DOCUMENTS AND SKETCHES RELATING TO THE EARLY HISTORY OF
COLLECTED AND ARRANGED BY RUSSELL S. TAFT, ESQ.
"There's
much be said about
For
history and song,
Much
to be written yet, and much
That
has been written wrong."
Eastman.
NAME.
The
origin of the name of
CHARTER.
The
charter was granted by the province of New Hampshire on the 7th of June, A. D.
1763, and was in the form used by the province in granting townships at that
time; the admeasurement, according to the charter, was 23,040 acres, of which
an allowance was made for "highways, ways and unimprovable lands by rocks,
ponds, mountains and rivers, 1,040 acres free," and said town was
"Butted
and bounded as follows, viz.: Beginning at the southerly or southwest side
488
of French or Onion river, so called at the mouth of said
river, thence running up by said river until it comes to a place that is 10
miles upon a straight line from the mouth of the river aforesaid, then runs
upon a line perpendicular to the aforesaid 10 miles line southerly so far as
that a line to Lake Champlain, parallel to the 10 miles line aforesaid, will,
within the lines and the shore of the said lake, contain 6 miles square."
The
inhabitants, as soon as there should be 50 families, were granted the privilege
of holding two fairs annually, and also of keeping a market on one or more days
in each week as might be thought most advantageous to them.
The
grantees were required to improve 5 acres of land for each 50 acres owned by
them, within the next 5 years after said grant, to reserve for the government
all white and other pine trees fit for masting the
Royal Navy; to reserve near the centre of the town a tract of land for town
lots of one acre for each grantee; and to pay one ear of corn annually, if lawfully
demanded, for the space of 10 years, and after said 10 years the sum of one
shilling, proclamation money, for every 100 acres owned, settled or possessed.
The
names of the grantees were: Samuel Willis, Tunis Wortman, Thomas Dickson, John
Willis ye 3d, Stephen Willis, Daniel Bowne, Thomas Cheshire, Jr., John
Birdsall, Benjamin Townsend, Thomas Youngs, Samuel
Jackson, Gilbert Weeks, Zebd Seaman, Jur, John Whitson, William Kirbee, Joseph Udell, John Wright, Jur, Abraham
Van Wick, Minne Suydam, Jacobus Suydam, Edmund Weeks,
Nicholas Townsend, Samuel Van Wyck, John Willis, Jr., Thomas Alsop, Thomas
Pearsall, Jr., William Frost, Senr, Thomas Frost,
William Frost, Jr., Penn Frost, Zebulon Frost, William Cock, Thomas Van Wick,
Harmon Lefford, Thomas Jackson, Thomas Udell, John
Wright March, Daniel Voorhees, Joseph Denton, George Pearsall, John Wortman, Jur, Benjamin Birdsall, John Birdsall, Jr., Jacob Kirbee, Benja Fish, Lawrence Fish, John Whitson the 3d, Nathanl Fish, Richard Seaman, Morris Seaman, Jona Pratt, Nathanl Seaman, Jr., Richd
Jackson, Jr., Solomon Seaman, Israel Seaman, Jacob Seaman, Senr,
Jacob Seaman, Richard Ellison, Jur, Richard Ellison,
Third, Samuel Averhill, The Honble Jno Temple, Theodore Atkinson, M. Hunting Wentworth, Henry
Sherburn, Eleazer Russell, Esq., and Andrew Clarkson. 66
rights.
His excellency Benning Wentworth, Esquire, a tract of land to
contain 500 acres as marked B. W. in the plan, which is to be accounted two of
the within shares.
One whole share for the incorporated society for the
propagation of the gospel in foreign parts.
One
share for the Glebe for the church of England, as by
law established.
One share for the first settled minister of the gospel.
And
one share for the benefit of a school in said town. Making in
all 72 shares or rights of land of 320 acres each.
FIRST
PROPRIETORS' MEETINGS.
The
following is a copy of the first proprietors' meeting:
Then
the Proprietors of the Township of Burlington (a Township lately granted under
the great seal of the Province of Newhampshier now in
the Province of New York), met according to a Legal Warning in the Connecticut
Current at the dwelling house of Capt. Samuel Morris, Innholder
in Salisbury in Litchfield county and Colony of Connecticut.
11y Voted that Col. Thomas Chittenden be moderator for this
meeting.
21y
Voted That Ira Allen shall be Proprietor's Clerk for said Township.
31y That this meeting be adjourned to the 24th day of Instant
March, at nine o'clock, to be held at this place.
IRA ALLEN, Proprietor's Clerk.
March
the 24 Day A. D. 1774.
Then
the meeting was opened according to adjournment.
1ly
Voted, That Whereas, Ethan Allen, Remember Baker, Heman Allen, Zimri Allen, and
Ira Allen known by the name of the Onion River Company, who are Proprietors in
this Township of Burlington on said River (a Township lately granted by the
Governor and Counsel of Newhampshier and is now in
the Province of New York) have expended large sums of money in cutting a road
through the woods from Castleton to said River seventy miles, and clearing off encamberments from the said lands in them parts, clearing
and cultivating and settling some of these lands and keeping possession
which by us is viewed as a great advantage towards the settlement of these
lands in general, especially the Township of Burlington.
Whereas,
The said Ethan Allen, Remember Baker, Heman Allen,
Zimri Allen and Ira Allan have laid out fifteen, hundred acre lots in said
Township bounding on said river. Therefore in consideration of these services
done by them, in consideration of their settlement of five
families on said lots with those that are already on, and girdling five acres
on each one hundred acre lot in two years from the first day of June next,
improving same.
It is
voted; if proper Survey bills be exhibited to the Proprietor's Clerk of said
Town and recorded in this Book by the first day of June next the said lots are
confirmed to them as so many acres of their rights and shares in said Township
said fifteen lots are to be laid seventy rods wide on the river.
2ly
Voted that each proprietor have liberty at his own cost to pitch and lay out to
himself one hundred acres on one whole right or share that they own in said
town, said lots to be laid out not less than seventy rods wide, exclusive of
what hath already been granted to be laid in said town. Provided, they clear
and girdle five acres to said right within two years
from the time said lots are laid out.
3ly Voted that there shall be for each one hundred acres to be
laid in the town of
4ly
Voted. That the Proprietors Clerk shall record all deeds of sale and Survey
Bills of land in said Burlington that shall be offered to him if paid a
reasonable reward therefor, and that the survey first
recorded or received to record shall stand good without regard to the dates of
said survey Bills.
5ly
Voted, that Ira Allen shall be a Surveyor to lay out said town.
6ly
Voted, that this meeting be adjourned to Fortfradreck
in Colchester on
IRA ALLEN, Proprietor's Clerk.
Fortfradreck,
June 6 Day, A. D. 1774, then this meeting was opened
according to adjournment.
1ly
Voted That this meeting be adjourned to the first
Monday in July next at ten o'clock in the fore noon to be held at this place.
IRA ALLEN, Proprietor's Clerk.
Fortfradreck,
July 3d, 1774, Then this meeting was opened according
to adjournment.
1ly
Voted, that this meeting be adjourned to the 25 day of Instant July at ten
o'clock in the fore noon to be held at this place.
IRA ALLEN, Proprietor's Clerk.
Fortfradreck July 25 Day, A. D. 1774. Then this meeting was opened according to adjournment.
1ly
Voted, That each Proprietor or Proprietors may on their own cost and charges,
survey and lay out to themselves all the rest of their right or rights, that is
not laid out, in one or more pieces, one hundred acres shall not be narrower
than seventy rods, and if any be laid in Biger
or lessor quantities it shall not be narrower
than in proportion to one hundred acres being seventy rods wide and to turn on
square angles and whene there is a piece left between
lots or the town line it shall not be narrower than seventy rods in width.
2ly
Voted, That Ira Allen shall survey and lay out all the public rights in this
town on the proprietor's expense and return all the survey bills to the
Proprietors clerk of said Town.
3ly
Voted, That this meeting be adjourned to the 3d day of
October next to be held at this place.
IRA ALLEN, Proprietor's Clerk.
Fortfradreck,
October 2, 1774, Then this meeting was opened
according to adjournment.
1ly
Voted, That this meeting be adjourned to the first
Monday in May next to be held at this place.
IRA ALLEN, Proprietor's Clerk.
Fortfradreck, May
1st, 1775.
Then
this meeting was opened according to adjournment.
1ly
Voted, That this meeting be adjourned to the first
Monday of September next to be held at the same place.
IRA ALLEN, Proprietor's Clerk.
In
this abrupt manner the records end, the cause no doubt being that the settlers
were called away to take part in the patriotic struggle then just begun at
Lexington on the 19th of the previous month. Immediately afterwards the attempt
to take Ticonderoga and Crown Point was made, and Ethan Allen who was at Bennington
hastened to send northward for Remember Baker and Seth Warner, who were at the
fort at Winooski at that time, to join him; this they did in time to take part
in the expedition against the two forts on the west side of the lake. Col.
Warner heading the party which captured Crown Point; this was ten days after
the last meeting at Fort Frederick, and from this time forward their activity
in the war required their presence in other places, and their attention to
other pursuits; and the proceedings of the proprietors of the township for the
time ceased.
490
EARLY
OWNERS OF LANDS,
The
Allen brothers and Remember Baker, within a few years after the granting of the
charter of Burlington, under the title of the Onion River Land company became
the owners, by purchase of original grantees, of a large portion of the lands
in the vicinity of Onion river and caused them to be surveyed; Ira Allen
subsequently became the proprietor of most of these lands. It is somewhat
difficult for an impartial observer to decide which party had the best claim to
the title land jobber, the Yorkers or the persons composing the
company known sometime by the name of the Allen-Baker company, and at others by
that of the Onion River company, as scarcely a town from Pownal to Highgate but
that the latter were the owners of large tracts of land embraced within its
limits, and in some instances almost the entire township. The indomitable and
persevering energy of the Allen family was more than a match for those claiming
under the New York grants, and they became possessed of the title of fully one
third of the land between Lake Champlain and the Green mountains; five-sevenths
of the town of Burlington belonged at, different times to Ira Allen. The
following are instances of the amount of land owned and conveyed at that period
by him; 721 acres of land in the northeast corner of the town known by the name
of Lane's bow, and being the intervale above the High
bridge, was bought by Samuel Lane of Ira Allen on the 2d day of February,
1778.*
On
the 13th day of March, 1794, Ira Allen executed a mortgage deed to John Coffin
Jones of Boston, Mass., in consideration of $7,500, in which the lands are
described as follows, viz., "beginning at the northwest corner of John Knickerbacor, Esqrs. land, being
a stake and stones near Onion river, about 40 rods below the bridge at the
narrows; then south 30° west about 2 miles to the road from Peter Benedict, Esqs. to Burlington bay; then westerly about 1 mile and a
half to the road leading from the falls to Shelburn;
then northerly by said road to the college lands; then east by the college
lands to the southeast corner thereof; then north 40 rods to the northeast
corner; then west 200 rods to a stake and stones, the northwest corner of the
College green; then north about 40 rods to the road leading from Allen's mills
to the lake shore; then easterly by said road about 50 rods; then crossing said
road about 50 rods west of Col. Stephen Pearls; then northerly on the east side
of the road leading to the intervale or meadows,
being about 1 mile to Onion river; then up the river as it tends to the bounds
begun at, being more than 2 miles, including all the falls in Onion river
against Colchester, mills, dwelling houses, &c."
Also
on the 14th day of April, 1794, a mortgage deed to secure the payment of
.£1,560 to Henry Newman of Boston, Mass., the premises being described as
follows: "Beginning at the southwest corner of a 50 acre lot belonging to
the University of Vermont; then running south half of a mile; then west about
half a mile to the road leading from Burlington bay to Shelburn;
then southerly by said road 3 miles; then east 504 rods; then northerly to the
road leading from Williston to Burlington bay; then westerly by said road to
the south line of said 50 acre lot; then westerly in the line of said lot to
the bound begun at."
