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

354 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1774.
A Committee of Cor- TliG two committees of " Correspondence"
respondence, inspec- and " Inspection," the first cliosen in Sej)-
tion an a e y.
tembor and tlie other in December, continued
to act till the latter part of the following year, when
it was determined to consolidate them. Accordingly on
the 27*'' of November, 1775, a committee of "Correspond-
ence, Inspection and Safety " was chosen by " Ballad." It
consisted of "Joseph Hawley, Esq., M' Robert Breck, M"
Ezra Clark, Dea" Josiah Clark, M'' Jacob Parsons. Co'^
Seth Pomeroy, Elijah Hunt, M' Ephraim Wright, M' Elias
Lyman, M' Elijah Clark, Cap* Joseph Lyman, M"" Quartus
Pomeroy, M"" Martin Phelps, M"" Caleb Strong Jr. , Docf
Levi Shephard." Any five of the committee were to constitute
a quorum. The next year the same committee was
re-elected with the exception of Col. Seth Pomeroy and
Elijah Hunt. In their places were chosen Mr. John Lyman
and Mr. Abner Barnard. From that time forward the
Committee of Safety was annually chosen till the end of
the war.
Militia Disorganized.
For tcu years or more after the close of the
Attempted Re or- i^st Prcuch and Indian War, the militia
sranization. -, i j_ i i • • t r^
became completely disorganized. Companies
ceased to exist and training-day was forgotten. In
order to increase the influence of the British government
among the people, Gov. Hutchinson, in 1773, attempted to
revive the militia throughout the province. Officers were
appointed in the several counties, but the rank and file
were not enthusiastic. In Northampton (Easthampton and
Westhampton were not then incorporated) four companies
were formed, and another in Southampton. These officers
received their commissions from Col. Israel Williams, at
Hatfield, in April, 1773. There was a large gathering on
that occasion, and plenty of flip and rum. One of the officers,
from indulging too much, "got rid of his commis-
sion." ^ The officers of the Nortliampton companies were :
Gid-
Co. No. 1—William Lyman, of Northampton, Capt. ;
eon Clark, Lieut. ; Elijah Hunt, Ens. ; Co. No. 2—Aaron
Wright, Capt. ; Enocli Clark, Lieut. ; Benjamin Sheldon,
Ens. ; Co. No. 3, in which were the Westhampton men
1 Judd's Diary.
—