Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-10-29
Lieut. Governors OF vermont--G,
JONATHAN uUNr,

hNAt Nho NA1tt VI ihtuNtHAiAA NNNNAA"h VI
Vermont, was a resident Of Vernon,in the
County Of Windham, and is mentioned 10y
Graham, in his Descriptive Sketch of the
present State Of Vermont, as ga worthy
Gentlemen, and whose character !, mex
oeptionable.'
He was born about 1873, and probably
came to Vermont in or about the year
l15s, being tlrn twenty yearsof age Ms
we find that the first land in Gull.
ford, being the town next TO Vernon, and
adjoining it on the west, was cleared du-
ring the year l75S by Jonathan Hunt and
Elisha Hunt
lie took prominent,partin the political
affairs of the state, and at first, was leu
tilted with the party who upheld tho
cl,sm Of New York to the lands Of Yer
mont, and her right to govern the people,
in opposition TO the settlers under the
New Hampshire Grants, AMI TO the indie
pendent government established at first,
under the name Of New Connecticut, and
afterwards Of Vermont.
In May 1880, the committees from sew
eral of the towns in Cumberland County,
met at Brattleborough, to devise and agree
upon measures to protect their own inter
ests and those of New York. They adj
dressed letter To Gov Clinton
of New York, in which they
state that they have only the alter
native TO fight with or submit 10 the gov
erumcnt of Vermont. After stating that
either course will be disagrccalle to
them, and detailing their situation at
length, they close by expressing the car
nest hope that he will not blame them for
taking such measures as should seem to
them most conducive to their safety. This
letter was delivered to Major Jonathan
Hunt, who was chosen an especial mes
sengcr TO deliver it 10 Gov Clinton.
Having delivered this letter To Gov Clin-
ton, Major Hunt proceeded to Philadel-
phia, TO present the facts in reference 10
their situation, as claimed hy them. to
Congress On the 23l of May he
made an affidavit which WAS read
before Congress, in which he decl.,r-
ed his belief ''that that the assumed gov
eminent OF the New Hampshire Grants,
called Vermont" intended To- put their
laws into execution over the persons
and estate of the inhabitants Of the said
Grants and 10 exact from them an oath
of allegiance to their pretended state
Acting upon this affidavit, and upon 9th
er representations Of a,siuilar character
Congress, on the % of June, ordered.
among other things that the Government
OF. Vermont, be g strictly required T. for
bear and obtain from all acts OF authority,
civil or military, over the inhabitants Of
any town or district who hold themselves
to be subjects of, and to owe allegiance to
any of the states claiming the Jurisdiction
Of the said territory in whole or in part,
until the controversy should be dctermin-
ed. By subsequent order the second
Tuesday Of the following September was
fixed upors as the day when Cougre,,
would declare their final determination
in the matter. Congress, however failed
at that time to act upon the matter
Failing in all their efforts to obtain as
sistance at home, of New York or Of Con-
gress, they were now prepared for the
adoption Of any measures that would
render their personal and political situa-
ton sure.
On the 3lst of October, 11S0, mcot-
ing of the committees Of the towns OF
Cumberland County again assembled
Jonathan Hunt being present. At this
meeting Committee of thirteen was APP
pointed, of which Maj. Jonathan Hunt
was one, "to devise and carry into eXecu-
ton measures to unite into one political
body all tho inhabitants from Mason ;
Grant on the cast, to the height of land
idea, says Historian of Vermont, imam
Tested clearly the unwillingness of tho
New York adherents to acknowledge the
jurisdiction OF Vermont provided they
could ensure their own safety in any
other way" This project failed, and in
stead OF new State being formed Of
which that portion of Vermont east Of
the Green Mountains was to form a part.
a number of the towns lying east OF the
Connecticut River renowned the juris-
diction of New Hampshire, and urited
themselves to Vermont.
A large number Of those who had form
erly been adherents of New York, and
opposed to the government established by
the people of Vermont, now ayowed their
allegiance to the State of Vermont. and
ever after sustained and supported the
same. OF this number, was Jonathan
Hunt, and with him were large. number
of gentlemen of ability residing in Wind
ham County, who, previous to 1910, had
been connected with the established
courts, either as judges, lawyers, or IN
some subordinate capacity,as well as other
gentlemen who had been prominently
connected with public affairs in vari-
Gus situations.
AT the election for County Officers
held on the 9th of March, 1iSl, several
of these gentlemen were elected to the
highest and most important offices in the
County-Jonathan Hunt being elected
Sheriff. The result of this election, when
known, caused great excitement and in
dignation among those who had always
been friendly to the cause of Vermont
A petition signed by some fifty inhabi-
tants was presented to Gov. Chittenden,
II =. 20, Of IS