The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-04-12
History OF st. Adams,
PART XXI.

BATES TURNER

BATES TURNER
Was born in Torington, in the coun-
ty of Litchfeld, and State of Connec-
ticut. At a very early age he enlisted
into the army of the United States,
during the revolution, as a drummer;
and served in that capacity on Rhode
Island, while the British were in pos
session there Whether he served to
the close of the war is not known to
the writer But it seems probable
that when the American troops left
Rhode Island, he, for some reason,
quit the army and resided with Mr.
Humphrey, near Providence, who car
ried on the business OF saddler and
harness maker. Whether he was an
apprentice or journyman to Mr. Hum
phrey, or how long he resided with
him, we are not informed. After
leaving Rhode Island he returned to
Connecticut. Whether he worked at
the saddler's trade after lie left Hum
phrev, is uncertain. He seems not to
have been satisfied with his mechani-
cal trade of saddler, but aspired to
standing in society which he fancied
was little above the one in which he
had been instructed, and to a situa-
( ton more congenial TO his taste and
/ inclination. The celebrated law school
at Litehfeld, to which many young
men resorted in that day, to qualify
themselves for practice at the bar, and
for forensic distinction, presented to
him favorable opportunity for ac-
quiring the knowledge and qualihca-
tons which he desired. Accordingly,
with very little preparation, such as
is now deemed necessary to enable
one to enter successfully on the study
of law, aud master its mazes and per-
plexities, he entered the school which
was then under the direction OF
Reeves and Gould, two of the most
distinguished jurists of the country
After going through with the usual
course of study at Litchfeld, he was
admitted to the bar, and soon after
removed to Vermont. In the mean
time Humphrey and his wife had
separated by decree of divorce
which was granted on the petition Of
one of them, and Mr.. Turner and Mrs
Humphrey had intermarrled. dc
first settled in Fairfield, Franklin
county, in the year 1796, which place
it was supposed, would eventually be
made the shire town Of the county
In 1898 he removed to st. Adams
! which seemed to him to offer greater
inducements to lawyer than Fairfield
He built one or two Offices in the vii
lage. The small building lately occu
pied by Gallar as meat market, wa
built by him, and for while wac oc
cupied by him as his law office. AT
ter Asa Adds came into the place II
1901, he and Mr. Turner formed {
partnership, which continued but
few wears; and Mr.. Turner removed
back to Fairfield. There he set up
law school for the purpose of prepar
ING young men for admission to tn
bar. He was reputed to have the fac
I, ulty of fitting his students for admis
;, sion and practice in much less tim
than was ordinarily spent in prepare
tory studies. Hence, many youn
men resorted to him for the purpos
). of being fitted for admission to the ba
in shorter time than the rules OF tn
court required. The rules prescribe
p bv law for the admission of attornle
i were less regarded in Franklin count
d than in other counties il the State
= and. of course, there was little DIN
entity in being admitted after passin
!" a hasty examination in Blackstone
tt Commentaries, or some other elemeI
!, tary author. Blackstone was Nj
n Turner's textbook; and he was prett
i. well yersed in that author. The 81
lS animation of candidates was, for Il
% most part, confined to his Comments
ne ries But however learned Jude
q. Blackstone may have been in elemer
G. tary law. and however useful an