USA > Vermont > State papers of Vermont, v. 2 > Part 25
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KNOW YE, that whereas Samuel Clark and Absalom Baker, and their Associates, our worthy Friends, have, by Petition, requested a Grant of a Tract of unappropriated Land within this State, in order for settling a new Plantation, to be erected into a Township: WE HAVE THEREFORE THOUGHT FIT, for the due encouragement of their laudable Designs, and for other valuable Considerations us hereunto moving,- AND DO, by these Presents, in the Name, and by the Authority of the Freemen of Vermont, Give and Grant the Tract of Land hereafter described and bounded, unto the said Samuel Clark and Absalom Baker. and their Associates, vizt; Elisha Baker, Ebenezer Kellogg, William Wells, Josiah Gregory, Reuben Horsford, Ira Rood, Isaac Stratton, Daniel Burbank, Aaron Noble, Bildad Noble, Anthony Farr, Elisha Meach, Samuel Kellogg, Samuel Kellogg Jun', Zadoc Clark, Stephen Davis, Joseph Dunham, Cornelius Lynds, John Winchester Dana. Judah Dana, Israel Putnam Dana, Daniel Davis, Judah Williams, Joseph Jones, Thomas Green, Israel Harris, Pearly Howe, Elisha Baker, Jun', Ezra Baker, Ira Baker, John Tracy, Jonathan Woodward, Mat-
226
CHARTER RECORDS
thew Lyon, James Lyon, Peter Boudish, John Tibbet, David Pixly, Martin Chittenden, Benjamin Sherwood, John Porter, Ethan Allen, Isaac Kellogg, Oliver Hungerford, David Johnson, The Heirs of Thomas Wheeler, Christopher Whitney, Moses Jeffers, Reuben Hurlbut, Elijah Thomas, Asa Burnham, Reuben Post, Simeon Hine, Jonas Galusha, Noble Everett, William Dyre, Thomas Chittenden, John Fasset Jun', Chester Derby, John Smith, Alexander Huling, Henry Green, Mary Lyon, Elijah Galusha, Stephen Dunning, Joseph Orsborn, Samuel Sherman, David Johnson Jun', Nathaniel Johnson, Thomas Roe, David Galusha, Eusebius Bushnell, Elizabeth Chittenden and Asa Farrand; which, together with the Five following Rights, reserved to the several uses in manner following, include the whole of said Township, vizt; one Right for the use of a Seminary or Colledge; one Right for the use of County Grammar Schools in said State; Lands, to the amount of one Right, to be and remain for the purpose of Settlement of a Minister and Ministers of the Gospel in said Township forever; Lands, to the amount of one Right for the Support of the social worship of God in said Town- ship; and Lands, to the amount of one Right, for the support of an English School or Schools in said Township: Which said Two Rights, for the use of a Seminary or Colledge; and for the use of County Grammar Schools as aforesaid; and the Improvements, Rents, Interests and Pro- fits arising therefrom, shall be under the Controul, Order, Direction and Disposal, of the General Assembly of said State forever. And the Pro- prietors of said Townhip are hereby authorised and empowered to locate said two Rights, justly and equitably, or Quanity for Quality, in such Parts of said Township as they or their Committee shall judge will least incommode the general Settlement of said Tract or Township. And the said Proprietors are hereby further empowered, to locate the Lands aforesaid amounting to three Rights, assigned for ;- the Settle- ment of a Minister and Ministers; for their Support; and for the use and support of English Schools, in such, and in so many Places, as they or their Committee shall judge will best accommodate the Inhabitants of said Township, when the same shall be fully settled and improved; lay- ing the same equitably, or Quantity for Quality: Which said Lands, amounting to the three last mentioned Rights, when located as afore- said, shall, together with their Improvements, Rights, Rents, Profits, Dues and Interests, remain unalienably appropriated for the uses and Purposes for which they are respectively assigned; and be under the Charge, Direction and Disposal of the Inhabitants of said Township forever. Which Tract of Land, hereby given and granted as aforesaid, is bounded and described as follows, vizt; "BEGINNING at the North west Corner of Washington, then South Thirty Degrees West in the Line of Washington about six Miles to an angle thereof; then carrying that Breadth back North Sixty one Degrees West (provided that if the north westerly Part of this Breadth should interfere with the South Easterly Corner of Berlin, then, in that case, the residue of said Breadth to be still continued on vacant Lands) so far as that a Line, being extended North Thirty Degrees East
