USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Ryegate > History of Ryegate, Vermont, from its settlement by the Scotch-American company of farmers to present time; > Part 28
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The sons and daughters of Ryegate have carried to a thousand com- munities the good seed garnered upon these hills. We are glad to speak in these pages of their achievements and success. But all honor to those who have remained here, and have in the face of many discouragements, preserved its institutions and its good reputation.
CHAPTER XXIV.
TOWN OFFICERS.
TOWN CLERKS .- DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS .- REPRESENTA- TIVES -LISTERS .- SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS .- MODERATORS OF TOWN MEETINGS.
R YEGATE has hardly had a fair share of state or county officers. John Cameron was a councillor in 1811 and 1812. One or two state senators were residents of Ryegate, and the town has fur- nished two or three assistant judges of the county court. But natives of the town as the records will show, have honored it by service in high places elsewhere.
In this chapter are given the names of those who held the more im- portant offices in town. In early days there were several offices which are now discontinued-haywards, pound-keepers, tything-men, and deer- reeves. Most of these were dropped long ago. Tything-men continued to be elected down to 1850, but not every year. In one year there were twelve tything-men and seven haywards. The next year they got along without either. It is to the credit of the town that in most years party politics have been dropped at town meetings.
TOWN CLERKS.
James Whitelaw was clerk from the first settlement of the town till March 2, 1829, excepting in 1780, when Robert Brock was elected; Josiah Page, 1784-1787, and David Dunbar in 1788-seven years held by others. Gen. Whitelaw was clerk about fifty years. William Gray, 1829- 1844; George Cowles, 1844-1866; Alexander Cochran, 1866-1890; M. R. Gray till death in 1896; James Johnston, Feb. 4 to March meeting, 1896; John A. McLam, March, 1896 to date. Mrs. Martha J. McLam was appointed by Mr. Johnston as assistant clerk and still holds the position.
DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
1793 Josiah Page
1814 John Nelson
1822 Hugh Laughlin
1828 James Nelson, Jr.
1836 Ebenezer Morrill
1843 Harry Moore
1850 Harry Moore 1870 Wm. J Gibson
249
TOWN OFFICERS.
TOWN REPRESENTATIVES.
There is reason to believe that James Whitelaw was elected town representative in 1783. [See p. 95]. The early records are very meagre but he was elected in 1786. It is probable that he also represented the town at the session at Newbury in 1787. Deming's catalogue of state officers gives no names for 1788 or 1789, but the town records state that Josiah Page was elected in the latter year. The representa- tives since 1789 have been as follows :
TOWN REPRESENTATIVES.
1790
John Gray
1791
John Gray
1792 Josiah Page
1793
Josiah Page
1794
Josiah Page
1795
John Gray
1796 . Josiah Page
1797
John Cameron
1798
John Cameron
1799
William Neilson
1800
William Neilson
1801
John Cameron
1802
John Cameron
1803
John Cameron
1804
John Cameron
1805
Jolin Cameron
1806
James Nelson, Jr.
1807
John Cameron
1808
John Cameron
1809
John Cameron
1810
Not represented
1811
Hugh Laughlin
1812
Hugh Laughlin
1813
James Henderson
1814
John Nelson
1815
James Henderson
1816
Hugh Laughlin
1817
Hugh Laughlin
1818
Alexander Henderson
1819
Not represented
1820
John Cameron
1821
James Neilson
1822
John Cameron
1823
Robert Whitelaw
1824
Robert Whitelaw
1825
Robert Whitelaw
1826
John Cameron
1827
William Gray
1828
William Gray
1829
James Neilson, Jr.
1830
James Neilson, Jr.
1831
James Neilson, Jr.
1832
John Cameron
1833
James Neilson, Jr.
1834
James Neilson, Jr.
1835
Robert Whitelaw
1836
Robert Whitelaw
1837
Thomas Nelson
1838
Robert Whitelaw
1839
James Hall, 2d
1840
James Hall, 2d
1841
James Hall, 2d
1842
Robert Whitelaw
1843
Robert Whitelaw
1844
Robert Whitelaw
1845
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
1846
John Cameron, 2d
1847
John McLure
1848
John MeLure
1849
Robert Cochran
1850
Robert Cochran
1851
William T Whitelaw
1852
William T. Whitelaw
1853
Not recorded
1854
James R. Park
1855
Cland Somers
1856
Cloud Somers
1857
James Nelson
1858
James Nelson
1859
John B. Darling
1860
John B. Darling
1861
John Cameron, 2d
1862
Robert Nelson
1863
Robert Nelson
1864
George Cowles
1865
George Cowles
1866
John F. Nelson
1867
John F. Nelson
1868
John Bigelow
1869
John Bigelow
By the constitutional convention of 1870, the bi-ennial system of legislative terms was adopted. The subsequent representatives have been :
250
HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
1870 James Dickey
1872 Alanson S. Moore
1874 Edward Miller
1876 James Johnston
1878 Henry McCole
1880 Jefferson Renfrew
1882 Pringle Gibson
1884 George Cochran
1886 Thomas Nelson
1888
James Johnston
1890 Charles K. Canfield
1892 Solomon Chamberlin
1894 George G. Nelson
1896 Quincy A. Whitehill
1898 W. J Henderson
1900 I'm. T. McLam
1902 William N. Gilfillan
1904 Benjamin Manchester
1906 Samuel F. Nelson
1908
Charles M. Wallace
1910 Samuel Mills
SELECTMEN.
1778 John Shaw, Patrick Lang, Alexander Symes.
1779 James Henderson, Robert Brock, William Neilson.
1780 John Gray, John Scott, John Hyndman.
1781 Archibald Taylor, Thomas McKeith, Robert Somers.
1782 Alexander Symes, Andrew Brock, James Henderson.
1783 Josiah Page, John Gray, John Orr.
1784 Wm. Neilson, Elihu Johnson, Archibald Taylor.
1785 Wm. Neilson, John Orr, Andrew Brock.
1786 John Gray, Alex. Miller, Andrew Brock.
1787
Josiah Page, John Gray, James Whitelaw.
1788 Josiah Page, David Dunbar, Andrew Brock.
1789 Alexander Miller, Joseph Smith, Wm. Johnson.
1790 John Gray, Win. Neilson, Josiah Page.
1791 John Wallace, John Gray, James Henderson.
1792 John Wallace, Josiah Page, James Whitelaw.
1793 James Whitelaw, Win. Neilson, John Gray.
1794
John Gray, John Wallace, Jesse Heath.
1795
John Wallace, N. B. Page, Alex Miller.
1796 Hugh Gardner, John Gray, William Johnson.
1797 John Gray, Wm. Johnson, Jesse Heath.
1798 John Gray, John Cameron, Wm. Neilson.
1799 Win. Neilson, 2d, John Cameron, Hugh Gardner.
1800 Jolin Cameron, John Gray, Wm. Neilson, Jr.
1802
John Cameron, W'm. Neilson, Jr., John Gray.
1803 John Cameron, Wm. Neilson. Hugh Laughlin.
1804 John Cameron, John Gray, Wm. Neilson.
1805 W'm. Neilson, Sr., John Gray, Hugh Laughlin. John Gray, William Neilson,
1806
1807 Wm. Neilson, Hugh Laughlin, Jabez Bigelow.
1808 W'm. Neilson, Sr , Hugh Laughlin, Jabez Bigelow.
1809 Jabez Bigelow, Josiah Page, James Esden.
1810 James Esden, James Neilson, Jr., Alex. Henderson.
1811 Hugh Laughlin, Alex. Henderson, John Cameron.
1812 Hugh Laughlin, Alexander Park,
W'm. Gibson, Sr., Nathaniel Knight, James Henderson.
1814 Hugh Laughlin John Neilson, Archibald Park.
1815 John Neilson, Archibald Park Robert Whitelaw.
1816 Archibald Park, Nicholas White, Wm. Gray.
1817 Archibald Park, John Neilson, Nicholas White.
1818 1819 Nicholas White Jesse Heath Hugh Laughlin.
1820 Nicholas White, Jesse Heath, John Gibson.
1821 Nicholas White, Jesse Heath, John Gibson.
1822 Hugh Laughlin, William Gray. Archibald Park.
1823 Nicholas White, John Cameron, Archibald Park.
1824 Hugh Laughlin, Archibald Park. John Gibson.
1825 John Cameron, Archibald Park, William Gray.
1801 John Cameron. W'm. Neilson, Jr . John Gray.
1813
Nicholas White, Hugh Laughlin, Wm. Gray.
251
TOWN OFFICERS.
1826 Archibald Park, William Gray, John Cameron.
1827 John Cameron, Abraham Page, William Gray.
1828 Abraham Page, William Gray, James Nelson.
1829 Abraham Page, Archibald Park, Nicholas White.
1830 Archibald Park, James Nelson, Jr., John Cameron.
1831 Nicholas White, Abraham Page, James Nelson, Jr.
1832 Abraham Page, Edward Miller, Andrew Warden.
1833 John Cameron, Jr., John Gibson, John Nelson.
1834 John Nelson, John Cameron, Jr., Archibald Park.
1836
Archibald Park, John Nelson, James Hall, 2d
1837
James Hall, 2d, Timothy N. Stocker, John Nelson.
1838
James Hall, 2d, Archibald Park, Robert Symes.
1839
James Hall, 2d, Archibald Park, Lawson Bruce.
1840
John Cameron, George Cowles, Robert Whitelaw.
1841 James Hall, 2d, George Cowles, James R. Park.
1843
George Cowles, Robert Symes, Robert Gibson, 2d.
1844 James Hall, 2d, John McClure, Robert Miller.
1845 James Hall, 2d, John McClure, Robert Miller.
1846
James Hall, 2d, John McClure, Robert Miller.
1848
John McClure, James R. Park, Thomas Nelson, Jr.
1849
John Cameron, Robert Gibson, 2d, Moses Gates.
1850
John McClure, Moses Gates, John Bigelow.
1851
Harry Moore, Thomas Nelson, Jr., James R. Park.
1852 Harry Moore, Thomas Nelson, Jr., James R. Park
1853 John McClure, S. A. Moore, Robert Cochran.
1854 Samuel A. Moore, Robert Cochran, James R. Park.
1855
Robert Hall. Robert Gibson, 2d, M. R. Gray.
1859
Robert Cochran, Wm. J. Gibson. James Dickey.
1860 Wm. J. Gibson. James Dickey, W. J. Henderson.
1861
W. J. Henderson, James White, Moses D. Johnson.
1862
James White, M. D. Johnson, A. S. Moore.
1863
James White. H. G. Gibson, W. T. Whitelaw.
1864
H. G. Gibson, W. T. Whitelaw, W. J. Nelson.
1865 W. J. Nelson, Robert Nelson, Robert Gibson, 2d.
1866 Robert Nelson, Robert Gibson, Geo. L. Hall.
1867 G. L. Hall, Edward Miller. John H. Currier.
1868
G. L. Hall, John H. Currier, Edward Miller.
1869
Robert Cochran, Robert Nelson, John F. Nelson. Robert Cochran, Robert Nelson, Pringle Gibson.
187
Pringle Gibson, Geo. L. Hall, Thomas Nelson.
1872
Geo. L. Hall, Thos. Nelson. James Johnston.
1873 1874
M. R. Gray, Geo. L Hall, George Cochran.
1875
Geo. L. Hall, George Cochran, W. J. Gibson.
1876
W. J. Gibson, G. L. Hall. Hugh G. Miller.
1877
W. J. Gibson G. L. Hall, H. G. Miller.
1878
Hugh G Miller. G. L. Hall, Robert Nelson.
1879
Geo. I .. Hall. Robert Nelson, Hugh G. Miller.
1880 1881
lames Johnston. Thomas Nelson, Jefferson Renfrew. James Johnston, Jefferson Renfrew. Thomas Nelson.
