post bail and appear in court to answer charges of rioting, disturbing the peace, and "making an assault upon the body of Benjamin Whiting." None of the men were charged with animal cruelty. Four judges, Theodore Atkinson, Meshech Weare, Leverett Hubbard, and William Parker, heard the case in the Superior Court in Amherst in September 1772. The rioters pleaded guilty, and the judges fined them 20 shillings each and ordered them to pay the cost of the court hearing. Following events The Pine Tree Riot was a test of the British royal authority which is partially evident by the light fines exacted against the rioters. By demonstrating that British rule was defiable it is believed the riot helped to inspire the Boston Tea Party. The first Pine Tree Flag flown by colonists against the British during the riot was red with a pine tree within a white square in the upper left corner. Of the men charged, Timothy Worthley, Jonathan Worthley and William Dustin fought against the British in the Revolutionary War, as did even Samuel Blodgett. Benjamin Whiting fought for the British and had his land confiscated as a Tory sympathizer. Meshech Weare, one of the judges, assisted in framing the New Hampshire constitution adopted in 1776, establishing its own government, and becoming the first colony to declare its independence; Weare became the first President of New Hampshire. Samuel Blodgett went on to construct the first canal around the Amoskeag Falls on the Merrimack River in Derryfield, completed shortly before his death in 1807. In 1810, the town of Derryfield changed its name to Manchester in honor of Blodgett's vision that the Amoskeag Falls would someday power a manufacturing center to rival Manchester, England. Blodget Street in Manchester is named in his honor. Participants John Sherburn – Deputy Surveyor Samuel Blodgett – lawyer and later Surveyor Benjamin Whiting – County Sheriff John Quigley – Deputy Sheriff Aaron Quimby – owner of the Pine Tree Tavern Ebenezer Mudgett – leader of sawmill owners in Weare, rioter Colonel Moore – head of a regiment that marched to Weare Colonel Edward Goldstone Lutwyche – head of a regiment that marched to Weare Timothy Worthley – resident of Weare, rioter Jonathan Worthley – resident of Weare, rioter Caleb Atwood – resident of Weare, rioter William Dustin – resident of Weare, rioter Abraham Johnson – resident of Weare, rioter Jotham Tuttle – resident of