USA > Vermont > Records of the Council of Safety and Governor and Council of the State of Vermont, to which are prefixed the records of the General Conventions from July 1775 to December 1777, Vol. I > Part 24
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24. Resolved that this Council will give a bounty of Ten dollars for the Encouragement of Raising three hundred men under the Command of Lt. Col. Herrick to each Non-Commissioned officer or Soldier who shall inlist for a Certain Expedition to [Canada] now on foot.
IN COUNCIL, Bennington, 28 Jans. 1778.
This day passed an order & directed the same to Capt Sam1. Robinson overseer of Tories or either of his assistants to Take under their direc-
1 The editor supposes this to be ZADOCK EVEREST, though the bio- graphical notice of him in the Vt. Hist. Mag. gives him no military title. His special business at the above date and afterward appears to have been to look after inimical persons. ZADOCK EVEREST came from Con- necticut into Addison in 1765, with two others, who were the first Eng- lishmen who settled in that town. He opened the first public house in Addison county, but was forced to leave it on Burgoyne's invasion in 1777, going to Pawlet and remaining until 1784, when he returned to Addison. He represented Pawlet in the first General Assembly, March 1778; Panton in 1785; and Addison in 1788, '89 and '95. BENJAMIN EVEREST of Addison, whose military exploits and adventures form a long and interesting chapter, was a brother of Zadock .- See Vt. Hist. Mag., vol. I, p. 10.
212 Council of Safety-Aug. 15, 1777, to March 12, 1778.
tion & immediately Employ Thomas Brayton & Enter him in the first Class agreeable to the direction of the Committee of Clarendon.
By order of Council, THOS. CHITTENDEN, P.
To Capt. Samuel Robinson or either of his assistant overseers.
29 Jany.
Whereas reports to the prejudice of the Rangers & others have circu- lated among the people, & have also been made to this Council, that great injustice have been done to the Inhabitants by them, they having plundered them contrary to Express orders and designs of this Council, and Whereas some of the officers [of the] Rangers have moved that a Trial be Indulged them that thereby their characters may be established and Blame fall only on the Guilty (if any there be.)
Therefore Resolved that all persons be & they are hereby Notified to bring information or evidence to this Council of the effects plundered or Taken from them, & by whom, or what party, Attested on Oath before the Chairman of any Committee of Safety, the 25 day of February next, & all persons Neglecting to Exhibit their Complaints on the above said day, shall be forever foreclosed bringing in such Complaints, & Reports to the prejudice of any officer or Soldier, or any other persons relating to the premises, shall not be noticed but Treated as Scandalous Libels. Provided Always that nothing in this Resolve be construed that any Complaint against any person for plundering that shall be found out after the 25 day of Feby. next be Excluded.
By order of Council, THIOS. CHITTENDEN, P't. Attest, JOSEPH FAY. Sec'y.
29. The bearer Lt White is permitted to Carry Wheat out of this State that is due to him on a Certain subscription for Clearing a Road, to the amt of 20 bushels.
By order of Council,
THOMAS CHITTENDEN, P.
To whom it may Concern.
30. This day Major Jeremiah Clark is permitted to Transport nine bushels of wheat out of this State. By order of Council. THOMAS CHITTENDEN, P.
To whom it may Concern.
January 30th 1778. To Capt. Elkanah Cook:
You are hereby directed to let the Heirs of John Curtis improve the farm formerly belonging to him during the Life of said Curtiss wife, their giving sufficient bonds to Maintain the said John Curtiss wife dur- ing her Life.
By order of Council,
THOS. CHITTENDEN, Pre't.
To Capt. Elkanah Cook.
BENNINGTON, 30th Jan. 1778.
Mrs. Munro is hereby Permitted to remain in possession of the House & farm formerly the possession of her husband (John Munro Esqr.) un- molested until further orders from this or some future Council or Gene- ral Assembly of this State.
By order of Council. THOS. CIHITTENDEN, Pre't. To whom it may Concern.
