The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-07-16

After rejecting she said she thought they
| were as much as 81. or art least -FOUR and
sixpence, and the affair was amicably set
| tied on that basis.
| Guilford has been the home of many
prominent men. Among the famous early
Royal Tyler, James Elliott. Richard
Whitney, Micah Townsend, Henry Sey-
mour, Gilbert Denison, Samuel Elliot.
John Noyes, Benjamin Carpenter, and
many more. Probably the most prominent
name in the above list is that of Royal
Tyler Although born in Boston, he came
to GuiIford in 1870, and in I794 was APP.
pointed judge of the supreme, court, OF
Vermont In 1900 he was appointed Chief
Justice of the same court, and he rendered
efficient service by his decisions and by
publishing the reports of the supreme
court of Vermont Judge Tyler was also
a dramatist and author, and in 1856 he
wrote ''The Contrast" the first American
play ever produced on a regular American
stage by an established company OF come
dians. In this play the 1 -an dialect ee
MAY Day, or New York in an Uproar."
In 1877 he wrote perhaps his most famous
fictitious memoir" The Algerine Cap
tive" where he depicted the horrors OF
the slave traffic.
Besides Judge of the supreme court,
Guilford furnished lieutenant governor
in the person of Benjamin Carpenter. lie
removed to Guilford in l110, SIX years al,
ter the original charter was granted. and
became an ardent patriot and one OF the
foremost advocates of separate state SOW
ereignty for Vermont. His grave Is marked
by a large white tombstone in the west
ern part of the town, and as the epltaph
thereon gives his career it is given below:
Sacred to the Memory
of the
Hon Benz Carpenter, Esq.
Born in Rehoboth Mass, A. ID. l12b.
A magistrate in Rhode Island IN A. ID. l'o4.
A Public Teacher of Righteousness.
An Able Advocate to His Last for
Democracy
And The Equal Rights of Man.
Removed to This Town A. ID. 1179:
Was Field Officer in Revolutionary War;
4 Founder of the First Constitution and
Government of Vermont.
A Councillor of CensorS in a. d. 1883
A Member of the Council and Lleut-Gov'
OF the State in A. ID. l7I9.
A Firm Professor of Christianity in the
Baptist Church Fifty Years Left this
world and l46 persons of Lineal pos,
terity. Mar. %. 1S04-age 70 years 10
months and y days, with strong MIND
and full faith of more glorious state
hereafter Stature about 6 feet, weight
about 200.
Death had no Terror.
He descended from William Carpenter
who came from the south of England IN
1888 and the late Senator Matthew Car
renter of Wisconsin. who married SIS
ter of Senator W. p. Dillingham; OF Yer
mont and the late Abbott Lawrence OF
Boston. were among his posterity. One
Of his grandchildren was Mark Carpenter,
who spent the later years OF his life serv-
ing the Baptist churches in Brattleboro,
West Dummerston and South Wlndham
rs pastor. Guilford has in the past FUR
1ished several military men of renown
Cen. !. w. Phelps and Gen. Charles r.
Phelps were both Guilford boys. In the
Tiyil war record of Guilford are colonies,
majors and many captains and ieutenants.
OF those days of raising bees" an IN
eresting story is told about a certain
William Stephenson, master carpenter OF
he old Congregational church OF Gull
ord The framework being ready, the
rame was put up from the ground sill to
.idge pole in a very short time by those
Who had come together to help in the
aising. When completed, it is well
lttested fact that ''Uncle Bill" Shepherd
ON, as he was called, put one foot over
his neck and hoped the full length of the
idge pole Not only did Guilford fur
lish literary men and statesmen, but also
men of Drawn. In those days wrestling {
was a popular sport and rings were !
ormed and challenges were given out for
he championship of the rings. At the
aisine of the old church at West Brattle- :
,oro the Guilford boys were challenged by :
he Brattleborians TO a wrestling match, |