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 34
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Eleazer Patterson, John Sargeants, Elkanah Day, James Clay, Mi- chael Gilson, Lucas Nelson, Timothy Church, Micah Townsend, James Blakeslee, James Clay jr., Benjamin Whitney, Samuel Root, John Nor- ton, John Sessions, Ephraim Clay, Medad Wright, Bela Willard, Joseph Willard, Bildad Easton, Daniel Sabin, Noah Sabin, William Pierce, Noah Cushing, Samuel Wheat, Francis Cummings, James Cummings, Joseph Jay, Thomas Pierce, Thomas Willson, and Benjamin Butterfield .- Eastern Vermont. p. 344.
Some of these, probably most, afterward submitted to the authority of Vermont,
Colo. Fletcher,
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306
Governor and Council-July 1779.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL
AT A
SPECIAL SESSION AT ARLINGTON, JULY 1779.
Copy of a letter to Asa Douglas Esqr.
IN COUNCIL Arlington 29th July 1779.
Sir. I have laid before my Council the matter relative to the claim you mention the Natives have to this part of the Country, but they be- ing in some Measure unacquainted with the Justice of their Claim, thought it most proper that a Matter of such consequence should be Laid before the General Assembly of this State at their next Sessions, on the second thursday of November [October] next to be held at Man- chester. at which Time & place you probably can have an opportunity to exhibit their Claim, & in the mean Time. I am Sir your
Humble Servant, THOMAS CHITTENDEN. ARLINGTON July 29. 1779.1 STATE OF VERMONT. IN COUNCIL. S
The Council having taken into Consideration the Petition of Abel Spencer, Joseph Randall, & Abraham Stewart, praying that part of a
1 From the Record of the Board of War:
BOARD OF WAR, Arlington 29th July 1779.
Two Letters from Capt. Thomas Sawyer commanding the post at Rutland dated 26th & 27th instant request assistance in Guarding the frontier inhabitants of this State, and a Letter and Petition from the Inhabitants of sd Rutland of the 27th instant of the same purport was read :
Whereupon Resolved that fifty able bodied effective Men be immedi- ately enlisted as Volunteers to serve in guarding the frontier inhabitants of this State and to continue in service until the sixteenth day of No- vember next unless sooner discharged, and that each such man be al- lowed Eighty pounds Bounty (thirty on entering the service and fifty when discharged) and three pounds pr. month in addition to the Conti- nental pay.
Resolved that the above fifty men be Commanded by one Captain and two Lieuts. and that the Capt be allowed in addition to the Continental Pay and for recruiting money the sum of three hundred pounds, and that each Lieut. be allowed for the above purpose two hundred pounds, and that they receive each one hundred pounds on his engaging, and the remainder on their being discharged .*
BOARD OF WAR, Arlington. 29th July 1779.
Sir,-Yours of the 26th and 27th instant Pr. Lieutenant Post together with a Letter from a No. of the Inhabitants of the town of Rutland I have laid before this Board, in consequence of which the board have or- dered one Company of Rangers to be forthwith Raised consisting of fifty able bodied Volunteers exclusive of Commissioned officers to be sent to your immediate assistance, who are to continue in service till the 15th of November next, and in the mean time (while this Company is a Rais-
* Ang. 1, 1779, $1,200 in lawful money were required to equal 100 Spanish milled dollars $12 for $1 .- State Papers, p. 430.
307
Governor and Council-July, 1779.
fine laid on them (severally) of one thousand pounds by the Superiour Court might be relinquished. did thereupon Resolve that five hundred pounds be relinquished of said fines.
By order of Council, JONAS FAY, Sec'y. P. Tem. IN COUNCIL, Arlington 31t July 1779.
Resolved that the Honorable Jonas Fay & Paul Spooner Esquires, two of the agents appointed by the General Assembly of this State at their session in February last to Transact the Political business of this State
ing) measures are adopted (which the Board conceive) will be sufficient to secure the Inhabitants on the frontiers. You will Communicate this to the Inhabitants of Rutland &c. and let them know that nothing shall at any time be wanting (in the power of this Board) to render their sit- uation as secure as the nature of the ground will admit.
I am Sir your humble Servant. THOMAS CHITTENDEN.
To Capt. Thomas Sawyer.
BOARD OF WAR, Arlington, 30th July 1779.
Sir .- In consequence of repeated applications to this Board by the dis- tressed inhabitants of the Northern frontiers, and the present attempts of our Enemy to distroy them, you are hereby required to raise as miny Volunteers as you can within your Regiment immediately, properly officered, well armed and accoutred, with six days provisions each, and hold them in readiness to join Colo. Sam! Herrick with a part of his Re- giment, and to March with him to Lake Champlain to secure or distroy the Wheat now standing contiguous to Sd Lake, and to follow such other orders and directions as you shall receive from time to time from this Board or Colo. Herrick. Provisions will be sent you afterward for your supply. and ammunition.