1882 James Johnston, Jefferson Renfrew, Thomas Nelson.
1883 Edward Miller, James White, Solomon Chamberlin.
1884 Pringle Gibson, David Lang, Solomon Chamberlin.
1885 Edward Miller, Geo. A. Gibson, Wm. J. Nelson.
1886 Edward Miller, Geo. A. Gibson, W'm. J. Nelson.
1856 Robert Hall, M. R. Gray, Robert Gibson, 2d.
1857 1858
James R. Park, John McClure, Robert Nelson.
James R. Park, Robert Nelson, Robert Cochran.
1847
John McClure, Wm. T. Whitelaw, Harry Moore.
1842 George Cowles, James Hall, 2d, James R Park.
1835 John Gibson, Edward Miller, Archibald Park.
1871
James Johnston, Moses B Hall, Robert Nelson.
252
HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
1887 Geo. Cochran, Wm. T. McLam, Henry McCole.
1888 Geo. Cochran, Wm. T. McLam, Henry McCole.
1889 John Henderson, Quincy A. Whitehill, Benjamin Manchester.
1890 John Henderson, Quincy A. Whitehill, Benjamin Manchester.
1891 James Johnston, Solomon Chamberlin, Wm. J. Henderson.
1892 James Johnston, W. J. Henderson, Solomon Chamberlin.
1893 W. J. Henderson, M. F. Sargent, C. W. Whitehill.
1894 James Johnston, A. A. Miller, C. W. Whitehill
1895 A. A. Miller, C W. Whitehill, M. F. Sargent.
1896
Harvey Dunn, M. F. Sargent, C. W. Whitehill.
1897 M. F. Sargent, Geo. G. Nelson. W. P. White.
1898 Geo. G. Nelson, Wm. N. Gilfillan, B. Manchester.
1899 Wm. N. Gilfillan, B. Manchester, C. H. McLure.
1900 W. T George, C. H. McLure, Geo. A. Gibson.
1901 Geo. Cochran, C. H. McLure, H. T. Chamberlin.
1902 Geo. Cochran, C. H. McLure, Geo. P. Sanderson.
1903 Geo. Cochran, C. H. McLure, Geo. P. Sanderson.
1904 Geo. Cochran. W. T. George, Geo. P. Sanderson.
1905
Geo. Cochran, W. T. George. Geo. P. Sanderson.
1906
Geo. Cochran, G. G. Nelson, Peach Thomas.
1907 Geo. G. Nelson, Peach Thomas, Wilbert Renfrew.
1908 Geo. G. Nelson, Peach Thomas, Wilbert Renfrew.
1909 Geo. G. Nelson, Win T. McLure. R. Farquharson.
The legislature of 1908 changed the law, and provided that one selectman only should be chosen annually.
1910 Geo. G. Nelson,
1911 H. Chamberlin.
The moderator of the annual town meeting is, ex officio, moderator of all subsequent meetings during the year. In his absence another is chosen.
MODERATORS OF TOWN MEETINGS
1781 Alexander Symes
1782 John Hyndman
1783 Josiah Page
1784
William Neilson
1785
John Gray
1786
James Whitelaw
1787
James Whitelaw
1788
Josiah Page
1789
John Gray
1790
John Gray
1791
John Gray
1792
Josiah Page
1793
Josiah Page
1794
Josiah Page
1795
Josiah Page
1796
John Gray
1797
Jabez Bigelow
1798
Josiah Page
1799
John Cameron
1800
Josiah Page
1801
Jabez Bigelow
1802
Jabez Bigelow
1803
John Cameron
1804
John Cameron
1805
Not given
1806
Not given
1807
John Cameron
1808
John Cameron
1809
Josiah Page
1810
Robert Whitelaw
1811
Jabez Bigelow
1812
Jabez Bigelow
1813
Jabez Bigelow
1814 Robert Whitelaw
1815
Robert Whitelaw
1816
Hugh Laughlin
1817
William Gray
1818
William Gray
1819
Jabez Bigelow
1820
Jesse Heath
1821
Not given
1822
Jabez Bigelow
1823 Jabez Bigelow
1824 Jabez Bigelow
1825
Not given
1826 Abraham Page
1827
Not given
1828
William Gray
1829
Abraham Page
1830
John Cameron
JOHN A. MCLAM TOWN CLERK
NELSON A. PARK TOWN TREAS.
