Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-06-16
sErHEps tzsth ANNIVERSARY.
The Town Was Chartered Century
and a Quarter AGO.


i and Quarter Ago.
i This year marks the 125th wear o.
Bethel as a town. The original proprietor,
of the town OF Bethel were mainly resi-
dents OF Hanover, then known as Dres-
dem in the state OF New Hampshire
The first settlements were made within
the present limits of the town soon after
i New Hampshire gave up her claims t.
this territory and New York was assert
\ ing supremacy. The line between the
New Hampshire md New York claims
is said TO nave passed over the northerly
limits of the village as near as can be
ascertained. The first meeting of those
DESTROYS of forming settlements in Bethel
was held in Dresden, Dec. %, 1877, for
| the purpose of forming settlements on
| White river aud its branches in the
northwesterly line OF RoyattOn and that
part OF Middlesex which ADULTS on the
| northwesterly line of Royalton. A large
section OF country northerly of Royalton
was known then as Mifdlesex.
/ After several adlournments, on Deeem-
| Der 31st, petition was addressed to the
/ Honora bic Council of Safety for the state
of Vermont, stating that the petitioners
were DESTROYS of settling in the territory
named, provided they could get good
title and asking that a tract six miles
square be set out of Royalton and the
adjoining part of Middlesex. In the mean
time Mr.. Comfort Sever, as committee
in behalf OF the proposed proprietors.
had been to Royalton and interviewed
the citizens Of that town as to relinquish-
ing a strip two and one-half miles wide,
but later Royalton consented that only
a strip of two tiers OF three hundred acre
lots be taken off which would leave Roy
alton six miles square.
The charter of Bethel was finally grant
ed IN 1873 and reads as follows:-
STATE OF VERMONT The Governor,
Council and General Assembly of the
Representatives OF the Freemen of Yer
mont.
To all people to whom these presents
shall come
Greeting.
Know We, that, whereas, it has been rep
resented to us by our friends, John Payne
and John House and their associates that
there is a tract or parcel OF vacant land
lying within this state; which has not
been heretofore granted; which they pray
may be granted to them. We have there
fore thought fit for the due encouragement
OF settling new plantation within this
state and other valuable considerations us
hereunto moving,and do by these presents,
in the name and by the authority of the
freemen of the state OF Vermont give and
grant unto the said John Payne, John
House and their associates, viz: Dudley
Chase. Benjamin Smith, Simeon Chase,
John Hubbard, Matthias Stone, Benjamin
Chase, Asa Edgerton, Samuel Peek, VIM.
Chaplin, Samuel Chase, Paul McKenstry,
Ralph Wheelock, John 0rdway, salmon
Chase, James Treadaway, Solomon Cleave-
land. Rice Wheeler. Seth Chase, Samuel
Stone, Wm. Lyon, David Copeland, Laban
Gates, Beniiah Strong, Thomas Putnam,
Samuel Webster, Israel Smith,John Throop,
Timothy Bush, John Payne, Jr., Johu
Cook, Zebulon Lyon, Joel Marsh, Ebene-
ger Putnam,J ohm Terry, John Morse, John
Cowper, Thomas Bingham, Asa Parker,
stephen Child, Benjamin Crane, Joseph
Tilden. Jeremiah Prescott. Daniel Kenney,
Solomon Strong and VIM. Chaplin, Jr.,to-
gether with five equal shares to be appro-
priated to public uses as follows, viz; first,
one share for the use of seminary or coll
lege within this state, one share for the
first settled minister or ministers of the
Gospel, to be disposed OF for that purpose
as the town may direct one share for the
perpetual use and support OF the ministry
of said town, one share for the county
grammar school throughout this state and
one share for the use and support OF a
school or schools within said town-rthe
following tract or parcel of land situate,
lying and being within this state, divided
and bounded as follows, viz:
Beginning at point, six miles and one
half, on a straight line, north sixty-one
degrees west from the northwesterly cor
ner of Sharon, thence south 80 degrees |
west six miles so rods, thence north 81 de- |
grees west six miles, thence north 80 de- I.
grees east six miles and sixty rods thence
south 81 degrees east six miles to the point [,
making the first bound, containing BY adj |
measurement, twenty-three thousand six |
ty acres. To be divided into fifty-two !
equal shares and that the same be and |
hereby is Incorporated into a township by |
the name Of Bethel and that the inhabit- |
ants that do, or hereafter shall inhabit the /
said township are declared to be enfran- I
chised and entitled TO all and every the I
privileges and immunities that other |
and enjoy.
TO have and to hold the said described |
tract of land as above expressed together |
with all privileges and appurtenances, to |
them and their respective heirs and as |
signs forever upon the following condi- |
lions and restrictions, to wit:
Imprimis, that each proprietor of the /
town OF Bethel aforesaid cultivate five |
acres OF his share in said town within the /
term OF three years from the date OF this |
grant, and build a house at least eighteen L
feet square, and be in actual possession of |
the premises within five years from the |
date aforesaid, and continue to improve |
said landsiand for nom performance there
OF, the said land to revert back to the |
freemen of this state.
Secundo, that all pine trees suitable for
masts and spars for shipping be reserved
for the use and benefit Of the freemen of |
this state.
In testimony whereof we have caused
the seal of this state to be affixed at Ar
lington in the county of Bennington this
23d day of December, A. d., 1879, and in
the third year of the independence of this
State. THOS. CHITTENDEN,
Joseph Fay, Sect'y.
l779, Dec. 23d, received and recorded in
lib. LIST, charters, page 1, I'd. Part.
j. Fay, sect'y,
A True Copy, Attest,
Dudley Chase, Clerk.
w. n. s. NOTES.