New Hampshire Grants

The New Hampshire Grants were land grants, including 131 towns, made between 1749 and 1764 by the governor of the Province of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth (they are thus also known as the Benning Wentworth Grants). The land grants, totalling about 135, were made on land claimed by New Hampshire west of the Connecticut River, but which properly belonged to the Province of New York. The resulting dispute led to the eventual establishment of the U.S. state of Vermont.

Invalidation

New York interpreted the decision as invalidating Wentworth's grants entirely—to the great dismay of area residents—and subsequently divided the territory into four counties, Albany, Charlotte, Cumberland and Gloucester. New York required that grantees surrender their charters, and in many cases buy their lands back from New York at greatly increased prices. Those who would not pay lost legal title to their lands, which New York reassigned them to others. The people who would later become Vermonters petitioned the governor of New York to confirm the New Hampshire Grants, he complied in part by declaring that no other grants should be made until the King's wishes were known. Land not previously granted by New Hampshire was considered open for distribution by New York's government.

Related Topics:
Albany - Charlotte - Cumberland - Gloucester - Title

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In 1770, the New York Supreme Court advanced New York's case by declaring all of Wentworth's grants invalid. This infuriated residents of the area, including Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, leading to the establishment of the self-declared Vermont Republic and general rebellion against the New York government.

Related Topics:
1770 - New York Supreme Court - Ethan Allen - Green Mountain Boys - Vermont Republic

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