Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-11-09
BANK CLEARING
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
The Founder OF bennington Capt. Rob-
inson's Grave Discovercd-A New Ner-

mont Crnp.
Some facts of historical value have re-
Gently been discovered in regard to Capt.
Samuel Robinson, the founder of Benniug-
ton, who died in London, in 1854
Me- Lyons, II teacher in the Tibbetts
school of HoosiCk. y. Y. has lately been
to England on Il pleasure tour lie had
an ancestor in the battle Of Bennington
and on that account is much interested in
anything relating to the history OF the
town. Considerable doubt has long exist
ed as to the location Of Capt RObineon's
grave and the circuins tauccs attending his
burial, etc. ana Mr.. Lyons determined to
clear up the mystery II pcSslble. On
capt. RobinSons tombstone in the old
cemetery at Bennington Centre. the in
scripton sets forth the meagre fact that
the deceased was buried in NH. Whit
fields church yard" but where the yard
was. could not be found out Parties
have searched in London several times
for his resting spot. but all endeaVors
proved fruitlcss until this year.
While in England. Mr. Lyons visited
London and spent a good part of his time
in sight seeing. one day a. he was pass
ing by church building lately erected,
he was attracted by a tablet hearing the
legend. "Whtfiold Memorial Church, lie
entered and soon found that this was the
spot where the old building had stood,
and at the rear of which. the grave of
cart. Robinson is situated. He was di-
rectcd to an undertaken, who had charge
of the parish records Of over 200 years,
and under the date OF 100, foGlu the 1ol-
lowing inscriptions:
Samuel Robinson, buried or died Oc-
toher %, 1867, aged 80 years. Brought from
the parish OF St. Mary lie Hon."
St. Mary lie Bon was one of the many
parishes into which London was divided.
but as Mr. Robinson had been an attend
ant at Mr. Whlthed's church. he was
bNicd in this parish.
Samuel Robinson was born in Cam
bridge, Mass. in 1905. His father was a
native of Bristol England, and connec-
ton of Rev. John Robnson's who VS.
? chaplain of the Mayhower. capt. Samuel
was the head of the pioneer band Of set
tiers of Bennington. and was the Chict
1 man in the colony all during his life
, While returning from one of his cam
= paiens in the French and, Indian war
t capt. Robinson passed by accident that
Y way, and inp essed by the b autY Of the
: country. resolved to plant colony there.
I Parties from New Hampshire had already
1 obtained Il grant Of the land, and named
G it bennington in honor Of GOV. Eenning
t Wentworth of that State. Capt. robin
son formed a company found out the
owners of the land, purchased their rights
= and removed thithor. The CAPTAIN was
, moderator of the first town, or proprie-
f tors meeting held, and ii was due to his
\ untiring zeal that the little colony grew
r as it did. He was appointed Jusuce OF the
peace in 1852. being the first person APP
o pointed to n judicial Office within the Inn
= its of the State.
Is When the controversy came up over inc
e New Hampshire Grants he was sent tc
London 10 plead the cause of the settlers
@ He was assisted by William Samuel John
q son of Connecticut. Mr.. RoDinsoH obtain
) ed AN Injunction against the giasplne
= New Workers and was further prosecut-
k ing his mission when he was taken ii
% with the smallpox and died. Mr.. John
t son wrote a very affecting letter of con
= dolonce to his widow. The original letter
is now in the Robinson collection a
Bennington Centre.
I Mr. Robinsons death was a great ca
| lamity to the settlers. Their father was
gone, and the mourning was deep and sin
| cere. Their beloved leader was dcaC
| across the sea and they did not even nave
the consolation of viewing his resting
] place Mr.. Johnson's letter gave the in
tenieence that he was buried in Mr.
Whitheld's church yard bat it remained
r for Mr. Lyons to locate the exact spo
e of the church and to give to the work.
r the record Of the pioneers death.
The monument in the Centre comoter!
Z was erected August 16 1856 to the mem
Q DRY of Capt. Robinson by his grandson
S David Robinson.
e VERMONT COFFEE
coffee crop is not general among Vernon
IS farmers and the pioneer ia this line /
, James Bowen of ttSford. year ag
y he planted four rows of "coffee beans
v each row about % feet long and the GRO
he reaped when brewed, in part, made a
Y palatable coffee as could be desired. Tn
~ crop, he says needs no more care tina
> the common white bean and he plante
= the seeds in sandy soil.
, Three young boys. Eddie GauVin, Fran
- Hemanway and Fred Ariel of Montgon
II cry killed a bear last week. They wei
E. hunting on Burnt Mountain" when the
,e unexpectedly came upon the bear. Til
boys were taken by surprise, but change
% the loads of bird shot for buck cartridge
T. and Gauvin fired, knocking over but NJ
q killing the bear Brun turned and ra
. but the other two fred and then all star
ed in pursuit. They fred 10 times befol
lie they killed their game.
" Fourteen years ago son OF Josia
Smith left his home in Brookhed witho'
,e known cause, and in all these years h
"a family ana friends have known nothir
y, of his whereabouts until a few days oi
~ when his father received letter from hi
J. saying he was residing in California, We
married and had two children. lie GAY