Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-05-26
John {. BrosnahanIl,, IN,
BrattIe bOr0 Heirs Rich Ia Hope.

Inc brattleDOrO ana Otnor Vlnunam
county heirs to the famous Carver grant
have reason to believe that their claim of
title to the Minnesota realty is now more
valuable than at any time since the death
Of the original grantee in 1880. The state
ment that there has been discovered in the
town of Chillicothe, O an old deed which
is supposed to establish the title to about
100000 acres of land known as the Car
yer grant can scarcely help renewing in
tense interest in the matter, at least among
the heirs to the grant. Jonathan Carver,
to whom the land was originally granted
by the Nawdowessie Indians, was native
of Connecticut. His grandfather, William
Carver, was born in England and was a
captain in King Williams army during the
campaign in Ireland. Jonathan's father
was justice of the peace in the new
world, and in 17l2 Jonathan was born.
He was of rowing disposition and when
Is years old he bought an ensign's COM
mission in one of the regiments raised dur
ing the French war.
In 1857 he was captain under Col. Will
liams in the battle near Lake George,
where St. Pierre was killed and Carver
narrowly escaped with his life. After
peace had been declared between France
and England in 1868 Carver conceived the
idea Of exploring ''this vast continent" for
the benefit of posterity and left Boston in
1866. Carver spent the winter OF 1867
with the Nawdowessie Indians in what is
now Hennepins county, Minnesota. He
was made chief by the Indians, and dur
ing the winter they visited the great cave,
which has since been known as Carver's
cave. 1t was at this cave that Carver, or
May l, 1867, made his farewell speech to
the Indians and it was on that day that the
Indians, because Of their respect for Carver
and of his many kindnesses toward them,
decided to him the Carver grant, of which
they held undisputed possession. A copy
of the deed is an heirloom of one of the
Brattleboro descendants.
This tract of land includes within its
limits the whole OF St. Paul, much of Min.
neapolis, the cities of Saltwater and Hast
ings and many suburban towns. 1t is i'm.
possible to estimate the value OF ,this land
but it is worth many millions OF dollars
After the death of Jonathan Carver bi.
heirs set up claim for the land, but as tht
original deed was never exhibited by tht
assignees of the Carver heirs, it was i'm
possible to establish their title. 1t wa
generally conceded that there was an In
dian grant to Jonathan Carver; and Eng
land and parts of America were secured il
search of the deed, but without avail
Early transfers of real eatate were mad
without regard for possibly conflicting
claims, although this old Carver grant wa
frequently run against. In 1906, Samue
Peters, who had been tory and ministe
during the Revolutionary war, petitione'
congress tor an absolute deed to the gran
on the ground that he had bought of Car
ver's heirs their right to the grant. Variou
other claimants have appeared, but becaus
OF the absence of the original deed the
have been unable to establish their claims
1t is stated that the original deed ha
now been found on record in Chillicothe
o., and here is where the Brattleboro in
terest in the matter comes in. Jonatha
Carver married, in 1746, Abigail Robbins
whose grave is in Brandon, Vt. They ha
seven children. A daughter, Sarah, mar
ried Samuel Church and one of their chi
dren, Martha Church, married Thoma
Butterfeld. Julia Butterfeld, daughte
of Thomas, married Edward A. Graves
and their surviving children are Mrs
Erastus Tyler of Vernon, Mrs. J. E. Gal
Of Guilford, Mrs. F. w. Weeks of Brattle
boro, Frank Graves OF Indian Orchard
Mass, and Edwin F. Graves of South Ve1
non. Beside Martha Church, only one O
Sarah Carver Church's children married
and the only living descendant, so far a
known, is Cyrus Church of Walpole, N
FL, who is an old man. Sarah Carve
Church, a great grandmother of the Wind
ham county heirs to the Carver estate, ono
sold 1000 acres of her share of the grar
for 100 Spanish mill dollars, but becaus
she could not prove her title to the Ian
the buyer would not accept the transft
and the land now belongs to her heirs.
is an interesting story and an effort {
prove their right to the grant is being mac
by the Carver heirs, but what will be Il
result of their efforts is matter of COME,
ture.-Springfeld Republican.