BERNARD.

BETHEL.

BETHEL.

BERNARD the charter name of Barnard. | Leonard. Bishop Chase of Illinois also did See Barnard

sor.

much good here as a lay reader. In 1821, BETHEL, a post town in the western the parish was regularly organized, and part of Windsor county, in lat. 43° 50' from 1822 to 1830, the Rev. Joel Clap of and long. 4o 21'. It is bounded northerly ficiated here about one half of the time. by Randolph, easterly by Royalton, south- The Rev. James Sabine, the present recerly by Stockbridge and a small part of tor, commenced his labors here in the fall Barnard, and westerly by Rochester, and of 1830, and was instituted August 11, is 30 miles south from Montpelier, and 1831. The parish has lost many memthe same distance northwest from Wind- bers by emigration-27 in one year. They An association was formed at Han- have a commodious church and valuable over, N. H. December 29, 1777, for the parsonage, the former erected in 1823, purpose of making a "settlement on and consecrated June 23, 1824. During White river and its branches." They ac- Mr. Sabine's ministry there have been cordingly petitioned the legislature of baptized, 68; confirmed, 75; present comVermont, in March 1778, for the grant of municants, 100. The Universalist sociea township to be called Bethel, in which ty was organized in 1819. In 1821 they they say that they "understand that said settled the Rev. Kittridge Haven, who lands were granted by the late governor remained till 1827. They were then withof New York counter to the royal procla- out a settled minister till 1832, when the mation, to certain persons, the greater Rev. Eri Garfield, the present minister, part of whom have now put themselves was settled. Their house of worship is under the protection of the enemies of the of brick, built in 1816, and situated in the American states." A grant was obtained west village. There are at the east vilMarch 18, 1778, and the township was lage a Methodist and a Baptist society, chartered to John Payne, John House, and a Methodist society in the north part Dudley Chase, and others, Dec. 23, 1779, of the town. Each of these denominacontaining 36 square miles. This was the tions has a convenient house for worship. first township chartered by the govern- The most common diseases are the typhus ment of Vermont. The settlement of this and lung fevers and dysentery. Typhus town was commenced in the fall of 1779 fever prevailed here with great severity by Benjamin Smith. The next year he in 1798 and in 1800. Dysentery also prowas joined by Joel Marsh, Samuel Peak, duced considerable mortality in 1798 and Seth Chase, Willard Smith, and David again in 1822. But the spotted and lung Stone. Asa, son of Benjamin Smith was fevers of 1812 and 1813 were much the born September 6, 1780. He was the most fatal diseases which have prevailed. first child born in the town and is now A Mr. Banister died here about seven living here. David Stone was taken pris- years ago, aged 103. The surface of the oner by the Indians at the time of their town is broken, but the soil is, in general, descent upon Barnard, August 9, 1780. very warm and productive Timber on A small stockade fort was built here at the hills, hemlock and spruce; on the low the commencement of the settlement. lands, principally beech, birch and maple. It stood at the lower end of the west vil- This is an interesting field to the geololage on the north side of the river, and gist. Between the second and third the garrison was commanded by Captain branch are three distinct formations of Safford. The town was organized in 1782, rock-slate, granite and lime. The slate and Barnabas Strong was first town clerk. dips to the north and is quarried for unThe religious societies are Congrega- derpinnings, posts, &c. Steatite, or soaptionalists, Episcopalians, Universalists, stone, of good quality is abundant in the Baptists and Methodists. The Rev. Thos. west village, and also in the westerly part Russell was settled by the Congregation- of the town, and is considerably used for alists in 1790, and dismissed in 1794. fire-places, stoves and other purposes. From that time they had no settled minis Precious garnets in small but perfect ter till March 22, 1837, when the Rev. crystals,and acicular crystals of hornblend Benjamin Abbot was installed and he is are common in mica slate. The princitheir present minister. They have a neat pal streams are White river, which runs well finished house of worship, erected in across the southeast corner and its second 1835. The Episcopal church was organ- and third branches. The second branch ized by the Rev. John E. Ogden in 1792, but just touches upon the northeast and received the name of Christ's Church. corner. The third branch rises in RoxFrom this time up to 1821, this parish had bury, runs through Braintree and the the occasional services of the Rev. Mr. Og-corner of Randolph into this town, and den, the Rev. Bethuel Chittenden, the after running about four miles within the Rev. Russell Catlin, and the Rev. Georgetown, joins White River. Near its mouth

BILLYMEAD.-BLACK CREEK AND RIVER.

