Appletree Point Historical Society: September 2009

3.9.09

APPLETREE POINT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ANNUAL MEETING, SEPT. 15

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: DR. FREDERICK WISEMAN, NATIVE ELDER, ACTIVIST AND SCHOLAR.

Title: The Abenaki of the Eastern Shore of Lake Champlain

Abstract: The Winooski River Basin has had a long history of being a major Western Abenaki Homeland, with archaeological sites dating from the Paleo-Indian Period, through to historic times. Abenaki Historian and Johnson State College professor Fred Wiseman will share glimpses of the Abenaki culture, beliefs and diplomacy of the Eastern Shore of what the Abenakis call “Bitawbagok” “the Lake Between.” Using artifacts, music and film clips to illustrate his lecture, he will focus on the critical period of 1609, the Anniversary of which we celebrate this year, when Europeans first discovered the Abenakis’ beloved lake.

Proposed research to be added to the history by Dr. Wiseman, keytnote speaker at the Annual Meeting of the Appletree Point Historical Society:

There is little archaeology specifically on Appletree Point, since it was the embarkation point from the Winooski to the Lake. As far as I know there are but a couple spot finds of Woodland Period projectile points near the mouth of the Winooski and an oral history I recorded years ago saying that there was a family that “spoke Abenaki” who lived at the mouth of the Winooski until the 1930’s. I can check with Gio Peebles to see if there are any other VT archaeological sites on or near Appletree Point, but I doubt it, or I would have heard of them. I don’t think that any scholar could find more than that, and much of what would be written would be speculative or by analogy to other areas. If you widen it to include the archaeology of the Winooski valley, and adjacent Lake shore, I could write something with hard data, since there is lots of info upriver. All of the people from the Winooski Site and the Richmond site and others had to have passed by Appletree Point to go to other areas or to go lake fishing, and so I could do an article focusing on its geography as a “decision node” for the thousands of prehistoric Vermonters who had to decide which way to go upon entering the Lake from the Winooski.

Appletree Point, lower right

Felix Powel land transfer to James Murdock, 1778

Know all men by these presents that I Felix Powel of Manchester in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont gentleman for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred & ninety pounds lawful money by me recieved have given granted bargined & sold & do by these presents give grant bargin sell convey & conﬁrm unto James Murdock of Saybrook in the County of Newlondon & State of Connecticut one full share or right of land lying in the town of Burlington on Onion River in the State of Vermont which right was granted by gov Wintworth to Samuel Averill as may on the back of the charter of said town appears the pitch is made on a place Comonly called Appletree Point where there about ﬁve acres of land under improvement with a log house upon it & as I have the priviledge granted to me by the propriator of Burlington to lay out the whole right upon that place I do warrant the priviledge to said Murdock the above said granted premises to have and to hold to him the said James Murdock with all the prividileges there to belonging to him and his heirs & assignees to his and their propper beneﬁt & behoof against all claims from or by one or any way from the original grantee by virtue of any act or acts already done or suffered whatsoever in witness where of I have here unto set my hand & seal this 19th of August 1778 signed sealed and delivered in presents of Soloman Soper, Lydia Soper.

Felix Powel

Benington County. Manchester. October 20th 1778 personally appeared Felix Powel signer and sealer of the above instrument and acknowledged the same to be his free act and deed before me

Martin Powel Justice of Peace

FELIX POWELL FIRST SETTLER 1773

Felix Powell, a revolutionary war soldier was the first settler in Burlington coming from Dorset in 1773. He cleared land and built a log house on Apple Tree Point. October 22, 1774 he purchased from Samuel Averill of Litchfield, Conn. for thirty pounds a tract of land which consisted, in addition to the village lots, of 103 acre lots occupying the whole of Apple Tree Point and extending nearly to the Winooski River. August 9, 1778 he sold the land to John Murdock of Saybrook, Conn. This deed is the first one recorded that recognized the
authority of Vermont. Tablet erected on Appletree Point by the City of Burlington June 1923.

MEMO: APR. 30, 2010

Overview: The Woodbury-Wick House, constructed c. 1830 and originally the farmhouse associated with over 300 acres of farmland, is listed on the Vermont State Register of Historic Resources. The house now sits on a 1.21 acre parcel, and has been altered from its original appearance, albeit with the assistance of notable Vermont architect Louis B. Newton. Deferred maintenance, vacancy, and owner neglect have resulted in the current state of deterioration and failure. The property has recently changed hands, and the new owner proposes renovations that will revive the structure and reintroduce residency into this former farmhouse and grant estate.

Mary O’Neil, Associate Planner, City of Burlington

Settlement of Burlington

The beautiful city now know as Burlington was, in the earliest days of colonization, part of New France. The king of France, in order to encourage settlement in the wilds of America, granted large tracts of land, or seigniories, to loyal servants. In July 1734 this region was granted to the Sieur de La Perriere, a Captain in the French military. By 1759, this area, along with all the French claims in North America became part of the British empire following the French defeat in the French and Indian War. With peace came increased settlement. On June 7, 1763 Burlington received its charter from the crown.

Felix Powell, First Euro-American Settler in Burlington, Appletree Point, 1773

The first settler in Burlington was Felix Powell in the year 1773. On 22 day of October Mr Powell bought of Samuel Averill a tract of land n Burlington. This land in addition to the village lots consisted of 103 acre lots occupying the whole of Appletree Point, and running nearly to Onion River. Mr. Powell subsequently cleared a portion of the land on the point, and erected a log house. He sold this right August 19, 1778 to James Murdock. source

Another source says that Felix Powell transferred the deed to 154 acres in payment of a debt on March 25, 1777, when he went into the American Army. source

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Appletree Point Historical Society

History of Appletree Point, Burlington's North End

3.9.09

APPLETREE POINT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ANNUAL MEETING, SEPT. 15

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