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WASHINGTON COUNTY.

25, 1781, containing 23,040 acres. The territory embraced in this township was granted by New York by the name of Kingland, and Kingland was constituted the shire town of Gloucester county. A town plot was laid out into village lots near the centre, and a log jail erected, which gave the name of jail branch to two streams which rise here, one running into Winooski river, and the other into Wait's river. The township was surveyed in 1784, and the settlement commenced in 1785, by Daniel Morse, who was soon joined by his brother John Morse. A son of John Morse was the first child born here, and received, in consequence, 50 acres of land from the proprietors. The town was organized March 1, 1792, and Jacob Burton was first town clerk. It was first represented in 1794 by Thaddeus White. The religious denominations are Congregationalists, Methodists, Freewill Baptists and Baptists. The former are the most numerous. There are two meeting-houses, one in the north part, completed in 1823, and the other, in the southwest part, built in 1824. Branches of Winooski, Wait's and White river originate in this township, but they are small, and afford few mill privileges. The timber is principally maple. On jail branch of Winooski river is a small village, containing several stores, shops and mills. The town contains 17 school districts, 1 grist and 7 saw mills, 2 stores, 1 tavern and I tannery. Statistics of 1840. Horses, 328; cattle, 2,002; sheep, 7,359; swine, 1,125; wheat, bus. 3,647; barley, 877; oats, 11,100; rye, 216; buckwheat, 1,831; Ind. corn, 2,838; potatoes, 70,770; hay, tons, 4,381; sugar, lbs. 27,595; wool, 10,836. Population, 1,359.

WASHINGTON COUNTY lies principally between the two ranges of the Green Mountains, and nearly in the centre of the state. It is situated between 44° 1' and 44° 32' north lat., and between 4° 10' and 4° 41' east long., being about 34 miles from north to south, and 31 from east to west. It is bounded north by Lamoille and Caledonia counties, east by Caledonia county, southeast by Orange county, southwest by Addison county, and west by Chittenden county. It was incorporated November 1, 1810, by the name of Jefferson county, and organized December 1, 1811. The name was altered to Washington county November 8, 1814. Montpelier, lying near the centre of the county, is the seat of justice, and is a place of considerable business. The supreme court sits here on the 6th Tuesday after the 4th Tuesday in January, and the county court on the 2d Tuesday in April

WATERBURY.

and 3d in November. This county is very uneven, and is watered by Winooski river and its numerous branches. In the eastern part there is an abundance of excellent granite. West of this the rocks are principally argillaceous slate, quartz, chlorite slate, and mica slate. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 4,360; cattle, 25,415; sheep, 110,872; swine, 12,150; wheat, bus. 44,110; barley, 4,028; oats, 200,294; rye, 5,763; buckwheat, 23,066; Indian corn, 63,108; potatoes, 698,745; hay, tons, 55,100; sugar, lbs. 451,348; wool, 159,724. Population, 23,506.

WATERBURY, a post town in the western part of Washington county, is in lat. 44° 23' and long. 4° 17', and is bounded north by Stow, east by Middlesex, south by Winooski river, which separates it from Duxbury, and a part of Moretown, and west by Bolton. It lies 12 miles northwesterly from Montpelier and 24 southeast from Burlington; and was chartered June 7, 1763, containing 21,220 acres. In June, 1784, Mr. James Marsh moved his family, consisting of a wife and eight children, into this township from Bath, N. H., and took possession of a surveyor's cabin, which was standing near Winooski river. Mr. Marsh was induced to move his family here at the time he did by the promise of the proprietors, that several other families should be procured to move into the town in the following fall. This promise was not fulfilled, and for nearly a year this solitary family scarcely saw a human being but themselves, and, for more than two years, their nearest neighbors were in Bolton, 7 miles distant. In the spring of 1785, Hon. Ezra Butler visited this town, and spent some time in preparing a place of residence. In September, 1786, he moved his family from Weathersfield, Vt. to this town. In 1788, Mr. Caleb Munson moved into the town with his family, and soon after was followed by several others. The town was organized March 31, 1790. Hon. Ezra Butler was the first town clerk, and Dr. Daniel Bliss the first representative. About the year 1800 a revival of religion commenced in this town, and continued through that and a part of the following year. About this time a Congregational, a Baptist and a Methodist church were organized, and Hon. Ezra Butler was ordained Elder of the Baptist church, with which he was connected till his death. In 1803 the Rev. Jonathan Hovey was ordained and settled as pastor of the Congregational church in this town. He was dismissed about four years after his settlement. The Rev. Daniel Warren was settled

