GUILDHALL. GUILFORD. quently annoyed by the Indians and tories, who killed their cattle, plundered their houses, and carried a number of the inhabitants into captivity. The first town meeting recorded was in March, 1785. But it appears from the records, that the town had been previously organized. The 15 northwest from Newbury. It was ted to Elisha Hall and his associates. granted November 7, 1780, and chartered The settlement was commenced in the to Thomas Butterfield and his associates, lower part of this town, which was then October 20, 1789, containing 28,300 acres. thought to be a part of Lunenburgh, in The settlement of the township was com- 1764, by David Page, Timothy Nash and menced in 1787, by Messrs. James, Ab- George Wheeler. In 1775, Enoch Hall, bott, Morse and Osmore. John James Micah Amy and James Rosbrook joined was the first male child born in town. the settlement; Eleazer Rosbrook and The town was organized March 28, 1797, Samuel Page, in 1778, and David Hopkinand Nathaniel Knight was the first town son, and Reuben and Simeon Howe, in clerk. The wife of a Mr. Page, in this 1779. The first settlers suffered severe town, was, in 1819, delivered of four male privations and, hardships for a number of children at a birth. The religious denom- years. They brought their grain and proinations are Baptists and Methodists. visions, in canoes, from Northfield in The ministers are Elder Lyman Culver, Massachusetts, a distance of more than Baptist, and Elder James Smith, Metho- 150 miles. During the revolutionary war, dists. The surface of this township is they were in continual alarm, and fregenerally uneven, rough and stoney. There is, however, some very good land, both in the northeast and southwestern parts. The timber is mostly spruce and hemlock, interspersed with maple, beech and birch. This township is watered by Wells river and some of its branches, which afford several good mill privileges. denominations of Christians are CongreThere are also several natural ponds. Wells river pond, through which Wells river passes, is in the north part, and is three miles long and three quarters of a mile wide. Little pond, in the southeastern part, covers about 100 acres, and lies in the course of Wells river. Kettle pond, so called on account of Mr. Hosmer, a hunter, having lost a small kettle in its vicinity, lies in the northwest corner, and covers about 40 acres. The south branch rises in Harris' gore, and running nearly east through the south part of the town, joins Wells river just balow Little pond. In the south part of the township is an extensive bank of white clay or marl, which is a very good substitute for chalk, and which has been used instead of lime in plastering, and is said to answer a very good purpose. There are here one grist, seven saw and one fulling mill, two stores and two tanneries. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 169; cattle, 1,138; sheep, 2,061; swine, 605; wheat, bus. 2,185; barley, 306 oats, 13,618; Indian corn, 2,967; potatoes, 31,095; hay, tons, 2,009; sugar, lbs. 20,530; wool, 4,001. Population, 923. gationalists, Methodists and Baptists. The Congregational church was formed in 1799; settled the Rev. Caleb Burge, August 3, 1808, who was dismissed in March, 1814. The Rev. James Tisdale was settled September 20, 1830, and dismissed in May, 1836. The Rev. Francis P. Smith, the present pastor, was settled in September, 1838. There have been two county grammar school houses erected in this town, both of which were con sumed by fire. The surface of this town, except on the river, is uneven, hard and rocky. The intervales and flats are easy and fertile. Burnside and Cow mountain are considerable elevations. Connecticut river washes the east side of this town. Its other waters are, Cutler's Mill brook, on which mills have been erected, and Burnside brook, on which also, are mill privileges. There is a small village in the northeast corner of the town, containing the county buildings, several offices, stores, &c. At this village is a good bridge across Connecticut river. There is another bridge, connecting this town with Lancaster, near the south east corner. There are here two stores, one tavGUILDHALL, a post and shire township ern, one grain mill, two saw mills, and in Essex county, situated in lat. 44° 32' one fulling mill. Statistics of 1840.and long. 5° 18', containing 19,477 acres, Horses, 126; cattle, 794; sheep, 1,285; or thirty square miles. It is 50 miles swine, 446; wheat, bu. 957; barley, 78; northeast from Montpelier, 25 from Dan. oats, 6,285; buck wheat, 1,774; In