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 40
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 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
Gthly. Voted that the sub-committees of the several Towns in this County to se the Association Containd in the Late Handbill from N. York is Universally subscribed to & the Refusers to sign Proceeded with According to s' Handbill.1
1 B. H. HALL has stated that much dissatisfaction prevailed as to the manner in which this meeting was conducted. Only twelve members of the Cumberland County Committee of Safety were present, with one from Gloucester county. The chairman was unwilling to proceed, but was overborne by Major Hoisington, who insisted that a quorum was not necessary for the business of nominating officers. Perhaps the chan- ges ultimately made were occasioned by this dissatisfaction. The meet- ing was held at Thetford to name the officers for Gloucester county, the full list was read in the Provincial Convention on the 26th of Sep- tember, and the officers commissioned were sworn on the 10th of October. The number of Rangers authorized to be raised on the 23d of July was two hundred and fifty, divided into four companies, the whole to be under the command of Maj. JOAB HOISINGTON. The company officers from both counties ultimately commissioned were the following:
Captains. First Lieutenants.
Second Lieutenants.
Benjamin Wait. Elisha Hawley. Zebulon Lyon.
John Strong. Eldad Benton, John Barnes,
Joseph Hatch, Abner Seelye,
Simon Stevens, Benjamin Whitney. Jehial Robbins.
Amos Chamberlain,
Capt. Seeley resigned Dec. 22 1776, having been named Captain in Warner's regiment by the resolution of the Continental Congress of July 5 1776. He was afterward commissioned by Vermont .- See B. H. HALL's Eastern Vermont, pp. 265-8, 772.
357
Appendix A, No, 1.
MEETING OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY COMMITTEE AT WESTMINSTER, Nov. 5-9, 1776.
[From the Pingry Papers.]
TUESDAY, 5th Novemr. 1776.
The County Committee Met according to Adjornment. A Number but not a Sufficient Coram to Proceed to Buisness the Members Pres- ent Concluded to adjourn to tomorrow morning Nine O Clock, at the County House.
Meet according to adjorut. ' Capt. James Clay,
NOVEMR. 6th. Members Present -
Townsend-Capt. Fletcher.
Putney- 2 Lucas Willson.
Westminster- S Lt. Norton, Rockingham-Willm Simons.
Dr. Day.
John Chandler, Chester- Capt. George Earl. Hallefax-Pelatiah Fitch.
Hindsdale-John Bridgman, Esq. Gillford-Esq. Nichols. Fullom-Lieut. Spaldwin.
Newfain-Luke Knolton, Esq.
Winsor-Ebenr. Hoisington.
Woodstock-Benja. Emmons. Wilmington
[or] Sam1. King.
Draper-
Formed into a Body & Proceeded to Business.
1t. Voted that [the] Case of Wm. Tagart against Nathel. Bennet Be Continued up to the Next Sitting of the County Committee.
2d. Adjornd to 3 O Clock afternoon, then to meet at this place.
3 OClock afternoon, meet according to ajornment.
3dly. Voted to sight Jonathan Fuller to appear forthwith Before the County Committee to answer to Ichebod Ide, Jur.
4th. Adjornd to tomorrow morning seven oclock.
NOVEMR 7th.
7 o Clock in ye morning. met according to adjornment.
In Consequence of a Petition from Alexander Kathan of Fullam, against Ebenezer Haven, seting forth that said Haven has Deprivd said Kathan of a certain run of Watter, Voted. that it be recomended to the Committee of Fulham to remove Said Nusance. that the Water may run in its Naturall Course ; & we also Desire that you would See to it That all Such [Disputes] be Setled in your Town H[ereafter, and] that no Person be Depriva of that Which God & Nature [have given] by no Means Whatsoever.1
Voted, that whenever there is any thing that is Perferred [to] this Committe that has a Tendency to Disquiet and Perplex the good people of this County and this Committe whereby we are Detained & hindred of Carriing on business that whoever of said parties shall fall in the Rear Damages Shall be awarded and on failure of Immediate payment or Suf- ficient Sureties shall be Committed till payment is made.
