VERMONT-L Archives

From: "Pauline Manosh" <>
Subject: [VT-L] East Montpelier, Vermont Washington County " The Early Settlement" Many names listed here.
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2000 14:13:26 -0500

>From Hemenway's Vermont Historical Gazetteer:
East Montpelier, Vermont Washington County
Vol. 4 pg. 577-578 (The Early Settlement)


In June, 1788, John Templeton and Solomon Dodge came to East Montpelier,
from Peterboro, N. H; and commenced felling the forest on their respective
lots, (being adjacent) preparatory to establishing their new homes,
returning to New Hampshire to do their haying, after which, they worked the
remainder of the season, clearing their land, and building each a log-house.
The following spring, 1789, in March, they returned with their families for
a permanent settlement, accompanied by their father-in-law, James Taggart.
After stopping about three weeks with Col. Jacob Davis, they proceeded to
their new homes, 5 miles distant, the snow at this time being 2 feet deep.
On arriving at Mr. Templeton's house, the roof having been covered with
bark, a part of which had blown off, they found the snow nearly as deep
inside the house as out. This had a decided cool look, but there was no
backing down, the snow was shoveled out, a fire built, and they spent the
remainder of their days on that farm, which is still owned and occupied by
their grandson, Austin Templeton.
Mr. Dodge and wife lived and died on their adjacent farm, where their
youngest daughter still resides, the wife of J. R. Young. These were the
first families that moved into the town of East Montpelier.
During the first season all their grain had to be brought from Brookfield,
(getting it ground at Williamstown) a distance of 20 miles,---on a man's
back.
In the fall of this year (1789) as their first crops were harvested, Col.
Davis' mill on North Branch was ready to do the grinding, and save the
Brookfield tramp.
Mr. Templeton was accustomed to say in her later years, that she did not see
a woman, except her two sisters, (Jenna Taggart who lived with her and Mrs.
Dodge.) for a year, lacking one day, and that no family (except as above)
lived nearer than Col. Jacob Davis', being 5 miles. Mr. Templeton died May
18, 1813, age 48.
During 1790, quite a lage addition was made to the population, for we find
that March 29, 1791, at the organization of the old town, of the 27 voters
present, 24 were residents of East Montpelier, viz: Benjamin 1 Wheeler,
David Parsons, Pearley Davis, Ebenezer Dodge, Solomon Dodge, Nathaniel Peck,
David Wing, Lemuel Brooks, Clark Stevens, Jonathan Snow, Hiram Peck, James
Taggart, John Templeton, Elisha Cummins, Jonathan Cutler, Charles McCloud,
Isaac Putnam, Nathaniel Davis, Jerahmel Wheeler, Smith Stevens, Charles
Stevens, Edmund Doty, Duncan Young. The last survior of this pioneer band,
was Elisha Cummins, who died Nov. 21, 1860, aged 93 years.
The first child born in town was James Dodge, son of Solomon Dodge, April 5,
1790; the first female child born was Mary Templeton, daughter of John
Templeton, May 3, 1791. The first death was that of Betsey Cate, a child of
Enoch Cate, 8 months old. The first resident of East Montpelier who was
married was Clark Stevens, with Huldah Foster of Rochester, Mass; Dec. 30,
1792. The first meeting house was a log-house, built by Clark Stevens and
Caleb Bennett, (Friends), on the highway near the line of their farms, in
1793, and used as such till 1802. This is believed to be the first
meeting-house ever built in Washington County.
Polly

This thread:

• [VT-L] East Montpelier, Vermont Washington County " The Early Settlement" Many names listed here. by "Pauline Manosh" <>