Dorset Vermont Biographies

Dorset Vermont Biographies of early settlers, copied from the Vermont Historical Gazetteer, by Abby Maria Hemenway.

WILLIAM ARM

WILLIAM ARM, progenitor of the Arm family, one of the early settlers, born in Wethersfield, Ct., settled in Dorset in 1780. The original farm is still occupied by his descendants.

ZACHARIAH CURTIS

ZACHARIAH CURTIS, grandfather of Daniel Curtis of North Dorset, was born in England, immigrated to Connecticut at the age of 18, and came to Dorset in 1769. He purchased nearly all the lands lying along the valley through which now runs the W. Vt. R. R., a tract running from East Dorset village northward some five miles in extent.

He was, however, no non-resident proprietor, for he lived and died on his property, raising up a family of twenty-five children, most of whom lived to maturity. His house standing at the outlet of Dorset pond, was once burned by the Indians.

ELI DEMING

ELI DEMING, one of the early settlers, lived near Deming's pond. He and his brother and Wm. Marsh, another early settler, owned nearly, all the lands lying in the valley south of East Dorset through the town.

WILLIAM MARSH

WILLIAM MARSH, came into town just previous to the Revolutionary War. He adhered to the royal cause and was obliged to flee to Canada, leaving his family behind. Mrs. Marsh, to secure some of her more valuable goods, filled her brass kettle with her pewter ware and silver spoons, and sunk them in a pond near her dwelling. The pond however, so far as the recovery of her treasures were concerned, proved bottomless.

NOAH MORSE

NOAH MORSE, came into Dorset from Massachusetts in 1778, and settled on the place now owned by the Hon. Heman Morse. The farm had been formerly possessed by one Beardster, whose property, in consequence of joining the enemy in the Revolution was confiscated.

It is related in the family, while the still unbroken forest nearly surrounded the homestead, a daughter of this household one moonless night kept faithful vigil for an expected lover. The no less faithful lover was making good way up the steep hill which the house crowned, rapt without question, in sweet musings of the kind welcome near. But let lovers in a wilderness ever keep one ear open. Suddenly the stealthy tread of a wild beast kept pace close by the roadside, the darkness was too thick to readily discover the unwelcome attendant; all doubt was, however, quickly removed by the terrific scream of a panther. At a single leap down the hillside the arrested lover put distance between him and his waiting Love; and such fear lent wings to his flight he soon outstripped even the bounding catamount. A party of hunters was soon on the track, following on to the Green Mountains eastward, they found crouched on the top of a hemlock stub, some 40 feet from the ground a full grown catamount, found to measure 8 feet which two balls dispatched. It was easy moreover, it may well be infered, for a sensible girl to forgive his not keeping troth that night; and notwithstanding the untoward event above narrated, the runaway lover became her husband.

CAPT. ABRAHAM UNDERHILL

CAPT. ABRAHAM UNDERHILL was among the earliest settlers of South Dorset, at his house in 1774 was held the first town meeting. Asa Baldwin being elected Town Clerk. Capt. Underhill commanded the volunteer company which was raised for the defense of the country. Being a man of very humane feelings, he did much to mitigate the asperities of feeling existing between different parties, and, by using his influence with the Council of Safety was instrumental in restoring to the families of the disaffected many a cow and horse of which they had been officially plundered. He represented the town at Windsor in 1788, and died in 1796, aged 66 years.

REUBEN BLOOMER

REUBEN BLOOMER came into town in 1774 and settled on the farm still owned by his descendants. He married Susanah Paddock, and raised a family consisting of 9 sons and 8 daughters. He went with the army to Hubbardton as teamster. In the summer of 1777, when nearly all the people panic stricken at the threatened invasion of Burgoyne had fled, he still remained on his farm. At this time a son of his 9 years old dying, he was reduced to the hard necessity of setting out for the place of burial alone. Providentially a stranger came along and assisted the stricken father in burying his dead. He himself died in 1824, aged 88 years. His wife died at the advanced age of 90 years.

JOHN MANLY, JR.

JOHN MANLY, JR. was one of the four first families which settled in town, and was soon followed by his father, Dea. John Manly, whose wife was a half sister of Benedict Arnold. Dea. Manly settled at Dorset village on the place still owned by his descendants. He died in 1803, aged 90 years. John Manly, Jr. settled on the farm still owned by his grandson, Edmond Manly. His trade was that of a cabinet maker. We have been shown a desk with drawers of most excellent workmanship made after he was 80 years old.

