Jacob was the 3rd of 5 children (4 sons and 1 daughter) born of Edward Davis (1714-1784) and his wife Abigail Learned (Larned) (1719-1805). Jacob's siblings were: Ebenezer (1737-1816), Edward (1739-1796), Nathaniel (b. 1743), and Abigail (b. 1745).
On November 17, 1764, Jacob and Rebekah, a second cousin, both of Oxford, recorded their intention to marry in the District of Charlton, Worchester County, Massachusetts Bay Colony. The District of Charlton had been established from a part of Oxford, November 21, 1754. Charlton became a Town, August 23, 1775. Before moving to Vermont, they had 8 children (3 sons and 5 daughters): Thomas (1765-1769), Jacob (b. 1768), Rebekah (1770-1840), Thomas (1772-1864), Mary (Polly) (1773-1858), Hannah (1774-1807), Lucy (b. 1776) and Lucy (1782-1839).
Jacob, a resident of Charlton, was Captain of a Company in Colonel Ebenezer Larned's Regiment which marched on the Alarm of April 19, 1775 to Roxbury. During this alarm he served 15 days.
On January 19, 1776, the Massachusetts Legislature proposed Jacob to be 2nd Major of the Worcester County Militia Regiment (the 5th Worcester County Regiment) made up from Sutton, Oxford, Sturbridge, Charlton, Dudley, and adjacent lands. He was commissioned 2nd Major of Colonel Jonathan Holman's (5th Worcester County) Regiment, February 7, 1776.
When Colonel Jonathan Holman's Regiment marched on September 26, 1777 from Worcester County to reinforce the Northern Army, Jacob was the Regiment's Major. The Regiment served to October 26, 1777, 30 days.
On January 13, 1778, the Massachusetts House of Representatives chose Jacob by ballot the Lieutenant Colonel of the 5th Worcester County Regiment. This appointment was concurred in by the Massachusetts Council and he was commissioned accordingly on the same day.
On September 24, 1779, the Massachusetts House of Representatives chose Jacob by ballot the Colonel of the 5th Worcester County Regiment. This appointment was concurred in by the Massachusetts Council and he was commissioned accordingly on the same day. He served 15 days when his Regiment marched to Tiverton, Rhode Island on an alarm, April 29, 1780.
In 1780, Colonel Davis and his two living sons, Jacob, Jr. and Thomas, and others filed a petition in the Office of the Secretary of State of Vermont asking for a grant of unappropriated land. The grant of the Township of Montpelier, a name given by Colonel Davis, was approved, October 21, 1780. The first charter for Montpelier was granted, August 14, 1781.
At the 2nd Proprietor's Meeting held at Arlington, Bennington County, Vermont on January 11, 1786, Colonel Davis offered to complete the survey of the town, which had been voted for at the first Proprietor's Meeting held on August 17, 1784, for 1 pound, 3 shillings, and 10 pence per right. This offer was accepted and he was appointed to a Committee to lay out the town's first division of lots. At subsequent Proprietor's Meetings, Colonel Davis was similarly authorized to lay out the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Divisions, Town roads, and other special purpose lots. It was also recorded at those meetings that Colonel Davis had acquired many of the Town's land rights for failure to pay their taxes.
In 1787, Colonel Davis moved his family to Brookfield, the settled town closest to his undeveloped land. On May 3rd, 1787, Colonel Davis, with his cousin Parley Davis and a hired man, left his family in Brookfield, taking one horse and a large a quantity of provisions as could be carried. After staying that night in Middlesex, on May 4th, the party cut a bridle-road along the bank on the Winooski River, to a hunter's camp in Montpelier. The hunter's hut was a very good one, well roofed and walled on three sides. In about 9 days, it was made into a substantial log-house, 32 by 16 feet, and occupied. At this time Colonel Davis' two sons, Jacob, Jr., aged 19, and Thomas, aged 15 years, had reached the camp. The party immediately commenced clearing the land and plant it with corn, of which a good crop was realized. The work of clearing the land and laying out roads was continued during the summer and autumn. All their work that year was preparatory for settlement. The log-house was not furnished with a cellar, floor, oven and chimney until autumn, and then, having secured the fruits of the first harvest, Colonel Davis returned with his sons to Brookfield, to prepare his family for moving into the new town and the new house with the first sufficient fall of snow.
