Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-03-10
A BIT or LOCAL COLONIAL HIS
TORY.
by J. J. GREEN OF NEwFANE.

he began the practice of his profession, and
soon married young widow Montuzan, who
had daughter Frances. In 177l, Brush re-
(now Westminster, VT and Feb. %, 1772,
was appointed county clerk. The following
year he and Samuel Wells of Brattleboro we're
elected to represent the county in the general
assembly of New York. Brush was a fluent
speaker and able writer and Immediately took
a leading and influential position on all ques-
tions agtsting the public mind, always using
his great powers of orstory and sarcasm in
favor of the king and bitterly scourging the
settlers upon the New Hampshire grants, who
were opposing the authority of New York.
He introduced and carried through the legis-
lature in February and March, IVA, bill Of
fering a reward of E1OO each for the heads Of
Ethan Allen and Remember Baker, and ESQ
each for several lesser lights. During his res
idence in Westminster Brush was not only a
politician but land speculator, and at one
time is said to have owned %, 600 acres in the
Connecticut valley, and as much more in New
York. He seems to have been like leading
politicians Of the present day-a boss-and
represented our people, whether they would
or no, in the New York assembly, until open
war commenced. When the news of the court.
house fight at Westminster reached Albany,
he Immediately introduced bill appropriating
$1,000 to sustain the authority of New York
in Cumberland county. This was his last Of
fetal act for the county. Whether he ever re-
turned to Westminster does not appear, but
certain it is that he spent most Of the follow
ing summer in New York. In the fall he re-
paired to Boston and offered his services to
Gen. Gage, who gave him charge of the prop
erty taken from the Boston "rebels;" and
when it became necessary for the British to
evscuste the city, he Immediately began an
almost indiscriminate raid upon its merchants,
loading vessels with their goods His private
orders being to seize anything that would
help the 'rebels" carry on the war. he loaded
several vessels, and on Friday, March goth,
weighed anchor and set sail in tho barque
Elizabeth, bound for Halifax, N S. April I'd
they were overhauled aud captured by three
American priyateersmen, and in few short
weeks Mr.. Brush returned as prisoner to Bos-
ton-where he had been a commander. He
was confined in the common Jail, where at first
the discipline was very severe, lights, pen, ink
and paper all being forbidden articles, and no
conversation being allowed except in the
presence Of the jaier. Gradually, however
this severity relaxed, aud friends were allowed
to visit him his wife arrived in January,
1777, and remained through the year On
the evening of November 9TH she visited him
MS usual, and, the time for leaving having ar
rived, the turnkey ordered her out and the
tall, stately madam passed out the iron door,
through the dark corridor, into the street
Morning came, and the jailer appeared at the
cell door with breakfast, when Mrs. Brush
quietly answered his call by saying, lam not
my husbands keeper" He had passed out in
her dress, mounted a swift footed charger that
she had hitched in a secluded nook Just out
side the town, and was then well on his way
to New York, where he arrived on the 10th.
He Immediately set TO work to recover com
pensation for his property, which the rebels
had con6scated; but, meeting with nothing
but rebukes and rebuffs from the British Off
GERS whom he had served so well, he went to
his room, and in sheer despair placed pistol
against his temple and fired a ia tai shot Thus
ended the life of a man who was once a great
power in this county, and whose round, beau
tiful handwriting eau be seen to-day by any
one who will examine the books of record in
the vault of our courthouse But this seem
ing retribution does not end with his life, but
is followed by an almost romantic justice in
the marriage of his daughter to his most i'm
placable foe.
After his death his wife and her daughter
Frances, now dashing young widow by the
name Of Buchanan, returned to Westminster
where they were often thrown into the society
of Col. Ethan Allen during his visits here Il
put down the Workers" and establish the au
thority of the infant state of Vermont, Th'
bold, determined spirit of Frances who wa
highly educated and cultured lady of her day
attracted Aliens attention, and he seems I,
have determined to win the daughter of hi
departed foe. With what favor his first ad
vances were met history doth not tell, furthe
than that friend, in bantering her one day
said, Frances marry Col. Allen and you vii
be Queen of Vermont" Like lightning tn
flashing reply came "If should marry tn
Devil, l should be Queen of He'll :" But AL
len seems to have been as determined in Low
as in war, and yielded not until his suit wa
accepted. He appeared one morning at tn
house of Stephen r. Bradley, where France
and her mother lived, and asked to be show
to their room. Mr.. Bradley and the member
of the court, which was in session, were q
breakfast. He found his lady love in he
mornng-gown up in a chair, putting ava
some china in the cupboard. She raised
cracked decanter and shook it at him wit
some gay remark, to which he as gaiy n
piled. Then, after a short chat, he abrupt
said 'If we are to be married, now is th
time" VERY well, she replied, "but Civ
me time to put on my joseph" In trioe sh
had donned here joseph, and they walked il
to the other room, where Allen addressed h
old friend, Judge Robinson, as follows: 9Th
young woman and myself have concluded
marry each other and have you perform IL
ceremony" "When ?" said the judge in su
prise. "Now," replied Allen. "For myself
he continued, 81 have no great opinion
such formality, and from what 1 can discov,
she thinks as little of it as do but as a d
cent IesPect loI INC oPihlohb Vi hhnkll
seems to require it, you will proceed" "Gei
eral, said the judge, "this is an importai
, matter. Have you given it serious consider
Q tion2" Certainly" replied Allen. The ce
: emony then proceeded until the judge inqui
! ed of Ethan whether he promised to live wit
: Frances agreeable to the laws of God
"Stopl stop!" cried Allen, Then, pausir
4 and looking out of the window, he exclaime'
q "The law of God as written in the great boo
! of Nature-yes. Go on" The ceremon
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