Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-11-24
SHARP BARGAIN WITH MINISTER,
Interesting Facts Revealed by Examina-
ton of Old Town Records-Parlshlon
ers Swore Off Tlthes.

S'S oWOIS vi IltHcS.
An examination of the records in the
Brattleboro town clerks office during
the years from the organization of the
town in 176S to 1900, reveals a change
in religious opinions, as well as in
other matters and in methods of con-
Quoting business. The first book used
In the town of Brattleboro was one in
which the records of the town meetings
are given, showing the different officers
elected, and the money to be raised
which. by the way, in many cases was
ridiculously small; and contains over 100
records of notices to undesirable peo-
pie. who might become town charges, to
leave town.
Then in another book was kept the
records of the births, marriages and
deaths, highway surveys, ministers Gre
dentials attesting that they were prop
erly ordained, and records of various
other things. One part of the book is
devoted to religious certificates, some of
them explaining that a certain person
was the member of a certain church
and had paid. the taxes assessed to him
for religious purposes. There are, how
ever, over so declarations which state
in substance as follows II do not agree
in religious opinion with the majority
of the inhabitants of this town. as the
case now is" Just why certificates of
IL,
but the chances are that there was
some provision whereby If such state
ment was made no taxes for the
preaching of the gospel could be col
lected from the party so certifying.
The first settled minister of Brattle-
boro was Rev. Abner Reeve, who began
his labors in ITO in the house erected
for religious and town gatherings, on
what is known as Meeting House hill,
where now the cemetery is a silent re-
minder of past habitation. 1t seems
from the records that many sharp bar
gains were driven with the minister,
the evident design of the people being
to get their religious instruction at the
lowest price possible.
1t Is stated that one minister in the
early days received in his package of
bills paid him for service, two counter
feits. The society refused to make the
matter right because the pastor was
paid with the veritable money obtained
from subscribers to his support, and the
collector could not tell from whom the
two bills came. Another amusing fea-
ture of the records is between 40 and so
entries showing the "ear mark" for cat
tie and sheep of the different owners of
such In town. some of which have gro
tesque drawings, illustrating the particu-
lar mark. The birth and death records
in these early days are very meager.
IL evidently was thought OF little con-
sequence as a matter of history. The
records of marriages are more COM
plete, and evidently more or less effort
was made to secure a record of them
ALL
The town of Brattleboro has had in
its history IL town clerks, two of
whom, Stephen Greenleaf, jr., and Will
liam s. Newton, have together served
the town for SO years; Mai Greenleaf
having served from 1893 to 1874, when he
resigned, and Judge Newton having
served from 1863 to 1911 when he re-
signed. All the records of the town
have been kept in nice condition. and
display careful. painstaking effort on
the part of all the clerks to have the
records made by them serve as a mon
ument to their excellent penmanship
Many of the records of Maj. Greenleaf
closely resemble a steel engraving, and
the last records made by Judge New
ton, at the advanced age OF SS years,
are such as might well serve for
scholars copies. If penmanshlp were
today taught in that manner-[Brattle-
boro letter In Springfield Sunday Repub-
lican.