The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-12-29

newly-built shed close at hand, the floor
of which was of rough hemlock plank.
Thompson soon knockcdhis opponent down
and then springing upon him, began to di-
rect heavy blows at his head and face.
But Sherman lodged them with such dex-
tcrty that most of them fell upon the floor
while, in the meantime, he so pounded
Thompson's ribs as speedily to put him
hors du combat. Then rolling him off,
he sprung to his feet and exultingly ex-
claimed, "There, the name is Barre" ad-
ding an oath. The name was sanctioned
by the town, and the next year adopted
by the Legislature. On the day after the
conflict, the physician of the town had
tedious job in extracting from Sherman's
back the hemlock splinters which had ac-
cumulated there during his squirming on
the rough plank hoer.
Some towns were named on account of
their position in respect to other towns.
Salisbury, New Haven, and Middebury
were granted in one tract TO residents of
the two former towns in Connecticut who,
having divided their territory into three
towns, named the most northern, New
Haven, the most southern, Salisbury. and
middle one, Middlebury. Middletown
was so called because it was formed from
the corners of four adjacent towns, and SO
might, in a special manner, be said to be
in the middle of them.
A number of towns were named for
some prominent man among their grantees
or early settlers. Bakersfield, for Joseph
Baker; Barnard, for Francis Barnard
Craftsbury, for Colonel Ebenezer Crafts
Elmore for Col. Samuel Flmore Ferris
burgh, for sevrral persons by the name of
Ferris; Glover, by Gen. John Glover
Hydepark, Tor Capt. Jedediah Hyde !;
and johnson, Woodbury., Whiting, Shell
don, and numerous others, persons bearing
the same name, belong to this class. In a
few instances Christian name has been
the foundation for the name of the town.
Thus, Lyndon was named for Josiah Lyn-
don Arnold, as son of DR.. Jonathan Ar
mold, the principal grantee and has
burgh, for Gen. Ira Allen.
Another class of towns was named in
honor of distinguished individuals. Whee-
leck perpetuates the name of Rev. John
Wheolock, President of Dartmouth Col
lege. Bennington was named for himself
by Gov. Benning Wentworth, Of New
Hapshire, by whom its charter was gram
ted. Arlington, Burlington, Cavendish,
Clarendon, Dandy, Dorset, Essex. Fairfax,
Manchester, Rockingham, Rutland, Shafts
bnry, Strafford, and Woodstock, were
named by Gov. Wentworth for English
noblemen who were his personal friends,
or whom he deemed it polite to compli-
ment in that way.
The names OF three towns, St. Johns
bury, Danville, and Vergennes, had a
common origin and that somewhat Pc
culiar one. During the troubles which
preceded the admission of Vermont into
the Union, General Ethan Allen was in
frequent correspondence with Hector St,
John de Creveceur, the French Consul al
New York, who warmly befrended the in.
fant State, and interceded with his sove.
reign for sundry benefits to be conferred
upon it, At an interview with the Con-
sul Allen expressed much gratitude fol
these favors, and regretted that the pow
erty of Vermont disabled it from testify,
ing in a more substantial manner its ap
probation of those iavors as well as of the
services rendered to American liberty by
other eminent Frenchmen. Creveoeur re.
marked than an unexpressive but quite
satisfactory token of regard might be Civ
en-, by bestowing the names of such French
men on towns or counties thereafter to bt
organized. Allen caught at the idea, an(
declared that town should immediately
be names " St. john" for his friend. Ii
letter written soon afser to Allen, D.
Creyeeeur mentioned the names of mum
ber of Frenchmen whom it would be ex
pedient to compliment in the manner pro
posed and in regard 70 the town to b,
named TOR himself, he suggested that a
there were already several American town
bearing the name of 81. John, his shoul,
be distinguished from all the rest by tn
addition of "bury" ST. Johnsbury. Hi
suggestion was adopted and the tow
named accordingly; and from the othe
names we're selected those of Vergennes
the Minister of War, and D'Anvlle, tn
Admiral, and bestowed upon the town
still called by those names. P.H.w