CHARLOTTE. 733
CHARLOTTE.
BY REV, BERNICE D. AMES.
Charlotte is situated in tho S. W. corner of Chittenden
Co., bounded N. by Shelburne, E. by Hinesburgh, S. by Ferrisburgh and Monkton
in Addison Co., and W. by Lake Champlain. The name was sometimes written in
early records Charlotta.
The charter was granted June 24th, 1762, by Benning
Wentworth, Governor of New Hampshire, to Benjamin Ferris and 64 others.* All
meetings of the proprietors before
* [We hereby credit Henry Stevens, antiquarian, for the
following list of grantees of Charlotte Ed.]
Benjamin Ferris, Jonathan Aiken, Benj. Ferris, Jr., Josiah
Akin, Daniel Wing, Lot Tripp, David Akin, Jr., Tim Dakin, John Cromwell, John
Hoag Meriti, John Hoag the 2d, John Wing, Reed Ferris, Zebulon Ferris, Wing
Kelley, Nehemiah Merrit, Abraham Thomas, Anthony Tripp, Elias Palmer, David
Palmer, Samuel Coe, George Soule, Elijah Doty, Peter Palmer, Josiah Bull,
Josiah Bull, Jr., John Hitchcock, John Brownson, Jona. Dow, Enoch Hoag, Steward
Southgate, Nathaniel Porter, Jr., Jedediah Dow, Robert Southgate, John
Southgate, Daniel Merritt, Nehemiah Merrit, Jr., Stephen Noble, Dobson Wheeler,
Samuel Brown, Joshua Dillaplain, William Field, Isaac Martin, John Lawrence,
John Burling, John Franklin, Thomas Franklin, Jr., Samuel Franklin, James
Franklin, Isaac Corsa, Elijah West, Robert Caswell, Joseph Ferris, Joseph
Ferris, Jr., David Ferris, Daniel Chase, Patrick Thatcher, Thomas Darling, the
Hon. John Temple, Lieutenant Govenor, Theodore Atkinson, Esq., Mark Hunking
Wentworth, Esq., John Nelson, Esq., George Frost, Esq.
"KNOW YE that I, Abel White of Putney in the County
of Windham and State of Vermont, for the consideration of fifty pounds of
Lawful money, received to my full satisfaction of Ethan Allen of Sunderland in
the County of Bennington and State of Vermont, Do give, grant, Bargain, sell
and confirm unto the said Ethan Allen, his heirs and assigns forever a certain
tract or parcel of land situated, lying and being in Charlotte in the County of
Addison and State of Vermont, being and containing the equal half both in
quantity and quality of certain two hundred acres of land which was the first
Division of the original right of Joseph Ferris, Number 24, for 50 lbs. July
10,1787."
The same, David Aiken, jr., of Fredericksburgh, in
Dutchess County, New York, original grantee, to Heman Allen of Salisbury, Connecticut,
Feb., 1777, for 14 lbs. George Soule, (original grantee) of Coling's Precinct,
Dutchess County, New York, to Ira Allen of Colchester, Feb. 2, 1774, for 20
lbs.
Josiah Bull Jr., of Bateman's Precinct, Dutchess Co., N.
Y., to Zimry Allen of Salisbury, Ct., Dec. 1773, for 4 lbs.
Benjamin Ferris of Quaker Hill, in Collin's Precinct, N.
Y., to Ethan Allen (first granted to Robert Tripp, original grantee) Dec. 13,
1773, tor 4 lbs.
Peter Palmer of Charlotta Precinct, in Dutchess Co., N.Y,.
to Zimry Allen of Salisbury, Ct., Dec. 20, 1773, for 5 lbs.
John Bronson of Kent, Ct., original grantee, to Ethan
Allen, Dec. 21, 1773, for 11 lbs.
Elijah Doty of Quaker Hill, in the Precinct of Pollyon, N.
Y., original grantee, to Ethan Allen, Dec. 13, 1773, for 9 lbs.
Josiah Aiken of Quaker Hill, N. Y., original grantee, to
Ethan Allen, Dec. 13, 1773, for 3 lbs. 6s.
Partridge Thatcher, of New Milford, Ct., original grantee,
to Ira Allen for 130 lbs. Dec, 23, 1783.
Ira Allen of Sunderland, bound unto Darius Tupper of
Bennington for 90 lbs., or 100 acres of land a quit claim deed as Tupper may
choose to be laid out on the original right of Thos. Darling, John Hitchcock,
Joseph Ferris, John Franklin, David Aiken, Jr., Tim Darkin, and Wm. Field.
Ira Allen to Urial Parsons on Charlotte north line
(touching Isaac Varnum's and Tabor's) to pay 12s. per
Zimri.
734 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
the Revolution were held on the "oblong," in
Dutchess Co., N. Y., and at New Milford, Ct. It is inferred that most of the
proprietors lived in those places. None of the original proprietors are known
to have settled in town, although children of some of them did.
At the proprietors' meeting held May 18th, 1765, the last
before the Revolution, a vote was passed to give 100 acres of land from each
right for settling the town, but no one was to come on without an order from
the committee of the proprietors chosen for the purpose. There is no record
that any such order was ever given, or that any one attempted to avail himself
of the offer by making a settlement.
"The first attempt to settle this town was made by
Derick Webb. He first began in March, 1766, but soon left. He came in again in
March, 1777, but left in May following. No permanent settlement was made till
1784, when Derick Webb and Elijah Woolcot moved in and were followed by
others."
Webb was a German. There is a family tradition that during
one of Webb's temporary residences here during the Revolution, he took his
children out to what is now Hill's Bay to see the Lake. A party of Indians came
around a point and took them prisoners. At Webb's earnest entreaty however they
set the children ashore, but took him to Canada, where he was detained three or
four months. About the same time, when Mrs. Webb was left alone, the Indians visited
her log cabin, removed her from the house, ripped open her feather bed and
scattered the contents, and were about to set the house on fire. She entreated
them not to burn her house and leave her shelterless, as she was already left
alone. They replied they must set the house on fire, according to their orders,
but would then leave, and she might put it out if she could. So they did, and
retired, and she extinguished the fire. It is most likely the settlement of
Webb was commenced in the west part of the town, near the settlement of the
Piersons in Shelburne, where Col. Thomas Sawyer made his gallant and victorious
fight. It was not until many years afterwards that he settled on the farm near
the Railroad Station, where it is generally supposed he began his first
settlement.
There is also a slight claim that James Hill was the first
settler in town. His wife, a daughter of Gov. Thos. Chittenden, is said to have
often declared that "she was for three months the handsomest woman in
town, for the very good reason that she was the only one." It is very
probable that Hill and several others, as Dr. James Towner, Jno. Hill, Solomon
Squier, Moses Fall, and Daniel Hosford, moved into town in 1784, the same year
in which Webb and Woolcott came; several of them were certainly here in 1785.
Immigration into this part of the state was very rapid
after the close of the Revolution. The writer has been informed by the late
Mrs. Gage, of Ferrisburgh, mother of Hon. Zuriel Walker and daughter of Zuriel
Tupper, one of the first settlers in Ferrisburgh, that as soon as her father
got a log house built he opened a tavern, the floor of which she had often seen
covered with lodgers who were traveling to this part of the state to examine
lands, make settlements, &c.
The settlement progressed so that the town was organized
March 13, 1787, and when the first complete census of the state was taken in
1791, contained 635 inhabitants the most populous town not only in Chittenden
county, but also in the north half of the state now embraced in the 8 northern
counties.
Most of the settlers were from Massachusetts and
Connecticut, and brought with them the intelligence and thrift which have
acre, 120 bushels of wheat at 5s. per bushel, Feb. 23,
1792.
Ira Allen to Brooks of Charlotte said Brooks that part
of the original right of Partridge Thatcher which joins the Governor's lot, 22
lbs. 10s., (not signed.)
Ethan Allen to Josiah Grant, Jr., Sept. 26, 1774, for 27
lbs. 100 acres of land in Charlotte.
Ira Allen to Ephraim Stone, May 29, 1773, (part of lot
100) about 170 acres for 85 lbs. worth of good neat cattle.
Ira Allen for 110 lbs. to Daniel Hough of Charlotte, May
23, 1786.
David Ferris of Queensbury, N. Y., for 78 lbs. to Ira
Allen all his right in Charlotte except 100 acres, which is deeded by Zebulon
Ferris to Ethan Allen, Ferris being original grantee, June 17, 1796.
Roswell Hopkins of Bennington for 50 lbs. to Ira Allen,
June 16, 1796.
Zebulon Ferris of the Oblong Dutchess Co., N. Y., for one
shilling to his son David Ferris all that one full share of right in Charlotte,
except 100 acres, already granted to Ethan Allen, 1778, 6th month, 1st day.
Ira Allen and Joseph Simonds, both of the County of
Chittenden, that part of the right of Partridge Thatcher in Charlotte about 170
acres, Dec. 12, 1770.
Daniel Hanford of Charlotte to Ira Allen for 105 lbs. Aug.
20, 1777, for original right of Zebulon Ferris." ["Any amount"
not to speak closely, of similar papers in relation to a large share of the
towns in the State, original grantees' papers, &c., especially the Allen
deed papers &c. from grantees may be found in the extensive collection of
our chief Vermont antiquarian, Mr. Stevens, Ed.]
* From article Charlotte, signed by J. T. and I. W.
probably James Towner and Isaac Webb, in Thompson's Gazetteer, of 1824.
CHARLOTTE. 735
always characterized the people of those states.
The difficulties the first settlers had to surmount in
removing from those states to this part of Vermont were greater than are now
encountered in a removal from New England to the Mississippi valley. Many made
the best of their way to the southern extremity of Lake Champlain and came to
Charlotte in boats. Others came by land on horseback, determining their course
for the last part of the distance by blazed trees. Gen. Hezekiah Barnes and his
wife came to Charlotte in this way, each of them bringing two children, one on
the horse behind and one before. After settling in their wild homes they were
at first obliged to go to Whitehall to mill, and afterwards to Vergennes.
The writer has been informed by Stoddard Martin, Esq., of
North Ferrisburgh, who came into Charlotte with his parents in March, 1787, and
who is the best living authority with reference to the early settlement of the
town, that the first wagon which he ever saw was the one with which Mr.
Wheelock, of Rutland, carried the mail through the town from Rutland to
Burlington.
In the spring of 1790 there was a great scarcity of
provisions, amounting almost to a famine. Squire Martin says the settlers built
a batteau with which Reuben Martin and others went to Whitehall for grain. They
were obliged to go on to the Walloomscoik where they succeeded in buying corn
and wheat. Squire M. says that his family got reduced to oatmeal bread before
his father returned. The batteau, from the use to which it was applied, was
named the johnny-cake boat.