Voted, by this Committe that the Committe of Safety for the Town of Westminster Immediately take Solomon Phelps and Convey him to ye
1 Portions of two leaves are gone, and the missing words are supplied by Conjecture.
Brattleº .- Capt. Sergants. Springfield-Simon Stevens, Esq. Kent-Capt. Akin.
358
Appendix A, No. 1.
Comee of the Next Town and so on till he is Conveyed as was the Prac- tice in times Past till he is Conveyed to his own home.1
Voted, Gen1. it is our minds to move that the Letter Drawn by Esq. [Charles] Phelps and signed by the Chairman of this Committe may be by order of this Committe withdrawn from the Convention of this State [New York. ]
Voted to with Draw this Letter.2
This Meeting was adjourned till 2 º Cloek in the afternoon of this Day.
We, the Subscribers, Being Members of the Committee of Safety for the County of Cumberland, think our selves Bound in the Strongest Ob- ligations to stand For the Pease & Good Order of this County, Under the Directions of Honbl the Continental Congress, & we Whose names are hereunto subscribed are of Opinion that the Major part of the sd Com-
1 SOLOMON PHELPS was the first son of Charles Phelps. In reference to this vote B. H. HALL said : "Complaint was made, and the fact was proved, that Solomon Phelps of Marlborough had made himself obnoxi- ons to those .engaged in administering the affairs of the county ;" this probably meaning that he had interfered improperly and to the vexation of the Committee after he had ceased to be a member of it. MI. Phelps was a Whig, but unfortunately he was occasionally insane .- Eastern Vermont, pp. 277, 691.
2 The letter of the 21st of June was very distasteful to the New York Convention. That body had anthorized the raising of a force of two hundred and fifty Rangers, and on the 24th of July 1776 commissioned Joab Hoisington as major commanding. When the question of furnish- ing money and military supplies came up, opposition was made on the ground that the fidelity of the county to New York was doubtful. The matter was settled by voting money for the wages aud rations of the Rang- gers, but entrusting it to a Committee, whose duties were to see that it was faithfully applied and to consult with the general Committees of Cumber- land and Gloucester. This Committee was instructed " to inquire into the temper of the inhabitants of said [Cumberland] County, and the grounds of any discontent which may prevail among the uninformed, or which may be encouraged by designing men, and use their endeavours to remove the same, and to frustrate any attempt to sow the seeds of jealousy and disaffection. And, lastly, that they represent to the com- mittee of the said county of Cumberland, the wisdom and propriety of a revision of the said letter, [of June 21.] and of an unreserved submission of the said county to the jurisdiction of this state, [New York.] so that all causes of distrust may subside, and the harmony which is so essential at this important conjuncture, may be fixed on the surest foundation."- Eastern Vermont, 263-274. When the Cumberland County Committee met, in November, its members were embarrassed by danger apprehend- ed from the British forces under Gen. Carleton, then on Lake Champlain. The support of the Rangers was greatly needed, and it was therefore im- portant to retain the aid of New York. These considerations undoubt- edly influenced the majority to withdraw the letter of the 21st of June.
359
Appendix A, No. 1.
mittee act Repugnant to the resolves of the Honbi Continental Congress : therefore, we Whose names are Hereunto Ennexed, Enter Our Disent from sd Committee of Safety, and Our Protest against the further Pro- ceedings of this Committee as Committee of Safety for the County.
Westminster, 7th Novemr. 1776.
John Chandler, Wm. Simons, Leonard Spalding, Joseph Hildreth,
George Earll,
Ebenr. Hoisington, Samel Fletcher.1
We whose Names are to this an- nexd. moove that ye Protest above Written may be withdrawn, & we to Join again as members. John Chandler, Ebenr. Hoisington,
Wm. Simons, Joseph Hildreth, George Earll. Leonard Spalding, Sam1. Fletcher.
Adjornd to 7 o clock Tomorrow Morning.
7 o clock in the Morning meet according to adjorn !. NOVEMR. 8th.
