Vermont AHGP

Part of the American History and Genealogy Project

Churches of Waitsfield, Vermont

In 1794, a town committee was appointed to "layout a meeting-house and yard." The site chosen was what is still known as "the common," an elevated plain near the center of the original township. It consisted of about 9 acres, and the title was conveyed to the town in 1796. Five acres was the gift of Ezra Jones, Esq., on condition that, "if the town moved the centre (?) from that place" the title should be void. As soon, therefore, as the "new meeting-house" at the river village was occupied, and the town voted to hold town meetings at the river, the heirs took possession of their portion. The remaining four acres, purchased for £1, 10s.," of a Mr. Savage, are still common. The forest which covered this lot was chopped by a "Bee," in 1797, and the ground was then let out in parcels to be cleared, each workman having the right to take two crops of grass for his remuneration upon the lot set apart as a common. The burial ground was not fenced until 1809.

The first proposal as to building a house of worship, was to erect one jointly with the school-district on the east side of the common, with the understanding that when both parties were better able, the district should buy out the town, and the town should build a regular church edifice. After the frame was up and partly covered, the district receded from the engagement; and in due time, the frame was removed to the valley, where it has been used as store and dwelling-house until the present time known as the "Lewis Holden" house.

This apparent drawback was after all a stimulus to the religious interests of the town. It hastened the erection of a suitable meeting-house, an imposing structure of the olden style, bearing date 1807, altogether innocent of paint inside, and for some years of stoves; but extravagant in the amount of 7X9 glass, which rattled away at every suggestion of a breeze. It had the usual high pulpit, towering over the "deacon's seat," the capacious gallery, and for many years the ample Sabbath assembly. On the Society's record, we read among other recommendations of a committee, that a certain proportion of the money derived from the sale of the pews should be paid at the beginning, as it would be needed for nails, glass, " and rum for the raising."

Clergymen

Raised up in town. Those marked with a star are now dead; those with a dagger, deposed:

*Perrin B. Fisk, Baptist, last residence in Wardsboro, Vt.
*Joel Fisk, Congregational, Plainfield
*Harvey Fisk, Congregational, New York City, brothers
*Henry Jones, Congregational
Ezra Jones, Presbyterian, New York
*Matthias Joslin, Congregational, Missionary to the Indians
Chandler Wilder, Congregational, Vermont
Hiram Freeman, Wisconsin
Alonzo Hitchcock, Methodist, Montpelier
Pliny F. Barnard, Congregational, Williamstown
*Rufus Child, Congregational, Berlin
†Lucius Barnard, Congregational, New York
Perrin B. Fisk, 2nd, Congregational, Peacham
Silas Jones, Methodist
Harvey Bates, Unitarian, Massachusetts.

Waitsfield Vermont | AHGP

Source: History of Washington County Vermont, Collated and Published by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1882.

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