Part III. 



GAZETTEER OF VERMONT. 



45 



CARTHAGE. 



CASPIAN LAKE. 



CASTLETON. 



of Norfolk was annexed to it. The first 

 settlers were Silas Sargeant, John Hugh, 

 and Hubbard Spencer, who removed their 

 families into Canaan in 1785, and in 1791, 

 there were 19 persons in town. Canaan 

 being a frontier town, was subject to con- 

 siderable disturbance during the last war 

 with Great Britain, some account of 

 which has already been given in part 

 second, page 95. The religious denomi- 

 nations are Congrcgationalists, Freewill 

 Baptists, and Methodists. This township 

 is well watered by Leach's stream, Wil- 

 lard's brook, &.c. which afford good mill 

 privileges. The former is two rods wide 

 at its junction with the Connecticut, 

 Leeds pond from which it issues is partly 

 in Canada. There is some fine intervale on 

 the Connecticut, and much good land in 

 other parts. Statistics of 1840. — Horses, 

 119; cattle, 070; sheep, 1,706; swine, 

 459 ; wheat, bu. 692 ; barley, 483 ; oats, 

 3,320 ; buckwheat, G,706 ; In. corn, 285 ; 

 potatoes, 26,400; hay, fo7i5, 1,451 ; sugar, 

 lbs. 11,450; wool, 2,711. Population, 373. 

 Carthage. Name altered to Jay. — 

 6'ee Jay. 



Caspiak Lake. See Greensborough. 

 Castleton, a post town situated near 

 the centre of Rutland county, being 10 

 miles west of Rutland, 13 east of White- 

 hall, N. Y.,65 north of Albany, and 60 

 southwest of Montpelier. Lat. 43* 34', 

 long, 3" 56. Bounded south by Poultney, 

 east by Ira, north by Hubbardton, westby 

 Fairhaven ; containing 36 square miles. 

 The charter was granted to Samuel Brown 

 of Stockbridge, Mass., Sept 22, 1761. 

 Col. Amos Bird of Salisbury, Ct. became 

 the principal proprietor, and, in company 

 with Col. Noah Lee, made the first sur- 

 veys in June, 1766. The first dwelling 

 house was erected in August, 1769, of 

 which Col. Lee and his servant were the 

 sole inhabitants the following winter. In 

 1770, Ephriam Buel, Eleazer Bartholo- 

 mew and Zadock Remington, with their 

 families, settled in this town ; and were 

 Boon followed by Cols. Bird and Lee. The 

 first inhabitants were chiefly emigrants 

 from Connecticut. The enterprise and 

 worth of Cols. Bird and Lee entitle them 

 to a prominent place in the early history 

 of Castleton ; the former died in the midst 

 of active benevolent exertions for the in- 

 fant settlement, September 16, 1762. His 

 solitary monument on the banks of Cas- 

 tleton river, and an isolated mountain in 

 the southeast corner of the town, are me- 

 morials of his name, still associated with 

 the remembrance of his worth. Col. Lee 

 was vitrilant and active amidst the hard- 

 ships and dangers which were encounter- 

 ed by the first settlers, under the govern- 



ment of New Hampshire, and the council 

 of safety, and the vexatious embarrass- 

 ments consequent to the claims of juris- 

 diction by the state of New York. At 

 the commencement of the war of Ameri- 

 can independence, he entered the army 

 with a commission, and after sharing in 

 its toils and honors, the return of peace 

 brought him again to the bosom of his 

 family. Possessing- a vigorous constitu- 

 tion, he continued long to witness the ris- 

 ing greatness of his country, and to enjoy 

 the benefits for which he had toiled. He 

 died in May, 1840, aged 97 years. Dur- 

 ing the war for independence, the people 

 of Castleton were often alarmed and once 

 invaded by the British and Indians. On the 

 6th of July, 1777, Gen. Frasersenta detach- 

 ment under the command of Capt. Eraser, 

 who attacked, by surprise, about20 militia, 

 who were posted near the present site of 

 the village, under the command of Capt. 

 Wells. Capt. Williams, a volunteer, of 

 Guilford, Vermont, was killed, and Capt. 

 Hall, of Castleton, mortally wounded, and 

 his son, Lieut. Hall, and some others 

 were taken prisoners, and carried to Ti- 

 conderoga. Lieut. Hall, his brother and 

 a Mr. Kellogg, made their escape from 

 the fort, re-crosssed the lake in a canoe 

 by night, and after great privations, elu- 

 ded their savage pursuers and returned to 

 their homes. On the spot where Wil- 

 liams fell, was erected a fort, the ensuing 

 year, which was furnished with 2 pieces 

 of cannon, and garrisoned under differ- 

 ent commanders until the return of peace. 

 The graves of about 30 soldiers, whose 

 names have long been forgotten by their 

 countrymen, are still visible near the site 

 of the fort. Castleton was organized in 

 March, 1777. Jesse Belknap was the first 

 town clerk and justice of the peace. Za- 

 dock Remington was the first representa- 

 tive. There are tiiree organized religious 

 societies, Congregationalists, Methodists, 

 and Roman Catholics. The Congrega- 

 tional church, which is the most numer- 

 ous, was organized in 1784. Rev. Mat- 

 thias Cazier was the first minister, and 

 was settled by the town, Sept. 5, 1789, 

 and dismissed, Dec. 13, 1792. Rev. Eli- 

 hu Smith was installed Jan. 17, 1804, and 

 dismissed Dec. 13, 1826. The present 

 pastor, Rev. Joseph Steele, was installed 

 Dec. 25, 1823. This church consists of 

 270 members. Their house of worship 

 is large and commodious, and was built 

 in 1833. The Methodist society was 

 more recently organized, but is also con- 

 siderably numerous. Their meeting house, 

 a neat and convenient edifice, was erect- 

 ed inl824, since which time they have been 

 regularly supplied with local preachers; 



