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Histoire Québec

The World's Smallest Republic : Indian Stream Carl Gustafson

Volume 16, numéro 2, 2010

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Citer cet article Gustafson, C. (2010). The World's Smallest Republic : Indian Stream. Histoire Québec, 16(2), 36–40.

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Cet article est diffusé et préservé par Érudit. Érudit est un consortium interuniversitaire sans but lucratif composé de l’Université de Montréal, l’Université Laval et l’Université du Québec à Montréal. Il a pour mission la promotion et la valorisation de la recherche. https://www.erudit.org/fr/ Histoire Québec Vol 16, no2:Layout 1 10-10-28 15:49 Page 36

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The World’s Smallest Republic : Indian Stream by Carl Gustafson

Rev. Carl Gustafson (1908-97) spent almost his entire life in the Eastern Townships. He attended school in Waterville and went on to McGill University, where he graduated with degrees in Arts and Divinity. He was ordained by the United Church of Canada and served many congregations in the Townships over a span of more than half a century. Over the years, he developed a deep love for the Townships and a profound understanding of the history and nature of this region. The manuscript for this article was discovered after his death by his son, Carl Gustafson Jr.

“I solemnly swear that to the of a clause in the of Indian Stream. Americans, on best of my power and ability, I Treaty of Paris of 1783 which the other hand, took action to will support inviolate the established the international claim land in the territory. Constitution and laws of Indian boundary. The clause referred to Stream. So help me God.” With the boundary line as proceeding In 1796, David Gibbs, Nathaniel this oath, members were admit- westward “to the northwestern- Wales and Moody Bedel, resi- ted to the Assembly of a new most head of the dents of , republic lying between north- River, thence down the middle bought from Chief Phlip of the eastern New Hampshire and the of that river to the forty-fifth St. Francis Indians 16,000 acres Province of . degree of north latitude.” A sur- of land and hunting rights for vey of the state of New $3,000.This transaction was The area was centered in what is Hampshire interpreted “the recorded in the County Office at now a little village of 300 people, northwesternmost head of the Grafton, N.H. called Pittsburg, New Hamp - ” to include shire. The village is located on Hall’s Stream, which flowed Since the same territory was Indian Stream from which the into it; and, thus, ran the boun - now registered in the two coun- earlier community got its name. dary line down that stream to tries, in due time people from what was thought to be the 45th both Canada and the United At a meeting held on July 9, parallel of latitude. This placed States began to settle, each with 1832, a Constitution was adop - Indian Stream in New Hamp - the impression that they were ted which provided for a shire. settling in their own country. As Council of five members in the territory was in an area addition to the Assembly. The Canadians interpreted “the remote from any large centres, it Relevant statutes were enacted northwesternmost head of the was largely ignored by both and courts of law were establi - Connecticut River” to include countries and the settlers were shed. This little republic with a only the Connecticut itself and thrown back on their own population of 69 families, com- so took the position that Indian resources. Being left on their prising 414 people, continued to Stream belonged to Canada and own, the land holders formed a govern itself for three years until ran the line accordingly. community organization which 1835. met periodically to approve Each country acted on the transfers of land and to collect How it all started assumption that its interpreta- money to cover the cost of sur- tion was correct. And so, in 1792 veys, the construction of roads, The basic reason for the setting and 1793, when new townships etc. While the anomalous nature up of the republic was the con- were being laid out in Canada, of the boundary line was being fusion caused by different inter- the Township of Drayton was discussed in Congress, the New pretations by Canada and the formed to include the territory Hampshire Legislature felt that