corn, ville, and 83 from Windsor. It is bound- 905; potatoes, 25,025; hay, tons, 1,415; ed north by Maidstone, east by Connec- sugar, bs. 11,800; wool, 2,081. Populaticut river, south by Lunenburgh, and tion, 470. west by Granby, and lies opposite to Lan- GUILFORD, a post town in the south caster in New Hampshire. Guildhall part of Windham county, is in lat. 42 was chartered October 10, 1761, and gran- 47′ and long. 4' 26', and is bounded north GUILFORD. GUILFORD, were by Brattleborough, east by Vernon, south [er the whole township was a village-all by Leyden, Massachusetts, and west by the hills and vallies were smoking with Halifax. It lies 50 miles south from huts. By the charter 350 acres Windsor, 31 east from Bennington. It called a share, and all the proprietors was chartered April 2, 1754, to fifty-four shared alike. The reservations in the proprietors, principally of Massachusetts, charter consisted of "one whole share to and contained 23,040 acres. When gran- the society in England for propagating ted the town was a perfect wilderness, the gospel in foreign parts-one to the yet by the charter, the grantees were to first settled minister of the gospel-and bold their first meeting for the choice of one whole share for a glebe, for the minofficers, &c. on the first of May, 1754, istry of the church of England, as by law and on the first Tuesday of March ever established." The governor was not unafterwards. It seems the town was first mindful of his own interest. He reserved organized by and under the very grant 500 acres to be located by itself, for his itself. Power was given to the grant- own. The town was laid out into 50 and ees to transact the business of the town 100 acre lots. The public rights were as a majority should see fit, subject only fairly located, but that of the royal gover to the control of the parliament of Eng- nor fell upon the only mountain in town, land. This little enterprising band, com- which still bears the name of authority posed of Samuel Hunt, John Chandler, upon the map-" Gov. Mountain." AlDavid Field, Elijah Williams, Micah though no reservation was made in the Rice, Ira Carpenter and others, having grant for the use of schools, yet one little to fear from the nominal power of whole share was located for that purpose. parliament, in the wilderness of Vermont, That was a just and generous act of the assumed the title, which was virtually proprietors, but it was not the same libercreated by their charter, of a little indepen-ality that governed them, when they lodent republic. By the records of their cated, sold and settled one whole tier of first meetings, they appear to have been hundred acre lots north beyond the exgoverned by certain committees, chosen for the purpose of surveying the lands, laying roads, drawing the shares or lots, taxing the rights, &c.; but their greatest object was to procure and encourage settlers. Their meetings were held at Greenfield, Northfield, Hinsdale or Brattleboro', until 1765, when their first meeting was held at Guilford. There was a condition which, if not performed, went to defeat the grant. The grantees were to settle, clear and cultivate, in five years, five acres for every 50 in said township. Although much time and money were spent in making roads and clearing lands, yet on the 20th of March, 1764, the grantees by a special committee chosen, petitioned the governor of N. H. for a confirmation of their grant, and an extention of the time, stating that the intervention of an Indian war had made it impracticable for them to fulfil the conditions of the charter. Their prayer was granted and the time for settling the town, extended to the first of January, 1766. From the time the charter was confirmed in 1764, the town began to be rapidly settled by emigrants from Massachusetts and other New-England states. Through the policy of the original proprietors, the first settlers began upon lots of 50 acres, in order to fulfil the condition of the grant. So rapid was the increase of population, that the town soon became the largest in the state as to numbers. Yet there was not a single village in the township, or rath-was wholly governed by a set of officers tent of their charter. That was the case and the same is held by the town to this day. "All the pine trees suitable for masting the royal Navy" were reserved to his Majesty. This shews the attention the English nation paid to the Navy. One hundred miles from the ocean, where no such timber grew, was that reservation made. What has been related, with a little "proclamation money," was the price of the charter. The