USA > Vermont > Grand Isle County > History of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vermont : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers. > Part 11
USA > Vermont > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vermont : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers. > Part 11
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 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
State's Attorneys .- Levi House, 1796-1804; Asa Aldis, 1804-06; Ebenezer Marvin, jr., 1806-16; Stephen Royce, jr., 1816-18 ; Israel P. Richardson, 1818-23 ; Joshua K. Smedley, 1823-26; John Smith, 1826-33; Henry Adams, 1833-35 ; George W. Foster, 1835-38 ; Je-
I2I
FRANKLIN COUNTY CIVIL LIST.
rome J. Beardsley, 1838-39; Orlando Stevens, 1839-42; Homer E. Royce, 1846-48 ; John S. Royce, 1848-49; Augustus Burt, 1849-51; George F. Houghton, 1851-53; Heman S. Royce, 1853-55 ; Henry G. Edson, 1855-57; Myron Buck, 1857-59 ; William W. White, 1859-60; Henry A. Burt, 1860-62; Norman F. Wood, 1862-64; Julian H. D. Dewey, 1864-66 ; Dana R. Bailey, 1866-68 ; Willard Farrington, 1868-69; George A. Ballard, 1870-72; E. Henry Powell, 1872-74 ; George W. Newton, 1874-76; Henry R. Start, 1876-78; Charles P. Hogan, 1878-80; Harry E. Rustedt, 1880-82; Alfred A. Hall, 1882- 84; George W. Burleson, 1884-86; Stephen L. Halliman, 1886-88; Alfred K. Brown, 1888-92.
County Clerks .- Samuel Willard, 1797-98 ; Seth Pomeroy, 1798- 1805 ; John White, jr., 1805-07 ; Seth Wetmore, 1807-08; Jonathan Janes, 1809-13 ; Abijah Stone, 1814; Abner Morton, 1815; Jonathan Janes, part of 1816; Horace Janes, December 24, 1816, to March 15, 1834; Joseph H. Brainerd, April 15, 1834, to September, 1872; Wil- bur P. Davis, September, 1872, to the present time.
Sheriffs .- Prince B. Hall, 1796-1804; Thomas Russell, 1804-07; Oliver Day, 1807-09; Seth Wetmore, 1809-II ; Solomon Walbridge, 1811-13; Joseph H. Munson, 1813-15; Benjamin Fay, 1815-17; Shiv- eric Holmes, 1817-21; Joseph Weeks, 1821-28; Timothy Foster, 1828-33; Seymour Eggleston, 1833-35 ; Jeptha Bradley, 1835-39 ; Decius R. Bogue, 1839-43 ; John S. Foster, 1843-48; Orson Carpen- ter, 1848-52; Addison Burr, 1852-56; Alvin H. Mason, 1856-60; Rensselaer R. Sherman, 1860-66; Andrew J. Soule, 1866-68; James P. Place, 1868-73; Dana G. Morrell, 1874-75; Julius Halbert, 1876-83 ; Thomas B. Kennedy, 1884-87; Rigney D. Marvin, 1888-89; Barney F. Kelley, 1890-91.
Judges of Probate .- Jonathan Hoit, from 1790 to 1795 as district of Chittenden county ; Jonathan Hoit, 1796 to 1805 of Franklin county ; Jonathan Janes, 1806-12; Frederick Bliss, 1813; Abner Morton, 1814; Seth Wetmore, 1815-29; William Bridges, 1830-32; Stephen S. Brown, 1833-34; Joel Barber, 1835-36; William Bridges, 1837-44 ; James Davis, 1845-48; Jeptha Bradley, 1849; James Davis, 1850; William Bridges, 1851-52; James Davis, 1853; William Bridges, 1854; James Davis, 1855 ; William Bridges, 1856; Amos J. Samson, 1857-
16
122
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
66 ; Myron W. Bailey, elected in 1867 and served continuously to the present time.
