The first recorded attempt at settlement was probably in the summer of 1774, when a majority of the proprietors made overtures to Gideon Walker, of Rutland, offering a gift of too acres of land on about thirty-six or forty rights Within Killington, to such as should immediately settle thereon, and urging him to procure pioneers to begin that fall. A grist-mill was also to be provided them. In answer, Mr. WALKER writes from Rutland, November 10, 1774, that he had seen a number of men there who had readily fallen in with the idea, and apparently offering his assistance. He advised that no grist-mill be erected until grain should be raised in town, but that a saw-mill should started immediately in order that the settlers might be provided with lumber sufficient to build themselves comfortable habitations.

      The town had already, in 1774, been surveyed and lotted by Simeon STEVENS. The town, however, was settled with great difficulty, owing to its natural isolation, and mountainous surface. Quechee River rises in the north west corner of the town, and after running a northwesterly course for seven miles, enters Bridgewater. Several of the tributaries of this stream furnish power for mills. The town contains three natural ponds, each containing an area of about ten acres. One of these is the source of Thundering Brook, in which is a considerable fall of great beauty. The surface is very mountainous and the greater part is not susceptible of cultivation, though there is a rich intervale along the Quechee River. In a series of letters written in 1796 or 1797 by J. A. GRAHAM, descriptive of Vermont, the author thus speaks of this town: "In the quality of these lands there is but little difference, except Killington, which is principally mountain, and designed by nature more for the habitation of beasts of prey, than for the abode of man. Killington Peak is said to be highest land of any in the Green Mountains; the top resembles a sugar loaf, and altogether it has an appearance of elegance and grandeur, beyond any power I am master of, to describe; nor do I conceive it possible for any description to convey any adequate idea of its beauty, grandeur and magnificence.”

      The moose, bear, fox and porcupine, are, more or less, found by the hunter in these districts. The title of Killington Peak to the credit of having the greatest altitude in the State is now disputed, but Killington stands 4,380 feet above the level of the sea, and affords from its summit a view of the Green Mountains, White Mountains and the Adirondacks, with valleys and lakes and streams, which baffles all attempts at description.

      The settlement of the town was undoubtedly begun by Isaiah WASHBURNE in 1785. In 1791 there were thirty-two inhabitants in town. John ANTHONY came soon afterwards from Newport, R. I, and settled on land embracing the present farm of C. W. ADAMS. He was the father of John ANTHONY, jr., Albro, Joseph, Samuel, and several daughters, and was a very prominent man in town.

      Joseph Wood, sr., another early settler, was a soldier in both the French War and the War of the Revolution. The family came to Killington from Hartland, Vt., and began farming on land which is now marked by their last resting place, a small cemetery in the south part of the town, enclosed by a stone wall, marble posts and an iron gate, with a monument of marble, all the work of Charles CLEMENT, esq., of Center Rutland, whose wife is the sole surviving member of the family in Vermont. She is the daughter of Josiah WOOD, jr., and Judith (WOODBURY) WOOD. Josiah WOOD, jr., was, more than any other one man, instrumental in promoting the success of the building of turnpike road through Sherburne from Bridgewater to Rutland. He took an active part in the War of 1812.

      Asa BRIGGS was also an early inhabitant of Sherburne. He lived in Sherburne Hollow.

      The town was organized in 1794. The first meeting was held at the house f Nathan EDDY, inn-keeper, and resulted in the election of the following officers: Town clerk, Albro ANTHONY; selectmen, John ANTHONY, Nathan EDDY, sr., and Seth FULLER; listers, Samuel ANTHONY, Amasa FULLER and Richard ESBROOK; grand juror, Nathan EDDY; pound-keeper, Asa BRIGGS; hayward, Samuel ANTHONY; tything man, Asa BRIGGS. Israel Church ANTHONY was the first town treasurer; Nathan EDDY, jr., first constable; Simeon ROSSON, first fence viewer, and Israel C. ANTHONY, Nathan EDDY, and Benjamin MASON, first surveyors of highways. 

