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

492 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1786.
"Shays and a man named Cutler, (afterwards Gen. Cutler), lived as
hired men with Mr. Hinckley's father at Brookfield, for two years preceding
the Revolutionary war. Both men were smart, active men, and
received £16 ($53.33) per annnm, when the common price was £15 ($50).
Shays had much taste for the military, and the boys were in the habit
of assembling with wooden guns and swords, and Shays would exercise
them. Mr. Hinckley had often marched in that company. When the
company of minute men was formed in 1774, Rufus Putnam was Captain,
and Shays and Cutler were Sergeants. They had no bells and no
cannon in Brookfield, and all alarms were given hj conch shells. The
day after the battle of Lexington, the shells were sounded, and Capt.
Putnam's company soon marched. Capt. Putnam was speedily promoted
to the rank of major, and Shays and Cutler became officers in a
short time. Shays continued in the army till 1780, when he had the
rank of Lieut. When Lafayette came over, he brought a large number
of elegant swords, many of which he gave to the subordinate officers
of the army. Shays received one of them, but as he had a good one
already, he sold the one given him by Lafayette. This excited the in-
dignation of his company, and of the officers of his regiment. An outcry
was made about his meanness in selling the gift of Lafayette. The
officers refused to associate with him. and talked about trying him by
Court Martial for his base conduct. He resigned and came home much
incensed against the other officers, and even against Washington. He
was a disappointed man. The people of Brookfield censured him, and
even his father-in-law, Capt. Daniel Gilbert, whose daughter he married
after the war commenced, blamed him, and made severe remarks
about his selling the sword. He remained in Brookfield a few years
and then removed to Pelhani.
"On Election day, in May, 1786, Col. Porter's regiment met in Had-
ley. and Shays appeared at the head of the Pelham company. His ac-
tivitj' and his officer-like appearance, excited admiration, and were the
subjects of much conversation."
The Affair in Spring- Tuesdav. September 26"', was the time apfleid.
pointed for the regular session of the Supreme
Court at Springfield. Aware that
preparations were being made to interfere with this court,
the Governor ordered out the militia of Ham])shire Cgimtj,
and ,^a\