for the convening of
the court. This guard, however, was armed only with clubs, and was set
to keep the troublesome factions of both parties in order, and was
recruited from among the better affected families of the town. Lot
Breckenridge and Enoch were allowed by Mr. Lewis to join these
volunteers.

CHAPTER XVI

THE WESTMINSTER MASSACRE

What March 5, 1770, had been to the people of Boston and the Colony of
Massachusetts, March 14, 1775, was destined to become to the patriot
citizens of Vermont. That date reminds them to-day of the first blood
shed in the great struggle within the borders of the Grants--the first
pitched battle between American yeomanry and the minions of a cruel and
tyrannical king. Before the martyrs were shot down at Lexington was the
Westminster Massacre--an incident which set the torch to the passions of
the Whigs throughout the Grants.

Despite the efforts of Judge Chandler, who really was honestly bent on
peace, the associate Judge Sabin and the fire-eating sheriff brought
about that clash of arms, the stain of which was to be wiped out by
nearly eight years of bitter war. The Tory officials and their henchmen
gathered about the court-house when it was known that the Whigs had
seized it, and threatened an attack early in the evening of the 13th;
but apparently willing to abide by the decision of the chief justice,
they dispersed after that worthy had promised the Whigs that nothing
should be done to oust them from the premises until the following day.
Chandler doubtless went to his repose, believing that his partisans
would uphold him in his promise.

But the sheriff had other views. He had gathered a noble army at John
Norton's inn. There were no Whigs there that night. They sought other
houses of entertainment, or their own homes, for their leaders had
counseled moderation. But the wily sheriff finally gave his orders, and
those orders were inspired by Judge Sabin and other rank Tories.
Separating as they issued from the inn into three bodies, the sheriff's
men approached the guarded court-house from as many directions and were
thundering at the doors before the Whigs were aware that such treachery
was intended. There was not a fire-arm in the court-house, but when
called upon to surrender the guard refused and strove to barricade the
entrance.

Although the young men had expected nothing like this, they had not
taken their duty lightly. They were of the best Whig families of