FIRST
SURVEYS.
The
first surveys within the limits of the town of
"
Mr.
Allen, during the same year, made surveys as follows: Colchester, September 28,
1772, two lots
Mr.
Allen was engaged the greater part of the next two years in exploring and
surveying this portion of the state. One of the lots surveyed in 1773 was
numbered 83, which is the highest number of lots to be found among the surveys
of that year. This marks the progress of surveying and shows that some time
must have been spent by them here that year.
He
surveyed the east line of the township
—————
*
Town Records, II, pp. 30, 72, 83.
in July, 1773. The northeast corner, he says in his journal,
is a "dry hemlock tree, marked B. W., and several other letters."
This corner was the northeast corner of the 500 acre tract belonging to Gov.
Wentworth, and is now in the town of
Allen
marked "
"Munites of travising the lake
from the N. W. corner of
FIRST
SETTLER.
The
first settler who came into
"
Phelix
Powell, Dr.
To 1
Pocket compass,
£0 3
" 250
Eight penny Nodes, 0 3
" Beefe.
" Beefe.
" 1 Pocket compass.
" 11
days work of Sleeper."
And
on the next page the following item:
"When
Powell went to Mill he had 2 half Joes and 1 Pistole
— I have had Ten Dollars."
The
nearest mills at that time were those at
On
the 22d day of October, 1774, Mr. Powell bought of Samuel Averill of
This
land, in addition to the village lots consisted of three 103 acre lots,
occupying the whole of Appletree point, and running
northerly nearly to Onion river. Mr. Powell
subsequently cleared a portion of the land on the point and erected a log
house, but afterwards removed to Manchester in Bennington county, and on the
19th day of August, 1778, in consideration of £190, sold his right of land to
James Murdock, of Saybrook, Conn.; the deed is
recorded on page 4, vol. 2, of the town records, and describes the land as
"1 full share or right of land lying in the town of Burlington on Onion
river, in the state of Vermont, which right was granted by Gov. Wentworth to
Samuel Averill; the pitch is made on a place commonly called Apple Tree point,
where there are about 5 acres of land under improvement with a log house upon
it.
In
November, 1774, Stephen Lawrence of Sheffield, Mass., bought of Remember Baker
lot No. 10, on Onion river, and during the same year contracts were made by
John Chamberlin, Ephraim Wheeler, Stephen Clap, Ichabod Nelan, Benjamin Wate,
for the purchase of lands in Burlington, of different members of the Allen
family with a view to their settlement, but little was done by them before all
were compelled to leave.
The
next settlement was commenced by Lemuel Bradley and others. In 1774 and 1775
clearings were made in the northerly parts of the town on the intervale and near the falls opposite the Allen settlement
in
—————
*
Town Rec., vol. II, p. 201.
492
terly retreat from Canada of Maj.-Gen. Sullivan (in command of
the American army), in June and July of that year. This movement left the
frontiers north of Ticonderoga unprotected, and was the immediate cause of the
desertion of all the settlements, including
One
great reason, no doubt, which contributed to the rapid settling of these towns,
just prior to the Revolution, was the desire on the part of those emigrating to
this state from Massachusetts and Connecticut, of avoiding, as far as possible,
the contentions and strife then existing in the southern portion of the grants,
arising from the conflicting claims of New York and New Hampshire, and many, no
doubt, in Bennington county, were well pleased to escape the turmoils and skirmishes, in which they had for years been
engaged, by diving still deeper into an open and unprotected wilderness. The
distance to
SECOND
PROPRIETORS' MEETING.
The
proprietors of
The
proprietors met and voted, 1st His Excellency Thomas Chittenden, Moderator. 2ly Ira Allen, Clerk, and 31y Ira Allen, Treasurer, 41y to examine
the proceedings of the former Proprietors' Meetings.
5ly
Voted, That on examining the former proceedings of the proprietors, and
considering the peculiar situation of the towns and New Hampshire grants, being
claimed by New York, and experience in defending, &c., and the proceedings
appearing consonant with the laws and usages of the government of New Hampshier and the proceedings of the people of the New Hampshier grants before the late Revolution, we do
therefore hereby ratify and confirm all the votes and proceedings
of the several proprietors meetings as heretofore recorded
in this book (1st vol. Proprietors' Records,) respecting the division of
lands, recording of survey bills and every other matter and thing, as fully and
amply as though said proprietors meetings had been held under the present law
and custome of this state.
61y Voted Future Meetings to be called by the Clerk by
notice in News Papers in which legal notices are inserted upon application by
one six teenth of the proprietors.
Adjourned sine die.
EARLY
SETTLERS.
From
the close of the war with
The
records of the early marriages and deaths in this town are quite meager. The
first marriage on record is in the following words:
"Samuel Hitchcock and Lucy Caroline (daughter of Gen.
Ethan Allen), married May 26th 1789.
The
first births recorded are as follows:
Loraine
Allen Hitchcock, daughter of "Samuel and Lucy C. Hitchcock born June 5th
1790."
"John
Van Sicklin Jr son to John Van Sicklin
and Elizabeth Van Sicklin was born June 11th
1790."
John Cadles Doxey, son of John Doxey, was born February 22 1788,
but his birth is not on record.
The
first town meeting on record is in the following words:
At a
Town Meeting legally warned and held in
1st
Voted
2d
Voted
3d
Stephen Lawrence, Fradk Saxton, Samuel Allen,
Selectmen.
4
Voted Job Boynton, Constable, sworn.
5 Voted Stephen Lawrence, David Perigo,
Capt. John Collins, Surveyors of Highways, sworn.
6 Voted Stephen Lawrence, Esq., Job Boynton, Samuel Lane,
Esq., Listors sworn.
8
Voted that Frederick Saxton's Barn and yard be a pound
for said town the ensuing year.
9
Voted
10
Voted To raise a tax of 2d on the pound for the purpose to purchase town books.
11
Voted
12
Voted To raise a tax of 2d on the pound for the purpose of repairing the
highways and building bridges in said town.
13 Voted Job Boynton Collector of the afd
tax.
14
Voted that this meeting be adjourned to the first Monday in May next at 2
o'clock afternoon.
This
meeting was opened according adjournment.
Voted
that Job Boynton collect only 1d on the pound of the 2d tax and the same be laid on the highways.
Voted to adjourn this meeting without day.
Attt.
494
Erastus
Bostwick, now living in Hinesburg, some 94
years of age, says that when he first came to
A few
logs fastened to the shore of the lake was the
beginning of the old wharf. Lumbermen had temporary huts in the vicinity of the
square, which was covered with bushes and shrubbery with now and then a pine
tree. Some small houses were scattered along at the head of
In
the year 1794 the persons named below were acting as follows:
John
Fay, Elnathan Keyes, attorneys practising in the
county court.
John Fay, postmaster.
For a
few years after the settlement of the town until nearly 1800 the highway
running easterly from Burlington bay passing the falls at Winooski, the High
bridge, then across the mouth of Muddy run and through the north part of
Williston, past the settlement of Gov. Chittenden, was intersected at the High
bridge or Narrows (sometimes called), by the road from Hinesburg, which passed
through the east part of this town on the present. location
of
All drank as 'twere their
mothers' milk, and not a man afraid.
Thus
carefully were the customs of the ancient Puritans preserved — men who believed
in making their hearts bold and their arms strong upon all important occasions
by ample preparations of meat and wine, together with certain articles imported
from their fatherland, in stone jugs, a free and abundant use of which resulted
in the sachem's learning
The rule he taught to kith and kin,
"Run from the white man when you find he smells of
The
love for the said
More
interesting than anything that can be collected from old records and
manuscripts and the hearsay of old settlers taken down by third persons, is the
statement made by the venerable Horace Loomis, in July, 1860, of his
recollections of Burlington. No person living has had better opportunities of
knowing what has taken place here in its earlier days, and none were here as
early as he, who has continued a resident of the place until the present.
One of the few whose memory reaches back to the
"times long past over which the twilight of uncertainty has already thrown
its shadows, and the night of forgetfulness is about to descend for ever."
He
came to the state when the town was new,
When
the lordly pine and the hemlock grew
In the place where the court house stands.
When
the stunted ash and the alder black,
The
slender fir and the tamarack,
Stood thick on the meadow lands.
He
says: "I was born in Sheffield, Berkshire county,
"With
my father's family I moved up to Burlington, Vermont, where we arrived on the
17th day of February, 1790, at 12 o'clock at old John Collins's, who lived in a
building on the site of the brick house of John Pomeroy, on Water street, and
after waiting about half an hour for some flip we took up our residence
in a log house which stood just east of Luther Loomis's store, on what is now
Pearl street, where we lived until the latter part of November of the same
year, when we moved into the house at present occupied by Edward C. Loomis,*
which was raised on the 8th day of July of the same year. All the people that
could be got from Shelburne, Essex, Colchester and
When
we came to
—————
*
Corner of
496
Weeks farm. Barty Willard moved here
the second year afterward. Peter Benedict lived at the old Eldredge place.
Samuel Allen lived on the hill this side of Muddy Brook. John Doxey lived where
Alexander Ferguson now lives, about half a mile south of the Eldredge place.
There was quite a little settlement of the Frenches
and others in that part of the town, which was set off to Williston. Nathan
Smith lived on the Fish farm, and John Van Sicklin
lived on the farm which his son now owns. A man by the name of Marvin lived
under the hill just this side of John Van Sicklin.
Avery, that framed my father's house, lived at the falls. Nahum Baker lived
with him, and helped to frame the house.
William
Coit lived in Colchester, at Ira Allen's,
and the next year built a house on the corner of Water and South streets, on
which was built Court House square, facing to the south, and was afterwards,
about 1802, sold to Amos Bronson, and by him moved to the north side of the
square, and was long occupied by Bronson, Arza Crane,
John Howard, Newton Hayes, successively, and afterwards by John Howard as a
hotel. The first jail was built of timber on the corner of Church and College
streets, and was afterwards moved to its present site. The college was built,
or the walls put up and covered in 1802. The old president's house was built
some 2 or 3 years before. The first school-house built in town or village was
built just east of the convent, and taught by one Nathaniel Winslow; I went
there to school about ten days and could learn nothing from him.
The
wild animals in the country when we came here were bears, deer and sable; no
gray or black squirrels, till 3 or 4 years after; now and then a stray wolf
from the other side of the lake was seen, but wolves were not resident here;
the other animals mentioned were abundant. I knew a man, Jim Ward, who sent 100
skins of the sable to
Stephen
Pearl came from the Grand Isle about the
year 1794, and moved into the house now standing and occupied by Mrs. Alvin
Foote, at the head of
Stephen
Pearl had been a merchant and failed, in
the gentlemen's cabin and stepping up to the bar gave a free
rap with his fist. His peculiar manner and free and easy mode were noticed by
those around him and particularly by a company of young
Col.
Pearl was a large and portly man, and although rather clumsy, had a fine and
imposing presence, a genial and benevolent look, and a courtly and unfaltering
manner in any company, and under all circumstances. He was in fact one of
"nature's noblemen," and though he died in reduced circumstances, he
was universally respected and beloved, as was attested at his funeral, which
was attended by a large concourse of his neighbors and friends from this and
the adjoining towns. He died on the 21st November, 1816, aged 69.
