Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-07-17

ing. Dyer was full buoded rebel or an
| ti-kings man. He came here a refugee
from Worcester Co., where he had lain In
Jail seven years for refusing to pay royal
fine Of nine shlllings. When an upportun-
ity offered itself the three men started out
together 10 look for Hazelton's cabin. They
came out on to the round top Of the high
hill Just west of the present village Of Fay
etteville, and pointed out the course in a
northeast liue to the river. Stedman re-
turned to their camp, and Park aud Dyer
descended into the valley and found the
flats on which Fayetteville stands. Once
IN the valley, surrounded by the dense for
est, their only course was to make the best
OF their route to the river and this they
reached on what is to-day best known as
the Windham County fair ground farm.
Dyer was so well pleased with the land that
he marked the trees aud selected this Tor
his lot /; aud now being satisfied that they
must be below iazeltons, they followed
up the river and found his clearing in what
we know as the Franklin farm. 1t seems
To- he evident that these three men returned
to Worcester Co. IN tho fall and spent the
winter. Ia the spring Of 1907, Park and
S.cdnau returned, driving with them
pair Of steers aud heller for live stock.
with reference 10 the exact time that Dyer
moved his family into town, we have only
been able 10 learn that Mrs Dyer was the
first white woman that ever spent the win
ter in town.
We may here relate an incident Illus
tratiug the hardships that these men en-
durod. In order to winter their steers and
heiier, they went out into the north part of
the town, some hve miles from their camp,
to natural meadow now known as the
knowlton meadow, aud cut and stacked
swamp hay and built Il shelter for their
stock and every day throughout the long,
drearv winter GIGS. one or the other or
these men plodded his way through the
lone dfeary forest TO feed their stock. and
back to camp at night; aud during the
winter Park returned Co Mass, leaving
Stcdinan alone in the forest with his stock
to feed, tor twenty-six days. In the sum
mcr of '6s Park commenced hi clearing in
Fayetteville, aud built the first framed
house in town. covering the frame with
hemlock bark. Stedmau left the hill Ell
thcr then or soon afier, and settled on The
farm now owned and occupied by his
grandson. ". a. Sledman. SIedmau died
in 1872. Oct. 10, aged e.. Park lived 10 be
81. dying July rs. lss7. The remains Of
both these men are buried in our village
cemetery; while Mi Overs dust lies
sleeping on the bank lust outside the south
cast corner of the Gir ground, with no
monument To- mark tie spot; consequent
lv we are unable Ca ascertain his age or the
date Of his death
There are twenty-five descendants Of
Jonathan PArl, now living IN town seven
OF Euenezgr Dyer - and Two of Nathaniel
Stedmlu q; and IL - to the oldest descend
ants oi all these men that we are indebted
for tine above, and many more Interesting
facts that mus, of necessity be lon out Of
tins article.
Now, although Fame Is our central point,
il becomes necessary Ia order tn clearly
understand the whole chain OF historical
facts connected with its settlement and or
gauizauou. to leave for time the town IL
self, with llS various personal reminis-
cenccs. and consider the contest between
Gov. Trvou Of New York. aud Wentworth
Of New Hampshire, for the control of the
territory between the Connecticut river
aud Lake Champaign. A. early as 1868,
Wentworth had chartered l3s towns west
oftuc Connecticut. reserving unto himself
800 acres or hand in each town. lie was
thus fas, becoming The wealthiesi and larg-
est land owner in the colonies. GOV. Try
on was much moved. and felt deeply
agcrieyed over Wentworth's financial sue
cess. and sought TO claim this territory un-
der AN old patent granted nv Charles IL. to
the Duke OF York In 1864, in which the
Duke was to bold all OF His Maiasiv's do
main west Of the Connecticut river and
east Of Delaware bay. Tue title was held
TO have become obsolete whereupon Try
on forwarded petition 10 the King, pur-
porting to bee signed hy large number Of
the settlers Of the grants, in which they
prayed the King to transfer the control Of
these grants to Gov. Tryon. The King ami
his council granted what they supposed
was the request Of His Maiesty's loving
and faithful subjects, and directed Went
worth 10 stop issuing charters west OF the
Connecticut river. The settlers on the
grants were surprised to leirn OF the de-
cree, but in no wise alarmed for they sup
posed that inasmuch as they had received
their charters from royal Governor and
paid a royal price for their lands. that a
change OF Governors would in no way ar
feet the validity of their titles GOV. Try
on and his council, upon the confirmation
of their title TO the territory, held that he
had always been the royal Governor, and
consequently, that all Of Wentworth's
charters were illegal and void He de-
manded Of the settlers that they should
give up their original charters and re- pur-
chase their lands under new charters Civ
en- by his authority. on the 3D. dav o flu
~, 1906, the colonial assembly OF New
York passed an act incorporating the
County Of Cumberland, with the county
seat al Chester, which was afterwards
changed to Westminster, where a court
house and iail were built The county OF
Cumberland embraced all of Wndham
and Il c greater part ofIhe present county of
Windsor, and one tier OF towns on the east
Of bennington Go. 1t was - miles wdie on
the Massa nhusetts state line and rs miles
in length on the Connecticut river. Ben
nington was in Albany Co., n. Y. GOV.
Tryon set all the machinery OF law and
courts 10 work and backed the whole by
the militia of New York to ,arry out his
demands and make The settlers pay for
their lands under his charters. Against
such proceedings in most of the towns
they openly rebelled and many were the
scenes Of personal violence, and the kid
mapping and carrying TO Albany Jail OF ma
ny farmer, there 10 lie in durance vile a
year or more, and have their property con-
lscated all for the crime of defending
the farms they had bought and paid for.