Vermont AHGP
Part of the American History and
Genealogy Project
Accidents of Citizens
It is sometimes remarked that "dead trees fall silently and in still weather." This was illustrated in the case of Wm. Joiner in 1805. He was riding on horseback through a piece of woods near the house now owned by Dea. David Phelps, when the trunk of a decayed tree fell across his path in such a way as to scratch the pommel of his saddle, and instantly kill his horse, while he remained entirely uninjured. There have been 10 cases of accidental deaths since the organization of the town:
In 1810, Lewis Taylor, age 10, was drowned in the flume of a grist-mill.
Enos Wilder, age 35, killed by a tailing tree, and Gilbert Wait, Jr., age 3, killed by falling through an aperture in the chamber floor.
In 1815, a child of Daniel Skinner was smothered in bed.
In 1820, a child of Ezra Jones fell from the arms of a girl who was tossing it in sport, and was killed.
In 1821, Wm. Wheeler, age 55, was killed by "trying tricks" at a raising.
In 1822, Joseph L. Carpenter, age 14, was killed by the falling of a tree.
In 1830, John Kimball, age 3, was drowned in a channel washed out by the flood, which had previously swept away the dwelling.
Eliza A. Stoddard, age 6, killed by the kick of a horse.
In 1833, Mrs. Simeon Pratt, age 38, supposed to have died in a fit.
In 1836, Luther Fairbanks, age 30, drowned while bathing.
In 1842, child of C. Joyce, smothered in I he bed.
In 1848, John O. Shaw, age 11, was hung in a school-house window when trying to climb in.
In 1850, James D. Bushnell, age 21, drowned while bathing.
In 1865, Howard Bruce, age 4, drowned in a spring.
There have also been several cases of sudden deaths from occult diseases, and 4 cases of suicide.
Source: History of Washington County Vermont, Collated and Published by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1882.
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