Samuel Austin, Paul Varney records in Colchester, Vermont

On the title page of the first volume of town records for Colchester is written, “Town Book No 1, From April 10, 1797 to March 19, 1820.” On page 1 of the records we find the following heading, “Grand List for the year 1797.” At the bottom of the list we find the name of Samuel Austin. The names of Samuel and his sons are found frequently in the town records up until his death May 6, 1821. He is buried in the Marrs Hallow Cemetery in nearby Milton, Vermont. Every two years the city held an election for city offices. One of the offices was that of “leather sealer”. Starting with Samuel that office was held continuously by a Austin for twenty plus years. Paul Varney makes his first appearance in Book No 1 on page 21. His name is included on the Grand List for year 1800. We see Paul’s name appear on the Grand Lists for 1809 and 1810 then we see very little evidence for him until the 1816 list. In the 1810 Federal Census his family in Colchester has two boys and three girls. In the years 1818/19 the town published two years of a very detailed tax assessment. Paul’s name appears on those two lists and every subsequent list until he leaves Vermont for Ohio.The 1800 census taken in Colchester includes the name of Paul Varney. In 1850 Paul is living in Chardon, Ohio at the age of 78 which supports at date of birth in 1772.The list of Austin marriages is from a compilation of marriage records found in Dover, New Hampshire.