On Jan. 15, 1777, 72 men met in the town of Westminster. Revolution was in the air around them and they had a choice. They could join the colonists in the South, declare independence from Great Britain, and send their militia to join George Washington’s forces; but there was a rather large problem with that option. Both New York and New Hampshire believed Westminster and the land around it was their territory. These men wanted to be considered part of a separate state, something the 13 colonies would never recognize.

So they didn’t join the 13 colonies. They declared independence from Great Britain and also from New York and New Hampshire and, feeling creative, they named their new colony “New Connecticut.”

That name lasted all of six months. When they reconvened in June in Windsor, they decided it was time to adopt a constitution, create an independent republic, and name their sliver of land Vermont.

[I’ve never heard this story before, including how Vermont nearly became part of Canada as a result of this dispute. Read it all; it won’t take long, and you’ll have more ammunition for Cliff Claven moments among your friends. — Ed]