Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-01-29

ITS ROMANTIC INCIDENTS.

ITS ROMANTIC INCIDENTS.
Vermont, now one ofthe most orderly
States of the Union, struggled into cX-
istcnce amid the turmoil of revolution
revolt against the authority of New
York and armed resistance to the
mother country. Gov Hiland Hall
has prepared an admirable history of
that period. AT the close of the French
war in 1850, the territory was unin-
habited, and the title was claimed b.
other colonies. Massachusetts proiessed
to own most of it, and granted forty
four thousand acres III the southeastern
part to Connecticut. The whole terri
ry had, however been awarded to
New Hampshire by Georg H., in 1740,
and again was placed, by orders in
council in 1894, under the government
of New York. The title by which it
was then known was, 1.-THE New
Hampshire Grants" 1t had never
previously been claimed by the Dutch
while in possession of New Netherland.
Cadwallader Golden, Lieutenant Gov
ernor of New York, appears to have
been most eager to extend the authority
of that colony over the "grants.n I'm
der the authority of New Hampshire,
the territory was rapidly filling up with
a vigorous yoemanry, who were reso-
Lutte in their purpose to resist every en-
deavor to dispossess them. Govern n
Golden, o. attaining executive power,
fastened to issue patents covering their
property, that he might realize hand
some fortune from the fees. Subsequent
governors pursued the same policy, till
the greater part of the district between
Lake Champlain and the Connecticut
river had been granted away. Two pa
70 hx- W.
he had taken refuge from his indignant
people On beard of n man-of-war in New
: York harbor.
The hrSt attempt was made in OctO-
Der, 1863, to disposscss James Brecken-
ridge, and commissioners with survey
)rs, and chairmen were sent from AL
any to divide the land. The presence
of armed men on the land, harvesting
corn, deferred them from proceeding,
and they carried home the story that
they had been threatened by rioters.
, Rewards were offered, but nobody ar
rested. Henry Walbridno, ancestor OF
the firm of corn merchants of this city,
was one of those "rioters.n Suits were
instituted in the Supreme Court at AL
bany, and the original patents OF New
hampshire Icing thrown out in evil
dence, the plaintiffs obtained judgment.
Ethan Allen first appeared in these ca
SEES as attorney for the Green Mountain
GERS. ttorney-General Kempe advis-
ed him to go houe and advise his friends
to make terms. Allen, who was "learn-
r ed in the Scriptures" replied "that the
Gods of the valleys We're not the Gods
of the hills Mr.. Kempe inquired
what he meant; to which Mr.. Allen
replied that - If he would come to Ben
nington, the meaning would be made
clear to him. Repeated efforts were
made to eject the settlers, who held 9
termined that until final decision OF
the controversy by the king, their lands
should not be sllrrenderc and that
wrts of ejectment should be resiste |
even 10y force. In July Ill, the high
sheriff of Albany County, with posse
of three hundred, including the Mayor
of the city, several aldermen, and four
lawyers, Messrs. Sylvester, Blocker
Robert and Christopher Yates set Out
s for Bennington. They found the farm
of Mr.. Breckenridge sentineled by arm
: cd men and a garrison at his house
After parley, the sheriff seized an aXt
G and was about to break down the door
/ when party pickets outside levelleC
retreat and the posse dispersed. Thi'
was the beginning of the State Of Yer
mont.
The inhabitants of the several town
. ships now organized municipality, adOp
ted regulations for their local govern
ment, held general conventions anC
formed committees of safety to attend tt
the maintenance of their po.s ssion,
and title to their lands. Military bands
were formed OF which $ tn Warren
l Remember Barker Robert Cochran
and others, were captains, and Ethan
, Allen, colonel. these bands were the
famous "Green Mountain Boys This
: eEdeavOrs which were repeated, to take
! possessicn and lay out lands, were any
! thing but Il paStime TO the surveyors
Claimants, were not allowed to locate
their grants, and surveyors were hunted
OFT the territory. Several log houses, o.
settlers from New York were burned
down. GOu. Ty!on offered reward o
go each for the arrest of Cochran, Al
: len, Baker and six others ; to which AL
len replied by another prOclamatin OF
SO for the apprehension Of James Du-
E ane, and eco for Attorney General KEN
l pc, common disturbers of the public
= peace" Remember Baker was kidnap
ped in March, 1902, badly injured, ano
carried toward Albany; but was over
taken and rescued little way from
Troy, his captors being also carried al
most to Bennington Finally, an or
| der in council, 1873 censured the avarict
of the New York governors, and reco n
mended that the charters of the origin
a al proprietors should be confirmed
Governor Tryon, however, manag d to
: evade compliance. Little violence
, however, seems to have come OF all
these contentio rs, though the threats
were severe enough. The principal pen
s'beech seal, " This was defined by .Alier
. to be a chastisement with twigs of til,
wilderness, the growth of the land they
3 coveted. The "beech scalp appears tC