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

Il he laid out to the extent Of two acres-and
that the grounds be improved, both tor a
training and burying place" The oldest
monuments, now found, arc of two deaths tna'
occurred in 1G8S-Mr John Drake, and Mrs.
Mary Eaell, wife of Mr. Peter Buell..
In 1854, John Terry was appointed ~ n-
sim of the Train band" this beng inc nr ~
military appointment, and the hlgh9s' OF S,'''''
+han in the town. In 1890, MIR. Terry nav,
inr deceased, John Higley was commissioner y
as lieutenant, Thomas Barber as Ehsien, a .ho
Joseph Strickland appolHted CleTk % a, ono
companv. 1t was not until G9S, th"' 'noio
were soldiers enough in the town 10 MAKE uP
the complement Of full company,-aV Nl!cn
time Lieut.. Hig!ey was promoted to a captain
ov-an Office Of great dignity IN those uayS'
and, with single exception, the nj ghGSt Iilei
known in the Colony-cach county n"Vlng'
as chief military officer, Major. " ne NIL
itary force" of the town was comprised III one ~.
company until l716, when 1T was diVldeu III
tn two companies, and Thomas Holcomo ap-
,o;ntcd Contain, Nathaniel Holcomb Lieut.,
and Joshua. Holcomb Ensign OF the hoT'h
comnonv and Richard Case Captain, John
Psttiboae Lieut., and Joseph Phelps Ensign
Of the south company. .,,;.o.4a
res;lino in the north -easterly part OF the town
were subjected to great trouble and loss
by a claim set up by Suflield, that they were
Within the limits of Massachusetts, and there-
fore liable to pay taxes to that town, WItch
was then considered as belonging to that Col :
onv. Their property was often Selzeo: anu
carried into Suf1ield, and sold for payment OF
taxes; and other trespasses we're conllhi''cu'
bv their Sutlied neighbors, under the same
claim, much to their annoyance ana injury
The legislature of this Colony, In l'oo' pass
ed an Act prohibiting them from paying YAK
cs to Sufield, and to punish, by a summary
process, all persons who should attempt "
extend the jurisdiction Of Massachusetts over
any part of Simsbury, or who should commit
trespasses under color Of acting under the
laws of that Colony. Many prosecutions
grow out of these transactions. The contro-
Versy, which was extremely veXatious to our
peonile, was not entirely ended until 1850,
when, on a re-survey Of the boundary line
between the two Colonies, it was found, not
only that these .SmSbWy people, but, that oil
the inhabitants Of Su6ieLd belonged ts Con
nccticut. In this year, Sufield was annexed
to this Colony.
At the May session of The Assembly, 1928,
a petition, signed by nincty-seven inhabitants
of Simsburv, was presented, asking for a
township Of land, seven miles square, to be
laid out west Of, and adjoining, SlmsbuTy
west bounds. The petitioners urge their ap-
plication for the grant upon the following
grounds -
/. "That we are under necessity Tor 1t
and advantage of present settIement,by reason
of our proDi nquinty above any other.
2. But more particularly from the consid-
Grafton of our promoting copper works winch
has brought about 10000 into this, from
foreign plantations, and likely 10 create a
foreign trade, and all 10 the advantage Of this
Colony.
3. Also, for orr encouragement in raising
tar and turpentine for the supply of his Ma
jesty's naval stores, and our only valuable
commodity in foreign parts.
4. And also in Consideration for our being
frontier for above this forty years; where
by'we were under necessity to bear double
part in the expense and fatigues Of war,bein(
fastened down, by an act of this Assembly
on penalty Of loosing our freeholds, which
however Just it might be for the present, We
challenges consideration when the Assem-
bly, have wherewith, and leizurc to do it.
s. And to conclude, part of the western
lands we have the native purchase of, ant
have many years age laid out lands upon
and as it will create great disturbance
amongst us, so it Will be an intolerable hard
ship, to have them granted to any other"
The name Of the Rev. Mr.. Woodbridge
stands at the head of this petition, which wa
signed, it is believed, by all the inhabitants q
the town. Notwithstanding the cogent rca
sons urged, the Assembly did not see fit t
grant the prayer Of the petitioners Durin
a period Of about fifty years from the frs
settlement of the town, among the very larg
number of petitions from it to the general A:
sembly, this appears to be near y the onl
one which received the appreciation, and cor
tanned the signatures, Of all the legal inhabl
tants Of the place.