The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-08-21
Origin Of vermont's state Seal

Hon. Edward A. Chittenden OF st.
Press "a fragment OF the apple tree
which stood on Governor Thomas
Chittendens home lot in Arlington,
Vermont, under which the British Of
ficer (artist) stood to sketch the
scene that afterward was used as the
Great Seal OF che Independent Repub-
lie OF Vermont" 1t will be exposed
to view in Peases window today and
later added to Burlington collection
OF antiquities for the benefit OF the
public.
This relic was brought out by the
letter from Hon. Horace w. Bailey re-
Gently printed in the Free Press. call
ing for additional information in re-
lation to the drinking horn used by
Governor Chittenden. the engraving
on which was made the original OF
the Vermont seal. Another interest
ing contribution on the subject has
been furnished by Mrs. Sarah K. Lord
of this city In the shape OF an article
the date of which she informs US she
has been unable to discover. The
article, which was found in scrap
book. was written by NJ. K. Baker and
il is entitled. The State Seal" The
article follows:
I'm an old historical magazine, Hen
ry Stevens Esq, state antiquarian at
that time, gives the following account
OF the seal Of Vermont: 1 had heard
that the Vermont coat OF arms origin
ated in Arlington and went there TO
obtain reliable authority for the story
from a Mr.. Deming who was the only
man OF Governor Chittenden's guard
roll then living. Mr.. Deming said
III boarded with the governor while
on guard duty as was a young man.
DO you remember anything OF the
drinking cups he used at that time?
Yes, they were Of horn and the seal
OF our state was first engraved on one
of them. have drank out OF II many
time An English lieutenant who
used secretly to bring letters to the
governor stopped one time several
days and taking view from the west
window OF the governors residence
of wheat field in the distance. be
yond which was a knoll with a soil.
tary pine tree upon its top. he engrav'
ed Il upon this cup. The field was
fenced of from level space inter
vening between the house. Within
this space he put the COW with her
head over the fence for the grain.
THE governors drinking cups
we're made from the horn OF an OK,
bottomed with wood. First was cut
of cup from the end OF the horn
that measured half pint. next a gill
cup. then third cup which was a
glass
The engraved cup attracted the no
tice OF Ira Allen. who adopted Its de
. vice for our state seal, only when he
took hold OF Il he brought the COW
over the fence into the midst OF the
grain-bundles on either side. &c
when she had eaten one side tbs
other was ready.
II 1T may be OF interest to add tha
! the house occupied by Governor Chit
tenden In Arlington VI, from which
the view on the state seal was taken
D Is still standing. and Is near the Eth
; an Allen well, 30 often spoken OF. Thu
: lone pine is still standing Tor was
\ short time since) on what Is know
as Hogs back knoll.
II MRS Lord states that the pin
tree In the sketch accompanying tn
article is conventionalized and leaf
less and the state motto ia In larg
letters below the fence and sh
would like to know when the sta
was added and why II has been lef
Tout"
III Some very interesting data ha
been secured as a result OF the dis
cussion growing out Of Mr. Bailey
communication, and Il Is TO be hope,
| the subject will not be allowed q
drop until additional data has beel
obtained that will clear up the re
naming obscure points in connection
with the origin OF the state seal an
Governor Chittendens drinking cur
-Burlington Free Press.