  much  the  schools  had  suffered 
by  irregular  attendance,  and  she  had  the  courage  to  carry  out 
the  provisions  of  the  law  regardless  of  the  effect  upon  her  own 
fortunes.  Her  sympathy  with  the  young  children  won  the 
hearts  of  the  pupils,  and  the  teachers  found  her  helpful  and 
inspiring. 

Mrs.  Joiner  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Laura  P.  Allen,  ilrs. 
Allen  aimed  to  grade  all  the  rural  schools,  so  that  the  pupils 
finishing  the  course  in  these  schools  could  enter  the  town  high 
school  or  the  high  school  at  South  Boyalton  without  loss  of  time. 
She  also  tried  to  stimulate  the  pupils  by  an  interchange  of  work. 


History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont  807 

Efforts  were  made  looking  toward  the  union  of  this  town 
with  some  of  the  other  towns  in  employing  a  superintendent, 
who  should  give  his  whole  time  to  the  work  of  supervision,  as 
the  law  now  provides.  No  agreement  was  at  first  reached,  but 
the  day  came  when  this  plan  was  successfully  carried  out.  Our 
small  high  schools  with  a  limited  teaching  force  make  such  de- 
mands upon  their  principals,  that  they  have  scant  time  to  super- 
vise the  work  of  the  grades.  As  the  law  now  stands,  it  requires 
but  a  small  additional  expense  to  secure  expert  supervision  and 
relieve  the  high  school  principals.  In  1910  the  towns  of  Roy- 
alton,  Bethel,  and  Tunbridge  united  and  engaged  Earle  E. 
Wilson  as  district  superintendent. 

The  first  board  of  school  directors  elected  under  the  town 
system  of  schools  was  composed  of  Gteorge  Ellis,  Norman  W. 
Sewall,  and  John  P.  Shepard.  Those  since  elected  are  Qeorge 
A.  Laird,  George  K.  Taggart,  Charles  F.  Waldo,  Dr.  William  L. 
Paine,  Gteorge  H.  Harvey,  Jr.,  Henry  W.  Button,  Fred  A.  Mayo, 
Arthur  T.  Davis,  Mrs.  Frances  M.  Joiner,  Pearl  B.  Dewey,  Rev. 
Levi  Wild,  Fred  E.  Allen,  Glenn  T.  Dewey. 

Comparatively  few  of  the  teachers  employed  taught  in  town 
more  than  a  year  or  two,  the  great  majority  but  a  term  or  two. 
Miss  Jessie  Benson,  whose  work  has  been  noticed  already,  taught 
several  years  in  the  district  schools,  two  or  more  years  in  Boy- 
alton  academy,  and  two  years  in  the  South  Royalton  schools 
before  1893.  Miss  Jennie  Miller  taught  several  years  on  Broad 
Brook,  District  No.  5,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  town.  She  was 
a  graduate  of  the  Randolph  Normal,  and  a  very  successful 
teacher.  Mrs.  Evelyn  M.  Lovejoy  was  employed  a  year  or  more 
in  the  district  schools,  five  years  in  the  South  Royalton  schools, 
and  four  years  in  Royalton  academy. 

The  only  districts  in  which  schools  are  maintained  outside 
of  the  two  villages  are  Five,  Six,  Nine,  and  Eleven.  Districts 
One,  Two,  Three,  Four,  and  Seventeen  are  now  a  part  of  dis- 
trict Eighteen.  The  town  still  owns  the  school  buildings,  except 
the  one  in  district  Eight,  which  is  owned  by  John  Wild,  Jr. 

The  following  table  shows  the  residents  of  Royalton  as  seen 
on  the  chart  of  school  districts,  1869,  and  opposite  each  name 
the  present  owner  or  tenant,  the  original  owner  of  the  lot  where 
the  house  was  located,  and  the  lot.  In  case  the  owner  did  not 
settle  on  the  land  or  clear  it,  an  attempt  has  been  made  to  ascer- 
tain who  was  the  first  one  to  do  this.  In  determining  this  reli- 
ance has  been  placed  on  the  deeds  of  land,  the  grand  list  of  the 
town,  and  traditions  that  have  come  down  to  the  present  owners. 
It  cannot  be  claimed  that  the  result  is  correct  in  every  case. 
The  names  of  such  persons  are  printed  in  italics.  Any  one  who 
has  tried  to  hunt  down  old  deeds  knows  how  elusive  are  the 


308 


History  of  Boyalton,  Yebmont 


links.  Land  was  at  first  sold  by  naming  the  number  of  the  lot 
and  its  location,  but  after  a  score  of  years  the  land  had  been  so 
divided  and  sub-divided,  that  this  custom  gradually  died  out,  and 
many  early  deeds  are  very  blind,  unless  one  chances  to  know 
where  old  residents  lived.  For  the  first  twoity-five  years  land 
changed  hands  frequently,  and  was  often  sold  for  taxes.  Men 
are  found  selling  the  same  lot  two  and  three  times,  and  also  sell- 
ing land,  where  there  is  no  record  of  its  ever  coming  into  their 
I)ossession,  all  of  which  makes  the  tracing  of  deeds  extremely 
difBcult. 


Name 
Abbott,  C. 

Adams,  G.  W. 
Adams,  A. 
Adams,  J. 

Adams,  M.  B. 

Allen,  H.  P. 
Ashley,  W.  A. 

Atherton,  Miss 

Austin,  L. 

Bailey,  J.  W. 

Baker,  Lot 

Ballon,  E. 

Ballon,  H. 

Barnes,  G. 

Barnes,  G. 

Barron,  M.  O. 
Barrows,  N. 

Barrett,    P. 
Bartlett 
Bartlett,  O.  N. 

Beedle,  H. 
Belding,  J. 

Belknap,  C. 
Belknap,  M.  H. 
Bennett,  H. 
Bennett,  J. 
Bennett,  J.  G. 


Dist.       Pres.  Ovmer 

11  Adeline  Burnett  ) 
Robert  Burnett    ) 

2    Chas.  Woodbury 
9    Chas.  Hinkley 
17    Elisha  Beedle 

12  Clarence  E.  Rand 

8    Jessie  Benson 
14    F.  B.  Cloud 

8  (Mrs.  R.  Harvey 
(G.  H.  Rogers,  ten. 

6  Lorenzo  Tenney 

7  Geo.  Taggart 
2    A.  J.  Eaton 

6    Mrs.  M.  M.  White 

6    Abandoned 

16    Geo.  Ru8S 

16  (Francis  Russell 
(Guy  Rand,  tenant 
5    Ira  Curtiss 
5    Clarence  Taylor 

14    Mrs.  E.  Taylor, 

1  H.  J.  Roundy  Est. 

4  C  Clarence  Burke 
(  House  burned 

2  O.  E.  Greene 
11    Mrs.  A.  A.  Allen 

9  Arthur  Stoughton 
9    Myron  Vesper 

14    T.  J.  Thornton 

5  Hugh  G.  Green 
5    D.  L.  Parkhurst 


Orig.  Owner 

Benj.  Parkhurst 
Benj,  Emerson 
Nath.  Morse 
John  Hibbard 
Eben.  Brewster 
Isaac  Morgan 
Jere.  Trescott 
Jona,  Woolley 
Calvin  Parkhurst 
B^ben.   Brewster 
Rev,  M,  Tullar 
Roy.  M.  Tullar 
Daniel  Lyman 
John  Safford 
Daniel  Rix 
Reub.  Parkhurst 
Nath,  Perrin 
Nath.  Morse 
Ahra.  Waterman 
John  Safford 
Richard  Bloss 
Sam.  Clapp 
Reuben  Bloss 
Zeb.  Lyon 
Elijah  Barnes 
William  Jones 
Ahra.   Oraves 
Eben.  Parkhurst 
Ellas  Stevens 
Jo.  Boyden 
Zeb.  Lyon 
Elisha   Kent 
Daniel  Rix 
Joseph  Rix 
Nath.  Morse 
Adan  Durkee 
Jona.  Bowen 
Timothy  Durkee 
Timothy  Durkee 
Timothy  Durkee 
Eben.   Parkhurst 
Eben.   Parkhurst 


} 


} 


Lot 

M.41LJL 

21  Dutch 
28  T.P. 


46  Dutch 

MJt4  L.A. 
W.16  L.A. 
46  Dutch 

N.18LJL 

84  TJ». 
10  T.P. 

20  Dutch 
24  T.P. 
23  T.P. 

E.20LJL 

M.20  L.A. 
E.2L.A. 
E.8LJL 

W.46D 
lOLJL 

88  Dutch 

21  Dutch 

M.36  LkA. 

S.53  T.P. 
S.53  T.P. 
S.53  T.P. 
W.2L.A. 
W.2L.A- 


HiSTOBY    OP    EOYALTON,    YeBMOXT 


309 


Name  DUt.       Pres.  Owner  Orig.  Owner 

Benson,  William      5    Arthur  T.  DaviB    Bben.  ParUmrst 

Amoa  RoMnaan 

Bingham,Mr8JM[.L.    2    Harry  Bingham     Tilly  Parkhurst 

Thaa.  Bingham 
18    W.  B.  Gould  Ja  Parkhurst 


Blake,  Mrs. 
Blake,  H. 

Bliss,  Mrs. 
Bliss,  G.  W. 

Bliss,  J.  H. 

Blossom,  O. 

Bowen,  D. 

Boyd  D. 

Boyd,  R. 


4    F.  B.  Nelson  Daniel  Rix 

Joseph  Rix 
4    Mary  J.  Dearhom  Daniel  Havens 
9    Dan.  W.  Bliss         John  Hibbard 

/.  Butchinaon 
9    H.  M.  Barrett        John  Hibbard 

/.  Hutchinaan 
11  (A.  B.  Perkins         Israel  Waller 
(Vacant  A.  Baniater 

11  Rev.  B.  P.  Felton  B.  Kent  Jr. 

Gideon  Horton 

12  D.  Boyd  Nath.  Morse 

N,  Carpenter 

13  W.  A.  LaRock      )  ^        .,, 
R,  Rogers,  ten.     \  S*°^-  ^^*PP 

Bradstreet,  G.  W.    8    K.  G.  Woodward    Martin  TuUar 

Daniel  Lyman 
4(B.  Woodward         Daniel   Rix 
( W.Woodward,ten.  Joaeph  Rix 
9    L.  Bdmunds  J.  Hibbard,  Jr. 

4    A.  N.  Merrill  Ziba  Hoyt 


Brick  Kiln 


Brooks,   A. 
Broughton,  L. 


Broughton,  F.  D. 
Brownell,  S.  E. 

Buck,  J.  H. 
Burbank,  L. 

Burbank,  O.  A. 

Burgess,  A.  B. 
Bumham,  A.  K. 
Button,   A. 
Button,  J. 

Buzzell,  G. 


4  Mrs.  W.  G.  Patten  Elias  Gurtis 

5  A.  J.  Taylor         )  John  Wilcox 


Arthur  Davis 
17    H.  L.  Pierce 
7    Frank  Davis 

3    Geo.  Andrews 

G.  Andrews 
17    G.  Northrop 

6  Frank  Brooks 

7  Glinton  Smith 

2  Henry  Pierce 

3  H.  J.   Sampson 


Ghilds,  Dr.  A.  B.    13    B.  A.  Shattuck 


Gilley,  L. 
Glark,   Mrs. 
Glark,  G. 
Glark,  G.  D. 
Glapp,   G. 


17  Mrs.  H.  Morse 

11  Mark  Stiles 

13  A.  M.  Waldo 

11  B.   D.   Hickey 

13  N.  Sewall  Bst. 


3  fifimeon  Child 
Elias  Stevens 
Stephen  Billings 
Benj,  Button 

i  Eben.  Dewey 

BenJ.    Dutton 
John  Kimball 
David  Fish 
Daniel  Rix 
Nath.  Morse 
Daniel  Gilbert 
J.  Parkhurst 
/.  d  R,  Coy 
P.  Parkhurst 
Nathan  Morgan 
Elias  Stevens 
/.  Richardaon 
Jed.  Hide 
/.  Huntington 
Josiah  Wheeler 
Silaa  Williama 
W.  Blackmer 
Kilea  Paul 
Heman  Durkee 
Ahel  Btevena 


] 


Lot 
W.2L.A. 

13  Dutch 
M.16  LJL. 

88  Dutch 

42  Dutch 

29  TJ>. 

29  T.P. 
W.89  L.A. 

B.89LJL 
W.26  L.A. 
W.27 


! 
J 


N.18  LJL. 

38  Dutch 

27  T.P. 
(Gr.   Sch. 
(  Simpson 
34  Dutch 

W.7  L.A. 

41  Dutch 

2T.P. 


4  Dutch 

Sch.52  T.P. 
26  T.P. 
22  T.P. 

\    26  Dutch 
17  Dutch 


N.26  L.A. 

Simpson 
B.40  UA. 
M.31LJL 
B.37LA. 
B.80  LA. 


310 


HiSTCttY    OF    BOYALTON,    VERMONT 


Name 
Cloud,  E.  B. 

Cobum,  Mrs. 

Colbum,  C. 
Colby,  Mra. 
Collins*  B.  H. 

Cooledge,  Mrs. 
Corbin,  F. 

Cowdery.  O.  L. 
Crandall,  G.  T. 
Crandall,  T. 

Crandall,  R.  D. 
Crow,  D. 
Culver,  S. 
Curtiss,  Ira 
CurtlBs,  O.  8. 
Curtiss,  O. 
Daly,   P. 
Davis,  D. 

Davis,  O.  W. 

Davis,  I. 

Davis,  I.  A. 

Davis,  I.  A. 

Davis,   J. 
Davis,  N.  G. 

Davis,  T.  S. 

Davis,  Mrs. 

Day, 

Day,  A. 
Day,  B. 

Densmore,  A^  A^ 

Dewey,  D. 

Dewey,  G. 
Dodge,  D. 

Doubleday,  S.  H. 

Doyle,  J. 


DUt.       Pret,  Owner 
2    R.  F.  Roberts 

2    John  Shirlock 

2    H.  Goodwin 
17    J.  B.   Dukett 

16  (Mrs.  L.  J.  lisaser 
( Abandoned 

14    Mrs.  M.  J.  Willard 
9    G.  W.  Gilman 

1    I.  G.  Barrows 

17  G.  L.  Bingham 
4    Mrs.  R.  Blake 

4  J.  R,  Powell 

18  Mrs.  A.  English 
14    S.   Culver 

5  W.  W.  Burke 
1    Mrs.  O.  S.  Curtiss 

1  Mrs.  O.  S.  Curtiss 
9    Mrs.  E.  A.  Rich 

11  Frank  Church 

12  Geo.  E.  Howe 
11    W.  S.  Gilchrist 

5    Glenn  Cox 

5  (  Fred  E.  Allen 

( Vacant 
9    J.   A.   Perley 
9    Alfaretta  Wilson 

5  H.  G.  Whitney 

6  H.  L.  Field 

10    E.  W.  Bigelow 

10    Mrs.  J.  French 
5    L.   E.  Holt 

5  f  Sylvester  Snow 

)  I.   D.  Adams 
18  f  E.  W.  Smith 

I  Mrs.  Maxham,  ten. 
18    C.  C.  Southworth 
4  (  D.  Dodge  Est. 

}A.  Elaton,  ten. 
Adelard  Rodier 
)  Helen  Rodier 

2  C.  M.  Wiley 


Orig,  Owner 

Medad  Benton 
JoMiah  Wheeler 
Daniel  Rlx 
Naih.  Mor9e 
Nath.  Morse 
Zlba  Hoyt 

Jed.  Hide 
Zebulon  Lyon 
John  Stevens 
Abel  Btevene 
Nathan  Morgan 
Joseph  Havens 
Joseph  Havens 
G.  d  J,  Crandall 
Sam.  Metcalf 
Jo.  Parkhurst 
Zeb.  Lyon 
Neh.  Leavitt 
Medad  Benton 
Medad  Benton 
BenJ.  Parkhurst 
John  Gillett 
Abijah  Burbank 
Jed.  Hide 
Jabez  Horton 
Rev.  John  Searle 
Jona,  A.  Bowen 
Reub.  Parkhurst 
E.   Taylor 
Joseph  Havens 
Elnathan  Taylor 
John  Billings 
P.   Parkhurst 
Isaac  Skinner 
John  Hibbard,  Jr. 
Amos  Robinson 
T.   Parkhurst 
Josh.  Hutchins 
J.  Parkhurst 
Isaac  Pinney 
Benj.  I>ay 
John  Kimball 
J.   P.    Tucker 
R.   Parkhurst 
E.  Taylor 

Cal.  Parkhurst 
Cal.  Parkhurst 
Nath.    Alger 
Eben.  Woodtcard 
William  Jones 
Sam.   Hotre 
Israel   Waller 
Daniel  Park 


] 

! 


Lot 


26  Datch 

26  Dutch 
21  Datch 

CGr.  Sch. 

(Ompaon 
W^OLJL 
S.46D. 

W^OUA. 

M.5UA. 
36  Datch 

44  Dutch 

Simpson 

M.16  L.A. 

S.46a 

W.3L.A. 

W.5  L.A. 

W.5LJk. 

4T.P. 

W.36 


1 


M.28 
W.40  UA. 

W.4L.A. 

M.4L.A. 
20  T.P. 

N.26  L.A. 

M.7  L.A. 

31  T.P. 

E.34  L.A. 
M.34  L.A. 

E.o  L.A. 
W.4  L.A. 

W.16  L.A. 
W.16  L.A. 

33  Dutch 
9  Dutch 
6  Dutch 


History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont 


811 


Ifame 
Drew,  S.  C. 


Dist       Pres,  Owner 
3    Mrs.  N.  Martin 


Dunham,  H.  11  (N.  B.  Fairchilda 

/  Abandoned 

Durkee,  Mrs.  R.      5  (Elmer  Stoddard 

( Abandoned 

Dutton,  D.  H.  6    H.  W.  Dutton 


Ellis,  B. 
Emery,  J. 


9    George  Ellis 
4    Mrs.  H.  Dutton 


English,  J.  9    Destroyed 

Ensworth,  Carr  ft  17    H.  C.  Sargent 


Orig.  Owner 

Joseph  Fish 
Ahra.  Waterman 
Wm.  Blaekmer 
Tfathan  Paige 
Jo.  Parkhurst 
Walter  Waldo 
Johnson  Safford 
Tfaihan  Kimball 
John  Hlbbard,  Jr. 
Jed.  Cleveland 
Daniel  Rix 
Gideon   Orandall 
Timothy  Durkee 
Ziba  Hoyt 


Fales,  J. 
Fairbanks,  Li. 


6  (  Horace  White        John  Kimball 
I W.  H.  Young,  ten.  /.  Kimball,  Jr. 
12    C.  J.  Waldo  Isaac  Morgan 

Sylvanus  Willea 
Fairbanks,L..ftA.D.ll    W.  R.  Brock  B.  Kent,  Jr. 

Gideon  Horton 
Famham,  G.  17    Mrs.  A.  Thurston  Bben.   Brewster 

Isaac  Morgan 
Fay,   G.  9    Mrs.A.F.Hinkley    Comfort  Sever 

Pish,  L.  S.  13    W.  H.  Taylor         Isaac  Morgan 

Levi  Parker 
Flint,  B.  17    Geo.  Brown  John  Kent 

Isaac  Morgan 
Foster,  Mrs.  J.         4    J.  B.  Dukett  Ziba  Hoyt 


Foster,  L. 
Fowler,  A. 

Fowler,  J. 


4    J.   M.   Cook 
6    Hiram  Benson 

6    J.  H.  Buck, 


Freeman,  H.  N.     12    Lee  Waldo 
Freeman,  H.  N.      16    W.  J.  Adams 


Gage,  H. 

Gee,   E. 
Gifford,  H. 
Gifford,  Mrs. 
Gleason,  P. 
Goff,  H. 

Goff,  P. 

Gk)ss,  H. 
Green,  J. 

Griffith,  R.  S.  M. 
Hartwell,  F. 
Harvey,  G.  H. 


6  H.  F.  Gage 

7  William   Skinner 
9  A.  Woodworth 

5  E.  D.   Burke 

9  Mrs.  J.  Beedle 

5  J.  A.  Hertle 

5  J.  R.  Rousseau 

9  H.  C.  Morse 

7  Fayette  Green 

3  L.  D.  Mcintosh 

14  C.  H.  Luce 

8  G.  H.  Harvey 


Elias  Curtis 
John  House 
G.  Richardson 
T.   Parkhurst 
Josh.  Hutchins 
Benj.  Day,  Jr. 
Stephen  Freeman 
Joel  Marsh 
Peter  Wheelock 
Joel  Marsh 
Thos.  Anderson 
Heman  Durkee 
Benj.  Parkhurst 
Geo.  Lamphere 
Benj.   Parkhurst 
John  Kimball 
/.  P.  Tucker 
Elias  Stevens 
John  Kent 
Benj.  Parkhurst 
Nathan  Fish 
William.  Bolles 
Eben.  Dewey 
Timothy  Durkee 
Luther  Skinner 
Eliph.  Lym4tn 


] 


Lot 
10  Dutch 

W.33  L.A. 

W.6  L.A. 

33  T.P. 

36  T.P. 

43  Dutch 

S.53  T.P. 
(Gr.  Sch. 
(  Simpson 

35  T.P. 

M.29  LJL. 

B.39LJL 

46  Dutch 

12  T.P. 

M.27  L.A. 

45  Dutch 

CGr.  Sch. 
I  Simpson 
35  Dutch 

32  T.P. 

31  T.P. 
E.25  L.A. 
B.24  L.A. 

30  T.P. 

N.53  T.P. 

4  T.P. 

E.3  L.A. 

4  T.P. 

E.8  L.A. 

B.6  L.A. 

4  T.P. 

15  T.P. 

12  Dutch 
S.53  T.P. 

M.18  L.A. 


812 


HlfflOBY    OF    BOTALTOK,    VERMONT 


Name 
Harvey,  O.  H. 

Hanrey,  W. 

Hajmes,  O. 

HeniTf  J-  O. 

Henry*  J.  O. 
Henry  O. 


JM^^       Pret.  Olofier 

12  George  Robs 

8  (Susan  Harvey 

(Vacant 
2    Charles  Haynes 

13  F.  B.  Fowler 

14  P.  S.  McOinness 
12    Rufus  Howe 


Hinkley,  J.  M.        13    J.  M.  Hlnkley 
Holmes,  P.  12    W.  T.  Deming 

Horton,  Z.  6    Mrs.  L.  D.  Allen 


Howard,  B. 
Howard,  H.  B. 
Howard,  H.  E. 
Howe,  M.  O. 
Howe,   S. 


12    Cora  Compton 

1  (  Mrs.  H.B.  Howard 
iBdith  Howard 
12  j  Rufus  Howe 

(  Abandoned 
16   B.  A.  Shattuck 

« 

8    Josiah  Frost 


Howland,  N.  D.  6  N.  D.  Howland 

HowlandftTeaton  5  N.  D.  Howland 

Hunter,  H.  4  Charles  Adams 

Hutchinson,  J.  2  W.  W.  Rockwell 

Ingraham,  S.  9  F.  D.  Merrill 

Johnson,  C.  H.  5  C.  E.  Pitkin  Bst 


Joiner,   F. 

Joiner,  M.  T. 

Kegwin,  J.  H. 

King, 
Lane,  J. 
Lasell,  C. 

Leavltt,  V.  B. 

Leonard,  W. 

Lesure,  J.  A. 

Lewis,  Mrs. 


8  (William  Skinner 
Is.  F.  Frary,  ten. 

8JM.  A.  Daniels 
(E.  A.  Daniels 

9  E.  A.  Davis 

7    Selden  Brooks 
10    Forest  Southard 

4  F.  C.  Moulton 

5  Fred  E.  Allen 

5    Elmer  Stoddard 

3  (Joseph  Smith 

)  C.H.Robinson,ten. 
10  (  E.  A.  Strout  ft  Co. 
I  E.S.Putnam, ten. 


Ofig.  (homer 

Martin  Tullar 
Elijah  Barnes 
Martin  Tullar 
Daniel  Lyman 
BenJ.  Day,  Jr. 
Beni.  Cole 
Gamer  Rix 
l9aac  Bkinner 
Joseph  Fish 
John  Hibbard 
Paul  Palmer 
P.  Parkhurst 
Nathan  Morgan 
Nathan  Morgan 
Aaron   Wilbur 
Joseph  Havens 
Ahel  Perrin 
Jo.   Parkhurst 
Aaron  Wilbur 

Ellas  Stevens 
Jere.  Trescott 
Jona,  Woolley 
BenJ.  Day 
Jo.  Johnson 
William  Jones 
Sam.  Howe 
Bben.  Parkhurst 
Nehe.  Leavitt 
As  above 
Ellas  Curtis 
Josiah  Wheeler 
John  Stevens 
Abel  Stevens 
Eben.   Parkhurst 
N.  Leavitt 
Jere.  Trescott 
E.  Trescott 
P.  Parkhurst 
Isaac  Skinner 
James  Hibbard 
Thos,  Bacon 
Elisha  Kent 
Daniel  Tullar 
James  Riggs 
John  O.  Riggs 
Joseph  Havens 
Abel  Perrin 
Jo.  Parkhurst 
Walter  Waldo 

Eben  Church 

Israel  Waller 


Lai 
M.21LJL 

N.18LJL 

14  Dutch 

M.26LJL 
W.54  TJP. 
W.24LJL 


I 


N.26 

M.26 

M.4LJL 

M.26  L.A. 

W.ILJL 
1L24LJL 


B.14 
9  Dutch 
W.2L.A. 

39  Dutch 
25  Dutch 

W.2L.A. 
M.12LJL 

B.30LJL 

M.26  L.  A. 

W.38  T.P. 

lOLJL 
W.38  Ti.Ai 
Simpson 
College 

M.4L.A. 
W.6L.A. 

3  Dutch 
W.39LJL 


HiSTOBT  OP  BOYALTON,  VeBMOKT 


813 


Vame  DUt,       Prea.  Owner 

liOTeJoy,  CD.  6   M.  H.  Lovejoy 


Luce,  A. 

Luce,  A. 

Lyman,  D. 
Lyman,  J. 


8  John  Wild,  Jr. 
16  Mrs.E.B.Clog8ton 

9  J.  Waterman 

16  Mrs.  S.  Litchfield 


Manchester,  Dr.  J.    1  W.  M.  Hoyt 

Bianchester,  H.         1  Thomas  Wjmn 

McCuUough,  J.       10  J.J.Camey  Mfg.Co. 

McCnllough,  J.       10  J.J.Camey  Mfg.Co. 

Mcintosh,  J.  6  A.  Stoughton 


Mcintosh,  J. 
McQuade,  A.*  Fac. 
Metcalf,  J.  M. 
Miller,  C. 

Miller,  S. 

Moxley,  S. 

Moxley,  S. 
Packard,  B. 

Page,  Mrs. 

Perrin,  A.  ft  I. 

Perrin,  L. 
Pierce,  I. 
Pierce^  P.  ft  P.  D. 
Pierce,  P.  ft  P.  D. 

Pierce.  P.  ft  P.  D. 
Plnney,  P. 

Pinney,  F. 

Plaisted,  A. 
Pixley,  A.  B. 
Ray,  A. 

Ray,  C. 

Reynolds,  H. 

Reynolds,  J.  A* 

Reynolds,  R. 

Riz,  D. 


6  House  burned 

17  Alfred  Vezina 

4  E.  C.  Martin 

6  Fred  E.  Allen 

8    Mrs.  K.  T.  Glfford 

sec.  A.  Smith 

( O.  C.  Reed,  ten. 
6    C.  S.  Moxley 
17    Robert  Fee 

6  (George  Slack 
(Vacant 

7  Mrs.  F.  Oreen 

8  William  Skinner 
4    J.  B.  Goodrich 

4    Percival  Fur  Co. 
4CJ.  M.  Kibby 

( Abbott  ft  Doyle 
17    J.  B.  Goodrich 

10  T.  E.  Mead 

11  Aurice  Perkins 

6  Wallace  Burke 

7  Dom  Blake 

12  A.  M.  Waldo 

12    Mary  Krigbaum 

2    F.  R.  Ainsworth 

IC  George  Dutton 

(W.  Famham,  ten. 
4    C.  H.  Taft 

8  Pearl  Dewey 


Orig,  Ovmer 

Robert  Havens 
Am09  Rcibinson 
Robert  Handy 
Ehen.  Parkhurat 
Adan  Durkee 
Sam.  Metoalf,  Jr. 
John  Billings 
William  Joiner 
Horace  M.  Case 
Tilly   Parkhurst 
Tilly    Parkhurst 
Daniel  Tullar 
SauL  Clapp 
John  Safford 
Nicholas  Trask 
As  above 
Reuben  Bloss 
Samuel  Metcalf 
Joseph  Havens 
Abel  Perrin 
William  Joiner 
Cfamer  Rix 
Joseph  Fish 
Eben.  Dewey 
David  Fish 
John  Kent 
Isaac  Morgan 
John  Safford 
Perley  Bloaa 
Daniel  Tullar 
O.  Perrin 
Robert  Handy 
Ellas  Curtis 
Elias  Curtis 

Ellas  CurUs 
Joseph  Havens 
J.   Parkhurst 
Isaac  Pinney 
Daniel  Gilbert 
Theodore  Howe 
N.   Leavitt 
Elisha  Kent 
Elisha  Kent 
Aaron  Wilbur 
Jo.  Parkhurst 
Aaron  Wilbur 
Nath.  Morse 
Daniel  Havena 


} 


! 


Ellas  Stevens 
Daniel  Riz  ) 

Oideon  Crandall   5 
Robert  Handy 
Oal.  Parkhurat 
Gamer  Rix 


} 


Lot 
B.7  L.A. 

N.22  LJL. 

B.19  L.A. 

20  T.P. 

M.15  L.A. 

E.1LJL 

E.1  L.A. 

38LJL 

M.39LJL 

N.34  T.P. 

52  T.P. 
Simpson 

M.4L.A. 

M.19  L.A. 

11  Dutch 

22  T.P. 

45  Dutch 

26  T.P. 

7T.P. 

N.22  UA, 
35  Dutch 

34  Dutch 

35  Dutch 

36  Dutch 

B.34LJL 

B.33  L.A. 

W^.3  L.A. 
10  L.A. 

M.25  L.A. 
M.26  L.A. 
21  Dutch 

W.1L.A. 
43  Dutch 

B.22  L.A. 
M.22LJL 


314 


HiBTOBY  OF  BOTALION,  VSBMOMT 


Uame 

Riz,  G.  k  W. 
Robinson,  A.  J. 

Robinaon,  J. 

Robinson,  J. 
Root,  S. 

Royce,  A. 

Ross,  I. 

Ross,  I. 
Russ,  J. 
Russ,  N. 


Ditt.       Pre$.  Owner 

14    Mr8.K.R.Skinner 
B.    5    W.  a  AUen 

llCLudoB  E.  HIU 
( House  burned 
11    G.ft  F.Tuckerman 
2    Mrs.  I.  H.  Baton 

5    H.  L.  Brownell 

7    Mrs.  H.  S.  Dennett 

7    Henry  Morse 
7    Hiram  Russ 
7    Mrs.  N.  Martin 


Sampson,  W.  Bi.      3 


Sewall,  P.  O. 

SheiMtrd,  J. 
SheiMtrd,  J. 

Shipman,  H. 

Shirlock,  Wm. 

Simmons,  H. 

Simmons,  S. 
Skinner,  C. 
Skinner,  L. 

Skinner,  M.  T. 

Slack,   J. 

Slack,   J. 
Slack,  W.  J. 

Smith,  Mrs.  C. 
Smith,  J. 
Snow,  Albert 


13 


B.  H.  Copeland 


J.  F.  Shepard 
2    Thomas  Russ 
4  (  M.  Adams 
( F.  S.  Oaks,  ten. 

6  E«thel  Simonds 

2    Frank  Shirlock 

4  (A.  Waterman 
( House  burned 

7  Will  Davis 
14    Fred   Durkee 

8(N.   I.  Hale 

(C.  Hale,  ten. 
17    H.  W.  Hubbard 

4    C.  E.  Spaulding 

4  C.   Sejrmour 

6  George  Slack 

7  W.  E.  Webster 
9    Loren  Holt 

5  Will  Allen 


Snow,   Arunah         6    N.  D.  Howland 


Stevens,  E.  P. 

Stevens,  F. 

Stiles,  F. 

Story.  S. 
Stoughton,  W. 


6    Roy  W.  Allen 

11  (Frank  Rhoades 
( Abandoned 

12  I.  G.  Wheat 

1    Mrs.  D.  E.  Tenney 
4    Clarence  Burke 


Orig,  Owner 

Timothy  Durkee 
John  Kimball 
/.  P.  Ttcefcer 
Adan  Durkee 
Joma,  Bowen 
As  above 
Daniel  Gilbert 
JeA,  Pierce 
E.  Parkhurst 
N.  Leavitt 
William  Jones 
Jere.  Ruu 
As  above 
As  above 
As  above 

William  Jones 
Samuel  Howe 
John  House 
Levi  Parker 
Jere.  Treecott 

Ellas  Curtis 
John  Kimball 
/.  Kimhalh  Jr. 
Simon  Shepard 
Squire  Howe 
Daniel  Rlx 
Joeeph  Rix 
Heman  Durkee 
David  Brewster 
William  Joiner 
Asa  Lyman 
Eben.  Brewster 
Calvin  Skinner 
A.  Schellinger 
Hez.  Baker 
Elias  Curtis 
John  Safford 
Richard  Bloss 
Nathan  Morgan 
Comfort  Sever 
John  Kimball 
J.  P,  Tucker 
E.  Parkhurst 
N.  Leavitt 
Sam.  Benedict 
E,  Taylor 
Reub.  Parkhurst 
Cal.  Fairbanks 
David   Fish 
Tim,  Banister 
Tilly  Parkhurst 
Daniel  Rix 
Joseph  Rix 


Lot 
SMTJP. 
KSLuA. 


! 


! 


M.36 

M^SLuA. 
19  Dutch 

WJLuA. 

8TJ». 

8T.P. 
8T.P. 
8T.P. 

9  Dutch 

E.27LJL 
15  Dutch 

35  Dutch 
35  T.P. 

7  Dutch 

38  Dutch 

N.63  T.P. 
M.54  Ti.A. 

W.17  LJL 

46  Dutch 

Simpson 
College 
35  Dutch 

24  T.P. 

M.5L.A. 
11  T.P. 

E.8L1JL 
W.2LJL 

B.4L.A. 

E.41  LuA. 

W.29LJL 

E.1L.A. 

38  Dutch 


HiSTOBY  OP  BOYALTON,  VeBMONT 


315 


Ifame 
Tenney,  C.  B. 

Tenney,  H. 
Thacher,  B. 

Tolles,  D. 
Townsend,  A. 

Tucker,  L,  T. 

Vesper,  T.  k  W. 

Vesper,  W. 

Vesper,  W. 
Vial.  C.  ft  W. 
Waldo,  Miss 
Waldo.   C. 

Waldo.  D. 

Waldo,  J. 

Waldo.  M. 

Waldo,  W. 
Waldo,  W. 

Ward.  O.  H. 

Waterman.  W. 

West.  C.  ft  G. 

Wheeler,  M. 

Whitney,  Z. 

Whitney,  L.  C. 

Wild,  J. 

Wilkins,  C. 

Wild.  B. 

Williams,  P. 
Williams,  S.  R. 


DiBt.       Prea.  Owner 
2    Hattie  Fay 

2    Mrs.  A.  J.  Noyes 
13    Mrs.  H.  S.  Lamson 

10  F.  B.  Oilman 
9    Bdna  C.  King 

17  (B.  C.  Martin 

I  Vacant 
13    George  Howe 

9    House  destroyed 

9  House  burned 

4  G.  W.  Ward 

9  House  destroyed 

11  N.  B.  Fairchilds 

13    T.   Waldo 

13    J.  H.  Waldo 

13  (Mrs.  N.  Sewall 

(Mrs.  R.  R.  Sykes 
13    T.  Waldo 
13  C  Mrs.  N.  Sewall 
7  Mrs.  R.  R.  Sykes 

6  J  D.  L.  Parkhurst 
( Vacant 

4    J.  G.  Taylor 

2    F.  Ainsworth 
9    F.  B.  Southworth 

7  Mrs.  A.  Johnston 

7  (Will  Hunt 
(J.  G.  Button 

13    F.  Russell 

2    H.  Stewart 

8  Rev.  L.  Wild 


Woodward,  A.  K. 

Woodward,  E. 
Woodward,  R.  K. 


6    Ethan   Jones 
13  J  N.  Prescott 

I  R.  W.  Prescott 
4    E.   Woodward 

4    Luman  Dings 
4  C  K.  C.  Woodward 
I  House  burned 


Orig.  Owner 

Daniel  Rix 
Nath.  Morse 
As  above 
Heman  Durkee 
Abel  Stevens 
Daniel  Tullar 
James  Hlbbard 
Thos.  Bacon 
John  Kent 
Isaac  Morgan 
John  Gillett 
David  Maynard 
P.  Parkhurst 
Isaac  Skinner 
Timothy   Durkee 
Daniel  Havens 
P.  Parkhurst 
Wm.  Blackmer 
Jesse  Dunham 
Heman  Durkee 
Ahel  Stevens 
Sam.  Clapp 
David  Rugg 
Elias  Stevens 
Pierce  Paige 
Heman  Durkee 
John  Wilcox 
Zach.  Waldo 
E.  Parkhurst 
N,  Leavitt 
A.  Schellinger 
Hez,  Baker 
Simon  Shepard 
Squire  Howe 
James  Hibbard 
Thomas  Bacon 
Standish  Day 
Cyril  Oreen 
Gamer  Rix 
W.  Anderson 
Gamer  Rix 
Isaac  Skinner 
Nath.  Morse 
Ahra,  Waterman 
John  Safford 
Jacob  Safford 
David  Fish 
Johnson  Safford 
Jacob   Safford 
Elias  Stevens 
Jo.  Dutton 
Elias  Curtis 
Nath.  Alger 
E,  Woodward 


} 
} 


Lot 

26  Dutch 
26  Dutch 
B.30  L.A. 

38L.A. 

38  T.P. 

45  Dutch 
W.31  L.A. 

W.26  L.A. 

53  T.P. 
42  Dutch 
W.26  L,A. 

W.33  L.A. 

B.30  L.A. 

W.27  L.A. 

W.28  L.A. 
E.30  L.A. 
B.35  L.A. 

W.2  L,A. 

Simpson 
Ck)llege 

8  Dutch 
W.38  T.P. 

21  T.P. 
14  T.P. 

M.26  L.A. 
20  Dutch 

W.22  L.A. 

22  T.P. 
S.26  L.A. 

28  Dutch 
34  Ehitch 
33  Dutch 


816 


HiSTOBT  OF  BOTALTON,  VbMOMT 


Woodworth,  O. 

Teaton,  R. 

Young;  O.  S. 

u.  C  V  A.  S. 
Turan,  S. 


DUt       Prei.  Oumer 
6    Mn.  J.  BCUlB 


6   R.  Teaton 


1 


F.  RoBBell 


16 


Ofig.  Owmer 

Johnson  Safford 
VatKan  Kimball 
Bben.  Parkharat 
A.  Rohin$on 
WilUam  Jones 
Abftk   OraveM 


17    MrsJf.B.Slnclair    B.  Brewster 

Cotton  Evans 


11.20  liJL 
46  Doteh 


£ 


k  -^ 


CHAPTER  XX. 


RoYALTON  Academy. 

No  one  in  looking  over  the  old  records  of  the  town  can  fail 
to  admire  the  perseverance,  and  appreciation  of  the  higher  things 
of  life,  that  the  early  residents  of  Royalton  manifested.  No 
matter  if  they  could  not  spell,  if  some  of  the  most  active  and 
energetic  citizens  could  not  even  write  their  own  names,  they 
meant  to  furnish  their  children  with  the  opportunities  which 
they  had  lacked.  So  we  find  as  early  as  Nov.  19,  1782,  that  the 
town  at  a  special  meeting  appointed  Lieut.  Stevens,  John  Hib- 
bard,  and  Lieut.  Calvin  Parkhurst,  a  committee  to  draw  a  sub- 
scription paper  in  order  to  promote  a  **greamary"  school.  They 
had  not  yet  recovered  from  the  devastation  of  1780,  but  they 
would  not  neglect  the  education  of  their  youth.  No  doubt  it 
was  the  few,  as  it  always  is,  who  were  most  anxious  to  promote 
the  higher  interests  of  the  town,  and  in  this  work,  we  may  be 
sure,  our  old  friend,  Zebulon  Lyon,  was  one  of  the  prime  movers. 

If  this  movement  was  for  the  purpose  of  securing  an  act  of 
the  Legislature  establishing  a  County  Grammar  school  in  Roy- 
alton, it  must  have  failed,  as  Norwich  secured  the  school  by 
legislative  action,  June  14,  1785.  It  is  more  probable  that  the 
intent  was  simply  to  obtain  advanced  instruction  for  the  young 
men  and  maidens  of  the  town.  Who  the  early  instrutstors  were 
in  this  school  we  do  not  know.  It  is  possible  that  some  citizen 
of  the  town  served  in  this  way.  Norwich  had  to  resort  to  a  lot- 
tery to  carry  on  her  school.  Probably  we  shall  never  know  the 
struggles  of  the  infant  town  to  maintain  its  **greamary''  school 
during  the  next  twenty  years. 

At  the  March  meeting  in  1802  the  town  was  called  on  to  act 
on  the  question,  whether  it  would  allow  an  academy  on  the  com- 
mon or  not,  and  the  vote  recorded  is,  **  Voted  not  to  suffer  an 
academy  to  be  set  up  on  the  meeting  house  Green."  It  does 
not  follow  that  the  sentiment  was  inimical  to  an  academy,  but 
rather  that  they  were  jealous  of  the  rights  which  they  had  in 
the  ** Green,"  and  were  fearful  of  violating  the  condiitions  on 
which  the  common  had  been  given  to  the  town.  At  any  rate, 
they  had  their  academy  somewhere,  for  the  records  of  Middle- 


318  HlSTC«Y  OF  ROYALTON,  VeBMOKT 

bury  college  show,  that,  in  the  year  1803-4,  Walter  Chapin  was 
principal  of  Royidton  Academy. 

He  had  just  graduated,  and  was  twenty-four  years  old,  hav- 
ing been  bom  Jan.  15,  1779,  in  West  Springfield,  Mass.,  the  son 
of  Austin  and  Bathsheba  (Cooper)  Chapin.  He  united  with 
the  church  in  Royalton,  Aug.  19,  1804.  From  his  work  in  the 
academy  he  went  to  Middlebury  college  as  tutor  for  a  year.  He 
studied  theology  with  Bev.  Martin  Tullar,  probably  during  the 
year  that  he  was  principal  of  the  academy.  He  acted  as  mis- 
sionary for  a  time,  then  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
church  in  Woodstock,  where  he  died  July  22,  1827.  He  married 
Hannah  Moshier,  Mar.  7,  1813,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children. 

If  the  salary  of  the  principal  depended  on  the  tuition  of 
students,  it  could  not  have  been  very  tempting  to  a  college 
graduate.  The  town,  however,  already  had  one  or  more  lawyers 
of  repute,  well  qualified  to  instruct  law  students,  and  its  clei^- 
men,  also,  were  equally  well  fitted  to  instruct  in  theology.  Pew 
men  in  those  days  made  teaching  a  profession.  It  was  rather  a 
stepping  stone  to  some  other  profession,  and  so  the  academy 
was  able  to  draw  men  of  brilliant  parts,  and  of  sterling  worth, 
to  teach  within  its  walls,  who  were  glad  of  the  opportunity  of 
earning  something  while  they  fitted  for  their  life  work. 

When  the  town  was  chartered  by  Vermont,  one  right  had 
been  set  apart  for  the  use  of  county  grammar  schools.  The 
legislature  on  Oct.  27,  1795,  passed  an  act  to  enable  selectmen 
to  lease  the  county  grammar  school  lands.  In  1806  this  article 
was  inserted  in  the  warning  for  the  March  meeting:  **To  see 
if  the  town  will  appropriate  the  school  lands  in  said  Town  to 
the  support  of  a  grammar  school  in  the  Scenter  District  in  said 
Town."  They  voted '* No "  on  this  question.  The ''school  lands" 
may  have  been  meant  to  include  all  the  school  lands,  and  not 
the  grammar  school  lands  alone.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the  next 
year  the  town  obtained  from  the  legislature  a  charter,  establish- 
ing a  county  grammar  school  by  name  of  Royalton  Academy. 

The  act  was  passed  Nov.  11,  1807,  and  reads  as  follows: 

"Nov.   11,  1807.    An  Act  establishing  a  County  Onunmar  School  at 

Royalton,  in  the  county  of  Windsor. 

Sec.  1.  It  Is  hereby  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
of  Vermont,  That  there  be,  and  hereby  Is  a  County  Grammar  School 
Instituted  and  established  In  such  place.  In  the  township  of  Royalton 
in  the  county  of  Windsor,  as  the  trustees  herein  named  shall  think 
most  convenient  for  the  purpose,  to  be  known  and  designated,  by  the 
name  and  style  of  Royalton  Academy. 

Sec.  2.  And  it  is  hereby  further  enacted,  by  the  authority  aforesaid. 
That  the  Rer.  Martin  Tullar,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Bascom,  Zebulon  Lyon. 
Jacob  Smith,  Joseph  Fessenden,  Daniel  Rlx,  Jun.,  Thomas  Freeman, 
Jun.,  Nehemiah  Noble,  and  Rodolphus  Dewey,  and  their  successors, 
shall  at  all  times  hereafter  form  and  constitute  the  board  of  trustees, 
for  the  said  institution,  and  be  known  by  the  name  and  style  of  Royal- 


History  of  Boyalton^  Vebmont  319 

ton  Academy:  And  the  said  tmstees  and  their  successors  in  office,  are 
hereby  declared,  constituted,  ordained  and  appointed,  a  body  corporate 
and  politic,  to  all  intents,  in  name  and  fact;  shall  have  full  power  to 
take  by  gift,  grant,  purchase  or  devise,  any  estate,  either  real  or  per- 
sonal, for  the  use  of  said  Academy,  and  are  hereby  fully  empowered  to 
hold,  and  lease  the  lands  lying  in  the  town  of  Royalton,  and  the  sec- 
ond division  lot  in  Rochester,  in  the  county  of  Windsor,  granted  for 
the  use  and  benefit  of  County  Grammar  Schools,  and  by  themselves  or 
their  attomies,  to  institute,  maintain,  and  defend  any  suit  or  suits 
which  may  or  shall  be  sued,  prosecuted  or  impleaded,  either  in  law  or 
equity,  for  the  recovery,  or  defence  of  any  of  the  rights,  or  property  of 
said  Academy  as  they  shall  find  necessary.  Provided,  That  whenever 
any  other  grammar  school  or  schools,  may  be  incorporated  in  said 
county,  the  net  proceeds  or  avails  of  said  lands,  shall  be  subject  to 
such  division,  among  all  the  grammar  schools  in  said  county,  as  any 
future  legislature  shall  direct. 

Sec.  3.  And  it  is  hereby  further  enacted,  That  the  first  meeting 
of  said  trustees  shall  be  holden  at  the  house  of  David  Waller,  in 
Royalton,  aforesaid,  on  the  first  Monday  of  January  next.  And  the 
said  trustees,  when  met,  (a  majority  of  whom  shall  constitute  a 
quorum)  may  appoint  a  president,  and  other  necessary  officers  of  said 
corporation,  which  president  and  other  officers,  shall  thereafter  be 
elected  on  the  first  Monday  of  January  annually,  agree  upon  the 
manner  of  warning  future  meetings  of  the  corporation,  determine  the 
manner  of  filling  future  vacancies,  which  may  happen  by  the  removal, 
resignation  or  death  of  trustees,  and  transact  such  business,  and  agree 
upon  and  enact  such  rules  and  bye-laws,  as  they  shall  Judge  necessary, 
for  the  well  being,  ordering  and  governing  the  affairs  of  said  corpora- 
tion. Provided,  that  such  rules  and  bye-laws,  shall  not  be  contrary 
to  the  constitution,  and  laws  of  this  State. 
Passed  Nov.  11,  1807.  A  true  copy. 

Attest —  Thomas  Leverett,  Sec'y." 

Who  the  principals  of  the  academy  were  from  1804  to  1810 
has  not  been  ascertained.  In  the  latter  year  Grant  Powers  was 
engaged.  He  had  graduated  from  Dartmouth  that  year.  In 
the  ''Washingtonian"  printed  at  Windsor,  under  date  of  Sep.  3, 
1810,  he  informs  the  public,  that  the  academy  will  be  opened 
on  the  17th  inst.  under  the  care  of  John  Wild,  whom  he  has 
obtained  to  teach  until  his  health  shall  be  restored,  which  he 
hopes  will  be  in  a  few  weeks.  Tuition  was  set  at  $2.00  per  quar- 
ter, and  no  student  was  to  be  admitted  until  he  had  paid  four 
shillings  in  advance. 

Mr.  Powers  was  bom  May  31,  1784,  in  HoUis,  N.  H.  He 
became  pastor  of  a  church  in  Haverhill  in  1815,  and  two  years 
later  he  married  Eliza  H.  Hopkins  of  Thetford.  He  removed 
to  Goshen,  Conn.,  in  1829,  and  died  Apr.  10,  1841.     He  was  the 

author  of  ** Historical  Sketches in  the  Coos  Country,"  a 

work  of  much  interest  and  value  to  historians.  This  was  pub- 
lished the  year  he  died,  and  is  now  quite  rare. 

Mr.  Powers  was  succeeded  by  David  Pierce.  He  was  the 
son  of  David  Pierce,  and  was  bom  Mar.  26,  1786,  in  Southboro, 
Mass.    He  had  fitted  for  college  at  Randolph  Academy,  and 


320  HlfflOBY  OF  BOYALTON,  YlBMONT 

graduated  at  Dartmouth  in  1811.  He  was  Principal  of  Boyal- 
ton  Academy  the  year  following,  1811-12.  He  then  went  to 
Woodstock  to  study  law  with  Charles  Marsh.  He  taui^t  there 
while  studying,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1816.  He  began 
practice  in  Woodstock  in  1823.  He  married  Buth  Downer  of 
Sharon,  and  had  four  children.  After  her  death  he  married 
Mary  S.  Gardner  of  Brighton,  Mass.  In  1836  he  was  chosen 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  died  Aug.  16,  1872, 
an  honored  citizen. 

The  next  principal  of  whom  there  is  any  record  was  Be- 
membrance  Chamberlain,  a  son  of  Bemembrance  and  Elizabeth 
(Elliott)  Chamberlain.  He  was  bom  in  Newbui^,  Dec.  2,  1789. 
He  graduated  from  ^liddlebury  in  1814.  A  letter  from  him 
dated  Cavendish,  June  12.  1813,  and  addressed  to  Col.  Stafford 
Smith,  says:  ''I  shall  be  in  Boyalton  to  begin  school  the  fourth 
lilonday  in  August.  It  was  mutually  agreed  when  the  bargain 
was  stated  that,  if  after  a  fair  trial,  the  school  should  not  be 
profitable,' I  should  be  released  from  my  engagements."  The 
school  seems  at  this  time  to  have  been  in  an  unpromising  condi- 
tion. How  well  he  succeeded  is  not  known,  but  he  was  in  Prince- 
ton Theo.  Sem.  in  1816,  so  that  his  term  of  service  could  not  have 
been  more  than  one  year. 

According  to  tradition  Zebulon  Lyon  furnished  the  building 
for  the  use  of  the  academy,  but  it  was  not  conveyed  to  the  Cor- 
poration until  Mar.  14,  1815.  Its  location  is  described  as  being 
on  the  north  side  of  White  Eiver  Turnpike  road,  a  few  rods  west 
of  where  Dr.  Henry  IngersoU  lived.  Permission  was  given  to 
move  the  building  on  to  the  common,  if  they  saw  fit.  The  condi- 
tions of  the  gift  were,  that  a  school  should  be  kept  nine  months 
in  a  year  or  eighteen  months  in  two  successive  years,  and  it  was 
not  to  be  a  ** Woman's  school  nor  a  common  District  School." 
The  building  was  probably  moved,  as  a  subscription  was  circu- 
lated for  that  purpose,  dated  June  20,  1815.  This  shows  $66.00 
raised  in  money  and  $6.20  given  in  work.  S.  D.  and  P.  Graves 
lead  off  with  $20,  followed  by  Stafford  Smith,  Lorraine  Terry, 
Moses  Cutter,  John  Marshall.  I.  C.  Weymouth,  William  Snow, 
Henry  IngersolL  Luther  Blodgett,  Orlando  Cutter,  Eben.  Park- 
hurst.  Jr.,  J.  D.  Throop,  Charles  F.  Eeed,  Abijah  Speed,  Solomon 
Wheeler,  Eben.  Speed,  William  Beed,  Eben.  Pierce,  and  J.  Ly- 
man. 

July  19,  1816,  the  committee  hired  William  Arms  Chapin 
for  one  year.  He  was  to  provide  wood  for  the  school,  and  his 
own  board,  and  to  receive  $100  and  the  tuition  of  pupils  at  $2 
per  quarter,  the  trustees  to  guarantee  board  and  accommodations 
to  all  who  should  apply.  Mr.  Chapin  had  just  taken  an  A.  M. 
degree  from  Dartmouth.     He  was  born  in  Newport,  N.  H.,  Mar. 


M.  !■:.  cin'ni'ir,  south  hovalton. 


t 

1^^ 

1 

^^M 

m 

l^^^^io^Bflln 

iii.ii  McnooMiiirsi-:  in  msTRirx  it. 

SOl'TII  ROYAr.ToX  UICAliKK  SrilOOL  mil.HIXG. 


BlffTOBY  OF  BOYALTON^  VeBMONT  821 

1,  1791.  He  taught  in  the  academy  only  one  year,  and  later 
entered  the  ministry.    He  died  at  Greensboro,  Nov.  27,  1850. 

Joseph  Tracy,  Jr.,  wrote  from  Hartford  to  Col.  Stafford 
Smith,  under  date  of  Apr.  15,  1817,  *  *  I  intend  to  see  you  by  the 
first  of  next  week.  If  you  are  anxious  for  a  school  and  suited 
with  the  candidate,  I  think  we  shall  have  no  difficulty  in  making 
a  contract.''  Rufus  Nutting  of  Randolph,  a  week  before,  had 
written  of  Mr.  Tracy  to  Col.  Smith,  **I  know  him  to  be  one  of 
the  best  linguists  and  classical  scholars  in  general  who  have  been 
this  number  of  years  at  Dartmouth  college.  His  moral  char- 
acter is  unblemished; — and  I  doubt  not,  that  if  you  offer  him  a 
sufficient  consideration  to  induce  him  to  tarry  with  you,  you  will 
find  him  to  be — not  a  fine  gentleman,  nor  a  showy  pedagogue, 
but  a  useful  instructor.** 

An  unusual  interest  attaches  to  Mr.  Tracy,  for  he  not  only 
taught  successfully,  but  won  one  of  Royalton's  fair  maidens,  Elea- 
nor, daughter  of  Rev.  Azel  Washburn.  He  studied  law  with  Jacob 
Collamer,  and  theology  with  Rev.  Asa  Burton  of  Thetford.  He 
preached  six  years  at  West  Fairlee  and  Post  Mills,  then  he  was 
chosen  by  the  Vermont  State  Convention  as  editor  of  the  Ver- 
mont Chronicle,  which  position  he  held  for  six  years.  He  then 
exchanged  with  his  brother,  E.  C.  Tracy,  and  became  editor  of 
the  Boston  Recorder,  and  later,  of  the  New  York  Observer.  His 
last  and  main  work  was  that  of  Secretary  of  the  Mass.  Coloniza- 
tion Society. 

He  took  an  A.  M.  degree  from  Dartmouth,  and  was  elected 
to  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  fraternity.  In  1859  the  U.  V.  M.  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  degree  of  D.  D.  Dr.  Tracy  was  a  writer 
as  well,  and  published  several  works,  among  them,  **The  Great 
Awakening,"  **The  History  of  Missions  of  the  American  Board,*' 
and  **The  Half  Century  Memorial  of  the  American  Colonization 
Society.  * '  In  1858  he  was  constituted  a  director  of  this  society 
at  Washington.  At  his  funeral  it  was  said  of  him  in  relation 
to  colonization  work,  **His  judgment  was  very  much  depended 
on  by  his  associates,  and  his  constructive  mind  was  of  great 
service  in  founding  the  College  at  Liberia,  and  carrying  it  into 
successful  operation.'* 

It  was  fortunate  for  the  academy,  that  in  its  early  years  it 
had  such  strong,  true,  talented  men  as  instructors,  even  though 
changes  were  frequent.    Dr.  Tracy  remained  two  years. 

During  his  incumbency  the  prospects  for  the  academy  grew 
brighter.  We  know  from  the  Hon.  Jacob  Collamer  *s  eulogy  upon 
Zebulon  Lyon,  that  Mr.  Lyon  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  place 
the  academy  upon  a  sure  footing.  On  April  21,  1817,  he  deeded 
to  the  Royalton  Academy  Corporation  No.  64  in  the  Second  Di- 
vision and  No.  22  in  the  Third  Division  of  Pomfret  lands.    The 


21 


322  HiSTOBY  OP  BOYALTON,  VeBMONT 

rents  were  to  be  used  for  the  free  tuition  of  young  men  of  piety 
and  ability,  proposing  to  fit  for  the  ministry,  who  should  bring 
a  note  of  recommendation  from  the  Boyalton  Association  of  Min- 
isters. If  not  enough  applicants  should  take  advantage  of  the 
fund,  it  was  to  be  used  for  the  general  benefit  of  said  institution. 
The  next  year  Mr.  Lyon  conveyed  to  the  same  Corporation  100 
acres  in  W.  14  L.  A.,  with  like  conditions  as  in  his  deed  of  Pom- 
fret  land.  It  may  be  stated  here  that  Daniel  Francis  is  the  only 
applicant  on  record  as  having  taken  advantage  of  the  generosity 
of  Mr.  Lyon.  He  presented  a  certificate,  as  required,  from  the 
Boyalton  Association  of  Ministers,  Feb.  9,  1820,  testifying  to  his 
fitness  for  studying  for  the  ministry. 

In  the  fall  of  1817  a  special  effort  was  made  to  secure  sub- 
scriptions for  enlarging  the  funds  of  the  academy.  The  sub- 
scribers agreed  to  pay  (annually)  the  sums  afiSxed  to  their  names, 
''so  long  as  the  said  Grammar  School  shall  be  kept  in  operation, 
or  so  long  as  the  subscriber  or  subscribers  shall  live  within  one 
mile  of  the  Academy  where  it  now  stands  on  the  common."  The 
preceding  year  Col.  Stafford  Smith  had  given  a  note  of  $100 
to  the  academy,  the  interest  to  be  annually  for  the  use  of  the 
school  so  long  as  it  should  be  in  operation  nine  months  in  a  year. 

The  trustees  of  the  academy  in  Oct.,  1817,  paid  to  Jacob 
Collamer  $23  for  going  to  Norwich  and  to  Montpelier,  arguing 
before  the  legislature,  and  drawing  a  petition  for  lands.  The 
Journal  of  the  House  of  Representatives  shows  that  the  petition 
was  presented.  The  legislature  passed  an  act  Oct.  30  of  that 
year,  ordering  rents  of  all  lands  in  Bethel  granted  for  support 
of  a  grammar  school  to  be  appropriated  to  the  use  and  benefit 
**of  the  county  grammar  school  in  Royalton,  in  said  county, 
known  by  the  name  of  Royalton  Academy."  Thus  by  the  earnest 
efforts  of  the  friends  of  the  institution  the  prospects  for  its 
future  growth  were  greatly  enhanced. 

The  next  principal  was  John  D.  Willard,  who  was  hired  to 
teach  one  year  for  $350.  The  trustees  agreed  to  board  him  **with 
a  separate  room,  wood,  washing,  and  candles. ' '  He  was  to  have 
two  vacations  in  the  year,  not  to  exceed  four  weeks  in  the  whole. 
There  is  nothing  to  show  that  Mr.  Willard  remained  longer  than 
the  year.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  in  1819,  from  which 
he  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.,  and  in  1860,  of  LL.  D.  He  was 
bom  in  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  Nov.  4.  1799 ;  tutor  from  1822  to  1823. 
He  was  a  lawyer,  and  doubtless  prosecuted  his  law  studies  while 
in  Royalton.  He  became  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
in  New  York.     He  died  Oct.  16,  1864,  Troy,  N.  Y. 

If  Mr.  Willard  taught  the  academy  a  second  year,  then  the 
next  incumbent  was  Qeorge  King  Pomroy.  Little  is  known  of 
him,  except  that  he  graduated  from  Dartmouth  in  1822.     He 


History  of  Eoyalton,  Vermont  323 

probably  began  his  work  in  Royalton  that  fall.  He  was  bom 
in  Boston,  Mass.,  in  1804.  He  was  a  divinity  student,  and  died 
yonng,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two. 

The  next  preceptor  was  Nathaniel  Sprague,  who  studied 
both  law  and  theology,  and  whose  service  extended  from  1823 
to  1831,  longer  than  that  of  any  other  teacher  of  the  academy. 
A  sketch  of  his  life  is  found  in  the  chapter  on  churches.  The 
numerous  receipts  he  gave  for  small  sums  of  money,  would  indi- 
cate that  the  funds  at  the  disposal  of  the  trustees  were  not  large. 

The  oldest  catalogue  of  the  academy  known  to  be  in  exist- 
ence is  dated  1830.  It  is  a  small  four-leaved  pamphlet,  printed 
at  Woodstock,  by  Haskell  and  Prescott,  at  the  office  of  the 
Working  Man's  Gazette.  The  trustees  at  that  time  were  Rev. 
Samuel  Bascomb,  President,  Gen.  John  Francis,  Rev.  Austin 
Hazen,  Hon.  Titus  Hutchinson,  Dr.  Joseph  A.  Denison,  Oel  Bil- 
lings, Secretary,  Rev.  A.  C.  Washburn,  Gteorge  Lyman,  Treas- 
urer, and  Elisha  Rix,  Esq.  Nathaniel  Sprague,  A.  M.,  was  prin- 
cipal. There  were  twenty-seven  gentlemen  students:  Albert 
and  E.  H.  Billings,  Ashbel  Buckland,  Jr.,  Solomon  Crandall, 
N.  W.  Dewey,  George  Francis,  R.  H.  French,  Joseph  R.  Jones, 
Thomas  C.  Kenworthy,  A.  C.  Partridge,  Horace  Parkhurst,  Har- 
rison Smith,  John  Waldo,  Luther  Wheeler,  all  from  Royalton, 
and  J.  M.  Lovejoy,  Austin  Marsh,  David  Mower,  Jr.,  Chester 
Parkhurst,  and  Daniel  Parkhurst  from  Sharon,  John  Cilley  from 
Tunbridge,  C.  G.  Eastman  from  Fryeburg,  Me.,  S.  W.  Hall  from 
Rochester,  Matthias  Joslyn  from  Waitsfield,  Jeremiah  Pratt  from 
Barnard,  and  Sawyer  S.  Stone  from  Hartford.  Of  the  ** ladies," 
there  were  Emeline  H.  Adams,  Jane  Blodgett,  Amanda  J.  Deni- 
son, Emily  Durkee,  Frances  J.  A.  Fox,  Louisa  M.  Fox,  Jerusha 
H.  Jones,  Melissa  Joyner,  Acenath  B.  Osborn,  Abigail  M.  Parish, 
Almira  Partridge,  Susan  W.  Pierce,  Charity  P.  Runell,  Eliza 
Rix,  Charlotte  Smith,  Laura  Washburn,  Amanda  L.  Woodworth, 
all  from  Royalton,  and  Lavina  Allen  from  Fayston.  The  list  of 
boarding  places  shows  that  over  thirty  families  either  sent  their 
own  children  or  took  roomers.  The  price  of  board  per  week, 
room  rent  and  washing  included,  was  from  $1.25  to  $1.50.  Tui- 
tion, $2  per  quarter.  The  catalogue  announces  that  **A  Lyceum 
has  been  established  in  town,  and  means  are  in  train  to  obtain 
an  extensive  apparatus,  of  which,  by  the  fundamental  articles  of 
the  Lyceum,  the  Academy  is  to  have  the  free  use  in  the  course  * 
of  its  public  instruction." 

William  Scales,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Sprague,  seems  to  have 
taught  before  graduation  at  Middlebury  in  1832.  He  receipts 
for  services  in  1831.  As  he  was  born  Sep.  28,  1805,  and  so 
twenty-six  when  he  graduated,  it  is  reasonable  to  infer  that  he 
paid  his  own  way  through  college,  by  teaching  at  intervals,  and 


824  HlST(»Y  OF  BOYALTON,  VbBMONT 

that  he  did  not  remain  in  Royalton  longer  than  six  months.  He 
graduated  at  Andover  in  1837,  and  became  pastor  of  a  Con- 
gregational church  in  Lyndon  the  same  year.  He  preached  in 
various  places,  but  returned  to  Lyndon  in  1855,  where  he  died 
Jan.  24,  1864.    He  left  a  family. 

Nathaniel  Ogden  Preston  followed  Mr.  Scales.  He  was  bom 
in  Rupert,  Dec.  22,  1804.  He  graduated  from  Middlebory  in 
1831,  and  began  his  work  as  Principal  of  the  academy  that  year, 
remaining  one  year  or  more.  He  studied  theology  with  Bishop 
Hopkins,  and  preached  as  an  Episcopal  clergyman  in  several 
states  prior  to  1862,  when  he  went  to  Topeka,  Kansas,  and  served 
there  as  rector  and  Principal  of  the  Topeka  Female  Sem.  He 
became  Professor  of  English  Literature  in  the  Kansas  State  Ag- 
ricultural College  at  Manhattan  in  1864,  where  he  died  Feb.  14, 
1866. 

From  receipts  given  for  salary  it  would  seem  that  Mr.  Pres- 
ton was  serving  the  academy  a  part,  at  least,  of  1833.  His  suc- 
cessor was  Edward  Joseph  Hallock,  who  graduated  from  Middle- 
bury  in  1833,  and  who  is  said  to  have  fitted  for  college  in  Roy- 
alton. Up  to  this  time  there  is  no  evidence  that  more  than  one 
teacher  was  employed,  though  it  is  probable  that  some  assistance 
was  required.  During  the  year  that  Mr.  Hallock  served,  mention 
is  made  of  a  Miss  Robbins  as  assistant  teacher.  Mr.  Hallock 
graduated  from  And.  Theo.  Sem.  in  1837.  He  went  to  Castleton 
the  next  year  to  supply  the  Congregational  pulpit  for  a  few 
months,  and  accepted  the  position  of  Principal  of  Castleton  Sem- 
inary, which  was  then  in  a  dying  condition.  He  put  new  life 
into  it,  and  built  up  a  fine  school,  over  which  he  presided  for 
nineteen  years.  He  was  twice  married  and  had  three  children. 
He  died  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Sep.  11,  1866. 

James  Clark,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  with  an  A.  M.  de- 
gree in  1834,  took  the  principars  chair  vacated  by  Mr.  Hallock. 
Little  is  known  of  him  or  his  work.  Unlike  his  predecessors  he 
appears  to  have  chosen  teaching  as  his  profession,  and  he  gave 
a  longer  term  of  service  than  it  had  been  the  fortune  of  the  acad- 
emy to  secure  since  Mr.  Sprague's  incumbency.  He  probably 
left  some  time  in  1836  to  go  South,  as  his  death  occurred  in 
Savannah,  Ga.,  July  31,  1837. 

Timothy  Green  Brainard  was  preceptor  for  one  term  only. 
He  had  studied  at  Middlebury,  but  took  his  degree  from  Yale 
in  1830.     He  became  a  clergyman.     He  died  in  1894. 

It  was  probably  in  1835  that  a  new  bell  was  put  into  the 
academy.  Amos  Bosworth  acknowledged  receipt  of  $1.99,  Apr. 
28,  1836,  for  freighting  the  old  bell  to  Boston  and  bringing  back 
the  new  one.  When  the  old  bell  was  hung  is  not  kno^n,  or  why 
it  was  necessary  to  procure  a  new  one  at  this  time. 


History  of  Eoyalton,  Vermont  326 

The  new  bell  welcomed  David  Chanceford  Robbins,  another 
son  of  Middlebury,  a  graduate  of  1835.  He  was  bom  in  Wards- 
boro,  Nov.  24,  1812.  He  taught  in  Royalton  one  year  only,  1836- 
37,  when  he  entered  And.  Theo.  Sem.,  where  he  was  licentiate 
and  librarian  from  1841  to  1848.  He  was  Professor  of  Greek 
and  Latin  in  Middlebury,  1848-66,  and  Professor  of  Greek  and 
German,  1866-72.  He  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  in  1838,  and 
of  D.  D.  in  1882.  He  died  in  Newton  Highlands,  Mass.,  Nov., 
1882. 

Erasmus  Irving  Carpenter  was  his  successor,  a  graduate  of 
the  U.  V.  M.  in  1837.  He  served  in  1837  and  1838,  probably 
one  year  or  more.  He  studied  for  the  ministry,  and  preached  in 
Lancaster,  N.  H.,  Barre,  and  Berlin  previous  to  1869,  when  he 
became  Secretary  of  the  Vermont  Bible  Society.  In  1874  he 
went  as  pastor  to  Swanzey,  N.  H.,  where  he  died,  Feb.  10,  1877. 

There  are  many  still  living  who  remember  the  next  incum- 
bent, Sylvanus  Bates,  who  was  a  Randolph  boy.  He  remained 
longer  than  most  of  the  principals  had  done,  and  like  Joseph 
Tracy,  he  took  for  a  helpmeet  one  of  the  daughters  of  the  town, 
Mary  Ann  Fox,  whom  he  married  in  1840.  He  closed  his  work 
with  the  academy  in  1845,  having  had  a  full  attendance  and  a 
fine  class  of  students.  He  graduated  from  Middlebury  in  1837. 
He  was  Professor  in  Oglethorpe  University,  Ga.,  seven  years,  and 
Principal  of  a  boys'  school  in  Macon,  Ga.,  1853-83.  He  died 
there.  May  28,  1883. 

It  was  while  Mr.  Bates  was  principal  that  the  academy 
burned.  It  stood  near  the  old  church  which  had  been  moved 
to  the  common,  and  which  burned  in  the  spring  of  1840.  Though 
the  academy  students  fought  bravely  to  save  their  building,  their 
eflPorts  were  fruitless,  and  with  sad  hearts  they  saw  its  walls  go 
crashing  to  the  ground,  enveloped  in  flame.  The  new  church 
was  so  far  advanced  that  it  furnished  temporary  quarters  for 
the  continuance  of  the  school.  Mr.  Bates  showed  his  public 
spirit  and  self-sacrifice  in  the  interest  of  education,  by  subscrib- 
ing from  his  meager  salary  over  $33  towards  the  building  of  a 
new  academy.  The  account  of  the  building  of  the  combined 
town  house  and  academy,  so  that  the  school  occupied  its  new 
quarters  in  October,  1840,  is  given  in  the  record  of  town  build- 
ings. 

Joseph  Green  Stevens  Hitchcock  was  next  called  to  fill  the 
vacancy  in  the  academy.  He  had  taught  a  year  after  his  gradu- 
ation from  Middlebury  in  1844.  He  was  preparing  for  the  medi- 
cal profession  while  here.  He  was  a  Massachusetts  man,  and 
graduate  of  Harvard  Medical  College  in  1850.  He  was  here  but 
a  year,  1845-46.    He  was,  later.  Examining  Surgeon,  U.  S.  Pen- 


326  History  of  Boyai/ton,  Vebmont 

sion  Office,  and  Counselor  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society. 
He  died  in  Boston,  Aug.  24,  1891. 

The  trustees  now  engaged  a  man  who  had  prepared  for  col- 
lege in  Royalton  Academy,  Levi  Parsons  Sawyer,  bom  in  Stock- 
bridge,  Nov.  11,  1819.  He  taught  one  year,  1846-47.  He  re- 
ceived the  degrees  of  A.  B.  and  A.  M.  from  Middlebury,  and 
taught  several  years.  He  graduated  from  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  Dartmouth,  1854,  and  practiced  medicine  in  Nashua, 
N.  H.,  where  he  died  Apr.  29,  1868. 

John  Russell  Herrick  is  the  first  of  the  earlier  principals  of 
the  academy  known  to  be  living.  He  was  bom  in  Milton,  May 
12,  1822 ;  graduated  from  the  U.  V.  M.,  1847,  and  elected  to  the 
Phi  Beta  Kappa  Society.  He  was  principal  of  the  academy, 
1847-49;  a  theological  student  at  Andover  1849-51,  at  Auburn 
the  next  year,  where  he  graduated ;  pastor  at  Malone,  N.  Y.,  1854- 
67 ;  Professor  of  Theology,  Bangor,  Me.,  1867-73 ;  pastor  at  South 
Hadley,  Mass.,  1874-78 ;  President  of  Pacific  University,  Oregon, 
1880-83,  and  of  the  University  of  South  Dakota,  1885-87.  He 
married  May  12,  1856,  Harriet  Emily  Brownell,  who  died  in 
1899.  He  has  two  children,  Mary,  for  twenty  years  teacher  of 
English  in  Hyde  Park  High  School,  Chicago,  and  John,  in  busi- 
ness at  Elgin,  111.  He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  D.  D. 
from  Union  in  1867,  and  S.  T.  D.  from  the  U.  V.  M.  the  same 
year.    His  address  is  5407  Greenwood  Avenue,  Chicago. 

As  the  attendance  at  the  academy  increased,  the  difficulty  of 
finding  suitable  places  for  the  students  to  room  and  board  also 
increased.  The  need  of  a  boarding  house  was  seriously  felt,  and 
in  1848  an  eflPort  was  made  to  secure  a  building  for  this  purpose, 
but  was  not  successful.  There  was  not  another  Zebulon  Lyon 
to  step  forward  and  contribute  to  meet  the  need,  and  the  future 
of  the  institution  was  materially  changed  by  this  lack  of  proper 
homes  for  the  young  people  away  from  parental  care. 

Another  graduate  of  the  U.  V.  M.  followed  Mr.  Herrick, 
John  Quincy  Adams  Fellows,  who  took  his  A.  M.  degree  in  1847. 
He  was  born  in  Topsham,  Apr.  3,  1825.  He  served  in  1849-50. 
He  went  to  New  Orleans  from  Royalton,  and  received  the  degree 
of  LL.  B.  from  the  University  of  Louisiana.  He  was  a  lawyer, 
and  was  employed  as  counsel  for  MjTa  Gaines  in  the  slaughter 
house  cases.     He  retired  from  practice  in  1895. 

James  Edwin  Marsh,  who  held  an  A.  B.  degree  from  Wes- 
leyan  University  in  1846,  and  an  A.  M.  degree  in  1855,  next 
served  as  principal.  He  was  a  ^lassachusetts  man,  bom  in  Hol- 
liston,  Apr.  19,  1822.  He  taught  one  year.  He  received  an 
M.  D.  degree  from  Dartmouth  in  1855.  He  was  Acting  Assistant 
Surgeon,  U.  S.  A.,  1862-64.  He  was  a  druggist  in  Roxburv, 
Mass.    He  died  July  7,  1859. 


History  of  EoYAiiTON,  Vermont  327 

Samuel  Perrin  Cobum  had  charge  of  the  academy  two  quar- 
ters in  1851-52.  He  was  bom  in  Fairlee,  Apr.  27,  1824.  He 
took  an  A.  M.  degree  from  Dartmouth  in  1849.  He  was  a  teacher 
and  farmer.    He  died  June  25,  1896. 

For  one  quarter  only  Samuel  Ward  Boardman  taught  the 
academy.  He  had  graduated  from  Middlebury  in  1851.  He 
was  bom  in  Pittsford,  Aug.  31,  1830.  He  came  from  And.  Theo. 
Sem.  to  Royalton,  and  returned  there  to  finish  his  year.  He  is 
still  living,  and  writes  how  much  he  enjoyed  his  short  stay  in 
the  academy,  and  recalls  that,  at  the  end  of  the  term,  he  was 
presented  with  **The  Poets  and  Poetry  of  America,''  in  which 
were  the  names  of  some  of  the  students,  D.  6.  Wild,  6.  Gibson, 
E.  Maxham,  and  Albert  Downer.  He  says  the  attendance  was 
not  large  during  his  short  term  of  service.  He  taught  in  Castle- 
ton  Seminary,  where  he  had  prepared  for  college.  He  has  served 
as  pastor  in  several  states,  was  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  Eng- 
lish Literature  and  of  Intellectual  Philosophy  at  Middlebury, 
1859-61 ;  President  of  Maryville  College,  1889-1901,  and  is  Pro- 
fessor Emeritus  in  the  same  college.  He  received  the  degree  of 
D.  D.  from  Hamilton  College,  1870,  and  LL.  D.  from  Middlebury, 
1890.     His  address  is  17  Washington  Place,  Bloomfield,  N.  J. 

The  catalogue  of  Royalton  Academy  for  1852-53  shows  that 
C.  6.  Burnham,  A.  M.,  was  Principal,  S.  0.  Bumham,  Assistant, 
Miss  A.  Tenney,  Teacher  of  French  and  Drawing  in  the  winter 
term,  and  Miss  A.  H.  Burnham,  Preceptress  and  Teacher  of 
French  and  Drawing,  spring  and  summer  terms.  Dr.  C.  B. 
Drake  was  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  in  a  short  ad- 
dress to  the  public  at  the  end  of  the  catalogue  he  says,  **They 
are  determined  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  make  the  Institution 
one  of  the  best  in  Vermont,"  that  they  find  it  necessary  to  pro- 
vide a  new  building,  and  hope  to  have  it  ready  in  the  spring. 
This  hope  was  not  realized  so  early. 

Mr.  Charles  Guilford  Burnham  closed  his  work  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1853.  He  was  not  a  young  man,  having  been  born  in 
1803.  Teaching  was  his  profession.  He  died  June  26,  1866,  in 
Montgomery,  Ala. 

The  academy  was  at  high  tide  during  the  two  years  and 
one  quarter,  when  Edward  Payson  Stone  had  charge  of  it.  Fol- 
lowing Mr.  Bumham,  he  enlarged  the  corps  of  instructors  to 
nine,  one  of  them  being  J.  E.  Weeks,  A.  B.,  teacher  of  mathe- 
matics and  natural  science,  and  one,  Mons.  Benjamin  Ethier, 
teacher  of  French;  others  were  **Prof."  T.  H.  Atwood,  teacher 
of  vocal  music,  Miss  Ellen  M.  Baxter,  teacher  of  instrumental 
music,  Mr.  W.  W.  Culver,  teacher  of  drawing  and  painting,  Mr. 
S.  L.  Lyman,  teacher  of  penmanship,  Miss  Martha  E.  Stone  and 
Mr,   W.  R.   Shipman,  assistant  pupils.     There  were  sixty-five 


328  History  of  Boyai/ton,  Vebmomt 

males  and  seventy  females  enrolled  as  students.  The  price  of 
tuition  had  been  raised.  The  course  of  study  included  Latin, 
Greek,  French,  German,  Logic,  Trigonometry,  Mental  and  Moral 
Science,  Astronomy,  Chemisti^,  Botany,  Geology,  Zoology,  and 
various  other  subjects.  Dr.  Drake  in  the  catalogue  says  of  Prin. 
Stone,  ''He  has  happily  inspired  the  scholars  with  the  feeling 
that  study  was  their  business  and  good  behavior  their  choice  and 
pleasure.  Street  hootings  and  night  dissipations  have  not  dis- 
turbed the  community,"  from  which  one  may  infer,  that  such 
a  commendable  state  of  sobriety  on  the  part  of  the  students  was 
rare  enough  to  be  noteworthy. 

One  principal,  writing  of  a  period  not  far  removed  from 
this  time,  recalled  that,  at  the  close  of  one  term,  he  asked  the 
pupils  to  meet  at  the  academy.  They  supposed  they  were  to 
have  the  usual  morning  devotions,  and  some  of  the  boys,  just 
for  fun,  thought  they  could  add  interest  to  the  occasion  by  put- 
ting a  hen  into  the  drawer  where  he  kept  the  Bible.  He  dis- 
covered the  feathers,  and  to  the  disappointment  of  not  a  few, 
the  Bible  reading  was  omitted,  and  there  was  no  sudden  ascen- 
sion of  a  scared  hen. 

The  health  of  Mr.  Stone  became  impaired  through  an  attack 
of  typhoid  fever,  and  he  went  to  North  Carolina  to  recuperate, 
where  he  taught  for  a  time,  and  then  studied  for  the  ministry. 
He  was  chaplain  of  the  6th  Regt.,  Vt.  Vols.,  1861-63.  He  served 
as  agent  for  the  A.  H.  M.  S.  at  Boston,  1865-69,  was  later  ap- 
pointed General  Missionary  for  the  Society,  residing  at  Lapeer, 
Mich.  He  has  buried  two  wives,  and  is  now  living  with  a  sister 
in  Rutland.  He  has  published  a  number  of  sermons  and  essays. 
Writing  especially  of  Royalton  Academy,  he  saj^,  **When  I  was 
at  Royalton,  most  of  the  students  came  from  country  homes,  near 
or  distant,  at  a  cost  of  severe  labor  and  economy  for  themselves 
and  their  parents,  and  brothers  and  sisters.  Their  time  at  the 
academy  was  precious,  and  their  ideal  of  education  was  high. 
In  physical  health,  strength,  and  enjoyment  they  certainly 
equaled  the  schools  of  to-day,  but  no  one  talked  of  them  as  a  col- 
lection of  fine  animals,  a  few  known  by  their  muscle,  and  all 
by  their  yell.  Some  of  them  became  famous  teachers  in  other 
schools  and  colleges.  On  a  visit  to  Vermont  I  attended  a  State 
Convention  of  representatives  of  the  churches  of  a  certain  de- 
nomination, and  the  presiding  officer,  with  the  clerk  and  other 
ministers  prominent  in  the  meeting,  came  to  me,  saying  that 
they  were  my  students  at  Royalton,  and  then  told  of  several  of 
their  schoolmates  who  were  noted  ministers  of  various  denomina- 
tions, and  of  many  eminent  in  other  callings." 

Two  other  assistants  of  Prin.  Stone  not  before  mentioned 
were  Martin  Luther  Mead,  A.  B.,  later  a  physician  and  member 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  329 

of  Phi  Beta  Kappa,  and  Alonzo  Taylor  Deming,  A.  B.,  who 
studied  for  the  ministry.  He  may  have  served  as  principal  for 
a  short  time  after  Mr.  Stone  left.  He  married  Betsey  Ann 
Tucker  in  1856,  by  whom  he  had  several  children.  He  died  in 
Glyndon,  Minn.,  Aug.  17,  1872. 

Plans  for  a  new  academy  had  been  going  on,  and  the  build- 
ing committee  had  been  instructed  to  have  the  building  ready 
for  occupancy  before  the  middle  of  July,  1854.  Subscriptions 
had  been  received  amounting  to  $815.52.  These  ranged  all  the 
way  from  $200,  given  by  Chester  Baxter,  to  $2.  William  Skin- 
ner gave  $100,  Daniel  Rix,  M.  E.  Reynolds,  R.  W.  Francis,  and 
E.  B.  Chase  each  gave  $50.  The  cost  of  a  building  spot  was 
$500.  The  Methodist  meeting-house  had  been  purchased  and 
repaired,  and  is  the  present  academy,  standing  in  the  same  place. 
For  a  while  after  the  completion  of  repairs,  the  school  was  so 
large  that  both  the  old  and  the  new  building  were  used  for 
recitations.  A  creditable  library  had  been  built  up,  and  today 
there  are  books  in  it  donated  by  Zebulon  Lyon  and  Stafford 
Smith,  trustees  of  the  institution.  The  best  men  and  women  of 
the  community  were  enthusiastic  in  their  support  of  the  school. 

The  first  quarter  in  1856  was  taught  by  Ezra  Hoyt  Bying- 
ton,  a  graduate  with  A.  M.  degree  from  the  U.  V.  M.  in  1852. 
He  began  preaching  in  1859.  He  was  librarian  for  the  N.  E. 
Hist.-Gten.  Soc.  in  1891,  and  has  published  several  works  dealing 
with  religious  subjects. 

Edward  Conant  next  took  charge  of  the  academy.  He  bore 
no  college  degree.  It  is  not  the  degree,  however,  that  counts, 
but  the  man,  and  Mr.  Conant  was  every  inch  a  man.  He  came 
of  good  parentage,  the  son  of  Seth  and  Melvina  (Perkins)  Con- 
ant, and  was  bom  in  Pomfret,  May  10,  1829.  He  had  two  years 
in  Dartmouth,  then  in  the  fall  of  1854  became  principal  of  Wood- 
stock, Conn.,  Academy.  He  came  to  Royalton  in  the  summer 
of  1856.  He  found  the  school  in  a  prosperous  condition.  He 
specialized  in  the  direction  of  normal  methods,  and  issued  his 
catalogue  under  the  name  of  the  ** Normal  Institute.''  He  be- 
lieved that  there  was  a  loud  call  for  a  better  preparation  for 
teaching,  that  the  rural  schools  required  attention,  as  well  as 
the  demands  of  the  colleges  in  fitting  students  for  their  work. 
It  is  noticeable  that  not  one  of  his  faculty  bore  a  degree,  except 
Dr.  Samuel  Danforth,  who  was  employed  as  a  lecturer.  Mr. 
Conant  says  in  his  catalogue  of  1857,  in  speaking  of  the  Institute, 
**It  loves  to  mark  in  its  pupils,  not  the  passage  through  many 
books,  but  the  growing  power  of  thought,  and  therefore  it  adopts 
for  its  motto,  *make  haste  slowly.'  "  The  summary  of  students 
shows  that  there  were  sixty-four  males  and  sixty-eight  females. 
There  were  students  from  twenty-one  towns  and  four  states. 


330  History  of  Botalton,  Vebmont 

Mr.  Conant  was  an  innovator,  and  innovatora  do  not  always 
find  strong  enough  support  to  carry  out  their  ideas.  He  woiUd 
have  liked  to  establish  a  normal  school,  it  is  said,  in  place  of  the 
old  academy,  but  was  unable  to  realize  his  purpose.  He  con- 
tinued his  work  successfully  until  1859,  when  he  went  to  the 
Burlington  High  School,  and  in  1861  to  the  Orange  C!oanty 
Grammar  School  at  Randolph.  His  labor  and  success  in  build- 
ing up  a  normal  school  there  are  too  well  known  to  the  people 
of  Vermont  and  to  the  educators  of  the  country,  to  need  farther 
mention.  He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  from  Mid- 
dlebur}'  in  1866.  He  was  State  Superintendent,  1874-81,  when 
he  became  principal  of  the  Normal  at  Johnson,  returning  to  the 
Normal  at  Randolph  in  1884,  which  position  he  held  until  his 
sudden  death,  Jan.  5,  1903. 

He  had  held  various  honorary  positions  in  the  educational 
organizations  of  the  country,  and  was  the  author  of  several  edu- 
cational works.  About  a  year  before  his  death  the  alumni  of 
the  Randolph  Normal  showed  their  love  for  him  and  appreciation 
of  his  labors  as  an  instructor,  by  presenting  him  with  a  purse 
containing  several  hundred  dollars. 

He  married.  May  10,  1858,  Miss  Cynthia  Taggart,  one  of  his 
assistants  in  the  academy  at  Royalton.  He  had  four  children, 
Frank  Herbert,  Seth  Edward,  Nell  Florence,  and  Grace  Lucia. 
Mrs.  Conant  survived  her  husband  but  a  few  years.  The  two 
daughters  live  in  the  old  home  at  Randolph,  where  they  have  a 
studio.     Some  of  their  pictures  are  found  in  this  History. 

John  IngersoU  Gilbert  followed  ^Ir.  Conant.  He  had  just 
taken  his  A.  M.  degree  from  the  U.  V.  M.  lie  was  bom  at  Pitts- 
ford,  Oct.  11,  1837.  The  school  was  in  a  flourishing  condition 
during  his  stay  of  two  years.  One  of  his  assistants  was  his  sis- 
ter, now  Mrs.  S.  G.  Thorndike  of  Pittsford.  She  writes  with 
preat  pleasure  of  the  love  and  respect  universally  accorded  her 
brother,  while  he  was  principal  of  the  academy.  After  he  left 
Royalton  he  was  principal  of  the  academy  at  Malone,  N.  Y.  He 
then  studied  law  and  practiced  in  the  same  place.  He  married  in 
1870  Katherine  Pessenden  of  New  York  City.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  legislature  of  New  York.  1876-78.  He  was  recognized 
as  one  of  its  ablest  members,  and  was  made  chairman  of  im- 
portant committees.  His  influence  for  the  right  was  strong.  A 
member  of  the  Assembly  who  had  received  threatening  letters 
if  he  did  not  vote  Yes  on  a  certain  measure,  once  asked  Mr. 
Gilbert's  advice.  His  reply  was.  **If  you  think  it  is  wrong  to 
vote  Yes.  put  down  your  slate  and  pencil  and  vote  No."  When 
the  time  came  for  voting,  the  member  arose  with  flushed  face, 
struck  the  desk  and  said.  **This  is  between  God  and  the  Devil.  I 
vote  No.'*    Mr.  Gilbert  once  said,  *'They  talk  about  temptations 


John    InKcrsoll   Gllhei 


HiSTOBT    OF    EOYALTON,    VERMONT  881 

at  Albany.  I  was  never  tempted  by  any  one.  When  a  man's 
position  is  known  to  be  beyond  the  reach  of  corruption,  there 
are  no  more  temptations  at  Albany,  than  there  are  in  a  Sunday 
school." 

He  held  responsible  positions  on  the  Malone  board  of  edu- 
cation, was  trustee  of  the  Potsdam  Normal  school,  and  president 
of  the  board  of  trustees  for  the  Northern  Institution  for  Deaf 
Mutes. 

A  certain  young  man  met  Mr.  Gilbert  at  a  banquet  in  New 
York  city,  and  said  to  him,  **1  have  always  thought  of  you  as 
embodied  conscience,  and  when  I  have  had  important  questions 
before  me,  I  have  sometimes  asked  myself  whether  or  not  you 
would  approve  my  decisions  and  actions.  I  have  tried  to  do 
what  you  would  consider  right,  and  I  think  I  have  done  it." 
That  young  man  was  Theodore  Roosevelt. 

There  is  not  space  to  speak  at  length  of  his  work  as  state 
senator,  his  successful  advocacy  of  important  measures,  or  of 
his  connection  as  chairman  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
Lake  Mohawk  Conference,  dealing  with  the  subject  of  interna- 
tional arbitration.  He  received  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  from  the 
U.  V.  M.  in  1889.  He  died  at  Malone,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  19,  1904. 
There  survive  him  his  wife  and  daughter,  Lucia  Pessenden  Gil- 
bert, residing  at  Malone. 

The  annual  and  semi-annual  ** exhibitions"  were  a  marked 
feature  of  the  academy  for  many  years.  They  were  more  in  the 
nature  of  commencement  exercises,  having  a  salutatory  and  vale- 
dictory. Two  programs,  at  least,  have  been  preserved,  one  of 
November,  1846,  and  the  other  of  November,  1860.  The  exer- 
cises began  at  seven  oVlock,  and  were  extremely  lengthy,  requir- 
ing, it  would  seem,  three  hours  or  more  to  complete.  A  large 
number  of  vocal  and  instrumental  numbers  were  given.  T.  H. 
Atwood  was  valedictorian  in  1846,  and  L.  P.  Emery  in  1860. 
The  orations  were  of  a  classical  nature,  or  dealt  with  modem 
political  subjects.  The  ** Ladies'  Paper"  gave  the  feminine  por- 
tion of  the  school  an  opportunity  to  air  their  erudition,  or  to 
make  sly  hits  at  the  foibles  of  the  other  sex.  As  a  good  prepara- 
tion for  these  more  pretentious  affairs,  lyceums  were  quite  regu- 
larly held,  even  so  late  as  1890,  and  furnished  a  stimulating 
recreation,  not  only  to  the  students,  but  to  other  members  of  the 
community.  The  old  ** Lyceum,"  an  independent  organization, 
in  1834  had  sold  all  its  apparatus  to  the  academy  for  $24,  and 
dissolved. 

George  Sylvester  Morris,  born  at  Norwich,  Nov.  16,  1840, 
was  the  next  principal,  coming  from  Dartmouth,  where  he  gradu- 
ated in  1861.  He  enlisted  from  Norwich  the  next  year  in  Co.  K, 
16th  Vt.  Vols.    Dr.  Gardner  Cox,  a  student  of  his,  and  in  the 


^''•r^^.:-^.:^  "fwrrT' Grv,;^ 


'^  ■•\A*l 


33S  HiSTCST    OF    BOYALTON,    VSSICOMT 

same  regiment,  thus  writes  of  him:  ^* Morris  was  a  noble  fellow, 
clean-cut.  honorable,  high-minded,  scholarly,  gentlemanly  to  the 
core.  He  was  in  the  army  with  me,  same  regiment.  I  had  at- 
iended  the  academy  only  the  fall  before,  and  so  had  Frank  Bow- 
0  \  qian  of  Barnard.  Morris  was  so  pleased  to  find  his  scholars 
with  hTm.  that  he  proposed  that  we  have  a  Shakespeare  elab, 
and  he  secured  several  copies  of  Hamlet  in  paper  covers.  As  I 
was  orderly  sergeant,  and  had  a  right  to  keep  my  light  burning 
after  the  rest  were  all  out,  we  used  to  meet  at  my  tent,  and  have 
readings.  Bowman,  C\nrus  Aikens,  and  the  Lillie  boys  made  up 
the  club.  We  went  over  many  plays  of  Shakespeare,  bnt  I  re- 
membered Hamlet  much  the  best.  We  felt  we  owed  a  good  deal 
to  Morris." 

After  his  return  from  the  war.  Mr.  ^Morris  taught  Oreek  and 
mathematics  one  year  at  Dartmouth,  then  entered  Union  Theo. 
Sem.  He  afteni-ards  spent  several  years  in  Europe.  In  1870 
he  was  made  Professor  of  ^lodem  Languages  in  the  University 
of  Michigan,  holding  the  same  position  nine  years.  He  lectured 
on  Philosophy  at  Johns  Hopkins  University,  187S-84.  He  was 
called  to  the  chair  of  Ethics,  History  of  Philosophy  and  Logic 
in  the  University  of  Michigan,  in  1881,  and  placed  at  the  head 
of  the  Department  of  Philosophy  in  1883,  which  position  he  held 
until  his  death.  Mar.  23,  1889.  His  writings  were  numerous 
and  profound,  and  attracted  wide  attention.  In  1876  he  mar- 
ried Victoria  Celle  of  New  York,  by  whom  he  had  two  children. 

Charles  Xoyes  Chase,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  in  1862, 
came  the  same  year  to  take  charge  of  the  academy.  He  was  then 
twenty-three,  and  had  married  Miss  Mary  M.  Tuttle.  He  was 
born  in  West  Newbury.  Mass.  He  spent  two  years  in  service  as 
principal  of  the  academy,  and  had  a  flourishing  school.  He  says 
of  that  time,  that  those  two  years  *'were  spent  delightfully  in 
the  beautiful  village  of  Royalton.  justly  noted  for  the  refinement 
and  culture  of  its  residents. '*  After  lea\nng  Royalton  Mr.  Chase 
was  city  missionary'  one  year  in  Washington,  D.  C,  then  for 
four  years  in  the  Post  Office  Department. 

On  the  opening  of  Atlanta  University  in  1869,  he  became 
Professor  of  Greek,  which  position  he  held  until  1888.  He  was 
absent  from  the  University  seven  years.  He  was  sent  to  Africa 
by  the  A.  M.  A.  to  inspect  the  missions  there.  He  returned  in 
1895  as  Dean  and  Professor  of  Mathematics,  but  later  became 
Professor  of  Latin.  Prof.  W.  E.  DeBois,  in  an  address  on  the 
growth  and  work  of  Atlanta  University,  uttered  the  following 
eulogy  on  Prof.  Chase:  **We  have  one  of  the  most  successful 
Latin  teachers  in  the  South,  a  man  not  only  learned  in  method, 
but  of  great  and  peculiar  personal  influence."  And  again, 
''There  sounds  within  those  halls  today  the  voice  of  a  white- 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  833 

haired  man,  who,  thirty-five  years  ago,  sacrificed  a  government 
position  and  a  good  salary,  and  brought  his  young  wife  down 
to  live  with  black  people.  Not  all  the  money  that  you  and  yours 
could  give  for  a  hundred  years  would  do  half  as  much  to  con- 
vince dark  and  outcast  millions  of  the  South  that  they  have 
some  friends  in  this  world,  as  the  sacrifice  of  such  lives  as  these 
to  the  cause." 

Mrs.  Chase  died,  and  he  married  for  a  second  wife,  Helen  E. 
Walsh.  He  has  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Edward  Kirkland,  living  at 
Bellows  Falls. 

Erastus  Franklin  BuUard,  the  successor  of  Mr.  Chase,  was 
bom  in  Jay,  N.  Y.,  May  15,  1840.  He  graduated  from  U.  V.  M. 
in  1864,  and  soon  after  assumed  the  principalship  of  the  acad- 
emy, which  he  held  for  two  years.  The  attendance  had  been 
somewhat  affected  by  the  war,  and  the  withdrawal  from  this  and 
neighboring  towns  of  so  many  young  men.  From  Royalton 
Mr.  BuUard  went  to  Keeseville,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  school 
commissioner  for  several  years,  and  superintendent  of  schools 
until  1874.  He  removed  to  Jacksonville,  111.,  in  1875,  to  accept 
the  position  of  President  of  Jacksonville  Female  Academy.  Later 
he  added  to  it  a  Conservatory  of  Music,  and  School  of  Art.  He 
resigned  in  1901  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  died  in  October 
of  that  year.  His  widow  resides  at  3  Duncan  Place,  Jackson- 
ville. 

E.  C.  Starr  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  in  1866.  He  was  prin- 
cipal of  the  academy  1866-67.  He  became  a  Congregational 
minister,  and  has  been  preaching  in  Cornwall,  Conn.,  for  sev- 
eral years. 

Robert  E.  DeForest,  another  graduate  of  Yale,  who  took  his 
A.  B.  degree  in  1867,  came  to  Royalton  and  had  charge  of  the 
academy,  1867-68.  For  further  particulars,  see  the  sketch  of 
the  Marcy  family. 

Graduates  fresh  from  college  continued  to  try  their  wings 
for  a  year  in  the  academy.  Albert  Darwin  Whitney  was  the  next 
one  to  preside  over  the  school.  He  was  bom  in  Moira,  N.  Y., 
Dec.  12,  1841,  and  graduated  from  Middlebury  in  1868.  He  left 
Royalton  in  1869.  He  has  taught  in  various  places  in  Rhode 
Island,  Iowa,  Vermont,  and  New  York.  He  married  in  1869, 
and  has  three  children.     His  address  is  Wappingers  Falls,  N.  Y. 

Another  graduate  of  Middlebury  followed  Mr.  Whitney, 
Patrick  Francis  Burke,  who  remained  one  year.  He  taught  in 
several  places  until  1886,  when  he  was  appointed  Superintendent 
and  Special  Disbursing  Agent  of  the  U.  S.  Indian  Industrial 
School,  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico,  remaining  there  three  years. 
He  was  then  appointed  superintendent  of  public  schools  and  of 
the  academy  at  Port  Henry,  N.  Y.  He  married  in  1880,  and  has 
two  children. 


334  TbsTOBY  OF  BoYALTON,  Vebmont 

Mr.  Burke  was  succeeded  by  Eugene  Franklin  Wright,  s 
graduate  of  Middlebury  in  1871,  the  year  in  which  he  came  to 
Royalton.  He  was  then  twenty-nine.  He  had  served  in  the 
Civil  War  as  a  private  in  Co.  K,  2nd  Begt.,  Vt.  Vols.,  from  1861 
to  1864.  He  was  one  of  the  foremost  in  the  organization  of  the 
Orville  Bixby  Post  at  So.  Royalton.  He  studied  for  the  ministry 
and  preached  for  a  short  time,  then  entered  Chicago  Theo.  Sem. 
in  1876.  He  preached  in  various  places  in  Illinois  prior  to  1900, 
when  he  became  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  ''Lexington  Unit." 
He  married  (1)  Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Marsh,  and  (2)  Susan  S.  Stone. 
He  has  three  children. 

The  only  facts  at  hand  of  the  next  incumbent,  Joseph  Paul 
Otis,  are  that  he  graduated  from  Dartmouth  in  1872,  that  his 
native  town  was  Sheffield,  that  he  became  a  lawyer  and  practiced 
at  West  Burke. 

Some  important  events  connected  with  the  history  of  the 
academy  took  place  between  1855  and  1875.  The  land  on  which 
the  M.  E.  church  stood  was  not  deeded  at  the  time  the  building 
was  purchased,  but  was  conveyed  to  the  Corporation  by  William 
Skinner  in  1857.  The  right  which  the  Corporation  had  in  the 
town  house  was  sold  to  the  town  June  6,  1866.  The  building 
was  in  need  of  repairs  in  1867,  and  the  friends  of  the  institution 
came  to  its  aid.  The  trustees  passed  the  following  resolution, 
Jan.  13,  1868:  **  Resolved  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Royalton 
Academy  that  the  thanks  of  Royalton  Academy  are  hereby  ex- 
tended to  those  who  have  so  kindly  aided  the  institution  in  its 
need,  and  especially  to  Hon.  Frederick  Billings  for  his  liberal 
and  generous  donation  for  the  purpose  of  repairing  the  buildings 
of  the  institution."  Mr.  Billings  had  donated  $200  to  the  in- 
stitution where  he  had  received  a  part  of  his  education,  and  in 
which  he  had  a  lively  interest.  The  academy  received  a  most 
gratifying  bequest  in  1872  from  Mrs.  Eliza  (Skinner)  Denison. 
She  left  by  will  $500  to  be  invested  and  the  income  appropriated 
to  the  use  of  the  academy.  This  act  was  to  '*  express  her  appre- 
ciation of  the  work  of  the  institution,  in  which  her  sons  had  pre- 
pared for  college,  and  her  daughters  had  been  trained.** 

For  a  few  months  in  1874  Hiram  Beach  Sibley  was  employed 
as  principal  of  the  academy.  He  was  a  graduate  of  U.  V.  M., 
and  returned  there  to  study  medicine.  He  took  his  M.  D.  de- 
gree in  1875.    He  died  Sep.  20,  1876,  at  Colchester. 

The  school  was  no  longer  in  the  prime  condition  in  which 
it  was  under  the  group  of  principals  of  whom  Mr.  Conant  was 
the  center,  but  it  still  had  vitality  and  a  fair  attendance. 

Frederick  Rustedt  took  his  A.  B.  degree  from  the  U.  V.  M. 
in  1874,  and  began  teaching  in  the  academy  in  the  fall  of  that 
year.    He  was  bom  in  England,  Jan.  24,  1850.    He  studied  law 


History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont  886 

and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1878.  He  went  to  Pueblo,  Col., 
in  1882.  He  was  brother  to  Henry  B.,  who  was  State's  Attorney, 
1880-82. 

During  the  school  year  1876-77,  for  the  second  time,  a  man 
was  employed  who  was  not  a  college  graduate,  Sidney  Munson 
Harris.  He  had  had,  however,  about  four  years  of  college  train- 
ing in  Middlebury.  He  graduated  from  the  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity in  1880.  He  became  a  preacher,  but  has  spent  most  of 
his  life  in  farming  in  Vergennes.  He  says  of  the  school  at  the 
time  he  was  principal,  that  it  was  at  a  very  low  ebb,  and  there 
was  no  regular  course  of  study.  But  one  student  was  taking 
Latin  and  Greek.  Though  the  numbers  were  few,  mischief  was 
not  lacking.  Mr.  Harris  had  a  habit  of  having  his  hands  in  his 
overcoat  pockets  when  on  the  street.  One  morning  when  he  set 
out  for  school,  he  found  his  pockets  sewed  up,  and  looking  up 
quickly  to  some  of  the  windows,  he  saw  several  heads  dodging 
back  out  of  sight. 

Dr.  Robert  Hamilton  Paddock  was  bom  Feb.  18,  1814,  the 
son  of  John  and  Lucy  (Vaughan)  Paddock  of  Pomfret.  He 
graduated  from  Yale  with  B.  A.  degree  in  1837.  He  took  an 
M.  D.  degree  in  1843  from  Castleton  Medical  College,  and  from 
Berks.  Med.  Inst,  in  1844,  where  he  became  Professor  of  Anat- 
omy and  Physiology,  and  later.  Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Chem- 
istry at  Starling  Medical  College.  He  married  and  had  one  or 
more  children.  He  was  sixty-three  years  old  when  he  came  to 
take  charge  of  Royalton  Academy  in  1877,  where  he  remained 
one  year.    He  lived  for  a  time  in  Bethel. 

The  successor  of  Dr.  Paddock  was  M.  N.  Root,  who  remained 
in  charge  of  the  academy  but  one  year.  No  information  has 
been  obtained  regarding  him,  except  that  he  became  a  minister, 
and  was  highly  respected.  Rev.  Levi  Wild  was  at  this  time  fit- 
ting for  college  at  the  academy,  and  recalls  some  characteristics 
of  Mr.  Root.  He  was  very  precise,  and  being  invited  at  one 
time  to  tea. at  five  o'clock,  and  chancing  to  reach  the  house  ahead 
of  time,  he  remained  leaning  against  the  dooryard  fence  until 
the  exact  minute. 

The  academy  had  a  very  small  patronage  when  William  B. 
Herrick  assumed  the  management  of  it  in  1879.  There  were 
then  but  ten  students.  There  was  no  regular  course  of  study, 
and  no  diplomas  were  granted  during  the  three  years  that  he 
was  principal.  The  school  increased  in  numbers,  so  that  at  the 
end  of  his  service  there  were  between  thirty  and  forty  students. 
Mr.  Herrick  was  bom  in  Hartland,  Conn.,  Apr.  5,  1855 ;  gradu- 
ated from  Wesleyan  University,  Middletown,  Conn.,  in  1879; 
taught  two  years  as  principal  of  the  Union  Free  School  at  Rock- 
ville  Center,  L.  I.    He  was  then  given  a  position  in  Fisk  Teach- 


336  HiSTOBY    OP    BOYALTON,    YbMONT 

ers'  Agency  as  manager  of  the  home  oflSce  in  Boston,  in  which 
oflSce  he  has  given  general  satisfaction  to  all  parties,  and  has 
helped  to  improve  the  condition  of  rural  schools  by  the  selection 
of  competent  teachers. 

Now  there  was  to  be  an  innovation  in  the  employment  of 
principals.  Heretofore  the  trustees  had  depended  almost  en- 
tirely upon  young  men  just  graduated  from  college.  Women 
had  been  considered  sufficiently  cultured  and  capable  to  be  as- 
sistants, and  teachers  in  country  schools,  but  a  man  was  thought 
to  be  a  necessity  for  the  governing  and  executive  power  of  fitting 
schools.  It  was  the  good  fortune  of  the  competent.  refined«  and 
scholarly  ^Irs.  Ellen  Francis  (Lee),  wife  of  David  Clark  Steams, 
t'*  prove  that  women,  too.  could  successfully  conduct  a  secondary 
school.  Mrs.  Steams  did  not  seek  the  position,  but  she  main- 
tained the  attendance  of  the  years  just  preceding,  and  added 
somewhat  to  it.  There  was  stiU  no  course  of  study  and  no 
graduations.  A  further  account  of  Mrs.  Steams  will  be  found 
later  on.  as  she  has  the  distinction,  also,  of  being  the  first  prin- 
cipal to  serve  a  second  time,  after  leaving  the  academy.  Her 
term  of  service  was  from  1882  to  1884. 

The  next  incumbent  was  Mrs.  Mary  Evelyn  (Wood)  Love- 
joy,  widow  of  Daniel  Webster  Lovejoy,  M.  D..  of  So.  Boyalton. 
ZT  Mrs.  Lovejoy  had  been  a  student  at  the  academy  in  1864.  gradu- 
rr  ated  from  both  courses  in  the  Randolph  Normal  in  1867-68.  and 
--  had  just  spent  one  year  in  Wellesley  CoUege.    She  found  the 
;'     school  in  good  condition.  She  introduced  again  a  course  of  study. 
■  which  provided  for  a  shorter  Teachers'  Course,  as  well  as  the 
regular  academic  courses.    Her  assistants  during  the  two  years 
of  her  principalship,  1884-86,  were  Mrs.  Mareia  Terry  and  Mrs. 
'-  Minnie  House,  both  normal  ^aduates,  and  graduates  of  Mont- 
pelier  Sem.,  and  ^liss  Mary  Dewey,  a  normal  graduate,  and  Miss 
Inez  Culver.     The  school  increased  in  numbers,  and  at  the  end 
.of  the  two  years  three  students  graduated  from  the  Teachers' 
Course,  Miss  Celia  Marsh  of  Sharon,  Miss  Jessie  Mudgett  of 
Tunbridge,  and  Miss  Nellie  Foster  of  So.  Royalton,  all  of  whom 
became  successful  teachers.     In  1886  Mrs.  Lovejoy  served  the 
town  as  superintendent  of  schools.     Her  further  record  will  be 
given  later,  as  she.  also,  was  elected  principal  a  second  time. 

The  work  of  the  academj'  was  ably  continued  by  Prank  J. 
Metcalf,  a  graduate  of  Boston  University,  with  an  A.  B.  degree 
in  1886.  He  was  bom  Apr.  4,  1865,  in  Ashland,  Mass.,  the  son 
of  John  C.  and  Sarah  A.  (Metcalf)  Metcalf.  He  adopted  the 
course  of  study  already  in  use.  During  his  year  he  secured,  by 
solicitation,  sufficient  funds  to  purchase  a  fine  set  of  encyclo- 
pedias for  the  school.  After  leaving  Royalton  he  taught  two 
years  in  Granville,  Texas,  one  in  Ogden,  Utah,  and  two  in  the 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  837 

academy  at  Leicester,  Mass.  He  went  to  Washington,  D.  C,  in 
1893,  and  has  ever  since  been  employed  in  the  Adjutant  Gen- 
eral's OflSce.  He  was  in  the  old  Ford  Theatre  not  far  from  the 
place  where  Lincoln  sat  when  he  was  assassinated,  when  the  floors 
collapsed,  June,  1893,  and  was  one  of  the  100  clerks  injured. 
He  published  in  1891  a  Biographical  Record  of  the  High  School 
in  Ashland,  Mass.  He  married  Aug.  7,  1895,  Virginia  E.  Cla- 
baugh. 

Nothing  has  been  learned  regarding  the  next  principal,  J.  W. 
Spencer,  except  that  he  was  the  son  of  Presiding  Elder  Spencer, 
a  Methodist  minister,  and  that  he  is  not  living.  He  remained 
only  one  year,  1887-88. 

In  1888  Miss  Celia  Sherman  was  engaged  to  take  charge  of 
the  academy,  which  was  unusually  fortunate  in  retaining  her 
services  for  five  years.  She  was  a  constant  student  as  well  as 
teacher,  and  in  1894  secured  a  Ph.  D.  degree  from  Plattsburg 
College,  Mo.,  having  done  the  necessary  work  by  correspondence. 
No  course  of  study  was  followed  during  her  term  of  service,  and 
there  were  no  graduations.  Miss  Sherman  is  now  in  Manchester, 
N.  H.,  engaged  in  giving  private  instruction  in  music,  and  in 
languages,  in  which  she  is  especially  proficient. 

The  academy  was  taught  in  1893-95  by  Herbert  Sedgewick 
Martyn,  born  Sep.  21,  1871,  Hartford,  Conn.,  son  of  Rev.  San- 
ford  S.  and  Frances  (Cummings)  Martyn.  He  graduated  from 
Dartmouth  in  1893,  and  from  Baltimore  Medical  College,  1898. 
He  had  a  course  of  study,  but  no  class  graduated.  He  has  been 
practicing  medicine  in  Cuttingsville  about  ten  years.  He  was 
married  in  1906  to  Mary  A.  Parker  of  Rutland,  and  has  one  son. 
He  has  acted  as  superintendent  of  schools  and  is  now  school  di- 
rector. 

Charles  L.  Curtis  was  the  next  incumbent,  a  graduate  of 
Colby  University.  He  did  post-graduate  work  at  Bowdoin  one 
year,  was  in  And.  Theo.  Sem.  and  Harvard  University  four  years. 
He  was  finely  prepared  for  his  work,  and  teaching  with  him  was 
a  profession.  He  *  introduced  full  courses  of  study,  English, 
Classical,  and  College  Preparatory.  Mrs.  Steams  was  secured 
as  assistant,  and  the  school  was  again  in  a  thriving  condition, 
with  full  attendance.  Mr.  Curtis  followed  the  example  of  some 
of  his  predecessors,  and  married  a  Royalton  girl,  Miss  Annie 
Morse,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Morse.  He  left  Royalton  in  1897 
after  two  years  of  service,  and  became  the  principal  of  the  high 
school  in  Lancaster,  N.  H.,  and  superintendent  of  schools  there, 
remaining  two  years,  when  he  went  to  Newport,  N.  H.,  as  super- 
vising principal  of  the  schools  there,  including  Richards  High 
School.  He  was  principal  of  the  high  school  in  Orange,  Mass., 
1901-4,  and  then  was  called  to  a  similar  position  in  Andover, 

22 


338  HiBTOBY    OF    BOYALTON,    VeBMONT 

Mass.  He  was  manager  of  Winnepesaakee  Summer  School  one 
year.  He  left  Andover  in  1910  to  assume  the  direction  of  schools 
in  Mattapan,  Mass. 

Mrs.  Steams,  who  was  principal,  1882-84,  was  elected  town 
superintendent  in  1889,  and  continued  to  serve  in  this  capacity 
with  the  exception  of  one  year,  until  1900.  She  was  president 
of  Boyalton  Woman's  Club  three  years.  She  was  again  called 
to  take  charge  of  the  academy  after  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Curtis, 
and  presided  with  her  usual  ability  and  success.  She  paid  the 
tuition  of  her  students  taking  Qreek  under  Prin.  Graves  of  South 
Royalton,  who  also  took  her  classes  in  physics.  Her  interest  in 
the  institution  has  been  and  is  of  the  liveliest  kind.  Her  present 
address  is  W.  Concord,  N.  H. 

Miss  Mary  H.  Dow,  a  graduate  of  a  Maine  college,  suc- 
ceeded Mrs.  Steams  in  1898  and  taught  one  year.  Inquiries 
for  further  data  have  not  been  answered.  She  is  said  to  have 
taken  her  degree  from  Colby  College. 

Miss  Fanny  Eastman  became  the  principal  of  the  academy 
in  1899,  holding  the  position  for  five  years.  Miss  Eastman  was 
bom  in  Bamet,  Feb.  26,  1872,  fitted  for  college  at  Bradford 
academy,  and  graduated  from  the  U.  V.  M.  in  1896  with  the 
degree  of  A.  B.  She  followed  the  courses  of  study  already  in  use 
in  the  academy,  and  sent  out  six  graduates  during  her  connec- 
tion with  the  school,  five  of  whom  became  teachers.  She  was 
superintendent  of  schools  three  years,  and  knowing  the  lack  of 
well-prepared  teachers  for  the  rural  schools,  she  specialized  along 
that  line  in  her  instruction  of  academy  students.  She  continues 
to  teach,  and  was  for  a  time  employed  in  Thetford  Academy  as 
teacher  of  French  and  English.  She  was  eminently  successful 
in  her  work,  but  already  the  establishment  of  good  high  schools 
in  Bethel  and  South  Royalton  had  begun  to  lessen  the  patronage 
of  the  academy. 

The  trustees  of  the  academy  deemed  it  best  in  1896  to  dele- 
gate temporarily  the  power  of  hiring  teachers  to  the  town  board 
of  directors,  who  established  a  town  high  school  in  connection 
with  the  academy,  which  was  supported  in  part  by  academy 
funds,  and  in  part  by  school  taxation.  The  selection  of  teach- 
ers now  rested  with  the  school  directors  of  the  town. 

^liss  Evelyn  Waterbury,  the  next  principal  of  the  academy, 
was  born  in  Sauprerties,  X.  Y.,  July  17,  1882.  She  graduated 
from  the  high  school  there  in  1900.  and  from  Syracuse  Univer- 
sity with  the  degree  of  Ph.  B.  in  1904.  She  taught  the  academy 
one  year,  1904-05.  The  attendance  was  small,  and  no  assistants 
were  employed.  She  has  since  taught  Latin  and  German  in  Free- 
port,  L.  I.,  High  School.  Miss  Waterbury  was  well  prepared 
for  her  work,  and  was  much  liked  by  her  students. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  839 

Miss  Waterbury  was  succeeded  by  Julius  V.  Sturtevant,  who 
came  from  the  South  Royalton  schools,  and  whose  record  will  be 
found  in  connection  with  them.  He  remained  in  the  academy 
one  year,  1905-06. 

In  1906  Mrs.  Lovejoy,  who  had  been  principal  of  the  acad- 
emy twenty  years  before,  again  accepted  the  same  position.  She 
had  been  selected  to  write  the  History  of  Royalton,  and  it  was 
understood  that  all  available  time  would  be  devoted  to  that  pur- 
pose. On  leaving  the  academy  in  1886  she  went  to  South  Da- 
kota, was  principal  of  the  Aberdeen  high  school  1886-91,  super- 
intendent of  Aberdeen  city  schools  1891-94,  graduated  from  the 
University  of  Chicago  with  A.  B.  degree  and  Phi  Beta  Kappa 
rank  in  1897,  critic  teacher  in  the  St.  Cloud,  Minn.,  Normal  1897- 
99,  in  the  University  of  Berlin,  the  winter  of  1899-1900,  teacher 
in  the  grammar  and  high  schools  of  Helena,  Montana,  1902-06. 
She  has  been  a  contributor  to  numerous  educational  and  other 
periodicals,  and  has  published  one  novel,  ''Dandelion." 

There  was  a  small  increase  in  membership  during  her  two 
years  of  service  in  the  academy.  A  new  course  of  study  was  in- 
troduced in  1906  suited  to  local  conditions,  but  the  next  year  the 
school  was  required  to  conform  to  the  state  course  of  study,  and 
as  but  one  assistant  was  employed,  the  academy  was  limited  to 
a  three  years'  course.  Miss  Elizabeth  Moore,  a  normal  gradu- 
ate from  Maine,  and  Miss  Edith  M.  Qrant,  a  Randolph  Normal 
graduate,  were  capable  assistants  during  the  two  years.  In  1907 
one  graduate  from  the  old  course  was  sent  out.  Miss  Jessie  Rus- 
sell. In  1908  it  was  planned  to  have  a  modest  re-union  of  such 
former  students  as  could  conveniently  be  present.  There  were 
three  graduates,  Miss  Katharine  Elizabeth  Dewey,  Miss  Mary 
Etta  Whitney,  and  Frank  George  Spaulding.  Each  had  a  part 
on  the  program.  Rev.  DeForest  SaEford,  a  native  of  the  town, 
was  present  and  gave  an  excellent  address,  and  Judge  William 
H.  Bliss,  also  a  native  and  former  student  of  the  academy,  read 
a  fine  original  poem.  The  exercises  were  held  in  the  Congrega- 
tional church,  which  was  filled  with  friends  and  old-time  stu- 
dents. After  the  exercises  the  company  repaired  to  the  academy, 
where  responses  to  toasts  were  given  by  Hon.  Nelson  L.  Boyden 
of  Randolph  Center,  a  former  student  and  assistant  teacher,  Mr. 
Daniel  H.  Woodward  of  Randolph,  and  Mr.  Martin  S.  Adams 
of  South  Royalton,  both  former  students,  and  Mrs.  Steams,  a 
former  principal.  After  this  part  of  the  program  was  over,  re- 
freshments were  served,  which  had  been  furnished  by  ladies  of 
the  village  and  vicinity.  This  ended  what,  possibly,  is  the  last 
graduation  from  a  full  course  of  the  old  academy,  unless  friends 
rally  to  its  support. 


840  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

One  of  the  graduates,  Miss  Dewey,  whose  entire  preparation 
had  been  in  the  academy,  entered  the  University  of  Vermont  in 
the  fall  of  1909,  by  examination,  and  won  the  prize  for  the  best 
Latin  paper.  She  continues  to  stand  close  to,  if  not  quite  at, 
the  head  of  her  classes.  Another  academy  student  now  in  the 
U.  V.  M.  is  Miss  Mary  Winslow,  who  had  three  years  at  the  acad- 
emy, and  took  her  fourth  year  in  the  Randolph  high  school.  She, 
also,  is  maintaining  a  high  standing  in  college.  Recent  legis- 
lation has  been  rather  inimical  to  the  continued  existence  of  small 
academies  in  the  state,  but  there  yet  seems  to  be  room  for  institu- 
tions which  are  not  bound  by  rigid  courses  of  study,  but  which 
can  adjust  their  courses  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  communities 
where  they  are  located. 

Mrs.  Lovejoy  was  followed  by  Miss  Bessie  Lewis  of  Ran- 
dolph. She  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  Randolph  and 
from  the  U.  V.  M.  She  taught  the  year  before  coming  to  Roy- 
alton.  Her  work  was  very  acceptable,  and  the  school  made  good 
progress,  though  the  attendance  of  those  doing  academic  work 
was  small  and  no  graduates  were  sent  out.  Miss  Lewis  resigned 
her  position  in  November,  1909,  and  her  place  was  temporarily 
filled  by  Mrs.  Charles  Seymour,  for  many  years  assistant  in  the 
South  Royalton  high  school.  The  spring  term  of  this  school  year 
was  taught  by  Miss  Margaret  Little,  a  graduate  of  Smith  Col- 
lege in  1908.  The  present  school  year  Miss  Marion  V.  Morse,  a 
graduate  of  Mt.  Holyoke  in  1909,  has  been  employed  as  principal. 
She  is  having  marked  success.  Miss  Cecilia  M.  Wynne  has  been 
the  assistant  for  two  years.  She  is  a  graduate  of  the  S.  Royal- 
ton  high  school.  At  Christmas  time  the  pupils  in  the  eighth  and 
ninth  grades  wrote  on  **The  Adventures  of  Santa  Claus/'  and 
the  two  senior  classes  dramatized  the  same.  This  drama  was 
admirably  written  and  finely  presented  before  a  large  audience. 
Though  the  old  academy  has  had  its  wings  clipped,  it  is  still  able 
to  make  a  good  showing  beside  the  more  modern  institutions  of 
learning  of  the  same  grade. 

Only  a  few  of  the  many  students  who  have  in  part  or  in 
whole  fitted  for  college  in  Royalton  Academy,  and  have  since 
occupied  important  positions  of  trust  and  usefulness,  can  be  no- 
ticed. 

Harvey  Freegrace  Leavitt,  a  Hartford  student,  bom  in  1796, 
belongs  in  the  list.  He  entered  Dartmouth  in  1812,  and  gradu- 
ated from  Yale  in  1816.  He  first  studied  and  practiced  law,  then 
began  preparing  for  the  ministry  in  1828.  In  1861  he  had 
charge  of  a  female  seminary  in  Middlebury.  He  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Vermont  Domestic  Missionary 
Society.  In  1839  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Corporation 
of  Middlebury  College,  from  which  he  received  the  honorary  de- 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  341 

gree  of  A.  M.  in  1857.  Through  his  efforts  provision  was  made 
for  widows  and  orphans  of  deceased  ministers. 

The  life  and  work  of  Prof.  William  R.  Shipman,  a  student 
and  assistant  teacher  at  the  academy,  is  noted  elsewhere,  as  is 
also  the  record  of  Truman  Henry  Safford,  the  famous  mathema- 
tician. Nearer  home  we  may  note  Judge  William  Henry  Bliss, 
late  Judge  of  Probate  at  Middlebury,  and  Nelson  Boyden,  Esq., 
of  Randolph  Center,  student  and  assistant  teacher  in  the  acad- 
emy. 

No  family  can  present  so  remarkable  a  record  of  distin- 
guished persons  fitting  at  the  academy  as  the  Denison  family, 
v^hich  includes  the  names  of  Dudley  C,  Joseph  Adams,  George 
Stanton,  Franklin,  Henry,  Charles,  John  Henry,  and  James, 
whose  distinguished  careers  are  chronicled  in  the  genealogy  of 
the  Denison  family. 

The  brilliant  record  of  Salmon  P.  Chase  as  senator.  Secre- 
tary of  the  U.  S.  Treasury,  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States 
is  too  well  known  to  need  repeating.  In  a  biography  of  him 
written  by  Robert  B.  Warden,  is  found  a  charming  bit  of  reminis- 
cences of  academy  days,  which  is  quoted  for  the  benefit  of  any 
interested.     The  biography  was  printed  in  1864  at  Cincinnati, 

Ohio. 

"Towards  Spring  it  was  determined  that  I  should  go  to  Royalton 
in  Vermont,  where  my  former  instructor,  Mr.  Sprague  was  preceptor 
of  the  academy. 

It  must  have  been  early  in  1824,  perhaps  in  February  or  March, 
that  I  went  to  Royalton,  and  was  received  in  the  family  of  Dr.  Denison, 
whose  wife  was  the  bishop's  sister  and  our  favorite  aunt.  The  doctor 
occupied  a  very  respectable  and  comfortable  mansion  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  the  village,  with  a  garden  on  the  northern  side.  Just 
beyond  which  stood  the  Congregational  Church.  In  front  of  the  house 
was  the  roe4 — the  main  village  street — across  which,  situate  in  an 
open  space  in  a  sort  of  public  square,  stood  the  Academy.  Behind  the 
Academy  and  skirting  the  village,  from  north  to  south,  or  north-west 
to  south-east,  ran  the  little,  clear,  sparkling  stream,  called  Whitewater 
River.  Behind  the  house  rose  the  hills,  among  which  a  peak  called 
the  pinnacle,  was  very  conspicuous,  and  a  favorable  resort  of  the  bo3rs 
and  girls  who  attended  the  Academy.  Among  the  girls,  there  was 
one — bom  somewhere  south — ^gentle,  pretty,  and  intelligent,  who  quite 
won  my  heart.  Walks  with  her,  sometimes  to  the  top  of  the  pinnacle, 
whence  I  guarded  her  descent  with  solicitous  care;  visits  to  the  house 
of  some  neighbor  friend,  varied  by  a  row  in  a  skifE  in  the  Whitewater, 
were  my  chief  outdoor  pleasure.  Indoors  I  learned  to  play  chess 
with  my  cousin  Jo  Denison,  who,  for  a  while,  was  at  home  from  col- 
lege— ^the  University  of  Vermont — for  vacation.  It  has  since  been  in 
my  power  to  make  one  of  his  sons  Collector  of  New  Orleans.  Of  chess 
I  was  very  fond,  and  it  came  near  disturbing  my  progress  in  study. 
But  after  all,  study  was  my  chief  occupation.  I  wished  to  enter  the 
Junior  Class  at  Dartmouth  at  the  approaching  commencement,  and  was 
obliged  to  read  a  great  deal  to  make  up  the  dlfEerence  between  the 
scanty  proficiency  at  Cincinnati  as  sophomore,  and  the  catalogue  re- 
quirements for  a  Junior  at  Dartmouth.    But  I  did  read  a  great  deal» 


342  HiSTOBY    OP    BOTALTQX,    YSBMOKT 

reciting  to  Mr.  Spragae,  and  readins  for  the  most  part,  dnrias  raadinff 
and  atadj  honra,  at  my  desk  in  the  common  atody  and  recitation  room. 
I  did  not  read  thoronghl j, — nor  waa  mj  preceptor  Terj  well  qnaliHed  to 
criticise  my  recitationsw  He  generally  took  what  I  gaTe  him  as  I 
gave  it,  and  let  it  paae.  How  mnch  I  have  since  regretted  the  extreme 
loose  way  in  which  all  my  education  went  on." 

On  the  face  of  it  this  does  not  seem  very  complimentary  to 

Mr.  Sprague  and  the  academy,  but  perhaps  young  Chase's  work 

was  more  nearly  perfect  than  he  seemed  to  think.    On  another 

page  of  the  biography  the  following  is  found : 

'The  great  event  of  my  stay  at  Royaltcm  waa  the  marriage  of 
my  sister  Jane  to  Doctor  Skinner.  At  the  same  time  Grada  Parkhnrst, 
one  of  her  friends,  was  married  to  Dr.  Bloas.  Two  fine  girls  they  were, 
and  their  lovers  were  promising  yoang  men.  just  commencing  the 
practice  of  their  profession.  The  donUe  wedding  took  place  in  the 
little  Episcopal  church  at  Bethel,  whither  we  went  in  sach  yehides 
as  the  country  afforded;  and  then  there  was  the  wedding  party  at  aunt 
Denison's,  and  the  fun  and  the  Jollity,  and  the  rich  happiness  that 
usually  attend  such  occasions.  My  cousin  Jo  and  I  officiated  as  waiters; 
for  servants  were  unknown  and  help  scarce.'* 

Otto  Smith  Hoyt,  perhaps  a  nephew  of  Jacob  Smith,  became 
a  clergyman,  trustee  of  the  U.  V.  M.  and  of  ^liddlebury  College, 
and  agent  of  the  American  Educational  Society. 

James  Andrus  Blinn  Stone,  bom  1810,  was  a  Baptist  clergy- 
man, Professor  in  Xewton  Theo.  Sem.,  President  of  Kalamazoo 
College,  editor  and  publisher  of  the  ** Telegraph,"  and  author 
of  many  theological  works. 

Azel  Washburn  Wild,  son  of  Daniel  and  Huldah  (Wash- 
bum)  Wild,  bom  1836,  became  a  Congregational  minister,  and 
author  of  several  Congregational  histories. 

Edward  Payson  Wild,  brother  of  Azel,  was  also  a  Congrega- 
tional minister. 

Henr\'  Hobart  Vail,  a  Pomfret  student,  is  Chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  the  American  Book  Company,  and  trustee 
of  Middlebury  College. 

David  Haskell  Adams,  born  1835,  became  a  Baptist  clergy- 
man. 

Robert  Safford  Hale,  born  in  Chelsea,  1822,  was  a  Member 
of  Congress,  Counsel  for  the  U.  S.  Treasury,  regent  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  New  York,  and  held  other  important  positions. 

William  Collamer,  born  in  Royalton,  1824,  was  a  lawj^er,  and 
state  senator. 

William  Skinner  Hazen,  bom  1836,  was  a  Congregational 
minister. 

The  fine  records  of  Frederick  V.  and  Henry  S.  Marcy,  and 
Daniel  Harvey  will  be  found  in  their  respective  family  histories. 

In  connection  with  academic  history  it  seems  proper  to  give 
a  list  of  college  men  and  women  who  are  natives  of  Royalton, 
and  also  of  other  residents,  not  natives,  who  have  been  more  or 


HiBTOBY    OP    BOYALTON,    VeBMONT  843 

less  closely  identified  with  the  life  of  Boyalton.  Non-graduates 
will  he  recognized  by  the  years  placed  after  their  names,  indi- 
cating the  length  of  time  they  pursued  collegiate  courses.  N^imes 
of  those  not  natives,  or  not  known  to  be  such,  are  printed  in 
italics.  Many  in  this  list  were  prepared  in  whole  or  in  part 
for  their  college  work  in  Royalton  Academy.  The  college  records 
of  principals  of  schools  in  town,  lawyers,  doctors,  and  clergy- 
men, are  given  in  connection  with  these  respective  professions, 
and  are  not  repeated  in  this  list,  except  when  they  are  natives  of 
Boyalton.  The  list  is  as  full  as  the  means  at  hand  could  make 
it,  but  no  doubt  names  will  be  missed  that  ought  to  be  added. 
In  that  case,  the  reader  may  be  assured  that  they  were  not  inten- 
tionally omitted. 

ROYALTON 'S  COLLEGE  RECORD. 

Ainstoorth,  George  W.— A.  B.— 190&— U.  V.  M. 

Allen,  Horace  P. — 1837,  one  yeai^-Norwlch  Uniyeislty;  cadet  at  West 

Point;  business,  town  clerk. 
Ashley,  Lester — ^A.  B. — 1907 — Dartmouth — ^teacher,  clerk. 
Belknap,  Philip  O. — 1910,  student— Nor.  Univ. 
Belknap,  William  Orlando — 1884-86— Nor.  Univ. — ^merchant 
Billings,    Frederick— A.    M.— 1844— U.    V.    M.— LL.    D.— 1890— lawyer, 

hanker,  railroad  president 
Bingham,  Daniel  Havens — 1821-24 — ^Nor.  Univ. — ^teacher,  editor. 
Bliss,  Calvin  Parkhurst— A.  B.,  A.  M. — 1836 — ^Middlebury  Coll.— Teacher 

and  farmer. 
Bliss,  William  Henry— A.  B.— 1871— U.  V.  M.— Judge  of  Probate. 
Bloss,  Richard— M.  D.— 1823— Dart.— physician. 
Bosworth,  Stephen — 1836-38 — Nor.  Univ. — business. 
Boyd,  Loring  P. — ^A.  B. — 1860 — Dart. — lawyer,  journalist. 
Bradstreet,  George  Pierce— A.  B.— 1871,  A.  M.— 1874— U.  V.  M.— lawyer. 
Brotonson,    Orestes   Augustus — LL.    D.    honorary — 1846 — ^Nor.    Univ. — 

pastor,  editor,  author. 
Buck,   Oel  Alfred — ^A.   M. — 1842 — Nor.   Univ. — professor — in   gov't  em- 
ploy. 
Burnett.  Mrs.  Grace  Martin — 1886,  one  year — ^N.  B.  Conserv.  of  Music. 
Carrington,  Albert — ^A.  B. — 1833 — Dartmouth — ^Jolned  the  Mormons. 
Collamer, William  B.— A.  B.— 1844— U.  V.  M.— lawyer. 
Culver,  Theron  C— 1909,  student— Mid.  Coll. 
Gushing,  EJdward  Hopkins — ^A.  B. — 1850 — Dart. — journalist 
Cutter,  Charles — 1822 — Nor.  Univ. — merchant. 
DanfortK  William  Burke— A.  B.— 1871— Dart.,  Yale  Divinity  School— 

1874 — clergyman. 
Davis,  Kathrina— A.  B.— 1901— Wellesley— teacher. 
Davis,  Leroy  H. — 1907 — Nor.  Univ. — electrical  engineer. 
Denison,  Dudley  Chase — ^A.  M. — 1840 — U.  V.  M. — lawyer,  statesman. 
Denison,  Franklin— LL.   B.— 1866 — Harvard,— A.  M. — 1868— lawyer. 
Denison,     Charlesn-A.  B.— 1867— Williams— M.     D.— 1869— U.   V.  M.— 

doctor. 
Denison,  George  Stanton — ^A.  B. — 1854 — U.  V.  M. — ^lawyer. 
Denison,  Joseph  Dudley — ^A.  M. — 1868 — ^U.  V.  M. — ^lawyer. 
Denison,  John  Henry — A.  B. — 1877 — U.  V.  M. — lawyer. 
Dewey,  Katharine  B.— 1909,  student— U.  V.  M. 


344  HiSTQBT    OF    BOYALTON,    VeBMONT 

Dewey,  Nathaniel  Wright— A.  B. — ^1887 — ^Dart — clergyman- 

Dudley,  Daniel  Bliss—A,  M.— 1856— Dart— LL.B.— Albany  Law  School 
— 1862 — ^lawyer. 

Dunham,  James  H.— 1820  ( ?)  -23— U.  V.  M. 

Dutton,  George— A.  M.— 185&— Dart— M.  D.— 1861— Nat  Med  CWL— 
teacher  and  phsrsician. 

Ellis,  Oliver  Justin— M.  D.— 1905— Univ.  of  Maryland— phyaiclaiL 

Fay,  George  Washington — M.  D. — ^1848 — ^Dart — ^jdiyslcian  and  land 
agent 

Fish,  Harold  D.— A.  B. — 1907 — Dart — clerk. 

Follett,  Ammi  Ward— M.  D.— 1882 — Dart — ^physician. 

For,  Charles— 1842-43 — Nor.  Univ. 

Fox,  Jacob— 1820-22— Nor.  Univ.— farmer. 

Francis,  George  W. — ^A.  B. — ^1836— U.  V.  IL — ^merchant 

Francis,  Lewi»— A.  a— 1856— U.  V.  M.— A.  M.— 1868— D.  D.— 1898— 
Rutgers — clergyman. 

Freeman,  Edmund  A. — 1910,  student — Dart 

FYeeman,  Charles  W. — 1910,  student — ^Northwestern  Univ. 

Cfoodrich,  Julian  O. — 1907 — student— Nor.  Univ. 

Harvey,  William  Francis— A.  M. — 1864 — Dart — ^M.  D. — 1868 — George- 
town Med.  Coll. — physician. 

Harvey.  Daniel  Bliss — ^LL.  B. — ^1854 — ^Albany  Law  School — lawyer,  pro- 
fessor. 

Hewitt  Ernest  J. — A.  B. — 1897 — ^Tufts— merchant 

Hewitt  Winfred  H.— 1905-10— N.  E.  Conserv.  of  Musics- teacher  of 
music  in  college. 

Latham,  Alden  C— M.  D. 

Lewis,  Sarah— 1908— student— Mid.  Coll. 

Lathrop,  Glenn  Edward— A.  B.— 1884 — Mid.  Coll. — banker. 

Lovejoy,  Daniel  Webster — M.  D. — Dart — ^ph3rsician. 

Lyman,  George  Briggs — 1843-46 — Nor.   Univ. — ^merchant 

Lyman,  Ellas — 1844-46 — ^Nor.  Univ. — ^business. 

Marcy,  Henry  Sullivan — 1856 — Dart — ^business,  railroad  president 

Marcy,  Frederick  Vose — A.  B. — 1852 — Dart. — lawyer. 

Metcalf,  Ernest  B.— 1901 — ^Albany  Business  Coll. 

Metcalf.  John  W.— 1854-56 — Nor.  Univ.— farmer. 

Morse,  BVed  J.— M.  D.— 1892   (?)— Baltimore,  Md.,  Coll. — physician. 

Noble,  James  Jacob— A.  M. — 1855 — U.  V.  M. — teacher  and  lawyer. 

Noble,  William— A.  B.— 1810— U.  V.  M.— A.  M.— 1820— lawyer. 

Page,  Alfred — M.  D. ^Yale  Med.  Coll. — phsrsician. 

Pierce,  Caleb— M.  D.— 1842 — Castleton  Med.  Coll. — ^honorary  M.  D. — 
1872 — Dart. — physician. 

Pierce,  Albigence — M.  D. 

Reynolds,  Roland  W.— 1897— Nor.  Univ. 

Rix,  Lyman  Lewis — ^A.  B. — 1827 — Dart — farmer. 

Rix,  William— 1834,  one  year— honorary  A.  M.— 1843— U.  V.  M.— mer- 
chant 

Rix,  Levi— M.  D. 

Root,  Stephen  Elastman — Hillsdale  Coll.,  Mich. — Baptist  minister. 

Safford,  Henry— A.  B. — 1817 — Dart— 1820 — Princeton  Theo.  Sem. — 
clergyman  and  missionary. 

Safford,  DeForeet — 1861-62 — Harvard — 1869 — ^Newton  Theo.  Sem. — 
editor,  teacher.  Baptist  pastor. 

Sargent  Mrs.  E5rva  Martin — 1886 — ^N.  E.  Conserv.  of  Music. 

Shepard,  Burton  M. — 1907— Nor.  Univ. 

Shepard,  George  S.— 1847-48— Nor.  Univ. 

Sherburne,  Mary  Ann  Burbank — M.  D. — 1900 — College  of  Osteopathy, 
Kirksville,  Mo. — ^phjraiclajL 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  346 

Shipman,  William  12.— A.  B.— Mid.  Coll.— A.  M.— D.  D.— 1882— St 
Lawrence  Coll.— LL.  D.— 1899— Tufts— 1900— Mid.  Coll.— profes- 
sor, Universalist  clergyman. 

Skinner,  Calvin— 1836-38— U.  V.  M.— M.  D.— 1841— Dart.— physician 
and  surgeon. 

