■4- ^1,00 I'^Gu J:^?d m /^^. ^CJL. HISTORY OP SALISBURY, VERMONT. joHiq- m:. t^tgkks. WITH A ilEMOIE OF THE AUTHOR, '•Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born, who should arise and declare them to their children." Ps. Lxxviii. 8, 6. MIDDLEBURY, VT. PUBLISHED BY A. II. COPELAND 1860. Kntcred according to the Act of Congress, in the year 13C0, by G. A. WEEKS, In tho Clerk's office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. C. ▲. ALVORD, PBIKTBR, 15 VAM>KWATrR BTRMT, >F\T ToFK. V3^ SI bWf EDITOR'S PREFACE. In undertaking to revise the mannscript history of Salisbury prepared by the late John M. Weeks, and to continue it from the point at which he left it to the present time, a labor has been found much greater than was expected in the beginning. This fact is the only apology for the delay in the publication of the book. Many of the assertions and explanations of the original manuscript were founded on facts as they existed in 1850, so that the work of accommodating the language of that time to the circumstances of the present has proved a task of no little moment. Many facts, some of which might seem trivial at a cursory glance, but on which the truth of a sentence, or the correctness of a conclusion entirely depends, have been obtained only after much trouble and some ex- pense, while others, though sought b}^ repeated letters or personal visits, have not been obtained at all. And after all this care the book may contain inac- curacies, though probably few, arising from this ten w^nm}^ 17 years' lapse of time ; for example, in speaking of pre- miums being offered for the best nurseries of fruit- trees, the manuscript says, that " Other towns have hitherto carried off the palm." That might have been the fact in 1850 but not at a period ten years later. And this change of language, in accommodation to the pre- sent time, has given rise, in some instances, to an appar- ent absurdity and impossibility ; for example, in one instance, reference is made to the late Joseph Smith, and in another to the late H. W. Everts, while in fact, the death of both of these men was subsequent to that of the author. Of course these inconsistences are re- conciled when it is known that the original manu- script has been revised. On giving the manuscript a more complete examina- tion, thougli after it was too late to make any material alteration, it was discovered that some facts had been repeated ; for example, some of those relating to Judge Painter, Benjamin Smauloy, and perhaps others, but in most instances they are so connected and interwoven with other matter that their reappearance is not deem- ed very unfortunate. Some chapters may seem in- consistent in the style of their different parts, while others have more the appearance of a synopsis of facts than anything else. This must have its apology in the fact, that the editor, while endeavoring to pre- serve the style of the author, has, nevertheless, at times, unwittingly been led to adopt a form of lan- guage and expression more naturally his own. In some instances, the author speaks of himself in the third person, and again uses the editorial form of the first person plural, and in one case adopts the egotist- ical style. Indifferent parts he uses language, at one time too old and at another too new to bear a severe criticism. In speaking of trees, plants, fishes, and diseases, he adopts the common names, and sometimes uses language of only local use, or such as is more appropriate to journalism, or to the province of a par- ticular calling than to a refined literature. The on- slaughts which the early settlers in their revolutionary spirit, made upon the " King's English," as seen from extracts from the town records, speak for themselves, and, considering their age, need no apologist. All these things detract from the literary merit of the book ; but let every reader remember that the author undertook the gratuitous labor of collecting and writ- ing the facts of the following pages, not for the pur- pose of contributing to science or literature, but rather that those who should come after him might " have these things always in remembrance." G. A. WEEKS. Xew York, Jan., 1860. AUTHOR'S PREFACE. This History is respectfully dedicated to the His- torical Society of Middlebury, Yermont, it having been prepared at its request; and especially to the inhabitants of Salisbury, Yermont, and their descend- ants, with the wish that they may enjoy all that prosperity and happiness which results from a culti- vated mind, industrious habits, refined manners, pure morals, and religious principles. I have endeavored, in the following pages, to give a historical account of the early settlement of the town of Salisbury, though a full and accurate ac- count cannot be expected at this late day. Yeryfew of the early records, except records of deeds and of votes of the town, are now to be found ; and most of the reports of settlements by the selectmen and audi- tors, which have taken place from year to year, are mislaid and lost. No journals of the General Assem- bly, or Governor and Council, and but few of the acts of the Legislature of the state can be found in this town, from the time of its organization, in 1788, viii author's preface. to 184:0. I have, however, by a diligent search in the State Library, and State Secretary's office, and among the several dockets of Rutland and Addison county courts, been able to pick up most of the legal history of the town. Its ecclesiastical history is taken chiefly from the re- cords of the church, and is believed to be quite accu- rate ; but the account of its sources of wealth, of its physical character, and its miscellaneous history, are written from observation, memory, and from what our fathers and mothers have been heard to say, and from the testimony of a few whose names will be men- tioned. The preparation of a history of the town has been delayed too long, and some slight mistakes and important omissions may be made, as all the earliest settlers are in their graves, or have left the country, thus taking away an important source of information. A few of the children of the settlers are yet living, at an advanced age, in town and its vicinity, who will please accept my grateful acknowledgements for facts which they have so kindly furnished. No person is known to be now living, in this town or elsewhere, who was among the first settlers, before the American Revolution, and only five are now living who were here when I came into town, in the year 1789. I am indebted to Mrs. Prudence Walker, widow of Jesse Walker, and daughter of Colonel Thomas Saw- IX yer, for much that is valuable miscellany, and to Mrs. Ebenezer Jenny, daughter of Jeremiah Parker ; also to deacon John Morton, Chauucey Graves, Millissent Noyes, Amos Goodrich, Elias Kelsey, and others whose names will appear as the reader advances. I have endeavored to give a relation of facts, pre- cisely as I understand them, in plain and simple lan- guage, without prejudice or exaggeration, and have let no opportunity within my reach, escape me of res- cuing from oblivion those facts which make up the history of our town — facts which must grow in in- terest and importance as time passes away. All of which is most humbly submitted by JOHI^T M. WEEKS. Salisbury, Vermont, 1850. CONTENTS. PAGE Chapter I. — Grant and organization of the to"v>fn 9 Chapter II.— Survey and distribution of Lots — First occupation and settlement 20 Chapter III. — Progress of the Settlement — Survey of the East line — First Town Meeting — First Eepresentative — First Grand List . . 27 Chapter IV. — Controversy with Leicester 83 Chapter V. — Further distribution and allotment of Lands 42 Chapter VI.- -List of Town Officers 48 Chapter VII. — Allotment of School Districts — Notices of Schools. . 55 Chapter VIII. — Geographical description — Soil, Timber, Crops and Produce — Sheep — Agricultural Implements 67 Chapter IX. — Fruit, spontaneous and cultivated 84 Chapter X. — Gardening — Honey Bees — Fishing — The Chase — Snake Hunting 100 Chapter XI. — Minerals — Water Courses — Water Powers 116 Chapter XII. — Mechanics — Mechanical Inventions — Patent Rights — Manufactories 126 Chapter- XIII. — Scenery — Lake Dunmore — Curiosities — Indian traces 141 Chapter XIV. — Statistics of Taxation — Military Enlistment — Dis- eases and Deaths — Professional Men — Merchants — Hotel Keep- ers — Crime — Divorces 152 Chapter XV. — The Congregational Church and Society — The Methodist Church 173 Chapter XVI.— Holland Weeks— Henry K. Schoolcraft— Thomas Sawyer — Jonathan Gibson— Isaac More — Cyrus W. Hodges — Ebenezer Weeks — Samuel Moore 195 XI 1 CONTENTS. PAM Chapter XVII. — ^Revolutionary times — Difficulties of the first set- tlers — Amos Story — Mrs. Story — Joshua Graves 216 Chapteb XVIII.— Progress after the Peace— Grist-Mili—it'irst Birth — First Death — Burying Ground — Scarcity of Food — Early Boads — Military Salute — Painter— Everts 239 Chapter XIX.— The Layman's Church 253 Chapter XX. — Gamaliel Painter — E. Jones — Walter Sheldon — John Dyer 272 Chapter XXI. — Political Parties — Geographical Divisions 282 Chapter XXII. — Means of Living— Furniture — Dress — Social Cus- toms — Personal Habits — The first Dance — David Sheltus 288 Chapter XXIII.— Wild Animals — Walk with the Wolves — En- counter with a Panther— Amos and the Bear — Fight with the Indians — Military Matters 801 Chapter XXIV. — Biographical and Genealogical 817 Conclusion 846 Memoir of John M. Weeks 852 HISTORY OF SALISBURY CHAPTEE I. THE GRANT AND ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN. The inhabitants of New England have been char- acterized, from their earliest existence, as a separate people, for their inventive genius and industrious habits. They have been equally remarkable, perhaps, in availing themselves of every justifiable means by which they could promote their worldly interests. This they sometimes did by speculating in lands lying in new and wild parts of the country, and in culti- vating 'the same. During the old French war, which closed in 1763, the soldiers, in passing and re-passing through this country in their Canadian excursions, discovered that the territory now called Vermont contviined excellent land ; and even before a treaty of peace was signed by the British and French governments, which took 10 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. place in 1763, numerous applications were made to procure charters of townships within the present limits of Vermont. Another thing wliich greatly accelerated the settlement of Vermont about this time, was the fact that, in consequence of the capture of Quebec by the English, in 1759, the Canadas were rescued from the French, and the frontiers ceased to be exposed to the depredations which had previously been so distressing to new settlements ; for as long as the French controlled the Canadas, they took great pains to urge the Indian^ on in their predatory ex- cursions among the new English settlers. These circumstances indicated to the New England people that a favorable opportunity was presented for chartering new townships in these regions ; where- upon John EvartSjEsq., of Salisbury, Connecticut, was engaged by a number of persons living in that town and in its vicinity, to go to Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire, and procure charters for two townships. It was intended at that time to locate these townships where Clarendon and Rutland now are ; but on arri- ving at Portsmouth, Mr. Evarts found that these two towns had been chartered a few days previous. He also learned that no towns in this state had been chartered north of Rutland ; and being somewhat acquainted with the country as far north as the Lower Falls, on Otter Creek, (now Vergennes), he concluded HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 11 to petition the governor for three townships, instead of two. He did so, making such an arrangement of the names already in his possession, and inserting others, as to enable him to obtain the three charters. He called one of these towns Salisbury, probably in remembrance of the name of the place in which he resided ; another, IN^ew Haven, in commemora- tion of the town in which he had agreeably spent several years as a legislator; and the third. Middle- bury, on account of its falling in the middle or be- tween the two others. Mr. Evarts, knowing the importance of having a starting point w^iich might be known in all future time, commenced his survey at the Lower Falls (Yer- gennes), where, subsequently, a large hole was drilled in a rock, and an old cannon placed therein — this being the north-west corner. From this point the three towns were laid out southerly, the east bank of Otter Creek forming the west line of each. Having surveyed the west line of the three towns, and fixed corners to each on the east bank of the creek ; plots were made and presented to governor Wentworth, and immediately thereafter the charter of Salisbury was granted in the following words, viz : 12 HISTORY OF 8ALI8BDKY. PiioviNCE OF New Hampshire. GEOKGE the third. By the grace of God, of Great Britain, [l. 8.] France, and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all persons to whom these presents shall come, Greeting : — Know ye, that We, of Our special Grace, certain Knowledge, Mear Motion, for the due Encour- agement of setting a New Plantation within our said Province, by and with the advice of our trusty and well-beloved Benning Wp^ntworth, Esq., our Gover- nor and Commander-in-Chief of Our said Province of New Hampshire, in New England, and of our Council in the said Province, Have, upon the Con- ditions and Eeservations, hereinafter made, given and granted, and by these presents for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, do give and grant in equal shares unto our loving Subjects, Inhabitants of Our said Province of New Ilmripshire^ and Our other Governments, and to their Heirs and Assigns forever whose names are entered on this Grant, to be divided to and amongst them into sixty-eight equal shares, all that tract or parcel of Land situate, lying and being within our said Province of New Ilampshirey containing by Admeasurement, Twentj^-Five Thousand and Forty Acres, whicli Tract is to contain something more HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 13 than Six Miles square, and no more, Out of which an allowance is to be made for highw^ays and unim- provable Lands, by Kocks, Ponds, Mountains and Rivers. One Thousand and Forty acres free, accord- ing to a plan and survey thereof, made by our said Governor's order, and returned into the Secretary's Office and hereunto annexed, butted and bounded as follows, viz : Beginning at the south-westerly corner of Middle- bury, at a Tree standing on the bank of the Easterly side of Otter Creek and turning from thence east by Middlebury to the south-east corner thereof. Thence turning off, and turning south ten degrees west, six miles and sixty-four Eods. From thence turning off and turning west to Otter Creek aforesaid. Thence down the said Creek, as that runs, to the bounds first above mentioned, and that the same be and hereby is Incorporated into a township by the name of Salisbury. And the Inhabitants that do or here- after shall Inhabit the said Township are hereby to be enfranchised with and- entitled to all and every the privileges and Immunities that other towns within Our Province by Law Exercise and Enjoy : And further, that the said Town as soon as there shall be fifty families resident and settled thereon shall have the liberty of Holding Two Fairs, one of which shall be held on the and the other 1* 14 HISTORY OF 8AIJ8BURY. on the annually, whicli fairs are not to continue longer than the respective ■ following the said and that as soon as the said Town shall con- sist of fifty families a Market may be opened and kept, one or more days in each Week, as may be thought most advantageous to the inhabitants. Also, that the first meeting for the choice of Town Officers agreeable to the laws of our said Province shall be held on the first Tuesday in January next which said Meeting shall be notified by Mr. John Evarts, who is hereby also appointed the Moderator of the said first Meeting which he is to notify and govern agreeable to the laws and Customs of our said Province and that the Annual Meeting forever hereafter, for the choice of such Officers for said Town, shall be on the second Tuesday in March Annually. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract of Laud as above expressed, together with all the Privileges and Appurtenances, to them and their respective Heirs and Assigns, forever, upon the following con- ditions, viz : I. That every Grantee, his Heirs and Assigns, shall plant and cultivate five acres of Land within the term of five years, for every fifty acres contained in liis or their share or proportion of Land in said Township, and continue to improve and settle the same by additional Cultivations on penalty of the Forfeiture of his Grant HTSTORY OF 8x\LTSr.imY. 15 or share in said Township, and of its reverting to Us Our Heirs and Successors, to be by Us JRegranted to such of our subjects as shall effectually settle and Cultivate the same. 11. That all White and other Pine Trees within the said Township fit for Masting Our Royal ISTavy, be carefully preserved for that Use, and none to be cut or felled, without Our Special License for so doing, first had and obtained upon the penalty of the forfeit- ure of the Right of such Grantee, his Heirs and Assigns to Us, Our Heirs and Successors, as well as being subject to the penalty of any act or Acts of Parliament that now are or shall be hereafter enacted. HI. That before any Division of the land be made to and among the Grantees, a Tract of Land as near the Center of the said Township as the Land will admit of, shall be reserved and marked out for Town Lots, one of which shall be allotted to each Grantee, of the contents of one Acre. lY. Yielding and paying therefor to Us Our Heirs and Successors for the space of ten years, to be com- puted from the date hereof, the rent of one Ear of Lid i an Corn only, on the Twenty -fifth day of Decem- ber annually, if Lawfully demanded, the first payment to be made on the Twenty-fifth day of December 1761. Y. Every proprietor Settler or Inhabitant shall yield and pay unto Us, Our Heirs or Successors, 16 HISTORY OF SALTSBURr. yearly and every year forever, from and after the expiration of ten years from the abovesaid Twenty- fifth day of December, namely, on the Twenty-fifth day of December, which will be in the year of Onr Lord 1771, One- Shilling Proclamation Money, for every hundred Acres he owns settles or possesses, and 60 in proportion for a greater or less Tract of said Land, which Money shall be paid by the respective persons abovesaid, their Heirs or Assigns in our Coun- cil Chamber in Portsmouth, or to such Officer or Offi- cers as shall be appointed to receive the same, and this to be in Lieu of all other Rents and services whatsoever. In testimony wheVeof we have caused the Seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed. Witness, PENNING WENTWORTII, Esq., Our Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Our said Province, This 3d day of November in the year of our Lord CHRIST, One Thousand Seven Hundred Sixty-one, And in the Second Year of Our Reign. B. Went WORTH. By his EXCELLENCY'S Command 1 with Advice of Council. J- TuEODORE Atkinson, Sect'y J Province of Newhampshire, November 3d, 1701, Recorded in the Book of Charters, page 301 and 302. THEODoiiE Atkinson, Sect.'y. HISTORY OK SALISBURY. The following are the names of the original grantees, as found recorded on the back of the charter : John Evarts, Josiah Heath, Timo. Brownson, Benj. Benedict, Seth Kent, Stephen Hawley, Capt. Wm. Eno, Phineas Bradley, Azariah Rood, Elijah Owen, Sam'l Keep, Capt. Josiah Stodurd, Capt. Josiah Deane, Lieut. Nath'l Buel, . Abiel Camp, Elias Reed, Isaac Pratt, Jo seph Waterho u s e , Jesse Bostwick, Jonas March, Nath'l Dyah, Jenna Meigs, jr., Gilbert Evarts, Jacob Spafford, John Buck, Elias Reed, jr., Samuel Turn(;r, Sam'l Moore, jr., Nath'l Winslow, Benj. Smally, Sylvanus Evarts, Isaac Saris, Jonathan Kelsey, John Moore, Daniel Morris, Capt. Moses Lyman, Zach's Hanchet, Jacob Schermerhorn, Abra'm Turner, John Newbury, Solomon Ensign, Samuel Benton, David Benton, Joshua Jewell, James Mangin, Asa Landon, Phillip Chatfield, Isaac Benton, Joseph Newman, jr., Daniel Warner, Samuel Abbit, Abner Woodwortli, Joel Evarts, Alex. Gaston, 18 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. Thos. Chipman, William Fitch, Thuel Chittenden, John Benton, jr., Luther Evarts, Theodore Brownson. Daniel Evarts, The charter has also this endorsemenf : His Excellency, Benniiig Wentworth, Esq. A Tract of Land to contain Five Hundred Acres, marked B. W. on the Plan, which is to be accounted two of the witliin shares. One whole share for the incorporated Society, for the propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts. One share for a Glebe for the Church of England, as by law established. One share for the first settled Minister of the Gospel, and One share for the benefit of Schools in said Town. Province of New Hampshire, Nov. 3d, 1761. Eecorded in the Book of Charters, page 303. Theodore Atkinson, Sec'y. Surveyor General's ofiice, Sept. 4th, 1782. Recorded in the first Book of New Hampshire Charters, pages 79, 80 and 81. T. Allen, Surveyor Qqu'I. Agreeable to the provisions and requirements of the foregoing charter, the proprietors of the town held a meeting at Salisbury, in Connecticut, on the first Tuesday in January, 1762, and elected — IIISTOKY OF SALISBURY. 19 JosiAH Stodard, Projprietor'^s Clerk. Elias Reed, 1 Alex'r Gaston, |^ Select men. Nath'l Buel, j John Evarts, Treasurer. S. Moore, Jr., Collector. They also voted to raise a tax of nine shillings on each proprietor, to defray all expenses up to that time ; and adjourned to the second Tuesday of March following, at the dwelling house of John Evarts. At a subsequent meeting holden on the 30th day of March, 1762, the proprietors voted that JNTathaniel Buel be a committee for lotting out the town into first and second divisions, and that a tax of nine shil- lings be laid on each proprietor, to defray the expense of doing it. 20 IlISTOliY OF SALT-BUiiV. CHAPTER II. 8UKV):Y and DISTKIBUTION of lots. FIJiST OCCUPATION AND SETTLEMENT. Mk. Buel entered immediately upon the duties vi" liis oflSce, and soon thereafter returned, to tlie pro- prietor's clerk, a plan and survey, determining the north and south lines, together with. a survey of what was called the home lots. It appears that Mr. Buel employed Samuel Moore to do this surveying, and his name alone appears on the plan which was placed on file in the town clerk's office. Mr. Moore seems to have commenced his survey at the south-west corner of Middlebury, on the bank of Otter creek, and, from that point, to have run east to the foot of the mountain, and, probably, no further at that time, but commenced laying off lots southerly, and on a line running south ten degrees west, six miles and sixty -four rods. As the lots were headed on this line near the base of the mountain, they were laid fifty-two rods wide, running west three hundred and twc^nty rods. Every sixth lot was laid fifty-six 1II8T0KY OF SALISBUBY. 'Zl rods wide, allowance being made for roads. But as the surveyor approached Lake Dunmore in his work, he found that some of his lots were shortened by the water of that lake, and to make up this deficiency in these lots, he made them of greater width. Lots ISTo. 13, 14, 15, and 16, are of this class. In this manner, thirty-seven lots were laid in the first tier, and all numbered. The lots of the second tier were headed on the foot of those of the first, as seen in the follow- ing plan. It will be seen from this plan, that thirty-four of the home lots fell in the town of Leicester, on settlement of the controversy which arose between that town and Salisbury, concerning lands covered by the charters of both towns — some account of which will be given in a subsequent chapter. EXPLANATOET. A. William Arnold, M. J. Gipson and S. Thomas. B School Lot. O. Horace Thomaa. D. Daniel Shays. P. Wm. Wainwright. E. Minister's Lot. Q. John J. Kelsej. F. Asahel Martin. R. Loyal Kelsey. G. Dennis Smead, S. Elias Kelsey. :H. Saw-Mill. T. John W. Kelsey. I. Solomon Thomas, jr. U. Foster Lot J J J .1 J J- Village. * Burial Places. K K. E. Cloyes and Nathan A. Gibbe. § Town Plot L. Isaac Shays and L. Bump. t Sawyer's Mills. This table of explanatory names was made in the year 1850. 2 HISTOKY OF SALISBURY, Middlebnry south line «is established in 1 786. B W Old town line as surveyed in 1762. 160 rd. If? it • Is ^^ n c 5 2 o |3 "' c &~ TT * A 1 i ce T 2 8 K f»T Q 66 V 65 64 t)3 1^4 5 6 7 8 62 61 6(t N 59 9 10 D 11 K 12 Al. § L* kck« be .157 .1 .')6 j56 M F 18 15 li 10 1 17 J 19 jt* 20 21 Comp'miso line 1796, Leicester north line. — 58 22 62 23 51 24 50 25 49, 26 4SI V7 47; 28 46 1 -^9 45 i 30 44 j 31 48| 3V 42 88 41 34 40 85 89 83 86 87 tittlisbury souili line from 1762 to 1796. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 23 Nothing can be found recorded on the grantees' or other records in town, from the year 1774 to 1785, so that we are left in the dark, as far as our own records show, concerning transfers of lands during this period of eleven years. It is found, however, that many deeds of land and surveys are recorded on the dockets of Rutland county court. It is probable that during the struggle of the American Revolution, the town of Salisbury went to Rutland with all papers intended for record, and had them recorded there. On examining the books of the Rutland county court, a long list of deeds is found, made in 1779 ; also deeds and surveys made in 1783 and 1784:. Many records of deeds of lands are also found under Leicester title, wTiich fell into Salisbury by the compromise between the two towns, which occurred in 1796 ; also Salisbury deeds are found on record, as of lands lying in Leicester ; so that to fol- low out a regular chain of title of these lands, em- braced within what we may call the lap of the two charters, is attended with the greatest difficulty. The confusion in regard to the title of a part of the lands in both Salisbury and Leicester, originated in the fact that there was not land enough between Neshobe (now Brandon), and Middlebury for two full townships. On account of this, the charters of Salis- bury and Leicester lapped upon each other so far, that 24: IIISTolIY OF SALISBURY. if Leicester held her full charter bounds, Salisbury would hold a strip of land only about one mile wide oti'thc north side, next to Middlebury. On the other hand,, if Salisbury was allowed to hold lands to the full extent of her charter, Leicester would retain only ^bout one-sixth of her granted lands, and that in a strip about a mile wide, on the south side, adjoining Neshobe or Brandon. Leicester, by her charter, is bounded on the north line of Brandon ; Salisbury, by her charter, on the south line of Middlebury. One of the last votes of the proprietors found on record, previous to the revolution, was taken at a pro- prietors' meeting, held at Salisbury, Connecticut, De- cember 19th, 1774, to wit : "Voted, Josepli Waterous, Samuel Moore, jr., A!nos Storej^, be a committee to run the line of the town and ascertain its true boundaries." Another vote w^as taken at this meet- ing, which allowed any of the grantees w^ho w^ould become settlers within one year from that time, to ])itcli two liundred acres in addition to their sliaiv-. The grantees had, ]>nvi(>i!s to this, offered a liui- dred acres of land to ;niy uiio who w^ould piteli and settle in this town, bur witliout ^u('f(\^s. oxcejtt in mw or two instances. Joslnia (i raves, who will be more particularly no- ticed liereattir. ])it(]i("d a hundred acres in the spring of JTTl. ■.: 1 Aii'r.- Stoi'v cnnie into town in S-i.'cMn- HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 26 ber of the same year and pitched another hundred acres, under this proprietor's offer. Amos Story was killed by the fall of a tree, prdba- bly in October j)revious to his appointment as com- mittee to survey the town, his death not being known in Connecticut, where most of the grantees lived at that time. It is probable that the vote taken December 19, 1774, allowing proprietors who would become actual settlers within a year, to pitch two hundred additional acres, was repeated after the war ; for it was certain Note. — As already stated, no records of this town between the years 1774 and 1785, except what appears on the Rutland records, can be found ; and the proprietors' records are so mutilated, and so many pages lost, that it has not been possi- ble, after the most diligent search, to ascertain at what time the original proprietors first held their meetings, or who were their first officers. As the meetings of the grantees were in- variably held in Salisbury, Connecticut, before the revolution- ary war, and as the name of the state of Connecticut appears but once; and that of Vermont not at all, on the proprietors' records, we can only form conjectures from the place of resi- dence of the proprietors at the time the records were made, and this is uncertain at least for one year. Samuel Moore re- corded deeds in 1785, and Eleazer Claghorn early in the year 1786. Moore lived in Connecticut ; and Claghorn was in this town as early as 1784, but the exact time he was ap- pointed proprietors' clerk is not known. 2* 26 lUSTORY OF SALI8BDKT. that some persons did make an additional pitcli of lands. For instance, Amos Story's widow was al- lowed to pitcli a hundred acres in addition to the hundred which her husband had pitched previous to his death. E. Claghorn, Elias Kelsej^, Gilbert Everts, and others, it is believed, pitched their lands under this vote in favor of permanent settlers. Settlers came into town very rapidly in 1785, in which year appears the first vote, of any importance, after the war. The object of the vote was the appoint- ment of Gamaliel Painter, Abo Wateroiis, and Elias Kelsey, to lay out roads. These men were already ])ernianent settlers in town. In this and a few subsequent years it was found that the rapid immigration, into this and neighboring towns, was making heavy drafts upon the provisions of the coiinti-v ; so much so, that quite a scarcity of provisions w;is experienced in the winter and spring of 1787. . ]iT6)()liY OF SALISBUKY. 27 CHAPTER III. rROGEESS OF THE SETIXEMENT. SURVEY OF THE EAST LINE. FIRST TOWN MEETING. FIRST REPRESENTA- TIVE. FIRST GRAND LIST. The settlement of the town advanced very rapidly in 1785, 1786, and 1787. In 1786, probably, (though no record has been found by the writer to show the time,) a re-survey was made of E^ew Haven and Mid- dlebury, when it was found that the proprietors of these towns had embraced more land in their original surveys than was contemplated in their charters ; so that, [after the new survey, I^ew Haven was con- tracted one tier of lots or more, which tier was al- lowed to fall within the limits of Middlebury, and Middlebury in turn gave a part of her domain to Salisbury, and the south line of Middlebury was run and established two hundred and fifteen rods further north than it was originally surveyed.* Thus Mid- * When this line was moved the governor's lot in Salisbury was surveyed, the north line of which was predicated on Oie nf'v/ south line of Middlehnrv. This was in 1787. 2IO HISTORY OF SALISBURY. dlebury gave up considerable valuable land to Salis- bury, together with some valuable citizens, who may be numbered among the early settlers of Middlebury. In this number were Benjamin Smalley, who owned the farm where F. ISTash now lives, and afterward the one now owned by Paul Pratt ; and Gamaliel Painter, who lived on the farm now owned by Wm. F. Goodrich. By the new^ survey, Mr. Painter's house and the principal part of his farm fell within the limits of Salisbury, which rendered him eligible to office in this town, and accordingly he was chosen dele- gate to the General Assembly, and represented this town in that body, at their session in Bennington, in 1787. Mr. Painter moved his family to Middlebury, in the fall of 1787, and represented that town in the state legislature the following year. There is no record of the time when the east line of this town was surveyed, except w^hat appears from marks made by a surveyor's marking iron, on a tree standing in this line about midway between its ex- tremities. The tree bears the date of 1787. It should be remarked, however, that the part of the figure seven which distinguished it from the figure oncy had become so worn in the lapse of time that it appeared nearly ready to fall off, as early as 1844. This mark HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 29 will soon, if it does not already indicate the date of 1781, which is six years too early. The inhabitants of Salisbury organized the town, at the dwelling-house of Solomon Everts, on the 17th of .March, 1788, by choosing the proper officers and doing other legal acts, which constituted their first meeting. The following grand list was taken in the year 1788, and was the first list taken in town. The first column contains the names of the settlers liable to pay taxes. The second, the names of those who now occupy their places. GRAND LIST OF SALISBURY FOR THE YEAR 1788. L. 8. D. L. 8. Tax, D. Gilbert Everts, 46 9 00 10 00 Oscar P. Sheldon. Elias Kclsey, 28 9 00 10 00 Loyal J. Kelsey. Eleazer Claghorn, 29 ]3 00 13 8 00 John M. Dyer. Francis Strong, 6 00 13 00 Harry F. Daniels. Abe Water.ous, . 5 3 00 18 00 Munroy M. Doud. Gam'l Painter, 10 00 00 Wm. F. Goodrich. Joseph Dolph, 1 00 00 16 00 West of S. S. Crooks, Solomon Everts, 4 11 00 8 00 North of Zerah Scott's. Holland Weeks, 24 8 00 Mark Prindle. Bazediel Richardson, 2 00 00 5 00 West of Mark Ranney's. Abram Hard, 3 4 00 12 00 Alanson Wainwright. Darius Matthews, 3 4 00 12 00 Boarded out. Eber Everts, 2 T) 00 10 00 Alonzo Boardman. Alfred Smauley, 5 00 00 Andrew Wainvrrii^^ht. 30 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. L. 8. D. t. 8. Tax. D. Barnabas L. Chipman, 2 14 00 Sam'l S. Crook. Josiah Farnham, 2 5 00 Augustus Graves. Joel Newton, 2 00 00 12 00 Munroy M. Doud. Asa Graves, 2 10 00 10 00 Columbus Smith. Jesse Graves, 8 00 00 5 00 Columbus Smith. Justus Suthcrlin, 4: 15 00 10 00 Sam'l Holt. James Bradley, 6 2 00 12 00 Wallace Crook. James Baker, Wm. Pierce. James Sutherlin, 4 15 00 9 00 Sam'l Holt, Joseph Graves, 2 10 00 Kufus Storey, Asa Iluntly, Harry Bump. Griffith Plaice, 5 00 00 10 00 Kufus Storey. Jehial Smith, 9 13 00 14 00 Deacon Kelscy place. Asa Lawrence, 3 10 00 10 00 Wallace W. Doud. Bela Farnham, Wm. Pierce. Aaron Adams, 12 00 12 00 East of Zerah Scott' R. Ami Chipman, 2 8 00 Mark Ranney. Stephen Hard, 1 16 00 8 00 Zerah Scott. Isaiah Golden, 10 00 00 Near Mrs. John Dyer. John Hodgson, 2 10 00 Ceylon Gipson. Samuel Pierce, 2 00 00 14 00 Koyal D. Hedden. Elijah Skeel, 2 7 00 10 00 Cyrus Bump. James Waterous, 9 10 00 Nath'l Spencer. William Cobb, 1 10 00 Francis L. Dyer. Ephraim Storey, 1 13 00 17 00 Norman Storey. Curtis Smith, 5 00 00 Stone Schoolhouse. Chancey Graves, 2 00 00 12 00 North of Wm. Thomas, Diah Waterous, 4 11 00 10 00 Francis L. Dyer. Samuel Moore, jr.. 2 IG 00 Mrs. Nor'n Boardman. John Ensign, 10 00 00 • tl c( Henry Kelar, 8 13 00 Mrs. Holland W.Evertd. Obediah Wheeler, 10 00 t Sam'l Abbott, 10 00 t Pavid Seymour, 5 00 t HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 31 Tax. Nathaniel Gurnsey, 10 00 + Thomas Chipman, 2 5 t Benj. Smauluy, 5 00 00 Paul Pratt. James Adams, 2 10 + 10 00 Solomon Storey, 9 00 9 00 Wm. Thomas. William Pratt, 4 11 00 11 00 Mrs. Jolm Dyer. Josliua Graves, L. s. D. Columbus Smith. Total of Taxes, 15 15 00 GRAND LIST OF PERSONS LIVING ON LANDS CLAIMED BY LEICESTER. Tax. Mcrifield, 17 10 00 10 * Samuel Morin. Henry Chamberlin, 8 00 00 7 00 Mrs. Ester Gibson. Calvin Chamberlain, 16 10 00 Dan Daniels. Hinds Chamberlain, 6 00 00 Dan Daniels. Jolm Fyfe, 16 10 00 3 00 Albert Barker. Jeremiah Parker, 19 00 00 * Ebenezer Jonne. Abel Johnson, 15 10 00 Horace Thomas. John Barker, 29 00 00 * Miles Story. Benjamin Garfield, 23 00 00 * Leonard Jenne. Wra. Kendall, 17 10 00 10 00 Lothrop Bump. Luther Bailey, 8 00 00 F. L. Dyer. Job Brittain, 8 00 00 Orson Taylor. Sam'l Adams, 10 16 00 10 * Amos Merifield. Eli Brown, 11 00 00 * John Mack, Jos. Merifield, 6 00 00 4f Winchester Esty. Thos. Stephens, 7 10 00 10 00 Henry Moosman. Widow Holdman, 2 00 00 Isaac Shays. Solomon Warner, 8 00 00 Noah Lovet. t Supposed to be non-residents. 32 HISTOKY OF 8ALTSBUEY. Tax. John Holdman , 10 00 00 Isaac Shays. Daniel Warner, 8 00 00 Noah Lovet. Jesse Bigelow, 6 00 00 Frank Atwood, Solomon Bigelow, 14 00 00 Frank Atwood. Moses Knapp, 20 12 00 14 Daniel Shays. Solomon Story, 2d, 11 19 00 19 Koyal Graves. Penuel Stephens, 8 00 00 Norman Story. Total of Taxes. L. 8. 4 3 D. 00 It appears that the selectmen exercised a loide dis- (yretion in making out taxes, without much regard for rules, either legal or mathematical. * Lands which fell to Leicester by compromise of 1796. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. CHAFTEE lY. CONTROVERSY WITH LEICESTER. The attention of the people at the first town meet- ing, otherwise than choosing town officers, was chiefly directed to the adjustment of the controversy between this town and Leicester.* On the 19th of May, 1788, a committee was ap- pointed to meet a committee from Leicester, who were in attendance, to settle upon some method by which the line between Salisbury and Leicester could be determined. This committee, on the part of Salisbury, was com- posed of five men — Elias Kelsey, Gamaliel Painter, Captain James Waterous, Gilbert Everts, and Eleazer * Proprietors meetings were also regularly held every year and generally on the same day with the town meeting, after the latter was adjourned, till 1797, when their meetings were merged in the town meetings. 3 34 lilSTOKY OF SALISBURY. Claghorn, who, on tlie same day with their appoint- ment, after having had a conference with the Leices- ter committee, made the following report : " We have agreed to petition the surveyor general of this state, to run the lines of several towns, from w^here Leicester takes its first rise agreeable to char- ter, in order to find the true boundary of said town, that the contest betwixt Salisbury and Leicester may be settled ; and further agree that the whole expense be paid by both towns in proportion to the quantity of land that remains to each town after running said lines." The foregoing report was accepted by this town and recorded in Book I, page 3. At a subsequent town meeting, held September 2, 1788, it was " voted, that Eleazer Claghorn, Asa Lawrence, and Stephen Ilai'd, be a committee to meet a committee from Leicester, to settle all the cost that has accrued by preparing to run, and for running, the lines of several towns, to find where Leicester lieth according to charter, in order to see what belongeth to Salisbury to pay, and make up their account, and lay before the select men of said town, and also prepare a petition to the Honorable General Assembly of this state, in behalf of tlie town, that the Assembly will grant, on the land in the town of Salisbury, for defraying the expenses of HISTORY OF SALISBURY. • 35 ascertaining the boiindarj' line between Salisbury and Leicester."* It would seem, from the foregoing, that both towns were fast approaching a final settlement of all their difficulties, but the dockets of Addison county court show that this happy consummation was not so easily obtained, as do all subsequent votes in this matter, as seen on the records. Many law suits were commenced, and some of our honest and peaceable citizens, who had been so un- fortunate as to locate on lands claimed by both towns, found themselves occupying conspicuous places, in scenes of litigation, before our courts. It was not uncommon for those claiming land under title other than that of the occupant, in a single night to reap, and carry away from him who raised it, the wheat of several acres. These scenes of liti- gation and quarrel lasted about twelve years, as ap- pears from various accounts and records. In 1788, Eleazer Claghorn obtained judgment in Addison county court for the sum of three pounds and ten * The towns resurveyed at this time, undoubtedly, were Pittsford and Brandon, for Middlebury and New Haven had been resurveyed previous to this ; and it is certain that the north line of Brandon was moved, not far from this time, to the south. 36 • mS'lOHY OF SALISBURY. shilliiigs, damages, and fifteen pounds nine shilliniit a«! a full arc^unient HISTORY OF SALISBURY. S7 here may fail to interest the reader, we will state a few concise facts concerning the matter, and let the subject die away, and rest with its cotemporaries in silence. We find on record, January 26, 1Y91, the following agreement: " Agreed with Esq. Claghorn to submit all matters between Salisbury and Leicester, both respecting right of soil and jurisdiction, to Nathaniel Mies, Samuel Salford, Timothy Brownson, Doctor Arnold, and John Fassit ; provided the towns will agree that the judgment of said men shall be confirmed by the General Assembly to be a final settlement of all dis- putes aforesaid." The above agreement must have been made at Bennington where the' General Assembly convened that year, as John Smith signed the agreement, and was representative from Leicester, and Claghorn from Salisbury. This appears obvious from the fact that at a subsequent town meeting, held March, T, 1Y91, it was " voted we will submit all matters according to the above agreement made by John Smith and Eleazer Claghorn, Esqs., at Bennington, January last." Whereupon, " Eleazer Claghorn, Stephen Hard, and Holland Weeks, were appointed a committee to treat with the town of Leicester, to see if they would 3* 3S nrsToiiT of sall-buhy. agree to the above proposal." This meeting was ad- journed to a future day, to hear the report of tlieir committee, but no record can be found of this last meeting, nor of the committee's report. I^everthe- less, it is believed, the General Assembly did some- thing in the case; and it is quite probable that the men agreed upon by Smith and Claghorn heard the ease, and that the General Assembly confirmed their report. This is evident from the fact that the town at their meeting, March 13, 1Y92, voted a tax to de- fray the expenses of the town, and also " voted that the inhabitants living south of the south line that was set off from Salisbury to the inhabitants of Lei- cester, at the last session of the General Assembly of this state, be exempt from the above tax." Now a dividing line, w^ithout doubt, w^as fixed be- tween these two towns at that time; but wdiere it was laid, cannot be ascertained from any of the oldest in- liabitants, nor is there any record showing its loca- tion. It seems that the line thus established did serve as a jurisdiction line for two or three years. A» late as 1794, the line referred to was recognized by » vote of the town, " to remunerate E. Claghorn one pound six shillings, paid for depositions used be- fore the General Assembly at the time the jurisdic- tion line was settled betwixt Salisbury and Leicester, and also eight shillings, for money paid EnocJi Wood- HISTORY OF SALISBUKY. 39 bridge as counsel in the case before the Legislature." But this jurisdiction line was soon broken up ; for what reason, it is now impossible to tell ; neither the town nor state records throw any light upon the matter. The conflict between the two towns revived with new energy before the close of the year 1795. On the Tth of December of that year, it was " voted to raise a tax of two pence on the pound on the list of the polls and rateable estate, for the year 1795, to be collected by the first day of March next, for the purpose of defending against Leicester in a suit brought against Caleb Church by Garfield." Again, at the town meeting held March 1, 1796, we find another vote touching this matter, which was : "Tliat E. Claghorn, Holland Weeks, Stephen Hard, Salathiel Bump, and Elias Kelsey, be a committee to meet a committee from Leicester, to see if they can settle the difficulty between the two towns, and make report at an adjourned meeting." And, finally, April 14, 1796, it was "voted that the town of Salisbury will make the south line of lot Ko. 20 the jurisdiction line between the towns of Salisbury and Leicester, and on the 19th of April of the same year the com- mittee made the following report : "April 18, 1796. The committee from Salisbury and Leicester met at the house of John Doming, and agreed on a final settlement of the difficulties be- 40 IIISTOET OF SALISBURY. tween the towns of Salisbury and Leicester; that a line for jurisdiction shall.be run between said towns, viz. : beginning at the south-west corner of lot Ko. 20, being the first hundred acre division laid to the proprietors of said Salisbury. From thence westerly until it strikes thirty rods south of John Fyfe's, now dwelling-house, and from thence to con- tinue the same course until it strikes the east bank of Otter creek, and then to run easterly from the first- mentioned bounds on the south line of said lot No. 20, until it strikes the west line of Captain White's farm ; then north on said farm until an east line will strike thirty rods north of said White's house ; then east until it comes parallel with the south-cast corner of said lot 1^0. 20 ; then south to said corner ; then east parallel with the lino of said lot to the east line of said Salisbury ; and the tow^ns, and proprietors of the towns of Salisbury, and Leicester, considered in them corporated, shall not bring nor encourage any suit to be brought over said line against each other." Signed, Eleazer Claohorn, Salathiel Bump, Stephen Hard, Holland Weeks, Eli AS Kelsky, John Smith, 1>KNJ. Garfield, JosKPU Woodwaui\ >■ Committee froin Salisbury. Committee from Leicester. HISTORY OF SA.LT8BURY. . 41 The foregoing report and agreement was accepted by the town, and ordered to be recorded, and the vote ta raise money to defend against Leicester, in the case of Garfield against Church, was rescinded. Here this controversy, which had been the cause of 80 much trouble for a series of years, was brouglit to a close, and the inhabitants of both towns ever after en- deavored to cherish kind feelings towards each othei', though it was obvious, for many years, that the people of those towns did not associate and mingle togethei' with so much ease as they did with those living in adjoining towns. This controversy, aside from its bad moral effects, greatly impeded the settlement of the two towns. In the meantime, adjoining towns were rapidly filling up ; indeed immigration into all the towns west of the mountains was so great in 1787, 1788 and 1789, that a fearful scarcity of provisions was again realized in the winter and spring of 1790. 42 HISTORY OF SALlriUUKY. CHAPTEK \^. FURTHER DISTRIBUTION AND ALLOTMENT OF LANDS. The boundaries of the town have been altered still further by two acts of the Legislature ; once in 1832, by which a strip of land in the north-easterly part of the town, one hundred and sixty rods wide and nine hundred rods long, was annexed to the town of Rip- ton. By the other act of the Legislature, passed in 1840, a slight alteration was made in the southern boundary. The charter required the grantees to lay out and appropriate certain shares for specific public purposes, viz., five hundred acres to be the private property' of the governor who granted the charter, which was to l^e laid out in one body, in any part of the town he chose to designate ; the same also being considered equal to two shares. One share to be appropriated to the use of schools ; anotlier for a glebe for the Church of England ; another for the first settled minister, and another still for the support of the gospel in foreign parts. With the exception of the governor's lot, these HlfiTORT OF SALISBUKY. 4:3 shares have not been laid out as required by the char- ter, nor as intended by the original proprietors. The governor's lot was located in the north-west corner of the town, and sold to Holland "Weeks in 1785, but was not laid out until after the settlement of the south line of Middlebury in 1786. The controversy with Leicester rendered it doubtful whether any of the public lots could be laid out so as to be held, legally, in any place where the land had not already been taken up. And nothing definite could be agreed upon concerning them, until after the settlement of the jurisdiction line between Salisbury and Leicester. As the proprietors' meetings were kept alive until this settlement took place, it w^as agreed that lot No. 12 of the home lots should be appropriated as a ])art of the share for the first settled minister ; and lot ]S"o. 4: be appropriated for schools. It was found that, at this time, all the lands of much value had been taken up, and that many of the origi- nal proprietors had, as yet, been unable to locate their rights ; so that the remaining part of the share for schools, at least half of the share for the first settled minister, the whole of the share for the support of the gospel in foreign lands, and the whole of the glebe for the Church of England, still remained to be laid, in case land could be found that was worth surveying. It was finally found that a part of these shares could 44 HISTORY OF 8ALISBUKY. be laid on the iiiuuiitain, wlicre land, at present, is of no real value. Here the remaining part of the share for schools has been laid out, and lies chiefly in that part of the town which was set off to Kipton v\ 1832. A part of the share for the fii'st settled minister is also found here, and a part of the share to be appropriated to the support of the gospel in foreign lands, but tlie glebe and otlier public lots were laid on that part of the town which was given to Leicester by compromise, and now no land can be found within the limits of the town on which either can be located. As the controversy between Salisbury and Leices- ter, and the controversy between the state of Yeinioiit and the state of New York, had not been adjusted, the original grantees did not think so favorably of their wild lands here as they did at the time they pro- cured their charter, and as these controversial matters were not both settled until 1796, land lying in this town did not stand very high in the market. It is believed that only one man whose name appears as grantee settled in this town. Most of them sold out their entire rights, for insignificant sums, without ever visiting the town, and more than half allowed their rights to be sold at vendue, to pay assessments or taxes. Benjamin Smauley bought nineteen full shares at vendue, varying in price from one pound fifteen shillings to two pounds six shillings each. This could HISTORY OF SALISBLKY. 45 not exceed three or four cents per acre. How much of this land was redeemed is not known ; certainly very little, if any. Whole rights have been known to be sold for a single dollar. The grantees allowed themselves, by vote, to pitch the remaining part of their shares, after they had drawn their home lots. Now, as nearly half of these home lots were lost in their settlement with Leicester, all they could do was to pitch their land wherever they could find any within the limits of the town that had not been previously taken up ; in which case it was customary to allow five rods on each hundred rods, and in that proportion for a greater or less dis- tance, as sag of chain, so that if a person measured one hundred rods, he would add five, that the land might be sure to hold out in measurement after it was cleared ; he was also allowed, by vote, to lay out, for each hundred acres, five acres for highways, and in that proportion, for a greater or less quantity of land. It is found by recent measurement of some of the early pitches, that the surveyors and chainmen com- mitted many inaccuracies, both in running lines and in measuring. At that time, land was so cheap, it was not thought worth the while to be very particular in tturvej^s. Most of the pitched lands in this town, on a, re-survey, are found to overrun their estimated amount, while a few fall short. 4 46 HISTORY OF SALISBUIiY. As no fixed rules had been agreed upon in pitching lands, provided pitches were not made on lands al- ready taken, many pieces in strips, gores and various shapes have been found, on subsequent surveys, lying between the original pitches. Such pieces have been fenced or otherwise occupied and held under the quieting act of 1785, which gives the occupant good title to land, after having peaceably possessed it fif- teen years. In the Spring of 1Y96 Gamaliel Painter and Daniel Chipman, having been appointed a committee for that purpose, reported a survey of the town plot, agreeable to the provisions of the charter. By this plot the central part of the town referred to in the charter, was divided into acre lots, some of which were sold and others fenced in, by owners of contig- uous lands, and probably held by possession. After the controversy with New York was settled, and this State admitted into the Union, whicli oc- curred 1Y91, most of the settlers allowed their lands to be sold for taxes, principally road and bridge taxes ; afterwards taking a collector's deed of them. Especially was this the case with lands which lay in that part of the town previously claimed by Leicester. It is probable that none of the exciting scenes of conflict between citizens of New York, and settlers under the New Hampshire Grants, took place in this IIISTOliY OF SALISBUKY. 47 town ; though the people were well acquainted with the difficulties between the two States, and in case of an emergency requiring their personal interference, were ready, both men and women, to apply the " Beach Seal," in keeping with the true meaning of the spirit of the times. 48 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. CHAPTER YL LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS. Many of the early settlers of Salisbury were very illiterate men. and none had received any better edu- cation than that obtained at common schools in the states from which they came. The extent of their learning was to be able to read, write and spell, and that, often very indifferently, while a few had some knowledge of arithmetic. Some persons were elected to important offices in town, who had no knowledge of figures, and could not even write. This was not a rare occurrence. If, for instance, one of the three se- lect men, had a knowledge of the primary branches of education, it mattered little how it might be with the others, provided they were good judges of men and property. The same might be said of the listers and perhaps of other officers. Tlie following is a list of town officers from March 1Y88 to Sei^tember 1859. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. Town Clbrk. 1788. Selectmen, Tbeasttrer anp Repbebentative. EleazeiClaghorn.Jas. Bradley, T. EleazerClaghorn, St^hen^Hard,^^^^ Steph. Hard, E. "*'• E-Claghom, Jas. Bradley, EleazerClaghorn, |.Harf., James Bradley, '^^^^' Holland Weeks, Abel Johnson, EleazerClaghorn, E.Kel^ey^^^^^ S. Hard, ^'^^^' A. Johnson, EleazerClaghorn, I Hard^^^ John Fife, 1792 Asa Lawrence, EleazerClaghorn, E.Claghora, "''■ Eleazer Claghorn, EleazerClaghorn, |l«sM^ey,^_ S. Hard, J. Bradley, E. Claghorn, J. Bradley, 49 CONBTABX.B. Stephen Hard. Stephen Hard. Solomon Everts. 1794. Stephen Hard, 1795. Stephen Hard, 1796. Stephen Hard, 1797. Stephen Hard, 1798. Stephen Hard, 4* E. Kelsey, SalathielBump, Holland Weeks, S. Bump, E. Claghorn, Jas. Bradley, S. Bump, E. Claghorn, J. Bradley, E. Claghorn, S. Bump, Asa Lawrence, S. Bump, A. Lawrence, S. Hard, Solomon Everts. E. Claghorn, J. Bradley, S. Hard, Jas. Bradley, S. Hard, Jas. Bradley, S. Hard, E. Claghorn, Stephen Hard, Holland Weeks E. Claghorn, H. Weeks, E. Claghorn, S. Bump, S. Hard, Solomon Everts Solomon Everts. Sam'l Pierce. Sam'l Pierce. ' Sam'l Pierce. Sam'l Pierce. Sam'l Pier?®- 50 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. Town Clkrk. 1799. Beuben Saxton. 