Page 386
....Among the curious documents of olden times in this
town, we must make a place for the following, which compromises a bill presented to the town for the
entertainment of the gathering at the installation of a preacher.
February 29th, 1794.
"The town of Bridport to Pain Converse, Dr.
"For the entertainment of the Honorable Counsil and others at this installment of the Rev'nd Mr.
Graves in said town, is as followeth:
£ s. d.
"To forty-six meals of victuals 2 6 0
"To hors batins fourteen 0 5 0
"To hors keeping eight nights 0 6 0
"To two galands brandy 1 5 0
"To one of rum 0 9 6
"To one of wine 0 10 6
"To two quarts of Jinn 0 5 0
"To two pounds of loaf sugar 0 4 0
"To sider 0 7 0
Bridport, March 13th, 1794, Rec'd. the contents of the within acct., p
They must have had a good time (note 1).
_________________
Note 1. At a previous town meeting they voted the installment to be at the dwelling house of Solomon
Moss.
Voted. Capt. Converse be appointed to provide accommodations for Council and others while in
Bridport.
Also voted. Rev. Sylvanus Chapin of Orwell, Dan Kent of Benson, John Griswold of Pawlet, James
Murdock of
Sangate, and the Middlebury minister with their delegated be invited.
Page 388
Payne Converse, from Thompson, Conn., came to Bridport in 1793 among the early settlers. He
brought with him twelve children; nine were sons, only three remained permanently located in town --
Gardner, Hamblin and Alfred, all promient men. Gardner C. wa a surveyor, a justice of peace and
town clerk twenty two years in all. Hamblin C. was prominent in all town affairs, selectman, lister, etc.
Alfred C. was a blacksmith. Mrs. W. D. Hindes is a great-granddaughter of Alfred. Payne Converse
located just east of the academy upon the farm now owned by E. L. Miner. F. G. Converse is a
great-grandson.
Page 389
William, Barnabas and Zenas Myrick, the three brothers, were early prominent business men in town.
William served as town clerk many years, represented the town in the State Legislature six sessions,
was a judge, etc. Barnabas served the town as slectman, and in numerous other offices. He was killed
by the fall of a tree in 1823. B. J. Myrick, in town, was his son. Zenas was a carpenter by trade, he
also represented the town in 1828 and 1829. William M. and Charles H. Grandoy, of this town, were
grandsons of Judge William Myrick.
(The Myrick family are ancestors of my Alice Myrick who married
Zopher Cory. Alice was the daughter of B. J. Myrick. Zopher and Alice's daughter Lovina married
Jeremiah Converse, s/o Alfred Converse and Elizabeth Cory. Elizabeth and Zopher Cory were brother
and sister, making Jeremiah and Lovina first cousins (they are my ggrandparents) - Mary Ann Kaylor)
Page 392
Nathaniel Elitharp was the first settler on the farm now owned by J. D. Brooks, locating here about the
year 1791. Prosper and Halsey C. are his descendants.
Page 394
......Among the principal stock and sheep growers of today are H.C. Burwell, J. J. Crane, E. H. and
H. E. Merrill, C. H. Smith, E. D. Wilcox, F. G. Converse, and many others.