Skinner,  Daniel  H.— A.  B.— 1816— Mid.  Coll.— A.  M.— 1820— Dart.— 
physician. 

Skinner,  Leon  Anson — 1896 — Nor.  Univ. — ^merchant. 

Smith,  Douglass— A.  B. — 1841 — Dart — ^lawyer. 

Soper,  Ralph  C. — ^A.  B.,  C.  E. — 1902 — Dart. — civil  engineer. 

Storrs,  Hiram — ^A.  M. — 1793 — Dart — lawyer. 

Tucker,  Jireh,  Jr. — Madison  Univ.,  Hamilton,  N.  Y. — clergyman. 

Tucker,  Cyrus  (College  not  known)  clergyman. 

Tullar,  Daniel — A.  B. — 1840 — ^Nor.  Univ. — civil  engineer,  lawyer. 

Washburn.  Royal— A.  M.— 1820— U.  V.  M.— 1824— And.  Theo.  Sem.— 
Congregational  clergyman. 

Wild,  Daniel  G.— A.  B.— 1857— Dart— lawyer. 

Wild,  Levi— A.  B.— 1883— Dart— 1886— Union  Theo.  SenL— pastor  and 
farmer. 

Williams,  Lottie  Julia— 1879-80— U.  V.  M.— teacher. 

Winslow,  Mary  E.— 1909.  student— U.  V.  M. 

Woodward,  Walter  Carleton — B.  L. — 1899 — Dart— surgeon. 


CHAPTER  XXL 


Matters  Relating  to  Town  Meetings. 

TOWN  OFFICERS. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  how  the  first  town  meetings 
were  warned,  whether  notice  was  put  on  a  private  house,  on  a 
tree,  or  announced  from  house  to  house  by  a  carrier.  They  arc 
declared  to  be  ** legally  warned"  before  the  town  actually  ac- 
knowledged the  authority  of  the  new  state,  before  there  was  any 
public  building,  or  any  store,  so  far  as  is  known.  Not  even  sign 
posts  had  then  been  provided.  The  General  Assembly  in  March, 
1778,  had  passed  an  act  regulating  the  method  of  holding  town 
meetings,  and  the  term  ** legally  warned,"  as  used  in  December, 
1778,  and  March,  1779,  doubtless  had  reference  to  the  require- 
ments of  that  act. 

The  officers  chosen  at  the  first  town  meeting,  so  far  as 
records  show,  were  a  moderator,  town  clerk,  three  selectmen,  a 
treasurer,  constable,  four  surveyors,  two  listers,  a  collector,  two 
grand  jurymen,  two  tythingmen,  a  sealer  of  weights  and  meas- 
ures, two  to  read  the  Psalms,  two  choristers,  and  five  to  act  as 
ministerial  committee.  A  part  of  these  were  merely  church  offi- 
cers, leaving  nine  dealing  with  purely  town  business. 

Justices  of  Peace  were  authorized  bv  act  of  the  Assemblv 
at  Bennington,  June  17,  1778.  Comfort  Sever  was  the  first 
justice,  chosen  at  a  Freeman's  meeting  Dec.  30,  1779. 

The  next  year  additional  officers  were  elected,  a  leather 
sealer,  a  brander  of  horses,  and  a  pound  keeper.  Several  offices 
necessary  then  have  become  extinct.  The  tythingman's  duties 
were  multiple,  and  accompanied  at  times  with  disagreeable  fea- 
tures. He  was  not  chosen  on  the  principle  that  **it  takes  a  rogue 
to  catch  a  rogue,  * '  but  was  usually  selected  from  the  most  austere 
and  dignified  members  of  the  church.  Armed  \\ith  his  black 
st^ff,  two  feet  long,  tipped  at  one  end  with  brass  or  pewter  three 
inches  in  length,  as  the  badge  of  his  office,  he  was  well  calculated 
to  strike  terror  into  the  hearts  of  mischievous  boys,  who  might 
take  a  fancy  to  bump  heads  at  they  sat  back  to  back  in  the  square 
pews,  or  who  were  inclined  to  make  fun  of  the  parson's  wig,  as 
he  went  patiently  on  with  his  long-winded  prayer. 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  347 

The  duty  of  keeping  refractory  youngsters  in  order  was 
only  one  of  his  laborious  duties.  He  was,  also,  to  look  after 
Sabbath  breakers,  and  the  profane  youth  or  man,  and  to  hale  him 
before  the  proper  court  for  trial.  It  was  his  business,  too,  to 
inspect  licensed  houses.  He  was  a  most  useful  member  of  soci- 
ety, though  not  always  well  beloved. 

In  old  Connecticut  he  did  not  have  the  privilege  of  declining 
the  honor  of  an  election  without  paying  a  &ie  of  forty  shillings. 
It  is  told  of  one  official  who  was  annoyed  by  the  shouts  of  Metho- 
dist brethren,  whose  religious  ardor  could  not  be  restrained  even 
by  the  threatened  pain  of  the  metal-tipped  staff,  that  with  sore 
heads  they  all  began  praying  for  the  tythingmen,  and  thus  they 
conquered,  and  were  allowed  to  continue  their  shouts  of  ** Glory  I" 

The  chorister  was  selected  with  quite  as  much  reference  to 
his  sonorous  voice  as  to  his  ability  to  read  music.  His  voice  must 
be  strong  enough  to  overcome  any  squeaky  discords  from  the 
toothless  aged,  or  any  profane  interpolations  of  youngsters, 
whom  the  tythingman  failed  to  notice.  He  had  to  be  one  who 
could  lead  the  entire  congregation  on  to  **Zion's  Hill,"  and  put 
them  in  a  proper  mood  for  the  long  sermon,  so  that  the  tired 
farmer  and  his  wife  would  not  fall  asleep  before  the  sixthly  was 
reached. 

In  the  days  when  fences  were  scarce,  and  an  ambitious 
animal  could  easily  pierce  through  the  primitive  hedgeways,  it 
was  necessary  for  each  owner  of  stock  to  have  some  mark  that 
would  distinguish  his  property.  Just  as  the  almost  limitless 
ranches  of  the  West  make  the  branding  of  horses  and  cattle  a 
necessity  to-day,  so  in  the  earliest  days  in  Vermont,  branding 
was  resorted  to  as  a  seal  of  ownership.  That  it  might  be  done 
decently  and  with  authority,  so  that  no  two  owners  should  quar- 
rel, because  both  had  the  same  mark,  a  **brander  of  horses"  was 
annually  chosen.  The  ears  of  cattle  were  cropped  and  pierced, 
and  each  had  his  own  **ear  mark"  recorded.  Isaac  Morgan's 
was  a  **crop  of  the  Right  Eare  &  Sowlers  (swallow's)  Taile  in 
the  Left";  Daniel  Havens'  was  a  ** Round  Whole  in  the  offe 
Eare";  Daniel  Rix's,  **a  Crop  of  the  End  of  the  Right  Ear"; 
David  Bowen's,  **a  round  hole  in  ye  right  Ear  and  a  slit  from 
ye  same  to  ye  end  of  ye  Ear." 

Hog  haywards  were  chosen  first  in  1783.  It  is  probable  that 
for  some  years,  swine  were  making  their  investigations  and  root- 
ing around  quite  free  from  restraint,  and  that  sometimes  they 
were  even  given  shelter  in  the  log  houses.  As  their  numbers 
increased,  and  more  land  came  to  be  cultivated,  they  could  no 
longer  be  allowed  free  range  in  the  neighborhood,  and  for  lack 
of  suitable  places  of  confinement,  hog  haywards  were  elected  to 
look  after  them,  and  see  that  they  did  not  trespass. 


348  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

The  demand  for  fence  viewers  was  answered  first  in  1784, 
when  Benjamin  Day,  Benjamin  Parkhurst,  Daniel  Bix,  Lieat. 
Medad  Benton,  Daniel  Tullar,  and  Comfort  Sever  were  chosen 
for  this  office. 

The  selectmen  were  requested  to  settle  with  the  treasurer 
in  1790,  and  report  at  some  future  meeting.  Their  report,  pet- 
haps,  had  been  given  direct  to  the  voters  at  the  annual  meeting 
before  that  time,  or  no  report  may  have  been  made.  There  was 
evidently  some  laxity  on  the  part  of  town  officers,  which  the 
voters  intended  to  remedy.  At  the  town  meeting  1791,  the 
selectmen  were  requested  to  give  ** immediately"  a  report  of  the 
last  year's  proceedings.  The  report  is  not  recorded,  but  that  it 
was  satisfactory  is  evidenced  from  the  fact,  that  the  same  men 
were  again  elected. 

At  a  September  meeting  of  that  year,  a  committee  was 
chosen  **to  call  on  ye  Selectmen  for  ye  year  1786  for  a  settle- 
ment for  ye  Land  tax  &  if  they  decline  to  settle  to  apply  to  ye 
County  Court  to  call  them  to  settlement.*'  Notwithstanding 
this  drastic  action  by  the  town,  the  report  was  not  forthcoming, 
and  in  May,  1792,  another  committee  composed  of  entirely  differ- 
ent men  was  chosen  for  the  same  purpose.  This  committee 
proved  efficient,  and  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  June  6,  it  offered 

the  following  report: 

"To  ye  Inhabitants  of  Royalton  in  town  meeting  met  Toar  conunitte 
that  was  chose  to  make  a  settlement  with  ye  Selectmen  for  ye  Year 
1786  concerning  ye  Land  tax  report  that  on  a  final  settlement  with  Sd 
Selectmen  they  find  due  to  ye  Town  Twenty  one  Pounds  seventeen 
Shillings  &  eight  penca 

Benjamin  Parkhurst  for  Comtee." 

The  report  was  accepted,  and  the  selectmen  of  1792  were 
instructed  to  take  obligations  from  the  selectmen  of  1786  for 
what  was  due  on  the  land  tax,  and  give  a  discharge  for  the  same. 

The  1786  selectmen  were  either  refractory  or  unable  to  pay 
the  sum  due  the  town,  and  the  matter  came  up  again  in  1796. 
In  the  warning  for  a  special  meeting  called  for  December  6,  one 
article  read,  **To  call  on  ye  Selectmen  of  1786  for  a  settlement 
of  the  then  land  tax,"  and  it  was  voted,  **To  appoint  a  Com- 
mittee to  call  on  ye  Selectmen  for  the  Year  1786  for  a  Settle- 
ment &  if  any  money  is  in  their  hands  sd  Committee  are  directed 
to  pay  the  same  into  ye  Town  Treasiuy/'  and  furthermore  the 
same  committee  was  instructed  **to  call  on  all  former  Committees 
&  all  Selectmen  since  the  year  1786  who  have  had  concern  with 
money  matters  &  make  a  complete  settlement  with  them  &  if 
anything  shall  be  found  due  sd  Committee  to  receive  the  same 
and  pay  it  into  the  Town  Treasury."  This  committee  had  the 
astute  lawyer,  Jacob  Smith,  on  it,  and  after  this  date  nothing 
more  is  heard  of  the  land  tax  of  1786. 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  349 

Petit  jurors  were  first  elected  in  1788,  when  six  men  were 
chosen  for  that  purpose.  The  number  varied  from  time  to  time, 
reaching  thirteen  in  1798.  The  first  record  of  town  ofl&cers 
taking  the  oath  is  in  1793. 

In  1801  a  committee  was  chosen  to  settle  **with  the  overseer 
of  the  Poor  &  Town  Treasurer."  No  overseer  was  elected  in 
1801,  nor  previous  to  that  time,  so  far  as  records  show.  If  such 
an  office  existed,  it  was  probably  appointive.  In  lg07  they  voted 
to  elect  overseers  of  the  poor,  and  Jacob  Smith,  Elias  Stevens, 
and  Daniel  Tullar  were  chosen.  Mr.  Stevens  was  excused  and 
Isaac  Skinner  chosen  in  his  place.  The  next  year  it  was  for- 
mally voted  to  choose  three  overseers,  but  in  1809  they  were 
chosen  like  other  officers  without  first  voting  to  have  them. 

This  year  they  elected  ** auditors."  Heretofore  the  select- 
men or  a  committee  chosen  at  the  end  of  the  year  were  empow- 
ered to  look  over  the  treasurer's  account  and  report.  The  audi- 
tors of  this  year  had  the  same  duty.  The  next  year  these  audi- 
tors were  to  examine,  also,  the  accounts  against  the  town.  Ad- 
journment was  necessary  to  give  time  to  look  over  these  accounts. 
For  some  years  auditors  were  chosen  for  special  work,  and  other 
committees  for  other  accounts,  and  the  usual  adjournment  took 
place,  sometimes  for  shorter,  sometimes  for  longer  time. 

In  1822  a  committee  was  elected  to  settle  with  both  over- 
seers and  treasurer,  and  they  did  not  adjourn  as  usual,  but  dis- 
solved, and  the  reports  were  acted  on  at  the  next  March  meeting. 
Some  accounts  were  brought  in  and  allowed  or  disallowed  by 
vote.  Two  committees  had  been  chosen  in  1821  to  audit  a  part 
of  the  accounts  for  the  ** ensuing"  year.  Gradually  they  were 
coming  to  see  the  advisability  of  accounts  being  audited  before 
the  meeting  was  held. 

Eight  town  meetings  were  held  in  1834.  They  began  the 
series  early,  issuing  the  warning  for  the  first  one  on  January 
third.  This  meeting  was  necessitated  by  reason  of  the  failure 
of  the  Fox  bridge,  so-called.  Three  Freemen's  meetings  were 
held,  one  in  March,  when  the  Council  of  Censors  was  chosen,  and 
two  in  the  fall  for  election  of  a  Congressman  and  state  officers. 

The  following  year  it  was  resolved  that  all  accounts  must 
be  presented  to  the  selectmen  before  coming  to  the  voters  or  be 
rejected.  Just  how  the  list  had  been  taken  previous  to  1835  is 
not  stated,  but  that  year  it  was  voted,  that  the  listers  were  to 
begin  April  1,  by  going  to  the  house  of  each  one  liable,  and  take 
his  or  her  list  of  personal  property.  In  1837,  instead  of  choos- 
ing a  committee  to  settle  with  the  treasurer,  as  formerly,  he  was 
directed  to  give  a  report  at  the  next  meeting. 

About  1832  a  committee,  whose  appointment  is  not  recorded, 
and  whose  report  is  not  dated,  reported  that  they  had  examined 


850  History  of  Boyalton,  Vsbmont 

and  compared  the  books  of  the  treasurer  and  overseer  of  the 
poor  from  1827  to  1831,  and  found  that  they  agreed  with  the 
orders  on  the  books  of  the  selectmen.  That  year  the  selectmen 
were  directed  to  put  in  collection  within  six  months  after  due, 
all  rents,  notes,  and  demands  due  to  the  town.  The  tazpi^ers 
were  growing  more  critical  in  the  examination  of  accounts,  but 
did  not  yet  entrust  the  matter  wholly  to  auditors.  In  1835  the 
report  of  the  auditors  on  the  treasurer's  account  was  ordered 
back  for  a  new  examination.  Two  years  later,  the  treasurer 
was  directed  to  settle  all  bills  with  the  collectors  of  more  than 
two  years'  standing,  and  was  empowered  to  b^^  suits  against 
delinquents. 

In  1836  trustees  of  the  surplus  revenue  were  elected  for  the 
first  .time,  providing  for  the  care  of  the  share  which  should  come 
to  the  town  by  act  of  the  legislature  November  17  of  that  year. 
This  was  done  at  a  special  meeting  called  for  that  purpose  in 
December.  After  that  the  trustees  were  chosen  at  the  March 
meeting  with  other  town  officers. 

From  time  to  time  an  agent  had  been  chosen  by  the  town  to 
look  after  special  cases  in  which  lawsuits  were  threatened.  In 
1841  Daniel  Woodward  was  chosen  regularly  like  other  town 
officers.  He  was  to  attend  to  any  cases  that  might  arise  involv- 
ing litigation.  He  continued  to  serve  until  1857,  when  Daniel 
L.  Lyman  was  elected. 

Tythingmen  and  hog  haywards  were  last  elected  in  1839. 
Prom  1845  onward  auditors  were  elected  in  the  regular  course, 
without  their  specific  duties  being  named,  and  the  appointment 
of  other  committees  for  the  examination  of  accounts  was  omitted. 
Reports,  however,  of  selectmen,  and  trustees  of  the  surplus 
revenue  were  given  orally  in  town  meeting. 

In  1846  it  was  voted  that  the  selectmen  nominate  three  per- 
sons to  serve  as  superintendents  of  common  schools,  and  Dudley 
C.  Denison,  Samuel  W.  Slade,  and  Cyrus  B.  Drake  were  chosen 
for  this  duty,  which  was  the  beginning  of  this  specific  office.  As 
early  as  Oct.  22,  1782,  the  law  had  provided  for  the  appointment 
of  trustees  in  each  town  for  the  general  superintendence  of 
schools,  but  the  matter  of  supervision  had  very  generally  been 
left  to  each  school  district. 

In  1824  a  law  was  passed  requiring  selectmen  to  appoint  one 
or  more  surveyors  of  wood,  whose  duty  it  should  be  to  measure 
wood,  receiving  therefor  four  cents  a  cord  or  load.  It  is  not  to 
be  supposed  that  the  town  found  no  necessity  for  such  an  officer 
before  1870,  but  that  is  the  first  date  when  any  record  is  found 
of  such  appointment.  In  that  year  the  residents  of  Boyalton 
village  secured  by  petition  the  appointment  of  Chauncey  Wolcott 
and  Henry  Doubleday  for  one  year.     In  1906  the  offices  of  pound 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  351 

keeper,  surveyors  of  wood,  and  inspector  of  lumber  became  ap- 
pointive in  the  selectmen.  A  tree  warden  was  also  provided  for, 
and  Amos  J.  Eaton  was  the  first  appointee.  In  1904  he  was 
appointed  fish  and  game  warden. 

By  the  laws  of  1892  road  commissioners,  school  directors, 
and  health  officers  were  to  be  provided.  The  first  health  oflScer 
in  Boyalton  was  Dr.  William  H.  Gerrish.  Dr.  W.  L.  Paine  acted 
as  such  officer  for  a  time,  and  Dr.  E.  J.  Fish  served  for  a  term 
of  years.  The  present  officer  is  Marvin  H.  Hazen.  Though 
health  ofScers  are  not  elected,  they  are  local  officers. 

In  1896  trustees  of  the  public  library  were  first  elected.  By 
rotation  in  o£Sce,  one  lister,  one  selectman,  one  school  director 
only  are  elected  each  year,  serving  three  years,  and  one  trustee 
of  the  public  library  is  elected  yearly,  serving  five  years. 

Although  a  legislative  act  of  1870  provided  for  truant  oflS- 
cers,  Royalton  does  not  seem  to  have  had  any  until  1893,  when 
the  South  Boyalton  Qraded  School  had  one  appointed.  James 
M.  Whitney  has  been  the  truant  oflScer  for  several  years. 

The  town  officers  elected  in  March,  1910,  were  as  follows: 
Moderator,  Ernest  J.  Hewitt ;  clerk,  William  Skinner ;  selectman, 
James  M.  Hinckley — ^the  other  selectmen  are  Hiram  Buss  and 
(Jeorge  L.  Dutton;  treasurer,  Arthur  Whitham;  overseer  of  the 
poor,  Charles  E.  Black;  constable,  James  M.  Whitney;  col- 
lector, the  treasurer;  lister,  Amos  J.  Eaton — ^the  other  listers 
are  Walter  E.  Webster  and  D.  W.  Bliss;  auditors,  J.  0.  Belknap, 
George  K.  Taggart,  E.  J.  Hewitt ;  trustee  of  public  money,  George 
A.  Laird ;  town  grand  juror,  Amos  J.  Eaton ;  road  commissioner, 
Albert  Merrill ;  school  director,  Fred  Allen ;  A.  G.  Whitham  was 
later  appointed  deputy  town  clerk,  with  authority  to  file  deeds, 
mortgages,  and  other  papers  for  the  accommodation  of  the  peo- 
ple in  the  south  part  of  the  town. 

PLACE  OF  TOWN   MEETINGS. 

There  are  records  of  ten  town  meetings  before  the  Indian 
raid,  in  none  of  which  is  there  any  mention  of  the  place  wher« 
they  were  held.  An  adjournment  was  taken  to  the  house  of 
Isaac  Morgan,  Aug.  23,  1779,  and  another  to  the  house  of  Daniel 
Kix,  Dec.  30,  1779.  At  the  first  meeting  after  the  raid,  March 
20,  1781,  an  adjournment  was  at  once  taken  to  Comfort  Sever 's 
dwelling  house.  The  houses  that  had  been  hastily  put  up  were 
probably  not  suitable  for  town  meeting  purposes.  Mr.  Sever 
lived  near  the  schoolhouse  in  District  Nine,  and  his  house  es- 
caped destruction.  The  next  meeting  the  same  month  was  at 
Lieut.  Durkee's.  It  is  understood  that  he  fitted  up  his  barn 
as  best  he  could  for  a  winter  residence,  and  it  would  be  more 


352  HiSTOST    OF    BOYALTON,    YeBMONT 


commodions  than  the  majority  of  the  houses,  so  we  find  the 
meeting  there  again  in  December. 

In  September  of  that  year  they  had  met  at  Lieut.  Park- 
hnrst's  and  voted  to  have  future  meetings  at  Mr.  Lyon's.  In 
January  of  the  next  year,  however,  a  meeting  was  held  at  David 
Fish's.  In  November,  1782,  when  they  divided  the  town  into 
school  districts,  they  are  found  at  Zebulon  Lyon's,  but  the  ad- 
journed meeting  was  at  Lieut.  Durkee's.  The  numerous  meet- 
ings between  this  one  and  the  one  of  March  30,  1785.  were  all 
held  at  Mr.  Lyon's.  How  well  Mrs.  Lyon  enjoyed  this  inter- 
ruption of  her  home  life  is  not  recorded.  Mr.  Lyon  soon  pro- 
posed to  build  a  meeting-house  to  be  used  for  town  purposes 
for  ten  years,  as  explained  in  another  place,  and  on  the  date 
last  named  the  voters  gathered  there  in  the  new  building. 

Here  they  convened  from  time  to  time,  as  they  did  Feb.  5. 
1787.  At  this  time  they  chose  a  moderator,  and  at  once  ad- 
journed to  the  house  of  Isaac  Skinner,  presumably,  because  the 
meeting-house  was  not  comfortable.  The  Proprietors  held  sep- 
arate meetings  occasionally  on  the  same  day  and  at  the  same 
place  as  the  town  meetings.  They  met  at  Timothy  Durkee's, 
Calvin  and  Joseph  Parkhurst's.  and  Zebulon  Lyon's,  and,  after 
the  meeting-house  was  built,  in  that  building.  In  December^ 
1789,  the  town  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  house  of  Lieut. 
Lyon,  and  in  March  following,  to  the  "scenter  school  house." 
Through  the  warm  weather,  the  several  meetings  were  held  in 
the  meeting-hoase,  but  the  March  meeting  of  1792  was  warned 
to  meet  at  Isaac  Skinner's.  The  day  was  doubtless  a  mild  one, 
for  they  adjourned  to  the  meeting-house. 

There  was  a  new  meeting-house  now.  and  this  served  as  the 
place  for  the  town  meetings,  apparently  a  satisfactory^  one,  until 
the  meeting  of  October  20,  1795,  when  they  adjourned  for  fif- 
teen minutes  to  Elkanah  Stevens'  house,  where,  for  some  reason, 
perhaps  a  domestic  one,  they  adjourned  again  to  the  schoolhouse. 
On  December  8th  they  tried  the  meeting-house  again.  Whether 
it  was  too  cold,  or  Major  and  Mrs.  Curtis  had  decided  to  have 
a  housowarming  that  day  cannot  be  asserted,  but  it  is  recorded 
that  they  met  and  adjourned  to  the  **new  house"  of  Major  Cur- 
tis. This  was,  no  doubt,  Zabad  Curtis,  who  had  bought  several 
acres  in  Royalton  village,  and  built  himself  a  house  there. 

The  next  year  two  adjournments  were  taken  to  private 
dwellings,  one  to  the  house  of  Elkanah  Stevens,  who  had  a  store 
and  hotel  in  the  village,  and  another  to  the  house  of  Elisha 
Bartholemew.  There  are  few  records  found  of  Mr.  Barthole- 
mew.  He  may  not  have  lived  in  the  village,  as  an  adjournment 
of  half  an  hour  was  taken. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  353 

This  was  the  last  meeting  in  a  private  house.  The  voters 
continued  to  meet  in  the  meeting-house,  until  it  was  purchased 
by  the  town,  and  removed  to  the  lower  side  of  the  common,  and 
became  the  **town  house/'  At  their  first  meeting  in  the  town 
house,  which  was,  probably,  not  repaired  sufficiently  for  such  a 
purpose,  they  adjourned  to  the  academy,  and  after  the  town 
house  was  burned,  the  meetings  were  held  in  the  schoolhouse, 
until  the  present  town  building  was  erected. 

MANNER   OP   CONDUCTING  TOWN   MEETINGS. 

Little  can  be  directly  learned  from  our  early  records  of  the 
method  of  warning  and  conducting  town  meetings.  The  act  of 
the  General  Assembly  passed  Feb.  28,  1797,  made  an  annual 
meeting  obligatory  some  day  in  the  month  of  March,  and  a  no- 
tice was  to  be  set  up  ''on  the  sign  post,  or  at  such  other  place 

or  places  as  have  been  or  may  hereafter  be  agreed  upon 

at  least  twelve  days  before  the  time  mentioned  in  such  notifica- 
tion, warning  all  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of  such 
town,  qualified  to  vote  in  town  meeting,  to  meet  at  such  time  and 
place."  That  the  meeting  might  be  properly  conducted,  all 
persons  were  required  to  be  silent  at  the  desire  of  the  moderator, 
or  pay  a  fine  of  one  dollar,  and  a  further  fine  of  $3.00,  if  they 
persisted  in  remaining  after  a  request  to  withdraw  had  been 
made.  This  act  specified  the  officers  to  be  elected,  and  directed 
the  election  of  a  committee  of  not  less  than  three  to  audit  ac- 
counts of  the  overseer  of  the  poor  for  the  preceding  year,  also 
one  for  auditing  the  account  of  the  treasurer. 

The  method  of  choosing  the  town  officers  was  to  be  by  bal- 
lot or  such  other  method  as  the  voters  should  agree  upon.  The 
number  and  nominations  for  grand  and  petit  jurors  was  to  be 
agreed  upon  between  the  selectmen,  constable  or  constables,  and 
magistrates  of  the  town  present,  and  the  election  was  to  be  by 
the  voters.  Compensation  to  officers  of  the  town  was  left  to 
the  will  of  the  inhabitants.  Every  officer  was  to  be  duly  sworn, 
and  a  record  was  to  be  made  by  the  town  clerk.  Any  person 
not  exempted  by  law  from  serving  was  required  to  accept  an 
office  to  which  he  was  chosen,  and  to  take  the  oath  prescribed 
after  notification,  or  else  pay  a  fine  not  exceeding  thirteen  dol- 
lars, unless  he  could  make  it  appear  that  he  ought  to  be  excused. 

In  the  town  meeting  March  21,  1791,  the  following  vote  was 
passed:  ** Voted  That  for  ye  future  every  man  have  liberty  to 
cover  his  head  at  town  meetings  except  when  they  address  ye 
moderator."  What  would  these  men,  who,  doubtless,  compelled 
by  cold  to  pass  this  vote  contrary  to  their  ideas  of  what  was  re- 
spectful on  the  occasion,  think  of  some  of  our  state  legislatures, 

23 


354  History  op  Royalton,  Vkbmont 

where  the  members  sit  with  feet  on  the  table,  read  and  talk,  and 
fill  the  air  with  tobacco  smoke,  while  a  session  is  in  progress, 
and  the  galleries  are  occupied  by  ladies  f 

In  accordance  with  the  liberty  of  choice  granted  by  law,  at 
the  March  meeting,  1799,  it  was  voted  to  elect  the  town  clerk, 
selectmen,  treasurer,  listers,  and  constables  by  each  ''mention- 
ing to  the  Town  Clerk  the  name  of  the  person  he  would  have  to 
fill  each  office  &  that  aU  ye  other  Town  officers  be  chosen  by 
nomination."  This  custom  was  followed  for  several  years.  Some- 
times they  would  vote  to  elect  by  ''going  round,"  and  after 
electing  one  officer  in  that  way,  they  would  reconsider  the  mo- 
tion. Nominations  were  frequently  made  by  a  committee  chosen 
for  the  purpose.  Sometimes  they  elected  by  "handy  vote," 
which  was  probably  a  showing  of  hands.  There  were  two  ways 
of  "going  round,"  one,  to  name  their  choice  orally,  and  the 
other,  to«  vote  by  ballot. 

The  practice  of  not  voting  a  tax  at  the  March  meeting,  thus 
necessitating  an  extra  meeting  for  that  purpose,  and  another 
custom  of  having  adjourned  meetings  to  hear  reports  of  the 
auditors  and  committees  appointed  to  examine  accounts,  do  not 
seem  to  have  been  due  to  lack  of  foresight  on  the  part  of  the 
voters  of  the  town,  but  rather  to  the  provisions  of  the  law  gov- 
erning  town  meetings  in  those  years. 

The  town  did  not  seem  inclined  at  first  to  grant  compensa- 
tion to  town  officers.  Perhaps  there  was  too  much  rivalry,  and 
there  were  enough  who  would  gladly  take  the  office  without  pay. 
Gradually  the  custom  grew  up  of  paying  the  selectmen  and  list- 
ers, and  later,  other  officers.  Occasionally  this  custom  was  broken 
by  a  vote  not  to  pay  certain  officers.  Selectmen  were  first  paid 
in  1794. 

There  is  not  much  doubt  that  there  was  considerable  laxity 
in  conducting  town  business  in  the  earliest  days,  but  this  soon 
ceased  with  new  legislation,  and  longer  experience,  and  a  more 
careful  scrutiny  of  accounts  by  the  proper  authorities  and  by 
the  voters  themselves. 

It  was  not  much,  if  any,  before  1846  that  the  custom  of 

having  reports  printed  and  circulated  was  adopted.     These  first 

reports  were  on  single,  rather  large,  sheets  of  paper  printed  on 

one  side,  giving  the  matter  usually  brought  before  the  voters  for 

approval  or  rejection.     There  were  then  regular  auditors.   About 

1850  the  single  sheet  was  folded  and  sewed,  and  a  small  pamphlet 

was  issued,  which  custom  has  continued  to  the  present  time,  only 

for  many  years  the  report  has  had  a  proper  cover. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted  in  March,  1853: 
"Resolved  that  the  Selectmen  of  Royalton  and  their  successors  in 
office  are  hereby  directed  to  make  out  a  true  statement  of  all  the  ex- 
penses of  said  town,  stating  the  items  thereof,  St  procure  the  printing 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  366 

of  at  least  five  hundred  copies  ft  lodge  the  same  with  the  Town  Clerk 
of  said  Town  on  or  before  the  25th  day  of  February  annually  ft  the 
Town  Clerk  when  called  on  shall  deliver  to  each  legal  voter  in  said 
town  one  copy  of  said  Report  free  from  charge." 

The  selectmen  were  evidently  remiss  in  carrying  out  this 
resolution.    At  the  next  March  meeting  another  resolution  was 

passed,  which  was: 

"Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Royalton  be  required 
to  furnish  at  the  Freeman's  Meeting  in  September  next  that  printed 
Report  of  the  items  of  the  Expenses  of  the  town  which  it  was  their 
duty  to  have  furnished  on  the  7th  of  March,  1854." 

The  voters  had  spoken  and  the  report  was  furnished. 

A  different  moderator  was  chosen  at  nearly  every  meeting 
for  the  first  few  years,  but  later  one  person  served  for  a  longer 
period,  either  by  successive  elections  or  at  intervals.  The  town 
has  not  lacked  talent  fitted  for  such  service,  and  has  seemed 
inclined  to  pass  the  honor  around.  Among  those  who  acted  as 
moderator  many  times  are  Elias  Stevens,  Jacob  Smith,  Daniel 
Rix,  Jr.,  Elisha  Rix,  Charles  M.  Lamb,  and  Dudley  G.  Denison. 
Mr.  Denison  was  voted  $50.00  in  1899,  in  recognition  of  his  long 
and  faithful  service  to  the  town  in  this  capacity. 

TOWN  BBCORDS. 

It  is  probable  that  the  records  of  the  earliest  meetings  were 
kept  on  loose  sheets  of  paper,  and  in  consequence  were  lost.  If 
Comfort  Sever  had  the  custody  of  some  of  the  records,  as  most 
likely  he  did  have,  then  that  fact  will  account  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  considerable  material  from  the  general  destruction  of 
October  16,  1780.  His  house  was  beyond  the  range  of  the  In- 
dian devastation  of  that  day.  The  Charter  was  required  by  law 
to  be  recorded  in  the  first  pages  of  the  Proprietors'  book,  and 
that  book  is  a  regularly  bound  volume.  The  earliest  land  rec- 
ords of  the  town,  though  sewed  together,  are  without  a  cover, 
and  perhaps  never  had  one.  The  same  is  true  of  the  first  family 
records. 

In  1793  a  committee  was  chosen  to  examine  the  town  rec- 
ords and  see  if  they  were  kept  in  a  regular  manner,  and  in  1798 
another  committee  was  elected  to  examine  the  Proprietors'  rec- 
ords, to  see  if  they  stood  regular.  At  a  meeting  held  on  the 
second  Tuesday  of  April,  1803,  John  Billings,  Zebulon  Lyon,  and 
Jacob  Smith  were  chosen  a  committee  **to  purchase  a  book  and 
agree  with  the  Town  Clerk  to  record  therein  all  the  deeds  that 
are  not  now  recorded  in  a  bound  volume."  This  committee  paid 
the  clerk  seventeen  cents  for  recording  each  deed,  and  his  bill 
was  $43.83,  making  257  or  258  deeds  not  before  recorded.  The 
book  cost  $2.50.     This  was  probably  Book  A  of  land  deeds.  These 


•  ' 


356  HiBTOBY    OF    BOTALTON,    VERMONT 

records  had  not  been  separated  from  the  family  records  before 
this  time. 

Again  in  1806  a  committee  was  chosen  to  examine  the  rec- 
ords and  report  their  condition.  The  report,  which  was  to  have 
been  given  at  the  next  March  meeting,  is  not  found. 

In  the  negotiations  between  the  proprietors  of  Bethel  and 
Comfort  Sever  in  relation  to  the  two  tiers  of  land  taken  from 
Boyalton,  it  is  stated  that  Mr.  Sever  had  received  a  letter  from 
the  "town  clerk  of  Royalton"  in  1777,  which  letter  was  on  file 
in  Bethel  records.  That  indicates  that  town  officers  were  regu- 
larly elected  as  early  as  1777,  and  probably  before  that  time. 

The  first  recorded  clerk  for  the  town  was  Comfort  Sever, 
who  served  from  1779  to  1788.  He  was  followed  by  Abel  Stev- 
ens, who  held  the  office  from  1788  until  1805.  Both  Mr.  Sever 
and  Mr.  Stevens  held  their  offices  until  removal  from  town.  Their 
hand-writing  is  legible,  but  both,  as  well  as  Elias  Stevens,  who 
was  the  Proprietors'  clerk,  had  a  tendency  to  overcapitalize,  and 
their  records  lack  the  order  and  beauty  that  characterize  the 
work  of  the  next  town  clerk,  Jacob  Safford.  A  sample  page  of 
his  penmanship  is  shown  in  one  of  the  cuts.  He  served  from 
1805  to  1829.  The  last  record  that  he  made  was  the  boundary 
of  Boyalton  village.  He  had  been  absent  for  two  meetings,  but 
had  evidently  transcribed  the  records  of  the  clerk  pro  tem.  He 
did  not  relinquish  his  task  until  illness  compelled  him  to  do  so. 
The  village  boundary  was  recorded  March  20,  1829,  and  on  the 
25th  of  April,  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  this  resolution  was 

passed: 

"Resolved,  that  the  Town  now  proceed  to  the  election  of  a  Town 
Clerk  for  the  year  ensuing  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the 
much  regretted  death  of  Jacob  Saiford  who  has  so  long  and  faith- 
fully performed  the  duties  of  that  office  to  the  public's  satisfaction.** 

Dr.  Richard  Bloss  was  elected  to  the  vacancy,  and  held  the 
ofSce  until  1839.  He  was  re-elected,  but  was  excused  at  his  own 
request,  and  Calvin  Skinner  2nd  was  chosen  in  his  place.  Mr. 
Skinner  has  the  honor  of  having  served  longer  than  any  other 
incumbent,  his  period  of  service  continuing  until  1875.  He  was 
then  seventy-one  years  of  age,  and  had  been  clerk  thirty-six 
years. 

Horace  P.  Allen  was  elected  clerk  in  1875,  and  held  the 
position  until  his  death  in  1894.  While  he  was  clerk  he  em- 
ployed some  of  his  spare  time  in  a  careful  examination  of  the 
older  records,  and  made  extracts  with  a  view  of  using  them  in  a 
future  historj'  of  the  town.  Some  of  this  matter  was  kindly 
turned  over  for  use  in  this  book,  by  his  son,  Parkhurst  P.  Allen 
of  Boston. 

William  Skinner  was  appointed  in  1894  to  fill  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Allen.    He  held  the  ofSce  until 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  867 

March,  1909,  when  he  declined  to  serve  longer,  and  William  F. 
Harvey  was  elected.  Mr.  Harvey  removed  from  town  the  next 
fall,  and  the  selectmen  prevailed  upon  Mr.  Skinner  to  take  the 
office  until  the  next  March  meeting,  when  he  was  unanimously 
re-elected. 

The  records  of  the  town  will  compare  favorably  with  those 
of  other  Vermont  towns  in  general,  as  regards  legibility,  pen- 
manship, spelling,  and  neat,  systematic  arrangement.  The  earli- 
est unbound  sheets  are  badly  mutilated  and  faded,  and  steps 
should  be  taken  to  have  them  preserved  from  further  decay. 
The  lack  of  an  index  for  family  records  from  the  earliest  date 
to  the  present  time  is  one  that  should  be  soon  remedied,  as  the 
necessity  for  consulting  such  records  is  constantly  increasing. 

TOWN  BY-LAWS. 

There  is  frequent  reference  after  1800  to  the  by-laws  of 

the  town,  but  none  was  put  on  record  until  1835,  when  the  clerk 

was  instructed  to  make  a  record  of  the  revised  by-laws.    They 

refer  to  the  restraining  of  stock  from  running  at  large,  and  were 

in  accord  with  an  act  passed  by  the  Assembly  Feb.  28,  1797. 

They  are  as  follows: 

"It  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Royalton 
in  legal  March  meeting  assembled,  that  no  horses  colts  or  any  horse 
kind  or  any  sheep  or  mules  or  swine  shall  be  suffered  to  run  at  large 
on  the  common,  or  highways  within  the  town  of  Royalton,  and  if  any 
horses,  colts,  or  any  horse  kind  or  any  sheep,  swine  or  mules  shall 
be  suffered  to  run  at  large  or  be  found  out  of  the  inclosure  of  the 
owner  or  keeper  thereof,  any  person  being  an  inhabitant  of  sd  town 
may  take  up  and  empound  the  same,  and  all  the  proceedings  in  rela- 
tion to  the  same,  as  to  the  duty  of  the  pound  keeper,  the  mode  of  noUce 
and  relief,  shall  be  agreeable  to  the  provisions  of  an  act  relating  to 
pounds,  estrays,  and  stolen  goods,  passed  May  2,  1797." 

The  following  is  the  list  of  selectmen  who  have  served  the 

town  from  1779  to  1911,  with  the  exception  of  the  year  1789, 

the  record  of  which  is  lost: 

Isaac  Morgan,  1779;  Timothy  Durkee,  1779;  Comfort  Sever,  1779- 
85,  1790-92;  Daniel  Rix,  1780-82;  Medad  Benton,  1780;  Lieut  Calvin 
Farkhurst,  1781-86;  Zebulon  Lyon,  1783;  Sila^  Williams,  1784-86, 
1790-91,  1801;  Ellas  Stevens,  1784-85,  1787-88,  1792-95,  1798-1802,  1813-17; 
Daniel  Tullar,  1784-85,  1806-07;  David  Pish,  1786;  Abel  Stevens,  1787, 
1792,  1802;  Benj.  Parkhurst,  1787-88;  Daniel  Clapp,  1790-91;  Thee. 
Bingham,  1793;  Luther  Fairbanks,  1793;  Isaac  Skinner,  1794-98,  1800, 
1805-07.  1813-16;  Nathan  Paige,  1794,  1803-05;  Benj.  Day.  Jr.,  1795;  Elka- 
nah  Stevens,  1796-97;  John  Billings,  1797-98,  1800-02,  1804;  John  Flint, 
1799,  1803;  Samuel  Curtiss,  1799-1804;  Rodolphus  Dewey,  1803,  1808- 
12.  1817-18;  Jacob  Smith,  1805-14;  Daniel  Rix,  Jr.,  1808-12,  1814-17.  1833; 
Nathan  Safford.  1818;  Stephen  Freeman,  1818-22,  1824;  Elisha  Rix, 
1819-22.  1827-28,  1842-43;  Darius  Horton,  1819;  Nathan  Kimball,  1820, 
1825-26;  Jacob  Collamer,  1821-22;  Asa  Dewey,  1823;  Hiurry  Bingham, 
1823-26,  1828-29,  1834,  1845,  1847-48;  William  Pierce,  1823;  Oel  BiUings, 


-■■f 


358  HiSTCttT    OF    BOYALTON,    VERMONT 

1824-26;  Oliver  Willes.  1827,  1830;  Jonathan  Kinney,  1827,  1833.  1845; 
Thomas  Russ,  1828-29,  1841-42;  Calvin  Parkhurat,  1829-31;  Gideon  lUns- 
ham,  1830;  Nath.  Sprague,  1831;  David  Wheelock,  1831,  1835-36;  John 
Francis,  1832-33;   John  Billings,  Jr.,  1832;   Jireh  Tucker,  1832;  John 
Marshall,  1834, 1844;  Jona.  Kinney,  Jr.,  1834;  Truman  H.  Safford,  1835-37; 
Phineas  Pierce,   1835;    John   Coy,   1836-38;    Oramel   Sawyer,  1837-38; 
ESisha  Wild,  1838-39;  Luther  Howe,  1839;  Job  Bennett^  1839,  1858-59; 
Daniel  Woodward,  1840;   Coit  Parkhurst,  1840,  1843;   Charies  Clapp^ 
1840-41;  Lyman  Benson,  1841-42;   FV>reBt  Adams,     1843-45,  1849,  1852; 
Levi  Rix,  1844;    John  L.  Bowman.  1846;    Harvey  Shipman,  1846-48; 
Edwin  Pierce,   1846*^    Cyrus  dartshom,   1847-50,  1852-54;    George   W. 
Bradstreet,  1849;  Austin  Brooks,  1850;  Thomas  Fay,  1850-52,  1861-62; 
I.  P.  Morgan,  1851;  James  Davis,  1851;  Horatio  Freeman,  1853;  Heman 
Durkee,   1853-54;    Ira   Belding,   1854-57;    James   Davis,   1855,   1863-65; 
Ebenezer  Atwood,  1855-57,  1863;   William   Skinner,  Sen.,  1856;   H.   P. 
Allen,  1857-60;    Charles  W.   Bliss,   1858-59;    John  B.   Durkee,   1860-61, 
1883-85,  1897;    George  A.  Bingham,  1860;    Isaac  S.   Shepard,  1861-62; 
Martin    T.    Skinner,    1862-64,    1884-86;     George    S.    Beedy,    1865-66; 
Charles  D.  Lovejoy,  1865-67,  1881-82;   Eli  S.  Hackett,  1866-68;  Charles 
A.  Lyman,  1867-69,  1879-81;    Charles  Fay,   1868-71,  1882;    Phineas   D. 
Pierce.  1869-70;  William  Benson,  1870;  Eben  Winslow,  1871-73,  1880-82; 
J.  W.  Bailey,   1871-73;    Charles  West,  1873-75;   Edson  Bixby,  1874-78; 
H.  T.  Gifford,  1876;  John  A.  Slack.  1876;  William  Skinner,  Jr..  1877-79; 
John  F.  Shepard.  1879;   Joseph  W.  Waldo,  1882-84;   S.  C.  Drew,  1883; 
Selden  S.  Brooks,  1885-87,  1899-1900;  John  H.  Hewitt,  1886-88;  Calvin 
P.  Goff.  1887-89;   Norman  W.  Sewall,  1888-90,  1898;   Charles  B.  Vial, 
1889-91;  George  Ellis,  1890-92;  Marillo  M.  Whipple,  1891-93;  J.  O.  Bel- 
knap, 1892-94;  James  M.  Hinkley.  1893-95, 1909-11;  Daniel  W.  Bliss,  1894- 
96;   Harry  A.  Bingham,  1895-96;   John  A.  Button,  1896-98,  1901;  C.  a 
Southworth,  1897-99;  Elmer  E.  Doyle,  1900-05;  George  K.  Taggart,  1901- 
03;  Walter  E.  Webster,  1902-04;  Hiram  C.  Benson.  1904-07;  Charles  E. 
Black.  1905-07;    G.   D.   Harrington,   1906-08;    Hiram   E.  Russ,  1907-11; 
George  L.  Dutton,  1908-11. 

Royalton*s  town  representatives  in  the  General  Assembly 

have  been  as  follows: 

1778,  Joseph  Parkhurst;  1779.  none;  1780.  Calvin  Parkhurst;  1781. 
Comfort  Sever;  1782,  Calvin  Parkhurst;  1783,  Elias  Stevens;  1784,  Silas 
Williams;    1785,   Ellas  Stevens;    1786.   Calvin   Parkhurst;    1787,   Elias 
Stevens;  1788-89,  Calvin  Parkhurst;  1790,  Daniel  Tullar;  1791-95,  Elias 
Stevens;  1796,  Abel  Stevens;  1797,  Dr.  Silas  Allen;  1798.  Jacob  Smith; 
1799.  Ellas  Stevens;    1800.  Jacob  Smith;    1801,  Abel  Stevens;    1802-03, 
Elias    Stevens;    1804-05,    Nathan    Paige;    1806,    Elias    Stevens;     1807- 
12.  Jacob  Smith;  1813-14.  Rodolphus  Dewey;  1815.  Daniel  Rix,  Jr.;  1816, 
Elias  Stevens;    1817,   Daniel  Rix.  Jr.;    1818,  Rodolphus  Dewey;    1819, 
Moses  Cutter;   1820,  Rodolphus  Dewey;    1821-22.  Jacob  Collamer;   1823- 
24.  Rodolphus  Dewey;   1825,  Oel  Billings;   1826.  Nathan  Kimball;  1827, 
Jacob  Collamer;  1828-29.  Harry  Bingham;   1830,  Jacob  Collamer;   1831, 
William  Wood  worth;  1832.  Calvin  Parkhurst;  1833.  Nathaniel  Sprague; 
1834,     Samuel     Selden;      1835-37,     Oramel     Sawyer;      1838-39.     David 

Wheelock;    1840-41,   Truman    H.    Safford;    1842-43,   John   L.    Boi 

1844,  Harry  Bingham;  1845,  John  L.  Bowman;  1^ J6^7.  Homanzo 
Walker;  1848,  James  Davis;  1849,  TJanleT  Woodward;  1850-51.  John 
Coy;  1852,  Azro  D.  Hutchins;  1853,  Rufus  Kendrick;  1854-55,  Daniel 
L.  Lyman;  1856-57.  Ebenezer  Atwood;  1858-59.  Minot  Wheeler;  1860- 
62.  Dudley  C.  Denison;  1863-64.  John  S.  Marcy;  1865-66.  Martin  T. 
Skinner;  1867,  Henry  H.  Denison;  1868-69,  William  Goff;  1870-71,  Dr. 
Cyrus  E.  Drake;  1872-73,  Edward  Foster;   1874-75,  Ebenezer  Winslow; 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  369 

1876-77,  Martin  T.  Skinner;  1878-79,  Martin  S.  Adams;  1880-81,  Charles 
West;  1882-83,  none.  After  thirty-eight  ballots  an  adjoumment  was 
taken  sine  die.  1884-85,  George  Ellis;  1886-87,  John  F.  Shepard;  1888- 
89,  William  Skinner;  1890-91,  William  C.  Smith;  1892-93,  Charles  A. 
Lorman;  1894-95,  Anscm  P.  Skinner;  1896-97,  D.  C.  Steams;  1898-99, 
John  H.  Hewitt;  1900-01,  Norman  W.  Sewall;  1902-03,  Dr.  Edgar  J. 
Fish;  1904-05,  R.  B.  Galusha;  1906-07,  Dr.  D.  L.  Burnett;  1908-09,  John 
B.  Goodrich;  1910-11,  George  Ellia 

Royalton  has  had  as  town  treasurers  Comfort  Sever,  1779-80; 
Daniel  Rix,  1781-84;  Zebulon  Lyon,  1785-89,  1799;  Isaac  Skinner,  1790- 
93;  Elkanah  Stevens,  1794-95;  Jacob  Smith,  1796-98,  1800-14;  Moses 
Cutter,  1815-27;  Nathaniel  Sprague,  1828, 1834;  Oramel  Sawyer,  1830-33; 
Curtis  Fowler,  1834-36;  Joseph  A.  Denison,  Jr.,  1837-47;  Forest  Adams, 
1848-70;  A.  W.  Kenney,  1871-73;  Ebenezer  Winslow,  1874-1909;  A.  G. 
Whitham,  1909-. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


The  Town's  Poor. 

If,  in  the  earliest  history  of  the  town,  there  were  needy 
people  in  it,  they  seem  to  have  been  cared  for  without  formal 
action  by  the  inhabitants.  It  was  customary  in  those  days  to 
**wam  out  of  town"  those  who  were  likely  to  become  charges, 
and  thus  lessen  the  number  of  paupers.  The  first  record  of 
this  sort  is  dated  Mar.  13,  1783,  when  constable  Zebulon  Lyon 
performed  this  duty,  and  again  on  the  17th,  and  the  third  time 
on  the  22nd  of  the  same  month,  acting  under  the  instructions  of 
the  selectmen. 

The  first  person  for  whom  the  town  paid  recorded  bills  waa 
Abial  Craw  of  Ellington,  Conn.  On  Oct.  20,  1795,  the  town 
voted  to  those  caring  for  Mr.  Craw  in  his  lameness  a  sum  not 
exceeding  nine  pounds.  This  necessity  of  caring  for  Mr.  Craw 
led  to  a  suit  with  the  town  of  Ellington,  Conn.,  which  appears 
to  have  refused  to  pay  the  bills  incurred  by  Royalton,  amount- 
ing to  £94.6.4.  This  must  have  been  a  long  and  expensive  case. 
Zebulon  Lyon  was  first  employed  by  the  town  as  their  agent, 
then  Daniel  Gilbert.  Mr.  Gilbert  was  invited  on  May  28,  1799, 
to  come  into  a  special  town  meeting  and  report  on  the  Craw  case. 
It  ought  to  have  been  a  favorable  report,  as  his  bill  for  the  serv- 
ice rendered  was  $78.67.  The  report  was  not  recorded.  From 
subsequent  incidental  references  it  would  seem  that  the  town 
won  its  suit. 

Private  individuals  and  the  selectmen  cared  for  transients 
and  trusted  to  the  town  to  reimburse  them.  In  1802  the  ac- 
counts against  the  town  for  the  care  of  the  poor  brought  in  by 
individuals,  including  doctors,  was  $76.47.  One  death  was  re- 
ported, that  of  Mr.  Herrick.  The  church  realized  its  obligations 
to  its  unfortunate  fellow  man,  and  in  1800,  Nov.  11,  it  voted  to 
look  after  the  poor,  all  sharing  according  to  their  list. 

It  was  in  the  March  meeting  of  1805  that  the  town  followed 
the  example  of  other  towns,  and  voted  to  set  up  the  poor  to  the 
lowest  bidder.  To  us  of  the  present  day  such  a  custom  seems 
most  revolting  and  cruel.  There  was  one  argument  in  its  favor, 
and  that  was  that  it  was  cheaper.     If  it  is  said  that  it  gave  a 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  361 

chance  to  relatives  to  care  for  their  friends  for  a  small  remuner- 
ation, when,  otherwise,  their  means  would  not  allow  of  assuming 
this  burden,  the  facts  show  that  in  most  cases  the  poor  were  not 
bid  off  by  their  relatives,  and  they  were  not  sure  of  staying  in 
a  place  more  than  one  year  at  a  time. 

The  first  sale  in  this  town  took  place  on  the  third  Tuesday 
in  April,  1805.  Think  of  the  unfortunate  ones  in  their  poverty- 
stricken  condition,  anxiously  waiting  to  learn  where  their  lot 
would  be  cast  for  the  next  twelve-month!  The  moderator  of 
the  meeting  was  the  ** vendue  master."  Perhaps  bidders  were 
slow,  loath  to  be  responsible  for  the  new  step.  The  auctioneer 
himself  bid  off  Elnathan  Taylor  and  wife  for  the  sum  of  $58, 
except  in  case  of  sickness.  Mr.  Taylor's  daughter,  Lois,  went  to 
Daniel  Rix  for  the  sum  of  $3,  and  we  must  conclude  that  she 
was  able  to  nearly  earn  her  support.  Isaac  Skinner  took  James 
Haven  and  wife  for  the  sum  of  $7.  Here  are  seven  persons 
known  to  have  been  town  charges  that  year.  The  following  year 
the  same  course  was  adopted.  The  poor  of  the  previous  year 
had  new  homes.  There  were  two  sisters  who  were  separated.  It 
was  stipulated  that  the  poor  were  to  be  returned  as  well 
"cloathed''  as  when  received,  and  the  bidder  was  to  be  entitled 
to  their  services.  One  good  feature  of  this  course  is  that  due 
care  seems  to  have  been  used  in  knowing  that  those  who  made 
bids  were  responsible,  worthy  citizens,  and  that  the  indigent 
people  under  their  charge  would  receive  good  care.  Some  who 
have  traditions  of  this  custom  in  their  families  say  that  the  poor 
were  well  cared  for. 

The  next  year  they  first  voted  to  dispose  of  the  needy  in  the 

same  way,  and  then  reconsidered  and  chose  Jacob  Smith,  Daniel 

Tullar,  and  Isaac  Skinner  the  first  overseers  of  the  poor  in 

Royalton.      An  incident   occurred   the   following   year,   which 

shows  that  however  much   the  custom   just   referred   to  was 

worthy  of  censure,  at  heart  the  people  were  not  unkindly,  and 

would  even  extend  their  generosity  beyond  the  practice  of  the 

present  day.     Cyril  Green  petitioned  the  town  as  follows : 

"To  the  Civil  Authority  and  Selectmen  and  the  Inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Royalton  greeting. 

Gentlemen  it  is  with  the  utmost  Regret  that  your  Petitioner  Ad- 
dresses you;  But  necessity  obliges  me  to  have  Recourse  to  my  Fathers 
and  friends.  It  is  almost  two  years  that  I  have  been  in  a  very  low 
state  of  health  and  been  (un)able  to  do  any  labor.  Have  applied  to  a 
number  of  Physicians  but  to  no  purpose  yet  they  generally  agree  that 
if  I  should  repair  to  the  salt  water  and  there  be  able  to  tarry  a  space  of 
time  I  should  in  their  opinion  get  my  health  restored  and  as  I  can  be  of 
no  advantage  but  a  burthen  to  my  family  which  will  otherwise  be  pro- 
vided for  through  the  clemency  of  my  friends,  therefore  your  Petitioner 
humbly  requests  you  that  you  would  in  your  wisdom  and  mercy  pro- 
cure him  a  small  sum  in  money  for  the  above  purpose  he  further  prays 
that  you  would  consider  that  his  illness  was  not  procured  by  intem- 


362  History  op  Boyalton,  Vbrmont 

perance  but  in  hard  labor  in  seeking  to  procure  subsistence  for  his 
family. 

Gentlemen  that  the  giver  of  all  gifts  would  move  your  hearts  to 
relieve  my  distressed  condition  is  the  Prayer  of  your  humble  Petitioner. 

Cyril  Green." 

His  prayer  was  granted.  Mr.  Green  came  here  from  Bethel 
in  1798,  and  was  last  listed  in  1807.  He  petitioned  for  aid  in 
1808.  That  year  they  auctioneered  the  poor  again.  The  bill  for 
the  year  amounted  to  $164.33  for  the  care  of  six  persons.  Three 
overseers  were  chosen  this  year,  though  why  so  many  were 
needed  is  not  clear.  The  law  passed  in  1797  relating  to  town 
officers  left  it  optional  with  the  towns  to  say  whether  the  select- 
men should  act  as  overseers  of  the  poor  or  whether  they  would 
elect  separate  officers  to  look  after  the  indigent. 

In  1812  the  cost  of  caring  for  the  poor  was  $389.97.  The 
town  had  hired  a  farm  for  one  family  for  which  it  paid  $50. 
This  year  they  chose  a  committee  of  five,  comprising  Gfen.  Elias 
Stevens,  John  Billings,  Samuel  Curtis,  Rodolphus  Dewey,  and 
Stephen  Freeman,  to  **  ascertain  the  best  and  most  convenient 
place  for  building  a  work  or  poor  house  and  Report  a  plan  for 
the  building  of  the  same,  and  to  call  a  meeting  if  deemed  ad- 
visable." As  no  meeting  was  called,  and  there  is  no  further 
mention  of  this  matter,  it  doubtless  was  not  thought  best  to 
provide  such  a  house.  The  following  year  the  expenses  were 
much  less.  The  town  required  all  those  caring  for  the  poor  to 
pay  all  bills  except  doctors*  bills  in  case  of  extra  sickness. 

Seven  men,  most,  if  not  all,  with  families  were  warned  out 
of  town  the  fall  of  this  year  by  order  of  the  selectmen.  Five 
of  these  had  a  tax  list  ranging  from  $33.58  to  $74.50,  and  owned 
a  few  acres  of  improved  land.  In  the  previous  year  ten  had  been 
thus  warned.  During  ^\e  preceding  years,  omitting  1807,  fifty- 
three  warnings  had  been  served,  and  w^ere  a  source  of  income 
to  the  constable,  Ebenezer  Parkhurst.  The  town  seemed  to  have 
a  lenient  mood  in  1807.  No  doubt  many  of  these  people  re- 
mained in  town,  in  fact  some  of  their  honored  descendants  arc 
here  today.  The  selectmen  did  their  duty,  however,  in  serving 
the  warnings,  as  that  would  free  the  town  from  responsibility 
in  case  any  of  those  thus  warned  should  apply  for  aid. 

The  overseers  exercised  stricter  watch  over  those  who  bid 
off  the  poor  as  the  years  went  on,  being  instructed  by  the  voters 
to  see  that  the  unfortunate  ones  were  properly  fed,  clothed,  and 
provided  ^\ith  fire.  More  care,  also,  was  taken  to  select  suitable 
persons  for  this  purpose,  so  that  the  needy  were  as  well  cared 
for  as  could  be  expected  with  such  a  system. 

In  1816  there  was  a  reported  cost  for  keeping  the  poor  of 
$469.46.  The  next  year  it  was  voted  to  bid  off  the  poor  as 
before,  but  one  month  later  they  re-considered  and  decided  to 


HiSTCXRY    OP    ROYALTON,    VERMONT  368 

leave  the  matter  in  the  hands  of  the  overseers.  In  1818  but  one 
overseer  was  chosen,  Gen.  Stevens.  The  town  voted  that  "the 
overseer  of  the  Poor  be  requested  to  afford  that  aid  and  assist- 
ance to  any  of  the  Poor  (who  may  be  entitled  to  a  pention  from 
government  for  services  done  and  performed  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War)  in  order  for  their  names  to  be  entered  on  the  list  of 
pensions."  Steps  were  taken  to  secure  a  pension  for  James 
Haven,  which  were  successful,  and  he  disappears  from  the  rec- 
ords of  the  town  after  1822.  It  is  possible  that  he  and  his  wife 
returned  to  friends  in  the  state  from  which  they  had  emigrated. 
For  many  years  they  had  been  on  the  move,  not  knowing  one 
year  where  they  would  be  the  next,  and  there  is  a  great  sense 
of  satisfaction  in  the  thought,  that  at  last  the  services  which  he 
had  rendered  his  country  were  to  have  some  sort  of  recognition. 
Officers  and  those  wounded  had  been  pensioned  before,  but  the 
United  States  pension  law  of  1818  gave  the  common  soldier  a 
chance. 

The  next  year  the  town  chose  a  committee  to  suggest  the 
best  way  of  disposing  of  town  charges.  The  matter  was  left  in 
the  hands  of  the  overseer  to  act  according  to  his  best  judgment. 
Under  the  old  plan  expenses  had  almost  continuously  increased, 
reaching  the  sum  of  $557.26  in  the  report  of  1819.  The  expenses 
the  next  year  were  somewhat  smaller.  In  1821  the  town  went 
on  record  in  favor  of  paying  the  overseer  for  his  services.  The 
plan  of  leaving  the  care  of  the  poor  to  him  resulted  generally 
in  lessening  the  cost,  but  in  1828  the  expenses  jumped  to  $740.47. 
The  next  two  years  the  cost  was  heavy,  but  did  not  reach  this 
yearly  figure. 

The  idea  of  a  union  workhouse  corresponding  somewhat  to 
county  poorhouses  occurred  to  the  voters  of  1825,  and  they  chose 
Rodolphus  Dewey  and  Daniel  Rix  to  confer  with  committees 
from  Tunbridge  and  Sharon  *'on  the  expediency  of  the  three 
towns  uniting  in  building  a  poorhouse  and  making  provision  for 
the  support  of  the  poor  of  their  respective  (towns)  in  this  way 
and  ascertain  whether  such  a  measure  would  probably  lessen  the 
expense  of  such  support."  At  her  March  meeting  this  year 
Tunbridge  chose  Nathaniel  Kingsbury  as  a  committee  to  confer 
with  the  committee  from  Royalton  and  Sharon.  At  an  ad- 
journed meeting  from  March,  1826,  Tunbridge  voted  to  adopt 
the  principle  of  a  poorhouse  as  contemplated  by  law,  and  chose 
a  committee  to  carry  the  same  into  effect.  What  action  Sharon 
took  has  not  been  ascertained,  but  the  project  did  not  materialize. 

At  the  March  meeting,  1830,  a  proposition  was  made  by 

Jacob  CoUamer  for  the  consideration  of  voters  as  follows: 

"Resolved,  That  the  support  of  the  poor  of  the  town  for  the  pres- 
ent year  be  now  exposed  for  sale  to  the  lowest  bidder  to  support  all 
now  chargeable  or  that  may  become  chargeable  during  the  year  of  per- 


364  HiSTCttY    OF    BOYALTON,    VlBHONT 

sons  now  residing  in  town,  and  also  that  there  he  offered  to  the  lowest 
bidder  all  those  now  chargeable,  in  single  persons  or  in  families,  and 
on  the  result  of  those  biddings  the  town  to  be  at  liberty  to  accept  of 
whichever  they  see  fit  Security  to  be  given  to  the  acceptance  of  the 
Overseer  of  the  Poor." 

The  town  adopted  this  resolation,  but  specified  two  families 
who  were  to  be  under  the  care  of  the  overseer. 

Then  the  competitive  bidding  b^^an.  Salmon  Joiner  made 
a  bid  of  $474  for  the  whole  of  the  poor,  and  individual  bids 
aggregated  $275,  and  the  town  naturaUy  accepted  the  individual 
bids.  There  were  ten  or  more  persons  dependent  on  the  town 
for  support  at  this  time.  However  hopeful  the  outlook  seemed 
for  less  expense,  it  was  not  realized,  for  with  doctors'  bills  and 
other  costs  it  was  only  about  $43  less  than  the  preceding  year. 

It  was  deemed  best  in  1832  to  follow  the  plan  of  the  pre- 
vious year.  Andrew  Backus  made  a  bid  of  $390  for  the  whole 
number  of  indigent  ones,  which  was  accepted,  though  it  exceeded 
by  $21  the  individual  bids.  The  next  year  they  **sold  the  i)Oor  in 

Gross  to  Joseph  Johnson  for  $430.    Voted  to  separate  Mii. 

from  her  children  in  selling  tiie  poor  singly."  The  phraseology 
is  misleading,  as  they  accepted  the  individual  bids  amounting  to 
$225. 

Bodolphus  Dewey  had  served  as  overseer  several  years.  This 
year  Jireh  Tucker  was  elected.  There  were  various  expenses 
that  the  overseer  had  to  meet,  besides  the  boarding  and  care  of 
the  needy,  and  these  were  bid  oflP  in  a  lump  by  Horatio  N.  Free- 
man for  $122.  Mr.  Tucker  assumed  the  care  of  all  the  needy 
ones  the  next  year,  1833,  the  individual  bids  being  only  $70  less, 
and  it  seemed  less  trouble  and  more  satisfactory,  probably,  to 
leave  the  matter  in  the  hands  of  one  trusty  person.  Mr.  Tucker 
seems  to  have  **farmed  out"  different  ones  to  other  persons. 

The  only  innovation  on  the  method  of  caring  for  the  poor 
in  1834  was  the  bidding  on  the  risk  of  the  possible  out-of-town 
poor.  This  risk  was  bid  off  by  Andrew  Backus  for  $115. 
Whether  Mr.  Backus  lost  or  gained  on  this  transaction  is  not 
recorded. 

In  1835  the  single  bids  of  $380  were  accepted.  An  ad- 
journed meeting  was  held,  at  which  Nathan  KimbaU  introduced 
the  following  resolution: 

"Resolved  that  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Royalton  be  hereby 
authorized  &  directed  to  purchase  or  hire  at  their  discretion  a  farm  in 
said  town  suitable  and  sufficient  for  the  employment  of  the  paupers 
in  sd  town,  with  stock  and  tools  for  the  management  of  the  same,  one 
year.  Also  that  the  selectmen  are  further  authorized  to  hire  a  good, 
faithful  and  industrious  man  ft  woman  to  oversee  and  conduct  sd  farm 
ft  paupers,  the  sd  Selectmen  to  purchase  or  hire,  and  have  ready  ad 
farm,  stock,  tools,  furniture,  beds  and  provisions  on  the  day  of  our 
next  annual  March  meeting,  and  present  their  account  in  relation  to 
the  same  on  sd  day." 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  366 

A.  C.  Noble,  Jonathan  Kinney,  and  John  Francis  were  a 
committee  to  attend  to  this  matter  and  see  what  could  be  done. 
At  the  next  March  meeting,  1836,  they  accepted  the  report  of 
this  committee.  For  that  year  they  adopted  a  resolution  which 
called  for  bids  for  caring  for  all  the  poor  one  year,  and  also  for 
five  years,  also  a  bid  by  individuals  for  the  ensuing  year.  They 
accepted  David  Wheelock's  bid  for  five  years'  support  at  $575  a 
year.  Mr.  Wheelock  was  authorized  to  prosecute  and  defend 
suits  for  and  against  the  town,  provided  he  saved  the  town  harm- 
less from  damage  and  cost.  The  town  was  thus  relieved  from 
yearly  action  in  the  matter  of  supporting  the  poor. 

The  report  of  the  committee  in  1836  regarding  the  purchase 
of  a  town  farm  could  not  have  been  favorable,  as  no  action  was 
taken  to  secure  a  farm  until  the  expiration  of  the  five-year  con- 
tract with  Mr.  Wheelock.  Then  in  1841  the  town  accepted  the 
resolution  offered  by  John  Francis,  which  was  practically  the 
same  as  the  one  acted  on  five  years  before,  which  was  to  call  for 
bids.  The  individual  bid  won  this  time.  '*  Jireh  Tucker  bid  oflP 
Mary  Cummins  at  $25.00  for  one  year  commencing  March  10, 
1841."  Ann  Perkins  went  to  Stephen  Freeman  at  $69;  Jacob 
Kimball  to  Jireh  Tucker  at  $40;  Betsey  Emerson  to  Horatio  N. 
Freeman  at  $46;  ** Misses"  Chaffee  to  Stephen  Freeman  at  $67; 
"Misses"  Buckland  to  Elijah  Barnes  at  $74.  The  bids  were  for 
one  year. 

They  had  now  fully  resolved  to  make  some  other  arrange- 
ment for  caring  for  the  town's  needy  ones,  and  readily  endorsed 
the  resolutions  introduced  by  Edwin  Pierce,  which  called  for 
the  purchase  of  a  farm,  and  the  collection  of  the  surplus  revenue 
remaining,  as  much  as  needed,  to  apply  on  the  purchase.  Harry 
Bingham,  Edwin  Pierce,  and  Josiah  Douglass  were  the  com- 
mittee to  carry  this  resolution  into  effect.  The  voters  were  called 
together  Dec:  11  of  the  same  year,  and  passed  over  the  article 
relating  to  the  purchase  of  the  town  farm.  Probably  the  ex- 
pense was  greater  than  anticipated.  The  article  was  again  in- 
serted in  the  warning  for  the  March  meeting,  1842.  It  was  to 
see  if  the  town  would  further  instruct  the  committee  appointed 
to  buy  a  town  farm.  This  committee  had  taken  a  deed  from 
Jonathan  Kinney  for  206  acres,  paying  therefor  $3,100.  The 
date  of  transfer  was  Oct.  9,  1841. 

The  committee  reported  that  in  addition  to  the  farm  they 
had  purchased  694  pounds  of  pork  and  234  pounds  of  beef,  but 
not  neat  stock,  utensils,  etc.,  and  they  would  give  a  verbal  reason 
for  this  neglect,  if  required.  It  was  voted  to  leave  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  town  farm  to  the  overseer.  This  year,  1842,  David 
Wheelock,  overseer,  secured  Asaph  Button  and  wife  for  care- 
takers at  the  farm.    From  the  selectmen's  orders  it  is  shown 


ff 


366  History  of  Royalton,  Vermont 

that  they  were  paid  $200  for  their  services,  and  the  whole  bill 
for  the  year  was  $658.60.  It  must  be  remembered  that  consid- 
erable of  this  amount  was  paid  out  for  stocking  the  farm. 

In  1843  the  town  voted  that  the  overseer  "exercise  person- 
ally all  the  duties  appertaining  to  said  oflSce  including  the  care 
of  the  farm  except  that  if  he  wishes  to  take  the  farm  into 
own  occupancy  he  shall  make  a  bargain  with  the  selectmen. 
The  next  year  Stillman  Lawton  and  wife  had  care  of  the  farm, 
receiving  therefor  $170,  as  specified  in  the  overseer's  account. 
Mr.  Lawton  seems  to  have  been  sick  some  of  the  time  and  unable 
to  attend  to  his  duties,  and  Mr.  Wheelock  ** docked"  his  salary. 
The  town  voted  that  he  should  receive  his  full  salary.  The  ex- 
periment of  running  a  town  farm  resulted  the  second  year  in 
a  considerable  reduction,  the  full  cost  above  the  avails  of  the 
farm  being  $424.14. 

The  matter  of  caring  for  the  insane  came  up  in  1844.  It 
was  left  to  the  good  judgment  of  the  overseer  and  selectmen. 
Royalton  has  always  been  humane  and  liberal  in  caring  for  the 
insane  poor.  There  has  never  been  any  large  number  of  cases 
of  this  kind  at  any  one  time,  though  it  has,  probably,  had  its 
share  of  such  unfortunates.  They  have  generally  been  cared  for 
by  friends. 

In  1845  the  selectmen  were  the  overseers.  Charles  Russell 
had  been  paid  for  the  year  ending  March  of  that  year,  $300  for 
care  of  the  town  farm.  It  had  been  an  expensive  year,  and  they 
evidently  hoped  to  devise  some  way  of  lessening  the  expense.  It 
was  **  Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  manage  &  dispose  of  the  Town 
farm  and  all  matters  connected  with  the  support  of  the  paupers 
either  by  putting  the  same  up  at  public  auction  or  by  hiring  the 
same  done  as  they  may  think  best  for  from  one  to  five  or  even 
seven  years.'* 

Some  of  the  poor  had  been  disposed  of  by  the  town  paying 
a  certain  sum  to  their  friends,  who  relieved  the  town  of  further 
responsibility.  In  a  warning  for  a  meeting  on  Dec.  16,  1845, 
one  article  was,  **To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  a  sum  of  money 
to  enable  Mrs.  Buckland  to  go  West  with  her  son  or  any  other 
of  the  paupers  to  go  to  their  friends,  or  otherwise  provide  for 
themselves  provided  a  sufficient  indemnity  be  given  for  their 
support. '*  This  was  acted  upon  favorably.  There  seems  to 
have  been  an  exodus  to  Oregon  about  this  time,  as  the  following 
resolution  indicates :  *  *  Resolved  to  submit  the  case  of  such  Town 
Paupers  as  request  the  town  to  assist  them  by  giving  them  a 
small  sum  of  Money  that  they  May  go  to  Oregon  with  their 
friends,  to  the  Selectmen,  that  when  they  shall  ascertain  all  the 
circumstances  in  relation  to  the  case,  shall  act  as  they  deem  ad- 
visable for  them  and  for  the  Town.'*    Sixty  dollars  was  voted 


HiSTOBT    OF    ROYALTON,    VERMONT  867 

for  Mrs.  Buckland,  and  she  was  taken  away.  One  or  more  mem- 
bers of  this  family  had  been  supported  by  the  town  for  sixteen 
years.  Mr.  Harry  Bingham  had  a  charge  in  the  **Poor  Ac- 
count" of  that  year  of  $1.25  for  one  day  attending  the  Mormons. 
Whether  or  not  that  had  anything  to  do  with  the  exodus  to 
Oregon  cannot  be  stated. 

In  1845  the  voters  elected  Jonathan  Kinney,  Lyman  Ben- 
son, and  Jireh  Tucker  a  committee  to  sell  all  or  a  part  of  the 
land  belonging  to  the  town  farm,  which  lay  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Branch  road,  and  six  acres  were  sold  to  Herman  Bement 
Feb.  11,  1846.  That  year  the  selectmen  were  the  overseers.  The 
warning  for  a  meeting  Sep.  1st  of  that  year  called  for  action 
regarding  the  leasing  of  the  town  farm  for  a  longer  term  than 
one  year.  A  committee  composed  of  Sidney  S.  Smith,  Joseph 
A.  Denison,  Jr.,  and  John  L.  Bowman  were  chosen  to  examine 
records  and  ascertain  the  expense  of  caring  for  the  poor  both 
before  and  after  the  purchase  of  the  town  farm.  The  voters 
were  called  together  again  on  Dec.  12,  when  the  committee  prob- 
ably reported,  but  the  report  is  not  in  evidence.  It  could  not 
have  been  very  favorable  for  running  the  farm.  They  voted 
that  the  selectmen  contract  for  the  support  of  the  poor  and  for 
all  expenses  on  that  account, — except  foreign  paupers,  regard- 
ing whom  they  were  to  use  discretionary  powers, — for  a  term 
of  from  three  to  ten  years,  the  use  of  the  farm,  stock,  tools,  and 
furniture  thereon  to  be  in  part  payment  of  the  yearly  debt.  A  ^- 
contract  was  accordingly  made  with  John  L.  Bowman  for  $600 
for  the  year.  The  bill  which  was  audited  at  the  end  of  the  year 
was  $904.71. 

One  item  on  the  bill  looks  as  if  the  overseer  followed  the 
custom  of  people  who  bag  a  cat  which  they  wish  to  get  rid  of, 
then  quietly  drop  it  a  mile  or  two  from  home.  He  has  a  charge 
for  carrying  one  of  the  unfortunates  **to  the  north  line  of  Barn- 
ard.'* Whether  the  overseer  of  Barnard  was  there  with  open 
arms,  or  whether  the  poor  man  had  to  wander  on  until  some 
kindly  hand  took  him  in,  will  never  be  known. 

The  first  detailed  inventory  of  personal  property  at  the 
town  farm  was  made  in  1847,  showing  that  it  amounted  to 
$757.54.  This  inventory  was  a  necessary  preliminary  to  leas- 
ing the  farm  to  John  L.  Bowman  for  a  term  of  seven  years  from 
the  fifth  day  of  March,  1847,  for  $600  annually.  Mr.  Bowman 
assumed  all  expenses,  except  that  for  foreign  paupers.  There 
was  a  proviso  that,  if  the  town  should  elect  to  take  the  risk  at 
its  next  March  meeting,  Mr.  Bowman  was  to  have  $125  annually, 
and  give  a  bond  of  $3,000  to  secure  fulfillment  of  contract. 
** Foreign'*  as  applied  to  paupers  was  to  mean  paupers  from 


368  HiSTOBY    OF    ROYAIiTON,    YeBMONT 

foreign  nations.    Mr.  Bowman  drew  orders  in  March,  1848,  for 
** caring  for  the  poor  the  past  year,"  $1,599.27. 

Foreign  paupers  were  encouraged  to  leave.  Chauncey  Sal- 
isbury was  paid  $3  ' '  for  getting  John  the  Scotchman  to  take  the 
cars  for  Scotland. ' '  How  near  Scotland  the  $5  took  him  is  not 
stated.  It  was  the  advent  of  the  railroad  that  brought  in  this 
foreign  population.  In  1853  there  was  a  bill  of  $50  for  the  sup- 
port of  **the  Irishman,"  who  must  have  been  especially  distin- 
guished or  the  only  one  in  town.  At  a  meeting  of  Dec.  17  of 
that  year  it  was  voted  that  there  should  be  an  investigation  of 
the  affairs  of  the  town  farm,  and  a  report  made  at  the  next 
March  meeting.  The  taxpayers  were  evidently  restless,  and 
dissatisfied  with  conditions.  The  doctors'  bills  for  foreign  pau- 
pers for  which  orders  were  drawn  March  31  and  April  2,  1848, 
amounted  to  $337.29.  There  had  been  an  epidemic  of  fever 
among  the  men  working  for  the  railroad,  and  many  of  them 
died.  A  considerable  number  are  buried  in  the  Sharon  ceme- 
tery at  the  mouth  of  Broad  Brook.  They  rest  in  the  rear  of  the 
yard  without  headstones. 

The  committee  of  investigation  reported  that  it  was  not 
wise  for  the  town  to  dispose  of  the  farm,  that  it  was  a  desirable 
one  for  the  purpose.    There  were  then  seventeen  persons  de- 
pendent on  the  town  for  support,  and  thirteen  of  these  were  at 
the  town  farm.    The  sum  total  of  the  ages  of  eight  of  these  was 
606  years,   averaging  nearly   seventy-six.    The  committee  re- 
ported that  they  had  had  a  better  offer  than  the  terms  of  the 
Z'  Bowman  contract,  and  advised  accepting  it,  but  the  advice  was 
/     turned  down.     It  is  diflScult  to  see  how  the  town  could  honor- 
,1      ably  nullify  the  contract  with  Mr.  Bowman.     A  long,  loose  reso- 
■\      lution  was  offered,  which  really  meant  that  the  selectmen  could 
sell  or  do  almost  anything  else  they  pleased  with  the  town  farm. 
The  heads  of  some  of  them  were  long  enough  to  have  it  amended 
so  as  to  preclude  a  sale,  and  then  it  was  passed. 

At  the  March  meeting  of  1857  it  was  voted  to  sell  a  part 
of  the  town  farm  lying  between  the  highway  and  the  Branch, 
and  to  give  only  a  quitclaim  deed.  The  selectmen  for  the  year 
1848  had  given  a  deed  of  one  and  one-fourth  acres  of  land  from 
the  town  farm  to  Josiah  B.  Powers,  then  of  New  York.  There 
had  been  no  special  vote  authorizing  them  to  do  this.  It  may 
be  that  they  thought  the  vote  of  1845  gave  them  all  the  author- 
ity needed,  as  all  the  land  then  specified  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  sold.  The  town,  however,  was  jealous  of  its  rights,  and 
repudiated  the  sale.  Mr.  Powers  had  a  good  deed  from  the 
selectmen,  duly  recorded,  and  he  did  not  propose  to  give  it  up. 
The  town  brought  suit,  and  Mr.  Powers  made  David  Powers  of 
Boston  his  attorney,  in  February,  1856.    An  arrangement  was 


HiSTOBT    OF    BOTALTON,    YbBMONT  369 

effected  by  which  Mr.  Powers  deeded  the  land  to  the  town,  and 
the  suit  was  withdrawn.  By  the  vote  of  1857  the  selectmen  had 
the  power  to  sell  a  small  piece,  but  no  record  is  found  of  their 
having  done  so. 

In  the  warning  for  the  March  meeting,  1858,  an  article  was 
inserted  to  ''  see  if  the  Town  will  appoint  a  Committee  to  confer 
with  a  committee  of  the  town  of  Bethel  with  reference  to  selling 
an  undivided  half  of  the  Town  Farm  to  the  Town  of  Bethel." 
An  examination  of  Bethel  records  does  not  reveal  any  action  by 
that  town  on  this  subject.  The  article  was  passed  over  in- 
definitely in  Royalton,  but  it  shows  that  there  was  still  agitation 
over  ways  in  which  the  cost  of  maintaining  the  poor  could  be 
lessened. 

Some  of  the  buildings  on  the  town  farm  had  been  moved 
when  Mr.  Bowman  first  took  charge.  The  town  at  its  March 
meeting  in  1859  voted  that  the  selectmen  be  instructed  and 
empowered  to  build  a  house  on  the  town  farm,  not  to  exceed 
$1,000  in  cost,  besides  what  building  material  and  labor  could 
be  obtained  from  the  farm,  and  it  was  built  that  year.  It  was 
so  built  at  a  cash  cost  of  $914.72. 

Another  attempt  was  made  the  following  year  to  get  a  vote 
for  selling  one  acre  from  the  town  farm  between  the  highway 
and  the  Branch,  but  it  failed. 

In  1865  the  selectmen  were  chosen  to  act  as  overseers  of 
the  poor.  Whenever  the  expense  bill  grew  to  large  proportions, 
then  the  taxpayers  would  change  from  selectmen  to  overseer  or 
vice  versa,  but  it  was  generally  no  more  beneficial  than  the 
changing  from  the  domination  of  one  political  party  to  another 
is  effective  in  reducing  the  cost  of  living.  Another  effort  was 
made  in  1868  to  diminish  the  cost  of  maintaining  the  poor  by 
combining  two  or  more  towns.  The  warning  for  that  year  con- 
tained the  following:  **To  see  if  the  town  will  unite  with  the 
towns  of  Stockbridge,  Bethel,  Barnard,  and  Rochester  in  the 
support  of  Towns  Poor.'*    It  was  passed  over  indefinitely. 

The  alternation  of  selectmen  and  overseer  went  on  for  a 
few  years.  In  1870  Joseph  W.  Bailey  was  chosen,  and  proved 
to  be  the  right  man  for  the  place.  He  was  re-elected  success- 
ively until  about  1881.  In  1879  the  selectmen  were  instructed 
by  the  voters  to  give  him  charge  of  the  town  farm,  and  also  in 
1880.  That  year  he  tried  to  be  excused  from  serving,  but  he 
was  too  useful,  and  they  would  not  excuse  him. 

The  attempt  to  make  the  farm  support  the  resident  paupers 
was  rarely,  if  ever,  successful.  For  many  years  a  man  was 
hired  to  carry  it  on,  and  the  town  took  all  the  risk.  In  1893 
the  cost  above  the  products  of  the  farm  was  $924.66.  A  com- 
parison by  years  would  not  be  just  or  truthful,  unless  all  the 
24 


870  History  op  Botalton,  Yebmont 

conditions  were  stated.  Some  years  considerable  outlay  haa  been 
required  on  the  buildings,  and  in  other  years,  the  re-atoddng 
of  the  farm  has  helped  to  swell  the  expense  column.  Then,  too, 
the  number  of  persons  at  the  farm  has  varied  greatly,  and  the 
cost  of  maintaining  the  needy  ones  away  from  the  town  farm. 
Doctors'  bills  vary  from  year  to  year. 

At  one  time  a  large  dairy  was  provided  in  the  hope,  doubt- 
less, that  returns  would  more  than  compensate,  but  that  did  not 
prove  to  be  the  case.  In  1902  the  inventory  of  personal  prop- 
erty at  the  farm  reached  $2,975.75.  The  expense  above  farm 
products  was  $971.01.  The  next  year  the  expense  above  re- 
ceipts was  almost  $1,000. 

For  some  years  after  1903  the  farm  was  leased,  and  the 
lessee  was  to  have  the  use  of  it  with  stock  and  all  equipment,  l^ 
assuming  the  taxes  and  the  care  of  four  or  five  paupers  on  the 
average,  and  agreeing  to  return  the  property  in  good  condition. 
The  cost  was  less  than  in  the  years  immediately  preceding,  but, 
as  a  rule,  not  less  than  it  was  in  many  years  when  a  man  was 
hired.  The  amount  of  stock  was  considerably  reduced,  and 
when  the  overseer  in  1908  reverted  to  the  old  plan  of  hiring  a 
man  to  carry  on  the  farm,  it  required  no  small  sum  to  re-stock 
the  farm. 

In  later  years  the  selectmen,  and  George  Ellis  and  Charles 
E.  Black  have  acted  as  overseers.  Mr.  Black  is  serving  his  sec- 
ond year.  The  inventory  of  personal  property  at  the  town  farm 
for  1909  was  as  follows :  Live  stock,  $804 ;  produce,  $381 ;  pro- 
visions, $108.57;  tools,  furniture  and  wood,  $610.30;  total, 
$1,903.87.  On  the  farm  is  a  good  house,  two  bams,  and  other 
necessary  outbuildings.  At  present  there  are  but  two  resident 
persons  needing  help  at  the  town  farm. 


^^W-WO^'H 


^"^^^-"^^^■^     ^^^^>^f^^' 


QZ. 


*-*>x 


FAC-8IMILE  SIUNATL'KKS  OK  KAKLY  8ETTLER8. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


Cemeteries. 

The  proper  care  of  the  last  resting  places  of  those  who  have 
gone  before  us  is  a  duty  incumbent  upon  the  citizens  of  every 
town.  To  ask  the  question,  **What  does  it  signify  f  or  to  say 
that  it  is  a  matter  of  mere  sentiment,  indicates  a  nature  not  far 
removed  from  the  brute  creation,  and  even  some  of  them  have 
the  finer  instinct  which  prompts  them  to  care  for  their  dead. 

The  laws  of  Vermont  make  provision  for  the  yearly  ex- 
penditure of  a  certain  amount  by  the  towns  in  the  care  and  pres- 
ervation of  their  cemeteries,  but,  like  many  other  laws  on  the 
statute  books,  little  notice  will  be  taken  of  it  unless  public  sen- 
timent calls  for  its  enforcement.  It  is,  indeed,  a  sad  com- 
mentary on  man's  indifference  to  the  labors  and  sacrifices  of  the 
early  settlers  of  any  town,  when  the  stones  marking  their  rest- 
ing places  are  allowed  to  fall,  break  to  pieces,  and  crumble  away, 
oven  be  used  in  making  fences,  and  thus  allow  all  trace  of  the 
graves  of  our  forefathers  to  be  lost. 

In  past  years  the  town  of  Royalton  has  probably  taken  as 
good  care  of  her  cemeteries  as  the  majority  of  towns.  In  the 
last  year  the  selectmen  have  done  much  to  improve  the  condition 
of  the  burial  lots.  Yards  have  been  cleaned  of  their  rubbish, 
and  some  of  the  stones  which  had  fallen  have  been  re-set.  If 
each  successive  year  the  good  work  goes  on,  our  cemeteries  will 
be  a  credit  to  the  civilization  of  the  town. 

There  is  little  doubt  that  a  considerable  number  of  the  early 
residents  of  Royalton  sleep  in  unmarked  graves  outside  of  any 
cemetery,  and  their  last  resting  places  will  never  be  exactly 
known.  Because  of  so  many  unmarked  graves  even  in  the  burial 
lots,  it  cannot  be  positively  stated  which  lot  is  the  oldest  in  town. 
The  earliest  date  recorded  on  a  headstone  is  April  12,  1779, 
which  marked  the  grave  of  Rufus  Rude,  but  which  is  now  broken 
and  lying  by  the  fence.  This  is  in  the  South  Royalton  cemetery. 
There  is,  however,  on  record  the  death  of  Martha,  daughter  of 
Medad  and  Abigail  Benton,  which  occurred  Aug.,  1778,  and  a 
stone  with  the  inscription,  ** Martha,"  stands  beside  Lieut.  Me- 
dad's,  but  it  has  sunk  so  far  that  the  further  inscription  cannot 


372  HlST(»Y    OF    ROYAIiTON,    VERMONT 

be  seen.  This  is  also  in  the  South  Boyalton  cemetery.  This 
burial  ground  was  laid  out  on  the  farm  of  Elisha  Kent. 

The  earliest  record  in  the  North  Boyalton  cemetery  is  Dec. 
27,  1779,  the  date  of  the  death  of  Lorene,  daughter  of  Lieut. 
Timothy  Durkee.  The  oldest  inscription  in  the  Branchview 
cemetery  is  dated  Mar.  16,  1791,  and  is  on  the  headstone  mark- 
ing the  grave  of  Betsey  Woodward.  Other  headstones  bearing 
early  dates  are,  Betsey  Storrs',  who  died  Aug.  7, 1794,  buried  in 
the  Howe  cemetery;  Dea.  Ebc^ezer  Dewey's,  who  died  Oct.  19, 
1794,  buried  in  Dewey  cemetery;  Olive  Pixley  Coy's,  who  died 
Sep.  15,  1795,  buried  in  Branchview  cemetery.  None  of  the 
other  cemeteries  have  any  stones  today  older  than  1800.  As  the 
first  settlements  were  in  the  south  part  of  the  town,  it  is  prob- 
able that  the  South  Boyalton  cemetery  is  the  oldest  in  town. 

The  first  recorded  action  taken  by  the  town  regarding  ceme- 
teries bears  the  date  Dec.  12,  1794,  when  Zebulon  Lyon,  Elias 
Stevens,  and  Benjamin  Parkhurst  were  chosen  a  conmiittee  to 
lay  out  burying  grounds.  On  Jan.  13th  of  the  next  year  Abel 
Stevens  and  Isaac  Skinner  were  chosen  a  committee  to  see  if 
they  could  raise  a  sum  of  money  by  subscription  sufficient  to 
pay  Timothy  Durkee  for  one  acre  of  land  for  a  burying  yard 
in  Boyalton,  the  expense  being  ten  pounds.  This  committee 
reported  Feb.  10th  that  they  had  raised  the  money,  and  the 
selectmen  were  instructed  to  take  a  deed  of  **ye  burying  yard 
in  Town  &  enter  into  bonds  in  the  Name  &  behalf  ye  Town  to 
Timothy  Durkee  to  fence  &  forever  to  keep  well  fenced  ye  yard 
on  his  farm."  There  are  standing  in  this  yard  today  records 
of,  at  least,  eight  burials  before  the  town  took  any  action  re- 
garding the  purchase  of  the  land.  The  deed  given  by  Mr.  Dur- 
kee is  dated  Feb.  4,  1797,  and  specifies  that  he  received  $33  for 
this  acre,  which  is  a  part  of  lot  53  Town  Plot. 

Although  the  records  do  not  show  that  the  town  owned  any 
cemetery  except  the  one  at  North  Boyalton,  yet  they  did  not 
neglect  their  duty,  but  Apr.  13,  1802,  they  chose  five  men  located 
near  five  of  the  cemeteries  **to  look  into  the  situation  of  the 
several  yards  in  Town  &  make  report  at  some  future  meeting." 
Josiah  Wheeler  was  chosen  to  act  as  **8axan"  at  the  burying 
yard  near  Jireh  Durkee 's  at  North  Boyalton. 

Before  the  town  had  secured  a  deed  of  Mr.  Durkee,  Abijah 
Burbank  and  Abijah  Jr.  had  deeded  to  Luther  Fairbanks, 
Nathan  Page,  and  Bichard  Kimball,  a  committee  for  the  **  third 
society"  one  acre  for  a  cemetery,  receiving  three  pounds  there- 
for. This  deed  is  dated  Sep.  17,  1795,  so  that  what  has  been 
known  as  the  Howe  cemetery  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  town.  Just 
what  this  ** third  society"  was  cannot  be  stated  with  any  cer- 
tainty.    The    different    church    organizations    were    sometimes 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  373 

spoken  of  in  that  way.  There  was  a  Baptist  society  in  that  part 
of  the  town,  but  the  committee  acting  for  the  society  in  buying 
the  cemetery  were  connected  with  the  Congregational  church. 
It  may  refer  to  the  societies  organized  for  securing  a  right  to 
cemeteries.  If  the  one  at  South  Royalton  is  counted  as  first, 
the  one  at  North  Royalton  as  the  second,  then  in  point  of  time 
this  would  be  the  third.  School  districts  were  sometimes  spoken 
of  as  societies. 

The  next  legal  right  to  cemetery  land  is  dated  Mar.  19,  1806. 
At  this  time  the  First  Branch  school  district  took  a  deed  from 
William  Lee  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  for  one-fourth  acre  of  land, 
Ashbel  Buckland  and  Dexter  Waterman  acting  as  a  committee, 
and  paying  therefor  three  dollars.  The  oldest  headstone,  as  has 
been  said,  bears  the  date.  Mar.  16,  1791,  but  it  seems  probable 
that  this  lot  was  used  for  a  burial  place  earlier  than  this.  About 
1879  Mr.  John  A.  Slack,  who  owned  the  farm  bordering  tlus 
cemetery,  enlarged  the  burial  lot  by  enclosing  some  of  his  own 
land,  and  sold  part  of  the  land  to  Elmer  Woodward  and  others. 
Not  far  from  1900  Charles  C.  Southworth,  who  then  owned  the 
Slack  farm,  still  further  enlarged  the  cemetery  by  adding  land 
from  his  farm,  as  the  lots  had  all  been  taken  in  the  cemetery  as 
it  then  stood.  In  1908  Mr.  Woodward  and  others  formed  an 
association  for  the  purpose  of  caring  properly  for  this  ceme- 
tery, and  were  duly  incorporated  through  the  office  of  the  Sec- 
retary of  State,  under  the  title  of  The  Branchview  Cemetery 
Association.  This  organization  has  had  a  new  fence  built  about 
the  yard,  and  the  ground  put  in  excellent  condition.  Those  who 
had  friends  buried  there  freely  contributed  in  paying  the  ex- 
pense, so  that  this  graveyard  is  one  of  the  best  cared  for  in  town. 
The  original  lot  belonging  to  the  district  ran  eight  rods  on  the 
road  and  extended  back  seven  and  one-half  rods,  and  was  pur- 
chased for  the  **sole  use  of  a  buring  yard  for  the  aforesaid  dis- 
trict forever,"  and  it  was  stated  that  the  ** foresaid  district  is 
to  make  and  maintain  the  fence." 

The  deed  of  the  cemetery  on  Broad  Brook  was  given  by 
Philip  Royce,  July  12,  1812.  On  this  date  he  conveyed  one  acre 
to  District  No.  5,  for  which  he  received  $12.  This  burial  lot 
had  been  in  use  ten  or  more  years,  the  oldest  stones  there  being 
for  the  children  of  Amos  Robinson,  and  they  bear  the  dates  of 
1803  and  1804. 

The  Second  School  District  obtained  title  to  land  for  a  ceme- 
tery Nov.  15,  1815.  This  district  was  defined  in  limits  in  1792. 
Daniel  and  Ira  Havens  sold  the  land,  eleven  and  one-half  rods 
by  seven  rods,  and  were  paid  fifty  dollars.  The  lot  had  been 
in  use  ten  or  more  years  before  any  legal  transfer  of  the  land 
was  made.    In  1849,  Mar.  3,  Bestor  Pierce  deeded  to  Harry 


374  HlST(»Y    OP    ROYALTON,    VERMONT 

Bingham  five-eighths  of  an  acre,  which  Mr.  Bingham  was  to 
deed  to  the  district  whenever  it  should  wish  to  enlarge  the  ceme- 
tery. Sep.  21,  1858,  Mr.  Bingham  quitclaimed  this  land  to  Levi 
Baker  for  $12.50,  with  the  agreement  that  the  district  should 
have  it  when  needed.  The  district  records  show  that  a  special 
meeting  was  called  for  Mar.  29,  1862,  and  when  met,  they  voted 
to  buy  an  addition  to  the  cemetery,  of  Levi  Baker,  and  Gideon 
Bingham  was  appointed  to  secure  the  deed.  Ira  Pierce,  Isaac 
S.  Shepard,  and  William  Shirlock  were  chosen  to  solicit  sub- 
scriptions, and  also  to  build  a  fence.  Harvey  Reynolds  was 
appointed  sexton.    The  deed  was  given  Feb.  20,  1863. 

It  seems  quite  probable  that  the  First  District  acquired  no 
t^tle  to  their  cemetery  until  Oct.  20,  1836.  If  there  had  been  a 
verbal  gift  from  Elisha  Kent,  from  whose  land  the  lot  was  taken, 
and  whose  farm  was  a  part  of  10  Large  Allotment,  the  cemetery 
had  been  in  use  so  long  that  no  deed  was  thought  of.  Mr. 
Archibald  Kent  had  owned  this  lot  for  some  years  previous  to 
1836.  Burial  places  were  allowed  to  go  unfenced,  and  cattle 
and  sheep  to  graze  in  them,  as  they  are  doing  today  over  one  pri- 
vate lot  in  this  town.  The  need  of  fencing  the  cemetery  no 
doubt  grew  more  urgent  as  the  years  went  on,  and  this  may  be 
the  reason  why  the  district  paid  Mr.  Kent  $100,  which  money 
was  used  in  building  a  wall  about  the  yard.  The  district  ob- 
tained a  deed  of  three-fourths  of  an  acre.  This  yard  was  en- 
larged July  21,  1857,  by  a  deed  from  Gyrus  Safford  to  the 
selectmen,  transferring  84  rods,  to  be  used  for  no  other  purpose 
than  for  a  cemetery  for  the  First  School  District,  the  selectmen 
to  hold  it  subject  to  the  control  and  supervision  of  said  inhab- 
itants or  such  persons  as  they  may  appoint.  An  article  in  the 
warning  for  a  meeting  Dec.  4,  1858,  read,  **To  see  if  the  town 
will  purchase  a  part  of  the  new  burying  ground  near  South 
Royalton  to  be  used  as  a  public  burying  ground."  It  was  passed 
over,  and  the  same  article  was  passed  over  in  March,  1859,  and 
again  in  December,  1860.  The  selectmen  appear  to  have  acted 
without  the  authority  of  the  town  in  buying  the  land  of  Cyrus 
Safford,  and  they  refused  to  appropriate  the  money  to  pay  for 
it.  The  selectmen,  John  B.  Durkee,  Isaac  F.  Shepard,  and 
Thomas  Fay,  therefore,  deeded  by  quitclaim  to  Oliver  Curtis 
and  Charles  M.  Lamb  this  extension,  which  these  men  had  been 
responsible  for,  and  the  town  had  no  claim  upon  the  land.  The 
addition  was  made  in  front  of  the  old  yard,  bringing  it  near  the 
highway.  The  lots  in  the  new  addition  were  taken,  so  that  in 
1884  Lyman  C.  Tower,  who  had  bought  the  place  adjoining  the 
cemetery  on  the  south,  enlarged  it  by  the  addition  on  the  south 
side  of  one  row  of  lots  and  a  driveway.  Another  enlargement 
was  called  for  in  1896,  and  S.  C.  Drew,  the  present  owner  of 


History  of  Botalton,  Vbbmont  376 

the  Tower  place,  added  a  strip  on  the  southeast  comer  of  the 
yard  about  twelve  rods  long  and  twenty-four  rods  wide. 

In  1904  the  legislature  chartered  the  South  Royalton  Ceme- 
tery Association,  naming  as  the  corporation  J.  H.  Hewitt,  W.  V. 
Soper,  A.  P.  Skinner,  C.  E.  Black,  E.  J.  Pish,  C.  P.  Tarbell, 
M.  S.  Adams,  J.  O.  Belknap,  A.  G.  Whitham,  B.  B.  Galusha, 
W.  O.  Belknap,  their  associates  and  successors,  and  the  care  of 
this  cemetery  was  given  to  them,  provided  the  owners  of  lots 
consented.    They  did  not. 

In  1866,  Nov.  30,  the  Royalton  Cemetery  Association  pur-   gj  :j> 
ased  of  Martin  Joiner  one  and  one-fourth  acres,  paying  there-     ^    S 
for  $400,  and  laid  out  Pleasant  Hill  Cemetery  at  the  lower  end  t^  ^ 
of  Royalton  village.     This  has  one  of  the  most  beautiful  views  \lZ  ^ 
in  town,  but  is  somewhat  difficult  to  reach,  as  it  lies  on  a  rather    t  ^  ^5 
steep  hilL    Headstones  are  found  here  dated  as  far  back  as'T?^  ^ 
1831,  but  are  probably  removals.    This  corporation  built  the  ^      'J^ 
tomb  in  the  slope  next  to  the  highway,  and  efforts  were  made  to  ^-^  F^ 
have  the  town  assume  the  expense  and  ownership,  but  they  have  ^S  ' 
thus  far  been  without  avail.  P 

The  last  cemetery  to  be  laid  out  was  the  Riverview.    This     ^ 
lot  was  purchased  July  7,  1905,  of  Anson  P.  Skinner  and  Charles     -j| 
C.  Southworth  for  $550  by  the  South  Royalton  Cemetery  As-  *jP 
sociation.     Improvements  were  soon  begun.      New  roads  were    T, 
graded  to  the  ground,  so  that  the  ascent  is  comparatively  easy.      ^ 
The  lots  were  surveyed  and  carefully  laid  out.    Driveways  and 
foot  paths  were  made,  and  a  book  provided  for  keeping  records         Yr% 
of  interments,  so  complete  in  detail  that,  if  preserved,  the  place 
of  burial  can  always  be  easily  found  without  the  aid  of  the  head-  ^ 

stones.  Full  items  of  identification  are  given,  such  as  dates  of 
birth,  death,  burial,  name  of  undertaker,  last  residence,  and 
name  of  nearest  friend.  By  the  payment  of  $70  the  lot  of  any 
one  will  be  perpetually  tended.  The  present  officers  are,  trus- 
tees, J.  H.  Hewitt,  W.  V.  Soper,  A.  P.  Skinner,  C.  E.  Black, 
C.  P.  Tarbell,  J.  0.  Belknap,  W.  0.  Belknap;  president,  J.  0. 
Belknap ;  secretary,  W.  0.  Belknap.  The  cemetery  is  located  on 
an  eminence  on  the  east  side  of  the  First  Branch,  near  the  mouth, 
and  has  a  magnificent  view  of  the  river  winding  down  to  Sharon, 
and  the  hills  in  the  distance.  Thirty-four  interments  have  al- 
ready been  made. 

Of  what  may  be  called  neighborhood  or  private  burial  lots 
the  largest  is  the  yard  near  the  old  Dewey  farm,  on  what  is 
called  Dairy  Hill.  No  record  has  been  found  in  the  deeds  from 
father  to  son  of  any  reservation  for  this  purpose,  but  the  land 
where  the  cemetery  is  located  belongs  to  11  Large  Allotment, 
and  was  owned  by  Ebenezer  Dewey.  Judging  by  the  dates  on 
the  headstones  he  was  the  first  to  be  buried  there  in  1794.    The 


376  HiSTOBT  OF  BOTALTON,  YeBMONT 

Coys,  Watermans,  Deweys,  and  Morses  are  buried  in  this  yard. 
This  ground  is  kept  fenced,  but  shrubbery  has  been  allowed  to 
grow  unmolested. 

What  has  been  known  as  the  Howard  burial  lot  was  used 
chiefly  for  the  burial  of  the  Howard  family.  When  Oscar  Henry 
came  into  possession  of  the  farm,  he  gave.  Mar.  18,  1858,  a  quit- 
claim deed  of  this  tract  of  land  26  feet  by  36  feet  to  Eliaha 
Howard  and  John  S.  Storrs,  to  be  used  forever  as  a  cemetery. 
There  are  found  here  now  seven  of  the  Howard  family,  three  of 
the  Parker  family,  and  two  children  of  David  Page.  It  is  not 
fenced,  and  is  in  an  open  pasture,  in  a  dilapidated  condition. 
If  it  is  not  protected,  it  will  not  be  many  years  before  the  head- 
stones will  disappear.  The  earliest  date  on  these  stones  is  Feb. 
11,  1813. 

Samuel  Metcalf  set  apart  one-fourth  acre  of  his  land,  Aug. 
5,  1818,  for  a  neighborhood  cemetery.  He  held  a  part  of  the 
college  right.  The  oldest  headstone  in  this  yard  is  that  of 
Beuben  Schellenger,  who  died  Mar.  22.  1801.  Here  are  buried 
the  Metcalf  family,  and  Rhoda  Biggs,  the  wife  of  James,  and 
others  whose  graves  are  unmarked.  This  yard  is  fenced,  but 
in  years  past  has  been  unkempt,  and  has  a  neglected  appearance. 

Benjamin  Bosworth  and  the  Lindleys  used  a  part  of  the 
Lindley  farm  for  a  burial  lot.  It  lies  next  a  fence  on  the  pres- 
ent Merville  Waldo  farm.  It  has  been  so  badly  overgrown  with 
shrubbery  as  to  make  it  almost  impossible  to  tell  who  is  buried 
there,  but  the  past  year  the  selectmen  have  had  it  cleared  of 
bushes,  and  some  of  the  stones  disinterred.  When  Amos  and 
Benjamin  Bosworth  sold  a  part  of  the  Lindley  farm,  Sep.  13, 
1828,  they  reserved  a  tract  two  rods  by  eight  rods,  and  the  right 
to  go  to  and  from  the  same.  When  Stephen  Hicks  sold  this 
Lindley  land  to  Ebenezer  Cox  in  1836,  he  made  the  same  reser- 
vation. 

Emeline,  the  daughter  of  Seth  Moxley,  was  buried  on  her 
father's  farm,  and  when  he  sold  eighty  acres  from  W.  31  Large 
Allotment,  he  reserved  a  tract  six  feet  by  eight  feet  where  she 
lies  buried. 

There  is  an  excavation  under  a  ledge  in  the  pasture  nearly 
opposite  Albert  Taylor's  house  in  Royalton  village,  on  the  land 
once  owned  by  Jacob  Cady.  At  the  opening  of  the  cave  is  a 
stone  erected  to  the  memory  of  Morrice,  son  of  Jacob  and  Judith 
Cady,  who  died  Aug.  2,  1803.  In  a  deed  which  Amos  Bosworth 
gave  to  Oramel  Sawyer,  transferring  the  Jacob  Cady  premises, 
Oct.  13,  1838,  mention  is  made  of  the  burial  of  Jacob  Cady  and 
wife  on  the  land.  No  headstones  are  to  be  seen  there  today. 
This  is  in  an  open  pasture  where  cattle  graze  every  year,  and  is 
entirely  unprotected  except  by  nature. 


HiSTOBT  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT  377 

On  the  farm  now  occupied  by  George  Taggart  is  the  Perrin 
family  lot,  well  fenced  and  cared  for.  Hefe  Asa,  Greenfield, 
and  other  members  of  the  family  are  buried.  Another  small 
family  Perrin  lot  is  on  the  farm  that  Asa  Perrin,  Jr.,  owned, 
where  he  and  his  two  wives  and  others  are  buried.  These  are 
the  Perrin  Burial  Lots,  Nos.  1  and  2  respectively. 

Not  far  from  the  Lindley  lot,  in  a  comer  of  a  field  on  the 
hill,  but  nearer  the  highway,  some  others  are  buried,  in  all 
probability  some  of  the  Freeman  family,  but  the  lot  is  in  such 
condition  as  to  make  it  very  diflScult  to  ascertain  who  lie  there. 
The  headstones  which  some  recollect  as  having  seen  there,  ap- 
pear to  have  fallen  down  and  to  be  covered  with  earth.  This 
is  called  the  Freeman  Burial  Lot. 

When  Samuel  Howe  sold  No.  1  Dutch,  Mar.  22,  1869,  he 
reserved  thirty  feet  by  twenty  for  a  burying  lot.  It  has  been 
learned  that  the  bodies  buried  there  were  later  removed  to  the 
Havens  cemetery,  and  the  land  became  part  of  the  farm  owned 
by  Mr.  Howe. 

Li  1863  Dudley  C.  Denison  and  Minot  Wheeler  became  the 
owners  of  a  strip  of  land  north  of  and  adjoining  the  cemetery 
at  North  Royalton.  About  1865  it  was  plotted  and  Iqfs  were 
sold  from  it  for  interment  of  the  dead.  The  next  year  Mr. 
Wheeler  sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Denison,  who  continued  to  sell 
lots.  After  his  death  the  property  came  into  the  possession  of 
his  daughter,  Gertrude.  This  new  addition  is  fenced  like  the 
old  with  a  fine  iron  railing,  which  was  built  by  Mrs.  William 
Rix,  who  solicited  funds  for  this  purpose.  When  Mr.  Philip 
Sewall  died  he  left  by  will  $500,  the  income  of  which  was  to  be 
used  for  the  benefit  of  the  new  addition.  Not  many  vacant  lots 
remain  in  this  addition. 

The  owners  of  lots  in  the  South  Royalton  cemetery  formed 
themselves  into  an  association,  and  on  Nov.  16,  1906,  they  re- 
ceived a  charter  of  incorporation.  The  members  named  were 
George  Ainsworth,  Charles  West,  W.  M.  Sargent,  John  W. 
Woodward,  M.  S.  Adams,  D.  L.  Burnett,  Frank  S.  Ainsworth, 
0.  S.  Curtis,  Charles  H.  Woodard,  George  Manchester,  M.  J. 
Sargent.  The  present  oflScers  are,  trustees,  C.  H.  Woodard, 
M.  S.  Adams,  M.  J.  Sargent,  Frank  Ainsworth,  Mrs.  Erva  J. 
Sargent ;  president,  C.  H.  Woodard ;  secretary,  Erva  J.  Sargent. 
The  name  of  the  incorporation  is  **The  Village  Cemetery  Asso- 
ciation of  South  Royalton."  This  cemetery  has  a  number  of 
unmarked  graves,  and  some  of  the  old  headstones  have  fallen 
and  been  removed  from  the  places  where  they  originally  stood, 
so  that  it  is  a  diflBcult  matter  for  the  association  to  complete  the 
records  of  the  yard. 


378  BjffroBY  of  Boyalton,  Vebmont 

In  1834  David  Wheelock  in  a  deed  to  Peter  Wheelock  re- 
served one-fourth  acre  of  land  as  a  family  burying  ground  for- 
ever. This  reservation  has  not  been  identified  as  a  family  lot, 
and  it  may  never  have  been  so  used. 

At  the  March  meeting,  1909,  the  town  authorized  the  Boy- 
alton  Historical  Association  to  proceed  to  name  such  cemeteries 
and  bur3ring  lots  in  town,  as  had  not  been  authoritatively  named. 
The  Association  did  this,  retaining  the  ordinary  name  where  it 
seemed  advisable,  and  keeping  in  mind  the  desirability  of  hav- 
ing the  name  give  some  idea  as  to  the  location  of  the  yard.  The 
cemeteries  that  were  not  cared  for  by  incorporated  bodies  were 
thus  designated:  The  North  Royaltan  cemetery,  above  Boyal- 
ton  village ;  the  Royalt&fv  Broad  Brook  cemetery,  in  district  five ; 
the  Howard  cemetery,  in  district  twelve;  the  Howe  cemetery, 
in  district  eleven;  the  Havens  cemetery,  in  district  two;  the 
Metcalf  cemetery,  in  district  four ;  the  lAndley  cemetery,  in  dis- 
trict sixteen ;  the  Dewey  cemetery,  in  district  three ;  the  Perrin 
Burial  Lot,  No,  One,  on  the  George  Taggart  farm,  and  the  other 
Perrin  lot.  No.  Two;  the  Cady  and  the  Freeman  burial  lots. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


Hotels. 


Just  when  the  settlement  of  the  town  had  progressed  so  as 
to  feel  the  need  of  a  public  hostelry,  there  is  no  means  of  know- 
ing. As  it  was  a  frontier  town  until  1780  or  later,  there  could 
have  been  little  demand  for  entertainment  by  travelers.  The 
destruction  of  the  town  in  1780  retarded  its  increase  in  popula- 
tion for  several  years,  and  people  coming  to  it  or  passing  through 
would  very  likely  be  entertained  at  private  houses. 

Capt.  Gilbert,  who  lived  on  the  West  farm,  may  have  had 
a  hosteby  there,  as  he  did  later  at  the  "Pierce  Stand."  Zebu- 
Ion  Lyon,  who  took  the  initiative  in  so  many  good  works,  may 
have  furnished  a  home  to  wayfarers  before  he  sold  to  Elkanah 
Stevens  land  within  the  limits  of  Royalton  village.  Mr.  Stevens 
is  the  first  landlord  in  town  of  whom  there  is  any  positive  record. 

Zebulon  Lyon  did  not  originally  have  46  Dutch,  in  which 
lot  Royalton  village  is  located.  Mr.  Lyon  had  East  54  Town 
Plot.  In  1782  he  bought  of  Capt.  Ebenezer  Brewster  of  Han- 
over, ten  acres  in  46  Dutch  adjoining  his  land  and  lying  along 
the  river.  This  may  have  included  a  part  of  what  is  now  the 
village.  In  1788  Mr.  Lyon  purchased  of  Capt.  Brewster  the 
whole  of  46  Dutch  not  before  sold  or  otherwise  disposed  of. 
Capt.  Brewster  had  already  deeded  to  the  town  of  Royalton  the 
meeting-house  lot. 

It  was  this  lot  that  served  as  a  magnet  to  draw  business 
and  professional  men  toward  the  center  of  the  town,  and  in  the 
early  part  of  1791  a  little  settlement  began  there.  In  Novem- 
ber of  that  year  Elkanah  Stevens  came  to  town.  To  him  Zebu- 
lon Lyon  sold  two  tracts  joining  the  meeting-house  lot,  one  or 
both  of  which  extended  to  the  river.  On  this  land  he  probably 
had  his  store.  In  the  latter  part  of  1793  he  purchased  of  Mr. 
Lyon  252  rods  near  the  **  Lyman  fordway,"  and  on  this  lot 
there  was  already  an  inn  or  Mr.  Stevens  built  one.  The  records 
of  1801  refer  incidentally  to  ** Landlord  Dickinson,"  who  lived 
at  the  center  of  the  town,  but  nothing  in  the  deeds  indicates  that 
he  had  a  hotel  in  the  village. 

The  venture  of  Mr.  Stevens  does  not  seem  to  have  been  very 
remunerative,  for  the  Boston  parties  to  whom  he  had  mortgaged 


880  HiSTOBY  OP  BOYALTON,  VlBMONT 

his  property  foreclosed,  and  in  1806  quitclaimed  the  same  to 
David  Waller.  This  David  was  one  of  the  boys  made  captive 
by  the  Indians  and  taken  to  Canada.  He  was  now  married  and 
had  several  children.  Dr.  Joseph  Gallup  had  a  hotel  in  Bethel 
at  this  time,  and  after  remaining  in  Boyalton  three  years,  Mr. 
Waller  exchanged  property  with  Dr.  Gallup,  and  removed  to 
Bethel. 

One  reason  for  the  non-success  of  the  hotel  at  the  center  of 
the  town  may  have  been  that  Capt.  Daniel  Gilbert  established 
himself  in  Boyalton  in  1792  or  ^93,  and  he  kept  an  inn  at  what 
has  since  been  known  as  the  ''Pierce  Tavern."  The  house 
which  he  purchased  was  Nathan  Morgan's,  and  it  had  been  occu- 
pied by  Zabad  Curtis.  Mr.  Curtis  had  been  assessed  as  a  trader. 
Mr.  Gilbert  was  a  man  well  known  outside  of  the  town,  and 
travelers  from  the  south  would  be  likely  to  patronize  him,  and 
so  pass  by  the  inn  only  two  miles  farther  on. 

Dr.  Gallup  disposed  of  his  hotel  to  Col.  Stafford  Smith  of 
Bethel  in  1810,  who  removed  to  Boyalton  soon  after.  Col.  Smith 
possessed  the  tact  and  ability  to  make  a  success  of  his  business. 
He  was  not  personally  in  charge  during  all  the  years  that  he 
held  the  property,  as  he  was  engaged  in  military  service  some 
of  the  time.  How  much  he  did  in  the  way  of  improvement  is 
not  exactly  known,  but  the  main  part  of  the  present  "Caacad- 
nac"  is  said  to  have  been  erected  by  him.  It  was  while  he  was 
in  the  hotel,  that  it  had  the  honor  of  enteiH;aining  President  Mon- 
roe and  Qen.  Lafayette. 

Col.  Smith  was  somewhat  irascible,  and  the  small  boys  liked 
to  stir  him  up.  A  road  led  from  the  hotel  by  the  house  where 
Bev.  Joel  Whitney  now  lives,  on  toward  the  pinnacle.  The 
children  used  to  slide  there  in  winter,  and  they  would  come 
down  the  hill  pell  mell  and  dash  against  the  hotel.  One  evening 
they  had  a  large  sled  with  a  full  load,  and,  as  usual,  bumped 
into  the  tavern.  This  was  too  much  for  the  Colonel,  and  he 
took  an  axe  and  shivered  the  offending  sled  into  kindling  wood. 
In  the  morning  he  found  out  that  it  was  his  own  sled  that  he 
had  demolished,  and  the  boys  had  scored  one  more  victory. 

In  1818  Dolly  Smith,  widow  of  Jacob  Smith,  leased  land 
to  Col.  Smith  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  summer  dining  halL 
This  was  probably  the  building  between  the  church  and  the  pres- 
ent academy,  used  on  the  occasion  of  Lafayette's  visit,  and  pre- 
viously on  training  days. 

The  next  year  after  Lafayette's  visit  Col.  Smith  leased  the 
hotel  to  Moses  Cutter  for  five  years.  The  Vermont  Advocate 
published  at  Boyalton,  states  in  its  issue  of  Feb.  15,  1827,  that 
the  roof  of  Mr.  Cutter's  dining  hall  fell  in  from  the  weight  of 
snow.    Possibly  that  was  the  end  of  this  hotel  extension,  at  any 


HlSTOBY  OF  BOYALTON^  VSBMOMT  881 

rate,  no  further  notice  of  it  appears.  Mr.  Cutter  had  a  store 
and  could  give  little  personal  attention  to  running  a  hotel.  In 
1828  Simeon  T.  Stone  was  the  landlord.  Two  years  before  Mr. 
Cutter's  lease  ran  out  Col.  Smith  sold  the  tavern  to  Amos  Bos- 
worth.  Two  years  later  Samuel  Blodgett  got  a  half  interest  in 
it,  and  took  the  personal  conduct  of  it  upon  himself. 

The  hotel  property  was  evidently  not  a  paying  investment 
to  these  proprietors,  and  their  affairs  became  involved,  so  that 
in  1843  the  hotel  was  sold  to  John  Mitchell  Alexander,  who 
almost  immediately  conveyed  it  to  Benjamin  and  Harrison  Alex- 
ander of  Sharon.  Alden  W.  Titus  of  Brandon  bought  it  of  the 
Alexanders  in  1845,  and  conducted  it  for  four  years,  when  he 
sold  to  William  Skinner.  Mr.  Skinner  held  it  for  three  years, 
then  sold  to  Chester  Baxter  of  Sharon,  buying  it  back  in  1855, 
and  within  two  days  transferred  it  to  Frederick  Washburn  of 
Randolph. 

A  niece  of  Mr.  Washburn  lived  with  him.  A  clerk  at  one 
of  the  stores  boarded  at  the  hotel.  Some  one  came  into  the  store 
one  day  and  asked  the  clerk,  "How  do  you  like  your  new  land- 
lord!" "First  rate,"  was  the  reply.  "We  have  beans  for  din- 
ner, cold  beans  for  supper,  and  warmed-up  beans  for  breakfast." 
Then  looking  up  and  seeing  the  pretty  niece  in  the  door,  he 
added,  "And  they  are  good  beans,  too." 

A  new  hall  is  mentioned  in  1855,  and  that  was  probably  the 
wing  at  the  southwest  end  of  the  hotel,  where  the  hall  now  is. 

Pearl  D.  Blodgett  and  William  Skinner  both  held  the  prop- 
erty in  1856.  Alden  Chamberlin  bought  it  in  October  of  that 
year.  Mr.  Chamberlin  had  had  experience  in  catering  to  the 
public.  He  had  served  as  landlord  in  the  "Cascadnac  House" 
in  Qaysville,  and  two  years  in  the  East  Randolph  hotel.  Mrs. 
Chamberlin  was  a  famous  housekeeper,  cook,  and  manager,  and 
he  was  genial  and  courteous  to  his  guests.  The  hotel  in  those 
days  entertained  many  parties,  and  was  a  favorite  place  for 
lovers  of  Terpsichore.  Its  hall  was  also  devoted  to  charitable 
works,  and  there  the  Soldiers'  Aid  Society  met  in  those  trying 
days  of  the  Civil  War.  If  its  walls  could  speak,  they  would 
rehearse  the  scenes  when  men  and  women  gathered  there,  and 
with  busy  fingers  scraped  lint,  plied  the  needle,  knitted  stock- 
ings, and  eagerly  discussed  news  from  the  front,  while  many 
hearts  were  aching  with  anxious  thought  of  loved  ones,  or  with 
the  consciousness  that  the  soldier  boy  would  nevermore  return 
to  the  home  nest.  They  could  tell,  too,  of  the  mazy  whirl,  as 
the  squeaky  violins  ground  out  "Money  Musk"  for  tripping  feet 
of  maid  and  youth. 

The  wedding  bells  now  and  then  rang  in  the  old  tavern.  It 
was  May  day,  1859,  that  the  fair  young  daughter  of  the  host. 


882  HiSTOBY  OP  BOYALTON,  VSBMONT 

Mr.  Chamberlin,  gave  her  hand  and  her  heart  into  the  keeping  of 
Dr.  Constant  Manchester,  and  the  marriage  rites  were  performed 
in  the  old  village  hotel. 

Mr.  Chamberlin  was  a  sufferer  from  sciatic  rhenmatismi, 
and  the  disease  finally  compelled  him  to  seek  rest,  and  in  the 
latter  part  of  1863  he  sold  to  Byron  G.  Gonant  and  Stephen 
Freeman.  The  next  year  Mr.  Freeman  bought  out  his  partner 
and  ran  the  business  about  one  year.  He  then  deeded  the  prox>- 
erty  to  Gkorge  Qilson,  who,  in  about  two  years,  deeded  it  back 
to  Mr.  Chamberlin.  Ira  P.  Thatcher  now  took  the  hotel,  and 
after  two  years  or  less  conveyed  it  to  Horace  White.  Mr.  White 
in  1872  conveyed  the  hotel  to  Alden  B.  Crapo  of  Randolph. 

The  property  had  been  under  mortgage  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  in  1875  the  National  Bank  of  Boyalton  foreclosed, 
and  the  next  year  sold  to  Arthur  P.  Brown  of  Lowell,  Mass., 
who  gave  a  deed  to  Henry  A.  Brown  the  next  month.  The 
hotel  was  in  the  hands  of  the  Brown  family  until  1884,  when 
Herbert  H.  Taylor  bought  one-half  of  it.  Mr.  Taylor  had  bought 
one-half  in  1883,  and  now  owned  the  whole  of  it.  In  less  than 
a  month  Mr.  Taylor  sold  to  David  C.  Steams. 

The  hotel  had  led  a  precarious  and  varied  life  in  the  last 
twenty  years  before  its  occupancy  by  Mr.  Steams.  When  he 
assumed  control  of  it,  a  new  period  of  prosperity  began.  Mr. 
Steams  was  polite  and  obliging  to  all  seeking  his  hospitality. 
He  was  ably  seconded  by  his  wife,  who,  though  somewhat  en- 
feebled in  health,  always  kept  the  tavern  so  that  it  was  attrac- 
tive and  homelike,  and  added  to  it  the  graces  of  a  well  culti- 
vated mind.  It  now  began  to  be  sought  as  a  delightful  place  in 
which  to  spend  a  summer  vacation,  and  guests  once  enjoying  the 
quiet  and  kindly  hospitality  of  the  host  and  hostess,  were  eager 
to  come  again. 

As  the  years  went  on  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steams  both  felt  the 
need  of  a  release  from  their  onerous  duties  as  host  and  hostess, 
and  in  1901  the  hotel  passed  into  the  hands  of  Caspar  P.  Abbott, 
who  held  it  less  than  a  year,  when  he  sold  to  George  D.  Harring- 
ton. Though  Mr.  Harrington  owned  the  hotel  less  than  four 
years,  he  added  much  to  the  reputation  it  had  acquired  under 
Air.  Stearns,  and  considerably  increased  its  patronage.  The  peo- 
ple of  Royalton  village  saw  him  leave  to  take  charge  of  the  larger 
hotel  at  South  Royalton  in  1902  with  genuine  regret. 

Mr.  Harrington  sold  to  James  M.  Boyd  of  Hartland.  He 
conducted  the  business  for  two  years,  then  leased  it  to  J.  H. 
Zottman  for  a  year.  In  January,  1910,  Mr.  Boyd  sold  the  tav- 
em  to  his  son-in-law,  George  L.  Moore  of  Barre.  Mr.  Moore 
does  not  occupy  the  hotel.  It  is  at  present  under  the  charge  of 
Albert  E.  Emery,  son  of  Amos  Emery  who  resides  in  Boyalton 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  383 

village.  Some  improvements  were  made  while  Mr.  Boyd  owned 
the  property,  and  others  are  in  process  of  making.  A  new  coat 
of  paint  gives  it  a  fresh  appearance,  but  makes  it  look  unfamiliar 
to  those  used  to  seeing  the  old  brown  garb  of  recent  years.  It 
will  probably  have  its  customary  patronage  of  summer  boarders, 
who  enjoy  the  beautiful  scenery  from  its  wide  verandas,  and 
the  reposefulness  of  the  quiet  village. 

Capt.  Gilbert,  who  had  a  hostelry  near  the  mouth  of  the 
First  Branch,  on  36  Dutch,  after  he  moved  to  town  in  1792, 
sold  this  place  to  Willard  Pierce  in  1811  and  returned  to  Sharon. 
Mr.  Pierce  deeded  the  property  back  to  Capt.  Gilbert  in  August, 
1818,  and  the  same  year  it  was  purchased  by  Asahel  Cheney  of 
Kochester.  Mr.  Cheney  had  a  son,  Horace,  who  seems  to  have 
attended  to  the  business  part  of  tavern  keeping.  That  they 
kept  an  up-to-date  hotel  is  proved  by  the  charge  which  John 
Marshall,  cabinet  maker,  made  in  April,  1823,  **  Horace  Cheney 
for  tavern  sign,  $4.00.''  If  the  hotel  flung  out  a  fine  sign,  it  is 
a  pretty  sure  indication  that  all  the  accessories  were  in  keeping 
with  it.  Mr.  Asahel  Cheney  had  lived  in  Royalton  village  for 
a  few  years,  then  went  to  Rochester,  from  which  place  he  came 
to  take  possession  of  the  Gilbert  tavern.  His  son,  Horace,  died 
in  1826,  and  he  a  few  years  later. 

Phineas  Pierce,  Sen.,  bought  the  tavern  and  lot  the  next 
year  after  the  death  of  Horace  Cheney.  He  kept  both  hotel  and 
store.  It  is  possible  that  Mr.  Cheney  had  also  had  a  store,  as 
he  seems  to  have  had  one  at  Royalton  village.  Mr.  Pierce  won 
quite  a  reputation  as  a  tavern  keeper,  and  was  prosperous  until 
the  hotel  across  the  river  in  the  new  village  of  South  Royalton 
was  built.  His  hotel  was  situated  in  a  beautiful  spot  command- 
ing a  wide  view  of  the  river  and  encircling  hills,  and  would  oflfer 
to  the  weary  traveler  the  prospect  of  good  cheer  and  comfort- 
able accommodations.  When  the  new  village  was  a  foregone 
conclusion,  Mr.  Pierce  purchased  some  land  within  its  limits, 
but  if  he  meditated  building  a  hotel  on  his  land,  the  idea  did  not 
materialize.  He  was  the  last  tavern  keeper  at  the  old  **  Gilbert 
Stand.'' 

Jacob  Fox  came  to  Royalton  about  1800.  He  bought  a  tan- 
nery of  Benjamin  Parkhurst,  and  settled  at  North  Royalton. 
Prom  a  letter  written  by  his  son,  Jacob,  it  appears  that  he 
opened  a  hotel  in  the  year  1811.  The  son  says  he  well  remem- 
bers when  the  tavern  sign  was  flung  to  the  breeze,  and  from 
thenceforth  his  father  and  mother  were  publicans,  and  for  money 
kept  entertainment  for  man  and  beast.  It  is  from  him  also  that 
we  learn  that  the  new  brick  building  was  first  occupied  by  them 
in  1818.  In  telling  the  impression  it  had  on  him,  a  young  boy, 
he  says,  **With  what  awe  I  used  to  mount  to  the  garret,  and 


384  History  of  Botalton^  Vermont 

contemplate  the  surrounding  country,  and  think  how  much  more 
favored  we  were  than  others."  That  brick  house  still  rtands* 
today,  and  bears  about  the  same  appearance  as  when  first  bnilL 
Mr.  Fox  secured  the  patronage  of  the  freight  stage  driyers,  and 
his  roomy  house  was  well  filled  with  guests.  Singing  adiodb 
and  parties  were  also  held  in  the  hall  of  the  hotel,  and  so  famoiu 
it  became  that  it  gave  name  to  the  diminutive  settlement,  which 
was  named,  and  is  still  often  called,  Foxville. 

Jireh  Durkee  gave  a  deed  in  1805  to  a  part  of  the  Timothy 
Durkee  place  in  53  Town  Plot,  the  farm  known  in  late  years  as 
the  Edward  Rix  place.  In  this  deed  he  stipulates  that  no  tavern 
or  other  public  house  shall  be  erected  on  the  land  sold,  that  shall 
in  any  way  interfere  with  any  tavern  that  is  or  may  be  erected 
on  his  land.  This  would  imply  that  some  sort  of  an  inn  was 
already  in  operation  at  what  is  now  called  North  Boyalton. 

Both  Stafford  Smith  and  Jacob  Fox  branched  out  exten- 
sively in  the  direction  of  land  speculation  and  manufacturing, 
and  both  suffered  in  their  fortunes  thereby,  and  had  to  sacrifice 
so  much  as  seriously  to  cripple  them.  They  died  comparatively 
poor  men,  and  lie  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  near  the  Fox  hoteL 

The  South  Royalton  House  was  the  natural  result  of  the 
building  up  of  the  new  village  in  the  south  part  of  the  town, 
when  the  railroad  was  built.  It  was  the  child  of  Daniel  Tar- 
bell,  Jr.,  in  whose  active  brain  plans  for  the  growth  of  the  third 
village  were  constantly  forming  and  successfully  carried  out.  He 
erected  the  hotel  and  engaged  a  landlord,  Harvey  H.  Woodard 
of  Tunbridge. 

Mr.  Woodard  had  been  proprietor  of  a  hotel  in  Tunbridge, 
and  was  not  without  experience  in  providing  for  the  needs  of 
the  public.  He  was  an  ideal  landlord,  and  his  wife  an  ideal 
landlady,  and  so  when  a  grand  dedicatory  ball  was  planned  in 
1851,  it  attracted  wide  attention.  Managers  were  appointed  out- 
side of  the  town  as  well  as  within,  a  fine  band  was  engaged,  it 
was  well  advertised,  and  the  result  was  a  memorable  occasion. 
The  face  of  one  of  the  cards  used  at  that  time  can  be  seen  in  the 
cut  of  ** Special  Days.'' 

Mr.  Woodard  continued  to  lease  the  hotel  for  a  number  of 
years,  but  as  soon  as  he  was  able,  having  built  up  a  large  patron- 
age, he  bought  it  of  Mr.  Tarbell.  This  was  in  October,  1854, 
and  from  that  time  to  the  present  it  has  been  known  as  **  Wood- 
ard's  Hotel.''  though  retaining  the  old  sign,  ** South  Boyalton 
House."  It  is  near  the  station,  so  that  guests  coming  on  the 
train  have  only  to  cross  the  street. 

Mr.  Woodard  continued  the  business  until  his  death,  1878, 
but  some  years  before  that  event  he  had  taken  his  only  son. 
Charles  H.  Woodard,  into  partnership  with  him.    His  son  had 


THR  nl.n  FOX  TAVKRN. 


HiSTOBY  OP  BOYALTON,  VSBMONT  385 

been  bred  to  the  art  of  pleasing  the  public,  and  on  the  death  of 
his  father,  he  and  his  mother  successfully  continued  the  busi- 
ness. The  hotel  had  become  a  pleasant  home  for  commercial 
travelers,  and  had  often  given  large  balls,  attended  with  the 
finest  of  banquets.  A  small  extension  was  built,  extending 
toward  the  livery  stables,  which  Mr.  Woodard  owned,  sometimes 
alone,  and  sometimes  in  company  with  others.  With  this  excep- 
tion, the  hotel  remained  the  same  in  size  and  appearance,  as 
when  built  by  Mr.  Tarbell. 

During  the  last  years  of  Mr.  Charles  Woodard 's  occupancy, 
after  his  mother  died,  he  had  to  depend  on  chance  help  in  the 
management  of  the  household  affairs,  and  finally,  after  leasing 
for  a  few  years,  he  sold  the  property  to  George  Harrington,  who 
had  been  the  popular  and  successful  landlord  qf  the  **Cascad- 
nac"  at  Royalton  village.  The  patronage  has  largely  increased 
under  the  skillful  and  kindly  hands  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrington, 
and  the  demand  for  rooms  by  summer  boarders  has  necessitated 
the  enlarging  of  the  building.  Last  year  the  roof  on  the  ell  part 
was  raised,  and  another  story  added,  and  the  **01d  Hall"  that 
had  been  the  scene  of  so  many  shows  and  functions  that  drove 
dull  care  away,  is  now  cut  up  into  sleeping  rooms. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrington  give  personal  attention  to  their 
guests,  and  every  train  on  its  arrival  finds  a  representative  of 
the  hotel  at  the  station  to  greet  any  guest  who  may  desire  enter- 
tainment for  a  longer  or  a  shorter  time. 

Mr.  Daniel  Tarbell 's  last  work  in  fostering  the  growth  of 
the  new  village  was  the  building  of  the  **  Central  Vermont 
House."  This  was  a  two  and  one-half  story  hotel  erected  south 
of,  and  near  the  hotel  of  Mr.  Woodard.  It  was  built  about  1872, 
and  existed  only  fifteen  years  or  so  when  it  burned  down.  Dan- 
iel C.  Jones  was  conducting  the  hotel  at  the  time  it  was  burned. 
It  had  been  rented  to  different  parties.  Most  of  the  large  force 
of  workmen  employed  in  building  the  new  block  in  South  Roy- 
alton were  boarded  there. 

Mention  should  be  made  of  **Brightwood,"  which,  though 
not  strictly  speaking  a  hotel,  furnished  entertainment  in  South 
Royalton  for  transients  and  regular  boarders  for  several  years. 
This  was  owned  by  Warren  J.  Bright,  who,  with  his  capable 
wife,  gave  personal  attention  to  his  numerous  guests,  who,  com- 
ing once,  desired  to  come  again.  Owing  to  impaired  health, 
they  sold  their  roomy  house  to  George  W.  Brown  in  1909,  and 
removed  to  the  upper  part  of  the  village. 


25 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


POST-OPPICES   AND   POBT-BOADS. 

In  the  first  years  of  her  existence  Vermont  was  quite  as 

prompt  and  generous  in  establishing  post-roads  and  post-o£Bces 

as  Congress  was.    Pour  years  after  the  Qrants  declared  their 

independence,   on  June   19,   1781,   the  Governor   and   Council 

passed  the  following  resolution: 

"Resolyed  that  Mr.  Samuel  Sherman  be  emplosred  to  ride  post 
from  his  ElxceUency's  in  Arlington  to  Camp  Head  Quarters  (at  Castle- 
ton)  once  a  week  three  months  from  the  date  hereof,  to  go  up  one 
road  by  the  way  of  Tinmouth  and  return  by  the  way  of  Pawlet;  that 
for  his  Bncouragement  he  be  allowed  fourteen  shillings  per  week  oat 
of  the  State's  Treasury,  he  to  conyey  all  pabUc  letters  4b  dispatches 
free  of  all  other  expence." 

This  was  the  first  post-route  established  in  Vermont,  and 
was  directly  for  the  benefit  of  the  Governor,  but  indirectly  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  state  would  profit  thereby.  The  post- 
rider  evidently  found  it  a  paying  business,  for  in  1783  his  com- 
pensation was  reduced  to  nine  shillings  a  week,  and  the  money 
he  received  from  postage  on  letters  was  to  be  deducted  there- 
from. 

The  people  at  large  were  given  better  facilities  for  the 
transmission  of  public  business  by  an  act  of  the  Assembly,  I^Iarch 
5,  1784,  which  provided  for  establishing  a  post-oflBce  department 
in  the  state,  with  post-riders.  Anthony  Haswell  of  Bennington 
was  the  first  Postmaster  General.  There  were  to  be  five  post- 
ofiices,  viz. :  Bennington,  Rutland,  Brattleboro,  Windsor,  and 
Newbury.  The  post-rider  from  Bennington  to  Brattleboro  was 
to  have  three  pence  per  mile,  and  the  others  two  pence.  The 
post-riders  had  exclusive  right  of  carriage.  Any  one  trying  to 
run  a  rival  post  was  to  be  fined  ten  pounds,  to  be  paid  to  any 
postmaster  who  should  be  successful  in  convicting  the  invader. 
Post-riders  were  to  make  weekly  trips,  and  could  have  all  fees 
accruing  from  the  carrying  of  letters  and  packets  of  every  kind. 
The  pay  to  post-riders  by  the  mile  ceased  in  1790  by  legislative 
action.  Concerning  the  advantages  of  the  new  postal  act  the 
Vermont  Journal  of  ^larch  24,  1784,  thus  expressed  itself: 

"We  flatter  ourselves  the  Honorable  Assembly  have  done  eesen- 
tlal  service  to  the  State  by  adopting  this  measure,  as  it  naturaUj  tends 
to  unite  the  people  thereof — affords  a  regular  source  of  information 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  887 

with  the  Southern  States  there  being  already  a  post  established  from 
Bennington  to  Albany — gives  a  thorough  rent  for  the  circulation  of 
newspapers  (that  most  excellent  vehicle  of  intelligence  and  conveni- 
ence) supplies  us  with  the  means  of  transmitting  domestic  occurrences, 
both  public  4b  private:  and  in  fine,  from  so  important  an  establishment, 
if  conducted  with  regularity,  we  may  anticipate  the  most  happy  con- 
sequences." 

That  was  progress  and  enterprise  in  1784.  Today  a  man 
who  reads  only  a  weekly  paper  is  likely  to  be  dubbed  a  **  hay- 
seed." The  Vermont  Gazette  in  November  announced  that  a 
four-horse  stage  was  ready  to  run  between  New  York  and  Strat- 
ford ferry,  Conn.,  which  completed  the  stage  route  from  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.,  to  Richmond,  Va.,  a  distance  of  about  700  miles. 

In  1792  additional  post-ofSees  were  established  in  the  state 
under  the  authority  of  Congress.  Pour  post-routes  were  laid 
out  in  Vermont,  the  one  nearest  Royalton  being  a  route  from 
Brattleboro,  through  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  to  Windsor  and  Han- 
over, N.  H.  Brattleboro  had  a  post-route  to  Springfield,  Mass., 
so  the  line  was  complete  from  Windsor  to  Springfield.  By  the 
way  of  Rutland  and  Burlington,  Royalton  could  send  matter  to 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  provided  she  could  get  her  mail  to  these  points. 
In  1793  Josiah  Allen  advertised  himself  as  a  post-rider  from 
Windsor  to  Braintree.  He  asked  those  in  Royalton  who  had  had 
the  Vermont  Journal  to  lodge  pay  with  Dr.  Searle  or  Benjamin 
Parkhurst.  Spooner's  Vermont  Journal  of  1803  advertises  a 
mail  route  from  Jericho,  through  Montpelier,  Williamstown, 
Randolph,  Royalton,  Woodstock  and  Windsor.  In  1806  there 
was  a  stage  from  Boston  to  Burlington,  which  left  Windsor  on 
Wednesdays  at  4  a.  m.,  and  reached  Montpelier  the  next  day 
before  noon.  It  left  Montpelier  at  noon  the  same  day,  and  ar- 
rived in  Burlington  Tuesday  at  9  a.  m.  It  left  Burlington  at 
3  p.  m.,  and  arrived  in  Montpelier  Saturday  afternoon.  It  left 
there  at  6  a.  m.  Monday,  and  reached  Windsor,  Tuesday  at  3 
p.  m.  The  same  year  mails  left  Royalton  every  Monday  at  6 
a.  m.,  and  passed  through  Tunbridge,  Chelsea,  and  Vershire  to 
Corinth,  reaching  Corinth  at  6  p.  m.  They  left  Corinth  at  6 
a.  m.  every  Tuesday  and  arrived  in  Royalton  at  6  p.  m.  This 
was  a  weekly  post-route. 

