—————————————
BY HON. DAVID READ.
The
The
county is situated between 44° 7' and 44° 12' of north latitude: and between 3°
41' and 4° 14' of longitude east from
A
branch of the Abenaquis tribe of Indians, were the aboriginal occupants of this
section of the country, previous to its settlement by the whites; and, indeed,
they lingered upon their rightful soil, at the mouth of the Lamoille river and
thence north along the Missisquoi bay, for a long while after the French and
English had taken possession and commenced the settlement of the country to the
north and south of them. They have not as yet wholly relinquished their claims
upon the country; and although they left it and united themselves with the St.
Francis tribe, another branch of the Abenaquis, who reside at the outlet of the
St. Francis river on the St. Lawrence, they still claim an interest in the
soil, and have repeatedly, and within a few years past, sent their delegates to
the legislature of Vermont., to seek some compensation for their lands.** What
time they left and joined their friends at St. Francis, is not fully known.
After the settlement of the country, an Indian encampment and burial place were
well distinguished near the mouth of the Lamoille river,
together with a mound of large size, where the skeletons and bones of the race,
buried in their usual sitting posture, were exhumed, and numerous arrow heads
and other Indian relics found. And near this same place in
————
* See
Revised Statutes of
** In
1798 a petition was presented to the legislature of Vermont signed by twenty
chiefs, representing, as they said, "the seven nations of Lower Canada
Indians," among which were the Abenaquis and Cognahwaghahs, in which they
claimed all the land west of the Green Mountains and between Ticonderoga and
the province line. The Cognahwaghahs originally formed a part of the Mohawks;
but revolted from that tribe, joined the French, and settled at the Sault St.
Louis above
Their
petition to the legislature was rejected, on the ground that these Indians had
revolted from the English and joined France; and when the country was ceded to
the English by right of conquest, the title of these tribes followed the fate
of the surrender — and that the subsequent surrender of the country by England
to the United States, vested the property in the state. But the Indians did not
thereupon abandon their claim. and have in several
instances renewed their petitions since. See Williams's Hist. of
454
of Vermont, was also found.* If, however, the Abenaquis
made that specimen of pottery, constructed in such perfect form, and so highly
ornamented upon its exterior surface, there was a time when they far excelled
in that useful art. The fact that this relic was found in the vicinity, affords
no very certain evidence that it was the work of that race; but there is strong
reason to believe that it must have been the work of a people far more advanced
in the useful arts.
It
appears that the Abenaquis claimed the country along Missisquoi bay, and sought
to disturb the possession of the whites, as late as 1788. By the kindness of
Henry Stevens, Esq.,† we have been furnished with a
correspondence between Ira Allen, who then resided at Cochester, and Clement
Gorselin of Pointe au Roche, Lord Dorchester, governor of the province of
Quebec, and Lt. Col. John Campbell, "of his majesty's service,"
respecting the proceedings of these Indians, at so recent a date — being even
after the county of Chittenden was incorporated; and the settlement in question
was then within its limits.
Gorselin,
under date of Aug. 18th, 1786, writes to Allen to inform him that the Indians
claimed the land on Missisquoi bay, and threatened to drive off the people, who
had settled there, and destroy their possessions. Allen replies, Aug. 23d,
1786, that the French and Indians lost their claim in the French war, and the
lands had been granted to the proprietors in 1763; that the Indians can have
justice by applying to the courts in
Allen
procures the deposition of John Waggoner and Wm. Tichout, "June 21, 1788,
before Thos. Butterfield, justice of peace for the county of Chittenden,"
wherein they state among other things, that an Indian named Capt. Louis of the
St. Francis tribe, with about twenty men, came on to the Missisquoi river last
October, "and hoisted a flag on a pole, drew their knives, threatened
several of the inhabitants in a hostile manner, obliged the inhabitants to
provide a dinner for them, claimed a right to the land, and took in a hostile
manner 10 bushels of Indian corn from Waggoner, and about 15 bushels of
potatoes from Tichout. The Indians also burnt and destroyed some fences; that
in April last, the same Indians threatened to dispossess the subscriber John
Waggoner, unless he would pay them one-quarter of all he raised on said land, as
rent to them."
Allen
enclosed the above deposition to Lord Dorchester, July 16th, 1788, and writes
him the account of a similar occurrence about four years previous, when, he
says, "the settlers were so exasperated as to be about to drive out the
Indians by force, but had forborne on his request;" and asked the governor
to take measures to prevent any further difficulty. And on the 7th of August,
1788, Allen also writes to Col. Campbell on the same subject, remarking:
"if the Indians would behave he had no objection to their hunting and
fishing on the land."
Col.
Campbell thereupon addresses a letter to Sir John Johnson, "Bart., Supt.
and Inspector General of Indian Affairs," dated, Montreal, September 5th,
1788, in which he says, "that he had called the Indians before him, and
they confessed they had been on Missisquoi bay; and always travel with their
colors and display them at their encampment, wherever they happen to be, as a
mark of their attachment to their Great Father the King of England.
Though they had the mortification to find Waggoner, Tichout, and others, on
their lands, yet they neither drew knives or committed
any irregularities; confident that their father would do them justice
therein." That "they were but 9 men, a boy, 11 women, and 8 children
on the breast, in number;" and that the Indians appealed to John Hilliker,
neighbor to Waggoner and Tichout, who was their interpreter, to prove what they
had said. Lord Dorchester, October 11th, 1788, transmitted a copy of the above
letter to Ira Allen, for his examination. Capt. Louis was styled the Abenaqui
chief, in the foregoing correspondence.
With
the preceding there is a lease before us, from the papers of Mr. Stevens,
executed in 1765, by a number of these Indians, which establishes the fact beyond
question, that they were a branch of the Abenaquis tribe, or as they styled
themselves, "the Abenackque nation of Missisque;" who occupied, and,
to some extent, cultivated the lands, at that time, on the Missisquoi bay and
river. As the lease is of historical interest, it is here given at length,
except the formal repetitions in it:
"Know
all men by these presents, that
—————
*
Thompson's Hist. of
† We
take pleasure in acknowledging here, once for all, our indebtedness to Mr.
Stevens for several documents and facts referred to in this article.
we, Daniel Poorneuf, Francois Abernard, Francois Joseph,
Jean Baptiste, Jeanoses, Charlotte, widow of the late chief of the Abenackque
nation at Missisque, Mariane Poorneuf, Theresa, daughter of Joseph Madril,
Magdalaine Abernard, and Joseph Abomsawin, for themselves, their heirs, and
assigns; do sell, let, and concede unto Mr. James Robertson, merchant, of St.
