A Journey to the Champlain Valley (1767)

It’s 1767. You’re traveling from Plainfield, Connecticut, to start a new life with your wife and eight children. You carry everything you own—livestock, tools, clothing, supplies, and means of defense—through Fort Edward and Lake George, New York. Eventually, you arrive in the newly chartered town of Panton, in the disputed region between New Hampshire and New York, along the shores of Lake Champlain.

When you look across the lake, all you see is wilderness.

This was the actual journey of the Spaulding family as they set out to establish a homestead that would endure for generations.

War Comes to the Homestead

Soon after settling, British forces drove the Spaulding family from their home. The men were imprisoned, while the women and children were left to fend for themselves. Their livestock and possessions were taken.

Still, they survived.

Phineas Spaulding Jr. escaped and went on to serve four enlistments in the Massachusetts State Brigade during the Revolutionary War. Two of his brothers were also captured and taken to Canada. They later escaped and joined the fight. The youngest brother, George, was “retaken and put in irons” and was never seen again.

Given the proximity to British-controlled forts at Crown Point and Ticonderoga—and the nearby Battle of Valcour Island, which culminated in Ferris Bay (now Arnold Bay) in Panton—the Spauldings likely lived through events tied to figures like Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold.

Traces of the Past Still Remain

Carvings, artifacts, and everyday objects still tell pieces of this story:

• Hand-forged nails
• Carving of John Grafton Spaulding’s initials (circa 1881)
• Connecticut copper coins from 1787

These are small but powerful reminders that this was once a working homestead, lived in and built over generations.

Finding the Farm (By Chance)

Krista and I came across this property almost by accident.

Over the past 40 years, we’ve bought and renovated several old homes. Out of the blue, one of our sons and his wife—who were house-hunting in Vermont—sent us a listing for a property that hadn’t been lived in for about 20 years. They joked, “It’s right up your alley.”

We were flying into Burlington the next day, so we thought, why not take a look?

More Than a Fixer-Upper

When we toured the property, we quickly realized this was more than just another renovation.

Years of neglect had taken their toll—rotting sills, leaking roofs, no running water, a failing foundation, and a long-dead heating system. Animals had moved into the house, the walls, and the attic. A family of foxes—a mother and four kits—was living under the crawlspace, which had once been the kitchen.

Still, there was something about the place you couldn’t ignore.

You could feel the history.

Uncovering the History Beneath Our Feet

It should be clear by now—I’m not a historian.

But I do love old things, especially the kind you can touch, use, and live in.

The Spaulding homestead continues to reveal its past in small ways: lost coins, flatware, shards of ceramics, pieces of glass, hand-forged metalwork, carvings, and even graffiti.

Each discovery adds another layer to the story.

Preserving the Story of the Spaulding Homestead

From time to time, I’ll share what we uncover here. My goal is simple: to honor the Spaulding family and preserve these stories for whoever comes next.

Today, the property is only a small remnant of the original homestead. But it still carries the weight of the past—and it’s now part of the future of Wiggly Goat Farm.

A Note on Local History

I mentioned the Battle of Valcour Island earlier. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s well worth learning about. The naval conflict played an important role in the success of the Revolutionary War.

If you want to dive deeper:

Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (including the story of the gunboat Spitfire, rediscovered in 1997)

Valcour: The 1776 Campaign That Saved the Cause of Liberty

P.S.

I got a metal detector for Christmas.