Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-01-28
MAIDSTONE.
BY HON. MOODY RICH

long distance WHICH ploNIoiO'io SAA'N
other necessaries of life had to be
transported through the wilderness.
At the time the first settlements
were made here the nearest place
where provisions could be procured,
grain ground, or horse shod, was
at Haverhill, N. H., SO miles down
the river; and if the freight could
not be brought on horseback, the
Journey must be made on the river,
as the best road was bride path
marked by spotted trees.
have often heard the early set
tiers say, They must have starved,
during the long winters, if it had
not been for the wild game they
caught"
At present we value the beautiful
Connecticut !river-the name of
which is derived from two Indian
words that signify long river
for the richness of the soil of its in
terval lands lying upon each side
through its whole course, from Lake
Connecticut to its mouth; but in
those days it's adjacent forests af-
forded a more immediate resource
to the settlers in the wild animals
that were found there-many of
which have now nearly disappeared
from this vicinity-as the moose,
deer, bear, Iea7er and otter. Wild
game and ducks were then also
abundant, and the river furnished
supplies of fish that would crafty
the pampered appetite of an epicure
as salmon, shad and trout.
The proprietors were Jealous in
their endeavors to promote the set
Element Of their lands. From the
record of their meeting held March
IS, 1879, | take the following:
"Whereas Mr.. Abner Osgood is
building grist-mill in said town.
ship, which we suppose will be of
great advantage to the settlers, and
to encourage him in so good an I'M
dertaking, Voted, that we will give
him. in case he effects said work,
one whole dividing right or share
equal to one full right or share of
each proprietor, and that he have
liberty to lay out one hundred acres
of said right at the place where he
builds the grist-mill, to be in a
square piece, half on one side of the
stream and half on the other where
he builds said mill; provided, he com
pletes said mill and continues to
keep it in good repair, and will hold
the same by and under the proprie-
tors"
Mr.. Osgood did complete his mill
but it proved to be in the town Of
Guildhall, as the line between that
town and Maidstone was subsequent
" established. This mill was upor
the small stream know as the Mil
brook, and on the farm now owned
by John H. Boyce, on what is callet
the North road in Guildhall. Thi
was the first mill ever built in thi
part of the country, and for thu
want of sufficient water power wa
not very successful affair.
In order to consult some effectua
method to secure the title ant
speedy settlement of the township
and to encourage the same, the pro
prietors, at a meeting Feb. 26, 1771
voted that each settler who should
as soon as may be the ensuing sun
mer, proceed to begin settlemen
and make an improvement, and an
nually continue the same, shall b
allowed a reward of 100 acres @
land, proportional in intervals an
upland, in the same manner as othe
proprietors; and they also appointe'
Joseph Holbrook and Arthur Woo'
ter q committee to locate the corne
boundaries of the township upo
the river; and it was also voted t
give them $40 each, besides reason
able reward for their services, as a
encouragement to their going up t
the Great Coos the ensuing summe
with design to accomplish tn
work. And in the May followin
they were directed to take the az
vice of Col. Bailey and if he though
proper and necessary, in order t
obtain new grant, they were en-
powered and directed to survey tn
whole township.
The committee never accomplish
ed the business for which they weI