USA > Vermont > Early history of Vermont, Vol. I > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22
As a place of residence or for those who desire to engage in agriculture or manufacturing in- dustries, Jericho is an inviting place. Its excellent farming lands, pleasant villages, good schools, pleasant surroundings, low taxes, its undeveloped water power that can be utilized for manufactur- ing purposes, and the fact that it is easy of access by railroad, furnishes great inducement for ener- getic people to come hither.
Many prominent and professional men have practised and resided in the town of Jericho, among whom were Jacob Maeck an able lawyer, the Honorable David A. Smally, who was not only a prominent lawyer and aneloquent advocate, but became Judge of the District Court of the United
OF VERMONT.
- 329
States for the District of Vermont, which office he held for many years. Hon. Asahel Peck, who was Judge of the Supreme Court of Vermont, was also a resident of Jericho when he afterward held the office of Governor of Vermont. It would be along list of names to mention all of the men and women who have been citizens of Jericho, who have been successful in business life and in teaching, and prominent in the professions and as statesmen. Many left their native State and became useful citizens in some other of the United States and the world, to make a name for themselves and to bless mankind.
?
CHAPTER XVII.
MEMBERS OF THE WINDSOR CONVENTION, COUNCIL OF SAFETY, GOVERNORS AND SENATORS.
Members of the Windsor Convention, Council . of Safety, Governors and Senators.
The members of the adjourned session of the Windsor Convention, convened at Windsor June 4th, 1777, (at which the name of the State was changed from New Connecticut to Vermont, and at which it was resolved to form a Constitution for the State) were as follows: Viz .-
Capt. Joseph Bowker, Pres. Mr. John Burnham, Jun.
Nathan Clark, Esq.,
Mr. Simeon Hathaway, Major Jeremiah Clark,
Dr. Jonas Fay, Secretary, Capt. Ebenezer Willough- Mr. Gideon Olin, by.
Mr. Abel Benedict,
Mr. Joseph Bradley, -
Mr. Eli Brownson,
Mr. Martin Powell,
Mr. Thomas Bull,
Mr. Cephas Kent,
Mr. Moses Robinson, 2d, Dr. Gaius Smith,
Captain William Fitch, Capt. Jonathan Willard, Mr. Caleb Smith,
Mr. Jesse Churchill,
Capt. Ebenezer Allen, Mr. Whitefield Foot, Mr. Stephen Place, (330)
Capt. Zebediah Dewey,
Capt. William Gage,
Benjamin Spencer, Esq.
Mr. Joseph Smith,
Mr. John Sutherland,
331
OF VERMONT.
Capt. Jonathan Fasset, Capt. Josiah Powers,
Mr. Gamaliel Painter, Capt. Ira Allen,
Capt. Heman Allen, Col. Thomas Chittenden,
Dr. William Hill,
Col. Benjamin Carpenter, Capt. John Barney,
Mr. Israel Smith,
Mr. John Dyer,
Mr. Dennis Lockland,
Mr. Joshua Webb,
Dr. Reuben Jones,
Capt. John Coffein,
Mr. Ebenezer Hoisington,
Major Joel Matthews,
Mr. Benjamin Emmons, Col. Joseph Marsh, John W. Dana, Esq., Mr. Asa Chandler,
Major Thomas More- dock, Joel Marsh, Esq.,
Mr. Abner Chamberlin,
Mr. Amos Woodworth,
Mr. Benjamin Baldwin,
Capt. Robert Johnson,
Capt. Jeremiah Powers.
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF SAFETY.
The persons who composed the original Council of Safety of 1778 under the Constitution were: Viz,
1. Thomas Chittenden, Governor.
2. Ira Allen, State Treasurer and Councillor.
3. Nathan Clark, Speaker of the General As- sembly.
4. Joseph Fay, Secretary of the Gov. and Coun- cil.
Capt. William Curtis, Capt. William Gallop, Mr. Stephen Tilden, Mr. John Throop,
Mr. Asa Whitcomb, Col. Peter Olcott,
Mr: Jacob Burton,
Mr. Daniel Gilbert,
Mr. Frederic Smith, Dr. Bildad Andrus,
Mr. John G. D. Bailey, Mr. Amaziah Wood- worth,
Nathaniel Robinson, Esq.
