sheriff, with his few friends
from Allxany to fight the battles. At a general meeting of the
committees at Arlington, in March 1774, it was, among other things,
resolved, " That as a country, we will stand by and defend our
friends and neighbors so indicted, (as rioters) at the expense of our
^ivcs and fortunes."'
IlIoTOIlY OF ADDISON COUNTY. 61
The claimants lindcr New Ilampsliire, were not permitted, in
the Courts of New York, to give their grants in evidence in defence
of their cLxims. The Green Mountain Boys therefore, decided to
make no further defence there, but to defend themselves, as they
might, bj force. Whenever the leaders chose to give their proceed-
ings the forms of law, they established a court among themselves,
and constituted themselves the triers, as well as complainants and
executive officers, and passed and executedtheir own sentence.
While these proceedings were going on in the " New Hampshire
Grants," the friends of New York were constantly plying the gov-
ernor and council and legislature of that State for relief by com-
plaints, petitions and remonstrances, accompanied with affidavits to
sustain them, while the government looked on with amazement and
were puzzled to find means adequate for a remedy. The "Ben-
nington Mob," as they were called, had not only inspired the
"Yorkers" in the territory with terror and dismay, but satisfied
the New York government, that the means within their control
were insufficient to meet the force brought against them. On the
19th of May, 1772, Governor Tryon of New York wrote a letter
to Rev. WiLLTAM Dewey, minister of Bennington, and other in-
habitants of that place and vicinity, inviting them to lay before