Rates  of  postage  were  at  first  according  to  miles.  In  1810 
the  rate  for  40  miles  was  8  cents,  between  40  and  90  it  was  10 
cents,  between  150  and  300  it  was  17  cents,  and  over  500  miles, 
25  cents.  The  high  rates  of  postage  led  to  the  private  convey- 
ance of  letters,  and  it  might  be  weeks  before  a  letter  would  reach 
itfi  destination.  The  stages  did  not  run  with  regularity.  When 
they  did,  it  required  nine  or  ten  days  for  a  letter  to  come  from 
Boston  to  Royalton,  and  even  longer  for  one  to  cross  the  moun- 
tain.    The  days  of  money  orders  and   bank  checks  had   not 


388  HiSTOBY  OP  ROYALTON,  VkBMONT 

arrived,  and  money  was  sent  in  letters.  It  was  customary  to 
divide  a  bill  into  three  or  more  parts,  and  send  one  paxt  in  one 
letter,  and  the  others,  each  in  a  diflferent  letter,  and  when  the 
recipient  had  all  the  pieces  he  would  go  to  work  and  put  them 
together  again. 

In  1813  there  was  a  post-road  from  Concord,  N.  H.,  to 
Montpelier,  through  Hanover,  Hartford,  Sharon,  Boyalton,  Ran- 
dolph, Brookfield,  and  Williamstown.  At  this  time  Stafford 
Smith  was  innkeeper  at  Royalton,  and  one  Benton  at  Sharon. 
Those  were  the  days  when  it  sent  the  blood  tingling  through  the 
veins  of  an  admiring  on-looker,  as  the  high-perched  driver  of 
the  four  or  six-horse  stage  proudly  galloped  up  to  the  tavern, 
his  long  whip  making  graceful  pirouettes  in  the  air  and  ending 
with  a  sharp  crack,  that  spurred  the  tired  horses  to  show  their 
best  mettle. 

No  post-office  seems  to  have  been  established  in  Boyalton 
previous  to  1798.  Through  the  courtesy  of  the  First  Assistant 
Postmaster  General,  the  Hon.  F.  H.  Hitchcock,  a  list  of  the  in- 
cumbents of  the  office  has  been  received,  extending  from  1798 

to  1898,  an  even  century.     The  list  follows: 

"Elkanah  Steyens,  appointed  Jan.  1,  1798;  Zebulon  Lyon,  April  1, 
1803;  Asa  Edgerton.  Oct  1,  1813;  Loraine  Terry,  Nov.  25,  1816;  Oramel 
Sawyer,  Jan.  15,  1821;  John  Warren,  April  4,  1831;  Jabes  H.  Board- 
man,  May  24, 1834;  Joel  B.  Fox,  Sept  20,  1837;  Edward  P.  NevinB,  Nor. 
17,  1837;  Elijah  D.  Blodgett  July  24,  1850;  Julius  P.  Smith,  Aug.  31, 
1853;  Charles  N.  Parker,  Sept  5,  1881;  Alice  B.  Parker,  Oct  24,  1887; 
George  A.  Laird,  Sept  26,  1898." 

These  names  with  few  exceptions  are  often  found  in  the 
records  of  the  town.  Sketches  of  most  of  these  persons  will  be 
found  in  the  genealogical  half  of  this  volume.  Very  little  has 
been  learned  regarding  John  Warren  and  Joel  B.  Fox.  Mr. 
Fox  held  the  office  less  than  two  months.  Miss  Alice  E.  Parker 
has  the  distinction  of  being  the  only  woman  who  held  the  Roy- 
alton office  during  the  whole  century  of  its  existence.  Mr.  Laird 
still  continues  as  postmaster.  J.  P.  Smith  was  postmaster  for 
the  longest  period  of  time,  twenty-eight  years.  The  office  was 
kept  in  his  store,  in  the  building  that  he  rented  of  Mrs.  Pelch. 
Miss  Parker  had  the  office  in  her  home.  She  was  appointed  on 
the  death  of  her  father. 

The  office  at  South  Royalton  was  established  in  1851.  Ly- 
man Benson  was  postmaster  from  that  date  until  1853,  when 
Horatio  K.  Blake  was  appointed.  He  was  succeeded  in  1862  by 
Charles  C.  Southgate.  Mr.  Southgate  held  the  office  longer 
than  any  other  incumbent,  until  the  democrats  succeeded  in 
placing  Cleveland  in  the  presidential  chair.  Henry  H.  Whit- 
comb  was  given  the  office  in  1885.  Miss  Helen  Southgate, 
daughter  of  Charles  C.  Southgate,  was  appointed  postmistress 


BbSTORY  OP  BOYALTON,  VERMONT  389 

in  July,  1889,  the  only  woman  to  hold  the  ofSee  in  South  Roy- 
alton.  She  in  turn  gave  way  in  1893  to  Charles  E.  Black.  Mr. 
Black  was  followed  in  1897  by  Will  M.  Sargent,  who  held  the 
oflSce  until  1902.  The  office  was  then  raised  to  the  rank  of  third 
class,  and  Julius  Orlando  Belknap  was  commissioned  postmaster 
on  January  22nd,  1902.  Mr.  Belknap  died  in  1910,  and  his  son, 
Perley  S.  Belknap,  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy,  in  Decem- 
ber of  that  year. 

The  amount  of  matter  passing  through  the  office  has  con- 
tinually increased  since  its  first  establishment.  When  the  Rural 
Delivery  system  became  operative  in  1903,  the  business  of  the 
office  was  still  further  increased.  Three  routes  were  then  estab- 
lished, and  one  stage  route  continues  from  South  Royalton  to 
Chelsea,  and  one  from  Royalton  to  East  Bethel,  East  Randolph, 
South  Randolph,  North  Randolph,  and  East  Brookfield,  once 
daily.  The  stage  to  Chelsea  runs  twice  daily  to  meet  the  first 
train  south  in  the  forenoon,  and  last  train  north  in  the  after- 
noon. This  stage  makes  one  trip  on  Sunday.  Mail  route  No. 
1  covers  the  part  of  the  town  north  of  the  river.  It  is  23V^ 
miles  in  length,  accommodates  110  families  with  a  population  of 
481.  The  mail  carrier  is  Otis  H.  Flint.  Route  No.  2  extends 
to  Broad  Brook,  East  Barnard,  and  into  Pomfret,  covering  the 
southeast  part  of  the  town.  It  is  24^/^  miles  in  length,  supplies 
85  families  with  a  population  of  375.  Gardner  Ashley  was  the 
first  carrier,  but  was  compelled  to  resign  on  account  of  ill  health. 
The  present  carrier  is  Erie  H.  Faneuf.  Route  No.  3  covers  the 
southwest  part  of  the  town,  toward  Barnard  and  Bethel.  Its 
length  is  241/^  miles,  the  number  of  families  on  the  route  is  86, 
and  the  population,  299.  James  M.  Shepard  is  the  carrier.  The 
revenue  from  the  post-office  for  the  quarter  ending  Sep.  30, 
1910,  was  $759.61.  The  salary  of  the  office  has  risen  from  $1,000 
in  1902  to  $1,400,  the  present  salary. 

A  list  of  stage  routes  from  and  through  Royalton  was  very 
kindly  furnished  by  the  Second  Assistant  Postmaster  General, 
the  Hon.  W.  S.  Shallenberg.  In  the  letter  accompanying  the 
list  he  said: 

"I  have  to  Inform  you  that  the  records  of  this  Office  relating  to 
mall  transportation  prior  to  1839,  are  incomplete  owing  to  partial 
destruction  by  Are  In  1836,  and  to  other  causes.  This  Office  under- 
stands that  the  post  office  at  Royalton,  Vermont,  was  established  in 
1798.  The  first  record  of  any  kind  of  mail  routes  at  Royalton  is  an 
advertisement  for  proposals  dated  April  1,  1809.  covering  the  term 
from  October  1,  1809  to  September  30,  1811,  on  routes  No.  29  and  32, 
as  follows: 

Route  No.  29,  from  Windsor,  by  Woodstock,  Royalton,  Randolph, 
Williamstown,  Berlin,  Montpelier,  Middlesex,  Waterbury,  Bolton, 
Jericho,  Wllliston,  to  Burlington,  once  a  week. 

Route  No.  32,  from  Royalton,  by  Tunbridge,  Chelsea,  and  Vershire, 
to  Corinth,  once  a  week. 


390  HiSTOBY  OP  BOTALTON,  VSBHONT 

Following  Is  a  list  of  routes  adTertised  o&  which  the  names  of 
oontractors,  their  compensation,  and  their  methods  of  tranqKnrtatton 
are  not  known: 

Advertisement  of  July  10,  1810,  for  service  from  January  1,  1811, 
to  September  30,  1811. 

Route  No.  6,  From  Middlebury  by  Royalton  to  Hanorer,  once  in 
two  weeks. 

Adyertisement  of  April  10,  1811,  for  service  from  October  1,  1811, 
to  December  31,  1814. 

Route  No.  34,  From  Royalton,  by  Tunbridge,  Vershire,  Corinth, 
Newbury,  Peacham,  Ryegate,  Bamet,  Littleton,  and  Ck>ncord,  to  Lun- 
enburg, once  a  week. 

Route  No.  35,  From  Windsor,  by  Woodstock,  Barnard,  RoyolfOA, 
Randolph,  Williamstown,  Berlin,  Montpelier,  Middlesex,  Waterfonry, 
Bolton,  Jericho  and  Williston,  to  Burlington,  twice  a  week." 

Route  No.  34  was  slightly  changed  in  1815,  and  covered  a 
distance  of  109  miles.  In  1824  it  was  made  to  end  at  Brad- 
ford, a  distance  of  34  miles.  In  1829  it  went  on  to  Haverhill, 
N.  H.,  41  miles.  The  contractor  was  Stafford  Smith,  and  he 
made  his  trip  three  times  a  week  in  a  two-horse  stage.  In  1833 
this  stage  ran  twice  a  week,  the  contractor  being  Lement  (Lem- 
uelt)  Bacon.  In  1837  the  stage  started  from  Bethel,  and  ran 
three  times  a  week,  Mahlon  Cottrill,  contractor.  In  1841  the 
route  was  extended  to  South  Newbury,  S.  A.  Babbitt,  contractor. 
In  1845  the  route  was  from  Royalton  to  East  Corinth,  28  miles; 
Elihu  Norton,  contractor.  After  a  settlement  was  started  at 
South  Royalton,  the  route  was  again  changed,  in  1849,  to  run 
from  South  Royalton  to  Chelsea,  15  miles ;  Sidney  S.  Smith,  con- 
tractor. The  stage  then  made  only  three  trips  a  week.  It  has 
not  been  ascertained  when  daily  trips  were  first  made,  but  prob- 
ably during,  if  not  before,  the  Civil  War.  The  twiee-a-day 
service  was  ordered  in  1898,  and  for  three  years  proved  a  source 
of  loss  to  the  contractor,  Marvin  H.  Hazen.  The  Sunday  serv- 
ice began  about  1900.  The  mail  carriers,  so  far  as  has  been 
learned,  have  been  John  Snow,  Chester  Sanborn,  Daniel  C. 
Jones,  Josiah  Spencer,  a  Mr.  Davis,  Benjamin  Hyde,  Moritz 
Volk,  a  Mr.  Dodge,  Herbert  Taylor,  who  came  from  Andover, 
N.  H.,  Charles  Peters  of  Bradford,  Martin  Ordway  of  Chelseii, 
Carlton  0.  Burnham,  formerly  of  W.  Fairlee,  Marvin  H.  Hazen, 
and  Harry  Bryant.  Mr.  Hazen  took  the  route  Sep.  25,  1895, 
and  still  holds  it.  Mr.  Bryant  has  the  mail  contract.  A  thor- 
ough-brace Concord  coach  has  been  run  much  of  the  time  by 
Mr.  Hazen,  who  has  employed  Mr.  Bryant  as  carrier  ever  since 
he  took  the  contract  in  1895.  Different  ones  have  driven  the 
second  stage,  the  present  driver  being  Fred  Culver. 

Chester  Sanborn  held  the  route  for  a  considerable  period. 
He  was  very  popular,  and  made  it  a  paying  business.  Mr. 
Burnham  was  rather  profane,  and  very  fond  of  fun.  He  did 
not  check  his  oaths,  even  when  he  knew  that  he  had  a  clergyman 


Hl8T(»Y  OP  BOYALTON,  VeBMOMT  891 

aboard.  He  told  one  reverend  gentleman  that  he  had  just  as 
lief  go  to  hell  as  to  heaven,  for  he  had  friends  in  both  places. 
While  he  was  the  carrier,  he,  with  the  aid  of  Gteorge  Mudgett 
and  M.  H.  Hazen,  in  1892  got  up  a  coupon  ticket  and  a  time 
table  to  advertise  the  Chelsea  route,  which  they  named  "Jigger 
Central  Electric  R.  R/'  These  slips  were  distributed  to  people 
coming  in  on  the  trains.  The  stations  on  the  tickets  bore  the 
names,  **  South  Royalton  Junction,  Brooklyn  Crossing,  Shoe- 
maker's Palls,  Jigger  Harbor,  Dustin's  Comer,  Tunbridge  Mar- 
ket, Blood  Village,  Randolph  Junction,  and  Chelsea."  Under 
the  caption,  ** Movement  of  Trains,"  they  announced,  **Nos.  11* 
and  12  (Limited  Express)  are  limited  to  two  miles  an  hour.  Any 
engineer  proven  to  have  run  faster  will  be  immediately  dis- 
charged and  passenger's  money  refunded."  **Nos.  66  and  55 
(Mail)  will  stop  at  all  stations  where  there  is  a  post-office  one 
hour  and  ten  minutes.  This  order  is  imperative,  as  it  will  allow 
postmasters  and  postmistresses  time  to  read  both  sides  of  the 
postal  cards."  Under  ** General  Rules  and  Regulations,"  the 
public  was  informed,  "Conductors  and  Engineers  will  take  it 
for  granted  that  the  right  of  way  belongs  to  their  train,  and  in 
case  of  doubt  go  ahead  and  take  their  chances."  "Engineers 
must  not  blow  their  whistles  while  standing  at  stations,  unless 
there  are  horses  enough  around  to  make  it  an  object."  In  ex- 
plaining signals,  it  was  stated,  "One  blast  of  the  steam  whistle 
denotes  that  the  engineer  is  awake.  Two  blasts  denote  that  a 
section  man  has  been  seen  near  the  track."  The  different  cou- 
pons were  "take-offs"  on  local  names  and  unsuccessful  enter- 
prises.    The  first  coupon  read  as  follows: 

"Issued  by 
JioGEB  Central  Electbic  R.  R. 
SO.   ROYALTON 
to 
BROOKLYN   CROSSING. 
Change  for  Dairy  Hill  and  Onlonville. 
Connections  are  made  here  with  the  Steamer  Abbie  Barney,  strik- 
ing all  points  on  Hartwell's  Narrow  Gauge,  including  Happy  Hollow 
and  Miller's  Bend." 

The  last  coupon,  which  brought  the  traveller  to  Chelsea, 
told  the  holder  that  ''This  Town  is  the  Head-quarters  for  the 
Fish  and  Game  League,  and  all  other  Sporting  miscellanies  per- 
taining to  the  Boot  and  Shoe  business.  You  can  also  view  speci- 
mens of  the  Tunbridge  Granite  here.''  Doubtless  some  who 
read  this  will  recall  the  fun  they  had  with  these  coupons.  People 
alighting  from  the  trains  would  often  call  out,  **Is  the  train  in 
on  the  Jigger  Central?" 

Mail  route  No.  29  was  changed  from  once  to  twice  a  week 
in  1811.    It  was  made  to  end  at  Montpelier,  a  distance  of  61 


392  HiSTOBY  OF  BOYAIiTON,  VXBMONT 

miles,  in  1825.  In  1829  it  again  had  for  terminals  Windsor  and 
Burlington,  and  mails  three  times  a  week  in  fonr-horse  stages. 
The  contractors  were  Pettes,  Barker  &  Co.  Mail  from  Boyalton 
to  Burlington  was  provided  for  also  three  times  a  week  by  route 
No.  503,  going  to  East  Bethel,  East  Randolph,  East  Brookfield, 
East  Williamstown,  South  Barre,  Barre,  Montpelier,  and  from 
that  point  following  route  No.  29.  In  1837  the  terminals  were 
Montpelier  and  Claremont,  N.  H.  The  stage  ran  daily,  and 
every  other  day  by  Barre,  South  Barre,  East  Williamstown,  East 
Brookfield,  and  East  Randolph.  The  contractor  was  James 
Bark.  In  1841  the  route  was  divided.  One  route  went  from 
Montpelier  by  Barre  to  East  Bethel  three  times  a  week,  and 
thence  by  Royalton,  East  Barnard  and  Woodstock  to  Windsor 
six  times  a  week.  Samuel  Blodgett  and  Robert  Barker  were  the 
contractors.  In  1845  the  line  ran  from  Montpelier  by  Barre 
to  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  six  times  a  week,  52  miles,  running  alter- 
nately by  the  South  Barre  route  to  Royalton,  Sharon,  West  Hart- 
ford, Hartford,  West  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  to  Lebanon  on  one  road, 
and  by  Washington,  Chelsea,  Strafford,  South  Strafford,  Nor- 
wich and  Hanover,  N.  H.,  to  Lebanon  on  the  other  route;  O. 
Hinton,  contractor.  Another  route  went  from  Montpelier  by 
Northfield,  East  Roxbury,  and  Woodstock  to  Windsor  six  times 
a  week,  going  alternately  to  Brookfield,  Randolph,  East  Bethel, 
Royalton,  and  East  Barnard  on  the  one  road,  and  by  Braintree, 
West  Randolph,  Bethel,  and  Barnard,  on  the  other  road;  con- 
tractor, Chester  W.  Chapin.  In  1849  Montpelier  and  Royalton 
were  made  the  terminals,  with  service  three  times  a  week;  con- 
tractor, S.  S.  Smith.  L.  Boutwell  in  1853  took  the  same  route, 
holding  it  until  1861,  when  John  Robinson  bid  it  off.  Tupper 
and  Robinson  had  the  route  from  1865  to  1873,  running  the  stage 
six  times  a  week.  In  1873  the  terminals  were  Barre  and  Roy- 
alton;  Chester  Sanborn,  contractor.  Montpelier  was  omitted 
Oct.  27,  1875.  Mr.  Sanborn  continued  on  the  route  until  1881, 
when  J.  R.  Tupper  secured  it.  His  route  was  curtailed  in  1885, 
to  run  from  East  Brookfield  to  Royalton,  16  miles.  The  subse- 
quent contractors  on  this  route  have  been  W.  A.  Stoddard,  F.  S. 
Smith,  Ambrose  A.  Call,  William  A.  Richardson,  and  William 
Skinner.    The  route  is  now  from  East  Randolph  to  Royalton, 

On  Route  No.  6,  from  Middlebury  to  Hanover,  N.  H., 
through  Royalton,  a  stage  was  run  once  a  week  in  1818.  This 
route  was  lengthened  in  1824  by  passing  through  Stockbridge 
and  Hartford,  and  it  was  shortened  in  1829  by  making  Royalton 
a  terminus.  The  four-horse  stage  now  ran  only  three  times  a 
week;  contractor,  John  Perry.  In  1833  Shaw  and  Tilden  were 
the  contractors,  and  B.  B.  Brown  in  1837.  The  stage  was  run 
with  two  horses  in  1841-45  by  Simeon  A.  Babbitt,  contractor. 


History  of  Boyalton,  Vebmont  393 

From  1845  to  1849,  N.  S.  Chandler  had  the  contract.    After  the 
railroad  was  completed  this  route  was  discontinued. 

A  route  from  Boston  was  established  in  1829,  which  ran  in 
stages  from  Boston  to  Washington  six  times  a  week,  and  from 
that  place  to  Royalton,  three  times  a  week.  It  went  by  Lowell, 
North  Chelmsford,  Tyngsboro,  Dunstable,  Mass.,  Centerville, 
Amherst,  Mt.  Vernon,  Francistown,  West  Deering,  Hillsboro, 
Washington,  Goshen,  Unity,  Newport,  Claremont,  N.  H.,  Wind- 
sor, Woodstock,  and  Barnard,  to  Royalton;  contractors,  Pettes, 
Barker  &  Co.  In  1833  the  route  was  extended  to  Montpelier, 
running  four  times  a  week  in  four-horse  post  coaches.  Another 
route  from  Amherst  ran  through  New  Boston,  Weare,  Henniker, 
Bradford,  Fisherfield,  Wendell,  Newport,  Claremont,  Royalton, 
East  Bethel,  East  Brookfield,  East  Williamstown,  South  Barre, 
and  Barre,  to  Montpelier,  three  times  a  week ;  contractors,  Jamea 
Barker  &  Co. 

In  1829  a  stage  ran  from  Concord,  N.  H.,  by  Boscawen, 
Salisbury,  Andover,  Wilmot,  Springfield,  Enfield,  Lebanon,  Han- 
over, N.  H.,  Hartford,  West  Hartford,  and  Sharon,  to  Royalton, 
daily;  contractors,  Shepard  &  Downer.  In  1833  the  contractor 
was  James  Barker  &  Co.,  and  in  1837,  Ephraim  Hutchins  &  Co. 
Hanover  was  omitted  in  1841,  when  John  Glass  and  Nathan 
Chandler  became  the  contractors.  This  route  was  shortened  in 
1845,  Royalton  and  Lebanon  were  made  the  terminals,  and  the 
four-horse  coach  gave  place  to  a  two-horse  stage.  N.  S.  Chand- 
ler was  the  contractor.  This  route  also  disappeared  with  the 
advent  of  the  railroad,  and  a  route  was  established  from  East 
Barnard  to  Royalton  in  1849,  to  run  three  times  a  week,  Sidney 
S.  Smith  being  the  contractor.  In  1853  William  Skinner  held 
this  contract.  It  was  about  this  time  that  Stephen  Freeman 
drove  the  stage.  Levi  Johnson  had  the  contract  in  1857,  and 
Oliver  C.  Woodward  in  1861.  This  route  was  abandoned  about 
1869,  and  a  route  from  South  Royalton  to  East  Barnard  estab- 
lished. Washington  Leonard  was  the  contractor  and  carrier. 
He  served  twelve  successive  years.  The  mail  at  first  went  down 
the  river  and  round  by  the  mouth  of  Broad  Brook,  but  the  route 
was  changed  when  the  new  hill  road  to  Broad  Brook  was  com- 
pleted and  open  to  the  public  in  1871.  Mr.  Leonard  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Azro  Davis,  who  drove  the  stage  four  years,  when  Mr. 
Leonard  again  took  the  contract  for  four  years,  making  his 
period  of  service  longer  than  that  of  any  other  one  on  this  route. 
Fred  Culver  was  awarded  the  contract  July  1,  1885,  and  held  it 
eight  years,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  L.  Dudley  Leavitt,  who 
drove  the  stage  about  one  and  one-half  years.  Mr.  Culver  fin- 
ished out  his  term,  and  was  followed  July  1,  1897,  by  Mrs.  W. 
Lyman  Allen,  whose  term  expired  June  30,  1901.    Mr.  Leavitt 


394  HiSTOBT  OF  BOYALTON,  VXBMONT 

then  again  took  the  contract,  and  continued  in  service  until  the 
introduction  of  the  Rural  Delivery  routes.  The  Rural  Delivery 
has  proved  a  boon  to  many  living  on  the  hill  farms,  but  in  some 
other  cases  the  mail  facilities  are  not  so  good  as  under  the  old 
regime  of  stages. 

The  high  tide  of  stages  for  Royalton  was  in  the  period  be- 
tween 1829  and  1832,  when  six  stages  regularly  drove  out  with 
prancing  horses.  Royalton  was  the  end  terminal  for  the  stages 
from  Boston,  Middlebury,  and  CSoncord,  N.  H.,  and  the  starting 
point  for  stages  to  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  and  Burlington.  The  other 
stage  ran  from  Windsor  to  Burlington,  passing  through  Royal- 
ton. Each  of  these  stages  made  the  trip  three  times  a  week, 
except  the  Concord  stage,  which  ran  daily.  The  well-known 
hostelry  of  Jacob  Fox  at  **Foxville"  had  its  share  of  patronage, 
and  the  owners  of  what  is  now  the  **Cascadnac  House,"  Amos 
Bosworth  and  Samuel  Blodgett,  no  doubt  depended  largely  for 
their  profits  on  the  custom  from  the  various  stages,  whose  driv- 
ers, guards,  and  passengers,  would  daily  mingle  together  at  their 
tables  and  replenish  their  coflEers.  There  was  not  much  class 
distinction  at  that  time,  but  plenty  of  jollity.  The  anecdotes 
which  follow  were  stored  in  the  retentive  memory  of  William 
W.  Culver  of  West  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  who,  as  a  boy  in  Royalton, 
had  often  listened  to  tales  of  the  olden  time. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Cushman  at  one  period  drove  the 
stage  passing  through  Woodstock.  John  Lull  had  charge  of  the 
horses.  After  the  animals  were  well  cared  for  at  the  bam.  one 
evening,  John  came  into  the  bar-room  as  usual.  Seeing  a  new 
fur  cap,  he  took  it  up  to  examine  it.  ** How's  that,  John!" 
Cushman  asked  rather  proudly.  ** That's  real  otter."  *' Ought 
ter  pay  for  it  is  all  the  otter  there  is  about  it,"  unkindly  re- 
sponded John.  Cushman  at  one  time  drove  an  opposition  stage 
to  the  regular  line  owned  by  the  proprietor  of  the  hotel  at  Roy- 
alton village.  The  landlady  one  day  had  their  passengers  wait- 
ing in  the  back  parlor.  While  she  was  absent  a  few  minutes 
Cushman  wormed  his  way  in  to  them,  and  as  he  was  spiriting 
them  away,  like  the  pied  piper,  he  met  the  hostess  in  the  hall. 
The  irate  lady  cried  out,  '^You're  stealing  my  passengers,  and 
ril  singe  your  whiskers,"  and  she  did,  much  to  his  discomfiture, 
for  his  whiskers  were  the  pride  of  his  life. 

It  is  related  that  at  another  time  a  passenger  desired  the 
ser\4ces  of  a  barber,  and  asked  Cushman  if  there  was  one  at  the 
tavern.  '*No,  not  regular,"  he  answered,  ''but  a  man  over  in 
that  store  will  shave  you."  The  unsuspecting  stranger  under- 
stood the  joke  when  he  asked  the  merchant  for  the  barber.  On 
still  another  occasion  a  passenger  was  leisurely  surveying  the 
buildings,  while  waiting  for  the  stage  proprietor.    He  noticed 


HiSTOBY  OF  BOYALTON,  VeBMONT  395 

the  law  signs  opposite,  and  turning  to  Bphraim  Barnes,  who  was 
sawing  wood  near  by,  he  remarked,  **This  seems  to  be  a  small 
town  for  so  many  lawyers.  How  many  are  there?''  ** Forty," 
laconically  replied  Mr.  Barnes.  ** Forty  I  How  so?"  asked  the 
astounded  stranger.  **Wall,  you  see  that  sign,  Marcy  &  Deni- 
son,  that's  two— Slade  &  Walker,  that's  four."  **Ye8?"  wait- 
ing for  further  information.  **You  see  that  other  sign?  That's 
nothin'.     Aint  that  forty?" 

The  stage  from  Boston  seems  to  have  been  called  the  Brit- 
ish mail.  This  mail  through  the  town  brought  out  the  boys  and 
many  an  older  person.  It  had  the  most  skillful  drivers  and  the 
fleetest  horses,  and  halted  only  for  changes  and  the  necessary 
rest  for  guards.  After  a  good  American  supper,  a  guard  at  one 
time  found  his  way  into  the  shop  of  Mr.  Adams,  a  carpenter, 
near  the  tavern.  Seeing  a  gun  on  its  rests  over  the  work  bench, 
he  drawled,  **Aw,  that  reminds  me  of  our  little  unpleasantness. 
You  seem  ready  for  emergencies."  Another  guard  strolling 
about  after  supper,  twirling  his  gold-headed  cane,  saw  a  very 
small  animal  in  his  path,  which  he  tossed  aside  with  his  cane. 
He  hurried  back  to  the  tavern,  and  approaching  the  landlord, 
said,  **Mr.  Landlord,  can  you  inform  me  what  small  animal  that 
is  with  a  very  disagreeable  odor  like  garlic?" 

Before  the  bridge  was  built  in  South  Royalton  in  1850,  peo- 
ple in  that  village  had  to  cross  the  river  by  the  fordway  or  go 
to  Royalton  for  crossing  the  bridge  at  that  place.  The  stage  to 
Chelsea  was  connected  with  Royalton  until  July  1,  1849,  when 
a  route  was  established  from  South  Royalton  to  Chelsea  three 
times  a  week.  It  was  bid  off  by  Sidney  S.  Smith,  who  lived  at 
Royalton  village,  and  had  to  get  mail  from  South  Royalton. 
While  Smith  was  contractor,  Daniel  Tarbell,  the  founder  of 
South  Royalton,  ran  a  rival  stage  over  the  same  route.  The 
competition  between  the  two  was  so  sharp  that  passengers  were 
carried  over  the  whole  distance  free  of  charge,  and  it  is  even 
said  that  they  were  paid  to  ride  in  the  one  stage  or  the  other. 
Mr.  Tarbell  made  it  pay  through  the  patronage  he  gained  at  his 
store  in  South  Royalton,  and  the  entertainment  of  guests  at  his 
hotels  in  the  same  village  and  in  Chelsea,  where  he  had  a  large 
hostelry.  He  also  had  a  hotel  at  Williamstown,  and  ran  a  rival 
stage  there.  This  route  was  also  owned  by  Mr.  Smith.  It  was 
not  so  much  a  rivalry  between  individuals  as  between  the  two 
villages,  and  it  seems  to  have  ceased  when  another  contractor, 
not  a  resident  of  Royalton,  took  the  Chelsea  route,  in  1853. 

No  very  serious  accident  in  connection  with  the  stages  is 
recalled,  except  an  incident  which  Dr.  Alden  C.  Latham  con- 
tributed shortly  before  his  death,  for  use  in  this  volume.  It  is 
given  in  his  words. 


896  HiSTOBT  OF  BOTALTON,  VXBMONT 


"In  1848  or  1849,  when  the  Oentral  R.  R.  had  reached  West  Leb- 
anon, occurred  an  accident  in  which  the  driver  of  one  coach  and  three 
passengers,  two  being  English  through-passengers  for  Montreal,  were 
killed.  The  driver  was  a  strenuous  and  capable  young  man,  and  was 
not  drunk.  Nothing  held  the  coach  but  ruts  in  the  froien  ground. 
When  the  wheels  left  these.  Smith  plied  the  whip,  the  only  possible 
hope,  but  the  heavy  load  drew  the  coach  and  four  horses  off  the  per- 
pendicular bank,  the  coach  bottom  up,  landing  on  driver  and  passen- 
gers, and  the  horses  on  the  coach.  Smith  was  called  drunk,  but  this 
was  denied  by  the  Sharon  innkeeper.  He  did  all  the  best  sober  man 
could  do  in  a  dark  winter's  night" 

This  was  probably  the  stage  from  Montpelier  to  Lebanon, 
N.  H.,  a  four-horse  stage  on  its  return  trip,  running  through 
Sharon  and  Boyalton.  The  place  where  the  accident  occuniBd 
is  called  the  ''Point  of  Bocks,"  the  difficult  place  that  Joel  Shep- 
ard  refers  to  in  his  account  of  the  early  settlement  of  Sharon. 
In  1797  there  was  a  post-road  from  Burlington  to  Montreal,  so 
that  stages  from  Boston  connecting  with  Burlington  furnished 
conveyance  to  passengers  from  Boston  to  Montreal.  This  stage 
which  was  demolished  was,  perhaps,  the  Boston  &  Providence 
Mail  Pilot,  which  Miss  Oertrude  Denison  states  in  a  sketch  of 
hers  ''plunged  down  the  bank  this  side  of  Sharon,  the  news 
being  brought  to  this  village  (Boyalton)  by  a  man  on  horse- 
back, dashing  wildly  through  the  town  for  help." 

In  an  advertisement  of  Stafford  Smith's  in  the  Vermont  Ad- 
vocate printed  at  Boyalton  in  1827,  he  says  of  his  tavern  stand 
that  it  is  the  "greatest  resort  for  stages,  perhaps  in  the  state, 
averaging  from  four  to  five  stages  six  nights  in  the  week." 

The  Hon.  Frederick  Billings,  a  native  of  Boyalton,  in  an 
address  delivered  at  the  Centennial  of  the  Congregational 
church,  in  telling  of  his  youthful  ideals,  said,  "But  the  man 
who  was  my  special  admiration  was  Field,  the  stage-driver,  who 
came  in  at  8undo\\Ti  on  the  Burlington  stage  on  his  way  to  Bos- 
ton, blowing  his  bugle  with  one  hand,  while  with  the  other  he 
guided  six  grey  horses.  In  all  my  life  I  have  never  seen  any  one 
quite  up  to  what  he  seemed  to  me."  There  were  swift  coaches 
in  those  days  which  advertised  "Boston  to  Montreal  in  two 
days."  Of  course  this  could  only  be  done  by  travelling  night 
and  day. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


The  Industries  op  the  Town. 

The  man  who  could  wield  an  axe  deftly,  cut  down  the  lordly 
trees  of  the  forest,  and  build  from  them  a  home  for  his  family 
was  the  man  of  most  value  industriously  considered,  in  the  earli- 
est development  of  the  town.  No  doubt  there  were  several  who 
excelled  their  companions  in  labor  of  this  kind,  and  who  were 
employed  in  such  service  by  their  weaker  or  more  affluent  towns- 
men. Paths  had  to  be  cleared  between  the  scattered  houses, 
that  communication  of  family  with  family  might  be  facilitated. 
Those  rude  paths  would  be  deemed  almost  impassable  at  the 
present  day.  Just  think  for  a  moment  of  the  attempt  to  drive 
an  auto  or  a  carriage  over  such  a  stump-defying  road! 

In  the  cleared  sections  grain,  corn,  and  potatoes  made  a 
fight  for  existence.  The  settlers  must  have  food,  the  grain  must 
be  ground.  For  a  time  it  was  carried  to  Hartford,  and  then  to 
Sharon,  but  early  efforts  were  made  to  have  a  mill  at  home.  No 
better  place  could  have  been  chosen  than  the  one  selected,  what 
later  was  known  as  Pierce's  Mills.  It  was  first  called  Curtis' 
Mills,  then  Morgan's  Mills. 

The  proprietors  realized  that  grist  and  saw  mills  were  essen- 
tial to  the  settlement  of  the  town,  as  the  following  record  at- 
tests: 

"The  Proprietors  of  the  town  of  Royalton  having  theretofore 
agreed  to  ensure  the  settlement  thereof  by  erecting  a  Grist  mill  and 
Saw  mill  thereon  for  effecting  of  which  Purpors  they  Proposed  to  Re- 
lease and  convey  Lot  Number  Thirty  five  In  the  first  or  Dutch  Allotment 
of  the  said  Township  to  Such  person  or  Persons  as  wold  build  the 
said  mills  at  certain  falls  which  are  on  that  part  of  the  Stream  of 
water  that  runs  through  the  said  Lot  Number  Thirty  five  &  called  the 
first  Branch,  and  the  said  Proprietors  having  also  to  lend  a  Sum  of 
money  to  the  Person  or  Persons  who  Shuld  Build  the  same  mills, 
and  E(tom)  Curtis  of  Royalton  having  ben  Last  Summer  Recommended 
to  us  the  subscribers  as  a  Proper  Person  (for)  the  Purpose  aforesaid 
by  Isaac  morgan  and  Robert  Havens  who  have  by  their  own  letter 
made  themselves  liable  to  and  answerable  for  the  Payment  of  any  sum 
we  think  the  sd  Subscribers  Shuld  Lend  the  said  Ellas  Curtis  not  Ex- 
cedlng  two  hundred  pounds  this  currency  with  the  Interest  that 
Shuld  grow  thereon  and  we  having  upon  the  credit  of  sd  Letter  and 
the  said  obligation  of  the  said  Ellas  Lent  him  one  hundred  pounds  and 
the  said  Ellas  having  this  Day  signified  to  us  the  sd  sabscribers  that 


398  HiSTWY  OF  BOTALTON,  VbBMONT 

it  will  be  Necessaxy  for  him  to  hare  a  farther  sam  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty  three  pounds  six  shillbogB  and  eight  pence  like  money  aforeeald 
for  the  payment  of  one  hundred  pounds  whereof  with  Lawful  Interest 
he  the  sd  Elias  has  this  day  given  us  Sundry  Bonds  and  himself  and 
the  above  Named  Isaac  morgan  several  other  bonds  By  them  Daly 
executed  and  Payable  to  us  the  said  Subscribers  for  the  remaining 
thirty  three  pounds  six  shillings  and  eight  pence  with  interest  for  ths 
sama  Now  be  it  remembered  that  it  is  the  firm  intent  and  meaning 
of  us  the  said  Subscribers  that  as  soon  as  the  said  SOias  Curtis  Shall 
E^rect  on  the  Said  Stream  of  Water  a  good  Grist  mill  and  a  good  Saw 
mill  we  the  said  Subscribers  severally  convey  in  fee  Simple  to  him 
the  Said  Elias  our  respective  Shears  of  the  sd  Lot  No.  Thirty  ftva 
and  deliver  up  to  him  the  Several  Bonds  or  obligations  by  him  and 
the  said  Isaac  Morgan  Executed  to  us  as  aforesaid,  he  the  sd  Ellas 
Curtis  giving  us  his  own  Bond  for  the  principal  and  Interest  that  shall 
be  Due  to  us  and  Mortgage  the  said  Lot  to  us  as  a  Security  for  the 
payment  thereof  with  interest  As  witness  our  hands  at  New  York  this 
Eighteenth  Day  of  December  1775 

WHITEHEAD  HICKS 
WILLIAM   SMITH 
OOLDSBROW  BANTAR 
JOHN   KELLY 
Royalton,  January  1777 
This  is  to  certify  the  proprietors  of  Rosralton  that  Ellas  Curtis 
has  erected  a  good  saw  mill  and  a  good  grist  mill  in  the  aforesaid 
township  on  the  above  mentioned  lot  Number  Thirty  five  and  on  the 
first  branch  of  White  river  and  hath  fully  answered  our  (illegible)." 

The  rest  is  too  torn  and  illegible  to  be  made  out. 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  the  year  1776  the  township  of  Royal- 
ton  was  provided  with  the  means  of  furnishing  ground  grain 
and  sawed  lumber  to  its  inhabitants.  Elias  Curtis  was  the 
builder  of  these  mills  and  of  mills  in  Tunbridge,  but  it  is  a  ques- 
tion if  he  ever  ran  them  himself.  The  first  miller  seems  to  have 
been  Isaac  Morgan,  who  had  a  home  near  the  mills.  These  mills 
were  mostly  destroyed  in  1780.  and  there  is  no  positive  proof 
that  Mr.  Morgan  rebuilt  them,  though  that  is  the  tradition.  The 
fact  that  he  was  the  original  grantee  of  Lot  35  Dutch  under  the 
Vermont  charter  leads  to  the  inference,  that  he  had  already 
come  into  the  possession  of  this  lot  by  purchase  or  by  being 
sponsor  for  Mr.  Curtis,  before  the  date  of  the  charter.  The 
mills  were  on  this  lot.  In  1782  Huckens  Storrs  was  in  posses- 
sion of  them,  and  kept  them  until  his  death  in  1786.  The  prop- 
erty passed  into  the  hands  of  ^lajor  Calvin  Parkhurst  and  He- 
man  Durkee.  In  1793  the  mills  were  bought  by  Daniel  Gilbert, 
and  were  long  known  as  Gilbert's  mills. 

Gideon  Waterman  tended  the  grist  mill  for  Daniel  Gilbert. 
Some  people  thought  he  took  too  much  flour  for  toll,  and  com- 
plained to  Mr.  Gilbert.  Mr.  Gilbert  thought  he  had  better  in- 
vestigate, so  he  took  a  grist  to  mill,  and  remarked  to  Mr.  Water- 
man, *'They  say  you  steal.  I'm  going  to  watch  you.  You  are 
welcome  to  all  the  flour  you  can  steal  from  my  wheat."    Mr. 


HiSTQBT  OF  HOYALTON,  VbBMONT  899 

Waterman's  wife  was  a  small  woman,  but  a  great  talker.  Her 
husband  got  a  chance  to  say  to  her,  *  *  Slip  in  and  get  some  flour. 
I'll  have  Gilbert  where  he  won't  see  you."  Waterman  was  a 
noted  story  teller.  He  got  Mr.  Gilbert  to  one  side  absorbed  in 
a  thrilling  story,  and  Mrs.  Waterman  crept  in  and  stole  some 
flour.  Mr.  Waterman  invited  his  employer  to  take  dinner  with 
him.  His  wife  was  known  as  a  prime  cook,  and  Mr.  Gilbert 
was  nothing  loath  to  accept  the  invitation.  They  had  some  fine, 
hot  biscuit,  which  Mr.  Gilbert  enjoyed  and  praised.  Said  Mr. 
Waterman  to  him,  **I  suppose  you  don't  know  whose  flour  you 
are  eating!"  **No,"  answered  Gilbert.  Then  he  was  told,  but 
he  could  not  say  the  flour  was  stolen.  Afterwards  he  said  to 
those  complaining,  **We  may  as  well  stand  it.  If  he  doesn't 
steal  it,  his  wife  will." 

Oliver  Luce  was  the  next  owner,  selling  to  Phineas  Pierce, 
who  owned  the  property  many  years,  and  it  was  generally  called 
Pierce's  Mills. 

When  Huckens  Storrs  died,  the  property  was  divided  among 
his  heirs.  A  daughter  of  his  had  married  Sluman  Allen,  and 
they  had  a  part  or  all  of  the  saw  mill.  James  Searle  bought  a 
portion  of  the  Calvin  Parkhurst  estate,  including  an  interest  in 
these  mills,  and  they  are  sometimes  spoken  of  in  deeds  as 
'* Allen's"  or  Searle 's  mills. 

After  Heman  Durkee  secured  an  interest  in  the  mills,  he 
made  an  indenture  with  Seth  Sylvester  to  build  a  fulling  mill 
just  below  the  grist  mill,  and  to  set  up  clothier's  works,  and  to 
have  it  ready  by  Oct.  1,  1790.  He  probably  fulfilled  his  con- 
tract, for  Feb.  4,  1792,  Mr.  Sylvester  sold  to  Alexander  Buck- 
land  of  Connecticut  the  fulling  mill  and  lot,  reserving  some  of 
the  apparatus.  This  went  into  the  hands  of  Ashbel  Buckland, 
from  him  to  Charles  Throop  of  Bethel,  and  then  to  Daniel  Gil- 
bert. Mr.  Gilbert  obtained  quitclaims  from  some  of  the  Storrs' 
heirs  as  early  as  1790,  but  did  not  secure  all  of  the  mill  prop- 
erty until  about  1806. 

In  1809  Mr.  Gilbert  sold  Haskell  Wheelock  and  Luther 
Howe  water  power  for  a  carding  machine  and  a  machine  for 
cutting  nails.  A  nailer's  shop  was  erected  by  them  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  road  from  the  carding  machine.  In  1811  Mr. 
Gilbert  sold  land  and  water  power  to  Nathaniel  Evans,  who  was 
to  maintain  a  trip  hammer  and  carding  machines.  Two  months 
later  Mr.  Evans  deeded  Baxter  Skinner  a  one-half  interest,  and 
William  Woodworth  the  other  half. 

Mr.  Gilbert  removed  to  Sharon,  and  the  following  year  he 
sold  to  Oliver  Luce  the  saw  mill  and  grist  mill,  mill  yard,  dwell- 
ing, and  four  and  three-fourths  acres  for  $2,000.  Mr.  Luce  did 
not  seem  to  be  prosperous  in  his  business,  and  after  putting  two 


400  History  of  Boyalton,  Vbbmont 

or  more  mortgages  on  the  property  he  sold  to  Phineas  Pierce 
in  1818.  In  1813  Eliphalet  Lyman  and  Elijah  Spencer  bought 
the  carding  machine  and  the  machine  for  cutting  nails.  In 
March  they  sold  to  Alpheus  Howe,  who  in  turn  three  years  later 
sold  to  Thomas  Kenworthy  of  BetheL  Thomas  held  the  prop- 
erty until  1846,  when  he  deeded  it  to  his  son  James. 

In  1830  Mr.  Pierce  sold  a  half  interest  in  his  mills  to  Moses 
Morse  of  Royalton,  who  deeded  back  to  him  nine  years  later. 
The  same  year,  1839,  Mr.  Pierce  sold  Joab  Young  an  interest  in 
the  fulling  mill  and  clothier's  works,  but  took  the  property  back 
in  about  one  year.  There  was  a  clover  mill  in  connection  with 
all  the  other  mills  in  1830.  It  would  seem  that  the  fulling  mill 
and  clothing  works  were  not  carried  on  after  Mr.  Pierce  ceased 
to  operate  them.  Mr.  Pierce  and  his  son,  Phineas  D.  Pierce, 
held  the  mill  property  until  1870,  when  it  was  sold  to  George 
Oilson  of  Tunbridge.  Mr.  Gilson  kept  it  but  a  few  months  be- 
fore selling  to  Martin  S.  and  Frederick  Adams.  In  1874  M.  S. 
Adams  bought  out  his  brother.  The  fulling  mill,  carding  ma- 
chines and  other  manufacturing  buildings,  except  the  grist  mill 
and  saw  mill,  were  then  in  a  dilapidated  and  unused  condition. 
The  fulling  mill  seems  to  have  been  very  near  where  the  furni- 
ture factory  is  today,  and  the  nailer's  shop  was  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Branch  about  opposite.  The  fulling  mill  which  Setli 
Sylvester  erected  was  described  as  just  below  the  grist  milL 
When  Nathaniel  Evans  sold  his  interest  in  1811,  he  stated  that 
he  built  the  dam  and  the  fulling  mill,  and  in  1870  the  fulling 
mill  is  spoken  of  as  being  east  of  the  grist  mill. 

A  large  amount  of  business  was  done  in  both  the  grist  mill 
and  the  saw  mill  while  they  were  held  by  the  Pierces  and  Mr. 
Adams.  Western  flour  and  grain  were  not  then  shipped  into 
the  to\^Ti  in  the  quantities  that  find  a  market  here  now.  The 
demand  for  meal  was  greater  than  the  farmers  who  raised  com 
could  supply,  and  Mr.  Adams  shipped  in  the  first  car  load  of 
com  that  ever  came  to  town,  in  the  early  70  *s. 

In  1890  Sumner  Chilson  became  the  owner  of  the  grist  mill, 
and  about  the  same  time  Charles  Viall  secured  the  saw  mill. 
Three  years  later  Oscar  Stoughton  bought  the  grist  miU,  and 
sold  it  in  1899  to  John  M.  Kibby,  who  still  owns  it.  Some  of 
this  building  is  the  original  mill  erected  by  Isaac  Morgan  or 
Huckens  Storrs.  The  old  part  is  seen  from  the  rear  of  the  mill. 
In  1906  Casper  P.  Abbott  and  Elmer  Doyle  purchased  the  saw 
mill,  and  have  an  extensive  patronage. 

The  settlers  in  the  western  part  of  the  town  soon  had  mills 
nearer  home  than  those  on  the  First  Branch.  Gkx)d  water  power 
was  furnished  by  the  Second  Branch,  and  lot  34  Town  Plot  was 
the  place  selected  for  a  site  for  mills.    Nicholas  Trask  owned  this 


•  I.U  TRKSI-nTT  Mil.l.. 
John    V     SliPIHIril   Kiirm, 


Hli^ 

ii 

^ 

^^SiLK 

^^jH 

^tf 

■i 

HlffrORY  OF  BOYALTON,  VeBMONT  401 

lot  in  1781,  but  was  a  non-resident.  He  sold  it  in  1789  to  Aaron 
Brown  of  New  Hampshire.  It  is  not  known  when  the  mills  were 
erected,  but  probably  soon  after  Mr.  Brown  came  to  town.  He 
was  listed  from  1790  to  1804.  Elisha  PerMns  bought  five  acres 
of  him  in  1800,  including  the  mills,  for  $1,000,  and  was  to  pay 
in  part  in  lumber,  clapboards,  and  slit  work.  He  in  turn  after 
three  years  sold  to  Jireh  Durkee. 

Four  diflferent  persons  owned  the  property  between  1800  and 
1811,  when  Daniel  Woodbury  bought  it.  In  1815  he  sold  land 
and  water  privilege  to  Nathan  Kimball,  Benjamin  Bloss,  and 
Elisha  G.  Cotton,  who  established  a  clover  mill  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Branch  about  opposite  the  mills. 

In  1822  John  Marshall  purchased  the  mills.  He  tried  tak- 
ing in  three  partners,  Daniel  jDushing,  Oliver  Ordway,  and  David 
Ford,  but  none  except  Mr.  Cushing  remained  in  the  firm  any 
length  of  time.  Mr.  Cushing  seems  to  have  put  in  a  fulling  mill. 
Samuel  Hibbard  of  Bethel  secured  an  interest  in  the  firm,  and 
he  and  Mr.  Marshall  leased  the  saw  and  grist  mill  to  Mr.  Cush- 
ing for  two  years  from  1828.  Before  the  end  of  the  lease  Mr. 
Marshall  sold  the  one-third  interest  which  he  held  to  Hosea 
Harris  of  Hartford,  who  allowed  Mr.  Cushing  to  remain.  The 
mills  were  known  as  Marshall's  mills  even  after  Harvey  Wight 
bought  a  one-third  interest  in  1833.  Five  years  later  Mr.  Wight 
had  control  of  a  larger  part  of  the  property,  and  sold  John  and 
Josiah  Brooks  a  two-thirds  interest.  A  shingle  mill  had  then 
been  put  in.  Erastus  P.  Williams  seems  also  to  have  had  a  share 
in  the  mills. 

The  mills  continued  to  change  hands  rather  frequently,  and 
in  1841  Milo  Dearing  bought  them,  and  took  in  Don  Crain  of 
Bethel  as  a  partner.  Dearing  and  Crain  bought  also  a  one-sixth 
interest  in  the  clover  mill.  In  1843  Mr,  Crain  bought  out  his 
partner,  and  the  mills  were  called  Crain 's  mills  until  he  sold  to 
Lucius  B.  Wright  and  Horace  A.  Lyman  in  1853.  Mr.  Wright 
got  control  of  the  mills  the  next  year,  including  the  clover  mill, 
which  was  then  in  a  decaying  condition.  He  retained  the  prop- 
erty five  years  and  then  sold  to  James  Walcott,  who,  in  1860, 
sold  a  one-half  interest  to  his  son-in-law,  Jason  S.  Lovejoy.  John 
Mcintosh,  the  next  owner  in  1865,  kept  the  mills  two  years,  and 
then  turned  them  over  to  Oscar  N.  Stoughton.  While  Mr.  Stough- 
ton  owned  them  they  were  burned.  It  was  then  that  he  pur- 
chased the  ** Pierce  Mills.''  Seven  years  after  the  mills  were 
burned,  Mr.  Stoughton  had  rebuilt  a  new  electric  plant  on  the 
old  site,  and  alone  started  in  to  furnish  electric  lights  to  the  two 
villages.  The  first  electric  lights  began  to  twinkle  in  Royalton 
Nov.  2,  1900.  Against  many  drawbacks  and  discouragements 
Mr.  Stoughton  continued  to  supply  the  villages  with  lights  until 

26 


402  HiSTOBY  OF  BOYALTON,  VeBMONT 

June,  1909,  when  he  sold  out  to  the  South  Boyalton  Power  Ck)m. 

This  company  was  incorporated  March  26, 1909,  with  a  capi- 
tal stock  of  $10,000,  divided  into  1,000  shares  of  $10  each.  The 
subscribers  were  N.  Curtis  Fletcher  of  Boston,  Ruth  L.  Howe  of 
Boston,  Robert  B.  Keltic,  2nd,  of  Boston,  James  G.  Henry  of 
White  River  Junction,  and  Q.  S.  Edson  of  W.  Lebanon,  N.  H. 
Its  principal  place  of  business  was  to  be  Royalton  and  South 
Royalton.  On  May  22,  1909,  there  had  been  paid  in  $2,000.  A 
new  organization  was  deemed  advisable,  and  on  Dec.  17, 1909,  the 
Royalton  Power  Company  was  incorporated  through  the  office  of 
the  Secretary  of  State.  The  articles  of  incorporation  say,  that 
it  is  organized  ''for  the  purpose  of  making,  generating,  selling, 
distributing,  and  supplying  electricity  for  lighting,  heating, 
manufacturing  or  mechanical  purposes;  and  to  manufacture, 
buy,  sell,  rent  and  deal  in  fixtures  and  appliances  of  all  kinds 
for  the  use  of  electricity  and  hydraulic  machinery  and  supplies; 
also  to  acquire,  build,  own,  develop,  manage,  operate,  lease  and 
dispose  of  water  rights,  water  powers  and  steam  and  water  power 
plants  and  systems,  mills  and  mill  sites,  and  to  construct  and 
build  dams,  sluiceways  and  other  structures,  and  to  do  a  general 
construction  and  engineering  work  of  all  kinds  necessary  or  in- 
cidental to  the  business  of  said  corporation  in  Royalton  and 
Bethel  and  other  towns  in  Windsor  and  Orange  Counties  in  said 
state  of  Vermont.  With  principal  place  of  business  at  Royalton 
in  the  County  of  Windsor,  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  with  capital 
Stock  of  Sixteen  Thousand  ($16,000.00)  Dollars  divided  into 
Sixteen  Hundred  Shares  of  par  value  Ten  Dollars  each." 

Frederick  L.  Walker  of  Boston,  N.  Curtis  Fletcher  of  Bos- 
ton, Robert  B.  Keltic,  Jr.,  of  Boston,  Marvin  H.  Hazen  of  South 
Royalton,  and  Arthur  N.  Stoughton  of  Royalton  were  the  sub- 
scribers. The  South  Royalton  Power  Company  held  a  meeting 
Jan.  4,  1910,  at  the  office  of  Tarbell  &  Whitham  in  So.  Royalton, 
when  1,300  shares  were  represented.  N.  Curtis  Fletcher  was 
authorized  as  agent  to  sell  to  the  Royalton  Power  Company  all 
the  property  of  the  South  Royalton  Power  Co.,  and  the  transfer 
was  made  Feb.  5,  1910.  Frederick  L.  Walker  is  president  of 
the  company  and  M.  H.  Hazen,  clerk. 

About  1800  Amos  Robinson  bought  of  Ebenezer  Parkhurst 
fifty  acres  in  the  southwestern  part  of  lot  2  Large  Allotment.  A 
few  years  afterwards  Mr.  Robinson  refers  to  a  saw  mill  on  his 
land,  and  the  inference  is  that  he  built  his  mill.  In  1820  Nehe- 
miah  Leavitt  who  lived  in  the  Horace  Royce  house.  Broad  Brook, 
deeded  Mr.  Robinson  four  and  three-fourths  acres  of  land  where 
Mr.  Robinson's  grist  and  saw  mills  stood.  These  mills  were  lo- 
cated  on  a  brook  running  into  Broad  Brook  near  the  bridge  across 


EbSTOBT  OP  EOYALTON,  VbBMONT  408 

Broad  Brook  just  below  Horace  Royce's.  The  grist  miU  was  on 
the  right  hand  side  of  the  brook  as  one  stands  on  the  bridge  fac- 
ing the  brook,  and  the  saw  mill  was  on  the  opposite  side.  The 
site  of  these  mills  can  be  seen  in  one  of  the  cuts,  a  winter  scene. 

In  1830  Mr.  Robinson  deeded  these  mills  to  his  son,  Amos. 
He  was  in  Sharon  the  next  year.  His  son  sold  the  grist  mill  to 
John  Thompson  in  1833,  and  the  next  year  he  sold  the  saw  mill 
to  Benjamin  Thompson  of  Pomfret.  In  1846  Cyrus  Hartshorn 
came  into  possession  of  the  saw  mill,  and  passed  it  on  to  Hiram 
Hinkley,  who  sold  it  in  1852  to  Joseph  Johnson.  Mr.  Johnson 
became  involved  in  the  South  Royalton  Bank  failure,  and  the 
property  went  into  the  hands  of  Phineas  GoflE.  Mr.  GoflE  ran  the 
mill  several  years,  and  also  his  son  Calvin  continued  the  business 
until  October,  1869,  when  the  great  freshet  which  took  out  the 
dam  and  bridge  also  took  the  mill  along  with  them.  It  was  par- 
tially rebuilt,  but  practically  ceased  to  exist  in  1869. 

While  John  Thompson  had  the  grist  mill,  he  seems  to  have 
put  in  a  rake  factory.  In  1841  Chester  Baxter  of  Sharon  sold 
this  property  to  Richard  Thomas,  having  obtained  it  on  a  mort- 
gage. Mr.  Thomas  and  his  son,  Philip,  ran  both  the  grist  mill 
and  the  rake  factory.  There  was,  however,  a  lapse  of  fifteen 
years  between  the  date  of  sale  by  Richard  Thomas  and  the  date 
of  purchase  by  his  son  Philip.  During  this  time  the  property 
was  in  the  hands  of  several  persons,  who  do  not  seem  to  have 
done  much  in  the  way  of  developing  it.  The  mill  and  rake  fac- 
tory were  in  a  state  of  decay,  when  Thomas  Davis  took  them  from 
Mr.  Thomas  in  1880,  and  were  never  productive  after  that  time. 
The  buildings  were  removed  many  years  ago.  The  grist  mill 
was  never  used  for  grinding  wheat,  so  far  as  can  be  learned.  One 
who  remembers  them,  says  the  mill  and  the  factory  were  under 
the  same  roof. 

Mr.  Amos  Robinson  was  a  very  energetic  business  man.  He 
had  varied  interests  and  held  considerable  property  on  Broad 
Brook.  His  saw  mill  and  grist  mill  were  not  enough  to  satisfy 
his  active  nature,  and  in  1824  he  had  his  eye  on  a  desirable  site 
for  another  industry.  He  secured  one  and  one-half  acres  of 
Arunah  Clark  in  1824.  He  sold  this  the  next  year  to  Peter 
Wheelock,  Jr.,  and  states  that  on  it  are  two  carding  machines,  a 
picking  machine,  clothing  works,  and  a  clover  mill.  The  infer- 
ence is  that  in  the  year  in  which  he  held  it,  he  had  erected  all 
these  plants.  Mr.  Wheelock  very  soon  took  in  as  partner  David 
A.  Adams. 

This  firm  continued  until  1828,  when  Mr.  Wheelock  sold  his 
share  to  Ichabod  and  Joseph  Davis,  and  they  two  years  later  sold 
to  David  A.  Adams,  so  that  he  controlled  the  whole  at  this  time. 
He  took  Marshall  Rix  as  a  partner  in  1830,  and  in  1835  sold  his 


404  BlffTOBY  OF  BOYALTQN,  VXBMONT 

own  interest  to  Heman  Parkhnrst  of  Sharon,  who  very  aoon 
deeded  to  Lyman  L.  Rix,  who,  in  1847  deeded  to  Marshall  Six. 
After  running  the  mills  four  years  Mr.  Bix  sold  to  Nathan  P. 
Brownell,  who  sold  the  property  to  Richard  Thomas  in  1854. 
Three  years  later  Mr.  Thomas  sold  to  Ira  Cnrtiss,  who  ntilized 
the  plant  to  manufacture  butter  tubs,  which  business  he  con- 
tinued until  1866,  when  he  sold  to  Richard  Yeaton  and  Nafhan 
D.  Howland.  This  firm  broke  the  record  for  periodic  changes  in 
ownership.  They  continued  to  do  business  until  1886,  when  Mr. 
Yeaton  sold  out  to  his  partner.  They  had  manufactured  varioDS 
things,  knives,  shoe  shaves  and  lasts,  croquet  sets,  etc.  A  saw 
mill  was  built  in  connection  with  the  other  works  in  1879.  Mr. 
Howland  and  his  son  Fred  still  continue  the  business,  and  get 
out  a  considerable  quantity  of  lumber  yearly,  but  ceased  to  manu- 
facture articles  in  1885.  If  they  hold  the  property  six  more 
years,  they  will  have -rounded  out  a  half  century  of  ownership. 
They  do  now  a  general  repair  business  in  connection  with  their 
saw  mill.  The  property  is  known  as  the  Nathan  D.  Howland 
mill. 

There  seems  to  be  no  means  of  ascertaining  when  the  saw 
mill  on  the  Jeremiah  Trescott  farm  was  erected.  It  is  thought 
to  be  over  100  years  old.  It  was  built  either  by  Jeremiah  Tres- 
cott or  his  son  Thomas.  It  is  first  mentioned  in  a  deed  given  by 
Thomas  to  his  nephew,  Jeriel,  in  1832,  when  Thomas  sells  Jerid 
one-half  of  the  mill.  Jeremiah  Trescott  was  the  original  grantee 
of  15  Dutch,  the  lot  on  which  the  mill  is  located.  A  small,  rapid 
stream  runs  through  this  lot,  to  which  the  name  **Mill  brook" 
has  been  given  in  recent  years.  Isaac  S.  Shepard  bought  this 
farm  in  1854,  and  he  or  his  son.  John  F.  Shepard,  have  resided 
on  it  ever  since.  No  mill  in  to^vn  has  changed  hands  so  few 
times,  and  none,  probably,  is  so  nearly  the  original  structure  as 
this  one.  It  still  runs  the  upright  saw,  and  holds  its  own  with 
later  inventions.  It  is  an  interesting  old  relic,  a  cut  of  which 
will  be  found  in  another  place  in  this  book. 

Two  brothers,  William  and  Isaac  Hatch,  bought  the  farm 
where  Mr.  Francis  Russell  now  lives,  in  1823.  They  made  an 
agreement  with  Ebenezer  Rix,  a  millwright,  on  May  2,  1828,  to 
build  a  saw  mill  ** across  the  brook."  In  1834  it  went  through 
the  hands  of  Solomon  Downer  of  Sharon  to  Philip  Hadley  of 
Randolph,  and  five  years  later  Mr.  Hadley  sold  to  Jesse  Adams. 
In  1846  Mr.  Adams  sold  **the  Rix  and  Hatch  mill"  to  Henry  C. 
Davis.  Mr.  Davis  mortgaged  to  Mr.  Adams,  and  the  mill  seems 
to  have  come  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  Adams  again,  for  in 
1850  he  sold  it  to  Daniel  L.  Lyman.  Dr.  Lyman  deeded  it  the 
next  year  to  Thomas  Atwood.  It  went  from  Sir.  Atwood  to 
Charles  Clapp  and  from  him  to  Ebenezer  and  Oliver  Atwood. 


HiSTOBY  OF  BOYALTON,  VERMONT  405 

They  sold  it  in  1865  to  James  G.  Henry.  Six  years  later  Mr. 
Charles  Lyman  bought  it  of  him,  and  held  it  until  1902,  when  he 
sold  to  Norman  Sewall.  In  1907  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Sewall  deeded 
it  to  Fred  Fowler,  who  still  owns  and  runs  the  mill. 

The  old  turnpike  bridge  across  White  river  at  North  Eoy- 
alton  appears  to  have  been  some  little  distance  below  the  present 
site  of  the  bridge.  In  1817  Stafford  Smith  bought  of  Isaac  Skin- 
ner about  fifteen  acres  of  land  located  in  the  northwestern  part 
of  26  Large  Allotment,  beginning  below  the  westerly  abutment 
of  the  old  turnpike  bridge.  On  this  land  he  erected  a  woolen 
factory,  which  he  rented  in  1819  to  Daniel  and  Jabez  Pinney  for 
three  years.  They  took  it  on  shares.  From  the  description  of 
the  premises  it  is  learned  that  butternut  bark  was  one  of  the  dye 
stuffs  used.  Mr.  Smith  again  appears  in  the  records  in  1825, 
when  he  rented  to  Abel  and  Joseph  Matson,  Thomas  Wood,  and 
Samuel  Hunter  of  Barre  for  the  term  of  five  years.  The  factory 
was  already  occupied  by  the  Matsons.  Mr.  Smith  agreed  to  put 
things  in  repair  for  receiving  machinery  for  roping,  spinning, 
and  weaving  woolens.  They  were  to  pay  $250  the  firat  year, 
and  after  that,  $300  a  year.  Fifteen  barrels  of  cider  were  to  be 
taken  as  part  of  the  rent.  Mr.  Smith  had  bought  of  Jireh  Dur- 
kee  a  few  acres  on  which  was  a  distillery,  and  it  may  be  that 
this  was  included  now  in  the  lease.  Whether  Mr.  Smith  failed 
to  put  "things  in  repair,"  or  for  some  other  reason,  the  contract 
was  mutually  discharged  Nov.  17,  1826.  The  firm  name  had 
been  Stafford  Smith,  Hunter,  Matson  &  Co. 

On  January  15th  of  the  next  year  Mr.  Smith  through  The 
Advocate  advertised  his  property  for  sale.  He  describes  his 
woolen  factory  as  consisting  of  two  fulling  mills,  dye  house,  two 
carding  machines,  one  picker,  one  roping  and  spinning  machine. 
He  states  that  he  got  badly  into  debt  through  building.  In  May 
following  he  tells  the  public  through  the  columns  of  The  Advo- 
cate published  in  Royalton  that  his  woolen  mill  is  ready  to  take 
the  wool  and  furnish  cloth  by  the  yard  or  on  shares.  In  1830 
he  sold  to  Pliny  Davis  and  Ziba  A.  Pinney  the  land  which  he 
had  bought  of  Isaac  Skinner  and  Jireh  Durkee,  including  the 
factory.  The  next  day  Mr.  Pinney  deeded  to  Mr.  Davis,  and 
eight  months  later  Mr.  Davis  re-deeded  to  Mr.  Smith.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1831,  Benjamin  Rice  of  Warren  bought  the  property  and 
removed  to  town  in  July.  He  carried  on  a  successful  manufac- 
turing business  for  many  years,  turning  out  cloth  of  various 
kinds.  In  February,  1850,  the  mills  burned,  and  were  never  re- 
built. 

Mr.  Rice's  factory  was  the  most  extensive  of  its  kind  ever 
in  town.  Fulling  mills  were  supplementary  to  the  hand  work 
of  skillful  wives  and  daughters.    Before  1800,  when  carding  ma- 


406  BlSTOBY  OF  BOTALTON,  VotMONT 

chines  were  first  introduced  into  this  country,  the  carding  of 
wool  into  rolls  was  all  done  in  the  home.  The  rolls  were  then 
spun,  the  yam  woven  into  cloth,  and  taken  to  the  fulling  mill 
for  finishing.  If  it  was  to  be  used  for  men's  clothing,  it  was 
fulled,  colored,  and  sheared.  Cloth  for  the  use  of  women  was 
dyed  and  pressed.  So  far  as  known  no  linen  cloth  was  manufac- 
tured in  town,  except  by  hand  in  the  home.  Mr.  Bice  wove  cloth 
by  machinery,  and  the  firm  just  preceding  him  may  have  done 
so  for  a  brief  time. 

The  making  of  potash  and  pearlash  was  an  early  industry. 
It  required  no  expensive  machinery,  unless  conducted  on  a  large 
scale.  The  material  for  the  manufacture  of  these  articles  was 
at  hand.  It  only  needed  to  cut  down  the  trees  which  must  be 
removed,  before  the  ground  could  be  cultivated,  and  to  pile  them 
up  in  heaps  and  bum  them.  They  would  then  be  gotten  rid  of, 
and  also  furnish  material  for  manufacturing  a  salable  article. 
The  ashes  were  put  into  a  wooden  receptacle  of  some  kind  in  the 
same  way  that  farmers  today  ''set  up  a  leach"  for  making  soft 
soap.  A  small  quantity  of  quicklime  was  mixed  with  the  ashes, 
the  whole  slowly  wet  down  and  the  lye  drained  off.  For  potash 
the  process  was  simple.  The  liquor  was  evaporated  in  iron  ves- 
sels, and  fused  into  rather  solid  masses  by  red  heat.  If  pearlash 
was  desired,  the  potash  was  calcined  in  a  reverberatory  furnace, 
by  which  process  the  foreign  matter  was  thrown  off.  Then  the 
residue  was  dissolved,  filtered,  again  evaporated,  and  stirred  as 
it  became  nearly  dry  into  a  white  granulated  mass. 

Bradford  Kenney  in  a  deed  of  Oct.  22,  1789,  refers  to  his 
potash  house  on  N.  32  Town  Plot.  He  had  bought  twenty-two 
acres  in  this  lot  two  years  before/  He  again  mentions  the  potash 
works  in  a  deed  of  1791,  locating  them  in  the  northwest  comer 
of  this  lot.  No  further  record  of  them  is  found.  He  may  have 
'  been  the  first  resident  to  begin  the  manufacture  of  potash  in  Roy- 
'  alton.  In  1792  Isaac  Pinney  sold  Samuel  Bill  23  Dutch.  One 
of  the  notes  which  Mr.  Bill  gave  was  to  be  paid  in  "salts  of  lye.*' 
Mr.  Bill  bad  deceased  in  1798,  and  his  estate  was  sold.  The 
potash  works  drop  out  of  sight  at  this  time. 

In  a  survey  of  White  River  Turnpike  in  1802  mention  is 
made  of  John  Flint's  potash  works  122  rods  from  the  house  of 
Isaac  Morgan,  later  known  as  James  Buck's  house.  The  firm 
of  Flint  &  Jennings,  located  at  the  Yuran  place,  dissolved  part- 
nership in  1802,  but  Mr.  Flint  was  listed  in  town  until  1808.  No 
other  record  of  this  potash  manufactory  is  found.  In  1806 
Elkanah  Stevens  speaks  of  potash  works  near  the  pound,  which 
was  located  in  the  village  nearly  southeast  of  the  meeting-house. 
These  works  came  into  the  hands  of  Curtis  &  Cutter.  It  is  pos- 
sible that  they  erected  them.    In  a  mortgage  daed  of  1828  Mr. 


History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont  407 

Cutter  describes  a  part  of  the  mortgaged  land  as  a  three-cor- 
nered lot  by  the  pound,  where  the  potash  works  ** formerly" 
stood. 

May  6,  1809,  John  Estabrooks  bought  three-fourths  of  an 
acre  of  Daniel  Gilbert,  with  the  understanding  that  he  was  to 
erect  pearlash  works.  May  17,  1816,  Mr.  Estabrooks  deeded  this 
to  Curtis  &  Cutter,  and  they,  in  1822,  sold  it,  calling  it  then 
''potash  and  pearlash"  works.  This  was  located  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  village,  and  was  reached  by  a  lane  115  feet  in  length, 
which  ran  between  the  brick  house  now  occupied  by  Mr.  George 
Joy  and  the  house  just  north.  The  property  must  have  come 
back  into  the  hands  of  the  firm  or  Mr.  Curtis,  for  in  1829  the 
executor  of  Zebina  Curtis  deeded  it  to  Lucia,  daughter  of  Mr. 
Curtis,  and  wife  of  Bancroft  Fowler.  In  1842  Mr.  Fowler  of 
Greenfield,  N.  H.,  sold  to  Solomon  Downer,  E.  P.  Nevens,  and 
Lewis  S.  Fish,  this  same  property,  which  had  now  been  enlarged 
by  a  brick  coal  kiln,  which  was  built  by  Mr.  Nevens.  In  1848 
it  passed  through  the  hands  of  Mr.  Downer  to  Bichard  Stough- 
ton. 

Joseph  Fessenden,  July  23,  1811,  sold  Jacob  Cady  one-half 
acre  where  the  potash  works  were.  He  says  this  land  came  from 
Mr.  Cady.  A  search  in  the  deeds  fails  to  show  any  other  refer- 
ence to  these  works.  They  appear  to  have  been  on  Mr.  Cady's 
land,  and  perhaps  on  a  brook  which  ran  through  the  land.  In 
1803  Jireh  Durkee  sold  to  Isaiah  Aldrich  of  Hartland  one  acre  on 
which  were  pearlash  works  and  pump  logs.  In  1809  Mr.  Aid- 
rich  sold  this  to  Waldo  Tucker  of  Randolph,  and  the  pearlash 
works  were  then  mentioned.  The  next  year  the  property  was 
sold  to  Jacob  Fox,  and  the  acre  was  described  as  being  on  the 
west  side  of  White  River  Turnpike,  where  Jacob  SaflFord's  north 
line  struck  it,  and  running  towards  the  river.  Mr.  Fox  sold  one 
acre  to  Joseph  Bowman,  but  it  is  not  certain  that  it  was  this  acre, 
and  no  mention  is  made  of  the  pearlash  works.  In  1810  Levi 
Bellows,  Joseph  Dorr  of  Hartford,  and  John  Estabrook  sold 
Curtis  &  Cutter  a  potash  and  pearlash  outfit  on  Broad  Brook 
located  on  William  Hunting's  land.  Mr.  Hunting  lived  on  what 
was  known  later  as  the  Ichabod  Davis  farm.  In  Mr.  Hunting's 
deeds  no  trace  of  the  potash  works  has  been  found,  and  it  is 
probable  that  the  firm  making  the  sale  had  erected  the  plant. 

No  doubt  the  manufacture  of  potash  and  pearlash  was  car- 
ried on  in  other  parts  of  the  town,  but  no  one  living  now  has  any 
clear  remembrance  of  them,  and  the  records  have  been  depended 
upon  for  information.  Even  in  this  simple  manufacture,  a  cen- 
tury ago  there  was  the  same  spirit  that  actuates  the  trusts  today. 
In  the  Vermont  State  Papers  it  is  found  that  in  1790  John 
Hinckley  of  Guilford  petitioned  the  legislature  for  the  exclusive 


408  BisroBY  OF  Botalton,  Vebmont 

right  to  make  potash  and  pearlash  for  a  period  of  ten  years  in 
the  counties  of  Windham,  Windsor,  and  Orange.  He  claimed  to 
have  a  new  method.  This  concession,  if  granted,  would  have 
been  equivalent  to  a  patent,  and  was,  perhaps,  the  only  way  of 
securing  any  benefit  from  his  invention. 

Both  potatoes  and  apples  were  utilized  by  the  early  settlers 
in  making  different  forms  of  alcohoL  There  has  been  found  no 
reference  to  potato  whiskey  in  our  town  records.  The  manufac- 
ture of  cider  brandy  could  not  be  carried  on  until  apple  orchards 
had  become  bearing  and  cider  mills  had  been  erected,  so  there 
is  no  reference  to  these  products  until  the  nineteenth  century. 

In  1811  Daniel  Rix,  Jr.,  deeded  to  Jireh  Durkee  two  acres 
"on  the  turnpike,"  saying  they  were  to  be  tenants  in  common. 
Mr.  Durkee  deeded  his  share  the  next  year  to  Dudley  Chase  of 
Randolph,  and  in  1813  Mr.  Bix  sold  his  lot,  then  said  to  be  in 
30  Large  Allotment,  to  Mr.  Chase.  At  that  time  it  is  stated 
that  a  distillery  and  grist  mill  were  on  the  land  sold.  Mr.  Bix 
had  this  of  Benjamin  Clark,  and  he  of  Joseph  Bowman.  In  1816 
Jireh  Tucker  bought  the  distillery  and  three  acres  of  land  of 
Mr.  Chase,  and  sold  it  ten  years  later  to  Stafford  Smith.  It  is 
probable  that  Mr.  Smith  combined  it  with  his  factory,  ceasing  to 
run  it  as  a  distillery  after  some  years. 

In  another  part  of  the  town,  in  1811,  a  partnership  was 
formed  between  James  Morrill  and  Ezra  Young  for  the  purpose 
of  operating  a  distillery.  This  was  on  Mr.  Morrill's  land  on  the 
road  to  Hezekiah  Young's.  Hezekiah  Young  had  purchased  13 
Town  Plot.  Ezra  Young  bought  the  half  interest  of  Mr.  ^Mor- 
rill  in  1814.  As  part  payment  he  was  to  furnish  350  gallons  of 
whiskey.  He  quitclaimed  the  distillery  to  James  Morrill,  Jr., 
in  1817.  It  came  into  the  possession  of  David  Brewer  in  1821. 
No  further  mention  of  the  distillerj'  is  found. 

During  the  War  of  1812  whiskey  was  high,  and  that  stimu- 
lated its  manufacture.  Deacon  Daniel  Tullar,  who  lived  in  the 
west  part  of  the  town,  south  of  the  river,  had  his  distillery.  He 
refers  to  it  in  a  deed  of  1815.  Ebenezer  Day  refers  to  his  cider 
mills  in  1833,  and  in  1835  a  road  was  laid  from  the  cider  mill  of 
Jireh  Tucker  to  his  house.  Mr.  Tucker  had  bought  a  farm  above 
Isaac  Morgan's  in  1831.  This  farm  was  located  in  45  and  46 
Dutch.  There  used  to  be  a  cider  mill  in  the  southeastern  part  of 
the  town,  on  the  Amos  Robinson  farm,  mostly  in  7  Large  Allot- 
ment. No  reference  to  it  has  been  foimd  in  the  deeds.  It  gave 
name  to  a  part  of  the  road  between  the  Lovejoy  house  and  that 
of  Richard  Yeaton.  This  section  of  the  highway  is  still  called 
** Cider  Mill  Hollow."  The  mill  was  on  the  right  hand  side  in 
passing  up  the  road,  and  the  distillery  was  on  the  opposite  side. 
A  brook  runs  down  from  the  hills  on  the  west,  and  passes  under 


History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont  409 

the  road  near  the  site  of  the  old  mill.  The  old  cider  press  screw  was 
used  for  many  years  as  underpinning  for  one  of  the  Lovejoy  out- 
buildings. The  mill  and  distillery  must  have  been  removed  more 
than  sixty  years  ago. 

In  1878  Oscar  Stoughton  rebuilt  the  grist  mill  in  34  Town 
Plot,  and  about  1881  he  built  a  new  dam  and  a  new  cider  mill. 
The  cider  mill  was  destroyed  at  the  time  the  other  mills  were 
burned.  When  he  bought  the  Pierce  mills,  he  built  an  annex 
to  the  old  grist  mill,  extending  towards  the  road.  Henry  Gif- 
f ord,  who  lived  at  North  Eoyalton,  fitted  up  a  cider  mill  beneath 
his  bam  some  time  in  the  1870 's.  He  did  a  large  business  for 
many  years.  When  his  buildings  were  burned  in  1888,  the  mill 
X)erished  with  the  rest. 

In  1824  Capt.  Garner  Bix  built  a  saw  mill  on  the  brook  run- 
ning through  his  land  in  22  Large  Allotment.  In  1828  he  deeded 
it  conditionally  to  his  sons  Heman  and  Daniel.  In  1834  Heman 
deeded  his  share  to  his  brother  Daniel.  In  1857  Daniel  sold  to 
Ebenezer  and  Thomas  Atwood  one-half  the  mill,  and  in  1871 
he  quitclaimed  to  George  Bradstreet.  In  1862  the  Atwoods 
deeded  their  share  to  Mr.  Bradstreet.  It  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Prank  Bradstreet  in  1878,  who  removed  the  machinery,  and 
deeded  the  mill  to  Mrs.  Frances  Bradstreet  in  1884.  Through  a 
mortgage  to  Thomas  S.  Davis  the  mill  came  into  the  hands  of 
John  Wild,  Jr.,  in  1897.  It  has  not  been  refitted  since  the  ma- 
chinery was  removed,  but  it  still  stands,  a  picturesque  relic  nearly 
a  century  old.  It  is  located  on  the  beautiful  hill  road  extending 
from  the  present  home  of  John  Wild,  Jr.,  to  the  old  Turnpike 
from  Woodstock  to  Royalton. 

In  1782  Nathaniel  Perrin  obtained  from  Benjamin  Park- 
hurst  lot  10  Town  Plot,  Reuben  Parkhurst  being  original  grantee. 
In  1793  he  sold  one  acre  in  the  southeast  comer  of  the  lot,  lo- 
cated on  a  brook,  to  Timothy  Durkee,  Jr.  There  was  a  mill 
privilege  and  a  saw  mill  frame  on  the  lot  sold  at  this  time.  Two 
years  later  Mr.  Durkee  sold  this  acre  to  Zabad  Curtis,  giving 
the  same  description.  Mr.  Curtis  kept  the  mill  site  until  1813, 
when  he  sold  to  Jacob  Fox,  who  had  a  passion  for  acquiring 
property  of  this  kind.  There  was  still  a  **saw  mill  frame" 
on  it.  Mr.  Fox  sold  it  in  1839  to  William  Smith,  and  eight 
years  later  Mr.  Smith  deeded  it  with  other  real  estate 
to  (Jeorge  W.  Cook,  but  bought  it  back  in  1850.  In  these  later 
deeds  no  mention  is  made  of  a  mill,  only  a  mill  privilege,  but 
it  seems  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  this  acre  would  not  have 
been  incorporated  with  the  other  land,  if  it  were  a  mere  mill 
privilege. 

In  1834-35  (Jeorge  Metcalf  erected  a  saw  mill  on  his  farm, 
a  school  lot  in  52  Town  Plot.    David  Brewer  laid  claim  to  the 


410  HiBTOBT  OP  BoTiLifOir,  Ywaaumr 


land.    Mr.  Metcalf  sold  tbe  mill  to  Ghaunoqr  Tenn^y  in  IBSB, 
who  very  soon  deeded  it  to  Chaimeqr  Brewer.    'Hie  mill 
allowed  to  decay. 

In  1853  Cyras  Safford  had  a  aaw  mill  in  his  P*>*ai^_^ 
South  Boyalton,  which  may  have  been  built  some  time  beCom, 
and  was  probably  used  several  years.  No  doubt  there  wwa 
other  smaU  saw  mills  of  which  no  record  is  found.  Akog  1i0 
little  stream  running  beside  the  old  fort  fordwaj  in  flie  TObge 
of  South  Boyalton  can  be  seen  the  remaina  of  a  saw  mill  wUflh 
was  once  on  the  Kent  farm,  but  may  have  been  built  by  Qyrai 
Safford. 

In  1852  Daniel  TarbeU,  Jr.,  erected  a  steam  mill  two  atariea 
in  height  on  Imd  purchased  of  Lyman  Benson.  The  mill  stood 
not  far  from  the  Joseph  W.  Reynolds  dwelling  in  South  BayBir 
ton.  In  1854  he  leased  the  mill  to  C.  W.  Weston  and  Qyrus  D. 
Robinson  for  five  years.  He  reserved  the  blacksmith  ahop,  car- 
riage shop,  grist  mill  and  bark  miU.  They  were  to  use  the  tods» 
lathes,  and  machinery  in  the  second  story.  This  same  year  lie 
mortgaged  the  mill  to  the  South  Royalton  bank  for  $10,000.  The 
mill  was  built  on  a  rather  pretentious  scale  for  so  small  a  plaee^ 
and  did  not  prove  to  be  remunerative.  It  was  in  operation  for 
about  fifteen  years,  when  portions  of  it  were  sold  to  different  per- 
sons, and  finally  it  was  all  torn  down  and  used  in  erecting  oUwr 
buildings. 

Frank  Lyman  in  1890  erected  a  steam  mill  and  dry  house 
on  land  purchased  of  James  N.  Cloud,  seven  and  one-half  rods 
east  of  the  railroad.  This  property  came  into  the  hands  of  Wil- 
liam Martin,  who  converted  the  mill  into  a  dwelling  house,  which 
he  built  on  South  street,  the  house  which  is  now  occupied  hy 
Arthur  Abbott. 

(George  H.  Hackett  erected  a  mill  for  finishing  lumber,  on 
the  Chelsea  road  a  short  distance  above  the  ''Pierce  Stand,"  in 
1904.  In  1908  the  town  voted  to  exempt  his  business  from  taxa- 
tion for  a  term  of  five  years.  In  1910  Mr.  Hackett  sold  his  in- 
terests in  the  mill  to  his  son,  Frank  A.  Hackett,  and  retired  on 
account  of  ill  health. 

The  last  mill  of  any  size  to  be  erected  in  town  was  the  null 
of  John  H.  Hewitt,  in  South  Royalton.  It  was  built  in  1909, 
and  is  located  on  the  road  to  Broad  Brook,  just  west  of  the  rail- 
road crossing.  It  is  an  elevator  with  mill  attached.  It  is  76 
feet  high,  and  has  a  capacity  of  10,000  bushels  of  loose  grain  and 
100  tons  of  sack  grain.  It  has  a  35  horse-power  gasoline  engine, 
and  can  turn  out  from  35  to  45  hundred  weight  of  flour  in  an 
hour.  It  was  erected  for  Mr.  Hewitt's  personal  use  and  for 
custom  work. 

In  the  road  survey  of  1783  a  tannery  is  mentioned.  From 
the  second  mile  tree  ''near  the  tan  yard''  the  survey  ran  200 


History  of  Eoyalton,  Vermont  411 

rods  to  a  bridge  at  the  mouth  of  the  Second  Branch.  Benjamin 
Parkhurst  owned  this  land,  and  must  have  put  in  the  tannery 
before  that  date,  so  that  it  seems  safe  to  say  that  this  was  the 
first  tannery  in  town.  Mr.  Parkhurst  came  to  Eoyalton  when 
only  two  or  three  other  families  were  in  town.  It  was  probably 
this  tannery  outfit  which  he  sold  to  Jacob  Fox  in  1800,  but  it 
is  also  very  probable  that  Mr.  Fox  enlarged  or  rebuilt  the  works. 
In  1807  Mr.  Fox  leased  his  tannery  for  seven  years  to  Otis  Wil- 
son and  Ebenezer  Trissell  of  Randolph,  and  was  to  receive  $275 
yearly  in  sole  leather  and  neat's  upper  leather.  In  about  one 
year  the  lease  was  declared  void.  In  1823  Mr.  Fox  sold  Oel 
Billings  land  where  **the  old  tan  works  were,*'  which  looks  as 
if  Mr.  Pox  had  changed  the  location,  and  built  new  vats.  In 
1831  he  sold  the  tannery  to  Coit  Parkhurst,  but  it  must  have 
come  back  into  his  hands,  for  in  1837  he  contracted  with  James 
Everett  of  Randolph  to  run  the  business.  In  1839  he  sold  the 
tannery  to  William  Smith,  who  in  1847  sold  to  (leorge  W.  Cook. 
Mr.  Fox  bought  the  tannery  and  other  land  of  Mr.  Cook  in  1850, 
and  gave  a  mortgage  for  the  same.  In  1854  Martha,  widow  of 
Jacob  Fox,  sells  what  appears  to  be  the  tannery  with  other  land 
to  James  M.  Culver.  Just  when  it  ceased  to  be  operated  is  not 
known. 

On  Dec.  15,  1794,  William  Pierce  bought  of  Lyman  Back 
three-fourths  of  an  acre  situated  on  the  river  and  a  brook.  Mr. 
Back  had  purchased  this  land  of  Nathaniel  Morse,  and  it  was  a 
part  of  21  Town  Plot.  Mr.  Pierce  built  tan  vats  on  this  land  for 
custom  work.  He  lived  in  the  house  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  John  Shirlock,  and  the  vats  were  in  the  rear  of  the  house. 
He  carried  on  the  business  of  tanning  hides  for  many  years,  and 
was  followed  by  his  son,  William,  Jr.  He  had  bought  an  addi- 
tional acre  of  Mr.  Morse  in  1795,  and  the  tan  house  seems  to  have 
been  on  this  land,  which  he  sold  to  Charles  Button  in  1831,  and 
which  Mr.  Button  sold  to  Phineas  Pierce,  who  sold  it  to  William 
Pierce,  Jr.,  in  1840.  The  business  was  continued  but  a  few  years 
after  this. 

Huckens  Storrs  had  a  tannery.  He  died  in  1786,  and, 
when  his  estate  was  settled,  three  acres,  including  the  tannery 
and  blacksmith  shop,  were  set  off  to  his  daughter  Anna,  who 
later  married  Cyprian  Andrus.  Anna  and  her  husband  deeded 
this  property  in  1803  to  Ashbel  Buckland.  It  came  into  the 
hands  of  Phineas  Pierce  in  1811,  but  he  seems  to  have  devoted 
his  attention  at  first  to  the  manufacture  of  cloth,  and  not  much 
more  is  heard  of  the  tannery. 

In  1805  Benjamin  Packard  bought  of  Ebenezer  Parkhurst 
100  acres,  W.  2  Large  Allotment.  In  1818  he  sold  to  Silas  Pack- 
ard  a  lot  on  the  brook  running  by  the  schoolhouse  on  Broad 


412  History  of  Botai/ton,  VotMONT 

Brook,  and  in  1826  he  bought  one-f ourih  acre  of  Amos  Bobinaon. 
He  sold  both  of  these  purchases  in  1826  to  A.  J.  B.  Bobinaon, 
and  then  mention  is  made  of  a  tannery  on  the  brook  opposite  the 
Broad  Brook  sehoolhouse.  The  vats  were  probably  erected  hy 
either  Benjamin  or  Silas  Packard.  The  works  do  not  appear  to 
have  been  run  long,  if  at  all,  after  Mr.  Bobinson  bought  them. 

Abijah  Lincoln  and  Capt.  Asa  Partridge,  his  uncle,  formed 
a  partnership  in  1826  as  tanners  and  curriers.  They  secured  a 
water  right  of  Stafford  Smith  on  a  brook  which  empties  into 
White  river  just  above  the  bridge  at  Boyalton  village.  The  tan- 
nery was  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  on  the  left  hand 
side  of  the  road,  a  short  distance  from  it,  and  on  a  rising  knoll 
on  the  side  of  the  brook  next  to  the  bridge.  The  firm  did  a  thriv- 
ing business  for  two  years,  then  Mr.  Lincoln  bought  out  Capt. 
Partridge.  There  were  two  bark  grinders  connected  with  the 
tannery,  one  run  by  horse  power  and  one  by  water.  After  Mr. 
Lincoln  had  carried  on  the  business  for  a  few  years,  he  added  a 
shoe  manufactory  for  the  purpose  of  working  up  the  product  of 
the  tannery  into  sale  shoes.  This  was  a  large  two-story  building, 
located  about  half  way  between  the  present  residence  of  Miss 
Cornelia  Stickney  and  the  house  known  of  late  years  as  the  resi- 
dence of  Dr.  James  Morse. 

This  shoe  manufactory  was  given  up  after  a  few  years,  and 
Mr.  Lincoln  moved  the  building  to  the  place  where  Mr.  Joel 
Emery  now  lives,  cut  it  down,  and  made  it  into  a  dwelling.  The 
product  of  the  shoe  shop  was  of  the  best  quality,  in  both  sale 
and  custom  work.  The  overseer  and  manager  was  Cornelius 
Goodell,  the  father-in-law  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  whose  occupation  was 
that  of  a  shoemaker,  and  whose  fine  work  was  in  great  demand. 
Mr.  Lincoln  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-five  of  quick  consump- 
tion, and  the  industry  ceased  with  his  death. 

In  1799  Ebenezer  Herrick  bought  of  Zebulon  Lyon  twenty- 
two  square  feet  of  land,  for  which  he  was  to  pay  $1.00  on  the 
first  of  May  yearly  forever.  Mr.  Herrick  erected  a  shoemaker's 
shop  on  this  land,  and  later  he  established  a  tailor's  shop.  In 
1802  he  sold  his  shop  to  Grant,  Bellows,  and  Fessenden.  It  was 
one  of  the  first  shops  erected  in  the  village,  and  served  as  a  land- 
mark in  describing  boundaries.  It  was  on  the  north  side  of  the 
street,  a  few  rods  west  of  the  **red  store*'  later  made  into  the 
Peleh  house. 

There  was  a  shoemaker's  shop  on  the  premises  of  Jeremiah 
Treseott,  but  whether  he  conducted  it,  or  Zebina  Trescott,  who 
deeded  it  to  him  in  1819,  cannot  be  stated.  Both  may  have  done 
custom  work,  and  from  an  early  date.  In  the  early  part  of 
1800  Eobert  Button  had  a  shoemaker's  shop  near  his  house, 
which  he  sold  in  1818  to  Gel  Buck.    Jesse  Button  had  a  shop 


History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont  418 

near  where  Henry  Pierce  now  lives.  This  was  a  good  location, 
close  to  the  tannery.  In  1827  Oscar  Henry  had  a  shoemaker's 
shop  at  North  Royalton.  He  sold  to  Elisha  Parker,  and  in  1841 
it  was  in  the  hands  of  Jacob  Fox.  Of  course  Mr.  Pox  was  not 
a  shoemaker,  but  it  passed  through  his  hands  as  so  many  other 
pieces  of  property  did. 

James  O 'Grady  began  shoemaking  in  1870  in  Eoyalton  vil- 
lage on  the  common,  in  the  premises  now  owned  by  Q^rge  Tag- 
gart,  and  continued  the  business  for  about  twenty-five  years. 

Willard  V.  Eastman  has  the  longest  record  as  a  shoemaker 
in  town,  doing  custom  work,  mostly  repair  work.  He  had  his 
shop  in  his  house  from  1873,  when  he  came  to  South  Eoyalton, 
until  within  a  year  or  two,  when  age  compelled  him  to  cease  con- 
tinuous work  of  this  kind.  He  is  now  eighty-eight  years  of  age, 
and  still  at  his  bench. 

In  1890  a  few  enterprising  citizens  banded  together  to  pro- 
mote the  equipment  of  the  unused  mill,  erected  in  1882  by  M.  S. 
Adams,  for  the  turning  out  of  fine  finished  lumber.  The  firm 
was  composed  of  Mark  J.  Sargent,  William  H.  Martin,  Charles 
P.  Tarbell,  Charles  B.  Viall,  and  Casper  H.  Abbott.  On  July 
9,  1890,  they  leased  of  George  Tarbell  this  Adams  mill  for  a 
period  of  five  years.  It  is  located  on  the  Tunbridge  side  of  the 
bridge  across  tiie  First  Branch,  above  the  Abbott  &  Doyle  mills. 
It  is  on  the  site  of  the  old  fulling  mill  and  clothier's  works.  They 
engaged  Charles  H.  Abbott  as  superintendent,  and  fitted  the  mill 
with  the  proper  machinery.  All  went  well  for  a  while,  but 
through  lack  of  business  acumen,  inexperience,  and  distance 
from  the  market,  the  venture  did  not  prove  successful.  In  1896 
C.  H.  Abbott  bought  up  the  stock  and  established  a  branch  fac- 
tory at  Chelsea,  and  a  stock  company  was  formed  there  with 
Mr.  Abbott  at  its  head.  The  business  was  then  run  as  C.  H. 
Abbott  &  Co.  Under  the  original  company  the  directors  of 
that  company  had  become  holden  for  borrowed  money,  and  were 
not  released,  as  they  had  expected.  C.  H.  Abbott  &  Co.  went 
into  insolvency  in  about  one  year,  and  carried  with  it  the  South 
Eoyalton  Shoe  Company.  The  heaviest  losers  by  this  failure 
were  Forest  Southard,  A.  P.  Skinner,  George  Tarbell,  C.  P.  Tar- 
bell, and  Mark  J.  Sargent.  The  company  had  turned  out  a  large 
product,  and  their  goods  had  been  sent  to  every  state  in  the 
Union.  Mr.  Abbott  had  a  salesroom  in  Boston,  but  their  work 
did  not  prove  saleable,  and  heavy  losses  resulted. 

A  new  company  was  formed  and  duly  incorporated  through 
the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  Dec.  13,  1898.  The  sub- 
scribers were  Frank  M.  Merrill,  Charles  D.  Pierce,  Charles  P. 
Tarbell,  Isaac  E.  Harriman,  and  Mark  J.  Sargent.  Charles  P. 
Tarbell  was  chosen  president  and  treasurer,  and  Charles  E.  Mer- 


414  HiSTOBT  OF  BOYALTON,  TSRKONT 

rill  was  constituted  head  of  the  organization.  The  company  had 
a  paid-up  capital  of  $10,000.  It  was  incorporated  under  the 
firm  name  of  The  White  River  Shoe  Company. 

There  still  remained  the  old  drawback,  long  distance  from 
market,  and  to  remedy  this,  the  plant  was  removed  in  1901  to 
Epping,  N.  H.  By  an  arrangement  with  the  stockholders,  Mr. 
Merrill  assumed  the  obligations  of  the  company,  and  took  the 
business  into  his  own  hands,  still  retaining  the  firm  name  of 
The  White  Biver  Shoe  Co.  The  plant  was  removed  snccessively 
from  Epping  to  Farmington  and  Bristol,  N.  H.,  and  to  Tops- 
field,  Mass.  Two  years  ago  last  April,  1909,  the  machinery  was 
shipped  back  to  South  Boyalton,  and  the  finn  name  changed  to 
the  Hapgood  Shoe  Company.  It  is  now  in  a  building  erected  l^ 
Mr.  Hapgood  at  the  end  of  North  Street.  It  is  doing  business 
on  a  smaller  scale,  employing  about  seven  hands,  and  turns  out 
excellent  sale  work,  and  some  custom  work.  In  the  March  meet- 
ing, 1900,  the  town  had  voted  to  exempt  from  taxation  for  five 
years  The  White  Biver  Shoe  Company,  and  thus  gave  all  the 
encouragement  possible  to  this  industry. 

The  Adams  mill  left  vacant  by  the  removal  of  The  White 
River  Shoe  Co.  remained  vacant  until  1906.  It  was  then  leased 
to  the  Percival  Furniture  Company.  This  company  was  or- 
ganized in  1897  in  Barton.  For  good  reasons  it  decided  to  re- 
move to  South  Boyalton.  Its  present  oflBcers  are  C.  F.  Perci'^nd, 
president;  Stimpson  Clark,  treasurer;  and  E.  F.  Moody,  clerk. 
It  has  about  $25,000  invested  in  the  plant  here.  Up  to  the  pres- 
ent time,  they  have  been  manufacturing  couches,  but  have  now 
changed  to  the  making  of  convertible  furniture,  especially  twen- 
tieth-century divan  beds.  Mr.  Percival  gives  personal  atten- 
tion to  the  industry  but  a  small  part  of  the  time.  About  fifteen 
hands  are  usually  employed,  who  are  at  present  under  the  super- 
intendency  of  William  Wellington. 

There  was  a  brick  yard  on  Broad  Brook  in  very  early  days. 
Clay  was  obtained  from  the  hill  between  the  Arthur  Davis  house 
and  the  schoolhouse,  and  this  hill  is  still  called  **Clay  Hill." 
Mr.  Amos  Bobinson,  who  was  interested  in  various  manufactures, 
in  1800  secured  from  Ebenezer  Parkhurst  fifty  acres  in  the  south- 
eastern part  of  lot  2  Large  Allotment,  where  "Clay  Hill"  is 
situated.  Mr.  Bobinson  built  his  own  house  of  brick,  the  school- 
house  and  the  Horace  Boyce  house  were  also  built  of  brick,  and 
it  seems  likely  that  Mr.  Bobinson  owned  the  brick  yard,  and 
that  he  had  ceased  to  utilize  it  before  he  sold  the  lot.  This  would 
account  for  no  mention  of  it  in  deeds. 

Samuel  Cleveland  owned  38  Dutch  as  early  as  1810.  Jacob 
Fox  took  a  mortgage  on  the  land,  and  it  came  Into  his  hands, 
and  in  1821  John  Tracey  and  Samuel  Cleveland,  Jr.,  bought  the 


HiSTOBT  OF  EOYALTON,  VERMONT  415 

lot.  Two  years  later  Mr.  Tracey  sold  to  his  partner,  and  then 
a  brick  yard  was  mentioned.  Mr.  Fox  got  a  mortgage  again, 
and  in  1834  he  rented  the  brick  yard  to  Mr.  Cleveland  for  two 
years.  At  the  end  of  the  two-year  lease  he  sold  the  farm.  The 
yard  seems  to  have  been  operated  only  by  the  Clevelands. 

Elias  Cnrtis  had  a  blacksmith  shop  near  his  house  by  the 
mills  on  the  First  Branch,  when  the  Indians  burned  the  town. 
That  was  probably  erected  before  the  saw  mill  was  finished,  and 
was  the  first  in  town  so  far  as  is  known.  Another  was  built 
near  the  mills,  but  when  cannot  be  stated.  It  existed  in  1817 
when  Oliver  Luce  sold  the  mill  property  to  Phineas  Pierce,  and 
a  trip  hammer  is  also  mentioned.  The  one  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Branch  was  perhaps  built  by  Mr.  Pierce.  He  rented  it  in  1841 
to  Robert  Merrill  for  three  years.  It  passed  through  various 
hands,  and  was  owned  and  run  for  many  years  by  Henry  Sar- 
gent, who  purchased  it  of  Charles  Crandall.  It  has  not  been 
used  as  a  blacksmith  shop  for  some  time. 

No  doubt  one  or  more  blacksmith  shops  were  erected  in  the 
village  soon  after  other  shops  sprang  up.  In  1807  Harvey  Skin- 
ner bought  a  small  lot  of  Zebulon  Lyon,  sixty  rods  west  of  the 
meeting-house.  He  sold  this  in  1812  to  Ebenezer  Frost,  and 
then  there  was  a  blacksmith  shop  on  it,  which  he  probably  built. 
It  was  owned  by  various  persons,  but  David  Graves  and  Lorrain 
Terry  appear  to  have  been  blacksmiths  as  well  as  owners.  Asa 
Keith  in  1839  sold  one-eighth  of  an  acre  to  Nathan  Church, 
saying  he  had  carried  on  the  blacksmithing  business  in  the  village 
for  three  years.  Mr.  Church  made  some  improvements,  and  set 
up  a  hatting  business.  In  many  cases  the  owners  of  the  shops 
did  not  carry  on  the  business  themselves. 

John  Francis,  the  lawyer,  became  owner  of  the  shop  on  the 
common,  or  at  the  north  side  of  it,  and  sold  it  to  Darius  Dewey, 
who  put  his  son-in-law,  Bela  Hall,  in  it.  Mr.  Hall  was  a  black- 
smith in  the  village  for  some  time,  and  will  go  down  in  history 
as  the  man  from  whose  forge  the  sparks  flew,  which  set  fire  tp 
the  old  meeting-house.  There  was  another  shop  in  the  village 
in  more  recent  years  on  Bridge  Street,  where  Mr.  William  Skin- 
ner's  storehouse  now  is.  There  was  also  a  blacksmith  shop  near 
the  Calvin  Skinner  residence,  and  one  at  North  Royalton  near 
the  hotel.  Both  of  these  have  disappeared.  Only  one  shop  is 
now  run  in  the  village,  and  that  is  owned  by  George  Joy,  and 
is  nearly  opposite  the  store. 

At  South  Royalton  there  was  a  blacksmith  shop  in  connec- 
tion with  the  steam  mill.  Dostie  Faneuf,  Sr.,  was  a  blacksmith 
in  South  Royalton  for  many  years.  He  came  here  about  1865, 
and  a  few  years  afterwards  built  the  shop  near  the  hotel.  He 
sold  this  some  years  later,  and  tried  farming  for  a  time.    In 


416  History  op  Boyauigs,  Yebmomt 

1889  Willard  E.  Fav  erected  the  two-story  wheelwri^t  and 
blacksmith  shop  just  west  of  the  bridge  across  White  river  in 
South  Bojalton,  and  conducted  the  business  until  1894,  when  he 
sold  to  Mr.  Faneuf ,  who  continued  the  business  until  a  few  years 
before  his  death  in  1908.  This,  perhaps,  gives  him  the  IimgesI 
record  of  any  blacksmith  in  town.  His  sons,  Dostie  and  Eugene, 
both  had  a  similar  business  here  for  some  years.  There  are  two 
shops  in  the  South  village  at  the  present  time,  (me  owned  and 
run  by  Hoyt  Knight,  and  the  other,  the  one  erected  l^  Mr.  Fsj, 
is  carried  on  by  Raymond  Bicker.  These  are  the  shops  whidi 
Mr.  Faneuf  occupied.  Mr.  Faneuf  bmlt  and  carried  on  a  shop 
at  X.  Boyalton,  which  he  sold  to  Mr.  Bich,  and  then  built  an- 
other there.  His  whole  term  of  service  in  town  was  about  forty 
years. 

In  1811  Qeorge  Whitney  conducted  a  hatter's  business  in 
Boyalton  village,  in  a  building  owned  by  Daniel  Oilbert.  Jabez 
H.  Boardman  had  a  similar  shop  in  the  village  in  1816.  He 
leased  land  of  Daniel  Qilbert  for  900  years,  and  was  to  pay  an 
annual  rent  of  three  dollars.  In  1829  he  sub-leased  to  Joel  B. 
Fox  for  two  years.  Mr.  Boardman  lost  his  property  in  1840, 
and  Joel  B.  Fox  got  the  hatter's  shop,  and  sold  two-thirds  of  it 
to  Hatsel  Brewer. 

In  1843  Asahel  Clark  bought  the  "Collamer"  office  and 
ox)ened  a  harness  shop  in  the  upper  part  of  the  village,  which 
business  he  continued  for  a  considerable  period  of  time.  In 
1811  Solomon  Wheeler  had  a  cooper's  shop  near  the  potash  works 
in  the  upper  end  of  the  village.  In  1868  James  Pike  came  to 
South  Royalton  and  opened  a  wheelwright  shop,  where  he  did 
fine  work  until  nearly  the  time  of  his  death  in  1890.  This  shop 
was  on  Windsor  street  near  his  residence,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  street. 

The  ''Rix  and  Hatch"  saw  mill  came  into  the  possession  of 
Norman  Sewall  in  1902.  He  built  a  creamery  near  the  mill. 
This  creamery  was  deeded  to  Fred  E.  Fowler  in  1907,  by  the 
heirs  of  Mr.  Sewall,  now  deceased.  Mr.  Fowler  has  continued 
to  carry  on  this  business  with  marked  success.  Joseph  W.  Waldo 
erected  a  creamery  in  1900  on  the  east  side  of  Chelsea  Street 
some  distance  above  the  Pierce  stand.  The  next  year  he  sold 
to  Leon  H.  Richardson,  who  conducted  the  business  for  about 
five  years,  when  it  closed  for  lack  of  patronage.  The  farmers 
in  the  vicinity  of  Royalton  and  South  Royalton  have  been  send- 
ing their  milk  to  Boston  for  the  last  few  years. 

It  will  be  observed  that  quite  a  variety  of  industries  were 
actively  carried  on  in  the  first  two  decades  after  the  town  began 
to  be  settled,  and  in  the  succeeding  ten  years  the  number  was 
still  further  increased.    The  town,  however,  is  and  has  ever  been 


History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont  417 

pre-eminently  an  agricultural  town.  Although,  except  along  the 
larger  streams,  the  land  is  mostly  hilly,  it  is  very  productive, 
and  some  of  the  hill  farms  are  the  very  best  in  town. 

The  main  products  for  sale  at  home  or  for  shipment  have 
varied  from  year  to  year.  Late  years  potatoes  have  been  the 
main  crop,  and  dairy  shipments  have  been  what  the  farmers  have 
depended  upon  chiefly  for  regular  revenue.  During  the  first 
years  in  the  history  of  the  town,  it  would  seem  that  flax,  beef 
and  pork,  butter  and  cheese,  and  poultry  were  the  main  products 
which  were  taken  to  Boston  in  the  winter,  or  to  the  store  of  Elias 
Lyman  in  Hartford,  and  from  there  were  conveyed  by  boat  to 
market. 

Early  attention  was  given  to  the  cultivation  of  fruit  or- 
chards. Time  has  shown  that  along  the  river  apple  trees  do 
not  thrive  so  well,  but  fine  orchards  were  in  bearing  within  a  sur- 
prisingly short  time  after  the  settlement  of  the  town.  Zebulon 
Lyon  had  an  orchard  on  his  farm  in  Boyalton  village  in  1798, 
and  a  currant  garden,  which  figures  in  a  large  number  of  deeds. 
Mr.  Lyon  seems  to  have  cherished  that  currant  garden  as  the 
apple  of  his  eye,  and  whatever  lots  he  sold,  he  never  parted  with 
that  until  adverse  circumstances  compelled  him  to  do  so.  John 
Hibbard  had  an  orchard  in  1807.  Hezekiah  Young  had  an 
orchard  of  twenty  acres  in  1812,  which  doubtless  brought  him  in 
many  a  dollar  during  the  war,  when  cider  was  high. 

The  first  orchards  were  started  from  seed  brought  from 
Connecticut.  The  descendants  of  the  Joiners  and  others  tell 
how  their  ancestors  carefully  saved  the  seeds  from  their  apples 
as  they  ate  them,  anticipating  their  removal  to  the  wilderness  of 
Royalton.  In  recent  years,  since  the  decadence  of  cider  mills, 
less  attention  has  been  paid  to  apple  orchards,  and  although  a 
few  century-old  trees  are  still  standing  along  the  Second  Branch 
and  on  the  Salmon  Joiner  farm,  new  ones  have  not  replaced  the 
old  ones  long  since  decayed,  to  such  an  extent  as  to  make  good 
the  loss. 

In  lot  38  Dutch,  about  1850,  was  a  hop  field,  cultivated  by 
Chauncey  Tenney.  He  contracted  with  William  Skinner  to  fur- 
nish him  the  product  of  5,000  hills  of  hops  yearly  for  five  years, 
at  a  price  ranging  from  ten  to  twelve  cents. 

Sheep  have  not  been  raised  in  Boyalton  so  extensively  as 
in  some  other  towns,  though  nearly  all  farmers  have  kept  more 
or  less  of  them.  This  industry  was  stimulated  during  the  Civil 
War,  when  wool  was  high.  Horace  P.  Allen  and  William  Skin- 
ner  have  been  the  principal  wool  buyers  since  the  advent  of  the 
railroad. 

Dairies  of  medium  size  have  been  and  are  very  common.  One 
section  of  the  town  acquired  such  a  reputation  for  these  products 

27 


418  History  of  Botalton,  Yebmont 

that  it  was  called  ** Dairy  Hill,"  otherwise  known  as  **Dew^ 
Hill. ' '  The  returns  of  the  year  1892  show  that  there  were  530 
sheep  in  town,  furnishing  4,122  pounds  of  wool ;  294  cows,  yield- 
ing 44.470  pounds  of  butter ;  8,555  maple  trees  producing  12,950 
pounds  of  sugar  and  682  gallons  of  syrup.  In  more  recent  years 
the  sugar  orchards  have  been  badly  injured  by  caterpillars,  and 
often  fine  orchards  are  not  utilized  for  making  sugar,  the  farmers 
preferring  to  use  their  time  in  other  ways. 

A  half  century  or  more  ago  considerable  fine  stock  was 
raised,  both  cattle  and  horses.  Charles  Woodworth  and  Thomas 
liovejoy  raised  a  high  grade  of  valuable  horses,  Mr.  Woodworth 
having  an  unusually  fine  blooded  Morgan  horse.  He  also  raised 
prize  cattle.  David  Cowdery,  Charles  B.  Viall,  and  John  B. 
Goodrich  have  been  extensive  dealers  in  live  stock,  chiefly  cattle 
and  hogs.  The  raising  of  hogs  has  declined  since  milk  has  been 
shipped  to  Boston.  D.  W.  Cowdery  with  others  was  at  one  time 
owner  of  the  "Putnam  Morgan"  horse,  sired  by  the  "Woodbury 
Morgan."  It  was  twentynsix  years  old  at  the  time  he  owned  it, 
in  1847.  C.  P.  Tarbell,  Daniel  Bliss,  and  John  Waterman  have 
also  been  owners  of  racing  horses. 

An  interesting  feature  in  the  development  of  the  town  has 
been  the  telephone.  When  the  New  England  Telephone  Com- 
pany ran  its  line  from  Boston  to  Lowell,  it  did  not  foresee  the 
possibilities  of  this  new  invention  for  rural  towns  and  distant 
places.  They  offered  to  rent  phones  and  give  rights  of  territory 
to  those  who  would  put  up  lines  remote  from  the  district  in 
which  they  were  operating.  A.  C.  Brown  of  Montpelier  accepted 
the  offer,  and  secured  the  right  to  a  certain  territory  in  Wash- 
ington, Orange,  and  Windsor  counties.  He  ran  a  grounded  line 
from  Randolph  to  South  Royalton.  It  was  on  the  north  side  of 
the  river,  and  did  not  cross  the  bridge  for  tw^o  years.  The  New 
England  Company  had  found  that  their  circuit  was  broken  by 
interference  from  electric  light  plants.  A  suit  followed,  and  it 
was  decided  to  put  up  two  wires,  transposed  at  the  end  of  each 
mile.  Before  the  system  was  brought  into  the  village  of  South 
Royalton,  M.  S.  Adams  rented  two  phones  and  ran  a  line  from 
his  residence  to  his  mills,  and  so  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
man  to  have  a  telephone  in  this  town.  The  New  England  soon 
pushed  on  to  White  River  Junction,  and  then  extended  here. 
They  found  their  mistake  in  giving  Mr.  Brown  his  right,  and 
are  said  to  have  bought  him  off  by  paying  $50,000.  Their  cen- 
tral office  in  South  Royalton  was  in  the  house  of  M.  J.  Sargent. 
This  was  in  1882,  after  a  second  wire  had  been  added  to  the 
single  line,  thus  making  a  metallic  line. 


History  of  Eoyalton,  Vermont  419 

About  1886  George  Mudgett  had  a  telegraph  line  from  Tun- 
bridge  to  Strafford  and  South  Strafford.  Patents  on  telephones 
expired  about  this  time.  Marvin  H.  Hazen  was  then  station 
agent  at  South  Royalton.  He  purchased  of  Mr.  Mudgett  his 
telegraph  line  and  converted  it  into  a  telephone  line.  Owing  to 
unsatisfactory  telegraph  service  between  his  station  and  Chelsea, 
Mr.  Hazen  bought  of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company 
their  line  between  South  Eoyalton  and  Chelsea,  and  connected 
it  with  the  line  secured  from  Mr.  Mudgett  and  made  the  two  into 
telephone  lines.  From  this  small  beginning  his  telephone  system 
has  gone  on  increasing,  until  he  has  nearly  200  miles  of  pole  line, 
about  1,000  miles  of  wire,  and  has  lines  in  eighteen  towns.  He 
called  his  line  The  Rapid  Telephone  Line.  In  1902  the  New 
England  Company  began  to  take  note  of  this  independent  line. 
It  had  steadily  grown  in  spite  of  their  competition.  Arrange- 
ments were  made  by  which  Mr.  Hazen  agreed  not  to  extend  his 
lines  farther,  they  turned  over  their  ofSces  to  him  in  the  terri- 
tory covered  by  the  Rapid  Telephone  Line,  withdrew  all  claim 
to  local  service  in  this  territory,  and  allowed  Mr.  Hazen  to  con- 
nect his  line  with  the  New  England  for  long  distance  business. 
This  agreement  continues  to  the  present  time.  The  central  ofSce 
here  is  in  the  home  of  Mr.  Hazen.  In  1906  by  special  permit 
from  the  town  and  by  contracts  with  private  individuals  the  lines 
of  the  New  England  were  many  of  them  removed  from  the  high- 
way and  set  in  fields. 

The  Orange  County  Telephone  Company  extended  its  line 
into  Royalton  in  1902.  This  is  a  co-operative  company,  and 
many  of  the  farmers  availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  of 
erecting  lines  on  their  farms  at  a  much  less  rate  than  by  other 
lines.  It  has  greatly  facilitated  business  and  saved  the  farmer 
many  a  trip  to  market.  The  central  oflBce  is  in  the  drug  store 
of  M.  J.  Sargent  &  Son. 

The  mercantile  business  of  a  town  is  always  an  important 
factor  in  its  history.  To  the  merchant  the  farmer  looks  for  an 
exchange  of  goods,  enabling  him  to  dispose  of  the  products  of 
his  land  without  the  time  and  trouble  of  long  journeys  to  market. 
Merchants  have  always  held  an  influential  place  in  the  com- 
munities where  they  have  been  located.  For  this  reason  some 
space  is  given  to  the  stores  and  shops  of  Royalton,  from  the 
earliest  days  to  the  present  time.  The  first  merchants  combined 
with  their  business  the  manufacture  of  potash  and  pearlash, 
which  at  that  time  seemed  an  almost  indispensable  adjunct  in 
increasing  their  profits. 

John  Crane  on  Oct.  14,  1790,  bought  of  Cotton  Evans  one-half 
acre  and  five  square  rods  of  land  northwest  from  the  north  end 
of  ** Stevens'  "  bridge  with  all  the  appurtenances  thereunto  be- 


420  HisTOBY  or  Botalton,  Yebmokt 

longing.  What  these  appurtenances  were  is  not  stated.  As  no 
grand  list  exists  prior  to  1791,  it  cannot  he  told  whether  Cotton 
Evans  was  a  trader  or  not,  hnt  during  his  residence  in  Boyaltoii 
he  was  not  thus  listed.  In  1791  John  Crane  was  assessed  £10 
under  the  heading,  "traders  and  owners  of  mills.'*  It  is  quite 
certain  that  he  had  potash  works,  and  that  would  probably  plaee 
him  in  the  list  of  traders.  He  sold  to  Abner  Hack,  April  25, 
1793.  thirty-six  square  rods  with  a  x>otash  outfit  on  it. 

In  1793  Abner  Mack  and  Amasa  Niles  bought  of  Jesse  Rich- 
ardson one-fourth  acre  at  the  north  end  of  the  ''Oreat  Bridge." 
This  was  in  the  same  place  as  the  "Stevens"  bridge.  Mr.  Niles, 
Jan.  17,  1793,  sold  to  John  Flint  and  Jonathan  Jennings  his 
interest  in  this  one-fourth  acre  and  in  the  store  which  was  on  it, 
and  occupied  at  that  time  by  Flint  &  Jennings.  This  last  men- 
tioned firm  got  from  Abner  Mack  by  execution  on  April  18, 1796, 
his  interest  in  this  same  land  and  store,  and  the  next  month 
John  Crane  secured  by  the  same  means  from  Mr.  Mack  319/744 
of  the  potash  and  pearlash  works.  Niles  and  l^Iack,  then,  had  a 
store  as  early  as  1794;  perhaps  it  was  built  in  the  preceding 
year.  Mr.  Niles  was  first  listed  in  1792  and  Mr.  Mack  in  the 
following  year. 

The  firm  of  Flint  &  Jennings  succeeded  Niles  &  Mack,  and 
conducted  the  store  and  the  potash  works.  Mr.  Jennings  does 
not  seem  ever  to  have  been  in  Boyalton.  In  1795  he  was  in 
Windham,  Conn.,  and  Mr.  Flint  was  the  merchant  here.  They 
bought  other  small  lots  of  Zebulon  Lyon,  and  of  Mr.  Niles,  and 
got  control  of  the  potash  outfit.  A  house  was  on  the  Lyon  lot. 
It  can  be  imagined  how  the  little  settlement  looked  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  Yuran  place,  with  its  diminutive  store,  two  or  more 
houses,  in  one  of  which  Mr.  Crane  had  lived,  and  its  potash 
works,  extending  six  rods  on  the  road  and  six  rods  back.  Mr. 
Crane's  house  was  situated  about  two  rods  from  a  little  run. 

In  1802  Jennings  sold  out  to  Flint,  and  in  1808  Mr.  Flint 
sold  to  Amasa  Button  and  Daniel  Ashcraft.  From  this  time 
the  store  was  called  the  ** Ashcraft"  store.  Ashes  were  received 
at  the  store  in  exchange  for  goods.  The  late  Dr.  Alden  C. 
Latham  at  one  time  related  the  following  anecdote :  David  Ames, 
who  was  rather  eccentric  and  made  his  own  buttons  and  like 
economies,  brought  a  load  of  ashes  to  Mr.  Ashcraft.  He  was  not 
satisfied  with  the  price  offered  for  them,  and  said  if  they  would 
pay  no  more,  he  would  dump  them  into  the  stream,  and  tradition 
says  that  he  did  dump  them,  but  this  is  not  probable.  Mr.  Ash- 
craft held  the  property  for  about  twenty  years. 

Co-existent  with  this  incipient  settlement  was  another  at 
the  center  of  the  town.  Zabad  Curtis  was  assessed  £10  in  1791, 
and  Elkanah  Stevens  was  assessed  a  like  sum  the  next  year. 


HiSTOBT  OF  BOTALTON,  YeBMONT  421 

These  men  held  lots  in  the  prospective  village  of  Royalton.  Mr. 
Curtis  had  potash  works,  and  Mr.  Stevens  also  had  a  similar  out- 
fit at  a  later  date,  and  may  have  had  it  at  this  time.  Mr.  Ste- 
vens had  a  store,  as  is  indicated  by  a  deed  of  Levi  Mower  to 
Asahel  Cheney  in  1807.  He  states  that  he  sold  what  he  had  of 
David  Waller,  that  a  store  was  on  it  which  had  been  occupied 
by  Elkanah  Stevens.  In  a  newspaper  issue  of  Dec.  20,  1803, 
Mr.  Stevens  asks  all  indebted  to  him  at  Royalton  and  Stock- 
bridge  to  settle  their  accounts.  In  1793  he  bought  252  square 
rods  near  Lyman's  fordway,  mortgaged  this  in  1805  to  Nathaniel 
Merriam  of  Boston,  and  sold  it  the  next  year  to  David  Waller. 
Mr.  Cheney  sold  it  to  John  Marshall  in  1809,  and  he  used  it  for 
a  cabinet  shop.  It  passed  to  Timothy  Eaton  and  B.  F.  Hall, 
and  when  they  sold  it  to  Maurice  White  in  1819,  they  said  it 
was  nearly  in  front  of  John  Francis'  premises,  and  extended  east 
to  the  brick  store.  Mr.  Marshall  was  probably  the  finest  cabinet 
maker  ever  in  Royalton.  He  worked  with  ihe  most  expensive 
woods,  and  took  infinite  pains  in  turning  out  handsome  and  elab- 
orate articles.  There  stiU  is  to  be  found  in  town  some  of  his 
handiwork,  in  the  shape  of  bureaus  and  other  furniture,  which 
woidd  bring  large  prices  if  found  in  city  shops  today. 

The  same  year  that  Ebenezer  Herrick  built  his  shoemaker's 
shop,  1799,  Joseph  Fessenden  and  Samuel  Grant  began  a  mer- 
cantile business  in  Royalton  village.  July  1,  1802,  they  pur- 
chased of  Zebulon  Lyon  136  square  rods  of  land,  beginning  at  the 
southeast  comer  of  Elkanah  Stevens'  garden.  Levi  Bellows 
was  then  a  member  of  the  firm,  and  with  them  on  this  same  day 
bought  ** Herrick 's  shop"  a  few  rods  west  of  their  store.  After 
a  partnership  of  three  years,  Mr.  Grant  quit-claimed  to  Mr. 
Fessenden  all  land  which  they  held  in  common  with  Levi  Bel- 
lows. In  1808  the  firm  had  become  J.  &  J.  Fessenden.  In  1801 
Joseph  Fessenden  had  bought  of  Jacob  Smith  the  "old  society 
schoolhouse,"  and  may  have  used  this  for  a  store.  In  1806  he 
sold  a  share  in  the  end  of  the  store  in  which  were  Bellows,  Dorr 
&  Co.,  which  portion  Benjamin  Thomas  had  occupied.  It  is 
difficult  to  determine  just  where  his  store  was,  but  Mr.  George 
Harvey  thinks  it  was  on  the  left  of  the  lane  running  up  the  hill 
towards  the  ** pinnacle." 

The  advertisements  of  the  Fessendens  in  The  Washingtonian 
printed  at  Windsor,  give  some  idea  of  the  goods  displayed  for 
their  customers,  and  of  the  condition  of  the  people.  Under  date 
of  Dec.  7,  1807,  they  advertise  silks,  velvets,  silk  shawls,  broad- 
cloths, etc.  July  30,  1810,  they  appeal  to  the  public  by  enumer- 
ating **  English,  East  and  West  India  goods,  books,  stationery, 
medicines,  saddles,"  etc.  They  will  take  in  exchange  salts  of 
lye,  good  butter,  tow  cloth,  and  geese  feathers.    On  Aug.  6,  they 


422  HiSTOBT  OF  BOYALHOK,  YeBMONT 

annoimce  the  dissolution  of  the  eopartnerahip,  and  state  that 
hereafter  the  firm  will  be  Curtis  &  Cutter.  However,  the  fol- 
lowing December  ^Ir.  Fessenden  advertises  '^elegant  robes,  la- 
dies' muffs,  and  tippets/'  and  says  he  will  furnish  libraries  at 
a  handsome  discount,  which  goes  to  show  that  there  was  a  de- 
mand for  these  things.  The  Fessendens  were  not  listed  after 
1810.     In  1812  Joseph  Fessenden  was  in  Brattleboro. 

The  firm  had  competitors  in  Bellows,  Dorr  &  Company. 
Dorr  &  Bellows  of  Hartford  advertised  in  1806  for  flax  seed, 
and  said  they  would  pay  cash  at  the  store  of  Bellows,  Dorr  ft 
Co.  at  Boyalton.  Levi  Bellows  must  have  left  the  firm  of  Fes- 
senden &  Grant  after  1804.  This  new  firm  remained  until  1810. 
John  Estabrook,  who  was  a  member  of  it,  remained  in  Boyalton 
some  years  more,  and  carried  on  his  potash  works,  but  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  in  trade.  Joseph  Dorr  was  a  prominent  Hart- 
ford man,  connected  with  milling  interests  there/ 

Chandler  &  Mower  were  listed  first  in  1801.  They  adver- 
tised Nov.  26,  1803,  English  and  West  India  goods  and  liquors 
in  their  stores  at  Chester  and  Boyalton.  Samuel  Chandler  and 
Henry  Mower  were  in  company  in  Woodstock,  owning  miUs  and 
a  distillery  there.  Mr.  Henry  Swan  Dana,  author  of  the  His- 
tory of  Woodstock,  says  the  father  of  Samuel  Chandler  wsa  one 
of  the  king's  judges,  that  his  sons  set  up  a  mercantile  business 
in  Boston,  importing  goods  largely  on  their  own  account,  and 
that  they  had  branch  houses  in  Chester,  Putney,  Woodstock,  and 
Boyalton. 

Levi  Mower  came  to  Boyalton.  He  had  bought  land  in  town 
as  early  as  1786.  His  first  village  purchase  was  a  pew  of  Dr. 
Allen,  Sep.  26,  1801,  and  the  first  land  purchased  in  the  village 
was  Nov.  18,  1802,  when  he  obtained  of  Walter  Chaffee  100 
square  rods  on  the  river,  beginning  at  the  southern  comer  of 
Jacob  Cady's  land.  The  firm  bought  of  Zebulon  Lyon,  July  12, 
1803,  a  lot  which  had  a  store  on  it.  In  1807  Mr.  Mower  bought 
of  David  Waller  one-fourth  acre  in  the  village.  This  had  the 
store  which  had  been  occupied  by  Elkanah  Stevens,  ilr.  Mower 
may  have  contemplated  going  into  business  by  himself,  but  if 
so,  the  plan  was  changed.  He  sold  this  purchase  to  Asahel 
Cheney  and  Joseph  Fessenden.  His  brother  Henry  had  become 
dissatisfied  and  withdrawn  from  partnership  with  Samuel  Chand- 
ler, and  Levi  Mower  went  to  Woodstock  and  entered  into  part- 
nership with  his  brother  Henry.  He  erected  a  store  there  on 
the  west  side  of  the  common,  a  few  rods  above  the  court-house. 
Mr.  Dana  says  this  store  was  removed  further  up  the  common 
and  converted  into  a  dwelling  house,  which,  in  1885,  was  owned 
and  enlarged  by  James  H.  Murdock.  Henrj-  Mower  lived  only 
ten  months  after  the  partnership  was  formed,  and  in  1812  Levi 


History  of  Boyaltok^  Vebmont  428 

Mower  deeded  to  Samuel  Chandler  of  Woodstock  all  the  land 
which  he  owned  in  Vermont.  Chandler  &  Mower  had  sold  in 
1806  to  Curtis  &  Cutter  the  land  where  the  **red  store"  stood. 
In  April  following  Samuel  Chandler  made  an  indenture  with 
Joseph  Taggart  of  Hillsborough,  N.  H.,  to  care  for  him  and 
Anna.  The  earliest  deeds  here  represent  Mr.  Chandler  as  from 
Worcester,  Mass. 

Curtis  &  Cutter  were  destined  to  remain  a  longer  time  in 
trade  in  Boyalton  than  any  of  the  three  firms  which  had  preceded 
them.  Their  purchase  of  the  **red  store''  has  been  mentioned. 
They  soon  got  control  of  three  potash  and  pearlash  works.  They 
purchased  of  Zenas  Newell  in  1806  one-half  acre  and  seventy 
square  rods  for  $1,500,  described  as  beginning  at  the  northwest 
corner  of  Elkanah  Stevens'  store.  The  first  mention  of  the  brick 
store  is  found  in  a  deed  given  by  Abijah  Burbank  to  Moses  Cut- 
ter, May  13,  1816.  Mr.  Burbank  says  it  is  what  he  had  of  Jo- 
seph Fessenden,  except  one  rod  and  the  land  the  brick  store 
stands  on.  Mr.  Fessenden  sold  this  in  1811,  and  no  mention  of 
a  store  was  then  made,  but  one  rod  was  excepted  which  Daniel 
Carrington  held,  and  a  piece  near  Stafford  Smith's  horse  sheds. 
Mr.  Smith  was  then  in  the  hotel.  Mr.  Fessenden  sold  this  piece 
which  was  excepted  to  Samuel  Grant,  he  to  Artemas  Ainsworth, 
next  Dr.  Denison  had  it,  and  after  Jireh  Durkee  went  to  Bur- 
lington he  got  a  deed  of  it  from  Dr.  Denison.  This  seems  to  be 
the  same  one-fourth  acre  which  David  Waller  got  from  Elkanah 
Stevens,  and  which  Dr.  Denison  deeded  Jireh  Durkee,  in  which 
deed  it  is  stated  that  Mr.  Durkee  built  the  brick  store.  This 
does  not  fix  the  year,  but  it  was  between  1811  and  1816.  As  Mr. 
Durkee  was  at  first  in  the  Fessenden  store,  he  must  have  built 
this  later. 

The  firm  of  Curtis  &  Cutter  was  made  up  of  Zebina  Curtis 
of  Windsor,  who  did  not  come  to  Boyalton,  and  Moses  Cutter. 
The  firm  was  dissolved  Aug.  24,  1813,  and  the  demands  were  to 
be  made  over  to  Mr.  Curtis.  Zenas  Newell  had  been  a  partner 
for  a  time.  Although  the  dissolution  was  announced,  the  firm 
was  listed  under  the  old  name  until  1823,  or  later.  In  1821 
Judah  D.  Throop,  Frederick  Orvis,  Oel  Billings,  and  Asa  Fran- 
cis join  with  Curtis  and  Cutter  in  giving  and  receiving  deeds, 
and  two  firms  are  listed,  the  second  one  under  the  name  of  Cur- 
tis, Cutter  &  Francis.  This  firm  was  extensively  interested  in 
land  speculation,  and  controlled  a  good  deal  of  real  estate  in 
town.  They  had  a  store  in  Bethel.  In  1823  the  firm  is  com- 
posed of  Curtis  and  Cutter  and  Oel  Billings,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Oel  Billings  &  Co.,  and  a  share  was  sold  to  Jacob  Fox.  Per- 
haps they  had  a  store  at  Foxville.  In  1828  the  firm  bought  the 
tavern  and  brick  house  opposite,  and  the  same  year  the  firm  dis- 


424  History  op  Boyalton,  Vebmokt 

solved,  owing  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Curtis.  At  this  time  Franklin 
Hunter  was  in  the  "red  store."  Moses  Gutter  sold  to  EluM 
Lyman  on  April  16  of  that  year  the  land  which  he  had  of  Abijah 
Burbank,  and  the  brick  store  on  it.  He  was  in  Middlebmy  the 
next  year,  but  went  later  to  Ohio.  He  lived  in  Boyalton  Ofver 
twenty  years,  ilr.  Cutter  seems  to  have  conducted  his  bnsinjeai 
on  a  safe  basis,  and  to  have  contributed  in  various  wajra  to  the 
welfare  of  the  village  and  town. 

There  were  several  smaller  traders  in  town  previous  to  1820. 
Jireh  Durkee  has  already  been  mentioned.  In  May,  1811,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Asa  Egerton,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Durkee  &  Egerton.  In  one  deed  they  are  said  to  occupy  '*Lj- 
on's"  store.  The  firm  soon  dissolved,  and  in  1812  Mr.  Egerton 
advertised  a  cash  store,  with  mixed  goods,  rum,  brandy,  wines, 
by  the  barrel  or  the  keg.  In  a  later  issue  he  tempts  his  feminine 
patrons  with  ''Ladies'  Twist  Harris  tobacco."  He  seems  to  have 
taken  in  Warren  Lovejoy  as  a  partner,  and  notice  of  the  diasolu- 
tion  appeared  Sep.  28,  1813,  and  the  announcement  was  made 
that  Mr.  Lovejoy  would  continue  the  business. 

Elias  Lyman  of  Hartford,  who  bought  the  brick  store,  put 
his  son  George  in  charge  of  it,  who  remained  eleven  years.  Eliaa 
L3rman  died  while  his  son  was  in  Boyalton,  and  the  heirs  in  1833 
quitclaimed  to  George  Lyman  the  brick  store.  It  is  related  of 
Mr.  Elias  Lyman,  who  was  a  remarkably  thrifty  and  energetic 
man,  that  he  drove  from  Hartford  to  Boyalton  one  morning, 
reaching  his  son's  residence  before  George  had  arisen.  "Get  up! 
Get  up,  George!"  he  called,  **or  the  mortgage  will  eat  you  up." 
George  Lyman  sold  the  store  to  Job  Lyman  of  Woodstock  in 
1839,  and  two  years  later  it  came  into  the  hands  of  John  Fran- 
cis, who  turned  it  over  to  Dr.  Denison,  from  whom  his  son.  Dr. 
Joseph.  Jr.,  and  William  Skinner  purchased  it  the  next  year. 

^Ir.  Skinner  conducted  the  business  alone  for  some  years, 
then  went  into  partnership  with  Elijah  D.  Blodgett.  under  the 
firm  name  of  Skinner  &  Blodgett,  though  some  of  the  time  the 
firm  was  called  E.  D.  Blodgett  &  Co.  About  1855  Mr.  Skinner 
retired  from  the  business,  and  the  firm  became  Blodgett  Bros., 
Pearl  Blodgett,  the  brother  of  Elijah,  joining  in  the  business, 
which  they  continued  about  two  years  longer. 

In  1838  Downer  &  Xevens  were  dispensing  goods  in  the  store 
having  **the  currant  garden  in  the  rear."  Two  years  later 
Downer  &  Fish  had  the  **old  store"  now  owned  by  Bancroft 
Fowler,  and  in  1845  E.  P.  Xevens  rented  for  five  years  of  ilr. 
Downer  his  store,  while  William  T.  Gleason  &  Co.  were  in  the 
brick  store.  At  North  Boyalton,  David  W.  Wells  and  Isaac 
Brown  had  hung  out  their  sign  on  ** Fox's  brick  store."  The 
only  record  of  a  jeweler's  shop  in  Boyalton  village  is  dated  Sep. 


'lllKIIiou.!    iliimr    of 
tvv.  Mnrtlii  Tvilliir. 


■    Cowdi-ry    lli.llse    on    fur 


thf   BllHha  Kent  farm. 
Hlti"  ot  the  I'lpr>-P  Tnveni 
UH    SIcvcnH   IloiiHc.   know 

the   HuwnrJ    iilate. 


tJOLTH  ROYALTON  AFTl^K    THC  FlRfTT  FIREL  FER   C,  1«: 


liDYALTON.    1901. 


HiSTOBT  OF  BOTALTON,  YebMONT  425 

16,  1854,  when  William  Fay  sold  Leonard  B.  Mellish  of  Wood- 
stock a  building  opposite  the  passenger  depot,  which  had  been 
occupied  by  Algernon  S.  Mellish  as  a  jeweler's  shop. 

A  Union  store  was  started  in  the  village  about  this  time, 
which  employed  N.  M.  Buss  as  its  agent,  and  which  had  an  ex- 
istence of  only  a  few  years.  Mr.  Buss  continued  the  mercantile 
business  for  a  considerable  period  of  time.  J.  P.  Smith  as  mer- 
chant tailor,  and  E.  A.  Maxham  as  druggist  added  to  the  facili- 
ties for  trade  in  the  village. 

This  period  of  prosperity  was  destined  not  to  last.  One  by 
one  the  stores  fell  by  the  wayside  in  competition  with  the  new 
firms  starting  in  business  in  South  Boyalton,  and  some  of  the 
village  traders  seeing  the  inevitable  trend,  moved  their  stock  in 
trade  to  the  newer  settlement.  Finally,  only  the  old  stand-by, 
the  brick  store,  remained.  This  for  a  time  was  occupied  by  N. 
&  C.  N.  Parker.  After  the  death  of  Charles  N.  Parker,  it  was 
rented  and  later  purchased  by  Oeorge  A.  Laird,  who  keeps  a 
stock  of  general  merchandise,  and  also  deals  quite  extensively  in 
grain  and  flour.  By  strict  attention  to  business  and  fair  deal- 
ing Mr.  Laird  has  gained  the  confidence  of  the  public.  The  ''old 
store"  was  made  over  into  a  dwelling,  purchased  by  the  widow 
Felch,  and  burned  in  the  early  1890 's.  This  is  the  same  store 
called  the  **red  store"  in  various  deeds. 

The  growth  of  business  in  South  Boyalton  will  be  found  in 
the  sketch  of  that  village. 

Li  1854  Sylvester  Davis  of  Claremont,  N.  H.,  assigned  to 
Silas  B.  Williams,  G.  W.  Bradstreet,  Franklin  Joiner,  Harry 
Gk)flf,  Dr.  J.  Manchester,  H.  Phelps,  William  Hoyt,  Mark  J.  Met- 
calf,  Joseph  A.  Denison,  Calvin  Skinner,  Calvin  Davis,  David 
Dutton,  P.  G.  Sewall,  and  Oscar  Henry,  the  right  for  the  town  of 
Boyalton  to  use  his  patent  on  bee-hives,  which  he  secured  July 
26,  1853.  He  received  $75  for  this  right.  How  much  use  of 
this  was  made  is  not  known,  but  Dr.  Manchester  did  manufac- 
ture bee-hives  of  improved  pattern. 

About  1852  Daniel  Tarbell  erected  a  boot  factory  in  South 
Boyalton,  which  stood  where  the  Dickerman  store  which  was 
burned  in  1878,  stood.  This  employed  but  a  few  hands  and  did 
not  run  long.  A  tallow  chandler's  shop  did  business  where  the 
garden  of  J.  0.  Belknap  now  is. 

Two  laundries  have  flourished  for  a  time  in  town,  one  run 
in  South  Boyalton  in  1880  by  Miss  Mattie  Sherlock,  and  the  other 
a  steam  laundry  owned  by  Clark  Turner,  about  ten  years  later. 

