February 21

1767 - last night it began to freeze, and this day it froze very hard, with a cold north wind; yesterday we broke the tongue of our log sleigh, and this day procured another one which is this evening almost made.  Find our coal kiln not 1/2 burnt, owing we suppose to the want of sod in converging it, the sods we put on being only lumps of sandy loam frozen, which when thawed run down between the billets of wood and choked the kiln.  -Gilliland.

1784 At Westminster Gen. Ethan Allen was married to Mrs. Fanny Buchanan, "a lady possessing in an eminent degree, every graceful qualification requisite to tender the hymeneal bonds felicitous."  From this union there were three children, Ethan Voltaire, Hannibal and Fanny, who became a nun and died in the Hotel Dieu in Montreal.  Fanny Allen Hospital in Burlington perpetuates her name.

 Today In the Champlain Valley History