      The first marriage recorded is that of Nathan EDDY, jr., and Rebecca SAFFORD, October 28, 1794. The first birth recorded is that of Luther, son of Asa BRIGGS, in 1790. There being no further records concerning the early history of Sherburne, recourse is had to the trustworthy expedient of interviews with living witnesses whose remembrance includes all the important events of the town history for the past seventy or eighty years. Undoubtedly the oldest man living who has been an inhabitant of this town from yearly times is Richard ESTABROOK, now of Boston. The writer called upon Mr. ESTABROOK, and gained some valuable information from him. He was born November 10, 1798, in Sherburne, two miles south from the Coffee-house. His father was Richard ESTABROOK, who came to Killington in about 1791; and his mother was, in maidenhood, Hannah FULLER. They came from Freetown, Mass. The subject of this sketch married Dorcas, daughter of Silas COLTON, May 6, 1823. Silas COLTON came to Sherburne, from Row, Mass., in 1819. Mr., and Mrs. ESTABROOK have had twelve children (nine sons and three daughters), ten of whom are now living, viz., Dudley E. and Danford M., aged respectively fifty-nine and fifty-four years, still live in Sherburne; Douglass S., in Nebraska; Dennis, in Kansas; Dalston, in Mass.; Luther, in Texas; Hannah MORE, South Lowell, Vt., Harriet, wife of John S. SMITH, Boston, Mass.; M. M. ESTABROOK, Boston, and Merritt Gay ESTABROOK, Boston.

      Mr. Estabrook's memory dates back to about 1805. At that time there were about fourteen families in town; and there was little or no increase as late as 1812 or 1813. According to his recollection the first grist-mill in town was built by Jabez BENNETT of Woodstock, as early as 1805. It stood on Roaring Brook, a little north of the present school-house site in Sherburne Hollow. A heavy freshet in 1812 washed out the stones of this mill, and it was never afterwards used. There was no saw-mill in town until about 1808 or 1810, when Stephen L. DAIN built one on Quechee River, just below the present site of hotel. Ichabod JOHNSON used to keep tavern before the turnpike from Stockbridge to Rutland was opened in 1808, on the farm now occupied by George FRINK. This old tavern was built of logs. Sometimes five or six guests with teams would stay over night with Mr. JOHNSON. The roads were at that early day little more than cow paths, and naturally the houses were some distance apart. The first house north of Ichabod JOHNSON's tavern was that of Zebede SPROUT, who lived about two miles north of the Coffee-house site. Nathaniel FULLER in those days made potash near where the Coffee-house now stands. 

      Mr. ESTABROOK also distinctly remembers the cold season of 1816. Not an ear of good corn, he says, was raised in New England. In the middle of June snow was half-leg deep in Sherburne. His father used then to buy provisions of Mr. SLASON, of Rutland, paying him $3.50 per bushel for corn. Money being scarce, was obtained in small amounts by making salts out of lye, and selling the product for $5 per hundred.

      In 1800 the population of the town numbered ninety; in 1810, it had increased to 116; in 1820, to 154; and in 1830, to 422. It was about this time that Hon. Daniel W. TAYLOR came to town. He was born in Plymouth, Vt., June 18, 1823, and removed to Sherburne March 1, 1831, with his father Nathan TAYLOR. The family have ever since occupied the farm now, owned b Daniel W. TAYLOR. D. W. TAYLOR married Elmira A. TYRRELL, of Ludlow, Vt. on the 1st day of November, 1848. They have had seven children, five of whom are living. Mr. TAYLOR has been senator from Rutland county two terms, 1860 and 1861, has represented the town three times, 1865, 1866, and 1876 and has held for years all the important offices within the gift of the town. Benjamin MAXHAM came to Sherburne in March, 1834. He was born January 27, 1810, at Carver, Mass. In 1834 there were two hotels in town, both of which were built the same year, about 1832. Rufus RICHARDSON, of Mendon, built the lower one, just below the present residence of Mr. COLLINS. It was known as Richardson's Hotel. Rufus RICHARDSON, jr., kept it a good many years. M. A. BALLARD owned it in 1862, when it was destroyed by fire. The other hotel was built by William LEWIS, and was the same building now occupied by Frank SPAULDING as a store. LEWIS kept tavern there about two years and discontinued it. Since then it has been used almost exclusively for mercantile purposes.

      The Coffee house was as built more than thirty years ago by Mr. THRALL, of Rutland, and was used as a tavern until about 1883, the present occupant, Dudley ESTABROOK, having kept it last.

      The hotel now kept by Jerome TAYLOR, in the Hollow, was built about the year 1840, for a private dwelling house, by Albert WILSON. Mr. WILSON used occasionally to accommodate wayfaring people for a consideration. About 1863, however, Bradford CHASE enlarged the old structure and converted it into a tavern. After a short time he was followed by A. D. ESTABROOK, who remained in the house only three months, and was succeeded by Benjamin MAXHAM, in April, 1865. Mr. MAXHAM, who then became the owner of the house, kept it eighteen years, meantime establishing an imperishable reputation for jocularity. In August, 1884, he sold out to Jerome TAYLOR, the present proprietor.

      In the War of the Rebellion Sherburne furnished her full quota promptly, and with men who performed the perilous duties of a soldier's life unflinchingly and faithfully. When the war closed the town was accredited with two men above the number required by all the calls combined. This praiseworthy record should be credited largely to the patriotic efforts of Hon. Daniel W. Taylor, who at one time pledged and paid $780 in addition to the sum given by the town, to seven men needed to fill the quota.

      The following letter from the provost-marshal is self-explanatory: --
 
 
 

      Volunteers for three years credited previous to the call for 300,000 volunteers of October 17, 1863. -- John R. BARNES, Davidson M. BARR, co. H, 11th regt.; George R. BRECK, co. C, 6th regt.; Warren S. CLARK, co. G, 8th regt.; Darius G. DEMARY, Co. D, 4th regt.; Alonzo EVANS. 7th regt.; Royal Y. Frink, co. G, 5th regt.; Daniel P. HADLEY, co. F, 3d regt.; Henry H. HOLT, co. H, 11th  regt.; George G. HUTCHINS, co. E, 8th regt.; Alonzo MADDEN, co. H, 7th regt.; Azro J. MAXHAM, co. F, 3d regt.; Cyrus H. MEAD, co. C, 10th regt.; Edgar S. NEWTON, co. H, 7th regt.: George A. PARKER, co. C, 6th regt.; Albert L. SPAULDING, Amasa STEVENS, 7th regt.; John W. SPOFFORD, co. B, 7th regt.; John TAYLOR, 9th regt.; William TOWN, 2d s. s.; Lorenzo O. WEST 1st bat.; Henry WILLARD, Oliver WILLARD, co. D, 7th regt.; Charles H. WILSON, Hiram H. WILSON, co. C, 6th regt.; Lucius W. WILSON, 7th regt.; Richard W. WILSON, co. F, 3d regt.; Arzell WYMAN, co. G, 5th regt.; George W. YORK, 2d s. s.

      Credits under call of October 17, 1863, for 300,000 volunteers and subsequent calls. Volunteers for three years. --Leonard B. ADAMS, co. H, 11th regt.; Edward J. BAIRD, 3d bat.; John BROWN, 17th regt.; Frank L. CASAVAN, John M. CARAVAN 3d bat.; Daniel CONWAY, 17th regt.; Alson S. GOODRICH, 3d bat.; Albert S. HASTINGS, Myron L. ORDWAY, co. H, 11the regt.; Moses WHITEHILL, John H. WITHINGTON, 17th regt.

      Volunteers for one year. -- George S. CUMMINGS, Joel S. FRINK, Oscar S. NEWTON, Charles D. SHEDD.

      Volunteers re-enlisted. -- Daniel P. HADLEY, George G. HUTCHINS, Charles H. WILSON, Lucius W. WILSON.

      Veteran Reserve Corps. -- Warren S. CLARK.

      Volunteers for nine months. -- Oren W. BATES, Walker BATES, Henry F. COTTON, William O. DOUBLEDAY, John F. HADLEY, Lawriston E. MANLEY, Simon F. SAWYER, Horace P. STONE, Josiah C. TAILOR, John P. TURNER, Enoch E. WHITE, Company H, Fourteenth Regiment.

      Furnished under draft and paid commutation. -- Nathan C. ADAMS, R. ESTERBROOKS, Edwin R. GATES, Milo J. MOORE.

      The Sherburne post-office was established some time before 1830 by the appointment of Josiah WOOD. He did not keep it long, and was followed by Thomas FISH. Then a man named BARKER, from Brandon, filled the position for a year and retired. About the year 1836 Benjamin MAXHAM was appointed, and after five or six years was nominally succeeded by Solomon ADAMS, though for a year after Mr. ADAMS's appointment Mr. MAXHAM performed the duties of the office, and under President TAYLOR was re-appointed, and was again nominally succeeded by a member of the ADAMS family. He did not suspend the performance of the postmaster's duties, however, and in 1861 was again re-appointed. During President Grant's second term he resigned, and Frank DERBY became, for two years, his successor. Mr. MAXHAM came into the position again and kept it until August, 1884, when he again resigned. MAXHAM ran a store in connection with his office. His successor, Jerome TAYLOR, is the present incumbent.

      The office at North Sherburne was established more than twenty years ago. I. A. Moss now officiates as postmaster there.

      There is but one store in town, that kept by Frank SPAULDING. He began trading here in 1883, having succeeded Clayton WOODBURY, now of Putland. Woodbury's predecessor was Frank DERBY, and Derby's was Augustus SLACK. A. D. ESTABROOK and Mr. MACOMBER were successors to the old Union store. This American Protective Union, Division 719, was an unusual success. It continued nearly eleven years, until about 1860. Its success has been happily attributed largely to the honesty and integrity of its agent, Otis WALKER, and the uniform and harmonious management of the officers. The same board of directors officiated from the beginning to the close, excepting the substitution of Silas COLTON in the place of Anson WHEELER, who removed from town. The directors were : John Johnson, president; Warner BATES, vice-president; L. H. HODGMAN, recording-financial secretary; Daniel W. TAYLOR, treasurer; Richard ESTABROOK and Silas COLTON. The twenty-four members each received $140 for three dollars initiation fee, no dividends being made, nor assessments levied, until the business was closed.

