St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-04-07
1aisrellanu.
IN AND ABOUT NEWBURY, VT.
1Concluded.1


town, or capital of the county, and
hence contains II square miles, be-
ing twice as large as ordinary towns.
1t extends about nine miles along the
Connecticut river, and westward
about eight miles Newbury has
been an important town in many
ways; and among her citizens have
always been men prominent in the
affairs of the state The legislature
in it's peripatetic days met twice in
Newbury, viz, 1877 and 1901. At
the earlier date Vermont was an
independent republic, but claimed by
New York and New Hampshire. At
bound together by the Articles of
Confederation, a shadowy substitute
for a real Union; but it was all we
had.
Newbury was prominent in the
Revolutionary War. Col. Thomas
Johnson carried on quite a cores
pondence with Gen. Washington
during the latter part of the war.
He was placed in a very delicate posi-
ton Made prisoner in Peacham,
Vt, while staying over night with
Jonathan Elkins, March 8, 1871, by
the tories, of whom there many in
the Coos country, he was carried
away captive to Canada IN
company with a number of others
from this section. At this time
Vermont was struggling for recog-
milton as an integral state, and
congress with pig-headed pertinacity
was trying to prevent the accomplish
ment of this end. The British, know
ing the situation, ''lOg rolled" with
Col Johnson, who protested great in
difference in regard to the cause of
Americans, hence they allowed him
to go back to Newbury on parole.
His pledge was not to do anything
against his Majesty's government,
and to go at any time to any point
the British might name, until ex-
changed. Col. Johnson feared that
his position might not be understood
by the Americans, so he early laid
the facts and the situation before
General Washington, who seems to
have appreciated the high character
of this excellent man.
Today there stands in Johnson Viii
lage (Newbury) a hip-roofed house
apparently well preserved; on
metal plate above the front door is
this legend, Built by T. J., 1775."
This was Col. Johnsons residence.
When the house was built the glass
for the windows was brought on
pack horse from Concord, n H., to
Newbury, and as there was no road
any of the way, the path was mark
led by spotted trees.
Another prominent patriot in the
war was Gen. Jacob Bailey, the first
settler of the town and a native of
Newbury, Mass. Gen. Bailey had
served in the French and Indian
War. Rev. Grant Powers says he
Bailey had great influence over the
Indians and that he was quarter
master general Of the Armenian troops
stationed at Newbury.
Tradition says that Joe and M ollie,
two Indians of the St. Francis tribe,
regarded Gen. Bailey with great
reverence. Sometimes they would
drink too much rum and then would
come a family quarrel in which the
bone of contention was Gen. Bailey.
Joe would say, "Mollie, my relation
is all Gen. Bailey, and your relations
are mean" Mollie's reply at such
time was Zoe, that is lie; my rela-
ton is Gen. Bailey, and your rela-
tions are mean" Joe and his wife
Mollie once made a visit to Gen.
Washington at his headquarters on
North river. He received them kind
ly. Toe boosted that he had shaken
hands with Washington, and that
he and M ollie dined at Washington's
table, after he and the other officers
had finished their dinner When Joe
became old, the state Of Vermont gave
him a pension of $40 a year. He
died at the home of Capt. Frye
Bailey in 1919. Capt. Bailey's house
is now standing between Cow
Meadow and ingalls, hill, on the
road from Newbury to Wells River.
He was the last of the Coosucks, !"
says Powers. A few years ago we saw
Joe's gravein the Newbury cemetery.
1t was marked with a plain piece of