TWENTIETH COUNCIL. OCTOBER 1796 TO OCTOBER 1797. THOMAS CHITTENDEN, Williston, Governor. Gen. WILLIAM CHAMBERLAIN, born at Hopkinton, Mass., April 27 1753, removed with his father to Loudon, N. H., in 1773; volunteered in the army in 1775, and served as orderly sergeant in the invasion of Canada, suffering all sorts of privations, and being one of the nine officers and privates, out of a company of seventy, who survived to take part in Gov. Chittenden died on Friday, Aug. 25 1797. It has been stated that he resigned his office previous to his death; but this is an error, Gov. Chittenden's address to the freemen in July, 1797, being simply a notice that he would not be a candidate for re-election. Gov. Chittenden did not attend the adjourned session in February 1797, and Lieut. Brigham presided over the Council during the session. Elected Lieut. Governor, in Grand Committee, Oct. 14 1796. 3 Elected Councillor, in Grand Committee, Oct. 15 1796, vice Brigham promoted. the battle of Trenton, N. J. At the expiration of his enlistment he returned to New Hampshire, but on Burgoyne's invasion he again volunteered, and was in the battle of Bennington, from which he is said to have brought away some trophies of personal combat with his enemies. About 1780 he removed to Peacham, being then clerk of the proprietors of the town. He was town clerk twelve years; justice of the peace twenty-four years; town representative in 1785, 1787 until 1796, in 1805, and 1808-twelve years; Chief Judge of Caledonia County Court 1787 until 1803, and again in 1814-seventeen years; Councillor from 1796 until 1803-seven years; Lieutenant Governor 1813 to 1815; a delegate to the Constitutional Conventions of 1791 and 1814; a Presidential Elector in 1800; and a Member of Congress two terms, 1803-5, and 1809-11. He died Sept. 27 1828. In private life he was upright, a friend of order, learning, and religion. He lived to see the wilderness become a cultivated and populous region, and as a matter of far higher moment to himself, closed a long, useful, and eventful life on earth in humble trust of a better life in heaven.-Vt. Historical Magazine, Vol. 1, p. 363; Deming's Catalogue; and Vermont Legislative Directory. STEPHEN JACOB, an attorney, born in Sheffield, Mass., and a graduate of Yale college in the class of 1778, appeared first in the records of Vermont as poet at the first celebration, in 1778, of the battle of Bennington. He was a representative in the General Assembly for the town of Windsor in 1781, which office he held in 1788 and 1794. He served also as Clerk of the House in 1788 and 1789. He was a member of the first Council of Censors in 1785, and a delegate in the Constitutional Convention in 1793. He was Chief Judge of Windsor County Court from 1797 until 1801, and Councillor from 1796 until 1802. He distinguished himself for courage and energy in quelling the attempted insurrection in Windsor county in 1786, and in 1789 he was appointed one of the Commissioners to settle the controversy with New York, and he served in that delicate and important business. He died in February 1817, aged sixty-one. Vt. Hist. Soc. Collections, Vol. 1, pp. 254, 265; B. H. Hall's Eastern Vermont; Deming's Catalogue, and Vermont Legislative Directory. RECORD OF THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL AT THE SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT RUTLAND, Ост. 1796. STATE OF VERMONT. At a Meeting of the Governor & Council at their Annual Oct. Session begun and Held at Rutland on the thirteenth day of Oct. A. D. 1796, Present, His Excellency Thomas Chittenden Esq Gov', His Honor Jonathan Hunt Esqr Lieut. Gov'r & the following Members of the Hon. Council Viz. Samuel Safford, John Strong, Luke Knoulton, Ebenezer Marvin, Paul Brigham, Jonas Galusha, Gideon Olin, John White, Cornelius Lynde, Elijah Robinson, & Samuel Williams, Councillors. Truman Squier Sery. & Jonathan Bell Sheriff. A Bill from the House appointing a Committee consisting of Two Members from each County for the purpose of sorting