Chittenden

DAVIDSON, Alexander

Vermont Historical Magazine, No XI, October 1867, p 615 (excerpt from a 
section on the history of Burlington)

Alexander DAVIDSON was a Scotchman who came out here soon after the peace, in 
1783, and built a one-story frame house on the east side of Shelburne bay, 
about half way between the shore and the now traveled road to Shelburne, 
opposite the late residence of Theodore CATLIN, deceased. The situation was 
considerably elevated above the lake [Champlain], and commanded a pleasant 
view of the bay and the beautiful point opposite. He owned one hundred 
acres, and set out an orchard of apple trees and other fruits. The Davidson 
pear tree must have been the first of the kind in the town; it is not now 
alive, but is remembered as a large and productive tree. DAVIDSON was at 
first engaged in the lumber business; he was a bachelor and lived with a 
family in his house, generally, until about twenty years before his decease, 
when he was supplied and cared for by the family of Theodore CATLIN. He was 
a great Washington man, a federalist, a great reader, a man of good sense, of 
gentlemanly and rather dignified deportment. He was a good figure of a man, 
tall, straight, a great walker, wore a cocked hat, a surtont with a cape, and 
small clothes and a buff vest; there are those who well remember his striking 
and peculiar figure as he walked up from his place near four miles distant, 
as he was wont to do, without fail, to town and freeman's meetings to cast 
his vote. He left a large trunk of books, many of which were moulded and 
decayed, and his estate was just sufficient to pay his debts and funeral 
charges. He lived in his house, which was never painted, and became much 
dilapidated, about fifty years, and died about thirty years ago.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly