The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-01-22
Ryegate-Wm. Nelson.


William Nelson was born in Erskine,
Scotland 1742, house, Joiner and sawyer
by trade. He married Jane Stewart, of Frs
kline. William was one of the Scotch COM
pany of farmers who purchased land in Rye
gate, where he came in lib. His trade
was great help to the company in erecting
buildings for the emigralts, who were now
beginning to come over to their wilderness
home. The Revolutionary war breaking out
shortly afterwards was great annoyance to
them, as 1t was also to the settlers of Barnet
and Peacham. News had spread over the
country that the Indians had been seen in
Peacham, who had come for the purpose of
numbering the white inhabitants and burning
their dwellings, which filled the people with
terror and CONSERVATION. The people of
Peacham fleeing to Newbury for safety, hur-
rying through Ryegate created great alarm
amongst the inhabitants there, and they
Joined in the flight, making large number
of men, women and children, flying in the
widest confusion. Although Nelson, through
the entreaty Of his family and friends, Join
ed in the flight, he afterward returned to his
house, determined to defend it to the last.
When he reached his cabin it was near
night, and after barricading the door with
logs he made bed near by, close to the bed
he placed gun and blunderbuss, well loaded,
and pair of pistols by his lillow, determn-
ed if the Indians attacked his dwelling they
should receive warm reception. Having
made these arrangements, he cons gned him
self to the care of that Being who had gui-
ded him in bis youth and had blessed him in
manhood. He soon fell asleep and did not
awake until the early dawn. When he got
up he removed the logs from the door and
cautiously vsntured out, not knowing but
Indians might be lurking around, but no
signs of savages were to be seen, and he fer
vently thanked God for his protecting care.
No Indians came near at that time, and the
people returned to their homes. Nelson
became one Of the largest land owners in
the company. In addition to what he OWL
ed in Ryegate, he bought 1900 acres in Ly-
man. New Hampshire, for which he paid
$4,000, in silver dollars. Nelson had carried
the money in tub and had covered it up
with lard; and when he took off the lard
the money was found safely underneath
He was possessed of kind and benevolent
! heart; assisting and helping the poor in the
new settlement, and during his long and
useful life gave literally to the support of
the gospel and although strict Presbyter-
an. vet he was far from believing that no
good thing could come from any other de-
nomination. When new managers were
made for the company Nelson, with James
Henderson and Hugh Gardner, were entrust-
ed with the whole concern for many years.
He held all the offices in the gift OF his
townsmen. They had three children born
in Scotland and five born in Rlegate, all Of
whom enjoyed the confidence of their towns
people in an eminent degree. Indeed, the
mantle of the old mans popularity seems tc
have fallen Oh his grand children. When
: about to be gathered to his fathers, in tn
spirit land he quietly arranged his wori'!I,
affairs, then gently fell asleep in the set
year OF his age.