The task of bringing Grand Isle county into existence was by no means accomplished so easily as was that by which Franklin and other counties were created; and even when Franklin was incorporated the people on the islands were greatly displeased at the prospect of having their little territory divided, and leaving a part of it still within the ju- risdiction of Chittenden county. Whether they were a part of Chittenden or Franklin made no material difference to the people, but the division of their district by having it part of two jurisdictions was not at all agree- able, and was the occasion of much criticism of the action of the state. The division being made, the only course to be pursued was to obtain legislative action in the direction of creating still another county. to em- brace within its boundaries all the island district from the Canada line south. This subject was agitated soon after the erection of Franklin county, in 1792, but nothing definite was done and the matter assumed no tangible form until 1794, when, in the month of September, a peti- tion was prepared to be presented to the Legislature, praying for the erection of a new county, to be called "Hero," or " The Hero," within the jurisdiction of which should be included all the islands belonging to the state lying north of Colchester Point, and including Alburgh as far as the Canada south line. This petition was signed by twenty-three residents of Alburgh, twenty-nine from North Hero, sixty-three from South and Middle Hero and eight from Isle La Motte.
This petition was thereafter duly presented to the General Assembly and Governor and Council at their session held at Rutland on the 2Ist of October, 1794, and on the same day was referred to a joint committee from both bodies. Nothing, however, was done in the matter at that time, and the committee afterward was discharged without recommend- ation or action. On the 20th of October, 1796, the subject was revised and the petition again referred to a similar committee ; and on the 3Ist the Council took action, as follows: "A bill brought in by Judge White for the purpose of forming the North Hero, Isle La Motte, Alburgh and the adjacent islands into a probate district, Read, and by the Council resolved that the same be sent to the General Assembly to be passed into a law of this state." This was the only proceeding had at the time
123
FORMATION OF GRAND ISLE COUNTY.
but in 1799 it appears that the subject came up in somewhat different shape, as the following will show : "A petition signed by the selectmen of South Hero, North Hero, Alburgh and Isle La Motte, in behalf of their respective towns, praying that a new county may be created out of said towns, with the adjacent islands, with all the privileges and im- munities of other counties, except that all appeals that shall be carried from said county to the Supreme Court of judicature, when sitting in the county of Franklin, was sent up from the House of Representatives, with the following entry made thereon, etc."
Without referring further to the proceedings, suffice it to say that this petition, like the others, was referred to a joint committee of both branches of the state government, but no action appears to have been taken in regard to it at that time, nor until the 13th of October, 1801, when the Assembly again had cognizance of the matter, this time re- ferring to a " petition from North Hero, another from South Hero and Middle Hero, another from Alburgh and the fourth from the Isle La Motte, all praying for a new county, etc."; this, too, was referred to a special committee. The Legislature of 1802, on the 28th of October, referred to a petition "from sundry inhabitants of South and Middle Hero, stating that the towns of Alburgh, Isle La Motte, North Hero, Middle Hero, South Hero and the islands adjacent, being separated by the waters of Lake Champlain from the rest of the state, are greatly in- commoded by being connected with the counties on the main, as the ferries are wide, and the winds often so tempestuous that a passage is impossible for several days together, and various other inconveniences, and praying that said towns and islands may be erected into and con- stituted a separate county, and be duly organized, was sent up from the House of Representatives with this order thereon: 'In General Assem- bly, Oct. 28th, 1802. This petition, together with the petitions from Alburgh, Isle La Motte and North Hero, referred, etc.'"
By this time the members of the Legislature appear to have recog- nized the necessity of relieving the condition of the people on the is- lands by erecting their territory into a new and distinct county ; there- fore on the 9th of November, 1802, the General Assembly enacted as follows: " That the towns of Alburgh, Isle La Motte and North Hero, in the county of Franklin, and the towns of South Hero and Middle
124
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
Hero, in the county of Chittenden, together with all such as lie in the state near the above mentioned towns, and are more than a mile from the main land, in the counties of Chittenden and Franklin, be, and they are hereby constituted a distinct county, by the name of Grand Isle." And further, "That at the session of the Legislature in October, 1805, the said Grand Isle county shall be organized for the transaction of all legal public business as a county." The bill as passed at once went to the Governor and Council, when that body ordered as follows: "A bill passed in the House of Representative, entitled, ' An act constituting the towns of Alburgh, Isle La Motte, North Hero, South Hero and other small islands in Lake Champlain, a county by the name of Grand Isle,' was sent up for revision, etc .; and the same being read, Resolved, to concur with the House in passing the said bill into a law."