first land was cleared in 1758 by the Hon. Jona. Hunt and Elisha Hunt, on the farm now occupied by the Rev. Asa Haynes. The first settlement was made by Micah Rice and family, in September, 1761, on the place now occupied by Jeremiah Greenleaf, Esq. Mr. R.'s widow died in 1832, aged 95 years, and his oldest son is now living here, aged 80. Soon after followed Jonathan Bigelow, John Barney, Daniel Lynds, Wm. Bigelow, Ebenezer Goodenough, Paul Chase, Thomas Cutler, John Shepardson, and others. They came into town by the way of Broad brook. Beginning at the mouth of that stream on Connecticut river in Vernon, and passing up on its banks, they found their way into Guilford.That was then the only road, and even that was impassable with teams. The first settlers had either to boil or pound their corn, or go 15 miles to mill with a grist upon their backs. It appears, by what records can be found, that the town GUILFORD. GUILFORD. "ELIJAH WELCH, T. Clerk. chosen annually by the people under their person who shall, for the future, pretend charter, until the 19th May, 1772, when to hold lands by bush fence possession, the inhabitants, at a "district meeting as-shall be dealt with by the town, as a sembled" in the district of Guilford, vo- breaker of the peace of the town, and a ted, that Guilford was in the county of riotous person, &c. AttestCumberland and province of New York, and chose officers of the town, agreeably They further chose a committee to esto the laws of that province. At that tablish the price of labor, all kinds of promeeting a record was first made in a reg- duce, goods, wares and merchandise. The ular town book, which was purchased by report of the committee was adopted as the original proprietors some years before. the law of the town. All the articles By that record it appears, John Shepard- mentioned were a legal tender for debts, son was chosen "district clerk, John Bar- with a penalty of the article sold, or the ney supervisor," &c., and the meeting value thereof, with costs. The punishwas then adjourned to a day after the an- ment of offenders was various, such as nual meeting by the charter. Having re"beech seal," fines, &c., but the most disnounced their charter, and there being no graceful of all was to be compelled to emgovernment which really exercised au- brace the Liberty Pole, with both arms, thority over them, they continued to leg- the time specified by the committee of inislate for themselves, and tradition says spection, or judges. There was again an that good justice was done, yet one prin- entire change of politics in 1778. It ap ciple of the charter was still adhered to, pears by the records, that a warrant and none but proprietors, or those who held notification for a town meeting was sent under them, had a right to rule, or vote from the "Council of Bennington," and in their meetings. Thus was this little a meeting held upon the same, when it republic regulated by a town meeting, was "Voted, not to act agreeable to said which was adjourned from time to time, warrant," and the meeting was dissolved. without interruption from abroad, or con- In 1779, after doing the customary town tentions at home, until the year 1776. business," Voted, Lovell Bullock, TimoThen the town was beset with violent to- thy Root, and Henry Sherburn, a comries and Yorkers on the one side, and mittee to defend the town against the prebrave whigs and New-states-men on the tended state of Vermont, and to represent other. The whigs, united with those op- the town in County Committee."*"Henposed to the claims of the state of New-ry Sherburn, Elliot and Hezekiah StowYork, that and the succeeding year, out ell," all violent "Yorkers, were cho voted the tories and the Yorkers. In 1776 sen to take special care of the powder and the town voted to pay the expenses of lead,and other town stores"-and the meetBenjamin Carpenter, their delegate to the ing adjourned to the next year. In 1780, a Westminster Convention in 1775. They like meeting was held. voted to raise nine soldiers for the conti- following record for 1781. nental army, equip them with arms and people met together that means to stand powder, give them a bounty of £4 "bay in opposition against the pretended state money," by a tax upon the inhabitants of of Vermont, and acted on the following the town, and it was done. They also articles, viz.' Among others see the fol resolved, that "no man should vote for lowing" Voted, to defend themselves town officers, who was not qualified ac- against the insults of the pretended state cording to the direction of the Continen- of