january january february farmer businessman land philosopher writer lay theologian patriot hero politician best known founders state vermont capture early american revolutionary war born rural connecticut allen frontier upbringing received education included philosophical teachings late interested buying land embroiled legal disputes surrounding territory legal setbacks led formation allen led campaign intimidation property destruction drive new_york settlers grants american revolutionary war broke allen boys seized initiative captured september allen led failed attempt montreal resulted capture british authorities imprisoned aboard royal_navy ships new_york_city finally released prisoner exchange release allen returned grants declared independence resumed political activity territory addition continuing resistance new_york attempts assert control territory allen active efforts vermont leadership recognition congress participated controversial negotiations british possibility vermont separate british province allen wrote accounts exploits war widely read 19th century philosophical documents relating politics vermont formation business dealings included successful farming operations connecticut early iron works land speculation vermont territory land purchased allen brothers included tracts land eventually twice married children early life childhood born connecticut born child joseph english descent family moved town cornwall shortly birth cornwall grew allen father quest freedom religion time turmoil separating churches differing particular proper form conversion works grace lifelong interest philosophy ideas emerged backdrop father involvement debates father refusal convert grace boy allen excelled quoting bible known meaning passages seven siblings survived adulthood joined family allen birth brothers prominent figures early history vermont known allen childhood town cornwall frontier territory time allen reached teens area difficult area living began resemble town wood frame houses beginning replace rough early settlers died time death landowners area ran successful farm previously served town allen father death begun studies minister nearby town salisbury goal gaining admission allen brother recalled young age allen curious interested learning marriage early adulthood allen forced end studies father death volunteered militia service response french movements resulting siege unit received word route fort fallen turned french indian war continued years allen apparently participate military activities presumed tended farm year owner iron salisbury married woman years senior nearby town july settled cornwall moved following year salisbury infant daughter allen bought small farm proceeded develop iron works expansion iron works apparently costly allen forced sell portions cornwall property raise funds eventually sold half interest works brother allen brothers sold interest iron works october accounts allen marriage unhappy wife religious prone criticizing barely able read write contrast allen behavior flamboyant maintained interest learning spite differences marriage survived mary death allen mary children reached adulthood allen exploits years introduced wrong justice system recurring feature life incident brother went farm neighbor pigs escaped land seized pigs neighbor sued animals returned allen pleaded case lost allen fined shillings neighbor awarded shillings damages called court salisbury smallpox procedure time required town moved salisbury allen met doctor living practicing provincial boundary new_york doctor years older allen taught younger allen great deal philosophy political theory allen able bring young appreciation nature life frontier young allen eventually decided collaborate book intended attack organized religion young convinced allen worked manuscript young moved away area taking manuscript years later young death allen able recover manuscript expanded reworked material eventually published reason man moving remained salisbury ran general store death allen movements years poorly documented known living massachusetts spring son joseph born invested lead asked leave july authorities official reason known biographer suggests religious differences allen tendency played role departure briefly returned salisbury settling nearby sheffield massachusetts younger brother likely visits new hampshire grants occurred years sheffield family home years allen absent extended periods early new_hampshire governor selling land grants area west new_hampshire laid somewhat dubious claim grants sold relatively low prices land land kicked king george issued order resolving competing claims new_york new_hampshire favor new_york new_york issued land grants overlapped sold insisted holders grants pay fee new_york grants fee approached original purchase price holders land rich cash poor great deal resistance demand situation grants deteriorated point figures new_york authority physically threatened driven area allen asked assistance holders grants originally northwestern connecticut including remember baker relatives allen group grant holders asked allen defend case new_york supreme_court presented allen big stage leadership unusual known contemporaries willing step forward control trial allen hired represent interest began july pitting allen politically powerful new_york grant holders including new_york lieutenant governor case chief justice supreme_court presiding case trial brief outcome court citing issued nature refused allow introduction grants evidence departing news allen visited offered allen payments described diary payment going people quiet allen denied taking money actions appeared honor request according allen account outraged left visitors threats indicating attempts enforce judgment met resistance historians believed allen took actions held grants evidence issued grants asked defense grants held began working defense trial july acquired price grants acres land allen return settlers met tavern discuss options discussions resulted formation local militia companies surrounding towns allen named colonel commandant cousins remember baker captains companies