This is a rough and mountainous township, with very little productive land, on the west side of Connecticut River, and connected with Orford, N.H., by a bridge across that river. 

  Fairlee pond is two miles in length and about three fourths of a mile wide.  It formerly had no fish.  Some years ago a gentleman placed some pickerel in it, and the legislature passed a law protecting the fish from molestation for two years.  Since that time the pond has had an abundance of pickerel, of good size and quality. 

  Boundaries.  North by Bradford, east by Connecticut River, which separates it from Orford, N. H., south by Thetford, and west by West Fairlee. 

  Distances.  Seventeen miles east south-east from Chelsea, and thirty-one south-east from Montpelier.  The Connecticut River Railroad passes through this town. 
 

(Gazetteer of Vermont, by John Hayward, 1849, p. 60-61)