The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-07-20
vermOnt,s Original State Seal.

The subject of the State seal and
coat of arms has attracted consider
able attention at one time and an
other. and the matter has been dis
cussed in print repeatedly, but there
is one point which has never been
cleared up satisfactory and that in
wolves the original seal used by Thorn
as Chittenden, the first. governor OF
Vermont We are therefore pleased
to be able to place before our readers
this morning the following important
letter from Hon. Horace w Bailey,
who is doing the present generation
important service by interesting it in
the early history Of what was at one
time the independent republic OF Yer.
mont. Mr. Bailey writes as follows:
To the Editor OF the Free Press:
am in receipt OF the following let
ter OF inquiry.
For sometime have been search
ing for historical facts about our
state seal"
Upon the cover of the book pub
lished by the late Senator Proctor in
1904 entitled Early Vermont Con-
vention 1776-1777.' is a copy of our
original State seal in use until 1921.
Could you tell me where that seal
now is?
Il have written our secretary Of
state and State printer. but they only
send cuts of the seal as it now is
AS you doubtless know the design
was first engraved on drinking cup
made from the horn of an OK and
used by our first governor. and If pos
sible ! would like to find the first
seal and drinking cup, etc, etc
As this is a subject OF interest to
every Nermonter may not hope that
the usual courtesy OF the Free Press
will be extended for the general pub
licity which the subject deserves
The historical facts relating to our
State seal and coat of arms may be
found In the legislative directory for
1903. pages S27-S39.
The original seal and drinking cup.
or cups are not so easily located II
seems that upon a careful examination
of the subject that the drinking cup
story was first exploited by Henry
Stevens OF Barnet, in Miss Hemen-
| ways GaZatteen Mr.. Stevens was
| Nermont's most noted early antiquor.
ian, and his story about the drinking
cup was written fifty years ago, only
seventy odd years after the alleged
/ transaction, and coming from such a
noted authority Is entitled to a hear
| ing. ! may be pardoned for being
somewhat skeptical about the drink
ing cup for IL seems only reasonable
that inasmuch as Governor Chitten
den has had direct descendants living
in Vermont. and still living In Yer
mont that so valuable and unusual an
heir loom would have been preserved
with care and great historic pride
and that It's present location would
have been matter OF common know
ledge. | am well aware that this i
not conclusive evidence against th'
Stevens story. and would suggest
that the State papers give this com
munication publicity, with the eXpec
tadon that It may fall under the eye
OF some one who can shed light OF
the subject. In Thompsons Civi
History of Vermont, page l07, Is thu
following item charged against thu
state by Ira Allen. State treasurer
"177S. Oct. g. to days at Windso
drawing a plan for state seal, an
getting Mr. r. Dean to make It los.
And on page 1873 is an entry Of pay
ment made to Mr. Dean for scre'
for q state seal Reuben Dean wa
then resident OF Windsor W.,
silver smith OF early renown; and
buried in the old village buryln