The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-11-29

/ % Capt Azariah Wright whom b II Hall, the
historian of"Eastern Vermont, 'describes az 'aI
Ethan Allen on a smaller scale,-bold, rough
independent and outspOken," lived at Westmn
| ster West. 1t is not known when or where he
was born or when he came to Vermont, but he
| served In Capt John Burk's company of rangers
IN the French and Indian war, beng stationed
| at Hinsdale's fort in 1851, and he commanded
| the Westminster company of Indians as early as
| l1!0. He led his company in the court mouse af.
fair called the massacre and the next year after
war had begun he went to Quebec with 70 men
bnt no record has been preserved OF his cx,
ploits on this occasion. He was thorough
headlong ways got him into several serious
| scrapes When Thomas Chandler, Jr, was
elected speaker In 1779. Wright pitched into
| him with memorial. because Chandler had ap.
peared as an attorney for Pompey Brakiec, n
negro who owed Wright 81 or S. IT was mat.
| ter of great indignation with Wright that Chan-
der should appear as chief speaker for the
that Chandler lost his seat as speaker and
brought suit against Wright resulting, after sew
eral trials, in a verdict for f6 and f2l6 costs,
and Wrlghts Indignation In the end cost him
S9l6. In December, l7S0, Wright prosecut
! ed on the complaint of his wife, that he did
"vioiently, assault and beat her. brandish his
sword and other weapons over her.
Another characteristic episode was the
churchs attempt to excommuucate him, for
shooting bear on sunday according to one ac-
count, but probably for assault on Rev Joseph
Bullen, who had succeeded Rev Mr. Goodcll.
Wright was an ardent friend OF Goodells and
carried his feeling so far as to administer
tweak of the nose, a cuff on the cheek and
ssmanv other enormities" to the new pastor for
all which he was put under bonds to keep the
peace. But he mape still another assault and
was summoned to the church to be excommuni
Gated. But when the minister started to read
the sentence Wright stepped in the door and
pointed his gun directly at the parsons head.ex.
Claiming first make Ready" then "Take Aim"
The minister stopped in fright and then.banded
the paper to his oldest deacon, John Sessions
against whom Wright repeated his tactics, and
the deacon handed back the paper, remarking
expedient." Wright was not accommodated,
and he "ded in the bosom of the church" so the
chronicles say.
Capt Wright died at Westminster in 1911 at the
age of "A. He was a man of great energy and
typical as pioneer, and as mill
tary leader strict in discipline and bold in &C
ton. His wife was Stafford and she bore him
six children. One of his graDd-sOns, Cabei
Wright of Newton, Mass, was "a man of consid'
cradle note as an author.
(2) A mistake. Luke Knowton councillor, |
Judge and early settler, .'Sant Luke" as he was |
alled because of his grave and suaye manner |
was from Newrane, where he lived until his
death, and he present at Westminster on |
Tiers. Eleven went from Newfane at the sum
mons of Sheriff Patterson, and among them, be
sides Knowton, were Christopher Osgood. Ma
Ihaniel Stedman and Moses kenney. Inere
were also some 25 from Brattleboro on the same
side who were Joined by about as many more
IN the way TO Westminster. but most OF them
had no arms except stones, Only i u carryi ih
Saturday before that the people were going 10
prevent the sitting of the court, and Patterson
appeared Saturday and requested some OF the
people of the town, who were almost uhah-
nonsly "Yorkers," TO 90 up and help.
Judge Knowlton adhered steadily to the New
York side of the cont oversy until l'so, wheh ne
md Ira Allen were agents before congress for
he two sides of the controversy, and they
patched up an agreement by when knowHon
md many others who had before stood our
tn ifs
N terms as Alien wrote. that should be non
,rabie to those who had been In favor OF New
York" KnowtOn was active In the convention
i Walpoe that established the East Union by
lot of New Hampshire towns IN
he new state. lie represented Newfane IN the s
General assembly of the state in lis4, IS, ~, w
md 'g3, u as member OF the old council IRON,
DO to 1900 Judge of the Superior court in $50 ana
f the windham County court from ., to 'g3.
Though yorker" he was on the patriot
idle in the early Revolutionary movements
,nt afterwards in 1852, when the Holdimand {
intrigue was at its height, his fidelity came ,
nder suspicion and congress issued an order .
or his arrest and that of Col. Samuel Wells OF
Srattieboro, because of the capture in Connect
Ut of British emissary with documents SHOW I
no that the British commander in Canada was !
\ Communication with British agents IN new Z
trough Col. Wells and Mr.. knowlton. In iact [
heir two houses were regular stations LOT thls !
washington laia the aasc tn,
rrest But the alarm reached here before tne
aicers of congress did, and both made their .
scane with the aid OF the Aliens. knowton, .
, fact. was in the hotel in Peru one night while
is nursuers were also there and being enter /
lined by Allen. OF course this correspondence \
as n suspicious one, and Wells was unques
onablv Tory in sentiment, out it is to be re- O
embered in knowlton's behalf that ne was v
nly helping 10 carry out the necessary poncy OF I
re- state and peculiarly suited tor the
orb e man who commanded the confidence II
both parties. e,,- x,.. n
Mr. Knowlton was born at Shrewsbury, Mass, G
ovember I,3s was a soldier in the French anu :
,d,an war was stationed at Crown Point Tor II
lille and came close to starvation IN the maIen
ON that place to Charleston, where his party
"a re- iii is last pack horse for food. He came
Newfane in l113, the 18th family TO settle IN
AT town and came under New York ute OF
released from a lot of spectators In sew OF
orL CITY and for that reason naturally TOOK tne NJ
eyy York side i'm the land grant light. On the Ia
of the town, May IL. l1if, ne was 90
ected town clerk and held that position IA W
.ars He died at Newfane Nov Il, lelo, ageu 90. ~
a crsbam characterized him well as IMAM Fl
treat ambition and enterprise, OF few worus 70
!, n.,ssessed of great quickness and perception 10
"A an almost intuitive knowledge OF human h'
ture ,, He was also a man OF large generosity, &c
go the land for the common ON Newfane MI -
non the shire was moved from Westminster I'll
"A contributed largely towards the erection Oh 70
p first court house and JAIL -, -
a number of famous men are numpe.St IN
,a,n bis descendants Frederick Holbrook. the so
-, rorernor of yeemont, is grandson. zen nj
mad Warner of sherman's stah in his ceie- W
a,ed march to the sea. and Afterwards seha- ul
! from A Iapama. was a great GRANDSON othct y
|. atsons we're Silas Knowlton. for many years ilt
,,a,,,,,ar of the Canadian Parliament. Rev ~
I'm q Holbrook, the eloquent ana famous =,