Mr. Jabez Sargeant,
Capt. William Utley,
Mr. William Mellen,
332
EARLY HISTORY
5. Jonas Fay,
6. Jeremiah Clark,
7. Benjamin Carpenter,
S. Paul Spooner,
9. Jacob Bayley,
10. Moses Robinson,
11. Heman Allen,
12. Matthew Lyon, Dep. Sec'y of Gov. and Coun- cil.
GOVERNORS OF VERMONT WITH THEIR TERMS OF SERVICE, FROM 1778 TO 1898.
Names of Governors,
Commencement of Expiration of
Service.
Service.
Thomas Chittenden,
Feb. 1778, Oct. 1789.
Moses Robinson,
Oct. 1789,
1790.
Thomas Chittenden,1
1790,
1797.
Paul Brigham,2
Aug. 1797,
1797.
Isaac Tichenor,
Oct. 1797,
1807.
Israel Smith,
1807,
1SOS.
Isaac Tichenor,
Oct. 180S,
1809.
Jonas Galusha,
" 1809,
1813.
Martin Chittenden,
1813,
1815.
Jonas Galusha,
" ·1815,
1820.
Richard Skinner,
1820,
66 1823.
Cornelius P. Van Ness,
1823,
1826.
Ezra Butler,
1826,
1828.
Samuel C. Crafts,
182S,
1831.
William A. Palmer,
1831,
1835.
Silas H. Jennison,3
66
1835,
16
1836.
66 1836,
1S41.
Charles Paine,
1841,
1843.
John Mattocks
1843,
18444.
William Slade,
1844,
1846.
333
OF VERMONT.
Horace Eaton,
Oct. 1846, Oct. 184S.
Carlos Coolidge,
" 1848,
1850.
Charles K. Williams,
1850,
1852.
Erastus Fairbanks,
" 1852,
.. 1853.
John S. Robinson,
1853,
1854.
Stephen Royce,
1854,
66
1856.
Ryland Fletcher,
1856,
1S58.
Hiland Hall,
185S,
1860.
Erastus Fairbanks,
1860,
1861.
Frederick Holbrook,
1861, .. 1863.
J. Gregory Smith,
1863,
1865.
Paul Dillingham,
1865,
.6
1867,
John B. Page,
66
1867,
66
1869.
Peter T. Washburn, +
66
1869, ..
1870.
George W. Hendee,5
..
1870,
6.
1874.
Asahel Peck,
..
1874,
1876 ..
Horace Fairbanks
66
1876,
66
1878.
Redfield Proctor,
1878,
66
1SS0.
Roswell Farnham,
1880,
1882.
John L. Barstow,
1SS2,
1884.
Samuel E. Pingree,
1SS+,
..
1886.
E. J. Ormsbee,
1886,
..
1890.
Carroll S. Page,
1890,
1892.
Levi K. Fuller,
1892,
1894.
Urban A. Woodbury,
..
1894,
1896.
Josiah Grout,
1896,
.. 189S.
Edward C. Smith,
..
189S,
.. 1900.
I. Thomas Chittenden died in office August 25th. 1797.
Paul Brigham, Lieutenant-Governor and Governor from August 25th 1797 to October 16, 1797.
3. Silas H. Jennison, Lieutenant-Governor. and Governor by reason of no election by the people.
+ Peter T. Washburn died in office February 7th, IS70.
5. George W. Hendee, Lieutenant-Governor, was Gov- ernor from February 5th, ISto. to October. ISto. bv reason of the death of Governor Peter T. Washburn.
18SS.
William P. Dillingham,
66
1888,
1870.
John W. Stewart,
1870,
1872.
Julius Converse,
1872,
334
EARLY HISTORY
UNITED STATES SENATORS FROM VERMONT, SHOW-
ING THEIR TERM OF OFFICE.
Elections took place in October.
Moses Robinson, 1791-1796.
Isaac Tichenor, for the unexpired term of Moses Robinson resigned, 1796-1797
Nathaniel Chipman,
1797-1803.
Israel Smith,
1803-1807.
Jona. Robinson, for the unexpired term of Isaac Smith resigned, 1807-1809.
Jona. Robinson, for six years, 1809-1815.
Isaac Tichenor, 1815-1821.
Horatio Seymour,
1821-1833.
Stephen R. Bradley,
1791-1795.
1795-1801.
Elijah Paine, ،،
1801-1801.