WATERBURY RIVER.

WATERFORD.

WATERVILLE.

in Waterbury, which originate in Bolton. The whole length of the stream is about 16 miles, and it affords a number of good mill privileges.

WATERFORD, a post town in the eastern part of Caledonia county, is in lat. 44° 26' and long. 5° 1', and is bounded northeast by Concord, southeast by Connecticut river, which separates it from Lyman, N. H., southwest by Barnet, and northwest by St. Johnsbury. It lies 32 miles nearly east from Montpelier and 21 north from Newbury. It was granted November 7, 1780, and chartered to Benjamin Whipple and others, November 8, 1780, by the name of Littleton. The settlement of this township was commenced in 1787. The town was organized May

over this church from 1826 to 1839. The | ceives several tributaries from the west, present minister, the Rev. J. F. Stone, was settled in 1839. There are two small but pleasant villages. The largest, called Waterbury Street, is in the south part near Winooski river, and contains a Congregational meeting-house, built in 1824, a Methodist meeting-house, built in 1841, a village school-house, a tavern, 3 stores, a post office, bearing the name of the town, and the usual variety of mechanics. The other village is near the centre of the township, and is called Waterbury Centre. It contains a post office, bearing the name of the village, two brick meeting-houses, one belonging to the Baptists and the other to the Methodists, 1 store, &c. There is much level land in this town, and where the surface is uneven, the swells are generally so gradual as to pre-6, 1793, and Selah Howe was the first sent little or no obstacle to cultivation. The soil is good, being in general dry and warm. The intervale on Winooski river, and on several smaller streams, is not surpassed in fertility by any in the state, and the lands in every part of the town produce in a manner that amply repays the labor of the skilful farmer. The rocks are principally chlorite and mica slate and quartz, the former containing sulphuret of iron and sulphuret of copper. The timber is generally hard wood, with a considerable mixture of spruce and hemlock. The town is separated from Duxbury by Winooski river. Waterbury river runs through it from north to south. In the easterly part is a large brook, called Thatcher's branch, running nearly parallel to Waterbury river. These two streams afford several excellent mill privileges, most of which are now occupied. Smaller streams are numerous in all parts of the township. In the south-corner, and Moose river just touches upwest corner of the township the passage on this township. Stiles' pond is in the of Winooski river through a considerable southeast part, and covers about 100 hill is reckoned a curiosity. See Winoo- acres. The fifteen mile falls in the Conski river. There are in town 4 meeting- necticut are partly against this township. houses, 17 school districts, 2 post offices, There are some flats along the river here, 4 stores, 1 tavern, 2 grist and 10 saw but they are narrow and not overflown at mills, 3 tanneries, 1 clothing works and high water. The surface is generally woollen factory. Statistics of 1840.-rough and stony, and the timber maple, Horses, 210; cattle, 1,608; sheep, 4,085; beech, birch, spruce, hemlock, &c. In swine, 493; wheat, bus. 2,329; barley, 50; oats, 11,775; rye, 120; buckwheat, 2,100; Indian corn, 4,070; potatoes, 21,389; hay, tons, 3,327; sugar, lbs. 25,502; wool, 9,001 Population, 1,192.

