Person:Barzillai Snow (1)

A picture of life in Lunenburgh, Vt. in these early pioneer days is given in the following account by a great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Edson and Barzillia Snow, Mrs. Nila Olcott Hanson:

“The story told me was that Great Grandfather Snow went from Westmoreland up the Connecticut River to Lunenburgh in the spring, about the year 1796, where he cleared a tract of land of trees, planted corn, built a log cabin and went down for his wife.

"Thus in the 'fall of the year of 1797 Betsey Edson and her husband, Barzillia Snow, headed north, she riding horseback, carrying in her arms their youngest of four children, a baby son, named Eli.

"They made this log cabin their home, raised sheep, pigs and horses, for riding, their own food and that for the livestock. All was a wilderness, no roads, only bridle paths, which became later oxcart roads and still later wagon roads.

"They raised flax and hops, grew corn and beans, wheat, potat­oes and oats.They made maple sugar from their own trees! In fact, they produced all their needs excepting footwear, at first. They prepared the wool and flax and knit or wove all the family garments. They prepared the leather and waited for the cobbler to come to make up shoes for the family. They wove and knit cloth, mittens and footens more than they themselves needed, and planned to raise more produce than they would require. The surplus was usually sent by someone of the settlers to market far away - once a year, usually, to Portland, Maine, it being a seaport. This settler sold the produce and brought back such things as were needed and could not be produced.

"The first lamps were crude affairs which burned whale oil; previously light from their own tallow candles made in molds furnished the necessary light for the late evening and early morning.

"The women had their own flax and spinning wheels and their own looms. It was some time before carding mills, grinding and sawmills came into easy reach. Our old loom was stored in our attic for many years after my grandmother decided not to weave any more. It was sold at auction as an antique.

"My grandmother Lucy (Snow) Olcott, daughter of Barzillia and Betsey (Edson) Snow, was born in the log cabin in 1811, as were most of her brothers and sisters.

"In 1818 Great Grandfather Barzillia built a frame house out of handhewn timber from his own land, and moved his family into it on the day before Thanksgiving. An article of special importance was the tall clock which was set up in the new home - rather it was hung up high - as it had long cords and weights. The wheels were wooden. Later Great Uncle Barzilla made a case. With occasional priming it ticked away 136 years, and now stands in our family home in St. Johnsbury, Vt.

"Barzillia Snow was first deacon and held the office for many years; at the same time several town offices were filled by him through the years. It was the day of services and classes all day at the church. The school was nearby - the Baptist Hill School. We still have in our possession some Biblical and geographical books wherein the “f’s” for “s’s” were used.”

Edson Family History and Genealogy : Descendants of Samuel Edson of Salem and Bridgewater, Mass. By Carroll Andrew Edson, Vol. 1, ch 9, p.145.

1. ↑ Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. Vital records of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, to the year 1850. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1916)
   v. 1, p. 300.
2. ↑ United States. 1800 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M32).

   Lunenburgh, Essex, Vermont, roll 51, page 394, image 217.

3. ↑ Edson, Carroll Andrew. Edson family history and genealogy: descendants of Samuel Edson of Salem and Bridgewater, Mass. (Ann Arbor, Mich.: Lithographed by Edwards Bros., 1969?)
   Ch. 9, p. 143.
4. ↑ Find A Grave.

   Memorial# 37658342. Burial: Baptist Hill Cemetery, Lunenburg, Essex, Vermont.