History of Stockbridge, Vermont, USA

Stockbridge, Vermont
Windsor county. This town lies 36 miles S. by W. from Montpelier and 26 N.W. from Windsor. First settled, 1783. Population, 1830, 1,333.

White river passes through the town, and at a place called the "Great Narrows," it is compressed into a channel of but a few feet in width, and, affords the only good mill seat in town. The soil of the town is better for pasturage than tillage. It feeds about five thousand five hundred sheep.

Windsor Co. White River runs through the northerly part of this town, and in its passage receives the fourth branch, or Tweed River, from the west. The mill privileges are sufficiently numerous, but those at the Great Narrows in White River are the best. The whole river is here compressed into a channel but a few feet in width. Steatite is found here.

Boundaries. Northerly by Bethel, easterly by Barnard, southerly by Sherburne, and westerly by Pittsfield.

First Settlers. The settlement of Stockbridge was commenced in 1784, and 1785 by Asa Whitcomb, Elias Keyes, John Durkee and Joshua Bartlet, with their families.

First Minister. The Rev. Justin Parsons was settled over the Congregational Church in this town and Pittsfield September 15, 1812. He continued till 1827.

Productions of the Soil Wheat, 1 ,746 bushels; Indian corn, 4,982 bushels; potatoes, 42,680 bushels; hay, 4,057 tons ; maple sugar, 34,320 pounds ; wool, 18,005 pounds.

Distances. Thirty-six miles south by...