History of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vermont : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers, by Lewis Cass Aldrich, (c) 1891

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On the 5th day of November, 1792, the General Assembly passed an act by which Chittenden county was divided, and out of its territory Franklin county was created. The descriptive part of that act was as follows: "Beginning at the northwest corner of Chittenden county, (meaning the contemplated northwest corner,) thence easterly on the northerly line of Chittenden county to the southeast corner of Sterling; from thence northerly on the easterly line of the towns Sterling, Johnson, Belvidere, Avery's Gore, Montgomery and Richford, to the north line of the state; from thence westerly on the line of the state, to the west line thereof; from thence southerly on the west line of the state, to the place of beginning." The above description, although purporting
to be according to the original act, is taken from the act that was passed by the Assembly in 1797, at which time the bounds of the several counties were particularly defined.

According to the foregoing description, and as a matter of fact, the towns now known as South Hero and Grand Isle were not included within Franklin county as created by the act of 1792, nor did they or either of them ever form a part of that county, but remained integral parts of Chittenden county until the erection of Grand Isle county, in 1802.

In the course of events Franklin county has twice been called upon to surrender of its towns to new county formations; first, by an act passed November 9, 1802, that took the towns of Alburgh, Isle La Motte and North Hero, which, with South Hero and the present town of Grand Isle, they being taken from Chittenden county, were erected into Grand Isle county; and second, by an act passed October 26, 1835, which took the towns of Belvidere, Cambridge, Johnson and Sterling, and constituted them a part of Lamoille county.

Now, having erected the counties of which this work is designed to treat, the attention of the reader is briefly called to the several towns that comprise the counties, for the purpose of learning by what power

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they were brought into existence. Of the fourteen towns that now comprise Frankhn county, only eight were created under the so-called New Hampshire charters. These were St. Albans, Swanton, Highgate, Georgia, Fairfax, Fairfield, Smithfield and Hungerford. The first mentioned four were granted by Governor Wentworth on the 17th of August, 1763, and the others on the 18th following. Six of these, and all except Smithfield and Hungerford, are known to the county by the names originally given to them, but of those excepted the latter was changed to Sheldon, while the former, both in name and territory, subsequently became materially changed. Smithfield and Fairfield were chartered on the same day, August 18, 1763, of the same size in acres,
and to the same persons, Samuel Hungerford and others; but in 1792 the Legislature passed an act, approved October 25th, by which the territory of both townships, together with Knowlton's Gore, so-called, were formed into two towns and called Fairfield and Bakersfield. The other townships of both counties were created by virtue of grants and charters issued under the authority of the state of Vermont.

The town of Bakersfield is understood as having been, in the main, granted by Vermont February 27, 1787, to Luke Knowlton, containing 10,000 acres of land, and called Knowlton's Gore; and the grant was confirmed by charter from the same source, of date January 25, 1791. By the proceeding referred to in the preceding paragraph this gore, with part of Smithfield, was erected into a town, and called Bakersfield. On October 31, 1798, Knight's Gore was annexed to the town, and at the same time a part of Bakersfield was set off to Enosburgh. Again, on the 26th of October, 1799, a part of Colt's Gore was annexed to Bakersfield, giving to it a total of about 26,000 acres. The town was organized March 30, 1795.

Berkshire, one of the towns bordering on the Canada line, was granted on the 13th of March, 1781, which grant was confirmed by charter dated June 22, 1781, and issued to William Goodrich and his associates, fifty-nine in number. The town was intended to contain the usual area of thirty-six square miles, or its equivalent of 23,040 acres, but by an error in surveying the east boundary the east and west measurement was increased, so that the town actually has about 25,040 acres. Berkshire was organized March 7, 1796.

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Enosburgh was granted March 12, 1780, and chartered May 15th following, to General Roger Enos and fifty-nine associates. The town was named in honor of its chief proprietor, General Enos, the faithful friend of Vermont and Governor Chittenden. On the 31st of October, 1798, a part of Bakersfield was annexed to the town. Enosburgh was organized September 8, 1795.

