Centennial Proceedings and Other Historical Facts and Incidents Relating to Newfane
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About Google Book Search Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world’s books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at http://books.google.com/ 1 CentennialproceedingsandotherhistoricalfactsincidentsrelatingtoNewfane Newfane(Vt.),CharlesBurnham,JohnHastingsMerrifield 1774-1874. CENTENNIAL PROCEEDINGS AND OTHER HISTORICAL FACTS AND INCIDENTS RELATING TO NEWFANE, 'I The County Seat of Windham County, VERMONT. BRATTLEBORO : D. LEONARD, STEAM JOB PRINTER. 1877 yys/is VOTE AUTHORIZING THE PUBLICATION OF THE HISTORY OF NEVVFANE. At a town meeting, held at School House Hall, in Williams- ville, on the 7th day of March, A. D. 1876, it was voted to have seven hundred copies of the " History of the Town and Church" published, together with the proceedings at the Cen tennial Celebration ; and that one copy be furnished, free, to each family in town, the excess to be sold and the proceeds paid into the town treasury. Voted, To have a committee of three appointed to prepare and publish the aforesaid history at the expense of the town. Chose as said committee : J. J. Green, Rev. Charles Burnham and J. H. Merrifield. D. A. Dickinson, Town Clerk. iv PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. In the preparation of this volume, old records have been consulted not only, but thoroughly searched. Some things before in doubt have been settled. Where authorities apparently equally trustworthy have disagreed, we have adopted that view which seemed to have the best evi dence in its favor, after diligently comparing and sifting the statements made. Notwithstanding all this, it will doubt less come to pass that some, as they read these pages, will say of certain things here recorded, "I do not believe that, I know that is not so." If the question should be asked, why you so believe, and how you know ? perhaps you would say, " We have often heard the old people state these circumstances very differently." True, we have heard all these stories, and, after careful consideration, have reached the results set forth in this volume. To illustrate, one writer says there were but six families in town when the church was organized ; while the biog rapher of the Morse family sets the number at twenty. A careful examination of all the conflicting traditions, indicates beyond a reasonable doubt that there were at least fourteen families here in June, 1774, and perhaps twenty. We cannot close these remarks without returning our sincere thanks to the descendants of the early pioneers and all those who, by their hearty co-operation in this enter prise, have rendered invaluable aid in the researches that have been necessary to complete this volume. Joseph J. Green, Charles Burnham, Committee. John H. Merrifield V CONTENTS. PART I. PAGE. Record of Proceedings Preparatory to the Centennial Anni versary, &c, " Historical Address,— C. K. Field 15 Biographical Sketches,— C. K. Field, 34 Toasts and Responses, 98 Historical Notes, "The Vermont Free Press," "8 The Sleeping Beauty 117 Centennial Discourse, 123 Sketch of Proceedings "2 PART II. Original Charter, 151 First Town Officers 154 Family Genealogies . 155 Sawtell Family Sermon I?7 Longevity, Long Married Life, <&c 185 Roads and Bridges, 186 Extracts from first Town Records, ifcc 188 School Districts and Schools, 190 Pondville Baptist Church • 194 First Uuiversalist Church, 198 Methodism in Newfane, 201 Cemeteries 202 Fayette ville, 205 Williamsville, 211 Pondville, , 220 War Record, 225 Sons of Newfane Murdered in Louisiana 243 Town Officers, 1774-1876, 245 Grand List, 1874, 250 PART I. RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS PREPARATORY TO THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF NEWFANE, JULY 4, 1874. Fayetteville, Vt., May 18, 1 874. — Agreeable to a notice given out by the acting pastor of the Congregational Church, Rev. Charles Burnham, on the previous Sabbath, the citizens assembled at the vestry of said church, to take into consideration the subject of a Centennial celebration of the organization of the town of Newfane, also of the church, and organized by choosing Rev. Charles Burnham, Chairman, and F. O. Burditt, Secretary. Voted, To hold a town and church celebration. O. T. Ware and J. J. Green were appointed a committee to con sult with citizens in the south part of the town, and invite them to be present and participate at the next meeting. Vothd, To adjourn until the evening of the 26th inst.. at 7 o'clock. A true record. F. O. Burditt, Sec'y. May 26, 1874. — Met agreeable to adjournment, and the meeting was called to order by the Chairman. The report of the proceedings of the last meeting was read by the Secretary ; also heard the report of the committee appointed at the former meeting to consult with the citizens of the south part of the town. In response to the call of the Chairman, remarks were made by B. E. Morse, S. W. Bowker, D. D. Dickinson, E. P. Wheeler, A. J. Morse and Alexander Fairbanks in favor of, and heartily endorsing a centennial celebration. 10 Voted, To celebrate the centennial anniversary of the organization of the town on some day to be determined hereafter. Voted, To appoint a committee of arrangements to con sist of ten persons. Voted, That a committee of five be appointed to nomi nate permanent officers, and the committee of arrangements. The nominating committee was constituted as follows, viz : A. J. Morse, S. W. Bowker, D. D. Dickinson, O. T. Ware and B. E. Morse. After consultation, the committee reported as permanent officers the following list: President of the. Day — A. J. Morse. Vice Presidents — B. E. Morse and Austin Birchard. Secretary — F. O. Burditt. Committee of Arrangements — S. W. Bowker, J. J. Green, D. D. Dickinson, B. E. Morse, O. T. Ware, W. T. Bruce, A. B. Franklin, W. A. Stedman, S. P. Miller and S. G. Brown. The report was accepted and adopted. Voted, That the ladies present form themselves into a committee of the whole, and nominate a committee of arrangements from among themselves. The following nomi nations were made and confirmed : Mrs. D. D. Dickinson, Mrs. Samuel Morse, " S. F. Whitney, " W. T. Bruce, " D. A. Dickinson, " O. L. Sherman, " F. O. Burditt, " G. B. Johnson, " S. W. Bowker, " Hazelton Rice, ■ " O. T. Ware, " Amherst Morse, " C. E. Park, Miss Fanny Newton, " W. H. Goodnow, " Jessie" M. Miller, '• Frank Moore, " E. E. Morse, " D. S. Sabin, " Mary R. Birchard. Nathaniel Higgins, Ploral Committee — Mrs. F. A. Fish and Mrs. Henry Cowan. Voted, That the celebration be held at Fayetteville on the 4th of July next. Voted, That a committee, consisting of one lady and one gentleman from each section of the town, be appointed to solicit subscriptions to pay necessary expenses. 11 Mrs. F. O. Burditt and Mr. O. T. Ware, Mrs. O. L. Sherman and Mr. D. D. Dickinson were appointed said committee. Voted, That the committee of arrangements meet at S.