CALAIS.

CALAIS

branches in this town, and affords here regale themselves with the pure spirit several mill privileges. Joe's and Molly's which had been permitted to slumber pond lie in the northeast part of the town- three years; and which they imagined ship. The waters of the former pass by must be much improved in quality by its Joe's brook and Passumpsic river into the long rest; but judge of their surprise, asConnecticut, while those of the latter tonishment and chagrin, when on raising pass by Winooski river into lake Cham- the earth, they discovered the hoops had plain. At the centre is a small village, in become rotten-the staves parted, and the which are a meeting house, erected in long anticipated beverage had escaped.* 1823, a store, a tavern, and some mills The settlement of this town was commenand other machinery. Statistics of 1840.-ced in the spring of 1787, by Francis West Horses, 334; cattle, 1,943; sheep, 7,045; from Plymouth county, Mass., who swine, 1,178; wheat, bu. 3,388; barley, commenced felling timber on a lot ad1,056; oats, 12,078; Ind. corn, 1,768; joining Montpelier. The first permanent potatoes, 70,487; hay, tons, 4,489; su- settlers, however, were Abijah, Asa and gar, lbs. 54,715; wool, 13,316. Popula- P. Wheelock, who started from Charleston tion, 1440. June 5th, 1787, with a wagon, two CALAIS, a post town in the north part yoke of oxen, provisions, tools, &c. and of Washington county, is in lat. 44° 22' arrived at Williamstown, within 21 miles and long. 4° 52', and is bounded north by of Calais, the 19th. They had hitherto Monroe, east by Marshfield, south by found the roads almost impassible, and Montpelier and west by Worcester; it is here they were obliged to leave their 37 miles east from Burlington, and 62 wagon, and, taking a few necessary artinorth from Windsor, was granted Oct. 21, cles upon a sled, they proceeded towards 1780, chartered August 15th, 1781, to Ja- this town, cutting their way and building cob Davis, Stephen Fay and their associ- causeways as they passed along. After a ates, and contains 36 square miles. The journey of two days and encamping two principal proprietors and first settlers of nights in the woods, they arrived at Withis township were from Charleston, Mas-nooski river, where Montpelier village is sachusetts, and its vicinity. In the sum- now situated. Here Col. Jacob Davis mer of 1783, the proprietors sent a com- had commenced clearing land and had mittee consisting of Colonel Jacob Davis, erected a small log hut, where they left Capt. Samuel Robinson and others, to their oxen to graze upon the wild grass, survey a division of this town of 160 acres leaks and shrubbery, with which the to the right. A Mr. Brush, from Ben- woods abounded-proceeded to Calais and nington, was the surveyor. The commit- commenced a resolute attack upon the tee and surveyor found their way to Ca- forest. They returned to Charleston in lais with their necessary stores, and after October. Francis West also left town, and running four lines on the north side of returned the following spring, as did also the first division, they abandoned the sur- Abijah and Peter Wheelock, accompanied vey. Of their stores, then left, was a by Moses Stone. They this year erected much valued keg, containing about 10 log houses, the Wheelocks and Stone regallons of good W. I. Rum, which in turning to Massachusetts to spend the Council, they determined should be buried, following winter, and West to Middlewhich ceremony was said to have been sex. In this year, also, Gen. Parley Daperformed with much solemnity, and a vis, then a new settler, and now a resisturdy maple, towering above the sur-dent of Montpelier centre, cut and put rounding trees, on the westerly side of Long Pond, with its ancient and honorable scars, still marks the consecrated spot. In August, 1786, Capt. Samuel Robinson, E. Waters, J. Tucker, E. Stone, and Gen. Parley Davis came from Charleston to this town, to complete the survey of the first division and survey another. This party, after arriving at the settlement nearest this place, which was at Middlesex, laden with provision, cooking utensils, blankets, axes, surveying instruments, &c. passed a distance of 13 or 14 miles to the camp, erected by the party who commenced the survey three years previous; often on the way expressing their anxiety to arrive, that they might

up two or three stacks of hay upon a beaver meadow, in Montpelier, upon a lot adjoining Calais, a part of which hay was drawn to Col. Davis in Montpelier in the following winter, which served partially to break a road from Montpelier to Calais line. In February or March, 1789, Francis West moved his family on to his farm, where he lived several years. Also, in March of this year, Abijah Wheelock, with his family, Moses Stone, Samuel Twiss with his new married lady, accom. panied by Gen. Davis, from Charleston, arrived at Col. Davis' house in Montpelier, with several teams. His house was

*Whatever tears were shed, or groans uttered at

the burial of the keg, they were not to be compared with the bitter agonies of its disinterment.