STATE OF VERMONT. IN COUNCIL, Bennington 31t Jany. 1778.
Sir,-You are hereby directed to dispose of the Grain belonging to this State to such of the Inhabitants as have been drove from their
Council of Safety-Aug. 15, 1777, to March 12, 1778 .~ 213
farms, &c. by the Enemy (as they may apply to you) at the Common Price which is for Wheat 3 Dollars pr bushel. You will reserve all Spring Grain for Seed.
I am Sir by order &e.
JOSEPH FAY, Sec'y.
Michael Dunning Esqr., Pownal.
BENNINGTON, 31 January 1778.
Dear General,-I am directed by this Couneil to inform your honor, that application has been made to this Council by Colo. Herrick for a Sum of Money to assist him in Raising three hundred Troops for a Certain Expedition upon which a Bounty upon Each man he should obtain was Granted, after which application was made for Recruiting Money for the officers which was not fully Complied with, [on account of ] which No Doubt your honor has been informed, that Colo Herriek is like to dis- appoint you in your request to him. Being Concerned that the Expedi- tion to this State is of the Utmost importance (could it be performed,) would acquaint your honor, that on the least application made by you to this Council, any number of Troops possible to be raised shall be at your Command. Desire your honor would favor this Board with the partieu- lar Method in which the State of N. Hampshire raises their Troops for this Expedition, as also the Encouragement provided by the Continent. Yesterday Recd Certain Intelligence that the Lake is Closed with Ice. I am Sir with Sentiments , of Esteem (by order of Council) your most Obt Humble Servant,
THOS CHITTENDEN, Prest. Honble Brig'r Gent Stark.
IN COUNCIL, Bennington 2d Feb. 1778.
Whereas Andrew Hawley of Arlington has been had before this Coun- cil for Enimical Conduct towards the United States of America, & has made Satisfaction for such public Offence, Nevertheless it is not ment to Excuse him from making restitution for any Injury done any private persons, but it ought to be made to appear that such injury be done by [his] own person or otherwise by his own actual procurement.
I am Gentlemen yr. most Obt Humble Servt. By order, JOSEPH FAY, Sec'y.
To the Gentlemen sitting on Arbitration on a dispute between Wm. Searls & Andrew Hawley.
Feb. 2 .- Lt William Hutchins is permitted to Transport 4 bushels Wheat out of this State.
By order of Council, JOSEPH FAY, Sec'y. To all Concerned.
IN COUNCIL, 3d Feby 1778.
Sir,-You are hereby directed to Lease that part of the Farm formerly improved by Capt. Hard of Arlington (now Claimed by his wife) to Jacob Galusha except 5 acres of plow Land & 5 of fallow, which Mr. But- terfield is to have, said Galusha Entering into Bonds for the Support & Maintainance of Capt. Hard's Family during the Time he improves sd Farm.
By order of Council,
THOS CHITTENDEN, Pres',
Capt. John Fassett Jur., C. S.
214 Council of Safety-Aug. 15, 1777, to March 12, 1778.
IN COUNCIL, Bennington 3d February 1778.
This Council do hereby Permit the Bearer Elnathan Murwin to In- ventory his Brother Israel Murwin's Estate (late Decd ) & settle the Same keeping a Regular account to Exhibit to this Council whenever demanded.
By order of Council, Attest, JOSEPH FAY, Sec'y.
THOMAS CHITTENDEN, Prest.
IN COUNCIL, 4 Feby 1778. Orders to the several Colonels of Militia as follows vizt :
Sir -You are hereby required to return to this Council on or before thursday the 12 day of March next, the number of Male Inhabitants In- cluded within the Limits of your Regiment from the age of sixteen to sixty years of age of what Denomination soever ( Ministers of the Gos- pel excepted,) as also the names of the Commissioned officers of Each Company.
By order of Council,
T. CHITTENDEN, Pr.
Colo. Moses Robinson.
do. Timothy Brownson.
do. James Mead.
do. Joseph Marsh.
do. Peter Olcott.
do. William Williams.1
Attest, JOSEPHI FAY, Sec'y.
