First Settlers of Salisbury

History of Salisbury, Vermont
Written by John M. Weeks
Published in Middlebury, Vermont by A. H. Copeland in 1860

Meagre as the foregoing sketches are, the writer yet remembers the names of at least a hundred individuals, all heads of families and most of them early settlers, of whom he can give little or no account; and many of them perhaps equally as worthy of notice as some of the preceding. Among them was James Bradley, who first held the office of town treasurer, in which he continued as long as he remained in town, and Eliphaz Perkins, a man of great worth, both as a physician and citizen. There were also families of whom no mention has been made, bearing the name of Chipman, Reynolds, Johnson, Huntley, Buel, Sutherland, Richardson, Sherman, Phelps, Rossiter, Horsley, Church, Case, Chamberlain, Wells, Baker, Hildreth, Ellsworth, Sterling, Fuller, Merifield, Lyon, Hawes, Stephens, Bailey, Taylor, Alden, Race, Beebe, Golden, Polmatier, Codman, Larkin, Lakin, Skeele, Chafee, Kilburn, Sprague, McDonald, McCombie, Austin, Goodenough, Porter, French, Pattison, Langly, Cheney, Fitch, Linsly, Toby and many others.  Many of these died during their residence here, while others left town.

Henry S. Waterous, M. D., an adopted son of Eleazer Claghorn, and by him was educated. He studied medicine with Dr. John Horton, of this town, and settled in Malone, New York, in 1808. He became quite an eminent surgeon, and was called to the professorship of surgery in the University at Burlington, Vermont, in 1825.  On account of failing health, in 1827, he resigned his chair in the university, and, in company with his son, went to Florida, where, soon after their arrival, both were drowned when on a sailing excursion in the sea, off Key West.

Horatio Waterous, Esq., another adopted son of Eleazer Claghorn, was educated for the profession of the law, and commenced practice in 1802. In 1808, he moved to the western part of New York, where he died six or seven years afterward.

Darius Matthews, M. D., was the first settled physician in Salisbury. He was from Cheshire, Connecticut, and settled here in 1788 or 1789. He was a successful practitioner in his profession, and performed other valuable services for the town, among which was the survey of highways. He remained in town but a year or two, when he moved to Middlebury, where he continued the practice of medicine many years.   He was appointed clerk of the Supreme Court in 1798, and was called to the office of Judge of Probate in 1801, in which he continued until his death in 1819. He was one of the first members of the corporation of Middlebury College, and was an efficient and useful citizen in Middlebury. In 1809, he moved from Middlebury to Cornwall, which latter town he represented in the state legislature several years.

Rufus Newton, M. D., son of Captain Joel Newton, turned his attention to the study of medicine, and commenced practice here in 1805. Subsequently he moved to St. Lawrence county, New York, where he remained several years, but preferring his native town, returned to Salisbury and connected the pursuit of the farmer with that of his profession. Finally when quite advanced in life, he moved to Rock Island, Illinois, where several of his children had previously gone, in which place he died in February, 1857.

E. N. Briggs, Esq., son of Levi Briggs, came into this town with his father in 1819. He studied law, and commenced the practice of his profession here, in 1826, in which he continued with good success for many years. Finally he was induced to move to Brandon, where he still resides, in a successful practice. He represented Salisbury in the General Assembly of the state, four years in succession, and was speaker of the house of representatives a number of years. He was also elected a member of the state senate, while a citizen of Addison county, and since his removal to Brandon, has represented that town in.  the General Assembly and served as senator from Rutland county. He has held many important offices, not only in public but in private corporations; has been a successful man, both in his profession and in politics, and occupies a high and influential position in the coin in unity.

Moses H. Ranney, M. D., was born, August 16th, 1814, in Stockbridge, Vt.   His early life was passed entirely at school, until the age of fifteen years, when he commenced the study of medicine, with Dr. Daniel Huntington, of Rochester, Vt. Having completed the usual term of study, and attended four courses of medical lectures, he graduated at the age of nineteen, at the Berkshire Medical College, in Massachusetts. He remained in his native town one year, and then commenced the practice of his profession in Salisbury, where he resided eleven years. In 1837, he was married to the daughter of Aaron Burrows, Esq., one of our oldest and most respectable citizens. During his residence here, lie was favored with an extensive and lucrative practice for a country practitioner, and was fast arriving at eminence, both in the skill and learning of his profession. But wishing to perfect his knowledge by a personal observation of the nature and treatment of a greater variety of diseases than was here brought to his notice, he went to New York and commenced a course of critical observations in the hospitals of that city, which resulted, in a short time, in his appointment to the office of assistant physician in Bellevue Hospital, lie had been in this office but a short time, when he was made physician in chief of the New York City Lunatic Asylum, which position he still holds. Dr. Ranney has taken a high rank in his profession, and has received many honors, both of a scientific and literary character. He is a member of the Pathological Society, and a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine. His present important and honorable position, and the influence he exerts among others of the same vocation, are sufficient evidences of his professional merit.