Jean, his heirs, and assigns, for the space of ninety-one years from the
twenty-eighth of May, 1765, a certain tract of land lying and being and
situated as follows, viz: being in the bay of Missisque on a certain point of
land, which runs out into said bay and the river of Missisque, running front
the mouth up said river near east, one league and a half, and in depth north
and south, running from each side of the river, sixty arpents, bounded on the
back of the aforesaid bay and at the end of the said league and a half to lands
belonging to Indians joining to a tree marked; on the south side of the river
said land belonging to old Abernard; and on the north side of said river to
lands belonging to old Whitehead, retaining and reserving to the proprietors
hereafter mentioned, to wit: on the north side of said river five farms
belonging to Peirre Peckinowax, Francaise Nickowiget, Annus Jean, Baptiste
Momlock, and Joseph Compient; and on the south side of said river seven farms
belonging to Towgesheat, Cecile, Annome Quisse, Innongaway, Willsomquax, Jean
Baptiste the Whitehead, and old Etienne, for them and their heirs, said farms
contain two arpents in front nearly, and sixty in depth.
"Now
the condition of said lease is, that if the aforesaid James Robertson, himself,
his heirs, and assigns, do pay * * * yearly rent of fourteen Spanish dollars, two
bushells of Indian corn, and one gallon of rum, and to plow as much land for
each of the above persons as shall be sufficient for them to plant their Indian
corn every year, not exceeding more than will serve to plant one quarter of a
bushell for each family, to them and their heirs and assigns: *
* * *
* * said Robertson to have the right to build
thereon, and establish the same for his own use, and to concede to inhabitants,
make plantations, cut timber of what sort or kind he shalt think proper;
* * *
* * * * *
* * *
*
In
witness whereof, we have interchangably set our hands and seals hereunto, this
thirteenth day of June, in the fifth year of the reign of our sovereign lord,
George the Third, king of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, and in the year
of our Lord 1765.
DANIEL
POORNEUF, [L.
S.]
FRANCOISE
JOSEPH, [L. S.]
JEANOSES, [L. S.]
MARIANE
POORNEUF, [L. S.]
MAGDELANE
ABERNARD, [L. S.]
FRANCOISE
ABERNARD, [L. S.]
JEAN
BAPT — , [L.
S.]
CHARLOLLE, [L. S.]
THERESA,
Daughter of Michel, [L. S.]
JAMES
ROBERTSON. [L.
S.]
Witnesses
present:
EDWARD
SIMONDS,
PETER
STANLEY,
RICHARD
McCARTY.
The
lease was properly authenticated, and "recorded in the English register,
letter A, folio 179, in the register's office of
enrollments for the
At
the given date there was a Jesuit mission and church among these Indians, who
from their names were evidently baptised or christianized;
and they continued here up to the time of the Revolution, and some of them
later.
It is
evident that the French, before the conquest of Canada, were the first
civilized occupants of the county of Chittenden;* and during the period of the
French wars, they and their Indian allies, made this point one of the chief
rendezvous of their hostile excursions against the English settlements, in the
valley of the Connecticut. It was through here they generally led their
captives and carried their plunder — their usual route both in going and
returning was along Missisquoi bay and Winooski river; crossing the short
carrying place between the river and Mallet's bay. It was along here the
suffering captives from Deerfield, in the dead of winter in 1704, were led on
their way to Canada — where the lad Enos Stevens, son of Capt. Phineas Stevens
the brave defender of Charlestown No. 4, and father of Henry Stevens, Esq., our
distinguished antiquarian neighbor — was carried captive into Canada in 1748;
and on the east shore of Missisquoi bay the year previous, where Mrs. Jemima
Howe, whose narrative is of school-boy notoriety, found her young son Caleb,
perishing with hunger. In 1709, moreover, a skirmish took
place on Onion river, between a party sent out from
—————
* See
History of
456
and a party of French and Indians, in which Lieut. John
Wells and John Burt were killed; their surviving associates, however, drove the
enemy and pursued them to the lake, where another skirmish ensued, and several
of the French and Indians were killed in turn.* These, with other incidents of
a like kind, when brought to mind, serve to contrast the present populous and
highly cultivated condition of our county, with the dark and savage wilderness
that then brooded over it.
The
first English occupants, who were known to settle in the locality, were Ira
Allen and Remember Baker. They explored the country along the Winooski river,
in the fall of 1772; and came into the county to reside the spring following.
Baker brought his family with him; and Allen, being then a single man, resided
in the family of Baker — who was his uncle. They made their pitch at the lower
falls, on the Winooski river; where, as a matter of security against the
Yorkers and Indians, who at that time they held in equal enmity, they
constructed a block house or fort, which they christened with the defiant name
of Fort Frederick, and in which they lived.
About
the same time, two Germans settled on Shelburne point, claiming under
On
reaching the point now known as Rock point,‡ he there
takes observations to the islands, &c., and says: "to Ackley point is
S. 15° W. — to Shugar loaf (Rock Dunder?) is S. 24°W.
— to Juniper island is S. 36° W." He then passes along on the beach
"E. 29° S. 105 rods to station B. — to Arkley's point is S. 21° W. — to
Shugar loaf is S. 30° W., to Juniper island, east end, is S. 42° W. — to the
Four Brothers, is W. 37° S." When he had passed
At
the commencement of the Revolution, about forty families had settled upon the
lake shore, and along the Winooski river, including
the family of Mr. Brown on Brown's river in
—————
*
Hoyt's Indian Wars. Hall's History of
†
Thompson's History of
‡
Sharpshins.
