The Documentary history of the state of New-York; arranged under direction of the Hon. Christopher Morgan, secretary of State. By E. B. O'Callaghan ...

982 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE
some Instances oppressive to the Inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants West of Connecticut River; Several discontented
People belonging to Albanyan nd Charlotte Counties in the State
before mentioned, Sometime in the year of our Lord 1776, drew
and circulated a Petition to the honorable the Congress, to erect
the New Hampshire Grants into a Separate State.
That this plan being peaceable and regular in appearance,
many Persons were drawn into the Measure throughout that
part of the Grants over which New York exercises Jurisdiction.
That the discontented Persons immediately after they had
compleated the signature of the said Petition, called a Convention; who contrary to the sense of many of the signers, without
presenting the Petition to Congress, and without any application to the Convention of New York for Redress of Grievances;
taking advantage of the Troubles in which the Continent, &
particularly the State of New York was then invplved, precipitately declared themselves independent; although the Counties
of Cumberland and Gloucester, and as your Petitioners are
informed of Albany and Charlotte, were represented in the
Convention of New York, and through them in the Continental
Congress at the times of the Declaration of American Independence, and forming the Constitution of New York.
That unless this Tract of Country was' considered as represented in the honorable the Congress, by the Delegates of New
York, at the time the Colonies were declared independent of
Great Britain, Congress have not yet declared it independent.
That Majorities in several, and respectable Minorities in other
Towns in Cumberland County, in particular, Persons of the best
Character and Estates, conceiving the Settlement made by the
King of Great Britain in the year 1764 to be binding, at least
until Congress shall otherwise determine, have refused to join in
the Revolt.
That your Petitioners are well informed that in almost or
quite every town throughout the District, there are Persons who
disapprove of the Government attempted to be established by
those who have revolted from New York; but that many of them
for fear of popular Rage durst not publicly oppose it; and that