CALAIS.

CALAIS.

a mere rude hut, constructed of logs 20 | and the succeeding year, considerable adfeet in length, with but one apartment, aditions were made to the settlement. In back built at one end for a fire place, and the winter of 1794, Mr. Jennings, of this covered with bark, with a hole left in the town, being upwards of 60 years of age, roof for the smoke to escape; and this on lost his life by fatigue and frost, while on their arrival they found to be pre-occu- his return through the woods from Montpied by several families, emigrants from pelier to this place. There was not at Petersboro', N. H.; and in that mansion this time a sufficient number of men in of felicity there dwelt for about a fort- town to constitute a jury of inquest. It night three families with children in each, was in this town that the Hon. Timothy one man and his wife, recently married, Stanly lost his foot by frost, in 1788. The three gentlemen then enjoying a state of town was organized March 23, 1795. Pesingle blessedness, and a young lady; ter Wheelock was first town clerk, Jonas and among the happy group were some Comins, first constable, Joshua Bliss, first of the first settlers of Calais. On the 13th select man, by the unanimous suffrage, of April, racket paths having been pre- of 17 legal voters. The town was repreviously broken, Messrs. Wheelock, Twiss sented in October following by Peter and Stone prepared handsleds, loaded Wheelock. The first settlers of Calais thereon their beds and some light articles experienced all those privations and hardof furniture, accompanied by Mrs. Whee-ships which are incident to the settlers of lock and Mrs. Twiss, and Gen. Davis, new townships generally. They located proceeded to this town over snow three feet in depth, Mrs. Wheelock travelling the whole distance on foot and carrying in her arms an infant four months old, while their son about two years of age, was drawn upon the handsled. Mrs. Twiss, the recently married lady, also performed the same journey on foot, making use of her broom for a walking cane. During the day the snow became soft and in crossing a marshy piece of ground, Mrs. Twiss slumped with one foot, and sank to considerable depth and was unable to rise; Gen. Davis, with all the gallantry of a young woodsman, pawed away the snow with his hands, seized her below the knee and extricated her. This incident was a source of no small merriment to the party generally, of mortification to the amiable sufferer, and of gratification to Mrs. Wheelock, who felt herself secretly piqued that Mrs. Twiss did not at least offer to bear her precious bur. then some part of the distance. They arrived in safety the same day, and commenced the permanent settlement of the town. A large rock, now in the orchard on the farm owned by Dea. Joshua Bliss, once formed the end and fire place to the Log Cabin of the first settlers of Calais. In September of this same year, 1789, Peter Wheelock moved his family, consisting of a wife and six children, to this town. In 1790, James Jennings arrived with a family. Lucinda, daughter of Peter Wheelock, was born this year and was the first child born in town. On this occasion it is said one woman travelled 4 miles, on foot, through the woods in a very dark night. In 1793, the first saw and grist mill were erected near the centre of the town, by J. Davis, of Montpelier, and Samuel Twiss. During this

themselves at some distance from each other, and it was not uncommon for a woman to travel several miles to visit a neighbor and return home after dark through the woods, brandishing a firebrand to enable her to discover the marked trees. For one or two years the settlers brought the grain for the support of their families, and for seed from Williamstown, Brookfield and Royalton a distance of 30 miles or more. After they began to raise grain in town, they had to carry it 15 miles to mill. This they did in winter, by placing several bags of grain upon the neck of an ox, and driving his mate before him to beat a path. There are here five religious societies, viz. Baptists, Congregationalists, Universalists, Methodists and Freewill Baptists, and the greatest harmony prevails among them. There is also a society of Free Enquirers in this town, which was organized March 1, 1835. There is but one meeting house in town, and that is occupied alternately by the different religious sects. There is, however, a spacious town house and 15 commodious school houses, all of which are occasionally used for the purpose of holding meetings. For some time after the settlement of the town, there was no physician within 25 miles of this place. The people here have been generally healthy. Abijah Wheelock and wife, heretofore mentioned as principals among the first settlers, now, at the advanced age of 76, reside in town, surrounded by 11 children, death never having occurred in the family; they still are hale, comparatively vigorous, and withal very laborious. The old gentleman has repeatedly, after having cleared and improved a farm, exchanged it for a new one, and within a few years commenced on a lot almost wild,

CALDERSBURGH.

CALEDONIA COUNTY.

CAMBRIDGE.