At this time, Colonel Davis' family consisted of his wife, his two sons, and four daughters: Rebecca, who became wife of Cornelius Lynde of Williamstown; Hannah, wife of David Wing, Jr. of Montpelier; Polly, wife of Captain Thomas West of Montpelier; and Lucy, wife of Captain Timothy Hubbard of Montpelier.
Near the close of December, 1787, he dispatched his two sons, their sisters Rebecca and Polly, and a team with all that could be carried to Montpelier. Jacob, Jr. returned to Brookfield with the team intending to complete the removal of the family by a second journey. But a series of heavy snow-storms made the journey impracticable. Thus, the lad Thomas and the two girls were the only tenants of the new homestead until March, 1788, when the remainder of the family joined them, becoming the first permanent settlers in the Town and Village of Montpelier.
In the summer 1789, Colonel Davis erected the first grist-mill in the Town. On September 22nd of the same year the first birth of the town occurred, being that of Clarissa Davis, youngest daughter of Colonel Davis. She became the wife of George Worthington of Montpelier.
In the summer 1790, Colonel Davis completed the first frame house in Montpelier. It was a large house, of two stories, with four spacious rooms in each story and an attic that served on occasions as a welcome dormitory. The first notable stranger in Montpelier was Prince Edward of England, Duke of Kent, son of George the III, who was traveling from Montreal to Boston. He was the guest of Colonel Davis for a night in the winter of 1790-1791.
On March 29, 1791, the first Montpelier Town Meeting met at the house of Colonel Davis. He was chosen Moderator to govern the meeting. He was also elected a Town Lister and its Fence Viewer at the same meeting.
Colonel Davis served Montpelier 5 years, 1792 to 1796, in the Vermont House of Representatives. He was a member of the Vermont Constitutional Convention in 1793. About 1793, he also built The Union House, the first hotel in the Town and Washington County specifically built for that purpose.
In the early 1800s, creditors obtained judgments against him, which he believed to be unfair, and he was sentenced to "freedom of the yard," which confined him to an area near the Chittenden County jail. Davis moved to Burlington to comply, and lived there for twelve years, refusing all attempts to settle the suits. In 1814 his creditors offered to settle on terms so favorable to Davis that he decided his honor was satisfied, so he accepted. He then prepared to return to Montpelier, but took ill and died in Burlington before making the journey.
References:
1) "Vital Records of Oxford, Massachusetts to the end of the Year 1849" by Franklin P. Rice, 1905, page 38.
2) "Vital Records of Charlton, Massachusetts to the end of the Year 1849" by Franklin P. Rice, 1905, pages 34-36 and 245.
3) "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War" Vol. IV, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1898, page 494.
4) "The History of the Town of Montpelier, including that of the Town of East Montpelier, for the first One Hundred and Two Years" by A. M. Hemenway, 1882, pages 252-254, 257-258, 260-262, 265, 272-273, 287, and 429-430.
5) Vermont Vital Statistic Records, Vermont Records Center, Middlesex, Washington County, Vermont.
On November 17, 1764, Jacob and Rebekah, a second cousin, both of Oxford, recorded their intention to marry in the District of Charlton, Worchester County, Massachusetts Bay Colony. The District of Charlton had been established from a part of Oxford, November 21, 1754. Charlton became a Town, August 23, 1775. Before moving to Vermont, they had 8 children (3 sons and 5 daughters): Thomas (1765-1769), Jacob (b. 1768), Rebekah (1770-1840), Thomas (1772-1864), Mary (Polly) (1773-1858), Hannah (1774-1807), Lucy (b. 1776) and Lucy (1782-1839).
Jacob, a resident of Charlton, was Captain of a Company in Colonel Ebenezer Larned's Regiment which marched on the Alarm of April 19, 1775 to Roxbury. During this alarm he served 15 days.
On January 19, 1776, the Massachusetts Legislature proposed Jacob to be 2nd Major of the Worcester County Militia Regiment (the 5th Worcester County Regiment) made up from Sutton, Oxford, Sturbridge, Charlton, Dudley, and adjacent lands. He was commissioned 2nd Major of Colonel Jonathan Holman's (5th Worcester County) Regiment, February 7, 1776.
When Colonel Jonathan Holman's Regiment marched on September 26, 1777 from Worcester County to reinforce the Northern Army, Jacob was the Regiment's Major. The Regiment served to October 26, 1777, 30 days.
On January 13, 1778, the Massachusetts House of Representatives chose Jacob by ballot the Lieutenant Colonel of the 5th Worcester County Regiment. This appointment was concurred in by the Massachusetts Council and he was commissioned accordingly on the same day.
On September 24, 1779, the Massachusetts House of Representatives chose Jacob by ballot the Colonel of the 5th Worcester County Regiment. This appointment was concurred in by the Massachusetts Council and he was commissioned accordingly on the same day. He served 15 days when his Regiment marched to Tiverton, Rhode Island on an alarm, April 29, 1780.
In 1780, Colonel Davis and his two living sons, Jacob, Jr. and Thomas, and others filed a petition in the Office of the Secretary of State of Vermont asking for a grant of unappropriated land. The grant of the Township of Montpelier, a name given by Colonel Davis, was approved, October 21, 1780. The first charter for Montpelier was granted, August 14, 1781.
At the 2nd Proprietor's Meeting held at Arlington, Bennington County, Vermont on January 11, 1786, Colonel Davis offered to complete the survey of the town, which had been voted for at the first Proprietor's Meeting held on August 17, 1784, for 1 pound, 3 shillings, and 10 pence per right. This offer was accepted and he was appointed to a Committee to lay out the town's first division of lots. At subsequent Proprietor's Meetings, Colonel Davis was similarly authorized to lay out the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Divisions, Town roads, and other special purpose lots. It was also recorded at those meetings that Colonel Davis had acquired many of the Town's land rights for failure to pay their taxes.
In 1787, Colonel Davis moved his family to Brookfield, the settled town closest to his undeveloped land. On May 3rd, 1787, Colonel Davis, with his cousin Parley Davis and a hired man, left his family in Brookfield, taking one horse and a large a quantity of provisions as could be carried. After staying that night in Middlesex, on May 4th, the party cut a bridle-road along the bank on the Winooski River, to a hunter's camp in Montpelier. The hunter's hut was a very good one, well roofed and walled on three sides. In about 9 days, it was made into a substantial log-house, 32 by 16 feet, and occupied. At this time Colonel Davis' two sons, Jacob, Jr., aged 19, and Thomas, aged 15 years, had reached the camp. The party immediately commenced clearing the land and plant it with corn, of which a good crop was realized. The work of clearing the land and laying out roads was continued during the summer and autumn. All their work that year was preparatory for settlement. The log-house was not furnished with a cellar, floor, oven and chimney until autumn, and then, having secured the fruits of the first harvest, Colonel Davis returned with his sons to Brookfield, to prepare his family for moving into the new town and the new house with the first sufficient fall of snow.
At this time, Colonel Davis' family consisted of his wife, his two sons, and four daughters: Rebecca, who became wife of Cornelius Lynde of Williamstown; Hannah, wife of David Wing, Jr. of Montpelier; Polly, wife of Captain Thomas West of Montpelier; and Lucy, wife of Captain Timothy Hubbard of Montpelier.
Near the close of December, 1787, he dispatched his two sons, their sisters Rebecca and Polly, and a team with all that could be carried to Montpelier. Jacob, Jr. returned to Brookfield with the team intending to complete the removal of the family by a second journey. But a series of heavy snow-storms made the journey impracticable. Thus, the lad Thomas and the two girls were the only tenants of the new homestead until March, 1788, when the remainder of the family joined them, becoming the first permanent settlers in the Town and Village of Montpelier.
In the summer 1789, Colonel Davis erected the first grist-mill in the Town. On September 22nd of the same year the first birth of the town occurred, being that of Clarissa Davis, youngest daughter of Colonel Davis. She became the wife of George Worthington of Montpelier.
