CASTLETON RIVER. CAVENDISH. "When trouble is near the Lord is kind, He hears the Captives cry; He can subdue the savage mind, And learn it sympathy" cess to the public institutions. The post | 30th, 1754, and Mrs. Johnson was delivoffice is at present a distributing office. ered of her child half a mile up this There are in Castleton ten school districts brook." and school houses; and usually are one or more select schools in the village; number of scholars belonging to the primary schools, 596. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 322; cattle, 1,638; sheep, 14,631; swine, 890; wheat, bu. 1,752; oats, 8,876; rye, 3,306; b'k wheat, 822; Ind. corn, 10,185; potatoes, 23,915; hay, tons, 4,479; sugar, lbs. 8,660: wool, 27,631. Population, more. CAVENDISH, a post town in Windsor county, is in lat. 43° 23' and long. 4° 25', and is 60 miles south from Montpelier, and 10 miles from Windsor. It is bounded north by Reading, east by Weathersfield, south by Chester, and west by Ludlow. This township was chartered by the governor of New Hampshire, October 12, 1761, and afterwards regranted by New York. It was originally about 7 miles square. In 1793, 3000 acres were set off from the southeast corner, and constituted a separate township by the name of BaltiOn the morning of the 30th of Aug. 1754, the Indians surprised Charlestown, N. H., and made prisoners of Mr. Labaree, Mr. Farnsworth and Mr. Johnson with his family. The savages proceeded with their prisoners and booty into the wilderness, and encamped within the present limits of this town, where Mrs. Johnson was, that night, delivered of a daughter, which she called Captive. Mrs. Johnson was compelled to keep on her march over the Green Mountains, and to perform a journey of 200 miles. After a captivity of some time, in which they endured many privations and hardships, this little band of sufferers were ransomed and returned again to New Hampshire, to the enjoyment of their friends and society. Captive Johnson is now the wife of Col. George Kimball. Near the place where Mrs. Kimball was born, a monument is erected with an inscription, of which the following is a verbatim copy. "This is near the spot that the Indians encamped the night after they took Mr. Johnson and family, Mr. Labaree and Mr. Farnsworth, August The settlement of this township was commenced in the north part by Capt. John Coffein, in June, 1769, at whose hospitable dwelling, thousands of our revolutionary soldiers received refreshments, while passing from Charlestown, then No. 4, to the military posts, on lake Champlain, nearly the whole distance being, at that time, a wilderness. On the farm, now the residence of James Smith, Esq., in the northwesterly part of the town, 20 miles from Charlestown, was another stopping place, called the "Twenty miles encampment," giving name to a small river near the head of which the encampment was situated. 'In 1771, Noadiah Russell and Thomas Gilbert joined Capt. Coffein in the settlement, and shared with him in his wants and privations. For several years they struggled hard for a scanty and precarious subsistence. The grinding of a single grist of corn was known to have cost 60 miles travel. Such was the situation of the roads and the scarcity of mills at this early period. Many interesting anecdotes are related of Capt. Coffein, which our limits will not permit us to insert. At one time, he owed his life to the sagacity of his faithful dog. He was returning from Otter creek, in March, 1771, while the country was perfectly new, and on account of the depth of the snow was compelled to travel on snow-shoes. While crossing one of the ponds in Plymouth, the ice broke, and he was suddenly plunged into the water. Encumbered with a large pair of snow-shoes and a great coat which he had on, he strove, but in vain, to extricate himself. He struggled about half an hour, and, in despair, was about yielding himself to a watery grave, when, at this critical moment, his large and faithful dog beholding his situation came forward to the rescue of his master. He seized the cuff of his great coat, and, aided by the almost expiring efforts of Capt. Coffein, succeeded in dragging him from the watery chasm to a place of safety. Capt. Coffein lived to see the town all settled and organized, and to take an active part in its public concerns. He was the first representative, and represented the town for a number of years. The first settlers were mostly from Massachusetts. Josiah Fletcher was first town clerk. There is a Baptist and Congregational church, and some Methodists, CAVENDISH. CHAMPLAIN LAKE. Universalists, &c. but no settled minister. (been sent to Boston and New York markets, and found a ready sale. There one Baptist, and one Methodist house. are in town 3 meeting houses, one free, The latter was built in Proctorsville in 1841. There are 8 saw, 2 grist and 2 fulling mills, 5 stores, 3 taverns, &c.— Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 265; cattle, bu. 1,101; barley, 57; oats, 7,996; rye, 1,716; sheep, 7,124; swine, 591; wheat, 1,798; buck wheat, 246; In. corn, 3,750; potatoes, 30,680; hay, tons, 3,620; sugar, lbs. 7,545; wool, 14,279. Population, 1,427. The epidemic of 1812 prevailed here, and about 40, mostly heads of families, were victims to it. The soil of this town is easy and generally fertile. Black river, which runs from west to east, and Twenty mile stream, which runs in a southerly direction and unites with it near White's mills, are the principal streams. these streams are some small tracts of fine Along intervale. The greatest curiosity in the town, and perhaps the greatest of the kind in the state, is at the falls on Black river, which are situated between Dutton's village and White's mills. "Here the channel of the river has been worn of this lake and of its name in the lanCHAMPLAIN LAKE. A general account down 100 feet; and rocks of very large guages of the aborigines, has been given dimensions have been undermined and in part first, page 5. We had intended to thrown down, one upon another. Holes insert in this place a long extract from the are worn into the rocks, of various di-journal of Champlain in which he gives mensions and forms. Some of them are cylindrical, from one to eight feet in diameter, and from one to fifteen feet in depth; others are of a spherical form from six to twenty feet diameter, worn almost perfectly smooth into the solid body of the rock." Hawk's mountain, which separates Baltimore from this town, derives its name from Col. Hawks, who, during the French and Indian wars, encamped thereon for the night with a small regular force, among whom was General (then Captain) John Stark. Some traces of their route are still to be seen. The stage road, from Weathersfield to Rutland, passes through this town along Black river. There are two villages, viz: Duttonsville, and Proctorsville. Duttonsville derives its name from Salmon Dutton, Esq. the first principal inhabitant, and has among other things a woollen factory, for the manufacture of broadcloths, built of stone, 100 feet by 50, and 5 stories high. It employs 75 hands, and makes daily about 140 yards. Proctorsville has a factory for making cassimeres, which employs 35 hands, and makes about 130 yards per day. The building is of brick, 75 by 42 feet, and 5 stories high. The post-office at Duttonsville bears the name of the town; that at Proctorsville the name of the village. One mile northwest from Proctorsville are extensive quarries of serpentine, near which, on Black river is a mill, 100 feet by 40, with 10 or 12 gangs of saws, and other machinery for polishing, are now in operation. The serpentine receives a high polish and is considered equal in beauty and superior in quality to the Egyptian marble, as it possesses the rare qualities of being unaffected by heat or acids. It makes the most excellent and elegant fire-jambs,and centre and pier tables, and quantities have naming the lake in 1609, and of the bata minute account of his discovering and tle in which he was engaged with the Indians, but our limits do not permit us to carry out our design. In his journal Champlain calls the outlet of lake Champlain the river des Iroquois, and writers who succeeded him not only continued to apply this name to the outlet of the lake but to the lake itself. Hence some have supposed that Iroquois was the name given to the lake by the Indians. But it seems most probable that the application of this name to the river and lake originated with the French. The great thoroughfare between the St. Lawrence and the powerful nations of the Iroquois on the Mohawk being through this river and lake, they designated them as the river and lake of the Iroquois, or the river and lake leading to the Iroquois. The name, Corlear which the Indians at a later period often applied to this lake, was the name of a Dutchman, who was instrumental in saving a war party of Canada Indians from being destroyed by the Mohawks, at Schenectady, in 1665. In token of gratitude for this service the Indians afterwards applied the name Corlear and, among others, to this lake. Lake to every thing excellent in New York, Champlain commences at the junction of Wood creek with at Whitehall, East bay. A mile or two north of this it receives the waters of South bay, which projects to the southwest. From Whitehall to the south part of Orwell, the average width of the lake is about half a mile. At Sholes landing, about one mile south of Mount Independence, the lake is not Mount Independence and Ticonderoga, more than 40 rods wide, and between only 80 rods. The widest place, in the lake against Orwell, is about two miles, LAKE CHAMPLAIN. LAKE CHAMPLAIN. and its average width about one mile. thickness, and reveted with masonry The distance from Whitehall to Ticonde- throughout. The ditch is blasted out of roga is about 20 miles. The fortress of the solid rock. There are two demilunes this name is now a heap of ruins.