Notes,

ON THE PRECEDING TABLE.

Ir may be proper here to state, that the preceding table and following notes, except in relation to Middlebury, constitute the report of Rev. Dana Lamb, a sub-committee for Addison County, appointed by the General Convention of Vermont, to Rev. T. A. Merrill, D. D., a General Committee, appointed also by the Convention, to receive similar reports from the several County Committees on the west side of the mountains. It was reported by him, with the exception of a few subsequent corrections and additions, to the General Convention, at its session in Vergennes, Sept. 11th, 1838. The Convention directed him to forward it for publication in the "American Quarterly Register," agreeably to the request of its conductors. The accounts of the settlement, organization, &c. of the towns, excepting Middlebury, were taken on the authority of Thompson's Gazetteer of Vermont.

As the General Convention have taken measures to obtain similar reports from all the counties in the State, it may be proper, in this first report, to give

A CONCISE GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL VIEW OF VERMONT. VERMONT lies in the north-western corner of New England. It is bounded north by Lower Canada, east by Connecticut river, separating it from New Hampshire, south by Massachusetts, and west by New York, mostly separated from the latter by Lake Champlain. It is naturally divided into two nearly equal parts, by the range of "Green Mountains," which give name to the State, and extend from north to south quite through the State. It is civilly divided now into fourteen Counties. These Counties contain 245 townships, and 16 gores. In 1830, it had a population of 280,000. In 1838, there were 205 Congregational churches; 138 ministers, 87 of whom were settled; and 22.207 communicants in the Congregational churches.

Vermont constitutes that section of country formerly called the "New Hampshire Grants," originally claimed both by New Hampshire and New York, and, before it was erected into an independent State, was the subject of much warm controversy between New Hampshire and New York. This controversy commenced in 1649, when New Hampshire began to make grants of townships in the disputed territory, and increased till it was checked somewhat by the Revolutionary war, which drew off the parties to resist a common enemy. A feeling of independence which was called into action by the violent measures adopted by the respective claimants, and especially by New York, and which was nurtured by the conspicuous part they took in the war of the Revolution, independently of either of the claimants, induced the settlers of the disputed territory to establish a Constitution in July, 1777, and to appoint a "Council of Safety," to act until the organization of the government, which took place March 13, 1778.

In 1786, Vermont revised her Constitution; came to an amicable adjustment of diffi culties with New York in 1790; and was admitted into the Union Feb. 18, 1791. What is known of its religious history will appear in the following and similar notes on other counties.

ADDISON COUNTY lies on the west side of the Green Mountains, at nearly equal distances from the northern and southern extremities of the State. It extends thirty miles from north to south, having Chittenden County on the north and Rutland on the south; and thirty-three miles from east to west, extending over the Green Mountains on the east, where it is bounded by Washington and Orange Counties, and bordering on Lake Champlain on the west. It contains 700 square miles, and, in 1830, had a population of 24,940. Otter Creek is its principal stream, which enters the County about the middle of its southern boundary, runs through the whole width of the County, and empties into Lake Champlain, at its north-west corner in Ferrisburgh. This County was incorporated Feb. 27, 1787. Middlebury is its shire town, situated nearly in the centre of the County, distant from Montpelier, the capital of the State, 56 miles.

ADDISON lies in the west part of Addison County. In 1830, its population was 1,306.* Addison was probably the place of the first settlement, on the west side of the Green

* In all instances the population will be taken from the census of 1830.

Mountains. It was settled by the French on Chimney Point, opposite to their fort on Crown Point, in 1731. This township was chartered Oct. 14, 1761, and began to be settled by the English in 1770. The town is divided nearly in the centre by a branch of Otter Creek, which runs from south to north through the whole extent of the

town.

A Congregational church was organized in West Addison, Nov. 24, 1803, by Rev. Job Swift, D. D., who labored more than two years as stated supply, before and after the organization of the church. This infant church received under Dr. Swift's ministry some little refreshing from the presence of the Lord, of the fruits of which a small number were added to the church. Dr. Swift was born in Sandwich, Ms., Jan. 17, 1743. He graduated at Yale College 1765. Studied theology with Dr. Bellamy; and died Oct. 20, 1804, at Enosburgh, Vt., while on a visit. Rev. Sylvanus Chapin labored with this church and people about four years, from 1805, but was not settled. Rev. Evans Beardsley labored also, as stated supply, from 1810 to 1813, about three years, with good success. An interesting revival of religion accompanied his labors. Ten or eleven persons were added to the church. Rev. Martin Powell supplied this church during the year 1814.

