| |
Tunbridge, Vermont
by
Becky Cardon Smith
print version
Editor’s Note: This is the third in
a series of articles focusing on Church sites to see and things
to do in the New England area. (Click
Here for Archive)
For almost 25 years, the charming,
forested village of Tunbridge,
Vermont was home to both sides of Joseph Smiths lineage: the Smiths
and the Macks. Joseph’s paternal grandfather, Asael Smith, moved
to Tunbridge in 1791 and his maternal grandfather, Solomon Mack,
arrived just a few years later in 1799. Lucy first met her future
husband here while working in her brother’s store. She and Joseph
Smith Sr. were married on January 24, 1796 and lived here on three
different occasions. You
can still see Joseph and Lucy’s hand-written marriage date in
the town records.
In Tunbridge, Lucy gave birth to her first child, a son who died
at birth, as well as four of her nine children who lived to adulthood:
Alvin, Hyrum, Sophronia, and Samuel.
The Township of Tunbridge is located
about 8 miles northwest of Sharon and has a current population
of about 1,300. Within the township are three small villages:
Tunbridge, South Tunbridge and North Tunbridge. First chartered
in 1761, Tunbridge was officially organized in 1786 (after the
Revolutionary War) and was probably named after Viscount Tunbridge,
a prominent British friend of Benning Wentworth, the royal governor
of New Hampshire. Tunbridge became somewhat of a resort in the
1800s due to the locally discovered mineral springs. Many visitors
now come to enjoy the beautiful countryside and to attend the
annual Tunbridge Fair, usually held during the second week in
September.
PLANNING YOUR TIME
If time is short, spend a few minutes
and stop at the village store where Lucy first met Joseph Sr.
If time allows: stop at the local town clerk’s office to see their
marriage entry, visit the Hutchinson Cemetery to see John Mudget’s
grave, or drive through the general area of “ Tunbridge Gore”
where Joseph Sr. and Lucy lived.
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
Asael Smith moved his wife, Mary
Duty, and their eleven children from Massachusetts to Tunbridge
in the spring of 1791. Asael’s two oldest boys, Jesse and Joseph
Sr., were sent ahead to clear the land and build a small cabin.
Asael initially purchased about 83 acres but he later bought additional
land and eventually owned over 350 acres. Asael lived here for
over 20 years before moving to Stockholm, New York. Both Jesse
and Joseph Sr. had property near their father’s land.
Lucy Mack was born and raised in
Gilsum, New Hampshire. Her older brother Stephen had once promised
his mother that he would always look after his younger sister,
Lucy, who was then just 8 years old. (Their mother was very ill
at the time the promise was made and she thought she might not
live.) Less than 10 years later, Stephen, who was now living in
Tunbridge, visited his family home and convinced his parents to
let him take Lucy back to live with him. She was ill in health
and spirits, grieving over the death of her sister Lovina.
During this difficult period, Lucy
spent much of her time reading the Bible, praying, and pondering.
While working at Stephen’s store, she met a young man by the name
of Joseph Smith (HJS p. 31). Lucy lived with her brother for a
year, went back to her family home for a few months, and then
returned to live with Stephen. “And this time I remained with
him until I was married, which took place the next January” (HJS
p. 31). Lucy was nineteen when she and twenty-five year old Joseph
Smith Sr. were married on January 24, 1796.
Joseph Sr. and Lucy lived in Tunbridge
for the first 6 years of their marriage. During this time they
had two sons: Alvin and Hyrum. Joseph owned “a handsome farm”
and supported his young family by “tilling the earth.” But after
six years, they rented out the farm in 1802 and relocated to the
nearby town of Randolph.
Later that same year, after Joseph’s
new business venture failed, the family returned to their Tunbridge
farm. Their daughter Sophronia was born here before they moved
once again – first to Royalton and then to Sharon where another
son was born, Joseph Smith Jr. The Smith family would return one
last time to Tunbridge where another son, Samuel Harrison, was
born on March 13, 1811. Their stay in Tunbridge was short before
moving to Royalton.
Though Lucy faced several challenges
in her early years of marriage including frequent moving, illness,
and a failed business venture, she also had many special experiences.
One such experience occurred here. “While, we were living in the
town of Tunbridge, my mind became deeply impressed with the subject
of religion” (HJS p. 43). Concerned that her husband did not share
this same interest, she retired to a nearby grove and prayed that
her husband might also become more “religiously inclined”. Upon
returning home, Lucy had a powerful dream after which she felt
certain that her husband would hear and eventually accept the
“undefiled gospel of the Son of God” (HJS p. 45). Lucy would live
to see her dream come to fruition.
SITES TO SEE
- Tunbridge Village Store – Originally
called the “Mack and Mudget Store;” Lucy once worked at this
store then owned by her brother, Stephen Mack, and his partner,
John Mudget. Stepping into this small country store, you can
almost imagine Lucy meeting Joseph Smith Sr. for the first time.
The store is located at 302 Route 110, about 5.7 miles from
the junction of Routes 14/110.
- Tunbridge Town Clerk’s Office – For
those interested in viewing historical records, the marriage
entry of Joseph Sr. and Lucy on January 24, 1797 (performed
by Seth Austin, Justice of the Peace) can be found in Volume
A (1782 – 1809 Proprietors’ Record) on page 129. The birth entry
of Alvin is on page 130. The clerk’s office is located on your
left about 5.2 miles from the Route 14/110 junction (and just
south of the Tunbridge Village Store) at 1904 Route 110.
- Hutchinson Cemetery – The
grave of John Mudget, business partner of Stephen Mack, is located
in this small cemetery. During a discussion concerning a wedding
present for Lucy, John Mudget commented to Stephen “Lucy ought
to have something worth naming, and I will give her just as
much as you will.” To this, Stephen replied “I will give her
five hundred dollars in cash.” In response, John replied, “Good,
and I will give her five hundred dollars more” (HJS p. 32).
Lucy would later have to use this money to help pay debts created
by the failure of their business venture.
To locate this small cemetery after visiting the store,
go 1 mile west on Route 110 (heading towards the junction) and
turn right on Howe Lane. You will see the cemetery almost immediately
on your right. To find John Mudget’s grave, pass through the
gate and then to the right just behind the cemetery sign. Walk
straight east behind the sign to the middle of the cemetery,
turn to your right and walk about 25 feet straight south. The
dark charcoal slate headstone will be facing you.
- Birth Site of Alvin, Hyrum, and Sophronia Smith – Visit
the site of the Smith home in “Tunbridge Gore” after stopping
at the Hutchinson Cemetery. (This is a dirt road, I would not
recommend going if the road is muddy. Also not suggested for
any vehicle larger than a van). From the Hutchinson Cemetery,
continue on Howe Lane and drive through the covered bridge.
At .2 of a mile, bear right at the fork in the road onto Falls
Hill Road. At the next fork in the road, bear left at the red
Tunbridge schoolhouse. After going 3.5 miles from the cemetery,
you will come to a sign on your right that says Johnson Circle.
Do not take this road but continue .1 mile further. Stop here
to see the small depression immediately next to the road on
your right. (A large rectangular fenced garden plot w/scarecrow
is directly behind the site). Watch for poison ivy located near
the site. Tradition and local historian Lester Corwin agree
that this was the location of the Smith family home. The small
sunken area is the site of the foundation. Continue on another
3.2 miles to return to Route 110 (bearing left at the fork in
the road).Turning right onto 110 will take you to the Route
14/110 junction at South Royalton. Turning left onto Route 110
takes you to Tunbridge.
Next week: Royalton, Vermont
© 2003
LDS Family Travels. All Rights Reserved. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
 <%=thepage1%>: <%=thetext1%> click
here
 <%=thepage2%>: <%=thetext2%> click
here
 <%=thepage3%>: <%=thetext3%> click
here
 <%=thepage4%>: <%=thetext4%> click
here
 <%=thepage5%>: <%=thetext5%> click
here |
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
|
| |
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
Becky
Cardon Smith is a graduate of Brigham Young University
and a former elementary schoolteacher. She and her husband
Greg have four children and reside in Utah. One of her
favorite hobbies is traveling with her family. Though
they have seen many of the popular sites of the world,
some of the most memorable trips have been to Church
historical sites. She is the author of The LDS Family
Travel Guide: Sharon, Palmyra and Kirtland and The
LDS Family Travel Guide: Independence to Nauvoo,
now in its sixth printing.
|
|
|
