HISTORY OF VERMONT. ^ 



of Hudson's river. The king of Great Britain, 

 had repeatedly recommended to the assembly of 

 New Hampshire, to make provision for the sup- 

 port of fort Dummer ; as a fortress, which had 

 now fallen within their jurisdiction, and was 

 known to stand on the west side of Connecticut 

 river. From these circumstances, it was not 

 doubted either in Britain, or in America, but 

 that the jurisdiction of New Hampshire extend- 

 ed to the west of Connecticut river ; but how 

 far to the west, hud never been examined, or 

 called into question. Benning Wentworth, was 

 at that time governor of New Hampshire. In 

 1749, he made a grant of a township, six miles 

 square. It was situated twenty miles east of 

 Hudson's river, and six miles north of Massa- 

 chusetts line. In allusion to his own name, he 

 gave to this township, the name of Bennington. 

 For the space of four or live years, he made several 

 other grants, on the west side of Connecticut 

 river. In 1754, hostilities commenced between 

 the English and the French in America, which 

 put a stop to the applications and grants, and 

 issued in a war between the two crowns. In 

 1760, the operations of the war, in this part of 

 America, were terminated, by the surrender of 

 Montreal, and the entire conquest of Canada. 

 During the progress of the war, the New Eng- 

 land troops cut a road from Charlestown in New 

 Hampshire, to Crown point, and were frequent- 

 ly passing through these lands ; and their fer- 

 tility and value became generally known. Upon 

 the cessation of hostilities, they were eagerly 

 sought after, by adventurers and speculatorso 

 By the advice of his council, the governor of 



