Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-05-15

~ Of Cumberland came to Brattlehorough and
confirmed the said Report and desired the Inhab-
itants to go with him the next day to Westminster
the Town where the said Courts were to be held to
assist him in keeping the peace and Suppressng
the Rioters. That on the next day, being Monday.
the thirteenth day Of this instant March. the De
ponent with several other Inhabitants Of Brattle-
borough to the number of about twenty-five, un-
armed except with Slaves attended the said Shcr-
III from Bratteborough to Westminster"
Among those there from Brattleboro on
the side of the sheriff were Samuel Knight,
then the only lawyer of Brattleboro, at
tending to his practice before the court,
Benjamin Butterficld, justice of the ses-
sions of the peace which met at the same
time, Oliver Church's father, John Griffin,
Benjamin Gorton, and Benjamin Butter
field, ir.
One from Bratteboro was there among
those in the court house to be ready to pre-
sent their grievances and to have the bust
ness of the court put off; that was viii
liam French, "sOn to Mr.. Nathaniel
French" who lived next to Dummerston
where those of the same name have since
lived.
The affidavit of Mr.. Church further says
that:
ITO intimidate them three Guns were fired over
their heads just above the Door. That thereupon
the mob returned the fire from the House That
one of their Balls entered the Cuff of the Coat of
Benjamin Butterfeld Esquire one of his Maiestys
Justices of the Peace for the said County of Cum
berland which went out Of the elbow without hurt
ing him and another went through his Coat Sleeve
and just grazed the Skin. That pistol was dis
charged by one of the Rioters at Benjamin But
terfeld the Son of the above named Justice But
terfied so near that the Powder burnt a large hole
in the breast Of his Coat"
An affidavit of John Griffin, made at
the same time, says: "That one of the par
ty of the rioters, William French, lost his
life by a musket ball"
William French was buried with militia
ry honors at Westminster in the presence
of a large concourse of people. This is his
epitaph:
In Memory of William French
Son to Mr. Nathaniel French Who
Was Shot at Westminster March We 18th
no by the hands of Cruel Ministerial
tools of Georg We 3D. in the Courthouse at
a II Clock at Night in the 22d year of
his age.
Here William French his Body lies
For Murder his blood for Vengeance cries
King Georg the third his Tory crew
tina with bawl his head Shot threw
For Liberty and his Countrys Good
he Lost his Life his Dearest blood"
Esquire Benjamin Butterlield and Ben
iamin Gorton of the Brattleboro men in
the sheriff. party were taken with others.
under guard of Robert Cochran and some
of his Green Mountain boys who had come
from the west side of the mountains, to
Northampton Jail for safe keeping. Mrs
Gale, wife of the clerk of the court, who was
also taken, was a daughter of Judge Wells
"Her husband had an opportunity of
speaking to her in whisper to desire her
to send the DepOnent to Mrs Wells her
mother requesting she would send some
body Immediately to City of New York to
acquaint Colonel Wells and Mr.. Brush of
the proceedings of the said Rioters that the
Governor and Council might be apprized of
their Situation and send them relief with
out Delay" They set off from Brattlebo-
70 "a little after midnight the same day
and arrived in New York in the afternoon
of the next Monday.
The general convention of delegates from
thirty-five towns on the west side of the
Green Mountains, holden on the 24th and
2jth days of July, 1916, at Dorset latter
receiving the Report from the Honorable
the Continental Congress by Capt Heman
Allen
Voted that suitable application be made to
form the District of land commonly called and
known by the name of New Hampshire Grants in
to a separate district, Dissentent only one
Voted to choose a committee to treat with the
inhabitants on the east side of the range of the
Green Mountains relative to their associatng with
this body.
Voted that Capt Heman Allen Col William
Marsh, and DR. Jonas Fay in conjunction with
Capt. Samuel Fletcher and Mr., Josiah Fish to-
gether with such other gentlemen on the east side
of the range of the Green Mountains on said
Grants as they may hereafter appoint to Join them
be and hereby are appointed a Committee for the
above purpose
The convention also adopted and the del
egates individually signed this declaration:
I'VE the subscribers inhabitants Of that district
of land commonly called and known by the name
of the New Hampshire Grants do voluntarily and
solemnly engage under all the ties held sacred
among mankind at the risk of our lives ard for
tunes to defend by arms the United American Col
onies against the hostile attempts Of the British
fleets and armies until the present unhappy
controversy between the two countries shall be
settled,
Voted that each inhabited town on the New
Hampshire Grants be served with a copy thereof
and that it be and is hereby recommended to each
of said inhabitants who are friendly to their coun-
try that they severally subscribe the same as soon
as may be and make return by the Delegate or
Delegates which they are hereby directed to APP
point to join this Convention at their next sitting
at Dorset the 18th day Of September next to which
time and place the convention stands adjourned"
Brattleboro did not send any delegate to
this convention, which resolved unanimous
ly to take suitable measures as soon as NAV
be to declare the New Hampshire Grants a
free and Independent district; nor to that
to which this one adjourned on the 18th of
January, 1777, at Westminster, which vot-
ed unanimously "that the district of land
commonly called and known by the name
of New Hampshire grants be a new and
separate state and for the future conduct
themselves as SUCH, made a declaration
and petition to Congress, and adjourned to
the first Wednesday in June at Windsor.
May u Bratteboro
Voted & chose Lieut.. Israel Smith to 90 to
Winsor as an agent for this town
Chose Col Seth Smith Lieut. limo Church &
Joseph Burt as committee to take care of the
town stock of ammunition