USA > New Hampshire > The Connecticut River Valley in southern Vermont and New Hampshire; historical sketches > Part 5
USA > Vermont > The Connecticut River Valley in southern Vermont and New Hampshire; historical sketches > Part 5
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One of the principal reasons for the location of the shire at Chester was that Thomas Chandler, who was
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a man of large means in those early days and resided there, made the offer that he would "at his own expense build a good and sufficient court house and jail." Four years later, in 1770, it was described as being in the cor- ner of a dwelling house built of small poles notched to- gether at the corners similar to log houses. The corner considered as the jail was built as a palisade with upright poles six inches in diameter resting on the lower floor and reaching to the chamber floor, pegged up with wooden pegs. The whole side could be easily thrown over and the prisoners freed. In this early jail at Chester there is record of but one prisoner being confined for any length of time, and he stayed there of his own voli- tion because the man who had brought suit against him, and thus caused his confinement, "had used him with great tenderness and should not be made blameable for his escape."
In 1770 the inhabitants of Chester raised money by subscription, the unique document reading as follows : "June 16th-To Encourage the finishing of the Gaol now begun in Chester, we the subscribers will pay to such person or persons as Thomas Chandler, Thomas Chandler, Jr., Esquires, and Mr. John Grout, who shall employ labor or provide materials, the sums against our names written,-witness our hands,-Joseph Wood, one bushel of corn. William Dean two Bushels of wheat delivered at Rockingham at the last day of August." Judge Chandler then began the erection of a second building to be used for both court house and jail. The next year he complained that no one had paid in any- thing on his subscription, but he had built the second jail. This second jail was built of hemlock logs 20 inches
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in diameter. Owing to the scarcity of nails, which were not manufactured by the colonies, the roof could not be completed and the new jail was left unfinished. In the meantime the old jail had been accepted by the court although it was questioned whether it would hold a prisoner who really wanted to get his liberty. Judge Chandler had the old jail repaired, the sides strength- ened, and, at right angles with the logs which formed the main body of the house, other logs were pinned.
Early in 1771 the inhabitants of Cumberland county, especially those on the Connecticut river, began a strong movement to get the shire removed to Westminster as being a locality more accessible. To prevent this Judge Chandler proceeded to build a court house and jail at his own expense. It was "thirty feet long, sixteen feet wide and eleven feet posts." Besides the court room, there was recorded a "sufficient lobby, or room fit for a jury, with a fire place in it." This building was leased to the county by Judge Chandler for a period of ten years, and as much longer as the county might want it.
In spite of having the use of these "commodious" quarters the people continued the effort to get the shire removed to Westminster, and these efforts were success- ful. Supervisors were elected in each town in the county, who met in Chester on May 26, 1772, and selected West- minster as the shire town, designating the exact location for the court house and jail, which were built and first occupied in 1773. Its cost was limited to two hundred and fifty pounds, raised by tax upon the whole county.
This Westminster court house and jail were destined to become the scenes of many of the important events which occurred during the Revolution and the formation of the State of Vermont.
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WESTMINSTER, ONE OF VERMONT'S MOST HISTORIC TOWNS-THE MASSACRE THERE
The village of Westminster, Vt., located four miles south of Bellows Falls, is one of the most delightful and historic of the villages of this section of the Connecticut river valley. Located upon one of the higher river ter- races, which are so common in the course of the winding river, it can be seen from long distances as one goes through the valley either by train or by automobile.
The village has what is termed an "upper" and a "lower" street. The most northerly is located upon the meadow level and called the upper, while the southerly end although upon a much higher terrace is denomin- ated the lower street, because it is down the river and south. From the north to the south end of these main streets the distance is nearly two miles. The terrace formations here are continuations of those which are so prominent at Bellows Falls. The heights of the terraces at Westminster correspond with those on the opposite side of the river in the town of Walpole, N. H., and they are four in number. The lowest extends along the river bank twenty-four feet above the river bed, and forms the broad alluvial plain crossed by the upper street. The second, ninety feet above the river's bed, extends about a mile each way, being narrowed somewhat at the lower end, and is crossed by the lower street, the central part of the village. The third and fourth are visible on the western elevations and above the village.
