There was only one non-combatant Loyalsit killed in Vermont, and that was after a trial with a 12-man jury. We need to be careful not to lump all Loyalist movements in together because most of them are situational. Loyal to whom? Tyrannical dictators? Ideals of democracy? Human slavery? It gets complicated. Yes, the revolution was a polarized time alright. All kinds of Patriots turning; all kinds of Loyalists turning. All kinds of spies on both sides and it was a dangerous time.

New Hampshire and New York were selling the same land to settlers. And if you were living in towns with sleeper cell Loyalists next door, who knew where your valuables were, and joined the British-led raid on your town, in Mohawk warpaint disguise, killing resisters and burning buildings, you were probably not going to be sympathetic to the King’s tyranny. Once armed conflict gets started anywhere, no one is safe.

In my book I chronicle thejournal of George Avery, a young man who was kidnapped in the Royalton Raid, and taken, barefoot, with a fur coat over his naked body, with 26 other men to serve as slaves in St Francis and British-occupied Montreal. Avery was attacked by Loyalists streaming in from New England trying to escape. Fortunately, Ethan Allen, one of the founders of Vermont, negotiated with British General Haldimand to ostensibly join England! The negotiations included a cease fire. Fortunately for Avery and hundreds of other captive settlers, some of whom didn’t want any part of either side, returned home. Many of the captives died in Canada and never returned.

Ironically, once the war ended, the Loyalists moved back in and set up shop and enjoyed thriving businesses (as much as they could in a crappy economy). Some of the most ardent Patriots did business with them as if they were old buddies.