Fairfax, as has been stated, was chartered by Governor Wentworth of New Hampshire, on the i8th of August, 1763, with an area of 23,040 acres. The town was organized March 22, 1787.

Fairfield, one of the towns already referred to, was chartered August 18, 1763, with, as originally contemplated, 23,040 acres, but by the annexation of Smithfield its area was increased to 38,000 acres, thus making it the largest town of the county. Fairfield was organized in March, 1790.

Fletcher was granted November 7, 1780, by Vermont to Moses Robinson and sixty-four others, having an area of thirty-six square miles, or 23,040 acres; but an act of the State Legislature passed November 1, 1841, took of the town's lands and annexed them to Cambridge. The charter of the town was dated August 20, 1781. Fletcher was organized March 16, 1790.

Franklin was granted October 24, 1787, and chartered March 19, 1789, to Jonathan Hunt and five others, under the name of Huntsburgh, and so called in honor of its chief proprietor, but which was changed to Franklin, in pursuance of an act of the Legislature passed October 25, 1817. Organized 1792.

Georgia was one of the original towns of the county of Franklin, having been granted by Governor Wentworth on the 17th of August, 1763. The first town meeting was held and the town organized on March 31, 1788.

Highgate, also one of the towns chartered by Governor Wentworth, was brought into existence on the 17th of August, 1763, the original grantees being Samuel Hunt and sixy-four associates. The town was organized March 31, 1791. A part of the town of Alburgh was annexed to Highgate by virtue of an act of the Legislature passed November I, 1792. Also Marvin's Gore was annexed by a similar act passed October 23, 1806. Highgate surrendered part of its territory to Swanton in pursuance of an act passed November 3, 1836.

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Montgomery was granted under Vermont authority on the 13th of March, 1780, but does not appear to have been chartered until October 8, 1789. The town contained originally 23,040 acres, but in 1859 an act of the Legislature added to its area some 7,000 acres, which were taken from Avery's Gore and the town of Lowell. Montgomery was not given a town organization until March 12, 1802.

Richford, the northeast corner town of the county, was granted March 13, 1780, and chartered on the 21st of August following, to Jonathan Wells and his associates, fifty-nine in number. The town was organized March 30, 1799.

St. Albans, the shire town of Franklin county, was the creation of Benning Wentworth, governor of New Hampshire, and was chartered August 17, 1763. Johnson's Island, afterward known as Potter's Island, was annexed to St. Albans on the 28th of October, 1842, and Wood's Island on the 27th of October, 1845, both by acts of the State Legislature. St. Albans was organized July 28, 1788.

Sheldon, under the original name of Hungerford, was chartered by Governor Wentworth on the i8th of August, 1763. Samuel Hungerford was its principal grantee and in his honor the town was first named. The name was changed to Sheldon by act of the State Legislature, passed November 8, 1792. The town was organized in 1791.

Swanton was chartered under the New Hampshire authority on the 17th of August, 1763, to Josiah Goodrich and others, proprietors, having an area of 23,040 acres, or thirty-six square miles of land. On the 3d of November, 1836, the area of the town was increased by annexation of a part of Highgate. The town was organized on the 23d of March, 1790.

Alburgh, the largest by far of the subdivisions of Grand Isle county, was granted by Vermont to Ira Allen and sixty-four associates, on the 23d of February, 1781; but before that time, and on the 1st of November, 1744, the territory now called Alburgh had been granted by the king of France to Francis Focault, and that grant was subsequently confirmed by the king of Great Britain. From Focault the title passed to General Haldimand; thence through Henry Caldwell to John Caldwell, all being British subjects, and became known as Caldwell's Upper Manor. The lessees or grantees of Caldwell occupied and improved

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the territory, and were in possession when Governor Chittenden granted Alburgh to Allen and his fellows. Then followed a conflict of title and much disturbance, but the Caldwell title was declared to be invalid for the reason that it had not been recorded in New York. Concerning this subject relative to the troubles over the titles to Alburgh, more extended notice will be found in one of the succeeding general chapters of this volume, and also in connection with the history of the town. Alburgh has also been called various names, such as Point Algonquin, Point du Detour and Point Detourer, after the French; and from its peculiar form, Missisco Tongue, Missisco Leg, Caldwell's Upper Manor and lastly Alburgh, a contraction from Allenburgh, the latter for Ira Allen, its chief grantee. The town was organized in June, 1792.

