The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-07-26
EAST CABOT

The following is an essay ON "Thc
Early History Of Cabot composed by
Miss Hazel Abbott, aged 10 years. II
was read at the graduating exercises at
Cabot.
in the year i779, Gen. Hazens army
cut road through the wilderness from
Peacham % Canada. This road lies for
some miles over Cabot Plains and Il
still known as the Ilazen road.
llazen eamped for some time on land
now owned by Ruel Barnet. Expecting
an attack from the British and Indians
he ordered his men to throw up FORTH.
cations here.
In General Hazens army was a squad
OF men known as Whiteomb's Rangers.
While these men were scouting they
heard the sound of cracking brush in
the distance. They Immediately concealed
themselves and they were hardly under
cover when scouting party of British
and Indians appeared under the COM
mand OF General Gordon.
Our men fired and General Gordon
fell forward and threw his arms about
his horses neck, The frightened animal
turned and fled in the direction from
which il came and was soon followed by
the rest of the party. Thus ended the
first and only skirmish on Cabot soil.
"The first peramentn settlement in Cab
OF was by Benjamin Webster, in the year
of 1883. He cleared a plot of land on
Cabot Plains now owned by Ned Web
ster Webster cut and rolled up the
logs for the new home alone. After fin.
ishing the cabin. Webster returned TO
New Hampshire, coming back in March
on snowshoes followed by his wife and
hired man, also on snowshoes, drawing
on hand sled their household belong
ings, among which was a wash tub and
in the tub their -year.old daughter.
"Once during Weh-.er's absence at
Newbury for supplies, Mrs. Webster
tapped some trees and made forty pounds
of sugar.
y Lieutenant Jonathan Heath was the |
next settler, locating opposite the pres
emit cemetery on the plains. Nathaniel
Webster was third and located opposite |
Benjamin Webster's. Lieutenant Lyford |
was next, locating on land now owned
by Hartwell Stone.
1.-TWO or three years passed before any
addition was made to this
but in 1857 six more families
anne, Lyman Hitchcock, jeremiah Me
Daniels, David Blanchard, James Bruce,
John Lyford and Thomas Lyford; set
ling on the line of the Hazen road. This
was the metropolis OF the
own for eighteen years.
"The Beardsley brothers from Massa-
husetts built the famous yellow house,
t being the first framed house in town.
t was started in what is now Allan
smiths pasture, but was later moved
o the plains and finished. The old eel
ar hole can still be seen in Fred Marsh's ,
eld.
"John Dana opened a small store on the
lains in 1902, and was joined by John |
Damon father OF the late John Damon. ?
'hese two men owned over thousand 5
cres of land on the plains and often i
Entered one hundred head of cattle in ]
arms connected with the yellow house /
he old house was used as a smuggler's G
en- during the war OF 1872 and was torn S
own in 1855. o
In l776 all public meetings were held Il
t the Center. The first justice OF the $
eace was James Morse, esq. He knew b
e would have to perform the marriage
,remony, so he married his son, David
} a stump for practice, He was very
eryous man and at service, made the
room promise TO forsake the bride and
cave to all other women. h
THE first auditors were Thomas Ly
nd, Johanas Watt and Thomas Batch h
der. In 1901 the population was liz
eope 1t is now about l,ll6,
Thomas Lyford was the first settler A
what is now the village. He built &
mill in 1871 where the carriage house G
wv stands, back OF Mr. Noodry's resi-
,nce. He built house where Mr.. and I
RS. Bates are now living. B
ELIAS Hitchcock built the next house P
! land now owned by DR.. Warren.
"John Dana from the plains opened Vi
, small store where w, II. Myres' res Il
ence now stands. George Dana opened ii
larger store.
"John Dana bought all the land where G