GAZETTEER OF TOWNS
GAZETTEER OF ORANGE COUNTY, VT. 
1762-1888.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF 
FAIRLEE

      FAIRLEE is a small border town located in the eastern part of the county, in latitude 43° 56' and longitude 4° 20', bounded north by Bradford, south by Thetford, east by the west bank of Connecticut rives, and west by West Fairlee. In giving a brief sketch of this town it is necessary to include both Fairlee and West Fairlee, down to the year of 1797, as they were originally one town from the date of the charter, to that year, when the territory constituting the township was divided, by an act of the legislature, into two separate townships, called Fairlee and West Fairlee.

      The town was granted by Governor Benning Wentworth, September 9, 17611, to Josiah CHAUNCEY, Joseph HUBBARD, Wilder WILLARD, and others, to the number of sixty-four, and "contained about 24,000 acres," which tract was to contain "something more than six miles square, and no more," out of which an allowance was to be made for highways and unimprovable lands, and was bounded as follows:--

      The surface of Fairlee is rough in appearance, except the territory in the eastern part immediately adjacent to the Connecticut river, although two mountains rise very abruptly to the height of several hundred feet from the bed of the river, Sawyer mountain in the north, standing so near the river as barely to give room for the highway and Passumpsic railroad, which ex-tends north through the eastern part of the town, and Morey's mountain, or Mount Moriah, as it is sometimes called, standing near Orford bridge, commanding a splendid view of the Connecticut River Valley.

      Just back of Morey's mountain is Fairlee pond, a beautiful little lake of crystal clearness, with pebbly shores, and enclosed within forest-clothed hills. It is about two miles long, and from one-half to one mile wide, its outlet being about half a mile from the river and Fairlee station. Though it has long been a favorite resort for fishermen, it has, until recently, offered no accommodations to the tourist or health-seeker in the way of boarding-houses or hotels. This pond is noted as the place where Samuel MOREY, the inventor of the steamboat, launched the first boat ever successfully propelled by steam, and from which Robert FULTON took the ideas that gave him the fame to which MOREY was entitled. Near the western shore of this pond is a beautiful cascade, which comes tumbling down through a gorge in the rocks from thirty to forty feet in depth, and over a perpendicular ledge about thirty feet high into a circular pool at the base.

      Westward from this pond stretches the long range of hills which divide the town from West Fairlee. Fairlee lake, another small sheet of water, lies partly in Fairlee, West Fairlee and Thetford, and discharges its waters into the Ompomponoosuc river, and from thence into the Connecticut.

      A small stream rising in West Fairlee flows southeast into Fairlee, and empties into Fairlee lake. The rocks entering into the geological structure of the territory are principally of clay slate formation, although a vein of talcose schist underlies the eastern part, extending the whole length of the town, while calciferous mica schist underlies the extreme southwestern corner, adjacent to Fairlee lake.

      Under the charter, the town of Fairlee was a part of the province of New Hampshire, and several of the first meetings were held in Orford, in. that state, although the territory was claimed by New York. It appears by the following warrant for a proprietors' meeting, that the proprietors of Fairlee were willing to date their warrant and hold their meetings in New Hampshire, still calling themselves inhabitants of Gloucester county, N. Y.:--

      The early settlers of this, as in other new towns, endured many privations and hardships. It was no uncommon occurrence for the sturdy pioneer to walk six or eight miles to his nearest neighbor, and, after toiling all day, bring home at night the product of the day's labor, which usually consisted of a quantity of grain; and, on arriving home, the plumping-machine, for want of mills, was used to prepare the material for the “Indian bannoc" -for the hungry housewife and children.

      The first settler in Fairlee was John BALDWIN, who came from Hebron, Conn., to Thetford, and, after staying here one year, settled in this town in 1766. In 1768 Samuel MILLER, Samuel BENTLEY, William and David THOMPSON, Noah DEWEY and Joel WHITE were settled here. The population rapidly increased with these sturdy pioneers as a foundation, until, in 1880, the inhabitants of Fairlee numbered 469. In 1886 the town had five school districts and an equal number of common schools, taught during the year by nine female teachers, to whom was paid an average weekly-salary, including board, of $4.35. There were seventy-eight scholars, fourteen of whom were attending private schools. The entire income for school purposes was $536.93, while the total expenditures were $585.97 with M. W. SMITH, superintendent.

      FAIRLEE, a post village and station on the Passumpsic R. R., contains one church, a hotel, two stores, and about 100 inhabitants.

