Clarendon is bounded on the north by Rutland; east by Shrewsbury; south by Wallingford and Tinmouth, and west by Ira. The following figures show the population at the different dates mentioned: 1791, 1,478; 1800, 1,789; 1810, 1,797; 1820, 1,712; 1830, 1,585; 1840, 1,549; 1850, 1,477; 1860, 1,237; 1870, 1,173; 1880, 1,106.

    Clarendon on the 5th day of September, 1761, was an unbroken wilderness. On that day Benning WENTWORTH, esq., governor of New Hampshire, granted the charter of Clarendon to Caleb WILLIAMS and others, dividing the town into seventy shares, containing 23,600 acres.

     In 1768 Elkanah COOK, Randal RICE, Benjamin JOHNS, Elisha WILLIAMS, Samuel PLACE, Gideon WALKER, Daniel WALKER and others came into town and selected locations, bringing their families the next spring for a permanent settlement. RICE and JOHNS and Stephen ARNOLD located near the central part of the town on the east side of the creek; PLACE, COOK and WILLIAMS in the north part of the town; and the same year (1769) came Jacob and Amos MARSH (brothers), and Daniel and William MARSH (brothers), nephews of the former; and Whitefield FOSTER and Oliver ARNOLD, from Rhode Island and Connecticut, selecting each a lot of land on the east side of Otter Creek, being the six north lots in Clarendon, which were afterwards included in the grant of Socialborough; Jacob MARSH occupying what is now known as the STRONG farm; Amos MARSH the NELSON farm ; Daniel MARSH the PLATT farm ; Oliver ARNOLD the WEBB farm, and Whitefield FOSTER the CROFT farm. They left their families at their former homes and labored here the first season, clearing land and building houses on their lots. They brought with them a cow and such breadstuff as they could, depending upon fish and game for their principal support. They worked together, detailing one of their number each week to do their cooking, milk the cow and procure the game and fish. That year they built five log houses and cleared a piece of land near each for crops the coming season, and on the approach of winter all returned to their former homes, except William MARSH, who went north and was not heard of afterwards. The five returned with their families and household effects the next spring.

    Before 1771 James ROUND and John HILL had settled on the west side of the creek; therefore, there were ten families in the north part of Clarendon previous to 1771. Several families had also settled on the south flats. As early probably as 1772 or 1773 Ichabod WALKER, a Mr. NICHOLS and a Mr. OSBORN had settled on East street.

    Many of the early settlers derived the title to the land they occupied from Colonel John Henry LYDIUS, an Indian trader of Albany, who claimed to have purchased of the Mohawk Indians, in 1732, a tract of land extending sixty miles southerly from the mouth of Otter Creek, by twenty-four miles in width; which was confirmed to him by a grant of Governor SHIRLEY, of Massachusetts, in 1744. In 1760 LYDIUS divided the tract (on paper) into thirty-five townships of thirty-six square miles each, or more, numbering and giving names to each township. No. 7, which is supposed to be nearly identical with the present town of Clarendon, he called "Durham." September 29, 1761, he granted about twenty-seven square miles, covering a part of Rutland and Clarendon, to James HAVEN, who leased farm lots to the settlers for the rent of one pepper-corn a year for the first twenty years and 5s. a year thereafter, for each one hundred acres of improvable land.

    On the 3d of April, 1771, Governor DUNMORE, of New York, issued the patent of "Socialborough," which included Rutland, Pittsford and about four square miles of Clarendon. In the summer of 1771 James DUANE, one of the New York grantees, sent Will COCKBURN to survey the grant of "Socialborough," but he was driven off by the threats of the settlers under the New Hampshire title.

      The old military road from Charlestown, N. H., to Crown Point, which passed through Clarendon, had been frequently traversed by the citizen soldier on his way to and from the scenes of strife near the lakes, and the beauty of location and fertility of the soil being known, the settlement rapidly increased, and soon the primeval forests became spotted with clearings and the settlers' cabins were thickly scattered over hill and valley throughout the town. The first settlers who had cleared and improved their land under the LYDIUS title soon found themselves in a dispute with others who afterwards came in and claimed the same land under the New Hampshire title; and the LYDIUS title proving worthless, they were induced by the representation of the New York land speculators to seek protection from the New Hampshire claimants by obtaining a grant under the government of New York, although it was well known that the king had in 1767 forbidden the issuing of any such grants.

      They accordingly made an arrangement with Mr. DUANE to procure the patent of Durham, which was issued by Governor TYRON on the 7th of January, 1772, and which purported to grant 32,000 acres in shares of 1,000 each to thirty-two individuals, by name, and which included all the land in Clarendon south of "Socialborough." By agreement, Mr. DUANE and his New York city friends were to have 14,225 acres (nearly one-half of the land). DUANE's share was 4,740 acres. "By this means the interests of the 'Durhamites’, as they were afterwards called by the New Hampshire claimants, became fully identified with those of the New York city speculators;" and both the New Hampshire and the New York claimants attempting to occupy the same land, much controversy and frequent collisions occurred between the "Yorkers " and the "Green Mountain Boys."

    Jacob MARSH, on the 9th of January, 1772, two days after the issuing of the patent of "Durham," purchased of James DUANE, William COCKBURN and sixteen other New York grantees of "Socialborough," a tract of land containing six hundred acres, being the six south lots in "Socialborough," extending east from Otter Creek to "the Cockburn road," the Cockburn road being what is now Main street in Rutland, running on a straight line into Clarendon. Marsh paid three hundred pounds for the tract of land, which was divided between him and his five associates who had settled on the same land in 1789 under the Lydius title; Oliver ARNOLD paying thirty pounds for the WEBB farm, and the others accordingly.

    Jacob MARSH, having bought his land of the New York grantees, was appointed a justice of the peace for the New York county of Charlotte which extended over this section. He is said to have been the ablest "Yorker" in Clarendon, and became foremost in advocating the New York and discrediting the New Hampshire title.

    Benjamin SPENCER, who lived in the south part of "Durham," and who is represented by Ira ALLEN in his history as "an artful, intriguing and designing man," was active as a York justice and assistant judge. He was one of the principal actors in obtaining the patent of "Durham," his name heading the petition. He was an active agent of the New York speculators in their attempts to obtain the land and expel the Green Mountain Boys from their homes. His efforts roused the hostility of the Green Mountain Boys and involved himself in difficulty. In April, 1772, he wrote to Mr. DUANE that "the New Hampshire men strictly forbid any further survey being made only under the New Hampshire title . . . The people go armed and say they will not be brought to justice by this province . . .  One Ethan ALLEN hath brought twelve or fifteen of the most blackguard fellows he can get double armed to protect him." In May he wrote as follows: "The Hampshire men swear that no man shall stay on these lands that favors the government in any shape whatever. The people of Socialborough prevent any settlement at present, swearing that they will shoot the first man that attempts to settle under the title derived from New York." 