The Supreme Court sits here on the 7th after the 4th Tuesday in January, and the County Court on the first Tuesday in June and December, annually. The Passumpsic and some smaller tributaries of the Connecticut, water the east part of the coun

and is every year seen at his old occupa- | about 700 square miles. This county was tion of clearing land, though not upon incorporated November 5, 1792. Danville so extensive a scale as in an earlier day. is the seat of justice. He is occasionally heard to remark when speaking of "olden times," that he supposes himself to have been once the most respectable man in town, inasmuch as he, at an early day, remained here one week when no other human being was within the limits of the township. This town-ty, and Winooski river is formed in the ship is watered by two branches of Wi- western part. The Lamoille river rises The height nooski river, one entering it near the near the northwest corner. northeast, the other near the northwest of lands, or eastern range of the Green corner. They unite near the south line Mountains, extends through the western of the town, affording, in their course, a part of the county. Between this range great number of valuable privileges for and the Connecticut, and along the PasIt is also well sumpsic, is a fine farming country, with mills and other machinery Statistics of watered with springs and brooks. The several pleasant villages. soil is a warm loam, easily cultivated, 1840.- Horses, 5,852; cattle, 32,668; well adapted to the production of all kinds sheep, 100,886; swine, 18,991; wheat, bu. of grain and is not inferior to other towns 52,109; barley, 12,291; oats, 342,433; in its vicinity for grazing. The surface rye, 1,799; bu. wheat, 12,005; Ind. corn, of the township is somewhat uneven, but 52,350; potatoes. 1,066,848; hay, tons, very little of it so broken as to be incapa- 67,077; sugar, lbs. 665,397; wool, 183,ble of cultivation. The timber on the 198. Population, 21891. streams is mostly hemlock, spruce and pine; on the higher lands, maple, beech, &c. The lowest lands here are in general driest and the most feasible soil. The north line of the township intersects two considerable ponds. There are several other small, but beautiful ponds lying within the township, and which abound with trout and other fish. Long pond lies in the northwest part of the town. In one autumn, 2,000lbs. of trout were taken from this pond with a hook, which sold In the spring of some for $8 per cwt. years, at the inlet of this pond, more than two tons of fish have been thrown out of the channel with the hands and with baskets. There are several springs in town, whose waters are quite brackish; their medicinal qualities, however, have never been thoroughly tested. There are 11 saw mills, 5 grist mills, 1 store, and 2 post offices, in town. Statistics of 1840.Horses, 252; cattle, 2,919; sheep, 5,409; swine, 666; wheat, bu. 3,630; barley, 152; oats, 18,473; rye, 578; buck wheat, 1,394; Ind. corn, 5,089; potatoes, 24,246; hay, tons, 5,899; sugar, lbs. 24,420; wool, 14,160. Population, 1079.

CAMBRIDGE, a post town in the western part of Lamoille county, in lat. 44° 38' and long. 4° 11', is bounded northeasterly by Waterville and a part of Fletcher, easterly by Sterling and a part of Johnson, south by Underhill, and westerly by Fletcher, is 30 miles northwest from Montpelier, and 22 northeast from Burlington, was granted Nov. 7, 1780, chartered to Samuel Robinson, John Fasset, jr. Jonathan Fasset, and their associates, August 13, 1781, and contains The first settler of this 28,533 acres. town was John Spafford. He came into town May 8, 1783, planted two acres of corn, which was overflowed with water in the fall, and nearly all destroyed. He moved his family, consisting of a wife and two children, into town from Piermont, N. H. in November. The town was surveyed, this year, by Amos Fasset. In 1784, Amos Fasset, Stephen Kinsley, John Fasset, jr. and Samuel Montague moved their families here from Bennington, and Noah Chittenden his from Arlington, Vt. The first saw mill was built, this year, by Amos Fasset. Thirty-five persons spent S. W. the second winter here. In 1785, David CALDERSBURGH.-This name was al-Safford and others moved into town from See Bennington.* When Mr. Spafford came tered to Morgan, October 19, 1801. into town, there were no inhabitants or Morgan. CALEDONIA COUNTY is bounded north-road between this place and Hazen's road east by Essex county, east by Connecticut river, which separates it from Grafton county, N. H. south by Orange county, west by Washington county, and northwest by Orleans county. It lies between 44° 9' and 44° 45' north lat. and between 4o 25' and 5° 4' east long. and contains

in Craftsbury, and they who came from Bennington, had to cut their road for ten miles through the woods. The first set

*Mr Safford was one of the Spartan band who defended the house of James Breakenridge, against the New York Sheriff and his posse. See part second, page 21.

