Chittenden

BOSTWICK, Arthur, Nathaniel & Samuel B.

Vermont Historical Magazine, No XI, October 1867, pp 830-831

Nathaniel BOSTWICK, of New Milford [Litchfield County], Connecticut, was one 
of the early settlers [of Jericho, Chittenden County, Vermont], and his son, 
Arthur BOSTWICK, Esq., [whom the author includes, in a footnote, died in the 
summer of 1866], as merchant, hotel keeper and civil magistrate, has been 
thoroughly identified with the interests of Jericho longer than almost any 
other man. His recollection goes back almost to the town organization 
[1774]. This history is especially indebted to him. He was clerk in the 
first store in town, that of William and Samuel HICKOK.

Rev. Samuel B. BOSTWICK, son of Arthur BOSTWICK, Esq., was born 10 March 
1815, and as child and youth was remarkable for a singularly thoughtful and 
truthful character, an obedient son, an affectionate brother, a faithful 
friend, perfectly without guile and with no fear but the fear of doing wrong. 
Such is his character in his mature and useful manhood. He fitted for 
college at Jericho Academy,* graduated at the University of Vermont in 1835, 
spent several years teaching in Virginia and Alabama, and in the Vermont 
Episcopal Institute; pursued theological studies in the General Theological 
Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in New York.

In 1841 he [Rev. Samuel B. BOSTWICK] married Miss Harriet WOOD, of New York; 
spent two years in Jericho, where he reorganized the Protestant Episcopal 
church; two years in Brandon [Rutland County, Vermont]; fourteen years at 
Sandy Hill [Washington County], New York, where he now resides, as Rector of 
the Protestant Episcopal churches at Fort Edward and Sandy Hill, a beloved, 
respected and fortunate Christian gentleman. [The above was extracted from a 
section on the history of Jericho, page 831.]

[The following was extracted from the section on the history of the Episcopal 
church in Jericho, page 830.] Several families of the original settlers [of 
Jericho, Chittenden County, Vermont] were "Church people," as shown by the 
following from the town records: "This certifies that Jos. BROWN, Tim. 
BROWN, Abel CASTLE, Jonathan CASTLE, Nat. BOSTWICK, Charles BROWN, Jos. 
BROWN, Jr., and Lewis CASTLE, are professors of the Episcopal," etc. From 
them the north part of town where they resided was called "Church Street," 
and there a church organization was maintained, for a few years under the 
care of Rev. Bethuel CHITTENDEN, of Shelburne [Chittenden County, Vermont], 
Rev. Reuben GARLICK, M. D., and others, but, being few, their organization 
was abandoned for a few years, until it was revived under the ministration of 
Rev. Samuel B. BOSTWICK in 1843. They erected a church edifice in 1853.

[* Extracted from page 830: Jericho Academy was built about 1825, but did 
not go into successful operation until March 1827, when Simeon BICKNELL, A. 
M., became connected with it. Under his management the school attained the 
highest character of any in this part of the state. After he left it, in 
1832, it continued popular for some years, but with "waning splendor" until 
it became extinct in 1845. For additional information on Mr. BICKNELL, see 
the BICKNELL biography at Chittenden County, Vermont.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly