WINDSOR.

WINDSOR COUNTY.

WINHALL

wheat, 1,847; Indian corn, 12,920; pota-
toes, 61,075; hay, tons, 5,673; sugar, lbs.
18,320; wool, 25,343. Population,2,744.

The site of the village is uneven, and the
main street, which passes through it from
north to south, is serpentine, making no
less than four very obtuse angles within WINDSOR COUNTY is situated on the
the village; the effect of which is, that east side of the Green Mountains, between
not more than about one third of the vil- 43° 13' and 43° 56' north lat. and between
lage can be seen from any one point of 4° 7' and 4° 45' east long, being 48 miles
view. The village contains about 125 long from north to south, and 30 wide
dwelling houses. It is rather compact- from east to west, and containing about
ly built, and several of the houses are 900 square miles. It is bounded north by
elegant. The place is much adorn- Orange county, east by Connecticut riv-
ed with trees and shrubbery, which, uni- er, which separates it from Grafton and
ted with the hill prospect around, and a Cheshire counties, N. H., south by Wind-
fine view of Ascutney mountain, which ham county, and west by Rutland county.
lies 3 miles southwest of it, render it one This county was incorporated in Februa-
of the most pleasant villages in this part ry, 1781. Woodstock, situated near the
of the country. The public buildings are centre of the county, is the seat of justice.
three houses for public worship, a court The supreme court sits here the 4th Tues-
house, where the U. S. Circuit and Dis- day next following the 4th Tuesday of
trict Courts meet annually, on the 21st January, and the county court on the last
and 27th of May; the state prison; and Tuesday in May and November. There
a seminary for young gentlemen and la- are several pleasant villages in the coun-
dies. The latter is under the charge of ty, the most important of which are Wind-
Messrs. J. Swett, Jr. and Alonzo Jack-sor, Woodstock, Norwich, and Royalton.
man. For the purpose of affording the White river runs across the north part of
village the advantages of water power, in the county, Quechee river through the
1835 a stone damn was constructed across central part, and Black river through the
Mill brook, half a mile from its mouth. It south part. Some of the head branches
is 360 feet in length, 56 in breadth at the of West and Williams' rivers rise in the
base, 12 at the top, and 42 feet in height, southwestern part. The surface of this
forming a reservoir of water nearly one county is uneven, but the soil is generally
mile in length, with a surface of 100 a- of an excellent quality, producing fine
cres, having an available fall of 60 feet in crops of grass, corn, and grain. A range
the distance of one third of a mile. The of talco-argillaceous slate passes through
dam is built on the arc of a circle, over the western part of the county, in which
which, in flood time, the water flows in several quarries of excellent steatite or
an unbroken sheet 102 feet in length, soap stone have been opened, particularly
forming one of the most beautiful cas- in Plymouth, Bridgewater, and Bethel.
cades in the country. The village con- In the southeastern part is an abundance
tains at present 1 grist mill, 1 saw mill, of excellent granite, and primitive lime-
2 tanneries, a post office, 3 taverns, 4 law- stone abounds in the southwestern part,
yers, 4 physicians, a printing office, at where it is extensively manufactured into
which is published the Vermont Chroni- lime, particularly in Plymouth.
cle, by Bishop & Tracy, 9 stores of dif- rocks in the other parts are principally
ferent kinds, and the usual variety of me- gneiss, mica slate, and hornblende. A
chanics' shops. Many of the houses are range of argillaceous slate extends into
elegant, and the village is rendered de- the northwestern part of the county. The
lightful by the shade-trees, shrubbery, mica and talcose slate, in many places,
and fine gardens. The garden of Hon. abounds with garnets. Statistics of 1840.
Horace Everett offers one of the best spe--Horses, 8,440; cattle, 51,863; sheep,
cimens of horticultural taste and skill in |
this section of the country. There are
two small villages in the west parish,
called Brownsville and Sheddsville. The
former has a meeting house, occupied by
the Methodists, 2 stores, 1 tavern, 1 saw
mill, and several mechanics' shops. The
latter has a meeting house, occupied by
the Freewill Baptists and Universalists, 1
store, 1 tavern, 1 tannery, 1 shoe shop,
&c. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 501;
cattle, 2,428; sheep, 12,429; swine, 1,-
244; wheat, bushels, 2,864; barley,
103; oats, 15,822; rye, 4,077; buck-

The

234,826; swine, 22,834; wheat, bu. 56,-
659; barley, 5,164; oats, 301,026; rye,
46,126; buckwheat, 49,380; Ind. corn,
168,897; potatoes, 1,072,753; hay, tons,
107,109; sugar, lbs. 462,444; wool, 552,-
770. Population, 40,359.

