March 12

1767 -a very cold day, as cold as at New Year's day.  Messrs. McCracken, Rice, and Price, this day arrived from Montreal, on their journey for New York. -Gilliland.

1772 Albany County divided, the new county including both sides of Lake Champlain and taking its name from Charlotte, daughter of William Gilliland and wife of the first clerk of Essex county, Stephen Cuyler.

1785 Charles Platt arrived in Plattsburgh from Dutchess county.
            How truly grand the scene!
                The giant trees are bare,
            No fertile meadows intervene,
                No hillocks fresh and fair.
                                    -Margaret Miller Davidson.

1789 Vergennes elected Enoch Woodbridge, its first mayor, subsequently chief justice of the Supreme Court.

1805 Reuben Baker received of Elisha Arnold ten dollars Town Bounty for having killed a wolf in the Town of Peru.

1813 Lake Champlain Steamboat Company chartered by New York.

1856 The Rev. Edward B. Chamberlain ordained and installed pastor of the Presbyterian church in Plattsburgh, President Pease of the U. V. M., his Alma Mater, preaching the sermon.

 Today In the Champlain Valley History