** If
the orders of Gen. Gates; who had his head quarters at
On
the return of peace in 1783, Stephen Lawrence was the first to return with his
family, and during the same year most of the former occupants returned to their
farms, and brought with them many new settlers; and the very great fertility of
the soil, possessing all its native richness and strength, invited a rapid
settlement of the country. At the end of eight years after the close of the
Revolution (1791), the population within the present limits of the county of
Chittenden, was 3,875; and in 1800, it was 9,395; more than one-third of the
present population of the county — it being in 1860, 28,171. It will be seen,
however, that the ratable property of the county has increased in a much
greater ratio, than the population; for we find on the first census,
1791, that the amount of ratable property returned was estimated in the
aggregate, at $50,675.72, about $13 to each person — man, woman, and child;
while on the last census, 1860, the ratable property is estimated at the sum of
$7,845,941, which is $278 to the person. It may also be noticed with interest,
that the number of persons to each square mile in the county, in 1791, was 7
5/10; and in 1860, 54 2/10. That the ratable wealth to each
square mile in 1791, was $97.47 and in 1860, $13,165.21. In 1791,
Windsor was the most populous town in the state, containing 801 inhabitants —
now Burlington is the most populous, and contains 7,713 inhabitants; moreover,
in 1791, Vermont was a slave-holding state; having returned 16 slaves on that
census; but it was the last and only census that testified to the humiliating
fact, that a resident slave treads upon the soil of Vermont.**
From
the above figures we may plainly see how limited were the means of our fathers,
and how severe must have been their toil, to open the country and make a
beginning for the wealth and comfort of their children. But it should not be
forgotten that they had a higher object than mere wealth and comfortable
support; they looked forward to the more important advantages of social
progress and political freedom; which have thus far been more than realized.
But the result of the events that are now passing before us, must determine how
much longer these highest of earthly blessings can be enjoyed. In turning to
the topography and natural capabilities of the
These
isolated hills rise in spherical form, are easily ascended, and afford fine
views of the surrounding country from their summits. The range of Green
mountains bound the prospect on the east, and the
Adirondacks on the west; and between these two elevated ranges, the
As we
pass east beyond the first range of
—————
*
**
Seybert's Statistical Annals of the
458
townships, the country is more uneven and broken; yet it
has no hills of any great height, and hardly a spot can be found which is not
valuable either for tillage or pasture, until you arrive at the base of the
Green mountains — which cover the extreme eastern part of the county, and
ascend to the highest point of land in the state. Between the spurs of these
mountains, there are valuable tracts of land for timber and pasturage, indeed,
far more valuable for the dairy and the raising of neat stock, than they have
generally been reputed. The amount of capital employed in the purchase of these
lands, is comparatively small; and for grazing purposes, they will pay a
greater per centage on the money invested, than our high priced lands — if not
an equal profit per acre. Moreover, these lands are not affected by drought,
and always afford rich pasture and very abundant crops of hay. But as you
ascend the mountains, the timber begins to shorten, and gradually diminishes in
height, until the limbs of the trees, extending horizontally near the surface
of the ground, form a network of interwoven branches, upon which a person may
often walk with safety. He will soon, however, reach an altitude where
vegetable life does not receive sufficient heat and moisture to support it,
except here and there a few starved and stinted lichens, that find a scant and
dreary abode in some niche or crevice in the rocks.
The
east line of the county cuts along just east of Camels Hump mountain, and of
the highest points of Mount Mansfield — the chin of the latter, being 4359 feet
above the level of the sea, according to the trigonometrical admeasurement of
Mr. Johnson. Upon this mountain near the county line, a house for the
entertainment of visitors, has recently peen erected; and from the excellent
accommodations afforded by its enterprising proprietor, has become a place of
fashionable resort. Roads have been opened to it, both upon the east and west
side of the mountain; and it is now accessible by horses, from the east. It
furnishes a healthy place of resort for invalids, and presents a view said to
be far superior to that of the
The
county is watered by numerous springs, that gush forth from the surface of the
ground at almost every point desired, and abundantly irrigate and fertilize the
soil; and there are also several streams that water the county, and at the same
time afford ample power for driving mills and factories. The Winooski river takes its rise in the
There
are also numerous streams of smaller capacity, some of which discharge into the
above rivers, and others directly into the lake. Brown's river empties into the
Lamoille, and waters a large portion of the north eastern part of the county —
Huntington river waters the south east, and La Plotte river and Lewis creek,
the south west part; these two last fall into the lake, the former at the head
of Shelburne bay; Mallet's creek and Day brook unite and empty into Mallet's
bay; and Huntington river, Mill brook, Muddy creek, and Sunderland brook, each
empty into the Winooski. Most of the above streams are of sufficient capacity
for driving mills and factories — and numerous saw mills, grist mills, and
manufactories of various kinds, have been erected upon them. Indeed the water
power in the county, particularly on the Lamoille and Winooski rivers, is
sufficient to turn the wheels and spindles, and work the looms, in the
manufacture of cotton and woolen fabrics, to an extent equal to the Merrimac.
The falls on the above streams are but in part occupied, and will afford
immense power.
The
agricultural interests of the county, especially since the opening of the
several lines of rail way through it, have been highly prosperous, and give
employment to the main portion of the population. Two lines of rail road pass
through the county from north to south parallel with the lake, and from east to
west, along the Winooski river. They afford a surprising
advantage to the farmer, over his old mode of transportation to market. Instead
of a long and expensive journey to seek a market for his produce, the market
now seeks him. Numerous depots and points of trade and exchange are opened at
convenient stations along the lines, where purchasers for the Boston, New York,
and Montreal markets, post themselves to buy up the various productions of the
country; thus the beef, pork, butter, cheese, poultry, wheat,
rye, corn, live hogs, horses, cattle, sheep, and various
articles of lesser importance, are sold, in a few rods, as it were, of the
farmer's door. This gives greater opportunity and interest in the improvement
of his soil and crops; and he adds to this interest, by comparing his
experiments with others at the meetings of our agricultural societies, and
public fairs. These advantages have resulted in much greater profit to the
tillers of the soil, and a proportionate advance in the value of real estate in
the county, especially of farming lands. The husbandman is encouraged with the
assurance that ample returns will reward his labor — and truly, the habitual
industry of our farmers, and general fertility of the soil, "fill their
garners to overflowing." This high degree of prosperity attending the
agriculture of our county and state, is not fully appreciated by us — it is
difficult to realize our advantages in this branch of industry, without turning
our thoughts back, and comparing our present facilities for market, (the all in
all to the producer) with the old mode of carting our produce over a
long and wearisome journey, and using the proceeds of our merchandise to pay
the expenses of our pilgrimage.
The
At
some future time, when the long projected canal from Lake Champlain to the St.
