THETFORD. by John Chamberlain, from Hebron, Ct. "Old Quail John was the first that came on, TINMOUTH. | very deep, and in summer falls 2 or 3 feet. It contains large quantities of perch and other fish. The road passes between the pond and the river. A small vein of galena, or the sulphuret of lead, has been discovered here. The mine is situated about 100 rods northeasterly from the meeting house, on the south side of a hill. The surface of Thetford is uneven, and in some parts rocky. There are in town three small villages, two of which are situated on the Ompompanoosuc, and the other near the centre of the township. The latter is the most important, and contains a meeting house, an academy, a tavThe first meeting of the proprietors ern, several stores, and a number of hand, held in this township, was at the house of some dwelling houses. Thetford AcadeAbner Chamberlain, May 10, 1763. The my was incorporated and established here town was not organized till 1763, and Ab-in 1819. The average number of scholars ner Howard was the first town clerk. is from 40 to 50. There are in town 17 The Congregationalists are the most nu- school districts, a small woollen factory, merous denomination of Christians. Their &c. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 476; first settled minister was the Rev. Clem- cattle, 2,256; sheep, 13,604; swine, 1,ent Sumner. He graduated at Yale Col-351; wheat, bus. 3,635; barley, 1,020; lege in 1758, settled at Keene June 11th, oats, 19,710'; rye, 2,499; buckwheat, 2,1761, was dismissed April 30, 1772, and 289; Ind. corn, 15,628; potatoes, 58,957; installed at Thetford in 1773. He became hay, tons, 4,978; sugar, lbs. 21,288; wool, a tory at the commencement of the war, 25,798. Population, 2,065. went to Swanzey, N. H., where he became a Universalist preacher, and continued such till his death. From the time of Sumner's leaving Thetford till the arrival of Dr. Asa Burton, in 1778, the church was without a pastor. Dr. Burton was born at Stonington, Ct., August 25, 1752, came to Norwich with his father in 1766, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1777, read divinity with Pres. Wheelock, commenced preaching at Thetford in 1778, was ordained there in Jan., 1779, and continued there till his death, on the 1st of May, 1836, at the age of 84 years. The Congregational society has a meeting house situated in a village near the centre of the township. There has been a Baptist church organized here, but it is small. This township is watered by Ompompanoosuc river, which runs through it in a southeasterly direction, and by a large branch, which rises in Strafford and unites with the Ompompanoosuc in the south part of the township. Both these streams afford fine mill privileges. About half of Fairlee lake lies in the north part of the township, and there are several smaller ponds. One of these covers about nine acres, and is situated in the eastern part, about four rods from the west bank of Connecticut river, which is in this place more than 100 feet above the level of the river. It is fed by no stream, nor is there any stream issuing from it. It is * Allusion is here made to the Governor of Con pecticut. TINMOUTH, a post town in the central part of Rutland county, is in lat. 43 27 and long. 4o 2', and is bounded north by Clarendon and Ira, east by Wallingford, south by Danby, and west by Wells and Middletown. It lies 41 miles north from Bennington, eight south from Rutland, and was chartered September 15, 1761, to Joseph Hooker and others, containing, originally, 23,040 acres. Its size has since been reduced, by contributing to neighing townships, about one third. The settlement was commenced here about the year 1770. Among the first settlers were Thomas Peck and John McNeal. This town was organized March 11, 1777, and Charles Brewster was the first town clerk. On the 17th of February of this year the inhabitants of Tinmouth had a meeting and "voted not to raise money towards paying Seth Warner's regiment." Soon after, the following oath of allegiance was imposed upon the freemen of this town. "You each of you swear, by the living God, that you believe for yourselves, that the King of Great Britain hath not any right to command, or authority in or over the States of America, and that you do not hold yourselves bound to yield any allegiance or obedience to him within the same, and that you will, to the utmost of your power, maintain and defend the freedom, independence and privileges of the United States of America, against all open enemies, or traitors, or conspirators whatsoever; so help you God." The TINMOUTH. TOPSHAM. TOWNSHEND. Congregational church, which was for sugar, lbs. 19,555; wool, 10,759. Popu- TOMLINSON. Name altered to Grafton, October 31, 1791. See Grafton. TOPSHAM, a post town in the north part of Orange county, is in lat. 44° 8' and long. 4° 45', and is bounded north by Groton, east by Newbury, south by Corinth, and west by Orange. It lies 19 miles