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United States Vermont  Bennington   Shaftsbury

Brief History
The township of Shaftsbury was chartered by Benning Wentworth, governor of the province of New Hampshire, on the l0th day of August, 1761, on the same day upon which the other towns of Dorset, Rupert and Glastenbury were similarly granted. The first meeting of the Proprietors of the Town of Shaftsbury was held in Bennington on March 9, 1762.

Many of the structures in Shaftsbury are original buildings. West on Church Street is the active Methodist Church built in the 1870's. Two miles north on Route 7A the Shaftsbury Historical Society Museum is housed in the oldest Baptist Church in Vermont, founded in 1768.

Farming was a mainstay for residents in Shaftsbury during the last century. In the 1800's, sheep farming and dairying were common. In 1880, there were 246 large and small farms. However, during the 1900's, farming declined, and today there are fewer than a half dozen working farms in town.

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 Shaftsbury is Bennington. Bennington Probate Division 207 South St. Bennington, VT 05201 Phone: (802) 447-2705

Maps
1856 map of Shaftsbury

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


 * Cutler Cemetery
 * Earnes Cemetery
 * Farrington Cemetery

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.

Town of Shaftsbury 61 Buck Hill Rd Shaftsbury, VT 05262 Phone: (802) 442-4038 Website: http://www.shaftsbury.net/

Newspapers
Bennington Banner Newspaper

Libraries and Historical Societies
Shaftsbury Historical Society, Inc PO Box 401 Shaftsbury, VT 05262 Website: http://shaftsburyhistoricalsociety.org/ Genealogical Research: Annette Jenkins, (802) 442-8736