Seems like each state has a storied law enforcement agency. Here we have the Texas Rangers and in Arizona it’s the Arizona Rangers. In early Montana Territory it was a group called the Vigilantes. I recently ran across an interesting story about the Montana Vigilantes that was formed December 23, 1863.
But before you judge, here’s a glimpse of what decent people faced in 1863. Because there was no one to enforce the law, outlaws, robbers and murderers flocked to Montana Territory in droves. What courts that existed had very limited power, especially in remote mining camps. Mostly justice (if any could be had) came about through what was called miners’ courts and was weak and ineffective, unable to enforce the rulings. Basically, there was little law to be had in these rich gold fields. Gold being the accepted form of currency at the time. But transporting it was a huge risk and over time a million dollars in gold was stolen. Gangs, the most brutal of which was the Plummer Gang, was run by the Bannock, Montana sheriff, Henry Plummer. They preyed on all who traveled the roads and over a hundred travelers were murdered in the fall of 1863 alone. Something had to be done.
A group of men from Montana’s major cities held a clandestine meeting in John Lott’s store in Virginia City and formed this secret organization. In two years’ time, their members numbered over two thousand men. The Vigilantes’ main goal was to make the territory safe for families and rid it of crime. To that end, they dispensed harsh justice to undesirables. The organization spread across Montana and into parts of Idaho.
In the first two months of 1864, they hung 24 men. That was the beginning. It seemed quite a deterrent to criminals. There was no safe haven other than the Black Hills of South Dakota where most went.
THE WARNING
Seems the Vigilantes would paint the numbers 3-7-77 on homes, fences, tents and other things as a threat. If the person didn’t leave, they dealt with them violently and swiftly. No one ever got a second threat.
The meaning of the numbers is a mystery. Some say they represented the exact time period that the Vigilantes gave their targets to get out of town – 3 hours, 7 minutes, and 77 seconds. Another interpretation is that the numbers were a grave’s dimensions: 3 feet, by 7 feet, by 77 inches.
Still another school of thought is that it was a code used by the Freemasons.
Whatever the numbers represented, they struck terror in a man’s heart, and he quickly heeded the warning or risked death. These numbers became a potent symbol of law and order. The Montana Highway Patrol still uses the numbers today. The patch on each lawman’s shoulder sports 3-7-77. The department also paints it on the side panel of each patrol car.
To the lawmen of today it represents “Serve and Protect.”
While there’s no justification at all for vigilantes now in the 21st century, neither could a man stand by and let lawless gangs take over without doing something. There has to be law and order so people can thrive. These men simply wanted a safe place for their wives and children and keep rustlers from stealing their cattle.
Montana became the 41st state to be admitted to the union on November 8, 1889. The Montana Vigilantes disbanded around 1870 when the Stockman’s Association was formed.
Do you like a good mystery? While the true meaning of the numbers 3-7-77 has gotten lost, what is your best guess? Is it referencing a grave dimensions, referring to the time they allowed to leave the territory, or something else? I’m going to give two commenters an ebook copy of Love Comes to Christmas so join the chat.
Someone wants Gillian Everly to believe her beloved Christmas shop, the dream she built from nothing, is haunted. Strange events unsettle her, but she refuses to believe in ghosts. With her Christmas Eve piano performance approaching, she can’t afford distractions.
Enter Brett Love, a rugged local rancher who’s as intrigued by Gillian as he is determined to protect her. When he lends her one of his dogs for safety, it seems like the perfect fix, until the nightmare turns real.
A violent confrontation leaves Gillian’s hand maimed, her music performance in jeopardy, and Brett questioning the solitary life he’s always known. This Christmas, it will take more than faith to keep their dreams, and hearts, alive.
Here in the Texas Panhandle, we do love our cowboys. There's just something about a man in a Stetson and jeans that makes my heart beat faster. I'm not much of a cook but I love to do genealogy and I'm a bit of a rock hound. I'm also a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of historical western romance. You can contact me through my website and I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more. HAPPY READING!
https://petticoatsandpistols.com/sweepstakesrules/
welcome today. this is an interesting post. I have asked a friend who is a policeman and he said the same: Serve and Protect. so seems like no one really knows what it really meant at the time of first use. I can’t imagine it would mean a date, but I could see it as you have 7 hours 7 minutes and 77 seconds to leave. But that doesn’t make sense to me either because what if it was not seen or seen five hours into the painting ? a conundrum for sure.