We
are moreover indebted to G. B. Sawyer, Esq., of this village, for the following
information in regard to Col. Pearl and other early and deceased citizens of
Stephen
Pearl. — There never was another such a
man. He had such an extraordinary power to please, he
commanded and charmed men, women and children. His great characteristics were
sense, wit and benevolence. An old friend could never pass by his door unhailed We united conspicuously
majesty and beauty of form and countenance, and as he stood in his porch, his
tall, large, magnificent form looked like a colossus. He was a large and
beneficent landholder, with that wonderful tact of distribution, that while his
divisions made others rich, they did not impoverish him. He was a captain at
Timothy
Pearl, brother of Stephen, was shrewd and
smart, somewhat like his brother. He was judge of probate of Alburgh district (see
Col. James
Sawyer, born in 1762, was the youngest son of Col. Ephraim Sawyer of
James
Sawyer, the son, was at the taking of
James
L. Sawyer, son of James Sawyer, graduated at
Frederick
Augustus Sawyer, 1st lieutenant
498
of the 11th
Of
Capt. Horace B. Sawyer, son of James Sawyer, honorable mention is
already made, in the Chittenden County Military Chapter, and a biographic
sketch may be found under the head of Burlington Biography. — Ed.
George
F. Sawyer, son of James Sawyer, entered the
navy with Com. McDonough as private secretary. He was a purser when he died, in
1852, on the
George
Robinson, a native of Dutchess county, N. Y., represented
Stephen
Lawrence, was a merchant and a son of one of the first settlers in
town. He was buried near the site of the
Thomas,
Ephraim and Samuel Mills, three
brothers, came here in connection with the Burlington Sentinel (then the
Northern Sentinel). They were always editors and postmasters, and though
thorough democrats, pretty clever fellows.
Elnathan
Keyes, a prominent lawyer of the early
times, was a man of powerful mind and ability; an honored and distinguished
citizen of the town, county and state.
Col. Wm.
C. Harrington, was another
Hon. John
C. Thompson, a Rhode Islander by birth, came to
Daniel
Farrand, the
son of Priest Farrand of Canaan, Conn., the clergyman
wit of Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, first settled in
Warren
Loomis, the most brilliant man the town
ever produced, graduated at
Dr. Robert
Moody was a native of
Dr. Robert
Coit, a respectable physician, was an amiable, moderate man.
Rev. Luman
Foote, an Episcopal clergyman in
Dr. Truman
Powell, a cotemporary with with Dr. J. N.
Pomeroy, had a large practice for many years.
Daniel
Staniford, a native of
Daniel
Hurlburt, was a rough, hard, powerful, in body and mind, man. The
man to build bridges, the Burlington college, the turnpikes, to get out a raft
for Quebec, and to help build up a country — a type of man passed from among us
— the men who converted Vermont from a wilderness into what it is.
George
Moore, who built the factory at
Winooski falls, was a worthy and substantial business man.
His widow and son still reside here.
E. T.
Englesby, who
lived and died in Burlington and inherited and made a good deal of money, was
for many years president of the Burlington bank, and one of the leading
business men of the village.
PRINCE
EDWARD IN BURLINGTON IN 1793.
From Recollections of Horace Loomis.
BY J. N. POMEROY, ESQ.
The
recent visit of the Prince of Wales to this country has awakened an interest in
the facts and incidents of the tour of his grandfather Prince Edward,
afterwards Duke of Kent through the
The
prince arrived in the afternoon with thirteen carryalls and sleighs, and left
the third day after before noon. He had two aids and two body guards, a cook
and a lady. His body guards slept by his door, and his cook prepared the
provisions which they had brought with them. He parted with his lady or
mistress at this place — she going to
Among
the early settlers of the town was Col. Stephen Keyes, a gentleman of the old
school, who wore a cocked hat, kept a hotel on
500
but its best and largest north room, kept in the nicest
order, with its clean sanded floor, was not an uninviting place for British
officers to dine, and particularly on such a dinner as the colonel never failed
to set for gentlemen. The officers with their dogs went in to dinner, and they
soon began to feed them on the floor; the colonel looked upon it as an
indignity, and bringing in a brace of loaded pistols, laid them formally on the
table, and denouncing the conduct of the officers, swore he would protect the
respectability of his house and was ready to do it.
FIRST
FREEMEN'S MEETING.
The
first freemen's meeting on record was held at the house of Benjamin Adams on
the first Tuesday of September, A. D. 1794, for the election of state officers
and councillors. The vote for governor was as
follows: Isaac Tichenor, 23; Thomas Chittenden, 17; Ira Allen, 3; Nathaniel
Niles, 1.
The
first election for representative to congress (on record) was held at the same
place on the last Tuesday of December in the same year. The following persons
had the number of votes annexed respectively to their names: Israel Smith, 7;
Isaac Tichenor, 7; Matthew Lyon, 4; Wm. C. Harrington, 2; Nathaniel Chipman, 1;
Noah Smith, 1.
LAST
PROPRIETORS' MEETING.
On
the 11th day of June, 1798, the proprietors of the town met (according to an
advertisement in the papers published in Bennington, Rutland, and Windsor,
which notice was issued by a justice of the peace at the request of one
sixteenth part of the proprietors) at the Court house in said town and made
choice of the following officers: Gideon Ormsby, chairman; Wm. C. Harrington,
clerk; Zacheus Peaslee, treasurer; Stephen Pearl, collector.
William
Coit, Stephen Pearl and Zacheus Peaslee were chosen a committee to examine the
old surveys and make further ones, and also to make a division of the lands,
and also to ascertain what rights had been owned by Ira Allen, as Allen had
avoided mentioning the names of his grantors in his deeds to the settlers. On
the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th days of June the division of lands was
made, which is on file and record in the town clerk's office, and which
prevails at the present day.
The
first volume of the Proprietors' Records of this town is now in the
possession of Mr. Henry Stevens.
At an
adjourned meeting held on the 26th day of the same June it was voted,
"That two acres and one-half of land whereon the court house and goal are
built in said Burlington, shall be and is hereby set off for the use of the publick for the erecting of all necessary county and town
buildings for publick use." The town and county
buildings have since been built upon place named and some private rights have
been acquired in the northeasterly portion where Strong's block is situated.
LEGISLATURE
HERE.
1802.
— The legislature of the state held session at Burlington in this year, but
besides a quarrel in the house of representatives over the speech of the
governor, which occurrence was quite frequent in those days, but little
business of importance was transacted, a thing not altogether unknown in
legislative bodies of the present day.
RELIGIOUS
SOCIETY.
1805.
— Statutes of the state passed in 1797 and 1801 authorized the inhabitants of
the towns of this state to form themselves into religious societies and levy a
tax upon all persons residing in town unless they filed certain certificate in
the town clerk's office. Accordingly at the request of 7 freeholders a meeting
was warned and held on the 15th day of June, 1805, when 25 voters being
present, they formed themselves into a society by a unanimous vote, by the name
of the First Society for Social and Public Worship in the Town of
The
protest necessary for parties to sign to avoid taxation was in form similar to
the following, which is the first on record:
"This
may certify that I do not agree in the religious sentiments with the majority
of the inhabitants of the town of
SAMPLE GILKEY.
Received and recorded March 24, 1806.
JR. GEO. ROBINSON, Town Clerk."
The
laws relating to taxation were repealed in consequence of the recommendation of
the council of censors.
TOWN
FINED.
At
the September term, 1813, of the Chittenden county court, the town was found
guilty of not keeping in repair the road from the College green to the bay, now
called Main street, and was fined $600, and John Johnson was appointed to
superintend the expenditure of the same On the 30th day of December following
the town voted to lay a tax of 3 cents on a dollar to meet said sum.
WAR
WITH
A reference
to those transactions connected with the war which took place within our own
borders, is all we shall attempt here. The non-intercourse "act of
congress" and kindred measures, caused considerable feeling in this
section of the country, and led to those smuggling expeditions so frequent at
that time, which often resulted in bloodshed, the most serious of which has
been noticed by Judge Reed in the history of Chittenden county. Perhaps nothing
can be laid before the historical reader more fully showing the spirit and
feeling of the people at that time than the following which, as it is not in
print elsewhere (to my knowledge), I deem proper to insert here:
Supplement to the
The
following resolutions having been received too late for insertion in the Centinel
of this day, we have thought proper to issue them in a supplement.
At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of
Daniel
Farrand, Esq., chosen
Moderator.
Voted,
That a committee of five be chosen, to draw up and
present to the meeting, for the consideration of the inhabitants, certain
resolutions to be adopted upon the subject of the embargo.
Thereupon,
Samuel Hitchcock, Elnathan Keyes, Daniel Farrand,
David Russell and Stephen Pearl, Esquires, were chosen of that committee.
The
meeting then adjourned one hour, at which time, the meeting being opened, the
committee reported the following resolutions which were read and adopted
UNANIMOUSLY.
Resolved,
That the ultimate end of all legitimate government is
the preservation of the nation, securing to the members of it personal safety,
and the peaceable possession and enjoyment of property and reputation. These
objects are so clearly and explicitly delineated in the constitution of this
and of the
Resolved,
That it is the right and the indispensable duty of the citizens of the United
States, at all times, to watch with vigilance and attention, every attack upon
the constitution of our government, whether made by those who govern, or those
who are destined to obey.
Resolved,
As the sense of this meeting, that some of the late measures of the general
government, present sufficient cause of alarm to all considerate men, to be at
their post, & ready to repel with manly firmness every violation of our rights
as citizens and freemen.
Resolved,
That a review of these measure fills the mind with surprise and regret,
inasmuch as Congress, under a pretence of saving our commerce from
depredations, have totally destroyed it, by laying an embargo, and fortifying it
with additional acts, until it amounts to almost a non-intercourse with all
foreign nations. And we have seen with increasing surprise and indignation, the
proclamation of the President, declaring this section of the
By
the 11th article of our Bill of Rights, it is declared, "that the people
have a right to hold themselves, their houses, papers and possessions, free
from search or seizure, and therefore, warrants without oath or affirmation
first made, affording sufficient foundation for them, and whereby any officer
or messenger may be commanded to search suspected places, or to seize any
person or persons, his, her or their property, not particularly described, are
contrary to that right and ought not to be granted." These sacred and
inviolable rights are farther confirmed and guaranteed by the 6th section of
the amendments to the constitution of the
502
papers & effects, against unreasonable searches and
seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable
cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place
to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." By the act
aforesaid, the powers vested in the President and those in subordination to
him, are totally incompatible with those rights, & a direct attack on our
once boasted happy constitution.
Resolved,
That in our opinion, these measures are dictated, not
by the free voice of the respectable part of the community, but by the
temporizing policy of men, whom we have reason to fear, are devoted to the
intrigues of some foreign power.
Resolved,
That the spirited opposition to the passage of the above
law, by the minority in Congress, is a sure pledge of their patriotism and
merits the unqualified approbation of all friends to the independence of our
common country.
Resolved,
That the oath to support the constitution of the United States, impels every
free man taking the same, to use all lawful means to suppress the usurpation
imposed by the above law; and while we pledge ourselves to support with our
lives and fortunes the constitution of our own state and of the United States
and the laws made pursuant thereto, we deem it proper to declare, and we do
most solemnly declare, that in the opinion of this meeting, the powers vested
in the executive officers to carry the above act into execution, are hostile to
civil liberty, and a violation of some of the fundamental principles of that
government, which cost so much blood and treasure to obtain.
Resolved,
That in our opinion, from the public documents which
we have seen, our differences with
Resolved,
That it be expedient to consult with our fellow citizens of this and the
neighboring States, upon such measures, as shall be most likely to relieve us
from these evils, and that a committee of correspondence be chosen for that
purpose.
Resolved,
That Daniel Farrand, Samuel Hitchcock and David
Russel, Esquires, be the above committee.
STEPHEN
PEARL, DANIEL FARRAND,
NATHAN
SMITH, Selectmen. Moderator.
A true transcript from the Records.
Attest,
GEO. ROBINSON,
Town Clerk.
War
being declared,
The
military authorities took possession of the college buildings and used them for
an arsenal and for barracks.
