[The
history of this town is placed at the beginning of the town histories chiefly
on account of its paramount importance in the county in comparison with
the other towns. In the arrangement of the annalsof the other towns, they
will be taken up in alphabetical order.] |
THE
town of Rutland is centrally located in the county of the same name, and
is the shire town of the county. It is bounded on the north by the town
of Pittsford; on the east by Mendon; on the south by Clarendon and Ira,
and on the west by Ira. Its north line is seven and 92/100 miles in length;
its' east line six and 39/100; its south line seven and 5/100 and its west
line six and 39/100 miles. A large portion of its surface is hilly or mountainous,
but along the valley of the Otter Creek and its tributaries are intervales
of considerable extent especially adapted to cultivation and affording
the choicest farming lands. The eastern part of the town is bordered by
the Green Mountains, the western slopes of which descend to the Otter Creek
valley; and the Taconic Range extends north and south across the western
part. The Otter Creek enters the town at about the middle of the south
line, runs northward and divides the town into two nearly equal portions.
Tributary to it are East Creek, which enters the town in the northeast
corner, flows southwesterly, and joins Otter Creek near Rutland village;
and Tinmouth River, which flows northward into the town and joins Otter
Creek at Center Rutland; besides these there are scores of smaller streams
in various parts of the town that find their way into Otter Creek. Castleton
River, which rises in the town of Pittsford, flows south into the town
near the northwest part, and at West Rutland bends sharply to the west,
leaving the town near the middle of its western line. Moon Brook flows
westerly and enters Otter Creek a little south of Rutland village. On all
of these streams are favorable sites for manufactories where ample water
power is developed; this is particularly true at Sutherland Falls, in the
extreme north part of the town, and at the falls at Center Rutland, formerly
well known by the name of Gookin's Falls.
The
soil of the town is varied in character. In the valleys and on the level
portions a warm, rich loam is found, which gradually takes on a lighter
and more sandy character as the uplands are reached, finally becoming rocky
and barren on the mountains.
The
town lies in latitude 43° 37' and longitude 4° and 4' east from
Washington, and contains about 26,000 acres of land. Its geological features
have already been described in another chapter, while its inexhaustible
and valuable marble deposits will be properly treated a little farther
on. In natural picturesqueness and beauty of situation, the town can scarcely
be surpassed. Lying at the foot of the loftiest peaks of the Green Mountains,
the towering summits of Killington, Pico and Shrewsbury look down upon
the valley of the Otter; the beautiful and thriving village of Rutland
and its surroundings rest almost in their shadows and are apparently surrounded
by an amphitheater of hills or mountains; but there are winding valleys
that break away among the ranges, giving access to highways and railroads
from various directions. Over these pass the immense resources of the town
and vicinity, bringing wealth and general prosperity to her energetic people.
CHARTER,
GRANTEES, ETC.
The
town of Rutland was chartered to the original grantees over twenty years
before America became a free country. Her part in the struggle which led
up to that grand consummation has been pictured in earlier chapters; but
long anterior to that event the town was probably a sort of center of Indian
travel and traffic, and its soil was trod by a white man, who can be identified
fifty years before the end of the Revolutionary War. Otter Creek was a
highway from north to south, and Castleton and Cold Rivers from east to
west across this territory, the convenience of which was appreciated by
Indian traders, whose goods passed from Fort Dummer, in Massachusetts,
to Lake Champlain. Goods were purchased in Massachusetts cheaper than they
could be bought in Canada, and Rutland lay in the direct line of travel.
As early as 1730 James Cross, with twelve Caughnawaga Indians, left Fort
Dummer, and in seven days reached Rutland, via Black River, Plymouth Ponds
and Cold River. They reached Otter Creek on Sunday evening, May 3, 1730.
Other white men may have set foot on this soil at an earlier date; but
no person can make such positive statement. On Monday the party manufactured
canoes, and Wednesday rowed thirty-five miles down Otter Creek. A poetic
imagination may picture the beauty of the scene which greeted their gaze
at every bend of the stream as they drifted through the unknown wilderness.
Cross left a brief journal, in which is mentioned the two falls, Sutherland
and Gookin's, in this town; and he wrote of the creek as being black and
deep, and spoke of the soil in flattering terms.
Eighteen
years later, when the Massachusetts trade with the Indians had been crushed
by the French and Indian Wars, a party of sixty scouts came from Black
River, and forty of the number passed down on the east side of Otter Creek,
while the remaining twenty went north on the west side; the latter thus
exposed themselves to the enemy at Crown Point, were driven back up the
creek and down West River, only to be taken off their guard and terribly
defeated in Windham county.
The
year 1759 saw the opening of a passage way across this county which has
passed into history under the name of the Old Military Road. It extended
from what is now Charlestown, N. H., to Crown Point, and its route was
substantially from Charlestown through to Nott's Ferry, Springfield; on
through Wethersfield, reaching Charles Button's tavern on Mill River in
Clarendon; thence six miles to Colonel James MEAD's tavern at Center Rutland;
crossed the Otter Creek, and continued northward six miles to Waters's
tavern in Pittsford; thence through "Brown's Camp" in Neshobe (Brandon)
twenty miles to Moore's tavern in Shoreham, and thence to Crown Point.
