The origin of names is various; many are taken from trades or professions; many are mere nicknames. Probably the best are from places where families resided, and where they possessed property. It seems that the Hassards, or Hazards, took theirs from the places in which they first settled in England. The manor of Haroldesore, in the […]
Jonah Case located in the northeastern part of the town, on the old “‘Squire Arzah Crane place,” where William J. Conant recently resided. The old brick house is still standing, built by him in 1780 – the first brick dwelling erected in the county. Here he kept a public house for a long time, and
Whitford, Ezra W., Addison, was born in the town of Addison, Addison county, Vt., on November 9, 1845. His parents were William T. and Almina T. (Seeger) Whitford. He was educated in the common schools, and received a fair education; was brought up to farming pursuits, and managed the home place until the death of
The Bristol Baptist Church was organized by Elder Joseph Call, in 1794, with nine members. Rev. Thomas Tuttle was the first settled minister. The church building, erected in 1794, will seat two hundred and fifty persons, and is valued at $4,900, including grounds. The society now has one hundred and two members, with Rev. P.
Purinton, Elihu, Lincoln, a representative farmer of Lincoln, Vt., was a son of James and Clarissa (Nud) Purinton, and a grandson of Chase Purinton. James Purinton was a tanner by trade. He was twice married. His first wife was Achsie Morrison. After his marriage he resided in Lincoln, Vt., for a number of years, after
Clark, Mrs. Wealtha, Addison, was born in Addison, Addison county, Vt., on August 11, 1826. She was a daughter of George and Susan (Spencer) Willmarth. She was married in 1850 to Elliott Clark, who was born in Addison, Vt., on February 26. 1818. He was a son of Ashel and Hannah (Tower) Clark. He was
Mason, Andrew J., New Haven, was born in the town of Pottsdam, N. Y., on October 24, 1834, where he was reared and educated, and came to the town of New Haven, Vt., in 1844, where he has since resided. He was in the War of the late Rebellion, enlisting as a private in Company
Stevens, Carleton T., Vergennes, was born in Panton, Vt., in 1817. He was judge of the County Court in 1883 and ’84; was director of the Vergennes Bank from 1865 to ’68, and president of the same from 1868. He has also held several corporation offices. He and his brother, Charles O., engaged in the
John Douglass lived on the place now owned by C. and C. E. Ward; Colonel Benajah Douglass on the place where his son N. B. Douglass now lives. N B. Douglass and his three children, James, Maria, and Lilian, are the only descendants in town of James Marsh Douglass.
Libanus Lodge No. 47, F. and A. M., was chartered January 13, 1859. It now has seventy-nine members, and meets the second Monday evening of each month. Its officers are as follows: H. S. Sumner, W. M.; S. W. Hatch, S. W.; A. A. Dean, secy.; H. B. Williams, treas.; C. W. Huler, S. D.;
Griswold, Lester, Orwell, was the second son of Griswold the pioneer, and was born on April 18, 1786. He was married to Lucinda Parks, a daughter of Asa Parks, also an early pioneer, and to them were born six children-William C., Lucretia L., Asa Parks, Olivia L., Emmitt Darwin, and Georgianna Augusta. Of these children
William Braisted, from Sussex county, N. J., in 1786 first located upon the farm now owned by his grandson, William R. Braisted, a farmer who has represented the town in the Legislature, and held other town offices.
That the reader may gain a more definite conception of the freeholders of the town, and the amount of money on which they were taxed at this time, we have herewith the grand list of 1786, from the original record: £ s. d. Alexander Osborn……… 12 0 0 Marshall Smith……….. 25 0 0 Phillip Stone…………
Norton, Charles H., Addison, was born in Addison county, Vt., on September 14, 1845. His parents were Hiram and Electa (Daniels) Norton. Hiram Norton was born in Addison in 1812, and was a son of Abel Norton, who was an early settler in Addison county, Vt. Hiram had a family of eight children, seven of
Birkett, John, Ferrisburgh, was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., on March 12, 1823. He now owns and occupies the old homestead settlement, and also a large addition, owning in all about 400 acres He represented his town in 1876 and 1877, was a justice of the peace, and held other offices in his town. He was
The first permanent settlement was not begun in the present town of Bristol till the summer of 1786, twenty-four years after the charter was granted. John Willard and the others who formed the committee we have previously spoken of were prosceuting the duties devolving upon them here, in 1785, about a mile west of Bristol
Foss, Francis H., Vergennes, was born in Maine in 1837, and settled in Vergennes, Vt., in 1877, as manager of the Patent Roller Manufacturing business, and in 1885 he purchased an interest in the hardware business of Mr. Wright, and the firm does business under the name of Wright & Foss, dealing in all classes
David Pratt, from Salem, Mass., came to Bridport in 1777, and located upon the farm now owned by Mrs. Edrick Spaulding. He was a carpenter by trade and built most of the early frame buildings in the town. He served as lister in 1800 and has many descendants in town.
Farr, Royal D., Middlebury, was born in Middletown, Rutland county, Vt., on November 27, 1808. His parents were Solomon and Mabel (Dean) Farr. He was educated in the common schools and brought up to farming; also learned the trade of his father, which was that of foundryman. He came to Middlebury, Vt., in the spring
Dike, J. B., Bristol, was born in Milton, Chittenden county, Vt., on August 24, 1808. His parents were Jonathan, jr., and Sally (Caswell) Dike. Jonathan, jr., was a son of Jonathan, sr., who was a resident of the town of Milton, Vt., for many years. Jonathan, jr., had a family of three children — David