By order of the Board,
JONAS FAY, Sec'y. P. T.
Colo. Gideon Warren.
Similar orders were issued to Colo. Herrick at the same time for the the same purpose.
BOARD OF WAR. Arlington, 30th July 1779.
Resolved, that Twenty six able bodied effective men of the Militia of this State be raised, properly officered and marched to the post at Rut- land by the 15th day of August next, to be on that day delivered to the Commanding officer of that post, to continue in service two months un- less sooner discharged.
That Colo. Fletcher furnish for the above purpose.
Colo. Herrick, Colo. Marsh, Colo. Warren, Colo. Olcott, 3 5
Privates. 6 6,
6
BOARD OF WAR, Arlington 30th July 1779.
Sr .- Pursuant to a resolution of the Board of War, you are hereby ro- quired to raise five able bodied effective men of your Regiment, and order them marched to the Post at Rutland, and delivered to the Com- manding officer there on the fifteenth day of August next, who are to continue in service in guarding the Frontiers two months unless sooner discharged, and make return of your doings hereon to this Board as soon as may be.
By order of the Board, JONAS FAY, Sec'y. P. Tem. [No address on the record. It should have been to Col. Warren.]
308
Governor and Council-July 1779.
with the Honorable the Congress of the United States of America, be & they are hereby instructed to repair to that Honble Board as soon as may be and request Copies of such Letters and the Resolutions had thereon in Congress (which relate to the affairs of this State) as they or either
Similar orders agreeable to the above Proportion was issued to the other Colos. at the same time and for the same purpose.
ARLINGTON, 30th July 1779.
Sir,-Pursuant to a Resolution of the Board of War, you are hereby required to raise six [five, see resolution above.] able bodied effective men of your Regiment. and order them marched to the Post at Rutland and delivered to the Commanding officer there on the fifteenth day of August, who are to continue in Service in guarding the frontier- two months unless sooner discharged, and make return of your doings hereon to this board as soon as may be.
By order of the Board.
JONAS FAY, Sec'y. P. Tem.
Colo. Gideon Warren.
[This was of course intended for one of the three colonels who was to furnish six men.]
ARLINGTON, 30th July 1779.
Gentlemen,-The Board of War having taken into consideration the important matters contained in yours of yesterday, together with ropre- sentations they had previously received from the Inhabitants of the frontiers, and by M . Fay who is present. have come to the following res- ohitions. (viz.) that Colo. Sam1. Herrick be required to raise as many volunteers as he and the principal officers of his Regiment shall judge necessary for Defeating the diabolical designs of the present encroach- ments of the Enemy on the Northern frontiers, and to either seenre or destroy the Grain now on the Ground near Lake Champlain, and that the sd. expedition be carried into execution with the utmost secresy and dispatch.
Resolved that Colo. Gideon Warren be required forthwith to raise as many Volunteers as possible within his Regiment to join Colo. Her- rick's, and act in conjunction with him in executing the above resolu- tion.
The necessary orders are issued to the officers of the Militia to carry the above Resolves into Execution. Relying on your engagements to fur- nish them with every necessary supply for that purpose.
I am Gentlemen with sentiments of Esteem
your ob4. humble servant, THOMS. CHITTENDEN. Mr. Isaac Tichenor & others .*
BOARD OF WAR, Arlington, 30th of July 1779.
Sir,-You are hereby directed to issue your order to the several Field officers commanding the several Regiments of Millitia within this State to see that their men be well armed and every way Equipd. and that they hold themselves in Readiness to march at a minutes warning for the defence of the frontiers of this State.
By order of the Board, JONAS FAY, Sec'y. P. T.
Brigadier Gen1. [Ethan] Allen.
* Gov. TICHENOR was at that time an assistant to the deputy commis- sary-general of purchases for the northern department of the continen- tal army, his field of service covering a large part of New England. His residence was at Bennington, when not officially engaged, from June, 1777 .- Early History, p. 471.
309
Governor and Council-July 1779.
of them may Judge Necessary, and they are further to request a Copy of the report of the Committee appointed by Congress the first day of June last " to repair to the inhabitants of a certain distriet known by the name of the New Hampshire Grants." and to transact any other busi- ness that concerns this State which they may find necessary.
