Vermont AHGP
Part of the American History and
Genealogy Project
Range 2 ~ Lots
Lot 1, was nearly obliterated by Washburn's pitch, and was never by itself a farm. Its form is like a Carpenter's square, each limb being about 30 rods wide and half a mile long.
Lot 2, now owned by Mrs. Bridgman Batchelder, was settled by Thomas Vincent, of New Bedford, in 1796. He was a prominent business man, was the 1st town clerk, 4 years representative, and became the richest man in town. He was a very zealous member of the Methodist church. He died in 1848, aged 79.
Lot 3. The southern part was settled by Esek Howland, in 1797, who built a log-house, but was unable to pay for it, and sold the next year to Miles Washburn. When Harvey Bancroft was fatally injured, Howland was with him, and carried him on his back 100 rods to the house. Mrs. William C. Bartlett is his granddaughter. The northern part was settled in 1801, by Ebenezer Bennett. He established the first tannery in town, between the Ezekiel Skinner house and the little rivulet, now often dry, just north of it.
Lot 4, clearing was begun by Asa Coburn, who sold to John and Thomas Vincent, and removed to Cabot, but had to pay Allen for it in 1808. John was a less active business man than his brother, but was much respected, and was 3 years representative. His children were: John, Dennis, Stephen, of Chelsea, and Desire (Mrs. Coolidge Taylor.)
Lot 5, The south-western part was first owned by Chester House, then by Benjamin P. Lampson, who built what is now S. B. Gale's farm-house. Charles McCloud settled upon what was recently Allen Martin's farm. His house was in the pasture north of Martin's house. This is the north-western part of lots 5 and 6.
Robert Mellen was a brother of the first John Mellen. He owned the eastern part of lot 6; also lot 6 in the 3rd range, and in fact nearly all of what is now Plainfield village. In Sept. 1805, as he was riding home from North Montpelier, he fell from his horse, near the present residence of Alvin Cate, badly injuring his ankle. As they were carrying him home on a litter made of a straw bed, he said, "You will have to bring me back in a few days," and they did so, burying him in the graveyard there. The Mellens were from the old town of Derry, New Hampshire, and they were one of the Scotch Irish families who came from Londonderry, in Ireland. Robert Mellens house was where the Methodist parsonage now is, and his log-house was the first house built in the village.
Source: History of Washington County Vermont, Collated and Published by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1882.
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