Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1890-01-16


XII us: And If your eXecutioners approach us
they will be as likely to fall victims to death as
We" At this critical juncture there moved over
the race OF TINS border feud another which totally
eclipsed it. America was on the eve of revolu-
ton GOV. Tyron and his sherils would soon
be wanted in another direction. The twigs of
the wilderness must give way to sterner weapons
Early IN 1913 it was clear that war was inevitable
Ana to few of the principal men of New Eng
nd 1t was also clear that the of the cause
would depend not little upon the speedy cap
ture of Ticonderoga, whereupou Edward Mott
and Noah Phelps at the head of a committee from
Hartford, Conn, took 1t upon themselves to raise
men for the venture. They move to Bennng
ton Ton recruiting as they CO. and there Col: Allen
and his famous Green Mountain BOYS oin the
ranks and the colonel is made commander of the
expedition. They advance to the shore of the
lake Master Nathan Beman who lives near is a
DrlSht lad He has played with the boys in the
garrison, knows every nook in the fort and every
passage and by-path to it. He shall guide them.
Ihelr boats are few but the day break finds SO
mountaneers under the shadow of the fort. A
few stirring words from Col Allen and they
scale the height, enter the gate and with their
ringing hurrahs arouse the seepers who would
have hardly been more astonished had a legion
fallen into their midst from the sky. Capt. De
| Laplace Is aroused by prOdigious noise at his
uoor ana upon opening it is commanded to sur
render. "By what authority do you make such
demand: "ln the name of the great Jehovah
and the continental congress-" thunders Allen
and De Laplace surrenders.
Havlng secured this important post Allen sent
warren to take Crown Point. In few days he
IS successful. A little later Shrews sboro is taken
Inen follows his attempt to subjugate Canada
which ended in his capture and imprisonment.
After his release he returned to Bennington and
having snuf1ed the lingering smoke of the old
conflict with the New York sheriffs Richard was
nlmself again, and forthwith buckling on his ar
NOR he entered heart and soul into the cause of
tne Green Mountain boys who during his cap
ture had declared their territory an independent
State and christened it Vermont. While these
events We're taking place; while passion and
preludlcc and tyranny and patriotism were being
smelted in the political furnace preparatory to be
i,nally cast into the comely state of Vermont,
tlere was growing up on the banks of the Con
nectlcut little township which destined to
play very important part in the history of the
state. The story of Westminster is a most inter
estlnS one. tits familiar to most of you who have
reached mature years. You have heard from
your fathers or you have read from the printed
records of the existing scenes which have been
enacted in early times on this historic plain. This
beautiful table land with its circle of evergreen
nils mas been the arena of events which have had
much to do in shaping the destiny of the state.
Far back IN previous century the fertile soil and
attractive scenery of this region made it sort of
promised land to the home seekers. thick for
est covered the hills and extended to the river
bank. Indians built their wigwams and engaged
in the chase along these streets. For the white
man there was danger lurking in every nook and
corner of the wilderness. If he possessed these
acres he must do it at the risk OF his life and the
lives Of his m family he h mus, 1anr i've a IN fortified
went to the field he must as soon think of leaving
his farming tools behind as his gun or pistols for
the woods which surrounded his little patch of
leased ground-and sheltered his log cabin shell
tered also the wary redskin who was only await
dangers and difficulties a company Of sturdy yoe
men from Massachusetts and Connecticut in l735
or 36 petitioned the general assembly of Mass
chusetts to grant to them q township the west
bank of the Connecticut below the great falls.