The county being duly erected, its organization followed as provided by the above act. In 1803 the county seat was fixed at North Hero, and the county buildings, when constructed, were built at what is now termed "the city." But no court-house was built prior to 1824-25, the hotel building of Jed P. Ladd being previously fitted for that use, was found sufficient for the purpose for the time being, In 1824 the county caused a court-house to be built. And in one respect Grand Isle county is distinguished from the others of the state, in that its county building is of native marble quarried on Isle La Motte. The jail forms a part of the court-house, and is entirely secure as a place of confinement, both for debtors and criminals, there being special apartments for each class of offenders. In size the building is forty by fifty feet, two stories in height. On the first floor are apartments for the sheriff's office and res- idence and jail, while the upper floor is used for court purposes. While not a handsome building, the Grand Isle county court-house is never- theless substantial, and therefore attractive in appearance. Towards its construction the town contributed $500, and this that the people might use the court-room as a place for public worship and other proper gath- erings.
The previous pages of this chapter having mentioned the succession of officers who have represented Franklin county in various capacities, it is therefore necessary that some reference be made to those who have likewise served in Grand Isle county.
125
GRAND ISLE COUNTY CIVIL LIST.
GRAND ISLE COUNTY CIVIL LIST.
Representative in Congress .- Asa Lyon, 1815-17.
Presidential Elector .- Samuel Adams, 1852.
Auditor of Accounts .- Jed P. Ladd, 1876-78.
As Councillor, Asa Lyon appears to have been the only person chosen from the county, in 1808.
Chief Judges County Court .- Asa Lyon, 1805-07; Benjamin Adams. 1808; Asa Lyon, 1809; Benjamin Adams, 1810-13; Asa Lyon, 1814; Phillyer Loop, 1815; Benjamin Adams, 1816-23; Lewis Sowles, 1824-25.
Assistant Judges County Court .- Nathan Hutchins, jr., 1805-07; Alexander Scott, 1805-07 ; Stephen Kinsley, 1808 ; James W. Wood, 1808; Nathan Hutchins, jr., 1809; Lewis Sowles, 1809-13; Abner Keeler, 1810 13; Caleb Hill, 1814; Phillyer Loop, 1814; Alpheus Hall, 1815-17; Jed P. Ladd, 1815; Ephraim Mott, 1816; Lewis Sowles, 1817-23; Joel Allen, 1818-23; Charles Carron, 1824-25; Sam- uel Adams, 1824; Melvin Barnes, jr., 1825-30; Lewis Sowles, 1826- 30 ; John M. Sowles, 1831-36; Samuel Adams, 1831-36; William Wait, 1837-39; Calvin Fletcher, 1839-42; Samuel Adams, 1843; Ira Hill, 1843-44; William H. Lyman, 1844-45 ; Wallace Mott, 1845 ; Henry Reynolds, 1846-47 ; Lorenzo Hall, 1846-47 ; David Marvin, 1848-49; William Mott, 1848-49 ; Wallace L. Sowles, 1850-51; Dan- iel Wait, 1850-51 ; Albert C. Butler, 1852; Gideon H. Rice, 1852-54; Jabez Ladd, 1853; Martin Reynolds, 1854-55 ; Orange Phelps, 1855 -- 56; Henry H. Reynolds, 1856-57 ; Asahel Allen, 1857-58 ; Frederick Hazen, 1858; Buel Landon, 1859-60; Calvin F. Robinson, 1859; Harry Hill, 1860-61 ; Lewis W. Sowles, 1861-62; Dorus V. Goodsell, 1862-63 ; David S. Sweet, 1863-64; Gilbert Allen, 1864-65; Allen R. Manning, 1865-66; Jabez Ladd, 1866; Ransom W. Darby, 1867-68 ; Wyman C. Hoag, 1867-68 ; Alfred M. Kinney, Nelson S, Hill, 1869; Alfred M. Kinney, Peter Fleury, 1870-72 ; William T. Sowles, Ibri C. Minkler, 1872-74 ; William T. Sowles, Jerome P. Hall, 1874-76; Ran- som Hall, A. S. Pearl, 1876-78; A. S. Pearl, James A. Bronson, 1878- 80; Fessenden G. Kingsley, Henry H. Hill, 1880-82; Dexter B. Town, Barber W. Reynolds, 1882-86; Seneca H. Pike, Stephen Hoag, 1886- 90 ; S. H. Pike, Stephen Hoag, 1890-91.
