St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1919-01-29
WARNED OUT OF TOWN

MI. Fairbanks, IN his History OF
St. Johnsbury, mentioned book en-
titled Warning Out of Town." a
work descriptive of certain results of
a curious law which was in effect in
this state for some 80 years, Il CEN
fury ago, and more. At that period
there 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 a 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
a constable, precept signed by the
selectmen, warning the parties whose
names were on the summons, "to de-
part said town." 1t is not recorded
that any one ever did depart in con-
sequence of such intimation, but, in
the sequel, there were often events
which make curious comment upon
the law. Mr.. Fairbanks himself,
makes note that "Joseph Fairbanks
and family" were warned out of ST..
Johnsbury in 1915. Had they taken
the hint that they were undesirable
citizens" and departed the town, it
would have made some difference to
st. Johnsbury. Here in Barnet in
1913, gentleman who had been a
successful lawyer in another state,
had recently come to this town to
practice his profession, when he was
taken sick and soon after died. He
left a widow and five small children,
who were duly warned out of town"
by the constable, under the warrant of
the selectmen.
Whether the widow obeyed the
prccept or not, l do not know, as
neither records nor tradition have any
further mention of them here, but
from what | 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-
cr was a lawyer in Buffalo, and Il
grandson was prominent member of
the convention which nominated
Grover Cleveland for President iii
1884, and seconded his nomination;
one of the daughters married law
YER who, later, was member of the
Supreme Court of New Hampshire;
second became noted teacher, and
principal of ladies' school. The
third daughter, think died young.
The biographies of two of these
children have been published, but
there is no mention of the Barnet cpl
sode in either of them. The decend-
ents of these children have made s
good record for themselves wherever
they have been, and SO far as / have
been able to trace Their, not one of
them have made a failure in life. But
Barnet has acquired no fame from
their residence here.
A year or two later there was an
article in the warning for March
meeting, which, in the sequel, gave a
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"
1t 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
hel. friends, ifpossible. 1t appears that
he succeeded in finding her kins-pco-
pic, as at March meeting about a
hundred years ago, it was announced
that friends who would receive and
care for the child, lived in Salem,
Mass, and the selectmen were direct
ed to place her in the care of some
trustworthy person who would sec
that she was placed in the hands OF
her friends.
Hcnceforth the child disappears
from Barnet annals and / cannot
trace her aftcr-history. And here
comes in the qucstion-why did the
people take so much interest in this
little waif? 1t is certain that she
was not treated as Il paupcr-and
why not? She was not bound out as
other destitute children were. Was
there something particularly attrac-
tive in the child that it should then
be singled out for consideration, or
we're there circumstances which have
not come down to us which caused
the interest which people took in her?
We may never know, but l like to
dwell upon the kindly spirit manifest
ed by the people of Barnet toward