In the summer 1790, Colonel Davis completed the first frame house in Montpelier. It was a large house, of two stories, with four spacious rooms in each story and an attic that served on occasions as a welcome dormitory. The first notable stranger in Montpelier was Prince Edward of England, Duke of Kent, son of George the III, who was traveling from Montreal to Boston. He was the guest of Colonel Davis for a night in the winter of 1790-1791.
On March 29, 1791, the first Montpelier Town Meeting met at the house of Colonel Davis. He was chosen Moderator to govern the meeting. He was also elected a Town Lister and its Fence Viewer at the same meeting.
Colonel Davis served Montpelier 5 years, 1792 to 1796, in the Vermont House of Representatives. He was a member of the Vermont Constitutional Convention in 1793. About 1793, he also built The Union House, the first hotel in the Town and Washington County specifically built for that purpose.
In the early 1800s, creditors obtained judgments against him, which he believed to be unfair, and he was sentenced to "freedom of the yard," which confined him to an area near the Chittenden County jail. Davis moved to Burlington to comply, and lived there for twelve years, refusing all attempts to settle the suits. In 1814 his creditors offered to settle on terms so favorable to Davis that he decided his honor was satisfied, so he accepted. He then prepared to return to Montpelier, but took ill and died in Burlington before making the journey.
References:
1) "Vital Records of Oxford, Massachusetts to the end of the Year 1849" by Franklin P. Rice, 1905, page 38.
2) "Vital Records of Charlton, Massachusetts to the end of the Year 1849" by Franklin P. Rice, 1905, pages 34-36 and 245.
3) "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War" Vol. IV, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1898, page 494.
4) "The History of the Town of Montpelier, including that of the Town of East Montpelier, for the first One Hundred and Two Years" by A. M. Hemenway, 1882, pages 252-254, 257-258, 260-262, 265, 272-273, 287, and 429-430.
5) Vermont Vital Statistic Records, Vermont Records Center, Middlesex, Washington County, Vermont.
Jacob was the 3rd of 5 children (4 sons and 1 daughter) born of Edward Davis (1714-1784) and his wife Abigail Learned (Larned) (1719-1805). Jacob's siblings were: Ebenezer (1737-1816), Edward (1739-1796), Nathaniel (b. 1743), and Abigail (b. 1745).
On November 17, 1764, Jacob and Rebekah, a second cousin, both of Oxford, recorded their intention to marry in the District of Charlton, Worchester County, Massachusetts Bay Colony. The District of Charlton had been established from a part of Oxford, November 21, 1754. Charlton became a Town, August 23, 1775. Before moving to Vermont, they had 8 children (3 sons and 5 daughters): Thomas (1765-1769), Jacob (b. 1768), Rebekah (1770-1840), Thomas (1772-1864), Mary (Polly) (1773-1858), Hannah (1774-1807), Lucy (b. 1776) and Lucy (1782-1839).
Jacob, a resident of Charlton, was Captain of a Company in Colonel Ebenezer Larned's Regiment which marched on the Alarm of April 19, 1775 to Roxbury. During this alarm he served 15 days.
On January 19, 1776, the Massachusetts Legislature proposed Jacob to be 2nd Major of the Worcester County Militia Regiment (the 5th Worcester County Regiment) made up from Sutton, Oxford, Sturbridge, Charlton, Dudley, and adjacent lands. He was commissioned 2nd Major of Colonel Jonathan Holman's (5th Worcester County) Regiment, February 7, 1776.
When Colonel Jonathan Holman's Regiment marched on September 26, 1777 from Worcester County to reinforce the Northern Army, Jacob was the Regiment's Major. The Regiment served to October 26, 1777, 30 days.
On January 13, 1778, the Massachusetts House of Representatives chose Jacob by ballot the Lieutenant Colonel of the 5th Worcester County Regiment. This appointment was concurred in by the Massachusetts Council and he was commissioned accordingly on the same day.