126
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
Senators from Grand Isle County .- Melvin Barnes, 1836; Joel Allen, 1837-38 ; Samuel Adams, 1839-40; William L. Sowles, 1841-42 ; Wallis Mott, 1843; Henry H. Reynolds, 1844; Lewis Ladd, 1845; Giles Harrington, 1846-47; Solomon J. Davis, 1848; Frederick Hazen, 1849; David Marvin, 1850-51; Ira Hill, 1852-53; Horace Wadsworth, 1854-55; Asa Reynolds, 1856-57; Orange Phelps, 1858-59; Orville G. Wheeler, 1860-61 ; William H. Lyman, 1862-63 ; Asahel Allen, 1864- 65 ; Henry C. Hill, 1866-67; Jed P. Ladd, 1868-69; A. K. Hibbard, 1870-72 ; Asa Reynolds, 1872-76; Buel Landon, 1876-78; George W. Beardsley, 1878-80; Elisha R. Goodsell, 1880-82; J. A. Chamberlain, 1882-84; Henry Mott, 1884-86; J. P. Hall, 1886-88; Nelson W. Fisk, 1888-90 ; Hardy L. Reynolds, 1890-92.
State's Attorneys .- Philo Berry, 1805-06; Solomon Morgan, 1807- 08; Eleazer Miller, 1809-10; I. P. Richardson, 1811 ; Asa Robinson, 1812-13; James Davis, 1814; Truman A. Barber, 1815-17; Amos Blodgett, 1818-20; Charles H. Perrigo, 1821; Amos Blodgett, 1822-23; Truman A. Barber, 1824; Benjamin H. Smalley, 1825 ; Hector Adams, 1826-28 ; Frederick Hazen, 1829-31 ; Giles Harrington, 1832, Hector Adams, 1833-36; Frederick Hazen, 1837-40; Hector Adams, 1841 ; William W. White, 1842; Frederick Hazen, 1843, 1845-46, 1853, 1855; William W. White, 1844; Giles Harrington, 1847-49, 1854; Henry Adams, 1850; John M. Sowles, 1851-52; Henry C. Adams, 1856-60; Loyal L. Elbridge, 1861-62; Harry Hill, 1863-64, 1867 ; Sumner E. R. Ladd, 1865 ; John M. Hawrican, 1866, 1868-70; Giles Harrington, 1872-74 ;Josiah H. Adams, 1878-84 ; Henry Harrington, 1884-86; Elisha R. Goodsell, 1886-90 ; Jed P. Ladd, jr., 1890-92.
Sheriffs .- Amos Merrill, 1805-07 ; Melvin Barnes, sr., 1808-II ; Jedediah P. Ladd, 1812; Ephraim Mott, 1813 ; Calvin Fletcher, 1814- 26; John M. Sowles, 1827-29; Franklin Robinson, 1830-34; Harry Hill, 1835 ; Henry B. Mott, 1836-38 ; Gary Whitney, 1839-43 ; Abel Brown, 1844; Albert C. Butler, 1845; David G. Dixon, 1846-47; Thomas D. Fletcher, 1848-49; Charles H. Clark, 1850-55; Senaca H. Pike, 1856-57 ; Solon Reynolds, 1858-59; Edwin Adams, 1860-61; Serens G. Macomber, 1862-63; Giles H. Hawrican, 1864-66; Ran- som L. Clark, 1867-72; Luther Pixley, 1872-74; Henry S. Holcomb, 1874-78; George H. Sowles, 1878-80; Henry W. Conro, 1880-84 ; Marcus O. Kinney, 1884-88 ; Heman W. Marvin, 1888-92.
I27
PREVIOUS TO THE WAR OF 1812.
County Clerks .- Alpheus Hall, 1805-07; Jedediah Hyde, jr, 1808; Alpheus Hall, 1809; Jedediah Hyde, jr., 1810-24; Joel Allen, 1825-47 ; Elijah Haynes, 1848-51 ; William H. Russell, 1852; Gary Whitney, 1853; Wyman Clark, 1854-57; Jed P. Ladd, 1858-64; Elisha R. Goodsell, 1865-66; S. H. Williams, 1867; Elisha R. Goodsell, 1868-71; J. M. Hawrican, 1871-77; Rodney R. Hathaway, 1877-90.
