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United States Vermont  Windsor   Bethel

Brief History
On December 29, 1777, an association was formed at Hanover, N. H., for the purpose of making a "settlement on White river and its branches," and in March, 1778, they petitioned the legislature of Vermont for the grant of a township to be called Bethel. This petition met with success and a grant was made March 18, 1778, the township charter being issued on December 23, 1779.

The town received its name based on the story of Jacob in the book of Genesis 28:11-22. The group of original settlers camped at the mouth of the Gilead River and used stones for pillows. They recounted the story of Jacob who also used stones as pillows and decided to name the town Bethel as Jacob did in the book of Genesis.

Town Histories
Bethel, the early years : a collection of photographs with annotated text by rene Cushing and Irene Stafford - Find this book in a library.

The illustrated historical souvenir of Bethel, Vermont : containing a brief history of the early settlement of the town, the schools, churches, medical and legal professions, old families, business and manufacturing interests, together with portraits and biographies of the citizens, past and presen by Fred G. Cox - this book is available online free of charge.

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

Probate Records
The probate district for Bethel is Hartford. Hartford Probate Court 62 Pleasant Street PO Box 275 Woodstock, VT 05091 Phone: (802) 457-1503

Maps
1869 map of Bethel

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


 * Baker Hill Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * Bridgewater Center Cemetery
 * Bridgewater Hill Cemetery
 * Mendall Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * Mount Pleasant Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * North Bridgewater Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * Topliff Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.

Bridgewater cemetery pages where you will find cemetery information and inscriptions courtesy of the Bridgewater Historical Society - http://www.bridgewaterhistory.org/cemeteries/

Churches
1. Bethany Mennonite Church   169 Rte 100A    Bridgewater Cors, VT 05035    Phone: (802) 672-3488

2. Bridgewater Congregational Church   7213 Rte. 4   PO Box 4    Bridgewater, VT    Phone: (802) 672-5211

Town Records
Digital images of Bethel Town records, 1773-1869, are available online at FamilySearch.

The Family History Library has microfilm of original records from the Bethel Town Clerk's Office. These include Deeds, 1781-1894; index, 1781-1898and Records of births, marriages, and deaths, 1868-1997; indexes to births, deaths, marriages, 1773-1997.

Bethel Town Clerk 134 South Main St. Bethel, Vermont 05032 Phone: (802) 234-9722 E-Mail: betheltownclerk@comcast.net Website: http://www.bethelvt.govoffice3.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Town-of-Bethel-Vermont/152244938197111

Newspapers
The Herald of Randolph

Valley News

Libraries and Historical Societies
Bethel Historical Society 318 Main Street PO Box 25 Bethel, VT 05032 Phone: (802) 234-5064 Website: http://bethelvermont.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bethel-Historical-Society/203035726375597

Bethel Public Library 106 Main St. Bethel, VT 05032 Phone: (802) 234-9107