In
1813 the public stores at
A
brigade of Vermonters being drafted were disbanded at
Embankments
were thrown up on the lake shore in the northwest part of the village near the
foot of
From
the close of the war in 1815, Bur‑
lington progressed quite rapidly until 1840, when, from being one
of the smallest towns in the state, as was the case at the first census, she
was the first in population and wealth; which position she has since always
maintained. The completion of the canal from Albany to Whitehall, and the
introduction of steamboats upon Lake Champlain, gave Burlington, with its
spacious bay, the breakwater in front and its ample wharfing grounds, quite a
prominent commercial position; and for a long time until the completion of the
railways the merchandize for the northern, northeastern and central portion of
the state, and the products of the same districts on their way to markets,
passed generally through the hands of the Burlington merchants, among whom
might be named Messrs. Deming, Doolittle, Howard, Englesby,
Follett, the Bradleys, Pecks, Mayo, Peterson, Walker and others.
The
construction of the rail roads (centering at
With
occasional political contests, the excitement caused by the visit of some
distinguished stranger like President Monroe in 1817, Gen La Fayette in 1825,
the Angel Gabriel in 1854 (who disturbed good catholics
by preaching in the streets on Sundays against the church of Rome), the feeling
caused by the Canadian rebellion, the Bolton and our fratricidal
war now going on, the celebration over some pioneer mechanic shop or a rail
road, nothing of note has occurred to vary the monotony of every day business
transactions. In her religious, educational, financial and business
institutions she has fully kept pace with the rest of the land; while her
citizens have been distinguished; representing our nation abroad and in all
positions at home, on the bench, at the bar, and in the hall of legislation; while
the blood of her sons has reddened many a battle field in defence of their
country's flag.
[There
has never been but one instance of capital punishment in the county, viz: that
of Dean, the smuggler in the affair of the Black Snake, noticed by Hon. David
Reed* in the County Chapter, and which is described in the following doggerel
ballad written at the time — the authorship unknown — contributed to this
magazine by Hon. Harvey Munsill of Bristol, Addison county:
In
the year eighteen hundred and eight,
The
Embargo Law in
Did
so enrage our furious Feds
They
would cross the line or loose their heads.
Our
rulers meant to be obeyed,
And
sent some men to stop the trade;
Some
of our soldiers did combine
In arms, to guard the northern line.
A smuggling set
in the Black Snake,
Resolved
to sail upon the lake,
They
armed themselves to fight their way,
And
thus they thought to win the day.
The
men who laid this smuggling plot,
Was
And
many more, who were not clever,
Spread
out their sails on Onion river,
All
for to load their boat again,
And
then to sail across the line;
But
soldiers were so well agreed,
Their
plan did not so well succeed.
Our
officers found where she lay,
The orders
were, take her away;
The
Revenue was then sent on,
Commanded by one Farrington.
And
when this smuggling rebel crew,
Heard
of the boat, the Revenue,
Unto
the house of Joy's they went,
And
there one night in private spent.
There
each agreed upon a man,
And
Mudgett took the sole command;
He,
like a tory, or a friend,
The
lives of many meant to end.
To
carry on this wicked deed,
With
a large gun they did proceed,
And
by the Snake they made a stand,
To
guard the same stood on the land.
Then
Farrington sailed from the lake,
And
thus he to the rebels spake,
"Orders
I have to take the Snake,
And all the smugglers on the lake."
This
raised their blood, to arms they flew,
For
to keep off the Revenue,
And
execute this wicked deed,
That
did from rebels hearts proceed.
Then
Mudgett gave the threatening word,
To
all the men that was on board,
"The
first that steps into the Snake,
A
lifeless corpse of him I will make."
But
Farrington feared not his threats,
Into
the smuggler boat he steps;
There,
like a warrior bold and brave,
His
blood and honor thought to save.
Now
let us turn and view the scheme,
And
who begun this bloody scene;
It
was
The
crimson blood of Drake did spill.
With
hearts unfeeling they went then,
To
spill the blood of honest men
—————
*
Vide page 486
504
Ormsby
and Marsh then prostrate fell,
Before
these wicked imps of hell,
And
bold and warlike Farrington,
His
crimson blood they caused to run.
These
men were tried all for the same crime,
Why
not alike their sentence find;
Dean
was sentenced to the halter,
The
rest convicted of manslaughter. — Ed.]
TOWN
LINES.
The boundaries of the town was a matter which received
considerable attention in early years. The easterly line was changed in 1797,
when the legislature annexed all that part of the town lying east of Muddy
brook to Williston, making a natural boundary on all sides but the south which
line was run by William Colt, Esq., surveyor in 1798.
EARLY BUSINESS MEN.
Among
the merchants the following are the names of the earlier: — Grant, Stephen
Keyes, Zacheus Peaslee, Thaddeus Tuttle, E. T. Englesby,
Wm. F. Pell & Co., Herring & Fitch, Newell & Russell; Moses Jewett,
saddler; Nehemiah Hotchkiss, tailor; J.
Attorneys. — Samuel Hitchcock, William C. Harrington, John Fay,
Elnathan Keyes, Daniel Farrand, Phinehas Lyman, Moses
Fay, Stephen Mix Mitchell, George Robinson, C. P. Van Ness, Charles Adams,
Warren Loomis, James L. Sawyer, Timothy Follett, John N. Pomeroy, Henry
Hitchcock, Charles H. Perrigo, Isaac Warner, John C.
Thompson, Gamaliel B. Sawyer, George Peaselee, Seneca
Austin, George P. Marsh, Alvan Foote, A. W. Hyde, Davis Stone, Sanford Gadcomb,
Jason Chamberlin, Wm. A. Griswold, John B. Richardson, Luman Foote, Benjamin F.
Bailey, Wm. Brayton, Amos Blodgett, Henry Leavenworth.
Physicians, in the order of time in which they resided here: John
Pomeroy, —— Fletcher, Jabez Penniman, James Root, Mathew Cole, —— Bostwick,
John Perrigo, Truman Powell, Elijah D. Harmon, —— Sackett, Capius F. Pomeroy,
Arthur L. Porter, Nathaniel R. Smith, Joseph Marsh, Leonard Marsh, Wm. Atwater,
B. J. Heineberg, Horace Hatch, John A. Ward,* W. A. Tracy, H. H. Atwater,† H.
H. Langdon,‡ Thomas Bigalow,* † John M. Knox,† George W. Ward, Matthew Cole,†
Nathan Ward, —— Dorion,§ —— Lagotte,§ A.
Contant,§ S. W. Thayer, jr.,† N. H. Ballou, W. Carpenter,† B. W. Carpenter.‡
HOTELS.
Gideon
King kept the first hotel on
The
Howard house was kept for a long time on the north side of Court House square.
The
A
tavern was kept for about 50 years at the junction of the Winooski turnpike and
the High bridge and Hinesburgh road, called the
Eldredge place, and about one half mile east of the Eldredge place a tavern was
kept by Major Ebenezer Brown, and one also about 2
miles south of the village on the Shelburne road.
Present Hotels.
— American hotel, south side of the square, corner Shelburne and
Howard hotel, south corner Shelburne and main streets.
Central
house,
PUBLIC
WHIPPING POST.
This
institution which was required under our early laws was located about 100 feet
west of the Court house on the square, it being a huge pine tree some 80 feet high,
a pine was probably selected from the fact that that tree flourished in our
coat of arms.
GENERAL
LISTS.
Although
the lists of the town are very inaccurate, varying considerably under the same
circumstances, and made at different times, according to different valuations,
yet they present data from which the relative prosperity of the town can be
presumed. The following is a copy of the first list on file:
Arastus Woolcut, £6 John Doxey, £10; Alexander Davidson, £9; Joel
Fairchild, £9; Antoney Coffey, £9; Jabiz Allen, £15; Barney Spear, £6; Joel Harvey, £9; Barzillia Spear, £6; Nat Allen, £10.10; Dearing Spear,
—————
*
Homeopathic.
‡ In
the army.
† Now
in practice.
§
French physician.
£11; Nathan Lockwood, £10; David Perigo,
£18; Philo Castle, £6; Daniel Fairchild, £6; Reuben Lockwood, £10; Daniel
Castle, £11; Reuben Hurlbut, £26; General Ethan
Allen, £16; Rufus Perigo, £9; Elisha Lane, £15;
Richard Spear, £30; Colonel Fred. Saxton, £65; Samuel Lane, £32; Captain John
Collins, £45; Stephen Lawrence, £89.10; Col. Ira Allen, £5; Samuel Allen,
£19.10; Samuel Lane, jr., £12; John Favil, £12; Stephen Fairchild, jr., £15;
Esquire John White, £19; Josiah Averil, £12; Stephen Fairchild, £32; Job Boynton,
£12; Jack Johnson, £6; James Barney, £6; Isaac Pitcher, £9; Ceasor
Allen, £6; Jona Butterfield, £9. Total £662.10.
This
is a true copy of the original.
Test. STEPHEN
LAWRENCE,
Test. JOB
BOYNTON, Listers.
The
list of the town in early years was based upon the following valuation:
Polls,
£6;* $20:† an ox, £3; $10: 3 years' old cattle, £2; $6.50: 2 years' old cattle,
£1; $5: yearling cattle, £¾: stock horses, £20; $150: 3 years' old horses and
upward, £4; $13.50: 2 years' old horses £2; $6.50: yearling horses, £1; $3.50:
improved land per acre, £½; $1.75: money and debts, 20 per cent; 6 per cent:
clocks, $10: gold watches, $10: silver watches, $5: houses valued $1,000, 2 per
cent: houses valved over $1,1100, 3 per cent. Professional men, merchants, and traders — discretionary.
The
following are lists for yours named under the above valuation:
1787,
£662.10; 1788, £1,461.2; 1789, £1,148.16; 1790, £1,371.14; 1791, £1,258; 1792,
£1,555.10; 1794, £1,932.15; 1795, £2,168.15; 1796, £2,548; 1800, $10,480.25;
1802, $11,896,66; 1804, $17,740.43; 1806, $15,840.
The
following are the amount of lists for the years named:
Polls — 1797, 116; 1799, 144; 1801, 151; 1803, 156; 1814,
280; 1817, 185.
Amount at $20 each — 1797, $2,320; 1799, $2,880; 1801,
$3,020; 1803, $3,120; 1814, $5,600; 1817, $3,700.
Improved
land, acres — 1797, 868¼; 1799, 1,064½; 1801, 1,341;
1803, 1,588¾; 1814, 2,921½; 1817, 3,207½.
Amount at $1.75 per acre — 1797, $1,519; 1799, $1,862;
1801, $2,346; 1803, $2,780; 1814, $5,112; 1817, $5,613.
Houses, 2 and 3 per cent, valuation — 1797, $409; 1799,
$393; 1801, $436; 1803, $737; 1814, $1,953; 1817, $1,943.
Other property and assessments — 1797, $4,635; 1799,
$5,432; 1801, $6,157; 1803, $5,012; 1814, $12,174; 1817, $9,377.
Total — 1797, $8,884; 1799, $10,568; 1801, $11,959; 1803,
$11,842; 1814, $24,840; 1817, $20,633.
Militia
polls exempt — 1797, 92; 1799, 80; 1801, 46; 1803, 92.
Cavalry
horses exempt — 1797, 6; 1799, 6; 1801, 3; 1803, 2.
Valuation
for the years named below:
Number of polls — 1842, 699; 1843, 615; 1845, 689; 1847,
767; 1850, 979; 1855, 772; 1860, 1,095; 1862, 967.
Amount of list at $2 each — 1842, $699; 1843, 1,230; 1845,
$1,378; 1847, $1,534; 1850, $1,958; 1855, $1,544; 1860, $2,190; 1862, $1,934.
