' HISTORY OF VERjVlONT. ?^& 



the death of governor Chittenden. Ad^'anced^ 

 in years, and dechning in health, he resigned hi/s^ 

 office in the summer of 17&7, and, in a few we^j^^ 

 was called to give up his Ilf^. This useful ipai>f 

 was born at Guilford in Connectieut,, and in the 

 early part of his life removed to Salisbm;y^ ; aiuV 

 by his industry and economy acquired a, hand- 

 some landed property at that place ; became a 

 member of the Connecticut assembly, one of the- 

 civil magistrates, and a colonel in the militia of 

 that state. So early as the year 1773, he re- 

 moved to the New Hampshire grants, purchased 

 a tract of land at Williston on Onion river, and 

 began a settlement with a few others, when there 

 was scarcely a family or a road in that part of 

 the country. Labor and application lo the cultir 

 vation of his new farm, had already procured the 

 necessary provisions, and opened to him the 

 prospect of many of the conveniences of life \ 

 and nothing could be more flattering than the 

 near view of rural wealth, abundance, and inde- 

 pendence, as the natural and certain production 

 of his labor and his lands. It was in the midst 

 of these improvements and prospects, that the 

 American war broke out. The settlements on 

 Onion river became exposed to any assaults tha^t 

 might be made upon them ; and it was alto- 

 gether uncertain what would be the inclinations 

 or the measures of the Canadians or Indians. 

 The inhabitants, unable to protect themselves, 

 left their defenceless dwellings, and retired to 

 the southern parts of the district, to Massachu- 

 setts, and Connecticut. Mr. Chittenden remov- 

 ed with his family to Arlington ; and became 

 the leading man in the consultations and debates 