This is all historic ground. Located in this broad and beautiful valley of the Connecticut, and girded by a semi-circle of rounded hills that, with those on the New
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Hampshire side, forms a natural amphitheatre, is the stage on which was played the first act in the drama of the Revolution. On the northerly end of the lower street, on the brow of the terrace overlooking the upper street, occurred the first organized resistance to the oppression of King George's tyrannical courts, and here was shed the first blood of the Revolution, March 13, 1775. The story has often been told, how a few determined men met there and took possession of the court house, to prevent the session of next day's court, and they were attacked by the officers of the court and one man killed and another fatally injured. The attempt of the sturdy citizens was successful, for the session of court was not held, nor was it ever held again in this county under the rule of the king.
Today, as the visitor passes down the rural upper street of the village, he can see on the west side of the highway the site of the farm home of Capt. Azariah Wright, the eccentric old patriot at whose house the Liberty men met, and after organizing they there armed themselves with sticks of wood from his capacious wood pile, in the absence of more effective weapons. Also the site of the old "Tory Tavern," which was the head- quarters of the court officials at that time, and the cellar hole which marks the site of the home of Gen. Stephen R. Bradley, where Ethan Allen wooed and wedded his second wife.
Ascending the abrupt hill to the terrace, upon which the lower street is located, on the left is the site of the old court house, the storm center of those early days, in which, in addition to the massacre of March 13, 1775, were later held many of the exciting meetings and con-
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ventions that resulted in the formation of the State of Vermont. Across the street in the quiet cemetery repose the remains of the two martyrs, William French and Daniel Houghton. The Vermont legislature, in 1873, authorized the erection of a handsome monument, with tablets commemorating the event.
Within a stone's throw of the cemetery is the site of the home of Crean Brush, the noted Tory, and, at the street corner the old mansion and office building of Hon. William C. Bradley, who was a Vermont senator in Con- gress in 1812, when the British partially burned the capitol building, and an important part of the city itself. A little further south was the old "Whig Tavern" of John Gould, which was standing only a few years ago.
On the terraces west of, and high above, the lower street today stand the extensive buildings of the Kurn Hattin Homes, which for nearly a half century have exercised a most beneficial influence over homeless boys, and are today caring for about 100 of them. Near the rail- road station on the lower street is now one of the largest canning factories in New England, that of the Baxter Brothers. The town itself is largely devoted to the farming industry.
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FIRST PRINTING PRESS AND FIRST NEWS- PAPER IN VERMONT WAS AT WESTMINSTER
Among the historic incidents for which the town of Westminster is noted is that of being the location of the first printing office, and of the first newspaper printed in the New Hampshire Grants, which afterward became the State of Vermont. The location of the office is said to have been in the old court house on the brow of the hill where the first blood of the Revolution had been shed six years before.
The identical press, made of wood, is now among the most treasured of the relics of early times in the collec- tion of the Vermont Historical Society at Montpelier. It is known as the "Daye Press." It was brought from England by Stephen Daye in 1638 and set up by the owner in Cambridge, Mass., for the purpose of establish- ing the business of printing. Its first production was a broadside of the "Freeman's Oath," then an almanac in which the calculations were made for the first time for New England, and in due course an Indian Bible was issued from it. Daye carried on the printing in Cambridge until 1649, when the press and office came into the possession of Samuel Green and Marinadalle Johnson. The press came into the posession of Harvard College in 1656. In 1714 it became the property of Timothy Green and he took it to New London, Conn., and later it was set up in Norwich, Conn., by Alden Spooner. It was next moved to Dresden, now Hanover, N. H., and various pamphlets and other publications bear the imprint there in 1779.
