Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-12-05

or modern, that Is more replete with
high endeavor and brave achievement.
than that which records the pioneer
history Of Vermont, the struggle for a
home, for freedom, for self govern
ment.
Chelsea, having been settled after
the Revolution, has less of daring ad-
venture and thrilling escape in the
makeup of its early history than the
earlier settled towns along Connecticut
river. Thetford was settled in 1865.
Newbury and Bradford about the same
time, Randolph in l777, Brookfeld in
1779, and Chelsea in 1884.
Roll back the scroll Of history and gaze
Down the dim vista Of these vanished days,
Here from this mount Of years explore
"Events and scenes Of 1884.
"Behold primeval forests, dark and dread
"O'er all these hills and valleys far outspread.
"No WOO mans axe the sleeping echoes wake,
"No hunters rife doth the silence break.
mo sound is heard except the murmuring flow
"0i brooks that thro' the woodland channels 20.
"The morning song Of birds, ,or wolves quick bark
"0r panther's leap when fall nights shadows dark
"But 10 band Of sturdy pioneers,
with venturous steps upon the scene appears
"Their fortunes, their brave hearts and sinewy
hands,
"Their aim, to change these wilds to fertile lands
Thus, in enraptured verse, doth the
gifted Herrick, poet preacher of Chel-
sea, roll back the curtain of a century.
De Tocqueville truly says,
"The New Englander is attached to
his township, not only because he was
born in it, but because it constituted a
strong and free social body, of which
he is Il member. The sphere of the
town is small indeed and limited, but
within that sphere its action is unre-
strained"
Around the good old town of Chel-
sea cluster the balny memories of
childhood days, the traditions of many
forensic contests in the arena of legal
and public life, and social associations
unusually charming and brilliant for a
provincial town.
The first settlers were Thomas and
Samuel Moore, brothers, and Asa Bond,
a brother-in-law. After a tour of in
spection in 1888, the next year, winding
up the stream from Royalton, they
came upon the ground where the vii
Mge OF Chelsea now stands, and here
Thomas Moore built the first cabin in
what is now the old cemetery The
other two, Samuel Moore and Asa
Bond, made contiguous pitches near
the present residence of Gilbert Moore.
IL Is said the original price paid for the
and was about 81 90 per acre.
Having built their log houses the set
tlers returned home, and in May of the
next year, with their families and few
household goods, made their way back
10 their respective locations. The near
est nelghbor, to their knowledge, was
Dea Elisha Tracey, seven or eight
miles down the stream toward Royal
ION, and here our emigrants left some
tmlngs which they could not carry.
Mrs. Thomas Moore walked nine miles,
ana when she and her husband reached
the cabin, they found that the roof had
proken down by the weight Of the
heayy snow OF the preceding winter,
ana IN lieu thereof they used the cano-
py Of heaven.
lhere were no roads, not even blaZed |
teesmarked the way and dense forest
OF old-growth timber covered the great
erportion ofthe valley, stretching away
Oh on every hand. Without doubt, all
Infee OF the men worked together much
Vi the time, and it is probable that the
WORK OF clearing and preparing the
lang lalia ior cultivation, and meeting the
uaily demands for food, was the con-
s,aht occupation Of the settlers. Gilbert
moore, the grandson of Thomas, a thrift
y farmer Of Chelsea, informs us that
ms grandmother used to put on the pot
VI potatoes, and while they were boil
my, would catch and prepare the
SpecKled trout for breakfast.
a. occasionally moose, ranging near
" Me river, would be shot to replenish
.ne empty larder. Considerable fear
was ior some time entertained concern
t,lg the prowling bands of Indians, for
p 1ne terrible massacre and burning OF
hhoyalton took place only short time
JJoioIe' Je' the Indians probably passing
uown ra this valley, as was shown by the
tb tblllalns Of their campfres. However,
,ne saVages never molested the Chelsea
pioneers.
ooh. IN 1888, while the occupants of the
t%oih ~ were at work for their neighbors,
s sne mousse with all its contents was con-
sumed by fire.
i; AZ llrst the nearest mill for the grind
d;ss. Az VI grain was at Royalton, ID miles
tboa tdbsoalt' and the only way for getting
u0d muie IVA, was on foot through the tangled
a aIbuerprush and over fallen trees, with
i do,s pas OF grain thrown across the shoul-