On September 24, 1779, the Massachusetts House of Representatives chose Jacob by ballot the Colonel of the 5th Worcester County Regiment. This appointment was concurred in by the Massachusetts Council and he was commissioned accordingly on the same day. He served 15 days when his Regiment marched to Tiverton, Rhode Island on an alarm, April 29, 1780.
In 1780, Colonel Davis and his two living sons, Jacob, Jr. and Thomas, and others filed a petition in the Office of the Secretary of State of Vermont asking for a grant of unappropriated land. The grant of the Township of Montpelier, a name given by Colonel Davis, was approved, October 21, 1780. The first charter for Montpelier was granted, August 14, 1781.
At the 2nd Proprietor's Meeting held at Arlington, Bennington County, Vermont on January 11, 1786, Colonel Davis offered to complete the survey of the town, which had been voted for at the first Proprietor's Meeting held on August 17, 1784, for 1 pound, 3 shillings, and 10 pence per right. This offer was accepted and he was appointed to a Committee to lay out the town's first division of lots. At subsequent Proprietor's Meetings, Colonel Davis was similarly authorized to lay out the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Divisions, Town roads, and other special purpose lots. It was also recorded at those meetings that Colonel Davis had acquired many of the Town's land rights for failure to pay their taxes.
In 1787, Colonel Davis moved his family to Brookfield, the settled town closest to his undeveloped land. On May 3rd, 1787, Colonel Davis, with his cousin Parley Davis and a hired man, left his family in Brookfield, taking one horse and a large a quantity of provisions as could be carried. After staying that night in Middlesex, on May 4th, the party cut a bridle-road along the bank on the Winooski River, to a hunter's camp in Montpelier. The hunter's hut was a very good one, well roofed and walled on three sides. In about 9 days, it was made into a substantial log-house, 32 by 16 feet, and occupied. At this time Colonel Davis' two sons, Jacob, Jr., aged 19, and Thomas, aged 15 years, had reached the camp. The party immediately commenced clearing the land and plant it with corn, of which a good crop was realized. The work of clearing the land and laying out roads was continued during the summer and autumn. All their work that year was preparatory for settlement. The log-house was not furnished with a cellar, floor, oven and chimney until autumn, and then, having secured the fruits of the first harvest, Colonel Davis returned with his sons to Brookfield, to prepare his family for moving into the new town and the new house with the first sufficient fall of snow.
At this time, Colonel Davis' family consisted of his wife, his two sons, and four daughters: Rebecca, who became wife of Cornelius Lynde of Williamstown; Hannah, wife of David Wing, Jr. of Montpelier; Polly, wife of Captain Thomas West of Montpelier; and Lucy, wife of Captain Timothy Hubbard of Montpelier.
Near the close of December, 1787, he dispatched his two sons, their sisters Rebecca and Polly, and a team with all that could be carried to Montpelier. Jacob, Jr. returned to Brookfield with the team intending to complete the removal of the family by a second journey. But a series of heavy snow-storms made the journey impracticable. Thus, the lad Thomas and the two girls were the only tenants of the new homestead until March, 1788, when the remainder of the family joined them, becoming the first permanent settlers in the Town and Village of Montpelier.
In the summer 1789, Colonel Davis erected the first grist-mill in the Town. On September 22nd of the same year the first birth of the town occurred, being that of Clarissa Davis, youngest daughter of Colonel Davis. She became the wife of George Worthington of Montpelier.
In the summer 1790, Colonel Davis completed the first frame house in Montpelier. It was a large house, of two stories, with four spacious rooms in each story and an attic that served on occasions as a welcome dormitory. The first notable stranger in Montpelier was Prince Edward of England, Duke of Kent, son of George the III, who was traveling from Montreal to Boston. He was the guest of Colonel Davis for a night in the winter of 1790-1791.
On March 29, 1791, the first Montpelier Town Meeting met at the house of Colonel Davis. He was chosen Moderator to govern the meeting. He was also elected a Town Lister and its Fence Viewer at the same meeting.
Colonel Davis served Montpelier 5 years, 1792 to 1796, in the Vermont House of Representatives. He was a member of the Vermont Constitutional Convention in 1793. About 1793, he also built The Union House, the first hotel in the Town and Washington County specifically built for that purpose.
