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(VERMONT). Hand-Written Document Concerning Licensing of a "public house of entertainment". Castleton, Vermont. March 12, 1816. Twelve signatures. Sheet 8 x 12.5 inches. Ink, slight fading. $125.00

 

    John Mason, Justice of the Peace, was also a moderator for this document which allowed a committee to vote on licenses for tavern keepers. Samuel Moulton (1782-1838) paid $3.50 for his license, Benjamin Carver (1774-1849) paid $6, Luther Fletcher paid $2.50, and Reuben Moulton (1783-1831) (brother of Samuel) paid $2.

�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�?�? The document was signed by John Mason, Enos Merrill, Josiah G. Harris, and Leonard Lathrop, probably all members of the "civil authority of the Town of Castleton consisting of the Justices, Constable, Select men and Grand Jurors". Selectmen signing were Reuben Moulton, Ira Northrup, James Adams, Willard Pond (secretary), Joel Drake, Nathl. Hart (constable), Jonathan Demming (Grand Juror).

     Castleton, Vermont, was chartered in 1761, and settled in 1770, with three families from Connecticut. In 1816 there was a population of a few hundred. Information concerning a few of the signers: "Deacon Enos Merrill, a native of West Hartford, was one of the early settlers, arriving here about 1785. His early training was strictly Puritan. He was a pillar in the church in Castleton for nearly sixty years... Among the early settlers in Castleton was Captain John Mason, who came here about the year 1785. He was a magistrate, a member of the State Legislature, and of the Governor's Council, a presidential elector, and a trustee of the granmiar school. He died at his residence in Castleton, two miles north of the village, aged eighty- two years." (ref: History of Rutland County Vermont, 1886.)