office he held until his death, May 26, 1813. In death he was triumphant. A witness of the scene (wife of Gen. David Robinson) said of it: "if she could feel as he did, it would be worth ten thousand worlds."-See Early History, p. 467; Memorials of a Century, Bennington, pp. 233–236. Doctor PAUL SPOONER appears first in Vermont history as a delegate from Hertford [ Hartland] in a convention at Westminster, Oct. 19, 1774, called to condemn the tea act, the Boston port bill, and other kindred measures of the king and parliament of Great Britain. Doct. Spooner was one of a committee which made a written report expressing surprise that the king and parliament should dare to assert "a right to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever," and to take, "at their pleasure, the properties of the king's American subjects without their consent." "He who has nothing," said this committee, "but what another has power at pleasure lawfully to take away from him, has nothing that he can call his own, and is, in the fullest sense of the word, a slave-a slave to him who has such power; and as no part of British America stipulated to settle as slaves, the privileges of British subjects are their privileges, and whoever endeavors to deprive them of their privileges is guilty of treason against the Americans, as well as the British constitution." He again appeared as a delegate at a convention of whigs at Westminster, Feb. 7, 1775, and was secretary. Still again, June 6, 1775, he was delegate at a Cumberland county Congress, [so called,] and was chosen one of three delegates to represent the county in the New York Provincial Congress. He served as such for the remainder of the session which commenced May 23, 1775, was re-elected Nov. 7 and served in the session which commenced Nov. 14. May 5, 1777, he was chosen sheriff of Cumberland county under New York, but declined accepting the office in a letter dated July 15. Just one week before writing that letter he had been appointed one of the Vermont Council of Safety, which office he accepted, and he was appointed deputy secretary thereof in the absence of the secretary, Ira Allen. He was member of the first Council under the constitution, and was re-elected five times, serving from 1778 till October 1782, when he was elected lieutenant governor, and annually re-elected until 1787. Twice he was agent from Vermont to Congress, in 1780 and again in 1782. For nine years he was a judge of the supreme court, in 1779 and 1780, and again from 1782 to 1788. During the same period, in 1781 and 1782, he was judge of probate for Windsor county. He removed from Hartland to Hardwick, and was the first town clerk of the last named town, elected March 31, 1795. He was also its first representative in the General Assembly, and served as such three years, in 1797, 1798 and 1799. "He is believed," said HILAND HALL, "to have been well educated, and to have had a good professional reputation."-See Eastern Vermont; Early History of Vermont; and history of Hardwick in Vt. Hist. Mag., vol. I. PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNCIL OF SAFETY. JULY 8 TO AUGUST 15, 1777. As late as March 18, 1788, according to JOSEPH FAY, the first secretary (IRA ALLEN) had the minutes of the proceedings of the above period in his possession. Nevertheless, these minutes have never come into the possession of the State, nor can they be found elsewhere: they are therefore now to be supplied, imperfectly no doubt, from the statements in Ira Allen's History, with such copies of letters, circulars, and orders of the Council as can be obtained from other sources. On the adjournment of the Convention at Windsor, July 8, 1777, Ticonderoga had fallen into the hands of the enemy, Warner had been defeated at Hubbardton, and Burgoyne's splendid army was advancing into New York on the western border of Vermont with all possible speed. The most energentic labors of the Council were demanded instantly, and the board proceeded direct to Manchester, where Warner had fixed his headquarters with a remnant of his regiment. ' 'I. Allen's History in Vt. Hist. Soc. Col., vol. I, p. 383. One source of alarm was in the probable effect of the following document: [From Vt. Historical Society Collections, Vol. 1.] By Lieutenant General JOHN BURGOYNE, commanding an army and fleet of Great Britain, against the revolted Provinces of America. To the inhabitants of Castleton, of Hubbardton, Rutland, Tinmouth, Pawlet, Wells, Granville [N. Y.] with the neighbouring districts; also the districts bordering on White creek, Cambden, Cambridge, [N. Y.,] &c. &c., &c., You are hereby directed to send from your several townships deputations, consisting of ten persons or more from each township, to meet Colonel Steene at Castleton, on Wednesday, July 15th, at ten in the morn A quorum of the members at least was present, and the Council was organized as follows: THOMAS CHITTENDEN, President. JONAS FAY, Vice President. IRA ALLEN, Secretary. [From Vt. Hist. Soc. Collections, vol. I.] IN COUNCIL OF SAFETY, STATE OF VERMONT, Manchester, 11th July, 1777. Gentlemen,-The inclosed is a Copy of General St. Clair's Letter to the Convention of this State, by which you will learn his request_to_the Militia of your state. No further accounts have arrived since the date of the enclosed except that there are Small Scouting Parties foraging in the Woods. You will Learn the Provision General Schuyler has made for the protection of this State, and you will naturally understand that when we cease to be a frontier your State must take it. Would beg your advice and assistance for the good of the whole, and have the honor to be, Gentlemen, with respect, Your most Obdt and Very Humble Servant. By order of the Council, IRA ALLEN, Secr'y. N. B.-News has this moment come to hand that General How, with his army, have got up North River as far as Tappan near the Highlands, and that the inhabitants are moving out of Albany. We hear General Washington is with his army in high spirits watching the motion of the Enemy. I. ALLEN. The Honble the Council of Safety N. Hampshire State. [From Vt. Hist. Soc. Collections, Vol. 1.] IN COUNCIL OF SAFETY, STATE OF VERMONT, } Gentlemen,This State in particular seems to be at Present the object of Distruction. By the surrender of the fortress Ticonderoga a Communication is opened to the Defenceless inhabitants on the frontier, who having little more in present store than sufficient for the maintenance of their Respective Families, and not ability to immediately remove their effects, are therefore induced to accept such Protections as are offered them by the Enemy: by this means Those Towns who are most Contiguous to them are under necessity of Taking such Protection, by which the next Town or Towns become equally a frontier as the former Towns before such Protection, and