-BLOOMFIELD.—BOLTON.—BOMBAZINE LAKE.

are some very fine mill privileges. Lo- [are watered by two or three small streams, cust creek falls into White river, nearly on which fall into the Connecticut. Statisthe line between this town and Barnard. tics of 1840. Horses, 44; cattle, 211; There are two villages, called the East sheep 377; swine, 109; wheat, bu. 315; and West village. The west village is the barley, 76; oats 1,163; b'k wheat 1,083; largest and is situated at the mouth of the rye, 22; Ind. corn, 242; potatoes, 6,640; third branch. It is a place of considera- hay, tons, 450; sugar, lbs. 7,060 wool, ble business, having several stores, tav-642. Population, 179.

erns, factories and mills, 35 dwelling BOLTON, a post town in the eastern part houses, and about 250 inhabitants. The east village is situated in the northeast corner of the township on the second branch. It contains two stores, a large woollen factory, machine shop, &c.Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 435; cattle, 1,598; sheep, 8,930; swine, 1,149; wheat, bu. 2,646; barley, 158; rye, 1,511; Oats, 12,142; buck wheat, 3,277; Indian corn, 7,184; potatoes, 50,286; hay, tons, 4,913; sugar, lbs. 28,613; wool, 24,335. Population, 1886. D. C. & O. H. P. M. BILLYMEAD.—Name altered to Sutton, October 19, 1812. See Sutton.

BLACK CREEK.—A considerable branch of Missisco river in Franklin county. See Fairfield.

of Chittenden county, in lat. 44° 25' and long. 4° 9'. It is bounded north by Mansfield, east by Waterbury and a part of Duxbury, south by Huntington, and west by Richmond and Jericho. It was chartered June 7, 1763, and originally contained 36 square miles. On the 27th of Oct. 1794, the northeast part of Huntington was annexed to it. The first settlers were Noah Dewey, Peter Dilse, James Moore, Thomas Palmer, Robert Stinson, and John and Robert Kenedy. The township was first regularly surveyed in 1800 by John Johnson, Esq. It lies midway between Montpelier and Burlington, its post office being 18 miles from each. The town is very mountainous and broken, and but a small part of it capable of being settled. Winooski river runs through the town from east to west, and along the banks of this stream nearly all the inhabitants reside. The river receives several branches in this town, both from the north and south. The township lies on the western range of the Green Mountains, and the Winooski turnpike passes through it along the north bank of Winooski river. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 88; cattle, 544; sheep, 2,228; swine, 78; wheat, bu. 961; oats, 3,857; rye, 21; b'k wheat, 858; corn, 2,174; potatoes, 13,400; hay, tons, 1,116; sugar, lbs. 13,215; wool, 6,081. Population, 470.

BOMBAZINE LAKE. See Castleton.

