They had no government to rely on except the one they formed at town meeting. New York colonial officials rejected the idea that people living under a New Hampshire land grant could form a government.

In 1691 the Massachusetts General Court (colonial legislature) ordered that all town meetings be held in March. ... the farmers come together to a special town-meeting, ...

This essay shows how profoundly life in York has changed, from the colonial period when stone fence viewers played an important role in the town and constables harried residents to pay their taxes ...

New York colonial officials rejected the idea that people living under a New Hampshire land grant could form a government. The issue flared at Dummerston’s first town meeting in 1774.