If it is thought best to raise men, arms (at least two hundred) and powder and flints must be sent. Mr Harry [Alexander Harvey, doubtless,] will inform more, and take care of whatever is sent. Mean time I am endeavouring to supply ourselves from seaports eastward. We acknowledge with gratitude the notice taken of us by you; shall attend [the N. Y. Congress] as soon as we are in a posture of defence. Wish prosperity to the cause of liberty and truth. your most humble servant, To the Provincial Congress for New-York Colony. Am Gentlemen, JACOB BAYLEY. JOHN TAPLIN TO NEW-YORK PROVINCIAL Congress. NEWBURY, New-York Province, July 15, 1775. Sir:-Your letter of the 31st of May I did not receive until the 14th instant, which was broke open and the General Association taken out. We have formed a County Committee, as also one in each Town and Precinct; also, we have chose Colonel Bayley to represent us in the Congress. The County seems to be very well united, and firm to one another and also in the cause of liberty; and I make no doubt but they will cheerfully join in whatever measures and directions the honourable Congress may point out from time to time. I am, Sir, your most obedient and humble servant, JOHN TAPLIN.' To Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., President of the Provincial Congress, at the City of New-York. JACOB BAYLEY TO NEW YORK CONGRESS. [From American Archives, Fourth Series, vol. III, col 1124.] NEWBURY, October 20, 1775. Sir: The packet I received from you, some time the last of August, broken, many of the papers wanting. I supplied the Association, who [which] all have signed but a very few. Shall send it soon, [that is, the list of signers, and of the persons who refused to sign.] We are now regulating the Militia after the form that the Continental Congress advise, (not having received any thing from our [New York] Congress,) only shall choose by the Captain and subs together with the Committees, the field-officers, and shall recommend them accordingly. Here them to join the Americans against the British; and with the same view he urged the completion of the now called "Hazen road," the construction of which he commenced in 1776. For the unique address to the Indians, see American Archives, Fourth Series, vol. 11, col. 1070. 'JOHN TAPLIN was one of the first settlers of Newbury. He was appointed Commissioner to administer oaths of office and judge of inferior court of common pleas, March 17, 1770; and judge again April 10, 1772. His son, JOHN TAPLIN, jr., was Sheriff of Gloucester county from March 1770 until May 1777.-See Eastern Vermont. 2 The meaning appears to be, that the commissioned company officers, acting jointly with the town or district Committees of Safety, (who constituted the County Committee,) were to nominate field-officers to be commissioned by New York. tofore we chose new Captains and subs, both for the standing [militia] and minute men,' who were at the command of the President of our little [County] Congress, assisted by the Chairman of each District Committee; and long before we heard of a Congress at New York, we all to a man signed an Association, agreeable to the Continental one, which I forget whether I mentioned to you before. I determine to see you this winter, if health permit. It is sixteen days since we have heard any thing from Canada, and what I had then you have before now. I hope all is well. I shall make a return by Docter Wetherspoon, whom we expect every day. All are well, and with us peace and plenty. This from your most obedient humble servant, JACOB BAYLEY. To John McKesson, Esq., Secretary to the Congress at New York. JOEL MATTHEWS TO NEW YORK CONGRESS. WINDSOR, May 22, 1776. Agreeable to the order of the honourable Provincial Congress of NewYork, the Committees of Safety of the Counties of Cumberland and Gloucester, appointed a Committee of three out of the Committee of Safety of each County, for a Committee to nominate a Brigadier-General and a Brigade Major. In consequence of which, the Committee so chosen previously notified the Committee of Charlotte County, by a letter, directed to the Chairman thereof, of the time and place of meeting, but had no return. Your Honour's obedient and humble servant, To the Honourable Provincial Congress. JOEL MATTHEWS. At a meeting of the Committees of the Counties of Cumberland and Gloucester, appointed to nominate a Brigadier-General and a Brigade Major, at Windsor, on Wednesday, the 22d day of May, 1776: made choice of Colonel Joseph Marsh as Chairman, and Major Joel Matthews Clerk; then proceeded and made choice of Colonel Jacob Bayley as Brigadier-General, and Simon Stevens, Esq., as Brigade Major, of said Coun ties. Voted, That the return of the above nominations be sent by Colonel Marsh to the honourable Provincial Congress, who is authorized to represent this Committee at Congress. A true copy from the Minutes. By order, To the Honourable Provincial Congress. JOSEPH MARSH, Chairman. JACOB BAYLEY TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK CONVENTION [From the Documentary History of New York, vol. 4, pp. 560–561.] NEWBERRY, Febr. 19th, 1777. Dear Brethren,-With the utmost Concern for the Publick welfare of the United States, and this in particular, I take my Pen to write when I consider the Absolute nessecty of an Intiere Union of all the Friends to truth-the American cause I mean-and when I see all the Friends 1 Meaning that new company officers were appointed, doubtless to exclude inefficient or unpatriotic men. of hell Combined and using all their Deiabolicall Arts to Disunite us, and now the Deivil as usuall at the last efforts of Changing themselves into angles [angels] of light, now pleading you [we] were abused by the State of N. Y. they having taken away your [our] property, Imposed upon you [us] in every shape, you [we] have nothing better to expect than as heretofore, now is the time to separate &c. And so far has this timptation prevailed that a number (not from this County) has declared Independacy of the State of N. Yk. and the Committee of Dorset has Directed a Convention of all the New Hr. Grants to meet at Dorset to fill up by Draft or Raising a bounty, Collo. Warners Regt. However Inconcistant to there own plann, I Supose the Chief of Cumberland will Join. None from us, but which way for us to steer I know not. I know the Congress will not countenance them in there Independence. We are at the greatest distance of anie of this State. We are willing to be Subject to N. Y. but had Rather be somewhat handier to the Seat of Govr as we really see the want of it. I have heard I was chosen to waite on the Congress in behalf of1 I am also desiered by the Committees [of Gloucester county, probably,] to apply to Congress through our own assembleys [the New York Convention at that date] for Proetection. Can I come to you as our assembly or not? I cannot as New Connectcutte [Vermont] wait on the Congress. Whether as the case stands we had not better be ordered to do dutey [military duty] with Boston [Massachusetts] or N. H.? I am afraide not from any thing heard saide, but [from] the naturall Consequence that these Counties [Gloucester and Cumberland] are in danger of Ministeriall proetection. The heads of the Green [Mountain] men were with me in Novr. They Insisted much on my Joyning [them.] I refused, but told them first to petition our own [New York] Congress, which they said should be done the 16th Jany. which I thot would bring them to you with hopes some measures would then be used to heal old Deficultys, but the Reverse hapned at that meeting. I should have waited on you before now, but I really expected Colo Alcot [Gen. Peter Olcott] was with you." I shall attend as soon as Possiable. I should think the men raised under Hossington [Rangers, under Maj. Hoisington,] should be Paid and kept for Service; if not held, none be Paid but them that has done real Servise. That will not be much, (but if they are continued they may be serviseable in fu 1 Blank in the copy. Gen. Bayley was appointed delegate for Gloucester County in the New York Congress" in 1775, but never took his seat. Either as he did not desire to do so, or because Vermont was not recognized by Congress. 3 That is, in danger of being occupied by British troops. Again and again Gen. Bayley declared the danger of such an event; and Gen. Washington on one occasion confessed his fear of it in a letter to Gen. Bayley. * Meaning, doubtless, by the Convention which met at Westminster on the 15th of January, 1777, and sat on the 16th and 17th. "This seems to imply that Gen. Olcott had been appointed a delegate, but the editor is aware of no other evidence to that effect. His residence was in Norwich, Cumberland county. ture,) if the whole money is sent, and all that will muster to be Paid, and care taken that no more Billeting is paid than has been in Servise. Tho the Frontiers this way has seemed to leave you, you will ever care for the whole. I think that ever an army of observation is wanted here; it is now, both on acct. of Internal as well as External Enemys. You will advise as you think best, and rely you [or you may rely I] will do every thing for the good of the whole without having any regard to Private views. I am Gents, Your most obedient Humble servant, JACOB BAYLEY. The editor of the Documentary History of New York evidently intended to give a literal copy of the foregoing letter; but here, by points, division of sentences, and other devices, an attempt has been made to give the meaning intended by the writer. The last letter of Gen. Bayley to the New York authorities was dated June 14, 1777, and declared that the people of the county were "almost to a man" violent for a separation from New York. On the 4th of that month six towns of the county, being the most important, were represented in the Vermont Convention at Windsor, and from that date the county may be reckoned as lost to New York. APPENDIX B. SOME MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS, AND SHORT ARGUMENTS, on a Small Pamphlet, dated in the CONVENTION of the REPRESENTATIVES of the STATE OF NEW-YORK, October 2, 1776, and sent from said CONVENTION to the County of CUMBERLAND, and some REASONS given, why the District of the New Hampshire Grants had best be a STATE. BY IRA ALLEN. Hartford, [Conn.,] printed by EBENEZER WATSON, near the GREAT BRIDGE. M. DCCLXXVIL1 PREFATORY NOTE. [From Vt. Historical Society Collections, vol. 1.] THE following, entitled “Miscellaneous Remarks, etc.," was published in pamphlet form about the month of May, 1777, but is now out of print. It appears from the preface that it "was undertaken at the request of the General Convention of the district of the New Hampshire Grants.“" This Convention, assembled at Westminster, had on the 15th of January preceding declared the territory separated from the government of New York, and to be an independent state,—had appointed agents to attend upon the Continental Congress, and inform that body of their declaration, and to ask to be admitted to seats therein as delegates from the new state. This pamphlet was probably the first considerable publication which was made in behalf of the people of the territory after the commencement of the Revolution. BENJAMIN H. HALL, in his "Bibliography of the State of Vermont," says that this pamphlet was a reply to a report submitted to the Convention of New York on the 4th of October, 1776, by a committee consisting of William Duer, James Duane, Zephaniah Platt, John Sessions Simon Stevens and John Jay, copious extracts from which may be found in B. H. Hall's History of Eastern Vermont, at pages 271, 275.” The first sentence of the pamphlet has a quotation from this report. In Thompson's Civil History of Vermont, page 107, the following items from Colonel Ira Allen's account against the State are given: “1777 April 20th, To writing a pamphlet, Vindicating the Rights of the people to form a state, and in answer to a pamphlet published by the Convention of N. Y., dated Oct. 2d, 1776, and sent to the county of Cumberland, £6 0 0. To 3 days going to Hartford to get s'd pamphlet printed, £1 10 0." 1 Prepared and printed by order of the Convention at Westminster, October 1776.-See ante, p. 37. Slade's State Papers, p. 68-73. |