GEORGE G. NELSON SELECTMAN
WILLIAM T. MCLAM SELECTMAN
ROBERT
FARQUHARSON SELECTMAN
TOWN OFFICERS OF RYEGATE VT. FOR 1909
ELE NEW YORK
4. HRAGY
SCHEINST AND FOUND ING
253
TOWN OFFICERS.
1831 John Cameron
1832
John Cameron
1833 Archibald Park
1834 John B Whitelaw
1835 John Cameron
1836
James Nelson, Jr.
1837 Alexander Harvey
1838
Archibald Park
1839 John Cameron
1840
John Cameron
1841 James Hall, 2d
1842
John Cameron
1843
James Hall 2d
1844 John Cameron
1845
James Hall, 2d
1846 James Hall, 2d
1847
John Cameron
1848
Thomas Nelson
1849
Thomas Nelson
1850
John Bigelow
1851
John Bigelow
1852
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
1853
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
1854
William T. Whitelaw
1855
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
1856 William T. Whitelaw
1857
Alexander Somers
1858 William T. Whitelaw
1859 Thomas Wason
1860
Claudius Somers
1861
John McLure
1862
W. J. Henderson
1863
William T. Whitelaw
1864
James White
1865
James White
1866
William T. Whitelaw
1867
James White
1868
James White
1869
John Bigelow
1870
James White
1873
W. J. Henderson
1874
James White
1877
James White
1878
James White
1881
Alexander Dunnett
1882
Alexander Dunnett
1883
W. /. Henderson
1884
W. J. Henderson
1885
M. R. Gray
1886
Thomas Nelson
1887
W. J. Henderson
1888
W. J. Henderson
1889
W. J. Henderson
1890
W. J. Henderson
1891
W J Henderson
1892
Pringle Gibson
1893
W. J. Henderson
1894
T. A Meader
1895
T. A. Meader
1896
T. A. Meader
1897
Pringle Gibson
1898
W. I. Henderson
1899
T. A. Meader
1900
W. J. Henderson
1901
T. A. Meader
1902
T. A. Meader
1903
T. A. Meader
1904
T. A. Meader
1905 T. A. Meader
1906
J. D McAllister
1907
J. D. McAllister
1908
J. D. McAllister
1909
T. A. Meader
1910
T. A. Meader
1911
T. A. Meader
LISTERS.
Li-ters were at first called Assessors, and those who have held the office have been :
In 1776, John Gray and James Whitelaw, and there is no mention of their successors till 1781 when John Gray was chosen.
1782 John Gray, John Orr.
1783 Archibald Taylor, Andrew Brock.
1781 John Gray, William Johnston.
1785 William Neilson.
1786
William Neilson, Hugh Gardner
1787
Andrew Brock James Neilson.
1788
1789
1790
James Whitelaw, Josiah Page.
1791
1792
1872
James White
1875
James White
1876
James White
1879
M1. R. Gray
1880
Alexander Dunnett
1871
John Bigelow
254
HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VEEMONT
James Henderson, Hugh Gardner.
1793 1794 John Gray, Hugh Gardner. 1795 Jabez Bigelow, Alexander Miller. 1796 1797 Jabez Bigelow, John Cameron. 1798 James Whitelaw. John Gray. 1799 Jabez Bigelow, Hugh Gardner, Jonathan Darling. 1800 1801 Hugh Johnson, Hugh Gardner, Hugh Laughlin. Hugh Johnson, Josiah Darling, John Neilson. 1802 1803 John Neilson, James Esden, Jabez Bigelow. 1804 James Esden, James Nelson. Jr., Jabez Bigelow. 1805 Wm. Craig, Jabez Bigelow, James Nelson. Not recorded. 1806 1807 John Nelson, Nathaniel Knight, James Craig. 1808 James Nelson, Jr., Robert Whitelaw, Jona. Darling. 1809 John Page, Hugh Laughlin. Jabez Bigelow. 1810 Wm. Craig, Jr , John Nelson, John Page. 1811 John Nelson Robert Whitelaw, Thomas Heath. 1812 1813 Robert Whitelaw, Hugh Laughlin John Cameron. William Gray, William Allen, Jabez Bigelow. 1814 1815 Jabez Bigelow, John Cameron, Alexander Henderson.
