Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-12-03
HISTORY OF COUNTY
TAKEN FROM VERMONT GAZATEER PUBLISHED In
The YEAR 1862
LUNENBURGH.
BY HON. JONAH BROOKS.


canoes, a distance of more than 100
miles; and, during the Revolutionary
war, they were in continual alarm,
and frequently annoyed by the In
dams and tories, who killed their
cattle, plundered their houses, and
carried number Of the inhabitants
into captivity.
It is difficult to determine when
the first settlement was made in the
present limits of the town, but prob
ABLY as early as 1868 by Uriah Cross,
Thos Gustin and Ebenezer Rice, who
made their log huts near the bank Of
Connecticut river, where game and
fish were most easily obtained.
Moose and deer were plenty, and
salmon, at the head of the 10 miles
falls. were caught with but little
trouble in the night with torch, and
spear; some weighing 40 pounds
have been taken by the first settlers.
The land in this township lies IN
sweIs, running back from the Con-
necticut river to the west, where it
rises in a range of hills near Victory
line. The most noted is Mount Tug,
probably deriving its name from the
difficulty of going over it. The tim
her on the high lands is generally
hard wood; in the low, mostly hem
lock and spruce. On the intervals
and plains on the Connecticut river
the timber originally was white pine.
The first settlers on these broad and
productive meadows, in clearing
their lands, would haul these huge
trees to the bank and roll them INTO
the river, congratulating themselves
that they had so easy a way of get
ting rid of them, never dreaming
that such timber as they we're float
ing down stream would be worth
from 80 to 40 dollars a thousand and
one tree would sell for more than
they gave for their lot Of land.
Connecticut river waters the
southeasterly part Of the town. Its
other waters are Meals pond, about
one mile from the center of the
town, beautiful sheet Of water
mile long and half a mile wide.
Meals brook, Catbow brook and
Mink brook are considerable mill
streams, and all of them have mills
located on them. The land is gener-
ally good and productive, though in
some parts of the town there are
more stones than is convenient for
farming purposes, but through the
perseverance and industry of the
farmers are made productive. The
first settlers endured all the hard .
ships and perils incident to pioneers .
in the wilderness, but they were men .
and women of indomitable wills that .
could not be discouraged, and an
energy and industry that was sure
to overcome all obstacles, and they
taught their children "to follow in
their footsteps" and the town is
now occupied by enterprising farm
ers who are yearly improving their
farms.
From the Town Records:
Whereas the inhabitants of Lun-
enburg, in the County of Orange
and State Of Vermont being destitute
of any form Of government to act as
a town, we, the inhabitants of said .
Lunenburg, do think proper to form
a warrant by the major part OF SAID /
town, dated the 9Th of September
1881, to meet at the Dwelling House
of Mr. Reuben Howe,in Lunenburg,
on the 18th day of September, in
slant, at two O'Clock P. NJ, to act on
the following articles, viz:
lily, to chose a moderator to gov
ern said meeting.
I'd, to chose a town clerk. select
man and constable.
Sd, to chose town treasury and
committee of inspection.
4th, to chose a representative for
this present year.
9TH, to chose a Justice Of the peace
and to act on any other matter
thought necessary at said meeting
Lunenburg the 9Th September,
1881, -EbenezeF Rice, David Hop .
kinson, Eliezer Rosebrook, Simon
Howe Thomas Gustin, Reuben Howe,
Uriah Cross"
Pursuant to the above warrant
the freemen of said Lunenburg met
and chose Ebenezer Rice, moderator;
David Hopkinson, Jr., town clerk;
Eliezer Rosebrook, Ebenezer RICE
and Simon Howe, selectmen; Thomas
Gustin, constable; George White,
Simeon Howe and Uriah Cross, com
mittee of inspection; Reuben Howe,
representative; and Ebenezer Rice,
justice of the peace. Dec. Is, 1871,
-Eleazer Rosebrook, moderator,
Voted to pay their rates this year,