Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-02-17
OBITUARY..

early settlement and history of western Vermont
as well as the more recent political and legsla
tive history Of the State, renders il proper that we
should not suffer his decedse to pass Of entirely
unnoticed.
Truman Chitondcn was the son Of Thomas
Chiitenden. the-irsi Governor Of Vermont. lie
was the youngest Of a family Of nine children
and was born in Salisbury, Connecticut, on the
3D. of August. 100. The name and history Of
Thomas ChItteuden are too closely identified
with the early history of Vermont, to require
that we should. in this short notice Of one Of his
sons, speak at any length Of the early prvations
which he. in common with all the other carly
settlers of this country were compelled to endure,
or the courage and ioritude which they brought
with them into the wilderness of Northern Yer
mont, to sustain them through the first struggles
of the infant settlement Suffice il TO say, that
Thomas Chttenden came from Salisbury to Will
liston, Vermont, in the spring Of l774, and To-
Gated himself IN the valley Of the Winoosli, in
the midst of then unhroken Wilderness. 1t was
during this year that the first family removed
within the limits Of the County Of Chttenden,
and it IS believed that at the beginning of this
year there were no settlers on the west side of the
mountain, TO the nor,hward of otter Creek
To the people Of the present day, who through
the facilities for travelling whichare now at their
command,are accustomed TO reckon miles by min
utes, the hnrdships and privations Of a Journey
from Connecticut Ia the Wnooski River in IVA
can hardly be understood. II lis TO be recolloctcd
that at that time there was no road to the north
ward of Rutland, and the only guides TO the ear
ly settler, were marked trees aud Indian footpaths
With his wife and nine children, Truman then
being only four years of age, the Journey wis
undertaken by Governor Cmttenden and accom-
plished IN May or June Of that year. lie com
menced a clearing, built a small oghouse, and
was bnsily engaged in preparing the soil for the
production of the necessary support of his family,
when in 1915, the news Of the battle of I,exing-
ton, and the breaking out Of the Revolution.
found ITS way to him. In the Spring of l776
the advance Of the British up the Lake. the OK.
posed and deiencelesS state Of the frontier. then
wholly unprotected by the American army. COM
PEELED all the settlers in this County 10 abandon
their clearings and return to the southwark An
incident which has been related TO the writer
shows that Thomas Chlttenden did not abandon
has new home sooner than proper regard for his
personal safety compelled him TO do So Early
IN The spring Of l716, and shortly after the re-
turn OF Mr.. Chttenden from Philadelphia.
whittier he had repaired Immediately upon the
breaking out Of the Revolution, TO call the attcn.
ton of Congress TO the state of the northern set.
Elements the family were somewhat startled by
Mr.. ChIitenden was then at dinner and as the hos
pltalltes of his honse were always extended TO
0very stranger, he offered the party a scat at his
table. Alter a short consultation, in which his
most could hardly determine whether they were
determining TO accept his fare or take his scalp
the party seated themselves at the table. and
having satisfied their hunger. gave him bv sirns
To understand that they belonged 10 the advanc
lag British force, and that his longer stay in that
section might not only be Improbable but dan
gerous. They then ground their hatchcts upon
hls grlndstone and departed. He Immediately
buried such of bis furniture as he could not trans
port, and started with his family for the south
lie went To pownal, from thence TO Willamstown
Mass, then back TO Arlington. W.. where ne re-
sided until the close of the war. when he return
ed again to Williston OF has acts while mem
Der OF the Council Of Delegates, which met at
Dorset September l71G, and the Council of Safe
~, winch heidit meetings during the revolution.
1t IS not necessary here 10 speak, II is enough To
say, although the evidence of some historians
may be found to the contrary. that il was to
the skill and energy of Chlitendcn, Allen, and
their associates alone, that the then settlements
OF Vermont we're indebted for their exemption
from beng oyerrun by the British army during
the war, and that IN all their pretended negoha
tons with Gen. llaldinand the only object of
'hi'h Nuo W htt lit DIltlSn army from dlNanc-
ing INTO the State, they had not only the entire |
consent Of Gen. Washington, but acted in some
degree under his advice and direction.
Governor thlttendeG died in August. 1857
all his children but one being atthat time iiying.
OF his daughters, one Of them was the wife of
Governor Galusha, another of the somewhat cell
ebrated Matthew Lyon, who was elected TO Con-
gress while imprisoned for violation ofthe alien
law. Noah and Giles, two of his sons, resided
IN the towns of Jericho and Williston until their
deaths the former occurred in 1885 Martin
Chlttenden, another son, for some time a member
OF Congress, and afterwards Governor of Yer
mont federast of the rankest stamp during the
war of lol4, but afterwards an equally ardent de-
mocrat died IN Wllliston in 1870. Truman was
the last survivor Of the family OF Thomas Chit.
tenden. 1t Is usual IN articles like the present
TO ailude to the many public stations which its
subject has filed, in order to SHOW the estima
ton IN which he was held by his contemporaries
and the community in which he lived but in
these days, when office has become rather the
wages OF political Vaccinations, than the reward
OF political merit, we may be well excused from
measuring the worth of Truman Chittenden by
The number of official stations which he occupied.
II MS ambition led hun IN that direction he had
enough OF them TO satisfy his ambition and il is
perhaps enough 10 say that he brought TO the
discharge Of all of them, clear head and an
honest heart lie was contemporary Of the
Cmpmans, Van Ness, Seymours, and others
whose connection with the political affairs OF
thus State has now became part of its history.
and that part too Of which posterity has no reason
to complain.
Truman Chttenden was possessed of all those
Characteristics, which made the early settlers of
Vermont the men Of the time they lived n.-
Whether 1t was the hardships of new settle.
ment the pryations of those repeated iourneys
ON foot through the forests, The rugged and
mountainous country in which they lived, the
activity and courage which the necessity of
guarding against the dangers of all kinds which
beset them, called forth; or all these together
which developed the minds of these men in so
singular manner, II may be,needless now TO en-
quire. For the most part uneducated. they seem
ed to understand what other men gathered from
DOCKS, from intuition. Unacquainted with
the history Of political or Legislative bodies.
they discharged their duties in them with indg-
ment and forecast which hardly ever was deceiy-
ed. Uneducated IN the graces of polished soci
ETY., they were the very gentlemen of nature. and
they have all of them lett their impress upon the
age IN which they lived and now when one of
them lull OF years and honors goes down TO his
grave we involuntarly look around US for the men
OF this age to fill their places, and TO often look
m VAN Mr.. Chttenden was one of the last of
tins class Of men. II is not claiming too much
Tor him TO say, that his life has been one of acti-
Rity and usefulness aud althoueh the pAces of