1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 James Esden, John Nelson, Jabez Bigelow.
Jabez Bigelow, James Nelson, James Esden. Alexander Harvey, Jabez Bigelow, Amos Noyes.
Jabez Bigelow, Amos Noyes, Alexander Harvey.
1828 Robert Whitelaw, James Nelson, Amos Noyes.
1829 Jabez Bigelow, William Gray, Andrew Buchanan.
Ebenezer Morrill. Abraham Page, John Nelson.
1830 1831 1832 1833 1834
Walter Roben, William Gray, Amos Noyes. John Cameron, Jr., William Blair, John Gibson.
John B. Whitelaw, James Nelson, Jr , Ebenezer Morrill.
1835 1836
John Bigelow. John Gibson. William Blair.
John Cameron, Thomas Nelson, William Gray.
1837 Thomas Nelson. Harry Moore, John Hall
1838 1839 Amos Noyes, John Cameron, Thomas Nelson.
1840 John Bigelow, John Nelson, Thomas Nelson.
1841 John Bigelow, Robert Symes, George Cowles.
1842 John Cameron, Robert Symes, Arch. Park.
1843 Wm. J. White, John Cameron, James Hall, 2d.
1844 John Bigelow, Robert Symes, John Buchanan.
1845 John Cameron, James R. Park, Thomas Nelson.
1846 John Cameron, Robert Gibson, Wm. T. Whitelaw.
1847 John Cameron, Arch Park. Robert Gibson, 2d.
1848 Abram Whitehill, Robert Hall, Jr .. Wm. Henderson, Jr.
1849 Win. T. Whitelaw, Abram Whitehill, Robert Nelson.
1850 Abram Whitehill, Wm. T. Whitelaw, Wm. J. Gibson.
1851 James R. Park, John Buchanan, Alex. Holmes.
1852 David Nelson, John McClure. Claudius Stewart.
1853 George Cowles, J. R Park, Cloud Somers.
1854 Robert Hall, Cloud Somers Thos. Nelson, Jr.
John Page, Robert Whitelaw, Hugh Laughlin.
Hugh Laughlin, Jabez Bigelow, William Gray.
Arch. Park, Ezekiel Manchester. Jabez Bigelow.
Jabez Bigelow, John Page, Alexander Henderson.
1821 1822 1823 182 Jesse Heath, William Gray, Alex. Henderson.
Hugh Laughlin, Jabez Bigelow. Alex. Harvey.
1825 1826 Jabez Bigelow, Alex. Harvey, Alex. Henderson. 1827 Andrew Warden, Ebenezer Morrill, Jabez Bigelow.
John B. Whitelaw, Ebenezer Morrill, George Nelson.
John Nelson, James Hall, John Bigelow.
255
TOWN OFFICERS.
1855 John Cameron, Cloud Somers, S. A. Moore.
1856 A. Laughlin, Robert Cochran, W. T. Whitelaw.
1857 M. D. Johnson, George Lauder, Robert Symes.
1858 Geo. Lauder, Robert Miller, M. D. Johnson.
1859 H. E. Gibson, Geo. Lauder, Robert Symes.
1860 J. R. Park, H. G. Gibson, Robert Hall.
1861
J. R. Park, James Nelson, Robert Miller.
1863
Robert Gibson, 2d, Jolin H. Currier, Win. Nelson.
1864
Robert Gibson, J. R. Park, W. J. Gibson.
1865 J. R. Park, H. G. Gibson. Robert Cochran.
1866 H. G. Gibson, R. Cochran, J. B. Gibson.
1867 John B. Nelson, Wm. J. Gibson, W. J. Henderson.
186
Wm. J. Nel-on, Robert Miller, Robert Gibson, 2d.