The grant was made and the township was
known as number one. The grantees were Obliged
to ''build dwelling house eighteen feet square
and seven feet stud at least lots
and fence in and break up for blowing or clear
and stock with English grass five acres of land"
This grant was divided into house lots and inter
vale lots and one of each kind was decided to
n arDt, T T,t,, az
september 26 1877, and preparations were made
Tor erecting saw mill and grist mill. High
ways were lad out and fences were built in the
infant town. Number One was christened New
Taunton in remembrance of the place where the
propretors resided. There seems to have been
very little growth for thisS Seen or fourteen wears
When the northern boundary of Massachusetts
was determined in l740 poor Number One found
herself left out in the cold: She had fondly
hoped to be child of the Bay State but her
hopes were blasted. Massachusetts drew in
her skirts and refused to own her and as a re-
New Taunton was abandoned and we hear moth
ing more of the settlement until the spring of
l75l when one John Averll and his son Asa
this time the abandoned township could
boast of but two houses. One
Of these, | suppose, stood in the garden of the
Old home where had the honor to be born. The
other stood at the foot of Clapp hill on the site
now occupied by Mr.. Taylors house. John
here the first child in the town, Anna Avcrill,
was born. This homestead was held by the
Avcrill family for many years. 1t passed from
them to my grandfather, Capt. james Titcomb,
and from him to my father. Two relics of the
old Averill family still linger as pleasant memo
ries with many of us who are in middle ad-
vanced life. Aunt Hannah and Uncle Daniel,
brother and sister. How their kind wrinkled
faces stand out before me as | cast my eve down
the gallery of the past where hang the pictures
lands and walked these streets. Aunt Hannah
Averill was one of the noblest women on the
footstool. Quiet, simple-hearted, unselfsh: an
enthusiastic lover . wood a
vout Christian. She spent her last years in my
fathers family on the old homestead and to her
more than to any other woman aside from my
beloved mother do owe whatever there is in me
of high ideal of life, a cOnsecrated purpose ,and
Christian manhood Sitting in her lap, looking
at the pictures in the old family bible and listen
ing to her stories, suppose received the i'm
preston which led me finally into the gospel
ministry So it is that life is linked with life so
it is that an influence never dies. The first set
tier of Westminster is, in sense, speaking to
you through my lips to you to night.
The other relic of the Averill family, common
ly known as Uncle Daniel was evidently some
what eccentric. remember him a somewhat
decrepit man with stovepipe hat drawn down
over his eyes, pair of octagona spectacles on
his nose, and a round-headed cane. He
earnest christian and true patriot. In his early
life he enlisted in the United States service and
did good work in the waragainst England. Sew
eral anecdotes have come down to us concerning
his military life which illustrate the somewhat
humorous side of his character, After he had
enlisted friend gave him some instructions
to what he should say to the recruiting officer.
y ou Will De asked, Salu this friend, ITO state
how old you are. You must answer &c years,
sir. The officer will also ask you How long have
you been eniistedY You will say six months sir
You will be asked if you have knapsack and
cartridge box. You must answer both SIR
When Mr.. Averill was called for examination
the following questions and answers were given:
GLOW old are you?" ''SiN months, sir" ''How
long have you been enisted?" 'Thrty-six years,
sir" ''YOu a fool and the man who enlisted
you. "Both, sir" was the candid reply. After
entering the service Daniels patriotism some
times got the better of his discretion. In a skir-
mish with the enemy the company with which he
was connected was ordered to retreat but he not
hearing the ORDER or wishing to have few more
shots at the British. kept firing away dropping
red coat at every shot. He was finally captured,
and the cry arose kill him." But the officer
said mo, take his gun away from him and let
him 60" whereupon Daniel spoke up and said
'if you take this gun you will take it at your own
risk, for it is a borrowed one"
am happy to say that Daniel returned safely
from the war to resume his place tithing man
in the Old church.
About year after John Averill settled in
Number One the town regranted by Gov.
Wentworth of New Hampshire, and called for the
first time W estminster. The first mcetingo Of the
new grantees was held at Winchester. y. III , i'm
August l153, at the home of Major Josiah willard,
whose father, Col. Josiah Willard of Fort Dunn
mer, was one of the principal propTietors of Num-
Der One The census of Westminster at this
early period embraced only the families of John
Ayerill, William tsouli. Amos tarnpnrar and