Hi Lori, I just love mysteries like this. If only we could talk to someone who lived through that, what a revelation it would be. For sure we knew it some kind of warning. Thanks for coming to speculate. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
My opinion for what it’s worth is the dimensions of a grave, that definitely would make someone think twice. Interesting research that you have completed, sounds like it will be an intriguing book to read.
Karijean, that’s a great guess and it’s in line with my own. I just love mysteries though. Sure gets my brain twisting and turning. Thanks for coming. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving next week. It sure seems like it should be this Thursday like normal.
I think the dimensions of a grave make the most sense of those thought of, but it could be something entirely different that’s since been lost.
Janice, I agree but it sure is a mystery. So is my Christmas story. What is happening in her Christmas store? Winding up all the toys and making a huge racket that wakes her. Is her store really haunted as claimed? Wishing you and your family a happy Thanksgiving next week.
The dimensions of a grave makes a lot of sense to me.
Denise, I kinda think so too. It would really strike fear in someone. Or at least I think it would. Wishing you and your family a great Thanksgiving next week.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I go to Montana quite often because I fell in love with the state and I guess I always thought the number on the trooper’s cars was some type of emergency phone number. Or else, that 77 was for the speed limit on gravel roads up there haha…if you know you know.
I like hearing that they still pay tribute because what those guys did wasn’t easy or fun.
Hi Rachel, I’m sure it wasn’t easy to hang someone, but what choice did they have? Their backs were against the wall and they stood to lose everything they had to lawless men. I’ve never been to Montana but I know I’d love it from the pictures I’ve seen. Wow, 77 mph on a gravel road? That’s crazy. Have a beautiful day and a great Thanksgiving next week.
I don’t know what it would mean, thank you for the giveaway.
Hi Bridgette, thanks for coming by. It’s sure a mystery that will never be solved I guess. I hope you enjoy the book if you get a chance to read it. Another mystery to solve. Is her store really haunted as everyone claims? How could all those toys get wound up and set loose in the middle of the night? You have a wonderful Thanksgiving next week.
I’m leaning toward the grave dimensions. 77 inches would be just a little deeper than 6 feet, and most graves were 6 feet deep. It may very well have had something to do with the Freemasons too, because I believe 3 and 7 are important numbers to them. That might explain why they listed the depth in inches instead of feet and added a few, so the numbers would be 3 and 7.
Kim, don’t you love a good mystery? I sure wish one of those guys back then could tell us. Whatever the numbers meant, the lawless guys knew to heed the warning. My Christmas book has a mystery too. Is her story really haunted as everyone claims? Why are all the toys getting wound up and set loose after she goes to sleep? Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving next week.
no idea what it means
Bn100, I’m glad to see you. A great mystery for sure. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving if it ever gets here.
Super interesting post, Linda. My first thought was that the numbers were a date, but 1877 seems too late for the Vigilantes.
Karen, I totally agree. It sure would be nice to be able to ask someone who lived during that time in Montana. Must’ve been a hard time. Criminals always gravitate to areas with no law enforcement and I’m glad the Vigilante group was short-lived. I hope you and your family have the best Thanksgiving ever. It sure seems like it should be this Thursday.
That was a great post. I never knew what the numbers meant. I would go with 7 days, 77 minutes and 777 seconds.
Thank you for guessing, Debra. It’s a mystery for sure and one that’s unsolvable since no one is alive who really knew. Wishing you and your family a special Thanksgiving next week.
I am going to say the graves dimensions. It would be wonderful to know what they really meant though. Thank you for sharing. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Yes, it would, Barbara. Wish there was someone to ask. A real mystery for sure. My Christmas book is written around a mystery. Is her store really haunted? Or is it evil forces at work? Thank you for your Thanksgiving wishes and the same to you and your family. I just wish it would hurry and get here.
