1839 Vermont Attachment Writ — Truman C. Sherman v. Heman Gillett, Chittenden Co For Sale

1833 Antique Handwritten Receipt Simington Estate $5.73 Elias B. Hicks Signed Manuscript Document

Approximately 8" by 12.25"

• An exceptional and complete 1839–1840 Vermont legal document set — a State of Vermont Attachment Writ issued out of Chittenden County Court, accompanied by the sheriff's return and a handwritten court motion, all relating to the civil action of Truman C. Sherman of Williston v. Heman Gillett of Huntington, Chittenden County, Vermont.

  THE WRIT (Image 3): Printed form with extensive manuscript completion, dated at Richmond, Chittenden County, December 29, 1839, signed by Wm. P. Briggs, Justice of the Peace. Commands the Sheriff of Chittenden County to attach the goods, chattels, or estate of Heman Gillett to the value of Four Hundred Dollars, and to bring him before the County Court at Burlington on the last Tuesday of March next. The complaint alleges that Gillett owes Sherman $400 on a balance of book accounts between the parties, as evidenced by Sherman's original account books. Security bond signed by D. A. Stansbury.

  SHERIFF'S RETURN (Image 2): Dated January 6, 1840, the deputy sheriff's return records that by virtue of the writ he attached as property of Heman Gillett: ten three-year-old steers and six cows and one yoke of oxen — a vivid snapshot of Vermont frontier farm property used as legal security. Fees itemized: travel 16 miles, copy, keeping property — total $2.46. Attested by the deputy sheriff.

  COURT RECORD (Image 1): Docket entry No. 126, case styled Truman C. Sherman v. Heman Gillett, D.C.C. (Chittenden County Court), March 5, 1840. Attorney Wm. P. Briggs noted for plaintiff. Fee itemization includes travel fee $5.06, 20 miles travel $1.00, total $6.00, taxing costs $.25, total $6.25. Signed off April 4, 1840 by W. Noble, Clerk. Stamped boldly in red ink: DISMISSED, March Term 1840.

  WHY THIS DOCUMENT IS SIGNIFICANT:

  • Complete three-piece filing — writ, sheriff's return, and court record — rarely surviving together
  • Livestock attachment (steers, cows, oxen) provides extraordinary agricultural and economic detail
  • Named parties traceable through Vermont genealogical and land records
  • Towns of Huntington, Williston, Richmond, and Burlington all represented
  • Dismissed outcome with full cost accounting intact
  • Signed twice by Wm. P. Briggs, Justice of the Peace — a recurring Chittenden County legal figure