Hi I'm new to the list and find studying Vermont history very interesting. Researching BRANCH > ENG>1638 MA>1685 New London Co CT>1790-1820 ORANGE AND WINDHAM CO VERMONT>1800-1855 Meigs County Ohio >1852-1890 Wayne Co Illinois >1890 Neb/Ks >1893 OK BRANCH Related lines: PARTRIDGE, READ, WILLIAMS, KINNEY, LAMB, MORGAN, TRACY, AVERILL, JENCKS, MORGAN, PHILLIPS, MORGAN, TRACY, HOWES, HOWARD, CURTIS, PINGREY, BARDWELL, GOODWIN, WEBSTER, GOODWIN, WOODWARD, ROSE, (All New London Co CT 1680- 1790); PARTRIDGE: Windham Co Vermont 1765-1820; also WOODWARD, ROSE, TRACY; In 1765, SAMUEL PARTRIDGE left Preston CT for Norwich, Vermont, with wife and seven of the children. One son (Reuben) remained in Connecticut to care for the “old folks” FROM: HISTORY OF NORWICH VERMONT: The town of Norwich was chartered on July 4, 1761 by Governor Wentworth of New Hampshire. The first proprietors meeting took place on August 26, 1761 in Connecticut. These men were chosen for the following offices: Eleazer Wales, clerk; Andrew Crocker, constable; Samuel Wert, Abner Barker and Joseph Storrs, selectman. The first settlers appeared in the spring of 1763 and they were Jacob Fenton, Ebenezer Smith and John Slafter. All three men came from Mansfield, Conn but Jacob Fenton died shortly after settling in the area and was buried Lebanon on July 15, 1763, aged sixty-five.In the summer of 1764 four more families came to the vicinity, three of them were Samuel Hutchinson, Nathan Messenger and Samuel Partridge. The first town meeting was held in April of 1768 and Nathan Messenger was chosen moderator; Lt. Partridge, Capt. Johnson and Nathan Messenger, selectman; Thomas Murdock and John Slafter, constables; Medad Benton, tithingman; Elisha Partridge, ? Thatcher, Thomas Murdock and Jacob Burton, fence viewers. They settled on a hill farm about one mile west from Norwich VT village which remained in the family for 3 generations, purchased by Deacon John Dutton who demolished the old mansion, now owned by widow of Ambrose Currier (CA 1929). Samuel PARTRIDGE is named as a “Father of the Town”. After hearing a sermon on evils of slavery in 1770, Sam Partridge freed his slave, Cudjo Wanton, and gave him a house and field. A brook near Preston was named Cudjo’s Brook in memory of this fist known freed slave. 1776 Sept 30, Partridge commissioned lieutenant in the “Regiment of Militia Foot, to consist of the Inhabitants of Norwich in County of Cumberland, in the Province of New York.” issued by his “Excellency, Henry Moore, Baronet, Captain General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York.” The farm remained in the family for three generations. Sold in estate of Abel Partridge to late Deacon John Dutton, who demolished the old mansion. The farm is now owned by the widow of the late Ambrose Currior (CA 1929). FOUNDING OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE across the river from Norwich VT: According to “History of Norwich Vermont”, Dartmouth College was established as a center to educate the Indians. Page 35: "Doctor Wheelock had collected in England and Scotland several thousand pounds ...(for the)... support of a new college in the wilderness. .....The conservation and education of the Indians was the leading purpose of Doctor Wheelockin setting up his college on the very borders of civilization.... The location of the college at Hanover was decided upon early in the summer of 1770 after Dr Wheelock and two trustees from Connecticut made a tour of several weeks' exploration along the river and through the northern part of New Hampshire. ....location fixed at a conference at the house of Jacob Burton in Norwich in June 1770 between Dr. Wheelock and his associates and some of the leading men of this and neighboring towns......Doctor Wheelock was then well known as a favorite preacher and ... the preceptor of Moor's Indian Charity School at Lebanon, Connecticut." (now Columbia, Ct) Hope this information might help some other searcher. Carolyn Remember, you have a friend in Oklahoma!