BLACK RIVER.-There are two rivers of this name in Vermont, one in Windsor county,the other in Orleans county. Black River in Windsor county rises in Plymouth and runs south 12 miles into Ludlow; thence east 11 miles through the centre of Cavendish into Weathersfield, and thence southeast 12 miles further, and joins Connecticut river in the lower part of Springfield. This river is remarkable for the number of natural ponds through which it passes. It affords a great number of good mill privileges, and waters about 160 square miles. Length 35 miles. Black river in Orleans county is formed in Craftsbury by the united waters of Elligo and Hosmer's ponds and Trout branch, and taking a northeasterly course through Albany, Irasburgh, and Orleans, falls into the South bay of lake Memphremagog, in Newport. Its length is 30 miles,and it waters about 150 square miles. BLOOMFIELD, a post town in the northeastern part of Essex county, is in lat. 44° 48' and long. 5' 18', and is bounded northeasterly by Lemington, southeasterly by Connecticut river, which separates it from Columbia, N. H., southwesterly by Brunswick, and northwesterly by Lewis. It lies 60 miles northeast from Montpelier, and 100 from Windsor; and was chartered, June 29, 1762, by the name of Minehead, and contains 23,040 acres. The settlement of this township was commen-Wait's river. He was joined the next ced before the year 1800, but the progress of the settlement has been slow. The western and south parts are watered by Nulhegan river. The northeastern parts

BRADFORD, a post town in the eastern part of Orange county,in lat. 44° and long. 4° 46', bounded north by Newbury, east by Connecticut river, which separates it from Piermont, N. H., south by Fairlee and West Fairlee, and west by Corinth. Three thousand acres of this town, lying on Connecticut river, were granted by New York to Sir Harry Moore, and by him conveyed to 30 settlers. The rest of the land was taken up by pitches. The town was first called Moretown, but was altered to Bradford, by an act of the legislature passed Oct. 23, 1788. The settlement of this town was commenced by John Hosmer in 1765, near the mouth of

year by Sam'l Sleeper and Benoni Wright, and in 1771 the number of families in town amounted to ten. The first grist mill was erected by John Peters in 1772 at the falls

BRADFORD.

er.

BRADLEYVALI

near the mouth of Wait's river, and the | apartments, and is thought to have bee first saw mill by Benjamin Baldwin in the abode of human beings. In the eas 1774. The first town meeting on record part of the town is a considerable precipic was on the 4th of May, 1773, and Stevens called Rowell's Ledge. The timber i McConnel was then chosen town clerk. principally pine, sugar maple, oak, beecł This town, not having been regularly and hemlock. Bradford academy was ir chartered, the Legislature, January 22, corporated and the building erected i 1791, appointed Israel Smith, Alexander 1820. It has a male and female depart Harvey and James Whitelaw, a commit- ment, with permanent teachers. Th tee to deed the land to the settlers.* The school is in a flourishing condition. Th first meeting house in town was built in yearly attendance is about 200. Th 1791, by the Baptists under Elder Rice. present head teachers are Mr. M. P. Case His church embraced members from sev- a graduate of the University of Vermon eral towns on both sides Connecticut riv- and Miss Martha A. Rogers, formerly c The second meeting house was built Boston, Mass. The school derives a por by the Congregationalists in 1793, who tion of its support from the county gram settled the Rev. Gardner Kellogg, Sept. mar school lands, but depends chiefly up 2, 1795. He was dismissed April 6, 1809, on the charge for tuition. At the princi and in 1815 the Rev. Silas McKeen was pal falls in Wait's river, about half a mil settled over this church and continued from its junction with the Connecticut, i several years. The two first meeting a small but flourishing village. On th houses have both been taken down. There falls, which afford some of the best mil are at present four houses for worship, privileges in the state, are a grist and sav one belonging to the Congregationalists, mill, furnace for casting ploughs, stoves one to the Christains, one to the Metho- &c. two whetstone factories, two machin dists, and a union house. The lands for shops, and an extensive paper mill. In ad the first settled minister were divided, 200| dition to the above, the village contains acres to the Congregationalists, and 100 besides stores, mechanics shops, &c., : acres to the Baptists. Wait's river, the meeting house, an academy, 77 dwelling principal stream in town, enters it from houses, and 101 families. On Wait's riv the west in two branches, and passinger, about two miles above the village, is: through, in an easterly direction, empties into Connecticut river, affording a number of valuable mill privileges. Hall's brook and Roaring brook, are considerable streams, which enter the town from Newbury and pass through the corner of it into the Connecticut. Smaller streams are numerous, and several medicinal springs have been discovered, but are of little note. The surface of the town is somewhat broken. A handsome and fertile strip of intervale skirts Connecticut river, and there is much good land in other parts. There is no waste land with the exception of 30 or 40 acres on Wright's mountain. In the northwest part of the town is situated Wright's Mountain, sometimes, erroneously called Virgin Mountain. In this mountain is a cavern called the Devil's Den, which has several