At the first settlement of the town bears, deer and other
wild animals, were common. Bucks, with their stately antlers, were often seen
passing across the fields. Numerous traces of beavers remain. An intervale east
of Mutton Hill is still called the beaver meadow. On a small stream in the east
part of the town are several beaver dams remaining. The writer has seen two of
them on the farm of Mr. Myron Hosford. They are, in several respects, monuments
of the wonderful mechanical skill of those interesting animals. Bears were
sometimes an annoyance. One was surrounded by the inhabitants and killed on
Mutton Hill as late as 1812 or '13. The following adventure is related by Mrs.
E. H. Wheeler, of Charlotte, as told to her by her grandfather, Moses Yale, one
of the first settlers: Soon after he came to town he had occasion to be absent
from home for several days, probably to go to Whitehall to mill. One night,
during his absence, his wife heard the pig squeal. She took the musket and went
out. It being very dark she could see nothing, but she fired in the direction
of the noise, and the next morning, some two or three rods from the pig pen, bruin
lay dead!
The superior adaptation of the town to agricultural
purposes was one cause of its rapid settlement. The almost exclusive devotion
of the people to this pursuit accounts for the fact that the population has
remained about stationary for nearly 60 years. The early settlers were speedily
remunerated for their labors; wealth flowed in upon them, and comfortable homes
rapidly arose. As early as 1806 the grand list was $31,961. Only 10 towns in
the state surpassed this. Even Burlington did not equal it in its grand list
until 1824.
VILLAGES. As might he inferred no considerable village
has been built in town. The largest, called Charlotte Corners, is near the R.
R. station, and contains a Methodist church, seminary building, store, &c.
A smaller village is Baptist Corners, three miles east, containing a Baptist
and a Catholic church, store, &c.
Charlotte has always suffered the misfortune of having a
ridge of hills run through the town, separating the eastern and Western
sections, preventing the building of a village in the center. The effect has
been a separation of interest, mutual jealousy, and want of harmony between the
two sections, prejudicial to the best interests of the town.
For many years after the first settlement it was very
unhealthy in the S. W. portion of the town fever and aguo and bilious fever
were common. Ague and fever, however, did not generally affect one for more
than a year or two, and was very rarely fatal. These diseases long since ceased
to prevail here. Typhus fever first made its appearance about the year 1803,
and those who had been previously considered excellent physicians could not
manage it. Dr. Marsh, of Hinesburgh, said that about one-third of the cases
were fatal. The malignant
736 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
epidemic of 1813 also raged fearfully here, carrying off
about 70 inhabitants, among whom were numbers of the prominent citizen; such as
Rev. Abel Newell, Gen. Hezekiah Barnes, and Dr. James Towner.
Some cases of remarkable longevity have occurred. Mrs.
Christiana Siple was born July 19, 1766, and will consequently be 100 years old
in July, 1866. Elisha Bartlett, an early settler, removed to Georgia, Vt.,
where he died over 100 years and 9 months old. He was able to walk every day
for 100 years.
CASUALTIES. Some distressing accidents have occurred.
Near the beginning of the present century the house of Francis Breckenridge,
which stood on the spot now occupied by Noble Root's residence, was burnt down
with two of his adopted children in it. Mr. and Mrs. Breckenridge were spending
the evening at the house of a neighbor, Dr. Hough, and the children were in the
chamber in bed. The children who thus lost their lives were John Trotter, a
nephew of Mr. Breckenridge, aged about 10 years, and Fannie Stone, a daughter
of Jacob Stone.
A few years since a Mr. Quinlan and one of his children
lost their lives by the burning of the house in which they lived. Another of
his children died soon after from its burns.
In the fall of 1803 a young man named Hastings Soper had
occasion to descend into a well, in that part of the town called Law Corners.
It contained carbonic acid gas, commonly called the "damps," by which
he was overcome and fell lifeless to the bottom. His father then attempted to
descend and also fell to the bottom, but was rescued before life was extinct.
CRIME. Very few heinous crimes are known to have
occurred in town. Many years ago Samuel Naramore mysteriously disappeared and
was supposed to have been murdered by William and Samuel Pierson and Hugh Clyd.
Naramore was employed to labor for the Piersons, and was likely to be a witness
against two sons of one of the Piersons for some misdemeanor which they had
committed. To prevent this was supposed to be the reason for the murder.
Naramore was induced to go by night to the Pierson place with Clyd on the false
pretense that his wife, who was there, was very ill. He was never heard of
again. Although the court failed to convict them, they were convicted at the
bar of public opinion, and long since left the country, and, it is said, became
vagabonds.
Before the state prison was built this town, like many
others, had its whipping post and stocks. They stood at Charlotte Corners, in
front of the present residence of Dr. John Strong. A transient person on one
occasion stole a cow from Capt. James Hill, for which he was tried before
Daniel W. Griswold, Esq., and sentenced to receive nine lashes and pay the
costs. The whipping was inflicted by constable Clark. All remitted their fees
to the poor culprit except Griswold, who required him to cut wood for his.
Griswold allowed him to lodge on his kitchen floor at night. The next morning
it appeared that the incorrigible rascal had decamped during the night, taking
with him a new pair of boots which belonged to Griswold.
MILITARY AFFAIRS. During the war of 1812-15, and
previous, the military spirit was rife in Charlotte. It was probably not
surpassed, if equaled, by any town in the state. There were no less than five
military companies in the town, viz.: two of infantry, one of light infantry,
one of cavalry and one of artillery. The last two, however, were partly made up
of men from other towns, as Hinesburgh and Shelburne. In the year 1810 the
citizens whose names are subjoined held the offices indicated, viz.: Hezekiah
Barnes, Maj or General; John Newell, Brigadier General; Oliver Hubbell,
Quartermaster Sergeant; Nathaniel Nowell, Captain of Cavalry; Sheldon Wheeler,
Captain; Tim Read and Wm. Pease, Lieutenants; and Peter Wheeler, Ensign of
Artillery. Ithiel Stone, Captain; David H. Griswold, Lieutenant; and Israel B.
Perry, Ensign of Light Infantry. Lyman Yale, Captain; Caleb Chapell,
Lieutenant; and Andrew Barton, Ensign of Infantry, Co. 2. Joseph Barnes,
Captain; Hez. Barnes, Jr., Lieutenant; and Elijah Gray, Ensign of Infantry, Co.
6. What other town in the state could show such an array? The people of
Charlotte evidently believed in the motto, "In time of peace prepare for
war."
As might be expected from its situation and the character
of its inhabitants, this town had some connection with the war of 1812-15.
Teams were impressed to carry men and military stores from Plattsburgh to
CHARLOTTE. 737
Sackett's Harbor, detachments of militia were repeatedly
ordered to Burlington and further north; large numbers volunteered to withstand
the advancing British army in September, 1814, and were present at the battle
of Plattsburgh, and the whole town were thrown into a fever of excitement by
the passage of the British flotilla up the lake to attack Fort Cassin at the
mouth of Otter Creek, and its return. As they passed McNeil's, Mr. Charles
McNeil with his family and many other spectators were on the high bank in front
of Mr. McNeil's house. One of the small vessels, which was inside of Sloop
island and within hailing distance of the shore, was observed to be making
preparations to fire. Mr. McNiel called to the captain and asked if he was
about to fire on unarmed and defenceless people, to which question no attention
was paid. McNeil then directed his family and neighbors to lie down, which they
did. A charge consisting of 12 two-pound balls was fired. The hight of the bank
and the proximity of the vessel to the shore compelled the British gunner to
aim so high as to carry the balls over McNeil's house, although they grazed the
top of the bank and cut off a small poplar over the heads of the prostrate
spectators. The balls were found in his meadow at the next haying. Two other
charges were fired, one of which went through his horse barn. The drunken
commander, being put under arrest by the commander of the flotilla, excused his
brutal assault upon women and children on the pretence that he saw soldiers in
uniform on the bank. On the return from Fort Cassin several hundred people were
collected on Thompson's Point. One brave Yankee, Wilson Williams, had a gun
with which he attacked the British fleet. A few charges of shot were returned,
which rattled among the trees over the heads of the scared multitude, which
very speedily dispersed.
The following is a list probably incomplete of the
Revolutionary soldiers who became residents of the town, namely: David Hubbell,
Joseph Simonds, Lamberton Clark, Asa Naramore, Elisha Pulford, Samuel Andrews,
Ezra Wormwood, Skiff Morgan, Samuel Hadlock, Israel Sheldon, Phineas Lake, Levi
Coggswell, James Hill, Newton Russell and Daniel Hosford. The following from
Charlotte enlisted in the war of 1812-45: Holmes Hoyt, Robert Cockle, Abraham
Smith, Abel Gibbs and Uriah Higgins. Rollin Barton, who enlisted in the
Burlington company of the 2d Vermont Regiment, was the first citizen of the
town who volunteered for the suppression of the great pro-slavery rebellion of
1861.
TEMPERANCE, Intemperance was a terrible scourge to this
town, as was to have been expected for the reason that the town was cursed
with three distilleries and blest with as extensive and fruitful orchards as
any portion of the state. It also contained about a dozen taverns, all
floodgates of rum and ruin. The lives of numbers of the prominent citizens were
marred and their deaths enveloped in gloom by this destructive vice. But when
the temperance reformation commenced, influential men in the town rallied to
its support and carried it forward to triumphant success.
When the question of "license" or "no
license" was submitted to the popular vote in 185-, Charlotte was claimed
as the banner town for its "no license" majority. Perhaps no town has
less trouble with violations of the prohibitory liquor laws.
EDUCATION. The town was divided into nine school districts
in 1791. The present number is fifteen. Charlotte Female Seminary commenced May
1, 1835, although the edifice was not built until the year following. Hon.
Luther Stone, M. D., was its principal founder. In 1840 it was transferred to
the Methodist Episcopal Society. It had a successful career for a few years,
but finally yielded to the pressure of its unfavorable location. A select
school has however been maintained in the seminary building nearly every year
until the present time (1861.)
A valuable circulating library was established at
Charlotte Corners many years since. Unfortunately, not being suitably
replenished, it fell into neglect and became extinct.
The following is nearly a perfect list of the names of
college graduates from Charlotte, viz:
From the University of Vermont: Wheeler Barnes, 1804;
Justus P. Wheeler, 1804; Oliver Hubbell, 1805; George Newell, 1812; James
Towner, 1823; Oliver S. Powell, 1830; Orville Gould Wheeler, 1837; Aaron Gay‑
738 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
lord Pease, 1837; Calvin Pease, 1838; John Kasson, 1842;
George M. Hill, 1850.
From Middleburry College: Jacob Noble Loomis, 1817;
Joseph Hurlbut, 1822; Samuel Hurlbut, 1839; Charles Williams Seaton, 1857; John
K. Williams, 1860; Gilbert Wheeler.
THE
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS IN ADDISON AND CHITTENDEN COUNTIES.
BY HENRY MILES, OF MONKTON, ADDISON COUNTY.
