Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-02-17
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
The 0riginal ProprietOrs Of Durling-
ton.
To the Editor Of the Free Preeet

Inc Vf1BInul frOpF1etOfv u 0urlAo8.
ton.
To the Editor Of the Free Press,
The disappearance Of the early records
Of the proprletors Of Burlington and Of
be explained by these facts:
Ira Allen and his "companv' Of broth
era and brother~in-law bought. Mt tax
sales MOSTLY, usually for II cent an acre,
the "Vendue rights controlling several
OF the most desirable towns. When Allen
was defeated rs state treasurer and
under the ban OF tho assembly Unjust
" az was ultimately shown-in order to
safeguard the rights Of the "Onion River
Company" he kept back these records
OF several towns. This led to a petition
fiotn Silas Hathaway to the assembly
OF 1902 (see House journal, page $50
The committee to whom was referred
the petition of Slas Hathaway stating
that he Is large proprietor Of lands IN
the towns OF Burlington. Colchester, Shell
hirne, Essex and Georgia by purchases
originating in a title from Gen. Ira AL
len who has refused. and stil does neg
lect, to deliver UP the records OF said
ported that the law entitled IAN act maxi
ing Il the duty Of the proprietors' clerks
TO deliver over the records files, and
papers belonging to his office. to his
successor in said office is competent 10
all tie purposes intended BY said act"
The following Is a record OF the pro-
prietors OF burlington
BURLINGTON PROPRiETORS' RE
CORDS, SALISBURY. MARCH 3, 1774.
Salisbury. March %. 1T7.. Page I.
Then the proprietors OF the township
of burlington Ca township lately granted
under the great seal OF the province OF
New hampshire noW in the province OF
New York; met according to q lega
warning in the Connecticut Current al
the dwelling house of Capt. Samuel
Moves innholdc: in Salisbury in Itch
field county and colony of Connecticut
in New England
Firstly Voted that Col Thomas Chit.
tondcn he moderator for this meeting.
Secondly. Voted tn taIra Allen shall b,
proprietors' clerk for said township.
Thirdly. That this meeting be adjournec
| to the twenty-fourth day of instan
March 1T nine O'Clock to be held at thl.
place.
IRA ALLEN.
Proprietors' clerk
| March the 2itn day. A. d. 1774. Ther
the meeting was opened according tt
adjournment.
! Firstly. Voted that. whereas Ethan AL
len, Remember Baker, Heman Allen. Zim
| ri Allen and Ira Allen known by the nam'
| of the Onion River company, who ar,
proprletorS in this township Of Burling
| ton ON said river Ia township latel!
granted by the governor and counsel o
! New hampshire and is now in the pro
vince of New York; have expended larg'
| sums of money in cutting roat
| through he woods, from Castleton t,
said river 20 miles and clearing off en-
| comberments from the said lands il
them PARIS, clearing and cultivetng an,
settling some of those lands and keeping
possession which by lis is viewed as
great advantage towards the settlement
Of those lands in general. especially thu
said township of Burlington.
| Page . Whereas the said Ethan Allen
Remember Baker Herman Allen. Zimr
Allen and Ira Allen have layed out fiji
teen hundred acre lots in said township
| bounding on said river. therefore in con
| sidcration of these services done by then
! in consideration OF their-settlcnent o
five families on said lots with those tina
are already on; and girdlng five acre
on each hundred acre lot in two year
from the first day of June next i'm
broNiDu tlp II is voted II
survey bills be exhibited to the propri
etors' clerk OF said town and recorded i
this book by the first day of June mex
the said lots are confirmed to them a
30 many acres Of their rights and share
in said township said 10 lots are to b
laid seventy rods wide on the river.
Secondly Voted that each proprieto
have liberty at his own cost to pitch an
lay out to himself one hundred acres q
one whole right or share that they ow
in said town. said lots TO be laid not les
than seventy rods wide: exclusive {
what hath already been granted to
laid in said town provided they clear an
guide five acres to said right with
two years from the time that said 10
are laid out
| Thirdly. Voted that there shall ne II
each hundred acres 10 be laid in u
town of Burlington. there shall be or
hundred and three acres laid which thr'
acres shall be improved Tor the use
said town mon public highways II need'
In the most convenient place on said lo'
Fpurthly. Voted that the proprietor
clerk shall receive all deeds OF sale ~
survey bills of land In said Burlingt'
that shall be offered to him II paid
reasonable reward therefor and tn
t.at survey first recorded Or received
record snail stand good without rega
. 10 the dates OF said survey bills.
Eifthly Voted that Ira Allen shall
surveyor to lay out said town.
Page g. Sixthiy. Voted that this NEE
, ing be adjourned to Fort Frederick
Colchester, on Onion river, to no held
the first Monday of June next. at "
: |, o'clock in the afternoon.
IRA ALLEN
Propric:ors' cler