Stephen R. Bradley. for the unexpired term of Elijah Paine resigned. 1801-1807.
Stephen R. Bradly, for six years, 1807-1813.
Dudley Chase, 1813-1817.
James Fisk, for the unexpired term of Dudley Chase resigned, 1817-181S.
I'm. A. Palmer, for the unexpired term of James Fisk resigned, 1818-1S19.
Wm. A. Palmer, for six years.
1S19-1825.
Dudley Chase, from
1825-1831.
Horatio Seymour, 1821-1833.
Samuel Prentiss, 1831-1842.
Benjamin Swift, 1S33-1839.
Samuel S. Phelps, ..
1839-1851.
Samuel C. Crafts,
1842-1843.
335
OF VERMONT.
William Upham,
1843-1853.
Solomon Foot,
: 1851-1866.
Samuel S. Phelps, ..
1853-1854.
Lawrence Brainerd, ..
1854-1855.
Jacob Collamer,
1855-1865.
Luke P. Poland, 1
1865-1867.
George F. Edmunds, 2 66
1866-1891.
Justin S. Morrill, 3
1867-1898.
Redfield Proctor,
1891-
Jonathan Ross, 3
1899-
1. Luke P. Poland was appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy occasioned by the decease of Jacob Collamer.
2. George F. Edmunds was appointed by the Governor to fill the va- caney occasioned by the death of Solomon Foot.
3. Jonathan Ross was appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Justin S. Morrill, who died Dec. 1898. Jonathan Ross received his appointment Jan. 11th 1899.
-
CHAPTER XVIII.
LIST OF JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT FROM THE YEAR 177S, TO THE YEAR 1899, AND SHOWING THEIR TERM OF OFFICE.
The Judges of the Supreme Court were elected annually by the Legislature in joint Assembly, that commenced its session in October, and their term of service commenced as soon as they were elected until the Statute provided that their term of service should commence the 1st of Decem- ber following their election. In the year 1870 the biennial system of elections was adopted, and from that time their term of office continued two years. It will be understood that the names given were assistant judges, except those who are designated as Chief Judge. And all of the Judges are ex- officio Chancellors of the Court of Chancery.
From the year 1857, to 1870, the full bench con- sisted of a Chief Judge and five Assistant Judges, and after the year 1870, the full bench consisted of a Chief Judge and six Assistant Judges.
When vacancies occur by death, resignation or otherwise they may be filled by appointment by the Governor. Until the year 1849, the Judges of the Supreme Court were also the Chief Judges of the County Court, but in the year 1849, the sys- tem was changed and three Judges were elected 1336)
OF VERMONT. 337
annually that constituted the full bench in the Supreme Court, and whose duties were confined to that Court; and another set of Judges were elected annually, to serve as Chief Judges in the County Courts of the State, and their duties were confined to that Court. This system for both the Supreme and County Courts was continued till the year 1857, when the State returned to the present sys- tem, where all of the Chief Judges of the County Courts are also Judges of the Supreme Court.
During the time the Judges of the Supreme Court consisted of three Judges, who were relieved from the duty of holding. County Courts, the Counties of the State were divided into four Judi- cial Circuits. The first Circuit consisted of Ben- nington, Rutland and Addison Counties :- the second, Windham, Windsor and Orange Counties :- the third, Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille and Grand Isle Counties :- the fourth, Washington, Caledonia, Orleans and Essex Counties. And each . Circuit had a Judge who was elected by the Legis- lature, and who was the Chief Judge of the County Court in the several Counties composing his Cir- cuit. The following were the Judges who were elected and served as Chief Judges of the County Courts in the four Circuits during the time that that system continued, although all of them were not in office at the same time: Viz, Robert Pier- point, Jacob Collamer, Asahel Peck, Luke P. Poland, Abel Underwood, John Pierpoint, James Barrett, A. O. Aldis, Milo L. Bennett and Wm. C. Kittredge.
All the Judges of the Supreme Court, except the
30
338
EARLY HISTORY
Chief Judge, are denominated Assistant Judges, as 1st, 2nd, 3d, 4th, 5th, and 6th, as the number might be, and take their position in the order in which their names appear, respectively, in the list of Judges. The occasion of vacancies that occured from time to time, and appointments made by the Governor to fill vacancies are stated in notes at the end of the list. By the act of Legislature of 1870, the official term of service of the Judges com- menced December 1st, following their election.
