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Letter to Editor
May 23, 1842
Vermont Watchman And State Journal
Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont
What is this article about?
A correspondent writes to correct the newspaper's brief notice of Judge Elijah Paine's death, suggesting he arrived in Windsor in 1784 and represented it in the 1786 constitutional convention at Montpelier, rather than Williamstown in 1787. The editor concurs based on recent information but could not locate convention records.
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The late Judge Paine. A venerable friend writes us as follows:
In your brief notice of the death of the Hon. Elijah Paine, you state that "he came to this state in June 1784, with the first settlers in Williamstown. Sept. 4th, 1787, that town was organized and he was elected a representative to the Legislature, this being, we believe, his first entrance upon public life."
I cannot say for a certainty that this is incorrect, but I have always had the impression that Judge Paine came to the town of Windsor in the year 1784, and in the year 1786 he represented that town in the convention holden at Montpelier to revise the constitution. Whether this be correct, may surely be ascertained. My excuse for troubling you with this is, that Judge Paine has ever stood so high in my estimation, that I feel very anxious, that when his life and character shall be written, as I presume it will be by an able surviving friend, there may be a perfectly correct statement of all material facts relating to his public services.
Very respectfully,
Your ob't servant.
In the Vermont Gazetteer we found the date of the settlement and organization of Williamstown, as stated by us; nevertheless, from a statement which we have recently heard, we think our correspondent is correct in his impression that Judge Paine was a member (and secretary, we believe,) of the convention which revised the Constitution in 1786. We have taken some trouble to find the records of that convention, but without success.
In your brief notice of the death of the Hon. Elijah Paine, you state that "he came to this state in June 1784, with the first settlers in Williamstown. Sept. 4th, 1787, that town was organized and he was elected a representative to the Legislature, this being, we believe, his first entrance upon public life."
I cannot say for a certainty that this is incorrect, but I have always had the impression that Judge Paine came to the town of Windsor in the year 1784, and in the year 1786 he represented that town in the convention holden at Montpelier to revise the constitution. Whether this be correct, may surely be ascertained. My excuse for troubling you with this is, that Judge Paine has ever stood so high in my estimation, that I feel very anxious, that when his life and character shall be written, as I presume it will be by an able surviving friend, there may be a perfectly correct statement of all material facts relating to his public services.
Very respectfully,
Your ob't servant.
In the Vermont Gazetteer we found the date of the settlement and organization of Williamstown, as stated by us; nevertheless, from a statement which we have recently heard, we think our correspondent is correct in his impression that Judge Paine was a member (and secretary, we believe,) of the convention which revised the Constitution in 1786. We have taken some trouble to find the records of that convention, but without success.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical
Informative
What themes does it cover?
Constitutional Rights
Politics
What keywords are associated?
Judge Paine
Vermont History
Windsor Settlement
Constitutional Convention
Montpelier 1786
Public Service Correction
What entities or persons were involved?
Your Ob't Servant.
The Printer
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Your Ob't Servant.
Recipient
The Printer
Main Argument
corrects the newspaper's account by suggesting judge paine settled in windsor in 1784 and first served publicly in the 1786 constitutional convention, emphasizing the need for accurate historical records of his services.
Notable Details
References Vermont Gazetteer For Williamstown Dates
Mentions Convention At Montpelier To Revise The Constitution
Editor Notes Paine As Possible Secretary Of The 1786 Convention