In the early 1800s, creditors obtained judgments against him, which he believed to be unfair, and he was sentenced to "freedom of the yard," which confined him to an area near the Chittenden County jail. Davis moved to Burlington to comply, and lived there for twelve years, refusing all attempts to settle the suits. In 1814 his creditors offered to settle on terms so favorable to Davis that he decided his honor was satisfied, so he accepted. He then prepared to return to Montpelier, but took ill and died in Burlington before making the journey.
References:
1) "Vital Records of Oxford, Massachusetts to the end of the Year 1849" by Franklin P. Rice, 1905, page 38.
2) "Vital Records of Charlton, Massachusetts to the end of the Year 1849" by Franklin P. Rice, 1905, pages 34-36 and 245.
3) "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War" Vol. IV, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1898, page 494.
4) "The History of the Town of Montpelier, including that of the Town of East Montpelier, for the first One Hundred and Two Years" by A. M. Hemenway, 1882, pages 252-254, 257-258, 260-262, 265, 272-273, 287, and 429-430.
5) Vermont Vital Statistic Records, Vermont Records Center, Middlesex, Washington County, Vermont.
On November 17, 1764, Jacob and Rebekah, a second cousin, both of Oxford, recorded their intention to marry in the District of Charlton, Worchester County, Massachusetts Bay Colony. The District of Charlton had been established from a part of Oxford, November 21, 1754. Charlton became a Town, August 23, 1775. Before moving to Vermont, they had 8 children (3 sons and 5 daughters): Thomas (1765-1769), Jacob (b. 1768), Rebekah (1770-1840), Thomas (1772-1864), Mary (Polly) (1773-1858), Hannah (1774-1807), Lucy (b. 1776) and Lucy (1782-1839).
Jacob, a resident of Charlton, was Captain of a Company in Colonel Ebenezer Larned's Regiment which marched on the Alarm of April 19, 1775 to Roxbury. During this alarm he served 15 days.
On January 19, 1776, the Massachusetts Legislature proposed Jacob to be 2nd Major of the Worcester County Militia Regiment (the 5th Worcester County Regiment) made up from Sutton, Oxford, Sturbridge, Charlton, Dudley, and adjacent lands. He was commissioned 2nd Major of Colonel Jonathan Holman's (5th Worcester County) Regiment, February 7, 1776.
When Colonel Jonathan Holman's Regiment marched on September 26, 1777 from Worcester County to reinforce the Northern Army, Jacob was the Regiment's Major. The Regiment served to October 26, 1777, 30 days.
On January 13, 1778, the Massachusetts House of Representatives chose Jacob by ballot the Lieutenant Colonel of the 5th Worcester County Regiment. This appointment was concurred in by the Massachusetts Council and he was commissioned accordingly on the same day.
On September 24, 1779, the Massachusetts House of Representatives chose Jacob by ballot the Colonel of the 5th Worcester County Regiment. This appointment was concurred in by the Massachusetts Council and he was commissioned accordingly on the same day. He served 15 days when his Regiment marched to Tiverton, Rhode Island on an alarm, April 29, 1780.
In 1780, Colonel Davis and his two living sons, Jacob, Jr. and Thomas, and others filed a petition in the Office of the Secretary of State of Vermont asking for a grant of unappropriated land. The grant of the Township of Montpelier, a name given by Colonel Davis, was approved, October 21, 1780. The first charter for Montpelier was granted, August 14, 1781.
At the 2nd Proprietor's Meeting held at Arlington, Bennington County, Vermont on January 11, 1786, Colonel Davis offered to complete the survey of the town, which had been voted for at the first Proprietor's Meeting held on August 17, 1784, for 1 pound, 3 shillings, and 10 pence per right. This offer was accepted and he was appointed to a Committee to lay out the town's first division of lots. At subsequent Proprietor's Meetings, Colonel Davis was similarly authorized to lay out the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Divisions, Town roads, and other special purpose lots. It was also recorded at those meetings that Colonel Davis had acquired many of the Town's land rights for failure to pay their taxes.
