Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-12-04
From the Rutland Herald.
The Governors of NermOnt- p p.
R1LANp FLETCHER.


10 those conversant with the history OF
Vermont, the name Of Fletcher is familiar
/ They were among the grantees of the town
ct Westminster, and a. early a. june 1860
we find them and very few others at that
town. clearing the land and making i'm
provemcnts. and thus fulfilling the condi-
tons of the character of that town. in order
that the benefits to be derived from the
liberal provision Of the charters granted bv
BenninC Wentworth, Governor Of New
Hampshire, might be saved to the proprie-
tors and their posterity.
OF this name have been some of the
most distinguished and useful men of Ner-
mont, and the descendants of the Fletcher
family have received the highest honors
that state can give in other states Among
them we may mention General Samuel
Fletcher, one of the early settlers of Towns
hend, who was the first Representative
from that town in the General Assembly
of ermont, 4 Councillor, Judge and Sher-
iff Of Windham county, and who was after
wards elected a Judge of the Supreme
Court Of Vermont, but refused to serve.
OF him we intend hereafter to speak in
detail, and perhaps of some of the other
members Of the family. Hon Isaac FYetch-
e., an eloquent and distinguished lawyer,
who represented the Fifth District of Yer
mont IN the Congress of the United States
from 1887 to ls4l. OF the descendants
Of the female branch of the family, we will
mention only two-the Hon EpaphrodHuS
Ransom, Chief Justice Of the Supreme
Court and Governor of Michigan, who re-
Gently died at Fort Scott Kansas, while
Receiver Of Public Moneys for the Terri
tory; and Hon. Isaac Fletcher Redfe7d,
Ii d., for many years Judge and Chief
Justice Of the Supreme Court of Vermont
Ryland Fletcher, the twenty-second
Governor of Vermont, was born at Caven-
dish, in the county of Windsor, and State
of Vermont, on the 18th day of February,
1799. Like all other Governors of Yer
mont, with a single exception, who have
been natives of the State, he has always
continued to reside in the town of his
nativity.
His immediate ancestors were among the
first settlers Of the town of Cavendish
The history of that particular branch of the
Fletcher family, is in measure, the histo-
ry Of not only that town, but also of the
southwestern portion of Windsor county
The first Town Clerk of Cavendish of which
we have any record, was Josiah Fletcher
He was also one of the first Board of Sc
lectmen. This family also furnished one
of the first Representatives from that town
to the General Assembly of Vermont
Ryland Fletcher had only the benefit of
a common school education. His early life
was passed on a farm, and he has ever since
almost exclusively devoted himself to ag-
ricultural pursuits.
He has always been an earnest advocate
of the anti-slavery cause, and early allied
himself to what was called the Liberty
Party, and later in life became member,
if we mistake not, of the Free soil Party
He was frequently supported by the men,
bers Of those parties for the various import
ant offices in the gift of the people, but
they being largely in the minority, he was
of course, unsuccessful.
In 1854, after the passage of the Kan
sas Nebraska Act, the Wings of Vermont,
in order to unite in one party all those who
were opposed to the principles of that act
nominated Oscar L. Shafter for Lieutenant
Governor. He being about to move to Cali
fornia, declined the nomination, and Ryland
Fletcher became the candidate for that
position in his stead, and was the represent
ative, on the State ticket. of the ultra
Anti-Slavery Party. He was elected
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by large majority of