Mention  should  be  made  of  some  of  the  women  who  have 
added  to  the  mercantile  record  of  Boyalton  village.  The  **  Ad- 
vocate" is  the  only  source  from  which  early  information  of  this 
sort  has  been  obtained.    On  Dec.  20,  1826,  Mrs.  Isabella  Car- 


426  History  or  Botauion,  Ybbmort 

rington  advertised  her  millinery  and  dresBmaking  bodneBB.  She 
had  a  competitor  in  Mias  Sophronia  Lyman,  who  stated  that  she 
had  the  latest  New  York  and  Boston  fashions.  In  1827  Mia 
West  offered  her  services  as  tailoress.  In  the  fall  of  that  year 
Miss  B.  G.  Winnek  told  the  public  that  she  had  moved  her  mil- 
linery shop  to  the  house  formerly  occupied  by  Mrs.  D(oll7t) 
Smith.  About  two  score  years  later  Miss  Elizabeth  Lyman, 
afterwards  ^Irs.  James  Henry,  furnished  finery  to  adorn  the 
heads  of  the  ladies,  and  still  later  Mrs.  Anna  Hastings,  now  Mia. 
George  Waterman  of  South  Boyalton.  For  many  yean  the  la- 
dies of  Royalton  village  have  had  to  seek  millineiy  supplies  ebe- 
where.  In  recent  years  Miss  Ida  Lyman  and  Miss  Hattie  Hanka 
have  been  successful  dressmakers  in  the  village. 

In  the  earlier  days  the  shoemaker  and  the  tailor  went  from 
house  to  house,  and  shod  the  family,  and  gave  a  style  to  the 
clothing  of  the  male  portion  that  the  more  clumsy  hands  of  the 
housewife  could  not  attain  unto.  Dr.  Gardner  Cox  has  very 
brightly  given  a  sketch  of  one  of  these  journeymen  tailors,  whom 
some  still  living  remember  as  working  in  their  homes.  This  man 
was  Matthew  O'Eeefe,  who  was  bom  in  the  southern  part  of 
Ireland,  and  came  to  America  in  the  1830 's,  finding  his  way  to 
Royalton,  and  later  to  Barnard.  He  plied  his  trade  in  both 
towns.  He  had  no  relatives  in  this  country,  and  was  unmarried. 
His  price  was  from  fifty  cents  to  $1.00  a  diay.  His  home  when 
in  Boyalton  was  at  Horatio  Freeman's,  who  was  the  administra- 
tor of  his  small  estate  of  $500,  which  he  left,  when  he  died  at 
the  home  of  Mr.  Farrell  in  Barnard,  Aug.  27,  1866,  aged  about 
sixty  years.  He  was  buried  in  the  Catholic  cemeterj'  in  Clare- 
mont,  N.  H. 

Of  him  and  his  work  in  Barnard,  Dr.  Cox  says,  "For  nice 
work  he  had  no  competitor.  Eliza  Wood  was  the  only  one  that 
went  about  from  house  to  house,  cutting  and  making  boys'  pants 
-  -  -  straight  down  to  the  floor,  like  a  paper  bag,  and  the  rural 
youth  counted  it  as  his  debut  into  fashionable  society,  when 
the  Tailor  put  a  *  spring'  into  the  discontented  end  of  his  panta- 
loon legs.     The  Tailor  used  to  say,  *She  cuts  pantalets,  and  I 

cut  pantaloons.' When  about  to  unload  his  mind,  he 

would  begin,  *It  is  the  beest  of  my  opinion,'  and  if  in  trouble, 

*  I  am  between  three  fires. ' lie  sang  and  danced  Irish  jigs 

to  perfection.  When  he  unbraided  his  legs  and  descended  from 
his  high  perch  to  attack  a  fresh  *  goose,'  he  invariably  pigeon- 
winged  a  circle  around  the  room,  whistling,  or  humming  like  a 
bagpipe,  an  Irish  quickstep." 

His  dress  is  described  as  immaculate.  **A  cover  crowned 
his  pipe  so  that  no  ashes  could  soil  his  work.  When  he  drew  his 
pipe,  it  was  as  the  Irishman  fiddled,  *not  by  note,  but  by  main 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  427 

strength.'  -  -  -  -  He  declared  that  the  Garden  of  Eden  was 
loeat^  in  Ireland,  and  that  Adam  and  Eve  were  the  founders 
of  the  city  of  New  York.  *You  might  know/  he  used  to  say, 
'that  Adam  and  Eve  were  Irish,  for  long  before  they  got  able 
they  raised  Cain.'  No  one  felt  a  slight  more  keenly,  and  if  at  a 
kitchen  party  he  set  out  upon  the  journey  of  'going  to  Rome,' 
woe  to  the  Irish-American  girl  that  did  not  pay  proper  respect 
to  his  passage,  and  hand  over  the  proper  amount  of  toll.  *  Any- 
thing but  a  Yankeefied  paddy,'  he  would  say,  'sure  no  American 
girl  would  do  so  mane  a  thing.'  " 


CHAPTER  XXVn. 


The   OENEBAIi  UlLJTUL 

Governor  William  A.  Palmer,  in  his  message  to  the  General 
Assembly  in  1834,  stated  that  previous  to  the  Bevolntion  the 
greatest  care  was  taken  to  keep  the  militia  in  an  unorganized, 
inefficient  state,  that  the  provincial  governors  generally  opposed 
the  interests  of  the  people,  and  appointed  militia  officers  sub- 
servient to  their  own  views.  On  the  breaking  ont  of  the  war 
the  whole  body  of  militia  was  reorganized. 

This  reorganization  resulted  in  disciplining  and  drilling  the 
raw  troops,  and  bringing  them  to  such  a  state  of  efficiency  as 
secured  finally  the  independence  of  the  united  colonies.  When 
the  war  was  practically  closed,  Vermont,  in  October,  1782,  took 
steps  for  disbanding  her  militia,  for  paying  the  sums  due  them, 
and  for  settling  down  to  the  peaceful  development  of  the  new 
state,  in  the  expectation  that  she  would  soon  be  admitted  into 
the  Union.  The  governor  was  requested  to  dismiss  all  troops 
except  one  sergeant,  one  corporal,  and  eleven  privates.  This 
had  not  long  been  done,  before  the  action  of  Congress  alarmed 
the  leaders,  and  caused  them  to  reinstate  the  militia.  In  the 
session  of  February,  1783,  the  militia  was  again  regularly  organ- 
ized and  put  in  condition  to  defend  the  state.  A  Board  of  War 
was  chosen,  and  500  men  ordered  to  be  raised  exclusive  of  offi- 
cers. 

There  was  not  only  this  breeze  of  opposition  blowing  with- 
out, but  there  was  a  lively  one  blowing  within.  There  were  still 
loyal  supporters  of  New  York.  Guilford  and  neighboring  sec- 
tions had  joined  in  a  formidable  insurrection  against  the  author- 
ity of  the  new  state,  encouraged,  of  course,  by  New  York.  The 
civil  authority  proved  unequal  to  the  task  of  quelling  the  dis- 
turbance, and  in  October,  1783,  provision  was  made  for  raising 
100  men  under  command  of  Col.  Wait  to  bring  the  disaffected 
inhabitants  to  a  state  of  obedience.  By  a  firm,  but  conciliatory 
policy  this  end  was  secured  early  in  1784. 

Though  the  maintenance  of  the  militia  was  a  burden  which 
the  state  would  have  been  glad  to  avoid,  it  was  deemed  a  neces- 
sity, and  has  been  continued  in  a  more  or  less  efficient  state  ever 
since  its  reorganization  in  1783.    The  reliance  placed  upon  it 


BbSTOBY  OP  ROYALTON,  VERMONT  429 

was  well  expressed  by  Gov.  Galusha  in  his  message  to  the  Assem- 
bly in  1810,  in  which  he  said,  **They  are  the  guardians  of  our 
rights,  the  repository  of  our  liberties,  and  the  bulwark  of  our  in- 
dependence," and  he  contrasted  their  loyal  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  the  state  with  that  of  mercenary  troops. 

All  able-bodied  men  between  eighteen  and  forty-five  were 
subject  to  enrollment  as  militia  men.  Efforts  were  made  at 
times  to  change  the  age,  and  to  include  only  those  between 
twenty-one  and  thirty-five.  Many  were  exempt  through  holding 
of  official  or  other  public  positions.  Each  man  was  to  arm  and 
equip  himself,  or  if  unable  to  do  so,  the  town  was  required  to 
furnish  the  needful  articles,  and  look  to  the  state  for  reimburse- 
ment. They  were  required  to  meet  at  certain  times  for  drill 
and  inspection  of  arms,  and  periodically  a  whole  brigade  was 
to  be  called  out  for  parade.  Appointment  of  officers  was  spe- 
cifically provided  for  by  the  very  comprehensive  militia  act  of 
1818.  This  was  not  so  much  a  change  from  previous  regulations, 
as  an  authorization  of  the  system  already  in  use,  and  an  effort 
to  secure  uniformity.  In  1805  the  (Jovemor  stated  to  the  Coun- 
cil that  there  was  no  uniform  way  of  numbering  and  distinguish- 
ing the  brigades.  From  the  first,  however,  the  militia  seems  to 
have  been  distinguished  by  divisions,  brigades,  and  regiments. 
The  major  generals  of  the  divisions,  and  the  brigadier  generals 
were  elected  by  a  joint  session  of  the  (Jovemor  and  Council  with 
the  House.  The  field  officers  were  appointed  by  the  captains  and 
subalterns  of  their  respective  regiments. 

In  the  Vermont  Journal  of  April  10,  1788,  Col.  Paul  Brig- 
ham  announced  the  appointment  of  Zabad  Curtis  as  quarter- 
master for  the  second  brigade.  On  November  2,  1791,  Elias 
Stevens  was  elected  brigadier  general  in  place  of  (Jen.  Brigham, 
who  had  been  promoted.  Gen.  Stevens  had  probably  risen  to 
this  position  by  successive  promotions,  as  was  customary.  The 
next  year  he  inserted  a  notice  in  the  Vermont  Journal  announc- 
ing the  appointment  of  Zabad  Curtis  as  brigade  major  for  the 
third  brigade.  In  1793  he,  still  as  brigadier  general  of  the  third 
brigade,  under  date  of  March  9th,  notified  all  staff  and  commis- 
sioned officers  to  meet  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Timothy  Shepard 
in  Sharon,  (** where  Capt.  Daniel  Gilbert  formerly  lived,")  on 
June  20,  at  2  o'clock,  **all  completely  in  uniform  in  order  for 
exercise."    This  notice  appeared  also  in  the  Vermont  Journal. 

There  was  only  one  higher  position  of  active  service  that 
(Jen.  Stevens  could  gain  in  the  militia.  The  date  of  his  promo- 
tion has  not  been  ascertained,  but  on  Oct.  29,  1799,  Major  (Jen- 
eral  Zebina  Curtis  was  elected  for  the  fourth  division  to  fill  the 
vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  Major  (Jeneral  Elias  Ste- 
vens.   (Jen.  Stevens  had  recently  passed  his  forty-fifth  birthday, 


480  HiBTOBT  or  BovALfOif ,  YsnioaiT 

and  might  JQsUy  have  look^  baek  with  a  paardonaMe  dagree  of 
pride  and  satiidCaction  on  hia  militaxy  reeord.  Probably  no  other 
reaident  of  Boyalton  ever  before  readied  ao  hig^  a  poaitioii  in 
the  militia  forces  of  Vermont. 

By  the  treaty  of  peaee  in  1783  the  Britiah  were  to  hold  mili- 
tary poatB  in  the  statea.  Two  of  theae  poats  were  near  AUnirji^ 
Vermont,  which  then  waa  not  an  organiaed  town.  Later  it  per- 
fected an  organization  and  aent  a  repreaentatm  to  flie 
bly.  Friction  was  nnavoidabley  with  a  leeent  foe  ao  near 
rising  jurisdiction  independent  of  Vermont,  and  load  ooniplaiiitB 
were  made  abont  Bri^ih  interference,  BMh  ddea  were  prob- 
ably to  blame,  and  the  United  Statea  government  began  to  be 
alarmed,  lest  Vermont  shonld  drag  the  nati<m  into  anotiisr  war. 
The  trouble  was  investigated  and  afftdavits  made  on  both  aidea. 

In  1794  Samuel  D.  Srarle  furnished  one  of  these,  which  foUowa: 
'^Samuel  D.  Searle  of  LawtoU  Age  testlfsrs  a  saja  that  on  or  abaat 
the  12th  Inst  He  saw  a  Battcan  coming  from  inntoilll  polnt»  towaids 
Mr.  Ooitin's  In  the  Baj-^whea  the  sd  Boat  had  come  ftom  yo  point  a 
certain  distance,  he  heard  flrlna  of  Cannon  flrmn  the  Ship,  (the  Maria,) 
a  f  <Ht  at  point  an  f er,  and  soon  saw  a  Ship^s  Boat»  manned  ooL  and  aaik- 
ing  to  CJorfolns— Bat  hefdre  ye  Ship's  Boat  came  on  shore— the  Battaaa 
had  first  arrlTed— With  Two  persons  on  Board— with  near  forty  Ihishrts 
oC  Salt  a  a  Pnncheon  of  Rnm,  with  aome  small  matteis  hesldes  ftK 
the  nse  of  the  hands— In  a  few  mtnntes  after  the  ArrlTal  oC  thia  Boal; 
came  the  Ship's  Boat,  with  an  Armed  force  a  demanded  oC  Mr.  OoiUa 
to  go  on  Boat  a  take  it  to  the  ship— This  he  positive^  reA»ed  ft  la 
the  presence  of  this  dept  a  of  a  Number  oC  other  wltnenes^  persmptor- 
Uy  f6rUd  them  to  meddle  with  the  Boat— a  that  neither  they  nor  thslr 
Master  had  huBiness  to  take  away  the  Boat  from  the  ffliore— which  tf 
they  did  do,  they  did  it  (at)  their  peril — ^They  asserted  it  was  their 
ordere-^  took  the  Boat  a  Cargo  a  towed  it  away  flom  the  shore 
towards  the  Ship. 

Albursh  August  18th  1794. 

Attest  Samuel  D.  SearieT* 

Roswell  Mills  gave  a  similar  aflSdavit  to  substantiate  the 
complaint  of  Royal  Corbin,  who  was  in  the  mercantile  line,  and 
was  overhauled  by  the  British  armed  vessel  because  they  claimed 
that  his  boat  was  within  their  line.  With  this  trouble  brewing, 
there  was  new  activity  in  the  militia  forces.  In  October,  1794, 
Congress  passed  an  act  requiring  a  detachment  of  Vermont 
militia  to  be  in  readiness  as  minute  men.  A  company  of  cavalry 
was  raised  that  year.  In  June  Gk)v.  Chittenden  ordered  a  de- 
tachment of  three  regiments,  consisting  of  2,129  men  to  be  held 
in  readiness  at  a  minute's  notice.  No  doubt  some  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary heroes  scented  a  conflict  with  their  old  foe  with  a  sense 
of  exultation,  but  their  martial  spirit  had  to  die  of  inanition. 
The  President  sent  John  Jay  as  envoy  to  England,  by  whose 
good  services  the  trouble  was  settled,  and  Secretary  Knox  in- 
Formed  Ck)v.  Chittenden  that  '^the  statu  quo  as  it  existed  immedi- 
ately after  the  i)eace  of  1783  is  to  be  inviolably  observed.    All 


History  of  Botalton,  Yebmont  431 

encroachments  since  that  period  are  to  be  abandoned."  Through 
Mr.  Jay's  influence  the  British  posts  were  evacuated  **on  or  be- 
fore the  first  day  of  June,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
ninety-six.'' 

The  young  nation  had  not  proved  fully  its  ability  to  keep 
on  the  wing  and  steer  a  safe  course,  when  misunderstandings 
arose  between  it  and  the  country  to  which  it  owed  such  a  debt 
of  gratitude  for  timely  aid  during  the  Revolutionary  period. 
In  1797  Congress  provided  for  a  force  of  detached  militia  in 
view  of  a  probable  war  with  Prance  or  other  foreign  nation,  but 
again  the  militia  was  not  called  upon  to  prove  its  mettle. 

There  were  many  exempts,  and  it  was  natural  that  those 
who  did  not  take  kindly  to  compulsory  military  service  should 
be  somewhat  envious  of  these  ** exempts."  In  November,  1798, 
the  legislature  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  formation  of  volun- 
teer companies  from  these  exempts,  and  the  incorporating  of 
them  with  the  regular  militia.  This  led  to  numerous  companies 
of  such  volunteers.  In  1801  the  legislature  received  a  petition 
asking  it  to  lessen  ''the  numerous  train  of  exempts,"  so  that 
they  should  not  be  excused  from  military  duty. 

Up  to  this  time  the  men  had  been  required  to  arm  and  equip 
themselves.  At  the  October  session  of  1801  the  Governor  ad- 
vised that  the  state  furnish  arms  to  the  militia,  and  field  artil- 
lery for  the  use  of  the  several  brigades.  It  was  proposed  to 
raise  a  company  of  artillery  at  St.  Albans.  Gen.  Ira  Allen  wrote 
to  the  Assembly  that  he  had  purchased  arms  in  France  for  the 
citizens  of  Vermont,  according  to  suggestions  of  Gov.  Chittenden, 
and  asked  the  privilege  of  furnishing  such  arms.  The  matter 
does  not  seem  to  have  been  settled,  and  came  up  again  the  next 
year.  In  1808  the  militia  was  made  up  of  infantry,  light  in- 
fantry, artillery,  and  cavalry.  The  Assembly  informed  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council  that  the  companies  of  artillery  were  almost 
destitute  of  ordnance  and  apparatus.  They  added  that  the 
United  States  had  in  their  arsenals  large  supplies  of  artillery 
which  were  idle,  and  would  be  loaned  to  the  states  on  applica- 
tion of  the  proper  authority,  by  giving  security  for  safe  keeping 
and  return,  and  requested  the  Governor  to  ask  for  twenty  pieces 
of  artillery  and  suitable  apparatus  to  accompany  them.  This 
request  was  the  result  of  a  Congressional  act  of  that  year,  and 
the  loaning  of  arms  was  a  practice  followed  by  the  national  gov- 
ernment in  its  efforts  to  strengthen  the  available  military  force 
of  the  country. 

The  active  service  of  the  militia  was  required  a  few  years 
after  this  in  the  war  of  1812.  The  record  of  the  militia  in  this 
war  is  given  by  itself.  There  is  no  evidence  in  our  town  records 
that  any  company  of  militia  was  ever  formed  in  Boyalton,  ex- 


432  History  of  Botaltok,  Vebmokt 

cept  an  incidental  reference  to  Capt.  Bingham's  company  during 
the  war  just  mentioned.  An  examination  of  the  militia  oflBcen 
belonging  at  one  time  or  another  to  Boyalton  will  lead  one  to 
believe  that  a  town  so  prominent  in  furnishing  commanding 
officers  was  surely  not  behind  in  furnishing  companies  of  militia. 
Prom  the  admirable  history  of  Woodstock  militia,  written  by 
Henry  Swan  Dana,  it  is  found  that  Royalton  did  have  such  com- 
panies. Mr.  Dana  describes  the  muster  of  the  1st  brigade,  4th 
division  of  the  militia  of  Vermont,  which  occurred  in  Septem- 
ber or  October,  1814,  at  Woodstock.  He  says  this  was  the  only 
brigade  muster  ever  held  in  this  section.  Quotations  from  hii 
pen  are  given,  one,  an  account  of  a  muster  day  in  general,  and 

the  other  a  description  of  this  particular  muster  in  1814. 

"The  several  companies  came  on  the  ground  with  their  own  music, 
drams  and  fifes,  each  playing  a  different  tune  as  they  marched  to  the 
lines,  making  the  most  perfect  medley  of  martial  airs, — a  complete 
habel  of  sounds.  As  they  approached  the  parade-ground  the  adjutant 
and  his  assistant,  the  sergeant-major,  hoth  on  horseback,  were  the 
busiest  men  alive;  their  plumes  were  seen  dancing  about  in  all  direc- 
tions, until  at  length  they  succeeded  in  quieting  the  confusion  and 
clatter  of  the  field,  and  bringing  the  companies  into  line  preparatory 
to  the  grand  day's  work.  The  regiment  was  then  formed  in  two  bat- 
talions, and  the  companies  took  post  according  to  their  rank.  The 
battalions  were  then  counted  off  into  platoons  and  the  officers  poated. 
A  guard  was  detailed  under  the  command  of  a  lieutenant,  with  a  ser- 
geant, a  corporal,  a  drummer  and  fife,  and  assigned  to  their  duty  in 
guarding  the  limits  of  the  parade-ground.  When  this  was  aoc<Hii- 
plished,  the  cavalry,  at  the  sound  of  a  broken-winded  brazen  instm- 
ment,  called  a  trumpet,  were  sent  off  to  escort  the  officers  at  the  inn 
to  the  parade-ground.  The  cavalry  returned  with  the  three  field  offi- 
cers (who  until  1818  were  a  lieutenant-colonel  and  two  majors,  after- 
ward a  colonel,  lieutenant-colonel  and  major),  who  were  received  by 
the  regiment  with  presented  arms.  The  lieutenant-colonel  took  post  in 
front  of  the  first  battalion,  the  first  major  in  front  of  the  second  bat- 
talion, and  the  second  major  in  the  rear  of  the  first  battalion.  The 
lieutenant-colonel  drew  his  sword  and  gave  his  order,  'Attention  the 
first  battalion!  Shoulder  arms!'  The  first  major  drew  his  sword  and 
gave  his  order,  'Attention  the  second  battalion!  Shoulder  arms!'  Sev- 
eral orders  were  then  given  by  the  lieutenant  colonel  and  repeated  by 
the  first  major.  Presently  the  cavalry,  under  the  blast  of  the  trumpet, 
brought  on  to  the  ground  the  reviewing  general  and  his  staff,  who 
passed  in  the  front,  receiving  the  customary  salute.  Meantime  the 
drummers  and  fifers  had  been  collected  into  two  bands,  one  being  placed 
In  front  of  the  first  battalion  and  the  other  in  front  of  the  second  bat- 
talion, and  they  cheered  the  general,  as  he  passed  along  the  line,  with 
the  customary  salute  and  grenadier  march.  The  regiment  was  then 
put  in  motion,  platoons  wheeling  on  their  right  and  taking  up  the  line 
of  march  to  pass  the  general  in  review,  and  the  congregated  fifers 
put  in  their  highest  and  shrillest  notes,  while  the  drummers  rattled 
and  beat,  to  the  admiration  of  the  martial  band  and  the  thronging 
spectators,  male  and  female,  who  crowned  every  eminence  that  over- 
looked the  field."  Three  regiments  were  engaged  in  the  brigade  muster 
of  1814  at  Woodstock. 


History  of  Royalton,  Vebmont  433 

"Companies  from  Norwich,  Hartford,  Windsor,  and  Hartland  com- 
posed the  first  or  Hartland  regiment;  Royalton,  Sharon,  etc.,  made  up 
the  second  or  Royalton  regiment;  Plymouth,  Reading,  Bridgewater, 
Pomfret,  and  Woodstock,  the  third.  Attached  to  the  brigade  were  two 
companies  of  artillery,  one  from  Hartland,  the  other  from  Windsor; 
and  also  a  squadron  of  cavalry,  consisting  of  three  companies,  one 

each  from  Royalton,  Hartland,  and  Woodstock.     Colonel 

Alexander,  early  in  the  morning  of  muster-day,  paraded  his  regiment 
on  King's  flat,  and  then  sent  an  officer  to  G«n.  Wood  for  orders  of 
the  day.  The  general  told  the  officer  he  must  call  on  Major  Beriah 
Green  for  orders,  to  whom  he  had  delegated  the  command  of  the  brigade 
for  the  occasion.  When  the  officer  delivered  this  order  to  Colonel 
Alexander,  the  colonel,  swearing  he  would  not  train  under  a  United 
States  officer,  marched  his  regiment  at  once  to  the  Common,  and  drew 
up  in  front  of  the  court-house,  the  regiment  facing  it  and  looking 
toward  the  north.  Next  south  of  him  the  3d  regiment  was  drawn  up» 
and  behind  the  third  the  2d  regiment  came,  the  lines  of  the  several 
regiments  extending  from  the  lower  to  the  upper  end  of  the  Common. 
On  the  right  of  the  flrst  regiment  the  artillery  and  cavalry  were  sta- 
tioned." After  a  while  the  militia  marched  ofT  to  the  meadows  near 
the  stone  mill  on  the  North  Branch,  and  formed  again.  "About  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon  the  general,  having  found  a  peg  to  hang  his 
hat  on  while  buckling  his  belt,  next  took  the  hat  down,  and,  having  put 
it  on,  was  escorted  to  the  parade-ground  by  a  detachment  of  the  'Troop,' 
where  he  remained  a  short  time,  and  then  retired  from  the  field. 

Finding  matters  going  thus,  and  the  case  growing  more  dubious 
every  moment,  the  field-officers  called  a  council  to  consider  the  situa- 
tion. While  they  were  thus  engaged  in  consultation  the  soldiers  on 
the  right  began  to  flash  and  squib,  whereupon  the  rest  of  the  line  took 
up  the  signal,  and  the  flashing  and  squibbing  redoubled.  The  officers 
seeing  there  was  like  to  be  trouble  and  division  In  the  ranks,  if  action 
was  delayed,  broke  up  the  council,  and  the  colonels  returning  to  their 
regiments  soon  dismissed  them,  it  being  now  sundown.    Most  of  the 

soldiers  scattered  from  the  field  and  went  home.     The 

Royalton  regiment  stopped  overnight  at  Winslow's  tavern.  They  cut 
up  fearfully.  Among  other  performances  they  got  hold  of  an  old 
andiron,  knocked  the  head  ofT,  and  called  it  by  the  name  of  General 
Wood«  Then  followed  a  long  string  of  proceedings  to  celebrate  the 
death  and  burial  of  the  general,  and  he  was  consigned  to  his  last  rest- 
ing-place with  all  the  ceremony  and  pomp  of  military  parade." 

The  refusal  of  these  militia  men  to  train  under  any  other 
than  their  own  officers  was  quite  in  accord  with  the  stand  taken 
by  Gov.  Chittenden,  mentioned  in  another  place.  At  this  time 
Lovell  Hibbard  was  lieutenant-colonel  of  this  regiment  which 
staid  overnight  at  Winslow's  tavern,  but  who  the  other  Boyalton 
men  were  we  can  only  conjecture. 

In  1822  the  legislature  directed  the  apportionment  of  2,500 
stands  of  arms  which  had  been  received  from  the  United  States. 
They  went  to  the  several  towns  and  were  deposited  with  the 
selectmen.  In  1825  Gov.  Van  Ness  advised  calling  them  in, 
especially  as  it  was  expected  an  arsenal  would  be  built.  The 
act  appropriating  money  for  this  purpose  was  repealed,  and  in 
1828  the  United  States  built  an  arsenal  at  Vergennes.    In  1833 

28 


434  HiSTWT  OF  BOTAIiTON,  YbOI  ONT 

■ 

the  legislature  ordered  the  arms  to  be  collected  in  one  or  more 
places. 

Militia  men  were  exempt  from  poll  tax,  and  parents  and 
guardians  who  equipped  minors  were  allowed  a  dednetion  of 
twenty  dollars  from  their  list  for  every  minor  so  equipped.  Qy 
the  law  of  1818  every  town  was  required  to  keep  constantly  on 
hand  thirty-two  pounds  of  gunpowder,  one  huxidred  wei^t  of 
lead  or  musket  balls,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  flinti 
for  every  sixty-four  soldiers  enrolled  in  the  militia  of  tiie  town. 
That  year  sixteen  men  were  listed  in  Boyalton  as  soldiers,  and 
four  others  had  "horses  of  cavalry/'  These  four  were  Thomas 
Clapp,  Samuel  Curtis,  Simeon  Parkhurst,  and  Ebeneser  Bix. 
Each  horseman  was  to  furnish  himself  with  ''a  serviceable  hcnrse, 
of  at  least  fourteen  hands  and  a  half  high,  a  good  saddle,  bridle, 
mail-pillion,  and  valise,  holsters,  a  breast  plate  and  crupper,  a 
pair  of  boots  and  spurs,  a  pair  of  pistols  and  sabre,  a  cartridge 
box  to  contain  twelve  cartridges  for  pistols." 

The  flag  of  the  militia  was  established  by  legislative  act  of 
Oct.  31,  1803,  when  it  was  enacted  that  from  and  after  May  1, 
1804,  the  flag  should  be  seventeen  stripes,  alternate  red  and 
white;  that  the  union  be  seventeen  stars,  white,  in  a  blue  field; 
with  the  word,  Vermont,  in  capitals,  above  the  said  stripes  and 
stars.    This  was  changed  October  20,  1837,  to  the  present  flag. 
Officers  and  men  came  a  little  closer  together  on  training 
days,  and  rigid  discipline  for  a  part  of  the  day  was  set  aside. 
The  jollity  indulged  in  after  the  training  often  ran  riot,  when 
the  men  had  imbibed  too  freely  of  the  liquor  furnished  by  their 
officers.     Oovernor  Crafts  in  his  message  to  the  Assembly  in 
1829,  deprecated  the  excesses  attendant  upon  such  occasions, 
saying,  ''the  demoralizing  effects  of  the  practice,  so  general  with 
officers  of  the  militia,  of  treating  their  companies  with  spirits, 
on  training  days,  has  been  witnessed  by  many  with  regret.    This 
practice  has  been  of  so  long  standing  that  few  officers  are  dis- 
posed to  risk  their  popularity  by  adopting  a  different  course. 
It  imposes  a  heavy  and  unnecessary  burden  upon  the  officers, 
without  any  adequate  benefit  to  the  companies,  but  often  the  re- 
verse— causing  frequent  instances  of  intemperance,  profanity, 
and  strife.     It  is  believed  that  a  law  prohibiting  this  practice 
would  be  very  acceptable  to  the  orderly  portion  of  our  citizens." 
Such  a  candid  avowal  of  the  evil  effects  of  liquor  upon  the  militia 
is  refreshing,  and  the  courageous  stand  taken  by  the  governor 
might  well  commend  itself  to  those  having  the  power,  who  favor 
the  canteen  in  the  army.     It  could  hardly  be  claimed  that  the 
exertion  of  training  was  so  exhausting  as  to  need  a  stimulant. 
It  is  reported  of  one  small  company,  however,  that  after  thev 


History  of  Botalton,  Vebmont  485 

had  distributed  the  offices  among  them,  they  had  one  man  left, 
and  they  drilled  him  until  he  had  to  lie  down  and  rest. 

In  1840  the  whole  number  of  state  militia  was  26,304.  Per- 
haps its  most  flourishing  x>eriod  was  about  that  time.  In  1842 
there  were  nine  brigades  and  twenty-eight  regiments.  That  year 
Minot  Wheeler  was  adjutant  in  the  22d  regiment.  In  1864  an 
act  was  passed  providing  for  organizing  twelve  regiments  of 
militia.  In  1867  and  again  in  1868  the  military  property  be- 
longing to  the  state  in  the  hands  of  officers  and  privates  was 
ordered  to  be  returned.  The  quartermaster  was  authorized  to 
discharge  from  active  military  service  of  the  state  all  officers  and 
men  who  received  such  property  under  the  act  of  1864.  In  1872 
the  legislature  authorized  the  governor  to  reorganize  the  militia, 
and  form  one  regiment  of  volunteer  infantry,  consisting  of  twelve 
companies,  each  company  of  fifty-one  officers  and  men.  These 
were  to  be  selected  from  the  organized  militia  of  the  state.  In 
1904  an  act  was  passed  giving  tiie  name  of  the  National  Guard 
to  the  militia,  which  was  to  consist  of  one  regiment  of  infantry, 
of  twelve  companies.  The  legislature  of  1908  passed  a  law  re- 
quiring an  annual  encampment,  continuing  not  more  than  seven 
days.  It  also  provided  for  scholarships  in  Norwich  University, 
not  to  exceed  two  to  each  troop,  company  or  battery.  The  men 
were  to  be  approved  by  the  commanding  officers  of  the  companies 
and  by  the  regimental  commander.  There  is,  also,  one  company 
of  signal  corps,  and  one  squadron  of  cavalry  made  up  of  cadets 
from  Norwich  University,  and  designated  as  **The  Norwich 
Cadets,  Vermont  National  Guard."  These  were  brought  into 
the  service  of  the  state  by  an  act  of  the  last  legislature.  The 
company  of  light  artillery  at  the  University  is  to  be  discontinued. 
The  Military  Band  at  Brattleboro  is  also  a  part  of  **The  National 
Guard." 

The  list  of  officers  in  the  Vermont  militia  which  follows  is 
far  from  complete,  but  every  available  source  known  has  been 
sought  to  obtain  even  this  partial  list.  These  men  were  residents 
of  Boyalton,  in  most  cases,  at  the  time  they  held  these  offices. 
While  John  Francis  was  colonel  of  the  second  regiment,  he  was 
called  in  1822  to  preside  at  a  court-martial  in  Woodstock,  when 
two  different  persons  claimed  the  same  command.  Major  Elisha 
Fowler  was  also  a  member  of  this  court,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Mills 
May,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Daniel  Gilbert,  but  who 
was  then  probably  living  in  Bethel.  Jacob  Collamer  was  coun- 
sel for  the  respondent. 


486 


History  op  Botalton,  Vermont 


OFFICERS  IN  THE  VERMONT  MILITIA. 


Name, 

Tear. 

Rank                    Div. 

Brig. 

Reg 

Atwood,  Ebenezer 

1807 
1808 

Ensign 

4 

1 

8 

Billings,  Oel 

1814 

Adjutant 

4 

1 

4 

Bloss,  Benjamin 

1819 

Quartermaster 

4 

1 

1 

1820 

« 

4 

1 

2 

1821 

Bloss,  Perley 

1809 

Lieut  2d  Co.  Light  Inf. 

4 

1 

2 

Collamer,  George  W. 

1823 

Aid  de  Camp 

1 

8 

Denison,  Joseph  A. 

1818 

Surgeon 

4 

1 

2 

1819 

« 

4 

1 

1 

1820 

<( 

4 

1 

2 

1821 

FOwler,  Elisha 

1822 

Major 

4 

1 

2 

1823 

« 

1 

3 

2 

1825 

Lieut.  Colonel 

1 

3 

2 

Francis,  Asa,  Jr. 

1822 

Quartermaster 

4 

1 

2 

1823 

«< 

1 

3 

2 

Francis,  John 

1819 

Major 

4 

1 

1 

1820 

4< 

4 

1 

2 

1821 

Lieut  Colonel 

4 

1 

2 

1822 

Colonel 

4 

1 

2 

1823 

u 

1 

8 

2 

1824 

Brigadier  General 

2 

8 

Resigned,  1826 

Hibbard.  Lovell 

1807 
1808 
1809 
1812 

Capt  1st  Co.  Lis^t 

ArUUery 
Major 
Lieut.  Col.  Vol.  Corps 

4 

1 

2 

1816 

Brigadier  General 

4 

1 

8 

1817 

Major  General 

4 

Resigned,  1818 

Hunter,  Franklin 

1812 

Aid  de  Camp 

1 

2 

3 

Kimball,  Nathan 

1807 
1808 

Ensign 

4 

1 

2 

1809 

Capt.  2d  Co.  Ught  Inf. 

4 

1 

2 

Mower,  Levi 

1807 

Capt.  of  Cavalry 

4 

1 

2 

Parkhurst,  Calvin 

1825 

Sergeant  Major 

1 

3 

2 

Parkhurst,  Ebenezer 

1807 

to 

1809 

Captain  of  Infantry 

4 

1 

2 

» 

Parkhurst,  Eben.,  Jr. 

1809 

Ensign 

4 

1 

2 

Parkhurst,  Phineas 

1817 

Quartermaster 

4 

1 

2 

Robinson,  Amos 

1807" 
to 
1809 

Lieutenant 

4 

1 

2 

K 

Skinner.  Harvey 

1809 

Lieut  in  Cavalry 

4 

1 

2 

Smith,  StAfford 

1807 

to 

1809 

Major 

1 

4 

1 

2 

Paige,  Alfred 

1819 

Surgeon's  Mate 

4 

1 

1 

1820 

« 

4 

1 

2 

1821 

1822 

Surgeon 

4 

1 

2 

1823 

«4 

1 

3 

2 

HiSTOBT  OF  BOTALTON,  VbBMONT 


437 


Name, 

Year. 

Rank                     Div.  Brig. 

Reg. 

1825 

« 

Pierce,  Albigence 

1818 

Surgeon                               i 

I        2 

2 

1819 

«                                       i 

{        2 

1 

1820 

«« 

I        2 

2 

1821 

«i 

[        1 

2 

1823 

** 

[        1 

2 

1825 

*t 

2 

Throop,  Judah  D. 

1818 

Lieut.  Colonel                    i 

[        1 

2 

1819 

Colonel                                ^ 

[        1 

2 

1820 

1821 

Brigadier  General              i 

[        1 

1823 

tt                            ^ 

L         3 

Wheelock,  Peter 

1807 

Lieutenant 

The  town  records  complete  the  data  obtained  regarding  the 
general  militia  of  the  state  as  connected  with  Boyalton.  The 
selectmen's  order  books  show  that  on  April  6,  1820,  Oel  Billings 
was  given  an  order  for  $11.28  for  furnishing  lead  and  flints  for 
the  town  stock  of  military  supplies.  A  town  meeting  record  of 
March  5, 1838,  has  the  following:  ** Voted  that  all  the  town  guns, 
and  arms,  be  returned  to  the  treasury  before  the  1st  day  of 
April  next.'' 

The  War  op  1812. 

The  amount  of  material  available  for  local  history  in  con- 
nection with  the  War  of  1812  is  surprisingly  limited.  While 
rolls  have  been  prepared  for  the  Revolutionary  and  Civil  wars, 
none  has  been  found  of  much  value  for  the  second  war  with 
England.  Lists  of  men  enrolled  in  Vermont  during  this  war 
were  ordered  to  be  kept  at  the  time  of  enrollment,  but  these  rolls 
are  not  in  possession  of  the  state  of  Vermont,  and  do  not  appear 
to  be  accessible  in  the  archives  of  the  national  government.  In 
fact,  it  was  reported  to  the  state  officials,  when  a  request  was 
made  for  such  data  in  1878,  that  the  rolls  were  not  in  condition 
to  be  consulted. 

For  lack  of  resources  and  time,  the  account  of  men  from 
Royalton,  or  those  at  some  time  residents  of  Boyalton,  who  had 
a  part  in  the  war  of  1812  is  not  so  full  or  accurate  as  could  be 
desired,  but  such  facts  as  have  been  gleaned  are  submitted,  in 
the  hope  that  additional  information  may  be  gathered  for  some 
future  historian. 

The  causes  of  the  second  war  with  England  are  too  well 
known  to  need  recounting.  As  Vermont  was  on  the  frontier, 
and  had  a  lake  border  on  the  west,  whose  waters  were  the  scene 
of  conflict  from  time  to  time,  owing  to  British  interference  with 
shipping,  she  was  as  vitally  interested  in  the  quarrel  with  Great 
Britain  as  any  other  state  could  be,  and  no  doubt  rejoiced  when 


438  HiSTOBT  OP  BOTALTON,  YbMOMT 

the  President  in  April,  1812,  was  authorized  l^  Ccmgres  to 
detach  100,000  militia  to  be  organized  and  held  for  readinen  to 
march  at  a  minute 's  notice.  Three  thousand  of  this  number  were 
apportioned  to  Vermont  Oov.  Galusha  issued  a  proelamati<m 
May  Ist,  calling  for  this  number  to  be  detached,  organued, 
armed,  and  equipped  and  ready  to  act  as  minute  men.  They 
were  to  form  a  brigade  of  four  regiments,  each  having  ten  com- 
panies, eight  of  infantry,  one  of  artillery,  and  one  of  cavaliy. 
The  troops  were  to  serve  six  months  after  reaching  the  place  of 
rendezvous. 

During  the  War  of  1812  and  a  year  or  two  afterwarda,  the 
two  political  parties  in  Boyalton,  the  Federalists  and  the  JeflEer- 
sonian  Republicans,  were  about  evenly  divided,  though  the  Fed- 
eralists always  polled  the  larger  number  of  votes,  from  thirty 
to  forty  more  than  the  other  party.  In  1813  there  was  no  elec- 
tion of  governor  and  lieutenant  governor  by  the  people,  and  the 
election  in  joint  session  of  the  House  and  Council  resiilted  in  the 
victory  of  the  Federal  party,  Martin  Chittenden  being  elected. 

War  with  England  was  formally  declared  June  18, 1812.  A 
special  session  of  the  Assembly  was  held  at  Montpelier  on  July 
23,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  draft  a  memorial  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  War  for  a  supply  of  arms.  The  committee  reported 
next  day  that  the  (Governor  be  requested  to  i^ply  to  the  Presi- 
dent for  10,000  stand  of  arms,  as  the  militia  could  not  equip 
themselves,  and  had  guns  requiring  all  sorts  of  ammunition.  The 
militia  was  promptly  detached  in  response  to  the  governor's 
order  of  May  1st,  and  placed  at  different  stations  along  the  line 
of  the  frontier.  In  November  an  act  was  passed  for  raising  a 
volunteer  corps  of  sixty-four  companies  of  infantry,  two  of  ar- 
tillery and  two  of  cavalry.  It  was  over  a  part  of  this  infantry 
force  that  Lovell  Hibbard  was  made  a  lieutenant  coloneL  This 
entire  force  was  divided  into  two  brigades,  and  the  men  were  to 
serve  until  the  first  of  the  following  May.  Enlistments  went  on 
under  that  act,  as  is  supposed  chiefly  of  those  exempt  from  mili- 
tary duty.  The  selectmen  were  required  to  furnish  arms  and 
equipment,  and  were  later  reimbursed  by  the  state.  At  an  ad- 
journed meeting  in  Eoyalton  on  Mar.  31,  1813,  Samuel  Curtis, 
Ellas  Stevens,  and  Jacob  Safford  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
examine  the  account  of  the  selectmen  **for  provisions  and  articles 
delivered  to  Capt.  William  Bingham  for  the  support  of  himself 
and  (company)  on  their  march  from  Royalton  to  Burlington, 
likewise  for  waggon  and  horses  to  transfer  their  baggage  and 
money  expend  on  the  journey."  This  meeting  adjourned  to 
April  20th,  when  the  account  of  the  selectmen,  amounting  to 
$40.89  was  allowed,  for  supplying  the  detached  militia  with  sup- 
plies while  on  their  way  to  Burlington. 


History  of  Botalton,  Vebmont  439 

The  Vermonters  who  served  in  the  regular  army  were  chiefly 
in  the  11th,  26th,  30th,  and  Slst  infantry.  In  1813  WiUiam 
Bingham  was  listed  as  1st  lieutenant  in  the  31st  regiment.  Huck- 
ens  Storrs,  son  of  Huckens  Storrs  who  died  in  Royalton  in  1786, 
who  lived  in  Randolph,  was  lieutenant  colonel  of  this  31st  regi- 
ment in  1813,  but  was  made  colonel  of  the  34th  the  next  year. 
Harry  Bingham  served  as  sergeant  in  the  2d  company  of  the  3d 
regiment,  while  his  brother  William  was  captain  of  the  same  com- 
pany. Harry  was  pensioned  April  4, 1846.  He  was  granted  for 
his  service  in  the  war  of  1812  forty  acres  in  N.  E.  quarter  of  the 
N.  E.  quarter  of  section  29,  township  81,  range  two  west,  in  the 
district  of  lands  subject  to  sale  in  Iowa  City,  Iowa. 

The  local  militia  was  to  garrison  the  coast  fortifications, 
and  the  other  forces  were  to  invade  Canada.  The  army  gath- 
ered at  Plattsburgh,  New  York,  about  8,000  in  number.  In  1813 
the  lake  was  not  strongly  guarded,  and  the  British  made  some 
successful  attacks,  while  the  aggressive  movements  of  the  Ameri- 
cans along  the  Vermont  frontier  were  mostly  abortive.  In  March, 
1814,  Col.  Isaac  Clark  of  the  11th  infantry  had  under  him  a  de- 
tachment of  1,000  infantry,  and  one  hundred  mounted  riflemen, 
all  Green  Mountain  Boys,  with  which  he  marched  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  frontier  from  the  lake  east  to  the  Connecticut  river. 
On  the  29th  of  March,  the  30th,  31st,  and  a  part  of  the  11th  in- 
fantry participated  as  an  advance  guard  in  the  attack  on  La  Cole 
Mills,  which  was  unsuccessful,  owing  to  the  inadequacy  of  the 
artillery  employed  in  the  action.  The  American  loss  was  104 
killed  and  wounded,  but  so  far  as  known  no  Boyalton  man  suf- 
fered in  the  engagement. 

In  October,  1814,  the  Assistant  Adjutant  General  of  the 
Army  of  the  United  States  wrote  to  the  governor  of  Vermont, 
''It  is  the  wish  of  the  government,  that  two  thousand  of  the  mili- 
tia of  your  state  should  be  drafted  and  organized  for  immediate 
service,  subject  to  the  call,  when  necessary,  of  the  Commanding 
Officer  in  this  quarter.  There  are  arms  at  Montpelier  from  which 
such  as  may  be  without  can  be  furnished."  The  governor  raised 
the  question  for  the  Council  to  settle,  whether  the  militia,  when 
called  into  actual  service,  could  be  legally  commanded  by  any 
officers,  except  such  as  were  appointed  by  the  state.  The  ques- 
tion was  decided  in  the  negative.  Gov.  Chittenden  had  already 
had  a  little  tilt  with  the  national  government  over  the  right  of 
any  officer  to  call  the  militia  out  of  the  state  except  the  President. 
In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1813  a  portion  of  the  Vermont 
militia  had  been  called  into  New  York,  and  the  governor  ordered 
them  back  into  the  state.  The  men  themselves  resented  this 
order,  and  replied  in  a  spirited  manner.  A  lengthy  communica- 
tion was  sent,  signed  by  eighteen  of  the  officers,  among  them 


440  BlffTOBY  OP  BOTAVTOS,  YSBMQNT 

Capt.  Martin  D.  FoUett.  He  with  three  aona  as  priratea  aenred 
in  the  Enosburgh  company.  One  of  these  sons  was  Martin  D. 
Follett,  Jr.,  who  moved  to  Boyalton,  and  died  here,  the  father  of 
Norman  and  Ammi  Follett.  In  the  reply  of  the  officers  men- 
tioned these  sentiments  are  fonnd: 

''If  it  is  true,  aa  your  BzceUoicj  states^  that  wa  "are  oat  of  tbs 
Jurisdiction  or  control  of  tbe  Bzecatlve  of  Yeimont,'  we  would  ask  from 
whence  rour  Excellency  deriTSS  the  right  or  preBomes  to  exercise  tbs 
potcer  of  ordering  us  to  return  from  the  aerrloe  In  which  we  are  now 
engaged?  If  we  were  legaJiif  ordered  Into  the  service  of  the  United 
Statea,  your  Excellency  moat  he  aoialhle  that  yon  have  no  anthorlty 
to  order  ua  out  of  the  aerviee.  If  we  were  ineoaUw  ordered  Into  tbs 
aenrice,  our  continuance  in  It  la  either  Tolnntaij  or  ocmipulsory.  If 
voluntary,  it  glvea  no  one  a  right  to  remonstrate  or  complain;  If  com- 
pulsory, we  can  appeal  to  the  laws  of  our  country  for  redress  against 
those  who  iUegally  restrain  us  of  our  Uherty.  In  either  case  we  can- 
not conceive  the  right  your  Excellency  haa  to  interfere  in  the  tnislneaiw'' 

The  spirit  of  independence  which  defied  New  York  in  her 
aggressions  was  not  slumbering  in  1813.  The  governor  acted  ac- 
cording to  his  convictions,  and  the  matter  blew  over  without  seri- 
ous trouble,  although  it  was  discussed  in  Congress,  and  vigorous 
action  at  first  proposed. 

Elias  Stevens  was  a  member  of  the  Council  from  October, 
1814,  to  October,  1815.  On  Oct  31,  1814,  he  was  placed  on  a 
committee  to  see  what  arms  had  been  purchased,  and  also  to  see 
if  the  arms  which  had  been  received  from  the  United  States  had 
been  distributed  according  to  legislative  enactment.  Boyalton 
had  received  a  quota,  for  it  is  found  recorded  that  April  19, 
1814.  Capt.  Skinner  was  allowed  by  the  town  his  account  of 
$3.00  for  bringing  from  Woodstock  the  arms  which  the  state  fur- 
nished. 

When  Gen.  Macomb  in  1814  called  for  reinforcements  for 
Plattsburgh,  the  response  was  hearty.  There  were  three  forts 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Saranac  river  at  Plattsburgh,  and  Lieut. 
Col.  Huckens  Storrs  with  detachments  of  Vermonters  from  the 
30th  and  31st  regiments  was  in  command  of  one  of  them.  Fort 
Brown.  Although  the  term  of  enlistment  of  the  Vermont  militia 
first  called  out  had  expired,  many  of  the  men  were  still  serving. 
The  Green  Mountain  Boys  distinguished  themselves  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Plattsburgh.  It  was  in  this  battle  that  James  Barnes,  son 
of  Elijah  Barnes,  laid  down  his  life  for  his  country.  He  had 
enlisted  in  the  United  States  army,  as  stated  by  E.  A.  Maxham, 
a  relative  of  his.  Many  volunteers  who  started  late  for  the  de- 
fence of  Plattsburgh,  with  high  hopes  of  sharing  in  a  victory  over 
the  British,  found  with  chagrin  on  reaching  Burlington,  that  the 
battle  was  over,  and  McDonough's  glorious  victory  had  already 
begun  to  run  its  course  in  the  annals  of  history.  A  few  reached 
Plattsburgh,  and  other  few  saw  the  battle  from  a  distance. 


History  of  Boyalton,  Vebmont  441 

These  volunteers  who  came  in  at  the  end  of  the  race  in 
many  instances  received  no  pay  for  the  time  spent  in  travel  or 
expense  incurred.  This  injustice  was  recognized,  and  as  late  as 
1849  the  legislature  passed  a  resolution  requiring  the  Secretary 
of  State  to  ascertain  the  names  of  all  the  survivors  of  the  Platts- 
burgh  volunteers  who  had  received  no  compensation  for  their 
services,  the  amount  of  such  services,  and  the  money  expended. 
Such  volunteers  were  requested  to  send  this  information  to  the 
Secretary  of  State  previous  to  the  first  day  of  September,  1850. 
In  response  to  this  request,  John  Noble  of  Bethel  made  affidavit 
that  his  father,  Nehemiah  Noble  (a  resident  of  Boyalton  for  a 
considerable  time)  then  deceased,  went  as  a  volunteer  to  defend 
Plattsburgh  in  September,  1814,  that  he  was  captain  of  a  com- 
pany going  from  Bethel,  serving  ten  days,  with  an  expense  for 
himself  and  horse  of  $15.00.  David  and  Samuel  Woodbury  were 
in  his  company,  Daniel  Lillie  and  Charles  Green  of  Bethel,  and 
Sergeant  Nathan  Kimball  of  Boyalton.  Sergt.  Kimball  served 
five  days  at  an  expense  of  $6.00,  and  the  use  of  his  horse  was 
estimated  at  three  dollars.  Michael  Flynn,  a  former  resident  of 
Boyalton  and  Bethel,  but  in  1850  living  in  Boston,  sent  in  his 
claim  for  eleven  days'  service,  and  an  expense  bill  of  seven  dol- 
lars. Sidney  F.  Smith  of  Boyalton  wrote  the  Secretary  of  State, 
June  24, 1850,  that  his  father.  Col.  Stafford  Smith,  said  he  joined 
Capt.  Warren  Ellis'  company  from  Barre,  and  on  July  2d,  Bet- 
sey Smith  of  Boyalton  made  a  similar  affidavit,  regarding  her 
late  husband.  Col.  Stafford  Smith,  adding  the  new  item  that  he 
found  his  brother  Bichard  in  this  company. 

The  action  of  the  legislature  regarding  the  Plattsburgh  vol- 
unteers woke  up  the  survivors,  and  they  began  to  get  together 
and  take  account  of  themselves.  Two  wrote  from  Burlington 
on  March  20,  1850,  that  they  were  to  have  a  meeting  the  next 
Wednesday  of  the  survivors  of  the  Plattsburgh  volunteers  in 
Strong's  Hall.  J.  K.  Parish  wrote  from  Bandolph  that  he  had 
a  roll  of  the  Bandolph  company,  and  the  survivors  were  to  meet 
in  West  Bandolph.  Lebbeus  Edgerton  was  captain  of  the  com- 
pany. Captain  Edgerton  was  enrolled  in  the  31st  regiment. 
Probably  he  was  the  same  man  who  was  honored  with  a  special 
visit  by  Lafayette  on  his  tour  from  Boyalton  to  Montpelier.  On 
reaching  East  Bandolph,  and  learning  that  Lebbeus  Edgerton 
was  living  at  Bandolph  Center,  Gen.  Lafayette,  at  his  request, 
was  driven  in  a  light  carriage  with  swift  horses  to  the  home  of 
Capt.  Edgerton,  and  returned  to  East  Bandolph  after  his  brief 
visit,  to  resume  his  journey  with  his  suite.  Capt.  Edgerton  was 
afterwards  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  state. 

Other  men  serving  in  the  War  of  1812  were  Samuel  Cleve- 
land, who  served  three  days  in  Capt.  Bingham's  company,  and 


44S  Bmtcmr  op  Bmusnm,  Yi 

aho  William  Snnth  and  Jolm  D.  Wang)!.    On  ivpliealioB  to 
the  Adjutant  General  of  Yennant*  a  eortified  Hat  of  CapL  Kdk- 

ham's  company  was  sent  whUk  loIloiraL 

"I  herein  oerUfw  Thai  tte  foDswlBa  is  a  eoRset  tisasiilgt  titsm 
the  racords  on  file  In  this  otlsi^  fsaartlBa  soMlen  who  aarfsi  in  the 
War  of  1812.  ■xtmtt: 

The  f oUowlna  list  of  namss  appssr  sa  havina  tosn  snielisi  aai 
senrlna  In  a  Gompaay  of  nstachad  Mmtia  eoanHaMl  Igr  O^jaia 
BInsdIiam.  In  181S  4  1S14,  In  Oslonsi  JaaMa  WDUaai^  ItialMl 
Bahooek»  Auaostos        B&Mqr»  Jamsa  MttUiw  FMrfa 


Banister,  fiUmeon 

Bean,  Levi 

Rtnahsm,  Harrj  HerrIA,  DaHd 


Blanehard,  Geo.  D. 

Brooks,  Osmand  Hwntfnaton,  BoswsO  Staals^, 

Brown,  Mlnun  JcduumDu  Bdward  Staals^,  BoawtO  BL 

Borland,  Josqih  M.  Kelloaa*  ThoBMS  Toeker,  OttTsr 

Ghamherlln,  Freeman  Leda,  Frederic  Waoah,  John  Dl 

Cleveland,  Samnd  lillle,  Joseph,  Jr.  Wentworth,  Daniel 

Oole,  Daniel  Ullej,  Samoei  Wentworth,  Leasael 

Oolbr,  Hesli  MUler,  Blheny  White.  Ashel 

DsTls,  Nathan  MiUer,  Silas  Woodworth,  Lg«an 

Bddy,  Blam  Moody,  David 

Bllls,  Daniel  Newton,  Anun 

Bdward  Bakar, 

Assistant  Adjatsnt 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


BOTALTON    IN    THE    CiVIL    WaB. 

Boyalton,  like  many  other  loyal  Vermont  towns,  strained 
every  nerve  during  the  dark  days  of  the  Rebellion  to  furnish 
her  quota  of  troops  from  time  to  time,  in  answer  to  the  Presi- 
dent's call,  and  she  also  tenderly  cared  for  her  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  at  the  front.  Though  there  was  some  opposition  to  the 
paying  of  large  bounties  in  order  that  volunteers  might  be  se- 
cured, there  were  generally  eloquent  tongues  to  plead  for  self- 
sacrifice  on  the  part  of  stay-at-homes,  that  those  who  risked  their 
lives  for  their  country  might  be  in  some  measure  compensated, 
and  that  the  reputation  of  the  town  for  ready  response  to  de- 
mands upon  her  patriotic  citizens  might  not  suffer  diminution. 
It  cannot  be  known  how  many  of  her  sons  participated  in  this 
great  conflict,  as  they  were  scattered  far  and  wide,  and  served 
in  various  regiments  in  different  states.  The  town  has  kept  no 
accurate  list  of  those  sent  to  the  front,  and  the  historian  has  had 
to  depend  upon  the  Vermont  Rolls,  which  are  probably  nearly 
complete. 

The  conunon  in  Royalton  village  became  now  and  then  a 
camping  ground,  and  sometimes  companies  were  gathered  in  the 
vicinity  of  South  Royalton.  The  awfulness  of  war  was  not 
realized  so  much  when  the  drum  and  the  fife  sent  the  echoes  fly- 
ing from  the  hills,  and  the  young  soldiers  marched  proudly 
away  towards  ''Dixie  Land,"  sad  as  were  the  partings,  as  when 
the  news  of  some  bloody  engagement  came  flying  over  the  wires, 
and  hearts  stood  still,  while  an  unuttered  prayer  went  up  for 
the  safety  of  loved  ones.  Then  came  hours  and  days  of  anxious 
waiting,  followed  often,  Oh,  so  often,  by  the  low  repeated  mes- 
sage that  the  vacant  chair  of  one  or  more  of  those  who  had  gone 
so  bravely  forth  would  nevermore  be  filled,  and  the  neighbors 
gathered  to  weep  with  those  bereft. 

It  needed  no  urging  to  set  eager  hands  to  work  for  the  re- 
lief of  the  sick  and  wounded.  Through  the  courtesy  of  Miss 
Gertrude  Denison  the  history  of  the  Soldiers'  Aid  Society  has 

been  secured.     Part  I  of  the  Constitution  reads: 

"Whereas,  We  Citizens  and  Ladies  of  Royalton,  having  been  at 
various  times  engaged  in  efforts  to  relieve  the  sick  and  wounded  Sol- 
diers of  the  Government,  and  wishing  still  more  effectually  to  forward 


444  History  op  Botaiaon,  Ybmomt 

this  work,  and  assist,  as  ter  as  may  be  In  onr  power  In  Cnuhinc  tlw 
Rebellion,  and  deeming  a  permanent  organisation  a  necessary  meau. 

We  do  hereby  form  ourselves  into  a  Society  which  shall  be  called. 
The  Soldiers'  Aid  Society  of  Royalton,  Vf 

God  save  the  Republic." 

There  were  the  usual  officers,  and  committees  for  solicitjng 
contributions  of  cloth,  clothing,  money,  and  other  neceflsarieB, 
for  making  purchases,  etc.  The  disbursements  were  to  be  either 
"for  our  own  state  or  general  hospitals  directly  or  through  the 
organization  known  as  the  Christian  Commission."  Any  peraon 
fifteen  or  over  was  admitted  by  paying  twenty  cents,  and  ten 
cents  if  under  fifteen.  Meetings  were  held  monthly.  The  char- 
ter members  numbered  sixty-two,  and  during  its  existence  236 
others  joined.  Of  the  original  number  over  one-half  were  men. 
Hon.  John  S.  Marcy  was  the  first  presiding  officer.  From  Jan. 
26.  1863.  to  Feb.  13,  they  raised  $56.14,  and  had  sent  forty-two 
articles  to  the  Brattleboro  HospitaL  Woman  sufl^ragista  would 
have  taken  great  encouragement  from  a  motion  of  Judge  Marcy 
to  the  effect  that  ''Ladies  are  citizens  and  have  all  the  rights  as 
voters  and  members  of  the  Society  that  any  member  has." 

Their  plan  was  to  work  in  the  afternoon,  and  enjoy  a  social 
hour  in  the  evening.  At  the  evening  sessions  addr^ses  were 
made  suited  to  the  purpose  of  the  organization,  one  subject  dis- 
cussed by  D.  B.  Dudley  being  ** Woman  and  War."  Monqr 
was  raised  by  concerts  as  well  as  by  solicitation,  and  two  such 
concerts  with  scenic  representations  brought  into  the  treasury 
the  snug  little  sum  of  $86.96.  White  River  Comet  Band  aided 
in  these  concerts,  charging  only  $10,  and  the  Vermont  Central 
R.  R.  carried  the  band  free.  They  were  very  successful  in  their 
work,  and  naturally  rejoiced  in  the  result  of  their  labors.  The 
society  continued  its  efforts  until  near  the  close  of  the  war. 
Among  a  list  of  articles  sent  away  as  a  product  of  the  handiwoik 
of  the  ladies,  are  found  19  bed-quilts,  51  sheets,  41  pillow  cases, 
68  shirts,  10  pair  of  slippers,  26  dressing  gowns,  and  88  bottles 
of  preserves.  At  the  time  of  one  of  the  band  concerts  there 
were  given  scenes  from  the  burning  of  Royalton,  an  account  of 
which  is  given  under  that  subject. 

It  was  not  necessary  to  offer  bounties  until  Aug.  27,  1862. 
A  special  meeting  was  then  called  to  see  what  course  should  be 
taken  to  raise  the  quota  for  the  town  under  the  President's  call 
for  300,000  men.  It  voted  to  pay  $50  each  to  all  such  men  as 
had  enlisted  or  should  enlist  and  be  mustered  into  service  and 
accepted  to  fill  its  quota.  If  there  should  be  an  excess  of  volun- 
teers from  the  number  already  enlisted  as  nine  months  men  from 
Royalton,  and  this  excess  was  accepted  and  mustered  into  serv- 
ice, each  man  was  to  have  $50  bounty.  The  selectmen  were 
authorized  to  borrow  money  to  pay  the  bounties,  and  a  vote  of 


History  of  Botalton,  Vebmont  445 

thanks  and  pay  for  services  was  given  Stillman  F.  Smith  for 
his  efforts  in  procuring  the  enlistment  of  the  nine  months  men. 
At  their  March  meeting,  1863,  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to 
abate  the  taxes  against  the  soldiers. 

As  the  war  continued,  and  its  horrors  were  better  under- 
stood, and  tales  of  rebel  prisons  found  their  way  to  northern 
ears,  it  became  more  difficult  to  secure  volunteers.  Now  and 
then  an  emaciated  soldier,  long  held  in  rebel  prison  was  ex- 
changed, and  on  his  return  home  the  people  gathered  to  hear  of 
the  terrible  sufferings  of  Libby  and  Andersonville.  It  fired  the 
heart  to  a  white  heat  of  indignation,  but  it  did  not  tend  to  in- 
crease the  number  of  volunteers. 

A  special  meeting  was  called  for  Aug.  3,  1863,  to  see  if  the 
town  would  pay  a  bounty  to  secure  men  instead  of  drafting  them, 
or  if  it  would  pay  to  exempt  men  who  had  been  or  might  be 
drafted.  The  town  refused  to  take  action  in  paying  any  boun- 
ties or  in  paying  for  exempting  from  service  drafted  men.  On 
November  27th  another  meeting  was  held,  and  the  town  voted 
to  pay  the  sum  of  $200  as  a  bounty  to  each  man  who  would 
volunteer  and  should  be  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  under  the  last  call  of  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
until  the  quota  for  the  town  should  be  full.  This  bounty  was 
also  to  be  paid  to  any  who  had  volunteered  under  the  last  call. 
Evidently  the  quota  was  not  secured  by  December  17th,  for  an- 
other meeting  held  on  that  day  resulted  in  a  vote  to  pay  an 
additional  bounty  of  $100  to  each  man.  They  decided  to  raise 
the  money  on  the  list  of  1863  to  be  collected  by  the  lowest  bid- 
der, and  the  selectmen  were  voted  $1.00  a  day  for  services  in 
enlisting  men. 

A  petition  for  a  meeting  to  see  **if  the  town  will  pay  a 
bounty  and  if  any  how  much  to  recruits,  required  from  the  town 
for  the  quota  assessed  for  the  deficiency  of  the  draft,"  was 
signed  by  Stillman  F.  Smith,  A.  W.  Kenney,  J.  P.  Smith,  Wil- 
liam Fay,  Minot  Wheeler,  Stephen  Freeman,  and  L.  B.  Dudley. 
When  met,  Feb.  9,  1864,  it  was  voted  55  to  28  to  pay  no  more 
bounties,  but  at  an  adjourned  meeting  it  was  voted  56  to  29  to 
pay  a  bounty  of  $300  to  each  man  who  had  volunteered  or  should 
volunteer  under  the  last  call  of  the  President  for  500,000  men, 
but  no  provision  was  made  for  raising  the  money.  On  Mar.  23, 
it  was  voted  to  pay  $300  to  each  veteran  that  had  re-enlisted  or 
might  re-enlist  to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town  under  the  last  call 
for  200,000  more  men,  and  to  pay  the  same  to  volunteers  and 
to  such  men  as  had  enlisted  in  the  17th  regiment.  At  another 
meeting  on  August  1,  it  was  voted  to  pay  $300  to  each  volunteer 
for  one  year,  and  they  immediately  voted  to  pay  $200  additional 
bounty  for  one  year,  these  bounties  not  to  be  paid  until  mustered 


446  Hktobt  op  Botalton,  Yekmoht 

into  service.  They  also  voted  to  raise  fifty  cents  on  a  dollar  to 
pay  in  part  the  expense  of  the  bounties,  and  authorixed  the 
selectmen  to  deposit  in  the  State  Treasury  for  the  purpoee  of 
procuring  volunteers  in  the  Southern  States  under  general  order 
No.  9  of  the  Governor  of  Vermont. 

The  selectmen  were  placed  in  a  rather  trying  position.  The 
tax  raised  by  the  town  was  not  sujBBcient  to  pay  the  bonntiei, 
the  town  had  to  fill  its  quota  of  men,  and  they  seem  to  have 
acted  without  special  autibority  from  the  voters  in  some  eases. 
At  a  meeting  on  Nov.  8,  the  town  voted  that  the  selectmen  be 
authorized  to  draw  orders  for  the  amount  that  th^  had  {Mdd  out 
over  and  above  what  they  had  been  authorized  to  pay  by  vote  of 
the  town.  The  selectmen  were  given  still  greater  latitude  on 
December  31st  of  that  year,  when  the  following  resolution  was 
adopted:  ''Resolved  that  we  authorize  our  Selectmen  to  use  the 
credit  of  this  town  for  the  purpose  of  paying  such  bounties  to 
men  either  in  or  out  of  town,  as  they  in  their  judgment  shall 
deem  expedient  for  the  purpose  of  raising  sufficient  number  of 
Soldiers  to  fill  our  quota  of  the  last  call  of  the  President  for 
three  (?)  thousand  men,"  but  they  raised  no  money  by  taxation. 
They  soon  began  to  see  the  necessity  of  heavier  taxation,  in  view 
of  tilie  large  debt  which  they  were  incurring,  and  at  another 
special  meeting,  Feb.  13,  1865,  they  voted  a  tax  of  400  cents  oa 
the  dollar,  the  high  water  mark  of  taxation  in  the  history  of  the 
town.    In  December  the  town  voted  100  cents  on  a  dollar. 

Some  account  of  the  regiments  in  which  Boyalton  men  had 
»  part  follows. 

Col.  William  F.  Fox  in  his  ''Regimental  Losses  in  the 
American  Civil  War"  gives  a  list  of  eight  famous  brigades, 
famous  for  their  fighting  qualities  and  losses  in  action.  In  this 
list  the  First  Vermont  Brigade  stands  first. 

Royalton  had  no  part  in  the  First  Regiment  of  Volunteers. 
This  was  made  up  of  militia  companies  by  a  selection  of  volun- 
teers, which  companies  had  been  designated  by  Adjt.-6en.  H.  H. 
Baxter,  in  conference  with  Brig.-Gen.  Jackman  of  the  State 
militia,  and  with  the  field  and  line  officers  of  the  several  regi- 
ments of  militia  of  the  state.  Royalton  had  no  men  in  these 
companies,  and  therefore  she  sent  no  men  to  the  war  until  the 
Second  Regiment  was  formed.  This  was  organized  at  Burling- 
ton, and  mustered  into  service  June  20,  1861,  the  first  three 
years'  regiment  raised  in  Vermont.  Ten  companies  were  selected 
from  the  sixty  offering  their  services.  After  reaching  Virginia 
the  Second  Regiment  was  formed  into  a  brigade  with  the  Third, 
Fourth,  and  Fifth  Maine.  Under  Major  General  Howard  it 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Bull  Run.  Later  it  was  brigaded  with 
the  Third  Vermont,  Sixth  Maine,  and  Thirty-second  New  York, 


History  of  Botalton,  Vermont  447 

and  in  September  the  famous  ''Old  Vermont  Brigade''  was 
formed  by  the  addition  of  the  Fourth  and  Fifth  Vermont.  The 
regiment  has  a  list  of  twenty-eight  engagements,  including  Bull 
Bun,  Va.,  July  21,  1861 ;  Antietam,  Md.,  Sep.  14,  1862 ;  Gettys- 
burg,  Pa.,  July  3,  1863 ;  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5th  to  10th,  1864, 
and  Petersburg,  Va.,  April  2,  1865.  In  the  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
ness May  5th  and  6th,  its  loss  was  the  heaviest  of  any  regiment 
engaged,  losing  348  out  of  an  effective  force  of  700  men. 

The  Third  Regiment  was  mustered  into  service  July  16, 
1861.  It  was  a  three  years'  regiment,  and  as  a  part  of  the  Old 
Vermont  Brigade  shares  in  the  glory  of  that  brigade,  and  has 
almost  exactly  the  same  engagements  as  the  Second  Regiment. 

The  Fourth  Regiment  was  raised  in  August  and  early  part 
of  September,  1861,  and  mustered  into  service  September  21, 
1861.  Stephen  M.  Pingree  of  Stockbridge,  at  one  time  a  lawyer 
ii>  South  Boyalton,  was  Lieut.-Colonel.  In  the  battle  of  the  Wil- 
derness, May,  1864,  the  regiment  lost  by  death  84  men,  the  larg- 
est loss  suffered  by  any  Vermont  regiment  in  any  one  battle.  As 
a  part  of  the  Old  Vermont  Brigade,  its  engagements  were  almost 
identical  with  those  of  the  other  regiments  forming  this  brigade. 

The  Sixth  Regiment  was  raised  in  less  thim  two  weeks, 
from  nine  counties,  and  mustered  into  service  Oct.  15,  1861.  This 
was  the  last  regiment  to  join  the  Old  Brigade.  During  the  Wil- 
derness campaign  it  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  nearly  one-half 
the  number  that  went  into  battle.  It  was  one  of  the  famous 
three  hundred  fighting  regiments  of  the  war. 

The  First  Vermont  Cavalry  was  the  first  full  regiment  of 
cavalry  raised  in  New  England.  It  had  four  different  colonels 
in  one  year,  but  made  a  brilliant  record  for  itself  notwithstand- 
ing. It  has  a  record  of  76  engagements,  Winchester,  Bull  Run, 
and  Gettysburg  among  the  number.  It  was  mustered  into  serv- 
ice Nov.  19,  1861,  and  served  three  years. 

The  Eighth  Regiment  was  raised  for  special  service,  as  a 
part  of  General  Butler's  New  England  division.  It  was  mus- 
tered into  service  Feb.  8,  1862,  and  has  13  engagements  to  its 
credit,  chiefly  in  Louisiana.  A  granite  boulder  from  Vermont  at 
Cedar  Creek,  Va.,  has  this  inscription:  "The  Eighth  Vermont 
Volunteers,  Col.  Stephen  Thomas  commanding  the  brigade,  ad- 
vanced across  this  field  on  the  morning  of  Oct.  19,  1864,  engaged 
the  enemy  near  and  beyond  this  point,  and  before  sunrise  lost 
in  killed  and  wounded  one  hundred  and  ten  men,  out  of  one 
hundred  and  forty-eight  engaged,  and  thirteen  out  of  sixteen 
commissioned  officers.  Whole  number  of  men  engaged,  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-four." 

In  May,  1862,  Governor  Holbrook  was  ordered  by  the  War 
Department  to  raise  at  once  another  regiment  of  infantry,  and 


448  HnsTOBT  op  Baruacm,  Ybmomt 

l^  a  dispatch  he  was  later  ordered  to  send  to  Wadimgtm  tte 
whole  volunteer  and  militia  force  in  the  state.  The  VBgimflBt 
was  mustered  in  July  9,  1862,  and  in  a  few  days  started  to  aid 
in  the  protection  of  Washington,  now  threatened  bgr>the  rebel 
forces.  Only  five  engagements  are  credited  to  the  Ninth  Begt 
ment  on  its  colors,  but  it  participated  in  twelve  other  iiliimishiB 
and  battles.  It  was  a  part  of  the  force  at  Ehrper's  Veny,  Ym^ 
which  was  surrendered  to  the  rebels  by  the  oflBoer  in  eommand, 
CoL  Stannard  attempted  to  break  awiQT,  but  was  overpowered  Iff 
ten  times  his  force.  When  Stonewall  Jaekaon  noticed  how  dia- 
heartened  Stannurd's  men  were,  he  said,  ''Don't  feel  had,  vmk, 
don't  feel  bad,  Ood's  will  must  be  done,"  to  vdiieh  CoL  Dadkj 
K  Andross  made  reply,  "Very  well,  G^eral  Jackson,  but  there 
will  be  a  change  in  God's  will  in  forty-eight  hours,"  which  proved 
true  in  the  battle  of  Antietam. 

The  Eleventh  Regiment  was  the  First  ArtiUery  and  the  larg* 
est  Vermont  regiment.  It  was  recruited  as  an  infantry  regi- 
ment,  but  was  changed  by  order  of  the  War  Department.  It 
did  duty  at  Washington  a  year  and  eight  months,  then  it  was 
called  to  active  service  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomae,  and  was  a 
part  of  the  Sixth  Army  Corps.  It  jMurtidpated  In  twelve  en* 
gagements,  among  them  Cold  Harbor,  Cedar  Creek,  and  iJie  final 
surrender  of  Petersburg,  Va. 

The  Twelfth  Regiment  was  raised  in  resp<mse  to  Prerident 
Lincoln's  caU  for  300,000  militia  for  nine  months.  Many  of  the 
men  had  already  been  in  service  in  the  First  Regimoit.  It  is 
noted  that  in  the  list  were  two  governors,  a  quartermaster-gen- 
eral, a  railroad  commissioner,  a  state  librarian,  a  state  historian, 
and  a  number  of  state  senators.  It  was  mustered  into  service 
Oct.  4,  1862.  With  the  four  other  regiments  raised  it  formed 
the  Second  Brigade.  Out  of  its  1,005  members  there  were  but 
four  deserters.  The  only  engagements  in  which  the  whole  or  part 
of  the  regiment  engaged  were  Fairfax  Court  House  and  Qettys- 
burg. 

The  Sixteenth  Regiment  of  Vermont  Volunteers  for  nine 
months  was  raised  from  Windsor  and  Windham  counties,  and  the 
companies  were  each  organized  in  a  different  town.  Company  A 
at  Bethel,  Company  G  at  Barnard.  The  officers  of  the  companies 
elected  their  field  officers.  The  regiment  was  mustered  into  serv- 
ice Oct.  23,  1862.  With  the  Twelfth,  Thirteen^,  Fourteenth, 
and  Fifteenth  regiments  it  formed  the  Second  Vermont  Brigade. 
In  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  the  regiment  captured  prisoners  many 
times  its  own  number  and  three  stands  of  colors.  The  only  other 
engagements  of  the  regiment  were  Burke's  Station  and  Catlett's 
Station,  Va. 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vebmont  449 

The  Seventeenth  Regiment  was  expected  to  be  formed  main- 
ly of  veterans  who  had  enlisted  as  nine  months  men  and  had  been 
mustered  out.  They  did  not  hasten  to  re-enlist,  and  the  regi- 
ment was  composed  of  recruits  from  all  parts  of  the  state.  It 
was  nearly  nine  months  before  all  were  mustered  In.  On  reach- 
ing Virginia  the  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade, 
made  up  of  the  Sixth,  Ninth,  and  Eleventh  New  Hampshire  regi- 
ments. It  had  a  part  in  thirteen  engagements,  the  Wilderness, 
Cold  Harbor,  and  Petersburg  being  the  most  important,  in  which 
it  displayed  courage  and  trustworthiness  most  commendable. 

Company  P,  First  United  States  Sharpshooters,  was  organ- 
ized in  September,  1861,  and  mustered  in  at  Washington,  Sep. 
13.  The  idiarpshooters  had  special  and  dangerous  duty  to  per- 
form. Their  more  exposed  positions  in  engagements  resulted  in 
greater  casualties  than  is  usual,  and  this  company  of  100  men 
had  dwindled  to  forty-three  when  it  entered  upon  the  battle  of 
Cold  Harbor,  where  it  lost  twenty-eight  of  these  in  that  engage- 
ment. When  their  three  years'  term  of  service  expired,  nine- 
teen were  discharged,  and  six  re-enlisted.  During  its  term  of 
service,  in  which  it  had  engaged  in  thirty-seven  battles  and  skir- 
mishes, it  had  enrolled  in  all  177  men,  and  has  a  record  of  casual- 
ties reaching  forty-three  and  one-half  per  cent  of  this  number. 
It  had  served  with  the  Second,  Third,  and  Fifth  Corps. 

Company  E,  Second  United  States  Sharpshooters,  was  mus- 
tered Nov.  9,  1861.  It  had  been  recruited  by  Homer  R.  Stough- 
ton  of  West  Randolph.  It  is  recorded  that  Major  Old  said  to 
the  colonel  of  the  regiment  on  their  first  pay  day,  **  Colonel,  you 
have  one  thing  of  which  you  should  be  proud:  you  have  a  regi- 
ment of  almost  800  men,  and  every  man  steps  up  and  signs  the 
pay  roll  himself.  I  do  not  believe  such  a  thing  ever  happened 
before  in  the  world's  history  of  wars."  That  they  could  fight  as 
well  as  write  is  attested  by  Colonel  Gates,  the  Confederate,  who 
said  of  them  at  Gettysburg  where  they  opposed  him,  **I  never 
got  into  such  a  hornet 's  nest  in  all  my  life. ' '  They  did  duty  in 
the  Virginia  campaigns,  and  have  a  record  of  twenty-seven  en- 
gagements. They  were  finally  so  reduced  in  numbers  that  they 
were  transferred  to  the  Fourth  Regiment  Vermont  Volunteers. 

The  Third  Battery  Light  Artillery  was  mustered  into  service 
at  Burlington,  Jan.  1,  1864,  and  in  April  was  assigned  to  the 
Ninth  Army  Corps.  Its  chief  work  was  to  assist  in  the  siege  of 
Petersburg,  where  it  occupied  most  trying  situations,  one  of  them 
being  known  as  **Fort  Hell,"  where  the  firing  was  almost  inces- 
sant from  Aug.  30  to  Sep.  6,  1864.  The  Battery  numbered  in 
all  466  men,  nearly  all  of  whom  were  native  bom  Vermonters, 
and  many  of  whom  have  since  the  war  risen  to  posts  of  honor 

29 


4S0  Hnxonr  or  Boriunr,  Yi 


and  distiiictHm.    The  Bflttny  wis  moitoid  out  of 
15,  1865. 

The  St  Albsns  Baid  led  to  the  ofgmiwrim  etHed  tke  Kras- 
tier  Cavalry.  It  was  eon^oaed  of  aemn  New  YoA  ^amgtmSmf 
three  MwiiliimMtii  eonipaiiieB^  and  two  tnm  YmmamL  Tha 
two  Vermont  eompaniea  woe  ttationed  at  BnHogtan  and  8L 
Albans,  and  were  OTgamaed  at  Bnrirngton,  Jasa^  ISfiS.  Tki^ 
oontiniied  <m  goard  until  the  eloae  of  tbn  war.  Tkmr 
was  called  the  Twmty-aizih  New  Toric  Camiiy,  and  tke  Y< 
companies  were  M  and  F. 

In  a  nrisfsellaneoos  list  of  colored  reennta  is  fomid  tfcs 
of  Abraham  C.  Bowen  tnm  Boyatton,  who  enliafead  Sep.  t,  IBBii, 
for  one  year,  in  the  First  United  States  Cdbred  Troopa»  and  waa 
mnstered  out  Sep.  29,  1865. 

In  a  list  of  nnaarigned  reemits  are  found  from  Bojyaltan 
Henry  C.  Cleveland,  who  enlisted  Dec  29, 1863,  and  diedMaiA 
24,  1864,  in  the  Brattleboro  Hoq^ital;  also  HastinKi  A.  WiDey, 
who  enlisted  Sep.  19,  1864,  for  cme  year,  and  was  diaehaiged  at 
New  Haven,  Cmm.,  Oct  22,  1864. 

The  following  is  the  roster  of  men  fnmiriied  by  Boyalton  in 
the  Civil  War.  Althongh  great  pains  have  hem  taken  to  naka 
this  aeenrate  and  complete,  eriora  and  omiagions  may  poanb^  be 
foond. 

Explanation :  The  date  when  service  ended  is  the  date  when 
the  soldier  was  mnstered  out,  nnlees  otherwise  qiedfied.  Cqbl 
stands  for  eonmiinioned,  d.  for  died,  des.  for  deserted,  die.  for 
discharged,  pro.  for  promoted,  re-en«  for  re-enlisted,  tr.  for  trans- 
ferred, wd.  for  wounded,  red.  for  reduced. 

Name.  Regt,    Co,  Enlitted,  Service  JVadedL 

Adams,  Geo.  S.  2       E         Apr.   22»   '61  Jtdy  IS,  "eS 

Pro.  Corp.  Aug.  28,  '62;  re-en.  Dec  21,  '63;  Sergt  Oct  18»  *64; 

l8t  Sergt.  Feb.  7,  '65;  2d  Lieut.  June  7,  '65. 

Adams,  Oliver  E.  3  Nov.  19,  '63  Oct  18»  '64 

Died  of  disease.    In  3d  Battery  Light  Artillery. 

Atwood,  Irving  H.        8        G  Dec.    28,    '63  Aug.  IS,  "64 

D.  in  Marine  Hospital,  New  Orleans. 

Atwood,  Oliver  A.        16        A  Aug.   26,   '62  Aug.  10,  '6S 

Bailey,  Jos.  W.,  Corp.   1        C         Oct      1,   '61  Nov.  18.  '64 

Pro.  Sergt  Nov.  1,  '63;  pro.  Co.  Coin.-Sergt;  wd.  July  3,  '63. 

Baker,  Henry  L.  2        E         Apr.   22,   '61  June  29.  "64 

Pro.  Corp.;  wounded  May  5,  '64. 

Baker,  Nahum  C.         2       E         Sep.      9,  '61  June  29,  '64 

Taken  pris.  May  21,  '64;   paroled. 

Baker,  Royal  F.  16       H         Sep.    18,   '62  Aug.  10,  '6S 

Barney,  Mason  6       E         Oct      9,   '61  ^r.  16^  '62 

Killed  in  action.    Buried  in  National  Cemetery,  Tortrtown,  Va. 

Beckwith,  Jos.  D.        2       E         Apr.   21,   '61  June  29,'  '64 

Beedle,  Charles  C.        8       A         Dec.   18,    '63  June  29,  '66 

Beedle,  Elisha  T.  4       E         Aug.   26^   '61  May     6.  "63 

Dia.  for  disabiUty. 


HlSTOBT  Of  BOTALTON,  VBBMONT  453 

Name.  Begt.    Co.  iBitlUterf.  Service  Ended. 

Beedle,  Eugene  T.      17        D  Oct.      8,   '63  Feb.     7.  '65 

Died  of  disease.  „       „_    ,,„ 

Beedle,  Thomas  6        F  Sep.    24,    '61  Sep.  27.    62 

Died  of  dleeaae. 
Bement,  William  B,     8        B  Jan.      t,   '64  June  28,   66 

Benson,  Hamden  W.    9        C  Sap.      8,   '64  Dec.  19,  'M 

Died.     Burled  at  City  Point,  Va. 
Bennett.  Warren  F     16       A  Aug.    27,    '62  An«.  10,  '63 

Wounded  July  3,  '63. 
Bingham.  George  A.     4        B  Sep.      1.  '64  May  13,  '65 

Enlisted  for  one  year. 
Bliby  OrvlUe.  2d  Lt.    2       B    Com.May  21,  '61  May     6,    64 

Pro.  iBt  Lieut.  Jan.  11,  '62;  pro.  Capt  Aug.  4,  '62.    Killed  In  action 
Blake,  Eugene  1       B 

Served  as  sutler  with  hie  uncle,  Capt  8.  P.  Rundlett. 
Blake,  Horatio  C.         2        E  Apr.    22,    '61  Mar.     8.  '68 

DIb.  (or  dlBablllty. 
Blancbard.  Prank  F     2       E  Aug.      4.  '64  June  19.  '66 

Enlisted  for  one  year. 
Blanchard,  OrviUe  F    8       A         Aug.     4.  '63  Jan.    9.  '64 

Drafted    discharged. 
Bowman,  Albert  H.      8        B  Sep.    14,    '64  June    1,  '66 

Enlisted  for  one  year. 
Bowman,  Amos  B.      8       B         Sop.   14,   '64  June    1,  '66 

Enlisted  for  one  year. 
Bowman.  B.  F.,  Corp.  8        B  Oct.      6,   '61  June  28,  '66 

Taken  prls.  8^.  4,  '62;  paroled  Not.  13,  '62;  pro.  Sergt.  June 

8,  '64;  re-en.  Jan.  6.  '64;  pro.  Ist  Sergt  Mar.  20,  '66. 
Bowen.  Abraham  C.     1  Sep.      6,  '64  Sep.  29,  '66 

In  iHt  0  S.  Colored  Troopa;  enlisted  for  one  year. 
Bowen,  James  F  9        F  July    12,    '62  Oct   10,   '63 

Died  oF  disease. 
Bridge,  George  3.        9        A  Sep.    19,    '64  Juno  13,  '66 

Enlisted  tor  one  year. 
Cbadwlck.  Edwin  H.    2        B  May      2,   '61  July  IB,  '66 

Des.  Nov   St   '62;  re-en.  Aug.  14,  '63;  des.;  re-en.  Mar.  21,  '66. 
Chamberlln,  F.  W.        2        E  Apr.    23,    '61  May     3,  '63 

Wd.  Dec  13,  '62;  killed  in  action  May  3,  '63. 
ChllBon,  Van  R.  «        I  July    22.    '63  June  26,  '66 

Dratted. 
Cllley    .lolin  A.  2        E  Dec.    19.    '63  July  15,  '66 

Wd.  Sep.  19.  '64. 
Clark,   Henry  16        H  Aug.    26,    '62  Aug.   10,  '63 

Cleveliind,  Chas.  B.      4        B  Aug.    12,    '61  Deo.  13,  '62 

Fro.  lEt  Sergt.    killed  In  action. 
Cleveland.  Henry  C.  Dec.    29,    '63  Mar.  24,  '64 

llnaBaigned  recruit;   d.  In  Brattleboro  Hospital. 
Cole,  Horace  B.  6        P  Sep.  80,  '61  Oct  16,   '64 

Tr.  to  Veteran  Reserre  Corpe  Dec.  1,  '63;  dlschai^ed. 
Conant,  John  W.  8        A  Dec.    18,    '63  June  30,  '64 

DIs.  for  disability. 
Conant,  William  D.     16       A  Aug.    26,    '62  Aug.  10,  '63 

Wd.  July  3,  '63. 
Colbum,  Oscar  2        E  Oct.     26,    '61  Nov.    9,  '64 

Wd.  Sep.  16,  '62;  tr.  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  Sep.  1,  '63;  dls. 
Coy,  Carlos  C,  Sergt.  16        H  Sept  18,  '62  Aug.  10,  '63 


DUd  DC  dfMMft. 
Out.  Ocorva  M.  t 

Ov.  ChwlM  P.  U 

Cor.  CtauiM  F. 

In  Tnaatr  CKnirr. 

Cilrer.  S^rmo-jr  t 

Pro,  Corp.  Mar.  1,  "•*. 

CTb^— ■■  CUKM  B.  t 
IB  Sd  BUtvr  Uckt  I 


In  Id  BatUrr  LIsbt  I 
Dnta.  FUnr  &.  Jr. 

In  rroatlar  CkTsliT- 

DnlMK.  Hnrr  H.       S        O         Jan.      1.   *«  Jsbb  tt,  V 

DaolMB.  rnakUa      11       C         Aoc   »,  V  Jidr  K  « 

Dswer.  0«orce  W.       U                Aoc.  10.  W  H          Sapi    U.  1 

Dnrv.  H..  It  Bnct    I        ■         Apr.   St.   "a  Oct.     4^  V 

Pro    2(1  Lieut.  Jul  11,  tS;  takan  prla.;  tar.;  feon.  dfa. 

Dodge.   Geari;e    A.          IB          Sep.    »,    'CI  Mar  B^  V 

Killed  in  action-    la  1*  CMalrr. 

IMggi.  George  T.                  F         Jan.      S,   W  Jnw  ST.  V 

Pro.  Com.  Mar  IB,  W;  a  H.  BnsL  Jima  1,  '86l    In  FraitMr 

Cavalrr- 

Srk^  CalTia                  *        F         Not.   1«,   11  Hmr.    t.  It 

Wd.  Apr.  16,  'U;  r»«n.  Feb  U,  ■«;  tr.  to  Ool  B  Jnlr  SB,  "M; 

tr.  to  Tataran  Raaarre  Ooipa;  diaehaigad. 

Blaworth,FnuidaP.    1        S          Apr.   H,   -SI  Kar     E^  *•• 

Klllad  In  action. 

SuwoTth.  Q«o.  W.       8        O         Sop.      E.   'M  Jane  SS.  tS 

Enlisted  for  onm  jear, 

Fallon,  William             6        F          S^.    27,    '61  Nov.  18,  "61 

Died  of  dla«u& 

Fsrmer,  0«OTge             8        O         Jan.    20,    '£2  Sep.     K,  'SS 

D.  of  wonndi  received  Sep.  4,  '62;  bnr.  at  Cbalmette,  near  N.  O. 

farnbam,  Carlos  B.      9        H         Jan.      4,    'M  Ang.  SB,  "65 

Des.  Sep.  14,  '64;  t»«i.  Feb.  1,  '65;  tr.  to  Co.  D  Jane  S4,  '6S. 

Far    Alba  H.                16       A          Aos.   26.   '62  F«b.     1.  '6S 

Died  of  disease  at  Fairfax  Court  Hona^  Va. 

Faj.   William  H.          4        B          Aug.    31,   "61  July  U.  "68 

Re-6n.  Dec  IS,  '63:   wd.  Mar  5,  '64. 

Fish,  John  H.                SB          Apr.    86,   '61  lUv     e.  •64 

Died  or  disease  at  Philadelphia. 

Fowler.  John  H.          16        A          Aug.   26,   '62  Aug.  10.  ti 

Foster.  Wm.  S.,  Jr.      2        B          Dee.    10.    '61  Sep.   19    '64 

Tte-en.  Dec.  21,  '63;  pro.  Corp.;  wd.  liay  B,  '64;  klUed  In  action. 

Oittord,  Colltiis              9        D          Jnna   14,   '«2  jnne  16   '6C 

Dte.  Jan.  16,  '63.  to  en.  In  Regular  Army,  17th  D.  a  Inf  -  dla. 

Granger,  Gilbert            S        C          Mar.    24.    '66  July  ir  •gs 

EnliEted  as  rolnnteer  sailor  and  marlue.  Har.  31,  '66 

Gee,    LavluB                   8        B          Sep.      B.   '64  Jiine    L  -CB 

EnllBted  for  one  year. 

Gee,  Amos                    ll        h          Aug.      8,  '62  Dec  M.  •«S 

DiB.  ror  dlwblUty.  ««.«.« 

Ball,  Frank                  16       A          Aug.   26.   -es  Ant  10.  •« 

Pra  Corp.  Jan.  29,  '63.  -^  *w,   « 


HiBTCttT  C»  EOTAI^rON,  VERMONT  ^  *M 

Name.  Rett*.    Co.  iBnIto<«l.  Benice  Ended. 

Han»r,  George  N.        2       B  May  _  6.  ;61        _  _,_July  26.Jt2_ 


Dia.  for  diBabilityiTMiL 
Hatcb,  John 


Doc.  19,  '63;  wd.  May  5.  ■«;  d.  of  dlaeae^ 
Dec.    as,    '63  June  28.  '66 


'^V™.  Corp.  July  1.  '64;  Sergt  Mar.  X   ■66. 
HafiUngB,  Harvey  W.    1       O  Aug.    12.    '64  June  21.   65 

Enllated  tor  one  ye«r. 
'Hairnnfl    Poiph  4       E  Sep.      8,  '61  Sep.  30,    6* 

&*.,  Cl>ari«  B.      2        B         pep.    30,    '61  May  23.  "62 

Died  ot  dloeaee.    Iq  U.  8.  Sbarpiliootenj 
Honey,  Amen  S.  8       Q  Jan.      4,  '64  __M»r-  ^8.    64 

D  o(  dlBeaae  In  New  Orlean».     Called  Haney  In  ofllclal  report. 
Hopkins.  William         9        D  May    31,   '82  July  24.  '64 

nts  Jaa  17.  63,  to  enllrt  In  ITtli  U.  S.  Inf.    Dlacharged. 
Hoa.to'n.'^doV       17        D  Sep.    21.    -^  May  23    '66 

Red.  Apr.  17,  '64;  taken  prte.  Sep.  30.  '64;  par.  Mar.  10.   6B. 
HOTenden.  Jamea  2        B  Sep.      7.   '61  Aug.  16.   63 

Dii.  for  disability.  „.    .„»  t  i     ,«    .c^ 

Howard.  Philip  16       A  Aug,   Z6,   '«  July  10,  '63 

Died  of  wounds  received  July  3,  '63;  bur.  Gettysburg,  Pa. 
Howard,  Stlae  W.         2        E  Sop.    26,    '61  Mar.     B.  '63 

DlB.  for  wownda  received  Sep.  17,  '62.    In  U.  S.  Sharpehootoia. 


'  S^.    26, 

•61  ' 

June  26. 

'62 

Died  of  disease.    In  U.  S. 

Johnson,  Cbaa.  H.       16       A 

Aug.    26. 

■62 

Aug.  10, 

'63 

Johnson,  Chas.  H.        3 

Aug.    18. 

■64 

Jane  16. 

■66 

In  Light  ArUllery.    Bn.  for  one  year. 

Johnson.  Jesse  W.        6        F 

Oct      7. 

■61 

Oct   28, 

'64 

Wd.  Sep.  19,  '64. 

Kelly,  Timothy            4       B 

Aug.   27, 

■61 

Sep.  SO, 

'64 

Wd.  Dec.  13,  '62;  pro.  Corp.  Not.  21.  '63 

Kllbum,  Geo.  P.            8       O 

Jan.      2, 

■64 

June  28. 

'66 

Kinney,  J.  K..  Corp.    16        A 

Aug.   26, 

■62 

Aug.  10, 

'63 

Kinsman,  H.  B..  1  Sgt.    1        F 

Aug.    20, 

■61 

Sep.  13, 

'64 

Pro.  2d  Lieut  May  15,  'S3; 

iBt  Lieut  Nov.  B.  '63. 

lAthrop.  JulluB  M.        8       A 

Jan.      5, 

■64 

Dec.  31, 

'64 

Died  of  disease  near  Winchester.  Va. 

Leavitt,  Amos,  Jr.      16       A 

Aug.    26, 

'62 

Aug.  10. 

•63 

Wd.  July  3.  '63. 

Leaure.  D.  P..  Corp.    16        H 

Sep.    18. 

■62 

Aug.  10. 

■63 

Leeure,  John  O.            8       O 

Aug.    18, 

■64 

June  28. 

•66 

Enlisted  for  one  year. 

Lovejoy.  D.  W.,  Sgt   16       A 

Aug.    26, 

■62 

Aug.  10, 

'63 

Lorejoy,  Daniel  W.      9        C 

Sep.       5, 

'64 

June  13. 

■65 

Lovejoy,  Daniel  W.      9       D 

Jan.      4. 

■64 

Sep.  23. 

'64 

Died. 

Luce.  Aurin  F.            17        D 

Oct    16. 

■63 

July  14. 

'66 

Luce.  Charles  A.           9        D 

June  13. 

•62 

Sap.  28, 

•62 

Killed  by  care. 

Luce.  George  F.           6       F 

Sep.    23. 

■61 

Dec.     1, 

•62 

DiB.;  d.  In  hospital  Dec.  29 

I.  '62;  bur.  In  Nat  MlllUry  Aeylum. 

Lyman.  Horace  H.       2        B 

Apr.    22, 

■61 

Nov.  10, 

•62 

DlB.  for  dlBablllty. 

Lyman.  Horace  H.       2        B 

July      8, 

'63 

Jan.  29, 

'65 

En.  In  V.  R.  C;  tr.  to  thla  Co.  Jan.  9.  ' 

64;  taken  pris.  Oct  19, 

'64;  d.  at  Florence,  S.  C; 

bur.  Nat  Cem.,  Salisbury.  N.  C 

454 


History  of  Botalton,  Ysbmont 


Name.  Regt.    Co,  EnUated.  Service  Ended, 

Lyman,  Joel  F.,  Corp.   2        B         Apr.    22,    '61  Nov.  20,  '62 


I 

Aug. 

12,    '64 

Q 

Dec. 

21.    '63 

H 

Sep. 

18,    '62 

Die.  for  disability. 
Lyman,  Joel  F.  8       Q         Jan.      2,   '64 

Pro.  Corp.  Nov.  1,  '64;  en.  for  one  year. 
Mack,  D.  A.  Chap.        3  Jan.    11,    '62 

Com.  again  Mar.  30,  '65;  mustered  oat  July  11»  '65. 
Martin,  David  9 

Metcalf,  Marquis  L.      8 
Metcalf,  E.  B.,  Corp.    16 

Died  of  disease. 
Mercy,  Marshall  17        H         Mar.  30,   '64 

Killed  in  action;  bur.  at  City  Point,  Va. 
Miller,  Lorenzo  8        G         Dec.    26,   '63 

Tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  July  2,  '64. 
Morey,  Charles  C.        2        B         Apr.    22,    '61 

Pro.  Corp.  June  20,  '61;  Sergt  Feb.  10,  '62;  Ist  Sergt  Dec.  27, 

'62;  re-en.  Jan.  31,  '64;  pro.  let  Lieut.  Co.  C,  June  20,  '64;  wd. 

Aug.  21,  '64;  killed  in  action;  bur.  in  Nat  Cem.,  Petersburg,  Va. 
Morse,  Henry  B.  2        B 

Bn.  for  one  year. 
Osgood,  Henry  H.         2        B 

Pro.  Corp.;  wd.  May  6,  '64. 
Packard,  Alonzo  3        G         July   22,    '63 

Drafted;  tr.  to  Co.  I,  July  25,  '64;  discharged. 


June  28,  '65 

July  27.  '64 

June  13,  '65 
June  28,  '65 
Ifar.  12,  '63 

June  17,  '64 

Dec.  7,  '64 

Apr.  2,  '66 


Aug.   4,  '64 
May  22,  '61 


June  19,  '65 
June  29,  '64 
June  26,  '65 


Paige,  Alfred  4 

Paige,  Charles  A.         4 

Wounded  May  5,  '64. 
Paige,  William  D.        16 
Pierce,  George  H. 

In  Frontier  Cavalry. 
Pierce,  George  W.         2 

Dis.  for  disability. 
Pierce,  Perry  F.  16 

Rand,  Preston  A.         2 


B  Sep.  14,  '64 

B  Aug.  23.  '61 

A  Aug.  26,  '62 

F  Jan.  3,  '65 

B  Apr.  22,  '61 

A  Aug.  26,  '62 

B  Sep.  26,  '61 


June  19,  '65 
Sep.  30,  '64 

Aug.  10,  '63 
June  27,  '65 

Aug.  28,  '61 

Aug.  10,  '63 
Mar.     5,  '63 


Die.  for  wounds  received  Sep.  17,  '62.    In  U.  S.  Sharpshooters. 


Reynolds,  Frank  F. 

In  Frontier  Cavalry. 
Robinson,  Joseph  A.     3 

In  Light  Artillery. 
Rolfe,  Bugene  W.  3 

In  Light  Artillery. 
Riddall,  James  B.        16 
Rollinson,  Joseph  2 

Died  of  disease. 
Root,  Benjamin  A.        2 
Royce,  Jason  S.  2 

En.  for  one  year. 
Rundlett,  S.  P.,  Capt.   1 

Resigned. 
Russell,  Thos.  F.  4 

Dis.  for  disability. 
Russ,  Henry  J.  16 

Wounded  July  3,  '63. 
Russ,  Thomas  S.         16 
Sanborn,  J.  C.  2d  Lt.   16 

Resigned. 


F 


H 
B 

B 
B 


Jan.  3,    '65 

Sep.  1,   '64 

Aug.  30,    '64 

Sep.  18,    '62 

Sep.  16,    '61 

Apr.  22,    '61 

Aug.  17,    '64 


B   Com.  Oct.  16,  '61 

B  Aug.    30,    '61 

A  Aug.    26,    '62 

A  Aug.    29,    '62 

H  Com.  Sep.  18,  '62 


June  27,  '65 

June  15,  '65 

June  15,  '65 

Aug.  10,  '63 
Sep.     6,  '62 

June  29,  '64 
June  19,  '64 

Mar.  17,  '63 

Nov.  11,  '62 

Aug.  10,  '63 

Aug.  10,  '63 
Dec.  26,  '62 


HiSTOBY  OP  BOTALTON,  VERMONT  455 

Name.  Regt.    Co.  Unlisted.  Service  Ended. 

Sanborn,  WUliam  H.    2        B  Apr.    22,    '61  May     5,  '64 

Pro.  Corp.  Dec.  27,  '62;  killed  in  action. 
Shepard,  John  F.  2        E  Oct.     14,   '61  Oct  12,   '62 

Dis.  for  disability. 
ShuUleworth,  G.  L.      4  Sep.      3,   '61  Aug.    9,  '62 

Discharged;  in  the  Band. 
Smith,  George  W.         8        A  Dec.    28,    '63  June  28,  '65 

Smith,  Henry  A.  1        E  Sep.    23,    '61  Feb.  29,  '64 

In  Cavalry;  taken  pris.  July  6,  '63;  d.  Richmond,  Va. 
Smith,  Henry  C.  4  Sep.      3,   '61  Aug.    9,  '62 

Discharged;   in  the  Band. 
Spaulding,  Alonzo  D.    2        B  Apr.    26,   '61  Mar.  25,  '65 

Re^n.  Dec.  21,  '63;  pro.  Corp.  Oct.  18,  '64;  Sergt.  Feb.  7,  '65; 

died;  bur.  Petersburg,  Va. 
Spaulding,  Nathan  D.  4        B  Sep.      3,   '61  Sep.     5,  '62 

Died  of  disease. 
Spaulding,  Reuben        2        B  Sep.      6,   '61  Feb.  21,  '62 

Dis.  for  disability. 
Spaulding,  Richard       4        B  Sep.      4,   '61  Sep.  20,  '62 

Dis.  for  disability. 
Stevens,  Cornelius  C.    2       B         Sep.      6,   '61  Dec.  11,  '63 

Wd.  Dec.  13,  '62;  tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Sep.  1,  '63;  discharged. 
Stevens,  Chas.  P.        16        H  Sep.    18,    '62  July     3,  '63 

Killed  in  action. 
Stevens,  CoUamer  G.    8        B  Sep.    30,    '61  Apr.     6,  '63 

Taken  pris.  Sep.  4,  '62;  par.  Nov.  4,  '62;  discharged.    Officially 

credited  to  Bethel;  on  the  Royalton  selectmen's  list  of  soldiers. 
Stevens,  Oliver  H.      16       H         Sep.    18,    '62  May  27,  '63 

Dis.  for  disability. 
Stevens,  Oliver  H.        4        B  Aug.   31,   '64  July  28,  '65 

En.  for  one  year. 
Stockwell,  B.  A.  2       B  Sep.    26,   '61  Nov.     9,  '64 

Wd.  May  12,  '64. 
Tenney,  Luman  C.        4        E  Sep.      3,   '61  Apr.     8,  '62 

Died  of  disease. 
Trask,  Joseph  B.  2        B  Oct    10,   '61  Nov.    9,  '64 

Wd.  May  6,  '64.    In  U.  S.  Sharpshooters. 
Tullar,  Myron  2        B  Aug.   25,   '64  June    9,  '65 

Wd.  Oct  19,  '64;  en.  for  one  year. 
Vesper,  Owen  R.  3        F         June     1,  '61  June  27,  '65 

Re^n.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  May  5,  '64;  tr.  to  Co.  K,  July  24,  '64;  dis. 
Vesper,  Oramel  H.       8        F         June     1,  '61  Sep.  24,  '62 

Died  of  disease. 
Walcott  James  A.        2        B  Apr.      2,   '61  Aug.  21,  '64 

Re-en.  Dec.  21,  '63;  pro.  Corp.  Aug.  7,  '63;  killed  in  action. 
Waldo,  Albert  M.         2  Aug.   23,   '64  June  15,  '65 

En.  for  one  year;  In  Light  Artillery. 
Waldo,  Albigence  2        B  Apr.    27,    '61  July  21,  '61 

D.  of  wounds  received  July  21,  '61;  bur.  Nat  Military  Asylum. 
Waldo,  B.  F.,  Corp.      16        A  Aug.    26,   '62  Aug.  10,  '68 

Sergt.  Dec.  24,  '62;  re-en.  as  volunteer  sailor  and  marine  on  the 

"Ohio."  Mar.  '64. 
Waldo,  Dillingham       2        E  Sep.    16,    '61  June    4,  '62 

Dis.  for  disability. 
Waldo,  George  W.        16       A         Aug.   26.   '62  Aug.  10.  '63 

Wd.  July  3,  '63. 


456 


History  of  Boyalton,  Vebmont 


Name, 


Regt.    Co. 


Service  Ended, 


Aug.   22, 

'64 

A 

Com.  Aag.  26, 

'62 

A 
B 

Aug.  26, 
Sep.    18, 

'62 
•64 

A 
O 

Aug.  26, 
Dec.    30, 

•62 
'63 

EnliBted. 

Waldo,  George  W.  Btor.  '64 

En.  as  volunteer  sailor  and  marine. 
Waldo,  Henry  R.  3 

In  Ught  Artillenr. 
Waldo,  J.  W.,  2d  Lt    16 

Resigned. 
Waldo,  Willard  16 

Waldo,  Willard  G.        8 

En.  for  one  year. 
Waldo,  William  L.      16 
Wales,  George  A.  8 

Tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  July  2,  '64;  discharged. 
Waterman,  Alonzo  L.    1       E         Oct.      2,  '61 

In  1st  Cavalry. 
Watts,  Wesley  1       E         Oct       8,  '61 

Killed  in  action;  bur.  Antletam,  Md. 
Wheeler,  Henry  H.       3  Sep.      3,  '61 

Discharged;  in  the  Band. 
Whitney,  L.C.,  1st  Lt     2        B  Com.  May  21,  '61 

Resigned;  in  official  record  credited  to  Tunbridge;  in  Royalton 

selectmen's  list  of  soldiers. 
Wills,  Bliss  P.  8        G         Jan.    20,   '62  June  16,  '62 

Dis.  for  disability. 
Wills,  Edward  S.  2        B         Apr.    25,   '61  Dec  11,  '61 

Dis.  for  disability. 
Wills,  Edward  S.        17       F         Nov.      3,  '63  July  30,  '64 

Tr.  to  Co.  D,  May  1,  '64;  wd.  July  4,  '64;  killed  in  action. 
Willey,  Hastings  A.  Sep.    19,    '64  Oct   22,   '64 

Dis.  at  New  Haven,  Conn.;  in  Frontier  Cavalry;  en.  for  one  year. 

SUBSTITUTE  SAILORS  AND  MARINES. 


June  16,  '66 

Mar.  12,  ^68 

Aug.  10,  ^68 
June    1,  •$& 

Aug.  10,  •es 

May  13,  '66 
June  20,  •SS 
July  6.  '68 
Aug.  9,  ^62 
Jan.     8,  •62 


Enlisted, 
Jan.,  '65 


Jan.,  '65 
Jan.,  '65 
Feb.,  '65 
Feb.  5,  '65 


Principal,  Substitute, 

Abbott,  James  S.       Lawson,  John 

"Cyone,"  "Independence,"  "Saranac."    Dis.  June 
Adams,  Frederick      Cook,  Benjamin 

"Susquehanna."    Dis.  Jan.  7,  '68. 
Adams,  Martin  S.      Freeman,  Charles 

Des.  July  29,  '65. 
Beedy,  George  Sullivan,  John 

'•Ohio."     Dis.  Sep.  5,  '66. 
Belden,  Julius  P.       Cornish,  Stephen 

Fraudulent  enlistment.     Deserter  from  Galena. 
Buck,  James  H.        Merriam,  Joseph  Mar.,  '65 

"Hartford."    Dis.  Aug.  14,  '68. 
Dewey,  Gamer  R.     McLaw,  Neil 

Des.  Aug.  14,  ^65. 
Denison,  Franklin     Kennedy,   Patrick 

Des.  May  15,  '65. 
Durham,  Henry         Moore,  Frank 
(Dunham?) 
Durkee,  John  B.        Smith,  James 

Dis.  Mar.  21,  '65. 
Harvey,  George  H.    Gibbons,  James 

Des.  Aug.  23,  '65. 


«i 


Ship, 

Penobscot" 
4.  '68. 
''W.  Q.  Anderson" 


Jan.,  '65 
Jan.,  '65 
Mar.,  '65 
Jan.,  '65 
Jan.,  '65 


"Penobscot" 
"Kearsage" 


(i 


u 


Wachusett" 

Wachusett" 

"Itaska" 


(CI 


Trefoil 


f» 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vebmont  457 

Principal.  Substitute.  Etaisted.  Ship. 

Harvey,  Wm.  F.        French,  John  Jan.,  '65  "Wachusett" 

Dee.  Apr.  4,  '65. 
Skinner,  William      Lyons,  James  Jan.,  '65  "Cherokee" 

"Powhatan."    Dee.  July  17.  '65. 
Stoughton,  H.  B.       Loss,  Hermon  P.  Mar.,  '65  "Shawnee" 

Des.  Sep.  6,  '6F. 

It  was  not  deemed  expedient  to  try  to  ascertain  the  service 
of  all  Boyalton  men  who  enlisted  in  other  towns  in  Vermont  and 
in  other  states.  The  undertaking  was  too  great  and  almost  im- 
possible of  accomplishment.  Such  service,  however,  has  been 
secured  in  many  cases,  aild  appears  in  the  records  of  families 
who  had  members  serving  in  the  Civil  War. 

A  list  of  present  pensioners  living  in  Boyalton  follows.  Only 
the  name  is  given,  if  the  record  is  found  in  the  preceding  list, 
otherwise  the  full  record  of  company,  regiment,  and  place  of 
enlistment  is  stated. 

BOYALTON  PENSIONERS,   1911. 

Beedle,  Elisha  T. 

Bennett,  Herbert  A.,  Ck>.  B,  25th  Regt.,  Mass. 

Benson,  Mrs.  Hannah,  on  service  of  son,  Hamden  W. 

Blake,  Mrs.  Rosaline  M.,  widow  of  Horatio  C. 

Blake,  Dom,  in  Navy,  from  Fletcher. 

Bowman,  Benj.  F. 

Bright,  Joseph  Warren,  Co.  I,  13th  Regt.,  N.  H. 

Cook,  Jesse  M.,  Co.  G,  9th  Regt.,  from  Thetford. 

Copeland,  B.  H. 

Copeland,  Albert  O.,  Co.  K,  106th  Regt.,  N.  Y. 

Culver,  Seymour. 

Dings,  Luman,  Co.  M,  3d  N.  Y.  Battery,  1863-65. 

Durkee,  Martin  H.,  Co.  H,  14th  Regt.,  from  Chittenden. 

Dutton,  Mrs.  Arethusa,  wld.  of  Henry,  Co.  B,  12th  Regt,  Braintree. 

Eastman,  Wlllard  V.,  Co.  D,  17th  Regt,  from  Qranvllle. 

Fay,  Mrs.  Lucy,  widow  of  Fred,  Co.  B,  Ist  Regt.,  from  Woodstock. 

Flanders,  Sadie  B.,  wld.  of  Clifton,  Co.  M,  11th  U.  S.  Cav.,  Spanish  War. 

Goodale,  Emogene  O.,  wld.  of  Ora  H.,  Co.  D,  12th  Regt,  Tunbridge. 

Green,  Edward  A.,  Co.  F,  12th  Regt.,  and  G,  8th  Regt,  Randolph. 

Hackett,  George  H.,  Co.  D.  12th  Regt.,  from  Tunbridge. 

Hubbard,  Henry  W.,  Mexican  War. 

Lamb,  Amos  H.,  Co.  B,  22d  Regt  N.  Y.,  Co.  G,  139th  Regt.,  111.  Inf. 

Lovejoy,  Mrs.  Evelyn  M.,  widow  of  Daniel  Webster. 

Luce,  Mrs.  Mary  J. 

Martin,  Mrs.  Fanny  J.,  wld.  of  F.  J..  Co.  F,  9th  Regt.,  from  Pomfret 

Morse,  Mrs.  Jane,  widow  of  Henry  B. 

Mudgett  Mrs.  John,  Co.  G,  4th  Regt.,  and  E,  Ist  Cav..  Tunbridge. 

Parkhurst,  Daniel  L..  Co.  G,  16th  Regt.,  from  Sharon. 

Pitkin,  Charles  E.,  Co.  I,  9th  Regt.,  from  Pomfret 

Rand,  Alfred  E.,  3d  Battery  Light  Artillery,  from  Barnard. 

Rogers,  Mrs.  Riley  G.,  Co.  E,  1st  Cav.;   Hancock's  1st  Army  Corps; 

Sharon. 
Sargent  Albert,  Co.  C,  13th  Regt..  from  Marshfleld. 
Sargent  Mark  J..  Co.  E,  2d  Regt.,  from  Tunbridge. 


458  History  of  Botai^ton,  Ysbmomt 

Shepard,  Charles  J.,  Ck>.  H,  16tli  Regt,  from  Hartford. 

Smith,  George  L.,  Co.  A,  3d  Regt.,  from  Rockingham. 

Smith,  Mrs.  Julia  A.,  wld.  of  Wm.,  Co.  B,  5th»  and  H,  17th,  Middlelrarr. 

Stoughton,  Oscar  M.,  in  ship  "Mahaska,"  1864^,  frtnn  Sharon. 

Waldo,  Albert  M. 

Waldo,  Mrs.  Nettie  M.,  widow  of  Joseph  W. 

Waterman,  Albert 

Waterman,  Robert 

Yeaton,  Richard,  Co.  F,  15th  Regt,  Mass. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


The  Methodist  Church. 

SUBJECT  MATTER  CHIEFLY  CONTRIBUTED  BY  MISS  MATTIE  BUCK. 

Methodism  did  not  gain  a  foothold  in  Vermont  much  before 
1800.  That  their  missionaries  were  sent  into  the  state  somewhat 
earlier  is  not  improbable.  The  first  mention  of  this  new  denomi- 
nation in  the  records  of  the  town  is  found  in  1803.  At  a  meet- 
ing held  April  12th  of  that  year  they  voted  **to  allow  Jont 
Bowen  and  others  as  witnesses  in  the  methodist  scrape  four  dol- 
lars fifty  cents."  Prom  the  phraseology  one  may  infer  that 
** methodist"  was  not  a  term  of  sweet  savor  to  the  stiflf,  orthodox 
palate.  What  this  ** methodist  scrape"  was  is  of  interest  chiefly 
in  determining  whether  or  no  this  new  sect  had  already  invaded 
the  stronghold  of  Congregationalism  in  Boyalton.  Mrs.  Olive 
Barnes,  a  centenarian,  joined  the  M.  E.  church  in  1804,  and 
was  a  member  of  this  particular  church  in  1841,  its  earliest  rec- 
ord of  membership. 

The  next  reference  to  the  Methodists  is  a  recorded  certificate 
given  by  Bishop  Asbury  to  Noah  Bigelow,  stating  that  he  had 
been  set  apart  as  a  deacon  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
with  the  authority  to  marry,  bury  the  dead,  and  baptize  in  the 
absence  of  an  elder.  It  is  dated  at  Lyons,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  24,  1812.  The  date  of  recording  is  not  given.  A  similar 
certificate  given  to  Thomas  C.  Pierce  is  dated  1815,  and  both 
appear  to  have  been  recorded  in  1814  or  '15.  The  fact  that  these 
certificates  were  put  on  record  in  this  town  indicates  that  these 
men  intended,  at  least,  to  perform  some  of  the  duties  of  a  deacon 
belonging  to  the  Methodist  church.  Bishop  Asbury  was  very 
active  in  promulgating  the  doctrines  of  Methodism  in  the  United 
States,  and  was  Bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
America. 

It  is  very  probable  that  Methodist  services  were  held  in  town 
more  or  less  after  1800,  and  that  some  sort  of  an  organization 
that  could  be  called  a  church  existed  as  early  as  1818. 

In  the  first  division  of  public  money  which  is  on  record  as 
coming  from  the  rent  of  ministerial  lands  in  1820,  the  Methodist 
church  got  about  one-fourth  of  the  whole,  and  it  is  stated  that  it 


t 


i60  HiBioBT  €P 'BoriXAOir,  Ymumn 

was  for  the  past  two  Tean.  Sfeqilm  FreenMm  iweifod  4a 
money.  In  1822  the  monqr  was  pud  to  Fetsv  imwdock.  fit 
1827  the  MethocUsts  reeeived  the  largest  sum  of  any  Aank  it 
towiL  In  1829,  when  the  rents  woe  dividad  aceuriiug  to  Aa 
membership,  it  stood  seeond  in  amoont  reeeifed.  When  one  as^ 
siders  the  dow  growth  of  the  Baptist  efanxeh,  and  the  h|f  aa 
means  rapid  growth  of  the  Ckmgregational  dnneh  at  a  tiasa 
it  was  the  only  chnreh  in  town,  it  aeema  reaaonahla  to 
that  the  Methodist  chnreh  had  been  organiaad  for  asvwal 
preirious  to  1818. 

That  the  right  hand  of  feDowidup  waa  not  erteodsd  to  it 
by  the  Ckmgregational  people  ia  pretty  evident  from  the  llaBl; 
that  ihe  Congregational  chnreh  in  1834  adopted  a  partieobr 
f onn  of  disndssion  to  the  Methodist  chnreh.  A  member  who 
derired  to  join  the  Methodists  might  be  good  enoni^  for  that 
IMurticnlar  chnreh,  bnt  tiiey  mnst  not  open  to  him  tihe  doom  eC 
any  strictly  orthodox  chnreh. 

In  1837  there  seem  to  have  been  two  divisions  of  Mflthodisl^ 
<me  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  for  whom  Stephen  Ffeaman 
drew  $3.75  of  the  ministerial  money,  and  the  other,  loeatioa  not 
stated,  which  drew  $33.  In  1839  the  Congregational  efaorA 
voted  to  give  Abner  Kent  a  letter  to  the  Methodist  dnirdi  on 
Broad  Brook.  There  is  an  incidental  reference  to  a  eamp  meet- 
ing on  Broad  Brook  before  any  authentic  records  of  the  efaorA 
are  found.  Bev.  BusseU  Spanlding  was  a  Methodist  minislflr, 
who  married  one  of  Nehemiah  Leavitt's  daughters,  and  it  ia  aaid 
that  meetings  were  held  in  the  Leavitt  house,  later  known  as  tiie 
Amasa  Boyce  residence  on  Broad  Brook. 

The  &rst  authentic  records  of  the  church  are  found  in  the 
minutes  of  the  Tunbridge  Circuit.  A  quarterly  conference  was 
held  in  Boyalton,  Sep.  Ist  and  2nd,  1838.  The  presiding  elder 
requested  a  report  of  the  spiritual  condition  of  the  church,  which 
was  given  as  low,  with  two  cases  of  seriousness.  J.  M.  Culver 
was  elected  to  attend  the  district  stewards'  meeting  to  be  held 
at  East  Williamstown,  Oct.  16.  E.  J.  Scott  was  preacher  of  the 
circuit  at  this  time. 

A  quarterly  conference  was  held  at  Tunbridge  on  the  2^ 
of  the  following  November.  It  was  voted  tiiat  the  stewards  and 
class  leaders  should  form  themselves  into  a  missionary  society. 
J.  H.  Stevens,  A.  Button,  and  J.  M.  Culver  drew  up  a  constito- 
tion  for  this  society,  and  the  following  officers  were  elected: 
J.  M.  Culver,  president;  A.  Button,  vice-president;  I.  BiddaU, 
T.  W.  Kelsey,  Mr.  Sawyer,  and  J.  Adams,  committee. 

The  time  was  now  ripe  for  establishing  a  church  with  a 
house  of  worship  in  Boyalton.  Accordingly,  those  in  ^jrmpathy 
with  the  movement  gatiiered  together  on  March  15,  1839,  and 
adopted  the  following  agreement: 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  461 

"We  the  inhabitants  of  Royalton  and  vicinity  do  hereby  volun- 
tarily associate  and  form  ourselves  into  a  society  to  be  called  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Society  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  house  for 
publick  worship  on  or  near  the  town  common  in  Royalton  village  ac- 
cording to  the  first  section  of  an  act  entitled  an  act  for  the  support  of 
the  Gospel  passed  Oct  26th  1797,  and  we  hereby  agree  to  be  governed 
by  the  following  constitution. 

Art.  1st.  To  build  a  house  on  the  plan  of  the  Methodist  house  at 
Bast  Barnard  with  the  exception  of  a  vestry  in  the  Gallery  and  the 
desk  &  Steeple  or  spire  which  is  to  be  similar  to  the  Methodist  house 
at  Chelsea  Green. 

Art.  2.  The  house  shall  be  owned  according  to  the  amount  paid 
by  each  subscriber  who  wishes  to  receive  his  subscription  in  slips,  and 
those  who  subscribe  and  do  not  wish  to  take  slips  will  have  their 
amount  set  off  in  free  slips. 

Art  3.  The  whole  expence  of  said  house  when  finished  to  be  esti- 
mated on  the  whole  number  of  slips  in  said  house  by  the  appraisal  of 
men  appointed  for  that  purpose  by  the  subscribers,  and  each  subscriber 
shall  obtain  his  or  her  slip  or  slips  by  bidding  for  choice — the  average 
price  of  the  slips  shall  not  exceed  thirty  dollars. 

Art.  4th.  Each  subscriber  shall  pay  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  build- 
ing committee  one  third  of  the  amount  of  his  subscription  by  the  first 
of  June  next,  and  the  remainder  in  semiannual  payments  from  that 
time. 

Art.  5th.  When  eight  hundred  dollars  are  subscribed  the  subscrib- 
ers shall  meet  at  some  suitable  place  and  appoint  a  building  committee 
to  superintend  the  building  said  house. 

Art.  6th.  When  the  house  is  finished  there  shall  be  a  board  of 
Trustees  appointed  by  said  society  who  shall  be  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  to  superintend  and  manage  the  affairs  of  said 
house. 

Art.  7th.  After  the  sale  of  the  slips  in  said  house  each  purchaser 
shall  receive  an  executed  Deed  from  the  board  of  Trustees  conveying 
to  them  the  right  and  title  of  their  slip  or  slips  on  the  conditions 
herein  mentioned." 

The  required  amount  in  subscriptions  seems  to  have  been 
promptly  secured.  The  subscribers  met  on  the  24th  of  March 
and  organized  by  choosing  David  Wheelock,  moderator,  and  Ora- 
mel  Sawyer,  clerk.  John  Marshall,  Oliver  Curtis,  and  Oramel 
Sawyer  were  chosen  a  building  committee,  and  J.  M.  Culver, 
David  W.  Wheelock,  and  Gamer  R.  Lyman  a  committee  to  select 
and  prepare  the  ground  for  the  building. 

The  building  committee  called  the  society  together  January 
14,  1840.  Rev.  Patterson  and  Lyman  Wing  were  appointed 
appraisers,  and  Oramel  Sawyer,  Paul  McKenstry,  J.  M.  Culver, 
Joel  B.  Pox,  and  Gamer  R.  Lyman  were  appointed  as  trustees. 
According  to  their  constitution  this  action  was  to  be  taken  when 
the  house  should  be  finished,  so  the  presimiption  is  that  it  was 
now  completed.  The  land  on  which  the  building  was  set  was 
a  part  of  the  Jacob  Smith  estate,  and  the  deed  for  that  was  given 
Jan.  24,  1840,  to  the  trustees  for  eighty  dollars. 

They  were  ready  now  for  bids  for  the  choice  of  slips.  A 
list  of  the  subscribers,  sums  each  gave,  and  the  number  of  the 
slips  that  each  secured  are  given : 


40S  Bjbumt  or  Bauunm,  Th 

Ottnr  Cnrtla.  ttOO;  OiumI  anryn;  UK;  J 
No&  2,  17:  Jamn  WUUmm^  «».  Ma.  tf;  Jort  BL  Tm,  $1S^  I«b^  IS; 
Osoise  Lmnii.  $»,  No.  14;  Bds  Hill.  flK,  Ife.  Si;  Pul  Miri^ij. 
nw,  Noi;  S.  9:  DKTld  WhMloek;  91M;  IWDr  Ihr.  <K.  No.  4T:  JoMik 
P.  OMmberUn,  ns.  Not  U;  ShbmI  OAon.  911^  Mb.  43:  Ousv  I 
Ltidmi.  9S5,  No.  8:  Lntbar  Hbwa,  tUl  No.  U;  ~ 
No.  IC:  Jowpb  Jirimnn.  M<t  No*.  18.  H;  Mw 
Clark.  $1E.  No.  62;  Juob  Pm.  «10:  Jotaa  ItarABll.  «  _ 

than  Drer,  Jr.,  |26,  No.  SI;  JoaqA  A.  DmIm^  fill  No.  S3:  I 
Joinor,  IS:  Ctaaitas  CUpv^  Mi.  N&  U;  Oaotia  Baike^  fXi,  1 
Harihsll  Blx,  96:  CbMb  Oo^  9U,  Nol  K;  Job  BWMO,  fUu  I 
WlUiam  Leonard,  $36.  No.  W;  ■.  P.  Nam^  «10t  No.  tS:  T.  B.  fl. 
91^  No.  24;  Tbomaa  B.  DbtIi^  920,  Noi  U:  I^imb  B«»oo.  9I8,  I 
Jamaa  Danlaon  bon^t  No.  4  and  John  Tnnela  Nn.  IS. 

Several  of  these  were  probablj  not  monbers  of  the  ] 
odiflt  chorcli,  bat  sobwribed  and  took  slipa  to  ^  the  MoAtj. 

The  amount  bid  for  clioice  of  slipa  varied  all  the  wmj  ham 
two  eents  to  $4.50.  Aeeording  to  thie  reeordi  Coor  new  paid 
anything  am  their  sobecriptions  and  ten  otben  did  not  pi^  ■ 
fnU.  The  entire  eoat  of  the  new  ehnreh  waa  $1,744A7.  He 
next  year  the  society  bought  of  the  Congregatiooal  ndeliy  a 
■mall  strip  of  land  adjoining  their  lot 

In  1841  the  name  of  the  eircnit  waa  changed  fmn  TnnhridgB 
to  Boyalton,  and  indoded  East  Bethel  and  Timbridge.  The  oS- 
eial  memboB  of  the  ehnreh  in  Boyalton  were  3.  H.  Gnlw,  le- 
ewding  steward  and  claas  leader;  Lyman  Benson,  elsa  leader, 
and  Okbt  Henry,  Joshaa  Eatmi,  Alva  Bnttm,  and  Beobn 
Dodge,  stewards.  The  local  preadier  was  Thcmas  W.  Kdny. 
The  membership  was  raxty-three. 

At  the  qnarterly  conference  held  at  Tnnbridge,  Dec.  7, 18M, 
the  church  expressed  its  views  on  the  question  of  slavery  tif 
these  resolutions: 

"ResolTed  In  view  ot  the  tearfnl  encroachments  that  alavny  ta 
making  tn  onr  land  not  only  in  tti«  enslavement  ol  onr  colored  brethfsn 
bnt  also  the  incarceration  wltbtn  prison  walls  ot  onr  tree  tellow  dtl- 
sens  tor  no  other  crime  than  In  aiding  the  enslaved  fnm  aUTenr  to 
the  llbertr  which  the  Declaration  ot  our  Independence  dectam  to  bt 
the  blTtbrtsht  of  all,  that  we  are  more  than  ever  convtaced  of  the  snnt 
evil  and  sin  of  slavery  and  will  not  cease  oar  efforts  for  Ita  overthraw 
until  we  lose  the  name  ot  freemen  or  see  our  nation  tree. 

Resolved  that  the  doctrine  of  HUIerism  Is  a  dangerons  error  and 
oogbt  not  to  be  countenanced  by  us  In  any  shape," 

The  church  in  Boyalton  village  had  an  existence  of  only  one 
decade,  when  steps  were  taken  for  its  removal  to  the  new  vfl- 
If^e  springing  up  in  South  Boyalton.  A  subscription  paper  was 
drawn  up  Klay  6,  1850,  for  a  Methodist  meeting-house  in  South 
Boyalton  to  be  begun  that  season  and  finished  as  soon  as  prac- 
ticable. Each  subscriber  was  entitled  to  draw  back  his  mon^ 
in  pew  property,  and  those  who  owned  pews  in  the  honae  belong- 
ing to  other  denominations  were  not  to  be  prohibited  from  the 
use  of  the  house  on  funeral  occasions  and  on  the  Sabbath,  when 


EbSTORT    OF    ROYALTON,    VERMONT  468 

it  was  not  regularly  occupied  by  the  Methodists.  The  subscrib- 
ers to  this  building  were  Lyman  Benson  and  Oliver  Curtis,  each 
$150;  P.  Pierce,  Cyrus  Hartshorn  and  Daniel  Tarbell,  Jr.,  each 
$75;  Elisha  Flint,  John  Manchester,  Amos  Robinson,  I.  P.  Mor- 
gan, and  Manahan,  McCain  &  Co.,  each  $50 ;  H.  K.  Blake,  E.  B. 
Stanley,  Josiah  Smith,  Ezra  Wills,  William  M.  Dennett,  and 
A.  Button  &  Co.,  each  $25;  Tracy  Morgan,  $40;  Jireh  Tucker, 
$15;  Lorenzo  Mosher  and  Thomas  Burgess,  each  $10;  William 
Hoyt,  Nicholas  Mosher,  Azuba  Hutchinson,  and  Benjamin  H. 
Cushman,  each  $5. 

The  subscribers  met  on  June  10  and  elected  Cyrus  Harts- 
horn and  Oliver  Curtis  a  committee  to  investigate  the  means  for, 
and  facilities  of,  building  a  meeting-house.  On  June  22  Edwin 
Pierce  and  Forest  Adams  were  chosen  a  committee  to  appraise 
the  meeting-house  at  Boyalton  village  in  its  relative  value  to 
move  and  put  into  another  at  South  Boyalton.  Lyman  Benson, 
Oliver  Curtis,  and  Ezra  Wills  were  chosen  a  building  committee, 
and  Mr.  Benson  was  elected  treasurer. 

The  building  committee  made  a  contract  with  Ezra  Wills 
for  erecting  the  new  house,  40  by  52  feet  on  the  ground,  19  feet 
between  joists,  four  twelve-lighted  windows  in  the  front,  12  by 
16  glass,  three  windows  on  each  side  of  the  house,  48-lighted, 
9  by  11  glass.  There  were  to  be  two  front  doors  with  window 
between,  and  three  windows  above  for  the  vestry,  provided 
with  blinds.  The  front  end  was  to  be  built  with  a  belfry  11  feet 
square  and  of  suitable  height,  with  a  dome  well  tinned.  The 
inside  was  to  have  space  way  11  feet  wide,  with  two  pair  of 
stairs  to  go  up  to  the  vestry  and  singers'  seats,  with  a  door  at 
the  top  to  enter,  and  folding  doors  in  the  front  of  the  singers' 
seats.  One  row  of  seats  in  front  was  for  the  singers,  and  the 
vestry  on  the  floor  with  the  gallery  was  to  extend  from  one  stair- 
way to  the  other,  with  stairs  at  one  end  leading  to  the  belfry. 
Two  entrances  to  the  body  of  the  house  were  provided  for  and 
two  aisles,  the  wall  slips  were  to  face,  and  the  slips  were  to  be 
without  doors.  The  wall  slips  were  to  be  elevated,  and  two  short 
aisles  to  be  on  each  side.  The  altar  was  to  be  made  in  ''modem 
Methodist  style."  The  foundation  was  to  be  put  in  that  fall 
and  the  whole  done  by  June  1st  of  the  next  year.  Mr.  Wills 
was  to  receive  $1,500.  He  was  to  bear  equal  burdens  with  the 
other  committee,  and  if  all  the  money  was  not  collected  when  the 
job  was  done,  each  member  of  the  committee  was  to  bear  equal 
proportions  of  the  deficiency,  with  interest  until  all  should  be 
paid,  and  have  a  claim  on  the  house  for  the  deficiency.  Daniel 
Tarbell,  Jr.,  signed  with  the  committee  as  surety. 

There  seems  to  have  been  a  kind  of  tacit  understanding  from 
the  first  that  the  church  was  to  be  a  union  church  so  far  as  the 


464  HiBiOBT  or  Botaiaqqn;  Ykmort 

building  was  concerned,  and  fhat  fhe  Unhremliili  Aoold  liBf« 
the  nse  of  it  a  part  of  fhe  time.  On  Sep.  24^  1868,  tibe  Mib- 
acriben  and  owners  of  pewa  or  dipa  eonaented  tiiafc  ona-lialf  eC 
fhe  meeting-honae  ahoold  be  add  $7  fhe  building  aommittBe  ta 
pay  for  the  deficiency  or  balance  that  waa  due  to  Daniel  TteAeD, 
Jr.,  that  he  might  improve  one-half  of  the  hooae  with  ar~*^ 
preaching  as  he  might  chooae,  not  to  eioeed  one-halt  fh0  tinia. 

By  this  arrangement  the  Unrraraaliata  and  MeBindirta  '" 
to  have  the  nse  of  the  bnilding  on  alternate  Sandaya,  tbe 
for  the  Universidists  coming  firom  Boeheater.  This  anangement 
was  carried  ont  for  aome  time,  bat  it  waa  aeaiedy  to  be  ezpaabad 
fhat  two  denominations  so  Tariant  aa  fheae  two  sliOQld  agree  ta 
live  together  permanently,  and  one  day  when  fhe  Meftodists 
f  onnd  ^e  Universalists  in  possession  of  the  bnilding,  a  day  wliieh 
they  claimed  as  theirs,  and  they  had  to  go  to  the  adioolhooae  for 
their  sendees,  a  breach  arose  fhat  resolted  in  the  separation  of 
fhe  joint  ownership. 

March  12,  1851,  Lyman  Benson  deeded  to  fhe  M.  E.  Society 
66  and  one-half  rods  of  land  so  long  as  wood  grows  and  water 
nms,  they  paying  one  cent  per  year  if  demanded,  provided  tiie 
stewards  and  snccessors  in  office  should  keep  in  repairs  one-ludf 
the  bnilding  and  support  preaching  one-half  fhe  time.  He  re- 
ceived $200  for  fhe  land. 

"When  fhe  quarterly  conference  met  on  May  8,  1851,  fhe 
stewards  were  authorized  to  give  a  quitclaim  deed  of  fhe  Melii- 
odist  chapel  in  Boyalton  village  to  Oliver  Curtis,  provided  he 
should  obtain  deeds  of  the  owners  of  property  in  said  house,  or 
give  a  writing  in  his  own  name  to  secure  the  society  from  loss  in 
consequence  of  giving  said  deed.  Mr.  Curtis  already  held  con- 
siderable interest  in  the  pews  of  the  old  church.  On  fhe  Janu- 
ary 7th  previous  to  this  meeting  of  the  conference,  Mr.  Curtis 
had  taken  a  deed  from  the  trustees  of  the  church  and  about 
twenty  other  owners  of  the  property,  by  which  he  secured  the 
lot  and  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  pews.  The  following  December 
Mr.  Curtis  sold  this  property  to  William  Skinner  for  $1,000. 

On  Nov.  15,  1852,  Lyman  Benson  sold  to  Daniel  Tarbell, 
Jr.,  sixty-six  and  one-half  square  rods,  stating  that  it  was  fhe 
land  on  which  the  Methodist  meeting-house  stood.  In  the  same 
deed  the  building  committee  say  that  they  have  been  paid  by 
Mr.  Tarbell  for  one-half  the  meeting-house,  the  pew  holders' 
rights  to  be  respected.  On  Mar.  26,  1856,  Mr.  Tarbell  deeded 
his  half  interest  to  the  South  Boyalton  Bank.  October,  1867, 
the  stewards  of  the  church  secured  a  quitclaim  from  several  per- 
sons interested,  and  the  following  year  tihey  got  a  clear  title  to 
their  real  estate  from  Daniel  Tarbell,  Jr.,  Qeorge  Tarbell,  and 


History  of  Eoyalton,  Vermont  466 

Chester  Downer,  and  for  the  first  time  held  all  the  church  prop- 
erty in  their  own  right. 

At  the  second  quarterly  conference  in  August,  1867,  James 
M.  Culver,  Harvey  Reynolds,  and  William  Tarbell  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  superintend  and  raise  funds  for  repairing 
the  church.  At  a  meeting  of  the  association  for  purchasing, 
holding,  and  keeping  in  repair  the  meeting-house,  which  was 
held  in  November,  they  voted  to  raise  $900,  and  to  assess  each 
pew  holder  ten  dollars.  The  extensive  repairs  meditated  were 
not  made,  but  the  interior  of  the  building  was  renovated,  and 
new  carpets  were  laid,  and  pews  changed. 

At  the  quarterly  conference  of  Oct.  28,  1878,  it  was  voted 
to  build  a  parsonage,  the  cost  not  to  exceed  one  thousand  dollars. 
W.  A.  Bryant,  J.  H.  Buck,  and  Constant  Dodge  constituted  the 
building  committee.  Mrs.  Harvey  Reynolds,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Buck, 
Mrs.  G.  W.  Waterman,  and  Mrs.  J.  M.  Culver  were  a  committee 
to  solicit  funds.  Rev.  W.  A.  Bryant  was  the  treasurer.  The 
parsonage  was  built  with  a  small  debt  remaining.  Rev.  A.  H. 
Webb  was  the  first  to  occupy  it. 

Rev.  W.  R.  Davenport  called  a  special  meeting  for  Mar.  9, 
1888,  to  discuss  the  advisability  of  repairing  the  church  or  build- 
ing a  new  one.  It  was  voted  to  build  a  new  one,  and  a  committee 
made  up  of  the  pastor,  Mrs.  A.  C.  Waterman,  and  W.  H.  Sar- 
gent was  appointed  to  solicit  funds.  The  quarterly  conference 
applied  to  the  Church  Extension  Society  for  $300.  The  dedica- 
tion of  the  church  was  held  the  second  week  in  June,  1890,  in 
connection  with  Preachers'  Meeting.  William  Ingraham  Haven, 
D.  D.,  of  Boston,  son  of  Bishop  Haven,  preached  the  sermon. 
The  church  was  dedicated  free  of  debt  and  with  free  seats.  The 
pastor  said  it  might  truly  be  called  the  **  Friend  of  the  Poor 
Man.''  The  new  church  is  valued  at  $5,500.  The  old  debt  had 
been  hanging  over  the  church  until  1887,  when  the  last  note 
against  it  was  burned  with  proper  ceremony. 

In  accordance  with  the  custom  of  the  Methodists  the  pas- 
tors were  not  allowed  to  remain  with  any  one  church  more  than 
two  years,  and  often  were  changed  every  year.  In  1837  Rev. 
O.  B.  Hall  was  preaching  for  the  Methodists,  and  the  next  year 
Rev.  William  H.  Stoddard  was  pastor  of  the  Methodist  churches 
in  Royalton  and  Tunbridge.  In  1840  Rev.  J.  H.  Patterson 
served  these  two  churches  a  part  of  the  time  at  least.  Daniel 
Field  seems  to  have  been  the  first  pastor  sent  by  the  Conference. 
He  was  born  at  Springfield,  Oct.  13,  1805.  He  entered  the  itin- 
eracy in  1831.  He  was  a  man  of  many  rare  gifts.  He  died 
May  20,  1883.  He  was  located  in  Royalton  in  1840-41.  Nathan- 
iel Aspinwall  supplied  the  church  a  part  of  1841.  He  was  bom 
at  Bradford,  Jan.  26,  1801,  and  died  Nov.  17,  1873,  at  Chicago. 

