Life Back in the 1800's in Vermont For Tullers and Robinsons

Nadene Goldfoot

What was it like back in 1840?  The country was in a Depression.   Did people have presidential woes like we do today?
 How did people ever build cabins?  How did they cut down trees so that they could build them?
 This place, found in Stowe, Vermont, is 800 sq feet, quite large for a cabin. It can sleep 4 people.   It's available to rent.  One can sit on the porch and listen to the stream as it flows.  It's not a log cabin, however, like the one Julia Ann Tuller's father, Alonzo, might have built.
                                                               

Typical Vermont log cabin

"On July 7, 1840 Vermonters showed their support for William Henry Harrison from Ohio, a Whig (9th president)  at the Stratton Convention. Daniel Webster was the spokesman. Log cabins were erected at the rally sight and people flocked to Stratton Mountain.
                                                  

They ski at Stratton Mountain today.  

 While accounts vary, historians estimate there to have been 10,000 to 15,000 people gathered at this "log cabin rally." The following transcript of a newspaper article announces the construction of a log cabin at Stratton Mountain:                     

President William Henry Harrison
He gave a 2 hour speech, the longest when he became president. 

We learn the Fourth of July is the day selected for raising the Log Cabin, in which is to be held the District Convention on the seventh—a fit day for such an employment. As our Fore-Fathers on the Fourth of July 1776 raised a document which delivered thousands from the thralldom of Tyranny,—so will the Whigs of this District, on the Fourth of July 1840, raise a building in which means shall be devised to rescue thousands from a worse Tyranny. (Vermont Phoenix, June 26, 1840)"  He was following the 8th president, Martin Van Buren a New York Democrat.  

Harrison served for one month, dying in office from pneumonia.  His Vice President, John Tyler-a Whig, then became the 10th President and served for the next 4 years.  
                                                                                       

Abe Lincoln, our 16th president,  was brought up in a log cabin in Illinois.  Here is an original at his birthplace. Lincoln was born in 1809.  This appears to be more like our toy Lincoln logs, doesn't it?  
                                                                                    

Our ggrandmother, Julia Ann Robinson nee Tuller, had parents who lived in St. Albans Vermont and then moved to Royalton, Vermont where she must have met up with Abiathar Smith Robinson as she was a 15 year old there on the 1850 census.  They married in 1852 in the town next door, Tunbridge.  

The town of Royalton was chartered in 1779.  Before that it was a nice-sized setttlement.  The people here had been farmers in the old countries and had large stocks of cattle already with them.  People "loved their neighbors as themselves."

 On the 16th of October, 1780, 300 Indians of various tribes led by the Caghnewago tribe, had left Canada to attack another town, Newbury in eastern Vermont.  However, Lt. Horton, a British lieutenant, who was the Indian's commander and Le Mott, a Frenchman, his 2nd, were led by a villain, Hamilton.  Hamilton had become a prisoner of the Americans in 1777.  He had been at Newbury and Royalton on parole.
                                                    

 "The Royalton raid was a British-led Indian raid in 1780, one year after being chartered,  against various towns along the White River Valley in the Vermont Republic, and was part of the American Revolutionary War. It was the last major Indian raid in New England."   He led them to Royalton, knowing it would be defenseless and went through Tunbridge to get to Royalton.

 Entering before daylight, they entered the house of John Hutchinson who lived close to the border of Royalton from Tunbridge.  They took John and his brother, Abijah prisoners and plundered the house., then went to Robert Havens' house.  Havens was outside tending his sheep, and when on a hill, heard Hutchinson's dog barking.  Seeing Indians at his door, he hid behind a log.  He heard his wife screaming and his sons running away.

Thomas Pember was killed by a spear as he ran from the Indians.   Eventually, the 300 set the town on fire.  Such were the dangers of these brave ancestors of ours seeking a better life.

                                                                       

Amos and Lois Robinson's  son, Dwight C. Robinson
lies here in the South Royalton Village Cemetery.  Born in 1832, he died February 18, 1853 at age 21.
Amos was born in Royalton in 1797 and Lois in 1800.  

Descendants of CYRUS B. ROBINSON, Possible father of Abiathar as we do not know.  Records not forthcoming.  It's more likely that his father was from Royalton or very nearby and here, the parents are.  Abiathar was not on the 1850 census with Cyrus and Thankful and 2 sisters, but he was now 21 years old.  

1  [2] CYRUS B. ROBINSON, father b: November 04, 1808 in Royalton, Windsor, Vermont d: December 24, 1864 in Sharon, Windsor, VT

.. +Thankful Preston b: October 28, 1811 in Strafford, Orange, Vermont d: May 03, 1858 in Strafford, Orange, Vermont

. 2  [1] Abiathar Smith Robinson b: December 1829 in New York/  Tunbridge, Orange/ Jamaica, Windham, Vermont d: October 07, 1904 in Wenona, Marshall, Illinois

..... +Julia Ann Tuller b: December 18, 1834 in Royalton, Windsor, Vermont d: December 02, 1887 in Wenona, Marshall, Illinois

. *2nd Wife of [1] Abiathar Smith Robinson:

..... +Mary Jane Deffenbaugh Walters b: November 27, 1832 in Hocking County, Ohio d: July 05, 1918 in Streator, LaSalle, Illinois, age 85

. 2  Edna N. Robinson b: April 23, 1833 in Strafford, Orange, Vermont d: September 08, 1925 in Chelsea, Orange, Vermont

..... +Henry J.W. Flanders b: February 26, 1827 in Boscawen, Merrimack, New Hampshire d: July 03, 1880 in prob. Royalton or Chelsea, Vermont

. 2  Mary A. Robinson b: May 03, 1834 in Vermont d: December 23, 1872 in Sharon, Windsor, Vermont

..... +Unknown Smith b: Abt. 1872

*2nd Wife of [2] CYRUS B. ROBINSON, father:

.. +Martha Unknown b: Abt. 1810 in New Hampshire d: Aft. August 1870 in prob. Sharon, Windsor, VT

Reference:  https://www.vrbo.com/658102
http://vermonthistory.org/educate/online-resources/an-era-of-great-change/politics-government/log-cabin-rally
http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/william-henry-harrison
https://prezi.com/o11vnipy3cxp/vermonts-history-of-architecture/
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://img6.onthesnow.com/image/la/89/89867.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.onthesnow.com/vermont/stratton-mountain/ski-resort.html&h=385&w=616&tbnid=hROSUhpB7SjhKM:&tbnh=160&tbnw=256&usg=__poYDfbSvTPzXHW1uUUP2B67uv9o=&vet=10ahUKEwicjOuJuKrXAhUOyWMKHWuSBKkQ_B0IkgEwEQ..i&docid=X8AusYxRFTvpGM&itg=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwicjOuJuKrXAhUOyWMKHWuSBKkQ_B0IkgEwEQ
Durkee Family Newsletter, Spring 1993, Volume Xii, #1.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royalton_raid