History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;
History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654; History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;
— 502 HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON. [1786. would not be opened at that time. The committee requested an answer in writing ; the Justices informed them, if they expected a written answer, they must exhibit their request in writing ; they retired and soon after produced their written request, of which the following is copy a : "Springfield, Dec. 26, 1786. " We request the Hon. Judges of this Court, not to open said Court at this term nor do any kind of business whatsoever, but all kinds of business remain as though no such court had been appointed. Luke Day Daniel Shays Thomas Grover." '• To which the following answer was returned — : " Springfield, Dec. 26, 1786. " The Justices of the Court of Common Pleas and Court of General Sessions of the Peace, now assembled at Springfield, in consideration of the opposition made to the opening of the said Courts, have determined not to do any business or open the said Courts this term. Eleazar Porter." "Soon after which the insurgents amounting as was supposed to about 300 quietly dispersed." The Government When the report of the above transaction ^cts. reached Boston, the government determined to take vigorous and effective measures to support the laws. The January session of the courts for Worcester County was at hand, and they must be thoroughly and effectively protected. It was decided, therefore, to raise an army of four thousand four hundred men to serve for thirty days and crush the rebellion. The quotas from Hampshire and Worcester Counties were the largest and comprised twelve hundred men each. Those from this county were to rendezvous at Springfield on the 18'^'' of January. The command was conferred on Major Benj. Lincoln. There was no money in the State Treasury to meet the expenditure entailed by this proceeding and no means of providing for it at such short notice. This difficulty was surmounted by the efforts of a number of pat- riotic citizens of the Commonwealth, who voluntarily loaned to the government the sum needed. It was subsequently repaid by a vote of the Legislature. An address was issued by the Governor, in which he enumerated the measures taken to enforce the laws, and called upon the people to co-operate with the government in restoring order, harmony and peace within the Commonwealth.
1787.] SHAYS REBELLION. 503 The Insurgents Pre- The addi'ess of the GovemoF was dated pare to Resist. i[^q jg*'' of January. On the 15*'', the insurgents presented a manifesto, signed by Shays and four other leaders, to the company officers throughout the county, urging the assembling of their commands, well armed and equipped with ten days' pro- visions, and that they march in season to be at or near Dr. Hinds in Pelham, by Friday, the 19"' inst. In this document it is asserted that the " Governor and his adherents " had not only determined to support the courts "by the point of the sword," " but to crush the power of the people at one bold stroke, and render them incapable of ever opposing the cruel power, Tyranny by bringing those who have steped forth to ward off the evil that threatens the people with immediate ruin, to an unconditioned submis- sion, and their leaders with an infamous punishment." ^ The Arsenal to be Seized. In Springfield had been established during i\^q Revolutiou a Federal arsenal. It was located on the site of the present Armory, and contained a number of muskets and a few field-pieces, besides a small amount of military stores. Shays and his party determined to seize this depository before the soldiers under Gen. Lincoln should arrive. Gen. Shepherd, in accordance with orders from headquarters, at once occupied the post. He had under him about twelve hundred^ men, militia of Hampshire County. A large number of these men were from towns in this vicinity, many of whom had collected at Northampton on the 17"' of January. On the morning of the following day, about one hundred sleighs, filled with soldiers, left this town for Springfield. About one hundred thirty of them were from Northampton and between fifty and sixty from Southampton. Nearly all the people of the Hamptons and Hadleys were on the side of the government. The insurgents or regulators began to collect at West Springfield on the 19"', and on the 21'', their number at that place was three hundred fifty, which was soon increased to five hundred or six hundred. They 1 Hampshire Gazette, Jan'y 24"', 1787. 2 The newspapers of the day put the number at fifteen hundred, and Dr. Holland gives it as eleven hundred.
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1787.] SHAYS REBELLION. 503<br />
The Insurgents Pre- The addi'ess <strong>of</strong> the GovemoF was dated<br />
pare to Resist.<br />
i[^q jg*'' <strong>of</strong> January. On the 15*'', the <strong>in</strong>surgents<br />
presented a manifesto, signed by<br />
Shays and four other leaders, to the company <strong>of</strong>ficers<br />
throughout the county, urg<strong>in</strong>g the assembl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> their<br />
commands, well armed and equipped with ten days' pro-<br />
visions, and that they march <strong>in</strong> season to be at or near Dr.<br />
H<strong>in</strong>ds <strong>in</strong> Pelham, by Friday, the 19"' <strong>in</strong>st. In this document<br />
it is asserted that the " Governor and his adherents "<br />
had not only determ<strong>in</strong>ed to support the courts "by the<br />
po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>of</strong> the sword," " but to crush the power <strong>of</strong> the people<br />
at one bold stroke, and render them <strong>in</strong>capable <strong>of</strong> ever oppos<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the cruel power, Tyranny by br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g those who<br />
have steped forth to ward <strong>of</strong>f the evil that threatens the<br />
people with immediate ru<strong>in</strong>, to an unconditioned submis-<br />
sion, and their leaders with an <strong>in</strong>famous punishment." ^<br />
The Arsenal to be<br />
Seized.<br />
In Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield had been established dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
i\^q Revolutiou a Federal arsenal. It was<br />
located on the site <strong>of</strong> the present Armory,<br />
and conta<strong>in</strong>ed a number <strong>of</strong> muskets and a few field-pieces,<br />
besides a small amount <strong>of</strong> military stores. Shays and his<br />
party determ<strong>in</strong>ed to seize this depository before the soldiers<br />
under Gen. L<strong>in</strong>coln should arrive. Gen. Shepherd, <strong>in</strong> accordance<br />
with orders <strong>from</strong> headquarters, at once occupied<br />
the post. He had under him about twelve hundred^ men,<br />
militia <strong>of</strong> Hampshire County. A large number <strong>of</strong> these<br />
men were <strong>from</strong> towns <strong>in</strong> this vic<strong>in</strong>ity, many <strong>of</strong> whom had<br />
collected at <strong>Northampton</strong> on the 17"' <strong>of</strong> January. On the<br />
morn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the follow<strong>in</strong>g day, about one hundred sleighs,<br />
filled with soldiers, left this town for Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield. About<br />
one hundred thirty <strong>of</strong> them were <strong>from</strong> <strong>Northampton</strong> and<br />
between fifty and sixty <strong>from</strong> Southampton. Nearly all the<br />
people <strong>of</strong> the Hamptons and Hadleys were on the side <strong>of</strong><br />
the government. The <strong>in</strong>surgents or regulators began to<br />
collect at West Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield on the 19"', and on the 21'',<br />
their number at that place was three hundred fifty, which<br />
was soon <strong>in</strong>creased to five hundred or six hundred. They<br />
1 Hampshire Gazette, Jan'y 24"', 1787.<br />
2 The newspapers <strong>of</strong> the day put the number at fifteen hundred, and Dr. Holland<br />
gives it as eleven hundred.
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