Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-01-13

DUMlfERSTON.
A BIT or HISTORY IN CONNECTION WITH TIL
DELEGATE CONVENTION or 20

A BIT or HISTORY IN CONNECTION WITH THE
DELEGATE CONVENTION or '16.
In II. II. WIS communication about the
Nottingham controversy, published in The
Phoenix, Dec 10, 1887 he states that the
first convention of delegates from towns
on both sides Of the mountain for the pur-
pose of organizing a state out of that part
of New York known as the New Hamp-
shire Grants now Vermont was holden in
1915 at "Cephas Kents. Dorset, Sept 2j."
As delegates were sent from Dummerston
to that convention, it may be interesting TO
relate the circumstances of their election.
The information was furnished by the writ
er for publication in the history of Dunn
merston, but it got left out The first nc
tion taken by the town regarding this mat
ter was at a meeting held June 49, 1716
The town clerk recorded the business as
follows "Moshon n ii and Seconded
whather the town shuu send Daligates to
Nue York it pasid in the Might've BY
CRATE meiority. Voted To Chuse a Com
nifty TO Render "A Reson whi tina Do not
send. a committee was chosen accord
ingly. "Notid that the aforesaid Commit
ty BE the parsons to Right a protast a ganst
thare proceedings if the County shud Git
vote to send Daligate to Nue York The
report was "xsepted' by the town At
meeting held Aug 10, 1916, the town "Vot-
ed 10 send two Delegates TO Dorsite TO set
with them in Convenshon.' Joseph Hill
dreth aud Lieut.. Leonard Spaulding were
chosen. delegates 80 set at Dorsite " "Vot
id that Jonathan Knight, Mr.. Enoch Cook,
and Mr.. John Hooker BE a Committy to
Give the Dalagates in structtions how to
prosed Notid that the town Bair thare
mt in hup llalt
,, liiG "Notid TO har (hear) the Report of
the Connlitty to give in structtons to the
Delegates TO set at Dorsite.' The follow
ing is the report rerbatim ct Merdtin, ITO
the Committy, you are Darected to pear
at Dorslt ye - of Sept to join the others
members at the fore said place and
time and it is Requested By us your
Constituance of the fore said town for
you to a Soshate with them in Conversation
for TO consult ouer (our) Best good and hap
piHess and if you with them shal think it
Best to send apotishon to the Congrass or
that We may be Set Of to a Nue state or
that we with them may 20 Back to the Bay
to WHARF We belong as you and tina in your
wisdom shall think Best when met TO gath
er to judg uppone those matters and all
ways BE mind full of ouer Rights and priv
iliges and Let them Not BE a briged " This
i'l''ib " ~ hN'tlItl ny llt IpN II. AFTER
the return Of the delegates town meeting
was held Oct. ~, 1916 for the purpose OF
hearing the report Of whnt was done at
the convention. The report was heard aud
the town "Notld not to take it into Cunsid
GRAFTON and send the Letter Back" Thus
ends the record about the convention at
Dorset The town records we're kept from
no to 1850 10y Capt. Jonathan Knight
town clerk. His predecessor, Dr. Solomon
Harvey, was scholarly man and a good
penman. lie signed his name ON the town
records in bold round hand like that Of
John Hancock's on the Declaration Of In
dependence, possibly for the purpose. as
Hancock said his name was written. that
the British ministry might read it without
specs ON. Harvey hated the British ty.
rant George the third and his minions" be
yond comparison. The hand writing Of
Capt. knight can be easily read, but the
spelling can not be commended Dummer-
ston has been very fortunate in choice of
town clerks All the books have been well
kept. Enoch Cook was the first town
clerk. From l1sO to the present time, a
period Of lU' years only four different
persons have been chosen for that Office
Judge Jason Duncan held the office %
years, Judge Samuel Porter three years
Joseph Duncan 3, years, and Joseph Miller
Esq, the present incumbent, b years Mr.
Miller Is "A very excellent penmqn and his
writing can be read ns easily as printing.