USA > Vermont > Windham County > Rockingham > History of the town of Rockingham, Vermont, including the villages of Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Rockingham, Cambridgeport and Bartonsville, 1753-1907, with family genealogies > Part 8
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The meeting of March 25, 1772, voted that "Moses wright be aLoued Eight Shilings bay money " for "Going after Mr hardin when he preacht In Rockingham", and the article "to See if the Town will Let the Swine Run at Large being Yoked and Ringed " was " disannuled".
The record of the meeting May 19, 1772, commences as follows :
" New York 1 by order of the Govener and privey Counsill that the Towns Cumberland formerly Granted by the Govener of New Hampshire Should County be Laid Into Destricts and that our Annauall Meetings Should be held on ye third Tuesday in May and the Meeting is as follows-At An anauell Meeting held on Tuesday ye 19 Day of May 1772 at the house of David Pulsiphers Innholder at Nine oClock In ye foreNoon and Passed the following Votes"-No business was transacted except election of officers.
September 2, 1772, it was " Voted to Build a bridge over Williams River and Chose Missirus peter Evens William Simonds and Joseph woods to be a Committee to build a bridge over Williams River and to provide Timber and plank and all Nessecreies to Comple Said bridge and to Go with the Com- missioners to See wheare the bridge Shall be Made".
April 23. 1772, it was voted that " the Place ye Committee Chose for a
73
First Votes Regarding Revolution
Meeting house be Null and Void and of None Efect and Voted that the Meet- ing house be Set on the hill West of David Pulsiphers house about thirty or forty Rods".
May 18, 1773, it was "Voted on ye 3rd article of the warrant that any person or persons being Chose into Town office pay a fine of Two pounds this province money In Case they Refuse to Serve", and "Voted on ye 4th article of the warrant that the book bought be Sufficient to Record the Records of ye Town both Births and Deaths and any other thing found bene- ficial to Said town".
August 25, 1773, it was " Voted to Build a Small house 35 feet Long and 25 feet wide and to Set Said house at the End of David pulsiphers Grass wheare the Committee think proper for a meeting house till the town be able " to Build a Larger", and that " peter Evens Junr Samuell Tayler John Lovell to Be a Committee to Build Said House". The 5th article of the warrant for this meeting was "Disanulled ". It was " to See if the Town will fulfill their aGreement with the widow Swane and Secure to her the Road or as much Land of the Same Lott as the Town Took for the Road ye West Side of her Lott and to have the Road opened or passable for people from Deacon Evans house Down to the Great River where Kingsley once lived".
November 24, 1773, it was voted to " Raise forty pounds York money to Defray the Charges of Building a meeting house", and "Voted Two Shillings and Nine pence York money per Day this winter and three Shillings and Six pence York money per Day In the Spring and one Shilling and Six pence Like money pr Day for Cattle this winter and In the spring Two Shillings pr Day for Cattle".
In May, 1774, it was voted that " all and Every person within this town- ship that Improves Lands that it Be made Good fence at Least four feet and a half high the poles or Rails of which the Same made to be so Near toGether that No Horse or Neat Cattle may Go through under the Same and the meet- ing orders this to prevent action of Trespass". It was also voted that " any person or persons Refuses to Serve In the office In which they are Chosen that they pay a fine of two pounds York money".
Here comes the first action of the town referring to the coming Revolution.
" At a full meeting held in the Destrict of Rockingham In the County of Cumberland and Province of New York on the Thirteenth Day of Sept 1774 thought themselves bound in Deauty to Return Sum answer to the Gentlemen Committee of Corespondence who have Sum months Ago Sent to us to Know our minds In and a bout the afare of moveing In the Common Cause of Assist- ing our Suffering Brethering In the Town of Boston we Being Impossed upon by the Letters being Keept Back But Now heareing the Import of sd Letters from the New York Committee of Correspondence Do Act and Vote as follows Viz Voted on the Second article of the warrant that oliver Lovell Esqr Mr Reuben Jones & Leut Jonathan Burt Be a Committee of Corros- pondence to Corrospond with the other Committees of this province and that the town Clerk Record the above Votes In the town Book of Records and Deliver a True Coppey of the Same to the above Committee".
