The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-07-15

|. III VI WHICH WcIC UNSUCCESSFUL lLC IOWuJ vi
= the 9TH Of October, 1925, made formal ap
plcation to the General Assembly for the ap
pontment of committee, CT to come to Sims
bury, and take view of the situation Of it,
. and to give their advice where the meeting
house should be set for the greatest conven.
iency of the whole town, and to make report
to the General Assembly, in May next, in or.
der to a confirmation"
The application was granted, and COM
mittee appointed, consisting of Governor Tai
colt, Matthew Allyn, and Assistant and Rog-
er Woolcott, also an Assistant, and subse-
quently Governor of the Colony, who report
ed that in their opinion, the meeting house
should be placed at Bissell's landing, on the
) west side of the river, and advised the inhab-
itants of the town to proceed and set up their
meeting house at that place, in a christian
and peaceable manner becoming such a
work." Bssells landing name now,obso-
lete, was near the present bridge at West
overs plain. This report was accepted by
both Houses thus the question was apparent
ly settled.
But at the same session, petition was pre-
sented, signed by all the inhabitants residing
in the southerly part of the town, including a
few persons belonging to the north part of
Pennington, praying for a distinct society,
with liberty to place their meeting house at
West Weatauge; the north boundary there
Of to be a line running easterly and westerly
from the mouth Of Hop brook. The petition
ers state, that Bissel's landing place "is dis
tant from the nearest Of us, excepting about
three or four familics,) four miles, and that
we are in number about three hundred per-
sons, and the difficulty of transporting our
selves and families to the worship Of God is
a burden almost insupportable," and that "the
list Of our estate is about three thousand
pounds" This petition was granted in the
lower House, but rejected in the Council.
There was another petition presented, at
the same session, signed by seyenty-siX per-
sonsevincing their concurrence in the report
of the committee, establishing the site Of the
meeting house at Bssells landing and pro-
testing against the formation of new socie-
ty in the south part of the town, for . if So"
as they say, :" it destroys the whole commune
ty, because the travels Of the north society
will not be eased and the charge (will beg al
most insupportable."
| At town meeting, held August 7, 1926, the
town voted that they "w will not build meet
ing house at We place where the Courts COM
nittee ordered, viz, at BisselPs landing
place"
In September, 1926, the town voted to di-
vide into two societies. and appointed Mr..
James Ensign, of Hartford, Deacon John
Hart, of Pennington, and Joseph Barnard of
Windsor committee to establish the diyis-
onal line between the two societies.
AT the October session, 1926, large num-
Der Of the inhabitants presented to the gener-
al Assembly petition, in which they state,
that " there has been great difficulties in our
town concerning the building a meeting house,
and our difficulties are still remaining; and
we are in no way likely to suite ourselves;
therefore, we humbly pray this honorable as
sembly that they would not move us from the
place where the meeting house now stands,
(being near the ancient settlements Of our
town. at present, or until we are in some
way (5etter abIe) TO suite ourselves"
April 20, 1927, the tona adopted a petition
to the General Assembly, asking for diyi5
ion of the town into two societies; and for
the appointment of a committee to fix the dl-
viding line, and the sites of the two meeting
houses. The prayer Of the petition was grant
ed, and Capt William Wadsworth, Captain
John Sheldon, and Mr.. James Church were
appointed, who reported in favor Of divis
ion into two societies; the dividing line to run
westerly from point commencing some forty
lOuS nOflu vi IHc DIcStHG sCIlOOl IlOuo0 az
Westover's plain, and easterly to where it in
tersects the river, which it follows to Wind
sor bounds; that the site of the meeting house
for the south society, should be on the east
side of the river, little south of the bend of
the river; and that the meeting house for the
north society, should be erected about sixty
rods west Of Hgley's marsh, on the road
leading from the falls to Turkey Hills. This |
report was accepted at the May session, !
1927, and a resolution passed in accordance !
thereto.
But, this division, and especially the loca-
ton of the two meeting houses, were unsatis'
factory to large portion of the inhabitants.
The first, or south society, held meeting
on the 9th of December, 1927, and resolved |
that they would not build meeting house
at the place designated by the committee
And, at subsequent meeting, held March
26, 1928, they voted to meet for public wor-
ship at the old meeting house, also, to build a
new one at the same place; and appointed
Joseph Case, senior, and jonathan Westoyer
a committee to petition the legislature for per-
mission to do 50. The Assembly, however,
refused to grant the prayer of the petition.
At the same session, petition signed by
ffty-six persons, was preferred, complaining
that the south society has by vote refused to
build house for public worship at the place
approved of by the legislature, and asking for
a special act to enable them to raise money,
by assessments, to build the house, as ordered
by the assembly 1t does not appear that any
action was had upon this petition.
Another town meeting was held October
10, 1928, when agents were appointed to pre-
sent petition, then adopted by the town, to
the General Assembly, asking, Gas a last
remedy" for the appointment Of zone more
committee" clothed with full authority to de-
eide whether one or more meeting houses
should be buiIt,and to fix the location of such
as they should order to be erected. The Pc
tition was granted, and a committee appoint
ed, consisting of four persons, with full au-
thoLitM TO dncille the cnnIrnNersN Lnsicnd Of