Moretown, Washington County, Vermont

"The township was chartered June 7, 1763, the grant to contain 6 square miles to be divided into 71 shares; one-eighth to each of the 64 proprietors; each drawing one lot out of each division, there being three divisions.'' The charter says, before any division of land be made to proprietors, a tract of land as near the center of the town as the land will admit shall be reserved and marked out for town lots, one of which shall be allotted to each proprietor, of the contents of 1 acre, they paying as rent therefor for the term of 10 years, one ear of Indian corn, on the 25th of December annually, if lawfully demanded, and said rent to commence December 25, 1762.

Moretown is considerably broken in surface, but is romantic, and affords much to please and profit the student of nature. Camels Hump is seen from various points, and is only a few miles distant from Moretown. Mineral springs are found here, which by puffing and patronizing, would be quite equal to many, no better, but celebrated ones.

It is quite a dairy town, some farmers having 20 or more cows, and many others 10 to 20.

Moretown Firsts

There are now 3 stores, 3 blacksmith shops, two saw-mills, 2 clapboard, 2 shingle and 2 planing-machines in the village; also 1 hotel, 1 harness-shop, employing several workmen, 2 carriage and sleigh shops, 1 grist-mill, 1 sash, door and blind shop, near by a dressmaker, 2 milliners, 1 goldsmith and 1 tinman.

We have also a very excellent high school, taught by Miss Folsom. Polly Phemia Munson was probably the first child born in Moretown, and Paul Knapp the first person who died in town. He was killed by the fall of a tree.

The first school-house in this town was within the limits of the present village of Moretown. In the first settlement of the town there were three lots set off" for the first minister. Rev. Mr. Brown, Universalist, the first minister settled, deeded the land to the town for the benefit of schools. There are 14 school districts in town now, and we had three schools in the village last winter (1869), and for several years we have had a select school every spring and fall. Our population in 1860 was a little over 1400. There has not been any state prison candidate from this place to this date, 1870.

Polly Phemia Munson was probably the first child born in Moretown, and Paul Knapp the first person who died in town. He was killed by the fall of a tree.

Our first representative of the town, Luther Moseley, was chosen by 7 voters. The first store was opened here by Winship & Thornton, 18 15. The first load of goods was bought in Burlington, and brought into town by Cephas Carpenter. Winship was a butcher from that place.

In 1822, Mr. Stevens commenced trade here. He built a distillery to make whisky, and died about 2 years after. His death was a great loss to the town.

A starch factory was built in 1833, by Martin L. Lovell and Francis Liscomb, and run about 5 years, after which it was bought by Jesse Johnson, and used for a tannery from 3 to 5 years, when it was burned.

The first and only hotel to the present, was built and kept by Joseph Sawyer, in 1835. There are some stores of the olden time here.

Growth of the Town  ~ 1862 - 1878

There are now three merchants in town: C. Lovejoy, James Evans, Nathan Spaulding. Mr. Evans commenced trade May, 1862 [removed to Boston since]. Mr. Spaulding commenced about 1858, and has charge of the post-office [gone to Burlington]. His father, now deceased, was a highly esteemed Methodist minister. He was buried here.

There is one grist-mill in town [two now], owned by a Mr. Robinson;
One sash and blind factory, owned by Geo. Bulkley and Geo. Thornton, [which is now Mr. Fassett's grist and saw-mill, tub factory and planing-machine matcher,]
Four sawmills, three owned by David T. Jeff. Belding, one on the river by Lorenzo Wells's;
Three blacksmith's shops, carried on by Curt. Carpenter & Co., Calvin Foster, and M. Taylor;
Calvin Foster's carriage shop, where he has done a good business a great many years;
Towle & Lovejoy's wheelwright shop, where a good business has been done; [given up and turned into the blacksmith shop of Wallings & Spaulding]; Collins built another shop and continued business as before;
William Sawyer's harness shop employs several men, [has removed into a larger shop, with his son, partner];
Mr. Towle's harness shop [he has left town, and the shop is now closed]
2 shoemakers.

Town of Cabot | Vermont AHGP

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