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ALLEPr, PR» PLATTSBURGHo \k \. *■/ 4 i I INTRODUCTION. ,: ■ .>.-i. ■> in the n the Jnited ork. \ The human mind is ever eager in the pur- suit of knowledge — ever awake to the inci- dents of life, as they spring into existence from the actions of mankind : and, perhaps, nothing is more deeply interesting, than the impressions given us by the " deeds of noble daring," achieved by those brave and patri- otic men who breasted the current of oppres- sion, in the days of trial, and periled their " lives, their fortunes and their sacred hon- ors" in defence of their country's liberties. It is well, then, to transmit to posterity, as an inheritance worthy of preservation, the les- sons our fathers have taught us, and the ben- efits they have conferred upon mankind. — Earth contains no brighter treasure, than the unsullied lustre of patriotism — and a coun- try, like our own, can boast no dearer feeling than the veneration she may entertain for the valour and bravery of her sons. 'i '. v ■-^.i' 1 IV iNTRODUCTiOlif. 11 ' The American Revolution called forth the latent energies of many individuals, who would, in a more peaceable state of political affairs, have slumbered in obscurity, and gone down to the grave unhonored and un- known. The very nature of the policy of Great Britain towards this country — a policy every way tyrannical and oppressive — was calculated to call into action the efforts of every friend of liberty. It was an attempt to strip us of our rights, and manacle us with the fetters of slavery — an envenomed thrust of the adder towards the breast of the inno- cent and the weak. But, thanks to the spirit which prevailed among our fathers — thanks to the patriotism which then wai med the hearts of the people — the mercenaries of a foreign power were unequal to the task of accomplishing the designs of their masters. Our population rallied to the calls of the brave and wise men of our country, imbued with a spirit worthy the little band which de- fended the Pass of Thermopylae. They fought and they conquered ; and their de- clining ye^ars were cheered with the knowl- edge that the country for which they had % ¥ of ers. the med de- hey de- owl- had iNtRObUCTIOK. V struggled so long and fearfully, was prosper- ous and happy, and that their deeds were fondly remembered. . • Perhaps no individual, of equal advan- tages, and the station he occupied in life, contributed more towards establishing the independence of our country, than Ethan- Allen, the subject of this memoir. The mass of the people among whom he resided, were rude and uncultivated ; yet bold in spir- it and zealous in action. It, consequently , followed, that no one, save a man of strong natural endowments — of much decision, en- ergy and bravery, could control their preju- dices and inclinations. Habit had rendered them familiar with danger, and impatient of restraint : hence, it followed, that no policy, unless proceeding from a source in which they had confidence, ever gaint.d their ap- probation. Upon Allen, whose c jurage was undoubted, and whose zealous devotion to their interests was universally acknowledged, they implicitly relied. They had known him in adversity and prosperity — they had weigh- ed him, and found nothing lacking. To- friend or foe, he waa ever the same uuyield-' I, ' ll ••■i n ; i' •J' ,. il: i^-VL vt INTRODUCTIOX. ing advocate of the rights of man, and uni- versal liberty. The policy, therefore, he up- held, as beneficial to the common cause of American liberty, ever found strong and effi- cient supporters in the friends with whom h© associated, and by whom he was known. • From the commencement of our Revolu- tionary struggle, until its final close, Ethan Allen proved a zealous and strenuous sup- porter of the cause. Whether in the field or the council — whether at home, a freeman among the mountains of Vermont, or loaded with the manacles of despotism, in a foreign country, his spirit never quailed beneath the sneer of the tory or the harsh threats of in- solent authority. A stranger to fear, his opinions were ever given without disguise or hesitation : and, an enemy to oppression, he sought every opportunity to redress the wrongs of the oppressed. It is not to be supposed, however, that he was faultless : Like other men, he had his errors^ike oth- er men, his foibles : Yet he was not wilfully stubborn in either. When convinced of an erroneous position, he was ever willing to yield a victory : but, in theory, as in prac- \ ■' * mTRODUCTIOX. VII tiee, he contested every inch of ground; and only yielded when he had no weapons left to meet his antagonist. This trait in his char- acter serves, at least, to prove, that he was honest in his conclusions, however erroneous the premises from which they were deducted. Much error of opinion prevails among all classes of individuals, in relation to the char- acter of Col. Allen, at the present period. — He is generally viewed as a coarse, ignorant man, void of all the social feelings, and arro- gant in all his pretensions. Even Mr. Dwight in his " Travels in New-England," reports him in this light ; and deems him only worthy a brief and unjust notice in his work. In what manner Mr. Dwight came in possess- ion of the facts upon which he predicated his conclusions, is beyond the knowledge of the author of this Memoir: but, certain it is^ he has materially misrepresented the moral principles, and, in fact, the general character of Col. Allen. It is presumed, however, that Mr. Dwight, like many other travellers, drew his inferences from the gossip of the people among whom he associated, without being at the trouble of extending his enqui^ ^i. ,•■,. \ V ! .'4 I ' . 'it ', . • ill 4 m ▼Ill IKTRODUCTIOVf ries to a source from whence he might hare derived every material fact in relation to th« subject. In making this suggestion, the au- thor would not be understood as attaching any particular blame to Mr. D wight : but merely as correcting an error of opinion which is quite too prevalent in our country. The author much regrets the absence of many important facts, which, could he have obtained them, would have given additional interest to the work : He has the satisfaction, however, of knowing, that many interesting particulars are furnished which have never before appeared in print. The reader will* also, find a correct history of the Controversy between the States of J^TeW'York and Vermont^ in which Col. Allen bore a conspicuous part, together with a number of Original Letters^ obtained from the Secretary's Office of the State of New-York. For a large proportion of the facts in the Memoir, the author is indebt- ed to the Vermont State Papers^ Thompson's History of Vermont^ and to " j1 Narrative of Col, Ethan AUerCs Captivity ^'^ written by him- self, and published at Walpole, N. H.,. ia the year 1807-— the details of which he has avail- ed bin the de indebt alB,in lectin^ with tl In son into s differe concei tant s In the well ai Ast almost portar to per] mon I sleeps prove zens. Pl. % INTRODUCTIOI^. HI ed himself of, so far as was compatible with the design of the present work. He is, also, indebted to the kindness of several individu-^ als,in Vermont, who have assisted him in col- lecting many important incidents connected with the public and private Hfe of Col. Allen^ In some few instances, perhaps, he has fallen into slight errors in regard to the data of the different events in which Col. Aleen was concerned : and, perhaps, a few unimpor- tant statements may be partially erroneous : In the aggregate, however, they will be found well authenticated, and worthy of reliance. As the author is urged, in this undertaking, almost wholly by a desire to rescue many im- portant historical events from oblivion, and to perpetuate the services rendered our com- mon country, by an individual who sow sleeps in the tomb, he trusts his labours will prove a welcome offering to his fellow-citi- zens HUGH MOORE, Plattsburgh, N. Y., Dec. 9, 1033. f. :t '> mi ;.4. T ' ..«" ■ ,1 N i childrc 1 vi, Lu niarrie Vt; a inan,o 1 len, WJ erate ( '■ Of his at the dents, are ex his edi the pe — owi] were • therefi iittle i the CO €omm It scient ,f difficu » I MEMOIR. Joseph Allen, the father of Ethan, was t^ native of Coventry, Connecticut, and resided in Litchfield, where Ethan was born, in the year 1739. The family consisted of eight children: Ethan, Heman, Lydia, Heber, Le- vi, Lucy, Zimri, and Ira. Ethan was twice married : His first wife died at Sunderland, Vt.; and his second (the wife ofDr. Pennir man, of Colchester,) is still living. Joseph Al- len, was a sober, industrious farmer, in modr erate circumstances, and of good character. Of his peculiarities, little or nothing is known at the present time. And, in fact, but few inci* dents, connected with the early life of Ethan, are extant. We are apprised, however, that his education, like that of a great majority of the people of that period, was quite limited — owing to the fact, that very hw schools were then in operation. The necessity, therefore, of a thorough education, was but little understood by the primitive settlers of the country, who gave more attention to the common labors of life, than to the spread of scientific information. Notwithstanding these idifiiculties, however, a vast fund of useful I •If if ■ i' -M "» ! ' I ' '« .vl f I ■ H -I " .^ n MEMOIR OP \ . 1 I i; l!i knowledge was treasured up by many indU «riduals ; and by none was the subject more 4evotedly attended to, than by young Allen, Ambitious to prove himself worthy of notice, and of that attention which superior intellect ever commands, he diligently explored every path leading to important points, and min- utely criticised every subject which came be- neath his notice. A warm attachment to lib-f erty, and to the natural rights of mankind, was a prominent characteristic of his youth ; and, when arrived to the age of manhood, he no longer forbore to express himself freely and boldly in relation to the oppressive policy of Great Britain towards the people of the American Colonies. " Ever since I arrived to a state of manhood," he observes in the Narrative of his Captivity, " and acquainted myself with the general history of mankind, I have felt a sincere passion for liberty. The history of nations, doomed to perpetual slave- ry, in consequence of yielding up to tyrants their natural-born liberties, I read with a sort of philosophical horror." To such senti-r ments as the foregoing, is to be attributed the zeal with which he sought, on every occa-' 8ion,to instil, into the minds of his associates, an aversion for the political power by which the Colonies were controlled, and the people held in thraldom. Convinced that man was designed, by nature, to be the umpire of his own actions, and that he was fitted to act for himself ures o tertain sophic and op that th found, any en wherev the int lived, guage . We him ar — now of his ] was pe authori lidity o other n properi under ment o dation the ter tion of howev< ofNev the lati the te the for andfb] ' . 1 COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 13 hJmseK'a matters connected with the meas- ures Q. he comitry in which he hved, he en- tertained, as he uniquely observes, a " philo- sophical horror" of every species of tyranny and oppression. It is not singular, therefore, that the friends of the American Revolution found, in him, an efficient leader, ready for any emergency and any danger ; and that, wherever any evils existed, weighing upon the interests of the community in which he lived, he was ever the first to apply the lan- guage of persuasion, or the rod of correction. . We hear Httle of Col. Allen, until we find him a resident in the New-Hampshire Grants — now the State of Vermont. At the period of his removal to this State, a controversy was pending between the settlers, and the authority of New- York, in relation to the va- lidity of the original titles of their lands, and other matters connected with their rights and property. The first settlements were made under grants from the Provincial Govern- ment of Massachusetts ; but, by a recommen- dation of King George IL, in the year 1740, the territory was placed under the jurisdic- tion of New-Hampshire. A correspondence, however, was opened between the Governors of New-Hampshire and New- York, in which the latter claimed exclusive jurisdiction over the territory. Notwithstanding this claim, the former proceeded to make further grants ; and, by advice of his Council, in the year 1760, » :h ' ■? •;i *i^, ■. ' if I M I ' i, :i l^- ii ■^ ^-A tf 14 MEMOIR OP ! ! K i V I ,*, ordered a survey of Connecticut River for sixty miles. The applications for lands be- ing numerous, other surveys rapidly followed ; and during the year 1761, about sixty town- ships were granted. In return for these grants, the Governor was liberally paid by the set- tlers, receiving, besides the fees allowed by law, a reservation of five hundred acres, in each township, for himself. This state of ^ affairs excited the jealousies of the govern- ment of New- York — who determined, if pos- sible, to check the operations of the Govern- or of New-Hampshire. In view of this re- sult, the Lieutenant-Governor of New-YoH^, issued a proclamation, in whi^h he referred to the grants made by Charles II. to the Duke of York, in 1664, which embraced "all the lands from the West side of Connecticut River, on the East side of Delaware Bay." Relying upon this title, to the territory, he ordered the Sheriff of Albany to return the names of every person occupying lands oi^ the West side of Connecticut River, under the New-Hampshire titles. In answer to this Proclamation, the Governor of New-Hamp- shire issued a counter one, in which the grant to the Duke of York was declared obsolete. The settlers were exhorted to be diligent and industrious ; and not to fear the threats of the New- York authority. In this state of things, application was made, by New- York, directly to the Crown, for a confirmation of V her eld plicatii em ba where setts B North the sai Vermo roncer produc regard New-Y ing, in upon \ for the under i Hampi the de tendin finally Procla The ately i ceede New-I tory i Court were their under *Alle iver for nds bc« Mowed ; r town- grants, the set- )wed by cres, in state of govern- , if pos- jovern- this re- y-YorJ«, referred le Duke ' all the leeticut B Bay." tory, he turn the ands on , under r to this ■Hamp- le grant bsolete. eni and eats of tate of \r-York, Eition of COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 15 het citiims : and, in consequence of this ap* plication, the King ordered that the " West* em bank of the Connecticut River, from where it enters the Province of Massachu- setts Bay, as far North as the 45th degree of North latitude, be the boundary line between the said provinces of New-Hampshire and Vermont." This decision surprised and dis- concerted the settlers on the grants, yet it produced no serious alarm. It was merely regarded as extending the jurisdiction of New- York over the territory, without affect- ing, in any manner, their title to the lands upon which they had settled — having paid for them, and obtained deeds of the same under the Crown. The Governor of New- Hampshire, at first, remonstrated against the decision of the King, in relation to ex- tending the jurisdiction of New-York : but finally submitted to the change, and issued a Proclamation to that effect The government of New-York, immedi- ately after the decision of the Crown^ pro- ceeded to extend its jurisdiction over the New-Hampshire Grants : dividing the terri- tory into four Counties, and, establishing Courts of Justice in each.* The settlers were imperatively commanded to surrender their charters and re-purchase their lands under grants from New- York. A few com- * Allen's History of Vermont. -.1 m •i"» ■'■< 1 ♦ i » . :' . ''^ ^i' h- ■ ■■ •■ V ! I i'S, 16 UEMOm OF i ' 1 - il plied with this order; but a large majority peremptorily refused. The lands of those who non-complied, were granted to others ; in whose names, writs of ejectment were is- sued, and judgments obtained in the New- York Courts. A determined resistance was made, by the settlers, against these unjust and arbitrary measures : and, for the pur- pose of rendering this resistance more ef- fectual, a number of associations of the peo- ple were formed, and a Convention finally called, composed of Representatives from the different towns on the West side of the Mountain. After much dehberation, the Convention appointed Samuel Robinson, an Agent, to represent to the King, the griev- ances sufiered by the settlers, and to obtain a confirmation of the New-Hampshire grants.^ The report of the Agent was fa- vorably received by the King : " His Majesty was pleased, with the advice of his Private Council, to approve thereof, and doth hereby strictly charge, require and command, that the Governor or Commander-in-Chief, of his Majesty's Province of New- York, for the time being, do not, upon his Majesty's highest dis- pleasure, presume to make any grant, what- soever, of any part of the lands described in the said report, until his Majesty's further pleasure shall be known, concerning the fWrniams' Historj* .vn^?/jivil.fe' COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 25 t)rotection, self preservation necessitated us to treat some of them roughly ; and others, viz : Ebenezer Cewl, and Jonathan Wheats of Shaftsbui'y, fled to JVew- York^ on account of their own guilt, not being hurt or threatened. Would time permit, we could give a rational account for most, or all of our late conduct towards these men. The general reason is this, namely, they were a set of men that loved themselves, and not their country ; they busied themselves in planning and assisting to take rioters, so called. In fine, they were the emissaries of that mercenary core of Yorkers, and did more, in oppressing the people, than their preposterous benefactors. The assault, made upon Mr. Baker^ at day break, of the night of the 22d of March last, by a number of ruffians, under the command of the infamous John Munro^ Esq. was a no- torious riot, and gave energy and motion, to the subsequent acts, your Excellency denom- inates illegal. This Munro^ and his bloody party, by cutting, wounding and maiming, Mr. Baker, his wife and children, in such an inhuman and savage manner, was • no less than proclaiming himself, in a pubhc manner, to be a malicious and bloody enemy, not on- ly to Mr. Baker, but also tO all those men, on our grants, who, manfully, adhere to main- taining liberty and property ; and inasmuch as the murderous villain is alive, he has no cause of complaint — for, after his assault up- 3 •> *■' ■ , < « I •; '■ ' ;. ■< ill/r ' 26 MEMOIR OF on Mr. Baker, he made another assault up-% on Mr. Seth Warner; but not having so strong a party of ruffians with him, as in his other expedition, it was not attended with the hke consequences, for Mr. Warner struck his head with a dull cutlass, and levelled him to the ground ; but the blow proved not mortal ; and after this, for his satisfaction for the wound, threatened the lives of a num- ber of the J\€W Hampshire settlers.^— Your Excellency will, undoubtedly, consider, as our opponents have had the manufactory of the civil laws, so much under their power, that this merciless man rould not be brought to justice, nor could others among us, be s?ife any other way, but by using him in his own play ; he set the example and enraged the people to mimlck him from that natural principle in every man's own breast. As to the perfidious and treacherous Bliss Willoghby, he always pretended to be a friend of the said Baker''s, and Baker had ever been truly a friend of his— this hypocrite, two days before Baker was taken, made a frivo- lous excuse of business, \vent to said Ba- ker'^s house, viewed the strength of it, perceiv- ed Baker was somewhat careless and secure, and piade report to the said Munro, In fine, Willoghby was the planner and instigator of that savage cruelty, exercised to said Baker, which was perpetrated and brought into ac- tion by the detestable said Munro. But to ;/ .1 ■ COL. fcTHAN ALLEK* 27 desist : as to the history of our late transac- tions, whether they be all right or not, we, on our part, have a few arguments and con- siderations more to lay before your Excel- lency, as to the cause of our discontent, as well as to the cause of our late actions your Excellency denominates illegal. The alteration of jurisdiction, in 1764, could not effect private property. Surely his Majesty by this alteration, did not pur- pose to take away the personal properly of a large number of his loyal subjects, and transfer it to other subjects ; the English Constitutions will, by no means, admit of this, for the transferring or alienation of property is a sacred prerogative of the true owner. — Kings and Governors cannot inter- meddle therewith. Furthermore, your Ex- cellency and Council must needs be ac- quainted that we have a petition lying be- fore his Majesty and Council, for redress of grievances. That is an impartial board ; pray why may it not be determined here ? For the very identical matters in dispute, are now, and for several years past have been lying before that Court, except the accusa- tions of riotousness, disorderly, kc. which is improved as a handle to subvert property, and that only. Furthermore in the time of Sir Henry Moor's administration, his Majesty was pleas- ed to lay the government of JVew-York, un- *i :i;i V » ■ ; ! r.,-1 / > A "I i .11 ■i!? ■ I 28 MCIilOIIl OF der absolute prohibition not to grant ar pa- tent any of the lands antecedently granted under tne great, seal of the province o^ New- Hampshire ; and furthermore forbid the gov- ernment to disturb or molest the settlers. — This rightly understood, amounts to a su- irercedeas over the authority of common Law, and absolutely controuJs the cognizance thereof. As to the particular matters in the prohibition set forth, or matters lying before his Majesty by petition, the import of the prohibition must needs be thus, name- ly : that hi« M'ajesty by it informs the gov- ernment of JS'ew-York^ that he has taken- the controversy, to him made known by pe- tition, under his royal consideration, and that, after due information and' evidence of the state of the case, determines to settle the controversy; consequently forbids the government taking cognizance thereof; and common sense teaches us that under such prohibition, if a judgment at common law be supposed to be valid, it would invalidate the authority of the crown, and subvert and? overthrow the authority ofthe kingdom, as it would render the prohibitions of the crown perfectly impertinent. Therefore, common law in the case before us, is not clothed with cognizance of this case, much less with authority to dispossess us; consequent- ly, every party ©f men,, that have,, with ofr rr ii .. « 1 Vi COL. ETHAN ALLEN. » ficers, or otherwise, come into these parts to dispossess us, came in open defiance, and direct opposition to his Majesty's orders and authority; and though they style us rioters, for opposing them, and seek to catch and punish us as such ; yet, in re- aUty, themselves are the rioters, the tumult- uous, disorderly, stimulating faction, or, in fine, the land-robbers; and every violent act they have done to compass their de- signs, though ever so much under pre- tence of law, is, in reality, a violation of law, and an insult on the constitution, and authority of the crown, as well as to many of us, in person, who have been great sufferers by such inhuman exertions of pretended le- gality of law. — Right and wrong are eternal- ly the same, to all periods of time, places and nations ; and colouring a crime with a specious pretence of law, only adds to the criminality of it; for, it subverts the veryde-.^ sign of law, prostituting it to the vilest pur- poses. Can any man in the exercise of rea- son, make himself believe that a number of Attorneys and other gentlemen, with all their tackle of ornaments, and comphments, and French finesse, together with their boasted legality of law ; that these gentlemen have just right to the lands, labours and fortunes of the New^Hampshire settlers ? Certainly they cannot. Yet, this is the object in view, by this mercenary fraternity. 3* A \ i •i ! , 1.' * f > ,1 ;r 1 M ir. ^r' I Ml i; # 4..: 30^ MEMOIR or We do not suppose, may it please your Ex- eellency, we are making opposition to a gov- ernment, as such ; it is nothing more than a^^ paxty,. chiefly carried on by a number of gen- tlemen attorneys, (if it be not an abuse to gentlemen of merit t0> call them so,) who manifest a surprising and enterprising thirst of avarice, after our coiintry : but, for a col- - lection of such intriguers, to plan matters of * influence of a* party, so as eventually to be- come judges in their own case, and, thereby,, cheat us out of our country^ appears to us so audaciously unreasonable and tyrannical,, that,;^ view it with the utmost detestation and indignation,, and our breasts glow with a martial fury to defend our persons and for- tunes from the ravages of those that would destroy us ; butnotagainstyour Excellency's persoa or government. We are fully persuaded, your Excellency's ears have been much abused by subtle and designing men;; for, we are informed, from credible authority, your Excellency has, late- ly, made application, to your Assembly, to raise an- armed force to subdue us, but that the motion was negatived; We apprehend your Excellency views us as opposing your Excellency's jurisdiction, and that the violent . acts, by us done, was in rebellion to his Ma- ' jesty's authority, or your Excellency liad n6v- er proposed the subduing of L5 ; we are mor- vl •f ?: COL. eTHTAN ALLEN. 2ft ally certain, we can convince your Excellen- cyr that it is not sk) ;. but that on the other hand, Messieurs Duane^ Kempi, and their as-* sociates, are the a^ggressors. We have chosen two men from among us^ viz : Capt. Stephen Fau, and Mr. Jonas Fay^, to treat with your Excellency, in person ; who,, we hope, will answer such queries, and give* your Excellency the satisfaction you hope for. We view your Excellency as our Governor and political father, and hope and expect, from the sincerity and candor of your Ex-- cellency's letter, you will be friendly and fav- ourably disposed towards us, when your Ex-- eellency,by these Hnes,per€eives the grounds of our discontent ; for, we are conscious that * our cause is good, and that it was' oppression* which ha« been the ground of our discon— • tent, and' that self preservation hath, hither- to, urged us to the measure lately taken. — And w-e now earnestly intreat your Excellen- ' ey's aid and assistance to quiet us in our pos— ' sessions and properties, till- his Majesty, in' his royal wisdom^ settle the controversy; If your Excellency should do* this^ there would be an end to riots; so called; and our tongues unable to express our gratitude^ to your Ex- - cellency for such protection. Therefore, relying' on your Excellency's- great wisdom and goodness, as members of your Government, his Majesty's loyal andi I ' ' 'I lA' .» 'ill I f! ii. r ittf «i !•' '^, 3» H^MOm OF liege subjects, we subscribe ourselves your Excellency's ever fkithful and humble 8e^• vants, ETHAN ALLEN, SETH WARNER, REMEMBER BAKER, ROBERT COCHRAN. Upon the receipt of the foregoing commit nications, Governor Try on immediately laid them before his Council, who advised that his Excellency should afford the inhabitants of those townships all the relief in his pow- er, by suspending, until the pleasure of the King should be known, all prosecutions in behalf of the crown, on account of the crimes ijleged against them ; and recommend to the owners of the contested lands, under grants from the Province of New- York, to stay all civil suits, in relation to the lands, during the same period. This advice met the approba- tion of the Governor, who communicated it to the inhabitants of Bennington and the vi- cinity. During the pendency of this negociation, the Green Mountain Boys, urged on by the numerous wrongs under which they suffered by the poHcy of New-York, proceeded to dis- possess a number of settlers on Otter Creek, who held their lands under titles from New- York. This aggression led Gov. Tryon to address a letter to the inhabitants of Ben- nington and the country adjacent, in which he expressed his ^^ high displeasure at the i: COttf E^FHAN ALI.EN> breach of faith and honor" of ^ portion of the inhabitants, in dispodsessiiig the settlers ' on Otter Creek and its neighborhood, c heir possessions : and required the assistance of the people " in putting, forthwith, those famr ilies, who have been thus dispossessed, into re-possession of theilr lands and tenements," To this letter, the following was address* ed to the Governor in reply : ** Bennington, Aug. 25,. >772. To His Excellency^ William Tryon, jB^^. &*c. May it please your Excellency, — Wc, his Ma- jesty's liege and loyal subjects, inhabitants of Benninglon, and the adjacent coutttry, have received your Exceflency's letter, of the 11th of August inst. by which, we are informed of your Excellency's high displeasure towards us, by reason of a body of our people's dis- possessing several settlers on Otter Creek, and its neighbourhood, of their possessions, du- ring the very time our Messengers attended on your Excellency, aX JVcw-York, and were waiting the determination of government, on our petition, that we might remain unmolest- ed in our possessions, till the King's pleasure could be obtained. Your Excellency further informs us, that you look on our late pro- ceedings with great .concern, viewing them as daring insults to government, a violation of public faith, and the conditions granted to- our petition. Wa would,, with proper: aub»; y> . • ;-f •A I f ^y : ■l ■:.! i ■i m 34 MEMOIR or M'l i|3 ,** mission, give your Excellency' and Couticil, a short narrative of facts, with a few reflections and reasons thereon. — And, First, we would observe, that our Mes- sengers your Excellency styles Commission- ers, were not authorized to establish, and complete articles of public faith for their con- stituents. The business assigned them, was to deliver the written petition, and inform your Excellency and Council of the facts of the controversy subsisting, and further nego- tiate and forv^ard the matter of our petition, and return to us the determination of gov- ernment, reserving to ourselves the power of assenting to, or dissenting therefrom; though true it is, when the articles of amicable set- tlement, or order of government was read at a pubhc meeting held at Bennington, on the 15th day of July ult. the said order and pro- posals were universally complied with by those present : from which time, we, reason- ably, compute the date of public faith, and sacred bond of friendship. But in the inte- rim the conditions of faith were forming, and before a ratification thereof, Mr, Kockburn, a noted surveyor, unknown, (as we suppose,) to your Excellency and Council, by the con- trivance, aid and employ of certain monopo- lizing adversaries of our's, took a tour to the Northerly parts of the JVew Hampshire grants, to survey, and make locations on our land. Such locating we view as a manifest plan, \ COL. ETHAN ALLE!f .15 and intention of invading our property — the same as intrenching round a city, portends a 8ic , U '■\. ■H:! j'li ! li! ill H fii i I'M "/'il'^r % 38 I^EMOIR Of (cy and Council, by sundry discharges of can- non and small arms; your Excellency's health, long lite and prosperity, as well as that of the honorable Council's, was the toast ; your nanie coipnianded reverence and psjteen), and your Excellency's person in particular, became precious in our eyes. And we do humbly assure vour Excellen- cy we have no disposition of alienation of affections towards jou, or knowingly break any article of public faith. There are two propositions which are the objects of our attention. '■' ^ "' Firstly; The protection and maintaining pur property. And secondly ; to use the greatest care and prudence, not to break the article of public faith, or insult governmental authority. These two propositions, we me^n strictly and religiously to adhere to. And for the more explicit knowledge of the preliminaries and conditions of public faith and trust, we would inform your Excellency and Council, that our acceptation of those conditions on the part of JVew- York^ is, that they make no further settlements or locations on our lands, granted under the great ^eal of the Province of A^ew Hampshire^ until his Majesty's pleas- l^re be obtained, as to the validity of the grants. Altho^igh this was not so fully ex- pressed, yet we s'jppose it was implied in th« 7'. ^ ''fr' N;: >' ■ ' ,^. *•■ Col. bthan allek. 39 abstract of the Minutes of Qoulicil } if it was not, we pray your Excellency and Coun- cil would undeceive us in that particular ; for if we are deceived in this, then on this hy- pothesis, your Excellency and Council's leni- ent and friendly disposition towards us will not for the future, (by us) be viewed as such ; for such location and settlements on our lands, would be incompatible with friendship, and a manifest infringement upon our prop-* perty, which has all along been the bone of contention. The last part of your Excellency's letter to us, contains a requirement of our immedi- ate assistance in repossessing Col. ReecV $ tenants of said tenements* As to this par- ticular, had your Excellency have known by what means Col. Reed obtained possession > of them lands and tenements, undoubtedly V05ir Excellency would not have required our assistance m repossessmg him; or have, viewed with concern our dispossessing him, as a daring insult to government : for the case rightly understood, it appears that his conduct was a daring insult to government, and continued violation of more than three years, of the laws, restrictions, regulations, a and economy, both of God and man : a no- ^ torious breach of the tenth commandment of the decalogue, which says, ^^Thou shall not covet ^'' 8{c, He, coveting, did take the saw- U '* I * *;;'■ [• Jl' 40 ^\ M^IMOm OF i^ *v .ft.' ^\4 Ml; & *>nf' 'i 'Si- mill, logs, boards, and also the lands, laborSf possessions, farms, tenements, &c. &c., from the rightful owners, proprietors, and first oc- cupants thereof, without a process at law, as aforesaid, to their exclusion from the prem- ises more than three years ; all which time he has been enriching himself by the improve- ments of their estates ; and should we re- possess him of the premises again, we should become co-partners with him, in his wicked- ness. Such an act we could not reconcile to our own consciences ; it being apparently immoral, and most flagrantly cruel and un- just. When your Excellency and Council views these facts and arguments, we humbly con- ceive we shall not be required to repossess Col. Reed of the premises : nor do we ex- pect your Excellency and Council will ad- judge us to be violators of the late articles of public faith : all which, with due submis- sion, we refer to your Excellency and Coun- cil. And we do now, with due reverence, ask the favor of a few lines, which may certify to us, the determination of government, rel- ative to the particulars litigated in this pa- per*; and remain your ever faithful and most obedient humble servants. * No answer to this Gommiinicatioii is extant. The negotiation, probably, terminated here. COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 41 At a general meeting, held at Manchester, on the 27th day of August, 1772, by the Committee of the towns of Bennington, Sun- derland, Manchester, Dorset, Rupert, Paw- let, Wells, Poultney, Castleton, Pittsford and Rutland ; the foregoing answer to his Excel- lency's letter of the 1 1th inst., was read to the said committees, and the vote was called by Mr. Nathan Clark, Chairman, whether the said answer be approved of by the said Committees ? and it was voted in the affirm- ative. Test, ETHAN ALLEN, Clerk of said Committees!'^ The settlers, on the New-Hampshire Grants, were a brave, zealous and hardy bo- dy of men ; and the numerous wrongs, to which they had been subjected by the New- York authorities, had led them to a firm re- sistance in defence of their rights. In view of the British act of prohibition, heretofore referred to, the government of New York had proceeded to convey lands occupied un- der grants from royal authority ; and the Albany courts had uniformly decided in fa- vor of the grantees of New-York. Writs of possession having been issued, and every means having been put in requisition to de- fraud the settlers of their just rights, they had no alternative left but open resistance. At their head stood Ethan Allen — bold, even to desperation, and fitted, in every re- spect, for the important character he sustain- 4* 1 ■% ■ ' I 4 •i-'U. 42 MEMOIR OF 1 • III » m. i' a I cd in the drama. The settlers uniformly confidently relied upon his skill, his zeal and his well known character for bravery, for the successful termination of their difficulties ; and their confidence in him was increased by the measures he originated and carried into eftect. He wrote and distributed sever- al pamphlets, addressed more particularly, to the feelings of the settlers, in which the injustice of the New- York government was strongly depicted, and the proceedings of the Green Mountain Boys triumphantly vin- dicated ; "and contributed much," says the author of the State Papers^ "to inform the minds, arouse the zeal, and unite the efforts of the settlers." The inhabitants of Rutland and Benning- ton counties, for the purpose of adopting such measures as the exigency of the times re- quired, formed a convention, through their delegates, which met only on extraordinary occasions. Among other measures it was decreed^ by this body, "that no person should take grants, or confirmation of grants un- der the government of New- York." It was also forbidden "all the inhabitants in the district of the New-Hampshire Grants, to hold, take, or accept, any office of honor or profit under the Colojay of New- York, and all civil and military officers who had acted unider the authority of the Governor or Le- gislature of New- York, were required to 1 COL. ETHAN ALLEN. - 43 suspend their functions on pain of being viewed,''^* These decrees were rigidly and severely enforced : the more common mode of pun- ishment being an application of the '^beach W."t to the naked back, and banishment from the settlements. A few instances, while they may serve to amuse, will, also, shew the spirit which actuated the settlers in punish- ing their enemies : A certain Doctor A. of Arlington, was a warm partizan of New- York; and had often spoken in disrespectful terms of the settlers and the decrees of their Con- vention. He was frequently requested to desist : and disregarding these requests, "he was carried," says Allen's History, "to the Green Mountain Tavern, in Bennington, where the Committee heard his defence, and then ordered him to be tied in an armed chair, and hoisted up to the sign, (a cata- mount's skin, stuffed, sitting upon the sign post, twenty-five feet from the ground, vith large teeth, grinning towards New-Yoi i^,) and there to hang two hours in sight of the people, as a punishment, merited by his en- mity to the rights and liberties of the people of the New-Hampshire Grants. The judg- ment was executed to the no small merri- ment of a large concourse of people. The * Allen's History. f So called in allusion to the great seal of New- Hainpsliire. I- . •..I ' t 'i^ r. ': ■ « ' .1 i V 1 .1 i I .1 ■ , ■ I I 'I •> i *i' li . i i : ,i! it .1 i irii I 44 MEMOIR OF Doctor was let down, and dismissed by the Committee, with an admonition to go and sin no more." A certain Benjamin Hough, was, also, punished under one of the decrees of the Convention : He had accepted, and officiated, in the office of Justice of the Peace, under the authority of New York ; and being arrested, was brought before the Committee of Safety, at Sunderland. He offered in plea, the jurisdiction of New York ; but was answered by the decree of the con- vention, which forbid all persons holding any civil or military office, under the authority of New- York. The following judgment was pronounced against him, before a large as- semblage of people : "That the prisoner be taken from the bar of this Committee of Safety, and tied to a tree ; and there on his naked back, to receive two hundred stripes : his back being dressed, he should depart out of the district; and, on return, to suffer death, unless by special leave of Convention.