      These threats, made for the purpose of intimidation, were never executed; but as SPENCER, MARSH, BUTTON and JENNY continued their efforts, as New York officers, to exercise authority and support the New York title, and new occupation of land was made, the struggle grew more earnest and bitter and increased in importance until the valley of Clarendon became the decisive field on which the adherents of New York and the Green Mountain Boys struggled, not only for their homes and firesides, but for the dominion of Vermont; for, had the Yorkers succeeded here, they would have gained a position "that might enable them to overthrow all the other New Hampshire charters, and Vermont would henceforth have been a province of New York and all its glorious history as a separate State would never have been written." Aware of the importance of the issue, the Green Mountain Boys determined that none of the New York officers should exercise authority over the disputed territory, and that the Durhamites should separate their interest from New York and acknowledge the validity of the New Hampshire title. 

    Early in the autumn of 1773 one hundred Green Mountain Boys, led by Ethan ALLEN, marched to "Durham." SPENCER fled on their approach and was not, found. ALLEN invited the Durhamites to repent of their New York attachments and acknowledge the validity of the New Hampshire title, and threatened violence if they did not comply within a specified time. Hoping they would comply with his request, ALLEN and his party retired without doing any violence to the Durhamites. But the justices continued to issue writs against the New Hampshire men, and the Durhamites, led on by MARSH and SPENCER, more loudly than ever advocated the New York title; and ALLEN and his party soon after made them a second visit. In order to be sure of capturing SPENCER, a party of some twenty or thirty men under the lead of Ethan ALLEN and Remember BAKER went to his house about 11 o'clock Saturday night, the 20th of November, and took him into custody. He was carried about two miles to the house of one GREEN, and there kept under guard until Monday morning when he was taken to the house of Joseph SMITH, of "Durham," innkeeper, when he was allowed a trial in front of his own house, the place being chosen by himself. By this time the Green Mountain Boys had increased to about 130, all armed with guns, cutlasses, etc.

      The people from "Durham" with many from "Socialborough," were also assembled to witness the proceedings. Before the trial ALLEN addressed the multitude saying that "the proprietors of the New Hampshire grants had appointed himself, Seth WARNER, Remember BAKER and Robert COCKRAN, to inspect and set things in order and see that there should be no intruders on the grants," declaring among other things, that "Durham had become a hornets' nest which must be broken up." After his harangue the Green Mountain Boys, or "rioters," as the New York authorities termed them, proceeded to the trial of SPENCER. 

      There was a scene worthy the artist's pencil, a scene which has no parallel in the annals of history. Beneath the clear sky of that autumn morning, on the green banks of the Otter, in the valley of Clarendon, surrounded by the guardian mountains in their robes of evergreen pine, stood Ethan ALLEN, at the age of thirty-six, a very Hercules in form and stature, his brow as yet unlit with the glory of Ticonderoga, but the “piercing glance of his eagle eye revealing the chafings of the untamed spirit within, which could brook tyranny in no form and under no guise." By his side, towering above ALLEN, rises the manly form of Seth WARNER, at the age of thirty, his brow unblanched by the snows of Canada, his sword undimned by the blood of Hubbardton; and, there, too, was Remember BAKER, the resolute, undaunted soldier who died for liberty, and Robert COCKRAN, as judges, surrounded by 130 Green Mountain Boys, the men of Ticonderoga and Bennington, with the red woolen caps and other homespun garments made in the rude cabins of the wilderness, their faces bronzed with the tan of the woods, yet lit with the fires of liberty, boldly bidding defiance to tyrannical power and maintaining at this outpost on the frontier of freedom the right of man to self?government, years before the guns of Concord echoed over the hills. And there, too, was the great crowd of "Yorkers," viewing with anxious faces the proceedings of ALLEN and his band. After taking the "judgment seat”, the judges ordered SPENCER to stand before them, to take off his hat and listen to the accusations against him.

    He was charged among other things "with cuddling with the land-jobbers of New York to prevent the claimants of the New Hampshire rights from holding their lands, and with issuing a warrant and acting as justice of the peace under New York," etc. His judges found him guilty, and declaring his house to be a nuisance, passed sentence that it should be burned to the ground. But upon SPENCER's pleading that his store of dry goods and all of his property would be destroyed and his wife and children be great sufferers if his house was burned, the sentence was reconsidered, and upon the suggestion of Warner it was decided that the house should not be wholly destroyed, but only the roof taken off and might be put on again, provided that SPENCER should say that it was put on under the New Hampshire title, and should purchase a right under the charter of that province. SPENCER having agreed to these terms, the Green Mountain Boys took off the roof "with great shouting and much noise and tumult."

    Jacob MARSH, while passing through Arlington on his way home from New York, was arrested and tried for his offenses at the house of Abel HAWLEY, November 25, 1773. After being threatened with the "beech seal," he was discharged with this sentence, " upon pain of having his house burned and reduced to ashes and his person punished at their pleasure," if he continued to act as a justice of the peace under a New York commission. The judge gave him a written certificate "so that our mob shall not medeal farther with him so long as he behaves." On arriving at Clarendon he found some forty or fifty men, led by Peleg SUNDERLAND and John SMITH, had unroofed his house and done other damage to his property. Charles BUTTON, of Clarendon, was arrested and tried for acting as constable under the New York authority, and compelled to promise that he would never execute any precept under the province of New York. 

    While it was deemed necessary for the general security of the New Hampshire claimants that the Durhamites should purchase their lands under that title, ALLEN and his friends were determined that they should not be compelled to pay unreasonable prices for them, and wrote as follows: 

    To Mr. Benjamin SPENCER, and Jacob MARSH and the People of Clarendon in General: 
 

    A few days afterward he wrote, "an epistle to the inhabitants of Clarendon," as follows:
 

    In consequence of the proceedings of the Green Mountain Boys in "Durham," the New York Assembly upon petition of Benjamin HOUGH offered a reward of one hundred pounds for the apprehension of ALLEN and BAKER, and fifty pounds for either WARNER, SMITH, SUNDERLAND, BROWN or COCKRAN; and on March 9, 1774, passed the noted "most minatory and despotic act " against the Green Mountain Boys; adjudging them if they did not "surrender within seventy days, to be guilty of convicted and attempted of felony and punished with death without trial or benefit of clergy." ALLEN and his associates returned a bold and defiant answer to this law which terminated every prospect of peace.

