C?7 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Cornell University Library F 59B54 C87 Illustrated historical souvenir of Bethe 3 1924 028 837 800 olih Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028837800 THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF BETHEL, VERMONT. Containing a Brief History of the Eari^y Settlement of the Town, The Schools, Churches, Medical and IvEGal Professions, Old Families, Business and Manufacturing Interests, Together with Portraits and Biographies OF the Citizens, Past and Present. In presenting this volume to the public, the publishers have labored earnestly and faithfully to arrange the available material in a manner to interest the people of Bethel. The citizens whose portraits adorn this work, by their public spirit and liberality have enabled us to complete this book, and to them we . extend our thanks. COMPILED AND ARRflNQED BY PRED G. COX BETHEL, VERMONT. 1S95. fJ' XS1S6ZB — — : his request, and excused from future charges, BETHEL on his resigning his right to this body. No adventurer to be admitted but by consent of the body, except by purchase from some of us. By William R. Adams. Signed at Hanover, State of New Hamp- X> ETHEL is claimed to be the first town shire, the day and year aforesaid. -Lj in Windsor County, chartered the by John Payne, Benj. Day, State of Vermont. There were several towns John Ordway, Joshua Hendee, chartered or organized before by either New Comfort Sever, Pelatiah Bliss, Samuel Payne, Hampshire or New York authorities. Bethel Joshua Loveland, Aaron Storrs. Simeon Curtis, is the most northwesterly town in the county John Payne, Jr., Sylvanus Owen, —except Rochester, is bounded on the north Abel Curtis, Samuel Curtis, by Randolph in Orange County, on the east Jehial Woodard, Asa Grosvenor, by Royalton, on the south by Stockbridge, Lemuel 'Payne, Solomon Cushman. on the west by Rochester. It also corners At a meeting held December 30th follow- with Braintree on the northwest, Tunbridge ing, it was- voted that a petition be pre- on the northeast, Barnard on the southeast sented to the Honorable Council of Safety and Pittsfield on the southwest, and covers for the State of Vermont, for a charter of a an area of six miles square, and was made up certain tract of land lying in the northwest- from a portion of Royalton and a portion of erly part of Royalton, and that part of Mid- what was then called Middlesex, as will be dlesex adjoining, two and one-half miles in seen from the following -' Articles of Agree- width, from Royalton, the whole to contain ment," etc., made at a meeting at Hanover, about six miles square. At a meeting De- N. H., December 29, 1777, and on later cember 31st following, among other votes dates. passed was the following : That the number '"'We, the subscribers, desirous to form set- of proprietors for the township proposed, tlements on White River and its branches in should not exceed thirty, till the minds of the northwesterly part of Royalton and that the or Council part of Middlesex which abuts on the convention of Safety for the northwesterly of said Royalton, being con- State of Vermont may be known in the affair. vened this 29th day of December, 1777, to Also voted that Bethel be put into the prepare the way for carrying the same into petition proposed to be transmitted to said execution, do enter into the following arti- Council, as a name for said town. Then the cles of stipulation and agreement with each other. Namely following petition was agreed to Article ist. —No pitch shall be made by '^ To the Honorable Council of Safety for the the consent of the ma- :'' any person without State of Vermont jority of such of us as shall be regularly con- " vened for transacting matters relative to said The petition of us, the subscribers, in- settlement, and in such a manner as the ma- habitants of the State of New Hampshire ad- jority shall direct. joining Connecticut River, Article 2d. —The expenses of such meas- " Humbly Sheweth : as shall be directed by a majority of this ures That your petitioners desirous to make set- adventurers shall be defrayed by the body of tlements on White River and its branches, assessed according to his whole, each being in the northwesterly part of the township of interest therein. Royalton, in said State of Vermont, and that Article 3d. — Measures necessary to be part of Middlesex which adjoins thereto, have pursued to effect the settlement proposed, associated together, under certain articles of shall be directed in such manner as is usual regulations in order to prepare the way for at proprietor's meetings, for which purpose and carry the same into execution. That we we-agree to choose such officers as are usual understand said lands were granted by the late at those meetings, as we shall find occasion. Governor of New York (counter to royal This convention to be considered as the first proclamation) to certain persons, the greatest meeting. part of whom have now joined or put them- Article 4th. —Any person signing these selves under the protection of the enemies of articles may, at any meeting, be dismissed on the United States. That there is no pros- pect that any part of said land will be settled committee was the following : To go to Brat- by any of said grantees, and that your peti- tleboro and see Colonel Wells, and enquire tioners would willingly become obligated to of him who were owners of land in said tract settle said lands if we could be assured of ob- taining a good title thereto on reasonable and see if they- could be bought. Also, if terms, and have the same incorporated into thought best, to proceed to State of New distinct and separate towns. York, see people there, also Governor Liv- Y&ur petitioners, therefore, humbly pray ingston and procure as many lots as possi- that an order be issued by the Council of ble. price Safety for the State of Vermont, that no per- The mentioned by them as what son or persons whatsoever make a pitch, or they thought a fair valuation was for the lots take possession of anv of said lands but such adjacent to the river, twelve shillings per as shall associate with us for the purpose of acre in gold or silver, or its equivalent in settling there. That a charter of incorpora- tion be granted to us as soon as the circum- English money, and for the back lots not so stances of said state will admit, of that tract high. Also appointed John Payne an agent which will be formed by taking a tract two to attend the Assembly of the State of Ver- and one-half miles wide from the north- mont at Windsor in March following, to at- westerly end of Royalton and uniting it with that part of Middlesex which adjoins north- tend to affairs relating to the proposed town- westerly thereon. That we may be assured ship of Bethel. that the fee of such parcels of land therein Mr. Curtis iiiade his report March 17 of contained as shall become forfeit to the State, his doings, etc. shall be granted to us and our associates on reasonable terms. And that the said tract "That agreeable to iny instructions I when so incorporated by charter into a dis- called on Colonel Wells of Brattleborough, tinct and separate town be known by the who informed me that he could not abso- lutely name of Bethel, and your petitioners as in determine who were the proprietors of duty bound shall ever pray, etc." Middlesex, but thought that Mr. Bangor owned a considerable part of it,, and also Dated at Hanover, State of New Hamp- Mr. Kelley and Mr. Kemp. I asked the shire, January ist, 1778. Colonel if he did not think that he had any Signed by the eighteen whose names ap- writings by him which might better inform. pear attached to the foregoing Articles of The Colonel answered that he believed Agreement, etc. he had some of Mr. Gate's writing and It seems from the foregoing that the grant he would see. He accordingly found in Mr. Gate's account book that fronj the Governor of New York was to per- he had charged Mr. Bangor and Mr. Kelly for surveying sons known in those days as " Tories," the 6,000 acres each in Middlesex, which was all date of the same is not known. It was also the account he could find. He further added voted at a meeting held February 11, 1778, that Mr. Bangor would, no doubt, better in- form in the matter to admit members to the number of fifty, re- me and that I might likely find him at Rhinebeck. I accordingly con- cinding the previous vote to have but thirty, cluded to steer my course directly for Rhine- and the - following were admitted : Colonel beck, where, having arrived, I was informed Joseph Marsh, Captain Abel Marsh, Stephen lie was gone to Livingston Manor, to pay a Tilden, John Woodard, Samuel Thing, Jere- visit to Mr. John Smith, who was resident there as a prisoner. 1 then went to the miah Trescott and Samuel Hunt. Also voted Manor where I found both those gentlemen to choose an agent to enquire into the rights together. I enquired of them if either of and claims of the lands contained within the them were proprietors of Middlesex, they supposed limits of said town, and apply to said they were not and did not own any land at all in that township.