** Notwithstanding the evidence given that the Green Mountain Boys would not submit to the terms proposed by New- York, the au- thority of that state did not relax in their exertions to render them submissive. At a session of the general assembly, holden February 5th, 1774, the following resolution* were adopted : "1. That it appears to this Committee, that there at present prevails in part of th& COL. ETHAN ALLEN^ 45 county o^ Charlotte^ afid it the nofth-eftsterrt district of the county of Albany, a danger- ous and destructive spirit of riot and licen- tiousness, subversive pf all order and good government ; and that it has become an in- tolerable grievance, which requires inimedi-' ate redress. 2. Resolved, That it appears to this Com- mittee^ that many acts of outrage, cruelty, and oppression have been there perpetrated by a number of lawless persons, calling them- selves the Bennington mob, who have seized, insulted, and terrified several magistrates and other civil officers, so that they dare not exercise their respective functions ; rescued prisoners for debt, assumed to themselves military commands, and judicial power; burned and demolished the houses and pro- perty, and beat and abused the persons of many of his Majesty's subjects ; expelled them from their possessions, and put a peri- od to the administration of its justice, and spread terror and destruction through that part of the country which is exposed to their oppression. 3. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the complainants before this house, and others, who inhabit part of that colony, and from respect to government, will not countenance or be concerned in the said riotous proceedings, are exposed from the violence of the rioters, to iminent dan- \( • k i ... 1 ■h I ■ V I'' 1 ■v^ f \ .j ■% ■ .* v r 1 \.\ f ',' liK m f i^:'.r !«( t ifi I: ^ MEMOIR Of ffcr, both in persons and properties ; atid that they stand in need of immediate protec- tion and succoun 4. Resolved,, That it appears to this Com- mittee, that Ethan Allen^ Seth Warner^ Remem* ber Baker^ Robert Cochran^ Peleg Sunderiandj Syhanus Brown^ James Breakenrtdge^ and John Smith, are principal ring-leaders of, and actors in the riots and disturbances afore- said, and that it is, therefore, the opinion of this Committee, that an humble address be presented to his Excellency, desiring that he would be pleased to issue a Proclamation, offering a reward of fifty pounds for appre- hending and securing any or either of the persons above named, in his Majesty's gaol in Albany ; and commanding the magistrates and other civil officers of the county ofMatiy and Charlotte, to be active and vigilant in suppressing the said riots, and preserving peace and good order, as well as for bring- ing to justice the perpetrators and authors of said riots. 5. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that a bill be brought in, more effectually to suppress the said riotous and disorderly proceedings, maintain the free course of Justice, and for bringing the offen- ders to condign punishment. Which report he read in his place and afterwards delivered it in at the table, where the said resolutions were severally read a second time, and it wa» COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 47 resolved that this hou3c doth agree with the Committee in their said resolutions. Ordered^ That a bill be brought in, pursu- ant to the last r':_.olution, and that Mr. Brush', and Col. 2\n Broeck, prepare and bring in the same. Ordered that Capt. Delancy and Mr. ^F«//ow, wait on his Excellency the Gov- ernor with the foregoing address and resolu- tions of the house." These resolutions, as may be expected, created much excitement among the settlers and led them to the speedy adoption of coun- ter measures. A general meeting of the Committees for the several townships on the west side of the range of Green Mountains, v/as held at Manchester, on the first day of March, 1774 : at which the grievances of the people were freely discussed, as well as the extraordinary proceedings of the New York Legislature. In the conclusion of the answer, adopted by the meeting, to the reso- lutions of New-York, it was resolved, "that as a country, we will stand by and defend our friends and neighbours, indicted as riot- ers, at the expense of our lives and fortunes;" and "that, for the future, every necessary preparation be made, and that our inhabit- ants hold themselves in readiness at a min- ute's warning, to aid and defend such friends of ours, who, for their merit to the great and general cause, are falsely denominated rioters ; but that we will not act any thing. ,1 ; > \ w ■>-3 M ■H •/ .f < ■ ill ! i i 1 '' f ,:■: ^ I: I -I I- : H ir.' . \ I I, i ,!i!lu,'; I';' jSiJ! ■ 1' II "»»., 48 * MEMom OF ^ ; pior^ ojr lees, but on the defensive ; and al- ways encourage due executi/Dn ollaw in civ- il cases, and also in criminal prosecutions, that are so indeed ; and that we will assist, to the utmost of our power, the officers ap- pointed for that purpose." On the 9th of March, and previous to the time the proceedings of the Manchester Con- vention were received, the General Assenibly of New York, proceeded to carry into eflect their resolutions of the 5th February, and enacted the following law : An Act for preventing tumultuous and riot- ous Assemblies in the places therein men- tioned, and for the more speedy and efiect- ual punishing the rioters. Whereas, a spirit of riot and licentiousness has, of late, prevailed in some parts of the .counties of Charlotte and Many* and many reacts of outrage and cruelty have been per- petrated by a number of turbulent men, who assembling from time to time, in arms, have seized, insulted and men?iced, several magis- trates, and other civil officers, so that they ydare not execute their functions^— rescued prisoners for debt — assumed to themselves military commands, and judicial powers — ^The County of Albany, it jls believed, extended to * the north line of Manchester, in jthe present County of . Bennington ; the territory north of that, on the lyestern > side of the mountains, was erected in a separate County, by the name of C^arlottf.-rVt^ State papers. •I COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 49 burned and demolished houaes and property, and beat and abused the persons of many of his Majesty's subjects — expelled others from their possessions — and finally, have put a period to the administration of justice within, and spread terror and destruction through- out, that part of the country which is expos- ed to their oppression : Therefore, for the preventing and suppressing such riots and tu- mults, and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the offenders therein, ] . Be it enacted^ by his Excellency the Gov- ernor, the Council, and the General Assem- bly, and it is hereby enacted, by the authori- ty of the same. That, if any persons, to the number of three, or more, being unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously assembled, with- in either of the said counties, to the disturb- ance of the public peace, at any time after the passing of this act, and being required or commanded, by any one or more justice or justices of the peace, or by the high sheriff, or his under sheriff, or by any one of the cor- oners of the county, where such assembly shall be, by proclamation to be made in the King's name, in the form hereinafter direct- ed, to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful business, shall, to the number of three, or more, notwithstanding such proclamation made, unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously remain or continue together, to the number W r I ■ « » '1 i • ' 4 ■ f' k •I -I ; . J^^ • if \ .! • ; . \ ■ m {' • t IM H^ II ini 1 ^• 50 MEMOIR Qf of three or more, afler such command or tet quest made by proclamation, shall, for every such offence, upon conviction thereof, in due form of law, either iQ the supreme court of judicature of this cplony, or at the courts of oyer anc} termii^cr, and general gaol delivery, or §Lt the genera) sessions of the peace, to bo held rcspectiyejy in and for the said cpuur ties of Many and Charlotte^ or either pf them, suffer twelve monjths imprisonment, \yithout bail or mainprize, and such f'lrther corporal punishment as the respective ,c.ourts before which he, she, or they, shalf be .convicted, shall judge fit, not extending tp li/e or limb ; and before his or her discharge, ?\wi\ enter into recognizance with two sufficient sure- ties, in such sum as the said courts ^hall res- pectively direct, to be of gpod behaviour, and keep the peace towards his Majesty and all his subjects, for the term of three years from such his, her, or their (Jisc?harge out of prison. 2. Jlnd be it further enacted hy ilnQ authority aforesaid, That the order .and form of the proclaijiation which shall be made by the a]ii- thority [of thi^ ^ct^ ^hall be as hereaftier fol- lows, that i? to say : The justice or other person, authorised by this act to vi^^ke Jthe said proclamation, shall, among the ^aid ri- ,0ters, or as near them ?ls he can safely cpme, Yf)^} B. loud voice, Aommand, pr cause to be commanded, silence to be kept while pr,ocla- mation is making ; and shall then pp^ol^ ii li %'\ COL. ETHAN ALLEN^ 51 ♦ Ivith a loud voice, make, or c^uso to tc made, t)roclamation in these wordfs, or to the hko effect : Our Sovereifrn Lord the King^ charpt' eth and commandeth all persons being assembled^ immediately to disperse themselves^ and pcaccablij to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful business, upon the pain contained in the act made in the fourteenth year of the reign of Kin/^ George the third, to prevent tumultuous and ri* ptous assemblies. Aiid cvefy stich justice or justices of the peace, sheriff, under sheriff or coroner, within the limits of the respective counties, where they reside, are hereby au- thorised, empowered and required, on notice dr knowledge of any such tmlawful, riotous and tumultuous assembly, forthwith to repair to the place Where sCich unlawful, riotous and tumultuous assembly shall be, to the number of three or riiore, and there to make or cause to be made, proclamdtioni in manner afore- said. 3. jinrf be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That if any person or persons do, or shall, with force and arms, wilfully and knowingly oppose, obstruct, or in any man- ner, wilfully and knowingly let, hinder or hurt any person or pefrsons, who shall begin to proclaim, or go to pi'oclaimi, according to the proclamation hereby directed to be made, Whereby such proclamation shall not be made ; that then, every such opposing, let- ting, hindering 6t hurting, such person or \ I- i !■■? fl-' .' • * I !■ !i ■ V . I' ? '■ rV' .} H i\ H ii p I i' m % U r i il p I • •i.' It' m ^^•^ |.|:'! 52 MEMOIR OF persons, so being or going to make such pro- clamation as aforesaid, shall be adjudged felony, without benefit of clergy ; and thj^t the offenders therein, shall be adjudged fel- ons, and shall suffer death, as in cases of fel- ony without benefit of clergy. And that also, every such person or persons, so being un- lawfully? riotously and tumultuously assem- bled to the number of three, as aforesaid, or more, to whom proclamation should or ought to have been made, if the same had not been hindered as aforesaid, shall, in case they or anv of them, to the number of three or more, shall continue together, and not forthwith dis- . perse themselves, after such let or hindrance, having knowledge of such let or hindrance, shall, likewise, for every such offence, upon conviction thereof, in mariner aforesaid, suf- fer the same pains and penalties as are here- by inflicted on those w^ho shall continue to- gether to the number of three or more, after they shall be commanded to depart to their habitations, or lawful business, by proclama- tion as aforesaid. 4. ^nd be it further enacfed by the authority aforesaid. That if such persons so unlawful- ly, riotously and tumultuously assembled, or any three or more of them, after proclama- tion made in manner aforesaid, shall contin- ue together, and not forthwith disperse them- selves, it shall and may be lawful to and for every such justice of the peacQ, sheriff, under »« COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 33 BherifT, coroner, or constable, of any connty or township where such assembly shall be ; and to and for such person or persons as shatt be commanded to be assisting unto such jus- tice of the peace, sheriff, under sheriff, cor- oner, or constable, (who are hereby author- ised and empowered to command all his Ma- jesty's subjects of age and ability, to be aid- ing and assisting to them therein ;) to seize and apprehend, and they are hereby required to seize and apprehend such persons so un- lawfully, riotously, and tumultuously assem- bled together, after proclamation made as aforesaid, and forthwith to carry the persons so apprehended, before any one or more of his Majesty's justices of the peace of the said counties of Charlotte or Albany^ in order to their being proceeded against for such their offences according to law. And that, if the persons so unlawfully, riot- ously and tumultuously assembled, or any of them, shall happen to be killed, maimed, or hurt, in the dispersing, seizing or apprehend- ing them, by reason of their resisting the per- sons so dispersing, seizing, or apprehending, or endeavouring to disperse, seize, or appre- hend them ; and then, every such justice of the peace, sheriff, under sheriff, coroner or constable, and all and singular persons aiding and assisting to them, or any of them, shau be freed, discharged, and indemnified, as well ag[ainst the King's Majesty, his heirs and 6* ¥ t* ^i'l ' 4 54 MEMOIR or I'i f' m :.t ■'♦-: guccessorg, as against all and every other person or persons, of, for, or concerning the killing, mauning, or hurting of any such per- son or persons, so unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously assembled, that shall happen to be so killed, maimed, or hurt as aforesaid. 5. J^nd be it further enacted by the authority .aforesaid, That, if any person or persons, within the said counties, or either of them, not being lawfully authorised a judge, justice or magistrate, shall assume judicial power, or shall try, fine, sentence or condemn any person who shall either be absent, or shall unlawfully or forcibly be seized, taken or brought before him or them, for trial or pun- ishment ; or if any person or persons shall , aid or assist in such illegal proceedings, or shall enforce, execute or carry into effect ; or if any person or persons shall, unlawfully, . seize, detain, or confine, or assault and beat any magistrate or civil officer, for, or in the respect of any act or proceeding in the due exercise of his function, or in order to com- pel him to resign, renounce, or surcease his commission or authority, or to terrify, hinder or prevent him from performing and discharg- " ingthe duties thereof; or if any person or persons, either secretly or openly, shall, un- lawfully, wilfully and maliciously, burn or de- stroy the grain, corn or hay, of any other person, being in any inclosure ; or if any ;#. persons, unlawfully, riotously, and tumultu- 1 1 COL« CTHAN ALLEN 59 oosIy assembled together, to the diiturbanco of the pubhc peace, shall, unlawfully, and with force, demolish or pull down, or begin, to demolish or pull down, any dwelling house^ barn, stable, grist mill, saw mill, or out hous^, within either of the said counties ; that then, each of the said offences, respectively, shall be adjudged felony, without benefit of clergy ; and the offenders therein shall be adjudged felons, and shall suffer death, as in cases of felony without benefit of clergy. 6. And whereas complaint and proofs have been made, as well before his Excellency thA Governor and Council, as before the Gener- al Assembly, That, Ethan Men^ sometime of Salisbury^ in the colony of Connecticut^ but late of Bennington, in the county of Albany^ yeoman ; Seth Warner, late of Bennington^ m said county, yeoman ; Remember Baker, lata of Arlington, in the said county, yeoman ; Robert Cochran, late of Rupert, in the county of Charlotte, yeoman ; Peleg Sunderland and Sikanus Brown, late of Socialborovgh, in the same county, yeomen ; James Brackenridge, late of Wallmnschack, in the county o^ Albany, yeoman ; and John Smith, late of Socialbo^ rough, yeoman ; have been principal ring- leaders of, and actors in, the riots and dis- turbances aforesaid; and the general as- sembly have, thereupon, addressed his Ex- cellency the Governor, to issue a proclama- tion offering certain rewards for apprehend- * 4 V.v t *4 '■\ i » ! ' .1 t ' : )'lhl'- \ ■ .'I &. : ■■ '., \\ H; il ,.s: ■'msM se MEMOIR W ■»!<'i I; !. in0 and seeurifig the dciid ofTendeti^, fttid fof bringing them and the other plerpetrators and authors of the riots to justice 2 And foras- much as such disorderly practices are highly criminal and destuctive to the peace and set- tlement of the country, arid it is indispensa- bly necessary for want of process to outlaws ry, (which is not used in this colony) that special provision be made for bringing such offenders, in future, to trial and punishment, without exposing the colony to the expense of extraordinary rewards and bounties for apprehending such offenders. Be it further enacted by the authority afore- said. That it shall and may be lawful to, and for, his Excellency the Governor, or the Gov- ernor and Commander in Chief, for the time being, by, and with, the advice of the Coun- cilj as often as either of the above named persons, or any other person, shall be indict- ed in either of the counties aforesaid, for any offence perpetrated after the passing of this act, made capital by this or any other law, or where any person may stand indicted for any of the offences above mentioned, not made felony by this act, to make his order in council, thereby requiring and commanding fuch offender or offenders to surrender them- ielves, respectively, within the space of sev- enty days next after the first publication thereof, in the JVew York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, to one of his Majesty's justices of V r,\ :'f COL. irtHAN ALLtft^ fit the peace, for either of the sai^ c6tinties, v^ •pectively, who are hereby f eqnired, thereup- on, to commit him or them, without bail oi^ mainprize, to the gaol of the city of JVeta York, or of the city and county of Many, to the end that he or they may be forth coming to answer the offence or offences wherewitn he or they shall stand charged, according to the ordinary course of law ; which order the clerk of his Majesty's Council, or his deputy^ shall cause forthwith to be printed and pub- lished, in eight successive papers, of the JVcW York Gazette and Weekly Mercury ; the twoi' first of which to be, forthwith transmitted to the sheriffs of the counties of Albatiy and Charlotte ; and the said sheriffs, respectively^ jshall, within six days after the receipt thereoff cause the same printed orders to be affixed upon the door of the court house of the coun-' ty ofJtlbany, and upon the door of the dwell- ing house of Patrick Smithy Esq.< where the? courts are now usually held, for the said county of Charlotte, and upon the doors of two other public houses in each of their re-^ spective counties. And in case the said of* fenders shall not respectively surrender them-* ' selves, pursuant to such orders of his Excel- lency the Governor, or of the Governor and Commander in Chief, for the time being, to be made in Council as aforesaid ; he orthey^ so neglecting or refusing to surrender himself or themselves as aforesaid, shall, from the i- : 'A ■ 'II 'I t: i \i-^ .( . ( w; (.■ .( 1 ;4 ' .■ )■'•■: 1 i ) • .? k H\ m 'li.. fliEUoiti: 6r Mil t' 6ky to be a;f)pc)inted foi" Ms o^ tieir sto'etftfrjr as alforesaid, be adjudged,* deemed, and (if ^dieted for a Capital offence^ hereafter to bfe perpetrated) to be convicted and attainted of felony, &hi shall suffei" deatth, as in cases of persons convicted and attainted of felony, by verdict and jadgmeitt, without btenefit of clergy ; and that it shall and may be lawful to arid for the supreirie court of judicature of this colony, or the counts of oyer and termi- ner, or general ga;ol delivery, for the respec^ live counties aforesaid, to award execution against ^uch offender or offenders, so indict- ed for a capital offence', perpetrated aft^r th<^ passing of this act, in such ntanrier as' if he or they had been convicted or attainted iA the said supreme courts of judicature, or be- fore such courts of oyer aftfd terfniner, or general gaoi delivery res{)ectivelj'. And if any offender, being indicted for a lesser of- fence, under the degree of felony, shall hot surrender himself withiti the tirafe fixed by fiueh order, and after duch notice aforesaid, he shall thenceforth be deeifted gailty of the offence for which he may be charged by siich indictment ; arid it shall be lawful for th^ court wherein siiCh indictment is found, to proceed to pronotirice such judgment against the offender, as might lawfully be done if he was present in court, and convicted in the ordinary course of law, of theCTime where* w: : dCif obfe nted ;a:ses lony, fit of iwful ire of ermi- spec^ ;utioi!if 6r th6 rifhd tedih or be- er, ot ^ndif ;er of- 11 hot d by )fthe stich ►r the^ id, to rainst if he In the rhere- COL. ETHA^ ALLE5. 59 wkh he shall so stand ch^rge4 as aforefi!fU((). ' Provided always, 7. jjnd be ii further emcted by the same au^ thority aforesaid. That, if any person, so neg^ lecting to surrender himself »s afor.es,aid» within the said seventy days, shall, at any time aftet, surrender himself to the sh^efiff of the city of J^ew York or AJhany^ px of the counti<^ A^ *chessoY West^'cJer^lvfhoam to receive, and safely keep such .ofFenders) and being actually yi custody, ^h^ll exhibit rqasonable proof, io the satisfaction of tl^e judges of the suprejEue court of this colony, or either of them, that he was not within ei- ther of the said counties of Cumberland of Gloucester^ at any time after the publication aud notices above directeijl, and before jsuch surrender ^of himself as aforesaid ; then such judg^ bjefore whom such proof is made, shaH, forthwith, notify the same in writing, to the sheiuff to whom any warrant of execution foi thcexecuting such ofrender,or any other prx>- CQss for any lesser punishment hath been) or may be issued ; cind thenceforth, such prison- er or offender shall not be liable to suffer death or any other punishment for not sur- rendering himselfr-Provided also, that no- thing in this act contained shall be construed to exempt any offender, so surrendering him* self afler the seventy days as aforesaid from any punishment to avhich he may be liable, fOf any other ^ijgcM? ihm ft>; pot sju^rendering Ai if ." '! •• 4 W >i, :/ I ! ■ ' t •fill' ,' ^ ■II mi ■i - h f 1 y Ii my <» IMGMOIR or htmself within the i^aid seventy days as afore- isaid ; npr to deprive any person who shall fio surreuder himself withi^n the seventy days, from being bailed, in cases where he shall be bailable by law ; any thing herein contained to the contrary thereof, in any wise, notwith- standing. 8. jind be it further enacted by the same au- thority aforesaid, That all and every person and persons who shall, after the expiration of the tinje to be appointed, as aforesaid, for the surrender of the respective oftbnders herein before named, harbour, receive, con- ceal, abet, or succour such offender or of- fenders, knowing him or them to have been required to surrender him or themselves by such order or orders as aforesaid, and not to have surrendered pursuant thereto, shall, up- on conviction thereof, in due form of law, suf- fer the same pains and penalties as are, by this act, inflicted on those who shall continue together to the number of three or more, af- ter they shall bfe commanded to depart to their habitation or lawful business, by procla- mation as aforesaid* 9. And whereas the said county of Chaf' lotte, hath but lately been set off from the said county of Albany^ and there is yet no gaol or court house erected within the same ; and a great part of the said county being involved in a state of anarchy and confusion, by reason of the violent proceedings of the aforesaid / iMiiqMi I ' ">i"' 'T COL. ETHAN ALLEK. 61 riotous and .Usorderly people, from whence it must, at present, be extremely difficult, if not impracticable, to bring offenders to jus- tice within the said county. Be tt therefore further enacted by the author- ity aforesaid, Ihat all treasons, felonies, crimes, misdemeanors and offences whatso- ever, at any time hereafter to be committed or perpetrated, within the said county of C'/iar/o/Zc, shall and may be proceeded against and presented by any grand jury for the coun- ty oi Albany^ from time to time, to be impan- nelled and sworn at any court of criminal ju- risdiction to be held in and for the said coun- ty of .^/6Gnj/ ; who shall and may chtirge any of the said offences to have been committed in any part of the said county of Charlotte ; and all indictments so found by them, shall "be adjudged to be good and valid, notwith- standing that the place of perpetrating any of the said offences be in the said indictments alleged to be out of the said county of Al- ham ; and all such oflences and oflenders which shall be presented or indicted as afore- said, shall and may be tried within the coun- ty o^ Albany^ and by a jury thereof, and there heard, determined, and punished in the same manner and as if such treason, felony, crime, misdemeanor or offence, had arisen and been perpetrated within the said county of Albany, iO. Provided always, and be it further en* acted, That if, at any time hereafter, the jus- 6 .i H 1 , ••' ■ , 1l! 1 i« « I! ..'f 'U ' f If ^' 1- , .. il #i 4 t 4. V T-- »m m i n ■ ; flB ^i.^ '^:- rTT- -TTT Ht' M II I I i'.- .U'„|1 ^JP MEMOIR OF ticcs to be appointed for holding courts of oyer and ternainer,;and general gaol delivery for the said county of Charhtte^ in cases cog- nizable before thorn, or the justices of the general sessions of the peace for the said county of Charlotte^ in cases cognizable be- fore theiu, shall conceive that any prisoner or offender may be safely brought to justice within, and by a jury of, the said county of Charlotte^ that then, it shall and may he law- ful to and for each of the said courts respec- tively, to proceed against, and try, such pris- oner or oflender, having lawful cognizance of his cause, within, and by a jury of, the said county of Charlotte ; and him there to acquit or to sentence, condemn, and punish, as the law directs; any thing in this act to the cour tr,ary thereof notwithstanding. " 1 1. And be it further enacted by the author- ity aforesaid. That this act shall be publicly read in every court of general sessions of the peace, to be held in each of the said coun- ties of Albany and Charlotte respectively. 12. And be it further enacted by the author- ity afpr^esaid. That this act shall remain and continue in full force and effect, from the passing thereof, until the first day of January, which will ho in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventy six." The passage of the foregoing law, blasted every prospect of amity or peace betweei^ the beUigerents — the Green Mountain Boys Col. ETHAN ALLIlJf. 63 Regarding it as an act to teirify them into submission to unjust and arbitrary measures. Under this impression, therefore, the threats were regarded with contempt ; and only served to rivet, still closer, their attachment to the position they had assumed. As an evidence of this, we find the following Re- monstrance to the law^ signed by Ethan ^^l- (erin and others, " which presents," says the State Papers^ " a fair specimen of the views and fechngs of the great body of the New Hampshire grantees, at this trying period." " His Ejtcellency, Governor Tri/on,- in- con- formity to the addresses of the general as- sembly of the colony of JYew' York^ having, on the 9th day of March^ 1774, with the ad- vice of his Council, issued his proclamation, offering, therein, large sums of money for the purpose of apprehending and imprisoning the following persons, viz : Ethan jlkn^ Seth Warner^ Remember Bakcr^- Robert Cochran^ Peleg Sunderland^' Sikanus Broivn^ James Bracketiridge^ and James Smith, And whereas his Excellency the Governor, by the same proclamation,' hath strictly en- joined and commanded all magistrates, jus- tices of the peace,' sheriffs, and other civil officers, of the couiitieis o( Mbani/ atid Char- /oZ/ie, tb' be active and vigilant ill appfehelid- itig and imprisoning the pet-sons above nam- 6d ; and we, the aforesaid persons, who &«¥e hereunto subscribed, being conscious 44 I •^l V ,' »' * i'? it :«■ I V! • t V •• • r * I, I , « V'i ;■. r 64 MEMOIR OP that our cause is good and equitable in the sight of God, and all unprejudiced and hon- est men, are determined, at all events, to maintain and defend the same, till his Majcg. ty's pleasure shall be known concerning the validity of the New Hampshire grants. And we now proclaim to the public, not only for ourselves, but for the Nev) Hampshire grant- ees, and occupants in general, that the spring, and moving cause, of our opposition to the government of JVew York,, was self preser- vation, viz; Firstly, the preservation and maintaining of our property : and secondly, since that government is so incensed against us, therefore it stands us in hand to defend' our lives ; for, it appears, by a late set of la\\ s, passed by the legislature thereof, that the lives and property of the JVew Hampshire settlers are manifestly struck at : but, that the public may rightly understand the essence of the controversy, we now proclaim to those law givers, and to the world, that if the JSew York patentees will remove their patents that have been, subsequently, lapped and laid on the JVew Hampshire charters, and quiet us in our possessions, agreeable to his Majesty's directions, and suspend those criminal pros- ecutions against us for being rioters (as we are unjustly denominated) then will our set- tlers be orderly and submissive subjects to government ; but, bo it known to that des- potic fraternity of law makers and law break- COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 65 .ers, that wc will not be fooled or frighted out of our property. They have broke over his Majesty's express prohibitions, in patenting those lands, and when they act in conformi- ty to the regal authority of Great Britain it will be soon enough for us to obey them. It is well known by all wise and sensible per- sons in the neighbouring governments, (that have animadverted on the controversy) that their pretended zeal for good order and gov- ernment, is fallacious, and t^at they aim at the lands and labours of the grantees and settlers aforesaid; and that they tsub/ert the good and wholesome laws of the realm, lo corroborate with, and bring about their v iie and mercenary purposes. And, inasmuch as the malignity of their disposition towards us, hath flamed to an im- measurable and murderous degree, they have, in their new fangled laws, calculated for the meridian of the JVew Hampshire grants, pass- ed the 9th of March, 1774, so calculated them, as to correspond with the depraved- ness of their minds and morals ; — in them laws, they have exhibited their genuine pic- tures. The emblems of iiwir insatiable, av- aricious, overbearing, inhuman, barbarous, and blood guiltiness of disposition and inten- tion is therein pourtrayed in that transparent image of themselves, which cannot fail to be a blot, and an infamous reproach to them, to posterity. — We cannot suppose, that every ' I . ■'.1 A 1 • ■ > i ■ .« 'I t'l^- ■'^t ', (• li- '1^ \i\ I I. , lb' M ,.■. ^ J 66 MEMoin or H' "!. itK r ■':kl . of his Majesty's Council, or that all the mtxt^ bers of the general assembly were active in passing so bloody and unconstitutional a set of laws. Undoubtedly, some of them dis- approved thereof; and it is altogether pos- sible, that many that were active in making the law, were imposed upon by false repre- sentations, and acted under mistaken views of doing honor to government ; but be thia as it will, it appears that there was a major- ity. And it has been too much the case with that government, for a number of designing schemers, and land jockeys, to rule the same. Let us take a view of their former narrow and circumscribed boundaries, and how, by i that legerdemain, bribery and deceptions of one sort or other, they have extended their domain far and wide. They have wrangled with, and encroached upon their neighbour- ing governments, and have used all manner of deceit and fraud to accomplish their de- signs : their tenants groan under their usury and oppression ; and they have gained, as well as merited, the disapprobation and ab- horrence of their neighbours; and the inno- cent blood they have already shed, calls for heaven's vengeance on their heads ; and if they should come forth in arms against us, thousands of their injured and dissatisfied neighbours in the several governments, will join with us, to cut off, &nd extirpate such an •xecrable race from the face of the earth ! <^L. ETHAN ALLEN. 67 This piece is not supposed to contain a full answer to the new constructed laws aforesaid; for such a large two year old, hath never be- fore been seen in America, it being of an enor- mous and monstrous birth ; nor is it supposed to give the legislators their full characters : but so much may suffice for the present. To quote the laws, and make remarks thereon, would be matter sufficient for a volume: how- ever, we wBl yet make some short observa- tions. 1st. Negatively, it is not a law for the Pro- vince of J^ew York in general, but, 2d. Positively, it is a law but for part of the counties of Charlotte and Jllbany, viz : such parts thereof as are covered with the New Hampshire charters; audit is well known those grants compose but a minor part of the inhabitants of said Province ; and wo have no representative in that assembly.-^- The first knowledge we had of said laws, was the completion of them ; which informed us, that if we assembled, three or more of us together, to oppose (that which they call legal) authority, we shall be adjudged felons, and suffer the pains of death ; and that same fraternity of plotters knew, as well as we, and the generality of the people in the adjacent colonies, that they have, for a number of years last past, endeavoured to exercise such a course of what they call law, that had they iK>t b^en opposed by the people of these ^' U' •■ ' }' »,' fl'l. ii: ] . < r il it: 11 |ffi J' ( ;l|',! 1 I ^■ 1*, ' W VCMOII^ OF grafts (called the mob) in the executing tlie same, they would, before this time, have been in possession of that territory, for which the laws aforesaid are calculated; TPhefefore, the case stands thus : If we oppose civil officers, in taking possession of our farms, we are, by these laws,, denominated felons y or if we defend our neighbours who have been indicted rioters, only for defending our prop- erty ; we are likewise adjudged felons. In fine, every opposition to their monarchical government is deemed felony, and at the end of every sentence, there is the word death 1 And the same laws further impowered the re- spective judges, provided any persons, to the- number of three, or more, that shall oppose any Magistrate, or other civil officer, and be not taken, that after a legal warning of sev- enty days, if they do not come and yield themselves up to certain officers appointed for the purpose of securing them ; then it shall be lawful for the judges aforesaid, to award execution of death, the same as ,though he or they had been convicted or at- tainted before a proper court of judicature, &c. The candid reader will, doubtless, ob- serve, that the diabolical design of this law, is to obtain possession of the JVew Hampshire grants, or to make the people that defend them, out-laws, and so kill them whenever they can catch them. Tho?e bloody law-givers know we ai^ ne- are tot.' tTfUN ALLE!^. 69' eesditated to oppose thfeir execution of laW,- whore it points directly at our property, or give up the same : but there is one thing is matter ofconsolationtousf, viz: that printed sentences of death will not kill us when we are at a distance ; and if the executioners approach us, they will be as likely to fall vic- tims to death as we : and that person, or country of persons, are cowards indeed, if they cannot, as manfully, fight for their liber- ty, property and life, as villains can do to de- prive them thereof. The J\'ew York schemers accuse us with many things ; part of which are true, and part not. — With respect to rescuing prison- ers for debt, it is fake. As to assuming ju^ dicial powers, we have wo/, except a well reg* ulated combination of the people to defend their just rights, may be called so. As to form- ing ourselves into military order, and assum- ing mihtary commands, the Mew York pos- sies, and military preparations, oppressions, &c. obliged tts to it. Probably Messieurs Du- ane, Kemp^ and Banyar^ of N'ew York^ wiH not discommend us (or so expedient a prepa- ration ; more especially since the decrees of the 9th of Match^ are yet to be put in cxecu*- tion : and we flatter ourselves, upon occa- sion, we can muster as good a regiment of marksmen and scalpers, as Aimrica can af- ford ; and we now give the gentlemen above named, together with Mr. Brushy and Gol. •I .1^'^ '.!