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Halifax, Vermont became Halifax Town in 1761 after it was longer needed as Fort Halifax. Indians no longer raided the area; and the Seven Years War (French & Indian War) was declining in area hostilities. Lands in this area were traded to Connecticut to compensate for lands transferred to Nassachusetts in a border resolution. Connecticut's farmers jumped at the chance for land and migrated northward. From Wyndham County Connecticut, came at least five Hale familes and a few Scott families - the family of GGGG-GF Thomas Scott and GGGG-GM Sarah Hale with them. They made their homes at Halifax and West Halifax .. my GGG-GF Henry Scott was born there in 1783. Both GGGG-GP's Thomas and Sarah died there b 1805. During that time Halifax would grow from its small start waxing and waning as Vermont towns do - to maybe 400 to 200 people. Thomas Scott's family is listed in the First United States Census in 1790, n Wyndham County, in "Halifax Town" -- 4 white free males over 16, 4 white males under 16 and 4 females. It is not known whether they owned the land from the census - but they probably did. As to Vermont? .. it became the fourteenth state in a nation, GGGG-GF Thomas Scott helped make at the Battle of Bennington as a Minute Man in the militia; with General Ethan Allen's Army and defeated General 'Gentleman Johnny' Burgoyne and the British Army. This link to a history of the "Town of Goffstown" explains the importance of the Battle of Bennington - how the militia and the farmers as Minute Men were rallied to save their homes and families and liberty. .. GGGG-GF Thomas Scott 32 yars old in 1776 was awarded a sum of 20 Pounds for his service - in a time when the British placed a price on rebels heads and thosof American fridnely Indians of 35-50 pounds in gold. Reading the narrative - one learns that Goffstown -east of Halifax, Vermont in New Hampshire mustered men from both sides of the Conencticut and Green rivers and joined them to its miltia in a march westward to join General Allen at Bennington. General Burgoyne and the British had re-captured Fort Ticonderoga; had marched down the Lake Champlain Valley; and were heading into southern Vermont, Massachusetts and the Connecticut & green River Valleys. The militia travelled directly through Halifax, joined by Thomas Scott - there isn't another Thomas Scott in the two states then.
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US Census Source - - "Heads of Families in the First Census of the United States - taken the year 1790 Vermont"
929.3U58v ... Genealogical Publishing Co 1966 p. 50 3rd Column. |