This old road, and the one cut out in 1776 from Mount Independence, in
Orwell, to Hubbardton, and thence to Center Rutland, were thoroughfares
of great importance in the War of the Revolution. Over the first one mentioned
Rogers and his brave band passed to Crown Point, after their terrible experiences
in destroying the Indian village of St. Francis, and its track was also
trodden by ancestors of, many Rutland county families while the State was
yet a wilderness. At the time of the opening of the second road spoken
of (1776), a bridge was built over Otter Creek at Center Rutland, giving
that point still greater importance.
There
were two forts erected in this town for the protection of the settlers
during the troublous times of the Revolution. One of these, built about
the time of the commencement of the war, stood on what is now the "burnt
district," in Rutland village. The meager details of its character that
are known give it a length from north to south of ten rods and a width
of eight rods, its south side being nearly on a line with the north side
of the DANIELS store. It was, like all of the Vermont forts of that day,
made of pickets, generally of maple, sunk about five feet in the ground
and fourteen feet high above ground, the sides of the pickets where they
came together being hewn straight. At each corner was a redoubt, or "flanker,"
about eight feet square. At a convenient height for effective shooting
were port-holes, that were pierced at distances of about six feet apart;
these holes radiated inward and outward, being just large enough at the
centers to admit a musket, and extended around the fort. On the west side
was the gate. Inside was a small building for provisions and ammunition,
which was afterward used as a dwelling. In the south part of the enclosure
was a well, over which in later years a large flat stone was placed and
earth thrown on top. According to the Vermont Historical magazine, as other
forts to the north and south were erected, this one soon be came of little
consequence, and the pickets were gradually carried off for fuel.
Another
fort was built at Gookin's Falls (Center Rutland) soon after the organization
of the government of Vermont in March, 1778, when it was decided to make
Rutland the headquarters of the State troops; Captain Gideon BROWNSON was
made commander of the force stationed at this point. It was situated on
the hill east of the falls. Its construction was substantially the same
as the one above described, except that the pickets were hemlock and a
little higher above the ground; and inside of the outer row was driven
another, alternating in position with those of the outermost ones, thus
rendering it bullet proof. It was elliptical or oval in form and had portholes
like those already described; it enclosed two acres, or a little more.
On the east and west sides there were large plank gates for the admission
of teams, and on the south side a small gate through which water was carried
from Otter Creek. In the northwest part of the enclosure was a block-house
of hewn logs, thirty or forty feet square, two stories high, roofed and
shingled; in the lower story were port holes and others through the eaves
of the roof, which projected two feet, thus raking all the grounds surrounding
the house. The north and west sides of this building formed a part of the
wall of the fort, and the door was on the east side of the house. In the
northeast and south west corners were sentry boxes, elevated on poles so
as to overlook the approaches to the fort; they were boarded up as high
as a man's chin, covered at the top to protect from snow and rain, and
a ladder ascended to the little door of each. Near the northwest corner
of the enclosure was a guard-house of rough boards, roofed and floored,
in which the sentry slept during relief from the two hours' watches. Along
the north side were the officers' barracks, the roofs of which sloped against
the outer pickets. The soldiers' barracks extended along the south side,
while the intervening space was used as a parade ground. The fort was supplied
with a nine pound cannon, and it is related that one of the soldiers once
remarked to a visitor that as they had then a stock of twelve cannon cartridges,
the fort could stand a pretty heavy siege. The ground to the south and
east of the fort was originally covered with scrub oaks, but these were
cleared away south to the creek and east a distance of fifteen or twenty
rods, so as to guard against stealthy attack. This fort was called Fort
Ranger, as will be seen in subsequent pages of the town records; some of
the town meetings were held here and it was the headquarters of the State
troops until 1781, when the presence of the British in large force on Lake
Champlain caused the removal of headquarters to Castleton. This fort, MEAD's
saw-mill and grist-mill, John H. JOHNSON's tavern, and the meeting-house,
made that point an important rendezvous for the town; it promised in that
early day to become the center of business and traffic. In spite of the
frequent alarms and rumors of Indian incursions during the Revolutionary
War, and the fact that other towns to the northward did actually become
the scene of warfare, Fort Ranger was never attacked by the enemy, and
the only danger its inmates incurred was from stray shots of Indians or
Tories aimed at the sentries in the darkness of night. On the 27th of March,
1781, the town meeting was convened in the meeting-house, according to
notice; thence it adjourned to the tavern of John Hopson JOHNSON, and thence,
as the records inform us, "for necessary reasons" it adjourned to the "store-house
in Fort Rainger."
