John McDuffee lived between 1789 and 1851 in Bradford, Orange County, Vermont.
10 John McDufiee was born in Londonderry,andwhen a young man moved to Bradford, Vermont, where he owned a large tract of landanda ferry across the Connecticut river; he was a civil engineerandsurveyed many of the first railroads in America.
6 His wife,
Martha, died on 14 May 1822 in Bradford, Orange County, Vermont, at age 49, leaving him a widower.
11,1,7 John McDuffee and
Dolly McDuffee appeared on the census of 1850 in Bradford, Orange County, Vermont, which lists John McDuffee, 84, born in New Hampshire, owning real property valued at $1,200; his wife Polly, 60, also born in New Hampshire; and three of their sons, Charles, 22, Henry C., 18, and Horace, all born in Vermont.
12 Chapter 5 - from Henry Clay McDuffee's Manuscript
Sketches of John McDuffeeJohn McDuffee was the son of Daniel and Margaret (Wilson) McDuffee. His grandparents were Daniel and Ruth (Britton) McDuffee who came to America from Londonderry, Ireland, in 1720 and settled in Nutfield (afterwards in 1721 called Londonderry), New Hampshire. His great-grandparents were John and Martha (in history she was called "Matchless Martha") McDuffee who were in the Siege at Derry, Ireland, in 1689. His great great grandparents were John McDuffee and his wife who came from Argylshire, Scotland, to Londonderry, Ireland, in 1612. John McDuffee was also a lineal descendent of Duncan McDuff, the celebrated Thane of Fife.
John McDuffee, the subject of this sketch, was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on 16 June 1766. From Dr. McKeen's History of Bradford, Vermont, we quote the following:
"John McDuffee when a boy assisted his father who had a double occupation, working alternately on the farm and in the blacksmith shop, as the season of the year and the state of weather guided them. For some weeks, or months, during each season of winter he was allowed to attend such school as they had. The teachers were paid by the scholars attending or by their parents. The books were few and of a rather low order. Dillingsworth spelling bock was more used than any other book. Books of arithmetic and grammar were uncommon. Young McDuffee, however, was so fortunate as to have a teacher who had a Cyphering Book containing various arithmetical rules and problems, and who was able to give lessons of instruction from the same. This was quite to the boy's taste, for he had as his subsequent life proved a real genius and talent for mathematics. His health, a great part or the time between fourteen and seventeen years of age, was poor; he was too feeble to work much. As he would find the opportunity, he studied more. In his 15th year, he had acquired a thorough knowledge of Fisher' s Arithmetic and had commenced the study of surveying, under the instruction of Master Clark, who has the reputation of being a good surveyor and was then teaching in Londonderry, New Hampshire."
In the spring of 1784 John McDuffee taught school a few weeks, then a attended the Academy in Andover for a while, keeping the art of surveying continually in view, with the use of instruments that he had by this time become quite well acquainted.
When John McDuffee was between 17 and 21, he taught school for several terms in Falmouth, Saco and Brunswick, Maine. On his first journey into that part of the country, which was probably in his 17th year, he was very nearly killed by wolves, narrowly escaped, in Saco Woods. He was making the journey on foot and towards evening one day inquired at a house how far it was to Saco Falls and on being told it was five miles he went on. He had not proceeded far before he found himself in a wilderness and in the darkness of night. While pursuing his solitary way, he heard at a distance behind him a noise he recognized as the bark of a wolf. He quickened his steps and being young and spry, passed rapidly along. Soon the howl of the first wolf was answered by that of another. There seemed to be a pack of them in pursuit of him. He commenced running, but while exerting his powers to the utmost to escape, the wolves were evidently coming nearer and yet nearer. His strength and courage were beginning to fail when he discovered a light ahead of him and he pressed on closely pursued by the monsters. He reached the house, dashed open the door and completely exhausted fell headlong and senseless on the floor. A party of young people the girls having had what they called a "wool breaking" in the afternoon were there that evening engaged in dancing and were greatly surprised to receive so dashing a visitor from where they knew not. One of the ladies was Martha Doak whom he afterwards married. On going to the door, they at once learned what was the trouble, for the wolves were still within a few rods of the house.
