USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Deerfield > History of Deerfield, Massachusetts: the times when the people by whom it was settled, unsettled and resettled, vol 2 > Part 2
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A town meeting was called here on the 25th. The Tories rallied, but the Whigs controlled the meeting and elected Capt. Thomas Dickinson and Lieut. David Field to represent them in the convention. "Most Noble works about Liberty," comments a Tory on this meeting. The convention at Had- ley chose a committee to wait upon the court and "inquire whether it sat upon the old or new establishment." If upon the new, " Then not to sit."
The popular feeling was now at fever heat, and it was in a gloomy frame of mind that Esq. Ashley, with his green bag stuffed with writs, accompanied by Judge Thomas Williams and others, set off August 29th for Springfield to attend court. Many of the court officials and the lawyers gathered in Spring- field that night. Quiet reigned. But before sunrise the next morning the convention committee came in to meet the court. At a given signal the West Springfield bell rang, and soon a large party of men armed with white staves, under the lead of John Moseley, marched into town and took possession of the court house steps; and before nine o'clock the number was increased to 1000 men. They had everything their own way. "They would not let the court set on any establish- ment and made ye Judges and all the Court solemnly swear that they would not take or execute any commission under Gage," after which the mob formed a circle in the street, in- to which the stray Tories were marched one by one, and made to acknowledge the error of their ways, and sign an agreement not to act under any authority derived from the King. No other violence was used, and the people dispersed at night.
August 30th was an anxious day with the Tories at Deer- field. One of them writes " it is a trying time with the Court, as it is the first day of their sitting. Expect nothing but
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THE MOB SPIRIT ABROAD.
what they would be broke up." But the wires were down, and the telephone out of order, so they must go to bed with- out the news. About three o'clock the next day, David Hoyt, who had been to the court, returned. He reported briefly that " the Court was broken up;" " we could not get much out of him," as he went along, says one, but a great crowd gath- ered at his tavern. The news was received according to the predilection of the listener, with an inward groan, or outward shout. About eight o'clock Esq. Ashley arrived, with his bag still full of writs, and gave the particulars of the lawless out- rage to a sympathetic circle of listeners. He said Lieut. Catlin was much abused by Moses Harvey of Montague. "Entirely without Law every Man left to ye Mercy of his Fellows." One present said, "I never see any person so altered in my life as Squire Ashley was."
September Ist was another exciting day in Deerfield. The Tories were gathered in anxious groups and the mob spirit was rampant among the Whigs. "Samuel Field of Green- field was over at the house of his father, Lieut. David Field, for protection. He felt very low, as he expected to be mobbed." He was a lawyer who had taken sides with nei- ther party. He was not disturbed by the mob. A party of Tories went as far as Bloody Brook and met the returning judge. After fortifying with flip at Catlin's, they went up to Esq. Ashley's and "tarried till the bell rung for meeting," which they attended. It was a fast day. In the evening a mob under the lead of Joseph Stebbins, after some hours' hunt, seized upon Phineas Munn and forced him to "make his confession." We shall see that this " confession " did not prove to be a conversion.
Judge Williams expected a visit next, and his friends gath- ered for his protection. The garrison were bound to show fight. Says one of them, "our guns, pistols, &c., were loaded, soon expecting they would come and burst the House." About eleven the inmates were relieved by "hearing Jos. Stebbins, the leader, say they would not do anything further." Possibly they may have got wind of the warlike preparations within.
One Tory writes, "Oh, Tempora, all Nature seems to be in Confusion ; every person in fear of what his Neighbour will do to him. Such Times were never seen in New England."
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THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
The principal consolation to be found would seem to be in drinking flip. That was never doubted or neglected.
September 3d, rumors came that Moses Harvey was coming over from Montague "to correct the Tories." This story was doubtless conjured up from their fears, as there was no foun- dation for it. But it gave rise to a meeting at the schoolhouse that evening, " to come into some measures to prevent these petty Mobbs that were about." The result was a vote " to do everything in their Power to suppress these Mobbs." The people were evidently principled against any outside inter- ference. They proposed to do their own mobbing. Capt. Thomas Dickinson was sent to Montague to interview Har- vey about the matter, and reported all quiet along Mill river and about Dry Hill.