The small body of Christian professors in Addison County,
passing under the name of Friends or Quakers have already been
concisely noticed in the first number of this Gazetteer. Their number
not being large in any part of the State when Thompson's Vermont was published,
will account for their being passed by without any notice in that publication.
And now (1864), they numbering even less than then (1842), there might seem to
be no more need of speaking of them than formerly; but as the religious
principles professed by them are essentially Christian in character, and
consequently of vital importance in every community calling itself Christian,
some further account of the Society may be allowable in this Magazine.
It is not to be supposed that a theological essay would be
in place here, yet, when attempting to give even a concise account of a class
of religious professors, it seems difficult to avoid saying a word in relation
to the profession that distinguishes them.
* * *
* *
In the time of King Charles I, in which George Fox,
William Penn, Robert Barclay, and many other earnest men were conspicuous
actors, they were not clamoring for a new religion, but in search of the
"pearl" of Christianity that seemed buried deep under the form of a
verbal, and, in many cases, an extravagant profession. They were seeking that
"treasure hid in the field," in which they were themselves
sojourners; and overawed by the responsibilities that lay at the door of every
one that should set at naught that "treasure," they bid such to
"tremble at the word of the Lord" On that account they were
called, in scorn, "Quakers."
* * *
* *
The earnest, and as some say, "the terrible"
preaching of George Fox drew around him many that indorsed his sentiments, and
that probably long before any organized society was formed. And when an
organization was proposed, we have no account of any formal creed, much less of
any peculiar dress being required of its members, other than what can be
gathered from the New Testament, as required of all Christian believers. And
for nearly one hundred years the Society remained in that simple state, each
individual enjoying its privileges without restriction from other members.
In some particulars the society of Friends has taken up a
position almost peculiar to itself: against war and oaths the society has, from
its rise to the present time, uniformly maintained a decided opposition; and if
some individual members have swerved from this, and if the whole body has
seemed sensible of its position under present national emergency, still it must
be acknowledged that, collectively, there has been no lowering the standard to
which it adheres: "Thou shalt not kill;" "Swear not at
all." These religious scruples and those in relation to marriages have
been officially acknowledged and provided for by the Legislature of the State.
Thus far we have been speaking of the society of Friends,
chiefly as it has existed in England. As the seed was sown in America in an
early day by George Fox and some of his co-laborers, more especially by Wm.
Penn in the settlement of Pennsylvania, and as frequent intercourse and
correspondence was kept up between the several branches of the society on
either side of the ocean, we may infer there has been a good degree of
uniformity of practice as there has been, till the last half century, of
belief, each branch agreeing in all matters of difference on points of
religious doctrine to refer for decision to the Holy Scriptures. But as biblical
commentaries and criticisms have materially increased within that period, as
might be expected, the more extensive and attentive readers in the society have
accepted or rejected, with some firmness, enough of the different liberal
or conservative renderings or revisions of those writings to bring about
one great and some lesser divisions among those under the name of Friends,
particularly in America.
We turn now to the history of the society of Friends in
Vermont. The book of Records to which the writer of this article has had access
(which is in the hands of William Dean of N. Ferrisburgh) is believed to be the
CHARLOTTE. 739
original one used of the opening of the first preparative
meeting for Discipline in Vermont, north of Danby. The first entry reads:
"At a preparative meeting held at Danby ye 17th of
12th month 1792, Received a minute from the monthly meeting Respecting a
meeting being settled at Ferrisburgh which is as follows: 'At a Quarterly
meeting held at the Ninepartners, the 14th and 15th of 11th month 1792, the
request respecting the establishing a meeting for worship and a Preparative
meeting at Ferrisburgh under consideration thereon is united and established.
This meeting directs that their meeting for worship be held on first and
fifth days of the week and their Preparative meeting to be held on the
second fifth day in each month.
Extracted from the minutes, by Aaron Hill, Clerk."
"Agreeable to the above directions we have now met
and opened a Preparative meeting at Ferrisburgh the 10th of the first month
1793. This meeting appoints David Corbin Clerk for one year."
In looking over the " answers to the queries," a
record of which was made every quarter, and comparing them with similar records
made at the present day, there appears very little variation in the language of
the two; and we may reasonably infer that there was then the same want of
faithful attendance of meetings for worship and discipline of individuals as
there is now, and similar cases of delinquency; so that although the present
generation have many social and civil privileges to which their predecessors of
the last century were strangers, it is hard to determine whether the tone of
religious life has been strengthened or impaired by the enjoyment of those
privileges. One thing seems evident, their records show a care to state their
case plainly, even though it be at the expense of what some may consider a
reputation for discernment: for instance, in answering the query, "Are
Friends clear of attending places of diversion?" one answer reads:
"Clear of the several parts of this query as far as appears, excepting the
attendance of a thanksgiving be a place of diversion."
One may feel inclined to smile at such simplicity, but it
must be remembered that the pioneers who in the last century were clearing the
ground ready for the academy and the college of the present made no pretension
to scholarship, and yet they showed an esteem for it by recording their
"care over such poor friends' children as do not so freely partake of
learning as we could wish." And if another class may feel inclined to
undervalue them on account of their general lack of worldly riches, such may be
reminded that from the first the discipline of the Society required a strict
observance of the rule involved in the query: "Are Friends just in their
dealings, and punctual in fulfilling their engagements?" To which the
record says "Mostly clear in paying our just debts, and where it is
otherwise care is taken."
Among the earliest Friends settled in this part of Vermont
who labored in the diffusion of the Gospel, was Joseph Hoag, of Charlotte,
whose noted "Vision" has been published in several periodicals, and attracted
much attention. Although the vision was witnessed more than sixty years ago, it
does not appear to have been committed to writing till about forty years after
that time. This fact would impair its value but for the remarkable fulfillment
of some parts of its predictions in the occurrence of the present civil war,
and its originating in slavery.
Joseph Hoag possessed good intellectual abilities, but
very limited literary attainments; earnest, courageous, and having a free use
of words he was well qualified, thus far, for a preacher among the pioneers of
the forest, and doubtless filled his place there, in the divine economy; and if
the seed sown through his instrumentality has germinated and sprung up in
plants very unlike the sower, if those plants have, under the training of
Methodism or Congregationalism, or any other religious influence, blossomed in
brighter colors, or borne fruit of more spicy flavor than the Quaker tree, the
sectarian may repine, while the true Christian will rejoice at witnessing
another evidence that Divine Truth cannot be confined within the narrow limits
of a sect.
And now, in drawing this imperfect sketch to a conclusion,
what has been said by a late writer, who takes his observations within the
Society, and was intended to apply chiefly to its present status in
England, may with a little change be fitly used as a summary here:
"By those who measure them ]the Friends] by their
traditional observances, it must in fairness be remembered that all traditions
are necessarily an aftergrowth. They are one of the signs of age, but not an
evidence of life. Half a century of persecution, another half century of
comparative ease and lukewarmness; then half a century of disciplinary laws,
and a like period of worldly applause and prosperity, have now passed
740 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
over them; each epoch telling somewhat upon the original
structure, and each leaving some of its lichens and parasites upon the trunk,
and its human graftings upon their branches. Nevertheless, if the roots be
sound, and the tree be animated by the living sap, these accumulations will die
away when their special purpose has been accomplished." And believing with
William Penn, that
"The humble, meek, merciful, just, pious, and devout
souls are everywhere of one religion, and when death has taken off the
mask, they will know one another, though the divers liveries they wear here
make them strangers."
JOSEPH HOAG'S VISION, copied from a paper in the hands
of his daughter, Jemima Knowles, of Monkton, which was taken from the original
manuscript, and is believed to be substantially correct:
"About the year 1803, in the 8th or 9th month, was
one day alone in the field, and observed the sun shone clear, but a mist
eclipsed its brightness. As I reflected upon the singularity of the event, my
mind was struck into a silence the most solemn I ever remember to have
experienced; for it seemed as if all my faculties were laid low and unusually
brought into deep silence. I said to myself, what can all this mean? I do not
recollect ever before to have been sensible of such feelings, and I heard a
voice from heaven saying:
" 'This which thou seest, which dims the brightness
of the sun, is a sign of present and coming times. I took the forefathers of
this country from a land of oppression; I planted them here among the people of
the forest; I sustained them and, while they were humble, I blessed them and
fed them and they became a numerous people; but now they have become proud and
lifted up, and have forgotten me who nourished and protected them in the
wilderness, and are running into every abomination and evil practice of which
the old countries are guilty, and I have taken quietude from the land and
suffered a dividing spirit to come among them. Lift up thine eyes and behold!
"And I saw them dividing in great heat. This division
began in the church on points of doctrine. It commenced in the Presbyterian
society, and went through the various religious denominations, and in its
progress and close its effects were nearly the same; those who dissented went
off with high heads and taunting language, and those who kept to their original
sentiments appeared exercised and sorrowful, and when the dividing spirit
entered the society of Friends, it raged in as high a degree as any I had
before discovered. As before, those who separated went off with lofty looks and
censuring language. Those that kept to their ancient principles retired by
themselves. It next appeared in the lodges of Free Masons and broke out like a
volcano, inasmuch as it set the country in an uproar for a length of time; then
it entered politics in the United States, and did not stop until it produced a
civil war, and abundance of human blood was shed in the course of the contest.
The Southern States lost their power, and slavery was annihilated from their
borders. Then a monarchial power arose and took the government of the States,
established national religion, and made all the people tributary to support its
expenses; I saw them take property from Friends to a large amount. I was amazed
at beholding all this, and I heard a voice proclaim: 'This power shall not
always stand, but with it I will chastise my church until they return unto the
faithfulness of their fathers. Thou seest what is coming on thy native land for
her iniquities, and the blood of Africa, the remembrance of which has come up
before me. This vision is yet for many days.'
"I had no idea of writing it for many years, until it
became such a burden that, for my own relief, I have written it.
JOSEPH
HOAG."
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
BY REV. C. M. SEATON.
The Congregational church in Charlotte, Vt., was organized
January 3d, 1792. At first it consisted of but four members, viz: John Moses
Yale, Daniel Hosford, Jr., and Joseph Simonds.
After being duly declared a regular church of Christ, and
having received the right hand of fellowship, they assembled by mutual
agreement at the dwelling-house of Daniel Hosford, Jr., on the aforesaid 3d of
January, and passed the following votes:
1. That John Hill serve as Moderator.
2. That D. Hosford, Jr., serve as Clerk pro tem.
3. That the church will give Daniel O. Gillet an
invitation to take the pastoral oversight and care of this church, according to
the order of the Gospel.
4. That D. Hosford, Jr., be a committee to present to D.
O. Gillet the above-mentioned call.
JOHN
HILL, Moderator.
Mr. Gillet accepted this call and was by an ecclesiastical
council ordained the first pastor of this church; and continued such until the
year 1799, when he was dismissed, and soon after deposed from the gospel
ministry.
During his ministry the accessions to the church were
quite numerous, a general degree of religious prosperity was enjoyed, and the
little church, consisting at first of but 4 members, became a flourishing
branch of the gospel church.
From this period for about eight years, the
CHARLOTTE. 741
church remained destitute of a pastor, and dwindled in
numbers until at the commencement of the year 1807, it was reduced to 11
members. About this time a revival of religion took place, and in the course of
the year 49 united with the church.
Toward the close of this year, Truman Baldwin, a
licentiate of the Southern Association of Hampshire County, Mass., was ordained
the pastor of this church, and exercised the pastoral office until March 21,
1815, when he was dismissed.
After this, the church was destitute of preaching, except
occasionally, until the latter part of the year 1816, when they were supplied
by Rev. Dr. Austin, President of Vermont University.
During the two and a half years of which they were
destitute of a pastor, 54 persons were received into the church.
On the 15th Oct., 1817, Rev. Calvin Yale was ordained the
pastor of this church and continued such until the 5th March, 1833, when he was
dismissed.
During the winter of 1833-4, the Rev. F. B. Reed labored
with the church as stated supply.
On the 25th Sept, 1834, the Rev. Wm. Eaton was installed
pastor of this church, and continued such until dismissed by ecclesiastical
council Jan. 12th, 1837.
On the 12th July, 1837, the Rev. E. W. Goodman was
installed pastor of the church, and was dismissed Oct. 15, 1845.
Oct. 21, 1846, Mr. Joel S. Bingham, who had for some time
previous supplied the desk, was ordained and installed pastor of the church.
On the 18th of Nov. 1851, the pastoral relation existing
between the Rev. J. S. Bingham and the Congregational church and society in
this place was, by an ecclesiastical council called to consider the subject,
dissolved.
The present pastor, Rev. C. M. Seaton, preached his first
sermon to this people Dec. 21, 1851. On the 1st of Jan., 1852, his regular
labors as stated supply commenced, in which capacity he continued to serve them
for two and a half years.
On the 6th July, 1854, a mutual council was convened, by
which he was regularly installed pastor of the church.
The little church, thus commenced in weakness, with a
membership of only four persons, has not only been continued in existence but
has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity, having sometimes had on her roll 150
names as members in regular standing.
The whole number that have been received into the
communion of this church cannot now be precisely stated, as a portion of the
early records have been lost.
Many seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord
have been enjoyed, and it is hoped that through her instrumentality and prayers
many souls have been gathered into the fold of Christ, for which she would this
day unite with God's people in rendering thanksgiving and praise to God.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.*
Transient parochial organizations of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the County of Chittenden, as reported to the annual
Conventions of the Diocese and recorded in the journals:
CHARLOTTE.
1808, represented in Convention by Zaccheus Towner.
1809, represented in Convention by Zaccheus Towner.
1819, represented in Convention by Gideon Prindle.
1820, represented in Convention by John Cobb.
In 1811, the Rev. Parker Adams, of Middlebury, reported
that he had officiated seven months in this place, in connection with
Middlebury and Vergennes.
ESSEX.
1808, represented in Convention by Dr. John Perigo.
WILLISTON*.
1808, represented in. Convention by Daniel Goodrich.
MILTON.
"Trinity Church" was organized in the winter of
1831-2, by the Rev. Geo. T. Chapman, of Burlington, who occasionally visited
them.
May, 1832, represented in Convention by Samuel R. Crane
and Warren R. Hoxie.
May, 1834, represented in Convention by Samuel R. Crane.
* Items not furnished by the respective towns, from Rev.
G. H. Bailey, who has under preparation a history of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in Vermont Ed.
The Rev. Reuben Garlic, M. D., is said to have
officiated here alternately with his parish at Jericho from 1796 till the
beginning of 1803.
742 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
At the time of this Convention the Rev. Charles Fay had
officiated here a portion of the time for nearly a year, and reported 20
communicants.
The parish was subsequently stricken off from the
conventional list of parishes; but was readmitted in 1842, with a new
organization styled "Immanuel Church," the Rev. S. B. Bostwick
officiating alternately here and at Jericho. His services were continued till
the spring of 1844. He reported 9 communicants in the fall of 1843.
HINESBURGH.*
1790, represented in Convention by Andrew Burritt.
A.
H. B.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first Methodist society in western Vermont was formed
in 1798. Probably the Methodist itinerants, Lorenzo Dow and Joseph Mitchell,
commenced preaching in Charlotte the same year. No society however was formed
for several years. Major Jonathan Breckenridge was the first resident
Methodist, and for half a century was a main pillar in the church. He was
converted in the summer of 1801, and the same year or the next, the first
society was formed by Rev. Ebenezer Washburne, of which Major Breckenridge was appointed
leader. The first members were Maj. Breckenridge and his wife, Joseph Simonds
and his wife, and Mrs. Marble. Charlotte then belonged to Vergennes circuit,
embracing the north half of Addison County, and the south half of Chittenden.
In 1808, its name was changed from Vergennes to Charlotte circuit. In 1827,
Charlotte with Shelburne and North Ferrisburgh became a separate circuit. Since
1838 Charlotte has been a station, and unfortunately the Methodist churches in
Charlotte and the adjacent towns are so located that nearly half the Methodists
living in Charlotte belong to churches in other towns.
In 1819, Charlotte became the residence of the presiding
elder of Champlain district. John B. Stratton, Buel Goodsell, Lewis Pease, and
Tobias Spicer, D. D., resided here in succession as presiding elders until the
district parsonage was burnt in 1830. By this accident the families of Dr.
Spicer and Rev. Mr. Hazelton, one of the circuit preachers, were deprived not
only of the house but of all its contents.
The following list of the preachers and number of members
of Charlotte circuit and station is compiled from the minutes of the
Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Until 1801 the circuit probably
embraced all of Western Vermont. In 1801 Brandon circuit was set off from it.
It was at first called Vergennes circuit, but in 1808 it was called Charlotte,
a name which has ever since maintained its place in the list of the circuits
and stations of the church.
The ministers whose names are marked with a dagger resided
in Charlotte.
Year. Members. PREACHERS.
1798 186 Joseph
Mitchell, Abner Wood.
1799 274 Joseph
Mitchell, Joseph Sawyer.
1800 343 Henry
Ryan, Robert Dyer.
1801 173 Henry
Ryan.
1802 187 Elijah
Chichester.
1803 228 William
Anson.
1804 271 James
M. Smith.
1805 240 Samuel
Cochran.
1806 243 Samuel
Draper.
1807 326 Dexter
Bates.
1808 306 Andrew
McKain.
1809 326 Andrew
McKain, Marvin Richardson.
1810 400 Stephen
Sornburger, A. Scholefield.
1811 396 Thomas
Madden, Gilbert Lyon.
1812 338 Thomas
Madden, John Haskins.
1813 337 Justus
Byington, Wm. Ross.
1814 385 David
Lewis.
1815 397 David
Lewis, Nicholas White.
1816 389 Jacob
Beeman, Gilbert Lyon.
1817 431 Jacob
Beeman, Gilbert Lyon.
1818 441 Nicholas
White, Seymour Landon.
1819 507 Nicholas
White, T. Benedict, C. Silliman.
1820 472 Almon
Dunbar, Harvey DeWolf,
1821 481 James
Youngs, Samuel Covel.
1822 559 Buel
Goodsell, Lucius Baldwin.
1823 587 James
Covel, Cyrus Prindle,
1824 635 James
Covel, Levi C. Filley.
1825 479 Noah
Levings, D. D., Joshua Poor.
1826 502 Noah
Levings, D. D., Cyrus Meeker.
1827 523 Benjamin
Griffin, P. Chamberlin. Here Charlotte charge seems first to have been
embraced within the limits of the town.
1828 76 Benjamin
Griffin.
1829 83 Truman
Seymour.
1830 83 Here
the circuit was enlarged again and called Monkton and Charlotte.
Preachers, T. Seymour, A. Hazelton, E. E. Griswold.
1831 487 Reuben
Westcott, Joseph Ayres, C. R. Morris.
1832 519 Joseph
Eames.
1833 214 Here
the station begins to be called Charlotte and Shelburne from the towns
which it embraced. Peter C. Oakley, preacher.
1834 206 Peter
C. Oakley, James Gobbett.
1835 188 J.
D. Marshall, William Griffin. D. D.
1836 300 Zebulon
Phillips, Charles DeVol.
1837 308 Here
the charge becomes simply Charlotte. Benjamin Marvin, preacher.
1838 137 Josiah
F. Chamberlin.
1839 35 Anthony
C. Rice.
1840 55 Anthony
C. Rice.
184 53 William
F. Hurd.
1842 76 William
F. Hurd.
1843 90 Berea
O. Meeker.
1844 75 Berea
O. Meeker.
1845 61 Milton
H. Stewart.
1846 48 Arunah
Lyon.
1847 46 Arunah
Lyon.
1848 45 H.
C. H. Dudley.
1849 46 Hiram
Dunn.
1850 40 George
S. Gold.
1851 41 George
S. Gold.
* The widow of Rev. Russel Catlin relates that Mr. C.
removed to Hinesburgh in 1796, where and at Charlotte he officiated alternately
for 7 years.
CHARLOTTE. 743
1852 42 Albert Champlin.
1853 44 William W. Atwater.
1854 40 Edward N. Howe.
1855 40 Stephen Stiles.
1856 45 Stephen Stiles.
1857 44 McKendree Petty.
1858 45 Bernice D. Ames.
1859 46 Bernice D. Ames.
The first church edifice was of wood, commenced in 1819,
and completed in 1823. In 1837 it was burnt down with the parsonage, which
stood on the same ground where the district parsonage was burnt seven years
before. The present brick church was built in 1840.
The church has been visited with interesting revivals in
the winter of 1835-6, that of 1842-3, that of 1861-2, and at other times. Camp
Meetings have been held in Charlotte in or near each of the following years,
viz: 1805, '06, '07, '19, '28, '34 and '61. A Sunday School has been maintained
for many years with more or less efficiency and regularity.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
Elder Ephraim Sawyer was doubtless the first Baptist
minister who ever preached in town. The church was organized May 6, 1807, under
the supervision of a council, called by the Baptist church of Monkton, by the
request of certain members of said church living in Charlotte, who were
dismissed by mutual consent to form said church. The council consisted of
delegates from New Haven, Cornwall, Panton and Bridport; Elder H. Green,
moderator, and Elder C. Andrews, clerk. It consisted of 19 members, who adopted
articles of faith and covenant, as fellowshiped by the Baptists in those days.
During the same season 19 more were added by baptism and by letter. The ensuing
October this church united with the Vermont Baptists which convened at Bridport
Messrs. Gibbs and Hosford being delegates: A Gibbs its first deacon, and U.
Palmer, clerk. Elder Nathan Dana was settled as pastor in 1808; membership this
year, 47. In 1809 Elder Dana was dismissed as pastor. In 1810 Elisha
Starkweather was ordained as pastor, which relation he sustained several years.