Real estate valued — 1842, $977,856; 1843, $982,117; 1845,
$1,057,243; 1847, $1,190,614; 1850, $1,338,106; 1855, $1,604,398; 1860,
$1,158,923; 1862, $1,076,303.
Personal estate valued — 1842, $509,148; 1843, $457,940;
1845, $413,734; 1847, $392,909; 1850, $641,263; 1855, $717,188; 1860, $811,671;
1862, $732,412.
Polls
were set in the list in 1842 at $1 each.
PAUPERS
AND THEIR SUPPORT.
Rattle his bones over the stones,
He's only a pauper, whom nobody owns.
That
open hospitality which prevails in countries thinly settled, especially those
of an agricultural character, a marked characteristic of the early Vermonters,
soon after the first settlements led to the establishment of laws providing for
the support, by the public, of those persons "naturally wanting of
understanding," or who "by the providence of God, by age, sickness or
otherwise should become poor and impotent or unable to provide for
themselves."
An
elaborate statute was passed by the general assembly of the state in March,
1787, of which one section reads as follows:
"That
each town in this state shall take care of, support and maintain their own
poor," the statute also gives suitable directions in all matter relating
to poor persons.
1809.
— The first year in which the expenses of the poor in Burlington can with
accuracy be ascertained is that ending with the annual March meeting, A. D.
1809, when the account of the overseer of the poor which he presented to the
town for payment, being the sums he had expended the previous year in
supporting the poor, amounted to $47.64.
1816.
— At a special town meeting held on
—————
*
Acts passed in 1791.
† In
1797.
506
the 19th day of Oct. A. D. 1816, it was voted to appoint a
committee of two to examine and report upon the propriety of building or hiring
a building for a work house to report at the adjourned meeting — and thereupon
voted that Henry Mayo and Lemuel Page be said committee. The committee reported
at the adjourned meeting held four days later: "That four rooms in the
high barracks can be rented for a small rent, that the rooms above mentioned
will require but little repairs to make them suitable for the business. At
present no water can be procured for the use of the rooms short of the lake.
Your committee consider the above named room, by far, the most eligible for the
purpose of a work house that can at present be obtained," which report was
read and accepted.
It
was then voted, "That the overseers of the poor be a committee to hire the
high barracks upon the best terms in their power to be occupied as a work
house."
Voted,
"That John Pomeroy, David Russell and Nathaniel Mayo be
a committee to draw up rules, orders and regulations for said work house."
1817.
— The succeeding spring it was ascertained that the
expenses of the poor department were becoming large, being for that year nearly
$1,000, and treble the expenses of the preceding year, and the committee
appointed to settle the account of the overseers, speak as follows:
"The
committee regret the necessity which has produced such
an unexampled expenditure for the support of the poor during the last year
humanity as well as duty bid us to consider the misfortunes of the necessitous,
but the expenses incurred in their support are enormous and we ought to
retrench them as far as possible."
1821.
— At the annual meeting in 1821 the selectmen and overseers of the poor were
appointed a committee to make the necessary inquiries whether a convenient and
proper house could be procured for a house of correction and work house for the
poor, and on what terms; and if any could be procured to make such rules for
the regulation of the same as they should think proper and were ordered to
report at an adjourned meeting, and subsequently at said adjourned meeting they
were authorized to procure such a place, and a set of rules and regulations
were adopted for the government of the same, which provided for the appointment
of a superintendent or keeper, and power was given him "to fetter, shackle
or whip, not exceeding twenty stripes, any person confined therein who does not
perform the labor assigned him or her, or is refractory or disobedient to the
lawful commands," and also "that no person so confined shall be
permitted the use of any ardent spirits unless the physician who may be
employed to attend on any person so confined and sick shall deem the same
necessary for the health of such person."
This
establishment was kept up for two years and then abandoned.
The
following extract is from the report of the overseers in 1824:
1824.
— "The beneficial effects which resulted in consequence of the
establishment of a poor house and house of correction in 1821 were sensibly
felt the ensuing year, by diminishing the poor account and ridding the town of
a worthless population. The want of an establishment of this kind, the past
season, has had a contrary effect, it has produced an
influx of idle and disorderly persons within the village limits, who must
eventually become chargeable to the town. The gratuitous aid afforded by the
sheriff of the county by furnishing a secure place for such disorderly persons
as have been thrown upon our hands the past year, has been of much service, and
we cannot close this report without indulging a hope that the town will at
their present meeting, adopt such measures for the erection of a permanent poor
house and house of correction, which will prove a home to the unfortunate and
deserving, a terror to the dissolute and idle, relieve the labors of those who
succeed as well as lessen the annual expenses of the poor.
"George
Moore, N. B. Haswell, overseers of the poor."
At
the same meeting the following resolution was passed:
Resolved,
That it is expedient to build or purchase a work house and house of correction
and that a committee of five persons be appointed to prepare a plan, make an
estimate of the expense of the same, and make report of their doings at an
adjourned meeting, and Luther Loomis, George Moore, Nathan B. Haswell, Henry
Thomas and John Van Sicklin, Jr., were appointed such
a committee, and on the 5th day of April, the same year the committee reported
that a suitable and convenient house with two acres and a half of land in a
central situation, with a good well of water, could be procured for $800, and
that the necessary and suitable repairs would cost about $50, and they
recommended the purchase of the same.
The
report was adopted and the sums recommended were voted.
On
the 9th day of April, the same year Charles Adams deeded to the town the
premises referred to in the report above named, being the north half of that
part of 5 acre lots No. 1 and 2, which lies between College and
1831.
— The poor of the town increasing it was soon found
that the house did not meet the wants which the exigencies of the department
required. At the town meeting in 1831, a committee was appointed on the subject
of the poor house and pest house, and were ordered to make a report at an
adjourned meeting; at which meeting they recommended the purchase of a suitable
farm with buildings, to be converted into a poor house and house of correction,
and on which may be erected a pest house, and that the premises then owned by
the town and used as a poor house be sold; that a committee be appointed to
ascertain what the poor house might be sold for, and for what sum a suitable
farm might be purchased, and to make a report at an adjourned meeting.
1833.
— In 1833 a committee was appointed on the subject of
a poor house, house of correction and pest house; but they not having such
knowledge of the subject as would enable them to present any definite plan,
recommended that a committee be appointed and they visit similar establishments
in other places, prepare plans and make estimates of the cost.
At
almost every town meeting for a number of years the subject of the poor house
was extensively discussed. The agitation generally ended in the appointment of
a committee who would almost invariably report that in their opinion a
committee should be appointed to investigate the matter, which last named
committee would generally never be heard from.
1836.
— In the year 1836 the selectmen were appointed a committee to investigate the
expediency of purchasing a farm upon which necesssary
buildings for the use of the poor might be erected, and were ordered to report
at an adjourned meeting to be held on the first Monday of May following.
The
day came and they reported that ten farms had been offered to them at various
prices, but they had no opinion themselves upon the subject, and following the
invariable rule in such cases recommended that a committee be appointed to
investigate the subject thoroughly; and accordingly a committee of three
were chosen to act with the selectmen in the purchase of a farm, and a tax of
four cents on the dollar was voted to pay for the same. This committee, unlike
its predecessors, acted in the matter, and on the 27th day of September,
1836, reported to a town meeting held on that day, that
they had purchased the farm of Frederick Purdy, lying 2½ miles south of the
village, on the Shelburne road, for the sum of $2000.
1837.
— This measure did not seem to have the desired effect
of lessening expenses, as the following extract from the records the following
spring will show:
"On
motion of G. B. Sawyer, Esq., a committee was appointed to investigate and
report to the town at the next adjourned town meeting the causes of the
increased number of paupers and increased expenses of the poor for the last two
years." No trace of their report can be found.
This
farm contains about 70 acres of land, and with the improvements since made is
used for the support and accommodation of the poor, under the charge of a
superintendent employed by the town.
1859 — The building on the farm becoming somewhat dilapidated,
at the March meeting in 1859, it was voted that the selectmen, overseer of the
poor and Dr. W. C. Hickok, be authorized to take immediate measures to rebuild
or repair the building on the poor farm, so that they might be permanently
adapted to the proper and convenient care of the poor of the town, provided
that the expense thereof should not exceed $4,000.
The
following extract from the report of the selectmen, made the following spring, indicates
the progress of the matter:
"New Poor House.
"In
accordance with the vote of the town at the last March meeting, your committee
have erected and completed a new poor house, on your farm. The building is of
brick, 48 by 48, two stories, with a basement; the walls are twelve inches,
with an air space, or double, as they are termed. The building will
conveniently accommodate 75 persons; is well lighted, perfectly ventilated,
easily warmed; is convenient in its arrangements, plain in finish, substantial
and good, and cost $3,825.23.
"The
house contains two water closets, designed for the use of the old and infirm.
The cost of these with the necessary traps, fixtures, and large tile drain,
added to the cost of the house some $300 or $400 but the convenience of them is
almost beyond value, in such a house.
508
"We
also moved the old store, as it is termed, around to the new house, and have
finished up the same, and made of it a good wood shod and carriage house,
which, of course, was much needed. We have also provided two good cisterns, a
well, and new furniture, &c., the cost of all which you will find detailed
in the orders of the selectmen. The amount of these expenditures is
$685.41."
If a
generous policy towards the poor is evidence of an enlightened civilization,
certainly
Statement of the Expense of the Poor Department.
For
most of the years from 1809 to 1862 inclusive, being for years ending at the
annual March meeting: 1809, $47.64; 1810, $132.90; 1816, 323.96; 1817, $964.17;
1818, $1,257.16; 1821, $445.80; 1822, $341.38; 1823, $707.55; 1824, $418.50;
1825, $427.85; 1826, $436.80; 1828, $866.06; 1829, $913.31; 1833, $886.86; 1834,
$1,197.24; 1835, $851.89; 1836, $1,084.53; 1837, $1,813.24; 1838, $2,200; 1839,
$1,350; 1840, $1,509.80; 1841, $1,520.57; 1842, $1,479.97; 1843, $1,764.82;
1844, $1,474.61; 1845, $1,537.60; 1846, $1,130.70; 1847, $1,740.84; 1848,
$4,055.52; 1849, $3,158.08; 1850, $3,202.77; 1851, $3,699.58; 1852, $4,126.62;
1853, $2,931.98; 1854, $2,563.72; 1855, $2,973.29; 1856, $3,043.88; 1857,
$2,571.22; 1858, $3,211.56; 1859, $3,068.40; 1860, $2,096.73; 1861, $2,286.88;
1862, $2,052.35.
ELECTORAL
VOTES.
Vote
of
1828 — John Q. Adams, 308; Andrew Jackson, 332.
1832 — Andrew Jackson, 201; Wm. Wirt, 183.
1836 — Martin Van Buren, 293; William H. Harrison, 272.
1840 — William H. Harrison, 386; Martin Van Buren, 272;
Abolition vote, 6.
1844 — Henry Clay, 451; James K. Polk, 392; James G.
Birney, 21.
1848 — Zachary Taylor, 593; Lewis Cass, 255; Martin Van
Buren, 176.
1852 — Franklin Pierce, 292; Winfield Scott, 509; John P.
Hale, 63.
1856 — James Buchanan, 246; John C. Fremont, 592; Millard
Fillmore, 26; Abolition vote, 4.
1860
— Abraham Lincoln, 608; John C. Breckenridge, 44; Stephen A. Douglas, 231; John
Bell, 15; Abolition vote, 2.
ATTEMPT
TO ORGANIZE THE TOWN INTO A CITY.
An
application was made to the selectmen by several freeholders, in the fall of A.