    None of the Yorkers in Clarendon seem to have made any further resistance to the Green Mountain Boys, except Benjamin HOUGH who, having, March 12, 1774, obtained a commission as justice of the peace under New York, became so troublesome that it was found necessary to silence and make an example of him. On the night of the 26th of December, 1774, he was arrested by a party of his neighbors and taken to the house of Colonel John SPAFFORD in Tinmouth, and from there to Sunderland, where, on January 30, 1775, he was tried for his offenses, Ethan ALLEN, Seth WARNER, Robert COCKRAN, Peleg SUNDERLAND, James MEAD, Gideon WARREN and Jesse SAWYER acting as judges, and sentenced to receive two hundred lashes on the naked back and to depart the New Hampshire grants and not return again. The sentence was executed with unsparing severity, and at HOUGH's request ALLEN gave him a certificate to that effect and a free passport toward the city of New York. The next day HOUGH repaired to New York, where he gave under oath, before the chief justice, a full account of his trial and punishment, and petitioned the council for protection against the rioters. The council being unable to protect him and he being destitute of the means of support, they gave him a license to beg in the streets of New York, and the New York Assembly offered large rewards for the apprehension of the judges in his trial.

    This was the last effort of the colonial government of New York against the New Hampshire grants. The Revolution soon afterward overshadowed all other questions. The New Hampshire claimants were generally Whigs, while the Yorkers, with few exceptions, were Tories. Thomas BRAYTON was  the delegate from Clarendon to the Dorset convention of July 24, 1776, and  the only one of that body of fifty members who refused to subscribe to an association, pledging their lives and fortunes in support of the American cause. He afterwards became an active Tory.

      Clarendon was not represented in the Dorset convention of September 25, as the majority of the inhabitants were Tories and the "friends of liberty were directed to choose a committee of safety and conduct their affairs as in other towns."

    Benjamin SPENCER represented Clarendon in the convention of June, 1777, at Windsor, and united with the other members of that body in a solemn pledge to stand by the declaration for a new State, and to resist by arms the fleets and armies of Great Britain. He was appointed a member of the Council of Safety by the Windsor convention of July, 1777, but on the approach of Burgoyne he joined the enemy and is said to have died at Ticonderaga a few weeks afterwards. Jacob MARSH left about the same time and is supposed to have died at Saratoga.

    After the battle of Hubbardton the town was mostly deserted by its inhabitants. Oliver ARNOLD remained and was taken prisoner by the British and compelled to drive his oxen with a load of corn to the British army, from whence he afterwards escaped by means of a forged pass.

    During the turmoil and unsettled state of things before and during the Revolution, many "squatters," without any title, boldly took possession of the best tracts of land they could find that was temporarily vacated, and after the Revolution the returning settlers found themselves involved in many law-suits and quarrels regarding the titles of their lands.

    Daniel MARSH, who, it appears, took protection papers from the British and sympathized with them, returned to Clarendon, and on December 16, 1782, the town "voted to receive him as a good wholesome inhabitant." He attempted to get possession of his old farm, a part of which he found occupied by Silas WHITNEY. A law suit followed in which MARSH was twice beaten. He then appealed to the Legislature, of which he was a member, which passed an act in June, 1785, giving him the possession of the farm "until he had an opportunity of recovering his betterments;" for which act the Legislature was severely censured by the first Council of Censors. Afterwards, MARSH, who was a member of the Legislature five years, originated and advocated "a bill which became a law known as the quieting act," that settled most of the conflicting claims to real estate by giving the lands to those who occupied them, and as all the land in Clarendon appears to have been occupied, no governor, church or school lots remained.

    Saw and grist-mills were early erected at the "South Flats " and at East Clarendon on Mill River; in the north part of the town on Cold River, and at the west side on Tinmouth River. Taverns, stores and shops sprung, up in various places, and the population increased so rapidly that Clarendon was, soon the leading town in Rutland county, the population in 1791, being 1,478; Pawlet being second and Rutland third in numbers.

    In 1810 Clarendon had 1,797 inhabitants; from that time its population has gradually decreased, as before shown, numbering in 1880 but 1,106. The change in its relative political influence in the county and State has been greater than in its population. Its history might be divided into two periods: First, the period of its rise, extending from its first settlement to 1820. Second, the period of its decline, from 1820 to the present time. During the first period, one of its citizens was president of the Council of Censors; three were speakers of the House of Representatives; two were judges of the Supreme Court, eleven years; one was sheriff of the county three years; two were judges of probate five years, and three were county judges eighteen years. During the second period of sixty-five years two of its citizens have been senators four years. During the last twenty-eight years none of its citizens have held any State or county office whatever.

    In the early period the people were industrious and economical, their garments homemade, their habits simple. They cut down the forests, cleared the land, made the roads, fences and houses, some of which remain to this day. They raised large families of children, and to give them a good common school education they built seventeen school-houses in the seventeen districts in town. They had but little money and paid their teachers in barter, generally in grain. 

    The teachers worked cheap, sometimes for sixty-five cents a week; but they worked well and trained up the boys that made their mark on the times. The children went to school, the rich and poor alike. The school-houses were crowded. About 1797 there were eight families living near the springs who had one hundred and thirteen children, ninety-nine of whom were living and attended the same school. Following are the names of heads of these families, the number of children. born to them, and the number alive who attended the school at one and the same time: James HARRINGTON and Polly (BATES) HARRINGTON, 12 children, 10 scholars. Theophilus HERRINGTON and Betsey (BUCK) HERRINGTON, 12 children, 11 scholars. William HARRINGTON and Amy (BRIGGS) HARRINGTON, 17 children, 13 scholars. George ROUND and Martha (HOPKINS) ROUND, 12 children, 12 scholars. John SIMONDS and Sarah (WESCOTT) SIMONDS, 12 children, 12 scholars. Charles SIMONDS and Mehitable (ESBORN) SIMONDS, 16 children, 16 scholars. Richard WEAVER and Judith (REYNOLDS) WEAVER, 13 children, 11 scholars. Jonathan EDDY and Temperance (PRATT) EDDY, 19 children, 14 scholars. In these eight families, no one had ever had more than one wife, and there was but one pair of twins in the lot.

    The parents, children and teachers were all interested in the schools, which made them comparatively good schools. Now, in 1885, there are eight schoolhouses in town and plenty of good books, maps, etc. The teachers are paid from three to six dollars per week; but the schools are thinly attended. The parents, children, and some of the teachers, manifest very little interest in them; the schools are generally thought to be of little account, and many parents send their children to higher schools in other towns. While books and periodicals have increased a hundred-fold and the cost of education four-fold, it is doubtful if the people are any better qualified for the duties of life than formerly.

POLITICAL

    Clarendon has always been noted for its closely contested elections. When the political parties were not very evenly balanced, the contest has been between individuals of the dominant party. From 1779 to 1784, Clarendon had two representatives each year. From the first settlement to 1870 forty-eight persons had represented the town; of that number sixteen, or one-third, were elected but one year; eight others were defeated the second year, and afterwards re-elected. Since the term was extended to two years, no one has been re-elected. From 1823 to 1885, a period of sixty-two years, but one person (Lensey ROUND, jr.) has held the office over two years.