By order of the Governor & Council. JOSEPH FAY, Sec'y.1
The following resolution was not entered in the record of the Gover- nor and Council. It was given in II. Hall's Early History, p. 303, from the pamphlet which was printed by order of the resolution:
STATE OF VERMONT. IN COUNCIL, Arlington, 23d of August, 1779.
Resolved. that the following Vindication be forthwith published, and that a Number of the Pamphlets be sent to the Congress of the United States, and to the General Assembly of every of these States; and that a Number be likewise sent to the Generals and other principal Officers of the Continental Army, for their Consideration.
Per order of the Governor and Council,
JOSEPH FAY, Sec'ry.2
1 From the Record of the Board of War:
ARLINGTON, 6th August 1779.
Sir,-The Board of War having resolved to raise by inlistment fifty able bodied effective men as a Company of Rangers to guard the fron- tiers untill the sixteenth day of November next unless the circumstances of the War should admit of their being sooner discharged; that cach non-Commissioned officer and Soldier be allowed three pounds pr- month in addition to his Continental Pay; that the Captain be allowed in addi- tion to his Continental Pay and for recruiting money the sum of Three hundred Pounds. [and] the Lieutenants Two Hundred Pounds each: you are appointed by the Board to Command the Company & Lt. Spen- eer of Bennington first Lieutenant, who has accepted it, is left with you to nominate your other officers. I desire you to repair immediately to me to Receive the necessary orders for yourself & them, at which time you will be made acquainted with the manner of Payments both for the officers and eighty pounds Bounty to each non-Commissioned officer and soldier. I am Sir your humble Seryt,
THOS. CHITTENDEN.
Capt. Parmerly Allen.
P. S .- I earnestly desire you to accept of this appointment, but if any extraordinary matter should prevent it, you will acquaint the bearer therewith that another might be appointed without loss of time.
2 By a resolution of the Assembly of Oct. 21, 1779, Ira Allen was ap- pointed to visit the Assemblies of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. and to transmit to them copies of the above named Vindication. The printed arguments of Ethan Allen, and the per- sonal appeals of Ira, availed much. In a list of the states for and against Vermont, made by James Madison on the first of May 1782, each of these states, (with Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.) was counted for Vermont .- See It. Hist. Soc. Coll., vol. II, p. 268. For a copy of the Vindication, see Appendix I.
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX A, NO. 1.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE "CONGRESS" AND "COMMITTEES OF SAFETY " FOR CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
JUNE 1774 TO SEPTEMBER 1777.
THE first uprising in the New Hampshire Grants against " the land- jobbers of New York" was mainly in Western Vermont; and as the state government originated in that uprising, and was, for the most part, the work of Chittenden, the Allens, the Fays, and the Robinsons, all of whom resided west of the Green Mountains, their acts have figured most largely in all histories of the state. Eastern Vermont was nominally under the jurisdiction of New York, and for many years a majority at least of the leading men in that section were content to submit to it. But it should be remembered that while these men were "Yorkers," in the phrase of their day, most were also whigs, and, getting rid of the tories, they ultimately united heartily with the western whigs in establishing Vermont as an independent state. The records of their acts therefore are part of the history of the state, and justly demand recognition and pres- ervation.1 These records, so far as they are obtainable, are now gath- ered and published, some of them from the original minutes. These originals constitute what are called "THE PINGRY PAPERS," which seem to have been preserved mainly by SIMON STEVENS of Springfield, and are now in the possession of the Hon. WM. M. PINGRY of Perkinsville,
1 The fact should be noted that for twenty years after settlements to any considerable extent had been made in what is now the territory of Vermont, the eastern half contained much the largest part of the popu- lation. Dr. Samuel Williams estimated the population of Cumberland and Gloucester counties, [Windham, Windsor, and Orange,] to be in 1771 about two thirds of the people in the whole territory; and in 1791 the number on the east side was 43,970, and on the west side 41,569 .- Williams's Vermont, vol 2, p. 478. 22.
314
Appendix A, No. 1.
to whom the editor of this volume is greatly indebted for their use. Copies of these, with other interesting papers, have been furnished by Hon. JAMES H. PHELPS of West Townshend, to whom the Vermont Historical Society and the State are under obligations for important con- tributions to the history of Vermont in its early days. To B. H. HALL, Esq., author of the History of Eastern Vermont, credit is also due for citations, references, and statements which have been very useful. Al- though the source of each important paper is indicated as given, a par- ticular acknowledgment to these gentlemen, in this form, is justly due.
MEETINGS IN 1774. CONVENTIONS.
May 16, 1774, a committee of correspondence, consisting of fifty men- bers, was formed in the city of New York for the purpose of eliciting the sentiments of the people of the respective provinces, and particu- larly of New York, on the measures of the mother country in respect to her American colonies. Of this committee Isaac Low 1 was chairman.
