Hi Bill I can't tell you much about the Stinson Home in Bolton, but I can tell you quite a bit about the area. Abby Maria Hemenway writes in Volume 1, Vermont Historical Gazetteer, 1868, Page 848, Line 9, " A Hunter's Story--In the early day, one Isaiah Preston and one Stinson, two of the early settlers of this vicinity, went out on a moose hunt. They were not fortunate until they got several miles from home. It was in the winter time, and they, on account of the depth of the snow, were obliged to travel on snow shoes. Just at night, they found and shot a large moose in a hollown near the south-west end of Mansfield Mountain. The shades of night were coming on, they built a fire, dressed their moose, cooked their supper of moose meat, made a bed of evergreen boughs and laid down to pleasant dreams. After they had made preparation for a night's lodging in the woods, it being very cold, Preston said to Stinson that he would take the moose hide and wrap himself up in that, which he did, giving Stinson both of the blankets. They slept soundly and well, and were unmolested and undisturbed, excepting by the distant howl of the wolves. Morning dawned and Preston thought he would unrobe himself and help Stinson build the fire and cook their breakfast; but he found his hands and legs tied so tightly by the frozen hide that he must inevitably have perished had it not been for the assistance of his companion (Stinson). After being restored to liberty, they hung upon a tree the portion of the moose they could not carry and packed the rest eight or ten miles on their backs to their hungry families. In this way the early settlers supplied themselves with game, it being their only meat. Many are their stories of hardships and hair-breadth escapes of these iron-sinewed pioneeers. On page 482, Col 2, line 14, Hemenway notes: "Soon after the Revolution Robert Stinson, John Preston and 11 others (named) settled in Bolton. . The first Federal Census of Bolton was taken in 1791--the year Vermont was admitted to the Union. On page 23, Robert Stinson was listed as heading a family composed of one male age 16+, three males under 16, and three females. The 1800 Federal Census shows no one by the name "Stinson", but in Duxbury VT (adjacent to Bolton at that time) listed Abijah Stimson and his wife, both age 45+ (may be no relation, but could be the source of the mountain "Stimson Mt" . Now, a look at the 20th century. In 1965, my partner and I bought 200 acres of land on the Bolton Notch Road (about 100 acres east and 100 acres west of the Notch Road). The far easterly boundary was on Stimson Mt. I took many hikes up the steep hill leading to the airline beacon on the mountain top. I saw the remnants of only one dwelling on this trail. Local residents told me it was inhabited by a person called the "bear lady" (a woman who had no interest in living in the "civilized world". I never saw this woman, but perhaps she saw me. Her dwelling was make-shift and would not be from the 19th Century. Beers Gazetteer 1869 Page 27 lists all lot owners on a map 11 X 17. I can find no one with the surname Stinson on the map. Undoubtedly, your eyes are much better than mine and perhaps you will be more fortunate. This map will be on its way to you by priority mail tomorrow. This has been a long way of saying "I don't know if Robert Stinson's home is still standing", but I thought you might enjoy the detour. Mal Bevins, VTCHITTE-L list manager Stingoez3@aol.com wrote: > Hi, > > My GGGrandfather, Robert Stinson, was one of the original settlers of > Bolton about 1795. He served as the Town Tax Collector and Constable for > several years -- until 1806. > I wonder if it is possible that his original old house might still be > standing? > Someone has mentioned that a very old house is still located near the current > Tax Collection office. I wonder! > Does anyone know if any really old houses still remain in Bolton? The > original legal description of the property was: Bounded on Onion river (now > Winooski river) on the North and John Preston, Jr. on the west and on land of > Francis Joyner, Esquire on the east. > It is believed that "Stimson" Mountain was located on the property and > named for my GGGrandfather -- although misspelled. The USGS office provides > the following information for Stimson Mountain: > Summit Elevation - 2,000 ft. > Located in Chittenden County, VT > Shown on USGS 7.5 x 7.5 Map of Richmond, VT > Latitude - 442329N > Longitude - 0725325W > If anyone can be of assistance in clariying the property location and > whether the old house still exists, it would be much appreciated. > > Sincerely, > > Bill Stinson