We come now to a more full Account of our honored fellow townsman, Andrew B. Peters. He was the second son of Colonel John Peters, born at Hebron, Conn., January 29, 1704, and when with his parents he first came to this town, he was about seven years of age….
In the year 1798 Andrew B. Peters was chosen Town Clerk of Bradford, and was continued in that office for forty out of the ensuing forty- six years, there being but two interruptions, the first of five, and the other of one year. The early records of the town, while they exist, will be a memorial of his ability and correctness. It is well that the books were kept so long by one faithful man, instead of being bandied about from one place to another. The same year in which Mr. Peters was first chosen Town Clerk he was also elected Representative to the State Legislature, arid served the town in that capacity for five years, though not continuously. He also officiated as a Justice of the Peace for many years. For half a century he was occupied in various public services, and in every department gave general satisfaction.
Esquire Peters was strictly temperate in his habits, both of eating and drinking. He was accustomed to rise, and also to retire, at early hours. He was in his temper, quick and decisive; in his pursuits, active and persevering. And never having broken down his physical constitution by excessive labor, or other abuses, his sight, hearing, memory, and powers generally, both of body arid mind, held out admirably. In his old age he stood erect, arid walked with a quick arid firm step. But a few weeks before his decease, he, with his wife, took a journey to Boston and vicinity, to visit their children there. If men would abstain wholly from the ordinary use of intoxicating liquor, tobacco, opium, and otherwise observe as they should the laws of health, instead of becoming old and broken down at the age of forty-five or fifty, instances of sprightliness and energy at the age of seventy-five or eighty would not be at all uncommon.
In early life Mr. Peters united with the Episcopal church, and, though he seldom had opportunity to enjoy its forms of worship, he retained his membership to the last. He was strict in his observance of the Sabbath, and exemplary in his attendance on public worship, with the Congregational denomination, whose house of worship was long quite near his residence. He was detained at home only for two Sabbaths, during his last illness. Though fully aware that the time appointed for his departure was close at hand, his mind remained peaceful. He did not seem to depend on his morality at all, but on Christ, and him alone, for salvation. On Sabbath morning, August 10, 1851, the venerable old man passed quietly away at the age of eighty-seven years, six months and twelve days.
On the following Monday, his funeral was numerously attended by the inhabitants of the town which he had in various capacities so long and faithfully served, the religious services being performed by his Congregational pastor, assisted by the Methodist brother then officiating in Bradford.
–From “A history of Bradford, Vermont containing some account of the place of its first settlement in 1765…” (my emphasis)
Fascinating. Too bad a human didn’t go in and fix the problems that the character recognition software didn’t get correct: “arid” being used for “and” repeatedly, and many bizarre and unreadable examples such as “pi-ay er” instead of “prayer.” Of course, since this is from the archives of the University of California, maybe they don’t know what that last word is!