Another incident that he often related is the following:
"When I was quite a young man, an Irishman was employed on my father's farm where he made himself very useful. He seemed contented and happy for a while, but one day he was very sad and said that he must leave. On being asked what was the trouble, after much hesitation he replied, 'Oh, ye live so near to the chimney of Hell, I dare not stay.' On further inquiry, it was found that he had been out on a low piece of ground near the house the evening before and had for the first time in his life seen fireflies or lightning bugs flying about, which he thought must be sparks from the infernal region."
In 1787, John McDuffee, on his way home [to Londonderry, NH ???] from Maine, called on Col. John McDuffee of Rochester, New Hampshire, who informed him that during the great freshet of 1785 the water of Wells River overflowed its banks and run into Cocheco River, and he thought a canal might be opened into the Lake from Dover, New Hampshire. As he had studied surveying and engineering, this thought interested him and led him to examine the ground the next season on his was to Vermont. He had with him his engineering instruments which he made use of by the way, and this was undoubtedly the commencement of his explorations and surveys for canal routes which he continued for the rest of his life.
In June 1788, he made his first visit to Mooretown, which by act of the Legislature the following autumn received its present name Bradford, Vermont. The direct object of his visit was to assist as he had been requested to in the settlement of the estate of his Uncle Samuel McDuffee who drowned in the Connecticut River in 1781. His widow Elizabeth, who married Mr. Rogers, was then living on the farm to which her deceased husband had become entitled to as one of the first settlement settlers. John McDuffee was pleased with the farm and purchased the same for himself, agreeing to pay five ??? bushels of wheat annually to Mrs. Rogers as long as she lived. It was the a same f arm which his father Daniel McDuffee and family subsequently occupied, and the one now owned by Ellis and H. E. McDuffee.
John McDuffee returned to Londonderry, New Hampshire, in the fall, where he spent the winter. On his arrival home, he found General John Stark -- the noted General of Revolutionary War fame, a friend of his father's and a resident of Londonderry -- who told him of the trip he had taken to Rumney, New Hampshire, in l752, and related the events connected with the death of Stimson and his own capture by the Indians, who took him a prisoner to Canada.
In November of the same year [1788] John McDuffee went to Walpole, New Hampshire, on business. As it was important for him to be there Monday morning, he made the journey on Sunday. At that time, no one could travel on the Lord' s Day without a written certificate or pass signed by the Justice of Peace. The following is a copy of the pass which he procured:
State of New Hampshire ) Londonderry
County of Rockingham ) Saturday, November 14, 1789
The bearer, Mr. John McDuffee, having made it appear to me the Subscriber that he is under the necessity of being at Walpole tomorrow night has my permission to travel the road leading to that place tomorrow, he behaving himself in a peaceable and orderly manner.
James Macgregore, Jus. Peace
In the spring of 1789, John McDuffee came again to Bradford, Vermont, and settled on the place he bought of Mrs. Rogers [the widow of Captain Samuel McDuffee]. On March 24, 1791, he purchased of Uriah Stone of Piermont, New Hampshire, the ferry known as McDuffee's Ferry, a noted crossing place over the Connecticut River which was called by the Indians "the great river".
Soon after his coming to Bradford, Vermont [in 1789] , he built a small house near the ferry, a little north of the one his late uncle Samuel McDuffee had occupied and for some tine kept a small store to accommodate early settlers.
For a few years his sister Ruth McDuffee, was his housekeeper. In 1795 he married Martha Doak, a native of Londonderry, but then a resident of Bradford, Vermont. He left his farm near the Well River to his father Daniel McDuffee and moved to the eastern slope of Wright's Mountain near the line between Bradford and Newbury, Vermont.
