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

1776] REVOLUTION—DEATH OF GEN. POMEROY. 389
Important Meeting A meeting of the Committees of Corresin
Hampshire pondence of the several towns in Hamp-
°"° ^'
shire County was held at the Court-House
in Northampton, March ll''\ 1776. It was called by the
committee of Northampton, " by the particular desire of
the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Chesterfield
for the purposes hereafter mentioned, viz. : —
Whether or not it is proper and expedient for the Court of
Gen' Sessions of the Peace for the County aforesaid, should
be diss'olve or Adjourn'd to some future season and
whether the Justices afores" shall in any case Act by Vertue
of their present commissions." Twenty-eight towns
were represented bj^ eighty-two delegates. Major Hawley
was chosen moderator, and Levi Shephard, clerk. Northampton
was represented by its entire committee of fifteen,
whose names have heretofore been given. All questions
were to be decided by a majority of each town committee,
a tie vote in any committee was to be "considered as
nothing," and no question was to be determined by the
individuals of said congress. The moderator was " desired
to explain why it is that the Justices Commissions in this
Colony are in the Name of George the Third of Great
Britain, and under what authority the said Justices do act."
The annexed letter from Rev. Thomas Allen was read — :
" Pittsfield, T'h March, 1776.
" Gentlemen, I hope you will not fail of raising the Men in Worthington
and going down to No Hampton on Monday next to stop the
Court, as this is a most necessary step for the Salvation of our Country.
Be so good as to send word to No. 5, Murrayfield and Chesterfield, and
not wait for the people here but go forward early."
" I am your Humble Servant
Thos. Allen.
To the Committee of Correspondence {
In Worthington." )
Each delegate was to " manifest to this congress what he
supposes is the sense of the Town he represents in regard
to the seting of the Court of general Sessions of the
Peace." Separate action was had on the two propositions
in the call, and on the first, the following resolution was
adopted by a vote of 39 to 43 : —
" Voted that it is inexpedient and improper that the Court of gen'
Sessions of the Peace for the County of Hampshire should set at the
Time of their Adjournment on the second Tuesday of March instant.