Two days before he was confirmed in that office, he addressed the super- visors of Cumberland county, May 21, 1774, asking information as to the sentiments of the people. The supervisors met in June, but took no ac- tion on this letter, and in fact endeavored to conceal it. By accident, Doct. Reuben Jones of Rockingham and Capt. Azariah Wright of West- minster2 heard of it, and immediately notified their towns, when a meet-
1 ISAAC Low was a leading merchant in New York, and in 1774 a very ardent whig, having been appointed chairman of the committee of cor- respondence, May 23, 1774. " Let us," he wrote in an appeal to the peo- ple, as chairman, " with the brave Romans, consider our ancestors and our offspring. Let us follow the example of the former. and set an ex- ample to the latter. Let us not be like the sluggish people, who through a love of ease 'bowed themselves and became servants to tribute,' and whom the inspired prophet, their father, justly compared to asses. Had I the voice which could be heard from Canada to Florida, I would ad- dress the Americans in the language of the Roman patriot." He was a member of the first Continental Congress, and also of the New York provincial Congress in 1775. But notwithstanding his ardor as a whig, and these high positions, he was wealthy. and, probably to save his prop- erty, he became a loyalist when the British army controlled New York. In 1782, when Sir Guy Carleton occupied the city, Low was President of the New York Chamber of Commerce. The whig government of the State, however, attainted him and confiscated his property, when he went to England, where he died in 1791. His brother NICHOLAS LOW was a firm and honored whig through the struggle .- Sabine's Loyal- ists of the American Revolution.
2 Doct. REUBEN JONES of Rockingham, afterward of Chester, was among the earliest and most ardent of the whigs of Cumberland County.
315
Appendix A, No. 1.
ing was held and a committee appointed in each of those towns to wait upon the supervisors at their September session and inquire whether any papers had been received which ought to be laid before the several towns of the county. The supervisors, with many excuses for their delay, produced Low's letter, when a copy of it was sent to cach town, and a County Convention was called to meet at Westminster on the 19th of October. In response, on application of four inhabitants, Col. Thom- as Chandler, clerk of Chester, called a meeting of the freemen of that town, which was held on the 10th of October and appointed a commit- tee of five to join the County Committee for the purpose of preparing a report to be sent to the New York Committee of Correspondence. The proceedings of that meeting, which are entitled to the honor of being the first recorded, were as follows-a literal copy from the record:
CHESTER TOWN MEETING, OCT. 10, 1774.
October 3d 1774.
Request for a
Town
Meeting
We the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Town of Chester Desire Colo. Thomas Chandler as Clerk of the Town Aforesaid to Call a Town meeting to know the minds of the People, Wither they are Willing to Choose a Comtee to make Report to sd Comtee of Correspondence and Whither the People will Stand for the Priviledges of North America or Wither they are Willing to Consent to Re- ceive the Late Acts of Parliament as Just
He was very active in stirring up the people to arrest the loyal court after the Westminster massaere, riding express and hatless to Dum- merston on this errand ; and it is from his pen we have the full account of that affair in the "Relation" published hereinafter. He was also an ar- dent supporter of the independence of Vermont, serving efficiently in each Convention, beginning with that of Sept. 25, 1776, and officiating as Secre- tary in some of them. He represented Rockingham in the General Assembly four years, beginning with the first Legislature, and Chester one year. In his last years he was embarrassed by poverty, and driven to and fro between Vermont and New Hampshire to escape jail. On one occasion while under arrest, the popular sympathy was so strong for him as to force his releasement, for which he with two friends was in- dicted in Windsor County court .- See B. H. Hall's Eastern Vermont.
Capt. AZARIAH WRIGHT served in John Burk's Company in the old French war, and in 1757 was stationed at Hinsdale's fort. In 1770 he was captain of militia in Westminster, and a leading whig in 1774. On the Westminster massacre in March 1775, he was very efficient with his company in arresting the leaders of the court party and dispersing their adherents. In 1778 he with twelve men went to Quebec. In 1779 he was greatly offended because Thomas Chandler jr. was speaker of the Vermont Assembly, and wrote two queer letters to the Governor and Council and Assembly, which caused the resignation of Chandler .- See B. H. Hall's Eastern Vermont for details as to both Jones and Wright.