September 26, 1774, it was voted that " oliver Lovell Esqr Leut Jonathan Burt Leut peter Evens be Trustees to Build the Meeting House which was
74
History of Rockingham
Voted to Be Bilt Last Year". They took further action regarding the coming storm of Revolution as follows : "Voted on the same article of the warrant that the Committee of Corrospondence meet with the other Committees of Corrospondenee In other towns and that the above Committee Send Sirculer Letters to the towns In the County Relative to their Late perseadings".
October 19, 1774, the following unique vote was passed. "Voted that the meeting house be Sot on the Hill which is Now In building and that this meeting house be added to the wedth five feet and one feet and ten inches In the height and Voted that the trustees find four Galonds of Rum to Raise and frame Said house".
November 22, 1774, the town " Voted and Chose Reuben Jones Ebenezer fuller Joseph wood Diligates to Joyne the Convention at westminster ye 30 of November Instant to Consider the State of the County the Inconvenancy the Inhabitants are under in Respect of Colecting their Deus In a Neighboring Province and to advise to Such Measurs as shall be thought Expedent on Said Day" and that "the above Delegates Make a Return of their Persea- ding". Also " Voted that Mr Reuben Jones and Leut Jonathan Burtt who ware a Committee of Corrospondence be Excused for thier NonAppearence with other Committies at Westminster".
December 8. 1774, " Voted to Except of the Resolves of the County Con- gress". The article " to Chuse a Committee of Inspection to Stand In town to See if all persons will pay a Strect adherence to the Resolves of the Grand America in Congress held in philadelphia " was " voted In the Negative ".
December 12, 1774, town meeting was held for the first time in the newly erected meeting-house, and it was "Voted that the meeting house be Excepted and the Committees accompts be aLoued " also that " there be a Roe of Wall Pews Round the meeting house and Eight pews In the middle and three Seets Each side the Alley Next the pulpit " and " Every one who Draws a wale Pew Shall Seal up to the flore and Glase the windows aGainst Each of their pews and Do it on their own Cost and all the pews Likewise". " Voted that those who Draws the pews shall draw them aCording to their own Ratable Estates and not on any Leased Lands or Estates". " Voted to Raise the Sum of Teen pounds York Money to be paid in Grane and Laboure". "Voted that the owners of the pews make and finish Said pews by September Next and if any be Neglected and Not Done or finisht they shall forfeit them and they Shall be the towne property". " Voted and Chose oliver Lovell Esqr and Ensign peter Evens and Leut Jonathan burtt Trustees to Expend the money which is Voted to be Raised In and about the meeting house". In the record of this meeting occurs the first reference to any action of the town regarding schools. An article in the warrant was " to see if the Town is willing to hier a School Master to Teach our Childering three Months this Winter and to Chuse a Committee for that purpose and to See if the town will Raise any Sum of money or Grane for that purpous", and it was " Voted in the Negative".
February 6th, 1775, the town "Voted and Chose Leut Moses Wright to Go to Westminster to Joyne the other Dilagates which are to meet at Westminster ye Seventh Day of this Instant february at Ten oClock In the fore Noon".
May 22, 1775, it was " voted and Chose Leut moses wright and Missirus
75
Records of County Committee of Inspection
Joseph wood Dilagates to Go to westminster the Sixth Day of June Next to Act in behalf of the County".
July 18, 1775, " Voted and Chose Leut moses wright and Joseph wood and William Simonds and oliver Lovell Esqr and Ebenezer fuller Committee of Inspection". On an article of the warrant " to see if the town will make a New Choice of milliterey officers " they "Chose Joseph wood Capt & Charles Richards Leut and Isac Stoel Insign".