It has been the practice, that when a vacancy occurs in the list of Judges, to promote those who stand below the place made vacant and let the new appointee grace the lowest position.
Elected Oct., 1778,- October, 1779,- Moses Robinson, Ch. J. Moses Robinson, Ch. J.
John Shepardson, John Fassett, Jun. Thomas Chandler,
John Shepardson,
John Fassett, Jun.,
John Throop,
John Throop.
Paul Spooner.
October, 1780,-
Oct., 1781 to Feb., 1782.
Moses Robinson, Ch. J. Elisha Payne, Ch. J.
Paul Spooner, Paul Spooner,
John Fassett, Jun.,
John Fassett Jun.,
Increase Moseley,
Simeon Olcott,*
Jonas Fay.
John Throop. From Feb. to Oct. 1782,ª Moses Robinson, Ch. J. Paul Spooner, John Fassette, Jr., John Throop, Jonas Fay.
339
OF VERMONT.
October, 1782,- October, 1783,- Moses Robinson, Ch. J. Moses Robinson, Ch. J.
Paul Spooner, Jonas Fay, John Fasset, Jun. Peter Olcott.
October, 1784,- Paul Spooner, Ch. J. John Fasset, Nathaniel Niles,
Thomas Porter, Peter Olcott.
October, 1786,- Moses Robinson, Ch. J.
Paul Spooner,
Nathaniel Niles,
Nathaniel Chipman, Luke Knowlton.
October, 1788,- Moses Robinson, Ch. J. Paul Spooner, Stephen R. Bradley. Oct. 1791, 1792 and 1793,- Samuel Knight, Ch. J. Elijah Paine, Isaac Tichenor.
Oct., 1789 and 1790,- Nathaniel Chipman Ch. J. Noah Smith, Samuel Knight.
Oct., 1794 and 1795,- Isaac Tichenor, Ch. J. Lot Hall, Enoch Woodbridge.
October, 1797,-
Enoch Woodbridge, Lot Hall.
October, 1796, -- Nathaniel Chipman Ch. J. Israel Smith, Ch. J. Lot Hall, Enoch Woodbridge.
Paul Spooner,
John Fassett, Peter Olcott,
Thomas Porter. October, 1785,- Moses Robinson, Ch. J.
Paul Spooner,
Nathaniel Niles,
John Fassett,
Thomas Porter.
October, 1787,- Moses Robinson, Ch. J. Nathaniel Niles, Paul Spooner.
340
EARLY HISTORY
Oct., 1798, 1799
Oct., 1801 and 1802,- and 1800. Jonathan Robinson Ch. J. Enoch Woodbridge, Ch.J. Royal Tyler,
Lot Hall, Stephen Jacob
Noah Smith.
Oct., 1803, 1804, Oct., 1807 and 1808,-
1805 and 1806,- Royal Tyler, Ch. J.
Jonathan Robinson Ch.J. Theophilus Harrington,
Royal Tyler, Jonas Galusha.
Theophilus Harrington.
Oct., 1809, 1810,
Oct., 1813 and 1814,-
1811 and 1812,- Nathaniel Chipman Ch. J.
Royal Tyler, Ch. J. Daniel Farrand,
Theophilus Harrington, Jonathan H. Hubbard. David Fay,
October, 1815,- Asa Aldis, Ch. J.
Richard Skinner, James Fisk.
Oct., 1817, 1818, 1819 and 1820,- Dudley Chase, Ch. J. Joel Doolittle, William Brayton.
October, 1822,- C. P. Van Ness, Ch. J. Joel Doolittle, Charles. K. Williams. Oct. 1824,- Richard Skinner, Ch. J. Joel Doolittle. Asa Aikens.
October, 1816,- Richard Skinner, Ch. J. James Fisk, William A. Palmer.
October, 1821,- C. P. Van Ness, Ch. J. Joel Doolittle, William Brayton.
Oct., 1823,- Richard Skinner, Ch. J. Charles K. Williams, Asa Aikens.
341
OF VERMONT.
The last list of Judges were elected October 1824, and their term ended October, 1825.
The list of Vermont State Judges that have served the State since the year, 1825, with the ex- piration of their terms of service respectively are given below. The elections took place in October previous to the years hereafter named : Viz,
1826 and 1827,- Richard Skinner, Ch. J.
