ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE SARTWELL'S FORT, COMMEMORATIVE STONES, THE GRAVE OF MRS. JEMIMA TUTE, THE GRAVE OF WILLIAM FRENCH, . FAC SIMILE OF THE SIGNATURE OF THOMAS CHANDLER, FAC SIMILE OF THE SIGNATURE OF THOMAS CHANDLER JR., HENRY EVANS, WILLIAM SHATTUCK, 487 487 488 FAC SIMILE OF THE SIGNATURE OF STEPHEN ROW BRADLEY, 593 CHAPTER I. FIRST SETTLEMENTS. Early Divisions of Eastern Vermont-Cumberland County-Gloucester CountyChamplain's Voyage Squakheag or Northfield-Philip's Wars-Indian Incursions-King William's War-Burning of Deerfield-The March to CanadaAttempts of the English to reduce Canada-Port Royal captured-Treaty of Utrecht-Equivalent Lands-Great Meadow-Order to build a Block House above Northfield-Timothy Dwight-Fort Dummer-Its Defences-Indian Soldiers Chaplain-Joseph Kellogg-Scouting Parties Skirmishes-Peltry Trade at Fort Dummer-Journal of James Coss-Rev. Ebenezer Hinsdell"Seaticook" and Caughnawaga Indians-Treaty at Fort Dummer. VERMONT is divided into fourteen counties. Of these Windsor and Windham, situated in the south-eastern part of the state, comprehend nearly the same territory that under the government of New York was known, during a part of the last century, by the name of Cumberland county. This county was the first established in Vermont, then called the New Hampshire Grants, and probably received its name from Prince William the Duke of Cumberland, who in 1746 met with distinguished success in opposing the rebels in Scotland. Its boundaries, as declared in the act of establishment passed by the Legislature of the province of New York, on the 3d of July, 1766, were described as "beginning at the west bank of Connecticut river, opposite to where the division line between the province of the Massachusetts Bay comes to the aforesaid river; thence running on a direct line, about twenty-six miles, to the south-east corner of the 'township of Stamford; from thence, on a direct line, about sixty miles, to the north-east corner of the township of Rutland; thence north, thirty-one degrees east, eighteen miles; thence easterly, to the north-west corner of the township of Linfield;* thence easterly, along the north side of * Now the township of Royalton. the townships of Linfield, Sharon, and Norwich, to Connecticut river aforesaid; thence, along the west bank of the said river, to the place of beginning." When the subject was brought before the Lords of the Privy Council, in order that the "royal approbation or disallowance" might be signified, the King, on the 26th of June, 1767, declared the act of the New York Legislature by which the county of Cumberland was established, void, and the Governor of the province of New York was ordered to act in accordance with this decision. Numerous applications were now made to the Crown for a new charter, and the inconveniences to which the inhabitants of the disfranchised county were subjected, through the want of a due administration of justice, were plainly set forth. In consequence of these representations, the King, on the 19th of March, 1768, re-established the county of Cumberland, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Province of New York, within the following limits : 'Beginning at a point on the west bank of Connecticut river, opposite to where the line run for the partition line between our said provinces of the Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, touches the east side of the same river, and running thence west, ten degrees north on a direct line about twenty-six miles to the south-east corner of a tract of land called Stamford; thence north, about thirteen degrees east on a direct line fifty-six miles to the south-east corner of the township of Socialborough in the county of Albany, in the south bounds of a tract of land formerly called Rutland; thence north, about fifty-three degrees east on a direct line thirty miles to the south-west corner of the township of Tunbridge; thence along the south bounds thereof and of Stratford and Thetford about eighteen miles to Connecticut river aforesaid, and thence along the west banks of the same river to the place of beginning." By an act of the Legislature of New York, passed March 24th, 1772, the boundaries were again changed, as will appear from a description of the limits then constituted. "Beginning on the west bank of Connecticut river opposite the point where the partition line between the colonies of the Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, touches the east side of the river, and extending from thence north eighty degrees west until such line shall meet with and be intersected by another line proceeding on a course south ten degrees west from the north-west corner of a tract of land granted under the Great Seal of this colony, on |