November 13, 1775, " Voted and chose Lt moses wright and oliver Lovell Esqr and Mr Ebenezer fuller Dilagats to Send to Westminster In order to form a New Congress and to Set there with the other Dilagats the twenty first Day of November Instant". "Voted to Carrey In the Valueation of Rockingham Invoice" and " Voted that the Dilagats Examine Into the Cause why the Valueation is Required and if any Damage Should apear to ye town In Sending In the above Valueation they are not to Give it In".
December 18, 1775, at a meeting held at the " house of Jehiel Webb Inn- holder " it was " Voted Not to Send any Dilagates to New York Nor to West- minster on the first tuesday of January Next ".
January 9, 1776, they chose Ebenezer Fuller and William Simonds a " Committee to Send to Westminster to Joyn the other Committees or mem- bers which may meet on a Generall Call of the Chareman of the County".
February 26, 1776, it was "Voted and Excepted the performances of Mr. Ebr fuller and William Simonds to Westminster and William Simonds to Brattleboro".
May 6, 1776, they " Voted to Send two Dilagats to New York" and " Voted and Chose Salvanus titus Captain and peter Evens Leut and Samuell taylor and Charles Richards Insign".
May 21, 1776, " Voted that the Swine Run on the Commons under the Regulations of the bay province being Yoked and Ringed and if they Do any Damage they are to be Shet up Immeadately".
(Incorporated here, as a part of the record of this town meeting, are the following two records of meetings of the Cumberland County Committee of Inspection, the legislative and judicial body for Revolutionary days.)
"Cumberland \ at a meeting held in Rockingham Consisting of five of the County Committee of Inspection of Said Rockingham and three Gentm Committees of three Neighbouring towns Viz Westminster Chester and Springfield held at the house of Mr Jehial Webs In sd Rockingham ye Sth Day of September 1775 and passed to business
First Voted and Chose Lt moses Wright Chareman
2 ly Voted and Chose William Simonds Clerk
3 ly we Do Resolve on the following Method as haveing Receid No Rules at present that if any outRages are Committed In Said town by any person or persons In Said town any one of us will Give out a warrant and Cause the fenders to com before the whool or the Major part of us for Tryal
2 ly if any shall Speak anything that is Enemical to the Common Cause or aGainst the Committee or aGainst the Congress we will cause Such
76
History of Rockingham
offenders to be Brought before us and Deal with them according to their Crimes
Moses Wright
William Simonds
Ebenezer Fuller
Committee
oliver Lovell Joseph wood
Cumberland { at a meeting of the Committee of Inspection held In Rocking County ham the Eighteenth Day of Sept 1776 at the house of Mr Jehial webs Inholder and passed to business first
Voted and Chose Moses Wright Chareman
2 ly Chose William Simonds Clerk
3 ly Voted that Mr Jeshua Webb of Westminster Set with the other Gentm who were Sent by the County Committee for to Judge and Determine a Case Depending between Nathll Davis and timothy Lovell plts and Nathll Bennitt Defendent
4 ly Voted that Copr Elias olcott be Dismist from keeping the prisoners
5 ly Voted that Mr Isac Stoel take Into his Costody the prisoners till tomorrow morning Eight oClock
6 ły Voted to Adjorn till tomorrow morning Eight oClock
Meet according to adjornment and opened the meeting
7 ly Voted to Adjorn this meeting to one oClock In the afterNoon
Meet According to Adjornment and the meeting opened
Eigly Voted Liberty tor Coll Barrott to Return home
Ninthly Voted as the opinion of this Committee that Nathll Bennitt procure Bondsmen of one hundred pounds Sterling for his Good behaveor whilest he the Said bennitt Stays In the County or Emmeadeatly to Depart out of Said County and if he should Return he to be Committed to the Common Goal and to Receive Corproll punishment and to pay Cost as Aloued
10 ly Voted that the three Gentlemen from the Neighbouring Towns be aloued two Dollers Each for their Good Service Exclusive of the Expenses also one Dolor for Mr Joshua webs Good Service In this meeting
