Echoes in the Forest

Echoes in the Forest While hiking through an ancient wood, we came upon a heap of stone and there beyond - a fading shape swallowed by the mossy loam. Here, we paused upon our journey to contemplate and rest, when the whispers of a haunting wind seemed to answer our inquest. There was a time – a distant time field and farm spread out before us, while a song of life and love and strife was sung in human chorus -- a song of children playing, of farmers in the field, of women in the kitchen -- a song thought not to yield. But t’ was a melody in passing now no children left to play and field returned to forest once the farmer went away. The winds of time blow ever softly as they carry off the chorus, leaving remnants of that distant time like Echoes in the Forest. DK Young Stratton Families Preface Like the farm in the verse, so went most of Stratton’s homesteads – abandoned to the forest – destined to fade away beneath the mossy loam. Of course, nature has not yet reconquered all of Stratton. While no true farms remain in this town and only a scant few landowners have held back forest from field, the population of the town has rebounded, but to the tune of another lifestyle – another time. The following pages address the majority of Stratton’s inhabitants from its beginnings to the early part of the twentieth century; also many of the more recent resident families are detailed, if they wished to be included here. This supplement was compiled from: Stratton’s vital records, land records, its censuses from 1791 to 1920, data from Stratton’s cemeteries, Somerset’s vital records and land records, also data from Vermont’s and Massachusetts’s vital records, family histories, published genealogies, and Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War - A Compilation from the Archives - Boston, 1896. As well, I have denoted any additional sources (other than those listed above) following the specific family description. Space restrictions prevent more detailed source information This supplement is an important aspect of Stratton’s History in that a true town history can be defined only by the cumulative life stories of its citizens. Furthermore, this work represents an in-depth study of the migration patterns into and out of this area. While this supplement is an accurate account of Stratton’s families and transients who left some record of their existence within the town, mistakes are inevitable when compiling extensive amounts of information such as this from various sources. This document, therefore, should not be used as an official source for genealogical data, but instead as a guide. This volume uses the following format: Family names are grouped alphabetically, while individuals follow more of a chronological sequence. Each individual family begins with a brief biography of the patriarch or matriarch of the earliest member of that family to arrive in Stratton (husband and wife are nearly always discussed together under the husband’s surname). The family line is then carried through to the last family or individual who lived in Stratton. When families of siblings remained in town for multiple generations, the family of the oldest sibling is addressed first, followed by their children, then grandchildren, etc., following this rule through each line. When a particular line has been covered completely, then the next sibling’s family is addressed, etc. Names of parents are associated with each individual, when known, to clarify family relationships. Children within a household are listed at the end of their parents’ biographies with a summary of birth, death and marriage data for each child. This information may appear again if that child warrants having a detailed biography. This work contains numerous references to the Lot / Range designations of respective individual’s homes, farms or property. These parcels can be found on Stratton’s grid map. Stratton Families 1 entire 200 acres to John Hill of A Palmer on September 23, 1795. Andrew then purchased the east Abbott half of 6L7R in March, 1796. They may have settled on the farm Samuel Abbott, Jr. may have first occupied by Clark Stone, come to Stratton between 1860 located just below Little Stratton and 1864. During the Civil War, Mountain on the south side. In Samuel enlisted into the Navy in September, Andrew sold this lot October, 1864, and served aboard to Samuel Blodgett of Palmer, and the “Don,” (probably the USS then evidently returned to Palmer Macedonia). He may have been to live. someone from out of town Their children were: recruited by Stratton’s Selectmen 1) Amos, born February 12, 1790, to fill a position for Stratton at Palmer, Massachusetts. during the war. Samuel evidently 2) Lucy, born October 18, 1791, deserted on May 29, 1866. at Palmer, Massachusetts. Subsequently, he did not return to 3) Andrew, born in 1795 at Stratton to live. Palmer, Massachusetts. 