Grand Isle originally formed a part of a certain tract of land that was granted to Ethan Allen and Samuel Herrick and their numerous associates, under the name of the "Two Heros." This grant included all that now comprises the townships of North Hero, Grand Isle and South Hero, and was executed by the governor of Vermont on October 27, 1779. On the 21st of October, 1788, the territory was divided into two towns and called, respectively. North Hero and South Hero. Again, on the 7th of November, 1798, South Hero was divided, and the north part constituted one township called Middle Hero. The latter name was changed to Grand Isle on the 5 th of November, 18 10. Grand Isle was organized, as Middle Hero, on the 7th of March, 1799. North Hero was organized in 1789, and South Hero on the 10th of March of the same year.

Isle La Motte, the first settled locality within the present state of Vermont, was granted under authority of the state, on October 27, 1779, to Benjamin Wait and others. Also, it was one of the French grants or seigniories, and received its name from Captain La Mothe, a French officer, who built here Fort St. Anne, during the seventeenth century. On the ist of November, 1802, the name was changed to Vineyard, but on November 6, 1830, the original name was restored, except that the final e was dropped. The first town meeting was held and the town organized March 24, 1791.

Such, then, is the character of the organization of the towns of Franklin and Grand Isle. This brief allusion to each of the several subdivi-

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sions has been made for the purpose of bringing to the reader's attention the means through which each was brought into existence; and the reference has been made exceedingly brief for the reason that each town is made the subject of a special chapter in this volume, in which will be found more extended mention of the granting and subsequent organization of the towns, and as well, their subsequent history.

CHAPTER IX

Organization of the Counties — Locating the County Seat of Franklin County — The County Originally Called "York" — Name Changed to "Franklin"— Courts and Court Houses — The Jails — Franklin County Civil List — Organization of Grand Isle County — Delays in Bringing about the Desired End — Several Petitions Presented — The County Buildings and First Courts — Civil List of Grand Isle County.

THE chapter immediately preceding has shown through what channels the counties of Franklin and Grand Isle were brought into existence; and how the several townships that comprise those counties were themselves created, and when they were organized by their respective inhabitants. Of these counties Franklin was some ten years the older, and when brought into existence was so formed as to comprise the greater part of that now called Grand Isle county, all of the latter, except the towns South Hero and Grand Isle, as at present known and distinguished.

On the formation of Franklin county the first duty that devolved upon its people was to designate one town as the county seat, in which should be erected the county buildings; nor did this duty fall alone or entirely on the people, for, had such been the case, an argument as to its location would have been exceedingly doubtful, as nearly every division of the county would have put forth a claim for the desired designation, however inconsistent their action might appear. That the question might be determined the usual custom of appointing disinterested persons was employed, with the result of the selection of St. Albans as the shire town. Then came the question of precise locality

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within the town, or site on which the court-house should stand; and this was determined upon as that now occupied, a point not far from where Robert Cochran and Seth Ford "set out the stake" for the center of the town. But St. Albans Bay and its denizens were not without aspirations in the matter of having the county buildings at their burgh, and in this desire their sentiments were shared by not a few of the residents in the island towns; for at the Bay was the chief landing place of the islanders, and here, too, at that particular period was the most important trading center of the town. But the site was designated near the common, or green, as more familiarly called, and here the first court-house was erected.

Although a fact that perhaps should have been recorded or at least mentioned in one of the earlier chapters of this work, it will not be considered altogether out of place here to state that, according to the original intention of the framers of the act by which Franklin county was erected out of Chittenden, the idea was not only contemplated, but actually carried out, of naming this new erection York county. This statement would appear to find corroboration in the following extract from the "Governor and Council," and as part of the proceedings of that body, had on the 5th day of November, 1792; which extract reads thus: "Anact dividing Orange and Chittenden counties and erecting four new ones, was read and concurred with the amendments following; that in lieu of organizing in the year 1793, that 1795 and 1796 be inserted, and that the name of York be that of Franklin.''

