Person:Thomas Scovill (1)

It is not clear which wife had which children. Thomas and Jerusha were second cousins.

From Colonial America, 1607-1789 VT Census Index

Thomas shows on the census as being in Orwell, Addison County, Vermont in 1788 (page 39).

Posted by Rev. Dr. Doug Showalter on Wed, 10 Nov 1999, in response to a query posted by Ann Marr on the Rootsweb Message Board for Addison Co., VT

From A History of the Town of Orwell, Vermont, compiled by Doris Bishop, published by the Town of Orwell in 1963

[p. 13] that 71 men took the Freeman's Oath and the Oath of Allegiance, apparently on 12 Dec 1787 when the town was organized [it had been chartered in 1763]. This list includes: Thomas Scovell, John Thompson [see photo of town records listing their names.]

[p. 30-31] Other Early Settlers: "Thomas Scovell was another of the early pioneers, coming here about 1787. He was the father of several sons who became extensive land owners in town and were otherwise of prominence in the history of the community. One of these, Asabel Scovell sold the old Homestead to Asa Young and moved to Lockport, NY. This place later became the property of Mrs. Ellen Young Stevens (thought to be Ed. Booska's).

[p. 36] Early Members of the Baptist Church 1792 (defunct after 1852): Nathan Scovil, Daniel Scovil, Jonathan Thompson, John Thompson [Thomas would have died a year earlier.]

[p. 40] List of Resident Members of the Congregational Church -- Before 1808: Thomas Scovill, Thomas Scovill, Jr., Nathan Scovell, Ephraim Scovill, Vina Scovell [Ephraim's son], Rachel Scovell

[p. 79] Independence Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was organized November 1814, received its charter October 9, 1815. There is no record of the charter members, but some of the earliest known initiates included: Halsa B. Scovell [Ephraim's son, born 1794], Hezekiah Scovell [my Hezekiah left Orwell in 1811, so this may be another.]

[p. 112] Orwell men listed in State of Vermont Roster 1812-1814 included: Asabel Scovel].

The Asabel [or Asahel] Scovel named as a son above may be shown in this database as this Thomas' grandson, son of Thomas born 2-20-1753. It is possible there was another son of Thomas Sr. named Asabel. Corrections will not be made until more information is available.

From the Town Records

At the Town meeting of March 12, 1788, "Thomas Schovel appointed for 'patte Jurors'." He is also named as a 'Lister'. In March, 1789, he was named to a Grand Jury. He does not appear in the "Grand List for the year 1787 Oct 21th" which appears to be a listing of taxation rates. At the Annual Town Meeting of 9th March, 1790, Thomas Scovel was named Surveyor of Highways with 5 others.

More from The Rev. Dr. Doug Showalter:

Orwell is a nice farming community of rolling green fields--somewhat different than the mountainous sections of VT. One can easily see the Adirondack mountains in NY to the west. Addison Co. is known for its MUD--the so called 5th season of the year. It was rich for farming, but sometimes the water collected so much, and didn't percolate, that the planting season was delayed. Even when I was living there in 1973 many of the roads were gravel.

Great people in the community. The town became known for Merino Sheep raising many years ago, but no longer. The population was about 800 people when I was there. I think that in some earlier periods of its history it may have been larger.

From: hhn@@srv.net

In Response to: What took so many Scovilles to Orwell, VT?

I think there was just one family who settled in Orwell, but they were a big family of several brothers.

