Whereas many acts of outrage cruelty an oppression have been committed agamst the Persons and properties of divers of his Majesty's subjects inhabiting the County of charlotte and the Northeastern District of the County of Albany, by certain Persons distinguished and known by the Name of the Bennington Mob ; and upon complaint thereof made to the General Assembly of this province and a due consideration of the several Proofs and Depositions presented in support of the said Complaint, the General Assembly did on the fourth Day of February Instant come to the following Resolutions. "That there at present prevails in part of the County of Charlotte and in the Northeastern District of the County of Albany a dangerous and destructive spirit of Riot and Licentiousness subversive of all Order and -- good Government and that it is become an intolerable Grievance which requires immediate Redress.--That many atrocious Acts of Outrage Cruelty and oppression have been there perpetrated

872. CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

by anumber of lawless Persons calling themselves the Bennington Mob, who have seized insulted and terrified several of the

Magistrates and other Civil 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 Houses and Property, and beat and abused the Persons of many of his Majesty's subjects, expelled them from their Possessions ; and put a period to the Administration of Justice ; and spread Terror and Destruction throughout that part of the Country which is exposed to their oppression and did further Resolve That it appears that Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, Remember Baker, Robert Cochran, Peleg Sunderland, Sylvanus Brown, James Brakinridge and John Smith are principal Ringleaders of and Actors in.the Riots and Disturbances aforesaid. And thereupon the said General Assembly have presented an Address to me to issue a proclamation offering a Reward of one hundred Pounds for apprehending each of them the said Ethan Allen and Remember Baker, and thesum of Fifty Pounds for apprehending and securing any or either of the other persons above named in his Majesty's Goal in Albany ; and commanding the Magistrates and other Civil Officers of the County of Albany and Charlotte to be active and vigilant in suppressing the said Riots and preserving the public Peace and good Order as well as for bringing to Justice the perpetrators and Authors of the said Riots.