Westminster massacre facts for kids
The Westminster Massacre was a sad event that happened on March 13, 1775. It took place in a town called Westminster, Vermont. At that time, this area was known as the New Hampshire Grants. There was a big disagreement about who owned this land: the people living there or the Province of New York.
During the incident, two men, William French and Daniel Houghton, lost their lives. They were killed by a group led by the sheriff. This happened after many people gathered at the Westminster Courthouse. They were protesting because officials and judges from New York were forcing poor farmers out of their homes. The Westminster Massacre is seen as a very important part of Vermont's history. It was also one of the key events that helped kick off the American Revolution.
Why the Conflict Started
Trouble had been brewing in the New Hampshire Grants since the 1760s. Most people living there were farmers from New Hampshire. They were often not very rich. On the other side were "Yorkers," who were wealthy landowners from England and New York.
Both the Province of New Hampshire and New York claimed the New Hampshire Grants. Surveyors working for the Yorkers often faced attacks from angry farmers. These farmers formed a group called the Green Mountain Boys. This was a strong group against the Yorkers. It was led by Ethan Allen and Remember Baker.
The Green Mountain Boys started destroying the homes of Yorkers. Many Yorkers had taken land from poor farmers. Yorkers usually supported the King of England, making them Loyalists. The farmers, however, sided with the American colonists who wanted independence. Because of the attacks on Yorkers, officials from New York began arresting and removing poor settlers across the New Hampshire Grants.
What Happened on That Day
On March 13, 1775, a large group of about 80 to 90 people gathered outside the Westminster Courthouse. They were protesting the arrival of a judge and settlers from New York. They wanted to stop the county court from meeting the next day. Many in this group were "pro-Independence Whigs."
Soon, hundreds of people filled the courthouse. Many of them carried clubs and firearms. Sheriff William Patterson told the people to leave the courthouse. When they refused to go, Patterson rode to Brattleboro. This town was a stronghold for Loyalists. There, he gathered about 25 people to help "keep the peace."
By 9:00 pm, Patterson returned to Westminster with a group of 60 to 70 armed men. The protesters were now in control of both the courthouse and the local jail. Again, Patterson ordered them to leave. Again, the protesters refused. The Sheriff then told his men to shoot into the courthouse. He hoped this would scare the protesters.
The protesters shot back, slightly hurting a judge who was with the sheriff's group. Patterson's men then stormed the courthouse. They carried swords and guns. Once they broke down the door, Patterson's group started shooting into the crowd. William French was killed right after they entered.
The two sides then fought hand-to-hand. Many protesters were hurt. The protesters rushed out of the courthouse as Patterson's men kept shooting.
What Happened After
After the massacre, Sheriff Patterson's group caught seven protesters. They were put in the local jail. News of the massacre quickly spread across New England and New York. Many protesters rode to nearby towns. They told people how the sheriff's group had killed William French.
The next day, an angry crowd of over 500 people arrived in Westminster. This crowd included local farmers and teenagers. It also included militias from towns like Guildford, Westminster, Windham, Bennington, and Albany. Some even came from the colony of New Hampshire.
The crowd surrounded the courthouse. They took the judges, the sheriffs, and the clerk. They also took local Loyalists. These officials were paraded through town to the town jail. The crowd broke into the jail. They freed all the prisoners, including the seven protesters who had been arrested. Then, they locked up the officials and Loyalists they had brought.
The crowd then searched for more Loyalist leaders. They captured them and imprisoned them in Northampton, Massachusetts. The crowd continued south to Brattleboro. There, they broke into the homes of important Loyalists like Samuel Gale and Benjamin Butterfield. These men, along with other Brattleboro Loyalists, were taken to Northampton. They were imprisoned with the Loyalists the crowd had already captured.
The crowd, still numbering in the hundreds, chased Loyalist attorney Samuel Knight out of Brattleboro. Militias set up roadblocks in the countryside around Westminster. They held people they thought were Loyalists or New York officials at gunpoint. Then, they handed them over to search parties. These parties brought the "Yorkers" to Northampton. A few days later, the crowd formed a committee. This committee charged five of the prisoners with causing the death of William French.
The next year, people from Vermont met at the Westminster courthouse. They declared the Vermont Republic an independent nation.
