Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1922-08-18
VERMONT TOWN CHARTERS.
Publication of Interesting Document
Under Way by State.

Work has been begun at the secrc
tary of state S Office preparatory to the
publication, as authorized by the last
legislature, of a volume to show the
charters of towns that this state is
sued. Franklin H. Dewart of Burling
ton, who edited volume | of State Pa
pers of Vermont, has in hand the prep
aration of this, which will be volume
III 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 % of State Papers of New Hamp-
shire devoted entirely to chapters of
towns now part of Nermont). A gen
erous share of this edition was bought
from New Hampshire by Vermont and
distributed to Vermont officers about
30 years ago. But. hitherto, if one
wanted copy of a town charter is
sued by Vermont. he has not been able
to find it except in manuscript at the
office of the secretary of state.
There has long been a. considerable
demand for these for LEGAL and histori-
cal matters. The proposed volume is
to show also by reference where infor-
nation regarding town bounds, names
proprietors, etc, may be found in print
| or record. Interest in this book is
| quickened because it will include refer
ences to all the 10 maps recently re
| stored to the state after a visit o
nearly 100 years in the West, through
the thoughtfulness of the great grand
son of John w. Chandler, who presented
two books of plans to the Vermont His
torical society.
In the latter part of the 18th cen
fury, James Whitelaw had a famous
land Office at Rycgatc and from his
long prominence as encouragement o.
Vermont, Whitelaw acquired great
prestige as an expert surveyor, AT
Whitelaw = death. most of his papers
were bought by John W. Chandler OF
Pracham. who was large dealer in
counties. His maps, now recovered
show neat. accurate draughting to 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
ly covering the same towns twice. con
likely to be found again after such
lapse hf time since death of the
draughtsman.
There was a great interest stirred by
the plans of Samuel c. Crafts (ex-gov-
ernor), which were copied for the sec
rotary of state : Office about - years
ago. as they showed similar data fol
nearly 'O tOWnS ana apparently uhlt
from 1870.
But the Crafts book plates besides
Chandler both for the reason that
(both being we'll drawn and accuratel
Chandler = has nearly twice as many as
Crafts and still more because there
now arises strong SUSPICION that
Crafts copied from Chandler which
had been so long in use that it had to
be rebound in 1880.
In any case the mans are of great
interest and value and the book now
under way will give the genrral reader
good introduction to them. as well as
to the original charters issued by Yer
mont.
1t will he recalled that Vermont drew
very much more population than other
"carhv states after the close of the
Revolution, largely by reason of the
wit of orr forefathprs lin great con
trast to the other New England states
which were under heavy burdens Of
war taxcsl. who by selling the vacant
lands of Vermont to form new towns
served the double purpose of raisinn
money not felt by her citizens and Of
attracting largo numbers of desirable
amhiti ous peonlc in to cast their lots
with the now towns which tho charters
created out of the wilderness. - Barre
Times.