1800. Reuben Saxton, 1801. Ueuben Saxton, 1802. Reuben Saxton, 1803. Reuben Saxton, 1804. Reuben Saxton, 1805. IBeuben Saxton, 1806. Reuben Saxton, 1807. Reuben Saxton, 1808. Reuben Saxton, 1809. Kcubcn Saxton, 1810. Reuben Saxton, Ski.kctmkn. H. Weeks, John Doming, Wm. Smauley, 11. Weeks, J. Deming, W. Smauley, S. Bump, A. Lawrence, Abner More, S. Bump, A. Lawrence, W. Smauley, S. Bump, Henry Kelar, E. Claghorn, S. Bump, H. Kelar, E. Claghoni, S. Bump, H. Kelar, E. Claghorn, S. Bump, E. Kelsey, U. Kelar, S. Bump, E. Kelsey, H. Kelar, S. Bump, A. Moroj Gam'l Kelsey, H. Kelar, Patrick Johnson, Jonathan Gibson, H. Kelar, P. Johnson, J. Gibson, Trkasuker and Eepkesektative. n. Weeks, S. Bump, Reuben Saxton, S. Bump, R. Saxton, S. Bump, R. Saxton, S. Bump, S. Bump. R. Saxton, S. Bump, R. Saxton, R. Saxton, S. Buihp, R. Saxton, S. Bump, R. Saxton, S. Bump, R. Saxton, S. Bump, R. Saxton, R. Saxton, R. Saxton, R. Saxton, CoWSTAItl.K. Sam'l Pierce. Sam'l Pierce. Sam'l Pierce. Sam'l Pierce, Sam'l Pierce. Sam'l Pierce. Sam'l Pierce. Sam'l Pierce, Sam'l Pierce. Abner More. Caleb H. Crook, Eliakim Wcckjj. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 51 Town Clekk. 1811. Reuben Saxton, 1812. Rouben Saxton, 1813. Reuben Saxton, 1814. Reuben Saxton, 1815. Reuben Saxton, 1816. Reuben Saxton. 1817. Reuben Saxton, 1818. Reuben Saxton, 1819. Reuben Saxton, 1820.' Reuben Saxton, 1821. Reuben Saxton, 1822. Reuben Saxton, Selectmen. S. Bump, J. Gibson, Joel Newton, J. Wainwright, John Morton, Isaac Nelson, P. Johnson, Jona Gibson, Eliakim "Weeks, Josiah W. Halo, Jed'h Lawrence, Jona Gibson, J. W. Hale, Jona. Gibson, Jed'h Lawrence, J. Wainwright, R. Saxton, John Morton, R. Saxton, J. Morton, E. Weeks, R. Saxton, J. Morton, E. Weeks, S. Bump, E. Weeks, A. Mere, J. M. Weeks, E. Weeks, A. More, A. More, S. Bump, Aaron Barrows, A. More, S. Bump, A. Barrows, Treasuker and Eepeesentative. E. Saxton, S. Bump, S. Bump, R. Saxton, R. Saxton, R. Saxton, R. Saxton, R- Saxton, R. Saxton, Jona. Gibson, S. Bump, Jona. Gibson, Arteraas Moses, Jona. Gibson, Jas. Andrews, S. Bump, J. M. Weeks, S. Bump, R. Saxton, S. Bump, R, Saxton, S. Bump, E. Saxton, S. Bump, Constable, Eliakim Weeks. James Crook. John M. Week)*. John M. Weeks. Eliakim Weeks. Eliakim Weeks. Eliakim Weeks, Ruel Smith. Truman Dewey. Truman Dewej. Truman Dewey. Truman Dewey. 62 HISTORY OF SALISBUKY. Town Clerk. 1823. Reuben Saxton, 1824. Reuben Saxton, 1825. Reuben Saxton, 1826. Reuben Saxton, 1827. Reuben Saxton, 1828. Harvey Deming, 1829. Harvey Deming, 1830. Harvey Deming, 1831. Harvey Deming, 1832. Wash'n Miller, 1833. Wash'n Miller, 1834. Waah»n Miller, Sblecthbk. A. Barrows, J. Morton, Nath'l Spencer, A. Barrows, N. Spencer, Jona. Gibson, Teeasttree and Kkpeesentativb. R. Saxton, Harvey Deming, R. Saxton, H. Deming, Caleb H. Crook, R. Saxton, J. Morton, Gam'l Kelsey, A. Barrows, H. Deming, R. Saxton, N. Spencer, Leonard Steward, A. Barrows, Elnathan Darling, A. Barrows, N. Spencer, L. Steward, A. Barrows, E. Darling, A. Barrows, N. Spencer, Prentice G. Alden, A. Barrows, E. Darling, L. Bump, A. Doud, H. Deming, A. Doud, N. Spencer, H. Deming, A. Doud, N. Spencer, A. Barrows, C. Bump, P. Flagg, P. Flagg, C. Bump, A. Barrows, A. Barrows, Jona. Gibson, A. Barrows, E. Darling, A. Barrows, E. N. Briggs, A. Barrows, E. N. Briggs, A. Barrows, E. N. Briggs, E. N. Briggs, A. Barrows, Franklin Bump, Morris Graves, E. N. Briggs, UONSTABLK. Truman Dewey. Lothrop Bump. Albigence Doud. Lothrop Bump. Wash'n Miller. Wash'n Miller. Wash'n Miller. Levi Briggs. Levi Briggs. Levi Briggs. Mark R. Weeks. Levi Briggs. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 53 TovTN Clerk. 1835. Wash'n Miller, 1886. Aaron Barrows, 1837. Aaron Barrows, 1838. V. D. Barrows, 1839. P. D. Barrows, 1840. P. D. Barrows, 1841. P. D. Barrows, 1842. P. D. Barrows, 1843. P. D. Barrows, 1844.- P. D. Barrows, 1845. P. D. Barrows, 1846. E. H. Weeks, Selectmen. E. N. Briggs, F. Bump, Truman Titus, F. Bump, T. Titus, Sumner Briggs, James L. Morton, S. Brigofs, E. H.^Vceks, S. Briggs, E. H. Weeks, Albi Doud, E. H. Weeks, J. R. Olin, L. Bump, E. H. Weeks, L. Bump, Miles Storey, M. Storey, F. Bump, J. M. Weeks, M. Storey, F. Bump, J. M. Weeks, J. M. Weeks, M. S. Doty, John Dyer, M. S. Doty, J. Dyer, E. 11. Weeks, Sam'l S. Crook, O. P. Shelden, A. Barrows, S. S. Crook, 0. P. Shelden, Amos Hamilton, Treasurub and liEPKESENTATIVB. A. Barrows, E. N. Briggs, John Beckwith, A Barrows, J. Beckwith, A. Barrows, W. Miller, Mark E. Weeks, W. Miller, Mark R. Weeks, W. Miller, M. E. Weeks, M. H. Eanncy, Franklin Bump, M. 11. Eanney, F. Bump, M. n. Ranney, Sumner Briggs, M. H. Eanney, Sumner Briggs, M. H. Eanney, S. S. Crook, M. S. Doty, Sam'l S. Crook, CONSTABLB. Levi Briggs. Levi Briggs. Levi Briggs. Levi Briggs. Levi Briggs. Levi Briggs. A. B. Huntly. A. B. Huntly. A. B. Huntly. A. B. Huntly. A. B. Huntly. Sol. Thomas, jr. 54 HISTORY OF SALISBUKV. To-wN Clerk. 1S47. E. H. Weeks, 1848. K. 11. Weeks, 1849. K. II. Weeks, 1850. Lothrop Bump, 1851. Lothrop Bump, 1852. E, Jl. Weeks, 1853. E. H. Weeks, 1854. E. H. Weeks, 1855. J. N. Moore, 1856. J. N. Moore, 1857. E. A. Hamilton, 1858. E. A. Hamilton, 1859. JR. A. Hamilton, Belectmkn. A. Hamilton, F. Bump, James Fitts, F. Bump, J. Fitts, John J. Kelsey, J. Prout,^ John J. Kelsey, J. Fitts, Tkeasurbr and EkI'RKSENTATIVK. O. G. Dyer, John Prout, O. G. Dyer, John Prout, 0. G. Dyer, John Colby, John M. Dyer, J. Prout, Koyal D. Hedden, Al'n Wainwright, John Colby, J. Prout, F. Bump, H. Thomas, John Prout, F. Bump, H. Thomas, II. Thomas, Koyal Graves, J. J. Kelsey, H. Thomas, J. J. Kelsey, K. Graves, H. Thomas, Jas. Fitts, F. L. Dyer, Jas, Fitts, F. L. Dyer, Frank Atwood, F. Bump, H. Thomas, F. D. Taylor, H. W. Everts, II. Tliomas, Elijah Cloyes, J. M. Dyer, John Dyer, J. M. Dyer, John Dyer, J. N. Moore, F. Bump, J. N. Moore, E. H. Weeks, J. N. Moore, F. Bump, J. N. Moore, E. H. Weeks, W. A.Waterhouse, Const AB LB. Nehemiah Pray. James Fitts, jr. James Fitts, jr. James Fitts, jr. James Fitts, jr. Jas. Fitts. Jas. Fitts, jr. J. C. Gipson. J. C. Gipson. J. C. Gipson. F. L. Dyer, H. Thomas, F. L. Dyer," H. W. Everts, H. Thomas, H. Thomas, Al'n Wainwright, J. M. Dyer, Jas. Fitts, jr. Jas. Fitts, jr. Jas. Fitts, jr. mSTORY OF SALISBURY. 55 CHAPTEK YII. ALLOTMENT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS. NOTICES OF SCHOOLS. At a town meeting, held March 21, 1789, it was voted to divide the town into three school district?. The first to embrace all the inhabitants living on the west road, from Holland Weeks' to Benjamin Gar- field's (Leonard Jenny's present place of residence) ; also the nearest inhabitants living on cross roads. The second commenced at Gamaliel Painter's, and embraced all the people living on the middle road, as well as those living nearest on cross roads as far south as William Kendal's, who then lived on the farm now occupied by Lothrop Bump. The third embraced as many as would join to support a school on the east road, from Gilbert Everts', on the north, to Leicester line, on the south. Only one school district was le- gally organized this year. The history of the difi'erent school districts must necessarily be very meagre, for the early records of all, except one, have been lost, or so indifi'erently kept, that it is impossible to gather a connected and intelligible account from them. The first district or- 56 HISTORY OF SALISBUIiY. ganized is tlie exception above referred to, and was that embracing the west pavt of the town ; though the oldest, its records have been carefull}^ kept in a bound book, and preserved entire to the present day. This district was organized on the 22d day of Octo- ber, 1789, on which occasion Joseph Farnham was chosen moderator, and Holland Weeks clerk. Quite a large portion of the inhabitants lived in the west part of the town at that time, all of whom were anxious for the early education of their children. A good teacher, a man of classical education, named Matthew Sterling was soon procured. He commenced school in the latter part of the autumn of 1789, in a small log house which stood on the ground now occu- pied by the stone school house. A more commodious house, twenty-four feet square oT frame work, was built a few rods north of this place, the following year. Here Mr. Sterling remained in the capacity of teacher for several years. * On account of the scar- * Mr. Sterling was in many respects an excellent teacher. He followed the old Connecticut customs in his mode of in- struction and government. In the winter of 1793, as the number of his pupils had increased to about forty, ho appointed Eliakim Weeks and Horatio Watrous, Ushers^ and required that to thcra the school should show the same obedience and deference as to himself. These ushers were allowed to pass in and out of the house, as HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 57 city of money in those days, it was tlie custom among the people for a few years, to pay for the tuition of their children in labor, so that while the master was teaching the children to read, write and spell, their fathers were cleari;ig up his land, harrowing his ground and sowing his seed. The taxes for schools often as they pleased, even during study hours, while the whole school were reC[uired to rise and make obeisance to them as often as they passed through the door. Such rules would hardly succeed in these later days, indeed those ushers, even then, were objects of envy and jealousy among the large scholars, and gave rise to dissatisfaction in the district School government in those days, as a general thing, was much more severe than at present. In the winter of 1794 or 1795 Mr. Sterling made a rule in school, that as often as any scholar misspelt three words in succession, he should be ferulled. Lewis Graves, one of the largest boys, who had not previously enjoyed the advantages of a school, except to a very limited extent, believing the rule was made to reach him alone, became so frightened at the time of recitation, that he was unable to spell a single word correctly, and the law was executed upon him in the severest manner, nine different times (some said eleven times) in a single half-day. By this time the people in the district became justly alarmed, and at the close of that winter's term, Mr. S. was allowed to retire from any further service as school teacher. Lewis Graves, in the year ]854 was between seventy and eighty years of age, a re- spectable and intelligent farmer, in the north-eastern part of New York. 5 58 HISTOKY OF SALISBURY. were invariably made upon the grand list, thus re- lieving the poor of any considerable tax except in the matter of furnishing wood, which was a thing easily done in a country covered with timber. Until about the year 1810 or 1811 no change was made in the manner of raising or paying the wages of district school teachers. The tax was always paid promptly on or before the last day of the term, until a new order of things was instituted by a legis- lative act, which required school taxes to be paid into the town treasury, and distributed to the several dis- tricts, in proportion to the number of scholars in each. Previous to this, the school in district 'No. 1, was one of the best in Addison County. Parents, as well as committees were punctual in visiting it, encouraging both teacher and pupils, and prompt in all things pertaining to the interests of the school. But by the new law, more than half of the money raised by this district was drawn away and distributed to others. This soon produced indifference among many of our citizens, and the interest in common-school education generally, evidently began to decline. Taxes could not be collected as formerly without great delay ; the school was not visited, and less interest was manifested in the character and ability of teachers. This law, by most people in the district, was considered oppres- sive. Moreover, the war of 1812, with its bad effects, HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 59 lay heayilj on the shoulders of the people ; and what was still more discouraging, their school-house was burned down in 1815. But these adverse circum- stances and feelings of dissatisfaction ^ere, on reflec- tion, overcome by a more generous spirit, which may well be cherished everywhere — for by it the common- school education of the poor is placed on an equal footing with that of the rich. Most of the people finally approved of the law; new energies were brought to life, and a new school-house, of stone, erected within a year from the time the old one was burnt. The law referred to had a disastrous effect on some of the other school districts. The inhabitants of dis- trict 'No. 3, in the centre of the town, also thought the law an oppressive one, and allowed their school- house to go to decay, and their schools to stop, for the most part, for many years. It is believed they were without a school-house for nearly thirty years, employing female teachers only, and occupying a room in some private dwelling as a school-j*oom, and that only during a small portion of the year. Indeed, only the small children were taught in the district, while the large boys and girls were accommodated in neighboring districts, or sent to high-schools abroad. But, under a change of circumstances, this district has become more prosperous, and now has a good 60 HISTOKY OF SALISBURY. Bchool-house, built in 1848. The interest of the peo- ple of this town in common schools is apparent from the earnest and ready action which has been taken in building new school-houses, and in removing old and inconvenient fixtures, and giving place to those of more modern and agreeable style, and better in keep- ing with the comfort and health of those who use and occupy them. ^ Four new school-houses were built in this town within two or three years previous to 1849. Moreover, the annual interest of the United States' deposit-money has been of great service to common schools. This interest, amounting to $129 08, was first made available in 1839, and lessens the school tax to a sum which can be raised without much effort. The United States' deposit-money for the town of Salisbury, in 1838, was $2,1C5 22. Under the census of 1840, a small portion of this sum was taken away, which reduced it to $2,159 34, and, under the census of 1850, $30 95 was added to the latter sum. The first school-books used in this town were Web- Bter's Spelling Book and Third Part (Dillworth's Spelling Book and Arithmetic were used in a few in- stances, but only for a short time). Pike's Abridged Arithmetic soon came into use, and was the only book of that kind used for quite a number of years. Latin Grammar was taught in district No. 1, in the HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 61 winter of 1797-98, and English Grammar in tlie win- ter of 1799-1800. A large majority of the people were opposed to the study of Grammar in common- schools, and it was laid aside for many years. A good knowledge of Arithmetic, as far as the Rule of Three, together with a knowledge of reading, writing, and spelling, was considered by the early settlers a sufficient and ample education to fit a young man for all ordinary business transactions. Those who de- sired a more liberal education, had the advantages of a grammar-school, taking the name of Addison County, which was incorporated under an act of Legislature, and established at Middlebury in 1799. The people of Salisbury, from the first settlement of the town, have endeavored to aid their teachers as much as possible in sustaining good order and gov- ernment in school. A few parents, it is true, have, at times, seemed unwilling that their children should be made to obey the rules of their teachers, unless, perchance, those rules accorded with their own notions of government, which, in most cases, was no govern- ment at all, either in school or at home. It is un- doubtedly true, that children brought up under loose parental discipline, are oftenest found to be refractory and disobedient in school. There is no authority which can be invested in a teacher, nor can a teacher adopt any system of government, which shall equal 5* 62 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. the quiet yet eifectual influences of a good early training of children at home. In this town it has sometimes occurred, though rarely, that large boys, even young men, have gone 80 far in resistance to the teacher's authority as to make opposition in a personal conflict ; and, in a very few instances, combinations have been formed for the purpose of turning the teacher out of doors. The most striking instance of this kind occurred at Salis- bury village, in district No. 5, in the winter of 1826. A young man by the name of William Blake was em- ployed in teaching this school at that time. All went on in good order until the sti^ctness of the discipline be- came unpleasant to a few of the large boys in attend- ance. These boys, it is said, combined together to put the teacher out of doors, one day, in case he un- dertook to punish one of their number, who had pre- viously been deemed guilty of some ofieuce. In the morning of the day intended for the infliction of the punishment, suspicions of this combination were com- municated to Mr. Blake ; but being a man of more than ordinary strength, he concluded that the boys would not dare to attempt to carry out so hazardous a plan, and was about to inflict punishment on the offbnder, when Seymour C. Howard, a young man of considerable strength, stepped out of his seat and demanded that the punishment should not be in- HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 63 iiicted. This provocation was followed by a scuffle between the teacher and pupil, which, while it was the means of restoring order in school, resulted in the death of the latter, for he died in the course of a few hours, from the effect of a fracture in the skull which he received during the conflict. The facts of this case were subsequently examined before the county court, in a trial against Mr. Blake for manslaughter, but which resulted in his acquittal.* * The schools of Salisburj, like those of every other town, have had their fun-loving and truant boys, who have at times learned, from sad experience, what books would ever fail to teach them. An incident occurred in one of our schools, in the latter part of the eighteenth century, which illustrates this idea, and was substantially as follows : — Two large boys, who had become fatigued with the monotony of the school-room, and who, perhaps, by nature, had at that time a greater inclina- tion for the incidents and pleasures of the woods than for those of the intellect, concluded they would leave the school one afternoon, -and go into the woods in search of tamarack gum. They entered the woods at no great distance from the school- house, and had not proceeded far, when they discovered in the snow the track of some wild animal, which neither of them had previously seen. The thought struck them at once, that if they could make this animal, whatever it might be, their captive, it might mitigate, somewhat, the offence of running away from school, at the same time that it would furnish an object of curiosity for all the neighborhood. So tliey followed 64 HISTORY OF SALTSBUBr. No country was ever settled under auspices niore favorable to the education of the common people than JS'ew England. Education of the masses was the track until it entered the hollow of a large log. Eager in the prospect of so easy a prize, they cut a stick and prepared the end of it, so that by twisting it into the hair of the animal, he could be drawn out to their reach ; but, on trying, the stick was found too short for the purpose, and it was finally agreed between them that one should crawl into the log, while the other should stand with a club in hand, ready for any emer- gency which might arise on the occasion. So, with no little uncertainty as to the result of an interview with an unknown animal, one of the boys took the stick and entered the log. When he had crowded himself in a distance nearly the length of his body, he succeeded in reaching the object of his search, and proceeded to stir him up with the end of his stick. Now, the first occupant having taken up his residence here, and established his rights thereto by possession Or discovery, or other natural laws, supposed no human authority could expel him ; and being endowed by his Maker with instruments of self-defence sufficient, in this case at least, to repel inva- sion, he directed, with the precision of a perfect marksman, a shot of that nondescript character so j^eculiar to his kind, into the face and eyes of the intruder, which, from its native pun- gency and suffocating influences, rendered the young man in- sensible until he was drawn forth by the heels from the log into the open air. With his returning breath came the con- sciousness that he had learned more of the nature of wild ani- mals that afternoon, than he could have done in a much longer time from his books at school. It must be added, that while HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 65 rightly deemed the foundation of every permanent beneficent institution, and it has ever been the sure guaranty for their perpetuation. All towns and set- tlements at their beginning felt the importance of good teachers and good ministers. The people wanted instructors not only pious but learned. On the other hand, those who had the power, made this want felt by the people. One of the leading points in the application of a church and people to a council of clergy to settle a minister among them, was a guar- anty on the part of the people that he should be well and liberally supported, to enable him to devote him- self to his studies, rather than compel him to devote a part of his time to outside employments to procure a living. Most of the settlers of Vermont came from the Xew England states, and inherited the habits and customs of their fathers, and in respect to liberality towards their ministers, did not lose sight of the ex- ample of their native states. One of the first things of a public character we find among the early settlers. one of the boys declared the truthfulness of these facts, the other was unwilling to acknowledge that he, at any time, either in the log or out of it, lost his consciousness ; but, at any rate, his presence the following day, and for several sub- sequent weeks, gave evidence to the whole school that he had been in strange, if not in bad company. 66 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. is the institution of common schools and churches, which are soon followed by colleges and' benevolent institutions, exerting a most salutary moral and liter- ary influence in the land. The cause of education has advanced in a marvelous way, and now, as we look upon the books and studies of this later day, we are lost in reflecting upon its strange contrast with the quiet, unlearned simplicity of early life. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 67 CHAPTER Yin. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION. SOIL. TIMBER. CROPS AND PRODUCE. SHEEP. AGRICULTURAL LMPLEMENTS. The distance between the eastern and western boundaries of the town of Salisbury, including the strip ceded to Ripton, is seven miles ; and a line from north to south through the town, on the head of the second tier of home lots, measures four miles and thirty-three rods. It is probably a little wider than this at the west end. It is estimated that one third of the town or more, in- cluding Lake Dunmore, lies on the mountains, much of which is good loam soil, capable of being made into good pasture land, but which is, for the most part, too cold for tillage. Many fine lots of timber are yet found here, composed chiefly of spruce, maple, birch and other hard-wood trees, together with some stately pines. The difficulty of making roads upon the mountain-side has hitherto prevented any great improvement in these lands, the most of which are yet in a wild state. That body of land lying along the western side of the mountain, varying from one 08 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. to one and a half miles in width, is somewhat hilly, but is excellent land for the purposes of tilling. Wheat, corn, rye, oats, and all other crops raised in this state, are successfully cultivated here, and with less liability of failure (the hay crop excepted,) than in any other part of the town. Notwithstanding many of the pines which once dotted the hills and covered the valleys with their evergreen shade, have gone to supply the markets of the world, a good number yet remain, and still an abundance of oak is found for the various branches of the mechanic arts, for building purposes and fencing the land. The middle and western part of the town is more level and better adapted to grass. Much of it is of an alluvial nature, bordering on streams which meander through the town, from the mountains. Leicester river, which takes its rise from Lake Dun- more, runs through the village and along near the southern boundary of the town until it empties into Otter creek. To the north of this river, a swamp, w^ith a little of that land called interval, forms quite an extensive tract, and extends to the north nearly one fourth of the distance across the town, and nearly to the swamp which borders Otter creek. This swamp which borders on Otter creek varies in width from about ninety rods to a mile, and extends throughout the entire width of the town. There is another swamp. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 69 about half a mile in width, which extends from the northern boundary about two miles to the south. This swamp was made by tlie combined influence of Middlebury river (the channel of which for about a mile is found in Salisbury), Flat brook and Beaver brook. These two latter streams empty into the former. Most of these low lands are covered with timber, valuable for purposes of building and fencing. Of this timber, white pine, cedar, red ash and oak, are the most valuable. The soil is chiefly interval near the streams, while a black muck, on a clay subsoil, varying in depth from about four inches to seven or eight feet, is found in the swamp. On trial, this muck has been proved to make good fuel, and would, undoubtedly, be a fair substitute for wood or coal. About half of the town is composed of mountainous and swampy land ; the latter, so far as they have been drained and thoroughly cultivated, are found to be more valuable for grazing and for some purposes of tilling than any other. Most of these lands yet re- main in a wild and uncultivated state. All the land in the middle and western part of the town is well adapted to the growth of grass, and con- sequently admirably fltted for the profitable raising of cattle and sheep. The ridge lands are nearly equally divided into clay and loam. The loam is 6 70 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. usually stony, and was formerly covered chiefly with hard timber, interspersed with pine and oak, while the clay is most always free from stones, and was originally covered with hemlock and pine, inter- spersed occasionally with oak, beech, maple, bass- wood and other kinds of trees. The loam land was most productive of wheat when the land was first cleared. Forty bushels was con- sidered a good crop, while at the same time, a yield of thirty bushels on clay was all that could be ex- pected, though it is believed that the average crops of wheat, previous to 1800, did not exceed from twenty to twenty-five bushels to the acre. Holland "Weeks raised, in 1Y91, seven hundred bushels of wheat from a little less than thirty acres of new land, and though one acre of it was known to yield over forty-three bushels, yet the average was only about twenty-three bushels to the acre. John Mumlo made distilled liquors from grain in the southerly part of Middlebury this year, and paid fifty cents per bushel for wheat. Fifty bushels of corn from an acre was called a great yield in 1805, as was also fifty bushels of oats, and four hundred bushels of potatoes per acre, though it is believed that an average crop through town would amount to but Itttle over half this quan- tity. The following table shows the principal va- rieties of timber found in this town when it was first settled. HISTOKY OF SALISBURY. 71 White pine, White elm, Pitch pine, Red elm, Norway pine, Red ash, Black cherry, White ash, Red or pigeon cherry. Mongrel ash. White oak. Mountain ash, Red oak. Red cedar. Over cup oak. White cedar. Black oak, Ironwood, Blue oak, Hackmatack, Yellow oak. Poplar, Basswood, Sweet walnut, Small white beech. Bitter walnut. Large white beoch. Butternut, Red beech. Balsam fir. Blue beech, Pepperidge, Black birch. Sugar maple. Cherry birch, White maple, White birch. Moose maple. Yellow birch. To this list list might be added the names of some other trees, which are valuable for certain purposes, and which will be noticed hereafter. Norway pines were found near the base of the mountains in considerable numbers ; and that was their only locality. But the demand from abroad has been so great for this timber that but little of it now is to be found. Sweet walnut was known by most of the early set- T2 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. tiers only by the bark of the trees lying on the ground in the woods, while the timber had gone to decay and disappeared. These relics of bark showed that this timber, at some period not very remote, had grown here in great abundance. As late as the year 1800, a few of these trees miglit have been seen in the wes- tern part of the town. Some of them were of im- mense size, and grew up like the stately oak. They were afterward cut and split into rails to fence the land on which they stood. They evidently had es- caped the pestilence which had caused the universal overthrow of this valuable timber. The second growth of the walnut is more valuable than the first. It is within the memory of many now living, when this timber first made its appearance in its second spontaneous growth. It appeared on the land which had been cleared, as it also did in the forests. Black cherry was also found by the settlers in con- siderable quantities, and answered valuable purposes in the construction of household furniture. Butternut is now taking the place of black cherry to a conside- rable extent, as the former has mostly disappeared. Maple is valuable for its timber, as well as for its sap, which is made into sugar, and has always done its part in contributing to the convenience and luxury of the inhabitants of the town. Maple sugar has always been made in greater or HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 73 less quantities in this town, and at one time formed one of its principle articles of export to the various markets of the older states, and to Montreal ; but the axe and fire have done much in the destruction of the maple tree. Moreover, the forest worm, the diamond- backed caterpillar (which first made its appearance in town about the year 1826), destroyed so many of these trees, that many sugar- works were completely ruined ; 80 that very little sugar was made for many years afterward. The second growth of the maple tree in- dicates, at present, a return of sugar-making, at least to some extent. Salts and potash made from the ashes of log-heaps burnt in clearing the land, were at one time a source of some profit, as those articles were sold for exporta- tion to cities, and even to foreign countries. But as the country became cleared, and timber became more valuable, the yearly product of ashes grew rapidly less, and now very few engage in this speculation. Wheat was formerly raised in great quantities in Salisbury, and was a crop of a good deal of profit to the inhabitants. The first crops taken from the land were far superior in quantity, and of better quality than those of subsequent years ; and although the annual quantity of wheat became so reduced in the course of thirty years from the first settlement of the town that it was insufiicient to sustain all the inhabi- 6* 74 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. tants, yet the crop was generally considered a fair re- muneration for the farmer's time and expense in rais- ing it. About this time (1827), the midge, an insect improp- erly called weevil), made its appearance, and de- stroyed so much of the wheat that its culture was in a great measure abandoned for many years. This in- sect appears to be a successor to the Hessian fly, which appeared about the year 1801, and did great injury some subsequent seasons by attacking the wheat-stalk near its root. Since the njidge made its appearance, the Hessian fly has seldom been seen. The weevil is found underneath the innermost integu- ment of the seed or kernel, the egg from which it is hatched being deposited there through an incision made in the outer covering of the kernel when in a milky or tender state ; so that when the egg assumes the larva form, it subsists on the nutriment intended to fertilize and mature the kernel, and thus lives and thrives at the expense of the grain. This insect, like the diamond-backed caterpillar, is so periodical in its visits that its attacks can in a measure be avoided by the farmer ; and this has been done to such an extent that nearly a sufiicient quantity of this grain has been raised in town, since the year 1840, to meet the con- sumption of its inhabitants. Rye has never been raised to any great extent in HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 75 the middle and western parts of tlie town, though in the eastern parts, near the mountains, it has been raised in considerable quantities, and of the best quality. Indian corn, or maize, has always been considered one of the most important and useful crops, both for making bread and feeding stock, though but little has here been raised for foreign markets. Oats were not extensively grown by the first set- tlers, though the culture of them has been found quite profitable in later years. Flax was cultivated with great care in the early years of the town, for it was then one of the most im- portant crops. It was this crop that sustained the busy work of the distafi^, wheel and loom — "those ancient exponents of domestic prosperity." Field beans have been cultivated from the earliest settlement, in quantities just about sufficient for the consumption of people, all of whom use them more or less as an article of food. The cultivation of field peas was also encouraged by the early settlers, both as a food for the table, and for the purpose of feeding stock ; but their cultivation was interrupted about the year 1804, by the appear- ance of insects of the bug tribe, which eat out quite a large portion of the best part of the pea. This, of course, detracted from the profits of the crop, at the 76 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. same time, that the presence of these animals in tlie soup dish was decidedly unpleasant to the taste. These insects propagate their species by making an incision through the pod into the pea, and depositing therein an egg, while the pea is yet young and tender. This egg soon assumes the chrysalis state, which it retains for a long time, and transforms to the perfect winged insect, early in the following spring, just in time to commit their devastations on the early-sowed peas of that year. From the time of the appearance of this insect, pea-culture began to decline, and con- tinued to decline until it was found that late sowing brought on the young pea at a period too late for the enemy to do its injurious work. Then the cultivation of the pea revived again, which was about the year 1818. Buckwheat, though a crop of secondary importance, was raised in this town as early as the year 1804; perhaps earlier. It is a peculiarity of this grain, that it can be raised on ground not very rich. Its flour is esteemed by many as an article of food. It is oftenest made into griddle-cakes — which are perhaps best known in I^ew England, or at any rate in Salisbury, by the peculiar and funny soubriquet of slap-jacks. The blossoms of this grain yield a good supply of honey, though of an inferior quality, so that it is of use to the apiarian, as well as to the farmer and epi- HISTORY OF SALISBIJKY. 77 cure; and, more, it blossoms at a time when most other plants have passed their bloom. It has never been raised in this town for a foreign sale. Other grains might be mentioned, for instance, barley and hemp, and also that plant of more subtle and danger- ous use, tobacco ; but as none of them were of any great success, we will pass them over in silence. As it regards vegetables ; as a field crop, potatoes have always taken the lead, and have been deemed of the highest importance as an article of food for both man and beast. Ever since the year 1844, the potato crop has suffered every year, to a greater or less extent, from the disease called the potato rot. All the skill of the farmer, in preventives, has thus far, in a great measure, been unsuccessful, and this monster disease still moves on without much molesta- tion. ISTot only the farmers but the men of science have united their talents in the cause of the potato, and are now directing their energies for the preserva- tion of this most valuable of all vegetables. Losses from this disease were greater during the first years of its existence here than in the few years past, still the potato fields of every autumn reveal hundreds of bushels of these vegetables not worth the gathering. Should all human means fail, let us hope that a kind Providence will save for us this blessing, or raise up a substitute which will fill its place. 78 HISTORY OF SALISBUKY. Turnips of all kinds, as well as beets and caiTOts, have always had a limited share of the attention of our inhabitants. These vegetables are very easily cultivated, and made to yield abundantly, yet their true value seems not to be fully appreciated ; this is probably owing to the fact that hay is so easily ob- tained, and can be fed out to stock with so much less trouble. Hay, as it stands in stacks in the fields and in the barns, can usually be bought for about five or six dollars per ton, and a good supply of this will keep most all kinds of stock in a thriving condition during winter ; and, as comparatively few sales of fat cattle have hitherto been made for market in the winter, vegetables for the purpose of feeding have not been in great demand. But undoubtedly the day is not far distant when all the root crops will be better understood, and we shall see our farmers turning their attention to the cultivation of them, to fat cattle for Boston market ; for on the one hand beef is higher in price in the winter than in other parts of the year, and on the other, the farmer can well aiford the time to prepare his roots and feed them. Moreover, rail- road facilities are such, at the present time, that fat cattle can be taken to market in a few hours ride, thus avoiding that shrinkage and other loss conse- quent upon driving them two liundred miles. Garden products generally, and most of the useful HISTORY OF SALISBURY. Y9 plants raised in I^ew England, can be cultivated with great success in this town. The writer is not aware of any exceptions to this, though there may be and undoubtedly are many different kinds cultivated in other places which have not, here, been tried. The difficulty of finding a market for the surplusage has hitherto prevented much if any more outlay in horti- culture than has been needed in home use. Even the mechanics and other citizens of our villages usually raise their own garden sauce. Among our towns- people we find gardens, generally containing the fol- lowing vegetables, viz., onions, beets, carrots, cucum- bers, lettuce, a few early potatoes, beans, and perhaps a few hills of early corn and cabbages. In some in- stances we see added to these, peas, peppers, parsnips, squashes and melons, also radishes and early turnips, together with some medicinal and aromatic plants, while at the same time some farmers depend wholly on their fields for. all they have that can be called garden sauce, and do not set apart, nor fence in, any portion of their farms for garden purposes. There are many varieties of soil used for gardens which vary in their capacities for producing the dif- ferent varieties of plants, as well as shrubs and fruit trees. Fruit trees and horticultural plants generally do not flourish for any great length of time where the Bubsoil lies very near the surface, especially if that 80 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. subsoil is clay, sand or hard pan. A deep gravelly loam is our best land for the purpose of gardens, as is most strikingly exemplified all through the town. The dairy and raising neat stock have probably been the greatest sources of wealth to the farmers of Salisbury. The early settlers kept a few horses ; and a few sheep were, of course, necessary to furnish the wool wherewith to make the " homespun clothes." Tlie business of the dairy was zealously prosecu- ted, and increased from year to year as the settle- ment advanced, and as hay and pasture became more plenty, until tlie speculation in merino sheep com- menced, which was not far from the year 1825. "With the increasing interest for sheep and wool, that for cows and neat stock grew less, until the dairy was al- most entirely lost sight of, and butter and cheese no longer a staple article of export to any of the markets — though it has always been thought, by many of our farmers, that the dairy business, if well conducted on many of the farms in town, would be more profitable than any other. The first sheep kept in this town was a small flock purchased in Massachusetts, by Col. Thomas Sawyer, in the summer of 1786 ; and the first improvement of much importance in sheep and wool was made by in- troducing the merino sheep, in the year 1809 or 1810. William Lampson, of New Haven, took the lead in HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 81 this movement. He purchased a buck which had re- cently been shipped from Spain, at a great price (un- derstood to be $1300), and allowed the farmers to drive their ewes to him, giving, as compensation, one-half of the increase. Though this resulted in a great im- provement in sheep, and one of the highest import- ance to the wool-grower, the remuneration coming to Mr. Lampson was so slow, and the encouragement which he at first received so little, that in the under- taking his own purse was nearly drained to the bot- tom. We much regret that we are unable to find any statistics by w^hich a comparative account could be given of the stock, and of the various agricultural products of the town from year to year ; indeed, we should be content if it could be given once in ten years from the settlement of the town. All the avail- able statistics we have, are taken from the United States census of 1840 and 1850, as follows : Horses. Cows. Oxen. other Sheep. Hogs. Bush. Bush. Bush. Bush. A. D. 1840. Cattle. Wh't. Eye. Corn. Oata. 164 740 5200 490 1460 800 5060 6800 A. D. 1850. 136 255 96 228 *29T1 *177 1962 1272 5940 4417 Bush. •Peas & Pota- Wool. Orch'd. Tons lbs. lbs. lbs. Popu- B'kwh't Beans. toes. Hay. But'r. Cheese. SugT. lation. A. D. 1840. 150 20240 * 15900 2150 5600 94J A.D. 1850. 214 400 8551 * 13062 81166 2907 7735 5900 6687 1027 * Correctness doubted.! 82 HISTORY OF SALISBUKV. The subject of agricultural implements is closely connected with that of agricultural products, but these implements have been so numerous, and the changes and improvements in them so frequent, that to give an account of all would be a useless task. Mention will be made of only a few of the more important ones. The plow, commonly called the "Colter plow," gave place to the iron share and bolt, about the year 1800. This latter plow was made of wrought iron, with steel points and edges, and was a great improve- ment upon the former. This, in time, was superseded by the cast iron plow, which was introduced about the year 1823, but which came into use rather slowly. Since that time there has been a constant improvement in plows ; nearly every year bringing forth a new one, differing a little from any of those preceding. The horse-rake, an implement of great importance in saving hand labor, was used by a few, though with- out much success, for a number of years ; finally the improvements made about the year 1840 brought it into very general use. The cultivator, an implement principally used be- tween rows of corn or potatoes, instead of the plow, was introduced in 1839, and Geddes's harrow in 1844. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 83 Other agricultural implements might be noticed, for instance, the mowing machine, the corn planter, the hay presser, the drag rake, the straw cutter, the thrashing machine, and many others of recent date, of which the scope of this history will not allow us to make mention.* * In the year 1856, through the influence of John J. Kelsey, Oliver Hyde, Ebenezer Weeks and others, an agricultural so- ciety, taking the name of Lake Dunmore, was organized. This society has held three annual fairs, one on each year since its organization ; on which occasions are made exhibitions of stock, agricultural produce and implements, and articles of household manufacture, of no inferior kind. Each succeeding fair has been a decided improvement on its predecessor, both in the numbers in attendance and in the various display of the products of the town. These occasions have been attended with a formal address and occasional speeches, and with all the accompaniments of music, processions and shows, calcu- lated to produce enthusiasm and eclat. During the winter months, under the auspices of this society, the town has also been favored occasionally with lectures by men from abroad. 84 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. CHAPTEK IX. FRUIT, SPONTANEOUS AND CULTIVATED. The early settlers gave but little attention to the cultivation of small fruits, such as are usually raised in our gardens. A few set out currant bushes, or left an occasional indigenous plum tree to stand nncared for in some remote corner of their garden. About the year 1810, Moses Sheldon brought one or two varieties of strawberries into town, from Salis- bury, Connecticut ; and it may be added, these straw- berries were far superior to many varieties introduced since that time. Since gypsum, or plaster of Paris, has been freely used on our lands, the Sheldon strawberry has gone out of date, and that which is native here has become 80 abundant in our fields, producing fruit of so excel- lent a quality, and in quantity so generous, that the cultivated varieties are mostly neglected or confined to villages where the field strawberry is not so easily obtained. Some native fruits are cultivated in our fruit yards and gardens, to good advantage, among which the high bush cranberry is worthy of notice. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 86 This shrub or bush is found in all our swamps, and when transferred to the garden, flourishes in a remark- able manner. It is a constant and abundant bearer of one of the most delicious acid fruits (used princi- pally in making sweetmeats,) to be found in any country, and when properly prepared, it makes one of the most refreshing and healthful drinks for the in- valid. A single stalk of this shrub has been known, within a few years from the time it was planted, to furnish fruit sufficient for a large family. The blackberry, several varieties of gooseberry and raspberry, and also the low cranberry, found in marshes, contributed to the scanty luxuries of the early settlers. All these fruits are indigenous, and are all susceptible of a high cultivation, unless it be the low cranberry, on which no experiments have here been made. At the time intoxicating liquors were drank as a beverage, the fruit of the black cherry was in high repute, to give flavor to the cheap though pure rum of those days. This cherry-rum was thought, by the settlers, to be both a healthful and delicious drink; and, unnecessary as perhaps it was even in those days, it must be admitted that they made a more sensible use of it than do or can the people of the present day with their poisonous adulterations. These cherries became of such demand that they assumed a market- 86 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. able price ; and many boys did quite, a profitable business in gathering them (and often a single tree would bear six or eight bushels), and selling them in our villages at the rate of one dollar per bushel. Whortleberries are found in great abundance on the hills and mountains in the eastern part of the town. The inhabitants usually gather a large supply of these berries in their appropriate season. It is said that, in the most plentiful seasons, several hun- dred bushels of this fruit are here gathered, and sold in adjoining towns and villages. The settlers made great account of drying all these fruits, to be used in making puddings, pies, and other desserts, for by these was supplied the place of ap- ples and other cultivated fruits, which as yet had no existence here. To record so many little things may seem, to some, as noticing what is unworthy of historical account; but when it is considered that our parents and grand- parents were deprived of almost every comfort which belongs to an old and cultivated country, all of which they had given up for the privations of a wilderness, it is seen that a record of those privations and strug- gles, is in fact their early history, and that nothing within our knowledge, however small, should be omit- ted, which may contribute to perpetuate the remem- HISTORY OF SALISBTJEY. 87 brance of those days in which were laid the founda- tion of our present prosperity and happiness. Frost grapes were eagerly sought as a great luxury, and were also used as a condiment in pickles, a few bunches of which would diffuse a pleasant flavor through the whole contents of the pickle- tub. These grapes were found, for the most part, on the interval lands, as were also native hops, which were nsed in making beer, and sometimes substituted for feathers, in making beds. Nuts, too, were things of no little importance to the early settlers, and helped to beguile and relieve many a long winter evening. Prominent among them were the butternut, hazelnut, and sweet acorn. As already stated, the walnut was not found in the earli- est days of the town, and did not make its appearance until the second growth of the walnut timber — which began to bear in small quantities about the year 1805. Beechnuts w^ere of great use in feeding store-hogs. It was not uncommon to turn store-hogs, about the middle of October or first of November, into the woods, w^here they remained, without care, until April or May .of the following year, when they were driven home, generally in good condition. These hogs, du- ring a long winter, found a good living in the abun- dant supply of beechnuts which they rooted up from among the leaves, under the snow. 88 HISTORY OF 6ALISBIJRT. The flesh of hogs, or of any other animal, when fattened on beechnuts, is not palatable, though that peculiar, unpleasant, oily taste imparted to the meat by the beechnut, may be wholly eradicated by a few weeks' feeding on vegetables and grain. In later years, when the land became cleared, and the beech and other nut-bearing trees had disappeared, this manner of wintering hogs went out of date. Moreover, the climate appeared to undergo a great change, within the space of a few years, just before and after the beginning of the present century. Many of the early settlers have been heard to say, that in many seasons water did not drop from the northern roof of buildings for ninety days in succes- sion — a fact which cannot be said of the winters of recent years. And it is within the memory of the writer, that during the winter of 1793 and 1794, and during the winters of several years succeeding that date, from November to April the ground was cov- ered with snow, there not having been a sufficient thaw to destroy the sleighing. This change of climate, and the sudden changes of weather which appeared to accompany it, had a dis- astrous effect on all nut-bearing trees, and very little dependence has been placed on these trees as a source of profit, for many years. Shad-plums and pigeon-cherries were considered a HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 89 fine treat by the boys, and even the thorn-plum and choke-cherry were not rejected by any until after the cultivated fruit trees had commenced to bear. All the native plants of the town of Middlebury have been carefully collected and reported by Edwin James, M. D., and published in Thompson's Gazetteer of Vermont, l^ow as Salisbury and Middlebury are bordered by, or are near the same streams of water, and bounded on one side by the same range of mountains, and are composed of lands very similar in character, it is believed the native plants are the same in both towns ; wherefore we would refer those curious in the Flora of Salisbury to tliis Gazetteer. Moreover, a thorough investigation of the plants of Salisbury was not contemplated in the scope of this history, and would not be given, were the author able to do so. The settlers of this town being mostly emigrants from Connecticut, where fruit was raised in great abundance, naturally felt the want of it on arriving here, and accordingly we find them at an early day planting seed of the apple, pear, peach, quince and other fruits. Many planted their nurseries the year previous 'to moving their families into the country ; for the men usually came on and spied out their land, sowed a few acres of wheat, and made other arrange- ments for living, previous to moving their families. On trying the experiment, it was soon found that tlie 90 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. climate, or land, or both, were unfavorable to the peach and quince, and under no circumstances could these trees be made to flourish ; but apples and pears were cultivated with great success, the latter being justly considered of secondary importance. During the latter part of the eighteenth century, when the town was rapidly filling up with people from the older states, some of the settlers made hand- some profits from the sale of apples, and a few years later from the sale of cider. The price of cider in 1803 was five dollars per barrel. In 1806 or 1807, it could be bought for three dollars per barrel, though at that time it had become a custom to dilute it a little by watering the pomace as it was laid up for pressing, in what is called a cheese. But the rapid increase of apples reduced the price of cider in 1808 or 1809 to one dollar per barrel, and the practice of watering the pomace was lost sight of about 1810. Jesse Graves made the first cider in this town in 1803. Asa Lawrence built a cider mill about the year 1808, and Holland Weeks built another in 1810. At this time more cider was made than was consumed in the form of drink, and a distillery for the manufac- ture of cider brandy was put in operation in the west- ern part of the town, in 1811, by Noah Hubbard. This establishment soon passed into other hands, and continued in operation, with its baneful effects (un- IIISTOliY OF SAJLISBURY. 91 perceived, perhaps, by its owners), until its proprie- tors had nearly become bankrupts, and many of the young men in the neighborhood j,had laid in them- selves the foundation of infamy and disgrace. About the year 1826 or 1827, this distillery was burnt dowu, though it was re-built soon after on a small scale, and continued in operation a short time, when its proprie- tors sold out their entire property in the place, and left the town. It is believed no alcoholic liquors have been manufactured here since about 1835. As the temperance reform had commenced in this town about 1833, many farmers concluded they had more apple trees than were needful ; and the axe was freely used in the destruction of many of the trees that were not of the best quality of fruit for eating. This waste of fruit trees was soon found (though in many instances too late,) to be a great mistake, as subsequent experiment has proved that apples are of great value to feed to stock. Moreover, the apple trees, about this time, began to indicate a much shorter life than had been previously supposed. It is now found that the apple tree is a short-lived tree in most localities. A deep gravel or stony loam is the only soil that will warrant health and long life to any of our fruit trees, when left to take care of themselves, as has been generally the case in this town hereto- fore. A rich sandy loam produces an early growth. 