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

1T75.] REVOLUTION—PRISONERS OF WAR—TORIES. 373
him when fifteen years of age. When these men were in-
carcerated, Alvord, at the request of Mr. Kingsley, remained
with them in the prison as their waiter during the
night. He obtained liquor for them, and they had a merry
time. In the morning they were released. They were undoubtedly
confined by process of law, as constable Abner
Lyman brought them to the jail.
Some of the Lead- Dwiglit and Stoddard of Northampton, the
ing Tories.- WilUamses of Hatfield, and Seth Catlin of
Deerfield, were among the leading tories of
this section, and several of them had pressing invitations
from the people to recant. Mobs from the surrounding
towns called upon them, committees were sent in to labor
with them, and they were generally persuaded by arguments
tempered with flip, to accede to whatever demands
were made.
A Mob from Peiham. A miscellaneous party of ardent whigs
from Peiham, came over the river on the
2'' of February, 1775, on a tour of education. Their action
is best described in the diary of Jonathan Judd, already
quoted, who was present in Northampton during a part of
the proceedings. Under date of February 2'', he writes : —
'• Went in the afternoon to Northampton, hear that there is a mob
ripe from the eastward and have taken Col". Williams & his son Israel.
They are carried in the Evening to Hadley. * * * Fryday 3, hear
early that Col". Williams is under Keepers who insult him very highly
& that they are coming over for Mr. Stoddard the Committee of Correspondence
meet and know not what to Do, are irresolute, non-plussed
«fe Divided. About lO^g they came, Chester Williams as their Head,
March up to Mr. Stoddard's, form before his Door and their Committee
goes in to him with whom the Committee of Correspondence was before,
he agrees at last to go with them tho' he is low in Health. They
act like mad people, tho well for a Mob both at his house and afterwards.
* * * The Mob tried Col° Williams after their committee
had prepared the Charge & Evidence and he got off in the Evening
with signing a Confession of What they proved, which were the
smaller parts. But by reason of some Menaces the Col" and Israel were
giiarded home. This we heard in the Evening. Dr. Hunt and others
were engaged this Evening to endeavor to stop the Mob from any
further abuse to those they have if thej- do not disperse to Night and
there seems to be some spirit in the Town tho there was none in the
Morning, but were affraid to be known to endeavour to enforce Obe-