Lawrence, shall unite those waters, and open a free navigation between them, in
connection with a ship canal from the lake to the Hudson, it will make Lake
Champlain one of the most busy thoroughfares of inland trade and commerce, on
the continent. The time is not distant, owing to the entire practicability of
the scheme, and of its comparative economy of expense, when this will be
accomplished. The increase of population and the progressive opening of the
resources of
As
the means of commerce and navigation are extended, the natural resources of the
460
A
range of siliceous lime rock extends through the county parallel with the lake
shore, and from two to three miles from it; which, from actual experiment,
proves to form the basis of water lime, or hydraulic cement, and has been
worked and satisfactorily tried for that purpose. This is a material
extensively used, and is manufactured in the state of
The
white carbonate of lime lies next east of the water line, and from 3 to 5 miles
from the lake; and also extends through the county. This has been burned into
quick lime, and used to meet the home demand, since the first settlement of the
country; and now, since the rail roads enable it to find a more distant market,
it has become an article of considerable commerce with the interior and eastern
parts of the state, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. It is not merely used for
building purposes, but is sought as the most desirable material for bleaching
cotton fabrics; and is sent to the various manufacturing towns for that
purpose. The demand will be likely to keep pace with the business of the
country, and this indispensable article of consumption, will always afford a
source of production to the county.
The
With
the above sources of industry, the county may also avail itself of the
manufacture of iron in its various forms, from ore shipped from Port Henry and
Peru; which may be worked by steam at the wharves at Burlington, or by water at
the lower falls of the Winooski or Lamoille rivers, with equal facility and
advantage as at the falls of the Ausable at Keeseville. Mineral coal, now
extensively used for smelting iron and working both iron and steel, together
with the ore itself, may, certainly, be landed as cheaply at any of the above places,
as at Keeseville, with their heavy expense of cartage from the wharf at Port
Kent.
How
interesting it would be to the
It
may be added that we have in every town in our county one or more villages, of
—————
* Natural
History of
neat
In
turning from the natural resources to the civil history of the county, we find
that the territory embraced within the present boundaries of the
Under
the broad charter granted to the Duke of York, the state of New York claimed
the Connecticut river as her eastern boundary; and up to July 3, 1786, when the
county of Cumberland was incorporated upon the east side of the mountain, the
old Dutch county of Albany claimed east to Connecticut river; or to be more
definite, as far east as there were any Christian inhabitants.* She was
bounded on the north by New France; but previous to the treaty of Paris,
and the proclamation of George III, establishing the southern boundary of the
province of Quebec, she was in doubt whether her northern boundary extended
farther north than the French outposts and settlements at Crown Point and
Ticonderoga; but the establishment of the 45th parallel as the southern
boundary of the province of Quebec, and the northern boundary of New York,
fixed her limits at the north. Her western boundary extended to the
Delaware river, and in the direction of western
This
immense territory of course embraced the county of Chittenden; and
Albany being the shire town, and most northerly seat of justice in this great
wilderness, naturally tended her court jurisdiction over the territory; not so
much in obedience to any positive enactments on the subject, as from the
necessity of administering justice to all, who were not otherwise provided
for. Thus we have it recorded, that during the controversy between New York
and the New Hampshire grantees, numerous writs of ejectment, executions, and
other legal processes, were issued out of, and made returnable to the courts at
Albany; and were served, or at least were attempted to be served, by the
sheriffs of this great but somewhat indefinite county.
As
may be inferred, her exercise of county jurisdiction over Vermont, was not
acknowledged as lawful by the settlers under New Hampshire; under which state
they held their titles and to which they owed their allegiance; and instead of
obeying their writs and going down to Albany to seek justice at the hands of
their enemies and pre-judgers, they chose rather to depend upon their
own limited means of self defence, and courage, for the adjudication of their
rights.
New
York, however, persisting in her right of jurisdiction over them, and finding a
practical difficulty in the execution of the duties of her magistrates and
sheriffs, and especially "that offenders may be brought to justice, and
creditors may recover their just dues;'' proceeded March 12, 1772, to erect a
new county on the west side of the mountain, called Charlotte, set off
from the county of Albany. At the same time she had proceeded to erect the
—————
* See
act of New York legislature, Oct. 1, 1691, in which the boundaries of Albany
county were described as follows: "The manor of Rensellaerwick,
Schenectady, and all the villages and neighborhoods and Christian plantations
on the east side of Hudson river, as far as Roeloffe Jansen's creek; and on the
west side from Sawyer's creek to the uttermost end of Saraghtoga."
Roeloffe
Jansen's creek empties into the
**
March 16, 1770.
462
the present counties of Windham and Windsor, with New
Hamstead (now Chester) as the shire town; and the county of Gloucester extended
from the county of Cumberland north to the province line, with Kingsland (now
Washington) as the shire.*
The
boundaries New York allotted to the county of Charlotte as laid down by
the charts of the authorities of that state, purporting to be compiled from
actual survey now before us, commenced on the Green mountain range near the
southeast corner of the present township of Winhall, thence northerly in a
direct line to a point at the east base of Camel's Hump mountain, thence
northeasterly direct to the south end of Lake Memphremagog and on in its course
to the province line, which it intersected a few miles east of the lake in the
township of Derby; thence due west to the St. Lawrence river, which it struck
near the Indian village of St. Regis; thence southerly in a straight line to
the Mohawk river, about 10 miles above Schenectady;† thence down the Mohawk to
the Hudson, up the Hudson to the mouth of Battenkill, and up the Battenkill,
following the south branch to a point near its source, to the southwest corner
of the old town of Princeton, as chartered by New York; thence to the southeast
corner thereof; and thence in a direct line to the place of begining.
It
will be seen that this additional set off from the old
While
we formed a part of the county of Charlotte, Skenesborough (now Whitehall) was
made our shire town; it rather poor exchange for the venerable and famous city
of Albany — and on the organization of the county of Charlotte, Philip Skene,
the arch tory, was commissioned by his majesty the king, as the first chief
judge of our court of common pleas. But so numerous were the rioters, as the N.
H. grantees were styled, who sought freedom not only from the tyranny of
There
was no time when the civil power of the
—————
* The
following curious record, verbatim et literatim,
was entered upon the dockets of the court in this county, it being the last
court held at Kingsland:
"Feb.
25, 1771. Set out from Moretown [Mooretown, named after Gov. Moore of New York
— now Bradford] for King's land, travelled until knight there being no road,
& the snow very depe, we travelled on snow shoes or racats, on the 20th we
travelled some ways & held a council when it was concluded it was best to
open the court as we saw no line it was not whether in King's land or not, but
we concluded we were far in the woods we did not expect to see any house unless
we marched three miles within Kingsland and no one lived there when the court
was ordered to be opened on the spot. Present — John Taplin, judge; John Peters
of the Quoram; John Taplin, Jr., sheriff. All causes continued or adjourned over
to next term.
The
court if one adjourned over until the last Tuesday in May next at which
it was opened and after disposing of one case of bastardy, adjourned to August
next.