and Counting the Votes of the Freemen for a Governor, Lieut. Gov. Treasurer, & Council, Members Chosen Mess's Dewey, Bradley, Cutler, Bridgman, Osgood, Spencer, Gallup, Morris, Painter, Thompson, Farrand, Sias, Stanton, & Sheldon. Read & Resolved that Judge Safford, Williams, Strong, White, Lynde, Robinson, and Knoulton be appointed to Join said Committee, which said Committee were Duly Qualified by his Excellency the Gov' to their Respective Duty as such. Attest, TRUMAN SQUIRE Sec'ry.' The above Committee reported to the Gen' Assembly the following Gentlemen Duly elected to their respective Offices for the year ensuing and as follows to wit-IIis Excellency Thomas Chittenden Esqr Governor-No Lieu' Gov' Chosen--The Ion. Samuel Mattocks Esq. Treasurer, And the following Members of the Hon. Council Viz. Samuel Safford, John Strong, Luke Knoulton, Ebenezer Marvin, Paul Brigham, Jonas Galusha, Gideon Olin, John White, Cornelius Lynde, Elijah Robinson, Samuel Williams, & William Chamberlin Esquires, Councillors. Adjourned Untill 9 Oclock to Morrow Morning. 'From the Rutland Herald of Oct. 17 1796: Thursday last being the day appointed by the constitution, for announcing the choice of governor, lieutenant governor, [treasurer,] council, and representatives, the gentlemen returned to serve for the present year, assembled in this town. Having taken the necessary oaths, they were escorted to the meeting-house at 12 o'clock by Capt. Mead's company of light infantry, where a judicious and well adapted discourse was delivered by the Rev. D. [Dan] Kent, of Benson, from Luke xvi, 10. He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much: And he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much. Truman Squier, Secretary, and Jonathan Bell, Sheriff, are added on the record. They were officers of the Council, but their names did not belong to the report of the Committee of canvassers. FRIDAY Oct. the 14 Day A. D. 1796.1 Met according to adjournment. The Hon. Members of the Council were respectively Qualified by Oath to their Offices as Councillors by his Excellency the Governor. His Excellency the Gov' was pleased to reappoint Truman Squier Secr'y to the Gov'r & Council for the year Ensuing, who was Duly sworn to that Office. An Official Letter from Lord Dorchester to his Excellency the Gov' Demanding some fugitives from Justice agreable to the 27 Article of the Late treaty made with Great Britain, also Necessary Documents proving them fugitives, which were Read and Ordered to Lye-Also an Official Letter from the Secretary of State to his Excellency favouring the above request, with the President's Opinion thereon.2 Adjourned Untill 2 Oclock in the afternoon. Met according to Adjournment. A Bill from the House appointing a Committee consisting of one Member from each County for the purpose of making an Arrangement of the Business for the present Session, Members chosen Messrs Baker, Rust, Spencer, Emmons, Linsley, Edson & Stanton; read and Resolved that Judge Williams, Olin, & Lynde be appointed to join said Commit tee. A Bill from the House requesting the Gov" & Council to join in Grand Committee this Afternoon for the purpose of electing a Lieut. Gov. Resolved to Join accordingly. The Gov' & Council proceeded to the House and after Joining in Grand Committee for the purpose aforesaid made choice of the Hon. Paul Brigham Esq' for the Lieu Gov' who was Qualified by Oath to said Office for the year ensuing. Adjourned Untill 9 Oclock to Morrow Morning. SATURDAY Oct. the 15 Day A. D. 1796. Met according to adjournment. A Bill from the House requesting the Goy & Council to Join in Grand Committee for the Purpose of choosing the Judges of the Supreme Court-Read & Resolved to Join accordingly. The Gov't & Council then proceeded to the House and Joined in Grand Committee when by the Joint Ballotts of Both Houses the Hon. Stephen Jacob Esq" was elected a Councillor to fill the Vacancy of the Hon. Paul Brigham Esq. promoted, & the Hon. Isaac Tichenor Esq as Cheiff Judge & the Hon. Enoch Woodbridge & Lott Hall Esquires as Side or Assistant Judges to the Supreme Court for the year ensuing. A Letter from Gov' Robinson to His Excellency, communicating his Resignation of his Office as Senator, [was] Read, & Resolved that the same be communicated to the House by the Secretary of Council. A Petition from Jason Richardson & others of Woodstock praying for a Lottery for the purpose of Building a Bridge over Water Queche River in said Woodstock, Read & by the House referred to Messrs. Bradley, Henry, Horton, Curtis, Linsley, Davis, & Peckham, to Join a Committee from Council &c. Read & Resolved that Mr. Robinson be ap 'The Assembly Journal of this morning states: His excellency the Governor and council being present, the throne of grace was addressed by the Rev. Mr. Heman Ball.' 2 See Appendix G. See Appendix C. pointed to Join said Committee & be stiled the Lottery Committee from Council &c. The Petition of Timothy Morsman & others praying for a Grant of Land or Gore Lying between Summerset and Stratton and that the same be annexed to Stratton &c. Read & by the House referred to Messrs. Sherman, Castle & Crafts &c. to Join a Committee from Council &c. Resolved that Mr. Williams be appointed to Join said Committee. A Petition for annexing a part of the Town of Windham to Londonderry, and the Remonstrance against it, Read and by the House referred to Messrs. Curtis, P. Wright, & Porter to Join a Committee from Council, Resolved that Judge Galusha be appointed to Join said Committee. Adjourned Untill 2 Oclock in the Afternoon. Met according to adjournment. A Bill from the House requesting the Gov" & Council to Concur with the House in proceeding on Tuesday Morning next at 9 Oclock in the forenoon to make their several nominations of a Senator to Represent this State in the Senate of the United States, Read & Concurred. Adjourned Untill Monday next at 9 Oclock in the Morning. Met according to adjournment. MONDAY Oct. the 17 Day A. D. 1796. An act regulating the Taxation of Costs in Certain Cases therein mentioned, brought in Last Session with an amendment subjoined by their said Committee for that purpose, being Read and Referred to the next Session of Assembly and being taken up again & read & by the House referred to Messrs. Davis, Linsley, & Spencer, to Join a Committee from Council, Resolved that Judge Olin be appointed to Join said Committee. A Lottery Petition of Sundry Inhabitants of Castleton, Hubbardton, & Sudbury, praying for a Lottery to raise one thousand Dollars for the purpose of making an Inprovement upon the Public roads from Bennington thro' Manchester & Directly thro' Castleton, Hubbardton, Sudbury & so on in the most direct route to Middlebury, Read and by the House referred to the Lottery Committee to Join a Committee from Council, Resolved that the Lottery Committee from the Council Join said Committee. A Petition for a Lottery to raise four Hundred Dollars for the purpose of Building a Bridge over White River, Read and by the House referred to the Lottery Committee to Join the Lottery Committee from the Council. Resolved to Join accordingly. Adjourned Untill 2 Oclock in the Afternoon. Met according to adjournment. The Petition of William Hazeltine of Rockingham in the County of Windham setting forth his Misfortunes in being wounded in the Last war in the service of the United States, to wit at the Bennington battle, praying the assistance of the Legislature of this State to cause him to be put upon the Pension List, Read and by the House referred to Messrs. P. Wright, Josiah Arms, Abel Stephens [Stevens,] Safford, Claghorn, Barron, & Sheldon, to Join a Committee from Council, Resolved that Mr. Galusha be appointed to Join said Committee. The Petition of the Selectmen of Pomfret praying for Liberty to enter an Appeal in the County Court within and for the County of Windsor from an Order of Removal of a Poor Person removed from Woodstock to said Pomfret the said appeal not being entered in Due time, Read and by the House referred to Messrs. Wait, Enos Stevens, & Ephraim |