Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-11-29
Old Time COurting and
Marriage.


We find the following scrap Of early
history in the Rutland Herald
Early in the month of January, 1791,
DIR. Jonathan Arnold, of St. Johnsbury,
and Enos Stevens, Esq, of Barnet, visited
Charlestown, N. H., on very interesting
errand. 1t was no other than to obtain
for themselves wives, such being the pau
city of females at that early day that
none were to be obtained in the towns
where they resided.
The manner in which this was brought
about was this Dr. Arnold, being for
some purpose on journey down the riv-
er, put up for the night with Mr.. Stevens.
In the course of the evening their forlorn
condition was talked over, when they mu-
tually conceded in the conclusion that
nothing could be done to remedy their cir
cumstances in that northern wilderness.
Accordingly, to employ the language of
Mr. Edward T. Fairbanks, the historian
of St. Johnsbury can expedition to
Charlestown No. 4, n. H., was immedi-
ately planned, to take effect on the NOR
row; the object being to spy out the
available daughters of the land"
On their arrival at Charlestown they
Immediately called on Samuel Stevens,
Esq, brother of the aforesaid Enos to
whom they made known their wishes,
and after due consultation apd considera-
ton, it was agreed to issue invitations to
Cynthia Hastings and Sophy Grout, re-
questing their company at tea, it being
understood by the contrivers of this plot
that the two strangers from Vermont
should accompany them home.
In anticipation of possible emergency,
it was deemed advisable that Mrs. Squire
West should also be in attendance, to play
the part of umpire in case both gentlemen
should claim the same lady.
Tea-time arrived and so did the unsus-
pecting maidens. The evening passed,
but when the hour of departure came,
Cynthia Hastings seemed to be in double
demand. The ladies still remained in
blisstul ignorance of the conspiracy, Mrs.
Squire West was called for, aud consti-
tuted referee. She very sagely argued
that Sophy Grout was admirably adapted
to be the companion of farmer, (Mr
Stevens was tiller of the soil) but as
for Cynthia, it was much more suitable
that she should be attended by profess
sional man.
The wise decision of Mrs. West, especi-
ally grateful to DIR. Arnold prevailed, and
before separating that nj ght, each of the
gentlemen from the north had made
known to the parties most concerned the
special object of his visit to Charlestown.
Sophy Grout suffered somewhat from pa
ternal interference, grounded on the fact
that Stevens, during the war, had espous-
ed the cause of the mother country, and
was therefore tory But she was final
ly told that if she would marry an old to-
ry she might only she could carry nothing
from the ancestral domain but herself and
a COW. \ few days later the afflicted
Grout family witnessed the departure of
Sophy with Stevens.
The Doctor experiencing less difficulty
IN preliminary arrangements, went forward
to Rhode Island, where he remained few
days, and on his return was accompanied
to st Johnsbury by the aforesaid Cynthia
of Charlestown, who subsequently became
the mother of Lemuel Hastings Arnold,
who was born at St. Johnsbury, educated
at Providence, and was Governor of
Rhode Island, in 1912. He was also a
member of the Governors Council during
the Dorr rebellion, member of Congress in
1S45-47, and continued to be regarded as
an accomplished and ripe statesman till
his death, which occurred at Kingston,
june 9th, 1852.
SO much for the son of Cynthia Hast
ings. Now what of Sophy Grout
She was married in Charlestown, March
4th, 1871, and her oldest son, Henry Ste
vens, was born Dec. 18th, of the same
year. This son, though he became no
Governor, was yet very distinguished
man. He was representative from Barnet
in the years 1862, and was President
Of the Vermont Historical Society for ma.
ny years ;.his historical collections con-
sisted of 34S5 bound volumes, $500 pam
phlets, and 400 volumes of newspapers
and probably 10000 letters, bearing date
from 1926 to 1854 He also had the ole
feld-books of all the town lines surveyed
by James Whitlaw, Esq, and his deputies
He had three sons; Enos, who gradual
ed at Middlebury College, Henry who grad
uated at Yale, and George, who received
his education at West Point, but is nov
dead. Henry, after obtaining his educa
ton, went to London. where for time h,
was employed in purchasing rare ant
valuable books for several American gen
tleman. In 1916 he was employed by
the Trustees OF the British Museum, tt
make up a catalogue of American works
not found in the library of that institution
and was then employed to furnish thes
works, also complete set of ali the pub
lie documents published by Congress, anc
all such books as contain the general liter
ature Of the State, business which yer,
few men are competent to perform HI
was appointed agent of the Smithsonian
Institute, in 1913, and is still, we ar
told, employed by the United States Gov
ernment in selecting valuable works, ant
public documents of the Governments O
Europe, for the Congressional library.
Such was the romantic marriage of tw
Charlestown girls Of the olden time, an,
It's result.