The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-01-23
WARNED OUT OF TOWN

Mr.. Fairbanks, in his History of
st. Johnsbury, mentioned book en-
titled warning Out of Town."
work descriptive Of certain results of
a curious law which was in effect in
this state for some 80 years, a cen
sury ago, and more. At that period
here were many new corners in all
our Vermont towns, people whom no
one knew anything about, who were
IN many cases, shiftless and uncer-
tain persons, who were likely to be-
come town charges. There was law
passed of which communities could
rid themselves of the support of such
persons by reading in their hearing
or leaving at their place Of abode by
4 constable, precept signed by the
selectmen, warning the parties whose
names were on the summons, Ito de- |
part said town" It is not recorded !
chat any one ever did depart in con-
sequence of such intination, but, in
The sequel, there were often events
which make curious comment upon
he law. Mr.. Fairbanks himself,
makes note that Joseph Fairbanks
and family were warned out of St.
Johnsbury in 1916. Had they taken
.he hint that they were undesirable
citizens and departed the town, it
| would have made some difference to
| St. Johnsbury. Here in Barnet in
| 1918, a gentleman who had been
successful lawyer in another state,
lad recently come to this town to
practice his profession, when he was
aiken sick and soon after died. He
| eft widow and five small children,
who were duly warned out of town"
by the constable, under the warrant of
he selectmen.
Whether the widow obeyed the
| orecept or not, do not know, as
| neither records nor tradition have any
further mention Of them here, but
| from what I know of the lady she
was abundantly qualified to take care
Of herself in Barnet OF anywhere
else, and the sequel shows that the
children were equally able to keep
off the town."
One of these children became a
noted physician in New York, anoth-
er was a lawyer in Buffalo, and a
| grandson was a prominent member of
! he convention which nominated
Grover Cleveland for President in
1884, and seconded his nomination !;
one of the daughters married law
yer who, later, was a member of the
Supreme Court of New Hampshire
q second became a noted teacher, and
principal of a ladies' school. The
third daughter, think died young.
The biographies of two of these
children have been published, but
here. is no mention of the Barnet cpl
sode in either of them. The decend-
ents of these children have made !,
rood record for themselves wherever
they have been, and so far as | have
been able to trace them, not one of
hem have made a failure in life. But
Barnet has acquired no fame from
heir residence here.
A year or two later there was an
article in the warning for March
meeting, which, in the sequel, gave q
: very pleasant impression of the
} spirit of Barnet people a century
ago. The town was asked "to see
what shall be done for certain
child"
It appears from the context, as the
ministers say, that little girl, who
seemed to have been about six years
Of age, was in Barnet, whose history
or friends were unknown. How this
child came to be here or why being
here, no one appeared to claim her, is
not recorded. Neither is it clear why
people took such pains with her, for
the town, otter discussion, instructed
| the selectmen to place her in some
Christian family, where she will be
SUITABLY clothed and treated"
| In reports of the annual town
meeting for two or three years this
child came up for consideration, and
the town clerk, who was Rev. David
Goodwillie, was instructed to discover
her friends, ifpossible. 1t appears that
he succeeded in finding her kins-peo-
pie, as at a March meeting about
hundred years ago, it was announced
| that friends who would receive and
care for the child, lived in Salem,