•• i .'M '4- '1 ■>A i ■i. 'i \A ; v!^ J! I '■■■I > l-'l li I S Iff I i»i» i:/l \ M'n) jif . fli^iMfom or Ten Broeck^ and in fine, all the land jobbiE^fS^ of New York^ an invitation to come and view tlie dexterity 6f our regiment ; and we can- not think of a better time for that pnrpose, than when the executioners come to kill us, by virtue of the authority their judges have lately received to award and sentence us to death in our absence. There is still one itaore notable complaint against us, viz :.^ That we had insulted and menaced several magistrates, and other civil officers, so that they dare not execute their respective func- tions. This is /m, so far as it relates to the niagistrates. But the public should be in-; formed, what the functions of those magis- trates are :— they are comnlissioned for the sole purpose of doing lis all the hatm and mischief they possibly can, through their ad- ministration and' influence; and that they i^ight be subservient to the wicked desigiis of the JSfew York schemers.' These are their functions ; and the public lieed no further lf>roofthan the coilsideratiori that they ate the tools of those extravagant law-riiakers ; and it must be owiied, they acted with great judg- ment, in choosing the most infernal iiistru-^ I'nents for their purposed Draco, the Athenian laW-givisr, Caused a! nuihbef of laws, (iiimiany respects analogous' to those We have teeri speaking Of,)' to be itriUen in blood. But our moderii t>rac6s de^ lermine to have their's verified in bhoA 'thej ii; >COL. QTHAN ALLEN. n .wiell know we shallfinQce than. /^e^, nay, more ^han three tii^fie^ tfyree hundred^ assemble to- gether, if nqed be, to inaintain our common cau^e, tiJl hie Majesty determines who shall be and remain the owners of the land in conr test. ^' Wilt not thou possess thai which Che* mothf thy God^ giveth thee to possess .^" So will we possess that which the Lord pur God (and King) giveth us to possess. And lastly, we address ourselves to the people of the counties of Mbany and Char- lotte^ which iphabit to the westward of, and are situated contiguous to, the Mew Hampr shire muxits* Gentlemen^ Friends and JVeighbours^ Providejice having allotted and ^xed the bounds of our habit?itions in the same vicini- ty, which, together with the intercourse of trade and commerce, hath formed an almost universal acquaintance and tie of friendship between us, and hath laid such a foundation of knowledge, that your people, in general, camiot but be sensible that the title of our land is, in reality, the bone of contention ; and that, as a people, we behave ourselves orderly ; and are industrious, and honestly iiispofecd ; and pay just deference to order and good government ; and that we mean np more by that which ig called the mob, but to defend our just rights and property. We ap- pe^al to the gentlemen merchants, to inform \ V 1, -'M ..''If t . t f. ; "V •■•li' I i V 1 ■• ' ■ \ •'\ ■ h »■ ', '■ ■ i , % '4 \ I i f i»i» 1/ ^<\ { 72 MBMOm OP whether our people, in general, do not exert themselves to pay their just debts; and whether ever they: have been^hindered by tlio country's aiob, in the collection of their dues. But as the magistrates, sherifts, under sher- iffs, core iicrs and constables, of the respect- ive counties, that hold their posts of honour and profit under our bitter enemies, we have a jealousy, that some of them may be induce ed (to recommend themselves to those on whom they are dependent, and for the wages of unrighteousness, offered by proclamation) to presume to apprehend somo of us, or our friends : We therefore, advertise such oifi- cers,and all persons whatsoever, that we are resolved to inflict immediate death on whom- soever may attempt the same. And provid- ed any of us or our party shall be taken, and we have not notice sufficient to relieve them, or whether we relieve them or not, we are resolved to surround such person or persons, whether at his or their own house or houses, or any where that we can find him or them, and shoot such person or persons dead. And furthermore, that we will kill and destroy any person or persons whomsoever, that shall presume to be accessary, aiding or assisting in taking any of us as aforesaid ; for by thesa presents we give any such disposed person or persons to understand, that, although they have a license by the law aforesaid, to kill us / .and m ^^ indemfiification'' for such murdir, I i! i nd [lio les. icr- our ave J on COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 73 from the same authority ; yet they have no indemnification for so doing, from the greeti mountain boys ; for our lives, liberties and properties, are as verily precious to us, as to any of the King's subjects ; and we are as loyal to his Majesty or his government, as any subjects in the Province : but if the gov- ernmental authority of JWw-York will judge in their Own case, and act in opposition to that of Great Britain^ and insist upon killing us, to take possession of our "vineyards"— come on, we are ready for a game of scalp- ing with them ; for our i)iartial spirits glow with bitter indignation, and consummate fu- ry, to blast their infernal projections. ' It may be, the reader not having seen the law referred to in this piece, and not being thoroughly acquainted with the long and spir- ited conflict that hath subsisted between the claimants under JYew- Hampshire and JYew- York, nor of the progressive, arbitrary and monopolizing disposition of the court party of the latter of those Provinces ; may be apt to imagine that the spirit of this writing is too severe, inasmuch as it destines whoever presumes to take us as felons or rioters, to immediate death ; but let the wise consider the state of the cause.. 1. Provided we on our part be taken, we have by them laws, the sentence of death al- ready pronounced against us, on proviso more than three of us assemble together to 7 ./. 4 ■A V *•! ■a ', n ■.•;■, I \^ m iil J... « '■'•ii ^ iM vf ' i i i> 1'. 1 i -I w \ t. I 4\i »{.: i.i:^' -:ii 'in 'I ■■'' r!*^ 74 MEMOIR or H,--4: maintain and defend our property, till his Majesty determines the controversy, And 2. May it be considered, that the legis- lative authority of the Province ofJVeW'York had no constitutional right or power to make such laws ; and consequently, that they are null and void, from the nature and energy of the English constitution ; therefore as they merit no place among the laws of the realm of Great Britain^ but are the arbi- trary league and combination of our bitter and merciless enemies, who, to obtain our property, have inhumanly, barbarously, and maliciously, under the specious and hypocrit- ical pretence of legal authority, and venera- tion for order and government, laid a snare for our lives j can the public censure us for exerting ourselves nervously to preserve our lives, in so critical a situation ? Por, by the laws of the Province, into which we are un- fortunately fallen, we cannot be protected in either property or life, except we give up the former to secure the latter ; so we are resolved to maintain both, or to hazard or Ipse both. From hence follows a necessary inferepce, That inasmuch as our property, nay, our lives, cannot be protected (but manifestly struck at) by the highest authority in the Province to which we, at present belong; therefore in the interim, while his Maji^ety is 4etermimng the controversy, and till he &hal| % tOL. ETHAN ALLEN. 15 interpose his royal authority^ iihA subject the authority aforesaid to their duty, or re- annex the district of disputed lands to the Province of JVew-Hampshire^ in his great wisdom^ and fatherly clemency, put the dis- tressed settlers under New-Hampshire^ on an equal footing with our brother subjects in iiis realm ; we are under necessity of resisting, even unto blood, every person who may at- tempt to take us as felons or rioters as afore- said ; for in this case it is not resisting law, but only opposing force by force ; therefore inasmuch as by the oppressions aforesaid^ the MeW' Hampshire settlers are reduced to the disagreeable state of anarchy and confu- sion, in which state we hope for wisdom, pa- tience and fortitude, till the happy hour his Majesty shall graciously be pleased to re- store us to the privileges of Englishmen, Signed by ETHAN ALLEN, SETH WARNER, REMEMBER BAKER, ROBERT COCKRAN, PELEG SUNDERLAND, JOHN SMITH, SILVANUS BROWN, ^ Bennington^ April 26, 1774. The seeds ot disunion, sown by the un- wise policy of the British Ministry, were, at this advanced state of tho Controversy be- tween New York and Vermont, rapidly springing into life. The oppressive meas- ^ '-ti ii! •. .i h i 76 MEMOIR OF ri ures of the Parent Government — its fatal attempt to burthen the Colonists with a sys- tem of unequal taxation — aroused a spirit among them, indicative of a sanguinary struggle, and a bloody termination. So threatening was the aspect of affairs, that preparatory measures were taken for con- vening a Continental Congress ; and Dele- gates were, accordingly, chosen, from twelve of the Colonies, to meet at Philadelphia, on the r)th day of September, 1774. This important step towards an organiza- tion of the political power of the Colonies, was followed, as may naturally be anticipat- ed, by an almost total suspension of royal authority : " The courts of justice," says Williams' History, " were either shut up, or adjourned, without doing any business :" and every attempt, on the part of the King's of- ficers, to extend their authority over the peo- ple, was followed by a strong and decided opposition. The first interruption of this kind, occurred at Westminster, in the county of Cumberland, in the New Hampshire Grants, over which the jurisdiction of New York had been extended. The occurrence is fully described in the following document : ".y^ relation of the proceedings of the people of the County of Cumberland^ and Province of J^ew- York, In June, 1774, there were some letters came to the Supervisors of said county from COCm BTHAK ALLElf. 77 the Committeo of correspondence at New- Yofki signed by their cnairman, Mr. Low; which letters, said Supervisors, through ig« no ranee or intention, kept until September, when they had another meeting ; and it is supposed that they intended always to have kept them, and the good people would have remained in ignorance about them until this • time, had it not been by accident that it was whispered abroad, so that Dr. Reuben Jones of Rockingham, and Capt. Azaria Wright of Westminster heard of it, and took proper care to notify those towns. A meeting was called in the two towns aforesaid, and a com- mittee was chosen by each town, to wait on the supervisors, at their meeting in Septem- ber, to see if there were any papers that should be laid before the several towns in the county ; and they found that there were pa- . pers come from the committee of corresr pondence, that should have been laid before the towns in June. The supervisors made many excuses for their conduct : some plead ignorance, and some one thing and some another : but the most of them did seem to think, that they could send a return to the committee at New- York, without ever laying them before their constituents ; which prin- ciple, at this day, so much prevails, that it is the undc:ng of the people. Men at this day s^e so unfortunately tainted, with the prio^ eiplas of tyranny, that they would fain b«- -■ I • I %» • ."v ■ %i\ • 1 ■I r \ ( \^\ t*. I i:ii ( m r i H 7a MEMOIR OP .!.« licvc, that lis they aro chor* . Ly the people to any kind of office, tor any i: articular thing, that they have the solo power of th^t people by whom they are chosen, and can act in the name of that people in any matter or thing, though it is not in any connection with what they were chosen for. But the committees would not consent to have a return made, until every town in the county, had Mr. Low's letters laid before them ; which was done, and a County Congress was called ; return was made, a committee was chosen to see that it was put in print ; but through interest or otherwise, it never was pubhshed in any of the papers. Immediately after, the people of the coun- ty aforesaid received the resolves of the Continental Congress. They called a Coun- ty Congress, and did adopt all the resolves of the Continf'ntal Congress as their resolves, promising religiously to adhere to that agree- ment or association. There was a commit- tee of inspection moved for, to be chosen by the county, according to the second resolve of the association aforesaid ; but being much spoken against by a justice and an attorney and looked upon by them as an impertinent thing, the delegates dared not choose one. At this time there were tory parties forming, although they were under disguise; and had laid a plan to bring the lower sort of the people into a state of bondage and slavery. COL. RTMAff ALLKIf 79 They sdvv that tlicro was no cash stirring", and they took that ojiportunity to collect deb }, knowing that men had no other way to pay them, than by having their estates ta- ken by execution, and sohl at vendue. — There were but very few men among us that were able to buy ; and those men were so disposed, that they wouhl take all the world into their own hands, without paying any thing for it, if they could, by law ; which would soon bring the country into slavery. Most, or all of our men in authority, and all that wanted court favors, seemed much en- raged, and stirred up many vexatious law- suits, and imprisoned many, contrary to the laws of this Province, and the statutes of the crown. One man they put into clorro prison for high treason ; and all that they proved against him. was, that he said if the King had signed the Quebec bill, it was his opinion that he had broken his coronation oath. But the goofl people went and open- ed the prison door and let him go, and did no violence to any man's person or property. Our men in office would say that they did like the resolutions of the Continental Con- gress, and they ought to be strictly adhered to, mitil our general assembly voted against tliem. Then they said that this would do for the Bay-Province, but it was childish for us to pay any regard to them. Some of our court would boldly say, that the King had a I! . Vj, H' 1 * 1 i ! !? t 11 1 M i i». (?:j)y \'^ ■i; f i'C it' it;i m !• H' I,!' \'J' 80 MEMOIR OF HiBt right to make tfao revenue-acts, for be had a supreme power ; and he thattuiid ot2i- erwise was guilty of high treason, and they did hope that they would be executed ac- cordingly. The people were of opinion that such men were not suitable to rule over them ; and as the general assembly of this Prorince would not accede to the associa- ; tion of the Continental Congress, the good people were of opinion, that if they did ac- cede to any power from or under them they should be guilty of the breach of the 4th ar- ticle of that association, and may justly be , dealt with, accordingly, by all America. — When the good people considered that the general assembly were for bringing them in- to a state of slavery (which did appear plain by their not acceding to the best method to procure their liberties, and the executive power so strongly acquiescing in all that they did, whether it was right or wrong ;) the good people of said county thought it time to look to themselves. And they thought that it was dangerous to trust their lives and fortunes in the hands of such enemies to A- merican liberty ; but more particularly un- feasonabl 7 that i,here should be any court held; since, thereby, we must accede to what our general assembly had done, in not acceding to what the whole continent had Kecommended ; and that all America would toeak off all dealings and commerce with us. COL. £TrtAN ALLEN. 81 and bring us into a state of slavery at once. Therefore in duty to God, ourselves and posterity, we thought ourselves under the strongest obligations to resist and to oppose all authority that v^ould not accede to the resolves of the Continental Congress. But knowing that many of our court were n)en that neither feared or regarded men, but thought it was most prudent to go and per- suade the judges to stay at home. Accord- ingly there were about forty good true men went from Rockingham to Chester, to dis- suade Col. Chandler, the chief Judge, from attending court. He said he believed it would be for the good of the county not to have any court, as things were : but there was one case of murder that they must see to, and if it was not agreeable to the people, they would not have any other case. One of the committee told him that the Sheriff would raise a number with arms, and that there would be bloodshed. The Colonel said that he would give his word and honor that there should not be any arms brought against us ; and he would go down to court on Monday the 13th of March instant, which was the day that the court was to be opened. We told him that we would wait on him, if it was his will. He said that our company would be very agreeable ; likewise he re- turned us his hearty thanks for our civility, and so we parted with him, . ■ i .t > % :. ] .1 i 'H' Hi ■ ■I I '■' T ■ ill* ■. .1 ■it .1 '1 I . ^ li'- » ;.|: y I- 82 MCMOIBi OP ■K' rh We heard from the goutherft part of the state, that Judge Sabin was very earnest to have the law go on, as well as many petty officers. There were but two judges in the county at that time. Col. Wells being gone to New York. There was a great deal of talk in what manner to stop the court ; and at length it was agreed on to let the court come together, and lay the reasons we had against their proceeding, before them, think- ing they were men of such sense that they would hear them. But on Friday, we heard that the court was going to take possession of the house on the 13th mst., and to keep a strong guard at the doors of said house, that we could not come in. We being justly alarmed by the deceit of our court though it was not strange, therefore we thought pro- per to get to court before the armed guards were placed ; for, we were determined that our grievances should be laid before the court, before it was opened. On Monday, the 13th of March inst., there were about 100 of us entered the court house, about four o'clock in the afternoon. But we had but just entered, before we were alarmed by a large number of men, armed with guns, swords and pistols* But we, in the house, had not any weapons of war among us, and were determined that they should not come in with their weapons of war, except by force of them. ^> r , "^ liM « i I, El. i i COL. jCTMAir ALLEV. 83 l\\ Esq. Patterson came up at the head of his armed company, within about five yards of the door, and commanded us to disperse ; to which he got no answer. He then caused the King's Proclamation to be read, and told us, that if we did not disperse in fifteen min- utes, by G — d he would blow a lane through us. We told him that we would not disperse. We told them that they might come in if they wouldjunarm themselves, but not without. — One of our men went out at the door, and asked them if they were come for war ; told them that we were come for peace, and that we should be glad to hold a parley with them. At that, Mr. Gale, the clerk of the court, drew a pistol, held it up, and said, d — n tho parley with such d — d rascals as you are ; I will hold no parley with such d — d rascals, but by this, — holding up his* pistol. They gave us very harsh language, told us we should be in hell before morning ; but, after a while, they drew a little off froi' the house, and seemed to be in a consultation. Three of us went out to treat with them ; but the most or all, that we could get from them, was, that they would not talk with such d — d ras- cals as we were ; and we soon returned to the house, and they soon went off. Gol. Chandler came in, and we laid the case before him, and told him that we had his word that there should not be any arms brought against us. He said that the arms - i! ■ i *' ,i i" .1 Vr, • * I ■liiir . ii Mi « '1 ' . «H ,1! if I 84 MEMOIR OF were brought without his consent, but he would go and take them away from them, and we should enjoy the house undisturbed until morning ; and that the court should come in the morning without arms, and should hear what we had to lay before them ; and then ho went away. We then went out of the house and chose a committee, which drew up arti- cles to stand for, and read them to the com- pany ; and they were voted nem. con, dis, and some of our men went to the neighbours, and as many as the court and their party saw, they bound. About midnight, or a little before, the sen- try, at the door, espied some men with guns, and he gave the word to man the doors, and the walk was crowded. Immediately, the sheriff and his company marched up fast, within about ten rode of the door, and then the word was given, take care, and then, fire. Three fired immediately. The word fire was repeated ; G — d d — n you, fire, send them to hell, were most or all the Words that were to be heard for some time : on which, /there were several men wounded; one was ' shot with four bullets, one of v/hich went through his brain, of which wound he died next day. Then they rushed in with their guns, swords and clubs, and did most cruelly bruise several more ; and took some that were not wounded, and those that were, and crowded them into close prison together, and he Lnd Qtil sin ear ihe •use irti- om- and )urs, saw, COL. ETHAN ALLEN. S5 told them that they should all be in hell be- fore the next night, and that they did wish that there were forty more in the same case with that dying man. When they put him into prison, they took and dragged him as one would a dog ; and would mock him as he lay gasping, and make sport for themselves, at his dying motions. The people that es- caped took prudent care to notify the people in the county, and also in the government of New Hampshire, and the Bay ; which being justly alarmed at such an unheard of and aggravated piece of murder, did kindly in- terpose in our favour. On Tuesday the 14th inst., about 12 o'- clock, nearly 200 men, well armed came from New Hampshire government ; and before night there were several of the people of Cumberland county returned, and took up all they knew of, that were in the horrid mas- sacre, and confined them under a strong guard ; and afterwards they confined as ma- ny as they could get evidence against, except several that did escape for their lives. On the 15th inst, the body formed, chose a mod- erator and clerk, and chose v, committee to see that the coroner's jury of inquest were just, impartial men ; which jury on their oath did bring in, that W. Patterson, &c. &c. did, on the 13th March inst., by force and arms, make an assault on the body ofw Wilham # ••r >i I' ■% ' \\ ■ti i I ■-' !■: !!f I OY .. :: is, i' i ^ ,- .) ■ 86 MEMOIR OF i 5 ii! Frenclj,* then and there lying dead, and shot him through the head with a bullet, of whicl^ wound he died, and not otherwise. Then, the criminals were confined in close prison, and on the evening of the same day, and ear- ly the next morning, a large nuiiaber came from the southern part of the county of Cum- berland, and the Bay Province. It is com- puted, that in the whole, there were 500 good niartial soldiers, well equiped for wajr, that had gathered. On the 16th inst., the body .assembled ; but being so numerous that they * The following; is a literal copy, of the inscription on the tomb stone of Mr. French. We present it t^ jour readers as a literary cuiiosity. EPITAPH. fn Rremory of William French Son of Mr Nathaniel French Who Was shot at Westminster March y 13 J 775 by the hands of Cruel Ministereal e d tools of Georg y 3 in the Corthouse at (1 alia Clock at Night in the 22 year of hid Age He' '^ William French his Body lies jFpr Murder Ms bloo^ for Vengancc crie* Kiqg Georg the third his Tory crew ,1 tha with a bawl his head Shot threw For Libeny and his Country s Good jie Lost bis Life his Dearest blood 4 ^. 'tC Col. ETHAN ALLEN. 87 ^ould not do business, there was a vote pass- ed, to choose a large committee to repre- sent the whole, and that this committee should consist of men who did not belong to the county o( Cumberland, as well as those that did belong thereto ; which wfis done. After the most critical and impartial exami- nation of evidence, voted, that the heads of them should be confined in Northampton jail, till they could have a fair trial ; and those that did not appear so guilty, should be un- der bonds, holden to answer at the next court of oyer* and terminer in the county aforesaid ; which was agreed to^ On the 17th inst., bonds were taken for those that were to be bounds and the rest set out under a strong guard for Northampton. We^ the committee aforesaid, embrace this opportunity to return our most grateful iicknowledgmeuts and sincere thanks to our truly wise and patriotic friends in the gov- ernment of New Hampshire and the Massa- chusetts Bay, for their kind and benevolent interposition in our favour, at such a time of distress and confusion aforesaid; strongly assuring them, that we shall be always ready for their aid and assistance, if by the dispen- sations of divine providence, We are called thereto. Signed by order of the Committee. REUBEN JONES, Clerk. Cimtberland county^ March 23d, 1775." ,lv ' ■ ■ I' i ■ if' :i 1:! i..'1t- 88 MEMOIR OF The effect of this Massacre, as it was termed, was electrical upon the people of Cumberland, and, in fact, upon the whole mass of settlers on the New Hampshire Grants. The opposition to the claims of New York, had, thus far, mostly been confin- ed to the inhabitants on the Western side of the Green Mountains — a majority of the grantees, in the vicinity of Connecticut River, having surrendered their original charters, taken new grants under New York, and qui- etly submitted to the jurisdiction of that Col- ony : They entered fully, however, into the spirit which pervaded the people of Massa- chusetts and Connecticut, in relation to the oppressive poHcy of Great Britain towards her American Colonies. This state of pub- lic sentiment, together with the fact that the Provincial Assembly of New York had with- held its approbation from the political meas- ures recommended by the Continental Con- gress, (which had received the sanction of every other Colony) induced them to an open resistance of the administration of New York. In pursuance of this determination, a meeting of a large body of people was held at Westminster, on the 11th day of April, 1775, at which the following measures were adopted: 1 . Voted, That Major Abijah Lovejoy be the Moderator of this meeting. 'ilk' COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 89 2. Voted, That Dr. Reuben Jones be the Clerk. 3. Voted, as our opinion, That our inhab- itants are in great danger of having their property unjustly, cruelly, and unconstitution- ally taken from them, by the arbitrary and designing administration of the government of New York; sundry instances having al- ready taken place. 4. Voted, as our opinion, That the lives of those inhabitants are in the utmost hazard and imminent danger, under the present ad- ministration. Witness the malicious and horrid massacre of the night of the 1 3th ult. .0. Voted, as our opinion, That it is the du- ty of said inhabitants, as predicated on the eternal and immutable law of self preserva- tion, to wholly renounce and resist the ad- ministration of the government of New York, till such timo as the lives and property of those inhabitants may be secured by it ; or till such time as they can have opportunity to lay their grievances before his most gra- cious Majesty in Council, together with pro- per remonstrance against the unjustifiable conduct of that government ; with an hum- ble petition, to be taken out of so oppressive a jurisdiction, and, either annexed to some other government, or erected and incorporat- ed into a new one, as may appear best to the laid inhabitants, to the royal Wisdoih and 8* u; r'! .ill 90 MEMOIR or r I,'; I )• M» ' ' ; I ('■ ii U )i H,,l' i;* !l '.ii ii'' 1 I iih U clemency, and till such time as his Maj'-sty shall settle this controversy. 6. Voted, That CoK John Hazeltine, Cha\ Phelps, Esq. and Col. Ethan Allen, be a Com- mittee to prepare such remonstrance and pe- tition for the purpose aforesaid. In this situation of afiairs, the people of Vermont were electrified by the commence- ment of hostilities, between America and Great Britain, at Lexington, Ms., on the me- morable 19th of April, 1775. This exciting prelude to an eventful drama, produced a startling effect from one extremity of the Colonies to the other. " Local and Provin- cial contests, were,, at once," says Williams' History, " swallowed up by the novelty, the grandeur, and the importance of the contest thas opened." Although the settlers on the New Hamp- shire Grants, yielded to the importance of the American cause, and used their endeav- ours to assist in carrying into effect the measures agreed upon by the sister Colo- nies, yet they did not relax in their exertions to improve their internal condition, and sub- stantiate" the purity and justness of their pro- ceedings in regard to the claims of New York. To a firm adherence to their prima- ry position, and to their patriotic exertions in behalf of the comvion cause, may be attrib- uted the little trouble they afterwards expe- rienced in obtaining an amicable and satis- COL. ETHAN ALLEN. ft factoiy settlement of their difficulties, and a final admission into the Federal Union. The period to which we have now arrived in the Hfe of Col. Allen, places him in a more broad and interesting position before the reader. Heretofore he has been seen only as the zealous friend of the people among whom he resided — a? the champion of the humble citizen, con nding for the rights of property and priva t -e : In these offi- ces of friendship i\ u.y, however, he had rendered himself conspicuous and trust wor- tliy. He had evinced a spirit of patriotism^ and a love of freedom, which warmly recom- mended him to the confidence, the esteem, and the friendship, of the most conspicuous advocates of American liberty. That he should have been selected, therefore, as a leader in a measure fraught with important incidents, to the cause of liberty, is a re- ward due both to his patriotic principles and important public services. Soon after the result of the battle of Lex- ington was known, instructions were private- ly sent to Col. Allen, from the General As- sembly of Connecticut, to enlist a body of the settlers on the New Hampshire Grants^ and, if it were thought possible, to surprise and take the fortress of Ticonderoga.* Thi« * Doctors Morse and Parish thus describe this fortress ia the Americaa Gazetteer : *' Ticonderoga, in the State of New York, was boilt .' III M. I- li 1; !■; >':(.l ;k ■I 1 » I ■M 'V- . v.: • 'I ■It .^^^ ^>. M IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I US 2.5 H^ llll^ -- IIIIIM 1.8 jJ5 1.4 J4 M 6" - ► m <^ 7 '» .•>■>' 7 /A Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14S80 (716) 872-4503 > 92 MCMom DP enterprise wascheerfatty undcfttaken hy him. The requisite ntunber of men were sp^diiy enrolled, and ready for the attack. The se^ verol passes, leading to the fortress, tveTe carefully guarded by Col. Allen, and all coiii^ munication between the garrison and the ad« jomittg country, intercepted. By a forced march, he arrived at the Lake, opposite Ti* eonderoga, on the evening of the 9th day of May, 1775, with two hundred and thirty bravie Green Mountain Boys. Considerable dilfi- <;ulty was experienced in procuring boats to cross the Lake : This difficulty, however, was, at last, surmounted ; and eighty three men were landed near the garrison, and the boats seat back for the rear guard, cont- by the l^rencbf In the year 175C, on the north irde of a PeuiQ9ula« formetl by the confluence of the waters is- SQingfrom Lake George into Lake Champlain. It is tionv a heap of tuins, itti forms an appendage to a fart». its BRme signifies Noisy, in the Indian langjage ; and was called, by the French, Cotillor, Mount Independ- ence, in Addison County, Vt<, is about two miles S. £. \k\tt afid separated from it by the narrow strait which eoAVtysfhe waters of Lake George and South River into Lake Champlain. It had all the advantages wtiich art or nature could give it*»being defended xih three sidef by water, surroupded by rucks ; and where that fails^ thte Prench erected a breast-work nine feet higlr. Thte mwit the first fortress attatk«d by the Americans doritog the Kevolutionary war. The troops under 6ten. Ab* ^h^rombie were defeated here, in 1758 ; but it was re. Iak«viihe y«»rfoUo!»togtiy Gen. Amherst. It wiis tur* prised by Col. Allen, May 10, 1779, and woi retlikfto It <3(Mi. i the morning; who was immediately des- patched, with about one hundred men, to take possession of Crown Point, which was garrisoned with onhr a sergeant and twelve men. This was effected the same day, and about one hundred pieces of cannon, togeth- er with other munitions of war were secured. Only one thing now remained to bo done in order to obtain the control of Lake Cham* plain : This was to capture a sloop of war, which was then lying at St. Johns, L. C. ; to effect' which, it was agreed in a council of war, to arm and man out a certain schooner, lying at South Bay, and place Captain, (af-i terwards General) Arnold, in command of^ her, while Colonel Allen was to command the batteaux. The necessary preparations being made, they set sail from Ticonderoga, in quest of the Sloop, which was much larger, and carried more, and heavier guns, than the schooner. The schooner sailing much more rapidly than the batteaux. General Arnold ^rived at St. Johns and possessed himself pf the sloop before the arrival of Col. Aliens He also made prisoners of a sergeant and twelve men, who were stationed at that place. *'It is worthy of remark," adds the Narrative ;>Uhat jas soon as Gen. Arnold had secured the prisoners on board, and made prepiarations for sailing, the wind, which but a few hours before, was fresh from^ the South, and well served to carry us to St. Johns, di e: .1 COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 97 now fihifted, and came fresh from the North ; and, in about one hoards time, Gen. Arnold saiiled with the prize and schooner for Ticon- deroga." He was met, by Col. Allen, within a few miles of St. Johns, and saluted with a discharge of cannon, which was returned with A volley of small arms. Atler two re- petitions of this compliment, the Colonel and iiis officers went on board the sloop, when several loyal healths were drank to Con- fess." The result of this victory was of the ut- most consequence to the cause of America, as it utterly destroyed the military force of the British, upon Lake Champlain, and weighed heavily in the balance of public opinion. It cannot be disguised, that the people of the American Colonies embarked in the cause of freedom with many misgiv-- ings. They were' well aware of their own weakness : and they were equally well ap-- ' prized of the gigantic power with which they were to contend. The capture, there- fore, of Ticonderoga, a strong and well for- tified fortress, together with the entire over- throw of the British power upon the Lake,* tended to raise their drooping spirits, and cre- ate a confidence among them, which was of vast importance to the general cause. First impressions, in every caui^e, .exercise a pow- erful influence upon succeeding incidents: V *i* i * I r I ; t: » f - • I • ••ill :!! I- V i I ^1 n iieMom or and, in fxroportion to their importance, ara their effects to be considered.* Early in the ensuing fall, the American ar- my, under the command of Generals Schuyr ler and Montgomery, received orders u> ad? * Commenting upon the success which attended the attack upon Ticooderoga, and the expedition to St. Johns, Col. Allen remarks c , *' This success I viewed of consej^uence in the scale of American politics ; for, if $ settlement, between the then Colonies of Great Britain, ha terpreters, through the woods into Canada^ with letters to the Canadians, informitfg themt that the design of the army was only against the English garrisons, and not the country, their liberties or theii* religion. Having with much difficulty, arranged this business^ he rettirhed to Isle auxJSoix^ early in Septem* berV Gen. Schuyler having reti^ned to AW * IsLis Avi Noix, 6t Nut* IsljInI), is at snoalf Island of about 50 acres, near the North end of Lake Chaimplain, and within the Province of Low- er Canada. Here the British had a garrison of 100 toen. It is about 5 miles N. N. E. of the mouth of La Cole River, 20 North of Isle La Motte, and 12 or 15 Southward of St. Johns. ♦ ' •< :::f ■,l , ■ '■:ti Vi: w ■ m M r, . I- '1 i^ JOO MEMOIR Of bany, the command devoked u])on Gem Montgomery, from whom Col. Alle^i soon af- ter received orders to make a second tour into Canada, for the purpose of observing the disposition, designs and movements of the inhabitants. This reconnoitre was uiT" dertaken with reluctance by the Colonel; " choosing rather," as he asserts, " to assist at the siege of St. Johns,* which was then closely invested ; but my esteem for the G'enerars person, and opinion of him as a politician^ induced me to proceed.