Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-04-30

l60 rods They began at the South East cor
ner of the town and after taking the course of
the river at that place, measured back 100 rods,
and then ran they supposed parallel to the
river 25 rods for each lot and made corner
bounds but after proceeding in this way a
mile or two they found themselves close upon
the river. They then took now course and
bore Off from the river until they had gone more
than three miles. They then sent some Of their
number TO sec how far they were from the river,
who returned after some time and said they
could not find itand that ended the surveyingf for
that time. My father came up in August and
spent several days in tracing this line which
he said ended near where I now live, which is
about two miles from the river. The river lots
were laid out by Esq. Hatch, in l76i, and
bounded on the river only. A part of the Humid
red acre lots were laid out in 1865 by Esq.
Hatch, surveyor and Jacob Burton and John
SLATER were chainmen.
In June l763 james IIovey, brother to my
mother, Ebenczer Smith and John Slaftcr came
Slater proposed to buy peck of potatoes to
plant, but Hovey and Smith declined Slater
took the potatoes in his pack and they came
through the woods about 80 miles by marked
trees. Jacob Fenton came up shortly after
wards and rode up his old mare. lie probably
came with Edmund Freeman, who began in
Hanover nearly opposite TO my fathers place.
Fcnton was uncle to my father. have no rec
ord of Fenton's death. but he must have died
in 1868, as | have heard my father relate the
circumstances repeatedly. They started to go
to Lebanon to work. They had only one canoe
in which they all crossed over and swan Fen
toms mare over. Fenton then mounted her,
but they had gone only a short distance, when
/ Fenton, in passing under a tree which had part
ly fallen and lodged, was caught between the
tree overhead and the fore part of his saddle, it
was an old fashioned saddle with high ponmel)
Some water was brought him in hat and he
vomited quantity of blood, and it was feared
for time that he would die on the spot. After
while they got him on to his mare and returned
with him to my fathers camp where they lef
James Hovey an Ebenczer Smith. to take care
Of him. They gave him buttcrnut physic, which
was all they could got, but could get nothing t.
pass his bowels. lie died Friday night and by
morning was very much b'oatcd. Hovey pro
posed to Smith that one Of them should 60 dowl
against Lebanon, and try to get help TO bury him
(thc canoe being on the other side of the river,
but Smith would neither 90 nor stay alone s.
t they both went down. but did not succeed i,
giving any notice. The men who had been n
= work at Lebanon got back in the dusk Of tn
evening and not thinking much about uncle ia
! cob, were in a fine frolic when they LANDED
S but what a change when they reached the hu
d and found dead man, who was so bloated tina
they could recognize him only by his gray hair:
o llovey and Smith soon returned, and havin
i pealed Eastwood bark for a coffin, they burie
him that nigh, by torch-liglt
Old Mr. Messenger and wife came INTO tow
in 1865, and Mrs. NJ. was the only woman
town that summer. She was not a great beau
yet she often boasted that size was once t
IF handsomest woman in Norwich. John IIutcl
: inson came into Norwich in the spring of III
ii as stated by DR.. Burton to Mr.. Powers.
N In Powers Historical Sketches. page 1856,
os is said that Otis Freeman came with his broth
as Edmund, being ONLY II years old, in lie
=. which is probably correct, and if OTIS was n
ID here until 1865, llovey and Smith, when Fc
We ton died, would have found Messenger about
lc miles below, at the west end of where Ha
to over bridge now is but am confident that o,
Freeman never mean, 10 tell Powers that
L l. T., I'll
- that Edmund Freeman was in the company til
k went to Lebanon, and Zebulon Lee also, as
,rt was here that summer. Lee settled in Harlan
nd where he died at good old age. lIezckii
Goodrich Esq. who is now living says tn
~ his communication to Josiah Durham, Ga
h. which was afterwards printed in your GazctreC
was made from recollection. Of what he had hoa
w my father say in years gone by, and that he W
ng not very certain that he was correct except
~ the date OF Fenton's death which was on
;. gravestonc, and Which was July Is, 1868
n. The grave being on his land, where he had
VS. served the stone for moro than 40 years,
| thought he could not be mistaken with reg
de- TO tie date. The gravestoncs were erected
:. my father, but they are now gone and the pl'
:, of the grave is not exactly known.
the An anecdote is related by Ebenezer Smi
les which goes TO confirm the statement alrea
uy made with regard to his courage. In 1903
ers he was coming up Connecticut river in a can
nat and in passing an Island about two miles alb,
~ where Hanover bridge is, he discovered
MA young woman upon it. He Immediately P
in died off with all speed and came to my fathc
camp two miles above in great fright. He S
J. there must be hostile Indians on the island bell
for he had seen captive girl there, but he f
-, ed to 90 to her rescue lest they should shoot
~, in the attempt. 1t turned out that this girl
70 longed to family then moving to Coos, VIII
had stopped at the island to rest and refr
,c, themselves, and which spent the follow
cb night at my fathers camp From this circ
o., stance the island has since been called 81
ia Island"
Dos Since writing the foregoing | have found
IN, old book of accounts and memorandum of
", fathers, which had not seen for more t
twenty years, and in it find the following
ords-