USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Jericho > The history of Jericho, Vermont > Part 11
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At a town meeting held September 4, 1787, it was voted
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"That the dwelling house of Ben Bartlet be the place for holding town meetings for the future, and that the bridge by Jedediah Lane's be a town bridge." "At this meeting Daniel Stannard, Joseph Wilson and Jedediah Lane were elected the first pound keepers and it was voted that their stables be used for pounds.
At the annual town meeting held March 24th, 1788, Roder- ick Messenger, Abel Castle and Leonard Hodges were chosen selectmen; Peter McArthur and Benjamin Farnsworth, con- stables and collectors of rates; Lewis Chapin, Noah Chittenden and John Fairwell, list takers ; James Farnsworth, town treasurer ; J. McFarlin and Timothy Brown, leather sealers; and John Rus- sel, tythingman.
The duties of the tythingman were to keep the peace and preserve good order in church during divine service, to make com- plaint of any disorderly conduct and to enforce the observance of the Sabbath. Many a boy and many a girl was reminded during the church service by the use of the tything rod in the hands of the tythingman that better behavior was demanded from them.
At this meeting Azariah Rood and James Farnsworth were elected a committee to hire a candidate for preacher and it was voted that "We will raise money to pay a candidate for preach- ing two months."
At an adjourned meeting it was voted that the "Selectmen warn the town meetings where they see fit for the time being, and establish the roads in the different places in the town as they shall deem legal without further orders."
At an adjourned annual town meeting held on the 14th day of April, 1789, it was voted to allow Roderick Messenger twenty shillings, Leonard Hodges twelve shillings, and Abel Castle ten shillings for their services as selectmen. The meeting chose Deacon Azariah Rood, Ebenezer Bartlett, Azariah Lee and Lewis Chapin to join the selectmen as a committee "To look out a bury- ing place as near the middle of the town as may be."
At a town meeting held April 24th, 1789, it was voted to "draw the money out of the town treasury to pay for what preach- ing we had the year past, and to choose a committee of three to provide preaching the ensuing season." At a town meeting held September 1st, 1789, it was voted that a tax of two pence on the pound of the list of that year be raised to defray town expenses,
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and "that it be raised in wheat at six shillings, rye at four shillings and nine pence and corn at four shillings, per bushel." On the same day a town meeting was held "for the purpose of trying to settle Mr. Reuben Parmalee in the Ministry in this town." On September 28th, 1789, at a legally warned town meeting it was voted "that the selectmen make a rate on the present list sufficient to pay Mr. Parmalee for preaching in this town the summer past," and voted "That the grounds looked out by the committee near Lewis Chapin's dwelling house for a burying place be improved for that purpose," and they chose "Noah Chittenden, Roderick Messenger and Jedediah Lane committee to agree with Mr. Chapin for the land for that purpose." This meeting also chose Roderick Messenger, Jonathan Castle and John Russell tavern keepers.
At the annual town meeting, March 15th, 1790, fence viewers were chosen for the first time. It was voted "to hire preaching on probation for settlement" and Lewis Chapin, Noah Chitten- den Esq., and Deacon Azariah Rood were chosen a committee "to hire preaching."
The early settlers of Jericho were so intensely religious and so desirous of keeping up divine service among the people that they met at private dwellings and in barns, even in winter when there were no means of warming them.
At a town meeting July 10th, 1790, it was voted "that two- thirds of the time we meet for public worship at William Smith's and one-third at Captain J. Russell's and to hire Mr. Kingsbury nine Sabbaths more, being twelve in the whole." At that meet- ing Martin Chittenden, Peter McArthur and Thomas D. Rood were chosen "to attend to and lay out the Public Rights of land in this town."
September 7th, 1790, at an adjourned meeting, it was voted to give Mr. Kingsbury a call to the work of the ministry in this town and "a settlement fee of two hundred pounds including the ministry Right" and "to give him thirty-five pounds salary the first year and rise with the list until it shall amount to eighty pounds per annum." The meeting also voted "that the neighborhood on Onion River in the south part of the town should have their money refunded back that they pay towards the settlement of Mr. Kingsbury over and above what the public Right amounts to 9
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at a time when they shall be legally set off by authority to unite with another society." At an adjourned meeting, October 4th, 1790, it was voted "that if the salary voted to Mr. Kingsbury does not rise to eighty pounds in seven years the eighth year it shall be eighty pounds and the settlement which the town has already agreed to give Mr. Kingsbury be raised within one year after his ordination, in neat cattle or grain or materials for building at the common going price amongst us, and that the first settled minister have forty cords of wood delivered to his door, he finding the wood."