1,790.

CANAAN.

tlers brought their provisions with them, I store, tavern, trip hammer shop, fulling and when their meat failed, they hunted mill, &c. The town meetings and the the moose. The first improvements were meetings of the Baptist society for religi made on the flats along the Lamoille, the ous worship are held here. The other vilwaters of which frequently swept away lage is one mile north of the Borough, and or spoiled in fall the products of summer. is called the Harbor. The old Spartan, The crops of pumpkins frequently floated David Safford, settled here with several away and landed safely on the shores of of his friends. The town is divided into Grand Isle. When their mill dams were 12 school districts. There are two grist swept away, the people ground their grain mills, with two run of stones each, six in mortars, which they called plumping saw mills, two clothier's works, two cardmills. They were made by burning a ing machines, one trip hammer shop, five large cavity in the top of a stump, and stores, three taverns and one tannery. suspending a large pestle to a spring pole. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 644; cattle, The town was organized March 29, 1785, 3,180; sheep, 8,370; swine, 1,228; wheat, and John Fasset was first town clerk. bu. 3,531; barley, 15; oats, 10,606; rye, David Safford was first representative 291; buckwheat, 89; Indian corn, 6,436; and John Safford taught the first school potatoes, 73,100; hay, tons, 5,329; sugar, in town. The religious denominations lbs. 64,111; wool, 19,091. Population, are Congregationalists, Baptists, Episcopalians, and Methodists. The Rev. Elijah Woolage was settled over the Congregational church in 1805, and dismissed in 1806; the Rev. John Truaire, November 21, 1810, and dismissed in 1812. The Rev. Royal A. Avery was settled in 1824. Their meeting house was erected in 1805, in the village called the Borough. The first Elder of the Baptist church was Joseph Call who was succeeded by Elder Samuel Holmes, who died in 1813. The dysentery prevailed here in 1806, and was very mortal. In Cambridge, 21 died, and as many more along the river in its immediate vicinity. The river Lamoille enters this town on the east side one mile from the northeast corner, and after running a serpentine course of 12 miles, in which it receives north branch from the north, and Brewster's river and Seymour's brook from the south, passes the west line of the town, one mile from the southwest corner. These streams afford numerous mill privileges. The surface of the town is uneven, and, in some places rough. The land is, however, generally good, and on the river are about 5000 acres of valuable intervale. A branch of dead creek, which is a branch of Missisco river, CANAAN, a post town, lying in the rises in this town, and another branch of northeast corner of Essex county, and said creek issues from Metcalf pond in entirely at the northeastern extremity of Fletcher, and runs across the northwest the state. It is in lat. 44° 57' and long. corner of the town. The town is well 5° 22', and contains about 29 square miles. watered, and the timber of various kinds. It is bounded north by Hereford, Canada, There are three small villages. The vil- east by Connecticut river, and southwest lage called the Borough, is on the south by Lemington and Averill. It lies opposide of the river Lamoille, in the south-site Stewartstown, N. H. The northeast west corner of the town, on the post road, and contains a Congregational meeting house, 3 stores, 2 taverns, and mills and other machinery. The centre village is on the south side of the Lamoille near the centre of the town, west of Brewster's river, and contains a meeting house a

CAMEL'S HUMP, next to the Chin in Mansfield, is the most elevated summit of the Green Mountains. It is situated in the eastern part of Huntington, near the west line of Duxbury. Its height above tide water has been computed to he 4,188 feet, and 3,600 feet above the site of the State house, at Montpelier. It is 17 miles west of Montpelier, 25 northeasterly from Middlebury, and 20 southeast from Burlington. This summit is conspicuous from the whole valley of lake Champlain, and the prospect which it commands is hardly surpassed in extent and beauty. The summit is hardly ac cessible except from the north. It is usually ascended by way of Duxbury, where carriages can approach within about 3 miles of the summit. The remainder of the way can be passed on foot without difficulty, excepting about half a mile which is very steep and rugged. The rocks which compose the mountain are wholly of mica slate, and the Hump is nearly destitute of soil or vegetation, only a few mosses, stinted shrubs and alpine plants being met with. This mountain is often erroneously called Camel's Rump.

