Waterford's Earliest Map, 1787, plus the 1875 Map

The earliest history of Waterford is under its original name, which was Littleton (Vt.). According to the Vermont State Archives & Records Administration (VSARA), "Littleton was created by a Vermont charter in 1780. The town name changed to Waterford in 1797." 

VSARA offers through its website a selection of "lotting plans" of Vermont's earliest years, as investors and potential settlers divided up land that had been by custom held by the Abenakis. (There was no agreement from the tribe for this, so the lands today are called "unceded" -- that is, never actually "given up.")

This map of the town's lots shows many familiar names. When I (BK) find a good explanation of the "divisions" referred to, I will add it to this post. Meanwhile, here is the fascinating map!

For comparison, here is the 1875 Beers Atlas map of the town (can be purchased today from www.old-maps.com):

Prayer Group, 1875, Postcard to Lower Waterford

This little postcard (5 by 3 inches) was mailed from Lyndon to Lower Waterford in April 1875, ten years after the end of the Civil War.

Although Dave and I worked on the research together, we could not find material on John Moore living in Lower Waterford at that time. If you have some information on him, please let me know.

Here's what the back of the card says:

Lyndon Vt - April 20th 1875

Friend Moore

I will meet you and my friends in that vicinity at West Littleton School House May 2nd at six o'clock to hold a prayer meeting I expect others to come with me + we will try and have a good meeting

Yours Respectfully

H. C. Wilson

Dave's notes include the following: Homer Carrol Wilson, 1863-1948. His first wife was Alice Sophronica Lincoln, 1863-1912. [I add that his parents were Squire J. Wilson 1831-1908 and Abigail "Abbie" Wilson 1830-1924.] Homer and Alice had a son Robert Homer Wilson, born in 1892. In 1921 Homer married Mary Hight Emerson.

Homer lived on Main Street in Lyndonville and worked for the railroad. Later, he had a shop for shoe repairing and horse goods, on Depot Street. He is found in the 1930 and 1935 Lyndon directories. In 1901 he was Secretary for the Speedwell Golf Links, where the president was T. N. Vail and the vice-president C. M. Darling.

Homer was also director for many years of the Lyndonville Military Band.

He died in 1948 at age 84.