92 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. but a short life, in fruit trees. Trees of spontaneous growth choose their own localities, and some trees of this character which bear fruit, and especially the nut bearing trees, flourish and become very productive on interval lands, as may be seen in the case of the but- ternut and sweet walnut, which latter grows in abund- ance everywhere, except in swamps and on moun- tains. In most instances the settlers set out their apple orchards on the best of. their tillage land. Tliis is thought by many to be a mistake, indicating a want of judgment, but when it is considered that these men had left a country abounding in cultivated fruit, for one that had none at all, and in which none could be obtained until after the care and labor of several years bestowed upon their trees, it is not surprising that they should locate their orchards on land which would bring forward fruit the soonest, and on lands near at hand, when, at the same time they could cul- tivate their corn, wheat, potatoes and other crops, they could also hasten forward their fruit. Since, to be deprived of a blessing is often necessary to enable us to form a correct judgment of its real value, the present generation cannot fully appreciate the blessing of fruit. With appetites satiated and surrounded with abundance, we look back with a dull interest on the privations of our fathers ; but the time HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 93 lias been, and a few may yet be living who remem- ber it, when apples were more scarce than lumps of California gold are at the present day. The author remembers tlie first apple which grew on Holland Weeks' farm ; it was in 1797 or 1798. The tree which produced this one apple as its first crop, was from seed planted in 1787. This apple, though of diminutive size, was an object of great in- terest to all the children, and was equally divided among them, the parents also coming in for a share. All the inmates of the family having had a taste, the younger ones, who had had no opportunity to com- pare the different varieties of apples, thought this to be an excellent kind ; but the older ones pronounced it bitter-sweet, and almost good for nothing ; so it was determined that the tree should be grafted with bet- ter fruit. Some of the settlers took pains to graft a few of their trees while they were yet small, and in the nur- sery ; but most commenced their orchard by trans- ferring the trees directly from the nursery, without grafting, grafts being afterward set in those trees which, after they commenced to bear, were found to produce poor fruit. Yery few of the early-grafted fruits are known by their proper names. The Durham sweeting and the Koxbury russet are the only two certainly known to 94 HISTORY OF eALISBURT. the writer to be correctly named. Other good apples were grafted at that time, but names appear to have been given them, in most cases, without care, and were usually called by the name of the man of whom the scion was obtained, or of the town in which he lived. The first attempts of much interest, for the improve- ment of fruit in town, was made in 1809-10 and 11. Aaron L. Beach, Gilbert Everts, and Holland Weeks, took pains to procure scions from a great dis- tance ; which, together with what could be obtained from neighboring towns, made a good variety. Among them were the seek-no-further, the early-sweet, spit- zenburg, the golden sweeting, beside a large number of others improperly named, and many more of good quality which had no names at all. This effort ap- peared to have some influence on others, for many took scions from these and grafted other trees. But it was one of the unfortunate incidents of these ef- foi;t8 to improve the fruits, that all the unprincipled and thieving boys and young men for miles about, soon learned the location of these best fruits, and made it a point to carry off quite a large share of them every season. Mention might bo made of one thrifty tree, whose top had been entirely changed by graftiug, to early spitzenbergs, and which was a boun- tii'ul bearer, but of which none of the fruit was known HISTORY OF BALI8BDRT. 95 to ripen on the tree, after two or three of the first years of its bearing. It is regretted, but in truth it must be said, that the laudable enterprize of growing good fruit to any great extent, met with great dis- couragement, on account of its liability to be stolen. And it was a further discouragement, that the best sales that could be made in our villages would not result in remunerative prices ; and at that time there was no communication by which the city markets could be made available. About the year 1820, the orchards in this town ap- peared to have arrived at tlieir most flourishing state. Soon after this, many of the apple trees began to show signs of decay, though at that time it was supposed that this beginning of decline arose more from a want of skill in pruning, or perhaps negligence in pruning at all, than from any inherent disease in the trees themselves. The orchards, in most localities in town, have been gradually declining ever since that time, 80 much so, that on making careful comparisons, it is found that some farmers who, in 1820, made sixty or seventy barrels of cider, now make scarcely any at all, and most of the trees are so decayed that it is difficult to find limbs of sufficient thrift to warrant setting grafts in them. For a great number of years there has been but little interest among the people in the matter of raising good apples, though, since so many 96 HI8T0EY OF 8AL1SBUKY. orchards have become so nearly extinct, an occasional nursery or a few young trees may be seen in town. It was thought, at the time the Rutland and Bur- lington railroad was built, that the communication which it opened with Boston markets would give a new energy to the fruit interests, but it does not ap- pear to have had that effect. Since that time the agricultural society of Addison county has offered liberal premiums, in several classes, for the best nur- series of apple trees, but it is believed other towns have hitherto carried off the palm. Pears were planted at an early day, and for a num- ber of years bore fruit in good abundance ; at last, these trees were nearly destroyed by the borei*, or died with premature old age, like the apple trees. The only one now living, known to have been set out by an early settler, stands on the farm of the late Josepli Smith. This pear tree was set out by Jesse Graves, (probably about the year 1788,) in a very deep loaifi, stony, soil ; it is a great bearer and its fruit is of an excellent quality, and notwithstanding its age, shows but slight indications of decay. There are quite a number of other pear trees in town, of more recent growth, the fruits of which ^are ^^well known. The world-renowned Seckel and Bartlett are beginning to be cultivated, and are in bearing in small quantities. Plum trees of spontaneous growth were found by HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 97 the settlers in all parts of the town, and being bounti- ful bearers and of several different varieties, many of them were transferred to the garden. These afforded a good supply of this kind of fruit, and very little effort was made to raise any of the cultivated varieties until about the year 1818. About this time were in- troduced the black damsons, the green and purple gages, the egg and peach and white and blue plum, and probably some others. Not all of these plums were of the character which their names would in- dicate ; the probability is, many of them were incor- rectly named, or had degenerated, for they were usually propagated by suckers or sprouts. These trees flourished remarkably well, until most of them were killed by the severe frost of the winters of 1826 and 1827, since which time comparatively few plums have been raised among us. This fruit suffers greatly in most localities from the sting of an insect called the curculio, which causes the plum to decay and fall prematurely to the ground. Most kinds of grapes grown in this town'are natives of Connecticut, and were brought here by some of the early settlers. Eleazar Claghorn brought several varieties from Salisbury, Connecticut, about the year 1784. John Everts, who was also from the same town, set out one variety only, the same year. These grapes are all distinguished by some little differences 8* 98 HISTOBY OF SALISBURY. in color, size and flavor. From these vines most of the ^earlj cultivated grapes have been propagated. One of these vines, planted by John ^Everts, is still living, and is now- growing in the most thrifty manner in the place where he first cleared the land and planted it, and where the timber has since been allowed to grow up around it. It is a constant bearer, and a vine of the' most hardy character. These and most other kinds of grapes which bear any names at all, are called by the names of those persons who first cultivated them, though many are without name. The culture of this most healthful of /ruits was not deemed of sufficient importance by the early settlers, to secure for it any protection better than a fence, or a heap of stones, or a green tree, until about 1820, when some vines were selected with more care, and some skill was manifested in training and pruning them, and a framework was provided for them. But even now it is found on observation that the people have but a limited knowledge of the cultivation of the grape, though they are beginning to give it some attention. The best varieties are known to only a few. Several varieties, mostly new to the people here, have been recommended, and some of them have been recently cultivated with good success, among which might be] noticed the Lyman, Isabella, Miller Burgunda, White Sweet Water, White Musca- HISTOKY OF SALTSJn'KY. 99 dine and Catawba. The three first mentioned are the most sure of success, as the latter have quite fre- quently been known to fail to ripen. A number of grafters came through this town about the year 1836, and in the two or three succeeding years, who turned out to be dishonest speculators. These men found considerable employment here, and set grafts which they highly recommended, but which proved to be no better than the trees they grafted. They also gave many wrong names, whereby much confidence was lost in the names of a great part of our fruit. It is recommended to the fruit-growers of Salisbury to send by express, specimens of at least a dozen of each kind of their best fruits, to the committee of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society at Boston. This will secure a report of their true name and character, and by comparing fruit raised in Vermont with that of the same kind from other parts of New Englaild, will be secured to us the relative value of our fruit in Boston. 100 HISTORY OF SALI8BUKV. CHAPTER X. GARDENING. HONEY BEES. FISHING. THE CHASE. SNAKE HUNTING. Some attention was paid by tlie early settlers to the cultivation of flowers, though of course to a lim- ited extent. The perception of the beautiful is a natural gift ; hence, even amid all the labor and rus- ticity of our ancestry, some time was found for the cultivation of the taste. The girls had their little flower beds, not filled with rare exotics and plants of tropical origin, to be sure, but with the more simple indigenous plants, the pansy, the daisy, the lily, so appropriately in keeping with their unpretending time and place. The cultivation of flowers has never been carried to a great extent in this town; yet, ever since its first settlement, gardens have had a prosperous exis- tence here, and now, in every part, both in doore and out, may be seen evidences of progress in floriculture. This progress is noticed with pleasure. It is an in- dication of a higher cultivation than is necessary for a mere livelihood. Every family should appropriate HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 10 1 at least a few rods of ground, exclusively for tlie benefit of floriculture. The ladies in many parts of Europe, as well as in our own country, have taken the greatest delight in this pleasant recreation. At the same time it characterizes their taste, it leads to botanical research, and afibrds at once labor and re- creation to the body, both of which are greatly needed, especially by the ladies at the present time. It is hoped and believed that the females of this -^tate will yet learn, that to bring down their list of mortality to a level with that of males, advantage must be taken of out door exercise. But this subject must be left to the observation and reflection of the reader, while we content our- selves with making a few suggestions connected with the nature of the honey bee. The flowers of most plants and trees produce honey and pollen ; both are essential to the life of the honey- bee. The honey lies at the base of the blossom, while the pollen is found slightly adhering to the stamens above. The peculiarities of sexual difference appear to exist in plants as well as in animals ; there is a male and a female flower — though in some instances, as is the case with wheat, rye, and perhaps other grains, both sexes appear to exist in the same flower. The blossoms of most trees and plants require some agency other than uncertain winds, to transmit the 102 HISTORY OF SALI6BUKY. pollen from the stamens of one flower to the pistils of another, which transmission is essential to fructifica- tion. This important service is often performed through insect agency — thus affording an interesting illustration of Infinite desiorn. o The lioney is placed deep in the flower, so that while the honey-loving insect seeks its food, it uncon- sciously promotes the fructification of the plant ; for in passing from flower to flower, and reaching deep for its food, its hody and legs become covered w^ith pollen, particles of which are loosed and dropped upon the pistils of the almost countless flowers which it may visit, thus unwittingly, perhaps, but providentially, stimulating the blossom to fructification. The pollen from the flowers of different plants and trees, thus being mingled together by winds and in- sects, produces a great variety in our fruits and veg- etables. The seed of the potatoe, when planted at so great a distance from any other of its kind that there can be no admixture of the pollen from the blossoms of the two, will produce its like ; but when many kinds are planted together , the seed will produce many new varieties. The same is true of melons, and other fruits. It is a further illustration of Divine wisdom, that insects of different species, and varying greatly in size, are adapted to all the varieties of honey-produ- HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 103 cing plants. The honey-bee can rest upon the white- clover, and with his proboscis reach to the lower ex- tremity of the blossom, and extract the honey. He can do this, also, in the blossoms of most all our fruit and forest trees, and from flowers much smaller than that of the white-clover ; but in flowers of too slen - der a make to bear his weight, the smaller insects find their repast. So, likewise, is provision made for the disposal of the honey in larger and deeper blos- soms ; for instance, the red-clover and lilac. These blossoms contain much honey, but the honey-bee can- not reach it ; so here comes the humble-bee, and finds his share. Again, there is the hollyhock, the honey- suckle, and other plants which secrete honey in great abundance, but whose honey-cup lies so deep that no insect can reach it; here, then, the humming-bird is provided with her feast. It is true, observations like the foregoing do not le- gitimately come within the history of a town ; but in connection with the honey-bee they are very natu- rally suggested. Keeping bees was not only a source of luxury, but a profitable business to the settlers. The forest trees yielded honey in great abundance, and little care of the bees was necessary, other than to hive them when they swarmed. They were generally kept in rough board boxes, and in hives, looking more like tubs. 104 HISTORY OF SALISBUKr. than any thing else, made from the sections of hollow trees. Those sections were selected without much regard - to size, and were usually from sixteen inches to two feet in length. A board nailed over the end of these completed the hive.* In hives like these, of course it was necessary to destroy the bees in getting the honey, which was usually done in the early part of October, by smothering them with the fumes of burn- ing brimstone. The late swarms, and those which had passed three winters, were the ones usually pro- scribed. Even with these sacrifices, bees were kept with good profit, and produced a large supply of honey ; but afterward, as the land was cleared, and the hard timber destroyed, the yearly product of honey was very much lessened, and the interest in bees began to decline. Cultivated fruit-trees and grasses could not be made to yield as much honey, nor of as good quality, as the hard timber which had been taken from the land. Tills, undoubtedly, will account in great meas- ure for the present degenerate state of the apiary throughout the country. Bees have been gradually declining since about 1804, except in the immediate vicinity of large tracts of land covered with hard * Some persons used straw hives. HISTORY OF SALTSBURY. 106 timber. In other localities they do well, sometimes, for one or two seasons, when all may suddenly die from the effects of too much rain, or from a drouth, or other peculiarity of climate. Unless bees are lo- cated where they can have access to proper aromatic plants or shrubs during August and September, they are compelled to collect much of their food for their young from poisonous plants which grow on the low lands and in the swamps, which often engenders dis- ease among the young, and thus destroys what would otherwise constitute the winter stock of the hive; for the bees which are hatched in the latter part of August, in September and in the fore part of Oc- tober, are the only ones that live through the win- ter; hence the condition of the apiary in every lo- cality for the following spring, can be determined with great certainty in these autumnal months. The best location for bees is near the base of the mountains ; for there those flowers which furnish the necessary food for the young are usually found, and the hard timber is more plenty, and if cut off is al- lowed to grow up again, which in a few years pro- duces honey. In the year 1807, the bee-moth, an enemy more hostile to the apiary than any other, made its appear- ance. This moth has done the greatest injury to the bee interest, and it works in so subtle a manner that 9 106 niSTORY OF SALISBURY. it is hard to be met ; its character has been but poorly understood, and not easily learned. After the careful observations of many years, we conclude that the moth is nev^er the primary, but the secondary cause of the destruction of the hive, and is like the worm that consumes and destroys the carcass of an animal after the principle of life is gone. Depopulation, by famine or disease, is always the first cause of the destruction of the honey-bee. The change of climate which took place at the beginning of the present centur^^, the destruction of the hard timber, and of many honey-producing plants, brought famine to the bees, and then disease followed, as it always does, every where, and finally the moths ap- peared, to perform their disastrous work. The same facts have been observed in the settlement of other parts of the United States ; famine to the bees fol- lows the axe — then disease — and finally the moths, to complete the work of destruction. Hunting bees was made a source of considerable profit by some of the early settlers, until the bees began to decline, as already remarked. The hollows of the innumerable pines which cov- ered the land, aiforded suitable and abundant homes for the bees, and in them the hunters, every autumn, were sure to find a good reward for their time and labor. It was not uncommon for an expert hunter to HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 107 find several swarms in a single day, each yielding from twenty to eighty, and sometimes a hundred pounds of strained honey. But the changes in the circum- stances of the country, and of the bees themselves have been so great, that hunting them has become more a matter of amusement than of profit. Fishing was a matter of nc^ little importance, in the" early days of the town, for good supplies of fish w^ere usually at hand for the temporary relief of the family, when game was scatce or " out of time." In those days, all the streams and lakes, and even the brooks, were stocked with excellent fish. A species of large trout called longe, and the brook- trout, were caught in great quantities, (usually with a hook and line), the former in Lake Diinmore, the latter in Otter creek, and in all the mountain streams.. A quantity sufiicient for a large family could be caught, at that time, in a few minutes, in most of the streams. This afforded a great relief to the sufferings of the set- tlers, when driven to extremities for want of food, as was especially the case in the spring of 1790. I^ot much time (which always seems the more valuable as the country is new), was spent in fishing for amusement — fishing, in most instances, was resorted to for the pur- pose of gratifying the appetite with a change from venison- or bear-meat, or for replenishing their ex- hausted stores. 108 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. Trout were often caught in Lake Dunmore, weigh- ing thirty pounds, and even more, but in later years they are seldom found in that water weighing more than ten or twelve pounds. Brook trout have always been considered superior to any other, for the table, especially those which grow in pure cold water. Trout found in the ponds on the mountains, whose waters are from the neighboring springs, are of ex- quisite flavor. These fish, like the lobster, assume a reddish color in the ordeal of 'cooking, as also do the trout of Lana river, which also are of a delicious quality. The same species of fish caught in Middlebury river, or in any of the streams which empty into Otter creek (whereby the latter stream is made a place of winter quarters), are not so good for the table as those taken from the pure waters of the mountains. Otter creek is a sluggish and impure stream, and im- parts to its fish a whiteness and softness which ren- der them less palatable. Fish taken from Lake Dun- more are of far superior quality to those of the same species taken from Otter creek. But Otter creek affords many fish which are eaten, and which are really good; for instance, pickerel, suckers, bull-heads, rock bass and perch. As the settlement advanced and the number of inhabitants increased, fish of all kinds diminished, IIISTOKY OF SALISBUEY. 109 both in numbers and in weight; the erection of dams and mills appeared to be unfriendly to their rapid increase. Moreover, the largest of them appeared to have been caught ; at any rate they disappeared, and an evident decline of the fisheries was observed about 1800. Eels had never been seen previous to about this time, in Otter creek, or in any of its tributaries above Middlebury falls ; subsequently, they increased with great rapidity for a number of years, and were caught weighing from two to six or seven pounds.* As none of the best kinds of fish in Lake Cham- plain had found their ^way above the falls at Yer- gennes, the people in Salisbury and several adjoin- ing towns formed companies in the year 1819, to supply the creek and other waters in this region with fish from that lake. This they undertook by en- gaging seines at the lake, and hiring men to draw in fish of every sort they could get, rejecting such only as were already here. These fish were taken from the seines and put into hogsheads of water, in wagons, and brought to the banks of Otter creek, at various places, and there again committed to the water. This laid the foundation for a numerous stock of ^valuable fish, which made their appearance in almost incredible numbers, in the course of three or four years. * These fish have been very rarely seen for many years. 0* 110 HISTORY OF SALISBUET. But these, in turn, after devouring a great share of the small fish, which were the original occupants of the creek, were so incessantly caught by the hook, spear and net, that they soon began to diminish both in number and in weight. Undoubtedly a great many went back finto Lake Champlain again, by a safe journey, in high water, over the several inter- vening falls. Pickerel, rock bass and mullet are the only kinds of these Lake Champlain fish now remaining in town. Pickerel have been caught in Otter creek weighing nearly thirty pounds, though they are not often found to exceed two thirds that weight ; their usual weight, as now taken, varies from one to six pounds, with an occasional one weighing as high as fifteen and even twenty pounds. The other fish mentioned are smaller, the rock-bass varying from a half of a pound to two pounds, and the mullet from one to four and some- times six pounds. There are many other kinds of fish in town, of an inferior character, and of no apparent use, unless it may be to serve as bait in catching the larger kinds. Of these it is not our purpose to speak. The first inhabitants found a good deal of diversion as well as profit in the chase. It is within the memory of the author, when salted venison and bear meat were very common upon the tables of many of our HISTORY OF SALISBURY. Ill people, especially among tliose who took delight in the chase. The skins of the deer were dressed, and used in making moccasins, mittens and over-alls or breeches. The furs of several different kinds of wild animals were used for various purposes, while the surplus (and furs always commanded a fair price,) was sold to fur dealers. Among the valuable furs, that of the otter stood first, then came that of the fisher, the sable, the mink, the raccoon, the musk rat and perhaps others. These animals were taken in traps or shot, and were found in quite large numbers. The beaver had mostly left this part of the coun- try before the settlement of the town commenced, though these animals must have been here in great numbers, not many years previous, for their dams are yet visible on many if not all the small streams. It is believed that none of the trappers and hunters in Salisbury have accumulated much wealth from the sale of their furs, and yet there are a few persons who do a fair business for a few weeks at the return of every spring and autumn, in catching a few of these wild animals when their skins are valuable. Many of the wild animals which frequented these regions seventy years ago, are now extinct or have sought a home elsewhere. The catamount has not 112 HISTORY OF SALISBUBY. been seen here since 1809 ; the wolf and deer took their final departure about 1833 or 1834; and though it was not uncommon, at one time, to see tlie bears roaming tlirough theclearings in the woods, even in the day time, they now can but rarely be found anywhere. They were compelled to flee to the mountains, where an occasional one may yet be caught; and even on the mountains, the wild cat, the wolverine, and lynx, now are scarcely known. Foxes are not often seen in any new country, but come in as the settlement advances. The same is true of the skunk. One of the first of these last-named animals, (an animal at once mischievous and loathsome) found in this town, was caught in a trap on Holland Weeks' farm, in 1796. This incident gave to the hill on which the skunk was cauglit its present name, " Skunk Hill." Grey-squirrels were rarely met with before the com- mencement of the present century, though they are now quite numerous ; while black-squirrels, though now nearly if not quite extinct, were then found in quite large numbers. Partridges, which once were so plenty, and afforded so much amusement as well as food, have gradually though not altogether disappeared ; and quails almost entirely left the country, many years since. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 113 The common house-rat did not make its appearance here until about the year 1800, but since that time it has proved itself to be one of the most loathsome and mischievous animals among us. Rattle-snake hunting was made a profitable busi- ness by some of the settlers, though catching rattle- snakes was too hazardous an undertakiug to induce many to enter into the business. These snakes fre- quented the vicinity of Sawyer's Mills (now Salisbury village), but their favorite haunts were on the point of the mountain east of Lake Dunmore — and it was this fact that gave it its present name, " Kattle-Snake Point."* These reptiles converted the holes in the rocks of the mountains into places or dens for wintering, in which they were made quite easy captives by the hunter, at the return of every spring and autumn. Though armed with deadly fangs, they never use them, unless it be in self defence, and even in this case, not unless aggravated by being stepped on, or otherwise, and not without first giving timely warniog by shaking their rattles, which are located at the end of the tail. This rattle may be heard distinctly at the * This mountain has received several different names. Those more classically inclined, call it the Gnomon, from its resem- blance to the hand of the dial. 114 HISTORY OF SALISBUEY. distance of several rods, and it is said by huntere that it is always shaken nearly a minute before tlie snake attempts to bite. These snakes emerge from their subterraneous re- treats in the spring, as soon as the outer atmosphere is warmer than that in their holes ; and as soon as the atmosphere is sufficiently warm, so that they do not suffer from the coldness of the night, they leave their habitations entirely, and seek a living on the plains below. The time in the spring for hunting them is, as the hunters say, when the bark begins to slip on the trees and shrubs growing in the vicinity of their winter quarters. Again, as the frosts of autumn indicate the coming winter, these snakes are seen seeking their subterra- neous retreats, (which usually happens about the middle of October), appearing, nevertlieless, occasion- ally, on pleasant days, until their final winter retreat. Tliese snakes have no rattle until they are at least two years old. On this account the young snake is per- haps the more dangerous — not being able to give no- tice of his presence only by his movement — which, by the way, is represented as being very quick and spiteful. These young rattle-snakes were allowed by the hunters to escape, and so given time to grow to maturity. Mr. Amos Goodrich, who was often en- HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 115 gaged in these snake-liimts, informed tlie writer that he and Asahel Beebe used to kill forty or fifty in a day — each snake having from two or three to sixteen rat- tles — and that the oil which they obtained from them (and it was the oil which induced these hunts, for it was sold to the apothecaries at a considerable profit), varied from half a gill to nearly half a pint on each. The gall, likewise, of the rattle-snake was highly valued by the early settlers, and was considered a sure cure for most kinds of fever, when taken in its incipient stages. It was usually administered in a powdered or grated form, mingled with a weak pota- tion of brandy. But these snakes have long since disappeared from about Salisbury village, and have become so reduced on the mountains that hunting them has ceased to be an object of gain, and now they are only occasionally found on the plains about Lake Dunmore. 116 HISTORY OF BALI8BUJiy. CHAPTER XI. MmERALS — ^WATEK-COUESES AND WATEE-POWERS. It may well be doubted, that the mines and mine- rals of this town will be made, at least for many years, a source of great profit; for, although considerable search has been made, no discoveries hitherto would warrant the outlay necessary to commence any con- siderable operations in digging for ore. Mr. Ad- ams, in his geological survey of this state, has given Salisbury a passing notice, as follows : — " Brown iron ore has been found in Salisbury, but the locality has not been examined. A good specimen has been brought to the geological depot by Mr. Huntley. It is not improbable, that iron may at some future day be foimd in the mountains, in quantities suffi- ciently large to render digging a profitable business ; indeed, some good specimens of iron ore have already been picked up in different places on the mountains. But it is believed that the limestone rock (which is found of the best quality and in inexhaustible quanti- ties on almost every farm in the middle and western parts of the town), can be made a much more certain HISTORY OF SALISBURY. IIT and immediate source of profit than digging for ores. This rock, when converted into lime, may be turned to the greatest advantage in recruiting worn-out lands, and in supplying a deficiency of this important component in some of our alluvial lands, or it may be made a profitable article of export to other states, where the lime-stone rock is less abundant. The town of Salisbury is marked throughout with springs of living water, and nearly every farm has, running through it, a river or a rivulet which, even in the dryest seasons, never fails. The water in the eastern part of the town is most of it soft, and fit for the ordinary purposes of washing ; bat that from the springs and wells of the western and middle parts is what is commonly called hard. The most healthful, and in all respects the best water for drinking and for culinary purposes, accord- to a late agricultural surveyor of Massachusetts, (who visited this town and made many very close and accu- rate observations on its physical character), is found in spring near the Indian Garden, and is brought by an aqueduct of logs into a watering- trough on the bridge, at Salisbury village.* * This supposed Indian Garden lies a little to the east of the village, and contains several acres of very handsome land, 10 118 HISTORY OF 8ALI8BUKT. There are several springs in town that are slightly impregnated with mineral substances, which are found to be more or less medicinal, though none of them have been properly analyzed. One spring on the farm of the writer has formed a large mass of cinders which will effervesce when placed in vinegar. Its water has been found useful in the cure of sore eyes, salt-rheum, and other cutaneous diseases. It has also been successfully used in allaying inflammation in the feet and legs, in cases of poison by the meadow ivy. It is also found that domestic animals which are allowed to drink constantly at this spring, during summer, are never attacked by malignant diseases. Another spring similar to this, a few rods distant, has found its way through a ledge of lime-stone rock, where the gas or effluvium from the water has caused the rock to decay, flake off and pass away with the water, so as to form considerable of a cavern, ot* the depth of thirty feet or more. Another spring which deserves notice, is found on the farm of Mark Ranney. It is in a dense cedar bordered on the north side by the river which constitutes the outlet of Lake Dunraore. Hero many arrows, pestles, earthen vessels, and other articles of Indian manufacture, have been picked up, which, together with other indications of a former savage home, gave the spot the name, Indian Garden. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. ^ 119 swamp, quite a long distance from any hard land. On pressing a staff down about four feet, it was found to be logged up in a triangular form, suffi- ciently large to admit a small pail or bucket. At w^hat time this spring was thus prepared for use, must be left to conjecture, though it was undoubtedly done by the Indians at some remote period. The old logs and cedar trees about it, indicate tliat it was vis- ited perhaps hundreds of years ago. Its w^ater is very pure and cold. But the most relnarkable spring in town, is found to the west of Mt. Bryant, by the side of the road leading from Mr. Charles Eager's factory to Lake Dunmore. This spring is situated about one hundred and forty feet below the level of the lake, and is re- markable for the great quantities of water discharged from it ever since its earliest discovery, and for the gradual increase in the amount of its water fur sev- eral years past. This fact of increase has excited the curiosity of many observers, and it has been suggested that this spring receives its water from Lake Dunmore, through passages far beneath the surface of the earth, and that the increased amount of its discharge is owing to the enlargement of these passages. This may be the case, though it is doubtful. This spring furnishes quite a large part of the 120 ^ HISTORY OF 8AXI8BURY. water of Beaver brook, wliicli accounts for the fact that nearly the same quantity of water is found in this stream in the summer as in any other season. The advantages derived by tiie inhabitants of Salis- bury from the nature and location of their water priv- ileges, have been very great. Otter creek forming the western boundary of the town, can be navigated at low water, by boats of a hundred tons burthen, from Sutherland's Falls, in Rutland, to Middlebury, a distance of about thirty miles ; and Leicester river, which runs through Salisbury village, and is a tri- butary to the creek, is navigable about three miles above its mouth. These streams are of great con- venience to those living in the south and west parts of the town, for floating wood and timber to Middle- bur}^ and Yergennes, to supply the markets in those places, while those who live in the north and north- eastern parts of the town can avail themselves of Mid- dlebury river, which is also a tributary to the creek, for the same purposes. But other streams and rivers deserve notice. The Beaver brook takes its rise in two small branches among the mountains in the easterly parts of Middle- bury and Salisbury, which meander along the moun- tains in both towns until they unite in the northern extremity of the town of Salisbury, at the foot of the mountain. From this point their united waters course IlfSTORY OF SALISBURY. 121 tlieir way along near the mountains, in a soutli-west- erly direction, nearly to the centre of the town, where they are used by Mr. Charles Eager for propelling a good saw mill and other machinery. This stream, at this place, enlarged by its little tributaries and by the great spring already mentioned, is increased to the size of a considerable river. Here also it changes its course to a north-westerly direction, and forms some excellent intei*val land along its banks for nearly two miles, and finally empties into Middlebury river, near the northern boundary of the town. The outlet of Lake Dunmore forms a most beautiful river of pure, clear water, of sufficient size to propel any desirable machinery. This stream, in the course of its meanderings for about tw^o miles, descends about two hundred and fifty feet, and wall admit of at least twenty mill seats, several of which are already occu- pied. Three saw mills, a grist mill, tw^o or three forges, a shovel factory, trip hammer shop, clothiei's' shop, two woolen factories, together wdth machinery for the manufacture of wagons and other vehicles, buzz- saws for sawing and splitting boards, turning lathes and shingle machines have already been erected here. This stream of w^ater affords as great if not greater facilities to the manufacturer than any other stream of the same power in this state. Its advantages are many. Its water is pure and clear, and is admirably 10* 122 HISTORY OF SALTSBTTRY. fitted for the use of the paper maker, and for cleans- ing the raw material for cloths of all kinds. Dams, buildings and machinery on this stream are peifectly secure from floods under all circumstances ; no other streams of water empty into it, except occasional springs along its border ; and the lake at its outlet is so constructed in its natural formation that all the surplus water in flood seasons niay be shut back and retained, in readiness to be used, if necessary, in sea- sons of extreme drouth. The first dam here was erected by Colonel Thomas Sawyer, for a saw mill and grist mill, as early as 1783, some of the timbers of which still remain in the dam where Colonel Saw- yer placed them. And during this long lapse of time — more than sev- enty years — no dam on this stream has been injured by freshets, nor any inconvenience sufifered, as is most alwaj^s the case in other localities, from the formation of anchor-ice. The amount of water here, is amply sufllcient for the purposes of any ordinary manufactory, and it is hoped that the time will come when all this valuable power will be usefully appropriated. Salisbury vil- lage is situated on tliis stream. There is another river of considerable size, which we cannot pass over in silence, more familiarly known by the name of "Sucker Brook." HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 123 This stream has long been known by the sportsmen for the excellent trout found in its waters, and by the lovers of the beautiful for the scenery about it, and especially for its falls, which, until lately, rejoiced in the homely name of " Sucker Brook Falls." It was given a new and more appropriate name, in this way. A party of pleasure, consisting of several individuals, among whom were General Wool, of the United States' army, and his aid, Lieutenant Symms, Joseph Barret, of the Middlebury Register^ William Sargeant, Horatio Seymour, J. A. Beckwith, E. D. Barber, and others, were visiting the romantic scenery of this river in the autumn of 1860, and, having reached the falls, concluded that a place so beautiful was worthy of a more poetical name than that which it had previously borne. So it was decided that General Wool should give it its new and better name. But, while he was consid- ering the subject, the thought struck one of the com- pany that it would be a good opportunity to bestow a deserved honor upon the distinguished general, and the whole matter was taken from him and vested in the company, when Lieutenant Symms proposed that this stream be called " The Lana Water^^ and these falls " The Falls of Lana^'' (Lana or Liana, in Span- ish, means wool ; and the inhabitants of Mexico used to call General Wool, General Liana.) 124 HISTORY OF 8ALI8BUKV. It was then voted that E. D. Barber should perform the ceremony of consecration, who, taking the appropri- ate libation in his hand, said : — Forever after let this stream he called Thie Lana Water, and these falls Thp: Falls of Lana, in honor of one whose fame as a hero shall live in the hearts of his countrymen and on the page of history, as long as this stream and these rocks shall endure^'^ and then poured the libation into the water. The ceremony then closed by giving three times three cheers in honor of the occasion, which was done with true Green Mountain enthusiasm, and the party, delighted with the events of the day, returned, leaving "The Lana Water" flowing and tumbling along, rejoicing in its new and excellent name. The name Sucker Brook was given to this stream, from the fact that countless numbers of the fish called suckers run into its mouth every spring, from Lake Dunmore, and there deposit their spawn. More than a thousand of these fish have been taken in this river, by nets and spears, in a single night. It takes its rise far back in the mountains, probably in Hancock, and in its course runs through Goshen, in which several saw-mills liave been erected upon it. From Goshen it finds its way among the mountains in the eastern part of Salisbury, where, in the immediate vicinity of an abundance of good sawing timber, sev- niSTOEY OF BALISBL^RY. 125 erai good saw-mill seats may be found, and finally passes over its falls, " some hundred and fifty feet, through chasms in the rocks, and through a natural open sluice or tunnel, worn out of the solid rock," and thence into Lake Dunmore. 126 HISTOliY OF 8ALI8BUKT. CHAPTER XII. MECHANICS, MECHANICAL INVENTIONS, PATENT RIGHTS, MANUFACTURES. The following table contains the names and voca- tions of most of the early settlers who were mechanics. Their localities are distinguished by the number of the school district in which they lived. School district ]^o. 1 lies in the north-west cor- ner of the town. No. 2 in the south-west comer. No. 3 in the middle. No. 4 in the north-east corner, on east stage road. No. 5, the village. No. 6, the glass factory district. 1783. Thomas Sawyer, (t Stephen Qill, 1784. — Call, 1785. William Graves, 1786. Joseph Graves, 1787. Abram Hard, 1788. Holland Weeks, it John Fyfe, OCCUPATION. ( Blacksmith. ^ Mill-wright, (^ Carpenter, Collier, Tray maker, Carpenter, Wheelwright, Cloth dresser, Cooper, Brickmason, NU. DDT. UISTOiiY OF SALISBURY. 127 DATK. NAMB. OCCITPATION. NO. UIST. 1788. Penuel Stephens, Tray maker, 2 J789. Hooker Sawyer, Cut nail maker, 5 (t Asa Lawrence, Carpenter, 1 1790. Aaron L. Beach, Blacksmith, 1 1791. Captain Samuel Keep, Bloomer, 5 (( Ira Smith,^ Joiner, 1 1794. John Deming, Blacksmith, 5 i4 Stephen Kossiter, Cut nail maker. 5 (< Nathaniel Chafey, Blacksmith, 5 1795. David Graves, Carpenter, 1 1796. Keuben French, Tanner and currier. 3 1798. Harvey Deming, Blacksmith, 5 1799. Jacob Bartholomew, Steelyard maker, 5 1800. William Copeland, Wheelwright, 3 1801. Stephen Hard, Cloth dresser, 4 1802. William Yates, Tailor, 5 180:J. Aaron Goodrich, Tailor, 3 1804. Nathaniel R, Field, Tailor, 1 a Sylvan us Toby, Carpenter, 3 J 805. Jonas Hildreth, Clockmaker, 3 t( Joel Bigelow, Basket maker, 4 1806. • Ahner More, jr., Blacksmith, 5 1807. Jeremiah Morton, Cloth dresser, 5 1808. Elijah Woodman, Hoemaker, 1 ii Ellery Howard, Cloth dresser, 5 1809. Jeremiah Rockwell, Tanner and currier, 5 1810. Haskell and Nelson, Millers, 5 1811. Joshua Seaver, Cooper, 5 «( Moses Hitchcock, Bloomer, 5 '' Jacob Chase, Bloomer, 5 1812. Noah Hubbard, Distiller, 1 128 IIISTOJiY OF SALISBURY. DATB. NAMiC. OCCUPATIOK. HO. PI8T. 1813. Ep. Jones, Glass ma]u;r. 6 »t Harry Johnson and Co. ,, Shovel makers, 5 1814. Sam'l Holt, Saddler, 5 ii Eliakim Weeks, Sawyer, 5 it John U. Seymour, Bloomer, 5 " Levi Holman, Chair maker. 5 1815. Leonard Lamb, Mill-wright, 5 ii Artemas Moses, Carpenter and joiner. 3 4( Benoni Porter, Shoemaker, 5 (( E. and 0. Rico, Shoemakers, 5 (( Joel Johnson, Blacksmith, 5 " Harvey Savery, Blacksmith, 5 t4 Samuel Johnson, Blacksmith, 5 4« Jacob Leonard, Bloomer, 5 it Edward Phelps, Cooper, 5 *' Charles Cadwell, Tanner and currier. 5 (4 Seth Bolcom, Chair maker. 5 1816. Orrin Ray, House joiner, 5 44 Demetrius Crampton, Carpenter, 5 44 Warren Rockwell, Chairmaker, 5 44 Origen Bingham, Goldsmith, • 5 1817. 44 Jarvis Deane, • Isaac Blake, > Cotton manufacturer?. 5 1818. Joshua Heminway, Brickmason, 5 1819. Charles Filley, Turner, 5 1820. Wm. S. Copeland, Wheelwriglit, 5 1821. Geo. M. Copeland, Blacksmith, 5 1822. Tubal Cain Pray, Shovel maker, 5 1823. Nehemiah Pray, Blacksmith, 5 1824. Sylvester Barrows, Hatter, 5 1825. Nevins Kelar, Hatter, 5 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 129 It may be well to notice a few individuals whose names appear in the foregoing table, who had consid- erable excellence in inventive genius. Deacon Aaron L. Beach invented and made the first die screw plate — the first not only in this town, but in this countr}^ Mr. Beach had, previous to this time, manifested much skill in his calling as a blacksmith, but never thought of speculating in patent rights, and did not secure his right on this invention by letters patent, as he might have done, to his great pecuniary advantage. Perhaps he did not at first realize the vast impor- tance of his invention, nor until it had passed beyond his reach, for he sold the plate which he had made for his own use, to a friend of the same calling with him- self, at a very low price, which was afterward taken to the city of New York. In New York it soon became known, and was eager- ly sought as one of the most important tools to the blacksmith. Mr. Beach's pecuniary interest was thus taken away in the veiy beginning, thougli he did af- terward make a few of these instruments, at prices without profit, for the convenience of some of his neighbors. This invention has proved to be of almost incalcu- lable value, not only to the blacksmith, but to all machinists ; for now there is no factory nor machine- 11 130 HISTORY OF SAJ.TSBTJBT. shop throughout the country which is not supplied with this screw plate. But, if Mr. Beach did not acquire a fortune through his invention, he had the consolation, in common with many other inventoi-s, that he had not lived in vain. He also escaped the competition and litigation into which he might have been drawn by other claimants ; for, indeed, it has come to that pass, that law-suits and strife are, in this country, a part of the patentee's re- ward. This invention has been improved in some minor respects, by others, but no new principle has been added to it. Jacob Bartholomew made an invention in steel yards, and applied his improvement to scales or bal- ances about the year 1819, and secured letters patent on the same, about that time. Mr. Bartholomew did not get rich by his invention, though it was a valuable and useful contribution to the public, and was so considered, wherever it was known. Afterward E. & W. Fairbank's scales came into use, which superseded all other contrivances for weighing, except for some few purposes, to which the common steel yards were better adapted. The author is not aware that any other patent has been granted to any individual in this town, for im- plements used in any of the mechanical arts. -w*^^-^-^- -^^^ HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 131 John M. "Weeks secured letters patent for an im- provement in the construction of the bee-hive in 1836. This invention at that time, and for many subsequent years, was deemed of great importance in bee culture, for it brought into existence the first chamber-hive of general use in the United States, which would admit of the removal of the surplus pure honey, by means of drawers and slides. This patent was managed at a small profit for three or four years ; but as the patentee accompanied all his sales with a manual containing instructions in the management of bees, and as he spared no pains in disseminating what knowledge he had of the habits and instincts of these interesting insects, many others began to devise means, not only to obviate his patent, but by some slight variations, or new combination of principles, to secure a patent for themselves. Mr. Weeks, observing this, and realizing its effects in a considerable degree, again sought the protection of the patent ofiice, and in the year 1841 secured let- ters patent on eight classes of bee-hives, intending, as fj^r as possible, to cover the whole ground ; but in doing this, he only laid the foundation for as many more hives as these would make, multiplied into their own number. Every stratagem which could be made to appear plausible, was resorted to by the various patentees, 132 HISTORY OF 6ALI8BUEY. and by their agents, to supersede each other in the sales of their rights — neither having much regard to truth, in making assertions which might promote their own interests. Finally, it was found that the patent office was not willing to grant patents on drawers or boxes, unlesg in connection with other parts of a hive which might be new and valuable ; and as the great improvement in bee-hives consisted principally in its drawers, the number of applications in this department began to diminish. Undoubtedly the drawers are the princi- pal improvement in bee-hives which can be made over the old-fashioned box, or tub ; and, at this day, a patent on these is of little use to the inventor, as our patentees will testify — for none have been the re- cipients of any great profits arising from a patent on them. The first saw-mill in this town was erected by Col. Thomas Sawyer, in 1783. A grist-mill was also put up in the same building, and set in successful opera- tion early in the year 1784. These mills were after- ward repaired, and, if the author is correctly informed, were at least once rebuilt. The first forge was also erected by Mr. Sawyer, in 1791. Samuel Keep was his first bloomer, and Ste- phen Gill made his first coal, and rendered him some other assistance in making iron. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 133 E'athaniel Chafey erected the first trip-hammer shop, a little below the place now occupied by Ches- ter Kingsley's woolen factory. Mr. Chafey erected this shop about the year 1794:, and was a celebrated axe maker. Another trip-hammer shop was put up by John Doming, about the year 1795, but it was afterward converted into a shovel factory. In 1811 a charter was granted by the legislature of the state for the manufactory of glass, to Ep. Jones and other individuals, and accordingly a glass factory was put up on the western shore of Lake Dunmore. in the following year, which went into successful op- eration under the direction of Mr. Jones, in 1813. About forty operatives were employed in this factory several years. So great was the business done by it, that money was made more plenty among us, a good home market was furnished for a part of our agricul- tural products, and all kinds of business rendered more active. As the company made their deposits at the Farmers* Bank of Troy, New York, they issued orders in the form of bank bills, which were stamped and struck off on bank-bill paper, and were in denominations of $1.00, $1.25, $1.50, $1.75, $2.00, and $3.00. These bills, or rather orders, were equally current with any other bank-bills for a number of years. 11* 134 HISTORY OF SALISBUBT. But owing to the sudden changes in the prices of glass, and other unforeseen casualties which took place at the close of the war with Great Britain in 1816, tlie company was compelled to wind up its business, leaving at the same time a valuable property in lands, glass-factory buildings, and other appendages, useless for any purposes except for making glass. As the Farmers' Bank, at Troy, New York, had at this time refused to redeem any more of the glass- factory bills, the creditors of the company and holders of bills undertook to secure themselves by attach- ments which finally swept the entire property. Eliakim Weeks rebuilt the saw-mill in the village in 1814, and Christopher Johnson rebuilt the grist- mill the same year. About the year 1815 a number of individuals liv- ing in Salisbury and vicinity procured a charter from the legislature of the state forming a company to manufacture cotton cloths. The stock in this com- pany was chiefly taken by the farmers in this and neighboring towns, and by mechanics in the village. A factory building was erected on the site where Chester Kingsley's woolen factory now stands, under the guid- ance of John Whiting, who was made their agent. But as many of the stockholders were unacquainted with the business of manufacturing cotton, and as mat- ters concerning the management of the factory by the HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 135 agent were disapproved by some of the companj, many concluded to forfeit what they had ah-eady paid, yield up their shares, and make no further outlay. But as the company disapproved of this course, a great number of suits were commenced in our courts against these individuals, to compel the payment of the sev- eral assessments on their shares. Most of the subscri- bers for stock, fearing the law, settled up and paid their assessments, while others, more wise, went to trial, and were cleared from further responsibility. Many of the stockholders in this company became bankrupt and left the place, and those remaining were unable, for want of means, to furnish machinery and raw materials to go on with the work ; so the whole property changed owners in 1823. A year or two afterward, other machinery was procured, and a lim- ited business in cotton and woolen manufacture was carried on by Peter Lever, until the factory was burnt, which occurred in 1827. This fire closed the cotton factory speculation in this town. This factory was not without its use in town ; for, although it never proved a very profitable underta- king to those immediately interested in it, yet it gave employment, as all sueli works do, to the poor, and afi^brded a temporary market to all. The trip-hammer shop in the village, which had done a good service for many years in hammering 136 HISTOKY OF SALISBUBT. iron for its various uses, in the year 1813 was con- verted into a shovel factory. From this factory several thousands of these useful implements, of a superior kind, were sent out an- nually for many years. Here many hands have found profitable employ- ment, and from this source much benefit and profit has accrued to the town and to the surrounding country. New York markets have had some portion of their supply of shovels from this factory, and most of the towns in Western Vermont have come here to com- plete their stock. Like other manufactories in this country, this has had its reverses ; it has been stopped for short periods, but only to commence again, and although it is now at rest, we hope and expect to see it in full and suc- cessful operation before many days. About the year 1S32, Geo. Chipman and one or two other enterprising young men, repaired the old glass factory buildings at Lake Dunmore, and ex- pended thereon quite a large sum of money. The factory and its collateral buildings, and also the dwel- ling houses (about a dozen in number), which had been put up at this place, were at this time in a de- caying condition, for they had remained unoccupied more than a dozen years, during which time they had HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 137 also received much injury from the depredations of unprincipled visitors. To these buildings, well repaired, were added a new and convenient tavern, with a good barn and other buildings necessary for the convenience of vis- itors and of the operators in the factory, which was again set in successful operation. The factory was now managed with some profit, until about the tenth year, when foreign competition reduced the price of glass so much that the manufac- ture of it, in this town, could not any longer be made profitable. And since the spring of 1842, the old glass factory property has, for the most part, been used for agricultural purposes, or as a resort for pleasure seekers. In 1853, this glass factory property w^as purchased by E. D. Barber, of Middlebury, Vermont, and soon after, through his agency, a stock company, called the Lake Dunmore Hotel Company, was formed, and the moneys thereof appropriated to the building of a magnificent hotel and the purchase of accompanying lands. The tavern above referred to was taken down to make room for its more commodious successor ; the old glass factory buildings were no longer allowed to stand, biit made to give up their place to the graded walk and the more sightly greensward ; the old cot- 138 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. tages were repaired or new ones built — and in all things the art of the place began to be less ashamed of the grandeur and beauty of its surrounding scenery. But in making all this improvement an immense outlay was made — the company became insolvent — the property was mortgaged, and finally passed into the hands of Messrs. Jones, Pratt, Wood and Dodge, of Florida. In 1833, Hinsdale Mc Hurd built a small woolen factory on the ground previously occupied by the cot- ton factory, and manufactured the first woolen cloths made by machinery. This factory was burnt down in 1843, but was re- built during the same year on a more extensive scale, by Henry "W. Walker, and has continued in success- ful operation, in different hands, up to the present time. Forty-nine thousand yards of cloth were made in this factory in 1849, and its present capabilities arc such, it is said, that it might manufacture more than twice that number of yards, every year. Subsequently, a forge was erected by A. B. Hunt- ly, a young and enterprising man, near the eastern part of the Indian Garden, and on the stream which flows from Lake Dunraore. Tliis forge was built on the most approved modern plan, and was capable of doing an extensive business. HISTOKY OF SALISBURY. 