From Janice Felvey

Orwell Cemetery Records:

Thomas, 2nd age 61 born 20 Feb 1753 d 9 Apr 1813, buried Mt View Thomas, age 69 b. 16 June 1722 d 25 May 1791 buried Mt View Rachell age 2 y 2 m d 15 Sept 1791 bur Mt View [Rachell is not listed in Thomas' families - she may have been Nathan's grandchild.] Romena, 24 days parents Josiah & Anna d 2 August 1815 Mt View [she was granddaughter of Thomas 2nd and Rachel Boardman] Nathan age 86 d 15 May 1813 Mt View (born about 1727)

From: Howard D Baumgart

This may not help you much with your dilemma regarding Thomas and Nathan [confusion between the two], but the History of Addison County, VT includes a section on Orwell. A Thomas Scovell is mentioned in several pages beginning on p. 559 to p. 573. You reference Brainard's book. The Holley & Brainard (as Janice quoted from) and the Eastman books may be more clear and of help to you. My Scovels lived in Cornwall, not far from Orwell. Brothers Daniel and Ezra settled on adjoining farms in 1784, having moved from Cornwall, CT. [These brothers are grandsons of Stephen and Rebecca Millard.]

From Two Centuries of Cornwall Life, Beulah M. Sanford, Sharp Printing, Rutland, Vermont, 1962, pp. 9-10

"Most of the towns of Addison County received their Charters in 1761. Many of the settlers here came from Litchfield County, Conn. In fact, Vermont was largely settled from that county. It gave us our first governor and three others later, also the Allens and many other famous leaders including three U.S. senators."

"The Grantees held regular meetings in Litchfield, Conn., but their records were all destroyed by fire in 1778..."

"The Grantees organized under their Charter and adopted the name of a town in Litchfield, County to which some of their number were attached. They held their early meetings in Salisbury, Conn. where many of them resided."

"Those few settlers who came to Cornwall in 1774 held a Proprietors' meeting and voted themselves many pitches for work done for the town on the road from north to south."

For anyone interested in more information, besides the above book, others are: History of the Town of Cornwall, Vermont, Rev. Lyman Matthews, Middlebury, Mead and Fuller, 1862; The Vermont Historical Gazetteer, A History of Each Town, 3 vols., A.M. Hemenway, Burlington, Vt, 1867; History of Addison County, Vermont, H.P. Smith, Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co., 1886.

From the History of Addison County

Josiah B. Scovell is mentioned as a sheep breeder in Orwell, raising Merino and Saxony sheep. (p.556)

Thomas Scovell is mentioned as one of the first 71 settlers of Orwell. (p.559)

Thomas Scovell, about two miles east of the village, on the Ellen Young farm... Thomas Scovell, at an Orwell town meeting held March 12, 1788, was one of several selected as "surveyors of highways." (p.566)

Thomas Scovell, in co-partnership with Dr. Luman Pettibone and Jabez Warren, about 1795 started a mercantile business. They were not successful. (p.573)

Misc. Scovell information from Howard D Baumgart's records Many of them are descendants of Stephen Scovel and Rebecca Millard.

A Benjamin Atwood sold his farm in 1784 to Daniel Scovel. Ezra Scovel, a brother, settled "a little farther south" the same year. "The large brick house built by one of them is still in use." (Two Centuries of Cornwall Life, p.19) [This is the same Daniel and Ezra mentioned in the first paragraph by Howard Baumgart - they lived in Cornwall.]

Daniel Scovel is listed as one of eighty Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Cornwall, VT. (Ibid., p.103)

Ezekiel Scovel is listed as a private in the Plattsburg battle of 1814. (Ibid., p. 105)

John Scovill is mentioned as one of the 65 who originally received a charter for Cornwall in 1761. Daniel Scovel's farm is mentioned as a boundary in a lawsuit between the towns of Whiting and Cornwall. (History of Addison County, p. 16)

Daniel & Ezra Scovel are mentioned as brothers from Cornwall, CT who settled on farms near Cornwall, VT in 1784. H.S. Scovel, in 1886, was farming his late grandfather Ezra's land. (Ibid., p.423)

Two Scovels are mentioned as volunteers in the Battle of Plattsburgh: Ezekiel, a private, and Ezra, a teamster. (Ibid., p.434)

The Town Records of Orwell show that Daniel and Nathan Scovel purchased land, 50 acres, in Orwell April 1790.

Numerous Scovels are mentioned in the History of Cornwall, pp.74-356. Brothers Daniel and Ezra died 10 days apart in Jan. 1813. Some of their children are mentioned, viz.: Rev. Ezra, Dr. Ezra, Jr. and Horace G. Scovel. There is some interesting biography on Dr. Ezra. Pedigrees of these people are in the Brainard & Holley books.

