Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-20

skeptical about the drinking cup for It
seems only 'easonable that inasmuch rs
Governor Chittcnden has had direct
descendants living in Vermont, and still
living In Vermont that so valuable and
unusual an heir loom woui have been
preserved with care and great historic
pride, and that It's pre7ent location would
have been matter Of common knowledge,
I nm well aware that his Is not CON
elusive evidence against the Stevens
story. and would suggest that the State
papers give this communication publicity.
with the expectation that It may fail
under the eye of some one who can shed
light on the subject In Thompson's Civil
History Of Vermont, page lO7. Is the fol-
lowing Item charged against the state by
Ira Allen, State treasurer: '177S. oct. &c,
to days It Windsor drawing plan for
n State seal, and getting Mr.. r. Dean
TO make it, I0s'' And on page 1873 Is an
entry OF a payment made to Mr.. Dean
for a screw for a State seal Reuben Dean
was then n resident of Windsor, VI, n
silver smith of early rcnown: and Is
buried In the old village burying ground
in that place Nevertheless Ira Allen and
Engravor Dean may have had Governor
Chittenden's drinking cup az n copy. This
real was in use until 1921. soemlnS'to have
como into use by common consent and
without legislative enactment The mat
ter Of getting seal established by law
was first taken Up by .Ic Vermont
Historical society in 1852 wien Prof g.
W. Benedict. Norman Williams and
Charles Reed were chosen committee 20
take the matter up with tho legislature.
which resulted in the seal and flag beinc
written into our statute book.
Tho result of this legislation is the
beautiful emblem Goat Of arms) hanging
in the office OF the secretary OF state
the design in It's back ground representing
the view Chnmplain lad in 1909 when he
came up the lake. of Mansfield ant
Camels ump, and not Of n view from
the east window of Gov. Chittenden's
house in Arlington. Let us hear from
others on the subject
HORACE, W BAILEY.
July It. 1911.
The editor Of the FREE PRESS has
consulted with the different descend.
ants Of Governor Thomas Chittendci
residing in Burlington with the hop
| that It might be possible to find som,
| trace of the original seal or the drink
ing cup to which Mr.. Bailey refers. Th'
tradition in question has been HANDED
down from generation 10 generation
az Mr.. Bailey has written but none o
| the Chttenden camily in this immedi
/ CT, ii al
formation.
Hon. Edward a. Chlttcnden of st
Adams was asked for any data h
might have with reference to th'
mooted point, and he has furnished VI
one very interesting piece of informa
tion. Colonel Chttenden, when a boy
repeatedly heard his grandfather
story of how British officer carve
Oh an OK horn the design which wa
the original of the seal used by Gov
ernor Thomas Chittenden, and Coione
Chittenden. moreover has a piece o
the apple tree under which the Britt i
| officer as said to have sat while he dl
this prece of wonderful carving 81
Governor Chittendens drinking horI-
It is unfortunate in the extreme tina
this question was not raised durinj
the active life of the late Hon. l.. L
Chittenden, for that persistent anti
Quaran and careful historical write
would prof. ably have been able \
throw some light upon the matter
Communication of Mr.. Chittenden's hoo
shows that he has included no refer
cncc to the handing down of tn
drinking cup of Governor Thoma
Chittenden in his "reminiscences. an
II he knew about IT, the point prob
ably did not impress him sufficient
to lead him to refer TO ii.
1t Is to be hoped that the matte
may not be permitted to drop at thi
time but that Investigation may con
tInue until something more definite
discovered. In the meantime we sha
bo glad to print communications tina
will add to the Information at han
concerning Vcrmonts original Sta
seal and coat of arms.