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The year 1781 saw the removal of the press to West- minster. Here the British-made press was set up to pro- claim liberty and independence for the American people in the issues of the first Vermont newspaper, "The Ver- mont Gazette, or Green Mountain Post Boy." which stated in its heading "Pliant as Reeds, where Streams of Freedom Glide; Firm as the Hills to Stem Oppression's Tide; Printed by Judah Paddock Spooner and Timothy Green." It was a weekly paper, the first issue being February 12, 1781. Only one copy of the paper is known to exist, now deposited in the museum of the Vermont Historical Society at Montpelier, beside the old press upon which it was struck off by hand so many years ago. The paper maintained a precarious existence for only two years, suspending publication in 1783. It is especially notable and appropriate that the year of the establishment of this newspaper at Westminster was the year which signalized the suspension of hostili- ties between England and the United States.
The second newspaper printed in Vermont was the "Vermont Gazette or Freeman's Depository," founded by Anthony Haswell at Bennington, started June 5th, 1783. The paper was published under different names and by different persons until 1853, when that also ceased publication.
Soon after the suspension of the first paper in Westminster, George Hough purchased the press and type of Green & Spooner, and removed them to Windsor. Here on August 7, 1783, George Hough and Alden Spooner commenced the publication of the third news- paper in the state, "The Vermont Journal and the Uni- versal Advertiser." A copy of the first issue, Vol. 1, No.
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1, is in the possession of the Vermont Historical Society.
In the score of years between 1780 and 1800 fifteen newspapers were founded in Vermont. One had been established in 1781, two in 1783, one in 1791, one in 1792, one in 1793, two in 1794, one in 1795, four in 1797, and two in 1798. The population of the state had mean- while increased from 81,000 to 157,000, but only five of the papers were in existence when the new century opened, out of the fifteen established, the other ten journals having suspended publication.
The inhabitants of the town of Westminster take much pride, in addition to their many other reasons, in the fact of the town being the pioneer in a business which has grown to such large proportions, and in its having the first printing press in this state, and from it was issued the first newspaper. At the present time there are nine daily papers and 64 weekly papers pub- lished in Vermont, besides a number of semi-monthly and monthly publications.
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ETHAN ALLEN'S MARRIAGE AT WESTMINSTER
Westminster, our nearest neighboring town on the south, has a wealth of history of which only fragments have been gathered as yet, but if its different important events occurring there could be gathered into one volume it would rank among the most important towns in Ver- mont. It being the county seat during the greater part of the period when Vermont was an independent repub- lic; the first blood of the Revolution having been shed there; it having the location of the first printing press and first newspaper in Vermont, are important points of its history, but it was also the location of one of the most sudden, noted and romantic marriages occurring in the state in those early days, one of the contracting parties being no less a personage than General Ethan Allen.
Delving into authorities, and studying the various traditions still held as reliable by present residents who are descendants of those hardy settlers of a century and a half ago, has resulted in a fairly accurate account of this occurrence. Allen's activities in connection with the Green Mountain Boys on both sides of the mountain called him often into Westminster, as well as other towns on the east side. His residence was in Arlington on the west side, and he was a widower.
One day Frances Buchanan, widow of Captain Buchanan of New York City, and her mother, Mrs. Wall, arrived in Westminster. Mrs. Buchanan was a domineering woman and early attracted the attention of the townspeople, to whom a bearing as imperious as hers was something new. During one of his frequent
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visits to Westminster General Allen formed an acquaint- ance with Mrs. Buchanan, which subsequently ripened into a warm, and for a time singularly intermittent friendship. She was pleased with the originality of his views and conversation, flattered at her ability to arrest the attention of a man whom all feared, but few loved, and imagined that she could find more sympathy in the companionship of his strong, active nature than in the society of the plodding people by whom she was sur- rounded. Mrs. Buchanan found herself, on some occa- sions, irresistibly attracted toward the man, while at other times his rough manner would render him equally repulsive to her.
Aware of the feeling with which she regarded the general and hoping to influence her to effect an alliance with a man in whom boundless ambition was at all times apparent, save when overshadowed by passions as violent as they were unrebuked, John Norton, the tavern keeper at Westminster, said to her one day, "Fanny, if you should marry Gen. Allen you will be the queen of a new state." "Yes," she snapped back, "if I should marry the devil I should be the queen of hell." Her aversion to the leading man of the state disappeared at length and she consented to become his wife. The circumstances attendant upon the marriage, which occurred previous to 1784, were characteristic of the man, who cared but little for "forms of government," or for the social customs of life.
