BAKER RESCUED.

PREPARATIONS TO MEET GOV. TRYON.

was thrown into a sleigh and conveyed | report was at first credited and produced off with the greatest speed towards Albany.

The news of this transaction being sent by express to Bennington, ten men immediately mounted their horses for the purpose of intercepting the banditti and rescuing Baker. They came upon Munro and his party just before they reached the Hudson river, who on the first appearance of their pursuers abandoned their prisoner and fled. Baker was found nearly exhausted by his sufferings and the loss of blood. Having refreshed him and dressed his wounds, they carried him home to the no small joy of his friends and the whole settlement.

An account of this transaction was afterwards sent to the governor of New York by Munro, in which he represents the conflict at Baker's house as very desperate, and says "he has reason to be thankful to Divine Providence for the preservation of his life and that of his party." He says further that he should have succeeded in carrying Baker to Albany, "if he could have had ten men, who would have taken arms and obeyed his orders; but that they all ran into the woods when they ought to have resisted."

some alarm. The committees of safety and military officers met in convention and after a full consideration of their situation, finally resolved that "it was their duty to oppose governor Tryon and his troops to the utmost of their power."

Their resolution being thus taken, they next began to make preparations for an effectual resistance. Two cannon and a mortar, with powder and ball, were obtained from Hoosic fort and there was a general rally of the militia in Bennington and the neighboring towns. In order to ensure an effectual resistance, it was concluded to place some of their best marksmen at the narrow passes along the road from Albany to Bennington, for the purpose of shooting down the officers of the invaders as they advanced and producing disorder and dismay among their troops. In the mean time a trusty person was dispatched to Albany to ascertain the number, the movements and designs of the enemy and take note of their officers so as to be able to distinguish them again. This messenger shortly returned with the joyful intelligence that the troops were windbound in the river below Albany, and that they had no designs upon the Grants, but were destined for the military posts on the lakes and thus were the settlers relieved from the necessity of putting their plans and their valor to the test.

Shortly after this attack upon Baker, Munro made, an attempt to arrest Seth Warner. Warner with a single friend was riding on horse-back in the vicinity of Munro's residence, and, being met by During the preparations above-menMunro and several of his dependants, a tioned several persons on the Grants, who conversation ensued, in the midst of which were in the New York interest, judging Munro suddenly seized the bridle of War- it unsafe for them to remain, fled to New ner's horse and commanded the bystand-York, and by their representations and ers to aid in arresting him. Warner after vainly urging him to desist, struck Munro over the head with a dull cutlass and levelled him to the ground. Munro, though stunned and disabled for the time, received no permanent injury, and the spectators manifesting no disposition to interfere, Warner was permitted to proceed without further molestation.

by the intelligence received from Munro, governor Tryon seems to have been impressed with the difficulty of subjugating the settlers on the Grants, by force, and to have determined to try what could be done by negotiation. He accordingly wrote to the Rev. Mr. Dewey and the inhabitants of Bennington and the adjacent country, and, after censuring them The repeated aggressions of this kind for their illegal acts and expressing a aroused the settlers to a determination to strong desire to do them justice, he invimaintain their ground at all hazards, and ted them to lay before him their grievanto expel every person who should be found ces and causes of complaint, and engaged upon the grants under the auspices of the full security and protection to any persons N. Y. claimants. In this exasperated state they might send to New York on that busiof public feeling,news was received at Ben-ness, excepting Allen, Warner and three nington that Gov. Tryon was ascending the others.* North river with a body of troops, for the purpose of subduing and chastising the refractory Green Mountain Boys This

It was about this time that the settlers of the New Hampshire Grants began to be called Green Mountain Boys. The name was first applied to the military but was soon extended to the settlers in general.

Governor Tryon's letter was dated at New York, May 19th 1772. On the 5th of June, two answers were returned, one signed by a committee appointed for that purpose by the inhabitants of Bennington and vicinity, and consisting of Mr. Dewey

*This letter may be found in Slades Vt. State Papers, page 22.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH GOV. TRYON.

and others; and the other by the persons excepted in the governor's letter. In these they proceed to show the legality of their titles to their lands under the grants of New Hampshire, and that their proceedings, which had been declared to be disorderly and riotous, were necessary and justifiable in defending themselves and property against the machinations of base and sordid land-jobbers; and express an earnest wish that His Excellency would assist to quiet them in their possessions "till His Majesty, in his royal wisdom shall be graciously pleased to settle the controversy."

These communications were forwarded by Capt. Stephen Fay and his son Mr. Jonas Fay, who were appointed agents on the part of the settlers of the New Hampshire Grants to deliver them to the governor of New York. They were kindly received by His Excellency and laid before the council. The council after mature deliberation reported favorably, and recommended that His Excellency afford all the relief in his power, by suspending till His Majesty's pleasure should be known, all prosecutions in behalf of the crown, on account of crimes with which the settlers stood charged, and recommend that the owners of disputed lands, claimed under New York titles, should suspend, during the same period, all civil suits concerning the same. This report of the council was approved by the governor and was immediately communicated to the people of the Grants, by their agents.

PROCEEDINGS AT OTTER CREEK.

and a numerous concourse of the inhabitants of the adjacent country and other spectators, gave a full and unanimous vote in favor of the papers aforesaid; and the thanks of the people were presented to us for our diligence in procuring these papers. Peace was also recommended on the whole New Hampshire Grants, by all who were present; when the whole artillery of Bennington, with the small arms were several times discharged in honor of the governor and council of New York.— Health to the king-Health to governor Tryon-Health to the council of New York-Universal peace and plenty, liberty and prosperity, by sundry respectable gentlemen, some of whom were from neighboring provinces.

STEPHEN FAY,
JONAS FAY." *

During these transactions at New York, intelligence was brought to Bennington that Mr. Kockburn, a noted surveyor in the employment of New York claimants, of the northern townships. was engaged in laying out land in some Ethan Allen collected a small party, went in pursuit of the surveyor, overtook him, broke his instruments and made him prisoner. He was brought to Castleton, tried and sentenced to banishment, and was to suffer death if caught within the Grants, but at this juncture hearing of the success of the mission to New York, they rescinded their harsh sentence, and dismissed the

surveyor.

During this expedition, Allen's party disWhen intelligence of this result reachpossessed the tenants of an intruder at the ed Bennington, it diffused universal joy lower falls onOtterCreek, where Vergennes through the settlement. The rememnow stands. The lands here had been grantbrance of their former griefs and suffered by New Hampshire in 1761,and a settleings, was, for the moment, swept away ment commenced under said grant, and a in the overflowing enthusiasm for gover-saw-mill erected as early as 1769. Shortnor Tryon. On the 15th of July, 1772, the ly after, Col. Reed, claiming under a subcommittee which had replied to the letter of the governor of New York, together drove off the New Hampshire settlers and sequent grant from New York, forcibly with a vast concourse of people, assembled put his own tenants in possession. They at the meeting-house in Bennington, and had extended the settlement, erected sevtheir agents then laid before them the re-eral log-houses and a grist-mill. These sults of their mission to New York. The manner in which it was received may be best understood from the report, made by these agents shortly after to governor Tryon.

"We, as messengers, laid before the above committee an extract of the minutes of His Majesty's Council of the province of New York of the 2d instant, together with His Excellency governor Tryon's letter of the same date, directed to the inhabitants of Bennington, &c. and after reading the same, the above committee

*Those may be found in Slade's Vt. State Papers, page 24 and 25.

houses burnt, their mill-stones broken were in turn ordered off by Allen, their by being thrown over the falls, and Pangborn, the New Hampshire proprietor, again put in possession of his saw-mill.

reached governor Tryon, who, on the Intelligence of these transactions soon 11th of August, 1772, addressed a letter of sharp rebuke to the inhabitants of the Grants and required them forthwith to put Col. Reed's tenants "into re-posses

*This document may be found in the 11th No. of the Historical Readings, published in the State Banner of July 20, 1841, and was copied from the original on file at Albany.

COMMUNICATION TO GOV. TRYON.

COL. REED'S TENANTS DISPOSSESSED.

sion of their lands and tenements." On | preceding section, induced a number of the reception of this letter, the commit- Scotch emigrants, who had lately arrived tees of the several towns assembled at at New York, to accompany him to Otter Manchester, and on the 27th of August a Creek for the purpose of re-possessing the bold and decisive, but conciliatory answer property which he claimed there. On was prepared, in which they contended, their arrival the New Hampshire settlers that there was no breach of faith on their were a second time compelled to abandon part, because none was plighted till af- the place, and Col. Reed, having repairter those transactions, when on the 15th ed the grist-mill and re-instated the mill of July, the proposition of governor Tryon stones by means of hooping them, left was accepted, and that the aggressors were the Scotchmen, with orders to keep posthe New York claimants, who had under- session and continue the improvements. taken to survey and take possession of the Intelligence of these transactions soon disputed domain, declaring unequivocally reached Bennington, whereupon Ethan their determination neither to break arti- Allen, Seth Warner, Remember Baker, cles of public faith, insult governmental and a number of others immediately proauthority, nor abandon their property to ceeded to the place for the purpose of the mercy of New York land-jobbers. again dispossessing the New York intruThey, moreover, declined restoring Col. ders and restoring the rightful owners. Reed's tenants their possessions, not They compelled the miller to break the doubting that when His Excellency came mill-stone into small pieces with a sledge to understand that they were really in and throw them down the falls, and comtruders, he would approve their conduct.*manded them not to repair the mill again To the above-mentioned communication" on pain of suffering the displeasure of an answer from the governor was re- the Green Mountain Boys." The Scotch spectfully requested, but it does not appear settlers, who had not removed their famthat he saw fit to comply; and this abor-ilies from New York, on hearing the native attempt at reconciliation seems only ture of the controversy, declared they had to have widened the breach and increased been deceived, and abandoning all claim the animosity between the parties. New to the lands, retired, and afterwards setYork now resorted to the expedient of tled on the Mohawk river. appointing several prominent settlers to office for the purpose, of buying them over to their interests. To counteract these designs and to provide for an effectual resistance to the Yorkers, a convention was assembled at Manchester, on the 21st of October, 1772, which,among other things, decreed that no person on the Grants should accept or hold any office under the authority of New York: "and all civil and military officers, who had acted under the authority of New York were required to suspend their functions on the pain of being viewed." It was also decreed that no person should take grants, or confirmation of grants, under the government of New York."

To prevent a recurrence of these scenes, Allen and his party caused a small blockhouse to be erected at the falls, which was garrisoned by a few men and subsequently afforded full protection to these settlements against the "Yorkers." At this period the rich lands on the Winooski, or Onion river, were attracting much attention, and several persons in and about Bennington, and others in Connecticut, had made purchases there under New Hampshire titles; and there is a tradition that the intelligence of Col. Reed's second intrusion was conveyed to Bennington by Ira Allen, who returning from exploring those lands preparatory to a settlement, and arriving at the falls on Otter Creek on a dark and stormy evening, sought shelter and refreshment at the settlement there, which was then the most northerly on the west side of the mountains. He knocked at the door and instead of being met by his friends, who had been re-instated by the Controversy with New York from 1773 to Green Mountain Boys, as mentioned in 1775-Minatory act of New York-Res- the preceding section, was met by the olutions and remonstrance of the set-thrust of a sword in the hand of some person within, which luckily did him no inIn July, 1773, Col. Reed, whose ten-jury. After making known his condition ants had been dispossessed at the lower falls on Otter Creek, as mentioned in the

Punishment for the infraction of these decrees was left to the discretion of the court, except that it must not be capital for the first offence.

tlers.

SECTION IV.

he was admitted but to his surprize he found the place in possession of a number of Scotchmen. Here he passed the night and then proceeded to Bennington with the intelligence.

BLOCK-HOUSES BUILT.