Sunday, Sept. 4th, about 9 o'clock, a messenger from Mon- tague reached town with a report that Gage had fired on the people in Boston and that a post sent out to alarm this coun- ty had given out on reaching Amherst. As this was but ru- mor, the people went to meeting. As services closed for the morning another Montague man arrived with the tale that "the killed men were 106, and that they were fired upon for trying to stop the court. Our people were now wide awake, some for going away directly, others not." Finally they con- cluded "to send to Amherst and find out the truth of it." Theodore Barnard rode post to Amherst and "the people went to meeting, after which was over, there was gathering in every corner of ye street." Barnard reported on his return that no post had been at Amherst and that the alarm was wholly false. The report may have grown out of the act of Gage, three days before, in sending soldiers to secure the powder in Charlestown. Or it may have been sent by Har- vey as a practical joke.
Sept. 5th, a party of Tories garrisoned the house of Esq. Ashley. There may have been intimations of an approaching mob from the West. About three o'clock the next morning they were aroused by a messenger with news from Hatfield, that "all the western world was coming down to mob Col. Williams and others," and that all hands must go down to his protection. The meet was at Jonathan Arms's. One hundred men rallied at the call, and about half-past seven the van guard were on the ground. About 9 o'clock Hadley appeared
685
EVERY-DAY LIFE IN 1774.
with one hundred and ten men, Amherst with seventy, and fifty Hatfield men were afoot-all to keep down the mob. These were the law and order men of both parties. "The forenoon was spent in walking about." "The Deerfield com- pany dined with William Williams. After dinner they marched over to Col. Partridge's, drank, then walked down street." The mob of fifty men soon appeared and were sur- rounded. "Being asked what they came for, they produced a No. of charges against Col. Partridge. The Col. appeared before the mob, vindicated himself, and the company voted they were satisfied with what ye Col. said," and soon dis- persed. The mob declared they had been sent for by Hat- field people-some of the Tories said, for "Private pique." Before the rescuers separated a "Covenant to be signed by the people to prevent mobbing " was agreed upon, and one of the Deerfield men agreed to make copies enough to supply one to each town.
Sept. 8th, a " Regular" was brought into town for examina- tion. "The Fellow was under arrest for attempting to Rob on ye Highway." Judge Williams " would not act as justice, but only gave his advice." The result is not known. This " Regular" may have been a deserter from the British forces at Boston. About this time Sunderland Whigs had organized a company of minute men, and had employed a " deserter" to drill them. The doctor had been for ten years a justice of the Court of Common Pleas, but after his recent experience at Springfield, he ignored the judicial ermine. That evening a party of young men met at his house by invitation. He doubtless prescribed treatment tending to allay the fevered pulse of the people. The judge seems never to have been molested in his own town by any mobites.
This picture of the " times that tried men's souls" will be incomplete with only one side on exhibition. The people were not, as might be inferred from history and tradition, wholly absorbed in political affairs. A few touches from ev- ery-day life may perhaps give a more correct view of these trying times. I copy from fragments of a diary kept by a medical student at the office of Dr. and Judge Williams in 1774. It is merely brief notes of every-day life like what is going on about each one of us all the time. He was doing only what his fellows were doing, and so represents the pe-
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THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
riod. An idyl or a romance can hardly be expected in the commonplace record of a single week ; but, so far as it goes, it is real life in Deerfield a hundred and twenty years ago, and given as such :-
Sept. 9. This Morning after Breakfast, I went up street, went to John Sextons. Upon my Return saw John Williams, who had re- turned from Boston yesterday and brought his Lady with him. About eleven I came home, spent my time in writing till Dinner, after which I came into ye Garret. About 3 Polly came up. She tarried till 5 with me, was very sociable. I went and spent the ev- ening at my Dada's and Brothers.
10th. Spent all the forenoon in making Rivermus Pills; dined, aft er which I spent some time chatting with Polly. About three went up to Jno W's store, bot me a pr of Breeches; saw Jno, was invited to drink tea with him & his Lady, but declined & went down to Cat- lin's, drank flip with Barnard, walked down to Munns with him, tar- ried there till sunset, then came from there & went up to my Dada's; found S. Williams & Dolly there; they had just come from Hatfield. I tarried and spent the evening with them & returned to my Lodg- ings about Nine. Mrs. W. soon went off to bed, I sat & talked with ye Ladies till T'en.
11th. Tarried at home this forenoon, being Sunday. In ye after- noon waited upon ye Ladies to Meeting, our Pew being full I went and sat in Catlins Pew; Polly sat with me; saw Mr. Jno W's Lady & others at meeting. Ye exercise being over, Williams came with me to the Doctor's. Tarried and drank tea with us here. Sabbath be- ing ended, Williams & myself waited upon ye Ladies up to my Dada's to see Mrs. Williams. Samuel and myself went over to my Brothers, tarried there till nine, then went back, chatted till ten, then waited upon ye Ladies Home, went into ye Back Kitchen and chatted awhile, and then to bed.
