A new interest may be awakened when the character of the claimants is considered. The Green Mountain Boys were the actual settlers. Each family had its log house in the midst of the clearing, with luxuriant crops of corn and potatoes growing among the charred stumps. These pioneers had brought nothing into the woods with them except what could be carried on horseback; some even brought in their goods on hand-sleds in winter, the infirm and children being drawn by husbands and brothers. A few cattle, sheep and hogs, shared rude sheds along with the horses. The rewards of industry and thrift were beginning to be realized. Many families lived remote from each other, and weeks might often pass by without meeting a neighbor. There was plenty of room for the Yorkers if they wished to turn farmers, and were willing to carve a home out of the wilderness as others had done. But such was far from their purpose. Besides, a farm ready cleared, with a snug house and barn, is preferable to one in the unbroken wilderness, when either can be had for the taking--and so thought the New York land-jobbers. CHAPTER V. AFFAIR AT WESTMINSTER. Colonel Allen collected the documents relative to the several grants of the Crown, including that to the Plymouth Colony, to Lord Say and Seal, to the Duke of York, and some other papers, and in 1774 published them in a book. This had the effect of bringing the Vermont troubles into notoriety. The newspapers everywhere were circulating the proceedings, which resulted in stirring up public sentiment against the Crown, as it was supposed the Governor and Council of New York were sustained in their claims by the home government. Hitherto the opposition to New York had been confined principally to the inhabitants west of the Green Mountains. As already stated, the policy of New York had been to divide the people in their sentiment, by a conciliatory course in respect to those living on the Connecticut River. But now an incident occurred which had the effect of arousing the spirit of opposition throughout the whole extent of the Hampshire Grants. In September, 1775, a meeting of delegates from the several colonies met at Philadelphia, to consult upon measures for the public safety. This was followed by an almost universal suspension of the royal authority, the courts being closed, or adjourned without doing any business. New York alone refused assent to the patriotic measures recommended by Continental Congress. The court of justice for the County of Cumberland, on the Hampshire Grants, was to be held in March of that year at Westminster. Much dissatisfaction prevailed throughout the county, because of the course adopted by New York, and attempts were made to dissuade the judges from holding the court, without avail.