DEACON CEPHAS KENT

DEACON CEPHAS KENT was among the first settlers, and kept a tavern in troublous times. At his house was held, on Sept. 25, 1776, a general convention, consisting of 51 members, representing 35 towns, where it was resolved that they declare this district a free and separate district. This action may be regarded the germ whence sprung the existence of Vermont as a free and independent State. This house of Dea. Kent's and the aforementioned convention held there richly deserve conspicuous historic recognition. This house stood near the present dwelling of U. S. Kent, on the west road through the town. Dea. Kent was a sternly religious man, positive in all his opinions, frequently expressing himself, "verily I will have it so." He had six sons, three if not four of whom were in the battle of Bennington. He died in 1809, aged 84 years. On his tombstone is found the following epitaph, believed to have been written by his beloved pastor, Dr. Jackson.

"He was an early settler in this town, an officer, a pillar and a light in the first church organized here. His survivors will long remember him as the distinguished patron of the plain virtues, the love of God's truth, Religion, and energy in family government; Boldness and firmness in opposing vice. Revered and respected, in life he ruled, in death he triumphed. Go and do likewise."

Nearly a like testimony is borne of his son Dea. John Kept, who died in 1849, aged 99 years 7 months and 5 days:

TITUS KELLOGG

TITUS KELLOGG, came into town soon after the Revolution, having served five years during the war. Himself and two sons went to Plattsburgh in the last war with Great Britain. He was for many years the principal carpenter and joiner in town.

TITUS SYKES

TITUS SYKES, came into town before the Revolution, and was soon followed by his father and brothers, Asbut, Jacob, Sylvanus, Victory and Israel. From these have descended a large class of most respectable citizens, there being at present no less than ten families of that name owning and working farms in town. Town and County offices have frequently been committed to individuals bearing that honored patronymic, the duties of which, we can with pleasure affirm, have invariably been faithfully discharged.

JONATHAN ARMSTRONG

JONATHAN ARMSTRONG was born in Norwich, Ct. At the age of 16, he went with the troops sent out by that colony to assist in taking the island of Cuba; and so fatal was that disastrous expedition, that only a small number of the 1000 provincial troops ever survived to return. He was one of only four of his company permitted to see again their native land. At the Bennington battle he was a volunteer, and, assisted by another man, after the first action was fought, took seven prisoners, one of whom was the notorious Col. Pfister. (See Bennington page 158.) Col. Pfister's commission hearing date and various other relics found in his saddle bags are in possession of the writer, to whose care they were committed in his boyhood by his grandfather, to be handed down in his family as mementoes of that trying day. While these two soldiers were marching their seven prisoners towards Bennington, they met Colonel Warner with whom Armstrong was acquainted, and communicated to him the fact of the coming reinforcement under Baum, which information he had drawn from their prisoners. Warner ordered them to take said prisoners to their meeting house. Col. Pfister was carried part of the way on the back of Armstrong. The latter moved into Dorset in the autumn succeeding the battle of Bennington, and settled in that part of the town known as the "Hollow."

He married Abigail Haynes. Five brothers of his wife were likewise in the engagement at Bennington. Mr. Armstrong died aged 83 years.

THE BALDWINS

THE BALDWINS became established in Dorset by the immigration to the town of four brothers, Benjamin, Asa, Eleazer and Elisha, with two other relatives, Silas and Thomas Baldwin. Benjamin came first into town in 1768, and established himself about a mile east of the village. Being a man of almost herculean strength, of great business talent and enterprise be soon surrounded himself with the principal necessaries and many of the comforts of life. On his farm were grown the first apples raised in town. He was a warm hearted and generous man. His house became the resort, not only of the social who loved Uncle Ben's spicy stories, and good cheers but also of the poor and needy, who were never sent "empty away." In all his purposes and desires, looking in a benevolent direction, he was earnestly seconded by his wife — the kindly tempered, patient and loving Aunt Ruth, the mother not only of a dozen children of her own, but the foster mother of every poor child in the neighborhood. He at one time was a man of the most substance of any in town, but, his generosity getting the better of his prudence, his property gradually melted away until he became very much reduced in his circumstances. His children mostly emigrated to the west. He died in 1830, aged 86. Meantime such was the esteem in which he was held, the young men of the town claimed the privilege of erecting a tombstone to his memory, on which is inscribed their testimony of filial respect. His wife, the Aunt Ruth of precious memory, died aged 65. Her tombstone bears the following inscription.

"The tender parent,
Loving wife,
The glory of domestic
Life.
The best of friends,
Her husbands pride,
The poor man's trust,
Her children's guide."