corner of the town is the most easterly land in Vermont, and lies in long. 5° 29 east, and 71° 33' west from Greenwich. This town was granted to William Williams, Jonathan and Arad Hunt, and others. February 26, 1782, it received a new charter, and October 23, 1801, the town

of Norfolk was annexed to it. The first settlers were Silas Sargeant, John Hugh, and Hubbard Spencer, who removed their families into Canaan in 1785, and in 1791, there were 19 persons in town. Canaan being a frontier town, was subject to considerable disturbance during the last war with Great Britain, some account of which has already been given in part second, page 95. The religious denominations are Congregationalists, Freewill Baptists, and Methodists. This township is well watered by Leach's stream, Willard's brook, &c. which afford good mill privileges. The former is two rods wide at its junction with the Connecticut, Leeds pond from which it issues is partly in Canada. There is some fine intervale on the Connecticut, and much good land in other parts. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 119; cattle, 670; sheep, 1,706; swine, 459; wheat, bu. 692; barley, 483; oats, 3,320; buckwheat, 6,706; In. corn, 285; potatoes, 26,400; hay, tons, 1,451; sugar, lbs. 11,450; wool, 2,711. Population, 378. CARTHAGE. Name altered to Jay.See Jay.

CASTLETON.

ment of New Hampshire, and the council of safety, and the vexatious embarrassments consequent to the claims of jurisdiction by the state of New York. At the commencement of the war of American independence, he entered the army with a commission, and after sharing in its toils and honors, the return of peace brought him again to the bosom of his family. Possessing a vigorous constitution, he continued long to witness the rising greatness of his country, and to enjoy the benefits for which he had toiled. He died in May, 1840, aged 97 years. During the war for independence, the people of Castleton were often alarmed and once invaded by the British and Indians. On the 6th of July,1777, Gen. Fraser sent a detachment under the command of Capt. Fraser, who attacked, by surprise, about 20 militia, who were posted near the present site of the village, under the command of Capt. Wells. Capt. Williams, a volunteer, of Guilford, Vermont, was killed, and Capt. Hall, of Castleton, mortally wounded, and his son, Lieut. Hall, and some others were taken prisoners, and carried to TiCASPIAN LAKE. See Greensborough. conderoga. Lieut. Hall, his brother and CASTLETON, & post town situated near a Mr. Kellogg, made their escape from the centre of Rutland county, being 10 the fort, re-crosssed the lake in a canoe miles west of Rutland, 13 east of White- by night, and after great privations, eluhall, N. Y., 65 north of Albany, and 60 ded their savage pursuers and returned to southwest of Montpelier. Lat. 43° 34', their homes. On the spot where Willong, 3o 56. Bounded south by Poultney, liams fell, was erected a fort, the ensuing east by Ira, north by Hubbardton, west by year, which was furnished with 2 pieces Fairhaven; containing 36 square miles. of cannon, and garrisoned under differThe charter was granted to Samuel Brown ent commanders until the return of peace. of Stockbridge, Mass., Sept 22, 1761. The graves of about 30 soldiers, whose Col. Amos Bird of Salisbury, Ct. became names have long been forgotten by their the principal proprietor, and, in company countrymen, are still visible near the site with Col. Noah Lee, made the first sur- of the fort. Castleton was organized in veys in June, 1766. The first dwelling March, 1777. Jesse Belknap was the first house was erected in August, 1769, of town clerk and justice of the peace. Zawhich Col. Lee and his servant were the dock Remington was the first representasole inhabitants the following winter. In tive. There are three organized religious 1770, Ephriam Buel, Eleazer Bartholo- societies, Congregationalists, Methodists, mew and Zadock Remington, with their and Roman Catholics. The Congregafamilies, settled in this town; and were tional church, which is the most numersoon followed by Cols. Bird and Lee. The ous, was organized in 1784. Rev. Matfirst inhabitants were chiefly emigrants thias Cazier was the first minister, and from Connecticut. The enterprise and was settled by the town, Sept. 5, 1789, worth of Cols. Bird and Lee entitle them and dismissed, Dec. 13, 1792. Rev. Elito a prominent place in the early history hu Smith was installed Jan. 17, 1804, and of Castleton; the former died in the midst dismissed Dec. 13, 1826. The present of active benevolent exertions for the in- pastor, Rev. Joseph Steele, was installed fant settlement, September 16, 1762. His Dec. 25, 1828. This church consists of solitary monument on the banks of Cas-270 members. Their house of worship tleton river, and an isolated mountain in is large and commodious, and was built the southeast corner of the town, are me-in 1833. The Methodist society was morials of his name, still associated with more recently organized, but is also conthe remembrance of his worth. Col. Lee siderably numerous. Their meeting house, was vigilant and active amidst the hard- a neat and convenient edifice, was erectships and dangers which were encounter-ed in 1824,since which time they have been ed by the first settlers, under the govern-regularly supplied with local preachers;