History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

248 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1754.
Militia of Northern A Complete reorganization of tlie militia
Hampshire Reor- Qf Hampshire County was entered npon
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this year. Joseph Hawley of Northampton
and Elijah Williams of Deerfield were promoted to the
rank of major at about the same time by Gov. Shirley, and
the former became quite active in the formation of the new
companies. Apparently there was to be a muster and a reorganization
of the regiment in the northern part of
Hampshire County, and on the IG"' of August Major Hawley
wrote to Col. Israel Williams about the officers of the
Northampton companies. He proposed the following
names —
:
His own Co. 20 Co. 3i Co.
Lt. Gideon Lyman Capt. [John] Hunt Capt. Benj. Sheldon
Lt. William Lyman Lt. Ebenezer Hunt Lt. [Eben] Kingsley
Ens. Nathaniel Clark Ens. Josiah Pomeroy Ens. Dan'l Pomeroy
Hc meutious a Capt. Wright, who proba-
Major Hawiey's suggestions.
IqIj belonged to the first company, who it
was expected would refuse his former commission.
If Capt. Wright declined, the companies were
to be officered as above, but Wright and Gideon Lyman
would not serve together, or one under the other.
Should both decline, then he suggested that Lieut. William
Lyman should be made captain, and Josiah Pomeroy lieutenant
of the first company, Daniel Pomeroy, ensign of the
second company, and Jonathan Strong Jr., ensign of the
third company. His brother Elisha, he thought in case of
the failure of one of the above officers, would be a better
lieutenant than Lieut, Caleb Strong, as he had done much
more to merit the position. It is not probable that any
companies were officered at that time in just the manner
proposed by Major Hawley, though several of the persons
named served in the expedition against Crown Point, and
some of them were killed. Indignant at the manner in
which his suggestions had been received by his commanding
officers. Major Hawley on the 8'' of October addressed
a pungent letter to Col. Williams, plainly intimating his
dissatisfaction at the snub inflicted upon him. In it he
suggests that Col. Israel Williams, Col. Oliver Partridge,
Major Ephraim Williams, and himself, should confer upon
military affairs " for y*" defence of our people on y'' west of