TxiiT III. 



GAZETTEER OF VERMONT. 



105 



transactions,exceptthe hardships common 

 to the settlers of every new country, cliar- 

 ncterized the ea*4y settlement of this place. 

 Tlie settlers were liardy and industrious, 

 and the obstacles of nature, the unbroken 

 forests, and the miasmas of a newly open- 

 ed country were gradually overcome, un- 

 til, in 1702, the town was organized, Jes- 

 se Fletcher being chosen first town clerk, 

 and Peter Read, afterwards, for many 

 years pastor of the Congregational church 

 and society, first representative. There 

 are in town a Congregationalist, a Meth- 

 odist, a Universalist, and two Baptist soci- 

 eties. The Congregational was the ear- 

 liest organiijed. In the summer of the 

 year 1792 it was first proposed by some few 

 of the sparse population to commence a 

 meeting for public worship on the Sab- 

 bath. It was accordingly done, and con- 

 tinued until the following winter, when 

 it was discontinued. It was again resu- 

 med the following spring, and so contin- 

 ned, with the exception of the winter sea- 

 sons, for several years. In the year 1803 

 the organization of a church was first pro- 

 posed, but time was needed for consulta- 

 tion, and the formation of a suitable plan, 

 and articles of faith, and it was not until 

 Sept. 1806, that its organization was com- 

 pleted. It then consisted of twenty-four 

 members. They held monthly conferences 

 and were occasionally supplied with 

 preaching from other towns, until 1810, 

 when Rev. Peter Read became their pas- 

 tor. He was one of the first members of 

 the church, was elected to the office of 

 deacon in 1806, and in that capacity con- 

 ducted their meetings until 1808, when 

 he was licensed to preach by the Rutland 

 Association. From his ordination in JSIO 

 he continued their pastor until 1826, when 

 the infirmities of age compelled him tore- 

 sign his charge. An eminently good and 

 pious man, his many virtues and long life 

 of usefulness endeared him as a father to 

 the citizens of the town, and the members 

 of his church. The society occupied for 

 many years the church built by the first 

 settlers, a rough and old fashioned buil- 

 ding, but in 1839 they erected a new and 

 commodious house. The Baptist church 

 was not organized until 1825, although 

 they had had stated meetings, and been 

 supplied with preaching for many years 

 previous. As early as 1806 there were in 

 town thirteen of that denomination. Their 

 meetings at that time were frequent, and 

 usually held in private houses. They 

 were for several years conducted by Benj. 

 Pierce, not an ordained minister, but 

 whose memory has come down to us as 

 that of a spirited and devoted, as well as 

 successful preacher. For many years 

 Pt. hi. 14 



previous to their organization they were 

 considered a branch of the Cavendisit 

 church, and were supplied with preach- 

 ing from that town, although the mem- 

 bers were many of them communicants 

 with the churches in Andover and Ches- 

 ter. At their organization in 1825 they 

 numbered 50 members. The formation 

 of the second Baptist church took ptace 

 in 1834, and had its origin in the temper- 

 ance movement of that period. In 1840 

 they numbered 147 members, and in the 

 present year they have completed and 

 dedicated a new and elegant house of 

 worship. The Universalist society was 

 organized in 1835, and occupy a very 

 beautiful church erected by them in 1836. 

 In addition to the houses of worship above 

 mentioned, there is one in town erected 

 in 1819 as a union house, and owned, as 

 were the first churches in nearly every 

 town, in common by the different denomi- 

 nations. 



The Black River Academy, a literary 

 institution, chartered by the legislature in 

 1835, is located here. The building occu- 

 pies a commanding situation near the 

 centre of the village, and for beauty of 

 prospect is unrivalled by any place in the 

 vicinity. A very respei;table apparatus 

 is attached to it, and it bids fair to stand 

 among the first of the academical institu- 

 tions in the state. A town library has 

 been commenced by the public spirit of 

 the inhabitants, numbering now about 

 300 volumes. The town is divided into 

 15 school districts, each provided with 

 convenient buildings for the accommoda- 

 tion of schools. 



The village is pleasantly situated near 

 the centre of the town, on both sides of 

 Black river, and in 1837 numbered 765 

 inhabitants. It contains 4 stores, doing 

 the business of the town, and of an exten- 

 sive section of country centering here, 

 2 laro-e woollen manufacturing establish- 

 ments, a grist and saw mill, mechanics to 

 supply the . population of many miles 

 about, and nearly 100 dwelling houses. 

 There is another small \'illage in the east 

 part of the town, containing a comb man- 

 ufactory, doing a flourishing business, a 

 mill for grinding whetstones, and several 

 mechanics. 



Black river passes through the cen- 

 tre of the town, and has many valua- 

 ble mill seats ; in the upper part of its 

 course it widens into four large basins, 

 the largest in Ludlow being nearly circu- 

 lar, and one mile in diameter, known as 

 the Ludlow and Plymouth ponds. In the 

 north west corner of the town is the 

 "Tincy pond," several hundred feet above 

 the level of the river, and nearly half a 