30 


466  HiBiOBT  or  BmjJMfm,  Ybmomt 

Charles  N.  Smith,  1812^,  eame  to  fhe  grartwfc  _ 
of  any  of  the  Boyalton  Methodist  mhuiten.  After  levfiiiK  tti 
Yernumt  Conference  he  joined  the  New  Wngland  ConfBnneey 
and  was  at  one  time  stationed  at  Bromfldd  Street  Mefltodiit 
chnrdi,  Boston,  Mass.  Edmnnd  Copeland,  1844-46,  wm  bon  M 
Braintree,  July  3, 181L  In  1852  he  was  ehoaen  ddagatie  to  Oi 
General  Conference.  He  filled  with  snooess  some  of  the  fint  w^ 
I>ointment8  in  the  state.  He  died  April  6^  1881*  Hdner  T. 
Jones,  1846,  was  bom  at  Madison,  Maine,  Aug.  16,  1816L  Bi 
was  educated  at  Newbnry  Seminary.  He  died  at  Barton  Land- 
ing, Feb.  3,  1886. 

J.  L.  Slason,  1847-48,  was  transferred  to  fhe  Troj  Oonftis 
ence.  He  was  a  great  singer,  and  led  the  ehoir  at  Botlaiid  at 
the  age  of  sixteen.  O.  S.  Morris,  1849,  joined  the  Ooogfegi- 
tional  church,  and  was  pastor  of  that  diurch  at  Tonfaridge.  TUi 
closes  the  list  of  pastors  before  the  chiureh  was  removed  to  SooA 
Itoyalton. 

Perez  Mason,  1850-51,  was  transferred  to  the  N.  E.  Couhr- 
ence,  and  was  a  missionary  in  Boston.  Pliny  Nye  Granger, 
1852-53,  was  bom  July  17, 1807,  at  Brompton,  Canada  East  He 
prepared  to  enter  college,  but  instead  of  pursuing  a  iM>llfgiatft 
course,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  study  of  medicine.  He 
labored  in  the  ministry  from  1837  to  1864.  He  died  in  1868. 
Adna  Newton  was  the  pastor  in  1858,  and  Ira  LeBarron  in  1859. 

Daniel  A.  Mack,  1860-61,  was  bom  June  4,  1825,  at  Flaiii- 
field.  He  died  at  the  N.  H.  Orphans'  Home  in  Franklin,  N.  BL, 
Dec.  1,  1883.  He  was  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age.  He 
studied  at  Newbury  Seminary,  and  fitted  for  the  ministry  at  the 
Cteneral  Biblical  Institute,  Concord,  N.  H.  He  was  chaplain  of 
the  Third  Regiment  in  the  Civil  War.  He  was  prominently  en- 
gaged in  the  founding  of  the  Orphans'  Home,  where  he  died. 
His  early  history,  ministerial  career,  army  services,  and  efforts 
in  behalf  of  orphans  gave  him  prominence  in  sociely.  He  was 
grandson  of  Daniel  Mack,  captain  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  a  participant  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

Harvey  Webster,  1862,  was  bom  in  Weston,  June  6,  1826. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  Newbury  Seminary  and  of  Concord  Bibli- 
cal Institute.  He  was  a  preacher  for  forty-four  years.  He  died 
Jan.  6,  1899,  at  Swanton.  Zadoc  Haynes,  1863-64,  was  trans- 
ferred. Nelson  M.  Granger,  1865,  was  transferred  to  the  N.  H. 
Conference.  Amasa  G.  Button,  1868-69,  was  bom  at  Tunbridge, 
Oct.  19,  1814.  In  his  ministry  of  forty  effective  years,  he  filled 
many  of  the  most  important  charges.  He  died  Jan.  23,  1884, 
at  Evanston,  111. 

William  H.  Wight,  1870-71,  was  born  in  Brimfield,  Mas., 
Feb.  10,  1834,  and  is  now  Uving  in  Springfield,  Mass.    He  filled 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  467 

acceptably  some  of  the  largest  appointments  in  the  state.  Thomas 
Trevillian,  1872-74,  was  bom  in  England,  Oct.  22,  1828.  He 
died  at  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  Nov.  30,  1900.  Before  leaving  England 
he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  and  was  a  local  preacher. 
He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1867,  and  immediately  entered 
upon  the  ministry.    Oeorge  H.  Hastings,  1875,  was  transferred. 

James  E.  Enapp,  1875-78,  was  bom  in  Greenwich,  Conn., 
Aug.  25,  1845,  and  died  Dec.  15,  1905,  in  Irasburg.  He  served 
eleven  charges  in  the  Conference.  Revivals  were  the  legitimate 
result  of  his  faithful  preaching  and  earnest  work  everywhere  he 
went.  He  always  took  especial  interest  in  the  children  and 
young  people,  while  his  cheerful  face,  happy  smile,  and  pleas- 
ant greeting  won  the  hearts  of  young  and  old  alike.  For  several 
years  he  had  charge  of  children's  meetings  at  the  Claremont 
camp  ground.  He  was  methodical  and  punctual  in  his  habits. 
As  a  preacher  he  was  intensely  earnest,  often  eloquent,  always 
impressive.  His  hearers  felt  that  he  believed  what  he  preached, 
and  was  shaping  his  own  life  accordingly.  He  was  always  in 
demand  for  evangelistic  work.  An  appeal  to  his  heart  for  sym- 
pathy, or  to  his  pocket  for  money,  always  met  the  most  generous 
response.  As  a  pastor  he  gave  himself  to  his  people,  and  won 
their  love  and  confidence. 

W.  A.  Bryant,  1878-80,  was  bom  July  7,  1828,  in  Weston. 
His  first  appointment  was  in  1874.  He  died  in  1899  at  South 
Londonderry. 

A.  H.  Webb,  1881-82,  was  bom  Oct.  16,  1846,  at  Biddeford, 
England.  He  is  a  preacher  of  a  high  order,  and  has  served  the 
largest  appointments  in  the  state,  among  them  being  Montpelier, 
Northfield,  Woodstock,  and  Brattleboro.  He  was  eight  years  at 
Bradford.    0.  W.  Barrows,  1883,  died  in  1887. 

John  S.  Little,  1884-85,  was  a  very  acceptable  pastor.  The 
largest  revival  in  the  history  of  the  church  was  during  his  pas-- 
torate  in  the  fall  of  1885.  The  evangelists  were  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Charles  Ballou.  The  Sunday  school  was  increased  in  numbers, 
and  the  class  meetings  were  much  better  attended.  A  class  was 
formed  at  Royalton  village  with  Henry  Adams  as  leader.  This 
class  had  an  attendance  of  thirty.  The  Congregational  church 
was  invited  to  unite  in  the  revival  meetings.  At  the  quarterly 
meeting  on  Nov.  15th,  thirty-three  were  baptized,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  eight  received  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

Walter  R.  Davenport,  1886-87,  was  bom  April  10,  1855,  at 
Williamstown.  He  has  received  the  highest  honors  which  the 
Conference  can  give.  He  was  five  years  pastor  of  Hedding 
Methodist  church  of  Barre,  was  presiding  elder  of  the  Mont- 
pelier District  for  three  years,  and  for  two  years  was  principal 


468  HisTOBT  or  Boriuoir,  Ysbmont 


of  Montpelier  Seminaiy.    W.  M.  OiOu,  1888-90,  was 

to  another  Conference,  and  nothing  more  la  known  of  him. 

F.  E.  Whitham,  1891-92,  lerved  aa  paater  for  one  ymt  and 
three  months,  when  he  left  the  eharge  on  aoeoont  of  ill  Iwalth 
The  year  was  most  aeeeptab^  filled  by  Bobert  E.  Biriwa  and 
George  H.  Rogers.  F.  H.  Boberta,  1893-94,  waa  ban  Dee.  11^ 
1835,  at  Chelsea.  He  haa  had  appointmenta  in  the  YenMnfc  C9oB- 
f erence  since  1862,  except  between  1895  and  1901,  wiien  he  waa 
a  member  of  the  North  Minnesota  Conf erenee. 

E.  W.  Sharp,  1895-98,  waa  bom  Sep.  2,  1860,  at  ManrM, 
Nova  Scotia.  He  began  his  memberahip  in  the  VenMnfc  C9oB- 
f erence  at  Sonth  B^jralton.  He  waa  stationed  at  NordrfUUi 
eight  years.  He  won  a  large  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  peofde 
of  the  chnreh  and  commnnily,  and  was  i>astor  for  f oar  yean. 
It  was  dnring  his  i>astorate  that  improvements  were  made  in  the 
ehnrch  and  parsonage.  Water  was  brought  to  the  panonago^ 
and  the  debt  on  the  organ  was  paid. 

J.  D.  Beeman,  18^1901,  was  a  man  of  establiahed  lepota- 
tion  when  assigned  to  Boyalton.  He  had  aerved  as  prei^ting 
elder  before  this  time.  His  wife  died  before  the  first  year  of  Us 
pastorate  dosed.  This  was  the  only  death  in  a  pastor's  £aan|y 
at  this  place.  Before  the  third  year  cloaed  he  was  married  to 
Mra.  Bessie  Bryant  He  was  bom  Nov.  26,  1835,  in  FaMsz. 
He  was  president  of  Montpelier  Seminary,  1882-9L  He  waa  a 
graduate  of  Wesleyan  University.    He  died  in  1903. 

W.  H.  White,  1902-03,  was  pastor  one  and  three-fonrOis 
years.  Fred  A.  Wells,  a  student  from  the  Boston  University 
School  of  Theology,  filled  out  the  year,  and  in  1908  was  pastor 
at  Randolph  Center.  Edward  E.  Wells,  1904-06,  joined  the 
Conference  in  1903.  He  was  stationed  at  Irasburg.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Montpelier  Seminary.  Although  quite  a  young  man, 
he  made  many  friends,  and  his  work  was  very  acceptable.  F.  IL 
Baker,  1907-08,  had  recently  buried  his  wife  when  he  came  to 
Boyalton.  He  left  in  September  to  attend  the  Boston  Univer- 
sity School  of  Theology,  and  was  married  September  14,  190S, 
to  Miss  Josephine  L.  Bright,  daughter  of  J.  W.  Bright.  He 
preached  while  attending  lectures  at  the  University,  and  now  is 
located  at  Whiteville,  N.  Y.  The  year  was  filled  out  by  Bev. 
H.  M.  Springer.  Mr.  Springer  is  now  farming  at  Ncnrth  Hart- 
land. 

Eldred  L.  M.  Barnes,  1909-,  was  bom  April  20,  1870,  in 
Chelsea.  He  graduated  at  the  Montpelier  Sconinary  in  1891, 
and  at  Wesleyan  University  in  1895.  He  took  x>ost-gradnate 
work  in  Boston  University,  1899-1900.  He  joined  the  Conference 
in  1896.  He  married  June  5,  1901,  Bessie  Thayer  Penniman  of 
Hartland.    They  have  three  children.    Mr.  Barnes  is  a  preacher 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  469 

of  marked  ability.  The  church  has  never  been  better  served  than 
it  is  today,  and  the  relations  between  the  two  churches  in  South 
Boyalton  were  never  more  harmonious. 

The  members  of  the  church  according  to  the  records  were, 
in  1841,  Matthew,  Jemima,  Prudence,  and  Patience  Atherton, 
Hannah  and  Olive  Barnes,  Jonathan,  Louis,  Esther,  and  Mary 
Dyer,  Gamer  R.,  Blias,  Patty,  Martha,  Eliphalet,  and  Mary 
Lyman,  Lucy  and  Wealthy  Denison,  and  Achsah  Hartshorn. 
This  list  was  soon  increased.  While  Rev.  W.  R.  Davenport  was 
pastor,  there  was  a  large  increase  in  membership,  and  there  were 
large  congregations.  There  were  many  accessions  to  the  church, 
also,  while  Rev.  Frank  H.  Roberts  was  stationed  at  South  Roy- 
alton. Revival  services  were  held  in  the  fall  of  1893,  Rev.  M.  H. 
Jackson  being  the  evangelist.  About  twenty  were  added  to  the 
church  as  a  result.  While  Rev.  E.  W.  Sharp  was  pastor,  there 
was  an  addition  of  forty-three  to  the  church  membership. 

The  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  E.  Ejiapp  was,  perhaps,  the  most 
successful  in  making  accessions  to  the  membership,  forty-four 
joining  in  full  connection  from  1875  to  1878.  Besides  preach- 
ing at  South  Royalton  and  South  Tunbridge,  he  conducted  week- 
ly meetings  in  the  Rowell  district  and  the  Young  district.  At 
the  close  of  his  pastorate  the  all-day  service  at  South  Royalton 
was  dropped.  The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  seventy- 
eight.  The  present  officers  are,  G.  W.  Ward,  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  School;  Irving  Barrows,  C.  W.  Cowan,  L.  M.  Cor- 
win,  Gteorge  Dutton,  G.  W.  Ward,  Ransom  Roberts,  and  Dr. 
O.  J.  Ellis,  trustees;  G.  W.  Ward,  Mrs.  A.  C.  Waterman,  Irving 
Barrows,  A.  J.  Eaton,  C.  W.  Cowan,  George  Dutton,  Miss  Alma 
French,  Mrs.  Delia  Tenney,  Miss  Addie  Hastings,  Mrs.  Irving 
Barrows,  Mrs.  Charles  B.  Viall,  Mrs.  Harry  Bingham,  Mrs.  O.  J. 
Ellis,  and  Miss  Jessie  Benson,  stewards. 

The  Sunday  School  is  in  a  thriving  condition,  with  an  aver- 
age attendance  of  about  fifty-seven,  and  won  the  banner  for  the 
greatest  increase  for  the  last  six  months.  The  Epworth  League 
has  been  in  existence  for  many  years.  The  present  officers  are, 
president.  Rev.  E.  L.  M.  Barnes ;  1st  vice-president,  Irving  Rob- 
erts; 2nd  vice-president,  Elarey  Isham;  3rd  vice-president,  Ar- 
thur Hutchins;  4th  vice-president,  Edith  Howard;  secretary, 
Harry  E.  Bingham ;  treasurer,  Grace  Pinion ;  organist,  Mrs.  Les- 
ter Corwin. 

The  Ladies'  Sewing  Circle  was  organized  in  1862,  with  Mrs. 
Webster  as  president,  and  Mrs.  Harvey  Woodward  as  vice-presi- 
dent. They  assumed  the  name  of  the  South  Royalton  Ladies' 
Benevolent  Association.  This  society  assumed  the  debt  on  the 
vocalion  organ,  which  was  put  into  the  church  about  1893.  A 
Junior  League  was  formed  about  this  same  time,  and  was  in 


470  History  op  Boyai/ton,  Vebmont 

later  years  under  the  direction  of  Miss  Mattie  Buck.  It  started 
with  a  membership  of  nearly  thirty,  but  has  now  ceased  to  ezisL 

In  1867  Luther  D.  Preston  left  by  will  to  the  Vermont  Con- 
ference $400,  the  income  of  which  was  to  be  paid  annually  for 
the  support  of  (Gospel  ministry  of  the  &L  E.  church  at  South 
Boyalton.  If  in  any  year  there  was  no  preaching  by  direction 
of  said  church,  the  income  was  to  be  paid  to  any  young  man  ot 
men  preparing  for  the  (}ospel  ministry  in  the  M.  E.  churchy  to 
assist  in  their  education.  In  1903  Miss  Lucinda  Goff  left  by 
will  $500  to  the  church.  Mr.  Charles  Senter  gave  a  new  altar 
rail  in  recent  years,  and  the  Epworth  League  put  in  a  new  chan- 
delier. 

A  part  of  the  time  the  South  Boyalton  charge  has  included 
some  other  church.  For  several  years  it  has  been  combined  with 
the  Methodist  church  at  South  Tunbridge,  the  pastor  preaching 
in  the  morning  at  South  Boyalton  and  in  the  afternoon  at  South 
Tunbridge.  Union  services  are  now  held  each  month  in  the 
evening,  with  the  South  Boyalton  Congregational  church. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


South  Royalton  Congregational  Church. 

At  the  request  of  twenty-two  residents  of  South  Boyalton, 
by  the  direction  of  the  Vermont  Domestic  Missionary  Society 
represented  by  its  secretary,  Rev.  C.  S.  Smith,  a  council  was 
called  to  meet  at  the  schoolhouse  in  South  Royalton,  at  11  a.  m., 
Jan.  16,  1868.  There  were  present  from  Bethel,  Rev.  T.  H. 
Johnson  and  Dea.  D.  ToUes;  from  Royalton,  Rev.  C.  B.  Drake, 
D.  D.,  and  Dea.  Daniel  Rix;  from  Sharon,  Rev.  Philetus  Clark 
and  Dea.  Simeon  Nott ;  from  Tunbridge,  Dea.  H.  Farnham ;  from 
Chelsea,  Franklin  Dearborn;  and  from  the  Vermont  Domestic 
Missionary  Society,  Montpelier,  Rev.  C.  S.  Smith. 

Rev.  T.  H.  Johnson  was  chosen  moderator  and  Rev.  C.  S. 
Smith  scribe.  After  the  need  of  a  church  had  been  presented 
by  residents  of  South  Royalton,  and  the  probable  effect  it  would 
have  upon  the  church  in  Royalton  village  had  been  shown  by 
members  of  that  church,  the  council  withdrew,  and  after  con- 
sultation decided  almost  unanimously  to  organize  a  church. 

At  this  time  there  were  received  into  the  church  by  Rev. 
C.  S.  Smith,  William  Smith,  Mrs.  William  Smith,  Charles  Carr, 
Mrs.  Charles  Carr,  John  B.  Durkee,  Mrs.  Arlotta  Durkee,  Mrs. 
Ellen  A.  Adams,  Frederick  B.  Adams,  Miss  Emily  Lamb,  Mrs. 
Laura  Foster,  Mrs.  Asenath  Lathrop,  Stephen  Simmons,  Miss 
M.  Hoyt,  all  by  letter,  and  on  profession  of  faith,  Silas  Double- 
day,  Mrs.  Silas  Doubleday,  Martin  S.  Adams,  John  F.  Nute,  Miss 
Lotta  Lougee,  Miss  Susan  Lamb,  Miss  Alma  Foster,  Miss  Susan 
Newton,  and  Miss  Laura  Foster. 

The  first  special  meeting  was  held  Feb.  1,  1868.  Rev.  C.  S. 
Smith  preached  a  preparatory  sermon,  and  the  following  offi- 
cers were  elected:  M.  S.  Adams,  clerk,  who  has  held  the  office 
to  the  present  time;  John  B.  Durkee  and  Frederick  B.  Adams, 
deacons.  Through  the  kind  thought  of  Oel  Billings  of  Wood- 
stock, the  Congregational  church  of  that  village  presented  the 
South  Royalton  church  with  a  communion  service. 

On  May  10  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Daniel  W.  Fox.  He 
accepted  the  call,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  the  first  names  added 
to  the  list  of  charter  members.  Mr.  Fox  was  a  man  of  ability, 
but  his  health  was  impaired,  and  he  resigned  and  was  dismissed 


472  History  of  Boyai/ton,  Vebmont 

Mar.  10,  1870.  He  was  so  much  improved  that  he  assuxned  an- 
other pastorate  in  November,  and  he  and  his  wife  took  letters 
of  dismissal  to  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Flanders,  N.  J. 

The  South  Royalton  church  at  once  took  steps  to  build  a 
suitable  house  of  worship.  Just  what  these  were  cannot  be 
stated,  because  the  books  of  the  Society  were  burned  in  1886, 
and  there  is  no  other  record.  The  money  was  raised  by  sub- 
scription. A  lot  was  purchased  of  Martin  S.  Adams  on  June  16, 
1868,  on  which  to  set  the  new  church.  While  this  was  being 
built,  meetings  were  held  in  the  schoolhouse. 

This  continued  through  the  winter  and  until  April  1  of  the 
next  year.  A  council  was  called  for  that  date  to  dedicate  the 
new  church,  which  was  now  fully  completed  and  furnished.  The 
pastor  was  to  be  installed  the  next  day.  Pastors  and  delegates 
were  present  from  the  churches  in  Royalton  village,  Bethel,  Chel- 
sea, Tunbridge,  Woodstock,  Hartford,  Montpelier,  Brattleboro. 

At  the  dedicatory  services  the  house  was  crowded,  and  the 
exercises  were  very  impressive.  The  order  of  exercises  was  as 
follows :  Organ  voluntary  by  Prof.  H.  C.  Eddy  of  the  Bethany 
church,  Montpelier ;  Invocation,  Rev.  Daniel  W.  Fox ;  Voluntary 
by  the  choir;  Prayer,  Rev.  J.  C.  Caldwell;  Sermon,  Rev.  W.  H. 
Lord,  D.  D.;  Dedicatory  prayer  and  benediction.  Rev.  C.  S. 
Smith. 

The  next  day  the  installation  of  the  pastor,  Mr.  Fox,  took 
place.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  N.  Mighill  of  Brattle- 
boro; charge  to  the  pastor  was  given  by  Rev.  C.  S.  Smith;  ad- 
dress to  the  people  by  Rev.  B.  F.  Ray  of  Hartford.  In  connec- 
tion with  these  exercises  two  grand  vocal  and  instrumental  con- 
certs were  given  by  the  Congregational  society.  Mr.  James  S. 
Abbott  of  Boston  was  the  conductor,  assisted  by  Prof.  Eddy  and 
a  full  chorus  of  fine  voices.  The  proceeds  of  the  concerts  were 
to  go  for  a  new  organ  for  the  church.  The  church  building  cost 
$5,600. 

The  pulpit  was  not  at  once  supplied  after  Mr.  Fox  left  town. 
The  church  was  somewhat  disheartened  at  the  loss  of  its  pastor, 
and  it  was  not  until  April,  1871,  that  it  voted  to  ask  Rev.  S.  F. 
Drew  to  serve  as  acting  pastor  for  one  year,  at  a  salarj'  of  $800. 
Stephen  Folsom  Drew  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  in  1848; 
in  Lane  Theo.  Sem.  in  1855;  a  native  of  Tunbridge;  pastor  at 
Stowe  before  coming  to  South  Royalton.  He  remained  with  the 
South  Royalton  church  one  year  only,  until  May,  1872.  He  was 
followed  b}'  Elisha  W.  Miller,  a  licentiate,  who  served  the  church 
until  Jan.  1,  1873. 

At  the  annual  church  meeting  this  year  it  was  voted  to 
change  the  name  of  the  church  to  the  Congregational  Church  of 
Christ  in  South  Royalton. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  478 

The  next  year  a  Rev.  Mr.  Hemenway  supplied  the  pulpit. 
He  was  a  missionary,  and  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability. 
Rev.  A.  B.  Lyon  was  the  acting  pastor  from  Jan.  1,  1874, 
to  Jan.  1,  1875.     The  next  year  there  were  several  supplies. 

Rev.  S.  K.  B.  Perkins  was  engaged  as  acting  pastor  in  1876, 
and  began  his  work  November  14th  of  that  year.  Mr.  Perkins 
was  the  son  of  Rev.  Jonas  and  Mrs.  Rhoda  Perkins.  He  was 
bom  in  Braintree,  Mass.,  April  14,  1830;  graduated  at  Monson, 
Mass.,  1847,  and  from  Amherst  College  in  1851;  principal  of 
Hollis  Institute  two  years;  studied  theology  at  Bangor  Theo. 
Sem.;  pastor,  Hartford,  one  year;  Qlover,  eighteen  years;  South 
Royalton,  six  years;  Middleton,  Mass.,  four  years;  Raynham, 
Mass.,  thirteen  years;  Perry,  Me.,  four  years,  in  all  forty-eight 
years.  He  received  into  the  church  206  members,  married  354, 
attended  516  funerals.  Served  seven  years  as  superintendent 
of  schools  in  Glover  and  South  Royalton.  Mr.  Perkins  tendered 
his  resignation  after  a  pastorate  of  six  years  in  South  Royalton, 
and  it  was  accepted  Aug.  7,  1882.  While  here  he  had  charge  of 
the  Congregational  church  in  Tunbridge  one  and  one-half  years. 

Mr.  Perkins  married  May  14,  1862,  Miss  Laura  L.  Brockle- 
bank  of  Meriden,  N.  H.  Two  children,  Mary  B.  and  Henry 
M.  A.,  were  born  to  them,  both  of  whom  attended  the  grammar 
school  while  he  was  in  South  Royalton.  Mary  E.  married,  June 
3,  1885,  Dea.  Charles  G.  Sheppard,  and  has  one  son,  a  graduate 
of  Harvard  College,  cum  laude.  Henry  married,  Sep.  3,  1891, 
Ella  Louise  Severance,  and  has  three  daughters,  one  of  them  in 
the  high  school.  No  doubt  many  of  Rev.  Mr.  Perkins'  old  friends 
will  be  pleased  to  see  his  face  in  one  of  the  cuts.  Mr.  Perkins 
is  still  living  in  Raynham,  Mass.,  at  the  age  of  eighty. 

Mr.  Perkins  was  universally  liked  both  as  pastor  and  citizen. 
He  was  ready  to  join  with  any  movement  for  the  betterment  of 
the  social  and  religious  life  of  the  community,  and  was  often 
the  leading  spirit.  Though  the  church  did  not  increase  its  mem- 
bership by  any  leaps  or  bounds,  it  had  a  steady  spiritual  growth. 

At  the  time  he  severed  his  connection  with  the  church,  it 
testified  to  his  worth  in  these  recorded  words:  **His  character 
as  a  citizen,  neighbor,  and  friend  has  ever  been  one  of  uniform 
courtesy  and  kindness,  true  to  his  principles  and  profession, 
always  reliable  and  ready  for  every  good  work.'' 

Mr.  Perkins  was  succeeded  by  William  Denison  Smith,  a 
licentiate.  He  was  the  son  of  Nathan  T.  and  Alzina  (Button) 
Smith,  bom  in  Clarendon,  Sep.  3,  1855.  He  graduated  from 
Middlebury  College,  1878,  and  from  Union  Theo.  Sem.,  1881; 
preached  for  Presbyterian  churches  at  Glassboro  and  Elmer, 
N.  J.,  1881-82 ;  at  South  Royalton,  Sep.  1,  1882,  to  Sep.  1,  1883 ; 
Presbyterian  church.  Pulton,  111.,  1883-84;  State  Center,  Iowa, 


474  Bmnmr  or  BaiMMmm,  Yi 

188447;  ordaiiied  Oet  90^  1885;  Ml  BtrnGag,  HL,  188M0; 
Normal,  HL,  1890.  Mr.  Smifli  pradttd  a  part  cC  tiba  yaar  1881 
for  the  B^jfintUm  CongregatiaQal  dnaeh.  He  had  mmj  cC  tiha 
qnalifteatioiui  of  a  pulpit  orator. 

Bev.  William  SewaU  aetod  as  partor  bam  JaiL,  188^  ta 
Jan.,  1885.  He  was  a  devout,  8piiitiially4Biiidad  nan,  and  gsiva 
excellent  satisfoetion. 

FML  Campbell  of  Dartmontli  supplied  fhe  pnl^  wamik  of 
the  time  in  1885  and  a  part  of  1888.  The  lattar  part  oC  1888 
Charles  H.  Dnttcm,  the  son  of  Bev.  Albert  L  Dnltai, 
the  pulpit  at  South  B^valton.  His  father  was  loested  at 
time  in  Boyalton,  preaching  for  the  ehnrdi  at  ti«  ether  iriDapL 
Mr.  Charles  Dntton  was  th^  a  student,  and  could  only  tempera* 
ril^  be  secured.  He  later  married  a  daug^iter  of  S.  C.  Drew,  and 
his  record  will  be  found  with  the  record  A  that  fsmily . 

Bev.  James  Bamage  began  his  work  as  acting  pastor  OeL  8, 
1886.  Mr.  Bamage  was  hmi  at  Lasswade,  Scodand,  Aug.  11, 
1855;  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  New  College,  Edin- 
burgh, Scotland;  took  a  special  course  in  Bangor,  Me.,  Then. 
Sem.,  1893-95;  ordained  and  installed  i>astor  of  the  Coogrega* 
tional  church.  So.  Woodbury,  Oct  18, 1885,  and  doaed  hia  wnk 
there  in  1886.  He  remained  in  So.  Boyalt(m  until  July  1,  IMS. 
From  here  he  went  to  So.  Brewer,  Me.,  where  he  remained  untQ 
1901,  since  which  time  he  has  been  preaching  in  N.  ^ray. 

Mr.  Bamage  preadied  at  Tunbridge  Sunday  aflemoona  firam 
Oct,  1891,  to  June  19,  1892.  By  this  added  labor  vohmtarily 
assumed  by  Mr.  Bamage,  the  church  in  South  Boyalton  was  able 
to  dispense  with  aid  from  the  Vermont  Domestic  Miadonaiy 
Society,  from  which  it  had  drawn  aid  ever  since  its  organization. 
Arrangements  were  made  with  the  church  at  Boyalton  viUage, 
by  which  Mr.  Bamage  was  to  preach  for  them  Sunday  afternoons, 
alternating  with  So.  Boyalton  Sunday  evenings.  While  preach- 
ing in  Tunbridge  Mr.  Bamage  had  a  centennial  address  to  pre- 
pare there  and  a  pamphlet  to  work  up. 

Perhaps  Mr.  Bamage  became  more  widely  acquainted  with 
the  people  of  the  town  than  any  other  resident  clergyman  since 
Dr.  Drake  died.  When  he  resigned,  the  church  expressed  its 
confidence  in  him  and  its  appreciation  of  his  labor  in  a  letter 
recommending  him  to  the  churches.  It  read  in  part:  ''You 
have  received  into  the  church  forty-eight  members,  thirty-two  on 
confession  of  faith,  forty  being  received  into  this  church,  three 
into  Tunbridge  church  and  five  into  the  Boyalton  church.  Dur- 
ing all  this  time  you  have  been  earnest,  active,  and  faithful  to 
every  duty.    Tou  have  adorned  the  doctrine  you  have  preached 

by  a  pure,  devoted,  unselfish  Christian  life. You  found 

us  with  our  village  in  ashes,  our  people  discouraged,  our  church 


HiSTOBT    OP    ROYALTON,    VERMONT  476 

in  need  of  extensive  repairs.  You  leave  us  with  a  village  re- 
stored, the  church  in  splendid  repair,  and  our  people  prosperous. 
We  voice  the  universal  regret  that  you  are  to  leave  us." 

The  pulpit  was  supplied  by  different  ones  a  few  months 
until  Bev.  Henry  Martin  Ooddard  began  his  work  as  acting  pas- 
tor Dec.  28,  1893.  Mr.  Goddard  was  bom  May  3,  1869,  in  Lud- 
low. He  graduated  from  Black  River  Academy,  1886;  from 
Middlebury  College,  1890 ;  from  Yale  Divinity  School,  1893 ;  pas- 
tor at  Royalton  and  So.  Royalton,  1893-99 ;  West  Congregational 
church,  Concord,  N.  H.,  1899-1907 ;  First  Congregational  church, 
Essex,  Mass.,  1907  to  the  present  time.  He  married,  October  2, 
1895,  in  Ludlow,  Lena  A.  Sargent,  daughter  of  Darwin  R.  Sar- 
gent. They  have  three  children,  Paul  Marlin,  bom  in  So.  Roy- 
alton, Sep.  25,  1896 ;  Helen  Verona,  bom  Sep.  19,  1899 ;  Dwight 
Sargent,  bom  Feb.  3,  1905. 

Mr.  Ooddard  received  the  degree  of  M.  A.  from  Middlebury 
in  1893.  He  supplied  the  pulpit  at  Royalton  village  while  sta- 
tioned at  South  Royalton.  Mr.  Ooddard  is  a  man  of  strong  re- 
ligious convictions,  and  courageous  in  standing  for  any  principle 
which  he  deems  right.  The  fact  that  he  remained  six  years  as 
pastor  in  Royalton  shows  that  his  ministrations  were  acceptable 
to  the  churches  over  which  he  was  placed. 

On  June  5,  1899,  Rev.  Wilfred  E.  Mann  assumed  the  acting 
pastorate  of  the  church.  Mr.  Mann  was  bom  June  15,  1867, 
in  Mannhurst,  N.  B.  He  graduated  from  the  Bangor  Theo.  Sem. 
in  1904.  He  possessed  exceptional  ability  as  a  public  speaker, 
and  was  an  enthusiastic  worker  for  the  church.  He  was  ably 
seconded  by  his  wife,  who  acted  for  some  time  as  superintendent 
of  the  Junior  Endeavor  Society,  which  was  then  a  thriving  or- 
ganization. He  has  recently  become  an  Episcopal  minister  in 
Illinois. 

Mr.  Mann  also  supplied  the  Royalton  pulpit,  continuing  the 
arrangement  which  had  been  operative  for  some  years.  In  1902 
the  church  was  in  a  straightened  condition.  The  Royalton 
church  had  been  able  to  secure  a  pastor.  Rev.  Joel  Whitney,  who 
had  taken  up  his  residence  there,  and  the  South  Royalton  church 
was  compelled  to  pay  a  larger  salary  than  it  had  been  doing  for 
several  years,  if  it  retained  Mr.  Mann.  At  an  adjourned  annual 
meeting  of  the  church  that  year  it  was  finally  agreed  that  he 
should  remain  another  year.  Their  confidence  in  him  and  their 
appreciation  of  his  pastorate  was  expressed  in  a  set  of  suitable 
resolutions.  Mr.  Mann  remained  another  year,  but  the  meager 
salary  was  too  small  to  support  his  growing  family,  and  his  res- 
ignation was  accepted  Feb.  12,  1903.  He  was  called  to  the  In- 
dian Orchard  church,  Springfield,  Mass.,  March  1,  1903.    He 


476  HI8T0B7  or  BfonAunax,  YaufaMT 

was  pastor  in  MeGregor,  Iowa,  and  in  1910  of  Hanovor  StamC 

church,  Milwaukee,  WiBconsin. 

Bev.  Levi  Wild  preached  rery  aeeeptably  for  the  efamdi 
about  four  months  in  the  year  1903,  and  Tariooa  oOier  ekigy- 
men,  in  all  numbering  fourteen,  among  whom  was  Be^.  Shennn 
Goodwin.  From  so  many  candidates  Mr.  Goodwin  was  ebcai 
and  engaged  Nov.  15,  1903. 

Sherman  (Goodwin  was  bom  July  18, 1867,  in  Deny,  N.  BL, 
the  son  of  Charles  H.  and  Katherine  (Psyaoii)  Goodwin.  BEs 
graduated  from  the  Bangor  Theo.  Sem.  in  1896.  Wlule  taikSag 
his  theological  course  he  preached  for  the  ehmdi  in  Freedon, 
Me.  He  was  pastor  at  OrfcMrd,  N.  H.,  1899-1903.  He  is  atOl  m 
South  Boyalton,  where  his  parishioners  and  the  conununity  uni- 
versally hope  he  will  long  remain.  If  he  serves  out  the  time  for 
which  he  is  engaged,  he  will  have  had  a  longer  pastorate  here 
than  any  other  clergyman. 

Mr.  (Joodwin  is  a  vigorous,  logical  speaker.  He  has  the 
happy  faculty  of  presenting  old  truths  in  a  new  and  allraeUfe 
form.  He  believes  the  church  has  a  duty  to  the  community  m 
well  as  to  itself,  and  his  efforts  have  been  in  the  direction  of 
improving  the  moral  tone  of  South  Boyalton  and  the  surround- 
ing region.  His  work  with  the  young  boys  and  men  of  SooA 
Boyalton  has  been  remarkably  succesrful,  and  is  worthy  of  lU 
praise.  He  has  put  new  life  into  the  church,  md  inspired  its 
members  to  renewed  efforts  for  their  own  upbuilding  and  for  the 
drawing  within  the  church  those  who  have  not  formed  the  haint 
of  Sabbath  observance. 

Mr.  Goodwin  married  Sep.  26,  1899,  Miss  Buth  Alma  Bus- 
sell.  They  have  four  children:  Charles  Winslow,  bom  Sep.  22, 
1900 ;  Henry  Russell,  bom  Jan.  11,  1902 ;  Drusilla,  bom  Sep.  16, 
1906 ;  Katherine,  bom  July  4,  1910,  in  S.  Boyalton.  She  is  the 
only  one  of  the  children  bom  in  S.  Boyalton. 

As  has  been  stated  before,  the  records  of  the  South  Boyalton 
Society  were  burned  in  the  conflagration  of  1886.  The  society 
was  reorganized  Mar.  16,  1889.  At  that  time  they  adopted  the 
constitution  and  by-laws  furnished  by  Bev.  G.  S.  Smith.  The 
officers  elected  were  John  B.  Durkee,  moderator;  M.  S.  Adams, 
clerk;  C.  P.  Tarbell,  collector;  W.  H.  Martin,  auditor;  John  B. 
Durkee,  Charles  West,  W.  H.  Martin,  prudential  committee. 

One  hundred  copies  of  the  new  constitution  and  by-laws 
were  ordered  printed.  Under  this  constitution  any  person  pay- 
ing into  the  treasury  of  the  society  not  less  than  one  dollar  a 
year  for  the  support  of  public  worship  was  eligible  to  member- 
ship. The  original  members  signing  the  new  constitution  were 
Martin  S.  Adams,  Edward  Foster,  Oren  A.  Burbank,  John  B. 
Durkee,  Edson  Bixby,  Mark  J.  Saigent,  James  Bamage,  Charles 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  477 

P.  Tarbell,  and  J.  N.  Phelps.  New  names  added  at  that  time 
were  S.  M.  Pike,  H.  M.  Gk)ddard,  Arthur  G.  Whitham,  W.  V. 
Soper  and  P.  D.  Freeman. 

Two  years  later  an  innovation  crept  in  by  the  election  of  a 
woman  as  collector,  Miss  Nellie  E.  West.  Mrs.  Erva  Martin  Sar- 
gent has  also  served  in  this  capacity.  The  records  for  the  years 
when  they  were  kept  by  women  are  not  excelled  in  neatness  and 
accuracy  by  those  of  any  other  year. 

In  1891  the  church  and  society  received  its  first  bequest,  a 
gift  of  $600  from  Joseph  L.  Dutton,  the  brother  of  Mrs.  Charles 
West.  The  same  year  Mrs.  Susan  H.  Jones  presented  the  church 
wth  a  nice  communion  service,  and  Mrs.  Emily  R.  Morse  gav« 
two  fine  stuffed  pulpit  chairs.  The  old  communion  service  first 
used  by  the  church  was  sent  to  the  Congregational  church  in 
Farmington,  Washington.  In  1894  Mrs.  Emily  R.  Morse  left 
to  the  church  by  will  $100,  and  the  next  year  Mrs.  Susan  H. 
Jones  bequeathed  to  the  church  and  society  $800  and  the  house 
in  which  she  had  lived,  as  a  parsonage. 

On  Dec.  27,  1895,  the  society  voted  to  provide  some  suitable 
memorial  to  commemorate  the  Dutton,  Morse,  and  Jones  be- 
quests, not  to  exceed  $75,  and  they  adopted  the  following  resolu- 
tion: 

"That  we  the  members  of  the  Ck>ngregational  Society  and  Church 
of  South  Royalton,  Vt.,  do  hereby  express  our  gratitude  for  the  gen- 
erous gifts  which  this  society  and  church  have  received,  and  which  are 
as  follows:  six  hundred  dollars  from  Mr.  J.  L.  Dutton,  one  hundred 
dollars  (100)  from  Mrs.  Emily  Morse,  eight  hundred  dollars  (800) 
cash  and  also  her  own  home  given  for  a  parsonage  by  Mrs.  Susan  Jones. 

Resolved  that  we  also  hereby  express  our  gratitude  for  the  deep 
interest  which  these  persons  took  in  the  welfare  of  this  church  and 
conununity  and  throughout  the  world. 

Resolved  that  so  far  as  we  are  able  and  in  accord  with  the  purpose 
for  which  these  gifts  were  intended  we  will  make  the  best  possible 
use  of  them,  and  that,  holding  in  grateful  remembrance  those  persons, 
we  will  ever  strive  to  be  faithful  in  the  fulfillment  of  our  obligations 
to  the  church  and  society,  and  we  will  labor  with  greater  zeal  and  devo- 
tion for  the  upbuilding  of  Christ's  Kingdom. 

Resolved  that  these  resolutions  be  entered  upon  the  church  rec- 
ords and  upon  the  records  of  the  society. 

John  B.  Durkee)  Special  Committee  elected  by  the  Society 
H.  M.  Goddard  y  Dec  27,  1895." 

M.  J.  Sargent     J 

William  H.  Martin  was  made  agent  to  receive  the  Dutton 
fund  and  give  bonds  for  the  society.  A  window  in  memory  of 
Mrs.  Jones  was  placed  in  the  front  of  the  building  in  1896.  In 
1904  the  church  received  a  legacy  from  Miss  Frances  Pierce  of 
$200,  and  in  1906  from  Mrs.  Katherine  McLean  Smith  one  of 
$300. 

In  1894  an  effort  was  made  to  consolidate  the  church  and 
society,  and  again  in  1896.    Both  efforts  were  fruitless.    In  1897 


478  Hmioinr  op  BmMxam,  Ymamn 

m 

t 

the  question  of  merging  again  came  iqp.  A  eommittee  ma  q^ 
pointed  to  take  eha^  of  fhe  matter.  A  qpeeial  ninwUng  waa 
called  Jan.  29,  1898,  at  wbkh  the  committee  made  ila  npmt, 
which  advised  the  merging  of  the  two  organimtiopa  into  one  ibp 
corporated  body.  It  waa  voted  tiiat  when  fhe  new  organuatian 
was  eflFected,  it  should  be  called  fhe  Sooth  Bojjalton  CSongnga* 
tional  Church.  The  chnreh  voted  tiiat  this  same  eommittaa  jain 
with  the  society  committee  in  procnring  a  eharter. 

The  church  met  Feb.  2i,  1889,  and  voted  tliat  John  &  Dor- 
kee  be  a  committee  to  tranafer  property  to  fhe  new  ehnmh.  The 
society  met  on  the  same  date  and  voted  in  favor  of  mergmg. 
Those  present  were  John  B.  Dnrkee,  Bev.  H.  IL  Goddaid,  iL  J. 
Sargent,  William  M.  Sargent,  Arthur  O.  Whitham,  W.  Y.  Soper, 
Joel  N.  Phelps,  Fred  D.  Freeman,  and  Martin  S.  Adama.  The 
society  chose  John  B.  Dnrkee  as  their  agent  to  make  a  legal 
transfer  of  property,  and  the  South  Bgyiedton  Congregational 
Society  ceased  to  exist  The  Congregational  Church  (^  Christ  in 
South  Boyalton  and  the  South  B^yalton  Congregational  Soeiely 
(incorporated)  of  Boyalton  conveyed  by  desd  dated  F^b.  2A, 
1899,  all  property  belonging  to  said  church  and  society  to  the 
South  Boyalton  Congregational  Chiupch  (incorporated),  and  the 
merging  of  the  two  into  one  was  complete.  The  members  sign- 
ing  the  articles  of  incorporation  of  the  new  church,  the  certifieate 
for  which  was  issued  from  the  office  of  the  Seeretaiy  of  State 
Jan.  20, 1899,  were  Martin  S.  Adams,  Joel  N.  Phelps,  Charks  P. 
Tarbell,  H.  M.  (Soddard,  S.  M.  Pike,  W.  V.  Soper,  F.  D.  Freeman, 
J.  B.  Dnrkee,  Charles  West,  W.  M.  Sargent,  O.  A.  Burbank, 
W.  H.  Martin,  William  C.  Smith,  Mary  Belle  Whitham,  Arthur 
O.  Whitham,  and  Harlin  Carpenter.  The  members  of  the  society 
in  good  standing  were  to  be  known  as  charter  members  of  tte 
new  church  incorporated,  but  future  membership  would  require 
regular  admission  to  the  church. 

The  first  extensive  repairs  on  the  church  building  were  made 
in  1889,  when  the  building  was  remodelel.  The  repairs  were  in 
the  hands  of  Dea.  J.  B.  Durkee,  M.  J.  Sargent,  and  M.  S.  Adams. 
The  building  was  raised  ten  feet,  and  a  brick  basement  placed 
beneath,  with  an  addition  in  the  rear  twelve  feet  deep  and  two 
stories  high,  providing  for  a  kitchen  to  the  vestry  in  the  base^ 
ment,  and  an  alcove  for  the  pipe  organ  and  the  choir.  While 
these  repairs  were  in  progress,  services  were  held  in  Masonic 
Hall.  The  audience  room  was  thoroughly  renovated,  frescoed, 
and  carpeted.  The  entire  cost  was  $2,937.49.  Of  this  sum 
$1,455  was  raised  by  subscription.  This  repairing  left  the  soci- 
ety considerably  in  debt. 

The  church  was  re-dedicated  Dec.  15th  of  that  year.  Bev. 
James  Bamage,  the  pastor,  read  an  historical  address,  in  whkh 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  479 

he  stated  that  nineteen  of  the  twenty-two  charter  members  were 
then  living,  and  fourteen  of  them  were  still  members.  At  the 
present  time  aU  are  dead  except  M.  S.  Adams,  Mrs.  Arlotta  Dur- 
kee,  Miss  Laura  Poster,  now  Mrs.  W.  V.  Soper,  and  Miss  Emily 
Lamb,  now  Mrs.  Henry  E.  Eonsman  of  Hartiford,  Conn.  Mr. 
Bamage  stated  that  at  that  date  115  had  united  with  the  church, 
54  by  profession  of  faith.  The  first  meeting  in  the  vestry  after 
the  repairs  was  on  Aug.  4,  and  the  first  one  in  the  audience  room 
was  on  Oct.  20,  1889. 

In  1899  some  further  repairs  were  made  on  the  church.  The 
society  had  reported  in  1894  that  the  church  debt  had  been  paid, 
and  in  1908  the  ofScers  of  the  church  felt  that  the  building 
should  be  still  further  improved.  The  repairs  were  confined 
mostly  to  the  audience  room.  A  new  pulpit  platform  was  put  in, 
the  room  newly  ceiled,  painted,  and  carpeted.  The  whole  expense 
amounted  to  about  $1,000.  Miss  Delia  Cloud  was  chairman  of 
the  repair  committee  and  secured  a  large  part  of  this  sum  by 
subscription. 

Six  memorial  windows  replaced  the  old  ones  in  the  audience 
room  in  1905.  The  one  in  memory  of  Miss  Prances  C.  Pierce  was 
put  in  by  Miss  Ellen  E.  Pierce ;  the  one  in  memory  of  Dea.  John 
B.  Durkee,  by  Mrs.  Arlotta  D.  Durkee;  the  one  in  memory  of 
Mrs.  Dorcas  E.  West,  by  Mr.  Charles  West;  those  in  memory  of 
William  Harrison  Martin  and  Ellen  Garrett  Martin,  by  their 
daughters;  the  one  in  memory  of  Dea.  Martin  Skinner  Adams 
and  Mrs.  EUen  Abbott  Adams,  by  Dea.  Adams ;  the  one  in  mem- 
ory of  Mrs.  Elvira  C.  Cloud,  by  Miss  Delia  Cloud  and  Charles  E. 
Cloud. 

In  1893  the  church  celebrated  its  twenty-fifth  anniversary. 
During  this  time  there  had  been  added  to  it  133  members,  63  of 
them  by  profession  of  faith.  At  this  anniversary  a  debt  of  $560 
was  reported,  of  which  the  Ladies'  Social  Circle  pledged  $200, 
and  Mrs.  M.  J.  Sargent  volunteered  to  get  the  rest  by  subscrip- 
tion. Prom  the  organization  of  the  church  to  Jan.  4,  1899,  142 
members  had  been  admitted,  and  since  then  there  have  been  59 
admissions,  making  the  whole  number  of  different  members  for 
a  period  of  forty-two  years,  201.  The  average  membership  has 
not  been  far  from  seventy.  The  resident  membership  in  1904 
was  fifty-nine.  The  average  Sabbath  attendance  in  1896  was 
seventy-nine. 

The  service  of  the  deacons  has  been  as  follows:  John  B. 
Durkee  from  Peb.  1,  1868,  to  his  death.  Mar.  16,  1904;  Prederick 
B.  Adams  from  Peb.  1,  1868,  to  his  death,  April  26,  1878 ;  Mar- 
tin S.  Adams  from  Mar.  2,  1878,  to  present  time ;  re-elected  Jan. 
1,  1909,  for  five  years;  Oren  A.  Burbank  from  Mar.  2,  1878,  to 
his  death,  Oct.  8,  1908 ;  Pred  D.  Preeman  from  Jan.  6,  1905,  to 


480  BisiGBY  OP  BoTAUiON^  Ybmont 

his  death,  May  16, 1908;  Anaon  P.  Skumer  from  Jan.  1,  ISM,  ta 
present  time,  elected  for  five  yeara;  Joel  N.  Fhelpa  firam  Jan.  1, 
1909,  to  present  time,  eleeted  fcir  fiVe  yeaia. 

In  1889  the  deacons  were  eleeted  for  aa  indflfinita  tune,  and 
were  to  be  the  committee  of  tiie  chnreh.  At  fhe  ammal  imialim 
of  1909  the  church  was  practically  withont  a  doaeon,  aa  Dea. 
Durkee  and  Dea.  Freeman  had  died,  and  fhe  term  of  oflba  a( 
Dea.  M.  S.  Adams  expired  with  the  end  of  fhe  year.  Three  dea- 
cons were  then  elected,  Dea.  Adama  being  re-eleetodL  B|y  the 
new  constitution  the  deacona  are  to  hold  offioe  for  itn 

The  Sunday  School  in  connection  with  fhe  ehoreh 
ganized  Jan.  5, 1868,  by  Frederick  B.  Adama  in  flie  aahooHioaa^ 
before  the  church  was  organized.  Twenty-three  pupila  were  pna- 
ent  under  six  teachers.  Dea.  Frederick  Adam8*?7aa  aaperintcDd- 
ent  two  and  one-half  years,  Dea.  John  B.  Durkee  two  yean,  B.  D. 
Grain  one  and  one-half  years,  Dea.  M.  S.  Adama  fifteen  yean^ 
Bev.  James  Bamage  three  months.  Following  them  hove  beea 
Will  M.  Sargent,  Miss  Minnie  Metcalf ,  G.  P.  Tarbell,  Mra.  &  IL 
Pike,  Mrs.  Burton  Tenney,  Mrs.  £.  F.  Moody,  Charlea  Seymour, 
and  Earle  Wilson.  In  1891  the  number  of  pupils  waa  120,  witti 
eleven  teachers,  and  an  average  attendance  of  fifl^-aeven.  Tkat 
year  the  Sunday  School  raised  $50  towards  furnishing  fhe  veatry, 
and  the  church  debt.  The  average  attoidance  for  the  fink 
twenly-five  years  was  fifty-two.  In  1892  a  Home  Departoiaat 
was  established.  In  1896  Miss  Charl  Hackett  was  eleeted  aiqier- 
intendent  of  this  department.  It  is  not  continued.  In  1908  fhe 
New  Movement  plan  was  inaugurated,  and  the  older  classes  are 
organized,  and  have  their  proper  officers.  About  once  a  year 
each  class  entertains  other  classes  as  guests,  when  an  appropriate 
program  is  rendered.  The  adult  woman's  class  with  C.  P.  Tar- 
bell as  teacher  has  been  active  in  raising  funds  for  the  church 
debt  and  other  purposes.  It  put  a  new  furnace  into  the  par- 
sonage in  1908,  and  the  next  year  contributed  $100  to  the  treas- 
ury of  the  church.  This  year  it  has  assumed  the  responsibility 
of  raising  $100  for  the  pastor's  salary.  Meetings  have  been  held 
a  part  of  the  past  year  monthly  at  the  homes  of  those  who  were 
imable  to  be  present  on  Sunday.  The  Philathea  class  under  Misi 
Delia  Cloud  aided  in  putting  the  furnace  into  the  parsonage, 
and  is  doing  considerable  charity  work.  A  Cradle  Boll  class  was 
formed  about  1903.  Mrs.  A.  B.  Fielders  was  its  superintendent 
for  a  time,  but  at  present  it  is  under  the  care  of  Mrs.  Perlcy 
Belknap.  The  primary  class  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Fred  Seymour 
is  the  pride  of  the  school. 

The  church  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  proteg6  of  the  Ver- 
mont Domestic  Missionary  Society,  and  could  not  be  expected  to 
contribute  much,  if  anything,  to  the  cause  of  missions.    In  1877 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  481 

it  voted  to  take  a  collection  the  first  Sabbath  of  each  month  in 
aid  of  the  Congregational  Union  and  of  the  V.  D.  M.  S.  The 
benevolent  contributions  in  1889  amounted  to  $120.87.  The 
church  strove  to  do  some  missionary  work  at  home,  and  opened 
its  vestry  two  evenings  in  the  week  as  a  reading  room  for  young 
men,  during  the  months  of  November  and  December.  In  1890 
the  benevolences  aggregated  $250,  including  $50  given  by  Mrs. 
Susan  Jones.  The  church  members  also  boarded  fifteen  fresh  air 
children.  On  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  the  total  benevolences 
amounted  to  $2,441.57,  including  gifts  from  individual  members. 
The  church  had  received  from  the  V.  D.  M.  S.  $3,228  and  paid  in 
$521.  In  the  seventeen  years  since  that  time  the  collections  for 
missionary  purposes  amounted  to  something  less  than  $700.  The 
contributions  for  the  past  few  years  have  come  from  the  Sunday 
School  and  the  Christian  Endeavor  Society.  The  Sunday  School, 
during  the  last  decade,  has  contributed  $226.13  to  missions,  the 
bulk  of  it  going  to  the  American  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  and 
some  to  the  Vermont  Bible  Society. 

The  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  was  or- 
ganized in  1885,  and  re-organized  in  1889.  During  most  of  the 
time  since  its  organization  it  has  had  an  active  existence.  In 
1896  it  took  upon  itself  the  charge  of  the  Sunday  evening  meet- 
ings, and  has  ever  since  continued  thus  to  relieve  the  pastor.  It 
put  the  electric  lights  into  the  church,  and  took  the  initiative  in 
having  memorial  windows  placed  in  the  body  of  the  church.  It 
assisted  in  furnishing  the  vestry  kitchen,  and  maintained  a  tele- 
phone in  the  parsonage  for  three  years.  In  1908  it  contributed 
$70  towards  the  repairs  of  the  church.  Its  present  officers  are 
Miss  Ala  Day,  pres. ;  Miss  Nellie  Adams,  vice-pres.;  Mrs.  Leon 
Skinner,  rec.  sec.;  Miss  Minnie  Metcalf,  cor.  sec;  Miss  Ethel 
Lewis,  treas. 

A  Ladies'  Aid  Society  has  existed  since  the  church  was  first 
formed,  and  has  been  an  efficient  adjunct  to  its  social  life,  and 
a  medium  for  charitable  deeds.  In  1892  it  raised  $150  to  apply 
on  the  church  debt,  and  has  turned  into  the  church  treasury  no 
inconsiderable  sum.  In  the  last  eight  years  it  has  received 
$1,852.21,  nearly  all  of  which  has  been  devoted  to  meeting  the 
expenses  of  the  church.  It  assumed  the  debt  remaining  after  the 
repairs  of  1908,  and  has  still  $115  of  that  debt  to  meet.  Miss 
Delia  Cloud  has  been  its  capable  president  for  many  years.  Mrs. 
A.  R.  Fielders  is  its  present  treasurer,  and  Mrs.  Sherman  (Jood- 
win  its  secretary. 

The  church  has  been  democratic  from  its  beginning.  Its 
constitution  was  amended  in  1891,  making  it  more  liberal.  When 
the  society  and  church  were  merged  in  1899,  a  constitution  and 
by-laws  were  adopted.    Article  2  reads  as  follows : 

31 


482  History  of  Botalton,  Vericont 

"This  church  is  Congregational  In  policy,  being  anawanUs  to  ao 
other  ecclesiastical  body;  its  goYemment  being  veatad  tn  ttaa  body  «C 
belieyers  who  compoae  it  It  alao  recognina  the  obUgatton  and  prtfip 
lege  of  the  Communion  of  chnrchea,  and  cordially  eKlmda  to  oliar 
churches  holding  a  common  faith,  and  as  cordially  recetToa  fram  ttMa 
that  fellowship,  advice  and  aaaistance  which  the  law  of  Ghriat  reqitaoar 

There  has  been  little  call  for  discipline  in  fhe  ehnreh.    Ao- 

cording  to  the  present  constitution  the  oceasioiia  for  dia^liiie 

"are  wrongs  done  to  individual  members  of  the  ehnreh.    The 

duty  of  visiting  the  offender  and  seeking  his  reatoratioiii,  demlfaB 

first  on  the  member  who  is  cognizant  of  the  offence. Ghttgai 

if  made,  shall  be  in  writing  with  the  signature  of  the 

preferring  them  and  a  copy  of  the  same  together  wHh  the 

of  the  witnesses  relied  upon  for  proof,  shall  be  given  to  tihe 

offender  at  least  two  weeks  before  the  time  of  triaL     In  cage  of 

difficulty  the  advice  and  aid  of  a  Council  may  be  aoni^t" 

There  is  no  record  showing  that  a  council  was  ever  neceaaaiy  m 

the  whole  history  of  the  church. 


lEev.    llPDry    MHrlLn    (lode 


Kpv.   JnniM   III 


soTTii  iiiivAi.TON  coxGUF/jATrnxAi.  riimrn. 


484  History  op  Boyautos,  Vermont 

bers  named  were  Dea.  (Israel T)  Waller^  Daniel  Leonard,  David 
Ames,  Jonathan  ,  Abraham  W(atermanT). 

At  their  next  meeting,  Nov.  11,  they  chose  John  Hibbard, 
clerk,  and  voted  to  raise  five  pounds  "toard  the  (past)ors  Seport 
that  is  to  say — twenty  Bnshells  of  whate."  The  assessment  was 
laid  upon  four  only,  Dea.  Billings,  Abraham  Waterman,  Brother 
(Samuel)  Peake  and  John  Hibbaid,  "this  Being  all  Dim  in  love 
&  giving  thanks  to  Gtod." 

Open  and  close  communion  was  their  next  topic  of  discus- 
sion, and  a  warm  subject  it  proved  to  be,  the  controversy  over  it 
waging  long,  and  sometimes  with  a  good  deal  of  acrimony.  Two 
more  meetings  in  1790  and  one  in  1791  were  held  at  the  home  of 
Elder  Hibbard.    Samuel  Benedict  appears  as  a  new  member. 

From  the  town  records  it  is  learned  that  Benjamin  Ordway 
had  joined  the  Baptist  Society  in  Tunbridge  this  year,  and  Jolm 
Parks  had  joined  the  "baptist  Society  in  ye  west  part  of  Roy- 
alton."  On  July  24,  1791,  they  record  that  they  send  by  re- 
quest "our  Beloved  Elder  John  Hibbard  and  Dea.  Bi(llings)  and 
our  Brother  Abraham  Waterman  to  Bandolph  to  aid  in  forming 
a  church  there." 

The  name  by  which  the  church  was  designated  is  seen  from 
a  record  of  October  26,  1791,  when  "the  chh  of  Baptized  Breth- 
erin  of  Royalton  meet  at  the  house  of  Brother  Abner  Perkins  in 
Barnard."  "The  chh.  then  Renewed  Covenant  and  Sum  was 
added  to"  it.  The  next  February  they  met  at  the  house  of  Dea. 
Billings.  Elder  Hibbard  does  not  appear  to  have  been  there, 
and  as  his  name  is  not  found  on  the  grand  list  of  that  year,  it 
is  very  probable  that  he  was  not  in  town.  Elder  Call  was  chosen 
moderator.  They  resolved  that  "Brother  Abner  Perkins"  be 
desired  to  improve  the  gift  that  God  had  given  him,  that  the 
church  might  know  what  his  gift  was,  and  might  be  benefitted 
thereby.  They  voted  that  the  Lord's  Supper  be  administered 
once  in  six  weeks,  half  the  time  in  Royalton  and  half  in  Sharon. 

The  name  of  the  church  in  October,  1792,  was  "the  Baptist 
Church  of  Royalton  and  Sharon."  Robert  Low  became  a  mem- 
ber in  1792,  and  at  a  meeting  at  the  house  of  Jonathan  Howe  in 
Sharon,  Feb.  24,  1793,  he  was  recommended  "to  the  Grace  of 
God  as  a  Preacher  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ."  In  April  following 
for  the  first  time,  it  would  seem,  they  met  at  the  meeting-house 
in  Sharon.  A  new  Society  had  evidently  been  organized  in  the 
north  part  of  Sharon,  as  the  articles  and  covenant  of  the  "Bap- 
tized Bretherin"  living  there  were  examined  and  approved,  and 
the  church  received  into  fellowship.  The  new  church  heard  the 
articles  of  faith  of  the  Royalton  church,  and  approved  the  same. 
They  met  again  at  the  house  of  Jonathan  Howe  in  Sharon,  Aug. 
31,  1793,  and  voted  to  send  Elder  John  Hibbard,  Dea.  John  Bil- 


History  of  Botalton^  Vermont  486 

lings,  Dea.  Samuel  Peake,  John  Hibbard^  Sen.,  to  attend  the 
Woodstock  Association  to  be  held  at  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  the  last 
Wednesday  in  September. 

In  the  year  1793  Elder  Hibbard  gave  certificates  to  Jonathan 
Bowen,  David  Waller,  Lieut.  Samuel  Curtis,  Nathaniel  Reed, 
Experience  Trescott,  Samuel  Ljrman,  David  Smith,  and  William 
Anderson,  stating  that  in  sentiment  or  judgment  they  were  Bap- 
tists, but  the  church  records  do  not  name  them  as  members. 

The  first  Ministerial  Act  passed  in  March,  1778,  considered 
every  adult  person  to  agree  in  religious  sentiment  with  the  major 
part  of  the  inhabitants,  unless  he  brought  to  the  town  or  parish 
clerk  a  certificate  from  a  minister,  deacon  or  elder,  or  moderator 
of  the  church  to  which  he  claimed  to  belong,  setting  forth  that  he 
was  of  their  persuasion.  This  certificate  released  him  from  taxa- 
tion for  church  support,  to  which  the  major  part  was  subject. 

About  1793  the  church  dropped  Sharon  from  its  name,  but 
continued  to  hold  meetings  there.  They  met  at  the  house  of 
Silas  Leonard  in  Sharon,  Jan.  6,  1794,  and  radically  departed 
from  church  precedents.  They  voted  that  a  store  be  kept  for  the 
benefit  of  the  church,  ''of  all  and  every  necessary  artical  that  the 
Bretherin  or  any  other  Person  shall  see  fitt  to  Put  into  Said  Store 
for  the  Gk>od  and  Benefit  of  Said  Chh."  Silas  Leonard,  Dea. 
John  Billings,  and  Dea.  Samuel  Peake  were  chosen  store  keepers 
to  receive  whatever  was  brought  in.  It  is  a  pity  that  the  motive 
for  this  action  is  not  recorded.  It  is  quite  evident  that  their 
store  was  not  kept  like  ordinary  stores,  as  no  provision  was  made 
for  buying,  only  for  receiving  contributions.  It  may  be  that 
some  were  dissatisfied  with  prices  paid  for  produce,  and  thought 
that  they  could  exchange  goods  with  each  other  with  less  cost, 
than  when  they  came  through  a  middleman.  Some  trouble  had 
been  or  was  brewing,  for  the  spirit  of  love  had  departed,  when 
one  brother  called  another  "the  ofiscouring  of  the  world.*' 

Their  next  meeting  was  at  James  Towns'  in  Sharon,  and  the 
following  one  at  Dea.  Billings',  when  Ebenezer  Woodward  was 
received  into  the  church.  Isaac  Wheeler  had  united  before,  but 
soon  became  disaffected.  They  had  services  in  April,  1794,  at 
Capt.  Ebenezer  Parkhurst's,  and  in  June  at  ''Esquire"  Timothy 
Shepard's.  Edward  Spear  and  Elijah  Huntington  were  mem- 
bers at  this  time. 

In  October  Elder  Hibbard  had  a  call  to  preach  one-third  of 
the  time  in  Strafford.  He  had  been  authorized  to  preach  and 
baptize  in  1793.  The  church  did  not  decide  what  to  do  regard- 
ing the  Strafford  call  until  Feb.  23,  1795.  They  then  say  they 
"will  endeavor  to  free  Elder  John  Hibbard  from  his  worley 
bizones  the  one  half  of  his  time  as  long  as  it  is  thought  his  Duty 
to  Continue  Preaching  with  us  half  the  time,"  and  they  agreed 


486  Hmioinr  op  BofTJimnr,  Ymatan 

to  hire  a  hand  for  him  half  the  time.    Elder  ffiUmd  could  not 
have  received  any  mimifieeat  aom  for  hia  aemeeBi  jodgmg  Ifj 
fhe  aobaeripticHi  of  thia  date,  whieh  amounted  to  time 
and  aeventeen  ahillinga. 

The  next  year.  Mar.  9, 1795,  Joaeph  Wheat  waa  leeeiied 
fhe  Athens  church,  and  fhe  ehmeh  agreed  to  ''eneoarage 
Brother  Whate  in  the  improromort  of  1^  Gift,'' ivUdi  fhe  dinrA 
had  discovered  that  he  poascssed. 

The  same  heterodoxy  that  the  Congregational  efaurch  Imd 
been  wrestling  with,  now  waa  a  aobjeet  of  diseqpline  in  tte  Bi^ 
tist  chnrch.  David  Smith  had  become  a  Univenslist,  and  iqmb 
trial  fhe  clerk  says,  ''He  Seamed  to  be  mneh  pnsled  to  (Mt  aloos 
with  his  Eyedeas."  No  more  conld  the  chnrch  get  along  witli 
them,  and  after  two  months  they  declared  th^y  coold  not  fellow- 
ahip  <me  who  believed  in  the  same  ''Doctrine  that  fhe  Sarpaoft 
Praehed  to  our  first  Parance  in  the  Qarden — thou  shalt  not  aore- 
ly  die,"  and  he  was  excommnnicated. 

Small  as  was  the  remuneration  of  Elder  Hibbard,  one  saafeer 
fhought  he  became  a  minister  for  what  there  was  in  it,  and  not 
having  learned  to  bridle  her  tongue,  she  said  as  much,  and  this 
little  indiacretion  led  to  numerous  church  meetings,  to  a  eoaneH, 
to  a  divisi<m  among  the  members,  to  initiatory  steps  for  another 
church,  to  mutual  recriminations,  confessions,  forgiveness,  and 
finally,  peace.  One  of  these  seanons  lasted  till  neiuriy  break  of 
day.  liie  council  called  to  settle  fhe  question,  whether  the  opin- 
ion expressed  by  the  fault-finding  sister  was  a  matter  for  dis- 
cipline or  not,  was  composed  of  Dea.  Daniel  Davison  and  Tim- 
othy Grow  from  Hartland,  John  Griswell  and  Capt.  Dean  from 
Hartford,  Elder  Low  and  Dea.  Bartlett  from  Norwich,  and  Orion 
Day  from  Sharon.  The  council  decided  it  was  a  matter  of  dis- 
cipline. At  their  next  meeting  at  Elder  Hibbard 's  they  appar- 
ently were  loathe  to  act  on  the  finding  of  the  council,  and  voted 
not  to  accept  its  decision. 

They  met  at  Dea.  Peake's  in  Bethel,  Feb.  1, 1796.  The  meet- 
ings which  follow  for  some  time  were  given  over  to  the  discussion 
of  open  communion.  Elder  Hibbard  was  strictly  in  favcnr  of 
close  communion,  but  Dea.  Peake,  Cyrus  Tracy,  and  Dea.  Bil- 
lings were  opposed  to  it.  They  agreed  that  baptism  was  dipping 
or  immersion.  At  a  Sharon  meeting  Aug.  8,  1796,  at  James 
Town's,  Brother  Doubleday,  Silas  Leonard,  David  Ames,  Phebe 
Lord,  Sister  Ames,  and  Sister  Doubleday  said  they  could  not 
fellowship  an  open  communicant,  but  still  they  would  not  with- 
draw from  him.  Elder  Hibbard  succeeded  in  winning  all  to  his 
views  except  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Silas  Leonard.  At  their  communion 
the  next  day  a  paper  was  prepared  by  the  close  conununicants, 
stating  how  they  could  receive  the  otiiers  at  the  table.    About 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  487 

one-half  refused  to  commune  on  those  conditions,  and  a  serious 
division  was  threatened. 

The  separation  of  the  Sharon  from  the  Royalton  church  took 
place  at  a  meeting  held  at  Jonathan  Howe's  in  Sharon,  Feb.  20, 
1797.  The  Sharon  brethren  took  the  articles  of  the  Royalton 
church  for  theirs,  and  received  the  free  consent  of  the  Royalton 
brethren  to  be  in  a  church  by  themselves,  on  condition  that  they 
accept  the  articles. 

When  they  met  next  at  Dea.  BiUings',  Zebulon  Hibbard  and 
Russell  Ellis  were  admitted  from  Randolph.  Eight  renewed  cov- 
enant. The  church  was  considerably  reduced  by  the  withdrawal 
of  Sharon  members,  and  by  dissensions  among  themselves.  They 
were  not  yet  weary  of  discord,  but  renewed  the  trouble  regard- 
ing the  offending  sister,  before  mentioned,  by  voting  that  they 
were  wrong  in  not  accepting  the  action  of  the  Council. 

It  is  no  wonder,  that  one  member  in  sending  in  his  excuse 
for  non-attendance  upon  their  meetings  should  say,  that  his  mind 
is  ''cold,  Dead  and  lifeless,  as  to  Speritual  religion."  He  gave 
as  a  further  excuse  that  he  was  far  from  the  meetings,  and  that 
''nothing  sarting  has  bin  known  as  to  these  meetings  when  they 
meet  and  when  they  did  not,"  and  that  he  could  not  give  fellow- 
ship to  matters  that  came  up  in  their  meetings.  He  charged  the 
church  in  not  accepting  the  advice  of  the  Council,  and  then 
again  accepting  it,  with  being  guilty  of  "double-minded  con- 
duct." He  takes  his  turn  at  admonitions,  and  says  that  the  diffi- 
culty with  the  offending  sister  was  settled  two  years  before,  and 
should  not  be  brought  up  again,  and  he  fears  the  church  has 
turned  aside  into  "vaine  ganglings  and  giving  heed  unto  fables 
and  endless  genealogies." 

As  a  sample  of  the  argument  of  the  fathers  of  the  church, 

an  extract  from  a  letter  of  admonition  that  was  sent  out  is  given : 
"You  seame  to  think,  that  Because  he  (Dea.  Binings)  said  that  he 
would  not  commune  with  an  unbaptlzed  person  to  the  ofense  of  his 
hretherin;  that  it  ought  not  to  be  a  ofence  to  the  Bretherin.  VIThat 
if  a  person  Should  Say:  I  wont  steal  if  its  an  ofense  to  my  Bretherin; 
lye  or  cheat  or  Git  Drunk;  if  it  will  give  an  ofence  to  my  Bretherin; 
otherwise  I  could  do  any  or  all  of  them;  we  conclude  that  this  would 
surprise;  and  you  would  think  such  a  Brother  ought  to  be  Delt  with 
in  the  chh — now  It  is  not  In  our  opinion  one  Oraine  Plainer  forbid  to 
Do,  these  abominations  than  it  is  Comanded  to  be  Baptized  before  we 
come  to  the  Lord's  table,  for  the  command  is;  Believe  and  be  Bap- 
tized -  -  -  -  renounce  your  eyedeas  or  Else  prove  them  to  be  right  from 
the  bible;  if  you  can  prove  that  you  are  right;  that  will  prove  that  we 
are  rong;  and  if  we  are  Rong  we  want  to  know  it." 

The  church  learned  in  December  that  Elder  Hibbard  had  a 

call  to  preach  at  Wilbraham.     He  went  there  in  February,  but 

does  not  appear  to  have  had  more  than  a  temporary  engagement. 

A  Council  convened  in  June  to  see  if  they  could  settle  the  dis- 


488  Hmioinr  or  BofTiiAnf,  Ywaamn 

pated  questions.  From  Woodstook  there  eame  SUsr 
Dea.  Cattle,  and  ''Brother  Balph'';  from  Hartland,  Dea.  Damel 
Davison  and  Timothy  Grow;  from  Hartford,  Dea.  Elidia  Voir- 
ler  and  Labond  Hall;  from  Shanm,  Elder  Joseph  Wheat;  horn 

Brookfleld, Hovej ;  from  Chelsea,  JededUfdi  GriswdL  The 

Council  voted  in  the  affirmative  on  tiie  qnestion,  whether  Oe  eaae 
of  the  offending  sister  was  a  matter  of  diseipliiie  or  net,  and  em 
the  question,  whether  a  brother  holding  tliat  he  eonld  oeeMion- 
ally  commune  with  an  imbaptiaed  person,  shoold  be  ealled  to 
account  It  will  have  to  be  borne  in  mind,  that  ''imbaptbad** 
to  them  meant  Christians  who  had  been  sprinkled  only. 

It  seemed  for  a  time  that  there  would  be  a  hopdess  dmsaon 
in  the  church,  as  each  side  held  to  its  own  views,  and  the  minority 
began  to  have  Sabbath  meetings  l^  themselves,  but,  finally,  in 
October  they  had  a  general  love  feast,  each  part  made  eonees- 
aions,  and  ''those  that  were  present  ware  lu^pely  renighted  and 
concluded  to  walk  together  in  fellowship."  The  fi^iost  td  open 
communion  was  not  quite  laid,  however,  as  on  Nov.  11,  179S, 
when  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered,  two  of  the  minority 
did  not  partake. 

Eadb  of  the  services  thus  far  had  been  held  in  private  hooses 
one  exception.  The  next  gathering  was  Nov.  23,  1798,  at 
the  red  schoolhouse.  This  waa  probably  ^'Sever's  sehoolhonse" 
in  the  west  part  of  the  town.  In  December  th^  met  at  Ebene- 
aer  Woodard's  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  and  voted  that  the 
brethren  in  the  two  parts  should  not  be  divided.  They  received 
Thomas  Ainsworth  and  wife,  Eunice  Battis  (f)  and  Eunice 
Woodworth  into  the  church. 

The  action  of  the  church  for  some  time  after  this  reminds 
one  of  the  little  three-year-old  on  the  train,  where  no  water  sup- 
ply was  at  hand.  He  kept  up  a  constant  wail  of  ''Oh,  mammal 
How  dry  I  be!"  Finally,  a  kind-hearted  gentleman  got  a  drink 
for  him  at  a  station.  The  little  fellow  had  hardly  gcdped  down 
the  last  drop,  before  he  began  the  new  refrain,  ''Oh,  mammal 
How  dry  I  was!"  So  these  church  members  apparently  wasted 
much  precious  time  in  telling  each  other  how  naughty  they  had 
been.  At  one  meeting  they  spent  the  entire  day  in  this  way. 
The  natural  result  would  be  a  reopening  of  the  old  trouble,  and 
that  is  just  what  did  occur  in  the  last  part  of  1799. 

Elder  Hovey  ministered  unto  them  in  the  first  months  of 
1800.  A  delegation  eame  to  inquire  if  the  church  at  Boyalton 
was  in  Gk)spel  fellowship,  and  if  so,  why  Elder  Hibbard  could 
not  fellowship  it.  The  reason  was  found  to  be  that  he  thou^t 
the  offending  sister  should  make  a  public  confession.  Whether 
it  was  partly  his  fault  or  not.  Elder  Hibbard  had  more  than  his 
share  of  trouble,  and  he  succumbed  in  July  of  that  year,  and 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  489 

passed  where  such  questions  as  had  sorely  afSieted  him  here  would 
no  longer  disturb  him. 

In  October  they  voted  to  have  Elder  Ramsey  preach  one- 
third  of  the  time  at  the  red  schoolhouse,  if  he  could  be  obtained. 
He  evidently  was  not  secured,  for  in  November,  1801,  they  voted 
to  have  the  Lord's  Supper,  if  an  administrator  could  be  obtained. 
During  this  year  Matthias  and  Lydia  Bust  joined  the  church. 

A  period  of  rest  followed.  In  1803,  Aug.  23,  a  meeting  was 
held  at  Dea.  Billings'.  A  letter  was  read  from  Lucy  Kellogg, 
presumably  a  member,  in  which  she  says  she  is  not  satisfied  with 
the  doctrine  of  election,  and  requests  to  join  the  Methodist  church. 
At  this  time  they  agree  to  hold  monthly  conferences. 

The  last  record  bears  date,  Sep.  22,  1806,  when  they  met  at 
Abraham  Waterman's,  and  voted  to  send  a  letter  of  excommuni- 
cation to  a  sister,  because  she  had  become  a  Universalist.  At  this 
time  Elder  John  Hibbard  and  his  father  were  both  dead,  John, 
Sen.,  having  passed  away  in  1805.  The  church  was  always  weak 
in  numbers  and  in  ability  to  support  a  minister.  Its  most  flour- 
ishing period  was  while  it  was  connected  with  Sharon.  Not 
enough  additions  were  made  to  counterbalance  deaths  and  re- 
movals, and  so,  after  the  death  of  Elder  Hibbard  it  seems  to 
have  gradually  lost  its  influence.  The  prejudice  against  the  Con- 
gregational church,  which  taxed  the  people  for  the  support  of 
the  Gk)8pel,  was  removed  by  legislative  action  in  1807,  which  left 
each  individual  free  to  contribute  or  not  This  may  have  had 
something  to  do  with  lessening  the  ranks  of  the  Baptists.  Then, 
too,  the  organization  of  Baptist  churches  in  adjoining  towns  fur- 
nished ample  opportunity  for  church  fellowship,  as  the  members 
of  the  Royalton  church  had  nearly  all  come  from  the  borders  of 
the  town.  Its  strictures  regarding  open  communion  tended  to 
limit  its  membership. 

The  East  Bethel  Baptist  church  drew  away  some  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Royalton  church.  This  church  was  first  united  with 
Randolph.  It  was  organized  Nov.  18,  1800,  at  Randolph,  at  the 
house  of  Bezaleel  Davis,  and  was  named  the  ''Baptist  Church 
of  Randolph  and  Bethel."  On  Nov.  18th  John  and  William 
Evans  and  Elisha  A.  Fowler  united  with  it.  At  the  ordination 
of  Mr.  Ramzey,  June  4,  1801,  there  were  present  from  Royalton 
Dea.  John  Billings,  Abraham  Waterman,  and  Abner  Perkins. 

The  East  Bethel  church  was  organized  Aug.  24,  1812.  They 
met  for  services  at  the  schoolhouses  near  E.  and  W.  Bethel. 
Jireh  Tucker  united  with  the  church  on  Nov.  22,  1812,  and  John 
Billings,  Jr.,  and  wife,  Hannah,  took  letters  of  dismissal  to  the 
church  in  Claremont,  N.  H.,  the  next  year.  That  year  Mrs. 
Tryphena  Davis  came  into  their  fold.  In  1817  Polly  Morse 
united,  and  in  1818,  Asa  Billings.    In  1821  they  met  at  Dea. 


490  History  op  Boyalton,  Vericomt 

Billings'  and  at  the  brick  schooUioiiae  near  Capt.  Dewey's  in 
Royalton,  and  held  a  number  of  meetings  at  the  home  of  Asa 
Billings.  In  1822  they  drew  to  their  church  Thomas  Anderson, 
Samuel  Hibbard,  Jedediah  Cleveland,  and  Betsey  Bloss.  The 
year  before  Alsop  Latham  had  joined  them. 

On  Aug.  21,  1825,  Jireh  Tucker  testified  that  he  had  felt 
called  upon  to  preach,  and  the  church  gave  him  leave  to  ''im- 
prove his  gifts."  It  is  not  known  that  he  ever  did  preach,  but 
the  spirit  worked  out  in  making  two  of  his  sons  ministers.  The 
next  year  ''Dea.  John  Billings  and  wife  offered  themsehrea  to 
this  chh.  for  membership,  as  the  bap.  chh.  in  Boyalton  of  whieh 
they  were  formerly  members,  had  lost  its  visiblity  &  become 
extinct."  Sarah  Button  joined  this  year,  and  in  1829  Abraham 
Waterman.  In  1836  Leonard  Kimball  was  ordained  as  an  evan- 
gelist. 

Dea.  John  Billings  was  clerk  of  the  E.  Bethel  church.  His 
daughter  married  Leonard  Fiske,  and  the  church  records  came 
into  her  hands.  Their  son,  Gk>odrich,  was  afterwards  the  clerk 
of  the  church  and  had  the  old  records,  and  when  he  went  away 
he  turned  the  book  over  to  Dea.  J.  H.  Green.  It  is  now  in  the 
hands  of  his  son,  Julius  Converse  Oreen. 

The  Royalton  Baptist  church  drew  no  ministerial  monej  in 
the  first  division  made  of  it,  1820,  but  did  from  1822  to  1835 
inclusive.  It  has  been,  and  is,  customary  for  the  town  to  give 
a  part  of  the  ministerial  money  to  any  religious  society  that 
maintains  preaching  from  time  to  time,  so  that  from  this  record 
it  is  impossible  to  say  just  when  the  Baptist  church  did  expire. 

ST.  Paul's  church. 

Contributed  by  Miss  Alice  D.  Grant. 

St.  Paul's  church  of  Royalton  being  a  daughter  of  Christ 
church  of  Bethel,  its  beginnings  must  be  sought  in  the  records  of 
that  church. 

Christ  church  owed  its  origin  to  the  efforts  of  Dudley  Chase. 
who  came  from  Cornish,  X.  H.,  in  1779,  to  Bethel.  HeVas  the 
father  of  Dudley  Chase,  Jr.,  afterward  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Vermont,  and  United  States  senator  from  Vermont 
1813-17.  He  was  also  the  father  of  Simeon  Chase,  Mrs.  Benja- 
min Smith.  ;Mrs.  Bybye  L.  Cotton  of  Bethel,  and  Mrs.  Joseph  A. 
Denison.,  Sr..  of  Royalton.  His  youngest  child  was  Philander 
Chase,  who  became  Bishop  of  Ohio  and,  later,  of  Illinois. 

While  he  was  here  he  taught  school  in  a  log  schoolhouse  in 
the  north  part  of  Bethel,  and  it  Avas  in  this  schoolhouse  that  the 
members  of  the  church  first  met,  and  he  acted  as  lay-reader. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  491 

The  parish  of  Christ  church  was  organized  in  1794.  As  the 
community  was  new  and  there  were  few  settlers,  they  were  not 
able  to  have  the  regular  services  of  a  minister,  but  received  occa- 
sional visits  from  different  clergymen.  The  parish  was  reorgan- 
ized Jan.  23,  1823,  and  a  church  building  was  erected  and  con- 
secrated by  Bishop  Griswold,  June  23,  1824. 

The  first  move  toward  a  separate  parish  in  Royalton  was 
made  in  October,  1835.  A  meeting  was  held  the  12th  of  that 
month  at  the  house  of  Stafford  Smith,  ''to  consider  the  subject 
of  constituting  a  parish,  and  if  judged  expedient  to  constitute  the 
same."  There  were  present  at  the  meeting  Stafford  Smith,  Rich- 
ard Bloss,  Benjamin  Rice,  Joseph  A.  Denison,  and  Nathaniel 
Sprague.  The  meeting  came  to  order  by  electing  Mr.  Smith  as 
chairman,  and  Mr.  Sprague  secretary.  The  question  as  to  the 
expediency  of  forming  a  parish  was  decided  in  the  affirmative, 
and  the  parish  was  organized  by  adopting  and  subscribing  to  a 
set  of  resolutions. 

At  a  parish  meeting  on  April  6th  the  question  came  up  of 
erecting  a  church  building  the  ensuing  summer.  A  conmiittee 
was  appointed  to  see  if  the  parish  was  so  constituted  as  to  be 
capable  of  holding  the  requisite  real  estate,  to  select  a  plan  for 
building,  obtain  funds,  and  to  report  as  to  the  plan  and  expense 
at  the  next  meeting.  Messrs.  Sprague,  Bloss,  and  Kendall  were 
chosen  as  said  committee.  Three  adjournments  followed.  An 
adjourned  meeting  was  held  at  Mr.  Blodgett's  on  May  4,  1836, 
when  the  committee  on  parish  organization  reported  that  they 
had  laid  the  preamble  and  resolutions  forming  and  constituting 
the  parish,  together  with  the  records,  before  Jacob  Collamer  of 
the  town,  and  his  opinion  was  against  the  legality  of  the  present 
parochial  organization.  Thereupon  the  organization  was  dis- 
solved, and  a  new  one  constituted.  Richard  Bloss  was  chosen 
warden  and  Benjamin  Rice  and  L.  M.  Kendall  vestrymen.  It 
was  resolved  to  build  a  church,  and  the  warden  and  vestrymen 
were  empowered  to  obtain  funds,  and  also  to  obtain  a  plan  for 
the  erection  of  a  church. 

The  ground  on  which  the  church  stands  was  given  by  Rich- 
ard Bloss  and  Elizabeth  Sprague,  and  the  deed  was  executed 
May  5,  1836.  At  an  adjourned  meeting  May  11th  Richard  Bloss, 
Nathaniel  Sprague,  and  L.  M.  Kendall  were  chosen  a  building 
committee  with  power  to  draw  money  and  pay  all  bills  and  ex- 
penses incident  to  the  building  of  the  church. 

The  first  service  in  the  church  was  held  on  Christmas  eve, 
1836,  by  Rev.  James  Sabine.  Mr.  Sabine  officiated  at  various 
times  during  the  year  1837.  The  church  was  consecrated  to  the 
service  of  Ahnighty  God  Nov.  3,  1837,  by  Rt.  Rev.  John  H.  Hop- 
kins, the  Bishop  of  Vermont. 


488  HmroBT  or  BfOftJaaas,  Vmnomr 

A  paridi  meeting  hid  been  hdd  earfar  in  Jim^ 
the  fllipB  were  aesigned,  and  at  a  aeeona  meetinf  in  Jamnry  it 
was  voted  to  unite  witli  Qraee  CShnieh  in  Bandolph  in  iilitolni^g 
a  elergyman.  Natiianiel  Sptagoe  waa  ordained  deaeon  Igr  Hafcof 
HopkinB  in  October,  1888,  and  waa  deeted  reetor  of  tka  dnmh 
on  hie  ordination  to  the  iwieathood  in  1840,  and  aervad  utll  Ub 
reaignati<m  in  1841.  Bev.  Jod  Clapp  had  charge  of  the 
at  Woodrtock,  but  oflBeiated  often  at  Boyalton  dorins  the 
184447.  From  July,  1844^  to  Oetdber,  1866,  Boy.  Joaiah  Ghmlt^ 
D.  D.,  waa  reetor  of  tiie  dnireh,  and  atill  aonpliad  till  1888^  whoi 
Boy.  C.  B.  Batehelder  waa  called  aa  reetor,  who  had  charge  witil 
1871,  when  he  reaigned.  He  waa  aoceeeded  bgr  Bar.  Maaaa  P. 
Stiekn^,  who  waa  in  charge  till  1887,  and  atill  anpplied  till  the 
infirmities  of  age  forbade  further  work.  Bev.  George  A.  Wit 
kina  was  reetor  1892-84,  Bev.  J.  B.  Trevett,  189S-97,  Bev.  G.  B. 
Clarke,  1897-99.  Bev.  C.  H.  Wella  waa  ordained  deacon  in  1889, 
and  in  conjunction  with  Bev.  G.  B.  Johnaon  anppliad  the  ehnrdh, 
being  elected  rector  upon  hie  ordination  to  the  prieathood  in  190L 
He  reaigned  in  October,  1902,  and  in  1905  the  preaent  rector, 
Bev.  William  B.  Beynddi,  became  rector. 

Mention  must  be  made  of  the  aervioea  of  Dndl^  G.  Deniaoa 
aa  lay-reader  from  1846  to  1878,  and  alao  of  hia  aon,  Joaepk  D. 
Deniaon,  from  1878  to  1895. 

Since  1847  the  church  haa  alwaja  been  aawciated  with  Bethd 
in  maintjiining  a  miniater,  aa  a  joint  pariah.  It  haa  ahraya  t^ 
ceived  an  appropriati<m  from  dioeeaan  fonda,  and  with  tiie  other 
churches  has  had  its  share  of  the  town  minist^al  funds.  Its 
first  gift,  the  church  site,  was  subject  to  the  following  conditions: 
''that  on  or  before  the  10th  day  of  June  the  parish  shall  erect  on 
the  premises  a  house  of  worship,  and  shall  also  seek  and  obtain 
admission  into  the  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  CSiurek 
of  the  diocese  of  Vermont. "  The  Bible  in  use  was  given  by  Bev. 
Henry  C.  Caswell  of  Figheldean,  Wiltshire,  England,  in  1860, 
and  in  1869  he  also  gave  a  sum  of  money,  wUch  enabled  the  par- 
ish with  the  help  of  other  f  riendi,  to  purchase  a  belL 

The  churoh  has  received  the  following  memorial  gifts:  In 
1874,  a  communion  set,  in  memory  of  Mrs.  Eunice  D.  Deniaon, 
given  by  the  family  of  the  Hon.  Dudley  C.  Deniaon ;  in  1885,  a 
chancel  window,  "All  Saints,"  by  Mrs.  Clara  D.  McClellan,  in 
memory  of  present  and  past  members;  in  1892,  an  inscription 
plate  for  pew,  by  Mrs.  E.  M.  Oallaudet,  in  memory  of  William 
Denison ;  in  1893,  a  brass  tablet,  in  memory  of  Bachel  Chaae  Deni- 
aon, given  by  her  nine  nieces ;  in  1895,  a  prayer  book  and  hjmmal 
by  Alice  Denison,  in  memory  of  George  Stanton  Deniaon;  in 
1901,  vases  and  altar  desk  by  Prof.  Charles  S.  and  Alice  CShase 
Denison,  in  memory  of  Jeanette  B.  Denison ;  in  1901,  altar  book 


History  of  Royalton,  Vermont  498 

by  Mrs.  William  Rix,  in  memory  of  William  Rix ;  in  1905,  chan- 
cel furniture  by  Mrs.  Clara  D.  McClellan,  in  memory  of  Alice 
Denison,  Dudley  Chase  Denison,  and  Rachel  Chase  Denison.  In 
1891  the  church  was  repaired,  and  received  at  that  time,  and 
later,  from  various  friends  new  seats,  new  windows,  a  font,  altar 
cross,  chancel  and  side  lamps,  two  hanging  lamps,  altar  linen  and 
hangings,  and  electric  light  fixtures. 

The  church  has  had  for  Senior  Wardens,  Nathaniel  Sprague, 
1836 ;  Joseph  A.  Denison,  Sen.,  1840 ;  Oramel  Sawyer,  1856 ;  D.  C. 
Denison,  1865 ;  John  Hinckley,  1905.  The  Junior  Wardens  have 
been  Stafford  Smith,  Richard  Bloss,  Benjamin  Rice,  Oliver  Glea- 
son,  D.  C.  Denison,  D.  L.  Lyman,  William  Skinner,  Horace  E. 
Stoughton,  W.  W.  Culver,  J.  D.  Denison,  C.  H.  Woodard,  A.  G. 
Whitham,  John  Hinckley. 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Sprague,  D.  D.,  was  the  son  of  Peleg  Sprague, 
Esq.,  an  attorney  in  the  county  of  Cheshire,  N.  H.  He  was  bom 
Aug  20,  1790.  He  entered  Dartmouth  College  at  the  age  of 
seventeen,  where,  having  become  disheartened  under  a  mortify- 
ing and,  as  was  supposed,  an  incurable  imperfection  of  the  organs 
of  the  voice,  he  remained  but  two  years.  He  did  not,  however, 
abandon  the  pursuit  of  knowledge,  but  continued  his  studies  until 
he  became  not  only  a  good  classical  scholar,  but  a  man  of  varied 
and  extensive  learning.  He  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  from 
Dartmouth  in  1823,  and  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Hobart  Col- 
lege, Qeneva,  N.  Y.,  in  1847. 

In  the  year  1818,  while  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  county 
of  Oneida,  N.  Y.,  he  became  deeply  interested  in  the  subject  of 
religion,  and  was  admitted  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
In  1823  he  came  to  Royalton  as  the  Principal  of  the  Academy, 
in  which  position  he  remained  several  years.  After  this  he  stud- 
ied law  in  the  oflSce  of  Jacob  Collamer,  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
and  practiced  his  profession  for  a  few  years.  But  this  was  not 
a  preferred  vocation.  A  beloved  sister  was  instrumental  in  turn- 
ing his  attention  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  in  her 
communion  and  ministry  he  found  to  his  great  joy  all  that  his 
reasonable  and  well-trained  mind  craved  in  the  way  of  Christian 
institutions.  He  was  ordained  deacon  Oct.  17,  1838,  and  in  due 
course  advanced  to  the  priesthood.  The  first  six  years  of  his 
ministry  were  spent  in  Royalton,  where  he  organized  a  parish 
and  built  a  church.  In  1844  he  went  to  Drewsville,  N.  H.,  and 
became  rector  of  St.  Peter's  church,  where  he  exercised  the  func- 
tions of  his  sacred  oflSce,  beloved  and  revered  by  his  parishioners, 
and  profoundly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  died  Oct. 
29,  1853. 

Rev.  Josiah  Swett,  D.  D.,  was  bom  in  Claremont,  N.  H., 
Aug.  4,  1814.    He  was  the  son  of  Josiah  and  Hannah  (Healy) 


4M  Bmamr 


Svvtt    He  fitted  tor  lillfi  it  tt» 
Kmban  Unifln  Vfci  idiiMj,  Hondn,  N.  HL    Ht 
Vnhvnitj  from  the  latter  b  tte  fdl  «£  18M^ 
degree  in  1837,  and  n  A.  IL  d^w  ^  IMO- 
bestowed  en  Um  an  A.  IL  digneB  1861^ 
ntjr  the  D.  D.  degree  im  IML 

Soon  after  giaduaiuig  he 
emaWiahtng  the  New  Eiiglnd  niwiiMij  H  Kbdaar.    b  im 
he  waa  efeeted  to  the  faedlgr  flf  hb 
nuide  foil  ProfeaBor  of  Monl 
ral  Theology,  and  Fngiiah  Litentenc^ 
yeara,  and  again  from  ISM  to  IML 

He  waa  edneatad  aa  a  Metihodiai,  and  adndttod  to  thak 
fai  Claremont,  N.  H^  in  1832.  In  1843  he  waa  rcgolarlr  dii- 
charged  from  that  aociety,  confirmed  hgr  Kak^  Hopkina  m  St 
Panl'a  chnrch,  Windaor,  and  began  the  ato4r  ^  tihaohiBr.  Ib 
September  of  that  year  he  became  a  candidate  tor  QideKa  in  the 
dioeeae  of  Yermont^  waa  tranaferrcd  to  the  dioeeae  of  New  Hatep- 
ahiie,  and  admitted  to  the  Diaeonate  of  Kak^  Chaae  in  Maicl^ 
1847.  For  three  montha  he  had  charge  of  Uniim  ehnreh.  Weak 
Claremoot^  then  accepted  a  call  to  Ctariat  dmrdi,  Betlid,  and 
mored  there  in  Jnly.  Here  he  remained  for  ^giib^if  JBan»  dwN 
ing  which  time  he  waa  abo  rector  of  St  Panl'a  cfanreh  in  Boyal- 
ton. 

Upon  leaving  Bethel  he  aerved  aa  a  Profeaaoi  of  Dirinitj  la 
the  VernKmt  Epiaeopal  Inatitnte  at  BorlingtmL  At  rariooi 
times  he  had  charge  of  parishes  at  Cambridge,  Jericho,  Under- 
hill,  Shelbume,  Fairfield,  Fairfax,  Swanton,  and  Hi^igate.  He 
removed  to  Highgate  in  1877,  and  resided  there  the  remaindor 
of  his  life.  He  established  there  Champlain  Hall,  a  very  anoceas- 
fnl  boarding  and  day  school  for  boys  and  giria.  He  was  depnty 
to  the  (General  Convention  which  was  held  in  Philadelphia  in 
1856,  and  for  many  years  was  president  of  the  standing  commit- 
tee of  the  diocese. 

He  was  married  in  1843  to  Mary  Jarvis  Campbell  of  Wind- 
sor. She  died  in  1845,  leaving  one  child.  He  afterward  married 
Lney  Miranda  Wheeler,  daughter  of  James  Wheeler  of  Newport 
N.  H.  Nine  children  were  bom  to  them,  of  whom  seven  are  still 
living.  His  wife  died  at  Highgate  in  September,  1885,  and  his 
own  death  occurred  at  the  same  place  Jan.  4, 1890. 

Rev.  Charles  R.  Bachelder  was  bom  in  Snnapee,  N.  H^  Ang. 
9,  1812.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  he  was  the  youngest  of 
fourteen  children.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  went  to  Wolf- 
boro,  N.  H.,  to  live  with  one  of  his  brothers,  and  studied  under 
his  tuition  and  at  the  academy  in  that  village.  From  that  plaee 
he  went  to  Bangor,  Maine,  and  after  a  year  in  a  classical  achool 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  495 

in  that  place,  he  entered  the  regular  course  in  the  Theo.  Sem., 
and  graduated  August  29,  1838. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Penobscot  Association  of 
Congregational  Ministers.  He  supplied  at  Calais,  Me.,  for  a 
year,  and  then  preached  at  Henniker  and  Warren,  N.  H.  He 
was  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Westminster  for  five 
years.  He  left  there  in  1845,  and  was  confirmed  by  Bishop  East- 
burn  while  on  a  visit  to  Salem,  Mass.  He  became  a  candidate 
for  Orders  in  the  diocese  of  New  Hampshire,  and  was  ordained 
deacon  by  Bishop  Chase  in  June,  1847,  and  priest  by  Bishop 
Hopkins  the  following  September.  He  was  rector  at  Highgate, 
1847-59,  at  Manchester,  1859-64,  at  Bellows  Palls,  1864-71.  He 
resided  in  Claremont  and  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  from  1872  to  1879. 

In  1840  he  married  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Abbott,  Esq.,  of 
St.  Johns,  N.  B.,  formerly  of  Boston.  Three  sons  were  born  to 
them,  the  eldest  dying  at  the  age  of  four  years.  His  own  death 
occurred  Feb.  2,  1879. 

Bev.  Moses  Parsons  Stickney  was  bom  in  Byfield,  Mass., 
July  12,  1807.  He  studied  for  the  ministry,  and  was  ordained 
by  Bishop  Griswold  in  1842.  His  first  charge  was  St.  Michael's, 
Marblehead,  Mass.,  where  he  served,  1842-47.  He  was  rector  of 
St.  Peter's,  Cambridgeport,  1847-51,  head  master  of  Burlington 
College,  New  Jersey,  for  one  year,  and  assistant  rector  of  the 
Church  of  the  Advent,  Boston,  in  1853. 

In  1871  he  came  to  Vermont,  having  been  called  to  the  rec- 
torship of  Christ  church,  Bethel,  and  St.  Paul's  church  in  Roy- 
alton. His  home  was  in  Bethel  for  the  next  seventeen  years. 
He  resigned  on  Easter,  1887,  and  the  following  year  he  removed 
to  Royalton.  Here  he  held  services  as  long  as  fidling  health  per- 
mitted. After  a  brief  illness  he  passed  into  rest  Aug.  19,  1894. 
His  earthly  pilgrimage  began  and  ended  on  the  Lord's  Day,  and 
the  years  thereof  were  spent  in  His  service. 

Rev.  George  A.  Wilkins  was  a  Baptist  minister.  He  was 
ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Bissell  in  St.  Paul's,  Burlington, 
June  1,  1890,  and  priest  by  the  same  bishop  in  Christ  church. 
Bethel,  June  30,  1891.  He  had  charge  at  Bethel  and  Royalton, 
1891-94.  He  was  rector  of  St.  John's,  Highgate,  and  Grace 
church,  1894-95.  From  1896  to  his  death  he  resided  at  White 
River  Junction,  without  a  charge.  He  died  April  18,  1907,  aged 
seventy-two  years. 

Rev.  Joseph  Benedict  Trevett,  M.  D.,  was  bom  in  Maryland. 
He  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Odenheimer  of  New  Jersey 
in  1872.  He  officiated  at  Windsor,  1872-74.  He  was  connected 
with  the  diocese  of  Central  New  York  for  several  years.  He  had 
charge  of  the  Episcopal  churches  in  Bethel  and  Royalton,  1895- 
97.    He  died  at  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  16,  1902. 


4M 


Ber.  Geotge  Bvnafd  Onk 
and  priest  the  foOowioK  jmt  bj  Krivp  W< 
bnika,  m  wUeh  dkiecw  ke  Ihs  doM  HiHioHHq 
eat  midnm  is  Boenm  Vista,  FIsrida.    Hs 
eburdiss  in  Bethd  and  BofdlOD,  1897-191 

Ber.  Charles  Heniy  Wells 


187L    He  was  edneatol  at  Gkiddard 

ing  firom  that  iustiiutioo  in  1889.    His 

fromiriiieh  he  took  an  &  T.  B.  d«ns  in  1886.    Hs 

jears  as  pastor  of  a  Uniiiiiisslisl  AaiA  in  BdfM^ 

became  an  Episeopalian,  and  atndied  t«n 

with  Bidiop  Hall  at  Bmfingfeon.    After  Ua 

Diaeonate  in  Oetober,  1899,  he  began  wmk  for 

Bethel,  and  St.  Paol's,  Bc^yaUon.    He 

Bethel,  Febroary,  1901,  and  eompleted  a  nunkliy  of  ttne 

there  in  Oetober,  1902,  when  he  was  called  to  St  JaMoa',  Wasl- 

stock,  iriiere  he  remained  nntil  May,  1906,  when  he  waa  caDed  fti 

a  enrapy  in  Old  Trinity  CStorch,  Lower  Koadway,  New  Taric 

City.    In  November,  1908,  he  was  called  to  a  ndaMO  ckmch  in 

Newark,  N.  J. 

Boy.  William  Benjamin  Beynolds  is  a  natiwe  of  Sbockpsrt; 
N.  Y.  He  was  ordained  deaeon  and  priest  by  the  Bt  Bar.  W.  G. 
Doane,  Bidiop  of  Albany,  in  idiich  diocese  mort  of  his  minMiy 
has  been  spent  He  served  for  a  short  time  in  New  Jersey;  and 
served  as  rector  of  three  ehnrefaes  in  the  diocese  of  Wesleni  New 
York,  nnder  Bidiop  Walker.  He  became  rector  of  Christ  chnrdh. 
Bethel,  and  St  Panl's,  Boyalton,  in  1905.    He  resides  at  BetheL 

THE    UNIVEBSALIST    SOCIETY. 

The  Universalist  is  the  most  mythological  of  all  Boyalton 
religious  organizations.  It  is  doubtful  if  any  regular  dinrdi 
ever  existed.  The  doctrines  of  Universalism  early  gained  ground 
in  Boyalton,  and,  as  has  been  noted  in  the  history  of  the  Baptist 
and  Congregational  churches,  became  a  source  of  much  anxiety 
to  the  strictly  orthodox  Christians.  They  were  at  first  called 
''Restorationists."  Asa  Perrin  in  his  diary,  to  which  frequent 
reference  has  been  made,  mentions  that  there  was  a  meeting  of 
the  Universalists  May  17,  1803,  but  it  is  not  stated  that  it  was 
held  in  Boyalton,  and  it  may  have  been  in  East  Bethel,  where  a 
church  was  early  organized. 

The  first  record  of  the  Universalists  drawing  any  of  the  min- 
isterial money  is  found  in  1826,  when  $13.93  was  paid  to  Asa 
Partridge.  In  1829,  when  membership  was  reported,  they  were 
credited  with  64  members,  in  1832  with  70  members.  The  last 
record  of  membership  is  in  1833,  when  th^  had  61  members.    In 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  497 

1837  they  drew  nearly  as  much  of  the  fund  as  the  Congregational 
church.  From  that  date  there  is  an  apparent  decrease,  until 
1855,  when  they  drew  the  largest  sum  of  any  society,  $23.29. 

This  was  after  the  organization  of  a  Society  at  South  Roy- 
alton, which  had  united  with  the  Methodist  >shurch  in  building  a 
meeting-house,  and  which  held  services  on  alternate  Sundays. 
The  records  of  the  Society  have  not  been  found.  Rev.  S.  A. 
Davis,  located  at  Bethel,  preached  for  them  for  a  time.  In  the 
years  1859-60  Rev.  M.  B.  Newell  was  living  in  South  Royalton, 
and  preached  more  or  less  of  the  time.  Rev.  S.  A.  Parker  of 
Bethel  ofSciated  on  alternate  Sundays  from  July  16,  1865,  to 
Feb.  24,  1867. 

The  Methodists  got  a  clear  title  to  the  meeting-house  and 
land  connected  therewith  in  1868,  and  after  that  time  the  Uni- 
versalists  held  meetings  in  Tarbell's  Hall.  How  long  this  con- 
tinued is  not  known,  but  after  some  years  meetings  were  held 
only  occasionally  for  a  succession  of  years. 

A  new  organization  of  a  Universalist  Society  was  effected 
Jan.  20,  1893.  J.  H.  Hewitt  was  elected  chairman ;  D.  L.  Bur- 
nett, M.  D.,  auditor;  J.  A.  Schontag,  clerk;  A.  W.  Pierce,  treas- 
urer; Miss  Lu  Adams,  collector.  The  trustees  were  J.  H.  Hew- 
itt, J.  G.  Ashley,  and  J.  F.  Shepard.  The  first  pastor  called  was 
Rev.  Walter  Dole  of  Northfield.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  S.  A. 
Parker  of  Bethel,  and  by  college  students,  among  them  Rev. 
Grant  VanBlarcom.  The  Society  ceased  to  hold  regular  meet- 
ings about  1899.  While  Rev.  Dole  was  connected  with  the  So- 
ciety he  organized  a  Young  People's  Union.  Meetings  of  the 
Society  were  held  in  Hewitt's  Hall,  South  Royalton. 

THE    CHRISTIAN    CHURCH. 

No  records  of  the  Christian  church  in  Royalton  have  been 
found.  The  only  information  that  has  been  obtained  are  the 
scanty  references  to  this  church  in  the  town  records  and  the  few 
facts  that  a  small  number,  who  were  members  of  the  church,  can 
recall.  It  was  probably  younger  than  the  Baptist  or  the  Meth- 
odist church.    It  drew  none  of  the  ministerial  money  until  1826. 

Its  membership  was  chiefly  from  the  northeast  part  of  the 
town.  The  meetings  were  held  in  the  **Mill  District"  school- 
house.  This  was  situated  in  the  Branchview  cemetery  near  Mr. 
Charles  Seymour's.  It  is  recalled  that  Elder  Lazarus  Riford 
preached  for  them,  and  Elder  Qreen,  a  travelling  elder.  Mr. 
Riford  lived  for  a  time  in  the  brick  house  near  ** Pierce's"  mills. 
Elder  Lyman  Ames,  son  of  Jesse  Ames,  a  Royalton  boy,  was  also 
one  of  the  elders  who  preached  for  the  church.  Elder  Rollins 
from  East  Randolph  served  for  a  time.  He  was  editor  of  an 
anti-masonic  paper.    Elder  Knights  was  another  preacher. 

32 


498  HmroBT  op  BorAiiiOK,  Yboioiit 

It  is  related  of  Elder  Amet,  that  one  time  nhen  ke  waa  to 
hold  eerviees  at  the  aehoolhoniie,  two  diarepntable  men  eame  into 
the  room  and  took  seatB  on  either  nde  of  the  dedc  Soon  after 
Elder  Ames  came  in  from  the  cemetery,  took  his  aeat  imdia- 
torbed  between  the  two,  and  announced  for  his  text^  "He  wa 
cmcified  between  two  thieves.'' 

Some  of  the  members  and  anpporters  of  thiQ  efamdi 
Dea.  William  Bingham,  who  married  a  rister  of  Elder 
Joab  Young,  Daniel  Woodward,  Sen.,  Dea.  Ebenenr  Woodward, 
Jeremiah  Bust  and  wife,  James  KenworOiy  and  wife,  Thomai 
and  Mary  Eenworthy,  and  Gardner  Lyman,  wlio  was  a  nahni 
exhorter.  The  membcnihip  seems  never  to  have  been  ynaej  Is^n 
though  the  attendance  on  the  services  was  enou|^  to  fill  the  litib 
schoolhouse.  In  the  division  of  the  ministerial  money  in  1831 
it  was  given  as  twenty.  The  church  was  drawing  its  ahare  of 
this  fund  as  late  as  1855. 

Baptisms  took  place  in  the  First  Branch,  dose  at  hand.  It 
is  told  of  Mr.  Young,  that  when  he  was  baptised,  he  waa  so  feeibb 
that  he  had  to  sit  in  a  chair  by  the  stream. 

After  the  removal  of  the  Methodist  church  to  South  Boy- 
alton,  the  Christian  church  ceased  to  exist 

THS  OATHQLIO  CHUBGH. 

There  is  no  indication  in  the  town  records  that  any  CatfaoUe 
society  or  church  existed  in  Bpyalton  during  the  first  eentmy  of 
its  existence,  though  it  is  probable  that  there  were,  from  time  to 
time,  residents  in  town  of  that  persuasion.  After  the  advent  of 
the  railroad  a  few  Catholic  families  connected  with  the  V.  C. 
R.  R.  removed  to  Royalton. 

Services  were  later  held  in  South  Royalton  occasionally,  but 
it  was  not  made  a  mission  until  toward  the  end  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  From  Rev.  James  L.  Fenders  of  Randolph  it  is  learned 
that,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Catholic  families  living  in  South  Roj- 
alton  and  surrounding  towns,  services  were  held  ''in  the  town 
of  Sharon  from  the  year  1884  to  the  year  1899,  in  which  year 
Rev.  E.  C.  Drowhin  of  Woodstock,  Vt.,  who  was  appointed  to 
the  charge  of  the  mission,  made  South  Royalton  as  a  center  for 
the  Catholics  living  in  South  Royalton,  Royalton,  Tunbridge. 
and  Sharon.  Rev.  E.  C.  Drowhin  had  charge  of  this  mission, 
1899-1900,  when  Rev.  Jos.  Therieu  of  Windsor  succeeded  him, 
and  had  charge  of  the  mission  until  the  year  1903,  when  Rev. 
Jas.  L.  Fenders  of  Randolph,  Vt.,  who  is  the  present  pastor,  to<* 
charge  of  the  mission.  At  present  services  are  held  the  first 
Sunday  of  the  month  in  Hewitt's  Hall,  at  9  o'clock.'* 

This  denomination  began  drawing  its  share  of  the  ministerial 
fund  about  1900,  and  so  continues  to  do.  The  number  of  Catho- 
lic families  in  town  is  comparativdy  smalL 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


The  Banks, 
the  royalton  bank. 

Contributed  by  A.  W.  Kenney,  Esq.,  Lakewood,  N.  J. 

The  first  bank  in  Royalton  was  chartered  by  the  (Jeneral 
Assembly  of  said  state,  Nov.  30,  1853,  under  the  name  of  **The 
Bank  of  Royalton,"  with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  divided  into  2,000 
shares  of  fifty  dollars  each.  Chester  Baxter,  William  Skinner, 
Stoddard  B.  Colby,  Solon  Danforth,  Daniel  L.  Lyman,  William 
W.  White,  Russell  Hyde,  E.  B.  Chase,  and  Philander  D.  Brad- 
ford were  named  in  the  charter  as  commissioners  to  receive  sub- 
scriptions for  the  capital  stock  of  the  bank,  and  the  stock  was 
subscribed  in  February,  1854. 

The  bank  was  organized  March  10,  1854,  by  the  election  of 
William  Skinner,  Daniel  L.  Lyman,  Solon  Danforth,  George  Ly- 
man, E.  D.  Briggs,  Perley  C.  Jones,  and  Ziba  Sprague  as  its  first 
board  of  directors.  On  March  24,  1854,  William  Skinner  was 
elected  president,  and  Newton  Kellogg  of  Rutland,  cashier,  and 
the  first  bills  of  the  bank  were  issued  June  7,  1854. 

Newton  Kellogg  resigned  the  office  of  cashier  Oct.  2,  1854, 
and  Lucius  L.  Tilden,  then  cashier  of  the  White  River  Bank  at 
Bethel,  was  elected  his  successor.  January  9,  1855,  the  same 
board  of  directors  was  re-elected,  excepting  Gteorge  Lyman,  who 
was  succeeded  by  Charles  Baxter.  Jan.  8,  1856,  the  same  board 
was  re-elected,  excepting  Hiram  Moore  was  chosen  in  place  of 
Chester  Baxter.  Perley  C.  Jones  resigned  the  office  of  director 
September  23,  1856,  and  Aaron  King  was  appointed  by  the  other 
directors  to  succeed  him.  January  13,  1857,  the  board  was  still 
further  changed  by  the  election  of  Dudley  C.  Denison  in  place  of 
E.  D.  Briggs.  L.  L.  Tilden  resigned  the  office  of  cashier  March 
3,  1857,  and  William  H.  Baxter  of  Barton  was  elected  in  his 
stead,  but  Mr.  Tilden  continued  by  the  request  of  the  directors 
to  assist  Mr.  Baxter  in  the  bank  tiU  April  1st  following. 

During  the  autumn  of  1857  the  bank  sujffered  large  losses 
by  insolvent  debtors,  and  the  last  of  October  it  suspended  the 
redemption  of  its  circulating  bills  in  Boston  and  at  its  counter. 
Jan.  12,  1858,  Hiram  Moore,  Daniel  L.  Lyman,  Ziba  Sprague, 


800  HisiQBr  OP  BouiABT,  Yboioiit 

Aanm  N.  King,  Perl^  C.  Joom,  An  W.  Kemiqr,  aai  inilim 
H.  Baxter  were  eleeted  dneetan^  and  Perk^  G.  JoDfli  warn  daeled 
preaident,  which  oflBce  he  eontinned  to  hold  bgr  realeetipo  till 
January  9,  1866.  The  new  boaxd  of  direeton  whlMNit  ddqr 
made  great  eflforta  to  eoDeet  monqr  enoni^  on  the  oferdne  iMta 
to  tibe  bank  to  enable  it  to  leaame  bnnnea,  wfaieh  had  been  abutt 
aospended  from  November  lat  Failing  to  laias  mooij  in  Hm 
way,  th^  borrowed  it  on  their  private  nofee^  and  tha  bank  waa 
thna  enabled  to  resume  bnaineai  and  the  ledeniption  of  ita  air- 
eolation  Feb.  24,  1858. 

Hiram  Moore,  one  of  the  direeton^  died  May  29, 185B.  Janu- 
ary 11,  1859,  the  direetoTi  of  the  previona  year  were  re-daetadt 
except  that  Silas  H.  Clark  succeeded  WnUam  H.  Baxter,  and 
Qeorge  W.  Bradstreet  took  the  place  of  Hiram  Moore,  deeeaaed. 
Mr.  Claris  amm  after  resigned.  Angost  2, 1859,  William  H.  Bax- 
ter  resigned  the  office  of  cashier  to  tdce  effect  on  the  9th  insL, 
and  Aaa  W.  Eenn^  was  elected  cashier,  which  office  he  oentiniMd 
to  hold  till  "The  Naticmal  Bank  of  B<^ton,''  which  aneeeeded 
this  bank,  was  closed  in  1882. 

In  consequence  of  losses  sustained  by  the  bank  in  1857,  tti 
capital  was  reduced  l^  an  act  of  the  Legialature,  Nov.  18,  1859, 
to  $50,000.  January  10,  1860,  the  number  of  directora  waa  re- 
duced l^  a  vote  of  tiie  stockholders  to  five,  and  Perh^  C.  Jona^ 
Aaron  N.  King,  Ziba  Sprague,  Asa  W.  Kmney^  and  B.  BL  Hyde 
were  elected,  but  Mr.  Hyde  soon  resigned.  Jan*  8,  1861,  the 
same  board  of  directors  was  re-elected,  except  that  R.  H.  Hyde 
was  succeeded  by  Chester  Downer,  and  this  board  was  c(mtinued 
in  ofSce  by  re-election  till  Jan.  9,  1866.  At  the  last  mentioned 
date  Chester  Downer,  Asa  W.  Eenney,  Dudley  C.  Denison, 
Crosby  Miller,  and  Phineas  D.  Pierce  were  elected  directors,  and 
continued  to  be  re-elected  directors  till  the  close  of  the  National 
Bank  in  1882.  Chester  Downer  was  elected  president  of  the  bank 
Jan.  30,  1866,  and  was  continued  in  that  office  by  j^titiihiI  re- 
election till  Jan.  17,  1879,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Crosl^ 
Miller,  who  was  re-elected  to  said  office  as  long  as  the  bank  con- 
tinued. 

The  Comptroller  of  the  Currency  claimed  that  New  England 
had  received  under  the  United  States  law  for  establishing  na- 
tional banks  more  than  her  proportionate  share  of  circulating 
notes,  and  would  not  grant  leave  for  the  conversion  of  this  bank 
into  a  national  bank,  until  the  directors  had  executed  a  paper 
waiving  all  claim  on  behalf  of  the  bank  for  circulating  notes, 
which  tiiey  did.  On  the  16th  day  of  September,  1867,  ^  bank 
was  converted  under  the  laws  of  the  United  States  into  ''The 
National  Bank  of  Boyalton,"  No.  1673,  and  its  capital  was  in- 
creased March  7,  1868,  $50,000,  making  the  whole  capital  $100,- 


History  of  Botalton,  Vermont  501 

000.  After  this  the  directors  learned  that  by  buying  the  notes 
in  circulation  of  national  banks  which  had  failed  or  gone  into 
liquidation,  and  surrendering  them  to  the  Comptroller  at  Wash- 
ington, they  could  obtain  from  him  circulating  notes  to  an  equal 
amount  for  their  own  bank,  and  this  they  did,  paying  par  and 
three  or  four  per  cent,  premium  for  the  broken  bank  notes,  until 
they  had  obtained  in  this  way  $90,000,  being  their  full  quota  of 
circulation. 

On  the  night  of  April  26,  1870,  the  bank  vault  was  blown 
open  by  burglars,  and  the  walls  of  the  banking  house  were  badly 
damaged  by  the  explosion,  but  they  did  not  succeed  in  breaking 
the  safe  in  the  vault,  and  they  carried  oflf  only  about  five  dollars 
of  nickels  then  lying  in  the  vault.  In  consequence  of  the  dam- 
aged condition  of  the  vault  and  building  the  bank  was  removed 
May  14, 1870,  to  South  Royalton,  about  two  miles  distant.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  and  autumn  of  1871  the  vault  and  banking  house 
were  repaired,  and  the  bank  was  moved  back  to  its  old  quarters 
Oct.  23,  1871.  Phineas  D.  Pierce  was  elected  vice-president  of 
the  bank  Jan.  12,  1875,  and  was  annually  re-elected  till  the  close 
of  the  bank. 

Lyman  A.  Peck,  a  resident  of  Royalton,  on  the  8th  day  of 
October,  1877,  broke  into  the  banking  house  for  the  purpose  of 
stealing  money  from  the  drawer  of  the  counter,  while  the  cashier 
was  at  dinner,  but  the  money  was  safely  locked  in  the  vault  so 
that  he  obtained  none,  but  he  was  tried  and  sentenced  to  the 
state  prison  for  five  years  for  his  luckless  exploit.  On  the  night 
of  October  17,  1881,  burglars  again  entered  the  bank  and  drilled 
through  the  outer  brick  wall  of  the  vault  to  the  heavy  granite 
wall,  and  with  powder  or  some  other  explosive,  blew  out  a  few 
bricks  and  broke  the  windows,  but  obtained  no  money. 

For  some  time  previous  to  this  the  local  demand  for  loans 
was  not  enough  to  keep  the  money  of  the  bank  in  use,  and  some 
foreign  commercial  paper  was  purchased  on  which  considerable 
losses  were  suffered,  and  banking  on  such  paper  was  so  unsafe, 
that  the  directors  deemed  it  best  for  the  bank  to  go  into  voluntary 
liquidation.  Jan.  10,  1882,  the  stockholders  accordingly  voted 
to  close  the  bank.  In  less  than  six  months  thereafter  all  liabili- 
ties were  paid,  and  the  stock  at  par  was  paid  back  to  the  stock- 
holders. Afterwards  they  were  paid  by  the  bank  $21,000  on  the 
capital  of  $100,000,  it  being  one  and  one-fifth  per  cent,  more 
than  par.  The  banking  house  was  sold  to  the  town  of  Royalton 
for  the  town  clerk's  oflSce. 

The  following  is  a  letter  from  the  president  of  the  bank : 

"Pomfret,  Vt,  March  25,  1889. 
A.  W.  Kenney,  Esq., 

Dear  Sir: 
Tour  favor  of  2l8t  inst.  is  rec'd  and  checks  found  enclosed  as 


502  History  of  BoYAiiiON,  Ysbmont 

stated.    I  am  much  gratified  that  the  old  bank  is  fully  dosed  up  dur- 
ing our  life  time,  and  is  closed  so  favorably. 

I  should  have  been  much  pleased  to  have  had  the  fall  board  of 
directors  together  when  final  action  was  had»  and  to  have  placed  on 
record  a  vote  recognizing  your  faithful  service  as  cashier. 

I  think  the  stockholders  are  under  great  obll^Uions  to  3roa  and 
would  all  be  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  express  their  iMPPreclation  of 
your  untiring  service  in  their  interest. 

I  take  this  occasion  to  express  my  own  earnest  thanka  for  your 
zeal  and  fidelity  in  the  Interest  of  the  bank,  and  for  your  uniform 
consideration  and  courtesy  to  me  personally  as  an  oflicer 

Very  truly  yonrs» 

Crosby  MiUer." 

THE  SOUTH   ROYALTON  BANK. 

The  South  Royalton  Bank  was  organized  under  the  general 
banking  law  of  Nov.  17,  1851.  This  law  required  securities  in 
public  stocks  and  real  estate.  Daniel  Tarbell,  Jr.,  was  the  prime 
mover  in  establishing  the  bank,  as  he  was  of  almost  every  other 
enterprise  in  South  Royalton  for  the  first  few  years  of  its  exist- 
ence* The  modus  operandi  was  to  take  deeds  of  farms  in  Roy- 
alton and  adjoining  towns,  mortgage  the  land  to  the  bank,  and 
then  turn  the  mortgages  into  the  State  Treasury.  Some  of  the 
Boyalton  men  thus  deeding  their  farms  were  Lyman  Benson, 
Elisha  Flint,  Cyrus  Safford,  Phineas  Pierce,  Joseph  Johnson, 
Simon  Sanborn,  and  Lorenzo  Mosher.  Mr.  Tarbell  mortgaged 
his  own  property  heavily  and  turned  in  these  mortgages. 

According  to  a  report  of  the  Commissioner  of  Banks  issued 
in  1852,  the  status  of  the  South  Royalton  Bank  on  July  19th  of 

that  year  was  as  follows : 

"Resources: — Virginia  Stocks,  $50,000;  Bonds  and  Mortgages, 
$11,400;  Notes  and  Bills  discounted,  $58,315.04;  Bills  of  solvent  Banks, 
$931;  Specie,  $1,936.36;  Due  from  Hanover  Bank,  N.  Y.,  $9,600;  Profits, 
$628.76;   Total  Resources,  $132,816.75. 

Liabilities:— Capital,— Virginia  Stocks,  $50,000;  Capital,  Bonds  and 
Mortgages,  $11,400;  Circulation,  $59,495;  Due  Thompson  ft  Brothers, 
and  Wetherbee  &  Co.,  $1,553.75;  Due  Depositors,  $9,509.30;  Due  Farmers 
ft  Mechanics  Bank,  $99;  Expense  account,  $473.80;  Total  Liabilities, 
$132,530.85.     Surplus,   $285.90. 

No  bad  or  doubtful  debts  are  known  to  exist. 

Six  months  interest,  amounting  to  $1,500,  has  been  collected  on  the 
Virginia  Bonds,  and  a  dividend  of  $2,000  was  made  July  1,  1852. 

The  Indebtedness  of  the  Directors,  which  the  law  requires  the 
Commissioner  to  report,  appears  to  be  $12,787. 

Bills  for  circulation,  amounting  to  $61,400  have  been  received  from 
the  State  Treasurer;  of  which  $59,495  are  in  circulation,  and  $1,905 
on  hand. 

D.  Tarbell,  Jr.,  President,  Sam'l  H.  Stowell,  Cashier. 

Directors. — D.  Tarbell,  Jr.,  D.  W.  Cowdery,  Chester  Clark,  Solomon 
Downer,  and  Edmund  Weston;   who  have  executed  bonds  for  the  re- 
.demption  of  their  bills,  in  case  the  public  Stocks  and  Mortgages  should 
prove  insufficient. 


History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont  608 

The  Association  was  formed  December  8,  1851,  and  the  Bank  was 
organized  under  arUcles  of  agreement  of  that  date,  to  continue  In  for^ 
unUl  the  1st  of  January,  1872,  with  an  authorized  capital  of  $250,000. 
All  monies  received  of  Individuals  composing  the  Association,  have 
been  expended  In  the  purchase  of  Virginia  Bonds,  at  a  premium  of 
about  six  per  cent  This  stock  Is  now  worth  about  12  per  cent.  In  the 
market  By  a  vote  of  the  Association,  March  22,  $25,000  was  added 
to  the  capital,  and  $25,000  more  by  a  vote  of  the  3d  of  July;  of  these 
two  additions,  only  $11,400  appears  to  have  been  paid  In  at  the  time 
of  the  examination,  and  that  In  Bonds  and  Mortgages. 

By  the  Articles  of  the  Association,  the  Stock  Is  pledged  by  the 
owner,  for  all  debts  due  from  him  to  the  Bank,  and  loans  are  made  on 
this  security,  reckoning  the  Stock  at  par.  No  restrictions  have  been 
imposed  on  Directors,  Stockholders,  or  others,  limiting  the  amount  of 
their  indebtedness,  as  in  the  case  of  chartered  Banks.  The  law  of 
1840,  prohibiting  loans  on  pledge  of  Stock,  and  confining  the  Indebted- 
ness of  Directors  to  5  per  cent,  and  all  others  to  10  per  cent,  on  the 
capital,  has  not  been  treated  as  applicable  to  Banks  organized  under 
the  act  of  1851. 

This  is  the  first  experiment  within  the  State,  under  the  General 
Banking  Law;  and  it  must  be  regretted  that  the  Association  have  at- 
tempted to  set  up  a  Bank,  without  so  much  as  one  dollar  of  toorking 
capital.  It  would,  at  least,  have  been  more  prudent,  to  have  retained 
a  portion  of  their  cash  in  the  vault  of  the  Bank.  No  Bank  can  do  a 
regular  and  permanent  business  on  circulation  alone;  unless  their 
facilities  are  much  greater  for  circulation  than  most  Banks  enjoy.  But 
there  is  nothing  In  the  law,  nor  In  the  articles  of  Association,  to  pre- 
clude the  Stockholders  from  devoting  a  portion  of  their  future  assess- 
ments to  a  permanent  cash  capital,  to  remain  In  the  Bank,  as  a  basis 
for  the  transaction  of  business.  This  should  be  done.  Working  Capi- 
tal will  be  found  as  necessary  for  this  Bank,  as  for  the  chartered 
Banks;  and  may  be  dispensed  with  In  one  case,  as  well  as  the  other. 

The  Virginia  Bonds,  on  which  $50,000  In  bills  have  been  Issued, 
will  bring  $56,000  under  the  hammer;  and  the  Mortgages  are  on  im- 
proved farms,  at  three-fifths  their  value,  exclusive  of  buildings.  These 
securities,  backed  by  the  Directors'  bonds,  must  Insure  the  redemption 
of  the  bills,  beyond  all  reasonable  doubt." 

In  the  Commissioner's  report  for  the  next  year  he  stated 
that  the  profits  were  $1,648.09,  the  dividends  in  January,  $3,000, 
in  July,  $3,864,  the  indebtedness  of  the  directors,  $72,560.85,  and 
the  bills  in  circulation  amounted  to  $96,221.  The  oflfieers  were 
the  same,  except  Azro  D.  Hutehins  was  now  the  cashier.  The 
Commissioner,  Gteorge  C.  West,  reported  very  depreciatingly  re- 
garding the  bank,  apparently  going  out  of  his  way  to  heap  scath- 
ing words  upon  the  Free  Banking  System,  and  this  bank  in  par- 
ticular. In  fulfilling  his  duty  he  adverts  to  two  writs,  one 
against  Mr.  Tarbell,  and  the  other  against  the  bank,  the  latter 
served  by  the  order  of  the  Suffolk  Bank  of  Boston.  He  ends, 
**  Notwithstanding  the  dark  clouds  which  seem  to  overshadow  this 
Bank,  I  must  renew  my  assurance,  that  the  final  redemption  of 
its  bills  is  substantially  secured;  and  that  there  can  be  no  rea- 
sonable apprehension  of  a  failure  on  that  score."  That  being 
the  case  it  occurs  to  an  impartial  thinker  at  this  late  day  to  ask. 


504  HiBTOBT  OP  BOTAIiTOK,  VlBliaMT 

Why  then,  so  bitterly  and  acomfnlly  denonnce  the  system  and 
the  operations  of  this  particnlar  btmkt  Snch  a  public  attack 
could  result  in  only  one  way — serious  injury  to  the  bank  in  ques- 
tion. 

^Ir.  TarbelL  whose  pen  was  dipped  in  keenest  satire,  (m  Nov. 
2,  1853.  printed  in  the  ''Oreen  Mountain  Herald,"  located  at 
Randolph,  the  report  of  the  Commissioner,  and  followed  it  with 
a  reply,  answering  the  strictures  of  Mr.  West  Regarding  the 
charge  that  bills  were  not  redeemed  on  presentation,  he  said  that 
few  individuals  presented  bills  for  redemption,  and  in  almost 
every  instance  their  requests  were  honored,  but  certain  banks, 
he  understood,  had  engaged  a  notary  to  pick  up  the  South  Roy- 
alton  Bank  bills  and  present  them  for  payment,  and  in  such  cases 
the  bank  suited  its  own  convenience  in  redeeming  them.  This  is 
given,  as  in  part  an  explanation  of  the  cause  of  the  failure  of 
the  bank.  Every  one  knows  how  important  it  is  to  the  existence 
of  any  institution,  that  it  retain  the  confidence  of  the  public  deal- 
ing with  it. 

The  case  of  the  Suffolk  Bank  of  Boston  is  fully  treated  by 
Mr.  Tarbell  in  his  autobiography.  His  account  of  the  matter  in 
brief  is,  that  the  South  Royalton  Bank  did  not  maintain  a  de- 
posit with  the  Suffolk  Bank,  and  do  business  through  this  bank 
as  a  medium  of  exchange.  When  the  South  Royalton  Bank  was 
first  organized  it  had  some  correspondence  with  this  Suffolk  Bank 
regarding  the  redemption  of  its  bills,  and  offered  to  make  ar- 
rangements for  so  doing  in  Boston,  but  when  it  learned  that  it 
must  make  a  permanent  deposit  of  $2,000  or  $3,000.  it  took  no 
further  action  in  the  matter.  The  last  correspondence  with  this 
Suffolk  Bank  regarding  the  redemption  of  bills,  which  was  pub- 
lished in  the  ** Green  Mountain  Herald,'*  Nov.  9,  1853,  was  dated 
July  17,  1852,  so  in  the  natural  course  of  business  the  Suffolk 
Bank  would  have  acquired  a  considerable  amount  of  South  Roy- 
alton Bank  bills  before  they  were  presented  for  redemption, 
especially  as  they  say,  *'the  daily  receipts  of  your  bills  are  large." 
The  cashier.  S.  H.  Stowell,  acting  under  instructions,  no  doubt, 
had  asked  for  better  terms  of  redemption  than  were  tendered  to 
the  chartered  banks,  on  the  ground  that  their  bills  were  better 
secured  and  safe-guarded. 

Mr.  Tarbell  claimed  that  the  Suffolk  Bank  was  intentionally 
working  against  their  interests,  and  gathered  in  $45,000  of  their 
bills.  It  then  sent  an  agent,  Mr.  Wyman,  with  this  pile,  expect- 
ing so  large  a  sum  could  not  be  redeemed,  ilr.  Wyman  tele- 
graphed to  Norman  Williams  of  Woodstock,  a  notary  public,  to 
come  and  protest  the  bills  for  non-payment.  Mr.  Williams  could 
not  reach  South  Royalton  until  the  next  day,  and  Mr.  Tarbell 
had  a  writ  made  out  charging  the  Suffolk  Bank  with  malicious 


History  of  Botalton,  Vermont  505 

intent  to  break  the  bank  without  a  cause.  A  writ  of  attachment 
was  served  on  the  bag  of  $45,000,  and  Mr.  Wyman  placed  under 
arrest.  The  president  of  the  Suffolk  Bank  was  summoned.  They 
were  three  days  in  securing  counsel.  They  got  possession  of  the 
bag  by  a  replevin  writ,  and  a  bond  for  twice  the  amount  claimed. 

They  then  appeared  at  the  bank  to  get  the  specie.  They 
were  informed  that  the  bank  would  redeem  the  one-dollar  bills. 
By  the  time  they  were  counted  out,  re-counted  by  cashier  Stowell, 
and  the  cash  counted  out,  it  was  two  o'clock,  and  the  bank  closed. 
The  bills  were  exchanged  for  Chelsea  or  White  Biver  Bank  bills, 
presented  at  those  banks,  the  specie  obtained,  and  the  bank  was 
ready  the  next  day  to  redeem  the  two-dollar  bills.  No  bill  was 
protested,  and  the  Suffolk  Bank  assured  them  that  they  would 
have  no  further  trouble  with  them.  The  suit,  however,  which 
Mr.  Tarbell  brought  against  the  Suffolk  Bank  was  pressed,  and 
the  defendants  won,  the  case  was  appealed,  and  the  Supreme 
Court  affirmed  the  judgment  of  the  lower  court,  saying  that 
''malicious  intent"  was  not  proved. 

The  stockholders  were  divided  in  their  opinions  as  to  the 
policy  pursued  by  the  officials  of  the  bank,  and  as  there  was  so 
much  opposition  from  other  banks,  Mr.  Tarbell  finally  resigned 
as  president,  and  David  W.  Cowdery  succeeded  him.  James 
Moore  became  one  of  the  directors.  Those  opposed  to  the  bank 
next  got  a  bill  through  the  legislature  providing  that,  if  any  per- 
son who  was  on  the  bond  of  the  bank  should  become  dissatisfied, 
the  bank  should  release  him  and  supply  a  man  in  his  place  within 
ten  days.  Solomon  Downer  gave  his  notice,  and,  as  that  led  to 
a  feeling  of  insecurity,  no  one  would  take  his  place.  The  State 
appointed  Heman  Carpenter  of  Northfield  as  Receiver.  Mr.  Tar- 
bell claimed  that  the  assets  of  the  bank,  represented  by  public 
stocks,  sold  in  New  York  at  a  premium.  Bills  were  brought  to 
foreclose  mortgages  and  bonds.  Strenuous  efforts  were  made  to 
save  the  bank,  but  it  became  involved  in  numerous  lawsuits,  and 
it  was  impossible  to  rehabilitate  it.  Bufus  H.  Hyde,  a  director 
of  the  Orange  County  Bank  at  Chelsea,  which  bank  was  a  cred- 
itor, pressed  their  claims,  and  to  satisfy  them  the  shareholders  in 
several  cases  had  to  mortgage  everything  they  had.  Mr.  Hyde 
got  a  decree  of  foreclosure  on  the  bank,  Feb.  7,  1855.  The  bank 
seems  to  have  become  extinct  in  1856,  but  lawsuits  and  the 
settlement  of  claims  continued  for  ten  or  more  years.  Mr.  Tar- 
bell claimed  that  he  lost  $50,000  by  the  failure  of  this  bank, 
which  failure  he  attributed  to  unjust  treatment  by  other  banks, 
and  not  to  any  fault  in  its  organization  or  methods  of  doing  busi- 
ness. 

Judging  from  the  history  of  banking  in  the  last  half  cen- 
tury, it  would  seem  that  the  South  Boyalton  Bank  was  estab- 


506  Hmonr  or  Bozuaohi,  Y: 


lifihed  on  a  safe  baau,  and  if  it  kad  not  azonwd  oypoaliiflp,  or 
had  been  a  trifle  more  taetfnl  in  ill  relation  with  other  boodDi^ 
it  woold,  i>erhap8,  have  been  able  to  eloae  np  iti  reeord  witli  no 
aeriona  loss  to  shareholdeza  and  thoae  holding  its  bUis.  It  ia 
said  that  one  of  its  sharehoMera  committed  snieide  on  aeeonnt 
of  melancholy  at  the  loas  of  all  hia  propertj. 

The  lack  of  a  bank  in  town  ia  aerioody  felt  by  bouMfla  nm. 
Its  place  has  to  be  supplied  in  both  viOagea  by  one  or  two  lAo 
are  able  to  acconmiodate  applieants  presenting  eheeka  and  draHs^ 
or  else  a  joom^  to  a  ndg^iboring  town  is  neeessaiy.  The  Mo- 
tional White  River  Bank  of  B^hd  has  very  veeantty  made 
arrangements  with  Tarbell  ft  Whitham  to  reeeive  money  en 
deposit,  and  to  cash  checks  and  drafta. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 


Town  Peopbbty. 

By  the  terms  of  the  charter  granted  to  Eoyalton  by  the  State 
of  Vermont,  there  were  five  public  rights,  viz.,  the  college  right, 
the  grammar  school  right,  the  first  minister's  right,  the  Gospel 
right,  and  the  town  school  right,  each  containing  300  acres.  The 
first  was  pitched  by  the  prudential  committee  appointed  by  the 
proprietors,  in  the  north  end  of  the  Simpson  Lot,  the  second  in 
the  south  end  of  the  same  lot,  100  acres  of  the  third  in  E.  11 
L.  A.,  200  acres  of  the  third  in  W.  40  L.  A.,  the  fourth  was 
pitched  in  Lot  3  L.  A.,  and  the  fifth  in  E.  52  Town  Plot. 

Under  the  New  York  charter  no  provision  whatever  was 
made  for  public  rights,  and  none  in  the  deed  of  partition,  unless 
the  1,000-acre  lot  was  intended  for  such  purposes.  This  lot  is 
only  incidentally  mentioned  in  giving  boundaries  of  each  lot,  as 
''one  thousand  acres  laid  out  for  Simpson."  Careful  research 
and  inquiry  has  failed  to  reveal  who  or  what  this  Simpson  was. 
The  settlers  in  Boyalton  previous  to  1781  did  not  seem  to  have 
any  right  in  it. 

They  had  not  long  been  organized  as  a  town,  when,  on  July 
12,  1779,  they  voted  to  choose  a  committee  to  **Procuear  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  for  the  first  settled  minister  in  this  Town," 
and  chose  Comfort  Sever,  Medad  Benton,  and  Esquire  Morgan 
to  procure  the  land  **and  see  that  the  subscription"  (the  rest 
illegible).  If  this  was  done,  the  record  of  it  was  probably  de- 
stroyed at  the  burning  of  Royalton.  There  is  no  record  of  the 
action  of  the  proprietors  in  authorizing  their  committee,  John 
Hibbard,  Calvin  Parkhurst,  and  Comfort  Sever  to  buy  for  them 
thirty  acres  of  Elisha  Kent,  June  6,  1780,  for  which  they  were 
to  pay  £100.  The  deed  did  not  say  for  what  purpose  the  pur- 
chase was  made,  but  the  committee  was  acting  under  the  author- 
ity of  the  proprietors.  This  thirty  acres  seems  to  be  identical 
with  the  thirty  which  the  proprietors  instructed  the  selectmen  in 
1781  to  buy  of  Elisha  Kent,  giving  him  the  Clapp  lot  in  exchange. 
No  record  of  this  deed  is  found.  This  land  lay  on  the  west  or 
south  side  of  White  river,  between  Daniel  Rix  and  Medad  Ben- 
ton. 