It is generally conceded by all authorities that Franklin county was incorporated and set off from Chittenden, by virtue of the act of November 5, 1792, the same date on which the above action by the higher branch of the state government was taken. The construction of the above sentence seems to imply that the General Assembly had previously passed an act by which several counties were brought into life, among them being York, but when the enactment of the lower house was presented for concurrence or otherwise to the Governor and Council, as was required, that body made the amendments referred to in the quoted section as given. The extract, too, presents another fact to the reader in that it appears that the time fixed by the Assembly for the
county organization was the year 1793, but which was amended by the Governor and Council by delaying the time until 1795 and 1796.

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Franklin county was organized in 1795 in pursuance of legislative enactment, approved and concurred in by the upper house on the 8th of November of that year, and thereafter the first county officers were chosen. But the court-house was not commenced until the year 1800, and prior to that time and even later the terms of court were held at the house of Silas Hathaway, in the northern part of the village of St. Albans. On the 17th of September, 1800, the land on which the court-house was erected was deeded by Colonel Halloway Taylor and Silas Hathaway to the selectmen of the town and their successors in office, the lot having a frontage of seventy-six feet, and extending back a distance of one hundred and sixteen feet. From the most reliable authority obtainable it appears that the court-house building was begun in 1800, but was not fully completed until 1803, and was then used, and ever since has been, jointly by the town and county. The first structure was a plain wooden one, costing somewhere about $5,000. Besides these occupancies, the old building was used by various church societies as a place of worship; and George F. Houghton is authority for the statement that an addition was afterward made to the building, and used by the Universalist society. And further, that in 1810, the ladies of St. Albans raised by subscription a fund, with which was purchased a bell for the court-house; that the bell was afterward cracked, then re-cast and again placed in the building.

With the lapse of years the old court-house became insufficient for the purposes of the county, and therefore was substantially remodeled and repaired, and enclosed with brick, in which condition it remained until 1872, when the present court-house was erected. This structure while not absolutely devoid of ornamentation is nevertheless an exceeding plain building. It is of brick, with granite foundations and sanded trimmings. At the front corners are towers extending not far above the roof. The interior presents a more attractive appearance than the outside, from the fact that convenience, comfort and the entire safety of public records seem to have controlled the mind of its architect rather than a desire to produce something beautiful. And this same remark might well apply to the exterior, for, while not an attractive appearing building, it is altogether substantial and firm. The lower floor is occupied by the county officers and town clerk, and the upper or second floor forjudges and jury rooms and the court-room.

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While the county has thus been able to transact all necessary business with but two substantial court-house buildings, it has had six county jails or places of confinement. It is understood that the first of these was built about the year 1796, about the time the county was organized and was a part of the old Coit house, or rather an addition to it. The second, called the "old bass wood" jail, stood a little east of where is now the Welden House, and was so arranged that the sheriff of the county maintained a residence therein. In 1810 this building gave way to the third jail, of brick and stone, the latter is standing not far from the site whereon is now the Episcopal Church. This jail was destroyed by fire in 1813, on Christmas day, and was succeeded by the fourth, built of frame and stone; the frame part being used as sheriff's residence and the stone part for prisoners. This jail stood not far from the present similarly used building, but was burned in 1827, having been used only three years. The fifth was erected on the same site, of the same mater-
ials as its preceding one, but which was afterward renewed and re-constructed into the present jail and sheriff's residence. This was done in 1852. The present jail building, although the best of its kind the county ever had, is by no means a secure place for the confinement of prisoners; and it is a common remark among people that unless prisoners are exceedingly well treated there they are apt to become provoked and quit their quarters.

The several structures above described and referred to comprise substantially the possessions of Franklin county in the matter of public buildings. The early part of the present chapter has mentioned the erection and organization of the county, the latter in 1796; and as a concluding part of this division of the county's history it is proper to record the names of those persons who have been chosen to administer the civil affairs of the county in various capacities, from the time of organization to the present day. In this connection, however, it is proper to state that from 1778 to 1835 inclusive, the executive branch of the State government consisted of the Governor and Council. In the latter year the Senate superceded the Council. Likewise, prior to 1826 the judicial power of the county was vested in one chief judge and two assistants, but the re- organization of the judiciary, in 1825, abolished the
chief judgeship.

