Maidstone lies in the eastern part of the county, in lat. 44º 30’ and long. 5º 19', and is bounded northeast by Brunswick, east by the Connecticut river, southwest by Guildhall and Granby, and west by Ferdinand.  It was chartered by Governor Wentworth, of New Hampshire, October 12, 1761.

       The interval lands along the Connecticut river are among the best, and probably no town in the state has more valuable bottom lands than Maidstone. The uplands are mountainous and rocky, and not well adapted to purposes of cultivation. The town is well watered. West pond, in the northwest corner, and Maidstone lake, a beautiful sheet of water in the western part, three miles in length and one in width, afford an ample supply for milling purposes. Being well stocked with fish, these bodies of water are destined to become a favorite resort for pleasure seekers. 

       In 1880,  Maidstone had a population of 286. In 1886 the town had four school districts and four common schools, employing one male and eight female teachers, who received an average weekly salary, including board of $3.13 and $6.23, respectively. There were sixty scholars attending school. The entire income for school purposes was $522.56, while the whole, amount expended was $534.76, with Jennie K. Stanley, superintendent. 

       Maidstone has no village, no postoffice, no store, tavern, lawyer, minister nor doctor.   It depends upon its neighboring towns for all these facilities.  It is simply a quiet, peaceable and healthful agricultural community. 

       Thomas G. Beattie's lumber-mill, on the outlet of Maidstone lake, does an extensive business. 

       A.M. Beattie's lumber-mill, in the southern part of the town, on Cutler brook, also does a large business. It is managed by George V. Allen. 

       The settlement of Maidstone was probably commenced in 1772, but its population has increased but slowly.  In 1791 it had 125 souls, nearly half what it contains today.  The early settlement was attended with great difficulties. The nearest place where provisions could be had, grain ground or a horse shod was at Haverhill, N. H., fifty miles down the river. If the freight could not be brought on horseback, the journey must be made on the river, as the best road was a bridle path marked by blazed trees. The first settlers were Arthur and Thomas Wooster, who received from the proprietor’s one hundred acres of land each. Before 1774 the settlement was increased by the arrival of Micah Amy, John Sawyer, John Sawyer,Jr., Deliverance Sawyer, Benjamin Sawyer, Mr. Merrill, Enoch Hall, Benjamin Whitcomb, John French and Jeremy Merrill, each of whom received a bounty of a hundred acres of land.  Capt.Ward Bailey was an early settler, also a Mr. Marder who lived near the small brook which still bears his name. David Gaskill, Abraham Gile, Benjamin Byron, John Hugh, E. Torrey, Joseph Wooster, Reuben Hawkins and others came into the town about 1786. 

       Jeremy Merrill was killed by the falling of a limb from a tree.  Probably the first death in the town. The first public school was taught by Mrs. ?Amy, in 1786, in a log house which stood  just east of the present residence of J.W.  Webb. 

       Dr. Cheeney was the first physician. He remained but a short time. The first tavern was kept by Isaac Stevens.  Abraham Gile kept the first store, and Isaac Smith the second. 

       The St. Francis tribe of Indians had a trail passing through this town, and were a great annoyance to the early inhabitants. During the Revolutionary war these Indians received a bounty of five dollars for each live captive, or scalp, taken by them. 

       The young wife of Caleb Marshall, after seeing the most valuable of her household goods buried in the earth, mounted her horse, with a child of about two years and an infant of three weeks old, and went on, unattended through the wilderness to her own and her husband's parents in Hampstead, N.H., a distance of 160 miles, where she arrived in safety. The infant of three weeks became the good and faithful wife of Col. Moody Rich. 

       A party of savages and Tories from Canada went to the house of Thomas Wooster, in the northern part of the town, and made captives of Wooster, John Smith and James Luther, the latter of whom was visiting the girl at Wooster's who subsequently became his wife. The captives were afterwards taken to Canada. Luther was redeemed, married the girl from whom he was suddenly taken, and Wooster and Smith made their escape. It has been related that a Mr. Chapman, while working in the field, was attacked by Indians and his head split open with an axe in sight of his wife, who took her three children and fled to the woods.   While hid under the trees and thick foliage she could hear the Indians come to the house and, imitating her husband's voice, say, “come back, Molly, the Indians gone - come back, Molly, come."  The Indians finally went away, and the mother and her children were saved.  The Indians at one time went in the night to the house of Hezekiah Fuller, who, hearing them coming, slipped down behind the bed. They asked Mrs. Fuller where he was, who replied that he had gone. They then took her large apron, filled it with sugar and left, much to the relief of the frightened ones. 
 
 

(Source: Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, VT.; 1764-1887, Compiled and Published by Hamilton Child; May 1887, Page 477-478)

This excerpt was provided by Tom Dunn.