Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. IV
That the Deponent being much incensed against them for their base Conduct and cruel usage of his Wife and helpless Children asked them by what authority or Law they committed such Violences to which Baker replied that they lived out of the Bounds of the Law, and holding up his Gun said that was his Law, That the Deponent told him with twenty Good Men he would have undertaken to defend his House and Mill against them, tho' as they informed him they were One Hundred and ten in number The said Baker replied that the Deponent and his Country men were all for the broad Sword, but that they were for Bush Fighting. That the Deponent then asked the said
NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS. 849
Baker if he did not think the Governor and Council of New York would take notice of such Doings, to which the said Baker replyed that he dispised every Thing they could do, that their People could assemble a great Number of Men in Arms, and that they could live in the Bush, as he Termed it, and were resolved never to allow any Persons claiming under New York to settle in that part of the Province, but that if the Deponent would join with them they would give him Lands for nothing, which he rejected. The Deponent further saith that during the Time the Rioters were imployed in the destruction of his House and the Mill, which was situated on the Crown Point Side of the River called Otter Creek, he heard them give Orders to six of their number with their Arms to go and stand Centry on a rising Ground towards Crown Point to prevent any surprize from the Troops in the Garrison there, as he believes 'they were apprehensive of a Visit from that Quarter, and that as soon as they had finished the Destruction of the Mill and the Deponent's House, they retired in their Canoes hastily to the opposite side of the River from whence they came, That the Deponent was much surprized to see among the Rioters Joshua Hide one of the three men who had entered into a written obligation with Colonel Reid not to return again, and to whom Colonel Reid on that account had paid a sum of Money for his Crop.