    During the first division of parties, known as Federal and Republican, the contests were often bitter and exciting. It is related that in 1805 Daniel DYER and James HARRINGTON at repeated trials received an equal number of votes.

        From 1778 to 1885, a period of one hundred and seven years, eight family names have represented the town sixty-two years, over five-ninths of the time. The Smiths 12 years; Harringtons 9; Stewards 6; Rounds 8; Marshes 7; Hodges 8; Spencers 6, and Walkers 6.

     . . . at length DYER says to HARRINGTON: "'Squire, it don't look well for you and I to be voting for ourselves; suppose you vote for me and I vote for you at the next ballot." HARRINGTON agreed to the proposition and voted for DYER, but when the votes were counted it was found that DYER had two majority and was elected. When HARRINGTON's friends accused DYER of voting for himself again, DYER replied: "Damn a man who won't try to help himself when his friends are all trying to help him." The next year HARRINGTON was elected.

    After the names of parties were changed to Whig and Democrat the elections were no less close and exciting. From 1832 for five years no one was re-elected. In 1845 there was no choice. The election of 1847 may be given as a specimen of some later meetings. It was held in the old dilapidated meeting-house on the hill south of the BRIGGS farm. The doors, windows and most of the pews were gone. On a table on the north side were placed the ballot boxes. It was a pleasant autumn day. In front of the house several peddlers were selling honey, apples, watermelons, gingerbread, cider, etc., while the younger men were engaged as usual in wrestling to decide which side of the creek had the champion wrestler of the town, which, on that occasion, was decided in favor of the east side, Samuel HAYWARD being "bully." Walter ROSS was the Whig and Dr. Calvin SPENCER the Democrat candidate; their strength was nearly equal - about one hundred and thirty votes each. The Liberty party, then rising in town, voted for John L. MARSH, who had sixteen votes and held the balance of power. Several ballots were taken with about the same result. Great efforts were made by the old parties, by personal appeal and promise, to detach members of the Liberty party; but they fought on with unbroken ranks. Late in the afternoon an appeal was made to MARSH to resign and carry his friends over to the Democrats. He replied that each one of the Liberty party did his own thinking and his own voting, and that any man who had brains enough and backbone enough to be an Abolitionist at that time was qualified to represent the town; and if the Democrats were so anxious to defeat the Whigs, they might select any one of the Liberty party for a candidate and when they cast their full vote for him, the Liberty men would also vote for him and elect him. After consultation the Democrats selected Rev. Charles WOODHOUSE and at one ballot gave him about two-thirds of their votes, then fell back to SPENCER, and the struggle went on. Early in the evening SPENCER came near being elected, when a Whig motioned that the meeting adjourn; the house was divided and the moderator, who was a Democrat, decided the motion lost; later in the night ROSS nearly gained the election, when a Democrat motioned to adjourn; the house was again divided and the motion declared carried. Whereupon, the constable took the ballot boxes and with most of the Democrats left the house. The town clerk, who was a Whig, remained, and a Whig who was a justice of the peace took off his hat and called upon the people to vote in it. Some of the Whigs were doing so, when a young Democrat, who was not a voter, pushed through the Whigs and thrust a large handful of Democratic votes into the hat. In the tussle that followed the lights were extinguished and the house enveloped in darkness. Soon a large, stout Whig, Dr. Silas BOWEN, came into the house with an old fashioned tin lantern in one hand, and a cane in the other. Some of the crowd commenced to kick his lantern and hit him, when one of his tall Whig friends, Rufus PARKER, rushing with out-stretched arms in front of him to help him, was mistaken for an enemy, and fell, groaning to the floor with a blow from the cane. The lantern was kicked out and darkness again prevailed. -- Lights were again procured and most of the crowd left except a few Whigs, who voted in the hat and declared ROSS elected; he went to Montpelier and was given a seat. The next year he was defeated and SPENCER elected. In 1849 a Whig; 1850-51, a Democrat; 1852, a Free-Soiler; 1853, a Whig; 1854-55-56, Free Soilers and Know-Nothings were elected; then the Republicans carried the town for about twenty years without organized opposition, but with bitter contests between candidates in the party. 

    In 1880, the Democrats had one and the Republicans five candidates. The balloting continued throughout the day and night; many different men were voted for and abandoned; it was a night long to be remembered for the slaughter of candidates. When the morning sun of Wednesday shone on the mountain tops, nearly all were weary of the protracted struggle and voted to adjourn. A few, however, refused to adjourn and two or three tendered their votes for Noel POTTER, to the moderator, demanding that he receive them, which he refused to do, and taking the ballot box left the hall, followed by most of the citizens. A few remained, and seven votes for Noel POTTER were cast in a hat held by one of the selectmen. POTTER was given a seat in the Legislature and held it through the term, although many of his opponents went to Montpelier and made great efforts to unseat him. In 1882, the contest was renewed with increased bitterness, although narrowed down to one Democrat and two Republican candidates. After balloting all day, dreading a night contest and determined to insure the defeat of the opposing Republican candidate, the largest wing of the Republican party wheeled its solid ranks to the support of R. F. POWERS, the Democrat candidate, and elected him. In 1885 again was heard the conflict's roar all through the day and through the night until Wednesday morning, when Seneca E. SMITH, a Republican was elected by one majority.

    The March town meetings have often been no less exciting than the freemen's meetings in September. In 1885, after balloting all day, the meeting adjourned one week and balloted all of another day to elect the necessary town officers. The bitter quarrels and petty rings in the town, and the practice of pulling down instead of helping their fellow townsmen, have destroyed their influence, so that, although there are many able men in town, no one, as mentioned before, has held any county or State office for twenty-eight years.

    The Clarendon Light Infantry was organized at an early day. Colonel Nathaniel CRARY, of Clarendon, was among the first who had command of the company; he was succeeded by Rufus PARKER. About 1811 or 1812, Thomas TOWER commanded. John BOWMAN, Ira SEWARD, Green ARNOLD, Ruel PARKER, Gershom CHENEY and perhaps others, were captains of the company before it was disbanded.

    About 1821 the "Union Military Band " was organized, most of the members residing in Clarendon; Pliny PARKER, leader. This band carried one bugle, four clarionets, two German flutes, two octaves, two violins, two bassoons, a bass drum and triangle. After a few years this band was scattered and disbanded.

    The "Clarendon Guards " were organized September 10, 1842; first captain, Stephen FOWLER; afterwards Captain Daniel WING, succeeded by Captain Cyrel CARPENTER. This company kept up its organization nine years. These companies were all well uniformed.

    On Sunday, September 12, 1814, the news came that a British army was marching on Plattsburg. Many immediately enlisted and started for the seat of war. Thus Clarendon has ever responded to the calls for patriotic duty. Her sons fought on the red fields of Mexico. They saw the rebel flag shine in the morning sunlight of victory at Bethel, and they saw it furled on the night of eternal defeat at Appomattox. Her brave boys are sleeping on the battle-fields of the Republic from Gettysburgh to the gulf; yet Clarendon, as a town, spreads no flowers on the graves nor writes on marble column the names of her gallant dead.

