Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-09-22
NO. p.


account 1t was in the winter and their
sutferings We're so severe that many died.
1t was the fortune Of Young Srockweu TO
strike the Connecticut river near its head
waters, and he followed the stream down
until the settlements were reached. As
he made his journey through it, this part
OF the country attracted his attention
and he for a considerable time after re-
turning tried to get together a party to
settle upon the banks of the Connecticut
river. He was finally successful, and in
the spring of 1894 a party comprising
Emmons StOckwell. then %. David Page
and son, David Page Jr., Is years of age,
Timothy Nash and Mr.. Rice started
from Lancaster, Mass, to find their new
home in the "northern country" They
took with them 90 head of cattle and
some horses, which were compelled to
subsist principally on browse and the
foIlage OF trees. On day which has in
SO many ways become famous in Ameri.
can history, and We trust this connection
will not lessen its historical importance
April 18th. this little band crossed the
same river where ten years before Can't.
Peter Powers "camped by the river" with
his tried and faithful followers.
Mr., Stockwell and his party pitched
their camps on both sides of the Con.
nectlcut river, on land now called the
StockWelI place on the New Hampshire
SIDE and on land now owned bv Judge
w W, Fitch, on the Vermont side
They commenced operations at once,
Ihe first year they cleared seventeen
acres OF meadow land and planted it to
indian coEn, the first raised in this re.
glon-a fine crop; as Mr.. Stockwel des.
cnoed It as full of milk, and standing
twelve feet high, the ears being as high
as his shoulders. August 27th. this
their first beautiful crop was frozen and
completely spoiled. They lost all their
cattle the first winter, owing to this des-
truction Of their fodder. The next
spring however, they procured Others
from their native towns. The nert
year 1865, they built substantial houses
1ch
hunter and trapper than the rest. went
back from the river and located on land
now owned by f. S Freeman. Here no
built a block-house the first constructed
IN this section, which was the fortress
for the settlement in times of distress
and danger,
Mr. Rice commenced on the Fisk
meadow, as did also George Wheeler
who joined the settlement in those early
days,
Mr.. Page never, SO far as can learn,
made permanent residence here, but
he did much toward the success and ad-
vancement Of the new settlement, pass
ing back and forth frequently, and in the
course Of the summer brought his daugh-
ter Ruth, then about II, who soon after
became Mrs. Emmons Stockwell. and
they took up their permanent abode on
the Lancaster side of the river. They
raised family of fifteen children, their
third child being their first son. David
Stockwell, who was the first child born
in Guildhall.
The next addition to this settlement
that We learn of was in 1875. Enoch
Hall, Michael Amy and James Rose
brook had advanced as far north as Cole
brook, but the Revolutionary War hav.
ing broken out they were uncertain of the
future actions Of the Indians and tories
and they decided to return to their old
homes. When they reached the settle
ment at Guildhall they changed their
plans, made choice OF this town and re-
mained here.
In l77S Eleazer Rosebrook and Sam
uel Page, and in l779 David Hopkinson.
Reuben Howe and Samuel Howe Joined
the settlement. 1t was about this time
that the proprietors commenced to look
after their interests and to have SURVEYS
made, but when they entered the town
they found these people who were Jealous
OF their rights and rather rude conten-
ton ensued. The settlers were finally
confirmed in their possessions by the
Assembly of the new State OF Vermont.
In 1899 there were u settlers lots in
town, occupied by II men as follows:-
No. l, Col. Ward Bailey; >, Jas. Rose
brook; 3, D. Hopkinson; I, Samuel
Howe; ) and s, Ezra Rosebrook; and
5, Col. Jonah Grant and Edward Buck
man; 9 and 10, Reuben and Simon
Howe; II, George Wheeler; II, Benoni
Cutler. Very few of the numerous de-
scendants of these early settlers in town
are at present residing in Guildhall. The
settlement had a thrifty growth and has
proven to be good one. In no town of
the same size can be found more en-
terprising, intelligent and independent
people.
While the first settlers of this town
were few in numbers and poor in this
worlds goods they manifested the same
great desire to sncnre for Themselves and