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

1780.] REVOLUTION—CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. 439
Accidental Death of A most sad and distressing accident oc-
Major Jonathaa curred earlv in 1780. On the forenoon of
Allen
January 7"', Seth Lyman Sr. started on a
deer hunt in company with Major Jonathan Allen. They
went up Lyman's Lane (Park Street) to Cow Lane (Prospect
Street), and on to Elm Street, where they met John
King and Daniel Pomeroy. The four went on together,
all on horseback, Avith snow-shoes fastened to their saddles.
The snow was about three feet deep on a level, had been
falling and drifting for some days, and the air was full of
flying particles. It was considered a very favorable time
for hunting as the snow would not bear up a deer, but
would sustain a man on snow-shoes. Broad Brook swamp
was considered excellent hunting-ground, deer being plenty
in that vicinity. The four men entered the swamp below
the Horse Mountain road, and while hunting there some
time in the afternoon, Major Allen was accidentally shot
by Seth Lyman, who in the snowy atmosphere mistook him
for a deer. Word was immediately sent to the village.
The news produced a great sensation, and many people went
In sleighs to the scene of the disaster, but could not pen-
etrate the swamp with their teams. Major Allen was carried
some distance upon an improvised litter, and then
taken to his home on a sled. The accident occurred near a
spruce tree, on what was known as the Cecil Dwight farm,
and for many years the tree stump marked the place. The
wounded man died in the evening, and was buried on Monday,
the 10"'. Great excitement was caused in town by
this affair, and some persons were inclined to believe that
Lyman shot him purposely. Seth Lyman was considered
a man of malignant disposition, and some bad feeling had
been manifested by him during the war. He was offended
by Major Allen's conduct towards his son, who came home
from the war without leave. A coroner's inquest, held on
the 8"', attributed no blame to Seth Lyman, which effectually
quieted public opinion. The accused was brought
before the Court of General Sessions in February. He
plead not guilty, and was bound over to the April term of
the Supreme Court for trial, in the sum of £10,000, with
Jonathan Hunt of Northampton and Phinehas Lyman of
Hadley as sureties. John King and Daniel Pomeroy were