The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-10-27

NAAhFA NV hAsf tia
: they are willing 20 do all in their pow
er but are not willing TO put our
selves under the honorable proyincia
Congress % New York and There
fore We your honors' humble petition
ers most earnestly pray your honor
20 take our cause into your wise con
sideration, and order that for tht
future your petitioners shall do duty
in the continental service az required
as Inhabitants Of said New Hampshire
Grants, and not as inhabitants Of the
+ province of New York, or subject q
the limitations, restrictions or regula'
tions Of the militia Of said province
etc"
The matter was referred 10 a COM
mittee who reported "that il be rec
commended TO the petitioners for the
present, to submit TO the government
Of New York, and contribute their
assistance, with their countrymen, IN
the contest between Great Britain and
the United Colonies; but that such
submission ought not TO prejudice the
right Of them or others to the lands in
controversy, etc"
On June "a, 1776, not knowing a
declaration was TO be issued July 4 by
the United States, a call was sent out
TO warn the several inhabitants Of the
New Hampshire Grants on the west
side, and TO desire those on the east
side Of the range Of Green Mountains.
that they meet by their several dele
gates at Dorset July "a, l77e. Note
the wording Of this clause, warn the
inhabitants on the west side" but "de-
sire those on the east side"
This was necessary for the latter as
the opposition to the claims Of New
York had been confined principally to
the inhabitants on the western side OF
the mountains. Many Of the New
Hampshire grantees, in the vicinity Of
Connecticut river, had surrendered
their original charters and taken new
grants under the authority Of New
York and had not only submitted
quietly to the jurisdiction Of that col
ony but stood unconcerned spectators
TO the controversy in which the set
tiers on the western aide were so
deeply involved They were not, how
ever, Indifferent to the policy pursued
by Great Britain towards her Ameri-
can colonies. The Provincial Assem-
bly, Of New York had withheld its ap-
probation Of the measures recommend
ed by the Continental Congress, while
those measures Rad received sanction
OF .very other colony This, with "the
massacre" as it was called, Of March
13, ITS, made many Of the settlers
very bitter against New York. The
wording Of this clause was to prepare
the way to obtain their support.
The call for the convention, after
r. sting the usual election Of officers,
etc, continues:
"3rd. To receive the report Of
Capt. Heman Allen from the Contin-
entail Congress-"
This wording would excite the curl
osity Of many who would not other
wise be interested.
"4th. To know the minds Of the
convention, relative to their associat-
ing with the province Of New Hamp-
shire"
There was no possibility Of associ-
atipg with New Hampshire but this
article would bring out some men fav-
orable to such an association, who
would not have attended convention
TO form a new State. No delegates
were wanted favorable TO joining with
New York
18th. In case the last article be OBJ
jected to: Whether said convention
will agree to an association (not re-
pugnant to that Of the Continental
Congress) and subscribe thereto, to do
duty in conjunction with the contin-
entail troops (only) as members Of the
district Of land which they inhabit."
There were other things resolved
but time will not permit Of their mem
ton. Years afterwards, Ira Allen
wrote: "Great care was taken to pre-
pare the minds Of the people"
In consequence Of this call, July "a,
1776, 49 persons, being delegated from
32 towns, met in convention at Dorset.
Some Of them like Ira Allen, who rep
resented Colchester, represented
towns where there were no inhabitants
at that time. The petition to Congress
was read and approved by the conven-
ton. Capt. Heman Allen, being pres
ant, reported that he had presented
the petition to Congress and it was
read by the secretary; that the dele
gates from New York had opposed it;
but that "it was entered on file and
ordered to lie on the table," and that
he finally withdrew il, fearing it would
be acted upon in his absence. He
made no mention Of the recommenda-
ions Of Congress TO serve under New .
York and closed his report as follows:
"That he had many private confer
noes with sundry members Of Con-
yress and other gentlemen Of distinc-
ion relating to the particular eircum-
tances and situation Of the New
hampshire Grants. who did severally
arnestly recommend that the inhabi-
ants Of said Grants exert them