JOHN PETERS, Clerk."
†
This also formed the east line of the
** Doc.
Hist. of Hew York, IV, 844.
court, however, there were several justices of the peace,
appointed under the authority of
After
this resolve of the grantees had been acted upon in a convention of delegates,
chosen by the people, and the disputed territory had been declared a free and
independent state, under the name of Vermont,† and a
separate state government initiated, the new legislative body proceeded to
divide the state into counties, without regard to any previous county
organizations under New York. On the 11th of February, 1779, they divided the
state into two counties,
We
were only two years under the jurisdiction of
—————
* To
keep up a show of jurisdiction over this section of the country, the state of
†
Jan. 16, 1777.
**
Barnard.
††
Baker came from
464
with their brethren in the
With
all these early associations, it may well be supposed, that we parted
reluctantly with our Bennington friends — but like other young adventurers, we
had gained sufficient strength to set up for ourselves, and consequently left
the old homestead. The inhabitants of Otter creek, the lake shore, and Onion
river, in short, all of the people residing on the west side of the mountain
north of the present county of Bennington, united in applying for a new county
at the October session of the legislature of Vermont, 1780, to be called the
county of Washington.
At
that same session of the legislature, a bill was drawn up and presented to the
house, defining the boundaries of the county as follows: "The territory or
district of land hereafter described (viz): beginning at the south west corner
of Pollet; thence north on the west line of this state to latitude 45 degrees;
thence on Canada south line to the north west corner of the county of
Gloucester (formerly known by the county of Cumberland); thence south on
Bennington county line (formerly so called) to the north east corner of the
town of Bromley (Peru); thence west to the first mentioned bounds; to be known
and called by the name of Washington." The bill passed Nov. 8, 1780, both
by the assembly and council, but under the recommendations of the council it
was to be printed, and not put upon record, until after the next session of the
assembly.* At the next session of the legislature holden at Windsor, a now bill
was passed, Feb. 13, 1781, by which the name of Washington was changed to
Rutland.
The
old
The
boundaries of the county of Addison as described in the above act are as
follows: "Beginning at the north west corner of the township of Orwell;
thence running eastwardly on the north line of Orwell, Sudbury, Brandon, and
Philadelphia, and then so far east as to intersect the west line of the first
town that is bounded in its charter on some town or towns which are dependent
for their original bounds on Connecticut river; then northerly in the
westwardly line of the several towns that are dependent on Connecticut river as
aforesaid, to the south line of the province of Quebec, which is the north line
of this state; then westwardly on said line through Missisquoi bay, &c., to
the centre of the deepest channel of Lake Champlain; then southwardly in the
deepest channel of said lake till it intersects a west line from the north west
corner of said Orwell; then east to the bounds began at."†
—————
*
Record indorsed upon the bill: "In general assembly,
**
The writer acknowledges the receipt of extracts from the above act, showing its
date, boundaries of the county, and special
provisions, from Hon. George W. Bailey, secretary of state.
† See
act of October 18, 1785, in the office of the secretary of state. Dr. Williams
and Prof. Thompson, in their respective histories of
The
west line of the towns dependent on Connecticut river,
also formed the west line of the
By
the act incorporating Addison county, the towns of
Addison and
This
appointment of county officers and organization of the court, was a mere
temporary measure, to supply the vacancy up to the following March, when the
people would elect their own county officers, under the general law; and but
one term of the court intervened (the 1st Tuesday of March, 1786), which was
held just three weeks before the new judges and county officers were elected,
which election took place at the annual March meeting, then held on the last
Tuesday of March. At the meeting in March, 1786, the act of 1781, requiring five
judges, was still in force; and they proceeded to elect John Strong, chief
justice, William Brush, Hiland Hall, Abel Thompson, and Samuel Lane, assistant
justices; and Gamaliel Painter, sheriff; Roswell Hopkins was appointed clerk;
and at this term also there was no states attorney;** and the second
term of Addison county court was held by the newly elected judges and county
officers, at the dwelling house of Capt. Thomas Butterfield, in Colchester, on
the 2d Tuesday of November, 1786 — this being the first county court held
within the limits of Chittenden county.†
The
third and only remaining term of Addison county court while we remained a
part of that county, was holden at
As we
notice the complications this network of legislation and change
presented, it is not strange that an apparent mystery should hang over
the history of our first
But
our connection with the
—————
might they have given the same date to the counties of
*
**
Credit is due to Dugald Stewart, Esq., clerk of
†
After the
‡ The
clerks, states attorneys, and county treasurers, were appointed by the judges.
See Statutes of February and March, 1787, published at
466
dison only continued for the term of two years; and
The
next fall, however, this last clause of the act was repealed by the passage of
an act Oct. 21, 1788, restoring the supreme court to the county of Chittenden,
with all actions and appeals from this county, pending in the county of Addison,
to be heard, tried, and determined in said court, to be holden at Colchester,
and fixing the stated terms of the court on the 1st Tuesday of August annually.
The supreme court held two annual sessions in
The
first jury trial in the county of Chittenden after its organization, was at the
February term of the court, 1788, being an action of trespass quare clausum
fregit, in favor of John Collins vs. Frederick Saxton; in which case David
Stanton, Jonathan Bush, John Doxy, Alexander Gordon, John Martin, John
Chamberlin, John Fisk, David Whitcomb, David Warren, Eben.
By
special act of the legislature, passed Oct. 27, 1790, the courts were removed
from Colchester to
In
the meantime the
—————
* Why
Dr. Williams, and Prof. Thompson should give the date of the act incorporating
Chittenden county, Oct. 22, 1782, instead of Oct. 22,
1787, can be accounted for only on the ground of a clerical or typographical
error.
† See
Statutes of Vermont revised in 1787, and subsequent acts to 1791,
inclusive. Printed by Anthony Haswell at
had grown so much in its business and population, that it
became its turn to be cut down in its territory; and on the 5th of November,
1792, a new county on the north was incorporated, by the name of
Franklin.* The line that separated Chittenden from Franklin county, commenced
"on the west line of Orange county (as then established), at the north
east corner of Worcester; thence westerly on the north line of Worcester,
Stowe, Mansfield, Underhill, Westford, and Milton, to the waters of Lake
Champlain; thence across to the north of South Hero by the deepest channel
between that and North Hero; and thence on to the west line of the state."