Il ly Voted that the Evidences have pay for their attendance but the officers and his attendance be paid and the Committee to be paid their Demand and Cost
12 ly Voted this meeting be Disolved Moses Wright Chareman
At a meeting held In Rockingham August ye 5th 1776 to See if the Town wod Raise any Money as a bounty for the men that ware to Go Into the Warr First Voted and Chose Moses Wright Moderator to Govern sd Meeting 2 ly Voted Not to Raise any money as a bounty for those who ware to Go into the Warr
3 ly Voted to Dismiss this meeting
William Simonds Clerk
Moses Wright Modr
Rockingham Votes Allegiance to New Hampshire 77
Cumberland ) at a Legall and full meeting of the freeholders and other County Inhabitents of the town of Rockingham Meet and assembled on the 26th Day of august 1776 at our meeting house and passed the follow- ing Votes Viz
first Voted and Chose oliver Lovell Esqr Moderator to Govern sd meet- ing
2 ly when Doctor Reuben Jones had Exhibited the papers In his hands which Contained the Substance of a petition Sent to the honourable Con- tinental Congress by a Nomber of Dilligats of a Generall Convention assembled at Dorsit on the 16 and 17th Day of January 1776 and allso the Extraits of the Votes and preseadings of a Generall Convention held at Dorsit on the 24th of July 1776 toGather with an asocation published by sd Convention the Same was taken Into Consideration and after Deliberating
3 ly Voted to associate with the Inhabitants of that Destrict of Land Commonly Called and known by the Name of the Newhampshire Grants Desendents onely two
Voted to Send two Dillagats to the Convention at Dorsit
4 ly Voted and Chose Docter Reuben Jones and Lt Moses Wright Dillagats to Joyne the Convention at Dorsit ye 25th Day of Septm Next
5 ly Voted and Chose a Committee to Make a Draught for Instructions for the Dillagats and to make Report to the town of their Instructions
6 ly Voted and Chose Major oliver Lovell and Leut peter Evens Junr and Missirus Colbon preston be the above Committee
7 ly Voted and Excepted the Report of the above Committee which are as follows the Dillagats are to use their best Influence In Said Convention that proper Measurs be taken to Git that Destrect of Land Commonly Called and known by the Name of the Newhampshire Grants formed and Incorpor- ated Into a Seperate Destrict or State and to act on any other or thing that Shall be thought proper by Said Convention when meet
Voted on the 4th article of the warrant Not to Send any men Into the warr by being prest and without a Bounty
9 ly Voted Not to hold a fast under the proclamatian Issued by the Con- vention of the State of New York on the 27th Day of August
to ly Voted to Dismiss this meeting William Simonds Town Clerk Major oliver Lovell Moderator
1
Cumberland ) at a Legall meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of Rock- County ingham meet at our meeting house on the 20Day of Sept Instant 1776 at Two oClock In the afterNoon and passed the following Votes Viz
first Voted and Chose Lt Moses Wright Moderator to Govern Sd Meeting
2 ly Voted on the Second article of the warrant Not to Dismiss the present Committee of Inspection but to add more members to it and to Regulate the Same and that the Committee of Safety of Rockm act with the Commts of Inspection
3 ly Voted on the Same article and Chose Lt moses Wright and Missirus Colborn preston and Leut Samll Tayler Committes of Inspection and Voted
78
History of Rockingham
on the Same article of the Warrant Not to have the Small pox Set up here by anocklation at present
4 ly Voted to Dismiss this Meeting
William Simonds T-C
by Leave of the
Committee and Memerandom Docter Stevens Requested that he
Inhabitants might be permitted to bring Into Latons house 4 or 5
who ware anoculated till they ware Got well-the Same was Complied with by giving bonds for his Good Conduct In the affare"
October 17, 1776, it was, -
"Voted and Resolved that the Small pox be Not Brought Into this town by Inoculation Nor any Other way if possible Can be prevented
Voted to pay Major oliver Lovell forty Shillings which he Lent to the County and to have that some added to the Rate formerly Voted for Defray- ing the Charges of the wife of Jonathan White Deseased and her Children and to Colect the Some with that Rate that Said Lovell may have his money " September 2, 1776, the action was, --
"5 ly Voted and protested against our Dillagats Going to New York and their further Proseading as representatives of the County
6 ly Voted and Chose a Sub Committee to Draught a Protest against our Dillagats at New York and their further proseadings for ye County
/ 7 ly Voted Docter Reuben Jones and Mr Colburn preston be the above Committee and to make Report thereon to the town
S ly Voted and Excepted the Report of the above Committee-which is as follows The Town having taken Into Consideration the State and Situa- tion of this County and the manner that our Dillagats ware Chosen to Represent this County at the State of New York we think that they were not properly Elected to Represent the people of this county at Large and when we Veu the pamphlet from the State of New York Dedicated to this County and their Veu the Declaration the Dillagats afforesaid have made that they have full and unrestrained power of forming a Government and further as Dillagats for the County they fully acknowledge the Jurresdiction of New York over this County and its Inhabitants and when we further Veu a Reso- lution of the provential Congress of the Second Day of August ulto which will take the whool of our Interest and when we Consider our Dillagats we Veu them as Dangros men to Transact our political atfares for us and whereas we have anter Seedantly Chose Dillagats to Joyne In General Con- vention held on that Destrict of Land Commonly called and known by the Name of the Newhampshire Grants we Do therefore Enter our Protest aGainst the afforesaid Dillagats Setting In Convention with the State of New York or any others In their place Except Such as shall be Elected or Recommended by the General Convention afforesaid-and we further add that if the aftoresaid Dillagats Do Set In Convention for the State of New York we Shall Not hold ourSelves bound by their proseadings
9 ly Voted that there be a Committee Chose to Draught or Draw a Protest In Good form and to See that it be Sent to New York
11 ly Voted and Chose Docter Reuben Jones and Mr Colborn preston the above Committee
BEAVER DAM SCHOOL BUILDING. Located South of Saxtons River Village.
79
Delegate to Dorset Convention
12 ly Voted on the 3d article of the warrant to Chuse two men for a County Committee
13 ly Voted and Chose William Simonds and Dr Reuben Jones the above Committee
14 ly Voted Not to pay any Regard to the Rate Lately made to Defray the Charges of Jonathan Whites family till the aCompts be first Laid before the town and Excepted
15 ly Voted and Chose Doctor Reuben Jones and Mr Woods a Com- mittee to Notifie the assessors of the above Vote
16 ly Voted to Dismiss this meeting Wm Simonds Town Clerk Colborn Preston Moderator
Newhampshire at a Legal meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of
Grants Alias Rockinghm held at our meeting house the-13-of febu-
New Connecticut - ary 1777 at one oclock In the afterNoon and adjornd to the house of the widow pulsiphers Inholder and meet According to Adjorn- ment and passed the following votes
first Chose moses wright Moderator
2 ly Voted to Send Some meet person to Represent the town in the General Convention to be held at Cephus Kents In Dorsit the 19-of februry Current
3 ly Voted and Chose Lt moses Wright to Represent this town In General Convention at Cephus Kents In Dorsit
4 ly Voted to Do our Equal perportion In maintaining and Suporting the Just War In america
5 ly Voted to Dismiss the present Committee of Inspection and Chose a new
6 ly Voted and Chose William Simonds Colborn preston Joseph wood Jehial Webb Lt Peter Evens Junr Lt Moses Wright Jonathan Bur Committee of Inspection for the town of Rockingham
7 ly Voted to Dismiss this meeting William Simonds Town Clerk Moses Wright Moderator
Those who acted in the above meeting and them that turned out their Caps for the above Dillagate for Dorsit as his Expenses
Ezra Whittney
0
3
4
Capt Salvanus titus
Colbern preston
0
+ 0
Isac Stoel
Joseph Wood
O
4 O
Nathan Wright
Joseph Burr
Timo Walker
O
3 O
Wm Stern
O
3 O
Wm Simonds
O
3 O
Lt Peter Evens Junr
O
4 O
Jehial Web
0
+
O
Cornelius Baker
.
80
History of Rockingham
()
1 0
Jonathan fuller John fuller
O
1 0
oliver Lovell Esqr
O
3 0
12 4
Those that fetcht the Lead and flint their Demainds
Leut Richards
6
0
Capt Wood
6 O
Ebenr fuller
6 O
In the warning for a town meeting, March 10th, 1777, was the following article :-
" 2 ly to See if the Inhabitants of Said Rockingham has a mind to make a Bank of money In the Newhampshire Grants or New Conneticutt as an aditional Bounty Towards Raising Coll Warners Rigt also to Defray other Necessarey Charges In Said New Connecticut Said Bank to Consist of Ten thousand pounds Lawfull money of the State of the massachusets Bay which was agreed to by the Late Convention held at Dorsit which being left to the Consideration of the people at large or Said Grants till the Nintenth of March Next to Determine the affare and to act on any other Business the Town In their Wisdom Shall think propper When Meet
The action of the meeting was as follows,- " Voted on the 2d article of the warrant to omitt making a Bank of Money In the Newhampshire Grants until we have a Return from the Contant !! Congress and be Accepted there as a New State"
Following this is a copy of the resolutions adopted by the Windsor convention, June 4, 1777, calling a constitutional convention for July 2, 1777, at which the state of Vermont was formed. Delegates to this convention were chosen at the following town meeting, June 23, 1777. It was :
" 3 ly Voted to Receive thea Minition of the Committee powder Lead and Hint Sent from the State of New York
4 ly Voted that the Town Committee keep the powder Lead and flint
5 ly Voted to Give the Committee Instructions for Dealing out the pow- der Lead and flint
6 ly Voted that there be a Committee to Give Instructions to the Town Committee how to Deal out the powder Lead and flint
7 ly Voted and Chose Lt Samll Tayler Colborn Preston Jehial Webb the above Committee
S ly Voted and Excepted the Report of the above Committee which is as follows- it is the opinion of this Committee the Chairman of the town Committee fourth with Deal out one pound of Lead to Every man that has Taken the Oath of Alegency to be True to the united States of America, one Pound of Lead and Half a pound of Powder on the first Alaramto Each man that marches to Defend his Contrey
8I
Oaths of Allegiance by Citizens
9 ly Voted to Send Two Dillagates to windsor to Joyn the Convention there
Io ly Voted and Chose Mr Joshua Webb and Doctor Reuben Jones Dillgats for Windsor"
Immediately following the record of the above meeting of June 23, 1777, and evidently made at the same time and place, are the following entries :
You Sware by the Ever Living God that you will to the Utt-most of your Power Defend the americain Liberties against british Tyrony and all oppres- sion of the americain State and that you will Stand Ready to assist her In Every thing that shall tend to the peace happiness and well being of Your Country according to the best of Your Skill and Understanding - So Help You God
Charles Richards Samll Richardson
James How
Elisha Knights
fairbanks Moore Jur benjm Larrabee
Samll Taylor James Campbell Elias Olcott
Thos Dutton
Elijah Knights
Jeheal Webb
Ebenezer fuller Jr Levi Davis
Sworn before
Chair-
John Lovell Eli Evens Salvanus Kingsley Peter Evens Jr
Jonathan Burtt Josiah Read Elisha Walker Isaac Read Elijah Lovell Asa White John fuller oliver Lovell
me
Wm Simonds man
You sware by the Name of the Ever Living God that you will be true and faithfull to the United States of america as free and Independent Stats and In all things Do Your Deauty as a faithfull Subject of said State in Sup- porting the Rights, Liberties and privileges of the Same - So help You God
Mathew Lain Ebenezer Allbee John Whittney Timo Clark
June ye Twenty third 1777 then those Inroted on the Left hand personaly appeared and took the oath of fidelity to be tr to the united Stats of america
Sworn before me Wm Simonds . Chairman
I Do Solemly Sware by the Everliving God (or affirm in presence of almighty God) that I will be true and faithfull to the State of Vermont and that I will Not Dierectly or in Derectly Do any act or thing Prejudicial or Injurious to the Constitution or Government thereof as Established by Convention.
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