316
Appendix A, No. 1.
or Wither they view them as unjust, Oppressive and unconstitutional, and to act as they think proper, and we Desire the meeting to be Called as Soon as
Possible. Chester October 3ยช 1774 George Earl, David Hutchinson, Willm. Atwood, Jonathan Tarbell.1
Warrant or Notifie tion
Agreeable to the above Request I hereby Notify the Inhabitants of Chester to meet at the House of Mr. Jonathan Tarbel in sd Chester on Monday the Tenth Day of October Instant at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon then and there to Act on the Articles mentioned in the Request, if they See Cause given under my hand in Chester this Third Day of Octor A D 1774
Tho Chandler Supervisor & Clerk.
Meeting opned
At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Chester Duly Notified and meet at the usuall place of Meeting Octor. 10th 1774
Mode- rator.
Thos. Chandler Esqr Chosen Moderator
Voted that Thomas Chandler Junr, Timo Olcott, Moses Gile, John Smith, and John Grout be a Comtee to Joyn with the County Comtee to make Report to sd Comtee of Correspondence in the Metropelous of this Province
1
At said meeting Resolved first That the People of America are Naturally Intitled to all the Priviledges of Free Borne Subjects of Great Britain, which Privileges they have Never Forfeited.
2
2ly Resolved that Every Mans Estate Honestly Acquired is his Own and no person on Earth
1 GEORGE EARL was one of the jury of inquest to inquire into the death of William French, which sat at Westminster March 15, 1775; captain of the Chester company of militia. Aug. 15, 1775; and a member for Chester of the Cumberland County Committee of Safety in 1776. In the last capacity, he united with six other members in a protest, Nov. 7, 1776, against further proceeding, as a committee, because the action of the majority was " Repugnant to the resolves of the Honble Continental Congress." The matter was compromised, and the protestants resumed their seats; but their protest stands as proof of their fidelity as patriots. -JONATHAN TARBELL was first lieutenant in Earl's company .- See B. H. Hall's Eastern Vermont; also record of Cumberland County Com- mittee of Safety, Nov. 5-9, 1776, post.
317
Appendix A, No. 1.
has A Right to take it Away without the Proprietor Consent unless he forfeit it by Some Crime of his Committing
3
3ly Resolved that all Acts of the British Parliament Tending to take Away or Abridge these Rights Ought not to be Obeyed
4
4ly Resolved, that the People of this Town will Joyn with their Fellow American Subjects in Opposing in all Lawfull ways Every In- croachment on their Natural Rights
Then the meeting was Desolved Test Tho Chandler Moderator Entered pr Tho Chandler Clerk.
A True Copy of Record,
CHESTER, April 29th, 1873.
CHAS. ROBBINS, Town Clerk.
FIRST CUMBERLAND COUNTY CONVENTION, OCT. 19, 1774.
The County Convention, which had been called to meet at Westmins- ter on the 19th of October 1774, met on that day and was in session two days. The following is its record, which was published for the first time in Holt's New York Journal in June 1775.
[From American Archives, Fourth Series, vol. II, 1775, Cols. 1065-1066.]
At a meeting of the Committees from a number of Townships in the County of Cumberland and Province of New-York, held in the County Hall, at Westminster, on the 19th and 20th of October, 1774, to consider a Letter very lately received from Mr. Isaac Low, chairman of the Com- mittee of Correspendence of New- York, dated May 21st, 1774, to con- sult on measures proper to be taken at this important day: present, eighteen Delegates from twelve Towns.1
Colonel JOHN HAZELTINE,2 chosen Chairman.
After having read Mr. Chairman Low's Letter, and the Act of the British Parliament in laying a duty or tax on Tea, for the purpose of
1 Only seven of these towns can be named with certainty, and these are ascertained from the names of delegates mentioned in the proceed- ings. These are Townshend, Chester, Hartland, Westminster, Halifax, Marlborough, and Woodstock.
2 JOHN HAZELTINE came to Townshend from Upton, Mass., soon after the first settlement in 1761, and was a prominent man in the town and county, often called to preside in public meetings. His patriotism was of an ardent and energetic sort, and won for him the title of "KING HAZELTINE," from John Grout, who was so notorious in the state as a tory and pestilent fellow as to secure his banishment by the act of Feb. 26, 1779. The whigs of the county esteemed Mr. Hazeltine highly, as
318
Appendix A, No. 1.
raising a revenue in America, the Boston Port Bill, so called, and divers other late Acts of the British Parliament: sundry debates being had thereon,
Voted, That John Grout,1 Esquire, [of Chester.] Mr. Joshua W'ebb, [of Westminster.] Doctor Paul Spooner, [of Hertford, now Hartland.] Mr. Edward Harris. [of Halifax,] and Major William Williams. [of Marlbo- rough.] be a Committee to take into consideration the aforesaid Letter, and divers aforesaid Acts, and report to this meeting. Who reported as follows:
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