History of Eastern Vermont, etc

Preface

. When, six years ago, I began to make researches for tbe purpose of ascertaining at wbat time the first settlements were made in Vermont, on the banks of the Connecticut river, by the whites, it was my intention, if I put pen to paper, to write but a small book, and to treat only of the southeastern portions of the state. As I continued my investigations, I became convinced that it would be very difficult to carry out this plan in an intelligible manner, without introducing into my contemplated work much that would appear too general for its narrow limits. At the same time, I discovered that the disputes in which New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont were so long engaged respecting the jurisdiction of the latter state, exerted an influence at the time, which told on the progress and development of every town and village and hamlet in Vermont.

I then sought for some publication containing a clear and full statement of these disputes. My search was unrewarded. I found that the Natural and Civil History of Vermont, by the learned Dr. Samuel Williams, was more particularly devoted to the discussion of questions of a scientific nature, and to a general account of the condition of the northern frontier of the United States, than to a specific description of the settlement and growth of Ver mont. I found that the Natural and Political History of the State of Vermont, prepared by Col. Ira Allen, while in London, and printed at a London press, abounded in inaccuracies, and was only minute in the narration of affairs with which the author had been connected. I found that the Descriptive Sketch of the Present State of Vermont, by Dr. John Andrew Graham, was little else than a collection of unreliable, gossiping, entertaining letters, written more for self-gratification than to subserve any worthy or permanent interest.

In the carefully collated History of Vermont, Natural, Civil, and Statistical, by the late Prof. Zadock Thompson, I found the evidences of thorough research and patient investiga-

PREFACE.

. VI tion, and much information illustrative of the natural resources of Vermont. Failing in these efforts to find a clear statement of the subject on which I desired light, I judged it necessary to extend my own examination to sources hitherto undeveloped, and to accompany whatever I might write with an outline sketch of the jurisdiction al controversy already referred to, that so the reader might not be ignorant of the causes which led to the internal commotions with which Vermont was for many years afflicted. Becoming con vinced that the connection between the early history of the towns in the southeastern part of Vermont, was much closer than I had anti cipated, I determined to enlarge my work so as to include in it the annals of the old counties of Cumberland and Gloucester. Having reached this stage in my proceedings, I was led to fix the western limit of my historical bailiwick at the Green Mountains, the natural division of Vermont.

In the pages that follow, I think I have rescued from oblivion many facts which the lover of American history will rejoice to know. The work, it is true, is local, but in it are described the character and deeds of a people who were pioneers in the march of civilization, patriots in the day of danger, useful citizens in the time of peace. In the preparation of this volume, I have collected a mass of unedited materials, from which the task would be com paratively easy, to construct a history of the whole state. Such a history should contain, not only a narrative of all the warlike events which have occurred within the limits of Vermont, but a full account, also, of the controversy for jurisdiction, which began in 1749 and closed in 1791 ; of the skilfully designed but unsuccess ful diplomatic efforts of the British government in Canada, for more than two years previous to the peace of 1783, to reduce Vermont to the condition of a Crown dependency; of the struggles of Vermont for her own separate independence ; and of the manner in which, un aided by Congress, she maintained her name, her rank, and her honor unsullied, until admitted into the Union as a sovereign state.

Should an interest be hereafter awakened in the minds of the citizens of Vermont, to know more of the thoughts and acts of their virtuous, manly, and independent ancestry — an ancestry which I am proud to claim as my own — I shall not deny myself the pleasure of aiding in increasing that knowledge. By far the largest part of this volume has been prepared from papers which have never before been consulted for their historic value. In the offices of the Secretaries of the states of Vermont New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut thorough and critical examinations have been made of the docu ments and papers which are there preserved. The twenty-three

PREFACE.

. VII large volumes, called the " George Clinton Papers," which have been lately added to the New York State Library, at Albany, have been diligently consulted, and from them has been drawn much information that has never until now been made public. The letters and memoranda contained in these well arranged and carefully indexed volumes are invaluable to the historian, not only of New York but of Vermont also. To the Hon. William C. Bradley, of Westminster, a statesman, a lawyer, and a man of letters, whose learning and ability have for a half century been the boast of his native state, I would make my grateful acknowledgments for the many personal recollections and family papers he has placed at my service, without which, indeed, this work would have been incomplete in many particulars. From the Hon. James H. Phelps, of West Townshend, I have received much aid and encouragement, and many MSS. of importance relating to the part which his ancestors bore in the intestine struggles that so long disturbed the peace of the state.

