Searsburg, Bennington County, Vermont Genealogy

Brief History
Searsburg was chartered on February 23, 1781, by Thomas Chittenden, governor of Vermont, but was not surveyed or allotted until about the year 1800.

From about the year 1800 to about 1830, no titles of land seems to have passed from the original proprietors. Occasionally during this period a man moved into town, but the inclemency of the seasons and the uninviting nature of the land seems to have induced an early removal from the area.

The Searsburg turnpike, leading from Wilmington to Bennington, was begun in 1830, and for the next four years the population of the town seems to have increased quite rapidly. The population was 96 at the 2000 census.

Historical Data
The Vermont Historical Gazetteer is a 5 volume set of historical information by Abby Maria Hemenway with Volume I published in 1867 and Volume V completed in 1891 after her death. Also available online in PDF format at this link.

Vital Records
FamilySearch Historical Records Collection has Vermont birth, death, and marriage records online.

Probate Records
The probate district for Searsburg is Bennington. Bennington Probate Division 207 South St. Bennington, VT 05201 Phone: (802) 447-2705

Maps
1856 map of Searsburg

Cemeteries
The following is a list of cemeteries in present-day Searsburg. For location of cemeteries, see Cemeteries of Vermont, Bennington County, website at this link.


 * Crosier Cemetery (Farrington Cemetery) - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * Cutler Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * Earnes Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.

Cemetery records of the town of Searsburg, Vermont, 1832- 1869 - microfilm of original records at the Family History Library.

Town Records
Town Clerk Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005, can be found on FamilySerach (browse only images) at this link.

The Family History Library has microfilm of original records from the Searsburg Town Clerks Office. These include Land records, 1820-1899; index to land records, 1820-1977, and Vermont, Bennington County, Searsburg, land records, 1900-1913.

Searsburg Town Clerk Mailing Address: P.O. Box 157 Wilmington, VT 05363 Physical Address: 18 Town Garage Road Searsburg, VT 05363 Phone: (802) 464-8081 Email: josiekil@yahoo.com

Newspapers
Bennington Banner Newspaper