Vergennes was incorporated a city in 1788. There was a sawmill at The Falls as early as 1765. In 1766, Donald MacIntosh, a soldier under Wolfe at Quebec, erected a cabin below the Falls and high up on the North bank. He became the first permanent settler, dying in Vergennes in 1803. The Falls, with a drop of about 35 feet has furnished power to many industries since the first sawmill of 1765 and those shown in the engraving of 1850 gave some idea of the business around them at the that time. The picture does not include all the mills as there were many on the North bank which are not shown. The name "Robinson Del" in the lower right hand corner of the engraving may refer to Rowland T. Robinson as he was a capable artist in addition to being a famous Vermont writer.