IN COUNCIL, Bennington 4 January [February ] 1778.
The Bearer Jesse Welder" having this day taken the Oath of Allegi- ance to the United States of America, is permitted to pass to his home in St. Albans within this State & there to remain unmolested until fur- ther orders from this Council.
By Order of Council, To whom it may Concern.
JOSEPHI FAY, Sec'y.
IN COUNCIL, Bennington 6 Feby. 1778.
Sir,-You will examine into the proof of Capt. Fitchs giving the refu- sal of the house (formerly the property of Benjamin Holt3) to Mr. Imus, & if you find to your satisfaction he had the Refusal previous to your appointment you will make the Engagement good. You will give him a Reasonable time to procure his Evidence.
By order of Council, JOSEPH FAY, Sec'y. Capt. John Fassett, [Jr.,] C. Sequest".
1 This order indicates six regiments of militia at that date, of which respectively these gentlemen were Colonels.
2 Unquestionably JESSE WELDEN. the first settler in St. Albans. L. L. DUTCHER says Mr. Welden was driven off during the revolutionary war; that he is said to have been taken a prisoner by the British and escaped; and that he returned to St. Albans in 1785. The above record indicates that he intended to return in the winter of 1778, at least tem- porarily .- See Vt. Hist. Mag. vol. II, p. 290.
3 BENJAMIN HOLT of Arlington had doubtless joined the enemy pre- vious to this date, for which his property had been confiscated. Later he was under the ban of the act of Feb. 26, 1779.
Council of Safety-Aug. 15, 1777, to March 12, 1778. 215
[6] Sir,-You are hereby Required to liberate John Mattisson who is in the 3d Class, under your Command, until further orders from this Council.
By order of Council,
JOSEPH FAY, Sec'y.
Capt. Robinson, Overseer of Tories.
STATE OF VERMONT. IN COUNCIL OF SAFETY, Bennington 6th Feby. 1778.
To the inhabitants of the State of Vermont:
Gentlemen,-The United & joint Representatives of this State in their General Convention held at Windsor, & on the Several Times afterwards by Adjournments, did on the 2d [Sth] day of July last Compose & agree Unanimously on a Constitution for the future Government & Mutual advantage of its Inhabitants. It was then proposed by the joint agree- ment of the said Representatives that such Constitution should be printed so as to have had them circulated among the Inhabitants season- ably to have had the General Election of Representatives to Compose the General Assembly in December last, who (by agreement) was to have met at Bennington within this State in the month of January last, but finding by repeated experience that the Troubles of the War and Encroachments of the Enemy would of Necessity render it impossible, this Council did think fit to again call on the members of the General Convention to meet, who accordingly met at Windsor on the 24 day of December last, & did Unanimously agree to postpone the day of Elec- tion until the first Tuesday of March next, & the Setting of the Assem- bly to be at Windsor, on the 2d Thursday of March next. The Consti- tution is now printed & will be distributed among the Inhabitants of the several Towns in this State, so early that they may be perused before the day of Election, which this Council hope will Sufficiently Recom- mend the most safe & just Method of Choosing of Representatives to compose the General Assembly. Nothing but a real zeal for the future well being of the Inhabitants of the United States of America in Gene- ral & this in particular could have induced this Council to have under- taken the arduous Task of Setting so many Months successively to pro- vide for the Safety of its Inhabitants. They therefore Flatter them- selves that their Services will meet the approbation of their Employers. The Council are fully of the opinion, that nothing but [the want of] a firm Attachment & joint Connection of the Inhabitants of this State can frustrate or prevent their being what they so reasonably wish to be. I am Gentlemen (by order of Council)
your most Obedient Humble Servant,
THOMAS CHITTENDEN, Pres". BENNINGTON, 6 February 1778.
Resolved that three men be appointed as a Committee to repair to Moncton [Monkton] when applied to by Lt. Barnabas Barnum,1 & there to hear and Determine the Cases of any & every person who shall be brought before them for Enimical Conduct Towards the United States, & that Captain Zebulon Mead, Mr. Joseph Smith, & Mr. Joseph Jackson be the said Committee.