    The following are the names of some of the soldiers of the Revolution, who lived and are buried in Clarendon: John SMITH, aged 80; William CROSSMAN, 38; Abel TITUS, 80; Gideon HEWITT, 89 (had twenty children); Zebulon CRAM, 90; Nathan LOUNSBURY, 102.

    In the late War of the Rebellion volunteers from this town played a conspicuous and honorable part, as the following list of enlistments and the chapter devoted to the military history of the county will show.

    The town of Clarendon furnished the following named soldiers who valiantly aided in the suppression of the Rebellion. No drafted men went from this town:

    First regiment, three months men, mustered into service May 2, 1861. Mustered out of service August 15, 1861. -- William CROTHERS, Harrison COMBS, James L. CONGDON, George LINCOLN, John W. ROSS, William H. SMITH, Gilbert STEWART, co. G, William MCC. ROUNDS, John DONNELLY, Samuel H. KELLEY, Moses W. LEACH, James W. ROSS, Alonzo E. SMITH, Henry WEBB, co. K.

    Procured substitutes. -- Willis BENSON, Barney RILEY, Henry C. ROUND, Lucien P. SMITH, Edwin C. TAYLOR, William L. WYLIE.

    Volunteers for three years; credited previous to call for 300,000 volunteers of October 17th, 1863. -- Peter AVERY, Co. C, 10th regt.; George BALLARD, Co. B, 2d regt.; Henry H. COBB, Co. C, 4th regt.; Harrison COMBS, Co. B, 7th regt.; Henry C. CONGDON, Co. E, 2d s. s.; John CROTHERS, Co. H, 7th regt.; Charles H. DANIELS and William J. DANIELS, Co. B, 7th regt.; Don C. DAVIS, Flavius DAVIS, Solon D. DAVIS, Co. H, cav.; Thomas DAVIS, Co. I, 7th regt.; Charles F. DORSETT, Co. G, 5th regt.; Edwin H. DORSETT, Co. B, 9th regt.; James J. DOTY, Co. M, I 11th regt.; William DYER, Co. G, 5th regt.; Edward M. EDGERTON, Co. B, 9th regt.; Don A. FASSETT, Co. G, 5th regt.; Steven B. FLANDERS, Co. F, 1st s. s.; William FLANDERS, Co. B, 2d regt.; Abisha G. GEE, Co. B, 7th regt.; Edward B. GEE, Co. H, cav.; Henry H. GIDDINGS, Co. F, 1st s. s.; Philip GREGORY, Co. C, 10th regt.; Enoch C. HAGAR, Co. L, I 11th regt.; William W. HARRINGTON, Co. B, 2d regt.; James B. HOLDEN, Co. H, cav.; Lorin HORTON, Co. D, 7th regt.; Michael HUBBARD, Co. C, loth regt.; Edward L. KELLEY, Samuel H. KELLEY, John LAZELLE, Co. B, 9th regt.; George A. LANGLEY, Co. I, 7th regt.; Henry LEWIS, Co. G, 5th regt.; Lewis S. MARANVILLE, Co. C, 10th regt.; Lensey R. MORGAN, Co. H, cav.; Ira C. MONROE, Co. H. cav.; Charles A. PARKER, William H. PITTS, Co. B, 7th regt.; Albert PERKINS, Co. A, 7th regt.; Jesse PLUMLEY, CO. I, 7th regt.; Darius E. POTTER, Noel POTTER, Co. F, 1st s. s.; Daniel M. POWERS, Co. F, cav.; William D. POWERS, Co. 1, 7th regt.; David QUINCY, CO. D, 7th regt.; John Q. A. RHODES, Co. G, 5th regt.; James M. ROSS, Co. H, cav.; John H. SAVORY, Co. B, 2d regt.; Merritt H. SHERMAN, Co. C. I 11th regt.; Montillion SMITH, Co. E, 2d s. s.; Gilbert STEWART, Co. G, cav.; Nelson A. SUMNER, Co. B, 5th regt.; Reuben A. SUMNER, Co. M, I 11th regt.; Abel E. TITUS, Horace TOWER, Co. B, 2d regt.; George W. WARDWELL, William H. H. WARDWELL, Co. D, 7th regt.; David WELLER, Co. B, 9th regt.; Henry WESCOTT, co.'G, 7th regt.; Charles H. WILDER, Co. I, 7th regt.; James R. WINN, Co. C, 11th regt.; William WILKINS, Co. B, 7th regt.

      Credited under calls of October 17th, 1863, and subsequent calls for three years. -- Joseph W. DARLING, Co. G, 5th regt.; Edward B. GEE, Co. B, 9th regt.; William O. HOSMER, Co. C, 11th regt.; George H. HOYT, Co. D, 9th regt.; Franklin IVES, Co. B, 9th regt.; Lucian B. PARKER, jr., Adrian C. PROCTOR, William PROCTOR, Co. F, 10th regt.; Edwin M. SHERMAN, Minor B. SHERMAN, Co. C, 11th regt.; Azro A. SHIPPEY, Co. E, 2d s. s.; William H. SMITH, Co. I, 17th regt.

    Volunteers for one year. -- George F. ALDRICH, Co. B, 9th regt.; Peter L. BRECETTE, Co. C, 1st art.; Martin D. CAVANAUGH, Co. F. 10th regt.; Lovell A. DAWSON, Co. K, 9th regt.; Patrick KELLEY, Co. K, 10th regt.; Frank LAUNDRY, Co. C, 1st art.; Daniel P. MARSH, Co. I, F, cav.; Lewis MARLOW, 2d bat.; Andrew J. MOORE, Co. I, 11th regt.; William ROUND. Co. D, 7th regt.; Franklin A. SHIPPEY, Co. C, 7th regt.; John J. STARKS, Co. B, 7th regt.; Myron H. WARDWELL, Co. B, 7th regt.; Franklin A. WHITLOCK, Co. C, 7th regt.

    Volunteers re-enlisted. -- John CROTHERS, Co. K, 7th regt.; Robert Currin, co. G, 5th regt.; William J. DANIELS, co. B, 7th regt.; William DYER, co. G, 5th regt.; Jesse PLUMLEY, co. I, 7th regt.; Anthony PORTER, co. B. 7th regt.; William D. POWERS, co. I, 7th regt.

    Volunteers for nine months. -- Lewis E. ACKLEY, Andrew J. BARTHOLOMEW, Josiah W. CRAPO, Edward B. GEE, Marshall W. GROVER, co. B, 14th regt.; Warren C. JACKSON, co. K, 12th regt.; William W. KINSMAN, co. B, 14th regt.; Moses W. LEACH, Thomas A. E. MOORE, Edgar S. NELSON, co. K, 12th regt.; George N. PITTS, jr., co. B, 14th regt.; Aldis D. ROSS, co. K, 12th regt.; Elias SMITH, William H. SMITH, co. B, 14th regt.; Myron H. WARDWELL, co. K, 12th regt.

