Town Records of Stratton, Vermont Proprietors’ Book Town Records The following pages are, for the most part, a transcription of the contents of Stratton’s Proprietor’s Records and first two books of Town Records (to 1915) on a page by page basis. The Vital Records Book was not included in this transription. In some instances, such as State and County elections and oaths of office, a full transcription was not made and at times an analysis of some events were added in italics. In most cases, spelling errors were corrected and variations in individuals’ names were made uniform. Proprietors Records (1781 - 1796) Pg. 1 - (First documented meeting of Stratton’s Proprietors) December 26, 1781. Elected Jacob Stevens Moderators; Edward Rawson, Esq. elected Proprietor’s Clerk. William McFarland and Timothy Morsman selected as a committee to collect papers in hands of Silas Rice (former clerk) and deliver them to Edward Rawson. Captain David Thayer chosen to collect taxes from the Proprietors and owners of land in Stratton laid on them by Vermont General Assembly and to see the money paid according to said State Act. They voted to buy a book to record votes and deeds of the lands and conveyances made by said propriety in the future. Lots under 200 acres be laid out into 200 acre lots before 2nd Tuesday in June next at the cost of the original Proprietors. Paul Thurston was chosen to see this through. Mr. John Blood was give the choice of any lot for a mill spot, provided he give the lot granted to him by the Proprietor in exchange. Nathaniel Thayer and Edward Rawson gave John Blood 250 acres for this purpose provided he build a gristmill and a sawmill and that he put 10 settlers in Stratton before June 1, 1783. Blood was required to give a bond to Mr. Rawson for this agreement. Meeting adjourned until the following day. December 27, 1781, voted that Captain David Thayer deliver the old original charter (New Hampshire Grant) into the hands of Edward Rawson to be kept in the clerk’s office of the Town of Stratton. The meeting voted to close. Pg. 2 - September 16, 1782. Proprietors’ meeting commenced in the Town of Stratton - John Blood voted Moderator. Voted to choose a committee to view a County Road through Stratton and to coordinate with Selectmen of Wardsborough, Newfane and Sunderland and in towns with no Selectmen the principal men of those towns to see if they will join in laying out a County Road to Bennington - the committee to report at the next meeting. John Blood, Jacob Stevens and Elijah Thompson were selected as this committee. The meeting adjourned until Pg 1 Town Records of Stratton, Vermont Proprietors’ Book 2nd Tuesday of November to meet at the home of Peter Hardy in Ward, Massachusetts. November 12, 1782. Proprietors’ meeting reconvened in Worcester to hear report of committee chosen to see to a County Road through Stratton. Report was as follows: That a road may be had through the Town of Stratton over the mountain. For a County Road to Albany or the nearest market town on the west side of the mountain - voted to accept report of the committee and to chose a committee to act in conjunction with the several towns applied to join with Stratton’s Proprietors to lay out a County Road over the mountain west of said town viz. Newfane, Wardsborough, Sunderland, Shaftsbury, Glastenbury. A committee of three was chosen for this project: John Blood, Timothy Morsman, and Paul Thurston. Voted that road should be laid out in conjunction with other towns and that a report of laying out shall be given 2nd Monday of October next (1783). Voted: - to pay Paul Thurston 4 pounds 16 shillings for laying out the lots in Stratton - to pay Edward Rawson 18 shillings for a Proprietor’s book. Capt. David Thayer produced a receipt from Jon Knickerbocker, Treasurer’s Clerk for the State of Vermont for 108 pounds, 8 shillings is discharged of the tax laid on Stratton at 10 shillings for each 100 acres in 1782. Pg. 3 - Voted to allow Mr. John Blood for clearing a road three miles into Stratton - 6 pounds 6 shillings. For settling the account with Silas Rice 12 shillings was allowed to Wm. McFarland and Timothy Morsman at a Proprietors’ meeting on November 12, 1784 (probably meant 1782). At said meeting, voted to Treasurer, three assessors and a collector. Edward Rawson chosen Treasurer, Wm. McFarland, Jonathan Bacon and Elijah Thompson chosen assessors (1st Listers), and Nathan Patch was chosen Collector. Voted that each possessor of land in the township be rated by the number of acres he possesses