227
WOLCOTT
across Sd Breadth (or to Berlin Line) will encompass the contents of six Miles square." And that the same be, and hereby is incorporated into a Township, by the Name of WILLIAMSTOWN. And the Inhabitants, that do, or shall hereafter inhabit said Township, are declared to be infranchised, and entitled to all the Priviledges and Immunities that the Inhabitants of other Towns within this State do, and ought, by Law and Constitution, to exercise and enjoy. To HAVE AND TO HOLD the said granted Premises, as above expressed, with all the Priviledges and Appurtenances thereto belonging and appertaining to them and their respective Heirs and Assigns forever; upon the following Reservations and Conditions, vizt; That each Proprietor of the Township of Williams- town aforesaid, his Heirs or Assigns, shall plant and cultivate Five Acres of Land, and build an House at least Eighteen Feet square on the Floor, or have one Family settled on each respective Right of Land in said Township, within the Term of Three Years next after the Circumstances of the war will admit of a Settlement with Safety; on Penalty of the For- feiture of each Right or share of Land in said Township not so improved or settled; and the same to revert to the Freemen of this State; to be, by their Representatives, regranted to such Persons as shall appear, to settle and cultivate the same. That all Pine Timber, suitable for a Navy, be reserved for the use and Benefit of the Freemen of this State. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my Hand, and caused the Seal of this State to be affixed, this Ninth Day of August, Anno Domini 1781, and in the 5th Year of our Independence.
THOMAS CHITTENDEN.
By His Excellency's Command. Thos. Tolman Depy. Secry.
THE CHARTER OF WOLCOTT
THE GOVERNOR, COUNCIL AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FREEMEN OF VERMONT
L. S. To all People, to whom these Presents shall come, GREETING:
KNOW YE, that whereas Captain Joshua Stanton, and his Asso- ciates, our worthy Friends, have, by Petition, requested a Grant of a Tract of Land within this State, of six Miles square, in order for settling a new-Plantation, to be erected into a Township. WE HAVE THEREFORE THOUGHT FIT, for the due encouragement of their laudable Designs, and for other valuable consderatons us hereunto moving; AND DO, by these
228
CHARTER RECORDS
Presents, in the Name, and by the Authority of the Freemen of Vermont, Give and Grant the Tract of Land hereafter described and bounded, unto the said Joshua Stanton, and the several Persons hereafter named, his Associates, viz'; Major General Oliver Wolcott, Brigadier General John Fellows, Matthew Mead, Aaron Comstock, Samuel Middlebrooks, Isaac Lewis, Clap Raymond, Ahijah Taylor, Levi Taylor, Ozias Marvin, Gamaliel Taylor, John Pynoyer, William Chamberlin, David Phelps, Jedediah Lane, Joseph Cook, Thomas Phillips, Roger Lane, Samuel Lane, James Waterous, Samuel Lee, Theodore Sedgwick, William Bacon, Paul Dewey, Peter Parret, Jonathan Pettibone, Abraham Stevens, Benjamin Seeley, John Adams, Zachariah Fairchilds, Lemuel Kingsbury, Stephen Lawrence, Elizabeth Stanton, Joshua Stanton Jun", Rufus Herrick, Seth Austin, Joel Baldwin, Benjamin Durkee, Giles Pettibone, Judah Burton, Solomon Tyler, Hezekiah Lane, William Dean, David Crocker Dean, William Goodrich, John Sedgwick, David DeForest, Derrick J. Geoes, Ezra Fellows, Gad Austin, Silvia Morgan, Elisha Tyler, William Fellows, John Ashley, Stephen Dewey, Benjamin Keys, Enoch Shepard, John Fellows Jun', Enoch Shepard Jun', Samuel Shed, Joseph Goodrich, John Watson, David Pixley, and Daniel Shepard; which, together with the Five following Rights, reserved to the several uses in manner following, include the whole of said Town- ship, vizt; one Right for the use of a Seminary or Colledge; one Right for the use of County Grammar Schools in said State; Lands, to the amount of one Right, to be and remain for the Purpose of Settlement of a Minister and Ministers of the Gopel in said Township forever; Lands, to the amount of one Right for the Support of the social worship of GOD in said Township; and Lands, to the amount of one Right, for the Support of an English School or Schools in said Township. Which said Two Rights; for the use of a Seminary or Colledge, and for the use of County Grammar Schools as aforesaid, and the Improvements, Rents, Interests and Profits arising therefrom, shall be under the Controul, Order, Direction and Disposal of the General Assembly of said State forever. And the Proprietors of said Township are hereby authorized and empowered to locate said two Rights justly and equitably, or Quan- tity for Quality, in such Parts of said Township as they or their Committee shall judge will least incommode the general Settlement of said Tract or Township. And the said Proprietors are hereby further empowered, to locate the Lands aforesaid, amounting to three Rights, assigned,-for the Settlement of a Minister and Ministers; for their Support; and for the use and Support of English Schools, in such, and in so many Places, as they or their Committee shall judge will best accommodate the In- habitants of said Township, when the same shall be fully settled and improved; laying the same equitably, or Quantity for Quality. Which said Lands, amounting to the three last mentiond Rights, when located as aforesaid, shall, together with their Improvements, Rights, Rents, Profits Dues and Interests, remain unalienably appropriated for the uses and Purposes for which they are respectively assigned; and be
229
WOODBURY
under the Charge, Direction and Disposal of the Inhabitants of said Township forever. Which Tract of Land, hereby given and granted as aforesaid, is bounded and described as follows, viz'; "BEGINNING at the North Easterly Corner of Elmore,-then North 360 East in the Line of Woodbury and Hardwick, six Miles; then North 54° West, six Miles; then South 36° West, six Miles, to the North westerly Corner of Elmore; then South 54° East in the Line of Elmore, six Miles, to the Bound began at." And that the same be, and hereby is incorporated into a Township, by the Name of WOLCOTT. And the Inhabitants that do, or shall here- after inhabit said Township, are declared to be infranchised, and en- titled to all the Priviledges and Immunities that the Inhabitants of other Towns within this State do, and ought by the Laws and Constitution of this State, to exercise and enjoy. To HAVE AND TO HOLD the said granted Premises, as above expressed, with all the Priviledges and Ap- purtenances thereto belonging and appertaining, unto them and their respective Heirs and Assigns forever: upon the following Conditions and Reservations, vizt, That each Proprietor of the Township of Wolcott aforesaid, his Heirs or Assigns, shall plant and cultivate Five Acres of Land, and build an House at least Eighteen Feet square on the Floor, or have one Family settled on each respective Right, within the Term of Three Years next after the Circumstances of the war will admit of a Settlement with Safety; on Penalty of the Forfeiture of each Right of Land in said Township, not so improved or settled; and the same to revert to the Freemen of this State; to be, by their Representatives, re- granted to such Persons as shall appear to settle and cultivate the same. That all Pine Timber, suitable for a Navy, be reserved for the use and Benefit of the Freemen of this State. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my Hand, and caused the Seal of this State to be affixed, this Twenty-second Day of August Anno Domini 1781. And in the 5th Year of our Independence.
By His Excellency's Command. Tho. Tolman Depy Secry
THOMAS CHITTENDEN
THE CHARTER OF WOODBURY
THE GOVERNOR, COUNCIL, AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FREEMEN OF THE STATE OF VERMONT.