He taught several terms of school during the winter season and in Goshen, District No.4, and he had one term over 100 pupils. He was also a private tutor for young men at different times for many years; among others were Dr. Silas McKeen, who was later the Congregational preacher at Bradford, Vermont, for 40 years and Dr. Whipple who was then a teacher in town and afterwards a member of Congress from New Hampshire.
John McDuffee was the County Surveyor for a long time, and in 1792 he was appointed by James White, the Surveyor General of Vermont, to survey the Hazen tract in the western part of Bradford, "dividing it into lots convenient for settlement, securing to each man the due possession of the lot on which he had been making improvements and the like advantage to others who might wish to purchase lots still unappropriated." He was considered a distinguished master of his art and was extensively employed.
Dr. McKeen in his History of Bradford, Vermont, refers to a "patriotic meeting held at Gideon Tuxbury's (the old farm)" in Newbury, Vermont, in 1812, which he says was earnestly addressed by John McDuffee, Esq. and others. This meeting led to the enlistment of a company of "minute men" by John McDuffee, who had been commissioned by Governor Galusha. When the company was organized John McDuffee was chosen Orderly Sergeant. Those men enlisted, to be called in case of an emergency but not having been needed, the company was discharged at the close of the War in 1815. The following is a copy of a letter addressed to the Governor:
"Bradford, 5th. March 1813.
Honored Sir: In obedience to your commission I have enlisted good and effective privates and led them to a choice of officers, on the 4th. instant, and all agree to stand ready at a moment's warning at the call of our country, and that no lines shall stop us if we are called either against foreign enemies or domestic traitors; and all agree to obey their superior officers according to the rules and articles of War. I have herewith sent you a copy of the enlistments and the names of the several persons enlisted out of whom James Davis of Topsham, Vermont, was chosen first Lieutenant, Daniel Leslie of Bradford, second Lieutenant and Samuel Frow (or this could have been Crow or Grow) of Newbury, Ensign. All have accepted their appointments, and if you would be so good as to send each of them their commissions as soon as possible I would be pleased. This from your friend who will always endeavor to stand ready in obedience to your call.
John McDuffee.
"To his Excellency Jonas Galusha, Gov. of the State of Vt."
"N.B. Please to direct the commissions, if forwarded to the Post Office, Bradford."
John McDuffee was a true patriot. Although not ever actively engaged in the War, he ready to go at a minute's warning if needed. He voted for George Washington in 1788, and at every Presidential election until his death in 1851.
We learn from New Hampshire State Papers, Vol. 5, page 287, that his father Daniel McDuffee was a Captain in Colonel Stephen Evan's Regiment which marched from the State of New Hampshire to join the northern Continental Army and was in the Battles of Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill.
John McDuffee remembered of helping his mother make bullets for his father before he started for the Battle of Bunker Hill. Five of his uncles were in the French and Indian Wars; it should have been four uncles and his father. Three were in the Battle of Quebec, and at its fall, and one in Battle of Bennington.
In 1814, John McDuffee was appointed Assistant Assessor for the 3rd District of the State of Vermont, and he served at least 3 years. For several years he was employed by the government to assist Capt. James D. Graham in making surveys for a canal and railroad routes.
During the summers of 1826, 1827 and 1828 he assisted J. J. Abert and eight other engineers make a survey for internal improvements, and their survey books were lodged. in the "Typographical Bureau" at Washington, D.C. Many years afterward, Mr. McDuffee received the following letter from Colonel Abert;
My Dear Sir:
It is highly agreeable to revive old recollections, and I often think with pleasure of the time when we were together on those Canal Surveys in Vermont and New Hampshire.
As some evidence of my friendly feelings, I send you three interesting reports, three separate packages dully framed, so that you will get them without charge.