For these manifestations of his kindness, and for the active interest he has ever evinced in the success of my labors, I own my obligation. I would also express my appreciation of the value of the assistance I have received from the Hon. Ferrand F. Merrill, of Montpelier, the Hon. William M. Pingry, of Bethel, and other citizens of Ver mont, whose services I may not have elsewhere acknowledged. To the skilful pencil of Larkin G. Mead Jr., Esq., of Brattle borough, I am indebted for the drawings from which have been engraved several of the illustrations which adorn the work. I cannot but indulge a hope that not only those who still remain among the hills and valleys of their native state, but those also who have wandered from the old roof-tree to find a home in the different sections of the Union, may receive some gratification from the perusal of the history of their ancestors. Troy, N. T., July 30th, 1867. CONTENTS.

Chapter II

Conflicts with the Indians, ....... 25 CHAPTER HI. Frontier Life, 53 CHAPTER rV The French War. Town Settlements, .... 81

CHAPTER V.

First Settlements, 104

CHAPTER VI.

Organization of Cumberland County, 128

CHAPTER VII.

Progress of Organization, . . . . . . . 159

CHAPTER VIII.

Legislation of the New York Colonial Assembly. Evidences of a Revolutionary Spirit, . . . . 187

CHAPTER IX.

The " Westminster Massacre," X CONTENTS.

CHAPTER X.

paos The First Years of the Revolution, 242

CHAPTER XI.

The Formation of the State of Vermont, . . • • 281

CHAPTER XII.

Opposition to the Government of Vermont, . . • 308 CHAPTER XIH. Conflict of Jurisdictions, 332

CHAPTER XIV.

Continuation of the Dispute. The Burning of Royalton, . 367

CHAPTER XV.

Enemies Within and Without, 400

CHAPTER XVI.

The Civil Sustained by the Military Arm, . . . . 427

CHAPTER XVII.

Attempts to Obtain the Interference of Congress, . 456

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Disordered Condition of the South-Eastern Portion of Vermont, 485

CHAPTER XIX.

The End of Resistance, 514

CHAPTER XX.

The Admission of Vermont into the Union, . . . 541

CHAPTER XXI.

Early Laws of Vermont. Indian Inscriptions, . . . 5gg BIOGRAPHICAL CHAPTER. Stephen Row Bradley, _ Paul Brigham, Crean Brush, Thomas Chandler, John Chandler, Thomas Chandler Jr., CONTENTS. XI PAOB Elkanah Dat 640 Samuel Fletcher, 640 Samuel Gale, 643 John Grout, 650 Lot Hall, 658 Thomas Johnson, . 666 Joseph Kellogg, 669 Samuel Knight, 673 Luke Knowlton, 675 Joseph Lord, 677 William Paterson, 678 Charles Phelps, 679 Solomon Phelps, . . . ... 691 Charles Phelps Jr., 692 Timothy Phelps, 693 Noah Sabtn, 694 Noah Sabln Jr., ...... 697 Paul Spooner, 698 Jonathan Stearns, 699 Mioah Townsend, ■ . 700 Amos Tutb, 706 Royall Tyler, . 708 Samuel Wells, 718 Daniel Whtpple 725 JOSIAH WrLLARD, 726 Josiah Wlllard Jr. 727 William Williams, 728 Azariah Wright, 730

Appendix

A. The Equivalent Lands, 735

APPENDIX.

B. Renewal of the Treaty, 736

APPENDIX.

C. Township Number One, 738

APPENDIX.

D. Proprietors of Westminster, 739

APPENDIX.

E. The Fight at John Kilburn's Fort, 739

APPENDIX.

F. Proprietors of Westminster, 742

APPENDIX.

G. Division of Cumberland County into Districts, . . • CONTENTS.

APPENDIX.

H. Pi0. Census of January 16th, 1771, ?45

APPENDIX.

I. The " Westminster Massacre," 746

APPENDIX.

J. Opinions respecting a Separation from New York, . . 755

APPENDIX.

K. The Recompense in Lands, 157

APPENDIX.

L. Division of the $30,000, 761 LIST OF THE CIVTL AND MILITARY OFFICERS OF CUMBERLAND AND GLOUCESTER COUN- TIES, ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Sartwell's Fort, 26 Commemorative Stones, 65 The Grave op Mrs. Jemima Tute, ...'.... 76 The Grave op Caleb How, 77 Court-House at Westminster, 185 The Westminster Meeting-House, 211 The Grave op William French, 214 Fac Simile of the Signature of Thomas Chandler, . . . 217, 633 " " " " WILLIAM Paterson, . . . 218, 678 John Norton's Tavern, 221 Fac Simile of the Signature op Thomas Chandler Jr., . . . 235, 638 " " " " Henry Evans, .... 487 " " " " William Shattuck, ... 487 " " " " Timothy Church, .... 488 Indian Sculptures, 587 Indian Sculpture, 587 Locality of the Sculptures, 588 " Indian Rook," 590 Stephen Row Bradley, 593 Fac Simile of the Signature of Stephen Row Bradley, . . 593 '• " " " Paul Brigham, .... 602 Crean Brush, 603 Fac Simile of the Signature of Crean Brush, .... 603 " " " " Elkanah Day 640 " " " " Samuel Fletcher, .... 640 " " " " Samuel Gale, .... 643 " " " " John Grout, 650 " " " " Lot Hall, 658 " " " " Samuel Knight, .... 673 « " " " Joseph Lord 677 " '• " " Charles Phelps 679 " " " " Timothy Phelps, .... 693 " » " " Noah Sabin, 694 " » " " Noah Sabin Jr., .... 697 " « " " Paul Spooner, .... 698 « » « " MlCAH TOWNSEND, .... 700 Royall Tyler, '708 Fac Simile of the Signature of Royall Tyler, . . . • f 08 « " " « Samuel Wells, .... 718 " « » « William Williams, . . • « " " " Azariah Wright, ....

CHAPTER I. FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

Early Divisions of Eastern Vermont— Cumberland County — Gloucester County — Champlain's Voyage— Squakheag or Northfield — Philip's Wars — Indian Incursions — King William's War — Burning of Deerfield — The March to Canada — Attempts of the English to reduce Canada — Port Royal .captured — Treaty of Utrecht — Equivalent Lands — Great Meadow — Order to build a Block House above Northfield — Timothy Dwight — Fort Dummer — Its Defences — Indian Soldiers — Chaplain — Joseph Kellogg — Scouting Parties — Skirmishes — Peltry Trade at Fort Dummer — Journal of James Coss — Rev. Ebenezer Hinsdell — " Scaticook" and Caughnawaga Indians — Treaty at Fort Dummer. Vermont is divided into fourteen counties. Of these Windsor and Windham, situated in the south-eastern part of the state, comprehend nearly the same territory that under the government of New York was known, during a part of the last century, by the name of Cumberland county.

This county was the first established in Vermont, then called the New Hamp shire Grants, and probably received its name from Prince William the Duke of Cumberland, who in 1746 met with distinguished success in opposing the rebels in Scotland. Its boundaries, as declared in the act of establishment passed by the Legislature of the province of New York, on the 3d of July, 1766, were described as " beginning at the west bank of Connecticut river, opposite to where the division line between the province of the Massachusetts Bay comes to the aforesaid river ; thence running on a direct line, about twenty-six miles, to the south-east corner of the township of Stamford ; from thence, on a direct line, about sixty miles, to the north-east corner of the township of Rutland ; thence north, thirty-one degrees east, eighteen miles ; thence easterly, to the north-west corner of the township of Linfield ;* thence easterly, along the north side of * Now the township of Royalton. [1766-1781. 2 HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT. the townships of Linfield, Sharon, and Norwich, to Connecticut river aforesaid ; thence, along the west bank of the said river, to the place of beginning."

When the subject was brought before the Lords of the Privy Council, in order that the " royal approbation or disallowance" might be signified, the King, on the 26th of June, 1767, de clared the act of the New York Legislature by which the county of Cumberland was established, void, and the Governor of the province of New York was ordered to act in accordance -with this decision. Numerous applications were now made to the Crown for a new charter, and the inconveniences to which the inhabitants of the disfranchised county were subjected, through the want of a due administration of justice, were plainly set forth. In consequence of these representations, the King, on the 19th of March, 1768, re-established the county of Cumber land, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Province of New York, within the following limits : — " Beginning at a point on the west bank of Connecticut river, opposite to where the line run for the partition line between our said provinces of the Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, touches the east side of the same river, and running thence west, ten degrees north on a direct line about twenty-six miles to the south-east corner of a tract of land called Stamford ; thence north, about thirteen degrees east on a direct line fifty-six miles to the south-east corner of the township of Socialborough in the county of Albany, in the south bounds of a tract of land formerly called Rutland ; thence north, about fifty-three degrees east on a direct line thirty miles to the south-west corner of the township of Tunbridge ; thence along the south bounds thereof and of Stratford and Thetford about eighteen miles to Con necticut river aforesaid, and thence along the west banks of the 6ame river to the place of beginning."

By an act of the Legislature of New York, passed March 24th, 1772, the boundaries were again changed, as will appear from a description of the limits then constituted. " Beginninc on the west bank of Connecticut river opposite the point where the partition line between the colonies of the Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, touches the east side of the river, and extending from thence north eighty degrees west until such line shall meet with and be intersected by another line proceedinc on a course south ten degrees west from the north-west corner of a tract of land granted under the Great Seal of this colony, on 1*766-1*781.] EAELT DIVISIONS OF THE STATE. 3 the 4th day of September, 1770, to James Abeel, and nine other persons, and extending from the said point of intersection, north ten degrees east until such line shall meet with and be in tersected by another line to be drawn on a course north sixty degrees west from the south-west corner of a tract of land granted under the Great Seal of this colony, on the 13th day of November, a.d. 1769, and erected into a township by the name of Royalton, and running from the last-mentioned point of intersection south sixty degrees east to the west bank of Connecticut river, and so down along the west bank of the river, as the same river winds and turns to the place of begin ning."

On the 1st of April, 1775, other alterations were made, and the western portion of the county was so extended as to be bounded by a " line, beginning in the north boundary fine of the province of Massachusetts Bay, at the south-west corner of the township of Readesborough, and running thence along part of the westerly bounds thereof, to a certain tract of land, granted to George Brewerton, Junior, and others, and erected into a township by the name of Leinster; thence along the southerly and westerly bounds of the said tract of land, to the north-west corner of the same ; thence on a direct course to the south-easterly corner of the township of Princetown; thence along the easterly bounds of the same tract, as it runs to the north-easterly corner thereof ; and thence on a direct course to the southerly corner bounds of the township of Hulton, where it meets with and is intersected by the west boundary line of the county of Cumberland, as established" by former acts.

By this change, the townships of Readesborough, and what are now Searsborough, Somerset, and Stratton, were added to Cumberland county. At the first session of the General Assembly of Vermont in 1778, the state was, on the 17th of March, divided into two counties. The territory lying on the west side of the Green Mountains was called Bennington county, and that on the east side, Unity county. The latter name was on the 21st of the same month changed, and that of Cumberland was substituted. By an act of the Legislature, passed February 11th, 1779, the division line between these two counties was fixed. Com mencing at a point in the south line of the province of Quebec, fifty miles east of the centre of the deepest channel of Lake Champlain, it extended south to the north-east corner of the [1766-1781. 4 HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT. town of Worcester, and along the east lines of Worcester, Middlesex, and Berlin, to the south-east corner of the latter town ; thence on a straight line to the north-west corner of Tunbridge, and on the west line of Tunbridge to the south west corner of that town ; thence in a straight line to the north west comer of Barnard ;* thence on the west line of Barnard and Bridgewater and the east line of Shrewsbury to the south east corner thereof; thence west to the north-east corner of Wal lingford ; thence south on the east lines of Wallingford, Har wich,t Bromley,^: Winhall, and Stratton, to the south-east corner of the latter, and west on the south fine of Stratton to the north-west corner of Somerset ; thence south on the west line of Somerset to the south-west corner thereof; thence east to the north-west corner of Draper ;§ thence soutli on the west lines of Draper and Cumberland! to the north line of Massa chusetts.