Voted to Chuse a Committee, & according Choose John Bridgman, Esqr., Ebenr. Hoisington, Dr. Fitch, John Chandler, Esq., & Esq. Knol- ton To Deliberate on Withdrawing a Peise Sent to the Provincial Con- gress of Esq. [Charles] Phelpss Draft Touching being Laid to Massachu- setts Bay or some Other State. & to frame something to send in its sted and to make Report.
Took under Consideration the Case of Benjamin Gorton Being Bound Up to this Time & setting of the County Committee-and find no Evi- denee or any Person to Accuse him the sd Gorton, therefore Discharge him by Giveing Up his Bond.
Adjornd. to Two O Clock afternoon.
2 O Clock afternoon & Meet according to Adjornment.
Took under Consideration the Complaint of Mr. John Grout against Majr. Thos. Chandler, [Jr .. ] 13 Members Being Duly sworne, & after
1 All doubtless deemed it important to preserve the rights reserved in the letter of June 21, but a majority of them esteemed it to be so in view specially of the independence of Vermont. Mr. Fletcher was a member of the Dorset Convention of July 24, 1776. and of the West- minster Conventions of Oct. 30, 1776, and Jan. 15, 1777: Messrs. Hois- ington, Hildreth, and Spalding were members of the Dorset Convention of Sept. 25, and the Westminster Convention of Oct. 30, 1776; Mr. Hoisington was a member also of the Westminster Convention of Jan. 15, and the Windsor Convention of June 4, 1777; and Mr. Spalding was also a member of the Convention last named. It will be observed that the compromise agreed to on the same day, on which these gentlemen resumed their seats in the Committee, reserved the right of appeal from New York to the Continental Congress. This confirms a report, which one of the committee of the New York Convention made a few days be- fore, (Nov. 3.) that was on the whole unfavorable to the jurisdiction of New York .- Eastern Vermont, p. 276.
360
Appendix A, No. 1.
Meturely Deliberating on the Case Resolve that Mr. Thos. Chandler, Jur. pay to the sd. John Grout the sum of six Pence York Currency, & pay the Cost Equally Between them, & that the Parties be Repre- manded by the Chairman In Presents of the Whole Board.
adjornd. to tomorrow Morning 7 o Clock.
NOVEMR. 9th. 7 oClock in ye morning Meet According to Ajornment.
The Committee appointed by this Body to Take under [Consideration the] Expedieney of the Letter sent from this Body Da[ted 21 June last] Touching Being Laid to some Other state, &c. &c. Re[port] That whereas the Committee of the County of Cumberland [have received] a Handbill from the Convention of the state of New York [directing this Com]mittee to Withdraw a Letter which was sent to them from this [body, bearing] Date 21t. of June Last; we the Committee as afore số, Having Taken [the same under] Consideration. Report, that sd. Letter Ought to be withdrawn, [but that we not]withstanding Ought to Enjoy all the priviledges that any County [in this State] Enjoy, & that we hold it Our Right to Present to the Honourle the [Provincial Congress] of this state a Petition & Remonstrance seting forth those Grieva[nces that are the] Cause of the Uneasiness that subsists among us, for their wise [Consideration] & redress, & if on proper Delibiration it may be thought proper a [separation] should be most Condusive to the peace & Happi- ness of this County, we Do not [preclude] Ourselves from the Priviledge of Presenting Our Petition to the Honle the Continental Congress for their wise Determination we still mean to pay all Due Defference to the state of New York and pay our proportion of the Necessary Charges of the State.1
Voted to Accept the above Report & that a Coppy be sent to the Hon !: Convention for the state of New York, signd. By the Chairman of this Committee & attested By the Clerk.
Voted to Adjorn, and accordingly Adjornd to the First Tuesday of June Next, Nine O Clock Before noon, then to Meet at this Place, & not Sooner Except on an Emergent Call.