1. Fremont's report, bound in one volume.
2. Emory's report of General Kearney's expedition to California.
3. Lieutenants Abert's report of his examination of New Mexico.
I hope these will arrive safely and feel confident they will afford you some amusement during the long winter evenings of your climate.
Very friendly,
J. J. Abert,
J .McDuffee Esq. Col. Corps.
In 1844, he received a letter from D.R. Burham, Esq. of Plymouth, New Hampshire, asking him to give an account of the surveys of the roads, canal and railroad routes, through "Coos Country" from Boston to Canada Lakes; he, therefore, issued a printed circular letter giving the desired information. From this letter we learn about the different routes surveyed by him and the vast amount of labor performed must have required years of time, strength, and effort. One route mentioned was a canal from the Connecticut River, through the "Upper Coos" to Lake Mimphremagog, and thence into Canada. Of this route he says "I am satisfied that a canal, or water communication, might be opened from Boston or Portmouth, through the Lake, to the River St. Lawrence."
At the opening of Congress in 1824 and 1825, he wrote letters to Dr. Whipple and the Hon. Daniel Webster, members of Congress at that time, upon the subject of the proposed canal route from the Merrimac River by the same of Baler's and Passumpsic Rivers to "Magog Lake" and also concerning the route from the Connecticut River, Montpelier, to Lake Champlain. They lodged the information communicated with the Secretary of War for the Engineers Department. On returning from Washington to Boston, the Hon. Daniel Webster notified the citizens of the information he had received, which he stated, he believed to be of importance as from his knowledge of the country he had no doubt that a water communication might be opened from Boston, through Concord to the Connecticut River, and thence through Vermont to the northern and western Lakes. This information put the citizens alive to the enterprise, and a convention was called and a large number of delegates chosen of the most wealthy citizens of Boston to take the matter into consideration. They appointed a convention at Concord on the first Wednesday of May 1825.
At this meeting there was a good deal of discussion in regard to the proposed railroad, and one influential man asked how an engine with a train of cars attached, could be done, and then the gentleman said "Well, it may be possible to start it, but how can it be stopped?" To this question, Mr. McDuffee replied, "Why sir, that is very simple. Just turn off the steam."
In the printed letter previously referred to, Mr. McDuffee says "A convention to consult on making a railroad from Ogdensburg to Boston was called at Montpelier in October l830, which was attended by citizens of Ogdensburg, N.Y., Boston, and intervening towns. By that convention, Gen. Johnson of Vermont, James Hayward of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and myself were appointed a committee to make an examination of the route as soon as possible through the public press.
In a letter received by him from Philip Corrigan, dated Epsom, New Hampshire, Sept. 1830, the writer speaks of the convention to be held at Montpelier and says:
"It is my opinion that had Mr. Adams been President another term, and had Gov. Clinton lived, we should ere this day, have had a railroad from Boston to Ogdensburg, and a ship canal around Niagara Falls, through which we might secure an Inland navigation of the Lakes, to counteract the operation of Melland Canal. In the grand enterprise, contemplated at that period, this ship canal was intended, and a survey was made for it in l826."
Mr. McDuffee, when employed by the government, examined the several routes from Connecticut River to Montpelier, from Haverhill, by Olicerain and Baker's Rivers, to Plymouth, thence by Winnipesaukee Lake to Sover; and Lieutenants Macomb and Andrews were required to make the surveys. He also examined the route from Montpelier, by White River, to Connecticut, which was surveyed by MacKay and Bennet, Lieutenants. The survey was continued to Burlington, Vermont. The route by Waits River was also examined, and supposed to be practicable, and even the very best route of the whole. At a later date he and his son, Charles, made another survey of the Waits River Route. In a letter from Charles Lane dated Meridith Bridge, April 25, 1845, the writer says:
"Can you not send me by mail a printed copy of the survey of the Oliverain route for Winnipesaukee Lake to Haverhill? We shall probably want to use the preliminary surveys made by yourself and others some years hence."