Being a high Calvinist, he was instrumental in the expulsion of many of the
members for defective doctrine; and before Elder John Howard was settled as
pastor in 1817, the membership was diminished nearly one half. Then a brighter
day began to dawn. Elder Arnold was pastor from 1821 to 1823. About this time
Elder J. A. Dodge commenced his labors with the church, and continued them for
many years when the church was not otherwise supplied. In 1825 Alanson L.
Covill was lieensed to preach. 1826 is marked with a revival and accession of
13 members, among whom was Amos Clark. In 1828, D. Tucker was chosen deacon. In
1831, Elder E. Mott became pastor and was dismissed the next year. There was a
season of revival during his term. In 1834 the church united with the Addison
Co. Baptist Association. In 1836 M. D. Millen was called to preach to the
church half of the time. This was a year of interest, as several were added to
the church by baptism, and Dea. Milo Fuller from the Keeseville church was
received. In 1837 Elder M. Flint accepted of the pastorate, which he held till
1841. In 1838 Charles D. Fuller was licensed to preach. In Feb., 1842, Dea.
Amos Clark died, having served his Master and the Church faithfully for 17
years. Elder J. Ten Brooke was called to serve the church as pastor this year,
which was one of prosperity; Homer Clark was ordained deacon. About 40 were
added during the administration of Elder Ten Brooke, which closed in 1845. Rev.
J. M. Driver was pastor until 1850, when he was succeeded by Rev. Lyman Smith,
who remained till 1855. Elder E. W. Allen was pastor from 1856 to 1857.
The first church edifice was erected in 1808, the second
and present one in 1840. Repairs and improvements were made in 1856 to the
amount of $700. The church is of brick; is very neat and pleasant, and
furnished with a handsome spire and good bell.
FRIENDS. Some of the original proprietors of the town
were Friends or Quakers, and from the first settlement there have generally
been a few families of that order in town. They have been chiefly confined to
the S. E. part and have mostly belonged to the Monkton preparative meeting.
Until recently their meeting-house has been in Monkton, but now they have built
one in Charlotte. Charlotte has furnished quite a number of preachers of this
order who have traveled extensively, preeminent among whom was Joseph Hoag, a
volume of whose writings has been published.*
* See "Society of Friends," &c., by Friend
Henry Miles already included. Ed.
744 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Extract of a letter from L. DeGsbriand, D. D., Catholic
Bishop of Burlington.
"The Catholics of Charlotte having no place to meet
in, had no regular attendance until the summer of 1858. They used to attend
mass at Burlington and Vergennes, and received an occasional visit from the
priests of Burlington. I think that Rev. Jer. O'Callaghan used to visit the
Catholics of Charlotte as early as the year 1835. During the summer of 1858,
the Sanford place at the Baptist Corners was bought for the use of the
congregation in that neighborhood, and ever since they have had divine service
once in the month on a Sunday, a part of the house having been converted into a
temporary chapel. In the winter of 1858-9 the Quaker meeting-house in
Starksboro' was bought and drawn to the Baptist Corners. An addition has been
made to the building, and also preparations commenced to build a spire on it.
The building is 38 feet by 30, with a gallery. The altar is made of marbleized
slate and white marble from Mr. Hyde's slate works at Hydeville, and is a very
fine piece of work. On the first of November, 1859, a part of the lot was
consecrated for a burying-ground. The number of communicants who worship at
this place is about 500."
PRINCIPAL
OFFICERS.
The following is a list of the citizens of the town who
have held the most important civil offices, with the number of elections of
each and the year of the first.
CHIEF JUSTICES OF COUNTY COURT.
Zadock Wheeler, 5 1815
ASSISTANT JUSTICES OF COUNTY COURT.
John McNeil, 3 1789
Hezekiah Barnes, 2 1809
Zadock Wheeler, 1 1814
Nathaniel Newell, 4 1825
Aaron L. Beach, 2 1851
Elanson H. Wheeler, 2 1860
COUNTY CLERK.
William Noble, 6 1837
JUDGE OF PROBATE.
John McNeil, 3 1787
MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
John McNeil, 2 1791
Nathaniel Newell, 3 1814
Lyman Yale, 1 1836
Everett Rich, 1 1843
Joel S. Bingham, 1 1850
SENATORS.
Luther Stone, 2 1843
Elanson H. Wheeler, 2 1854
TOWN REPRESENTATIVES.
John McNeil, 6 1788
Daniel Hosford, jr., 1 1791
David Hubbell, 2 1794
John Thorp, 1 1797
Hezekiah Barnes, 6 1798
Nathaniel Newell, 13 1800
Samuel Rich, 1 1803
Ezra Meech, 2 1805
Zadock Wheeler, 3 1813
Ithiel Stone, 1 1819
Jeremiah Barton, 3 1822
William Noble, 2 1826
William Pease, 3 1829
Myron Powell, 2 1832
Noble Lovely, 2 1834
Pitt E. Hewitt, 2 1836
Samuel H. Barnes, 2 1838
Aaron L. Beach, 2 1840
Burke Leavenworth, 2 1842
William R. Pease, 2 1844
Abner Squier, 2 1846
Elanson H. Wheeler, 1 1848
John Sherman, 2 1849
Midas Prindle, 2 1851
Charles B. Cooke, 2 1853
Benjamin Beers, 2 1855
Joel Stone, 2 1857
Daniel C. Lake, 2 1859
Peter V. Higbee, 2 1861
Heman H. Newell, 2 1863
Peter E. Pease, 1 1865
PROFESSIONAL
MEN WHO HAVE ORIGINATED IN CHARLOTTE.
Clergymen: Eben W. Dorman, Geo. W. Renslow, Jacob N.
Loomis, Salmon Hurlbut, Joseph Hurlbut, James Towner, Oliver S. Powell, Orin
Woodward, Orville G. Wheeler, Gilbert Wheeler, Samuel Hurlbut, Aaron G. Pease,
Calvin Pease, D. D., Vincent Hall, Congregationalists. Jonathan Breckenridge,
Ammi Fuller, Justus Byington, Myron Breckenridge, Wm. Richards, Hiram
Breckenridge, Geo. W. Breckenridge, James Piper, Samuel Hurlbut 3d, Abner
Squier, Doren B. Harding, Harris F. Tucker, Methodists. Alanson L. Covill,
Isaac Hosford, Charles D. Fuller, Baptists.
Attorneys: Wheeler Barnes, Oliver Hubbell, Charles H.
Wheeler, David B. McNeil, Charles D. Kasson, John A. Kasson, John McNeil, Jr.
Physicians: Daniel Hough, Jonas F. Packard, Sylvanus
Humphrey, Harmon Hurlbut, William P. Russell, William Towner, Curtis Lowry,
Amos S. Jones.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Several distinguished men who have resided in Charlotte
may be mentioned, who
CHARLOTTE. 745
will perhaps be more appropriately noticed at length in
the histories of towns with which they have been more indentified. Dr. Jonas
Fay spent a few years in this town, but was more generally known as a resident
of Bennington. Hon. Ezra Meech, who was best known as a citizen of Shelburne,
resided several years here, and twice represented the town in the legislature.
Hon. David A. Smalley, judge of the U. S. District Court for the district of
Vermont, spent several of his boyhood years here.
REV.
ABEL NEWELL,
prominent among the early settlers of the town, was a
native of Connecticut. He graduated at Yale College in 1751, and was the
valedictorian of his class. He was for many years pastor of the Cong. Church in
Goshen, Ct., from which place he came to Charlotte. In the early history of the
town he was employed, in accordance with a vote of the town meeting, to preach
to the town. He died, an octogenarian, of the fearful epidemic of 1812-13. He
left five sons, residents of the town, some of whom occupied very prominent
positions in the community, and his descendants are still numerous in this and
the adjacent towns.
HON. NATHANIEL NEWELL, son of the preceding, was for many
years a leading citizen and representative for 13 years a longer time than
any other man. He was also a judge of the county court. In religion he was a
decided Methodist.
HON.
JOHN MCNEIL,
although said to have been a loyalist during the
Revolution, on account of which he lost property by confiscation in the town of
Tinmouth, was a leading man among the early settlers. He was the first town
clerk and the first representative. About the year 1790 he established the
celebrated ferry across Lake Champlain to Essex, N. Y., which has ever since
borne his name. The immense travel from western Vermont to northern New York
mostly crossed the lake at this ferry until the building of the railroad, which
established new lines of travel.
MAJ.
JONATHAN BRECKENRIDGE
was from Bennington. He was the first Methodist in town,
the leader of the first class, a local preacher, and a main pillar of the
church as long as he lived, as well as an esteemed and prominent citizen. Among
his posterity in the ministry and laity of the church of his choice is Rev.
George W. Breckenridge, a prominent minister in Ohio.
JOSEPH
HOAG,
from Dutchess Co., N. Y., was an early settler of the
town. He was a leading member and preacher of the society of Friends. He
traveled extensively on preaching tours in Canada, Nova Scotia, and nearly
every state in the Union. He was the seer of the remarkable vision in which the
dissensions in church and state, which slavery has caused in our country, were
so correctly foreshadowed. It has been extensively published in the papers.
Nearly all of his sons and daughters have been preachers among the Friends. His
journal has been published in a duodecimo volume of 370 pages. He died Nov. 21,
1846, aged 84 years.*
GEN.
HEZEKIAH BARNES,
as well as his father and two brothers was prominent among
the early settlers. He, for many years, kept a hotel by the spring at the
center of the town, which was known over the state. He was a political rival of
Judge Nat. Newell, and represented the town more years than any other man
except him. He was also Major General of militia, and judge of the county
court. He was another victim to the epidemic of 1812-13.
HON. JEREDIAH HOSFORD was born and reared in Charlotte. He
emigrated to western New York, where he rose to distinction among his brother
farmers, and was elected to Congress. He is the father of the celebrated
Professor Eben Hosford or Horsford, as he writes the name, of Harvard
University.
HON. JOHN A. KASSON is one of the most distinguished men
that Charlotte has produced. He graduated at the University of Vermont in 1842,
practiced law for a time in New Bedford, Mass., and subsequently settled in
Iowa. He was a member of the Chicago Convention of 1860, by which President
Lincoln was nominated. Under his administration Mr. Kasson was appointed First
Assistant Paymaster General, which office he filled with great ability. He
resigned this office in 1862, and was elected a Representative in Congress, of
which he is still a leading member.
* See further biography of Joseph Hoag, in Henry Miles'
paper already referred to. Ed.
746 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
Zadock Wheeler was a man of such natural and acquired
abilities that he attained and filled with honor the office of Chief Judge of
the County Court.
Ammi Fuller had the honor of furnishing his own house as a
preaching place for the apostolic bishop Asbury, and in his will he generously
devised real estate to the value of $5,000 to the Methodist Episcopal Church in
the town.
