Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-01-23

Read Before the Daughters of the Rev
olution Tuesday Evening-an occa-
sion of Gracious Hospitality and In
formal Social Enjoyment.
The Bratt1eboro chapter of the
Daughters of the American Revolution
and invited guests held an interest
ing meeting at the Brooks House Tues
day evening. A company of $50 were
present, seats for whom were provided
in the main parlor. There were dec
orations of the American colors, and
in the reception room the lunch table
was very tastefully trimmed with flow
ers. smlaK and ribbons. The Man
dolin and Guitar club, under the di-
rection of Miss Cox, its teacher, fur
nished music while the company were
assembling, and during the social
hour which closed the evening. The
guests were received by Mrs. E. II.
Putnam, regent of the chaptT; Mrs.
Annie G. Cobb vice regent; and Mrs.
II. f. Bond, chairman of the board of
managers. The ushers were Mrs. c.
l.. Stickney. Mrs f. ID. Whitney, Mrs.
C. f. r. JENNIE, Mrs. S. O. Miner, Mrs.
Charles f. Bingham and Mrs. E. S.
Bowen. The arrangements OF the
evening were in charge of Mrs. c. 5.
Pratt. assisted by the ladies men
toned.
The formal program of the evening,
which was taken up soon after
o'clock, with the regent ia the chair,
opened with a group of songs charm
ingly sung by Mrs. Fred w. Putnam.
The regent then introduced Dr. Con
land. who had consented (recklessly
and unwisely, as he averred in pre-
senting his subjecU to give a paper
on some phase of early local history
Following DR.. 'Conland's paper Frank
H. BraSor gave a song, and this was
followed by a duet by Mr.. Brasor and
Mrs. Putnam. A social hour was
then announced, during which refresh
ments were served, while a delightful
atmosphere of informal social enjoy
ment prevailed.
During the formal proceedings a ris-
ing vote of sympathy and regret was
taken in recognition of the recent
death of Mrs Burdett, honorary state
regent. Just before the social hour
began a message was placed in the
hands of the regent. Mrs. Putnam,
from Alfred S. Hall, Esq, of Boston,
who gave the historical address at the
unwilling of the old court house mark
er at Westminster last September, an
nouncing that he had had report of
the proceedings and the text of his ad-
dress put in print in pamphlet form,
and asking the Daughters to accept
as many copies as they wished for
their own use, and that of their
friends. This announcement was ev-
identity an. agreeable surprise to the
ladies, and vote of thanks was i'm
mediately moved and unanimously car
ried. Mr.. Halls address was a very
valuable piece of work in the way of
concise summing up and making real
one of the most stirring chapters of
our Vermont early history, and it rich
ly deserves the permanent setting
which it is given in this pamphlet
Or. ConIand's Paper.
In opening his paper DR.. Conland said |
that he had originally intended to present
some facts about the history and career |
of Col. Thomas Brattle, for whom Brat |
tleboro was named but the course of |
events had prevented his doing this and |
compelled him to turn his thoughts in |
another direction. He referred briefly |
to the conditions which existed at the |
outbreak Of the Revolutionary war, and |
especially to the bitter feeling, perhaps |
without a parallel in history entertained |
by the Patriots towards the LOyalists or |
Tories, as the adherents to the crown |
were known. In Vermont the situation
was especially trying for both Patriots
and Loyalists. because. of the states pc
culiar position, located on the northern
frontier, and bone of contention be-
tween New York on the west and New
on the east. Because of this
exposed situation. many leading Patriots
believed themselves justified in keeping
up a show of loyalty to the crown while
acting as mediums of correspondence
between the British army and civil Off
GERS in New York and the Tory sympa-
thzers in Vermont. Congress and even
himself knew that this was
being done. The motive of such men
was well known that their patriotism
was never seriously questioned, but the
nevertheless, gave opportunity |
for a few leading men, at heart in sym
pathy with the crown. to give informa-
ton and other aid to the British officials.
A conspicuous example of this type of
man was Col, Samuel Wells, who was
horn in Deeried in 1870 and came to
in 1862, settling on a tract
IF land, a part of which is now owned by
The Bratteboro Retreat. He soon be-
came a man of prominence, was made
A justice of the peace. a Judge of the
court of common pleas, was active in
military affairs was the first town rep
'esentative. representing Brattleboro in
he New York assembly, and at the time
If the WeStmin ter massacre was in New
York in attendance upon a session of the
assembly. lie came home Immediately
md by virtue of his office as Judge made
report on the massacre which was faV-
,rable to the crown. He soon became an
inject Of Susncon and was closely |
watched. and. though he managed to es-
ape punishment and confiScation of his |
property, there rs no reason to doubt he
vas constantly guilty of acts that would
rave warranted drastic treatment by the
Patriot leaders. 1t has been amply |
proved that Col. Wells accepted an offer
. become an intermediary between the
British in Canada and those in New York |
md secret agents bearing letters and
dispatches were directed to report to | ,
oil Wells in Brattleboro. Luke Knowl-
on of Newfane was associated with Col
Wells i'm this work, though it is now be-
ieved that Saint Luke" as he was fam
liarly called. was never a Tory at heart,
,ut took the course he did under the be-
lief that he was furthering the policy of
he Patriot leaders
In 1772 the colonial Congress issued an
rider for the arrest of Wells and Knowl-
on, and Wells, having received Sc
ret information of the fact. fled for New
York He stopped over night at a house
n Peru In the early evening a colonial
'thcer and two privates appeared at the
ame house ana asked for lodging say
ng that they We're on the way to Brat
leboro to arrest Col Samuel Wells, "a
notorious agent and confederate of the