12th. After Breakfast was over I went up to my Dada's to see Mrs. Williams; S. Williams went away about nine, he had been with Charissa the evening before. 1 tarried ye forenoon there and dined -a very agreeable Time we had. Dolly told me Stoddard was com- ing to see Betsey, &c. After dinner I came to my Lodgings, sat in ye shop most of ye afternoon. Dolly and Betsey came and made a visit here; about sunset I went down to Catlins, spent ye evening with him. After I came home went into ye kitchen, supped; Cynthia was with me. I sat some time & Polly came; we sat up till after ten.
13th. This morning walked up to see Dolly, tarried till ten, then returned and went to reading, read till Dinner was ready, after which I went into y" Garret: had not been there long before Polly came up; she chatted some Time with me about our Being married. I stayed and read till six P. M., then went up to my Dada's. Dolly not being there I went to my Brothers, found her there. I tarried & spent the evening with her; a fine evening we had of it. Returned about Ten, chatted with the Girls some Time, then to bed.
14th. All the forenoon was spent in gadding about. After Din- ner Polly scratched my head. I told her I designed waiting upon
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THE OLD OLD STORY.
her in ye evening, with her Consent. she answered & said I had got that some time ago. After four I went home, fixed myself for Sun- derland, carried my sister [Dolly] over there; Drank coffee with Billings, Esq., tarried till some time in ye evening, then came home, got here just before Nine; Found Mrs. Partridge and Samuel here. Heph being here I went into ye B. kitchen & chatted with her & the Ladies some time. After Prayers was over, I went into ye kitchen, found Polly alone there. Taking hold of her Hand & telling of her it was mine, she said it was a bad one. I told her I would not have it abused so, but would take it off; she said she wished I would. I then asked her about my sitting with her; she said she did not know &' said something always happened, and upon my saying we had bet- ter throw ye courtship up, she said we had better put an end to it by M-g. I chatted with her about an hour, then to Bed, with Par- tridge.
15th. After Breakfast walked down to Catlins with Partridge. Stay'd there ab't an hour; from there We went up to my Dada's. I was set to turning hay, which held me till one. We then returned to ye Doct's, dined, after which Partridge & myself took horse & rode out to N. Dickinsons. Pulled a tooth. Nat not being at home, We went up ye Mountain, found him; on coming back I bro't my horse down, bled him, drank Tea, &c., which being done, We set out for home, got here about Dark. Soon after I got home C.
showed me a letter she rec'd from J. Buck, in answer to one men- tioned heretofore, ye Porport of which was that there was a misun- derstanding between them, & that he had no thought of making.his addresses to her. I went into ye kitchen, found Poy there, with whom I chatted a little while; upon my hinting my design of sitting with her, she said she was very tired, but hoped she should feel bet- ter before Bed Time. Prayers being over Pat'ge, ye Ladies & my- self went into ye kitchen again. Poy yet seemed to be very Tired. She soon made a Motion for Bed, but upon my Desire she sat down, & then I asked her whether she would sit up or not, & that she would not sit up purposely to oblige me, But desired she would go to Bed. She sternly replied and said she would not. I then desired her to go into ye South Room, to which she consented; upon her retir'g, C. followed & left Partridge alone; with much Intreaty I persuaded her to return. Poy & I went into ye South Room; I soon began & told her I was almost determined never to plague her any more, & wondered she was not sick of me since I was so very fond. She said she was not & that I had no reason to think it. I told her I thought we never should get together. She said she would not think of sep- aration, & if it must come to pass, she wished it might be by Death, and that she was sure it would never happen by her means. We parted about twelve, left Partridge with C. with whom he sat till two, then came to bed to me.
16th. This forenoon was spent part at ye Doct's, ye other part at my Dada's. Partridge went up with me. We went to my Broth- ers, stayed there a little while, then he went with me over to ye other house. But upon my going to turn hay he went from there. I was busy till Dinner came on. Whilst we were at Dinner I pro- posed to my Dada my going away, to which he made no answer.
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THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
After Dinner I went to making hay at which I continued till dark. I then came to ye Doct's, found Mr. & Mrs. Buckminster here. I tarried but a little while, took Partridge with me & went down to Catlins, spent ye Evening there, returnd about Nine, spent some time with ye Ladies, then to bed with Partridge.