ASA BALDWIN

ASA BALDWIN, a brother of the foregoing, settled on a farm adjoining, and was the first Town Clerk of Dorset. He was a strict churchman and embraced the royal cause in the Revolution and being an outspoken man was soon arrested and committed to Bennington jail by order of the Council of Safety. His wife taking one child in her arms, and another behind her on horse back, with a few such other articles as she could carry, abandoned her home in pursuit of her husband. After a ride of 30 miles she was reunited to him, only, however, to be soon torn from his embrace and subjected to the dire necessity of journeying alone from Bennington to the residence of her parents somewhere in Dutchess Co., N. Y. The strong man who had unflinchingly met the contumely and reproach which was heaped upon him in consequence of his attachment to the royal cause, melted and wept like a child to see his lone defenceless wife and babes thus depart. His farm now abandoned, was taken possession of by the family of General Strong, recently driven from their home in Addison, (See Addison, p. 10.) Indeed, near the spot where the writer now resides, occurred the meeting between General Strong and his wife in the log house so graphically described by the historian of the town of Addison. Dec. 12, 1777 the Council of Safety discharged Asa Baldwin and others "from whatever they may have said or acted relative to the disputes between Great Britain and this country." And he was duly restored to his family and his property.

PRINCE PADDOCK

PRINCE PADDOCK came into town about 1769, and settled in Dorset Hollow. From him was descended the Paddocks who are reckoned among the most substantial farmers in that neighborhood.

THE FARWELLS

THE FARWELLS. Three brothers, John, Isaac and Asa, came from Mansfield, Ct. in 1780, settled and spent the remainder of their lives in this town. From them have descended several families of that name still residents of the town. Isaac served in the French and Indian war; was several times "on duty," as he used to call it, in the war of the Revolution, participating personally as a commissioned officer in the battle of Bunker Hill. Asa Farwell, also served with the army in Rhode Island at White Plains while the British held possession of New York. I am indebted to Rev. Asa Farwell of Haverhill, Mass., grandson of the above, for the foregoing facts of this family history.

GORDON SOUTHWORTH

GORDON SOUTHWORTH settled in Dorset in 1798. Although coming into town somewhat later, his name yet deserves mention as he was one of the earliest and principal school teachers in the place. He married a daughter of Rev. Dan Kent of Benson. He was a friend of education, good morals and religion. He was many years the Librarian of the town. The influence of this library, scant as it was in books, together with the example of the father was manifest on his sons, who, by reading at home, and eagerly embracing the limited opportunities for obtaining an education in those early times, became, though self-taught, exceeding well read and able men. One of these sons, Wm. S. Southworth, having studied law with Governor Hall of Bennington, soon gained a high reputation, not only as a lawyer, but as a man of sterling integrity. He left that town some ten years since, resigning the office of States Attorney, and County Commissioner of Common Schools, to accept the agency of the Lawrence Manufacturing Company. This Company furnish him a splendid residence in the city of Lowell and pay him an annual sallary of $3,000,00. Our friend and early play mate, will, we hope, excuse the unauthorised publicity hereby given to his affairs, remembering that so much of his success as has come from the earlier influence which surrounded him are somewhat the public property of the place of his nativity. Judge Southworth was for many yearn Justice of the Peace; eight years an assistant Judge of the County. He died in 1856.

JUSTUS HOLLEY

JUSTUS HOLLEY settled in Dorset in 1780; came from Richmond, Mass.; enrolled himself as fifer in Captain Robinson's Company at Bennington; when about to go into battle young Holley asked his Captain for a gun, thinking it a more effective instrument to serve his country with than a fife. But Captain Robinson prefered the powerful effect of the young man's fife. Mr. Holley married Elizabeth Field, who immigrated to this town from Mansfield, Ct., at two and one-half years of age, in her mother's arms, upon horse back. The first death in the family was that of the youngest daughter, at the age of 31 years. Mr. Holley died in 1849, aged 86 years, leaving his wife, ten children, and sixty grandchildren, all of whom inherit unusually fine musical abilities. His wife died in 1858, aged 85 years leaving to her posterity the rich legacy of an exemplary life and the following golden precept delivered from her death bed. "My children, I desire that you should not only be good but do good."

AMOS FIELD

AMOS FIELD and his with came into town from Mansfield, Ct., and settled on the farm about two miles north from the village of Dorset, still known as the Field farm. He was a great grandson of Zacharias Field, one of the first settlers of the city of Hartford, and from whom has descended nearly all of that name in America Mr. and Mrs. Field lived and died on the place where they first settled, leaving a posterity numbering 11 children and 121 grandchildren and great grandchildren. By the marriage of the eldest daughter with Justus Kellogg, and by intermarriage with the Kent family has sprung a numerous band of relatives in town not inaptly represented by the well known marble firm of Holley, Field and Kent, a trio of cousins by whose enterprise and activity $100,000 worth of marble is annually quarried and prepared for market.

