George Benjamin Carroll: Vermont farmer and merchant

1814-1886
great-great-grandfather

George Carroll and wife Susan (Johnson) Carroll

 

      George Benjamin Carroll (George Sr.) was born October 11, 1814, in Moretown or Richmond, Vermont, the son of Benjamin Caryl and Polly Brigham. He was the second of 9 children, with siblings: Esther Wright (1813), Sarah Alsina (1816), Alzina Sarah (1817), Alma Luana (1820), Lawson P. (1822), Lovina D. (1825), Charles L. (1827) and Pliny F. (1831). Sarah Alsina died before her first birthday. George Sr. was the first Carroll generation to go by the Irish-sounding ‘Carroll’. Prior to that time, the family name was ‘Caryl’ or ‘Carrill’, likely an English or Welsh name! The earliest known Caryl, with some degree of confidence, is Nathaniel Carrill, born in the late 1630’s, probably in Salem, Massachusetts.

      George Sr. spent his earliest years in Moretown, Washington County, Vermont, but later the family moved to Richmond, Vermont, in Chittenden County, about 25 miles northwest of Moretown. In December 1838, at 24 years of age, he bought 2 acres of land in Richmond, but sold it about 5 years later at a slight loss.

      In February, 1846, George B. Carroll married Susan Johnson in Williston, Vermont, about 7 miles northwest of Richmond. In 1850, they were living in Richmond with George working as a laborer. Also in the household were Parthenia Johnson, Susan’s sister, and 5 unrelated laborers, aged 12 – 25.

      In April 1850, George signed a note for $3,000 for many acres of land in Waitsfield, to be paid by 18 promissory notes. While in Waitsfield, their 2 children were born: George Eden (1850) and Herbert Eugene (1855). It appears that in 1857, George had to sell off much of the property because he was not able to pay the notes due. It appears that he owned the original Wait house, but he must not have held the property long. I get the impression of a big dreamer and schemer, who ran into financial difficulties… In 1860, he was still living with his wife and 2 sons in Waitsfield and farming. Also in the home were his widowed mother Polly (age 73), brother Pliny and Pliny’s future wife, Susan Poland. In 1870, he was still farming in Waitsfield, but his mother had died and his brother Pliny had married and moved out. The value of his real estate was $7500 and the value of his personal estate was $2360. In 1874, he sold some of his land to Rhoda Green, Susan’s sister, for $2500, but the store on that property was exempted. He later bought the property back when his financial situation was better.

      In the 1880 census, only George and Susan were living in their Waitsfield home. George, age 65, was listed as “maimed, crippled, bedridden or otherwise disabled” and no longer had an occupation. George died on April 12, 1886, age 71, in Warren, Vermont and was buried in Irasville Cemetery in Waitsfield. Cause of death is listed as paralysis. It appears that he and Susan were living with his youngest sibling, Pliny, whom they had helped out earlier. Susan was probably unable to care for her disabled husband on her own.