USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Bennington > Memorials of a century. Embracing a record of individuals and events, chiefly in the early history of Bennington, Vt., and its First church > Part 29
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
1 Ethan Allen's Narrative, p. 36. 2 Gov. Slade, in State Papers, p. 36. 3 Irving's Life of Washington, Vol. III., p. 378.
397
ALLEN AND WARNER.
degree of respect in the public mind, while Providence appeared to have denied to Allen opportunity for achieving further renown. " As a military leader, Warner was honored and confided in above all others by the people of this State, and his bravery and military capacity appear to have been always appreciated by the intelli- gent officers from other States with whom he served. In the dis- astrous retreat from Canada, in the spring of 1776, he brought up the rear; and he was placed in command of the rear-guard on the evacuation of Ticonderoga, by which he was involved in the action at Hubbardton. At Bennington he was with Stark for several days before the battle, and was his associate in planning the attack upon Baum, and in carrying it into execution; and it was by his advice and contrary to the first impression of Stark that Breyman was immediately opposed without first retiring to rally the scattered forces." 1
" It is evident that they "- Allen and Warner -" were far more efficient and more useful in defending the New Hampshire Grants, than they would have been, had they both been Allens, or both been Warners; and it would not be extravagant to say, that, had either been wanting, the independence of Vermont might not have been achieved. But in selecting a person to command a regiment, the men of that day gave the preference to Warner. Accordingly the convention assembled at Dorset to nominate officers for a regiment of Green Mountain Boys, nominated War- ner for lieutenant-colonel to command the regiment, by a vote of forty-one to five. And as Allen was candidate for the office, as appears by his letter to Governor Trumbull, written shortly after the officers were nominated, in which he says, that he was over- looked because the old men were reluctant to go to war, the vote must be considered as a fair expression of the public sentiment in relation to the qualifications of the two men for the office." 2
1 Vermont Hist. Mag.
2 Quoted from Chipman's Life of Warner in Mr. Houghton's Montpelier Ad- dress.
34
0 f, th r- ns er
r e al
is
S
398
APPENDIX.
C.
COVENANT OF THE BENNINGTON FIRST CHURCH.
[The greater probability is that this instrument was adopted and signed not at, but within two or three years after, the organization of the church. See p. 39 of this volume.]
We whose names are underwritten, apprehending ourselves called of God into church state of the gospel, do, first of all, con- fess ourselves unworthy to be so highly favored.of the Lord; and admire that rich and free grace of his, which triumphs over so great unworthiness; and then, with an humble reliance on the grace therein promised for those who, in a sense of their inability to do any good thing, do humbly wait on him for all, - we now thankfully lay hold of his covenant; and would choose the things that please him.
We declare our serious belief of the Christian religion as con- tained in the sacred Scriptures, and with such view thereof as the Confession of Faith and Rules of Discipline in Cambridge Plat- form has exhibited, - heartily resolving to conform our lives unto the rules of that holy religion so long as we live in the world. We give ourselves unto the Lord Jehovah, who is the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and avouch him this day to be our God, our Father, and our Saviour, and our Leader; and receive him as our portion forever. We give up ourselves unto the blessed Jesus, who is the Lord Jehovah; and adhere to him as the head of his people in the covenant of grace; and rely on him as our Priest, and our Prophet, and our King, to bring us unto eter- nal blessedness. We acknowledge our everlasting and indispen- sable obligation to glorify God in all the duties of a godly, a sober, and a righteous life, and very particularly in the duty of a church state, - a body of people associated together for an obedience to him in all the ordinances of the gospel; and we herein depend upon his gracious assistance for our faithful discharge of the du- ties thus incumbent on us. We desire, and intend, and with de- pendence upon his powerful grace we engage, to walk together as a church of the Lord Jesus Christ in the faith and order of the gospel so far as we shall have the same revealed to us, - consci- entiously attending the public worship of God, the sacraments of the New Testament, the discipline of his kingdom, and all his holy institutions in communion with one another, and watchfully
T
399
OLD CHURCH COVENANT.
avoiding all sinful stumbling-blocks, as become a people whom the Lord hath bound up together in the bundle of eternal life.
At the same time, also, we do present our offspring with us to the Lord, purposing with his help to do our part in the methods of a religious education that they may be the Lord's. And all this we do flying to the blood of the everlasting covenant for the pardon of our many errors; and praying that the glorious Lord, who is the great Shepherd, will prepare and strengthen us for every good work to do his will, working in us that which will be well pleasing in his sight-to- whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
John Roberts
Mehitable Fay
Samuel Robinson
Hannah Rice
James Fay
Elizabeth Fay
Benjamin Harwood
Marcy Newton
George Abbott, Jun.
Hepzibah Whipple
Jedidiah Rice
Joseph Safford
James Breakenridge
Stephen Story
Oliver Rice
Bethiah Burnham
James Fay, Jr.
Eleanor Smith
David Doane
John Fassett
Aaron Leonard John Wood Zechariah Harwood
Ichabod Stratton
Timothy Abbott
William Breakenridge
Esther Breakenridge
Benjamin Whipple
Elijah Story
Eleazer Harwood
Mary Fassett
Samuel Pratt
Martha Wickwire
Jonathan Scott
Martha Montague
Elisha Field
Jonathan Scott, Jr.
Samuel Montague
Jonathan Eastman
Elizabethi Scott
Elizabeth Harwood
Experience Richardson
Daniel Scott
Rebekah Abbott
Silas Robinson
Lydia Fay
Elizabeth Eastman
Marcy Robinson
Sarah Story
Baty P'ratt
Simeon Harmon
Bridget Harwood
Robert Cochran
Elizabeth Roberts
Mary Cochran
Elizabeth Fisk
Bettey Dewey
Elizabeth Pratt
Anna Walbridge
Peace Atwood
Daniel Mills
Prudence Whipple
Mindwell Hopkins
Martha Abbott
Rhoda Hopkins
[One quarter sheet of subscribers' names- probably thirty - was lost. - WILLIAM HASWELL.]
B
·
d
h
er
ts is
ly
Daniel Fay
400
APPENDIX.
D.
ARTICLES OF THE NEWINT (CONN.) SEPARATE CHURCH.1
1. We believe that there is one only glorious God, a Being from Himself and for Himself, of Whom, and for Whom, are all things ; Who is Infinite, eternal, unchangeable in power, wisdom, goodness, justice, holiness and truth.
2. That there are Three Sacred Persons in the Godhead. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Equally God, and yet but one God.
3. That God hath, from all eternity, foreordained what shall come to pass, and did not only foresee, but did foredetermine the eternal states of men and angels.
4. That there is a general Providence which is exercised about all things, and that there is a special government of God over all the rational Creation.
5. That God made angels,and men in holiness; but some of the angels abode not in the truth, who are called devils.
6. That God gave to man, when he had made him, a rule of obedience for life, and threatened death in case of disobedience ; which rule for obedience our first parents transgressed, by eating the forbidden fruit, and we transgressed in them, and so death passed on all men.
7. That the sin of our first parents is the sin of all mankind by just imputation and derivation, and from the whole, all descending from them by ordinary generation, do naturally choose and PRAC- TISE sin.
8. That God, having eternally elected some of mankind to life, did, in the fulness of time, send his Son to redeem them, and that God the Father and God the Son did send the Holy Ghost to sanc- tify them.
9. We believe that Jesus Christ, taking our nature upon him as Mediator between God and man, hath made full satisfaction to God for the sins of the elect, and purchased life for them by the merits of his active and passive righteousness, and having re- ceived all power from God the Father, doth, in the execution of his prophetical, priestly, and kingly offices, reveal unto, and work in, his elect, whatever is necessary for salvation.
1 See p. 54 of this volume.
-
401
NEWINT CHURCH ARTICLES.
10. That in the new covenant, God hath promised life to all those that, with the full consent of their souls, believe in him through Jesus Christ, and that the object of justifying faith is Christ in his person and offices as he is revealed in the Gospel, and by union to Christ, by faith believers are made partakers of his Sonship, grace, and glory, so that through free grace in Christ they are justified, adopted, and sanctified, and shall enjoy eternal life.
11. We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to . be the record of God, by the dispensation of which, and through which, with the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, conviction of sin and misery is given, a knowledge of, and a particular faith in Christ is begotten, repentance, love, and new obedience is caused in the elect.
12. We believe that the moral law in the hand of Christ is the rule of obedience for believers, and that the sum of this law is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, etc., and our neighbor as ourselves.
13. We believe that there are two seals of the covenant of grace, namely, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. That Baptism belongs to none but true believers who are received by faith and love, and their seed in their infancy, and is a sign of our entrance into Christ; and the Lord's Supper, is a sign of our growth in grace.
14. We believe in the communion of saints, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Our covenant with God and one with the other is as fol- lows : -
1. We do each of us in particular unfeignedly resign up our- selves and our seed to the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, receiving Jesus Christ as very God and very man, and the only mediator between God and man, as our Lord and Saviour, freely given of God to each of us in particular and sealed to each of us in particular, by the Holy Spirit of promise, relying upon the free grace of God for that salvation and blessedness which he hath purchased, and we hope to have by faith in and dependence upon himself, and we do submit ourselves to the word and Spirit of God to be ruled and thereby to be sanctified.
2. We do acknowledge ourselves indispensably bound and
34*
at C-
m to he re- of
1
402
APPENDIX.
will make it our great care to hold fast the doctrine of faith and good manners contained in the Scriptures of truth; that we will attend all those duties that are therein prescribed for the increase of our faith and growth in holiness, and of maintaining a good conscience, that is, gospel preaching, mutual exhortation, ordinan- ces, discipline, prayer, singing of psalms, etc.
3. And, as God is the Author of order, beauty, and peace, we do solemnly promise that, by the assistance of God's Holy Spirit, we will labor mutually to watch one over the other, and to observe all Christian and brotherly offices one to the other, which Christ hath enjoined according to our respective places; that is, love without dissimulation, and real expressions thereof as occasion serves, in daily frequent exhortation to duty, and admonition in case of sin and failing, praying for one another, and sympathizing with one another in affliction and prosperous enjoyments, and using all possible means to promote the spiritual welfare and growth of each other in holiness.
4. First. We do submit to the discipline of Christ in this church, - the sum of which we do acknowledge as followeth, namely : That supreme and lordly power and authority over all churches doth belong only to Jesus Christ, who is King and Head thereof. He hath the government upon His shoulders; hath all power both in Heaven and in Earth, and it is exercised by Him first in calling the church out of the world to holy fellowship with Himself; (2), and in instituting the ordinances of His worship and appointing His ministers and officers for the dispensing of them; (3), in giving law for the ordering all our way and the way of His house; (4), in giving life to all His institutions and to His people by them; (5), in protecting and delivering His church against and from all the enemies of their peace.
Secondly. The power granted by Christ to the body of the church or brotherhood is a prerogative or privilege which the church doth exercise. 1st, in admitting their own members; (2), in choosing and ordaining their own officers; (3), in removing them from their offices and fellowship in case of scandal or any- thing that by the rules of gospel renders them unfit therefor; (4), in supporting and maintaining the gospel ministry, ordinances, and poor of the church, without using the civil sword or any co- her-sive means to force a man thereto.
5. We do also promise, by the grace of God, to oppose all sin
403
PAPER OF SEPARATE ECC. COUNCIL.
and error in ourselves as far as in us lies, and in others when they appear, to wit : all foolish talking and jesting, chambering, and wantonness, all vain disputing about words and things that gender strife and doth not edify to more godliness; also vain company keeping, and spending time daily at taverns, tippling-houses or elsewhere; also evil whispering or backbiting any person; also carnal and unnecessary discourse about worldly things, espe- cially on the Sabbath day; unnecessary forsaking the assembling ourselves in private convenient conferences and especially on the Sabbath, and all other sins whatsoever both of omission and com- mission, etc.
6. We will teach all under our care, as far as in us lies, to know God, to fear him, and to live in his way. And now as a fur- ther testimony of our hearty belief of the foregoing doctrine of faith and covenant, we not only call heaven and earth to record, but we subscribe and sign the same with our names.
E.
EXTRACT FROM RESULT OF A SEPARATE ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCIL HELD IN BENNINGTON, MAY 23, 1770. (See p. 59.)
" We see, then, from the general rules given in Scripture, Cam- bridge Platform, and from the reason and nature of things, the gospel ought to be supported by equality. The particular method of which we apprehend to be merely circumstantial where the essence of the duty is done and nobody injured, and we appre- hend the church and society may warrantably unite in a method by mutual agreement to perform the same, with this reserve and. caution : to guard the church from bondage. The society is by no means to be allowed to control or govern the church in the affair. Therefore we think this church in Bennington has made a mistake, or taken a wrong step, though perhaps inadvertently, in giving the members of society, without any reserve, an equal right of judging in this affair, which, when the society is in the majority according hereunto they may bind the whole church contrary to its own mind or judgment.
But as to the method of pursuing this equality, we suppose it may be varied so as to suit different circumstances; as, for in-
1
1 1 1
p f e 0 h
L L
s,
e e
g
404
APPENDIX.
stance, if the circumstances are such as that by Sabbath contribu- tions the thing can be done, very well; or if a community agree to pursue a method of equality, as follows : Voluntary subscrip- tion for their mutual satisfaction; or that of equalizing a sum among themselves, - very well. Or perhaps some other method not mentioned may answer well in some circumstances. But in none of these ways is the matter to be left without the care and inspection of the church, which has the right of judgment con- cerning the duty, and when discharged by its individual members. And when any of the agreed-upon methods is come into, and each one's proportion is known, and any individual church-member will not discharge the same, and will not give any satisfactory reason why to the church, they have a right to use their discipline in the case."
The "result " is signed,
JOHN PALMER, ISRAEL HOLLY, JOSEPH KENT, ZACCHEUS WALDO,
Council.
F.
A PAPER, WHEREIN THE SIGNERS AGREE TO BE TAXED TO PAY THE MINISTER.1
We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Bennington, being desirous to have the Gospel preached among us, do bind ourselves severally to bear our equal part in paying the cost of sending for a minister of the Gospel, for the above purpose; and also of supporting him for the term of six months, according to 'our several lists in the year 1783. Witness our hands this seventh day of January, 1784. The above proportion to be paid to Samuel Safford, Esq., Jonathan Robinson, and Simeon Hathaway, Jr., a committee chosen for the purpose of receiving said money and settling with the minister.
Elijah Boardman Silas Robinson
Daniel Kinsley Nathaniel Kingsley
William Satterlee Timothy Abbott Samuel Tubs
John Wood
1 Original in possession of G. W. Robinson,
405
PAPER ON INDIAN CLAIMS.
Ephraim Smith
Joseph Robinson Matthew Scott Daniel Story
David Tracy Thomas Henderson Thomas Abel Joseph Hinsdill
Nathaniel Harmon
Joseph Rudd
Daniel Rudd
Names added by the committee.
Benjanıin Fassett
Benjamin Hulburt
Elijalı Dewey
Nathaniel Brush
Eldad Dewey
John Fassett
Samuel Safford
Zechariah Harwood
Simeon Hathaway, Jr.
Joseph Farnsworth
Jonathan Robinson
Samuel Robinson
Henry Walbridge
Joseph Willoughby
Simeon Harmon
Calvin Bingham
Robert Blair
Thomas Hall
Josephı Wickwire
Joseph Safford
Timothy Follett
Solomon Safford
Simeon Hathaway
Jacob Safford
John Kingsley
Reuben Clapp
Peter Harwood
Loan Dewey
Solomon Walbridge
Joseph House
Jonathan Scott
Gideon Spencer
Simeon Harmon, Jr.
Robert Cochran
Daniel Harmon
Charles Cushman
David Robinson
Jonathan Fisk
Samuel Holmes
Isaac Rice
Ebenezer Walbridge
Uriah Edgerton
Stephen Hopkins
Issachar Norton
Robert Hopkins
Benjamin Demilt
Isaac Tichenor
Aaron Demilt
Levi Hathaway
Joseph Tracy
Jesse Field
Aaron Hubbell
Leonard Robinson
G.
A PAPER TO SETTLE INDIAN CLAIMS.1
Whereas the Stockbridge Indian tribe, Capt. Jacobs and others, challenge twelve or more townships of land, situate and being on the west line of the province of New Hampshire, as chartered by Benning Wentworth, Esq., governor of said province; and the said Indian tribe are willing, and will be ready on the first day of
1 Original in possession of G. W. Robinson.
William Mather
406
APPENDIX.
January next, to treat with us, or any of us, respecting their title, and will at that time likewise appoint a meeting, at which meet- ing they will make it appear that they are the sole owners of, and have the only proper and lawful right to sell and convey the same ; and whereas, we, the subscribers, whose names are hereto an- nexed, being willing and desirous to make sure to ourselves and successors a good and sufficient title to the interests which we now possess, and to make such addition, or additions, thereto, as shall be thought proper and conducive to our moral interests by Mr. Jedidiah Dewey, Capt. John Fassett, and S. Fay, whom we depute and elect to treat with said tribe, or such of them as will be necessary to treat with, in order to the procurement of a proper title to such land and lands, lying and being as aforesaid.
In consideration of all which we severally engage for ourselves, heirs, executors, and administrators, to pay, or cause to be paid, to the said Jedidiah, John, or Stephen, the several sum and sums according to our proprietorship, as will appear by the charter aforesaid, both the sum and sums which he or they may give for said land, or lands, and the cost necessarily arising by means of the procurement of said title; and to pay such sum and sums of money unto the said Jedidiah, John, or Stephen, at such time and times as he or they shall agree with said tribe of Indians.
Witness each of our hands at Bennington, this thirtieth day of November, A. D. 1767.
John Fassett
Stephen Fay
Leonard Robinson Samuel Montague
James Breakenridge Jedidiah Dewey Joseph Safford Elisha Field Nathan Clark
Timothy Pratt
Thomas Smith
Jonathan Scott, Jr.
Matthew Scott
Benjamin Whipple
Ephraim Marble
Simeon Harmon . Henry Walbridge John Wood Lebbeus Armstrong
Samuel Cutler Stephen Hopkins Joseph Smith Jonathan Fassett Josiah Barber Benjamin Warner
Thomas Henderson
Josiah Fuller Silas Robinson Samuel Hunt
Daniel Scott Moses Robinson
Samuel Tubs Samuel Robinson Jacob Fisk
Samuel Robinson, Jr. Joseph Wickwire Nathaniel Dickenson Daniel Mills
407
GOV. HUTCHINSON'S LETTER.
Jacob Hyde
Joseph Rude
Samuel Atwood
Thomas Story
Wait Hopkins
Hezekiah Armstrong
Joseph Willoughby Ebenezer Wood
Benjamin Atwell
David Safford
Oliver Rice
Ebenezer Walbridge
Daniel Warner
Cornelius Cady
Aaron Haynes,
Nathaniel Holmes
Henry Walbridge, Jr.
Zachariah Harwood
Ebenezer Robinson
Samuel Scott
Thomas Jewett
Elijah Story
Israel Hurd
Johnson Cleaveland
Jonathan Fisk
Nathan Clark, Jr.
Robert Wilcox
Jonathan Wickwire
Samuel Herrick
Ebenezer Allen
Jedidiah Merrill
Nathaniel Holmes, Jr.
Abner Marble
Nathaniel Harmon
Elkanah Ashley
Joshua Harmon
Silas Pratt
Joseph Safford, Jr.
Benajah Storey
Samuel Harvey
Jolın Wood
Joseph Robinson
Timothy Abbott
Daniel Story
Seth Warner
Elijah Wood
Simeon Hathaway, Jr.
Robert Cochran
- Harmon
Brotherton Daggett
Nathaniel Fillmore John Stewart
Charles Cushman
John Armstrong
Gideon Spencer
H
EXTRACT FROM A LETTER OF GOV. HUTCHINSON, OF MASSACHU- SETTS, TO GOV. POWNAL, THEN IN LONDON, DATED BOSTON, JULY 10, 1765.1
"Permit me while you are taking care of the interests of the whole to mention to you that of a small part only. There came to me yesterday one Robinson who was one of your officers, and perhaps you will recollect meeting him upon the road when you was travelling to or from Hartford. After the war was over, he purchased from Mr. Wentworth a patent for a township which he had laid out upon the New York line, as then understood, twenty'
1 Vol. II. of Hutchinson's Correspondence, p. 143, in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston. Furnished by Gov. Hall.
Benajah Rude
408
APPENDIX.
miles distant from Hudson's River. The settlers have made great improvements, have sixty-seven families, and as many houses, - some of them, he says, of a superior sort to the common settlers' houses, - have a minister ordained, and their affairs in a very flour- ishing state. The town is called Bennington. Another township adjoining, which has nearly as many families, is called Pownal. Both these townships are lately laid out, together with many others, by Mr. Livingston, who, having purchased the claims of officers and soldiers, has obtained a patent from New York; and I suppose will have a second manor there. Robinson says he has expended more than a thousand pounds, lawful money, and that he shall be ruined; for he must either quit all or become tenant upon such terms as will be worse than quitting. The grantees from New Hampshire supposed their title as good to the west as to the east of Connecticut River, provided they did not go within twenty miles of Hudson's River, and it seems scarcely equitable that pri- vate property should be altered by the new settlement of the New York line. The people are unable to bear the expense of the con- troversy."
THE END.
9707
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.