Vermont. Voted, Peter Briggs and tal Congress." Under that resolution, William Bullock for a Committee to send their committee, chosen for the purpose, to Charlestown Convention.t Voted, that excluded tories from the polls, vi et armis, Hezekiah Stowell keep the names of those and the poor, if qualified, participated in that are against said pretended state," the government. The title of the town &c. Also, May, 1782. "Then the peoas belonging to the state of New York, ple met in general, and voted to stand was left out of the records. To give some against the pretended state of Vermont, idea of the laws passed by the old repub- until the decision of Congress be known, lic of Guilford, we will quote the follow-with lives and fortunes. Voted, to receive ing, passed the next year, 1777. "Voted, the instructions which came from New not to let any person vote in this meeting, York, &c. Voted, and chose Henry Evbut such as have 40 pounds real or per- ens, Daniel Ashcraft and Nathan Fitch, sonal estate. Voted, John Barney and to forbid the constable acting." These Benjamin Carpenter be a committee to go to Windsor, in June next, to hear the appear not to be regular meetings of the report of the agent sent to Congress concerning a new state. Voted, that any 11 Pr. III. There is the "Then all the *See Slade's Vermont State Papers, p. 106. State Papers, p. 128; also Part 26, p. 60, 82 GAZETTEER OF VERMONT. GUILFORD. GUILFORD. town, but of the Yorkers, who had gotten | records of the proceedings of the town possession of the town books and stores by a majority of votes in 1778. They in turn excluded the other party from the polls, by force of arms. Frequently a company of armed Yorkers came from Brattleboro', to stand sentry at their meetings, when skirmishes ensued and hostile shots were exchanged. The whigs and Vermonters also kept up their system of government by regular and stated meetings, but their records were lost, as will be related hereafter. In their turn they sent hostile scouting parties to Brattleboro', to the assistance of their friends in that town.* The Vermonters had a sheriff, in Guilford, and their party, also, had a constable, who continued to collect taxes Those for the support of their cause. friendly to the new state paid without compulsion, while the property of the Yorkers, both real and personal, was sold at the post for taxes. For that reason the committee before mentioned was chosen "to forbid the constable acting", and their doings were spread upon the records of the town, by proclamation, as follows. "To all the officers of the civil authority under the pretended state of Vermont. You are hereby forbid to proceed against any person, or persons, that owns the jurisdiction of the state of New York, according to what is recommended in a handbill, by Congress, bearing date June 2, 1780, and we do hereby forbid the constable venduing those numbers hereby given him," (referring to certain lots on the plan of the town)" and we hereby forbid you on your apparel. HENRY EVENS, "A true record,-Attest, Committee "SAMUEL BIXBY, Town Clerk." The Yorkers, held a like meeting in 1783, April 29, and adjourned to their annual meeting in 1784. From 1778 to 1783 the town was governed, principally, by their former laws. Both parties had their committees, and the Yorkers, although in authority, could not govern the town, yet, in connection with the tories, prevented any thing being done under the direction and government of the new state. In this state of things, Ethan Allen arrived in town, at the head of 100 Green Mountain Boys; but, as we have already given an account of his procla mation and proceedings, we shall not repeat them here. From 1784 to 1791 no *See part 2d, p. 78. † H. Evens was one of the five who were banished and their property confiscated. See Gov. Chittenden's remonstrance, &c. same page 183. See part second, page 77, are preserved. In March of the year last mentioned, the town was, for the first time, duly organized under the constitution and laws of Vermont. William Bigelow was chosen town clerk, who came peaceably into possession of the papers and records of the town, that were to be found. Tradition says, that during the seven years in which no records were kept, bath parties held public and private meetings, but that it was a perfect rule of anarchy. The Yorkers, although they had the town books, dared not record their proceedings in them, and both parties kept secret their own records. During this confusion and jealousy, one party stole the records of the other, and hid them, together with their