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VT-FAMILIES
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I am no expert on KIRBYS but I am kind of smart about how
people settled in New England states. Look for a connection in your Vermont Kirbys
with either Mass. or Conn. Kirbys. Births are fairly well documented so you may find
an early one coming up into Vermont either right after Rev. or right before. Ethan
Allen and Green Mtn. Boys tried Betti Paull
Hi, I'm new to the list. Here are my Kirbys from
Vermont.
History of the Town of Middlebury in the County of Addison, Vermont to which is prefixed A statistical and historical account of the County Written at the request of the Historical Society of Middlebury By Samuel Swift Middlebury A. H. COPELAND 1859 (from pages 209-210) Abraham Kirby from Litchfield, Conn., father of Ephraim Kirby, a distinguished politician of that State, moved with his family into town in February 1786, and settled on a lot, which he had, on the 25th of March previous, pitched on the right of Rufus Marsh, lying next south of a lot pitched on the same day for Joshua Hyde. John S. Kirby, a son of Abraham, remained through the season of 1785, and cleared four or five acres and sowed it to wheat, on his father's pitch. In the year 1790, Mr. Kirby purchased for his son Joseph, who had settled in Lanesborough, Mass., a lot lying next south of his and next north of Moses Hale's farm. His son, in January 1792, moved on his family and took possession of his land. He and his father occupied together the house which the latter had built, and which still remains on the farm. In the spring of 1787, the year after his removal here, Mr. Kirby sent his son, John S., to Pittsford, in company with some other men, to procure apple trees,! for the commencement of an orchard, which was the second planted in town. They went up the creek in a canoe, and on their return, ran into the rapids above the falls before they were aware of it, and the current was so strong that they were unable to run their canoe ashore, and were rapidly approaching the falls and expecting to be carried over and dashed to pieces on the rocks below. As they passed under the bridge, which was then building in the place where it now stands, Kirby caught hold of one of the timbers, and clung to it and delayed the course of the canoe, until some men, who were present, came to their relief and rescued them from their impending death.
In January 1791, Mary Kirby, a daughter of Abraham Kirby, was married to Samuel Severence, son of Ebenezer Severnece, an earlier settler, who will be mentioned hereafter. After their marriage they settled on Hyde's pitch, next north of Kirby's farm, commenced a clearing, built a house and resided on it six years. Afterwards Severence and John S. Kirby exchanged lands, and Kirby took possession of Severence's farm, and lived on it until, at an advanced age, he went to reside with his son in Ripton, where he remained until his death in 1848, aged eighty-five years. Abraham Kirby, the father died in 1796 at the age of sixty-five years. After his death, his sons Joseph and John divided the farm, of which he remained the owner, Joseph remaining in possession of the homestead, until his death in 1831, at the age of sixty-three years. The house and farm are now occupied by his son Ephraim Kirby, and the farm of John S. Kirby is owned and cultivated by Alvin Ball. All this family were amoung the most respectable citizens of the town and members of the Congregational Church. Joseph was one of its earliest deacons.
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