southeast from Montpelier, and 47 north from Windsor. It was chartered June 17, 1763. The settlement was commenced about the year 1781, by Thomas Chamberlain, Thomas McKeith and Samuel Farnum. In 1783 they were joined by Robert Mann, Samuel Thompson and John Crown; and, in 1784, by Lemuel Tabor. The first settlers were generally from New Hampshire. Lemuel Tabor built the first saw mill here in 1784, and the first grist mill in 1787. The town was organized March 15, 1790, and Lemuel Tabor was the first town clerk, which of fice he held 33 out of the 34 succeeding years. It was first represented in the general assembly, in 1801, by William Thompson. The religious denominations are Congregationalists, Freewill Baptists, Baptists, Universalists and Methodists. The Rev. Stillman Morgan is minister of the Congregational church, Elders William and Eber Sanborn of the Baptist, and Elder A. Shipman of the Freewill Baptist. A town house, which has been occupied as a meeting house, was erected here in 1806. The township is watered princi pally by the head branches of Wait's river, several of which are considerable mill streams. The surface is very uneven, and much of it stony. The rocks are principally granite. The timber is maple, beech, birch, spruce and hemlock. There are in town 17 school districts and school houses, 7 saw, 2 fulling and 4 grist mills, 1 carding machine, 2 stores, and 3 tanneries. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 350; cattle, 2,591; sheep, 6,111; swine, 1,457; wheat, bus. 5,576; barley, 470; oats, 18,215; rye, 164; buckwheat, 487; Ind. corn, 5,653; potatoes, 63,179; hay, tons, 4,294; sugar, lbs. 31,645; TOWNSHEND, a post town in the central part of Windham county, is in lat. 43° 3' and long. 4° 24', and is bounded north by Grafton and Athens, east by Athens and Brookline, south by Newfane, and west by Windham, Jamaica and Wardsboro'. It lies 28 miles northeast from Benning. ton, and 12 northwesterly from Brattleborough; and was chartered June 20, 1753, containing, originally, about 23,000 acres. In 1840 the town of Acton was annexed to it. The first settlement was TOWNSHEND. TROUT RIVER. TROY, commenced in 1761, by Joseph Tyler, cinity, who were to hold themselves in who was soon joined by John Hazletine, readiness to march at the beat of the whose mother lived to the age of 104 drum. His whole company volunteered, years, and others, from Upton, Ms. The and in 1777, they marched to Ticondefirst town meeting was on the 30th of roga for the purpose of relieving the May, 1771. Joseph Tyler was the first American army, which was there betown clerk. The religious denominations sieged. On this expedition, with 13 volare Congregationalists, Baptists, Metho- unteers, he attacked a British detachment dists and Universalists. The Rev. Mr. of 40 men, killed one and took seven prisDudley was the first settled minister. He oners, without sustaining any loss himwas ordained over the Congregational self. He soon after received a Major's church June 26, 1777, and dismissed about commission, and continued in the service the year 1780. This church, having be- till after the capture of Burgoyne. After come extinct, was reorganized in 1792, his return, he rose through the different and then consisted of 15 members. The grades of office to that of Major General ministers since that time have been the of militia, which office he held six years. following: Rev. Luke Whitcomb from He was several years member of the exAug. 30, 1815 to his death, Jan. 2, 1821; ecutive council, and, in 1788, was apRev. Philetus Clark from Nov. 21, 1821, pointed high sheriff of the county of to July 6, 1824; Rev. James Kimball from Windham, which office he held 18 years Jan. 13, 1825, to Oct. 6, 1830; and Rev. successively, and he was three years a Horatio N. Graves, the present minister, judge of the county court. He died Sep. who was settled Feb. 3, 1833. The pres- tember 15, 1814, aged about 70 years. ent minister of the Baptist church is the The surface of this township is generally Rev. Wm. D. Upham, who has been set-uneven, and many of the hills are high tled here 3 or 4 years. There are two and steep. West river runs through the buckwheat, 893; Indian corn, 7,946; potatoes, 41,488; hay, tons, 4,178; sugar, lbs. 10,460; wool, 17,276. Population, 1,515. villages, whose post office designations township in a southeasterly direction. It are Townshend and West Townshend. is a very rapid stream, and is about ten The former is a flourishing village, con- rods in width. Along its banks are some taining a Baptist and Congregational fine tracts of intervale. There are also meeting house, the former built in 1838, several brooks, which afford good mill the latter in 1790, 3 stores, a number of seats. The town contains 9 school dismechanics' shops, and about 40 dwelling tricts and school houses, 2 grist, 1 fulling houses. The Leland Classical and Eng- and 4 saw mills, 4 stores, 2 taverns, 1 trip lish School is located here. It is a flour- hammer, and 2 tanneries. Statistics of ishing institution. The building is of 1840.-Horses, 326; cattle, 2,669; sheep, brick, 54 feet by 36, together with a large 8,890; swine, 1,055; wheat, bus, 2,025; boarding house for the accommodation of barley, 116; oats, 8,936; rye, 1,823 ; the pupils. In the west village is a meeting house, built in 1816, but no settled minister. There are now living in this township two persons who are between 90 and 100 years of age. Among the early and distinguished inhabitants of this township may be mentioned the late Gen. Samuel Fletcher. He was born at Grafton, Mass., in 1745. At the age of 17 he enlisted as a soldier in the contest between the British and French colonies, in which service he continued one year. On his return he learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed about four years, when he married a young lady with a handsome property, and, resigning the sledge, removed to Townshend to wield the axe among the trees of the forest. In 1775 he joined the American standard at Bunker's hill, with rank of orderly sergeant. He returned to Townshend in January following, where he was made a captain of militia. He was, at this time, principal leader in the county convention, and was ordered, as captain, to raise as many minute men as possible in his vi TROUT RIVER, is formed in Montgomery, by the union of south and east branch, the former rising in Avery's gore, and the latter in Westfield. The junction is formed about half a mile west of the centre of the town, from which the river takes a northwest course, and, after run ning about four miles, passes through the northeast corner of Enosburgh, into Missisco river near the south line of Berk shire. Trout river receives, in its course, a number of tributary streams, affords several valuable mill privileges, and fertilizes a handsome tract of intervale. The Rev. Mr. Gray, an Episcopalian clergyman, was drowned in attempting to cross this river to attend a funeral, during a remarkable freshet in the fall of 1822. He was a man respected and beloved, and his loss was much lamented. TROY, a post town in the north part of Orleans county, is in lat, 44° 55' and long, TROY. TUNBRIDGE. 4° 36', and is bounded north by Potton, part of Orange county, is in lat. 43° 54' Can., east by Newport, south by Lowell, and long. 4° 32', and is bounded north by and west by Westfield and Jay. It lies Chelsea, east by Strafford, south by Roy47 miles northeasterly from Montpelier. alton, and west by Randolph. It lies 30 This township is eleven miles and a half miles north from Windsor, and 26 southlong from north to south. The length of east from Montpelier. It was chartered the north line is nearly five miles, and Sept. 3, 1761, to Abraham Root, Obadiah that of the south nearly two, and the Noble, and others, containing 23,040 atownship contains about 23,000 acres. cres. The settlement of the township This township was granted in two sepa- was commenced about the year 1776, by rate gores. The south part was charter- James Lyon, Moses Ordway and others, ed to John Kelley, Oct. 13, 1792, and the emigrants from New-Hampshire. James north half to Samuel Avery. The settle- Lyon, jr., was born January 25, 1780, and ment was commenced about the year 1800, was the first child born in town. The by emigrants from different towns on Indians passed through the township, at Connecticut river. During the late war the time they visited Royalton, and took with Great Britain, most of the inhabi- one or two prisoners here. The town tants left the town. A part of them, how was organized in March, 1786, and A. ever, returned after the war, and the set- Stedman was first town clerk. The town tlement has since advanced with consid- was first represented in 1787, by Seth erable rapidity. The town was organized Austin, who was also the first captain of March 30, 1802, and was then called Mis- militia and the first justice of the peace. sisco. Curtis Elkins was the first town About this time the ingress of inhabitants clerk. This township is well watered by was so great that grain could not be proMissisco river, which runs through it cured for their support, and they were renear the western border from south to duced almost to a state of starvation. north, and by several of its tributaries. Since that time the inhabitants have been The falls, on the Missisco, in the north generally blessed with a competency. part, are a considerable curiosity. Here The religious denominations are Congre the river precipitates itself down a ledge gationalists, Freewill Baptists, Methoof rocks about 70 feet. these falls and dists and Universalists. The first settled the deep still water below, present a grand minister was the Rev. David H. Willisand interesting spectacle, when viewed ton. He was ordained over the Congrefrom a rock, which projects over them, gational church, June 26, 1793, and dis120 feet in perpendicular height. The missed in 1802. The