In This Issue: Bitten by the Bug; The Vermont Federal Galaxy; So
Why Vermont?; Vermont Humor; Did you Know?; Current Projects; Services and
Products
Bitten by the bug
By Sylvia Manning
It started 20 years ago with a box of photographs. Mother was
clearing out and wanted to know if any of us ‘kids’ were interested in
them. Being the pack-rat I am I said sure when no one else wanted them.
As I looked through the photos I asked my mother who those people
were. She started telling me about her parents and her
grandparents. I began assigning names to all these nameless
images. The more names I gathered, the more curious I became about how
they were connected, and more importantly, how I was connected to them.
I began writing down places Mother had knowledge of, dates she recalled
and other names that I had no photos for. I had no idea about
genealogical research, I only knew that I had a strong desire to learn more
about the people that shaped the lives of my parents and grandparents. In
an instant I was hooked. My first attempt at gathering information was to
write to the town clerk in the community my mother recalled as her father’s
home. It was a small place in northern Wisconsin, one of those places
where everyone knows each other.
The town clerk was obliging, and sent me what little information she
had. She also included the local paper’s address, as I had requested.
The local paper offered no help with an obituary for the names and dates I
sent. In the late 1800’s many times one’s passing was not noted.
The woman who received my letter, however, aided my research far more than she
probably realizes. She recognized my great grandfather’s name as a name a
local man had inquired about. She got on the phone and said, “Hey Elmer,
there’s a woman in New Hampshire that’s asking about your grandfather!”
Elmer wrote to me and so began another story in our family’s history.
The Vermont Federal Galaxy
While working on various projects I happened upon a microfilm of some
early Vermont papers. The Vermont Federal Galaxy was published in
Brattleboro in 1797 by Benjamin Smead. Here are a few abstracts from this
1797 paper:
March 17, 1797: Married at West Springfield, Mr. Steven Miller,
jun. To Miss Irena Fuller, after a courtship of five days, and all very good.
March 24, 1797: Married at Guilford, Mr. Abel Whitney to Widow
Phillips, also Mr. Ezra G. Ayers to Miss Hannah Slater. Died, in this
town on the 16th inst. Mr. Joseph Herrick, aged 77
August 28, 1979: Whereas, Rachel, my wife, has left my bed and board,
and refuses to live with me: This, therefore, is to forbid all persons
harbouring or trusting her on my account, as I will not pay anything for her
after this date. JAMES HOW, Wardsboro, August 21, 1797
September 4, 1797: Died, at New Fane, on Friday last, the virtuous and
amiable consort of the Hon. Judge Knowlton. We wish to give her character
next week.
September 11, 1797: In this town, on the 7th inst.
After a short illness, Mrs. Sarah Harris, a virtuous consort of Lieut.
Valentine Harris, aged 44. From an affectionate attentive conduct,
exercised toward her family, joined with a friendly, obliging disposition
towards her neighbors and friends, her sudden exit will be long and deeply
lamented by all acquainted with her.
October 9, 1797: Married at Marlboro Mr. James Cha?er, aged 55,
and Miss Phebe Phillips, aged 21, after 5 days courtship! Also Arrabient Day to
the aged and venerable Miss Esther May and Mr. Simeon Adams, jun. To the
amiable Miss Lucy Mather. Died, in Gill (Mass), Mr. Obed Foot, age
56. Died in this town, Miss Electa Field, aged 12
October 30, 1797: Died, in this town, Saturday evening last of
nervous fever, Mr. Nathaniel Dickerman, aged 22
And a final one from 1798:
June 12, 1798: Whereas, Elizabeth Paddleford, of Brattleboro in
Windham County and state of Vermont, having been, in March, 1789, lawfully
married to Philip Paddleford; and during the time she lived with him conducted
towards him, in all respects, as a tender and affectionate wife: Yet the
said Philip, in breach of his marriage covenant, in January, 1794 willfully
absconded from her, the said Elizabeth; in defiance of all law and morality,
eloped with one Lydia Bennett, wife of John Bennet, of said Brattleboro, and
with the said Lydia hath lived in open adultery, and with her fled to parts
unknown to the undersigned. It now being more that three years since he
to absconded, this, therefore, is summons to the said Philip to appear before
the Supreme Court of Judicature, next August, to be holden at New Fane, in
Windham County aforesaid, then and there, to show cause, if any, why the bonds
of matrimony between her and said Philip may not be forever dissolved, a prayer
for with dissolution will be immediately presented to the honourable justices
of said
court.
Brattleboro, June 11, 1798, Elizabeth Paddleford
So why Vermont?
The Green Mountain Boys traveled this state, north to south, to help
a fledgling country gain independence; industrious men created gadgets to make
their lives easier; free-thinkers worked toward their dreams and stoic families
dealt with the hardships of winter and some rough terrain to keep their own
dreams alive.
