# The Recluse (Cook)/Vermont Poets and Poetry

STUDY LIST VERMONT POETS AND POETRY
Designed to facilitate the intelligent study of Vermont poetical development and literature.
WALTER J. COATES, North Montpelier, Vt.
FIRST PERIOD: 1768—1812.
Covering the Revolutionary War epoch; the development of Vermont as a separate Nation; and its first days under the Republic. (References are to Hemenway’s “Vermont Historical Gazetteer” in 5 Vols.)
A: Colonial, or Pioneer Singers:
    1: Thomas Rowley: 1721—1796.
       Official bard “Green Mountain Boys”; later known as “The Shoreham Bard”.
       Early life, Hebron, Conn.; pioneer, Danby., Vt. 1768; legislative activity; poetic improvisations; influence in western counties.
          (Hen. Gaz., Vol. 3, pg. 644–5; also Vol. 1, pg. 99).
    2. Nathaniel Niles: 1741—1827.
       (a) Education; early career in Connecticut; as minister; as author of “The American Hero”.
       (b) Ethical, Literary and political career at West Fairlee, Vt.
          (Hem. Gaz., Vol. 2, pp. 907–12).
    3: Josias Lyndon Arnold: 1765—1796.
       Education; early life; removal to St. Johnsbury; death and posthumous issue of “Poems”, 1797. The first published volume of Vermont Poetry.
          Hem. Gaz., Vol. 1, pg. 398).
    4: Jabez Fitch: 1737—1812.
       His Manuscript Diary and his Book of Manuscript Poems.
          (Hem. Gaz., Vol. 2, pp. 783–96).
B: Formative Writers—
       The “Golden Era of Vermont Song”.
Major Poets:
IRoyall Tyler: 1757—1826.
    1. Early career in Massachusetts: 1757—90.
       His family; college training; early associates; military experiences; first literary achievements; mental crisis.
    2: Ten years in Guilford: 1790—1800.
       Legal practice; literary activity; formation of a “school” of poets and prose writers; newspaper activity.
    3: Later career in Brattleboro: 1800—1826.
       Legal and judicial achievements; social and literary work; last years.
       One of the “founders” of American literature.
             Unpublished manuscripts.
       LITERARY RESUME:
          (a) Comedy Dramas:
             “The Contrast,” 1789.
             “May Day in Town,” 1789.
             “The Georgia Spec, or Land in the Moon,” 1797. ​
          (b) His Novel:
             “The Algerine Captive” (Guilford period) 1797.
          (c) Journalistic activity: (with Joseph Dennie)
             Founding the Farmer’s Weekly Museum; or N. H. and Vermont Journal.
          (d) Poetic expression: Founding “The Guilford School”.
    (Reference: Hem. Gaz., Vol. 5; Brattleboro, pgs. 86–101; and Guilford, pgs. 42–3)
Query: In what sense, and to what extent can we call the Connecticut Valley the “Cradle of American Literature”?
II Thomas Green Fessenden: 1771—1835.
       (a) Early days at Walpole, N. H., at Dartmouth; at Rutland; contributions to the Weekly Museum, etc.—1795—1801.
       (b) Experience in Engand; his satires.—1801—4.
          “Terrible Tractoration”,—1804.
          “Democracy Unveiled”, about 1805.
       (c) Editorial career, New York: 1806—7; and in Philadelphia 1807—11, “Pills”.
          “Original Poems”, 1804; their reception in England: 2nd edition, 1806.
       (d) Legal, poetical and journalistic career in Vermont, at Bellows Falls and Brattleboro, 1812—22.
          “The Ladies’ Monitor” (poems), 1818.
       (e) Boston epoch: 1822—37.
          The New England Farmer.
          Fesenden’s Almanac and other works.
       His place in American Literature:
       (a) As the first noteworthy American satirist—“The American Butler”.
       (b) As first American poet to paint New England manners and customs.
Secondary Poets:
    1: Anthony Haswell: 1756—1816.
       (a) The Vermont Gazette, Bennington, 1783, and its influence.
       (b) Haswell as a Ballader.
    2: Selleck Osborne: 1783—1826. “Poems”, 1823. His satires.
    3: Refine Weeks: His Poetry: various books.
    4: Selah Gridley: 1767—1826. “The Mill of the Muses”, 1827.
    6: Almira Selden: Her “Effusions of the Heart” 1820.
5: The Guilford School:
       James Elliott: 1775—1839.
          Youth at Guilford; military and literary career; legal and political record.
          “Poetical and Miscellaneous Works”, 1798.
       Samuel Elliott: 1777—1845.
          Legal, oratorical and poetical career. “An Humble Tribute to My Country”, 1842.
       John Phelps: Lawyer and friend of Royall Tyler.
          “New England”, a poem.
          “Book of Rights and Duties”.
          Political pamphlets and church hymns.
       Almira Phelps:
          Her “Botany”, 1833; “Chemistry”, 1834; “Familiar Lecturer”, 1838. 1838.
          Poems: “Our Country in its Relation to Past, Present and Future”, 1864.
       Stella Phelps: Poems.
       John Shepardson: 1718—1813. Lawyer; Judge Supreme Court.
       Elizabeth Peck: 1780—1824.
          Early Poetical work; career smothered by marriage.
       Henry Dennison: 1796—1819.
          Early life, education; emigration to Georgia; starts literary journal; “Poems”, published posthumously in The Columbian Lyre, Glasgow, 1828. Bulk of his MSS. lost.
          (Reference for above “School” Hem. Gaz., Vol. 5).