But the act that removed the courts to
Since
the permanent location of the county buildings, however, still further
deductions have been made from the original limits of the county. Oct. 20, 1794,
Starksborough was annexed to the
Thus
after such a series of changes from the old county of Albany — the first that
claimed jurisdiction over us — we have settled down at last to our
present narrow limits, comprising only 15 towns, all told.
But
one instance of capital punishment has ever occurred in the county; and which
indeed was the first in the state, after the regular organization of its
government. This was the case of Cyrus B. Dean of Swanton, who was indicted for
murder committed Aug. 3, 1808, within the jurisdiction of Chittenden county. He was tried at a special term of the supreme court — being then a court for the trial of fact as
well as law — which was convened for the occasion; and commenced its session at
The
grand jury of the county were also specially convened, who found bills of
indictment not only against Dean, but against his accomplices — consisting of
Samuel J. Mott of Alburgh; William Noaks, Slocum Clark, and Truman Mudget, of
Highgate; Josiah Pease of Swanton; David Sheffield of Colchester, and Francis Ledyard
of Milton.
The
offence committed originated in a smuggling transaction, which resulted in a
collision between the smugglers and the custom house officials, on the Winooski
river; about ½ mile below the then dwelling house of
Majory Joys on Mr. Pomroy's meadow. The smuggling party had run up the river in
a boat called the Black Snake, and lay at a point a short distance below the
falls; they had armed themselves for defence against the custom house
department, then under the charge of Dr. Jabez Penniman, collector for the
district of Vermont. Measures were taken to intercept the party on their return
down the river, and a revenue boat or batteau lay in wait for them at the place
above mentioned; among the revenue party were Jonathan Ormsby, Asa Marsh, and
Ellis Drake — the two former were stationed on the Burlington shore of the
river, and Drake with others remained in the batteau.
As
the boat of the smugglers came down the stream, Mott with a large gun, called
the wall piece, fired upon Ormsby and Marsh with fatal effect, killing
them both upon the
—————
*
† The
line between the counties of Chittenden and Grand Isle, is a continuation of
the line from Missisquoi bay, "southerly through the centre of the waters
of Macquam Bay (as near as may be) but so far east as to include Butler's
island, Knight's island, Wood's island, and Savage Island" — in Grand Isle
county — "thence southerly through the waters of Lake Champlain, to a
point equidistant between the south point of South Hero and Colchester point;
thence westerly to the west line of the state."
468
spot, the others of the party fired upon the batteau, killing
Drake instantly, who fell in his boat. The smugglers were arrested, and public
excitement was so great, that no delay was suffered in bringing the offenders
to trial. Mott and Dean were convicted of murder — but the judgment in the case
of Mott, the most guilty of them all, was, on motion of his counsel, arrested;
the motion prevailed, on some technical points of law. He, however, was held in
custody by the court, and a new bill of indictment filed against him for manslaughter;
upon which he was convicted and sentenced to stand in the pillory for
one hour, have fifty lashes upon his naked back at the public whipping post,
and ten years imprisonment to hard labor. The other accomplices were also
convicted of manslaughter, and received similar sentences to that of Mott.
Dean, having failed in his motion to arrest the judgment of the court, was
sentenced to be executed on the 28th of October (1808), but was reprieved to
the 11th of November following; when the sentence was carried into effect.
At
the time of this affair, party spirit ran so high between the old federal and
democratic parties, not only in the
Before
we pass by our brief notice of the judicial proceedings of Chittenden county, it is but just to remark, that the courts in this
county have always been distinguished for the courteous manner in which they
have conducted their business. Both the judges and members of the bar, as well
as the executive officers of the court, have habitually cultivated those
sentiments of respect and urbanity towards each other, that
ennobles the legal profession, and inspires a confidence in the integrity of
legal proceedings. The high order of men that marked the leading members of the
bar at an early day, has contributed in no small degree to this interesting
trait in the history of our courts.*
Having
made allusion to the high tone of party spirit that prevailed during the
occurrences just related, and up to 1814, it is deemed proper here to notice,
that the people of Chittenden county were in no degree
behind other sections of the state and country in the virulence of their
political animosities during that period. Indeed, so far was the question of peace
or war with
The
administration in power, elected by the democratic vote of the nation, made the
repeal of the British orders in council; the safety of our commerce against her
ships of war, and the surrender of her pretended right of search (claimed by
England as a part of her maritime code, but more properly by her maritime
will) as the only condition of peace, in short a sine qua non. The
opposition to the government feared the consequences of a war with so powerful
an enemy; and moreover detested the French Imperial government, which just then
found it convenient to push the
On
this question, which seemed to both parties to involve in its results the
greater question of our independence if not nationality, we find on the one
hand in the county of Chittenden, such men as C. P. Van Ness, Nathan B.
Haswell, Jabez Penniman, Heman Lowry, and their political friends, and on the
—————
* In
looking back, we find among those who have passed off the stage from the old
class of lawyers, the names of Elnathan Keyes, Wm. C. Harrington, Samuel
Hitchcock, Geo. Robinson, David Russell, Daniel Ferrand, Cors.
P. Van Ness, Sanford Godcomb, Benjamin F. Bailey, Archibald W. Hyde, Warren
Loomis, Chas. Adams, Heman Allen, Alvan Foote, Jas L. Sawyer, Fred A. Sawyer,
John O. Thompson, Wm. A. Griswold, John S. Eldridge, Phineas Lyman, Timothy
Follett, and Israel P. Richardson.
other, Daniel Farrand, George Robinson, David Russell,
Martin Chittenden, and their associates, arrayed against each other — and with
leaders of such marked influence and ability, it is no matter of surprise that
the people of the county should be worked up with increasing intensity, as the
decision in congress, on the question of peace or war, culminated — and
when war was actually declared on the 18th of June, 1812, an explosion followed
in the ranks of the federal party.