COL. STEPHEN MARTINDALE

COL. STEPHEN MARTINDALE settled in Dorset in 1783; came front Stockbridge, Mass.; was a volunteer at the Bennington battle at the age of 16 — weighing at that time just 66 pounds. He joined Colonel Warner's regiment. The Colonel on seeing such a stripling in the ranks ordered him to take care of some horses, greatly to the mortification of Martindale. Though thus prevented from participating in the first action he was gratified with a chance of engaging in the second. After the enemy had fled, a fellow soldier called to him for help to secure several prisoners, some eight in number, of whom, two were inclined to be obstinate. All, however, were finally, successfully "surrounded" and secured by one or two sturdy and gallant yeomen. During the war of 1812 he was Colonel of the regiment composed of drafted men and volunteers, and marched them to the lines for the defense of the State. Having received orders not to cross the lines he did not participate in the action at Plattsburgh. In person he was very tall and spare, courteous and gentlemanly in address, very energetic and active in all his movements, and one of the most graceful riders we ever saw mounted on horseback. He several times represented the town in the Legislature, and died in 1825, aged 85 years.

CAPT. JOHN SHUMWAY

CAPT. JOHN SHUMWAY came to Dorset soon after the close of the Revolution, from Mansfield, Ct. He enlisted in the army in his native town in 1775, and served during the war. He was in the battle of Monmouth and used to say they had orders to strip to their shirt-sleeves and charge bayonet, and after the charge, "the blood was shoe-deep" and the "dead lay on the ground like a flock of sheep." He was Town Clerk, and Justice of the Peace for many years, representative of the town and Judge of Probate. He drew a captain's pension for several years before his death. He died in 1825, aged 93.

DEA. EBENEZER MORSE

DEA. EBENEZER MORSE moved with his family from Harrington, Ct., in 1774, and resided in Dorset until his death in 1822, at which time he was in his 87th year. He was an active whig during the Revolution, being a member of the Committee of Safety from Dorset. He was also for many years deacon in the Congregational Church. His son, Dr. Alpheus Morse, was a practicing physician in Dorset for some 30 years and then removed to Essex, N. Y. He practiced here four years, and has since added 20 years of practice in the town of Jay, N. Y., making in all 54 years of medical practice. He is still living, and, although nearly 90 years of age his faculties until within a few months have remained quite unimpaired. He is now quietly awaiting his final change.

DAVID GRIFFIN

DAVID GRIFFIN, the Buffoon, or the Coxcomb of Dorset. This singular character made his unexpected appearance in town about 1811 or '12, hailing from Hinesburgh and lived here till his death (some 45 years after his advent.) In person he was of medium highth, with a head as round as an apple, a face completely obicular in its outline, a pointed nose, exactly in the center, eyes naturally sunken, yet from his always tieing his neckcloth so tight as to nearly obstruct his breathing, protruding from their sockets. Clad on Sabbath days even in hot weather in a Scotch plaid cloak of gorgeous colors, fastened around his neck with a huge brass clasp, his feet in heavy cowhide boots, his hands enveloped in large woolen fringed mittens of gay colors, he delighted to come into church and tramp heavily the whole length of the gallery, in his swaggering pompous gait, the observed of all observers, in spite of Dr. Jackson's best eloquence.

Training days, however, were those of his most especial glory and he shone most to his satisfaction, as in the cast off military coat, cap and epauletts of some official he paraded himself and his "bobtail" regiment of boys quite as conspicuously to the public gaze as were the companies of the better disciplined "regulars." Did the Military officers of the day feel loud and commanding tones, David's were louder and more pompous still; did they strut in their march, David's strut was inimitable, in all its mimicry of theirs a complete counterpart of all that was laughable and droll. In a word, pompous in all his pretences, but the daftest coward that ever ran away from a ghost or the counterfeit Indian whoop of some boy behind the fence; tenacious in his memory, shrewd and canning in many of his remarks, yet his wit verging on the most ridiculous folly, and his reason on the borders of insanity, was David Griffin. In short, in all that was grotesque, ludicrous and droll he stood preeminent; was at once the Punch the scape goat, and the laughing stock of the town. Long, will it be ere the gaunt figure or queer sayings of David, fade from the memory of the inhabitants of his day.