own, many deeds and proprietors' papers, There under the earth in the pound, in order to conceal them from the other. they lay, through some sad misfortune, until they were totally spoiled. When discovered and dug up, they could not be read. During that time, the Yorkers, having been so closely pursued by the military and civil authority of Vermont, and their property mostly confiscated, fled to the state of New York, and settled upon the grants made by that state to the New York sufferers. Almost a whole township, now called Bainbridge, was first settled by emigrants from Guilford. This accounts for the so rapid decrease of the population from 1784. While the town was independent of any power superior to the town meeting assembled, refugees from the neighboring states flocked into it, but when the law came, they fled. The violent Yorkers found but little peace under the energetic and persevering meas ures of the states' attorney of Windham county. To him the people of Guilford are indebted for the establishment of law and order, without the effusion of blood, and the dispersion of the riotous. MigraMost of the tions have not only been westward, but northward and eastward. towns, in the northern and middle parts of this state, contain inhabitants from old Guilford. Although the town has decreased in population, it has increased in opulence. Where one farmer now occupies and improves, formerly lived half a dozen, or more, and you now see one respectable dwelling instead of as many log huts. Since 1791, there has been nothing remarkable in the history of the town. From that time the inhabitants have sup ported the character of free and independent farmers, very jealous of their rights, and for many years noted for their strong prepossessions in favor of the political GUILFORD. GUILFORD. school of Jefferson. The Hon. Benjamin | and many others of less note, who are Carpenter was a member of the first convention in Vermont, held at Dorset in 1776. In those trying times with the brave sons of the Green Mountains, when they had not only to oppose the powerful state of New York, the claims of New Hampshire and Masschusetts, the tories and Yorkers at home, and the menacing threats of Congress abroad, but the power of his majesty's legions in war, that brave patriot, with an allowance of three days' provisions upon his back, would cross the Green Mountains on foot by marked trees, to attend the legislature at Bennington, for the purpose of devising ways and means of defence against all the enemies of the state. As delegate to the assembly, as a member of the council, and lieutenant governor of the state, he deservedly holds a conspicuous place in the early history of the same. Hon. John Shepardson, born in 1718, was a firm patriot of the revolution, and held, the offices of judge of the supreme court and member of the council for several years: Died, in 1798. Hon. Samuel Shepardson, born in 1757, was a useful member of society, and had the honor of sitting as a member of the council for several years. Died, in 1813. Hon. William Bigelow, one of the first settlers of the town, and always a father to the people, born in 1751, was a judge of the county court, which office he held with good reputation to himself, and died in 1814. Among the early settlers of the the town, since 1796, might be mentioned the names of the Hon. Royal Tyler, Hon. James Elliot, Hon. Richard Whitney, Hon. Micah Townshend, Hon. Henry Seymour, Hon. Gilbert Denison, Hon. Samuel Elliot, Hon. John Noyes, * *Upon a large white marble tomb stone, in the west part of Guilford, is the following inscription, inserted here for its curiosity. SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE Hon. BENJ. CARPENTER, Esq. Removed to this town, A. D. 1770, Was a field officer in the Revolutionary war, mostly identified with the history of the An A founder of the first constitution and government of ick A. Wadleigh. This church consists Vermont. A Councillor of Censors, in A. D. 1783, A member of the Council, and Lieut Governor of the State in A. D. 1779, A firm professor of Christiansty in the Babtist church And 146 persons of lineal posterity, March 29th 1804, Mind and full faith of a more of about 50 communicants. The Baptists are the most numerous sect. Among the Elders who have had the care of churches in this town, may be mentioned the names of Willis, Hicks, Snowe, Allen, Packard, Leland, Bucklin, Wilson, Lamb, and Bruce. Their present minister is Elder Milo Frarey. The Methodisis have several classes and there are two ministers of this order in town, the Rev. Asa |