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something should be done to reaction on the part of the fede - The situation in Indian Stream indicate that it had jurisdiction ral authorities amounted to a had been brought to the atten- over Indian Stream. Conse - tacit recognition of the new tion of the Lieutenant Governor quently, it directed the Attorney- regime since it levied customs of Lower Canada. In April, 1835, General to proceed against any duties on products coming into he brought the matter to the parties that resisted its autho - New Hampshire and . attention of the British Minister rity. But because of the uncertain in Washington, who, in turn, location of the true boundary The state of New Hampshire, took up the matter with the and also because of the fierce however, acted as though there State Department. And there, resistance of the people of were no doubt about its jurisdic- for the time being, the matter Indian Stream, little effective tion over Indian Stream. In rested. action was taken at that time. August, 1834, it sent authorities into the district to collect debts. Although Indian Stream has Arbitration was no help They were driven off by the set- been declared a republic, the tlers. The sheriffs returned later people still retained something Since there were unresolved dis- in the winter and again in the of their previous loyalties. So putes over the location of vari- spring of 1835, but were again factions developed. Some favou - ous parts of the Canada-U.S.A. repulsed by the inhabitants who red Canada; others favoured the border, the matter was finally by now were building a block United States. Luther Parker, referred to the King of the house for the defence of their who had been active in the Netherlands for arbitration. In territory. organization of the republic and 1831, the King made his report had at one time been a member which, among other things, stat- Thoroughly exasperated, New of the Executive Council, now ed that Indian Stream belonged Hampshire sent a Company of came to favour New Hamp - to Canada. This ruling, howe - the 24th Regiment of the State shire. Another resident, Jona - ver, was never accepted by the Militia to Stewartstown, the nea - than Knight, favoured Canada. United States and the situation rest town in the state to Indian A fist fight ensued in which became ever more confused. Stream. This Company, consis - Parker drew a butcher’s knife. ting of about 50 men, arrived on Knight complained to the Cana - Many of the people looked to August 6, 1835. Apparently, the dian authorities in the person of Canada for help. In 1826, some move was made mainly as a Alexander Rea, the magistrate of them appealed for help to show of force since the Com - of Hereford. Rea promptly expand their holdings. Their pany did not at that time enter arres ted Parker and took him to appeal was addressed to Indian Stream itself. the Sherbrooke Jail where he Alexander Rea, a land agent and was released for lack of a true magistrate living in what is now Canadian reaction was restrained bill. Hereford, Quebec. Rea forwar - ded their request to Joseph The official Canadian reaction Rea also sent a petition to the Bouchette, Surveyor-General of was more restrained. Canada Lieutenant Governor asking Lower Canada. Apparently no did not levy customs duties. that legal protection be provi - action was taken on their One reason for this could have ded to the residents of Indian request. been that they regarded Indian Stream. Apparently, this assu - Stream as being part of Canada rance was given. On September It was out of these frustrating and, thus, not subject to duties. 26, 1835, Rea called a public circumstances that, in despera- Or, it could have been because meeting where he told the peo- tion, the people of Indian all of the produce was flowing ple that they were assured of Stream, on July 9, 1832, made south and nothing was coming British protection and that they their Declaration of Indepen - north to Canada upon which should choose magistrates dence. The immediate American duties could be levied. according to British law.

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Republic of Indian Stream. (Source: Société historique de Stanstead, d’après Carl Gustafson. Journal de la SHS, vol. 23, 2009)

Establishing law and disorder him.” There followed a number An incident occurred that was to of Keystone-Cops-like episodes aggravate the dislike of the Alexander Rea came to be where the authorities of one side Americans for Rea. One of the looked upon as a trouble-maker or the other would go about Indian Stream residents who by the New Hampshire authori- arresting each others’ law had incurred debts at a general ties and they set out to “get enforcers. store and tavern in Canaan,

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Vermont, was a certain John the first place. Now that they However, they had now rescued Tyler. The owners had been had Blanchard back, they deci - Blanchard and brought back Rea unsuccessful in collecting their ded that they should now go whom they felt was the real debts. A warrant for Tyler’s after Tyler and the Canadian source of the dissension. arrest was placed in the hands magistrate Rea whom they felt of a New Hampshire sheriff. had abetted him. So with much After the celebrations and The sheriff, assisted by Richard fanfare, they started out for excitement had quieted down Blanchard of Indian Stream and Canada, arriving at Rea’s place somewhat, a discussion took another man, arrested Tyler. As in the later afternoon. Two men place as to what would be done they were taking him away, they who had been sent ahead of the with Rea. He was a Canadian were accosted by nine settlers of main party came upon Rea and citizen who had been taken by a the pro-British faction who a part-time Canadian Peace questionable incursion into threatened them and caused the Officer by the name of Bernard Canadian territory and was now sheriff to release Tyler. Young. A heated exchange of being held in the state of words took place and Rea Vermont. In spite of these obsta- A few days later, Tyler went to ordered Young to arrest the two cles, the New Hampshire men Rea’s place and laid a complaint men. One of them cut a gash in indicated their intention to take against Blanchard, one of his Rea’s head with a sabre; the Rea out of Vermont and bring former captors. So, Tyler, along other fired a pistol striking him into New Hampshire to the with two Canadians, Zebulon Young in the groin. jail at Colebrook. They were in Flanders and Zaacheus Clough, the act of taking him from the was given authority to arrest When the rest of the posse tavern when some Vermonters, him. After taking Blanchard in appeared, Rea, who was unar - feeling that the posse had gone custody, they were joined by med, fled into the woods. He too far in this matter, came to his others of the pro-Canadian fac- was pursued by the Americans, defence and brought him to tion. They brought their priso - one of whom fired two pistols at another room, where they did ner over to the Canadian side of the fleeing man, but neither what should have been done the border, close to Rea’s house, shell exploded and, in a rage, he long before: dressed his wounds. when they were confronted by threw the weapons after him. After darkness fell, some friends ten armed Americans on horse- Rea, who was lame, stumbled brought Rea quietly back to back who demanded the release over a log and his pursuer Canada, to his home in of Blanchard. Assuming that attacked him with a sabre, Hereford. discretion was the better part of kicking and trampling him into valour, they released him. submission. The bruised and Send in the Marines! bleeding Rea was then loaded So the Canadians went back into a wagon and brought back Frustrated by problems that empty-handed to Rea’s place to Parmelly and Joy’s Tavern in seemed to defy reasonable solu- while the Americans tri- Canaan. tion, the New Hampshire umphantly brought Blanchard authorities fell back on the back to the tavern in Canaan. One can well imagine the cele- panacea suggested by the Here, a great crowd of about 100 bration that took place at the phrase, “Send in the Marines!” people gathered, including the tavern. The arch-villain Tyler, Only in this case, it was an order militia captain from Stewarts - who had managed to evade his from the Adjutant-General of town and the deputy sheriff bills there and who had arrested New Hampshire to Captain who had surrendered Tyler in Blanchard, was still at large. Mooney to take his Company of

