Bennington was settled in 1761 on land granted in 1749 by Gov. Benning Wentworth of New Hampshireand named for him. Gov. Wentworth claimed the whole territory as parts of New Hampshire, and in time 138 townships were deeded by him in the "New Hampshire Grants." Trouble arose when the Gov. of New York also claimed jurisdiction over the same territory under letters from Charles II. Proclamations and counter proclamations were issued, but the settlers, most of whom had paid the Gov. of New Hampshire for their titles, sided with Gov. Wentworth and resisted the claims of New York, and the quarrel which followed continued many years. In 1776 the people of the New Hampshire Grants applied to the Federal Congress for admission

To the confederation, but through the influence of New York were refused. They then formed an independent republic, at first called New Connecticut, but later Vermont. As an independent state Vermont continued thirteen years. Finally, after again being refused a place with other states in 1789 Vermont was received as the fourteenth state and the first under Federal Constitution in 1791. Notwithstanding the exclusive policy of the other states, Vermonters bore their full share of hardships, losses and expenses of the War of the Revolution. The state took an active part in the war of 1812. In the war of 1861-1865, Vermont did more than its share. In proportion to population its loss in the battlefield and hospital was larger than any other northern state.