meetings resulted creation committees safety laid rules resist attempts new_york provincial government establish authority included denying sent province ability survey land grants land owned grants allen participated actions drive away spent time exploring entire territory probably ranging far north site selling connecticut properties began buying wild lands north territory sold profit southern settlements grew people began north friction provincial government rose notably october allen company boys drove group scottish settlers near allen detained settlers forced watch newly constructed ordered leave saying way complain damned governor god damn governor laws king council assembly settlers protested language allen continued threatening send troops new_york hell response new_york governor issued arrests responsible eventually price heads participants including allen allen comrades countered issuing offers years situation deteriorated governor boys exchanged threats truce offers writings frequently written allen language boys continued drive incoming tenants new_york granted lands away incidents involve individuals times boys extensive property damage driving tenants march harsh treatment settlers property allen boys prompted increase rewards allen persisted actions new_york issued tenants number business cousin remember baker brothers formed basically land speculation organization devoted purchasing land known success business depended successful defense grants early purchases company included acres land partners land sold profit settlements company land grown city outrage renewed governor passed law containing harsh provisions clearly targeted actions mob vermont historian called act savage probably parallel legislation country provisions included penalty death interfering magistrate meetings people unlawful purposes grants boys countered rules forbidding grants holding office honor profit colony allen spent summer writing pamphlet entitled brief narrative proceedings government new york relative obtaining jurisdiction large district land westward connecticut river length justified page arguing position allen work historian describes rebellion print printed connecticut began selling giving away copies early westminster massacre allen traveled northern parts grants early custom hunt game land opportunities days return news came blood finally shed land disputes resistance activity taken place west march small riot town westminster east mountains resulted death men allen troop boys traveled westminster allen influence town convention adopted strongly resolution authorizing drafting plea king remove oppressive jurisdiction preparation petition assigned committee included allen week westminster convention ended allen committee worked petition american revolutionary war began early revolutionary war late april following battles lexington concord allen received message members irregular connecticut militia planning capture requesting assistance effort allen motivated patriotic describes account events realization action improve political position grants disputes agreed help began rounding men massachusetts connecticut met allen discussed logistics expedition men joined allen boys morning allen elected lead expedition dawn raid planned small companies detached boats allen took main contingent north hand cove prepare crossing afternoon unexpectedly arrived scene commission asserted right command expedition assembled men refused acknowledge authority insisting follow allen lead private discussion allen arnold reached accommodation essence arnold allen troops attack fort boats finally crossing men lake allen arnold concerned dawn approaching decided attack early dawn small force marched fort surprising lone allen went directly fort commander quarters seeking force surrender lieutenant assistant fort commander captain awakened noise called wake captain time demanded know authority fort entered allen later claimed said captain said great finally emerged chambers fully dressed surrendered sword rest fort garrison surrendered firing shot raids john detachment boys command went nearby fort crown point captured small garrison following arrival men recruited arnold captains arrival schooner taken arnold men sailed north raid fort john downstream lake small british warship reported prisoners anchored arnold raid success seized sloop supplies number allen shortly arnold departure raid decided successes southern end lake hold fort john end boys climbed began rowing north days significant food forgotten provision boats allen small fleet met arnold way near foot lake arnold opened stores allen hungry men tried dissuade allen objective noting likely alarm raised troops way allen likely determination arnold persisted allen men landed scouted situation learned column regulars approaching attempt ambush troops significantly outnumbered tired company allen withdrew river men collapsed exhaustion slept night awakened british discovered began firing river boys panic rowed speed expedition returned days later men greatly disappointed effort risks took promoting invasion following allen failed attempt men drifted away presumably drawn needs home farm arnold began asserting authority allen control crown point allen publicly announced stepping commander remained hopeful going commander department undoubtedly shall rewarded according merit congress wanting affair effectively voted strip abandon forts allen arnold protested measures pointing leave northern border wide open proposals congress provincial bodies carrying invasion quebec allen instance wrote lay life men proper artillery montreal allen attempted correspondence people quebec indians living attempt sway opinion revolutionary cause june allen warner appeared congress philadelphia argued inclusion continental_army congress directed general appointed lead army work new_york provincial government establish pay regiment consisting boys paid army rates service july allen warner case new_york despite fact royal governor placed price heads agreed formation regiment following brief visit families returned spread news allen went join warner raised