direct collision. The facts relating to these disastrous conflicts, which required both the civil and military power of the state to suppress, are detailed in the papers which immediately follow. A portion of these papers-in addition to those on file in the MS. volume in the secretary's office-is copied from the "Correspondence of the Committee of Safety of New Hampshire, 1779-1784."

Letter from Gen. Benjamin Bellows to Meshech Weare relating to the unhappy condition of affairs in that portion of the State.

[P. 261.]

HON SIR,

Walpole, Nov. 15th, 1781.

Being prevented by bodily indisposition from doing myself the honor of waiting upon you with a verbal account of our unhappy situation in this part of the State, by reason of the claim of Vermont upon us, must do it as well as I can by writing;-that the Authority of the State may take such effectual measures as they in their Wisdom may Judge the Present Exigency of affairs calls for. The Inclosed Declaration and other Acts shews that the pretended Officers of Vermont, notwithstanding any Resolutions of the Congress of the United States, mean to exercise their authority, East of Connecticut River, in all cases whatsoever, in every place, where their numbers render it safe for them so to do; and to Prevent either Officers or People, still adhering to Hampshire, from the exercising any Act of Government or Priviledge according to the Laws of said State. If these things are suffered by this State and the Government of Hampshire will sit still and see her faithful adherents Dragg'd to Gaol, for supporting in an orderly way, her Jurisdiction over a Territory Guaranteed by Congress, our case is Pittiable. Vermont has levied a Tax upon the Lands on this, as well as the West side of the River, and mean to collect it where they have a majority; -the consequence of which I much fear, will be violent if not sanguinary measures. We wait with impatience for some measures taken by you to allay our fears and quiet our minds, under our present Prospects. If the Wisdom of the State should think it necessary to use more vigorous methods than they have as yet done, (as no doubt they will) Tho' I mean not to dictate; yet I think it might be

Best for any Officers sent to support Government here, with their Posses, to come from off the Grants, as it would be more likely to settle us in peace, than the employing any among us, for this Purpose, where we are so intermix'd and near Equally Divided. I must Further let Your Honor know that if Effectual methods were taken by the State to secure some of the leaders of the revolt, which I doubt not might safely, if secretly and Prudently attempted, be [P. 263.] done; in all probability matters would rest quiet, till the United States would do something decisive, if they did not take a turn in our favor.

Your Honor will make such use of what I have wrote you in Confidence, as the good of the whole State may call for, so as not to Prejudice unnecessarily any against one, who is with much sincerity your Honors most Obedient and Humbl Servt,

Honble M. Weare.

BENJA BELLOWS.

Substance of the complaints exhibited against Nath'l Bingham & John Grandy by Sam'l Davis.*

[P. 269.] To the Hona' Sam' King Esq Justice of the peace, Complains Sam1 Davis, that on the Night of the 5 of Nov Instant-being in the house of Nath' Bingham in the Execution of his office as Constable in attempting to serve a precept upon James Robartson, that John Grandy did by force & arms oppose him the s Sam' Davis, and Did Not Suffer him to make his service, all which in against the peace & Dignity of this State: this is therefore to pray your hon to grant a warrant to apprehend the sd Grandy so that he may be Done with as Law & Justice Doth thereunto appertain, as in Duty Bound your complainant in Duty Bound shall Ever pray.

SAM DAVIS, Cons.

The matter referred to in the paper which follows is minutely narrated in Hist. of Charlestown, ch. XI, pp. 168-184. The affair took place in Chesterfield. Moses Davis, constable, acted under authority of Vermont. Bingham and Grandy were for New Hampshire. Col. Samuel King, also, was in the Vermont interest; and the court before which the trial was had was a Vermont court. This transaction gave rise to a succession of severe conflicts in the border towns, which will be more fully disclosed by documents which follow.-ED.

Mr. Bingham's Crime was that on the above sd Night, sd Bingham Did by force & arms oppose the s Davice & ordered him to Depart his house & told him that None of his Precepts should be served in his house.

To Both of the above Complaints when the Questions were asked Whether Guilty or Not, they said Not Guilty: then the Influence of their Court was used for them to throw themselves on the mercy of their Court & submit their Cause to a Jury, but they Refusing they proceeded to examine into the Complaint & Endeavoured to support it by four Evidences; whereupon the Crime appearing so high the Justices ordered them to Recognize to the Superior Court & procure Bonds or Go to Jail; they offering to go to Jail the Greatest pains Possable was taken to Pursuade them to procure Bail & offers made to them even to take any persons words which they would produce in Lieu of Bonds if they would But comply.

By the Best Information that can be obtained of a Complaint which is exhibited against Lt. Lee, he is charged with thretening to take the Life of the sa Sam' Davis; whereupon a Warrant is issued & orders given to break up any house where the sd Lee may be found.

Warrant to apprehend John Grandy, Jun.

[P. 271.] State of Vermont Wheras John Grandy jun1 of Washington ss.*) chestarfeal in said County was Conveaned before me Samuel King Esquear one of the Justis of the pease for said Countey for Impeading and hindring one Sam. Davis Constable of said Chestarfeald Executing his ofis and I proceed to Examin into the matar and aftar due examanation in to the matar the offence appeared to me with its Aggravetison to be so notorious and horid that I ordareed the offendar to be bound to the Neaxt Countey Cort and the said John did refuse to get Bondsman for his appearans at said Čort.

To the Sherif of said County his Deputy or Eyther of the Constables the town of Chesterfield in the name and by *Washington county, of Vermont, at this time, was assumed to cover the whole county of Cheshire.-Ed.

the Authority of the freemen of the State of Vermount you are hereby Required to take the body of John Grandy jun of said Chesterfield if he may be found in within your Precinct and him Commit to the Common Gaol in Charlestown in said County within his said Prison and our said Sherif or Gaol Keeper is hereby required to keep the said John till he be had before our Justices of our next County Cort to be holden in said County hereof fail not as you will answer on your perril Given under my hand at Chesterfield this 12th day of November 1781.

SAMUEL KING, Justice of the peace.

Attest-Isaac Griswold, Dept. Sherif.

A true Copy of what was left with me on the committing of John Grandy to Gaol in Charlestown on the 14th of Nov. 1781.

Attest.*

Warrant to apprehend and secure in Gaol, Nath'l Bingham. [P. 273.] State of Vermont, Whereas Nathaniel Bingham Washington, ss. was convented before me Moses Smith Justice peace with in and for the County of Washington for impending and hindring as well as opposing an officer in the Execution of his office in Chesterfield in the County aforesaid, I thereupon having taken Into consideration the case aforesaid do adjudge that the said Nathaniel find sureties to the next County Cort of Common Pleas to be holden in this County in the sum of five hundred Pounds Lawfull money for his for his appearance at said:

These are therefore in the name and By the authority of the freemen of the State of Vermount, to command you the Sheriff, under sheriff or Deputy or Gaoler of the County aforesaid to Recive the Body of the said Nathaniel and him keep and have in the Gaol of our said County untill he may be had before the Justices of our County Cort or Cort

*On the back of the foregoing mittimus is the following minute without signature, viz.: "The foregoing Copy was drawn by a person who "was favored by the Gaol Keeper with the Copies left with him, and "the Gaol Keeper was desired to examine and attest it, but he de"clined: it was then presented to the Sheriff with the same request "and he declined signing it."-Ed.

of Common Pleas next to be holden at Charlestown within the County aforesaid hereof fail not at your perrill Given under my hand this 12th day of November A D 1781.

MOSES SMITH, Justice of the Peace.

Attest-Isaac Griswold, Dpt. Sherif.

A true Copy of what was left with me on the committing Nathaniel Bingham to Gaol in Charlestown on the 14th of Nov 1781. Attest.

Petition of Nath'l Bingham and John Grandy, Jun., to the Council and House of Representatives, Ñ. H.

To the Honorable

[P. 275.] State of New Hampshire the Council and House

Cheshire, ss.

}

of Representatives in General Assembly now sitting at Exeter :

The Petition of Nathaniel Bingham and John Grandy, jun of Chesterfield in said County: Humbly shews

That your Petitioners are now confined in the Gaol in Charlestown in said County by two several Mittimuses, the one signed by Samuel King, the other by Moses Smith of Chesterfield aforesaid, for the supposed Crime of opposing a Constable acting under the authority of the State of Vermont in said Chesterfield, as by the copies of the Mittimuses herewith transmitted will appear. How far we are justly chargeable with the fact of opposing the said Constable (for we suppose it to be no crime) your Honors will be able to judge from an impartial account of our conduct, presented by the Bearer. The pain we feel from our disagreeable confinement induces us to trouble the Assembly with this Petition, not doubting but they will grant us such relief as on full consideration of our case shall be tho't expedient ;and as in duty bound shall ever pray.

Charlestown, Novr ye 16th. 1781.

NATH BINGHAM
JOHN GRANDY, Jun