Week 1 "Start" - Robert Bratten settled Whitingham, VT
Our ancestor, Robert Bratton, born about 1723, probably married his wife Elizabeth (Betsy) Farrand in Palmer, MA. They had at least three children here that we know of between 1746-1751. Robert sold his land in Palmer to his brother David Bratten in 1768, and they moved to Coleraine, MA (which is named for a town in Ireland) and lived on a farm there.
Robert and his wife "Betsy" and family moved from Coleraine, MA in about 1770, after spending several summers building a cabin or house and clearing land. Robert's name is on the first deed of Whitingham Vt. The early records spell his name "Bratten", and later generations spell it "Bratton".
Robert and Betsy were instrumental in setting up schools and getting a preacher to come and hold meetings in the homes. After a few years, a church was built, and Robert Bratten was elected to the job of 'tithingman'. He had a long stick with a rabbit's foot on one end of it and a brass knob on the other end. If a man was napping, he received a rap with the brass end. The rabbit's foot kept the women and children awake.
Robert also served as Selectman for the the town, and he and Silas Hamilton surveyed and laid out the town, making it six miles square. In 1770, the population of the town was 14. By 1780, it had grown to over 800. Robert and Betsy had the first child born in Whitingham, and Robert received a grant of land because of this.
On the 19th day of May, 1780, on the day known as "the dark day", Betsy set out an apple tree, and it became known as Grandmother Bratten's apple tree. [I always wondered about this 'dark day", so I looked it up. I found this on wikipedia:" New England's Dark Day refers to an event that occurred on May 19, 1780, when an unusual darkening of the day sky was observed over the New England states and parts of Canada.[1] The primary cause of the event is believed to have been a combination of smoke from forest fires,[2] a thick fog, and cloud cover. The darkness was so complete that candles were required from noon on. It did not disperse until the middle of the next night."]
Robert and Betsey were buried in the Sadawga Cemetery, at one corner of the town. Unfortunately, the old tombstones were moved around, and part of Robert's land is now covered by the Reservoir which furnishes power for the city. The dates of their passing is not known, but the last reference to Robert as Selectman was 1782.
Brigham Young was born in Whitingham June 1, 1801. There is a monument to him in Whitingham.
Robert and his wife "Betsy" and family moved from Coleraine, MA in about 1770, after spending several summers building a cabin or house and clearing land. Robert's name is on the first deed of Whitingham Vt. The early records spell his name "Bratten", and later generations spell it "Bratton".
Robert and Betsy were instrumental in setting up schools and getting a preacher to come and hold meetings in the homes. After a few years, a church was built, and Robert Bratten was elected to the job of 'tithingman'. He had a long stick with a rabbit's foot on one end of it and a brass knob on the other end. If a man was napping, he received a rap with the brass end. The rabbit's foot kept the women and children awake.
Robert also served as Selectman for the the town, and he and Silas Hamilton surveyed and laid out the town, making it six miles square. In 1770, the population of the town was 14. By 1780, it had grown to over 800. Robert and Betsy had the first child born in Whitingham, and Robert received a grant of land because of this.
On the 19th day of May, 1780, on the day known as "the dark day", Betsy set out an apple tree, and it became known as Grandmother Bratten's apple tree. [I always wondered about this 'dark day", so I looked it up. I found this on wikipedia:" New England's Dark Day refers to an event that occurred on May 19, 1780, when an unusual darkening of the day sky was observed over the New England states and parts of Canada.[1] The primary cause of the event is believed to have been a combination of smoke from forest fires,[2] a thick fog, and cloud cover. The darkness was so complete that candles were required from noon on. It did not disperse until the middle of the next night."]
Robert and Betsey were buried in the Sadawga Cemetery, at one corner of the town. Unfortunately, the old tombstones were moved around, and part of Robert's land is now covered by the Reservoir which furnishes power for the city. The dates of their passing is not known, but the last reference to Robert as Selectman was 1782.
Brigham Young was born in Whitingham June 1, 1801. There is a monument to him in Whitingham.
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