[The description
of these forts is condensed from the account in the Vermont Historical
Magazine.] |
In
1779 this fort was in command of Captain Thomas SAWYER, and on the 14th
of May he received the following orders:
" The
design and object of a garrison being kept at your post is to prevent the
incursion of the enemy on the northern frontier and to annoy them should
they come within your reach; as there are two other Forts, one at Castleton,
and the other at Pittsford, dependent upon yours, you are to take care
that they are properly manned and provided proportionable to your strength
at Fort Ranger. You will keep out constant scouts toward the lake, so as
to get the earliest intelligence of the motion and designs of the enemy.
You will keep the command of Fort Ranger and other forts depending until
otherwise ordered by me or until some Continental Officers shall take the
command. You will post the earliest intelligence of the enemy to me and
guard against surprise. Given under my hand.
" Thos.
CHITTENDEN, Capt. Gen." |
The
charter of Rutland was one of the sixty issued by New Hampshire in 1761.
New York had set up her claim to the territory of the State in 1750, an
unjustifiable measure which led to the historic controversy which has been
described in earlier pages of this work. The charter of Rutland was dated
September 7, 1761, three years before the French and Indian war was wholly
ended. Governor Benning WENTWORTH, of New Hampshire, from whom the charters
of towns in Rutland county emanated, did not forget his personal interests
and reserved for himself five hundred acres of land in the township; but
the grantees had little of which to complain, as they obtained their lands
substantially free; or, as they themselves claimed, "as a reward for their
great losses and services on the frontier, during the late war." The charter
was procured by Colonel Josiah WILLARD, of Winchester, N. H., and the first
named grantee was John MURRAY, an Irishman. The latter was a prominent
citizen of Rutland, Mass., and it is thought gave the same name to this
town. Most of the grantees lived in New Hampshire and none of them ever
settled permanently in Rutland. Following are the names of the original
grantees of the town, as they appear in the records: Ephraim ADAMS, John
ARMES, Eliakim ARMES, Elijah ARMES, John ARMES (probably John 2d), Thomas
BARDWELL, Thomas BLANCHARD, Joseph CASS, Oliver COLBURN, John DANDLY, Thomas
DAVIS, Jonathan FURNELD, Nathaniel FOSTER, Joseph HANNUM, George HART,
Asa HAWKS, John HINSDALE, Nehemiah HOUGHTON, Caleb JOHNSON, Elijah MITCHELL,
Benjamin MELVIN, Reubin NIMBS, Enos STEVENS, William SMEED, Abraham SCOTT,
Samuel STEVENS, jr., Wing SPOONER, Zedekiah STONE, Nathan STONE, Joel STONE,
Samuel STONE, jr., Abner STONE, Samuel STONE, Josiah WILLARD, jr., William
WILLARD, and Governor Benning WENTWORTH (500 acres).
A
second grant was made in the same year, covering the territory of Rutland,
under the name of "Fairfield," the grantor being Colonel John Henry LYDIUS,
then of Albany. His claim was founded on a deed from the Mohawk chiefs,
confirmed by Governor SHIRLEY, of Massachusetts. He commenced surveying
and preparing to dispose of his easily acquired territory, while other
speculators also began to turn their attention to this locality. In the
meantime, John MURRAY sold his right in Rutland, containing about three
hundred and fifty acres, for two shillings -- at the rate of about ten
acres for one cent! Other sales were also made; speculators, those vampires
that caused the pioneers more trouble than their descendants can appreciate,
were active; the woods began to resound with the echoes of the axe, and
the era of settlement began.
EARLY
SETTLEMENTS
James MEAD was the first white man to permanently
settle in the town of Rutland. He removed from "Nine Partners," to Manchester,
Vt., accompanied by several other men and their families. MEAD was probably
something of a leader among them, and while acting as their agent he became
acquainted with this town. On the 30th day of September, 1769, he made
his first purchase here, which embraced twenty "rights"; ten of these he
sold on the same day. As there were about three hundred and fifty acres
in a right, he retained about 3,500 acres. His purchase was made of Nathan
STONE, of Windsor, and his sale of one-half was made to Charles BUTTON,
of Clarendon. The price is stated in the deeds of purchase as one hundred
pounds, and the price of half to BUTTON as forty pounds; which transaction
would have been a losing one for Mead. The deeds describe MEAD as of Manchester,
in the county of Albany, New York. The twenty rights of MEAD and BUTTON
were located in the southwest part of the town. In the same fall Mr. MEAD
built a log house which stood on or near the site of the present residence
of Chapin WILCOX, about half a mile west of Center Rutland, near the banks
of the West Creek. Here was an ancient beaver meadow, which saved the pioneer
the necessity of making a place for his dwelling in an unbroken forest.
