Gov. Thomas Chittenden1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 1966, (1729/30 - 1797)
FatherEbenezer Chittenden1,4,3 (31 Aug 1699 - 8 Aug 1756)
MotherMary Johnson1,3 (8 Mar 1699 - 31 Aug 1779)

Key Events:

Birth: 6 Jan 1729/30, Guilford, Connecticut Colony5,6
Marriage: 4 Oct 1749, Connecticut Colony, Elizabeth Meigs (17 Oct 1731 - 14 Oct 1817)7,8,9
Death: 25 Aug 1797, Williston, Chittenden Co., Vermont10,11

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Gov. Thomas Chittenden was born on 6 Jan 1729/30 in Guilford, Connecticut Colony.5,6
     Thomas married Elizabeth Meigs, daughter of Lt. Janna Meigs and Elizabeth Dudley, on 4 Oct 1749 in Connecticut Colony.7,8,9
     Thomas and Elizabeth moved to Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Connecticut, in 1751 then just being settled.12,13,14 He became a prosperous businessman in Salisbury, and became prominent in civil and miltary offices there in Salisbury.15,16
     Thomas served as a Deputy of the General Court of Connecticut for six years, from 1765 to 1769, and 1772.3
     Thomas was a major of the 14th Connecticut Colonial Troops from 1767 to 1770, and a Lt. Colonel from 1770 to 1772.3
     Thomas and Elizabeth moved to New Hampshire Grants moved to the New Hampshire Grants, later Vermont, in 1774. He purchased a large tract of wilderness there on the south bank of the Winooski River, later called the Onion River. He began a settlement there at became Williston.17,18,19,20 Their homestead was barely begun when they were forced south by the British in 1776. Thomas bought a new farm in Arlington, Vermont.21,22
     Thomas and became a leader in the movement to form a separate government for the state of Vermont. He was the first president of the Committee of Safety, and a member of the Convention of Delegates that met at Bennington 25 Sep 1776 to consider the independence of the state, and one of those who framed the constitution at Windor.23 When the new independent state was formed, Thomas was elected its first Governor in 1777, serving 14 years until Vermont was admitted to the Union, then six years afterwards, without salary. In all, he was elected Governor every year except one until he died in 1797. He reportedly was a generous and humble man who exercised his office with sagacious diplomatic skill. Ethan Allen said of him, "He was the only man I ever knew who was sure to be right in all, even the most difficult and complex cases, and yet he could not tell nor seem to know why it was so."24,25,26 He was sometimes called "One-Eyed Tom."27
     Thomas died on 25 Aug 1797 in Williston, Chittenden Co., Vermont, at age 67.10,11 Chittenden County, Vermont, is named for him.28

Children:
     Children with Elizabeth Meigs:

  • Mabel Chittenden29,30 (7 Oct 1750 - 1838)
  • Noah Chittenden31,30 (26 Sep 1753 - 1834)
  • Hannah Chittenden32,30 (13 Jul 1756 - 8 Sep 1789)
  • Mary Chittenden33,30 (18 Sep 1758 - 20 Apr 1794)
  • Elisabeth Chittenden34,30 (17 Feb 1761 - )
  • Beulah Chittenden35,30 (15 May 1764 - 6 Feb 1824)
  • Gov. Martin Chittenden36,30 (12 Mar 1766 - 5 Sep 1840)
  • Col. Giles Chittenden37,30 (30 Jul 1768 - Mar 1819)
  • Judge Truman A. Chittenden38,30 (10 Sep 1770 - 5 Sep 1840)
  • Electe Chittenden39,30 (27 Jul 1773 - )

Citations

  1. [S3166] Talsott, Chittenden Family, pg 21.
  2. [S729] Varkus, Compendium of American Genealogy, 6:292, shows name as Lt. Col. Thomas Chittenden.
  3. [S3167] Mackenzie, Colonial Families of the United States, 4:85.
  4. [S729] Varkus, Compendium of American Genealogy, 6:292.
  5. [S3167] Mackenzie, Colonial Families of the United States, 4:85, shows date, town, and state.
  6. [S3166] Talsott, Chittenden Family, pg 21, shows date.
  7. [S49] Freeman, Family File "David and Deborah.GED," 31 Jul 1998, shows date, town, as Guilford.
  8. [S7926] Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, Guilford, pg 170, there is no record for the marriage of Elizabeth Meigs.
  9. [S3166] Talsott, Chittenden Family, pg 34, shows year, as 1750.
  10. [S3167] Mackenzie, Colonial Families of the United States, 4:85, shows date, town, county, and state.
  11. [S3166] Talsott, Chittenden Family, pg 34, shows date.
  12. [S3166] Talsott, Chittenden Family, pg 33, shows he moved at age 21.
  13. [S729] Varkus, Compendium of American Genealogy, 6:292, shows year.
  14. [S3167] Mackenzie, Colonial Families of the United States, 4:85, shows year.
  15. [S49] Freeman, Family File "David and Deborah.GED," 31 Jul 1998, citing Michael J. Badamo, The Watchman, (1995), shows he was a substantial farmer in his native Guilford.
  16. [S3166] Talsott, Chittenden Family, pg 33, shows he was properous in business and prominent in civil and military offices.
  17. [S49] Freeman, Family File "David and Deborah.GED," 31 Jul 1998, citing Michael J. Badamo, The Watchman, (1995), shows he moved to Willison in 1774, settled on the Winooski River.
  18. [S729] Varkus, Compendium of American Genealogy, 6:292, shows year, as 1774.
  19. [S3167] Mackenzie, Colonial Families of the United States, 4:85, shows year, as 1774.
  20. [S3166] Talsott, Chittenden Family, pg 33, shows he moved to the New Hampshire Grants in 1773, purchased land on the Onion, settlement became Williston.
  21. [S49] Freeman, Family File "David and Deborah.GED," 31 Jul 1998, citing Michael J. Badamo, The Watchman, (1995), shows they were forced south and bought in Arlington.
  22. [S3166] Talsott, Chittenden Family, pg 33, shows he was driven from his home when the war commenced.
  23. [S3167] Mackenzie, Colonial Families of the United States, 4:85, shows offices held.
  24. [S3166] Talsott, Chittenden Family, pg 33, shows he was chosen the first governor in 1778 and held that office every year until his death except one.
  25. [S3167] Mackenzie, Colonial Families of the United States, 4:85, shows service as governor.
  26. [S49] Freeman, Family File "David and Deborah.GED," 31 Jul 1998, citing Odell Walker, Profiles of the Past (1994), and Michael J. Badamo, The Watchman, (1995), provides charactorizations and quote.
  27. [S49] Freeman, Family File "David and Deborah.GED," 31 Jul 1998, citing Michael J. Badamo, The Watchman, (1995).
  28. [S49] Freeman, Family File "David and Deborah.GED," 31 Jul 1998.
  29. [S8604] Births, Deaths, Marriages, Town Meetings, Salisbury, 1:217, birth record for Mabel Chittenden.
  30. [S3166] Talsott, Chittenden Family, pg 35.
  31. [S8604] Births, Deaths, Marriages, Town Meetings, Salisbury, 1:217, birth record for Noah Chittenden.
  32. [S8604] Births, Deaths, Marriages, Town Meetings, Salisbury, 1:217, birth record for Hanah Chittenden.
  33. [S8604] Births, Deaths, Marriages, Town Meetings, Salisbury, 1:217, birth record for Mary Chittenden.
  34. [S8604] Births, Deaths, Marriages, Town Meetings, Salisbury, 1:217, birth record for Elizabeth Chittenden.
  35. [S8604] Births, Deaths, Marriages, Town Meetings, Salisbury, 1:150, birth record for Bulah Chittenden.
  36. [S8604] Births, Deaths, Marriages, Town Meetings, Salisbury, 1:150, birth record for Martin Chittenden.
  37. [S8604] Births, Deaths, Marriages, Town Meetings, Salisbury, 2:9, birth record for Giles Chittenden.
  38. [S8604] Births, Deaths, Marriages, Town Meetings, Salisbury, 2:9, birth record for Truman Chittenden.
  39. [S8604] Births, Deaths, Marriages, Town Meetings, Salisbury, 2:9, birth record for Electe Chittenden.