CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS.

589

GOV. CHITTENDEN’S ANSWERS TO THE QUERIES OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS.

State of Vermont , Bennington, 24 th June, 1779.

Gentlemen , Agreable to your Requisition I have made and subjoined to your Questions thefollowing answers, viz :

Q : Are there any Lands in this State still unpatented 1

A : Yes a large Body which was not granted previous to the king’s Prohibition to the Governorof New York .

2 Q : Are there any Lands which have been patented by the State of Vermont and in whatCondition were they before ?

A : None as yet but many Petitions are made and are on File waiting for a settlement of thepublic Disputes.

3 Q : Are there any Lands patented under New Hampshire and regranted to different Personsunder New York but are not yet occupied by either of the Grantees.

A : Yes a large quantity.

4 Qu : Are there any Lands patented under NewYork of date prior to tne Patents under NewHampshire and at present possessed under the New Hampshire Title ?

A : Some old Patents of New York are said to extend over some Parts of the Townships ofPownal, Bennington and Shaftsbury.

5 Qu : Are there any Persons living in the State of Vermont upon the New Hampshire Rightswho have large Property in Lands in different Townships not yet improved 1

A : Some few there are and there is many that own small Quantities.

6 Qu. Are there any Persons in actual Possession of Lands under the New York Title to whichothers have a prior Right under New Hampshire 1

A : Yes some few.

7 Qu: Are you satisfied that the Proclamations by the Governor of New York would secure yourProperty in the Soil tho’ the jurisdiction were allowed 1

A : By no Means, as it is only a shadow without any principle Substance calculated to answersinister Purposes which is implied in his second Proclamation viz 1 : “ That all such lands whichhave heretofore been granted by the Governments of New Hampshire or Massachusetts Bay and have not been since Granted by the Government of New York ” the words u and have not sincebeen granted by the Government of New York ” wholly exclude the most valuable Lands in thisState; including that which is in actual Possession, as the State of New York have since madeGrants of the same Lands—and I presume to say it is not in the Power of the Legislature of NewYork to confirm those Lands, being previously granted to others. There are sundry other Passagesin the same Proclamation equally insuffiient and dissatisfactory.

8 Qu: If the Property of your Lands u’ere perfectly secured to you would you be willing toreturn under the Jurisdiction of New York ?

A: We are in the fullest sense as unwilling to be under the Jurisdiction of New York as we canconceive America would to revert back under the Power of Great Britain (except a few disaffectedInhabitants who say they will become willing subjects of this State on the approbation of Congress)and we should consider our Liberties and Privileges (both civil and religious) equally exposedin future Invasions.

9 Qu : Would your returning under the Jurisdiction of New York promote or hinder the completeSettlement of the Country?