Gen. Stephen R. Bradley had built a convenient dwelling house in Westminster, the same still standing there, and during the sessions of Court, the Supreme Judges were his guests. Mrs. Wall and the handsome
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Mrs. Buchanan also had rooms there. Gen. Allen was a frequent visitor.
One morning while Gen. Bradley and his guests, the Supreme Judges, were at breakfast, Gen. Allen appeared at the gate with sleigh, horse and driver. He was invited to enter and break his fast. He replied that he had eaten at Norton's Tavern and that while the others were en- gaged he would step into Mrs. Wall's apartment and see the ladies. He entered the apartment without cere- mony and found Mrs. Buchanan in a morning gown. After a little conversation he said to her, "I am here to be married, now is the time, for I am on my way to Arlington." "Very well," she replied, "but give me time to put on my Joseph."
Meanwhile the judges and their host had finished their breakfast and were smoking their long pipes. While they were thus engaged, the couple came in and Gen. Allen, walking up to his old friend, Chief Justice Moses Robinson, addressed him: "Judge, this young woman and myself have concluded to marry each other and to have you perform the ceremony." The sur- prised judge asked him when. "Now," replied Allen ; "for myself, I have no great opinion of such formality and, from what I can discover, she thinks as little of it as I do. But as a decent respect for the opinions of mankind seems to require it you will proceed." The Judge asked him if he had given the matter serious consideration.
"Certainly," replied Allen, "but," glancing at Mrs. Buchanan, "I do not think it requires much con- sideration." The ceremony then proceeded until the judge inquired of the General whether he promised to
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live with Frances "agreeable to the laws of God." "Stop! stop!" cried Allen at this point. Then pausing and looking out of the window, the pantheist exclaimed, "The law of God as written in the great book of nature! Yes ! Go on !"
The judge continued and when he had finished, the trunk and guitar case of Mrs. Allen were placed in the sleigh, the parties took their leave and were driven to the general's home in Arlington.
General Allen died Feb. 12, 1798, and his widow subsequently married Dr. Jabez Penniman of Bur- lington.
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WINDHAM COUNTY REBELLION - ETHAN ALLEN ISSUES HIS NOTED PROCLAMATION
How many of the present-day Vermonters ever heard of the Windham County Rebellion ? Early Ver- mont history devotes but little space to it, and more modern history less, but the story is an interesting one, when its different phases are linked together and rescued from oblivion.
It was among the last of those stirring events in the struggle between Vermont as an independent republic, and New York as one of the states of the Union. In this county, as in most of the other counties of the state, there were two parties, one being loyal to Vermont while the other gave fealty to New York. Since the close of the war of the Revolution the government of New York had sought every opportunity to embarrass the newly formed government of Vermont. The center of this opposition was in the town of Guilford, then the most populous town in Vermont. Here was the most active opposition to the collection of taxes and the levy- ing of troops by the Vermont government, as a majority of the citizens were favorable to New York, and so denominated as "tories."
The adherents of New York who were drafted refused to serve and the Sheriff of Windham county was directed to seize their goods and chattels to the amount expended by the state in hiring their substitutes. When the officer attempted to execute the warrant a cow which he had seized was taken from him by a mob acting under a Captain Phelps, commissioned by New York. In levying on the property of Timothy Church of
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Brattleboro, the sheriff was resisted by Church's friends. Being unable to execute his warrant the sheriff asked for a military force to assist him, whereupon by advice of the Vermont council Governor Chittenden ordered Brigadier General Ethan Allen to "raise 250 men to sup- port the civil authority," and it was not many days before Gen. Allen started from Bennington with 100 Green Mountain Boys and marched across the mountains into the rebellious region.