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Franklin County Civil List.

In United States Senate. — James Fisk,¹ 1817-18; Lawrence Brainerd, 1854-55.
Representatives in Congress. — James Fisk, 1805-09, 1811-15; Benjamin Swift, 1827-31; John Smith, 1839-41; Augustus Young, 1841-43; Alvah Sabin, 1853-57; Homer E. Royce, 1857-61; Worthington C. Smith, 1867-73; Bradley Barlow, 1879-81.
Presidential Electors. — John White, 1808; Asa Aldis, 1824, 1828; Benjamin Swift, 1844; Lawrence Brainerd, 1856; George T. Childs, 1884
Governors. — Horace Eaton, 1846-48; Stephen Royce, 1854-56; J. Gregory Smith, 1863-65.
Lieutenant-Governor. — Horace Eaton, 1843-46.
Secretary of State. — Alvah Sabin, 1841—42.
State Auditors. — Jeptha Bradley, 1860-64; E. Henry Powell, 1878-92.
Secretaries of Civil and Military Affairs. — George F. Houghton, 1848-50; Wilbur P. Davis, 1858-60.
Presidents of Senate. — Horace Eaton, 1843-46; Mason B. Carpenter, 1872-74.
Speakers of House. — John Smith, 1831-34; J. Gregory Smith, 1862-63; Henry R. Start, 1890.
Judges Supreme and Circuit Courts. — Asa Aldis, 1815; William Brayton, 1817-21; Stephen Royce, jr , 1825-26, 1829-51; Bates Turner, 1827-28; Asa O. Aldis, 1857-64; William C. Wilson, 1865-69; Homer E Royce, 1870-90. Homer E. Royce became chief judge of the Supreme Court in 1882 ; Henry R. Start, 1 890-91.
Councilors from Franklin County. — John White, of Georgia, 1794-98, 1801-08; Ebenezer Marvin, of Franklin, 1791-1802, (prior to 1794 residing in Tinmouth); Zerah Willoughby, of Fletcher, 1809,1814; Frederick Bliss, of Georgia, 1809-13, 1815-19; Seth Wetmore, of St. Albans, 1819-29; James Davis, St. Albans, 1829-30; Josph H. Brainerd, St. Albans, 1831-34; George Green, Swanton, 1834-35; Herman R. Beardsley, St. Albans, 1834.

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¹At the time of his election James Fisk was a resident of Barre, Vt.

