StateofVermont
HouseofRepresentatives
Montpelier,Vermont
ConcurrentHouseResolution
H.C.R.35
OfferedbyRepresentativesBos-LunofWestminster,BurttofCabot,CharltonofChester,CooperofPownal,
EastesofGuilford,GoldmanofRockingham,MaslandofThetford,MorrowofWeston,MrowickiofPutney,
andSweeneyofShelburne
OfferedbySenatorsHarrisonandHashim
Houseconcurrentresolutioncommemoratingthe250thanniversaryoftheMarch13,1775Westminster
Massacre
Whereas,fortwocenturiesVermontershaveconsideredtheWestminsterMassacre,whichoccurredon
March13,1775,toconstitutethefirstbloodshedoftheAmericanRevolution, and
Whereas,in1774,theContinentalCongressadoptedtheArticlesofAssociation,enactingatradeembargo
againstGreatBritain,andNewYorkwastheonlyprovincethatdidnotratifytheArticles, and
Whereas,theCumberlandCounty,NYtowns,comprisingallofcurrentVermonteastoftheGreen
MountainsfromTunbridgetotheMassachusettsborder,votedtoupholdtheArticles, and
Whereas,in1775,localWhigs(supportersofAmericanliberty)wereexperiencingexcessivelawsuits,
resultingintheirToryneighborsacquiringtheWhigs’propertythroughbankruptcyproceedings, and
Whereas,40WhigsmetwithChiefJudgeThomasChandlerathishometorequestthatthecourtbeclosed,
butJudgeChandlersaidhehadamurdercasetotryandafterthetrialhewoulddiscussitwiththem,and
subsequently,theWhigslearnedthatthecourtofficialsplannedtoarriveearlyanddenythementry, and
Whereas,onMarch13,1775,100Whigs,armedonlywithstaves,occupiedthecourthousebeforeSheriff
WilliamPatersonandhisposse’sarrival,andthesheriffreadthemtheRiotActbuttheydefiedhim, and
Whereas,JudgeChandlerpromisedtheprotesterstheycouldremaininthecourthouseovernightunmolested,
butSheriffPatersonreturnedwithhisposseandorderedhismentofirepoint-blank,whichwoundedseveral
Whigs,includingWilliamFrenchofBrattleboro(whodiedovernightandwhosegravesitehasbeenmaintained
withStatefinancialsupport)andDanielHoughtonofDummerston(whodiedseveraldayslater),andthe
Sheriff’sposseretookcontrolofthecourthouse, and
Whereas,onMarch14,1775,400armedlocalmilitia,includingmanyfromNewHampshire,filledthestreet
andrecapturedthecourthouse,imprisoningalltheNewYorkofficialsandpermanentlyterminatingNewYork
governmentinCumberlandCounty—butrefrainingfromanyfurtherviolence—nearlytwoyearsbefore
VermontindependencewasdeclaredinWestminsteronJanuary 15, 1777,nowtherefore be it
ResolvedbytheSenateandHouseofRepresentatives:
ThattheGeneralAssemblycommemoratesthe250thanniversaryoftheMarch13,1775Westminster
Massacre,andbeitfurther
Resolved:ThattheSecretaryofStatebedirectedtosendacopyofthisresolutiontotheWestminster
HistoricalSociety.