    Furnished under draft. -- Paid commutation, Richard BUTLER, George W. CROSSMAN, Winslow S. EDDY, Charles EWIND, Merritt FISK, Edgar M. GLYNN, Nathan B. SMITH, Wallace SMITH.

    Following are the present officers of this town: Seneca E. SMITH, representative; H. B. SPAFFORD, L. F. CROFT, Thomas BROWN, L. STEWARD, J. C. COLVIN, Erastus KELLEY, B. F. CRIPPEN, justices of the peace; Edwin CONGDON, town clerk; L. F. CROFT, treasurer; G. R. DAVIS, constable; E. L. HOLDEN, N. S. WALKER, Barney RILEY, selectmen; N. M. POWERS, overseer of the poor; William CROFT, John RIDLON, L. STEWARD, listers. The present postmasters of the town are T. K. HORTON, at Clarendon; A. MOORE, at Clarendon Springs; J. C. SPENCER, at East Clarendon ; S. N. MASON, at North Clarendon.

    Many of the early inhabitants of this town were Baptists, from Rhode Island, and very soon after settlement began a Baptist Church was formed in the east part and one in the west part of the town. Elder Isaac BEALS was the first settled minister in the town. About 1800 a meeting-house was built near the south flat, and Elder William HERRINGTON, a brother of Theophilus, was settled over the church. Both of these organizations long since ceased to exist.

      Congregational Church. -- This church was organized February 18, 1822, by Rev. Henry HUNTER, who was its first pastor and was dismissed in October, 1827. There were nine original members. After the dismissal of Mr. HUNTER, Rev. N. HURD supplied the church for a time, and Rev. Philetus for several years from 1830. The next pastor was. Rev. Horatio FLAGG, settled in January, 1835, dismissed in November, 1836. For about six years after January, 1837, the pulpit was supplied by. Rev. S. WILLIAMS, and was succeeded for about two years by Rev. S. P. GIDDINGS. The successors have been Revs. Ezra JONES, J. B. CLARK, Moses G. GROSVENOR, William T. HERRICK and George H. MORSS, who now serves the church. John C. SPENCER and James BARRETT are deacons. The brick church was erected in 1824, and in 1860 was rebuilt inside; a bell was placed in the belfry in 1869. The church has a flourishing Sabbath-school and is earnestly supported.

    There is now no settled minister in the west part of the town; but occasional preaching in the old meeting-house at Chippen Hook, attended by the various sects alike. The old wooden church near the south flats disappeared piece-meal about 1850. A flourishing Universalist Society existed here many years ago, to which Rev. Charles WOODHOUSE ministered, and a brick church was built at North Clarendon. This was demolished about 1868.

    There are no villages in this town that aspire to more than the dignity of hamlets. Post-offices and some small business interests are located at Clarendon, East Clarendon, North Clarendon and Clarendon Springs, as already noted. The somewhat celebrated springs in this town were known to be curative in the character of their waters several years before the beginning of the present century. According to the statement of George ROUND, father of the late O. H. ROUND, who settled at the springs in 1781, the waters were first called medicinal in 1793, or 1794. At that time there was a space of ten rods or more in extent upon which no green thing grew, from the effects of the water. The water was heavily charged with a deposit, so that a board lying in the spring for a hundred days would be completely coated over with "a cinder-like substance " a sixteenth of an inch in thickness, or more. As early as 1800 people began to visit the springs as a cure for poisons and salt rheum. In 1781 George ROUND built a log-house near the springs and took a few boarders. In 1798 he erected a frame-house and kept it as a hotel. 

    It is said that the first wonderful cure was made on a man named SHAW, who applied the white clay about the springs to a cancer and cured it. Such reputed cures soon gave the springs a great celebrity, and undoubtedly one that was to a certain extent fictitious; although it is well settled that the use of the waters is beneficial in many complaints. The number of visitors seeking renewed health at these springs has led to the erection of hotels and boarding-houses for their accommodation. The Clarendon House is the largest of these and accommodates with its cottages about two hundred guests. It is now kept by the MURRAY Brothers, and is open from June to October.

    There is very little mercantile business in the town at the present time. Among those who have at various times traded here are Benjamin SPENCER, Moses GODDARD, Oliver WHITNEY, Henry and Silas W, HODGES, Caleb HALL, Henry BROWN, Lewis M. WALKER, Ruel PARKER, Henry HITCHCOCK, O. B. BARLOW, W. P. HORTON.

    A store is now kept by J. P. MERRIAM at the springs, and J. C. SPENCER is in trade at East Clarendon. Mr. SPENCER began business at his present location in 1852, succeeding GASKILL & WEEKS, who had carried on the business eight or ten years; they were preceded by George and Almon BULLARD, and before that Calvin CROSSMAN and George W. BULLARD were in business as the first merchants here. John BOWMAN had a grocery some years ago, and James EDDY kept one at the depot, where the post-office was located a few years. J. E. SPENCER has been postmaster for twenty-four years, succeeding James EDDY. The latter was preceded in the office by Harvey KINGSLEY, and he by Newman WEEKS. Calvin CROSSMAN was a still earlier official.

    The first grist-mill at East Clarendon was built for Nathaniel CRARY, who sold it to Chester KINGSLEY about 1825; he sold it to Harvey and Harrison KINGSLEY in 1839. Fourteen years later HARRISON purchased his partner's interest. The mill was rebuilt while in the hands of the two KINGSLEYs, and is now owned by Harrison KINGSLEY. The elder KINGSLEY also built a carding-mill here, and a saw-mill, which were carried off in the great flood.

    At North Clarendon B. E. HORTON carries on a large manufacturing business, embracing a grist-mill, cider-mill, saw-mill, shingle-mill, cheese-box factory and chair stock factory; all these industries are carried on in one large building. Mr. HORTON purchased the lands in 1877 and the following year built the saw-mill, grist-mill, etc., and thus started the entire establishment. He began making cider here in 1877, and built the present cider-mill in 1882; about 1,500 barrels are manufactured annually. From 12,000 to 20,000 cheese-boxes are annually made and eight or ten men are employed. There was in earlier years a saw and grist-mill on this same site and a carding-mill.

    N. S. WALKER's cheese factory is in successful operation near Chippen Hook (a hamlet in the southwestern part of the town).

