Blodgett Papers

The Blodgett Papers combines two valuable manuscripts written by the Rev. Fred Blodgett (1874-1954). The first to come to our attention was “My Generation in Cabot,” written in 1950-51. It was donated to the Cabot Public Library by the Rev. Blodgett’s wife, Eleanor, in 1954. The second manuscript, “History of the Blodgett Family in America,” was donated by a niece, Mary (Blodgett) Fearon in November 2008. The manuscripts include family photos contributed by another niece, Mary Fearon’s sister, Helen Blodgett, and from Cabot Historical Society's collection. The manuscripts were fragile, so we copied them and published a book, available to the public. This project was completed, with family permission, in December 2008.

The first section of the book is “My Generation in Cabot.” This gives a first-hand glimpse into the town’s past and growing up in this small rural Vermont village, in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Rev. Blodgett describes buildings that have disappeared and relates stories and impressions of some people he knew. He writes in an easy conversational style that engages the reader’s imagination and entertains with personal asides and comments.

The second section is the Rev. Blodgett’s manuscript titled “History of the Blodgett Family in America.” It is a detailed account of the Blodgett family history and genealogy, written in the same easy style. Rev. Blodgett goes back to 1635 when members of the Blodgett family arrived in America and follows the family line in detail from that point, including background information and a comprehensive genealogy of family lines in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont. The Blodgett women in Massachusetts and Connecticut married into families such as Kendell, Simonds, Hayward, Winn, Richardson, Reed, Fuller, Edson, and Woodbury. The Vermont Blodgett women married into families such as Burgess, Downing, Willis, Graham, Bolton, McLean, Ide, Cole and Warden. Family lines are clearly noted throughout as the family expanded. Rev. Blodgett is buried in Durant Cemetery in Lower Cabot.

The typewritten, double-spaced manuscripts, have been reproduced exactly with hand written notes and corrections intact, and the original pages are now archived and stored for preservation. 168 pgs. Hard cover, $35 plus $5 s&h; soft cover, $18 plus $4 s&h.