By order of Council, THOMAS CHITTENDEN, Pres",
1 BARNABAS BARNUM was one of the first settlers in Monkton. He was killed in the fight at the block-house in Shelburne, March 12, 1778 .- See Vt. Hist. Mag., vol. I, pp. 65, 66, 878.
216
Council of Safety-Aug. 15, 1777, to March 12, 1778.
IN COUNCIL, 6 Feb. 1778.
Resolved that if either of the persons appointed as a Committee to go to Moncton Refuse to Serve that the other Two of them appoint another in his Sted.
By order of Council,
THOMAS CHITTENDEN, P.
STATE OF VERMONT. Bennington, February 7 1778. 2 IN COUNCIL, date above.
Gentlemen,-Your request for this Councils Assistance in Guarding the Frontiers of this State has this moment come to hand. The Council have Taken the same into consideration, & in consequence have ordered one hundred men to be Immediately raised & properly officered for that purpose who will March as soon as they can be possiably raised. It is ex- pected the Inhabitants in your quarter will Turn out Freely on this Em- ergency. They will continue five weeks in service unless sooner dis- charged. It is proposed that Captain Gideon Warren Command this detachment. Provisions will be forwarded from Time to Time for Sub- sistence of the troops, as also ammunition. The Council send you Ten pounds of Powder, & cannot furnish any Lead for others than the troops to be Engaged in the aforesaid Service.
I am Gentlemen your most
Humble Servant, By order of Council, JOSEPH FAY, Sec'y. Joseph Smith, Esqr. 1
STATE OF VERMONT, Bennington 7 Feby. 1778.
Sir,-You are hereby Commanded to appoint one Lieutenant & see him furnished with fifteen men to join Captain Warren or the Commander that may hereafter be appointed to command the party to Guard the Frontier settlements on Lake Champlain.
By order of Council, JONAS FAY, V. Prest. of Council.
To Colo. James Mead. 2
IN COUNCIL, Bennington 7 Feby. 1778.
Gentlemen,-This Council desire yon to settle your acct. with them Immediately, relative to your Transactions in the Capacity of Commis- sioners of Sequestration, as them matters must be forthwith Settled. I am Gentlemen your Humble Servant, By order of Council, JOSEPH FAY, Sec'y.
Capt. Joseph Smith & Capt. Elkanah Cook.
1 JOSEPH SMITH of Clarendon, who was a delegate in the Convention at Windsor of June 4, 1777, and a representative in the General Assem- bly in 1780 and '81.
2 Col. JAMES MEAD of Rutland was a member of the Dorset Conven- tion of Sept. 25, 1776, and one of the Committees appointed by the Wind- sor Convention in June 1777 to arrange with the commander at Ti- conderoga for the defense of the frontiers. He was Colonel of the third regiment of the militia in the order in which they stood at the date of the above.
Council of Safety-Aug. 15, 1777, to March 12, 1778. 217
STATE OF VERMONT. IN COUNCIL OF SAFETY, Bennington. 9 Feby. 1778.
Sir,-Yours of yesterday date is now before this Council. They have duly diliberated on your several requests contained therein, & in conse- quence have resolved to furnish three hundred effective men out of this State exclusive of officers, who it is Expected will Engage as Volunteers to Serve in the Northern Intended Expedition, who are to continue in Service until the last day of April next unless sooner discharged by the Commanding Officer of said Expedition. It is Expected they will be En- titled to such Encouragement as is Allowed the Volunteers of other States, and as it is improbable that men are provided with necessaries to March as soon as the first day of March next, this Council thinks it will be necessary that provisions be made out of the public Store for such as may be unprovided with shoes, stockins & Blankets ; as it is pro- posed to raise the men out of the Troops who served the last Campaign from this State, the pay for such service (for which Colo. Herrick has the Generals Warrent) would Greatly Facilitate the immediate Collection of the men. Every Exertion in the power of this Council will be used to complete the Troops sooner than mentioned above, [of ] which, if Effected Seasonably, notice will be given to the Commanding officer. Twenty five Sleighs will be provided for the use of the Expedition & Every as- sistance in the power of this Council afforded the Quarter Master in Col- lecting Hay, Provision and Transporting flour, &c.