town clerk. The name was altered from Littleton to Waterford in 1797. The religious denominations are Congregationalists, Methodists, Freewill Baptists, and Baptists. The Rev. Asa Carpenter was ordained over the Congregational church May 30, 1798, and dismissed June 18, 1816. The Rev. Reuben Mason was ordained Oct. 20, 1819, and dismissed in 1825; the Rev. Thomas Hall, Sept. 28, 1825, and is the present minister. The church at present consists of about 120 members. There are three meetinghouses; that belonging to the Congregationalists is near the centre, and that belonging to the Freewill Baptists is near the line between this township and St. Johnsbury. The number of deaths in this town up to the year 1814, was 110, averaging seven per year, since the commencement of the settlement. The Passumpsic river runs across the northwest

this town there are 3 stores, 1 oil mill, and 8 saw mills. Statistics of 1840.Horses, 465; cattle, 2,573; sheep, 7,341; swine, 1,263; wheat, bus. 2,750; barley, 239; oats, 23,022; rye, 438; buckwheat, WATERBURY RIVER rises in Morris- 459; Ind. corn, 5,022; potatoes, 64,265; town, and runs south through the west- hay, tons, 5,015; sugar, lbs. 29,805; ern part of Stow and Waterbury into Wi-wool, 12,032. Population, 1,388. nooski river. In Stow it receives one WATER QUECHEE RIVER, See Otta Queconsiderable tributary from the east which chee River.

rises in Worcester, and two from the WATERVILLE, a post town in the northwest which rise in Mansfield. It also re-western part of Lamoille county, is in

WEATHERSFIELD.

WEATHERSFIELD.

lat. 44° 33', and is bounded north by nations, which is now principally occuBakersfield, east by Belvidere and John-pied by the Baptists, under the pastoral son, south by Cambridge, and west by care of the Rev.Mr. Lunt, who was ordain Fletcher. It was chartered Oct. 26, 1788, ed in 1841. In 1825 the Methodists erecto James Whitelaw, James Savage and ted a meeting house in the north part of William Coit, by the name of Coit's the town, and in 1836 a more numerous Gore, and originally contained 11,000 society built a neat chapel of brick at acres. It, with some portions of the ad- Perkinsville. In 1838 a church was orjoining towns, was incorporated into a ganized in the southeast part of the town, town by the name of Waterville, Nov. 15, formed mostly of members from the cen 1824. The settlement was commenced tre church, which has erected a beautiful about the year 1789. The first mills were church. Rev. John Dudley, the present erected in 1796 and 1797, by John John- pastor of this church, was installed in son for Wm. Coit. It is watered princi- 1841. The first meeting house, situated pally by the north branch of Lamoille near the centre of the town, was built by river, which affords several good mill a land tax, and was consumed by fire in privileges. Along this stream is a tract March, 1821, generally supposed to be of very good land. Other parts are some- the work of an incendiary. The same what mountainous and broken. There year the Congregational society, which are here 6 school districts, 1 grist, 3 saw had been previously organized, built a and 2 fulling mills, 1 woollen factory and 2 stores. Statistics of 1840.--Horses, 110; cattle, 874; sheep, 1,557; swine, 270; wheat, bus. 697; oats, 2,542; rye, 20; Indian corn, 1,104; potatoes, 23,054; hay, tons, 1,319; sugar, lbs. 11,020; wool, 3,118. Population, 610.

