Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-18
IN WESTMINSTER.
Marker Placed on the Site of
the Towns Historic Old
Court House.
REVOLUTIONS FIRST BLOOD
Shed on the Spot Which Has Been
Designated Dedicatory Services
under Direction Of the Brattle-
boro Chapter, Daughters OF
the Revolution.

Fellows Falls. Sept 1.-THE historic old
town Of Westminster dedicated to-day with
appropriate ceremonies a marker erect ed
hy the Brattleboro Chapter of the Daugii-
tcrs of the American Revolution and plac-
cd on the site of the old court house. where
the first blood Of the revolution was shed
William French was shot and killed here
by tories five weeks before the battle of
! eNington.
A special train at noon brought the
Brattloboro delegation consisting of more
than 100 people. They were met at the
station by the Walroe bard and escorted
to the town hail by young ladies dressed
in white. with big bows o. the national
ccors on their shoulders, and members of
the f. II. Stoughton Post and Relief Corps
followed by n long line of school children
carrying flags
At the town hall the ladies Of West
minister served bountiful dinner after
which the procession was reformed AID
marched to the site of the old court house.
which is ON the terrace opposite the old
cemetery and overlooking the upper street.
Here a covered platform had been erect te 4
and drapcd with bunting and FLAGS. on the
platform was displayed the ancient drum
which was used on the 18th of Mtrcn.
10o. the day of the massacre, a chair
and window frame from: the old court
house. Beside the marker was planted the
the tower OF the old building.
The exercises were opened by prayer by
the Rev. q. II. Dehevoise. Geo G. Wrig ut
in behalf Of the citizens of Westminster r
welcomed the guests. Dr. Henry D. Holton
of Br4ttlcboro responded in well chosen
words after which Alfred S. Hall of Bos-
ton gave an historical address, in viii h
n" gave al insight into the conditions ex-
listing at that time and which led to the
m"rlNrdom of William French. After sing
ing by the school chidron the marker
draped in the stars and stripes WIS an
veilcd by Helen and Hollis Wright de-
scendalhs OF the fifth generation of Capt.
Asarldh Wright. sort of Miles Standish
in the county in those early days.
The marker is bronze tablet suitably
engraved, imbedded in a huge boulder of
granite obtained from the hills near bv.
ana httinS monument TO those sturdy.
patriots of revolutionary times. Judge
tioNt n. Wheeler gave an interesting talk
of the early history of southern Vermont.
after which the Hon. Kittredge Haskins of
Brattl"horo, the Rov. Homer Goudue #
West Westminster, the Hon Thomas Peck
OF Waluole and y. =. Williams OF Fellows
Fails gave short addr, ssoS
some Of the momi'ers OF the Vermont So
cirty Sons of the American Revolution
present were the Hon. Kittrcdge HasSins.
NJ. g.. the Hon. H. -. Holton, V. p Brat
tlchoro; Dr. George c. Gorham and Col.
Carroll a. Moore Bellows Falls; Charles
:. Forbes, secretary. st. Albans. r. f.,
llathorne, Ludlow Department Comman-
der q. A. r. Caleb Will9rd, washington
j., G. Among others pr, sent were Col f.
G, Osgood Mr. and Mrs. clark Chase. c.
w. OsgoOd. the Rev John 4. REID Mr.
and Mrs. Eugene Leonard. DR. and Mrs
E. r. Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. Charles f.
Robertson and the Rev. Albert Hammitt
from Bellows Falls.