* It and some small detached outworks. An was built by the French, in 1756, on a arched passage led from the interior of point of land formed by the junction of the works to the lake, and a well about lake George creek with lake Champlain, ninety feet in depth was sunk in one of and was two miles northwest from Mount the bastions. The fort erected by the Independence, and opposite the north- French in 1731, was a smaller work, and west corner of Orwell. Ticonderoga is nearer the water. The present fort was derived from the Indian and signifies commenced by the English, in 1759, and noisy. The French called the fort Caril- according to Dr. Dwight, (Travels II, lon. It was a place of great strength, 444,) cost about two millions of pounds both by nature and art. On three sides sterling. The whole peninsula being of it was surrounded by water, and about solid rock, covered with a thin layer of half the other was occupied by a deep earth, the works cannot be assailed by swamp, while the line was completed by regular approaches, and both in conthe erection of a breastwork nine feet struction and position, the fortress is high on the only assailable ground. In among the strongest in North America. 1758, Gen. Abercrombie, with a British It has been long dismantled, and is now army, was defeated in an attempt upon quite dilapidated, but its form and dimenthis fortress with the loss of 1941 men, sions are still easily traced and measured. but it was the next year surrendered to From Crown Point to Split rock, a disGen. Amherst. It was surprised by Col. tance of about 19 miles, the width of the Allen, May 10, 1775, at the commence- lake will average about three miles and a ment of the revolution, and retained till half. The width from Thompson's Point 1777, when it was evacuated on the ap- to Split rock is only three quarters of proach of Gen. Burgoyne. Near this a mile. Split rock is a considerable cuplace is one of the richest localities of riosity. A light house is erected here. minerals in the United States, and is a At McNeil s ferry between Charlotte and most interesting spot to the man of sci- Essex, N. Y., a few miles further north, the width of the lake wants 20 rods of three miles. From this place the lake spreads as it flows north, and at Burlington from the bottom of Burlington bay to that of Douglas' bay is nine miles and three quarters wide. * Upon Juniper island at the entrance of Burlington bay from the south, a light house has been erected, and a few miles to the northwest ence. "Within the limits of four or five acres are found massive and crystalized garnet, several varieties of coccolite, augite, white and green, crystalized and massive, very beautiful adularia and common feldspar, tabular spar, hornblend, calcareous spar containing brucite, and elegant crystals of silico calcareous oxyde of titanium."-Hall. From Ticonderoga to Crown Point, a distance of 12 or 14 miles, the width of the lake continues from one to two miles. Crown Point Fortress is now in ruins and is opposite to the south part of Addison. It was built by the French, in 1731, on a point of land between West bay and the lake, and was called Fort St. Frederick. In 1759, it was surrendered to the British troops under Gen. Amherst, and was held by the British til May 10, 1775, when it was taken by Col. Seth Warner, on the same day that Ticonderoga surrendered to Allen. It again fell into the hands of the British, in 1776, who kept possession of it till after the capture of Burgoyne in 1777. This fortress is in lat. 44° 3' and long. 73° 29' west from Greenwich. is nearly a regular pentagon, the longest curtain being ninety, and the shortest about seventy-five yards in length. The ramparts are about twenty-five feet in † Page 9 and 14. * See part second, page 8. Page 33 and 41. | Page 6. Pr. 111, 7 It LAKE CHAMPLAIN. of this bay the steamboat Phoenix was consumed by fire on the morning of the 5th of September 1819, and much property and several lives lost. † Between Juniper island and Pottier's point, a large rock rises above the water, called rock Dunder, and to the southwest of Juniper lie four small islands called the Four CHARLESTON, spot where the haughty Burgoyne surrendered his sword, October 17, 1777, where Schuyler's house was burnt, and where the brave Fraser fell. The house, where that officer died, is still standing, and the rooms, occupied by the Countess Riedsell, remain unaltered." CHARLESTON, a post town in the east part of Orleans county, is in lat. 44° 51' and long. 4o 57, and is bounded northeast by Morgan, southeast by Brighton, southwest by a part of Westmore and Brownington, and northwest by Salem. It lies Brothers. They were named on Charlevoix map the isles of the Four Winds. The bay opposite Burlington, called Douglas' bay, was called by the French Corlar, and the island lying a little to the north, called Schuyler's island, they call-50 miles northeast from Montpelier; was ed Isle aux Chapon. The greatest ex- granted the 6th, and chartered the 10th of panse of water is between the Four November, 1780, to the "Hon. Abraham Brothers and Grand Isle, but the greatest Whipple, his shipmates," and others, conwidth from east to west shore is further taining 23,040 acres Commodore Whipnorth across the islands, where the dis-ple was a distinguished naval officer in tance is about 14 miles. Cumberland the revolutionary war, and he called the bay, on the head of which stands Platts- town Navy, in honor of the American burgh, N. Y., is about 22 miles from Bur- navy, the prowess of which he had so lington. This bay is celebrated for the bravely maintained; but the name was signal victory of the American squadron, altered to Charleston, by act of the legisunder Commodore McDonough, over the lature, Nov. 6, 1825. The settlement of British fleet, on the 11th of September, this township was commenced in 1803, 1814. t The peninsula lying north of by Andrew McGaffey, who, this year, Cumberland bay called Cumberland Head, moved his family here from Lyndon. was called by the French Cape Scou- Mrs. McGaffey died October 30, of this mouton. On this point is a light house. year, which was the first death in town. From South Hero to the 45th degree of In July, Abner Allyn also moved his famlat. the breadth of the lake including the ily here, and his was the second family islands is from nine to twelve miles: in town. In 1804, Joseph Seavey moved Where the lake leaves the state on the his family here; Orin Percival, his in west side of Alburgh, its width is less 1805; and from this time the settlement than two miles. The lake extends into proceeded more rapidly. The whole numCanada 24 miles to St. Johns, where the ber of deaths in this town, up to 1824, was river Richelieu commences and conveys 13, and only three of these adults. The the waters to the St. Lawrence. The town was organized, March 31, 1806, and Richelieu is about 60 miles long, and joins Abner Allyn was first town clerk. He the St. Lawrence near the upper end of was also the first representative, chosen lake St. Peters, and about 45 miles below in 1807. The Freewill Baptists are the Montreal. The navigation of the Riche-most numerous denomination of Chrislieu is interrupted by the Chambly rapids, but the lake is connected with the St. Lawrence at Montreal, by a railroad 18 miles in length, leading from St. John's to Laprairie. The canal which connects lake Champlain with the Hudson, at Albany, is 64 miles in length, and traverses a most interesting country. "It passes in sight of the very spot where the tree stood, to which Putnam was bound, in 1757. Fort Edward and Fort Miller also recall to mind many circumstances of American history. The former was built by Col. Williams, in 1755, and its walls are now in some places 20 feet high. The unfortunate Miss M'Crea was murdered near this fort, and the trunk of the tree, to which she was bound, still remains with her name and the date, 1777, rudely inscribed upon it. It passes near the See part second page 216. Ibid. Page 96. tians. Elder John Swazey, a Protestant Methodist, is the only resident minister, but the town is generally supplied by itinerant preachers. Ezra Cushing is the only physician The principal stream is Clyde river, which enters the township from Brighton, and runs northwesterly, nearly through its centre into Salem. There are some falls of consequence, on this stream, particularly the Great falls, where the descent is more than 100 feet in 40 rods, but its current is, generally, slow. The alluvial flats, along this stream, are extensive, but generally too low and wet for cultivation. In the southeast part of the township are 1000 acres of bog meadow in a body upon this river. There are several considerable ponds. Echo pond, the most important, is in the northern part, and was named by Gen. J. Whitelaw, on account of the succession of CHARLOTTE. CHARLOTTE. echos, which are usually heard when any | travelers. There is a small village a little sound is produced in its vicinity. It is 1 west of the centre, called the 4 corners, miles long and a mile wide. The stream with a meeting house and parsonage, bewhich discharges the waters of Seymour's longing to the Methodist society, built lake, in Morgan, into Clyde river, passes with brick in the year 1841, and well through this pond. On the outlet mills are finished in modern style. Also, a female erected. The other pond, of most con- seminary, built in 1836, which is now sequence, is called Pension pond, and lies under the superintendance of the Methoin the course of Clyde river. These ponds dist society. There are also two stores abound in fish, and large quantities are and one tavern. At about the same annually caught. There are two small distance north of the centre, there is a villages situated upon Clyde river about village of still smaller size, and also two six miles apart, with a post office in each, miles east of the centre, where there is a designated as East Charleston and West Baptist meeting house, built with brick Charleston. The soil of the township is and well finished, in the year 1841. The a rich loam and produces good crops, and Congregational meeting house stands near the roads and business of the town are the centre of the town, and was erected rapidly improving. There are 8 school in the year 1808. The church was ordistricts, 5 school houses, 2 stores, 2 tav-ganized, January 3, 1792, and on the next erns, 4 saw, 2 grist and 2 fulling mills, &c. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 172; cattle, 587; sheep, 1,408; swine, 366; wheat, bu. 1,431; barley, 701; oats, 4,548; rye, 62; buck wheat, 1,560; Ind. corn 467; potatoes 26,279; hay, tons, 1,499; sugar, ibs. 23,965; wool, 2,861. Pop. 731. CHARLOTTE, a post town in the southwest corner of Chittenden county, in lat. 44° 18' and long. 3° 49', and is bounded north by Shelburne, east by Hinesburgh, south by Ferrisburgh and a part of Monkton, and west by lake Champlain. It is 10 miles south from Burlington, and 10 north from Vergennes, and was chartered June 24, 1762. The first attempt to settle this town was made by Derick Webb. He first began in town in March, 1776, but soon left. He came in again, in March, 1777, and left in May, following; but no permanent settlement was made till 1784, when Derick Webb, and Elijah Woolcut moved into the town, and were followed by others, so that the town was soon after organized. John McNeil was one of the early settlers, and was the first town clerk and representative to the Legislature. In the year 1790, he located on the lake shore, and with the advantage of a good natural harbor,established a ferry from Charlotte to Essex, in the state of New York, which by the name of "McNeil's ferry" is generally known throughout the state as one of the most important, safe and well conducted ferries on the lake. The boat is propelled by six horses. Time in crossing about 30 minutes, making four trips each day. There is crossing at this ferry some weeks earlier and later in the season, than at any other ferry on the lake, with the exception of that from Burlington to Port Kent. There is a good store house and dock, with a sufficient depth of water for any boat on the lake, and a good Inn for the accommodation of day the Rev. Daniel C. Gillet, was ordained over it. He was dismissed in 1799, and the church was vacant till Nov 4, 1807, when the Rev. Truman Baldwin, was ordained over it, who was dismissed March 21, 1815. The church was then destitute till Oct. 15, 1817, when the Rev. Calvin Yale was ordained over it, who was dismissed March 5, 1833. The Rev. William Eaton was installed as pastor of the church, on the 23d of Sept. 1834, and was dismissed January 12, 1837. The Rev. Eldad W. Goodman, the present pastor, was installed July 12, 1837. The most remarkable season of mortality was in the winter of 1812 and '13, when about 70, mostly over 16 years of age, were victims to the epidemic of that period. This township is pleasantly situated on the lake shore, and is watered by the river Laplott, which runs through the northeast corner, and Lewis creek, which runs through the southern corner. The western part of the town was originally timbered with hard wood, and the soil is excellent, producing in abundance. The eastern part was principally timbered with pine, hemlock, &c. There are no elevations which deserve the names of mountains, but a range of considerable hills running through the centre of the town from north to south. From many parts of this ridge the scenery to the west is peculiarly picturesque. The lake with its islands, may be seen at a great distance. Add to this the extensive range of lofty mountains with their broken summits which lie beyond it, and it is believed that, particularly at some seasons of the year, the beauty and sublimity of the prospect is not excelled by any part of our country. The town is divided into 13 school districts. It has 4 taverns which are all temperance houses, 5 saw mills, 1 grist mill, and 3 stores. Statistics |