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

1T76.] REVOLUTION—DEATH OF GEN. POMEROY. 393
favor of calling a convention of delegates. The Legislature,
however, proceeded with the work. A joint committee
of the House and Council, framed a constitution, which
was reported to the Legislature and submitted to the people.
But it was not satisfactory, and was rejected. In
May, 1778, the question of accepting the constitution thus
framed, came before the town. The document was read
section by section, and thoroughly debated. When the
vote was declared it stood thirty-six in favor of the consti-
tution -to seventeen in opposition.
On the fourth of July, 1776, the Declaration
Declaration of Independence.
of Independence was passed by the Conti-
nental Congress. Since the outbreak of
hostilities this question had been prominent in all sections,
and the people were well aware of the significance of the
act. Before definitely deciding upon the proposition, measures
had been taken to ascertain the sentiment of the
country at large in reference to the matter. In Massachusetts
the Legislature suggested that the several towns
should instruct their representatives, chosen in 1776, in
relation to the advisability of declaring the country free
and independent. A great majority of the towns voted in
favor of independence, but there is nothing on record intimating
that the town of Northampton ever took action on
this question. It can hardly be believed that Major Hawley
and other patriots of the town would permit a matter
of such vital importance to pass unnoticed. Possibly it
was the clerk who neglected to make the record, and not
the people who forgot to vote.
After the battle of Buukcr Hill, Gen. Seth
Gen. seth Pomeroy
again in Active Pomcroy, who had retired to his home in
Northampton, was much employed in mil-
itary affairs in the county. At the earnest solicitation of
Gen. Washington, in the latter part of 1776, he decided
once more to enter the service, and early in the following
year, started to take a command in the continental army.
He evidently had charge of the regiment raised in this
county, and was ordered in the fall of that year to report
at once to Gen. Washington. His short and meagre journal
of that march is appended —
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