Samuel Prentiss, Titus Hutchinson, Stephen Royce, Jr. 1829,-
1828,- Richard Skinner, Ch. J. Samuel Prentiss, Titus Hutchinson,
Bates Turner.
Richard Skinner, Ch. J. Samuel Prentiss,
Titus Hutchinson,
Bates Turner,
Ephraim Paddock.
1830, -- Samuel Prentiss, Ch. J. Titus Hutchinson,
Charles K. Williams,
Stephen Royce, Jun.,
Ephraim Paddock.
1831,-
1832 and 1833,-
Titus Hutchinson, Ch. J. Titus Hutchinson, Ch. J.
Charles K. Williams,
Stephen Royce, Jr., Ephraim Paddock, John C. Thompson.1
Charles K. Williams,
Stephen Royce, Jr.,
Nicholas Baylies,
Samuel S. Phelps.
1834 and 1835,- , Charles K. Williams Ch. J. Stephen Royce, Samuel S. Phelps, Jacob Collamer, John Mattocks.
342
EARLY HISTORY
1836, 1837 and, 1838,-
1839, 1840 1841 and 1842.
Charles K. Williams, Ch. J.
Charles K. Williams, Ch. J.
Stephen Royce,
Stephen Royce,
Samuel S. Phelps,
Jacob Collamer,
Jacob Collamer,
Isaac F. Redfield,
Isaac F. Redfield.
Milo L. Bennett.
1843, 1844 and 1845,- 1846,-
Charles K. Williams, Ch. J. Stephen Royce,
Isaac F. Redfield,
Isaac F. Redfield,
Milo L. Bennett,
William Hibbard.
Daniel Kellogg.
1849 and 1850,-
Stephen Royce, Ch. J.
Isaac F. Redfield,
Milo L. Bennett,
Daniel Kellogg,
Hiland Hall,
Luke P. Poland.
1851,- Stephen Royce, Ch. J. Isaac F. Redfield, Daniel Kellogg.
1853, 1854, 1855, 1856 and 1857,- Isaac F. Redfield, Ch. J. Pierpoint Isham, Milo L. Bennett.
1852,- Stephen Royce, Ch. J. Isaac F. Redfield, Pierpoint Isham.
, 1858 and 1859,- Isaac F. Redfield, Ch. J Milo L. Bennett, Luke P. Poland, Asa O. Aldis, John Pierpoint, James Barrett.
1847 and 1848,- Stephen Royce, Ch. J.
Isaac F. Redfield,
Milo L. Bennett, Daniel Kellogg,
Hiland Hall, Charles Davis.
Charles K. Williams, Ch. J.
Stephen Royce,
Milo L. Bennett,
343
OF VERMONT.
1860,-
Isaac F. Redfield, Ch. J.
Luke P. Poland,
Asa O. Aldis,
John Pierpoint, James Barrett, Loyal C. Kellogg.
1866 and 1867,- John Pierpoint, Ch. J. 3 James Barrett, Loyal C. Kellogg, Asahel Peck, William C. Wilson, Benjamin H. Steele. 3 1870,- John Pierpoint, Ch. J. James Barrett, Asahel Peck, William C. Wilson, Benjamin H. Steele, Hoyt H. Wheeler.
1872, 1873, and 1874, John Pierpoint, Ch. J. James Barrett, Asahel Peck, + Hoyt H. Wheeler, Homer E. Royce, Timothy P. Redfield, Jonathan Ross.
1861, 1862, 1863, 1864 and 1865,- Luke P. Poland, Ch. J. 2 Asa O. Aldis,
John Pierpoint,
James Barrett,
Loyal C. Kellogg, Asahel Peck.
1868 and 1869,- John Pierpoint, Ch. J.
James Barrett, Asahel Peck, William C. Wilson, Benjamin H. Steele, John Prout.
1871,- John Pierpoint, Ch. J. James Barrett, Asahel Peck, Hoyt H. Wheeler,
Homer E. Royce, Timothy P. Redfield, Jonathan Ross.
1875 and 1876,- John Pierpoint, Ch. J. James Barrett, Hoyt H. Wheeler, Homer E. Royce, Timothy P. Redfield, Jonathan Ross, H. Henry Powers.
