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

462 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1783.
to Hockanum Ferry. The Mobb have Ely and going np on the other
side of the River. Very rainy. Walked to the Ferry with Mr. Dwight,
got wet. By one the Mobb came to a parley and came over to Northampton.
People Collected fast. Matters were settled by Night &
Capt. Dinsmore, Lt. P. King, Lt. Perez Bardwell went to Goal till Ely
was returned. The Mobb went out of Town, but most of the people
tai'ried.
" Saturday 16. At 1 had another alarm of a Mobb collecting at Hat-
field. People turned out soon. I went with Col. Chapin, found that
the Mobb were collecting at Hatfield. No people got in except from
Southampton, unless a few Scattering ones. All soldiers collected lodge
in the Meeting House.
"Sunday 17. Got up about four went to the middle of the Town.
Maj. Banister, Capt. White & Capt. Warner, who are leaning towards
the Mobb go up to Hatfield. Was with a Committee to advise the
Sheriff. Was at Meeting part of the Exercises. People collect but
slow till Noon and after. Upon Maj. Banister, &c. coming back at 2,
Phinehas Lyman, Noah Smith & Dea. King go to the Mobb. All the
return we have is that they will have the Hostages. They were then at
Luke Lyman's. We answer they can not. At Dusk, when Col. Porter
had about 500 Men at the Jail, and Gen. Parks arrives with 160 more,
they march to the Jail, mostly on Horses, being about 450, one Half
armed with Clubbs. They fill the Lane from the School House to and
in the Jail Yard [from King street corner to the lower end of Pleasant
street]. A Parley then began which lasted perhaps 1 Hour and a Half,
in which Time Capt. Dickinson and other Heads of the Mobb went into
the Goal and saw the Prisoners. They had then an Idea of resigning
up Ely, but as soon as they came out, Ely put off with speed. It was
then agreed that the Mobb should go to the plain near the Burying
Yard, and they went, and Dickinson returned and the agreement was
that the Question whether the Hostages should be delivered up should
be brought to a County Convention, and their opinion sent to the General
Court, who should be the final Judges in the matter. When Dick-
inson returned to the plain all his party had left him. Almost the
whole Party might have been taken with very little loss, but we aimed
to show we did not want to Hurt them nor shed blood. Springfield
people came while they were at the Jail, with 1 field Piece and a Number
of Continental Soldiers. A large Guard was kept at the Goal,
others scattered about a little not much ; it was so near Day before
matters were settled.
" Monday 17"'. Got up before 4, went to the Jail. In the forenoon
the Brigade was collected and then Dismissed. Dickinson, Harvey
Philips & Nash head of the Mobb in Town and will not stand to the
agreement made last Night. They are obstinate as human Creatures
can be. Nothing can be done with them. Much time was spent in A.
M. and more in the P. M. to Convince them but all in vain. People
were all gone almost when I came away at 7 o'clock. A Mobb man is
almost certainly a Liar. Their cause is principally carried on by Lying.