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Franklin County Senators. — 1836, Nathan Smilie, Joshua Willard, Homer E. Hubbell; 1837, Nathan Smithe, Timothy Foster, Horace Eaton; 1838, Homer E. Hubbell, Nathan Smilie, Alden Sears; 1839, Horace Eaton, Timothy Foster, Joseph Waterman ; 1840, same as 1839; 1841, Horace Eaton, Moses Fisk, Alvah Sabin ; 1842, Horace Eaton, Homer E. Hubbell, William Green; 1843, Alvah Sabin, George Green, Jonathan H. Hubbard; 1844, same as 1843; 1845, Hiram Bellows, William Clapp, Alvah Sabin; 1846, Hiram Bellows, William Clapp, George W. Foster; 1847, George W. Foster, Lucas R. Beeman, Rufus Hamilton; 1848, Rufus Hamilton, Lucas R. Beeman, Jonathan H. Hubbard ; 1849, Homer E. Royce, Jacob Wead, John S. Foster; 1850, same as 1849; 185 i, Homer E. Royce, George Green, Harmon Northrop; 1852, Harmon Northrop, George Green, Silas P. Carpenter; 1853, Silas P. Carpenter, Romeo H. Hoyt, Orlando Stevens; 1854, James H. Farnsworth, Paschal P. Leavens, Romeo H. Hoyt; 1855, James H.
Farnsworth, William H. Blake, Paschal P. Leavens; 1856, William H. Blake, Horatio N. Barber, Heman S. Royce ; 1857, Horatio N. Barber, Heman S. Royce, Delazon D. Wead; 1858, Delazon D. Wead. William C. Wilson, John G. Smith; 1859, John G. Smith, William C. Wilson, Alonzo Green; 1860, Alonzo Green, Samuel H Stevens, Cyrus Hotchkiss; 1861, Cyrus Hotchkiss, Samuel H. Stevens, William W. White; 1862, Harvey D. Farrar, Hiram F. Stevens, Alfred Keith; 1863, same as 1862; 1864, Worthington C. Smith, William S. Rublee, Norman F. Wood ; 1865, Worthington C. Smith, William S. Rublee, Albert G. Soule; 1866, Albert G. Soule, Joshua Clapp, Bradley Barlow; 1867, Joshua Clapp, Henry A. Burt, Victor Atwood; 1868, Bradley Barlow, Henry A. Burt, William R. Hutchinson; 1869, William R. Hutchinson, Robert J. Saxe, Homer E. Royce; 1870, Robert J. Saxe, Dana R. Bailey, Arvin A. Brown; 1872, Dana R. Bailey, George A. Ballard, William H. Stiles; 1874, Albert Clark, William C. Robie, Victor Atwood; 1876, Edward A. Sowles, Oscar S. Rixford, Ethan A. Hull; 1878, Albert Sowles, E. Henry Powell, Chester K. Leach; 1880, Henry R. Start, Arthur W. Wood, Alfred G. Safford; 1882, Herbert Brainerd, Otis N. Kelton, Charles P. Hogan; 1884, Edward G. Greene, Henry Baxter, Daniel Morin; 1886, Carmi L. Marsh, James G. Powell, John F. Draper; 1888, F. Stewart Stranahan, W. H. Giddings, E. R. Bell; 1890, Henry M. Stevens, E. P. Adams, William H. Fairchild.

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Chief Judges County Court. — Ebenezer Marvin, 1796-1803; Jonathan Jones, 1803-08; Ebenezer Marvin, 1808-09; Joseph D. Farnsworth, 1809-15; WiUiam Brayton, 1815-16; Joseph D. Farnsworth, 1816-24; Zerah Willoughby, 1824-26. This office was abolished in 1825.

Assistant Judges of County Court. — John White, 1796-97; Samuel Barnard, 1796-98; Silas Hathaway, 1798; Isaac Smith, 1799; Elnathan Keyes, 1799-1800; Jonathan Jones, 1800-02; Zerah Willoughby, 1801-05, 1813-14, 1818-20, 1822-23; Amos Fassett, 1803, 1806, 1809; Frederick Bliss, 1804-12, 1815-17; Joseph D. Farnsworth, 1807-08; Joseph Benning, jr.. 1810-11; Martin D. Follett, 1812; Chauncey Fitch, 1813-15; Peter Saxe, 1816-18; Amasa I. Brown, 1819-21; Thomas Waterman, 1824-25; Joel Barber, jr., 1824-31; Samuel Wead, 1826-28; George Green, 1829, 1832-37; Joseph Smith, 1830-34, 1842; Austin Fuller, 1835-36; Cornelius Wood, 1837, 1839-41; Seymour Eggleston, 1838; Jesse Carpenter, 1838; Augustus Burt, 1839-41, 1843-45; Luther B. Hunt, 1842; James Davis, 1843-44; Jonathan H. Hubbard, 1845-47; Alvah Sabin, 1846-51; William C. Wilson, 1848-50; Augustus Young, 1851-54; Preston Taylor, 1852-53; John C. Bryant, 1854-56; Valentine S. Ferris, 1855-57; Rufus Hamilton, 1857-59; Seth Oakes, 1857-59; Samuel Kendall, 1859-61; Horatio N. Barber, 1860-61; Robert J. Saxe, 1861-62; Romeo H. Hoyt, 1862-65; Royal T. Bingham, 1863-64; Warren Robinson, 1865-66; George Adams, 1866-67; Walter C. Stevens, 1867-69; John K. Whitney, 1868-69; Paschal P. Leavens, Hiram B. Soule, 1870-71; Leonard W. Leach, John P. Olds, 1872-73; William H. Blake, William S. Rublee, 1874-75; Caleb R. Brewer, Moses Wightman, 1876-77; Rodney Whittemore, Daniel Leach, 1878-79; E. H. Cleveland, Spencer S. Bedard, 1880-81; Edwin C. Thompson, William H. H. McAllister, 1882-83; George N. Goff, Edwin C, Thompson, 1884-85; Silas P. Carpenter, E. G. Dunning, 1886-87; Silas P. Carpenter, William H. Stiles, 1888-91.

