In trying to track down any and all COVEY families in Vermont Before 1810. I have found information on Nathan COVEY and (David COVEY?). From: Bristol Vermont the Early History By: Hon Harvey MUNSILL Esq. Pub: (Bristol Historical Society?) Date (1981?, 1870?) The book is not indexed. Harvey MUNSILL, was the second child of Capt. Gurdon MUNSILL and as such would have been born prior to Gurdon MUNSILL's arrival in Bristol (Vt.) in March of 1789 Pg. 186 (talking of Gurdon MUNSILL) "Soon after the close of the Revolutionary War he was married to Olive CARVER of Bolton Connecticut and removed to Bristol (Vt.) where he arrived with his family, consisting of his wife and two Children, on the 22 day of March 1789" The Gurdon MUNSILL family was roughly the 10th family to arrive in Bristol. Gurdon held many public offices in the town and was also a state representative. His son Judge Harvey MUNSILL (our author) also had a long history of public service in Bristol and in the state of Vermont. He married Laura STICKNEY of Weybridge Vt on March 10, 1817 and died in 1876. The above book is taken from the papers of Harvey MUNSILL. Harvey MUNSILL knew the town and it's people very well. pg. 58 Bristol's population in 1790 was 211, in 1800 it was 665, by 1810 it was 1179. (Bristol did not grow much in the next 50 years and was) 1355 in 1860. Bristol was originally known as Pocock. pg. 237 "The principle part of the first and early settlers of Bristol (Vt.) were from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and some from older towns in this state (Vt.), and some from New York." pg. 69-72 condensed The first "civilized settlers" permanent settlers, Samuel STEWART and his brother in law Eden JOHNSON, along with their families arrived in Bristol in 1786. They came by way of Scheensboro (Whitehall NY) from where they set sail and three days later landed in Vergennes, They then proceeded to New Haven, Vermont and then commenced to Bristol without the use of roads, mainly following the river bank. Not long after they were joined in Bristol by: Benjamin GRISWOLD Cypran EASTMAN Robert DUNSHEE Henry McLAUGHIN John ARNOLD Justin ALLEN Gurdon MUNNSILL Amis SCOTT Elijah THOMAS pg. 72 "The last four arriving on the same day, from different places and not in company with each other." pg. 72 "records of the town furnish evidence of the following persons being in town in 1790" (in addition to the above named) Benjamin CLAPP Samuel RENNE Samuel P HALL Dan V MILLER Adam IVES Nathan Cavy (COVEY?) I feel strongly that this is Nathan Covey because on page 201 it lists among early settlers. pg. 201 "Nathan COVEY from Bristol, County of Hartford, State of Connecticut on February 17,1789" There is never any other mention of a CAVY any where else in the book. It also gives evidence that this Nathan COVEY is probably the same Nathan COVEY of Bristol Connecticut who was the son of Hope COVEY (II). Inserted here is some data from Mary Quist's "Descendents of Walter COVEY" (Quist pg. 15) Hope COVEY b. 15 Sep 1712, Westerly RI m. Lydia DAVIS (of Stonington Conn.) 23 mar 1736-37. He died 16 Jul 1787 ae 75 at Burlington Conn. (Quist pg. 17) among witness's to Hope COVEY's will in 1773 were "son Nathan" also "son David" (Quist pg. 17) Baptist Church records members "David COVEY and Mary 1780", "Nathan COVEY and Martha 1780". "David COVEY of Farmington in 1780, also of Bristol, Hartford Co. Connecticut, One record shows him being born in Vt. (perhaps David Jr.?) He m in 1804 Lydia Post. d. 22 Oct 1837." (perhaps David Jr. also?) "Nathan COVEY of Farmington, of Bristol, Hartford Co. Connecticut, Also listed as of Vermont. He m Martha, living 10 Apr 1786" (all Quist pg. 17) (Quist pg.. 35) David COVEY came to Hopkington NY in 1804, (David COVEY Jr. perhaps) Brother to Martin COVEY he was b in Vt. and later of Farmington, Hartford Co, Conn. He is the son of Hope COVEY and Lydia DAVIS. He m Lynda POST in 1804. She was born abt 1785 in Dorset (Vt.?) to Reuben POST and Esther HARMON' She d 6 Dec 1832. David died 22 Oct 1837" *** If David Covey was married to Mary in 1780 he would have seem to be in his early to mid 40's at the time he married then 19 year old Lynda POST. Also he would be in his 60's when he had their last child in 1825. Wouldn't a David COVEY Jr. fit better here. See more below: *** (Quist pg. 36) "Mr. BRAINARD of Potsdam NY preached the funeral sermon for David's wife's funeral. David m. a sister of Mrs. RISDON in Vt. Came to this country in 1804 and has been a resident of this town for 30 years. He buried his father here in 1811. Since then he has buried his mother, his wife , and 2 children." **Hope COVEY died in 1787, and Lydia 'DAVIS' COVEY would be 100 at least if buried after 1811. So was this David COVEY possibly the son of the David COVEY, who was the son of Hope Covey. And was the Martin COVEY mentioned, "a doubtful son of Hope" according to Quist, (another son of David Covey (Sr.?) ??) ** Back to Bristol Vt: Additional names from records of persons taking the freeman's oath circa 1792 pg. 72-73 Phineas RUGG Ellis MAXIM Calvin EASTMAN Asa SMITH Elisha ANDREWS Anthony FIELD Mr. MUNSILL continues to add names out to 1808. which I will include these at the end of this email. On that list there are no TURREL, POST or RISDON names. So it would seem that these people were not of Bristol . But they do figure in the COVEY family. pg. 81 Marriages recorded in the town records of Bristol. The first marriage in Bristol was March 16 1791 Samuel BROOKS and Betsey RORAPAUGH the second. March 30 1792 Josiah TURREL and Chloe COVEY also there was November 28 1796 Russel MILLER and Mary TURREL The TURREL name apears again: pg. 167 Dan Turrell a young man living with his father in Law ________ Miller at the North West part of the town, in the fall of 1806, while chopping down a tree, which when it fell struck against an other tree and throwed the but of the tree around in the direction Turrell stood and broke one of his Legs in such a manner as to require amputation above the knee joint. He afterward worked with Phillip ROWEL and learned the Tailors trade. He was in Bristol a few years ago, and then lived in some town a little West of Saratoga Springs (NY) doing well. There must have been TURREL's near by. I have often wondered what drove the growth of Bristol, as it has always seemed such an unlikely place for a town of its size, lying there, tucked away between the back hills of Vermont. Lumber and wood products, to be sure, drove growth. The steam there is smallish but the drop through the town is great. so there were several mills. But what seems to have been a major driver was iron. No less then seven foundries or forges were built in the early years. The first built in 1791.Their heyday was short lived though, as there was no coal in the area, and cheaper iron came to be produced elsewhere.. pg 107-112 "In 1791 a forge was built in Bristol. And a most excellent quality of iron bar was manufactured by mixing brown hematite ore from the Monkton bed and the magnetic ore from Crown Point." pg. 198 "Nathan COREY (COVEY?) was in Bristol as early as 1792 and located in the north westerly part of town, on the first division to the right of Zebulon SEAMAN and is now (as of) Jan 1867 owned by Garus A COLLAMER & son on the north side of the highway." pg. 198 "David COREY (COVEY?) was in Bristol as early as 1794, and most probably some earlier, and located on Lot 21 in the first division to the right of Samuel AVERIL and is now owned by Garus A COLLAMER & son on the south side of the highway." Nathan and David were neighbors it would seem. I also find no other mention of a COREY in the book. Inserted here is some data from Census Data taken from US census data: Nathan COVEY listed in the 1790 US census in Bristol Vermont. 2 M over 16, 2 M under 16, 2 females Nathan Covey, (3 sons? or 2 sons? & other adult Josiah TURREL?, daughter Chole?, wife Martha?) (The Vermont census was taken around 19791-92) There was a David COVEY listed in the 1790 US census in Bristol, Hartford Co. Connecticut 1 M over 16, 3 M under 16, 2 females David Covey (sons David?, Martin?, _____ ? , daughter ______ ? and wife Mary) But: There was also a David COVEY listed in the 1790 US census in Cushing, Lincoln Co, Maine 3 M over 16, 1 M under 16, 1 female. David Covey, (sons David? and Martin? over 16, young son _____?, wife Mary?) ** DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THE MAINE CENSUS WAS TAKEN LATE. WHEN DID MAINE BECOME A STATE ** **If the census was taken post 1790 in Maine, And if David and Martin COVEY were twins or even a year apart. Then David COVEY could have been in Bristol Conn with two (slightly under 16 sons) and Also in Maine with two over 16 sons. and then could also be in Bristol Vt. in 1794. I will enclose two examples of how far early settlers were apt to roam that I extracted from Harvey MUNSILL's work. ** Lastly: There was also a David COVEY listed in the 1810 US census in Saftsbury Bennington Co. Vt. (There were several COVEY's that appeared in Bennington Co at that time) There were no COVEY's in the 1800 census, other then Samuel of Alburgh and the 2 Josephs, father and son, of Windham Co.. There was mention here and there in the book of families in town who "removed to Hopkinton in the county of St. Lawrence and the state of New York" Nathan Bristol and also a McLAUGHIN come to mind. (Which is also where you can find David & Martin COVEY in 1804) pg. 91-92 condensed These first settlers were apt to travel to Canada also. One Cypran EASTMAN who traveled to Montreal on business, and on returning home to Bristol Brought small pox with him causing several people to be quarantined. Mr. EASTMAN died 1798. Ironically another resident Filavel C. WILLIAMS traveling to Canada several years later did the exact same thing dying in 1820. **Because of this communication with Canada there might be interest on the Eastern Township list so I will post there also** Examples of travels: (For a newbe to genealogy, like me, I am amazed at how far and often these early settlers moved.) I will include names of Freman's oath takers and travel accounts in a separate email IF REQUESTED as this is now very LONG........ Comments anyone? Chris Covey of Burlington Vt. So many names, and so little time.,