The Bennington daily banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1877-1877, 1877-08-15

. Inc OeclaIallOn OF luuepehuetSc VI
the United States, in July, 1776, natu-
rally prompted the assembling of the
convention which met at Westminster,
January 18th, 1777, and voted "That
the district of land commonly called
and known by the name of the New
Hampshire Grants be new and sepa-
rate State, and for the future conduct
themselves as such" Doctor Jonas
Fay was the author of this declaration
and the petition to Congress annodnc-
ing the fact, and their reasons for it
and from this time forth until his death
Jonas Fay's hand appears in all the
civil history of vermont. He was Sec
rotary of the Convention that formed
the Constitution of the State at Wind
sor lin July 1777, which learning the
evacuation of Ticonderoga hastily com
pleted its work, having first appointed
a council of safety to administer the
affairs of the state. This council met
at Manchester, but soon adjourned to
Bennington, where it was in session
previous to and during the battle and
until the surrender of BurgOyne. II
gathered in the old Catamount tavern,
which stood a few rods north of the
present Congregational church at the
Center. Jonas Fay was member Of
this Council of Safety, which seems to
have exercised supreme civil and mill
tary authority.
On the 2Sth of July HI the Coun-
Gil voted to seize and sell the property
of those who had fled to the enemy
aud with this fund they equipped a
body of rangers under Col. Samuel
Herrick who fought at Bennington
This Council of Safety sent peremp'
tory orders to Colonies Of regiments
directing their military movements, dis
patched expresses for lead &c, and
were in hourly consultation. with Stark
the night before the battle. The fol
lowing is copy of the circular of the
committee of Safety issued by them
while the second battle of Bennington
was still in progress.
CIRCULAR OF THE COUNCIL TO MILL
TARY OFFICERS.
State of Vermont,
In Council of Safety,
Bennington, 10Th August, 1777.
6 o'clock, p. m.
Gentlemen: Brigr. Gen. Stark, from
the State of New Hampshire with his
Brigade together with the militia and
company of Rangers raised by this
State, with parts of Col. Symonds regi
ment of militia from Berkshire County
Mass, are now in action with mum
Der of the enemy's troops assembled
near this place, which has been fol
some time very severe. We have now
in possession taken from them THU
day. -four brass field pieces, ordinance
stores, &c, but after being drove about
one mile the enemy being reinforced
made a second stand, and still continue
the action. The loss on each side il
doubtless considerable. You are there
fore in the most pressing terms request
ed by Gen. Stark and this Council u
forward the whole of the militia undel
your several commands to this place
without one minutes delay of time -
they will proceed on horseback will
all the ammunition that can be provid
ed conveniently. On our present ex
ertions depends the fate of thousands
l am, gentlemen,
Your obdt. servant,
JONAS Fay, Vice President,
To the Gentlemen Officers nearest thi
place commanding Regiments o
Militia in the several United States
Jonas Fay was afterwards membe
of the State Council for seven year
from 177S a judge OF, tn, Suprem
Court in 1882, and attended the Cor
tinental Congress as the agent of tn
State in 1777, 1779, 1871, and 17S1
His brother Col. Joseph Fay of Ber
nington was also a man of rare parts
Secretary to the Council of Safety
and of the State Council, and after
wards Secretary of State. He was tn
associate of Ira Allen in conductin
that famous negotiation with Generi
Haldimand by which the operations {
of the enemy were paralyzed and tn
frontier of Vermont protected from il
vasion during the last three years G
the Revolution. Among the othe
Bennington men, who were concerne
with Thomas Chittenden, Ira ALE
and the ,elder Chapman in these celC
brated Haldimand negotiations b
which the British General was so lon
caioled, were General Samuel Stafford
Col. Samuel Robinson; John Fassett
'Ijr. The war of the Revolution did no
end the troubles of Vermont, for Vel
mont's admission into the Union wa
bitterly resisted and effectually blockej
by the malign influence of New Yor
for seven years after the declaration Q
peace between Great Britain, and
was not until the 4th of March, 179
that Vermont became one of thes
United States The struggle with Ne,
York before the Revolution the diff
cult task of protecting the lii
orty and State hood of Vel
mont from the double danger {
being lost in the triumph of BIRTHS
arms or strangled to death by til
greedy hands of New York, if tn
colonies win the fight, demanded tn
exercise of extraordinary courage
sagacity, tact, tenacity and wisdom o
the part of these Founders of Vel
mont but above all it required a pei
r 4