Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-08-27
Wafrliman & 1nnnaI.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1870.
Ira Allen and His Home.

Ira Allen, the brother of the hero of Ii.
conderoga, and the youngest Of family of
six boys, was born in Cornwall. Connecticut,
May LIST, 1751. When Ira was twelve years
of age his parents emigrated TO Bennington,
Vermont and thus he early became imbued
with that patriotism and love of country
which he afterwards so gallantly manifested
There seemed to have been noble blood in
the whole family, for we find hundreds Of
instances where the different members of
the family distinguished themselves before
and during the hostiities between America
and the mother country. When scarcely
twentyone years of age he became, by his
perseverance and sagacity, proprietor of the
lands now embraced in the towns of Bur
lington and Colchester. With his brother
Ethan he afterwards laid claim to much
more, but never secured all. His early ed
ucation was somewhat limited, not passing
| beyond an ordinary academic course. He
was practical surveyor, and possessed
good knowledge of mathematics. Early
trained in the school of experience his
intellect developed more slowly but no less
surely than by the scholastic method. Yet
he ever priced the advantages of college
course, since it was chiefly through his de-
termned effort and liberal generosity that
the University of Vermont was established
at Burlington. lie was clear political
writer, as his numerous documents and PAM
phlets prove, and thinker of no ordinary
ability At the outbreak of the revolution
he did not take prominent part, not being
given commission by the authorities. But
his was nature that could not remain in
active, and he soon became q spy and rem
dered such service that he was appointed
first lieutenant in the companies raised for
the defense Of the colonies. But, though he
served in the army with distinction and was
finally breveted general, it was in civil
capacity that he best displayed his talents
for the glory of the state and the nation.
Upon the trouble arising between the New
Hampshire Grants and the state of New
Hampshire, Mr.. Allen was chosen clerk of
the convention called to deliberate concerning
the separation. In assuming this office he
succeeded the celebrated DR.. Jonas Fay. He
also, in 1776, prepared an elaborate paper to
demonstrate the right of the counties west
of the Green Mountains to withdraw from
the jurisdiction of New York and form an
independent government. The original
manuscript of this document is preserved
among the state archives and forms an in
teresting contribution to the early history
of Vermont. When the war closed and |
congress admitted Vermont as state, the
services and diplomatic ability of Mr.. Al
len were recognized in his appointment as
the first secretary of state. In 1895 he |
went TO France where he purchased twenty |
thousand muskets and twenty-four cannon,
with the ostentible purpose of selling them
to the state, but on his return he was ap-
pretended by British man-of.waI, carried |
prisoner to England, where he was tried |
for furnishing arms and munitions to the |
Irish rebels. A long and expensive lawsuit
followed, in which, after eight years delay
he was successful. During the wearisome |
interim he wrote and published "A Ma |
tional and Political History of Vermont"
He then returned to America, engaged in |
several public enterprises and finally died |
in Philadelphia, January 9TH, 1914.
Having learned thus much about the man, |
let us now proceed to his home. After Mr. |
Allen had rendered SO great services to the |
state of his adoption he was rewarded by a
grant of land in Orleans county, named after
him lrasburgh Qras borough). Here, in
a romantic and slightly place, about mile
east of the present village of Irasburgh,
which contains the county buildings our
hero builds home for himself and posterity. |
But short time since the writer had the |
pleasure of visiting and completely ransack-
ing the old mansion from garret to cellar. |
1t is situated in the center of large estate
bordering upon forest famous for mishaps
and uncanny deeds. The house is large, |
square, two-story wooden mansion, built in
the style of architecture so prevalent cen
tury ago. To stroll among the rank shrub
berry of the yard or wander in the moss
grown, time-stained rooms of the old resi-
dence reminds one of Marius seated among
the ruins of Carthage, so picturesque, so
lovely, so suggestive of mutation is every
thing about the place. Even the old well
sweep creakingly performed its duty as if it
mourned the days of Auld Lang Syne. The
water however, as it came fresh from its
crystal depths was cool and refreshing to
tl,a trau No .
the knowledge that many time had Ira
Allen and his lion-hearted brother stood
upon the same quaint and massive curb
stone and drank Of the same delicious bever-
tate has been either decided or perpetualy
rented, so that it now consists of only about
four hundred acres. These deeds and leases
are curious documents, showing some Of the
peculiar characteristics of Mr.. Allen. Some
of the land was leased as long as wood
shall grow and water run" Some was sold
outright, but of great part the present
tenants own only the betterments or inn
provements which have been made. This,
however, gives them practical ownership, but
at the same time preserves something OF an
obligation to the Allen family, a faint resem
blance to that existing between the English
owner and tenant. English customs are
seen in many things about the historic place,
and thus we learn that Mr. Allen was some
thing Of an aristocrat notwithstanding his
strong republican professions. The house
itself is truly interesting. About such place
as this there are always memories which
cluster and render it one of almost sacred
interest. Antiquity gives a charm which
nothing else can bring. The fact that ones
ancestors for two or three generations have
dwelt in the same house, that around the
same hearth-stone have been told the loves
and hopes of more than a century, lends an in
terest which nothing else can bring. Would
that more of our wealthy men would build
> permanent homes, those which should have