At a
convention called at Williston, at which Judge Farrand presided as chairman,
they denounced the administration in the highest terms — they passed a series
of resolutions and adopted an address to the people of the county, wherein they
declare, "that the last dreadful appeal to arms was not demanded by the
interest or honor of the United States; that the war was not waged to obtain
justice from Great Britain, but to aid the cause of the most infamous of
tyrants,* that of all the calamities which God in his wrath ever suffered to
fall on the head of guilty man, war stands preeminent; that the government
which shall plunge into its horrid vortex, until compelled by absolute
necessity, stands guilty in the sight of heaven, and is responsible for every
life that is lost; that the time has at length come when silence becomes
criminal, and forbearance pusillanimous; that the military power is vested in
the vilest hands; and when the citizens are threatened with being tarred and
feathered, the elective franchise comes as a rich gift from the beneficence of
heaven, to purchase our deliverance."†
Such,
at that crisis, was the fervency of political strife and party warfare, on a
question of mere expediency; upon which honest men might differ. No better
description of the state of public feeling can be given, than that shown by the
above resolutions, wherein the graphic language and stubborn intellect of
Daniel Farrand are so plainly seen. But notwithstanding these two great
political parties were arrayed in such mortal hostility against each other, even
up to the brink of civil war and blood shed, the spirit of patriotism and
devotion to the
On
that occasion the people of Chittenden county, without
distinction of party, and in common with the people of the adjacent
counties, volunteered their services to repel the common enemy. With such
weapons as they had at command, they rushed from their homes; and in a few
hours from the first alarm, they joined their New York friends on the banks of
the Saranac, in the defence of the passes of that stream, against a far
superior force of veteran troops — and they defended them successfully.
During
the previous progress of the war, however, the people of Chittenden county had
been more or less annoyed by the quartering of troops in their midst.
As we
turn from our notice of the civil jurisdiction, early courts, and violence of
party in the county, incident to the war of 1812, we will take a brief survey
of our re‑
—————
*
Bonaparte.
† A
hand-bill was circulated after the meeting, containing a series of resolutions
and an address at length to the people — from which the above extracts are
taken.
470
ligious, educational, and social advantages. These great
interests that lie at the bottom of civilized society, are so intimately
blended and connected together, that they may be mentioned promiscuously — as
parts of one great whole. Let us then proceed to say, that our system of common
school education which has more recently been matured and put in working
condition, by the aid of legislation and the efforts of the board of education
in the state* — is not only appreciated, but enjoyed in a high degree by the
people of our county. Our common schools are, as a general thing, well
sustained — and we have more academies, high schools and union schools, in
addition, than we have towns in the county. Here is also located the
The
census of 1860 gives us 202 schools of various kinds in the county, 215
teachers, and 4489 scholars in attendance. Of common schools, we have 165
school districts and school houses; 168 teachers and 7177 scholars between 4
and 18 years of age in the districts. We have 21 academies, high schools, and
union schools, having 37 teachers and 806 scholars in attendance — the female
seminaries included — and beside these there are several select schools. The
university has a president and 6 professors, and 78 academical students; to
which is attached a medical college with 6 professors and 67 medical students;
making the whole number of students attached to the university the past season,
145.† There are also in the county 20 public libraries, containing in
all 22,700 volumes, of which 10,000 volumes belong to the university, and 8200
to towns and academies, 1500 volumes to the Phi Sigma society, 1400 to the
Unitarian institute, 1600 to the Unitarian society of Burlington, and 17,200
volumes are returned by the census of 1860, as belonging to private libraries.
The Episcopal institute has a president and two professors and from 30 to 40
students including the preparatory school — having been but recently flung open
to the patronage of the public. There is, moreover, a Catholic school at the
convent in
We
find, also, that there are 58 resident clergymen in the county; some of whom,
however, do not preach statedly; viz: 22 Congregationalists, 16 Methodists, 8
Baptists, 5 Episcopalians, 3 Universalists, 3 Roman Catholics, and 1 Unitarian.
There are also according to the census of 1860, 53 houses of public worship 15
Congregational, 14 Methodist, 10 Baptist, 3 Episcopal, 6 Catholic, 4
Universalist. 1 Unitarian; and in most of the cases the pulpits of these church
edifices are regularly supplied, either by settled or resident ministers.
With
these facilities for common school, academical, and religious instruction,
there are in addition, published in the county, as the means of general intelligence,
three weekly and two daily papers, which have a very general circulation;**
while the city papers and periodicals are distributed more or less in every
town.
These
not only supply the general news of the day, but give an account of such improvements
as are deemed worthy of note, in the various departments of literature and
science. With these advantages for the instruction of youth, and the diffusion
of knowledge among the people, there are also established in all our towns sabbath
schools, having libraries and teachers assigned them, for the morel and
religious instruction of children; which justly receive very great
consideration among the various benevolent institutions of the day.
There
is, meanwhile, a growing sentiment, that it is the duty of the public to
educate every child, however poor and destitute, so far as to give him the
benefits of common school education, and a knowledge of his duties as a citizen
— a sentiment in view passing events that grows more and more important. This
salutary conviction is strengthened by the disgusting practice of mere
time-serving politicians, who often work themselves into power, by imposing on
the ignorance and credulity of freemen. And in view of the future, there seems
to be no remedy against this treasonable practice, but to prepare every person,
who is liable to become a freeman, to understand both his rights and duties
at the ballot-box; and many question whether our
republican form of government, can otherwise be preserved. The honest-hearted
foreigner, is not prepared to comprehend the workings of our system of
self-government, or the mysteries that surround him in his new character as a
citizen; and he is exposed to the impositions of un‑
—————
* Of
which J. S. Adams. Esq., is the active and efficient
secretary.
† The
number of students has been reduced about one-fifth by enlistments in the
volunteer service.
**
The Northern Sentinel was the first newspaper established in the county,
in 1801.
scrupulous men, who think more of the public treasury,
than the public safety and honor, who work their way into office by criminality
and the contempt of law and authority.
The
people of Chittenden county, however, as a general
thing, are devotedly attached to the interests and institutions of the state
and general government. The sacredness of the constitution and the
When
the contest was actually initiated, never, perhaps, in the history of any
people, was such harmony and resolution displayed: old party opponents shook
hands together, and the feuds and animosities of the past, vanished as the mist
before the storm. Indeed, every other matter of worldly interest,
was absorbed in the momentous issue at stake, and the impatience of the people
could hardly be restrained — even the delay necessary for organization, seemed
too slow a process: so anxious were they to fall upon the rebels, and avenge
the insult they had given to the national flag. Soon, however, the excitement
of the moment, as it were, settled down into the work of earnest and steady
preparation. They contributed money, enlisted men, provided for the families of
soldiers, obtained arms and equipments from the state,
and near twice the number of volunteers necessary to meet the requisition upon
the county offered their services.
To
conclude this chapter, it may be proper to notice that the
—————
* See
biographical notice of Ira Allen in the History of Colchester, in its
reference to this subject.
† State
Papers, p. 554. Quere. — Were they not special
courts?