The circular letter written by Mr. McDuffee to D.R. Burnham, Esq. ends thus:
"I have now woven you a history of the routes from the ancient mode of traveling with the bark canoe, the bow and arrow and bone fish-hook, of the Indian; the gun, pack, and beaver trap of the first English, to the now riding on railroads. I have also given you a history of the first discovery of a canal route and of the rise and. progress of the project to obtain a communication to the northern and western Lakes, under the administrations of James Monroe and John Q. Adams. I have shown you how the great chain of internal improvements was broken in 1830, leaving each link to draw its own load or remain useless - but I now trust this grand chain is soon to be re-built, that we may take a strong pull, and a long pull, and a pull all together"' and eventually be able to bring goods from the East Indies to Oregon, thence by railroad to Boston, whence they may be transported to Europe and other portions of the globe, thus dispensing with the now absolute necessity of daring the perils attendant on doubling of the Cape of Good nope or Cape Horn. I will add no more, but, believe me.
Your obedient servant,
John McDuffee
.Bradford, Vt., Jan. 23, l844.
When the project of building the railroad began to be seriously discussed, and it was remembered that Mr. McDuffee had along before surveyed through at least the most formidable part of that route with a view to a canal, and found it quite feasible, his counsel and influence were earnestly sought for and, proving highly beneficial, he received for his services $500 and five shares of railroad stock in the Boston and Concord and Montreal railroad at $100 each. He was the first man in this part of New England to believe in the practicability of having a railroad in Vermont. When he first began to advocate the building of the road, it was thought to be a visionary scheme. Col. Prichard, one to the prominent men in town, said "It may be easy enough to build a road through the Sawyer Mountain than across the Bliss Meadow. Another remark made was the following: "When McDuffee gets an engine to running through the hills and mountains of Vermont, it will be considered as great a miracle as when Burnham Woods came to Dunsinane and as great a feat as when MacDuff of Shakespearean fame took the head of the traitor MacBeth." To this Mr. McDuffee replied "Nevertheless, it can be done, it will be done, and I believe that I shall live to ride on the cars from Bradford [Vermont] to Boston."
In 1848 his prophecy was fulfilled. The railroad was completed and, although he was 82 years old, he took the journey to Boston. Just what he had talked about and believed in for more than 50 years he lived to see accomplished.
The following is an extract from a letter written by Mr. McDuffee to the editor of the Belknap Gazette when he was eighty-two years of age:
"Sir, I received your paper of the 10th informing me that some unknown friend had done me the honor of giving my name to one of the best locomotive engines on the Boston and Montreal Railroad, for which I return my thanks and hope the engine will be useful as long as I have been interested in the road."
He surveyed and lotted several townships in Vermont and New Hampshire and surveyed for a turnpike road from McIndoes Falls on the Connecticut River through New Hampshire to Portland [Maine], giving mountains and streams between the Atlantic Ocean and the navigable waters of the St. Lawrence. He surveyed many towns for maps.
The following letter, written by Mr. McDuffee when about 83 years old, will show that even at that advanced age, he was still interested in public affairs and ready to help any worthy friend:
Bradford, Vt.
February 24, 1849
Major J. D. Graham, Washington, D. C.
My Dear Sir:
I beg you to excuse me for the liberty I take to address you. I am getting beyond the period when a man is supposed to take a very decided interest in the matters of Government, or the disposal of its offices and the appointment of them. Still, once having been somewhat active in those matters, I cannot but still feel a little interest therein.
If the bearer, Mr. A. B. F. Hildrith, who is connected with the press in these parts, shall call on you, I beg to ask your favorable attention to him. If you can by any consistent means aid him you will much oblige him and me, and in so doing you may rest assured that you will confer a favor on a worthy, industrious, diligent, trustworthy man. I hope it may be your pleasure and consistent with your convenience to assist him, and therein you will oblige
him, and also your old friend,
John McDuffee
Civil Engineer
Mr. McDuffee was quite a zealous politician, as well as a celebrated surveyor. When attending the railroad meeting at Concord, to which reference has been made, he was called upon for a sentiment or toast, and he brought out the applause of the company by the following impromptu:
"The United States is a political compass with its representative needle, the constitution, equally balanced on the pivot of the union and freely playing over the four cardinal points: Freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of election and freedom in religion."
