The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-03-12
VALUABLE REQUEST

The Vermont Historical Society has
received from the executors of the es-
tate of Mr.. Henry K Elkins, an ex-
ceedingly valuable collection of early
Vermont coins, paper currency and
other Revolutionary relics. This in
teresting collection was bequeathed to
the society by Mr.. ,Elkins who was
born in Peacham, and died in Chi
cago, in July, 1901. Mr.. Elkins was
a loyal Vermonter and much interest
ed in the early history of the State.
His father, Jonathan Elkins, was
one Of the first settlers of the town of
Peacham and among the documents
contained in this collection is valu-
able manuscript written by him relat-
ing to the early settlement of that
town and the difficulties experienced
by the early settlers in clearing the
country, and also an account of the
captivity of himself and his voyage to
England under arrest and his expert
ences while confined in the Plymouth
mill prison, Lands End, England.
This manuscript consists of several
pages, and among other things tells of
the fact that while the American
prisoners were confined in England in
the Plymouth mill prison DR.. Benja-
min Franklin, as is well known, ar
ranged to provide each one of the pris-
oners with a small amount of money
per month, for the purchase of the
necessities of life, and how, instead of
using all the money for such purposes,
Jonathan Elkins purchased blank
book and took instruction in mathe-
MATES from one of his fellow prison
ers. This arithmetic he carefully
preserved and brought home with him
to Peacham, experiencing considerable
difficulty in hiding it from the officers
on board ship. This book was sue
cessfully concealed and is now among
the documents in this collection.
Probably the most valuable portion
of the collection consists of seventy
five or eighty coins, most of which
were issued during the years 1885 to
1888, under an act of the legislature
passed in June, 1875, authorizing
Reuben Harmon, Jr., TO coin copper
money. Vermont being the first state
to coin any money this collection is
particularly valuable, especially those
coins issued in l7S5, which are now
exceedingly rare. The collection con-
tains specimens of nearly all the types
and varieties of Vermont coins, is
sued in the years 1885, 1886, 1877, and
17SSsand is consequently of great his
torical value.
There are also numerous rare pieces
of Vermont paper currency, some of
which are unique; also an injunction
written upon parchment, dated March
1900, restraining one Berry under
heavy penalty from proceeding with
an action at law against Aaron Burr,
bearing the great seal of the court of
chancery, state of New York, and
signed by Van Ingen, clerk in chan
Gerry, the Hon. Robert @. Livingston,
Chancellor, and is an interesting docu-
ment, showing the form i'll which le-
gal papers We're issued at that time.
The coins and other articles are con-
tanned in a neat mahogany case, made
especially for the purpose, and Is la
belled and will be known as the Ell
kins collection. "
This bequest to the Vermont Histor-
ical Society is without doubt one of
the most valuable collections that it
has been the good fortune of the So
ciety to receive for many years The
interest that Mr. Elkins took i'll
Vermont affairs and especially in the
early history of the State prompted
him to bring together this collection
of coins and other articles, which he
realized were of great historical value
and il is to be hoped that the exam
pie set by him in bequeathing it to
the society may be the means of max
ing other people mindful of the good
work that this society is doing in pre-
serving all relics or documents in any
way relating to the early history of
the State.
We do first clSss work on short notice.