Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-05-08
THE ONLY SURVIVING CAPTAIN
or the Freight Boats which Ran on the
Connecticut Previous TO Is47.

Connecticut Previous TO 1917.
Capt. Nelson Richardson, 20, a tall,
muscular, well-preserved farmer at North
Hinsdale, Is the only surviving captain of
the line of freight boats which piled be-
tween Hartford and Bellows Falls previous
to 1S47, according to the local correspond
ent of the Springfield Republican. Capt
Richardson is a son of Jacob and Phoebe
Moore Richardson of Hinsdale, and during
his youth was one of the "swift-watermen"
whose duty was to help the boats over the
rapids from Hinsdale Landing to a point
three miles north of Bratteboro
The boats used were small, carrying
something like eight tons though some of
them, after the canals and locks were com
pleted, carried nearly 20 tons, the largest
boats being owned by Capron d Alexan-
der of Winchester These were IS feet in
length, II feet beam, and drew about
eight inches of water, the draft being in
creased three feet under load. Each was
supplied with 33-foot mast and a sliding
topmast, the two sails carrying about 200
square yards of canvas.
Two boats were run regularly by Hall IL
Townsley, and one by John X. Blake and
Francis Goodhue, the latter a grandfather
of Col. Francis Goodhue, an extra boat be-
ing run in the fall of the year. Two regu-
lar boats ran from Bellows Falls, being
owned by Wentworth, Bingham Il Co.,
the company being Samuel Granger OF
Fairlee. There were two boats from Wells
River run by Samuel Mutt, who was also
the captain. The legislature of New
Hampshire incorporated the Connecticut
steamboat company in 1929, the incofpor-
ators being Jonathan II Hubbard, Frederick
Pettes, George Dutton, Isaac Hubbard
Edward K. Campbell and others, many of
whom were merchants. This charter
however, was amended year later to the
Connecticut River valley steamboat com
pany, and the right given 20 purchase, own,
and convey real estate to the value Of 500.
600. Canals and locks were built where
there were rapids or falls, so it was posi-
bic to navigate the Connecticut from Hart
ford to the 15-mile fall at Dalton in Coo:
county. A canal and lock were built at
Bellows Falls, one at Summers falls, an
other at Allcotts falls, and steamers were
used between these points, the passengers
and freight being transferred to fiat boats
and RATS through the canals. Capt. Mutt:
little steamer was designed to run through
the canals and locks, but it was not sue
cess.
The Barnet, 70 by l4t feet, was the first
steamboat to be seen in Brattleboro, al
most 20 years ago. Some of our readers
will remember the excitement caused by
the announcement that this little craft
would ascend the river as far as Bellows
Falls. 1t was built in Hartford. Nothing
else was talked of for weeks before its ar
rival in Brattleboro, where the pupils OF
the schools, and in fact the whole com
munity, gathered on the river bank with
inflated ideas about its size and appear
ance, awaited its coming. At length il
made its appearance amid the booming OF
cannon, the ringing Of bells, and the cheers
of the people happy in the thought that
Brattleboro had really become seaport
town. The little boat, which more resem-
bled, according TO an eyewitness, "a good
sized wooden tray than steamboat" sue
ceeded in running halfway up the rapids
below the bridge, where she pulled and
steamed all TO no purpose. The excited
captain, while engaged with a setting pole,
fell overheard, but was rescued by his men,
his boat floating down the stream, where a
sturdy pair of oxen were used TO tow her
into port near the foot of old Mill street
here. After time she proceeded TO Bel
lows Falls, but this was her first and last
trip.
Two years after, Mr.. Blanchard built
two boats, called the Blanchard and the
Vermont. The stroke of their pistons was
horizontal, and their engines l20 horse
power These boats made a few trips be-
tween Bellows Falls and Barnet. The
William Holmes, her captains being Theo
dore Griswold and John Davenport with
several others, was built at Bellows Falls
| especially for towing purposes. This, too
ran about three or four years, when it was
abandoned because of the many turns il
the river, which made ii impracticable; bu
not, however, until one of the BrattleborC
boats was destroyed by running upor
"Cooper's rock"
Mr. Richardson "let himself to Whit
he'd Il Co. in the spring of 1888, and begar
running regular trips as bowhand and Fl
nally succeeded to the captaincy of thu
Peacock, which he commanded about TIVE
years, when he went to work for Capron
Alexander & Co., whose boats ran between
the Hnsdale ferry and Hartford. Capt
Richardson ran with his brother, Timothy
the Dispatch, of which he was later tn,
captain. From the Dispatch he went t,
the Royal Tar as captain, and later to tn,
Mary Ann, Brattleboro boat of SO ton
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