17th. After Breakfast at ye Doct's desire I went up to the past- ure to fetch some Horses; Partridge went with me. Soon after our return, Partridge set out for home with his Mamma. I then walked home to help my Dada about his Hay. Worked till three A. M., then took the carriage & carried Tirzah down to Muddy Brook; went to Dwellees upon Business. We tarried yr but a little while; upon our Return We went into Lt. Field, upon Invitation, eat some Baked Bear, which was very good; got home about Dark. I then took my things for Sunday & came to my Lodgings. Spent ye even- ing in ye shop; Poy spent part of it with me; about nine to Bed.
18th. Waited upon ye Ladies to meeting, sat in the Corner Pew
with them. Mr. Buckminster preached. In ye afternoon waited upon ye ladies again, sat in Catlin's pew with Cynthia. Mr. B.
preached again ; spent ye rest of ye Day in reading. Evening Prayers being over and Poy going up to make my Bed I went up with her. After she had made it we sat and chatted some Time; We were to- gether about an Hour, then came down and walked up to my Broth- ers. We were detained there by the Rain till after ten; when we came home ye People were abed. I sat with her * * The Conversation turned upon my settling in Life. I asked her whether she would be will'g to go into ye Woods with me? to which she an- swered that she was will'g to go anywhere with me, But desired I would never Tarry in Deerfield. I then asked her whether she would not have me if I did. She said she could not think I had any thots of it, since it would not be to my advantage. I told her ye tho'ts of driving into the woods among Strangers was dreadful. She said it was, but others had done it & hoped yt We should do well. * * * thus spending our time from half-past ten to one in a gloomy manner We retired to bed.
19th. After breakfast was over I went into old fort to bring some Horses up. After that I went down to Catlins upon Business, tar- ried there till twelve; then returned; about one Dined, after wh I help't tackle ye Horses & about 3 Mr. Buckminster & Lady set out in order to go to Gt. Barrington; Mrs. Williams went away with ym, designed Hatfield. I then chatted with ye Ladies about an Hour; proposed a Ride to Poy, to wh she Consented, of which We were dis- appointed. I went home about 5, tarried there some Time. Mrs. Dwelley was yr; she bro't me a 1-4 of Rackcoon. I went to Jona's, staid yr till sunset, then went to E. Fields House, found Lieut. Par- tridge, bro't him up to ye Doctrs, here he tarried some Time, then with ye Doct, walked down to Catlins, found a No. of people yr, Rev. Ashley, Harvey f" Montague-his hon" Harvey had a fine Trim- ming from ye Gent. that was there respecting his abus" Catlin at Springfield, mak“ him get down on his Knees and ask forgiveness. We tarried yr till about eleven, Partridge came and slept with me.
20th. Walked up to my Dada's this morning, got him to draw up a Confession for Harvey to sign-of which I have a copy-the near-
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MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
ried it down to Catlin, after which I came home & Breakfasted, Tar- ried Home ye rest of ye Forenoon. After Dinner I went over to Dick's shop, chatted with Heph. some Time about my Courtship, then went up to my Brothers, tarried till almost four, then came back & went into ye Garret; C. & Poy soon came up; I read a Letter to C. which I had wrote to Patty. Yy soon went down. 'Twas not long before I went down in ye B. kitchen. Poy came in yre, de- sired to see my Letter, which I read to her, which she approvod of & advised me to keep a copy of it. I then went down to Catlin, brought him up to ye School House, as there was a meeting yre in order to chuse Delegates to go to N. Hampton to a County Con- gress ye 22d of this instant, to Consult upon Measures to be enter'd into by ye County. Lt Field & Thos Dickinson were chosen. Pro- vided yy could not go, then Jno Bardwell & D. Saxton were to go. Catlin & I with ye Doct'r went up to Jona's supped upon Rackcoon. I yre rec'd an Invitation to Dwights Wedding; we tarried yre till Ten, then we came home, Catlin came in with us. Soon Diana Hinsdale came in & invited Poy to her wedding with some others; y' soon went away. Catlin tarried till eleven & went away. I then soon pushed off to bed.
24th. I asked Poy soon after I got up whether she had Deter- mined about going up to ye wedding. She said she had not asked her Mamma, but after Breakfast, I went & got my horse shod. Whilst he was shoeing I went down to Catlins, chatted a long while with Mrs. Catlin; she told me how she felt in ye time of her Court- ship, which was affecting. About Ten I came away, took my horse & rode over to Cheapside & went to making hay, worked till Noon, then came to my Dada's, found Heph there, dined, &c, after which I shew Heph ye Covenant Poy & I had entered into. She said it was a very strong one & said Poy never could get away from it. I told her my feelings & desired she would send for Poy, over to her Brothers shop & find out if she could. She said she would. The afternoon I spent in making Hay. I returned to ye Doct's about Dark & had not been here long before Poy came & sat down by me: she told me she had asked her Mamma & that she had given her Consent & that she was determined to go. I spent ye Evening at Home in read'g to ye Ladies; to bed at Nine.