Rev. Justus Hough was ordained as pastor, Jan. 26, 1815, and continued his pastoral labors with considerable success, for ten years, and was dismissed Feb. 21, 1825.

There was an interesting revival, in one part of the parish, in 1820, and 13 were added to the church. Another revival under Mr. Hough's ministry, in 1821 and 2, in the other part of the parish; as the fruits of which 16 were added to the church. Mr. Hough is re-settled in Livonia, Ontario Co., N. Y.

After the dismission of Mr. Hough, Rev. Loring Brewster supplied this people, for two years, in 1826 and 7, and in connection with his labors a revival of religion prevailed through the parish, which added 20 to the church.

Rev. Merritt Harmon supplied this church, through the year 1829. His labors were accompanied by a pleasing revival of religion, and 11 were added to the church.

In January, 1831, Rev. Mason Knapin's labors, while supplying them for half of the time, were blessed with a revival of religion, in connection with the first protracted meeting of three days' continuance, called a "three days' meeting," that was held in the State. As the fruits of this revival, ten were brought into the church. This was also the commencement of a series of protracted meetings, followed by revivals of great extent and power through the county.

Since that time, this church has had the labors of the Rev. Messrs. Orin Brown, Ebenezer Halping and Solomon Williams, the first for about one and the two latter for about two years each. They now enjoy the temporary labors of the Rev. Lot B. Sullivan.

From the above it appears that the small church in West Addison, out of the labors of twelve ministers, have had only one settled pastor, and only ten years of pastoral labor out of thirty-five years, the most of which time they have had the stated ministrations of the gospel.

AVERY'S GORE is situated on the Green Mountains, in the eastern part of the County. It contains only 33 inhabitants, and has no Congregational church.

BRIDPORT lies 8 miles west of Middlebury, and has 1,774 inhabitants. It was chartered in 1761, to 62 proprietors, mostly belonging to Massachusetts. It began to be settled in 1768, but was nearly abandoned at that time, on account of the urgency of the New York claims, and after this, the settlement of the town was greatly retarded and frequently interrupted by the New York claimants and by the Revolutionary war, so that it was not organized and officered till 1785. In 1786, it was first represented in the "General Assembly of the State of Vermont."

The Congregational church was organized, June 30, 1790, five years after the organization of the town, by Rev. Lemuel Haynes, minister in West Rutland. It consisted of 12 members-7 males and 5 females. In Feb. 26, 1794, a little more than four years after the organization of the church, the Rev. Increase Graves was installed. Mr. Graves continued his labors among this people about 35 years with more or less success, and was dismissed in his old age, Dec. 1, 1829.

He died strong in the faith, which he had so long preached, at his own house, in Bridport, Dec. 24, 1831, at the advanced age of 79 years. For the last three years of his ministry, from June 7, 1827 to Dec. 1, 1829, he had a colleague, the Rev. James Frisbie McEwen, who was acting pastor during that time, and bore the whole burden of the charge. Mr. McEwen is resettled in Topsfield, Ms. During Mr. Graves's ministry there were three general and powerful revivals of religion, besides many partial refreshings. The first was enjoyed in 1803 and 4, about 13 years after the organization of the church. As the fruits of this revival 90 were brought into the Congregational

church. In 1813 and 14, about 10 years after the first, a second general revival was enjoyed, which added 100 members to the Congregational church.

In 1821, 7 years after, a third general revival was enjoyed, commencing at a church fast, on the 4th of July, and continued with power and interest through the season of haying and a great wheat harvest. Afternoon meetings were well sustained, in different districts of the town, during that hurrying season of the year, greatly to the furtherance of the revival. Upwards of 80 were added to the church. There was a little refreshing in 1830, and 18 were added to the church after the labors of the present pastor commenced.

