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moses robinson and the founding of vermont
Moses Robinson may be the most important founding father of Vermont you never heard of . . . the Vermont Historical Society brings you a full-length biography about Moses Robinson by Superior Court Judge Robert Mello! Robinson was a leader of the revolt against New York, the architect of Vermont's legal system, and a Vermont governor and senator. He was independent-minded, particularly on the issue of statehood. Who knew he was so important to the founding of Vermont?!? Published by the Vermont Historical Society.
- GenresHistory
450 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 26, 2015
It has been said that the history of the United States cannot be told until the history of every state is told. “Moses Robinson And The Founding Of Vermont” places a key piece in the puzzle of American history.
This book is part biography but mostly history. Moses Robinson was major player in the early history of Vermont. An early settler of Bennington in Southwestern Vermont, strong faith guided him to positions of prominence in the Church of Christ in Bennington while his skills in government drew him into political affairs. Robinson would serve as a delegate to constitutional conventions, Governor’s Councilor, legislator, Vermont Supreme Court Justice, Agent to the U.S. Congress and U.S. Senator, to name a few of the many roles he played on history’s stage. The back cover says “Moses Robinson may be the most important Founding Father of Vermont you’ve never heard of”. After reading this book I think I know why. His importance is shown by the many positions he filled during his long career. I believe that his anonymity results from his adherence to the Republican Party of Jefferson in a region and a state that turned into a Federalist stronghold. Although wielding tremendous influence through his many positions, he served only one year as governor and less than one term in the U.S. Senate, in contrast to the long careers he would likely have enjoyed had he been a Federalist or lived in a Jeffersonian state.
That is the biography part. As I said, most of this work is history, and a fascinating and unique history it is. Contrary to what many Americans probably believe, Vermont was not one of the original thirteen colonies and states. Contested by New Hampshire and New York and, to a limited extent Massachusetts, the early days of the Green Mountains was an era of conflicting land claims and vigilante justice during the specter of becoming a battle ground in a colonial Civil War overshadowed development of this northern land. Often devoid of protection of the Continental Congress, the winds of war swept across Vermont during the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars and the War of 1812. Petitions for statehood were held up for years by conflicting claims of citizens, neighboring states and Britain. Although adopting forms that we associate with state government, Vermont functioned as an independent republic from 1777 to 1791 while negotiating with Congress and, for a time, with Britain for a lasting association. Admission to the Union as the fourteenth state in 1791 brought an end to uncertainty and ushered in a period during which Vermont would be the fastest growing state.
Author Robert A. Mello has thoroughly researched his topic and skillfully woven the life of Moses Robinson into the history of Vermont from 1741 to 1813. Returning to the first sentence of this review, the unique history of Vermont paints the portrait of early America more vividly than that of any other state. How is it that “American” territory could be so hotly disputed by its sister states as to be excluded from the Union? The confiscation of Tory estates is often presented as a retaliatory violation of civil rights but here it is shown as the only way that the Revolution could be financed. Could even loyal Americans have seriously negotiated for British protection from New Hampshire and New York or were they just dangling lures to buy time and a truce? How different was the independence of the “Republic of Vermont” from that of states under the Articles of Confederation? It takes the Vermont’s tale to frame these questions on early America.
If you are a Vermonter, you will enjoy this “Moses Robinson and The Founding of Vermont” for its insights into your state’s origins. If you identify with one of the other 49 states, read it for its window into the America of the Revolution, the evolution of our first parties and the tentative steps by which the States became United. Either way you will be richly rewarded.
I received a free copy of this book with the hope, but not the requirement, that I post a review.
This book is part biography but mostly history. Moses Robinson was major player in the early history of Vermont. An early settler of Bennington in Southwestern Vermont, strong faith guided him to positions of prominence in the Church of Christ in Bennington while his skills in government drew him into political affairs. Robinson would serve as a delegate to constitutional conventions, Governor’s Councilor, legislator, Vermont Supreme Court Justice, Agent to the U.S. Congress and U.S. Senator, to name a few of the many roles he played on history’s stage. The back cover says “Moses Robinson may be the most important Founding Father of Vermont you’ve never heard of”. After reading this book I think I know why. His importance is shown by the many positions he filled during his long career. I believe that his anonymity results from his adherence to the Republican Party of Jefferson in a region and a state that turned into a Federalist stronghold. Although wielding tremendous influence through his many positions, he served only one year as governor and less than one term in the U.S. Senate, in contrast to the long careers he would likely have enjoyed had he been a Federalist or lived in a Jeffersonian state.