344
EARLY HISTORY
1877, -- John Pierpoint, Ch. J. James Barrett, Hoyt H. Wheeler, 5 Homer E. Royce, Timothy P. Redfield, Jonathan Ross, H. Henry Powers, Walter C. Dunton. 6
1879,- John Pierpoint, Ch. J. James Barrett, Homer E. Royce, Timothy P. Redfield, Jonathan Ross, Walter C. Dunton, ? Wheelock G. Veazey. 8 1881,- John Pierpoint, Ch. J. Homer E. Royce, Timothy P. Redfield, Jonathan Ross, H. Henry Powers, Wheelock G. Veazey, Russell S. Taft. .
1883 and 18S4,- Homer E. Royce, Ch. J. Timothy P. Redfield, 12 Jonathan Ross, H. Henry Powers, Wheelock G. Veazey, Russell S. Taft, John W. Rowell.
1878,- John Pierpoint, Ch. J. James Barrett, Homer E. Royce, Timothy P. Redfield, Jonathan Ross, H. Henry Powers, Walter C. Dunton.
1880,- John Pierpoint, Ch. J. James Barrett, Homer E. Royce, Timothy P. Redfield, Jonathan Ross, H. Henry Powers, Wheelock G. Veazey.
1882,- John Pierpoint, Ch. J. 9 Homer E. Royce, 10 Timothy P. Redfield, Jonathan Ross, H. Henry Powers,
Wheelock G. Veazey,
Russell S. Taft, John W. Rowell. 11
1885,- Homer E. Royce, Ch. J. Jonathan Ross, H. Henry Powers, Wheelock G. Veazey, Russell S. Taft, John W. Rowell, William H. Walker.
OF VERMONT. 345
1SS6,- 1887,- Homer E. Royce, Ch. J. Homer E. Royce, Ch. J.
Jonathan Ross,
H. Henry Powers, Wheelock G. Veazey,
Russell S. Taft,
John W. Rowell, William H. Walker.
1SSS and 1889,- Homer E. Royce, Ch. J. Jonathan Ross,
H. Henry Powers,
Wheelock G. Veazey,
Russell S. Taft,
John W. Rowell. James M. Tyler.
John W. Rowell, William H. Walker, 13 James M. Tyler, 13 1890,- Homer E. Royce, Ch. J. 14 Jonathan Ross,
H. Henry Powers, 14 Wheelock G. Veazey, 15 Russell S. Taft,
John W. Rowell,
James M. Tyler, Loveland Munson. 15
From Dec., 1st 1890, to Dec. 1st 1898 inclusive the Judges of the Supreme Court were as follows: Viz,
Jonathan Ross, Ch. J. Russell Taft,
John W. Rowell,
James M. Tyler,
Loveland Munson,
Henry R. Start.
Laforest H. Thompson.
The Judges after Dec., 1st 189S were : Jonathan Ross, Ch. J. 16 Russell S. Taft, 17 John W. Rowell,
31
Jonathan Ross,
H. Henry Powers, Wheelock G. Veazey, Russell S. Taft,
346
EARLY HISTORY
James M. Tyler,
Loveland Munson,
Laforest H. Thompson.
Henry R. Start,
John H. Watson. 18
Simeon Oleott resigned Feb. 13. 1732 and Samiel Fletcher was el- ected bat declined to accept, and John Thioop was elocted: and probably Elisha Payne resigned at the same time as his name does not appear as Judge of the Court after Feb. 13, 1782.
The list of Judges for 1781-1752 in Slade's State Papers is inaccurate. See Governor and Council. Vol. II. pp. 116, 117.
a The change in the list of Judges in Feb, 1782, was owing to the dis- solution of the eastern and western Unions at that time.
1. John C. Thompson deceased in June. 1831.
2. Lnke P. Poland held the position of Chief Judge till Dec., 1865. when he resigned, and was appointed by the Governor United States Senator.
3. John Pierpoint was appointed Chief Judge Dec. 1st, 1865, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Luke P. Poland, and Benjamin H. Steele was appointed Judge in Dee . 1865 to fill the vacancy occasione by the resignation of Luke P. Poland, Ch. J. and the promotion of John Pierpoint to the Chief Judgeship.
4. Asahel Peck resigned August 3Ist, 1871, and was elected Governor Sept. 1st of the same year.
5. Hoyt H. Wheeler resigned March 31st 1877, having been appointed Judge of the District Court of the United States for the District of Ver- mont.