Feb. 16, 1831, Rev. Dana Lamb was ordained pastor and still continues his charge. The same year 74 were added to the church as the fruits of a revival, which commenced with a "three days' meeting." This was one of a series of protracted meetings attended with happy results and extensive and powerful revivals in most instances, not only through Addison County but also throughout the country. In 1834, there was experienced some little refreshing, and a number were hopefully converted.

In 1836, 80 were added to the church as the fruits of a long protracted meeting accompanied with an interesting revival. During the year 1837, a goodly number of the church were in very much of a revived state, and God seemed to be searching Jerusalem with candles. In connection with this state of things in the church, there were a number of hopeful conversions, in the early part of 1838. Bridport has furnished seven liberally educated ministers and two others.

BRISTOL lies toward the northeastern part of the county, and contains 1,247 inhabitants. It was chartered, June 26, 1762, by the name of Pocock. It began to be settled immediately after the Revolutionary war, and was organized March 2, 1789, and received its present name in the October following. The Congregational church was not embodied till July 8, 1805. In 1808, the Rev. Samuel Cheever commenced his labors among this people and continued about two years. Some few were added to the church during his ministry there; and in the course of a year after his removal 27 were added to the church, probably the fruits of a revival enjoyed in connection with his labors. From Nov. 1813 to Jan. 1816, Rev. Evans Beardsley supplied this people, and 17 were added to the church during his ministry, probably the fruits of a revival.

From 1816 to 1825, they were most of the time destitute. May 4, 1825, Rev. Henry Boynton was ordained pastor over this church, and a small church in Starksborough, a town adjoining on the north. The pastoral relation between Mr. Boynton and these churches was dissolved, at his request, Sept. 24, 1826. On Sept 3, 1830, the little church in Starksborough was dissolved, and most of them, about 20 in number, united with the church in Bristol.

In 1831, Rev. Stillman Morgan supplied this people, and in connection with a protracted meeting, accompanied by a general revival of religion, 36 were added to the church. They were supplied by Rev. E. W. Taylor, in 1833. Since Jan. 1836, Rev. Francis L. Whiting has supplied them. The church in Bristol has been a little refreshed and 18 have united with them. During the 34 years since the organization of this church, they have had pastoral labors only one half the time for a little more than one year.

CORNWALL lies in the central part of Addison County, adjoining Middlebury on the south west, and contains 1,264 inhabitants.

It was chartered, Nov. 3, 1761, and its settlement commenced in 1774, but when Ticonderoga was abandoned to the British, in 1777, the settlers all fled to the south, and did not return till after the war. In 1784, an accession was made to the settlers of 20 families from Connecticut, and the town was organized in March of the same year.

The Congregational church was embodied the next year, July 15, 1785. In a little more than two years after, Sept. 26, 1787, Rev. Thomas Tolman was settled. He continued his ministry a little more than three years, and was dismissed, Nov. 11, 1790. Mr. Tolman now resides in Greensborough, Vt.

The first revival of religion in Cornwall and in the County, commenced in Feb. 1785, some months before the organization of the church. There were about 30 hopeful conversions, as its blessed fruits.

The second revival was witnessed in 1794, while the people were destitute of a minister. Rev. Benjamin Wooster was settled, Feb. 23, 1797, and after continuing his labors nearly 5 years, was dismissed Jan. 7, 1802. Mr. Wooster was resettled in Fairfield, Franklin Co., Vt., where he still resides. During Mr. Wooster's ministry, in 1801, Cornwall enjoyed its third revival of religion. The defective records of the church afford nothing definite in relation to these three revivals. The fact of their existence is ascer tained from them and from the recollection of some of the members of the church yet living.

Rev. Jedediah Bushnell was installed pastor May 25, 1803, and continued his success+

ful ministry for precisely 33 years, and was dismissed, May 25, 1836. Mr. Bushnell yet resides in Cornwall, and is still laboring in the neighboring churches. During his ministry in Cornwall, the church enjoyed 15 revivals of religion. As the fruits of these 15 revivals, 658 were added to the church, and during the ministry of Mr. Bushnell 682. Since Mr. Bushnell's dismission, this church has enjoyed another general revival, under the labors of the Rev. Lamson Miner.*

In 1803, the year of Mr. Bushnell's settlement, the Congregational meeting-house was built in Cornwall. The first revival under the ministry of Mr. Bushnell and the fourth enjoyed by this church, was in 1806, three years after his settlement. It was very powerful, and of its fruits 106 were added to the church.

