The first settler, Amos Cutler , made his first clearing on the farm now owned by Josiah Rosseter. He died there on the 18th of March, 1818. His wife, whom he married November 23, 1773, was daughter of Jacob Simonds. of Hampton, Conn. Cutler was a blacksmith by trade, and worked at the business here, with tools of his own manufacture. Owing to the restrictive measures of Great Britian, compelling the colonies to purchase most of their necessities of her, the scope of Cutler's productions was very limited.
A fulling-mill was built by James, son of John Ambler , and stood on the small stream that crosses the road between the farm now occupied by Otis F. Smith and the one formerly owned by S. B. June.
David June, a native of Stamford, Conn., came to Brandon in 1773 with his father-in-law, John Ambler. They made a joint pitch in the south part of the town, which was by Mr. June's later purchases made to comprise 225 acres in the homestead at his death. He built a log house and returned to Stamford in November of the same year of his arrival, bringing back his wife and two sons. He came with two horses, upon one of which the family, except him-self, rode, and the other carried the goods. They arrived safely after a most fatiguing journey. Mr. June was on the proprietors' committee to lay out roads "from Pittsford to Leicester, and from Pittsford to Sudbury, and from Pittsford to the mills, on the east side of the creek." He died in June, 1819. He had four sons and three daughters. The sons were Daniel, Asahel, Stephen and David.
Captain Josiah Powers , originally of Littleton and afterwards of Greenwich, Mass., was the leading man of the proprietors. He became the most extensive land-owner in town. He owned at one time about three thousand acres, but continued to sell until at his death he had disposed of nearly all his former possessions. He came here to reside in 1774, and settled on the place now known as the Goodenow farm. His log house stood about fifty rods southwesterly of the present dwelling. He was drowned October, 1778, while attempting to ford on horseback a stream swollen by a flood. He was returning, it is thought, from attendance at the Legislature at Windsor.
Dr. Benjamin Powers , brother to Captain Josiah Powers, came to Neshobe about the same time. He was the first physician in town ; was probably a single man. He died towards the close of the war.
Captain Elisha Strong settled before 1774 on a lot called the Governor's lot, on the west side of the creek, embracing the present Bardella marble quarry land. He was moderator of the first proprietors' meeting held in town in September of 1774. Captain Strong died near the close of the war. Noah Strong, his eldest son, began on what was formerly the "Goss Place," now the town farm. He was among the earliest of the settlers and purchased of Samuel Beach, then of Rutland, for twenty-four pounds, the original right of Thomas Sawyer; also of his father-in-law, Josiah Powers, the right of William Frye, and other purchases. He had seven children, all but one of whom were born in this town. He built the first mills, long known as Strong's mills, on the site of S. L. Goodell's marble works. He sold his homestead, then containing 180 acres, to Joshua Goss for .£480 in 1796 and removed to Ohio.
Captain Thomas Tuttle came here about 1774 from Pittsford, although he had formerly lived in Tinmouth. He first settled on what has since been known as the Farrington farm, owned by Franklin Farrington ; his log house stood near the creek and the present road to Sudbury, a few roils from where the railroad crossing now is. The original survey contained one hundred and ten acres. His house was burnt by the Indians in 1779, as were also those of his son, and his son-in-law, Barker. He was killed in an attempt to escape from Fort Washington after the surrender of that stronghold to the British.
Joseph Barker came here before the war and settled on land then adjoining that of Captain Tuttle on the south. His house stood on the north side of the road to Sudbury, some distance from it, and near the present railroad crossing. He married Martha, daughter of Captain Thomas Tuttle. He was taken prisoner by the Indians in November, 1779, on their second hostile visit to Brandon. Feigning sickness and keeping the Indians awake until the latter part of the first night, when his guards were overcome by sleep, he effected his escape. Meanwhile Mrs. Barker had started to go to Noah Strong's, a distance of more than three miles. Night coming on and having gone as far as the deserted log house of the Robinses, she there remained for the night; there, without other attendant than the other child, a babe was born to her, and there Mr. Barker found her the next day ; she was properly cared for and recovered. The child was named Rhoda, and married and removed to western New York. Thompson's Gazetteer gives the year of this incident as 1777; but it was two years later. Mr. Barker was a shoemaker; was twice chosen selectman, several times constable and held other town offices. He removed to the West.
Deacon John Mott came from Richmond, Mass. He first purchased of Josiah Powers, on the 8th of November, 1774, one hundred acres for £15, on the right of David Vernas. He also made purchases of James Stone and Thomas Tuttle. he came here in 1775, and remained until 1812, when he removed to Mount Vernon, Ohio. He was a very prominent man in town. He built the house now standing on the premises of his half-brother, Henry Harrison.
Gideon Mott purchased of him in June, 1784, two lots of fifty-five acres each, for £11, one adjoining Amos Cutler and the other on the Gilbert, now the Locke Brook. He pitched on the latter, and built a house on the north side of the road leading from Albert Wood's to the Cook farm ; when he began here there was north of him but one house, that of Noah Strong.
Samuel Mott , brother of John Mott, bought land of Gideon in 1786. He began on the present farm of J. Walton Cheney, made his " opening " and erected his unpretentious blacksmith shop a few rods south of the dwelling-house of Mr. Cheney, and on the west side of the present road.
George and Aaron Robins , brothers and single, came a little before the breaking out of the war, from Petersham, Mass., and built a log house on the place now owned and occupied by Owen Morgan. Their widowed mother kept house for them. They were bold, fearless enemies of the Indians, and were killed by a band of them in November, 1777.
Jonathan Ferris , from Stamford, Conn., purchased of John Ambler, March 30, 1776, for £28 York money, a tract of one hundred and ten acres lying on the north line of Pittsford, the farm now owned by T. B. Smith. He lived single and died at an advanced age, having been for several years under the care of the town.
Joshua Goss , from Montague, Mass., settled here before the close of the war, on the west side of the highway, and some fifty rods from it, about as far north as David June's house. In 1796 he bought the well-known Goss place, now the town farm, of Noah Strong, where he for years kept a public house. He died in December, 1826.
Samuel Kelsey came from Wallingford before the close of the war and settled on the farm now owned by Arnold Manchester. He removed to the West.
