Timeline of the Founding of Rutland County VTGenWeb
contributed by Denise Wells
— Wikipedia [NOTE: this following historical information is a bit convoluted, but could be critical in your understanding of the town locations at different points of research for your ancestors. Be sure to check the dates that you are working with.]
On February 16, 1781, Rutland County was created from Bennington County. From June 26, 1781, until February 23, 1782, Vermont attempted to annex part of New York east of the Hudson River (the so-called West Union); inhabitants in the area favored Vermont’s township form of government, while Vermont hoped to gain bargaining power through expansion. New York did not lose control of the area. For almost seven months Rutland County included part of Charlotte County (now Washington County), New York.
In February 1783 Orange County gained the towns of Brookfield and Randolph and Windsor County gained the towns of Bethel and Rochester from Rutland. On October 18, 1785 Addison County was created from Rutland.
On February 27, 1787, Windsor County gained the town of Stockbridge from Rutland, then on October 31, 1792, Rutland gained from Windsor County when the town of Mount Holly was created from Jackson’s Gore and the towns of Ludlow and Wallingford. Windsor County gained Benton’s Gore from Rutland on March 2, 1797.
On October 25, 1805, Rutland County gained from Bennington County when the town of Mount Tabor gained from the town of Peru. On October 29, 1806, Windsor County gained from Rutland County when the town of Rochester gained a small area from the town of Pittsfield. On November 15, 1813, the county gained from Windsor County when the town of Pittsfield gained a small area from the town of Stockbridge, a change too small to appear on maps. On November 9, 1814 Addison County gained from Rutland County when the town of Goshen gained from the town of Philadelphia. On October 22, 1822, the county gained from Windsor County when the town of Pittsfield gained a small area from the town of Stockbridge. On November 3, 1823, it gained from Windsor County again when the town of Shrewsbury gained a small area from the town of Plymouth. On November 15, 1824, Windsor County gained from Rutland County when the town of Rochester gained a small area from the town of Pittsfield. On November 17, 1825, Bennington County gained from the county when the town of Dorset gained a small area from the town of Mount Tabor.
On November 7, 1839, the Legislature authorized Addison County to gain a small area from Rutland County when the town of Whiting was to gain from the town of Orwell. But there is no evidence that a change took effect. Addison County gained the town of Orwell from Rutland County on December 1, 1847. On March 6, 1855, Addison County gained another small area from the county when the town of Goshen gained “Clemens Land” from the town of Brandon.
On November 10, 1870, the Legislature authorized Rutland County to gain a small area from Windsor County when the town of Mount Holly was to gain from the town of Weston. But there is no evidence that the change took effect. On April 7, 1880, the county lost to Washington County, New York, when New York gained a small area west of the village of Fair Haven from Vermont due to a change in the course of the Poultney River, a change too small to see on most maps. On November 21, 1884, Windsor County gained a small area from Rutland County when the town of Stockbridge gained Parker’s Gore. On October 8, 1895, Windsor County gained from the county when the town of Weston gained from the town of Mount Tabor.
1894 – The county experienced the first outbreak of polio in the United States in 1894. Within weeks, 132 persons, mostly children, were paralyzed. An additional 18 had died.
Page updated March 2024