Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

230 GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES.
In this manner the Indian described, in his dream, the twelve
justices. He called no one by name ; but described some peculiar
trait in the character of each, so that the individual intended was
known.
The pamphlet caused much excitement at the time, and was
considered a tory document. The secret of the authorship was
well kept ; no legal proof could be obtained respecting the author
or the printer. It was a caustic satire on many who were afterwards
leading whigs, and they never forgot it, or forgave the
Crockers who were the reputed authors. Why this was so, it
seems difficult to determine, for tories came in for their full share
of the satire. If that pamphlet had emanated from a different
source, I am inclined to the opinion that it would have been differently
received. It was the allusions therein to the private characters
of the individuals that gave offence. "The Body of the
People" prevented the same justices from holding, by virtue of
authority emanating from the King, their court in Barnstable. J
The Committee arrested, or attempted to arrest, others who were
satirized in the pamphlet. Private considerations probably had an
influence in giving to Mr. Otis Loring so prominent a position m
the Dream. He kept an opposition tavern, and had then recently
enlarged his house, and was endeavoring to induce the Coui:t to
stop with him.
Mr. Loring was an outspoken and decided tory. He made
no attempt to conceal his opinions. When the Vigilance Committee,
of whom Col. Freeman was the Chairman, came to arrest
him, he went into his blacksmith's shop and laid a long bar of
iron across the fire, and heated the central portion to a read heat.
His friends had given him notice of the approach of the Committee,
and when they arrived he was prepared for them. He
stood before his shop door holding the bar by either end. Without
burning their fingers, it would have been diflScult for them to
have made an immediate arrest. He politely said, "gentlemen, I
am ready for you, come on." Finding him determined to resist,
they went away, without maliing an arrest. At another time, Mr.
Loring was concealed in a chamber of his house for several days,
to avoid arrest.
It does not appear that Mr. Loring or the Crockers had
committed any overt or open act of treason. They had freely
1 1 read this pamphlet when a school hoy fifty years ago, and I cannot Touch for the
verhal accuracy of the words placed in quotation marks. Henry Crocker, Esq., now of
Boston, sat on the same bench with me, had the pamphlet, and I read it in the school room
and have not since seen it. About the year 1824,1 had a conversation with Sarali La^vrence
respecting it. She said, "the people said that my brother Josiah wrote it, that it was
printed in Boston, brought from there in the packet, and the night following a copy was
laid at the door of each man in the village." Her manner induced me to believe at tlie
time, that there was truth in the common report, though she did not so state.
JThe original papers on this subject have been preserved, and I intended to have
printed them, with fac similes of the signatures ; but the publication must be deferred.