State's Attorneys. — Levi House, 1796-1804; Asa Aldis, 1804-06; Ebenezer Marvin, jr., 1806-16; Stephen Royce, jr., 1816-18; Israel P. Richardson, 1818-23; Joshua K. Smedley, 1823-26; John Smith, 1826-33; Henry Adams, 1833-35; George W. Foster, 1835-38; Je-

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rome J. Beardsley, 1838-39; Orlando Stevens, 1839-42; Homer E. Royce, 1846-48; John S. Royce, 1848-49; Augustus Burt, 1849-51; George F. Houghton, 1851-53; Heman S. Royce, 1853-55; Henry G. Edson, 1855-57; Myron Buck, 1857-59; Wilham W. White, 1859-60; Henry A. Burt, 1860-62; Norman F. Wood, 1862-64; Julian H. D. Dewey, 1864-66; Dana R. Bailey, 1866-68; Willard Farrington, 1868-69; George A. Ballard, 1870-72; E. Henry Powell, 1872-74; George W. Newton, 1874-76; Henry R. Start, 1876-78; Charles P. Hogan, 1878-80; Harry E. Rustedt, 1880-82; Alfred A. Hall, 1882-84; George W. Burleson, 1884-86; Stephen L. Halhman, 1886-88; Alfred K. Brown, 1888-92.

County Clerks. — Samuel Willard, 1797-98; Seth Pomeroy, 1798-1805; John White, jr., 1805-07; Seth Wetmore, 1807-08; Jonathan Janes, 1809-13; Abijah Stone, 1814; Abner Morton, 1815; Jonathan Janes, part of 1816; Horace Janes, December 24, 1816, to March 15, 1834; Joseph H. Brainerd, April 15, 1834, to September, 1872; Wilbur P. Davis, September, 1872, to the present time.

Sheriffs. — Prince B. Hall, 1796-1804; Thomas Russell, 1804-07; Oliver Day, 1807-09; Seth Wetmore, 1809-11; Solomon Walbridge, 1811-13; Joseph H. Munson, 1813-15; Benjamin Fay, 1815-17; Shiveric Holmes, 1817-21; Joseph Weeks, 1821-28; Timothy Foster, 1828-33; Seymour Eggleston, 1833-35; Jeptha Bradley, 1835-39; Decius R. Bogue, 1839-43; John S. Foster, 1843-48; Orson Carpenter, 1848-52; Addison Burr, 1852-56; Alvin H. Mason, 1856-60; Rensselaer R. Sherman, 1860-66; Andrew J. Soule, 1866-68; James P. Place, 1868-73; Dana G. Morrell, 1874-75; Julius Halbert, 1876-83; Thomas B. Kennedy, 1884-87; Rigney D. Marvin, 1888-89; Barney F. Kelley, 1890-91.

Judges of Probate. — Jonathan Hoit, from 1790 to 1795 as district of Chittenden county; Jonathan Hoit, 1796 to 1805 of Franklin county; Jonathan Janes, 1806-12; Frederick Bliss, 1813; Abner Morton, 1814; Seth Wetmore, 1815-29; William Bridges, 1830-32; Stephen S. Brown, 1833-34; Joel Barber, 1835-36; William Bridges, 1837-44; James Davis, 1845-48; Jeptha Bradley, 1849; James Davis, 1850; William Bridges, 1851-52; James Davis, 1853; William Bridges, 1854; James Davis, 1855; William Bridges, 1856; Amos J. Samson, 1857-

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66; Myron W. Bailey, elected in 1867 and served continuously to the present time.

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