D. 1852, requesting them to warn a meeting of the legal voters of the town, to
see if the town would make application to the legislature for an act to
incorporate the whole or a part of the town into a city, with power to elect a
representative to the legislature and proper powers for the good government and
well being of the city; such a meeting was held on the 7th day of October in
that year, and the following resolution introduced by Lyman Cummings:
"Resolved,
That it is expedient to incorporate a part of the town of Burlington into a
city, with proper boundaries, and suitable provisions," and that a
committee be appointed to carry the resolutions into effect, with an amendment
recommending that the proposed city embrace the whole instead of a part of the
town, was referred to a committee of five, composed of Geo. W. Benedict,
Timothy Follett, John Van Sicklin, D. W. C. Clark and
William Weston, with instructions to report at an adjourned meeting to be held
on the 12th instant, following, "a bill to incorporate part or all of the
present town of Burlington as a city."
At
the adjourned meeting the committee presented a written report, recommending
the adoption of said resolution in the form in which the same was first
introduced, and also a draught of a bill to incorporate the "city of
Burlington," and said resolution was adopted, the vote being taken by
ballots, there being in the affirmative 169, and in the negative 63; and a
committee of 7 persons were appointed under said resolution.
The
legislature in session at that time passed an act incorporating the village
part of the town and that portion of the town lying north of the village as a
city, and likewise an act chartering the
On
the 21st day of January, A. D. 1853, a meeting of the legal voters, within the
limits of the contemplated city, was held for the purpose of voting on the
question,
whether they preferred a city or a village charter; and the
ballots having been taken the result was as follows: for a village charter
there were cast 273 votes; for a city charter, 233 votes.
On
the 7th day of February, 1853, a meeting of the legal voters within the
prescribed limits of the "
And
thus ended the only attempt to incorporate the town or a portion of it as a
city; many who voted for a village charter in preference to a city organizatIon were hostile to both, and those in favor of a
city charter, thinking it was defeated by the "side show" of a
village charter, opposed the latter, and thus both were defeated.
TOWN
CLERKS.
Samuel
Lane, 1787 to 1794; Zacheus Peaslee, 1794 to 1804; Robert Peaslee, 1804 to
1805; George Robinson, 1805 to 1832; Chas. Russell, 1832 to 1847; Chalon F. Davy, 1847 to 1855; John B. Wheeler, 1855 to
1856; Samuel H. Reed, 1856 to 1859; Abner B. Lowry, 1859 (resigned); Brush M.
Webb, 1859 (present incumbent).
TOWN
TREASURERS.
Stephen
Lawrence, 1787 to 1790; John Knickerbocker, 1790 to
1792; Samuel Lane, 1792 to 1793; Phinehas Loomis, 1793 to 1801; Zacheus
Peaslee, 1801 to 1804; Sam'l. Hickok, 1804 to 1817; Horace Loomis, 1817 to
1822; John N. Pomeroy, 1822 to 1829; Nathan B. Haswell, 1829 to 1840; George B.
Shaw, 1840 to 1841; William A. Griswold, 1841 to 1843; Alvan Foote, 1843 to
1851; C. F. Davy, 1851 to 1855; John D. Wheeler, 1855 to 1856; Samuel H. Reed,
1856 to 1859; Charles F. Ward, 1859 to 1860; Brush M. Webb, 1860, present
incumbent.
FIRST
CONSTABLES,
With
the years when elected:
Job
Boynton, 1787; Stephen Lawrence, 1788, 1792; Elisha Lane, 1789,-90,-91; Isaac
French, 1793; Benjamin Adams, 1794,-5,-6, 1801,-2; Lyman King 1797; Amos Browson, 1798; Ephraim Hurlbut,
1799; Mark Rice, 1800; Stephen Russell, 1803,-4; John Barry, 1805,-9; James
Enos, 1810,-12; Moses Bliss, 1813,-8; Henry Noble, 1819,-20; Zenas Flagg,
1821,-2; Phineas Atwater, 1823, 1832; Hyman Lane, 1833, 1845; John Church,
1846; Isaac Sherwood, 1847,-51; S. W. Taylor, 1852, 1854; Samuel Huntington,
1854, present incumbent.
SELECTMEN,
With
the years when elected:
Stephen
Lawrence, 1787; Frederick Saxton, 1787, '88, '89; Sam'l Allen, 1787; Sam'l
Lane, 1788, 1791, '92; Job Bonyton, 1788, 1790; John Knickerbocker, 1789, '90, '91; Barnabas Bear, 1789; Daniel
Castle, 1790; Daniel Hurlbut, 1791, 1793, '94, '95;
Thomas Barney, 1792, '93, '94; William Coit, 1792, 1794, '95, 1801; Stephen
Keyes, 1793, 1796; Peter Benedict, 1795, '96; Phinehas Loomis, 1796, 1799,
1800, 1802, '03; William C. Harrington, 1797, '98, '99, 1800, 1804, '05, 1807,
'08, 1811; Stephen Pearl, 1797, '98, '99, 1804, '05, '06, '07, '08, 1811; Jason
Comstock, 1797; Nathan Smith, 1798, 1802, '06, 07, '08, 1810, '11, '12, '13,
'14, '15, '16; Zacheus Peaslee, 1801, '02, '03; Benjamin Adams, 1801; John
Eldredge, 1803, '04, '05; Moses Catlin, 1806; Lyman King, 1809, '12, '13, '14;
Daniel Farrand, 1809, '10, '12, '13, '16; Moses
Robinson, 1809; Samuel Hickok, 1810, '23, '24, '25; Ozias Buell, 1814; Ebenezer
T. Englesby, 1815, '30; Nathaniel Mayo, 1816, '26,
'27; George Robinson, 1817, '18, '19, '20, '21, '22, '23, '24, '25, '26, '27,
28, '29, 30; Seth Pomeroy. 1815; Luther Loomis, 1817, '18, '19, '20, '22, '43;
Alvan Foote, 1817, '18, '19, '20, '21, '22, '23, '24, '25, '26, '27, '28; Heman
Lowry, 1821, '29, '35, '36, '37, '38, '39; John Van Sicklin,
1828, '57, '58; Burrell Lane, 1829, '30, '31, '32, '33, 34, '40, '41, '52;
Samuel Nichols, 1831, '32, '33, '34, 35, '36, '37, '38, '39, '41, '42, '47,
'48; George P. Marsh, 1831; Theodore Catlin, 1832; W. A. Griswold, 1833, '34,
'35, '36, '37, '38, '39; Heman Allen, 1840; Noble Lovely, 1840; Bostwick
Tousley, 1841, '42, '44; Samuel K. Isham, 1843; Timo.
F. Strong, 1843; Wyllys Lyman, 1844, '45, '46; Harry Bradley, 1845, '46; John
N. Pomeroy, 1847, '48, '55, '56, '57; Seth Morse, 1844, '45, '46, '49, '50,
'51; Henry R. Stacy, 1847, '48, '49, '50, '51, '52; Weston, 1829, '50, '51,
'52, '53; Elias Lyman, 1853; Henry Whitney, 1859, '54; Torrey E. Wales, 1854;
Moses L. Church, 1854. '55, '56; L. G. Bigelow, 1855; John B. Wheeler, 1856,
'67; Carolus Noyes, 1858, '59, '60, '61; Selding
Patee, 1858, '59; Edward J. Fay, 1859, '60, '61; W. L. Strong, 1860; Russell S.
Taft, 1861, '62; William G. Shaw, 1862; P. Hinman Catlin, 1862.
REPRESENTATIVES
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Lemuel
Bradley, 1776;
510
William Coit, 1794; William C. Harrington, 1797, '98,
1802, '04, '06; Elnathan Keyes, 1796, '97, '99, 1800, '01; Thaddeus Tuttle,
1803; Stephen Pearl, 1805; George Robinson, 1807, '15, '22; Luther Loomis,
1816; Charles Adams, 1817, '24; C. P. Van Ness, 1818, '21; B. F. Bailey, 1825,
'29; E. T. Englesby, 1723; Timo.
Follett, 1830, '32; Sam'l. Nichols, 1833; Heman Allen,
1834; Nathan B. Haswell, 1835, '36; Harry Bradley, 1837, '38; Carlos Baxter,
1839, '40; W. A. Griswold, 1841; John Van Sicklin,
1842; Henry B. Stacy, 1843, '44, '51, '56; Charles Russell, 1845, '46; Wyllys
Lyman, 1847; D. K. Pangborn, 1848, '49; Henry Leavenworth, 1850; Henry P.
Hickok, 1852; E. C. Palmer, 1853; George F. Edmunds, 1854, '55, '57, '58, '59;
Carolus Noyes, 1860, 61; Wm. G. Shaw, 1862.
PENSIONERS
Residing in
Nathan
Seymour, 84; David Russell, 82; Reuben Bostwick, 81; John Stacy, 79; Wm. Kilburne,
77; Stephen Russell, 75; Lydia Sawyer, 65; Alanson Adams, 48.
BANKS.
During
the early part of the present century various ineffectual attempts were made in
different parts of the state to establish banks of discount and deposit based
upon a circulating currency, but paper money was in such bad repute, and the
measure met with such a decided opposition from those who believed that
"by introducing a more extensive credit the tendency of banks would be to
palsy the vigor of industry and to stupefy the vigilance of economy, the only
two honest, general and sure sources of wealth," that it was only after
considerable effort and a great deal of clamor that the legislative and
executive powers were induced to grant privileges of banking.
A
petition was presented to the assembly of the state at its session in
Westminster in 1803, for the establishment of a bank at Burlington, and a bill
passed by a vote of 93 to 83 granting the petitioners the privilege prayed for,
but was returned by Gov. Tichenor and council, non-concurred in, accompanied by
8 reasons against banking. A similar bill passed the house of
representatives in 1805, establishing a bank at
Vermont
State Bank. — In the year 1806 the
Bank of
United
States Branch Bank. — In 1830 a branch of the above bank
was established at
Farmers and Mechanics' Bank. — This bank was chartered on the 4th day of November, A.
D. 1834, and its charter extended by acts
passed on the 31st day of October, 1846, and Nov. 20, 1861, and
expires on the 1st day of January, 1885. Its capital is $100,000. Its banking
house is on the northeast corner of
The
Commercial Bank was chartered on the 8th day of
November, 1847, and its charter extended on the 19th day of Nov. 1861, and will
expire January 1, 1885. Capital $150,000. Banking house on
the north side of the Court House square. Presidents, in the order of
their election: Harry Bradley, Dan Lyon, L. E. Chittenden, Carolus Noyes.
Cashiers: Martin A. Seymour, Charles P. Hartt,
Merchants' Bank.
— This bank had its charter granted on the 16th day of November, 1849, extended
20th November, 1861, and it will expire January 1st, 1886. It commenced
business on the east side of
Burlington
Savings Bank. — This institution was chartered by
the legislature of this state in 1847, and commenced business in January, 1848.
Its depositors number 299, having on deposit $34,203.88, with a surplus of
$1,679.58. Henry Loomis, president; Charles F. Ward,
secretary; William L Strong, treasurer.
AGRICULTURAL
FAIRS.
In A.
D. 1819, a society existed in
Fairs
were held here by the Chittenden County Agricultural society, in the years 1843
to 1848 inclusive, and one was advertised for 1849, but not held, and in 1857,
1858, and 1862. At these fairs the agricultural and mechanical products of the
county are exhibited; and in no respect are the fairs excelled by any in
A
fair was held on the flat near the present residence of Oslo E. Pinney, about 1820, and an address delivered at the Court
House square.
STATISTICS
Of the Agricultural Productions of the Farming Portion of
the Town, 1860.
No.
of horses, 303; oxen, 66; milch cows, 687; other
cattle, 378; sheep, 1,146; swine, 305; wheat, 2,651 bush.; rye, 2,855 bush.;
Indian corn, 13,705 bush.; oats, 15,294 bush.; peas and beans 617 bush.;
potatoes, 26,380 bush.; barley, 480 bush.; buckwheat, 1,759 bush.; grass seed,
10 bush.; wool, 5,270 lbs.; butter, 55,525 lbs.; cheese, 36,290 lbs.; honey,
1,330 lbs.; value of orchard products, $3,108; value of market garden products,
$502; wine, 96 galls.; hay, 3,493 tons.