RESOLUTIONS OF NEW YORK ASSEMBLY.

After having secured the New Hamp-own strength, and miscalculating the shire settlers in their possessions on Otter power and resistance of a few determinCreek, and with a view to prevent the ed spirits acting on the defensive and intrusion of New York claimants upon driven to desperation, they resolved to the lands on the Winooski river, Allen and bring them to merited punishment. For Baker proceeded thither, with their men this purpose they proceeded to adopt and erected a blockhouse near the lower measures "the most minatory and desfalls on that stream. It stood on the Col-potic of any thing which had ever appearchester side of the river, in the midst of ed in the British Colonies." what is now called "Winooski Village;" and had 32 port-holes, in the upper story. The settlement upon this river was commenced the next year, 1774, and upon the breaking out of the revolution, in 1775, the block-house, being furnished with arms and ammunition, afforded the settlers shelter and protection till the settlement was abandoned in 1776.

A comittee of the general assembly of New York, on the 5th day of February, 1774, passed several resolutions, expressive of their opinion of what they were pleased to call the lawless and riotous proceedings of the "Bennington Mob;" and, among other things, they desired his Excellency, the governor to offer, by proclamation, a reward for apprehending and securing the ringleaders, in those transactions, in the jail at Albany. This committee also recommended that a law should be passed, the object of which should be, more effectually "to suppress riotous and disorderly proceedings, and to bring offenders to condign punishment."

In consequence of the second expulsion of Col. Reed's tenants, governor Tryon applied to general Haldimand, the military commander-in-chief, for a military force to protect the New York claimants in their possessions, but the general, doubting the propriety of employing the regular troops for such a purpose, refused A knowledge of the doings of this comto comply with His Excellency's wishes. mittee having reached the settlers,through Clarendon and vicinity was settled by the public prints, a general meeting of people, who were generally in favor of the committees of the several townships, New York. Those in the south part of was held at the house of Eliakim Wellers, Clarendon held their lands under deeds in Manchester, March 1st, 1774, and affrom Col. Henry H. Lydius, who pretend- terwards by adjournment, at Jehial Hawed to derive his title from governor Pow-ley's in Arlington, on the 3d Wednesday of nal of Massachusetts, and their township was called Durham. The north part of Clarendon and a part of Rutland had been granted by New York under the name of Social-borough. Some of the principal men of Durham and Social-borough having accepted offices and thus recognized the jurisdiction of New York, and frequent disturbances having arisen in that quarter, in the fall of 1773, Allen and Baker raised a force of 100 men for the purpose of compelling the Durhamites, as they were called, either by terror or force to recognize the New Hampshire title. On the advance of this force they, who held offices under New York, fled. Allen and his party remained several days, and after sundry exhortations and threatenings, returned without inflicting any serious injury upon the persons or property of the inhabitants.

The leaders of the Durhamites fled to New York,and laid before the governor and council a full statement of the outrages committed by what they were pleased to call the "Bennington mob." The government of New York regarded these outrages as open acts of treason and rebellion, which could no longer be endured. They looked upon the Green Mountain Boys as a lawless banditti, and, confiding in their

the same month.t At this meeting, was drawn up a sketch of the proceedings previous to this period, and, after recommending to the government of New York to wait the determination of his Majesty, before proceeding to further extremities, it was resolved, that as a country, we will stand by and defend our friends and neighbors who are indicted at the expense of our lives and fortunes." It was also resolved "that for the future every necessary preparation be made, and that our inhabitants hold themselves in readiness, at a minute's warning, to aid and defend those friends of ours, who, for their activity in the great and and general cause, are falsely denominated rioters." It was at the same time agreed, that they should act only on the defensive, and should encourage the execution of the laws in civil cases, and also in criminal prosecutions "that were so indeed."

While the convention of the New Hampshire grants was discussing and adopting these resolutions, the general assembly of New York was proceeding to carry into effect the resolutions of the 5th of February; and on the 9th of March,

*For these Resolutions see Slade's Vermont State

Papers, page 37.

fFor these proceedings, see Slade's S. P. p. 38.

EXTRAORDINARY LAW.

REMONSTRANCES OF THE SETTLERS.

1774, they enacted a law which put an | James Brackenridge, and James Smith, end to all prospects of reconciliation.* whom they considered the most obnoxThis extraordinary law, (which is of too ions of the settlers. great length to be inserted entire,) enact- We have already observed that the ed, among other things equally sanguin- passage of the foregoing law put an end ary and despotic,-that if any person, or to all prospects of reconciliation, or subpersons, oppose any civil officer of New mission to the claims of New York. It York, in the discharge of his official duty, was regarded by the settlers on the New "or wilfully burn or destroy, the grain, Hampshire grants, as originating solely in corn or hay, of any other persons being the avarice of a set of unprincipled specin any inclosure; or if any persons un-ulators, who coveted their lands with lawfully, riotously and tumultuously as- their valuable improvements; and as sembled together to the disturbance of the designed to terrify them into submission. public peace, shall, unlawfully and with They were satisfied that the popular force, demolish, or pull down, or begin to sentiment was in their favor, that the demolish, or pull down any dwelling- great body of the people of New York house, barn, stable, grist-mill, saw-mill, felt no interest in efforcing the claims of or out-house, within either of the said that province to the lands in question, and counties of Albany and Charlotte; that former experience had proved that the then each of said offences shall be ad- militia could not be brought to act against judged felony, without benefit of clergy, them with any effect. and the offenders therein shall be adjudged felons, and shall suffer death, as in cases of felony, without benefit of clergy."

It was made the duty of the governor to publish the names of such persons, in the public papers, as were indicted in either of the counties of Albany, or Charlotte, for any offence made capital by this or any other law, with an order in council commanding such offender, or offenders, to surrender themselves respectively, within the space of seventy days next after the publication thereof. This order was to be forwarded to the sheriffs and posted up in several public places. "And in case such offenders shall not respectively surrender themselves, he or they, so neglecting, or refusing, shall from the day appointed for his surrendry, as aforesaid, be adjudged, deemed and, (if indicted for a capital offence hereafter to be perpetrated,) convicted of felony, and shall suffer death, as in cases of persons convicted of felony by verdict and judgment, without benefit of clergy."

All crimes committed on the grants, were, by this act, permitted to be tried in the county, and by the courts of Albany; and the courts were empowered by it, to award execution against such as should be indicted for capital offences, and who should not surrender themselves in conformity to the order of the governor and council, in the same manner as if they had been convicted on a fair and impartial trial. A proclamation was at the same time issued by the governor of New York, offering a reward of £50 each for apprehending and securing Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, Remember Baker, Robert Cochran, Peleg Sunderland, Sylvanus Brown,

For this law, see Slade's St. P. page 42.

Under such circumstances, the threatenings and arbitrary laws of that government were far from inspiring terror. They were rather regarded by the settlers with contempt, and, instead of palsying, they tended to nerve the arm of resistance. Indeed, the idea of submission seems never, for a moment, to have been entertained by these brave and determined veterans. Having been long inured to toils and hardships, they were prepared to encounter difficulties and dangers with unflinching resolution and firmness. And so very highly did they prize their personal rights and liberties, that, rather than surrender them to the arbitrary claims of New York, they almost unanimously, resolved to meet death, if necessary, in their defence.

These views and feelings are fully manifested in the remonstrance which they made against the foregoing law, as will appear from a few brief extracts, taken from that fearless and spirited production. After portraying, in their peculiar style, the character of the New York government, they proceeded to say, "that by legerdemain, bribery and deception, they have extended their dominions far and wide. They have wrangled with, and encroached upon, the neighboring governments, and have used all manner of deceit and fraud to accomplish their designs. Their tenants groan under their usury and oppression, and they have gained, as well as merited, the disapprobation and abhorrence of their neighbors. The innocent blood they have already shed, calls for Heaven's vengeance on their guilty heads; and, if they should come forth in arms against us, thousands of their injured neighbors will join with us, to cut off and exterminate such an exe