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By far the majority of pages
on this site deal with the military history of these historic lakes; that
is to be expected due to the strategic importance the waterways held
during times of conflict. This page is not about military history. Quite
to the contrary, it is about a place and a people wholly devoted to peace-
the beautiful little Quaker Cemetery in Grand Isle, Vermont.
A group of Quakers, or members of the Society of
Friends, as they call themselves, settled early in the Champlain Islands.
As early as 1801 the Friends on the island had built a meeting and school
house on the lakeshore near the Mosher Hoag (Vantine) property.
The early Quaker settlers were active in
horticulture on the islands, establishing many nurseries and orchards. To
this day, the islands are known for their outstanding apple crops.
The Friends are, by virtue of their religious
beliefs, strict pacifists. Doubtless their faith was sorely tested during
the dark days of 1812-1814 when war came to the region. Mrs. George Fuller
Tuttle tells us that "At the time of the battle on Cumberland bay, the
Friends, at the regular hour, gathered in this building to hold "first day
services," apparently oblivious to the roar of battle from three to six
miles away, since their faith prevented any participation in the conflict.1"
As early as 1818 there was already a Friends' Burial
Ground in Grand Isle, located close by Gordon's Landing, opposite
Cumberland Head. On April 9, 1818 Silas Macomber deeded a site to
Warren Corbin and Seth Griffith a piece of property adjacent to the
cemetery for ten dollars. This property was to be used for a new meeting
house. The photos seen on this page are from the ancient Friends' cemetery
adjacent.
By 1836, the Quaker presence on the island had
diminished significantly. Various controversies and schisms had developed
within the groups in the area. The last service was held in the meeting
house on what we now know as Adams School Road on November 17, 1836. The
little building stood largely unused until 1880, when it was demolished.
In 1899, descendants of Friends on the island carted
an enormous boulder from the lake shore, close by the site of the original
log meeting-house to the old cemetery. Here it remains today, opposite the
site of the second Meeting House, erected in 1818. The inscription, very
difficult to read today, is as follows:
ERECTED A.D. 1899
IN
MEMORY OF
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
IN
1827
They erected a meeting house near this spot, where
for 50 years they worshiped God. They stood for
freedom of Conscience, universal peace, spirituality
of worship. Having finished their labors they here
lie buried and their works follow them.
"Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you."
--John, 15-14.
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Daniel Hoag, |
1761-1809 |
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Wesson Macomber, |
1764-1818 |
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Wyman Chamberlain, |
1772-1838 |
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Warren Corbin, |
1769-1834 |
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James Tobias, |
1759-1801 |
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Jonathan Griffith, |
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Mosher Hoag, |
------1807 |
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Lavinia C. Hoag, |
1804-1891 |
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James Hoag, |
1805-1897 |
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Anna T. Hoag, |
1821-1888 |
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Seth Hoag, |
1798-1887 |
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Sarah Hoag, |
1798-1880 |
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