beautiful brick edifice on the same site. During the spring and summer of 1791, there were more than 70 cases of the small pox here, 9 of which were fatal. Among those who sacrificed their time and money, and were indefatigable in ameliorating the sufferings of their neighbors, may WEATHERSFIELD, a post town in the be mentioned Thomas Prentiss, Joseph castern part of Windsor county, is in lat. Hubbard, and Samuel Steele, the earliest 43° 23' and long. 4° 30', and is bounded settlers of the town, now dead. The epnorth by Windsor, east by Connecticut idemic of 1812 prevailed extensively, carriver, which separates it from Claremont, rying off about 70 of the inhabitants. ConN. H., south by Springfield, and west by necticut river washes the eastern border Cavendish and Baltimore. It is 70 miles of this town, upon the banks of which south from Montpelier,and 21 south from are some of the best farms in the state. Woodstock. It was chartered to Benja- In the southeast part the river makes a min Allen and others, Aug. 20, 1761, and bend, significantly called "the Bow," contains 22,030 acres. The early settlers from its resemblance to an ox-bow. This of this town emigrated principally from encloses several hundred acres of the Connecticut. It was organized in March, most productive land, principally owned 1778. Benoni Tuttle was the first town by Hon. Wm. Jarvis, late United States clerk, and Israel Burlingame its first rep- Consul at Lisbon. Mr. J. resides upon resentative. The Rev. James Treadway, this farm, and has done much toward imof the Congregational order, its first min- proving the quality of wool throughout ister, was settled by the town in 1779, the state. His flock of full breed merino and continued their pastor until 1783. is probably not excelled by any in VerRev. Dan Foster was settled in 1787, and mont. Black river waters the western dismissed in 1799. Rev. James Converse section of this town, affording numerous was ordained Feb. 10, 1802, and remain-privileges for mills and manufacturing esed their pastor until his death, Jan. 7th, tablishments. The meadows upon this 1839. Mr. C. was eminently useful, and river are rich and fertile. The remaindied universally beloved and lamented. ing part of the town is undulating, but During his successful ministry, there fertile, and richly rewards the labor of were several extensive revivals of religion the husbandman. Large quantities of in town. Rev. Nelson Bishop was set-pork, beef, butter and cheese were fortled in 1840, and dismissed in March, merly furnished for the Boston market, 1842. In 1835 a Congregational church by the enterprising farmers, but of late was formed at Perkinsville, in the west the attention of the agriculturist has part of the town, which have erected a been turned more to wool growing, for house of worship, but have no settled which the high lands are admirably fitted. minister. Previous to this a neat and The bed of Black river, for a considerable commodious house of worship, of the distance, is a solid mass of gneiss and :niGothic style, had been erected here by ca slate, and upon each side of it are conthe united efforts of different denomi-siderable elevations of the same material,

WEATHERSFIELD.

WELLS.

756; swine, 1,259; wheat, bus. 532; barley, 128; oats, 6,418; rye, 4,352; buckwheat, 927; Ind. corn, 14,204; potatoes, 58,498; hay, tons, 5,921; sugar, lbs. 9,185; wool, 30,120. Population, 2,082.

S. P.

WELLS, a small post town in the western part of Rutland county, is in lat. 43° 27' and long. 3o 54', and is bounded north by Poultney and a part of Middletown, east by a part of Middletown and Tinmouth, south by Pawlet, and west by Hampton, N. Y. It lies 40 miles north from Bennington, 65 southwest from Montpelier, and 13 southwest from Rutland. It was chartered Sept. 15, 1761, to Eliakim Hall and others. This township was originally 6 miles square, but a part of it has since been annexed to Poult

tlement was commenced by Ogden Mallary, about the year 1768. Daniel and Samuel Culver came into town in 1771. The town was organized March 9, 1773, and John Ward was first town clerk. It was first represented in 1778, by Daniel Culver. The religious denominations are Methodists, Reformed Methodists, Episcopalians, and Universalists. There are three houses for public worship, one belonging to the Methodists, one to the Episcopalians, and a union house. The Episcopal church, called St.Paul's church, consists of 24 communicants. Their house of worship was erected in 1840. There is no settled minister. The first settlers of this township were afflicted with fever and ague, but the town has, for many years past, been remarkably healthy. Wells pond, called also lake Austin, is about 5 miles long, and in some places one mile and a half wide, and cov

interspersed with lime quarries. Lime; stone abounds in the northwestern part, from which large quantities of lime of a superior quality, are manufactured annually. There are also in the western part localities of serpentine,ligniform asbestos, tremolite, and crystalized sulphuret of iron, which are often visited by the mineralogist, who is richly rewarded for his labor. The asbestos is of a very superior quality. On the north, between this town and Windsor, lies Ascutney Mountain. Perkinsville, situated in the southwestern part of the town, derives its name from a Mr. Perkins, a capitalist from Boston, who in 1830 purchased a small woollen factory, which he greatly enlarged, thus giving an impulse to the business of the village, and attracting the attention of other capitalists to improve the favor-ney and a part to Middletown. The setable advantages afforded by the rapids in Black river, to engage in the same enterprise. In 1835 a brick edifice, 110 ft. in length, 46 ft. in width, and 4 stories high, was erected for the purpose of manufacturing cassimere and sattinet. In this there were 8 full sets of machinery, moved by a wheel 26 feet long and 19 feet in diameter. When in full operation, this establishment gave employment to 150 hands, and manufactured 750 yards of cloth per day. In November, 1839, this expensive building, with all its valuable contents, was destroyed by fire. Insurance, $81,000. It has not been rebuilt. The broad-cloth mill, purchased by Mr. Perkins, is still in operation. There is a paint and printing-ink establishment, where is manufactured a very superior quality of engraving ink, also a Bobbin factory, with the usual mechanical work carried on in manufacturing villages. In the spring of 1841 an academy was open-ers upwards of 2,000 acres. About one ed under the superintendence of Messrs. A. P. Chase and S. A. Bullard. It is now in a flourishing condition, the number of students the first year being 175. The school is furnished with a choice set of chemical and philosophical apparatus. There are three other small villages in town, one in the south east part, called "the Bow," one in the northeast, called "the Corners," and one at the northwest, called "Greenbush." At each of these villages, and also at Perkinsville, there is a post-office, bearing the name of the viled the corner, which contains a meetinglage, except the one at the Bow, which house, a store, a tavern, and several mebears the name of the town. There are chanics' shops. There are in town 10 in town 12 school districts, each furnish- school districts, 1 grist and 2 saw mills, ed with a neat and commodious school-1 woollen factory, 1 fulling mill, 2 cardhouse. There are 4 grist and 9 saw mills, 4 woollen factories, 6 stores, 5 taverns, and 2 tanneries. Statistics of 1840.Horses, 393; cattle, 2,345; sheep, 10,24

PT. III.

third part of this pond lies in Poultney. The outlet of this pond is the principal stream, and on this are a saw mill, a grist mill, one clothier's works, and machinery. There is one other stream, on which are mills. The western part of this township is generally level, and the eastern part is mountainous and broken. The soil is generally good, where it is not so uneven as to preclude the possibility of cultivation. There is a small village, situated near the south end of the pond, call

ing machines, 1 store, I tavern, and 1 tannery. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 148; cattle, 1,019; sheep, 4,283; swine, 446; wheat, bus. 742; oats, 4,713; rye, 1,415;

WELLS RIVER.

WENLOCK.-WEST FAIRLEE

WESTFIELD.

township by the name of West Fairlee, immediately after it was set off, and Hon. Feb. 25, 1797. This town was organized Elisha Thayer was first town clerk. It was first represented separately from Fairlee in 1823, by Samuel Graves. The Rev. Joseph Tracy was settled over the Congregational church here and the western part of Thetford, in July, 1820. He preached at the meeting house here, and at Post Mills village, in Thetford, alternately. Fairlee lake lies partly in the southeast corner of this township, and Ompompanoosuc river runs across the southwest corner. The surface is very uneven.