I believe Vermont is one of the most beautiful and history-filled
states in the country. Anyone who has visited here can attest to the
beauty of the towering mountains, the rolling hills, the quaint villages and
the stunning fall foliage. As you drive around the state you find
many battlefields, sites of long-gone industry and technology and a glimpse of
the slower life lived in years gone by.
A short 13 years ago I chose Vermont as my home. I am still
in awe of my surroundings, and I still marvel at the ingenuity of our
forefathers. I love learning about Vermont’s part in our nation’s
history, and love, even more, linking our ancestors to the every day events
that shaped the state as we know it today.
In future editions I’ll be sharing stories of Vermonters for all to
enjoy. Who knows, perhaps YOUR ancestor will be one of them!
You know your from Vermont when (a little
Vermont humor)...
Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor on the
highway - and rush hour is when you encounter more than
one tractor on your drive!
You measure distance in hours. - nothing in
Vermont is more than a couple hours away…
You often switch from “heat” to “A/C” in the same day - many
summer days are one of those days!
You use a down comforter in the summer. - actually I
trade for the quilt, not quite as heavy…
You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events. - well,
fishing garb in the summer….
Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled
with snow. - my street
You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter,
construction - we’re in the still winter phase now…
It takes you 3 hours to go to the store for one item even when
you’re in a rush because you have to stop and talk to everyone in town. - Hubby!
Did you know?
The state of Vermont has collections of papers pertaining to the early
years of Vermont. The Manuscript Vermont State Papers are a collection of
18th & early 19th century government records;
including grand lists, petitions, various court records, legislative records
and federal documents. The Stevens Collection is a group of papers
gathered by Henry Stevens, Sr. who collected 18th- and 19th-Century
documents. He was responsible for collecting the Manuscript Vermont State Papers,
the original core of the Archives. Other Stevens Collections
holdings include transcripts of public and private documents pertaining to 18th-Century
Vermont history, and original 18th- and 19th-Century
court records, legislative records, surveys, custom house records, and the
papers of notable Vermonters including Ethan, Ira, and Levi Allen. A Guide to
the Stevens Collection is available at the Archives.
Have you heard about the Nye Index?
1927 - 1950 Mary Nye Greene, Editor of the State Papers, created a name
and subject index to the Manuscript Vermont State Papers and the Steven Papers
for 18th century documents on thousands of index cards.
The Vermont State Archives has automated more than 53,000 cards from
the NYE INDEX, covering all 18th century records indexed by Mary
Greene Nye. The NYE INDEX database is online and searchable by name, record
description, and date. The index for 19th century records will be
added as time and resources allow.
You can find the Nye index online at: http://vermont-archives.org/database/index.htm
Current Projects
I have many ideas for getting genealogical information out to
people. I’ll be listing my ideas here. Any comments, suggestions or
contributions to any listed will be greatly appreciated.
Bible Transcriptions: I
am in the process of collecting Bible Transcriptions with Vermont
Connections. I will be compiling them into a book format and offering
them for sale. If anyone has any they would like included in this
publication please contact me.
Middlebury College Congregational Church Records: I
am in the process of transcribing and indexing the first book of church
records—1790—1853. I hope to have it ready for print by the end of March.
Scanning the Chamberlain Collection at the Brandon Free Public
Library: in the first half of the 1900’s Lawrence Chamberlain began
an extensive research project on the early inhabitants of Brandon. His
search led him to a number of neighboring towns as well. He painstakingly
copied land records, vital records, census and any other records he
found. He interviewed the local elderly to learn the history, and
received many journals, bible records and letters from Brandon folks. His
intention was to write a book about Brandon, but he passed away before he could
realize that dream. After his death his family donated all his records to
the Brandon Free Public Library. It now sits in boxes in the attic, which
is neither heated nor cooled, so the collection is inaccessible for many months
through the year. I have volunteered to put the information on CD, so the
librarians can do look-ups any time of year. I am also posting many of
the scans on my website, check the index to see if your ancestors are
listed! This is a huge project, one that will take many years to
complete. Wish me luck!
Services and Products
· Research Services to much of Vermont, centering on Rutland and
Addison Counties.
· Copies of the marriage and death notices printed in the Vermont
Chronicle for the years 1826-1882.
· A book of abstracts of all marriage and death notice for
the years 1826-1830
· Montpelier/Berlin/Burlington Marriages to 1873
· Coming soon: Middlebury VT Congregational Church Records
Vermont
Ancestors
Sylvia Manning
P O Box 21
Forest Dale, VT 01745
Phone: 802-247-4135
email: Sylvia@vermontancestors.com
I’m on the Web! You can see all sorts of interesting things
on my website. Pleas visit: http://community.middlebury.edu/~swilson/introvc.html
Thank you for your past interest in my services. This is my
first attempt at a newsletter, please let me know what you think!
If you do not wish to receive future copies of my newsletters
please email me and I’ll remove you from my list. Know someone else that
may enjoy receiving my newsletters? Have them email me and I’ll add them
to the list!
Cheers!
Sylvia