Gazetteer of Vermont, Hayward, 1849.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SUNDERLAND

      THIS township was chartered July 29, 1761, the grant bearing date one day later than that by which Arlington was brought into existence. Sunderland is bounded on the north by Manchester, on the South by Glastenbury, on the east by Stratton, Windham county, and on the west by Arlington. The original grantees were sixty-four in number, Isaac Series being the first mentioned. The surface of the land in Sunderland is quite similar to that in Glastenbury and the other towns that lie almost wholly within the Green Mountain chain, but there is more tillable land in Sunderland than in Glastenbury, and this is on the west side next to the Arlington line. The Battenkill River crosses the northwest corner of the town, and in its course receives the waters of the lesser streams, Mill Brook and Roaring Branch, and others of still less note. There is probably no town in the county that possesses better water-power facilities, if properly controlled, than does this, and it is equally true that there is no town in the county in which this natural power is less utilized than in Sunderland. However much this may seem as an uncomplimentary statement, it is nevertheless true. The town has abundant resources but they are not properly developed. Industries have been here but are now gone, and the old buildings are deserted. Sunderland can never become an extensive agricultural town as nature has not endowed it with the essential characteristics, but a manufacturing community can be built up here with proper energy. Something has already been done in this direction but it should not have been suffered to decline.

      The most interesting of Sunderland's history is to be found in a narrative of the events occurring within its boundaries during the years prior to 1800. The town was chartered, as has been stated, in 1761, but its organization did not take place until July 7, 1763, and that meeting was held in Pownal. Isaac SERLES was chosen moderator, and George GARDNER, clerk. At a subsequent meeting, July 11th, Samuel ROBINSON was elected treasurer, Isaac SERLES collector, and Samuel ROBINSON, George GARDNER and Isaac SERLES a committee to run the town lines. On May 15, 1764, the third proprietors' meeting was held, at which Samuel ROBINSON was chosen moderator, and Jabez WARREN, clerk. The fourth and fifth meetings were held at Jabez WARREN's house in Sunderland, and the sixth also at the same place; and at this last meeting, which occurred November 28th, Jedidiah HURD, Gideon WARREN, and Timothy BROWNSON were chosen a committee to surperintend the survey and allotments of the town and lay out the highways.

      The survey and division of town lots, one acre each in size, and sixty-six in number, was made by Samuel ROBINSON of Bennington, his labor being completed in August, 1765; but before this time he had laid out the proprietors' tracts in fifty-acre lots, one to each grantee, and this was finished in June, 1765. Then during the next year or in 1766, settlement in the town commenced, the pioneers in this work being Gideon and Timothy BROWNSON, Joseph BRADLEY, Amos CHIPMAN, Abner and Charles EVERTS, Abner HILL, and Reuben WEBB, all or nearly all of whom were from Connecticut. Following these came others of the BROWNSON family and the AVERILLS, BRADLEYS, DAVIS, COBINS, EVERTS, GRAVES, HILLS, HOYTS, HICKS, COMSTOCKS, TAYLORS and others. The town is believed to have been organized about this time, although no definite information on this point is to be derived from the town records, which are in an exceedingly bad condition. The first discoverable record of a regular freemen's meeting is of that held in 1769, at which time Derrick WEBB was chosen moderator; Gideon BROWNSON, town clerk; Isaac HILL, Zacheus MALLORY, and Thomas BARRING, selectmen; Rozelle HILL, constable; and Ebenezer BARNES, Timothy BROWNSON and Amos CHIPMAN, overseers of highways. In 1770 Isaac HILL was elected moderator; Gideon BROWNSON, town clerk; Joseph BRADLEY, Timothy BROWNSON, and Gideon SERIES, selectmen. Other officers were chosen at the same time, but the worthy town clerk, Gideon BROWNSON, was more of a statesman and leader than penman, and from the records as they now appear, one can only guess at his meaning, and guessing is too liable to lead to error.

      Sunderland, from its close proximity to Arlington, became more or less involved in the exciting events that preceded the Revolution; and while the more important events transpired in Arlington, the town of Sunderland was not wholly free from the troublous element usually called Tories, and one in particular of these was Benjamin HOUGH, concerning whose exploits and final punishment much is said in the general history of this region, and to be found in the earlier part of this work. HOUGH came to reside in the town sometime about 1737 or 1774, and was clothed with all the power and authority that could be derived from the office of justice of the peace under the jurisdiction of New York, but this the doughty settlers in this vicinity failed to recognize, so HOUGH naturally got into trouble. But HOUGH was as obstinate as the other settlers were determined, and used his greatest endeavors in sowing the seeds of Toryism throughout the vicinity; indeed, so open and notorious did his inimical conduct become that he at length fell into the custody of the Committee of Safety, before whom he was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to "be taken from the bar of this Committee of Safety, and be tied to a tree, and there on his back receive two hundred stripes; his back being dressed he should depart out of the district, and on return without special leave of the convention to suffer death." On the 30th of May, 16i5 this sentence was extended and the prisoner given a safe passport beyond the Vermont line, to which he did not return. This punishment inflicted on HOUGH had a most salutary influence upon those in this region who were disposed to share his sentiments, and subsequent cases of a similar character were few indeed.

      The first mention made of the town of Sunderland in connection with the general events of the region is found in the proceedings of the celebrated Dorset Convention of July 26, 1775, when, upon the verge of the Revolution, the local authorities were organizing the military forces of the State for future operations. Of the companies then organized fifty were raised in Sunderland and its vicinity, and Captain Gideon BROWNSON was placed in command, while Jellis BLAKELEY and Philo HARD were respectively chosen first and second lieutenants. At this time Gideon BROWNSON was unquestionably the foremost man in the town or its vicinity. He served through the war, having been promoted to the rank of major in the Continental service, and afterward general in the Vermont militia. J. A. GRAHAM said: "General BROWNSON was a violent politician in the late war; and that as a proof of his valiant conduct, he now (1797) carries in his body eighteen pieces of lead, which lie received during that fatal contest."

