Genealogy in Bennington County, Vermont
Town of Shaftsbury
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SHAFTSBURY, a post town in the western part of Bennington county, is in lat. 42° 58' and long. 3° 54', and is bounded north by Arlington, east by Glastenbury, south by Bennington, and west by Cambridge, N.Y. It lies 97 miles southwesterly from Montpelier. It was chartered Aug. 20, 1761, containing by charter 23,040 acres. The settlement of this town was commenced about the year 1763. Among the early settlers may be mentioned Messrs. Cole, Willoughby, Clark, Doolittle, Waldo, and several families of Mattisons. The Hon. Jonas Galusha, late Governor of Vermont, came into this town in the spring of 1775. During the revolutionary war he was made captain of one of the two companies of militia in this township, and the other was commanded by Captain Amos Huntington. Capt. Huntington was taken prisoner at the battle of Hubbardton, and set to Canada, after which the two companies were united under the command of Capt. Galusha, who fought at their head in Bennington battle. The town was organized some time before the revolution, and Thomas Mattison was first town clerk, which office he held more than 40 years. The Baptists are the most numerous religious denomination, and they have two societies. The town gives name to the Baptist association in this section of the state, it being called the "Shaftsbury association," and is one of the first formed in the state. The Rev. Caleb Blood was for many years a zealous and successful preacher of the gospel here. He removed to Boston about the year 1807. Rev. Isaiah Mattison has been settled over one of the Baptist churches more than 40 years, and still continues his faithful labors. Rev. Joseph W. Sawyer is minister of the other church. The Universalists have no settled minister. Dr. Daniel Huntington was for many years the only practising physician. This township lies between the Battenkill and Walloomscoik rivers, and consequently has no large streams. Some tributaries of each of these rivers rise here, which afford several mill privileges. West mountain lies partly in this township and partly in Arlington. It extends into Shaftsbury about 3 miles, and is about 2 miles in width. This mountain is timbered with chestnut oak, maple, birch, &c. The soil is generally of a good quality, and in the southwestern part is probably not exceeded in fertility by any in the state. The timber on the high lands is mostly chestnut and oak. There is a small tract here which was formerly covered with a beautiful growth of white pine, of which nothing now remains but the stumps. The minerals are iron ore, of an excellent quality, of which large quantities were conveyed to Bennington furnace, and a beautiful white marble, which has been extensively quarried. There are 3 meeting houses in town, 2 belonging to the Baptists, and built more than 50 years ago, and 1 to the Universalists, built in 1836. The town is divided into 16 school districts, in two of which are elegant two-story brick school-houses, having bells, and 2 well furnished school rooms in each. There are in town 2 stores, 2 taverns, 2 grist, 12 saw, and 2 paper mills, and 1 woollen factory. Statistics of 1840.--Horses, 538; cattle, 2,246; sheep, 24,436; swine, 1,538; wheat, bus. 1,999; barley, 20; oats, 28,857; rye, 3,628; buckwheat, 3,861; Ind. corn, 12,684; potatoes, 50,000; hay, tons, 4,380; sugar, lbs. 9,527; wool, 43,682. Population 1,835.(Source: Thompson, Zadock, 1796-1856. History of Vermont : natural, civil, and statistical ... / by Zadock Thompson. -- Burlington : Z. Thompson, 1853. -- pt. 3, p. 159-160)