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

boat, and so up ye hill, commonly called
! brakes hill" This place is about forty rods
east of the present meeting house in Sims
bury. The committee directed that the house
should be forty-fve feet square They also
made out rate bill, and appointed collectors
to collect the taxes to meet the expenses of
the building, and committee to superintend
its construction. AT the same time, Nov. 81,
1928, the town voted " to unite into one soci-
ETY. as formerly"
1t would seem that after these proceedings,
the question would be considered as settled
The building committee had provided timber
for the house, and carried it to the place.
But the end Of the controversy was not yet.
A large number, though probably not ma
Jorlty Of the inhabitants, were strongly OBJ
posed to this decision. The two persons,aps
pointed collectors, refused to act and the
town not only refused to take any efficient
measure in aid of the project, but at meet
ing held April 30, 1922 it voted to set off a
society," from ye dug way to We NORTH and to
run west north west point from yo river.
westward, and ye river to be ye dividing line,
northward"
In consequence of these proceedings, nu-
merous petitions were presented to the next
session Of the General Assembly held in May;
1929, complaining that the place designated
by the last committee, for the site of the meet
ing house, is miry," and subject to be over
thrown by floods; that it is not convenient
for the town, nor one society, when the town
is divided into two societies )" and asking that
the committee may be again sent to the town,
and another hearing be had. The request
was granted, aud the committee directed to
review their proceedings
The committee met on the 25th of June,
1929, and, on reconsideration, reversed and
set aside their former proceedings; and de-
cided that the town should be divided into
two distinct societies,-the dividing line be-
ing the one crossing at the dug way" be-
fore mentoned-that the site for the meeting
house in the first, Or south society, should be
on the east side Of the river, opposite Deac.
James Cornish's dwelling house, (then stand
ing where Mr. John Tuller's house is now sit
uated) that the timber provided for the
society, and be used for this house and that
be erected at Bridge hill, on the north side
of the river at the "falls." They also APP
pointed building committee for each socie-
ty.
The building committee of the south soci-
ETY., in pursuance Of this authority removed
the timber (and, as tradition says, il, the night
season, )from brakes hill across the river to
the new site for their house, and proceeded to
frame and raise the building But, as there
was no collector to gather the taxes which
had been laid by the committee appointed by
the Assembly, they applied to the Legislature
to appoint collector for this purpose, for tI3
reason, as they state, that they Judge it ta.-
possible for said society, under their present
TO chuse a collector. This
timber was afterwards attached by William
Buel, which occasioned cessation in the fur
Their construction Of the building at that
place.
The second society, July 22d, 1929, voted
to raise rate or tax of four pence on the
pound, to arect and build meeting hous
at the bridge hill, as the committy ordered;
and that with the advise with some wise men;
we will hire a minister to preach the gospel
TO the second sosiaty, at Daniel Holcombs
hous." The list of this society then amount
ed to $685. 12s Cd. At another meeting, held
in August Of the same year, the society voted
that the dimensions of their meeting house
should by torty-two by thirty-two feet.
Sixty-one persons, some Of them belonging
to the north society, addressed a letter to the
Rev. Mr.. Woodbridge, in which they state,
that having met together to consider our
difficulties relating to the settlement Of our
meeting house affairs, and things seemingly
look worse than ever, as if love and peace
were likely to depart from us, in the way
hat we are in :" they conclude by offering
% pay him one hundred pounds yearly, in
Ease the general court would sanction the
jonathan Westoyer signs the let
er with this proviso, that he will pay his
equal part in gospel waybut not in fore
BILE way"