At the raising of the John Wood house, later the Hubbel mansion, in Bennington in 1768, Parson Jedediah Dewey proposed a wedding. It was known that Joseph Rudd and Sarah Story were engaged. She lived nearby. Rev. Mr. Dewey said to Joseph, "If you will go and lead Sarah over here, I will marry you for nothing." "It's a bargain" was the answer. Timbers were laid down and the ceremony was performed.

Sarah Story was of Rev. stock, and was acquainted with Col. Ethan Allen. One of her brothers, a boy of 16, was taken prisoner with Allen. Another brother was captured by Indians in CT, and the second night he made his escape. He only lived about a year because of exposure and hardships.

Sarah, wife of Joseph, was admitted to full communion at the Old First Church, Bennington on 2 Oct 1763 from the church at Newink (now Lisbon), CT. Both Sarah and Joseph are buried in the Old Bennington Park, the churchyard of this Old First Church.

On 1 Jan 1806 the Church of Christ, Bennington, dedicated its new church. Joseph Rudd, Joseph Robinson, Phineas Scott and Ezekiel Harmon bought Pew #26.80

New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire all claimed the Vermont territory and the settlers had given armed resistance to those who were sent to evict them. Vermont was refused admission to the Union by the delegates in Congress from New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and when Ethan Allen threatened the loss of the state to the union, if not recognized, then help was sent, but it was after the war, in 1791, that Vermont was admitted to the United States.

This may be the reason that we can find no record of all the names of the Vermonters or Green Mountain Boys, that were engaged in the Battle of Bennington.89

“Joseph, son of Joseph Rudd, was born in Connecticut, 1740, died 1818. He settled in Vermont, married and was living in Bennington at the time the battle was fought with the British, in 1777. [quotes the letter he wrote to his father after the Battle of Bennington - see above]

“This letter is preserved in the Historical Museum at Bennington, Vermont. He was one of the signers of a petition sent to England and presented to the court of Great Britain in 1767; this petition represented the grievance of the settlers against the government of New York, and prayed for a confirmation of the New Hampshire grants held or occupied by them. At the raising of the Hubble house in 1769 a demand was made for a wedding. It was known that Joseph Rudd and Miss Story were engaged. She lived nearby. Rev. mr. Dewey said to Joseph: “If you go and lead Sarah over here I will marry you for nothing.” “It’s a bargain.” Timbers were laid down and the ceremony performed. Joseph Rudd married Sarah Story, who died 1842, aged ninety-eight years. Sarah Story was of revolutionary stock and was acquainted with colonel Ethan Allen. One of her brothers, a boy of sixteen, was taken prisoner with Allen. Another brother was captured by Indians in Connecticut and the second night made his escape. (The following record is taken from a paper written by a granddaughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Harris, when over seventy years of age. The manuscript is neatly and plainly written.) dren: 1. Celinda, married Zachary Brown, died at “Grand fathers place,” leaving four children: i. Celinda, married Reuben Armstrong; ii. Harriet, married William Gould; iii. Story; iv. Enos B. 2. Sally, married a Mr. Potter, and removed west. 3. Joseph, married a Miss Smith, and removed to western New York. 4. Lucy, married a Mr. Boice and lived in western New York. 5. Enos, married Abigail Wood, sister of Betsey, wife of David Rudd. Enos lived and died on “Grandfather’s old place.” 6. Patty, married Samuel Wadsworth, and lived in Bennington, Vermont. 7. David, of whom further.76, Hudson and Mohawk Valleys