Vermont AHGP
Part of the American History and
Genealogy Project
Casualties, Worchester, Vermont
For some of these we are indebted to a "Record of Births, Marriages and Deaths, by Simon C. Abbott;" published in 1858 by the town.
A youth named Martin was drowned at an early day, while attempting to cross the river, on the farm where L. M. Hutchinson now lives. He was probably a son of George Martin, one of the first settlers who lived there. This death is thought to be the first in town. It is quite likely he was buried on the high knoll west of Mr. Hutchinson's house, as were some others, there being some graves to be seen there, when Mr. Abel Whitney lived there.
A son of S. P. Alexander, of 6 years, was drowned Sept. 1849, on the farm of S. M. Seaver. His father being at work over the river, his boy set out to go in search of him, and when missed by the family, search was made, and he was found in the river.
George C. Hancock, son of Crismon Hancock, was drowned in the "Branch," July 31, 1857, aged 14.
Charles Hall, a son of Samuel Hall, was drowned in "Minister Brook," July, 186_, by the washing away of a bridge on which he was standing, caused by a sudden rise of the water during a thunder-storm.
Moses Rood, 3rd, son of Moses Rood, Jr., formerly of Barre, Jan. 27, 1829, had his thigh fractured by the fall of a tree. Feb. 2, mortification ensued, rendering amputation necessary, under which he died.
Asel Bradstreet, a child of 2 years of J. P. B. Ladd, was scalded by the overturning of a kettle of hot water upon him, and lived three weeks after the accident.
Jedediah P. B. Ladd, the father, received his death-blow by falling from a bridge near his residence. He was crowded off by an ox-team he was driving over the bridge while repairing it, and fell 22 feet, striking upon a solid rock. His thigh was badly fractured, and he sustained internal injuries of so serious a nature, though assistance was at once rendered and medical aid procured, and it was hoped he might recover, after lingering in great pain until the third day, surrounded by his weeping family, death closed his mortal career. Mr. Ladd came to Worcester about 1823, with Jonas Abbott, from Thetford. He married Eliza Baldwin, daughter of Benjamin Baldwin, and a sister of Mrs. Thomas Reed. Mr. Ladd was a brother of Mrs. O. L. Smith, and first settled on the hill near Jesse Flint's, and where Willis P. Gould now lives, making the first clearing there about 1825. He removed to the eastern part of the town, and commenced anew again on the place where Ira W. Brown now lives; from there, removed in 1833 to the place first settled by Allen Vail, Esq., where he resided at the time of his death. The wife of the writer of this is a daughter of Mr. Ladd. He died Sept. 19, 1844, at 42 years of age.
Sept. 19, 1833, Elisha Hutchinson, son of Eleazer, a citizen of Worcester, was killed in Montpelier by a stone thrown from a blast on the site of the State House; age 33 years.
James, son of Thomas Reed, a boy of 14, was killed June 30, 1844, while peeling hemlock bark with his father and brother on the farm. A tree which had been peeled started to slide down the hill, and caught the boy between itself and another log, crushing out his life on the spot.
Lewis Wright died Oct. 14, 1868, aged 63. He fell in a barn on which he was at work, on the S. M. Seaver place. He was an upright Christian man, much respected by all who knew him.
Joel H. Templeton was thrown from his wagon when near his home, and received injuries from which he died in about a week, Sept. 18, 1852, aged 62. He came to Worcester from East Montpelier in 1825, and was a prominent man in town affairs for many years. He was the father of Horatio Templeton, Esq., his widow, Mrs. Abigail Templeton, still residing in town, upwards of 80 years of age (1871).
Isaac Spofford, while wrestling, had a bone fractured in his neck, which caused paralysis below the point of fracture, and resulted in his death. He lived 30 days after the accident, unable to move himself, and died Aug. 25, 185 1, aged 30 years.
Jan. 21, 1876, Joel O. Durfey, son of Rev. Milo Durfey, while drawing logs and rolling them on the bank of the river near Edmund Utton's, was caught under a log and crushed to death.
At an early day, a man and his wife named Culver, traveling through the town, stopped on Clapp hill to feed their horses. The man went to the back side of the wagon for some grain, the horses becoming frightened, ran violently down the hill, and the woman was thrown out and her neck broken.
Levi Worthen, son of Tristram Worthen, one of the first settlers in the north part of the town, went to York State hunting deer. One day he was out with a companion in the forest, and in their wanderings became separated. His companion saw him through the bushes, and, mistaking him for a deer, fired, and Mr. Worthen was killed. His body was brought to Worcester for burial. 1865, a child of B. F. Johnson was scalded by sitting down in a pail of hot water.
Oct. 14, 1868, Lewis Wright, while at work on a barn for Mr. D. H. Massey, fell some 8 or 10 feet to the ground, striking on his head, and causing his death in four or five days, aged 63 years.
Alonzo Jones, Jr., accidentally shot himself while out hunting, and died Oct. 25, 1854, a day or two after the accident, aged 16 years.
Murders
About 1862 or '63, a young married woman named Loomis was murdered on the Eagle Ledge road, her body being found in the woods a little way from the house of her husband's brother. Circumstances led to the arrest of this man, Austin Loomis, and also of Royal Carr, a neighbor. After a long and tedious trial, Mr. Loomis was acquitted, and Mr. Carr convicted of manslaughter, and was sentenced to the state prison for 10 years. After serving about 9 years, he was released, having gained one year by good conduct in the prison. In December of the present year (1878) Carr was again arrested for the murder of a half-breed Indian. Wm. W. Murcommock, in the edge of Calais, with whom he was hunting, and is now lodged in jail at Montpelier awaiting his trial for that offence. [Since executed at Windsor, Apr. 29, 1881.] Apr. 24, 1867, Patrick Fitzgibbons, a resident of this town, was stabbed and instantly killed in Montpelier by some unknown person.
Suicides
The following persons, citizens of this town, have committed suicide by hanging:
Ophir Leonard, Mar. 1841, aged 68 years
David Foster, Dec. 1849, aged 69
Mark P. Ladd, Aug. 1867, aged 50 (died in Richmond)
Russell Coller, Dec. 1866, aged 40 (in Calais)
Samuel Kelley, Apr. 1871, aged 78
M. Newell Kent, Oct. 1876, aged 37
Source: History of Washington County Vermont, Collated and Published by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1882.
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