Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-07-27
VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

/ DOrO.
We gather from the accounts in the
| Phanir that the citizens of Brattleboro and
the members of the Society were mutually
pleased with each other-as we are sure they
had reason to be. ! cavalcade Of gentlemen
escorted Gov. Hall and other distinguished
visitors through the town. The Fire depart
ment got up brilliant torch-light procession
in the evening \ visit was also made by
members of the Society to places Of historical
interest in the vicinity,-the sites of Forts
Dummer in Brattleboro, and Sawtell and
Bridgman in Vernon. 1t was at the latter
place that Mr. Caleb Howe was killed by the
Indians, and his wife, Mrs. Jemima Howe,
was taken and carried into captivity. The
burying ground containing her remains, with
the tombstone erected to her memory, was
also visited.
From the report Of the meeting, as given
in the PhGai1, we take the following
VERMONT SOCIETY.
BRATTLEBoRo' July l. and IS, 1860.
The second special meeting Of this Society,
whose mission Is to rescue the historic annals
Of Vermont from oblivion, was holden at
Bratteboro' on Tuesday ami Wednesday last,
His EIcellency Gov. II II presiding.
The following gentlemen were elected
corresponding members Of the society
Gen. j. Watts DePeyster, Tivoli, Ny.
DR.. J. G. Holland, Springfield, Mass.
Hon John Rose, Q. c., Montreal. c. E.;
Hon. Carmi w. Babcock, Lawrence, Kan.
DR.. Asahel Clapp, New Albany, Ind.
The Committee heretofore appointed to
confer with Mr. Henry Stevens, in regard to
the removal Of the library and cabinet Of the
Society to the Historical Rooms in the State
House, Montpelier, asked through Hon. d.
p. Thompson, for further time to perfect
their report, which was granted on condition
that the committee positively report at the
annual meeting at Montpelier, on Wednes.
day the 10th day Of October next.
CaptJohn Wolcott Phelps Of Brattleboro
made on behalf of Gen. J. W. DePevster Of
Tivoli, n. Y, and Mr.. George \. Hunt of
Brattleboro, donation of valuable books.
pamphlets and documents, for which the
special thanks of the Society were returned,
and Capt. Phelps was requested to transmit
a certified copy Of the vote of the Society to
Gen. y Watts DePeyster and Mr.. Hunt
Addresses we're then delivered by Gov.
Hall and the Rev Pliny H. White GOV
Halls paper related chiefly to the illegal and
fictitious claim set up by the autho tiles Of
New York over the territory embraced in
what was then called the New Hampshire
Grants, and is now the State Of Vermont.
All the maps Of North America and partic-
ularly Of New England and New York, pub
lishcd previous to I71j, gave as the bounda-
rles OF these respective provinces line drawn
from Long Island Sound northerly to Lake
Champaign about 20 miles east of the Hudson
River, and known as the "twenty mile line. 3
In 1901 Charles II of England, conferred by
royal patent the territory then known as
New Amsterdam and which had then recent
ly been captured from the Dutch. on his
brother James Duke of York and thereupon
the name was changed to New York. The
boundaries of the territory included in this
patent were somewhat loosely described. but
1t was evidently the intention that this grant
should exactly cover the territory taken from
Holland.
In consequence of the representations Of
Lieut.. Gov. Golden of NewNork, that the ueo-
pie Of New England were republicans in feel
lngS and tendencies. while those OF New York
had patterned their institutions after Eng
land, and that it would be desirable t. ex-
tend the rule of the loyal province, and Of the
loosely defined boundaries of that province,
an order in council was adopted in l764,
authorizing the New York government to
regrant the lands in Vermont which were
held under charters from the Governor of
New Hampshire, without taking any means
Il. I
New York were 30 and for the benefit OF
Gov. Golden and his associates in Office The
people Of Vermont resisted, and in 1906
obtained an order from the English govern
ment to Golden to desst from granting fur
Their patents. This order was entirely
disregarded by the New York government.
which still continued to grant to favorites
patents to a large portion of the best lands
IN Western Vermont. \ struggle ensued,
the result of which was that the settlers of
Vermont, with the aid of Ethan Allen and
the bleach seal, succeeded in maintaining
their rights. The subject was discussed IN a
mastery manner, and the conclusions Of His
Excellency seemed to us to carry with them
the weight of judicial opinion. Mr.. White
followed with an interesting address on the
Early Poets of Vermont, in which he spoke
OF the lives and literary characters Of Thomas
Rowley OF Dandy, JOsias Lyndon Arnold of
St, Johnsbury, and Royal Tyler Of Brattle-
bOro.
At the session, W ednesday morning, several
donations of valuable books and pamp lets
were made, among them the statutes Of Yer
mont for 1877, presented by Henry Burnham
OF Brattleboro and Jesuit Relation, trans
lated by the Hon. Alexander Ii. Buel Of
Detroit. Mich, which was referred to select
committee consisting of Gov Hall, the Hon.
Geo. P. Marsh, the Hon. George Folsom.
and the Hon. Daniel Kellogg. to examine
and report thereon at the annual meeting of
the Society in October next.
The Committee being called upon to make
a report in regard to the material tor vol
ume of transactions, requested further time
to make preparations, and the plan of print
Ing volume at an early day was discussed
by Messrs Folsom, j. Dorr Bradley and Geo
F. Houghton.
Hon. Hampden Cults of North uartland.
then delivered an address on the life and
public services of the late Hon William
Jarvis of Weathersield formerly Charge de
Affairs to Portugal and Consul 70 Lisbon.
The matter OF the address was of great inter
est, and the manner OF its delivery was sin
gularly graceful and effective.
Rev. Pliny II White Kindly consented to
read to the society paper on the Runaway
Pond in Glover The narrative was delight /
fully told. and it was received with frequent
bursts Of applause as he gave a graphic ac-
count Of this curious geographical, geological |
and historical phenomenon interspersed with F.
some mlrth-provoking anecdotes.
On motion Of Edward Kirkland, ESQ, It |
was
ResolUel, That the thanks Of this Society be re-
turned to Gov. Hall, Rev. p. II. White, and Hon. /
Hampden Cults for the able and acceptable adj |
dresses pronounced by them at this meeting, and |
that copy Of them be requested to be deposited in
The archives Of the Society for future in the /
publications of the Society.
In pursuance Of bylaw Of the Society
which provides that
Notices Of the death of such members Of this
historical Society, and eminent Vermonters, as
nay decease during the year preceding the annual
meeting of the Society, shall be prepared under
.ne direc lion of the Corresponding and Recording
0,I les and be read at the annual meeting i'll
) anu DC deposited in the archives Of the |
-O'ie'y 1'' future use and reference
The following assignments were made