The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-08-30
REPUBLIC OF GUILFORD
npresng Story of Windham County Town and Its
Charter from King George.

der the gentle persuasion OF Ethan Alien
and force of 100 state militia.
Then we looked over the records of the
town board. The records show that the
town was well governed. Away back IN
those days the names appear OF the
Wards, Shepherdsons, Bullocks, Martins,
Bakers, Barneys, Aldriches and a num-
Der of others, still familiar town names.
Il appears that schools were organized
through the town and a sort of semi
academy at the Centre, or rather 'capl-
tai was established. A society OF the
Established Church" was formed, and
between the lines one may catch
glimpse that there was something like
an untitled aristocracy in existence at
that time. Then one gains the impress
sion that the town became somewhat
tribal in its makeup. There was the
population that centered about the seat
Of government. the Green River settle
ment the settlement of Gulltord Hollow
and that of Algiers, a little village at the
falls of Broad Brook, nearest to fort
Dummer, now Brattleboro. The Liberty
Pole Tavern was at the latter place ana
was great gathering place Tor the clans
in their pilgrimages up and down tne
Connecticut river, These Old lecoEus
bring out many curious matters ana give
an insight into many remarkable trahSac,
tions. There seems to have been no
tariff or import laws. Boston, one hun
dred miles away, seems to nave Deen the
great point of commerce with the colony,
and many a bill was brought IN lor
transporting town stuff from that port
After the beginning of the Revolution
there seems to have been a great aeSlI rc
IN helm the colonies. In August OF luo
i an entry to the effect that the select
men voted to supply three soldiers to the
continental army during the war, and, III
aid of such. they were to be paid an an
nnal bounty of f3 each. John sheperd-
con seems to have been the first volunteer
nnder the act, and, so far as the recotus
show. this army of three was kept III 'he
field throughout the war. 49,. z,,,,s
During the Revolution the town seems
TO have become somewhat DIVIDED III re-
| gard to its government. New loih Va We
| claiming the unnamed TERRITORY vi -
mont on one side, and New llai ups 81
an the other. Vermont became a sorI q yi
on w o,,e,, Ground between the armies. IL
r ros inst west of Guilford that General
T I'm Stark with New Hampshire troops,
U ,non the battle of Bennington, IN when WI
,',onv Green Mountain boys fought lher9i
was divided opinion in the town, anu
thcre we're somewhat serious disputes pe
wen NC the inhabitants, so that after tle
',.o, Tho Liberty Pole Inn seems to nave
! i M%l The real capitol of the government
! p,,llonJs were made by the then govern
',,ont Of Vermont for the surrender oi
th, cbarter under which the republic hau
o w for over 40 years, but 1t was re-
s;stad The town was then surrouGIue ~
hV other towns loyal to Vermont anu as
~ last resort General Ethan hl Is wa" 40
cent with 100 troopers to uuii l;th the
''nersuade" the people to unite WY ~ Yer.
county of Windham and the staog VI 1l,oS in
mont, It seems that the cqun'I ,,,hen Al
session at the Liberty fole Inn "n Allen
zen rh t"a odmittance to the hotel, or ram ram
soug 9a,or rO The door was closed All ea
e[ raIu on the door with his flsI anu
t Jnamanded admittance. He t men The
nouncea 'n With the state and give up us
town JON ",' He was told NO!
l1dePeno ead he I'm gve.you three days n
wei IN your minds, and II you IL,
TO 70 hia III make Guilford as desolate as az
iuse ! and Gomorrah." He thereup ud
oo ooanded TO make himself at holne soi %n@
pprJered his troops to make li haSt rs
ooaluuafortable. "This," SAID my no' wbich
th l old front door of the ta tavern VI, n,amelled
Allen Iaut as historical relic IN t the
G Ga1e family The Council consld oeI Allen
will Of t and 'o room e' With Gale II They Sy
wa WA TO fix terms, but there Mere would W.
me- terms only surrender, WIat nressed
no n gei Az No one knew, but an eu ta,y,s
Alen 40 + thew complied with his ter res
FlnailllSi 10 leave the old charter anu r rer
would ne e. ,en nossesson of the town! G re-,
fanny tam capitulated the Council e sls and the
town ' uap and adjourned sine DIE, anu mt 81
the town dI% of Guilford passed o% ,,o u
existence ssee ens ies y and tradition
out w. o. folded ND the old, time.st tame
we io aud # was put into its wrap IgaiI
charter ed a records Of the colony were and
eons cons hack to our friends WITH o or cam
Went hat hat no sightseeing, fls ISM SoJ fount
ton o omrE can ever feel, we naa sketch
era buried republic and this nf The times
Is f 6nls and during the Rey S1 story O
pel f,,lIv uncovered would reveal ve Of in
II IuaiS activity that would PROV f h;s coun
human arrest arrest to the lover OF ms fo fl,
tense lnte, and the descendants oi ro h,
) try's hist oTsrs az" of old Guiltord.m'oi''
9 @npld in New York Tribune