Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-02-20
ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY
"Reminiscences Of Mrs. Elijah Root Read
at Meeting Tuesday Evening.

"reminiscences OF Mrs. Elijah Root Road
at Meeting Tuesday Evening.
Owing to the unfavorable weather Tues
evening only a few members of the Yer
mont Antiquarian Society gathered at the
rooms in the Y. NJ. G. a. building for the
adjourned annual meeting and adjourn
nent was made to Saturday, March Sth.
at 7:30 p m. At this time Prof. ]. L. Good
rich will read his paper on EARLY .n.mi-
Owing to the unfavorable weather last
sration to Vermont Affected by ReliE-
ious Difficulties in Connecticut and Mas
achusetts" which was 10 have been pre-
scented last night.
However. those who assembled last
evening were highly entertained by the
"reminiscences of Mrs Elijah Root. who
formerly lived in this city and vicinity, but
who is now residing in San Diego. Cal,
at the age of e years. This article was
read by Hon. G. e. Benedict and fellows
in full:
My grandparents on both sides located
at Colchester Falls, now called Wine oski
Grandfather White and family came from
marlborough, Plymouth county, Massa-
chusetts, in 1891. Grandfather Hawley
moved in 17S. He came with Ira Allen
from Arlington, VT. for the purpose of
building mills, as he was millwright. He
moved into the house with Ira Allen, wi h
whom he was living when Ethan Allen
died. Ethan kept a barrel OF liquor in his
cellar for his funeral and he appointed my
grandfather to draw the liquor at that
time.
At the completion of the building of tn
Colchester mills, he went to Swanton and
built mills there. After completing mills
for Allen, he went to Sheburne and built
mills for Mr.. Joshua 1sham of Shelburne.
who was grandfather to Rev. J. ]. Bliss
of Burlington, VT.
My mother was born in Swanton in 1857.
Il c.,.I
In those days everything was manufac-
lured in the family. Flax was raised from
the seed, pulled, swingled and hatcheled,
the fax spun on a little wheel, the tow
carded by hand and manufactured into
everything necessary. Summer underwo ar
for men and women, sheets, tablecloths
and towels also summer dresses for wom-
en- and children. Wool from the sheep S
back carded. spun. woven and made
into winter garments for men and women;
for women and children it was dyed blue
from the tub always on the hearth, which
was used for stool or seat-all
i have In my possession pocket hand
kerohief, copperas color, and white checked
In the fall of the year a tailor or tailoress
was hired to cut and make up mems and
boys garments.
The trimmings from paper hangings were
saved for measuring. marked and hung
up for future use.
In the olden times the churches were
not heated or cushioned. | remember how
odd 1t looked after the stoves were put in
the Congregational church in Burlington,
the long string OF black pipes overhead.
Some few ladies carried small foot stoves;
one lady had little colored boy bring and
carry hers / do not remember where he
went during the service; probably sat in
the 'nigger pew with many others.
When DR.. Iiaskel's household goods
were sold, my father bought Mrs. Has
g.,
his recent visit east, to bring back some
of the old relies. ] have the stove, also q
warming pan and hatchel,
The first store Of general merchandise was
opened at Shelburne Point by Hubbell II
Bush. Not a store in Burlington or Cox
chester Falls at that time, My mother
oldest sister told me that when she was
twelve years old lin 1888, as she was born
In IND she accompanied her father and
mother on horseback from Colchester
Falls to Shelburne Point for merchandise
and while there they bought her u new
dress. They travelled by marked trees
forded LaPlatte river on n bar below Tho
mouth; the store was on the north corner
that leads to the ship yard, and 1t was af'
forwards burned. My uncle, l.. S. White
told me that when a lad and he wanted
nails, screws or small pieces, he would dis
The dirt and ashes under the store and gen
trally found all that he wanted.
Before my remembrance, 1t was the fash
ion for elderly ladies to wear scarlet-ret
rloaks about three-fourths length. | only
raw few, but my mother made me Goa
put of one. 1t was trimmed with blacl
bears fur on the cape, collar and up ant
TOWN the front Prof. Lucas Hubbell o
The u. V. NJ. called me red bird" He fire
puently called, going or coming, to capt
Gid. Kings whose step-mother, Granny
King, was the professors aunt.
! have been told l was born Nov. Is, 1910
Nv u n N
grandmother White, January 10, 1913, an'
me funeral procession moving away.
The war of 1872 left impressions ON ny
memory. The British would come out iron
Canada, seize any boats that were in sight
They took a boat from Grandfather Whit
which was owned by him and his sons. II
told them 1t was private property, but a
they walked on one end of the boat H.
walked off the other.
In 1914 the government appointed my IA
Their. Robert White, "harbor master" a
Burlington, VT. The headquarters of tn
army were at Plattsburgh, N. Y. His du
ties We're to take dispatches or orders sen
by a rowboat If six or eight men, iron
Plattsburgh to Burlington He would TAX
his boat and men and go south, with or
hers to scuttle the boat If they could no
get out of sight of the British. Wheneve
they came out, the men in the lake town
would I'll wagon with feather beds an
valuables that were priced, pac
IN the women and children, an
send them to the back towns &c
safety. My mother with a loa
women and children on top and my uncl
l.. s. White, and cousin, Capt Dan. Lyol
started from the old place. The road fc
a short distance ran along the beach. or
of the boys said "let US take our toy car
non and fire at them" My mother, a mil
spoken woman, spoke to them sharpl
whip up your horses and out of sight q
soon as you can" causing me to look u
and | saw two or three British boats wit
sexeral men In them. The rQQd ran YVES