Rev. Orville G. Wheeler, a native of Charlotte, has
represented Grand Isle County in the State Senate, and has published several
sermons, and a volume of poetry entitled "My Jewsharp."
Rev. Samuel Hurlbut, an able and devout minister, pastor
of the Cong. Church in New Haven, was a native of this town.
ELDER
EPHRAIM SAWYER.
BY REV. S. H. TUPPER.
To revive and perpetuate the memory of a worthy man, who
spent a long life in the possession of the confidence and esteem of a large
circle of acquaintance, I record a few reminisences of Elder Ephraim Sawyer. Of
his ancestors, the place of his nativity and the time of his birth, I know
nothing, having forgotten, if I was ever informed; but of the man and his
character I had about 25 years personal acquaintance. He was a large, robust
and laborious man, always engaged in manual labor when not attending his
appointments as a preacher.
Soon after the Revolutionary war, in which he proved his
patriotism by fighting for his country, he married and settled in Connecticut;
and about 10 years after he moved to Charlotte, which was then mostly a
wilderness. At this time he had three children Ephraim, Jr., Betsey and
Naomi. He was an ordained minister when he came to Vermont, and when the wants
of his family would permit, he was constantly preaching. There was no Baptist
church in this vicinity, and but few others, and they were small and some of
them very exclusive, so much so that Methodist preachers were denied the use of
a school-house; even Bishop Asbury found no better shelter than a cider mill.
Hence Mr. Sawyer often preached in private houses. There were no meeting-houses
in the county for many years after this period. The first erected in Burlington
was built in 1812, in Charlotte a few years sooner, in Middlebury in 1808, and
in Vergennes not sooner than 1825 or '30. Hence school-houses and
dwelling-houses were mainly occupied for religious meetings the first
generation after the settlement of the principal towns in north-western
Vermont.
Mr. Sawyer was of a more catholic spirit than the clergy
of his day. He never cried procul, procul este profani to members of
other churches, though often treated as a heathen and reprobate. He was no
polemic preacher. Though he rejected the popular dogmas of the day, "the
common people heard him gladly." He was a man of good natural abilities,
but not enriched by science and literature. Books were scarce and he too poor
to buy; hence he borrowed no rhetorical figures to recommend the truths of the
Gospel or win public applause. But his weight of character carried more
conviction of truth than scholastic, high-sounding words. If public approbation
and winning souls to Christ constitutes popularity with the mass of the people,
he was one of the most popular preachers of his day. The respect and confidence
of the people is the sine qua non of a preacher's success. Most men
venerate the preacher who is "affectionate in look and tender in address,
whose doctrine and whose life coincident exhibit lucid proof that he is honest
in the sacred cause." This is the secret of Mr. Sawyer's popularity. No
public teacher courted it less, and few attained so great a share. For a full
view of his character. I would apply to him the description Paul gives of a
bishop 1 Tim. iii. 7.
In the forepart of this century Mr. Sawyer moved into
Addison County, where he located his family mostly the remainder of his life.
During the first decade after his settlement in Charlotte, he depended mainly
on his daily labor for the support of his family. The country being new and the
settlers few and not wealthy, Mr. Sawyer received but little for his
ministerial services, and nothing but as presents.
Wages were low as late as 1805, men worked in June (as I
remember) for 37½ cents a day, which was the price of corn. Mr. Sawyer walked
one day 8 miles to do a day's work, and at night took his pay in
CHARLOTTE. 747
grain and carried it home on his back. This was about
1798, when the roads were new and bad. Soon after moving into Addison County, I
think in 1805, he preached one year in the school-district in which I lived,
for which he received about $100. The weekdays he spent in making lime and
clearing land. He cleared several acres of heavy- timbered land (after chopped),
and received only the ashes for his labor. None will wonder he was always poor.
I know of no other place where he preached as long as one
year; he was an itinerant preacher traveled through several states, I
think as far south as Rhode Island.
He planted and built up many churches in Addison County,
some of them soon became able to support a minister. Though his zeal was not as
ardent as some, he was always ready to sing and pray, and preach too by night
and by day.
I pass over many interesting incidents in his life, and
close these general remarks by speaking of my last interview with him. He was
then living in about two hours ride of me. I had heard he was sick, went to see
him, found him quite ill. After spending sometime, being about to leave, he asked
me to stop, saying he felt as if he should like to pray. Among other petitions
he prayed the Lord to reward me for my favors to him (though already well paid
for the little supply for his family I made, by his grateful thanks); he was
especially anxious that I might be converted and made to know the bliss of
pardon and the peace of God that passeth understanding, of which I then knew
nothing.
To the few of Mr. Sawyer's old friends who yet remain this
brief sketch will appear very imperfect; but of his last days I can give no
account. He must have been aged about 75 years when he laid down the cross and
received the crown. I think he ended his days about 1830, but where I know not.
Our last meeting and his farewell prayer will be one of the last I shall
forget. He was what some would call nature's nobleman; but nature never made a
man like Mr. Sawyer, who rendered to Cζsar the things that are Cζsar's, and to
God the things that are God's. The memory of the righteous is blest.
March, 1864.
A
RHYMING LETTER,
FROM REV. S. H. TUPPER.*
Miss H ,
Your history of our mountain State,
Altho' commenced some years too late,
Will still afford, when 'tis complete,
To thoughtful men a mental treat.
The first decade post (17)61,
When settlements were but begun,
Will furnish facts, tho' some are lost,
That richly pay the trifling cost.
Our vet'ran fathers earned a name,
Well worthy of historic fame;
While they the sturdy forest fell'd,
By martial might their foes expell'd.
Our foes are barb'rous as were theirs,
They fought with powder and with prayers;
Our arms and prayers, if duly joined,
Will conquer all our foes combined.
But speedy victory to win,
We must renounce our nation's sin;
Then God will stay his chast'ning hand,
And bless with peace our favored land.
February 18,1862.
THE
DIM TRADITIONS.
BY PETER E. PEASE.
Extract from a Poem read before an Association of Teachers
at Charlotte, June, 1862.
Faintly gleam the dim traditions
Handed to us from the past,
And I almost grudge the moments
As they hasten on so fast
Separating off the present.
With its gross luxurious ways,
Far and faster from the old-time
And those self-denying days,
When our parents and our grandsires
Fought, and delved with might and main,
For the generations coming,
Richest blessings to obtain,
Not for them but their successors,
Else their labor had been vain.
Fainter, dimmer grow the outlines,
And the witnesses are few
Who can tell the wondrous stories
Like romances running through,
When the woodman's axe
First sounded on the borders of our lake,
And the wolf and deer retreated
To the mountain and the brake.
I have three of them for neighbors,
On the north, and south and east,
Waymarks they whose tales I ponder
From the greatest to the least.
. . . . . .
One saw Stark engage the reg'lars,
Wandered awe-struck 'mid his men,
Crossed the highway back and forward,
*Our aged and venerable friend has also a representation
in Ferrisburgh, see No, I, p. 35. But for many years he has been so
identified with Charlotte, and is so ready and able, moreover, to furnish many
curious and important facts in the early history of both towns, that we
recognize with pleasure the claim he has to appear among the board of writers
in each of the two towns. Ed.
743 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
When the troops poured through the glen;
Saw and knew th' misguided parents
Who sent their sons to tory ranks,
Hoping thus to be victorious,
And to gain King George's thanks,
Saw the buttons from his waistcoat,
Taken from him as he lay
Bleeding, mangled, senseless, dying
At the close of that dark day;
Heard the mingled curse and railing
Of his townsmen when they knew
He had sold his life so cheaply
And had gained his wages due;
Saw the horror of his parents
When they knew the buttons well;
And the sad and fearful vengeance
That so swiftly on them fell,
As their neighbors scorned and shunned them,
Left them to their sorrows sore,
And with hearts of grief and anger,
Turned them from them evermore.
He a slim and active sergeant,
Served at Plattsburgh and the lines,
Jacob Collamer his ensign,
Swanton trusted their long nines.
Oft with patriot ardor burning,
Have I heard him tell the tale,
How, though he was no great lawyer,
Yet his tactics did not fail:
He could order out his cannon,
Bring his company "to line,"
Make as bold and graceful movements
As that great man of our time,
Collamer, now in the Senate,
Well has earned a noble name.
Sergeant Sherman, by the creek-side,
Lives unaltered, still the same;
Shows his sleek and well-trained horses,
With the very best of swine,
Still exhibiting each season
Wondrous specimens of kine;
Yet with valor still undaunted
Keeps his eye upon the times,
And the duty of allegiance
To his hearers still defines.
* *
* * *
* * *
Brave old man, we love thy spirit,
And though soon thou must depart,
As we stand around thy death-bed,
May thy teachings touch our heart.
Old 'Squire Sherman soon shall leave us,
May the State he loved so long
Keep the liberties he fought for,
Ever growing fresh and strong.
Widow Prindle, wise old lady,
Full of signs and quaint conceits,
Link between the past and present,
Genial, warm, her pure heart beats,
Slight and frail her worn-out body,
Once so fairy-like and gay,
And though eye and ear are weary,
Memory still delights to stray
O'er the path her feet have traveled
Through her long eventful way,
Looting naught of worth or beauty
Said or done in that rude day.
How when yet a tender infant
She, her father, mother, maid,
Leaving home and friends at Skeensboro'
Foundation here for fortune laid.
Landed from a scow or long-boat,
On the shore of McNeil's bay,
In an empty lumberer's cabin
Left by father, on his way
To meet his man and stock of cattle
Coming up along the shore;
How they sought to find dame Tupper,
Mark'd trees leading to her door,
Wandered long, till maid aweary
Sat her down and sorely wept;
And that mother, frail and tender,
Saw her feet no path had kept,
Gathered up her tangled dress-skirt,
On her hip her babe she took,
And her steps again retracing
Swiftly over tree and brook,
After miles of headlong racing
Finds the shanty whence she went,
And in thankful adoration
Then her knee in prayer she bent;
Spent the night in that rude cabin,
Sweetly slept till dawn of day,
And arose refreshed and stronger,
For the duty in her way.
How she thought 'twas supernatural
Strength God gave that tender one,
All unused to scenes of danger,
Weak and sick, and all alone.
Would to God we who come after
Knew wherein our great strength lay,
And would learn a moral lesson
From the events of that first day.
Good dame Prindle, may she linger
Long to bless her numerous seed,
Hallowing the air she breathes in,
While she seeks in every need
Sweet communion with her bible
And her prayer-book every day,
Tempting others still to follow
While she gently leads the way.
When her young eyes first had vision
Of the hill-sides where we dwell,
Half a dozen pioneer men
Was the number she will tell,
Who, forsaking home and kindred,
Made this wilderness their home,
Breaking up the deep dark forest,
Tempting others still to come,
'Till the rich and varied beauty,
'Twixt the mountain and the shore
Opened up to eye of mortals,
Stirs the bosom evermore.
Then the other, puritanic,
Bold old father Leavenworth,
Nourished in his early childhood
In that garden of the earth
Where the early settlers gathered.