* We have received from John McDuffee, Esq. of Bradford a very minute and full account of the conflicting grants and claims to the lands in Bradford and the neighboring towns, and of the surveys which were undertaken by the various claimants. The interesting facts which are embraced in his communication are highly worthy of preservation, and we regret that we have not room to insert the article entire. It appears that the lands in this vicinity were granted both by New Hampshire and New York, and that the townships were surveyed and claimed under charters from both provinces, which produced much trouble and vexatious litigation. A portion of the substance of Mr. McDuffee's communication will be found in our account of Connecticut river,

Corinth, &c.

saw mill and woollen factory. The firs artificial globes ever manufactured in th United States, were made here about the year 1812, by Mr. James Wilson. Afte a labor of several years, Mr. W. & Sons succeeded in bringing their globes to high degree of perfection, and establishe a manufactory of them at Albany, N. Y. on an extensive scale. Statistics of 1840 Horses, 389; cattle,2,100; sheep, 9,388 swine, 1,350; wheat, bu. 3,464; barley 76; oats, 21,832; rye, 1,118; buck wheat 1,007; Indian corn, 8,455; potatoes, 48, 178; hay, tons, 3,932; sugar, lbs. 9,387 wool, 16,424. Population, 1655.

BRADLEYVALE, an unorganized town ship in the eastern part of Caledonia county, having Victory on the northeast Concord on the southeast and Kirby or the west. It was chartered to Thoma: Pearsall, Jan. 27, 1791, and contains 3,93 acres, and was incorporated with all the rights and privileges of a town, excepting that of representation, Oct. 29, 1803. It is watered by Moose river, which passes through it near the centre, from northeas to southwest, and joins the Passumpsic a St. Jonhsbury. Statistics of 1840.-Horses 10; cattle, 41; sheep, 88; swine, 19 wheat, bu. 31; barley, 60; oats, 300; rye 10; buckwheat, 78; Indian corn, 63; po tatoes, 1,155; hay, tons, 83; sugar, lbs 1,700; wool, 197. Population, 50.

BRAINTREE.

BRANDON.

was taken and executed near this stream, about the year 1755. Statistics of 1840.Horses, 418; cattle, 1,670; sheep, 6,180; swine, 1,120; wheat, bu. 3,680; barley, 465; oats, 1,218; rye, 1,080; b'k wheat, 1,345; Ind. corn, 4,880; potatoes, 42,010; hay, tons, 3,581; sugar, lbs. 18,800; wool, 12,860. Population, 1332.

BRAINTREE, a township in the south- is a considerable mountain, which renwest corner of Orange county, in lat. 43° |ders that part of the township incapable 58' and long. 4o 19', bounded northerly of settlement, According to tradition, by Roxbury and Brookfield, easterly by Ayers' brook derives its name from a perRandolph, southerly by Bethel, and wes- son by the name of Ayers, who, having terly by Granville. It is 21 miles south-run away from New England, became a westerly from Montpelier, and 38 north-guide to the French and Indians in their west from Windsor. This township was expeditions against the English, but who granted November 2, 1780, and was chartered to Jacob Spear, Levi Davis and others, August 1, 1781. It originally contained 36 square miles. The settlement of the town was commenced about the year 1783, by Silas Flint, Samuel Bass, Jacob and Samuel Spear and others, emigrants from Braintree and Sutton, Mass. S. Flint's wife was the first woman who BRANDON, a post town in the north part came into the town and received in con- of Rutland county, 40 miles northwest sequence a present of 100 acres of land from Windsor, 40 southwest from Montfrom the proprietors. Hiram, son of Sam-pelier, and 65 north from Bennington, in uel Bass, was the first child born in town. | lat. 43° 48' and long. 3o 59'. It is boundThe first proprietors' meeting held within ed north by Leicester, east by Goshen the town was at the house of Jacob Spear, and Chittenden, south by Pittsford, and September 19, 1786. The town was orThe town was or- west by Sudbury and a small part of Whiganized March 7, 1788, and Elijah French ting. It was chartered by the name of was first town clerk. It was first repre- Neshobe, October 20, 1762, and contains sented by Isaac Nichols in 1791. The re- 22,756 acres. The name was altered to ligious denominations are Congregation- Brandon, October 20, 1784. The settlealists, Baptists and Christians. The Con- ment of the town was commenced in the gregational church was organized Dec. year 1775 by John Whelan, Noah Strong, 25, 1794, and at first consisted of 8 mem- David June, Jedediah Winslow, Amos Mr. Cutler was, bers. The Rev. Aaron Cleveland was set- Cutler, and others. tled over it in March, 1801, and dismissed however, the only person who remained April 22,1807. Sept. 22,1807,the Rev. Am- in town during the following winter. He mi Nichols, the present pastor, was settled lived the whole winter here entirely aover it. In 1801, they erected a commo-lone, without being visited by a human dious meeting house upon what is called being. In 1777, the town was visited by Quaker hill. Elder Elijah Huntington a party of Indians, who killed two men, was settled over the Baptist church in George and Aaron Robins, made prisonJune, 1800. They have a meeting house ers of most of the other inhabitants, and at the branch, erected about the year 1813. set fire to their dwellings and to a saw There is a society of Christians, who mill which they had erected. Joseph have a meeting house erected about the Barker, his wife, and a child eighteen year 1816, in the east part of the town, months old, were among the prisoners. and also some Methodists. Mrs. Dorcas Mrs. Barker, not being in a condition to Nichols died in this town in 1841, aged traverse the wilderness, was set at liberty 105. The town has in general been very with her child. The next night, with no healthy. It is watered by the third branch other shelter than the trees of the forest of White river, and Ayers' and Mill and the canopy of heaven, and with no brook, its tributaries. They are all suffi- other company than the infant above namcient for mills. Ayers' brook rises in Rox-ed, she had another child. She was found bury and Brookfield, waters the north- the following day and removed with her Mr. Barker was east part of the town, and after receiv- children to Pittsford. ing Mill brook from the west, unites carried to Middlebury, where, feigning with the third branch of White river, just himself sick, he succeeded in the night in below the west village in Randolph. Be- making his escape, and arrived safely at tween Ayers' brook and the third branch, Pittsford. The town was organized about is a large swell of land, and when Mr. Eb- the year 1784, and Gideon Horton was enezer Waters was surveying the township first town clerk. The religious denomhe said to those with him, "We will sit inations are Baptists, Congregationaldown here and dine with our hats on and ists, Methodists and Episcopalians. The call it Quaker Hill," and it has ever since first settled minister was the Rev. Isaac been known by that name, Between the Webb. He was settled by the Bapthird branch and the head of White river, tist church and socitey about the year

BRANDON.

BRATTLEBOROUGH.

from the ore, is of the best quality. The ore is found by digging five or six feet, and is covered by strata of sand and ocher. The bed has been penetrated about 100 feet, but its depth is not known. Manganese is found here in abundance and of the best quality. Nearly 200 tons are annually sent to market, much of which is exported to Europe. Marble is extensively quarried and manufactured, and a quarry has recently been opened which is thought to be equal to the finest Italian marble. About 1 mile east of the village, are two caverns in limestone ledges, and about half a mile apart. The descent into the largest is about 18 feet perpendicular, into a room 16 or 18 feet square. From this room is a passage, barely sufficient to admit a middling sized person to pass along in a creeping posture, into another room still larger, which has not been much explored. Brandon village is among the most flourishing in the state. It is situated in the centre of the town, and is divided nearly equally by Mill river. It is 16 miles from Middlebury, 16 from Rochester, 16 from Rutland, and 16 from lake Champlain. It contains 130 dwelling houses, 3 brick meeting houses, a seminary, 100 feet by 30, under the patronage of the Baptist denomination, 2 two-story brick school houses, and a variety of iron works, mills, and other build