COURT
HOUSES AND JAILS.
By an
act passed by the legislature of the state in November, A. D. 1791,
The
courts were first held in a room in the southeast part of the house of Capt. King,
at Burlington bay, as it was then called, being the settlement at the lower end
of Water street. The room used by the court was about 16 feet by 20. The
portion of the room allotted to the judges was railed off with boards, somewhat
similar in construction to a pigsty of the present day, and within, upon a
slab, into which round poles had been inserted for legs, sat the justiciary of the county, Judge Isaac Tichenor of the
supreme court, the then future governor of the state, presiding; near by the
judges stood the sheriff.
"The
town of
At an
adjourned meeting held on the 16th day of April, it was voted:
"That
a committee of five be appointed to appropriate the subscriptions for building
a Court house in
And
the following named persons were appointed:
Capt.
Daniel Hurlbut, Col. Stephen Pearl, William Coit,
Esq., Elnathan Keyes, Ira. Allen.
The
annual meeting in March, 1796, was warned at the Court house.
The
first county buildings were erected in
512
the summer following the above named meeting, at which time
the Court house was placed near the centre of Court House square, and the jail
near the northeast corner, on the ground now occupied by what is called
Strong's block. In 1798, Mr. King, for the purpose of officiating as jailor,
and also of keeping a tavern, erected a tavern house contiguous to the jail,
south of and connected with it. In 1802, another court house was erected on the
location of the one now existing, and about the same time the jail was
separated from Mr. King's tavern, and removed to the east side of Church
street, midway between Bank and Cherry streets. Mr. King, during the time he
occupied said tavern, and until about 1816, had a garden east of his tavern
house, upon what is now
Mr.
King conveyed land as a site for the county jail, and received from the town a
lease upon nominal rent of the ground covered by the tavern house, and also of
a piece of ground parcel of the square whereon to erect an addition to his
house, which arrangement was confirmed by an act of the Legislature in the year
1808.
The
jail has been built of brick, on the site conveyed by Mr. King, is two stories
high; a substantial edifice, well adapted to the wants of the numerous guests
seeking accommodations there.
The
court house erected in 1802, was destroyed by fire in 1828, and another was
erected in its place, built of brick; it is 46 feet wide and 60 feet long, two
stories high; the lower story is occupied for offices by the county clerk and
sheriff, and for jury rooms; the upper story for a court room. Burlington
united with the county in building the house, and paid $1,500 on condition of
having the basement thereof to the sole and exclusive use of the town for town
purposes; the town to have an interest of one fourth in the policy of insurance
on the Court house, and to pay one fourth of the cost of insurance. The town
occupied the basement until 1854, for town meetings, since which time it has
been occupied by the town and fire district for housing fire engines and
apparatus.
THE
TOWN HALL.
The
town erected the present town hall in the years 1853 and 1854; it is located on
the north side of Main street, between Church street and Court House square, is
80 feet by 80; the basement is built of stone, and occupied for shops of
various kinds; the two main stories of brick; the first story is used for
offices, and the hall occupies the second story.
CUSTOM
HOUSE.
On
the 4th day of August, A. D. 1854, congress passed an act appropriating $40,000
for the erection of a Custom house, post-office, and rooms for the district
judge of the United States courts, at Burlington, Vt., and also enough to
purchase a location for the building. A site was selected on the southeast
corner of
The
lower floor is occupied for the post office; the upper for the custom house and
rooms for the district judge.
An
appropriation was made by congress in 1855, of $35,000, for the erection of a
marine hospital at Burlington, with a sum sufficient to purchase the land for a
situation; a site was selected 2 miles south of the village on the west side of
the Shelburne road, $1,750 being the consideration paid for it. It embraces ten
acres of land and commands a fine view of the lake and village.
The
building was commenced in 1856, and was finished in 1858. An additional
appropriation was made in June, 1858, of $4,000, for fencing and grading the
premises.
It is
2 stories high, with a basement; built very thoroughly, with ample and
convenient rooms for the use intended.
It
not having been occupied for the purposes for which it was constructed when the
civil war with the south began, the military authorities went into possession
of it, and still occupy it as a hospital principally for
FREE
AND ACCEPTED MASONS.
and Stephen Pearl, a charter was granted to them by the Grand
Lodge of Vermont, constituting them a lodge of masons, by the name of
Washington Lodge No. 7. Their lodge room, with all the furniture and records, was
burned in June, 1828.
On
the 4th day of February, 1846, the lodge was reorganized and was numbered 3. It
owns a part of the building in which their rooms are located on the west side
of Court House square. Present number of members, 126.
The
following persons have successively been elected masters: —— ——, David Russell,
James Sawyer, Joshua Isham, Geo. Robinson, Lemuel Page, Nathan B. Haswell, John
S. Webster, L. B. Englesby, William G. Shaw, C. W.
Woodhouse.
ODD
FELLOWS.
Green
Mountain Lodge — was organized in 1845. Their lodge
room is in the third story of the building on the northeast corner of Church
and College streets. There are about 73 members at present.
The
present officers are as follows: Samuel Bigwood, N. G.; James Mitchell, V. G.;
J. J. Duncklee, P. S.; Nelson White, R. S.; T. J.
Blanchard, Treasurer.
WINDOW
GLASS.
The
manufacture of window glass in
COTTON
MANUFACTURES.
Winooski
Mill Company, Burlington Vt. — This corporation is
located at Winooski falls, in
This
company received its charter, A. D. 1845, and was organized the same year, Joseph
D. Allen being its first president. The authorized capital stock was $25,000.
The legislature of 1853 increased the capital stock to $75,000. Its present
officers are: W. R. Vilas, president, which office he has held since 1852;
Morillo Noyes, secretary and treasurer, offices held by him since 1847; Horace
W. Barrett, foreman, a position faithfully filled by him since 1845.
Manufacturing
was first begun in a wood building, known by the name of "the oil
mill." It was situated on the west side of the highway, and near Catlin's
grist-mill, both of which were very near the south end of the covered bridge.
On
the night of Jan. 31, 1852, the gristmill was discovered to be in flames; the
fire spreading with rapidity, soon communicated to the "oil mill"
building, in which were the machinery and works of the Winooski Mill company.
Both buildings were soon entirely consumed, and it was only by the resolute and
efficient efforts of the fire department and citizens that the covered bridge
was saved. The greater part of the machinery was destroyed.
Soon
after the fire, and in the spring of 1852, the present site, some twenty rods
above the bridge at Winooski, was purchased by the company, and they
immediately erected the commodious and substantial stone and brick factory (45
by 103 feet), 3 stories in height, besides basement and attic. This, in
connection with the wood factory already on the site, and 34 by 84 feet,
afforded ample facilities for operating a large amount of machinery.
The
total amount invested to the present time, in lands, water privileges,
machinery and the necessary appurtenances, is nearly $60,000.
The
machinery is of modern invention, combining all the practical
improvements of mechanical skill and inventive ingenuity.
The
weaving department contains 50 of Benjamin & Reynolds' patent looms, which
can be worked with wonderful rapidity and success, far outstripping those of
more ancient invention. They are so skillfully and harmoniously adjusted in
every part, as to perform their tasks with surprising advantage and
satisfaction. The whole machinery is capable of producing, annually, about as
follows, viz.: 750,000 yards 4/4 brown sheetings;
600,000 yards satinet and flannel warps; 20,000
pounds batting.
The
value of the above productions will
514
range from $85,000 to $110,000, according to the market value
of the goods produced.
The
amount paid for labor per year, to produce the above, would be about $16,000,
giving employment to some 75 males and females.
PIONEER
MECHANICS' SHOP.
Previous
to the year 1850, all the manufacturing done in town, with the exception of the
glass and cotton manufactures, was merely what the necessities of the people in
this vicinity required, there being no establishment whose products reached a
foreign market. The many facilities for manufacturing here, with the
communication by water and rail with the large cities, caused the people to
turn their attention in that direction.
On
the 31st day of May, 1852, a number of citizens formed themselves into an
association for the purpose of promoting the industrial interests of
Burlington, under the name and style of the Pioneer Mechanics' Shop company,
for the purpose of erecting a suitable building or buildings (on land donated
to the company for that purpose, by Henry B. Stacy, Henry P. Hickok, Eliza W.
Buell and Nathan B. Haswell), with steam engines and fixtures for running
machinery in said building, the same to be rented to mechanics and
manufacturer, in convenient allotments, in such manner as to facilitate and
invite the introduction of new branches of mechanical and manufacturing
industry. The capital of the company was $30,000, divided into shares of $25
each.
The
legislature of the state granted a charter to the company in November, 1852.
The first directors were Henry P. Hickok, Frederick Smith, T. R. Fletcher,
Edward W. Peck, and Morillo Noyes.
In
1852 and 1853, the company erected a building, on the east side of Lake street,
of brick, 4 stories high, 400 feet long and 50 feet wide, divided into 4
apartments, each 100 feet long, with a heavy brick wall between each. The machinery in the shops being driven by two heavy engines in a
building just east of shops. The southerly half of the building was
rented by Cheney, Kilburn & Co., and occupied in getting out chair stock
for the chair manufacturers in
The
northerly half of the building was rented to various parties, and occupied in
the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds, furniture, machinery, &c. The
corporation having borrowed money required in the completion of their
buildings, over and above their capital, and given a mortgage of their lands
and shops to secure the payment, being unable to pay the same, it was
foreclosed, and the property of the corporation passed into the hands of Henry
P. Hickok. The occupation of the shop was quite hazardous. Large quantities of
shavings were made daily, and an immense amount of dry manufactured wood-work
stored in the building, with turpentine and other materials for painting. Thus
it was rendered unusually liable to take fire.
On
the 2d day of April (fast day), 1858, the workmen of the shop being absent, it
was discovered to be on fire near the south end, a strong southerly gale
blowing at the same time; by 11 o'clock it was burned to the ground. Nothing of
any consequence was saved from the fire, so rapid was its progress. The whole
loss by the fire was estimated at $150,000.
The
citizens of the town donating nearly $8,000 for its reconstruction, Mr.
Lawrence Barnes purchased the ruins, and immediately erected 3 brick shops, 2
stories high, each 100 feet long and 50 feet wide.
These
shops, with others which have been erected adjoining, are occupied by
manufacturers of furniture, doors, sash, blinds, shoe lasts, boxes, axe helves,
wagon spokes, iron castings and machinery, a large part of which finds its way
to foreign markets. Large quantities of salt are prepared for culinary and
dairy purposes at the centre shop. A large steam planing
mill has been erected near the shops, at the foot of
The
facilities for getting all kinds of lumber from the lumber yards in the
vicinity, and maple and bass woods from the adjoining country, and water
communication with New York city during half of the year, renders Burlington a
very desirable point for all manufactures of wood. All the manufacturers here
at present are from abroad, who have been attracted by the very superior
advantages which the town possesses; and we may look hereafter for a more
extended business of all branches of industrial pursuits.
BREWERIES.
About
1800, Daniel Staniford owned a distillery on the north side of Pearl street,
near the present Winooski avenue, where he brewed ale, beer and porter; and if
the advertisements of that day be correct, he also
manufactured a very excellent article of gin, of which
tradition informs us that some of the inhabitants of this quiet village were
fond.
Another
distillery was operated nearer the head of
POTTERY.
E. L.
Farrar first built a pottery for the manufacture of earthenware, on the south
side of
CATLIN'S
FLOURING MILL
Is located on the river just below the bridge at Winooski
falls. It is built of wood, 5 stories high,
has 11 run of stone; 70,000 bushels of wheat can annually be turned into flour,
while the plaster mill adjoining turns out about 500 tons of plaster.
