The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-08-05

ton of which, the town allowed them the
mill privileges, the right to take timber OF
the common lands,-a lot of good timber lane
and twenty pounds payable in town rates
The place has been occupied as mill seat W
to the present time, period of one hundred
and siXty-six years. About the same time, a
saw-mill was erected below the falls, in Scot
land, by Ephraim Howard.
The first records Of the town, as before sta.
ted, were burnt, and probably before 1885,
Many Of the acts OF the town however, passed
before this time, appear on the subsequent
records. The date Of the first entry, in the
present first Book of Records, is January 10,
/ 1901, and relates to the allowance Of a
bounty for killing wolf The first record OF
the election of selectmen, then called to,gnS-
men, is in 1877, when Sergeant John Griffin,
Joshua Holcomb, and Samuel Wilcoxson were
chosen. John Terry was elected register, or
clerk, at the organization of the town in 1870
a few years afterwards, and before 1850,
John Slater was appointed.
In 1858, the town "voted to give Thomas
Barber ten shillings yearly for the beating Of
the drume on the sabboth dawes" This
practice of using a drum to call together the
people on days Of public worship, was contin-
ucd about seventy years at this time. An
drew Robe was the last person employed in
this services The same practice, it is be-
lieyed, extended very generally throughout
the Colony.
The following copy from the records Of The
town, shows, better than can be otherwise ex-
pressed, the sentiments OF our forefathcrs con-
corning matters Of controversial nature It
would have been well had the principle, then
adopted, been adhered to in subsequent times
when the inhabitants Of the town obtained
some notoriety for their proncncss to settle
all disputes by the adjucation of courts and
juries
"Decembor /, 1851. We the inhabitants
of Simsbury, being met together the first of
I've 9th monoth 1851, being desireou5 hence
forward to live in love and peace, mutually to
the glory OF God, and our own peace and
Icomiort,-to prevent after animosities and I'M
comfortable variencies, do make this act
that whatsoever any difference may arissc in
any of our civil Transactions, vt after we
have given our reasons mutually one to an
other and cannot by the mcanes be brought
together, that to a final issue of our differ
cucc, we will commit the matter, with our
reasons pro, and CON- to the worshipefull Ma
jor Talcott, and captain Allyn, to heare as
presented in writing and that we will sit
downc to their award or determination this
voted and concluded, for standing record for
hence forward"
But a small portion of the inhabitants had
the means Of enclosing their improved lands
by fences. And as their horses, cattle and
swine were, from necessity, suffered to roam
at large in the forests for subsistence, the
crops, being left unprotected, were conse-
quently often destroyed. This perhaps, more
than any other cause, Increased the embar0ss-
mcnts Of the people, by subjccting them to an
additional weight Of poverty, or, as tho case
might be, by dcpriying them Of food for susie
nance.
TO remedy this evil, resort was had to the
formation Of common fields by town enact
mcnts, or voluntary associations But as these
orders or agreements were not complied with
by oil the proprietors, and, in the then state
Of society, could not be enforced, the scheme
proved Intellectual, and, after few years was
abandoned
In this condition of affairs q town meeting
was convened to consider the subject, and
adopt measures for redress. The meeting re-
solved to lay the whole subject matter before
the General Court by u petition for reicf, and
appointed the Selectmcn to manage the affair.
The following is a copy of the petition pre-
scnted 1t is a document no less interesting
than strange it. as it undoubtedly does, it cor
rcctly dciireates the condition OF the town
at that time.
"From Simsbury, this 18th October 1857.
To this IIonored General Court.-The pc
tittion of The under written is as folowoth =
That whereas, we the Inhabitants Of Sims
bury, and planters in this place, by the bless
ing of god upon our labours, have been from
year to year in Good hopes and expectation
Of comfortable and considerabl haryst, as
may be made apparent by the fair and prom
ising show upon our lands yet are we year.
y 50 Destroyed and devoured one of another
When we have bestowed our labours and
Charges, and SC apparently good hops OF Il
comfortabl haryist, then is our labours de-
vouored and destroyed one by his Neighbor,
and every man Of and by one an other with
out rehete, that it is a most greYiouS and per-
picking consideration: and have tryed many
waves to prevent such IntOlerablc losses by
layeing out fences to such lands here in Sims
bury and enclOsurs as has ben for use both
for corn and erase; yet our orders and Ia
bours has not ben attended, so that to this day
our Corniields I've exceedingly hazardous and
our labours to be destroyed, which if there be
not som speedy care taken of us that our
meadows and corn fields be secured, and our
crops preserved we shall be very much en-
poyerished: neither shall we be able to carry
on any publicquc deuties, either in ecclcssias-
teal matters or civil alfayres: and seeing
that it is wondered at why Simsbury men are
so poor, the judicious may easily discerne the
reason of the same so that in sense thereof
we do most earnestly begg, pray and lmplore
this honnored Court to take VS. and our most
sad estate into your serious Consideration
and find out some way for our relicfe and
welfare, or else we may labour yearly, and
the earth by the blessing of god bring lorth
much, and yet it will be as it hath been fire.
quently destroyed so that VIC pray cntreat
your worships to afford us some releie. And
in hopes shall crave leave to subscribe our