regiment allen loses command boys regimental companies grants raised held vote determine command regiment wide margin elected lead regiment given command positions allen given position regiment thorough rejection allen wrote connecticut governor old men came reject conceive saved new_york rejection likely causes people grants tired disputes new_york tired allen behavior success enhanced finally failure attempt widely seen reckless ill advised attributes appreciate regimental leader warner viewed stable choice commanded respect history warner later actions revolution notably seen confirmation choice meeting end allen took rejection stride managed convince warner permit accompany regiment civilian scout capture american invasion quebec departed august september army occupied miles fort john prepared september sent allen massachusetts major involved capture countryside montreal spread word arrival indians successful gaining support quebec governor general reported injured returned expedition days later brigadier general assumed command invasion illness montgomery likely wanting camp sent time raise regiment french speaking accompanied small number americans set traveling countryside turning follow saint lawrence river montreal recruiting upwards men september brown company guarding road montreal met according allen account events came plan brown lead forces attack montreal allen men crossed saint lawrence night brown men cross river general alerted allen presence mustered man scattered allen force captured men capture ended participation revolution imprisoned british general learning allen capture wrote consequences arising allen imprisonment known allen captivity known account time contemporary records available tend confirm aspects story allen placed aboard brig anchored montreal kept solitary confinement chains general according allen ordered treated severity october went prisoners transferred adamant sailed england allen wrote voyage power english merchant london man cruel disposition arrival england crossing conditions allen prisoners imprisoned castle cornwall treatment poor allen wrote letter ostensibly describing conditions suggesting congress treat prisoners held way unknown allen british prisoners included general captured trying escape montreal letter came hands british cabinet faced opposition british establishment treatment captives taken north_america king george decreed men sent america treated prisoners war january allen men board sailed ireland people learned famous port took collection provide men clothing supplies following year spent prison ships american coast point aboard anchored new_york visitors captain entertained allen reports sign recognition likely new_york governor knew august allen prisoners temporarily ashore halifax owing extremely poor conditions aboard ship food crew prisoners short rations rampant end october allen new_york british having secured city moved prisoners shore considered officer gave allen limited parole financial assistance brother lived comfortably action august learned death young son joseph smallpox according prisoner account allen learning son death arrested violating parole placed solitary confinement remained vermont declared independence campaign hudson_river met block near august transferred admitted general quarters invited eat drink general british field officers allen stayed days treated day allen exchanged colonel conducted exchange colonel american general prisoners appointed general george_washington following exchange allen reported washington valley forge colonel continental_army reward zeal cause country manifested long cruel captivity occasions given military pay month rank meant active role called allen allen services requested eventually payments stopped return home following visit allen traveled salisbury arriving learned brother died previous week brother caring allen family farm died spring following capture death allen close hit hard set news impending return preceded met honor military war hero learned vermont republic declared independence constitution drawn elections held allen wrote homecoming passed flowing bowl rural friendship day went arlington family brother prominence vermont politics risen considerably allen captivity politics allen spent years involved vermont political military matters family remained arlington spent time road avoid wife shortly arrival vermont assembly passed act sweeping measure allowing auction republic property owned known allen appointed judges responsible deciding property subject seizure law law successful collecting revenue vermont impose taxes allen personally escorted convicted law albany turned general transportation british lines supposed protested new_york governor actually clinton considered vermont new_york want honor actions vermont stark custody men disagreed clinton eventually dispute way george_washington essentially agreed stark desperately needed general services prisoners eventually transported west_point remained easy imprisonment allen service judge vermont brief continued report local action efforts included naming brother apparently trying allen land time action somewhat surprising attempted purchase allen release halifax traveled new_york allen parole furnished goods money allen engaged war words printed crossed british lines eventually reconcile early governor clinton issued proclamation stating state new_york honor grants settlers recognize new_york political jurisdiction vermont territory allen wrote pamphlet response entitled sic address inhabitants state vermont hand governor state new_york typical style governor issuing romantic calculated woods people clinton response recovered temper issue proclamation little different allen pamphlet circulated widely including members congress successful casting case positive light allen published account time captivity narrative colonel captivity containing travels remarkable occurrences written published information curious nations published serial book instant best seller available today largely accurate notably capture leader negotiations british allen appeared early september behalf vermont seeking recognition independent state reported vermont expansion include border towns new_hampshire congress reluctant grant independent vermont allen participated brother vermont governor negotiations governor quebec ostensibly prisoner exchanges establishing vermont new british province gaining military protection residents negotiations details published described opponents vermont formal charges laid involved later years war ended treaty paris united_states operating resisted significant action respect vermont allen historic role important public role vermont affairs declined vermont government dominated allen families territory rapid population growth allen brother died relatively young age allen wife mary died june consumption followed months later born daughter close allen marriage strained allen felt losses deeply poem wrote mary published publication reason years recovered manuscript worked youth young widow living albany began develop work published reason man work typical allen target religious political specifically targeted christianity attack bible established churches powers replacement organized religion espoused mixture naturalist views man acting free agent natural world historians disagree exact authorship work writing contains clear indications allen style book complete financial critical failure allen publisher forced pay publication costs volumes printed sold rest eventually destroyed fire publisher house conservative future president yale opined style crude vulgar sentiments style arguments conclusions premises mere force allen took financial loss criticism stride observing critics attacking second marriage allen met second wife young widow named brush early brief courtship february came notably loyalist background including notorious acts inherited land vermont marriage happy children settling effect allen remainder years embark great adventures notable exception land claims connecticut based owners granted titles land claimed connecticut area pennsylvania area claimed pennsylvania refused recognize connecticut titles allen promised land traveled area began stirring pennsylvania authorities long time nemesis governor clinton new_york proposing new state carved disputed area counties new_york entire affair resolved pennsylvania agreed honor connecticut titles allen approached support rebellion western massachusetts cause spite offer crown king massachusetts felt trying debts later years independent vermont continued experience rapid population growth allen sold great deal land proceeds land lack cash complicated vermont currency problems placed strain relatively free hand spending exacerbated cost publishing reason construction new home near mouth threatened prison occasion times reduced borrowing money calling old debts ends meet allen family moved longer small frontier settlement small town allen liking larger community frequented tavern began work essay universal characterized appendix reason essay earlier writings affirmed perfection god creation credited reason way bring man closer universe work published long death primarily interest students movement work death february allen traveled south hero vermont workers visit cousin collect load hay evening spent friends acquaintances spent night set morning home accounts return journey entirely consistent allen apparently suffered fit route unconscious time returned home allen died home hours later regaining consciousness buried days later funeral attended dignitaries vermont government large numbers common folk turned pay respects man considered champion allen death nationwide headlines gazette wrote local hero patriotism strong attachment appeared uniform breast great man worth character public lament loss man rendered great service positive number expressed different sentiments allen ignorant died mind horror despair opinion newark new_jersey reverend yale expressed satisfaction world longer deal man recorded new_york governor clinton reaction news family allen widow gave birth son october eventually remarried allen youngest sons went graduate west_point serve united_states_army daughter achieved notice converted entered convent grandson served union_army general american civil war claimed mother bear strong resemblance father disappearance grave marker early 1850s original plaque marking allen grave disappeared original text preserved early war historian 1840s vermont legislature authorized placement foot column vermont granite cemetery following inscription exact location cemetery remains unknown vault beneath contains time capsule time monument erection allen life found spite numerous attempts locate efforts members historical groups years followed rumored come photographs grandson general extant course mother said resembled allen nearest potential images included claimed noted revolutionary war era turned reference portrait possibly found writing allen captivity new_york described like figure robust large framed man worn confinement hard fare recovering flesh spirits suit blue clothes gold laced hat presented enabled appearance rebel colonel seldom met man possessing opinion stronger mind mode expression notwithstanding allen frontier spirit composition appeared man honor memorials allen final home called allen homestead museum situated allen homestead available viewing guided tours ships united_states_navy named honor 19th century fortifications civil war fort arlington virginia cavalry outpost statue allen represents vermont national hall united_states capitol city park montreal borough commemorating capture bears spirit tour boat operating allen trademark furniture manufacturer founded vermont amtrak train line running new_york_city vermont named added national_register_of_historic_places publications allen known written following publications allen narrative colonel captivity isbn edition captivity treatment british isbn edition edited narrative colonel captivity isbn edition available amazon march allen reason system natural religion isbn government new_york brief narrative proceedings government dean essay universal essay reprinted sections bound edition notes
Ethan Allen