608  HisvoBT  or  Botiiaom;  Y: 


The  same  year  mme  negotiatkns  mate  eairied  en  witk  Uba 
Ion  Lyon,  who  doobtlen  fhoofl^t  it  would  be  better  to  lisfo  tte 
miniBter  settled  in  his  part  of  the  town.  Abeofdini^  aft  Ika 
Bfarch  meeting  a  committee  was  chosen  to  make  an 
but  it  was  not  effiected.  This  waa  probably  the  same 
which  the  proprietors  aeted  on  in  June,  tar  tihegTaaj,  "the  pei^ 
dential  conmiittee  shall  give  Lntet  Lion  a  good  Deed  of  the  daft 
Lot  and  the  proprietors  will  scape  lliem  from  hann."  The  tm- 
son  that  the  exchange  waa  not  eonsmnmated  may  be  pnt|y  dw 
to  the  fact  that  th^  had  thus  fsr  been  nnsoeeesifal  in  pwicuriig 
a  minister.  Then,  too^  there  most  hscve  been  some  0|»poaiUMi 
to  the  exchange,  for  at  an  adjoomed  meeting  in  January,  ITOI^ 
th^  voted  not  to  Exchange  with  Lienl  I^yon,  and  chose  a  eonh 
mittee  to  draw  np  a  subscription  pai>er  for  labor  to  be  done  on 
the  ministerial  lot  From  this  we  may  infer  that  the  lot  was 
yet  a  wilderness,  and  would  not  be  very  attractive  to  the  ordSnaiy 
clergyman.  Benjamin  Parkhurst  senred  with  three  lieatenanli 
and  one  captain  of  this  committee,  truly  a  martial  iMmd. 

Before  the  first  settled  minister,  Bev.  John  Searle,  came  to 
Boyalton,  there  was  provision  made  for  flie  first  settled  min- 
ister by  the  Vermont  charter,  so  that  instead  of  a  paltry  thirty 
acres,  he  was  to  receive  300  acres.  The  value,  however,  of  Ab 
thirty  acres  was  much  more  than  that  of  the  200  aeres  in  Lot 
40  L.  A.,  situated  as  this  lot  of  thirty  acres  was,  on  the  rinrar, 
and  cleared  to  a  greater  or  kas  extent  hy  Tote  of  the  town.  Ifr. 
Searle  seems  to  have  consented  readily  to  accept  the  thirty  aeres 
in  lieu  of  the  200-acre  lot,  and  gave  tiie  town  a  quitclaim  to  the 
200-acre  lot  and  his  after-dividon.  This  agreement  was  carried 
into  effect  May  8,  1787,  through  the  selectmen,  Abel  Stevens, 
Elias  Stevens,  and  Benjamin  Parkhurst. 

Mr.  Lyon  had  not  relinquished  his  efforts  to  get  the  minister 
to  reside  nearer  the  center  of  the  town,  where  he  had  built  a 
meeting-house.  He  was  so  far  successful  that  a  meeting  was 
called  Apr.  24,  1788,  when  they  voted  to  exchange  ''ye  two  hun- 
dred acre  Lot  belonging  to  ye  Town  with  Mr.  Zebulon  Lyon  for 
forty  acres  of  his  Land  below  ye  meeting  house  being  part  of 
ye  Brewster  Lot  &  a  part  on  ye  Lot  Sd  Lyons  now  Dwelling 
house  stands  on."  They  gave  him,  also,  the  after-division  be- 
longing to  the  town  in  addition  to  tlie  200-acre  lot. 

There  remained  of  ministerial  land  in  the  hands  of  the  town 
the  forty-acre  lot.  When  Mr.  Searle  had  to  relinquish  his  min- 
istry, and  an  effort  was  made  to  secure  another  pastor,  diffierent 
individuals  not  named  gave  the  town  for  the  purpose  of  settling 
a  minister,  eleven  and  one-half  acres.  This  gift  was  probably 
provisionary,  and  as  they  did  not  secure  the  clergyman  for  whose 


History  of  Botalton,  Vermont  509 

benefit  the  gift  was  made,  it  was  probably  never  really  secured 
to  the  town. 

Under  date  of  Sep.  24,  1792,  an  article  in  the  warning  for 
a  town  meeting  related  to  the  choosing  of  an  agent  to  petition 
the  Assembly  to  order  the  administrators  of  the  estate  of  Calvin 
Parkhurst  to  give  the  town  a  deed  of  the  Gates  Lot,  which  Mr. 
Parkhurst  had  purchased  for  the  town.  They  first  voted  to  do 
so,  then  reconsidered.  There  is  no  record  of  Mr.  Parkhurst 's 
having  been  authorized  by  the  town  to  buy  this  lot,  and  if  the 
purchase  was  made,  the  writings  probably  had  not  been  drawn 
at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1791.    No  further  mention  of  it  occurs. 

The  land  sold  Mr.  Lyon  fell  short  on  measurement,  and  the 
matter  was  considered  in  town  meeting  Dec.  6,  1796,  and  Mr. 
Lyon  was  reimbursed  from  the  town  treasury. 

The  warning  for  the  March  meeting,  1805,  contained  an  ar- 
ticle, "To  see  if  the  town  will  look  into  the  situation  of  the  Town 
lands  and  dispose  of  them  by  lease  or  otherwise  or  whether  they 
will  direct  any  suit  for  trespass."  A  committee  of  three  was 
chosen  to  look  after  the  lands,  and  the  rest  of  the  article  was 
ignored.  This  committee  reported  May  21st  that  no  trespasses 
of  any  consequence  had  been  committed  on  the  public  lands.  At 
this  time  Jacob  Smith,  Isaac  Skinner,  and  Nathan  Paige  were 
chosen  to  dispose  of  the  lands  by  lease  or  otherwise. 

The  effort  to  secure  the  school  lands  of  the  town  for  the 
support  of  a  grammar  school  at  the  center  of  the  town  failed  in 
1806. 

The  General  Assembly  passed  an  act  November  3,  1798,  em- 
powering the  selectmen  of  the  several  towns  in  the  State  to  take 
charge  of  or  lease  out  the  lands  granted  to  the  first  settled  min- 
ister, and  to  the  use  of  the  ministry.  This  right  was  implied  in 
the  charter,  but  this  action  of  the  legislature  made  such  action 
legal  beyond  any  question.  Towns  now  began  to  make  some  ef- 
fort to  obtain  returns  from  the  lands  devoted  to  the  support  of 
the  (Jospel.  By  this  act  of  the  legislature  leases  could  not  be 
made  for  a  longer  time  than  fifteen  years,  and  some  towns  found 
this  a  very  inconvenient  arrangement,  and  in  1803  the  law  was 
changed  so  that  the  time  was  not  limited.  The  first  restriction 
may  account  for  this  town  not  taking  action  in  the  matter  of 
leases  earlier  in  its  history. 

The  leasing  of  the  ministry  or  Gospel  lands  was  acted  on  by 
the  voters  of  1808.  They  instructed  the  selectmen  to  make  per- 
petual leases  of  the  right  of  land  laid  out  for  the  ministry.  The 
selectmen  thus  empowered  leased  on  June  1,  1810,  a  considerable 
part  of  Lot  3,  Large  Allotment,  the  Gospel  Bight,  to  George  Lam- 
phere  and  Nehemiah  Leavitt.  It  is  difficult  to  determine  from 
the  leases  just  which  part  each  had,  as  the  number  of  acres  is 


610  HisvoBT  or  BoriiAoir,  Y: 


not  given  nor  the  exact  poirtkm.  Mr.  Lesntt  Menis  to  hsva  kad 
the  western  part,  and  Mr.  Lamphero  the  eontheaitem  and  aid- 
die.  A  record  of  the  miniaterial  land  of  1838  grraa  tha 
phere  lot  as  containing  85  aeroa,  at  a  rental  of  $85.50, 
occnpants,  Eastman  and  Amaaa  Bcqree,  and  the  Lesntt  lot  aa 
having  109  acres,  rental,  $19.26,  George  Geny  preaont  ^f^"j^4 
On  Feb.  1, 1811,  a  part  of  the  Gospel  Bi|^  waa  leand  to  AaaM 
Davis  and  Daniel  Lovejogr,  148  roda  bj  65  roda^  at  a  rental  of 
$21.60.  In  1833  this  was  owned  bj  Benben  Spalding.  The  told 
snm  received  originally  from  thia  rii^t  waa  $78.60.  Thia  waa  at 
a  time  when  the  land  waa  in  a  wild  eonffitJon.  In  1900  tka 
snm  received  was  $54.76.  The  present  ownen  of  flia  land  an^ 
Fred  Howland,  W.  Bnrke,  Edmnnd  Bnrke,  Hn^^  G.  Ghnea, 
A.  T.  Davis,  Irving  G.  Adams,  Leon  W.  Holt,  and  Clarence 
Taylor. 

On  March  1,  1801,  James  Biggs  leased  John  G.  Biggs  one- 
half  of  a  coUege  lot  which  he  says  was  leased  him  Feb.  21at  of 
that  year,  bounded  north  on  Tnnbridge.  In  1803  John  G.  Biggi 
leased  to  Samnel  Metcalf,  Jr.  On  April  7,  1801,  the  Preeident 
of  the  Corporation  of  the  University  of  Vermont  leased  to  AJtea- 
ham  ScheUenger  100  acres  of  the  coUege  ri|^t  from  the  aontli 
end,  at  a  yearly  rental  of  sixteen  cents  an  acre,  the  first  rent  to 
be  i>aid  in  18(^.  Three  dajs  later  Mr.  ScheUenger  iMaed  Ae 
same  to  Hezekiah  Baker.  On  June  30,  1806,  the  Corporatioii  of 
the  U.  V.  M.  leased  to  Samnel  Metcalf,  Jr.,  sixty  and  one-half 
acres  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  college  right,  and  alao  ten 
and  one-half  acres  of  undivided  land,  and  the  same  day  leased 
him  sixty  and  one-half  acres  in  the  south  one-half  of  the  east  lot 
He  seems  to  have  had  the  eastern  side  of  this  lot.  This  lot  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  divided  by  unbroken  straight  Imes. 
The  present  owners  of  the  college  land  are  Mrs.  Arethnsa  Dut- 
ton,  Charles  E.  Spaulding,  F.  C.  Moulton,  and  J.  G.  Taylor. 

By  legislative  act  of  March  5,  1787,  each  school  district  was 
to  appoint  one  person,  who,  with  the  selectmen,  were  to  be  trus- 
tees of  schools  within  the  town,  and  one  of  their  i>owers  was  to 
lease  lands  and  real  estate.  No  leases  seem  to  have  been  made 
before  the  beginning  of  1809.  As  these  leases  all  read  very 
nearly  alike  and  the  conditions  may  be  of  interest  to  many,  the 
original  lease  of  the  school  land  of  100  acres  which  was  given  to 
Reuben  Ross  by  the  selectmen  and  one  from  each  district,  on 
Jan.  6,  1809,  herewith  follows: 

"This  indenture  made  this  sixth  day  of  Jannarj  in  the  srear  of  our 
Lord  Eighteen  Hundred  and  nine  hetween  Jacoh  Smith  Dani^  Rlx, 
Jr.  Nathaniel  Ehrens  Joseph  Pierce  Jared  KlmbaU  Joaepl^  Bowpay^ 
Benjamin  Day  Jr.  Thomas  Wheat  Stephen  Freeman  Siuwwiiliiams 
Ebenezer  Parkhurst  Benjamin  Packard  and  Isaac  Skinner  Trustees  of 
the  School  lands  in  the  Town  of  Royalton  and  Coonty  of  Windsor  oa 


EbsTORT  OP  Boy  ALTON,  Vermont  511 

the  one  part  and  Reubin  Robs  of  the  other  part  Wltneseeth —  That 
said  Trustees  for  and  in  Consideration  of  the  Ck)yenant  and  agreement 
hereafter  mentioned  and  named  on  the  part  and  behalf  of  the  said 
Reubin  to  be  paid  done  and  performed  hath  demised  granted  and  to 
farm  letten  and  by  these  presents  doth  demise  grant  lease  and  to  farm 
let  unto  the  said  Reubin  his  Executors  Administrators  and  Assigns  a 
certain  tract  or  parcel  of  Land  lying  and  being  in  the  Town  of  Roy- 
alton  aforesaid  and  described  as  follows  to  wit  one  third  of  the  Right 
of  Land  laid  out  in  the  Town  of  Royalton  laid  out  for  the  benefit  of 
schooling  in  said  Town  being  the  middle  hundred  acres  of  said  Right 
with  the  usual  allowance  for  highway — 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  demised  premises  unto  the  said 
Reubin  his  heirs  Executors  Administrators  and  Assigns  from  the  day 
of  the  date  hereof  as  long  as  water  runs  and  grass  grows — Yearly  and 
paying  therefor  yearly  and  every  year  unto  the  said  Trustees  or  their 
Successors  in  office  thirty  dollars  and  seventy  two  cents  on  the  first 
day  of  January  each  year 

Provided  always  and  it  is  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  these 
presents  and  the  parts  thereunto  that  if  the  said  yearly  Rent  hereby 
reserved  or  any  part  thereof  shall  be  behind  or  unpaid  for  the  space  of 
six  months  next  after  the  same  became  due  and  ought  to  be  paid  the 
same  being  first  demanded  by  said  trustees  or  their  successors  or  any 
of  them  in  their  behalf  at  least  one  month  before  then  and  from  thence 
forth  it  shall  and  may  be  Lawful  to  and  for  the  said  Trustees  or  their 
Successors  unto  and  upon  the  said  demised  premises  and  every  or  any 
part  or  parcel  thereof  with  the  appurtenances  in  the  name  of  the  whole 
to  reenter  and  the  same  to  have  again  repossess  for  and  in  behalf  of 
the  town  and  him  the  said  Reubin  his  Executors  Administrators  and 
assigns  and  all  and  every  other  Occupier  and  possessor  of  the  said 
demised  premises  from  thence  utterly  to  expell  remove  and  put  out 
anyUiing  in  these  presents  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding —  And  he 
the  said  Reubin  for  himself  his  heirs  Executors  Administrators  and 
Assigns  doth  Covenant  to  and  with  the  said  Trustees  their  Successors 
that  he  the  said  Reubin  his  Executors  Administrators  and  Assigns  shall 
well  and  truly  pay  or  Cause  to  be  paid  unto  the  said  trustees  or  suc- 
cessors the  aforesaid  yearly  Rent  at  the  time  above  mentioned  in  such 
manner  as  herein  before  Limited  and  Appointed  for  the  payment  there- 
of according  to  the  tenor  intent  and  meaning  thereof 

And  the  said  Reubin  for  himself  his  heirs  Executors  Administra- 
tors and  Assigns  doth  hereby  Covenant  grant  and  agree  that  he  or  they 
shall  and  will  at  all  times  reserve  in  proportion  of  thirty  acres  of  said 
Lot  for  wood  Land  without  committing  (illegible)  or  waste  thereon 
taking  only  therefrom  such  timber  yearly  as  shall  be  necessary  for 
keeping  in  repair  the  buildings  thereon  and  for  the  improvement  of 
said  land  according  to  the  Rules  of  good  husbandry  that  he  or  they  will 
clear  said  land  as  fast  as  they  take  off  the  Timber  that  is  as  fast  as 
they  Cut  over  five  acres  at  any  time  they  will  clear  off  and  fence  the 
same  well  and  in  case  of  non  compliance  of  either  of  the  foregoing 
conditions  it  shall  be  Lawful  for  said  Trustees  or  their  successors  at 
any  time  to  reenter  and  possess  the  same  in  as  full  and  ample  manner 
as  in  case  of  non  payment  of  rent 

And  the  said  trustees  for  themselves  and  their  successors  in  office 
doth  Covenant  to  and  with  the  said  Reubin  his  heirs  Executors  Ad- 
ministrators and  Assigns  that  }ie  and  every  of  them  shall  quietly  and 
peaceably  enjoy  the  aforesaid  demised  premises  without  any  Let  or 
hindrance  whatever  according  to  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  these 
presents 


SIS  HnoraBT  or  Bfomdmrn,  Yi 


In  witiMM  wbenoC  tte 
Seals  the  Day  and  Tear  abofve  WMttnT 

Thia  was  signed  and  admowledcBd  in  flie  imaal  ww^  and  vifc* 
nessed  bj  Jaeob  Saflbfd  and  Amasa  Dutton. 

On  the  same  day  on  nUeh  flie  ii  uatof  gmre  tkia  lease  to  Ifr. 
Boss  ih^  leased  to  Joseph  Bowman  tte  aooth  one4iiiid  of  the 
aehool  lot  and  to  Benjamin  Dntten  flie  norfli  aie4Ufd.  Ife 
Dntton  was  listed  180B-ia  He  mioved  to  Hartflnd,  mud  fnm 
that  town  in  1814  he  leased  to  ^V^Daid  and  FlnneaB  Piene  the 
aooth  (me-half  of  hia  lot  The  same  jear  Benben  Boaa 
Daniel  Bom  the  whole  of  hie  lot  There  were  two  Jmapk  gfg 
mans  owning  conaJderaMe  U^  fa  ygfrtL.  one  •  elBttyiyjUi  tyw^ 
ing  in  Barnard,  and  the  owt  iJirmy  m  1ti|yalfcqo,  in  Mlntta 
Boyaltoii'  Joeeph  died,  andin  1818  his  son  Stephen  leaaed  the 
soiith  one-ihird  to  Daniel  Boas,  who  in  1821  leased  both  the  mid- 
dle and  the  aooth  thirds  to  Jndah  Throop.  The  aame  Tear 
Benben  Bom  leaaed  Mr.  Throop  and  Frederiek  Qrvia  the  north 
one-half  of  the  north  one-third.  How  Mr.  Bom  aeqnired  Ihia 
lot  haa  not  been  aseerteined.  It  went  throop  aeveral  handa  to 
John  Howard,  who,  in  1828,  deeded  to  the  sdeetmen,  and  thij 
the  next  year  leased  to  him  and  Jireh  Toeker. 

The  reeords  for  1909  show  the  ministerial  landa  aa  foBows: 
Fred  Howland,  60  aerea,  appraisal,  $350,  rent,  $10;  W.  Bmhe, 
2  acres,  app.,  $10,  rent,  $1.90;  H.  O.  Oreen,  90  aeres^  i^p.,  $1S0^ 
rent,  $5.90;  A.  W.  Davis,  60  seres,  app.,  $900,  rent,  $12J6; 
L  D.  Allen,  6  acres,  app.,  $100,  rent,  $2.05;  L.  W.  Holt,  6  aerei, 
app.,  $50,  rent,  $.75;  W.  Burke,  1  acre,  app.,  $25,  rent,  $.40; 
E.  Burke,  90  acres,  app.,  $900,  rent,  $21;  total,  255  acres,  ap- 
praisal, $1,625,  rent,  $45.76.  This  lot  was  cut  short  by  the 
Whitelaw  Sharon  line.  Orammar  School  lands:  H.  C.  Sar- 
gent, 130  acres,  rent,  $26;  Fayette  Oreen,  30  acres,  rent,  $6; 
J.  B.  Dukett,  59  acres,  rent,  $11.80;  Fred  Cowdery  (present 
owner,  Albert  Merrill),  81  acres,  rent,  $16.20;  total,  300  acres, 
rent,  $60.  Public  School  land:  Alfred  Yezina,  110  acres,  app., 
$1,000,  rent,  $15 ;  O.  W.  Northrop,  110  acres,  app.,  $1,000,  rent, 
$17;  M.  S.  Adams,  55  acres,  app.,  $500,  rent,  $6;  E.  Window 
(present  owner,  Edwin  G.  Martin),  55  acres,  app.,  $400,  rent, 
$6;  total,  330  acres,  appraisal,  $2,900,  rent,  $44. 

THB  COMMON. 

The  first  gift  to  the  town  was  the  Ck)mmon  or  ''Green,"  a 

tract  of  land  deeded  for  a  meeting-house  lot  and  other  purposes. 

The  deed  as  recorded  in  Book  A  of  land  records  is  here  given: 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I  Ebe&eser  Brewstsr  of 

Dresden  on  the  New  Hampshire  Grants  ESast  of  Oonnectlciit  SUver  for 

Divers  Good  causes  and  valuable  considerations  me  herennto  moveiag 


History  of  Boyai/ton,  Vbbmont  518 

and  more  especially  that  the  Inhabitants  of  a  certain  Township  ^lled 
ft  known  by  the  Name  of  Royalton  Lying  and  Being  on  White  RiTor 
on  the  New  Hampshire  Grants  west  of  Connecticut  River  otherwise 
called  the  State  of  Vermont  may  be  in  the  most  advantageous  manner 
Accommodated  with  a  convenient  Lot  whereon  to  erect  a  meeting  house 
in  Said  Town  and  for  other  public  uses  of  the  Said  inhabitants  of  the 
Said  town  of  Royalton  one  certain  tract  or  parcel  of  land  in  Said 
Royalton  being  part  of  the  Lot  No.  46  and  bounded  as  follows  (viz) 
beginning  at  a  birch  tree  marked  T  on  the  Northerly  side  of  White 
River  thence  running  W  35*  N  32  rd  to  a  stake  thence  S  35**  W  14 
Rods  to  a  small  mapel  tree  marked  T  thence  B  36**  S  36  Rods  to  Beach 
tree  marked  T  on  the  Bank  of  White  River  thence  on  the  Bank  of 
the  River  to  the  first  Bounds— 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  granted  premises  with  all  the  ap- 
purtenances thereof  to  the  inhabitants  of  said  Royalton  to  be  improved 
by  them  for  a  meeting  house  Lot  a  parade  and  other  public  uses  of 
Said  Town — I  hereby  engageing  to  warrant  and  Defend  the  use  and 
improvement  thereof  to  them  the  said  inhabitants  for  the  purpose 
above  mentioned — 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  Set  my  hand  and  Seal  this 

Third  Day  of  April  A  D  1781 

Bben  Brewster 

Signed  Sealed  and  Delivered 
in   presence   of   Baza   Woodward 

Zuiah  Closson 
New  Hampshire  Grants  Bast  of  Connecticut  River  SS. 
Dresden  April  3d  1781  Then  Capt  Bbenezer  Brewster  Signer  and 
Sealer  of  the  above  Written  Instrument  Personally  appeared  and  ac- 
knowledged the  Same  to  be  his  Voluntary  act  ft  Deed. 
Before  me  Baza  Woodward  Just  Peace 
Received  may  15th  1785  and  entered 
the  Same    attest    Comfort  Sever  Clerk" 

How  much,  if  any,  credit  is  due  Zebulon  Lyon  for  securing 
this  gift  will  never  be  known.  He  had  been  already  active  in 
trying  to  effect  an  exchange  of  the  ministerial  land,  so  that  a 
pastor  might  live  near  the  center  of  the  town,  and  he  obtained 
possession  of  this  lot.  No.  46  Dutch,  in  1788.  Whether  the  idea 
first  originated  with  Capt.  Brewster  or  not,  it  was  a  fine  thing 
for  the  town  at  this  time,  and  will  always  remain  as  a  memorial 
of  the  giver's  kindly  thought  and  generosity.  It  might  fittingly 
be  called  the  Brewster  Common. 

The  town  in  accepting  Lieut.  Lyon's  offer  to  build  a  meet- 
ing-house, deeded  to  him  one-fourth  of  an  acre  of  this  lot  north 
of  the  road,  and  gave  up  control  of  just  so  much  of  the  original 
gift,  and  also  of  the  immediate  spot  where  the  house  was  to  stand. 
The  center  schoolhouse  was  erected  on  the  common  without  any 
recorded  action  by  the  town.  It  was  between  the  present  church 
and  academy,  and  may  have  been  erected  by  Lieut.  Lyon  on  the 
part  of  the  common  which  had  been  deeded  to  him.  His  descend- 
ants say  that  he  built  the  first  schoolhouse,  but  others  seem  to 
have  had  a  share  when  it  was  sold. 

33 


614  HisTOBr  OP  Botimgn,  Vmiom 

The  pound  was  loeated  on  the  eonmKm  hy  anChoritj  of  tto 
town,  as  will  be  found  elaewhere,  and  the  aeademy  waa  built  m 
it.  The  bounds  of  the  cinniiion  were  not  very  rii^dly 
and  after  a  while  there  waa  acnne  danger  that  further 
ments  might  be  attempted.  In  the  warning  for  the  Maieh 
ing,  1833,  this  article  was  inaerted;  "To  aee  if  the  town  w31 
adopt  any  measores  by  whieh  to  reclaim  ft  repoaMsa  liieir 
mon."  At  their  meeting  th^  adopted  Jdm  Waxrea'a 
tion,  and  in  accordance  with  it  th^  ehoae  Mr.  Warren, 
Stevens,  and  John  Francis  "to  sorrey  the  common  and  inteali- 
gate  the  situation  of  the  daima  of  the  town  to  the  eauaoat^ 
all  such  information  as  th^  can  obtain  in  rdatioo  to  the 
of  the  common,  and  report  at  the  next  meeting."  Their  neit 
meeting  was  the  following  day,  when  thoy  voted  to  hear  the  re- 
port at  the  next  meeting,  and  adjourned  sine  die. 

A  special  meeting  was  called  for  May  7th  to  see  among  othor 
things  "what  measures  the  town  will  take  to  recover  thi^  pari 
of  the  common  which  has  been  trespassed  upon."  At  fhia  meet- 
ing the  same  committee  that  had  been  chosen  before  waa  anthoiv 
ized  to  survey  the  common,  pursue  their  inquiry  in  relatioii  to 
bounds,  trespasses  and  obstructions  on  the  common,  and  to  re- 
port at  the  next  meeting.  This  occurred  Sep.  3,  but  no  mentien 
was  made  of  the  common.  The  town  was  fully  occupied  over 
the  matter  of  the  Fox  bridge,  which  was  also  the  acde  so^jeet  ol 
action  at  the  following  meeting  in  January,  1834.  The  bridgs 
claimed  attention  again  at  their  March  meeting,  and  waa  Ab 
cause  of  a  special  meeting  later  in  the  same  month. 

Almost  before  the  doors  had  closed  on  this  last  meeting  the 
following  gentlemen  had  met  and  drawn  up  a  petition  for  an- 
other meeting:  Nathaii  Kimball,  Franklin  Hunter,  Samuel  Cleve- 
land, Benjamin  Bosworth,  Thomas  Clapp,  Sullivan  Waldo,  David 
Wheeloek,  Edwin  Pierce,  and  Thomas  Bust.  One  article  to  be 
inserted  in  the  warning  was,  "To  chose  a  conmiittee  to  consist 
of  one  person  from  each  of  the  denominations  claiming  to  be 
religious  denominations  to  investigate  &  ascertain  the  rights  of 
the  town  in  relation  to  the  Public  common  and  all  other  lands 
and  property  of  a  publick  kind  belonging  to  all  the  inhabitants  of 
sd  town,  &  with  full  powers  to  take  any  legal  measures  to  secure 
to  them  their  respective  rights  &  privileges  at  their  discreti<m." 
When  they  met  pursuant  to  this  call  for  April  10,  1834,  tbey 
first  acted  favorably  upon  the  petition,  and  chose  a  committee, 
but  reconsidered  and  left  the  matter  in  the  hands  of  the  select- 
men to  report  at  the  next  March  meeting.  Their  report  was  as 
follows : 

''We  have  endeavored  to  learn  with  as  much  accuracy  as  poaslbie 
the  situation  of  the  puhllc  common;  with  regard  to  the  title  and  thfb 
uses  for  which  It  was  given  see  Brewster's  deed  to  the  town. 


EbSTOBT  OF  BOYALTON,  VERMONT  515 

The  exchange  of  a  part  of  sd  common  with  Esq  Jacob  Smith  which 
has  lately  been  the  subject  of  conversation,  so  far  as  we  have  been 
able  to  discover  from  the  records  of  the  town  was  never  in  fact  made. 
We  find  at  one  time  in  town  meeting  a  committee  appointed  by  the 
town  to  negotiate  said  exchange  but  nowhere  could  we  find  a  report 
of  the  doings  of  that  committee.  We  called  on  one  member  of  that 
committee  viz  Gen.  Stevens,  who  says  they  called  on  Esq.  Smith  and 
he  refused  to  give  a  deed,  but  said  when  he  wanted  his  land  the  town 
might  have  theirs. 

A  part  of  the  common  was  enclosed  by  sd  Smith  A  a  piece  of  his 
land  thrown  out  for  public  use,  and  has  been  so  occupied  till  very 
recently,  within  three  or  four  years  his  heirs  have  enclosed  it,  and 
still  hold  enclosed  a  part  of  the  original  common.  We  here  remark 
that  we  can  find  no  interchange  of  deeds  respecting  this  exchange. 
The  bounds  of  the  common  from  their  nature  had  decayed  and  were 
lost,  we  availed  ourselves  of  the  best  information  we  could  find  to  fix 
on  a  bound  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  which  having  done  as  nearly  as 
possible  Mr  Child  the  county  surveyor  run  out  and  bounded  the  com- 
mon according  to  the  deed  which  bounds  are  made  permanent.  We 
find  on  this  public  ground  the  Meeting  house,  about  one  third  of  the 
brick  schoolhouse,  ft  the  Woodhouse  adjoining — ^the  Academy  with 
its  appurtenances — a  part  of  the  pound,  the  house  in  which  Abijah 
Lincoln  now  lives  and  a  piece  of  Doct  Denison's  garden  wall,  and  the 
remnant  of  the  meetinghouse  sheds. 

We  examined  and  employed  Mr  Child  to  survey  the  right  of  land 
set  apart  for  the  use  of  common  schools,  and  after  giving  to  each  lessee 
his  full  quota  we  found  an  overplus  of  about  eighteen  acres  but  in 
examining  the  proprietors  records  we  could  not  find  that  for  this  right 
of  land  any  pitch  was  made  of  what  are  called  after  divisions,  to 
which  it  was  entitled  by  common  usage.  The  survey  of  the  lots  is  as 
follows. 

'A  survey  of  the  three  public  school  lots  in  Royalton  in  the  year 
1832  and  this  6th  day  of  November  1834.  Beginning  at  the  South 
Bast  comer  of  Lot  No.  52  Town  Plot,  in  sd  Royalton,  then  in  the  East 
line  of  sd  lot  225  rods  to  the  North  East  comer  of  sd  Lot,  then  run- 
ning in  the  North  line  of  sd  Lot,  No.  52,  232  rods  to  stake  A  Stones, 
then  running  South  62%  West  217  rods  to  the  South  line  of  sd  Lot, 
thence  in  the  South  line  of  sd  lot  232  rods  to  the  place  of  beginning 
containing  300  acres  with  an  allowance  of  15  acres  for  roads,  and  sd 
Lot  is  divided  into  three  equal  lots  of  Land  of  105  acres  each  by 
comers  placed  in  the  East  A  West  lines  of  sd  315  acres. 

A  tme  Survey    Attest    Daniel  Child  Surveyor* 

The  right  of  Land  which  was  designated  for  the  social  Worship 
of  God  we  find  to  have  been  leased  to  three  original  lessees,  but  in 
comparing  the  amount  land  to  each  there  seems  to  be  a  deficiency  in 
that  tract  of  land  of  from  twenty  to  forty  acres,  owing,  probably,  to 
the  fact  tliat  that  lot  was  layed  off  adjoining  Sharon  up  to  the  most 
Easterly  line,  which  has  been  mn  between  that  town  and  this,  but 
which  has  since  been  abandoned.  It  seems  that  no  equivalent  for  that 
loss  has  been  secured  to  sd  right,  neither  have  its  after  divisions  been 
pitched. 

That  right  of  Land  which  has  generally  been  considered  as  de- 
signed for  and  belonging  to  the  first  settled  Minister  in  the  town  was 
assumed  and  entered  upon  by  John  Searl  who  was  in  fact  the  first 
settled  minister  in  town.  Said  Land  was  pitched  100  acres  in  Lot 
No.  11  East  side  A  is  now  in  possession  of  Oliver  Curtis,  the  remain- 
ing 200  acres  were  pitched  in  Lot  No.  40,  west  side,  in  possession  of 


Sid  Bsmmr  or  Boeauoh;  ▼: 


tataing  to  ad  rlskt  w  piiifciil 

h mdred,  ncnr  pertataias  to  Ite 

It  appeaia  Iqr  the  raeordi  of  thm 

qf  h^wHig  3§  aerea  of  laad  4awi 

Mr.  Dorkee  ncnr  livaa,  oatt  rialwii  to  tta 

tlM  two  hvadnd  aeiaa  to  liat  Ifn  4^  vitt  tta 

Ida  bein  daedad  the  oCtar  hndiai  to 

to  1788)  bf  mte  to  towm  ■iiillat  (Ite  tofva?! 

to  dead  ad  808  aeiaa  to  liat  Ifn  4^  vitt  Ite 

L90Q  to  ffirtiangfr  for  a  pait  af 

aame  whera  Daa  Jotoar  mmw 

wttti  reqiaet  to  ttia  lU^  af  tha 

ffOB  tba  ctaartar." 

Their  report  on  die  maetiiig-lMMDae  ia  gmn  under  flnt 

Thia  eoninuttee,  Harry  Bingham,  Jobn  MJanhnll,  and  J< 
than  KinnQT,  aaid  nothing  aboot  the  part  of  the  fommnn  wUdi 
had  been  aold  to  Lieut  Lyon.  That  aome  dtisna  felt  tlie  act  to 
have  been  nnwiae,  to  a^y  the  leaat^  ia  eertain,  for  at  a  inffrting  in 
Hay,  1792,  they  ehoae  a  emnmittee  to  treat  with  GapL  Dafkae 
eonoeming  that  land.  At  their  next  "x'^^wg  they  yAbA  to  haj 
that  land  and  a  building  near  die  meeting-hoaae  known  aa  Ae 
"aeenter  aehoolhonae"  dF  Heman  Dnrkee.  The  parrhaaf  was 
made  and  the  building  aold,  ao  that  part  of  the  eommmn  had  heea 
regained  Elkanah  Stevena,  laaae  Skinner,  and  Jaeob  S^aift 
were  to  diqioae  of  die  aehocdhonae.  Smitii  boQ|^  it  of  the  other 
two  aeting  for  the  town. 

In  September,  1796,  at  a  qieeial  meeting  they  took  jMp  tte 
article  in  die  warning  to  aee  if  they  would  exchange  ''Land  widi 
Jacob  Smith  Esq  on  ye  meeting  house  Green,"  and  voted  '*not 
to  put  away  ye  Land  before  ye  meeting  house/'  and  to  choose 
a  ''Committee  of  three  to  treat  with  Jacob  Smith  on  account  of 
his  Land  adjoining  ye  meeting  house  Greea,"  and  choae  Elkanah 
Stevens.  Luther  Fairbanks,  and  Elias  Stevens.  This  is  probata 
the  action  referred  to  by  the  selectmen  in  their  report,  which  is 
undated,  but  seems  to  have  been  made  in  18^.  Why  the  town 
should  need  to  take  a  deed  of  )Ir.  Smith  is  not  clear,  seeing  it 
voted  not  to  exchange.  Mr.  Smith  does  not  appear  on  record 
as  having  any  part  of  the  common,  unless  it  was  the  land  where 
the  schoolhouse  stood.  Possibly  he  could  claim  this  by  right  of 
possession.  He  held  the  building  until  1801.  He  may  have 
desired  that  land  because  it  was  near  his  home,  the  house  where 
the  Rev.  Joel  Whitney  now  lives,  as  it  would  form  a  part  of  the 
lawn  extending  from  his  house  to  the  road.  As  the  committee 
reported,  no  record  has  been  found  of  any  further  action. 

There  was  a  considerable  descent  in  the  common  from  the 
meeting-house  to  the  old  academy.  When  it  was  decided  to  re- 
move the  old  meeting-house  to  the  lower  side  of  the  common,  the 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  617 

town  appropriated  $75  for  leveling  the  ridge,  so  that  the  removal 
could  be  accomplished. 

A  revival  in  the  public  conscience,  or  some  other  influence 
led  to  the  insertion  in  the  warning  for  the  March  meeting,  1842, 
of  an  article  **to  see  if  the  Town  will  direct  the  center  School 
District  to  move  their  School  house  oflf  from  the  common  or  take 
measures  to  affect  the  same.'*  This  was  passed  over,  and  the 
schoolhouse  remained,  and  still  remains,  though  it  has  lately  been 
used  for  other  purposes. 

Lieut.  Lyon  provided  for  a  small  common  in  1803,  when  he 
sold  the  **red  store"  and  land  to  Mower  &  Chandler.  He  deeded 
the  land  where  the  store  stood,  and  twenty  feet  back  of  it,  and 
the  use  of  the  land  between  this  lot  sold  and  the  currant  garden 
fence.  This  last  was  to  lie  forever  as  a  common,  undivided,  but 
he  gave  the  town  no  control  over  it.  The  cemeteries  controlled  by 
the  town  are  found  in  another  chapter. 

The  agitation  over  the  subject  of  public  lands,  which  ex- 
tended over  a  period  of  years  in  the  1830 's  may  have  originated, 
in  part  at  least,  in  the  rivalry  between  the  different  religious 
bodies  in  town.  The  division  of  the  income  from  the  ministerial 
lands,  in  the  early  years,  seemed  to  have  no  very  definite  basis, 
and  again,  as  one  society  had  been  allowed  to  build  on  the  com- 
mon, why  not  all?    This  feeling  may  have  led  to  the  passing  of 

the  following  resolution,  Mar.  4,  1839: 

''Resolved  that  each  of  the  Religious  Societies  in  Royalton  have 
the  liberty  to  build  a  house  of  publick  Religious  worship  on  the  com- 
mon, provided  that  no  such  house  of  publick  worship  shall  be  built  in 
the  central  part  of  the  Common  nor  when  one  or  more  of  such  houses 
shall  be  built  shall  any  other  house  be  built  so  near  the  house  or 
houses  already  built  as  to  incommode  injure  or  interfere  with  the  house 
or  houses  which  have  been  built — ^also  provided  no  one  society  shall 
occupy  for  their  house  more  than  one  half  of  either  end  of  the  com- 


mon." 


Neither  the  Methodist  nor  the  Episcopal  church  availed  it- 
self of  this  permission,  when  each  soon  after  erected  a  house  of 
worship  at  the  center  village. 

THE   SOUTH   BOYALTON   PARK. 

Although  the  beautiful  square  which  adds  so  much  to  the 
attractiveness  of  South  Royalton  is  not  really  public  property, 
the  public  has  free  use  of  it,  and  probably  few  have  thought  to 
inquire  whether  it  was  a  public  park  or  not.  It  has  a  checkered 
history.  It  was  originally  a  part  of  the  Lyman  Benson  farm, 
which,  before  he  owned  it,  had  been  a  part  of  the  Joseph  Park- 
hurst  lot.  In  1849  the  Vermont  Central  Railroad  bought  several 
acres  of  land  near  the  depot  of  Lyman  Benson,  and  the  park 
was  included  in  the  purchase.    Later,  the  Railroad  Corporation 


618  HiBTOBT  or  BOTumm;  VBOian 

mortgaged  this  land,  whieh  came  into  the  lianda  of  CShfldfla  IMt 
lingham  l^  execution,  was  deeded  by  lum  to  Piml  DillinglMna 
in  1865,  and  Paul  Dillingham  in  1868  qnitelaimed  to  GeorfB 
Tarbell,  with  the  stipulation  that  it  was  to  be  naed  for  m  pvk  m 
South  Boyalton,  not  publie  unkaa  the  grantaea  ehoae  to  mahn  it 
80.  Mr.  Tarbell  quitclaimed  to  Lawrenee  Bninetd  in  1875^  lAo^ 
in  turn,  quitclaimed  to  Daniel  Taibell,  Jr.,  in  1878.  Two 
later  Mr.  TarbeU  sold  thia  land  to  Edaon  Bizhj,  Daniel  J< 
and  Martin  S.  Adams,  and  quitelaimed  the  land  between  it  and 
the  hotel  and  Mr.  Adama.  It  was  stipulated  that  it  waa  to  be  a 
public  park  f oreirer. 

A  number  of  public-apirited  eitiaens  joined  wifii  the  three 
owners  of  the  land  in  forming  a  plan  for  its  purehaae,  to  beeome 
eventually  the  property  of  South  Boyalton.  The  whole  waa  di- 
vided into  100  diares,  of  which  the  grantors  took  seventeen  ahaics 
at  $6  each,  Charles  Woodward  took  five  shares,  William  H.  Mar- 
tin, M.  J.  Sargent,  H.  H.  Whitcomb  ft  Son,  J.  B.  Durfcee,  A.  P. 
Skinner,  Simon  C.  Sanborn,  L.  C.  Dickerman,  H.  M.  Doobkdqr, 
C.  C.  Southgate,  James  Pike,  and  Biehard  Wills  took  four  ahaics 
each;  Miss  Alice  L.  Winslow,  three;  D.  W.  Cowdery,  Phineas 
Pierce,  J.  O.  Belknap,  G.  P.  TarbeU,  J.  H.  Hewitt,  Mrs.  H.  A. 
Moore,  two  shares  each;  S.  W.  Davis,  Charles  Wert,  Amos  H. 
Lamb,  S.  C.  Drew,  B.  C.  Latham,  H.  M.  Bini^iam,  Dr.  F.  LMvitI, 
Daniel  P.  King,  Bev.  Sidney  K.  B.  Perkins,  Oliver  S.  Curtis, 
B^amin  Flint,  James  H.  Buck,  Edward  Foster,  J.  H.  Haynes, 
Edwin  Parkhurst,  W.  V.  Soper,  Seymour  Durkee,  J.  S.  Shepari. 
and  Thomas  Prindle,  one  share  each.  The  three  owners  deeded 
the  park  to  these  grantees,  with  the  stipulation  that  the  land  was 
to  be  deeded  to  the  South  Royalton  village  free  of  expense,  when- 
ever it  should  be  incorporated. 

This  Park  Association  had  the  care  of  the  park  through  its 
proper  officers,  until  it  turned  the  same  over  to  the  Village  Im- 
provement Society  in  1900,  having  served  as  care-takers  of  the 
park  since  1881.  Since  the  fire  of  1886  no  buildings  have  been 
allowed  on  the  park.  In  the  fall  of  1887  the  selectmen  widened 
the  so-called  Chelsea  street  by  purchasing  of  Lewis  Dickerman, 
Mrs.  (Georgia  Dickerman,  (Jeorge  Tarbell,  John  Mudgett,  J.  B. 
Kenworthy,  and  A.  N.  King  the  land  adjoining  the  park,  on 
which  the  stores  had  stood  on  the  south  side  of  the  street,  and 
which  were  destroyed  by  the  fire  of  1886.  The  sum  paid  for 
this  was  $3,175.  A  part  of  the  land  thus  secured  was  incor- 
porated in  the  park,  and  the  rest  used  to  broaden  the  street 
The  bounds  of  the  park  are  now  well  defined  by  stone  posts. 

The  **  South  Royalton,  Vermont,  Village  Improvement  Asso- 
ciation" was  organized  May  22,  1896.  The  object  waa  **to  pro- 
mote the  growth  and  improvement  of  the  village  financially  and 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  519 

socially."  Any  lady  could  become  a  member  by  signing  the 
constitution  and  by-laws,  and  any  gentleman  of  good  standing 
by  doing  the  same  and  paying  an  annual  fee  of  one  dollar.  The 
original  members  were  J.  0.  Belknap,  S.  M.  Pike,  H.  M.  Qod- 
dard,  Will  Sargent,  E.  B.  Doyle,  M.  J.  Sargent,  W.  P.  Noyes, 
A.  G.  Whitham,  J.  H.  Hewitt,  W.  P.  Hubbard,  John  Woodward, 
D.  L.  Burnett,  Edward  Foster,  J.  Euclid  Pish,  E.  J.  Fish,  J.  B. 
Durkee,  J.  A.  Schontag,  W.  V.  Soper,  G.  H.  Hackett,  J.  G.  Ash- 
ley, A.  P.  Skinner,  and  Charles  P.  Tarbell.  The  committee  to 
draft  the  constitution  and  by-laws  were  C.  P.  Tarbell  and  Drs. 
Fish  and  Burnett. 

At  a  meeting  on  the  29th  of  May  the  list  of  members  had 
been  increased  by  twenty-one  gentlemen  and  thirty-seven  ladies. 
Mr.  Belknap  was  elected  president ;  J.  B.  Durkee,  vice-president ; 
A.  G.  Whitham,  secretary;  and  Will  0.  Belknap,  treasurer.  A 
general  committee  and  an  executive  committee  were  appointed. 

The  association  strove  to  interest  the  public  in  the  move- 
ment. To  this  end  on  Memorial  Day,  1898,  a  patriotic  entertain- 
ment was  given  in  the  Methodist  church.  An  Outing  Club  was 
organized,  made  up  chiefly  of  members  of  the  association.  It 
leased  the  grounds  at  **Lake  John"  for  a  period  of  five  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1899  a  picnic  was  held  at  these  grounds.  The 
clergymen  of  the  village  and  others,  including  Mrs.  Jennie  Hagan 
Jackson,  made  addresses,  which  were  highly  enjoyed. 

The  money  received  the  first  year  was  chiefiy  used  in  adver- 
tising the  village,  by  rehearsing  the  attractions  of  South  Roy- 
alton on  the  reverse  of  letter-heads,  and  in  one  or  two  city 
papers,  and  in  other  ways.  Then  the  association  gave  its  at- 
tention to  sidewalks  and  street  lamps.  Free  concerts  were  given 
under  the  direction  of  Miss  Belle  Shepard  and  Mrs.  E.  J.  Fish, 
at  which  collections  were  taken,  which  helped  to  swell  the  fund 
for  improvement  purposes. 

The  agitation  of  the  need  of  street  lamps  stimulated  a  num- 
ber of  residents  to  put  in  lights  at  their  own  expense.  The 
association  set  up  six  in  1898  and  fourteen  the  next  year.  At 
the  March  meeting,  1900,  the  town  voted  to  light  eighteen  lamps 
in  South  Royalton  village.  These  lamps  had  been  in  use  but 
two  years,  when  the  selectmen  decided  to  put  in  electric  lights 
in  the  two  villages.  The  association  then  disposed  of  this  idle 
property  as  best  they  could. 

At  first  a  bee  was  formed  for  making  new  gravel  sidewalks. 
They  had  not  money  enough  to  do  more  than  this,  but  there  was 
idle  talent  in  the  village,  and  willing  feet  and  hands.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Perley  S.  Belknap  put  their  shoulders  to  the  wheel,  and 
the  result  was  the  presentation  in  1900  of  the  grand  opera.  Queen 
Esther,  which  netted  at  two  recitals  $97.00. 


520  History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont 

At  their  May  meeting  that  year  they  voted  to  assume  the 
care  of  the  park,  if  the  shareholders  would  consent  to  such  an 
arrangement.  This  consent  was  secured.  The  fountain  and 
fence  were  thoroughly  repaired,  and  walks  laid  out  across  the 
common. 

Meantime  the  eflfort  to  advertise  the  town  went  on.  A  neat 
folder  was  prepared,  and  sent  out,  and  in  1901  they  improved 
on  this  by  enlarging  the  folder,  and  inserting  cuts  of  the  vil- 
lage, of  the  Methodist  church  and  of  several  houses.  This  at- 
tracted considerable  attention,  and  won  favorable  notice  from  a 
number  of  newspapers.  The  picnics  at  Lake  John  were  now  a 
yearly  event,  and  drew  large  numbers. 

On  Memorial  Day,  1901,  a  play  was  given  at  Woodard's 
Hall,  under  the  direction  of  Ernest  J.  Hewitt,  which  netted  a 
nice  sum.  Trees  were  set  out  along  the  line  of  the  railroad. 
Since  that  time  the  association  has  devoted  its  attention  chiefly 
to  the  park,  which  is  one  of  the  best  kept  parks  in  the  small  vil- 
lages of  the  state.  The  fence  has  been  removed,  and  the  fountain 
and  the  cannon  keeping  guard  near  by  yearly  receive  a  fresh 
coat  of  paint. 

From  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  association  to  1907 
over  $300  had  been  realized  for  improvement  purposes,  of  which 
sum  about  $200  were  received  from  entertainments  by  local  talent. 
The  association  died  out,  apparently  from  lack  of  something  to 
do.  and  the  care  of  the  park  has  reverted  to  the  members  of  the 
South  Royalton  Park  Association  who  are  now  living  here.  Out 
of  the  thirty-nine  members  purchasing  the  park  in  1881,  but 
twelve  are  now  living  in  town. 

This  last  named  association  depended  upon  the  payment  of 
subscriptions  to  carry  on  its  work.  Its  books  show  that  only  five 
paid  in  the  amounts  due,  the  whole  sum  received  from  this  source 
being  $58.80.  A  dramatic  company  was  organized,  and  gave 
entertainments,  which  in  five  years  netted  the  sum  of  $283.43. 
Private  individuals  contributed  to  the  funds  of  the  association 
in  a  modest  amount.  The  fountain  was  put  in  in  1886,  costing 
with  work  over  one  hundred  dollars.  A  new  fence  was  built  in 
1887,  and  walks  were  repaired  and  new  ones  laid.  No  doubt 
the  few  who  remain  will  be  as  faithful  as  they  formerly  were  in 
making  the  spacious  park  a  thing  of  beauty. 

TOWN    BUILDINGS. 

According  to  an  agreement  between  Lieut.  Lyon  and  the 
town,  the  town  had  a  certain  right  in  the  meeting-house  which 
he  built,  but  only  for  ten  years.  That  building  became  the  town 
house  whenever  the  weather  was  not  so  cold  that  it  necessitated 


History  of  Boyalton,  Vebmont  521 

an  adjournment  to  private  houses,  but  it  could  scarcely  be  called 
public  property.  The  next  move  in  the  direction  of  owning  a 
town  house  was  when  action  was  taken  for  building  another 
meeting-house.  The  plan  of  the  house  was  directed  by  the  town, 
and  it  attempted  to  raise  the  money  needed  for  the  erection  of 
the  building,  but  a  reference  to  the  history  of  the  meeting-house 
built  in  1790-91  will  show  that  the  ** Society"  took  the  responsi- 
bility upon  its  own  shoulders,  and  the  town  could  not  legally 
claim  a  right  in  it,  although  it  was  located  on  town  land,  and 
the  town  had  occupied  it  from  time  to  time  for  its  meetings.  This 
fact  was  reported  by  the  selectmen  in  1835,  after  a  thorough  in- 
vestigation. 

When  the  Society  decided  to  build  anew  in  1839,  the  old 
meeting-house  was  moved  to  the  lower  side  of  the  common, 
crowded  in  between  the  academy  and  the  building  occupied  for 
many  years  by  Prank  Bosworth.  The  academy  then  stood  about 
where  the  present  town  house  stands. 

Prom  the  time  of  the  selectmen 's  report  until  1839  the  town 
meetings  were  held  in  the  meeting-house  as  before.  At  the 
March  meeting  that  year  it  was  voted  that  the  selectmen  have 
the  power  to  furnish  the  town  with  a  town  house,  either  by  buy- 
ing the  Congregational  meeting-house,  or  by  building  a  new  one, 
either  of  which  was  not  to  cost  over  $600,  and  it  was  to  be  pre- 
pared that  season.  The  selectmen  objected  to  taking  the  re- 
sponsibility, and  Edwin  Pierce,  Stephen  Preeman,  Oramel  Saw- 
yer, George  Lyman  and  John  Marshall  were  chosen  a  committee 
in  the  place  of  the  selectmen.  The  old  meeting-house  was  bought 
by  the  selectmen  for  $125,  as  recorded  in  the  selectmen's  book 
of  orders  drawn.  This  was  paid  Feb.  29,  1840,  to  Gamer  Rix, 
Jonathan  Kinney,  and  Josiah  Douglass,  acting  for  the  Congrega- 
tional Society.  No  deed  appears  on  record.  The  house  was 
moved  in  November  at  a  cost  of  $200,  besides  work  contributed 
by  citizens  of  the  town.  The  leveling  of  the  common  so  that  the 
building  could  be  moved  cost  $69.83. 

The  first  warning  for  a  meeting  at  the  town  house  was  issued 
Nov.  12,  1839.  The  previous  meeting  was  held  in  the  meeting- 
house in  May,  so  the  purchase  by  the  town  was  consummated 
between  those  dates.  The  first  meeting  in  the  town  house  was 
held  Nov.  25,  1839,  the  second  Dec.  21st  of  the  same  year,  when 
they  adjourned  to  the  academy,  and  the  third  March  2,  1840. 
This  was  the  last  meeting  in  that  building,  as  before  the  next 
meeting,  called  April  8,  1840,  the  town  house  and  the  old  acad- 
emy had  burned,  having  caught  from  a  spark  which  blew  out 
from  Bela  Hall's  forge  in  his  blacksmith  shop  near  by.  The  old 
building,  dry  as  tinder,  quickly  was  in  flames,  and  it  stood  so 
near  the  academy  that  it  was  impossible  to  save  that,  with  no 


6S2  HiBTOBT  or  Barjoaom,  Ymatxmr 

equipment  for  extmgoiiliiig  the  fl«iiMi  esoqpt  a  pail  brigidB 

made  up  in  part  of  aeademy  girb.    It  ia  rebted  of  the  pfaiekj 

Emi^  Goff,  afterwarda  lira.  Benjamin  Day,  who  had  ivoriDed 

untiringly  carrying  water,  a  pail  in  eaeh  hand,  that  ahe  waa  qidto 

dii^roated  with  an  able-bodied  man  who  Jtood  by  and  did  noAiBg 

but  holler  "More  water!  More  water!"  ao  when  ahe  eame  iqp  ooe 

time  with  her  pails  filled,  ahe  aet  one  of  them  down,  and  tlncnr 

the  other  full  in  hia  faee.    ''I  waa  tired  of  hearing  that  gieat 

lout  holler/'  she  remarked,  aa  ahe  remmed  her  kboara.    ^'I 

that  will  cool  him  off." 

The  loss  of  these  two  bmldinga  waa  a  serious  one  to  the 

munity  and  town.    A  meeting  waa  called  for  April  2Stli  at  the 

schoolhouse,  at  which  time  the  following  preamble  and  reoohi- 

tion  were  adopted : 

"Whereas  the  town  of  Royalton  needs  a  house  to  sooommodate 
their  Meettngs  and  town  offloers.  And  Whereas  the  Gorporatlon  oT  Roy- 
alton Academj  need  a  School  room  to  accommodate  their  Preceptor 
and  his  pupils— and  helievlng  that  a  snltahle  hnildlng  for  both  par- 
poses  may  be  built  on  one  foundation  and  under  one  roof  at  an  eipense 
one  third  less  than  by  erecting  two  separate  buildings^  and  that  said 
building  will  haye  a  better  appearance  so  constructed.  Therefore^  Be- 
solYSd  that  the  town  build  a  town  house  in  conezlon  with  the  Oorjpora- 
tion  of  the  Royalton  Academy  two  stories  high,  and  of  suitable  length 
and  breadth,  the  lower  story  to  be  for  the  town  house,  and  the  upper 
story  for  the  Academy  ezcepttaig  a  room  to  be  finished  off  for  a  town 
committee  room.  The  entrances  to  said  town  house  and  Academj  to 
(be)  separate  and  distinct  The  town  to  pay  two  thirds  of  the  eipeps^ 
and  the  Academy  to  pay  one  third.^ 

Lyman  Benson  and  David  F.  Slafter  were  chosen  to  act  with 
one  member  of  the  Corporation  of  Royalton  Academy  in  locat- 
ing and  building  the  town  house,  and  in  locating  it  they  were  to 
be  assisted  by  Elisha  Rix,  Garner  Rix,  Oramel  Sawyer,  Edwin 
Pierce,  and  Joseph  A.  Denison,  Jr.  The  committee  chosen  for  the 
academy  was  George  Lyman.  It  was  further  voted  that  the  build- 
ing be  of  wood,  the  upper  part  finished  by  the  first  of  the  next 
September,  and  the  lower  part  by  the  first  of  the  next  March, 
and  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  borrow  of  the  surplus  money 
for  the  purpose  of  building,  not  to  exceed  $800. 

The  building  committee  must  have  vigorously  pushed  the 
work  of  erecting  the  new  building,  for  the  first  meeting  held  in 
it  was  on  Nov.  10,  1840.  The  committee  rendered  their  report 
Dec.  26,  1840: 

"Tour  committee  appointed  to  build  a  Town  house  and  Academy 
having  attended  to  the  business  of  their  appointment  beg  leave  to  re- 
port as  follows  that  they  have  built  a  house  60  feet  by  82  feet  two 
stories  high  the  basement  story  for  Town  Meetings  and  the  room  above 
in  the  South  West  comer  for  the  (use)  of  the  Town  to  do  their  busi- 
ness in,  the  two  other  rooms  above  for  the  Academy  and  Its  apartments. 
Said  house  was  so  far  done  that  the  Academy  School  went  into  their 


History  op  Boyalton,  Vermont  638 

rooms  in  October  and  the  town  rooms  were  completed  the  first  of  No- 
vember last  and  expense  of  the  same  as  follows. 

House  exclusive  of  Stoves  Pipe  and  Bell,  $1400. 

Lyman  Benson's  bill  as  Committee  3.00 

David  Slafter's  bill  as  Committee  3.00 

George  Lyman's  bill  as  Committee  5.00 


$1411.00 


David  Slafter 

Lsrman  Benson 

George  Lsrman  on  part  Academy." 

The  selectmen  were  instructed  to  look  more  closely  after  the 
safety  of  the  house,  and  to  effect  an  insurance  on  it,  and  to  em- 
ploy some  one  to  see  that  the  town  house  was  secured  from  all 
danger  at  all  times,  especially  when  used,  and  to  keep  the  key. 
They  voted  to  allow  singing  schools  and  other  public  assemblies 
to  have  use  of  the  building. 

The  attendance  at  the  academy  increased  to  such  an  extent, 
that  it  was  necessary  to  secure  larger  quarters,  and  the  town 
in  1853  granted  the  use  of  the  part  owned  by  them  when  not 
needed  for  town  purposes.  Thus  the  town  and  the  academy 
lived,  as  it  were,  amicably  together  for  some  years,  until  the  new 
academy  was  built,  and  even  later,  as  during  the  period  of  the 
academy's  greatest  prosperity  in  the  50 's,  it  was  necessary  to 
use  both  buildings.  Repairs  were  made  on  the  building  in  1857. 
At  the  time  of  the  Civil  War  it  looked  upon  the  little  city  of 
tents  on  the  common,  where  the  soldiers  encamped  before  start- 
ing for  the  front,  and  witnessed  the  sad  partings  which  were  final 
in  many  a  case.  It  has  changed  very  little  since  those  days, 
except  that  now  it  has  but  one  entrance,  and  the  rooms  in  the 
second  story  have  been  converted  into  a  hall  with  anteroom, 
which  are  used  as  a  dining  hall  on  festive  occasions,  and  occa- 
sionally for  the  meetings  of  different  organizations. 

The  records  of  the  town  for  more  than  a  century  were  kept 
in  the  dwellings  of  the  different  town  clerks.  In  1895  negotia- 
tions were  entered  into  with  Asa  W.  Kenney,  who  had  purchased 
the  bank  building  in  Royalton  village,  after  the  bank  went  into 
voluntary  liquidation,  with  a  view  of  securing  the  property  for 
the  town,  and  a  deed  was  given  by  Mr.  Kenney,  March  21st  of 
that  year.  The  town  paid  $700  for  the  bank  building  and  lot. 
It  has  now  one  of  the  most  commodious,  well-equipped  offices  in 
the  State  of  Vermont.  Besides  its  records  the  office  contains  a 
considerable  number  of  volumes  dealing  with  the  early  history 
of  the  state,  and  its  legislative  action  from  1775  onwards.  A 
fireproof  vault  ensures  safety  to  the  records.  The  building  is 
located  very  near  the  center  of  the  town,  accessible  to  all,  and  is 
used  instead  of  the  town  house  for  committee  meetings  and  the 


6S4  HisioBT  or  Boriuov,  YmKnaan 

general  bcunneaB  of  the  town,  witli  flie  enBeption  oC  town 

ings. 

The  town  seems  to  hsve  got  mloDg  vwy  eomfortddy  wiflmiit 
a  lockup  nntil  1894,  when  it  ooenrred  to  the  ▼otin  tint  one 
should  be  provided,  and  thqr  empowered  the  adeetmen  to 
their  discretion  in  fomidung  one.  Aeeordingly;  an 
ment  was  made  with  Constable  D.  C.  Jones,  by  wUeh  the  taram 
bnilt  an  addition  to  his  ioe-hoose,  and  was  to  have  the  vm  of  it 
for  ten  years  as  a  lockup.  This  loe-hooae  is  near  tke  Jonea  dwell- 
ing on  the  south  side  of  the  railroad  traek.  The  proodmitj  el 
the  lockup  to  the  ice-house  enabled  the  eonstoble  to  eool  off  «b 
offender,  if  he  so  chose.    This  oontract  terminated  in  UOi. 

THB  FOUKDl 

In  days  when  fences  were  rare,  and  what  did  exist  were 
mainly  the  upturned  stumps  of  trees,  the  public  pound  was  moce 
of  a  necessity  than  it  is  today.  Most  Vermont  towns  still  le* 
tain  their  old  pounds,  which  now  only  occasionally  fumiah  a  jail 
for  an  anunal  turned  loose,  or  one  tbred  of  the  restraint  of  rm 
or  fence. 

Boyidton  had  a  pound  keeper  before  any  record  shows  that 
she  had  a  pound.  Probably  some  yard  more  then  uaoally 
roomy  was  called  into  sendee  as  a  confining  place  for  atrays. 
The  first  pound  or  ^'k^-keeper'*  was  Elkha  Kent,  who  was 
chosen  at  the  March  meeting,  1780.  The  pound  was  probably 
either  on  his  farm  or  near  him.  His  neighbor  on  the  other  side 
of  the  road,  a  little  below  him,  was  Daniel  Rix,  and  at  the  next 
March  meeting  Mr.  Rix  was  chosen  pound  keeper,  and  they  voted 
''to  Build  a  Pound  at  the  Croch  of  the  Boad  West  of  the  old 
Fort."  This  was  important,  not  as  regards  the  pound,  but  as 
locating  the  fort,  which  is  discussed  under  the  caption  of  "Royal- 
ton  Port." 

It  is  by  no  means  certain  that  a  pound  was  built  because 
they  voted  to  have  one.  No  provision  was  made  for  its  building, 
and  no  one  appointed  to  attend  to  it,  and  it  is  very  likely  that  a 
private  yard  furnished  the  pound  for  some  time.  At  the  next 
March  meeting,  1782,  they  voted  to  build  a  pound  on  Lieut.  Ly- 
on's  lot,  and  he  was  chosen  pound  keeper.  This  was  a  transfer  of 
this  public  convenience  from  the  southern  part  of  the  town  to 
the  central  The  following  year  both  Mr.  Rix  and  Mr.  Lyon 
were  chosen  pound  keepers,  and  as  evidence  that  the  town  had 
not  yet  built  a  pound,  it  is  recorded  that  two  committees  were 
appointed  for  this  important  action.  The  military  element  was 
predominant,  three  lieutenants  forming  one  committee,  Stevens, 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  525 

Parkhurst,  and  Benton,  and  Lieut.  Lyon,  Benjamin  Parkhurst, 
and  Nehemiah  Noble  forming  the  other. 

The  same  pound  keepers  were  elected  the  next  year,  but  the 
following  year  John  Kent  and  Comfort  Sever  held  the  oflBces. 
Comfort  Sever  lived  some  distance  from  Mr.  Lyon,  in  lot  11 
Town  Plot,  and  the  fact  that  he  was  pound  keeper  seems  to  show 
that  the  town  did  not  own  a  pound  near  the  center,  or  if  one  had 
been  built,  that  it  was  a  primitive  aflfair.  The  next  year  only 
one  keeper  was  elected,  Calvin  Parkhurst,  but  the  following  year 
he  and  Lieut.  Lyon  were  chosen,  and  they  voted  to  build  a  pound 
at  the  meeting-house  lot. 

Prom  that  time  only  one  person  was  elected  yearly.  Lieut. 
Lyon  at  different  periods  served  twelve  years.  In  1804  he  took 
the  oath  of  oflBce.  When  the  lawyer,  Jacob  Smith,  came  to  town, 
the  voters  elected  him  to  that  office,  and  his  work  was  so  satis- 
factory that  they  re-elected  him  the  three  following  years,  his 
period  of  service  being  from  1795  to  1799.  The  voters  next  drew 
on  the  merchants  for  a  keeper,  and  Levi  Mower  contributed  his 
service  for  two  years.  Mr.  Mower  evidently  brought  his  business 
experience  to  bear  on  the  needs  of  the  pound,  for  in  September, 
1800,  the  town  voted  **to  build  a  good  substantial  Pound  on  the 
N.  E.  comer  of  the  Green  by  the  first  day  of  December  next." 
After  an  interval  of  two  years  Mr.  Mower  served  again  one  year, 
1803.  Jacob  Smith  was  keeper  again  in  1805,  and  Stafford  Smith 
held  the  '*key''  for  ten  years,  1813,  1816,  1819-25,  1828. 

In  1835  it  was  voted  to  rebuild  the  pound,  the  bills  for 
which  were  paid  in  1837.  A  veteran  pound  keeper  was  John 
Sprague,  who  began  his  service  in  1830  and  continued  it  until 
1866.  He  was  also  employed  to  take  charge  of  the  town  house 
in  1841.  Mr.  Sprague  was  succeeded  by  Hazzard  Bosworth, 
who  served  until  1871,  when  Frank  Bosworth  was  put  in  charge, 
and  was  retained  until  his  death  in  1908,  making  his  term  of 
service  one  year  longer  than  John  Sprague 's,  and  giving  him  the 
distinction  of  having  served  the  town  in  that  capacity  longer 
than  any  other  incumbent. 

All  the  earlier  pound  keepers  were  busy  men,  whose  time 
was  quite  fully  occupied  with  their  own  business.  Frank  Bos- 
worth was  a  recluse  most  of  his  life,  and  had  ample  leisure  to 
use  as  he  liked.  The  world  as  he  looked  at  it  was  not  a  friendly 
one,  and  he  sometimes  expressed  his  thoughts  in  prose  or  verse, 
as  he  sat  alone  in  his  little  cottage  on  the  common,  not  far  away 
from  the  pound.  The  talents  that  might  have  made  its  owner 
happy  and  even  honored,  were  dwarfed  and  twisted  by  too  much 
self-introspection.  That  those  who,  of  late  years,  knew  so  well 
the  bent  and  decrepit  figure  creeping  to  his  home  from  the  town 
pump  with  his  small  pails  of  water,  may  have  a  clearer  insight 


526  History  of  Boyalton,  Vebmont 

into  the  inner  thoughts  of  the  feeble,  unhappy  pound  keeper, 

two  little  effusions  of  his  are  given,  which  were  found  among  his 

papers  after  his  death.    The  first  is  pessimistic,  and  expresses, 

probably,  the  musings  of  his  troubled  soul. 

"Still  a  target  for  the  marksman  of  Zlon, 
Still  questing  green  fields  to  die  on. 
Still  doomed  to  stay  in  a  Christian  land. 
Still  a  torment  to  the  Christian  hand. 
Still  waiting  like  any  other  pup. 
Still  for  a  bean  on  which  to  sup. 
Still  cheered  by  kindest  friends, 
Snow  and  sleet,  godsends. 
Still  to  others  a  poison  adder. 
Still  to  me  something  sadder." 

In  a  better  mood  he  wrote : 

"Still  there  comes  In  joyful  glee, 

Robin  redbreast  and  chick-a-dee. 

And  with  such  powers  as  are  given  by  song. 

Cheers  the  weary  heart  along. 

Tender  birds  and  birds  of  peace. 

May  their  music  never  cease. 

But  cheer  us  on  to  the  world  above. 

The  world  of  peace,  the  world  of  love." 

The  history  of  the  town  farm  has  been  given  in  the  chapter 
on  the  ** Town's  Poor."  In  1846  John  L.  Bowman,  one  of  the 
selectmen,  purchased  for  the  town  a  compass,  for  which  he  paid 
$39.  Although  such  articles  are  supposed  to  have  the  quality 
of  durability,  no  one  seems  to  have  heard  that  the  town  ever 
possessed  such  an  asset.  The  town  owns  a  road  machine,  five 
road  rollers  and  other  road  tools,  amounting  in  value  to  over 
$500.  The  road  commissioner,  A.  W.  Merrill,  reports  that 
$1,453.24  was  spent  in  1910  for  permanent  roads. 

The  town  is  also  the  owner  of  a  handsome  hearse,  which  is 
to  go  to  the  home  of  every  citizen  of  the  town  free  of  expense, 
and  has  twenty  sign  boards,  which  are  reported  to  be  in  good 
condition. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 


Taxes  and  the  Grand  List. 

When  the  town  voted  June  28,  1779,  to  raise  £200  to  defray 
the  expense  of  getting  the  New  York  charter,  it  said  nothing 
about  a  tax  rate.  If  there  was  a  regular  rate,  it  was  fixed  by 
the  committee  appointed  to  collect  the  sum.  Better  success  was 
then  obtained  in  getting  voluntary  payments,  than  could  be  ex- 
pected at  the  present  time,  when  the  property  holders  pay  their 
taxes  because  the  law  requires  them  to  do  so.  The  early  towns 
were  more  like  co-operative  organizations,  each  seeing  in  his  own 
advancement  the  good  of  the  whole.  Such  a  spirit  of  antagonism 
had  arisen  against  the  unjust  taxation  of  England,  that  it  led 
in  some  cases  to  a  question  of  the  right  of  a  town  to  tax  itself , 
and  enforce  payment. 

A  collector  was  chosen  in  Royalton  before  any  recorded  ac- 
tion is  found  levying  a  stated  tax.  Lieut.  Stevens  was  the  first 
collector,  chosen  Mar.  23,  1779.  His  business  was  probably  to 
solicit  and  collect  subscriptions.  The  first  regular  tax  was  voted 
Sep.  4,  1781,  when  a  tax  of  two  pence  on  a  pound  was  voted  for 
town  purposes.  The  Assembly  of  1780,  which  met  at  Westmin- 
ster in  March,  passed  an  act  empowering  each  town  to  lay  town 
taxes  to  defray  public  expense,  with  some  limitations,  but  there 
were  numerous  petitions  from  diflferent  towns  in  the  next  few 
years,  asking  for  authority  for  levying  and  collecting  taxes  for 
specific  purposes. 

Although  Vermont  had  not  been  admitted  into  the  Union, 
and  was  not  compelled  to  aid  in  meeting  the  debts  incurred  by 
the  United  States,  yet  she  had  a  considerable  debt  to  pay  in  pro- 
viding means  for  the  defence  of  her  own  territory,  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  state  government,  and,  later,  for  raising  the  sum 
which  she  was  to  pay  New  York.  Some  of  this  needed  revenue 
was  obtained  by  confiscating  the  lands  of  tories,  some  by  fees 
for  new  grants,  some  by  issuing  bills  of  credit,  but  the  larger 
part  had  to  be  raised  by  a  land  tax.  The  Assembly  received 
numerous  complaints  of  overtaxation  in  1781.  The  voters  of 
Royalton  took  action  in  January  of  the  next  year.  They  chose 
Major  Burton  of  Norwich  to  prefer  a  petition  to  the  Assembly 
**to  have  the  land  tax  relinquished."    This  petition  does  not 


528  History  of  Royalton,  Vermont 

appear  to  have  been  in  a  spirit  of  resistance,  but  because  of  in- 
ability to  meet  the  demand.  The  Assembly  granted  the  petition, 
and  the  governor  approved  it  Feb.  26,  because  **of  the  ravages 
of  the  enemy." 

The  highways  were  first  built  in  all  probability  by  each 
settler  clearing  a  path  to  his  own  house,  later  by  vote  of  the 
town  that  each  one  should  work  a  certain  number  of  days  on  the 
highways.  At  the  March  meeting,  1783,  it  was  left  with  the 
selectmen  to  raise  such  a  tax  as  they  should  judge  best.  The 
bridges  not  built  by  lottery  or  subscription,  were  at  first  erected 
by  tax  on  land. 

In  1783  the  land  of  delinquent  taxpayers  was  first  adver- 
tised for  sale.  This  tax  was  voted  in  1782  for  building  bridges. 
As  a  result  of  this  open  vendue  Barnabas  Strong,  constable  from 
Bethel  sold  to  Zebulon  Lyon  for  500  Spanish  milled  dollars  893 
acres,  part  or  all  of  eleven  lots.  This  sale  took  place  in  ApriL 
1784.  Mr.  Lyon  afterward  quitclaimed  to  two  lots,  saying  he 
had  received  the  full  bridge  tax. 

The  proprietors  voted  taxes  independent  of  the  town,  and 
chose  their  own  collector.  In  June,  1781,  they  voted  one  dollar 
(Spanish  milled  probably)  on  each  proprietor's  right,  and  chose 
Lieut.  Lyon  as  collector.  In  October  another  like  tax  was  voted, 
and  Elias  Stevens  was  chosen  collector,  who  was  also  collector 
for  the  town.  This  last  tax  was  turned  over  to  the  agent,  Elias 
Stevens,  for  his  expenses  in  getting  the  Vermont  charter.  In 
Januar>%  1784,  a  tax  of  one  dollar  on  each  proprietor's  right  was 
levied  for  the  purpose  of  a  survey  of  the  land  that  was  cut  oflf 
by  the  line  run  by  the  Surveyor  General,  and  to  pay  the  expense 
of  sending  Elias  Stevens  to  petition  the  Assembly  for  a  grant  of 
this  land.  This  is  the  last  record  of  any  tax  laid  by  the  pro- 
prietors. 

Provision  was  made  by  the  town  during  the  next  few  years 
for  paying  the  minister  and  building  his  house,  furnishing  mili- 
tary supplies,  and  for  building  bridges  and  roads,  part  of  which 
tax  was  to  be  paid  in  farm  produce.  There  was  no  increase  in 
the  levy  until  1791,  when  the  two  pence  tax  was  increased  by 
three  farthings.  In  1793  a  tax  of  two  pence  on  the  pound  was 
laid  to  procure  a  standard  of  weights  and  measures  and  to  pay 
other  charges.  Since  1783  Lieut.  Stevens'  half  bushel  and  Mr. 
Rix's  steel  yards  had  been  constituted  a  standard  of  weights  and 
measures.  The  building  of  a  bridge  over  the  First  Branch  near 
the  mouth  required  an  increase  in  the  rate  of  taxation,  and  a 
tax  of  three  pence  on  the  pound  was  voted  Sep.  26,  1796,  for 
this  purpose.  The  town  incurred  some  expense  in  a  suit  against 
the  town  of  Ellington,  Conn.,  and  a  curious  mixture  of  old  and 
new  money  standards  is  seen  in  the  levy  of  that  year  of  **six 


HiSTOBY    OF    BOYALTON^    VERMONT  539^ 

cents  on  the  pound.'*  The  rate  the  following  year  was  one  cent 
on  three  dollars.  Occasionally  there  was  a  year  in  which  no  tax 
was  levied,  again  certain  sums  were  voted  and  no  rate  named. 
In  1804  the  rate  was  eight  mills  on  a  dollar,  the  next  year  one 
cent  on  a  dollar.  In  1809  two  cents  on  a  dollar  was  needed. 
The  first  mention  of  a  county  tax  occurs  as  late  as  1819,  but  it  is 
probable  that  a  tax  of  this  sort  had  been  paid  before.  The  tax 
law  of  1797  provided  for  the  repair  of  jails,  and  it  would  seem 
that  a  tax  must  have  been  paid  for  part,  at  least,  of  the  expense 
of  providing  county  buildings. 

The  rate  did  not  rise  above  five  cents  on  a  dollar  until  1829, 
when  eight  cents  were  voted.  The  increase  during  the  interven- 
ing years  was  largely  due  to  expense  incurred  in  repairing  and 
making  roads,  and  in  repairing  and  building  bridges.  In  1830 
the  rate  of  the  preceding  year  was  nearly  doubled,  the  sum  voted 
being  fifteen  cents  on  the  dollar.  The  tax  was  not  always  levied 
at  the  March  meeting,  but  frequently  a  special  meeting  was  called 
later  in  the  year,  usually  in  the  fall. 

Only  once  in  the  early  history  of  the  town  did  it  borrow 
money.  This  was  in  1783,  when  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
** higher"  $50,  apparently  for  meeting  the  expense  of  moving 
Rev.  Mr.  Searle  from  his  home  to  Royalton.  In  1835  the  town 
was  considerably  in  debt,  and  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to 
borrow  money  to  relieve  the  town  from  its  claims.  This  was  bor- 
rowing from  Peter  to  pay  Paul.  A  tax  of  only  six  cents  on  a 
dollar  was  voted  that  year,  from  which  it  may  be  inferred  that 
the  previous  year  had  not  been  an  especially  prosperous  one. 
In  1838  the  town  was  fined  for  bad  roads,  and  the  next  year  it 
voted  ten  cents  on  a  dollar  for  highways,  and  in  December  an 
additional  fifteen  cents  on  a  dollar  was  voted  for  current  ex- 
penses, making  the  whole  rate  for  the  year  twenty-five  cents  on 
a  dollar.  In  1844  the  rate  had  risen  to  thirty  cents,  but  the 
largest  increase  was  in  1851,  when  fifty-eight  cents  on  a  dollar 
was  voted.  This  was  made  necessary  by  the  building  of  a  bridge 
at  South  Royalton,  and  a  new  survey  for  a  road  to  Chelsea. 

Why  the  town  should  not  wish  to  vote  its  taxes  in  the  regular 
March  meeting  is  not  clear.  Possibly  they  wished  to  see  what 
the  harvest  would  be,  and  to  know  more  accurately  what  expense 
was  incurred  during  the  year.  An  article  in  the  warning  in 
1862  was  **to  see  if  the  town  would  raise  its  taxes  in  March  in- 
stead of  in  the  fall.''  This  was  passed  over,  and  a  similar  ar- 
ticle the  next  year  met  the  same  fate.  With  an  eye  to  saving 
expense  or,  perhaps,  because  there  was  lively  competition  for  the 
office,  in  1864  it  was  voted  that  the  collection  of  taxes  be  put  up 
at  auction.    Isaac  F.  Shepard  offered  to  collect  them  for  one 

34 


680  HisTOBT  or  BatAiMax,  Ywammf 

per  cent.,  John  L.  Bowinan  for  tlOO,  Harry  Gage  for  t&OQ,  and 
M.  G.  Ghage  for  $95.    It  u  not  stated  wlio  was  gmn  the  ettee^ 

The  town  was  heavily  in  debt  by  reaaon  of  paying  laiffe 
bounties  to  soldiers  of  the  Civil  War.  It  must  either  eontiinia  to 
increase  that  debt,  or  take  haroie  meaaorea  to  liquidate  it  by 
taxation.  A  special  meeting  was  called  for  Feb.  13,  1865.  Ife 
other  business  was  considered.  A  tax  of  four  hnndrad  eenta  at 
a  dollar  was  voted,  and  the  meeting  adjoomed  wifhont  dactaL 
At  tiie  regular  March  meeting  it  waa  voted  that»  when  it  beeaaM 
necessary  for  the  town  to  borrow  money,  the  aom  dioald  not 
exceed  $5,000.  At  another  meeting  in  December  of  that  year 
a  tax  of  100  cents  on  the  dollar  was  voted,  and  an  abatement  of 
fifteen  per  cent,  allowed,  if  paid  at  specified  dates,  and  interest 
collected  after  Feb.  1,  1866,  and  the  collector  to  be  reqKmmUe 
for  the  interest. 

In  1868  the  town  was  compelled  to  open  a  new  road  from 
South  Boyalton  to  Broad  Brook.  The  rate  of  sixty  cents  on  a 
dollar  voted  at  the  March  meeting  the  next  year  was  not  aoffi- 
cient  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  town,  and  a  special  meeting 
was  warned  for  Sep.  7,  1869.  The  selectmen  on  being  called 
upon  reported  that  the  town  needed  $3,000  to  meet  th^  bilk, 
whereupon  another  tax  of  sixty  cents  on  a  dollar  was  voted,  mak* 
ing  the  tax  for  the  year  higher  than  it  had  been  sinee  1865.  In 
spite  of  the  high  rate  of  taxation,  between  Mar.  1,  1869,  and 
Mar.  1,  1870,  the  town  ran  behind  $1,721.29.  The  indebtedness 
gradually  decreased  until  1874  only  twenty-five  cents  on  a  dol- 
lar was  voted,  although  the  town  was  still  in  debt  $1^19.92. 
The  rate  of  taxation  varied  between  twenty-five  and  fifty  cents 
on  a  dollar  up  to  1880.  In  1893  when  the  town  system  of  schools 
and  the  new  road  law  went  into  operation  a  tax  of  135  cents 
on  the  dollar  was  voted.  After  the  building  of  the  new  iron 
bridge  at  South  Boyalton  in  1903  a  tax  of  100  cents  on  the  dol- 
lar was  necessary  for  two  years.  The  taxes  for  1910  are  town. 
50  cents;  school,  70  cents;  highway,  40  cents  on  a  dollar.  The 
town 's  indebtedness  in  1903,  Feb.  12,  was  $11,735.61 ;  in  1910  it 
was  $2,171.25. 

None  of  the  town  grand  lists  have  been  preserved  previous 
to  1791,  the  year  after  the  first  census.  The  list  that  year  was 
taken  by  Thomas  Bingham,  Jabez  Parkhurst,  David  Fislu  Dr. 
Silas  Allen,  and  Luther  Fairbanks.  Listers,  however,  had  been 
chosen,  beginning  with  the  year  1780.  Usually  there  were  three. 
but  in  1790  and  1791  five  were  elected. 

The  grand  list  for  State  and  County  in  1791  was  £3321. 
15.  0 ;  for  town  and  society,  £3542.15.0.  The  difference  was  due 
tc.  deductions  for  troop  and  infantry,  which  were  made  on  the 
list  for  the  state,  but  not  for  the  town.    Ten  were  enrolled  under 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  531 

the  head  of  troop,  and  twenty-two  under  the  head  of  infantry. 
There  were  167  polls  between  twenty-one  and  sixty  years  of  age. 
The  ten  highest  taxpayers  were,  Calvin  Parkhurst,  who  paid  on 
a  Ust  of  £93.10.0;  Daniel  TuUar,  £89.5.0;  Elias  Stevens,  £68; 
Zebulon  Lyon,  £63.5.0;  Daniel  Rix,  £58.15.0;  Joseph  Parkhurst, 
£56.5.0;  Bradford  Kinney,  £50.15.0;  Abijah  Burbank,  £48;  Za- 
bad  Curtis,  £46;  Robert  Havens,  £45.10.0.  Seth  Sylvester  was 
the  only  one  having  any  money  at  interest,  and  he  was  assessed 
on  ten  pounds.  The  total  number  of  acres  of  improved  land 
was  1,774.  The  ten  having  the  largest  number  of  improved 
acres  were,  Calvin  Parkhurst,  80  acres;  Timothy  Durkee,  60 
acres;  Zebulon  Lyon,  55  acres;  Medad  Benton,  55  acres;  David 
Fish,  50  acres;  Elias  Stevens,  50  acres;  Daniel  Rix,  45  acres; 
Daniel  Gilbert,  41  acres;  James  Hibbard,  40  acres;  Abijah  Bur- 
bank,  40  acres.  Fifty-three  had  no  land  improved.  There  were 
541  head  of  neat  stock,  and  115  horses  from  one  year  up.  This 
was  the  financial  condition  of  the  town  ten  years  after  it  had 
been  almost  wiped  out.  There  were  ninety-seven  diflferent  fam- 
ily names. 

There  was  no  rapid  growth  from  year  to  year,  as  has  been 
the  case  in  new  western  towns  in  recent  years.  In  1796  the  list 
was  given  in  dollars  and  cents  for  the  first  time,  and  then  was 
$11,269.21,  Zabad  Curtis  leading  all  with  a  list  of  $492,  Jacob 
Smith  a  close  second  with  $413,  and  Daniel  Gilbert  third,  with 
a  list  of  $366;  then  came  Darius  Dewey,  $314;  Elias  Stevens, 
$276 ;  Zebulon  Lyon,  $250 ;  Nathan  Stone,  $218 ;  Othniel  Eddy, 
$195;  Daniel  Havens,  $190.  Forty-five  others  had  over  $100 
set  to  each  list. 

In  1797,  houses,  clocks,  and  watches  were  listed.  Eighty- 
three  houses  were  assessed  that  year.  Daniel  Gilbert  was  the 
only  one  who  had  two.  There  were  ten  clocks  and  watches  in 
town,  their  fortunate  possessors  being  Dr.  Silas  Allen,  Othniel 
Eddy,  Daniel  Havens,  John  Flint,  owners  of  one  each;  Zabad 
Curtis  and  Daniel  Gilbert,  who  each  had  a  watch  and  a  clock, 
and  Jacob  Smith,  who  had  two,  probably  clocks.  The  next  year 
Ashbel  Buckland  and  Zabad  Curtis  paid  on  three  houses,  Sam- 
uel Curtis,  John  Flint,  Elisha  Kent,  Jr.,  Zebulon  Lyon,  and 
Elkanah  Stevens  each  paid  on  two  houses.  This  throws  some 
light  on  the  time  when  stores,  hotel,  and  shops  were  built.  Zabad 
Curtis  was  assessed  $100  on  his  three  buildings,  Elisha  Barthole- 
mew,  Zebulon  Lyon,  and  Jacob  Smith  were  each  assessed  $20  on 
their  houses,  Abijah  Burbank,  Jr.,  Jesse  Dunham,  Nathaniel 
Morse,  Daniel  Rix,  Elias  Stevens,  Elkanah  Stevens,  Daniel  Tul- 
lar,  and  David  Waller  each,  ten  dollars.  The  other  houses 
ranged  in  assessment  from  fifty  cents  to  $8.00.  The  number  of 
houses  had  increased  to  one  hundred  and  forty. 


HmoBY  ov  ^oftMJMim,  Ywrnman 

At  the  end  of  the  fint  deeade  after  1791  the  total  la* 
$25,162.  There  were  265  poDa,  and  8,798  aerea  of  impromd  land. 
Cows  now  took  the  lead  in  atoek.  Dr.  SQaa  Allen,  had  left  town 
and  taken  his  watch  with  him,  bat  Chandler  ft  Mower  had  mofod 
in,  each  with  a  watch«  Daniel  Oflbert  had  kat,  add  or  giiea 
away  hia  watch,  and  Othniel  Eddy  had  left  town,  ao  there  wcva 
yet  bnt  ten  clodn  and  watehea  in  town,  to  regnlale  the  domsi 
of  the  different  neighborhooda.  Near^  100  militia  wero  ex- 
empted, and  nine  horsea.  Thia  year  ^*ftwmltiea"  were  aaaeand 
for  the  first  time.  Phyaieiana,  merehant%  mannfaetmera,  law- 
yers, and  perhaps  others  were  ssawned  under  thia  head.  TUa 
year  five  merchants  were  thna  aasesMd,  one  lawyer,  one  doetor, 
one  miller,  and  one  of  whom  nothing  is  known,  BosweU  Towal^r, 
who  was  here  but  this  one  year,  and  owned  no  land,  though  he 
had  a  list  of  seventy-four  dollars. 

Only  two  or  three  had  any  mon^  at  interest  for  aeveral 
years.  In  1803,  Daniel  Oilbert  was  the  only  one  thns  listed,  and 
he  gave  in  $3,333.33.  His  list  was  much  larger  than  any  other, 
being  $546.  Carriages  were  taxed  in  1807  for  the  first  time. 
Joseph  Fessenden,  Zebnlon  Lyon,  Jacob  Smith,  and  Daniel  Tul- 
lar  paid  extra  taxes  for  the  privilege  of  riding  in  carriagea.  Two 
years  later  Jacob  Smith  was  the  owner  of  two  carriagea,  and  hia 
list  jumped  from  $205  to  $515. 

At  the  end  of  a  second  decade,  in  1811,  the  total  liat 
$25,595.53,  from  which  thii^-three  militia  i)oUa  at  $20  each 
deducted.  There  were  198  pa3ring  poll  tax  and  70  non-payera, 
making  268  polls.  At  that  time  there  were  4,247  acres  of  im- 
proved land,  a  gain  of  454  acres  of  cleared  land.  This  went  into 
the  list  at  $1.75  an  acre. 

In  1818  there  began  a  deduction  for  minors  equipt  for  mili- 
tary duty.  In  1821,  the  end  of  the  third  decade,  250  had  a  poll 
list  of  $20  each,  eighty-one  were  exempt,  twelve  of  them  through 
military  duty,  making  the  whole  number  of  polls  331.  There 
were  5,168  acres  of  improved  land  appraised  at  $73,872.  There 
were  221  bouses  and  lots  appertaining,  appraised  at  $67,779. 
There  were  listed  1,314  bead  of  neat  stock,  and  351  head  of 
horses  and  mules.  A  large  increase  in  pleasure  carriages  is  ob- 
served, there  being  at  this  time  sixty-six.  Jacob  CoUamer  had 
nine,  Samuel  Curtis  eight,  Jesse  Dunham  nine,  John  Francis 
eight,  Tbroop  &  Orvis  six,  and  S.  &  D.  Williams  six.  Thirty-six 
bouse  clocks  were  assessed  at  ten  dollars  each,  one  doctor  at  $75, 
two  lawyers  at  $40  each,  seven  mechanics  in  the  whole  at  $160, 
four  merchants  and  traders  in  the  whole  at  $185.  The  whole  list 
as  given  is  $23,285.50. 

In  September  of  that  year  one  lister  from  each  town  in 
Windsor  county  met  at  Woodstock,  and  voted  a  reduction  on 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  638 

buildings  and  lots  of  19%,  and  on  lands  of  20%.  By  this  act 
Royalton  had  a  reduction  on  land  of  $4,720.61,  and  on  houses  of 
$3,660.59.  Jacob  Fox  had  the  largest  list  in  1821,  amounting  to 
$573,  and  Dr.  Jo  A.  Denison  was  second  with  a  list  of  $366.  Only 
six  had  a  list  of  over  $200,  Jabez  and  Ebenezer  Parkhurst,  Elisha 
Kent,  Stafford  Smith,  Calvin  Skinner,  and  Amos  Robinson. 
Jacob  Fox  had  124  acres  of  improved  land,  and  Amos  Robinson 
seventy-two.  The  number  for  any  one  was  not  large,  mostly 
under  forty. 

After  1822  no  town  list  was  incorporated  with  the  town 
meeting  records,  and  there  seems  to  be  no  means  of  ascertaining 
the  data  that  is  lacking  until  lists  were  preserved  in  separate 
books.  The  reports,  however,  show  in  1832,  that  at  the  end  of 
the  fiscal  year  Mar.  5,  1832,  the  town  had  in  its  treasury  a  bal- 
ance of  $644.01.  The  report  was  even  better  in  1841,  when  the 
balance  in  favor  of  the  town  was  $902.39. 

The  grand  list  in  1840  was  $15,453,  and  the  population, 
1.893.  In  1851  the  list  had  fallen  to  $5,159.86.  By.  a  law  of 
1797  a  fixed  rate  of  assessment  was  set  for  listers,  which  rate  was 
very  sensibly  lessened  from  time  to  time.  In  1820  listers  were 
given  more  margin  for  the  use  of  their  own  judgment  in  making 
valuations,  although  live  stock  still  had  a  fixed  value,  regardless 
of  quality.  Provision  was  made  for  equalizing  the  assessment  of 
towns.  For  many  years  polls  had  been  set  in  the  list  at  $20 
each,  and  when  this  was  changed  it  made  considerable  difference 
in  the  size  of  the  grand  list.  These  facts  may  help  to  explain 
something  of  the  drop  in  the  list  of  the  town  from  1840  to  1851. 

In  1855  the  legislature  appointed  a  committee  to  equalize 
the  real  estate  grand  list  among  the  counties.  By  the  action  of 
this  committee  the  list  of  Windsor  County,  and  of  course  Royal- 
ton, was  raised  thirteen  per  cent. 

In  1861  the  grand  list  was  $5,990.30,  and  the  population, 
1,739 ;  in  1871  the  list  was  $6,193.51.  The  quinquennial  valua- 
tion of  real  estate  in  1870  was  $445,410,  and  the  total  value  of 
real  and  personal  property  in  1871  was  $537,451.  There  were 
then  378  polls.  The  list  in  1881  was  $7,648.84 ;  real  and  personal 
property,  $695,084.  The  list  in  1891  was  $7,718.05;  real  and 
personal  property,  $709,905.  In  1901  the  list  was  $7,749.75,  and 
in  1910  it  was  $8,061.74;  real  and  personal  estate  valuation, 
$730,974;  number  of  polls,  376.  The  population  according  to 
the  last  census  is  1,452. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 


The  Legal  Profession. 

A  century  ago  lawyers  do  not  seem  to  have  been  drawn  to 
new  settlements  so  soon  as  physicians.  It  would  be  some  time. 
as  a  rule,  before  controversies  over  land  ownership  and  private 
rights  would  reach  such  ample  proportions  as  to  furnish  a  live- 
lihood to  the  limbs  of  the  law.  It  is  doubtful  if  those  who  did 
legal  business  in  the  earliest  days  were  generally  licensed  as  prac- 
ticing attorneys. 

The  records  indicate  that  Comfort  Sever,  Zebulon  Lyon. 
Daniel  Gilbert,  and  Abel  Stevens  did  more  or  less  work  that  a 
regular  lawyer  does  today.  If  any  one  of  these  had  read  law 
with  a  view  to  its  practice,  it  was  probably  Abel  Stevens,  who  is 
sometimes  spoken  of  as  Esquire  Stevens.  In  1797  the  town  chose 
S^bulon  Lyon  to  act  as  agent  in  attending  a  suit  of  Boyalton 
against  Ellington,  Conn.,  in  the  case  of  Abial  Craw,  for  whom 
the  town  had  been  caring.  The  suit  either  was  not  prosecuted 
that  year  or  was  deferred,  for  in  1798  Daniel  Gilbert  was  chosen 
to  attend  at  Tolland,  Conn.,  on  the  same  case. 

So  far  as  has  been  ascertained,  no  regular  lawyer  was  prac- 
ticing in  town  before  the  coming  of  Jacob  Smith  in  1792  or  '93. 
He  was  listed  for  the  first  time  in  the  latter  year,  but  did  not 
pav  poll  tax.  He  started  with  one  acre  of  land  improved  and  a 
list  of  £4.10.  In  1796  his  list  had  risen  to  £95.10,  and  by  ISW 
he  distanced  all  in  the  size  of  his  list.  His  most  prosperous  time 
appears  to  have  been  in  1810,  when  the  amount  set  to  his  name 
was  $577,  and  he  then  had  ninety  acres  of  improved  land. 

From  his  first  entry  into  town  he  became  a  close  rival  of 
Gen.  Stevens,  both  in  land  speculation  and  in  popular  favor. 
He  was  sent  to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  first  time  in  179S, 
and  in  all  he  served  eight  terms.  An  examination  of  assembly 
records  shows  that  he  stood  among  the  foremost  on  important 
committees,  and  in  shaping  legislation.  There  seems  to  have 
been  only  one  weakness  in  his  character,  and  that  must  be  at- 
tributed to  the  custom  of  the  times.  He  was  not  alone  in  an 
occasional  over-indulgence  of  the  cup.  At  his  death  he  had  on 
hand  ten  barrels  of  cider.  It  is  told  of  him  that  one  evening, 
while  in  Montpelier,  he  was  found  hugging  a  lamp  post.     **  What 


a  E.  I>eBiiag.  D.  M.  D. 
Artbur    A.    Abbutt. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  535 

are  you  doing  there,  Squire?''  a  passer-by  inquired.  **Hic — 
hie — rep — hie — hie — representing  Royalton,"  was  his  answer. 

In  1802  he  served  on  a  committee  to  divide  the  state  into 
four  Congressional  districts.  This  committee  was  made  up  of 
one  member  from  each  county,  with  a  committee  from  the  gov- 
ernor and  council.  It  was  a  compliment  to  his  ability  to  be  thus 
selected. 

Young  law  aspirants  sought  him  as  preceptor.  One  of  his 
law  students  was  Cyrus  Ware,  who  became  Chief  Judge  of  the 
Caledonia  Court  in  1808,  serving  four  years. 

In  1797  there  was  printed  in  London  a  book  entitled,  **A 
Descriptive  Sketch  of  the  Present  State  of  Vermont,'*  by  J.  A. 
Graham,  LL.  D.,  Lieut.  Colonel  in  Service,  formerly  of  Vermont, 
then  of  London.  In  this  book  he  names  the  principal  families 
in  the  state,  among  them,  Curtis,  Dewey,  Lyon,  Olcott,  Saflford. 
In  speaking  of  different  towns  in  Windsor  County,  he  says  of 
Lawyer  Smith,  **Mr.  J.  Smith  of  Royalton  was  bred  to  the  Law, 
and  for  a  young  Gentleman,  Mr.  Smith  possesses  great  abilitie 
and  is  an  excellent  orator."  This  praise  from  a  disinterested 
person  shows  that  the  town  was  most  fortunate  in  having  for  its 
first  lawyer  one  of  so  high  talents. 

He  was  only  twenty-eight  when  he  first  represented  the 
town,  and  but  forty-four  when  he  died,  leaving  an  estate  inven- 
toried at  $16,262.34.  He  owned  land  in  Brookfield,  Sunderland, 
and  Arlington.  His  home  must  have  been  elegantly  furnished 
for  those  days.  A  pair  of  tongs  and  a  shovel  were  valued  at 
$16,  a  looking  glass  at  $25.  His  library  was  a  large  one  for  the 
time  and  place,  and  comprised  in  addition  to  legal  documents 
and  works,  a  fine  collection  from  the  very  best  ancient  and  Eng- 
lish classics. 

Theophilus  Olcott  settled  in  Royalton  in  1803.  He  was  a 
brother  of  Jacob  Smith's  first  wife,  and  a  son  of  Rev.  Burkley 
Olcott  of  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  where  he  was  born  in  1782.  He 
was  just  of  age  when  he  came  to  town.  He  seems  to  have  done 
a  prosperous  business  for  seven  years.  The  succeeding  four 
years  he  was  not  listed  under  the  head  of  *  *  faculties, ' '  though  he 
was  in  town.  His  name  disappeared  from  the  list  in  1815,  and 
the  next  year  on  July  19  he  died.  His  first  list  was  $45,  and 
that  year  he  bought  a  house  of  Zebulon  Lyon  at  the  west  end 
of  the  store  of  Bellows,  Dorr  &  Co.,  and  also  a  strip  of  land, 
probably  adjoining,  on  which  he  had  his  office.  His  highest  list 
was  in  1809,  when  he  paid  taxes  on  a  list  of  $263.  Prom  the 
Vermont  Republican  of  1811  it  was  learned  that  both  he  and 
Jacob  Smith  were  connected  with  a  suit  relating  to  the  Veijmont 
State  Bank,  as  signers  of  a  note.  From  that  year  his  fortunes 
seem  to  decline.     It  would  appear  that  he  had  no  ambition  for 


\ 


SS6 

politieal  preferment,  as  Us  bnilkBr-iii4aw  had,  and  tkaft  he 
shrank  even  bcm  the  leaponaibililar  of  town  efflee.  It  is  Hon 
than  probable  that  hk  health  was  invaired,  and  that  hia  eaii|f 
death  was  due  to  a  dedine.  He  never  ouxned.  If  he  ia  bnied 
in  town,  there  is  no  headstone  to  laaikhia  lint  ingplaea.  Hedied 
in  Beaton.    He  gradoatod  at  Dartmoolh  in  1800. 

A  Yilnable  addition  to  the  citiasuahlp  of  the  town  was  madm 
in  1813,  when  John  FranelB,  Baq^  hang  out  Ma  lUni^  aa  a 
young  attorney  of  Bosyalton.  He  vaa  n  gradnste  of  DartBMnfli 
in  1809,  from  which  institotion  he  xeeeived  an  A.  IL  dogne.  Hie 
read  law  with  Mr.  Bradkgr  of  Westminster.  He  waa  a  aoand, 
oonseientioDs  adviscHr.  An  honoiahle  member  of  the  prnftwBBBBj 
who  remembers  him,  says  of  him,  that  if  he  did  not  think  him- 
■elf  competent  to  condnet  a  diiBeoIt  ease,  he  seenred  talent  that 
he  felt  wonld  be  socoesrfnL  He  had  the  eonfidenee  of  the  oom- 
mnnily  es  a  man  of  striet  probity  and  good  judgment.  He  was 
feithfol  and  hcmest  in  esring  for  the  bnidnesB  of  oot-of 4own  peo- 
ple, and  wes  extenrively  employed  1^  Boston  firms  in  looking 
after  their  interests. 

He  wes  for  many  years  president  of  the  Chelsea  Bank.  He 
wes  chosen  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Windsmr  County  Agrienl- 
tural  Society,  whidi  was  formed  in  1820,  and  he  was  one  of  a 
committee  to  secure  subscriptions  for  it  in  Boyalton.  He  took 
a  great  interest  in  military  afhirs,  and  his  reeord  will  be  found 
under  ''The  General  Militia." 

His  residence  in  town  covered  a  period  of  thirty  years.  He 
identified  himself  with  the  Congregational  church,  and  was  a 
useful  and  influential  member  of  the  same.  He  had  a  benevolent 
disposition,  and  at  his  death  in  1843  he  left,  besides  an  unusu- 
ally handsome  estate  to  be  divided  among  his  heirs,  the  memory 
of  a  lifetime  of  good  works,  and  an  unspotted  character. 

Three  years  after  Mr.  Francis  came  to  Boyalton,  another 
young  lawyer  chose  this  growing  town  in  which  to  make  his  home 
and  his  reputation.  This  was  Jacob  Collamer.  He  graduated 
from  the  U.  V.  M.  in  1810,  receiving  the  A.  B.  and  A.  M.  de- 
grees from  this  institution.  The  honorary  degree  of  LL.  D.  was 
conferred  upon  him  by  Dartmouth  college  in  1855.  After  gradu- 
ation he  read  law  with  Hon.  Benjamin  Swift  of  St.  Albans,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1813.  He  served  as  BegisXer  of  Pro- 
bate for  a  few  years,  which  office  was  the  first  stepping  stone  to 
more  important  appointments.  In  the  fifth  year  of  his  residence 
in  Boyalton  his  townsmen  sent  him  as  representative  to  Mont- 
pelier,  again  in  1822,  1827-28.  It  was  in  1827  that  Ellas  Stevens 
and  others  presented  to  the  legislature  a  petition  for  the  division 
of  Windsor  Count>\  He  was  their  advocate,  and  the  Woodstock 
Observer  of  that  year  conmiends  his  effort  as  an  able  one,  though 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  537 

it  was  not  successful.  Had  it  been,  Boyalton  would  have  been 
the  shire  town  of  the  new  county  in  all  probability,  and  Judge 
Collamer  might  have  made  this  his  permanent  residence.  It  is 
certain  that  he  entered  heartily  into  the  interests  of  the  people, 
and  their  ambitions  were  his. 

His  speech  at  the  time  of  Lafayette's  visit  shows  fitness,  and 
grace  of  diction  without  any  effort  at  fine  oratory.  It  has  a 
note  of  sincerity  throughout,  in  accord  with  the  nature  of  the 
man.  It  may  be  found  in  full  in  connection  with  the  history  of 
that  occasion. 

The  calls  to  higher  positions  of  trust  and  usefulness  came 
fast.  He  was  state's  attorney  for  Windsor  County,  1822-24, 
elected  school  commissioner  by  the  Council  in  1827-28,  and  again 
in  1830,  associate  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  1834-42,  and 
member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1836.  The  crea- 
tion of  the  Senate  as  a  branch  of  the  legislature  has  been  largely 
attributed  to  his  ability  and  influence.  Up  to  this  time  his  tal- 
ents had  been  employed  in  the  interests  of  his  town  and  state. 
Now  his  efforts  were  to  take  on  larger  proportions,  and  the  nation 
was  to  profit  by  his  legal  acumen,  honesty,  and  comprehensive 
grasp  of  public  questions. 

This  year,  1836,  he  removed  to  Woodstock,  which  town 
claims  him  during  the  later  years  of  his  career,  but  his  reputa- 
tion was  already  made,  and  his  children  were  all  born  in  Royal- 
ton.  That  his  townspeople  regarded  his  departure  as  a  personal 
and  public  loss  is  certain,  and  their  affectionate  interest  in  his 
future  is  shown  by  the  action  of  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  the 
town,  Dea.  Salmon  Joiner.  When  he  was  assured  of  the  elec- 
tion of  Judge  Collamer  to  the  House  of  Representatives  at  Wash- 
ington, he  hitched  up  his  horse  and  drove  over  to  Woodstock 
on  a  cold,  wintry  day.  After  dinner  the  Deacon  told  the  Judge 
that  he  had  come  to  labor  with  him,  to  warn  him  against  the 
snares  of  the  wicked  city  to  which  he  was  going.  The  Judge 
took  him  to  the  parlor,  and  the  interview  lasted  two  or  more 
hours,  then  the  household  was  called  together  and  the  old  deacon 
prayed  long  and  fervently  for  wisdom  for  the  Judge,  that  he 
might  be  preserved  from  the  enticements  to  evil  to  which  he 
would  be  exposed.  After  the  prayer  he  started  on  his  ten-mile 
drive  homeward.  This  anecdote  has  been  preserved  to  us  by 
the  Hon.  Orville  Tinkham. 

Judge  Collamer  continued  to  serve  in  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives until  1849,  when  he  declined  a  re-election,  and  ac- 
cepted the  portfolio  of  Postmaster-General,  serving  till  the  death 
of  President  Taylor.  His  administration  of  the  office  was  highly 
lauded  as  cheap  and  honest.  In  1850  he  was  elected  Judge  of 
the  Circuit  Court  in  Vermont,  which  office  he  held  until  he  was 


588  BmroKi  or  Borjoiiair,  Ywmmmr 


elected  U.  S.  senator  in  1851.    He  wm  itill  a  member  of  the  Bcbp 
ate  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Judge  CoUamer,  aa  he  genera%  v  ealkd,  did  net  allj  him- 
self  always  with  the  winning  aide.  He  had  atrong  eowietioDa 
regarding  the  disposition  of  tiie  pnUie  dnmafnj  the  dacveiy  qiaea- 
tion  and  the  temperance  qnesticm.  He  waa  made  dudnian  of 
the  committee  on  public  domain,  and  he  anhmitted  the  iniiiurily 
report  on  the  situation  in  Eanaaa  in  1855.  Senator  Shennan 
said  of  it,  ''In  the  majority  report  the  true  lasne  k  smoflmed; 
in  Hie  minority  report  it  stands  forth  aa  a  pillar  of  fire  to  gidda 
the  country." 

He  was  a  trusted  friend  of  Prendent  Lincoln,  lAo,  in  the 
early  part  of  1863,  after  repeated  national  reverses,  called  Judge 
CoUiuner  to  him  and  held  a  consultation  lasting  twelve  hours. 
Who  shall  say  that  the  petition  of  Deacon  Joiner  for  a  rich 
endowment  of  wisdom  for  his  neighbor  and  friend  waa  not  re- 
called in  this  critical  time,  when  S^tor  Collamer  was  trying  to 
aid  with  his  advice  the  weary,  anxious,  almost  despairing  Presi- 
dent t 

Judge  Collamer  was  not  called  a  brilliant  orator,  but  Sena- 
tor Blaine  called  him  the  wisest  man  he  ever  knew,  and  Sumn^ 
named  him  the  ''Oreen  Mountain  Socrates."  The  greatest  dt 
fort  of  his  life  is  tiiought  li^  some  to  be  his  speech  denying  the 
power  of  the  President  to  declare  x>eace  by  proclamati<m  to  the 
seceded  states.  Of  this  speech  Sumner  declared  that  it  was  ''the 
brightest  and  most  glorious  moment  of  his  long  life." 

In  form  he  was  portly,  above  the  medium  height.  In  his 
early  manhood  he  always  wore  a  ru£9ed  shirt,  and  generally  a 
blue  dress  coat  with  brass  buttons.  His  face  was  a  kindly, 
though  firm  one.  One  writer  says  that  he  carried  the  ten  com- 
mandments written  in  it.  He  was  always  courteous  in  his  own 
home,  fondly  attached  to  his  family,  sympathetic  and  benevolent 
to  all.  The  state  has  honored  itself  in  honoring  him  by  having 
his  statue  placed  in  the  old  Hall  of  Representatives  in  Wash- 
ington. 

Before  the  death  of  John  Francis  two  other  attorneys  had 
opened  ofBces  in  town,  Alden  Crafts  Noble  and  Nathaniel 
Sprague.  Mr.  Sprague's  career  as  a  lawyer  was  brief  but  hon- 
orable. A  full  sketch  of  his  life  may  be  found  in  connection 
with  the  history  of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Noble  was  the  son  of  Nehemiah  Noble,  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  in  town.  He  belonged  to  the  class  of  1826  in  the 
U.  V.  M.,  but  left  when  the  college  was  burned.  He  then  went 
to  Charlotte  and  studied  law  with  his  brother,  William  Noble. 
He  came  to  Boyalton  in  the  latter  part  of  1828  or  the  first  part 
of  the  next  year.    He  at  once  took  an  active  part  in  the  business 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  539 

of  the  town,  and  was  elected  one  of  the  superintending  school 
committee  in  1829,  which  ofBce  he  held  for  several  years.  He 
married  one  of  Jacob  Smith's  daughters,  and  it  seemed  as  if  he 
might  be  a  valued  and  permanent  citizen  of  the  town.  With 
David  Bosworth  he  bought  a  small  place  of  Bela  Hall,  but  soon 
sold  his  share  to  Mr.  Bosworth.  The  West  called  to  him,  and 
be  went  there  in  the  early  part  of  1837.  He  was  attacked  with 
fever  and  died,  and  was  buried  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  His  one 
child,  James  Jacob,  was  bom  in  Royalton  in  1833. 

Samuel  W.  Slade  was  a  lawyer  in  town  in  1846,  in  which 
year  he  was  elected  one  of  the  school  superintendents,  and  again 
the  next  year.  Very  little  has  been  learned  of  him  or  of  Ro- 
manzo  Walker,  with  whom  he  entered  into  partnership.  It  is 
said  that  Mr.  Walker  was  born  in  Grafton,  Windham  Co.,  and 
that  he  died  in  Royalton,  and  was  buried  in  another  town.  Mr. 
S]ade  does  not  seem  to  have  been  here  more  than  three  or  four 
years.  Mr.  Walker  was  here  in  1849,  perhaps  later  than  that. 
He  is  spoken  of  by  one  who  remembers  him  as  a  ready,  fluent 
speaker.     He  represented  Royalton  in  the  legislature  in  1846-47. 

Samuel  Selden  lived  in  Royalton  for  a  few  years  in  the 
1830 's.  He  may  have  been  the  lawyer  from  Lebanon,  N.  H., 
who  married  one  of  Jabez  Parkhurst's  daughters,  and  went  West, 
where  he  became  a  noted  judge.  When  in  town  he  lived  on  the 
Jabez  Parkhurst  farm. 

John  Sullivan  Marcy  came  to  Royalton  about  1839.  He  at 
once  took  front  rank  as  a  citizen  and  a  lawyer.  A  sketch  of  his 
life  will  be  found  in  the  genealogical  part  of  this  book. 

Charles  Morris  Lamb  removed  from  Tunbridge  to  South 
Royalton  in  1852.  He  was  a  self-educated,  self-made  man.  He 
was  forty-three  years  old  when  he  began  the  study  of  law  with 
Norman  Durant  of  Tunbridge,  and  in  1850  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  He  had  a  lucrative  practice  for  many  years.  He  was 
held  in  high  respect  by  the  bench  for  his  clear  understanding, 
and  evident  desire  that  justice  should  not  be  thwarted  by  legal 
quibbles.  Though  one  of  the  most  unassuming  of  men,  his  abil- 
ity in  working  up  a  case  and  conducting  it  to  a  successful  issue 
was  well  recognized.  He  was  not  much  of  a  politician,  but  he 
was  elected  as  senator  from  Windsor  County  in  1872. 

There  was  a  vein  of  humor  in  his  nature,  which  his  quiet 
demeanor  did  not  betoken.  He  and  Judge  Marcy  used  to  ex- 
change pleasantries  occasionally.  Squire  Lamb,  as  he  was  called, 
became  very  bald,  while  Judge  Marcy  had  a  heavy  growth  of 
hair.  One  day  the  Judge  sent  down  a  note  from  his  home  in 
Royalton  village,  which,  when  deciphered,  read,  **  If  a  fly  should 
light  on  your  head,  it  would  slide  off."    By  return  mail  went 


540  HmoBY  ov  BatnMm,  Ywrnman 

the  reply,  equally  difficult  to  make  out,  ''If  one  ahonld  li|^  on 
your  head,  it  would  slump  in." 

Mr.  Lamb  had  for  a  partner  for  two  years  CSoL  Stephan 
Pincnree,  1864-66.  CoL  Pingree  went  from  B^alton  to  Hartford 
to  I^ome  the  partner  of  his  brother,  the  Hon.  Samuel  E.  mn- 
gree.  He  remained  with  his  brother  about  seven  yearsy  and  fhn 
had  an  office  by  himself,  until  his  death,  April  19, 1892.  He  was 
a  fluent  speaker  and  an  aUe  lawyer. 

Dudley  Chase  Denison,  the  son  of  Dr.  Jo  Adam  Deniaon, 
and  so  far  as  is  known,  the  first  native  lawyer  to  praotiee  in  town, 
is  also  distinguished  as  having  continued  the  practice  of  hia  pro- 
fession a  longer  period  in  town  than  any  other  lawyer  in  the 
whole  history  of  Boyalton.  For  sixty  or  more  years  he  helped 
his  neighbors  and  others  in  disentangling  legal  knots.  The  rec- 
ord of  his  long  and  useful  service  will  be  found  in  the  sketch  of 
the  Denison  family  in  the  genealogical  part  of  this  History. 

James  Oilman  Henry  formed  a  partnership  with  the  Hon. 
D.  C.  Denison  in  1855.  He  had  not  then  completed  lua  law 
studies.  He  entered  the  U.  Y.  M.  in  1852,  and  left  at  the  end 
of  his  Junior  year.  He  was  admitted  to  tiie  bar  in  1857.  He 
possessed  a  naturally  brilliant  mind,  a  fine  figure,  and  engaging 
manners.  His  legal  career  was  broken  by  military  service  dur- 
ing the  Civil  War,  and  he  did  not  long  remain  in  Boyalton  after 
its  close.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Jabez  Lyman,  and  removed 
to  Brighton,  Mass.,  where  he  died  at  the  comparatively  early 
age  of  forty-one. 

Joseph  Dudley  Denison  was  taken  into  partnership  with 
his  father,  Dudley  C.  Denison,  about  1869.  The  account  of  his 
work  in  Boyalton  and  Bandolpb,  and  the  important  positions 
which  he  held  will  be  found  in  the  Denison  sketch. 

Arthur  Culver,  the  son  of  James,  was  another  native  to 
practice  law  in  town.  He  studied  with  the  Denison  law  firm, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  1860 's.  He  entered  into 
partnership  with  C.  M.  Lamb  of  South  Boyalton,  after  he  had 
served  in  Montpelier  as  clerk  of  the  County  Court.  He  was 
secretary  of  the  last  Council  of  Censors.  Mr.  Culver  was  a 
young  man  of  exceptional  talents.  His  aspirations  were  of  a 
high  order,  and  a  most  promising  future  seemed  open  to  him, 
when  he  was  stricken  down  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-five. 

W.  N.  VanCor  was  also  associated  with  C.  M.  Lamb  for  a 
time  not  long  after  the  Civil  War.  He  was  a  one-armed  veteran. 
He  did  not  long  remain  in  South  Boyalton,  but  went  to  Norwich. 
He  left  there  not  many  years  after,  and  nothing  more  is  known 
of  him. 

B.  B.  Stiles  is  another  lawyer,  here  about  the  same  time, 
of  whom  almost  nothing  is  known,  except  that  he  practiced  in 
South  Boyalton. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  541 

The  honorable  record  of  Henry  C.  Denison  will  be  found  in 
the  history  of  the  Denison  family. 

Since  the  death  of  Hon.  D.  C.  Denison  there  has  been  no 
lawyer  in  Boyalton  village.  For  some  years  previous  to  the 
death  of  Mr.  Lamb,  the  firm  had  been  known  as  Lamb  &  Tarbell. 
The  junior  member  of  the  firm  was  Charles  Paine  Tarbell,  the 
son  of  Daniel  Tarbell,  Jr.  His  connection  with  the  social  and 
religious  life  of  South  Royalton  will  be  given  in  the  Tarbell  fam- 
ily history.  His  record  as  a  lawyer  was  furnished  by  one  who 
has  known  him  well,  and  can  better  estimate  his  abilities  than 
the  writer. 

*  *  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1870  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Vermont  in  1870.  He  located  at 
South  Royalton  in  1872,  and  entered  into  partnership  with  C.  M. 
Lamb  in  1873,  which  partnership  continued  to  the  time  of  Mr. 
Lamb's  death  in  1891.  In  1894  Mr.  Tarbell  took  Arthur  G. 
Whitham  into  partnership,  and  the  firm  of  Tarbell  &  Whitham 
has  continued  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Tarbell's  more  notice- 
able characteristics  as  a  lawyer  are  those  of  clear-sightedness  in 
discerning  the  merits  of  a  case,  and  his  whole-hearted  integrity 
and  loyalty  to  his  clients,  his  profession  and  his  own  best  self, 
coupled  with  great  natural  ability.  His  ability  as  an  advocate 
has  been  evidenced  over  and  over  again  in  his  practice  before 
the  jury.  He  was  never  adroit  in  the  sense  of  using  shams  to 
work  a  case  through,  but  ever  has  rested  his  success  on  the  truth 
of  his  cause,  and  his  diligence  and  care  in  preparing  for  trial. 
He  has  been  frequently  alluded  to  by  members  of  the  bar,  as 
no  mean  antagonist  because  of  his  sincerity  before  the  jury,  and 
always  has  been  accorded  the  confidence  of  the  Court  and  the 
bar  for  the  same  reason.  As  a  chancery  lawyer  he  is  recognized 
today  as  one  of  the  best  in  Windsor  County,  and  a  bill  bearing 
his  signature  as  solicitor  in  that  Court  meets  with  the  most  care- 
ful consideration. 

In  1900  he  was  elected  State's  Attorney  for  Windsor  Coun- 
ty, and  for  two  years  maintained  the  prestige  and  integrity  of 
the  Court  and  the  bar,  by  a  courageous  adherence  to  duty  in  the 
face  of  most  trying  conditions.  The  firm  of  Lamb  &  Tarbell 
was  well  known  for  many  years  throughout  the  state  as  one  of 
the  best  firms  of  chancery  lawyers  in  the  state,  and  the  law 
reports  of  those  years  contain  a  number  of  important  decisions 
rendered  in  cases,  in  which  Lamb  &  Tarbell  were  the  leading 
counsel  on  one  side  or  the  other.  In  1897  Mr.  Tarbell  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  the  United  States  Courts.  His  sturdy 
character,  courageous  and  sincere  nature,  and  his  weight  in  ar- 
gument have  been  commented  upon  as  likening  him  to  Abraham 
Lincoln,  as  a  lawyer." 


548  HisTOBT  or  Boyaiaoh,  Ywrnman 

The  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Tarbdl  ft  WUfham  k 
Arthur  Gilbert  Whiiham.  He  came  to  South  Boyaltoa  in  IfiSl, 
and  began  to  read  law  with  Mr.  Tarbell  after  the  death  of  Squire 
Lamb.  He  was  admitted  to  fhe  praotiee  of  law  in  Oetober,  18M, 
at  Montpelier,  passing  third  in  a  olaas  of  eii^Meen  atndenta  for 
admission,  in  which  Hon.  Frederiek  G.  Fleetwood,  once  eandi- 
date  for  Goyemor,  was  first  He  enterod  into  partneniiqi  wiA 
Mr.  Tarbell  the  same  year.  He  has  been  for  nine  yean  Secre- 
tory of  the  Republican  Committee  of  B^yatton,  and  three  yean 
on  the  ezecutiye  board  of  the  CSonnty  BepubUcan  Committia. 
He  was  elected  town  treasurer  in  1909  to  auoeeed  E.  Window, 
retired. 

Being  the  junior  member  of  the  firm,  Mr.  Whitham  haa  not 
been  called  upon  to  act  as  an  advocate  to  any  extent  until  the 
past  year.  He  is  quick  to  recognize  the  vital  points  in  a  ease, 
and  is  most  painstaking  in  working  up  a  ease  for  trial,  and  tt 
faithful  to  his  clients.  He  has  much  executive  ability,  and  has 
been  employed  in  settling  some  very  difScult  and  complicated 
estates,  which  he  handles  with  apparent  ease,  untangling  knotty 
questions,  and  successfully  closing  up  the  business  in  hand. 

UnOATION. 

Boyalton  has  been  rather  fortunate  in  having  few  long  and 
expensive  lawsuits.  Those  of  imi)ortance  connected  with  the 
laying  of  new  roads  and  with  the  Boyalton  and  Woodstock  Turn- 
pike Company  have  already  been  noticed,  likewise  the  Craw  suit 
with  Ellington,  Conn.  There  remains  one  suit  which  must  be 
mentioned,  probably  the  longest  and  most  expensive  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  town,  the  **  Joseph  Culver  Suit." 

On  Oct.  4,  1850,  Mr.  Culver,  who  was  a  resident  of  Barn- 
ard, was  on  his  way  home  from  South  Boyalton  with  a  load  of 
flour,  drawn  by  a  span  of  horses.  He  was  going  by  the  way  of 
the  ''mouth  of  Broad  Brook,"  the  hill  road  not  then  having 
been  laid.  Heavy  rains  had  recently  fallen,  which  bad  badly 
washed  the  roads,  and  they  had  not  yet  been  fully  repaired. 
When  he  was  passing  near  the  Flint  place,  where  Mr.  Irving 
Barrows  now  lives,  one  wheel  of  his  wagon  struck  into  a  hole  in 
the  road,  throwing  him  from  the  load,  and  frightening  the  horses, 
which  started  into  a  run. 

Mr.  Culver  was  picked  up  unconscious  and  carried  into  the 
Flint  home.  He  did  not  regain  full  consciousness  for  a  month, 
and  it  is  said  that  his  mind  never  recovered  its  former  vigor. 

He  brought  suit  against  the  town  for  damages.  Daniel 
Woodward  was  then  agent  for  the  town,  and  with  the  selectmen 
refused  to  settle,  claiming  that  the  town  was  not  liable,  that  Mr. 


History  of  Royalton,  Vermont  543 

Culver  was  so  far  under  the  influence  of  liquor  as  to  be  incapable 
of  handling  his  team  properly.  The  suit  was  entered  at  the 
May  term  of  Court  at  Woodstock,  and  came  up  for  trial  at  the 
December  term,  1851.  The  attorneys  for  the  plaintiff  were  Wash- 
burn &  Marsh,  W.  C.  French,  and  John  S.  Marcy ;  for  the  town, 
Andrew  Tracy,  Julius  Converse,  and  Denison  &  Henry.  The 
jury  disagreed. 

The  case  was  re-tried  at  the  May  term,  1852,  when  a  verdict 
was  rendered  for  the  town.  The  defendant  was  allowed  review. 
Mr.  Culver  would  not  rest  with  this  verdict,  and  the  case  was 
again  on  the  docket  at  the  December  term,  1852.  This  time  the 
verdict  was  in  favor  of  the  plaintiff,  who  was  awarded  $1,500 
damages.     The  defendant  was  allowed  review. 

The  suit  now  rested  for  a  time,  but  the  town,  which  had 
once  won,  was  in  no  mood  to  accept  the  verdict.  Mr.  Culver 
had  used  about  all  the  means  he  possessed,  and  his  brothers  came 
to  his  aid  in  the  fight.  The  case  was  tried  for  the  fourth  time  at 
the  May  term,  1855.  The  jury  disagreed.  The  town  aimed  to 
prove  that  Mr.  Culver  was  a  man  addicted  to  the  use  of  liguor, 
and  that  he  had  been  drinking  that  day  on  which  the  accident 
occurred,  and  that  it  would  not  have  happened  had  he  been  sober. 

Again  the  case  wound  its  slow  length  along  in  preparation 
for  another  move,  until  the  May  term,  1857,  when  for  the  fifth 
time  it  was  in  Court,  and  the  result  was  the  same  as  at  the  pre- 
ceding trial — the  jury  disagreed.  Mr.  Culver  was  now  impov- 
erished, and  it  is  said  that  he,  at  one  time,  sent  a  man  to  the 
town  authorities,  whom  he  had  empowered  to  settle  for  $300,  but 
the  officials  were  still  obstinate. 

Finally,  the  lawyers  on  his  side  agreed  to  go  on  with  the 
case,  and  if  they  did  not  succeed  in  winning,  they  would  charge 
nothing.  It  is  claimed  by  one  who  recalls  the  case  that  Paul 
Dillingham  was  called  to  the  aid  of  the  plaintiff  *s  side  by  Mr. 
Washburn,  and  that  he  made  the  last  plea  in  the  case.  The 
suit  for  the  sixth  and  last  time  was  tried  at  the  May  term,  1860. 
The  town  was  prepared  to  prove  that  the  ring  on  the  neckyoke 
of  the  horses  was  so  large,  that  it  would  slip  over  the  tongue  of 
the  wagon  as  far  as  the  evener,  and  the  accident  was  partly  due 
to  defective  harness.  By  some  means  the  plaintiff's  counsel  got 
wind  of  this,  and  after  the  testimony  was  in  on  the  side  of  the 
defendant.  Lawyer  Washburn  announced  that  they  would  then 
bring  in  another  witness,  viz.,  the  neckyoke  and  tongue.  They 
showed  that  the  ring  would  need  to  be,  at  least,  seven  inches  in 
diameter  to  allow  of  its  slipping  over  the  tongue  as  claimed  by 
the  town,  and  by  actual  measurement  it  was  found  to  be  only 
four  inches.  The  jury  brought  in  a  verdict  for  the  plaintiff. 
The  damages  were  set  at  $1,615.    Motion  was  made  by  defend- 


544  HisiOBT  OF  Botiliion,  ▼xbmomt 

ant  in  arrest  of  judgment,  whieh  was  overruled,  and  then  excep- 
tion was  taken  by  defendant. 

The  ease  went  np  to  the  February  term  of  the  Supveme  Gomrt 
in  1861.  The  judgment  of  the  CSonnty  Court  was  affirmed  with 
eosts.  The  damages  were  set  at  $1,687.67  and  eosts  at  $1,124.59. 
Execution  was  issued  Mar.  2,  1861.  The  town  ealled  a  special 
meeting  for  Nov.  5, 1861,  to  see  if  they  would  vote  to  rake  maosj 
to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  Culver  suit  They  voted  not  to  rake 
a  tax  for  that  purpose. 

It  is  a  tradition  that  this  suit  cost  tiie  town  $10,000,  and 
that  it  took  all  Mr.  Culver  received  from  the  town  to  pay  hk 
lawyers.  Both  parties  were  probably  sadder  and  wiser  for  the 
long  and  stubborn  contest,  at  least,  it  has  since  been  the  policy 
of  the  town  to  look  more  carefully  after  its  highways,  and  to 
settle  questions  of  damage  without  a  lawsuit,  whenever  it  could 
be  justly  and  honorably  done. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 


The  Medical  Profession. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Dr.  Charles  S.  Caverly  of  Rutland, 
for  several  years  President  of  the  State  Board  of  Health,  some 
interesting  information  has  been  obtained  regarding  the  early 
history  of  medicine  and  surgery  in  Vermont.  A  very  able  and 
exhaustive  paper  of  his  was  published  in  **The  Vermonter"  in 
May,  1903.  A  quotation  from  this  paper,  credited  to  Dr.  Bart- 
lett  of  Hanover,  will  show  the  usual  charges  of  doctors  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century:  ** Medicine  was  usually 
one  shilling  for  each  potion ;  occasionally  two  shillings ;  bleeding 
was  alwajTB  one  shilling;  dressing  a  wound  one  shilling;  lancing  a 
sore  one  shilling ;  setting  an  arm  or  leg  six  shillings ;  *  attendance 
on  your  wife  in  travel'  was  twelve  shillings."  If  we  take  into 
account  the  considerable  per  cent,  of  poor  debts,  and  the  fact 
that  the  doctor  furnished  the  medicine,  it  is  easy  to  see  that 
physicians  did  not  rapidly  acquire  wealth  in  those  days. 

Dr.  Joseph  A.  Gallup  of  Woodstock,  in  his  **  Sketches  of 
Epidemic  Diseases  in  the  State  of  Vermont,"  published  in  1815, 
has  left  an  account  of  the  fatal  epidemic  of  1813.  He  calls  the 
disease  **  epidemic  peripneumony, "  and  states  that  it  had  many 
characteristics  of  ** spotted  fever."  Dr.  Caverly  is  of  the  opin- 
ion that  it  was  cerebro  spinal  meningitis.  It  started  with  the 
soldiers  at  Burlington  in  the  winter  of  1813,  spreading  through 
the  larger  part  of  the  State.  The  method  of  treatment  which 
proved  most  successful  was  ** bleeding,  puking  and  purging," 
the  promoting  of  free  expectoration,  and  avoidance  of  heating 
stimulating  means.  The  disease  is  thus  described  by  Dr.  Little- 
field  of  Arlington:  **From  four  to  ten  hours  after  the  attack, 
the  surface  of  the  body  would  be  covered  with  spots  or  blotches 
like  blood  blisters ;  some  of  the  bigness  of  a  pea,  others  the  size  of 
a  man's  hand.  Total  loss  of  sight,  insensibility,  and  the  signs 
of  approaching  dissolution  are  mentioned."  Dr.  Gallup  esti- 
mates the  number  of  deaths  during  five  months  at  6,400  in  a  cen- 
sus population  of  217,913.  While  nothing  is  on  record  referring 
in  any  way  to  this  epidemic  as  having  invaded  Boyalton,  it  is 
not  improbable  that  some  of  the  deaths  occurring  between  1809 
and  1816,  when  the  disease  prevailed  in  New  England,  may  have 
been  due  to  this  cause. 

35 


646  History  op  Royalton,  Vermont 

Licenses  to  practice  were  obtained  in  different  ways,  from 
medical  colleges,  medical  schools  not  colleges,  and  from  medical 
societies.  The  First  Medical  Society  in  Vermont  was  organized 
Aug.  19,  1784,  and  incorporated  by  the  Assembly  in  October  of 
that  year.  It  originated  with  the  physicians  of  Bennington  and 
Rutland  counties.  The  Windsor  County  Medical  Society  was 
legalized  by  legislative  act  Oct.  27,  1812.  The  Vermont  Medical 
Society  was  incorporated  Nov.  10  of  the  next  year.  A  bill  for 
such  a  society  had  been  before  the  Assembly  in  1799,  and  on 
October  25th  it  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  joint  committee  of 
the  House  and  Council,  but  evidently  was  allowed  to  die. 

The  majority  of  physicians  received  their  licenses  from  medi- 
cal societies,  after  studying  and  practicing  with  a  preceptor.  The 
Clinical  School  of  Medicine  in  Woodstock,  established  by  Dr. 
Joseph  A.  Gallup,  was  patronized  by  some  of  Boyalton's  sons 
who  were  studying  for  the  medical  profession.  Dr.  Gallup  was 
a  remarkable  man,  and  no  doubt  influenced  to  a  considerable  de- 
gree the  methods  of  cure  employed  in  this  and  adjoining  towns. 
He  was  progressive  and  independent  in  theory  and  practice,  and 
was  prominent  in  Windsor  County  and  State  Medical  Societies. 
Our  local  doctors  did  not  have  a  part  in  the  inception  of  these 
societies,  but  later  some  of  them  were  members  of  both. 

The  General  Assembly  passed  a  law  in  March,  1784,  pro- 
viding for  prevention  of  the  spread  of  small  pox,  and  again  in 
1787  it  passed  an  act  more  rigid,  requiring  selectmen  to  look 
after  such  cases.  The  voters  of  Royalton  at  their  March  meeting 
in  1792  voted,  **That  if  ye  selectmen  find  it  necessary  they  may 
allow  of  ye  inoculation  being  set  up  in  some  convenient  place  in 
town  next  October,"  which  shows  that  they  were  simply  antici- 
pating the  appearance  of  this  dreaded  disease.  In  1802  there 
was  opposition  to  vaccination,  but  it  was  overcome.  In  1846  the 
whole  town  was  vaccinated  at  public  expense,  the  three  physi- 
cians each  being  paid  $10  for  inoculating  one-third  of  the  in- 
habitants. 

No  serious  epidemic  of  this  sort  is  known  to  have  seized  the 
town,  though  there  have  been  cases  from  time  to  time,  and  a  pest 
house  was  erected  of  logs  on  the  Calvin  Skinner  place  in  1792 
or  thereabout,  and  another  house  on  the  hill  in  the  rear  of  Irving 
Barrows',  not  far  from  the  Broad  Brook  road  was  later  utilized 
for  patients  so  afflicted.  From  Miss  Ruth  Tracy  of  Beverly. 
Mass.,  it  is  ascertained  that  small  pox  broke  out  in  Royalton  in 
1792.  A  woman  tramp  from  Canada  came  along,  and  was  given 
shelter  in  one  of  the  village  houses.  She  picked  the  scabs  from  her 
feet  and  threw  them  into  the  fire  before  it  was  known  what  was 
the  matter  with  her.  The  school  children  had  gone  in  **to  see 
the  funny  old  woman  and  hear  her  jargon."    The  people  in  the 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  547 

house  took  the  disease,  and  all  in  the  house  had  to  be  vaccinated. 
Zebulon  Lyon  and  family  had  the  disease,  she  says,  by  vaccina- 
tion, and  Mrs.  Lyon's  daughter,  Sally  Skinner  Washburn,  went 
with  a  three-months-old  baby,  both  vaccinated,  to  care  for  them. 
Mrs.  Washburn  told  how  the  patients  in  the  log  pest  house  used 
to  roast  potatoes  on  the  coals,  after  they  were  able  to  eat,  and 
as  their  lips  were  sore,  they  laid  the  potatoes  on  the  logs  to  cool. 
One  man  died  and  was  buried  on  the  intervale,  whose  **deep 
grave  was  avoided  and  kept  in  remembrance  as  long  as  Mrs. 
Washburn  lived.'* 

In  these  days,  when  doctors  are  summoned  by  telephone  and 
brought  to  the  beds  of  suffering  ones  in  autos,  one  can  scarcely 
realize  what  it  meant  to  the  early  settlers  to  see  their  loved  ones 
stricken  with  disease,  in  the  agony  of  pain,  and  know  that  the 
nearest  physician  was,  perhaps,  twenty  or  more  miles  away,  and 
even  when  reached  by  the  swiftest  rider,  might  not  be  able  to 
come  for  a  day  or  more.  Fortunately,  in  almost  every  neighbor- 
hood there  were  some  good  wives  who  understood  the  art  of 
soothing  and  healing  by  herbs  and  roots,  and  with  these  simple 
remedies  at  hand,  a  doctor  was  not  considered  so  much  a  neces- 
sity as  he  is  today.  Though  an  offending  tooth  was  not  removed 
when  the  patient  was  blissfully  unconscious,  it  was  pretty  sure 
tc  yield  when  grappled  by  the  old-fashioned  forceps  in  the  hands 
of  an  iron-muscled  back-woodsman.  Such  service  was  often 
gratuitous  or  reciprocal,  and  so  had  its  compensations,  and  this 
exchange  of  neighborly  courtesies  furnished  one  more  link  in  the 
bond  of  friendship. 

When,  however,  an  aspiring  doctor,  who  had  studied  and 
ridden  for  a  time  with  an  older  practitioner,  came  to  a  new  set- 
tlement, he  was  warmly  welcomed,  and  held  a  place  in  the  hearts 
of  the  people  next  to  that  of  the  minister. 

Silas  Allen  is  supposed  to  be  the  first  doctor  in  Royalton. 
He  seems  to  have  attended  strictly  to  the  healing  art,  and  not 
to  have  caught  the  prevailing  spirit  of  adventure.  His  towns- 
men entrusted  him  with  important  offices,  and  in  1797  sent  him 
to  the  General  Assembly.  He  married  into  the  Cleveland  fam- 
ily before  coming  to  Royalton,  and  had  two  or  more  children 
when  he  settled  here  in  the  west  part  of  the  town,  where  an  island 
in  the  river  was  called  his.  From  the  land  records  it  would  seem 
that  he  rented,  rather  than  owned,  a  farm  of  his  own.  He  prob- 
ably moved  here  about  1782.  No  evidence  has  been  found  that 
he  was  college  educated.  He  left  Royalton  in  1800,  and  removed 
to  Ohio,  where  a  new  town  was  started.  He  was  suflSciently  in- 
fluential to  have  the  name  of  Royalton  given  to  it,  perhaps  the 
second  town  in  America  to  be  thus  named.  He  removed  to  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  for  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  1841,  and  died 
there.    He  is  buried  in  Royalton,  0. 


648  HiSTOBT   OP   BOfJOMfK,  VBtMONT 

The  aeeond  phymeian  was  Samuel  Dnnbar  Searle.  He 
the  son  of  Bev.  John  Searle,  the  fint  aetUed  paator  in  BoyallQii. 
Hia  name  does  not  appear  on  the  reoorda  nntil  about  the  time  of 
hia  father's  death,  1787.  From  that  time  until  1794,  the  last 
record  we  have  of  him,  he  appears  aa  a  physieian,  an  energetie 
and  competent  business  man,  a  leader,  and  a  qieenlatdr  in  land. 
He  came  of  scholarly  stock.  He  waa  named  for  his  grandfather, 
Bev.  Samuel  Dunbar,  who  graduated  at  Yale  in  1728.  Hia  father 
graduated  there  in  1745,  and  he  in  turn  entered  those  ehuade 
walls  October  21,  1779,  as  junior,  at  the  age  of  mxteeo,  a  "re- 
markably precocious  young  man,"  the  annals  of  Yale  aay.  How 
fortunate  that  the  town  in  its  infancy  had  two  men  of  such  nn* 
tsual  attainments  and  worth  as  Bev.  John  Searle  and  his  son. 
Dr.  Samuel  Dunbar.  Dr.  Searle  graduated  from  Yale  in  1781 
with  the  B.  A.  degree.  When  he  acquired  his  medical  education, 
er  how  he  spent  the  intervening  years  between  1781  and  1787 
is  not  known. 

Dr.  Searle  was  one  of  the  managers  of  the  "Bridge  Lot* 
tery,"  and  in  1792  he  advertises  that  the  drawing  will  take  place 
at  his  house.  Nothing  certain  is  known  of  him  after  1794.  He 
probably  pushed  nortiiward  and  westwu*d.  Tradition  saya  he 
went  to  Ohio.  Boyal  Corbin  of  Alburgh  entered  complahit  to 
Qov.  Chittenden  in  1794,  and  asked  for  relief  from  Britiah  i>er- 
secution.  He  had  the  aid  of  an  aflSdavit  from  Samuel  D.  Seso-le, 
perhaps  our  Dr.  Searle,  reciting  that  on  a  certain  day  he  saw  a 
batteau  coming  from  Windmill  Point  to  Corbin 's;  that  when  the 
boat,  loaded  with  salt  and  rum  for  the  merchant,  was  about  to 
unload,  it  was  taken  away  by  a  boat  from  a  British  ship,  whose 
commander  said  he  was  acting  under  orders. 

For  the  next  three  or  four  years  there  does  not  appear  to 
have  been  any  resident  physician  in  town.  Dr.  Ben  Adam  Deni- 
son  is  first  listed  in  1798,  but  may  have  been  here  the  year  be- 
fore. He  had  a  considerable  practice  here  for  a  few  years.  He 
was  born  March  31, 1773,  in  Hartland,  the  son  of  George  Denison 
and  grandson  of  Ben  Adam  Denison  of  Hartland.  He  married 
first,  April  11,  1802,  Polly,  the  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Morse  of 
this  town.  Their  home  life  does  not  seem  to  have  been  a  happy 
one.  A  daughter,  Polly,  was  bom  to  them.  He  went  to  Tun- 
bridge  about  1813,  it  would  seem,  and  in  1817  Mrs.  Denison 
secured  a  divorce.  He  went  to  Pennsylvania  and  settled  in 
Montrose,  where  he  married  second,  Dec.  10,  1817,  Eunice  Wil- 
liams. Polly  Denison  died  in  this  town  and  is  buried  in  Havens 
Cemetery. 