Although a man of strong political views, Mr. McDuffee never cared for office himself. He was a Whig of the Henry Clay type. He held many of the town offices at different times, and for many years was a Justice of Peace.
He began practicing surveying when only 15 years of age, and not a year
passed as long as he lived that he did not work at this his chosen profession. He was a scholar, a man of genius, sound judgment and common sense.
Dr. McKeen says [in his History of Bradford, Vermont]:
"When I was about sixteen years of age, I enjoyed for a short time the instruction of Mr. McDuffee in his favorite department; not so much with a view to practice as to mental improvement and satisfaction, and from that subsequent acquaintance became quite impressed by a conviction of his mathematical genius attainments."
He was very fond of reading, and in his old age he would read all day without the aide of glasses and was entirely oblivious to those around him. His memory was remarkable. His sister once asked him when a young man to copy a poem of several stanzas for her from a book which she could keep but a few
hours. He read it over and told her he could not stop to copy it but would write it out from memory in the evening, which he did without missing a word.
When attending school at Andover, he heard a fellow student who had an adjoining room read aloud his composition and, thinking to have a little fun, he wrote out what he could remember and gave it to the teacher who, of course, was puzzled at finding two papers so nearly alike. The two young men were called upon to explain, but not receiving a satisfactory answer he requested each one to repeat what he could. The author of the composition remembered but a few lines, while McDuffee was able to repeat it verbatim. The teacher threatened to punish the rogue whom he supposed he had discovered, when McDuffee explained the situation, and both were honorably excused.
Judge Collamer, with whom he had been associated in several land cases, said of him: "He has a keener sense of Justice than almost any man I ever knew ." At one time the tithing man, whose duty it was to enforce the observance of the Sabbath, brought before him a man by the name of Martin, whom he had caught fishing on the Lord's Day. Martin pleaded guilty and said that he had been away from home and returning late Saturday night found that there was no meat in the house for his family, so he went out early Sunday morning to catch some fish for breakfast. "And did you return home as soon as you had caught enough for the morning meal?" asked Justice McDuffee. He replied that he did. "Well," said Justice McDuffee, "that is satisfactory; you are discharged and can go home." After this incident, Waits River was called "Martin's pork barrel."
Judge Collamer also said of him "He is one of the most remarkable men I have ever met; his instinctive or intuitive knowledge is really wonderful. He is a hundred years ahead of the time in which he lives, and his worth will still be appreciated long after his death."
Asa Low was about the only man in town who thought as he did in regard to railroad and in speaking of his genius said "He is a wonderful man; he is sowing for others to reap."
Mr. McDuffee was a very exemplary man, and he thought a good education was more to be desired than wealth, and his favorite quotation was this:
"Ye that are young, before you grow old,
Labor for learning, before silver or gold,
For when the gold is gone and squandered away,
The learning is fresh and will never decay."
He was strong temperance man and never used tobacco in any form. It was his strictly temperate habits that kept his mind clear and enabled him to retain his
physical and mental powers to the time of his death. He died at his Mountain Home in Bradford, Vermont, on May 4, 1851, after a few days illness, in the eighty-fifth year of age.
In 1795, he married Martha Doak, the daughter of James Doak of Londonderry, New Hampshire. She died on May 14,1822. On November 10, 1823, he married his second wife, Dolly Greenleaf, born in Nottingham, New Hampshire, on March 10, 1790, the daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Howe) Greenleaf; she died May 7, 1874, at her home where she lived all her married life. Her paternal grandmother was a Lowell from Massachusetts.
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