Cumberland county was bounded on the south by the north line of Massachusetts, on the east by Connecticut river, and on the north by the south line of the province of Quebec. In the laws of Vermont, passed October, 1780, the county of Cumberland, as just described, was referred to as being divided into the half-shires of Cumberland and Gloucester, the division line between them being nearly identical with the northern boundary of what is now Windsor county. By an act of the General Assembly of Vermont, passed in February, 1781, " for the division of counties within this state," the county of Cum berland, as established in 1778 and 1779, was subdivided into the counties of Windham, Windsor, and Orange. Connecticut river being the eastern boundary, and the division line on the west from Quebec to Massachusetts, remaining as fixed in February, 1779, all the land south of a line " beginning at the south east corner of Springfield, thence running westerly on the south line of said Springfield and Chester to the east line of Bennington county," was erected into the county of Windham.

The land included between the north line of Windham county, and the north lines of the towns of Norwich, Sharon Royalton, and Bethel, was called Windsor county. Orange county comprehended all north of this to the Quebec line. Various changes have since been made in the limits of Wind- * In the printed act Bradford. Barnard was undoubtedly intended. ■*• Now Mount Tabor. X Now Peru. § Now Wilmington. j Now Whitingham. 1766-1781.] 5 EAELY DIVISIONS OF THE STATE. ham and Windsor counties, by the addition of towns, and from other causes which it will be of but little benefit to record here. After the second establishment of Cumberland county by New York in 1768, immigration to the " Grants" increased, and the north-eastern part of that territory became the abode of a mixed and heterogeneous population.

The more peaceable and intelligent portion of the inhabitants, being desirous of a county organization, presented their request to the Council of New York, and on the 16th of March, 1770, an ordinance was passed, establishing as a separate county, by the name of Gloucester, " all that certain tract or district of land, situate, lying, and being to the northward of the county of Cumberland, beginning at the north-west corner of the said county of Cumber land, and thence running north as the needle points fifty miles ; thence east to Connecticut river ; thence along the west bank of the same river, as it runs, to the north-east corner of the said county of Cumberland on the said river, and thence along the north bounds of the said county of Cumberland to the place of beginning." On the 24th of March, 1772, by an act " for the better ascer taining the boundaries of the counties of Cumberland and Gloucester," these limits were changed, and thenceforth Glou cester county was bounded " on the south by the north bounds of the county of Cumberland ; on the east by the east bounds of this colony ; on the north by the north bounds thereof ; on the west, and north-west, partly by a fine to be drawn from the north-west corner of the said county of Cumberland, on a course north ten degrees east, until such line shall meet with and be intersected by another line proceeding on an east course from the south bank of the mouth of Otter creek, and partly by another line to be drawn and continued from the said last men tioned point of intersection, on a course north fifty degrees east, until it meets with and terminates at the said north bounds of the colony."

After the establishment of Vermont as a " separate and independent" jurisdiction, the counties of Cumberland and Glou cester, by an act of the Legislature, passed March 17th, 1778, were merged under the name of the county of Unity, which name was changed to Cumberland on the 21st. This large county, comprising the whole of Eastern Vermont, was subdi vided in February, 1781, and Windham and Windsor counties [1609. 6 HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT. were established with limits nearly identical with those by which they are now bounded. At the same time, the re mainder of the territory east of the mountains, and extending to the Canada line, was formed into a county by the name of Orange. From Orange county, Essex and Caledonia counties and a portion of Orleans county were taken on the 5th of November, 1792.

At a later period other encroachments were made by the formation of Washington county ; and thus, by gra dual curtailment, Orange has been reduced to its present limits. It will be seen by the boundaries which have been recited, that much doubt prevailed as to the true western line of Cum berland and Gloucester counties. Certainty on this point is of but little consequence, except geographically, as the events which form the History of Eastern Vermont were mostly confined to the towns lying east of those composing the most western tier.* The territory now comprising the state of Vermont, although noticed by Champlain in his voyage in 1609, when he discovered the lake that bears his name, was probably never visited by him. In the account which he gave of the explora tion of Lake Champlain, passing reference is made to the Green Mountains and to the plains which lie at their foot.