Dec. 7th, 1790, Martin Chittenden, Esq., was chosen by the freemen, in meeting assembled, member to a State convention to be held on the first Thursday of January, 1791, at Bennington, for the purpose of considering and adopting the Federal Con- stitution of the United States.
At a town meeting April 4th, 1791, it was voted "that the neighborhood on Onion River in the south part of this town be immediately set off to join the South Society in Williston." At this meeting "objection having been made to allowing Mr. Kings- bury forty cords of wood and paying him eighty pounds the eighth year if he should become their minister as was proposed and voted at a former meeting, Mr. Kingsbury being called upon agreed to relinquish the proposal for the forty cord of wood and agreed that if the salary did not amount to eighty pounds in ten years, it should be eighty pounds the eleventh year." This modification of the original proposal was accepted and he became their minister, continuing to serve them in that capacity until 1808. At this same meeting it was voted to "meet for public worship on the Sabbath at William Smith's barn for the future." At the town meeting held April 21st, 1791, it was voted "that Noah Chitten- den, Esq., be appointed to provide for the Ordaining Council the 22nd of June next." On the 14th of November, 1791, it was voted "that Mr. Messenger be allowed three pounds lawful money for providing for the Ordaining Council last June." It was also voted "to meet for public worship at the dwelling house of Elon Lee the ensuing winter, and to have but one exercise on the Sab- bath from the first of December next to the first of March next and to begin at eleven o'clock in the morning."
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March 28th, 1792, it was voted "to raise a tax of sixty dollars on the grand list for the purpose of building a bridge over Brown's river ; except the proportion of that part of the town that is set off to Williston, they to work theirs out on bridges on Onion River road, to be worked out by the first of October next at four shillings per day or paid in wheat at four shillings and six pence per bushel"; a committee of four was chosen to superintend the labor; and it was voted "to discharge Mr. Josim Morgan from paying any part of Ebenezer Kingsbury's settlement." April 16th, 1792, it was voted "that we meet for public worship at Lewis Chapin's barn the ensuing summer."
At a town meeting, September 4th, 1792, it was voted to "run the town line between this town and a certain part of the town which has heretofore been set off to the Southeast Society in Wil- liston," and Joseph Wilson, Benjamin Farnsworth, Noah Chit- tenden and Nathan Moore were elected a' committee to run the line.
January 7th, 1793, the records show a freemen's meeting was held "for the purpose of choosing a representative to the Con- gress of the United States of North America." At the election Israel Smith was chosen as representative to succeed himself.
The religious spirit entered largely into the daily life of these early settlers and the foundations of the town as well as of the family were builded upon the rock of the "word of God." March 4th, 1793, we find the record that in town meeting assembled it was voted "to meet for public worship this time at Elon Lee's in cold weather and at William Smith's barn in warm weather for one year."
June 24th, 1793, Martin Chittenden was chosen to attend the convention called to decide if the Constitution should be es- tablished according to the resolution.
(Editor's note: The convention above referred to was held at Windsor, July 4, 1793, for the purpose of amending the State Constitution, and no further changes were made until 1828).
March 18th, 1794, the freemen assembled chose John Hol- lenbeck agent to attend the committee appointed to set the stake for Chittenden county court house and inform said committee, "that it is our wish that the stake be set in the most convenient place in the county as near the center as may be consistent with
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the good of the whole," and it was further voted "that it is our wish that the stake be set in this town if it be not repugnant to the foregoing vote." (Which request seems not to have met with favor from the above said committee).
At a freemen's meeting held September 2nd, 1794, to cast votes for State officers, out of a total vote of 72 for governor Thomas Chittenden polled 45; Peter Olcott had 42 votes for lieu- tenant governor; and Roswell Hopkins a majority of 13 votes for state treasurer.
