Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-05-27
TRANSCRIPT OF FIRST RECORDS.
Old Papers Containing Proceedings Of
Town Meetings Copied In Book Form,
Beginning with Year 1868.


Town Meetings copied In Book Form,
Beginning with Year 1868.
The legal voters of Brattleboro at their
annual town meeting on March 5, 1892,
passed a resolution, on motion of Samuel
Clark. instructing the seectmen to pro-
cure a book and cause the early records
Of the town, which were in manuscript,
to be transcribed therin with due care
and attention, also sundry unrecoWied
deeds found among the old papers. The
first page of the book reads as follows;
"A transcript of the old records in the
town clerks office, Brattleboro, which
(for the want OF proper books for re-
cording) were made at the time in manu-
script on such papers as could then be
procured, and according have since suffer-
ed much from wear. are becoming daily
more illegible and liable to disorder and
loss; they have therefore been collected
and arranged i'm the best possible order"
Pages l to 81 Of this book contain the
records of Brattleboro from March Is,
l7S1 to July 49, 1892 which were recorded
by stephen Greenleaf, town clerk of
Brattleboro in 1892. In this same book
from page g. to ia is contained accounts
transcribed February, 1856, by Lafayette
Clark, town clerk of Brattleboro. which
are records Of events which took place
from 176S to 1881. The following intro
transcribed them: The following are
copies Of old records, much worn and
torn, recently found among the loose
papers OF the late town clerk. stephen
Greenleaf. Esq. and are hereby carefully
copied for preservation The first thing
recorded is a marriage intention which
reads as follows: These are to certify
that intention of marriage between
David Church of Brattleborough and
Damaris Church of Sunderland hath
been made pubick according to custom.
Henry Wells. town clerk. Brattleborough,
Dec 9th, 1865" On the back of this
certificate is written: These are to GER
tfy Y persons within named were
joined in Marriage by me, Bunker Gay,
Hinsdale, Dec. 10Th, 176S."
\ pcrsual OF the transcribed record of
these early days reveals many interesting
things. The annual meeting was then
held on the first Tuesday in March, a
at prcsent Among the officers elected
at the town meeting in 116S there were
three commissioners for laying out and
regulating highways. These officials
probably correspond to the selectmcn OF
the present time. In no three trustees
were elected whose duties might have
been Of similar nature. The first rec
ord found Of three selectmcn being
elected was on March p. ISL Another
interesting thing concerning the officers
elected at this town meeting is the fact
that four constablcS were elected, while
only two are elected now with several
times greater population. There We're
also two overseers Of the poor. At this
town meeting the highways Of the town
were divided up into six districts and the
freeholders OF the town were divided
among the six overseers of the highways
elected at this town meeting. and m this
way the roads of the town were cared
for. This system. which began then,
was used in the state for l24 years until
changed to the present town system.
Even at that early date four fence
viewers were elected and four other free
holders were chosen. whose duties, as
the records state, We're TO take care
that no unruly cattle or horses or any
that belong to other towns or any swine
unyoked or unringed run at large on
the highways or unfenced. unimproved
lands in this town the year ensuing. 4"
Two freeholders were chosen to demand
sue for and receive all penalties and
furfeitures incurred by the breach of the
orders at this meeting. These officials
correspond to some extent with the pres
ent town agent. II was voted at this
town meeting to raise IL pounds york
| currency on the poll and estates for
defraying the necessary and contingent
| charges OF the town. This is all the
| money that there seems to he any record
| of being raised at this meeting but II
| is evident that money was obtained for
other purposes. for the resolution rails
ing this amount provides that the assess
I ors are ordered to tax the Inhabitants
| and freeholders in equal proportion as
| other taxes are raised This money was
| disbursed by the town clerk giving orders
| on the treasurer. He was authorized
| to give orders for the whole or as much
| as was necessary of the IL pounds
| Brattleboro was granted a charter in 1853
| by George H. and Josiah Willard re-
| ceived an appointment at the first town
| meeting, but there are no available rec
| ords now concerning the meetings which
might have been held from 1853 to 176S
| At present 1t seems to be an unsettled
| question whether there were any regular
| town meetings previous to the one rec
| orded in 176S. There is a feeling about
the town among old residents that the
records of the town were burned at an
early date though this book contains
records continuously from 176S to 1892 -
| [Brattleboro letter in Springfield Sun
| day Republican.