Doctors  from  adjoining  towns  were  having  more  or  less  prac- 
tice in  Eoyalton,  among  them  Dr.  Jo  Adam  Denison  of  Bethel, 
Dr.  Thomas  Moxley  of  Tunbridge,  and  perhaps  others.    Dr.  Silas 


HiSTOBY    OP    ROYALTON,    VERMONT  649 

Sabin  was  here  about  two  years,  1807  and  1808.  He  was  born 
July  3,  1777,  in  Connecticut.  He  graduated  from  Dartmouth  in 
1803.     He  died  July  29,  1850,  in  Claremont,  N.  H. 

In  1809  Dr.  Ebenezer  C.  Paul  was  listed  and  practicing  in 
town.  He  was  here  until  1813.  His  list  increases  in  size  for  a 
time,  but  his  good  fortune  did  not  continue.  He  died  the  latter 
part  of  1812  or  first  part  of  1813,  as  his  estate  was  in  probate 
court,  January  6,  1813.  He  was  probably  the  first  practitioner 
to  die  in  town. 

Dr.  Lyman  Fay  was  here  from  1812  to  1815.  He  and  Dr. 
Henry  IngersoU  were  doubtless  the  two  **  Practitioners  of  Physic 
and  Surgery  assessed''  in  1813  at  $20  each. 

Dr.  Henry  IngersoU  served  as  trustee  of  the  Academy  while 
here.  He  remained  only  about  two  years,  then  removed  to  Stock- 
bridge,  Mass.  He  lived  in  Royalton  village,  a  few  rods  east  of 
the  old  academy.  He  graduated  from  Dartmouth  in  1813.  He 
died  in  1872. 

Thus  far  there  had  been  frequent  change  in  practitioners,  but 
with  the  year  1815  a  man  moved  to  town  who  was  destined  to 
spend  many  successful  years  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Roy- 
alton and  adjoining  towns,  and  to  take  a  prominent  position  in 
the  civic  and  religious  affairs  of  the  town.  This  man  was  Jo 
Adam  Denison,  M.  D.,  who  had  already  secured  a  good  practice 
among  the  inhabitants  of  Royalton  while  he  was  yet  living  in 
Bethel.  For  a  more  full  account  of  the  history  of  his  life  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  sketch  of  the  Denison  family. 

Many  amusing  and  interesting  incidents  of  his  experience 
as  a  practitioner  are  related.  He  had  a  neighbor,  a  lady  ^o 
fancied  she  was  a  helpless  invalid,  in  which  opinon  the  Doc- 
tor did  not  concur.  Some  of  his  students  knew  of  the  situa- 
tion, and  one  day  they  brought  the  woman  outdoors  and  depos- 
ited her  on  a  stump  of  a  tree  in  the  yard,  and  left  her  to  reflec- 
tion. Her  calls  for  aid  were  unheeded,  and  she  had  to  get  back 
to  the  house  as  best  she  could.  From  that  time  she  made  rapid 
recovery. 

Dr.  Denison  was  the  only  practitioner  in  town  for  several 
years.  When  it  was  decided  that  the  inhabitants  must  be  inocu- 
lated in  1821,  Dr.  S.  P.  Woodward  performed  that  service.  In 
1828  Dr.  Denison  took  his  son  Joseph  into  partnership,  which 
was  not  dissolved  until  the  untimely  death  of  the  young  Dr. 
Denison  in  1848. 

Another  physician  of  note  put  out  his  sign  in  Royalton  vil- 
lage in  1830,  Richard  Bloss,  M.  D.,  who,  like  Dr.  Denison,  had 
begun  his  practice  in  Bethel,  but  in  Bethel,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  town,  the  first  one  to  practice  in  Royalton.  He  was 
educated  in  the  village  school,  and  then  began  a  preparatory 


550  Hssnoar  or  BafAiaov,  VnocoMT 

course  for  college.  For  three  years  he  taught  winters  as  a  maaiia 
of  selfHsmpport.  He  studied  with  Dr.  Deniaoii  the  next  ihzM 
years,  attending  lectures  at  Dartmouth,  from  the  Medieal  De- 
partment of  which  he  graduated  in  1823.  He  returned  to  Bay- 
alton  from  E.  Bethel,  N.  Y.,  in  1830. 

He  was  an  ardent  Episcopalian,  and  the  little  ehuroh  at 
Boyalton  village  owes  its  existence  laig^  to  his  effiorts  and  gen- 
erosity.  While  in  Boyalton  he  belonged  to  the  Orthodox  school 
of  medicine.  After  he  went  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  in  1840,  he  heeame 
a  convert  to  Homeopathy,  and  worked  assiduously  to  build  up 
that  school  of  medicine  in  Troy  and  in  the  State  of  New  YorlL 
He  was  eminently  successful,  and  while  he  lived  to  direct  and 
inspire  the  followers  of  Homeopathy,  it  thrived.  He  held  the 
highest  masonic  offices  in  Troy  and  New  York  state. 

He  died  from  the  eflFects  of  a  cancerous  tumor  on  his  under 
lip,  induced  by  an  injury  received  at  a  post-mortem  examinaticm. 
It  was  said  of  him, ' '  He  was  loyal  and  patriotic.  To  the  talented 
hf;  gave  his  admiration ;  to  the  wealthy,  his  courtesy ;  to  the  poor, 
his  advice,  his  services  and  his  substance ;  they  never  sought  his 
aid  in  vain.  His  mission  was  to  heal  the  sick,  and  he  never  in- 
quired of  the  prospect  of  remuneration.  Love  was  the  main- 
spring of  his  life." 

Contemporaneous  with  Dr.  Denison  and  Dr.  Bloss  was  Abiel 
Jones,  M.  D.,  D.  D.  Dr.  Jones  graduated  at  Dartmouth  in  1788, 
from  both  the  classical  and  medical  courses,  though  a  medical 
school  was  not  regularly  established  there  until  ten  years  later. 
Two  years  after  graduation  he  became  converted,  and  began  to 
study  theology  with  Bev.  Dr.  Backus.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  Hartford,  Conn.,  Association. 

The  want  of  ministerial  labor  in  the  new  settlements  of  Ver- 
mont appealed  to  him,  and  he  was  sent  as  a  missionary  to  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  state,  and  at  Crown  Point,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
was  ordained  as  an  evangelist  by  the  Addison  Association.  He 
was  in  Chelsea  about  1797,  went  to  Salisbury  in  1805,  then  to 
Lavonia,  N.  Y.  He  was  in  Boyalton  in  1825.  On  account  of  his 
health  he  went  to  Farmington,  Ohio,  where  he  was  both  physician 
and  minister.  Finding  he  was  a  victim  to  consumption  he  re- 
turned to  Boyalton,  and  died  here.  Though  not  living  out  the 
full  number  of  his  days,  he  had  accomplished  great  good  among 
the  pioneers  of  this  and  other  states,  and  left  an  honorable  rec- 
ord to  his  family. 

Another  son  of  Boyalton  who  settled  as  a  physician  in  his 
native  town  was  Levi  Bix,  M.  D.  It  has  not  been  learned  where 
he  graduated.  He  was  practicing  in  town  in  1845,  but  was  in 
Sharon  some  years  later.  He  returned  to  Boyalton  and  died 
here.  He  had  a  good  practice,  and  had  the  reputation  of  being  a 
conscientious  physician. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  551 

In  1850  Dr.  H.  L.  Brown  was  located  in  Royalton  village, 
and  Dr.  J.  H.  Patterson  was  in  town.  The  following  year  Drs. 
N.  D.  Ross,  John  Morse,  and  D.  P.  Benson  are  recorded  as  local 
physicians.  No  doubt  some  or  all  of  these  were  students  riding 
with  preceptors. 

Chester  L.  Stewart,  M.  D.,  was  in  practice  in  Royalton  in 
1852,  remaining  less  than  two  years,  when  he  located  at  Reading 
for  a  time,  removing  in  1854  to  Randolph,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death,  building  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He 
was  born  in  Grantham,  N.  H.,  April  2,  1829.  He  studied  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Bushrod  R.  Gibson  of  Sharon,  with  Prof.  B.  R. 
Palmer  of  Woodstock,  and  Prof.  H.  H.  Childs  of  Pittsfield,  Mass. 
He  graduated  from  the  Berkshire  Medical  College  of  Massachu- 
setts in  1851.  He  was  for  a  time  President  of  the  Board  of 
Pension  Examining  Surgeons,  and  Surgeon  to  the  C.  V.  R.  R. 
He  was  twice  married,  and  had  three  daughters.  His  first  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Jane  P.  Fales  occurred  June  17,  1852,  while  he  was 
in  Royalton. 

Dr.  David  Ingraham  first  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
W.  Hartford.  When  he  removed  to  this  town  in  1835,  he  had 
left  behind  the  vigor  of  young  manhood,  having  been  born  in 
1779.  He  bought  the  place  now  owned  by  Irving  Barrows.  He 
at  once  identified  himself  with  the  Congregational  church, 
as  he  had  previously  done  in  W.  Hartford.  He  was  one  of  the 
committee  that  called  Dr.  Drake.  He  remained  only  five  years, 
when  he  returned  to  W.  Hartford. 

Dr.  Samuel  Parkman  Danforth  removed  from  Ludlow  to 
Royalton  in  1853.  He  located  in  the  village,  and  built  the  resi- 
dence which  has  ever  since  been  the  home  of  the  family.  He 
studied  medicine  with  his  father,  Dr.  Isaac  Danforth  of  Barnard, 
and  graduated  from  the  Medical  Department  of  Dartmouth  in 
1832.  He  at  once  assumed  the  practice  of  his  aged  father  in 
Barnard,  and  continued  it  until  October,  1849,  when  he  removed 
to  Claremont,  N.  H.,  and  a  few  months  later  to  Ludlow,  Vt.  Dr. 
Gardner  Cox  of  Holyoke,  Mass.,  writes  of  Dr.  Danforth: 

**I  knew  well  Dr.  Samuel  Danforth,  as  did  seemingly  every 
one  else  in  the  county.  I  knew  him  in  Barnard,  and  after  he 
moved  to  Royalton,  when  I  attended  the  academy.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  of  his  contemporaries  to  discard  the  old  school  prac- 
tice of  bleeding,  which  was  shortly  before  he  settled  in  Royalton, 
where  he  quickly  became  the  leading  physician  in  that  vicinity. 
His  ride  covered  all  the  adjoining  towns,  and  no  member  of  the 
fraternity  between  Woodstock  and  Rochester  had  a  greater  pro- 
fessional reputation. 

His  natural  abilities  were  strong,  and  his  acquired  abilities 
were  in  keeping  with  his  scholarly  nature.    He  was  trusted  by 


552  History  of  Royalton,  Vebhont 

his  colleagues  as  a  safe,  well-balanced  practitioner,  of  excellent 
judgment,  extensively  read,  always  conservative,  and  he  gener* 
ally  had  his  own  way  in  a  council.  When  I  consider  the  labor 
of  riding  those  hills,  the  miles  between  patients,  the  moderate 
fees,  and  numerous  charity  patients,  the  dark  nights  and  long 
drives,  I  shrink  from  the  attempt  to  follow  him  a  single  day  in 
his  wide  practice,  and  I  am  amazed  at  the  prodigious  amount  of 
labor  he  performed.  He  was  continuously  on  the  road,  and  drive 
where  you  would,  you  were  sure  to  meet  Dr.  Parkman." 

The  physician  who  has  the  longest  record  of  service  in  town, 
settled  in  South  Royalton  in  1854.  This  was  Henry  H.  Whit- 
comb,  M.  D.  South  Royalton  was  then  a  growing,  ambitions 
hamlet,  and  he  wisely  cast  his  lot  with  the  little  village.  His 
practice,  however,  quickly  extended  beyond  its  limits,  and  beyond 
the  boundaries  of  the  town.  Dr.  Whitcomb  had  but  one  good 
eye.  and  always  wore  glasses  to  cover  the  defect,  but  it  was  often 
said  of  him  that  he  could  see  more  with  one  eye  than  many 
physicians  could  with  two.  He  had  the  faculty  of  inspiring  his 
patients  with  the  utmost  confidence  in  his  skill,  so  that  the  battle 
was  half  won,  merely  by  his  presence  and  word  of  encouragement. 
His  practice  was  too  onerous  to  admit  of  devoting  much  attention 
to  other  public  matters,  but  he  was  always  public-spirited,  and 
interested  in  anything  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity. For  thirty  years  he  drove  over  the  hills  of  the  town 
night  and  day  in  all  kinds  of  weather,  and  became  familiar  with 
nearly  every  household.  He  was  in  much  demand  as  counsel  for 
younger  physicians,  and  in  difficult  cases.  He  continued  his 
practice  almost  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  died  an  honored 
and  lamented  physician  and  citizen. 

David  Comstock  Moore,  M.  D.,  came  to  South  Royalton  in 
ISfU).  Tie  graduated  from  Tufts  College  in  1858.  and  from  Dart- 
mouth Medical  and  from  the  V.  V.  M.  in  1860.  On  settling  in 
South  Royalton  he  entered  into  partnership  with  M.  J.  Sargent 
in  the  drug  business.  He  had  served  as  volunteer  surgeon  in 
the  r.  S.  Army  in  1864-65,  and  was  honorably  discharged  in 
June,  l.'^65.  His  army  experience  gave  him  an  advantage  as  a 
surgeon,  and  he  ranked  among  the  best  physicians.  He  had  an 
excellent  practice,  but  was  induced  to  remove  to  Charlestown, 
N.  II..  where  he  continued  in  practice,  until  the  cancerous  disease 
of  which  he  died  had  so  far  progressed  as  to  sap  his  strength, 
v.hen  he  returned  to  South  Royalton.  and  died  here.  He  was  a 
scholarly,  well-read  physician,  and  held  the  respect  and  esteem 
(^f  his  colleagues.  He  made  friends  wherever  he  went.  He  was 
serious-minded,  a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  whose  life  was 
governed  by  high  principles. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  558 

A  short  time  before  Dr.  Moore  settled  in  South  Royalton 
the  corps  of  doctors  in  town  was  increased  by  the  advent  of 
James  Ephraim  Morse,  M.  D.,  into  Royalton  village.  Dr.  Morse 
took  his  degree  from  Dartmouth  Medical  College  in  1850.  He 
practiced  in  W.  Hartford  until  1865,  when  he  removed  to  Roy- 
alton, and  bought  the  large  two-story  house,  known  as  the  George 
Lyman  house,  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Hanks.  The  death  of  Dr. 
Danforth  made  a  good  opening  for  a  physician  in  that  village, 
and  Dr.  Morse  soon  had  a  large  practice,  which  he  held  and  in- 
creased up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Qentlemanly  in  manner 
and  of  a  genial  disposition,  he  made  many  warm  friends  during 
his  seventeen  years  of  residence  in  town,  and  acquired  an  envi- 
able reputation  as  a  successful  practitioner.  His  son  Fred  be- 
came a  physician,  and  practiced  for  a  short  time  in  Royalton  vil- 
lage. He  graduated  from  Baltimore,  Md.,  Med.  Coll.  Practiced 
for  a  time  in  Evansville,  Ind.,  and  is  now  in  Denver,  Col. 

The  third  native  doctor  was  Daniel  Webster  Lovejoy,  M.  D., 
great-grandson  of  the  first  settler  in  town,  Robert  Havens.  Dr. 
Lovejoy  was  educated  in  Royalton  and  South  Woodstock  acade- 
mies. He  had  taught  a  few  terms  when  the  Civil  War  broke 
out,  and  he  enlisted  as  sergeant  in  the  16th  Vt.  Vols.,  and  later 
went  as  a  recruit  in  the  9th  Regt.  His  health  was  so  impaired 
by  his  service  as  to  debar  him  from  any  hard  labor,  and  after 
recovery  from  a  long  illness  he  entered  Eastman's  Business  Col- 
lege, Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1867. 
Mercantile  life  did  not  appeal  to  him.  On  his  mother's  side 
there  were  many  physicians.  Dr.  Jason  Spalding  of  Sharon,  Dr. 
James  Spalding  of  Montpelier,  Dr.  Phineas  Spalding  of  Haver- 
hill, N.  H.,  and  he  felt  drawn  to  that  profession.  He  studied 
with  his  cousin,  Dr.  Horace  Fales  of  Waterbury,  and  attended 
two  courses  of  lectures  in  the  U.  V.  M.  He  then  entered  Belle- 
vue  Hospital  College,  Long  Island,  and  was  to  have  graduated 
from  that  institution  in  June,  1871.  A  few  days  before  the  ex- 
aminations, his  mother  suddenly  died,  and  grief  and  overwork 
compelled  him  to  give  up  all  effort  for  months.  In  the  spring 
of  1872  he  took  a  course  at  Dartmouth  Medical  College,  and  was 
graduated  from  that  institution  the  same  year.  He  at  once  lo- 
cated at  South  Royalton,  where  he  remained  until  his  death. 

Dr.  Lovejoy  had  the  true  physician 's  instinct  and  sympathy, 
and  was  remarkably  accurate  in  diagnosis.  His  cases  were  all 
carefully  studied  in  his  office.  He  trusted  much  to  nature,  and 
gave  less  medicine  than  the  generality  of  physicians  of  the  ortho- 
dox school.  His  disease  which  he  had  contracted  in  the  army 
occasionally  prostrated  him,  but  in  spite  of  this  drawback  his 
practice  continually  increased.  The  strain,  however,  was  too 
great,  and  after  only  eight  years  he  succumbed.    His  brother 


554  History  of  Rotalton,  Vquiont 

physicians  from  many  towns  fought  heroically  to  save  hiniy  but 
in  vain.     He  died  '* the  beloved  physician." 

Simeon  Belknap,  M.  D.,  was  located  at  Royalton  village, 
1867-68.  He  was  a  grandson  of  the  Simeon  Belknap  who  was 
taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians,  Oct.  16,  1780,  and  the  son  of  Sey- 
mour Belknap  of  East  Barnard,  and  brother  of  J.  O.  Belknap 
of  South  Royalton.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Huntington 
of  Rochester,  and  graduated  from  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
U.  V.  M.  in  1860.  After  spending  a  year  in  a  hospital  in  Boston 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  preceptor.  The  West  called 
to  him,  and  he  removed  to  Niles,  Mich.,  in  1873.  He  took  a  front 
rank  in  the  medical  profession,  and  held  numerous  important 
offices.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Pan  American  Medical  Con- 
gress. 

In  his  boyhood  home  at  East  Barnard  he  was  an  especial 
favorite,  and  he  always  retained  that  charming  personality  that 
makes  friends.  He  married  in  1860  Miss  Addie  M.  Rice  of  Cin- 
cinnati, and  had  two  sons,  Dr.  Fred  R.  and  Simeon,  Jr.  He  died 
in  1908.  The  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  is  evidenced  by  the 
fact  that  every  place  of  business  in  Niles  was  closed  during  the 
funeral. 

The  place  left  vacant  by  Dr.  Morse  in  Royalton  village  was 
ably  filled  by  Clayton  Philemon  House,  M.  D.,  a  graduate  from 
the  Medical  Department  of  the  U.  V.  M.  in  1881.  Being  a  native 
of  E.  Bethel,  he  secured  considerable  practice  in  that  town,  and 
was  eminently  successful  in  his  profession.  He  was  ably  assisted 
by  his  accomplished  wife,  who  was  Miss  Minnie  Tower,  a  graduate 
of  Montpelier  Seminary,  an  unusually  bright  and  capable  woman. 
It  was  to  the  great  regret  of  the  community  that  he  left  in  1888 
for  Spokane,  Washington.  In  1891  he  removed  to  ConconuUy, 
and  in  1894  to  Oroville  of  the  same  state,  where  he  is  in  practice 
at  present. 

There  are  always  some  disciples  of  the  good  old-fashioned 
way  of  treating  disease  by  the  use  of  herbs  and  roots,  nature's 
simple  remedies.  There  is  room,  therefore,  for  the  botanical  doc- 
tor, wherever  the  law  will  allow  him  to  practice.  Such  a  doctor, 
holding  no  degree,  but  skilled  in  decoctions,  and  with  native  and 
acquired  ability  to  diagnose  ordinary  diseases  with  accuracy,  was 
Dr.  John  Manchester.  He  removed  to  Royalton  in  1847,  and 
bought  a  small  place  adjoining  the  Gen.  Elias  Stevens  farm. 
Here  he  lived  in  a  quiet  way,  and  practiced  the  healing  art  in 
Royalton  and  other  towns  until  about  1870,  when  the  infirmities 
of  age  compelled  him  to  abandon  effort  of  this  kind.  He  was  a 
resi)ected  citizen  of  the  town,  having  friendly  relations  with  doc- 
tors of  a  different  faith,  some  of  whom,  perhaps,  profited  by  his 
knowledge.     One  of  his  sons,  Byron  Albert,  studied  medicine 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  555 

regularly,  graduating  from  the  Medical  College  at  Woodstock  in 
1852.  Dr.  Byron,  as  he  was  called,  opened  an  oflSce  in  South 
Royalton  the  same  year,  but  his  health,  always  frail,  was  not 
equal  to  the  strain  of  active  practice,  and  he  died  in  the  spring 
of  the  next  year.  Another  son.  Constant  W.,  was  also  a  regular 
physician,  an  honored  and  successful  practitioner  of  Lebanon, 
N.  H.,  for  many  years. 

Homeopathy  has  had  little  foothold  in  Royalton.  It  has  not 
been  learned  that  any  physician  of  that  persuasion  settled  in 
town  prior  to  1879.  About  this  time  Dr.  Forrest  Leavitt,  a  na- 
tive of  Laconia,  N.  H.,  moved  to  Royalton  and  opened  an  oflSce. 
He  was  a  young  man  recently  married,  and  had  one  infant  son. 
Dr.  Leavitt  won  converts  to  his  faith  quite  as  much  by  personal 
magnetism  as  by  his  skill.  In  a  brief  time  he  had  secured  a  con- 
siderable patronage  among  some  of  the  best  families  in  town, 
which  he  held  as  long  as  he  remained.  Nothing  can  be  said  re- 
garding his  preparation  for  the  practice  of  medicine,  as  inquiries 
have  not  been  answered.  About  the  year  1894  he  removed  to 
Somerville,  Mass.,  where  he  is  at  present.  No  other  homeopathic 
physician  has  since  located  here. 

After  the  death  of  Dr.  Lovejoy,  Arthur  Brown  Bisbee, 
M.  D.,  came  to  South  Royalton.  He  was  educated  at  Barre 
Academy  before  beginning  the  study  of  medicine  in  1878  with 
Dr.  Sumner  Putnam  of  Montpelier.  He  attended  lectures  at 
Dartmouth  Medical  College  and  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
U.  V.  M.  He  received  his  degree  from  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons,  Columbia  University,  in  May,  1882.  He  came  to 
South  Royalton  in  July  of  that  year. 

His  fine  preparation  and  his  native  ability,  coupled  with  a 
sterling  character,  soon  won  for  him  a  lucrative  practice.  He 
was  universally  liked,  both  as  a  man  and  as  a  physician,  and 
entered  heartily  into  the  interests  of  the  people.  He  married  in 
1886,  Alice  M.  Putnam,  the  daughter  of  his  preceptor.  His  out- 
look here  was  promising,  but  he  decided  to  remove  to  Montpelier 
in  1887,  where  he  still  resides.  He  has  held  several  honorary 
offices  in  his  profession,  serving  at  one  time  as  President  of  the 
Vermont  Medical  Society.  Since  1888  he  has  been  Medical  Di- 
rector of  the  National  Life  Insurance  Company  of  Montpelier, 
and  has  now  given  up  general  practice. 

Frank  Gillis  Mills,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Topsham,  Oct.  6,  1857. 
His  preparatory  education  was  received  in  the  academy  at  Chel- 
sea, where  he  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  B.  W.  Braley.  He 
graduated  from  the  Medical  Department  of  the  U.  V.  M.  in  1880, 
and  came  soon  after  to  South  Royalton,  and  entered  into  part- 
nership with  Dr.  H.  H.  Whitcomb.  He  was  an  energetic  physi- 
cian, devoted  to  his  work  and  his  patients,  always  ready  to  re- 


568  HiSFOBY  or  Boriimnr,  VBaraMT 

gpond  to  the  call  of  duty.  He  removed  to  South  Nstiek,  MaK, 
about  1884,  where  he  praetioed  anooeHfally  for  about  two  jmn. 
He  died  Jan.  1,  1886,  at  the  home  of  hk  nater  in  Maneliaatwr, 
N.  H.  This  sister,  Mrs.  Aliee  Hilla  Hadl^,  to  wtMom  ha  was 
warmly  attached,  is  an  artist  of  repute,  and  at  one  time  taw^ 
drawing  and  painting  in  WeUeelegr  College. 

A  quiet,  unassuming  man  was  William  H.  Gerridi,  IL  D. 
He  was  bom  in  Portland,  Me.,  Aug.  SX),  1856.  He  entered  the 
University  of  Maine  at  the  early  age  of  fifteen,  and  took  hia  B.  & 
degree  from  that  college.  He  then  attended  the  Bowdom  ICeffi- 
cal  School,  and  later  graduated  from  the  College  of  Fhyaieians 
and  Surgeons,  Columbia  University.  He  supplemented  hia  edu- 
cation by  a  trip  abroad.  He  married  Frances  E.  Berry  of  Port- 
land, Nov.  22,  1882,  and  had  one  daughter.  He  began  practioe 
at  Merrimac,  Mass.,  and  came  to  Boyalton  village  in  1888,  re- 
maining until  1892. 

Dr.  Gerrish  was  a  man  of  fine  scholarly  attainments,  and  a 
most  worthy  citizen,  but  he  found  the  field  pretty  well  covered 
by  the  South  Boyalton  doctors  on  one  hand,  and  by  the  Bethel 
physicians  on  the  other.  He  removed  to  Deering,  Me.,  where  he 
held  the  position  of  City  Physician.  During  his  later  residence 
in  Portland,  Me.,  he  passed  the  Civil  Service  examination,  and 
became  Acting  Assistant  Surgeon  in  the  Marine  Hospitsl  service. 
He  died  Dec.  12,  1900.    His  widow  resides  in  Portland. 

Israel  Putnam  Dana  took  his  M.  D.  degree  from  Dartmouth 
in  1885.  He  soon  after  located  at  South  Boyalton.  Though  an 
extremely  modest  man,  who  would  not  sound  his  own  praises,  hia 
sterling  worth  and  skill  soon  introduced  him  to  the  homes  of 
numerous  patrons.  Dr.  Dana  came  of  good  stock,  being  a  direct 
descendant  of  Gen.  Israel  Putnam,  whose  name  he  bore.  It  was 
some  of  that  stubborn  resistance  that  characterized  the  old  hero, 
that  enabled  Dr.  Dana  to  ward  oflE  for  years  the  dread  destroyer, 
consumption. 

He  bought  the  Dr.  Whitcomb  house,  and  made  a  brave  effort 
to  establish  a  permanent  home  in  Royalton,  but  failing  health 
forced  him  to  seek  the  milder  climate  of  California.  He  removed 
with  bis  family  to  Otay  in  1891,  where  he  bought  a  ranch,  and 
practiced  as  his  strength  would  allow,  until  his  death  in  1899. 
His  demise  added  another  name  to  the  list  of  country  doctors 
whose  arduous  duties  quench  the  flame  of  life,  before  they  have 
had  a  chance  to  fulfil  the  promise  of  their  youth. 

William  Lincoln  Paine,  M.  D.,  a  native  of  Bandolph,  gradu- 
ated from  the  two  courses  of  the  Bandolph  State  Normal  in  1872 
and  1874,  and  from  the  Medical  Department  of  the  U.  V.  M. 
m  June,  1879.  He  practiced  in  Weston  two  years,  in  Brad- 
ford two,  in  Thetford  fourteen,  and  in  Boyalton  eight  years. 


HiSTOBT    OP    BOYALTON,    VERMONT  567 

Dr.  Paine  is  of  a  literary  turn  of  mind,  and  has  considerable 
ability  as  a  poet.  He  was  a  decided  acquisiton  to  the  social  life 
of  the  town,  and  helped  to  elevate  the  standard  of  living.  While 
his  ride  was  not  so  extensive  as  that  of  some  of  his  predecessors, 
he  had  a  fair  practice.  He  was  held  in  high  esteem,  and  his  de- 
parture from  Royalton  village  was  a  loss  that  has  not  been  filled. 
His  present  address  is  Palmer,  Mass.,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
hospital  service. 

With  the  exception  of  Dr.  Denison,  Sr.,  and  Dr.  Whitcomb, 
no  physician  has  practiced  for  so  long  a  period  of  time  in  Roy- 
alton as  Edgar  John  Fish,  M.  D.  He  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  S.  N.  Goss  of  Chelsea,  a  former  army  surgeon. 
He  attended  lectures  at  Dartmouth  Medical  College  in  1872,  and 
graduated  from  the  Medical  Department  of  the  U.  V.  M.  in 
1874,  and  settled  in  Tunbridge  the  same  year. 

He  married  in  1872  Miss  Eliza  A.  Lyman  of  Washington. 
She  was  a  woman  of  far  more  than  ordinary  mental  power,  re- 
sourceful, and  just  the  helpmeet  for  a  young,  struggling  physi- 
cian. 

Dr.  Fish  removed  from  Tunbridge  to  South  Royalton  in 
1887,  succeeding  Dr.  Bisbee  in  this  town.  He  was  already  well 
and  favorably  known  here,  and  his  reputation  was  well  estab- 
lished. He  bought  the  home  once  owned  by  Dr.  Moore,  where  he 
still  resides.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Windsor  County  Medical 
Association,  the  White  River  Valley  Medical  Society,  of  which 
he  has  twice  been  president,  the  Vermont  State  Medical  Society, 
and  the  American  Medical  Association.  He  was  Health  OflBcer 
of  Royalton  for  about  twelve  years,  but  declined  a  reappointment 
in  1908.  Being  alert  in  judgment,  and  having  always  kept  well 
abreast  of  the  times  and  in  close  touch  with  the  progress  of  medi- 
cal science,  during  his  many  years  of  experience,  he  has  come  to 
be  much  sought  as  a  consultant  in  important  cases,  by  neighbor- 
ing practitioners. 

Dr.  Fish  represented  Royalton  in  the  General  Assembly  of 
1902,  and  was  elected  a  senator  from  Windsor  County  in  1904. 
In  both  these  sessions  of  the  Legislature  his  ability  and  leader- 
ship were  well  recognized.  He  held  several  important  chairman- 
ships, among  them  being  that  of  chairman  of  the  Joint  Committee 
on  Public  Health  in  1904.  In  that  year  many  important  addi- 
tions and  changes  were  made  in  the  health  laws  of  the  state, 
some  of  which  were  measures  which  he  framed  and  introduced. 

Dr.  Fish  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  Order.  He 
is  a  Past  Master  of  Rising  Sun  Lodge,  Past  Worthy  Patron  of 
Rising  Sun  Chapter,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  Past  Eminent 
Commander  of  Vermont  Commandery  of  Knights  Templar,  a 
member  of  the  Mount  Sinai  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and 


568  HiSTOBT  OP  BoTAiAoiv,  YwBEmam 

has  attained  to  the  thirty-flecond  degree  of  the  Aneient  Aoeepted 
Scottish  Bite.  He  is  also  an  hxmmry  member  of  tbe  A^phs 
Kappa  Kappa,  a  college  Medieal  Fraternity. 

Dr.  Fidi  is  more  than  a  mere  physieian.  He  has  long  been 
recognized  as  a  leader  in  matters  ecmeeming  the  bi|^ieBt  inter* 
ests  of  the  town  and  community,  and  his  judgment  and  adviae 
are  sought  on  social  and  political  questions. 

One  of  the  most  tmsted  and  respected  physieians  of  Sovdi 
Royalton  was  Daniel  Lillie  Burnett,  IL  D.,  a  native  of  Bethd. 
He  received  his  higher  education  in  the  Bandidph  ffi|^  Sehodl 
and  the  High  School  of  Springfield,  Mass.  He  then  taufj^  in 
the  graded  schools  of  Bethel,  South  Boyalton,  and  Barnard.  He 
attended  lectures  in  the  Medical  Department  of  the  U.  Y.  K., 
and  graduated  from  the  Medical  College  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  in 
1890.  He  settled  in  Stowe  in  May  of  the  same  year,  where  he 
remained  until  September,  1891,  when  he  purchased  Dr.  Dana's 
business  in  South  Royalton.  He  continued  his  practice  here  un« 
til  October,  1907,  when  he  removed  to  Underbill,  where  he  has  a 
drug  store  in  connection  with  his  profession. 

While  residing  in  Royalton,  Dr.  Burnett  grew  steadily  in 
favor  as  a  physican,  and  was  well  known  in  adjoining  towna, 
where  he  was  often  called,  either  to  his  own  patients,  or  as  a 
consulting  physician.  He  was  strictly  honorable  in  hk  profes- 
sion and  in  all  business  relations. 

Notwithstanding  his  busy  life,  he  gave  thought  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  community  in  which  he  dwelt.  He  was  actively  con- 
nected with  the  South  Boyalton  Village  Improvement  Society, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  South  Boyid- 
ton  Graded  School  District.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican Town  Committee  for  several  years.  In  1906  he  repre- 
sented the  town  in  the  Legislature.  When  the  Boyalton  Histori- 
cal Association  was  formed,  he  was  elected  a  member,  and  served 
some  time  as  its  treasurer,  and  is  still  a  member  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  Association. 

The  latest  native  physician  to  practice  in  town  is  Oliver  Jus- 
tin Ellis,  M.  D.,  and  he  is  maintaining  the  town's  reputation  for 
producing  bright,  energetic  youth.  Dr.  Ellis  graduated  from 
the  High  School  in  Keene,  N.  H.,  in  1881,  and  then  served  in  that 
city  three  years  as  clerk  for  BuUard  &  Shedd.  He  attended  the 
Jefferson  Medical  College  in  Philadelphia,  1901-4,  and  graduated 
from  the  University  of  Maryland,  in  Baltimore,  in  1905.  He 
married  and  located  in  Pittsfield  that  fall,  where  he  established 
a  good  practice,  and  remained  until  he  bought  out  Dr.  Burnett  in 
October,  1907. 

Dr.  Ellis  has  made  many  warm  friends  since  his  removal  to 
town,  and  has  an  excellent  practice,  which  is  on  the  increase. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  559 

His  ability,  gentle  courtesy,  and  straightforwardness  make  him 
trusted  by  his  patients,  to  whom  he  is  devoted,  whether  rich  or 
poor.  He  has  recently  identified  himself  with  the  Methodist 
church  in  South  Royalton.  He  is  a  member  of  Rising  Sun  Lodge 
of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  a  charter  member  of  Royal- 
ton Lodge,  74, 1.  0.  0.  F.,  becoming  Noble  Grand  Junior  in  1909. 

DENTISTS. 

Dr.  Daniel  L.  Lyman  must  be  mentioned  as  a  regular  prac- 
titioner, who  chose  to  devote  his  time  to  the  practice  of  dentistry. 
See  his  record  in  the  genealogical  half  of  this  volume.  Be- 
fore any  dentist  was  located  in  South  Royalton,  Dr.  G.  D. 
Blanchard  of  West  Randolph  and  Dr.  R.  M.  Chase  of  Bethel 
were  accustomed  to  make  periodical  visits  to  South  Royalton  for 
the  practice  of  dentistry.  Dr.  Daniel  B.  Freeman,  formerly  a 
dentist  in  Chicago,  was  located  in  the  South  village  for  about 
two  years. 

In  1887  Dr.  Harlan  Carpenter  came  to  South  Royalton,  and 
opened  an  oflBce  in  the  Block,  over  the  present  barber  shop  of 
E.  H.  Ashley.  He  was  the  son  of  Selah  and  Rebecca  (West) 
Carpenter,  born  in  Strafford,  Aug.  3,  1841.  He  was  educated 
in  the  academy  at  New  Hampton,  N.  H.,  and  studied  dentistry 
with  Dr.  Blanchard  of  Randolph,  Dr.  Nelson  Haskell  of  Wood- 
stock, Dr.  C.  B.  Erickson  of  New  Britain,  Conn.,  and  Dr.  Fraim 
of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  He  worked  in  the  oflBces  of  Dr.  George 
Modemann,  New  York  City,  and  of  Dr.  Fred  M.  Hemenway, 
Boston.  His  was  a  well-known  figure  on  the  street,  when  he 
would  leave  his  office  for  a  sun  bath  or  a  talk  with  friends.  He 
made  monthly  professional  visits  to  Sharon  during  the  last  few 
years  of  his  life.  He  was  a  Knight  Templar  and  a  14  degree 
Mason.  He  died  in  Strafford,  Aug.  3,  1910,  and  his  funeral  was 
attended  by  members  of  Rising  Sun  Lodge,  who  conducted  the 
Masonic  service  in  memory  of  their  brother. 

Dana  E.  Dearing,  D.  M.  D.,  began  his  professional  career  in 
So.  Royalton  in  the  summer  of  1904.  He  was  bom  in  Randolph, 
June  10,  1880,  the  son  of  George  T.  and  Abbie  M.  Dearing.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Randolph,  and  graduated 
from  the  Randolph  Normal  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  afterwards 
teaching  in  his  native  town  for  the  term  of  two  years. 

When  he  became  of  age,  he  began  the  study  of  dentistry  in 
the  oflBce  of  Dr.  E.  0.  Blanchard  of  Randolph.  From  there  he 
went  to  Tuft's  college,  from  which  he  graduated  and  received 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Dental  Medicine  in  1904.  While  in  his 
senior  year  he  passed  the  examination  of  the  Massachusetts  State 
Board  of  Dentistry. 


580  HiSTOBT  OP  BmMiam,  Ynoiom 

After  graduation  from  edkge  he  returned  to  hia  naftbo 
state,  and  immediately  located  at  Sooth  Bc^yalton.  He  wm  mar- 
ried to  MisB  May  F.  Palmer  of  Joneiville,  Mareh  21, 1906.  Thegr 
have  two  childrai,  Dorothy  May,  bom  Feb.  19,  1906,  and  Mazy 
Elizabeth,  bom  Jan.  12,  191L 

Dr.  Dearing  is  a  member  of  White  Biver  Orange,  Budng  Son 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Pai  Omega  Dental  Fraternity,  the  Vermont 
State  Dental  Society,  Biaing  Son  Chapter,  No.  12,  O.  E.  8.,  Boy* 
alton  Lodge,  No.  74,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  White  Biver  Pooltry  Aaaoeia- 
tion,  and  White  Biver  Valley  Hortienltoral  Society.  He  has 
been  remarkably  anccearfol  in  hia  profoarion,  and  ia  a  faithful 
and  prominent  member  in  all  the  organiaationa  to  whieh  he  be- 
longs. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 


The  Villages. 

As  soon  as  nomadic  peoples  began  to  weary  of  their  migra- 
tions, and  to  settle  down  to  life  in  one  locality,  there  grew  up 
rude  settlements,  and  primitive  forms  of  community  life.  The 
nomads  were  accustomed  to  wandering  in  companies,  and  isola- 
tion was  foreign  to  their  nature.  The  reasons  for  the  choice  of 
location  were,  of  course,  very  simple,  appealing  almost  wholly 
to  their  physical  needs.  In  the  advance  of  civilization  higher 
reasons  have  been  a  controlling  force,  though  even  today  the 
material  consideration  predominates  in  choosing  a  site  for  the 
building  of  a  village  or  city.  A  mine,  promising  rich  returns,  is 
the  cause  of  one  settlement,  springing  up  almost  in  a  night,  and 
disappearing  as  quickly  if  the  mine  ceases  to  be  productive. 
Good  water  power  is  the  magnet  which  draws  settlers  together 
in  another  place.  It  is  unnecessary  to  name  all  the  various 
causes  which  lead  to  the  birth  and  growth  of  new  towns,  villages, 
and  cities. 

The  question  of  especial  interest  to  us  is,  why  did  the  first 
settlers  of  Royalton  begin  to  build  up  a  village  where  they  did. 
The  first  pioneers  of  the  town  halted  in  its  southern  part,  with 
one  or  two  exceptions,  and  the  evidence  gathered  from  a  history 
of  the  church  all  points  to  that  section  of  the  town  as  the  place 
\\here  it  was  thought  a  village  should  grow.  There  was  good 
water  power  on  the  First  Branch,  a  saw  and  a  grist  mill,  and  a 
blacksmith  shop  was  early  built  there. 

In  locating  a  meeting-house,  it  would  naturally  be  expected 
that  the  inhabitants  would  have  in  mind  some  central  point, 
around  which  a  settlement  might  soon  follow.  The  first  spot 
chosen  for  the  meeting-house,  on  Lieut.  Stevens'  lot,  without 
much  doubt  41  Dutch,  was  not  far  from  the  center  of  the  town, 
and  near  the  mills.  The  village  would  probably  have  been  estab- 
lished there,  had  not  Capt.  Brewster  donated  a  lot  nearer  the 
center  of  the  town. 

When  Zebulon  Lyon  got  possession  of  46  Dutch  in  1788,  he 
at  once  began  to  plan  for  making  the  place  where  the  meeting- 
house was  to  be,  a  business  center.  There  is  no  positive  record 
to  prove  it,  but  the  tenor  of  the  deeds,  which  he  gives  in  1791  and 
1792,  seems  to  indicate  that  he  improved  the  interval  in  putting 
36 


562  HiavoBr  op  Botaiaov,  Ymauom 

up  buildings  saitable  for  bnmiflH  purpoieB,  or  emooiinged  would- 
be  merchants  and  otilien  to  boild,  with  the  ezpeetatioii  of  WBur^ 
ing  deeds  to  the  land  later. 

Early  in  the  year  1791  Zabad  Cnrtis  pnrehaaad  a  lot^  bat 
he  already  had  a  house  there,  where  Boyalton  ▼iUage  now  u»  and 
seems  to  have  been  running  potash  aid  i>earlaBh  wocioL  His 
house  was  probably  on  the  upper  side  of  the  road,  not  far  fnaa 
where  the  academy  is  today.  He  had  a  store,  bat  jut  when  he 
began  trade  is  not  known.  He  bought  several  aeres  in  what  is 
now  tilie  village,  and  a  connderaUe  number  of  farm  lots,  but  wai 
evidentiy  not  snecessfuL  He  had  mortgaged  to  a  Borton  itrm, 
Tuekerman  and  Bogers,  and  in  1807  he  gave  up  all  ekim  to  what 
he  had  mortgaged,  for  the  sum  of  $9,000.  The  village  part  oC 
the  released  land  passed  through  several  Boston  hands,  and  final- 
ly in  1818  came  into  the  control  of  Sta£Ford  Smith. 

Some  of  the  townspeople  evidently  bought  a  lot  or  two  as 
a  speculation.  Ifr.  Lyon  sold  one  acre  to  Richard  Bloss  in  1791, 
which  seems  to  have  been  in  the  village,  and  again  in  June,  1792, 
Elisha  Kent  bought  one  acre.  Lots  were  of  generous  propor- 
tions then.  Ifr.  Kent's  joined  the  meeting«house  lot,  which 
served  a  long  time  in  bounding  lots.  They  were  spoken  of  as 
either  on  it  or  at  a  certain  distance  from  it.  Ifr.  Kent  does  not 
seem  to  have  occupied  his  lot,  and  sold  it  in  a  year,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  Zabad  Curtis  bought  it. 

Capt.  Brewster  had  deeded  one  acre  to  Bev.  Azel  Washburn, 
and  he  already  had  his  home  established  near  the  meeting-house. 
The  first  home  of  Mr.  Lyon  was  at  the  upper  end  of  the  village, 
near  the  Parkhurst  Barrett  place,  about  where  the  Kendall  house 
now  is.  He  soon  built  a  fine  residence  on  the  bluff  where  the 
Moses  Oage  house  is,  in  fact  that  is  the  house  Mr.  Lyon  built. 
It  was  the  home  at  one  time  of  Lawyer  Francis.  It  caught  fire 
one  night  when  Capt.  Isaac  Skinner  was  watching  at  the  Cutter 
house,  now  owned  by  Mr.  Hanks.  He  saw  the  light  and  gave 
the  alarm.  The  ell  part  mostly  burned,  but  a  light  snow  on  the 
roof  saved  that.  There  was  a  shelf  fastened  to  the  rafters  on 
which  Mrs.  Lyon  had  stored  away  some  mince  pies,  and  it  is  said 
that  the  heat  melted  the  plates,  but  the  pies  were  still  eatable. 
The  blackened  rafters  may  still  be  seen  in  this  house. 

Competition  is  the  life  of  trade.  This  is  a  trite  saying,  but 
it  was  exemplified  in  1792,  when  Elkanah  Stevens  came  to  cast 
in  his  lot  with  the  little  hamlet,  as  yet  not  much  more  than  a 
playground  cleared  in  the  midst  of  hills,  still  thickly  covered 
with  virgin  trees.  He  made  no  purchase  of  land  until  the  next 
year,  when  he  took  a  deed  for  252  square  rods  near  '^ Lyman's 
fordway."  He  also  had  a  hotel,  so  the  passing  traveler  could 
refresh  himself,  do  his  trading,  find  a  doctor  not  far  away,  if 


HiSTOBT    OP    BOYALTON,    VERMONT  663 

his  dinner  disagreed  with  him,  and  a  clergyman,  if  he  felt  the 
need  of  spiritual  ministrations. 

The  tiny  village  had  a  suburb  when  Jacob  Cady,  in  1794, 
bought  the  thirty-six  acres  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Evelyn  M.  Tay- 
lor, and  the  next  year  found  Timothy  Shepard  a  neighbor  of  his. 

Thus  far  there  seems  to  have  been  no  special  demand  for  a 
lawyer,  but  one  can  easily  be  created.    Just  as  one  more  rarely 
feels  the  need  of  a  doctor  if  he  lives  twenty  miles  away,  so  dis- 
putes are  more  often  amicably  settled,  when  one  cannot  easily 
resort  to  a  lawyer.    The  village  was  extremely  fortunate  in  se- 
curing for  its  first  resident  lawyer  an  enterprising,  thoroughly 
prepared  young  man,  who  at  once  entered  heartily  into  the  hopes 
and  plans  of  those  interested  in  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  J    JL  . 
the  settlement.    This  was  Jacob  Smith,  who  purchased  twoloty^' 
in  1795,  between  Elkanah  Stevens  and  Rev.  Azel  Washburn.    A  /jo  \rtft 
little  later  in  the  year  he  bought  a  lot  bordering  the  pound,  for        U  5  t) 
which  he  paid  £320.    Mr.  Lyon  paid  for  the  whole  of  46  Dutch 
£480,  and  thus  far  it  had  been  a  most  profitable  investment.    By 
1799  Ebenezer  Herrick  is  found  hammering  away  at  his  bench, 
intent  on  keeping  the  busy  villagers  well  shod.    Mr.  Lyon  of- 
fered good  inducements  to  him,  requiring  only  the  payment  of 
one  dollar  annually  forever  on  the  first  of  May.    It  is  probable 
that  too  many  trusted  to  nature's  protection  for  the  feet  to  make 
his  venture  successful,  for  he  left  in  1803. 

The  year  1799  saw  the  first  firm  open  for  business  in  the 
village,  though  this,  perhaps,  was  not  the  first  firm  in  town.  It 
was  composed  of  Samuel  Grant  of  Walpole,  N.  H.,  and  Joseph 
Fessenden.  The  firm  did  not  purchase  a  lot  until  1801.  Elka- 
nah Stevens  shares  now  with  the  ** meeting-house  lot**  in  furnish- 
ing a  bound  for  purchases.  This  firm  bought  136  square  rods 
on  Stevens,  and  ** Landlord  Joel  Dickenson"  bought  five  and  one- 
half  acres  on  this  same  Stevens,  and  John  C.  Waller  had  his  lot 
of  twenty-one  and  three-fourths  square  rods  on  Stevens*  orchard. 
Levi  Mower  had  been  listed  in  town,  sometimes  under  the  head 
of  **  faculties, '  *  since  1798,  and  had  a  large  list,  but  in  1801  the 
firm  of  Chandler  &  Mower  were  in  Royalton.  They  did  not  pur- 
chase the  **red  store"  and  land  until  two  years  later.  They  had 
this  of  Zebulon  Lyon,  and  Mr.  Lyon  provided  for  a  strip  of  land 
to  be  forever  unenclosed  as  a  common.  It  seems  very  probable 
that  Mr.  Lyon  built  the  store  himself,  and  that  it  was  the  two- 
story  building  later  owned  by  Mrs.  Sally  Felch,  which  still  later 
was  burned.  The  Stevens  store  seems  to  have  been  opposite  this, 
and  may  have  been  the  brick  building  or  one  on  the  same  site. 
In  1802  Levi  Bellows  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Grant  & 
Fessenden. 


S64  HmoBT  OP  Botaiaok,  Ywrnrnxmr 

The  house  where  Mr.  Hanki  now  Htm  xmed  to  be  ealled  tliB 
Feasenden  house.  Whether  Joseph  Fessenden  bnUt  it  or  not 
cannot  be  stated.  The  deeds  are  rather  bMnd,  bat  it  looks  aa  if 
this  property  was  held  by  Elkanah  Stevens,  and  he  may  haive 
built  the  honse. 

Calvin  Skinner  seenred  three  acres  near  the  "center  bridge" 
in  1801.  John  and  David  Waller  seem  to  have  been  residenti 
of  the  village  before  David  secured  the  hoteL  In  1808  Curtis 
and  Newell  hung  out  their  sign.  The  firm  of  Grant  ft  F^ 
den  dissolved  in  1805,  and  be^une  the  next  year  J.  ft  J.  F< 
den. 

The  academy,  which  was  chartered  in  1807,  had  for  aonia 
years  previous  to  that  added  to  the  attractions  of  the  place,  and 
in  18QB  the  settlement  is  spoken  of  as  the  '^ village  so-called." 
Its  future  was  assured,  and  the  advent  of  such  men  as  Judah  D. 
Throop,  a  merchant  engaged  in  a  shipping  trade,  who  built  a 
fine  residence  where  Mr.  George  Laird  now  lives,  and  of  Dr.  Jo 
Adam  Denison,  Sta£Ford  Smith,  William  Skinner,  John  Francis, 
Jacob  Collamer,  and  others,  the  advent  of  these  men  gave  the 
village  a  reputation  for  enterprise  and  intellectual  superiority^ 
which  placed  it  among  the  leading  villages  of  Windsor  county. 

It  had  its  milliners,  dentists,  hatters,  cabinet  makers,  shoe 
manufacturers,  tanneries,  and  other  kinds  of  business.  Its  prog- 
ress was  slow  but  steady,  until  the  building  of  the  railroad,  and 
the  rise  of  the  rival  village  at  South  Royalton.  Three  churches 
had  been  built,  numerous  shops  had  sprung  up,  and  it  had  be- 
come the  educational  and  business  center  for  a  large  portion  of 
the  surrounding  territory. 

SOUTH  ROYALTON  VILLAGE. 

No  mother  can  see  her  daughter  leave  her  arms  for  the  shel- 
ter of  a  new  home  without  a  pang,  however  promising  the  pros- 
pect may  be.  The  village  of  South  Royalton  does  not  stand  in 
the  relation  of  a  daughter  or  even  of  a  daughter-in-law  to  Royal- 
ton  village.  It  was  started  by  a  man  born  and  bred  outside  of 
her  borders,  who  enticed  from  her  fold  some  of  her  most  reliable 
patrons  and  supporters  of  business,  educational,  and  religious 
life.  It  was  only  natural  that  Royalton  should  regard  the  new 
settlement,  which  secured  favors  from  the  railroad  that  were 
denied  to  her,  and  which  seemed  to  take  pleasure  in  showing  its 
independence  and  progressiveness,  in  the  light  of  an  enticing 
intruder. 

However  natural  this  feeling  was  sixty-four  years  ago,  it 
seems  strange  today  that  a  settlement  at  this  point  had  not  be- 
come a  necessity  long  before  the  railroad  made  it  so.    It  is  an 


History  of  Royalton,  Vermont  666 

illustration  of  the  inertia  attendant  upon  satisfaction  with  exist- 
ing conditions,  and  lack  of  alertness  in  perceiving  advantages 
that  may  accrue  from  a  step  forward. 

A  man  who  ventures  nothing  gains  nothing.  Not  so  with 
Daniel  Tarbell,  Jr.,  of  Tunbridge.  His  first  step  toward  a  new 
settlement  at  the  mouth  of  the  First  Branch  was  to  prepare  the 
framework  of  a  building  on  his  own  premises,  which  was  to  be- 
come the  first  store  in  South  Royalton.  He  was  assisted  by 
Henry  Whitney,  and  at  the  proper  time  the  timbers  were  drawn 
to  the  site  of  the  proposed  building  by  Harry  Lunt.  Mr.  Tar- 
bell removed  to  South  Royalton  the  very  day  the  first  train  of 
cars  went  through  to  Bethel,  June  26,  1848.  He  rented  the  ell 
part  of  Lyman  Benson's  house,  and  set  up  a  store  in  his  barn, 
but  later  removed  it  to  the  ell,  and  ran  the  business  alone. 

It  was  soon  noised  abroad  that  a  great  time  was  expected  on 
the  4th  of  July.  The  first  building  in  South  Royalton  was  to  be 
raised  and  the  cars  were  to  stop  at  that  station.  People  came 
from  all  the  surrounding  towns,  yes,  even  from  Montpelier,  which 
was  not  feeling  very  happy  because  the  railroad  did  not  run 
through  that  town.  Crowds  gathered  early.  Mr.  Tarbell  se- 
lected those  whom  he  desired  to  assist  in  the  raising,  and  the 
others  stood  around  the  stumps  and  looked  admiringly  on  or 
cast  anxious  glances  in  the  direction  of  the  expected  train.  The 
framework  went  up  without  a  hitch.  Then  a  barrel  of  rum  was 
rolled  out,  the  head  knocked  in,  tin  cups  were  passed  around  to 
the  workmen,  and  another  barrel  filled  with  crackers  was  brought 
forth,  and  a  barrel  of  water,  and  the  men  were  told  to  help  them- 
selves. After  their  hunger  and  thirst  were  satisfied,  every  one 
was  invited  to  clean  up  the  platter,  figuratively  speaking. 

Now  the  roaring  monster  with  its  thundering  train  steamed 
in,  and  hundreds,  if  not  thousands,  saw  an  engine  pulling  its 
load  with  fierce  energy,  for  the  first  time.  The  women  had  a 
chance  to  decide  whether  it  was  a  safe  mode  of  travel  or  not,  or 
v/hether  the  fear  expressed  by  one  young  lady,  that  the  sparks 
from  the  engine  would  be  likely  to  set  fire  to  their  light  apparel, 
would  be  realized. 

The  first  store  in  South  Royalton  had  been  raised.  It  stood 
where  the  Poster  feed  store  stands  today.  It  was  soon  com- 
pleted, and  the  end  next  to  the  track  was  used  for  a  depot,  a 
large  platform  being  built  on  that  end.  It  continued  to  serve  as 
a  depot  until  some  time  the  next  year.  Mr.  Tarbell  put  in  a 
stock  of  goods,  having  dry  goods  in  one  part  and  general  mer- 
chandise in  the  other  part  of  the  building.  Horace  Parkhurst 
was  clerk,  and,  perhaps,  John  Parker.  Mr.  Tarbell  conducted 
his  store  about  a  year,  then  he  rented  the  general  merchandise 


666  History  op  Royalton,  Vebmont 

department  for  two  years  to  Dennis  Fay  of  Lowell  and  Bnfos 
Kendriek.     He  lived  in  one  part  of  the  building. 

At  first  the  side  track  was  east  of  the  main  track,  and  the 
freight  depot  was  erected  the  next  year,  1849,  east  of  the  side 
track,  which  ran  close  to  the  west  end  of  the  store.  The  pas- 
senger depot  stood  about  where  the  present  building  stands.  The 
freight  depot  was  100  feet  south  of  the  store. 

Mr.  Tarbell  began  to  buy  land  of  Cyrus  Safford  and  Lyman 
Benson,  both  of  whom  sold  lots  for  dwelling  houses  and  stores. 
His  first  purchase,  July  15,  1848,  was  110  feet  on  the  railroad 
and  75  feet  back,  at  the  S.  W.  corner  of  the  depot  ground.  He 
had  this  of  Lyman  Benson.  In  December  he  bought  another  lot 
of  Mr.  Benson.  His  second  purchase  was  fourteen  square  rods 
and  a  house  and  barn,  of  Cyrus  Saflford.  The  house  and  bam 
were  to  be  moved  to  the  lot.  These  lots  gave  him  opportunity 
for  building.  He  next  erected  a  store  near  the  freight  depot, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  from  the  first  store,  which  was 
rented  in  November,  1849,  to  Alvah  Button  of  Tunbridge.  His 
third  store  was  one  fifty  feet  east  of  the  first  one,  and  was  rented 
before  it  was  completed  to  Daniel  McCain  and  Stephen  F.  Mana- 
han  of  Manchester,  N.  H.,  for  five  years.  It  is  said  to  have  been 
erected  in  thirty  days.  The  bank  was  in  the  second  story.  This 
building  is  described  in  the  deed  as  opposite  the  Button  store. 
The  firm  sold  W.  I.  goods  and  groceries. 

East  of  this  store  ]\Ir.  Tarbell  put  up  a  small  building,  the 
front  part  of  w^hich  was  used  as  a  carpenter  shop,  and  the  rear 
as  a  dwelling,  by  Ezra  Wills.  In  1850  more  buildings  went  up. 
A  store  east  of  the  Wills  tenement  was  erected,  and  occupied  by 
Nathan  Dane,  the  druggist,  who  was  a  favorite  with  the  school 
children.  Unmarried,  he  adopted  all  the  little  ones  that  came  to 
him,  and  as  they  went  away  sucking  their  sticks  of  candy,  they 
thought  him  the  dearest  man  in  the  world. 

On  the  south  side  of  Main  street  Phineas  Pierce  built  a  bam 
about  opposite  the  store  of  C.  E.  Black.  It  set  back  somewhat 
from  the  street.  Horace  Parkhurst  now  wished  to  go  into  busi- 
ness for  himself,  and  Mr.  Tarbell  erected  a  store  on  the  corner 
near  this  barn.  In  the  basement  was  a  grocery  kept  by  a  man 
named  Noyes.  He  had  before  this  built  a  rather  cheap  building, 
one  and  one-half  stories  high,  where  a  Mr.  White  had  kept  a  gro- 
cery store.  This  building  was  afterwards  used  as  a  schoolhouse, 
and  Miss  Peabody  was  the  instructor  therein.  It  was  removed 
in  a  few  years.     It  stood  on  the  common  toward  the  hotel. 

In  1849  and  1850  the  hotel  and  depots  were  erected.  Luke 
Tarbell,  the  son  of  Daniel,  Jr.,  about  thirteen  years  of  age,  drove 
the  team  to  scrape  the  cellar  for  the  hotel  and  the  freight  depot, 
also  the  one  that  brought  the  material  for  covering  the  first  store. 


HiSTOBY    OF    ROYALTON,    VERMONT  667 

and  hauled  the  lumber  for  the  hotel  and  freight  depot  from 
Warren  mountains  to  Roxbury.  Mr.  Tarbell,  now  living  in 
Northfield,  remembers  those  days  as  strenuous  ones  for  a  boy  of 
his  age. 

What  is  known  as  the  Daniel  Jones  house  was  built  by  the 
railroad  boss,  William  Dennett.  West  of  that  Mr.  Tarbell  erected 
a  blacksmith  shop,  nearly  opposite  the  hotel.  The  smithy's  name 
was  Drew. 

The  houses  now  occupied  by  M.  S.  Adams  and  Edward  Hope 
and  the  Methodist  church  were  all  built  about  this  same  time. 
Ezra  Wills  secured  a  lot  on  the  common  and  soon  had  a  home  of 
his  own  there.  Another  small  house  on  the  common  nearer  the 
hotel  was  occupied  by  Alonzo  Hewes,  the  teamster,  who  had  a 
fortune  fall  to  him  later,  and  went  to  Boston,  where  he  could  the 
sooner  spend  it.  In  a  mortgage  given  by  Mr.  Tarbell  in  April, 
1851,  he  states  that  the  land  which  he  had  from  Cyrus  Safford 
contained  eighteen  building  lots,  the  land  he  had  from  Lyman 
Benson,  eleven  lots,  that  which  he  had  from  Phineas  Pierce,  two 
lots,  and  he  names  a  two-story  building  being  erected  as  a  boot 
factory.  This  last  was  on  the  N.  E.  comer  of  the  common,  and 
turned  out  only  hand  work.  In  this  mortgage  was  included  a 
new  two-story  house  occupied  by  Edward  B.  Stanley,  now  the 
Hope  residence. 

On  the  north  side  of  Main  street  between  the  first  and  second 
stores,  and  in  the  rear  of  them,  was  a  tallow  chandler  shop.  The 
steam  mill  has  been  mentioned  in  the  sketch  on  '^ Industries." 
An  English  gate  saw  was  brought  from  Granville  for  this  mill, 
and  part  of  the  logs  came  from  that  town.  On  the  west  side  of 
the  track  opposite  the  depot  Mr.  Tarbell  had  a  bam  for  pressing 
hay.  He  had,  also,  a  dog  named  ''Policeman."  His  business 
was  to  guard  the  freight  on  the  platform.  One  morning  Luke 
got  up  and  found  ''Policeman"  holding  under  arrest  a  crest- 
fallen man  with  a  cheese  in  his  arms.  He  called  the  dog  off,  and 
took  the  man  to  his  father. 

Ansel  D.  Whitney  secured  a  lot  and  had  a  cabinet  shop 
where  the  house  of  George  Manchester  stands  today,  and  there 
was  a  bakery  on  the  other  side  of  North  street  opposite  this  shop. 
This  was  short-lived,  and  the  building  was  made  into  a  dwelling 
house.  The  milliner's  shop  seen  in  the  cut  of  the  early  village 
was  erected  some  time  later. 

Some  of  the  houses  earliest  built  by  Mr.  Tarbell  were  the 
present  residence  of  Dr.  Pish,  occupied  by  a  Mr.  Loverin,  whose 
wife  had  a  milliner's  shop,  and  by  Dr.  Whitcomb,  who  had  just 
moved  to  Royalton;  the  house  south  of  the  Dr.  Fish  residence, 
then  occupied  by  Ebenezer  Smith  as  a  tenement  and  paint  shop ; 
and  the  house  known  as  "Brightwood,"  another  double  tene- 
ment. 


668  History  op  Rotalton,  Vermont 

About  1853  David  Adams  was  employed  by  Mr.  Tarbell  to 
build  the  Southgate  house,  which  C.  C.  Southgate  purchased  in 
1854.  The  schoolhouse  was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1853.  The 
first  teachers  were  Harley  GriflBths  and  Miss  Mary  Jane  Lymm, 
daughter  of  Gamer  Lyman.  In  1853  William  L.  Cilley  built 
the  house  now  occupied  by  Otis  Flint,  and  the  next  year  William 
Foster  erected  the  Henry  Sargent  dwelling.  The  well-known 
Dr.  Whitcomb  residence  was  built  in  1854  by  Lyman  Jones,  the 
tinsmith.  Mr.  Tarbell  put  up  a  house  where  the  Dickerman 
store  now  stands  on  the  N.  E.  corner  of  Chelsea  and  Windsor 
streets,  and  this  was  occupied  by  Edward  Parkhurst.  Horatio 
K.  Blake,  the  station  agent,  established  his  home  where  Elisha 
Osgood  later  lived  and  William  B.  Gould  now  resides.  The 
house  was  on  the  other  side  of  the  road  before  the  railroad  came 
through  the  town.  A  little  later  the  Tarbell-Ashley  house  was 
the  home  of  Philip  S.  Hunter.  In  1853  Moses  Chase  cast  in  his 
lot  with  the  little  village,  and  lived  for  some  years  in  the  * '  Bai- 
ley" house,  on  Windsor  street,  later  owned  by  Frank  Tenney. 
Amos  Robinson,  who  owned  a  part  of  the  Elisha  Kent  farm,  was 
living  at  this  time  in  the  Cowdery-Bingham  dwelling.  A  daugh- 
ter of  his,  who  later  joined  the  Mormons,  lived  in  the  Hackett- 
Lovejoy  house.  C.  M.  Lamb  erected  his  own  dwelling,  which  so 
long  remained  in  the  family. 

There  were  no  houses  between  the  James  Bingham  place  and 
the  Cyrus  Safford  residence,  now  the  home  of  Lester  Corwin.  A 
street  ran  up  to  ** Pluck  Hill/'  now  called  North  street.  On  this 
hill  ]\Ioses  Morse  lived  in  the  John  Woodward  house  of  later  date, 
and  above  him  on  the  same  side  of  the  street  was  Thomas  Prin- 
dle.  The  building  now  owned  by  Charles  Folsom  was  built  by 
Lyman  Benson.  Thomas  Morse  erected  his  own  house,  in  which 
he  lived  so  long,  and  which  is  now  occupied  by  Joseph  Abbott. 
On  the  east  or  north  side  of  the  river  were  two  houses  below  the 
Pierce  stand,  on  the  left  side  of  the  road  as  one  goes  south,  with 
only  a  garden  between  them.     These  have  been  torn  down. 

Mr.  Tarbell  swung  his  magic  wand,  and  in  a  few  years  a 
village  of  considerable  size  had  arisen.  He  at  one  time  stated 
that  he  built  three-fourths  of  all  the  houses  as  they  were  in  1884. 
It  seems  to  have  been  his  custom  in  some  cases  to  sell  a  lot  to 
a  man,  put  up  a  building,  and  let  the  man  pay  for  it  as  he  could. 

He  was  chiefly  instrumental  in  building  the  first  church  and 
the  first  schoolhouse,  the  necessary  adjuncts  to  any  well  organ- 
ized settlement.  Of  course  he  met  opposition,  and  his  business 
methods  were  often  called  in  question,  but  that  he  had  a  sincere 
desire  to  see  South  Royalton  grow  and  prosper,  scarcely  any  one 
will  deny.     Some  of  his  undertakings  turned  out  disastrously. 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  569 

but  that  could  hardly  fail  to  be  the  ease,  where  one  man  under- 
takes to  run  so  many  diverse  enterprises  at  the  same  time. 

After  the  failure  of  the  bank,  business  for  a  time  was  at  a 
stand-still,  and  real  estate  in  little  demand.  It  was  a  good  time 
to  buy,  if  one  had  faith  in  the  future  of  the  village.  M.  S. 
Adams  appeared  at  the  psychological  moment,  and  Eben  Wins- 
low,  and  later,  John  B.  Durkee,  Eli  Hackett,  and  Edson  Bixby, 
all  of  whom  remained,  and  were  foremost  in  their  efforts  to  pro- 
mote the  interests  of  the  village. 

In  1853  Burns  &  Winslow  and  A.  D.  Hutchins  &  Co.  were 
among  the  business  firms.  Later  Bums  &  Winslow  became 
Winslow  &  Morey,  and  still  later  Winslow  &  Durkee,  dealers  in 
hardware.  Hackett  &  Bixby  was  a  firm  which  became  Bixby  & 
Jones  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Hackett  in  1868.  Bain  &  Grain 
had  a  dry  goods  and  general  merchandise  store  where  McCain 
and  Manahan  had  been,  and  later  J.  0.  Belknap  continued  the 
business  until  the  block  was  burned. 

About  1870  William  H.  Martin  came  to  South  Royalton  and 
opened  a  dry  goods  store.  He  continued  in  this  business  until 
1877,  when  he  went  to  Worcester,  Mass.  He  returned  to  South 
Royalton  in  1879,  and  opened  another  store,  which  he  conducted 
until  the  great  fire  of  1886  laid  it  in  ashes.  He  then  joined  with 
other  merchants  in  erecting  the  Block,  his  part  of  it  being  in 
the  east  end.  He  put  in  another  stock  of  dry  goods  and  men's 
furnishing  goods,  which  he  sold  in  1894  to  Moody  and  Mathers, 
and  closed  his  mercantile  career. 

William  C.  Smith  came  to  South  Royalton  about  1859.  After 
a  few  years  he  opened  a  tin  shop,  and  in  1863  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  John  B.  Durkee  in  the  hardware  business.  After 
the  fire  of  1878  they  moved  into  the  lower  part  of  the  Vermont 
Central  hotel.  The  partnership  was  dissolved  in  a  few  years, 
and  Mr.  Smith  bought  the  Garner  Dewey  place  and  became  a 
farmer. 

Amos  Lamb  had  a  tin  shop  near  his  house,  which  was  situ- 
ated opposite  the  Edgar  Rejrnolds  house.  The  shop  and  house 
were  destroyed  in  the  fire  of  1886. 

Among  the  photographers  of  South  Royalton  have  been  0.  E. 
Hall  and  Howard  Granger,  who  had  studios  successively  in  the 
house  which  was  burned,  where  the  present  residence  of  Mrs. 
Moses  Ellis  stands.  H.  L.  Bixby  of  Chelsea  had  a  studio  over 
the  present  marble  shop,  and  W.  E.  Graham  and  I.  L.  Welcome 
have  been  serving  the  public  more  or  less  at  different  times  in 
recent  years  in  the  studio  built  by  Mr.  Perley  Belknap  near  the 
bridge. 

Alonzo  Wilmot  was  perhaps  the  first  jeweler  in  South  Roy- 
alton.   He  first  had  his  shop  on  the  north  side  of  Chelsea  street, 


670  HiBiOBT  or  BamuMm,  Vbbmont 

then  purolmaed  the  building  which  he  icdd  .later  to  Ii0in«  IMek- 
erman,  and  which  was  bnmed  in  the  Are  of  1878.  Thia  was  prob* 
ably  the  old  boot  factory  remodeled.  L.  F.  Teny  wai  a  jewder 
here  a  number  of  yean,  who  removed  to  Bethel,  where  he  ia  eon- 
ducting  the  same  busincH.  F.  B.  Sqrmonr  now  oeenpiea  hia  old 
store  in  the  Martin  block. 

The  buainesB  career  of  John  B.  Durkee  has  been  pretty  well 
covered  by  the  history  of  the  partners  with  whom  he  was  asMwi* 
ated.  ib*.  Durkee  conducted  a  hardware  business  akoe  in  Soufli 
Bi^yalton  for  a  considerable  period  of  years.  He  owned  one  of 
the  blocks  in  the  large  briek  Block.  For  several  years  before  he 
sold  to  Charles  E.  Black  his  wife  assisted  him. 

Edward  Foster  formed  a  partnership  with  C.  C.  Sonthgate 
in  the  tailor  business  about  1864.  Mr.  Southgate  had  the  post- 
office  at  that  time  in  the  Elng  block,  and  Mr.  Foster  took  charge 
of  it  for  ten  years.  He  then  began  work  for  M.  S.  Adams,  and 
continued  until  1890,  when  he  opened  a  grain,  flour,  and  coal 
store  in  the  rear  of  the  TarbeU  block.  He  was  in  this  business 
at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1897. 

W.  v.  Soper,  in  connection  with  a  brother  in  West  Randolph, 
had  a  marble  shop  in  South  Boyalton,  at  first  on  Chelsea  street, 
and  later  in  the  shop  south  of  Woodard's  Hotel,  which  he  sold 
to  Adams  &  McNichoL  He  carried  on  the  monument  business 
here  for  thirty-five  or  more  years,  and  no  man  ever  left  a  cleaner 
record  when  he  gave  up  active  life,  than  Mr.  Soper  left. 

The  purchase  of  the  Martin  stock  of  goods  by  Bert  L.  Moody 
and  B.  H.  Mather  has  been  mentioned.  The  partnership  was  dis- 
solved in  1900,  when  Mr.  Moody  sold  to  Mr.  Mather,  and  opened 
a  furniture  store  in  the  TarbeU  block,  having  bought  out  S.  M. 
Pike.     He  sold  out  to  his  brother  Ernest  in  1902. 

G.  J.  Ashley  began  business  in  South  Boyalton  as  tonsorial 
artist  about  1875,  and  continued  in  the  same  line  until  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  B.  F.  D.  routes,  when  he  disposed  of  his  equip- 
ment and  took  one  of  the  mail  routes.  Failing  health  compell^ 
him  to  resign,  and  he  died  not  many  months  after.  Mr.  Ashley 
was  universally  liked,  and  he  was  quite  successful  in  his  calling. 

Miss  Hattie  Bean  and  Mrs.  Rebecca  Blake  had  millinery 
stores  here  for  some  time. 

Some  of  the  firms  with  which  Ebenezer  Winslow  was  con- 
nected have  been  mentioned.  Burns  and  Winslow  began  business 
in  1852  in  the  TarbeU  building,  and  kept  a  stock  of  dry  goods  for 
one  year.  Mr.  Winslow  then  continued  in  trade  alone  until  the 
firm  of  Winslow  &  Morey  was  formed  in  1855,  which  partnership 
lasted  until  1863.  Their  stock  was  dry  goods  and  groceries.  Mr. 
Winslow  was  again  alone  in  business  for  a  time.  The  firm  of 
Winslow  &  Durkee  carried  a  hardware  stock  in  William  Tarbell's 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  571 

block  from  1874  to  1881.  Mr.  Winslow  then  sold  out  to  his  part- 
ner, and  did  not  again  enter  mercantile  life.  He  was  in  business 
in  South  Boyalton  for  nearly  thirty  years. 

Mrs.  Anna  C.  Hastings  Waterman  has  a  long  and  honorable 
record  as  a  business  woman  in  Boyalton.  She  came  to  Boyalton 
village  in  1868,  after  the  death  of  her  first  husband,  and  worked 
in  the  millinery  shop  of  Mrs.  Baker  for  a  year,  then  purchased 
the  business  of  Mrs.  Baker,  and  opened  a  millinery  store  in  the 
house  of  James  Culver.  She  removed  her  store  to  South  Boy- 
alton in  September,  1871,  and  opened  a  shop  in  the  old  Dane  drug 
store  building.  In  1881  she  bought  a  lot  of  Simon  Sanborn,  and 
the  next  year  built  a  house  and  store,  where  Arthur  A.  Abbott's 
harness  shop  now  is.  While  building  she  had  her  store  in  the 
William  Tarbell  block.  In  1890  she  removed  her  store  into  the 
brick  store  erected  in  1887  by  H.  H.  Whitcomb,  which  she  pur- 
chased and  still  occupies.  The  fire  of  1892  destroyed  her  house. 
She  took  her  daughter,  Miss  Addie  Hastings,  into  partnership  in 
1892,  and  this  firm  continues  to  do  business  with  its  usual  suc- 
cess. The  reputation  of  the  shop  for  artistic  and  excellent  work 
is  known  in  all  the  neighboring  towns,  and  the  semi-yearly  open- 
ings are  eagerly  awaited  by  the  patrons  of  the  firm. 

FIRES  IN  SOUTH  ROYALTON. 

Few  small  villages  have  suffered  so  much  from  disastrous 
fires  as  South  Boyalton.  For  about  twenty  years  it  was  free 
from  the  ravages  of  the  fire  fiend,  but  in  the  next  twenty-five 
years  it  had  repeated  visitations  from  this  enemy,  at  one  time 
having  the  business  portion  entirely  wiped  out. 

On  Nov.  21,  1873,  an  alarm  of  fire  was  sounded.  This  time 
the  milliner's  store  of  Miss  Hattie  Bean  was  destroyed.  The  fire 
started  about  three  a.  m.,  caused  by  a  defective  chimney. 

When  the  two  o'clock  train  stopped  at  South  Boyalton  on 
the  morning  of  Feb.  6,  1878,  it  left  Mr.  Henry  Hatch.  He  soon 
discovered  that  a  fire  had  started  in  the  Tarbell  block  on  the  south 
side  of  Main  street,  now  called  Chelsea  street.  There  had  been 
a  band  meeting  that  night  in  the  rooms  of  the  G.  A.  B.  in  the 
attic  of  this  building,  but  the  members  claimed  to  have  left  no 
fire  in  the  stove.  This  fire  was  also  said  to  have  arisen  from  a 
defective  chimney.  Men  and  women  turned  out  to  fight  the 
fiames,  which  soon  spread  to  the  Dickerman  block  east  of  the 
Tarbell  building.  Considerable  of  the  goods  in  this  store  was 
saved,  and  also  household  furniture  in  the  tenement  on  the  sec- 
ond floor.  No  engine  was  at  hand,  and  water  was  carried  in  pails 
to  fight  the  flames.  The  weary  men  were  refreshed  by  hot  coflPee, 
which  the  ladies  prepared  and  carried  to  them.    The  King  block, 


672  History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont 

owned  by  A.  N.  King  of  Tunbridge,  which  stood  on  the  comer 
west  of  the  Tarbell  building,  also  caught  fire,  and  all  three  were 
soon  laid  low.  The  Northfield  Fire  Company  and  the  managers 
and  employees  of  the  C.  V.  B.  B.  prepared  to  hasten  to  the  relief 
of  the  sufferers,  but  the  fire  was  controlled  before  they  reached 
South  Royalton. 

Winslow  &  Durkee  were  on  the  first  floor  of  the  Tarbell 
block,  Henry  Parsons  and  famUy  on  the  second  floor,  Pigeon 
Bros,  in  the  basement.  In  the  basement  of  the  Dickerman  store 
was  J.  H.  Hewitt,  dealer  in  produce.  He  slept  through  the  whole 
of  the  commotion,  and  came  up  street  the  next  morning  to  find 
himself  several  hundred  dollars  poorer,  having  no  insurance. 
C.  C.  Southgate  was  in  the  King  block.  He  saved  the  post-ofSce. 
moved  it  to  the  Jones  block  on  the  other  side  of  the  street,  and 
was  ready  to  distribute  mail  at  about  the  usual  morning  hour. 
On  the  second  floor  of  the  King  block  was  Seymour  Durkee,  har- 
ness maker;  in  the  basement,  W.  L.  Parsons,  restaurant  keeper. 
The  entire  loss  on  goods  was  not  far  from  $10,000,  only  partially 
covered  by  insurance.     The  Tarbell  block  was  not  insured. 

The  post-office  was  moved  to  Wilmot's  store  about  the  first 
of  March,  and  by  the  middle  of  the  month  Mr.  Dickerman  had 
his  lumber  on  the  ground  for  a  new  building,  and  was  ready  for 
customers  the  last  of  June.  Mr.  King  and  Mr.  Tarbell  also  re- 
built. 

On  Sep.  11,  1883,  another  alarm  of  fire  was  heard.  The  fire 
started  about  ton  o'clock  in  the  evening.  The  Bixby  &  Jones 
building:,  the  first  store  erected  in  South  Royalton,  was  already 
blazing  on  the  roof  when  the  alarm  was  given.  It  was  supposed 
that  a  spark  from  a  railroad  engine,  which  had  lately  passed,  had 
fallen  on  the  roof  and  ignited  it.  The  means  at  hand  for  fighting 
fire  were  still  inadecjuate.  The  Randolph  Fire  Company  came, 
but  without  an  engine,  as  they  had  no  means  of  transporting  it. 
Engine  Co.,  No.  1,  Water  Witch  of  Northfield,  arrived  about  two 
o'clock  a.  ni.,  but  the  fire  was  already  under  control.  They  as- 
sisted in  preventing  its  further  spread. 

J.  0.  Belknap  was  in  the  McCain  &  Manahan  store,  later 
called  the  ** Banner  Store,''  which  went,  as  also  did  the  next 
small  building  in  which  M.  J.  Sargent  had  his  drug  store.  ]Mr. 
Sargent  saved  most  of  his  stock  of  goods  in  a  more  or  less  dam- 
aged condition,  but  the  other  sufferers  lost  nearly  ever^'thing. 
Bixby  &  Jones  opened  for  trade  in  Tarbell 's  block  on  the  other 
side  of  the  street,  and  Mr.  Belknap  went  into  the  Martin  block. 
His  family  lived  in  the  home  of  G.  H.  Manchester  while  he  rebuilt. 
The  i)roi)erty  burned  was  very  well  insured,  but  not  sufficient  to 
cover  losses.  No  new  building  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  first 
Tarbell  store,  but  Mr.  Sargent  and  Mr.  Belknap  at  once  began 
the  erection  of  wooden  buildings  on  the  site  of  the  burned  stores. 


i 

674  HiBiOBT  or  Bo7AiAoir>  Ymmofm 

Madgett's  dwelling,  which  abo  aooomiiipdftted  Maneharter  ft  Bof- 
en.  J.  H.  Hewitt,  Seymour  Dnzkee,  and  W.  H.  Martin  opened 
stores  in  their  houses,  and  by  Sep.  30,  nearly  all  menhairta  were 
ready  for  business. 

Before  the  ruins  had  done  smoking,  and  the  smoke  did  not 
eease  to  ascend  for  ten  dajys,  it  had  been  deeided  by  the  bosinea 
men  to  unite  in  erecting  <me  large  briek  Mock  on  the  norlli  mde 
of  the  street,  if  the  town  would  vote  to  buy  the  lots  on  tibe  south 
side,  and  devote  them  to  widening  the  street  and  enlarging  the 
Park.  There  was  some  opposition  to  this  by  those  not  immedi- 
ately interested,  but  at  a  special  town  meeting,  tfaiooi^  the  wiae 
counsel  of  the  Hon.  D.  C.  Denison,  the  seleetmen  were  instmeted 
to  buy  the  lots  for  the  purpose  aAed  in  the  i>etition.  This  was 
done. 

The  insurance  was  not  enough  to  cover  losses,  but  with  brave, 
hopeful  hearts  the  work  of  rebuilding  went  on.  Mr.  Guernsey 
of  Montpelier  was  selected  as  the  architect,  H.  A.  Maxham  was 
given  the  supervision  of  the  wood  work,  and  M.  S.  Adams  took 
the  contract  for  furnishing  the  brick.  The  Block  was  to  be  280 
by  100  feet.  By  Sept.  23d  the  foundations  for  five  of  the  stores 
were  laid,  and  L.  C.  Dickerman  had  his  building  ready  for  the 
roof.    The  Block  was  completed  in  the  spring  of  1887. 

The  Vermont  Central  House  had  been  in  existence  but  fif- 
teen years  when  it  was  doomed  to  destruction.  D.  C.  Jones  was 
the  landlord  at  the  time  the  fire  occurred,  June  12,  1887.  The 
flames  were  first  seen  at  3:30  a.  m.  With  the  hotel  perished  a 
paint  shop  and  one  or  two  other  small  buildings  near.  The  com- 
mendable efforts  of  the  Fire  Company  and  other  helpers  from  the 
two  villages  saved  the  outbuildings  of  the  South  Boyalton  House, 
which  were  quite  close  to  the  burning  buildings.  The  fire  was 
thought  to  have  been  due  to  a  defective  chimney.  There  was  no 
insurance. 

Another  small  fire  on  July  5,  1893,  destroyed  the  house  and 
bam  known  as  the  Alden  Chamberlain  premises,  then  owned  by 
Mrs.  S.  C.  Rowell,  and  occupied  by  G.  G.  Cotton.  It  also  burned 
one  end  of  L.  C.  Dickerman 's  bam,  but  was  checked  without  fur- 
ther damage. 

Another  fire  of  considerable  proportions  started  on  the  morn- 
ing of  Get.  2,  1893,  about  2  o'clock,  in  Mrs.  Hannah  Wallace's 
barn.  While  the  South  Royalton  Fire  Company  with  their  little 
engine  were  fighting  the  flames  there,  the  bam  of  L.  C.  Dicker- 
man  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire,  and  as  there  was  more  danger 
of  an  extensive  confiagration  in  that  quarter,  the  company  left 
the  Wallace  premises  to  try  to  save  the  buildings  contiguous  to 
the  Dickerman  bam.  This  doomed  the  old  Wallace  house,  the 
oldest  in  the  village,  which  Lyman  Benson  purchased  about  1843. 


History  op  Eoyalton,  Vermont  575 

The  efforts  of  the  Fire  Company  and  of  the  citizens  to  save  the 
Diekerman  store,  the  store  and  house  of  Mrs.  Waterman  east  of 
it,  and  the  John  Mudgett  shop  still  farther  east,  were  without 
avail.  The  entire  loss  was  estimated  at  $20,000,  partially  covered 
by  insurance. 

So  many  fires  occurring  at  short  intervals  led  to  the  sus- 
picion that  some  or  all  of  them  were  incendiary,  and  a  searching 
investigation  was  held  to  determine  the  cause  of  this  last  fire,  but 
it  proved  fruitless. 

What  might  have  proved  a  serious  conflagration  was  discov- 
ered in  the  early  morning  hours  of  April  19,  1903.  The  jewelry 
store  of  L.  P.  Terry  was  seen  to  be  full  of  smoke,  and  a  search 
for  the  cause  of  the  same  revealed  the  presence  of  a  slow  match 
laid  beneath  the  floor  of  the  upper  hall  near  the  head  of  the  stair- 
way leading  to  the  tenement  in  the  Martin  block.  There  ap- 
peared to  have  been  a  small  hole  bored  through  the  floor  and 
through  the  ceiling  over  Mr.  Terry's  store.  It  was  so  evidently 
the  work  of  an  incendiary,  that  the  occupant  of  the  tenement  was 
summoned  before  the  proper  authorities  and  a  rigid  inquest  held, 
which  resulted  in  bringing  a  charge  against  the  man.  At  the 
June  term  of  court  he  was  tried,  convicted,  and  sentenced  to 
State's  prison.  There  were  many  then,  and  there  are  still  more 
now,  who  believed  that  the  man  was  wrongly  accused  and  con- 
victed. Efforts  were  made  to  secure  his  pardon,  which  were  suc- 
cessful after  the  sentence  had  been  partly  served. 

What  seemed  at  one  time  irretrievable  calamities  have,  in 
large  measure,  proved  blessings  in  disguise  to  South  Royalton. 
The  village  has  greatly  improved  in  appearance  since  the  new 
Block  was  built,  and  several  chaste,  neat  homes  have  been  estab- 
lished across  the  river,  in  what  is  rather  facetiously  called 
** Brooklyn."  The  beautiful  views  from  that  section,  and  the 
attractions  of  the  place  have  been  sung  by  Mrs.  Nettie  Waldo, 
who  is  frequently  called  upon  to  furnish  rhymes  for  special  occa- 
sions. This  poem  will  have  interest  for  many,  both  residents  and 
occasional  visitors,  and  is  subjoined  as  a  fitting  close  to  this 
sketch. 

SOUTH  ROYALTON,  VERMONT. 

By  Nettle  M.  Waldo,  1910. 

There  Is  a  village  In  the  vale  joined  by  the  Brooklyn  Bridge — 

I  fain  would  call  It  Flowery  Dale  viewed  from  the  Sweetfem  Ridge. 

'Tis  there  the  scenes  are  to  the  eye  a  source  of  pure  delight; 

Tis  there  the  sunshine  lingers  nigh  till  stars  shine  out  at  night; 

'Tis  there  the  skies  are  deep  and  blue  above  the  Elephant, 

And  moonbeams  linger  on  the  view  with  softest  shadows  blent; 

White  River  sings  a  charming  song  so  sweet  for  me  and  you; 

Unceasingly  its  notes  prolong  the  old  songs  ever  new. 

O  dreamers,  dream  not  of  the  sea,  come  where  White  River  sings 

To  Flowery  Dale,  and  listen  to  its  dear  old  murmurings. 


History  o?  Boyawon,  Vkbbont 


I 


Our  vleUora  (rom  out  the  north  or  south  or  east  or  west 
Eiclalm,  "ThiB  view  of  all  the  rest  la  fairest  and  the  best!" 
And  80  ihey  lineer  through  the  days  of  June  time  with  the  pledge. 
■Nest  year,  If  1  can  gel  away,  ill  go  to  Sweetfem  Ridge, 
And  see  the  river  gliding  on  with  mirrored  trees  and  bridge; 
I'll  go  again  to  dear  Lake  John  and  climb  the  old  Kent  Ledge: 
So  happy,  while  my  bosotu  tbrilEs  with  love  for  fields  and  trees. 
And  in  the  arbors  fringed  with  frills  of  leaves  Til  be  at  ease. 
Amid  the  hills  and  meadows  green  I'll  dream  not  of  the  seas; 
'TIs  better  far  to  dream  a  dream  of  birds  and  Dowers  and  trees." 

So  picturesque  between  the  hills  our  own  dear  Flowery  Dale. 

Where  church  and  school  their  missions  Oil  within  the  vUlage  vale, 

United  by  the  Brooklyn  Bridge  that  spans  White  River  well, 

To  llnh  the  roads  with  rural  homes  where  thriving  farmers  dwell. 

'TIs  there  the  wild  deer  freely  roam  and  leap  the  fence  and  hedge: 

'Tis  there  the  sweet  arbutus  blooms  above  the  Skinner  Ledge. 

And  Happy  Hollow's  winding  brook  sings  on  itnceastngly. 

The  pictures  there  would  All  a  book  with  fairest  scenery. 

0  dreamers,  dream  not  of  the  sea,  come  to  the  leafy  delis. 

While  gardens  bloom  with  fl^vr-de-lii  and  charming  daSodlls. 

0  there  are  many  lovely  spots  that  ne'er  can  be  forgot. 

In  pastures  and  in  meadow  lots  with  pretty  house  and  cot — 

The  Dairy  Hills,  the  busy  mills,  the  singing  brooks  and  rills. 

The  robins  and  the  whlppoorwills,  the  vale  with  music  fills: 

The  pasture  bars,  the  lowing  cows,  the  palls  of  foaming  milk, 

The  bees  and  hives,  the  rural  drives,  and  mosses  soft  as  silk; 

We  love  the  Bcenes  along  the  way  o'er  mountain  pass  and  ridge — 

The  bluebells  and  lilies  gay,  the  roses  by  the  bridge. 

0  dreamers,  dream  not  of  the  sea.  come  to  the  Shepard  farm, 

Where  Mill  Brook  sings  so  restfuiiy  the  old  song,  "Home,  Sweet  Home." 


ROY ALTON 


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CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 


The  Central  Vebmont  Railroad. 

There  is  not  space  to  give  even  a  brief  history  of  the  begin- 
ning of  railroads  in  the  United  States,  however  interesting  that 
might  be;  suffice  it  to  say  that  Pennsylvania  took  the  lead  in  rail- 
road legislation  in  1823,  and  Massachusetts  in  railroad  building 
in  1826. 

Twenty  years  after  the  first  railroad  was  built  in  the  United 
States,  the  Vermont  Central  Railroad  was  projected.  It  was, 
however,  discussed  ten  or  more  years  previous  to  1846.  The 
Watchman  and  other  Montpelier  papers  early  saw  the  value  to 
the  state  in  developing  its  resources,  which  a  railroad  would  af- 
ford. Gov.  Charles  Paine  used  his  influence,  and  the  legislature 
passed  an  act  in  1835,  which  granted  a  charter  to  the  line  through 
Vermont.  It  was  not  until  eight  years  later  that  much  was  ac- 
complished. Then  a  new  charter  was  obtained,  the  next  year  a 
convention  was  held  in  Montpelier,  at  which  time  James  R.  Lang- 
don,  Esq.,  advanced  $10,000  for  a  survey,  and  work  was  begun 
on  this  survey.  The  road  was  to  be  built  from  some  point  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  Lake  Champlain,  up  the  valley  of  the  Onion  river 
to  some  convenient  point  on  the  Connecticut  river.  The  points 
selected  were  Windsor  and  Burlington.  This  survey  was  to  be 
a  part  of  the  connecting  link  between  Boston  and  Lake  Ontario. 

Work  began  at  Windsor,  Dec.  15,  1845.  The  first  rail  was 
laid  at  White  River  Junction  early  in  1847.  Isaac  B.  Culver,  as 
assistant  division  engineer,  drove  the  first  spike.  Little  by  little 
the  work  progressed  through  Hartford,  and  through  the  town  of 
Sharon.  A  gang  of  Irishmen  were  at  work  in  the  summer  of 
1847  on  the  cuts  above  and  below  South  Royalton.  It  is  remem- 
bered that  they  had  their  weekly  Sunday  drunks,  when  timid 
women  stayed  in  their  houses. 

The  people  of  this  town  had  ample  time  to  think  about  the 
lengthening  railroad,  and  the  probable  effect  it  would  have  upon 
their  property,  before  it  reached  them.  Its  advent  was,  no  doubt, 
recognized  by  every  one  as  a  good  thing  for  the  state  and  the 
town  as  a  whole,  but,  as  in  casie  of  all  improvements,  it  was  not 
unmixed  with  evil.  Yes,  a  railroad  was  needed,  a  railroad  was 
wanted,  a  railroad  was  welcomed,  but  each  land  owner  along  its 
line  hoped  he  would  escape  serious  injury  in  having  his  land  cut 

37 


678  HisTOBT  or  Botaijton,  Ysbkont 

up,  or  his  bxiildiagB  menaeed.  As  fhe  road  was  finally  laid  oat* 
it  necessitated  the  moving  of  some  bnildingB,  aiui  the  min  of  the 
fine  lawns  in  Boyalton  village,  the  pride  of  their  owners,  and  the 
chief  beauty  of  the  hamlet  It  is  needless  to  ssy  that  the  route 
was  bitterly  opposed  by  many  of  the  peopU  of  Boyalton  village, 
but  all  to  no  purpose.  Th^  had  hoped  it  would  run  nearer  the 
river,  along  the  ^rder  of  the  village,  instead  of  cutting  thtoogh 
the  heart  of  the  settlement 

In  the  general  oflSce  of  the  C.  Y.  R  R  in  St  Albans  ean  be 
seen  a  chart  showing  the  diflbrent  surveys  made  throufl^  Boj- 
alton  in  March,  1846.  By  one  snrvqr,  the  road  would  not  eroas 
the  river  near  the  site  of  the  old  Stevens  bridge,  as  it  does  todaj, 
but  run  along  the  south  bank  of  the  river,  taking  a  short  cut  from 
a  point  opposite  the  house  of  Edward  Bix  to  a  point  above  the 
John  Mardiall  place.  The  second  survey  ran  very  much  as  the 
road  does  today,  except  it  crossed  Ihe  river  nearly  opposite  Ed- 
ward Bix's,  and  struck  the  first  survey  a  little  beyond  the  crossing 
point.  The  final  survey  laid  the  road  along  the  north  bank  cf 
the  river  after  crossing  it  below  Boyalton  village.  By  the  first 
survey  the  village  of  Boyalton  would  have  remained  intact,  and 
the  distance  would  not  have  been  much  greater,  not  enough  to 
make  it  an  object  to  cut  through  the  best  part  of  the  small  settle- 
ment at  the  center  of  the  town.  Doubtless  there  were  other  good 
reasons  which  controlled  the  decision  of  the  oflScers  of  the  rail- 
road corporation. 

Beginning  with  Sharon  line  the  persons  through  whose  prop- 
erty the  road  was  laid  were,  Beuben  Hartshorn,  Prosper  B.  Slack, 
Ellas  Stevens,  Cyrus  HartsJiom,  Elisha  PKnt,  J.  Eilbum,  Oliver 
Curtis,  Joseph  Lee,  Azuba  Sessions,  Archibald  Kent,  C3rrus  Saf- 
ford,  Lyman  Benson,  Darius  Dewey,  Milo  Dewey,  Salmon  Joiner, 
J.  S.  Marcy,  J.  A.  Denison,  Jr.,  G.  W.  Bradstreet,  E.  P.  Nevens, 
G.  Francis,  B.  Sprague,  H.  H.  Chandler,  J.  S.  Williams,  Hart- 
well's  Estate,  J.  A.  Denison,  Parkhurst  Barrett  and  H.  J.  Adams, 
Oramel  Sawyer,  Calvin  Skinner,  Hiram  Parkhurst,  George  and 
William  Bix,  P.  Biehardson,  William  Smith,  Solomon  Downer, 
Simon  and  Goit  Parkhurst,  Josiah  B.  Powers,  John  Marshall, 
Jacob  A.  Davis,  Lovell  Hibbard,  C.  W.  and  John  Bliss,  Jonathan 
Dyer,  Minot  Wheeler. 

The  railroad  awarded  damages  to  these  several  persons,  and 
the  majority  of  them  accepted  the  award,  but  there  were  a  few 
cases  of  appeal,  which  resulted  mostly  in  an  increase.  The  esti- 
mated amount  paid  for  the  land  taken  by  the  railroad  is  not  far 
from  $15,000;  the  largest  sum  received  by  any  one  was  $2,000, 
paid  to  E.  P.  Nevens.  In  1851  or  1852  the  V.  C.  B.  B.  deeded 
Charles  Paine  and  Joseph  Clark  all  land  qot  needed  in  Windsor, 
Hartland,  and  Boyalton.    These  two  persons  with  John  Smith, 


■.»^ 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  579 

John  H.  Peck  and  Lawrence  Brainard  had  become  sureties  for 
the  road.  The  Royalton  shareholders,  like  others,  lost  most,  if 
not  all,  that  they  invested  in  the  road. 

The  building  of  the  road  brought  in  a  considerable  number 
of  foreign  laborers.  These  lived  mostly  by  themselves  in  unoc- 
cupied small  houses  along  the  line,  and  conditions  were  not  favor- 
able for  health.  An  epidemic  broke  out  among  them  and  several 
deaths  occurred,  mention  of  which  has  been  made  in  the  chapter 
on  ** Cemeteries.'*  This  epidemic  was  not  the  only  evil  accom- 
panying the  construction  of  the  road.  There  was  a  constant  fight 
against  the  sale  and  use  of  intoxicants.  The  town  could  scarcely 
be  called  a  prohibition  town  before,  but  the  drink  habit  was  now 
deplorable. 

It  was  two  years  after  the  road  was  decided  upon,  before  it 
was  ready  for  travel.  In  the  fourth  annual  report  of  the  direc- 
tors of  the  V.  C.  R.  R.,  issued  in  1849,  they  state  that  the  road 
was  opened  for  travel  to  passengers  from  White  River  Junction 
to  Bethel,  June  26,  1848,  and  for  freight  on  the  10th  of  July  fol- 
lowing. On  Sep.  17th  the  cars  ran  to  the  summit  of  Roxbury, 
on  October  10th  to  Northfield,  and  from  White  River  Junction  to 
Windsor  for  the  first  time,  Feb.  13,  1849.  On  June  20,  1849,  the 
road  was  open  for  passengers  to  Montpelier.  Until  July,  1849, 
they  had  but  five  locomotive  steam  engines  of  a  large  class.  Three 
regular  trains  had  been  running  most  of  the  time,  two  of  them 
passenger  trains.  Passenger  and  freight  buildings  had  been 
erected  at  all  the  stations  between  Windsor  and  Montpelier,  ex- 
cepting at  N.  Hartland,  West  Hartford,  Sharon,  and  Braintree. 
The  road  owned  seven  ( ! !)  eight-wheeled  passenger  cars,  but  had 
twenty-five  more  in  process  of  construction.  The  whole  number 
of  passengers  carried  during  the  year  was  47,095,  and  the  whole 
number  of  tons  of  freight  was  25,074.  The  net  earnings  of  the 
road  were  $66,126.41.  They  began  July  1,  1849,  to  carry  mail. 
The  entire  cost  of  the  road  of  116  and  1/10  miles  was  $4,155,- 
813.35,  and  the  Company  was  in  debt  $276,427.47.  The  condi- 
tion of  the  road  at  that  time  is  of  interest  in  comparison  with  the 
enormous  business  done  by  it  today. 

Cyrus  Hartshorn  had  an  interest  in  the  road.  He  had  as  a 
neighbor  Gen.  Elias  Stevens,  then  an  old  man,  ninety-four  years 
old.  Mr.  Hartshorn  arranged  with  the  road  officials  to  give  Gen. 
Stevens  a  free  ride  when  they  should  first  run  through  the  town. 
As  he  was  too  feeble  to  go  to  the  station,  it  was  planned  that  the 
train  should  stop  at  the  lower  end  of  the  cut  near  the  Stevens 
residence,  and  take  on  the  General,  at  least,  they  so  understood  it. 
Gen.  Stevens  had  been  through  too  many  dangers  to  take  any 
chances  when  one  foot  was  in  the  grave,  and  he  declined  the 
offered  courtesy.    Mr.  Hartshorn  did  not  wish  to  seem  unappre- 


580  History  of  Botalton,  Vermont 

ciative,  and  so  he  invited  others  to  a  free  ride,  and  at  train  time 
nearly  the  whole  neighborhood  had  gathered  at  the  npper  end  of 
the  cut,  and  waited  for  the  train.  Not  seeing  any  one  at  the  lower 
end  of  the  cut,  the  eondnetor  went  whirling  by  with  a  full  head 
of  steam,  and  the  crowd  hungry  for  a  ride  were  left  to  walk  to 
the  station,  or  return  to  their  homes  as  they  chose.  Some  re- 
member that  the  school  children  were  at  one  time  given  a  free 
ride,  which  must  have  been  a  red-letter  day  in  their  lives,  though 
they  may  have  been  a  bit  terrified  at  the  snorting  of  the  iron 
horse.  The  steady,  as  well  as  the  high-spirited  horses  of  the 
farmers  were  not  prepared  to  welcome  such  a  rival,  and  showed 
their  displeasure  in  ways  not  conducive  to  the  safety  of  their 
drivers.  It  is  told  of  one  man  in  Royalton  village  that  his  horse 
turned  squarely  around  with  him,  whereupon  an  odd  character 
standing  near  drawled  out,  ** Never  mind!  there'll  be  another 
train  along  in  a  minute,  that'll  turn  you  around  the  other  way." 

Mr.  Daniel  Tarbell  for  a  time  was  in  the  good  graces  of  the 
railroad  officials.  The  depot  at  first  in  South  Royalton  was  in 
his  store  at  the  end  facing  the  tracks,  where  wide  platforms  were 
built.  When  the  bridge  was  a  sure  thing,  the  railroad  built  a 
freight  and  a  passenger  depot  at  South  Royalton.  Royalton  vil- 
lage was  not  so  favored,  neither  was  North  Royalton,  which  were 
both  anxious  for  depots.  The  depots  at  both  places  were  built 
very  largely  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  William  Skinner.  The 
one  at  North  Royalton  was  first  built.  The  '  *  Upper  Village, ' '  or 
Foxville,  had  at  this  time  a  hotel,  stores,  and  stage  patronage. 
James  M.  Currier  was  in  the  hotel.  He  bound  himself  to  pay  one- 
fourth  of  the  expense  of  **  building  A  Passenger  Depot  in  this 
Place  after  using  the  amount  paid  by  the  railroad  company  and 
what  is  or  may  be  subscribed  for  the  same  purpose."  Presum- 
ably there  were  three  others  who  assumed  like  obligations.  It 
was  specified  that  Amplius  French  was  to  be  the  superintendent. 
Mr.  Currier's  paper  was  dated  Jan.  29,  1848.  Lewis  Fish  was 
the  first  agent  at  North  Royalton,  presumably  the  only  one.  The 
station  was  at  the  crossing  between  the  railroad  and  the  river, 
and  the  freight  house  was  made  from  the  old  tannery  west  of  it. 
Mr.  French  lost  heavily  in  the  erection  of  the  depot,  as  some  failed 
tc  pay  their  subscriptions. 

Mr.  French  and  William  Patterson  entered  into  a  contract 
with  the  railroad  company  to  erect  a  depot  at  North  Royalton, 
then  called  the  *  *  Upper  Village. ' '  The  building  was  to  be  20  by 
50  feet,  with  a  platform  five  feet  wide  on  one  side  and  two  ends, 
and  steps  the  whole  length  of  the  platform.  A.  B.  Young  was 
the  architect  making  the  plans  for  the  railroad.  The  building 
was  to  have  fourteen  window^s  and  three  outside  doors,  and  to  be 
completed  by  Sep.  15,  1848.    Messrs.  French  and  Patterson  were 


■n 


History  op  Royalton,  Vermont  581 

to  receive  $1,100,  and  to  take  in  part  payment  the  subscription 
raised  at  North  Boyalton.  The  depot  was  accepted  Nov.  27, 1848. 
It  is  not  known  how  long  this  depot  was  used  by  the  railroad.  On 
Sep.  11, 1849,  Mr.  French  made  over  his  claim  in  the  building  to 
William  Skinner,  who  removed  the  building,  after  it  ceased  to  be 
used  as  a  depot,  to  Boyalton  village  and  converted  it  into  the 
dwelling  house  now  owned  by  Seymour  Culver  on  Bridge  street. 

In  order  to  secure  a  depot  at  Boyalton  village  it  was  neces- 
sary for  the  citizens  to  raise  a  considerable  sum.  The  subscrip- 
tion paper  still  exists,  and  shows  the  following  names :  William 
Skinner,  $300;  A.  W.  Titus,  $250;  George  W.  Bradstreet,  $150; 
E.  P.  Nevens,  $150 ;  Dudley  and  Joseph  A.  Denison,  $100 ;  Joseph 
A.  Denison,  Jr.,  $100;  D.  L.  Lyman,  $100;  Forest  Adams,  $75; 
Daniel  Bix  and  Parkhurst  Barrett,  each  $50 ;  James  M.  Culver, 
John  Sprague,  Kinney  &  Skinner,  John  S.  Marcy,  each  $25 ;  Sid  • 
ney  S.  Smith,  $20;  Asahel  Clark,  $15,  the  whole  amounting  to 
$1,460  of  paid  subscriptions. 

In  April,  1848,  William  Skinner  entered  into  an  agreement 
with  the  railroad  corporation,  promising  to  deed  them  the  land 
needed  for  depots  on  either  side  of  the  highway  **  between  Park- 
hurst Barrett's  land  and  land  of  D.  L.  Lyman,  known  as  the 
Sprague  place."  The  exact  date  of  the  erection  of  the  depot  has 
not  been  found,  but  it  was  probably  ready  for  use  as  soon  as  1849, 
when  Mr.  Skinner  bought  the  claim  of  Mr.  French  in  the  build- 
ing at  North  Boyalton.  William  Henry  of  Bochester  built  the 
depot  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Skinner.  It  stood  opposite  the 
present  residence  of  Mr.  George  Laird. 

When  the  disastrous  fire  of  1886  occurred  in  South  Boyalton, 
the  freight  depot  was  burned.  Gov.  Smith,  then  president  of  the 
railroad,  was  interested  in  the  efforts  of  the  business  men  to 
improve  the  appearance  of  the  village  by  erecting  a  block  on  one 
side  of  the  main  street,  and  giving  up  the  lots  on  the  other  next 
to  the  common.  If  they  would  do  this,  he  promised  to  erect  a 
new  depot  building  that  should  be  a  credit  both  to  the  railroad 
and  the  village.  This  was  done,  and  the  old  passenger  depot  was 
moved  to  its  present  place  as  a  freight  building,  and  the  tracks 
were  set  back  some  distance,  giving  more  space  for  the  streets. 
South  Boyalton  has  now  one  of  the  best  station  buildings  on  the 
line  for  the  accommodation  of  passengers.  The  depot  at  Boy- 
alton village  was  allowed  to  run  down  in  recent  years,  but  long- 
desired  improvements  have  been  made  within  the  past  two  years. 

The  first  station  agent  at  South  Boyalton  was  Horatio  K. 
Blake,  who  was  also  postmaster,  and  had  the  post-ofBce  in  the 
depot.  He  held  the  position  until  about  1862,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Horace  E.  Stoughton,  who  was  transeferred  to  Boyalton  vil- 
lage, and  J.  M.  Fraser  appointed  agent  at  S.  Boyalton.    In  1876 


582  History  of  Botalton,  VEaucoNT 

Robert  Lyman  was  the  agent,  P.  M.  Randall  in  1877,  J.  H.  Haynes 
ill  1882,  M.  H.  Hazen,  1886-99,  W.  H.  H.  Lnckett,  1899-1903, 
A.  W.  Bohonnon,  1904-08,  J.  J.  Blanch,  1908  to  present  time. 

The  first  agent  at  Royalton  village  was  Moses  C.  Gage.  Hia 
successors  have  been  Dr.  D.  L.  Lyman,  Robert  Lyman,  Horace  E. 
Stoughton,  W.  W.  Culver,  1871-77,  P.  M.  Randall,  1877-78,  M.  H. 
Hazen,  1878-86,  Silas  Williams,  1886-90  (t),  J.  W.  Waldo,  1890, 
C.  T.  Southgate,  1891-1903,  Ernest  L.  Oimette,  1903-04,  W.  W. 
Tinkham,  part  of  1904,  L.  A.  Willard,  1904-05,  P.  X.  Cedelotte, 
1905-07,  S.  D.  Nichols,  1907,  part  of  the  year,  E.  N.  Smith,  1907- 
11.  Mr.  Smith  was  obliged  to  give  up  the  station  on  account  of 
ill  health,  and  died  in  a  short  time.  His  place  was  filled  by  Ben 
Joy  for  a  few  weeks,  when  W.  Heatherington  was  transferred 
from  the  Jonesville  station  to  Royalton. 

The  train  service  in  the  early  history  of  the  railroad  was  not 
always  to  be  commended.  Heavy  storms  even  now,  with  all  mod- 
em appliances  for  clearing  the  tracks  and  dispatching  trains  are 
by  no  means  so  regular  as  to  delight  the  busy  man  who  has  no  idle 
minute  to  spare.  In  those  days  trains  were  much  more  uncer- 
tain. It  is  related  of  Judge  Marcy,  that  he  had  at  one  time  an 
important  case  to  try  at  Woodstock.  It  had  snowed  all  day  Sun- 
day and  the  wind  was  busy  in  piling  it  up  in  drifts  on  Monday, 
when  the  Judge  took  his  way  to  the  station  for  the  south  bound 
train,  due,  as  now,  about  11  o'clock.  There  was  no  means  ot 
knowing  whether  the  train  was  snowbound  on  Roxbury  hills,  or 
would  steam  in  as  usual  on  such  occasions  an  hour  late.  He 
waited  there  all  day  and  through  the  night.  Then  he  bethought 
him  of  breakfast,  and  as  he  had  waited  so  long,  he  thought  he 
would  risk  going  home.  When  about  half  way  there  he  heard  the 
whistle,  and  rushed  panting  back  in  season  to  see  the  last  car 
rounding  the  curve  out  of  sight.  He  took  all  the  time  he  needed 
for  breakfast,  and  the  next  day  tried  again,  with  similar  experi- 
ence, except  that  he  reached  home  before  the  train  passed.  At 
the  third  trial  he  vowed  he  would  not  leave  the  station  again, 
except  by  train.  The  stage  had  now  got  through  and  other  pas- 
sengers were  waiting.  A  mischievous  boy  at  the  further  end  of 
the  platform  set  up  a  fine  imitation  of  the  shrill  car  whistle,  and 
all  rushed  out  in  the  shivering  cold  to  listen  for  the  oncoming 
train.  When  the  Judge  saw  the  boy's  trick,  his  adjectives  were 
not  chosen  with  the  fine  discrimination  that  characterized  his 
pleas  before  a  jury.  However,  the  train  soon  came  in,  and  he 
reached  the  court  room  in  Woodstock  two  days  late,  but  found 
witnesses,  as  well  as  judge,  had  been  snowbound.  The  case  was 
tried  and  his  able  pleading  won  the  case. 

Of  course,  soon  after  the  railroad  began  running  regular 
trains,  the  day  of  stage  coaches  declined,  and  less  freight  teams 


History  of  Royalton,  Vermont  588 

and  travellers  in  private  conveyances  were  seen  on  the  turnpikes. 
One  tradition  of  the  early  days  of  travel  was  well  told  by  Miss 
Gertrude  Denison  in  a  paper  prepared  at  one  time  for  the  Wom- 
an *s  Club.     It  is  given  in  her  own  words : 

"Tradition  tells  us  of  a  man,  who  came  to  Royalton  one  day  in 
early  spring,  dragging  along  In  a  sleigh  on  his  way  to  Randolph;  the 
road  was  unknown  to  him,  and  he  must  needs  ask  his  way.  His  first 
inquiry  was  at  the  old  Martin  Skinner  farm,  of  Porter  Lyon,  a  half- 
witted boy  to  whom  his  uncle  Calvin  stood  for  all  knowledge.  His 
reply  was,  *Ask  uncle  Calvin.  He'll  tell  ye.*  The  man  drove  on,  and 
the  Fates  ordained  that,  just  after  he  entered  the  village,  he  should 
again  Interrogate  a  half-witted  boy,  Phy  Rix,  who  replied  as  he  ran 
off,  'You'll  hurt  me,  you'll  hurt  me!'  Next  the  traveller  overtook  a 
woman,  Hitty  Gaines,  who  was  deaf.  Her  answer,  *I  buy  my  snuff  ter 
Lyman's,'  showed  the  popular  store  of  the  town.  Somewhat  amazed 
he  drove  on.  As  he  reached  the  brick  house  at  the  end  of  the  village, 
he  saw  a  man  in  the  dooryard  and  his  hopes  rose;  but  alas!  Mr.  Bliss 
Thatcher,  though  sound  mentally,  stammered  most  woefully,  and  being 
asked  if  this  were  the  road  to  Randolph,  went  through  various  facial 
contortions  only  to  end  with  this  remark,  'Golong — ye'll  git  thar  'fore 
I  kin  tell  ye.' 

Next  he  met  John  Safford  walking,  but  the  mild  question  started 
him  into  a  brisk  run  shouting,  'Catch  me  if  ye  can!'  By  this  time  the 
traveller  had  reached  the  Rix  farm,  and  was  passing  the  old  house 
which  stood  in  the  field  between  the  graveyard  and  the  present  bam. 
Standing  in  the  doorway  was  Mrs.  Conkey  watching  for  her  lazy  hus- 
band's homecoming,  and  to  the  oft  repeated  question,  'Is  this  the  road 
to  Randolph?'  came  the  sharp  reply,  'He's  down  to  the  tavern,  where 
he  allers  is.'  The  wayfarer's  heart  sank  as  he  dragged  on,  one  runner 
on  snow  and  the  other  on  bare  ground,  but  overtaking  Parker  Chaffee 
walking  (Parker  was  a  very  deaf  man)  he  ventured  to  ask  once  more, 
'Is  this  the  road  to  Randolph?'  'Don't  care  if  I  do,'  was  Parker's 
response,  as  he  jumped  into  the  sleigh.  One  cannot  wonder  that  the 
question  had  changed  by  the  time  the  man  had  reached  Bethel,  and 
be  was  asking,  'What's  the  matter  with  the  town  back  there?  Be  they 
an  lunatics?'" 

CASUALTIES    AND    ACCIDENTS. 

A  number  of  accidents  and  deaths  have  occurred  on  the  rail- 
road since  it  first  ran  through  the  town.  A  Mr.  Cummings  was 
walking  at  one  time  through  the  railroad  yard  at  S.  Royalton, 
when  trains  were  moving  both  ways.  In  avoiding  one  train  he 
stepped  in  front  of  another,  and  was  instantly  killed.  Daniel 
W.  Noyes,  a  native  of  Tunbridge,  was  walking  on  the  track  near 
the  residence  of  Irving  Barrows  on  May  14,  1887.  He  was  sub- 
ject to  bad  attacks,  and  seems  to  have  had  one  at  this  time.  A 
train  came  up  behind  him  unnoticed,  throwing  him  up  the  bank, 
and  mutilating  him  so  badly  that  he  died. 

David  Crow,  a  section  master,  one  Sunday  hitched  his  hand- 
car to  a  freight  train,  in  order  to  get  a  load  of  ties.  A  wheel  to 
his  car  broke,  and  the  train  ran  over  him,  killing  him  instantly. 


S84  History  ov  Botai^ik,  Yebhont 

Vx.  Hawei  ww  killed  by  stepping  in  front  of  a  part  of  a  traiq  ] 
vhiell  bad  bnfen  Id  two.  About  1886  a  brakeman.  who  lived  ia  I 
Bozbniy,  wm  killed  by  falling  from  the  train  near  the  ledge  by  I 
the  railioad  bridge. 

A  man  who  had  been  working  in  a  fork  factory  at  Brookfield, 
and  vu  on  bis  way  to  a  factory  in  Hartford,  was  killed  in  S. 
Bc^alton,  irhen  stealing  a  ride.     The  two  platforms  of  the  steps 
tor  brakemen  c&me  together,  crushing  out  his  life.     On  July  16, 
1878,  Carieton  Smith,  son  of  Stillman  Smith  of  Royalton  village, 
while  trying  to  board  a  train  in  motion,  was  drawn  under  the 
can,  and  hia  leg  was  so  badly  mangled  that  he  died  the  same  day.   . 
On  Mar.  5, 1879.  the  body  of  HirflfeiJMBgraa  found  near  the  J 
track  in  Boyaltbn  village,  in  a  mliH^Bj^^HttUi.     It  was  never  ] 
known  whether  deatb  was  aceidrann^RiffionaL 

A  very  bad  collisioa  oocnrred  Jait  18, 1907,  when  the  2:80 
pasaenger  north  collided  with  a  throng  freight  gcnng  wooOl, 
They  met  south  of  the  cot  near  the  railroad  bridge.  The  postal 
olerk  sod  an  engineer  were  badly  injored,  bnt  no  <me  waa  killed. 
An  inqoiry  into  the  caoae  of  ^  aooidcoit  did  not  "ptavt  very 
froitfol. 

A  moat  heart-rending  accident  occnrred  <m  Bee.  1^  1909, 
when  Emeet  John,  Jr.,  tlw  six-year-old  son  of  E.  J.  Hewitt,  w«i 
strnck  by  a  train  and  hurled  down  the  embankment  near  the 
crossing  fay  Hewitt's  elevator.  He  waa  on  his  way  to  school,  and 
in  fear  of  being  late,  did  not  notice  that  trains  were  running  in 
both  directions,  and  when  one  had  passed  by  he  stepped  on 
to  the  track,  and  waa  caught  by  the  train  going  in  the  opposite 
direction.  He  lived  a  few  hours.  The  Railroad  Commission 
decided  that  the  C.  V.  B.  B.  Company  was  not  responsible.  Soit 
was  brought,  bnt  the  case  was  settled  without  a  trial 


ViWOTSHHIHHBHlH^HMHH 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 


Fraternal  Organizations, 
rising  sun  lodge,  no.  7,  p.  and  a.  m. 

The  sketch  of  this  lodge  is  based  in  large  measure  upon  an 
historical  address  prepared  by  E.  J.  Pish,  M.  D.,  and  delivered 
at  the  Centennial  of  Rising  Sun  Lodge  in  South  Royalton,  Oc- 
tober 8, 1907.  Dr.  Pish  was  aided  in  the  preparation  of  this  his- 
tory of  the  lodge  by  its  "faithful  and  efficient  secretary,  Mark 
J.  Sargenf 

Rising  Sun  Lodge  was  chartered  October  8,  1807,  by  the 
Most  Worshipful  Grand  Lodge  of  Vermont,  then  convened  at 
Windsor.  The  Grand  Lodge  itself  was  then  young  in  years, 
having  been  formed  by  representatives  of  five  lodges,  who  met 
and  organized  at  Manchester  in  1794.  John  Chipman  was  its 
Grand  Master.  Those  named  as  petitioners  for  a  lodge  in  Roy- 
alton were  Bibye  Cotton,  Willard  Pierce,  Stephen  Cleveland, 
Phineas  Parkhurst,  Thomas  Bingham,  Benjamin  Day,  Jr.,  and 
George  Daney  (Dana).  They  were  empowered  to  receive  and 
enter  apprentices,  pass  fellow  crafts,  and  raise  to  the  sublime 
degree  of  Master  Masons,  to  make  choice  of  Masters,  Wardens, 
and  other  office  bearers,  to  receive  and  collect  funds  **for  the 
relief  of  poor  and  decayed  Brethren,  their  Widows  and  Orphan 
children.*'  John  Woodward  was  appointed  first  Master,  Ste- 
phen Cleveland  first  Senior,  and  Phineas  Parkhurst  first  Junior 
Warden.  The  lodge  was  to  be  known  as  No.  28,  which  was 
changed  January  10,  1849,  to  No.  7. 

The  records  from  1807  to  1839  inclusive  exist  in  part  for 
each  year,  but  nothing  has  been  found  from  1840  to  1847.  Prom 
1848  to  1851  they  are  fragmentary,  but  from  1852  to  the  pres- 
ent time  they  are  complete.  The  records  in  the  early  days  were 
made  on  loose  sheets  of  paper  and  dropped  into  a  wooden  box, 
where  they  were  recently  found.  The  missing  records  are  said 
to  have  been  borrowed  about  1870  by  a  visiting  Mason,  who  never 
returned  them. 

The  communications  of  the  lodge  were  held  in  Royalton  vil- 
lage or  its  vicinity  until  the  building  up  of  South  Royalton. 
Daniel  Tarbell,  Jr.,  erected  the  hotel  in  the  new  viUi^  in  1850, 
and  on  December  11th  of  that  year  he  rented  the  hall  in  ''the 


686  Hosnon  or  BoTiLnroN,  Yboiomt 

attic"  of  the  hotel,  and  two  adjoiniiig  xooma  to  John  S.  Anatin, 
Moses  Hoyt,  Edwin  Pieree,  Goit  ParUrant,  and  Andrew  Baakoa 
for  the  use  of  Rising  Sim  Lodge  of  Free  Masona  as  kmg  aa  thaj 
chose  to  occupy  them  at  $10  a  quarter.  The  lodge  returned  to 
Boyalton  village  in  1857,  where  it  remained  until  1887,  when  it 
returned  to  its  present  quarters  in  South  Bc^alton. 

While  in  Boyalton  it  held  meetings  in  Asahel  Chen^'a  hall, 
Stevens'  hall,  probably  Elkanah  Stevens,  Fox's  hall,  at  North 
Boyalton  probably,  and  Stafford  Smith's  halL  Mr.  Sndth  waa 
in  the  hotel  in  the  village. 

By  an  order  of  the  Orand  Lodge  in  1807  the  ezpulaion  of 
any  member  was  to  be  printed  in  some  newspaper  in  the  state, 
with  a  request  to  the  printers  of  the  United  States  to  insert  the 
same  in  tiieir  respective  papers.  Bising  Sun  Lodge  preferred 
a  petition  to  the  Grand  Lodge  for  a  repeal  of  this  ordinance. 
However,  it  conformed  to  the  order  on  Dec.  14,  1831,  when  a 
member  was  expelled,  and  his  expulsion  was  printed  in  the  Wood- 
stock Observer.  Puxiishments  seem  to  have  been  meted  out  with- 
out any  fair  trial. 

About  the  average  expense  and  quality  of  refreshments 

served  at  their  communications  are  shown  by  the  following  bill 

for  April  19,  1826:  . 

"Tlie  Rison  Son  Lodge  Bot  of  Moses  Cutter 

1  qt  Gin,  $.88;  1  qt  W.  I.  Rum,  $.88;  1  qt  Brandy,  $.88;  8%  nw.  Gheas, 
$.38;  4  doz.  Crackers,  $.48."  Mr.  Cutter  acknowledged  pairment  at  the 
hand  of  B.  Cozzens. 

The  agitation  which  had  begun  over  the  liquor  question  had 
its  effect  upon  the  Grand  Lodge.  It  voted  Oct.  11,  1826,  that 
no  ardent  spirits  or  public  dinner  should  be  thereafter  furnished 
the  lodge,  and  recommended  to  the  subordinate  lodges  to  dis- 
pense with  the  use  of  ardent  spirits  on  all  public  occasions.  Ris- 
ing Sun  Lodge  had  its  discussions  on  the  subject,  as  is  shown 
by  a  recorded  vote  of  Jan.  6,  1830,  to  reject  the  J.  Warren  reso- 
lution relating  to  ardent  spirits,  which  had  been  proposed  at  the 
last  communication.  Whether  this  resolution  was  for  or  against 
the  use  of  spirituous  liquors  is  not  known,  but  the  item  proves 
that  the  subject  was  receiving  attention  in  the  lodge. 

The  original  by-laws  were  adopted  Dec.  7,  1807.  Some  pro- 
visions at  variance  with  present  customs  are  noted.  One  arti- 
cle provided  that,  in  the  absence  of  the  Master  the  ''seignor'* 
ofScer  present  should  have  the  right  to  preside,  and  no  limit  as 
to  his  necessary  rank  was  provided.  The  same  regard  for  the 
proprieties  of  place  and  station,  as  was  noted  in  regard  to  town 
meetings,  obtained  in  the  lodge.  One  by-law  read,  ''When  the 
master  shall  give  notice  to  attend  to  business,  all  debate  shall 
cease  and  entire  silence  shall  ensue." 


BiSTQBY  OP  BOTALTON,  VeOKMONT  687 

No  history  of  a  Masonic  lodge  can  be  complete  without  a 
reference  to  the  anti-masonic  movement,  which  swept  the  coun- 
try, especially  New  England,  at  the  time  of  the  Morgan  episode. 
To  understand  the  cause  of  this,  it  is  necessary  to  give  a  few 
facts  regarding  that  event.  Those  which  follow  were  accepted 
by  Henry  Swan  Dana,  the  Historian  of  Woodstock. 

In  the  year  1826,  William  Morgan  was  residing  in  Batavia, 
Genesee  County,  N.  Y.  In  the  summer  of  that  year  it  became 
known  that  he  proposed  to  publish  a  work  which  would  reveal 
the  secret  signs,  obligations,  and  ceremonies  of  Freemasonry. 
When  it  was  found  that  he  could  not  be  persuaded  to  desist,  he 
was  arrested  September  11,  1826,  on  some  civil  process,  and  con- 
veyed to  Canandaigua,  forty-eight  miles  distant,  there  examined 
before  the  justice  who  issued  the  warrant,  and  discharged.  He 
was  immediately  re-arrested  for  a  debt  of  two  dollars,  judgment 
entered  against  him,  execution  followed  at  once,  and  he  was 
committed  to  jail  the  evening  of  the  same  day.  The  next  even- 
ing he  was  taken  from  the  jail,  placed  in  a  carriage  and  taken  to 
Lewiston  on  the  Niagara  river.  Prom  Lewiston  he  was  taken 
to  the  ferry  at  Youngstown,  where  those  in  charge  of  him  took 
him  by  ferry  boat  into  Canada.  The  arrangements  for  his  re- 
ception in  Canada  were  not  completed,  and  they  returned,  and 
placed  Morgan  in  the  magazine  in  Port  Niagara.  Here  he  re- 
mained several  days,  when  one  morning,  supposed  to  be  Septem- 
ber 19th,  he  was  missing.  He  remained  missing,  though  many 
rose  up  and  said,  **Lo,  here!'*  and  **Lo,  there!" 

This  led  to  the  anti-masonic  movement,  which  had  its  origin 
in  Batavia.  Its  main  strength  was  in  the  seeeders  from  its  own 
ranks.  Papers,  pamphlets,  public  meetings  were  not  sufficient 
to  kill  Masonry,  which  was  the  object  of  the  agitation.  Its  sup- 
porters determined  to  make  a  political  matter  of  it.  It  was  at 
the  polls  that  the  blow  was  to  be  dealt.  An  Anti-Masonic  party 
sprang  up.  It  grew  by  what  it  fed  on,  and  it  fed  on  the  con- 
tinued revelations  of  seeeders. 

It  was  not  strong  enough  in  Vermont  to  put  a  State  ticket 
in  the  field  until  1829,  and  even  then  it  had  a  candidate  for  Gov- 
ernor, Heman  Allen,  who  had  refused  to  identify  himself  with 
the  party.  At  this  election  they  polled  7,346  votes,  a  little  more 
than  half  the  number  received  by  the  successful  candidate.  The 
next  year  the  party  was  strong  enough  to  prevent  an  election  by 
the  freemen,  and  it  was  thrown  into  the  Assembly  in  Joint  Ses- 
sion with  the  Governor  and  Council.  Thirty-two  ballots  were 
cast  before  the  National  Republican  party  succeeded  in  electing 
Governor  Crafts  and  Lieut.  Governor  Richards.  The  strength 
oi  the  two  parties  was  measured  again  the  following  year,  when 
the  Anti-Masonic  party  polled  the  larger  number  of  votes,  15,258, 


588  Hosnon  or  BmAUsm,  Ywnufm 

but  not  a  majority.  It  eleeted  the  CooiMsilon,  Init  not  the  Treae- 
turer.  After  mne  ballots  in  Joint  acwian,  William  A.  Pdmer, 
the  Anti-Masonic  eandidate,  was  deelared  eleeted  Govenur.  The 
situation  was  the  same  in  1832»  only  it  required  for^-three  bal- 
lots before  the  new  par^  won.  In  1883  this  party  soeoeeded  at 
the  polls  in  the  re-election  of  their  candidate  for  Governor,  Mr. 
Palmer.  The  next  year  thare  was  again  no  eketion  by  the  free- 
men, but  Governor  Palmer  was  re-eleeted  on  the  first  ballot  A 
reaction  was  now  setting  in.  Opposition  arose  to  the  Qovemor, 
and  he  failed  of  re-election,  thone^  the  Lient  Governor  on  the 
same  ticket  was  eleeted.  The  Joint  Assembly  balloted  nnane- 
cessfnlly  from  October  9  to  November  2,  and  then  dissolved,  and 
the  Lieut  Governor  became  acting  Governor.  The  Anti-lbMnue 
party  disappeared  and  the  Whigs  came  to  the  front  in  1836. 

This  brief  review  of  political  conditions  in  the  State  may 
help  to  understsnd  the  proceedings  in  Bising  Sun  Lodge  during 
those  years.  In  the  interest  of  peace  some  lodges  had  voluntarily 
surrendered  their  charters.  On  October  28,  1830,  the  Governor 
and  Council  concurred  in  passing  a  bill  entitled,  ^^An  act  to 
repeal  an  act  incorporating  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of 
Vermont,  and  an  act  incorporating  the  Grand  Chapter  of  the 
State  of  Vermont.''  Morgan's  book  was  out,  and  created  great 
excitement    The  following  circular  letter  is  stiU  preserved  in 

Bising  Sun  Lodge: 

"Reading,  Dec.  20,  1826. 

Dear  Sir: — I  am  directed  to  address  you  on  the  subject  of  Hfor- 
gan's  Book/  which  has  lately  made  so  much  noise  in  the  state  of  New 
York  of  which  you  have  undoubtedly  heard.  Our  brethren  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  when  the  publication  originated,  undoubtedly  con- 
ducted very  imprudently.  They  ought  to  have  treated  the  pubUcation 
as  false  and  spurious  and  spoken  of  it  in  no  other  light,  than  as  a 
gross  imposition  upon  the  public,  as  it  really  is.  Tou  will  please  to 
enjoin  it  on  the  brethren  of  your  lodge  to  be  cautious  and  have  no 
communication  on  the  subject  of  Masonry  with  any  person,  except  such 
as  they  personally  know  to  be  regular  Masonic  brethren.  Should  the 
book  make  its  appearance  within  the  Jurisdiction  of  your  lodge,  treat 
it  as  a  false  and  spurious  imposition,  and  give  such  other  directions 
as  you  may  deem  most  expedient  for  the  good  of  Masonry. 

By  order  of  the  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master, 
Thomas  P.  Hammond,  Dist  Dep.  G.  M.,  1st  Masonic  District" 

It  is  doubtful  if  a  single  lodge  in  the  state  did  not  have  its 
seceding  members,  or  those  who  believed  that  both  policy  and 
interest  required  a  surrender  of  their  charters.  Those  who  were 
Icmg-headed  must  have  foreseen  that  the  platform  of  the  Anti- 
Masonic  party  was  made  up  of  temporary  planks,  that  if  Ma- 
sonry were  really  dead,  there  would  be  no  party,  or  when  cooler 
reason  and  judgment  should  prevail,  it  would  go  to  pieces.  Tak- 
ing this  view,  they  could  afford  to  bend  to  the  storm  for  a  brief 
time,  and  come  out  all  the  stronger  at  the  end. 


History  of  Boyalton^  Vermont  589 

The  question  of  surrendering  its  charter  came  up  in  Rising 
Sun  Lodge  September  21,  1831,  at  which  time  twentyngeven  mem- 
bers and  three  visiting  brethren  were  present.  The  lodge  rec- 
ords are  quoted: 

"Motion  shall  the  charter  be  surrendered. 

"Voted  not  to  surrender  the  charter. 

"Voted  to  instruct  our  delegates  to  Grand  Lodge  to  vote  against 
giving  up  the  charter. 

"Voted  to  appoint  a  committee  of  two  In  each  town  in  the  Juris- 
diction of  the  lodge  to  ascertain  how  many  Masons  are  in  favor  of 
surrendering  the  charter  and  how  many  against  it. 

"Chose  John  Warren  and  George  Lyman  for  Royalton,  Samuel  Lil- 
lie  and  J.  P.  Cleveland  for  Bethel,  William  GifTord  for  Sharon,  Steven 
A  Cozzens  for  Tunbridge." 

Dr.  E.  J.  Pish  in  his  address  asserts  that  William  Pierce, 
who  was  present  when  the  surrender  of  the  charter  was  consid- 
ered, told  him  that  Judge  CoUamer  introduced  the  motion  to 
surrender.  Judge  CoUamer  was  a  Past  Master  of  the  lodge.  His 
full  record  is  found  in  the  chapter  on  the  ** Legal  Profession." 
It  is  suflScient  to  say,  that  at  this  time  he  already  had  a  reputa- 
tion for  legal  ability  which  assured  him  political  promotion  with- 
out his  seeking  it.  His  character  for  sincerity  and  honesty  of 
purpose  had  been,  was  then,  and  ever  after  proved  to  be 
above  reproach.  The  man  who  **  carried  the  ten  commandments 
in  his  face''  must  have  been  actuated  by  honest  motives.  It 
would  not  become  us  to  think  otherwise,  especially,  as  that  elo- 
quent tongue  can  no  longer  defend  himself.  If  he  felt  that  the 
order  should  cease,  he  doubtless  lived  to  regard  the  matter  in  a 
different  light.  He  removed  to  Woodstock  in  1836.  At  that 
time  there  was  no  Masonic  lodge  in  that  town.  In  fact,  a  con- 
vention of  Masons  of  Windsor  County  had  been  held  in  Wood- 
stock Sept.  30,  1834,  and  had  voted  that  for  the  sake  of  tranquil- 
ity, and  believing  that  the  institution  was  no  longer  necessary, 
it  was  expedient  that  the  Masonic  institution  be  dissolved.  A 
new  lodge,  Woodstock  Lodge,  No.  31,  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  char- 
tered Jan.  12, 1854.  The  next  year  that  lodge  elected  Hon.  Jacob 
CoUamer  and  ten  others  to  honorary  membership. 

Notwithstanding  the  powerful  influence  of  Judge  CoUamer, 
Rising  Sun  Lodge  voted  not  to  surrender  its  charter.  The  fol- 
lowing excerpt  is  an  apostrophe  of  Dr.  Fish  to  the  loyalty  of  those 

men  who  stood  by  the  lodge  in  the  days  of  bitter  antagonism : 

"The  memory  of  their  lives  and  their  deeds  is  enshrined  forever 
in  the  hearts  of  their  brethren,  and  there  it  will  remain  bright  and 
honored  long  after  tablets  of  stone  and  statues  of  bronze  or  marble 
would  crumble  into  dust.  They  have  all  gone  to  their  last  reward  in 
the  Great  Beyond.  Honor  to  their  memory!  Peace  to  their  ashes! 
1  had  the  honor  and  good  fortune  to  know  personally  some  of  these 
men,  among  them  Zebina  Whitney,  William  Pierce,  and  James  P.  Cleve- 
land, Sr.  I  have  heard  them  relate  the  story  of  some  of  the  events 
01  those  dark  and  troublous  times.    Brother  Cleveland  lived  to  be  the 


(90  Hosnon  cv  BqfTALixoN,  Ysmoiiff 

sole  sarylyor  of  thoee  eftrly  d0fltaid«n  oC  tto  ftdfh.  Hft  vtti  a 
of  Rising  Sun  lodge  serenty-aix  TMn.  Ho  wis  prewnt  la  tto  lodgo 
room  and  was  secretary  pro  tern  at  tha  cwnimmloaHfln  of  Sept.  tt# 
1881,  when  the  motion  to  sarrender  the  diarter  was  fluds.  I  shall 
be  able  to  describe  to  yon  in  eonslderable  detail  just  what  ooennad 
on  that  really  momentoos  oocasloiL  The  written  record  Is  still  as  etaar 
and  legible  as  when  it  was  made  by  Brother  Glevelaiid'k  own  hand. 
and  also  I  had  the  story  by  word  of  month  from  both  Brothen  CSava- 
land  and  William  Pierce.  I  haye  said  that  Brother  Gle?eland  beeama 
the  sole  snrviyor  of  all  the  eariy  d^mdera.  He  was  bailed  with  Mh- 
sonic  honors  at  Randolph,  Vt,  S^pt  17,  IWL" 

Though  the  charter  wais  retained,  fhe  aflCaira  of  the  lodge 
began  to  decline.  They  met  in  secret^  and  reoorda  were  not  prop- 
erly kept,  and  finally  disappear  altogether  from  1810  to  1847. 

Quoting  again  from  Dr.  Fish's  address: 

'The  furniture  and  loose  belongings  of  the  lodge  were  carried  aboat 
secretly  from  place  to  place  for  safe  keeping.  The  great  lights  were 
carefully  preserved.  The  old  Bible,  printed  in  Scotland  in  1796^  is  stiU 
in  use.  The  old  altar,  quaint  in  derign,  made  in  1826,  and  stiU  in  use 
by  the  lodge,  was  at  one  time  hidden  in  the  basement  of  Bro.  ZeUna 
Whitney's  bam.  At  another  time  it  was  buried  in  the  woods  on  the 
rocky  hill  now  called  the  Pinnacle,'  risite  in  a  northwesterly  direetloa 
from  Royalton  yillage.  This  was  at  a  time  when  if  it  had  been  dla* 
covered  it  very  likely  would  have  been  burned  or  destroyed  by  a  mob 
in  the  street,  so  bitter  was  the  hatred  of  everything  Masonic'* 

Since  1849  the  lodge  has  had  a  course  of  nninterrapted  prbe- 
perity,  with  the  single  exception  of  the  year  1870,  at  which  time 
some  dissensions  existed.  Among  the  earlier  members  of  the 
lodge  not  already  noted  were  Dr.  Jo  Adam  Denison,  Phineas 
Parkhurst,  Oen.  Ellas  Stevens,  Capt.  Joseph  Parkhurst,  and  Gen. 
Lovell  Hibbard,  whose  records  will  be  found  in  other  parts  of 
this  book.  The  Phineas  Parkhurst  here  mentioned  was  probably 
the  son  of  Benjamin  Parkhurst,  and  the  father  of  Mrs.  Danforth 
Day  of  South  Royalton.  Dr.  Phineas  Parkhurst  lived  at  Leb- 
anon, N.  H.,  after  the  Indian  raid,  and  it  is  hardly  likely  that  he 
joined  this  lodge  nearly  thirty  years  after  that  event.  His  father 
was  Tilly  Parkhurst.  There  was  a  Phineas  Parkhurst  in  Sharon 
also,  son  of  a  Dr.  Phineas  Parkhurst.  This  Sharon  Phineas  re- 
moved to  West  Hartford,  where  he  died  in  1830. 

Regarding  the  membership  of  the  lodge  during  its  exist- 
ence, Dr.  Fish  states,  that  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained  686 
men  have  become  members  by  initiation  or  affiliation.  The  larg- 
est membership  was  142,  thought  to  be  in  1870.  The  first  burial 
service  attended  by  the  lodge  was  the  funeral  of  Thomas  Church 
of  Tunbridge,  May  6,  1813.  Simon  Bingham  was  Master,  and 
thirty-six  Masons  were  present. 

Since  1865  but  six  secretaries  have  served  the  lodge.  Mark 
J.  Sargent  has  held  the  office  twenty-six  years,  the  last  twenty- 
four  being  a  continuous  service.  So  far  as  has  been  learned 
there  have  been  forty-two  Worshipful  Masters.    Judge  CoUamer 


History  op  Botalton,  Vermont  591 

was  Master  in  1819.  Oen.  Lovell  Hibbard  held  the  office  seven 
years,  and  Edwin  Pierce,  Edmund  Skinner,  and  Dr.  E.  J.  Pish 
served  nearly  as  long  periods.  Sumner  D.  Chillson  was  W.  M. 
in  1892  and  1894.  He  was  buried  with  Masonic  honors  at  E. 
Bethel,  Mar.  22,  1897,  **an  unassuming,  simple-mannered,  faith- 
ful soul.*'    The  present  incumbent  is  Ernest  J.  Hewitt. 

