Putnam patriot., 1930-05-08
COMPLETE HISTORY
 POMFRET VERMONT
Volumes Presented to the Public Library of Pom
 fret, Conn.
v pomfret in Green Mountain
 State Founded i761

T., t7et Amos Sessions, Simeon s-..;ans. Isaac Dana and Seth Paine pomfret, with two other men, set e .o found, and did found, a new es. sSst in Vermont. Just why repre- fn.-.;yes of our first settlers should '- wanted a new Settlement, do h4,' sow The grants of land here Nars ", very large and perhaps consum- si of the best part of the land. At ssr ,ate. such is the fact.
 Saw this new Pomfret seems to
 -" lad sons as devoted and as not n5,s as the parent town. Distinguish as smong these was Henry Hobert Vs1 deceased, who, during his life- ,.aas zee complied a history of Pomfret ya-roont which is a marvel of com .lo.sness and beautiful bookmaking. Tb;s history in two volumes has just .... nresented to the Pomfret, Con- sa.tient Library by Mary Vail Bald .sr and Roger Sherwin Baldwin. of crsenwich. Connecticut, as a mem- orial to the author.
 The two volumes. which comprise .bis history. will be of value to all in- terested in New England history; and a delight to everyone.
 The author spared no pains to make bis paees complete and accurate. For syample he journey in 1907, to Pom ,sfraet. England, to get from person. sI observation a clear notion of the iosaIitv and it's surroundings. He pro eured. and has reproduced here, the most beautiful pictures of portions of inc ruined castle, and of All Saints, the church.
 Origin of Name
 The origin of the name, though fairly we'll known locally, will bear repeating. The Connecticut Governor Gurdon Saltonstal's grandfather had come from the county in England whose grand feature was the town and castle of Pontefract (pronounced pomfret). The castle of Pontefract was the last to surrender to Crom- well. and the name was sweet to all Puritans. The family name of Sal tonstan was closely connected with the famous seige of Pontefract. It is easy to see. then, how the name came to be suggested for the new town in the wilderness. Contrary to the usual belief, the common spelling of Ponte- fract had already become Pomfret, in England. So much for history.
 The traditions accounting for the English name are varied. and pie turesque One was that the Arch bishop William of York on his way to that city, after his consecration at Rome. crossed a bridge over a river near the town later called Ponteffact The throng Of people gathered to sa- lute and follow him was so great that the wooden structure broke, and plunged men, women. and children in- to the water. Thereupon the good Bishop prayed for their relief with such power and efficacy that not one person was drowned.
 Such a wondrous event known to thousands of people would be quite enough to sanction a new name for the place where it occurred; but later examination of old charters show that the name Pontus fractus lbroken bridgel was applied long before Will liam of York was consecrated.
 4 more probable reason for the name is that. on the main travelled road, north and west from the town, and near it, the bridge over the river became broken and ruinous, so that t was a serious hindrance to traffic
 l. would be futile to deal further with the contents of this history. Its contents are for those who find browsing in early village history pleasant or profitable. It is a worthy monument to it's maker, and a treas ure highly valued by the Library fortunate enough to receive it as a gift.
 F.. M. R.