That is the biography part. As I said, most of this work is history, and a fascinating and unique history it is. Contrary to what many Americans probably believe, Vermont was not one of the original thirteen colonies and states. Contested by New Hampshire and New York and, to a limited extent Massachusetts, the early days of the Green Mountains was an era of conflicting land claims and vigilante justice during the specter of becoming a battle ground in a colonial Civil War overshadowed development of this northern land. Often devoid of protection of the Continental Congress, the winds of war swept across Vermont during the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars and the War of 1812. Petitions for statehood were held up for years by conflicting claims of citizens, neighboring states and Britain. Although adopting forms that we associate with state government, Vermont functioned as an independent republic from 1777 to 1791 while negotiating with Congress and, for a time, with Britain for a lasting association. Admission to the Union as the fourteenth state in 1791 brought an end to uncertainty and ushered in a period during which Vermont would be the fastest growing state.
Author Robert A. Mello has thoroughly researched his topic and skillfully woven the life of Moses Robinson into the history of Vermont from 1741 to 1813. Returning to the first sentence of this review, the unique history of Vermont paints the portrait of early America more vividly than that of any other state. How is it that “American” territory could be so hotly disputed by its sister states as to be excluded from the Union? The confiscation of Tory estates is often presented as a retaliatory violation of civil rights but here it is shown as the only way that the Revolution could be financed. Could even loyal Americans have seriously negotiated for British protection from New Hampshire and New York or were they just dangling lures to buy time and a truce? How different was the independence of the “Republic of Vermont” from that of states under the Articles of Confederation? It takes the Vermont’s tale to frame these questions on early America.
If you are a Vermonter, you will enjoy this “Moses Robinson and The Founding of Vermont” for its insights into your state’s origins. If you identify with one of the other 49 states, read it for its window into the America of the Revolution, the evolution of our first parties and the tentative steps by which the States became United. Either way you will be richly rewarded.
I received a free copy of this book with the hope, but not the requirement, that I post a review.
January 22, 2019
A must-read for anyone interested in the history of Vermont. Not just a biography of Moses Robinson (Vermont's second Governor), it is also a remarkably detailed account of the founding years of the republic and the accession of the state to the Union.
It seems to have been extensively researched and opened my eyes to a "Founding Father of Vermont" of whom, I must admit, I knew nothing at all. It turns out that he was present at and often made meaningful contributions to most of the critical decisions and events of the period. He moved to Vermont when it was subject to the rules of New Hampshire and/or New York, depending on your viewpoint, partially escaping to set up a religiously free community (He was a "New Light" and objected to being forced to pay for a church of which he was not a member, a provision that ended up in the Vermont constitution). His egalitarian / congregationalist ideals stayed with him all his life - the Vermont constitution granted the vote to all (Male) adults, be they possessed of property or not. He continued to follow these ideals through thick and thin, eventually seeing Jefferson, who he believed espoused the same ideals, elected President.
The book describes, in a clearer way than I have previously read, the multi-state dispute, approaching civil war, over the territory that became Vermont. Just for that the book is worth a read. The book also places the Allen brothers in a different perspective from how they are often seen, allocating them a much smaller place in the pantheon of Vermont's founders.
Overall, the book encompasses an immense amount of information about a relatively short, if fraught, period of time. It is surprisingly readable; my expectations had been of a less readable academic tome. However, I felt that the author occasionally added too much editorial, in the way of unnecessary adjectives and adverbs, which I found annoying and intrusive. And the other trait I found annoying was the frequent delivery of lines like "xxx proved how well Robinson was thought of by his peers / constituents". Really?
But that is a nit-pick. This is a great book for anyone interested in the history of Vermont.