In March, 1770, when Colonel MEAD was forty
years old and had a wife and ten children, the eldest of whom was Sarah,
wife of Wright ROBERTS, the family, including the son-in-law, thirteen
in all, came into the town to take up their permanent abode. Three days
were occupied in the removal from Manchester, stopping the first night
in Dorset and the second in Danby, and passing through Tinmouth and West
Clarendon. In Chippenhook, in the town of Clarendon, while Sarah and Mercy
were riding on a horse and ROBERTS was driving the cows, the three being
in rear of the others, they lost their way; but they were put upon the
right track after wandering about for some time, by Simeon JENNY, whose
dwelling they had reached. He was a noted Tory and "Yorker," but his counsel
was, doubtless, none the less welcome at that time. Late in the evening
of the third day the little party reached their log house; but it had no
roof and the cold and snows of the early spring made it entirely untenable.
Not far distant were camped a party of Caughnawaga, Indians, their wigwam
and its glowing fire looking very tempting to the way-worn travelers. MEAD
applied to them to share their rude quarters. After a brief consultation
in their own tongue, they arose, threw their hands apart and cried "welcome;"
they then gathered up their traps, gave up their hut to the family and
quickly constructed another for themselves. There the MEAD family lived
until late in the succeeding autumn, when they built a substantial log
house, in which they wintered.
It behooves us to add a little further record
of this man who first took up his residence in this, the most important
town in the most important county of Vermont. He was born at Horseneck,
N. Y., August 25, 1730, and died January 19, 1804. He was a member of the
Dorset Convention of September 25, 1776, and one of the committee appointed
by the Windsor Convention in June; 1777, to arrange with the commander
of Ticonderoga for the frontier defense. He was also colonel of the Third
Regiment of militia. His wife was Mercy HOLMES, who was born at the same
place April 7, 1731. Their children were Sarah, born in 1753. James, 2d,
born 1754; drowned in the flume at Center Rutland in 1773. Abner, 1st,
born 1756; lived on the farm at West Rutland now occupied by A. J. MEAD,
his grandson; and died there in 1813, at the age of fifty-seven years.
Samantha, born in 1757; married Keeler HINES, and for her second husband
a Mr. COGGSWELL; she died in 1814. Stephen, born in 1759. Mercy, born in
1761; married John SMITH, 2d, and lived about one and one-half miles south
of West Rutland on the farm now occupied by John BREWSTER; one of their
daughters is the widow of Harvey CHAPMAN, now living in Clarendon. Dorcas,
born in 1763. Hannah, born in 1764; married Silas SMITH, and for her second
husband, Darius CHIPMAN; died in 1821. Dimeas, born in 1766; married Dr.
James REED and lived a little west of Colonel James MEAD's. Tameson, born
in 1768. William, born September 24, 1770. James, 2d, born in 1773 (the
year in which his brother James was drowned), died in 1813 in a western
State.
Zebulon
MEAD, a brother of the pioneer, came into the town from Nine Partners in
1774 and purchased land including farms now owned by Rollin and Horatio
MEAD. Zebulon MEAD's son Henry was then thirteen years old. He remained
in the town until his death; married Mary MUNSON and had ten children,
seven of whom were sons. Horatio MEAD, now living north of Rutland village,
is the youngest of the sons except one. Joel M. MEAD, one of Horatio's
brothers, passed his life on the farm north of Horatio's, now occupied
by Rollin MEAD, who is a son of Joel. Horatio MEAD is now eighty years
old; has but one son, Stephen, at present one of the selectmen of Rutland.
Joel MEAD's widow still lives at eighty-five years of age. He died in 1880.
We
cannot follow all of the many descendants of these pioneers except in the
briefest manner. Abner, 1st, had as children, Ira, born in 1779. Elizabeth,
born 1781; married Israel HARRIS, 2d. Truman, born 1783; was a farmer at
Center Rutland. Abner, 2d, born 1785. Laura, born 1787; married Solomon
COOK. Abial, born 1789; was a physician and practiced in Essex for many
years. Philena, born 1771; married Charles HUNTINGTON and died 1817. Peter
Philander, born 1793. The mother of these children was Amelia, daughter
of the Rev. Benajah ROOTS, and died June 17, 1800.
The
children of Abner Mead, 2d, were Harriet, born 1808, married Jedediah PARMALEE,
a preacher; for her second husband she married Henry W. PORTER, son of
Dr. James PORTER, and died in Rutland, Charity, born 1810, married Benjamin
Franklin BLANCHARD, a farmer of West Rutland; he is dead and his widow
lives on the homestead. A. J. MEAD, born 1815, lives on the old homestead
at West Rutland. Roswell R., born 1818, was a merchant at West Rutland,
where he died; his children are John A., lives in Rutland, where he is
a successful physician; Mary L., wife of Professor METZKE, of Rutland;
and R. R. MEAD, chief of the Rutland police, The other child of Abner,
2d, was John W. H., born 1820, and died in 1840 while attending Middlebury
College. The mother of these children was Nancy ROWLEY, daughter of Roswell
ROWLEY, who lived where Cyrus JOHNSON now resides, between Center Rutland
and Sutherland Falls. Abner died in 1859. The other descendants need not
be traced into the present generation; they have been given thus far in
detail, being entitled to whatever of honor attaches to descendants of
the first settlers in any important community.
During
the year 1770 three other families are known to have settled in the town,
possibly one or two others. These were Simeon POWERS, whose son William
was the first white child born in the town; the event occurred on the 23d
of September, 1770. On the following day William MEAD, son of James, was
born. On the 3d day of October, of the same year, Chloe JOHNSON, daughter
of Asa JOHNSON, was born; these first three births in the town thus occurring
within ten days. Simeon POWERS settled in the spring of 1770, on the west
side of Otter Creek, on what has been lately known as the KELLEY farm.
In the succeeding fall William DWINELL came in with his wife and took up
his temporary residence with Mr. POWERS, who was his relative. These four
families are all who are positively known to have settled before 1771;
but during 1770 and as early as May, Thomas ROWLEY had begun surveying
lots in the town and mentioned a clearing made by a Mr. BROCKWAY.
On the 3d of April, 1771, Governor DUNMORE
of New York, issued to a number of petitioners a charter for a new town
under the name of "Socialborough," embracing the towns of Rutland, Pittsford
and a part of Brandon. This action was in direct antagonism to the order
of the king, of July, 1767, and entirely without authority, a fact undoubtedly
known to the petitioners.
Following is the text of a petition relative
to making this great town the county seat:
"To His
Excellency Wm. Tryon, Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over
the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America,
Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of the same.
"The petition
of the subscribers who are interested in the townships of Socialborough,
Halesborough, Neury, Richmond, Kelso, Moncton, and Durham in the county
of Charlotte,
"Most Humbly
sheweth
"That your
petitioners being informed that the appointment of the township or place
for holding the courts in the County of Charlotte will soon come under
your excellency's consideration, they beg leave most humbly to suggest
"That the
township of Socialborough is nearly central to that part of the country
which will probably remain a separate county when the northern part of
this province becomes populous, to-wit, from the Battenkill to an east
line from the mouth of Otter Creek, comprising a district about seventy-five
miles in length. That the roads leading North from the Massachusetts Bay
and westward from New Hampshire both pass through the said township, which
your petitioners conceive a strong proof of its being easy of access.
"That the
township and the lands in its immediate neighborhood are remarkably fertile
and pleasantly situated on a fine river called Otter Creek which for many
miles is navigable for bateaux and would be throughout but for the obstruction
of the falls.
"That from
the best information your petitioners are able to collect, though the settlement
began within three years, there are already thirty-five families in Socialborough,
and twenty more have made improvements and are expected to remove thither
the ensuing spring -- the chief of whom have agreed to take titles for
their farms under this government.
"That in
the three townships of Durham, Grafton and Chesterfield, which adjoined
each other and extended from Socialborough southward there are ninety-six
families actually settled who hold all their estates under this government.
"That in
Chatham, which is the next town adjoining Chesterfield towards the south
there are settled fifteen families, and in Eugene which adjoins it on the
west, forty. In Princeton, which adjoins Chatham on the south, seventy
families, and in West Cambden which adjoins it on the west twelve families.
"That these
making in the whole near two hundred heads of families, chiefly live at
a convenient distance from Socialborough and the most remote of them not
exceeding forty miles, and have already the advantage of a tolerable road,
through which loaded carts have passed from Socialborough to Albany the
last summer.
"That Col.
REID's settlement which is further North, and which consists of about fifteen
families is at no greater distance from Socialborough than thirty miles
and Major Skene's within twenty miles.
"That from
these circumstances your petitioners hope it will appear that this township
is well situated for the county town and not only convenient to the greater
part of the present inhabitants, but will continue to be so to the county
in general (as far as to the said east line from the mouth of the Otter
Creek) when it becomes populous and fully improved.
"That the
present inhabitants of the said country are very poor and unable but by
their labor to contribute anything toward a Court House and Gaol nor is
any provision made for that purpose by law.
"Your petitioners
therefore humbly pray that unless your Excellency shall judge some other
place to be more proper the county town of the said county may be fixed
at Socialborough in which case your petitioners are willing and do engage
to raise and pay all the money which shall be necessary for erecting a
convenient Court House and gaol for said County.
"And your
petitioners shall ever pray, &c.
"Charles
NEVERS, William SHIRREFF, William WALTON, Hamilton YOUNG, Rich'd MAILLAND,
Atty, Jacob WALTON, Theophilact BACHE, W. MCADAM, Jno. Harris CRUGER, Henry
VAN VECK, G. MAZZUZIN, Gerard WALTON, Wm. LUPTON, Stephen KEMBLE, John
DE LANCY, Theod'r VAN WYCK, James THYN, Fred DE PUYSTER, for self and Dr.
Jno. JONES, Isaac ROOSVELT, Adam GILCHRIST, Jacobus VAN ZANDT, Sam'l DEALL,
Fred'k V. CORTLANDT, Wm. COCKBURN, GARRETT
By
order." |
It will be observed that among these names
are many of those belonging to the old and thrifty Dutch families of New
York State. Jacob WALTON was member of the Colonial Assembly of New York
in 1769 and William was secretary to the superintendent of police in New
York city. William MCADAM was a New York merchant. Samuel DEALL was the
owner of a tract of land in the southern part of Essex county, N. Y., and
one of the first settlers there.
The chief value of this petition is its account
of the first settlements in this part of Vermont. It is thought to have
been presented as early as 1769.
The charter covered about 4,800 acres, the
nominal grantees being forty-eight in number; but within a few days after
the patent was issued the lands were conveyed to a party of New York speculators,
who
subsequently became the chief instigators and promoters of the efforts
to eject the New Hampshire claimants. But the settlers of the territory
designated as "Socialborough" did not purpose to sit down and tamely submit
to injustice; hence the surveyor sent on by the land pirates (Will COCKBURN)
found his field of labor a decidedly unpleasant one, as the following extracts
from one of his letters will indicate:
" ALBANY, September 10, 1771.
"SIR:
-- Your favor of the 16th of August, and the $60 2s. 9d. of Mr. Robert
YATES, I received on my return here, after being the second time stopped
in Socialborough, by James MEAD and Asa JOHNSON in behalf of the settlers
in Rutland and Pittsford. I have run out lots from the south bounds to
within about two miles of the Great Falls. I found it in vain to persist
any longer, as they were resolved at all events to stop us. There have
been many threats pronounced against me. Gideon COOLEY, who lives by the
Great Falls [SutherlandFalls], was to shoot me, . . . . . and your acquaintance,
Nathan ALLEN, was in the woods with another party blacked and dressed like
Indians, as I was informed. Several of my men can prove TOWNSEND and TRAIN
threatened my life, that I should never return home, etc. . . . . . .
"The people
of Durham [now Clarendon] assured me, these men intended to murder us if
we did not go thence, and advised me by all means to desist surveying .
. . . . . . . I found I would not be allowed to go north ward, as they
suspected I would begin again, and therefore intended to convey us to Danby
and so on to the southward, and by all accounts we should not have been
very kindly treated. I was advised by no means to go that road. . . . .
. . . . . . .
.
. . . . . . . On my assuring them I would survey no more in those parts,
we were permitted to proceed along the Crown Point road, with the hearty
prayers of the women, as we passed, never to return. . . . . . . .
" I have
not been able to fix Kier's location and Danby people have been continually
on the watch always . . . . . . Since I have been here, several have visited
me, asking questions, no doubt to be able to know us, should we venture
within their territories, and at the same time warning us of the danger,
should we be found there.
"MARSH's
survey is likewise undone, as I did not care to venture myself that way.
I shall be able to inform you more particularly at our meeting, and am
Sir, your
most obedient servant,
"WILL COCKBURN.
" JAMES
DUANE, New York." |
This shows one feature of the monstrous controversy
for the territory included in the State of Vermont -- a controversy ended
only by her final payment of tribute money for admission to the Union in
1791, as heretofore fully set forth. COCKBURN surveyed what is now Main
street in the village of Rutland, among other lines; but he pursued his
labor under difficulties. Mead and Johnson ordered him to cease his work,
and others dressed as Indians threatened him with their vengeance, until
he was fain to leave their vicinity. (See subsequent history of Clarendon.)
Settlement progressed. MEAD maintained a primitive
ferry across Otter Creek, until the bridge was built, by keeping a boat
on each side of the stream, which must have been a great convenience to
the pioneers. By the end of the year 1773 thirty-five families had located
in the town, as clearly shown in a deposition made by Charles BUTTON, in
that year. This deposition so vividly indicates the spirit that animated
the settlers in the contest with New York and their manner of dealing with
settlers under grants from the New York government, that it merits a place
here:
"County
of Cumberland ss. -
Charles BUTTON of a place called Durham on the bank of Otter Creek
on the west side of the Green Mountains, in the county of Charlotte and
province of New York, of full age duly sworn on the holy evangelists of
Almighty God deposeth and saith, that the deponent with others to the number
of thirty-five families, seated themselves upon the said tract, and hold
a title derived from the province of New York, that the deponent has lived
with family upon the same tract since the eighth day of February 1768,
has cleared and improved a large farm, built a good dwelling-house with
other out houses, and was lately offered a thousand pounds current money
of New York for his improvements. That about eleven o'clock at night on
Saturday the 20th instant, as the deponent is informed and verily believes,
Remember BAKER, Ethan ALLEN, Robert COCHRANE, and a number of other persons,
armed with guns, cutlasses &c., came to the house of Benjamin SPENCER
esq., of said Durham, who holds his farm under a title derived from the
government of New York and brake open the said house, and took the said
SPENCER and carried him about two miles to the house of Thomas GREEN, of
Kelso, and there kept him in custody until Monday morning. The heads of
the said rioters then asked the said SPENCER, whether he would choose to
be tried at the house of Joseph SMITH in said Durham, or at his the said
SPENCER's own door. To which SPENCER replied, that he was guilty of no
crime, but if he must be tried, he would choose to have his trial at his
own door: The rioters thereupon carried the said SPENCER to his own door
and proceeded to his trial before Seth WARNER of Bennington: the said Remember
BAKER, Ethan ALLEN and Robert COCHRANE who sat as judges. That said rioters
charge the said SPENCER with being a great friend to the government ofNew
York, and had acted as a magistrate of the county of Charlotte, of which
respective charges his said judges found him guilty and passed sentence
that his the said SPENCER's house should be burned to the ground, and that
he should declare that he would not for the future act as a justice of
the peace for the said county of Charlotte. SPENCER thereupon urged that
his wife and children would be ruined, and his store of dry goods and all
his property wholly destroyed if his house was burned. WARNER then declared
SPENCER's house should not be wholly destroyed, that only the roof should
be taken off and put on again, provided SPENCER would declare, that it
was put on under the New Hampshire title and purchase a right under the
charter from the last mentioned government. These several conditions SPENCER
was obliged to comply with, upon which the rioters dismissed him.
