Tidbits of History - Vermont
Last updated 14-Nov-02
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Vermont - General Region
- Philip's Deed dated 28-Jun-1796 - included land from Canaan, Vt. to Stewardstown, NH and the highlands of Canada. Philip exchanged this land in return for care for himself and the two women with him. He retained the right to continue to live from the land. He could hunt and fish and plant 4 bushels of corn and beans each year. These rights were to continue to his heirs and successors "and all Indian tribes forever". This deed was signed by Phillip, Molly Mussell, and Mooselock Sullsop.
- In Oct-1798 7 Indians from Odanak protested the right of Phillip to sell their lands. Their leader was Capt. Cegar said to be orator of Odanak. For $3,100, they deeded a much larger area, from Haverhill on the Connecticut to the Ossipee River on the Maine border, north to the border with Canada.
- Eventually Indian Joe became old and could no longer make a living for himself; so the state of Vermont wishing to thank him for services rendered [Rev. War] voted him a pension of $70.00 a year for life. ... Joe died the 19th of February 1819.
New England Captives Carried to Canada
Between 1677 and 1760 During the French and Indian Wars
by Emma Lewis Coleman, originally printed 1925
Coming from the Missions near Montreal to the western settlements the route was by land or river to Chambly and down the Richelieu (sometimes Chambly, Sorel or Iroquois) River to Lake Champlain; thence by various routes to the Connecticut, seeking always the best hunt. Perhaps the way most used was by Otter Creek and over the hills to Black River and the Connecticut.
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Cabot VT
- Two ponds still bear their names [Indian Joe and Molly], one in Danville and the other in the Cabot, Vermont area
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Charlotte VT
- Abenaki at St. Albans, Grand Isle, Milton, and Charlotte maintained close connections with Abenaki at Odanak
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Danville VT
- Two ponds still bear their names [Indian Joe and Molly], one in Danville and the other in the Cabot, Vermont area
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Derby VT
- One season [Indian] Joe and Molly went to Derby for a hunt.
- ... near Derby, which was a favorite camping and hunting place of the St. Francis Abenaki.
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Grand Isle VT
- Generally speaking, it was not until 1830 that some families were able to begin reestablishing more sedentary communities in such places as Swanton, St. Albans, and Grand Isle.
- Abenaki at St. Albans, Grand Isle, Milton, and Charlotte maintained close connections with Abenaki at Odanak
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Milton VT
- Abenaki at St. Albans, Grand Isle, Milton, and Charlotte maintained close connections with Abenaki at Odanak
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Newbury VT
- Several of the St. Francis Indians came down to Newbury to persuade [Indian] Joe and Molly to return to Canada.
- [Indian] Joe died the 19th of February 1819 ... Joe was given a big funeral at Newbury and most of the population attended. A shot was fired at his funeral with his loaded gun which had been found lying next to his dead body. Then the casket was lowered into the grave in the Newbury cemetery where his gravestone may still be seen.
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St. Albans VT
- Generally speaking, it was not until 1830 that some families were able to begin reestablishing more sedentary communities in such places as Swanton, St. Albans, and Grand Isle.
- Abenaki at St. Albans, Grand Isle, Milton, and Charlotte maintained close connections with Abenaki at Odanak
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Swanton VT - Ancient Village of Missisquoi
- In 1775 there were Abanakis still in place in ancestral locations at Missisquoi, Memphremagog, Cowas and the upper Androscoggin River.
- "Generally speaking, it was not until 1830 that some [Abenaki] families were able to begin reestablishing more sedentary communities in such places as Swanton, St. Albans, and Grand Isle."
- The Abenaki community at Swanton survived, and expanded following 1850
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Windsor VT
Green Mountain Democrat
April 3, 1835
A party of Indians, fifteen, have been encamped at Windsor, during the whole winter, and the novelty of such a scene has excited speculation. They are part of the tribe of the Missisiques, who live a wandering life on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, and are on a journey to Hanover, N.H. for the purpose of entering a member of the family in Dartmouth College, but being overtaken by winter, they pitched their tents on the bank of the Connecticut some time in November, and have remained there ever since. The patriarch of the family is 73, and the candidate is 17, [named] Say-so-saph Sa-ba-rese Al-anum. They have erected two wigwams in which they lived through the severe cold of the winter and without any other means of support than is derived from the manufacture of Indian articles. They have lived, however, in the midst of a wealthy and hospitable people.
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