L. S. To all People to whom these Presents shall, come GREETING:
KNOW YE that Whereas WILLIAM LYMAN ESQUIRE and COLONEL EBENEZER WOOD, and their associates our worthy friends have by Peti-
230
CHARTER RECORDS
tion requested a grant of a Tract of unappropriated Lands within this State in order for Setling a new plantation to be erected into a Town- ship, We have therefore thought fit for the due Encouragement of their Laudable designs, & for other valuable considerations us hereunto moving, and do by these presents in the name and by the authority of the Freemen of the State of Vermont Give and Grant the Tract of Land hereafter discribed and bounded unto them the said William Lyman & Ebenezer Wood, and the Several persons hereafter named their asso- ciates viz' Joshua L. Woodbridge, Seth Murry, Elihu Murry, Israel Chapin, John Stone, Benjamin Sheldon, Samuel Cook, Elisha Porter, John C. Williams, Thomas Hunt, Nathaniel Edwards, Ezra Phillips, Nahum Edgar, Asahel Pomeroy, Park Woodward, John Woodward, Asa Woodward, William Potter, Benedict Eggleston, Thomas Wood- ward, Joseph Clark, Henry Champion, Henry Champion Jur, Epaphra- ditus Champion, Thomas Miller, Joel Day, Oliver Wright, Daniel Wright, Samuel Clark, Stephen Jenkins, Zebina Curtis, Abel Adams, Moses Jeffords, Thomas Chittenden, Timothy Brownson, John Fassett Jur, Noble Everit, Jonathan Brace, Gustavus Walbridge, Rodolphus Walbridge, Caleb Benjamin, John Knickerbacer, Daniel Benjamin, Howel Woodbridge, Samuel Bishop, Noah Smith, Daniel Smith, Israel Smith, Chloe Smith, Simeon Hatheway, Shadrach Hatheway, Ana Hatheway, Jale Hatheway, William Gould, Jonathan Burrel, Nathaniel Chipman, Enoch Woodbridge, Stephen Pearl, John Burnham, Joseph Fay, Timothy Follett, Thomas Tolman, & Silas Robinson, which Together with the Five following Rights, or shares reserved to the Several Public uses in manner following include the whole of said Tract or Township vizt READ which Tract of Land hereby given and granted as aforesaid is bounded and discribed as follows, vizt, BEGINNING, at the North Easterly Corner of Calais, then North 54 Do West, in the Line of Calais six miles to an angle thereof, Then north 36 D° East six miles, then South 54 D° East six miles, Then south 36 Do West six miles to the Bounds Began at, And that the same be and hereby is Incorporated into a Township by the name of WOODBURY, and the Inhabitents that do or shall hereafter inhabit said Township are declared to be infranchised & intitled to all the Priviledges and Immunities that the Inhabitents of other Towns within this State do and ought by the Laws & Constitution of this State to Exercise & Enjoy. To Have and to hold the said Granted Premises as above expressed in equal Shares with all the Privi- ledges and appurtenences thereto belonging & appertaining unto them and their respective Heirs and assigns forever upon the following Con- ditions & reservations vizt that each Proprietor in the Township of Woodbury his hiers or assigns shall plant and Cultivate five acres of Land & build an House at least Eighteen feet square on the floor, or have one family settled on each respective Right within the Term of three years next after the circumstances of the War will admit of a Settlement with Safety, on penalty of the forfieture of each respective Right or Share of Land in said Township not so improved or settled and the sam
¡Read the Charter of Riptown, which is verbatum with this for, disposing of the 5 public Rights.
1
WOODBURY
231-32
to revert to the freemen of this State, to be by their Representatives re- granted to such persons as shall appear to settle and cultivate the same. That all Pine Timber suitable for a Navy be reserved for the use and Benifit of the freemen of this State; IN TESTIMONY whereof we have hereunto affixed the Seal of this State in Council this 16 day of August AD (1781) and in the 5th year of the Independence of this & 6 of the United States.
THOMAS CHITTENDEN .
By His Excellencys Command. Thomas Tolman D. Secy.
APPENDIX
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APPENDIX A
WOODBRIDGE
We reproduce here (from Huse, Vol. XXVI S. P. of N. H. pages 737-8) :
WOODBRIDGE .- Oct. 26, 1781, a grant of a township of unap- propriated lands was made to Maj. Theodore Woodbridge and Com- pany, (Governor and Council, II-126, 127) The granting fees were not paid however, and Ira Allen, as Surveyor General, was "empowered and directed by the Governor and Council in accordance with an Act of the Legislature" to dispose of the township granted to Maj. Wood- bridge and use the proceeds in purchasing stores &c., (Governor and Council III-32, 33). Allen, having failed to dispose of the township, advanced funds on his own account and Gov. Chittenden at the request of Allen issued a charter to the latter in Oct. 1786. This act led to the defeat of Gov. Chittenden at the election in 1789, but after the whole matter had been thoroughly investigated by a committee of the legis- lature and a large balance found to be due Allen, as Surveyor General, from the State, Gov. Chittenden was recalled from private life and held the office of governor continuously thereafter until his death.
The following is from Governor and Council III-512, 513: "The charter of Woodbridge seems never to have been recorded by the Secre- tary of the Governor and Council, or the Secretary of State, but it was entered by Allen in his record as Surveyor General, and is now in the office of the Secretary of State, in a book erroneously marked as Vol. 2 of town charters. All the town charters in this book, Woodbridge ex- cepted, are in the official record The charter of Woodbridge given to Allen was dated Oct. 26, 1781, the date of the grant to Maj. Woodbridge, and it was recorded by Allen on the 10th of Oct. 1786, in this book, which probably was originally intended for a state record, but was withheld on account of the questionable character of Wood- bridge." See (Ms.) Vermont charters, II-26 to 28. The charter of Woodbridge described it as a tract bounded West on Alburgh and must have covered part at least of Highgate. When Allen's writ was served upon the state in 1792 the present town of Troy was levied upon as "Woodbridge, so called," (Governor and Council, IV : 428).
[CHARTER OF WOODBRIDGE]
THE GOVERNOR, COUNCIL, AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FREEMEN OF THE STATE OF VERMONT.
To all People to whom these Presents shall come, GREETING:
KNOW YE, that, Whereas The Honorable Ira Allen Esq' hath by Petition requested a Grant of a Tract of unappropriated Lands in this
236
APPENDIX
state, for himself and Associates, in order for settling a New Plantation thereon, to be erected into a Township: WE HAVE THEREFORE THOUGHT FIT, for the due Encouragement of this laudable Design, & for other valuable considerations us hereunto moving-AND Do by these Presents, In the Name, & by the Authority of the Freemen of the State of Ver- mont, give & grant the Tract of Land hereafter described & bounded, unto him the sd Ira Allen, and to the several Persons hereafter named, his Associates, Viz; Marey Warshurn John Lamb, James Lamb Robart Lamb Peter Lamb Charles Lamb Abraham Lamb Charles Davis Richard Davis Peter Payne John Roll Benjamin Dudley Isaac Bunn Theophilas Bentley John Abbot Stephen Abbot Peter Palmer Simeon Palmer Jobe Bunn James Frost Ziba Peck Aaron Sturges Thos Pang- burn Roderick Bound Philip Beard Joseph Brady Andrew Liscumb John Jinkins James Prat Sam1 Starns Obadiah Burton Noble Pearl Partrick Hine William Brasur Zera Dobson Cornelias Vanwick Amos Petibone Peter Weatherbee Rufus Botton David Brownson Heber Sargents Thos Varnum Lodawick Prouty Horris Pebody Cyrus Grandy Oliver Doty Sam1 Squire Isaac Benedick Reuben Foster Calvin Purdy Benjamin Braton Ralf Chamberlin Seth Osburn Phinehas Rogers Henry Smith Charles Randal Reuben Rud Zadock Clark Andrew Morgan Rolf Brown Ichabod Rogers Coonrod White Joshua Bloodgood Martin Page which, together with the five following Rights, or five Seventieth Parts of sd Tract, to be reserved to the several uses in manner following, include the whole of sd Tract or Township, Viz; One Right for the use of a Seminary or College,-One Right for the use of County Grammar Schools in sd State Lands to the amount of one Right to be and remain for the Purpose of settlement of a Minister or Ministers of the Gospel in sd Township forever. Lands to the amount of one Right for the support of the social worship of GOD in said Township; and Lands to the amount of one Right for the use & support of an English school or schools in sd Township. Which sd two Rights, for the use of a Seminary or College, & for the use of County Grammar Schools as aforesd and the Improvements, Rents, Interests & Profits arising therefrom, shall be under the Controul, order, Direction & Disposal of the General Assembly of sd State forever. And the Proprietors of sd Township are hereby authorised & empowered to locate sd two Rights justly & equitably, or quantity for quality in such parts of sd Township as they or their Committee shall judge will least incommode the general settlement of sd Tract or Township. And the sd Proprietors are further empowered to locate the Lands aforesd amounting to three Rights, assigned for the settlement of a Minister + or Ministers-for their support and for the use & support of English Schools, in such, and in so many places as they or their Committee shall judge will best accomodate the Inhabitants of said Township when the same shall be fully settled & improved, laying the same equitably or quantity for quality-Which said Lands amounting to the three Rights last mentioned, when located as aforesd shall, together with their Im- provements, Rights, Rents, Interests, & Profits remain unalienably
237
APPENDIX
· appropriated to the uses & Purposes for which they are respectively assigned, & be under the Charge Direction and Disposal of the In- habitants of sd Township forever. WHICH Tract of Land, hereby given & granted as aforesd is bounded & described as follows, viz; BE- GINNING at the North East Corner of Alburgh, in the south Line of the Province of Quebec, & north Line of Vermont; Then East in said Line so far that to turn Southerly to the No(T)therly Line of Lands heretofore granted then westerly in such Line to the south Easterly Corner of Alburgh -then No(r)therly in the Line of Alburgh to the Bound began at will con- tain Twenty three Thousand and Forty Acres."
And that the same be and hereby is incorporated into a Township by by the Name of WOODBRIDGE And the Inhabitants that do, or shall hereafter inhabit sd Township, are declared to be infranchised, & in- titled to all the Privileges & immunities that the Inhabitants of other Towns within this state do & ought, by the Laws & Constitution of this state, to Exercise and enjoy.
To HAVE and to HOLD the sd granted Premises, as above expressed with all the Priviliges& Appurtenences thereof unto them & their respective Heirs and Assigns forever, upon the following CONDITIONS & RESERVA- TIONS, Vizt That each proprietor in the sd Township of His Heirs or Assigns, plant & cultivate Five Acres of Land, & build an House at least Eighteen Feet square on the Floor, or have one Family settled on each respective Right, within the Term of Three Years after the Circum- stances of the present war will admit of a settlement with Safety: ON PENALTY of the Forfeiture of each respective Right or Share of Land in sd Township, not so improved or setled, & the same to revert to the Freemen of this State to be by their Representatives regranted to such Persons as shall appear to settle & cultivate the same. That all Pine Timber suitable for a Navy, be reserved for the use & Benefit of the Freemen of this State.
IN TESTIMONY whereof We have caused the seal of this State to be affixed, In Council, this Twenty sixth Day of October In the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred & Eighty one, and in the 5th Year of.our INDEPENDENCE
THOR CHITTENDEN
By His Excellency's Command Tho. Tolman Dep. Secy. Survey', Gen' Office Sunderland Oct' 10th 1786 Recorded from the Original Charter Att. I. Allen Surve'yr Gen1.
Note :- The foregoing "charter" of Woodbridge found recorded in the (questioned) "Volume II." of [Surveyor-General's] Vermont Charters, pp. 26-7, is here reproduced on account of its historic importance. Upon the flyleaf of the same Volume, above the index, the following is found :-
"The Book found In the hands of Hollace Hastings of St. Albans Franklin County & State of Vermont this 13th Day of Novbr- 1824-he said Hastings says this Book was Given to him at Colchester by Ira Allen, Son to Ira Allen Deceased Late Surveyr Genl & he said
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238
APPENDIX
Hollace Hastings says that he Lived with Said Allen & thear Saw other Books of this- Discription which appeared to be fild or rightly fild by Record-which he supposes,-and without dought are the Book or Books In which the Original Charters of the Towns Granted by this State & well as the Ones Granted by New Hampshire, which Are now In this State-this Book the Greatest parts being Blank paper-has this Day be given by Hastings to me.
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