"That a party of the said rioters came to the deponent's house on
the night of Saturday, the 20th instant, as the deponent is informed, and
broke open the doors and sacked the house for the deponent, which they
did not find as he has gone to Crown Point, to take Stephen WEAKLY upon
writs issued against him at the suit of Samuel GREEN and one SPRAGUE. That
upon the deponent's return home with the said WEAKLY in custody, another
party of the said rioters took the deponent, obliged him to discharge the
said WEAKLY, and one SMITH and others of the said rioters the next day
declared they would pull down GREEN's house and give him the beach seal.
(Meaning that they would flog him unless he consented thereto) which he
accordingly did.
"They then obliged this deponent to give the said WEAKLY six shillings
current money of New York, for taking him the said WEAKLY into custody;
and declaring for the debts due from him, the said WEAKLY to the said GREEN;
and SPRAGUE as aforesaid, and afterwards made this deponent promise that
he would never serve as an officer of justice or constable to execute any
precept under the province of New York, and then gave him a certificate
in the words and figures following to wit:
"' PITTSFORD, NOV. 24, 1773.
"'These are to satisfy all the Green Mountain Boys that Charles
BUTTON had his trial at Stephen MEAD's, and this is his discharge from
us.
"' PELEG SUNDERLING,
"' Benj. COOLEY.'
Which certificate they declared would be a sufficient permit or
pass among the New Hampshire claimants, Green Mountain Boys and further
the deponent saith not.
" 1773.
CHARLES BUTTON." |
(See also history of the town of Clarendon).
BUTTON came from Connecticut, and lived on
Mill River in Clarendon. The Benjamin SPENCER mentioned was one of the
earliest settlers in that town; under date of April, 1772, he wrote from
Durham to James DUANE, among other letters relative to the prevailing troubles,
as follows:
"Sir: -- The people of Socialborough decline
buying their lands, saving four or five, and say they will defend it by
force -- the people that settled under Lydius' title, and those that have
come in this spring, have agreed for their lands. The New Hampshire people
strictly forbid any further survey being made of Socialborough, or any
settlements being made only under the New Hampshire title; which riotous
spirit have prevented many inhabitants settling this spring. You may ask
why I do not proceed against them in a due course of law -- but you need
not wonder, when I tell you that it hath got to that, the people go armed,
and guards yet in the road to examine people what their business is and
where they are going, and if they do not give a particular account, they
are beaten in a shameful manner; and it is got to that, they say they will
not be brought to justice by this province, and bid defiance to any authority
in the province. We are threatened at distance of being turned off our
lands or our crops being destroyed. I have this opportunity of writing
by way of Major SKEENE, and have not the opportunity of informing you of
the number of lots, and men's names that you may draw the deeds, but will
send them the first opportunity, as it will take some time to view the
lots and give a particular account; I hope the survey of our patent may
not be stopped on account of this tumult, as we shall labor under a great
disadvantage if our lands are not divided this spring. I look upon it to
be dangerous for Mr. COCKBURN to come into the country until these people
can be subdued, he may come here by way of Maj. SKEENE, but he cannot do
any work only what he doth for us; if he attempts any further, I am afraid
of the consequences, but if he does not care to come, I desire that some
person may be employed hereabout that we may know where our land is, which
I should be glad you would inform me of, as soon as possible. One Ethan
ALLEN hath brought from Connecticut, twelve or fifteen of the most blackguard
fellows he can get, double armed in order to protect him, and if some method
is not taken to subdue the towns of Bennington, Shaftsbury, Arlington,
Manchester and those people in Socialborough, and others scattering about
the woods, there had as good be an end of government. I am with all due
regard.
" Your humble servant,
"BENJAMIN SPENCER."
|
The above two documents allude to what were
but mere examples of scores of similar occurrences for the protection of
the rights and homes of the settlers of Vermont, as the reader of this
work has learned. But nothing has ever been powerful enough to stay the
progress of settlement in America, and the pioneers came into Rutland with
a steadily growing influx that was only partially retarded by the Revolutionary
War.