Upon Allen's approach Phelps in a loud voice an- nounced himself as the high sheriff of Cumberland county, as the territory was known as a division of New York state, and bade Allen go about his business; de- nounced his conduct and that of his men as rioters and ordered the military to disperse. With his traditional roughness Allen knocked the hat from the head of the doughty sheriff and ordered his men to "take the d-d rascal off," galloping away to superintend the operations of his forces. Since that morning the numbers of the Vermonters had been augmented by the militia forces under command of Col. Stephen R. Bradley of West- minster, and detachments from other towns, making a force of over 400 men. Allen made several arrests and met with no serious resistance until, while marching toward Brattleboro, they were fired upon by about 50 Guilfordites in ambush. Allen at once marched his men back to Guilford. On reaching that town he made the historic proclamation, "I, Ethan Allen, do declare that I will give no quarter to the man, woman, or child who shall oppose me, and unless the inhabitants of Guilford peaceably submit to the authority of Vermont, I swear that I will lay it as desolate as Sodom and Gomorrah, by
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God." It has always been a mooted question whether the comma should be placed before the last two words or not, making a material difference in the expression, but the well known habits of the old warrior tend toward the validity of the comma.
Without further molestation the General conveyed his prisoners, more than 20 in all, to Westminster and lodged them in jail. When brought to trial fines were imposed on the lesser offenders, while four of the princi- pal ones were banished from Vermont, not to return under pain of death, and their estates were forfeited to the state.
During this disturbance the militia of the West Parish of Westminster, although regularly organized, were for some time in doubt what course to take. True to the cause of Vermont, they were still unwilling to assist in hostilities against their neighbors who differed from them on the question of jurisdiction. On the morning of Tuesday, the 10th of June, 1784, although their captain, Deacon Ephraim Ranney, refused to lead them, they concluded to wait on Gen. Allen, and with this intention started for Brattleboro, when "in the edge of Dummerston" they met him and his forces. Turning about they joined his retinue and accompanied him to Westminster with his prisoners.
During the next winter things became still more serious, and on the night of January 17th a party of Yorkers from Guilford attacked the inn of Joseph Arms in Brattleboro, which was the quarters of several officers under the government of Vermont. The Yorkers de- manded the immediate surrender of Constable Waters, who, they claimed, had been guilty of extorting taxes
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from persons professing allegiance to New York, and Waters surrendered. This being reported to the Ver- mont officials the next day, the 18th, Col. S. R. Bradley at the head of 200 troops from Westminster and vicinity, including the renowned old Azariah Wright and a com- pany from Rockingham under Captain John Fuller, marched for the purpose of enforcing collections, and when he reached Brattleboro he had a force of over 300. Snow had begun to fall and when the troops resumed their march it was necessary to use snow shoes. As the little army advanced a violent southwester greatly in- creased the unpleasantness of the undertaking.
On the morning of Tuesday, the 20th, hostilities again began at Guilford, but the Yorkers were dispersed without much resistance, several of their leaders being taken to Westminster and punished by fine, whipping and pillory. At numerous times during the remainder of that winter and spring collisions occurred between the two factions, and on March 5th another skirmish occurred in which several Yorkers and Vermonters were injured. Before the close of the year the Yorkers found their property mostly confiscated and themselves so harshly handled by the civil and military authority of Vermont that they either took the oath of allegiance to the state or abandoned the locality entirely, many going into New York state and settling on public lands of that state.
One authority says: "During the sessions of the court Westminster had presented more the appearance of a military encampment than of a peaceful village. With the departure of the dignitaries of the bench, the law- yers at the bar, and the prisoners at the dock, it again
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assumed its wonted aspect, and the roll of the drum and shrill notes of the fife gave place to the music of the sleigh bells of winter, and left to their jingling notes the monopoly of noise for the rest of the season."
During the next seven or eight years the collisions between these two factions in the county were frequent. Congress vacillated upon the question of admitting Vermont into the Union of States. Col. Stephen R. Bradley of Westminster and Gen. Ethan Allen each pre- pared proclamations defending the policy of the Ver- monters, which were freely circulated in the army, and Gov. Chittenden reminded Congress of its solemn en- gagements to Vermont, but the sturdy inhabitants main- tained their independence until 1791. Then the commis- sioners of the two states meeting together agreed upon the sum of $30,000 to be paid to New York as an indem- nity for all claims and titles granted previously by the state of New York in the disputed territory, and Vermont was admitted "as a new and entire member of the United States of America" on March 4th, 1791.
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