1870
James R. Park, H. G. Miller, H. G. Gibson.
1871
James R. Park, W. J. Henderson, H. G. Gibson.
1872
W. J. Henderson, John Miller, Robert Dickson.
1874
James White, James Johnston, Geo A. Gibson.
1875
James Johnston, Geo. A. Gibson, J. R. Park.
1876
J. R. Park, Thomas Nelson, Pringle Gibson.
1877 Thomas Nelson, Pringle Gibson, John Nelson.
1878 John Henderson, James Johnston, Wm. J. Gibson.
1879 James Johnston, Jefferson Renfrew. John Miller.
1880
John Miller, Geo. A. Gibson, John Henderson.
1881 M. R. Gray, W. J. Henderson, James White.
1882
M. R. Gray, W. J. Henderson, James White.
1883
James Johnston, Geo. Cochran, A. S. Moore.
1884
Geo. Cochran, Geo. A. Gibson, Wm. T. McLam.
1885 Wm. T. McLam, David Buchanan, N. H. Ricker.
1886
Q. A. Whitehill, P. Gibson, Ben. Manchester.
1887 1888
P. Gibson, B. Manchester, Q. A. Whitehill.
1889 1890
Geo. A. Gibson, Geo. L. Hall, Edward Miller.
1891 Wm. Cas idy, J. H. Symes. Andrew Buchanan.
1892
Wm. Cassidy, J. H. Symes, A. Buchanan.
1893 W. A. Gibson, T. A. Meader, Harvey Dunn.
1894 W. A. Gibson, Thos. A. Meader, Ben. Manchester.
1895 J. D. McAllister, S. F. Nelson, Harvey Dunn.
1896
F. R. McColl, A. A. Miller, S. F. Nelson.
1897
F. R. McColl. C. H. McLure, S. F. Nelson.
1898
F. R. McColl. S. F. Nelson, C. H. McLure.
1899 F. R. McColl, S. F. Nelson, J. H. Symes.
1900
S. F, Nelson, O. H. Renfrew, A. K. Morse,
1901 F. R. McColl, Geo. E. Harvey, T. A. Meader.
1902 T. A. Meader, P. Gibson, Geo. E. Harvey.
1903 W. T. George, H. F. Chamberlin, W. N. Gilfillan.
1904 S. F. Nelson, H. F. Chamberlin, R. Farquharson.
1905 T. D. Nelson, R. Farquharson, A. J. Whitehill.
1906 R. Farquharson, C. H. McLure, C. W. Whitehill.
1907 F. R. McColl, C. H. McLure, I. H. Gilfillan.
1908 C. H. McLure, F. R. McColl, I. H Gilfillan.
1909 C. L. McLam, C. M. Wallace, B. R. Bone.
1910 J. Craigie, C. H. McLure.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS AND DIRECTORS.
There was no supervision of the district schools in town till 1829, and the people in each district managed their educational affairs as they
1862
J. R. Park, R. Miller, Jas. Nelson.
1868 Wm. J. Gibson, Wm. J Nelson, Wm. J. Henderson.
1873
John Miller, Robert Dickson, James White.
Pringle Gibson, David Buchanan, W. J. Henderson.
Geo. L. Hall, Jas. Johnston, Geo. A. Gibson.
256
HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.