Judges of Probate .- Nathan Hutchins, 1805-06: Thomas Cochran, 1807; Nathan Hutchins, 1808-27; Joel Allen, 1828-43 ; Jabez Ladd, 1844; Augustus Knight, 1845; Jabez Ladd, 1846-47 ; Sealand Whit- ney, 1848-52; Elijah Haynes, 1853-60; Augustus Knight, 1861-66; Heman W. Allen, 1867-77 ; Flavius J. Hazen, 1879-85 ; Heman W. Allen, 1886-90.
CHAPTER X.
Events Preceding the War of 1812-15-British Occupation of Alburgh and other Points South of the Line-Troubles Following the Town Organization of Alburgh- Disturbances on the Northern Frontier-Canada and Vermont Establish Trade Rela- tions-Vermont Favored by the Governor-General-Difficulties Between the United States and Great Britain-British Aggressions-The Embargo Laws-Operations of Smugglers-Franklin and Grand Isle Counties Become Important Points-The Black Snake-John Jay's Treaty of Amity and Trade-British Aggressions Resumed-War of 1812-15-Political Situation in this Region-British Invasions and Depredations- Swanton Plundered-Attack on Burlington-The Vermont Militia and Volunteers -- Battle of Plattsburgh-Land and Naval Engagements -- Defeat of the British-Frank- lin County Troops Take Part-British Again Threaten Invasion-Proposed Winter Campaign-The Treaty of Ghent-Close of the War-Peace Again Restored.
TT would appear that after the long continuance of the French and English wars in America, and this region in particular, and after final determination of the Revolution itself, and after all the troubles exper- ienced by Vermont on account of the controversies with New York and New Hampshire, that this people would be entitled to at least a brief period of absolute peace, but even this seems to have been denied them ; and although the other states were in a condition of general peace after the treaty of 1783, until the outbreak of the second war with Great Brit-
I28
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
ain, Vermont was engaged in an almost double warfare against New York and Congress on the one hand and against the British in Canada on the other, that kept the state in a condition of unrest and disturbance until 1794. One great victory gained for Vermont was her admission to the Union in 1791, from which time forth, until the British withdrew their armed force from the northern frontier, this state was relieved of part of her burden of troubles by the general government of the United States.
The treaty of peace made in 1783, duly ratified and confirmed, fixed the forty-fifth parallel of latitude as the boundary line between the prov- ince and the states, except as otherwise determined; but the British claimed that the people of the United States had frequently violated the provisions of that treaty to such an extent that the Canadian govern- ment felt constrained to maintain an armed force along the frontier, ex- tending as far west even as Detroit. But in pursuance of her line of policy that government not only assumed to protect its own possessions, but actually trespassed upon American soil, having full knowledge of the fact, but determined to show proper resentment of what were claimed to be American breaches of the treaty stipulations. The result of the Revolution defeated the expectation of England in compelling the American colonies to pay the debt occasioned by the earlier wars, there- fore, after the treaty of peace, the mother country directed that all im- portations to the States through Canada should be subject to duties; and that the same should be collected, custom offices were established along the province line. But, before this rule was adopted and as early as June, 1784, all commercial intercourse between the province and states was strictly prohibited; and not only that, but no person was permitted to pass from Canada into the states without permission. These strained relations between the powers worked to the great disad- vantage and distress of the people of Vermont, as many of the necessa- ries of life were obtained through the channel of Canada. But the Eng- lish government, likewise her Canadian auxiliary, had for some years looked with favorable eye upon the struggling Vermonters, the latter not being treated by Congress as one of the United States, and still hoped for an allegiance between this government and Canada, notwithstanding the results of the war just closed; therefore when the authorities of this
129
PREVIOUS TO THE WAR OF 1812.
state sought to establish reciprocal trading relations with the province that consummation was reached without difficulty, although limited by certain restrictions. On the 29th of October, 1784, the legislative bodies of Vermont passed an act for the purpose of establishing a free trade to and through the province of Quebec, and appointed a commit- tee, with Ira Allen at its head, to negotiate with the authorities of Can- ada.