The dimensions of a grave makes sense, but then so does giving them only a very short time to get out town! I admit, it’s more fascinating NOT knowing what it really stands for, as if we knew, it probably wouldn’t be as good as we think! lol!!
Trudy, maybe it is better that we don’t know. 🙂 Still, I love a good mystery. Thank you for coming. I hope you and your family have a great turkey day next week.
How sad that the sheriff was the one leading the Plummer Gang, but good that there were good men who banded together to take care of the problems. Not sure what the numbers would have meant but interesting that the Montana Highway Patrol still uses those numbers. My first thought was the number 3 is the number of the Trinity in the Bible, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; and the number 7 is the number of completion. So maybe it did have something to do with the secret code of the Freemasons. Hope someone figures it out since you have us all curious now. lol
Happy Thanksgiving
Sarah, I wish there was someone around from that time who could tell us what the number meant. People have to stand up against lawlessness. No one wants to raise a family in that climate. I hope your Thanksgiving next week is the best ever.
Well you sure have aroused our curiosity! Very interesting blog Linda! So much research! History is so provocative. Thank you for such a wonderful blog. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would love to know what the numbers meant as well.
Happy Thanksgiving lady!
Hi Kathy!! Thank you for your comment. I love a good mystery and that’s what this is. You’re right about history. The past was filled with so many interesting people and events. Thanks for the Thanksgiving wishes and I’m sending that same wish to you and Ron. Love you so much.
Oh I have no clue what 3,7,77 wowould refer to!
I love all the history you gals share each day!
Carrie, I think all of us here at P&P love history and sharing the things we uncover and we’re glad you enjoy what we bring. One thing about it, you never know from one day to the next what you’ll find on here. Enjoy your Thanksgiving next week.
Hello Dear Linda! I love your blogs/newsletters. They always give me something to think about. I would think grave dimensions like some of the others, giving the message to the outlaw that if he didn’t leave he would be put in a grave. But who knows, could be a different meaning altogether! Most all areas of our country have had Vigilante groups at one time or another!
Wishing you a great Thanksgiving next week.
Hey, lady! It’s great to have you pop over, Miss Ruth! I agree the numbers were some kind of warning and I also agree different parts of our country have dealt with vigilantes at one time or another. I don’t condone this practice, but in this case, something had to be done to curb the violence. I hope you have all your sons there for Thanksgiving to celebrate with you. I’m sure you’re an excellent cook. Wish I was close enough to drop by. I would love that.
Wow, this is so very interesting, I just read about it on the Wikipedia and it says it meant that the people had 3 hours 7 minutes and 77 seconds to get out of town and that it also could be the measurements of a grave, so who really knows! Thank you for this info. I had no idea. Your book sounds like a great read and I love your book cover. Have a great day and week. ( I am not entering the ebook giveaway as I am not tech savvy at all, but Thank you.) I really learned alot reading your post, Thank you.
Alicia, I’m so glad you liked my post. Yes, who really knows? There’s no one from that time alive to ask. The mystery does linger in my mind though. Watch your mail. You just might get something. 🙂 🙂
I do enjoy a good mystery and like having some sort of mystery included in any story.
I was curious about the Vigilantes and the 3-7-77 “logo” and looked for a bit more information. I had thought it might pertain to a date and that was one of the speculations I found.
“The numbers represent the date the Vigilante Oath was signed in Bannack, Montana, the first seat of Justice in the state. This claim is perpetuated by a supposed oath, dated March 7, 1877, that hangs on the wall of the Masonic Lodge 3-7-77 in Bannack. [2]”
Another one also listed on Wikipedia was “Frederick Allen, in his book A Decent Orderly Lynching, says the number meant the person had to buy a $3 ticket on the next 7:00 a.m. stagecoach to take the 77-mile trip from Helena to Butte.[5]”. This doesn’t seem to accurate since it would only apply to the one city. It also didn’t stop them from creating crimes somewhere else.
It is always interesting to research and speculate.
No need to enter my name for Love Comes to Christmas because I already have it.
I hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Patricia, that date would be long after they began in 1863, so I really don’t think it was a date. As you said, it’s good speculation. Who really knows? I hope you’re well and in anticipation of Thanksgiving with family all around. Love you, lady.