St. Johnsbury’s Revolutionary War Connection

As we approach the 250^th birthday of our country and look back at where Vermont was in 1776, she was on the outside looking in. Vermont declared its independence in 1777, but didn’t become the 14^th state until 1791. So, where do we find St. Johnsbury’s Revolutionary roots? Main Street in town was referred to as the Plain and if we head north to Arnold Park at the head of the Plain (Main Street), we can start our journey. This small park with its fountain erected in 1908 honors Doctor Johnathan Arnold, Revolutionary War patriot and founder of St. Johnsbury.

Arnold, born in 1741, was from Providence, Rhode Island, and had earned respect and honor from his accomplishments prior to coming to St. Johnsbury. He served as a surgeon in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Confederation Congress representing Rhode Island from 1782 to 1784. He authored Rhode Island’s declaration of independence in May of 1776. While he was in the Congress, Arnold defended the independence of Vermont despite the claims of New York and New Hampshire.

On his journey northward in 1786, Arnold first moved to Winchester, New Hampshire where he may have practiced medicine but also established a foundry which resulted in a loss of money and possibly the reason for moving north to Vermont. However, there seems to be enough past interest in the Green Mountain Boys and Vermont to suggest that Vermont would be his destination. Signed on November 1, 1786, the Township of St. Johnsbury was granted to Jonathan Arnold and associates a tract of land in old Orange County by Governor Thomas Chittenden of Vermont.

Back to the site of present day Arnold Park. It is now May of 1787, and the sound of axes and falling trees echo in this previously unbroken wilderness. Edward Fairbanks, author of The Town of St. Johnsbury, Vt., writes of Jonathan and five others camped nearby and starting the clearing of seven acres through felling and burning. In June, corn, potatoes, beans, turnips and cucumbers had been planted and the following month, ten more cleared acres would yield oats and wheat. In the earlier season of that year, Arnold had gotten the first up and down saw mill in place, just down the hill (Sand Hill) at the falls on the Passumpsic River. Just a bit of trivia thrown in – the up and down Mill gave you nice wide boards but very slowly as the blade cut going down only – coming back it was pulling out the sawdust! Fairbanks tells us the Arnold house was “low posted, 24 by 30 feet square, of rough boards, unclapboarded, roofed with split shingle. A cobble stone fireplace and chimney furnished necessary comfort and cooking facilities.” There were six arm chairs that had been brought from Rhode Island and one survives at History & Heritage! Not only was it home to the founder and his family but also was the site of town business meetings and the first wedding party in town!

The home was filled with sadness in its third year with the passing of Jonathan’s wife Alice. A little daughter, Freelove was cared for by a woman affectionately called Aunt Ruth. Ruth Farrow was the slave of the Arnold family in Rhode Island. She was given her freedom when slavery was abolished in Rhode Island, but she chose to remain with the family and came north with them. She lived fifty-three years in St. Johnsbury serving three generations of the Arnold family. In 1790, Cynthia Hastings became the wife of Jonathan, joining him in the homestead for three short years as Dr. Arnold was stricken with dropsy and died at the age of 52 in 1793. At the time of his death he was Chief Justice of Orange County, trustee of the University of Vermont, and a member of the Governor’s Council. A man of strong personality and positive opinions was now missing from St. Johnsbury’s leadership. For a time the homestead was occupied by two sons at different times with William being the last, before the property was abandoned. The house burned to the ground in 1844.

Jonathan and other family members were first buried in the original cemetery where the courthouse stands today. When the Court House was built in the 1850’s, they were reburied at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. As you face their lot, you see the Arnold stone, and to the right, Ruth Farrow.

by Peggy Pearl

In concluding your search for the Revolutionary roots of St. Johnsbury, you might seek out his portrait at the Athenaeum. The painting was done by Richard Criefield of New York from a miniature reported to have been made in Philadelphia in 1782. The painting was presented to St. Johnsbury by Jonathan’s great grandson, Lemuel Hastings Arnold in 1898 at the Athenaeum. One hint is given: do not look for the image of a woodchopper! Check out one of the original Arnold chairs at the History & Heritage Center on Summer Street. Their final resting place in Mt. Pleasant will be found by taking the road to the left of the Chapel and traveling to the height of land near the iron fence. Reflection is good and reminds us all of our roots.

Jonathan Arnold