Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-08-20

born In Whtlugham, VT, June ], 1su. Dr. Hum
phrey Gould Of Rowe Franklin county, Mass, II |
am rightly Informed, direct you To the spot IN
WhinEham where II is SAID the house stood In
which President Young was horn. President
may suit you to visit this CITY,
Very respectfully, ALBERT CARRiNGroN.
This settles the date Of brigham Young's birth
beyond all controversy. Now comes the more
perplexing question, In what locality was he born
Henry GOOdnOw, Esq, Of this town, says that
Brigham YOungs father came here the poorest
man that had ever been In town that he never
owned a COW, horse, or any land, but was bas-
ket maker. lie says that Brigham was born In
house that stood on the hye acre lot north OF the
road frcm his store, rear small bridge or culvert
before going down the last hill to Gates MOrse's
old tannery He saws that his mother, the wife OF
Joseph GOOdnOw, went TO see the baby, Brigham
Young, at this house when he was but few days
Old aud after he was named Brigham. On the other
hand, u IS stated that Brigham Young was born
in log house that stood north Of the road on the
hill near 10 and westerly from the village Of sa-
dawga. There seems to be but little doubt that he
was carried from this place when his parents left
WhitDgham. He might have been born at the
olher place and removed to and from this but all
Tue parties VINO personally knew about thls matter
are dead. 1t Is said that HeZeklah Murdock re-
peatedly stated that Young was born on the hill,
but before we allow this 10 be crystalzed Into his
tory and The statement Of Mr.. Goodnow declared TO
be mistake, we must ascertain whether Mr. Muir
dock knew any more about It than Mrs Goodnow
and also whether both nave been correctly report
cd These facts we khall never know, and We
might as well be satisfied IN saying that Brigham
Young was born IN Whtingham June list, 1901. lie
was one OF The most remarkable men OF any age;
and II his great ability had been employed IA
rational pursuit he would have taken a prominent
place among the great men Of the world. His
power as au organizer aud leader has seldom
been surpassed.
At the town meeting in 1852 the town ''yoted to
allow Elder Lamb Ten Dollars for his services IN
town the year past"
Alter The chulc had been built the freeInen OF
the town were taxed for the support OF minister.
THIS tax was not very heavy, for ministers were
hired 81 the moderate price Of 800 per year; but It
large enough 10 be worth gXuulnU. Those
desired relief nled certificates In the town CLERKS
ONCE, two Of which are here copied:
WH1tNGuAH. July 3, 1902.
do not agree IN religious opnion with major
iiy Of the inhabitants Of this town.
CALEB RIDER.
WHlTINGHAM July 10, 1903
This may certify that do not nor cannot agree
with the majority Of the town OF WhitinPham IN
religious opinion, therefore wholly dissent from
them. BARNES COOLEY.
The people had been pretty thoroughly frighten-
ed by the OF the revolution, and considered 1t
safe TO keep stock of ammunition on hand, and a
powder house was OF about as much Importance as
u church. 7 his matter was regulated by state
law, though there had teen considerable birthstone
burned in Vermont under individual law.
On the 14th day Of November, sO3, tn town Voted
to the money that is necessary purchase the
military stores necessary to supply the town the
''voted that the town will raise one cent on the
dollar Of the list of June 1888 and that the shall
be paid into the Town Treasury by the LIST day Of
February next.
''voted that the place to deposit said stock of am
munition shall be in the upper loft of the meeting
house in a chest to be made at the expense Of the
town for that purpose
on the 10th of december 1894 the town "voted to
Join with the Church in said Town in giving the Rev
erend Preserved Smith call to settle in said town
their minister and will present to him a salary
Three Hundred Dollars annually as a compensation
for his services during his ministry amongst them.n
What church the town Joined with does not appear,
but there seemed to be great aversion to paying
tax to support minister.
The town also ''voted that the town will raise
mills on the dollar on the list Of June 1901, for the
purpose # hiring ching the present to be
disposed Of by the ministerial committee for that
purposc and that all persons who will come forward
to the selectmcn aud declare that it is against their
to Iay any Of money for the purI
of hiring preaching that it shall be the duty of the
Selectmtn to abate their taxes respectively at any
time that said seCctmen shall think 1T aud reason
able"
1t ip said that a certain man in Heath, Mass, had
his only COW taken TO sasfy minister tax, and that
nation that further effort made this vicinity
to compel persons to lay for what they disbeleved.