At a town meeting, October 2nd, 1794, it was voted that "every man write his place for a meeting house and put it into a hat." The result of this voting showed no majority for any one place, and accordingly Noah Chittenden, John Lyman, Dudley Stone, Jedediah Lane and Thomas Bentley were chosen a com- mittee of arbitration to decide on a site and set the stake. The committee agreed on Captain Bartlett's lot, and so reported, but the voters did not agree to adopt the report, and at an adjourned meeting, November 13th, 1794, voted "to choose (accept) a com- mittee to be appointed by the County Court to set a meeting house stake." Amos Brownson of Williston, Samuel Bradley of Essex, and Phineas Loomis of Burlington, were the County Court committee appointed, but the town records are silent as to their action. Undoubtedly, however, they "set the stake" on the green in front of the present Congregational Church building at Jericho Center, for on June 3rd, 1795 the town "voted that the town purchase four acres of land for a green around the meet- ing house stake." December 30th, 1794, it was voted "to build a meeting house of a sufficient bigness for the town during the life of the building," and January 13th, 1795, Col. Noah Chittenden brought forward a plan to build a meeting house "51 feet by 60 feet with a pulpit in one end," which was unanimously adopted, but at a subsequent meeting, November 18th, the size of the build- ing was changed to 54 feet long and 50 feet wide. January 13th, 1795, it was voted "to have a subscription paper to sign our equal proportion according to our list of the year 1795 in setting up, covering, enclosing the outside, laying the under floor and light- ing a meeting house the ensuing summer." Noah Chittenden was chosen to superintend the building, and Martin Chittenden to draft the subscription paper or papers. March 10th it was voted
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to build the meeting house with a square roof. The people de- cided by vote to hold public worship in private houses and barns until the meeting house was ready for use, also that sheep be prohibited from running at large on the common.
June 3rd, 1795, Noah Chittenden, Benjamin Bartlett and Thomas D. Rood were appointed a committee to lay out the land that had been purchased for a meeting house green, and the heads of the three classes that had been employed to build the house "see to chopping and clearing off the land for the Green the present summer, one-third each." Noah Chittenden, Ben- jamin Bartlett and Thomas D. Rood were also instructed to "find and agree for a suitable and convenient place or places for burying the dead."
November 18th it was voted to build the meeting house with the proceeds of the pews sold at public vendue at the next ad- journed town meeting, and Noah Chittenden, Thomas D. Rood and Benjamin Bartlett were chosen a committee to number the pews and sell the same at public vendue, taking obligations from the bidders and regulating the time and manner for paying said obligations. The report of this committee made at the town meet- ing held December 9th was accepted, and it was voted that Rev. Ebenezer Kingsbury have liberty to choose a pew for his family, who accordingly chose the pew by the pulpit stairs and proposed to give forty-five pounds toward the building to be paid out of his salary. It was voted to sell the pews "first bid to be first pick, and so on, and to pick every one his bid on the plan now on the spot." Forty-two pews were sold at prices ranging from sixty- one to six pounds.
March 10th, 1796, it was voted that "nine dollars be taken out of the town treasury of the money that was raised for the pur- pose of getting powder and lead for town stock, and to pay the Court Committee who set the meeting house stake."
March 13th, 1797, it was voted "that the owners of any sheep shall be accountable for any damage which the sheep do."
September 5th, 1797, voted "that it is the sense of the free- men of Jericho that the act laying duties on stamped vellum Parchment and paper, passed by Congress July 6th, 1797, will be in its operation unequal and oppressive, and that our represent-
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ative be requested to use every exertion in his power that the same be repealed."
It was voted on March 20th, 1798, "that the pole that is now ready to be raised, be the town sign post." (Editor's note: The pole above referred to was undoubtedly a flag pole erected on the common upon which warnings for town meetings were to be posted).
Voted September 4th, 1798, "that there be a town tax of one hundred dollars to be made up on the list of 1798 and be paid into the town treasury in wheat at one dollar per bushel and Indian corn at 67 cents per bushel."
At the annual town meeting March 5th, 1799, it was voted that the town treasurer be directed to procure at the expense of the town standards for weights and measures, and "that all horses, kine, swine and sheep shall not be free commoners."