Rev. Jacob Allen soil is in general a strong loam, suitable September, 1813, and dismissed in 1821. for grass and most kinds of grain. The The Rev. Joseph Thatcher, the present surface is generally level, and along the minister was settled in April 1838. The river are tracts of intervale of considerable Congregational church was organized extent and fertility. The principal rocks Feb. 5, 1792. In 1836 and 7 the society are chlorite and mica slate, serpentine, built a new meeting house, which was limestone and steatite. About 10 years dedicated June 14, 1837. April 19, 1838, ago an immense mass of iron ore of an this building was consumed by fire. A excellent quality was discovered in this new house was, however, immediately town a short distance to the eastward of erected which was dedicated July 25, Missisco river. A furnace and forge have 1839. This church consists of 52 membeen erected, which produce annually bers. The Methodists have a good brick about 400 tons of cast iron, and several meeting house at the lower village, built tons of wrought iron. The quantity of in 1833. The Freewill Baptists have ore is inexhaustible. The timber is most-one in the easterly part of the town built ly maple, birch, beech, spruce and hem-in 1808. Their minister is the Rev. Geo. lock, with some pine. There are here 3 Hacket. A union house was finished at post offices, denominated Troy, North the upper village in 1840. The meeting Troy, and Troy Furnace, around each of house near the centre was built in 1797, which is a small village. The town con- and is now principally used as a town tains 8 schools, 4 saw, 3 grist and 2 ful- house. There are three small villages ling mills, 4 stores. Statistics of 1840.- situated on the first branch of White rivHorses, 195; cattle, 1,066; sheep, 2,995 er, called the Centre, the Upper and Lowswine, 632; wheat, bus. 923; barley, 132; er village, of which the Centre is largest, oats, 6,592; rye, 511; buckwheat, 1,336; containing 1 meeting house, 2 stores, 1 Ind. corn, 1,886; potatoes, 30,880; hay, tavern, 1 grist, 1 saw and 1 fulling mill, tons, 2,192; sugar, lbs. 19,066; wool, 5,- trip hammer &c., also 1 clergyman, 1 at. 944. Population, 816. torney and 1 physician. Among the instances of longevity may be mentioned TUNBRIDGE, a post town in the south 12. VERGENNES. that of Daniel Hunt, who died here aged portion of the township is very uneven. 100 years, Daniel Hopkins, who died here The timber is principally hard wood, inin 1818, aged 100 years, and Mrs. Mary terspersed with spruce and hemlock. The White, who died in 1822, aged 95 years. streams are all small. The most imporThis town has never experienced any re- tant are the head branches of Brown's markable season of mortality. The town- river, which rise in the south part. The ship is watered by the first branch of town contains 8 school districts and school White river, which runs through it from houses, 10 saw mills, 2 stores and I tavern. north to south, near the centre. There Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 174; cattle, are, on this stream, several very good 1,089; sheep, 3,361; swine, 461; wheat, bu. mill seats, which are already occupied. 1,186; oats, 2,936; rye, 50; buckwheat, The soil is generally a deep, rich loam, 310; Ind. corn, 1,954; potatoes, 30,375; and along the branch is some intervale. hay, tons, 1,556; sugar, lbs. 30,827; See part UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT. The surface of the township is uneven, wool, 8,010. Population, 1,441. broken, and the elevations are abrupt. There is a medicinal spring in the wes- second, page 144. VERGENNES, the only city in Vertern part of the township, the waters of which are impregnated with sulphuretted mont, is situated in lat. 44°. 10', and long. hydrogen. They have been considerably 3° 43, and is bounded north and east by resorted to by persons afflicted with cuta- Ferrisburgh, south by Waltham, and west neous complaints, and have been found by Panton and Ferrisburgh. It lies at beneficial. There are in town 5 meeting the head of navigation on Otter creek houses, 19 school districts, 2 grist 10 saw and was incorporated with city privileges and 3 fulling mills, 2 carding machines, October 23, 1783, being 480 by 400 rods 4 stores, 1 tavern, 2 tanneries, 1 woollen in extent. The first meeting under its factory, besides the usual mechanics. charter was held March 12, 1789, and Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 376; cattle, Samuel Chipman, jun. Esq. was first 2,185; sheep, 8,890; swine, 1,345; wheat, clerk. Its first Mayor was Enoch Woodbus. 3,310; barley, 175; oats, 13,305; bridge, Esq. who was afterwards chief rye, 655; buckwheat, 1,415; Indian corn, 7,620; potatoes, 67,705; hay, tons, 3,430; sugar, lbs. 31,670; wool, 18,905. Population, 1,811. TURNERSBURGH. See Chelsea. a Episcopal church and Methodist chapel. e Conpresent minister. They have 2 meet-gregational church. p Mills. q Champlain Arsenal. ing houses. |