139 A good number of hands here found a profitable employment for several years; but the expense of building having been very great, and the reduction in the price of iron, on account of foreign competi- tion, rendering Mr. Iluntly unable to meet the ex- pense of carrying on his business, after having made a few hundred tons of excellent iron, he was com- pelled to give up his business and to surrender his property to the grasp of his creditors. Mr. Huntley has since left the town and settled in Brandon, though it was hoped with great confidence, that he would overcome his pecuniary difEculties here, and again put the forge in operation. This forge has for several years been successfully managed by Israel Davy, its present owner. In 1851, Ebenezer Weeks and James Fitts, jr., put up a grist-mill in Salisbury village, which has been a great convenience to the town. This mill was made after the most modern plan, and fitted throughout with new machinery. Mr. Weeks afterward sold out his interest in the concern to Mr. Fitts, who in turn sold to E. A. Ham- ilton, its present owner. The following table contains the names of mechan- ics in town, as appears from the census of 1850. It also shows the locality of each : 140 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. NAMES. Charles Eager, NO. 1J18T. 4 NAMKS. Seymour Waterhouse, KO. DIRT. Ethuel Collins, 4 Sumner Briggs, 5 Oscar Waterhouse, 5 Stephen Woodbury, 5 Nehemiah Fayson, 5 ^ Wm. Waterhouse, 5 Epinetus Brush, C) Aaron Barrows, 5 Lorin Holman, 5 Martin Allen, 4 Darius Holman, 5 Marshall Holman, 5 Charles I. Soper, 5 Francis Carey, 5 Caleb Holman, 5 Nathaniel R. Field, 5 Amos King, 4 Samuel Thomas, 5 Demetrius Crampton, 5 Samuel Ranno, 1 Horace W. Sheldon, _i Royal Graves, 1 Peter M. T. Powell, 1 Francis Ranno, 1 G-eorge Eager, 4 EUery Howard, 5 Peter W. Baird, 5 Henry Dewey, G Henry W. Walker, 5 Harvey Savery, 5 Wm. Severance, 4 Seymour Waterhouse, .1 Jacob Chase, 5 Keros Howard, 5 Almon Briggs, 5 Wm. Chase, 5 Charles Miriam, 5 Wm. Deming, 5 Jefferson Thomas, 4 Charles Filley, .") Moses Doming, 5 Marshall Cloyes, .■» Kendal Savery, 5 Caleb Paige, :j Alvah Moosman, 2 Horace Sessions, 1 Uriel E. Beach, 5 Wm. K. Savery, I Alfred Pierce, 2 Many of these mechanics have manifested great skill in their art, as may be seen in the complete workmanship and finish of the varions articles which have come from their hands. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 141 CHAPTER :xin. SCENERY. — LAKE DUNMORE. — CURIOSITIES. — INDIAN TRACES. The face of the country in Salisbury, like that of most ]N"ew England towns, is of a very diversified character. Few towns have so great and interesting a variety of scenery as Salisbury. Its waters assume the varied forms of falls, cascades and meandering streams, or seek repose in the bosom of its beautiful lake. Its mountains, which rise in pride in the east, overlook its gradual and broken descent to the west. Its hills, crowned with trees, or bright with the husbandman's ripening grain — its valleys, bespotted with flocks and herds — all combine to form the most beautiful land- scapes. But that spot most sought by those who " hold communion with nature's visible forms," is Lake Dunmore and its vicinity. This lake lies in the south-east part of the town, and covers, as is estimated, about fourteen hundred acres, and extends some distance into Leicester. Its 12 142 HISTORY OF SALI8BTJBT. ^ level is three hundred and fifty-eight feet above that of the sea, its extreme length about five miles, and its greatest width a little moj;e than one mile. Its shores are very irregular, and are strikingly marked by long curving bays and sudden indents, and by rocky prominent points and gentle slopes. It has but one main inlet, which is Lana river, (in fact, its waters are mostly from the springs of the adjacent mountains), and has but one outlet, which forms the stream which flows through Salisbury vil- lage. Its average depth is about sixty feet, though sound- ings of more than a hundred feet have been made. Joel W. Andrews, of Albany, ITew York, recently visited this lake, and made the following observa- tions : The temperature of the air being 73°, At the surface of the water the temperature was 69°, At depth of fifty-three feet 45°, *' seventy-five feet 41°. The temperature of the water at the greatest depth has not yet been tried, but these observations show that, at the depth of seventy-five feet, the temperature is only nine degrees above freezing point. The lake is surrounded by mountains and high- lands, the loftiest of which, called Moosalamoo, has an altitude of 1959 feet, and the southerly peak, com- ^^ HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 143 monly known as Kattlesnake point, by barometric measurement, is 1319 feet above the level of the lake.* The beauty of this lake and of the scenery which surrounds it cannot be surpassed in this state. It has for many years been the favorite resort of the lovers of the picturesque and beautiful, but has been more especially brought into notice within the last few years by the efforts of the present owners of what is known as the Lake Dunmore property, and by their more liberal improvement of the hotel and its accompaniments, and by their more generous en- tertainment of friends. To the east rises Moosalamoo, and yet nearer the lake, the Gnomon (Kattlesnake Point), which seems to lift the clouds to protect the crystal plain below. On the western slope of Moosalamoo, and about fifty rods from the shore of the lake, is Warner's Cave, so noted a spot in the history of the Green Mountain Boys. A little to the south of the Gnomon rises a con- tinuous forest-covered hill, to the natural solitude and romance of which is added the associations of some * Those facts relating to Lake Dunmore and its surround- ings have been kindly furnished by Mr. E. Jones, one of the present owners of the old glass factory property. 144 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. of the most thrilling incidents of the pioneers of this country ; and still further to the south the eye follows the range of mountains and its adjacent hills, until all are lost in the distance. Near the centre of the lake is an island, known as Pleasure Island, containing about one third of an acre of land. On the north rises the lofty summit of Mount Bry- ant, and on the west stands Sunset Hill. The height of the former, above the level of the lake, is five hun- dred and fifty-three feet, and that of the latter, three hundred and seventy-five feet. The ascent of these two summits is easy, and on the top of the former stands a high rock, which, from the magnificent views it commands, is called Prospect Rock. On the western shore, east of Sunset Hill, is the hotel and the hamlet. Here are to be found the va- rious means of entertainment and diversion, suited to the wants of the epicure, the lover of nature, the artist or the sportsman. The scenery about Lake Dunmore is of that char- acter which is rarely found. It combines sublimity with beauty. On the one hand are immense masses of rocks and earth which nothing can move, and on the other the fugitive beauty of changing light and shade. The majesty of the cloud-capped mountain is here associated with the imdulating curve, and the HISTOET OF SALISBITRT. 145 awe of the precipice relieved by the laughing of the waters. From the mountains on the east may be seen some of the most beautiful and extensive landscapes. Here, at a single sight is presented a territory extending west, far beyond Lake Champlain, to the Adirondac Mountains, in New York, and to the north and to the south, as far as the eye can reach. Here, on a clear day, is afforded a view which, in its variety and unity, is seldom equaled. Embracing as it does so many thousands of acres, variegated by the alternate works of God and man, its hills and vales, its forests and cultivated fields, its streams and lakes, its church spires and villages, it presents a landscape which the imagination could hardly excel. From these mountains one of the most remarkable instances of mirage was once observed. " Lake Cham- plain was seen to rise and widen out, so that the in- tervening hills appeared like islands, and finally all these hills disappeared by being swallowed up by the mighty flood which seemed rapidly covering up this whole landscape territory, and soon appeared like one vast lake of water from Burlington to Benson. Trees standing on the slope of the mountain waded in the water, while others lower down and nearer its base, were entirely covered and out of sight. Burlington, though never before seen at this place, 12* 146 HISTORY OF SALISBUBT. even with a telescope, now was in perfect view, and all natural points, as well as artificial monuments, forts and other buildings on Lake Champlain, were most distinctly visible to the naked eye. This at- mospheric refraction took place about the 20th of August, 1833, and was doubtless produced by the rays of the sun passing under a long, narrow, black cloud (as described by one of the witnesses) which hung in the west just before night. The weather was very hot, and the air was remarkably clear." It is said that one of the men who witnessed this wonderful sight became so terrified at seeing the wa- ter rising to the higher points of the slope of the mountain, that he began to doubt that the " bow in the east " was a " true sign " that the world should not again be inundated in a general flood ; and after all was passed, begged his companion not to describe the phenomenon to others lest so strange and mar- velous a story might make them a laughing stock among the people. These mountains have been so much sought by the pleasure seeker and the hunter that its scenes are re- plete with interesting incidents and adventures. Many of the older inhabitants have here hunted the bear and chased the deer, and even remember often to have seen the deer, when pursued by dogs, has- tening from the mountain and seeking temporary HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 14T refuge in the lake (its own instinct seeming to point out this way as the easiest to thwart the scent of the dogs), and then escaping from some extreme point to the swamps or mountains, unless perchance captured by the hunters in boats.^ The natural curiosities of Salisbury, purely as such, are not many. " Warner's Cave," before referred to, is an object of no little interest, not only on account of its own pe- culiar make and appearance, but for the associations given it by the vivid though somewhat extravagant imagination of the author of the " Green Mountain * It shiould have been remarked, when speaking of the waters of Lake Dunmore, that it is a notorious fact that, notwith- standing the great numbers of visitors who have sought this lake for the past seventy years, for hunting, or fishing, or sailing or other purposes, but two or three persons have been drowned in it, and these had laid in the water a great length of time before they could be rescued. Resuscitation depends very much upon the pureness of the water in which strangulation takes place. The water of Otter creek appears to have a poisonous effect, and produces in the drowning person sudden mental derangement. Attempts at resuscitation of persons who have laid in this water but for a few minutes are, in most cases, unavailing, while many have been brought to life who had laid for a long time insensible in the water of Lake Dunmore, and of the streams which flow into and out of it. 148 *•• HISTORY OF SALISBURY. Boys." " It is a large rock lying isolated on a small level space on the side of the mountain, with an en- trance in the side into a room in which a person can stand erect, and which is large enough to contain a company of fifteen or twenty persons." How this rock came here, or how its cavity was made, is a matter of conjecture; though the more common opinion is, that it was hollowed out by the Indians, as a place of temporary security. Near this cave are two small ovens, which perhaps are objects of more interest than the cave. These ovens are about the size of a small brick oven, such as is used for baking bread. They appear to be made with great skill, from the solid rock, though no mark of a chisel or other instrument is found upon them. One of them is a detached stone, the base of which being of the same width with the oven itself, has a square pedestal about two and a half feet high. Neither of them appear to have been heated, and, in fact, are of a kind of stone which will not bear great heat without breaking. It cannot be doubted that Indians, at no very re- mote period, lived in this town, for some slight re- mains of their settlements are to be found in many localities. The Indian names of some of the streams and bod- HISTORY OF SALISBUET. 149 ies of water are yet retained by the desceudants of these Indian tribes. For instance, Lake Dunmore was called Mo-sa-la-moo {Lake of the Silve7' Trout)^ and Otter creek Woon-e-gee-ka-tooh^ sometimes pro- nounced WuTh-eg-e-que-tuck. It has been said by some of the early inhabitants, that at an early day remnants of an Indian dwelling were found attached to " Warner's Cave." It is not unlikely that the Indians used this cave for a store- house, or for some similar purpose, but there is no evi- dence that it was of any further use, unless it might be to serve as a retreat for a few individuals, in case of the approach of an enemy. Indian arrows are occasionally found on all the ridge-lands, and on the intervals of Otter creek. Here many crude earthen vessels, apparently once used in cooking, have been plowed up. So, also, on the high interval lands near Middlebury river, many articles of Indian manufacture have been discovered — for instance, an earthen kettle, found j ust below the surface of the ground, of sufficient size to hold three or four pails of water. This kettle was entire, until unfortunately broken by running the plow into it when it was discovered. It was made of brick, or of earthen material, and of far superior quality to any of the earthen ware made in this county at the present time. 150 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. A hammer, also, made of stone, showing great skill in its manufacture, has been picked up, and many other utensils used for domestic purposes. At the Indian Garden before mentioned, a little east of Salisbury village, many articles of Indian pro- duction have been picked up, among which we might mention arrows, pestles, and dishes for various pur- poses, though mostly in a broken state. It is supposed that Wolf Hill was once the favorite resort and dwelling place of the Indians.* This locality appears to have been remarkably con- genial to the tastes and habits of these people, sur- rounded as it was, by swamps, and covered, on all its sides, with dense forests. There being no living water on this hill, the spring of triangular form, before men- tioned (which is in this vicinity), was undoubtedly their watering place. * This hill stands on the farm of Mark Ranney, east of his house, and was called by the early surveyors, *' Stony Hill;" but its name was soon changed to that of "Wolf Hill," from the fact that so many wolves were taken here. This capture of wolves was made by forming lines of men about the hill, at a considerable distance from its base, and then marching to the top, driving the wolves before them. As this line of men neared the top of the hill, of course the circumference of the ring they formed, and the distances between the men became less, until the wolves were so completely and securely encom- passed that they were easily killed. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 151 There are two places in town where the fire-places of the Indians have not been disturbed. Both are near the stream which flows through the village — the one is near the outlet of Lake Dunmore, and the other some distance below the village. The only certain evidence that the Indians once had their residence in .these places, consists in the peculiar manner in which the stones are laid. But as frost soon disturbs these fixtures, hundreds of them might be passed over, unrecognized. 152 HISTOKT OF SALISBUEY. CHAPTEK XIY. STATISTICS OF TAXATION. — MILITARY ENLISTMENT. ^DIS- EASES. — DEATHS. — PKOFESSIONAL MEN. — HOTEL KEEP- ERS. — MERCHANTS. CRIME. — DIVORCES. It not having been the custom of the town clerk to record the yearly expenses of supporting the poor, or of building and sustaining bridges, it is impossible to give a statistical account of these expenses. A few reports of the selectmen, picked up among loose papers, show the expense of supporting the poor to have been, in 1821, 1824, 1831, 1845, 1847, 1848, During the building of the railroad, in 1848 and 1849, 184:9, the expenses of the town were somewhat increased by railroad paupers. Expenses of making roads and building bridges, in the early settlement of the town, were principally defrayed by taxes on the land, $127 57 1850, $262 76 174 27 1855, 176 59 180 52 1856, 230 42 243 89 1857, 236 11 J217 86 1858, 193 02 285 15 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 153 through special legislation, and no tax was made on the grand list to exceed eight mills on the dollar, until 1806. On examining the town records, the following facts are found : In March, ] 802, voted to raise a tax of eight mills on a dollar. u 1803, »i " '♦ fire " " " 1804, no action on the subject, *' 1805, voted to raise a tax of three mills on a dollar. 1806, " " •' ten *♦ '' " 1807, '♦ '♦ *' two ♦' " " 1803, no action on the subject. 1809, " 1810, voted to raise a tax of ten mills on a dollar. Since the year 1810, the expenses of the town have increased about in proportion to the increase of popu- lation, and within that time the grand list has under- gone so many legal changes in matters of taxation, that to follow them through and here give a detailed account of them, would be both uninteresting and useless. The following is a list of the soldiers from Salisbury, who enlisted and went into the war of 1812, known as the Madison war. Lieut. Walter Shelden, son of Moses Shelden, returned. John Morton, jr., " Dea. John Morton, returned. John Brown, M. D. John Brown, jr., son of John Brown, M, D. 13 164: HISTORY OF SALISBURT. Chester Loveland. Weeks Copeland, son of Wiliam Copeland, returned. Eliakim Sprague, " Benj. Sprague, Isaac Wells, *' John Wells, returned. Daniel Bemis, ♦' Abel Bemis, returned. Joshua Graves, •' Chancey Graves, returned. George Ray, returned. Jacob Chase, son of Daniel Chase, returned. Stephen Gilbert, Milton Race, son of John Race, returned. The above list of names includes those only who enlisted into the regular service. Many others volun- teered when the country was invaded, and aided the American army in the defeat of the British at Plattsburg in 1814, and also turned out on other oc- casions. To defray the expenses of the war, a direct tax was levied and collected in 1814, 1815 and 1816. The records show the following facts : " Paid George Cleaveland, collector for the fourth collection district of Vermont, In 1814, In 1815, In 1816, Amount, $426 92 694 82 415 22 $1,536 96' Beside this tax, ammunition and other supplies were furnished the militia, at the expense of the town. HISTORY OF SALISBUBY. 155 Once or twice the whole company were called out on extra service, which must have made some addi- tional expense, but there is no record which tells the amount. A post office was established in Salisbury, January 81st, 1801, and was located at the village. The fol- lowing is a list of its post masters, with the time of the appointment of each. Patrick Johnson, January 31, 1801 to October 10, 1809. Jacob Linsly, October 10, 1809 to February 20, 1815. Austin Johnson, February 20, 1815 to December 29, 1817. John M. Weeks, December 29, 1817 to December 28, 1824. Harvey Deming, December 28, 1824 to August 19, 1847. John Prout, August 19, 1847 to September27, 1847. Abram B. Huntly, September 27, 1847 to September 24, 1851. Sumner Briggs, September 24, 1851 to October 1852. William Rustin, October 1852 to December 29, 1854. Keros K. Howard, December 29, 1854. Mr. Howard has held the office up to the present time. Another post-office was established in the west part of the town, under the name of West Salisbury, July 19th, 1860. J. S. Messer was appointed the first post- master, and was succeeded by Eoyal D. Iledden, who holds the office at the present time. Of diseases and deaths, it is to be regretted but few records have been made until very recently. What- 156 HI8TOBY OF SALISBURY. ever is written of these must be gathered mostly from memory, and from the testimony of old inhabitants. The first diseases were, fever and ague, canker- rash, dysentery, and fever of the milder forms. These diseases seldom proved fatal, until about the com- mencement of the present century. About this time many children died with dysentery. With the change of climate which occurred about this period, came other diseases, prominent among which was consump- tion. This insidious disease, in its various forms, has taken its great share from among the inhabitants of the town, and seems to have been constantly increas- ing, from the time of its first appearance. Fever and ague began to disappear, about the year 1800; and as it gradually went away, other fevers seemed to take a better hold. About this time, it is said, a few cases of spotted fever occurred. Lung fever made its first appearance in 1812, and became a very general epidemic. Previous to this, the coldest season of the year was considered the most healthful ; but in the winter of 1812 and 1813, at every colder change in the weather, as the season advanced, new cases of thjs almost fatal epidemic were known. It took from us many of our most valuable citizens, not only from this, but from adjacent towns. So malignant and mortal was this disease, and so HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 167 quick in its work, that tlie usual inquiry for the con- dition of the sick person was not, as formerly, "How is he?" but, "Is he living?" It did its most disastrous work among those of the most robust constitution. Indeed, very few persons of this character survived its attacks. In the following winter a few instances of a similar disease occurred ; but either because it appeared in a milder form, or because it was more successfully man- aged by the physicians, it did not cause many deaths. It was supposed by the early settlers, that fever and ague was produced by the miasmatic influences of the numerous swamps in town ; but, while all the swamps remain as formerly, fever and ague have entirely dis- appeared. It may be that acclimation has had the effect to banish this disease; but it is believed that it had its origin, in the early days, more from the decaying roots, stumps and timber, which followed the clearing of the land, than from the swamps. It is undoubtedly true, that these swamp lands are not prolific of disease of any character. This fact was very well proved during the building of the rail- road through the Otter creek swamps ; for several hundred hands were here emjDloyed, both summer and winter, for nearly two years, and no one of these men^ and none of their numerous families, were 13* 158 HISTORY OF SALISBT7ET. known to be made sick, while here employed, in consequence of their locality. A few cases of ship fever occurred among them, which had been contracted previous to their arrival here. One or two deaths have occurred from delirium tre- mens, or from diseases akin to it. Tliis disease made its appearance with the age of adulterated liquors ; it was unknown before the year 1800.* Salisbury has always been a very healthy town, and * The first distilled liquors which excited suspicions of adul- teration, in Salisbury, was a barrel of rum which the building eommittee obtained at Troy, New York, to be used in the framing and raising of the meeting-house. This was in 1804, since which time a great change has taken place in public opinion in matters of temperance. This liquor had a taste similar to that of tar, and was accordingly named tar water. Doctor Benj. Rush, of Philadelphia, distinguished at once, as a chemist, physician and statesman, was among the first to discover the adulteration of liquors in this country, and the consequent danger of their use as a medicine. He used every means in his power, during the latter part of his valuable life, to prevent the use of ardent spirits among the people of the United States, as a beverage, and probably did more than any other person in laying the foundation of the temperance reform, which has spread throughout the country. He died at Philadelphia in the year 1813. -m HISTORY OF SALISBURT. 159 a large number of its early inhabitants lived far be- yond the common age of man. The First Eegistration Eeport of births, marriages and deaths in Vermont, places Salisbury amoug the first towns in Addison county, in point of health. This report, being the first one of the kind in this state, is necessarily inaccurate, but at the same time enables us to form a comparatively accurate judg- ment of the healthiness of the diff'erent parts of the state. Rev. Mr. Pumeroy, during his ministry here, kept a record of the deaths among us, which numbered sev- enty-six. This embraces a period of four years, com- mencing in 1812. Of these seventy-six deaths, 35 occurred in persons between and 10 years of age. 4 6 4 4 6 10 3 2 2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 " 20 " 30 " 40 - 50 " 60 " 70 " 80 " 90 '' 100 The 'diseases of which these persons died, and the number of deaths by each disease, were as follows ; 160 HISTOET OF SALISBFRT. Consumption, 7 Scalded, 1 Typhus fever, 4 Still-born, 1 Dropsy, 4 Old age, 4 Influenza, I Fits, 7 Epidemic lung fever. 22 Wound in the joint, 1 Dysentery, 4 Laudanum, 1 Spotted fever. 2 Whooping cough, 1 Canker rash. 1 Unknown, 14 Gravel, 1 From the account kept by Kev. Mr. Barrows, du- ring the four years next preceding January Ist, 1861, it appears that the number of deaths in town was fifty-one. 8 between the ag 6 '♦ " ■es f 10 and 10 yet " 20 ' irs. 13 (( ( 20 " 30 ' 5 '♦ (( i 30 .» 40 ' 4 ( ( 40 " 50 ' 2 *' " ' ' 50 " 60 ' 3 ♦' *' U ( 60 u 70 ♦ 4 ti (( i ( { 70 " 80 ' 4 i( (t ( ( 80 ♦' 90 ♦ 2 '• ♦' i i 90 " 100 * 5 by Consumption, 1 " Dropsy, '* Cancer, I 4 1 Deaths by Typhus fever, '' Canker-rash, " Throat disease. 8 4 3 " Brain fever, " Lung fever, " Fits, *' Unknown, 2 2 1 3 Spinal dis Dropsy or Liver com Old ago. ease, I brain, plaint. 1 2 ] 8 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 161 The number of deaths during the four years of Mr. Pumeroy's ministry, appears to be one-third greater than that during the same term of time of more recent date, as shown by the records of Mr. Barrows. This difference arises from the greater number of deaths from the epidemic lung fever of 1812.* It is believed that Mr. Barrows' record is a fair representative of the average number of deaths, du- ring every period of corresponding length, since the year 1800, allowance being made for increase of in- habitants, and for the ravages of the epidemic before mentioned. Previous to the beginning of the present century, the number of deaths was less, in proportion to the number of inhabitants, than at present. This was very probably owing to the more uniform tempera- ture of the atmosphere, and perhaps to the more reg- ular and healthful habits of the people. Many of the early settlers lived over ninety years. John Morton died at the age of ninety-four years; George June, ninety-seven years; and Mary Holt died in July, 184:4, having reached her one hundred and third year. The more common contagious diseases have pre- * This disease first made its appearance among the soldiers at Burlington and Plattsburgh, in the latter part of 1812. 162 HISTORY OF SALI8BUEY. vailed to a greater or less extent in town for a great many years. Among them we might mention meas- les, hooping-cough, mumps, canker-rash, and small- pox. The latter disease has not made its appearance here more than two or three times. In 1803, by a vote of the town, a pest house was built, a little to the south of Abner More's house, on the farm now owned by James Fitts. Here many individuals were inoculated with the small-pox, under the guidance and care of Dr. John Horton and Dr. Henry Porter. But in 1807, vaccination was introduced among us, and as it proved to be a preventive of the small-pox, great numbers were vaccinated; so that the small- pox has almost been junknown among us since that time.* * Dr. Edward Jenner, of Gloucestershire, England, ascer- tained by experiment, that vaccine virus, or a virus taken from cows in a certain stage of the disease, when transferred to the human system by inoculation, was a safe and very sure pre- ventive of the small-pox. This discovery was made about 1798, and after having been tested for a short time in England, was communicated to all parts of Christendom. It met with great resistance and derision for many years, but Dr. Jenner lived to see it triumphant, and finally received the honor and name so justly due him. He died in 1823. .itk HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 163 In the spring of 1820, one or two individuals living in the sonth part of the town were vaccinated, as they supposed, but through the mistake of their physician they were inoculated with the genuine small-pox. From these persons the disease spread into a few fam- ilies in that vicinity, but in no case proved fatal. The author is not aware that any instance of this dreadful disease has occurred in this town since that time. The following table shows the population of the town at different periods ; also containing the names of physicians and attorneys, and the time when each here commenced practice. Population in 1791, 446 Population in 1800, 644 '' 1810, 709 " 1820, 721 1830, 907 " 1840, 942 ** 1850, 1,027 PHYSICIANS, Darius Matthews, 1789 Josiah W. Hale, 1812 Eliphaz Perkins, 1791 * A. Gr. Dana, 1821 Thomas Dunbar, 1796 Washington Miller, 1822 * Paul Thorndike, 1801 . Luke Hale, 1829 John Horton, 1802 * William Pitts, 1830 * Henry Porter, 1802 M. H. Ranney, 1835 Eev. Abiel Jones, 1804 0. G. Dyar, 1846 Rufus Newton, 1805 J. N. Moore, 1851 Eli Derby, 1808 * C. S. Chase, 1856 * Harvey Gruernsey, 1808 H. C. Atwood, 1859 164 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. ATTORNEYS. Horatio Waterous, 1802 * Robert Bostwick, 1823 James Andrews, jr., 1809 E. N. Briggs, 1826 * Thomas French, 1811 John Prout, 1838 * S. H. Tupper, 1816 * John Colby, 1848 Theophilus Capen, 1817 A. W. Briggs, 1859 TABLE OF TAVEKN KEEPERS, AND TIME WHEN EACH WENT INTO BUSINESS. Solomon Bigelow, 1788 P. & A. Johnson, 1813 Eleazor Claghorn, 1789 Isaac Hill, 1813 Hamlin Johnson, 1798 Ellery Howard, 1814 Lorin Lakin, 1795 Moses Hitchcock, 1815 Stephen Hard, 1795 Ruel Smith, 1818 Reuben Saxton, 1799 Elnathan Darling, 1826 Christopher Johnson, 1800 Carey Allen, 1828 Elias Kelsey, 1801 Abiel Manning, 1829 Solomon Everts, 1803 P. G. Alden, 1831 William Kilburn, 1804 Lucius Barker, 1832 Patrick Johnson, 1808 James Cook, 1836 Johnson & Brooks, 1810 Nehemiah Pray, 1836 Brooks & Kilburn, 1811 T.W. Kelar, 1840 Jacob Linsley, 1812 Rollin T. Howard, 1846 The foregoing is made with reference to the time each tavern keeper took out his license. It may not show the exact time when each commenced keeping a public house. * Remained in town but a short time. ^^^ HISTORY OF SALISBUUT. 166 In addition to the names above, might be mentioned the different owners and proprietors of the hotel at Lake Dunmore. But as these have been named be- fore, they are here omitted. Moreover, the hotel at Lake Dunmore has been more a place of summer resort, than one simply for the accommodation of travelers. TABLE OF MERCHANTS AND RETAILEES OF SPIEITS. MERCHANTS. Josiah Rossiter, 1797 Jason Rice, 1826 Libeus Harris, 1802 Parker & Ives, (( Merriam & Kilburn, 1804 Barrows & Kidder, 1828 Bela Farnham, u Abiel Manning, 1829 Ambrose Porter, 1805 John Beck with & Co. , 1831 Brooks & Morriam, (( Linsly & Chipman, 1832 Joshua Brooks, 1806 Howard Harris, 1844 Weed & Conant, n William Rustin, 1851 Patrick Johnson, 1807 E. A. Hamilton, 1852 P. & A. Johnson, 1808 S. E. Waterhouse, 1852 Dickinson & Brooks, 1810 James Fitts, jr.. 1858 Aaron Barrows, 1815 Wm. Rustin & Co., 1858 James I. Catlin, it Benj. Eastwood, 1859 Catlin & Atwood, 1817 RETAILERS OF SPIRITS. John Deming, 1796 Abner More, 1809 Joseph Cheney, 1803 ii ii 14 166 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. Joseph Cheney 1803 Abner More, 1809 M. H. Ranney, 1839 P. 0. Barrows, 1847 About the time of the completion of the Rutland and Burlington Railroad, a union store was started in the depot building in West Salisbury, under the management of J. S. Messer. This store did a limited business for a short time, and was closed. Since the passage of the law known as the Maine Liquor Law, intoxicating liquors have been sold in this town, as in other towns of the state, by an agent appointed by the county commissioner for that pur- pose. The first agent was Lothrop Bump, who held the office in 1853 and 1854. In 1855, this office was given to Darius Holman, in which he continued to act until the appointment of Eugene A. Hamilton, in 1859. Of crimes in Salisbury, it is a pleasure to say that the history is short. With the exception of some of the disturbances and breaches of the peace which grew out of the contro- versy between Salisbury and Leicester, already men- HISTORY OF SALISBTIRT. 167 tioned, our people have not often required the atten- tion of the higher courts in criminal prosecutions. The first instance of theft of much notoriety, was that of Joseph Andrews, who, in the night, by means of false keys, entered John Deming's store and took a quantity of goods ; sometime during the same night he also unlocked Mr. Deming's stable and stole his stallion, whereby he made his escape. He was soon overtaken, however, and brought back, and afterward, on trial at Middlebury, was found guilty, and sentenced to have a piece of one of his ears cut off, to have the letters H. T. branded upon his forehead with a hot iron, to mark his crime, and to receive thirty-nine lashes on his naked back at the public whipping-post. All these punishments were inflicted in the most summary and zealous manner by John Chipman, who was high sheriff of Addison county at that time. This took place sometime in the latter part of the last century. Subsequent to this, but one case occurred which required the execution of these cruel, inhuman and barbarous laws. It was in the year 180T or 1808. A young man of respectability, and of highly reputable connections, (as it was afterward ascertained), fell into bad com- 168 HISTORY OF 6ALISBURY. pany, and was so unfortunate as to pass a counterfeit bank bill, of the denomination of five dollars. The crime was proved against him — and, being a stranger here at that time, was unable to procure bail, and finally was sentenced to receive thirty-nine lashes upon his naked back. William Slade was high sherifi*, at that time, and officiated at the whipping-post. Several other crim- inals were whipped at the same time, in the labor of which the sheriff was assisted by his deputies. To see three strong men relieving each other, in the fatigue of whipping these boys till the blood ran down their backs, would astonish the present generation, and is a sight which we never wish to witness again. Since the state prison was completed, (in 1809) many of the old and more barbarous laws of the state have been repealed, and imprisonment and hard la- bor for a term of years, according to the nature of the offence, have been substituted for the revolting pub- lic infliction of punishment, of the earlier days.* Only a few instances of speculating in counterfeit money have been detected in this town, and in these **'The only crimes which are at present punishable by death, in Vermont, are, murder, killing a person in a duel, perjury in consequence of which life is taken, and arson by means of which some person's life is destroyed." HISTOET OF SALISBURY. 169 the business was done on quite a small scale ; but tbe offenders were convicted, and made to suffer the just penalties of the law in the state prison. The grand jury has found bills against two of our people for the crime of perjury. In the one case the bonds were forfeited and the respondent went clear, and in the other the respondent went to trial and was acquitted. The one indictment and trial for manslaughter we have already noticed, which also resulted in the ac- quittal of the respondent. The offence (properly a crime) of selling intoxica- ting liquors without a license, has been quite general, as the dockets of the county court plainly show. Probably other instances of crime have occurred, which, though noticed by the grand jury, have not been made public. The following are the names of parties divorced in Salisbury : Aaron Goodrich and his wife Sally, whose maiden name was Bigelow. James Crook " " Desire, iC « « Wainwright. Harry Johnson, " '* Sally, « {( (( Capron. Jesse Story, " " Betsey, U « U Pierce. Joseph Cheney, " «' Hilpa, C( It < Nash. H. W. Noyes, « " Lucinda, (I U (( Bartlett. Harry Johnson and his divorced wife were married again, within a year or two after the bill of divorce had been granted. 14* 170 HISTORY OF SALISBTJET. Aaron Goodrich and his wife separated by a con- tract mutually agreed upon between themselves. Mrs. Hilpa Cheney afterward married Mr. Smith, of New Haven, Yermont. With this exception, and that of Mr. Johnson and his wife, the author is not aware that either of these divorced parties were ever married again. In regard to Rev. Mr. Cheney, in justice it should be said that, previous to the year 1822, he had fully sustained the reputation of a learned, pious and faith- ful minister of the Gospel, iand was highly esteemed by his brethren in the ministry. But in the autunm of 1822 he received a severe bruise on his head, occasioned by a fall from his horse, which so impaired his intellectual faculties as to produce partial mental derangement, and to render him an exceedingly unpleasant companion. After this accident, he appeared to have an imper- fect control of his mind, and could not regulate his habits nor limit his desires so as to live a perfectly blameless life. And as for his good wife Hilpa, her character as a woman of christian meekness, fidelity, and intelli- gence, had long been too well established, to admit of the belief that she could have been the cause of fam- ily difficulties. The writer had occasion to be well acquainted HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 171 with the facts connected with some of the fore- going cases of divorce, and in examining them, and in a careful observation elsewhere, it is found that one of the most prolific causes of domestic difii- culty, lies in an arbitrary spirit exercised by either the husband or wife. In a relation so intimate as that of the marriage relation, this spirit has no limit to its opportunities and disagreeable ways of manifesting it- self. In one of the foregoing cases, it was found that the husband was from a family in which the father held the reins of government, and the wife from an- other in which the mother had been wont, almost ex- clusively, to govern as well as to manage all domestic concerns. It was in this disparity of education and habit, that lay the beginning of all their difficulty. The entire and exchisive jurisdiction of the family being claimed by both, it was obtained by neither, and the final result was, a divorce. "We cannot help here suggesting to the young candidates for matrimony, that they will find frailty in all human nature, and that the true way to meet it is in mutual forbearance and kindness ; and that there is nothing in the marriage relation — unless it be the gross and disgraceful sin of adultery — which- so alien- ates the aifectiong, destroys confidence, and blunts the sense of moral responsibility, as that haughty, de- ceptive demeanor of a dictating, domineering spirit. 172 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. The person who indulges this spirit, nullifies the most sacred promises, and patronizes moral treason. Re- member the words of the great apostle — " Wives, sub- mit yourselves unto your own husbands;" "Hus- bands, love your wives;" "Submitting yourselves, one to another, in the fear of God." HISTOEY OF SALISBURY. 173 CHAPTER XY. THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY. — THE METHODIST CHURCH. From the books of the Congregational church in Salisbury, is taken the following record of its begin- ning: " Salisbury^ FeVy 8, 1 804. — We, Solomon Storey, John Holt, Aaron L. Beach, Gilbert Everts, jr., Elia- kim Weeks, Hannah Weeks, Anna Copeland, Eliza- beth Beach and Hannah Everts, being desirous to form ourselves into a christian church, have met for that purpose. Present, Rev. Jedediah Bushnell, " Benjamin Worcester. " Having previously given a relation of the ground of our hope, and been propounded for two weeks, we proceed to make choice of the following confession of faith, to be our creed, and bind ourselves to walk as a church of Christ; wishing grace, mercy and peace, through our Lord Jesns Christ, may descend upon us and our successors in this church.' 1Y4 .HISTORY OF SALISBUKT. ARTICLES. " I. We believe there is one God, a self-existent, in- dependent, and infinitely wise and holy Being, who is almighty in power, unchangeable in his nature, and possessed of all possible perfection ; the great creator, sole preserver, and sovereign disposer of all things. " II. We believe that this one God, in a mysterious, incomprehensible manner, subsists in three persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost — distinctly three persons, yet essentially but one God, and that these three persons are co-equal, co-essential and co- eternal, in all the divine perfections. " III. We believe that the Scriptures contained in the old and new Testaments, are the word of God, given by divine inspiration, and are a perfect, and the only rule of faith and practice. " lY. We believe that God exercises a moral gov- ernment over all his rational creatures, and that in his glorious administration, the divine law of God is a perfect, infallible, and eternal rule of righteousness, requiring perfect, persevering obedience, upon the pain of eternal damnation. " Y. We believe that God made man, at first, per- fectly holy and happy, and appointed Adam, the pa- rent of mankind, to be the federal head and repre- sentative of all his natural posterity, promising that if he continued in perfect holiness they should be HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 175 happy, but in case he disobeyed, they should fall with him into a state of sin and death. " YI. "We believe that our first parents fell from their original state of holiness ; consequently, accord- ing to God's holy and wise constitution, all mankind were born into the world sinners, and became justly deserving God's wrath and curse forever and ever. " YII. We believe that Jesus Christ is a substitute for the sinner ; that he yielded perfect obedience to the divine law of God, and bore its curse ; that he thereby vindicated the justice of the law, brought in everlasting righteousness, and opened the way for the exercise of mercy to the guilty. Now, in saving the sinner, God is just and the justifier of him who be- lieves in Jesus. "YIII. "We believe that, in consequence of the atonement made by the death of Christ, divine mercy is freely offered to all sinners who will exercise re- pentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. " IX. We believe that, although divine mercy is freely offered to all who will repent and believe, man- kind are so far sunk in sin, being wholly corrupt, and at enmity with God and the Gospel, that they will not exercise repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ until their hearts are subdued by Almighty power, or a new heart is given them crea- 176 HISTORY OF 8ALISBUBT. ated after tlie image of God in righteousness and true holiness. "X. We believe that, notwithstanding sinful re- jection of divine mercy, God did from all eternity, for the glory of his great name, without any respect to the future actions of his creatures, elect some of the human race to everlasting, life, through the medi- ation of his son Jesus Christ, and entered into cove- nant to save them from their state of sin and misery, justly leaving the rest of mankind to perish in their sins for their wilful rejection of the glorious offers of divine grace. " XI. We believe that Christ ever had a church in the world, consisting of his true followers, and that he will continue it to the end of the world, and that baptism and the Lord's supper are the ordinances. ^'XII. We believe that baptism is to be adminis- tered to believers and their infant seed, and that Christ has instituted a discipline to be strictly ob- served in his church, according to his directions in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew. " XIII. We believe that all who truly believe in Christ will certainly persevere in holiness unto eternal life, being kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation. " Xiy. We believe that at the last day Christ will come in the clouds of heaven with power and great HISTORY OF SALISBLTIT. 177 glory, raise the dead from their graves, judge the world in righteousness, and doom the wicked to ever- lasting destruction, and receive the redeemed to the happiness and glory of his eternal kingdom." To these articles of faith all candidates were re- quired to give their assent, before admission into the church. The candidates were also required to undertake the obligation of a covenant, by which they promised to yield perfect obedience to the will of God, to keep holy the Sabbath day, to observe morning and even- ing prayers, and to cultivate those conditions of heart, and of mind, which would best enable them to per- form their duty both to God and man. These articles of faith, and this covenant, were re- vised by a vote of the church, in 1810, and were ren- dered less exceptionable, by adopting a different phraseology, while the original ideas and sentiments remained very much the same. They were again revised and altered, in 1831, under the direction of Kev. Daniel Kockwell. This last re- vision did not meet with much favor among the people, and seemed to the clergy of the Congregational order to be of much less value than the former one. The following table, made after a careful examina- tion of the church records, shows that from the time the church was first organized, in 1804, to 181T, one 15 1T8 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. hundred and ninetj-four persons were added to its numbers by profession, and forty-five by letters from other churches ; that fifty-seven were dismissed, and thirteen excommunicated. Since 1847, forty-three have been added by profes- sion, and fifteen by letter ; twenty-four dismissed, and two excommunicated — making, in all — Additions by profession, 237. By letter, 60. Dismissions, 81. Excommunications, 15. This table is undoubtedly correct, so far as it goes ; but of course its record of dismissions and excommu- nications does not show the losses of the church by emigration and death. From the time of the organization of the church to 184T, fifty adult persons were baptised ; (most, if not all, at the time of their admission into the church), and during that time one hundred and twenty-three children were brought forward for baptism, either by their parents or guardians. The present number of the church is one hundred and three, beside quite a large number belonging to wliat is called the " society." Among this latter class are found some of the most efiifcient and liberal supporters of the Gospel in town. One member of the society pays a hundred dollars per annum for this purpose, which in a town of small salaries shows no mediocre generosity. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 179 5 1804. 1 II 1 p ll 1827. ^1 1! ll <^ 1 5 1 11 1805. 2 1828. 1 1806. 15 1 1829. (» 1807. 2 1 1830. 1808. 2 1831. 40 2 4 1809. 1832. 1 1810. 25 1 1 1833. 5 4 1 1811. 3 2 1834. 5 7 1812. 2 1835. 1 2 1813. 1 1 1836. 9 1 4 2 1814. 1 2 1837. 8 14 1815. 1 1 1838. 6 3 1816. 1839. 1 5 1 1817. 2 3 1840. 19 3 1818. 2 2 1841. 3 3 1 1819. 1 1842. 1 3 1 1820. 1843. 3 3 1821. 36 2 1844. 2 1822. 5 1 1 1845. 2 1823. 1 1 1 1846. 3 1824. 1 2 2 1847. 3 1825. — — — 1826. 3 1 194 45 57 13 This table shows the time of all periods of special interest in matter's of religion in the church, since its formation. For instance, in 1806, under the ministry 180 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. of Kev. Abiel Jones (who was also a physician), fif- teen were added to the church. Again, in 1810, even when the church and society were without any regu- lar ministrations of the Gospel, twenty -five persons were added. This religious interest appeared to take its rise, under God, in Middlebury College. The students of that institution . spent much time in establishing and attending weekly conferences in this town especially for young people. At this time. Deacon A. L. Beach and Ebenezer Weeks (then a student in Middlebury College), spent many weeks traveling from house to house, to encourage people to attend and to interest themselves in these meetings. For this renewed religious interest, the Congrega- tional church in Salisbury was indebted not only for the services of the students in college, but especially to president Atwater, and other ministers, for their great labors and kindness at this time. Rev. Messrs. Bushnell, Parsons, Ilibbard, Merrill, and others, were always zealous men in any good work, and here showed their zeal at this time. In the infancy of the Congregational church of Salisbury, (when it needed assistance the most), these men were ever ready to give it help, and did give it an impetus' which it feels to this day. This church had no settled minister until 1811, HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 181 and as few of the leading business men were members of it, it was compelled to struggle through great diffi- culties and dangers, for several years. In 1805, (before a single male member had been added to its original number), it suffered very much from the derelictions of one of its leading members, who was, however, reclaimed after great trial and dif- ficulty. In 1807 the discipline of the church was brought in requisition to reclaim another leading member who had gone astray, and in 1810 still another was found in serious fault, and expelled. There had, during all this time, existed difficulties between certain members of the church and some of the leading business men, which deterred the latter from uniting with the former. But these difficulties appear to have been overcome during the extraordi- nary time of religious interest, in 1810. At this time the following vote was recorded on the church records, viz: '^ May lUh^ 1810. Yoted by the church and society, that no old matters shall be brought up any more, as matters of objection or difficulty among each other." ISTo deacons were elected until May 8th, 1811, when Aaron L. Beach and John Holt were elected to that office ; and no regular minister was installed over the 15* 182 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. church until October 15th, 1811, when Eev. Kufus Pumroy was called to fill that place. On the 18th of I^oy ember, 1816, at his own request, and by the council of the Addison county consocia- tion, called by himself, Mr. Pumroy was dismissed from this pastoral charge. He, being the first settled minister in town, was, by the terms of the charter, vested with what was called the " ministerial right" of land ; but at the time of his dismission, at the suggestion of the council, he deeded one-half of this land to the Congregation al church, it being thought that his residence here had not been of sufficient length to entitle him to receive the whole of it. As the causes of Mr. Pumroy's dismission are not made matters of record, and, therefore, patent to all, they will be noticed on a future page. It is our duty, however, to exonerate Mr. Pum- roy from all moral blemish ; if he erred at all, it was in things of minor importance, for he was a learned, faithful and pious minister. From 1816 to the time of the settlement of Rev. Joseph Cheney, (in March, 1819), tlie church and peo- ple were occasionally supplied with preaching by the president and professors of Middlebury College, and by other neighboring clergymen. Mr. Cheney, how- HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 183 ever, commenced preaching on probation some time previous to his final settlement. Under the instructions of Mr. Cheney, and through his^quiet, faithful working among his people (by which more good is often accomplished than by the most elo- quent preaching), the church increased in numbers and zeal. One year of his ministry was marked with peculiar success. It was the year 1821, when thirty- six members were added to the church. In the latter part of 1822, the usefulness of Mr. Cheney, as a minister of the Gospel, was suddenly ar- rested by a fall from his horse, in which his head suf- fered a severe injury, as before stated. This injury is believed to have been the cause of his dismission, which occurred the following year, and finally of his death, in 1834:. From March, 1823, to May, 1833, the church was destitute of a settled minister. For the space of about eleven years, counting the time Mr. Cheney lost in 1822, the pulpit was. supplied most of the time by hiring the temporary services of different individuals. Among these mention might be made of Rev. Daniel Hock well, who preached here in 1831, and under whose ministrations forty members were added to the church. At the expiration of these eleven years, the Rev. Eli Hyde was installed pastor of the church. Tliis 184: HISTORY OF 8ALI8BUBY. installation took place May 30th, 1833. But a little more than three years afterward, in September, 1836, a council was convened, and Mr. Hyde was dismissed, principally for want of support. During the three years' ministry of Mr. Hyde, about twenty persons were added to the church, by profes- sion, and twelve, by letters from other churches. Mr. Hyde was an energetic man, a good scholar and a faithful pastor. He labored under the disad- vantage of an impediment in his speech, which was an injury to him as a public speaker, but notwith- standing this, and the fact that his stay in town was short, much credit and gratitude is due him for his faithfulness and diligence in watching over the people entrusted to his care. He reclaimed the vicious, and cleansed the body of the church of such members as brought a stain and slur upon the christian religion. He taught much by his daily walk — by liis good and pious example. After the dismission of Mr.. Hyde, there was no settled minister in town until 1845, yet the people were not without preaching all this time, for they were supplied by hiring ministers by the year. During this period, in which the church was with- out a settled minister, the state of feeling in church matters began to indicate that a change in the loca- tion of the meeting-house was about to take place, ^ HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 185 and accordingly, in the course of a few years from the time of the dismissal of Mr. Hyde, the old meet- ing-house at the centre of the town was taken down, and a new one erected at the village. In October, 1838, the church again made an effort for the settlement of a pastor over its people, and ap- pointed a committee to confer with the Consociation of Addison county, concerning the settlement of Rev. Merrill Richardson, a young man who had been preaching in Salisbury, as a candidate for the pastor- ate, for quite a long time ; but the appointment of the committee appears to have been the end of the matter, at least no records of any subsequent proceed- ings in the premises are to be found, and certainly Mr. Richardson, not long after, left town. Rev. George W. Barrows was ordained and settled in this town, on the 28th of January, 1845. The clergymen who took part in the ordination of Mr. Barrows, and in his previous examination, and the parts which each performed, were as follows : Kev. Thos. A. Merrill, D. D. — Moderator. '* Mr. Schermerhorn — Invocation and reading the Scriptures. ♦* •' Benton — Introductory Prayer. " " Cog — Sermon. " " Herrick — Consecrating Prayer. •' " Lamb — Charge to the Pastor. 