buckwheat, 301; Ind. corn, 4,275; pota- | set off from Fairlee and constituted a toes, 16,360; hay, tons, 2,261; sugar,lbs. 6,200; wool, 8,752. Population, 740. WELLS RIVER, has its source in Kettle pond, which lies at the northwest corner of Groton, and a part of it in Marshfield. It runs nearly southeast about 2 miles, and falls into Long Pond in Groton, which is about 2 miles long and 100 rods wide. From this pond it continues its southeasterly course half a mile, and falls into another pond, which is about half a mile long and quarter of a mile wide. It then runs a mile and a half, and meets the south branch, which rises near the southwest corner of the town, and runs nearly east to its junction with the main stream; it then runs east southeast about a mile, and receives the North branch, which has its source near the northeast corner of the town. Continuing the same course, it passes through the northwest part of Ryegate into Newbury, and running near the line between Newbury and Ryegate about 4 miles, falls into Connecticut river about half a mile south of the northeast corner of Newbury. This is generally a rapid stream, furnishing many west part of Orleans county, is in lat. 44° WESTFIELD, a post town in the northexcellent mill privileges, on which mills 52' and long. 4o 30', and is bounded north are erected. At Wells River village, near by Jay, east by Troy, south by Lowell, the mouth of the river, are a paper mill, a and west by Montgomery. It lies 42 corn mill, a saw mill, and other machine-miles north from Montpelier, and 44 ry. Wells river had its name long before any settlement was made in Vermont, but we have not ascertained why it was so called.

WENLOCK, a township in the central part of Essex county, is in lat. 44° 47', and is bounded northerly by Lewis and Avery's gore, easterly by Brunswick, southerly by Ferdinand and Brighton, and westerly by Morgan. It was chartered Oct. 13, 1761, and lies 53 miles northeast from Montpelier. The south and principal branch of Nulhegan river, rises in this township. A road has been opened along this stream from Connecticut river to Orleans county. There are only 4 or 5 families settled in this township, and it is unorganized. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 6; cattle, 41; sheep, 37; swine, 13; wheat, bus. 60; oats, 62; rye, 10; buckwheat, 280; Ind. corn, 12; potatoes, 950; hay, tons, 76; sugar, lbs. 1,200; wool, 65. Population, 28.

WEST FAIRLEE, a post town in the eastern part of Orange county, is in lat. 43° 56' and long. 4° 46', and is bounded north by Bradford, east by Fairlee, south by Thetford, and west by Vershire. It is situated 28 miles southeast from Montpelier, and 35 northeasterly from Windsor. It was chartered in connexion with Fairlee, Sept. 9, 1761. This township was

school districts, and contains 1 store, 1 The town is divided into seven grist and 4 saw mills, 1 fulling mill, and I tannery. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 210; cattle, 1,316; sheep, 5,249; swine, 518; wheat, bus. 821; barley, 90; oats, 6,938; rye, 373; buckwheat, 1,133; Ind. corn, 3,758; potatoes, 29,641; hay, tons, 2,775; sugar, lbs. 12,622; wool, 10,525. Population, 824.

northeast from Burlington. It was chartered May 15, 1780, to Dan'l Owen and associates, containing 23,040 acres. The Jesse Olds, a Mr. Hobbs, and others. The settlement was commenced in 1799, by town was organized March 29, 1802, and Jesse Olds was first town clerk, and Medad Hitchcock first representative. There are 5 religious societies, the Congregational, formed in 1819, the Methodist, in 1831, the Baptist, in 1831, the Christian, in 1824, and the Universalist, in 1835. The ministers of the Congregational ch. have been, Rev. Silas Lamb, 3 years from 1826; Rev. Wm. Holmes, 3 years from 1832; and Rev. Reuben Mason, since 1838. The only house of worship was built by Dea. Luther Page, for the Congregational society. Missisco river runs about 4 miles, through the southeastern part of the township, and receives here 3 considerable tributaries which afford sevthis township is very good land, but the eral mill privileges. The eastern part of western is high and mountainous. Hazen's Notch in the Green Mountains lies in the southwest corner. tains 4 school districts, a small meetinghouse, 2, stores, and 5 saw mills. Statistics of 1840.-Horses, 106; cattle, 681 sheep, 1,823; swine, 355; wheat, bush. 917; barley, 57; oats, 3,484; rye, 214;

The town con

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