THE 



NATURAL AND CIVIL 



History of vermon^, 



CHAPTER L 



Civil Policy. From the year 1760 to 1775. 

 Settlement '*^f Vermont by the English. Grants 

 Jrom JVew Hampshire. Proceedings of New 

 York. Violent opposition of the Settlers,. A-* 

 merican War. Its commencement, importance 

 and aspect. 



1761. THE larj^e and valuable tract o£ 

 Qountry, which is now known by the name of 

 Vermont, was situated between the New Eng- 

 land provinces, New York, and Canada. Its 

 distance from the English settlements along the 

 sea coasts, and from the French on the river St. 

 Lawrence, prevented any settlements being made 

 in it, at an early period, by either nation : But 

 both of them, v/ere making constant advances 

 towards it. So early as the year 1615, the 

 Dutch had advanced one hundred and sixty 

 miles up Hudson's river, and built a fort at Al- 

 bany. In 1640, the French had extended far 

 up the river St. Lawrence, and began their set- 

 tlements at Montreal. In 1635, the English 

 began the town of Springfield, upon Connecti- 

 tut river ; and by 1670, had extended as far up 

 the river, as Deerfield. On September 3d, 

 VOL. u. A 



