Vermont AHGP

Part of the American History and Genealogy Project

Montpelier Firsts

The first wagon was brought into town in 1789, from Vergennes, by Thomas Davis, who had to cut much of his way from Williston to Montpelier, and scale "Rock Bridge," in Moretown, by an ingenious piece of engineering, which is fully described by Thompson.

The first notable stranger in Montpelier was Prince Edward of England, Duke of Kent, son of George III and father of Queen Victoria. He was the guest of Col. Davis for a night in the winter of 1790-91, coming with an armed retinue of 20 men, to defend him from violence, and serve as "tasters" to try his food and save him from poison. Col. Davis so far assured the prince of personal safety, that he consented to dismiss most of his attendants, who returned to Montreal, and the prince continued his journey to Boston in a more modest and sensible style.

September 22, the first birth in town occurred, being that of Clarissa Davis, youngest daughter of Col. Jacob Davis, and wife of Hon. George Worthington of Montpelier.

The first male child born in town was James, son of Solomon Dodge, April 5, 1790. The first marriage recorded is that of Jacob Davis Jr. of Montpelier and Caty Taplin of Berlin, the ceremony being performed by the father of the bride, John Taplin Esq., October 3, 1791.

The first school was kept in a log house on the river near Middlesex line, by Jacob Davis, Jr., and continued from about 1789 to 1791. In 1791 a school was kept in the village, in Col. Davis' house, by David Wing, Jr., who was subsequently Secretary of State; and in 1794, the town was divided into six districts, and schools were regularly maintained thereafter.

The first tavern was built for Col. Davis on Main Street, in 1793. It was the original "Union House," on the site of the Unitarian church. This tavern was burnt in 1835, rebuilt and again burnt in 1859, and the third Union house was erected on its present site. The second tavern, known as the "Hutchins Tavern," and afterwards the "Shepard Tavern," was built about 1800, opposite the entrance of Barre to Main Street. The "Pavilion" was built in preparation for the Legislature in 1 808; it was probably the finest hotel in the State then, and indeed for many years, and had a high reputation, especially under Thomas Davis, and Mahlon Cottrill.

The first physician was Spaulding Pierce, in 1790

First lawyer, Charles Buckley, 1797

First minister, Ziba Woodworth, free will Baptist, and one of the first settlers

First mechanics were Col. Earned Lamb, carpenter and mill-wright

James Hawkins, blacksmith

David Tolman, clothier

Paul Knapp, brick-maker

The first Thanksgiving Day observed in the town was December 1, 1791.

The first social ball occurred at the house of Col. Davis, on the evening of the next day, December 2

First death noted in the record of the town-thus:
"Theophilus Wilson Brooks, drowned December 3rd, 1791. In fact, however, his death was accompanied by that of his betrothed. Miss Betsey Hobart, daughter of Capt. James Hobart, one of the first settlers of Berlin.

Montpelier Vermont | AHGP

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

Please Come Back Again!