The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-01-03

ID Judge Noah Sabin of Putney was u pro
nounced Tory, as well as Yorker, and for that
reason had the bitter hatred of his neighbors
during the Revolution, but possessed the quail
ties of character, steadfasl conscientiousness
sound and discriminating judgment, and sinceri-
ty and uprightness that finally won back the con
1idence of his neighbors and placed him back in
public position even before the Revolution closed.
Indeed there is much reason for believing that.
beginning us a staunch loN ast and then uncer-
tain IN his views, he finally honestly convert
ed to the patriot side, whose cause he had come
to uphold during the progress of the Revolution.
Naturally, as judge administering the law un
der the crown, and a profound believer in law
procedure always, he was rigidy opposed to
the conduct of the settlers al Westminster and
was by these proceedings settled for some time
in his bias against the party of the people: but
he was a man of the intellectual quality that
finally comes to just views.
lie was n native of Rch0beth, Mass. and in
his early education was designed for the minis
try, but for some reason refused to follow this
calling. lie came to Putney in l1Gs NJ the age
of 81 AMI was chosen town clerk at The first
election OF town officers held in May 20. sept
IL, - he was appointed by New York Judge OF
the superior court OF Common Pleas for Cum
berand county and justice of the peace. He
was among those arrested by thelPeople's party
after the massacre and was confined at the
court house there fora few days and then taken
10 Northampton and then to New York where
he was imprisoned, returning home after an al
sence of more than year lie was tried at
New York and and acquitted ana Gov Tyron
is said to have provided the clothing and means
for him to return TO Putney. He was suspected
of being sort OF spy for the enemy ana the
committee of safety passed an order in li,6
combining him to his farm and authorizing any
body TO shoot him If found beyond its limits.
One fervid patriot afterwards acknowl.
edged lying with loaded rifle in wait the
woods for a long time hoping to catch the
Judge off his own land so as to execute
the order. Even the church refused to admit
him to communion even occasional when he
asked for that, because of this feeling against
him. At one time, just after his return from New
York he was sliced by party of armed men
and taken to Westminster and lodged In lall,
though he remained there only one day. VIM
Moore, was one of thc committee of Putney,
with Daniel Jewett and Moses johnson, who
had this job in charge, and it Is related that ON
his death bed years after, Moore with tears IN
his ewes besought the judges forgiveness for
this treatment and when II was accorded SAN,
Now | can die in peace" 49,
It's uncertain Just when his change oil point
cal views occurred. one story repie scnts MN
MS declaring after the burning OF Norwalk that
inc British troops had not treated the rebels
with half the severity they deserved and every
place refusing to acknowledge the authority
of the crown ought to suffer the tate OF
Norwalk" But the church re-admitteu MN
April o. Isl ami in the same year he was
elected Judge of probate for Windham
county and though suspended for several
months on compliant Of many people VINO sun
snspecied him of Torysm, he was reinstated
October u, and he continued TO administer thc
oflice with ability and integrity until lsOl, when
he was succeeded by his son Judge Noah sabln,
Jr. who held the position until lsOs.
Judge Sabin the cider, lived in serene anu
hosore retirement full Of acts OF piety ana pc
netirenre for 10 wears after quitting his ONCE
until his death March 10TH ISL at the age Of 70.
He was a man of very superior education for
The times and he often conducted
religious exercises for the Putney church
in the absence of any minister