186 HISTORY OF SALISBUET. Rev. Mr. Cushman — Right Hand of Fellowship. ♦♦ Shedd— Address to the People. *' " Butler — Concluding Prayer. Mr. Barrows is still the pastor of this church. For fifteen years, (a period three times as long as that of the ministrations of any other clergyman in town), he has successfully and faithfully performed the du- ties of his office. Though often solicited to undertake the charge of larger churches in larger towns, and which afford more liberal salaries, he has preferred to spend his time and talents for the benefit of the town in which he commenced his ministerial labors. Under his guidance, the church, notwithstanding its losses by emigration, has gradually increased in strength. Though characterized by no particular oc- casion of sudden and marvelous increase in numbers, it has had its gradual and certain additions from year to year, and, what is perhaps better, has gained that solidity of character which arises from the faithful teaching of principles, and the inculcation of those dignified truths which belong peculiarly to Chris- tianity. The fact that Mr. Barrows has remained in his present office so long, and that at no time since his settlement here, has he had so large and attentive a HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 187 congregation as during the past year, tells much in his favor, and suggests much of the cliaracter of the man. Eminently practical in all his views ; always pro- vided with an abundance of what is called good com- mon sense, which is so essential to success in all pro- fessional life ; with a rare ability of adaptation to the circumstances of the occasion, whether serious or joy- ous ; wdth readiness and force of thought that will in- terest an assembly in an extemporaneous address ; with learning able for instruction ; and yet, withal, ever mindful of his mission ; — all these have rendered him not only a useful citizen, but a popular and effi-, cient pastor. Mr. Barrows is a native of Bridport, Yermont, and studied divinity at the Union Theological Seminary, in ISTew York. , The previously settled ministers in Salisbury were from Massachusetts, (except Mr. Cheney, who was a native of Connecticut), and obtained their theological education, as was the custom in early days, by study- ing with private individuals. Mr. Pumroy studied divinity with Rev. F. Packard, of Shelburn, Massa- chusetts ; Mr. Cheney with Pev. N". Emmons, of Franklin, Massachusetts ; and Mr. Hyde with Pev. C. Strong, of Chatham, Connecticut. The church has usually had two deacons — though 188 HISTORY OF 8ALI8BITKY. since its first organization, in 1804, this ofiice has been vacant at different periods for a considerable length of time. Aaron L. Beach, one of its first deacons, served faithfully and acceptably in the office fifteen years, until his death, in 1826. John Holt, the other first deacon, after having faith- fully performed the duties of the office twelve or thirteen years, resigned, on account of his advanced age and infirmities. About the time of the resignation of Mr. Holt, Sylvester Kinney was made deacon, but about three years afterward left town, and soon thereafter died. From the time of the death of deacon Beach until 1833, the church had no regularly constituted deacon, though in May, 1826, the church held a meeting and elected Rodnpy Pierce and Nathaniel Spencer to that office. But these men did not accept the office, and finally after a lapse of more than seven years, Wash- ington Miller and Albigence Doud were elected to fill their places. Mr. Spencer has, however, filled the office punctually and faithfully for a number of years, since that time. Dr. Miller and Mr. Doud were ordained in their new office by an ecclesiastical council, very much after the manner of the ordination of a minister. This took place October loth, 1833, and was quite an HISIOEY OF SALISBURY. 189 interesting occasion. Among those who took part in the ceremonies, was the venerable Rev. Jedediah Bushnell, of Cornwall, Yermont. Deacon Doud died ten years afterward, in 1843, with the consumption. He was a man of great meek- ness and piety, and was highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him. In the year following Mr. Doiid's death, Amos Hamilton was elected to fill his place, which office he filled with general satisfaction, until he left the town and moved to Bridport, where he now resides. Deacon Hamilton was succeeded by Cyrus Bump, who holds the ofiice alone at present. Dr. Miller remained in town many years, and did it a good service, both in the exercise of his profes- sion as a physician, and as a christian. He finally moved to Massachusetts, where he died May 17th, 1858. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHUECH. The early history of this church in Salisbury, is in- volved in a good deal of obscurity. Rev. Messrs. Mitchell and Wood were the first Methodist preachers stationed on the west side of the mountains, in this state. They were stationed by the general conference at Yergennes, and worked together, 16 190 HISTORY OF SALISBUBY. traveling through the western part of the state, or- ganizing new societies. Mr. Mitchell was the first who visited Salisbury and Leicester in this mission. He came here not far from the year 1798 or 1799, and formed the nucleus of the present Methodist church in West Salisbury. Their first meetings were held, in Leicester, and were but poorly attended. Indeed, the number of the members of the society, several years from its begin- ning, was not more than seven or eight. Among this number were Peter Codman and his wife, Joshua Moosman and one or two members of his family, John Deming, and afterward Mark Moosman, Joanna Spencer and three of her family. Of the doings of this church, from its organization up to 1836, little or nothing can be said. Of its his- tory since the latter period, credit is due Eev. Charles Morgan, its present pastor, for the following facts : "The church was included first in the Middlebury, then in the Brandon, and still later in the Leicester circuit. "As these circuits were large, the preachers did not meet the people oftener than once in two, or three, or four weeks, and then the preaching frequently occurred on week-day afternoons and evenings. " Among those who then held forth the word of life to this people, may be mentioned. Rev. Messrs. Mor- HISTORY OF SALISBTTEY. .191 ris, Meeker, Ryder, Ally and Wescott, who preaclied in school-lionses and private dwellings, which were always crowded to overflowing with men, women and children eager to hear the " glorious gospel of the blessed God," and seldom, if ever, were disappointed. "Prosperity smiled upon this society in the year 1836, when the Honorable Henry Olin, father of the celebrated Stephen Olin, D. D., settled in town, to- gether with his son Richardson Olin, who was an ac- tive member of the Metliodist church. " Mr. Olin devoted much of his time and influence to doing good, and soon succeeded in awakening an in- terest among the people on the great subject of re- ligion, and in connection with the preachers on the circuit, Rev. Messrs. Sayres, Hubbard and Ayres, commenced a protracted meeting in the fall of 1837, which was continued with great spirit and power until about thirty souls were converted, most of whom united with the Methodist church. Also in the fall and winter of 1838, special meetings were held, and about twenty-flve persons were converted and added to the church. "Heretofore, the congregations were crowded in school-houses, but in the fall of 1837, Mr. Olin sug- gested the propriety of erecting a house of worship, and the people generally feeling the necessity, began the work wdtli hearty good will. Public meetings 192 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. were held ; arrangements made, and Messrs. Dyer, Taylor and Olin were appointed to procure and locate the site. During the following winter, materials were collected, subscriptions solicited, and in the year 1838, a neat and commodious house was erected, under the supervision of Messrs. Graves, Flagg and Taylor, costing about $2,000, which was promptly paid by the people. The house w^as dedicated to the worship of God in the spring of 1839, Kev. John Fraser preaching the dedicatory sermon. " Regular preaching was now commenced by Rev. Messrs. Hurd and Harvey, who were appointed to Leicester circuit, and was continued as follows : In 1840, by Rev. Messrs. Hurd and Osgood; in 1841, Chamberlain and Noble ; in 1842, Burnham, Ford and Fenton ; in 1843, Shears and Ludlum. In 1844, Salisbury was made a station independent of Leices- ter circuit, and H. H. Smith appointed preacher ; in 1845, W. H. Hull. In 1846, it was again united with the Leicester circuit, and S. Ilewes and T. F. Stuart appointed preachers; in 1847, Hewes and Pollock; in 1848-9, Haseltine, Little and Bidwell. In 1850, it was again made a station, and M. Ludlum appointed preacher. In 1851, no preacher was sent to this ap- pointment ; in 1852, J. S. Howland ; in 1853, S. S. Ford, at which time there were twenty-eight mem- bers in the society, but during the year, prosperity HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 193 attended the church, and twenty were added to its membership; in -1854-5, W. Ford; in 1856, E. K Howe ; in 1857, W. W. Atwater ; in 1858, L. Dwight, and in 1859, C. Morgan. '• Official papers, together with the oral information which we have received, authorize us to say, that from 1838 to the present time, the membership has va- ried from twenty-iive to sixty-five — averaging about forty. "J^ext to the church itself, comes the Sabbath school — an institution which has been sustained in connection with this society, and forms a part of the interesting and holy exercises of the Sabbath. Many who there received their early religious instructions, are now, in the language of Rev. Mr. Tyng, 'standing up for Jesus', being honorable members of the chris- tian church. During the present summer (1859), two large and interesting Bible-classes have added to the influence and prosperity of the school, and is evidence of the desire of the people to 'search the Scriptures', that, like the noble Bereans they may know 'whether these things are so.' A library of three hundred and twenty-iive volumes, is connected with the school, from which the scholars select at their choice, every Sabbath, thus providing themselves with wholesome reading for the ensuing week. " Indispensable as a parsonage would seem to be in 16* 194 HISTORY OF SALISBTIRT. connection with a church, yet this society has never owned one until now. •• " Tlie necessity of such a house has long been felt, but no decided steps were taken toward erecting one until the fall of 1868, when it was determined that it was absolutely needed, and the work was immediately commenced. " Subscriptions, almost enough to meet the expense of building, were directly obtained, during the fol- lowing winter the timber got out, and now (summer of 1859) the house is rapidly being completed. *'It stands nearly opposite the church, on a beau- tiful spot of ground generously donated for the pur- pose by Mr. Morris Graves. The house is neat and inviting, both in appearance and situation. "Although much more might be said, in reference to the present state of the church, yet we deem the above lines sufficient, hoping that success may attend it in the future." Although the establishment of an Episcopal church was contemplated in the charter of the town, it has to this day been neglected. The glebe granted for this purpose, was lost amid the land controversy with Leicester, and the few followers of the primitive faith preferring the rites of liturgical worship, have been compelled to seek communion with the church in Mid- dlebury or Brandon. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 195 CHAPTEE XYI. HOLLAND WEEKS. HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT. THOMAS SAWYER. JONATHAN GIBSON. ISAAC MORE. CYRITS W. HODGES. EBENEZER WEEKS. SAMUEL MOORE. Key. Holland Weeks was born in Brooklin, Con- necticnt, April 29tb, 1768. Having been early instructed in the doctrines and usages of the Puritan church, when quite young, he manifested a strong desire to prepare himself for the christian ministry. On account of pecuniary embarrassments of his father, his preparation for college was delayed until after moving to Vermont. Under the instruction of Rev. Mr. Barnet, the first settled minister in Middle- bury, he acquired a sufficient knowledge of the classics and of mathematics, to enable him to enter Dart- mouth college in 1791, at which institution he was graduated in 1795. He studied divinity with Rev. Dr. West, of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and was ordained .and settled as pastor over the church at Waterbury, Connecticut, in the autumn of 1799. Being dismissed from his charge in Waterbury, in 196 HISTORY OF 6ALI8BUET. 1807, he spent several months, laboring as a mission- ary, in the northern parts of Vermont, and in the north-eastern parts of New York. At the very end of the year 1807, he was installed over the Congregational church in Pittsford, Ver- mont. Here he spent about seven years in the active duties of his profession, also in. jDreparing young men for the ministry. " He was a man of strong intellectual powers and sanguine temperament, of untiring industry, and an earnest and effective preacher. " During most of the time he lived in Pittsford, he had, in addition to his pastoral labors, the instruction of a number of students, some of whom were studying the classics, preparatory to entering college, while others were engaged in the study of theology. " His theological students, some of whom had not the advantages of a collegiate education, have all been respectable and useful ministers of the gospel, and some of them have risen to eminence in their profession. " All of them regard Mr. Weeks as peculiarly qual- ified for giving instruction, and many of them con- sider him as the chief instrument in preparing them for the successful prosecution of their work. " His theological system was based, as he thought, wholly on the bible, and embraced fully the arbitrary- system of John Calvin, and this system he not only HISTOET OF SALISBURY. 197 inculcated, with earnest assiduity, upon his pupils, but carried it into the pulpit ; in fact most of his ser- mons were pervaded with some strong doctrine pecu- liar to his system of orthodoxy." He preached a great share of the ordination ser- mons in Western Vermont, during the time he lived in Pittsford, and was often called into neighboring states on similar occasions. Most of these sermons are in print. Soon after his ordination in 1799, he was married to Harriet B. Hopkins, of Great Barrington, Massa- chusetts, and during his residence in Pittsford, he was afflicted in the event of her death, leaving five small children to lament her loss. Having been dismissed from his pastoral charge in Pittsford in 1814, he was the following year installed pastor of the first Congregational church in Abing- ton, Massachusetts, where he continued until 1820. Soon after his settlement in Abington, he was married to Mrs. Delia Graves, widow" of Rev. Wil- liam Graves, late of Woodstock, Connecticut. This was an unfortunate connection, for she, never hav- ing had any experience in the care of children, on assuming the charge of five, all of whom were quite young, met difficulties to which she was unequal, and in a' year or two lost all influence over them. This, in connection with a temperament and disposi- 198 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. tioii naturally uncongenial to lier husband, led to a separation, which took place about the time he left Abington. About this time his religious opinions and senti- ments underwent a radical change. From the Cal- vinistic theology he went to that of Emanuel Swe- denborg. To quote his own words — " Every worldly consideration was opposed to my reception of the new dispensation. My salary, my reputation, my friends, I saw, from the first, must be sacrificed. But still the question would recur — what is truth ? This I prayed the Lord to show^ me, and this He did show me, by a wonderful combination of circumstances, all leading to this glorious result. Blessed be His name ! I am now settled and grounded in the truth. All the evils I anticipated, and more, have come upon me, but nev- er for a moment have I regretted that I became a re- ceiver of the heavenly doctrines of the Lord's new, last, and best dispensation. I always preached what I sincerely believed to be the truth, and do so still, and shall continue to do it so long as the Lord shall en- able me. And He has blessed my labors, for I see the new church, filled with spiritual worshipers, rising about me and putting^ on her beautiful garments. * * * Indeed, it is absurd to suppose that wicked and profligate characters can at the same time be suf- ficiently spiritual to constitute the Lord's new church. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 199 '[N'o unclean thing shall enter there.' Kone but the sincere worshipers and followers of the Lamb, can be of the number of his Bride." The year following Mr. Weeks' dismission from his pastoral charge in Abington, he moved his family to Henderson, Jefferson county, New York, where he continued to preach, gratuitously, the doctrines of the new church, until his death, a period of more than twenty-two years. Within a week previous to his death, he expressed a conviction that his time was at hand, and that he should not remain a week, expressing, at the same time, his unwavering faith in the doctrines of the new church, and attesting the consolation afforded by them to one about to depart from the earth, and finally de- parted this life July 24th, 1843. As a man, he was prompt in business, urbane in manners, industrious and energetic in his labors, and sincere in all his character. As a minister, he was zealous in his work, critical and accurate in his knowledge of the doctrines which he taught, bold in asserting what he thought to be the truth, and faithful in watching for the care of the souls committed to his charge.* * For the benefit of those interested in the genealogy of Mr. Weeks' family, the following is inserted. Holland Weeks, the fiithor of the subject of the above no- 200 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. Henry R. Schoolcraft was born in Albany county, New York, in 1793, and at an early age migrated to New England. He came and settled in the town of Salisbury, in 1812 or 1813, and assisted in the erec- tion and management of the glass-works of the V^er- mont Company both here and in Middlebury. At a subsequent period he went to Keene, New Hampshire, where he engaged extensively, on his own resources, in the same branch of manufacture. "While living at Lake Dunmore he erected a chemical furnace and ex- perimental laboratory, and while prosecuting the arts in a practical way, studied chemistry and mineralogy under Professor F. Hall of Middlebury College. When at the termination of tiie war, in 1815, that branch of American manufactures was destroyed by tice, was the son of Ebenezer Weeks, the son of Joseph Weeks, the son of Weeks, one of three brothers who came from England about 1630, and settled in the vicinity of Boston, Massachusetts. Hannah AVeeks, the mother of Rev. Holland Weeks, was the daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah Mosely, daughter of John and Sarah Capen, daughter of Ephraim and Sarah Thayer, daughter of John and Ruth Bass, daughter of John and Pris- cllla Alden. Aldcn was the first man who stepped upon Plymouth Rock, at the landing of the Pilgrims, December 21st, 1620. See Thayer's Family Memorial. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 201 the vast importation of the foreign article, Mr. School- craft relinquished that pursuit forever, and, determin- ing to seek his fortunes in the West, went to the Mississippi Yalley. He explored the region of country which now con- stitutes Missouri and Arkansas (including Kansas and Nebraska and the Indian Territory). He pub- lished in 1819 a treatise on the lead mines and geol- ogy of Missouri, and an account of his adventures in the Ozark Mountains. These efforts procured him the notice of government, and he received the appoint- ment of mineralogist and geologist in a public expe- dition to explore the sources of the Mississippi River. His narrative of the expedition, published early in 1821, was favorably received and led to further trusts in the public service, which introduced him exten- sively to the knowledge of the Indian tribes, whose language and history he thoroughly studied. He was appointed superintendent of Indian affairs for the north-western department of the United States, and resided many years in the exercise of that office in the basin of Lake Superior, at Michilimackinac, and at Detroit. In 1847 he removed to Washington, District of Columbia, and received the appointment of historical agent for the Indian tribes, and has since been employed in publishing a national work on the subject. 17 202 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. Mr. Schoolcraft has published four separate volumes of travels in the West, and several volumes on the natural history, and manners and mental traits of the Indians. In 1847 he published two volumes of Indian tales and legends, gathered from the Indian wigwams. He has also issued an Indian miscellany under the name 0/ieota, and made other contributions to American Mies lettres. He owes every thing to his own exertions, and has been diligent, temperate, hopeful, and enterprising from his youth. He embraced Christianity nearly forty years ago, which, to use his own words, "has cheered him on in every honest endeavor to encounter tlie combats of life, and has perpetually cast its brilliant beams into the future." He still resides at Washington, District of Col- umbia. Thomas Sawyer was born in Bolton, Massachusetts, in 1742, and was bred a mill-wright. Being a man of adventurous and fearless spirit, he naturally took a prominent part in the revolutionary movements of the age in which he lived. He was placed in many important offices in Massa- chusetts during the preliminary battles of the Revolu- tion. In the latter part of 1776 he was stationed for HISTOBY OF SALISBURY. 203 a short timo at Ticonderoga, and when his time of service had expired at that place he returned to his family in Massachusetts. This journey (a long one at that time) was made in the winter in company with others, and all experienced the most intense suffering from a want of food and clothing. In making this journey, he passed through a part of Yermont, and being impressed with the opportuni- ties here presented for enterprise and usefulness, he concluded to take up his residence here as soon as possible. Accordingly, in 1777, he moved his family to Clar- endon, where he built a block-house, bullet proof, the whole being made of solid oak timber. Even the windows w^ere provided with such heavy shutters, that a bullet could not be made to pass through them. This house, or more properly, fort, was a place of common resort for all the neighbors in times of dan- ger. Mr. Sawyer remained in Clarendon until 1783, when he commenced operations in Salisbury, at the falls (where the village now is), and near Lake Dun- more. Here he erected the first saw-mill, and on the first day of June, 1783, sawed the first log, having in two months erected a dam and a building sufiiciently large for a saw-mill and a grist-mill, the latter of which was put in operation in the following winter. 2Ui HISTORY OF BALISBUKY. As this part of Salisbury was claimed by Leicester at that time, he was tlie first representative from that town, in the state legislature, and was also one of its first magistrates. He finally left the state in 1795, and settled with his family in what is now called Manchester, Ontario county, New York, where he died three years after- ward. He was much resj)ected and beloved wherever he was known. Jonathan Gibson was born in Fitchburg, Massa- chusetts, in the year 1775. When a youth, he deter- mined in whatever calling he engaged, to pursue it with energy, industry and economy. Inheriting little or nothing from his father, he knew that whatever he might possess in the future must come from his own exertions. Possessed of good health and a strong constitution (which were better than a heritage of money), he chose to seek his fortunes amid the uncultivated hills of Yermont, and came into Salisbury as early as 1798, but did not make a permanent settlement until some years later. At the time of his settlement, he had no property, but purchased a farm on such liberal terms of pay- ment, that with his great industry and economy, in a few years, he was not only free from debt, but was considered one of the most prosperous farmers in Qj^O-^rL^x^^^4:.,rt:r^^ '(TP'l^. ^ HISTORY OF SALISBUEY. 207 town, and at the time of his death was a man of con- siderable wealth. Mr. Gibson was always ready to assist in promoting the public good, both by his personal services and his purse. Probably few men in town have done more, in proportion to their ability, to promote the public weal. He contributed liberally in building three meeting- houses in town, and gave much to support the preach- ing of the gospel in them after they were built ; and at four or five different times has made liberal dona- tions to Middlebury College. He served the town in the capacity of one of the selectmen, seven or eight years, and was its repre- sentative of the General Assembly, in 1815, 1816 and 1817. He also held other responsible town ofiices for a great number of years. On the 11th day of March, in the year 1800, lie was married to Deborah Alden, of Leicester, witli whom he lived until her death, which occurred July 12th, 1822. He was again married on the 29th of January, 1826, to Esther Spencer, of this town, who still survives him, and lives on his old homestead. He never had any children, unless by adoption. In his will he bequeathed a thousand dollars to the Congregational Church in Salisbury, the interest of n* 208 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. which is to be appropriated annually for the support of the Gospel ministry in that church, forever. He also bequeathed live hundred dollars to the Methodist church in this town, the interest of which is to be ap- plied, yearly, to sustain preaching in that society. He also bequeathed to the corporation of Middle- bury College five shares (with the accumulated in- terest), in the stock of the Rutland & Burlington Railroad Company — which, at the time of the bequest, was supposed to be good property. Mr. Gibson died of a cancer, November 22d, 1851, much respected and loved by a large circle of ac- quaintances and friends. Isaac Moore was a native of this town, and grad- uated at the University of Vermont, in the class of 1814. From his early childhood he had a great inclina- tion for hunting and fishing, and for the wild adven- tures wliich the mountains and lakes of his native state afi'orded him. When about seventeen years of age, he lost one of his legs by amputation, which became necessary from the efl:ects of a fever sore, contracted by a sudden cold. This misfortune for a time diverted his attention from his favorite amusements; and being naturally inclined to study, he commenced the usual prepara- HISTORY OF SALISBURY. tion for college, whicli lie pursued with no little zeal, and finally was graduated, holding quite a superior position in his class. His father, on account of the physical misfortune of his son, did every thing in his power to fit him for a professional life, or for such intellectual calling as his mind might choose. He freely aided him through his college course, and while pursuing the studies of the profession of the law. After completing his professional studies with Rob- ert B. Bates, Esq., of Middlebury, Vermont, he kept aloof for some time from any particular business, and seemed to be undetermined whether to make use of his education in gaining a livelihood among men, or to run his chance of getting even a poor living in pur- suit of his old, favorite amusements, retired from civ- ilized life, among the rocks, and trees, and waters of the western mountains. His decision finally turned in favor of the latter occupation, and he settled down on the border of some obscure lake, among the mountains of north-eastern New York, where he still lives, in a state of celibacy, in a little hut or wigwam, with no company, unless it be his dogs, or some Vvdld animal which he may have caught and tamed.* * This notice was written in 1850. — Ed. 210 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. Mr. Moore has made occasional visits to his native town, and always excites great curiosity both by the manner of his living and by his appearance. He is usually attended by two or three dogs, one tied to each arm, while the third is allowed to run at large, and walks with a crutch and cane, while his gun is adjusted in a sling across his back. Little of his classical culture is apparent in his ap- pearance now, nor would one suppose from his looks that he had been fitted to participate in the higher enjoyments of intellectual life. It may be that we shall yet receive from the pen of Mr. Moore his own history, and the history of the animals among which he has spent his life. It may be that it was his intention to give a new character to the profession of the hunter, and mingle with its adventure the influences of literature and science. "We hope that one or the other of these may be his object, and that we may yet read his story of his own solitude, and follow his mind in its investigations into the nature and habits of the beasts, and fowls, and fish of the mountains among which he has so long found a home. Rev. Cyrus W. Hodges was a native of Leicester, and was left an orphan at an early age. Until he was about fourteen years of age little attention was paid either to his moral or intellectual culture. At HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 211 this time he found a home in the family of Sylvester Kenny of this town, where he was strictly taught in the doctrines of the Puritan church, and sent to the district school. He was found to be an apt scholar and anxious to obtain a thorough education. When about nineteen years old he w^as led to cher- ish a hope in the merits of Christ, and united with the Congregational Church in Salisbury. This gave renewed life to his desire for a thorough education, to prepare himself for the ministry, but not having the means of obtaining a collegiate edu- cation, the prospects of his being able to enter the ministry at one time seemed very doubtful, and the purpose was almost abandoned. Not long after his union with the church in Salis- bury he became interested in the Baptist system of theology, and through the influence of friends was induced to join the Baptist church in Brandon, Vermont. At this event, again returned the desire to enter the ministry, and with the advice of others he entered immediately upon the studies of his profession. Speaking of himself at this time, he says : " Although I had commenced a course of study with a view of preparing myself for the great work, I was early im- portuned to assume a place among the heralds of the Cross. Encouraged in this by some injudicious 212 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. advisers, whom I respected and loved as Gospel ministers, I entered upon the active and solemn re- sponsibilities of the sacred work much too soon and with very meagre qualifications." Mr. Hodges realized great benefit in training his mind by writing out his sermons. In this way, es- pecially, he acquired an accurate knowledge and use of language. The early part of his ministry seems to have been rather dogmatical, indicating unusually strong desires to build up his own church ; but it appears that in riper years he almost entirly lost sight of this pecu- liarity, and entered the field of usefulness on the most liberal and charitable ground toward all Christian de- nominations. He has preached the Gospel nearly twenty years, and has recently published a volume of twenty-two sermons, which are highly approved by all who have read them, for the sound moral instruc- tion which they contain.* Ebenezer Weeks, son of Holland and Hannah Weeks, was born July 16th, 1784, and moved when quite a small boy, with his parents, to this town. Being of rather a frail constitution, and unequal to * This notice of Rev. Mr. Hodges seems to be very imper- fect, but the editor has not the facts to make it complete. It is given as it appears in the manuscript of the author. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 213 the hard labors of clearing the land and preparing it for the purposes of agriculture, he turned his atten- tion to study, to which he had a natural inclination, and entered Middlebury College, in 1808. He pursued the studies of his classic course with great zeal and success, until suddenly taken away by the hand of death, in the senior year of his college life. Rev. Levi Parsons, in his memoirs, gives the fol- lowing notice of him : ''February l^th, 1812.— This day attended the fu- neral of one of my collegiate brothers. Ebenezer Weeks has gone to his long wished-for home. He often gave me pious instruction. I looked to him as to a father, and yet his early departure, so afflictive to an individual, is justly esteemed a public loss. He was an excellent classical scholar, possessed a discrimi- nating mind and sound judgment, and not a few had raised expectations of his future usefulness. But it pleased Him whose thoughts are not as our thoughts, to number this young man among the dead. Only a few months before his class received the honors of col- lege, he was hurried away to the grave by a typhus fever. "As a swelling in his throat rendered him incapa- ble of speaking, lie signified his expectation of a speedy death, by writing on the hand of a friend the -word death. 214 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. " Being requested, a short time before he expired, to express by a sign the state of his mind, he stretched forth his pale, trembling hand, and wrote on the hand of his brother the name of Jesus. " Daniel O. Morton, a class-mate of the deceased, prepared and delivered a eulogy on the character of his deceased friend, in which is justly set forth the traits of his Christian character, and his superior intel- lectual gifts. He says of him, 'That, though young, he was a learned man, and lived agreeable to his own maxim — Yivere hene est vivere jpro gloria Dei.^ " Samuel Moore was one of the original grantees of the town, and in 1762 surveyed its north line, begin- ning at the creek, and thence eastward as far as the foot of the mountain, to the north-east corner of home lot, No. 1. At this time he also laid out the two tiers of home lots, as may be seen from the plan of the town, and then returned to his home in Connecticut. In consequence of the controversy between Salis- bury and Leicester, Mr. Moore did not lay out any part of his share of lands, except what he drew among the home lots, and this he is believed to have lost in the claims under Leicester charter. After the alteration of the north line of the town, in 1786, he pitched a hundred acres on the northern boundary, where Alonzo Board man and Turner Board- num now live, and although he never made any per- HISTOEY OF SALISBURY. 215 raanent settlement here, it is very probable that he commenced clearing his land and paid taxes on it in 1788 and 1789. Mr. Moore was a man well known for his mathema- tical talent, as well as for his executive force of char- acter. " He was a profound mathematician, and en- gaged much in the instruction of young men in what was called the surveyor's art. He published a treatise on surveying, with a table of logarithms. It was the earliest work on that branch of mathematical science published in this country. It introduced the method of computing contents by calculation entirely, with- out measuring triangles by scale and dividers. It was a valuable treatise, but was early superseded by a more finished one by Kev. Abel Flint, in which much was borrowed from Mr. Moore." 18 216 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. CHAPTER XYII. REVOLUTIONARY TIMES. DIFFICULTIES OF THE FIRST SETTLERS. AMOS STORY. — - MRS. STORY. JOSHUA GRAVES. All the original grantees of this town lived in Connecticut, and many of the first settlers here were emigrants from Litchfield county in that state. Judge Church, in his centennial address, says : " The spirit of emigration, that same Anglo-Saxon temper- ament which brought our ancestors into the country, and which constantly pushes forward to the trial of unknown fortune, began its manifestations before the revolution, and sought its gratification first in Yer- mont. Yermont is the child of Litchfield county. We gave to her her first governor, and three gover. nors beside ; as many as three senators in Congress, and also many of her most efiicient founders and early distinguished citizens. Chittendens, Aliens, Galushas, Chipmans, Skinner and others. The atti- tude assumed by Yermont in the early stages of the revolutionary war, in respect to Canada on the north, and the threatening states of New York and New HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 217 Hampshire on either side, was peculiar and delicate, and demanded the most adroit policy to secure her purpose of independence. In her dilemma, her most sagacious men resorted to the councils of her old friends of Litchfield county, and it is said that her final course was shaped, and her designs accom- plished, by the advice of a confidential council, as- sembled at the house of Governor Wolcott, in the village of Litchfield." The settlers thought of Connecticut with all the as- sociations of home, and felt that whatever came from that source was better adapted to their wants than from any other, and consequently readily adopted the advice and example of those whom they had left. On the other hand, those who remained behind took a lively interest in the welfare of those they had sent out, and did much to encourage them, both in their emigration and in the labors of their final settlement, though it is true that it was many years from the be- ginning of this undertaking before the prospects of settling the new town were very flattering, or even met with much encouragement. Indeed, it appears both from the early records of the town and from the testimony of aged living witnesses, . that the. original proprietors experienced great difiiculty in getting in settlers. They first of- fered any who would become actual settlers, one hun- 218 HISTORY OF SALISBTTRT. dred acres of land as a gratuity, but even this offer did not serve as a sufficient inducement. The country was an unbroken wilderness, without roads or the or- dinary means of subsistence ; their provisions, carried on their backs from the old settlements, were neces- sarily scant, the forests were infested with savage beasts and savage Indians, who had at this time be- come more hostile in their habits and dispositions, on account of the war between the English and the French, which had been brought to a close but a short time previous. The war with our motlier country, with all its consequent calamities, was still hanging over them, and what was exceedingly dis- couraging to a rapid settlement, the controversy be- tween the early settlers of this state and the govern- ment of New York, rendered their titles doubtful in the eyes of many. Tliese circumstances combined operated to prevent any considerable settlement being made for a number of years. And after these difficulties were in a mea- sure removed, and people began to take a greater interest in the new settlement, all at once it turned out that Leicester charter, apparently of prior date, was located so as to embrace a large portion of the lands of Salisbury. In fact, it seems that little or no interest was felt in the settlement by any even among tlie original HISTORY OF SALISBUEY. 219 grantees until the offer in 1774 of a gratuity of two hundred acres to any person, in addition to his ori- ginal share, who would become an actual settler. At this offer one or tw^o families, though not original proprietors, undertook the somewhat hazardous ex- periment of making for themselves a home in Salis- bury. The first among them were Joshua Graves and his son Jesse, who came into town early in the spring of 1774. They pitched a hundred acres where Col- umbus Smith now lives, intending to locate in the north-west corner of the town. Here they built a small log-house, cleared up a few acres of land, and sowed it ^to wheat, and early in September returned to their home in Arlington, where they spent the re- maining part of the season. This was the first clear- ing made for the purpose of agriculture in Salisbury. The following year Mr. Graves again visited his newly made home, to which he finally moved his family in the latter part of the winter of 1775. Amos Story, a native of [N'orwich, Connecticut, and his son Solomon, in September, 1774, but a few months after Mr. Graves' conmiencement, pitched a hundred acres south of and adjoining that of Mr. Graves. Here he also put up a small log-house and commenced clearing his land, with the expectation of raising w4ieat sufficient to supply bread for his family, 18* lIISToKY OF SALISBURY. which he intended to move to his new home the fol- lowing year. But the ways of Providence are not like our ways, and but a few weeks after he had commenced his clearing he was killed by the fall of a tree. Solomon, his son, who at that time was a lad about fourteen years old, was at work with his father in the woods at the time of the accident, and was compelled to chop the tree quite off in two places (and it was a large sugar maple) before lie could roll it off his father, who was already dead underneath it. As Mr. Graves and his son had previously left the country, Solomon was compelled to go several miles through the wilderness into Middlebury for assistance, where he found Benjamin Smauley, and his two sons Imri and Alfred, who returned with him and took the body of the deceased, and carried it and buried it in the interval land, a few yards from the north bank of Middlebury river. This place of burial was j ust south of the place where Mr. F. Nash now lives. Whether any coffin was made for the occasion, is a matter of uncertainty. It is not impossible that a rough box was made from boards which may have been floated down the creek for other purposes, from Sutherland's Falls, in Rutland, that being the location of the near- est saw-mill at that early day. Previous to any locality being agreed upon in Mid- IIISTOItY OF SALISBURY. 221 dlebniy for the burial of the dead, Benjamin Smau- lej lost two children, whose bodies were buried by the side of that of Mr. Story. One of them was An- na, aged twenty years, who perished in the woods, having been lost, and the other Zerah, aged eighteen years, who died of fever. One or two other persons, not belonging to Mr. Smauley's family were buried in the same place, but whose names are forgotten, and no monument now re- mains to mark their name, or age, or even the exact place of their burial. As these persons were buried on the curving bank of tlie river, a portion of which w^as washed away from year to year by the current of the river, it is very doubtful that any of the bones can now be found. Soon after the death of Amos Story, his son Solo- mon returned to his friends in Rutland, and carried the sad intelligence of his father's death to his be- reaved mother, and other relatives. It would seem that the painful circumstances of Mr. Story's death would deter his surviving family from any further effort, at least for several years, to settle a new country, but this event appeared rather to excite in Mrs. Story a still stronger desire to enter upon the hardships of a pioneer of the wilderness, and to clear up and cultivate the land which her husband had selected for their future home. 222 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. These hardsliips, and the difficulties and troubles following the death of her husband, without doubt, did much in the development of those extraordinary powers of mind which made her character so illustri- ous in succeeding years. Mrs. Story was a woman of very large stature and masculine appearance, and possessed all that physical strength and hardihood which her looks would indicate. Few men ever possessed so much resolution, firmness and fearlessness as she. Possessed of good health and an iron constitution, she feared neither tory, Indian, or wild beast. She could use the ,axe with a skill and power which few of her neighbors, thougli most of them were stal- wart men, could equal ; and in handling the lever, in rolling logs, every one admitted her to be among the foremost and most efficient. Having such qualifications as these, Mrs. Story, in company with her three boys, Solomon, Ephraim and Samuel, and her two daughters, Hannah and Susanna, moved to their farm in Salisbury in the latter part of the year 1775, and took possession of the log house her husband and son had erected for their reception the year previous. Here, amid the midnight howls of the wolves, and bears, and panthers, and surrounded with the hostile Indians ready to saci'ifice any property or life for the HISTORY OF SALISBUEY. 223 gratification of their own wishes, Mrs. Storj, accom- panied only by a family of small children, the oldest not yet having arrived to the age of maturity, eagerly and hopefully undertook the work of making for her family a home. Here she labored with her boys on the farm, taking the lead in the labors of clearing the land, raising grain and other products necessary to^ sustain her growing family, until the early part of the year 1777. Soon after it was known by the settlers in this region that war existed between England and her colonies here? it was thought best that the inhabitants, so few in num ber in this vicinity, should either remove to the south- ern part of the state, where the population was more dense, and where they could better protect themselves from the hostility of the Indians, or return to their former homes, which were mostly in Connecticut, and there await the issue of the war. But Mrs. Story, being able to use the musket to good advantage on necessary occasions, as well as the axe and lever, (though it is not probable that she was ever particu- larly distinguished in the use of fire-arms), concluded to remain with her children, and undertake the risks of completing her settlement, even among the dangers of a time of war, and did remain on her farm until most of the settlers had left this part of the country, and then she went no farther south than the northern 224 mSTOKT OF SALISBURY. part of Eiitland, and that only to spend the winter seasons, for it is believed she returned to her farm oc- casionally, and continued the work of clearing her land, and raised some crops nearly if not every year during the war. Mrs. Story was a woman of profound integrity. What she said might always be relied upon as truth. The writer liv;ed a neighbor to her from his infancy to the time of her death, and can vouch for the scrupu- lousness she always manifested for the truth of her stories, (of which she used to tell a great many), con- cerning the times of the American revolution. She has frequently remarked, that she was the first white woman who was known to have passed a night in Salisbury or Middlebury. That first night was the one succeeding her arrival from Rutland, and was passed at the hut of Mr. Smauley, when she made her first visit to the grave of her deceased husband. She was a tp-ue whig of the times of the revolution, and participated greatly in the spirit of her party ; and her position in this new country gave her oppor- tunities to show that she was not a friend to the gov- ernment of the United States in name only, but was ready to make sacrifices for it. Indeed, her house was an asylum for all her country's friends. She worked zealously against the royalists, and earned for herself quite an illustrious name as a heroine. HISTORY OF SALISBUKY. 225 The following incident took place early in the spring of 1776, after most of the settlers had left the country, and is given very nearly in her own words : " The snow had melted away from the mountains, and the creek had become so swollen as to overflow all the low lands in its vicinity, when a party of In- dians came from the north, seeking booty, pillaging all the houses they could find, and afterward burning them, together w^ith barns, farming tools, and other things of value. The first intimation we had of the presence of these Indians, was the discovery of them pillaging Mr. Graves' house, which stood about sev- enty rods from ours. As Mr. Graves left his farm in September of the year previous, and had not returned, the Indians probably found nothing of value, so they set fire to his house and came over to ours, not, however, until we had secured our most valuable articles of household goods, and safely deposited them in our canoe, which lay at the waters edge, but a few steps from our door. Unobserved by the Indians, we slioved oft our boat, and were soon fairly out of their reach in the deep water of the swamp. Even if the Indians did see us they were unable to follow, as they had no canoes having left them in Canada or at Lake Champlain, not expecting to need them on this inland excursion. We stationed ourselves back in the svfamp, at a 226 HISTOBY OF SAIJSBUEY. considerable distance from the house, where we could observe their movements and make sure the hour and direction of their departure. Here we saw Mr. Graves's house and our own burn down at the hand of our cruel foes. When the houses were burnt so nearly down that there was no longer hope of saving them, the Indians departed to the north, and we re_ traced our course, and soon landed in safety all our moveable treasure. The spot on which so recently stood our rude but comfortable house was now made desolate; but our spirits were not crushed. If the smoking ruins of our dwelling suggested too plainly the dangers of our situation and disheartened us, the hope arose that, as the Indians had made so little in this excursion, tliey might not visit this region for booty any more. So we immediately made arrange- ments for building a new house, and by cutting and laying up small trees, such as we could handle with- out a team, it was not long before we had quite a comfortable dwelling, made of poles instead of logs, on the spot where the former one had stood. This was the house Samuel Pierce moved into when he settled in this town in 1787." As this account is corroborated by other facts, no doubt can be entertained of its entire truth. Rev. Dr. Merrill, in his historical account of Mid- dlebury, gives an account as follows : HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 227 "Major John Clnpman, of Middleburj, built a frame for a barn early in the spring of 1776, and left it without any covering." Now the fact was, that this party of Indians who had burned Mr. Graves's and Mrs. Story's houses, after they had pillaged Mr. Smauley and burnt his house, " nndertook to burn Mr. Chipman's barn frame, but the timber was so green and moist with sap, they were unable to fire it, so they tried to cut it down with their tomahawks, but the barn refused to fall, and the consequence was that the owner, when he returned seven years after- ward, found it standing, exhibiting the scars of the hatchet, as it does even to this day, wliich resulted from the encounter. This was the first frame barn in Middlebury, and is the most northerly of three stand- ing on Mr. Jonathan Seeley's farm, and may exhibit to the passenger the far-famed date of 1776, and as a remembrancer of the evils and calamities of war." The fact that most of the early settlers had at this time left the country, some to fight the battles of the revolution, and others for the better security of their persons and property, rendered the condition of those who remained on their lands extremely hazardous, particularly on account of the hostility of the Indians; but Mrs.. Story could not be induced to leave. By her persevering and indomitable spirit she appeared determined to overcome every obstacle which might 19 228 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. prevent her from clearing and cultivating her farm. And, in order to render herself and family more se- cure from the attacks of the enemy, especially in the night, she hit upon the following expedient : " We dug a cavern in the bank of the creek, where we could retire for the night, cooking and taking our meals at the house, and laboring on the farm in the day time. This cavern or cave we made by digging horizontally into the bank of the creek, concealing the dirt, we removed, under the water. The passage at the mouth of the cave was sufficient only to admit our canoe, so that all must lie prostrate in passing either in or out. This passage was dug so low and so deep that the canoe could float into the cave quite out of sight. The place where we slept was higher ground, and was an excavation by the side of and above the passage- way for the canoe, and of sufficient size to accommo- date the whole family. We took the precaution to cut and stick down bushes at the mouth of the cave, both when we were in and out of it, so that the place of entrance would appear like the rest of the bank, and thus prevent discovery. The fact that the^ banks of Otter creek were sought at this time by the traveler and adventurer as a more safe guide than marked trees or uncertain footpaths, rendered this precaution the more necessary." • Mrs. Story used to relate an incident connected HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 229 with this subteiTaneous retreat, which seems to be of sorae importance, as it corroborates the truth of other facts in connection with this remarkable woman. It was as follows : A woman by the name of had been made captive by the Indians, but was so far advanced in pregnancy that she was unable to keep up with her captors on their journey, and so, loitering behind, was at last left to find her way ba-ck to her friends the best way she could. This woman found an asyluni at the house of Mrs. Story, and by her was protected and cared for during her confinement. The time, place, or circumstances of the birth of the child cannot be related at this late day ; but it is certain that the child was born, and gave Mrs. Story's family great anxiety and trouble, on account of its crying when they were in the cave, as this might lead to a discovery of their nightly abode. In fact, their fears were shortly realized, under the fol- lowing circumstances. Yery early one morning, before the inmates of the cave had taken their departure, Ezekiel Jenny, well known to Mrs. Story as a tory, was passing by on foot, on the bank of the creek, when his attention was arrested by the crying of a child. At this unex- pected sound he stopped and listened, and finally waited until Mrs. Story pushed her canoe, with its 230 HISTORY OF SALI8BUET. precious freight, into the creek, from its retreat hith- erto so obscure and safe. When the party in the canoe landed at their usual place, sixty or seventy rods below, Jenny interrro- gated Mrs. Story concerning some of the movements of the whigs, to whom she gave evasive and dissatis- factory answers. This exasperated Jenny, " and," to use her own language, " he threatened to shoot me upon the spot; but to all his threats I bid defiance, and told him I had no fears of being shot by so consum- mate a coward as he; and finally he passed along down the creek, and I lost no time in notifying Foot and Bentley that tories were within our borders ; and immediately all the wliigs who could be raised were set upon their track, and overtook them the same day in Monkton, and that night captured every one of them, to the number of about twenty, and delivered them up to our authorities at Ticonderoga." It is not probable that Mrs. Story followed these tories in person, but only notified others of their presence, and helped spread the alarm. The account given by Dr. Merrill in his historical notice of Middlcbury, of the pursuit of a band of tories about this time, corresponds so nearly with the foregoing account, that no doubt can be entertained of its truth, and that both naiTations are an account of the same facts. HISTORY OF SALISBURT. 