Poultney, Rutland County, Vermont Genealogy

Brief History
Poultney was chartered by Benning Wentworth on September 21, 1761, and contained an area of 23,040 acres. The origin of the name Poultney is not known, though it has been suggested that it was derived from an English lord of that name, who was a friend of Benning Wentworth. The town was organized on the 8th of March, 1775.

Welsh immigrants came to Poultney because of its rich slate deposits. The first quarry in Poultney was the famed Eureka Quarry established in 1852 by Daniel Hooker. The initial applications of slate products were school slates for writing and slate pencils.

A central landmark in Poultney village is Green Mountain College, a four-year liberal arts college. Its history can be traced back to 1834.

Cemeteries
The following is a list of cemeteries in present-day Fair Haven. For location of cemeteries, see Cemteries of Vermont, Rutland County, website at this link.


 * Ames Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * Broughton Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * East Poultney Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * East Poultney Jewish Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * Fifield Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * Hosford Crossing Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * Poultney Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * Saint Johns Episcopal Church Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * Saint Raphael Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * Traverse Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.
 * Ward Cemetery - inscriptions at Find A Grave site.


 * Poultney Cemeteries List at FindAGrave
 * at FamilySearch Catalog
 * at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Rutland County Cemeteries at FamilySearch Places

Church Records
Historically, the largest religious groups in Vermont were the Congregational, Baptist, Roman Catholic, and Methodist churches. For general information about Vermont denominations, view the New Hampshire Church Records wiki page. To see the churches in Poultney, visit. Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. The following are church records available online for the town of Poultney:

1. Poultney Methodist Church Main St Poultney, VT 05764 Phone: (802) 287-5710

2. St. Raphaels Catholic Church 21 E Main St Poultney, VT 05764 Phone: (802) 287-5703

City Directories
FamilySearch Catalog

Land Records
The following are online land records for the town of Poultney:

Libraries and Historical Societies
Poultney Public Library 205 Main St. Poultney, VT 05764 Phone: (802) 287-5556 Email: ppl5556@yahoo.com Website: Poultney Public Library

Poultney Historical Society PO Box 605 Poultney, VT 05741 Phone: (802) 287-5252 Website: Poultney Historical Society

Maps
The following are online maps of the town of Poultney:

1854 Rutland County, Poultney map

Newspapers
Rutland Herald online at this link.

Probate Records
In Vermont, most probate records are kept at the town level. The following are online probate records for the town of Poultney:

The probate district for Poultney is Fair Haven. Fair Haven Probate Court 3 North Park Place Fair Haven, VT 05743 (802) 265-3380

Town Histories
A History of the Town of Poultney, Vermont: From Its Settlement to the Year 1875, with Family and Biographical Sketches and Incidents, Joseph Joslin, Barnes Frisbie , and Frederick Ruggles, Poultney, Journal Printing Office, 1875. Available online.

Historical Photos

Town Records
In Vermont, most records are kept at the town level and generally began being kept at the founding of the town. These records may include the following: The following are Poultney town records available online:

Town Clerk
The town clerk is responsible for these records, and so most originals can be found at the town clerk's office.

Poultney Town Clerk 9 Main St Poultney, VT 05764‎ Phone: (802) 287-5761 Website: Poultney Town Clerk

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