March 27th, 1799, at a town meeting warned and held at the meeting house, it was voted "that the proprietors and land owners proceed to take the privilege of the act authorizing the proprietors and land owners to divide their lands into severalty," and preparatory to the division "Hon. Noah Chittenden, John Hollenbeck and Thomas D. Rood were chosen a committee to call on Mrs. Allen for the records of Jericho, and to draw an ad- vertisement according to the act, and see that it is inserted in the public print according to law." It was also voted to divide the town into school districts, and a committee of seven was chosen for that purpose. It does not appear that any action relative to school districts was taken by that committee.
At a town meeting held October 30th, 1800, it was voted that "the town do not choose to have inoculation for the small pox set up in town this season." This meeting also chose Eleazar Hubbell, Thomas D. Rood, Benj. Bartlett, Noah Chittenden and Jonathan Castle committee to look out the most convenient place or places for a burying ground in town, to see on what terms these could be procured, and to report at the next meeting. It was again voted to divide the town into school districts and a com- mittee of seven was chosen to plan the division and report at the next town meeting. At the annual meeting March 2nd, 1801, the freemen voted "to give liberty to the town to set up the smallpox next fall under the directions of the selectmen," and again in
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March, 1802, the town, in meeting assembled, decided "to ad- mit smallpox by inoculation from the first of November to the last day of February next under proper regulations."
Town records show that even in those early days there was negligence in "paying the minister," as on April 7th, 1800, a vote was taken "to accept Mr. Kingsbury's proposal to settle up the arrearages of his salary and then alter the principles of his sup- port ; and it was voted to accept of Mr. Kingsbury's proposal, and to agree with him in calling a council for the purpose of dis- missing him unless a Society should be formed to support him by the tenth of May next." This Society September 15th, of the following year, voted to dismiss him, and a committee of five was appointed to procure preaching in case Mr. Kingsbury should "be" dismissed. October 2nd, 1801, Martin Chittenden, Thomas D. Rood and Benj. Bartlett were made a committee "in calling a council to dismiss him." Meanwhile the congregation was evi- dently increasing, as at a meeting of the proprietors of the meet- ing house, October 30th, 1800, it had been voted to sell the gal- lery pews.
The settlers of New England, among whom those of Ver- mont and of Jericho were no exception, were deeply religious and believed it incumbent upon the town to support the church and its minister by means of a direct tax, and laws were created mak- ing this tax compulsory. The ruling church was the Congrega- tional, and every tax payer, regardless of creed, was obliged to contribute to its support. Gradually among those of differing creeds arose a spirit of revolt against this interference with lib- erty of conscience, and eventually any individual whose religious belief was not in accord with the community church was relieved from its support upon presentation to the proper authorities of a certificate showing him to be a member of some other church or creed. The following are copies of two such certificates filed with the Jericho town authorities by citizens whose religious beliefs were at variance with the Congregational Church.
"This certifies that Joseph Brown, Timothy Brown, Abel Castle, Jonathan Castle, Nathaniel Bostwick, Charles Brown, Joseph Brown, Jr., and Lewis Castle are professors of the Epis- copal Church and attend public worship that way. Certified at
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Jericho in the county of Chittenden, State of Vermont this 5th day of June, 1788.
By me Reuben Garlick, Rector.
Entered to record June 5th, 1788.
And recorded by me Jonathan Castle, Town Clerk."
"This may certify Hezekiah Clark is a member of the Bap- tist Society in Jericho and professedly of sentiment similar with this society.
Given under my hand as Moderator,
Edward Fay.
Entered and recorded June 17th, 1793.
Per me Jonathan Castle, Town Clerk."
At a town meeting January 27, 1836, the following resolution was read and adopted :
"Whereas, the proprietors of the building heretofore denom- inated the old meeting house in Jericho have sold or transferred their interest in the same and the said house is about being taken down whereby the said town will be deprived of the usual place of holding freeman's meetings ; therefore
Resolved, That a committee of three persons be appointed at the present meeting who are hereby empowered to receive pro- posals for building or furnishing a town house to be hereafter used and occupied by the town of Jericho on all occasions for the transaction of town business."