6. Walter C. Danton was appointed Judge April 13th, 1877, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Hoyt H. Wheeler,
7. Walter C. Dunton resigned October 27th, 1879.
8. Wheelock G. Veazey was appointed Judge to fill the vacancy oc- casioned by the resignation of Walter C. Danton.
9. John Pierpoint. Chief Judge. died January 7th, 1882.
10. Homer E. Royce appointed Chief Judge January 10th, 1832, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the decease of John Pierpoint.
11. John W. Rowell was appointed Judge January 10th, 1882.
12. Timothy P. Redfield in 1844 declined re-election.
13. James M. Tyler was appointed Judge Sept. 16th, 1887, to fill the va- caney caused by the resignation of William H. Walker.
14. Homer E. Royce Chief Judge and H. Henry Powers Judge declined re-election at the end of their official year in 1590.
15. Loveland Munson was appointed Judge to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Wheelock G. Veazey.
16. Jonathan Ross Chief Judge resigned January 11th, 1899, and was ap- pointed the same day, by the Governor, United States Senator for Ver- mout.
17. Russell S. Taft was appointed by the Governor Chief Judge on Jan- uary 19th, 1899, to fill the vacancy occasionel by the resignation of Jona- than Ross, Chief Judge.
18. John H. Watson was appointed Judge by the Governor January 19th. 1899. to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Jonathan Ross as Chief Judge and the promotion of Russell S. Taft to the Chief Judge ship and the promotion of the other Judges.
-
WIT AND HUMOR.
SELECTED.
HOW WITTY LAWYERS SCORE POINTS.
Judge Poland, of Vermont, was the last of the Congressmen who dressed in the old Whig uniform of "buff and blue"-a buff vest and a blue coat with brass buttons, and a white neckerchief-such as Daniel Webster used to wear when headdressed the Senate or the Supreme Court.
The Judge, who was an excellent lawyer, was once presiding at the trial of a long and intricate case. With him sat two side-judges-the office in those days was not infrequently occupied by men who knew little and thought less. During the trial one of them was heard whispering to a friend "The Chief Justice agrees with me in my opinion of the law in this case and will charge the jury just as I should." Judge Poland also heard the re- mark, and smiled. Several years before that he not only smiled but laughed heartil at some re- marks made by a brother lawyer.
He and Joshua Sawyer were opposing counsel in a case of assault and battery. Sawver had drawn a prolix declaration in which the assault appeared much worse than the witnesses repre- sented it. Commenting on this difference, Poland told the jury that the declaration reminded him of an incident in his own practice.
"Years ago," said he, "I began a suit of this character in favor of Asa Barnard against Maj. Hyde, who inflicted corporal punishment upon my client for the trivial offense of telling him he was a great liar. Barnard asserted that the Ma- jor had struck him a blow on the head with a
(34;)
348
EARLY HISTORY
heavy cane, and he came to me to obtain redress. I framed a declaration in ten counts, setting forth the beating, bruising, wounding and evil entreat- ing with all the tautological nonsense I could command. In the last count I recited that Bar- nard's life was greatly despaired of.
"I read the declaration to my client in a voice almost as sympathetic as that in which my broth- er Sawyer read his declaration to you, gentlemen. I noticed the tears were coursing down my client's furrowed cheeks in rivulets. I asked him thecause of his grief. With sobbing utterance he answered, 'I didn't know it was half so bad before.' "
Court and jury laughed at this humorous sug- gestion that Sawyer's evidence did not sustain Sawyer's declaration, and many thought that witty as he was he would be unable to turn the laugh from him. He made a long speech, and as he was about to close, said, as if Poland's humor- ous remark had just occurred to him :
"Gentlemen, you appeared to be much delighted when the learned counsel related an incident of his own practice. I confess I was not amused. My old friend Barnard has told me the story many times, but with this difference : He said he did weep when Poland read a long paper to him ; but that paper was not Poland's declaration, but his bill !"
The retort upset everybody. Even the grave Judge laughed, and no one enjoyed the reply more than Poland himself.
On the prosecution of a negro for stealing a dog with a collar on, when a demurrer to the indict- ment was sustained because it was not larceny to steal a dog, the prosecution claimed that he also stole the collar that was on the dog, but the de- fense claimed that the negro took the dog only and the dog took the collar. The prisoner was finally discharged. 3 Cent. L. J. 554.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.