*' The route taken by the Colonel, fed him through all the parishes on the river Sorrel,t; to a parish at its mouth, bearing the same name. The inhabitants were addressed by him, upon the policy of the American Gener- als, in besieging St. Johns ; and every argu^ ment used to quiet their fears and enlist their feelings in behalf of the besiegers; From the parish of Sorrel, he directed his course to the river St.Lawrence, and thence through * St. Johns, is situated on the West bank of the Sorrel River, in Lower Canada, at the North end of Lake Champlain, and twenty eight miles from Montreal. t Sorrel RiveR is the outlet of Lake Cham> plain ; and, after a course of aborit 69 miles North, empties into the river St. Lawrence, in North lat. 46, 10, and long. 72, 25 West. Sorrel Fort, built by the French, is at the Western point of tbeadutli of this river. ' '% COL. ETHAK ALLEN 101 the parishes to Longuei], accompanied by a Canadian guard, an interpreter, and a few American attendants. On the morning of the 24th of September, he loll Longueil, with a guard of about eighty men, for La Prairie,* from whence it was his determination to proceed directly to Gen. Montgomery's camp. Ho had not advanced but about two miles, however, before he met with Major Brown, who informed him he had important intelli- gence to communicate; the import of which was, that provided Col. Allen would return to Longueil, and procure a few canoes, to enable the party to effect a passage across the St. Lawrence, a short distance North of Montreal, he TMajor Brown) would cross the river South of the town, with two hundred men, as he had a sufficient number of boats, and thus effect the capture of Montreal. — This plan, although somewhat chimerical, and ill-advised, was readilv approved by Coi* . Allen and those in council ; in consequence of which, they immediately returned to Lon* gueil--co]]ected a few canoes, and, afler ad- ding about thirty men to the party, crossed the river on the night of the 24th, agreeably ' to the proposed plan. The whole elective force of Col. Allen, consisted only of about ^ * La Pbaibie, a popaloas little vilhige, on the river St. Lawrence, in Lower Canada^ eighteen ibilet North of St. Johns, and nine South West of Montreal. 8* »* .^'•^ I I *i ^ 1 hi \ ■ 1! m ' ■■ 102 MEMOIR or ono hundred and ten men, (^ut eighhf of whom were Canadians, ^^ We were most of the night,^* says the Colonel, ^^ in crossing the rivor ; as wo had so few canoes that they had to pass and re-pass three times to carry ray party across. Soon afler day-break, I set a guard between me* and the town, with special orders to let no person whatever pass or repass them ; and another guard at the other end of the road, with like directions. In the mean time I reconnoitred the best ground to make a defence — expecting Major Brown^s party was landed on the other side of the town — he having, the day before,, agreed to give three huzzas with his men ear-' ly in the morning, which signal I was to re- turn, that we might know that both parties were landed. But the sun, by this time, be- ing near two hours high, and the sign failing, I began to conclude myself to be in ft sad & lemma ; and would have crossed the river back again, but I knew th<^ enemy would dis- cover such an attempt : and« as there could not more than one third part of my troops cross at one time, the other two thirds would, of course, fall into their hands. This I could not reconcile to my own feelings as a n^an, much less as an officer : I, therefore, con- cluded to maintain the ground, if possible, aibdsharo the fate of the others. In conse- quence of this resolution, 1 despatched two nkessengers— one to La Prsdrie, ta. Major V I-.' OOL. BTHAlf AlXCff. 103 Brown, and the other to L'AMompfion, a French settlement, to a Mr* Walker, who was in our interest, requesting spee^ assistance, giving them, at the same time, to understand my critical situation. In the meaB time, sun- dry persons came to my guards, pretending to be friends, who were by them taken pris- oners, and brought to me. These I ordered to confinement, until their friendship could be farther confirmed ; for I was jealous they were spies, as they proved to be afterwardsr One of the principal of them, making his es^ caj^e, exposed the weakness of my party, which was the final cause of my misfortune ? fori have since been informed that Mr. Wal ker, agreeably to desire, exerted himself, and raised a considerable number of men for my assistance ; but, hearing of my tnisfortunor he disbanded them." The news of the arrival of Col. Allen and his jfollowers, created much excitement and akirm in Montreal. Gen. Carlton, and the royal party, made every preparation to go on board their armed vessels, and would, prob* ably, have done so, had they not been dis- suaded by the information deriv^ed from the spy, heretofore referred to, who made his escape firom the Americans. This occasion- ed an aheratkm in their determination, aiid emboldened Gen, Carlton to send an armed force against the invaders. ^I hadpi^r^ OQi^ <£Q8en my groumi,'' saya Col ABen, r r.•'^ i*l »> I. t < 1 I ^ I.I !■ . t » f . • ! f ■• I." , -< I '» HI III i I m II. M. If 1. . I U i 104 MEMOIR OP " but when I saw the number of the enemy^ as they sallied out of the town, I perceived it would be a day of trouble, if not of re- buke. But I had no chance to flee : as Montreal is situated on an Island ; and the river St. Lawrence cut oft' my communica- tion with Gen. Montgomery's camp. I en- x^o^raged my soldiery to bravely defend them- selves — -observihg that we should soon have help, and that we should be able to keep the ground, if no more. This, and much more^ I aftirmed with the greatest seeming assur- ance, and which, in reality, I thought to be in some degree probable. ** Th6 enemy consisted of not more than ibrty regular troops, together with a mixed multitude, chiefly Canadians, with a number of English who lived in the town, and a few Indians: in all, amounting to about five hon* dred men. ** The reader will notice that a majority of my party were Canadians : Indeed, it was a motley parcel of soldiery which composed both parties. However, the enemy began the attack from wood piles, ditches, build' ings, and suchlike places, at a considerabW distance ; and I returned the fire from a silk uationmore than equally advantageous.—* The attack began between two and three d'" clock, in the afternoon, just before which, I ordered a volunteer, by the name of Richard Youngs with a detachment of nine men, a&a 1 ^.» COU ETHAir ALtfiir* ios flaok guafdf, to Annoy the eneftiy tindef cov- er of the bank of the riyetf £tfd, at the same time^ to serve as a flank guard to the left wing of the main body. ** The fire continued for some time, on- both sides ; and I was confideM that sach a remote method of attack could not carry the ground^ provided it even continued nntil night. But about half the body of the ene- my began to flank round to my right ; upon which, I ordered a volunteer, by the name of John Dugan^ who had lived many years m Canada, and understood the French lan- guage, to detach about fifty of the Canadi- ans, and post himself at an advantageous' ditch, which was on my rights to prevent my being surrounded. He advanced with the detachment ; /but, instead of occupying the post, made his escape^ as did, Ukewise, Mr.^ Young, upon the left, with their detachments.r I soon perceived that they were in possession of the ground, which Dugan should have occupied. At this time I had but about forty-five men With me ; some of whom were wounded. The enemy continued to close around me, nor was' it in my power to prevent it ; by which means, my situation, which wa» advantageous in the beginning of the attack, ceased to be so at its close. Being almost entirely surrounded with such unequal num- bers, 1 ordered a retreat : but found that those of the enemy, who were of the couiw \: 1. "! '» •• • At *it M \i\ :i i(i6 kElAbitt 09* iryi kiii tiieit Iftdians, emldiitn df/ast astiiy ineHf though the Fegttlars^ cotild not. Thus I retreated »6ar a mile ; aild some of the eii- my, with the savagesf iVere continually flank- ing 6ie, and others erowdmg hard in the rear. Ift fine, I expected, in a verjr short time, to /ry the world of spirits : for I was ap- prehensive that no qtrarter would be given to me; and,' therefore, I had deteri^nihed to sell' my life as dearly as I could. One of the en- emy's officers, boldly pressing iil the rear, discharged hi« fusee at me. The ball whis- tled near toe, as did many others that day. t returned the salute^ and missed him, as runv iring had put us both nearly out of breath ; for I conclude we were not frightened^ t then saluted him \Vitb my tongue, in a hai^sh tfian- nerj and told him,- that inasmuch as his ni^m- bers were so far superior to; ttiirie, I would surrender, provided I cotild be treated With honor, and be assured of good quarter for myself, and the Btiefi who Were with me: He answered that I should. Another officer, coming up soon after, confirmed the treaty ; Upon which I agreed to surrender^ with my party, whicih th6h consisted of thirty-^one ef- fective' men, iind some wounded, lorcfcred them to" ground their arms, Which they did The ofScer I capitufa-ted with, then di- rected me and toy party to a;dvtfn-. ■> *'\ VV . • ! t. -*^: 108 MCifoffi or '¥ I miod.* The«se«iping from so awful a death, jnade even imprisonment happy ; the mors ,80, as my conquerors on the field treated mo with great jci'Vility and politeness, *' The regular officers said they were very bappy to see Col. Allen. I answered them, that I should rather chosen to have seen ^hein at Gen. ]Vlontgomery's camp^ They replied that they gave full credit to "what I said ; and, I walked into the town, which was, as I should thinfc, a distance of more than two milfes-r-a British officer walking at my right hand, and one o^ the French wo- Hesse at my left. The latter was in the ac-i tion, and had his eye brow carried away by a glancing shot : but was, nevertheless, very facetious. No abuse was offered me, until 1 came to the barrack yard, where I met Gen. Prescott, who asked me my name, which I told him. He then asked me whether I was the CoL Allen who took Ticonderoga ? I told him I was the very man. He then shook his cane ov^r my head, calling me many hard namejs ; among which he frequently us- ^d the^ord rehel^ and put himself in a great rage, i told him he would do w^ell not to cane -me, as I was not accustomed to it i and shook my fist at him, telling him that *^ that jW:^s the beetle of mortality,^'' for him, if he of- * The Colonel was, surely^ of a peculiar tempe- jrament. Very few men, we apprehend, can gath- er composure, in a struggle between life and death. COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 109 fer6d to strike ; upon which, Capt. M'Cloud, of the British, pulled him by the skirt, and whisp9red to bim^ias he afterwards told me, to this import : that it would be inconsist- ent with his honor to strike a prisoner. He then ordered a sergeant's command, with fixed bayonets, to come forward, and kill thirteen Canadians, which were included in the treaty aforesaid." The cruelty and manifest injustice of this order, aroused the sensibilities of Col. Al- len : *' It cut me to the heart," he says, " to see the Canadians in so hard a case, in con- sequence of their having been true to me ; they were wringing their hands, saying their prayers, as I concluded, and expected imme- diate death. I, therefore, stepped between the executioners and the Canadians, opened my clothes, and told Gen. Prescott to thrust his bayonet into my breast, fgr I was the sole cause of the Canadians taking up arms. " The guard, in the mean time, were rolling their eye-balls from the General to me, as though impatiently waiting his dread com- mands to sheath their bayonets in my heart. I could, however, plainly discern that he was in a suspense and quandary about the matter. This gave me additional hopes of succeed- ing ; for my design was not to die, but save the Canadians by a finesse. The General stood a minute, when he made me the fol- lowing reply : "I will not execute you now ; 10 k'^. ■1 ' II. 1 •» . i»'V < [■ .. ■ '■■ T, ■i'J' • ♦ ' j' \\ \ V ,i i it f(. % J'H' \ ?i I! no BfEMOin Of h but you shall grace a halter at Tyburn, G-d d — ^n you." " I remember, I disdained his mentioning such a place. I was, notwithstanding, a lit^ tie pleased with the expression, as it signifi- cantly conveyed to me the idea of postpon- ing the present appearance of death ; her sides his sentence was by no means final, a^ to " gracing a halter," although I had anxic? ty about it after I landed in England, ,as the reader will find in the course of this history. Gen. Prescott then ordered one of his ofllir cers to take me on board the Gasp^ee schoon- er of war, and confine me, hands and feet^ in irons; which was done the same after- noon I was taken. >' The action continued an hour and three quarters, by the watch ; and I know not, to this day, how many of iny men were killed, though I thifik there were but few : if I re- member right, seven were wounded. One of them, William Stewart, by nam^, was ,wound- ed by a savage with a tomahawk, after he was taken prisoner and disarmed, but was rescued by some of the generous enemy ; and so far recovered pf his wounds, that he afterwards went with the other prisoners to England. " Of the enemy were killed, a Major Car- den, who bad been wounded in eleven difl^er- ent battles, and an eminent merchant^ Pat- terson, of Montreal, and some others ; but I r* <;0L. ETHAN ALLEN/ 111 ming a lit. gnifi- tpon- ; be? al, a9 inxier as the Lstory. is offir :hoon- d feet^ after- d three not, to killed, ,f I re- •ne of ivound- fter he it was [nerny ; hat ha ers to nerer knew their los^,' as thek accounts were diiTerent. I am apprehensive that it is rare, that so much ammunition was expended, and so little execution done by it ; though such of my party, as stood their ground, behaved with great fortitude, much exceeding that of the enen^y, but were not the best of marks- meny and, I am apprehensive, were all killed or taken ; the wounded were all put into the hospital at Montreal, and those that were noty were put on board of different vessels in the river, and shackled together by pairs, viz : two men fastened together by one hand- cuff, being closely fixed to one wrist of each of them, and treated with the greatest se- verity^ nay as criminals^ " I now Qome to the description of the irons, which were put on me : 'J'he hand-cuff was of a common size, and form, but my leg irons, I should imagine, -would weigh thirty pounds. The bar was eight feet long, and very substantial ; the shackles,- which en- compassed ray ancles, were very tight. I was told by the officer, who put theni on, that it was the King's piate, and I heard other of their officers say^ that it would weigh forty weight. The irons were so close upon my ancles, that I could not He down in any other manner, than on my backw I was put into the lowest and most wretched part of the vessel, where I got the favor of a chest to sit on ; the same answered for my bed at ' n ( >■ '■' ' 4 '., ' \ ■j ■i ..I V ". N 112 MEMOIR OF night ; and having procured some little blocks of the guard, who, day and night, with fixed bayonets, watched over me, to lie under each end of the large bar of mv leg irons, to preserve my ancles from galling, while I sat on the chest, or lay back on the same, though most of the time, night and day, I sat on it ; but at length, having a desire to lie down on my side, which the closeness of the irons forbid, I desired the Captain to loosen them for that purpose ; but was de- nied the favor: The Captain's name was Royal, who did not seem to be an ill-natured man ; but oftentimes said, that his expresls orders were to treat me with such severity, which was disagreeable to his own feelings ; nor did he ever insult me, though many oth- ers, who came on board, did. One of the officers, by the name of Bradley, was very generous to me ; he would often send me victuals from his own table ; nor did a day fail, but he sent me a good drink of grog. •' The reader is now invited back to the time I was put into irons. I requested the privilege to write to Gen. Prescott, which was granted. I reminded him of the kind and generous manner of my treatment of the prisoners I took at Ticonderoga ; the injus- tice and ungentleman-like usage, which I had met with from him, and demanded gentleman like usafije. but received no answer froiti him. I soon after wrote to Gen. Carlton, which met !':? COL. ETHA^ ALLEN* 113 •the mxtie siiccess. In the mean while, many of those who were permitted to see me, were Very insulting. *' I wa» confined in the manner I have re- lated, on board the Gaspee schooner, about six weeks; during which time I was obliged to throw out plenty of extravagant language, which answered certain purposes, at that time, better than to grace a history. '* To give an instance^ upon being insulted, in a fit of auger, I twisted off a nail with my teeth, which I took to be a ten-penny nail ; it went through the mortice of the bar of my hand-cuff, and at the same time, I swaggered over those who abused me ; particularly a Doctor Dace, who told me that 1 was out- « lawed by New York, and deserved death for several rears past ; was at last fully ripened . for the kailter, aind in a fair way to obtain it : When I challenged him, he excused himself in consequence, as he said, of my bbing a eriiftinal ; but I flung such a flood of lan- guiage at him, that it shocked him' and the spectators, for my anger was very great. I heard one say^ " danm him, can he eat iron .^" After that a small padlock was fixed to the hand-cuff, instead of the nmh, and as they were mean spirited in their treatment to me, to it appealed to me, that they were equally thhrqiroirsf and cowardly." G6l Atlen, with the other prisonersr wimi t^eti to KH armed vessel^ whrcfa lay ojipr 10 ♦ ^> i. !•■■, '?. '. ti 'IE ■ \ , « •It- 'i m \^ >tl 114 MEMOIR OP afirainst Quebec, under the command ofCapt IVrCloud, of the British, who extended to- wards him the courtesy due from one officer to another, and the kindness due misfortune. In about twenty four hours, however, he re- luctantly bade him farewell : But his good fortune still continued. The officer to whose vessel he was transferred (Capt. Littlejohn) was polite, generous and friendlv : and the under officers were equally kind in their manners. The best fare of the vessel was at his disposal ; and, what was equally gratifying to his feelings, he was permitted to occupy the cabin, untrammelled with his irons. Capt. Littlejohn declaring "that a brave man should not be used as a rascal on board his ship." The Colonel, in his " JVarrative,''^ relates the following incident which occurred while he was on board this vessel, which will give the reader an insight into the confidence en- tertained by the commander for his honour and uprightness, and also shew hjs willing- ness at any time, and under any circumstan- ces, to encounter danger : " Capt. Littlejohn us^d to go to Qeubec al- most every day, in order to pay his respects to certain gentlemen and ladies ; being there on a certain day, he happened to meet with some disagreeable treatment, as he imagin- ed, from a Lieut, of a man of war, and one word, brought on another, 'till the lieuL ■ *i COL. ETIIAIf ALLEN. 115 challenged him to a duel on the plains of Abraham. Capt. Littlejohn was a gentleman who entertained a h'gh sense of honor, and could do no less than accept the challenge. ** At nine o'clock the next morning, they were to fight. The Capt. returned in the evening, and acc^uainted his Lieutenant and me with the aOair : His Lieutenant was a high blooded Scotchman as well as himself, who replied to his Captain, that he should not want for a second. With this I interruptr ed hinit and gave the Captain to understand, that, since an opportunity had presented, I would be glad to testify my gratitude to him, by acting the part of a faithful second, on which he gave me nis hand, and said that he wanted no better man. Says he, I am a King's officer, and you a prisoner under my care ; you must, therefore, go with me to the place appointed under disguise, and added farther ; ** you must engage me upon the honor of a 'gentleman, that, whether I die or live, or whatever happens, provided you live, that you will return to my Lieutenant, on board this ship.'' All this I solemnly engaged him. The combatants were to discharge each a pocket pistol, and then to fall on with their iron-hiked muckle whangers ; and one of that sort was allotted for me ; but some Bril^ isb officers, who interposed early in the morfi« ing settled the controversy without fighting.** After enjoying eight or nine days of hag* T; it •i '1. f *• • 'i ' T J* ^1 I ( > il 116 MEAdik Or m ini pificss, froiA' the polite and j^bher^Ud tireit- men t of Capt. Littlejohn andTiis officers, he patted with them in a* friendly mannef, and with much regtet, on the 11th of November. At the period of his removal, a detachment of Gen. Arnold^s army appeared on Point Levi>^ opposite Quebec,^ who had performed an extaordinar]^ march, through the wilder- ness, with a design to surprise the capital of Canada : knd to thi« fact, perhttps, is to be attributed his ehange of quarters. He was now removed to a vessel called the ^^ Ada- mant,^' together with the other American •prisoners, and put under the power of 2^u English merchant, from London, named Brook Watson i t itittn of malicious and cru- el disposition, and much excited in the exer- cise of his malevdience, by a junto of tories : among whom were CoL Guy Jeihnsoii, Col. Clmsj and thek attendants and associates, to th'e numfb^r of abottt thirty. The ship's crew, liowever, with the exception of Col. tJloss, m his perssOnal behavior, treated the prison- ers Witn that ^irit of bitrernefis,. *' Which,''' says Col. Atlen, '^ id the peculid^ cHaracteris- rtic 6f tOries, Whe^th^yhave tli^ friends of AmetiCft kk their power-^measnrhig tiieir Ibyalcy to fhe Snglii^b Ki»g by the biai'b^tyify, ftmS etUd dedek Whi;<^h they e:8{ereiB6 tCPWaarda ttiewft^.'^ ^ liitti, a point of'land in* (^e rif er St iLawre&ce, ' H *I4 V 120 MEMOIR OF !■' h ¥,h k vest and breeches of sagathy, worsted stock- ings, a decent pair of shoes, two plain shirts and a red worsted cap : This was all the clothing I had, in which I made my appear- ance in England." The landing of the prisoners, at Falmouth, created much commotion among the citizens of that place, excited, as they were, by the report that the conqueror of Ticonderoga was among them. Numbers of the people pie were on the roofs of the houses, and the rising grounds adjacent were covered with both sexes. The throng was so great, that I the King's officers were obliged to draw thejr swords and force a passage to Pendenilis castle, which was about a mile from the town, where the prisoners, upon arrival,were closely confined, in consequence of orders from Gen. Carlton, who then commanded in Canada. Brook Watson, who had so shamefully abused and maltreated the prisoners, imme- diately set out for London, expecting a re- ' ward for his inhumanity : but the Ministry received him with coldness-^the minority, (the Whigs) in Parliament arguing that the opposition of the Americans to the power of Great Britain, was not a rebellion; but a measure justified by the numerous evils to \\ which they had been subjected by the op- pressive pohcy of the ministry. " If it be a rebellion," they argued, " why do you not ex- 1 COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 121 ecute Col. Allen according to law ? Why not give him an impartial trial ? Why de- stroy his life by a course of slow, and rigor- ous punishment ?" The majority (the To- ries,) maintained that the opposition of the Americans was really a rebellion, — and that Col. Allen deserved execution ; but that pol- icy oh\\gQ^ them to spare his life, inasmuch as the Americans were in possession of the greatest number of prisoners ! "So that my being sent to England," says Col. Allen, "for the purpose of being executed, and they be- ing restrained, by necessity, from the act, was rather a foil of their laws and authority ; and they, consequently, disapproved of my being sent there." The result of their delib- erations or the course of their policy, how- ever, never came to the knowledge of Col. Allen, until after his arrival in America. ^'The reader will readily conceive," he ob- serves, "that I was anxious about my preser- vation, knowing that I was in the power of a haughty and cruel nation. Therefore, the first proposition which I determined in my own mind was, that humanity and moral sua- sion would not be consulted in the determin- ing of my fate ; and those that daily came in great numbers, out of curiosity to see me, both gentle and simple, united in this, that I would be hanged. A gentleman from Amer- ica, by the name of Temple, and who was friendly to me, just whispered me in the ear, 11 • ! ■ Ji V. jv I • x% »* iu 'i!^ t \i !■? r * > .1 it 122 mSBfOIR OP *■•/- ni and told me that bets were laid in London^ that I would be executed ; he likewise pri- vately gave me a guinea, but durst say but little to ine. "However, agreeable to my first negative proposition, that moral virtue wopld A^t in- fluence my destiny, I had recourse |tp strata- gem, which I was in hopes would move in the circle of their policy. I requested of the commander of the castle the privilege of wri- ting to Congress, who, after consulting with an officer that lived in town of a superior rank, permitted me to write. I wrote in the fore part of my letter, a short narrative of n^y ill treatment ; but withal let them know that, though I was treated as a criminal in Eng- land, and continued in irons, together with those taken with me, yet it was in conse* quence of the orders which the commander of the castle received from Gen. Carlton ; and, therefore, desired Congress to desist from matters of retaliation, till they should know the result of the government in England, re- specting their ill treatment towards me, and govern themselves accordingly, with a par- ticular request that if retaliation shonld be found necessary, it might be exercised not according to the smallness of my character in America., but in proportion to the irapor* tance of the cause for which I suffered — This is, according to my present recollection, the substance of the letter, inscribed, "7b the II' ^ I .* cot. EtJiAIf AltEN. 123 hsiriom Continental Congress,'^^ Tliii* letter was written with ft view that it should be sent to the ministry at London^ rather thaft to Congress^ with a design to intimidate the haughty English Government, and screen my neck from the haker. *'The next day, the officer, frohi V^hom I ob^ tained license to write^ catoe to see me, and frowned on me on account of the impudence of the letter^ as he phrased it^ and farther added, "Do you think that we are fools in England, and would send your letter to Con- gress, with instructions to retaliate on our own people ? I have sent your letter to Lord North." This gave me inward satisfaction, although I carefully concealed it with a pre- tended resentment, for I found I had come Yankee over him^ and that the letter had gone to the identical person I had designed it for- Nor do I know, to this day, but that it had the desired effect, though I have not heatd any thing of the letter since. "My personal treatment by Lieut. Hamil- ton, who commanded the castle, was very generous. He sent me every day a fine break- fest and dinner from his own table, and a bot- tle of good wine. Another aged gentleman, whose name I cannot recollect, sent me a good supper : But there was no distinction in pubUc support between me and the pri- vates ; we all lodged on a sort of Dutch bunks^in one common apartment, and were l! i h ■ j ; i '* */' *. il- \ H 124 MEMOIR OF ; t. V W allowed straw. , The privates were well sup- plied with fresh provisions, and with me, took eftectual measures to rid themselves of lice. "I could not but feel, inwardly, extremely anxious for my fate. This I, however, con- cealed from the prisoners, as well as from the enemy, who were perpetually shakini^ the halter at me. I, nevertheless, treated them with scorn and contempt : and, having sent my letter to the ministry, could conceive of nothing more in my power, but to keep up my spirits, behave in a daring, soldier- 'like manner, tiit^t I might exhibit a good sait> pie of American fortitude. Such conduct, I judged, would have a more probable tend- ency to my preservation than concession and timidity. This, therefore, was my deport- ment ; and I had lastly determined, in my own mind, that if a cruel death must inevita- bly be my portion, I would face it undaunted ; and though I greatly rejoice that I have re- turned to my country and friends, and to see the power and pride of Great Britain hum- bled ; yet I am confident I could then have died without the least appearance of dismay. "I now clearly recollect that my mind was so resolved, that I would not have trembled or shewn the least fear, as I was sensible it ' could not alter my fate, nor do more than re- proach my memory, make my last act despi- cable to my enemies, and eclipse the other COL. ETHAN ALLEN. J 25 •)^ >••.• II supn th me, Ives of remely T, con- is from ihakini; treated having onceive ;o keep soldier- od 8ait> jonduct, le tend- isionand deport- d, in my inevita- aunted ; have rc- d to see n hum- n have dismay, ind was rembled sible it thur. re- it despi- le other actions of my life. For I reasoned thus, that BOthing was more common than for men to die with their friends around them, weeping and lamenting over them, but not able to help them, which was, in reality, not differ- ent in the consequence of it, from such a death as I was apprehensive of; and, as death was the natural consequence of animal life, to which the laws of nature subject mankind, to be timorous and uneasy as to the event or manner of it, was inconsistent with the char- acter of a philosopher or soldier. The cause I was engaged in, I ever viewed worthy haz- arding my life for ; nor was I, in the most critical moments of trouble, sorry that I en- gaged in it : And, as to the world of spirits, though I knew nothing of the mode or man- ner of it, I expected, nevertheless, when I should arrive at such a world, that I should be as well treated as other gentlemen of my merit. "Among the great numbers of people, who came to the castle to see the prisoners, some gentlemen told me, that they had come fifty miles on purpose to see me : and desired to ask me a number of questions, and to make iteid with me in conversation. I gave for my OQSwer, that I chose freedom in every sense of the word : Then one of them asked me what my occupation in life had been ? I .aaswerea him, that in my younger days, I b%^i|t|)die4 diirinity, but wai^ aconj^rQr hT- *' M :l., i ' I /!• i « 1 t ij \\ n ■1 5«i n U III m P It 1 11 126 MEMOIR OF profession. He replied, that I coniur«^d wrong at the time I was taken ; and 1 was obhged to own, that I mistook a figue at that time, but that I had conjured them out of Ti- conderoga. This was a place of great no- toriety in England, so that the joke seemed to go in my favor. » '*It was a common thing for me to be ta- ken out of close confinement, into a spacious green in the castle, or rather parade, where numbers of gentlemen and ladies were rea- dy to see and hear me. I often entertained such audiences with harrangues on the im- practicability of Great Britain conqueririg then colonies of America. x\t one of these times, I asked a gentleman for a bowl of punch, and he ordered his servant to bring it, which he did, and oflered it to me : but I re- fused to take it from the hand of his servant — he then gave it to me with his own hand, refusing to drink with me, in consequence of my bemg a state criminal : However, I took the punch and drank it all down at one draught, and handed the gentleman the bowl. This made the spectators, as well as my- self, merry. "I expatiated on American freedom : This gained the resentment of a young beardless ^ gentleman of the company, who gave him- self very great airs, and replied, that he *'knew the Americans very well, and was cer- tain that they could not bear the smell of ^7^...rv. i I i COL. CTIIAn ALLEN 127 powder.** I replied, tliat I accepted it as a challenge, and was ready to convince him on the spot, that an American could bear the smell of powder ; at which he answered that he should not put himself on a par with me. I then demanded of him to treat the charac- ter of the Americans with due respect. He answered that I was an Irishman ; but I as- sured him, that I was a full blooded Yankee : and, in fine, bantered him so much, that ho left me in possession of the ground, and the laugh went against him. Two clergymen came to see me, and, inasmuch as they be- haved with civility, I returned them the same : We discoursed on several parts of moral philosophy and Christianity ; arid they seemed to be surprised, that I should be ac- quainted with such topics, or that I should understand a syllogism, or regular mode of argumentation. I am apprehensive my Ca- nadian dress contributed not a little to the surprise, and excitement of curiosity. To see a gentleman in England, regularly dress- ed, and well behaved, would be no sight at all ; but such a rebel, as they were pleased to call me, it is probable, was never before i^en in England. "The prisoners were landed at Falmouth, a few days before Christmas, and ordered on board the Solebay frigate, Capt. Symonds, the eighth day of January, 1776, when our hand irons were taken ofE This remove *.' '.V u ^ . . 4 4; '>: I m '■ I I ' .Jl' % I - 128 HEMOm OF was in consequence, asr I have been siiTce in- formed, of a writ of habeas corp*js, which had been procured by some gentlemen in England, in order to obtain me my liberty. * *^The Solcbay, with sundry other men of war, and about fbrty transports, rendezvous- ed at the cove of Cork in Ireland, to take in provisions and water. ♦*When we were first brought on board, Capt. Symonds ordered all the prisoners, and most of the hands on board, to go on the deck, and caused to be read, in their hearing, a certain code of laws, or rules for the reg- ulation and ordering of their behavior ; hii4 then, in a sovereign manner, ordered the , prisoners, me in particular, off the deck, and never to come on it again ; for, said he, this is a place for gentlemen to walk. So I weni , off, an officer following me, who told me, that he would shew me the place allotted for me, and took me down to the cable tire, say- ing to me, "this is your place." **Frior to this^ I had taken cold ; by which I was in an iil state of health, and did not say much to the officer ; but stayed there that night— consulted my pohcy, and found I was in an evil case ; that a Captain of a man of war was more arbitrary than a King, as he could view his territory with a look of Ms eye, and a movement of his finger com- manaed obedience. I felt myself more d^ tipott^g^ than I had nit any time before y fer 1,1, ^' r COL. ETHAN A&LEIT^ 129 I concluded it to be a governmental scheme, to do that, clandestinely, which policy for* bid to be done under sanction of public jus- tice and law. "However, two days after, I shaved and cleansed myself as well as I could, and went on deck. The Captain spake to me in a great rage, and said, "Did I not order yoa not to come on deck ?" I answered him, that at the same time he said, "That it was the place for gentlemen to walk ; that I was Col. Allen, but had not been properly intro^ duccd to him. ' He replied, "G-d damn you, sir, be careful not to walk the same side o( the deck that I do." This gave me encour- agement, and ever after that, I walked in the manner he had directed, except when he, at certain times afterwards, ordered mo. 6ft' in a passion, and I then would directly afterwards go on again, telling him to command his slaves ; that I was a gentleman, and had a right to walk the deck ; yet when he express*- ly ordered me off", I obeyed, not out of obe- dience to him, but to set an example to his chip's crew, who ought to obey him. "To walk to the windward side of the deck is, according to" custom, the prerogative of the Captain of the man of war, though he, oftentimes, nay commonly^ walks with his Lieutenants, when no strangers are by: When a Captain of some other man of w ar, comes on board, the Captains walk to the ■•.i>ij| «' 1 >. \ , ■, \' ' 1 • j ■ 1 Hi '' 1 11 \> \ 1. \ 1 ( *• V I. 130 Hemoir ^t .ll' '» *► i*f '■r %J^ mmAwttrd skie^ and tho aiket genfkrBtfti to the leeward. ^It waa bat a few tiigdta I lodged in the e^ ble tire, before I gained an acqnaiattoce with the master of arms : his name was G'lU legan^ an Irishman, who was a geti^rous and well disposed man, and, in a fri^dly manner, made me an oifer of hving with him in a lit- tle berth, which was allotted him between decks, and enclosed w ith canvass ; his [de- ferment on board was about equal to that of aergeant in a tegiment J was eomparatite^ Ij happy, in the acceptance of this clemen- cy, and lived with him in friendship, till th^ frigate anchored in the harbor of Cape Fear, North Carolina, in America* "Nothing of material consequeace hap^ pened, while the fleet rendezvoused at the cove of Cork, except a violent storm, which brought old hardy aailors to their prayers^ It was rumoured in Cork that I was on board the Solebay, with a number of prisoners from America^ upon which Messrs. Clark and Hays, merchants in company, and a num^ber of other benevolently disposed gentlemen, contributed largely to the relief and support of the prisoners, who were thirty four in num- ber, and in very needy circttmstanceSv A suit of clothes, from head to foot, including an over coat, or surtout, and two shirta^ were bestowed on each of them. My suit I re- ceived in supei^ae broad cloths, sufEcieftt for y COL. ^HAlf AftLBlf* 131 Bceti to ntHncc us and manner, n a lit- etween lis pre- that of iratite^ ;lemenr , till th^ e Feart *e Jiap-^ he cove which two jackets, and two pairs of brcecliM, oveN plus of a suit throughout, eight fine Holland shirts and stocks ready made^ with anumber of pairs of silk and worsted hose, two pair shoes, two beaver hats, one of which wan sent me richly iaced with cold, by Mr. James Bon well. The Irish gentlemen fijrthermore made a large gratuity of wines, of the best sort, old spirits, Geneva, loaf and broun su- gar, coffee, tea and chocolate, vs ith a large round of pickled beef, and a number of fat turkies, with many other articles, for my sea stores, too tedious to mention here. To the privates they bestowed on each man, two pounds of tea, and six poimds of brown su- gar. These articles were received on board, at a time when the Captain and first Lieu- tenant were gone on shore, by permission of the second Lieutenant, a handsome young gentleman, who was then under twenty two years of age ; his name was Douglass, tho son of Admiral Douglass, as I was informed. "As this munificence was so unexpected and plentiful, I may add needful, it impressed on my mind the highest sense of gratitudo towards my benefactors ; fori was not only supplied with the necessaries and conven- iences of hfe, but with the grandeur and su^^ perfluities of it. Mr. Hays, one of the do- nors before mentioned, came on board, and behaved in the most obliging manner, telling me, that he hoped my troubles were past; '■\m '.I il »» * I ' i 11 I h i ' 1 I'll, ■M il •li' I J 135 MicMiOiR or for that the gentlemen of Cork detcnriined :to make my sea-stores equal to those of the Captain of the Solehay ; he made an offer of live stock and wherewith to support them; J)ut I knew this would be deiiied : And to crown all, did send to me by another person, iifty guineas ; but I could not reconcile re» ceiving the whole, to my own feelings, as it might have the appearance of avarice ; and therefore, received seven only ; and am con- fident, not only from the exercise of the pre- sent well timed generosity, but from a large acquaintance with gentlemen of this nation, \ that as a people they excel in liberahty ai^d J}ravery. \ "Two day€ after the receipt of the afore* jsaid donatLons,Capt. Sy monds came on board, full of envy towards the prisoners, and swore by all that is good, that the dr-rd Ameri^ ; ,can rebels should not be feasted at this rate, by the d — d rebels of Ireland ; he, there- fore, took away all my liquors before men* - tioned, except some of the wine which was jsecreted, and a two gallon jug of old spirits^ which was reserved for me, per favor of Lieutenant Douglass. The taking of ray liquors was abominable in his sight; he, ^ therefore, spoke in my behalf, till the Captain was angry with him; and, in consequence, u proceeded and took away all the tea and s\h g?r, which had been given to the prisoners^ and confiscated it to the use of the ship^s COL. E^kx^' iiiriEX. I33r > i. Sobn iiffielf thi^ tttere'd^bd Sl l^ciat to the sicje , oti^^ Bhi^^SLXid Clip't/Syiiioiitls 'a§te4 a geii-,' tlc^an wh6 ivds ^iri it, iii. ' iti jr jiearingf, wfj^t hy"^ttlisii*/es^'%as ? who^iih^w^red thai; h^. . wrf*'l^fertt tt^ Melliver sohii^ sda-stores to Cot ; AU^n,^ whicW^ if I reriifehjb^r right, he sajd'^ w^fe^^ s^W fibk Diibiih j; biit th(^ ^Captain;^. daihrffe'd him 'he^ttrJy, ord^i-^diiim away f^om^^ thd'fehipfjkrid WoiiM ijot safi^rhim'to ^ejiypr -^ the^slWr^sJ- ' I Wks fijnh'erji[i6^ iriformed' tjiai, '^ ih& geMeiti^ri' in Cork refjiieked of Cjapt..'