Hinesburg, Vermont, USA
1849 Hinesburgh

Chittenden Co. There is in the north part of the town a high ridge of rough land, called Prichard Mountain. The west part has generally a level surface, interspersed with small hillocks. In the eastern part the land is hilly and broken, containing, however, a good share of feasible, fertile, and valuable land. The forest consisted of hard timber generally. There were some beaver meadows, one of which contained between 100 and 200 acres, from which the first settlers derived much benefit.

The principal streams are Lewis Creek, Laplot River, and Pond Brook. Lewis Creek enters the town from Monkton. and takes a westerly course through the south-west part of the town. On this stream, in the year 1790, Mr. Nathan Leavenworth, one of the early settlers, built a sawmill and a grist mill. This mill is in the bounds of Charlotte. Before it was built, the inhabitants were obliged to go to Winooski Falls, at Burlington, or to Vergennes, for their grinding.

Hinesburgh affords an abundant water power, and manufactures of iron, wool, and various other articles, are rapidly increasing on the banks of its beautiful streams. A manufacturing company was established in 1847.

Boundaries. North by Shelburne, St. George, and Richmond, east by Huntington and Starksborough, south by Starksborough and Monkton, and west by Charlotte.

First Settlers. The first inhabitants were a Mr. Isaac Lawrence and family, from Canaan, Connecticut, whose wife said that she lived ten months without seeing the face of any other woman, and that at one time the family lived for some time on dried pumpkins, without any other food whatever. This family came here before the revolutionary war, and also Mr. Daniel Chaffey, who was here for a short time ; they both left when the war commenced. Mr. Lawrence returned in 1783. Messrs. Jacob Meacham, Amos Andrews, and Hezekiah Tuttle, came in 1784. In 1785, Mr. George McEwen with his family, Mr. Eliphaz and George Steele came without families, and spent the summer. The first child born in town was a son of Jacob Meacham, on the first day of April, 1785; he was named Hine, in reference to the name of the town.

First Ministers. The Congregational Church was formed in the year 1789, with twelve members; the Rev. Reuben Parmelee was ordained as pastor, in 1791, and dismissed in 1795. From this time until 1818 the church was destitute of a stated pastor.

Productions of the Soil. Wheat, 2,020 bushels ; Indian corn, 6,888 bushels ; potatoes, 27,605 bushels; hay, 4,639 tons ; maple sugar, 14,170 pounds ; wool, 16,336 pounds.

Distances. Twelve miles south southeast from Burlington, and thirty-six west from Montpelier. The Southern Railroad passes through this town, and facilitates the business of the place.


A gazetteer of Vermont... by John Hayward Boston - Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason 1849

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