TINS town made an early record III behalf Of Pro-
hhI'lon lhat ois Hlsht 20 wen 10 notice:
March I, 1913, ~ uied that Rams shall not run at
large after the hrst day OF September until the 10Th
oil Noyemher the next, on penalty Of being taken
up aud corded 10y any person at the expense OF ,hc
owner" No warrant was necessary for the extcu-
ton OF this law, and 10 court was required TO pass
sentence. Counsel could appear for the defendant
II lheY had any preference for that Kind Of client
After the church had been built and religious in
structiun provided to keep the passions within dge
bounds, il thought wise to place little restraint
upon the animal kingdom consequently, on the third
Stone Of the following Dimeuon wiz 80 feet SquEir
Within the Walls, the Walls to be six feet high, four
feet thick at the bottom, two feet thick the top
with squair timber on the Top framed together,
with a stone Post TO hang the Door gate on with
holes drilled in said Post for the Hinges to be set iu
said Pound TO be completed by the first Day of July
next, Said Walls to lie handsomely faced the inside
and Decenty faced the out Side TO the acceptance
OF the Selsctmen." These specifications were more
elaborate than those for building the meeting house
The pound tuilt by Oliver Fuller for S34 gS II
may nov be seen at the northeast corner Of tho com
mon AZ tor IN arfet Of
As the people began TO grow more stylish they
thought an improvement might be made to the out
side Of the house of worship aud the 18th Of May
lsO6i meeting was called ito see II the Town will
have Porch or Porcher adjou the meeting house,;
and on the stu OF June II was voted that the town
viii have Porch in front of the meeting house.
The porch now standing was undoubtedly built by
virtue Of this vote. Porcher is word which fret
in the town records.
It appears that the meeting house not only lacked
porch but was unfinished in many respects, ard on
the l4th day Of April 1906, the town 'unanimously
voted TO sell the Pew Ground at Vendue, for the pur-
pose Of finishing the meeting house, and that the
construction Of the meeting house shall be follows
viz: One seat on the right and one on the LETT Of
the Broad Alley and the remaining part Of the floor
to be converted into pews in the most convenient
remainder Of the Gallery to be converted into seats in
the most convenient manner. Chose Jonathan Hall,
Amos Brown and Ambrose Stone Committee to sell
and supcrintend the same. stephen Hodgrsss and
Justis Hall were agreed upon a Committee Of ac-
cepance when the meeting house shall be finished"
on the 25th Of November, 1905, there was held
town meeting Pursuant to Warning, nrst made
choice of Colo Isaac Martin moderator Of said meet
ing. Secondly, motion voted to form into Soci-
ETY. by the Of the first Congregational Society in
VIII tingham.'
On the iIIh of May 1907, thirteen highway districts
laid out and established by vote OF the town.
The last execution for heresy in England by burn
ing alive at Ltchhed April IL, 1912 The person
thus executed was Edward Wight0an, Baptist.
Roger Williams, who introduced this doctrine into
America, was banishod from Massachusetts in 1886,
In 1899 he formed the first Baptist church in this
country, in Rhode Island This denomination per-
secuted and lespseu its infancy, has become
powerful factor in sustaining and promulgating the
Christian religion. On the 6th day Of September,
1903, few persons assembled in the meetin ghouse
in WhitinRham, and organized by electing Walter
Eames clerk. They then voted to send to four Bsp-
tist churches to assist them in forming church Of
their own. The churches invited were of Gui!fOrd
Couaine Heath aud Halifax. By virtue OF this meet
ing an ecclesiastical council was formed and convened
at the meetingnouse in Nhitngham on the 18th day
Of October 1908. Elder Thomas Purington Of Heath
was moderator and Deacon Samuel Wood clerk. The
church was then duly established and organized, and
the articles Of faith agree to. The pulpit sup
piled by Elder George Witherell OF Halifax, Elder
Thomas Puriugton Of Heath and Elder Mansfield
Bruce Of Wilmington until the 18th Of October, 1902
when Elder John spsuldng was ordained and became
the regular pastor.
The farmers in this region had been brought Hp to
work, and they not satisfied to have their minis
ter idle; therefore, the 18th Of February, 1870
they ''yoted to hire farm aud purchase stock for the
Elder, at the expense of the church" There s moth
ing record to show that farming and the Elder dis
agreed but it does appear that soon after the vote
was passed TO give him work il thought eIpediCRt
to hnd out how much he respected the root Of all evil
and on the 9th of March, 1870 the church "agreed
that If Elder Spauldng would stay they would con-
tribute to his support that he should lay up property
fast the brethren His keen perception Of
financial logic made this proposition lCUk little like
the uuorEaniEed elements when "the earth with
out form and void, and he thereupon filed demur-
rer, wherein he claimed that stated sum should bo
offered. This answered by vote to pay one hum
dred dollars per year! The Elder tried II year
and the 9th of May, 1871, he dismissed at his
own request. From this time up to Decomber, 1915,
the pulpit was supplied by various persons, among
whom were Elder james Carpenter OF ReadEbOro FL
der Mansfield Bruce OF Wilmington, Elder Thomas
burlington Of Heath, Henry 7. Smith, aud Charles
Brooks. Elder Brooks preached twelve Sabhaths, and
on the 18th day OF August 1876 at the close Of his la
bors, the church voted to pay him $50.
ON the 18th Of December 1916, Linus Austin w8s
invited to preach, and the church voted TO give hin
800 per year. ON the goth Of September 1917 tL'
church voted that Elder Austin be standing modern
tor. He ordained Jan, sth, 1917, and continued