Brandon Cemetery Inscriptions

by Margaret R. Jenks ©1994

196 Pages, 9 Cemeteries, 10,500 Names, Maps, Indexed

Now available from Sleeper Books at www.sleeperco.com

SUMMARY:

Neshobe, a name chosen by Captain John Powers, as Brandon was known for the first twenty-three years, was chartered by Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire on October 20, 1761 and contains 22,756 acres.  The first proprietors' meeting was held in Williamstown, Massachusetts on June 16, 1774.  In October 1784 when the Legislature confirmed the organization of the town, the name was changed to Brandon.

Settlement of this frontier town was very slow until after the Revolutionary War.  Amos Cutler came in October 1772, cleared some land near the Pittsford line, built a cabin, and was the only white man in town that winter.  In April 1773, John Ambler and David June came and made their pitch adjoining Amos Cutler.  George and Aaron Robins were attacked and killed by Native Americans while headed for the fort at Pittsford in November 1777.  Realizing the Yankee courage, the Native Americans retreated.  Captain Tuttle and Joseph Barker settled near the Sudbury line, but in 1779, the Native Americans burned their homes and took Joseph prisoner.

The town has prospered because of ample waterpower and deposits of marble, iron ore, yellow ochre, and feldspar.  U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas, known for his 1858 debates with Abraham Lincoln, was born and educated in Brandon.  Some missing data has been added from previous listings.

The book includes two maps, one of Rutland County and one of Brandon, showing the location of each cemetery.  The Pine Hill and Forest Dale Cemeteries were recorded in sections to facilitate locating a stone.

Included are all extant stones in the following Brandon cemeteries:
OLD TOWN or CONGREGATIONAL CEMETERY                                 HAWK HILL CEMETERY
PINE HILL CEMETERY                                                                       FOREST DALE CEMETERY
GILBERT-COOK-GOODNOW CEMETERY                                          NOYES-HURLBURT or SUGAR HOLLOW CEMETERY
MITCHELL CEMETERY                                                                      MAPLE STREET CATHOLIC CEMETERY
SAINT MARY'S CATHOLIC CEMETERY