      The D. C. ABBOTT saw-mill, on road 9, was purchased in 1862, and in 1866 a grist-mill was added. The saw-mill cuts about 300,000 feet of rough lumber per year, also a quantity of clapboards, shingles and lath. The grist-mill has four runs of stones, and grinds about 6,00o bushels of grain per-annum. The business of the estate is managed by W. E. ABBOTT.

      General Israel MOREY, born in Hebron, Conn., May 27, 1735, moved to Orford, N. H., in October, 1765, and in 1782 moved to this town. He became the owner of a large portion of the town, and built the first saw and grist mill, on Pond brook. He procured a charter for the first ferry across the Connecticut river at this place, which was the only mode of communication between Fairlee and Orford until 1802, when the first bridge was built, connecting the two towns, and opened for travel on October 4, of that year. He married Martha PALMER, of Hebron, Conn., who bore him a family of five sons and two daughters, and died in Fairlee in 1810. They made the journey from Connecticut with an ox-team, the wife carrying an infant of six months in her arms. Gen. MOREY died in Orford, August 10, 1809. Maj. Israel MOREY, the oldest son of Gen. MOREY, held a major's commission in the United States service for a short time. Capt. Samuel MOREY, second son of Gen. MOREY, should, perhaps, be accorded the honor of first applying steam-power to navigation, as has been fully shown in the County Chapter of this work.

      Samuel SMITH located in Fairlee before the Revolution, between 1773 and 1777. He was from Ashford, Conn., and when nineteen years of age was one of the first three settlers in Ackworth, and taught the first school there. He afterward removed to Lyme, where he married Lucy GRANT. He was commissioned captain of Fairlee militia in 1778, and served as a volunteer scout at Lake George over six weeks in 1778, dying at the age of seventy-two years. His son Grant, born in 1778, went with the Fairlee volunteers to Plattsburgh, although at the time serving as town clerk and holding other civil offices which exempted him from military duty. He died at the age of seventy-four. Two of his sons, Myron W. and Newton W., served in the late civil war, the latter dying while in the service. Myron W. was a member of the legislature from Fairlee in 1840.

      John COLTON came to West Fairlee from Long Meadow, Mass., about 1797, and located in the southwest corner of the town. His three sons, John, Jr., Oliver and George, came with him. He died February 9, 1813, in his eighty-fifth year. His son Oliver always resided in town, and died in 1840. His only son, George, was born in October, 1792, and resided in town until his death, in 1821. He was a carpenter and farmer, and also took an active-interest in town affairs. He had two children, only one of whom, Harvey is living, on road 8, in this town.

      Darius CHILD was born in North Woodstock, Conn., December 26, 1777. About 1802 he settled in West Fairlee, and some years later removed to Fairlee and settled on the farm now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Mary GILMORE. He possessed a vigorous mind and powerful physical constitution, and held many offices of trust in the gift of his townsmen. He died in 1862, .aged nearly eighty-five years. Two of his children, Mrs. GILMORE and Mrs. Amelia C. BLODGETT, are residents of this town, and one son, William, resides in Cambridge, Mass.

      Alexander H. GILMORE was born in Ackworth, N. H., in 1804, came to Fairlee in 1815, and settled on the farm now occupied by his son W. H. December 1o, 1829, he married Mary May CHILD, and reared a family of eight children, only two of whom are now living -- one, J. W., in Montana. Alexander H. was a prominent man in town and county affairs in his day. He served five years in the Vermont legislature, was eight years judge of Probate, one year county judge, and he nearly always held some office in the town. He died in 1873. His son William H. was born in Fairlee in 1839, and has always resided in the town. He was a representative in the state legislature in 1878 and 1882, was a senator in 1882, and has also taken an active part in town affairs. He served three years in the War of the Rebellion, and was also a member of Gov. BARSTOW's staff in 1882-83.

      John GAFFIELD came to Bradford from Connecticut sometime previous to the Revolution, moving his family and goods with an ox-team. He located about a mile and a half west of Bradford village, there built a log cabin, cleared a farm, and reared a family of twelve children, all of whom are now dead. His son Josiah was born in Bradford, and resided there until his, death, in 1878. He occupied the old homestead, where he reared six children, all of whom are now living -- Erastus in New York, Gardner on the old homestead in Bradford, George, at present postmaster, in Bradford, William, P. on road 12, in this town, a daughter, Mrs. Josiah MUNN, in Bradford, and, Mrs. Orrin OLCOTT in St. Johnsbury.