1788. The Baptist society, which is nu- | merous, erected a commodious and elegant church in 1832, a figure of which may be seen in part second, page 185. It has been for some time under the pastoral care of the Rev. C. A. Thomas. The Congregational church was organized September 23, 1785, but had no settled minister till 1792, when they settled the Rev. Enos Bliss. His successors have been the Rev. Ebenezer Hebard, from January 3, 1800, to September 7, 1820; the Rev. Beriah Green, from April 16, 1823, to May 11, 1829; the Rev. Ira In- | graham, from September 1, 1830, to Feb. 17, 1836; and the Rev. Harvey Curtis, from February 17, 1836, to December 15, 1840. The Episcopal church was organized in 1839, under the name of St. Thomas' Church. Their minister is the Rev. Josiah Perry. They are erecting a neat gothic church the present season. The surface of this township is generally level. The Green Mountains lie along the east line, and present some lofty summits. The principal streams are Otter creek, which runs through the town from south to north, and Mill river, which rises among the mountains in Goshen and enters this town from the east. At the foot of the mountains, Mill river receives the waters of a small pond, called Spring pond, and becomes a considerable mill stream. In this stream are several falls, which affordings, and about 940 inhabitants. There excellent sites for mills and other machinery. It runs about ten miles and falls into Otter creek about a mile from the village. The soil of the town is various, but generally a light loam, easily til- | led and very productive. The eastern part is an extensive pine plain and is considered poor land; yet, by proper attention, it is converted into good farms. The western part is a mixture of clay and loam. The alluvial flats, or intervale, along Otter creek in this town, are extensive and beautiful, and are not surpassed in fertility by any in the vicinity. The town produces every variety of timber common to the country. Pine, oak, cherry, sugar and red maple, ash and cedar are found in abundance. A bed of bog iron ore was discovered in this town about 1810, which is inexhaustible, and which has been extensively wrought for some years past into bar and cast iron. From seven to nine tons of this ore can be melted in a quarter furnace, in 24 hours, yielding 33 per cent. of soft grey iron, which is not liable to crack from the effects of heat, and, consequently, makes the best of stoves. Small cannon have been made from it, which are bored with facility and answer a good purpose. The bar iron, which is made

are in town, 13 school districts and 13 school houses, 2 blast and 2 cupola furnaces, 1 flouring mill and 10 saw mills, a last factory, a lead pipe factory, &c.Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 331; cattle, 1,395; sheep, 14,091; swine, 546; wheat, bu. 1,498; barley, 20; Oats, 7,174; rye, 2,803; buck wheat, 959; In. corn, 10,222; potatoes, 26,052; hay, tons, 5,172; sugar, lbs. 13,586; wool, 32,758. Pop. 2,194.

BRATTLEBOROUGH, a post town in the southeastern part of Windham county, is in lat. 42° 52' and long. 4° 25'. It is the principal town in the county and is bounded north by Dummerston, east by Connecticut river, which separates it from Chesterfield, N. H. south by Vernon and Guilford, and west by Marlborough. The town was chartered, December 26, 1753, and contains about 34 square miles. It is about 100 miles south from Montpelier, 30 east from Bennington, 75 west from Boston, 60 from Albany and 390 from Washington. This town derives its name from Colonel Brattle, of Massachusetts, one of the principal proprietors. Fort Dummer, the first civilized establishment within the present limits of Vermont, was built in 1724, in the southeast corner of the town, on what is now called "Dummer