The House concurrent resolution No. R-44 commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Westminster Massacre, which is recognized by Vermonters as the first bloodshed of the American Revolution. The resolution outlines the historical context leading up to the event, including the adoption of the Articles of Association by the Continental Congress in 1774, the tensions between local Whigs and their Tory neighbors, and the confrontation that occurred on March 13, 1775. During this confrontation, a group of 100 Whigs occupied a courthouse to protest against the legal actions taken by the Tories, which led to a violent clash with Sheriff William Paterson's posse, resulting in injuries and fatalities among the Whigs.

The resolution not only commemorates the significance of the Westminster Massacre in Vermont's history but also acknowledges the subsequent actions taken by local militia to reclaim the courthouse and assert their independence from New York governance. The General Assembly resolves to honor this historical event and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the Westminster Historical Society, ensuring that the memory of the massacre and its implications for Vermont's path to independence are preserved.