      Able M. RICE, originally from Claremont, N. H., came to Fairlee from, Orford, N. H., at which place he kept a hotel for a number of years. He also, at one time, owned the St. Johnsbury House, in St. Johnsbury, Vt. He died in this town about 1874. His son Lonson L. was born in Claremont, and was about fourteen years of age when he removed with his father to. Orford. He died in Fairlee, April 30, 1883, aged seventy-five years. His son Hiram L. is engaged in mercantile business in Fairlee, where he held the office of collector of taxes in 1880-81-82.

      Elisha CELLEY came to Corinth from Andover, N. H., about 1803, and located in the eastern part of the town, where he cleared a farm and reared a family of five sons and three daughters, only two of whom are now living, -- John. who resides in Corinth, and Benjamin in this town. He died in. Corinth, aged about eighty years. Benjamin was born in Andover, N. H., and was seven years of age when he came to Corinth with his father. When, twenty-one years of age he went to Boston and remained until about 1842, when he removed to Fairlee, and has since resided here, having a fine farm on the Connecticut river. His two children, W. E. S. CELLEY and Mrs. M. E. RUGG, also reside in town. Mr. CELLEY helped to roll the first railroad iron ever used in this country.

      William E. S. CELLEY, son of Benjamin and Jane M. (SAWYER) CELLEY, was born in Roxbury, Mass., January 7, 1838, came to Bradford, Vt., in 1841, and the following-year to Fairlee, where he has since resided. He married, Jane C., daughter of jasper and Celinda (HEATH) MOORE, June 13, 1865. They have a daughter, Emma J., born February 18, 1867, and a son, George E., born November 18, 1868. Mr. CELLEY was educated at the common schools and at Bradford academy, has held various town offices, having been chairman of the board of selectmen six years, and was a member of the legislature in 1876-77. He is a farmer and lives in the northeast part of the town.

      Peter BRAGG and son Robert, originally from Salisbury, Mass., removed to Thetford from Strafford in 1818. Peter resided in Thetford until his death. Robert died in Salisbury. William H., son of Robert, moved to Fairlee in 1858, and has since resided in town. He now lives on road 13.

      Sullivan MELENDY, son of Ebenezer and Sybil (MARCY) MELENDY, was born in Orange in 1814, whither his parents had removed from Grantham, N. H., several years previously. In 1861 he removed to this town, where he passed the remainder of his life, owning several farms, and being largely engaged in teaming for the Eli copper mines, employing regularly more than thirty horses, and from fifteen to twenty men. He was an extensive dealer in live stock, grain and flour, and owned a blacksmith shop and harness shop. A wise and conscientious counselor in legal and business affairs, his advice and assistance were often sought. He served acceptably in various public offices in his native town, but neither sought nor desired such recognition from his townsmen. He wedded with Harriet BOHONON and was the father of nine children, eight of whom are living, viz.: Ira R., Gardner S. and Clinton R., in this town; Cassius P. in Strafford, and Byron K. and three daughters in the West. Mr. MELENDY died in 1878.

      John MCLNDOE came from Clarern, Scotland, in 1784, and settled in Barnet, at the place since known as Mclndoe's Falls, his son James, who came with him, then being but four years old. The latter married Abigail BAKER, of Thetford, a niece of Richard WALLACE, and about 1820 removed to West Newbury, where they reared five sons and three daughters. The sons were John, a farmer; Robert, a piano manufacturer; Lyman J., a publisher in Newbury and Bradford, and of the Vermont journal at Windsor; David, a Methodist Episcopal clergyman; and George, a farmer in this town.

      The Congregational church of Fairlee, located on Main street, was organized by the Congregational Council in 1833, with thirty-four members, Sylvester DANA being the first pastor. The first church building, a wooden structure, was erected in 1810, received repairs in 1850 and in 1886, making its cost about $3,000. The present building, which will comfortably seat 300 persons, is valued, including grounds, at $4,000. The society now has forty-four members, with Rev. J. W. LEES, pastor. The Sunday-school has a membership of fifty. 

Gazetteer Of Orange County, Vt. 1762-1888.
Compiled And Published by Hamilton Child,
The Syracuse Journal Company, Printers and Binders. 
Syracuse, N. Y., 1888.
Page 244-269.

Transcribed by Karima Allison ~ 2004