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militia and occupy Indian The end of the affair Diplomatic notes were exchan - Stream. The order was given on ged and, eventually, Great Bri - November 13, 1835, and the sta - The little republic had begun so tain sent Lord Ashburton to ted purpose was “to enable the bravely with ideals inspired by Washington where he discussed executive officers of the County the Constitution of the United with Daniel Webster, the then of Coos to execute the laws and States and which assured that Secretary of State, the question put down all insurrectionary there would be freedom of reli- of disagreements concerning the movements.” gion, freedom from cruel northeastern international bor- punish ment and the right to life, der, including the matter of The force, which consisted of liberty and property. It had set Indian Stream. Since Webster seven officers, two musicians forth the ideology of the new had been born in what is now and forty-two privates, struck republic in these words : Franklin, N.H., and had repre- just before dawn. They surroun - sented that state in Congress, he ded the Applebee house which “Therefore resolved that to pre- would naturally favour a treaty had been fortified in anticipa- serve union among ourselves, which was generous to New tion of just such an attack. They establish justice, ensure domes- Hampshire. Since Ashburton arrested Emor and Benjamin tic tranqui lity, provide for our was less interested in the 150 Applebee who had recently common security and defence square miles of Indian Stream assisted in the release of Tyler. and ensure the important than he was in a huge tract of The Applebees were held in jail Blessings of civilized society, land in Maine, he accepted the in Lancaster, New Hampshire, we do ordain and establish this American version of the border. to be tried for inciting rebellion. Constitution and the principles Alanson Cummings and Reu - of government contained the - On August 9, 1842, the Ash - ben Sawyer escaped with their rein…” burton Treaty was agreed upon, families to Canada. There were which settled the northeast other Canadians, too, who left This little republic which had boundary dispute and which their homes and fled across the been planned to endure only placed Indian Stream within the border. Some Canadians went until the proper international bounds of New Hampshire. along with the majority, accep - border was delineated, came to This ended what must surely ting the New Hampshire juris- an ignominious end. have been the world’s smallest diction and promising to coo - republic. perate with it. The Government at Quebec appointed a Commission to look The attacking force set up into the matter. The members N.D.L.R. : Le traité d’Ash - guards at the various entrances were Edward Short, J.McKenzie bur ton-Webster ou traité de to the community and no one and Benjamin Pomeroy. This Washing ton établit aussi la was allowed to enter who did was the commission mentioned ligne de partage des eaux not appear to the guards to have earlier that was not allowed to comme frontière de l’état du proper business there. They even enter Indian Stream to obtain Maine avec le Bas-Canada et turned away at bayonet point evidence. New Hampshire, which le Nouveau-Brunswick, corrige the members of a commission was now holding the area in de façon mineure la fron- appointed by the Canadian ques tion, appointed a similar tière nord du Vermont et de govern ment to investigate the commission. Predictably, each l’état de New York, et déli - disturbances at Indian Stream. commission made a report in mite la frontière allant du lac favour of the country which had Huron au lac des Bois. appointed it.

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