Barnet, Vermont, USA (Center, East, West) (McIndoe Falls) (Mosquitoville) (Passumpsic)
1824 - Barnet

BARNET, a post town in Caledonia county, lying on Connecticut river, opposite to Lyman, N.H. in lat 44° 19′, and long 4° 51′ east, and containing about 40 square miles. It is bounded north by Waterford, east by Connecticut river, south by Ryegate, and west by Peacham and Danville, and is 35 miles east of Montpelier, and 65 miles north from Windsor, as the roads are travelled. The charter of Barnet is dated Sept. 15, 1763. The principal proprietors were Enos, Samuel and Willard Stevens, sons of Capt. Phineas Stevens, who so nobly defended the fort at Charleston, N.H., April 4, 1747, against a large party of French and Indians, under the command of M. Debeline. March 4, 1770, the first settlement was commenced in this town by Jacob, Eliza and Daniel Hall and Jonathan Fowler. Sarah, daughter of Elizah Hall, was the first child, and Barnet, son of Jonathan Fowler, the first male child born in town. The latter was presented by Enos Stevens, Esq. with 100 acres of land. The town was subsequently settled mostly with emigrants from Scotland. A part of the township was purchased in 1774 by the late Alexander Harvey, Esq., and another gentleman, for a company in Scotland. A considerable portion of the people are of Scotch descent. In the summer of 1772, Enos Stevens, Esq. erected a grist mill on Stevens' river about 150 rods from its junction with the Connecticut. The first town meeting was held and the town organized March 18, 1783. Walter Brock, Esq. was first town clerk, and Col. Alexander Harvey, the first representative. In 1789, there were in this town 89 ratable polls, 723 acres of improved land, 21 horses, 97 oxen and 148 cows. The same year were produced 1781 lb. of wool, and 5367 yards of woolen and linen cloth were manufactured. In 1822, there were 259 polls, 7200 acres of improved land, 243 oxen and 844 cows. Major Rogers, on his return from an expedition against St. Francois, in 1759, encamped near the mouth of the Passumpsic river in this town, where he expected to meet a supplly of provisions to be sent on from Charleston, N.H., by order of Gen. Amherst. The order of the General was complied with. Samuel Stevens and three others proceeded up Connecticut river with two canoes, to the round island opposite the mouth of the Passumpsic, where they encamped for the night. In the morning, hearing the report of guns, they were so terrified that they reloaed their provisions and hastened back to Charleston. In the mean time Major Rogers with 156 men were close at hand. They came to the mouth of the Passumpsic, about noon discovered fire on the island, made a raft and passed over to it; but to their surprise and mortification they found no provisions had been left. The men, already reduced to a state of starvation, were so disheartened at this discovery that 36 of them died before the next day. A Indian was cut to pieces and divided among the survivors. The second day Rogers gave up the command of his men, told them to take care of themselves, and proceeded down the river. Some were lost in the woods, but Rogers and most of his men perservered and arrived at Charleston. Mr. David Wood, who has recently lived in this town, was one of Rogers' sergeants, and stated the above account to be correct. The Presbyterian church and society is the most numerous in town. The Rev. David Goodwillie was settled over it in 1787, and still continues. The first meetinghouse was built in 1789. There is a Batpist church composed of members in Barnet, Waterford and St. Johnsbury, and a Congregational church consisting of members in Barnet and Lyman, N.H. There are in this town 21 persons over 80 years of age, 25 over 70, and 48 over 60. In 1811, the spotted fever occasioned great mortality in this and the neighbouring towns. The typhus fever prevailed in 1815, 16 and 17, and carried off a considerable number. The principal streams are the Passumpsic, which falls into the Connecticut just below the foot of the 15 mile falls, and Stevens' river, which unites with the Connecticut about 2 miles below the mouth of the Passumpsic. On these streams are sevearl valuable mill privileges, the most remarkable of which is at Stevens' mills on Stevens' river. At this place the river, which is three rods wide, falls about 100 feet in the distance of ten rods. At the foot of the 15 mile falls in Connecticut river, is a cluster of 21 islands, the largest of which is said to contain 90 acres. There are several other fertlile islands of considerable size between Barnet and Lyman. Some parts of the town are broken and hilly, but the soil is generally rich and excellent for pasture and tillage. There is some handsome interval along the Connecticut and Passumpsic in this town, the ascent from which to the upland is precipitous and rocky. The rocks which form the precipice are principally argillaceous slate, and, just below the mouth of the Passumpsic, they rise from 100 to 300 feet nearly perpendicular. Iron ore has recently been discovered near the mouth of the Passumpsic, which is thought to be extensive. There are three natural ponds in this town, viz. Harvey's pond covering about 300 acres, Ross' pond about 100, Morse's pond about 15 acres. The present head of boat navigation on Connecticut river is at the lower village in this town at McIndoe's falls. The principal places of businesses are at this village, at the village at Stevens' mills, and the village at Randals' mills on the Passumpsic river. The practicing physicians in this town are Doctors McNabb, Fuller, Stevens and Davis. Charles Storey, Esq. is the only practing attorney. The town at present contains 12 school houses, four stores, four taverns, six grist mills, seven saw mills, three carding machines, two clothiers' works, three tanneries, and one pottery.

March, 1824. J.M.N.

A Gazetteer of the State of Vermont Containing A Brief General View of The State, A Historical and Topographical Description of All the Counties, Towns, Rivers, &c. Together with a Map and Several Other Engraving by Zadock Thompson, 1824 Montpelier, Published by E. P. Walton and the Author E. P. Walton, Printer, 1824

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