Asa  Perrin  in  his  diaries  made  the  following  entries: 

"1803,  June  24 — ^Mr.  Anseen  (?)  Preached  a  Sarmon  to  the  Free- 
masons." 

"1808,  June  9— Mr.  Catling  made  an  oration  at  freemasons  meet- 
ing." 

This  led  to  the  question,  **Was  there  a  Masonic  organization 

in  Royalton  earlier  than  the  charter  indicates?''    Mr.  H.  H. 

Ross,  Grand  Secretary  of  Vermont,  replied  to  the  question  as 

follows : 

"So  far  as  I  can  ascertain  from  the  records  in  this  office.  Federal 
Lodge,  No.  15,  of  Randolph  was  chartered  Oct.  17,  1798,  and  thereafter 
Royalton  was  within  its  Jurisdiction.  George  Washington  Lodge,  No. 
24,  of  Chelsea  was  chartered  Jan.  18,  1804.  If  Royalton  was  nearer 
this  latter  lodge  than  to  Federal  Lodge,  it  would  come  under  the  juris- 
diction of  George  Washington  Lodge  until  the  granting  of  a  charter 
to  Rising  Sun  Lodge,  Oct.  6,  1807.  I  should  presume,  however,  that 
Federal  Lodge  still  retained  Jurisdiction  over  Royalton.  Undoubtedly, 
Masons  belonging  to  Federal  Lodge  resided  in  Royalton,  and  occasional 
meetings  may  have  been  held  there.  Such  arrangements  were  some- 
times entered  into." 

Order  of  the  Eastern  Star, 
rising  sun  chapter,  no.  12. 

Contributed  by  Mrs.  E.  J.  Fish. 

What  is  known  as  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star  was  intro- 
duced into  Vermont  by  the  founder,  Robert  Morris,  LL.  D.  The 
exact  date  is  not  known,  but  Dr.  Morris  travelled  extensively  in 
New  England  before  1860,  and  conferred  the  degrees  of  the 
**  Adoptive  Rite  of  Freemasonry,"  as  it  was  called,  prior  to  one 
of  his  visits  to  the  Holy  Land,  and  appointed  delegates  to  con- 
tinue his  work  of  the  Eastern  Star  thus  begun.  Of  these  depu- 
ties two  only  are  known  to  be  alive  at  this  date,  and  both  are 
honorary  Grand  Patrons  of  the  Grand  Chapter,  William  H.  Ful- 
lerton  of  Manchester  Depot,  and  A.  H.  Copeland,  a  former  citi- 
zen of  Middlebury,  now  a  member  of  the  Star  of  Bethlehem 
Chapter,  No.  114,  Jurisdiction  of  Illinois.  These  brethren  per- 
formed considerable  labors  in  this  state,  and  have  left  the  record 
of  several  ** families"  established  at  Waterbury  and  Barton,  only 
one  of  which,  Mignonette,  afterward  became  a  chapter  under  the 
name  of  ** Orient,"  No.  13,  Barton.  The  first  regular  chapter 
organized  was  Mt.  Anthony,  No.  1,  Bennington,  December  21, 
1869,  which  is  still  in  existence. 


599  Hosnon  or  BoriiAoir,  Y  bmomt  - 

Ghapten  rapidly  followed  in  V ermoiit  the  institntioii  of  tbe 
Orand  Chapter  of  New  York,  Nor.  8,  1870,  nntQ  liz  eame  to* 
gether  at  Brandon,  Nov.  12,  1878,  and  eataUiahed  the  Giiaid 
Chapter  of  Vermont  Nnmbera  1  and  8  are  the  only  ehaptsn 
now  in  exigtence  which  partieipated  in  the  eonveDtkuL 

Three  steps  had  thw  been  taken;  (a)  conferring  degrees 
in  Masonic  Lodges  on  Masons,  their  wiyes,  dani^htera,  sisters,  and 
mothers;  (b)  tiie  organisation  of  these  mentos-at-large  into 
''families";  (c)  the  reorganisation  of  the  whole  order  into  chap- 
ters, nnder  a  Grand  Chapter. 

Daring  the  late  '50's  of  the  nineteenth  century,  Doctor  Mar> 
ris  had  attempted  the  first  completed  system  of  the  Eastern  Star, 
nnd^  a  ''Supreme  Constellation,''  with  a  very  ornate  Bitoal 
which  involved  an  almost  incalculable  amount  of  mon^y  properly 
to  exemplify,  but  this  proposal  was  of  short  duration,  and  it  was 
left  to  the  Founder's  assistant,  the  li^  Robert  Maeoy  of  New 
York  City,  in  1866  and  onward,  to  evolve  the  chapter  system  as 
now  known.    This  scheme  was  successfuL 

The  Grand  Chapter  of  Vermont  established  in  1873  entered 
at  once  upon  its  successful  career,  so  that  at  its  second  meeting, 
June  3,  1874,  prospects  of  several  additional  chapters  were  re- 
ported to  support  the  original  six.  At  the  fourth  session  held 
at  Putney  witii  Golden  Rule  Chapter,  No.  3,  June  7,  1876,  tbe 
Grand  Patron  reported  that,  "June  17,  1875,  I  commissioned 
Brother  J.  W.  Metcalf  of  South  Royalton  to  constitute  Rising 
Sun  Chapter,  No.  12,  and  install  its  ofBcers.  He  performed  that 
duty  and  returned  his  commission,  with  his  proceedings  thereon 
indorsed."  At  this  session  of  1876  the  chapter  was  represented 
by  Mrs.  Joanna  Culver,  Worthy  Matron,  and  she  held  the  proxy 
of  the  Worthy  Patron.  J.  W.  Metcalf  received  the  appointment 
of  Grand  Marshal,  and  was  installed. 

While  the  Grand  Chapter  records  of  the  early  years  are 
quite  meagre,  and  do  not  always  agree  with  the  files  of  docu- 
ments preserved  in  the  archives,  fortunately  many  interesting 
papers  have  been  preserved,  from  which  extracts  are  made  as 
follows : 

The  dispensation  bears  the  date  of  April  5,  1875,  for  a  chap- 
ter at  Royalton.  The  oflBcers  were,  Mary  M.  Bailey,  Worthy 
Matron;  Joanna  M.  Culver,  Associate  Matron;  John  W.  Met- 
calf, Worthy  Patron.  In  1877  William  W.  Culver  as  Worthy 
Patron,  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Joanna  Culver,  as  Worthy  Matron, 
represented  the  chapter  at  the  annual  session  of  the  Grand 
Chapter.  In  1878,  at  Bennington,  Mr.  Culver  was  elected  Grand 
Patron  and  served  two  years,  being  re-elected  in  1879.  As  Grand 
Patron  his  name  is  signed  to  charters  of  Diamond,  No.  14,  Dan- 
ville, and  Beulah,  No.  15,  Randolph,  a  normal  growth  under  his 
administration. 


EbSTOBY  OP  BOTALTON,  VERMONT  593 

The  charter  of  the  Royalton  Chapter  follows: 

"OBDEB  OF  THE  EASTEBN  STAB. 

'We  have  seen  His  Star  in  the  East  and  are  come  to  worship  Him.* 

To  all  to  whom  these  Presents  may  come Greeting: 

In  Uie  name  and  by  the  Authority  of  the  Gbaih)  Chapteb  of 
THE  State  of  Vebmont,  Adoptive  Rite,  known  by  the  distinctive  title 
of  the 

oboeb  of  the  eastebn  stab. 
Whereas,  a  Petition  has  been  Presented  to  us  by  Sisters  Hattie  V. 
Metcalf,  Pamelia  A.  Boyd.  Gertie  C.  Stoughton,  Joanna  M.  Culver,  Mary 
M.  Bailey,  Lucretia  Hinckley,  Lizzie  R.  Henry,  A.  C.  Freeman,  Annette 
W.  Lyman,  Ella  R.  Thatcher,  Susan  H.  Pierce,  Sarah  P.  Eastman, 
Martha  J.  Dupuis,  Lucy  B.  Kilbum,  Mary  N.  Pierce,  Laura  C.  Inman, 
K.  R.  Skinner,  Ella  P.  Skinner,  Annie  Skinner,  Laura  Smith,  Annette 
L.  Quimby,  who  having  received,  in  a  legal  manner,  all  the  deobees  of 
the  OBDEB.  and  being  the  Wives,  Widows,  Sisters  and  Daughters  of 
Master  Masons  In  good  standing  in  their  respective  Lodges,  praying 
for  a  Warrant  authorizing  them  to  establish  a  Chapter  of  the  Order  of 
the  Eastern  Star,  under  the  title  of  Rising  Sun  Chapter,  No.  12,  to  be 
held  in  Royalton,  County  Windsor,  State  of  Vermont,  and  it  appear- 
ing for  the  interest  of  the  Adoptive  Rite  that  their  petition  should  be 
gi  anted. 

Know  Ye,  that  we,  the  Grand  Patron,  Grand  Matron,  Associate 
Grand  Patron,  and  Associate  Grand  Matron,  by  the  authority  of  the 
Grand  Chapter,  do  hereby  grant  the  prayer  of  said  petitioners,  and 
that  the  organization  may  be  complete  do  appoint  Brother  John  W. 
Metcalf  a  Master  Mason,  Worthy  Patron;  Sister  Mary  M.  Bailey  Worthy 
Matron,  and  Sister  Joanna  M.  Culver  Associate  Matron  of  said  Chapter. 
And  we  do  further  authorize  and  empower  said  Patron,  Matron 
and  Sisters  to  confer  the  Five  Degrees  of  the  Adoptive  Rite,  according 
to  the  ceremonial  and  lectures  approved  by  the  Grand  Chapter,  upon 
all  worthy  applicants  possesslong  the  constitutional  qualifications  for 
the  same.  And  we  do  further  authorize  and  empower  our  said  Sisters 
and  their  legal  successors,  to  do  and  perform  all  and  singular  matters 
and  things  relative  to  the  Adoptive  Rite  within  the  jurisdiction  of  said 
Chapter.  And  they  are  further  authorized  to  elect  and  reject  appli- 
cants at  their  discretion;  By  and  with  the  consent  and  assistance  of  a 
majority  of  the  members  of  said  Chapter  present  upon  such  occasions, 
duly  summoned,  to  Elect  and  Install  the  Officers  of  the  Chapter,  as 
vacancies  may  happen,  in  manner  and  form  as  is  or  may  be  prescribed 
by  the  Constitution  of  the  Grand  Chapter  of  the  State. 

Given  under  our  hands  and  the  seal  of  the  Grand 

Chapter  this  Second  day  of  June  in  the  year  of  our 

Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

A.   L.  Robinson  Grand   Patron. 

J.  S.  Batchelder  Associate  Grand  Patron. 

Mary  S.  Scranton  Grand  Matron. 

Mary  C.  Demlng  Associate  Grand  Matron. 
S.  J.  Young  Grand  Secretary." 

As  nearly  as  I  can  ascertain  the  following  persons  served 

Rising  Sun  Chapter  as  Patron  and  Matron:    John  W.  Metcalf, 

elected  Worthy  Patron  in  1875 ;  Mary  M.  Bailey,  elected  Worthy 

Matron   in   1875,  re-elected  in   1876;   Willard   Bailey,   elected 

Worthy  Patron  in  1876 ;  William  W.  Culver,  Worthy  Patron  in 

1877 ;  Joanna  Culver,  Worthy  Matron  in  1877 ;  Joseph  W.  Waldo, 

38 


5M  HmroBT  cv  Botilrton^  Yboiomt 

Worthy  Patarcm,  and  Nettie  A.  Waldo,  Worthar  Matron,  datai 

uncertain. 

In  1887  Rising  Snn  Chapter  failed  to  make  its  report  to  the 
Grand  Chapter.  On  Mazeh  8th,  1900,  it  waa  reinatated  at  South 
Boyalton  with  five  of  the  old  memben  and  twentj-aiz  new  onea. 
After  lying  dormant  for  more  than  a  doaen  yean  it  started  off 
anew  with  more  than  thirty  members,  and  has  ever  onee  been  a 
bright  star  in  the  constellation.  Beulah  Chapter,  itsdf  inati- 
tnted  by  Ksing  Snn  Chapter,  eiemplifled  the  work.  This  chap- 
ter had  been  instromental  in  the  restoration  of  Binng  Son  Chap- 
ter, and  it  was  eminently  fitting  that  it  shonld  perform  tfak  im- 
portant part  of  the  work.  Joseph  W.  Waldo  was  elected  Worthy 
Pat)*on,  which  office  he  held  nntil  his  death  in  1908.  Mrs.  'BUmm 
L.  Fish  was  elected  Worthy  Matron.  Dr.  E.  J.  Fish  was  elected 
Worthy  Patron  in  December,  1903,  and  still  holds  that  office. 
Mrs.  Jennie  Hewitt  was  elected  Worthy  Matron  in  1904,  and 
Mrs.  Nettie  Sargent  in  1906.  In  1908  Mrs.  Carrie  Haaen,  who 
had  served  the  chapter  as  its  faithful  secretary  for  eight  years, 
was  elected  Worthy  Matron. 

Bising  Snn  Chapter  now  has  a  membership  of  71  members. 
It  has  be^  well  represented  in  the  Grand  Chapter  throng  all 
its  active  life.  In  1876  John  W.  Metcalf  was  appointed  Grand 
Marshal  In  1878  WiUiam  W.  Culver  was  elected  Grand  Patron. 
In  1904  Mrs.  Eliza  L.  Fish  was  appointed  District  Deputy  Grand 
Matron.  In  1903  Dr.  E.  J.  Fish  was  appointed  D.  D.  Grand 
Patron.  In  1905  Mrs.  J.  H.  Hewitt  was  appointed  Grand  Mar- 
tha, and  in  1908  Mrs.  Carrie  Hazen  was  Grand  Rutii.  Thus 
Rising  Sun  has  been  well  represented  in  the  Grand  Chapter  of 
Vermont,  was  entitled  to  a  seat  in  the  General  Grand  Chapter 
of  the  United  States  through  its  Grand  Representative,  Mrs. 
E.  J.  Pish,  in  1904. 

Perhaps  the  most  eventful  and  successful  convocation  of  the 
Order  of  the  Eastern  Star  ever  held  in  the  Masonic  Hall  at 
South  Royalton  was  the  annual  convocation  of  District  No.  3, 
in  1908.  Mrs.  S.  B.  Buell,  D.  G.  M.,  of  So.  Straflford,  and  Mr. 
Charles  F.  Wood,  D.  G.  P.,  of  Woodstock,  presiding.  The  chap- 
ters in  District  No.  3  are,  Ascutney,  No.  2,  Windsor ;  Rising  Sun, 
No.  12,  South  Royalton ;  Winona,  No.  43,  White  River  Junction ; 
Woodstock,  No.  46,  Woodstock;  Unity,  No.  49,  South  Straflford; 
Hope,  No.  50,  Rochester. 

Rising  Sun  Chapter  entertained  the  several  chapters  and 
exemplified  the  opening  ceremony.  Other  chapters  performed 
the  ritualistic  work  assigned  them  by  the  Deputy  Grand  Matron, 
Mrs.  S.  B.  Buell.  The  exercises  were  interspersed  with  vocal 
and  instrumental  music,  and  after  the  banquet  postprandial 
speeches  of  a  facetious  nature  followed. 


History  of  Botalton,  Vermont  595 

For  information  regarding  this  history  of  the  Order  of  the 
Eastern  Star  I  am  indebted  to  Brother  H.  L.  Stillson,  Grand 
Secretary,  of  Bennington.  For  more  than  twenty  years  he  has 
served  the  Order  as  its  secretary.  The  Grand  Chapter  of  Ver- 
mont owes  its  strength  and  ability  to  Brother  Stillson,  more  than 
to  any  one  other  person,  by  reason  of  his  long  continued,  faith- 
ful, and  efficient  records  of  its  life,  organization,  and  growth. 

THE  WASHINGTON  BENEVOLENT  SOCIETY. 

Mr.  Frank  D.  Brooks  is  the  possessor  of  a  little  board-cov- 
ered book  published  in  1812,  containing  Washington's  Farewell 
Address  and  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  It  was  pub- 
lished for  the  Washington  Benevolent  Society,  and  was  printed 
and  sold  at  Windsor  by  Thomas  M.  Pomroy.  It  was  the  prop- 
erty of  Benjamin  Parkhurst.  The  first,  leaf  after  the  title  page 
contains  a  printed  form  of  certificate  with  blanks  to  be  filled  out, 
and  each  member  of  the  Society  seems  to  have  had  one  of  these 

books.     The  certificate  in  Mr.  Parkhurst 's  book  reads  thus: 

"No.  90  This  certifies,  That 

Mr.  Benjn.  Parkhurst  of  Royalton 

Has  been  regularly  admitted  a  Member  of  the 

Washington  Benevolent  Society  of  the  Ck>unty  of 

Windsor  State  of  Vt.  instituted  on  the  6th  day  of 

February  1812  at  Royalton 

Jacob  Smith  vice  President 

David  Pierce  2d  Secretary." 

The  number  **90"  shows  a  good-sized  membership.  How 
many  other  Royalton  people  were  members  of  this  Society  is  not 
known. 

An  advertisement  in  the  **Washingtonian"  printed  at  Wind- 
sor, June  28,  1813,  says  the  Washington  Benevolent  Society  es- 
tablished at  Royalton  and  Barnard  voted  to  celebrate  July  4th 
at  the  meeting-house  in  Barnard.  (Jen.  Joseph  Foster,  Moses 
Cutter,  and  David  Pierce,  Jr.,  were  then  the  corresponding  com- 
mittee for  the  Society.  In  Chapter  VIII  mention  was  made  of 
the  celebration  in  Royalton  on  July  4,  1814,  under  the  auspices 
of  this  same  Society.  It  is  probable  that  the  organization  did 
not  long  exist  after  the  close  of  the  War  of  1812. 

TEMPERANCE   MATTERS. 

The  settlers  of  Royalton,  like  most  men  of  those  days,  in- 
dulged more  or  less  freely  in  intoxicating  liquors.  It  was  a 
mark  of  poverty  or  disrespect  not  to  furnish  liquor  of  some  kind 
to  guests.  No  public  function,  no  family  gathering,  no  wedding, 
no  funeral,  no  military  affair  was  thought  to  be  properly  con- 
ducted without  the  pleasant  stimulus  afforded  by  alcoholic  bev- 
erages. 


696  Bmton  w  Bor iLfoor,  Ywtanmf 

The  foundeni  of  the  State  weie  by  no  means  inaenrible  to 
the  dangers  arising  from  a  too  free  sale  of  intozieaata.  The  in- 
fant State  had  not  yet  thrown  off  ita  swaddling  dothea,  when, 

Jan.  24,  1778,  the  Gknremor  signed  the  following  resdlotlon: 

"Whereas  it  has  been  roprosentod  to  this  CSooneU,  thst  dtren  per- 
sons (to  the  great  disadTantsce  of  this  State)  have  boaAt  *  sold  to 
the  Inhabitants  in  small  anantities,  ft  at  BiorUtant  prless,  (ft  Oon- 
tinne  so  to  do)  certain  8i»iritiios  Llanors,  wherrtqr  dronkenneas^  Idle- 
ness, Quarrels,  ftc  ftc.  is  promoted  among  us,  which  BrU  to  preteat  In 
future,  have  thought  fit  and  do  hereby  Resolve  that  the  Oommlttees 
of  Safety,  Selectmen,  ft  Gonstiades  of  Bach  TOwn  within  this  8tat% 
shall  meet  Together  at  some  conTenient  place  within  each  respective 
Town  on  the  second  day  of  ICareh  Next,  ft  Nominate  by  tbelr  Major 
Vote  a  Sufficient  number  of  suitable  persons  to  keep  houass  of  pmUte 
entertainment  for  Travellers  for  the  year  Burning,  or  untU  otherwise 
ordered  by  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State,  ft  return  their  Names 
to  this  Council,  or  to  any  two  of  the  members  thereof,  who  are  hereby 
fully  Authorised  and  Impowered  to  Grant  License  for  that  purpose 
Taking  one  Dollar  or  six  shillings  as  a  fee  for  the  Same. 

Further  Resolved  that  if  any  person  or  persons  within  this  State 
not  Licensed  as  above  shall  after  the  30th  day  of  Ifarch  next  presume 
directly  or  indirectly  to  sell  any  kind  of  Spirituous  Liquors,  in  any  less 
Quantity  than  one  Quart,  nor  any  quantity  to  be  Drank  in  or  about  his, 
her,  or  their  house  or  houses,  for  any  such  <^ense  being  thereof  duly 
convicted  before  three  of  the  Committee  men  of  the  Town  where  such 
<^ence  is  Committed,  (who  are  hereby  fully  authorised  and  impowered 
to  hear  and  Determine  the  same,)  shall  forfeit  ft  pay  the  sum  of  Six 
pounds  Lawful  Money,  the  one  half  to  be  applied  for  the  use  of  the 
Town  where  such  offence  is  committed,  and  the  other  half  to  be  given 
to  the  person  Complaining  ft  prosecuting  to  effect*' 

This  was  one  step  toward  regulating  the  sale  of  liquor,  but 
was  too  short-reaching,  as  can  readily  be  seen.  It  had  special 
reference  to  the  sale  of  drinks  at  hotels. 

The  church  did  come  to  have  a  sense  of  the  impropriety, 
even  sinfulness,  of  a  too  free  indulgence  in  alcoholic  stimulants, 
and  it  is  a  matter  of  record,  that  communicants  so  indulging 
either  voluntarily  confessed  their  weakness,  or  were  called  to 
account  and  required  to  make  public  acknowledgment  of  their 
failing.  Descendants  of  worthy,  and  in  most  respects,  upright^ 
ancestors  would  be  grieved  to  read  the  confessions  of  their  hon- 
ored forefathers,  and  to  avoid  giving  needless  pain,  the  names 
of  those  who  are  quoted  as  illustrations  of  the  state  of  society  in 
those  early  days  will  in  no  case  be  given.     One  confession  dated 

October  12,  1792,  reads : 

"Last  week  on  Tuesday  evening  after  training,  I  was  guilty  of 
intemperance,  whether  it  was  owing  to  the  want  of  food,  or  a  proper 

guard  over  myself but  find  myself  to  have  drank  to  excess  ft  in 

this  way  am  guilty  of  a  breach  of  the  laws  of  Christs  kingdom ft 

1  feel  it  my  duty  to  confess  my  sin  before  God  ft  man,  desiring  this 
church  to  forgive  me  ft  also  their  prayers  to  Qod  in  the  name  of  the 
great  head  of  the  church  that  my  sin  might  be  pardoned  ft  I  for  the 
future  kept  from  dishonouring  the  religion  which  I  profess  to  own." 


History  of  BoYAiyrox,  Vermont  597 

One  more  apparently  voluntary  confession  is  given: 
"Dear  Brethren:  I  now  take  this  opportunity  to  humble  myself 
before  God  and  this  church,  begging  the  pardon  of  Almighty  Ood  and 
the  forgiveness  of  my  Christian  brethren,  for  being  guilty  of  breaking 
the  commands  of  €rOd,  despising  his  laws,  and  casting  contempt  on  the 
church  by  being  overtaken  in  liqueur,  and  by  my  conduct  have  caused 
the  people  to  laugh  at  religion  and  despise  the  cause  of  Christ. 

I  do  now  beg  your  prayers  for  me  that  I  may  be  ever  careful  to 
keep  up  my  watch  and  to  live  as  a  follower  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  to 
adorn  my  profession  by  a  Christian  walk/' 

These  two  confessions  are  an  excellent  proof  of  the  subtle 
power  of  intoxicants  in  weakening  the  will.  Both  of  these  men 
were  Christians  with  manliness  and  courage  enough  to  confess 
their  faults,  and  really  desired  to  be  free  from  them,  but  it  did 
not  seem  to  occur  to  either  of  them  or  to  the  church,  that  the 
only  safe  way  was  to  let  the  fire-water  alone. 

Not  all  of  those  caught  in  the  snare  of  intemperance  be- 
longed to  the  class  of  men  just  quoted,  and  one  more  example  is 
given  to  show  the  action  taken  in  such  cases.  Before  complaints 
could  be  brought,  they  must  have  been  preceded  by  private  ad- 
monition. 

"The  complaint  of  to  the  Congregational  church 

in  Royalton  showeth. 

That  whereas  brother  a  member  of  sd  church 

hath  walked  disorderly  by  drinking  spirituous  liquors  to  that  degree 
that  he  has  been  intoxicated  therewith,  and  also  that  he  hath  fre- 
quently been  found  playing  cards  which  is  against  his  Christian  pro- 
fession and  wounding  to  religion, 

And  as  your  complainant  hath  taken  the  previous  steps  enjoined  by 
our  Saviour  as  understood  and  practiced  in  this  church,  your  com- 
plainant finds  himself  in  duty  bound  (as  his  previous  steps  have  proved 
abortive)  to  take  this  last  step  by  making  his  grievance  known  to  the 
church,  requesting  them  to  deal  with  him  according  to  the  directions 
of  our  Saviour  in  such  cases."    This  was  dated  June  22,  1808. 

The  pastors  themselves  were  too  often  indulgers  in  stimu- 
lants to  their  harm  and  the  harm  of  the  church.  It  is  related 
that  on  the  occasion  of  some  public  work,  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens had  furnished  free  drinks  at  the  hotel.  The  parson  had 
kept  tally  for  the  drinks.  As  it  happened  there  was  a  prayer 
meeting  that  evening.  The  room  was  very  warm  and  close.  The 
pastor  gave  out  a  hymn  to  sing,  and  as  he  did  not  sing  himself, 
the  heat,  and  the  whiskey  which  he  had  imbibed  a  little  too  often 
during  the  day,  were  a  trifle  too  much  for  him,  and  he  fell  asleep 
while  they  were  singing.  When  they  were  through,  they  waited 
for  the  prayer,  but  the  reverend  gentleman  was  in  dreamland. 
A  good  deacon  at  his  elbow  nudged  him  and  whispered,  ** They've 
sung,  parson!  they've  sung!"  Half  awakening,  he  sleepily  re- 
sponded, **  Charge  it  to ." 

The  other  professions  suffered  from  this  evil.  The  church 
severely  disciplined  one  doctor  for  the  offense  of  over-indulgence. 


/ 
598  Baton  op  Boriuoir,  Ymmmt 

It  is  not  to  be  sappoeed  Boyalton  was  an  eioqytiDa  to  the  otkar 
towns  in  having  a  hurge  nnmber  of  men  who  ooold  not  enitail 
their  appetites  for  strong  drink.  Sneh  an  evil  grows.  In  fhe 
selection  of  their  representatives  to  the  General  AssBmUj  thflOT 
doubtless  chose  the  best  talent  in  town.  The  man,  however,  was 
not  always  free  from  the  drink  habit  AM  told  dmmban^  one 
lawyer  was  ''representing  Boyalton"  when  hngging  a  lamp  poaL 

Though  this  anecdote  was  all  too  true,  the  eitueu  of  fhe 
town  were  really  too  intelligent  and  conadentioos  not  to  foroaee 
at  an  early  day,  that  they  mnst  fight  this  evil  The  hoteb  hegit 
and  dispensed  liquor  as  a  matter  of  conne.  These  sopplied  the 
public,  but  nearly  every  home  had  large  quantities  of  akdhol  in 
some  form  constantly  on  hand.  In  the  inventory  of  the  estate 
of  one  prominent  man  were  found  ten  barrels  d  cider.  Cider 
mills  and  distilleries  were  in  several  parts  of  the  town  in  active 
operation,  run  by  church  members.  The  manufacture  and  sale 
of  intoxicants  was  not  yet  thought  to  be  wrong,  and  so  disrq[>u- 
table.    All  stores  soli  and  advertised  spirituous  liquors. 

There  were  not  wanting  men  in  New  England,  of  rugged 
and  stem  natures,  who  early  began  a  crusade  against  the  power 
of  rum.  A  Bev.  Dow  of  Thompson,  Conn.,  in  his  seal  for  tem- 
perance in  1814,  answering  the  objection  that  some  could  not 
live  without  liquor,  thundered  out,  ''Well,  die  then  I  better  die 
sober  than  live  drunk."  Little  ripples  of  remonstrance  here 
and  there  swelled  to  a  temperance  wave,  increased  by  the  pub- 
lished lectures  of  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher. 

This  agitation  found  a  response  in  Royalton.  As  is  to  be 
expected,  the  church  took  the  initiative  in  an  attempt  to  arrest 
the  growing  evil  of  intemperance.  It  is  recorded  that  on  Mar. 
28,  1827,  Dea.  Dewey  and  **  Brother  Collamer"  were  a  com- 
mittee to  bring  in  a  resolution  respecting  temperance.  Jonathan 
Kinney  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  one  to  circulate  a  temper- 
ance pledge.    The  pledge  spread  on  the  church  records  was: 

"Considering  the  dangerous  tendency  of  the  habitual  use  of  ardent 
spirits,  we  the  subscribers  from  a  deep  sense  of  the  duty  we  owe  to 
the  community  and  ourselves  hereby  pledge  ourselves  to  each  other 
to  abstain  wholly  from  the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  except  as  a  medicine 
when  prescribed  by  a  physician." 

This  is  the  Dewey-CoUamer  pledge,  and  is  similar  to,  if  not 
the  same,  pledge  which  was  circulated  in  other  parts  of  the  state. 
Later,  family  pledges  were  circulated,  and  in  the  Burbank  fam- 
ily is  still  preserved  one  of  these  with  the  names  of  the  members 
of  the  family  who  subscribed  to  it  in  1843. 

In  its  newly  awakened  zeal  the  church  perhaps  attempted 
too  much.  It  made  an  effort  to  amend  its  by-laws,  so  that  those 
uniting  with  it  must  subscribe  to  the  temperance  pledge.  It 
was  not  successful  in  this  effort. 


History  op  BoYAiyroN,  Vebmont  599 

The  legislature  in  1830,  1833,  and  1834  framed  laws  regu- 
lating the  keeping  of  hotels.    At  their  March  meeting  in  1844 

the  voters 

"Resolved  that  the  Selectmen  &  Civil  Authority  of  the  Town  of 
Royalton  are  hereby  instructed  not  to  recommend  any  individual  as 
a  suitable  person  to  keep  a  Tavern  in  the  Town  of  Royalton,  who  has 
been,  now  is,  and  probably  will  continue  to  be  a  dealer  in  distilled 
Spirituous  Liquors.  But  instead  thereof  that  they  be  requested  (to 
present)  a  remonstrance  to  the  Court  against  the  Licenceing  of  any 
such  person  to  deal  in  such  liquors." 

It  was  not  enough  to  become  abstainers  at  home,  they  in- 
tended to  guard  their  youth  from  public  temptation  so  far  as 
possible.  Liquor  was  still  sold  by  some  stores,  but  dealing  in  it 
had  become  less  and  less  respectable,  as  the  public  conscience 
became  more  keenly  sensitive.  It  was  well  that  the  door  of 
public  traflSc  in  intoxicants  had  been  partly  closed,  before  the 
new  settlement  at  South  Royalton  sprang  up.  A  new,  and  not 
altogether  desirable,  class  of  men  was  introduced  by  the  need 
of  workmen  on  the  railroad,  and  of  carpenters  to  build  the 
houses  and  stores  which  naturally  followed  the  completion  of  the 
railroad.  Liquor  was  freely  sold  in  this  budding  village,  and 
many  an  innocent  farmer's  boy  was  led  into  its  use,  and  acquired 
a  love  for  it,  from  which  some  of  them  were  never  quite  able  to 
free  themselves. 

In  1847  the  town  voted,  191  to  90,  in  favoy  of  no  license; 
the  next  year  the  vote  stood  115  to  73 ;  in  1849  it  was  163  to  56, 
and  the  following  year,  152  to  46.  An  incident  related  by  Wil- 
liam W.  Culver  refers  to  this  period  in  the  history  of  temper- 
ance in  Royalton.    He  writes: 

"When  a  small  boy,  at  my  earnest  solicitation,  my  father  allowed 
me  to  accompany  him  to  town  meeting.  I  held  his  hand  as  he  passed 
in  line  to  the  ballot  box.  Near  us  was  'Jake  Fox'  holding  in  his  trem- 
bling old  hand  a  no-license  ticket.  My  father  remarked,  'How  is  this, 
Mr.  Fox?  You  have  always  used  and  sold  liquor.'  'I  know  it/  he 
answered,  'but  I  have  lived  long  enough  (he  was  then  about  eighty  as 
I  remember)  to  see  that  its  use  is  harmful,  and  desire  to  see  it  put 
beyond  reach,  so  it  may  do  no  more  mischief.' " 

Along  with  some  faults,  Mr.  Fox  possessed  many  virtues, 
and  this  recognition  of  the  evil  of  intemperance,  and  a  desire  to 
aid  others  in  withstanding  it,  is  a  noble  virtue,  which  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  chronicle. 

In  1851  the  selectmen  granted  Nathan  Dane,  druggist,  a 
license  to  sell  intoxicating  liquor  for  medicinal,  chemical,  and 
mechanical  purposes,  and  to  Benjamin  F.  Morgan  a  license  to 
sell  cakes,  pies,  custards,  small  beer,  and  cider  for  one  year.  The 
fault  does  not  seem  to  have  been  in  licensing  the  sale  of  strong 
drink,  but  in  not  preventing  its  illegal  sale.  For  the  next  two 
years  doctors  were  licensed  to  sell  it,  and  grocers  were  allowed 


000  HiBicBT  or  BoTiiAoii,  YmMxmt 


to  lell  ''gmall  drinkB."    Proseontioiu  did  finally  have  the  elEaet 
of  putting  a  atop  to  illegal  sake. 

In  1853  the  voters  diamiaBed  a  reaolntion  to  the  effect  that 
the  town  did  not  wiah  an  agent  to  be  appointed  for  the  aak  of 
intoxicating  liquor.  For  the  next  few  yean  th^  had  an  ageont, 
but  in  1859  they  voted  to  inatmct  the  County  CommiaakHier  not 
to  appoint  one.  For  a  considerable  period  of  yean  thia  arrange- 
ment held,  but  it  waa  followed  by  an  ageniqr  in  the  handa  of 
Dea.  Asi^l  Clark  and  Dea.  Seymour  Culver,  and  waa  aafb- 
guarded  aa  well  aa  it  could  be.  Since  the  local  option  law  went 
into  effect,  the  town  haa  uniformly  voted  against  lieense  with  a 
good  majority. 

An  organization  .existed  in  1855,  called  ^'The  Sons  of  Tem- 
perance." On  Jan.  18,  1851,  Ezra  Wills,  Bestor  Pierce,  and 
Andrew  Backus  for  Rising  Sun  Lodge,  No.  7,  rented  to  the  South 
Boyalton  Division,  No.  58,  of  the  (»rder  of  the  Sons  of  Temper- 
ance their  hall  and  the  first  room  attached,  whenever  they  should 
not  want  it  for  themselves.  It  was  rented  for  Saturday  even- 
ings at  a  yearly  cost  of  $13.33.  It  is  likely  that  this  society 
was  organized  this  year.  The  state  organization  had  Ralph  A. 
Severance  of  Saxton's  River  as  G.  W.  P.  Quarterly  sessions 
were  held,  and  the  one  at  Royalton  was  scheduled  for  tiie  fourth 
Tuesday  of  July,  1851.  That  seems  to  be  the  only  quarterly 
session  which  tke  state  organization  ever  held  in  Royalton.  How 
long  the  society  existed  in  Royalton  after  1855  cannot  be  stated, 
nor  who  were  the  members  of  the  order  here. 

A  W.  C.  T.  U.  was  formed  in  South  Royalton  in  1888,  with 
Mrs.  E.  J.  Fish  as  president;  Mrs.  (Jeorge  Tenney,  secretary; 
Mrs.  C.  B.  Viall  and  Mrs.  James  Ramage,  vice-presidents.  It 
ceased  to  exist  about  1893,  but  was  reorganized  in  1908  with  Mrs- 
Fish,  president;  Miss  Hattie  M.  Fay  and  Miss  Minnie  Metcalf, 
vice-presidents;  Miss  Delia  Cloud,  treasurer;  and  Mrs.  Imogene 
Goodale,  secretary.  A  Band  of  Hope  was  also  formed  with 
Harold  Fish  as  president. 

A  Good  Templar's  organization  was  organized  after  the 
Sons  of  Temperance  died  out.  Edson  Bixby,  Miss  Charl  Hack- 
ett,  Mrs.  Jane  Jones,  Lawyer  Vancor  and  others  were  members 
ot  it.  They  were  active  in  stopping  the  illegal  sale  of  intoxi- 
cants. Dr.  W.  L.  Paine  was  the  last  Chief  Templar.  He  be- 
came, as  he  humorously  expresses  it,  the  ''head  of  a  creature 
with  the  body  cut  oflf  just  behind  the  ears — chief  of  a  society 
about  to  turn  up  its  toes  to  the  daisies." 

Although  no  temperance  organization  has  any  active  exist- 
ence in  town  today,  the  sentiment  of  the  people  is  strongly  in 
favor  of  supporting  any  movement  that  has  for  its  object  the 
suppression  of  the  liquor  traffic,  and  the  citizens  always  respond 
cheerfully  to  calls  for  aid  in  this  work. 


HisTOBY  OF  BoYAiyroN,  Vebmont  601 

WHITE    RTVER    GRANGE. 

Contributed  by  John  P.  Shepard. 

White  River  Grange,  No.  53,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  was 
organized  at  Royalton,  Jan.  15,  1874,  with  thirty-two  charter 
members.  It  was  organized  and  held  its  meetings  for  a  while  in 
the  Masonic  Hall  in  Royalton,  but  in  June,  1874,  it  rented  the 
upper  room  in  the  Town  Hall  in  Royalton,  and  occupied  those 
rooms  for  several  years.  It  then  went  back  to  the  Masonic  Hall 
until  Jan.,  1898,  when  it  moved  its  headquarters  to  South  Roy- 
alton, and  occupied  Hewitt's  Hall  for  several  years,  but  now 
holds  its  meetings  in  the  Sons  of  Veterans'  Hall  in  the  west  end 
of  the  Block. 

On  Feb.  27,  1880,  Middle  Branch  Grange  of  East  Bethel, 
Liberty  Grange  of  Tunbridge,  White  River  Grange  of  Royalton, 
Floral  Grange  of  Sharon,  and  Rescue  Grange  of  Norwich  were 
organized  at  Tunbridge  as  White  River  Valley  Pomona  Grange, 
No.  3.  It  was  to  hold  one  meeting,  at  least,  each  year  with  each 
Grange  composing  the  Pomona  Grange,  with  White  River  Grange 
as  the  **home  Grange,"  where  the  annual  meeting  and  election 
of  officers  were  to  be  held. 

When  White  River  Grange  was  first  organized,  it  was  more 
of  a  co-operative  buying  association,  and  the  members  bought 
most  of  their  goods  through  the  Grange  for  a  good  many  years, 
A.  B.  Pixley  acting  as  agent.  H.  T.  Giflford  was  appointed  agent 
May  10,  1884,  and  held  that  position  until  his  buildings,  includ- 
ing the  Grange  store  and  goods,  were  all  burned  in  1888.  Since 
that  time  White  River  Grange  has  been  run  more  as  a  social  and 
educational  organization,  and  has  done  very  little  business  in  the 
co-operative  buying  line. 

We  feel  that  through  the  influence  of  the  Grange  we  have 
accomplished  great  and  beneficial  results  to  the  farmers  of  the 
country,  for,  through  the  petitions  and  demands  of  the  Grange, 
we  have  a  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  who  is  a  member  of  the 
President's  Cabinet,  with  its  various  bureaus  and  departments. 
We  also  claim  that  through  the  Grange  our  beloved  Senator  Mor- 
rill got  through  the  bill  establishing  our  Agricultural  Colleges 
and  Experiment  Stations  in  every  state  in  the  Union.  We  have 
secured  the  **Pure  Food"  laws  and  Free  Rural  Mail  Delivery, 
the  Inter-state  Commerce  Bill,  and  are  now  asking  for  Parcels 
Post  and  Government  Aid  for  Good  Roads. 

The  officers  of  the  Grange  for  the  year  1911  are:  Master, 
C.  E.  Spaulding;  Overseer,  W.  A.  Famham;  Lecturer,  Mrs. 
A.  R.  Fielders;  Steward,  Arthur  Aldrich;  Awistant  Steward, 
John  Button;  Chaplain,  C.  P.  Tarbell;  Treasurer,  Dr.  D.  E. 


602  History  of  Boyai/ton,  Vsbmomt 

Dearing;  Secretary,  Mrs.  G.  M.  Blake;  Gatekeeper,  Will  Hunt; 
Ceres,  Mrs.  Alexander;  Pomona,  Mrs.  Otis  Flint;  Flora,  Mrs. 
Will  Hunt;  L.  A.  Steward,  Addie  Spaulding. 

ROYALTON  WOMAN'S  CLUB. 

This  sketch  is  based  on  a  paper  prepared  by  Miss  Alice 
Grant  on  the  tenth  anniversary  of  the  club. 

The  Royalton  Woman's  Club  was  organized  at  Mrs.  Charles 
Parker's  in  Royalton  village  in  1896.  Mrs.  George  A.  Laird 
was  the  first  president.  Current  events  occupied  the  attention 
of  the  club  for  the  first  six  months,  and  during  the  rest  of  the 
year  papers  were  prepared  suggestive  of  courses  of  study  for  the 
following  year.  The  second  year  was  devoted  to  the  history  of 
Vermont  and  of  the  United  States.  The  year  began  with  a  presi- 
dent's  reception.  A  loan  exhibition  had  been  held  at  the  home 
of  Miss  Alice  Denison  some  time  during  the  first  year.  Very 
few  small  villages  can  boast  such  a  collection  of  valuable  relics 
as  Royalton  village.  Such  collections  are  an  education  in  them- 
selves. 

The  club  took  upon  itself  to  have  suitable  memorial  services 
for  President  McKinley,  and  it  has  always  been  active  in  foster- 
ing a  spirit  of  .loyalty  to  country  and  patriotism  in  the  young. 

During  the  fourteen  years  of  its  existence  the  subjects  stud- 
ied by  the  club  have  been  Rome,  Age  of  Elizabeth,  History  of 
England,  Ireland,  and  Scotland,  English  Literature,  American 
Literature,  Mexico,  and  other  subjects  relating  to  art,  forestry, 
household  science,  civil  service,  etc.  The  club  has  usually  had  a 
lecture  at  least  once  a  year. 

It  has  interested  itself  in  the  improvement  of  the  village, 
and  in  stimulating  an  interest  in  the  life  about  them  in  the  minds 
of  the  school  children.  Street  lamps  were  erected  in  the  village 
through  their  efforts,  and  largely  at  their  expense.  An  educa- 
tional committee  was  appointed  in  March,  1900,  composed  of 
Mrs.  George  Laird,  Mrs.  Charles  W.  Joiner,  and  Miss  Gertrude 
M.  Denison.  The  village  schools  were  provided  with  tastefully 
arranged  mounts  connected  with  historical  events,  **  bulletin 
boards''  for  special  days  were  prepared,  and  a  large  illustrated 
book  on  birds  was  purchased  for  circulation  through  the  schools. 
Through  the  suggestion  of  !Mrs.  E.  Lee  Stearns,  a  member  of  the 
club  and  superintendent  of  schools,  the  ** stamp  savings  system'' 
was  introduced  into  the  schools,  the  club  furnishing  thQ  means  to 
do  this.  The  educational  committee  visited  the  schools  with  a 
view  of  learning  better  how  to  aid  the  teachers  and  pupils. 

It  was  at  the  suggestion  of  Miss  Gertrude  Denison  that  steps 
were  taken  by  the  club  to  have  the  original  deed  of  partition  of 


BlSrOBY  OF  BOYALTON,  VERMONT  603 

Royalton  restored,  so  as  to  be  preserved  for  coming  generations. 
Mrs.  (George  A.  Laird  was  active  in  stimulating  an  interest  in 
the  history  of  the  town,  and  did  much  laborious  and  faithful 
work  in  visiting  cemeteries  and  looking  up  the  record  of  the 
Revolutionary  soldiers  and  pensioners.  She  was  ably  assisted 
by  Miss  Denison  and  Mrs.  Seymour  Culver. 

In  July,  1905,  the  oflPer  of  Mr.  Daniel  G.  Wild  of  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  to  erect  a  monument  for  commemorating  the  burning  of 
Royalton  came  before  the  club,  and  its  successful  labor  in  this 
matter  is  related  elsewhere.  Along  with  this  labor  went  the  task 
of  preparing  for  a  history  of  Royalton.  Each  member  was  given 
certain  work  to  do,  and  much  valuable  material  was  collected 
and  turned  over  to  the  historian  who  was  selected  for  the  edi- 
torial work.  The  members  have  continued  to  contribute  readily 
of  time  and  labor  to  this  work  whenever  called  upon  to  do  so. 

The  club  has  had  a  happy  existence,  no  cliques  and  no  fac- 
tions. The  social  hour  which  often  follows  a  literary  program 
has  been  a  most  enjoyable  feature,  and  has  bound  the  members 
together  in  strong  ties  of  friendship.  It  has  proved  its  right  to 
existence  by  the  good  works  it  has  done. 

SOUTH   ROYALTON   WOMAN'S  CLUB. 

Contributed  by  Mrs.  E.  B.  Sherman. 

The  South  Royalton  Woman's  Club  was  organized  in  the 
autumn  of  1906,  and  held  its  first  regular  meeting  with  Mrs. 
R.  R.  Fielders.  Its  object  is,  **  Mutual  improvement  and  social 
ability."  Its  motto  is  ** Lofty  thoughts  and  noble  deeds. '*  The 
charter  members  were  Mrs.  D.  E.  Dearing,  Mrs.  R.  R.  Fielders, 
Mrs.  F.  D.  Freeman,  Mrs.  Frank  Ainsworth,  Mrs.  John  H.  Hew- 
itt, Mrs.  B.  Anna  Bingham,  Mrs.  Myrtie  Fielders,  Mrs.  Gertrude 
Lewis,  Mrs.  Martha  Sibley,  Mrs.  Mary  Talbert,  Mrs.  E.  B.  Sher- 
man, Miss  Hattie  M.  Fay,  Miss  Minnie  E.  Blodgett,  Miss  Minnie 
Metcalf.  The  first  president  of  the  club  was  Mrs.  D.  E.  Dear- 
ing, but  owing  to  her  resignation  on  Nov.  6,  1906,  the  first  act- 
ing president  was  Mrs.  John  H.  Hewitt,  who  served  one  year. 
Miss  Minnie  Metcalf  was  president  the  two  succeeding  years, 
and  at  present  Mrs.  Charles  Seymour  holds  the  oflSce,  having 
been  elected  in  1909. 

Each  year  a  specified  line  of  study  is  taken  up.  The  first 
year's  work  was  on  the  subject  of  Vermont,  its  early  history, 
and  lives  of  its  founders,  as  well  as  present  day  form  of  govern- 
ment, men  of  affairs,  authors,  and  institutions.  The  first  half 
of  the  second  year  was  spent  in  the  study  of  our  sister  on  the 
north,  Canada.    The  topic  for  the  remaining  months  was  Woman 


604  Baton  or  BatJJMm,  Ymman 

— ^her  influence  in  the  homey  in  fhe  field  of  art,  drama,  litentiue» 
edncatdony  joomaliam,  and  bmineai,  in  philanthropy,  and  on  ike 
platform.  During  ISiOS,  England,  its  geography,  hiitofy,  liters- 
tore,  and  customs  engaged  oar  time,  and  a  very  profitable  year 
it  proved  to  be.  The  present  year  is  to  be  given  over  to  a  look 
into  Scotland,  and  bidai  fair  to  be  the  most  interesting  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  club. 

In  1908  the  club  joined  the  State  Federation,  and  this  aetiQii 
has  been  very  beneficiaL  As  to  mutual  improvement  outside  of 
its  own  borders,  the  Woman's  Club  is  too  young  an  organumtion 
to  have  accomplished  much.  Annual  open  meetings,  oalled  Gen- 
tlemen's  Night,  are  held,  which  are  oeeasions  of  a  great  deal  of 
pleasure  and  profit. 

The  club  has  run  its  first  mile  haltingly,  perhajM,  bat  it 
enters  the  second  mile  with  a  firmer  tread,  bom  of  courage 
gained  from  difficulties  surmounted,  and  with  the  wish  and  de- 
termination to  be  a  factor  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  betterment 
of  the  social  and  economic  life  in  South  Boyalt<Mi. 

OBVILLB  BIXBY  POST,  G.  A.  B. 

Facts  furnished  by  Com.  M.  J.  Sargent. 

Orville  Bixby  Post,  Orand  Army  of  the  Republic,  was  or- 
ganized in  March,  1870,  and  located  at  South  Royalton.  Eugene 
Wright,  then  Principal  of  Royalton  Academy,  was  elected  its 
first  commander,  and  Mark  J.  Sargent  was  appointed  adjutant. 
The  post  was  named  in  memory  of  Orville  Bixby,  who  was  a  resi- 
dent of  South  Royalton  in  1861,  and  elected  a  first  lieutenant  of 
Company  E,  one  of  the  companies  of  the  Second  Regiment  of 
Vermont  Volunteers  in  the  Civil  War.  He  was  afterwards  pro- 
moted captain  of  the  company,  and  was  mortally  wounded  in  the 
battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5,  1864. 

From  the  date  of  organization  to  December,  1908,  there  had 
been  enrolled  115  members,  and  twelve  commanders  had  been 
elected,  viz.:  Eugene  F.  Wright,  Mark  J.  Sargent,  W.  N.  Van 
Cor,  Frank  Lyman,  J.  W.  Bright,  Dostie  Faneuf,  L.  D.  Leavitt, 
J.  W.  Waldo,  Gteorge  Hackett,  Oscar  Stoughton,  Seymour  Cul- 
ver, Dwight  P.  Lesure.  M.  J.  Sargent  served  in  1909-10.  There 
are  about  twenty-four  members  enrolled  at  the  present  time. 
From  the  whole  number  enrolled  on  the  past  records  there  have 
been  forty-six  deaths  known,  thirty-nine  members  transferred, 
thirty-four  honorably  discharged. 

Members  of  the  Post  who  have  held  ofSce  on  the  staff  of  the 
National  Commander-in-Chief,  in  the  Department  of  Vermont, 
and  on  the  staff  of  the  Department  Commander,  are  M.  J.  Sar- 


EbSTOBY  OF  BOYALTON,  VERMONT  605 

gent,  assistant  inspector  on  the  National  staff,  junior  vice-com- 
mander, inspector,  and  chief  mustering  oflScer  of  the  Department 
of  Vermont;  J.  W.  Bright,  J.  W.  Waldo,  L.  D.  Leavitt,  J.  P. 
Shepard,  S.  M.  Snow,  D.  P.  Lesure,  aids  on  the  staff  of  the  De- 
partment Commander;  J.  W.  Bright,  J.  F.  Shepard,  M.  J.  Sar- 
gent, assistant  inspectors. 

The  Post  has  two  auxiliary  organizations,  Orville  Bixby 
Woman 's  Relief  Corps,  and  Mark  J.  Sargent  Camp  Sons  of  Vet- 
erans, and  associate  membership  of  citizens. 

For  about  twenty  years  the  Post  has  received  from  the  town 
a  small  appropriation  for  use  on  Decoration  Day.  This  has  been 
spent  in  hiring  speakers  and  a  band  of  music,  and  with  the  as- 
sistance of  the  Woman  *s  Relief  Corps,  this  Memorial  day  is  year- 
ly observed.  The  exercises  are  held  alternately  in  the  two  vil- 
lages. 

The  officers  of  the  Post  for  the  year  1911  are:  L.  Dudley 
Leavitt,  Com.;  Sylvester  Snow,  S.  V.  C. ;  Charles  J.  Sleeper, 
J.  V.  C. ;  M.  J.  Sargent,  Q.  M. ;  D.  W.  Blake,  Surg. ;  G.  H.  Hack- 
ett.  Chap.;  B.  F.  Bowman,  O.  D.;  Edward  Green,  O.  G.;  B.  F. 
Bowman,  P.  I. 

MARK    J.    SARGENT    CAMP,    NO.    74,    SONS   OP    VETERANS. 

This  Camp  was  organized  March  11,  1891,  by  Col.  H.  0. 
Bixby,  of  Camp  No.  28  of  Chelsea,  assisted  by  other  members  of 
the  Chelsea  Camp,  and  by  members  from  Camps  located  at  White 
River  Junction,  Bethel,  and  Randolph.  It  has  a  membership  of 
thirty.  Its  present  officers  are :  Charles  Woodbury,  Com. ;  Ed- 
ward Smith,  S.  V.  Com.;  Edward  Tenney,  J.  V.  Com.;  G.  L. 
Dutton,  Treas. ;  W.  M.  Sargent,  Sec;  Walter  L.  Spaulding, 
Patriotic  Instructor;  Frank  G.  Spaulding,  Clayton  L.  Wood- 
ward, George  L.  Smith,  Camp  Council;  Clayton  L.  Woodward, 
Chaplain;  Edward  Martin,  Guide;  Archie  Goodale,  Color  Bear- 
er; Edwin  H.  Durkee,  Inner  Guard;  Pearl  I.  Green,  Outer 
Guard. 

While  some  similar  organizations  have  dwindled  or  died  out, 
this  Camp  has  maintained  an  active  interest  in  the  G.  A.  R.,  and 
does  honor  to  the  soldier  for  whom  it  was  named,  and  to  the  town. 

ORVILLE  BIXBY   WOMAN'S  RELIEF  CORPS,   NO.    37,   OP  SOUTH  ROY  AL- 
TON, VERMONT. 

The  history  of  this  Relief  Corps  was  prepared  by  Mrs.  Lydia 
A.  Hatch,  Mrs.  S.  Ellen  Preston,  and  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Shepard,  a 
committee  appointed  for  that  purpose  by  the  president  of  the 
Corps,  Mrs.  Nina  Stoughton. 


606  HiBiCR  (V  BmjJMm,  YmiOMV 

This  aaBoeiation  of  fhe  Woman's  Bdief  Ckn-ps^  ftmdliaiy  to 
the  Grand  Anny  of  the  BepnUie,  was  organind  at  Sooth  B07- 
alton,  Nov.  5, 1887,  with  seventeen  charter  memben.  Mrs.  H^ 
tie  L.  Sargent  was  its  first  preaident 

Its  objeets  are  especially  to  aid  and  assist  the  Grand  Amqr 
of  the  Republic,  and  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  heroie 
dead ;  to  assist  sudi  Union  veterans  as  need  help  and  proteetion, 
and  to  extend  needfol  aid  to  their  widows  and  orphans,  to  find 
them  homes  and  employment,  and  to  assure  them  of  ^ympaHiy 
and  friends;  to  cherish  and  emulate  the  deeds  of  our  anny 
nurses,  and  of  aJl  loyal  women  who  rendered  service  to  our  eoon- 
try  in  her  hour  of  peril;  to  maintain  true  allegiance  to  the  United 
Stetes  of  America;  to  inculcate  lessons  of  patriotism  and  love  of 
country  in  our  children,  and  in  the  communities  in  which  we 
live;  and  to  encourage  the  spread  of  universal  liberty  and  equal 
righto  to  all. 

Women  of  good  moral  character  and  correct  deportment, 
who  have  not  given  aid  and  comfort  to  the  enemies  of  ^  Union, 
who  would  perpetuate  the  principles  to  which  this  association 
stands  pledged,  and  who  have  attained  the  age  of  sixteen  years, 
shall  be  eligible  to  membership  in  the  Woman's  Belief  Corps. 

The  Corps  has  gained  eighty-one,  and  has  lost  by  death,  dis- 
charge, and  other  ways  fif^-five  members,  and  now  has  a  mem- 
bership of  forty-one.  We  have  kept  our  obligations,  and  steadily 
held  the  objects  of  our  order  in  view.  We  have  assisted  the  Post 
in  various  ways,  and  turned  over  to  them  from  our  general  fund 
about  two  hundred  dollars,  and  have  expended  in  cash  for  re- 
lief, clothing  and  food  donated  to  the  value  of  about  six  hundred 
dollars.  The  W.  R.  C.  assisted  the  Andersonville  Prison  Asso- 
ciation in  preserving  their  property;  also  the  Soldiers'  Home, 
by  sending  contributions  of  clothing  and  delicacies  for  the  sol- 
diers. Funds  were  sent  to  the  sufferers  at  Galveston,  Texas,  and 
to  the  needy  in  San  Francisco  at  the  time  of  the  earthquake  dis- 
aster. The  veterans  and  their  families  have  been  assisted  indi- 
vidually, when  consistent  with  the  duties  we  owe  ourselves  and 
our  families. 

The  Corps  and  Post  have  given  the  South  Royalton  Graded 
School  a  flag  costing  fifteen  dollars,  and  several  smaller  flags  to 
district  schools.  It  has  furnished  seventy-five  markers  for  sol- 
diers' graves.  Every  Decoration  Day  the  Corps  furnishes  a  din- 
ner for  the  Post,  Sons  of  Veterans,  the  Band,  and  others  teking 
part  in  the  exercises.  It  furnishes  flowers  and  makes  wreaths, 
and  attends  in  a  body  the  Sunday  service  on  Memorial  Sunday. 

Installation  service  has  always  been  a  time  looked  forward 
to  for  a  social  visit,  as  refreshments  are  served,  and  a  general 


History  of  Royalton,  Vermont  607 

meeting  held  for  the  three  aflSliated  societies.    The  Corps  is  in 
a  prosperous  condition,  gaining  new  members  each  year. 

The  oflScers  of  the  corps  for  the  year  1911  are :  Pres.,  Edna 
Blake;  S.  V.  Pres.,  S.  Ellen  Preston;  J.  V.  Pres.,  Nettie  Waldo; 
Treas.,  Lydia  H.  Hatch ;  Chap.,  Alma  Button ;  Con.,  Etta  Smith ; 
G.,  Susie  Spaulding;  Del.,  Nellie  Smith;  Alt.,  Elizabeth  Blake. 

ROYALTON  LODGE,  74,  I.  0.  O.  P. 

This  lodge  was  organized  in  May,  1908,  with  five  charter 
members.  At  the  time  of  organization,  eight  others  were  ad- 
mitted as  members.  It  has  continued  to  increase  in  numbers, 
until  now  it  has  thirty-four  names  on  its  list. 

Its  oflScers  are:  Lester  Corwin,  N.  G.;  E.  0.  Kent,  V.  G. ; 
Earle  E.  Wilson,  Secretary;  John  B.  Goodrich,  Treasurer;  E.  0. 
Kent,  John  B.  Goodrich,  Otis  Flint,  Trustees;  Rev.  E.  L.  M. 
Barnes,  Chaplain;  Milo  Ricker,  R.  S.  of  N.  G.,  and  Walter 
Dewey,  L.  S.  of  N.  G. ;  Allen  Smith,  R.  S.  of  V.  G.,  and  Frank 
Hackett,  L.  S.  of  V.  G.;  Arthur  Aldrich,  R.  S.  of  Scene,  and 
C.  D.  Hood,  L.  S.  of  Scene;  Charles  Cowen,  I.  G.;  Frank  Shir- 
lock,  0.  G. ;  Rev.  Sherman  Goodwin,  Acting  Past  Grand;  Milo 
Ricker,  Senior  Past  Grand ;  Dr.  0.  J.  Ellis,  Junior  Past  Grand. 

WHITE   RIVER  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

Dr.  D.  E.  Dearing  and  Rev.  Sherman  Goodwin  are  two  men 
who  do  not  confine  their  interest  to  their  special  profession,  but 
are  anxious  to  see  the  farming  interests  of  the  community  stimu- 
lated, and  methods  improved.  The  White  River  Valley  Horti- 
cultural Society  is  the  result  of  their  activity  in  promoting  a 
saner  and  more  successful  cultivation  of  the  soil.  It  was  organ- 
ized in  May,  1910,  with  the  following  list  of  officers:  Dr.  D.  E. 
Dearing,  Pres.;  J.  B.  Goodrich,  Charles  Woodbury,  G.  A.  Che- 
ney, F.  E.  Haynes,  and  R.  R.  Sykes,  Vice-Presidents ;  Rev.  Sher- 
man Goodwin,  Sec.;  Edward  Martin,  Treas.;  Amos  J.  Eaton, 
W.  O.  Belknap,  John  Woodward,  Charles  Cowen,  and  Rev. 
E.  L.  M.  Barnes,  Directors;  John  Schontag,  E.  J.  Hewitt,  W.  P. 
Hubbard,  Advertising  Committee. 

The  Society  held  its  first  annual  exhibit  in  the  vestry  of  the 
Congregational  church  in  South  Royalton,  Oct.  5th  and  6th,  1910. 
This  exhibit  far  exceeded  the  expectation  of  its  friends.  It  was 
a  grand  success  in  number,  variety,  and  quality  of  its  articles — 
fruits,  vegetables,  flowers,  and  grains.  The  members,  now  be- 
tween twenty  and  thirty,  are  planning  for  a  larger  and  better 
exhibit  the  coming  year. 


eoa  HisioBT  OP  BoTAiAOK,  Yvmmom 


WEETTB  RIVB  JfOUUTKt  A8B00UTION. 

This  Anociatioii  was  orgaiUBed  cm  June  1, 1909.  It  adopted 
for  its  motto,  ^'Better  poultry,  and  more  of  if  It  has  held  two 
annual  exhibitions.  The  one  of  1910  was  held  Jan.  3»  4,  and  6, 
in  Sons  of  Veterans'  Hail,  South  B<^ton.  The  interest  shown 
by  the  exhibitors  from  the  several  towns,  and  by  the  pubUo  gen- 
erally, was  most  gratii^nng  to  the  Assoeiation.  About  sixty  dol* 
lars  in  prizes  were  awarded,  the  ladies  coming  in  for  a  goodly 
shiu^  of  them.  Poultry  raimng  is  a  healthful  and  pajring  oeeu- 
pation  for  women.  One  Randolph  woman  reported  |S0O  earned 
from  about  200  hens  in  one  year,  and  no  fancy  prioes  were 
charged  for  eggs  or  chicks. 

The  officers  of  this  Association  are :  Dr.  D.  E.  Dearing,  Pres., 
S.  Boyalton;  L.  H.  Richardson,  S.  Boyalton,  Mrs.  0.  W.  Brock- 
way,  Randolph  Center,  W.  A.  Clifford,  Sharon,  C.  C.  Paine, 
Bethel,  Qeorge  Waterman,  Royalton,  F.  H.  Totman,  N.  Tun- 
bridge,  and  E.  L.  Howe,  Barnard,-  Vice-Presidents;  Rev.  Sher- 
man Gk)odwin,  Sec.  and  Trees.;  J.  A.  Schontag,  C.  E.  Paine, 
C.  W.  Seymour,  L.  E.  Stevens,  P.  C.  Cook,  and  J.  T.  Berry, 
Executive  Committee. 

WHITE  BIVEB  CAMP  OF  M.  W.  OF  ▲.,  NO.  10040. 

This  Camp  was  organized  in  1904.  Its  present  membership 
is  eighteen.  The  present  officers  are :  George  Dutton,  Counsel ; 
Edward  Smith,  Adviser ;  George  Bingham,  Banker ;  Erie  Paneuf , 
Clerk;  R.  A.  Pierce,  Escort;  Charles  Pelton,  Watchman;  Clar- 
ence Puller,  Sentry;  Dr.  0,  J.  Ellis,  Camp  Physician. 

THE  SOUTH  ROYALTON  PUBLIC  BENEFIT  SOCIETY. 

This  society  started  under  the  name  of  The  Ladies'  Drink- 
ing Fountain  Sewing  Society.  It  organized  Feb.  28,  1908,  with 
the  usual  constitution  and  by-laws.  Gentlemen  as  well  as  ladies 
are  eligible  to  membership.  The  first  work  of  the  society  was  to 
solicit  funds  for  a  drinking  fountain  to  be  placed  in  the  Square 
opposite  the  Dr.  Whitcomb  residence.  To  this  fund  the  Woman's 
Literary  Club  contributed  seventy-five  dollars,  and  Daniel  G. 
Wild,  Esq.,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  fifty  dollars.  The  funds  were 
placed  in  the  White  Biver  National  Bank  at  Bethel,  and  now 
with  interest  amount  to  nearly  $300. 

The  present  officers  are:  Mrs.  Emogene  Goodale,  Pres.; 
Mrs.  Mary  Clapp,  Sen.  Vice-Pres.;  Miss  Elizabeth  Sleeper,  Jun. 
Vice-Pres. ;  Mrs.  Ellen  Ayer,  Sec.;  Mrs.  Jennie  Hewitt,  Treas. 
The  committee  to  secure  a  spring,  also  a  fountain  and  see  to  put- 


History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont  609 

ting  it  in  place,  are  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Hewitt,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
J.  W.  Woodward,  M.  H.  Hazen,  J.  B.  Goodrich,  A.  N.  Merrill, 
Mrs.  Nettie  Waldo,  Mrs.  Mary  Clapp,  and  Mrs.  Ellen  Ayer. 
Efforts  will  be  made  to  have  the  projected  fountain  completed 
the  coming  season. 

The  Society  also  has  in  mind  the  need  of  a  public  building 
for  a  library  and  a  hall,  both  of  which  are  now  lacking,  a  recita- 
tion room  in  the  school  building  serving  as  a  library  room,  and 
the  churches  as  places  for  public  gatherings  of  various  kinds. 

GEN.  HANCOCK  COUNCIL,  JR.,  ORDER  UNITED  AMERICAN  MECHANICS. 

This  society  was  organized  in  July,  1896,  in  Royalton  vil- 
lage, by  the  State  Organizer,  Mr.  Alexander.  The  membership 
at  first  was  about  twenty.  Charles  Hinkley  was  Counselor; 
George  Joy,  Vice-Counselor ;  Gteorge  Emery,  Financial  Sec. ;  Asa 
Hibbard,  Sec.;  Dr.  W.  L.  Paine,  Conductor.  Other  members 
were  Will  Waterman,  Leslie  Rumrill,  Prin.  C.  L.  Curtis,  George 
Harvey,  and  Dr.  Fred  Morse,  who  all  held  offices.  In  fact,  one 
member  says,  there  were  just  about  offices  enough  to  go  around. 

This  organization  aided  in  establishing  others  in  Chelsea 
and  E.  Randolph.  In  1897  it  successfully  presented  a  drama, 
** Uncle  Josh."  Funds  were  obtained  in  this  way,  and  by  oyster 
suppers  and  other  entertainments.  The  next  year  marked  the 
beginning  of  a  decline,  and  on  Jan.  10,  1899,  the  remains  of  the 
society  met  at  Laird's  store,  and  the  result  was  jotted  down  by  a 
local  poet  in  this  way: 

"Doth  Gen.  Hancock  Council  die. 

To-night  at  Laird's  his  country  store. 
Poor  Junior  Order,  now  farewell! 
Mechanics  meetings  are  no  more." 

When  they  disbanded,  they  had  two  dollars  apiece  in  the 
division  of  what  was  left  in  the  treasury. 


3» 


CHAPTER  XL. 


Present  Business  Men  op  South  Royalton. 

Martin  S.  Adams  has  the  distinction  of  having  been  in  busi- 
ness in  South  Royalton  longer  than  any  other  man,  and  is  still 
capable  and  energetic.  He  first  put  in  a  general  stock  of  goods 
in  the  Morgan,  McCain  and  Manahan  store,  which  he  purchased 
of  Bradstreet  &  Smith  in  1863.  He  sold  out  this  business  to 
Albert  L.  Bain  in  1870,  who  took  as  a  partner  Ransom  D.  Crain, 
and  the  store  was  then  known  as  the  Bain  &  Crain  store.  He 
then  began  a  wholesale  and  retail  trade  in  flour.  His  purchase 
cf  the  ** Pierce"  mills  has  been  noted  elsewhere.  His  later  years 
have  been  devoted  to  buying  and  selling  lumber,  and  his  yard  is 
plainly  seen  in  the  rear  of  the  freight  depot.  Though  steering 
some  heavy  reverses,  he  never  succumbed  to  them,  but  with  char- 
acteristic courage  went  to  work  to  retrieve  his  fortunes.  His 
further  record  will  be  found  in  the  genealogy  of  the  family. 

Anson  P.  Skinner  ranks  next  to  Mr.  Adams  in  the  length 
of  time  he  has  been  doing  business  in  South  Royalton.  He  did 
not  settle  in  the  village  until  1871,  but  as  a  drover  he  carried  on 
active  business  in  the  place  as  early  as  1867.  His  first  meat 
market  was  in  the  basement  of  the  Bain  &  Crain  store.  From 
there  he  removed  to  the  other  side  of  the  street  into  the  basement 
of  William  Tarbell's  building.  In  1882  he  bought  a  small 
building  of  R.  D.  Crain,  east  of  the  Bain  &  Crain  store.  His 
business  increased,  and  he  enlarged  his  stock  to  include  groceries 
and  provisions,  besides  the  meat  market.  His  carts  are  sent  out 
to  all  the  neighboring  towns. 

Mr.  Skinner  has  always  been  ready  to  respond  to  any  call 
that  promised  a  public  good,  and  has  been  connected  with  nearly 
every  enterprise  that  was  thought  to  be  conducive  to  the  welfare 
of  the  general  community.  He  has  been  a  Mason  for  thirty 
years,  and  has  served  twenty-five  years  as  treasurer  of  Rising 
Sun  Lodge,  No.  7,  F.  and  A.  M.  He  is  a  deacon  in  the  Congre- 
gational church,  and  has  held  different  town  offices,  serving  as 
town  representative  in  1894-95.  He  has  recently  turned  over 
the  grocery  department  of  his  store  in  the  Block  to  his  son.  Leon 
Skinner. 


I'crklnH    SkldQ^r. 


History  of  Boyalton,  Vermont  611 

John  H.  Hewitt  has  almost  as  long  a  record  of  active  busi- 
ness life  in  South  Boyalton  as  Mr.  Skinner.  He  began  as  a 
speculator  in  potatoes  and  hemlock  bark  in  1870,  and  success- 
fully continued  in  this  line  ten  years.  He  then  started  a  store 
in  William  Tarbell's  building,  in  the  second  story,  where  he  kept 
groceries,  furniture,  and  crockery.  Prom  that  place  he  removed 
into  the  King  building  on  the  comer,  the  store  built  by  Daniel 
Tarbell  for  Horace  Parkhurst.  He  had  one-half  the  building, 
using  both  floors,  and  Dr.  Whitcomb  had  the  other  half,  and  put 
in  a  stock  of  dry  goods  and  drugs,  and  his  son,  Henry  Whitcomb, 
had  the  post-office  in  the  same  place. 

Mr.  Hewitt  was  in  this  building  at  the  time  of  the  great  fire, 
1886,  and  lost  all  his  stock,  which  was  not  insured.  He  was  not 
discouraged,  but  at  once  began  anew.  After  the  Block  was 
built,  he  rented  his  present  store,  and  now  carries  a  large  stock 
of  groceries,flour,  feed,  grain,  paints  and  oils,  and  has  the  under- 
taking and  embalming  business.  About  a  year  ago  he  built  an 
elevator  and  mill  combined,  and  grinds  the  grain  to  supply  his 
customers.  In  1898  he  purchased  the  old  school  building,  which 
had  been  moved  onto  the  Alden  Chamberlain  lot,  and  has  since 
used  it  as  a  grain  storehouse,  fitting  up  the  upper  story  for  a  hall. 

Mr.  Hewitt  possesses  unusual  business  acumen,  and  is  anx- 
ious to  please  his  customers.  He  is  ably  assisted  by  his  son, 
Ernest  J.  Hewitt,  and  two  other  clerks.  He  has  been  auditor  for 
the  town  many  years,  and  has  held  other  offices  of  trust.  He  is  a 
Mason  and  a  member  of  the  Eastern  Star.  He  was  town  rep- 
resentative in  1898-99. 

Mark  J.  Sargent  is  another  business  man  who  has  made 
South  Royalton  his  home  and  center  of  activity  for  forty  or  more 
years.  Mr.  Sargent  came  from  Randolph  about  1868  and  set  up 
the  manufactory  of  hoop  skirts  in  the  west  end  of  the  Bixby  and 
Jones  store  building.  He  did  not  long  continue  this  business,  as 
hoop  skirts  began  to  decline  in  size  and  popularity.  In  1869  he 
went  into  partnership  with  Dr.  David  Moore  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness. The  next  year  he  sold  his  interest  to  Dr.  Moore,  but  soon 
formed  a  partnership  with  John  B.  Durkee,  and  bought  out  Dr. 
Moore  and  E.  A.  Maxham.  who  had  moved  his  drug  business 
from  Royalton  village  to  South  Royalton.  Sargent  &  Durkee 
had  a  store  on  the  north  side  of  Chelsea  street,  where  it  crosses 
Windsor  street.  They  sold  this  store  in  1873  to  Miss  Hattie 
Bean,  who  put  in  a  milliner's  stock  of  goods  in  connection  with 
dressmaking.  Mr.  Sargent  has  conducted  a  remarkably  well- 
equipped  drug  store  for  many  years.  His  partnership  with  Mr. 
Durkee  did  not  long  continue.  After  his  son,  William  M.  Sar- 
gent, arrived  at  maturity  he  entered  into  partnership  with  his 


612  EbSTORY  OF  BOTALTON,  YSSMOMT 

father,  the  firm  now  being  M.  J.  Sargent  &  Son.  The  central 
ofSce  of  the  People's  Telephone  is  in  charge  of  this  firm. 

Mr.  Sargent  was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  War.  His  record 
will  be  found  under  the  proper  head.  He  was  one  of  the  few 
who  originated  the  Orville  Bixby  Post  in  South  Boyalton,  and 
has  been  closely  identified  with  it  ever  since.  He  is  also  a  loyal 
Mason,  and  has  a  long  and  honorable  record  in  connection  with 
that  organization.  Other  facts  of  his  life  will  appear  in  the 
history  of  the  Sargent  family. 

William  Henry  Sargent,  a  brother  of  Mark  J.  Sargent,  came 
to  Royalton  in  1865.  He  settled  here  permanently  in  1868,  and 
bought  a  blacksmith  shop  of  Charles  Crandall,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  First  Branch.  He  continued  at  his  forge  until  1883,  when 
he  started  in  the  meat  business,  opening  a  market  in  the  village, 
and  sending  a  cart  on  the  road.  He  has  continued  this  business 
until  the  present  time,  though  he  does  not  go  on  the  road  in  the 
winter  season.  He  is  still  hale  and  hearty,  and  in  a  condition 
to  run  his  cart  for  many  years  to  come. 

Herbert  C.  Sargent,  son  of  Henry  Sargent,  has  a  neat  and 
attractive  store  in  the  Block,  where  several  clerks  are  kept  busy 
attending  to  the  wants  of  customers.  He  went  into  business  for 
himself  in  1896,  by  running  a  cart  on  the  road,  then  opened  a 
store  in  the  basement  of  Tarbell's  block,  and  is  now  in  ISIartin's 
block. 

He  carries  a  considerable  stock  of  groceries  in  connection 
with  his  meat  market,  and  tempts  the  young  with  his  soda  foun- 
tain and  ice-cream  on  hot  summer  days,  and  with  fresh  baked 
peanuts  in  the  cold  winter  season.  His  customers  are  sure  of 
prompt  and  courteous  attention.  His  carts  are  on  the  road  the 
year  round,  one  of  his  clerks  being  his  brother,  Fred,  and  an- 
other, his  cousin,  Edward  II.  Sargent. 

J.  Orlando  Belknap  removed  from  East  Barnard,  where  he 
was  bred  to  mercantile  life,  to  South  Royalton  in  1875,  and  leased 
the  store  that  Bain  &  Grain  had  occupied.  Mr.  Belknap's 
father,  Seymour  Belknap,  was  a  merchant  in  East  Barnard  for 
many  years.  **J.  0."  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  had  sold  pins 
and  thread  almost  from  the  time  his  head  reached  the  counter, 
and  he  early  went  into  business  for  himself.  He  had  been  post- 
master at  East  Barnard  for  some  time. 

His  usual  success  attended  him  in  South  Royalton,  until  he 
was  burned  out  in  1883,  when  a  fire  started  in  the  store  of  Bixby 
&  Jones,  catching  from  a  spark  from  the  railroad  engine,  as  was 
supposed.  He  then  rebuilt,  and  went  on  prosperously  until  the 
fire  of  1886  swept  away  everything  again  on  both  sides  of  Chel- 
sea street,  as  far  east  as  Windsor  street.  Mr.  Belknap  then 
united  with  other  merchants  in  putting  up  the  Block.     He  con- 


HiSTCmY  OF  BOYALTON,  VERMONT  613 

tinued  the  business  of  a  dry  goods  merchant  until  his  death  in 
1910.  The  firm  now  exists  under  the  name  of  J.  0.  Belknap's 
Sons.  At  the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Belknap  was  postmaster  at 
South  Royalton,  and  one  of  the  directors  of  the  National  White 
River  Bank  at  Bethel.  His  son,  Perley,  has  been  appointed  post- 
master to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  his  son,  William,  who  remains  in 
the  store,  has  been  elected  bank  director  in  the  place  of  his  father. 

Mr.  Belknap  was  auditor  for  the  town  a  considerable  period 
of  years,  and  held  other  offices  of  trust  and  honor.  He  was  con- 
sidered a  man  of  sound  judgment,  conservative  in  methods  of 
business,  of  strict  integrity,  and  was  entrusted  with  the  settle- 
ment of  estates,  which  were  expeditiously  and  successfully  closed 
up  to  the  satisfaction  of  those  interested.  His  son,  William,  has 
been  connected  with  the  store  from  youth,  except  when  prose- 
cuting his  studies.  He  is  now  manager  of  the  business,  and  is 
keeping  a  well-selected,  up-to-date  stock  of  dry  goods,  men's  and 
women's  clothing,  and  groceries.  Perley  Belknap  is  kept  busy 
in  the  post-office.  He  has  served  several  years  as  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education  in  South  Royalton,  and  his  influence  has 
always  been  in  the  direction  of  a  liberal  support  of  the  public 
schools  in  the  matter  of  equipment  and  the  salaries  of  teachers. 

L.  C.  Dickerman  came  to  South  Royalton  from  Tunbridge 
in  1873.  His  father,  Lewis  Dickerman  of  Tunbridge,  purchased 
the  Wilmot  building  on  the  south  side  of  Chelsea  street,  and 
leased  it  to  his  son,  L.  C.  Dickerman,  and  Albert  W.  Davis.  They 
put  in  a  large  stock  of  dry  goods  on  the  first  floor,  and  Mr. 
Dickerman  occupied  the  upper  floor  as  a  tenement.  He  sold  out 
to  Mr.  Davis  in  April,  1875,  but  bought  the  stock  back  again  the 
next  year,  and  continued  the  business  alone  until  he  was  burned 
out  in  February,  1878.  Mr.  Lewis  Dickerman  rebuilt,  and  L.  C, 
or  **Cass,"  as  he  is  often  called,  put  in  another  stock  of  goods. 
He  was  successful  in  business  until  the  great  fire  of  1886  again 
destroyed  everything.  As  no  stores  were  rebuilt  on  that  side  of 
the  street,  the  Sanborn  lot  and  house  were  purchased  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Chelsea  and  Windsor  streets,  and  another  store  was 
erected.  The  Sanborn  house  was  cut  in  two,  and  the  store  built 
on  to  the  half  left  standing.  This  was  necessary,  as  there  was 
not  room  for  a  new  building  next  to  Windsor  street.  In  the 
fire  of  October  2d,  1893,  he  again  lost  everything,  store  and  stock 
of  goods.  Not  baffled  by  repeated  disasters,  Mr.  Dickerman 
again  rebuilt,  this  time  a  store  and  tenement  combined.  He  em- 
ploys two  clerks.  Miss  Bertha  and  Miss  Mary  Morse,  who  also 
have  a  milliner's  shop  in  the  north  end  of  the  Dickerman  build- 
ing. Mr.  Dickerman  has  a  large  patronage  among  the  farmers, 
who  are  sure  of  receiving  the  highest  market  prices  for  their 
produce.    He  is  doing  a  thriving  business. 


614  History  or  Bosalton,  Vebhont 

Charles  E.  Black,  a  brother-in-law  of  J.  0.  Belknap,  and  a 
rocMWor  to  the  BeUmap  store  in  East  Barnard  in  1875,  re- 
moved  from  that  place  to  South  Royalton  in  the  fall  of  1891, 
Me  bon^t  of  Johii  B.  Durkee  his  store  in  the  Block,  and  his 
stock  ot,  hardWHre  and  groceriea.  He  at  once  began  to  close  out 
the  hardware,  and  to  put  in  a  stock  of  dry  goods.  He  carries 
a  heavy  stock  of  general  merchandise,  and  has  the  true  trades- 
man's uutiiiet  that  knows  how  to  please  customers.  For  twenty- 
tvo  years  be  has  employed  as  clerk,  George  R.  Allen,  who  is 
sqnallj  lEriNUie>  and  solicitous  to  suit  their  patrons.  Mr.  Black 
haa  hdd  important  positions  in  town  affairs,  having  been  selec1> 
man,  overseer  of  the  poor,  and  auditor.  He  was  postmaster  six- 
teen yean  in  East  Barnard,  and  four  years  in  South  Roj-aiton, 
nnder  Cleveland.     He  is  a  Denaocrat. 

Caspar  P.  Abbott  was  in  the  harness  bosisess  in  Hart&rd, 
before  removing  to  South  Boyahon  in  1887.  He  opened  a  livety 
in  the  Vermcmt  Central  Hotel  bam.  This  hotel  homed  aoon 
after,  and  he  pnrehased  the  hoose  now  owned  by  W.  O,  Belknap, 
aonth  of  the  lu>teL  He  bnilt  a  bam  here  and  pnt  in  a  livery  and 
harness  shop.  He  told  this  in  1894,  and  bnilt  a  harness  sh<^  and 
tmement  combined,  with  a  itable  connected.  He  sold  his  sto(^ 
to  Fred  Culver,  and  the  livery  earns  into  the  handa  of  T.  Qt. 
Dearborn.  This  building  is  on  the  north  side  of  Chelsea  street, 
east  of  the  Dickennan  store.  In  1903  Mr,  Abbott  bought  &  half 
interest  in  the  saw  mill  commonly  called  the  "Pierce  Mill,"  and 
with  Elmer  Doyle  continues  in  this  business.  In  1908  he  built 
a  grain  and  feed  store  below  the  W.  W.  Qallup  house,  near  the 
bridge,  and  now  gives  his  chief  attention  to  his  store. 

Arthur  A.  Abbott  came  from  Chelsea  to  South  Boyalton 
about  twenty  years  ago,  to  learn  the  harness  trade  with  his 
brother,  Caspar,  After  he  had  mastered  the  trade,  he  worked  in 
various  places,  but  returned  in  1900  to  work  for  his  brother.  In 
January,  1910,  he  purchased  of  Fred  Culver  his  stock  of  harness 
goods,  and  now  keeps  a  first-class  supply  of  goods  in  his  line. 
The  same  year  that  he  started  in  business  for  himself  he  married 
Miss  Emma  Bowell,  a  popular  and  successful  teacher  in  the  vil- 
lage schools,  and  purchased  a  pleasant  faome  on  South  street. 

Qeorge  H.  Dewey  is  a  native  of  Boyalton.  He  learned  the 
hardware  trade  of  A.  H.  Lamb.  In  1898  he  went  into  business 
for  himself  in  the  basement  of  Tarbell's  block.  It  is  doubtful 
if  any  other  trader  in  South  Boyalton  ever  began  business  in 
just  the  same  way.  His  only  stock  was  his  tools.  As  he  earned 
money  he  invested  in  goods,  and  step  by  step  worked  his  way  up, 
until  today  he  has  as  fine  a  stock  of  hardware  and  tinware  as 
can  be  found  in  any  country  store.  He  soon  removed  from  the 
Tarbell  block  into  the  basement  of  the  Martin  block,  and  later 


History  of  Botalton,  Vermont  615 

to  the  first  floor  of  No.  9  in  the  Block.  In  1909  he  removed  into 
No.  7  of  the  Block,  where  he  still  is  doing  business.  He  has 
employed  Charles  P.  Polsom  for  several  years,  who  attends  to 
the  plumbing  and  heating. 

Allen  W.  Bohonnon,  a  native  of  Bolton,  was  appointed  sta- 
tion agent  at  South  Royalton  in  1903.  He  had  had  twelve  years' 
experience  in  railroad  stations  previous  to  this.  He  held  this 
station  until  1908,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  station  at  Waterbury. 
He  resigned  his  position  there  and  returned  to  South  Royalton. 
In  company  with  John  E.  Phelps  he  bought  the  hardware  stock 
of  Henry  Manchester  in  1909.  They  ran  the  business  a  year, 
then  Mr.  Bohonnon  bought  out  his  partner,  and  removed  his 
stock  of  goods  to  the  store  which  he  purchased  of  Mrs.  Erva 
Sargent  in  the  Block.  He  is  a  man  whom  his  patrons  trust,  and, 
though  new  to  the  business,  he  has  been  very  successful. 

John  E.  Phelps  learned  the  hardware  business  of  E.  P. 
Wardwell  of  Woodstock,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
years.  He  worked  as  clerk  for  George  H.  Manchester  in  South 
Royalton  two  years,  then  bought  a  part  of  the  Manchester  stock, 
and  went  into  trade  for  himself  in  the  same  store.  After  he  dis- 
solved partnership  with  Mr.  Bohonnon,  he  removed  his  part  of 
the  goods  into  the  basement  of  the  Martin  block.  His  specialty 
is  plumbing  and  heating,  and  he  is  kept  busy  most  of  the  time 
in  this  and  neighboring  towns  in  attending  to  calls  for  this  kind 
of  work.    He  keeps  one  clerk,  Mr.  Lewis. 

Ernest  P.  Moody  bought  out  his  brother,  Bert  L.  Moody,  in 
1902.  This  was  a  furniture  store,  and  with  it  Mr.  Moody  has 
combined  crockery  and  fancy  ware.  He  makes  a  specialty  of 
Christmas  goods,  and  his  store  is  always  crowded  during  the 
holidays,  when  the  little  ones  are  often  given  a  free  treat. 

Upon  the  death  of  Edward  Poster  in  1897,  his  son,  Heber, 
assumed  the  responsibility  of  conducting  the  flour,  feed,  grain, 
and  coal  business,  which  his  father's  death  left  without  a  head. 
He  has  shown  commendable  faithfulness,  zeal,  and  sagacity,  and 
is  reckoned  as  one  of  the  most  reliable,  solid,  business  men  of 
the  village. 

Greorge  E.  Plint  was  an  employe  of  ihe  South  Royalton 
Shoe  Pactory  for  a  time.  He  then  went  to  Bethel,  and  was  given 
charge  of  the  stock  room  of  the  Bethel  Shoe  Company,  returning 
to  the  shop  in  South  Royalton  when  the  Bethel  Company  sus- 
pended. He  worked  for  a  time  in  the  C.  A.  Hibbard  Shoe  Pac- 
tory at  Burlington,  then  resumed  work  in  the  White  River  Shoe 
Pactory,  and  when  it  removed  from  town  he  went  to  work  in 
Newport,  N.  H.  He  soon  returned  to  South  Royalton  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  Elmer  Hapgood,  which  firm  is  noted 
in  the  chapter  on  ''Industries."    Por  a  year  and  a  half  he  has 


616  HuxoBT  OP  BoTAUOMV  VmnxR 

kad  a  shop  <m  the  second  floor  of  fbe  fikumee  Uoek,  wheve  lie 
repairs  and  sells  shoes. 

'  Ab  B.  Fielders  went  into  paxtnership  with  J.  G.  Adilej  in 
the  fall  of  1900.  When  Mr.  AaU^  sold  his  interest  to  P.  A. 
Blanehard,  the  firm  beeame  Fielders  and  Blanehazd,  tonaorial 
artists.  Mr.  Fielders  bonf^  oat  his  partner  in  Deeember,  1908, 
and  eontinned  the  business  alone  nntil  June,  1901,  when  ha  took 
as  a  partner  E.  H.  Ashley.  He  sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Addqr 
in  April,  1906,  and  bought  oat  P.  A.  Jerd.  He  has  a  diop  in  the 
Skinner  bloek,  second  ^Mir.  He  came  trom  Bandolph,  where  he 
learned  his  tnide.    He  is  a  Mason,  an  OdiUeUow,  and  a  Wood* 


Frederiok  R  Sejrmonr,  bom  in  MiUon,  came  to  Sooth  Bq7- 
alton  from  Claremont,  N.  H.,  in  September,  1907,  and  pnrehased 
the  stock  of  goods  belonging  to  the  jewelry  store  of  L.  F.  Terry 
in  the  Martin  block.  He  is  assisted  by  his  wife,  and  both  are 
persons  with  whom  customers  like  to  trade. 

The  connection  of  E.  H.  Ashley  with  A.  R  Fielders  in  the 
barber  business  has  been  mentioned.  After  he  bought  out  Mr. 
Fielders,  he  sold  a  half  interest  to  A.  L.  Benedict,  with  whom 
he  continued  until  March,  1910,  when  he  bought  out  his  partner, 
and  has  since  run  the  business  alone  at  the  old  stand  next  to  the 
post-office,  where  his  shop  seems  always  to  have  a  customer. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 


Miscellaneous, 
visits  of  noted  men. 

A  town  always  feels  honored  when  a  noted  man  or  woman 
accepts  its  hospitality  as  a  guest.  This  was  especially  the  case 
when  traveling  was  not  so  rapid  and  easy  as  it  is  today,  when 
Presidents  dash  from  one  shore  of  the  country  to  the  other, 
making  hundreds  of  speeches  in  the  course  of  transit.  Then, 
fortunate  indeed  was  the  village  or  city  that  had  the  pleasure  of 
entertaining  a  public  functionary  of  national  fame. 

During  Madison 's  administration  the  demands  upon  the  time 
of  the  Chief  Executive  left  him  little  time  for  rest,  or  oppor- 
tunity for  becoming  acquainted  with  the  people  who  had  elected 
him.  When  President  Monroe  came  to  the  White  House,  a 
period  of  peace  had  begun.  James  Monroe  in  preceding  years 
had  been  much  in  the  public  eye,  as  agent  to  foreign  Courts,  and 
as  Secretary  of  State,  and  had  the  happy  faculty  of  winning  the 
hearty  support  of  all  parties.  To  become  still  better  acquainted 
with  the  needs  of  the  nation  over  which  he  was  placed,  he  visited 
portions  of  it,  and  so  in  the  course  of  his  travels  he  came  to 
Royalton. 

He  was  the  first  chief  magistrate  to  visit  Vermont.  He  en- 
tered the  State  at  Norwich,  July  22,  1817,  dined  in  that  village, 
and  spent  the  night  in  Windsor.  He  followed  the  stage  route 
from  Windsor  to  Woodstock,  then  through  Boyalton  to  Mont- 
pelier.  It  is  unfortunate  that  no  record  has  been  preserved  of 
his  entertainment  in  Boyalton.  He  passed  through  the  town 
July  23,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  he  was  given  a  royal  welcome. 

The  true  love  of  liberty  implanted  in  every  soul  never  con- 
fines itself  to  domestic,  national,  or  racial  lines.  Wherever  there 
is  a  down-trodden,  oppressed  people  or  person,  it  is  sure  to 
awaken  heart-throbs  of  sympathy,  and  a  desire  to  help,  in  the 
minds  of  those  who  live  for  the  betterment  of  the  world. 

To  this  fact  is  due  the  debt  of  gratitude  which  this  nation 
owes  to  the  noble,  self-sacrificing  zeal  and  labor  of  the  Marquis 
Lafayette.    It  was  no  mere  spirit  of  adventure  that  drove  him 


618  HnxoBT  OP  Botaiaok,  Ywnman 

from  the  sonny  shores  of  lovdy,  fertile  France  to  the  bleak,  for- 
est-covered land  of  Ameriea.  It  was  no  mere  desire  for  frone 
that  made  him  strike  hands  with  Waahington,  the  leader  without 
means,  tihie  commander  of  a  small  army  of  half -dad,  afanoat  wild- 
ly nndiseiplined  soldiers.  It  waa  with  no  ezpeetation  of  golden 
returns  in  the  future,  that  prompted  him  to  pour  out  his  fortune 
like  water,  that  America's  sons  and  daughters  might  breathe  the 
air  of  true  freedom.  It  is  not  strange  that  every  school  hoy  and 
girl  loves  the  name  of  La&yette.  With  thia  spirit  of  gratitude 
and  love  he  was  welcomed,  when  he  returned  for  a  visit  to  the 
land,  then  and  to  the  day  of  his  death,  dear  to  him. 

When  it  was  known  that  he  would  oome  to  thia  eonntry  in 
1825,  though  most  of  those  who  had  stood  by  him  in  the  great 
conflict,  which  threw  off  the  shackles  of  England,  had  answered 
to  the  final  call,  the  new  generation  in  every  state  was  eager  to 
manifest  its  appreciation  of  his  noble  efforts  in  its  behalf.  In- 
vitations from  legislatures  and  governors  were  showered  upon 
him,  most  of  which  he  accepted.  On  the  recommendation  of 
Gov.  Van  Ness,  tihe  Legislature  of  Vermont  in  1824  requested 
the  Qovemor  to  invite  Lafayette  to  visit  Vermont  in  his  tour 
through  the  country.  The  Qovemor  extended  the  invitation  in 
December,  and  it  was  accepted  the  January  following. 

Gen.  Lafayette  entered  the  state  at  Windsor,  June  28, 1825. 
He  was  accompanied  by  his  son,  Col.  Gteorge  Washington  La- 
fayette, and  by  his  secretary,  M.  Le  Vasseur.  Gov.  Van  Ness 
and  his  suit  met  him  at  Windsor  and  escorted  him  to  Mont- 
pelier.  Lafayette  went  from  Windsor  to  Woodstock,  where  he 
was  given  an  ovation,  and  from  thence  he  came  by  the  old  Boy- 
alton  and  Woodstock  Turnpike  road  to  Eoyalton. 

Details  had  been  carefully  planned  for  his  entertainment  in 
Boyalton.  The  committee  of  arrangements  was  composed  of 
Moses  Cutter,  Daniel  Bix,  Dr.  Jo  A.  Denison,  John  Francis, 
Franklin  Hunter,  and  Jacob  CoUamer.  No  better  account  of 
the  preparation  made  for  the  welcome  of  Lafayette  can  be  given 
than  that  in  Miss  Ivah  Dunklee's  publication,  ''The  Burning  of 
Royalton,"  which  account  was  based  on  an  original  paper  by 
Mrs.  Frances  M.  Joiner,  read  before  the  Woman's  Club,  Nov. 
18,  1905. 

"The  town  was  brilliantly  astir  that  morning.  From  Tunbrldge 
came  a  full  company  of  cavalry  in  new  uniforms — ^blue  trousers,  white 
vests,  bright  red  coats,  and  a  peculiar  shaped  cap  with  stiff  plumes  of 
blue  and  white — no  expense  had  been  spared  on  these  uniforms;  even 
coat  buttons  had  been  ordered  in  Boston  at  the  expense  of  |37  each. 

Every  building  in  town  was  dedicated  this  day  to  hospitality.  Be- 
tween the  church  and  (present)  academy,  where  now  runs  the  railroad, 
was  a  long,  one-story  wooden  building  without  windows,  but  with 
numerous  openings  provided  with  heavy  wooden  shutters.  One  end 
was  partitioned  oft  for  a  woodshed,  kitchen,  and  store-room,  and  the 


History  of  Boyalton,  Vebhomt  619 

remainder  with  Its  three  long  tables  and  benches  built  In  the,  hall  had 
been  dedicated  to  feasts  on  training  and  other  great  dasrs. 

Here  the  women  of  the  town  were  assembled  ready  to  cater  to  all 
those  not  entertained  at  the  hotel,  and  in  front  of  this  building  was 
formed  a  long  procession  of  school  children  and  townspeople  led  by 
two  five-year-old  boys — Horatio  Nelson  Smith  and  Dudley  Chase  Denl- 
son." 

Col.  Stafford  Smith  was  at  this  time  landlord  of  the  hotel, 
afterwards  and  now  called  the  **Caseadnac."  As  no  telephones 
were  available  in  announcing  the  arrival  of  the  distinguished 
company,  mounted  young  men  were  sent  out  on  the  turnpike 
road  toward  Woodstock,  stationed  horn  blasts  apart.  One  of 
the  horns  used  on  that  occasion  is  still  preserved,  and  a  picture 
of  it  may  be  seen  in  a  cut  of  relies. 

The  turnpike  road  led  across  the  toll  bridge  at  Poxville, 
where  they  stopped  long  enough  for  Lafayette  to  accept  a  glass 
of  wine,  then  the  brilliant  cavalcade  came  on  to  meet  the  pro- 
cession of  gayly-dressed  children,  singing  their  songs  of  welcome, 
and  of  the  townspeople  cheering  the  hero  whom  they  admired  and 
loved.  Gen.  Lafayette  and  Gov.  Van  Ness  rode  in  an  open 
barouche  drawn  by  six  white  horses.  The  Tunbridge  cavalry 
commanded  by  Capt.  Eaton,  which  met  the  (Jeneral  two  miles 
from  the  village,  rode  behind  the  ten  carriages,  and  then  came 
the  mounted  horn  bearers,  whose  blasts  had  joyfully  announced 
the  arrival  of  Lafayette,  the  whole  escort  to  the  village  being 
under  the  direction  of  Major  Warren. 

A  national  salute  was  fired  by  Revolutionary  patriots.  A 
procession  was  formed  under  the  direction  of  Oel  Billings  and 
his  assistant  marshals,  and  went  to  the  front  of  Col.  Smith's  hotel 
and  formed  an  extensive  square.  The  General  was  advanced  to 
the  open  portico  of  the  hotel.    Here  the  Hon.  Jacob  CoUamer 

delivered  the  following  address  : 

/'In  behalf  of  the  citizens  of  Royalton  and  vicinity  I  am  requested 
to  express  their  extreme  Joy  In  seeing  you  among  us.  We  bid  you 
welcome  to  the  green  hills  and  happy  villages  of  Vermont. 

We  know  no  way  of  rendering  this  welcome  more  acceptable  to 
our  nation's  guest,  than  by  assuring  you  that  every  little  town  and 
village  of  our  country,  however  remote  and  obscure  In  the  mountains 
which  environ  It,  Is  happy  in  the  protection  and  care  of  our  govern- 
ment. 

In  the  full  enjoyment,  In  common  with  our  splendid  cities,  of  all 
those  privileges  and  blessings  which  flow  from  the  liberality  of  our 
republican  Institutions,  and  surrounded  with  the  light  and  Intelligence 
which  attends  those  Institutions,  we  cannot  be  Insensible  whence  these 
blessings  flow,  or  the  debt  of  gratitude  which  they  imply.  These  are 
the  happy  results  of  your  early  labors  and  those  of  your  compatriots. 
Hence  the  thrill  of  pleasure  which,  at  your  condescending  visit,  vibrates 
with  electric  rapidity  and  sympathetic  orison  to  the  most  obscure  and 
remote  recesses  and  extremities  of  our  nation. 

Humbly  then.  Sir,  but  with  sincere  hearts  would  we  wish  to  add 
to  the  gratulatlons  of  our  cities,  our  rustic  salutations  of  welcome,  and 
thus  to  express  a  nation's  gratitude  to  its  early  benefactor. 


890  HmoKT  <nr  BotAioant,  Ywmmaat 

We  blen  the  day  on  wbieh  we  ftie  permitted  to  beludd  too.  for 
your  name  and  aenrioes  we  hare  long  been  aecuatomed  to  aMOCtatti  and 
Identify  with  thoee  of  the  Fiathor  of  our  ooontry." 

It  is  regretted  that  "the  appropriate  reply''  of  Genu  La- 
fayette was  not  given  in  the  aame  aoeouat  in  wlueh  the  q>eeeh 
of  Judge  Collamer  was  fonnd.  It  was  donbtleaa  brief,  as  the 
Qeneral  made  the  trip  from  Windsor  to  Montpelier  in  one  day, 
arriving  at  nine  p.  m. 

After  the  formal  part  of  the  welcome  was  over,  aboat  twenty 
Bevolntionary  soldiers  were  introdneed  to  Lafayette,  whom  he 
delighted  by  calling  some  of  them  by  name.  A  general  introduc- 
tion followed,  and  then  came  refreahmenta,  after  which  the  party 
was  escorted  from  the  town  by  Capt  Eaton's  company. 

Probably  Boyalton  will  never  see  within  her  borders  again 
the  pomp  and  splendor  of  that  day.  The  brilliant  nnif orms,  the 
richly-caparisoned  horses,  the  courtly  grace  of  the  visitors,  and 
the  no  less  courtly  manners  of  the  men  and  dames  of  tiiose  days, 
all  conspired  to  render  this  a  unique  occasion  in  the  history  of 
the  town.  The  village  of  Boyalton  still  in  its  maidenhood,  the 
beautiful  sloping  lawns  facing  the  hotel,  and  the  picturesque 
pinnacle,  looking  down  upon  tibe  scene,  must  have  been  a  pleas- 
ant sight  to  the  General,  who  would  recall  the  time  when  this 
was  nearly  all  a  vast  wilderness,  the  silence  broken  only  by  the 
cries  of  wild  animals,  the  tread  of  the  savage,  or  the  far-away 
nimble  of  the  enemy's  cannon. 

The  fact  that  Royalton  was  able  to  secure  a  visit  from  La- 
fayette indicates  her  importance  among  the  towns  of  the  state 
at  that  time.  There  was  then  but  the  one  village,  in  a  thriving 
condition,  numbering  among  its  residents  some  of  the  finest  minds 
in  the  state. 

A  little  more  than  three-quarters  of  a  century  later  a  new 
village  in  the  town,  vigorous  and  growing,  extended  its  hand  of 
welcome  to  a  nation's  head.  It  is  nothing  new  now  for  a  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  to  step  into  a  special  car,  and  speed 
away  on  a  far-oflf  trip,  but  it  is  not  every  little  place  that  suc- 
ceeds in  persuading  him  to  halt  and  say  a  word  of  greeting. 
Accordingly  South  Royalton  was  proud  and  happy,  when  she 
was  assured  in  the  fall  of  1902,  that  Theodore  Roosevelt  would 
make  a  brief  stop  in  the  village  on  his  way  through  Vermont. 

On  the  thirtieth  of  August  a  large  crowd  of  people,  with 
Tunbridge  Cornet  Band  in  attendance,  had  gathered  to  see  and 
hear  this  popular  President.  No  runners  needed  to  be  sent  out 
to  announce  his  coming,  but  all  eyes  watched  the  long  stretch 
of  track,  and  ears  were  listening  for  the  first  faint  whistle  which 
should  say,  *  *  He  is  coming ! ' '  Finally  the  iron  horse  was  sighted, 
and  almost  as  soon  as  seen  it  thundered  past  the  waiting  crowd 
at  the  station.    Faces  took  on  a  blank  expression  of  disappoint- 


History  op  Botalton,  Vermont  621 

ment,  as  it  appeared  as  if  he  were  not  going  to  stop,  but  soon 
the  engine  slowed  down,  and  left  the  rear  end  of  the  car  not 
far  from  the  gathered  crowd.  The  train  backed,  and  the  re- 
ceiving committee  hastened  to  the  rear  platform,  where  the 
President  stood  with  hat  in  hand.  He  alighted,  and  mounting 
the  gayly  decorated  platform  prepared  for  the  occasion,  he  de- 
lighted the  people  with  the  following  speech,  reported  by  Rev. 

Joel  P.  Whitney: 

"My  fellow  citizens: — I  am  very  glad  to  have  the  chance  of  greet- 
ing you  today.  I  have  greatly  enjoyed  my  visit  to  your  state.  I  am 
glad  to  see  the  school  children  and  to  greet  the  veterans  of  the  Civil 
War,  as  well  as  my  comrades  in  the  last  war.  It  is  a  mighty  good  thing 
to  have  the  other  products,  too,  but  children  are  the  very  best.  I  am 
glad  to  see  these  veterans;  I  like  to  connect  them  with  the  school 
children. 

Now  what  we  want  is  to  have  things  done.  Preaching  Is  a  first- 
class  thing,  but  a  better  thing  is  to  have  things  done.  It  is  good  to 
be  able  to  have  in  your  town  people  to  whom  you  can  point  with 
pride,  because  their  metal  rang  true  when  in  the  time  of  strife  they 
did  so  much.  They  did  well  in  war,  because  they  had  done  well  in 
peace.  It  is  given  to  but  few  people  to  see  fighting.  Most  of  the  work 
is  in  other  ways;  but  now  and  then  comes  the  chance  to  do  the  good 
work  which  has  sometimes  to  be  done  in  war.  It  will  not  be  worth 
while  to  send  men  to  war  if  they  have  not  done  well  in  peace  before- 
hand. 

A  poor  man  is  he  who  will  do  nothing  now,  but  is  going  to  wait 
until  some  opportunity  offers  for  some  great  deed.  He  could  do  some- 
thing heroic  if  he  only  had  a  chance.  The  man  who  amounts  to  any- 
thing as  a  citizen  is  the  man  who  does  his  work  well  as  the  work 
comes  up  to  be  done. 

It  is  the  same  in  the  camp.  The  men  who  were  not  afraid  of  any 
task,  however  menial,  even  to  the  digging  of  the  kitchen  sink,  were 
those  who  proved  to  be  good  men  when  the  day  of  battle  came.  The 
days  of  battle  were  but  few  compared  to  the  days  of  preparation  and 
waiting.  The  men  that  had  good  stuff  in  them,  that  shone  to  advan- 
tage when  the  crisis  came,  were  the  men  who  were  prepared  by  service 
for  this  work. 

The  state  is  what  its  citizens  make  it,  and  needs  citizens  who  are 
willing  and  ready  to  do  their  duty  as  there  is  need.  They  must  be  true 
at  all  times  and  in  every  way.  They  must  do  their  duty  in  private  life. 
They  must  do  their  duty  as  fathers  in  their  homes.  They  must  be 
true  men  as  husbands  in  their  own  families.  They  must  be  true  men 
as  neighbors  in  the  community,  and  they  must  do  their  duty  to  the 
state. 

I  have  not  much  confidence  in  the  man  who  is  ready  to  reform  the 
earth,  but  leaves  his  own  family  destitute.  Let  him  remember  that 
there  are  other  duties  too.  More  than  one  quality  is  necessary  in  order 
to  do  these  duties  well.  One  of  them  is  honesty.  This  is  a  necessity. 
He  must  have  that  quality.  If  he  is  not  honest  he  is  not  a  good  citizen. 
If  he  has  not  this  true  honesty  and  the  power  of  square  living,  the 
greater  his  education  and  other  advantages,  the  more  dangerous  he 
becomes. 

But  he  needs  also  to  have  courage.  An  honest  man  who  runs  away 
would  be  no  good  in  the  day  of  battle.  There  is  need  also  of  something 
more.    A  man  may  be  honest  and  have  courage,  but  if  he  Is  a  natural 


622  History  of  Boyaltok,  Vermont 

bom  fool  he  would  be  able  to  accomplish  but  little.  He  should  have 
patriotism,  but  he  must  stay  put  He  needs  In  all  the  walks  of  life, 
as  a  citizen  or  in  any  place  where  he  Is  called  to  act,  the  saving  grace  of 
COMMON  SENSE." 

The  President  departed  amidst  thunderous  applause  from  the 
5,000  people  gathered  about  the  station.  He  was  accompanied 
by  his  private  secretary,  Mr.  Cortelyou,  Secretary  Shaw,  Gov. 
Stickney,  Senators  Proctor  and  Dillingham,  and  Gen.  Gilmore. 

The  reception  committee  was  composed  of  J.  O.  Belknap, 
William  Skinner,  Dr.  E.  J.  Pish,  who  introduced  the  President, 
and  C.  E.  Black.  On  the  arrival  of  the  train  a  salute  of  twenty- 
one  guns  was  fired. 

THE  VERMONT  ADVOCATE. 

What  one  has  the  least  of,  one  prizes  the  most.  Royalton 
can  boast  of  but  little  in  the  line  of  publications,  therefore  she 
cherishes  the  memory  of  the  one  lone  paper  that  was  published 
here  in  the  1820 's  with  more  than  ordinary  affection.  Wyman 
Spooner  will  be  gratefully  remembered  as  having  conceived  the 
idea  of  printing  a  paper  in  Royalton,  and  as  staunchly  advocating 
the  advantages  of  the  town,  and  the  fitness  of  its  citizens  for 
responsible  positions. 

The  Spooner  family  holds  a  unique  place  in  the  develop- 
ment of  newspapers  in  Vermont.  Wyman 's  uncle  Alden  learned 
the  trade  of  printer  with  Samuel  Green  of  New  London,  Conn. 
In  1778  he  removed  to  Westminster,  Vt.,  and  with  his  brother, 
Judah,  was  appointed  printer  for  the  General  Assembly  of  Ver- 
mont, which  position  he  held  for  about  twenty-five  years.  He 
had  brought  his  press  from  Connecticut,  the  first  press,  it  is 
claimed,  ever  used  in  New  England.  It  had  been  set  up  in  Cam- 
bridge, Mass.,  by  Stephen  Daye  in  1630.  Mr.  Spooner  secured 
it  in  1772,  and  on  it  the  youthful  Wyman  learned  to  print.  On 
Jan.  1,  1781,  appeared  the  first  number  of  the  Vermont  Gazette. 
Mr.  Spooner  went  to  Windsor  in  1783,  and  in  August  the  first 
number  of  the  Vermont  Journal  and  Universal  Advertiser  was 
issued,  of  the  size  of  common  foolscap  paper.  In  1817  Wyman 
became  associated  with  his  uncle,  but  they  dissolved  partnership 
the  next  year,  and  Wyman  was  sole  proprietor  of  the  Journal 
until  Aug.  5,  1826. 

In  November  of  that  year  he  began  the  publication  of  the 
Vermont  Advocate  in  Royalton.  In  what  building  this  was  set 
up,  no  one  seems  to  know.  The  paper  was  published  here  until 
1829,  when  it  was  removed  to  Chelsea,  and  it  was  finally  merged 
in  Walton's  Montpelier  Watchman  in  1834  or  1835. 

In  the  issue  of  Dec.  21,  1826,  Mr.  Spooner  asks  for  pay  in 
advance  to  meet  the  expense  incurred  for  the  *' establishment. " 


^ 

^ 

■«-  s 

1 

Tlic   linrn   wlilrli    Ilip    [ndlana    tried    to    tmni    i.ii 
Pnriii       (Th*    Imnillndt    in    rrtmn. 

History  of  Boyalton,  Vbbhont  623 

The  subscription  price  was  $2.00,  in  clubs  of  ten,  $1.50  in  ad- 
vance. Mr.  Spooner  combined  other  business  with  his  press 
work,  and  on  Mar.  26,  1827,  he  offered  to  act  as  agent  in  pro- 
curing tickets  for  the  Hartford  Lottery.  The  year  before  an 
act  was  passed  by  the  legislature  requiring  licenses  for  vending 
lottery  tickets,  the  fund  to  be  used  for  the  benefit  of  common 
schools. 

The  editor  of  the  Observer  printed  at  Woodstock,  in  his 
issue  of  Jan.  9,  1827,  spoke  of  Mr.  Spooner 's  venture  as  a  **new 
and  neat  paper  at  Royalton,"  and  then  criticized  Mr.  Spooner 's 
tendency  to  ** extempore  warfare,"  and  said,  **He  should  remem- 
ber that  the  first  duty  of  an  editor  is  to  be  just."  This  remark 
was  caused  by  exceptions  taken  by  Mr.  Spooner  regarding  the 

printing  of  probate  notices.    The  Observer  explains: 

*'0n  the  28th  day  of  December  last,  the  will  of  Horace  Cheney  late 
of  Royalton,  deceased,  was  presented  to  the  Court  for  probate.  The 
Court  had  appointed  a  session  at  Royalton  on  the  3d  Wednesday  In 
January  Inst.,  and  the  executor  who  presented  the  will  was  anxious 
that  It  should  be  proved  there,  as  the  witnesses  were  In  the  vicinity. 
He  also  desired  that  the  necessary  previous  notice  should  be  Inserted 
In  the  Advocate,  If  there  was  sufficient  time,  but  as  the  law  required 
the  notice  to  be  published  three  weeks,  and  as  the  Advocate  was  printed 
on  Thursday,  a  publication  could  not  be  made  In  that  paper  In  such 
season  that  the  will  could  be  proved  on  the  17th  Inst — and  therefore 
the  notice  was,  on  motion  of  the  executor,  ordered  to  be  published  In 
the  Observer.  Mr.  Spooner  seeing  the  aforesaid  notice  In  this  paper 
Immediately  uncases  one  of  his  hair  triggers,  and  discharges  the  fol- 
lowing shot  point  blank  at  the  Probate  Court  for  the  District  of  Hart- 
ford: 'We  supposed  the  object  of  publishing  Probate  Notices  was,  to 
advise  those  concerned  In  the  estate,  of  the  time  and  place  of  courts 
and  meetings  to  make  progress  In  Its  settlement;  but  we  find  In  this 
District  It  Is  converted  Into  a  mere  sinecure  for  the  benefit  of  the  paper 
at  Woodstock.  We  are  determined,  however,  that  our  subscribers  shall 
lose  nothing  from  this  arbitrary  course  of  procedure,  as  we  shall  pub- 
lish, without  fee  or  reward,  such  notices  as  may  particularly  Interest 
them  not  ordered  for  the  Advocate.  The  following  being  In  our  Im- 
mediate vicinity,  where  none  of  the  Woodstock  papers  are  found.  Is 
supposed  to  be  of  this  class.'" 

Then  follows  the  advertisement  of  the  probate  notice  to 

which  allusion  has  been  made. 

Mr.  Spooner 's  retort  to  this  was: 

"I  was  Just  to  the  public,  and  particularly  to  those  concerned  In 
the  matter  of  that  advertisement,  and  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  valley 
of  White  River — a  people  whom  the  God  of  nature  never  designed  as 
tributaries  to  the  Caesars  over  the  hill  and  far  away." 

This  will  give  some  idea  of  the  independence  of  Mr.  Spooner, 
and  the  vigor  of  his  rather  caustic  quill.  The  people  of  the 
** valley"  did  not  lack  for  sensational  reading,  while  supplied 
with  the  Advocate,  which  many  continued  to  take  after  its  re- 
moval to  Chelsea,  Josiah  Wheeler  and  Isaac  Parkhurst  acting  as 
agents  in  obtaining  subscribers. 


AM  HlfiTOBT  OP  BOTILTON,  VsBMOirr 

Anothsr  reKBon  for  the  wordy  warfare  that  went  on  between 
tlw  Advoeate  and  the  Observer  was  the  candidacy  of  Daniel  Rix, 
Eiq.,  for  election  as  one  of  the  Council  of  Censors  in  1827.  Mr. 
Bpocmer  ■eems  to  have  been  the  one  proposing  Mr.  Rix  for  this 
pontHKi.  A  miter  iu  the  Observer,  Mar.  20,  1827,  acknowledges 
that  tbe  caaeos  nominated  Mr.  Rix,  but  saya  the  caucus  was  held 
in  Woodstock,  made  up  of  four  "wise  men"  of  Windsor  County 
aod  aae  over  the  mountain,  and  claims  it  was  not  the  voice  of 
the  pec^Ie.  He  says  of  Mr.  Spooner,  "He  appears  to  be  per- 
forming the  three  'Singletons'  or  more  at  Royalton.  being  pro- 
prietor, edibn',  correspondent,  and  printer  of  a  wrakhj  'advo- 
cate' in  that  villn^e,"  The  opposition  tn  Mr.  Rix  seems  to  have  . 
arises  over  the  ipiMtion  nf  aoiprnling  tin'  I'lmstitution  of  Ver- 
numt,  his  opponenta  claiming  that  he  waa  not  in  favor  of  amend-  ■ 
ing.  Mr.  Spooner  retorted,  denying  that  Mr.  Biz  was  not  in 
favor  of  amendments,  and  the  same  correapoiident  of  the  Ob- 
server answered  that  Mr.  Spooner  "all  in  a  whew  ealls  hard 
names,  attempts  to  satirize,  and  finally  gives  the  lie  direct." 

Mr.  Biz  was  not  supported  in  his  candidacy,  though  the 
town  records  show  that  he  received  the  vote  of  his  party  in  Boy- 
alton,  and  that  the  ticket  was  "scratched."  He  was  np  again 
pa  Gooneillor  to  be  elected  in  September.  Windsor  connty  was 
to  have  two  ntaninees  by  rii^t  of  population,  while  Grand  Isle 
and  Ewex  had  none.  He  was  again  opposed  by  members  of  his 
own  party,  particularly  by  the  Observer,  and  stoutly  supported 
by  the  Advocate.  If  his  real  merits  were  not  known,  it  was  no 
fault  of  Mr.  Spooner.  In  the  issue  of  Aug.  9tfa,  Mr.  Spooner, 
at  the  request  of  voters,  had  a  lengthy  article  on  nominations 
for  State  elections.  This  proved  a  red  rag  to  the  Woodstock 
editor,  and  Mr.  Spooner  replied,  "This  arrogant  knot  of  political 
aspirants  -  •  -  have  let  By  the  repeated  arrows  of  detraction  at 
Mr.  Rix,  who  is  obnoxious  solely  because  his  character  and  stand- 
ing place  it  beyond  a  hope  that  they  can  ever  induce  him  to 
become  recreant  to  his  constituents,  to  subserve  them."  Of  the 
legal  decisions  of  Mr.  Rix  he  says,  "they  have  long  distinguished 
him  as  a  magistrate  intimately  acquainted  with  our  laws  and 
tbe  fundamental  principles  of  our  institutions."  Mr.  Rix  was 
not  one  of  the  nominees  of  the  caucus  that  met  at  Woodstock  in 
June,  but  seems  to  have  run  independently. 

The  fight  resulted  in  other  candidates  being  placed  before 
the  people.  The  Advocate  stood  for  Mr.  Rix  and  Judge  Forbes 
of  Windsor,  and  was  charged  with  an  ambition  to  divide  Wind- 
sor connty  and  make  Royalton  and  Windsor  the  shire  towns. 
Judge  Bridge  was  the  Observer's  candidate,  who  was  said  to  have 
been  regularly  nominated  at  Montpelier  by  members  of  the  leg- 
islatore  from  Windsor  county.    Judge  PVirbes  withdrew.    The 


HiSTOBT  OF  BOYAI/TON,  VeBMOMT  625 

final  vote  for  councillors  in  Windsor  county  was,  Everett,  1,967 ; 
Bridge,  1,185;  Bix,  1,160.  Royalton  gave  Mr.  Bix  160  votes, 
and  Windsor,  255.  The  vote  for  the  State  was,  Everett,  7,741 ; 
Bridge,  6,739;  Bix,  2,317.  Where  Mr.  Bix  was  best  known  he 
polled  the  largest  number  of  votes. 

In  June  Mr.  Spooner  announced  that  his  subscription  list 
was  900,  and  he  again  asked  for  pay  in  advance.  He  was  en- 
couraged, and  speaking  of  his  paper  said,  ''Its  success  far  ex- 
ceeds our  most  sanguine  expectations."  At  the  end  of  the  first 
year  he  declared  that  the  support  which  he  had  received  de- 
termined him  to  continue  the  publication  of  the  Advocate,  and 
he  claimed  a  larger  circulation  than  any  other  paper  in  the 
county.  He  complained  that  he  had  not  received  the  contribu- 
tions from  literary  gentlemen  that  he  had  a  right  to  expect.  This 
general  fault  in  the  state  he  thought  might  be  due  to  indolence 
or  affected  dignity,  which  considers  it  derogatory  to  the  high 
standing  of  a  profession  to  contribute  for  the  press.  This  is 
interesting,  as  showing  the  expectations  of  editors  and  the  stand- 
ing of  writers  in  those  days  in  Eoyalton.  Today  editors  kindle 
their  fires  with  the  supernumerary  effusions  thrust  upon  them 

in  the  hope  of  winning  fame.    His  prospectus  is  racy  reading. 

"We  have  in  reserve  for  the  moralist,  'Laconic  Sermons/  strictures 
on  the  economy  of  human  life,  and  instructions  in  the  whole  duty  of 
man — for  the  humorist,  hon  mots  and  drollery — for  the  politician,  the 
president's  message,  congressional  squahhles,  the  signs  of  the  times,  and 
the  standing  theme,  the  presidency — for  news  mongers,  Europe  igniting 
foreign  hroils  and  internal  commotion,  wars  and  rumors  of  wars,  'raw 
heads  and  bloody  bones',  robberies,  murders,  thefts,  duels,  conflagra- 
tions, and  details  of  all  the  ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to, — for  speculators, 
'the  way  to  raise  the  wind,' — for  lawyers,  precedents,  opinions,  and 
decisions, — for  doctors,  cases,  cures,  and  operations,  not  excepting  the 
wonderful  effect,  as  a  quietus,  of  cayenne,  lobelia,  and  the  Thompsonian 
steam  engine — for  merchants,  reasons  for  opposing  the  tariff — for  manu- 
facturers, arguments  in  favor  of  the  woollen  bill — for  mechanics,  new 
inventions,  and  hints  on  economy  and  the  effects  of  industry  and 
promptitude,  and  of  faithful  and  skillful  workmanship — for  farmers, 
essays  and  experiments,  premiums  and  practices  for  improving  cattle 
and  crops,  cheapening  labor,  and  enhancing  proflts, — for  the  miscel- 
lanist,  culllngs  from  fancy's  choicest  flowers,  'heaven,  earth  and  ocean 
plundered  of  their  sweets,' — ^for  old  bachelors,  secrets  worth  knowing, 
a  remedy  for  ennui,  and  the  way  to  win  the  fair, — for  old  maids,  the 
art  of  being  contented  without  a  contented  mind,  and  a  full  list  of 
happy  matches — for  the  fair,  sense,  sentiment,  poetry,  and  breaches  of 
promise, — comprising  a  total  of  something  for  all." 

He  ends  with  a  specimen  of  his  tact  at  story  telling: 
"In  by-gone  days,  when  people  were  in  the  habit  of  marriring  and 
giving  in  marriage,  after  the  fashion  of  these  latter  times,  an  honest 
Dutch  Justice  in  York  state,  who  spoke  as  he  was  moved,  was  called 
upon  to  make  the  twain,  one,  by  noosing  them  in  the  chord  matri- 
monial. With  a  gravity  suited  to  the  occasion,  and  a  readiness  which 
saw  the  end  from  the  beginning,  he  proceeded  with  the  ceremony,  and 
having  linked  them  'for  better,  for  worse,'  he  announced  the  consum- 

40 


HiSTOBT  OP  ROTALTON,  VeemONT 


matlon  of  their  union,  and  closed  with  tbe  following  ImprovlHed  verslott.  1 
of  the  benediction— 'what  God  has  Joined  together  let  no  man  put  I 
ar.uDder — and  now  where  tab  mine  tollar?'  " 

It  wtt9  through  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Otis  Meteali  of  Norwich,  ' 
that  the  first  year's  files  of  the  Advocate  were  secured  for  ex- 
amioation.     No  other  copies  have  been  found.     No  reason  can  be 
assigned  for  the  removal  of  the  paper  to  Chelsea.     No  doubt  Mr. 
Spooner  hoped  to  see  Royalton  b  shire  town  of  Windsor  county, 
and  disappointed  in  that  expectation,  he  turned  to  tiie  shire  towa  < 
of  Orange  county.     Though  bred  to  the  printer's  trade,  his  tastes  I 
as  he  grew  older  ran  in  the  direction  of  the  law  and  politics.  , 

From  Hrr.  Albert  C.  Beckwith,  formerly  president  of  Wal- 
worth County  Historical  Society,  Wisconsin,  the  further  facta 
regarding  Mr.  Spooner  which  follow  have  been  obtained. 

Wyman  Spooner  was  borq  in  Hardwick,  Maae.,  July  2,  1795, 
the  BOD  of  Jednthmi  and  Hannah  (Crpwell)  Spooner.  He  was 
the  sixth  in  the  direct  line  of  descent  from  John  Alden.  At  the 
age  of  foTirteen  Wyman  entered  the  printing  office  of  his  ancle 
Alden  at  Windsor,  and  became  master  printer  on  becoming  of 
age.  He  married  at  Hardwick,  Nov.  10,  1818,  Elizabeth  Fish, 
daogfater  of  Hairy  and  Elizabeth  (Holmes)  Fish.  She  was 
boni  at  Upton,  Mass.,  Nov.  17,  1794.  They  had  five  children, 
two  of  whom  are  living. 

While  in  Boyalton  he  stndied  law  with  Hon,  Jacob  Col- 
lamer,  and  at  Chelsea  with  Hon.  Daniel  A.  A.  Bnck,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1833.  In  1835  he  removed  to  Canton, 
Ohio,  and  associated  himself  with  Hiram  Griswold  in  the  prac- 
tice of  law  in  the  counties  of  Stark  and  Tuscarawas.  In  1842  he 
removed  to  Elkhom,  Wis.,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life. 
He  was  judge  of  Walworth  county  Probate  Court,  184649.  He 
was  appointed  Circuit  judge  in  1853.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Wisconsin  Assembly,  1850-51,  1857,  1861,  and  served  as  Speaker 
of  the  House.  He  was  state  senator  in  1862,  and  chosen  presi- 
dent pro  tern.  The  death  of  the  governor  made  him  acting 
lieut.-goTemor,  and  the  three  following  terms,  by  election  he 
presided  in  the  Senate.  He  was  a  Republican,  but  desired  re- 
form in  his  party.  He  gave  up  active  life  in  1872,  and  died, 
Nov.  18,  1877,  at  the  home  of  his  son.  Wyman,  in  Lyons,  Wis. 
He  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  Hazel  Ridge,  Elkhorn.  Wis. 

This  is  Mr.  Beekwith's  description  of  Mr.  Spooner: 

"Full  stature,  slender,  having  keen  but  kindly  blue-gray  eyes  with 
bushy  and  overhanging  brows,  high  and  broad  forehead,  his  other  tea- 
lures  strong  but  not  coarse,  hair  and  beard  full.  -  ■  -  In  a  front  view 
of  his  head  and  face  there  was  a  reminder  of  the  portraits  of  Calhoun. 
-  -  •  -  Hts  manner  was  at  once  easy  and  dignified,  his  speech  courteous 
and  plain — his  whole  life  an  example  of  'plain  living  and  high  thluk- 
log.'  •  -  Whether  as  editor,  contributor,  public  speaker,  Judge,  chair- 
man, or  conversationalist,  he  appeared  to  be  fully  equipped  for  Instant 


History  of  Botalton,  Vebhont  627 

service.  •  -  •  His  style  as  speaker  and  writer  was  direct  and  forceful* 
and  had  much  in  it  of  classic  'high  seriousness/  though  not  unrelieved 
by  humor,  irony,  telling  allusion,  and  apt  quotation." 

A  former  partner  of  his  in  estimating  his  ability  as  a  lawyer, 
said,  **He  was  thoroughly  educated  in  the  principles  of  his  pro- 
fession, and  regarded  its  practice  as  a  means  to  secure  justice  as 
its  end." 

Stimulated  by  the  example  of  Mr.  Spooner,  or  perhaps  in 
connection  with  him,  (Jeorge  W.  Smith  thought  to  turn  an  honest 
penny  by  starting  a  book  bindery  in  Royalton.  In  the  issue  of 
April  2,  1827,  he  advertises  his  business  **on  the  south  side  of 
the  common."  Nothing  is  known  of  his  success  in  this  under- 
taking. There  is  proof,  however,  that  at  least  one  book  was 
printed  at  Royalton.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Joel  P.  Whitney,  Rev. 
Phineas  Bailey,  a  Congregational  minister  in  East  Berkshire,  was 
the  author  of  a  system  of  shorthand,  which  he  first  published  at 
Montpelier  in  1820.  Other  editions  followed  in  other  places. 
How  he  chanced  to  favor  Royalton  is  not  known,  but  in  1829  a 
fourth  edition  was  issued  from  the  press  of  **W.  Spooner"  in 
Royalton.  This  was  a  12  mo.  publication  of  forty-four  pages, 
and  illustrated  with  four  copper  plates.  But  two  copies  are  now 
known  to  exist.  It  is  said  to  have  been  the  last  unphonetic  edi- 
tion issued.  A  few  years  later  Mr.  Bailey  published  his  phonetic 
system,  a  great  advance  in  the  history  of  stenography. 

The  Advocate  was  well  patronized  by  advertisers.  Prom 
these  advertisements  one  finds  that  the  people  of  Royalton  were 
readers  of  good  books,  and  that  they  had  the  bad  habit,  still  com- 
mon, of  borrowing  books  and  not  promptly  returning  them.  In 
one  of  the  first  numbers  of  the  Advocate,  G.  W.  Collamer  re- 
quests those  having  his  books  in  their  possession  to  return  them 
at  once,  and  heads  his  call,  **Alas,  Master,  for  it  was  borrowed." 
Stafford  Smith  was  another  so  unfortunate  as  to  have  books 
which  his  careless  neighbors  coveted.  In  August,  1827,  he,  also, 
asks  for  return  of  the  following  books,  *  *  The  Economy  of  Human 
Life,"  ''The  Cabinet  of  Comus,"  and  *'The  Life  of  Pranklin." 

THE    FREE    PUBLIC    LIBRARY. 

If  there  was  ever  a  free  public  library  in  Royalton  until 
quite  recent  years,  the  fact  does  not  seem  to  be  known.  On 
March  10,  1820,  there  was  formed  at  the  court  house  in  Wood- 
stock the  Windsor  County  Agricultural  Society,  of  which  John 
Prancis  of  Royalton  was  one  of  the  directors.  Elias  Stevens, 
Elisha  Rix,  and  Mr.  Prancis  were  appointed  a  committee  to  pro- 
cure subscriptions  of  members  in  Royalton.  There  are  in  exist- 
ence today  books  once  belonging  to  an  agricultural  society  in 
town,  and  it  may  be  that  this  society  was  auxiliary  to  the  county 


tSS  History  of  Royalton,  Vermont 

organization.  Some  of  theae  books  are  of  considerable  scientifio 
\alue.  and  are  in  the  posaesaion  of  Royalton  Academy.  It  ii 
quite  likely  that  the  people  in  Royalton  village  had  access  to  the 
academy  library,  and  perhaps  other  townspeople  had  the  same 
privilege.  The  libraries  of  the  Sunday  school  in  the  first  fifty 
years  after  its  organization  were  much  better  patronized  than 
they  are  today,  and  furnished  good  reading  for  young  and  old. 

In  1800  a  law  was  passed  providing  for  the  incorporation  of 
"social  library  societies."  Some  of  the  Royalton  merchants  who 
advertised  to  furnish  libraries,  may  have  had  in  view  such  pub- 
lic, rather  than  private  libraries. 

A  library  association  was  formed  in  South  Royalton  some 
years  after  the  Civil  War.  Each  shareholder  paid  in  a  certain 
sum,  and  had  the  privilege  of  taking  out  books  without  charge. 
The  books  were  kept  in  some  private  house,  changing  place  from 
time  to  time.  This  society  continued  its  existence  until  Nov,  17, 
1894,  a  year  after  the  graded  school  was  established.  It  was 
then  voted  by  the  shareholders  to  turn  over  their  333  books  and 
the  money  on  hand  to  the  graded  school  district.  The  share- 
holders retained  the  same  right  to  read  the  books  as  in  the  past, 
and  were  to  be  free  from  assessment.  Pupils  were  not  to  have 
access  to  the  library,  except  in  the  presence  of  the  librarian,  One- 
htilf  the  directors  each  year  were  to  come  from  the  shareholders. 
In  1895  by  vote  of  the  association  the  control  of  the  library  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  prudential  conunittee  of  the  district. 
The  gift  had  been  accepted  Dec.  11,  1894. 

The  shareholders  of  the  old  library  were  Harry  Bingham, 
Addie  L.  Bean,  James  H.  Buck,  Mrs.  Clara  A.  Bosworth,  George 
L.  Cowdery,  O.  S.  Curtiss,  Ella  C,  Latham,  Mrs.  Sadie  Chadwick, 
Susie  Metcalf,  Henry  Donbleday,  John  B.  Durkee,  Edward  Fob- 
ter,  Hibbard  J.  Farnham,  H.  E.  Howard,  John  H.  Hewitt.  N.  D. 
Howland,  Amos  H.  Lamb,  Henry  Hubbard,  Mrs.  M.  J.  Sargent, 
Mrs.  Laura  Soper,  Henry  Pierce,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Bright,  Mrs.  James 
Pike,  Mrs.  Charles  C.  Southworth,  Henry  Sargent,  John  P.  Shep- 
ard,  Mrs.  Mary  Belknap,  Anson  P.  Skinner,  Mrs,  Sybil  C.  Smith, 
Charles  P.  TarbeU,  Mrs.  Jennie  M.  Viall,  Herbert  A:  Williams, 
Eben.  Winslow,  H.  H.  Whitcomb,  Mrs.  A.  C.  Waterman,  Charles 
D.  Lovejoy,  and  Charles  West.  Mrs.  M.  J.  Sai^nt  was  secre- 
tary, treasurer,  and  librarian. 

By  legislative  enactment  of  1894  provision  was  made  for 
encouraging  and  fostering  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of 
free  pablic  libraries.  By  this  law  any  town  could  have  such  a 
library  by  electing  trustees  and  appropriating  a  stipulated  sum 
for  the  care  of  the  books.  It  could  then  apply  to  the  library 
commissioner  of  the  state  for  books.  Royalton  acted  on  this 
proffer  in  1896,  and  elected  library  trostees.  Rev.  Henry  Qoddard 


History  of  Boyaltok,  Vebmomt  629 

for  one  year,  G.  W.  Ward  for  two  years,  William  Skinner  for 
three  years,  Mark  J.  Sargent  for  four  years,  and  Dr.  F.  J.  Morse 
for  five  years.  The  trustees  met  March  16th  and  elected  Mr. 
Goddard  president,  and  Dr.  Morse,  secretary.  P.  J.  Porter  do- 
nated 180  volumes  to  the  library,  and  Mrs.  Frederick  Billings 
the  Century  Dictionary.  The  town  voted  only  $25  for  several 
years,  but  is  now  awaking  to  the  need  of  a  more  generous  ap- 
propriation, and  voted  $100  for  the  year  1911. 

The  old  library  association  voted  on  June  30,  1896,  to  extend 
the  use  of  its  books  to  the  Free  Public  Library.  The  books  were 
divided,  and  part  kept  at  Royalton  village  in  the  town  clerk's 
ofBce,  and  the  other  part  at  South  Royalton  in  the  school  build- 
ing. The  library  was  opened  only  once  in  two  weeks  in  each 
place  until  1910,  when  an  assistant  librarian  was  engaged  for 
South  Royalton,  and  books  can  now  be  obtained  every  week.  A 
new  card  catalogue  has  recently  been  prepared,  and  new  books 
are  added  every  year.  The  library  now  consists  of  over  1,100 
well-selected  volumes. 

RELICS. 

At  the  time  of  the  Centennial  of  the  Indian  raid  in  1880, 
there  was  gathered  in  South  Royalton  such  a  collection  of  relics 
connected  with  the  history  of  the  town  and  its  inhabitants,  as  is 
seldom  seen  in  any  place  outside  of  the  large  museums.  By 
death  of  the  owners  and  subsequent  division  of  the  relics,  by 
removals  from  town,  and  by  the  destructive  force  of  time,  the 
larger  part  of  these  relics  has  disappeared  from  the  town. 

In  one  of  the  cuts  of  relics  in  this  volume  can  be  seen  a  gun 
owned  by  Experience  Trescott,  which  has  been  in  the  possession 
of  the  Joiner  family,  and  is  now  owned  by  Theron  Culver.  This 
gun  did  service  in  the  Revolution.  The  other  of  the  two  guns 
was  carried  in  the  Revolution  by  John  Hutchinson,  and  is  now 
owned  by  Daniel  W.  Bliss,  a  great-grandson. 

The  sword  hanging  with  the  guns  was  unearthed  at  the  site 
of  the  cabin  of  Daniel  Rix.  It  became  the  property  of  William 
Rix,  a  grandson,  who  had  it  restored,  and  at  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Rix  it  came  into  the  hands  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  William  Skin- 
ner. Mr.  Rix  thought  it  might  have  been  lost  by  a  British  oflS- 
cer  at  the  time  of  the  raid,  but  it  is  hardly  likely  that  one 
accompanied  the  Indians  in  their  plundering  down  the  river. 
It  is  understood  that  Lieut.  Houghton,  perhaps  the  only  oflScer 
who  would  wear  a  sword,  remained  near  the  mouth  of  the  First 
Branch,  while  his  minions  continued  their  work  of  destruction 
and  death.  The  sword  may  )iave  belonged  to  some  militia  oflScer 
who  was  stationed  at  the  Fort,  if  the  Fort  was  located  on  the 
meadow  in  the  rear  of  the  Rix  cabin. 


630  History  of  Boyalton,  Vebmomt 

About  the  same  time  that  the  sword  was  found  at  the  old 
Rix  homestead,  a  stone  was  brought  to  light  from  a  heap  of  rub- 
bish, which  is  fourteen  by  four  inches,  and  half  an  inch  thick. 
It  has  this  inscription : 

Daniel  Biz 
Nov.  16  A.  D.  1781. 

That  is  thought  hy  the  Bix  family  to  have  been  cut  to  commemo- 
rate the  return  of  Gamer  Rix  from  captivity,  though  why  the 
name  should  be  Daniel  and  not  Gamer  is  not  clear,  neither  is 
the  exact  date  of  Garner's  return  kept  fresh  in  the  mind  of  any 
descendant.  This  stone  can  be  seen  in  the  group  under  the  guns, 
where,  also,  is  a  pint  communion  cup  first  used  by  the  First 
Congregational  Church. 

At  the  right  is  the  horn  which  was  blown  to  announce  the 
approach  of  Gen.  Lafayette  to  the  village  of  Royalton.  It  is 
resting  on  a  mortar,  which  was  partially  destroyed  at  the  time 
the  Indianr  burned  the  house  of  John  Hutchinson.  The  table 
leg  is  one  which  the  Indians  sawed  oflf  to  gratify  their  savage 
glee  by  jumping  on  it,  and  trying  to  balance  themselves.  The 
hand  yam  winder  and  the  two  articles  last  mentioned  are  owned 
by  D.  W.  Bliss.  The  pewter  ware  was  the  property  of  the  Bos- 
worth  family,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  William  Skin- 
ner. 

The  old  house  in  the  group  was  known  as  the  **  Vesper 
House.''  It  was  built  by  David  Adams,  probably  before  1800. 
It  was  occupied  by  William  and  Nicholas  Vesper  for  many  years. 
It  came  into  the  hands  of  A.  C.  Bean,  whose  love  of  ancient  ar- 
chitecture was  not  largely  developed,  and  he  at  once,  in  1891, 
tore  down  the  interesting  old  structure,  the  oldest  building  in 
town. 

The  lottery  ticket  was  found  among  the  probate  records  of 
Hon.  John  Throop  of  Pomfret,  and  it  was  given  for  use  in  this 
volume  by  Mr.  Walter  E.  Perkins  of  Pomfret.  It  was  probably 
one  of  those  tickets  over  which  lawsuits  followed  after  the  draw- 
ing, as  noted  in  the  chapter  on  ** Bridges." 

The  only  article  in  the  other  group  of  relics  associated  with 
Royalton  is  the  gun,  which  is  still  kept  at  the  old  Tilden  stand. 
The  other  articles  are  such  as  were  probably  to  be  seen  in"  Roy- 
alton during  Revolutionary  days.  This  group  was  furnished  by 
Mr.  W.  W.  Culver  of  W.  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  who  has  a  large  and 
valuable  collection  of  antiques  in  his  home. 

LONGEVITY. 

Royalton  has  an  excellent  record  as  regards  longevity  of  its 
inhabitants.     The  period  of  1884  to  1896  was  taken  at  hazard