From this period the influence of the controversy with New York upon Cumberland county is visible. A town meeting in Brattleborough, held on the 22d of April, 1777. declared that, as they had always owed allegiance to New York, so they would continue to pay that allegiance, and would strictly adhere to such directions as might be sent from the Convention of that state; and Israel Smith was sent to the New York Convention with instructions to report that a majority of the property holders of the county were of like opinion, although the spirit of faction was so rife that it was dangerous to speak against the new state of Ver- mont.2 May 5, 1777, the New York Convention instructed the several towns to elect "active, spirited and discreet subjects of this State, as they shall deem proper for members of the several Committees [of Safe- ty] within their respective counties;" 3 but at the election in Windsor, on
1 Part of the record of this report is torn off, and the lost words are supplied in brackets, nearly as in B. H. Hall's Eastern Vermont, p. 278.
2 B. H. Hall's Eastern Vermont, pp. 291-2.
8 Printed hand-bill among the Pingry Papers.
Appendix A, No. 1. 361
the 20th of the same month, it was voted by a great majority not " to act according to orders from the State of New York." The fact that other towns failed to elect members of the county Committee is doubtless chargeable to like hostility to New York.
The following documents show that New York felt the impending danger in Vermont, where an independent government was then about to be set up by the adoption of a constitution in the following July.
INSTRUCTIONS TO COUNTY AND SUB-COMMITTEES.
[From the Pingry Papers.]
In CONVENTION of the REPRESENTATIVES of the STATE OF NEW YORK.
Kingston, April 21, 1777.
Resolved that it be and it hereby is Recommended to all County and Sub Committees in this State to use their utmost endeavours to appre- hend Secure and otherwise according to their discretion to dispose of all such parsons [persons] as they shall conceive to be inimical or danger- ous to this State untill the further orders from this Convention or futer Legislature of this State allowing the parties to be hereby affected the right of appeal from any Sub Committee to the General Committee.
Extracts from the minuts, ROBRT. BENSON, Sec'y.1
In CONVENTION of the REPRESENTATIVES of the STATE OF NEW YORK, at Kingston, May 5, 1777.
W HIEREAS it hath been found by experience, that the several Com- mittees within this State, have greatly contributed to the public security and defence, by expediting the measures necessary for the gen- eral weal; and whereas it will be necessary that the salutary influence of such Committees should be continued until the government of this State shall be firmly settled, and obtain its full energy and vigour:
THEREFORE RESOLVED, That it be recommended to the inhabitants of this State, to choose such active, spirited and discreet subjects of this State, as they shall deem proper for members of the several Committees, within their respective counties, and to continue as member of such Committees until the first day of October next; and although the office of a member of any of the said Committees is extremely painful and laborious, yet as the service will probably expire before the said day, it is most earnestly recommended to the good subjects of this State cheer- fully to undertake, and vigilantly to execute the said office: more espe- cially as the last hope of our dispirited foes is now grounded upon those intestine divisions which they so assiduously labour to promote, by the assistance of which they expect to accumulate greater evils upon a conn- try which they cannot subdue, and without which all their diabolical de- signs must prove utterly abortive.
By order, ABRAHAM TEN BROECK, Pres.
Attest, ROBERT BENSON, Sec'ry.2
' This is a copy from Secretary Benson's copy, with errors chargeable to the person who made the copy.
2 This is from a perfectly preserved printed copy, bearing on the back of the sheet what seems to be the antograph of " Simon Stevens, Spring- field."
25
362
Appendix A, No. 1.
In CONVENTION of the REPRESENTATIVES of the STATE OF NEW YORK Kingston, May 5th, 1777.
Resolved that the Committees of the County of Albany,1 Tryon, Char- lotte,1 Cumberland,1 Glossencester, [Gloucester,1] Ulster and Orange be requested and empowered to take the most effectual measures to Prevent Surpress and quell all insurrections, revolts and disaffections within their respective Counties, that they be impowered to call out the malitia of their respective Counties, and that they Cause all such traitorous In- habitance of this State as Shall be found in Alms [arms] against the au- thority of the Same, to be Destroyed or otherwise Etfetuely Secured and that this Convention will Defray the Expence of Effecting the above Resolve.