^ Syiiibji^s,ihdt T might^ b^ ^lo^ved to cope^^^^r intO^the'icitWatld th^t they W^tild be rcspon- . sibWf^sftoOTtf fetuVh tbihh frigate at a given V, tiiAe^Hvfficfi^asii&ietf¥h(^i^ ' ^^ "^ '^ misuiiciB Willi luc wcic uiviur;u, aim put yu bo^dJlhre^^^aiMfent ^fehij^s ' ot W, '^Tto! gal^^'rfi^'^biiitJ uii^asiijyss; for ffiey were to a ;' mafc Mlbiis lb iHfe iaU&e 6ffibeHy,'aiidl?e- ,; ha^rf't^itW^ 'becttmitfg ¥6r-^ituae in th^ y^![ riotlis* fecffii^k biP tbeir captlVity ; but ibpse,' , wm^^iremmiMed oii^iJoird other ships, ! ofmVi^^e tfiich'bp^r ' usda tbp /Kose„ wh^' tltfh^d- WKH'ttie^a^ a!i)'p4ared aft^^^^^^^ Wm ifi8^J fleet; c'ottBisting, of aboiit forty; five'i^^I,'4iifclurfitf^ Ifif^' iiien ' o^* war, . gkiled, fro* «re'-coVfe H^ittf k' fresW^brd^^^ ap MM ' i i- ,' ' ..M 1' 1 ii. hi I. i\ I. 134 UEMOIR OP \in pearance was beautiful, abstracted from tho unjust and bloody designs they had in view, ' We had not sailed many days, before a niighty storm arose, which lasted near twen- ty lour hours without intermission : The wind blew with relentless fury,, and no man could remain on deck, except he was lashed fast, for the waves rolled over the deck by turns, with ^ forcible rapidity, and every soul on board was anxiQms for the preservation of the ship, and th,eir lives. In this storm, tho Thunder-bomb ,m;an of war sprang a leak, and was afterwards floated to some part of the coast of England, gind the crew saved- We were then said to be in the bay of BisJ cay. After tli/e storm abated, I could plainly discern that the .prisoners .W:er,e better used for some considerable time. "Notliii^g of consequence happ^ed afte? this, till we hfid sailed Jto the island ^f Ma^ deira, except a certain favor which I jpeceiv- ed of Capt. Symonds, in consequence for.my ownJiapney, such .arti(d^^ ^re-atly needed ; bfi^fhfe would not "perBAife; ; and when I reminded: him of tb^-^rgenea-firus . and c^iyil tis^^ge that thoiripri^newirin i^li^if- rity m,et; wi^hv W^^^ =wa«jBdt iiwiiig ( tp^h^ir g050jdn^^v/blit':tp theij- timis^a^yh^qB^^ COL. ETHAN ALLEN* 137 > !, ^gaiB0t 4^ot; jwered aryi;to a4 ac- oneyof d treat jncG of M,: by cb as I fficers ; }ded-no jeber; as gr0- ;an(i:re- ifewtis ilpoli- yiBtay- [desii!^ ice; *re ofrt&c pitdfe; lear^tts therefore dare not misuse our prisoners ; and in fact this was the language of the Britisfh officers, till Gen. Burgoyne was taken ;^ happy event ! and not only of the officers, but of the whole British army. I appeal to all my brother prisoners, who have been with the British in the southern department, for a confirmation of what I have advanced on this subject. The surgeon of the lolebay, whose name was North, was a very humane, * It was the plan of the British Generals, to push a body of troops from New York, to join Gen. Bur- goyne at Albany, and by establishing a line of Bri- tish posts on the Hudson, to intercept the inter- course between the New England and southern states. While Gen. Burgoyne was attempting to advance towards Albany, Gen. Clinton with a force of three thousand men, took possession of Fort Montgomery, after severe loss. Gen. Vaughan, with a body of troops, on board of armed ships, sailed up the Hudson, as far as Livingstones Manor, where be landed a party, burnt a large house be- bnging to one of the family ; then sent a party to the opposite shore, and laid in ashes the town of Kingston, But Gen. Burgoyne, despairing of the junction between his army and the division from New York, surrounded by a superior army, and unable to retreat, consented to capitulate, and on the 17th of October surrendered to the American General. The detachment under Gen. Vaughan returned to New York, and the plan of the British commanders was totally frustrated. Weh$t€r^9 Eliementsl ' •S *,.: 'i Ji;h :^1 II *' - ^ rf ; f. «■ It- •;■ -i^ 5 ■« o< V. 4! i*' 138 IfEMOIR OF 1 ! I fii I ii it.» l! obliging man, and took the best care of the prisoners who were sick. "The third day of May, we cast anchor in the harbor of Cape Fear,* in North Caroli- na, as did Sir Peter Parker's ship of fifty guns, a little back of the bar ; for there was no depth of water for him to come into the harbor : These two men of war, and four- teen sail of transports and others, came after, so that most of the fleet rendezvoused at cape Fear for three weeks. The soldiers on board the transports were sickly, in conse« quence of so long a passage ; add to this, the small pox carried off many of them : — They landed on the main, and formed a cam^; but the riflemen annoyed them, and caused them to move to an island in the harbor ; but such cursing of riflemen I never heard. "A detachment of regulars was sent up Brunswick river ; as they landed, they were fired on by those marksmen, and they came * Cape Fear is the southern point of Smith's Isl- and, which divides the mouth of Cape Fear river into two channels, on the coast of North Carolina ; S. W. of Cape Look Out, and remarkable for a dangerous shoal called the Frying Pan, from its form. A light house stands at the mouth of the river. It bears W. N. W. from the point of the Cape, four miles distant. Near this cape is John- son's Fort, in Brunswick county, and district of Wilmington. North latitude 33, 32- west longi* tude78, 25. MomU Gaxettur, f. 1 COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 139 3f the hor in >aroli- )f fifty re was ito the I four- B after, sed at tiers on conse- to this, lem :-7- a cam^; caused ►or ; but d. sent up ey were y came lith's Isl. ear river arolina ; lie for a from its h of the t of the is John- strict of ^st longi- back next day, damning the rebels for their unmanly way of fighting, and swearing that they wouW give no quarter, for they took signt at them, and were behind timber, skulk- ing about. One of the detachments said they lost one man ; but a negro man, who was with them, and heard what was said, soon after, told me that he helped to bury thirty- one of them: This did me some good to find my countrymen giving them battle ; for I never heard such swaggering as among Uen. Clinton's little army, who commanded at that time; and I am apt to think there were four thousand men, though not two thirds of them fit for duty. I heard numbers ' of them say, that the trees in America should hang well with fruit that campaign, for they ' would give no quarter : This was in the mouths of most who I heard speak on the subject, ofiicer as Avell as soldier. I wished at that time, my countrymen knew, as well as I did, what a murdering and cruel enemy they had to deal with; but experience has since taught this country, what they are to expect at the hands of Britons, when in theiv power. "The prisoners, who had been sent on board different men of war, at the cove of Cork, were collected together, and the whol» of them put on board the Mercury frigatej Capt. Montague, except one of the Canadir ai)^i who died on the passage from Ireland^ :-vm V « • H r»' ': ^ f* I. « ! iM i J 140 MEMOIR OF \\i^ I k:i ^ t.i' |ii : fii i 1 j xi(nd Peter Noble^ who made his escaj>e from the Sphynx man of war, in this harbor, and, by extraordinary swimming, got safe home to New England, and gave intelligence of the usage of his brother prisoners. The Mer- cury set sail from this port for Halifax, about the 20th of May, and Sir Peter Parker was about to sail with the land forces, under the command of Gen* Clinton, for the reduction of Charleston, in South Carolina, and \^en I heard of his defeat in Halifax, it gave me in- expressible satisfaction. "I now found myself under a worse Captain than Symonds ; for Montague was loaded with prejudices against every body^ and evl ery thing that was not stamped with royalty ; and, being by nature underwitted, his wrath was heavier than the others, or at least his mind was in no instance liable to be divert- ed by good sense, humour or bravery, of which Symonds was, by turns, susceptible. A Capt* Frances Proctor was added to our number of prisoners, when we were first put **** on board this ship: This gentleman had formerly belonged to the English service. — The Captain, and, in fine, all the gentlemen of the ship, were very much incensed against him, and put him in irons without the least provocation, and he was continued in this miserable situation about three months. In this passage, the prisoners were infected with the scurvy, some more and some less, but C0L.9*CTIfAll, ^LCIY^ ^U\ ;,to*fk great degree troubled with it^ and I eon- rcluded it, tvflS; catching : ScF^ral'of the crew . died' with 4t on their pas»8^ ). I was weak and hehleUi consequence' of so longhand cruel a <;aptivity,! y)&t had b>it little of the scurvy. . .^^*,The; parser was agAin expressly forbid by . the Captain to let me have any thing iout-Of his store ; upon which I went on deck, and, .in the haindsomestmannier^ requested the fa^ vor of purcS^hasing a few necessaries of the purser, which was denied me ; he farther told me, that I should be hanged as soon as I ar-^ • rived at Halifax. I tried to reason the mat- ter with him, b\*t' found hisipi-Gof agt-iiustro^- son ; I also held up his lionor to viewf artcf hisbehavior tp me and the prisoners in geil- eral, as being' derogatory to it, but found his •honor impenetrable. " ^ I* then endeavored to touch his; hntnanity, but found^^ he had hone ; for his prepossession of bigotry to his oWn rpartyihad confirmed him in an opinion; that ,no\ humanity :was due to unroykhsts, but ^seemed to think that beaven and 'eafth W^i^e ;?raadeTOerely to gfatify th^'King tmdhife cfea- •tures.' * He' uttered many unint^Higiblfeiand ' gi-oi^lling ideasj* atlittle tinctured With Mt^ft- mxshY4 but>8tooid ^w^H to his text bf hiBiilging meu > He •afterwards forbade^Md s{i^gb'(M to •adniinfstefr tmybhelp tor tthe^sickipijisot^^.^ ;il wasidk^ery n%ht>ghdt dowwiiri ty ^ckbhsiti!^, oKKith^tisir&stiOf (ttoptinroA^s} iami W aiyu^- -m ■^j I 1 •i ■ i '1 ' ■] i '■•I 1 1 \^ 4 Wi V ■ k^ -^ ^M 142 MEMOIR OF '$ e6 miserably while under his power : But I received some generosity from several of the midshipmen, who, in a degree, alleviated my misery ; one of their names was Putrass — the names of the others I do not recollect ; but they were obliged to be private in the be- stowment of their favor, which was some- times good wine bitters, and at others, a gen- erous drink of grog. "Some timo in the first week of June, we came to anchor at the Hook ofT New York, where we remained but three days ; in which time Gov. Tryon, Mr. Kemp, the old attorney general of New York, and several other per- fidious and over-grown- tortes and land-job- bers, came on board. Tryon viewed me with a stern countenance, as I was walking on the leeward side of the deck, with the midship- men ; and he and his companions were walk- ing with the Captain and Lieutenant, on the windward side of the same, but never spoke to me, though it is altogether probable that he thought of the old quarrel between: him, the old government of New- York and the Green Mountain Boys : They went with the Captain into the cabin, and the same after- noon returned on board a vessel which lay near the Hook, where, at that time, they took sanctuary from- the resentment of their in- jured country. What passed between the of- ficers of the ship and these visitors, I know not ; but this I know, that my treatment firom COL. ETHAir ALLEir. 143 i^' : But I al of the ated my utrass — jcollect ; n the be- 9 some- rs, a gen- June, we ew York, in which I attorney )ther per- 1 and- job- d me with ing on the midship- ere walk- [nt, on the iver spoke uble that een him, and the X with the me after- Iwhich lay they took their in- eft the of- 8, 1 knovr ent from the principal officers was more severe after- wards. ** We arrived at Halifax not far from the middle of June, where the ship's crew, which was infected with the scurvy, were taken on shore, and shallow trenches dug, into which they were put, and partly covered with earth. Indeed every proper measure was taken for their relief: fho prisoners were not permit- ted any sort of medicine, but were put on board a sloop which lay in the harbor, near the town of Halifax, surrounded with sever- al men of war and their tenders, and a guard constantly set over them, night and day. — The sloop we had wholly to ourselves, ex- cept the guard, who occupied the forecastle ; here we were cruelly pinched with hunger ; it seemed to me that we had not more than one third of the common allowance : Wa were all seized with violent hunger and faint- ness ; we divided our scanty allowance a« exact as possible. I shared the same fato with the rest ; and, though they offered me more than an even «hare, I refused to accept it, as it was a time of substantial distress, which, in ray opinion, I ought to partako equally with the re«t, and set an example of virtue and fortitude to our little common- weahh. "I sent letter after letter to CaptMontague^ who still had the care of us, and also to hig I^utenant, whose name I cannot call to Oil '!♦ : The^' chief < physician i^ame by an abodl^ so^'dose that' the oar^ •touched, the sloop ' we^ w^r^ ' iii^ i " and'LuUered my complaint in the gefnteel6^'^ ^ jnannef 4o ijm eain& disef ji!diii',' ' but'COttld'O'btailiitnone. *> mu.lm/i lui. ifjjt , "Meanwhile the Doctor's mate of the M^r^^^ curyv .eam&i' ppivateiy att* bioiird thfe ^yi'soh slo)&p, and piredeMed irie witb wiak^g^iM tit^ smart ldfopfrv«wiKchpi!Gvefd to h^gooA%HW- COL. ETHAN ALLEN. M5 scurvy, though vegetables and some other ingredients were requisite for a cure ; but the drops gave at least a check to the disease. This was a well-timed exertion of humanity, but the doctor's name has slipped my mind, and in my opinion, it was the means of sav- ing the lives of several men. * "The guard, which was set over us, was by this time touched with the feelings of compassion ; and I finally trusted one of them with a letter of complaint to Gov. Ar- buthnot, of Halifax, which he found means to communicate, and which had the desired eflect ; for the Governor sent an officer and surgeon on board the prison sloop, to know the truth of the complaint. The officer's name was Russel, and held the rank of Lieu- tenant, and treated me in a friendly and po- lite manner, and was really angry at the cru- el and unmanly usage the prisoners met with ; and, with the surgeon, made a true report of matters to Gov. Arbuthnot, who, either by his order or influence, took us next day from the prison sloop to Halifax gaol, where I first became acquainted with the now Hon. James Level, one of the members of Congress, for the state of Massachusetts-Bay. The sick were taken to the hospital, and the Canadi- ans, who were effective, were employed in the King's works ; and when their country- men were recovered from the scurvy ana joined them, they all deserted the King's em- 13 'iv *r ■'i '* 1 V ; !■» •.' V-9| I i '^ i '.ft i 1^ I': I ■ ■w 'n I 'f - ll u 146 MEMOIR tV ploy, and were not heard of at Halifax, as long as the remainder of the prisoners con- tinued there, which was till near the middle of October. We Were on board the prison- sloop about six weeks, and were landed at Halifax near the middle of August. Several of our English American prisoners, who were cured of the scurvy at the hospital, made their escape from thence, and after a long time, reached their old habitations. "I had novv but thirteen with me, of those who were taken in Canada, and remained in gaol with me in Hahfax, who,in addition to those that were imprisoned before, made our number about thirty four, who were ail locked up in one common large room, with- out regard to rank, education, or any other accomplishment, where we continued from the setting to the rising sun ; and, as sundry of them were infected with the gaol and oth- er distempers, the furniture of this spacious room consisted principally of excrement tubs. We petitioned for a removal of the sick into the hospitals, but were denied. We remon- strated against the ungenerous usage of be- ing confined with the privates, as being con- trary to the laws and customs of nations, and particularly ungrateful in them^ in conse- quence of the gentleman-like usage which the British imprisoned officers met with in America ; and thus we wearied ourselves, petitioning and remonstrating, but to no pur- COL. ETHAN ALLEN 147 A<. 1:1 pose at all . for General Massey, who com- manded at Halifax, was as inflexible as the d — 1 himself;, a fine preparative this, for Mr. Lovel, member of the Continental Con- gress; "Lieut. Riissel, vhom I have mentioned before, came to visit me in prison, and assur- ed me that he had done his utmost to pro- cure my parole for enlargement; at ^yhich a British Captain, who was then the tovm-ma- jor, expressed compassion for the gentlemen confined in the filthy place, and assured mo that he had used his influence to procure their enlargement ; his name was near hke Ramsay. Among the prisoners there were five in number, who had a legal claim to a parole, viz : James Lovel, Esq., Capt. Fran- cis Proctor, a Mr. Rowland, master of a Continental armed vessel, a^ Mr. Taylor, his mate, and myself. "As to the article of provision, we were wellserved, much better than in any part of my captivity ; and, since it was Mr. Lovel's mis- fortune and mine, to be prisoners, and in so wretched circumstances, I was happy that we were together, as a nmtual support to each other, and to the unfortunate prisoners with us. Our first attention was the preser- vation' of ourselves and injured little repub- lic ; the rest of our time we devoted inter- changeably to politics and philosophy, as pa- tience was a needful exercise in so evil a sit- '•r1''i ' 'i\ ■■i\. I'i i w \. v\ ■r ' ^ v. .r. r ' ■•I- ^ »' ', \ it I- »» ' In] I!' 148 MEMOIR OF uation, but contentment mean and impracti- cable. ^'I had not been in this gaol many days, be- fore a worthy and charitable woman, Mrs. Blacden, by name, supplied me with a good dinner of fresh meats every day, with garden fruit, and sometimes \iith a bottle of wine ; notwithstanding which, I had not been more than three weeks in the place, before I lost all appetite to the most delicious food, as al- so did sundry of the prisoners, particularly a sergeant Moore, a man of courage and fidel- ity : I have several times seen him hold the boatswain of the Solebay frigate, when he| attempted to strike him, and laughed him out of conceit of using him as a slave. "A doctor visited the sick, and did the best as I suppose, he could for them, to no appa- rent purpose. I grew weaker and weaker, as did the rest. Several of them could not help themselves. At last I reasoned in my own mind, that raw onions would be good : I made use of it, and found immediate rehef by it, as did the sick in general, particularly sergeant Moore, whom it recovered ahnost from the shades. Though I had met with a little revival, still I found the malignant hand of Britain had greatly reduced my constitu- tion with stroke upon stroke. Esquire Lov- el and myself used every argument and en- treaty that could be well conceived of, in or- der to obtain gentleman-like usage, to no pur- ■i^ I V / '■ { COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 149 8 pose. I then wrote Gen. Massey as sever a letter as I possibly could, with my friend Level's assistance : The contents of it were to give the British, as a nation, and'him as an individual, their true character. This rous- ed the rascal, for he could not bear to see his and the nation's deformity in that trans- parent letter, which I sent him ; he, therefore, put himself in a great rage about it, and shewed the letter to a number of British of- ficers, particularly to Capt. Smith, of the Lark frigate, who, instead of joiniftg with him in disapprobation^ commended the spirit of it ; upon which Gen. Massey said to him, "do you take the part of a rebel against me ?" Capt. Smith Fwered, that he rather spoke his sentiK.A5.*!'B, and there was a dissension in opinion between them. Some officers took the part of the General, and others of the Captain : This I was informed of by a gen- tleman who had it from Capt. Smith. "In a few days after this, the prisoners were ordered to go on board. of a man of war, which was bound for New York; but two of them were not able to go on board, and were left at Halifax ; one died, and the other re- covered. This was about the 20th of Octo- ber, and soon after we had got on board, the Captain sent for me in particular, to come on the quarter deck : I went, not knowing that it was Capt. Smith, or his ship at that time, and expected to meet the same rigorous us- 13* ^■''ivi j 't lit 4i. m ■. f .1' i Ff i: f^ !iri \bO MEMOIR OP I h !| age I had commonly met with, and prepared my mind accordingly ; but wlion I came on deck, the Captain met me with his hand, wel- comed me to his ship, invited me to dine wit!) him that day, and assured me that I should be treated as a gentleman, and that he had given orders, that I should be treated with respect by the ship's crew. This was so unexpected and sudden a transition, that it drew tears from my eyes, which all the ill us- < age 1 had before met with, was not able to produce, nor could I at first hardly speak, but soon recovered myself and expressed my gratitude for so unexpected a favor ; and let him know that I felt anxiety of mind in ic- flecting that his situation and mine was such, that it was not probable that it would ever be in my power to return the favor. Capt. Smith replied, that he had no reward in view, |)ut only treated me as a gentleman ought to be treated ; he said ^Hhis is a mutable world, and one gentleman never knows but that it may be in his power to help another." Soon after, I found this to be the same Capt. Smith who took my part against Gen. Massey ; but he never mentioned any thing of it to me, and I though it impolite in me to interrogate him, as to any disputes which might have arisen between him and the General on my account, as I was a prisoner, and that it was at his option to make free with me on the subject, if be pleased ; and, if he did not, I migb> • \ COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 151 \ , rcparod ;anie on nd, wel- to dine le that I nd that ) treated s was so , that it he ill us- t able to )eak, but sscd my ; and let nd in ie- ivas such, ould ever r. Capt. i in view, ought to )le world, it that it jr." Soon take it for granted that it would be unpleas- ant for me to quory about it, though I had a strong propensity to converse with him on that subject. "I dined with the Captain agreeable to his invitation, and oftentimes with the Lieuten- ant, in the gun room, but in general ate and drank with my friend Lovel and the other gentlemen, who were prisoners with mo, where I also slept. **We had a little berth enclosed with can- vass, between decks, where we enjoyed our- selves very well, in hopes of an exchange ; besides, our friends at Halifax, had a littlo notice of our departure, and supplied us with spirituous liquor, and many articles of pro- vision for the cost. Capt. Burk, having been taken prisoner, was added to our company, (he had commanded an American armed ves- sel) and was generously treated by the Cap- tain, and all the officers of the ship, as well as myself. We now had in all, near thirty prisoners on board, and as we were sailing along the coast, if I recollect right, off Rhode Island, Capt. Burke, with an under officer of the ship, wnose name I do not recollect, came to our little berth, proposed to kill Captain Smith and the principal officers of the frig- ate and take it ; adding that there were thir- ty five thousand pounds sterling in the same. Qaptain Burke hkewise averred that a strong party out of theship^s crew was in the con- ."»! i.-i l|^ '1- I t* N V' : i A 152 MEMOIR OF t •. r: spiracy, and urged me, and the gentleman that was with me, to use our influence with the private prisoners to execute the design, and take the ship with the cash into one of our own ports. "Upon which I replied, that we had been too well used on board, to murder the officers -—that I could by no means reconcile it to my conscience, and that in fact it should not be done ; and, while I was yet speaking, my friend Lovel confirmed what I had said, and farther pointed out the ungratefulness of such an act ; that it did not fall short of murder ; and in fine, all the gentlemen in the berth op- posed Capt. Burk and his colleague : But they strenuously urged that the conspiracy would be found out, and that it would cost them their lives, provided they did not exe- cute their design. I then interposed spirit- edly, and put an end to farther argument on the subject, and told them that they might depend upon it, upon my honor, that I would faithfully guard Capt. Smith's life : If they should attempt the assault, I would assist him, for they desired me to remain neutral ; and that the same honor that guarded Capt. Smith's life, would guard theirs ; and it was agreed by those present, not to reveal the 'Conspiracy, to the intent that no man should •be put to death, in consequence of what had Sbeen projected ; and Capt. Burk and his col- league went to stifle the matter among their !! ■ COL. ETHAN ALLEX. 153 associates. I could not help calling to mind what Capt. Smith said to me, when I first came on board : "This is a mutable world, and one gentleman never knows but that it may be in his power to help another." Capt. Smith and his officers still behaved with their usual courtesy, and I never heard any more of the conspiracy." The vessel arri ed l ')re New Yor*., and cast anchor, the latter part of October ; and during th(3 period of its stay, which was on- ly a few days, Capt. Smith informed Col. Al- len, that he had recommended him to Admi- ral Howe and Gen. Sir William Howe, as a gentleman of honor and veracity ; and desir- ed they might treat him as such. Capt. Burk was ordered on board a prison ship in the harbor ; and Col. Allen, with 1 he other pris- oners, to a transport ship, commanded by Capt. Craige, who received him into the cab- in with himself and officers. "I fared," says the Colonel, "as they did, and was, in every respect, well treated, in consequence of di- rections from Capt. Smith. In a few weeks after this, I had the happiness to part with my friend Lovel, for his s£^ke, whom the ene- my affected to treat as a private ; he was a gentleman of merit, and liberally educated, but had no commission ; they maligned him on account of his unshaken attachment to the cause of his country. He was exchang- ed for a Gov. Phillip Skene, of the British. ■ ' '1 ; i' " r. ■■ t^ ' I . I I rl [-*\f ip :*- n IH MEMOIR OF I was continued in this ship till the latter part of November, where I contracted an ac- quaintance with a Captain of the British ; his name has slipped my memory. He was what we may call a genteel, hearty fellow. I re- member an expression of his over a bottle of wine, to this import : "That there is greatness of soul for personal friendship to subsist between you and me, as we are upon opposite sides, and may, at an other day, bo obliged to face each other in the field." I am confident that he was as faithful as any officer in the British army. At another sit- ting he offered to bet a dozen of wine, tl^at Fort Washington would be in the hands of the British in three days. I stood the bet, and would, had I known that that vv ould have been the case, and the third day afterwards, we heard a prodigious heavy cannonade, and that day the fort was taken, sure enough. — Some months after, when I was on parole, ho called upon me with his usual humour, and mentioned the bet. I acknowledged I had lost it, but he said he did not mean to take it then, as I v/a» a prisoner ; that he would, an- other day, call on me, when their army came to Bennington. I replied, that he was quite too generous, as I had fairly lost it : besides, the Green Mountain Boys would not suffer them to come to Benningtom Thjs was all in good humor. I should have been glad to have seen him after the defeat ^X Benning- !*. / i ,*r. COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 155 N .. ton, but did not. It was customary for a guard to attend the prisoners, which was oft- en changed. One was composed of tories, from Connecticut, in the vicinity of Fairfield and Green Farms. The sergeant's name was Hoit. They y\ ere very full of their invec- tives against the country, swaggered of their loyalty to their King, and exclaimed bitterly against the "cowardly yankees," as they were pleased to term them, but finally contented themselves with saying that, when the coun- try was overcome, they should be well re- warded for their loyalty, out of the estates of the whigs, which would be confiscated. This I found to be the general language of tories, after i arrived from England on the American coast. I heard sundry of them relate, that the British Generals had engaged them an ample reward for all their losses, disappoint- ments and expenditures, out of the forfeited rebels' estates. This Ian f^uage early taught me what to do with tories' estates, as far as my influence can go. For it is really a game of hazard between whig and tory. — The whigs must inevitably have lost all, in . consequence of the abilities of the tories, and their good friends, the British ; and it is no more than right the tories should run the same risk, in consequence of the abilities of the whigs : But of this, more will be ob- served in the sequel of this narrative. "Some of the last days of November, the '• 1. ' ! ;1 t ■■'I f*. i i: j; d i ^t t« h .■fi 156 MEMOIR OF ^"\ f |1 ■ prisoners were landed at New York, and I was admitted to parole, with the other offi- cers, viz: Procter, Rowland and Taylor. — The privates were put into the filthy church- es in New York, with the distressed prisoners that were taken at Fort Washington; and the second night, sergeant Roger Moore, who was bold and enterprising, (bund means to make his escape, w ith every of the re- maining prisoners that w ere taken with me, except three, who were soon after exchang- ed : So that, out of thirty one prisoners, who went with me the round exhibited in these sheets, two only died with the enei)[iy, and three only were exchanged; one of whom died after he came within our lines ; all the rest, at different times, made their es- cape from the enemy. "I now found m} self on parole, and restrict- ed to the hmits of the city of New York, where I soon projected means to live in some measure agreeable to my rank, though I was destitute of cash. My constitution was al- most worn out by such a long and barbarous captivity. The enemy gave out that I was crazy, and wholly unmanned ; but my vitals held sound, nor was I delirious any more than I have been from my youth up ; but my ex- treme circumstances, a': certain times, ren- dered it politic to act, in some measure, the madman ; and, in consequence of a regular diet and exercise, my blood recruited, and COL. i;THAir ALLEV. 157 \. my nerves m a great measure recovered their former tone, strength and usefulness, in the course of six mouths. "I next invite the reader to a retrospective ' Bight and consideration of the doleful scene ofinhumanitv, exercised by Gen. Sir WilHam Howe, and the army under his command, to- wards the prisoners taken on Long Island, on the 27th day of August, 1776 ; sundry of whom, were, in an inhuman and barbarous manner, murdered after they had surrender- ed their arms ; particularly a Gen. Odel, or Woodhull, of the militia, who was hacked to pieces with cutlasses, when alive, by the light horsemen, and a Capt. Fellows of the Con- tinental army, who was thrust through with a bayonet, of which wound he died instantly. "Sundry others were hanged up by the neck, till they were dead ; five on the limb of a white oak tree, and without any reason as- signed, except that they were fighting in de- fence of the only blessing worth preserving : And, indeed, those who had the misfortune to fall into their hands at Fort Washington, in the month of November following, met with but very little better usage, except that they were reserved from immediate death to famish and die with hunger ; in fine, the word rebel, applied to any vanquished persons, without regard to rank, who were in the con- tinental service, on the 27th of August afore- said, was thought, by the enemy, sufficient 14 ^il ■^ m -i» ^f t ■f.y ■v I' j 158 MEMOIR or to sanctify whatever cruelties they were pleas- ed to inflict, death itself* not excepted ; but • to pass over particulars, which would swell my narrative far beyond my design. "The private soldiers, who were brought to New York, were crowded into churches, and environed with slavish Hessian guards, a people of a strange language, who were sent to America, for no other design but cruelty and desolation ; and at others, by merciless Britons, whose mode of communicating ideas being intelligible in this country served only to tantalize and insult the helpless and perish- ing ; but, above all, the hellish delight and triumph of thetorics over them, as they were dying by hundreds : This was too much for me to bear as a spectator ; for I saw the to- nes exulting over the dead bodies of their murdered countrymen. 1 have gone into the churches, and seen sundry of the prisoners in the agonies of death, in consequence of very hunger, and others speechless, and near death, biting pieces of chips ; others plead- ing for God's sake, for something to eat, and at the same time, shivering with the cold.?— Xlollow groans saluted my ears, and despair seemed to be imprinted on every of their countenances. The filth of these churches, ia con*j •■ :: k i< it 164 MEMOIR OF m-r • w m i^.: K ■ [■■^:' 1 U^l 1 f 1 ',. m W ■j i Bs' ■"1 1 ^l'i| 11^ Ub 4 11 I 1 ■' 'i 1 '■ 1 1 'i V 4 !> il ■ ,-i, '; ' ' 1 ! 1 .1 .\.^ 1 , 1 ii-ii in consequence of the dread, which at that time lay on their minds, of offending Gen. Howe ; for they conceived so murderous a tyrant would not be too good to destroy even the officers, on the least pretence of an af- front, as they were equally in his power with the soldiers ; and, as Gen. Howe perfectly understood the condition of the private sol- diers, it was argued that it was exactly such as he and his council had devised, and as he meant to destroy them, it would be to no pur- pose for them to try to dissuade him from it, as they were helpless and liable to the same fate, on giving the least affront ; indeed, anx- ious apprehensions disturbed them in their then circumstances. "Mean time mortality raged to such an in- tolerable degree among the prisoners, that the very school boys in the streets knew the mental design of it in some measure ; at. least, they knew that they were starved to death. Some poor women contributed to their necessities, till their children were al- most starved, and all persons of common un- derstanding knew, that they were devoted to the crudest and worst of deaths. It was al- so proposed by some, to make a written rep- resentation of the condition of the soldiery, and the officers to sign it, and that it should be couched in such terms, as though they were apprehensive that the General was in^ posed upon by his officers, in their daily re- CDL. BtHAi^ ALLEN. l€5 turns to him, of the state and condition of the prisoners ; and that, therefore, the offi- cers, moved with compassion, were constrain* ed to communicate to him the facts relative to them, nothing doubting but that they would meet with a speedy redress ; but this proposal was most generally negatived also^ and for much the same reason offered in the other case ; for it was conjectured that Gen. Howe's indignation would be moved against such officers as should attempt to whip him over his officers' backs ; that he would dis- cern that himself was really struck at, and not the officers who made the daily returns ; and, therefore, self preservation deterred the officers from either petitioning or remonstra- ting to Gen. Howe, either verbally or in wri- ting ; as also the consideration that no valu- able purpose to the distressed would be ob- tained. "I made several rough drafts on the sub- ject, one of which I exhibited to Cols. Ma- gaw. Miles and Atlee, and they said that they would consider the matter; soon after I call- ed on them, and some of the gentlemen in- formed me, that they had written to the Gen- eral on the subject, and I concluded that the gentlemen thought it best that they should write without me, as there was such spirited aversion subsisting between the British and me. ^In the mean time a Col. Hussecket, of the ?|5 i ». 1 1 I* 1^ 166 i ' I ! ff if , "I ■ i* MEMOIR OF continental army, as he then reported, was taken prisoner, and brought to New York, who gave out that the country was almost universally submitting to the English King's authority, and that there would be little or no more opposition to Great Britain : This at first gave the officers a little shock, but in a few days recovered themselves ; for this Col. Hussecker, being a German, was feasting with Gen. De Heister, his countryman, and from his conduct, they were apprehensive, that he was a knave; at least, he was esteem- ed so by most of the officers ; it was, nev-^ ertheless, a day of trouble. The enemy blasphemed. Our littW army was retreating in New Jersey, and our yoimg men murdered by hundreds in New York : The army of Britain and Heshland prevailed for a little season, as though it was ordered by Heaven to shew, to the latest posterity, what the Brit- ish would have done if they could, and what the general calamity must have been, in con- sequence of their conquering the country, and to excite every honest man to stand forth in the defence of liberty, and to establish the independency of the United States of Amer- ica forever : But this scene of adverse for- tune did not discourage a Washington : The illustrious American hero, remained immov- able. In liberty^s cause he took up his sword : This reflection, was his support and ^onso*- latioQ in the day of his humiliation, when he 'J V ' \ COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 167 retreated before the enemy, through New- Jersey into Pennsylvania. Their triumph only roused his indignation ; and the impor- tant cause of his country, which lay near his heart, moved him to cross the Delaware again, and take ample satisfaction on his pursuers. No sooner had he circumvallated his haughty foes, and appeared in terrible ar- , ray, but the host of Heshland fell. Thig taught America the intrinsic worth of perse- verance, and the generous sons of freedom flew to the standard of their common safe- guard and defence ; from which time the arm of American liberty hath prevailed.* • The American army being greatly reduced by the loss of men taken prisoners, and by the depar* ture of men whose enlistments had expired, Gen. Washington was obliged to retreat towards Phila- delphia. Gen. Howe, exulting in his successes, pursued him, notwithstanding the weather was se- verely cold. To add to the disasters of ihe Ameri- cans, Gen. Lee was surprised and taken prisoner at Baskenridge. In this gloomy state of affairs, many persons joined the British cause, and took protec* tions. But a small band of heroes checked the tide of British success. A division of Hessians had advanced to Trenton, where they reposed in secu- rity. Gen. Washington was on the opposite side of the Delaware, with about three thousand men, many oi whom were without shoes or convenient clothing ; and the river was covered with floating ice. But the General knew the importance of striking some successful blow, to animate the ex- piring hopes of the country ; and on the night of I -Ml 1 . it i *. J: i 11 1 '. 'I: ii: i^ -« M • « ■f .1! ;1 ! i II :1 I:!r: 1. 168 ^pi,OlK OF This surprise and capture of the Hessii^!)? enraged, the enemy, who were still vastly more numerous than the continental troops : They, therefore, collected, and marched from Princeton, to attack Gen. Washington, who was then at Trenton, having previously left a detachment from their main body at Prince- ton, for the support of that place. This was a trying time for our worthy General, though in possession of a late most astouishing vic- tory, was, by no means, able to withstand the collective force of the enemy ; but his saga- city soon suggested a stratagem to effect that which, by force, to him was at that tirne impracticable: He therefore amused the enemy with a number of fires, and in the night made a forced march, undiscovered by them, and next morning, fell in with their rear guard at Princeton, and killed and took most of them prisoners. The main body too late perceived their rear was attacked, hurried back with all speed, but, to their mortification, found they were out-generalled, and baffled by Gen. Washington, who had retired with his little army towards Morristown, and was December 25th, crossed the river, and fell on the enemy by surprise, and took the whole body, con- .sistingof about nine hundred men. A few were killed, among whom was Colonel Rahl,thecom- ^ mander. [Webster^s Ekments. '-._■■ ^r-- r u / S \- ■ H' S ' It ► 1 1 ! COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 169 I vastly troops : led from 3n, who usly left t Prince- rhis was I, though hing vic- stand the his saga- to eifect that time lused the id in the 3vered hy their rear ook most ytoo late S, hurried tification, d baffled ired with , and was fell on (he body, con- few were ^1, the com* out of their power.* These repeated suc- cesses, one on the back of the other, cha* grined the enemy prodigiously, and had an amazing operation in the scale of American politics, and undoubtedly was one of the cor- ner stones, on which their fair structure of Independenc has been fabricated ; for the country at no one time has ever been so much dispirited as just before the morning of this glorious success, which in part dispelled the * On the 2d of January, 1777, Loid Gornwallis appeared near Trenton, with a strong body of troops. Skirmishing took place, and impeded the march of the British army, until the Anf!ericans had secured their artillery and baggage ; when they retired to the southward of the creek, and repulsed the enemy in their attempt to pass the bridge. As Gen. Washington's force was not sufficient to meet the enemy, and his situation was critical, he de- termined, with the advice of a council of war, to attempt a stratagem. He gave orders for the troops to light fires in their camp, (which were intended to deceive the enemy ) and he prepared to march. Accordingly at 12 o'clock at night the troops left the ground, and by a circuitous march eluded the vigilance of the enemy, and early in the morning appeared at Princeton.. A smart action ensued, but the British troops gave way. A party took refuge in the college, a building with strong stone walls, but were forced to surrender. The enemy lost in killed, wounded and prisoners, about five hundred men. The Americans lost but few men ; but among them, was a most valuable officer, General Mercer. [ Webster^s Elements, 15 T:-} it 4 i i- ■i J I |l > '■ ■ i V. t- r I \ ;l i 170 IfGMOIR OF gloomy clouds of oppression and slavery, which lay pending over America, bigwith the ruin of this and future generations, and en- lightened and spirited her sons to redouble their blows on a merciless, and haughty, and, I may add, perfidious enemy. "Farthcrmore, this success had a mighty effect on Gen. Howe and his council, and roused them to a sense of their own weak- ness, and convinced them that they were nei- ther omniscient nor omnipotent. Their ob- duracy and death-designing malevolence, in some measure, abated or was suspended.— The prisoners, who were condemned to tfce most wretched, and crudest of deaths, arid who survived to this period, though most of them died before, were immediately ordered to be sent within Gen. Washington's lines for an exchange ; and, in consequence of it, were taken out of their filthy and poisonous places of confinement, and sent out of New York to their friends in haste ; several of them fell dead in the streets of New York, as they attempted to walk to the vessels in the harbor, for their intended embarkation. What numbers lived to reach the lines, I canr not ascertain, but, from concurrent represen- tations which I have since received from numbers of people who lived in and adjacent to 3uch parts of the country, where they were received from the enemy, I apprehend that most of them died in consequence of COL. ETHAN ALLCN. 171 the vilo usage of the €iicmy. Some, who were eye-witnesses of that scene of mortal- ity, more especially in that part which con- tinued after the exchange took place, are of opinion, that it was partly in con&eqncnce of a slow poison ; but this I refer to the doc- tors that attended them, who are certainly the best judges. "Upon the hest calculation I have been able to make, from personal knowledge, and the many evidences i have collected in sup- port of the facts, I learn that, of the prison- ers taken on Long Island, Fort Washington and some few others, at diflerent times and places, about two thousand perished with hunger, cold and sickness, occasioned by the filth of their prisons, at New York, and a number more on their passage to the conti- nental lines ; most of the residue, who reach- ed their friends, having received their death wound, could not be restored bv the assist- ance of physicians and friends; but, like their brother prisoners, fell a sacrifice to the relentless and scientific barbarity of Britain. I took as much pains as my circumstances would admit of, to inform myself not only of matters of idct, but likewise of the very de- sign and aims of Gen. Howe and his council : The latter of whxh I predicated on the for- mer, and submit it to the candid public. "And lastly, the aforesaid success of the American arms had a happy effect on the A .■1 .i ^*1 %• t ( - 'i <* W 172 MEMOIR OF H li\ D continental officers, who were on par^'n ct New York : A number of us assembled, but not in a public manner, and, with full bowls and glasses, drank Gen. Washington's health, and were not unmindful of Congress, and our worthy friends on the continent, and al- most forgot that wo were prisoners. "A few days after this recreation, a British officer of rank and importance in their army, whose name I shall not mention in this narra- tive, for certain reasons, though I have men- tioned it to some of my close friends and confidants, sent for me to his lodgings, and told me, "That faithfulness, though in ^ wrong cause, had, nevertheless, recommend- ed me to Gen. Sir William Howe, who was minded to make me a Colonel of a regiment of new levies, ahas tories, in the British ser- vice ; and proposed that I should go with him, and some other officers, .'o England, who would embark for that purpose, in a few days, and there be introduced to Lord G. Germaine, and probably to the King ; and^ that previously, I should be clothed equal to such an introduction, and, instead of paper rags, be paid in hard guineas; after this, should embark with Gen. Burgoyne, and as- sist in the reduction of the country, which in- fallibly would be conquered, and, when that should be done, I should have a large tract of land, either in the New Hampshire grants, or in Connecticut, it would make no odds, as ir COL* ETfTAir ALtBN^ 173 ih ■j(i, but bowls health, ss, and and al- British ir armyt s narra- ve men- nds and [igs, and gh in a »nimena- vho was regiment itish ser- go with and, who n a few Lord G. g ; and» equal to [of paper [fter this, , and as- hich in- hen that •ge tract e grants, odds, as the country would be forfeited to the crown." I then replied, ^^That, if by faithfulness, I had recommended ayself to Gen. Howe, I should be loth, by unfaithfulness^ to lose the Gener- al's good opinion ; besides^, that I viewed the offer of land to l>c similar to that which the devil offered Jesus Christ; "To give him all the kingdoms of the world, if he would fall down and worshi;> him ;" when, at the same time, that the d — d soul ha:d not one foot of land upon earth." This closed ^he conver- sation, and the j^cntleman turned from me with an air of dislike, saying, I was a bigot ; upon which I retired to my lodgings. "Near the last of November, I was admit- ted to parole in New York, with many other American officers, and on the 22d day of January, 1 777, was with them directed by the British commissary of prisoners, to be quartered on the westerly part of Lond Isl- and, and our parole continued. During my imprisonment there, no occurrences worth observation happened. I obtained the means of living as wefl as I desired, which, in a great measure, repaired my constitution, which had been greatly injured by the severi- ties of an inhuman captivity. I now began to feel myself composed, expecting either an exchange, or continuance in good and honor- able treatment ; but alas ! my visionary ex- pectations soon vanished. The news of the Conquest of Ticonderoga, by General 15* •I !! !i 174 MEMOIR OP )' \ Burgoyne,* and the advance of his army into the country, made the haughty Britains a^ain to feel their importance, and with that, their insatiable thirst for cruelty. J, "The private prisoners at New York, and some of the officers on parole, felt the sever- ity of it. Burgoyne was their demi-god : To him they paid adoration : In him the to- rie^laced their confidence, "and forgot the Lord; their God," and served Howe, Bur- goyne and Knyphausen, "and became vile in their own imaginations, and their fooHsh hearts were darkened, professing" to be great politicians, and relying oa foreign and merci- less invaders, and with them seeking the ruiip, •In June, 1776, the British army amounting to seven thousand men, besides Indians and Canadi- ans, commanded by Gen. BuffjoynOj crossed the Lake and laid siege to Ticonderoga. Ir> a short time, the enemy gained possession of Sugar Hill, which commanded the American lines, and Gen. St. Clair, with the advice of a council of war, or- dered the posts to be abandoned. The retreat of the Americans was conducted under every possible disadvantage — part of their force embarked in bat* teaux and landed at Skenesborough— a part march- ed by the way of Castleton • but they were oblig- ed to leave their heavy cannon, and on their march lost a great part of their baggage and stores, while their rear was harrassed by the British troops. An action took place between Col. Warner, with a bo- dy of Americans, and Gen. Frazer, in which the . Americans were defeated, after a brave resistance, with the loss of a valuable officer, Col. Francis. COL. ETHAN ALLtlN. 175 bloodshed and destruction of their country, , "became fools," expecting' with them to share a dividend in the confiscated estates of their neighbors and countrymen, who fo^jght for the whole country, and the religion and liberties thereof : — "Therefore, God gave them over to strong delusions, to believe a lie, that they all might be damned.'" "The 2^th day of August, I was appre^ bended, and, under pretext of artful, mean, and pitiful pretences, that I had infringed on my parole, taken from a tavern, where there were more than a dozen officers present, and in the very place where those officers and myself were directed to be quartered, put under a strong guard, and taken to New York, where I expected to make my defence, before the commanding officer ; but, contra- ry to my expect«itions, and without the least solid pretence ol justice or a trial, was again encircled with a strong guard, with fixed bay- onets, and conducted to the provost-gaol, in a lonely apartment, next above the dungeon, and was denied all manner of subsistence, either by purchase or allowance. The sec- ond day I offered a guinea for a meal of vict- uals, but was denied it; and the third day, I offered eight Spanish milled dollars for a like favor, but was denied; and, all I could get out of the sergeant's mouth, was, that by G — d, he would obey his orders. I now per- ceived myself to be again in substantial m > 1 i*i if i a ); V" i :« -i ■^ n \ : ^ ii. : 176 IlEMOm 0? trouble. In this condition, I formed an ob- lique acquaintance with a Capt. Travis, of Virginia, who was in the dungeon below me, through a little hofe which was cut, with a penknife, through the floor of my apartment, which communicated with the dungeon; it was a small crevice, through which I could discern but a very small part of his face at once, when he applied it to the hole ; but from the discovery of him in the situation which we were both then in, I could not have known him, which I found to be true, by an after acquaintance. I could, neverthclesa, hold a conversation with him, and soon per- ceived him to be a gentleman of high spirits, who had a high sense of honor, and felt as big, as though he had been in a palace, and had treasures of wrath in stoFe against the British. In fine, I was charmed with the spirit of the man ; he had been near or quite four months in that dungeon, with murderers, thieves, and every species of criminals, and all for the sole crime of unshaken fidelity to his country ; but his spirits were above de- jection, and his mind unconquerable. I en- gaged to do him every service in my power, and in a few weeks afterwards, with the unit^ ed petitions of the ofl!icers in the provost, procured his dismission from the dark man^ sion of fiends, to the apartments of his pe^ titioners. "And it came to pass on the third day, at an ob- avis, of ow Toe^ with a rtment. eon; it I could face at »le ; but ituation lot have B, by an rthelesa, jon per- h spirits, d felt as ace, and ainst the with the ' or quite rdcfcrs, als, and idelity to lOve de- le. I en- ^y power, the unit^ proYOst, irk man^ )f his pe- d day, at COL. ETHAN ALLEN 177 the going down of the sun, that I was pre- sented with a piece of boiled pork, and some biscuit, which the sergeant gave me to un- derstand, was my allowance, and I fed sweet- ly on the same ; but I indulged my appetite by degrees, and, in a few days more, was taken from that apartment, and conducted to the next loft or story, where there were above twenty continental, and some militia officers, who had been taken, and imprison- ed there, besides some private gentlemen, who had been dragged from their own homes to that filthy place, by tories. Several of every denomination mentioned, died there, some before, and others after I was put there. '*The history of the proceedings relative to the provost only, were I particular, would swell a volume larger than this whole narra- tive : I shall, therefore, only notice such of the occurrences which are most c^tTaor* dinary. "Capt. Vandyke bore, with an uncoannon fortitude, near twenty months' confinement in this place, and in the mean time, was ve- ry serviceable to others who were confined with him. The allegation against him, as the cause of his confinement, was very ex- traordinary : He was accused of setting fire to the city of New York, at the time the west part of it was consumed, when it was a known fact, that he had been in the pro* n. I.! If «i I ; / ; I ,!♦ I' 178 IfEKfOIK OF m )■ ..■• mm f Ww f '/'' hIh : Wa : ma i i' t 1 >. f %* i ■ s vost a week before the fire broke out ; and^ in like manner, frivolous, were the ostensible accusations against most of those who were there confined ; the case of two militia of- ficers excepted, who were takcR in their at- tempting to escape from their parole ; and probably, there may be some other instances which might justify such a confinement "Mr. William Miller, a committee man, fi-om West Chester county, and state of New York, was taken from his bed in the dead of the night, by his tory neighbours, and ^ as starved for three days and nights, in an apartment of the same gaol ; add to this the denial of fire, and that in a cold season of the year, in which time he walked day and night to defend himself against the frost, and when he complained of such reprehensible con- duet, the word rebd or committee man was deemed by the enemy a sufiicient atonement for any inhumanity that they could invent or inflict. He was a man of good natural wh- derstanding, a close and sincere friend to the liberties of America, and endured fourteen months' cruel imprisonment, with that mag- nanimity of soul, which reflects honor on himself and country. "Maj. Levi Wells and Capt. Ozias BisseJl, were apprehended and taken under guard from their parole on Long Island, to the pro- vost, on as fallacious pretences as the for- mer, and were there continued till their ex- i it; attd^ feo wero tiUtia of- their at- ole; and nstances tent. tee man, e of New le dead of , and ^ as Its, in an to this \hQ son of the and night and \»hen was Bissell, ider guard to the pro- Jas the for- til their el- COL. ETHAN ALLElt. 179 change took place, which was near iiv« months. Their Ifidelity and 7:ealous attach** ment to their country's cause, which was more than commonly conspicuous was, un- douL.edly, the real cause of their confine- ment. "Major Brinton Payne, Capt. Flahaven, andCapt. Randolph, who had at difierent times distinguished themselves by their bravery, especially at the several actions, in which they were taken, were all the provo^- cations they gave, for which they suffered about a year's confinement, each in the shuiq filthy gaol.* "A few weeks after my confinement, on the like fallacious and wicked pretences, was brought to the same place, from his parole, on Long Island, Major Otho Holland Will- iams, now a full Colonel in the continental army. In his character are united the gen- tleman, officer, soldier, and friend ; he walk- ed through the prison with an air of great disdain; said he, "Is this the treatment which gentlemen of the continental army are to expect from the rascally British, when in their power ? Heaven forbid it !'' He was continued there about five months, and then exchanged for a British Major. • The sufferintjs (if the prisoners in New York, who remained faithful to their country's cause, aro stated, on other authorities, to have been severe and excessive. M'1 ■•■ ' I i' 'f ■ t i;i' # I 180 hgmoir or [' i (• !! ; "John Fell, Esq. now a member of Con- gress for the state of New Jersey, was taken from his own house, by a gang of infamous lories, and by ordtr of a British General, was sent to the provost, where he was continued near one year. The stench of the gaol, which was very loathsome and unhealthy, occasioned a hoarseness of the lungs, which proved fatal to many who weru there confin- ed, and reduced this gentleman near to the point of death ,• he was indeed given over by his friends, uho were about him, and he himself concluded he must die. I could not endure the thought that so worthy a friend to America, should have his life stolen from him in such a mean, base, and scandalous •manner, and that his family and friends should be bereaved of so great and desira- ble a blessing, as his farther care, unefulness and example, might prove to them. I, there- fore, wrote a letter to Gen. Robertson, who commanded in town, and being touched with the most sensible feelings of humanity, which dictated my pen to paint dying distress in such lively colours, that it wrought convic- tion even on th^ obduracy of a British Gen- eral, and produced his order to remove ♦he now honorable John I\^ll, out of a gaol, to private lodgings in town ; in consequence of which, he slowly recovered his health. — There is so extraordinary a circumstance h 1' OOL. ETHAN ALLEN. 181 which intervened concerning this letter, that it is worth noticing. ♦'Previous to sending it, I exhibited the same to the gentleman on whose behalf it was written, tor his approbation, and he for- bid me to send it in the most positive and expUcit terms : his reason was, "That the enemy knew, by every morning's report, the condition of all the prisoners, mine in par- ticular, as I have been gradually coming to my end for a considerable time, and they ve- ry well knew it, and hkewisc determined it should be accomplished, as they had served many others ; that, to ask a favor, would give the merciless enemy occasion to tri- umph over me in my last moments, and, therefore, I will ask no favors from them, but resign myself to my supposed fate." But the letter I sent without his knowledge, and I confess I had but little expectations from it, yet could not be easy till I had sent it. It may be worth a remark, that this gentleman was an Englishman born, and from the be- ginning of the revolution, has invariably as- serted, and maintained the cause of liberty. "The British have made so extensive an improvement of the provost during the pre- sent revolution, till of late, that a very short definition Vi^ill be sufficient for the dullesl; ap- prehensions. It may be with propriety call- ed the British inquisition, and calculated to support their oppressive measures and de- 16 i i I I'f 182 MEMOIR OF i iK" ^ii I t I It. M I %<• l\ i; ! i> ' I : i# I ' H Jri signs, by suppressing the spirit of liberty ; as also a place to confine the criminals, and most infamous ivretches of their own army, where many gentlemen of the Anxericaii jajf- my, and citizens thereof, were promiscuous* ly confined, with every species ' m «ti • 1 m like in human shape. He exhibits a smiling countenance, seems to wear a phiz of hu- manity, but has been instrumentally capaule of th( most consummate acts of wickedness, whicii were first projected by an aba?idoned British council, clothed with the authority of a Howe, murdering, premeditatedly, in cold blood, near or quite two thousand helpless prisoners, and that, in the most clandestine, mean and shameful manner, at New York. *^The 6th day of Juiy, 1777, Gen. St. Clair, and tlie army under his command, evacuated Ticonderoga, and retreated with the main body through Hubbardton into Castleton, which was but six miles distance, when his rear guard, commanded by Col. Seth Warn- er, was attacked at Hubbardton, by a body of the enemy of about two thousand, com- manded by Gen. Frazer. Warner's com- mand consisted of his own and tw o other re- gimentt;, viz : Francis' and Hale's, and some scattering and enfeebled soldiers. His whole number, according to information, was near or quite one thousand ; part of which were Green Mountain Boys ; about seven hundred out of the whole, he brought into action. — The enemy advanced boldly, and the two bodies formed within about sixty yards of each other. Col. Warner having formed his own regiment and that of Col. Francis, did not wait for the enemy, but gave them a hea- vy fire from his whole line, and they returned t i I»0L. ETHAN ALLEN. 185 1 ( ■i it with great bravery. It was, by this time, dangerous for those of both parlies, who ■ were not prepared for the worhi to come ; but Col. Hale, being apprised of the danger, never brought his regiment to the charge, but left Warner and Francis to stand the blowing of it, and fled, but luckily fell in with • an inconsiderable number of the cncmv, and to his eternal shame, surrcndcrcH himself a prisoner. "The conflict was very blood . ^ol. Fran- cis fell in the same, but Col. W ..i , ind the officers under his command, as also the sol- diery, behaved with great resolution. The enemy broke, and gave way on the right and left, but formed again, and renewed the at- tack ; in the mean time, the British grena- diers, in the centre of the enemy's line, main- tained the ground, and finally carried it with the point of the bayonet, and Warner retreat- ed with reluctance. Our loss was about thirty men, killed, and that of the enemy, amounting to three hundred, killed, including a Major Grant. The enemy's loss, I learnt from the confession of their own officers, when a prisoner with them. I heard them likewise complain, that the Green Mountain Boys took sight. The next movement of the enemy, of any material consequence, was their investing Bennington,* with a design to *The Americans had collected a quantity of ftores at Bennington ; to destroy which, as well at . ■ :' 16 • '.' . I I y V *n *\ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // /./ L 1.0 I.I ■is Ki 12.2 18 IL25 llliu iiiiii^ V] 7. <^; 7 Fhotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 186 MEMOIR OF 'i • i» I 'Rhv demolish it, and subject its Mountaineers^ to which they had a great aversion, with one hundred and fifty chosen men^ including to* ries, with the highest expectation of success, and having chosen an eminence of strong ground, fortified it with slight breast wori(s, and two pieces of cannon ; but the govern- ment of the young. state of Vermont, being previously jealous of such an attempt of the enemy, and in due. time had procured a num- ber of brave militia, from the government of New Hampshire, who, together with the mi- htia of the north part of Berkshire county, and state of Massachusetts, and the Green Mountain Boys, constituted a body of reso-| lute men, under the command of the intre- to animate the royalisfs and intimidate the patriots, Gen. Burgoyne detached Col. Baum, with five hundred men and one hundred Indians. GoK 3rey- man was Sent to reinforce him, but did not arrive in time. On the 16th of August^ Gen. Stark, with about eight hundred brave militia men, attacked Col. Baum, in his entrenched camp, about six mile9 from Bennington, and killed or took prisoners, nearly the whole detachment. The next day CoL Breyman was attacked and defeated. In these ac< tions, the Americans took about seven hundred prisonets, and these successes served to revive the spirits of the people. This success, however, was, in part, counterbalanced by the advantages gained on the Mohawk, by Col. St. Leger ; but this offir eer, attacking Fort Stanwix, was repelled, and obliged to abandon the attempt. 'i*i COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 137 p'ld Gen. Stark, who, in number, were about equal to the enemy. Cpl. Herrick, who eom« manded the Green Mountain Rangers, and who was second in command, being thor- oughly acquainted with the ground where the enemy had fortified, proposed to attack them in their works upon all parts, at th» same time. This plan being adopted by the General and his council of war, the little mi- litia brigade of undisciplined heroes, with their long brown firelocks, the best security of a free people, without either cannon or bayonets, was, on the 16th day of August, led on to the attack by their bold command-^ ers, in the face of the enemy's dreadful fire, and to the astonishment of the world, and burlesque of discipline, carried every part of their lines in less than one quarter of an hour after the attack became general, took their cannon, killed and captured more than two^ thirds of their number, which immortalized Gen. Stark, and made Bennington famous to* posterity. "Among the enemy's slain was found CoL Baum, their commander, a Col. Pfester, wha headed an in&mous gang of torics, and a large part of his command; and among the prisoners was Major Meibome, their second in command, a number of British and Hes- sian officers, surgeons, &c., and more than one hundred of the aforementioned Pfester's command The prisoners being collected i^ ) * i 1 , |: « 188 MEMOIR Of ■^ M. '■ y 1^ ■u Ih together, were sent to the meeting house in the town, by a strong guard, and Sen. Stark, not imagining an^ present danger, the mihtia scattered from him to rest and refresh them- selves ; in this situation he was on a suddea attacked by a reinforcement of one thousand and one hundred of the enemy, coinmanded by a Gov. Skene, with two field pieces : — They advanced in regular order, and kept up an incessant fire, .especially from their field pieces, and the remaining niilitia retreat* ing slowly before tnem, disputed the ground, inch by inch. The enemy were heard to hal- loo to them, saying, "stop Yankees." In the mean time. Col. Warner, with about cjne hundred and thirty men of his regiment, who were not in the first action, arrived and at- tacked the enemy with great fury, being de- termined to have ample revenge on account of the quarrel at Hubbardton, which brought them to a stand, and soon after. Gen Stark and Col. Herrick, brought on more of the scattered militia, and the action became gen' eral ; and in a few minutes, the enemy were forced from their cannon, gave way on all parts, and tied ; and the r - its of victory were, a second time, proclaL. jd in favor of the militia. The enemy's loss, in killed and and prisoners, in these two actions, amount- ed to more than one thousand and two hun- dred men, and our loss did not exceed fifty mea. This was a bitter stroke to the enemy, COL. BTHAir ALLEN. 18^ but their pride woold not permit them to he- sitate but that tliey could vanquish the coun- try : and^ as a specimen of their arrogancy, I shall insert Geo. Burgoyne's proclamation. ^Btf John Burg9yne^ Esq. Lieutenant-Gener' qI of his Majesty^ s annies in America^ Colonel of the Queen^s reariment of light drasoonsi^ Gov^ ernor of Fori William in JVortk Bntain^ one of the Representatives of the Commons of Greats Britain^ in Parliament, and commanding an ar^ my and fleet employed on an expedition from Caw ada, Src. Src, ^c, "The forces entrusted to my command are designed to act in concert, and upon a common principle, with the numerous ar- mies and fleets which already display, in ev-^ ery quarter of America, the power, the jus- tice, and, when properly sought, the mercy of the King. "The cause, in which the* British arms are thus exerted, applies to the most affecting interests of the human hc^art ; and the mil- itary servants of the crown, at first called forth for the sole purpose of restoring the rights of the constitution, now combine with love of their country, and duty to their sove- reign, the other extensive incitements which spring from a due sense of the general privi- leges of mankind. To the eyes and ears of the temperate part of the public, and to the breasts of suffering thousands in the provin- •It fc; I ' ., .. ■ / ♦ i* ■■«*ki 190 MBMOm OP if K^ ces, be the melancholy appeal, whether the present unnatural rebellion ha^s not been tnade a fouAdatioiy fof thcreom^pl^teflt system of tyranny that ever God, in his displeasure^ suffered for a time, to be exercised over a froward and stubborn generation. ^'Arbitrary impi^isonment, confiscatioti of property, persecution And torture^ Unprece;- dentedi in the inquisitions of the RomiRh church, are amon^ the palpable enormities that verify the amrmaltive. These arie in^ dieted by assemblies and communities^ vvlio' dare to profess themselves friends to liDerty^ tipon the most qtiiet subjects, without dis- tinction of age or sex, for the Uo\^ crime, oft- en for the sole suspicion, of having adhered in principle, to the government Under which they were born^ and to which, by every tie, divine «£nd hOmaA', they oWe altegiahce. To consummate these shocking proceedings, the profanation of religion i^ adfded to the most profligate prostitution of cOmmoft reason ; the Consciences of men are set at nought ; and multitudes afe compelled, not otih to bear arms^ but also to swear subjection to an iisurpation thejr abhor. '^'Animated by these considerations ; at the head of troops iti the full po\vers of heahh, discipline, and ValOi" ; determined to strike Where necessary, and anxious to spare where possible, I, by th^se presents, invite and ex- hort all persons, in all places, where the pro-^ er th6 been (ydtem 5a€urey over a tioti of iprece; rmitics are in^ Ubertyf itit dis- me, otx- adhered tr which ive^y ti(i, ^e. to ings,the ;he most reason ; nought ; orJv to on to an [)ns ; at f health, to strike e where and ex- the pro- COL. ETHAN ALLE!'. m meBB of this army ma^ fk^Qjt ; ^pd by th« EleQsing.Oif Qod,I will e^end k fus to protect, provided they remain quietly at their houi&jes ; that they do not sufr fer their cattle to be rpmoyed, nor their corn or forage to be secreted or destroyed ; that they do not breajc up their bridges or roads ; nor by any otlier act^ directly or indirectly, endeavour to .obstruct the operations of the King's troopjB, or supply or assist those of the enemy. Every species of provision* brought 1^0 my camp, will be paid Cor, at an equitable rate, and in solid coin. "In cqnspiouanegs of Christianity, my royal master's clemency, and the honor of soldier- ship, I have dwek upon this invitation, and wished for more persuasive terms to give it impression : And let not people be led to disregard it, by considering their distance ! I' 'I % 1. 1 I) 1 ^•i \: I' •■ * ». 191 MBMOIR OF I '. from :He immediate situation of m;^ <;amp.<^ I have but to ^ive stretch to the Indian forces under my direction, and they amount to thousands, to overtake the hardened ene- mies of Great Britain and America : I oon- sider them the same wherever they may lurk. ^4f, notwithstanding these endeavours, and sincere inclinations to effect them, the phrenzy of hostility should remain, I trust I shall stand acquitted in the eyes of God and men, in denouncing and executing the ven- geance of the state :against the wilful out- casts. — The messengers of justice and of ^vrath aw9.it them in the field ; and devasta- tion, famine, and every concomitant hOrror that a reluctant but indispensable prosecu- tion, of military duty must occasion, will bar the way to their return. J. BURGOYNE. ^^By his Excellency the Lieutenant General^ RoBT. Kingston, Sec^y, ^Camp near Ticonderoga^ Ath July^ 1777." "Gen. Burgoyne was still the toast, and the severities towards the prisoners, were, in a great measure increased or diminished, in •proportion to the expectation of conquest. His very ostentatious Proclamation was in the hand and mouth of most of the soldiery, especially the tories, and from it, their faith was raised to assurance.— I wish my country^ men in general could but have an idea of the assuming tyranny, and haughty, malevolent, COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 192 and insolent behavior of the enemy, at that time ; and from thence discern the intolera- ble calamities which this country have extri- cated themselves from, by their public spirit- edness and bravery. — The downfall of Gen. Burgoyne,* and surrender of his whole ar- my, dashed the aspiring hopes and expecta- tions of the enemy, and brought low the im- Eious spirit of an opulent, puissant and aughty nation, and made the tories bite the ground with anguish, exalting the valor of the free born sons of America, and raised * Gen. Burgoyne, after collecting bis forces and stores, crossed the Hudson, with a view to pene- tiate to Albany. But tbe American army being reinforced daily, held him in check at Saratoga. — Gen. Gates now took the command, and was aided by Generals Lincoln and Arnold. On the 19th of September, the Americans attacked the British ar- my, and with such bravery, that the enemy could boast of no advantage, and night put an end to the action. Tbe loss of the enemy was about five hundred. Gen. Burgoyne was confined in a nar- row pass— having the [ludson on one side, and i:i!- passable woods on the other — a body of Americans was in his rear — hijs boats he had ordered to be burnt, and he could not retreat — while an army of thirteen thousand men opposed him in front. On the 7th of October, the armies came to a second ac- tibh,in which the British lost Gen. Frazer, with a great number of officers and men, and were driven within their lines. On the part of the Americans, the loss was not great, but Generals Lincoln and Arnold were woundod. Webster's Elements, 17 4 t! :• t M\ 1 I t 193 MEMOIR OF iiU k their fame and that ofiiheir hrave command- ers to. the vcloudiU and immortalized General Gates, vWith laurols of eternal duration. — No sooner had the knowledge of this interesting and mighty e,¥ent reached his most Christian Majesty** who, inJEurope, shines with a su- perior lustre in goodness, policy and ^arms, but the illustrious potentate, i^uspiciously in- fluenced by Jleaven to promote the recipro- cal interest ^nd ha,ppinQss of the (incient ;Hingdojn of France, and the jiew and rising States of America, passed the great and de- cisive decree, that the United States of ^meiica, should be free and independent.-^ Vauut no more, Old England i consider you are but an island ! and that your power has been continued longer than the, exercise of your humanity. Qrder yourbrgken and van- ^qiiished batt^llions to retire from America, the. scene of ^your cruelties. Go home and repent in dust and sackloth for your aggra- vated crimes. 'The cries of bereaved pa- rents, widows and orphans, reac^ the Heav- .ens, and you. are abominated .by every Mend ,to Ameri^^a. Take your Memisythe tories« «^ith you,and be gpne, and drinkdeep of the * It appearii|'l?y tbiSfihat the Colonel, although a ,8tau9ph wjbig»«oHi<), if oceaaion required, ap^ak in .coniiDendatioaotcrji»wrted> heads. It is to be eonsid* ;e.red, however,'tbAtrthe'4french King, by his kind ^'measures in regard to our Revolutionary caiisO} bad !;iv^^l,iDAerited this tribute to nia worth. ••■I COL. ETHAfT ALLEN. 194 cup of humiliation. Make peace with the Princes of the house of Bourbon ; for you are in no condition to wage war with them. Ybur veteran soldiers are fallen in America, and your glory is departeds Be quiet and pay your debts, especially for the hire of the Hessians. There is no other way for you to get into credit again, but by reformation and 'plain honesty, which you have despised; for your power is by no means sufficient to sup- port your vanity. I have had opport«rnity to see a great deal of it, and felt its severe ef- fects, and learned lessons of wisdom and pol- icy, when I were your heavy irons, and bore your bitter revilings and reproaches. I have sometliing* of a smattering of philosophy, and understand human nature in all its stages tolerably well ; am thoroughly acquainted with your national crimes, and assure you, that Iney not only cry aloud for Heaven's vengeance, but excite- mankind to rise up agamst you; Virtue, wisdom and policy are, in a national sense, always connected with powery or in other words, power is their off- springr^and^ such power as is directed by vir- tue, wisdonr and policy, never fails finally to destroy itself, as yours has done. It is r o in the\iatttre'of things, and unfit that it should be otherwise ; for if it was wot so, vanity, in- justice and oppression", might reign trium- phant forever. I know you have individuals, who still retain their virtue, and, consequent- ■\" i i',' 195 MEMOIR OP ly, their honor and humanity. Those I really pity, 08 they must more or less suffer in the calamity, in which the nation is plunged headlong ; but as a nation, I hate and despise you. "My affections are Frenchified. — I glory in Louis the sixteenth, the generous and powerful ally of these States ; am fond of a connection with so enterprising, learned, po- lite, courteous and commerciala nation, and am sure that I express the sentiments and feelings of all the friends to the present revo* lution. I begin to learn the French tongue, and recommend it to my countrymen, before Hebrew, Greek or Latin, (provided but one of them is to be attended to) for the trade and commerce of these States, in future, must inevitably shift its channel from Eng- land to France, Spain and Portugal; and, therefore, the statesman, politician and mer- chant, need be acquainted with their several languages, particularly the French, which is much in vogue, in most parts of Europe. — Nothing could have served so effectually to illuminate, polish and enrich these States, as the present revolution, as well as preserve their liberty. Mankind are naturally too na- tional, even to a degree of bigotry ; and com- mercial intercourse, with foreign nations, has a great and necessary tendency .to improve mankind, and erase the superstition ,of the mind by acquainting them that human i^a- - ■ '- ■ ■■-*■■• ^ifi' cot. CTHAV ALLEtr 195 ture, policy andintefeBt, are the same, ia all nations, aiid a/t the same time they are* bar- tering commodilies for the conveniences and happiness of each nation, thev may recipro- early exchange suclv part oi their customs and manners as may be beneficial, and learn to extend charity and good will t& the whole world of mankind. — I was eoniined in the provost gaol at New York, the 26th day of August, and continued there to the 3d day of May, 1778^ whea I was taken out under guard, and conducted to a sloop in the har- bour at New York, in which I was guarded to Staten Island,, to- Gen. Campbelrs quar- ters,, where I was admitted toeat and drink with the General, and several other of the British field officers,, and treated for two days in a polite manner. As I was drinking wine with them one evening, I made an observa* tion on my transition from the provost-crim- inals to the* company of gentlemen ; adding, that I wras the same man still, and shonm give the British credit by hinr, (speaking to the General) fi^r two days good usage; **The next day Col. Archibald Campbell, who vras exchanged for me, came to this place, conducted by Mr. Boudinot, the then American commissary of prisoners, and sa- luted me in a handsome manner, saying that he never was more glad to see any gentle- man in his life; and I gave him to understands that I was equally glad to see him, and was 17 » I • 1 4 t I Si- w fel 197 MEMOIR OF Ilk apprehensive that it was fj^om the same mo- tive. The gentleman present laughed at the fancy, and conjectured that sweet liberty was the foundation of our gladness ; so we 4ook a glass of wine together, and then I was accompanied by Gen. Campbell, Col. Campbell, Mr. Boudinot, and a number of British officers, to the boat, which was rea- dy to sail to Elizabethtown Point. Mean i while I entertained them with a rehearsal of sthe crueUies exercised towards our prison- ers ; and assured them that I should use my influence, that their prisoners should be treat- ed in future in the same manner, as they should, in future, treat ours ; that I thought it was right, in such extreme cases, that their example should be applied to their own prisoners ; then exchanged the decent cere- monies of compHment, and parted. I sailed to the point aforesaid, and, in a transport of joy, landed on liberty ground, and, eL^ I ad- vanced into the country, received the accla- mations of a grateful people. "I soon fell into company with Col. Shel- den, of the light horse, who in a polite and obliging manner accompanied me to head- quarters. Valley Forge, where I was courte- ously received by Gen. Washington, with pe- culiar marks of approbation and esteem, and ^ .was introduced to most of the Generals, and many of the principal officers of the army^ who treated me with respect, and after har- COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 198 ing offered Gen. Washington my farther ser- vices, in hehalf of my country, as soon as my health, which was very much impaired, would admit, and obtain his licence to return home, I took my leave of his Excellency, and set out from Valley Forge, with Gen. Gates and his suit for Fish Kill, where we arrived the latter end of May. In this tour, the Gener- al was pleased to treat me with the familiari- ty af a companion, and generosity of a lord, and to him I made known some striking cir- cumstances which occurred in the course of my captivity. — I then bid farewell to my no- ble General, and the gentleman of his reti- nue, and set out for Bennington, the capital of the Green Mountain Boys, where I arriv- ed the evening of the last day of May, to their great surprise ; for I was, to them, as one rose from the dead, and now both their joy and mine was complete. Three cannon were fired that evening, and next morning, Col. Herrick gave orders, and fourteen more were discharged, welcoming me to Benning- ton, my usual place of abode ; thirteen for the United States, and one for young Ver- mont." Having completed the history of the events connected with the captivity of Col. Allen, we now resume our account of the Contro- versy between the settlers on the New Hamp- i. i- ) ,. .' II 199 MEMOIR OF , -v ' i'»i*. IM- .i! p.! m r n: Iff shire Grants and the authorities of Neir York. The inhabitants of the Grants, were, at the period of which we now speak, (t77d) without an J settled form of government or bond of Union. Common interest had, thiKr &r, kept them together, and given energy and unanimity to their proceedingsw The partial relief experienced, however, at the com- mencement of the war, from> the oppression of New York, served to convince them of the weakness of their political ties, and of t^e necessity of a better internal organiza* tion. Accordingly at the close of the year 1775, a number of influential individuals re^ paired to Philadelphia, where the American Congress was then in sression, with the intent to procure the advice of that body, relative to the best policy to be pursued, under the existing circumstances of the case» No for- mal measures were adopted by Congress, in relation to the subject ; but, upon the return of the gentlemen, a large number c^ circu- lars, setting forth the opinions of several in- fluential members of Congress, in favor of a temporary association, under proper regula- tions, were distributed among the people. In pursuance of these recommendations, a Convention of Delegates &om the several towns, was assembled at Dorset, on the 1 6th of January, 1776 : — ^A petition was forward- ed to^ Congress, in which a brief sketch of ' : COL. ETHAK ALLEN. 200 ;U' fl' the Controversy wit?' New York was given, and their willingtiic avowed to bear their full proportion of Uie burden arising from the war. They, also, avowed their unwil- lingness to be considered, in any manner, sub- ject to the authority or jurisdiction of New York. The Committee of Congress, to whom the petition was referred, reported that it be recommended to the petitioners to submit, for the present, to the Government of New York, and assist their countrymen in the contest with Great Britain ; declaring that such submission ought not to prejudice their right to any land in controversy, or be construed to admit the jurisdiction of New York over the country, when the troubles should be ended. This petition, being con- sidered unfavorable to the Grants, by the Agent who presented it to Congress, was with- drawn before it received the final action of that body. On the 4th of July, follow inor the presenta- tion of the petition. Congress published to the world, our memorable Declaration of In- dependence. This placed the people of Ver- mont in a situation more difficult and em- barrassing than they were before ; and much speculation was afloat in regard to the course to be pursued. It was urged by some, that the settlers should immediately place themselves under the jurisdictior. of New Hampshire — by others, that they should sub- 201 MEMOIR OP ■■,♦' ■f if- n\ H ;ir mit to the authority of New-York. The more resolute and ii^^ntial, were, however, for assuming the powers (^government, and hazarding the consequences. 'Fhat the dif- ficulty might be amicably settled, the people assembled i:n Convention at Dorset, on the 24th of July, 1776. An a^sociaiion was agreed upon for the defence of the country's liberties; and a resolixtion was adopted^ that they would not associate with, o^ submit to, the provincial government of New York. — The Convention met again, by adjournment, on the 2'5th of September,, and resolved unan- imously, "to take suitable measures, as soon as may be, to declare the New Hampshire Grants a free and separate District ^^ And, on the 15th of January following, at the third session of the Convention, it was declared, that "this Cooventiony whose members are duly chosen by the free voice of their constit- uents, in the several tawns on the New Hamp- shire Grants, in our own name^, and in be- half of our constituents, do hereby proclaim and publicly declare, that the cKstrictof ter- ritory comprehending, and usually known by the name and description of the New Hamp- shire Grants, of right ought to be, and is hereby declared ever after to be, a tree and independent jurisdiction, or State : to be hereafter called, known and distinguished by the name of New Connecticut, or Ver- mont/' This declaration was unanimously •a^>. • f # The >wever» nt, and the dif- people on the m was )iiiitTy'8 ed, that bmit to, rnment, 3d unan- as soon mpshire '^ And, the third eelared, hers are constit- Hamp- id in be- roclaim tof ter- [Own by Hamp- j and is Itree and to be guished or Ver- limously roL. ETHAir Ai.Leir« 202 adopted by the Convention; and a petition forwarded to Congress, in which th^ an* nounpedthat they had declared the territory, known astthe "^ew Hampshire Grants, a free and independent State ; and closed by pray- ing that they might be acknoiKdcdged by Congress^ and that delegates, from 'Vermont, might be admitted to seats in that body. These measures.were variously regarded by the neighboring States. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, were wil- ling that Vermont should become a member of thexonfederacy ; but New York regard- ed the request as treason and rebellion to her authority. Jn this state .of things, commu- nications, emanatingifrom two different Con- ventions of the people of New York, were addressed to Congress,4n whicii the proceed- ings af Vermont were represented as result- ing from the acts and instigations of design- ing men ; ,and not from a desire of the in- habitants to renounce their aUegiance to the authority of New York. After the adoption of ivarious measures, by both Vermont and New York, Congress, at last, took up the matter^ and the communi- cations of both parties were referred to a committee of the wliole^; which committee, among other things, resolved, "That Con- gress would not recommend or countenance any thing injurious to the rights and juris- diction of the several communities herein r I lei I r of the [Stified by the )y any lat the 1 as an legates issed." J trans- ermont ion for mt. A legates of VeiV ^ednes- littee to A res- iding to eet in >nd day of dis- |n. The after a lad and a sub- lindsor ; ir it, on i>' COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 204 February, 1778, Gov. Clinton issued a Proc- lamation, in which he confirmed the titles of the settlers to their lands, in certain cases, and made several concessions, in their favor ; but the right of New York, to extend her jurisdiction over the Grants, was not relin- quished : The people were commanded, "at their perU to yield obedience and allegiance" to New YorK, and, in all respects, to govern themselves as peaceable and quiet citizens. To this Proclamation, Ethan Allen, ever on the ulert to detect political cunning, and willing to expose it, pubhshed the following answer : "This Proclamation," says Col. Allon, "af- ter mentioning a disaffection of miiny per- sons, inhabiting the north east parts of the county of jilbany^ and certain parts of the counties of Charlotte^ Cumberland and Glbxi- tester^ proceeds to affirm that these tracts of country were clearly included within the an- cient, original, true, and lately established bounds of the state of JVeiv York, That many, nay, almost the whole of the inhabitants in those counties, alias^ the state of Vermont^ are disaftected to the govern- ment of JVct^f re settlers; to which I refer the reader, and at present observe, that as the quoted assertions jn these Procjama- tions, are wholly without foundatipjni, they need only to be as positively denied .as they ju-e asserted. The fact is, that the t^act of land, which now comprehends the state of VermmU ^vas, universally, .Iqiown to .be, in the government of J^ew Hampshire. Thus it was placed by all Geographers, in thejr maps, 'till the year 1764, when the noy^ Eng- lish King, for -certain political reasons, which I shall mention, extended th^ jurisdiction of JS^cw York over the premises, by his special royal authority. At the time of the altera- tion of this jurisdiction, jealousies had fired the minds of King and j^arliament; against the growth and rising po;ver oiJlmerica^ and at this time, they began to adyance.men and governments into power, with a political de- sign to cEu^h the liberties of America, JVew York had ever been their favorite govern- ment. They could almost vie with Great Britain in the art of vassalagjng common people, and in erasing every idea of hberty COL. ETHAN ALLEX. 206 from tlie human mind, by making and keep- ing them poof and servile. This, Great Brit- ain well knew, and therefore fleeced a large territory from JVew Hampshire^ and arfded it to New York^ to depress the power of the one, and enlarge and extend the other. A well concerted plan : but the green mountain boys disconcerted it, by throwing their weight into the scale of Congress, which, thank God, has fairly preponderated. Thus may be seen the design, as well as date, of the original, ancient and true bounds of the state of J{ew YbrAr, being extended over the state of Vermont ; and for the samfe reason, it was thus extended by Great Britairii it will un- doubtedly be curtailed by Congress. As to the acts of outlawry, mentioned in the Proclamation, the^y died a natural death, the first day oi January^ 1776, as may be seen from the act itself, here quoted : "And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that this act shall remain and continue in full force and effect, from the passing thereof, until the first day of January^ which will be in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventy six." The subjects of the state of Vermont^ were under no apprehensions from these old life- less acts. Nor do I conceive, that the pres- ent legislature of the state of J^ew York have laid them under any obligation, in granting them a pardon. It was a matter which for- ii 'W 1i I!.. ■1' M. u ''w'l' K if .;'t 1 I l<-C<' ! i »i t ih ; '.M I'f '■. 207 MEMOIR OP .. 'I merly respected Gov. Tryon^ the old legisla- ture of Jxew Yorky and the green niouniain boys ; and the party last mentioned, choose to settle that old quarrel with Mr. Tryon ; and resent it, that the legislature of the state of New York have so late in the day, under- took to give an ^'unconditional discharge and remission of all penalties and forfeitures incurred," under any act which had been long dead ; and which, when alive, served only to discover to the world, the wickedness and depravity of that legislative body which enacted them. In the lifetime of this act, I was called by the Yorkers^ an outlaw, and af- terwards, by the Biitish^was called a rebel ; and I humbly conceive, that there was as much propriety in the one name as the other; and I verily believe, that the King's commis- sioners would now be as willing to pardon me for the sin of rebellion, provided I would, af- terwards, be subject to Britain, as the legis- lature above mentioned, provided I would be subject to JVew York ; and, I must confess, I had as lief be a subject to the one as the oth- and, it is well known, I have had great er ^i-'v experience in them both. Next, I propose to consider that part of the Proclamation, called overtures, which are contained in the three first articles. Ar- ticle 1st. "That all persons, actually pos- sessing and improving lands, by title under grants from New Hampshire or Massachusetts .»i*: .»! COL. BTHAH ALLC!f. 208 |f legisla- umntain choose Tryon ; he Btate , under- scharge •feitures ad been , served kedness ^ which lis act, I , and af- a rebel ; I was as le other; icommis- rdon me ould, af- he legis- vould be onfess, I the oth- ad great Aoy, and not granted under New York^ shall be confirmed in their respective pos- seftsions.** This article cannot be considered of any material consequence, inasmuch as, among almost the whole possessions referred to in the article, there are but very few, if any, but what are covered with New York grants. The second article is as follows : ^^That all persons possessing and improving lands, not granted by either of the three govern- ments, shall be confirmed in their respective possessions, together with such additional quantity of vacant land, lying contiguous to each respective possession, as may be ne- cessary to form tne same into a convenient farm, so as the quantity of land to be confirm- ed to each respective possession, shall not ekceed three hundred acres." Neither of these two first articles, called overtures, afiect the controversy, except in some very few instances ; inasmuch as all, or in a manner, all the possessions spoken of, • were first granted by New Hampshire^ except some few which were granted by Massachu' Hits Bay I and then, kstly, almost the whole of those possessions were re-granted hyNew York, This being the case, what has been lutherto proposed, dpes not reach the es- sence of the controversy, as the New York-^ 4F» very well know ; besides, it is not in the power of the government to confirm any of 18* i'i !!!' I- 209 MEMOIR or . I ^■U: I H 'ijll' , those possessions, which have been already granted, and therefore become the property of the grantees, as will be more fully discuss* cd in its proper place. I proceed to the tliird article or the much boasted overtures. ^^That where lands, have been heretofore granted by J^eto Hampshire and Massachusetts BaUf or either of them, and actually possess- ed m consequence thereof, and being ^o pos- sessed, viere afterwards granted by JSIetu York ; such possession shall be confirmed, — the posterior grant under JVew York, notwith- standing/* Though it is absolutely out of the power of the said legislative authority, to confirm^ the possessions mentioned ; yet, to discover their want of generosity in their proposal, I shall, in the first place, consider what a tri- fling proportion of those possessions could be confirmed upon their own stating, inas- much as the confirming clause in the article, only confirms the possessor, who being so possessed at the time that the JVew York grant was laid ; and has no respect to any additional possession carried on afler the grant took place. The identical words are, ^^And being so possessed, were afterwards granted by JVew York ;" viz. After such possession was actually made, and the pos- sessor being so in possession, at the time the grant took place, such possession shall \ ■• COL. BTHAIf ALLEfT. 210 bo confirmed ; but any later possession can- not be included in the condition of ^^being so possessed ;^ for, a later possession was no possession at all, at the time tiio condition of possession took place; am^ consequently, every possession which has been begun m the state of Varmont^ since the lands were granted by JVeu; York^ must be lost to the possessor, and fall into the hands of the JSI'ew York grantees, with all other uncultivated lands in the state ; and all our purchases of those lands from JVew Hampshire and Massa^ chmetts Bay^ fall to the ground, together with our possessions, which have been increased an hundred fold. These overtures have hitherto been con- sidered only in a grammatical and logical sense, allowing them their own construction. I now proceed to consider them in a law sense. A legislative authority, within its own jurisdiction, may confirm a possession on vacant land, by making a grant of the same to the possessor. But, for the legisla- tive authority of the state of J^ew York^ to pretend, as they do in their Proclamation, to vacate any grants made by their own author- ity, in favor of any possession, and to con- firm such possessions, by nullifying and de- feating their own grants, is the neight of folly and stupidity : for, the lands being once granted, the property passeth to the grantee; (i- I *\\ \: * i' I ».i » > • ■ i !** .■• ,! \ , •:; 'il'' I I ' . \ ■u; * It ' • I 5; Jl' ^ll 11 If i< ' "*i 1 I, ■ I %' ij.t* l^^r 211 MEMOIR OF who is become the sole proprietor of the and he is as independent of that le- same gislative authority, which granted it, as any person may be supposed to be, who purohas- eth a farm of land of me by deed of convey- ance : and it is as much oat of the power of that legislature to vacate a grant made by them, or the same authority, in favor of any possessor, as it is out of my power to vacate my deed of conveyance in favor of some se- cond person. It is contrary to common sense to suppose, that the property of the subject is at the arbitrary disposal of the legislature r if it was, they might give a grant to day, and vacate it to morrow, and so on, ad infinitum. This would destroy the very nature and ex- istence of personal property^ as the whole would depend on the sovereign will and last act of the legislature. But the truth of the matter is, the first conveyance will, and ought to hold good ; and this defeata all subse- quent conveyances. From what has been said on this subject, it appears, that the overtures in the Procla- mation set forth, are either romantic, or cal- culated to deceive woods people, who, in general, may not be supposed to understand law, or the power of a legislative authority. I have further to evince my arguments on tiiis subject, by the concurring opinion of the Lords of the Board of Trade, on complaint h n COL. ET»AN ACLEtr*- 212 made to them from those very persons, pos- sessing the land we are speaking of. That clause of their report which is similar to what I have argued, is in these words : — "Such subsequent grants made by the gov- ernment of New York^ however unwarranta- ble, cannot be set aside by any authority from his Majesty, in case the grantees shall insist on their title." Thus it appears, in a trial (of the same case we are treating of) before the board of trade, that the King, under whose authority the government of New York had, in an op- pressive manner, granted those very lands, cotild not, by his royal authority, vacate or set aside the grants : yet, the present legis- lative authority of the state of New York^ proclaim to the world, and pledge the faith of government, that t hey will do it. But enough has been said on the impossibility of it, as well as on the ungenerousness of the propo- sal : and as to the quit-rents, the general as- sembly of the state of Vermont^ will deter- mine their expediency, and probably release them all. What has been observed, answers every part of the Proclamation worth notice, as the five last articles had an entire reference to the three first ; though it may be worth observing, that the time of compliance with those overtures are run out ; and it is my III :n s' ' ,, %l 'if r- |ii; ■ . ■ i * « w :213 MEBrom or ! V I c^inion', that kit few df the' st^&j^cts of ike- state of Vermont have closed with them.— The main indacement I had in atisweriHg them, was, to draw ^ fdl and convincing proof from the samev that the shortest, best, and most eligible^ 1 had almost said, the on- ly possible, way of vacating those JYew York interfering grants, is, to maintain inviolable the supremacy of the legislative authority of the independent state of Vermont. This, at one stroke, overturns^ every JSfew York scheme, which may be calculated for our ruin; makes us free men, confirms our prop- erty, "and puts it faitly in our pow6r to h0lp ourselves" to the enjoyment of the great .blessings of a free, uncorrupted and virtuous civil governments Bennington^ August 9, 177 8."^ The declaration of their independence, By -the people of Vermont, gave occasion to numerous new difficuhies. No sooner had she organized a government, than the inhab- itants of sixteen towns, bordering on Con- necticut river, in New Hampshire, manifest- ed a disposition to dissolve their connexion with that StatCf and unite with Vermont. In justification of the separation, it wias contend- ed "that all the lands. West of the Mason line, being royal grants, had he^en held in subjection to the government of New Hamp- shire, by force of the royal commissions, t,"- - .1* f i '^^ -COL. ETHAN ALLEir« 214 "which were vacated by.tivB .assumed inde- pendence of the American Colonies, and, therefore, the inhabitants of those grants had reverted to a state .of nature^,'' and were at liberty to form whatever politicfil connexion they thought proper. In pursuance of this determination, they presented a petition to the Legislature of Vermont, on the 12th of March, 1778, praying for admission into its union. This application greatly embarrass- vhkhJ igt, I am that the ampshire nstrance, ved fcoin state) of Ver- ito umon 5 of Oon- ng .other :e ; a co- a matter sble with lepresenta- east side the Gene- the right of New Hampshire, and an infringe- ment on the confederacy of the United States of America ; and, therefore, desired the con- gress to take the matter under consideration, and grant some order thereon, to prevent the effusion of blood, and the confusion and dis- orders which would, otherwise, inevitably en- sue. The delegates from New York, at the same time, exhibited to congress sundry paper?, containing allegations against the State of Vermont, which, after some altercations, were admitted ; and it was agreed that the f r t ■;j! ' f" i; 11' ■• 21B -iteBioiR or before I could have an opportumty to lay the matter before this people ; as I had, previ- ously, let tlie members of congress know, that the assembly of this state was to sit at this time ; and I engaged to transmit the proceedings of this assembly to congress, as soon as they transpired, at their request. The allegations, thrown by New York, re- ceived a most severe shock on the perusal of my late pamphlet in answer to his Excel- lency Governor Clinton's proclamation, da- ted in February last, containing certain over- tures to the inhabitants of this state ; as well as from ray largt treatise on the nature apd merit of the New York claim, and their treat- ment to the inhabitants of this now State of Vermont. In fine, the New York complaints will never prove of sufficient force in con- gress, to prevent ihe establishment of this st9.te;. But, from what I have heard and seen of the disapprobation, at congress, of the union with sundry towns, east of Connecticut Tiver, I am sufiiciently authorised to offer it as my opinion, that, except this state recede from such union, immediately, the whole pow- der of t}ie confederacy of the United States of -America will join to annihilate the State of -^Vermont, and to vindicate the right of New yj^ampshire, and to maintain, inviolate, the •^^;articles .of confederation, which guarantee to each State, their privileges and ^immiiiii- ^ie^. . ; „ \, , ^,^. .,.■.-....,,.. COL. ETIUir. ALLEN. 219 Thus, gentlemen^ I hav« given yoa a short pepreseDtation of the political situation of this State, as it now stands in the general congress of the United States of Araerica, upon which I stake my honour. Given ufidermy hand, at Windsor, this lOth day of October, A. D, 1778. ETHAN ALLEN." The discussion of the question, relative to the union with the sixteen towns in New Hampshire, occupied the consideration of the Vermont Legislature, for several succes- sive sessions ; and on the 12th of February, 1779, it was voted that the union be dissolv- ed. This determination was immediately communicated to the government of New Hampshire, by Ira Allen, and the Legislature of that State, encouraged by the concession of Vermont, and by the divisions existing in many of her frontier towns, now resolved to lay claim, not only to the sixteen towns, which had united with Vermont, but to the whole territory, as grants, originally made to that Province. Congress was applied to for a confirmation of this claim ; and, at the same period, New York made a similar application to the same body. In this position of affairs, the State of Massachusetts interposed, and laid a claim to a portion of the territory, as within her jurisdiction : and thus was Ver- mont subjected, in order to maintain her in- dependence, to struggle against the claims ^ ■f ' I' f 'i ^r ^'1;! i !M kt 1 < *vfi 'p [I i T J i' ::;•{ « i •H^^iii ■m 220 MEMOIR OF of these adjoining States, without the coun- tenance of the Continental Congress to her proceedings. Vermont was still involved in the controversy with New York, during the troubles resulting from the union with a part of New Hampshire. The same spirit still prevailed with both par- ties, to sustain their own measures at all haz- ards. On the 7th of July, 1778,the Governor of Now York wrote to his adherents in Vermont, recommending that wherever the friends of New York were sufficiently powerful, "firm resistance should be made to the draught- ing of men, the raising of taxes, and to al} , the acts of the 'ideal State of Vermont;' and i^ that "jissociations be formed for mutual de- ,' fence against this usurpation." In conformity to the expressed wishes of Governor Cimton, a Convention of the friends of New York, met at Brattleborough, ' on the 4th of May, 1779. After organizing, a petition, to the Governor of New York, was drawn up, in which they stated that the "ide- al State of Vermont" was proceeding to con- fiscate their property ; and they, therefore, *' "entreated his Excellency to take immediate measures for protecting the legal subjects of that part of the State, and for convincing I Congress of the impropriety of delaying a decision in a matter which so nearly con- cerned the peace, welfare and lives of do ma- ny of their firm adherents." A military as- •OL. BTHAN ALLEIV 221 Bociation was, also, formed about the same time, for the purpose of resisting the author- ity of Vermont. In consequence of these proceedings, on the part of New York, the Governor of Ver- mont gave orders to Ethan Allen, to call out the militia. When informed of this move- ment. Col. Patterson, who held a commission in the county of Cumberland, under the New York authority, addressed a letter to Gover- nor Clinton, for directions relative to the emergency of the case, and suggesting the propriety and necessity of receiving assist- ance from the mihtary force of the county of Albany. In answer to this communication, the Governor gave assurances of protection ; and recommended that "the authority of Ver- mont should not be acknowledged, except in the alternative of submission or inevitable ruin." Governor Clinton, on the 1 8th of May, fol- lowing, wrote to the President of Congress, in regard to the difficulties existing between the two States — declaring, "that matters were fast approaching a very serious crisis, which nothing but the immediate interposition of Congress, could possibly prevent :" that he "daily expected he should be obliged to order out a force for the defence of those who ad- hered to New York :" that the wisdom of Congress would suggest to them what would be thQ consequence of submitting the con- I I u. } ■> .1: 222 MEMOIR OF '|5 troversy, especially at this juncture, to the decision of the sword ; but, that justice, the faith of government, the peace and safety of society, would not permit them to continue any longer, passive spectators of the vio- lence committed on their fellow citizens." — This letter, together with several other doc- uments, relating to the controversy, were laid before Congress, on the 29th of May, 1779, and referred to a' committee of the whole. On the first day of June, Congress resolved that "a committee be appointed to repair to the inhabitants of a certain district, known by the name of the New Hampshire Grants, and enquire into the reasons why they refuse to continue citizens of the respective States, which have claimed jurisdiction over the said district : and that they take every prudent measure to promote an amicirble set- tlement ; and to prevent divisions and airi- mosities,so prejudicial to the United States.'* While the foregoing matters were engag- ing the attention of Congress, Col. Men, marched with an armed force, and made prisoners of Col. Patterson, and others, act- ing under the New York authority. Com- plaint ^B.a immediately made to iGrovemor Clinton, and a letter was addressed by him to Congress, wherein he stated what had taken place, disapproved ofthe before mentioned re- dolutions of Congress, and requested that the committee appointed to repair to the New COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 223 Hampshire Grants, might postfxxne their viait iiiitil after the ensuing session of the New York Legislature. On the 1 6th of June, it was resolved, by Congress, that the officers captured by Col. Allen, should be set at lib- erty ; and that the coriimittee referred to, be directed to inquire into the circumstances connected with the transaction. Two, only, of the committee, attended to the duty as- signed them : and, owing to the excited state of public feeling, they failed to accomplish the object of their mission. Several communications were forwarded to Congress, by the people of Vermont, in relation to their rights, which severally en- gaged the attention of that body ; and the final consideration of them was 'postponed until the 2d Tuesday in September, 1780. Ira Allen and Ste-phen R. Bradley, were appoint- ed Agents of Vermont, to attend to the sub- ject, and see that she received her due share of justice. The matter was taken up by Congress, on the 19th of September — the Agents of Vermont being permitted to be present, but not as the Representatives of any State, or as the delegates of a body of people invested with legislative authority. — fifTorts were made by both New Hampshire end New York, to prove their respective claims to the disputed territory ; and it soon appeared evident to the Agents, that Ver- mont was not regarded as a paity to the coa- t; ^ 1 '' OIL I •V- il't I i iU ;rl ■i' I J. '•I. r^ 221 MEMOIR or f '.. i'- troTorsy ; but that Congress, in attempting to decide between New Hampshire and Now York, did not recognize her ciistence ob a distinct jurisdiction. These proceedings were viewed with alarm and indignation by the Agents of Vermont ; and an immediate withdrawal of their at- tendance was the consequence. On the 22d of September, they transmitted a Remon- strance to Congress, in which they ^^lament the necessity which obliges them to say, that they can no longer sit as idle spectators, without betraying the trust reposed in them, and doing violence to their own feelings, to see partial modes pursued, plans adopted, tx parte evidence exhibited, which derives all authority from the attestation of the party — passages in writings selected, giving a very false representation of facts, to answer no other end but to prejudice your honorable body against the State of Vermont ; thereby to intrigue and baffle a brave and meritorious people out of their rights and liberties." — They further say, that they "are willing to agree upon some one or more of the Legis- latures of the disinterested States, to inter- pose as mediators, and settle the dispute f and conclude by observing, that if Congress continue the exercise of her unjust policy, they "stand ready to appeal to God and the world, who must be accountable for the aw- ful consequences that must ensue." The sub- COL. ETHAN ALLEIf. mm9 joct "of thft controversy again occupied the attention of Congress, on the 27th of Sep- tombcr ; nhcn the further consideration of it ¥/B,8 postponed. The pohcy of Congress, in postponing the decision of the controversy, did not rcceivo the cordial acquiescence of Vermont. It shewed, it is true, that her claims to inde- pendence, were partially recognized ; yet it had a direct tendency to protract the final adjustment of those claims. In this state of affairs, she resolved upon the policy of ex- tending her territory, and thereby increasing her power, and placing herself in a more im- posing attitude. She was not unaware, that a majority of the inhabitants in the Western part of New Hampshire, were still anxious to come within her jurisdiction ; and to facili- tate the accomplishment of this object, a Convention, composed of representatives from forty-three towns, assembled at Charles- town on the 16th of January, 1781 : but tho result was extremely mortifying : as it was found that a majority of the representatives were opposed to the proposed union. A committee, however, was appointed by tho Convention, for the purpose of conferring with Vermont on the subject ; and on tho 10th of February, they informed the Legis- lature of Vermont, then in session at Wind- sor, that "the Convention of the New Ham|>- thire towns, was desirous of bein^^ united 11 .FT I m *■ 1. H ' I. ili; 1ii'^ !-tr ;^ m ! - 2!) ■li: ,^. 226 MNtfOin. OF with Vermont, in one separate governmentf. upon such principles aft should be mtttually thought the most equitable and beneficial to the State." On the report of the committee^ to whom it had been referred, the Legislature resolved, that "in order to quiet the present disturbances on the two sides of Connecti" cut River, and the better to enable the in- habitants to defend their frontier, the Legis- lature of this State do lay a jurisdictional cliiim to all the lands East of th.i Connecticut Riv- er, North of Massachusetts, West of Mason'* line, and South of latitude 45**: but that they will not, for the time being, exercise »aidju-i risdiction." A Convention of the towns, in New Hamp- shire, anxious for the proposed union^ was, at this period, in session at Cornish, on the opposite side of the river ; and communica- tions in relation to the matter in agitation, were repeatedly exchanged between the committees of this body and the Legislature of Vermont. The articles of union were, finally, agreed upon — stipulating that the Vermont Constitution should be adopted by the towns in New Hampshire— that applica- tion should be made to Congress, for admis- sion into the Union — that "full act of oblivi- on be passed, for former offences, by persons who professed themselves subjects of the State of New York," and that the Legisla- ture should call on all the towns, in the Slat^ .:■ h COL. 'ETHAV JILLEN. 227 of Vermont, and also on «1) the towns on the ¥i^w Hampshire Grants, Eajst of Connecti- €»t River, relativ.e to the projected union ; and^Uh^tthe votes of each town, should be returiied to the Assembly, at their adjourned session, on the first Wednesday of April fol- lowing : afld, on condition that t^o-thirds of the towns, in the State of Vermont, at a le* gal town meeting, vote for the union, and, al- so, two-thirds of the towns on the New- Hampshire iG rants. East of Connecticut River," then the union should take place, and the New Hampshire towns be at liberty to fiend rep^resentatives to the Legislature. At the session of the Lfegislature, in April fol- lowing, it appeared that thirty-six towns were in lavor of the union., and seven opposed to it. The union was, therefore consummated ; and thirty-five Representatives accordingly took their seats from the towns on the East side of Connecticut River. In consequence of the unjustifiable meas- ures of New York, and the repeated solicita- tions from several towns, in that State, bor- dering on Vermont, to be received into union, the I^egislature, on the 14th of Februa- ry, 1781, laid junsdictional claim to all the lands West of her present territory, and East of Hudson's River to the head thereof, and thence East of a Noi^th line, extending to the 45th degree of north latitude — provi- ding, that this jurisdiction should not be ex- » \'ili t i ^ '■ I t ■ 'H f! ■M {•? ' if'! '.I I Ma ! rill il-li 5 i : f 228 MEMOIR OF ercised for the time being. On the \ 1 th of April, however, the Legislature of Vermont appointed n. committee to attend a Conven- tion of delegates from the towns in New- York, desiring an union, and make the re- cjuisite arrangements for eflbcting it. The Convention met at Cambridge, on the 35th of May — the articles of union were agreed to, by both parties ; and, on the IG-th of June, following, they were confirmed by the Legis- hiture of Vermont, and Representatives from these towns were admitted to scats in that body. The people of Vermont having been driy- en, by the refusal of Congress, to recognize their claims to independence, and by the op- position they experienced on every quarter, to the necessity of maintaining their rights unaided, wisely determined to pursue that course of policy which would secure their safety and independence, against the en- croachments of the British on the North, and the stratagems of their enemies in other sec- tions. The British Generals, in America, had, for a long period, entertained the J^ope of turning the disputes bctw een Vermont and the other States, to their own advantage, by detaching that section of territory from the American cause, and making it a British Province. The first intimation of this plan was communicated by Col. Beverly Robinson lo Col. Ethan Allen, in a letter dated the 30ih COL. ETHAN ALIEN. 229 nth of i^ermont Conven- in New- tiie re- it. The the 15th e agreed [ of June, le Legis- ivcsfrom ts in that een driy- ccognizb ►y the oi>- r quarter, pir rights rsuc that urc their the cn- orth, and her sec- America, ;he I^ope mont and ntagc, hy from the a British this plan Robinb'on d the 30{[\ of March, 1780. It was delivered to Col. Allen, by a British soldier, in disguise, in the streets of Arlington. Col. Robinson com- menced his letter by hoping that his propo- sals would be received with the same, good intention with which he made them : and proceeded to say, that he had often been in- formed that Col. Allen and most of the in- habitants of Vermont, were opposed to the wild and chimerical scheme of the Ameri- cans in attempting to separate from Great Britain, and to establish an independent gov- ernment of their own ; and that he would willingly assist in uniting America to Great Britain, and in restoring that happy consti- tution so wantonly and unadvisedly destroy- ed. "If I have been rightly informed,"* pro- ceeds the writer, "and these should be your sentiments and inclinations, I beg that you will communicate to me, without reserve, whatever proposals you would wish to make to the commander-in-chief; and, I hereby promise, that I will faithfully lay them before him according to your directions ; and I flat- ter myself I can do it to as good eflfect, as any person whatever. I can make no propo- sals to you until I know your sentiments ; but think, upon your taking an active part, and embodying the inhabitants of Vermont, in favor of the crown of England, to act as the commander-in-chief shall direct, that you may obtain a separate government under 20 i i! «f * I 1 230 MEMOIR OF ; h'^ I' l« ]U: ■'f - the King and Constitution of England, and the men, formed into regiments under such officers as you shall recommend, be on the same footing as all the provincial corps are. If you should think prbper to seud a friend of your own here, with proposals to the General, he shall he protected, and well treated, and allowed to return whenever he pleases." The contents of this letter were immediately communicated, by Col. Allen, to the Govern- or and other confidejitial persons, who unan- imously agreed that it would be ij^LipoUtic to return an answer. On the 2d of February, 1781, Col. Robii^- son addressed a second letter to Col. AUeii, inclosing a copy of the former one, in which he says — '^The frequent accounts we have had, for three months past, from your part of the country, confirms me in the opinion I had, of your inclination to join the King's cause, and assist in restoring America to her former peaceable and happy constitution. This in- duces me to make another trial iji sending this to you : especially, as I can write with more authority, and assure you that you may obtain the terms mentioned in the above let- ter, provided you and the people of Vermont take a decisive and ,active part with us."-* To this communication. Col. Robinson re- quested an answer ; and, also, that soma method might be pointed cut for carrying on a future correspondence. m I*: COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 231 No answer was returned to either of these letters by Col. Allen; but on the 9th of March, 1781, he inclosed them in a commu- nication to Congress. In this letter, convin- ced of the integrity of his conduct, and the justice of the measures contended for by the people of Vermont, he observed — '•! am con- fident that Congress will not dispute my sin- cere attachment to the cause of my cour ry, though I do not hesitate to say, I am fully grounded in opinion, that Vermont has an indubitable right to agree on terms of a ces- sation of hostilities with Great Britain, pro- vided the United States persist in rejecting her application for an union with them : for Vermont, of all people, would be the most miserable, were she obliged to defend the lil- dependence of the United (claiming) States, and they, at the same time, at full liberty to overturn and ruin the independence of Ver- mont* I am persuaded, when Congress con- sider the circumstances of this State, they ^will be more surprised that I have transmit- ted them the inclose*d letters, than that I have kept them in custody so long ; for I am as resolutely determined to defend the indepen- dence of Vermont, as Congress are that of the United States ; and rather than fail, will retire with the hardy Green Mountain Boys, into the desolate caverns of the mountains, and wage war with human nature at large.'' This ncgociation was continued between 232 MEMOIR OF :'*■; r&iL Vermont and Canada, until the year 1782 — having in its effects, not only served to pro- tect the state from the ravages of the British troops, but also to lessen the difficulties at- tendant upon her admission into the Federal Union ; and, to the firmness and patriotism of Col. Allen, in this difficult matter, may be attributed, in a great measure, the many ad- vantages which resulted from it. / During the negociation with the British authorities, the primary cause of it was not forgotten or neglected by the people of Ver- mont. Their efforts were still continued to advance her internal interests, and procur^ an acknowledgement of her claim to an ad- mission into the Union. In consequence of her unceasing efforts, to this effect, a com- mittee of Congress, on the 20th of August, 1781, made a report, in relation to the sub- ject, to that body : whereupon, the following resolution was adopted : ^'Resolved, That it be an indispensable pre- Hminary to the recognition of the independ- ence of the people inhabiting the territory called Vermont, and their admission into the federal union, that they explicitly relinquish all demands of lands or jurisdiction on the east side of the west bank of the Connecti- cut River, and on the west side of a Hne, be- ginning at the north-west corner of the State of Massachusetts, thence running twenty miles east of Hudson's River, so far as the > ■ ' "^'J (!■>' COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 233 jiaid River runs north easterly, in its genera!' course ; then by the west bounds of the town- .iships granted by the late government of New Hampshire, to the River running from South Bay to Lake Champlain, thence along the said River to Lake Champlain, tothe latitude of 45** north ; excepting a neck of land be- tween Missisque Bay and the waters of Lake Champlain.^' Both the States of Vermont and New York were dissatisfied with this resolution — the one because it stipulated, as the condition of her admission into the confederacy, the dis- solution of her unions with the adjoining States, and the other because it recognized the justness of a claim against which she had long and strenuously contended. The sub- ject was taken up, by a committee of the Legislature of Vermont, on the 17th of Oc- tober, 1781 — when it was resolved as the ^'opinion of this corawnttee, that the Legis- lature cannot comply with the resolution, without destroying the foundation of thepres- ent universal harmony and agreement that subsists in this State, and a violation of sol- emn compact entered into by articles of union and confederation.'^ The political condition of Vermont, was ttbw in every respect, extremely alarming f and all parties trembled at the fearful ap- proach of civil war, Fortunately, however, for the prosperity of those concerned, Gov, - 20 • ■ 5 •i ' v im w ♦* •« li I'vl 1 U ! :.<^, ,1 ■ U ; f ii^ii i ' ^ i fi 231 MEMOIR OF Chittenden received a letter from General Washington, dated January 1, 1782, in which he remarked — "It is not my business, nor do I think it necessary, now to discuss the origin of the right of a number of inhabitants, to that tract of country, formerly distinguished by the name of the New Hampshire Grants, and now by that of Vermont. I will take it fc granted, that their right was good, be- cause Congress, by their resolve of the 7th of August, imply it ; and by that of the 20th4 are willing fully to confirm it, provided the new State is confined to certain described bounds. It appears, therefore, to me, that the dispute of boundary is the only one that I exists ; and, that being removed, all other difliculties would be removed also, and the matter terminate to the satisfaction of all parties. You have nothing to do but to with- draw your jurisdiction to the confines of your own limits, and obtain an acknowledgement of independence and sovereignty, under the resolve of the 20th of August, for so much territory as does not interfere with the an* cient established bounds of New Hampshire, New York and Massachusetts. In my pri- vate opinion, while it behoves the delegates to do ample justice to a people, suflSciently respectable by their members, and entitled^ by other claims, to be admitted into thd con- federation, it becomes them, also, to attend to the interests of their constituents, and see, M m <■> ■ r COL. ETIIA.N ALLEN. 235 General in which s, nor do he origin itants, to nguished D Grants, ill take it Tood, be- ►f the 7th ' the 20tlu vided the described me, that f one thatl all other ►, and the Lion of all ^t to with- es of your edgement under the so much ,h the an* ampshire^ n my pri- delegates ufficiently entitled^ th^ con- to attend Is, and see, that under the appearance of justice to one, they do not materially injure the others. I am apt to think this is the prevailing opinion of Congress!" The advice of Washingtoiv had a power- ful eftect upon the minds of the people of Vermont. He was endeared to them by his many sacrifices in the cause of American In- dependence, and by the examples of his pri- vate virtues : At the next meeting of the Legislature at Bennington, the communica- tion was laid before them : and, on the 22d of February, it was resolved to comply with the prehminary requirement of the resolution of Congress, and relinquish all claims to the territory therein described, originally attach- ed to other districts. The determination of the Legislature of Vermont, on the 18th of October, heretofore referred to, had been communicated to Cort- gress ; and much warmth of feeling was ex- hibited upon the subject, in that body. It was resolved, among other things, "that, if Vermont did not, within one month from the time this resolution was communicated to Gov. Chittenden, comply with the resolution of the 20th of August, and relinquish her jurisdiction beyond the bounds therein nam- ed, such neglect and refusal would be regard- ed as an indication of hostility to the United States." Previous to the adoption of this resolution, the agents of Vermont arrived at 11 v^* jl'u s ... . V ■Jii.L'f ■ Hi :,.!t|> , I; lit' i ;■ ' ■;' , \ 236 MEMOIR OF Philadelphia, when Congress were informed that the requirement, preliminary to the re- cognition of her independence, had l^een complied with by Vermont ; and^ that the conditional promise of such recognition^ was, consequently, binding upon Congress. Tlve subject, however, did not receive i^ doe share of attention, and the agents^ disap- pointed in their hopes, returned home; The subjiect was again taken up by Con* gress, on the 5th of December ; but instead of fulfilling, their engagements t€>> Vermont, made by the resolution of the 20th of Au^ gust, 1781, their proceedings were charac- terized by bitter invective against the peopte of that State, for having exercised authority over certain individuals professing alliegiance to New York, in violation of the reso1i\|;ions of Congress, passed on the 24th of Septem^- ber, 1779, and on the 2d of June, 1780 : and it was resolved, ^^that Vermont be required to viake full restitution to the persons con- demned to banishment, or confiscation of property, and, that they be not molested on their return to said District'^ It was further resolved ^Hhat the United Statea will tak« e^ fectuai measures to enforce a compliamee wijth the aforesaid resolution, in. case thg same sballbe disobeyed by the people of thii said district." These i measures completely weakened the lajtb o£ tber p^plc of Vermont iaika wn»- t ■ 1 COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 237 dom and integrity of Congress, and, nearly destroyed their hopes of obtaining redress from that body. However, a spirited remon- strance, to the foregoing proceedings, was forwarded to Congress, by the Governor and Council of Vermont, in which the whole facts in the case were set forth, in a plain and un- varnished manner, and a request made, in conclusion, that Vermont might he admitted into the union. In consequence of this re- monstrance, and other corresponding meas- ures, Congress did not judge it politic to at- tempt to carry into effect her resolutions of the 5th of December. In the southeastern section of the State of Vermont, at its first organization, were ma- ny individuals opposed to its independence, and, of course, friendly to the claims of New York. These persons eagerly embraced ev- ery opportunity to embarrass the State ; and, on several occasions, openly resisted its au- thority. This opposition was principally con- fined to the town of Guilford — at that peri- od, the most populous village in the State. — The two parties in this town, (the friends of Vermont and those of New York,) had each an organization of their own ; and, in some cases, there were two sets of town officers. Between these, and their friends, frequent skirmishes occurred, which not unfrequently ended in bloodshed. The enmity of these parties was carried to an alarming extent • i .-'• » t it .f ^, 1 f V 1 • # • * \ •.'*,'■ 4 .t ift i''U 238 MEMOIR 09 duting the years 1783 and 1784. Social or- der was entirely at an end ; and even Physi- cians were not allowed to pursue their avo- cations, without procuring a pass from tho several committees. In this unpleasant stato of affairs, Col. Ethan Allen, (at that period invested with the command of the military forces of Vermont,) was directed to call out the militia,, for the purpose of enforcing the laws, and of suppressing the symptoms of civil war exhibited among the people of Windham county. In accordance with these directions, he marched from Bennington with a force of about one hundred Green Moun- tain Boys ; and, t pon his arrival at Guilford, he issued the following unique Proclamation : "/, Ethan Men^ declare^ that unless the people of Guilford^ veaf:eably submit to the authority of Vermont^ 1 will make the town as desolate as wert the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah .'" The "Yorker^" were fired upon by Col. Allen and his men, and pursued ; and all either taken prisoners or dispersed. Marshal iii.v» was es- tablished by Col. Allen; and, under it, a large proportion of the property, belonging to the tories and dissenters, was sold for the benefit of the State. Very little alteration was effected in the government of Vermont for several years af- ter the close of the war. After the adoption of the Federal Constitution, however, the policy and proceedings of Congress wer^ •i!'^' COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 239 ocial or- 311 Physi- heir avo- from tho jant state at period B military o call out >rcing the iptoms of )eoplo of with these igtonwiih en Moun- t Guilford, jlamation : he people of uihority of late as wen hr The Allen and ;her taken V, was es- nder it, a belonging old for the ted IB the i\ years af- e adoption ever, the ress were critically observed by the people of that State. Their measures bf^ing marked by wisdom and prudence, had the eil'ect of gaining the confidence of tlie people, and of removing the aversion, which had been expressed on former occasions, of joining the Federal Union. The former controversy with the State of New York, which had, already, produced so much difficulty, still remained unsettled. The authorities of that state were well aware that Vermont would now succeed in main- taining her independence ; and, it is proba- bly, the fact, that she entertained but little hostility to the measure. The former Gov- ernors of New York, had, however, made grants of extensive tracts of land in Ver- mont, the validity of which was not admit- ted by the government of Vermont. It wat not conceived by New York, that she waa under any particular obhgations to refund the moneys received for these lande — they being the grants of the royal governors : A disposition was manifested, however, to con>- promise the matter, on just and amicable terms : and, in accordance with these views, at a session of her Legislature, on the 15th of J.uly, 1789, an act was passed, appointing a certain number of commissioners to ac^ knowledge the sovereignty of Vermont, and adjust all ditHculties with that State. Com- missioners were, also, appointed on the part 1 1 1 \i }i f^' 240 'S ■; 1 .•: 1 : f IvH T< in 1 1 f. MEMOIR OF of Vermont, to treat with those of New York, and remove whatever obstructions existed to prevent her admission into the union. On the,7th of October, 1790, "the com- missioners for New York, by virtue of the powers to them granted for that purpose, de- clared the consent of the Legislature of New York, that the State of Vermont be admitted into the Union of the United States of America; and that, immediately upon ^such admission, all claims of jurisdiction of ■ the State of New York, within the State of , Vermont, shall cease ; and thenceforth, the perpetual hne between the State of New - York and the State of Vermont,- shall be as was then holden and possessed by Vermont ;" that is, the West lines of the most Western towns which had been granted by New ^Hampshire, and the middle channel of^Lake ' iChamplain. — In regard to the lands gf&nted * under the Provincial government of New J* York, "the commissioners, by virtue of the I powers to them granted, declare the' will of t the Legislature of New York, that if the f Legislature of the State of Vermont should, on, or before, the first day of January, 1792, » declare, that on, or before, the first day of ^June, 1794, the State of Vermont would pay the State of New York, the sum of thirty thousand dollars, that immediatelv from such declaration, by the Legislature of the State of Vermont, all rights and titles to lands i- V- COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 241 lil .within the State of Vermont, under grants .£rom the government of the colony of New York, or from the State of New York, should cease," excepting those,> which had been made in confirmation of the grants of New Hampshire. This proposal was readily . agre.ed to by yermont ; and, on the 28th of October, 1790, an act was passed directing the Treasurer of the State to pay the sum of ..thirty thousand dollars to the State of New York, at the proposed time. * In this amica- ble manner.,' says Dr. Williams, ' was termi- nated a controversy which had been carried .,pn, with great animosity, for twenty-six years.' ' The General Assembly of Vermont, com- menced its session at Bennington, on the 10th of January, 1791 ; and, appointed Hon. Nath'l. Chipman, and Lewis R. Morris, Esq., , Commissioners to attend Congress, and ne- . ,gociate the admission of the State into the . union. They repaired to Philadelphia, and . laid before the President of the United States the proceedings of the Convention and Le- gislature ; and, on the 1 5th of February, 1791, Vermont was admitted into the Union, without debate, or a dissenting vote. We have thus given the reader a concise view of all the principal events in which Col. Allen was concerned : and, it is truly gratifying to consider, that, in all the trying scenes of his life — in all the vicissitudes attendant upon 21 ! t il I 242 Memoir OF ■lit <: t ; C ■ ■ •i' ;ii'5 1 .: Vi Us I' ■: ii;. ^'■^i-^ 1 f'.iti ! r a protracted captiyity — h6 was never liiMrget* ful of the rights of his Mow men, or the caiide of liberty in which his country was engaged. We have seen him cast aside, as Unworthy the principles which governed him, the pro^ fered honors of the British crown to betray his allegiance to his country'jB cause. We have seen him adhering, with patriotic affection, to the interests of that country, even while her efforts were directed to crush the rising pros- pects of his adopted ^tate. What individual, then, will deny him the tribute of gratitude, or withhold from his memory, that mysteridus feeling of veneration which patriotism ex- acts from the friends of liberty ? CoL Allen was the author of several pblit- , ical and religious Works.. The former were principally illustrative of the measures adopt- ed by the people of the New Hampshi^ Grants, in relation to the position they asisum- ed in the controversy with the New York au- thorities : and the latter were, probably, writ- ten more with a view to gratify a desire to ^ occupy a space in the public mind, than for . any other purpose. His religious sentiiiients, as promulgated i^ his writings, were nearly allied to £)eism 5 Yet, it is q:uite probable, from the following anecdote^ tfet his real \ i opmiom were based npon a different creed : . A Dr. Elliot, who removed from Guilford, ^ Conn., to Vermont, was well acquainted with tCol. Allen, and made him a visit at a time when his daughter was very dangerously sick. COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 243 He was introduced into the Library ; where t;he Colonel read to him some of his writings. While thus engaged, a messenger entered, and informed him that his daughter was dying, and desired to speak with him. He immediately went to her chamber, accompanied by Dr. Blliot, who was desirous of witnessing the in- terview. The wife of Col. Allen was a pious woman, and had faithfully instructed her ij^ughter in the principles of Christianity. As sojon as her father appeared at her bed side, she said to him, "I am about to die: shall I believe in the principles you have taught me, or shall I believe in what my mother has taught me ?" Col, Allen became extremely agitated : His chili 1 I » on account of the many opportunities offered for arresting him. Allen, however, laughed at their fears ; and offered a bet that he would proceed to Albany — alight at the most prom- inent house of entertainment — drink a bowl of punch, and, finally, escape unharmed. This was accepted : His necessary arrangements having been made, he proceeded to Albany, and, after ahghting, called for a bowl of punch according to the terms of the bet. It was soon whispered around, however, that "Ethan Allen was in the city ;" and, a large concouise of people collected about the house — among whom, was the Sheriff of Albany county. Alw len, however, remained unmoved. Having finished his punch, he went to the door, mounted his horse, and, after giving a hearty ''huzza for Vermont /" departed, unharmed, from the astonished and gaping multitude. The following anecdote, derived from a source entitled to credit, exhibits good evi- dence of the singularity, as well as the firm resolution of Col. Allen : He was, for a short period, a resident of Tinmouth, Vt. ; and was celebrated among his townsmen for acts of boldness, and a perfect contempt of every thing pertaining to cowardice, as he had been among the soldiery, in his previous miUtary career. Being one day on a visit to a neigh- boring town, (Middletown,) he happened in at the house of a gentleman, who, though not a regular dentist, was, nevertheless, m the ^habit of extracting teeth. A woman came in, COL. ETMAX ALLEN* 245 concouise suffering from the pain of a decayed tooth, but without sufficient courage to permit an extraction. She frequently approached the /a/o/ seat, assigned for that purpose, and, as often retreated. Allen, in the mean time, a very uneasy spectator, could restrain his feel- ings no longer. "Here," said he to the Dent- ist, "take out one of my teeth." ♦'They are all sound. General."* "Never mind — do as I direct you." A tooth was extracted. "Now take courage, madam, from the example I have given you," said Allen, to the trembling woman. Pride overcame her fears ; and she was soon relieved from apprehension and pain. An idea of the honesty and love of veracity of Col. Allen, may be obtained from the sub- joined anecdote : A certain individual, to whom he was indebted, had commenced a suit against him : and a lawyer had been emr ployed by him, to attend to it, and get the judgment postponed, if possible. As an easy method to effect this, the lawyer denied the signature of the note, knowing it would be almost impossible for the plaintiff to prove it genuine. Allen, who was present, could not submit to this trick of the law. Walking forwacd, through the crowd, he thus address- ed the astonished lawyer. "Mr. — , I did not * Col. Allen was, for a short period, the conn- mander of the military forces of Vermont, with the rank of Brigadier Geoeral. 21 » N' ."^M- ' ishing government ; and, as such, his deeds and his famQ are associated with all our po- 'litical and civil privileges and blessings. The last years of his life were spent in Burlingtoii, Vt, where he pursued the avoca- tion of a farmer. He died, in that town, on the 12th of February, 1789, of apoplexy. A plain marble slab covers his remeaia!s,OQ ivhich is the following inscription : 'THE • ■ ■ CORPOREAL PART OP GEN. ETHAN ALDEN, RESTS BENEATH THIS STONB TUB 12rH DAT OV VKBRUART, 1789, f AGED 60 YEARS. . ^r 'Ms spifit- tried the vurcie^ ofkis.G^' In mom he believed J ^d'^tfimg^tni^^ l. ' COL. ETHAN ALLEI*. 247 rema^as, OQ ORIGINAL LETTERS. TicoNDERooA, 20th of July, ITta. "Retpecfable Gentlemen — When I reflect on the unhap- -i^jB't controversy which hath many years subsisted be tween the Government of New York, and the settlers on '^the New Hampshire Grants ; and, also, contemplate on the friendship and union that hath lately taken place be- tween the Government and those of its former discon* tented subjects, in making a united resistance against 'Ministerial vengeance and slr^'ery, I cannot but indulge fond hopes of reconcil ' ol Vo promote this r t»../ jy end, ( shall contribute niy influ. .jce ; assuring your lion- •ourSf that your respectful treatment, not only to Mr. .' Warner and myself, but to the Green Mountain Boys in Igeneral, in forming them into a battallion, are, by them, duly regarded : and Iw ill be responsible that they will retaliate this favour, by boldly hazarding their lives» iif need be, ia the common cause of America^ Ihope no gentleman in the Congress will retain any preconceived prejudice against me ; as, on my part, I shall not against any of them ; but, as soon as opportu- nity may permit, and the public cause not suffer there- Sy, shall hold myself in readiness to settle all former ifficuUies and grievances, on honourable terms. I am. Gentlemen, with the greatest respect, your de- voted, most obedient, humble servant, ETHAN ALLEN. 'Teethe Hm» Provincial Congress, JSTewYotL 'Gkownpoint, 2dof JnwEjlTTfi. 'Respectable OcnffewcTH-Before' this time, you harm^ iindoubtedly , received intelligence not only of the taking "the fortified places on Lake Ghamplain, and also ihe 'iirmed' sloop and boats therein, and the taking possess* itmor a schooner which is the property of Maj. Skeaot '^aoid- armed and manned it, and of the conversion of Ihem, with^lai. > I ;• ')»' !' I i .'' |. Vi '■■'M . ontrenchment the la^t war, and greatly fatigued our ar<; my to take it It is about fi(leen miles this side of Sain| Jphns ; and is an Island in the rivery on wiiich a small artillery placed, would command it. An establiahmenti oJr a frontier so far North, would not only better secure our own frontier, but put it into our power to better worli[ our policy with the Canadians and Indians ; or, if need be^ to make incursions into the territory of Canada, the same ais they could into our country, provided they had the sovereignty of Lake Champloin, and had erected Head Quarters at, or near Skenesborough^ Our only having it in our power to thus make incursions into Canr ada, might probably, be the very reason why it would be unnecessary so to do, even if tbe Canadia,ris should prove more refractory than I think for.^ Lastly^ witb submission, I would propose to yovr Honours to raisQ ft sm&Ii regiment of Hangers, which I could easily do^ an(jt that mostly in the counties of Albany and Charlotte, pro- vided your Honours should think it expedient to grant commissions, and thus regulate and put the same uAder pay. Probably your Honours may think this an impeyr tinent proposal : It is, truly, the first favour I ever ask- ed of the Government; and if it be granted, I shall b^ zealously ambitious to cond'vt for the best, good of my country, and the honour of the Government I siibscribe myself. Gentlemen, with due respect, your Honours' most obedientii humble servant, ETHAN ALLEN. Gentlemen, in the nariccitive contained in ihe enclosed^ was too materially omitted, the valour and intrepidity of Col. J^ames Easton, and forty six veteran soldiers from the Massachusetts Bay, who assisted in the taking Ti- ooiideroga. Col. Easton is just returned from the Pro- vincial Congress of the Massachusetts Bay, to thisplace, and expects lie will soon have the command of a re^^- ment from that Province. Yours, &c. ETHAI^ AL^iEN. XicoNDEROGA, the 4th of JuNEj^ ItTS. To our worthy and respectable friends and country- men, the French People of Canada Gre^tinj. \' friends ^nd fellow-countrymen :— You arf ^ undoub^ . »■ •■ . OKlOtNAL LETTERS. 251 eSiy^lntbre 6t Tcm acquainted wida the unnatural and un- ' happy controversy subsistingljetweea Great Britain and faorbolonies, the particulars of whicJi, in this letter, we ddnoA expatiate upon, Uut refer yoiur consideration to the justico and equitableness thereof, on the part of the Colonies, to the former (caowledge that you have had of ihid matter. We need oqly observe, that the inhabitants of thecolortaes view the controversy, on their part, to be justifiable in the sight of God and all unprejudiced and iionest men that have, or may have, opportunity and ability to examine into the merits of it Upon this principle, Uiosc inhabitants determine to vindicate their cau^, and naintain their natural and constitutional rights and liberties, at the ex|)ence of their lives aiiid fortunes ; but have not the least disposition to injure, nuv lest, or any way depriv.c our fellow subjects, the Canadi- ans, of their liberty or property ; nor have they any design to wage war against them : and, from all intimations tha the inhabitants oftbc said colonies have received from the Canadians, it has appeared that they were alike di»' posed for iriendship and neutrality, and not at all di»> posed to take part with the King's troops in the pres- ent civil war, against the coktnies. We were, never* thcless, surprised to hea,r that a nuniber of about thirty Canadians attacked our reconnoitring j^arty, consistinc of four men — fired on them, and pursued them, and obh- \ged them to return llie fire. This is the account of the party which have siBce arrived at Head Quarters. We desire to know, of any gentleman Canadian^ the (acts of the case, as one story is good till another is told. Our general orders to the soldiery was that they should not, on pain of death, molest or kill any of your people, but, if it shall appear, upon examination, that our recomio»> tring party commenced hostilities against'your people, they shall suffer agveeabie to the sentence of a Court Martial, for our special orders from the colonies are to befriend and protect you if need lie, so that if you desire their friendship, you are invited to embrace it, for noth- ing can be more undesiVable to your friends in the colo nies, than a war with their fellow subjects, the Canadi- ans, or with the Indians. You are very sensible that war ►»* 252 ORIGINAL LETTERS. '* . )» i> has already commooced between England and the colo- nics. HostiJities have alrendy began. To fight the King's troops has becoi;ne a necctfairy and incumbent du- ty. The colonies cannot avoid it, but pray is It necessa- ry that the Canadians and the inhabitants of the English colonics should butcher one another? God forbid! there is no controversy subsisting between you and them.*- Pray let old England and the colonies fight it out, and, you, Canadians, stand by and see what an arm of flesh can do ! We arc apprehensive that the conduct of your people before complained of, had not a geueral approba- tion ) and are t>till confident that your country, as such, will not wage .war with the colonies or approve the afore- said hostile conduct of your poople, as we conceive it to be impolitic, to the last degree, for the Canadians to en- ter into a iDloody war without either a provocation or motive, and when at the same lime, every motive of 'interest, virtue and honour, are ready at hand to dis- suade you from it. In fine, we conclude Saint Luke, Capt McCoy, and other evil minded persons, whose interest and inclination it is, that the Canadians and the peoplo of those cclcnies should cut one another's throats, have enveigled some of the baser «ort of your peoplo to alf- tack our said reconnoitring party. We expect, gentle- rilen, as to these particulars, you will, in good time, in- form \»s; apd subscribe ourselves. Your real friqndg, i:THAN ALLEN, f^t present, theprind" > pal commanders of JAMES EASTON, ) the army, A eopy of the foregoing letter was, this day» sent to Mr. Walker, our trusty friend, at Montreal, per favour of Mr. JefTere, whose fidelity is unquestionable, and it is wholly left with Mr. Walkerto make its contents Ihe most public that he possibly cap, whether by printing it and translating it into French,