It seems to have been extensively researched and opened my eyes to a "Founding Father of Vermont" of whom, I must admit, I knew nothing at all. It turns out that he was present at and often made meaningful contributions to most of the critical decisions and events of the period. He moved to Vermont when it was subject to the rules of New Hampshire and/or New York, depending on your viewpoint, partially escaping to set up a religiously free community (He was a "New Light" and objected to being forced to pay for a church of which he was not a member, a provision that ended up in the Vermont constitution). His egalitarian / congregationalist ideals stayed with him all his life - the Vermont constitution granted the vote to all (Male) adults, be they possessed of property or not. He continued to follow these ideals through thick and thin, eventually seeing Jefferson, who he believed espoused the same ideals, elected President.
The book describes, in a clearer way than I have previously read, the multi-state dispute, approaching civil war, over the territory that became Vermont. Just for that the book is worth a read. The book also places the Allen brothers in a different perspective from how they are often seen, allocating them a much smaller place in the pantheon of Vermont's founders.
Overall, the book encompasses an immense amount of information about a relatively short, if fraught, period of time. It is surprisingly readable; my expectations had been of a less readable academic tome. However, I felt that the author occasionally added too much editorial, in the way of unnecessary adjectives and adverbs, which I found annoying and intrusive. And the other trait I found annoying was the frequent delivery of lines like "xxx proved how well Robinson was thought of by his peers / constituents". Really?
But that is a nit-pick. This is a great book for anyone interested in the history of Vermont.
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May 3, 2020I can't find any new or used copies of this book for sale. If anyone wants to sell theirs, let me know. I haven't read the book yet so I may be repeating some facts. I am the 9x nephew of Moses. My brother Doug found the gap in our genealogy a few years back and has been able to get us in the Son's of the American Revolution. We had no idea. We have not been able to prove it, but other historians say we are also related to John Robinson, the paster of the pilgrims. We think his brother William, who went with him to Holland, then either his son or he must have come over. Our first record is a marriage in 1668 of Willian Robinson, but surely not John's brother due to age. Most likely his son who would have been born around 1600. The reason I'm writing this is we have thus far not been able to find any concrete records of how teh family got over here and who it was other than historians, who did not provide any evidence such as a birth or death record.
My 9x grandfather was Moses' brother Silas and their father Captain Samuel Robinson as he was called bought the Bennington township land grant from Benning Wentworth. Sadly Captain Samuel was voted to go back to England to try to mitigate the dispute but died from smallpox while over there. The land grants are why I believe they formed the Green Mountain Boys way before the revolution. The Yorkers as they were called, were trying to take their land. Both Silas and Captain Samuel had been arrested by the Yorkers, Silas kept in prison for 1 year.
My 9x grandfather was Moses' brother Silas and their father Captain Samuel Robinson as he was called bought the Bennington township land grant from Benning Wentworth. Sadly Captain Samuel was voted to go back to England to try to mitigate the dispute but died from smallpox while over there. The land grants are why I believe they formed the Green Mountain Boys way before the revolution. The Yorkers as they were called, were trying to take their land. Both Silas and Captain Samuel had been arrested by the Yorkers, Silas kept in prison for 1 year.
September 8, 2024
I have owned this book for a number of years. I have read a lot about the Revolutionary War in Vermont. Most of it centers on the Allens, Warners, or John Stark. They were important. Very little is written on other great men such as Robinson, Jacob Bayley, and William Marsh. I thought this book was going to be rather dry, so it remained on my "to read" list for a long time.
This excellent book is an extremely detailed account of the life of Moses Robinson and the politics of early Vermont. I would not recommend the book for anyone who had no idea about the Revolutionary War in Vermont, the Haldimand Negotiations, or the struggle for recognition for statehood. This is not a dry book but it's very detailed. I would put it in the category of advanced reading or "scholarly".
This excellent book is an extremely detailed account of the life of Moses Robinson and the politics of early Vermont. I would not recommend the book for anyone who had no idea about the Revolutionary War in Vermont, the Haldimand Negotiations, or the struggle for recognition for statehood. This is not a dry book but it's very detailed. I would put it in the category of advanced reading or "scholarly".
April 11, 2020
Wonderfully written biography of important leader of the republic and state of Vermont. Though not as well known as Ethan and Ira Allen or Thomas Chittenden, Moses Robinson served his town, the republic and state with distinction.
September 6, 2015
Excellent book. See geneprock.com for my review
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews