Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-11-11

coming precarous although open demonstrations had
been made Besides, appears that when former dav
the line was established between Massachusetts and Gomez
cu sundry inhabitants who had received grants of land
former province compensation for their services
against the French and Indians, found themselves thrown
the latter and had to abandon their possessions The
State of Massachusetts,, with commendabe of ms
tice made Them in compensation, grant of what is now
the towns of Puney, Dummerson and marlborough
hence called those days. "Thc Equivalent Land and
their title it is believed respected by New HAMPSHIRE
These of the old Puritan stock, and when upon
the conquest of Canada in which they had aided the Brit
ish Parliament established the Roman Catholic faith as the
religion of that Province by called "The Quebec
Bill" it extremely exasperang to their feelings and
one Lieut. Spadng of ummerston, heated occa-
sion called the King The Pope of Canada" This re-
mark which might have been wisely and udciously pass
ed over seized upon by the royal satellites a good
opportunity show their power and Spadng arrested
for High Treason, and imprisoned IN the jail at Wesmi
ser This the 18th of October, l771 and the
2gh majority of the inhabitants of Dummerson assem-
bled and chose committee of correspondence to join in
their language with other towns and respectable
bodies of people, the better to and protect the rights
and privileges of themselves and fellow from the
avages and embauassments of the British Tyrant and his
New York and other Emissares'
This led such that large body of men from
Dummerston, Putney GulfOrd, Halifax and Draper NOW
Wimington) proceeded Westminster opened the door of
the Jail and released Spading from Imprisonment.
This brought the controversy to point and it now be-
came manifest that on the SIDE if the Royal Authority
was be upheld the whole apparatus Of Executive and
Judicial power be brought into play numerous Grim
na proceedings instituted aud civil eectnens must follow
and the other the abandonment of the proceedings
be compelled by the people and the whole of the machinery
of royal oppression resisted aud stayed and forever
Both parties prepared for the crisis and the
hold its the 18th of March, l175 West
Minister they had about four months to make preparations
and arrangements On the 18th of March, 775 they
bed Westminster the officers of the county being backed
by their adherents The Wings they then called
also in considerable numbers and having learnt that
the private intention of the royal party get the
first possession of the house they placed therein
about 100 men commanded by captain of the militia and
determined keep possession until their grievances
laid before the Judges and redressed Near the setting
of the sun, the sheriff with hsp0SSe, part of whom
armed with muskets and demanded admitauce which
they refused grant unless he would order his lay
aside their About ten O'Clock at night the chet
Justice came among them, and assuring their captain that
no attempt should be made modest them until morning,
the latter Withdrew the principal part OF his foce4 leaving
only small body of men, armed only with bludgeons
among whom was WILLIAM FRENCH young farmer
not ~ years of age, who lived in Batteboro occupying
the northern house what was, few years ago the old
stage road The people OF that town who lived IN his i'm
mediate neghbohood, of the opposite party and
deed some OF them the shertIs band that officer
being himself nhabtant of that town. French, who
generally acted with his friends III Dummerston appears
though holding official station, to have been much e
teemed for his honesty bravery and patriotism, and the
he afterwards received from his opponents, su
GENTLY how much they feared his influence About
o'clock night the persons appointed 10 watch report
ed that the sheriff with armed force approaching
and means taken to prevent his coming into the house
When he came up he again demanded entrance and was
refused before. He then ordered his fire. which
they did by aiming above the heads OF the people within,
h"' finding that this produced effect he repeated his or
der and the muskets eveed discharged with such
effect that the defenders driven back and the assal
ants rushed INTO The house and commenced hornd butch
cry upon the delenceess men. WILLIAM FRENCH IN
facng them received five bullet wounds in different places
IN his thigh leg mouth, face and forehead Several others
were severely wounded aud one, Daniel Houghton was
shot through the body aud after lingering bat few days
expired. About twenty, who had rceated, including
the wounded seized and nhumanly thrust into prs
on aud the bleeding body of the dying French drag
ged to the prison door and thrown among them with cir
cumsances of the cruel insult and brutality This
! not scene to dwell upon.
Suffice it say that the Court opend the usual
hour on the next morning with something like trumpha
CEREMONY and adjourned formally until three o'clock in the
afternoon But that Court never assembled The news OF
the murder spread like wiId-e and before the appointed
nour 'he people were rushing to the from all dec
mons The principal aggessue took the alarm and fled
with great precptancy of them foreign parts and
about sixteen OF their accompices seized ana
the jail at Northampton which was then the head quarters
\ of the dsaiieced IN Western Massachusetts, with whom
the Cumberland County Wings had friendly and familiar
intercourse which continued for several years after
On the 10Th of March of inquest held on the
body OF French and on the same day it committed to
i the ground in the burial place Westminster
the militia from the neghboring attending and firing
] yolleys his grave.
tombstone soon brought from Dummerson, bear /
ing inscription peculiarly illustrative of the times
placed at the head where it still remains. Being OF slate /
taken from the quarry his residence and which is be
leved TO be the first opened IN Vermont II IS not
the most enduring character, but quite liable to INJURY ana
decay. For while the face of the well retains TO t
day the rude bit emphatic inscription the rams ana
OF seventy winters lodging the top, have rco
lated between the layers and partially separated the
that they had not been retained together by small rive
OF lead, inserted by knows who when the who
II must long since have crumbed and been lost \
1t remains only to add, that with the burial OF Whlai
French Were buried the hopes of subugatng the men WI