WINHALL, a post town in the eastern
part of Bennington county, is in lat. 43
10' and long. 4° 7', and is bounded north
by Peru, east by Jamaica and a part of
Londonderry, south by Stratton, and west
by Manchester. It lies 25 miles northeast
from Bennington, 33 southwest from
Windsor, and was chartered September

1

WINOOSKI RIVER.

WOLCOTT.

15, 1761, containing by charter 23,040 | flats along this river are narrow, till the acres. Mr. Nathaniel Brown, from Mas-river has passed through the western sachusetts, commenced the settlement of range of the Green Mountains, when they this township, during the revolutionary become much more extensive. In Bolton, war. The town was organized about the where it passes the range, the mountains year 1796. Asa Beebe jr. was first town approach very near the river. The chanclerk, and Asa Beebe was first represent-nels which have been worn in the rocks ative. The religious denominations are by this river are a great curiosity. One Congregationalists, Methodists, and Bap- of these between Middlesex and Moretists. The Rev. B. Barrett was settled town, is about 80 rods in length, 60 feet over the Congregational church about the in width, and 30 feet deep; the rock aptime the town was organized, who died pearing like a wall on each side. Anothabout two years after. There has been er of these channels is between Waterbuno settled minister since. There is a ry and Duxbury, four miles below Watersmall union meeting house situated near bury village. Its depth is about 100 feet, the centre of the township, and another and the rocks on the south side are perin the eastern part, belonging to the Con- pendicular. The rocks have here fallen gregationalists and Baptists. The Con- into the chasm and formed a natural bridge, gregationalists are supplied by the pre- which is crossed by footmen at low water. ceptor of Burr Seminary, and the Metho- Among the rocks here, are also, sevedists by circuit preachers. The town is ral curiouss caverns. Holes also of watered by Winhall river which affords cylindrical form, are here worn into the a great number of good mill privileges. solid rocks several feet in depth. This There are in town five school districts, chasm is but a few steps from the turnand four school houses,one grist and seven pike leading from Montpelier to Burling saw mills, one store, three taverns, and ton, and is worthy the attention of the cuone tannery. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, rious traveller. A third channel of this 172; cattle, 693; sheep, 815; swine, 279; kind is between Burlington and Colcheswheat, bu. 579; oats, 2,775; rye, 366; ter, about three fourths of a mile above buckwheat, 647; Ind. corn, 564; pota-Winooski lower falls. The channel here toes, 17,388; hay, tons, 1,466; sugar, lbs. 11,000; wool, 1,590. Population, 576.

WINHALL RIVER is a small mill stream which is collected in Winhall, and, after running easterly through the corner of Jamaica, unites with West river in the south part of Londonderry.

is about 40 rods in length, 70 feet in width, and 65 feet deep. Across the channel a bridge has been thrown which is perfectly secure from floods. There is abundant evidence, both here and at the natural bridge above mentioned, that there formerly existed a large pond at each place, whose waters were drainedoff by the wearing down of the channels. In Winooski river are several falls which afford excellent sites for mills. The turnpike from Burlington eastward along this river affords the best passage of the Green Mountains in the State. Winooski river is one of the largest in the State, being about 70 miles in length, and watering 970 square miles.*

WOLCOTT, a post town in the east part of Lamoille county, is in lat. 44° 34' and long. 4° 31' and is bounded north by Craftsbury, east by Hardwick, south by Elmore, and west by Hydepark. It lies

WINOOSKI RIVER, called also Onion river, is formed in Cabot by the union of several small streams, and taking a southerly course, enters Marshfield where it rereceives a large tributary from the east, which originates in Onion river pond in Peacham and in Molly's pond in Cabot. On this stream is a remarkable cateract, where the water falls about 500 feet in the distance of 30 rods. Through Marshfield, the river continues a southerly course into Plainfield, where it bends to the southwest and crosses the corner of the town ship into Montpelier. Here it receives Kingbury's branch, from Calais. After crossing the southeast corner of Montpelier,the river takes a northwesterly course, which it continues till it falls into lake Champlain, between Colchester and Bur-nos, onions, or leeks, and ki, land, so that its litlington, five miles north of Burlington village. Its most considerable tributaries are Dog river and Steven's branch in Berlin, North branch at Montpelier village, Mad river in Moretown, Waterbury river in Waterbury, Huntington river in Richmond, and Muddy brook between Williston and Burlington. The alluvial

* Winooski is an Indian name, composed of two words in the Abinaqui, or Algonquin tongue, wieral signification is land of onions. The spelling comes to us through the French, and the i having the sound of longe, it is pronounced Wenooskee. Considering the Indian name preferable, in every re spect, to its translation, onion, we have given it the preference through the whole of our work, and we hope the time is not distant when it will be in gen eral use. During the colonial wars the French and Indians often made their descent upon the English through the valley of this river, and hence it was often called French River.

WOODSTOCK.