The building having been taken down, the Selectmen warned a town meeting for the 12th day of August, 1836, to be held "on the Common or Green" (on which the meeting house had stood) and at the meeting it was voted to adjourn "to the base-, ment of the new meeting house" Sept. 6th, 1836.
Robert Balch, Oliver Lowry and Truman Galusha were chosen a committee at a meeting, May 1st, 1837, to provide a place for the transaction of town business until after the fol- lowing March meeting, and to confer with the proprietors of the new meeting house as to an arrangement with them for such room. The committee reported September 5th, "that the pro- prietors of the new meeting house at the Center, will let the town occupy the north room of the basement of the new meeting house for a town room to be used for all political meetings of the town for the sum of two hundred dollars with interest from
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the first day of March, 1837, one-half to be paid in the month of June, A. D., 1838, and the other half in the month of June, A. D., 1839." The town voted to accept the report of its committee, as well as to raise the money "for the payment of the basement to the meeting house for town business." There is quite a dif- ference in the amount of money required to defray the town expenses in 1837 and in 1913. In 1837 the tax was ten cents on the dollar of the list, while in 1913 it was $1.40 on the dollar of the grand list. Earlier we find that for many years town affairs were so managed that a tax on the grand list from three and one-half to six cents on the dollar was suffi- cient to defray the ordinary town expenses.
At a special town meeting held on the 21st of July, 1812, Truman Barney was chosen constable to serve in the place of Oliver Lowry, "who is detached in the Militia of this State and ordered to actual service." The said Oliver Lowry addressed his resignation as Constable to the Selectmen in writing and it was accepted by them and recorded.
In November, 1820, it was voted "that individuals have the privilege of building sheds on the public green, and that the owners of the sheds move, build, and finish them where they now stand, and that others have the privilege of building on the west end of same." These sheds were for the accommoda- tion of church-goers. (Editor's note: Meaning, doubtless, that permission was given to such as had sheds to shift about and repair the same. Permission also was given to others to build new at the west end.)
At a freeman's meeting held on the last Tuesday of May, 1814, Heman Lowry was elected as a "delegate to represent this town in a convention to be holden at Montpelier on the first Thursday of July next for the purpose of bringing into consideration certain amendments to the Constitution of this State proposed by the Council of Censors November, 1813.
There was an article in the warning for a Town Meeting to be held on the 6th day of March, 1821, "To see if the Town will agree to request the Postmaster General to remove the Postoffice to the Center of said Town," which was northeast of the present village of Jericho Center. The meeting did so vote
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and instructed the Town Clerk to notify the Washington au- thorities of the action of the Town.
At a Town Meeting held September 4th, 1821, it was voted that "it is the sense and wish of the inhabitants of the Town of Jericho in a Town Meeting assembled that the jail be erected at Williston if the inhabitants of said Town will erect it at their own expense."
At a Town Meeting held March 4, 1822, Noah Chittenden was chosen to represent the Town "in the convention of the people of the State of Vermont to be holden at the State House in Montpelier on the third Thursday of February next for the purpose of taking into consideration certain amendments of the Constitution proposed by the Council of Censors on March last."
At a Town Meeting held March 8, 1825, the Auditors re- ported that the Town had obtained a judgment against the Town of Milton of about three hundred dollars, and there would be a balance to pay into the Treasury after paying the costs of two hundred and fifty dollars.
At a Town Meeting held March 7, 1843, it was voted that Constable be put up to the highest bidder, and Horatio B. Barney bid the highest, $26.00, but the Meeting chose Dana Bicknell first Constable.
CHAPTER II.
SCHOOLS.
THE REMAINING CHAPTERS ARE ARRANGED TOPICALLY.
The value of education was early recognized by our New England forebears and the means for its dispensation was almost as important a matter with them as was the establishment of a church. The winter school as first evolved was supported by the pupils attending, the master boarding around among the familes he served. Later came the summer session, sometimes presided over by a "mistress," whose services in the winter were not desired because the large boys who attended during the
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colder months required the heavy hand of a strong man to keep them in order.
Teachers' salaries were small and were paid in grain, the hardworking pedagogue sometimes being required to wait a year for a settlement.
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