I am Sir your most Obt Humble Servant,
By order of Council, THOS. CHITTENDEN, P. Colo. Hay.1
STATE OF VERMONT. Bennington 9 Feby 1778. 2 IN COUNCIL, date above.
Sir, - Your Letter forwarded by Colo. Hay dated Albany 7t Inst came to hand last Evening, in which I am informed of an Expedition proposed to the Northward. You also requested of this State to Engage all the Volunteers Possible to join the Army on this Expedition. I called to- gether the Council & Committee of this Town & have laid your letter before them. In consequence of which they have Resolved to raise three
1 Jan. 9 1777 the Continental Congress resolved that UDNEY HAY, Esq., be appointed a licutenant-colonel by brevet and assistant deputy quar- ter master-general, and stationed at Ticonderoga .- Journals of Congress, 1777-78, vol. III, p. 10. Dec. 3, 1777, brigadier general JOHN STARK was appointed by Congress to command a secret expedition during the win- ter season, having specially in view the destruction of the enemy's ship- ping at St. Johns, or elsewhere, on Lake Champlain. About the same time an "irruption into Canada" was determined upon, under the com- mand of the Marquis de Lafayette. Feb. 2,1778, major general Me Dou- gal was selected to accompany Lafayette, and the baron de Kalb in case Me Dougal's health would not permit him to go. Six French gentlemen were also appointed to act as officers of such Canadians as might be em- bodied in Canada. It was to aid in these plans that Vermont was re- quested to raise, and the Council of Safety did promptly proceed to raise, a military force early in 1778. On the 13th of March, 1778, Congress re- solved to abandon the scheme, and notice was given accordingly .- Secret Journals of Congress, 1775-'81, vol. I, pp. 55-65.
16
218 Council of Safety-Aug. 15, 1777, to March 12, 1778.
hundred men exclusive of officers, to be ready to March with all possible Expedition, to Wait orders from the Commander in chief, to remain in service until the last day of April next unless sooner discharged, pro- vided a proper encouragement can be had from the Honble Continental Congress to carry the above Resolve into execution. You will please to inform me the particular encouragement which may be depended on from Congress for Raising men for the above mentioned Expedition as soon as possible, during which Time, you may be assured, nothing in the power of this Council will be Wanting to have the men in Readiness. Colo. Hay will be able to inform the particular Circumstances & disad- vantages the Inhabitants of this State are under, from their being drove from their possessions by the Enemy, as also the answer made by Coun- cil to Colo. Hays several requests to them relative to the before mentioned Expedition.
I am Sir (by order of Council) your most obdt Humble Servant, THOMAS CHITTENDEN, P. Colo. Moses Hazen.1
STATE OF VERMONT. IN COUNCIL OF SAFETY, Bennington 9th Feby. 1778.
Sir,-You are hereby directed (with the assistance of the other Gen- tlemen of the Committee of Safety for this town,) to Take under your Consideration the Case depending between Samuel Robinson, Overseer
1 Brig. Gen. MOSES HAZEN, at the opening of the Revolutionary War, was a resident of Canada, drawing from Great Britain the half pay of a captain for previous military service. Gen. Montgomery, in his Canada campaign, used a considerable portion of Hazen's property for military purposes, and Hazen promptly applied to the Continental Congress for compensation. This application resulted in an arrangement by which he was to be paid for his property, receive an equivalent for the half pay he would forfeit, and enter the continental service as colonel of a regi- ment which he was to raise in Canada. He raised the regiment, but of course, in the retreat in 1776, he was obliged to leave Canada with such of his regiment-a remnant probably-as were disposed to adhere to his fortunes. From that period his regiment was independent of any State connection, under the control of Congress solely, and Hazen was author- ized to recruit wherever he could find men to enlist. Finally, his regi- ment was selected by Congress to receive all foreigners who were willing to serve. Hazen served through the war in different fields of service, and he was made Brigadier General by brevet, June 2, 1781. His name has been familiar in Vermont since 1779, for his work in completing the military road which is still known as "the Hazen road." Gen. Bayley of Newbury commenced it in 1776, and in 1779 Hazen' continued it from Peacham through Cabot, Walden. Hardwick, Greensboro', Craftsbury, Albany, and Lowell, and erected several block-houses-a road about fifty miles in length. It was designed, professedly, to extend to St. Johns in Canada, but was abandoned in the forest at " Hazen's Noteh," near the line of Montgomery.
