apout Midday, as he and three other Men of Colo Reid's settlers were at work in the Meadow at their Hay, they were surprized by about Twenty Men armed with Guns, swords and Pistols, who inquired of the Deponent and his Companions if they lived in the house some time before occupied by Joshua Hide, to which they replyed no, that the Men who belonged to that house were absent about Business, the Rioters then told the Deponent and his Companions that they must go along with them (as they coud not understand the women) and March'd them prisoners Guarded before and behind like Criminals to the house where they Join'd the rest of the Mob in Number about one hundred or more men all arm'd as before, and who, as the Deponent was told by the women had let there horses loose among the corn and wheat which Colo Reid had bought for the use of the Deponent & the rest of his settlers by which means great part of both were Destroy'd, the Mob desired the things to be taken out of the House otherwise they wou'd be Immediately committed to the flames, as they were Determined to set fire to the house without loss of time, which they did accordingly; then the Ringleader (or Captain) of the Mob whose name the Deponent afterwards learnt to be Ethan Allen order'd part of his gang to accompany the Deponent to his own house (formerly built and occupied by Captn Gray) in order to prepare for the same fate with the other the Deponent and his Wife earnestly requested the Mob to spare their house for a few days in order to save their Effects and protect their Children from the Inclemency of the weather, till they cou'd have an opportunity of removing themselves to some safe place, but Captain Allen comeing up from the fore mentioned house, told them that his Business requir'd haste for he and his gang were Determin'd not to leave a house belonging to Colo Reid standing. And accordingly in a most Riotous & Routous manner sett fire to the Deponents house and intirely Consum'd the same, the Deponent then took out his Memorandum Book and Desired to know their Ringleader (or Captain) name to which the Deponent was answered by the Capt Who gave you authority to ask for my name he the Deponent reply'd that as he took him to be the Ringleader of the mob, and as he had in such a Riotous and unlawfull manner

dispossessd him he had a Right to ask his name, that he might represent him to Colo Reid, who had put him the Deponent in peaceable Possession of the premises as his Just property, to which Allen answer'd that he wish'd they had Catch'd Col° Reid that they woud whip him severely, that his name was ETHAN ALLEN Captain of that Mob and his authority was his arms pointing to his Gun, that he and his Companions were a Lawless Mob, there Law being Mob Law, the Deponent replyed that the Law was made for Lawless and Riotous People, and that he must know it was Death by the Law to Ringleaders of Riotous & Lawless Mobs, to which Allen answer'd that he had run these woods in the same manner these seven years past and never was Catch'd yet, and told the Deponent that if any of Colo Reids settlers offer'd hereafter to Build any house & keep Possession, the Green Mountain boys as they call themselves woud burn their houses and whip them to the Bargain, the mob then sett off to the house formerly built and occupied by Lewis Stewart wch they consumed in the same manner as they had done the others, and remained that night about Leonards house. Next morning about seven o'clock the Twelfth August the Deponent went to Leonards House to see what further mischief the Mob were going to do, they were all drawn up Consulting about Destroying the Miln, those who were for Destroying the Miln were order'd to follow Capt Allen in the mean time Baker and his gang came to the opposite side of the Creek and fired their guns, they were Immediately brought over, and while they were taking some refreshment Allen and his party marched to the Miln, but did not break any part of it till Baker Joind him, in which in a Riotous & Routous manner both Mobs Join'd in one by their own Account one hundred & fifty in number with axes, Crow Bars, handspiks & they Tore the mill to pieces, broke the Mill Stone and threw them in the Creek, the Deponent observed Baker come out of the Miln with the Bolt Cloth in his hand, and drawing his sword cut the Cloth to pieces and distributed it among the Mob, to wear in their Hatts as Cockades as Trophys of their Victory, on the Deponents telling Baker that he was about verry disagreeable work: Baker answerd that it was so but he had a Commission for so doing, and shew'd the Deponent

where his Thumb had been cut off weh he call'd his Commission; the Deponent Concludes with deposing in General that the Mobs Burnt & destroyed six houses, destroy'd the Miln and broke the Miln stones & destroy'd great part of their Wheat & Corn and Hay in a Riotous & Mobbish manner and further saith not.

JAMES HENDERSON.

Sworn before me the 28th September 1773.

LACHLAN MACKINTOSH, Justice Peace.

New York Charlott County ss.

ANGUS MCBEAN settler under

Colo Reid deposeth upon oath that between Seven & Eight o'clock in the forenoon of Thursday the 12th August last he met part of the New England Mob about Leonards house he supposes to the number of sixty men or thereabout arm'd with Guns swords & Pistols, that one of them ask'd the Deponent if he was one of Colo Reid's new settlers, being answer'd in the affirmative, the same person asked him what he intended to do, to which the Deponent answer'd that he intended to build himself a house and keep Possession of the Land, he was then ask'd if he meant to keep Possession for Colo Reid to wch he answered Yes as long as he coud, soon after their Chief Leader whose name the Deponent has learnt to be Ethan Allen came and ask'd him if he was the man that said he woud keep Possession for Colo Reid, being answer'd in the affirmative, Captain Allen Damn'd his soul but he woud have him he Deponent tyed to a tree and skin'd alive if ever he attempted such a thing; and that he & several of the Mob said that if they cou'd but catch Colo Reid they woud cut his head off, and further that Joshua Hide one of three persons of whom Colo Reid purchas'd the Crop in his hearing advised the Rioters to burn or Tear down Donald McIntosh & John Burdans Houses as they had both been Assisting Colo Reid that soon after the Deponent heard several Guns fir'd on the other side of the Creek, that some of the mob said that was Captain Baker and his Party coming to see the sport, and soon after Baker and his party join'd the Mob, and

then all went to tear down the Grist Miln and the Deponent is of oppinion that Remember Baker was among the first that Entered the Miln, & further saith not.

Sworn before this 28th of September 1773

Angus McBean.

LACHLAN MACKINTOSH, J. Peace.

Sir

LIEUT. BENZEL TO GOV. TRYON.

The 25th Last, one John Beaders, come with complaints, before me, that He has ben the Second Time, most inhumanly beaten, by a man, Unknown to Him, by name; first with a large Hickory-Stick, and afterwards, (begging His life,) with Birch Roads, on his bare back-a certificate of this unmerciful behaviour, we agin, beg leave to transmit to your Excellency.

At a distance, where, as He say's Several persons; and as He supposes, New England or Hampshire claimants; of which only, He can Swear to the presence of Captain Backers and Capt Allens, (as they Stiled themselfs) some intelligence, has made them very audacious I therefore with greatest respect, and humility, beg's the protection, for my Famille, and my Neighbors; (old Reduced, and disbanded soldiers ;) The Blessings then, will be, on His Most Gracious Majesty, and His Representative with wich, I, and all my Loyal neighbors, are, and beg's leave To continue, Sir,

Your Excellencys most faithful

Crown Point
September 27th 1773. (

}

and most Obedient Servt

ADOLPHUS BENZEL.'

To His Excellency Governr William Tryon, &•

1 ADOLPHUS BENZEL, son of Archbishop Elric Benzel, of Upsal in Sweden, came to America in the fall of 1749; settled at Wilmington, Del: in the beginning of the following year where he married in the fore part of 1752. He obtained a Commission in the Br: service in Nov. 1755, and was appointed Lieutenant in the 2d Bat. 1st Reg. of Foot on 2d Jan'y 1757, in which corps he served in America. He left the army in 1770, (Army Lists 1758–1771,) and having been appointed Inspector of H. M. Woods, Forests ann unappropriated Lands on L. Champlain and in Canada, on the recommendation, it is said, of Sir Henry Moore, Lord Dunmore and the Swedish Ambassador at London. The salary attached to this office was £300 stg. per an. besides travelling expences, and as many Deputies as he chose at 5s. per diem.-ED.

Crown Point 27th September 1773

This is to certify that John Beaders has been Examined by me, and that he has been most unhumanly beaten'd by some of the New Hamshire Rioters.

THOS. SPARHAM Surgeon.

MINUTES OF COUNCIL RESPECTING GARRISONING
TICONDEROGA.

IN COUNCIL September 29th 1773.

His Excellency communicated to the Board a Letter from General Haldimand of the 11th Instant, acquainting his Excellency that since his Requisition that two hundred of the Kings Troops should be Stationed at Crown Point and Tieonderoga, he had inquired particularly into the State of the Buildings at those Places, and finds that they cant give cover in Winter to more than fifty Men, but as he wishes to shew the greatest readiness in complying with his Requisition, and take every Measure he may advise for suppressing Riots and keeping the Peace of the Province; he proposes (if his Excellency thinks it will be of consequence so late in the season) to order two hundred Men to Crown Point and Tieonderoga, to remain till the 1st of November, when the Season will make it necessary for one hundred and fifty of them to seek shelter and retire to Winter Quarters.

And his Excellency requiring the advice of the Board on the General's Letter.

The Council were of opinion that the Season is too far advanced for the Troops to be of any essential Service; and that as there are Quarters only for fifty Men during the Winter, the aid required is necessarily postponed.