Revivals also prevailed in Cornwall as follows:-In 1808, when 20 were added to the church; in 1810, 24; 1813, 12; 1817, 75; 1819, 30; 1821, 80; 1826, 25; 1823, 30; 1829, 35 hopeful conversions; 1830, 40 were added to the church; 1831, in connection with a protracted meeting of three days, 60; 1832, 30; 1334, 65. In 1836, in connection with a protracted meeting in Middlebury, and a subsequent revival in Cornwall at the commencement of the year, 25 were added to the church.

May 25, 1836, Mr. Bushnell was dismissed, but still continued to labor with this people, at their unanimous request, for some months. The Rev. Lamson Miner was ordained pastor, Jan. 3, 1837. In March of this year, the third circular conference that was held in the town during the winter, was continued in the form of a protracted meeting, which resulted in a general revival of religion, the nineteenth enjoyed by this church, as the result of which 61 were added to the church.

As the further fruits of these frequent successive revivals, about twenty young men have been furnished for the gospel ministry, and others still-8 or 10-are preparing for it. The influence in the town is decidedly Christian, affording a clear exhibition of the importance of a permanently settled ministry.

FERRISBURGH lies in the northwest corner of the County, and contains 1,822 inhabitants. It was chartered June 24, 1762. The first permanent settlements were made in 1784 and 5. The town was organized in 1786. There was no Congregational church embodied till Jan. 15, 1824. The Rev. Abram Baldwin, a missionary, labored here one half of the time, during the year 1825, and with God's blessing on his faithful labors there, was enjoyed by this infaut church, a powerful revival of religion, and about 50 were added within one year after its organization.

For the 14 past years since that time, this little church has endured, to a great extent, a dearth of the Spirit's influence and almost a dearth of the word of God. It has had the stated ministrations of the gospel only two years of the time, and half of the time for another year. Rev. Jonathan Kitchell supplied them for two years, 1831 and 2, and they enjoyed some little refreshing in the summer of 1831, a few were added to the church. Ferrisburgh church never enjoyed the labors of a settled pastor, and is now in a feeble state, but enjoyed the labors of Rev. Vernon Wolcott, one half of the time last year.

GOSHEN lies on the Green Mountains, in the south east corner of the County, containing 555 inhabitants. It has no Congregational Church.

GRANVILLE, formerly Kingston, lies in the eastern part of Addison County. This is a mountainous town, on the east side of the main ridge of the Green Mountains, and contains 403 inhabitants. It was chartered, Aug. 2, 1781. A Congregational church was organized in 1804 and reorganized in 1826. There was a general revival of religion, in 1817, as the fruits of which 26 were added to the church. In 1826, about the time of the reorganization of the church, there was another revival, by the influence of which 16 were brought into the church. This church never had a settled minister, and has never enjoyed but very little ministerial labor of any kind. The church is now almost extinct.†

HANCOCK lies in the southeastern corner of Addison Co. It contains 472 inhabitants. This township extends from the top of the Green Mountains down the eastern slope. It was established as a town, July 31, 1781. Its settlement was commenced in 1788, and it was organized, June 18, 1792. The Congregational church was organized July 20, 1804, consisting of three male and two female members. There were some sinall accessions to the church, but no revival of much interest till 1816, when they enjoyed

* Since the above notes were written the Rev. Mr. Miner has been dismissed, (Jan. 16, 1839,) and the Rev. Jacob Scales, late of Henniker, N. H. was installed as pastor of the Congregational church of Christ in Cornwall, July 3, 1839. Mr. Scales was born in Freeport, Me. March 7, 1788. He was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1817, and received his Theological education at the Theological Seminary, Andover. The account of Granville church is not, like all the others, taken from the records, but from the recollection of an individual who had been long acquainted with them. The writer cannot, therefore, vouch for the perfect correctness of the above, though probably it does not vary much if at all from the truth.

what they called the "Great Revival," of the fruits of which between 20 and 30 were added to the Congregational church. Eighteen were added in one day, Dec. 1, 1816. They have never had a pastor, and have enjoyed but very little ministerial labor. This church is in a low state.