STREETS.
A
very accurate map of the
The
main streets running from east to west are as follows:
College
street, running from the centre of College green to
the lake.
These
streets run through the entire village. The shorter streets, running in the
same direction, beginning at the south, are:
Spruce
street and
Maple
street, between Church and
Prospect
street, between Willard and Tuttle.
Bank street and
The
streets running north and south, beginning at the lake shore, are:
Water
street, running from the cove northerly, east of the
battery, to the swamp north of the village.
Pine street, between
Locust
street, from
Maiden lane, from
High street, east of the College green.
Besides
these there are a great number of short streets and lanes in different parts of
the town.
The
principal streets are 4 rods wide, laid out at right angles, intersecting each
other at a distance of 20 rods; they are generally well graded, with good
sidewalks, the sandy nature of the soil being favorable to the making of good
roads. The old Winooski turnpike which for half a century was the great
thoroughfare up the valley of the Winooski, leaves the
village in an easterly direction from the south end of College green.
[We are indebted to Rev. H. P. Hickok for the following
additional information in regard to the streets of
But
few of the streets of
516
nant of his property. He chose the street on which he built,
not more from the beauty of its prospect than its wild seclusion. His house,
built with taste and furnished within with elegance, stood by itself, apart
from other dwellings, yet commanded a view of mountains and river, lake and
woods, which seemed to soothe the irritated mind of one driven rudely from his
West Indian home.
The
house of Ira Allen was visible over the tree-tops at the right, and the old
Indian fields, then the farm of Ethan Allen, appeared, across the interval
woods, at the left. Mr. Goch remained on this spot
until the growing settlement brought him near neighbors, when he removed to a
still more wild and unfrequented place on the shores of the lake in the town of
Barty
Willard was long conspicuous as the wit and rhymer of
"P.
— L — , an
attorney at law,
The very best lawyer that ever I saw."
here he stopped, but being tendered another drink and pressed
to complete his rhyme, went on thus:
"The
only reason why I like him the best,
Is,
that he has not got so much wit as the rest."
The
lawyer is said to have had wit enough to join in the laugh raised at his
expense, while Barty jogged on homeward.
He is
said to have engaged a pair of cart wheels for Gov. C. The governor had been
disappointed more than once, but Barty promised them
without fail the next week. The wheels were done, and Friday of that week had
come, when a stranger passing, offered his price and the money for those
wheels. Barty was sore put to, how to manage another
disappointment of the governor, and declined to let them go, but a sudden
thought struck him. He would sell them on condition that the wheels were left
with him until Monday; which was agreed to. Barty
then placed the wheels side and side against the fence and set to work to make
another pair, in hopes the governor would not call at the time appointed. But
Saturday came and the governor rode up, pleased to see the wheels. Barty came out to receive his commendations, but rather
seriously, "Governor," says he, "I have made the wheels, but I
have made an awkward mistake with them," "What's that? " says the governor. "Why, don't you see, they
are both off-wheels. You must wait another week — give me time to make another
wheel." The gratified customer assented, and Barty
not only sold a second pair, but recovered somewhat his credit, which was
suffering, for promptness.
Capt.
Thaddeus Tuttle, an early merchant, dealt largely also in lands. He built what
was at the time and long afterwards, the most elegant residence in town. His
store stood at the corner of
Capt.
Gideon King, from whom
Col.
Stephen Pearl built a spacious mansion at the head of
While
on the subject of streets, it may be noticed that the Winooski turnpike was
originally chartered to run from the lake shore to the interior by
The
streets of
Next,
the yellow locust, was
set, most zealously through all the streets. The locust proved, like the
poplar, a beautiful tree and
a rapid grower, furnishing shade as well as beauty. In June,
annually, its strings of white blossoms loaded the trees, perfuming the air,
and the tree with its adornments became the pride of the town. But after a few
years the borer commenced his ravages, and now the few trees on College green
and its vicinity, of any size, alone remain to maintain its former pretensions.
The
button-ball, a native tree, was extensively transplanted as the others failed,
and grew to an enormous size, until the blight, which all over the land has
visited the extremities of this tree, destroyed them here also.
The
trees depended on now are mostly native, many of which flourish, but most
conspicuous of all, the elm. Soon the place will be enshrouded by it, and
perhaps be likened to the Elm city of
One
street receives it name from the locust, the handsomest trees of which are now
elms.
White
derives its name from the Calvinistic congregational church, which was long
termed, until burnt, the old White church.
College
street, from the college.
Lake
street is so called from its proximity to the water side, while Water street
above it, was once, before the filling process commenced, alone entitled to the
appellation.
H. P. HICKOK.
[For name of
POPULATION,
ETC., IN 1860.
Dwelling
houses in town, 1,370; males, 3,695; females, 4,021: total, 7,716. Number of persons over 20 years of age, who can not read or write,
814. Born in Vermont, 4,518; Ireland, 1,098; Canada, 1,067; New York,
469; Massachusetts, 206; England, 82; New Hampshire, 68; Connecticut, 48;
Germany, 27; Scotland, 43; Maine, 11; Ohio, 10; Illinois, 9; Pennsylvania, 9;
New Jersey, 8; unknown, 7; France, 7; Rhode Island, 4; Missouri, 3; Michigan 3;
Prussia, 3; Iowa, 2; Alabama, 2; South Carolina, 2; Wisconsin, 2; Minnesota, 1;
California, 1; Sweden, 1; Virginia, 1; Delaware, 1; Georgia, 1; Wales, 1; at
sea, 1.
Annual Products.
— According to the census, there were $352,675 capital
engaged in manufacturing, exclusive of the gas company, the annual products
being valued at $682,250.
THE
LUMBER TRADE.
BY HENRY ROLFE, ESQ.
Perhaps
no branch of business presents the workings of the laws of trade or commerce in
a clearer light than the lumber trade of
When
this county was first settled, the inhabitants, like those of all new
settlements, had but few manufactures and those were of the rudest kind. They
were dependent upon Europe and the older colonies in this country for such
necessaries of life as could not be procured from the soil; and for those
necessaries they were compelled to pay in such products of the soil; but few of
them would bear the cost of transportation, the principal one of which was
lumber. In the dense growth that covered the earth the settlers found the oak,
the pine (both white and
From
the papers of Hon. Ira Allen, and from tradition, we learn that the first saw
mill in this vicinity was built by Ira Allen in 1786; and in connection with
his brother Levi Allen, who was then in the trade at
518
of
A noble band of men who filled their sphere of action
creditably to themselves, and usefully to the society in which they lived. But they almost all have passed away. There are now
living only the venerable Henry Boardman, who commenced business in 1797, in
Colchester, Amos Boardman and David Bean in Illinois, and Joseph Clark, Esq.,
in Milton.
It
was a great undertaking in those days to go into the woods in the fall and
winter and cut and draw the masts, hew the square timber, get the deal logs to
the mill and in the spring saw the deals and collect it all into one great
raft, and go to
These
men not only went into the woods themselves to get out lumber and take it to
Quebec, but they bought large quantities of others who did business in this
vicinity on a smaller scale — men who, in addition to their agricultural
labors, would get out what lumber they could but not enough to form a raft;
thus a large portion of the people were directly interested in the lumber trade.
About
the year 1820, the Champlain canal was completed, opening communication with
The
old
Justus
Burdick and Messrs Follett and Bradley of Burlington, dealt largely in lumber,
and in connection with Samuel Brownell of Williston, carried on its manufacture
at the Little falls in the Winooski, between Williston
and Essex. They owned boats and shipped direct to
During
the past years the lumbermen of the eastern
The opening
of the Vermont Central and the
or steamer. No steamers were needed when the market was with
the course of the
The
first cargo of lumber that arrived here from the
The
sales of this market in 1860, amounted to about 40,000,000 feet, and the sum
paid out for labor in handling, sorting, piling and planing
is about $40,000 per year.
Little
did the projectors of our rail roads dream that within ten years after the
completion of their roads, almost every available space on their grounds at
The
lumber is brought here from the mills on the
If a
ship at
COMMON
SCHOOLS.
BY R. S. TAFT, ESQ.
As
soon as the settlers of
1790.
— At the town meeting in March, 1790, it was voted
that the town should be divided in school districts, and Col. Frederick Saxton,
Capt. David Stanton and Daniel Hurlbut were appointed
a committee to divide said town. At an adjourned meeting, held in September
following, the committee reported that they had divided the town into 2
districts; one of them contained all the territory north of a line running from
the cove south of the old wharf, easterly to the road from the falls on Onion
river to Shelburne falls, and west of the northerly part of said last named road,
the other comprised the territory east of the one first mentioned.
1795.
— At the annual meeting this year, it was voted,
"that the south part of the town that is not considered in the other two
districts be considered as a school district."
1796.
— This year it was voted that the house lots at
1813.
— The districts increased in numbers until the year
1813, when they were 8 in number, Nos. 1, 2, and 8 being located in the
village. It being found inconvenient to establish and maintain separate schools
in them, and owing to the compact nature and situation of the 3 village
districts, it was deemed that 1 school-house in the central part of the village
would be more advantageous to the districts and more beneficial to the public,
and it was voted that the districts be constituted and formed into one, to be
known and designated by the name of the Village school district.
1815.
— The boundaries of the school districts being uncertain and indefinite, at a
meeting held on the 28th day of April, 1815, John Johnson, Nathan Smith and
George Robinson were appointed a committee to ascertain the lines of the
several districts, They reported at a meeting held on the 12th of May
following; the report was accepted and the districts established accordingly.
This report contains the boundaries of 7 districts: The village district,
bounded on
520
the south by the south lines of lots No. 160, 158, 164,
184, and the westerly half of lot No. 109 (being a line running easterly from
the lake shore on the Seymour farm); on the east by a line running from the
center of the south line of lot No. 109 northerly, east of the college grounds,
to the river just east of the residence of John N. Pomeroy; on the west and
north by the lake and river.
No. 1
includes the territory at the falls and 100 acre lots lying on the river and
most of the 2 three acre lots adjoining the latter being the present districts
No. 1 and 8. Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, identical nearly with the
present districts of the corresponding numbers.
1816.
— In this year that part of the town northwest of the
village was set off into a separate district and numbered 7.
1820.
— About 1820, district No. 8 was formed out of the
territory near the High bridge, being the easterly end of district No. 1.
1829.
— In November of this year the village district was divided into 6 districts
numbered 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, with very much the same boundaries as at
present, with the exception of the change made by the creation of districts
numbered 15 and 16.
1840.
— At a special town meeting held on the 3d day of
October, A. D. 1840, all that part of district No. 9 which lies north of
1853.
— And on the 21st day of November, 1853, school district No. 15 was divided by
a line running from north to south through the centre of Champlain street, the
portion lying east of the line to be numbered 16, the portion west retaining
its original number (15).
A
small portion of the southeast part of the town is annexed to school district
No. 5 in Shelburne.
A
Union school district was organized on the 28th day of December, 1849, composed
of districts Nos. 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Only scholars in the higher branches
of learning from the districts composing the Union district attend the school,
which is equal in all respects to the best acadamies
in the state. Each school district is possessed of a good school house, where from 6 to 10 months' school has usually been
kept each year.
Is located in the old academy
buildings, on the northwest corner of College and Willard streets.
Table
containing the number of scholars between the ages of 4 and 18, during the
years named: 1805, 376; 1806, 441; 1810, 580; 1813, 570.
Was incorporated on the 22d October, 1829, and occupied
the, building erected for that purpose on the corner of Willard and College
streets, flourishing under its several preceptors, until the Union school was
organized, which took the place of the High school, and has since occupied the
High school building.
R. S. T.
STATE
TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION,
[The
State Teachers' association (annual) was held in
