The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-05-05
VERMONT TOWN CHARTERS.
Publicatio of Interesting Document
Under Way By State.

Work has been begun at the secre-
tary OF states office preparatory to the
publication, as authorized by the last
legislature, OF volume TO show the
charters OF towns that this state is-
sued. Franklin III. Dewart Of Burling
ton, who edited volume ] OF State Pa
pers Of Vermont" has in hand the prep
aration of this, which viii be volume
ii Of the same series.
More than half of the towns of the
state, of course, received their charters
from New Hampshire and copies of
these have been available through vol
ume 26 OF Estate Papers of New Hamp-
shire" devoted entirely TO charters of
towns now a part of Vermontl. A gem
erous share OF this edition was bought
from New Hampshire by Vermont and
distributed TO Vermont officers about
80 years ago. But, hitherto, II one
wanted copy of a town charter is.
sued by Vermont, he has not been able
to find IL except in manuscript at the
office of the secretary of state
There has long been a considerable
demand for these for legal and histor-
ical matters The proposed volume is
to show also BY reference where infor-
nation regarding town boupds. names.
proprietors, etc. may be found in print
or record Interest in this book Is
auickened because II will include refer
ences to all the l70 maps recently re
stored to the state after a visit Of
nearly 100 years in the west, through
the thoughtfnlness of the great grand
son Of John w Chandler. who present.
ed two books OF plans to the Vermont
Historical society.
In the latter part of the 18th CEN
tury. James Whitelaw had famous
land Office at Ryegate and from his
long prominence az surveyor general Of
Vermont, Whitelsw acquired great
prestige as an expert surveyor. At
whitelaw's death. most Of his papers
were bought by John W. Chandler of
Peacham, who was a large dealer in
wild lands in Essex and Caledonia
counties. His maps. now recovered,
show neat, accurate draughting 70 show
the divisions Of towns into lots for
the original proprietors and usually
the names of the proprietors and which
lots they each drew. as well as roads,
streams. ETC.. and the two books large
" covering the same towns twice. con
stitute treasure trove such as Is not
likely 20 be found again after such
lapse of time since death of the
drauehtsman.
There was q great interest stirred by
the plans OF Samuel {. Crafts Tex gov
ernor). which were copied for the sec
retarv Of states Office about - years
ago. az they showed similar data for
nearly 80 towns and apparently date
from ls40.
But the Crafts book pales besides
chandler's. both for the reason that
iboth being well drawn and accaIrstel
Chambers has nearly twice as many A.
Crafts and still more because there
now arises strong suspicion that
Crafts copied from Chandler. which
had been 50 long in use that u had TO
be re bound in 1850.
In any case the maps are Of great
interest and value and the book now
under way will give the general read
er good introduction to them, a.
well a. to the original charters Is
sued BY Vermont.
II win be recalled that Vermont drew
very much more population than other
nearby states after the Close Of the
Revolution. largely by reason Of the
wit Of our forefathers Gin great con-
trast 70 the other New England states,
which were under heavy burdens ~
war faxcsl. who by selling the vacant
lands Of Vermont 20 form new towns
served the double purpose Of raising
money not felt by her citiEens and q
attracfing large numbers Of desirable,
ambitious people in to cast their lots
with the new towns which the chart
ers created cut Of the wil1erness-