LEICESTER lies in the south part of the County. It contains 636 inhabitants. There has never been any Congregational church organized in this town.

LINCOLN is situated on the Green Mountains, in the eastern part of the County, and contains 639 inhabitants. There is no Congregational church in the place.

MIDDLEBURY was chartered, Nov. 2, 1761; was organized, March 29, 1786; was constituted a shire town in 1791, and contains 3,468 inhabitants. It was originally bounded west by Otter Creek. About one mile in width was annexed to Middlebury from Cornwall, Oct. 25, 1796, and a tract about twice as large was taken from the east side of Middlebury, and annexed to Ripton, Nov. 11, 1814. The first house was built in 1773, and about 15 families had taken up their residence in town, before the Revolutionary war. In 1776 and 1777, after being greatly harrassed by depredations from Burgoyne's ariny, they all left the town.

The first permanent residence was made by the return of three families, April 3, 1783. The inhabitants were supplied with preaching a number of weeks, in 1784. In 1789, they voted to raise a tax to support the gospel, and to procure a minister to preach on probation for settlement.

The Congregational church was organized, Sept. 5, 1790, and consisted of 7 males and 5 females. The Rev. John Barnet was ordained pastor, Nov. 11, 1790, and dismissed, March 31, 1795. After various removals, Mr. Barnet died, in Durham, N. Y., at an advanced age, in 1837. Mr. Barnet regularly supplied the church, for a considerable term after his dismission. The Rev. Jeremiah Atwater, D. D., first President of Middlebury College, preached to the church and society for about three years, commencing in Dec. 1799. After his labors ceased, several candidates for the ministry were employed, to two of whom the church unsuccessfully extended an invitation, or call' to settle. The present pastor was ordained over the church and society, Dec. 19, 1805. The first revival of religion was enjoyed in 1801, in connection with which 50 persons united with the church. The second revival commenced soon after the call was extended to the present pastor, in Aug., 1805; continued in different parts of the town for about one year; and brought more than one hundred into the church by profession. The Congregational Society had met in the Court House, from the time of its erection, in 1798, till the completion and dedication of their meeting-house, May 31, 1809. In the autumn of this year, a third revival commenced, which extended into 1810, and added to the church upwards of one hundred, beside those who were admitted by letter. A more full account of these three revivals was published by the pastor, in March, 1810, in the Adviser or Vermont Evangelical Magazine," vol. 2.

66

Revivals prevailed, but were confined chiefly to the College, in the years 1811 and 1814. These are mentioned in the Memoir of Levi Parsons, the Missionary, 1st edition, pages 16 and 40.

During the summer of 1812, was a precious revival in two school districts. In the course of the last six months of this year, 35 were added to the church by profession. In the summer of 1816, was realized what had been strongly indicated, for several months, by the prayers of those who wait for the consolation of Israel. During a single week in the month of August, probably 50 attained to the liberty wherewith Christ maketh free. Such an event had never before been witnessed in Middlebury. The College shared very largely in this work of grace, and other denominations partook of its blessed fruits. The number that joined the Congregational church, in the course of a year, by profession, exceeded one hundred. In 1819 and in 1822, revivals prevailed, each limited to one or two school districts. In the summer of 1821, was a revival of considerable interest, both in the town and in the College, and 39 made a profession of religion within the period of a year. In October, 1825, cominenced a very interesting work, which began cotemporaneously in the College and town, and added 57 to the church by profession, in the early part of 1826. The revival in the spring of 1830, was confined chiefly to the Female Seminary. None made a profession in Middlebury, except those whose residence was here. In July, 24 were added to the church by profession, the larger part of whom had been members of the Seminary. In April, 1831, was held the first protracted meeting in Middlebury. This was the fourth in Addison County, and probably the fourth in the State. The services, as was then customary, continued three days, viz, from Monday evening to Thursday evening. The church, with such as had been deeply impressed with the previous exercises, held a meeting on Friday also. The revival had now com menced, which continued to some extent through the summer, and 123 in the course of 8

VOL. XII.