The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1854-11-24
s.sas tsstassss se.a.ss.a ~,ts In.
ssfly settlement .f an. ,.~..s
POULTNEY,

commenced April IS. i77l. by Eben-
eser Allen and Thomas Ashley They
were men Of bold. fearless spirits. a,hls,.
&c md firm constitutions. rhcy com.
mcnced near where the Turnpike bridge
nov Is in Wes, Pouliney Allen nule
Wesi and Ashley little Fast (ihe riy.
er running some twenty rods North Of
where Il now docs). They creeied u
silaniy for Allen (who broush, his fam.
Wy with him.) Ashley remained one
month, erected shanIy for Lis family.
which was done by setting four cruiehes
IN The ground, placing poles on The TOP,
covering roof aud body with bark. lie
cleared some land and raised corn suE.
iieient TO bread his family consisting of
seven ,)iai his pork and buy an under
lackeii this the writer of this sketch has
often heard him relate. He then return.
ed and brought on his family. Allen
had a son born the same year. the frs,
white child born in Poultney. Allen
remained few years, sold ou, and re.
moved TO Grand Isle. Ashley remain.
ed In town and on the same farm until
his death, which occurred in 1910. He
was a man Of strong mind. retcn,ive
memory and strict integrity, had hui a
very ordinary common school education,
yet he was much improved as public
man, For many years held the office Of
Justice of the Pence and also represent.
ed the town In The General Assembly
for long time aud was entrusted with
much otl.r public business. He assist.
ed In the formation Of "Poultney Ii.
brary," was among its warmest friends
and advocates, became great reader.
and aher eajoying its advantages for
few years, was often heard TO say that
he knew the situation Of the old world
as well as he did his own farm. Prob
ably he cxerted as great an influence rs
asy marin town while he lived. He was
the next man TO Allen that entered in
taking the Fort al old ,.Ti,p stood at the
head of the stairs ms sentinel. while
Allen entered the room Of lbe comman-
der. His farm lay upon both sides of
the highway .runniog through the village
OF West Pouliney, his dwelling wa; a
large agambrel-roof d house standing
where the Hon X. c. Mallary built his,
now occupied by DR.. Mcleod. Mr..
Mallary bought the lot consi sting of
about zone acre for 5000. Sold the
buildings for si2, said he was de,ermin.
ed 10 have i, cost what Il would, for
then he received % cents for helping
make brooms one evening, the first
money he ever earned. Ashley died
there ip good old age leaving hand
some properly for his children. One
short anecdoie WIN give the reader some
idea Of the character of the man, while
in the Legislature. There was quite an
exciting question up, upon which the
yeas and nays were demanded, as the
clerk commenced calling the names, the
member from Bennington Suppose he
felt as sope at the present day do, wish
ed to dodse) took his hat aud was about
kaving. Ashley rose aud said Mr..
Spcakey. ! move that no nhmbev be
permitted 10 leave the room entil His
question s decided--this occasioned
quite shoa andathe getleman look his
seat. '
r There were several families followed
the same season. Eligah d John Owen,
Isaac Ashley. and Nehemiah Howe,
and soon by the following persons and
somewhat in the following order, Icha-
bod.& Joseph MarshalL Silas Howe,
HebeE Allen, brother 10 Ethan. John
Gram, Thomas Goodwin, Robert Green
ZcIediah Dewey. Cotton Fletcher. John
Eikana, Elisha Enoch.and wm. Ashley
all brothers Of Themes & Isaae Ashley,
John Tilien, Zrbeaiah, Dan 4 John
Richards, VIM. Ward. Tipolhy. Eben-
ez,r, james q I>emurl Hyde. Samuel
Church, joel 0nahis- Isaac Craw, Ma
,haniel Il James Smith, Mordica 4 Gil
bert Soper, James 4 Nathaniel Book
ins, Josiah Leyis and perhaps few
others weii here in June l777, when
the inhabitants wore all driven from
their boTes by Burgoyue'- army and the
lndsanS Up TO this lime the town was
settled slowly, owing in great mea sore
40 th-troubirs with New York about
the u le Of the land, so that none local ed
themselves here but the most bold aud
( fetfiess spirits to be fonnd and they
Wire all wiihou, exception extremely
Ks IpSr. Al The lime above mentioned
/ (June l777) the men were all under
arms to give battle 10 the invaders o.
our country, and al The time OF ,bs
battle Ai Casileton, an express was sem
on that the inhsbhants mus, leave or b,
killed, the somen without moment
delay gathered up their children ahe
commenced their line d march lhrougi
Al Alme.i unbroken wilderness 10 ID,
south. aud we're able 10 keep IN advance
Of the pursuing enemy. expecting bos
ever every hour 10 be oseiaken and ia
diseriminAisly naisacred. mothers car
ry.ns very young elnlarrn. aud leaaip.
other. that were scarce able 20 wlI
slone. without scarrely stopping for re-
OF rvfreshmenis Eere enabled 10 gei GA
Of The reach u the army, sofDe 70 ALAS
and some 10 Conn, their nsiise pisces
The battle al Benninsion sssn Aflc
checked the march IL Burgoynr's arny
and lhe battle At s,iilsaer ~h-n b.
- IL .s.na - r.ss.ssss..s.. o..