Cheshire, it will not be advisable to Dispute the Ground any longer. You can't but be sensible of the ill consequences of such an attempt from within ourselves within this County, and Especially within the Grants ;-for should the Friends of New Hampshire generally exert themselves at this time it would universally alarm the Vermonters, and many who would not otherwise arm in this Quarrel would exert themselves to the utmost to oppose the orders of the Assembly, and all the New Hampshire Authority. I should think that if New Hampshire are determined to Support and Protect their Friends in this Quarter, and to maintain their Jurisdiction, it will be absolutely necessary that a sufficient force should be collected from without the Grants be sure, if not without the County of Cheshire; You will put yourself in our circumstances, and especially in those of the Sheriff and the other Prisoners, and I think you can't hesitate a moment respecting what is necessary to be done and how it should be done.

I am, with esteem your Honors most obedt
Humb Servt,

Honble M. Weare.

BENJA BELLOWS.

Letter from Samuel King to Col. Chamberlain and others relating to the abovesaid matters.

To Colo Chamberlain I shall transmit to you a coppy of an Express I Rec1 Sabeth day night for the Sheriff of this county.

State of Vermont

Charlestown, December 1st, A D County of Washington ( 1781.

SIR-two men belonging to Chesterfield have Been taken by the authority of this State and commited in the Gaol in Charlestown for opposeing the Constable of said Chesterfield in the Execution of his office-Intelligence of which has been sent to the general Cort of New Hampshire who Did Resolve that Colo Hale Proseed to said Gaol and Release the Prisoners and in case of Resistance to call on the Sivil and Military Authority of the State of New Hampshire to su port him meaning the authority of the County of Cheshire

Colo Hail arrived here on the 28th of November last Demanded the Prisoners they being Refused he attempted to brake the Gaol in order to Release them for which he was taken and committed to Prison was Released on his Parole for the Purpose of Consulting General Bellows and calling on him to Raise the Malitia agreeable to the order of said Court but the General Refused to Do it the Colo is Returned and is now under confinement having the Liberty of the yard On the evening of the 29th General Bellows sent an Express to the General Court of new Hampshire now seting Excuseing himself for not Raising the Melitia and informeing them that if the Melitia are to be Raised it would be best to Raise them without the limits of the County for the Releaf of Colo Hail. Doubtless there will be a force sent to Relive him In which case I shall call on you for assistance to withstand any Force that may be sent to Releave him if I am advised to by proper authority as the Law Directs I wish your Regiment might be notified without Loss of time to be in Readiness properly Provided with Provisions arms and ammunition to march on the shortest notice Should I be under the Disagreeable necissity of calling for your assistance I Have sent simelar Letters to Colonels Haywood Chase and Childs Regiment* have only to add that if the People that Elected me into office will not turn out at so critical a Juncture to Defend me and the Honour of the State and its Laws I shall be under the Disagreeable Necessity of giving up a Cause which I under Took for my own and their good.

I am Sir your most obedient humble servt

To Colo Samuel King.

WILLIAM PAGE, Sheriff.

[P. 286.] Therefore Sir, I would desire you to Favor the Captains in your Town with a coppy of this or with this and Exeart yourself that the men may all be Ready to march at the shortest notice and Doubt not your nor the Captains Exartions on such an Important matter and critical time as

*Col. William Heywood was of Charlestown, Col. Jonathan (?) Chase of Cornish, and Col. Jonathan Child of Lyme.-ED.

I view this to be and wish they may universally turn out in Defence of so just a cause.

So I remain your most obedient servant

Decem 3d, 1781.

SAMUEL KING, Colo

To Colo Chamberlain, Capt. Franklin, Capt. Coal and Capt. Butterfield.

P. S. I have sent this Day to the other Towns in the Regiment Simelar Letters to this.

Letter from Col. Wm. Heywood to Capt. Phineas Hutchins (with a copy of Sheriff Page's express).

State of Vermont

County of Washington Charlestown, Dec. 2a, 1781.

The following is a Coppy of a Letter from Doct1 Page.

*

SIR-Two men belonging to Chesterfield have been Taken by the Authority of this State and Committed to Gaol in Charlestown for opposing the Constable of said Chesterfield in the Execution of his office. * [The remainder of Doctor Page's letter, word for word, is identical with the preceding copy of the letter to Col. Chamberlain, and need not therefore be repeated.]

Col. Haywood continues

SIR-I should be glad you would show this to Capt. Hooper and Lieut. Bundy & assist them in Notifying all that are friendly to the new State be in readiness with their arms & ammunition compleat with two or three Days provision each to march to Charlestown on the shortest Notice.

Capt. Hutchins.

I am your Humbl Servt.

WM. HEYWOOD, Colo.

[Superscribed] On Publick Service

Capt. Phineas Hutchins, Walpole.

Letter from Michael Cressey, of Chesterfield, to Gen. Bellows.

[P. 289.] SIR-I Beg the Leave to inform your Hon' that the Pertened Coll. King has sent out: By order as I am informed from Doc: Page to Raise his Rigemt to oppose New Hampshire, and that he Called the milita of this Town together yesterday to see who would fight against New Hampshire and that as I am Credably informed there was about Sixty turned out as Vollenters for that Purpose and the sed King Urged them in the Strongest terms to Stand By one another and by thire officers for thire Rights against the State of New Hampshire, assuring them if they stood firm New Hampshire would not fight. it is also reported that he sent over to Capt. Sarjants at Brattilbrough to asist But what return unknown.

Sir-I thought Proper to inform you of these movements and I Pray Heaven to give both you and the State of Newhampshire wisdom to conduct matters wisely at such a Critical day as this.

From your most obedient and

Chesterfield, Decber ye 5th 1781.
To Genal Bellows.

Humble Sarv

MICHAEL CRESEY.

NOTE BY THE EDITOR.

While affairs were in the condition above delineated in the western parts of the state, the authorities of New Hampshire in the eastern part were prompt in measures to maintain their jurisdiction, and give relief, if possible, to their oppressed subjects. Hence, the Committee of Safety at Exeter, on the 5th of December, issued orders, as follows: [Copied from MS. Records in Secretary's office, of Committee of Safety, 1779-1784, pp. 108-115.]

State of New In Comtee of Safety Exeter Decem2 5th, Hampshire S 1781.

SIR-By the inclosed Order you will see, that you are to raise the body of your County for the purpose of liberating the sheriff of the County of Cheshire from his illegal confinement.

The Committee have wrote Gen1 Nichols and Gen1 Bellows on the subject of raising men for that purpose to whom you will apply.

You have inclosed a copy of the act of the Gen1 Court, impowering the Committee to liberate persons confined in the Counties of Cheshire and Grafton by any persons acting under the pretended authority of Vermont & for apprehending all persons who have or shall attempt to exercise such authority in either of said Counties.

You will receive herewith a Warrant directed to Colo Hale or (in his absence or incapacity to act) to yourself for liberating from confinement and for apprehending sundry persons acting as aforesaid-You will first proceed to liberate Colo Hale and afterwards give him your assistance agreeably to the Act of the General Court. If (by any cause whatever) Colo Hale should not be able to execute said Warrant, you will consider and proceed to execute the same as full to all intents and purposes as though originally intended for you.

The Confining Coll. Hale is a Crime of such magnitude, that the General Court (as we conceive) had no idea of it, and demands speedy redress, doubt not but you and all the good people of this state who may be called upon for the purpose will exert yourselves to give speedy relief to those confined and to bring to Justice all concerned in such unconstitutional proceedures.

You will call on Francis Blood Esq for a supply of Provisions, to whom we have wrote on the subject-You will give the Committee (or the General Court if sitting all necessary intelligence from time to time in order (if need be) that you may have further support.

Moses Kelley Esq.

Copy.

M. WEARE, President.

State of New In Committee of Safety Exeter Decem1 5th, Hampshire S 1781.

L. S.

To Moses Kelley Esq. Sheriff of the County of
Hillsborough-Greeting.

Whereas this Committee are informed that the Honble