The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-08-08
HISTORY OF ST. JOHNSBURY.


zine we extract the following paragraphs from
St Johnsbury's history. 1t was compiled with
great care by Mr. Edward T. Fairbanks]:
"Prior to the independence ofNew Hamp-
shire Grants, and 16 years before the settle
ment of St Johnsbury, a tract of land on
Passumpsic river was granted by King
George III, to certain Of his loving subjects
of the Province of New York This tract
contained $4,000 acres-including the whole
or nearly the whole of St Jchnsbury, togeth-
er with portion of Concord and Waterford
was granted to 80 petitioners under leader
ship of John Woods and VIM Swan, and for
mally chartared by Cadwallader Golden, who
in l77O was governor-general of New York.
The charter was issued at New York city on
the Sth August, 177O; and in honor of the
Earl Of Dunmore, who on the 10th October
following was appointed under his majesty,
governor of the province, the new township
received the name Of Dunmore."
"Seven years after the grant of Dunmore,
the State of Vermont threw of her shackles,
and declared herself an independent sover-
eighty. In the conflict which thence arose
respecting the right of lands granted under
the seal of neighboring States, board of
commissioners was appointed to adjust the
claims of the New York grantees. These
latter had the choice of paying ten cents per
acre on their lands, and retaining them, or
giving up their title thereto and removing to
new grants in Western New York. Proba-
bly, most of the grantees of Dunmore sold or
relinquished their claims in Vermont, and
settled in other quarters. From records pre-
served at Albany, We learn that the township
lines had been surveyed previous to the is
suing of the charter, and that two warrants
of surveys had been filed on the first of jan
uary, 1170, but the field books of the survey
or general from this quarter are not found.
We learn further, from petition presented
to the general assembly Of this State in l7S7,
by one Moses Little, that the proprietors Of
Dunmore had completed the lotting out Of the
township, and that this had been done at
great expense. The same petition ploceedeth
to show that the petitioner, not in the least
dorbting that the said Grant had been legal
ly made by the said Governor of New York
had purchased at a very high Price, Ten
Thousand Acres of Land in the said Dun
more, situate about 20 miles North Of New
bury in the Co. of Orange. That since the
State of Vermont had Exercised Jurisdiction
the whole of said Tract of Land had been
granted by the said St. of Vt. to the propri-
etors of st Johnsborough and other towns
whereby the Petitioner hath suffered greatly
by the loss of his property, and hath no re-
dress besides applying to the Hon Assembl!
of the State This comprises all that can be
found relative to the township of Dunmore.
SIN the latter part of l7SG, before th'
boundaries of the township had been fixed
or its charter issued, James Adams Martin
Adams, James Calender Adams, and iona
: than Adams, came up the valley of the Pas
sumpsic, to the meadow South of Roilroat
street, and there began the first clearing il
the town. About the same time Simeon Cole
: whose old pasture gate subsequently swun!
: on the edge of Cole Gate Hill, established
= himself on the meadows South Of Centre vii
/ lage. Before the close of this year Ben,
f Doolittle, Josiah Nichol-, Thomas Todt
y Jonathan and VIM Trescott had all obtaine
i the right of proprietorship. 1t is difficult t
f trace the history of these early pioneers, II
J. asmuch as most of them removed to othe
: settlements, and of those who remained n
y y very reliable record can be found. The tw
q Trescotts lived and died in this vicinity. JoI
athan, on certain occasion, sent out the 70
d lowing Friendly Salutation :
e Know all men by these lines, that the vi
4 designer is expecting to leave this countr
st and wishes all his friends, or foes if any,
N call on him by the Goth May instant, and !
It will endeavor to make them satisfaction.-
Sheriffs, Constables ard Lawyers are desire
to make their demands or otherwise no
st their peace. Adieu! Wishing all, Goo
blessing here on earth, and eternal life her
IN after, when hope to meet you all again.
st JONATHAN TREsCoTT.'
IL He died at the age Of 50, and from t
mt rough hewn stone which marks his restll
e- place in the cemetery, We learn that 'He W
nd one of tn, first settlers in town, being t
", seventh inhabitant.' His brother Willia
ng died in kind of subterranean habitaton ne
wi Joes pond in Danville. He was somethl
so of hero in his day, as we shall find in ST
lal sequent part of this narrative.
ew A winter of primitive simplicity was that
we 1861 in St Johnsbury. A great settlem'
ne had not as yet sprung up on the ruins of D'
more. To the few and scattered families "
led brayed out the first winter in this wilderne
the distant stores and grist mills of Bar
furnished rum, sugar and flour. No brio
nb- had been erected, no roads established, {
no. the lines of travel were as yet but rough
to sled paths through the forest primeval.'
ov. Early in the spring ofl1S7, came Jonatl
.ral Arnold, Jyseph Lord, and Barnabas Bari