231 As Dr. Merrill received his information directly from tlie lips of certain ones who were actors in this affair, and since it adds another item of proof of the character of the people of whom we write, and of the age and circumstances in which they lived, it is thought proper to copy Dr. Merrill's short account of the matter, which is in the following words : "It was ascertained that several individuals had passed through this neighborhood toward Canada, under circumstances that led to the conclusion that they were tories, and proceeding to join the enemy. Daniel Foot, Samuel Bently, and other enterprising individuals, concluded, if possible, to make a capture of them. They accordingly hurried on to the north, their number increasing as they advanced, till it amounted to about a dozen. By their scouts they found the enemy were encamping for the night in a forest in Monkton. Waiting till they were all sound asleep, they burst upon them suddenly from every quarter, ^shouting and making pretensions of great numbers, and took every one of them, fourteen in number. They marched them back to Daniel Foot's the next day. After spending the night they hastened them over, and gave them up to our garrison at Ticon- deroga." There have been a great many idle and fanciful rumors circulated in regard to Mrs. Story's cave. It 19* 232 HISTORY OF SALISBUKT. was not used after its discovery by Jenny, and before that for no very great length of time. In fact, it was designed only for a temporary retreat, for the better security of its occupants, while they secured their crops, and probably was in existence only one year, for there was nothing to support its top except the roots of trees standing • about it, and without much doubt the whole fell in at the next overflow of the creek after it was made. The place where the excavation was made, has never been disturbed by the plow, and no freshet has here materially changed the bank of the creek, so that the remains of the cave are yet visible, and quite clearly show every important feature as described by Mrs. Story. It should be added that great sagacity and judg- ment were exercised, not only in making this cave, and using it when once made, but also in the selec- tion of the location of it, for it was located on the west side of the creek, where there was little or no travel, and where (since the log house in which most of their work was done, was on the east side) no trail would be made by their frequent entrance. It was also located at a bend in the creek, where those who navigated its waters would invariably near the oppo- site shore to save distance, and as the shore at this place is bold, nearly to a perpindicular, the dirt taken HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 233 out in the excavation, settled down beneath the water entirely out of sight. f In the latter part of December, 1YT6, or early in 1Y77, Mrs. Story aiid her family returned to Rutland and lived on the place now called the Simeon Chafy farm, in the north part of the town, near the line of Pittsford. Here she spent most of her winters, while nearly every summer season during the war found her at work on her farm in Salisbury. In 1792, her sons having arrived at the age of man- hood, and lier daughters being both settled in mar- riage, she was married to Benjamin Smauley, his wife having died a short time previous. They settled on the farm where Paul Pratt now lives, and there re- mained until about 1805, when Mr. Smauley, from advanced age and infirmity, found it necessary to give up business and spend the remainder of his days with his son Imri, on the farm on which he first settled, in the southerly part of Middlebury. He died in 1808, and although he had been one of the most extensive landowners and grantees in several townships in Addison county, his estate was found to be insolvent, and his widow, who had borne so great and noble a part in bringing improvements and civil- ization into the wilderness here, was thrown upon the town as one of its paupers. She afterward sustained herself several years without being any charge to the 234 HISTORY OF BA-LTSBURT. town, and finally, in the year 1812, was married to Captain Stephen Goodrich, one of the first settlers in Middlebury, and lived comfortably and happily with him, on a farm in the northern part of this town, near Amos Goodrich's, until her decease, which occurred April 5th, 1817. She was seventy-five years of age, and was buried in the graveyard of District !N'o. 1, in Middlebury. After the commencement of the revolutionary war, Joshua Graves moved back as far as Rutland, but re- mained there but a short time before he and his boys returned to their farm in Salisbury again (this was in the summer of 1Y76), and built another house in the •place of the one destroyed by the Indians, harvested their wheat which had been sown the year before, prepared their land and sowed another crop, and in September, returned again to their family in Rut- land. Mr. Graves, not regarding this hazardous experi- ment of settling a new country in time of war, moved his family again to liis farm, early in the spring of 1777, with the intention of making a permant settle- ment. He planted corn on the interval land near Ot- er creek, and while hoeing it one day, sometime in the month of June of that year (we have the story from the mouth of Jesse Graves), he and his boys suddenly discovered a large party of Indians coming HISTOET OF BALISBrEY. 235 upon them from the north. It would have been an easy matter to conceal themselves, if they had had a minute's notice of the approach of the enemy, but being occupied in their work, and their sight being intercepted by the woods on the north, before they were aware of it, the Indians were close upon them, some approaching by land, but the greater number by bark canoes in the creek. There was a boy at work with them, about fourteen years old, who started to run, but Mr. Graves ordered him to stop, as the sav- ages would be more apt to shoot him while endeavor- ing to make his escape. The Indians soon came up and ordered them all, Joshua Graves, Jesse Graves and the boy, to give up their work and go along with them. So they all went on together up the creek, and stopped over night on the farm now called the Kelsey place. Here the In- dians found a pair of oxen, and butchered one of them to provide their evening and morning meal. From this place they passed up the creek and made a halt at the house of Jeremiah Parker, who then lived on the farm now owned by Ebenezer Jenny. On looking over Mr. Parker's house, the Indians found a quantity of maple sugar, about two himdred pounds, which they took oat of doors, aud, having assembled around it, held what they called a pow-wow. The party being large, numbering about two hun- 236 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. dred and fifty, the sugar was nearly exhausted in eat- ing and wasting, before the journey was resumed. Nothing was taken from Mr. Parker except the sugar, and his house was left without having suffered any damage. There was, however, another lot of sugar, of about the same quantity with that destroyed, in the house, but which was passed by undiscovered. Having regaled themselves at Mr. Parker's expense* the Indians made a captive of him, and all set out for the south, no one of the captives knowing for what they were taken, or where they were going. They soon arrived at Neshobe, (Brandon), where they were placed under the care of an Indian guard, and eon- ducted to Lake Champlain, near Ticonderoga, where they, together with a part of the guard, were placed on board a British vessel and taken to Montreal. Here the Indians demanded of the chief officer of the British forces at that place, the bounty for " rebel heads ;" but the officers, after examining the case, found that these men had been taken by the Indians while in the quiet and peaceable prosecution of their labors as farmers, and decided that the prisoners ought to be allowed to return to their homes. This decision caused a good deal of murmuring on the part of the Indians, who thought they ought at least to be permitted to take the scalps of their captives as a reward for their trouble. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 237 The prisoners, being released, were allowed to find their way back to their families the best w^ay they could, which they did after a long and tedious jour- ney, having been absent about three weeks. These Indians treated their prisoners well while they had charge of thera, imposing no burdensome tasks upon them, and allowing them the same rations with themselves, wdiich consisted of one tablespoonful, daily, of pounded parched corn. This was all the food the prisoners or the Indians had, with the exception of what they so unceremoni- ously took just as they started, until they were placed on board the vessel, when the officers in the British command gave them a more generous diet. So far as these men traveled with this party of Indians, they could discover no indication that this excursion was made for the sake of booty or mischief; the Indians burnt no houses, nor did they maliciously destroy any property nor steal or pillage anything, except what they wanted to eat. After learning the character and disposition of the red men of Yermont, the Messrs. Graves concluded that settling a new country in time of war, was too hazardous an undertaking for them, and determined, as soon as practicable, to leave the country until the war was over. They returned to Kutland early in September of 238 HISTORY OF 6ALI8BUEY. that year, having first made a cache in the ground, in which thej deposited their pewter ware, which consisted of platters, plates, basins, spoons, and a variety of other domestic utensils, of which they had a good supply, and also a few farming tools. But on their return, in 1783, after the war, the place of their improvements had become so changed, it being overgrown with brush and briers, that they were unable to find any of their things thus deposited, nor could any of the family determine exactly where the cache was made. It is not improbable that it was discovered and robbed, and the place afterwards gradually filled up, and overgrown with brushwood. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 239 CHAPTEK XYIIL Progress after the Peace. — Grist Mill. — First Birth. — First Death. — Burying Ground. — Scar- city OF Food. — Early Roads. — Military Salute. — Painter. — First Representative. — Gilbert Everts. With the exception of the families of Messrs. Graves and Story, it is believed that no one under- took to make any permanent settlement in Salisbury until after the close of the war. Joshua Graves had a very numerous family, con- sisting of nine children, some of whom were married, and formed quite a colony by themselves. The names of these children were Simeon, Asa, Jesse, Chauncey, Millissent, Philla, Mamra, Sarah, and Barney. All of these were here as early as 1783 or 1784:. After this time the town began to have some prospect of a permanent settlement, and the people in Connecticut, who had previously had an interest here, began to feel encouraged. About this time also came Col. Thomas Sawyer, 20 240 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. and as before noticed, started a grist mill near Salis- bury village, a tbing of no little importance at tbis early day. Tbis mill was tbe only one of tbe kind, tbe only mill at vvbicb grain could be ground, in a very extensive region of country about it ; and as tbere were no roads leading to it for quite a long time, the people were compelled to carry their grain to it on their shoulders, except when the waters of Otter creek and Leicester river could be made available for that purpose. This mill was patronized by many quite distant towns. Bridport, Addison, Weybridge and other towns equally as distant in other directions, came here to get their grain ground. The people in the western towns brought their grain to the bank of the creek, and then placed it in boats, which afforded quite an easy means of conveyance, through the wa- ters of the creek and Leicester river, to within about eighty rods of the mill. From this point they were compelled to carry their grists to and from the mill, on their backs. In 1784:, Daniel Foot erected a grist-mill in Mid- dlebnry, which went into operation in the latter part of November or first of December of the following year. After this time, Sawyer's mill lost the patron- age of Middlebury and its adjacent towns. The first child born in Salisbury was Joshua Graves. • '«*'— Niwi « ^> i *i n i ''in i i i' n n»'' HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 241 This was the second child of Chauncey Graves, he hav- ing had one child, Lucy, a little more than a year old, when he moved into town. This boy was born July 9th, 1785, when his father lived on the sand knoll, a little northerly of the place now occupied by William Thomas. This place is marked by a few apple trees which Chauncey Graves set out at the very commence- ment of his settlement. Mr. Graves made a very pleasant place for his home on this hill, and sur- rounded it with such conveniences as were attain- able in those days. Among other things he had a very excellent well, which is now filled up, on ac- count of its being no longer needed in that locality. Joshua Graves, the son, was a grandson of Joshua Graves, the first settler in town. He married Phoebe Beach, who was the late wife of the late Eichard Whitney. In addition to the names of those who were settlers in 1783, already noticed, mention might be made of Samuel Kendall and William Kendall, and among those who came in 1784, were Elisha White, Widow Holdman and family, Eleazer Claghorn, Abe Watrous, Josiah Farnham, William Pratt, Joel Newton and Widow Flagg and family. The first death which occurred in town, except that of Amos Story already noticed, was that of Mrs. Joel Newton, who died May 2d, 1785. 242 HISTORY OF SALISBUKT. It must be remarked, however, that Samuel Smith, who owned and lived on the farm near the creek, now known as the Deacon Kelsey farm, died of fever, April 18th, 1776. At the time of his death, his farm was claimed as lying within the limits of Leicester, but by the terms of the compromise of 1796, it fell to Salisbury. As the land composing his farm was ac- tually embraced within the claims of both towns, and as it finally was decided to belong to Salisbury, perhaps Mr. Smith's death may be considered the first which took place in town. Mr. Smith was quite a remarkable man, and was well suited for the time and place in which he lived. He was well known for his great physical strength, and was said by his neighbors to possess the strength and endurance of at least three ordinary men. As an illustration of his muscular power, it is told of him, that he once carried two bushels of salt on his shoul- ders, from Ticonderoga to his farm here on the creek, his journey being necessarily nearly if not all the way through the woods. He died at the age of about forty years, and was buried by the side of the road, on the farm on which he had lived. In 178Y, occurred the death of another person ; it was that of Ruth Latimore, aged about nineteen years. She was buried by the side of the road, a HISTOKY OF SALISBURY. 243 little north of Lojal Kelsey's dwelling house. In 1790, Sam Atis, a negro who had long been an in- mate of Holland Weeks' family, died, and was buried on Mr. "Weeks' farm. Two elm trees sprang up over his grave, one at his head and the other at his feet, -which have since grown to a great size, and form a more permanent monument than was given to most of the white people who died about that time. As early as 1790, the subject of a proper and con- venient burial place, was agitated in a town meeting. At this time committees were appointed to make ar- rangements for a purchase of lands for this purpose, but for some reason or other, the purchase was ne- glected, and the few burials which took place for several subsequent years, were made on private grounds. About thirty persons were buried on Oscar P. Sheldon's farm, and a few on home lot 'No. 1, near Mr. Arnold's. Quite a number w^ere buried on the farm of the late Solomon Thomas, a little south of Isaac Shays' house. In 1805, John Deming deeded the town a lot of land in the village, containing one fourth of an acre, for a burial place. This was a donation from Mr. Deming. . Eleazer Claghorn allowed any of his neighbors to bury their dead on his farm, in a little yard fenced 20* 244 . HISTORY OF SALISBURY. off for that purpose, as long as he owned it. In 1807, Mr. Claghorn sold his farm to John Morton, and at this time it was found that the yard was nearly filled, and must soon be enlarged ; and as its fences had gone to decay, at least so far as to need a good deal of repairing, Mr. Morton allowed the peo- ple, without any charge, to build their new fence, so as to embrace quite an additional amount of land. Since that time the farm has changed owners sev- eral times, but it is believed no legal title to the burial place has been given or taken by any one, unless it may be through the quieting act, which has a peculiar appropriateness in its protection of the dead. At any rate, the author is not aware that any one's right to lie here, in peace and quietness, has ever been questioned, and in but one instance has the grave yard, for any cause, been disturbed. In the summer of 1805 or 1806, it was discovered that the body of a woman, which had been buried here a year or two before, was missing. Suspicion rested upon several individuals living in the neigh- borhood, who were thereupon arrested, a court ot en- quiry held, and several witnesses examined ; but the testimony given did not warrant the court in sending these individuals up for trial, and they were dis- charged. While this examination was going on, some one HISTORY OF SALISBUEY. ^^ 24r5 brought the bones of the deceased woman, in a bas- ket, and laid them by the side of her grave, which • soon became known, and created a great excitement. After a careful examination, the identification of the teeth, made it certain that these were the bones of the lost body, and they were all deposited again in the place where they had before reposed. The name of the person exhumed, was Huldah Castle. We might notice another incident that took place in this grave-yard in the year 1826. It is interesting for its novelty. It was this. Jonathan Titus was en- gaged to be married to Elizabeth Kelsey, daughter of Gamaliel Kelsey. The day of the wedding had been fixed upon, but its interesting ceremonies were inter- rupted and indefinitely postponed, on account of the death of a younger brother of the future bride. Af- ter the solemnities of the burial of the deceased, at which the Eev. Mr. Prindle, of the Methodist clergy, ofiiciated, it was suggested by Mr. Kelsey, the father of both the deceased and of the bride, that the mar- riage of Mr. Titus and his daughter be there celebra- ted ; whereupon the minister, after some prefatory remarks calculated to remove objections, took his place at the head of the new-made grave, while the bride and groom stood at the other extremity, and performed the marriage ceremony in the presence of 246 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. a congregation little anticipating a wedding among the tombs. This wedding was the cause of much gossip at the time, though we are not aware that any one who was present on this occasion ever characterized it as highly improper. In 1785 and 1786, the town and surrounding coun- try was filled so rapidly by immigration, that in the spring of 1787 a great scarcity of breadstuffs was ex- perienced. Many families sufiered for want of proper food, and endured many hardships in endeavoring to obtain it. It is true there was no danger of absolute starvation, in a country abounding in wild animals, and in which the lakes and streams were filled with fish ; but people may sufi*er from hunger, in a state far short of starvation — and especially from a want of that kind of food to which they have been long ac- customed. All men need bread, or something con- taining similar nutriment. It is a universal food, and we cannot well estimate its loss until we have once been deprived of it. Again, in the winter and spring of 1790, provisions became extremely scarce, especially all kinds of grain. Many families were compelled to put themselves upon allowances, some more, and some less liberal. Many had no other bread than that made of bran, unless they might have received an occasional gift of HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 247 something better from their more fortunate neighbors ; and some families, for many weeks in succession, sub- sisted entirely on milk, fish, and spontaneous vegeta- bles. The great scarcity at this time was also, for the most part attributed to the too rapid filling up of the country. The comparatively few who had made clear- ings and brought their land into a state of cultiva- tion, were unable to raise provisions sufficient to sus- tain themselves and all those who were so constantly seeking to settle here, from the older states. And what made the matter much worse, was the fact that the country was destitute of roads, and of the means of transporting provisions from abroad. Many of the early settlers brought wheat upon their backs to their families a distance of more than forty miles, with no guide through the long and tedious wilderness, except marked trees, and streams of water. At one other period, much later than those above mentioned, this vicinity has suffered from a great scar- city of provisions, approximating toward a famine. It was in the spring and summer of the year 181T. This scarcity arose from the character of the summer sea- son of 1816, Avhich was very cold and dry. Flakes of snow were occasionally seen falling, during all the month of June, and not a month of the whole year passed, without a frost more or less severe. Very few '■'*■■'■■'-- '^' '"' r i w ii j i '^ii 248 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. of the farmers succeeded in ripening any corn, and the crop of all kinds of grain, if any was obtained at all, was extremely light. Pork was not properly fat- tened, for the want of food, and of potatoes there was almost no crop at all. In the spring of 1817, wheat was sold as high as four dollars per bushel and rye at one dollar and a half less, while corn was not to be had at any price. Many families sent teams to Troy, New York, to pur- chase provisions, principally rye, while the poor, un- able to buy at such extravagant prices, suffered much for the want of good nutritious food, for at this time, w^ith the increase of inhabitants, the abundance of game aud fish to which the early settlers could resort, had very much diminished. Of public roads in Salisbury, and the changes made in their location from time to time, it is not deemed a matter of sufficient interest to say much. It was a long time after the beginning of the settlement of the town, before its roads were very passable. As early as the year 1775, a committee was ap- pointed by the grantees to lay out roads, but it is im- probable that any road was cut through the town, even if it had been laid out, before 1786, and after that time roads were not passable for teams of bur- den, except in the winter, for several years. Holland Weeks made use of the creek, from Pitts- HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 249 ford to Salisbury, to move his farming implements, when he moved here in 1Y88. That there was a road cut through this town, from Middlebury to Eutland, at quite an early date, and one which could be traveled on horseback, is evident from the following anecdote which Judge Painter used to relate. When the legislature of this state was about to hold its annual session in Rutland, in the year 1786, Gov- ernor Chittenden, who at that time lived in Williston, and some others who were members of the legislature, and who liv^ed in that vicinity, started for the scene of legislation, and as they approached Salisbury, their number having been constantly increased on the way their party amounted to about thirty. Mr. Painter was one of the number, and a member from Middlebury. All w^ere on horseback, and ar- rived in a body at Colonel Sawyer's, in Salisbury, who at that time kept a public-house on the spot npw occupied by the store of W. Rustin and Co. Now Col. Sawyer had in his possession a swivel, or small cannon, which had been used in the revolution- ary war ; and it occurred to his boys and hired men, that it would be an honorable act in them to welcome their excellent governor with a hearty salute from this gun ; so they had previously loaded it with a 250 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. heavy charge of powder and wadding, and patiently waited the arrival of his excellency and company. The boys stationed themselves at a short distance from the house, at a point' not likely to be observed by the governor or any of his company, and who, not anticipating a military salute at this time, were off their guard, and unprepared for the sudden shock which the firing of a heavy gun might produce. It probably did not occur to the boys, that firing a salute without giving notice, might create confusion and mischief among the horses, as well as their riders, and the consequence was, that one of the most ludicrous Bcenes occurred that had been witnessed for a long time. The cannon was fired at the precise time the com- pany were dismounting. A few were yet seated on their horses, some were just throAving themselves out of their saddles, others were letting themselves down, resting midway, on one stirrup, while others, still, had gained the ground, with one foot, the other yet re- maining in the stirrup, when, whang! went the swivel, the sudden and astounding noise of which so startled the horses that a large majority of the com- pany were suddenly prostrated on the ground. The governor happened to be of that unfortunate number who, at the time of the salute, having one foot in the stirrup, was just reaching the ground with the other HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 261 — and none assumed the awkward horizontal position more suddenly or ungracefully than he. But the weather was fine and the ground dry, and as no one was mudded or hurt, the whole passed off with a " hearty good laugh," that the legislature of Vermont, executive and all, had been taken down so soon after its beginning, and so suddenly, by a single gun. After having participated bountifully in the re- freshments furnished by their host, all pushed for- ward, with good cheer, toward the place of legisla- tion. From the time of the close of the war, to about 1789, the population of the town increased very rapidly ; many came in from the old States, and quite a number was added by the re-survey of Mid- dlebury, in 1786 ; for by that survey our territory was enlarged, and people originally in Middle- bury became inhabitants of Salisbury, Gamaliel Painter w^as among that number, and thus in fact was made the first settler within the present limits of Salisbury. Mr. Painter pitched on the farm where William F. Goodrich now lives, and began to clear the land in 1773, .one year before Mr. Graves or Mr. Story came into this town. Benjamin Smauley, even previous to this, had 21 252 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. thought of taking the farm on which Mr. Painter pitched, and had cut some brush, to show a begin- ning, near the river, southeast of Mr. Goodrich's present dwelling ; but not having made a survey of it, at the suggestion of Mr. Fainter, he concluded to pitch west of John Chipman's, and did so, in 1773, making the creek his west line. Here he built a house and made other preparation for a future home. As Mr. Painter's house and the greater part of his farm were brought into the present limits of Salis- bury by the re-survey, the people of this town claim- ed him as one of their inhabitants, and sent him as delegate to the State Legislature in 1787. This office he filled with his usual promptness and ability, to the general satisfaction and honor of the people. But he never intended to live in Salisbury, and was not one of its original grantees, but was of Middle- bury, in which he often expressed the wish to spend his days. In fact, only one of the original proprietors of Salisbury, is known to have settled in it, and that was Gilbert Everts, though Benjamin Smauley was afterward brought within its boundaries by accident. Mr. Everts, perhaps wisely, conceived the idea that it was better to pay the Governor of New Hampshire a yearly rent for his land, than to own it in fee simple. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 253 CHAPTER XIX. THE LAYMAN S CHURCH. Although the organization of a religious society in Salisbury, was antecedent to that of the church, it was deemed best to bring the account of it into this late chapter. The men who made the beginning in establishing religious worship among us, were Eleazer Claghorn, Solomon Story, and Holland Weeks. Mr. Claghorn had been here some time before the other two moved in, and had sometimes held reli- gious meetings in his house ; but not at stated times, nor in the manner of any particular society. Mr. Story, having been born and raised in a land of good habits and principles, was possessed of much practical piety, and was' anxious to see those about him instructed in the ways of righteousness. Mr. Weeks was early imbued with religious prin- ciples, and had for a long time, in his native state, been a member of the Puritan or Congregational church. And all three were ready and anxious to establish %64t HISTORY OF SALISBURY. religious meetings among the settlers; and it was their desire to establish these meetings permanently, and to form an organized society which should have its regular time and place of assemblage. A small log house, used at that time as a school- house, and standing on the spot now occupied by the stone school-house, was choseii as the place of worship of this incipient church. The worship was so simple and barren of form, that there was no difficulty in finding persons enough to carry on its few ceremonies. Mr. Weeks had ten children, several of whom were quite good singers, and able to perforin any of the parts required to be Bung during the exercises. Many circumstances combined to favor the new so- ciety, and it was not long before its meetings were carried on in the utmost good order and regularity, and most of the settlers who lived within a reasonable dis- tance soon became interested, and were found in reg- ular attendance at the return of every Sunday. The good influences of these meetings soon became apparent in the social and moral improvement of the people. Here the settlers met each other and brought with them their children, where, at least once in each week, they could hear prayers offered, and religious duties explained. Here, once in each week, the joys and sorrows of all could be talked over, and their ne- HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 255 cessities be made known, and opportunities offered for relieving them. These meetings were regularly carried on with a wonderful interest, for many years, and appeared to be happily adapted to the religious and social wants of the people. It is said, and probably with truth, that until 1804, some one of these three fathers of this embryonic church was present at every meeting, and conducted the religious exercises, with the excep- tion of one Sunday, when Henry Kelar read the ser- vice of the Episcopal church. These men looked to sound religious principle as the foundation of good order ; and taught, both by pre- cept and example, what they considered the correct standard of christian character. They always ob- served daily morning and evening family prayers, and were careful to instruct their children in the Bible and catechism. Claghorn and Weeks were of a business turn of mind, and ready to undertake any public en- terprise, and thus made their influence felt in lavor of their religion, on a class of men who might other- wise have remained unreaclied. Story was better known for his pious example, and quiet reproofs and instructions. Claghorn w^as ambitious, and fond of office, and yet, never sought a position among his neighbors at a sacrifice of principle. Weeks was more retiring, but full of good huinor and frankness, and 21* 256 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. was playful beyond mediocrity. He sometimes went so far in playfulness, that some persons who inclined to superstitious strictness, thought he exceeded the bounds of piety. Story, being of more serious in- clinations, rarely gave offence in any way. As an instance of the estimate that magistrates set upon moral example, in those days, and of their duty in enforcing the laws, we might mention the fact that Mr. Claghorn, at a town meeting held March 8th, 1790, fined Nathaniel Buel two dollars for using pro- fane language on that day. But while these men took so prominent a part in the religious and social improvements of the town, others were among us who, under the same circum- stances, would have done as much or more. Many came into town about this time, who did much to promote its interests, and to raise its social condition. Among these were Stephen Hard, Asa Lawrence, Sa- lathiel Bump and others. The tables of town ofiicers and of responsible committees show that these men held no obscure position in the early doings of the town. The religious meetings were particularly strength- ened and its leaders encouraged by John Holt, Esq., Smauley and Keuben Saxton, and many other pro- fessing christians, who undertook the work as if they felt its importance. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 257 The society was also greatly favored with occasion- al lectures from Rev. Mr. Barnet, the first minister settled in Middlebury, and from Rev. Mr. Wooster, of Cornwall, also from Rev. Mr. Chittenden, an Epis- copal clergyman who occasionally came throngh this part of the state as a missionary from Connecticut, and also from other missionaries from the same state. As the society increased in numbers and influence, the clergy began to take more interest in it, and the people to make greater effort to "obtain preaching. Accordingly we find Rev. Mr. Parker preaching here on a few Sundays in 1790, and Rev. Elisha Mosely four or five Sundays in 1791, and in 1795 or 1796, Rev. Mr. Remilee's services engaged for three months at a time. In the winter of 1798, Rev. Mr. Randall was hired for another term of three months, and un- der his teaching an unusual interest was excited on the subject of religion, and quite a large number of persons were reclaimed from their former wickedness and led to entertain a hope in the merits of their Sa- viour. Some of these new converts united with the Con- gregational church in Cornwall, while others joined the church in Middlebury, and others still united and formed, under the direction of Rev. Mr. Mitchell, a 258 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. class in Jernsalern* (a district in Leicester), which was called the Methodist Episcopal Society. These early religions meetings were invariably held at the school-house in district No. 1, from 1789 until about the year 1800, and the services and general management of the society conducted on one uniform plan. At the expiration of this period, it was thought that the religious interests of the.town could be better promoted by holding the meetings at the school- * This part of Leicester happened to be named Jerusalem-, after this wise. Gamaliel Painter, about the year 1787, al- lowed two of his colts to run at large, and they strayed so far that one of them was lost. A few years afterward, Mr. Pain- ter one day was standing on the bank of the creek among the trees, when he overheard John Farnham, who was a very loud speaking man, and who at that time was passing down the creek on a raft of logs, tell his companion all about the loss of this colt. Here Mr. Painter learned that Isaac Scott and Cyrus Walch, who lived in the south-Avesterly part of the town, had killed his colt by accident, and to prevent discovery, laid the animal upon a log-heap, and consumed it by fire. Mr. Painter, having secured payment for tlio animal, de- clared that "that part of the town should heroaftor bo (>all(d Jerusalem, because they had made a burnt sacrifice iIk rr, by offering up his colt on an altar made of logs." HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 259 house in the centre of the town, and accordingly the society began to assemble at that place. In the absence of a minister, one of the leading members usually conducted the exercises, offered the prayers and read a sermon ; and perhaps more com- monly the different parts of the exercises were per- formed by different individuals at the same meeting. Ilolland Weeks read the sermons until Reuben Sax- ton came into town, which was in 1799. After that time, Mr. Saxton, being a ^ood reader, having a clear voice and distinct articulation, undertook the perform- ance of this duty, which he continued to do on all necessary occasions, for the space of thirty years. The clergy of all denominations, as they came among us, were treated with the greatest hospitality. The doors of the settlers were always open to them, and the people always glad to show their regard and high respect for the ministerial office. The ministry then commanded a more general and unreserved rev- erence, than in these later days of criticism and free speech. The church proper, as is recorded in a previous chapter, was organized in 1804, and commenced under circumstances not the most flattering. It was organized at a private house, that of Ilolland Weeks, and was composed of only five male and four female members, and none of these had ever taken any active 260 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. part in matters of the town, and but one of the males had ever taken an active interest in religions meet- ings, and most of them being young, had not had the advantage of experience in church matters. A short time after the church was formed, one of the old leaders, one Sunday, arose in meeting, and, as usual, commenced reading a psalm ; about the same time, a young man who was a member of the new formed church, arose, and commenced reading ano- ther psalm, in a louder tone of voice, and continued to read, while the other, astonished and ashamed of his young brother, sat down in silence. The psalm was sung, but all the congregation was much distur- bed, and man}^ left the house. This little, but un- fortunate matter, caused a vast deal of subsequent trouble. It seemed to be an indication on the part of the church, that the services of the old leaders were no longer w^anted in their religious meetings. For several years previous to this the town seemed to be in a state of unusual prosperity. The contro- versy between Yermont and the claimants of New York, had been settled. The State, in 1791 had been admitted into the Union on an etpial footing with her sister states. The long and tedious controversy with Leicester, had long before been brought to an amica- ble settlement, and no religious difticulties had previ- ously agitated the public mind. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 261 But this event appeared to produce a very great and general excitement, which pervaded the entire town, and called forth a mass meeting of its inhabi- tants. At this mass meeting, the whole matter was very seriously and thoroughly discussed, and by a committee appointed for that purpose, it was reported that there ought to be a religious meeting held every Sunday, separate from the meetings of the church, whereupon Eleazer Claghorn, Holland Weeks, and Daniel Saxton, were appointed as managers, to keep alive and direct the religious meetings as had been done so many»years. These elderly men, and a great part of those who had taken the greatest interest in the religious meet- ings, could not conscientiously subscribe to all the articles of faith which had been adopted by the church ; and by the obligations of that church, every member w^as to give his unqualified assent and ap- proval of those articles, and govern his daily w^alk and conversation by them. On the other hand, the members of the church thought it unsafe and unlike a church to carry on meetings in so loose a manner, without written articles of faith or creed to guide them, and looked upon all outside their organization as heterodox, and unfit to call themselves members of Christ's church. This unfortunate state of things brought the interests 262 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. of the church in conflict with the feelings and wishes of most people in town. Scarcely half a dozen per- sons other than the members of the church attended its meetings, while at the same time the meetings of the society were filled to overflowing. The society now for a while held its meetings at Mr. Saxton's barn, but it was soon apparent that its increasing numbers (increased undoubtedly by the recent excitement to a certain extent,) would soon require a more commodious place of worship. Ac- cordingly a plan for a meeting-house, of sufiicient size to accommodate several hundred people, was soon adopted, and pew ground sold at auction sufficient to raise the means to erect, cover and glaze the house. A building committee was appointed, consisting of Holland Weeks, Keuben Saxton and Christopher Johnson, and the house was so rapidly constructed, after the work was commenced, that it was used for holding meetings in the course of a few weeks. In the meantime the matters of difficulty between the church and some of the leading men of the so- ciety were constantly increasing. Proposals had been made by Mr. Claghorn and others for cutting out or modifying some of the articles of faith in the church, but without effect. And just about this time, the church brought charges and allegations against Holland Weeks, for HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 263 immoral conduct, and held a kind of trial of him, but being unable to sustain their allegations bj proof, he was acquitted. Not satisfied with this attempt, they presented spe- cific charges against Daniel Saxton, Christopher John- son, Eleazer Claghorn, William Copeland and Henry Kelar, not only for immoral conduct on the part of some, but especially for opposition to the church and for helping forward schismatic meetings, on the part of all. A council of clergy was called several times in the space of a year or two, but their advice did but little toward effecting reconciliation and harmony. An occurrence took place about the middle of May, 1804, which operated, for a short time, to allay this excitement, and was expected for some time to be the cause of bringing the two parties together. One Sunday morning, after the people had assem- bled at Mr. Saxton's barn for worship, it was ascer- tained that a missionary from Connecticut had met with the church, at the school-house but a few rods distant, and was to preach there that day. Wishing for the benefits of this opportunity to hear preaching themselves, the society delegated Mr. Sax- ton to go over and invite the missionary and the church to come and hold the meeting in the barn, where all the people could be better accommodated 22 264: HISTORY OF SALISBURY. with room and seats. Tliis request was so reasonable, that it could not be met with a denial, and the church and society once more mingled together in the wor- ship of God. This experiment worked so well, that the church and society concluded that, even though remaining separate bodies, they might unite in hiring the same minister, and both worship under the same roof. But the church was small, and poor, and could do but little toward paying the minister's salary, or de- fraying the expenses of building the new meeting- house ; and more, it was difficult to please the society with a minister who would preach doctrines which would suit the church ; and finally it was found that the strength of both parties combined would be insuf- ficient to support a minister for a whole year — and even if it had been, their difficulties had become so fixed, and the prejudices of the people so deeply rooted against the church, that no minister could have been obtained who would have been pious enough and wise enough to control both parties, so the idea of a coa- lition was abandoned. In the early part of the summer of 1804, Abiel Jones, both physician and clergyman, a man of much worth and learning came this way, looking for a place in which he might locate as a physician, and preach the Gospel at the same time. This was considered HISTORY OF SALISBCTKT. 265 by the whole people as an instance of providential care, for by it the town could be supplied with preach- ing, let prejudices operate as they might. The ser- vices of Mr. Jones were therefore secured, for a year, with the understanding that he should continue longer if all parties were pleased. He continued in the office three or four years, and performed its duties well. He preached practical ser- mons, and dwelt much on the practical duties of the christian life. He used language adapted to the understanding of his hearers, and gave expressions to sentiments free from doctrinal and controversial objections, and at the close of his short but useful ministry here, during which many were led into the ways of the better life, he removed with his family to the state of Ohio. N^otwithstanding Mr. Jones' great prudence and wisdom, he was not the means of reconciling the church and society ; and about the time he left, the old prejudices began to revive again, and some, be- coming dissatisfied with so unpleasant a state of af- fairs, threatened to leave town. For this reason, among others, in 1807 Mr. Claghorn sold out his property here, and in the following year moved to Middlebury, where he made application for admis- sion into the church of that town. But the church in Salisbury had appointed a committee to prevent, 266 * HISTOBY OF SALISBURY. ' if possible, his admission there. This committee made their allegations against Mr. Claghorn in wri- ting, and Dr. Merrill, pastor of the church in Mid- dlebury, notified the church here that Mr. Clag- horn's case would be heard, if required, at a church meeting on December 2d, 1808. But this appears to have been the end of the matter, for Mr. Claghorn was received as a member in Middlebury, and lived many years in that town, and adorned his profession by living a goodly life, and finally died a hopeful Christian. Henry Kelar also sold his farm here about this time, and went to Middlebury and united with the church in that town, and many others were much dis- satisfied, and showed a strong desire to sell out and leave the place. During this struggle for the ascendancy in religi- ous matters, which lasted about six years, the privi- leges of the ordinances of the church were very limited. Many neglected to come to the Lord's table, and many neglected the baptism of their chil- dren. The eyes of the people appeared to be more upon the success of their respective parties than upon the duties which a healthy religious sentiment and a true faith would enjoin. Many difterent schemes of reconciliation were sug- gested from time to time, and new doctrines advoca- HI8T0EY OF SALISBURY. 267 ted, by adopting which, it was supposed all mi^ht be pleased, but all efforts of the kind were unavailing until the year 1810. During this year, although the people had not the ministrations of any regular minister, one of the most remarkable periods of religious interest occurred, which the town has ever seen, and while the attention of the people was called suddenly and marvelously to the present danger of their souls, and made to think of mercy and forgiveness, they forgot their old strifes, or looked back upon them in sorrow, and came to- gether in one harmonious body. Among the results of this revival was that vote recorded in a previous chapter. " that no old matters of difficulty should be any longer brought up in objection to one another," and a slight modification of the language of the arti- cles of faith. This long and tedious contention being at last brought to a close, a way was opened for the settle- ment of a minister, as soon as one could be obtained, and accordingly, in October of 1811, Eev. Rufus Fumroy was installed the first pastor of the church. Matters went on very pleasantly and profitably, and the church appeared, in all respects, to be doing remarkably well under the instructions of its pastor, until about the year 1815, when a difficulty, arising principally from geographical position, sprung up 22* 268 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. between the village, on the one hand, and the nor- thern, middle and western parts of the town, on the other. The glass factory at Lake Dunmore had gone into successful operation about two years before, and the village was rapidly increasing in inhabitants and supposed wealth. In addition to this, several persons who were mem- bers and officers of the Leicester Congregational Church, and who in fact, with their families, consti- tuted a majority of that church, had moved into the village, and were making preparations for moving their church with them. It had already holden seve- ral meetings in the village, and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper been administered there. All these things consj^iring to the advantage of the village, gave it the idea of so much importance, that the people living there signified to the church of Salis- bury their desire and intention of withdrawing from it and uniting with that of Leicester, which was then being so happily established among tliem."'^ It happened that at this time, quite a considerable amount of Mr. Pumroy's salary, though due was un- paid, and it had been stipulated, at the time of his settlement, that in case of any such failure in pay- * It must be remembered that the Salisbury church, at this time was holding its meetings at the centre of the town. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 269 ment, he should be permitted -to preach in other places to make up the deficiency. ISTow but compar- atively few of the people at the village had obligated themselves to support the preaching at the centre of the town, and concluded that it would be better, or at least, more convenient, for them to secure preaching at the village for as great a part of the year as pos- sible, and made a proposal to Mr. Pumroy to come there and preach, in making up the deficiency in his salary. ^ This proposal Mr. Pumroy unfortunately accepted, without advising with any member of the church or society of his particular charge. Soon after this new move, church discipline was in- stituted against several members living in the village for absenting themselves from the worship of their own church and for neglecting its ordinances, but the matter was adjusted by an agreement entered into with the derelict members, during the session of a council of ministers and delegates, holden at the vil- lage, January 24:th, 1816. At the session of this council, the church was ac- tually divided, and two Congregational societies were in existence in town for a long time, which assembled at difi'erent places of worship. By the conditions of the agreement, both were to contribute to the support of the minister, in the pro- 270 HISTORY OF SALISBUET. portion of two to one, that occupying the meeting- house paying the greater share ; and in case either society failed to pay its proportion, the other was per- mitted to engage the services of the minister in making up the deficiency. But it was soon found that it was impracticable to undertake to support two societies in a town of so few inhabitants, and long since both w^ere again coal- esced in one. The step which Mr. Pumroy took, in leaving his own charge and going to preach at the village, un- doubtedly detracted much from his influence, and consequently from his usefulness, and was the princi- pal cause of his dismission. He soon became sensi- ble that the duties of his office could be performed with greater good in some other place, and called an exjparte council to give him dismission, the members of which arrived in town, before any notice of his in- tentions had been given to the church or society, and consequently were obliged to adjourn to another day. Mr. Pumroy supposed he was entitled to the whole of the right of land given by the charter to the first settled minister, but it was shown on the trial before the consociation, that there was an agreement, though not in writing, between him and his people, made at the time of his settlement, that if he ceased to be HISTOEY OF SALISBUEY. 271 their minister within ten years, he should be entitled to only one tenth part of this right for each year of his labor, and as his services had continued only five years, by the decision of the consociation, he could justly claim no more than half the land. In compli- ance with this decision, Mr. Pumroy deeded back the other half of his right, or, to use his own words, " gave the church and society one half of his right of land, as a donation," and his connection with this church and people was dissolved. This half thus deeded back, was again deeded to Kev. Joseph Cheney, at the time he undertook the care of the church in 1819. 