General Allen at once set about the business entrusted to him, and laid the subject before the governor-general of the province, with the result of that officer's referring the question to the crown but in the meantime, pending the royal determination, agreeing that the produce and manufact- ures of Vermont should be admitted into the province, and the produce, manufactures and merchandize of the province admitted to Vermont, all duty free, except peltries and other specified articles of foreign growth and manufacture. This relation was established only with Vermont, and to the exclusion of other states. The effect of this reciprocity treaty resulted very advantageously to Vermont so far as providing necessaries for life and comfort were concerned, but some person learned of the relation and at once addressed a secret letter, which found its way into the public prints, and thence to Congress, representing that "Commissioners from Vermont are in treaty with the British at Montreal, to bring about a union with the old government;" also, "troops are pouring into Nova Scotia and Canada, from home (England) every day; the posts in the United States are daily fortifying, the garrisons are increased. A storm is gathering over your republics, more terrible than they have ever ex- perienced," etc. This letter, written October 30, 1786, was of course sent out for the purpose of creating greater prejudice against Vermont in her attempts at obtaining recognition in Congress, and was therefore wholly in the New York interest; and the motives it imputed to the Vermont government were false and malicious. To show the animus of the New Yorkers, not only in the above letter, but in other direc- tions, we quote from an article that appeared in the Vermont Journal, November 20, 1786, the same number in which was the letter referred to. The article was: "It is currently reported, and the report gains credit, that secret emissaries from New York, and creatures corrupted by their influence, are secretly at work in every part of this state, fo-
17
130
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
menting uneasiness among the people, and promoting insurrections. The first essay is said to be to raise a jealousy respecting us in the United States, by industriously spreading reports that we are in secret treaty with Great Britain, and on any future emergency shall espouse her cause." "Arise, ye freemen of Vermont! Defend your injured independence! Let no insidious foe precipitate your ruin, by persuading you to raise the arm of desperation against your own life, liberty and property."
On the 18th of April, 1787, Lord Dorchester, who was no other than Sir Guy Carleton, issued a proclamation, by which he opened trade with the states bordering on his province, for the admission of such commodities as Canada and Great Britain most needed, but could not produce, and likewise permitted exportations to the states of every kind of growth, produce and manufactures of the dominions of Great Britain, except only furs and peltries. On the 30th of April, 1787, the Legis- lative Council of Canada passed an ordinance of the same tenor as his lordship's proclamation, and on the 14th of April, 1788, passed a further or amendatory act, providing for exports substantially as above, but modifying the importation clause by stating "if the same be made by the route or communication of Lake Champlain and the river Sorel or Richelieu, and not otherwise," thus as far as possible favoring Vermont; for the worthy governor-general had in December, 1787, written that he could not "tolerate any separate intercourse with the people of Ver - mont without infringing the peace of 1783."
Returning from this digression to the British claim that the United States had violated the treaty stipulations, it may be said that the fourth and fifth articles of the treaty provided that the creditors in either coun- try should meet with no impediment in the collection of debts, and that Congress should earnestly recommend to the several states to provide for the restitution of confiscated estates belonging to British subjects. But, by those articles Vermont could not be bound, unless she was a part of New York state, for she was not then recognized by Congress as one of the states of the Union. Her government was at that time act- ing independently; and in pursuing her policy had quieted James Gra- ham in the possession of lands in Putney, which were claimed by Chief Justice Smith, a British subject. Also, Alburgh was granted by Gov-
I31
PREVIOUS TO THE WAR OF 1812.
ernor Chittenden in 1781, to Ira Allen and his associates, which terri- tory was a part of Caldwell's Manor, owned and occupied by subjects of the crown, and their rights had been confirmed by the king as a true descent of title through rightful owners from an original grant by the king of France in 1744. The act of Governor Chittenden in granting Alburgh in 178I was done before the war ended, but it was occupied by British subjects at that time, and whose title was not only not con- firmed in conformity with Congress recommendation, but which was afterward set aside as invalid, in that it was not recorded in New York. Therefore, considering this grant as an element of treaty violation, the British posted garrisons at Dutchman's Point in North Hero, at Point au Fer opposite to Alburgh, as well as at various other places along the northern frontier, even as far as Lake Superior and all within the United States as conceded by the terms of the treaty.
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.