On the Susquehannah's banks,
Women, children left unguarded,
Men, all in the rebel ranks.
Thence with old head on his shoulders,
In the ninth year of his age,
Rudely driven by the Indians,
In their sanguinary rage,
CHARLOTTE. 749
Thrice that day with mates and mother,
Rushed he through the surging stream,
Frantic, driven back and forward
By the Indian warrior's scream.
Early trained to care and hardship,
Eighty-two years now have gone
Since that startling tocsin sounded
At the early break of dawn,
And that brave old man still greets us,
With his welcome word of cheer
And his timely voice of warning
Gathered from experience dear.
From the land of steady habits,
With his handicraft he came
Wheelwright, joiner, honest miller.
Carpenter to hew and frame,
Cast his lot with her he loved best,
In this new and busy land,
Trusting God and fearing no man,
Aided by his own right hand.
In his full and fearless vigor,
Strong of hand and clear of head,
Struggling now with heavy burdens,
Working for his daily bread,
Still he upward looked, and onward
Truth and duty led his way,
Laying broad and sure foundations
Where old age might rest and pray.
Kindly now the old man lingers,
Sheltered from all earthly need,
Like the Patriarch in Psalm
Blessed with a goodly seed,
While his children, and their children
And one generation more,
Thriving rest beneath his shadow,
All upon one household floor,
And whole scores in other circles,
From the river to the sea,
Freely share an old man's blessing,
Resting thus from passion free.
How I've sat and loved and listened,
Learning meekly at his feet,
Heard his words of holy courage,
Felt his prayers a savor sweet,
'Till my heart has throbbed and melted,
And my cheeks were wet with tears,
And my soul from earth uplifted,
Triumphed void of mortal fears.
Change to him was only progress,
Wisely planned without a flaw,
In life's ever-shifting drama
In its order to withdraw,
Swift succeeded by its fellow
In the ceaseless round of time
Only yet another segment
In the wheel of God sublime.
Ah! right well we heed the lesson
All things earthly pass away.
He, too, soon must make his exit
Final 'till the judgment day.
When his loved and sainted partner,
To the silent grave we bore,
Said the old man in his sorrow:
She has only gone before,
Gentle Lucy, uncomplaining,
Well has held her journey on,
Now gone at the Master's bidding
To the kingdom she had won."
Long years after, Charlotte followed
To the glorious spirit-land,
And the household bowed in sorrow,
To the Almighty's chastening hand.
"I shall be exceeding lonely,"
Trembling, sad the old man said,
"Never daughter nourished father,
Watched and tended, nursed and fed,
With a heart that never faltered,
And a hand unwearied,
Better than the good one vanished
From the search of mortal ken,
Resting 'neath the coffin lid,
Very faithful she hath been."
Thus with tones of deepest sorrow,
Spake the old man of the dead,
Only waiting for the morrow,
Soon to follow where they led.
Ah! methinks these links of earth-scenes,
Here and there before us thrown,
Preach a loud and solemn lesson,
Each should strive to make his own,
Tell of duty and of danger,
Point to faith in God above,
Show how each should serve his neighbor,
Teach the power that rests in love,
Warn us of the transient nature
Of all sublunary things,
Learn us that from generous motive
Only worthy action springs.
Would we profit by the lesson,
In this time of sorest need,
When what they so nobly founded
Yields at last to human greed
We must emulate the spirit
Of those leaders in our land,
Else those glorious foundations
Shall to us be only sand.
Not the power of marv'Ious wisdom,
But the thoughts that underlay
All the hopes and aspirations
Of the patriots of that day
Laying broad and sure foundations
For the service of the race,
Building churches, paying teachers,
Constituting in each place
The machinery of a nation,
Social, Civil, and Divine,
Earning there a place and honor
All unequaled yet in time.
THE
OLD SCHOOL-HOUSE.
BY DELLA L. HOSFORD.
I remember, I remember,
The cot where I was born
HOOD.
I remember, I remember,
The school-house by the wood,
Which many years through summer's bloom,
And winter's blasts had stood;
It was not built in modern style
Of bright bricks, and within
All varnished o'er so neat and smooth,
To mar it were a sin.
750 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
Oh! no, full liberty had we
Each tiny blade to wield,
And carve whatever quaint device
Our fruitful brains might yield,
On desk, or seat, or ought beside
Grasped by a truant hand,
Which clearly proved our right to claim
Our birth in Yankee land.
I remember, I remember,
Full many a teacher there,
And those who on each summer's morn
Invoked the God of prayer
To shield and bless us from above;
And oft in accents mild
Besought his pardon and his love
For every wayward child.
But many years since then have passed,
And sires and matrons too,
Now bear the names of those who then
Our childish errors knew;
The grave can tell of some who there
Have found no transient rest,
While others still claim as a home
The broad, unbounded west.
I remember, I remember,
The playmates of those years,
When life appeared all fair and bright,
With nought to cause us tears;
But childhood's fair unclouded sun,
Though in a later hour,
Has dried the sparkling founts of joy,
And scorched each fairy flower.
A change came o'er that fair young group,
The children youth became,
And many sought the way to wealth,
And others longed for fame;
But the fairest and the loveliest
Embarked for that far shore
Where sorrow, suffering, pain and death,
Shall trouble never more.
A REVERIE.
The sun has set 'neath yonder western hills,
And twilight, like a spirit, stealthy creeps along
O'er the fair summer face of earth.
No cloud Skims lightly o'er the azure vault, or dims
The glory of yon evening star. All, all
Is peace and quiet. How I love to muse,
At such an hour as this, on days long past,
The golden days of childhood. How they rise
Before me as some dream of fairy land,
Far, far away. But yesterday, it seems,
I was a joyous, happy child, playing
'Neath the old elm that spread a graceful shade
For children wearied with their many tasks,
Conned in the old school-house hard by.
How free and wild our laughter! Then our hearts
Knew not of woe or grief; but later years
Have taught us that our way shall never be
That path of sunshine which to our young eyes
Gleamed in the far-off future. Such were we,
Yet now how changed! Why doth the heart grow old?
And withered, wrinkled age become a true
And faithful index of the inner soul
Whose hopes are fled, love withered, joys gone by?
The playmates of those years, where are they now?
Ask autumn's wind if, in his hither course,
He passed their dwellings. He perhaps may tell,
If any, of some who went forth from us,
Whose names sound strangely in those dear old haunts
They loved so well. How many memories cling
Around that cherished spot where thistles now
In wild luxuriance wave. They only mark
The place where once we gathered daily. But
'Tis past
From yonder tower I hear the chime
Of the old iron monitor, that e'er
For many years hath summoned worshipers
On Sabbath morn there to assemble; now
It minds me of a distant scene. The days
Of childhood past, a youth I see myself
Seeking the paths of knowledge. How I loved
The summons of the bell, that called each morn
So many willing feet to turn their steps
To yonder hall.* How oft and earnestly
We listened to instruction's words and loved
Its precepts. And how oft at eventide
We gathered in that same old hall, where mind
Grappled with mind in keen debate, and gave
Fair promise for the future. There we first
Met many friends, who now dwell in our hearts
Enshrined, and bound by fond affection's links
Which we trust ne'er will sever. Laugh ye may
Who will, at youthful friendship ye whose hearts
Have changed earth's purest joys for bitterness,
Who scorn the gushing warmth of love and joy,
That unrestrained bursts forth in life's young morn.
This too has passed. But though in life no more
May childhood's days or youth's bright hopes be ours
Yet may the pure affections of the heart,
Unstained, untainted, and preserved for those
Who in our earlier years shared in them, keep
Us from the foul misanthropy that casts
A blight so widely fatal o'er our world.
D.
L. H.
SUNSET ON CHAMPLAIN.
MRS. JENNIE L. LEAVENWORTH.
Emerging from its veil of misty clouds
The glorious sun in regal splendor bursts,
And over all the lower world a flood
Of crimson light effulgent sheds. See how
Its lingering rays, with fitful light, dance o'er
The waves so blue, that sparkling rise to meet
The welcome visitant with mirthful smiles,
And from him woo one fond, one last salute,
Before the shades of night shall gather round,
And darkness shroud the beautiful in gloom.
Look, how it leaps upon this eastern shore,
And tips with flashing beams the heavenward spire
How in the pearly drops, that from each twig
Suspended hang, a mimic rainbow sets.
We pause a moment to admire, and, lo,
It hath passed on, o'er hill, and dale, and wood;
[* The old academy ruin scarce a ruin yet, but
untenanted, unused, sort of unsphered, whose four walls and upright roof and
belfry yet stand; but many a broken pane or half shivered windows look down
from the brow of the hill whereon it stands with that silent complaint old and
rejected buildings always assume. We always see it when we go by. Ed.]
CHARLOTTE. 751
On mossy bank the nodding flower hath kissed
And left an impress there so beautiful
That one might deem in Eden's bowers it grew.
The leaves with Crimson rare and gold hath fringed,
And now, with crystal fountain dallying,
Smiles at his own glad image mirrored there,
'Till, wearied with its wild fantastic play,
To rest retires upon the eastern mount,
Gently, as child within its mother's arms,
Slumbers enwraped in folds of twilight gray.
OBSERVATION TO A WHAIL.*
Dug up in Sharlot, Vt., and now on exerbishon at the stait
Hous.
BY MISS JULIA PEPPER, a poess.
Big Reptile! Did you expect
To rub out your foot tracks by
The trail of your Ab Domen,
So that Hager couldn't find you?
Ef so, your'e sold Great Blubber!
He knew your hand ritin, soon's
He see it! Better not jump'd
Outer the ark, quite
So much in a hurry.
P'raps your's ridin on an Ice Burg
And stopt to warm to Branden
By a Lignite fire,
Or may be
You considered Lake Shamplane
Was the Pacific Oshun! Great
Setashus Mammallia, Aint
You took in? Mounted on
Paddles how'd you expect to travil
I sh'd like to now, on the Clay
Called Plisterseen? Gess you
Felt some like a fish out er water
Throw'd up by Joner on to
Dry Land. Ichthyosorrus,
Farwel.
EVER CHANGING.
BY MRS. CORNELIA A. VAN VLIET.
Ever changing, ever changing,
Intermingling light and shade,
Sunlight creeping, shadows deep'ning,
In the dreary, gloomy shade,
Flitting oft before the vision,
Dark'ning shadows trembling come,
Flit before you, pass quite o'er you,
In a moment and are gone.
Ever changing, ever changing,
Brighest hues of sunset glow,
Brightly painting, rainbow tinting,
O'er the verdant landscape throw
Softest shades of mellow sunlight,
Crimson tint and golden rays,
Mingling often, as they soften,
Into twilight's gathering haze.
Ever changing, ever changing,
Is the pathway which we tread;
All our pleasures, all our treasures,
Flit like shadows in the glade.
Fleeting, flying, earthly pleasures
Vanish when within our grasp.
