The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1891-05-07

HISTORICAL "REMINISCENCES.
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As already stated the territory now em-
braced in the towns of Londonderry and
Windham was chartered by New York
Feb 23, l770 under the name of Kent.
The Glebe mountain stretching north and
south divided the town naturally into two
parts and the inhabitants taking the hint
thought it desirable to have two towns in
stead of one, Accordingly in 1902 the
change was made, the eastern portion tax
ing the name of Windham and the wes-
tern retaining that of Londonderry. The
boundary between the two towns was not
defined at that time only in general terms
but in 1897 the summit of the mountain
was established as the dividing line. Be-
fore that the Western base of the mount
ain was considered the line, The town
of Kent seems to have given up its dis
tinctive name in 1880 and from that year
the present name was assumed. The fol
lowing is copy of the "original charter
of Londonderry;
,@, "THE GOVERNOR, COUNCIL,
I l.. S. AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
N--' REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE
FREEMEN OF VERMONT.
"Io aH people TO eohoh these presents
shall come, Greeting;
"Know ye that whereas the General
Assembly of this State did at their Ses-
sions, held at Westminster in March last,
Resolve to Grant unto Committee to
be appointed for that purpose, certain
tract of land hereafter to be described.
"We have therefore Given and Grant
ed, and by these presents do give and
Grant unto our worthy friends, Edward
Aiken, Samuel Fletcher, and Joseph Ty-
Ter, Esquires, who are appointed Com
mittee as aforementioned, and to their
Gel of Land situated within this State,
and in the County of Cumberland, Bound
ed as follows: Beginning at black
Spruce tree, two Rods from the East
side of brook commonly known by the
name of the South branch of Williams
river, and about - Rods North of
where the road now Goes from Man
chester to Chester across said brook.
which tree has been marked for the South
90 OF Of
North, sixty-three degrees West, seven
miles and three-quarters, to a yellow
birch tree, thence South, ten degrees West,
six miles, to small black spruce, thence
South, sixty-three degrees East, Seven
Miles & three quarters, to small white
beach, thence North, ten degrees East,
six miles, to the first mentioned bounds.
\ "Reserving five sixty-fifths equal Parts
70 be appropriated to Public uses as fol
lows, viz: One equal part for the use
and support of seminary or College
within this State, one equal part for the
use and support of the County Grammar
Schools throughout this State; one equal
share for the use and support of the first
settled minister of the Gospel in said
town, to be disposed of for that purpose
as the 1nhabitance thereof shall direct
one equal Part for the support of the
ministry; & one equal Part for the Bene-
fit and support of a school or schools
within said Town. And that the same be,
and hereby is Incorporated into a Town
ship by the name of LONDONDERRY,
and the Inhabitance that do, or shall here
after inhabit said town, are declared to
be Infranchised and Untitled to all the
privileges and immunities that other
towns within this State by law exercise
and enjoy.
To have and to hold the said Granted
premises as above described with every
privilege and appurtenance therein con-
tanned, to the aforesaid Edward Aiken,
Samuel Fletcher, and Joseph Tyler to
them and their heirs and assigns forever.
SIN Testimony whereof we have caus-
ed the Seal of this State to be affixed at
Arlington this 20 day of April, A. D.,
1880, and in the fourth year of the Inde-
pendence af this, and the United States
of America.
JOSEPH Fay, Sect'y.
THo's CHITTENDEN.
On Oct. 81, 1897 the state legislature
passed the following act relative to the
eastern boundary of this town.
''An act annexing part of Windham to
Londonderry"
ct is hereby enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Vermont that
the dividing line between the towns of
Windham and Londonderry shall be here
after known and established as hereafter
described, TO wit beginning on the north
line of Windham where the Middle Brook,
SO called, crosses the same from thence
Southerly up said brook to the foot of
Glebe mountain, so called, thence run
ming direct course to the top of said
mountain, thence Southerly on the height
of said mountain to the ancient South line
of Londonderry, any law heretofore to
be contrary Notwithstanding.
Passed October 81 1897
A true copy examined
Attest Roswell Hopkins Sec'y."
A small gore of land called Mack's Leg
was included in the Windham township
when that town was incorporated October
81, 1897. The term Mack's lag is said to
have originated in this way. James Mack
whose name occurs frequently in the early
records of this town was practical sur
veyor The first survey of the town is
said to have been what is known as pa
per survey, not run by the chain, and
when an exact survey was made, the sur
veyors, of whom Mack was one, and
probably the chief, began at Landgrove
and started for the terminus in the eastern
part of the town. But it is said the chain
Jagged, it did not reach the proposed
point and the result was corner of the
to,,,, mos, Ia ft ont This was kpovyn as