CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS.

525

said armed Mobb came into the Room where the Deponent lay, and with many curses insisted onknowing where her said Husband was, and swore they would find him and have him either Deador alive if he was on the face of God’s Earth . That on the deponents endeavouring to represent tothem their bad Conduct some of them said and threatned that if she did not hold her peace theywould lay the House in Ashes before they went away ; and one of them Threatned it should be all inAshes either before the then Morrow night or before Monday night. That they searched theHouse with Eire brands in their hands and with parts of the doors of the Room which they carriedabout burning for Tapers. That on the next Monday the deponent saw Ebenezer Allen , GeorgePatterson & three or four other persons who had been with them in the Saturday night before atbreaking into the said House. That the said Ebenezer Allen acknowledged to her that it washimself who had on the Saturday night preceeding threatned to burn her husbands House andthat it was George patterson who broke down the Doors with an Ax.

Anna Button.

Sworn the Eighth Day of December 1773 Before me

John M c Kesson Not Pub 8 .

(Endorsed) Read in Council Jan 11 th 1774..

REPORT TO THE N. Y. ASSEMBLY ON THE OUTRAGES OF THE BENNINGTON

MOB—4th Feb. 1774.

M r Brush (in behalf of M r Clinton, Chairman) from the Grand Committee of Grievances reported,that he was directed by the said Committee to make the following Report to the House, to wit

That the said Committee taking into consideration the Petition of Benjamin Hough, in behalf ofhimself and many of his Majesty’s Subjects inhabiting the County of Charlotte, and the NorthEastern District of the County of Albany , complaining of many Acts of Outrage Cruelty and Oppres-sion, committed against their Persons and properties by the Bennington Mob, and the Dangers andInjuries to which they are daily exposed ; and imploring that this House w'ill take them under theirprotection, and secure them against future Violence. And the said Committee having also dulyconsidered the several Proofs and Depositions presented in support of the Truth of the said Petition,do thereupon Resolve.

1 st That it appears to this Committee, that there at present prevails in part of the CountyCharlotte, and in the North Eastern District of the County of Albany a dangerous and destructiveSpirit of Riot and Licentiousness; subversive of all order and good Government, and that it isbecome an intollerable Grievance which requires immediate Redress.

2 d Resolved That it appears to this Committee, that many atrocious Acts of Outrage Crueltyand Oppression, have been there perpetrated by a Number of Lawless Persons calling themselvesthe Bennington Mob; who have seized insulted, and terrified several of the Magistrates and otherCivil Officers so that they dare not execute their respective Functions, rescued Prisoners for Debt;assumed to themselves Military Commands, and Judicial Powers; burned and demolished the Housesand property and beat and abused the persons of many of his Majesty’s subjects, expelled themfrom their possessions, and put a period to the Administration of Justice, and spread Terror andDestruction throughout that part of the Country which is exposed to their oppression.

3 d Resolved That it is the opinion of this Committee That the Complainants before the House,