The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-08-08
tinental Congress while in secret session.

.inental Congress while in secret session"
"The one full right which was reserved
according to charter for building mills, was
located on the Passumpsic at the most avail
able place for water power, just above the
mouth of Moose river. This property inclu-
ding about three hundred acres was assigned
to DR. Arnold. and during the spring of 81
he put up saw mill. The following year
grst mill was erected, and the business i'm
portance of the settlement largely increased.
These were days when our modern Paddock
village was known as 'Arnold's Mills and
before the big moose which was afterwards
vic,imized on the bank of East Branch, had
left to that dashing stream more historic
name. The house of DIR Arnold was located
in the woodlands at the Northern extremity
of the plain, just above the park which still
bears the family name. The erection of this
house began the settlement of the plain, and
within its walls, during succeeding genera
tlons, no less than seven several families
found home, and last of all the owl and the
bat. We could wish that the boys who in
1874 brought down its old timbers with fire,
to the ground, had reserved their torches un-
til some artist could have sketched the rough
exterior of the first frame house erected in
St Johnsbury.
! 10 this house it was that DR. Arnold car
ried home his third wife, Cynthia Hastings
Now the way in which Cynthia came to be
the wife of the doctor was as follows: On a
certain occasion the latter was iourneying
down the river, and quartered for the night
with one Enos Stevens of Barnet. In the
course of the evening it was determined with
great unanimity of feeling that their condi-
ton bore forlorn resemblance to that of the
old Romans before the visit of the Sabines-
pioneers in new settlement and hopeessly
destitute of wives. Nothing could be done
to remedy the matter in this Northern wilder
ness accordingly an expedition to Charles
ton NO. 4 (N. HIVE Immediately planned,
! to take effect on the morrow, the object be-
ing to spy out the available daughters of the
land. Arrived in Charleston, they called on
Samuel Stevens, Esq, and made known their
wishes. After some consultation, invitations
were issued to Cynthia Hastings and Sophy
Grout, requesting their company to tea, it be-
ing understood by the contrivers of this plot
that the two strangers from Vermont should
accompany them back to their homes. In
anticipation of possible emergency it was
judged advisable that Mrs Squire Wes,
should also be III attendance to play the part
of umpire in case both gentlemen should
claim the same lady. Tea time arrived, and
so did the unsuspecting maidens. The even
ing passed, but when the hour Of departure
came, Cynthia Hastings seemed to be in doub
e demand. The ladies still remained in bliss
full ignorance Of the conspiracy. Mrs Squire
West was called for and constituted referee
/, She very sagely argued that Sophy Grou
was admirably adapted to be the companion
2 Of farmer (Mr Stevens was tller Of ths
soiD, but as for Cynthia it was much NOR,
1 suitable that she should be attended by
: professional man. This wise decision of Mr.
Squire West especially grateful to DIR Ar
l nold), prevailed, and before separating tha
4 night each Of the gentlemen of the Nortl
;, made known to the parties most concerned
: the special object of their visit to Charleston
1 Sophy Grout suffered somewhat from pattern
/ al interference, grounded on the fact that Ste
j. vens was a tory, but she was finally told tha
|, if she acould marry an old tory she might, on
d ly she should carry nothing from the ances
0 tral domain but herself and a cow.. A fe,
l. days later the afflicted Grout family witnesse
II the departure of Sophy and the old COW Wit
O tory. The doctor experiencing less difficu
o ty in preliminary arrangements, went forwar
J. to Rhode Island, where he remained fe
J. days, and on his return was accompanied t
St Johnsbury by tie aforesaid Cynthia
n- Charleston. She became the mother of Len
V, ue Hastings Arnold, who was born at
to Johnsbury educated at Providence, govern,
,e of Rhode Island in 1S41-42, member of 90
- ernor's council during the Dorr rebellio
I'd member of Congress in lS45-47, and died
Id Kingston, June 9th, 1852. We learn fro
rs the political journals of the day that MIR A
e. mold met with some opposition while ca
didate for the office of governor. 'Duril
the canvass and in the heart of the electio
he eering campaign conducted upon the hi
ng pressure principle, Jealous Jackson M
as Justify accused Mr. Arnold of the enormo
he crime of having been born IN Jermom .
I'M Thereupon question arose, as to whether
,ar man could be held accountable for being be
ng in any particular age or country. This XII
,b- of accountability was hardly recognized
the political creed of the Green Mount;
of boys, and does not appear to have been sa
ent toned by the sons of Rhode Island, for
an Arnold, notwithstanding he was born way
ho in Vermont was elected by decided maj
,ss, ity, and did honor both to the State of
net birth and the State of his adoption.'
lge
ND "The first freeman's oaths taken in
ont Johnsbury were administered on the I'd S