in the town and that each possessor of land in the town give the assessors an exact list of the number of acres he possesses on or before January 1 next “on oath - if required or be doomed according to their desertion.” Voted to raise 50 pounds to defray charges in said propriety, then voted to adjourn to the next day. November 13, 1782, Reconvened - Voted that the fifty pounds raised at this meeting be paid into the treasury by 1st of June, next. Voted that the committee chosen to lay out the road are empowered to lay out said road 4 rods wide and cut 1 and cleared 1 /2 rods wide by 2nd Monday of October, next at the cost of 7 dollars per mile. Attested Edward Rawson, Jr., Elijah Thompson, Paul Thurston. Ward, (Massachusetts) November 13, 1782, at said meeting voted that Captain David Thayer shall and he is chosen an Agent to Convey the votes of this meeting attested by the clerk to the General Court of Vermont that the same may be ratified by the General Assembly of Vermont the said meeting and the warning not being published according to the laws of the said state of Vermont. Pg 2 Town Records of Stratton, Vermont Proprietors’ Book Notwithstanding at said meeting voted that the debts allowed by the propriety at this meeting shall be paid by said Treasurer when paid in by the collector of said propriety to those that have had accounts allowed on aforesaid according to the account allowed and take their receipts for the same which shall be accepted by the propriety and shall discharge the Treasurer for the same on any which he shall receive of the collector for this present tax. Pg. 4 - November 13, 1782 - At said meeting voted that the bond given for building mills and for settling the Town of Stratton shall be lengthened out for one year from this time at said meeting that the committee chosen to lay the road through the town shall use their influence with the committees of other towns that shall join them that said road shall be laid out as near the center of the town east and west as the circumstances of the land will allow in order to promote the settlement of the town and to keep peace and harmony among the Proprietors that own land on each side of said road - voted to give the land whereas the road shall be laid out let it fall on what lots as it may for particular conveniences. The meeting was then dissolved. John Blood - Moderator, Edward Rawson - Proprietors Clerk At a Proprietors meeting held at Stratton on September 16, 1784. Jacob Stevens chosen Moderator; Jonathan Phillips chosen Proprietors clerk. Voted to allow John Blood for laying out a road through Stratton to Bennington 4 pounds, 10 shillings. At said meeting voted to allow Paul Thurston as a committee man with Blood for his services 6 pounds And to Timothy Morsman as a committee in said service 1 pound 4 shillings. At said meeting voted to elect a committee of three to view the accounts brought against the propriety and to report how much money is necessary to be raised at this meeting. The committee chosen was Wm. McFarland, John Campbell and Paul Thurston to report at this meeting - at said meeting voted to chose one agent to prepare a petition to the General Court all the votes of the propriety established and passed heretofore. Pg. 5 - (cont.) Then voted to receive said vote and choose two. The men chosen were Doctor John Campbell and Edward Rawson for said Agents. Adjourned to evening, then adjourned to the next morning (Sept. 17, 1784) Voted that if Jonathan Phillips give a bond to the Proprietors of Stratton or such committee as said shall appoint, to build a sawmill in said Stratton within one year from this date under the dimensions contained in John Blood’s bond and the said Blood will give the Proprietors a deed of 200 acres of land lying in the second range and fifth lot - that said Blood shall have his bond for building said mills given up - at said meeting voted to chose a committee to take a bond of Jonathan Phillips to build a sawmill agreeable to John Blood’s bond and take a deed of John Blood of the 200 acre lot in the third range and third lot. Voted a committee of three - Edward Rawson, Wm. McFarland and Timothy Morsman for said committee Pg 3 Town Records of Stratton, Vermont Proprietors’ Book Voted to choose a committee of three to measure the road through the town - accepted at this meeting and to see that it was well done? and the committee was John Blood, Timothy Morsman and Oliver Morsman. At said meeting it was voted to add two dollars per mile for cutting the road by Paul Thurston.