Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-12-16


ardston. During the Revolutionary wa
the town furnished their whole quota q
men, and Mr.. Wrighrs salary was muc
neglected. A tax was raised and the con
stable paid off Mr.. Wright in continental
bills, deprecated so rs to be akin to moth
ing. Mr.. Wright asked compensation 70
the appreciated value of his salaries durinl
seven years hard labor as pastor. and
support of young and growing family
The town refused, and by his own reoues
he was dismissed. In Dec. 1888, Rev. An,
asa Cook was ordained. When the MINK
tiers were assembled in session the evenin
previous to the ordination, it was ascei
tanned that the minister selected to preac
the ordination sermon was absent Thi
duty was placed upon Rev. Bunker Gay
Said he, have made no preparation f
this occasion. As it was decided by ther
not to excuse him, he accepted. From
previous acquaintance with Mr.. Cook,
selected for his text, "There is death
When Mr.. Cook had OBLIGATED until Til
people were satisfied of his general habit
and character, they convened council 70
his dismission. Mr.. Wright still resider
here and present at the council, and
company with some of his former breth
rem of the clergy, not members of tina
council, but who were acquainted with thu
circumstances of his separation from thi
people, inquired, if, in their opinion, h,
ought with other members of this church
and congregation to clothe himself in sack
cloth and sprinkle dust on his head il
mourning at the prospect of their being
left destitute of minister, or whether he
was not rather entitled to a song of exulta-
ton over his neighbors, in remembrance
OF the circumstances of his separation from
them. Rev. Bunker Gay replied, singh
sing. Mr.. Wright replied that he was nc
singer, but only spoke metaphoricaly !
and had no song prepared for the occasion
Said Mr. Gay, then sing this, and we will
assist you:
Reduced to want, with lantern jawe,
My people forsook,
And to avenge my righteous cause,
God sent them Parson Cook.
Rev. Bunker Gay Trim. CONF was ordan \
ed over Hinsdale, n. H., part of which is
now Vernon, VT, in 17G4, and remained
pastor nearly forty years. lie possessed ID
liberal education, studied with his uncle |
Ebenezer Gay, d. D., of bingham, Mass. i
who died 17S7 in the ninety-first year of
his age, and sixty-ninth of his ministry
Mr.. Gay devoted himself to the work of
the gospel ministry, and was descriptive
in his poetic illusions and writings, and
eccentric in his style of composing cpl
taphs, many of which are found in ceme-
teries in this vicinity. Among his writings
are found "a narrative of the captivity Of
Mrs. Howe from Bridgman's Fort by the
Indians" also "An Elegy on the death of
Ensign Samuel Stratton." He also preach
ed the funeral sermon of his wife Abigail
who died July 18th 1892, aged 50, which
was afterwards published. His text on
the next Sabbath after was Psalms IS: is.
He closed long life of usefulness Oct 20,
1915, and is still remembered with aflec-
ton by many Of our townspcople. The
following anecdote was related by an init
mate friend Of Rev. Mr.. Gay: \ son of
one of Mr. Gays worthy parishioners was
ushered into his presence one Sabbath
morning and said, FEATHER and Mother
and the rest of us, want to give thanks
cause sister - is dead" Mr.. Gay re-
piled, "Young man, l presume your pa
rents desire the prayers of the church and
congregation, that the death of your sister
may be sanctifed unto them" The lad
answered, "Yes, yes, that's it, fIther and
mother, and the rest of us, want TO give
thanks cause sister - is dead" OF
the many ministers who have preached in
Vernon since the death of Rev. Bunker
Gay, n list Of about forty may be found in
Miss Hemenways History of Vermont.
HISTORICAL "REMINISCENCES.
"A part of which took place 236 years
before the date of this episte founded on
facts, which bears date in the second year
of the reign of Ulysses, surnamed Grant,
who is ruler over large country, which is
divided into many provinces, and in the
first year of the rule of George, surnamed
Hendee, who is Governor of the Province
of Vermont.
And it came to pass that Rowland, of the
tribe of Stebbing, who lived A. d. 1854, lin
the days of good Queen Bess,) with his
Sarah, in England, across the sea, said to
two daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth, "For-
ty years have dwelt in this land arise,
let us go to far country, over beyond the
water, and seek out parcel of land for an
inheritance" And they said, we will go.
And they departed by ship from Ipswich,
and after toiling many days, came to Bos-
ton, on the border of the sea, when tho
town was four years old. And from thence
he departed to Agawam, now Springfield,
Mass, and tarried awhile. But when they
heard of the fertility of the valley of Long
River, he arose and took all that he had,
and came to Nonotuck, now Northampton,
Mass. And he rested from his labors, and
the number of his years were three score
and seventeen and they buried him in
Nonotuck, near Mt. Holyoke. Thomas,
his son, there dwelt with his family and
begat sons and daughters. Joseph, his
son, who was born, A. ID. 1897, set his face
northward to Squakheag, Province of Ms.
Bay, where he found land for a possession,
and there begat sons and daughters. Jo-
seph his son, was born A. ID. 172l. Came
north to the land of Hinsdale, now gVer-
non, Cumberland County, New York,
where he had great possessions lying in
the region next north of Strattonfeld, it
being about a Sabbath days journey south
of the place now known as Jericho, being
all that lot or parcel of land lying between
Strattonfeld and Island Meadow Brook.
Now these were the sons and daughters OF
Thankful Bedding, Jcseph's wife; Tabith-
ia, Mary, Thankful, Elijah, Eliakim, Alb
ner and Joseph. Elijah, his son, dwelt in
his fathers house, which was in the bow of
the Long river. Then Elijah begat eleven
sons and daughters. Beulah Dickinson,
Elijah's wife, bear unto him Mary LIST, Ma
ry I'd, Thankful, Rebecca list, Rebecca I'd,
Elijah, Gideon D., George r., Harriet,
Samuel and William. And it came to pass
on Thanksgiving day, two hundred years
after the landing of the pilgrims on Plym-
outh Rock, the house of Elijah was con-