Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-06-27

remarkable transactions. There
seems to have been no tariff, or Inn
lport laws. Boston, one hundred miles
Iaway, seems to have been the great
point of commerce with the colony
and many a bill was brought in for
transporting town "stuff' from that
port.
After the beginning of the Revol-
ution there seems to have been a
great desire to help the colonies. In
August of 1916 is an entry to the
effect that the selectmen voted to
supply three soldiers to the Contin-
entail army during the war, and, In
aid of such, they were to be paid an
annual bounty of eS each. John
Sheperdson seems to have been the
first volutneer under the act, and,
so far as the records show, this army
of three was kept in the field
throughout the war.
During the Revolution the town
seems to have become somewhat di-
vided in regard to its government.
New York was claiming the un-
named territory of Vermont on one
side, and New Hampshire on the
other. Vermont became sort of
cross-over ground between the
armies. 1t ives Just west of Guilford
that General John Stark, with New
Hampshire troops, won the battle
of Bennington, in which many Green
Mountain boys fought. There was
divided opinion In the town, and
there was somewhat serious disputes
between the inhabitats, so that after
the war the Liberty Pole Inn sc ms
to have been the real capitol OF the
government. Demands were made
by then government of Vermont for
the surrender OF tho charter under
which the republic had existed. The
town was then surrounded by other
towns loyal to Vermont, and as n
last resort General Ethan Allen was
sent with one hundred troopers to
Guilford to persuade" the people
to unite with the County OF Wind
ham and the State OF Vermont. 1t
seems that the Council was In SIS
sion at the Liberty Pole Inn when
Allen and his troops arrived.
Ethan Persuaded Them.
Allen sought admittance to the
hotel. or rather tavern. The door
was closed. Allen thundered on the
door with his fist and demanded ad-
mittance. He then announced that
no had come to have the town join
with the state and give up It's inde-
pendece. He was told. mot"
WELL" said he. "I1l give you three
days to make up your minds, and II
you refuse IN make Giulford as des-
olate as Sodom and Gomorrah." lie
proceeded TO make him
self at home and ordered his troops
10 make themselves comfortable.
"This." said my host, rs the old
front door OF the tavern on which
Allen thumped"--a great solid, pan
clled door, kept as historical relic
In the Gale family. The Council con-
the will OF the town was
sought. and Allen waited. and room
Cd with Gale. They met TO fix terms,
but there was TO be no terms. only
What would Allen dor
No one knew. but all guessed. Fin
ally, II they compiled with his terms.
would he leave the old charter and
records in the possession OF the
lown? Certainly. There were no
other terms.
Terms of Surrender.
The town capitulated. the Council !
signed for the town and adjourned /,
'ine die, and the little republic OF |
3uilford passed out OF existence and I
lis years later was almost out of
'eoollectin and tradition.
We folded up the old. time stained i
'harter and Il was put into It's wrap
'lng. The old records OF the colony
we're gain consigned TO the great
ron safe. and we went back to our
riends with a satisfaction that no
ightseelng. fishing or camera tour
st can ever feel. We had found a
'uried republic. and this little sketch
5 only a fragment OF story OF the
lines before and during the RevoIu-
ion that II fully uncovered would
eveal story OF human activity that
gould prove OF intense interest to
he lover OF his cOuntry's history
nd the descendants OF the once
wellers OF old Gllfrd.