Extract from the minutes, ROBT. BENSON, Secr'y. 2
[May 10, 1777.] Whereas it hath Ben Sugested [to] this Convention that the County Commite of the County of Comberland Cannot be Col- lected together but with grait Dificulty-Resolved that Such of the members of the Said County Commite as on Duely Regular notice for the Convening of the said Commite shall meat Be authorized to Pro- seed to Buiseness.
Extract from the minits,
ROBERT BENSON, Sec'y. 2
In COUNCIL OF SAFETY for the STATE OF NEW YORK. Kingston, May 19th 1777.
Resolved that the Sherifs of the several Counties in this state who are not already qualified for executing their offices do qualify themselves without Delay: and that they aud all other Sherifs already qualified do as soon as possible respectively give public notice in their respective Counties for the Elections of Governor Lieutenant Governor and members of Assembly; and also for the Election of Senators for the respective great Districts within this State; to the End that the Electors may have the longest possible notice before the Election to be had for each Dis- triet and in each County respectively: And that the said Sherifs respec- tively proceed to such Elections without waiting for any further Warrant or Authority so that the returns thereof may be duly made to this Coun- cil of Safety at the time and in the manner prescribed by an Ordinance
1 These New York counties embraced the whole of Vermont-the western half in name only, being reckoned in revolt within the meaning of this resolution. Jan. 1, 1777, referring to an order of Washington to Gen. Gates to march the troops under his command to the banks of Del- aware river, the New York State Committee of Safety wrote to him thus:
"On this occasion we beg leave to lay before your Excellency the true situation of this state. It formerly consisted of fourteen counties, of which five, and a part of the sixth, are in possession of the enemy, and a considerable part of the inhabitants of Gloucester, Cumberland, and Charlotte, appear determined to shake off their dependence upon us, so that above one half is lost; of the remainder. a considerable proportion is disaffected, and ready upon a favorable opportunity to join the enemy." -Eastern Vermont, 281, 282.
2 Both of these are manuscript copies, the one of May 10th apparently by Simon Stevens. The errors in orthography, &c., are doubtless chargeable to those who made the copies.
363
Appendix A, No. 1.
of the Convention of this State for Organizing & Establishing the Government agreed to by the said Convention made and published the Eight day of May instant.
A true Copy from the Minutes,
JOHN MCKESSON, Secry. To the Sherif of Cumberland County .- Copy.
MEETING OF COUNTY COMMITTEE AT WESTMINSTER, JUNE 4 AND 5, 1777.
[From the Pingry Papers.]
Towns ummes. Mens names.
Westminster-Mr. Michael Gilson. James Clay, Putney- Lucies [ Lucas ] Wilson.
S Obadiah Wells, Brattleborough- John Sergents. Hindsdale -- \ Eleazer Paterson,
[ Vernon,] Amos Tute.
Towns names.
Mens names. Hartford-Mr. Hazen.
Springfield- S Simon Steavens, Jerahel Powars.
5 James McCornick,
Kent
[McCormick.]
Pomphret- -
Winchester Dana.]
John Danee, [John
Wethersfield - Maj. [llilkiah ] Grout.2 .
WESTMINSTER June ye 4 1777.
The above Gent. Being Chosen and Returned to serve as a County Committee of Safety for the County of Cumberland being meet and formed into a body at the County house in Westminster on the Day above said did proceed to act on the following articles-
Firstly-Choose Capt. James Clay, Chairman.
Secondly-Choose Simon Stevens, Clerk.
Adjournd Untill two o Clock P. M.
TWO OCLOCK.
Meet according to adjournment. & petion [petition] of Abigail Evens Reed.
This entry is made in one copy of the minutes and not in the other; but the petition itself is with the minutes, and probably it was presented to the Committee. It was as follows:
1 This was probably addressed to Paul Spooner, who was chosen sheritl' by the New York Convention on the 5th of May 1777. He declined the office, but the New York authorities seem to have had no notice of the declination until the 15th of July-a few days after Doct. Spooner had been appointed one of the Council of Safety for the State of Ver- mont. Like orders for Gloucester county were sent to Gen. Jacob Bay- ley, who on the 14th of June wrote to the New York Committee that he had received the ordinance of that committee, that the sheriff had or- dered the towns to proceed to the elections, but that it was not probable the people would choose any members to sit in the Legislature of New York - and they did not .- Eastern Vermont, 299. Gen. Bayley, too, be- came a member of the Vermont Council of Safety ere a month from the date of his letter had elapsed.
2 There are two copies of the minutes of this meeting, one of which does not contain Mr. Grout's name.
364
Appendix A, No. 1.
To the Honorable Committee Now Setting at Westminster.
The petition of Abajall Evens to your Honors Humbly Sheweth that your petitioner was Taken by the Commitee of Brattleborough and con- find in gaol on Suspicion of my being gulty of Some Creminal act or ac- tion against the States of America &c-
and as the Law of this State is Such that when any person found guilty of any Suspetted Crime by the Commitee of any Town in this State the County Committee are To Try them and Either Clear or Condemn-
and as your Petitioner is Susspicoss that this Commitce is at a Loss wheather to Try me or not-
these are therefore to Desire you to go on to Tryal that if any thing be found against me I may Reed [receive] my punishment and if Ino- sent that I may go home to my poor Children, as you must be Sencible it must be hard for a poor Woman to be in Confinement from her family that is Inossent-
as your petitioner is in Duty bound Shall Ever pray
June 3d 1777 Westminster.
ABEJALL EVANS.
To the Chareman of the Commitee of County of Cumberland in province of New York.
Adjournd till tomorrow Nine o'Clock.
JUNE ye 5.
3ly. Voted not to go upon the Publick Bisness of the County untill a fuller Number of the Committee [is present.]
41y. Voted to adjourn this Committee untill the Seaventeenth Day of this Instant June at nine oClock Before noon, then to meet at this place.
ADJOURNED MEETING AT WESTMINSTER, JUNE 17 AND 18, 1777.
Westminster June the seaventeenth the Committee meet according to adjournment.
Members Present-
Putney-Capt. James Clay, Chairman; Lnicas Wilson.
Westminster-Michael Gilson.
Brattleboroug - Obidiah Wells.
Springfield-Simon Stevens.
Weathersfield-Hilkiah Grout.
Hensdale-Elezer Paterson.1
Adjorn' [until] tomorrow nine o Clock: and then meat according to adjornment.
[June] 18. Voted, to Adjorn this Committee to the Twenty Six Day of this Instant, to Meet at Ten of the Clock in the fournoon on said Day, at the house of Capt. John Sargents in Brattleborough.2
BRATTELBOROUGH June ye 26: 1777.
Meet according to aJornment, at Time and Place of the Ajornment.
1 Mr. Patterson's name is omitted in one of the two copies, and prob- ably he was not present. The subsequent "Representation" is, that only five towns were represented on the 17th.
2 On another sheet, apparently the original minutes, is this entry:
" The house when met thot not fit to go on upon Buisness But ajoyrned to Brattleborough," &c.
365
Appendix A, No. 1.
Members Present-
Putney-James Clay and Lucias Wilson.
Westminster-Mr. Michael Gilson.
S Mr. Obadiah Well, [Wells,]
Bratelborough- Capt. John Sargent.
New Fane-Luke Knolton, Esqr.
Weathersfield-Hilkiah Gront.
Ilensdel, [Vernon,]-Col: Eleazer Paterson and Mr. Amos Tute. first-Voted and Chose Hilkiah Grout Clerk pro Tempore.
2. Voted, To make a True Representation of the Broken State of the Inhabitance of the County of Cumberland, and Assign Some Reasons why the County Committee, Did not Proceed agreable To the Resolves of the Convention of the State of New York, in Respect to their Choos- ing Governor and Deligates to Send to Convention.
Bly. Voted, to Choose a Committee to Draft a Representation and Lay it before the Committee. Choose Capt. James Clay, Mr. Eleazer Paterson, and Helkiah Gront for the Purpus above said.
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.