Communication of Ira Allen, Esq., to the Council and General Assembly of New Hampshire, expressing his views of the State of Vermont.

[P. 95.] To the Honorable Council and General Assembly of the State of New Hampshire, now siting at Exeter in said State.

GENTLEMEN

Persuant to my appointment (by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont) to wait on the Hon Mesheg Ware, Esq', President of the Council of the State of New Hampshire, with a letter from His Excellency, Tho Chittenden, Esq, and as in the s letter Refferance was had to me for further Proticulars Relative to the union of sixteen Towns on the East side of Connecticut River, with the State of Vermont, and as it has been the Desire of the Hon the General Assembly That I would give them a short state of facts Relative to the said Union, &c. I therefore Begg Leave to state the following as a short and consise state of the Matter, (viz.)

The first movement to form the State of Vermont was from the west side of the Green Mountain,-in consequence of which several Committees was sent to the then Counties of Cumberland and Gloucester to see if the People there would unite with the People on the west side of the mountain to make one Body Politick-About two years ago Col. John Wheelock,* being apprised of that movement went to Mason, a descendant of Capt. John Mason, famous in early Indian wars. She was a sister of the Hon. Jeremiah Mason, the distinguished jurist both of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Col. Marsh was active in revolutionary services, was the father of the late Hon. Charles Marsh, of Woodstock, Vt., and grandfather of President James Marsh, of Vermont University, Dr. Leonard Marsh, of Burlington, Lyndon A. Marsh, Esq., of Woodstock, and the Hon. George P. Marsh, who still lives, eminent for scholarship both in America and Europe. Col. Marsh died Feb. 9, 1811, aged 85. (See a biographical sketch in Vol. I, Governor and Council, Ver., pp. 235-238.)—ED.

*Col. John Wheelock, son of Dr. Eleazer Wheelock, president of Dartmouth college, was born at Lebanon, Ct., Jan. 28, 1754, graduated at Dartmouth college, 1771, and was tutor in 1772-4. He was a member from Hanover of the fourth provincial congress in Exeter, May, 1775. In the spring of 1777 was commissioned as major of a New York regiment, and in November, the same year, as lieutenant-colonel of Bedel's regiment, New Hampshire. He probably was the first openly to propose the union of western New Hampshire with Vermont. In

the Town of Norwich where one of sd Committees were and Proposed to them for a number of Towns on the East side of the River to unite with those towns on the west of sa [P. 96.] River; but was answered by said Committee that they were not acquainted with the situation of New Hampshire, Therefore they should do nothing about it. Last March after the Governor and Council was Declared Chosen and the Assembly formed agreeable to the Constitution of sd State, there came in a Committee from the East side of the River s to be chosen by a Convention of Committees, whereof Mr. Esterbrooks was chairman, and moved in behalf of the New Hampshire Grants East of sd River (as they were pleased to stile it) for a union with the State of Vermont;-in consequence of which a Committee was chosen from Both Houses to confer with said Committee and make Report of their opinion thereon to the House: the Committee after all the Debate thereon Reported to the House as their opinion, not to connect with said Committee in no way or manner Whatsoever. The House after mature Deliberation Voted to accept of sd Report; which Gave such Dissatisfaction to Several of the members of the Council and Assembly that Lived near Connecticut River, that they declared, if Them People (meaning those on the East side. of the River) were to be intirely excluded from connecting with sa State, they would withdraw from the then State of Vermont and connect with them People and form a New State. Then after Long and Tegious Debates the whole was Refered to the People at learge, and to be brought before the Assembly again at their Next Session in June. [P. 97.] Col. Payne and others of that Committee Then Publickly Declared that they had conversed with a Number of the Leading Members of the Assembly of N. Hampshire from the Eastern Part of the State, who had no objection to their joining with the State of Vermont; but some members in the western part of sd State was opposed to it, but gave it as their opinions that New Hampshire as a State would make no Difficulty about it; this Last Idea was carried to the People, and under this Mistake of the matter a Majority of the Towns in the State Voted for the union, which the General assembly could do no otherwise than 1779 he succeeded his father to the presidency of the college. During his administration the great controversy arose between him and the trustees of the college. He died at Hanover, April 4, 1817.—ED.

confirm, they being previously instructed so by their constituants: The Assembly then Proseeded to business, amongst which there was an order given for Each Town in the State that see fit to choose a Justice of the Peace, and several Temperary Acts were made, all to stand, untill the rising of the next Assembly.

Sum Time in the month of Augst Governor Chittenden Recd a Letter from the Honbl Mesheg Ware, Esq' President of the Council of N. Hampshire showing the Disapprobation of sa State to the union.

Sum Time in September, Col. Ethan Allen was appointed to wait on Congress to see how the Political State of the State of Vermont was viewed by Congress; who, after the Assembly was formed in October last, Reported to the House, that the Members of Congress was unanimously opposed to the union of the sixteen Towns, otherwise they had none of them any objection to the State of Vermont being a State, (the New York members only excepted) At the session in October last several members from the East side of the River Took their seats in consequence of the [P. 98.] union before mentioned. Then the Assembly proseeded to business; But there appeared such Divisions and Debates Relative to the union that for about thirteen Days there was very little Business done; at which Time three votes were Passed which gave rise to a Desent's being brought in to the House the next day signed by Twenty seven members* of the Council and Assembly (both the Votes & Desent I have Deliver'd to the Hon Council) The General Assembly then Proseeded to the Business of the State and Revived sum old acts and made sum new, amongst which they ordered one Commission to be made for the Justices of each County, and all the names of the Justices in the County of Cumberland to be put in the Commissions for that County & in like manner the County of Bennington. I was credably informed by several worthy Members of the Council and Assembly that the second vote above referred to in its Original was Passed as follows, (viz.) Whether the Towns East of the River included in the Union with this State shall be annexed to the County of Cumberland, Past in the Negative. By several flying Reports was informed that after the above mentioned Twenty

* See ante, p. 286.-Ed.

seven members with Drew they formed a Convention, chose a Chairman & Clerk, and then Proposed to give an Invitation to all the Towns in the Grants to join them and form a New State by the name of New Connecticut; they then adjourned their Convention to sum time the Next week to be held at Lebanon; there was about Eleven Towns on [P. 99.] the west side of the River joined them in this Convention.

Thus, Gentlemen, I have given a short State of the matter, which I do Certify upon Honour is the Truth according to the Best of my Memory.

Exeter, November 4th, 1778.

IRA ALLEN.*

Letter from Meshech Weare to Thomas Chittenden relating to the visit of Ira Allen, &c., dated

State of New Hampshire.† [P. 87.] SIR

Exeter, Novemr 5th, 1778.

Your letter of the 23d Ult° was delivered me by Mr. Allen, and hath been laid before the Gen' Assembly of this State, who have directed me to observe, that the Resolution of the Representatives of your People which you mention, viz. "That no additional exercise of jurisdictional authority "be had (by this State) east of Connecticutt River for the "time being," is not an explicit determination to break off all connection as a distinct political Body with the Towns East of Connecticutt River; but is so ambiguously expressed as to show nothing of your future intentions on the subject. However, as you refer us to Mr. Allen, the Bearer, for

*IRA ALLEN, Esq., was the youngest brother of Gen. Ethan Allen, and as much distinguished for diplomacy and ability with his pen as the general was for daring and victory with his sword. Ira was the youngest son of Joseph Allen, of Connecticut, born at Cornwall, Ct., Apr. 21, 1751. He came to Vermont in 1771, then twenty years of age, and his whole life was identified, as was his brother Ethan's, with the early history of that state. He married Jerusha, daughter of Gen. Robert Enos, and had three children, viz., Zimri, Ira H., and Maria Juliet. He died at Philadelphia, Jan. 7, 1814, in the sixty-second year of his age. (See Vt. Hist. Mag., vol. I, pp. 770-776, Gov. and Coun. Rec., vol. I, pp. 112-115.)-ED.

This letter was not in chronological order on the files.-ED.

"further satisfaction in the premises," that Gentleman has, with openness and candour informed us that some particular circumstances in your affairs had hindered a more particular and Explicit declaration on the subject; yet assured us, that he had no doubt but a considerable majority of your People, would totally reject any further connection. with the people East of Connecticut River as a Political Body: On which state of the matter we shall depend, as that only can hinder dificulties arising between the State of New Hamp and the People settled on the New Hampshire Grants (so called) west of Conn' River.

Honble Thomas Chittenden.

Letter from Meshech Weare to Ethan Allen, in answer to the foregoing.

State of New
Hampshire

Exeter, Novemr 5th, 1778.

[P. 91.] SIR-I received yours of the 23rd ulto by Ira Allen, Esq' and at the same time a Letter from Thomas Chittenden, Esq purporting a Resolution of the State of Vermont concerning their late connection with some Towns part of the State of New Hampshire, in the following words: "That no additional exercise of jurisdictional authority, be had (by this State) East of Connecticut River, for the time being."-which by no means expresses their future designs or intentions in the matter.

Nevertheless as you have been so full & explicit in your own sentiments, I trust the Body of your people will be of the same opinion, as I am sure every sensible person will, notwithstanding the blind designs of some uneasy and never to be contented persons, whose views must certainly be more detrimental to you than they possibly can be to New Hampshire; whatever may be determined by Congress relative to the acknowledgment of your Independency will be freely acquiesced in by New Hampshire.

Col Ethan Allen.

*This letter, undoubtedly written by Mr. Weare, though not signed, was probably the first draught of the one sent to Gov. Chittenden.-ED.