472
nett was elected
assistant judge of the supreme court in 1838, and continued to 1849 inclusive;
was reelected in 1852 and continued to October, 1859. Asahel Peck was
appointed judge of the state circuit court for the northwestern district of
Vermont, and held that place for several years previous to 1857; and in 1861
was elected assistant judge of the supreme court.* In 1793, Samuel Hitchcock
was appointed judge of the U. S. district court for the district of Vermont,
and held that office until 1801. David A. Smalley of
The
election of George P. Marsh was the last before the organization of the senate
under the amended constitution, which substituted the senate for the old state
council. Under the provisions of the constitution, establishing the senate, two
members were allotted to the
The
first senators elected under the new system were: John Yan Sicklen, Jr.,
and Harry Miller, in 1836, and again in 1837; Truman Chittenden and
Joseph Clark were elected in 1838; Lyman Burgess and Joseph Marsh, 1839; Thad.
R. Fletcher and Joseph Marsh, 1840; Thad. R. Fletcher and David French, 1841;
David A. Smalley and David French, 1842; David Read and Luther Stone, 1843 and
1844; Harry Bradley and Daniel H. Onion, 1845 and 1846; J. Hamilton and Alex.
Ferguson, 1847 and 1848; Lemuel B. Platt and Wm. Weston, 1849 and 1850; Heman
Barstow and Albert G. Whittemore, 1851; Rolla Gleason, Ira Witters and John
Parker, 1852; Ira Witters, John Parker and Henry S. Morse, 1853; George W.
Benedict, Rolla Gleason and Alanson H. Wheeler, 1854; G. W. Benedict, A. H.
Wheeler and John Allen, 1855; Martin Wires, Francis Willson and Levi Underwood,
1856; M. Wires, F. Willson and Lucius E. Chittenden, 1857; L. E. Chittenden, E.
D. Mason and Josiah Tuttle, 1858 and 1859; J. H. Woodward, Asahel Peck and
Elmer Beecher, 1860; J. H. Woodward, E. Beecher and George F. Edmunds, 1861, Levi
Underwood was elected lieutenant governor in 1861, and is ex-officio
president of the senate.
LIST OF ATTORNEYS
ADMITTED
TO CHITTENDEN COUNTY BAR SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
[This list has been kindly furnished by ANDREW J. HOWARD,
Esq., assistant clerk of the county.]
TERM. ADMITTED. NAME.
September, 1799, Albert Stevens,
February, 1800, Paul Dodge,
Phineas
Lyman,
—————
*
Hon. Luke P. Poland, chief justice of the supreme court of
TERM. ADMITTED. NAME.
September, 1800, Moses Fay
Daniel
Benedict,
February, 1801, Daniel S. Bantram,
Philo
Morey
Woodworth,
September, 1801, Thomas Jones,
February, 1802, George Robinson,
David
Edmonds,
Samuel Holton,
September, 1803, John S. Eldridge,
February, 1804, Isaac Webb (ex. but no
record of
admission).
February, 1806,
William Page, Jr.,
September, 1807, Charles Adams,
September, 1812, James L. Sawyer,
Archibald
W. Hyde,
Solomon
S. Miller,
February,
1814, Norman Williams,
Timothy
Follett,
September,
1814, Timothy Tyler,
September,
1815, Henry Hitchcock,
February,
1816, John N. Pomeroy,
February,
1817, David French,
February,
1819, Charles H. Perrigo,
September,
1819, John P. Richardson,
February,
1821, Andrew Thompson,
Luman
Foote,
September,
1821, Jacob Mareck,
February,
1822, Gamaliel B. Sawyer,
September,
1823, Jared Kenyon,
February,
1824, Joseph Porter,
George
Peaslee,
Henry
Leavenworth,
August, 1826, Warren Hoxie,
William
P. Briggs,
Adjourned,
1826, Richard W. Smith,
August, 1827, John Storrs,
March, 1828, Boyd H. Willson,
August, 1828, Irad C. Day,
August, 1829, Frederick G. Hill,
August, 1830, Theodore Patrick,
August, 1830, Henry Lyman,
E.
L. B. Brooks,
William
Weston,
March, 1831, Charles F. Deming,
Alonzo
A. Wainwright,
Sylvanus
M. Parsons,
March, 1832, Hector
Asahel
Peck,
August, 1832, Martin B. Mener,
Sebastian
F. Taylor,
March, 1833, Walter A. Buckbee,
August, 1833, W. S. Hawkins,
Albert
Mason,
James
E. P. Weeks,
August, 1834, Samuel L. Bascomb,
August, 1835, George F. Warner,
Leonard
Whitney,
TERM. ADMITTED. NAME.
August, 1835, Horatio N. Wells,
Austin
M. Gould,
March, 1835, Thaddeus R. Kendall,
August, 1836, George K. Platt,
March, 1837, Charles D. Kasson,
August, 1840, Romeo
Ira
B. Pierson,
August, 1841, George H. Peck,
November,
1842, James W. Hickok,
Aaron
B. Maynard,
Edward
Van Sicklen,
May, 1842, Benjamin J. Tenney,
Edward
A. Stansbury,
May, 1843, Joseph W. Allen,
Samuel
N. Parmelee,
Henry
Hale,
October, 1843, John Sullivan Adams,
October, 1844, Daniel B. Buckley,
William
W. Peck,
March, 1845, Torrey
Eleazer
R. Hard,
March, 1846, Bradford Rixford,
October, 1846, William W. Onion,
September,
1847, James H. Allen,
Edmund
H. Bennett,
Elisha P. Mead,
David
B. Northrop,
Guy
C. Prentiss,
Samuel
D. Wing,
Samuel
Wells,
September,
1848, James O'Grady,
March, 1849, George F. Bailey,
Franklin
D. Colton,
George
F. Edmunds,
March, 1850, Carolus Noyes,
Thaddeus
D. Isham,
September,
1850, Hiram Stevens,
Luther
L. Dixon,
March,
1851, William M. Miller,
September,
1852, B. E. B. Kennedy,
March,
1853, E. C. Palmer,
William
G. Shaw,
P.
M. Sayles,
May, 1854, Wyllys Lyman, Jr.,
March, 1855, John B. Wheeler,
March, 1856, E. P. Hill,
Samuel
H. Reed,
November,
1856, Russell S. Taft,
March, 1857, Frederick H. Waterman,
William
W. Walker,
March, 1858, Charles I. Alger,
March, 1860, Asa R. Burleson,
Cornelius
W. Morse,
September,
1860, George W. Kennedy,
S.
H. Davis,
April, 1861,
George Allen, Jr.,
James
R. Hickok,
September, 1861,
Henry H. Talcott.
474
