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activities and the challenges he faced and overcame. In his words, “this region was a howling wilderness, more
than 100 miles removed from any Christian settlement except the military posts of Ticonderoga and Crown
Point.”

While many of the men who accompanied him are mentioned by name, our Martin’s name is not listed among
them. 52 – pages 92 – 168 Although we do not know exactly when he arrived, some family researchers believe that he
arrived shortly thereafter; hypothesizing that his daughter, Lois, was born there in 1767/8. 8,48, 50 & 53

Gilliland was also reported to have been an associate of Colonel Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, and
in a written statement, he claims to have been the first to propose the daring capture of Forts Ticonderoga and
Crown Point. He is also believed to have been present at the expedition rendezvous point in Castelton, VT
when Benedict Arnold arrived. General Benedict Arnold had received authority from the Massachusetts
Committee of Safety to raise and command a body of troops in that area for the purpose of capturing
Ticonderoga. However, he had not carried out this undertaking, and when he learned of Allen's proposed
expedition he hurried to Castelton and demanded that command of the forces be turned over to him. At this
point a dispute arose between Arnold and Allen, and the pioneers who had assembled in haste under Allen for
the purpose of capturing the King's forts, were in no mood to yield to Arnold's insolent demand. Allen and his
men threatened to abandon the expedition and it was at this point that one account indicates that Will
Gilliland stepped in to help settle the dispute. 52 – pages 47 & 48

It is interesting to note that another source claims that the role of mediator in this disagreement should be
credited to another man, Amos Callendar of Shoreham, VT, and that several residents of that community were
members of Allen's band. In fact, this same reference claims that the offensive against Fort Ticonderoga was
actually launched from a point known as Hand's Cove in the town of Shoreham. In any event, Gilliland is said to
have been friendly with both men, and succeeded in reaching a compromise where both men would enter the
captured fort together. On May 10, 1775,
just 21 days after the Battle of Lexington,
Fort Ticonderoga was surprised and
captured, as were British-occupied forts at
the head of Lake George and Crown Point.

54 - pages 12 - 15

As mentioned above, the settlement of
Willsboro was established on the west bank of the lake, too remote to be under the protecting arm of the
Government. It is, therefore, somewhat remarkable that on Saint Patrick's Day (March 17) in the year 1775,
the settlers of Willsboro convened a solemn assembly and constituted themselves a pure democracy. That
Martin Armstrong had been in the area for a while is further supported by the fact that he had clearly achieved
a position of some standing in the community. For example, in the written covenant it discusses the building of
roads and bridges and makes reference to the decision to build a bridge across Armstrong and McGinniss
brook. At this same assembly, it was resolved that Will Gilliland would be the moderator of the assembly, Mr.
Jotham Gardner town clerk, and Mr. Thomas Day and Mr. Martin Armstrong overseers of the road, fences, and
cattle. 52 - pages 169 - 173

The ensuing year was a tumultuous time for the town and its founder. Due to Gilliland’s significant
contributions to American Revolutionary forces, his influence and the extensive holdings in the area, and the
strategic importance of the settlement, he was early singled out in the conflict, and in June, 1775, the
Governor of Canada offered a reward of 500 pounds for his arrest. As a result, his property and family were in
constant peril from opportunistic Tories, Indians, and Canadians. Unfortunately, General Benedict Arnold and

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