      Milo J. MOORe's saw-mill, and stretcher and bowl lathe, situated on Quechee River, in the extreme south part of the town, was built in 1858 by J. P. and B. WOOD. They subsequently sold to Mr. MOORE. Hamilton SPAFFORD made clothes-pins in part of the mill for several years until 1865. Thomas P. HAYWOOD also made buckets there at one time. Owen W. BATES's saw-mill on Roaring Brook was erected about twenty-five years ago. It is not running at the present writing. Charles C. Willard's saw and grist-mill on Roaring Brook was built about 1865. It is not now running. A. D. ESTABROOKS's saw and shingle-mill was erected in 1873. The stone dam, which furnishes it with water-power was severely damaged by a freshet in the summer of 1885. Isaac A. MORSE's saw and planing-mill, at North Sherburne, was built in the year 1874, and was enlarged and furnished with steam power in 1880. Frank DURKEE, of Pittsfield, has been operating the mill for the past three years. Levi A. WILLARD's saw-mill on Roaring Brook was built by him in 1872. It is now operated by Frank ROBINSON. Russell MADDENS chair-stock factory so called from its builder, was erected in 1876. Silas A. COLTON purchased it from him in 1884. D. M. WHITE & Co's. steam saw-mill, owing to a scarcity of timber, is now operated but a little. It is the property of F. CHAFFEE & Son, of Rutland. Levi A. WILLARD also owns and operates a steam saw-mill which he built in the spring of 1882. Charles P. HARRIS, of Rutland, owns a steam saw-mill in the west part of the town, near the stage road, which was built several years ago, and is now operated by Mr. STEINBURG. The Killington mill, run by steam and owned by F. CHAFFEE & Son, of Rutland, was built in 1884 for them by Frank PLUMLEY, who operates it. There is no grist-mill in town, the grinding being done by Pittsfield and Bridgewater mills. John H. DUTTON, shoemaker, harness-maker, tailor, stone and brick-mason, carpenter and joiner, wheelwright and wagon-maker, was born at Cavendish, Vt., July 13, 1834. He came to Sherburne March 12, 1847. He has never been married. He is a natural mechanic. He built the house he lives in and the one occupied by Frank ROBINSON. He is now engaged in piecing a bed-quilt which will contain 127,000 pieces. It is about half done at this writing, and is a marvel of patient and ingenious workmanship.

      The Union Church was organized in 1840, by Rev. Noah JOHNSON, who was the first settled minister in town. The original membership numbered about twenty-five. The number has increased to about fifty. The church edifice was built in 1840 at a cost of about $1,000. Preaching in the summer of 1885 was by a Congregational student, Harvey P. POWERS. There is no regular pastor here at present.

      The present officers of the town of Sherburne are as follows: Moderator of meeting, E. S. COLTON; town clerk, C. W. ADAMS; selectmen, E. W. PRIOR; E. LEWIS, Jehial WEBB; overseer of the poor, A. W. ESTABROOKS; constable and collector of taxes, J. E. DAVIS; listers, E. S. COLTON, Levi D. WILSON, .0. L. WEBB; auditors, John JOHNSON, H. O. NEIL, E. Z. DUTTON; trustee of public money, A. T. Estabrooks; town grand jurors, E. Z. Dutton, A. F. Esta• brooks; inspector of leather, J. H. DUTTON; pound-keepers, A. F. ESTABROOKS, J. E. DAVIS; surveyor of wood and inspector of lumber and shingles, L. A. WILLARD; town agent, A. F. ESTABROOKS; county grand jurors, A. T. ESTABROOKS, H. H. SPAULDING, Benjamin MAXHAM ; petit jurors, R. L. MADDEN, H. R. MERRILL, James A. BATES, G. L. ESTABROOKS, L. A. WILLARD, Leonard CUMMINGS.

      The following are figures indicating the changes in population: 1791, 30; 1800, 90; 1810, 116; 1820, 154; 1930, 452; 1840, 498; 1850, 578; 1860, 523; 1870, 462; 1880, 450.
 

History of Rutland County Vermont: with Illustrations & 
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 XXXVII.
History of the Town of Sherburne
(Pages - 795 – 802)

Transcribed by Karima 2002
 

* On March 2, 1999, the town of Sherburne voted to change its name to Killington. This was approved by the Vermont General Assembly on April 27, 1999.
 

Childs' History of the Town of Sherburne, Rutland County, VT., 1881-82

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