Council of Safety-Aug. 15, 1777, to March 12, 1778. 219
of Tories, in behalf of David Goff's wife, & John Potter, and to award Judgement thereon according to Justice & Equity. By order of Council, THOMAS CHITTENDEN, Pres't. Elnathan Hubble, [Hubbell,] Esqr .. Chairman of Committee of Safety in Bennington.
STATE OF VERMONT. IN COUNCIL OF SAFETY, 10th Feby. 1778.
Sir,-On application of Colo. Moses Hazen Commander in Chief of the Continental Troops at Albany, this Council have this day resolved to raise three hundred Volunteers within this State under the command of Samuel Herrick, Esqr., Lt. Colonel Commandant, to Continue in Service of the Free and Independent States of America until the last day of April unless sooner discharged. To Each able bodied effective Volun- teer thus engaged in this Glorious Cause for the defence of his Life and Liberty, you shall be enabled by this Council to give as an Encouragement a bounty of Ten dollars. on or before the Time you shall receive orders from this Council to March them from their respective homes. They will also be entitled to such other Encouragement by Wages, plunder &c., as is allowed the Volunteers from the other free & Independent States of America.
This Expedition is set on foot by the Honorable Continental Congress & should any who nobly engage in this Glorious Enterprise be so unfor- tunate as not to have it in their power to furnish themselves seasonably with the necessary articles of shoes, stoekins, or Blankets, there is En- couragement that they may be supplied out of the Continental Store by applying there. As it is expected that a Respectable body of Continental Troops will be employed in Conjunction with the Volunteers from this & the Neighbouring States, sufficient to penetrate into Canada and there- by frustrate any designs the enemy may have in a future Campaign of approaching this Country, and as this State is particularly exposed by its Contiguous Situation to them to be first ravaged unless some such effee- tual means shall be successful to prevent their Invasions, Therefore this Couneil flatter themselves, that no further arguments [need] be used to induce every well wisher to the Freedom & Liberty of himself & Injured Country vigorously to exert every Nerve on this most important Oeea- sion.
I am Sir by order of Council your
most Obedient Humble Servant,
Copies of the foregoing Letter sent to the several Captains on the East side the Green Mountains.
THOMAS CHITTENDEN, President. Attest, JOSEPH FAY, Sec'y.
STATE OF VERMONT. IN COUNCIL OF SAFETY, Bennington 10 Feby. 1778.
Sir,-This Couneil have, on application of Colonel Hazen Commander in Chief of the Continental Troops at Albany, Resolved to raise three hundred Volunteers within this State to assist to Carry into Execution a plan proposed by the Honble Continental Congress for penetrating into the Province of Quebeck. Each Volunteer within this State, who may Engage in this enterprise, is Intitled to receive Ten Dollars Bounty as an encouragement before he Marches besides the encouragement by Wages, plunder &c., as Allowed the Volunteers from the other free & Independent States of America. They have also Resolved to give Colo. Herrick, yourself with the other officers who served under you as Rang- ers the last Campaign, the offer of Recruiting the said three hundred men & Commanding them in Sd expedition until the last day of April next unless sooner discharged. Colo. Herrick is not at home at present, but
220 Council of Safety-Aug. 15, 1777, to March 12, 1778.
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