Asa Smith is a frontier baby, born amidst settlers, forts and Indian raids.

Asa Smith was born on September 6, 1780 in Bethel. He was the first white child to be born in Bethel, nearly two years before Bethel was officially organized and held its first town meeting.

Bethel had been granted its charter by the Republic of Vermont less than a year earlier, and an ambitious group of settlers were trying to develop the town.

They had left Bethel in August because of a nearby indian raid which claimed the life of a Bethel man. They were back by the time Asa Smith was born.

Settlers continued to build, adding a fort for protection. 79 years later, Asa Smith died on the same farm where he was born.

The Vermont Book Of Days photo.

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