    There is a marble deposit in Clarendon, but little has ever been done to develop it. Dr. O. R. BAKER, of New York, and Thomas LYNCH, of Rutland, have recently purchased a property lying on one of the low ranges of hills on the river about half a mile from Clarendon Springs. A small opening was made here some forty years ago, when the marble industry was in its infancy, and a few blocks were taken out and sawed. The owner, a man named TAYLOR, stopped the work because of the small promise of profits under then existing facilities for carrying on the business. W. F. BARNES subsequently became the owner of the property and held it at the time of his death. It was recently sold to Gardner GATES, who transferred two-thirds of the property to the first named gentlemen. Six large openings have been made up to the present time, and the developments seem to warrant the richness and value of the deposit. Test cores of 103 feet have been taken out, several of which are three and one-half feet long. Several capitalists of New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago have become interested in the enterprise and the work will be rapidly advanced.

    While we cannot attempt to give anything like a complete biographical record of all of the prominent men of early times in this town, it will not be out of place to briefly refer to a few of them.

    Theophilus HERRINGTON  was born in Rhode Island in 1762. He came to Clarendon in 1786, but soon afterward went back to Rhode Island on business. On his return to Vermont he saw a young woman named Betsey BUCK in a house which he was passing. So strong was the impression made upon him that he stopped, made suit to her and took her with him as his wife when he left the house. They lived near Clarendon Springs and had a family of twelve children. He represented the town seven years; was speaker of the house one year; was chief judge of Rutland County Court three years, and was a judge of the Supreme Court ten years and until a few weeks before his death. He died the 17th of November, 1813, and was buried at Clarendon with Masonic honors. "Judge HERRINGTON was not a lawyer; he was a plain, rough farmer with no legal education, and but little learning of any kind; yet he was an excellent judge; a resolute, acute, strong-minded man, caring little for the forms of law, brushing away the quibbles and sophistries of the lawyers with a strong hand and intent on doing substantial justice in every case. He was a large man, six feet high, broad-shouldered and of great muscular strength. His complexion was swarthy; his beard black, heavy and generally unshaven; his hair black, coarse and rarely combed. His eyes were small and keen and his face expressive." On the bench he usually appeared as if he was half asleep, and apparently paying no attention to the case on trial. Nothing, however, escaped his observation or his recollection and, though the trial might last for days, it was found when he came to charge the jury, that though he " had not taken a single note, he knew the names of all the witnesses, the order in which they were introduced, and the exact language in which they testified. Many anecdotes are told of this extraordinary man and his decisions, but we have space to relate but one: Judge HERRINGTON was applied to for a warrant for the extradition of a negro, who was claimed as a slave. The claimant made out what he regarded as a prima facie case, and then "rested," but the judge intimated that the title to the slave was not satisfactorily established. Additional evidence was put in, but the judge was still not satisfied. A third attempt was made and proof was furnished that the negro and his ancestors before him had "time out of mind of man," been slaves of the claimant and his ancestors. Still the judge declared that there seemed to be a defect in the title. "Will your honor then," returned the astonished claimant, "be good enough to suggest what is lacking to make a perfect title." " A bill of sale, sir, from God Almighty," was the reply. This extraordinary decision, made at the time when many even of the Northern States held slaves, gave him a national reputation and made his fame enduring. In the great debate in Congress on the passage of the last fugitive slave law, the decision of judge HERRINGTON was cited by the South to show the need of such a law to regain their escaping slaves.

     In 1884 the Legislature of Vermont appropriated $400, and appointed W. G. VEAZY, Seneca E. SMITH, Hannibal HODGES, and Lyman FISH, commissioners, to erect a monument at the grave of Theophilus HERRINGTON in Clarendon, where

"He sleeps on the hills no slave ever trod,
Nor claimant brought bills from Almighty God." 

    James HERRINGTON, a brother of Theophilus, represented Clarendon in 1806 and 1807, was judge of probate in 1803 and 1804, and assistant judge of the county court in 1806 and 1807. He was a man of good natural ability and had influence in the town and county. He also had a habit of "sleeping at the most unnatural times and places. Returning from court on horse-back he would perhaps waken to find that his horse had strayed into some barn-yard by the wayside, and was helping himself to supper." His style of living, like that of his neighbors, was far from luxurious. A sea captain, hearing that his old school-fellow had become a judge in Vermont, paid him a visit. His visions of possible magnificence were quickly dispelled, and in nautical terms more forcible than elegant, he pictured the simplicity of the judge's hospitality. "For supper a pan of milk with 'Johnny cake,' which sunk as quick as a lead sinker in the milk. Each person was provided with a spoon, and gathering about the pan, one after another 'made a dive,' and finally the captain made a dive, but failed to get anything. In the morning the judge conducted him to a shed and brought him a gourd filled with water in which to perform his ablutions. Breakfast was a repetition of supper, and the captain departed a wiser man."

    William HERRINGTON, a younger brother, was a Baptist minister, and was judge of probate three years, 1811-13.

    Increase MOSELY was a native of Connecticut, was a judge of the Supreme Court in 1784, and president of the first council of censors in 1786. He was a lawyer and had been a judge in his native State; was "a man of staid mein and stately form," and wore in court the old-fashioned powdered wig, while Ebenezer MARVIN, the first assistant judge, wore a cocked hat.

    Dr. Silas BOWEN came to Clarendon October, 1822. He was born in Connecticut September 6, 1774. At the age of sixteen he went to Schodack, N. Y., with a scanty wardrobe of homespun, and ten dollars, the only money his father ever gave him. He was soon engaged in teaching in the day time, posting books for a merchant in the evening, and rose before daybreak to study mathematics. He became a famous physician, was an energetic, persevering, self-reliant, influential man; a great friend of schools, public libraries and debating clubs. He was one of the founders of the "Medical Society of the State of Vermont." He was buried at Clarendon May 20, 1858, with Masonic honors. Colonel W. T. NICHOLS pronounced his eulogy.

    Dr. Silas HODGES, a surgeon of Washington's army, came into Clarendon about 1783, and settled on the farm where his grandson, Hannibal HODGES, now lives, and died there in 1844. He was the progenitor of a large and distinguished family.

    Henry HODGES, the oldest son of Dr. HODGES, was born July 30, 1779, and died November 27, 1840. He built the dwelling-house and owned the farm where Edwin Congdon now lives. He was precluded from obtaining such an education as he ardently desired, but all his life was a studious reader of well chosen books, and thus became possessed of more than usual culture and information. Few men in his day equaled him in the extent and accuracy of his. historical information. He was widely known as a man of remarkable ability. His courtesy was such as to compel his staunch political opponent, judge HERRINGTON, to make the noted concession, "If there is a polite man in the county of Rutland, Harry HODGES is the man." He represented the town in 1819-20  and 1821, and was assistant judge thirteen years.

    George T. HODGES, the successful merchant, member of Congress and president of the Bank of Rutland, was born in Clarendon, 1788.

    Silas Wylys HODGES, Dr. HODGES's second son, was born 1785, and died April 19, 1858. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, represented the town two years; was town clerk fourteen years. His son, Hannibal HODGES, born September 12, 1817, lives on the old homestead; has represented the town and held most of the town offices.