Among the thirty-five families which had settled
in the town prior to 1774, were those of John SMITH and Joseph BOWKER,
both of whom were men of prominence. Joseph BOWKER and his wife, Sarah,
were among the organizing members of the first Congregational Church formed
here in October, 1773, and his name appears frequently in the early town
records. It is believed that he came from Sudbury, Mass., but the exact
date of his arrival in this town is lost. He then enjoyed the title of
"Captain" and was elected moderator of the first meeting of proprietors
of Rutland of which there is an existing record -- the second Tuesday in
October, 1773. The first vote at this meeting was "that Capt. Boker be
a Comt'ee man with the old comtee to find the sentor of the town." This
meeting was "held to the Meeting House in said Rutland." Joseph BOWKER
soon became a general office-holder for the town, county and State; one
of the Committee of Safety, town, treasurer (1784), selectman, town representative,
member of the governor's council, etc., and finally judge of probate and
the County Court, and chief judge of Special Court, appointed by the first
Legislature. About 1780 Mr. BOWKER, John SMITH, Henry STRONG and James
CLAGHORN built a saw-mill on Moon's Brook, about eighty rods from the north
and south road at Rutland. Indeed, during the whole of the period of his
life in this town Mr. BOWKER seems to have been a man of great activity,
conspicuous in the public service as connected with the war, and prominent
in all things. From a paper read by Henry HALL before the Vermont Historical
Society in 1863, we take the following extract, showing the nature of some
of Mr. BOWKER's services for the State, and the pay received therefor:
"State
of Vermont, to Joseph BOWKER, Dr.
No. 1777, to attending vendue one day, 6s.
July, 1778, to attending vendue one day, 4s.
To writing three leases, 3s.
To one day in leasing Rockwell's lot, 2s.
To cash paid Gideon COOLEY for boarding and transporting
the families of PERRY and SHOREY to the lake, £2 6s.
Sept., 1778, to cash paid Daniel WASHBURN for boarding the
family of Robert PERRY five weeks, £2
To journey of myself and horse to Tinmouth and attending the
trial of John MCNEAL, 9s.
Jan., 1780, to journey to Manchester of myself and horse, 38 miles,
13s. 4d.
To eight days service drawing a lottery, £2 9s.
To two dollars paid to Widow WELLER, for house room and
firewood, 12s.
To six bushels Indian corn for use of State, 18s,
To journey to Sunderland to attend the council, 42 miles, 13s.
To one day's services, 7s.
To one day of myself and horse to Castleton, 9s.
To one day weighing. bread and forwarding proyisions,
4s.
To one day of man and horse to transport provisions to
Pittsford, 9s.
To cash paid Nathan PRATT for transporting Tory women
to the lake £2 2s. 2d.
April, 1780, to paper to Capt. Parmlee ALLEN, £5
3s. 2d."
On the 20th of October, 1779, Mr. BOWKER received from the State
treasurer £8 8s, "for examining accounts of a committee to build
a fort at Pittsford," and on the 22d of February, 1781, 6s., "for examining
a muster roll." |
The following item in his account throws some
light on the dealings of loyal settlers with the Tories:
"CLARENDON,
Jan. 21, 1778.
"Received
of Joseph SMITH, commissioner of Sequestration, four pounds one shilling
and five pence, L. M., for my time settling with the committee to try Tories.
JOSEPH BOWKER." |
BOWKER's charges for his services seem insignificant
at the present day; but money was a scarce article during that period;
State orders and individual paper constituted a large part of the circulating
currency. BOWKER made his purchase of one hundred and fifty acres in Rutland
in 1774, which appears to have been his only real estate operation; this
fact may account for his exemption from outlawry on the part of the New
York government, to which many of his neighbors were subjected. His farm,
according to Mr. HALL, was situated on the east side of Main street, extended
one hundred rods south from about Green street, to and including part of
Handpole or Moon's Brook; half a mile east of the road he located his dwelling,
fronting the south and about half way down the pleasant slope. He died
in the summer of 1784 and is supposed to have been buried in the old ground
at Center Rutland, then the only burial place in the town; but no stone
marks the place of his rest.
[** The
map above is a detail from:
A survey
of Lake Champlain including Crown Point and St. Iohn's on which is fixed
the line of forty five degrees north lattit. terminating the boundarys
betwe[e]n the provinces of Quebec and New York agre[e]able to his Majesty's
proclamation done by order and instruction of the Honourable James Murray,
esqr., Governor of the Province of Quebec and the Honourable His Majestys
Council by Iohn Collins, depy. surv. genl., May 21th 1765. Charles Blaskowitz,
draughtsman. (Courtesy of the Library of the Congress)]
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
History
of the Town of Rutland
Chapter
XIX.
(pages
302-317)
Transcribed
by Karima, 2002
|