272 HISTOKY OF SAI^IfiBITBY. CHAPTER XX. Gamaliel Painter. — E. Jones. — Walter' Sheldon. — John Dyer. Gamaliel Painter was born in 'Hew Haven, Conn., May 22d, 1742, and moved into this country in 1773. He pitched two hundred acres of land, embracing the farm now occupied by William F. Goodrich. In the autumn of 1787, he moved to Middlebury Falls, and took a prominent part in every movement which might favor the town and county in which he lived, until his death, which occurred in 1819. Mr. Painter filled many public offices, and always performed his duties with great wisdom and effici- ency. He was liberal in his opinions, and generous to all his neighbors. He had the foresight to see tliat to build up the town of his adoption, he must sell lots to emigrants at a reasonable rate, rather than retard or stop its growth by a narrow avarice. He was a liberal supporter of all public benevolent and chari- table institutions. He was one of the original trustees of Middlebury I HISTORY OF SALISBUEY. 273 College, aDd always took an active interest in the suc- cess of that institution ; superintended the erection of the new stone building, and gave much toward de- fraying the expense of it, and finally, in his will, made a bequest to the college, amounting to about thirteen thousand dollars. Epaph. Jones was a native of Hartford, Connecti- cut, and moved into this country in 1803, first settling in Middlebury, where he successfully carried on the business of a merchant for several years. During his residence in Middlebury, he introduced a new kind of sheep, which at that time was considered a great improvement on what was known as the native breed. This new breed of sheep was well known by the peculiar reddish color of the lambs, a color retained by them several months after their birth. The Me- rino sheep being introduced soon after, the Jones sheep had no great success, though indications of their blood were often seen in Addison county, as late as 1840. In 1809, Mr. Jones moved into Salisbury and settled on the western shore of Lake Dunmore, where he commenced the work of building the glass factory. Here he took an active part in the glass-making busi- ness, until it was brought to a close at the termina- tion of the war of 1812. In 1818 he left the town 274: HISTORY OF SALISBUET. and located in Providence, where he died, leaving no children. It was during Mr. Jones' residence at Lake Dun- more, that an incident occurred which brought into notice the circumstances through which the lake ob- tained its present name. One of Mr. Jones' hired men, while chopping wood on the western shore of the lake, struck his axe into a thick, heavy bottle which lay imbedded in the crotch of a tree. This fact excited a good deal of cu- riosity at the time, though it was apparent to all that the bottle must have been deposited there by some person at quite an early day, for the wood had grown over and around it so as to conceal it entirely from the sight. The mystery of the time and circumstances of its being placed there might have remained unsolved to this day, had not the fact of its being found been told, one day, in the presence of Henry Wiswool, of Whi- ting, Vermont, who said he knew all about the mat- ter, and that Lord Dunmore placed the bottle in the tree, and that he was present and saw him do it. Mr. Wiswool always had the reputation of being a man in whose word implicit reliance could be placed, and we do not think there is any reasonable doubt of the truth of his story. The Earl of Dunmore was appointed colonial gov- HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 275 emor of New York in 1770, and served in tliat ca- pacity that year and in 1771. It was after he had left this office, and yet while the lands of Vermont were claimed hy 'New York, that he, in company with a small party of gentlemen from Albany, ISTew York, made an excursion through this part of the state, to see the character of the land, and to gratify a general curiosity. Having arrived at Sutherland's falls, they engaged the services of two Indians, who took them down Otter creek as far as Leicester, where they stop- ped and pitched their tent for the night on a rise of ground near Jeremiah Parker's house, where Ebene- zer Jenny now lives. Lord Dunraore here learned from Mr. Parker some- thing of the beauty of the lake which has since borne his name, and of its surrounding scenery, and of the opportunities there afforded for fishing and other sports, and determined to visit it on the following day. Henry Wis wool, who at that time was living at Mr. Parker's, offered his services as guide, which were gladly accepted, and on the following morning the party, taking their boats, went out of the creek and up Leicester river to the present site of Salisbury village, and from there on foot over the hills, to the lake. Here, on the western shore of the lake, they took their refreshments, among which, as might have been 23 276 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. expected, especially in those days, was a bottle of some kind of liquor or wine. After some time spent in the survey of the lake and its environs, it was sug- gested that the remainder of the contents of the bot- tle should be appropriated in giving a name to the lake, and that it should take the name of Lord Dun- more, and that he should perform the proper ceremo- nies. To this he assented, and then wading into the lake a few steps, poured the libation into the water, and proclaimed that, '''Ever after ^ this hody of water shall he called Lalce Dunmore^ in honor of the Earl of DunmoreP This ceremony being done, the governor ordered the two Indians to bend down a small tree standing near, which they split at the point of union of its two main branches, which spread in opposite directions near its top, while he inserted the bottle between, and bound it fast, that it might not be thrown out of its place when the tree sprang back to its original po- sition. ^ Undoubtedly this tree was the one Mr. Jones' man cut, forty years afterward, and the bottle on which he dulled his axe, was the one placed there by the Earl of Dunmore in 1773. Walter Sheldon, son of Moses Sheldon, was a na- tive of Salisbury, Connecticut, and came into tliis town with his father, in 1810. .«*■ *4. A^^^^ HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 279 At an earlj age tie manifested a great desire for in- tellectual pursuits, and gave promise of more than ordinary ability. On account of a want of pecuniary means, he was finally compelled to forego a classical education, and pursue only those studies afforded by ordinary schools. By industry, and perseverance, he acquired a very good education, and finally entered upon the studies of the law, in the ofiice of Hon. Ho- ratio Seymour, of Middlebury, Vermont, and was ad- mitted to the bar of Addison county in 1811. He was subsequently compelled to leave the pro- fession he had cliosen, principally, as the author is in- formed, on account of the injurious effects of seden- tary habits upon his health, and at last entered the army. He received a lieutenant's commission in the United States army, and served in that capacity in the war of 1812. While in the army he also received the appointment of paymaster, and fulfilled its duties for a long time. About the close of the. war, his health became so much impaired as to be past recovery, and he died in 1816, of consumption. He was a man of quick perception and good judg- ment, and possessed talents and good common sense, in more than ordinary measure. John Dyer was born in Shrewsbury, Yermont, October 28th, 1802, and moved into Salisbury in the 280 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. spring of 1 834, and settled on a farm in the south- western part of the town. Ilis business was that of an agriculturist, which he always carried on in a thorough and s^'stematic manner, and consequently with profit. All the evidences of a good and thrifty farmer, good buildings, fences and stock, were to be seen about his premises. He was a good business man, and prudent in all his undertakings. ISTot being easily led into any visionary scheme, he acted from common sense and sound judg- ment, and whatever he undertook he did well. These qualifications rendered him a fit person for town offices, many of which he held during his residence here. On the 25th of March, 1823, he was married to Elizabeth T. Morton, with whom he lived until his death. Mr. Dyer had five children, three of whom died of a malignant fever, in the winter of 1849 and 1850. The oldest of these, William E., taught the school in district, No. 1, four or ^ve winters in succession, and was again teaching the same school when he was com- pelled to leave it by the sickness with which he died. He was an excellent teacher, and when he died was mourned by a large circle of pupils and friends. He spared no pains in the instruction of those under his charge, and though strict in his discipline, he seldom HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 281 gave offence. The truth is, it is because he was so faithful that he taught his pupils so much. Mr. Dyer held the office of one of the selectmen several years, and was justice of the peace nearly every year of his residence in town, and from time to time filled other town offices with ability and prompt- ness. In the years 1851 and 1852, he was sent to the General Assembly, and performed his duties on seve- ral important committees with credit both to himself and the town. He was a man respected throughout all the com- munity in which he lived. He was frank, kind and hospitable. Being sociable in his nature, and of ge- nial domestic habits, he was much attached to all his family, and they, in turn," to him. Feeling the im- portance of a good practical education, he brought up his children to make active executive men ; and fi- nally, much lamented, died of the typhus fever, after a short sickness, on the 11th day of October, 1853. 23* 282 HISTOET OF SALI6BUBT. CHAPTER XXL POLITICAL PARTIES. GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS. Since the year 1816, differences, arising from geo- graphical position, have mingled with every interest in town. It is true, ecclesiastical councils are no longer re- quired to settle local questions — indeed, religious con- troversy is now known only in history, but other questions, arising from difference of position, have arisen from time to time, and caused some excite- ment and ill feeling. Every question is now settled by the ballot box, and ever since the year 1816, the ballot box has been the sure index of the various local feelings of the people in town. Local prejudices increased in strength as the popu- lation increased, from 1816 to 1828, when it was found that the village and its vicinity had gained the ascendancy. The people in the northern and western parts of the town, struggled hard against it, but they were at last compelled, as early as 1828, to yield HISTOEY OF SALISBURY. 283 every important office and public interest to the vil- lage influence. 1 This difference of local interest was, for a great many years, the chief cause of excitement in strug- gles for the different town offices ; and the qualifica- tions of a candidate wxre, by no means, of a political character, his locality w^as a matter of primary con- sideration, his generosity was next thought of, and last and least his politics. Of late years these prejudices have not existed to so great an extent, or perhaps, more properly, have been of a different kind. The locality and politics of the candidate have not been considered of so much importance as the general character and style of the man. Of course, the first politics found in Salisbury, was that of the revolutionary times, when the two great parties w^ere Whigs and Tories. Only one tory was known to settle here, and he had no great sympathy with the party to which he nominally belonged. The first change of political names was to that of Federalist and Democrat. The former favored the election of John Adams to the Presidency of the United States, in 1799, while the latter wished to place Thomas Jefferson in that office. These parties excited a good deal of interest in this town, which seemed to increase until the battle of Plattsburerh, when party differences w^ere lost sight of in their combined interest in their country's welfare. 284 HISTORY OF BALISBUEY. From about 1808 to 1813, these parties were very nearly equally divided here, and gave rise to some exciting scenes at our elections, but since the latter period, politics has had comparatively little to do in the election of our town officers or representatives to the leo-islature. It is true, that during the latter part of Madison's administration, the whole of that of Munroe, and a part of that of the younger Adams, the town experi- enced some seasons of more than ordinary enthusi- asm in political matters, and manifested much more party zeal than has been seen here for many years past, but they were, by no means, equal to those which went before. To follow the subsequent doings of the different political parties, with their changes of names, would be useless, and foreign to the object of this chapter, . for the town took little interest in them ; but about 1829 a political party arose in this state, and soon in- creased to an overwhelming mnjority, which styled itself " anti-masonic," in the frenzy of which our peo- ple had some participation. For four or five yeare following 1829, the masonic test was pretty thoroughly tried in our meetings, political, religious and social — but not to that extravagant de^^ree M'hich was seen in some of our neighboring towns. Although many of the churches in the countrj^ at that time were nearly HISTORY OF SALISBUET. 285 torn asunder, and many who were worthy members, expelled therefrom or ortherwise severely dealt with, because they were masons, yet nothing more was done in this tow^n, than to exclude them from the jury boxes, and from all important town offices. This party, in the course of a few years, exhausted itself in its own efforts, and suffered suicide for want of opposition. Since the anti-masonic times, our people have kept an intelligent watch of the various shifts in politics, and have faithfully told their political sentiments from year to year at the ballot-box, but have left to others to fight the noisy and angry battles. At the annual March meeting of 1825, there was an attempt made, both in Salisbury and Leicester, to unite and form one town, and to make Salisbury vil- lage a common centre ; but the remembrances of the old land controversy came up so vividly in the minds of many of the old settlers, who at that time were yet living, and the prejudices of the voters in each town were soon so much excited, that the application to unite in one body, was negatived by a strong vote in both. Political interests are temporary, and change with the changing condition of our country, but the local interests of this town must, in great measure, ever re- main the same, and always conflict, more or less, with 286 HISTORY OF SALISBUEY. each other, so long as the boundaries of the town re- main where they now are. Salisbury has had her share, with other towns, in ecclesiastical, political and conventional difficulties. In settling new countries like this, roads are laid out and houses built which, as the country advances in improvement, are altered or moved for public convenience. Public houses are often erected at a considerable expense, which are useful only for a limited time, and are afterward pulled down at a loss to the owners. Public centres are es- tablished which often prove to be of only temporary use, and are given up or moved as required by the changing public convenience. All these changes are attended with their legitimate inconveniences and troubles. Salisbury has experienced them, and felt the strifes and conflicts to which they have given rise among her people. There was a time when it was thought the location of the Rutland and Burlington railroad, which runs through the western part of the town, would be the cause of some local jealousies, but it is pretty well agreed now by those in the east part of the town, that they enjoy most of the practical ad- vantage of the railroad, while they avoid its incon- veniences, and those living nearer the railroad are convinced that its inconveniences are more than com- pensated by their proximity to it — so all are, happily, well satisfied. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 287 Here we will close this sliort chapter, and after- ward go back and glean over the field we have passed, and gather such good grain as may have fallen by the way. It is pleasant, at this late day, to save all we can, when so much that is valuable is lost forever. 288 HISTORY OF 8ALI8BUEY. CHAPTER XXII. MEANS OF LIVESTG. FURNITURE. — DRESS. SOCIAL CUS- TOMS. — PERSONAL HABITS. — THE FIRST DANCE. — DAVID SHELTUS. BELiEviNa that posterity should be acquainted with the hardships, privations and sufierings of their an- cestry in settling a new and forest country, and should be familiar with the examples of industry and perse- verance here set before them, we add another chapter touching upon the circumstances in which the settle- ment of the town was commenced. The early settlers started from their native state, usually, in companies of two or more, each being provided with a knapsack of provisions, a gun, for the double purpose of defence and for securing game for food, a camp-kettle, and perhaps a few other cooking utensils, an axe and a knife — the whole being swung across their backs and shoulders, they commenced the journey of two hun- dred miles or more, on foot. Much of this tedious journey was performed through a dense wilderness, where marked trees were their only guide, with^perhaps an occasional monument or HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 289 river described in their chart. On arriving at their forest-covered lands, the beginning was, to build a log house, the covering and floors of which they made of bark. . Their beds were of evergreen boughs, laid in one corner of their scanty rooms. Chips were their plates, and the bark of large trees furnished them with tables.* Thus begun and furnished, their axes were indus- triously and dextrously used in clearing the land, to prepare it for the reception of the wheat (which they carried a great distance on their shoulders), in antici- pation of the crop of the following year. This being done, the settlers usually returned to their families to spend the winter, and in the latter part of the winter or following spring, again moved back with their whole family, to make a permanent * As a saw-mill was erected at Sutherland's falls, in Kut- land, about the year 1773, those living near Otter creek, in Salisburj'- and in other towns, could obtain boards (which were floated down the creek), for such purposes as making doors and tables. The first table, and the only one used in the fam- ily of Holland AVeeks for several years after his settlement in Salisbury, was made of the crotch of a tree, hewed tolerably smooth on one side, and rough sticks, for legs, inserted on the other, while two wide boards were nailed across the top, to complete the whole. 24 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. settlement. Some brought beds and bedsteads with them, others made use of the plant commonly called cat-tail for bedding, but bedsteads were oftenest made by boring holes into four upright posts and inserting sharpened rails, the whole being bound together with bark twisted into a rope. Hops were also sometimes used for beds, and were considered very healthful. Previous to the erection of mills, the settlers made their flour by pounding and sifting their grain. "This in some instances was done by burning out the top of a large stump for a mortar, and by hanging a huge pestle at the smaller and elevated end of a long, stout, elastic pole, like a well sweep. This pole, resting in the centre in the crotch of a tree, or something of that character, and fastened down at its lower end, would, by its elastic power, raise the pestle. The chief busi- ness of the operator was to apply a force that would bring down the pestle eflSciently upon the grain." Many of the oldest inhabitants will remember Graves' pestle. It was a bombshell that had been picked up during the war. Household furniture was usually of the coarsest kind, though in some instances, chairs, eases of draw- ers, tables and table furniture, were brought with the emigrants, but nearly every family, even if they had a few chairs, used benches made of slabs. Some brought pewter platters, plates, basins, cups and spoons HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 291 witli them/while others used wooden trenchers, trays, and even wooden spoons. Trays of all sizes, varying in capacity from a pint to several gallons, were in use, and were generally made of poplar. We have often been both a witness and a participator in the custom of setting the large six-quart dish in the centre of the table, while half a dozen or more children stood around it, each with a spoon, partaking of his homely but healthful repast of samp and milk. Poplar trays were the only vessels used for " set- ting" milk in this town, for many years after the settlement commenced, and when made with skill and finish, as they usually were, and kept clean, they were an ornament to the kitchen and milkroom. The good housewives and daughters, took great pride in the care of their wooden and pewter ware, and in the general order of the house. The clean, whitened floor, the cot in one corner, and the dresser in another; the open cupboard on which were dis- played the shining pewter, and the poplar dishes of ivory whiteness, all arranged upon their edges, to rep- resent the phases of the moon ; the spinning-wheel, the loom, and the Bible lying upon the shelf by the window-^all these -bespoke the industry and domestic care of the mother, and formed a suggestive picture of the happy simplicity of the times. HISTORY OF 8ALI8BIJET. The first improvement in making tables, was made about the year 1790, when they commenced turning them of black cherry. Table legs were turned by means of a spring-pole, similar to the one already described for pounding grain, though much smaller. To the end of this pole was attached a strong line or cord (usually of raw hide), which passed down around the stick of timber to be turned, and thence down to a treddle below, so that the operator, by the pressure of his foot, could give the stick a rotary motion, which would be reversed by the elasticity of the pole, when the pressure of the foot was removed, thus leaving the stick ready for another chip of the chisel. Posts and rounds for making chairs, and even bed-posts, were turned in lathes of this kind as late as 1808. The settlers exercised much ingenuity in making furniture, tools, and the various articles of household convenience. They illustrated the truth of the max- im, that "necessity is the mother of invention." Col. Sawyer's family did all their baking, for more than a year, in an oven built upon a stump. The foundation of the oven was a large, flat stone, well embedded in mortar, made of clay and sand, spread upon the top of the stump. Its upper part was made of the same kind of mortar, fashioned in the proper shape and size, over a mound of chips laid upon the stone. The whole being thoroughly dried, and the HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 293 chips afterward burnt out, left a very convenieiit and comely oven. Cooking-stoves were first introduced in 1818, and sixty dollars each was paid for the two first stoves of this character, exclusive of pipe. Horses, cattle, and sheep, were allowed to run at large in the woods, and all soon learned to come home at night, where, near the dwellings of their owners, they might be protected from tlie attacks of wild beasts. The horse wore a bell, as did also the lead- ing cow and the old ewe, each bell having a difi'erent tone to indicate the whereabouts of the difi'erent ani- mals. Most of the early settlers had a strong belief in the moon's influence on vegetation, and were governed by her phases in all their farming movements. The moon determined the time of butchering cattle and hogs, of cutting timber, pruning trees, sowing seed, and performed other important ofi&ces. Flaxseed, by their rule, must needs be sown when the moon was in the wane, and, if possible, at the time it was nearest the shape of a flaxseed ; and if sowing could not be accomplished in April, a delay of the full term of four weeks, until the decline of the moon of May, neces- sarily took place. Calves were weaned according to the lunar rule, otherwise it was supposed both they and the cows would nearly kill themselves in lowing. All animals 24* S94 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. designed for the meat-barrel were butchered during the increase of the moon, otherwise the meat would surely " shrink in the pot." Sornepretended to deter- mine, by their lunar science, their future prosperity or misfortunes, and taught their children many foolish su- perstitions in connection with it. But the great intellectual improvements of the last half century have taught the farmer to prepare his land in the best season, and to sow his seed when his land was best prepared to receive it, to butcher his meat when in a proper condition, and to learn from the moon the lessons she was designed to teach, rather than make her the means of inculcating pernicious and superstitious notions, to which the mind of those days was especially inclined. •* Although most of those notions have been forgotten or are preserved only as curiosities of the past, yet few who were born and received their first impres- sions before tlie commencement of the present cen- tury, can entirely rid themselves of them, or at least will stop before the new moon and ask themselves over which shoulder they saw it first. All the clothes for men, women and children, were manufactured in their own houses. Flannels were often colored in a decoction of the butternut bark, and of that of other trees by way of variety, but dyeing wns mainly confined to indigo blue. The blue-dye HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 295 tub stood in every one's chimney corner, and was always some one's favorite seat. Home-made linen called linseywoolsey was worn by females in warm weather. The women wore petticoats and short gowns (we use the names of their own time,) and high- heeled shoes. Young men and boys wore flannel and tow frocks and trowsers, and checkered shirts. The boys and a great many of the men went barefooted during the summer season, and usually boys went without hats during the warm weatlier, until they were ten or twelve years old; and even then, one hat often suf- ficed for two boys, the one wearing it until he lost it, and it was found by the other, who wore it in turn, until it was lost again. The settlers, both men and women, allowed their hair to grow to quite an extravagant length, and to hang down their backs in a queue, braided and firmly wound with black silk ribbon. Those who had but little hair, added an artificial queue to supply the de- ficiency, and on many public occasions the men were seen with heads quite white with the powdering of wheat flour. The old Connecticut fashions of dress were sus- tained in Salisbury for a long time, probably longer than in the state from which they were brought. The men wore short breeches, long stockings, garters, 296 HISTORY OF SALISBUBY. and shoe and knee buckles. Cocked hats were worn by all Congregational ministers as late as 1798 ; in- deed they were sometimes seen, together with the powdered wig, as late as 1813. In 1798 a cloth-dresser established his business in town, after which the females began to appear, on public occasions in clothes more nicely colored and dressed, and men to wear fulled cloth, so far as each could afford the expense of falling and dressing. The dresses of the settlers would be a great curi- osity to the present generation — quilted petticoats, short gowns, high -heeled shoes, scarlet cloaks, quilted hoods, muffs nearly as large as a barrel, tippets which passing around the neck, crossed the breast and tied behind — and all manufactured of home-made cloth from native sheep, or of furs home-caught and home- dressed. There was great emulation among the fe- males to outdo their neighbors in carding, spinning and weaving. To be able to work well was fashiona- ble, then. A sufficient quantity of wool and flax was usually raised to afford constant employment at the distaff, wheel and loom. A great profit was annually realized from the fe- male labor, for by it not only were their own families clothed, but the surplus cloths always found a ready Bale. So much dependence was placed upon female industry, that the prosperity of each family was in HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 297 great measure estimated by the quantity and quality of their domestic manufactured cloths. As the settlement of the country advanced, new in- ventions sprang into existence. One of the first of these, of great use in domestic life, was the wool- carding machine. Artemas Nixon brought one of these machines into Middlebury, in 1807, and carded wool for eight cents per pound. This was considered a great curiosity, as well as a valuable invention ; and nearly every one went to see it, and give it more or less patronage. This caused some dissatisfaction among some of the older people (as inventions always do), who gave expression to fears that if the hand- cards were laid aside, female industry would decline, and many imaginary disasters follow. But indolence has never been a characteristic of New England wo- men ; and though one invention has followed another in rapid succession, to relieve them in their various toils, no material change can be noticed in their hab- its of industry. The time they were once compelled to devote to hard and slavish manual labor, is now directed to the higher calling of self-culture and in- struction of the youth, cultivating in themselves and others those better tastes and thoughts which mark the state of a higher civilization. The first great gathering of young people for a dance or ball in Salisbury, was on the occasion of the 298 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. marriage of Henry Kelar and Patty Story, October 9th, 1794. It took place at the liouse of Holland Weeks, this being the only house in town of suitable dimensions to accommodate so large a party. Invita- tions were sent to Brandon, Middlebury and Cornwall, to make up the company, which numbered about fifty. Society at that time had not the exclusiveness of the present day ; the country w^as so sparsely settled, and all families were so dependent on each other, that none were rejected, unless notoriously bad. Dancing was an amusement to which most of the people gave their approval, and was considered equal, if not superior to any other amusement for the refine- ment of the manners of the youth. But they had many other recreations, which they entered into with great zeal, especially those of an active kind and requiring muscular strength in their participation. On occasions of public gathei'ings, ex- cept Sundays, after the business of the day w^as done, the men and boys indulged in sports and games. The game of ball, wrestling and jumping, were very popu- lar sources of amusement. The leading men of the town did not hesitate to en- ter the wrestling ring and show their strength and skill in the presence of the crowd wlio stood about them. Many excelled in feats of strength of which many HISTORY OF SALISBUKY. 299 instances might be given, but time and space will hardly allow them to be inserted in this work. These games and sports were always conducted in the utmost good-humor, until the advent, about the year 1800, of two or three very quarrelsome men. To be defeated in any of these amusements was to them a cause of war. To fight was their sport. It was their custom to create disorder on every public occasion, and even the civil authority failed to re- strain them. But there happened to be a man in town named David Sheltus, who effected for these men what the law and moral suasion had failed to do, and his name should be chronicled as one of our most useful citizens. Although he was a coarse, homespun, full blooded Dutchman, he was a peace- maker. Being a man of large stature and prodigious strength, he concluded, with the assent of the civil authority, to take the responsibility of preserving peace on public occasions, npon his own shoulders. He soon had an opportunity to administer his first lesson, for on the next public day he found one of these men commencing a " free fight " in a tavern in the village. Sheltns, without any apparent excite- ment, walked up to the offender, and taking him by the collar with one hand, and by that part of his troweers called the seat, with the other, threw him 300 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. lieadlong through the bar-room door, several feet into the street, and at the same time publicly de- clared that, there should be no more quarreling or fighting in this town as long as he lived in it. This precedent was of great use in preserving order for a long time, for at the approach of every public day, the civil authority would give Sheltus notice (for he lived in a retired place) so that he was always in attendance, and his presence alone com- manded perfect obedience and good order. So closely did he watch these men that they concluded that Salisbury was not tlie best field for the exercise of their peculiar talent, and in the course of a few years, all left town for parts unknown. HTSTOKY OF SALISBURY. 301 CHAPTER XXIII. WILD ANIMALS. WALK WITH THE WOLVES. ENCOUNTER WITH A PANTHER. — AMOS AND THE BEAR. FIGHT WITH THE INDIANS. MILITARY MATTERS. At the the time the settlement of Salisbury began, wolves were very numerous throughout all these re- gions, and were a great terror both to the traveler and to the inhabitants. They have been known to follow a traveler, in companies of a dozen or more, for a whole day, in order to attack liim by night. It was supposed by some, that they had acquired a relish for human blood during the war between the French and English, which had closed but a short time before ; but undoubtedly this appetite is natural ; and the in- conveniences which the settlers suffered from it were in no way enhanced by a previous gratification of it. These beasts, without doubt, did more injury in the destruction of domestic animals, than all other wild beasts together. With the exception of an occasional loss by the bear, the wolverine, the lynx and the wild cat, the great numbers of sheep, and other small 25 303 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. domestic animals which were lost, were taken by the wolves. Those of the settlers who kept any small animals, kept them in yards, at night, which were generally very near, and often adjoining their houses, and were enclosed by a very high and close fence. Sheep, hogs, and calves, were always kept in yards, at night. Captain Stephen Goodrich, one of the first settlers in Middlebnry, when an officer in the American rev- olution, had occasion to travel through this part of the country, on foot of coui'se, unaccompanied, except by his little dog. At that time, most of the settlers had been driven away by the Indians, and their houses burnt down, which rendered it difficult to find places of protection for the night. Mr. Goodrich having no guide except marked trees, his progress was necessarily slow ; and in one in- stance he found himself overtaken by night, far from the place of any settlement. Soon after sundown, he heard the howl of a wolf, which was following upon his track. This howl was soon answered by an- other, in a different direction, and this again by an- other, until five were known to be joined in the pursuit. Mr. Goodrich hastened on as fast as possible, with some hope of escaping an attack by reaching some house before dark ; but he was so delayed by the ob- HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 303 scurity of the way, and by his little dog, which, through fear, kept so close to his master as to inter- fere with his footsteps, that darkness came on while he was yet in the woods, and quite a great distance from any settlement. In the meantime the wolves, thirsting and yelping for his blood, had arrived with- in a few dozen yards distant, in the rear, when it was found necessary to use every means to keep them at bay. In the first instance he fired at them, knowing nothing of the execution of his shot, it being so dark ; and although the discharge of his gun seemed to frighten, and scatter them for a time, they soon organ- ized and followed on as before. Not liaving time to reload his gun, and not daring to turn and face the en- emy, Mr. Goodricli next tried the experiment of flash- ing powder in the pan of his gun, whenever the wolves approached him, which he found to be a very successful experiment ; for the wolf is frightened at a sudden and bright light. By a repetition of this, he at last reached the place of his destination, after spending several hours in the greatest anxiety and fear. The panther, though seldom seen, was considered the most dangerous animal that infested this coun- try. Two, only, have been met in this town, which were known of a certainty to be panthers. One of these was found by Mr. Samuel Hoi man and two 304 HISTORY OF 8ALISBUEY. companioRS, about 1785, when on an excursion among the hills east of Lake Dunmore. These men discov- ered this panther lying upon a flat rock on the side of the mountain, apparently asleep, and, very natu- rally, undertook to wake him by a volley of bullets from their guns. After firing several charges with- out any effect, they approached the spot where the animal lay, and found tliat he had been killed in a conflict with some other animal — probably by one of his own species. The other panther was seen by the writer in Dec- ember, 1809. The circumstances were as follows : At a barn standing in the meadow some distance from our house, was kept our young stock and a breeding mare. Wishing to go away from home one evening, 1 concluded to ride, and started to catch this horse, but finding the night very dark, I returned and took a lantern. "When about equi-distant from the house and barn, I met about half of the young cattle on a rapid walk, as if they had just stopped running, and a little farther on, I observed that a yearling had hid liimself behind a log heap in a thicket of flags. The horse not being with them I went on to the barn-yard, and found that the remainder of the cattle had passed out in the opposite direction. I then commenced cal- ling them, when suddenly my attention was arrested by some animal about midway in the eastern part of HISTORY OF SALISBURY. S05 the yard. Turning my light in the direction of the noise, supposing it was made by the horse, I moved that way, expecting to take her by the foretop, and did not discover my mistake and the danger I was in, until within the distance of a single leap of a full- grown panther. 1 suddenly stopped, and we stood looking at each other as if neither knew what to do; his head being turned to the left in looking at me, his body extended obliquely to my right, which gave me a good view of his entire length and side. His body was long, and seemed to be of the greatest muscular make; his head was small in proportion to the size of his body, and was shaped much like that of a cat ; his hair was brown, and of that lively character which indicates health and vigor ; and his eyes exceedingly bold and fierce. I observed that his attention was chiefly directed to the light in my hand, which led me to believe that it was a better protection than any fire-arms could have been. Although he had stood perfectly still for a half of a minute or more, I had not yet determined what to do, but was soon urged to a decision by the restlessness of one of his hind feet, which seemed to be an indication that if I remained in the position I then occupied miich longer, he would make me his prey, and, believing discretion to be the better part of valor, I raised the light to my breast to give him a 25* 306 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. more distinct view, and slowly retreated backward into the barn live or six rods distant. After remain- ing in the barn a few minutes, I ventured out and found the panther gone. Undoubtedly the clear light of my lantern had a charming effect upon him, and thus w^as the means of saving my life. The wild animals that gave the settlers so much trouble by their nightly depredations, retired for the most part, to the mountains and hills at quite an early period, though bears have occasionally been found on the plains near the base of the mountains even within the past few years, and wolves made their pre- datory excursions among the flocks of the farmers near the mountains as late as 1832. It was the custom among the people when they went upon the mountains and hills, or any great dis- tance from home, to take with them a gun and a dog (and most every family had one or more), to make game of any wild animal they might chance to meet. One day in the year 1800, Amos Goodrich and Eleazer Sage concluded to make a short excursion to the mountains, to enjoy whatever of sport or incident might be thrown in their way. Amos took his little dog Trip with him, while Eleazer carried the gun. When about half way up the slope of the mountain, Trip started a bear, and although he was a very small dog, ho had no little confidence in his own abilities. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 30T and gave chase for the bear, which he soon overtook and bravely seized by the gambrel joint. Although small and light, he was so active that he greatly an- noyed and impeded the progress of the bear, and finally rendered himself so ngly an incumbrance that Bruin turned about and gave one heavy blow, which if [it had hit its intended object, would have knocked him far down the mountain ; but Trip, with unerring instinct, dodged the blow, and as soon as the bear started on again, resumed his original hold. Still pursued and vexed. Bruin sought to rid himself of his unpleasant annoyer by climbing a tree, but Trip, no- ticing the change of course, and like his master, being always ready, suddenly changed his hold from the gambril joint to tlie fleshy part of the leg, into which he firmly imbedded his little teeth ; and as the bear slowly moved himself up (he went up about fifteen feet), Trip went up too, pulling and twitching with all of his might in an opposite direction. In the meantime, Amos having some solicitude for his little dog, and being anxious himself to engage in the sport, hastened on as fast as possible, and arrived at the foot of the tree just in time to catch his dog, which had fallen in letting go to take a new hold. The bear, still more uneasy on account of Amos* presence, began a slow retrograde movement down the tree. Now Eleazer was some distance in the 308 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. rear, and Amos commenced shouting to him to come on quickly with the gun, which was loaded with powder and ball ; but the bear quickened his move- ment in advance of Eleazer's arrival, and when with- in six or eight feet of the ground, dropped down at the foot of the tree. Amos being a man of great physical strength, es- pecially in his hands and arms, and being well ac- quainted with the manner of battle with bears, had determined before the bear reached the ground, to make an attack in person, and at least hold the ani- mal until Eleazer should come up with the gun ; so the instant the bear dropped to the ground, Amos caught him by the neck, while Trip, with character- istic dexterity and energy, resumed his favorite hold behind. This double attack greatly enraged the bear, and he opened his huge jaws, as if to bite off those lusty arms which held him so closely ; but Amos well understanding his part in the battle, thrust his hand into the animal's mouth and firmly grasped the roots of his tongue. At this time Eleazer had approached to within a little distance from the scene of conflict, but dared not come any nearer. Now, Amos, from his boyhood, had a curious man- ner of speaking ; with no particular impediment in his speech, yet often, and especially when excited, he could not give utterance to the words he wished, HISTOJKY OF SALISBURY. 309 without using some preliminary and unmeaning ex- pression. This was the case in liis present embarras- sing position, when, excited at his companion's fears, he cried out, " Now you see, Eleazer, shoot himy But Eleazer fearing he might hit his friend instead of the bear, did not shoot, which greatly aggravated Amos, who again cried out, with great spirit and veliemence, " Now you see, d it, Eleazer, shoot the hearP But Eleazer still refused to shoot, and begged Amos to let the bear go. Not many steps distant, Amos discovered a stone upon the surface of the ground, with wliicli, if it could be obtained, he thought he could kill the bear alone. This stone he importuned Eleazer to bring to him, but Eleazer, out of personal considerations, refused, and still begged him to let the bear go. Finally he undertook to move the animal in the direction of the stone, and after much labor, he pulling at one end and Trip at the other, succeeded in reaching it ; but here a great difficulty presented itself in the want of a third hand to manage the stone, for it required the strength of both arms to liold the animal, and already the muscles of one hand and arm were much weaken- ed by long exertion ; but as there was but one way of securing the pri^e and saving his own life, Amos de- termined to make one vigorous and final effort, when, loosening one hand, he instantly grasped the stone, 310 HISTOEY OF SALISBURY. while, with Trip's help, he held his victim with the other, and with such a force as his arm alone could give, brought down upon the head of the bear, a blow that produced immediate death. The following sketch, in substance, is furnished by Mr. Whitfield Walker, of Whiting, Yt., and tells something of the character of Col. Thomas Sawyer, as a military man, and illustrates Yermont life in 1778 : Soon after Col. Thomas Sawyer moved to Claren- don, he was elected captain of what was called " minute men," and in 1778, the frontier inhabitants being threatened with danger from Canada, he left his family and hastened to the post of danger. Lieut. Barnum, Corporal Williams, and fourteen soldiers, accompanied him, and their place of destination was Shelburn, Yt. They were all on foot except Mr. Sawyer, who rode a very fine stallion which he brought with him from Massachusetts. It was in the month of January, and the weather was very cold ; the snow was deep, and the distance they had to travel was about seventy miles, in the wilderness all the- way, seldom traversed except by wild beasts and Indians. When within about ten miles of their destination, the men were exhausted with fatigue and want of food, and by their drowsiness and desire to stop and rest, plainly indicated that they were about to resign HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 311 themselves to certain deatli by freezing. Mr. Sawyer remonstrated and told them that if they would go on to a certain point, he would ride on before them and prepare food for them. In the course of a few miles, he reached a shanty in which shingles had been sawed, and waited for his men, who, when they arri- ved and found that they had been deceived, and that no food was in readiness for them, were so much ex- asperated, that it gave them new warmth and energy, which enabled them to reach the place of their desti- nation in safety. At Shelburn, resided a man named Parsons, from New Jersey, whose hospitality they shared, and under whose roof they found shelter. The few families of the neighborhood were anxiously waiting for their arrival, for they had seen indica- tions of danger, which they felt unable to meet single handed. Here Col. Sawyer and his command re- mained seven or eight weeks, watching the enemy and putting the settlement in a better state of de- fence. Indeed they had fears of the presence of an enemy among themselves in the persons of tories, who always were more to be feared than the open enemy. The suspected foe was closely watched for many weeks, until some time in the early part of March, when it was discovered that they had suddenly left. Mr. Sawyer was not slow in accounting for this ab- 312 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. sence, and surmised tliat one Pliilo, a reputed tory, who had gone to Canada on skates, was about to head an expedition against this place. Accordingly all were immediately set at work barricading their house, and when night came on, had made all parts secure, with the exception of one window. The at- tack was made that night, and through that window two men who had stopped and put up for the night, sharing the homely hospitality of the place, were killed at the first fire of the enemy. One of these men was named Woodward, the other Daniels, the father of Dan Daniels of Leicester. As was suspected, Philo had been to Montreal and returned with about forty Indians, who, after the first attack, in which the two men were killed, were met by an incessant fire from the inmates of the house for three-fourths of an hour, through port-holes made for that purpose. During that time the Indians twice fired the house, and Colonel Sawyer ofi'ered his watch as a reward to any one who would extinguish the flames. There was no water in the house, but Mrs. Parsons had been brewing beer that day, and Joseph Williams entering the chamber and breaking a hole through the roof, successfully extinguished the flames with the contents of the beer barrel, under a deadly fire from the savages without. Colonel Sawyer faith- fully kept his word and gave Williams his watch. The HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 813 enemy were finally repulsed and closely pursued, and two prisoners taken ; the enemy also lost one officer and one Indian chief, who were found dead in the field, besides several who were thrown into the lake through a hole cut in the ice. This battle occurred on the 12th of March, 1778, and of those comprising this little band not a man was lost. On the following day Colonel Sawyer buried the bodies of Woodward and Daniels, also of the two men picked up on the field, having first cut from the nose of the Indian chief his jewels, and secured his powder horn and bullet-pouch, as trophies of liis victory. As long as he lived he celebrated that anniversary with military demonstrations. The object of his mission being completed, Col. Sawyer and his men returned to their families, after an absence of nine weeks. Of military afi'airs more immediately our own, un- fortunately no records can be found ; even the mili- tia rolls have been mislaid or lost. But it is a mat- ter of certainty, that the military spirit was of a high and genuine character, at an early day, and that the organizations of military companies were among the first institutions of- the country. To have a well-dis-, ciplined and efi*ective militia in the state, was deemed of the highest importance ; and as soon as a suffi- 26 314 HISTORY OF SALTRBURY. cient number of able-bodied men could be collected together in a new town, they were organized into a military company ; hence there was no need of any very stringent laws to compel attention to these matters. The law allowed any town that enrolled and or- ganized a company of at least twenty men, to have two commissioned officers, a captain and lieutenant, and companies consisting of thirty men or more, to have three commissioned officers, a captain, lieuten- ant and ensign, all of which officers were commis- sioned by the governor. To make up the desired number, two adjoining towns were allowed to unite and form one company ; and it is said that Salisbury and Leicester, taking advantage of this privilege, trained in one company for several years. It is not known exactly how long they continued together, nor is it certain at what time the company was formed — though it is supposed to have been in 1788. The company was organized by the appointment of William Pratt captain, Abe Waterous lieutenant, and Joel Newton ensign. At the resignation of captain Pratt, which was probabl}^ at the time the company divided, each town taking its own men, Joel Newton was chosen to fill his place, while Samuel Pierce, wlio was afterward promoted to the office of lieutenant, was appointed ensign. HISTOKT OF SALISBURY. 31§ A few individuals here have attained some local distinction in the discharge of the duties of their mil- itary office, and have accepted advanced offices in the field, with honor both to themselves and to the com- panies to which tliey belonged. George Griswold was one of the most popular and efficient officers in the brigade to which his battallion was attached ; and after having done good service, resigned his com- mission when a major. James L. Morton, after hav- ing faithfully served in most of the subordinate offi- ces, was promoted to that of brigadier general, in which he served several years, and finally resigned. Various companies have been formed from time to time, which have had their regular days of public training and review, but all appear to have gone out of existence. The military spirit in Salisbury has very much declined, of late, and a military demonstration is now rarely seen within her borders. To show the military enthusiasm which pervaded the town under the influence of major Griswold, it might be added, that the boys between the ages of sixteen and eighteen years, numbering forty-four in all, formed a military company, and organized in due form by the appointment of a captain, lieutenant and ensign. . This juvenile company did regular military service on every training day, for several years, and w^as looked upon as well disciplined in the military 816 HISTORY OF SAIJ8BUEY. movements. By express invitation from the regular company, they formed on the left in the battallion, where they displayed columns and performed the va- rious field evolutions with the utmost good order and promptness. Their only uniform was a badge upon their hats, while their arms were wooden guns. They were highly complimented for their good behavior and ready action, and were finally dismissed, in 1805. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 317 CHAPTEE XXIY. BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL. The following biographical and genealogical sketches are necessarily very meagre, but the collection of even what is here presented has been attended with a great deal of labor. And the author must plead his own want of time and other inability, in excuse for the im- perfection of the following notices, many of which are of men whose character and works are worthy of a more extended account. Of professional men not already noticed, among the first in town was Henry *S. Wateriiouse, M. D., an adopted son of Eleazer Claghorn, and by him was educated. He studied medicine w^ith Dr. John Hor- ton, of this town, and settled in Malone, 'New York, in 1808. He became quite an eminent surgeon, and was called to the professorship of surgery in the Uni- versity at Burlington, Vermont, in 1825. On account of failing health, in 182T, he resigned his chair in the university, and, in company with his Bon, went to Florida, where, soon after their arrival, 26* 318 HISTORY OF SALISBUfir. both were drowned when on a sailing excursion in the sea, off Key "West. Horatio Waterous, Esq., another adopted son of Eleazer Claghorn, was educated for the profession of the law, and commenced practice in 1802. In 1808, he moved to the western part of New York, where he died six or seven years afterward. But Dariijs Matthews, M. D., was the first settled physician in Salisbury. He was from Cheshire, Con- necticut, and settled here in 1Y88 or 1Y89. He was a successful practitioner in his profession, and performed other valuable services for the town, among which was the survey of highways. He remained in town but a year or two, when he moved to Middlebury, where he continued the practice of medicine many years. He was appointed clerk of the Supreme Court in 1798, and was called to the office of Judge of Probate in 1801, in which he continued until his death in 1819. He was one of the first members of the corporation of Middlebury College, and was an efficient and useful citizen in Middlebury. In 1809, he moved from Middlebury to Cornwall, which latter town he represented in the state legislature several years. EuFus Kewton, M. D., son of Captain Joel New- ton, turned his attention to the study of medicine, and commenced practice here in 1805. Subsequently HISTORY OF SALISBUKY. 