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

442 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1781.
whole amount needed in accordance with the assessed valuation.
These accounts were returned to the assessors, and
if any one failed to pay the amount it was included in his
next year's tax, and committed to the collector. ^
The Town Adopts the The towu at ouce availed itself of this
new Method. j^ew law,^ and the five assessors in con-
nection with the four militia captains,
were ordered to divide the polls and estates into fourteen
classes, each of which was to procure one man. The captains
were Oliver Lyman, Joseph Cook, Daniel Pomeroy,
and Joseph Clapp. A previous division into classes had
been made for the purpose of facilitating enlistments, apportioning
the expense more equally, and placing the
responsibility more definitely, but it proved decidedly in-
effectual. Men were greatly averse to entering the Continental
army for three years, especially when the government
exchequer was so nearly empty, and it appears from
subsequent transactions that this quota was never filled.
The names of eight men only, who served under this call,
can be found. ^
Another Call for Three On the last day of Juuc another requisi-
Months' Men.
^{qj^ fQj. three mouths' men was made, and
on the 19"' of July, a town-meeting was
held, and a committee of fifteen clothed with full powers
to obtain them. The meeting was protracted by two adjournments,
till the 25"' of the month, and then dissolved.
Seventeen men were required, but only sixteen* were obtained.
They cost about £230 in hard money. The men
were paid £150 as wages and about £80 as bounty. This
company was commanded by Capt. Ebenezer Strong of
1 See Lincoln''s History of Worcester, p. 124.
2 Continental money decreased rapidly in value. In January, 1777, one hundred
dollars of it was equal to one hundred five dollars in gold or silver; in December to
$310; during the next twelve months it fell from $325 to $634; in another year it fluctuated
from $742 to $2,393; and in 1780, the variation was from $2,934 in January to
$7,400 in December. The above values were fixed by act of the Massachusetts Legislature
to April, 1780. In 1781, a .specie dollar was equal to 187 cents of the new issue
of Continental bills, from February 27'h to May 1»'; $235 to May 25'"; $;300 to June
IS""; $400 to October 1"'; and these bills continued to decrease till they became
worthless.
3 See Appendix.
4 See Appendix.