" Con tinuing our route along the west side of the lake, contemplating the country, I saw," said he, " on the east side very high mountains capped with snow. I asked the Indians if those parts were inhabited. They answered me, yes, and that they [the inhabitants] were froquois, and that there were in those parts beautiful vallies, and fields fertile in corn as good as I had ever eaten in the country, with an infinitude of other fruits, and that the lake extended close to the mountains, which were, according to my judgment, fifteen leagues from us. I saw others to the south not less high than the former ; only that they were with out snow." This is undoubtedly the first information on record in regard to the scenery, condition, and inhabitants of Vermont and like the accounts which were generally given by the Indians to the early travellers in the New World, contains, in some * Book of Council Minutes, 1751-1768, xxvi. 442: also, 1764-1772, xxix. 250 Act of 12th George III., in Laws of New York, 1691-1773, Van Schaack's ed pp. 698-700.

Act of 15th George IIL, in New York Colony Laws, 1774 1775' pp. 127, 128. Acts and Laws of General Assembly of Vermont, February ll' 1779, p. 7. Also, those of February, 1781, p. 1. Brattleboro' Eagle, June 10 185o' and September 27, 1849. Slade's Vermont State Papers, pp. 294, 295. 1672-1675.] Philip's wab. 7 particulars at least, the usual amount of exaggeration and fancy.* Owing to the comparatively small immigration, and the difficulties incident to a new and dangerous mode of life, settlements did not extend very rapidly ; and it was not until more than sixty years had passed, that any settlement was made within the territory which Champlain described, either from the lake side or from the banks of Connecticut river. In the year 1672, a township was granted to John Pyncheon, Mr. Pearson, and others, at Squakheag, afterwards Northfield, on Connecti cut river, and in 1673, a few people removed there from North ampton, Hadley, and Hatfield.

The township was laid out on both sides of the river, and inclosed an area of six miles by twelve, extending several miles into the present states of Ver mont and New Hampshire, and including a valuable tract of interval land. The northern boundary of Massachusetts being undetermined at that time, the whole of this town was supposed to be within that province.f For several years preceding the settlement of Northfield, the Massachusetts Indians had carried on a war with the Mohawk tribe who dwelt on the banks of the river of that name in the province of New York. As the English extended their boundaries, the enmity of the Indians towards one another seemed partially to abate, and centre upon those whom they regarded as their natural foes. The war of Philip, which raged most fiercely during the latter part of 1675, was characterized by the savage ness and determination with which the red man hunted the white, and the white man, in turn, attacked the red.

To detail the events of this period, would be foreign to the purpose of this work, as it woidd involve the recital of acts but little connected with the history of the territory afterwards known as Vermont. It may not, however, be out of place to refer to some of the in cidents which occurred within the limits of Northfield. Philip, having made an attack upon Swanzey, on the 24th of June, * Doc. Hist. N. Y., iii. 6. f " A deed to William Clark and John King, of Northampton, agents for the pro prietors of Northfield, covering the grant, was made August 13th, 1687, by Naw clet, Gongegua, Aspiambelet, Addarawanset, and Meganichcha, Indians of the place, in consideration of ' two hundred fathoms of wampum, and fifty-seven pounds in trading goods.' It was signed with the marks of the grantors, and wit nessed by Jonathan Hunt, Preserved Clap, William Clark, Jr., Peter Jethro, Jo seph Atherton, and Israel Chauncey."

Korthfield Town Book in Hoyt's Indian Wars, pp. 77, [1675. 8 HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT. 1675, deserted Mount Hope, his favorite retreat, and was immediately pursued by Capt. Benjamin Church, and others, con spicuous as leaders at that time. With the removal of Philip, the scene of the war was changed from the neighborhood of Plymouth ; and Lancaster, Marlborough, and Brookfield, towns in the more inland parts of Massachusetts, soon began to suffer from the incursions of the Indians. After they had burned Brookfield, a large military force was stationed at that place, under the command of Major Simon Willard, and the country adjacent being thoroughly scoured by detached parties, the Indians fled westward and joined their allies at Deerfield. Small garrisons were now posted at Northampton, Hatfield, Deerfield, and Northfield ; and Hadley was made " the English head-quarters for this part of the country."