It is to be noted that Holleys and Eastmans were also living in Addison County, VT at this time.

From Janice Felvey

Thomas Scoville was baptized at Hadlyme 10 August 1746 and became a member of the church there. He sold house, land and shop in Hadlyme in 1775 and in 1778 was living at Lempster, NH, but in a few years had removed to Orwell VT. He was a blacksmith and perhaps also a farmer.

The book of course mentions that there is "uncertainty" that he [Hezekiah] was son of Thomas, if not the son of Thomas "he must be placed with Nathan" (who was the brother of Thomas). Nathan moved with his brother Thomas to Lempster, NH. Nathan was also a blacksmith.

Looking at naming patterns for the children of Hezekiah, he names his third child Nathan, after a father & brother? There isn't a son named Thomas. Naming patterns are helpful, but of course, not full proof.

It may prove helpful to read all land deeds of Nathan and Thomas Scoville and of any siblings. If a probate exits for them you should review that as well. Did either serve in the Revolutionary War? Don't let their ages put you off, men 50+ years did sign up for short terms of duty. If they did, they may have a pension record that may lead you to the answers you are seeking.

From hhn@@srv.net

Elaborating on Janice's message that naming patterns indicate Hezekiah may be the son of Nathan rather than Thomas as stated in Holley, it can also be noted that Roderick, the son of Hezekiah, named his oldest son, Silsby, which was not a common given name. Two daughters of Nathan married Silsby last names.

In connection with this family, a son of Nathan, Jedediah, comes to a dead end. The Revolutionary War service records show a Jeremiah Scoville serving from the New Hampshire Lempster area and is listed in the same regiment as Thomas and Jesse. Could this be Jedediah and was he killed in the war? There was also a Caroline Scoville, born 1768, who married Charles Willey from Lempster in 1787. Could she be another daughter of Nathan? Also the Lempster land records show a Deborah Scoville on some deeds with Nathan. Where does she fit in? Any further ideas or verifications?

It is unfortunate that probate records for Orwell seem to have been destroyed.

The following were in (Benjamin) Bellows, Jr's Regiment of the New Hampshire Militia: Thomas Scovel, Jesse Scovel, Jeremiah Scovel, and Eliphalez Silsby. The service record for Thomas and Jeremiah were dated exactly the same day, Feb 20, 1778, however, the entry dates for each of the four were different, but within a few months. Could there be a history of Bellows Regiment somewhere which may shed some light? Jeremiah was in Wm Keys Company and Thomas was in Sam Nichols Company. A company is not stated for the other two.

Caroline the daughter of Hezekiah would have been a niece to Caroline, the sister of Hezekiah (if she and Hezekiah belong to Nathan). It is all very puzzling.

From Dick Badulf

Names of Nathan (p.398 & 400) Thomas Scoville (p.399) listed for Lempster NH in 1785 and 1790. Early Town Papeers, NH by Hammond

NH Charter Records, vol. xxv, no. 2, p.226-7, shows Stephen Scovel as a grantee of Lempster in 1767. Micah Scovel a grantee of Newport, NH in 1761.

John Scovil signer of a petition to confirm land in NH in 1766. Jonathan Schovil a grantee in Cornwall, NH in 1761, p. 114

In the 1790 census, his numbers were 2-4-5-0-0

1. ↑ Homer Worthington Brainard. SCOVELL: A Survey of the Scovils or Scovills in England and America; Seven Hundred Years of History and Genealogy. (privately printed Hartford 1915 (250 copies) Springfield Printing & Binding Co.)
   p. 505.
2. ↑ C. Bancroft Gillespie and George Munson Curtis. An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut, and men who have made it.... (Journal Pub. Co 1906)
   p. 403.
3. ↑ Researcher.

   Janice Felvey, Howard D. Baumgart, Doug Showalter, Dick Badulf, hhn@@srv.net