Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-03-23
The Vermont Antiquarian.

Barnet, the well.known " Vermont Antigua
rian;" and the purpose of this catalogue i
to invite customers to sale Of the book
therein named, at auction in Boston, April 3
6, ! and 8, 1870. OF course the catalogu,
has strong flavor Of the shop the book.
were bought to be sold again, so their claims
to favor must be set forth These are set
forth, as only man Of immense knowledge
Of books could set them forth, in notes explain.
atory, historical, biographical, anecdotal, aud
sometimes sharply critical, aud with the pc.
culiarites of style and humor which only a
sou Of cold Harry" can possess. Henry
Stevens Of London is clearly "a chip Of the
old block These notes are OWNERS rods
that indicate precious metals hidden beneath
centuries Of mold for here are old books 90
one, two, three, and some nearly four hundred
years old with much rubbish certainly, but
much also that is very attractive to lovers of
books, and something historically valuable.
Many Of the old books and manuscripts in
the collection we're previously owned by
Henry Stevens Of Barnet, and in publishing
the catalogue the son has improved the op.
portuuity for giving sketch Of the father
1t is genuine word.portrait, faithfully rep.
re 'enting the characteristics Of the man, and
we are sure it will find fit place in this
paper, to which Henry Stevens senior was
frequently contributor. ltisas follows
HENRY STEVENS. Senior, was born at Barnet.
Vermont ON the 18Th day Of December, 1871
and died ON the old homestead. on the Both of
July, 1867, at the age OF seyenty-Gvc leaving his
house full of books and historical manuscripts the
delight Of his youth, the companions of his man
hood, and the solncc of his old age His father
was Enos Stevens who from the age of twelve to
fifteen was three years captive among the st.
Francis lndans Of Canada, was one Of the origin
al prOprieturs and first settlers OF Barnet under a
New Hampshire Grant, was married at the anc
Jl fifty and enriched his state with ten Green
Mountain Bows and Girls The father Of Enos
was Capt. Phiueas Stevens, born at Sudbury.
Massachusetts,, in 1907, served his country in the
Indian Wars, and in April IA defended success
fully Fort No Four on Connecticut River
against attack of a large body Of French and
Indians, for which gallant action be was compi-
mented wi.h "a sword by Admiral Sir Charles
N.
the puce thenceiOrward being called Charlestown.
after SIR Charles. lie was sent to Canada in 1852
By the Government of Massachusetts Bay, t. re-
deem captiyes. Not finding enough OF them for
his money, and meeting with a New Hampshire
young man named John Stark, he yelturcd To
buy him on his own account OF the Indians bv
exchanging Shetland pony for which he paid jl5
lyres, and 50 restored 10 his friends the future
hero Of Bennington. phiueas was the son of
Joseph, who was the son 0t Cyprian, who was the
son of Cyprlan senior, who was the SON of Thomas
OF London, a supporter and friend Of the Mas
sachusetts Colony, who was the son OF Thomas
stevens OF Deyunshire, one Of the assignees of
Sir Walter Raleigh of his Patent Of virginia. of
March 1885.
10 return, Henry and the late lhaddeus Ste
yens, born within seven miles of each other were
chums in boyhOod at Peacham Academy, and
warm friends through life. Leaving the Academy
at the age of twelve with only q taste of books. /
ns he expressed it, graduating at Natures Uni .
yersity, he became a selt-tlught man. The eldest
OF ten children, he became their guardian and
educator. The father Of a large family, he sought
only To provide his children with education. eay-
ing them u hoe their own rows lie was farm
er, an inn keeper, mili-owneT, landlord and .
the squire by courtesy Of Stevens Village An
antiquarian anda book collector, his house was the
resort OF the intelligent lie was a liberal and pub
lic-spirited citizen, disnterested politician, an
impartial justice, an industrious representative
IN the State Legislature, an obliging postmaster,
n promoter OF agriculture, and an advocate OF
temperance. \ Kind neighbor, he pastured the
widow COW. protected the iatherles,, andannual-
ly supplemented his minister tax with one load of
nay and two bushels OF white beans. lie was
collector and reader of newspapers, hoarier Of
pamphlets and a gatherer OF the uucOnsderel
tfllles Oh the day. lie lecturcd on Temperance,
Agriculture, ana Education. and COnteudei thut
Vermont should be manfred all over with school
i,nt,r,vap,erts ,,d J,,,,,,s,;, -. n . ''
N 80 ~ 80 V' 80 "lui''tuie-.--
.nrough Hie ne was Mool-groWer anu Il prptec-
ZIONIST, and his clothes were humespun In
kno"iedge OF the statistics OF his country few
were MS equals and none was his supci Tor in the
history OIL nus own state and the early drcen
'ipuh'alh boys lie was a confidential agent
uI the secretary ol tue treasury at Washington.
Tor collecting information respecting the New
rnglahu manufactures ana the state Vt Vermont
owe 70 nun the collection and arrangement Of
''' u a'a,'' ~ ~ HpeiS' ,.
Many OIL ms books and historical pamphlets
IKE those from Washington library, found their
WY through the writer INTO the library oil the
III lish .hu'eulh' IN January 1907, some 20O0 ,
'olulhes pl vermont newspapers, 5000 tracts, and
many VI nl' valuable historical manuscripts were
Il'' ''e 7'ate liouse ~ montpelier, an r.
epHI"oIe los9 % himself ana 10 posterity. His
"i i' LOW poI'tSses ABOUT Soo large quarto and
~, VI'' .. p' hlIIorlcAl manuscripts relating
.'e ,,'" iianipShiIv NIah'S' % vermont, ana
70 t.e Ir1nlro'erSy WIN ;New YORK, among which
Le 'ge h,hah ana Ira Allen papers, the papers Of
,is 10y 'IIlee & general miscellaneous
esPohuehce' etc All the rest o. his library
-'. HlneI"'Se appropriated Is included in this |
.atIIiogue' IN many volumes WIZ be found his
'EoS ''a'ei Cplnprlslng the arms OF Vermont over
''' ""''' u''u "uuresS' ana these lines r.
~ taTadlse the tree
n, H do,, MY was the PRIDE
The man who eat-iisn Diet.
But Heaven in mercy since
Does him who tastes forgive
~ snI hc , ,1 no . offence c
NJ So, ~ "1' I,''' ave
W ''e.Jls represented barnet TWO years in the
III III, is.siN1l'e ne was no speaker but gen
S'S inaiased 70 carry ms point ny iorce OF ma
ho '',.uI anu INGENIOUS surprise AZ one time
n,t Wa Ut ue'lalock IN the appoint
el' ., so'e onlcer ana neither party would yield.
a o o oppIS''1 on cuhlenue1 that the candidate was
os oiu'i 70 'e pace ne gentleman from lar {
e1 sniueu 'nc uooF' M Speaker, said he,
nd fl.F - D H..