Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-09-06
me Early Settlement of
Sharon, VT.
oonie OF Its Early History Written by
a son OF Que OF the Original Settlers.
(from The Lnnlmnrk !

nai paper, III the possession of Ellen II
Larned OF Thompson, Conn. II wa.
written by Mr.. Joel Shepard. ninety
Two Years of age, who was the SON ~
MI VIM. Shepard, one of the ORIGINAL
settlers OF the town of Sharon. We are
NOT aware that this paper has eyer
Deen published. 1t is as follows.
Inc hrst settlement is now called
sharon in Vermont state. The In.
dians would often come down ON fine
mis- back, then slip in and by the river
settlements, and then be off. and ire
river towns were tired of this plav.
Inc KING of England gave orders for
the state of Vermont to be laid ont in
to townships-then if it was settled II
would keep the Indians back. The
proprietors of Plainfeld. Killingly
and Canterbury, Conn, bought the
number OF the town now called Shar-
ON. They We're TO settle the town In
this way-four were TO be tberp
through the summer, and one at least
through the winter. They met To-
gether to see who would turn out, but
an appeared 10th to 90. Then they
voted TO give the four that would 90
ana settle tirst-and one of the four 10
stay through the winter-three hun
dred and twenty acres of land where
they see fit. This was gratis for SET
tllng. Isaac Marsh, my grandfather.
Willard Shepard my father, one Park
hurst and one Ravens turned out to
60 the next spring. They got ready
in the winter. They SET out the next
spring with their provisions and farm
ing tools, and other necessaries. and
went with an OK team as far as Old
Hadley, where they put up at tav-
ern, the proprietor's name being Kel-
logg; here, finding a boat that was 90
ING up 10 Charlestown. No. 1. they
put their effects ON board the boat and
went up. sending their team home.
They reached Charlestown safely:then
there was no road, 10 inhabitants. all
a wilderness, and il was sixty miles
farther. They built log canoe. load
ed il and went on, and when they
came TO falls which they could not get
! up with their canoe, they would back
round their effects and GO above the
falls, where they would build another
canoe. load and 90 on. They had sew
eral sets Of falls to pass in the same
way, but at last they got there safely,
and they found the corners OF the town
and the number, and each one made
his pitch where his grandson now
lives. Where Isaac Marsh made his
pitch is where Timothy Marsh, his
grandson, now lives. Willard Shep-
ard made his pitch at the upper part
of the town, and the other two made
their pitches. Each one built a log
hut They would all work for one a
week, for anothera week, and 50 on
round, and on the sabbath they would
resort TO Isaac Marsh's hut; and there
meeting one Sabbath after meeting, il
being warm, they walked down to the
river where il was cooler. Some were
reading, some were talking. Isaac
Marsh had stick in his hand as he
sat talking, and now and then picked
a little in the leaves and dirt. At last
he picked up ring that was in the
dirt, and when rubbed was found TO
be Il plain gold ring, and on the in
side was carved in small letters, Gre
member the Giver.' This was Won
der. how the ring came there, miles
from any inhabitants and all a wilder
ness. He laid up the ring. They went
TO their work, which was chopping.
Each one sowed patch of turnips.
They reaped some water oats ON the
islands in the White river and saved
them.
Come fall, they were all eager to 20
home. but one had to stay to keep the
charter good. Finally, Isaac conclud-
ed to stay: he had provisions enough
TO stand him till they came up in the
sprine. They started, meaning TO get
home to Thanksgiving, and left Isaac
Marsh alone. Not long after they
were gone. one mOrningas he was 60
inc 70 his work, he met an Indian and
liz souaw and four children. They
shook hands and il was peace. The
Indian appeared to be glad to see the
white man.a and Mr.. Marsh invited nm
TO 90 to his log house. and he gave
them 4 dram each, which suited them
well and breakfast. Then they SAT
and talked. The Indian said that he
had come from Canaday into this part /
n order 10 trap for beaver, and was |
about building him a wigwam for his
family. But / should think, said |
the Indian. .that your wigwam would /
hold NJ both.'' Yes, said Mr.. Marsh,
and they set his effects all on one side /
and the Indian took the other, and |
Then made mark from the fireplace /
70 The middle of the door and told ms
children not to step across that marx (
and tbey did as they were bid. Inc
Indian followed trapping and had
aaod success. lie would hunt deer +
n the morning, while his wife was
,'ettino breakfast, and commonly KIN
: deer and draw it home, and say
90 AIR Marsh: ''Skin um and You
III b,ve half of um." Marsh would