319 he moved to St. Lawrence county, ISTew York, where lie remained several years, but preferring his native town, returned to Salisbury and connected the pur- suit of the farmer with that of his profession. Finally when quite advanced in life, he moved to Rock Island, Illinois, where several of his children had previously gone, in which place he died in February, 1857. E. I^. Bktggs, Esq., son of Levi Briggs, came into this town with his father in 1819. He studied law, and commenced the practice of his profession here, in 1826, in which he continued with good success for many years. Finally he was induced to move to Brandon, where lie still resides, in a successful prac- tice. He represented Salisbury in the General Assem- bly of the state, four years in succession, and was speaker of the house of representatives a number of years. He was also elected a member of the state senate, while a citizen of Addison county, and since his removal to Brandon, has represented that town in the General Assembly and served as senator from Rutland county. He has held many important offices, not only in public but in private corporations ; has been a successful man, both in his profession and in politics, and occupies a high and influential position in the community. Moses H. Ranney, M. D., was born, August 16th, 1814, in Stockbridge, Yt. His early life Avas passed 320 HISTORY OF 8ALI8BUKY. entirely at school, until the age of fifteen years, when he conimenced the study of medicine, with Dr. Dan- iel Huntington, of Rochester, Yt. Having comple- ted the usual term of study, and attended four courses of medical lectures, he graduated at the age of nineteen, at the Berkshire Medical College, in Mas- sachusetts. Pie remained in his native town one year, and then commenced the practice of his profes- sion ill Salisbury, where he resided eleven years. In 1837, he was married to the daughter of Aaron Bur- rows, Esq., one of our oldest and most respectable cit- izens. During his residence here, he was favored with an extensive and lucrative practice for a coun- try practitioner, and was fast arriving at eminence, both in the skill and learning of his profession. But wishing to perfect his knowledge by a personal ob- servation of the nature and treatment of a greater va" riety of diseases than was here brought to his notice, he went to New York and commenced a course of critical observations in the hospitals of that city, which resulted, in a short time, in his appointment to the ofiice of assistant physician in Bellevue Hos- pital, lie had been in this office but a short time, when he was made physician in chief of the New York City Lunatic Asylum, which position he still holds. Dr. Ranney has taken a high rank in his profession, and has received many honors, both of a HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 321 scientific and literary character. He is a member of the Pathological Society, and a Fellow of the Aca- demy of Medicine. His present important and hon- orable position, and the influence he exerts among others of the same vocation, are sufficient evidences of his professional merit. Martik G. Everts, Esq., son of Gilbert Everts, received his classical education at Middlebury Col- lege, and studied law with Hon. Solomon Foot, of Rutland, Yermont, with whom he afterward went into a successful practice. He has represented the town of Rutland several years in the state legislature, and has been elected senator from the county in which he lives, one or two years. When a member of the legislature he has taken a prominent part in the discussion of important questions, and done a good service in both houses. He is a good lawyer, and is now in a successful prac- tice in Rutland. John Protjt, Esq., commenced the labors of his profession in Salisbury, in 1838, where he continued, with an increasing business, nntil August, 1854, when he moved to Rutland, where lie now resides. He re- presented the town several years in the legislature) and rendered it many valuable services during his residence here, by his prudent and careful counsel. Mr. Prout was always a close and accurate student, 322 HISTOKY OF SALISBURY. which, united with his natural talents, have given him a position as a lawyer, much above mediocrity. Olin G. Dyer, M. D., son of Gideon Dyer, com- menced the practice of medicine here, in 1846, but found a more favorable opening in Brandon, to which place he finally moved. He still resides in Brandon, and is favored with a wide and generous patronage. Rev. Samuel Cheney was graduated at Middle- hurj College, in 1840, and studied theology at Prince- ton, jN". J. Preferring a southern field for his labor, he was settled as pastor, over a presbyterian church, in Springfield, Ky. BusHROD Howard, Esq., son of Ellery Howard, studied law, and moved to the west. During the last war, he accepted a commission in the army, and went to Mexico, where he is said to have performed all the duties pertaining to his office, with ability and credit. He afterward located in the practice of his profession in Galena, IlL, where he now resides. Columbus Smith, Esq., son of Joseph Smith, was graduated at Middlebury College, in 1842, and was admitted to the bar of Addison county, about the year 1845, since which time he has been employed in examining and prosecuting for individuals in this country, claims in England and other European countries. Mr. Smith has successfully managed some HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 323 of these claims to the great pecuniary advantage both of himself and his patrons. 'Rky. Albert S. Graves, son of Augustus Graves, was graduated at Wesleyan University, in 1846. Ho studied theology with Kev. Stephen Olin, D. D., and joined the Oneida conference of the M. E. church, at Binghampton, ]N". Y^ in 1847. He has since been settled over churches in Groton, Moravia, Ithaca, Ox- ford, Utica, Cortland, and Auburn, all of the State of ]N"ew York. He is now preaching in Auburn, [N". Y. O. !R. Graves, brother of the preceding, w^as graduated at Middlebury College, in 1855. Since he left college, he has been engaged in teaching. John E. Weeks. M. D., son of John M. Weeks, was graduated at Middlebury College, in 1853, and studied medicine at the University at Albany, N. Y., and at the Medical college, in Castleton, Yt., at which latter institution, he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in 1855. He is now engaged in the prac- tice of his profession in Brandon. George A. Weeks, brother and classmate of the preceding, after his graduation at college, studied law and commenced practice at Milwaukee, Wis., but subsequently left the profession, and is now in l^ew York. In returning to those men who did not lead what is called a professional life, but who perhaps have 324 HISTORY OF SALISBIJRT. performed a no less honorable and important part in the history of our town, it should be further added that, of the sons of Joshua Graves, at least three, Jesse, Simeon, and Chauncey, and probably others, were soldiers in the American service during the Revolu- tionary war, and received pensions in tlieir old age. Joshua, the father, w^as exempted from duty on ac- count of his deafness. He, together with his son Jesse, built the first framed barn in Salisbury in 1783, which stands a little to the east of the late Joseph Smith's dwelling-house. Mr. Graves' descendants, so far as known, are Graves, Ilogsden, Sprague, M'Donald,lN'oyes, Blodget, White, Smith, Itanney, Cook, Gibson, Foster, San- derson, Campbell, Lane, Allen, Taft, Savery, How- ard, London, Goodyear, Black, Reynolds, and Hare.* Gilbert Everts was from Salisbury, Connecticut, and came here in 1786. He w^as one of the original grantees and the only one who came and took posses- sion of his lands. He was a royalist, and of course his political sentiments were adverse to a revolution ; he thought the American people at that time too * These genealogical lists must necessarily have been im- perfect in the first instance, and especially are they so now, since they were made nearly ten years ago. But they may not be altogether devoid of interest and use, and are therefore inserted. — Ed. Ik \^ %^ M i '^-v^^^'^^^<^.^<^ij^^^>(^ HISTOKY OF SALISBURY. 327 weak in population and wealth to throw off the Brit- ish yoke. His descendants are Everts, Bump, Eider, Stewai-t, Brown, Kingslej, Powers, Hamilton, and others. Epheaim Crook came to Salisbury from "West- minster, Yermont, in 1793 and always pursued the business of agriculture. He was a man of strong constitution, which enabled hi4:n to work profitably in his vocation. By his labor and economy he ac- cumulated quite a large amount of property, and as his boys, of whom he had four, grew up, he gave each a farm, and at his death possessed a good one himself. His wife, Fanny, after moving to tliis town, learned the art of midwifery, which she practiced with great success about forty years. She ofiiciated in the exercise of her calling in all the neighboring towns, until prevented from further duty by a can- cerous affection, which terminated her valuable life in 1846. The descendants of the preceding are Crook, Dike, Weeks, Barker, Wooster, Hyde, and Merrill. Samuel S. Crook, one of the sons of Ephraim and Fanny Crook, was born at Westminster, Yermont, January 11th, 1789, and came into town with his father when about five years old. He inherited his father's strength of constitution and habits of industry and economy. His main occupation has been that of a farmer, though he has realized considerable profit 21 328 HISTORY OF SALISBUBY. from his aptitude at trade. About the beginning of the war of 1812, having had the experience of the two or three preceding years in the capacity of clerk in a store, he determined to enter the mercantile busi- ness, and for that purpose bought out the establish- ment of Jacob Linsly at Salisbury village, but after remaining in the business about a year, the bad in- fliiences of the war upon his trade induced liim to relinquish it and return to agriculture. In 1845 and 1846 he represented the town in the state legislature, where he performed his duties with characteristic promptness and prudence. In 1848 he moved into the south part of Middlebury, where he still lives in quiet and ease. Mr. Crook has been a person of unusual activity and energy, and is well known, not only for his busi- ness traits of character, but for his hospitable and generous home. Pic was married in 1816 to Eliza- beth Sheldon, but has no children. Pliny Flagg was from Boylston, Mass., and came here in 1Y84, when about seven years of age. He had several brothers, of whom Solomon and Samuel lived with their mother. Mrs. Flagg, the mother, was a widow, and moved into town among the first settlers. Mr. Flagg was longer a resident of Salis- bury than any other person since its settlement, hav- ing been here sixty-seven years and three months. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 329 He was well known for his industry and economy, and after having accumulated quite a large amount of property, he died in July, 1851. His descendants are Doud, Campbell^ and Hedden* CapTv Joel Newton was from Cheshire, Connecti- cut, and settled in 1784. He was a soldier of the revolution, and drew a pension till his death. He was a wise and good man. JSTo person in town did more, in proportion to his means, for the support of the Gospel, and other public and benevolent insti- tutions, than Captain Newton. He died in 1842, aged eighty-four years. His descendants are New- ton, McWane, and others. Capt. William Pratt was from Easton, Massachu- setts, and was also a soldier of the revolution, and drew a pension. He settled the same year with Cap- tain Newton. His descendants are Pratt, Dewey and Gibson. JosiAH Farnham also settled the sam^ year, and was a revolutionary soldier. He lived to an advanced age. His descendants are Farnham, Graves, Crook, Barker, McVine, Bump, Pond and Ludlum. Abe Waterous was another settler of 1784, and a revolutionary soldier. He was in several battles, among which was the battle of Bennington. He died about 1800. His descendants are Waterhouse, John- 330 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. son, Andrews, Wilcox, Bell, Miles, Daniels, and Langdon. Elisha White, from Lancaster, Massachusetts, and Widow Stephen TIolman, from Sterling, Massachu- setts, also settled in town during the same year.- Tlie descendants of the former are White, Sawyer, Ham- mond, Mead, Cole, Conant, Johnson, Baldwin, Col- vin, Paige, Alden and Ward ; and of the latter, Holman, Wolcott, Smith, Waterhouse, Doty, Prout and others. Elias Kelsey was born in Guilford, Connecticut, and came here in 1785. He w^as the first constable (previous to the time at which the table previously given commences), was on the first committee to lay out roads, and among the first selectmen. He had several sons, of whom Elias, junior, lived in Salisbury sixty-seven years and one month, and died April 28th, 1852. aged seventy-seven. His descendants are Kel- sey, Bradley, Woodcock, Bigelow, Hawley, Allen, Howe, Clark, Stewart, Bly, Actly, Sumner, Lee and many in the western country. Samuel Pierce was a native of Canaan, Connecti- cut, and settled in 1787. He was a revolutionary soldier. He was distinguished for his muscular elas- ticity, and among other feats, would, on level ground, jump over a string stretched six feet above it. His strength, united with other abilities, rendered him a HISTORY OF SALISBFEY. 331 fit person for the office of constable, which he held fourteen years in succession. His descendants are Pierce, Story, Farraud and Chapin. Thomas S avert, from Sutton, Mass., and Henry Kelar, from Orange county, N. Y., settled in 1788, and were both revolutionary soldiers. The former was in the battle at Lexington, Monmouth, and White Plains, and his descendants are Savery, ISTew- ton, Powell, Filly, Cotton, Owen, Holman, and Kem- ington. John Fyfe was a Scotchman, and settled in 1788. He was said to have been in the British service dur- ing the war. However that may be, he was a very useful man among the settlers, for he was a brick- layer, and could work in many ingenious ways. His descendants are Fyfe, Perry, and Hooker. Asa Lawrence was a native of Canaan, Conn., and settled in 1789. He took a prominent part in all transactions of the town. Although a carpenter by trade, he also made carts and wagons, which, especi- ally at that time, rendered him a very useful person in community ; and in addition to his usefulness, he was proverbially honest. He had only one son, Jedediah by name, who, after doing the town some valuable . services, finally settled in Crown Point, K Y. Holland Weeks was from Litchfield, Conn., and 21* 8S3 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. settled in 1789. He received the title to his land from Gov. Wentworth of New Hampshire, in 1785, and came on and made his survey in 1787. In 1788, he moved his team and farming tools, cleared land, built a log house, and made other preparations for moving his family, the following year. Early in 1789, his family were moved into this log house, having made the journey from Connecticut, in seven- teen days. He died of lung fever, Nov. 22d, 1812. His descendants are Weeks, Goodell, Adams, Sey- mour, Burnham, Avery, Sliepherd, Everts, Barker, Merrill, Bump, Rider, Stewart, Brown, Kingsley, Beach, Shumway, Park, Clark, Wilcox, Shelden, Robinson, Bingham, Ellsworth, Hall, Hamilton, and others. Solomon Story, brother of Amos Story, was from Norwich, Conn., and later from Dalton, Mass., and settled here in 1789. After a life of great usefulness, he died, May 22d, 1816, aged ninety years. His de- scendants are Story, Hammond, Raymond, Swan, Chapin, and Farrand. Jonas Story, son of the preceding, came into town with his father, and by hard labor at chopping, clear- ing land, and otherwise, accumulated means sufficient to defray his expenses, while pursuing the studies preparatory to the legal profession. He was, finally, admitted to the bar, and settled in Poughkeepsie, N. HISTOKY OF SALISBURY. 333 Y., where he lived to an advanced age, a respectable and successful lawyer. ' EuFrs Story, another son of Solomon Story, also came to Salisbury with his father, in 1789. He is still living in tow^n, and is one of its oldest and most respected inhabitants. He inherited much of the un- ostentatious worth which characterized his father, and has lived a life which, for its honesty and Christian meekness, and charity, may well be imitated by all. Gilbert Everts, Jr., was a native of Salisbury, Conn., aud came into town with his father, in 1786. He was one of the original members of the congrega- tional church, to which, at his death, he bequeathed the sum of about one hundred and fifty dollars. He was an industrious and exemplary man, and at his death was mourned by a large circle of relations and friends. Eli Smead, a revolutionary soldier, was from Greenfield, Mass., and settled in 1795. Ilis descend- ants are Smead, Long, Sanford, and Stowell. Aaron L. Beach was from Torrington, Conn., and settled in 1790. He died in 1826, aged fifty-seven. His descendants are Beach, Shumway, Park, Wilson, and others. Salati^iel Bump, a revolutionary soldier, was from Oblong, N. Y., and settled in 1790. He was justice of the peace a great number of years, and was sent 334 HISTOKY OF SALISBUET. to the legislature, as town representative, many times. He was a leading man in town, and may well be considered one of its fathers. His descendants are Bump, Beach, Allen, Smith, Capron, Jefferson, Rounds, Elmore, Crook, Hanno, Moses, Paine, Ward, Gibson, Harris, Boardman, Briggs, and Hamilton. Simeon Strong, also a revolutionary soldier, was from Salisbury, Conn., and settled in 1790. His des- cendants are Parsons, Blood, Bump, Moses, Gibson, Paine, Wright, Beach, Gipson, Flagg, Doud, and Parker. Abnek Moke was from Whittingham, New Hamp- shire, and settled in 1793. His descendants are More, Jenney, Bishop, Tubs, Carr and Gipson. Daniel Whitney, a revolutionary soldier, was last from Westminster, Yermont, and settled in 1793. His descendants are Whitney, Eggleston, Brown, Griffin, Hadlock, Carr and Gipson. Daniel ISToyes, another soldier of the revolution, was a native of Sudbury, Massachusetts, and settled in 1794. His descendants are Noyes, Powers, Lahee, Hare, Reynolds, Wright, Barns, Brown, Ivneeland, Carlisle, Holiday, Ingerson, Field and Briggs. John Deming, was from Canaan, Connecticut, and last from Middlebury, Vermont. lie moved to Salis- bury village in 1794, and took possession of the water power that he had previously purchased of Colonel HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 335 Thomas Sawyer. He carried on the business of black- smith, and kept a store for a number of years, but finally, in 1807, moved back to Middlebury. His descendants are Deming, Walker, Paine, Curtis, Tripp and Green. Ethan Kelsey was a native of Killingsworth, Con- necticut, and moved his family into town in 1795, but made his home mostly in Whiting, and was dea- con of the Congregational church in that place. His descendants are Kelsey, Foster, Taylor, Graves, Holt, Barker and Ludlum. John Holt, a soldier of the revolution, was a native of Woburn, Massachusetts, and settled in 1795. He was one of the original members of the Congre- gational church, and one of its first deacons. His descendants are Holt, IS'oyes, Tharp, Weller and others. LrNAH Titus was from Attlebury, Massachusetts, and settled in 1795. His descendants are Titus, Hil- dreth. Payday, Pratt, Kemington and Beach. Samuel Taylor was from Eastham, l^ew Hamp- shire, and also settled in 1795. His descendants are Taylor, Gorham, Barker, Bump, Elmore, Eaton, Car- penter, IToyes, Banno, Crook, Brown, Carlisle, Inger- son, Holdridge, Ballard and Sturdevant. Joshua Moosman was from Erenchtown, Massa- chusetts, and moved his family to Salisbury in 1798. 836 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. He was in the revolutionary war ; was present at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was carried away captive by the Indians, at Crown Point, New York. His descendants are Moosman, Bidwell, Chafee, Strong and Mead. Reuben Saxton was a native of Kortliampton, Massachusetts, and settled in this town in 1799. The first year of his residence here, he was elected town clerk, which office he held for twenty-nine succes- sive years. He was justice of the peace about the same length of time, and represented the town six years in the state legislature. He was one of the most thorough business men the town has ever possessed ; he took a leading part in all public transactions, and did much for the support of education and religion. In 1837, he sold out his property here, and left town, to the great regret and sorrow of a large community of friends. He died in the autumn of 1850. Mrs. Anna Weeks, mother of Holland Weeks, senior, was born in Pomfret, Connecticut, and came to Salisbury in 1799. From about 1760, she had practised in the calling of midwife in her native state, and on arriving here, again entered upon the duties of the same vocation, which she performed with remark- able success. She officiated at the birth of more than a thousand children, and rarely, if ever, was unsuc- cessful. Mrs. Fanny Crook learned the obstetric art HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 337 of her. She always rode on horseback and made her visits alone, even at the advanced age of eighty- six, and was extensively employed until her death, which occurred in the latter part of 1805. Samuel Daniels was from Upton, Massachusetts, and settled here in 17Y5. By the compromise with Leicester in 1796, his farm w^as brought within the limits of that town. He was a revolutionary soldier, and, as has already been stated, was killed by the Indians and tories at Shelburne in 1778. He had two sons, Dan and Samuel, the former of whom remained among us and still resides on the old place in the south part of the town. Among his descendants are Daniels, Story, Gibson, and Forbes. Solomon Thomas w^as last from Chittenden, Yer. mont, and settled here about the year 1800. He settled in the eastern part of the town, where he pur- sued the business of a farmer until his death. His descendants are numerous and mostly retain the family name. Marrying cousins or distant relations has been a peculiarity of the family, thus giving no great variety to the descendants' names. Christopher Johnson a revolutionary soldier, was a native of Harrington, Connecticut, and moved into the town- in 179^. His descendants are Johnson, Smith, Jewett, Sherman, Wheeler, Waterons, Cap- ron, Tripp, and Barrett. 338 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. George Griswold was from Salisbury, Connecticut, and came here in 1800. In the revolutionary war he was a servant to Captain Eleazer Claghorn. Mr. Griswold was a useful citizen and wielded a great and beneficial influence wherever he went. He was kind, generous, and peace-loving, and when he died was mourned by all who knew him. His death occurred in 1811, and was caused by a wound in the knee, re- ceived while cutting a bee tree. William Copeland was born in Pomfret, Con- necticut, and settled in 1800. He was an ingeni- ous mechanic and worked at wheels and plows. His descendants are Copeland, Cad well. Carpenter, Bancroft, Tucker, Griffith, and Mead. GuRSHAM Beach was a Yirginian, and came here in the year 1800. He was in the service of his country most of the time during the revolutionary war, was with Ethan Allen at the taking of the fort at Ticon- deroga, was present at the capture of Burgoyne, and was in the battle of Ilubbarton. He fell through the ice when crossing a pond in Canada East, in 1812, and was drowned. His descendants are Beach, Thomas Blanchard, Woodard, Graves, Goodyear, Savery, Lou- don, Howard, Emerson, Eoot, Washburn, Ford, Mar- tin, Brown, and Gibbs. Nathaniel R. Field was from Tolland, Connecti- cut, and moved to Salisbury in 1804. He married HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 339 Ruth E"oyes, and followed the trade of a tailor nearly all his life. He now resides with his son in Brandon. His descendants are Field and Brio^o^s. Joseph Hubbard was born in Windsor, Connecti- cut, and came here in 1805. He was a very pious and exemplary man, of the sect known as Freewill Baptists, and was licensed to preach. His descendants are Hubbard, Thomas, Beach, Hollister, and Kilburn. Jonathan Wainwright was from Cheshire, Con- necticut, and moved into this town in 1805. He was a teamster in the revolutionary war. His descendants are Wainwright, Wooster, Hyde, Dyke, Sessions, Thomas, Severance, Emerson, Beckwith, Barber, Spaulding, Smith, Beardsly, Guernsey, Pray, Howe, Northrop, and Wheeler. Ellery Howard was last from Jamaica, Vermont, and settled here in 1806. He was a cloth-dresser by trade, and followed the business of that calling sev- eral years, but finally commenced tavern-keeping, in which he has continued to this day. Mr. Howard has kept a public house in Salisbury village nearly fifty years. His descendants are Howard. Jabez Spencer came into Salisbury from New Ha- ven, Connecticut, in the year 1807. He was also a revolutionary soldier. His descendants are Spencer, Adams, Ames, Bush, Smith, Phelps, and Barker. John Morton w^as a native of Middleborongh, Mas- 28 34:0 HISTORY OF SALISBUBY. sachusetts, and brought his family to this town in 1807. He was in the revolutionary war, and though only a boy, was engaged in the skirmish with the British at the burning of New Bedford, and was out with tlie troops in Khode Island and other places, in times of alarm. When Mr. Morton came here, the military company appeared to be losing its strength and discipline, for want of proper officers ; and he being an efficient man, and having had some military experience in the war, was urged to accept the ap- pointment of captain, and did so. After serving faithfully and acceptably in this office two or three seasons, he resigned, and was chosen captain of a large company of Silver Grays, formed, of old revolu- tionary soldiers and others, both from Salisbury and Leicester, for the purposes of defence if necessary, in the war of 1812. Captain Morton called this company together, con- sisting of seventy-seven men, beside officers, and went to meet the British at Plattsburgh, at the memorable battle at that place, in 1814. He lived to the ad- vanced age of ninety-four years, and died December 23d, 1857, and was buried on Christinas day — the day of his birth. His descendants are Morton, Wel- lington, Dyer and Haight. Jacob Chase is a native of Newburyport, Massa- chusetts, and came to Salisbury in 1806, when a HISTOIiY OF SALISBURY. 341 young man. Having learned the business of iron making, lie was unsettled for a few years, obtaining employment at different places, but at last became a permanent settler here, in 1811. He has been a leading man in the business of iron making, in Salisbury, for more than forty years. Possessing much more than or- dinary physical strength and hardihood, he was pecu- liarly fitted for the labors of his calling. He spent two years in the service of his country, in the war of 1812, in which he received a severe wound, by which he was disabled for quite a long time. He has drawn a pension of ninety-six dollars per annum, since 1814. Mr. Chase's business as a bloomer, led him, in early life, into the habit of drinking ardent spirits quite freely ; and for many years he had the peculiar repu- tation of being able to drink more rum, without its disturbing his equilibrium, than any other person who indulged in that dangerous habit. To use his own words, " he could no more be made drunk, than the distillery itself." But when the temperance re- form commenced among us, he was early found among the reformed, and took a very active part in the temperance meetings. His great-grandmother, on his mother's side, was an Indian woman, from the Mohawk tribe. His descendants are Chase, Estee, Dow, Lamphier, and Jennings. Moses Sheldon was from Salisbury, Connecticut, and moved to this town in 1810. He married a 342 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. daughter of Samuel Keep. His descendants are Sheldon, Case, Johnson, and James. Samuel Keep was also from Salisbury, Connecticut, and was one of the original grantees of the town. He first settled in Crown Point," New York, about the year 1773, and being well acquainted with the forts both at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, was one of Ethan Allen's advisers in taking the fort at the latter place in 1775. In order to obtain a more perfect knowledge of the fort at Ticonderoga and of its guards, he made pretence that his cow had strayed and could probably be found grazing somewhere near the camp ground, and accordingly he was allowed to pass the guard. After making a full survey of all the place, he lost no time in giving Allen the benefit of all his discoveries, which greatly assisted in the plan for the taking of the fort immediately after. Mr. Keep afterward feeling it unsafe for his family to remain here during the revolution, movxid back to Salisbury, Connecticut, where, until the close of the war, he was employed in casting cannon for the American army. After he came to this town he im- mediately engaged in the business of iron making, and superintended the erection of forges. He was Colonel Sawyer's first bloomer. It is said that while he was engaged in the war he received a captain's commission. He died in Brandon, in the year 1802, aged seventy-one, but was buried by the side of other HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 343 deceased relatives in the burjing-ground of District No. 1, in Middleburj. Asa Blodgett was from Litchfield county, Connec- ticut, and settled in the first place in Middlebury, on the farm owned by the late Ira Stewart. Sub- sequently, he moved to Salisbury, and lived on the farm now owned by F. L. Dyer. This was at quite an early day, though the exact date is not known. Mr. Blodgett never took any active part in town matters, but was satisfied with his quiet employments at home.* * If all the truth must be told of Mr. Blodgett, it must bo added, that he was a very profane man and inclined to treat all religious exercises with contempt. He used to say he never prayed {prayered, as he expressed it), but once, and that was when a bear caught him. The circumstances were these : Jesse Graves being greatly annoyed by bears crossing the creek to his corn-field, undertook to stop their depredations by setting a spring-gun in the road they most frequently passed. The gun had not been set many days before it was discharged by a very large bear as she was entering the field. The ball only wounded the animal, which turned back the way she came, and, having crossed the creek, crept under a log on the western bank and lay down to rest. Meantime Blodgett, having heard the report of the gun, has- tened to the spot, and finding marks of blood on the ground and bushes followed on and crossed the creek, making pursuit in such haste, that as he jumped over the log under which the 28* 344: HISTORY OF SALISBURY. Levi Briggs was from Middleborough, Massachu- setts, and settled here in 1819. He brought up his children in usefulness, one of whom has already been noticed. His second son, Levi, was constable and deputy-sheriff many years; and the third, Sumner, has filled many town offices with credit, among which is that of town representai;ive and trustee of the pub- lic money. Stephen Hard was one of the first settlei's, both in point of time and influence, but the exact time of his moving here is not known. He represented the town in the legislature of the state in 1788, and was one of its first selectmen. He was also town clerk and constable, and held the office of justice of the peace about twenty years. He was twice married and had about bear lay, he came down directly upon her. She, already in- furiated by the wound she had received, seized her pursuer by one of his legs and held him fast. Blodgett having no means of self-defence, stooped down to liberate his leg from its un- pleasant fastening, when the infuriated bear seized upon his arm near the shoulder with her teeth, holding him in a stoop- ing posture, while with her hind feet she commenced tearing away the seat of his trowsers, at the same time inflicting sun- dry wounds in those quarters. It was at this stage of the affair that Blodgett was said to have prayed. About this time his dog also arrived, which so diverted the attention of the bear, that Blodgett escaped, and went home to bind up his wounds. During thi.« conflict he also received a wound in the face, the scar of which he carried to the end of his life. HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 346 twenty children, most if not all of whom lived to the age of maturity. He finally left town about the year 1811 or 1812. His descendants are very numerous, but have all moved from town. Meagre as the foregoing sketches are, the writer yet remembers the names of at least a hundred individuals, all heads of families and most of them early settlers, of whom he can give little or no account ; and many of them perhaps equally as worthy of notice as some of the preceding. Among them was James Bradley, who first held the office of town treasurer, in which he continued as long as he remained in town, and Eliphaz Perkins, a man of great worth, both as a physician and citizen. There were also families of whom no mention has been made, bearing the name of Chipman, Reynolds, Johnson, Huntley, Buel, Suth- erland, Richardson, Sherman, Phelps, Rossiter, Hors- ley. Church, Case, Chamberlain, "VVells, Baker, Hil- dreth, Ellsworth, Sterling, Fuller, Merifield, Lyon, Hawes, Stephens, Bailey, Taylor, Alden, Race, Beebe, Golden, Polmatiei-, Codman, Jiarkin, Lakin, Skeele, Chafee, Kilburn, Sprague, McDonald, McCombie, Austin, Goodenough, Porter, French, Pattison, Lang- ly, Cheney, Fitch, Linsly, Toby and many others. Many ^f these died during their residence here, while others left town. The preceding tables show some of the acts of a few of them, while the history of most must ever remain unwritten. 346 HISTORY OF SALISBUBY. COIN'CLUSIOK Among the suggestions arising from a review of the foregoing pages, not the least are those which relate to tlie character of the settlers. The institutions which they established, the habits they cherished, and the works they performed, tell what they were and for what they lived. Being in the greater part emigrants from Connecticut, and of Puritan descent, they brought v/ith them that vigilant care for the morals of their people which had characterized their ancestors. And although the conduct of those from whom they derived their religious opinions had been somewhat marked by intolerance, yet when they arrived among the wilds of a new country, where the closer bonds of commun- ity were greatly needed, a liberal feeling of general brotherhood sprang up, leaving the restraints and prejudices of religious differences far in the dis- tance. It mattered not so much who their teacher might be, if he but taught the plain, practical lessons which their circumstances seemed to demand. ■. They understood well that the secret by which New England had been made prosperous and free, was in HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 347 an early attention to the instructions, both civil and religious, of the people and youth, and that to perpet- uate these blessings to later days, they must establish churches and schools. Hence the establishment of a church and school was among the first of their works. Weak and imperfect as these were, and strangely as the meagreness of the advantages they afforded, con- trast with the more generous gifts and privileges of later years, there is in them a native intelligence, and order and solidity which all must admire. Whatever the settlers established, seemed to re- ceive the impress of their own character ; all their works suggest the idea of permanence, sobriety, and hard reality. And in giving form and fashion to their works, the women performed no inferior part, by their example and teaching, by their industry, economy, and virtue, they manifested that same seri- ous determination and steadfastness of purpose. They were satisfied with a poor and humble home, and re- joiced in the labor of their own hands, if it but con- tributed to the comfort and prosperity of their fami- lies. They had rational and adequate ideas of the duties devolving upon them, as daughters and wives. They did not look upon marriage as a thing of social speculation, and dependent for its joys upon the ad- ventitious surroundings of the person whom they hap- pened to marry, but believed it their duty to be to 348 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. their husbands, really and truly helpmates, to enter with him into the battle of life, to temper its asperi- ties and " gild its darkness, if dark it must be, by the light of their patience and the constancy of their de- votion." The spirit of such examples may well be imitated in all ages and in all places. Society then had no cliques or exclusive circles, to engender prejudice and ill will; all met on a com- mon level. In a semi-circle, before the immense fire- place, heaped with glowing logs, sat the old and young, and often the stranger and the friend, the host and the guest. There, with thoughts reaching back to the homes and hearts they had left, " looking each at each," they were strengthened and encour- aged by a mutual sympathy. There, before their glowing hearths, they spent many of their long win- ter evenings, teaching their children the ways of use- fulness and right, or cheerily laying plans for the future. Always industrious, both by necessity and habit, they imparted to the community a character of stern ability to meet difficulty, which no other circumstan- ces could have produced, and by a studied economy, laid tlie foundation of general prosperity and wealth. In their labors was the beginning of all our present possessions; they cleared the forests; they opened the path for us ; " they fought the battles." By an HISTOEY OF SALISBUKY. 349 impulse derived from them, we still move on, as an arrow moves, onward and upward, even after the bow which gave it force and direction, is broken and laid in the dust. Pleasant as it is to contemplate them in their rus- tic simplicity and enjoyment, we can but congratu- late ourselves that our circumstances are not like theirs. To wish ourselves back in the good old times of our fathers, is unenterprising and subversive of that element of progress for which they so earnestly strived. It would be a wild and fanatical choice, to exchange the power of steam and improved machi- nery, and railroads, and the higher intellectual and social culture of our times, for the narrow conveni- ences and limited advantages of early days. But we can study the example of our fathers with profit, and while admiring their perseverance and steady, sober enthusiasm, imitate whatever of good we may find in them, either of character or thought, or high aspira- tion. "With impressions and associations like these, and with feelings of the tenderest regard for the earth con- secrated by the ashes of our parents, we have under- taken, and so far completed a history of Salisbury. To some, without doubt, it will seem that we have raised certain topics to a prominence poorly in keep- ing with the brevity observed in other places, on sub- 850 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. jects of equal importance. To these it can only be answered, that every person has his own idea of the important and interesting features of a history, and that, in many instances, brevity has been compelled from a want of facts, which, though diligently sought, could not be found. We have endeavored to give an impartial and correct account of the leading facts of the town, from the time of its first settlement. It is true that the notices of many men, for want of mate- rial, are exceedingly meagre and inadequate, while others of no little usefulness and influence have been passed over in silence. But a great part of the histo- ry of any town or nation, is its unrecorded part; only its leading facts are written; indeed, many a good man's unvaried life, affords less points on which a biographer can touch, than that of another of far less merit, but which has been full of events. And now, 80 far from having any written history, many a man of unpretending worth sleeps within the bosom of Salisbury, without even a monument to mark his resting place. To those, if there are any such, who are disposed to cavil at the minuteness of particulars in the foregoing pages, no better answer can be offered, than that of a distinguished annalist: — "If any tax me for wasting paper with recording these small matters, such may consider that small commonwealths bring forth mat- mSTOKY OF SALISBURY. 351 ters of small moment ; the reading whereof, yet, is not to be despised by the judicious, because small things, in the beginning of natural or politic bodies, are as remarkable as greater, in bodies full grown." 29 352 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. MEMOIK OF JOHN M. WEEKS. John M. Weeks, son of Holland Weeks, was bom in Litchfield, Connecticut, May 22d, 1788, and came with the rest of his father's family to Salisbury, when a little more than a year old. Being the youngest of a family of ten children, placed in the wilds of a new country where the most rigid economy and perseve- ring labor were necessary to a livelihood, he was early accustomed to all the privations of the settler's life, and was taught lessons of self-denial which he applied with great profit in later years. The years of his minority were spent in assisting his father in clearing and cultivating the farm, and in such other labors as belonged to the more rude ag- riculture of that period. During this time he formed a decided proneness for study and literar}^ pursuits, and greatly wished for the advantages of a classical education ; but in this, he was denied, for the want of pecuniary assistance — his father being a man of lim- ited means, and having already sent two of his sons to college. But, notwithstanding the circumstances HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 353 which opposed his wishes, he obtained as good an ed- ucation as the lower schools of his boyhood days wonld aiFord, and studied some of the classics, under private instruction from his brothers. At this time he commenced the practice of private study, which 60 much . characterized all his subsequent life. De- ploring the scantiness of the time allowed him for his favorite pursuits, he felt the necessity of using to the best advantage what was granted to him, and early adopted the sentiment of Seneca as a motto — " That it is a virtue to be covetous of time ;" and the principle of his motto he carried into all the works of his life, of whatever kind he undertook, and enjoined it upon all over whom he had any influence. •'''^At his father's death he bought out the several in- terests of his brothers and sisters in the old home- stead, and entered in his own right and responsibility, upon the pursuits of the agriculturist, in which he continued, as his principal business, until his death. In making so extensive a purchase, he incurred a very heavy debt, which hung like an incubus over liim du- ring quite a large portion of his life. In an excess of anxiety to relieve himself of this debt, soon after it was incurred, he seriously undermined his constitu- tion, in- too severe and protracted labors, and suffered all his life from the frailties caused by them. He never was able to enter, in person, into the more ar- 354 HISTORY OF SALI8BUKT. duous labors of the farm ; but, by an orderly plan and distribution of his work, and by a careful oversight of his men, he accomplished none the less. On the 19th of February, 1818, he was married to Harriet Prindle, of Charlotte, Yermont, by whom he had five children — two daughters and three sons — of the latter of whom, the oldest, Charles II., died !N"o- vember Yth, 1854. Kemembering the disappointments in his early en- deavors for his own intellectual culture, he spared no pains in aifording his children such means of improve- ment as lay within his reach. He rendered their home attractive to them by an abundance of books of all kinds, serious, scientific and amusing, together with many of the best periodicals of the day. He undertook to render the family circle a pleasant and sacred place, and for this purpose cherished the re- fining influences of music and " some of the kindred arts, in a limited way, and added the sanctities of daily Christian worship. Although an advocate of the strictest family discipline, he discarded the obsolescent principle of his ancestors, that children should have almost no sports at all, and that a grave countenance alone was consistent with religion. Fond of good humor and fun at times, himself, he took no offence at it in others. He always cultivated habits of close observation. HISTORY OF SALISBUBT. 355 and took pleasure in philosophizing on what he saw. From a long and critical observation of the nature and habits of the honey-bee he was led to the inven- tion of the " Yermont Bee-hive," which was patented 1836. This w^as the first improvement on the old- fashioned hive (in which the honey was obtained at the sacrifice of the bees), and was rapidly introduced into most parts of the United States. It was exhibited at the American Institute, in [N'ew York in 1839, and received the award of a silver medal from that insti- tution. It was successfully and almost exclusively used everywhere, until other inventors sought the same field with other hives, which, though of very similar principle, were sufficiently novel to claim a patent of their own. But even now, after all the changes in bee-hives, and the great number of them in use, the old Yermont hive meets the eye of the traveler as often as any other. The same year this patent w^as granted, Mr. Weeks published a small treatise on the instincts and habits of the honey-bee. This book he subsequently revised and enlarged in several succeeding editions, nntil more than twenty thousand copies were sold without satisfying the pub- lic demand. It is believed that this treatise has been of great service to the apiarian ; indeed its utility has been well proved in its rapid sale, and in the fact, that when the author's own last edition was exhausted, 29* 356 HISTOKY OF SALISBURY. it was reprinted both in the United States and in England. Again, in 1841, he secured letters patent on eight different classes of hives, embracing, in addition to the principles of the old patent, many new ones, among which were those of the canal bottom-board, the col- lateral boxes, and the subtended hive. These hives never received so extensive a patronage as the former, but were used with success and profit bj their in- ventor as long as he lived. They were in some respects better adapted to the uses of the amateur in the apiary than to the hurried and imperfect care or- dinarily observed among our people in the manage- ment of bees. These patents never resulted in any very great profit to their owner ; on the contrary, they were a prolific cause of vexation, as most patent rights are. A person of some eminence has said with much truth, " A patentee in the United States is re- warded with strifes and lawsuits, that is all." But Mr. Weeks in most instances preferred to suffer an in- fringement of his right, and submit to many othec sacrifices in his business, rather than undertake the vexations and nncertainties of legal proceedings ; and he always felt that he had received a sufhcient reward in the conscionsness of his services to the community in this matter, and in the recreation afforded liis leis- ure hours in observation and experiment in his apiary. HISTOKY OF SALISBUKY. 357 Of his religious education and habits much might be said of interest and of profit. Surrounded as he was, during all his early years, by teacliers of Puritan descent, he was early imbued with the principles pe- culiar to their order, and, as the foregoing pages of this book show, took an unusual interest in all the early religions movements in town. But, believing that stated rites and services had an influence in per- petuating Christianity, which the teaching of abstract truths alone could not equal, and wishing to hold and commit to his descendants a rule of faith less [liable to change, he was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church at Middlebury, in 1833, and lived in its communion all the remaining years of his life. In addition to the goodly example of his daily walk and conversation, the record of his own private jour- nals shows, that at no time was he unmindful of the high and important duties imposed upon him by his Christian profession; short, ejaculatory prayers, ex- pressions of thankfulness, and renewed resolutions of perseverance in following the example and precepts of his Blessed Master, are beautiful and significant tokens of his Christian character. But although he repudiated the form and doctrine of the. Puritan Church, he was a great admirer of those characteristics of his ancestry, which, in so res- olute and single a manner, led to the establishment 358 HISTOEY OF SALIbBUET. of those institutions, and to the acquirement of those traits and habits which have given New England so much intelligence and strength. lie was fond of an- tiquities, and took great pains to collect the genea- logical facts of his own family. He always took a great interest in the celebrations in commemoration of the first landing of the Pilgrims upon the New England shore, and participated with pleasure in the festivities of the Middlebury Historical Society in honor of that anniversary. In fact, it was at the sug- gestion and request of that society that he undertook the work of the foregoing pages. Having been a resident of Salisbury fi-om his in- fancy, and thus made personally acquainted with most of the early settlers, and having an unusual in- clination to historical research, both general and local, he was peculiarly fitted to gather together the long- forgotten facts of early years and " write them for a memorial in a book." The histor}^ he prepared is by no means perfect, and will be of only local inter- est or use ; but, embracing as it does, all the leading facts of tiie town, it is not very incomplete, and taken all together, rescues from oblivion a vast number of interesting facts, which, lying only in the memory, would in a short time have been utterly lost. With- out attempting any great literary merit he succeeded in all particulars in accomplishing what he undertook, HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 359 -svliich was simply to preserve to posterity the leading- facts and prominent cliaracteristics attending the early settlement of the town. In his occupation as farmer he acted on the plan of experiment and science. Gladly profiting by the ex- periences of others, he was fond of investigating for himself, and even to the end of his life was experi- menting in new adaptations of soil and seed, in seek- ing new sources of fertilization, and extending his inquiries into all the progressive features of agricul- ture. He entered heartily into the spirit of all move- ments calculated to promote improvement in stock and all the various products of the farm. He took an early and useful part in establishing the Addison County Agricultural Society, and for many years made quite extensive contributions to its annual ex- hibitions. He earnestly strove, so far as he was able, to make agriculture a progressive and intelligent work, and for this purpose took pains to make known to others whatever he had learned by his own observa- tion and experiment. For many years he was a con- tributor to the best agricultural papers in New England. After an experience of many years in the dairy he gave the results of his observations to the press in occasional letters, which were extensively copied in the agricultural papers throughout the United States. His articles on field-crops, bees, 360 HISTORY OF 6ALISBUKT. and other kindred topics have met with genemj favor. He was often called to fill important offices of trust, to which he was well adapted by temperament, judg- ment, and honesty. Commencing with the execut-' orial ofiice in the settlement of his father's estate, in the course of his life he was officially interested in the settlement of more than sixty diff'erent estates, in a large part of which he acted as executor or adminis- trator. He also stood in fiduciary capacities in many other instances, as guardian or trustee, many of which offices he held to his own pecuniary disadvan- tage and sacrifice. In town matters he always took a lively interest, and yet never was the recipient of the highest offices in its gift. His usefulness in town was felt more in the quiet office of counselor, than in those more com- monly sought by the ambitious. And yet he filled many important offices, for many years in succession. He took more than an ordinary interest in the welfare of the town in which he lived, as may be seen in the faithfulness with which he performed the duties im- posed upon him by it, from time to time, and in the motive which suggested the labor of the foregoing pages. Indeed, the words of his own preface tell well and truly the spirit which dictated the work, " Wishing to the inhabitants of Salisbury that pros- HISTORY OF SALISBURY. 361 peritj and happiness which results from a cultivated mind, industrious habits, refined manners, pure mor- als, and religious principles." In the autumn of 1853, while on a visit to iS'ew York, he was suddenly called home by tlie ilhiess of his wife, who, after a month of severe suffering, died on the 24th day of October, of that year. Suddenly deprived of the society and sympathy of one who had so long faithfully served at the domestic hearth, and given life and joy to thefamily circle, he sought to beguile the time of its weariness by a more close ap- plication of his thoughts in reading and study. Du- ring the following winter, he became greatly inter- ested in the history of the " Five Indian Nations ;" and after a very extensive and painstaking research among the doings of those savages, he wrote a history of them, together with an examination of the claims against the state of Vermont, by the Seven l^ations of Canada calling themselves Iroquois. This history is yet in manuscript ; but for interest of adventure, an- ecdote, and general historical detail, is well WTjrthy of publication, and v^iould undoubtedly elicit a more gen- eral interest than any other production of its author. Again, in the fall of 1854, he was afflicted in the death o'f another member of his family, which, in con- nection with the almost constant absence of his other children from home, rendered his situation exceed- 362 HISTORY OF SALISBURY. ingly lonely, and ill adapted to one of liis advanced years. This induced him to contemplate a second marriage ; and finally, on the 6th day of January, 1856, he was married to Mrs. Emily Davenport, of Middlebnry, Yermont, who did much to give comfort and happiness to his few remaining years. At last, in the latter part of August, 1858, after having passed the previous summer in unusual good health and activ^- ity, he was suddenly prostrated by a disease to which he had long been subject, and after a short illness of one week — early in the morning of the first day of September — was gathered to his fathers. The time and circumstances of his death were beau- tifully in keeping with his character and age. " Nothing in his life Became him like the leaving it." It was at the close of a pleasant summer ; the labors of the yearly harvest were done ; the ripened grain was gathered to the garner ; and lie, after a goodly life of three-score years and ten, before the dawn of the autumnal day, bade adieu to tbe summer and the the earth, and went to his everlasting rest. THE END. THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE TO SO CENTS ON THE FOURTH DAY AND TO $1.00 ON THE SEVENTH DAY OVERDUE. NOV 22 I:. . . 9]un'60Ge Rc:.C'D !_U .IIJN 5 1960 MAY 1 fi 1968 3 1 ncfr'P'iVFri REw&»veo l^Y50'68-SPl 1 , ^ 1 g ^ I ^ i 1 s ? ^ > o S CD ^ . ^ - i 1 LD21-100m-12,'43 (87968) THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY