Who were the Green Mountain Boys?

The Green Mountain Boys had their origins in a dispute over land in America. In 1749 Governor Benning of New Hampshire began to grant lands west of the Connecticut River (which today is Vermont), even though New York put in a strong claim. In 1770 the New York Supreme Court held that all Hampshire west of the Green Mountains were determined to fight. They formed military companies. They terrorized the New York settlers. They tore up fences, burned down cabins and drove off New York sheriffs. The Green Mountain Boys fought in the War of Independence. They took the British post at Ticonderoga and helped defeat the British at the Battle of Bennington. In 1791 the Green Mountain State was admitted into the Union.