Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-07-24

tndt no arms SnOulu ne Drought JneTe
in any event.
On Monday, the thirteenth, the
Wings of Rockingham and the neigh
boring towns were at Westminster.
There they met with Capt. Azariah
Wright kinsman of Ethan Allen and
a sort of Miles Standish in his county,
and, going into the log schoolhouse,
they held a conference as to what
course to pursue. 1t was finally
agreed to let the court be opened,
and then present their reasons for not
wishing it to proceed; but upon find
ing that the court was likely to take
possession of the house on the thir-
teenth and place strong guard at the
door, they thought best to effect an
entrance before the armed guards
were placed, that they might lay be-
fore the court their grievances before
it opened. Thereupon they took from
Capt. Wrights wood-pile some sticks
and clubs. and gathering recruits upon
the way, proceeded to the court house
in an orderly way and took possession
about four o'clock in the afternoon.
Judge Chandler held conference with
Noah Sabin. one of the associate
Judges who was very earnest to have
the law go on" Col. Samuel Wells of
Brattleboro. the other associate Judge
being absent in New York in attend
ance upon the General Assembly.
The high sheriff. William Patterson.
soon approached the court house with
n large number of men. whom he had
summoned from Brattleboro and other
places, some armed with guns, swords
and pistols, and others with sticks or
clubs. and. coming within five yards
of the door he ordered the rioters.
as they were called, to dispense. but
obtained no answer. The Kings proc
| lamation was then read by his direc-
ton, and he then told them with an
oath that if they did not dispense
within fifteen minutes he would blow
lane through them. The Wings re-
piled that they would not withdraw,
but the sheriff and his company might
come in If they would lay aside their
arms, but not without. One of the
party within advanced to the door and
asked the Tories if they had come
for war" saying, I'VE are come for
peace and will be glad to hold a par
! ley with you" Samuel Gale. clerk of
the court, then drew a pistol and re-
| piled with an oath. that he would
hold no parley with such rascals, but
by this" holding up his pistol
The Tories fell back little, and the
| Wings sent out three men to treat
| with them, but to no avail. About
seven O'Clock in the evening, Col.
! Chandler came in. and the Wings re-
minded him of his promise that no
arms should be brought against them,
and discussed the situation. He said
the arms were brought without his
+ nd hot h. L..
them away; that they could enjoy the
court house undisturbed till morning
when the court should come in without
arms and hear what they had to pre-
! sent. With these assurances he de-
parted. The Wings then left the house
| and chose a committee to draw up
statement of grievances. which was
unanimously adopted by the company
Some of the men then went home and
some to the neighbors, having left a
guard at the court house to give the
alarm in case Of an attack during the
night. Meanwhile the sheriff sent
word to all the Tories in the neighbor-
| hood to come to his assistance. They
met at a Norton's Tavern. the loyalist
inn, whence they proceeded in small
parties to the court house at about
| eleven o'clock at night. Their ap-
proach was discovered by the sentry.
who gave orders to man the doors"
The sheriff and his armed men came
near and halted. He demanded en-
trance to the court house and advanced
up its steps. Twice he was repulsed
and driven back; some blows We're
given. He insisted that he should en-.
ter, quietly if he could, but by force
if he must. Still held at bay, he di-
rected his men to fire. Three shots
were fired over the heads of those
within. There was no yielding. and
he ordered his men to fire again. This
time volley was aimed directly at
the men within the court house and
with terrible effect. Ten of them were
wounded, two unto death. The Tories
then had control. Seven patriots We're
accounted prisoners, and they and the
injured and dying men were incar-
cerated in the Jail pen of the court
| house, there to endure the taunts and
abuse of their vehement and drunken
captors throughout the night.
Five bullets had penetrated the body
and one the brain of William French;
a young man of Brattleboro, 81 years
old, inspired with patriotic purpose by
his fathers teachings, himself a leader
had died within the court house.
Daniel Houghton of Dummerston
also received a mortal wound in this
volley and died nine days afterward
The bodies of both were inferred in
our cemetery opposite. and a monu-
ment, common to both, erected by the
state, now commentaries them and
the great event.
This inscription, cut in the head
stone of the martyr at a very early
| date, has the force of history:
! In Memory of William French
| Son to Mr.. Nathaniel French who
! Was Shot at Westminster March We 18th
| l7I5 by the hands of Cruel Ministerial
tools
of Georg We Sd in the Courthouse at Il
/ a 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
| If the court party suffered any
wounds other than from clubs, they
were probably received in the careless
use of arms by their own party, I'M
steadied at the bar of the Tory tavern.
1t is believed that the liberty party
carried no arms.
Thus, on the thirteenth day of