Colchester Village in Chittenden County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)
Colchester
The Early Years
By 1763, the English had driven the French armies from Canada making the Champlain Valley safe for settlement. In the same year, King George III chartered Colchester Township on the Onion River - now known as the Winooski. In 1773, Ira Allen's Onion River Land Company bought much of the Onion's north bank from the royal grantees. Ira, land speculator and settler, made his home in Colchester. During the Revolutionary War Allen was active in the movement to win statehood for Vermont. Congress rejected Vermont's bid, however, because both New York and New Hampshire claimed its territories. Colchester's Ira Allen joined delegates from Vermont's other towns at Windsor in 1777, where they declared Vermont an independent state. He became Secretary of the State's Ruling Council under Governor Thomas Chittenden. Not until 1791, after settlement of the New Hampshire and New York claims, did Congress admit Vermont to the Union as the 14th State. Newly incorporated that year, Colchester prospered. Lumber, woolens, and agricultural products sold well on both sides of the U.S. - Canadian border. The British invasion of the Valley in 1814, threatened Colchester once again, but the combined forces of Commodore Macdonough and General Macomb - including Colchester volunteers - repulsed the invaders at Plattsburgh. Colchester was never again in danger.
Now in our bicentennial year, we raise this marker to honor those pioneers who secured these lands for us and our children.
Erected 1991 by The People of Colchester.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers • War of 1812. A significant historical year for this entry is 1763.
Location. 44° 32.661′ N, 73° 9.009′ W. Marker is in Colchester, Vermont, in Chittenden County. It is in Colchester Village. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (Vermont Route 2A) and Cobbleview Drive, on the right when traveling east on Main Street. Marker is located between the Colchester Meeting House and the Burnham Memorial Library on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 830 Main Street, Colchester VT 05446, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Ray W. Collins (approx. 1.2 miles away); Buffalo Soldiers At Fort Ethan Allen (approx. 2.7 miles away); Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Ethan Allen (approx. 2.8 miles away); George Jerrison Stannard / Deming-Stannard Farm (approx. 3.8 miles away); Catamount Stadium (approx. 4 miles away); There's Only One Essex Junction (approx. 4.1 miles away); Native Americans and Winooski (approx. 4.1 miles away); Fort Frederick (approx. 4.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Colchester.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2015, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. This page has been viewed 395 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 3, 2015, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.