term Mr. Grout, who resided in Chester, appeared " by his agent Mr. Phelps." How many sessions of the court were held after June, 1774, is uncertain. I find nothing to indicate any; and as they ceased in Cum berland County the following March, it is safe to infer that they did not continue long after that period in Gloucester County.
difficult, if not impracticable, to bring offend ers to justice within the said county," and providing that the courts in Albany County should have jurisdiction of crimes committed in Charlotte County. The government of New York also passed the most despotic and blood-thirsty act that ever was enacted in America, which con tained a provision, that, if offenders should CHARLOTTE COUNTY. be indicted for certain capital offences, they In 1772 the northerly part of Albany should be adjudged to be convicted and County lying on both sides of Lake Chani- attainted of felony, and should suffer death plain, including western Vermont north of as in cases of persons convicted and attainted the Battenkill at Manchester, was organized of felony by verdict and judgment; and the courts were authorized to award execution as Charlotte County. In April, 1772, twenty-six inhabitants of the same as if they had been convicted. Socialborough, which included, under a New Death was the penalty under the New York York charter, the whole or part of the towns law to be inflicted upon any one assuming of Rutland and Clarendon, petitioned for the judicial power unauthorized by that State, establishment of the shire at that place; and upon rioters for demolishing an out-house while twenty-one of the residents of that or destroying even a sheaf of wheat in any town, with others of the New York towns enclosure. The people of New York sym of Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and Skenes- pathized with the settlers, and the processes borough (now Whitehall) asked that the of the courts of Albany and Charlotte latter be made the county-seat. The New counties were disregarded by the settlers in Vermont, and forcibly resisted if necessary. York Executive and Council deemed it pru No resident of the State ever held any dent to locate the Court House at a greater distance from the grants; for on the 8th of judicial position in the courts of either September, 1773, it was ordered by his county, unless that of justice of the peace. Excellency, " with the advice of the Council, Of the latter there were John Munro of that an ordinance issue establishing a court Shaftsbury, Benjamin Hough and Mr. of common pleas and a court of general Spencer of Socialborough, Bliss Willoughby sessions of the peace to be held annually in and Ebenezer Cole at or near Bennington, the County of Charlotte at the house of and George Gardiner of Pownall; but the Patrick Smith, Esq., near Fort Edward, on exercise of their judicial functions was not a the third Tuesdays in the months of October pleasant pastime. No session of the courts of either county was ever held in Vermont; and May." On the same day Philip Schuyler was and their jurisdiction, save in theory, never appointed Judge of the Court of Common extended over it. After the sessions of the New York courts Pleas, and Patrick Smith county clerk; the first session was held in October, 1773. In ended in 1775, no judicial organizations ex 1774 there was no jail nor court-house in isted in Vermont until the special courts the county, and the legislature passed an were established in 1778. act reciting that " A great part of the said THE VERMONT COURTS. county being involved in a state of anarchy THE SPECIAL COURTS IN 1778. and confusion, by reason of the violent pro ceedings of riotous and disorderly people, The organized government of Vermont from whence it must at present be extremely began in 1778. The first Constitution, Chap.