Martin G. Everts, Esq., son of Gilbert Everts, received his classical education at Middlebury College, and studied law with Hon. Solomon Foot, of Rutland, Vermont, with whom he afterward went into a successful practice. He has represented the town of Rutland several years in the state legislature, and has been elected senator from the county in which he lives, one or two years. When a member of the legislature he has taken a prominent part in the discussion of important questions, and done a good service in both houses.  He is a good lawyer, and is now in a successful practice in Rutland.

John Prout, Esq., commenced the labors of his profession in Salisbury, in 1838, where he continued, with an increasing business, until August, 1854, when he moved to Rutland, where lie now resides. He represented the town several years in the legislature and rendered it many valuable services during his residence here, by his prudent and careful counsel.  Mr. Prout was always a close and accurate student, which, united with his natural talents, have given him a position as a lawyer, much above mediocrity.

Olin G. Dyer, M. D., son of Gideon Dyer, commenced the practice of medicine here, in 1846, but found a more favorable opening in Brandon, to which place he finally moved. He still resides in Brandon, and is favored with a wide and generous patronage.

Rev. Samuel Cheney was graduated at Middlebury College, in 1810, and studied theology at Princeton, N. J. Preferring a southern field for his labor, he was settled as pastor, over a Presbyterian church, in Springfield, Ivy.

Bushrod Howard, Esq., son of Ellery Howard, studied law, and moved to the west. During the last war, he accepted a commission in the army, and went to Mexico, where he is said to have performed all the duties pertaining to his office, with ability and credit. He afterward located in the practice of his profession in Galena, 111., where he now resides.

Columbus Smith, Esq., son of Joseph Smith, was graduated at Middlebury College, in 1842, and was admitted to the bar of Addison county, about the year 1845, since which time he has been employed in examining and prosecuting for individuals in this country, claims in England and other European countries.   Mr. Smith has successfully managed some of these claims to the great pecuniary advantage both of himself and his patrons.

Rev. Albert S. Graves, son of Augustus Graves, was graduated at Wesleyan University, in 1846. He studied theology with Rev. Stephen Olin, D. D., and joined the Oneida conference of the M. E. church, at Binghampton, N. Y., in 1847. He has since been settled over churches in Groton, Moravia, Ithaca, Oxford, Utica, Cortland, and Auburn, all of the State of New York.   He is now preaching in Auburn, N. Y.

O. R. Graves, brother of the preceding, was graduated at Middlebury College, in 1855. Since he left college, he has been engaged in teaching.

John E. Weeks. M. D., son of John M. Weeks, was graduated at Middlebury College, in 1853, and studied medicine at the University at Albany, N. Y., and at the Medical college, in Castleton, Vt., at which latter institution, he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in 1855, He is now engaged in the practice of his profession in Brandon.

George A. Weeks, brother and classmate of the preceding, after his graduation at college, studied law and commenced practice at Milwaukee, Wis., but subsequently left the profession, and is now in New York.

Joshua Graves---In returning to those men who did not lead what is called a professional life, but who perhaps have performed a no less honorable and important part in the history of our town, it should be further added that, of the sons of Joshua Graves, at least three, Jesse, Simeon,, and Chauncey, and probably others, were soldiers in the American service during the Revolutionary war, and received pensions in their old age.  Joshua, the father, was exempted from duty on account of his deafness. He, together with his son Jesse, built the first framed barn in Salisbury in 1783, which stands a little to the east of the late Joseph Smith's dwelling-house. Mr. Graves' descendants, so far as known, are Graves, Hogsden, Sprague, McDonald, Noyes, Blodget, White, Smith, Ranney, Cook, Gibson, Foster, Sanderson, Campbell, Lane, Allen, Taft, Savery, Howard, London, Goodyear, Black, Reynolds, and Hare.

Gilbert Everts was from Salisbury, Connecticut, and came here in 1786. He was one of the original grantees and the only one who came and took possession of his lands. He was a royalist, and of course his political sentiments were adverse to a revolution ; he thought the American people at that time too weak in population and wealth to throw off the British yoke. His descendants are Everts, Bump, Rider, Stewart, Brown, Kingsley, Powers, Hamilton, and others.

Ephraim Crook came to Salisbury from Westminster, Vermont, in 1793 and always pursued the business of agriculture. He was a man of strong constitution, which enabled him to work profitably in his vocation. By his labor and economy he accumulated quite a large amount of property, and as his boys, of whom he had four, grew up, he gave each a farm, and at his death possessed a good one himself. His wife, Fanny, after moving to this town, learned the art of midwifery, which she practiced with great success about forty years. She officiated in the exercise of her calling in all the neighboring towns, until prevented from furl her duty by a cancerous affection, which terminated her valuable life in 1840. The descendants of the preceding are Crook, Dike, Weeks, Barker, Wooster, Hyde, and Merrill. 

Samuel S. Crook, one of the sons of Ephraim and Fanny Crook, was born at Westminster, Vermont, January 11th, 1789, and came into town with his father when about five years old. He inherited his father's strength of constitution and habits of industry and economy. His main occupation has been that of a farmer, though he has realized considerable profit from his aptitude at trade. About the beginning of the war of 1812, having had the experience of the two or three preceding years in the capacity of clerk in a store, lie determined to enter the mercantile business, and-for that purpose bought out the establishment of Jacob Linsly at Salisbury village, but after remaining in the business about a year, the bad influences of the war upon his trade induced him to relinquish it and return to agriculture.

In 1845 and 1846 he represented the town in the state legislature, where he performed his duties with characteristic promptness and prudence. In 1848 he moved into the south part of Middlebury, where he still lives in quiet and ease.

Mr. Crook has been a person of unusual activity and energy, and is well known, not only for his business traits of character, but for his hospitable and generous home. He was married in 1816 to Elizabeth Sheldon, but has no children.

Pliny Flagg was from Boylston, Mass., and came here in 1784, when about seven years of age. He had several brothers, of whom Solomon and Samuel lived with their mother. Mrs. Flagg, the mother, was a widow, and moved into town among the first settlers. Mr. Flagg was longer a resident of Salisbury than any other person since its settlement, having been here sixty-seven years and three months.  He was well known for his industry and economy, and after having accumulated quite a large amount of property, he died in July, 1851. His descendants are Doud, Campbell, and Hedden.

Capt. Joel Newton was from Cheshire, Connecticut, and settled in 1784. He was a soldier of the revolution, and drew a pension till his death. He was a wise and good man. No person in town did more, in proportion to his means, for the support of the Gospel, and other public and benevolent institutions, than Captain Newton. He died in 1842, aged eighty-four years. His descendants are Newton, McWane, and others.

Capt. William Pratt was from Easton, Massachusetts, and was also a soldier of the revolution, and drew a pension.   He settled the same year with Captain Newton. His descendants are Pratt, Dewey and Gibson.

Josiah Farnham also settled the same year, and was a revolutionary soldier. He lived to an advanced age. His descendants are Farnham, Graves, Crook, Barker, McVine, Bump, Pond and Ludlum.

Abe Waterous was another settler of 1784, and a revolutionary soldier. He was in several battles, among which was the battle of Bennington. He died about 1800.   His descendants are Waterous, Johnson, Andrews, Wilcox, Bell, Miles, Daniels, and Langdon.

Elisha White, from Lancaster, Massachusetts, and Widow Stephen Holman, from Sterling, Massachusetts, also settled in town during the same year. The descendants of the former are White, Sawyer, Hammond, Mead, Cole, Con ant, Johnson, Baldwin, Colvin, Paige, Alden and Ward; and of the latter, Holman, Wolcott, Smith, Waterhouse, Doty, Pront and others.

Elias Ivelsey was born in Guilford, Connecticut, and came here in 1785. He was the first constable was on the first committee to lay out roads, and among the first selectmen. He had several sons, of whom Elias, junior, lived in Salisbury sixty-seven years and one month, and died April 28th, 1852. aged seventy-seven.   His descendants are Kelsey, Bradley, Woodcock, Bigelow, Hawley, Allen, Howe, Clark, Stewart, Bly, Actly, Sumner, Lee and many in the western country.