25th. Being Sunday I went to meeting forenoon & Afternoon. Mrs. Upham was at meeting in ye forenoon, Mrs. Foxcroft in ye After- noon; ye rest of ye day was spent in reading. In ye Evening I went over to Lt Field's, heard him tell me about ye Congress, mentioned heretofore, then with E. Field walked down to Lt. Catlins & spent ye Evening yr. about Eleven came home & to Bed.
26th. After Breakfast I went home, tarried but a little while, dressed Corse's face soon after I came home, after that I went into ye Meadow, pitched a Couple Load of Hay for ye Doct., this took me till one, then came home & Dined. Affer Dinner Cynthia asked my advice about going to Jack Williams. I told her I thought it very Improper as she had rec'd no Invitation to go & shew her where- in it was so, & after much Conversation had upon the Matter we parted, I went over into New Fort to pitch another Load of hay for the Doct. Upon my Return I found ye Ladies dressing for ye above
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THIE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
s' Place, where yy went. I after yy were Gone went up to my Broth- ers and wrote a Deed for him; it took me till Dark. I then went down to Catlins, spent ye Evening there with Catlin & Doct Barnard, just after Nine I came home, had not been at home long before ye Ladies came, Mr. Williams with them; he tarrie not long; ye Ladies told me yy had a fine Afternoon of it; sat till I went to Bed.
27th. After Breakfast 1 went getting ready to go to Dwights wedding, travel'd about till 1 was almost tired & about 12 got fixt, came with my Carriage up to ye Docts, took Miss Poy in & went up to Mr. Arms, where we were invited to wait upon ye Wedners, found y" had all got yre, viz, two Dwights, Lyman, Graves, Smith, Bard- well, Howe & Stebbins. We tarried there about an hour then pushed on to Greenfield, where ye Marriage was to be Celebrated. Supped, then yy were Married & Dwight & my sister, Field & Heph stood as Assistants. After they were joined, we went to Dancing; there was a Number invited out of ye Town to ye Wedding. I tar- ried till nine then came away with P., Dwight & my sister & a No of others. Upon our return, Dwight, C, Poy & myself stopt at Blises store; was there but a few minutes & when we came out 1 found my Reins to my Carriage were cut in two, ye other horses had their Tails cut off, and ye Side Saddle cut. We fixt & once more set out and got home about eleven without any Trouble. Dwight stopt at my Dada's with C. I came & saw Poy well home, tarried & Chatted with C & Poy some Time, then took my Carriage up to my Dada's & put it out. Supped with Dwight, set up a little while, then he went to Bed.
28th. I with ye Comp'y mentioned heretofore set out fron Mr. Arms to go to Belcher to wait upon Mr. Dwight, Mr. Arms & a No from Greenfield, not mentioned heretofore. We got as far as Mud- dy Brook. Mr. Arms was then prevented from going any farther by reason of his father's Death, wh happened ye preceding Evening, ye rest drove on, went to Billings in Sunderland, then stopt, drank, &c., then set out again, drove on to Fields in Amherst. I went down in a carriage with Poy. We were as dumb as stokes upon ye road; here we stopt, Eat & Drank, tarried about an hour, then set out again, nothing said between Poy and I; ye next stop ye company made was at Graves's, Belcher drank cherry then drove on again. We had rode about a Mile & 1/2 & met 26 Couple who came out to meet us. Ceremony being over & falling in ord made a fine Show. Got to ye Grooms House about two, where we dressed ourselves, then walked to Capt Dwight's & Dined, after which was over re- turned back to ye Grooms & went to Dancing. We had no Fiddle but a fine Singer; danced some time. About nine Poy as she was very un- well went off & lay down. Finding out where she was I went down & sat with her. In conversation she asked me what my Notion was to go off. I asked her where, she said to ye West India wth Capt Starr. I told her it was to get rid of my Doubts and fears. She asked me whether I thought I should help myself that way. I told her I thought it would be a means of her being more happy & said I hoped her second Lover would not give her so much uneasiness as I had done. She said I never gave her unhappiness, but should if I left her & went off at weh when she spoke she cryed & begged I never would
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