Nothing lasting, briefly passing,
Yet how eagerly we clasp!
Ever changing, ever changing,
Are the fleeting scenes of earth,
Blooming vernal and eternal,
All the joys of heavenly birth.
Ah! my soul, now gather courage;
Hope can dissipate thy gloom,
Hope can borrow for to-morrow,
Light to cheer beyond the tomb.
SELECTIONS FROM REV. O. G. WHEELER.
The principal writer, however, of or from this town is the
Rev. Orville Gould Wheeler, a native of Charlotte, now a resident of South
Hero, this State. A volume of his poems, 12mo. 312 pp., bearing date 1860, was
printed by Bishop & Tracy, Windsor. Vt. The book opens with a "Semi
Centennial" poem delivered before the associated Alumni of the University
of Vermont, Aug. 1, 1854, and is followed by a variety or shorter miscellaneous
poems. To our mind the finest page in the "Semi Centennial," after
speaking of the changes of fifty years, is the following:
But some things, Brothers, little change:
That silver Lake is all the same,
And lofty mountain range
Unaltered since the white man came
And shared its solitude
With Indian rude,
The sky displays as bright a blue
As smiled upon the forest green,
And just such stars did e'er bestrew
That bending arch, as now are seen
In clusters sown,
Or all alone
In gentle radiance glowing,
Their limpid light forever flowing.
And truth, though old,
Grows never gray;
The ages fold
The young to-day
With unresisted arms,
But lend no brighter charms
To that which perfect came from old Eternity,
And never while Jehovah is, can changed be.
Which is followed by his most appropriate tribute to
"MARSH." This is already enshrined in the well-known Poets and Poetry
of Vermont, or we could not forbear to enshrine it here, as also his tribute to
the DESERTED
* See the Appendix to Thompson's Vermont, of 1853, for a
full account, pp. 15 to 20. The skeleton is now mounted and on exhibition in
the State Cabinet at Montpelier. We do not usually regard this style, and this,
moreover, we understand to be a production of Montpelier rather than Charlotte;
however, whoever has seen the whale can but rather appreciate the
"Great Blubber," and if Charlotte surrender Montpelier her whale to
keep. Montpelier may well afford Charlotte her apostrophe. An appropriate
notice of this fossil skeleton will appear in an after-chapter upon the geology
and natural history of Chittenden county by Rev. J. B. Perry.
A young lady of Montpelier, we have been told. Ed.
752 VERMONT
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
HOME, than which nothing could be more appropriate for
Charlotte and her corner for her poet-son. Thus we rather embellish the but
little bed we can possibly allow in our historical garden for flowers with
briefer extracts as we run along through the volume, and from several poems.
My darling little Effogene,
How came your eyes to be so blue?
Say, came their color from the sky,
Or did an angel look at you?
How came your lips to he so red?
What flower lent its rosy hue?
And when you kissed it, did it die
And give its fragrance all to you?
Be kind, my Boy!
Be good to every living thing,
To kindred and to strangers too;
A bounteous fragrance round thee fling.
Be kind, my Boy!
Play, my Boy!
Let boys and girls be thy delight;
In genial mirthfulness excel;
And even when thy locks are white,
Do not seal up the living well.
Play, my Boy!
Work, my Boy!
This life demands unceasing toil;
Jehovah works, and angels too;
Be not afraid thy hands to soil;
What God commands fail not to do.
Work, my Boy!
And pray, my Boy!
The Son of God was wont to pray;
And thou hast need of constant prayer,
That Heaven may thy spirit stay,
And keep thy soul from every snare.
Oh, pray, my Boy.
And here is one so pleasant we cannot refrain from giving
the whole.
HOW
DID HE LOOK WHEN HE WAS YOUNG?
I asked my aged Mother how
My Father looked when he was young;
She loving glances toward me flung,
And answered, "Just as he does now."
But Mother, dear, that cannot be:
His form is bent, his locks are white,
His step is trembling, once so light.
"My son, he looks the same to me."
But, Mother, he had raven hair,
Like mine that seems to please you so,
Or was it always like the snow?
"The blackest locks he used to wear."
His cheek, was it not smooth and round,
And had he not a sunny brow,
As smooth, you say, as mine is now?
"A fairer forehead ne'er was found."
And had he not a forth erect,
A firm, elastic, bounding gait,
With a blithe fairy for his mate?
"My son, your words are all correct."
And did he always look so grave.
And always have that quiet way,
So solemn, thoughtful, never gay?
"His smiles? like ripples on the wave."
Then Mother, tell me frankly how
My Father looked at twenty-three
But still she archly smiled on me,
And answered, "Just as he does now."
I left a kiss upon her cheek,
And treasured up her sweet reply;
I saw the love-light in her eye,
And could no other answer seek.
They had grown old, together old.
They had not marked the slow decay,
Or noticed on their loving way,
The change that time and care had told.
My Father's sight was never dim,
Though furrows deep on Mother's face,
Of dimples had assumed the place,
Yet they were dimples still to him.
My Mother had a deep blue eye,
And age could not its sweetness veil;
But Father's changes did she fail to see,
And o'er them vainly sigh.
Turning from the social to the fields:
The verdant hills are turning brown,
And sear's the greenest vale;
Chill snows the mountain summits crown;
The harvest field is pale.
The jolly blackbirds sprinkle round
Their little silver showers;
No truer socialists are found
In bright Utopian bowers.
The squirrels revel 'mong the trees,
And chatter all the day;
The never tired honey bees,
No busier than they.
The whinnering coons, like human thieves,
Asleep at early morn,
Now nightly steal among the sheaves,
Or 'mid the standing corn.
I love our Autumn's bright array,
Its swiftly changing views:
The birches yellow, the beeches gray,
The maple's crimson hues.
No gloomy shadows cast their frown
Upon the cushioned ground;
How gently floats the leaflet down,
How soft its rustling sound.
And last, to Nature, and beyond:
The sun does not too quickly sweep away
The shadows of the night, but paints the east
With lovely heralds of approaching day,
And slowly is the welcome light increased.
The evening gently leads its silent hours,
Revealing one by one its jewels rare;
Nor does the rose-bush blaze at once with flowers,
And in a moment all its blushes wear.
CHARLOTTE. 753
And such methinks eternity must be,
A sweet unfolding of unfading joys:
Not all of Heaven doth the spirit see,
When death at first the shadowy curtain draws.
Though no one but the Infinite can bear
The boundless whole of Heaven's blessedness,
'Tis not presumption vain to even dare
To hope its richest treasures to possess.
As loftier heights we gain, there will appear
Some brighter glory still to lure us on.
CAPT.
PRESERVED WHEELER*
(BY REV. S. H. TUPPER,)
Was born in Lanesborough, Berkshire Co., Mass., June 9,
1769. His father, Peter Wheeler, was a native of Woodbury, Ct. He married a
Miss Martin, and soon after, with several others, removed to the Wyoming
valley, Penn. Preserved was nine years old at the memorable massacre that
desolated eight townships in that inviting valley, on the 3d day of July, 1778,
when Butler and Brandt, with a thousand tories and Indians, met the remnant of
the patriots of that thriving settlement (most of the men being, in the army of
Washington), three hundred and fifty in number, and slew all but sixteen. They
had previously taken all the forts but one, and butchered all the women and
children who had fled to the forts for safety. Peter Wheeler fell in the
general slaughter. When the inmates of the remaining fort received the news of
the fatal battle, they hastily left the fort, when three men and sixty women
and children fled into the wilderness; making but little provisions for their
sustenance besides driving some cows with them for the sake of their milk, but
these they lost the first night. Mrs. Wheeler had three sons, Preserved,
Sheldon and Reuben.
The first night they lay in a swamp; the next day they
ascended a mountain, from which these forlorn widows and orphans beheld the
conflagration of their homes, fields of grain and final ruin of all they
possessed. In this state of destitution and sorrow, they wandered sixty miles
before they found a settlement, and all the time suffering not only with
fatigue but for want of food and water, and with constant fear of being
discovered by their merciless foes.
The inhabitants they first found were too few and poor to
supply so many with food. Mrs. Wheeler labored some weeks in hay and harvest
fields to pay for her children's food, which was of the coarsest kind. The
people were Dutch, and fed on sour milk, which Preserved said he and his
brothers could not eat. In passing through New Jersey they met with some of our
troops, who kindly supplied them with such necessaries as they possessed. After
wandering 300 miles they reached their former home, soon after which Mrs.
Wheeler gave birth to another son, which she named Peter Wheeler.
Preserved let himself to a man who was a tanner and
shoemaker, and lived with him until he learned his trade. In July, 1790, he
married Esther, daughter of Jacob Bacon, of Lanesborough, who disinherited her
for marrying against his consent. The next winter Mr. Wheeler moved to
Charlotte, Chittenden Co., Vt., where he purchased a small place, and, as soon
as his means enabled him, built a small tannery, and took his brother Sheldon
as apprentice. The country being new he labored under many disadvantages
unknown at the present day; but by diligence and prudence during eight years he
acquired a small property. As a specimen of diligence and punctuality, he
worked all night occasionally (so he told me), rather than disappoint a
customer. In 1799 he sold his place to his brother (on which a son of his now
resides), and moved to Newhaven, Addison Co., Vt., where he purchased a farm
and established his trade. During the next eight years he improved and stocked
his farm, built a tannery, barns, and a large house with prospect of soon
paying the many demands against him. But during the next three successive years
his misfortunes and afflictions were such as might have discouraged a man of less
indomitable spirit of perseverance. He lost the most of his cattle by a
hoof disease a number of his family were long confined with fever by
breaking a leg he was laid by one summer his shop was burned with more than a
thousand dollars of property, most of it in leather fit for market; by which
several misfortunes he was unable to liquidate demands against him as he
expected. Still, to crown his misfortune he lost his wife, Sept. 24, 1809; a
most estimable woman a helpmeet indeed. She left two daughters and
six sons, the youngest an infant.
Instead of sinking under his afflictions he persevered
with all diligence to retrieve his fortune. In 1811 he married Polly McNiel, a
widow, who had two sons , and by whom he had two sons and three daughters,
making the number of his children thirteen. When about 50 years of age Mr.
Wheeler made profession of religion, and since that time most of his children
have become members of churches. His last wife, a very worthy woman, died Nov.
1855, aged 77. Mr. Wheeler died March 15, 1856. He had buried three daughters
and one son; his six oldest sons still live one in Burlington, one on the old
homestead, four in Illinois, three of whom live in Chicago. He left thirty-nine
grand-children, and several great-grandchildren. Mr. Wheeler's children were
all married before his death, except a daughter who died some years before.
Having the habits and spirit of their parents, they prosper in business are
worth from ten to fifty and one hundred thousand dollars each.
He is remembered with respect by a large circle of
friends, and by none more than by those who knew him best.
Feb. 2, 1864.
* Before published in Mr. Miliken's Vermont Record.