4) Sally Swift, born January 11, Adams 1798, at Palmer, Andrew Adams, Jr., was Massachusetts. probably the same born March 24, 1767, at Milton, Massachusetts, John Adams was probably the son of Andrew and Ruth same born July 23, 1761, at (Wadsworth) Adams. Milton, Massachusetts, son of Andrew moved to Stratton Andrew and Ruth (Wadsworth) about 1793, from Palmer, Adams. John was living in Massachusetts. Andrew married Barnard, Vermont, when he Rebecca Putnam, daughter of purchased the west half of 6L7R Amos and Sarah (Swift) Putnam, in Stratton from Clark Stone in on September 13, 1789, at Ward, April, 1796. John may have Massachusetts. Sarah was born settled on this lot. The remains of on February 18, 1767. a farm can still be seen along the Amos Putnam, one of Appalachian Trail, west of its Stratton’s early proprietors, sold intersection with the IP Road. Rebecca 12L1R in Stratton in Two months later, he purchased October, 1793. The Adamses the west half of 4L8R. were the first to build on this lot John sold his farm to Thomas and settled there soon after. In Hill in November, 1796, and 1795, a 50-acre parcel of the removed to Palmer, Adam’s lot was auctioned off by Massachusetts. Following the the town at a tax-sale to pay back- move, he continued to purchase taxes; however, Andrew bought other properties in Stratton but the parcel back and then sold the never resettled there. John had Stratton Families 2 many dealings with Clark Stone 2) Martin Elbridge, born April and may have been related to 20, 1838, at Northfield, Stone in some way. John later Massachusetts; married sold one of his lots to Benjamin Lucinda Hall on November 26, Adams of Palmer. Benjamin may 1860, at Somerset, Vermont. have been John’s brother, born 3) Betsey M., born January 21, March 25, 1771, at Milton. 1842, at Somerset, Vermont; died April 24, 1900; married Akeley Nelson E. Willis on April 7, (Ackley, Akely) 1868. Newell Henry Akeley, son of Thomas Jr. and Betsey Newell Henry Akeley, Jr., son of (Whitcomb) Akeley, was born on Newell and Betsey Akeley, was March 11, 1810, at Guilford, born January 22, 1836, at Vermont. He married Betsey Northfield, Massachusetts. He Caroline Jones on April 13, 1835, married Eliza M. Knight on at Brattleboro, Vermont. Betsey March 6, 1859, at Stratton. She was born about 1812. The was born on November 15, 1840. Akeleys lived awhile in Guilford, In 1860, they were living in Vermont, before settling in Stratton with Newell’s Aunt Jane Somerset. They lived in the Akeley who was born in 1812/3. northeastern part of the town that Newell died on June 24, was annexed to Stratton in 1858. 1863, and was buried in Mountain Their farm was off of the old road View Cemetery in West Dover, that paralleled the course of Rt. Vermont. 100. It was located on the A child of Newell and Lucinda: Somerset border (see McClellan’s 1) Amarette, born about 1862. Map of 1856) and on the west side of the old road. Martin Elbridge Akeley, son of Newell made spruce shingles Newell and Betsey Akeley, was that had to be made by hand, born in 1838, at Brattleboro, individually. In 1860, the Vermont. He married Lucinda Akeleys had their son Martin and Hall on November 26, 1860, at his wife, Betsey, living with them. Somerset, Vermont. Lucinda was They lived in Stratton for the born November 26, 1839 - most remainder of their lives. Newell likely the daughter of Milo and passed away on November 15, Laura Hall of Somerset and 1892, while visiting his brother, Statton. Martin, in Guilford, Vermont. In 1860, they were living Children of Newell and Becky: with Martin’s parents. They lived 1) Newell Henry, born January in Stratton at least until 1880, as 22, 1836; died on June 24, they are listed in that year’s 1863; married Eliza M. Knight census. Lucinda died on May 10, on March 6, 1859, at Stratton, 1915. Newell died on November Vermont. 2, 1920, at Brattleboro, Vermont, Stratton Families 3 from diabetes and gangrene of the Albert left leg. He was buried in Clark John Albert, a farmer, was born Warren Cemetery at Marlboro, in Canada. He married Rosella Vermont. (possibly Howe). John was Their children were: probably employed in one of 1) Myron John, born November Stratton’s lumber camps during 15, 1862; died October 4, the late 1880s. 1902, at Marlboro, Vermont A child of John and Rosella was: (took the Freeman’s oath in 1) Victoria, born September 18, Stratton on September 2, 1888, at Stratton, Vermont. 1884). 2) Gilbert Carlton, born November 10, 1864, at Alden Stratton, Vermont; died March Phineas Alden, son of John and 24, 1954, at Brattleboro, Hannah Alden, was born on May Vermont.

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