In 1787, Colonel Davis moved his family to Brookfield, the settled town closest to his undeveloped land. On May 3rd, 1787, Colonel Davis, with his cousin Parley Davis and a hired man, left his family in Brookfield, taking one horse and a large a quantity of provisions as could be carried. After staying that night in Middlesex, on May 4th, the party cut a bridle-road along the bank on the Winooski River, to a hunter's camp in Montpelier. The hunter's hut was a very good one, well roofed and walled on three sides. In about 9 days, it was made into a substantial log-house, 32 by 16 feet, and occupied. At this time Colonel Davis' two sons, Jacob, Jr., aged 19, and Thomas, aged 15 years, had reached the camp. The party immediately commenced clearing the land and plant it with corn, of which a good crop was realized. The work of clearing the land and laying out roads was continued during the summer and autumn. All their work that year was preparatory for settlement. The log-house was not furnished with a cellar, floor, oven and chimney until autumn, and then, having secured the fruits of the first harvest, Colonel Davis returned with his sons to Brookfield, to prepare his family for moving into the new town and the new house with the first sufficient fall of snow.
At this time, Colonel Davis' family consisted of his wife, his two sons, and four daughters: Rebecca, who became wife of Cornelius Lynde of Williamstown; Hannah, wife of David Wing, Jr. of Montpelier; Polly, wife of Captain Thomas West of Montpelier; and Lucy, wife of Captain Timothy Hubbard of Montpelier.
Near the close of December, 1787, he dispatched his two sons, their sisters Rebecca and Polly, and a team with all that could be carried to Montpelier. Jacob, Jr. returned to Brookfield with the team intending to complete the removal of the family by a second journey. But a series of heavy snow-storms made the journey impracticable. Thus, the lad Thomas and the two girls were the only tenants of the new homestead until March, 1788, when the remainder of the family joined them, becoming the first permanent settlers in the Town and Village of Montpelier.
In the summer 1789, Colonel Davis erected the first grist-mill in the Town. On September 22nd of the same year the first birth of the town occurred, being that of Clarissa Davis, youngest daughter of Colonel Davis. She became the wife of George Worthington of Montpelier.
In the summer 1790, Colonel Davis completed the first frame house in Montpelier. It was a large house, of two stories, with four spacious rooms in each story and an attic that served on occasions as a welcome dormitory. The first notable stranger in Montpelier was Prince Edward of England, Duke of Kent, son of George the III, who was traveling from Montreal to Boston. He was the guest of Colonel Davis for a night in the winter of 1790-1791.
On March 29, 1791, the first Montpelier Town Meeting met at the house of Colonel Davis. He was chosen Moderator to govern the meeting. He was also elected a Town Lister and its Fence Viewer at the same meeting.
Colonel Davis served Montpelier 5 years, 1792 to 1796, in the Vermont House of Representatives. He was a member of the Vermont Constitutional Convention in 1793. About 1793, he also built The Union House, the first hotel in the Town and Washington County specifically built for that purpose.
In the early 1800s, creditors obtained judgments against him, which he believed to be unfair, and he was sentenced to "freedom of the yard," which confined him to an area near the Chittenden County jail. Davis moved to Burlington to comply, and lived there for twelve years, refusing all attempts to settle the suits. In 1814 his creditors offered to settle on terms so favorable to Davis that he decided his honor was satisfied, so he accepted. He then prepared to return to Montpelier, but took ill and died in Burlington before making the journey.
References:
1) "Vital Records of Oxford, Massachusetts to the end of the Year 1849" by Franklin P. Rice, 1905, page 38.
2) "Vital Records of Charlton, Massachusetts to the end of the Year 1849" by Franklin P. Rice, 1905, pages 34-36 and 245.
3) "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War" Vol. IV, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1898, page 494.
4) "The History of the Town of Montpelier, including that of the Town of East Montpelier, for the first One Hundred and Two Years" by A. M. Hemenway, 1882, pages 252-254, 257-258, 260-262, 265, 272-273, 287, and 429-430.
5) Vermont Vital Statistic Records, Vermont Records Center, Middlesex, Washington County, Vermont.
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