unless we can obtain the assistance of our friends so as to put it immediately in our Power to make a sufficient stand against such strength as they may send, it appears that it will ing, who will have instructions not only to give further encouragement to those who complied with the terms of my late manifesto, but also to communicate conditions upon which the persons and properties of the disobedient may yet be spared. This fail not to obey, under pain of military execution. By order of His Excellency the Lieutenant-General, J. BURGOYNE. ROBT. KINGSTON, Secretary. soon be out of the Power of this state to maintain a frontier. This country, notwithstanding its infancy, seems as well supplied with provisions for Victualling an army as any Country on the Continent, so that on that account we cannot see why a stand may not as well be made in this State as in the State of New Hampshire, and more especially as the inhabitants are Heartily Disposed to Defend their Liberties. You, Gentlemen, will be at once sensible that Every such Town as accepts protection are rendered at that instant forever incapable of affording us any further assistance, and what is infinitely worse, as some Disaffected Persons eternally Lurk in almost every Town, such become Doubly fortified to injure their Country. Our Good Dispositions to Defend ourselves and make a frontier for your State with our own, cannot be Carried into execution without your assistance. Should you send immediate assistance we can help you, and should you neglect till we are put to the necessity of taking protection, you Readily Know it is in a moment out of our power to assist you. Laying these Circumstances together will I hope induce Your Honors to take the same into consideration and immediately send us your Determination in the Premises. I have the satisfaction to be your Honors' By order of Council, The Honorable the Council of Safety, STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. IRA ALLEN, Secr'y. P. S.-By express this moment received we learn that between 3 & 4 thousand of the Enemy are Fortifying at the town of Castleton. Our case calls for immediate assistance. I. ALLEN.1 This was sent to the Massachusetts Council also. The reported fortification at Castleton was one of a multitude of rumors growing out of the panic, when everybody was inclined to believe the worst. The reply of the President of New Hampshire, and the orders to Stark referred to, were as follows: Letter from MESHECH WEARE, President of the State of New Hampshire, to IRA ALLEN, Secretary of the State of Vermont. [From Slade's State Papers, page 80.] EXETER, July 19, 1777. SIR, I was favored with yours of the 15th inst. yesterday by express, and laid the same before our general court, who are sitting. We had, previous thereto, determined to send assistance to your state. They have now determined, that a quarter part of the militia of twelve regiments shall be immediately draughted, formed into three battalions, under the command of Brig. Gen. JOHN STARK, and forthwith sent into your State, to oppose the ravages and coming forward of the enemy; and orders are now issuing, and will all go out in a few hours to the several colonels for that purpose. Dependence is made that they will be supplied with provisions in your State; and I am to desire your convention will send some proper person or persons to Number Four, [Charlestown, N. H.,] by Thursday next, to meet Gen. STARK there, and advize with him relative to the route and disposition of our troops, and to give him such information as you may then have, relative to the manoeuvres of the enemy. In behalf of the council and assembly, I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, MESHECH WEARE, President. IRA ALLEN, Esq., Secretary of the State of Vermont. [From Vt. Hist. Soc. Collections, vol. 1.] IN COUNCIL OF SAFETY, STATE OF VERMONT, To all Militia Officers whom it may Concern: This is the second and perhaps the last express we may be able to send you from this Post. Your immediate assistance is absolutely necessary. A few hundred Military Troops to be joined to our present strength would greatly add to our present encouragement, as by late information we Learn that a large Scout of the Enemy are disposed to take a Tour to this post; the inhabitants, with their families, cannot be quieted without an assurance of the arrival of Troops directly for their assistance. You will Please to let us know your determination without delay. The Continental Stores at Bennington seem to be their present aim. You will be supplied with provision here on your arrival. Pray send all the Troops you can Possibly Raise; we can Repulse them if we have assistance. I have the honor to be your Most Obdt Humbl Servt. IRA ALLEN, Sec'y. On the same day, Allen communicated the alarming rumor as to Castleton to Gen. PHILIP SCHUYLER. This letter is not in any of the Vermont collections. Its tenor can be gathered from Schuyler's reply: FORT EDWARD, July 16, 1777. Sir It gives me great pain that I am not in a capacity directly to answer your letter of the 15th inst. As an officer of the Honorable the Congress, who represents the thirteen United States of America, I cannot with propriety take notice of a fourteenth state, unknown in their confederacy. In order that the public service may not suffer, I shall however answer your letter, which, for the reasons already assigned, I am under the necessity of doing in your private capacity. That the enemy should fortify at Castleton is to me exceedingly unaccountable. It is certain that a considerable body of their troops with General Burgoyne are at Skeensborough; that from corroborated information a body of them have gone to Ticonderoga, to come by the way of Lake George. It is doubtless extremely difficult to move the inhabitants that lie nearest the enemy, but I should hope that Colonel Warner, supported STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, To Brigd Gen Jno Stark,-You are hereby required to repair to Charlestown, No 4, so as to be there by 24th-Thursday next, to meet and confer with persons appointed by the convention of the State of Verment relative to the route of the Troops under your Command, their being supplied with Provisions, and future operations--and when the Troops are collected at No. 4, you are to take the Command of them and march into the State of Vermont, and there act in conjunction with the Troops of that State, or any other of the States, or of the United States, or separately, as it shall appear Expedient to you for the protection of the People or the annoyance of the Enemy, and from time to time as occasion shall require, send Intelligence to the Gen1 Assembly or Committee of Safety, of your operations, and the manoeuvers of the Enemy. M. WEARE. Stark refused to act under the continental officers. |
