Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-09-16
PUTNEY "GREAT MEADOW"


Its Early History and Settlement.
Ten years of the writer's early life were
spent near the 'Great Meadow" In East Put
ney, which will account for the interest man
ifested by him in its history and settlement
The meadow>is located in the Connecticut
river valley, and is overlooked from the east
by long range of high hills in westmore-
land, N. II. A similar range of Vermont
hills extends along the western border, at the
foot Of which runs the highway in a northor-
ly and southerly direction. A great bend in
the river, beginning at Taylor's island on the
west corner of the meadow forms its bounda-
ry line, which is completed on the west side
by the highway. The Vermont Valley rail
road passes across it in the west part parallel
with the travelled road, and the Cheshire rail
road is in plain view on the New Hampshire
side. The meadow is about ono mile across
in direct line from the west side to the east
ern limit at the river, and contains 500 acres
of rich alluvial soil which produces excellent
crops It's waving fields Of corn and luxuri-
ant vegetation, in midsummer, afford fine
view TO the lover Of natural scenery. In early
times the lowest meadow lands we're covered
with a tangled growth of yellow pine, elm
and butternut trees. This will explain why
the fishing ground at the north end Of the
meadow is called "Butternut orchard" al
though no such trees are now standing near
The range of steep hills on the west was for
merly covered with fine growth of majestic
white pines, nearly all of which have disap-
peared, and they are succeeded by younger
- H. I'll IL. I.Fl
pine is the glory Of the American forest, yet
the woodman spares it not. Here and there
tall pine or a stately elm may be seen stand
ing alone and reminding US Of the grandeur
of the primeval forest. The first settlement
in the town of Putney was made on the Great
Meadow in 1742 or '43. Nehomian How of
Grafton, Mass, William Phipps, Daniel
Rugg of Lancaster and their families, with
Robert Baker and others, made clearing
and built fort in the south part of the mead
ow. A settlement was also made on the op-
posite side of the riverat No. 2, Westmoreland,
during the same year. Daniel How, Thomas
Crisson and others from Rutland, Mass,
made q clearing and built log huts. As far
back as 1876, Massachusetts held an undis-
puted right to the territory as far north as
the present south line of Westmorcand, N. H.,
and claimed good title TO the country about
80 miles TO the northward and to the east as
far as the MerrimAck river. Many persons
were desirous Of securing the rich meadow
lands in that region, and accordingly petit
toned the General Court, which voted Jan.
IL, 1876, THAT it was e1pedient TO lay out
four townships TO be Of the contents of
miles square, and not to extend more than
miles from the river" The grants lying
on the east side of the river were numbered
going up stream, as follows No. l, Chester
field No. 2, Westmoreland; No. 3, Wal
pole; No. 4, Charlestown. Those on the
west side were numbered coming down the
stream, as follows No !, Westminster No.
2, Putney; No. 3, Dummerston No. 4, Brat
tleboro. The township south Of Brattleboro
was called Hinsdale until 1902, when the
name was changed to Vernon. Both Vernon
and Hinsdale, N. H, formed one township
when first chartered, Sept. 8, 1853. The
charter was altered the same year, Sept. 26,
and the grant was divided into two towns,
both called Hinsdale. The line of separation
was the west bank Of Connecticut river. Pre-
vious TO 1853 this tract of land was regarded
as part of Northfeld, but when the new state
line was surveyed in March, 174l, it was cut
of, and subsequently called the cutoff terri
tory. Till the incorporation of Hinsdale in
1853, the people living on the cut of terrific
ry were styled in deeds and official docu-
ments, ''of the northerly part of Northfeld
township above the line of the Massachusetts
government" At tho same session of the
court, Jan. 10, 1876, two townships were laid
out on the west side of the river south Of the
'Great Falls." Joseph Tisdale of Taunton
was empowered to call meeting of the pro-
prietors of No. l, Westminster and Palmer
Goulding of Worcester to call together the
proprietors of No. 2, Putney. The first set
tlement in Westminster was made in 1873.
During that year Richard Ellis and his son
Reuben built a dwelling house Cog hut) and
broke up five or six acres of land. Seth Tis-
dale and John Barney were with them. John
Kilburn, the first settler in Walpole, n H.,
started from weathersAeld, Conn, in 17lO,
stopped in Northheld, Mass, with his family,
whers he was taxed in 1741, and then moved
on to No. 3, Walpole. The settlers on the
Great Meadow prospered well and in three
years time had gathered quite stock of cat
tie. There is evidence to show that this set
tlement was not abandoned at the beginning
| of the French and Indian war in 1744, or dur
ing its progress. The General Court in Mass
achusetts passed an order April 29d, 1746,
for raising III men TO be sent to the western
frontiers and 90 more to be apportioned to
various forts, the one at "Great Meadow" re-
ceiving two men. The first violence occa-
stoned by the Indians in the Connecticut val
ley, in this war, was on the Great Meadow,
July 9th, l7i5. A party Of Indians captured
William Phipps, who was hoeing in his corn
| field at the southwest corner of the meadow.
He was taken about half mile into the
woods on the west by two Indians. One OF
them went back down the hill for mething
which he had left, trusting the prisoner in
care of his comrade during his absence.
| Phipps, with q determination characteristics
/ of early settlers, watched his chance, struck
down his keeper with his hoe, snatched away
his gun and shot dead the other Indian as he
came back up the hill on his return. Having
disabled the one he struck by ohopping him
with his hoe, he then started for the fort, but
unfortunately met three other Indians who
shot, killed and scalped him and otherwise
mangled his body. Rev. Benjamin Doolittle
TO whom the Indians gave an account of the
attack, says in a pamphlet printed in 1850
that the Indian who was struck down by
Phipps afterwards died of his wounds He
also states in his narrative of mischief done
by the Indians in the French war, that the
same, or some other party of Indians, came
to place called Upper Ashuelot, (Keene
N. H. killed and scalped Dea. Josiah Fisher
as he was driving his cows to pasture, abou
half mile from the garrison. This even
happened July 10th, fve days after the kill
ing of Mr.. Phipps The French and indiana