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

CHAPTER XXII.
FIRST SCHOOL-COMMITTEE—NEW COURT-HOUSE.
War not Recognized DuRiNG thesG seveii years of aiixiety,
by the Town. alarm, and bloodshed, town affairs moved
forward with their usual serenity and harmony.
Not an entry on the records gives the shadow of
an intimation that a sanguinary conflict was raging, or
that at any time there was the least danger of an invasion.
By no vote was the critical condition of the country in any
way recognized. The enlistment and impressment of sol-
diers was constantly in progress, and the young men of
the town were marching in scores to the seat of war.
Some of the companies were composed almost entirely of
citizens of Northampton, and many from that town were
members of different organizations scattered throughout
the county. Several Northampton soldiers were killed,
and many wounded. Not a few during the almost continuous
movements of the troops were billeted here at considerable
expense to individuals, if not to the town ; yet no
municipal action seems to have been deemed necessary.
It is true that none of the Indian raiders penetrated the
town, though its citizens were frequently called upon to
guard the neighboring settlements. Even when nearly all
the militia had been called away to repel threatened inva-
sion, when none knew how soon the dread French and In-
dians would overrun the country, such matters as the following
engaged the attention at town-meetings : — the removal
of pigsties from the town lands, the building of
horse sheds, the changing of pews in the meeting-house, or
the use of the school-house on Sunday noons. If meetings
were held to consult upon military matters,
them have come to light.
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no records of