WORCESTER.

as one of the first in the state. Among the manufactories, that of Messrs. R. Daniels & Co., for the manufacture of carding machines, jacks, shears, and all other articles used in woollen factories, is deserving of particular notice, both on account of the amount of business and the excellency of the work. There are in this village 5 resident clergymen, 12 attorneys, 6 physicians, 2 printing offices, at which newspapers are printed, and 20 dry goods, grocery, and other stores. South Woodstock is situated 5 miles south of the court house, on the road to Springfield, and contains a handsome meeting house, 2 stores, 2 physicians, and a number of mechanics. There are in town 18 school districts, 3 grist, 5 saw and 3 fulling mills, 2 woollen factories, 3 tanneries and 2 printing offices. Statistics of 1840. Horses, 621; cattle, 5,719; sheep, 15,974; swine, 1,655; wheat, bush. 4,671; oats, 28,879; rye, 1,426; buckwheat, 3,900;

hay, tons, 8,374; sugar, lbs. 32,072; wool, 39,072. Population, 3,315.

liturgy of the Episcopal church was first | mercantile transactions, this village ranks used here by the Rev Joel Clap, Nov. 20, 1825. Jan. 27, 1826, a parish was organized by the name of St. James' Church, and a neat church edifice was erected in 1827, which was consecrated June 28, 1828. The Rev. Joel Clap officiated here from Nov. 20, 1825 to July 15, 1832; the Rev. B. C. C. Parker from October, 1832 to May, 1839; the Rev. John Grigg from May, 1839 to Easter, 1840, and June 1st, 1840, the Rev. Joel Clap again took charge of the parish, and is the present rector. Communicants 65. The Universalist and Methodist societies are large, but we are unable to give particulars. The epidemic of 1811 and '12 was very distressing here, and fatal to many of the inhabitants. Woodstock is one of the best farming townships in the state. The surface is pleasantly diversified with hills and vallies, and the soil is generally of a good quality, and easily cultivated. This township is watered by Ottà Quechee river, which runs through it in a north-Indian corn, 15,141; potatoes, 82,584; easterly direction, and by two of its branches, one on the north side and the other on the south. That on the north is WORCESTER, a township in the northcalled Beaver brook, and originates in western part of Washington county, is in the north part of Bridgewater, and in the lat. 44° 24' and long. 4° 25', and is boundsouth part of Barnard and Pomfret, and ed north by Elmore, east by Calais, south affords two or three good mill seats in by Middlesex, and west by Stow. It lies this township. The south branch affords 10 miles north from Montpelier, and 31 good mill privileges at both the villages, east from Burlington. It was chartered and there are mills erected upon it in two to Joshua Mason and associates June 8, or three other places. But the best situa- 1763, and contains 23,040 acres. The tions for water power are on Ottà Que- settlement was commenced in 1797, by chee river. There are two dams con- George Martin and John Ridlan, emistructed across this stream, but a short grants from Kennebec, Maine. The town distance above the village, on which mills was organized March 3, 1803, and John and other machinery are erected, and an- Young was the first town clerk. It was other near the spot where the river leaves first represented in the general assembly the township, at which is one of the in 1808. When the cold seasons commost extensive and successful manufac-menced, the inhabitants abandoned the tories of scythes, clothiers' shears, axes, township, and in 1816 there were but and other edged tools, in the state, carried three families here. In 1820, there were on by Mr. Daniel Taft and sons. There 44 inhabitants, and in March, 1821, the are two pleasant villages, known by their town was reorganized, it having, some post office designations, Woodstock, and time before, lost its organization, and Mr. South Woodstock. The village of Wood- Amasa Brown was chosen town clerk. stock is the largest in the county. It is A Congregational church was gathered built on both sides of Otta Quechee river, here in February, 1824. and then consistand contains about 350 buildings, mostly ed of 12 members. There are also Freesituated around a beautiful park, and will Baptist and Methodist societies here. about 1,400 inhabitants. The public build- The township is watered by the north ings are a handsome court house, (see branch of Winooski river, which rises in part second, p. 122,) and a strong jail, 5 Elmore about four miles from the Lahouses for public worship, Congregation-moille, and unites with Winooski river at al, Christian, Episcopalian, Universalist the village of Montpelier. On this stream and Methodist, and the Vermont Medical College, (see part second, p. 165.) The business of a large tract of country centres at this village; and for the variety and extent of its manufactures and its

are here several good mill privileges, on several of which are saw mills. This stream opens a convenient passage for a road through the height of lands between Winooski river and the Lamoille. The

NAMES OF TOWNS ALTERED.

List of Towns the names of which have been altered.

Flamstead to New Flamstead, Nov. 3,1761 | Medway to Parkerstown, New Flamstead to Chester, July 14,1766 Hopkinsville to Kirby,