Samuel Pierce was a native of Canaan, Connecticut, and settled in 1787, He was a revolutionary soldier. He was distinguished for his muscular elasticity, and among other feats, would, on level ground, jump over a string stretched six feet above it. His strength, united with other abilities, rendered him a fit person for the office of constable, which he held fourteen years in succession. His descendants are Pierce, Story, Farrand and Chapin.

Thomas Savery, from Sutton, Mass., and Henry Kelar, from Orange county, N. Y., settled in 1788, and were both revolutionary soldiers. The former was in the battle at Lexington, Monmouth, and White Plains, and his descendants are Savery, Newton, Powell, Filly, Cotton, Owen, Holman, and Remington.

John Fyfe was a Scotchman, and settled in 1788.  He was said to have been in the British service during the war. However that may be, he was a very useful man among the settlers, for he was a brick-layer, and could work in many ingenious ways. His descendants are Fyfe, Perry, and Hooker.

Asa Lawrence was a native of Canaan, Conn., and settled in 1789. He took a prominent part in all transactions of the town. Although a carpenter by trade, he also made carts and wagons, which, especially at that time, rendered him a very useful person in community; and in addition to his usefulness, he was proverbially honest. He had only one son, Jedediah by name, who, after doing the town some valuable services, finally settled in Crown Point, N. Y.

Holland Weeks was from Litchfield, Conn., and settled in 1789. He received the title to his land from Gov. Wentworth of New Hampshire, in 1785, and came on and made his survey in 1787. In 1788, he moved his team and farming tools, cleared land, built a log house, and made other preparations for moving his family, the following year. Early in 1789, his family were moved into this log house, having made the journey from Connecticut, in seventeen days. He died of lung fever, Nov. 22d, 1812.  His descendants are Weeks, Goodell, Adams, Seymour, Burnham,-Avery, Shepherd, Everts, Barker, Merrill, Bump, Eider, Stewart, Brown, Ivingsley, Beach, Shumway, Park, Clark, Wilcox, Shelden, Robinson, Bingham, Ellsworth, Hall, Hamilton, and others.

Solomon Story, brother of Amos Story, was from Norwich, Conn., and later from Dalton, Mass., and settled here in 1789. After a life of great usefulness, he died, May 22d, 1816, aged ninety years. His descendants are Story, Hammond, Raymond, Swan, Chapin, and Farrand.

Jonas Story, son of the preceding, came into town with his father, and by hard labor at chopping, clearing land, and otherwise, accumulated means sufficient to defray his expenses, while pursuing the studies preparatory to the legal profession. He was, finally, admitted to the bar, and settled in Poughkeepsie, N.  Y., where he lived to an advanced age, a respectable and successful lawyer.

Rufus Story, another son of Solomon Story, also came to Salisbury with his father, in 1789. He is still living in town, and is one of its oldest and most respected inhabitants. He inherited much of the unostentatious worth which characterized his father, and has lived a life which, for its honesty and Christian meekness, and charity, may well be imitated by all.

Gilbert Everts, Jr., was a native of Salisbury, Conn., and came into town with his father, in 1786.  He was one of the original members of the congregational church, to which, at his death, he bequeathed the sum of about one hundred and fifty dollars. He was an industrious and exemplary man, and at his death was mourned by a large circle of relations and friends.

Eli Smead, a revolutionary soldier, was from Greenfield, Mass., and settled in 1795. His descendants are Smead, Long, Sanford, and Stowell.

Aaron L. Beach was from Torrington, Conn., and settled in 1790. He died in 1826, aged fifty-seven.  His descendants are Beach, Shumway, Park, Wilson, and others.

Salathiel Bump, a revolutionary soldier, was from Oblong, N. Y., and settled in 1790. He was justice of the peace a great number of years, and was sent to the legislature, as town representative, many times.  He was a leading man in town, and may well be considered one of its fathers. His descendants are Bump, Beach, Allen, Smith, Capron, Jefferson, Rounds, Elmore, Crook, Ranno, Moses, Paine, Ward, Gibson, Harris, Boardman, Briggs, and Hamilton.

Simeon Strong, also a revolutionary soldier, was from Salisbury, Conn., and settled in 1790. His descendants are Parsons, Blood, Bump, Moses, Gibson, Paine, Wright, Beach, Gipson, Flagg, Doud, and Parker.

Abner More was from Whittingham, New Hampshire, and settled in 1793. His descendants are More, Jenney, Bishop, Tubs, Carr and Gipson.

Daniel Whitney, a revolutionary soldier, was last from Westminster, Vermont, and settled in 1793.  His descendants are Whitney, Eggleston, Brown, Griffin, Hadlock, Carr and Gipson.

Daniel Noyes, another soldier of the revolution, was a native of Sudbury, Massachusetts, and settled in 1794. His descendants are Noyes, Powers, Lahee, Hare, Reynolds, Wright, Barns, Brown, Kneeland, Carlisle, Holiday, Ingcrson, Field and Briggs.

John Deming, was from Canaan, Connecticut, and last from Middlebury, Vermont. He moved to Salisbury village in 1794, and took possession of the water power that he had previously purchased of Colonel Thomas Sawyer. He carried on the business of blacksmith, and kept a store for a number of years, but finally, in 1807, moved back to Middlebury. His descendants are Deming, Walker, Paine, Curtis, Tripp and Green.

Ethan Kelsey was a native of Killingsworth, Connecticut, and moved his family into town in 1795, but made his home mostly in Whiting, and was deacon of the Congregational church in that place. His descendants are Kelsey, Foster, Taylor, Graves, Holt, Barker and Ludlum.

John Holt, a soldier of the revolution, was a native of Woburn, Massachusetts, and settled in 1795.  He was one of the original members of the Congregational church, and one of its first deacons. His descendants are Holt, Noyes, Tharp, Weller and others.

Lunah Titus was from Attlebury, Massachusetts, and settled in 1795. His descendants are Titus, Hildreth, Payday, Pratt, Remington and Beach.

Samuel Taylor was from Eastham, New Hampshire, and also settled in 1795. His descendants are Taylor, Gorham, Barker, Bump, Elmore, Eaton, Carpenter, Noyes, Ranno, Crook, Brown, Carlisle, Ingerson, Holdridge, Ballard and Sturdevant.

Joshua Moosman was from Frenchtown, Massachusetts, and moved his family to Salisbury in 1798.  He was in the revolutionary war; was present at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was carried away captive by the Indians, at Crown Point, New York. His descendants arc Moosman, Bidwell, Chafee, Strong and Mead.           

Reuben Saxton was a native of Northampton, Massachusetts, and settled in this town in 1799. The first year of his residence here, he was elected town clerk, which office he held for twenty-nine successive years. He was justice of the peace about the same length of time, and represented the town six years in the state legislature. He was one of the most thorough business men the town has ever possessed; he took a leading part in all public transactions, and did much for the support of education and religion.  In 1837, he sold out his property here, and left town, to the great regret and sorrow of a large community of friends.   He died in the autumn of 1850.

Mrs. Anna Weeks, mother of Holland Weeks, senior, was born in Pomfret, Connecticut, and came to Salisbury in 1799. From about 1760, she had practiced in the calling of midwife in her native state, and on arriving here, again entered upon the duties of the same vocation, which she performed with remark-able success. She officiated at the birth of more than a thousand children, and rarely, if ever, was unsuccessful.   Mrs. Fanny Crook learned the obstetric art of her. She always rode on horseback and made her visits alone, even at the advanced age of eighty-six, and was extensively employed until her death, which occurred in the latter part of 1805.

Samuel Daniels was from Upton, Massachusetts, and settled here in 1775. By the compromise with Leicester in 1796, his farm was brought within the limits of that town. He was a revolutionary soldier, and, as has already been stated, was killed by the Indians and Tories at Shelburne in 1778. He had two sons, Dan and Samuel, the former of whom remained among us and still resides on the old place in the south part of the town. Among his descendants are Daniels, Story, Gibson, and Forbes.

Solomon Thomas was last from Chittenden, Vermont, and settled here about the year 1800. He settled in the eastern part of the town, where he pursued the business of a farmer until his death. His descendants are numerous and mostly retain the family name. Marrying cousins or distant relations has been a peculiarity of the family, thus giving no great variety to the descendants' names.

Christopher Johnson a revolutionary soldier, was a native of Harrington, Connecticut, and moved into the town in 1799. His descendants are Johnson, Smith, Jewett, Sherman, Wheeler, Waterons, Capron, Tripp, and Barrett.

George Griswold was from Salisbury. Connecticut, and came here in 1800. In the revolutionary war he was a servant to Captain Eleazer Claghorn. Mr.  Griswold was a useful citizen and wielded a great and beneficial influence wherever he went. He was kind, generous, and peace-loving, and when he died was mourned by all who knew him. His death occurred in 1811, and was caused by a wound in the knee, received while cutting a bee tree.

William Copeland was born in Pomfret Connecticut. and settled in 1800. He was an ingenious mechanic and worked at wheels and plows.  His descendants are Copeland, Cadwell, Carpenter, Bancroft. Tucker. Griffith, and Mead.

Gersham Beach was a Virginian, and came here in the year 1800.  He was in the service of his country most of the time during the revolutionary war, was with Ethan Allen at the taking of the fort at Ticonderoga, was present at the capture of Burgoyne, and was in the battle of Hubbarton. He fell through the ice when crossing a pond in Canada East, in 1812, and was drowned. His descendants are Beach. Thomas Blanchard, Woodard, Graves, Goodyear, Savery, London, Howard, Emerson, Root, Washburn, Ford, Martin. Brown, and Gibbs.

Nathaniel B. Field was from Tolland, Connecticut, and moved to Salisbury in 1804.   He married Ruth Noyes, and followed the trade of a tailor nearly all his life. He now resides with his son in Brandon.  His descendants are Field and Briggs.

Joseph Hubbard was born in Windsor. Connecticut, and came here in 1805. He was a very pious and exemplary man, of the sect known as Freewill Baptists, and was licensed to preach. His descendants are Hubbard, Thomas, Beach, Hollister, and Kilburn. 

Jonathan Wainwright was from Cheshire, Connecticut, and moved into this town in 1805. He was a teamster in the revolutionary war. His descendants are Wainwright, Wooster. Hyde, Dyke, Sessions, Thomas, Severance, Emerson. Beckwith. Barber, Spaulding, Smith, Beardsly, Guernsey, Pray, Howes,  Northrop, and Wheeler.

Ellery Howard was last from Jamaica. Vermont, and settled here in 1806. He was a clothdresser by trade, and followed the business of that calling several years, but finally commenced tavern-keeping, in which he has continued to this day. Mr. Howard has kept a public house in Salisbury village nearly fifty years.   His descendants are Howard.

Jabez Spencer came into Salisbury from New Haven, Connecticut, in the year 1807.   He was also a revolutionary soldier.   His descendants are Spencer, Adams, Ames, Bush, Smith, Phelps, and Barker.

John Morton was a native of Middleborough, Massachusetts, and brought his family to this town in 1807. He was in the revolutionary war, and though only a boy, was engaged in the skirmish with the British at the burning of New Bedford, and was out with the troops in Rhode Island and other places, in times of alarm. When Mr. Morton came here, the military company appeared to be losing its strength and discipline, for want of proper officers; and he being an efficient man, and having had some military experience in the war, was urged to accept the appointment of captain, and did so. After serving faithfully and acceptably in this office two or three seasons, he resigned, and was chosen captain of a large company of Silver Grays, formed of old revolutionary soldiers and others, both from Salisbury and Leicester, for the purposes of defense if necessary, in the war of 1812.

Captain Morton called this company together, consisting of seventy-seven men, beside officers, and went to meet the British at Plattsburgh, at the memorable battle at that place, in 1814. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-four years, and died December 23d, 1857, and was buried on Christmas day—the day of his birth. His descendants are Morton, Wellington, Dyer and Haight.

Jacob Chase is a native of Newburyport, Massachusetts, and came to Salisbury in 1806, when a young man. Having learned the business of iron making, he was unsettled for a few years, obtaining employment at different places, but at last became a permanent settler here, in 1811. He has been a leading man in the business of iron making, in Salisbury, for more than forty years. Possessing much more than ordinary physical strength and hardihood, he was peculiarly fitted for the labors of his calling, he spent two years in the service of his country, in the war of 1812, in which he received a severe wound, by which he was disabled for quite a long time. He has drawn a pension of ninety-six dollars per annum, since 1814.  Mr. Chase's business as a bloomer, led him, in early life, into the habit of drinking ardent spirits quite freely ; and for many years he had the peculiar reputation of being able to drink more rum, without its disturbing his equilibrium, than any other person who indulged in that dangerous habit. To use his own words, "he could no more be made drunk, than the distillery itself." But when the temperance reform commenced among us, he was early found among the reformed, and took a very active part in the temperance meetings. His great-grandmother, on his mother's side, was an Indian woman, from the Mohawk tribe. His descendants are Chase, Estee, Dow, Lamphier, and Jennings.

Moses Sheldon was from Salisbury, Connecticut, and moved to this town in 1810.   He married a daughter of Samuel Keep. His descendants are Sheldon, Case, Johnson, and James.

Samuel Keep was also from Salisbury, Connecticut, and was one of the original grantees of the town. He first settled in Crown Point, New York, about the year 1773, and being well acquainted with the forts both at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, was one of Ethan Allen's advisers in taking the fort at the latter place in 1775. In order to obtain a more perfect knowledge of the fort at Ticonderoga and of its guards, lie made pretence that his cow had strayed and could probably be found grazing somewhere near the camp ground, and accordingly he was allowed to pass the guard. After making a full survey of all the place, he lost no time in giving Allen the benefit of all his discoveries, which greatly assisted in the plan for the taking of the fort immediately after.

Mr. Keep afterward feeling it unsafe for his family to remain here during the revolution, moved back to Salisbury, Connecticut, where, until the close of the war, he was employed in casting cannon for the American army. After he came to this town he immediately engaged in the business of iron making, and superintended the erection of forges. He was Colonel Sawyer's first bloomer. It is said that while he was engaged in the war he received a captain's commission. He died in Brandon, in the year 1802, aged seventy-one, but was buried by the side of other deceased relatives in the burying-ground of District No. 1, in Middlebury.

Asa Blodgett was from Litchfield county, Connecticut, and settled in the first place in Middlebury, on the farm owned by the late Ira Stewart. Subsequently, he moved to Salisbury, and lived on the farm now owned by F. L. Dyer. This was at quite an early day, though the exact date is not known.  Mr. Blodgett never took any active part in town matters, but was satisfied with his quiet employments at home.

If all the truth must be told of Mr. Blodgett, it must be added, that he was a very profane man and inclined to treat all religious exercises with contempt. He used to say he never prayed (prayered, as he expressed it), but once, and that was when a bear caught him. The circumstances were these:

Jesse Graves being greatly annoyed by bears crossing the creek to his cornfield, undertook to stop their depredations by setting a spring-gun in the road they most frequently passed.  The gun had not been set many days before it was discharged by a very large bear as she was entering the field. The ball only wounded the animal, which turned back the way she came, and, having crossed the creek, crept under a log on the western bank and lay down to rest.

Meantime Blodgett, having heard the report of the gun, hastened to the spot, and finding marks of blood on the ground and bushes followed on and crossed the creek, making pursuit in such haste, that as ho jumped over the log under which the bear lay, he came down directly upon her.   She, already infuriated by the wound she had received, seized her pursuer by one of his legs and held him fast. Blodgett having no means of self-defense, stooped down to liberate his leg from its un-pleasant fastening, when the infuriated bear seized upon his arm near the shoulder with her teeth, holding him in a stooping posture, while with her hind feet she commenced tearing away the seat of his trousers, at the same time inflicting sun dry wounds in those quarters. It was at this stage of the affair that Blodgett was said to have prayed. About this time his dog also arrived, which so diverted the attention of the bear, that Blodgett escaped, and went home to bind up his wounds.   During this conflict he also received a wound in the face, the scar of which he carried to the end of his life. 

Levi Briggs was from Middleborough, Massachusetts, and settled here in 1819. He brought up his children in usefulness, one of whom has already been noticed. His second son, Levi, was constable and deputy-sheriff many years; and the third, Sumner, has filled many town offices with credit, among which is that of town representative and trustee of the public money.

Stephen Hard was one of the first settlers, both in point of time and influence, but the exact time of his moving here is not known. He represented the town in the legislature of the state in 1788, and was one of its first selectmen. He was also town clerk and constable, and held the office of justice of the peace about twenty years.   He was twice married and had about twenty children, most if not all of whom lived to the age of maturity. He finally left town about the year 1811 or 1812. His descendants are very numerous, but have all moved from town.

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