1
saw fit. In that year Rev. James Milligan, Dr. Eli Perry and Abraham Page were chosen a superintending committee. Their successors were: 1830, Dr. Perry ; 1831, Rev. James Milligan, Rev. Wm. Pringle and Dr. Perry ; 1832, John Bigelow, Rev. James Milligan and Rev. Wm. Pringle; 1833, Archibald Park, William Gray and John Cameron. For some rea- son not now clear, there is no further mention in the town records of any oversight of the schools on the part of the town, till 1846 when it was voted to have only one superintendent, and Rev. J. M. Beattie was chosen, and held the office for three years. There seems to have been some forni of examination required for teachers, as in 1846 the first recorded certificates are mentioned. The succeeding superintendents were:
1849 Rev. Robert A. Hill 1871-74 James W. Greeg
1850 Rev. James M. Beattie 1875-77 J B. Darling 1851 Rev. Robert A. Hill 1878. '79 Alex. Dunnett
1852 John Bigelow 1880 Rev. J. B. Clapperlin
1853-55 Edward Miller 1881 Mary G. Esden
1856 Hugh G. Miller
1882-84 R. J. White
1857, '58 Theophilus J. McLure
1885 Rev. W. W. Reed
1859, '60 Archibald Renfrew
1886, '87 Rev. J. W. Flagg
1861-63 T. J. McLure
1883-01 N. A. Park
1864-68 Rev. G. M. Wiley
1869, '70 Rev. J. M. Beattie
1902-07 Rev. W. S. Wallace
In 1893 the town system of schools came into operation, a school board of three directors being constituted, one of whom is chosen eacli year. The first directors chosen were :
Geo. W. Darling for one year. Win. T. McLam for two years. Walter A. Gilchrist for two years.
The following have served as school directors since 1893:
Henry J. Park, six years.
Thos. A. Meader, three years.
S. F. Nelson, three years.
Geo. W. Darling, ten years.
C. W. H. Wilson, three years.
F. R. McColl, three years. Mrs. J. A. McLam, six years. A. W. McLam, eight years. WV. N. Gilfillan, three years.
The Directors for 1910 were :
C. W. H. Wilson. A. W. McLam. F. R. McColl.
CHAPTER XXV.
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.
JAMES WHITELAW TO HIS FATHER, 1773 .- JAMES HENDERSON'S BOND .- MEETING HOUSE ACCOUNT .- VOTE OF MEMBERS ABOUT TIMBER .- ROBERT BROCK'S BOND .- WEIGHT OF MILL IRONS .- CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP .- LETTER FROM MANAGERS IN SCOTLAND .- MONEY REMITTED TO SCOTLAND .- BILL OF EXCHANGE .- LETTER FROM SCOTLAND, 1809 .- RYEGATE MEN IN THE REVO- LUTIONARY WAR, THE WAR OF 1812, THE MEXICAN WAR AND THE CIVIL WAR.
T HE following letter from James Whitelaw to his father gives such an interesting account of the country just before the revolution- ary war that we reproduce it :
DEAR FATHER :
Having an opportunity of being once more in this place and of two ships being. ready to sail for England, I again write you that I am in good health and have reason to be thankful to God that I never was so well in my life as since I came to this country, for to the best of iny remembrance I never gave a single cough since I left Greenock.
As we have now been through all the places which we intend to visit in this province, I will give you a short account of what we have seen, since we left this place. On Wednesday the 9th of June we set out for Albany in a sloop, and ar- rived there on Saturday the 12th at night, the distance being 165 miles. We met with worse weather going up the river than we did in all our passage from Europe. One night it blew so hard that I was obliged to stand for a sailor the whole night. The land on the banks of river is very steep and rocky, most part of the way between this and Albany, but when you come near Albany it becomes flat and very pleasant. Albany is a handsome little town about twice as large as Anderstown, and the inhabitants mostly Dutch. We set out from there for Johnson Hall, where Sir William Johnson lives, which is on the bank of the Mo- hawk River about 44 miles west from Albany where we went to view some lands he had to sell. The lands are very good, but the situation not so good, being over a high mountain and through a large swamp, and there is no navigation nearer than Albany.
Here we saw great numbers of Indians of which there are always plenty about this place; they are of a tawny complexion with long straight black hair, which their squaws or women wear long and tied behind, and the inen wear theirs short. Their shape is handsome for the most part, and of an ordinary size. They wear no clothes except a kind of blanket which they wrap about their shoulders, and two pieces of skin which they wear, the one before and the other behind to cover their nakedness. They seem to be very fond of jewels, as the best part of them have bracelets, ear-rings and nose jewels, which is an ear-ring which they hang between their mouth and nose, the gristle of their nose being pierced for that purpose. We saw one in particular which beside the aforementioned jewels had a round piece of leather hung before his breast, which was all drove full of
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