    Silas Henry HODGES, the able lawyer, and U. S. commissioner of patents, was born in Clarendon in 1804.

    Edward F. HODGES, also a distinguished lawyer, was born in Clarendon in 1816.

    Eliphalet SPAFFORD was born in Temple, N. H., 1773. He settled in the northeast part of Clarendon, where he died in 1860, aged eighty-seven. He was a descendant of John SPAFFORD, one of the first settlers of Rowley, Mass., in 1638, and of whom the following anecdote is told: During his residence at Rowley, a drought was followed by a great scarcity of food, and he repaired to Salem to purchase corn for himself and neighbors. The merchant to whom he applied, foreseeing a greater scarcity and higher prices, refused to open his store and supply his wants. Having plead in vain the necessities of himself and others, he cursed him to his face; but on being immediately taken before a magistrate, charged with profane swearing, he replied that he had not cursed profanely, but as a religious duty, and quoted Proverbs xi, 26, as his authority: "He that withholdeth corn from the hungry, the people shall curse him." He was immediately acquitted, and by the summary power of the courts of those days, the merchant was ordered to deliver him as much corn as he wished to pay for.

    He was a direct descendant of that Saxon family which occupied Spafford Castle, one of the most ancient in England at the time of the Norman conquest. 

    Hiram B. SPAFFORD, born May 10, 1825, owns the old homestead; he is a wood-turner and insurance agent; has served as town superintendent and textbook committee several times, and justice of the peace many years; has two sons, Charles A., and Irving, who reside in Clarendon.

    O. H. ROUND was born in Clarendon, December 5, 1788, in the first house built at the Springs. He lived to be nearly ninety and held every office in town, except town clerk, and when he was in town no one else was thought of for moderator of the town meetings; he was constable from 1817 to 1831; represented the town in 1827-28; was a member of the Constitutional Convention about the same time, and was captain in the militia. He was a man of great energy and endurance and had a remarkable memory, and claimed that he never took a chew of tobacco, smoked a pipe or cigar, never drank any spirits of any kind, nor paid a lawyer a fee in his life.

    Among other early settlers in the town may here be properly mentioned the following: William CROSSMAN came in from Easttown, Mass., in 1777, locating first in Brandon, but removed to Clarendon in 1781, settling on the farm now owned by W. R. CROSSMAN. William was a Revolutionary soldier, and related that Burgoyne's men came as far as his home in Brandon and took his oxen and grain from him. 

    John WEEKS was an early settler from Washington, Conn., and located in Clarendon on the farm now owned by John CLEVELAND in 1787. Newman WEEKS, of Rutland, is his grandson. 

    Jonathan PARKER settled in the north part of the town in 1785 and became a large land-holder. James EDDY settled in the town at an early date. He was a scout in Revolutionary times for the colonial army and was engaged in many daring expeditions. Many of his descendants still live in the town. 

    Lewis WALKER came to Clarendon from Cheshire, Mass., in 1779, and settled on the farm where he died in 1813. His son, Lewis, jr., was born on the homestead in 1781 and became prominent in thetown. 

     Silas WHITNEY, the first selectman of the town (1778), came from Connecticut in 1770. 

        Isaac TUBBS immigrated from Connecticut about 1780, locating on the farm now owned by Daniel TUBBS. Isaac built a tannery on that farm and carried it on for more than forty years. 

    Daniel COLVIN came in 1780 and located on the farm now owned by the heirs of Benjamin FISK. 

    Elias STEWARD, from Volney, Conn., settled in the southeast part of the town in 1777. 

      Christopher PIERCE came to this town from Exeter, R. I., in 1802 and settled on the farm now owned by Hannibal HODGES; he subsequently purchased the farm recently owned by his brother, Giles, where he died in 1811, leaving a large family. 

    James WYLIE came in from Connecticut in 1777, locating on Otter Creek on the farm now owned by W. L. WYLIE. After his death, in 1834, his son William took the homestead, where he has since resided. 

    Obadiah CHAPMAN came from Salisbury, Conn., in 1786, and occupied the house of Silas SMITH, recently owned and occupied by Burr CHAPMAN and now in possession of Josiah SEAMAN. This is one of the oldest houses in good repair in the town. Mr. CHAPMAN purchased a farm in the north part of the town, and in 1786 built the house in which he lived and died; it stood just in front of Joseph CHAPMAN's brick house; the old farm has remained in possession of a representative of the family from the first. 

      Charles F. BUTTON was an early settler and father of Frederick BUTTON, who was born in the town in 1789, passed his life here and died in 1874. 

    Daniel DYER came to Clarendon from Rhode Island in 1798 and settled on the farm now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Lydia.S. BRIGGS, widow of Philip BRIGGS. 

    Joseph CONGDON, father of George CONGDON, was a settler in the town previous to the Revolution. 

    Thomas SPENCER settled near the center of the town at an early date. His son, Calvin, born in 1799, studied medicine at Castleton and practiced in Clarendon until his death in 1870. He was father of J. C. SPENCER. 

    Henry HITCHCOCK, who died in 1871, was a merchant at Clarendon Springs for some years.

    Stephen ARNOLD was the first town clerk, his first record being made in 1778. 

    Abner LEWIS was the first representative.

    Mrs. SPRAGUE, grandmother of Frederick BUTTON, is said to have been the first white woman who came to the town. Her son, Durham SPRAGUE, was the first male child born in town. Mrs. SPRAGUE died at the great age of one hundred and four years.

      The first frame house in the town was erected by Daniel BRIGGS in the year 1777; it is still standing in the southeast part of the town.

      The first mill built in Clarendon was situated on the farm now owned by Timothy K. HORTON; the mill-irons were brought from Albany in a two wheeled cart drawn by oxen.

      Stephen POPE was one of the first tanners in the north part of the town; he also did shoemaking as early as 1795. A furnace was operated at West Clarendon, southwest of Chippen Hook, before 1817, and did a large business for those days; stoves were cast there.

    Nearly all of the early industries, except farming, as well as the mercantile business, which for many years gave Clarendon a position as a leading town in the county, have been given up, and chiefly since the building of the railroads. The Rutland and Bennington Railroad crosses the town north and south, and the Vermont Central crosses the northeast corner of the town; but the consummation of these improvements only served to carry to other points (principally to Rutland) the business of the locality.
 

History of Rutland County Vermont with Illustrations And Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men And Pioneers
Edited by H. Y. Smith & W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers  1886
CHAPTER XXIV.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CLARENDON.
(pages 554-575)

Transcribed by Karima ~ 2002

Childs' Gazetteer of the Town of Clarendon, Rutland County, VT., 1881-82

Childs' Business Directory of the Town of Clarendon, Rutland County, VT., 1881-82