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

483 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1786.
in tlie wooden building formerly the residence of Benjamin
Prescott, since for many years occupied by the late Harvey
Kirkland, on the ground where now stands the Lambie
block. In a short time he erected a building on Pleasant
Street. It was the third building from the Main Street
corner, on the east side of the street. The printing-ofhce
was in the upper story, and on the main floor was a variety
store carried on by his brother Daniel. William Butler
married Huldah, daughter of Major John Brown of Pitts-
field.
Means and Methods
But fcw post-offices werc then in existeuce,
of Circulation. none having been established in this sec-
tion of the valley north of Springfield.
The paper was circulated almost wholly by carriers or postriders,
who covered nearly the whole of Hampshire and
much of Berkshire Counties. From Williamstown on the
west to Ware and Hardwick on the east, and from Wendall
on the North to Springfield on the south, these men
made weekly journeys. At some of the nearer points, not
covered by the post-riders, the subscribers in a neighborhood
took turns in coming to the office for the papers, or to
some convenient point on the carrier's route. Mr. Butler
was obliged to send to Springfield once a week for his exchanges
and other mail-matter. Frequently he went himself,
sometimes he hired a man, and always made it a point
to enlist the good offices of any one who had business at
that place. It was probably on one of these occasions that
he made himself amenable to the law against traveling on
Sunday. In 1787, at the September term of the Court of
General Sessions of the Peace, " Wm. Butler, printer and
traveller," was indicted by the grand jury for traveling
'' on the 13"' of May, the same being the Sabbath or Lord's
Day, unlawfully and unnecessarily & with force and arms
between the sunrising and sunsetting of the same day from
the Dwelling House of Zenas Parsons in Springfield, in s'd
county thro' the town of South Hadley in s'd county to
Northampton in the same county, the same not being from
necessity or charity, in evil example to others against the
Peace and Dignity of the Commonwealth & the law in
such cases made and provided." Butler plead nolo con-