      In the Dorset Convention of J my 24, 1776 the town of Sunderland was represented by Joseph BRADLEY, and he too was prominently connected with both the civil and military affairs of the State, holding in the former many positions of trust, and in the latter being an officer of rank. He and Colonel Timothy BROWNSON were delegates from the town to the Dorset Convention held in September, 1776; and at the famous Windsor Convention June 4, 1777, Lieutenant BRADLEY represented the town, his associate at that time being Eli BROWN -- also of Sunderland.

      But loyal to the cause of the people on the grants as the great majority of Sunderland's inhabitants were, there were some at least who had imbibed the sentiments of the notorious HOUGH, and upon whom the official eye was fixed. This is confirmed by the proceedings of the Council of Safety, who were in the habit of watching suspected persons, and keeping them under restraint in certain cases. The committees of safety in the several towns were no less vigilant, and arrested any unknown persons. For these reasons the council gave to suspected persons and to loyal citizens, also, passports that they might be free to go and come without molestation. This is evidenced by the following order made by the council in September, 1777: "The following persons are permitted to pass, viz.: Daniel DORCHY and Sylvenus PERRY from this to Sunderland and return within one month." Also, “Isaac GOODSEL is permitted to pass to Sunderland to take care of his children and return within six days." Here is an old order to the commissioners of sequestration:

      On the 23d day of December, 1779  it appears that the Board of War held a short session at Sunderland At that time Timothy BROWNSON was chairman of this body, the other members present being Major Benjamin WAIT, Captain Ebenezer ALLEN, Lieutenant Joseph BRADLEY, Captain Joseph BOWKER, and Captain Samuel ROBINSON. Another meeting of the same body was held in the town on August 7, 1780, there being present Timothy BROWNSON, Joseph BOWKER, Joseph BRADLEY and Ira ALLEN, three members being then residents of Sunderland. At this time was passed this resolution: "Resolved to raise by a draft on the militia sixty able-bodied non-commissioned officers and soldiers, every man equipped, to join Maj'r Eben'r ALLEN's detachment of rangers; that they be drafted from the several reg't in the following proportions, (viz.) Col. Samuel HERRICK's Regiment, 24 men; Col. Ira ALLEN's Reg't., 21 men; Col. Eben'r ALLEN's Reg't, 15 men."

      The foregoing narrative contains all the events of importance that occurred during the period of the town's history that was particularly interesting. But during the time in which occurred what is known as "Shay's Rebellion," Ethan ALLEN was a resident of the town, at least he was then there. There is no record of any assembly of the Shay's insurrectionists in Sunderland, but in connection with the events occurring about that time General ALLEN wrote one of his characteristic letters, which having been produced in the town, is deemed worthy of record in these pages, as follows:

      This little hamlet, the one that has for years rejoiced in the name of "Chiselville," is situate in the central part of the inhabited portion of the town, and derives its name from extensive manufacturing interests that once flourished there, and was known as the Arlington Edge Tool Company; but this manufacture has now practically ceased, therefore Chiselville is in a condition of desuetude. The water-power here, on Roaring Branch, is not to be excelled in the State.

      Mount Pleasant is a small hamlet still further south than Chiselville, and contains a dozen houses, perhaps, and has, or had formerly, one or two industries of no special importance. The people here are engaged in agriculture and lumbering.

      The principal trading and manufacturing point within the township is at Sunderland, a small station on the Bennington and Rutland Railroad, a few miles northeast from Arlington. This is a pleasantly situated little hamlet of small population, on the Battenkill River, having all necessary stores and other interests to attract trade from the north part of this town, and some from the south part of Manchester. The leading industry here is the manufacture of veneering, which was established in 1871; and in connection with this the proprietor, Mr. BACON, also has a lumber-mill and box factory. Other industries of the place are BACON's feed and grist-mill, and saw-mill. These comprise the chief industries of the locality, while there may be some others of less note.

      The township of Sunderland, like the majority, perhaps, of those that comprise the county, has a bonded indebtedness, but not to so large an amount by far as some others. The taxpayers of this town annually pay interest on the sum of seventeen thousand dollars, besides raising the necessary funds for current expenses, such as payment of officers' fees, maintenance of the poor and supporting the schools, of the last named, there being four in the town. The greater part of the town's indebtedness was created by bonding for the railroad, which crosses the extreme northwest corner, and is of no practical or substantial benefit to the people of the south part except as they reach, the station at Arlington, some two or three miles distant; but whether of benefit or not, the indebtedness is there.

      The officers of Sunderland, chosen at the town meeting in March, 1888, are as follows: Moderator, Samuel H. CRUM; town clerk and treasurer, Henry S. BURT; selectmen, Edward G. BACON, Samuel CRUM and Arnold WEBB; overseer of the poor, E. A. GRAVES; constable and collector, E. J. BROWN; listers, Abel STILLSON, Albert P. BROWN, and O. E. DWINELLE; auditors, James GRAVES, H. N. BUCK and J. W. HULETT; grand jurors, David SNYDER and Reuben WEBB; inspectors of leather, A. R. STILLSON and A. R. WEBB; pound keepers, Julius HILL and John MARBLE.
 
 

History of Bennington County, Vt. 
With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches 
of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. 
Edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich. 
Syracuse, N. Y., D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1889. 
Chapter XXIX. Page 468-475.

Transcribed by Karima, 2004 
Material provided by Ray Brown