Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-12-10
Interesting Incidents of the Early
History of Vermont.


The following sketch of ancient histo-
ry was furnished by Geo. f. Houghton,
Esq, of St. Albans, from d collection of
manuscripts belonging to the late Hon.
John White, Jr., Georgia VT, and de-
posted by Orville S. Bills, Esq, on be-
half of Mr.. Whites heir, in the ar
chives of the Vermont Hiitorical Socie-
ty:
"When civil government was first as
sumed in Vermont, all theNterritory west
of the Green Mountains was included in
Bennington County. When Rutland
County was set off, considerable strife
arose between several different towns in
Bennington County concerning the shire.
1t was finally agreed that { the town of
Bennington would build tie court house
and Jail at their own expense, the shire
should be established at thayflaee. The
laws at that time being only temporary
regulations, empowered every town to
tax themselves for any purpose at a
meeting legally warned. The town of
Bennington convened for he purpose of
laying tax to raise money to defray the
expense of county buildings. Some OPP
position appearing against it by those
who resided at the remote parts of the
town, who expected but little benefit
from the acquisition Of theshi town, a
compromise took place, in which it was
agreed that assessors should be appoint
ed to estimate the propertyof the inhab-
itants increasing as they approached the
place where the buildings we're to stand,
Under this arrangement he buildings
we're commenced and in about two years
were completed. The Collection of the
tax was then attempted, but those who
had opposed at first persisted still in
their opposition and refused to pay the
tax. The officer, Benjamin Fay, pro,
ceeded to distrain by virtue of his war
rant, and took a steer belonging to Mr.
Hubbell a mob of aboIt twelve men
Immediately rose and rescued the prop
erty from the officer The mode at tha
time of calling out the militia or power
of the county, was by consulting thu
Judges of the Supreme Court. Th'
court, being then in session in Benning
ton, were applied to, and gave direction
to Col. Herrick to call out his regiment
f composed of the militia of Pownal, Ben
nington and Salisbury. On their pa
rading on the Court House green in Ben
, nington it was perceived that all th
SALISBURY, about two-thirds of Powna
and one-third of the Bennington militi
had groon bonghs in their hats. At thi
j. time Isaac Tichenor was a captain of th
, West company in Bennington, and ha
acted hitherto neutral part, but on thi
occasion he was observed to wear the sy
van cockade. On Col. Herrick's givin
orders for the troops to march from th
q parade, Capt. Tichenor, waving h
g sword, drew off two-thirds of the reg
: ment from the command of their col,
, mel, and assumed the importance of
q commanding demagogue. Here ende
! the appeal to force. Each party retire'
. partook of a public dinner and disper
ed.
i Moses Robinson was then Judge of Il
! Supreme Court, and Thomas Chittende
! Governor the former resided in Be
: nington and the latter in Arlingto
: Arlington, considering themselves EN-
tied to the Court House, had Oppose
!. Bennington from the beginning, and go
. ernor Chittenden so far countenanc
q the mob on this occasion as to dine wi
them and absent himself from the 60
+ ernment party. This affair first divid
=, the friendship of Robinson and Chitte
den"