The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-07-20

IOWA Pay lef tNGtF tAp0f IN sAh1 ~ tNt
fbiliings per acre The land they then
cleared i in The eastern part ofthe town
now known as The LArkIn place. (They
believed II was nearly 10 lho centre ol
the iown) This party returned upon
/ the approach OF The cold winter blasts oI
November They came again the follow
Ing spring with their families, the party
increased By James Patterson, Samue
Thompson, John Cox, and Captain I'd
Aiken, cousin TO the deacon. The storms
4 Of that November did not drive them
away. Strange, indeed, II seems, when
we consider their sesnty supplies, their
limited means, their bar to social life, the
great amount OF muscular tell required
of them, that they should cling TO this
abode rather than return 10 the land from
whence they came.
Most historians say that the town OF
Kent was settled In IVA. II Is so said
because the earlier settlers acquired no
title TO the land which they occupied,
having scquestered II, while the settlers
Of i774 acquired good title from Col.
Rogers, aud he from the New York leg.
isIaiure under the king. | believe thls
version Of our history TO be incorrect,
because those who came here FIVE years
before, and their families four years be-
i fore, were from the same locality, the
same class of people, and their rights TO
The land occupied by them were ever re-
coguized without prejudice; hence their
+ settlement was never broken, never dis.
turbed. Their title to the soil subse-
/ quently matured beyond question or
doubt. The plan Of the town, as erhib.
tied TO day in its irregular lots, indicates
that those bounds aud monuments Of
boundaries established by the earliest
settlers, without and before survey,
were never changed or destroyed by SUBJ
scquent deeds or grants. Then say
that the settlement OF Londonderry dat
ed back 10 the time when the forests OF
Kent welcomed the pioneers and their
families in 1880.
Gazier, lleleck, Eddy, Allen, McCor.
mack, Mack, and others were added TO
tie settlement in 1875. The people of
the former century had great develop
ment of muscular power. The mengsye
their energies TO clearing land and lilling
"a
the soil, which, being new, produced an
abundance of wheat, rye, corn and po-
tatoes. The women toied upon the little
wheel, turned by the foot, and by their
great industry manufactured linen, sheet
ings aud coarser cloths, which were ex-
changed for such articles as could not be
made or raised at home.
Their Inconvenience for obtaining
building material, and their limited means,
forbade them the comfortable dwellings
Of the present generation. Their abode,
at first, was the log cabin, one story
high, with kitchen, and sometimes q
bedroom and pantry. A stone chimney
in the centre, with its large fire. place,
diilused light and heat to the occupant
of these humble homes; yet around the
old fireplace the family circed and took
their comfort of life.
In the long winter evenings the young
er members of the family were seated
around the table, and by the light OF
talow candle, busted themselves with
books and states, while the sound OF the
spinning told the tale of industry |
as practiced by the females. It has been |
correctly said, that II there Is peace In |
the world, heart that is humble mig bit |
look for II here. Education received |
their early attention. Three or four fam.
lilies would unite in hiringa teacher, who
taught in rotation, from house to house,
usually month in each family. DIR. |
Lazele taught the first school, In the
houses of Daniel Cochran, Joseph Ough-
Ierson and Hugh Montgomery. Quite
early, however, district was formed,
aud school-house erected, iu what is
now the Faulkner nelghborhod. This
house was burned in 1914. At still
later period the town was regularly d.
vided into school districts, which have
been changing ever since With the drift
of population aud the lines Of highways.
have said that the earlier settlers ad.
hercd to the Presbyterian church. This
church was conducted and supported by
the town, and all votes and resolves con.
corning il were passed upon at regu-
larly warned town meeting. Permit me
to read sketch OF some OF these meet.
IBgs, the record of which was furnished
me by Esquire Wait. Article second OF
a warning for a town meeting for the
election of officers, under date Kent,
February 2l, 1877, reads thus:
"To see whether the town will agree
10 build place for public worship In
said town, aud where II will stand"
AT the town meeting following, on the
llth day Of March, 1777, we find this
record:
Voted, on the second article, to build
> house for public worship-chose
OF three on the place where II
shall stand-ebose Edward Aiken, David
Cochran aud WIN. Mack committee"
Article third OF the warning for town
meeting to elect officers under date OF
Feb p, 1879, reads:
TO see what money the town viii
igrce TO raise for preaching the ensuing
.car.n
AT the meeting thus warned the town
voted to raise ffty pounds, to be ex.
lended for preaching the Gospel the pres
nj year. II
Ain - - aainnrn.a tnn rra.,i.u