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 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
The "marching orders" referred to were doubtless given in consequence of an address to Congress from the "Yorkers"
753
A PROFITABLE INTRIGUE.
in Vermont, dated Jan. 8th, 1782, representing that the " Ver- monters" were abusing them and intriguing to deliver the " Hampshire Grants" over to Great Britain. Neither Wash- ington, nor Congress, nor the Yorkers themselves, knew the underlying facts in the case until the cessation of hostilities. Then appeared the consummate skill which had hoodwinked the English ministry, saved Vermont from invasion, and built up an independent State.
If Capt. Taylor was a representative man, the broad pa- triotism of the Massachusetts 10th, under their privations and hardships, the sting of injustice, and the loss of faith in their native State, is something to wonder at and admire. And the genius of a commander who, with such a state of affairs as this letter shows, could conquer a peace with Great Britain, seems almost superhuman.
The events I am about to narrate did not occur on the ter- ritory of Deerfield, but our people had part in them and they illustrate our social history in this dark period of apparent injustice and real hardship-a period marked by a false ex- pectation of prompt relief from the new government, and the general demoralization usually attendant on a long war. On this occasion Deerfield took a stand on the side of law and order-albeit her military efforts came to an inglorious end -as she also did in the Shays Rebellion, of which this was but a premonitory symptom.
June 12th, about half-past eight in the morning, a hundred men in military array marched through Northampton for Springfield, "with great steadiness and in good order," al- though going to execute mob law, and release Samuel Ely. Some two hours later fifty law and order men left Northamp- ton for Springfield. Part arrived before the mob and tried to get some cannon from the park to defend the prison ; but before this could be done the doors were broken down and Ely was set free. The rescuers then turned and marched northward in triumph, some mounted and some on foot.
Half an hour later Sheriff Elisha Porter of Hadley appeared on the ground. He took in the situation at a glance, rallied a force and sent it under Col. Burt in pursuit of the mob; then crossed the Connecticut and made haste to secure all the boats on the river to prevent the mob from passing west-
754
CLOSE OF THE WAR-ELY INSURRECTION.
ward. This he did as high up as Hadley, and was thus able also to cross himself at his pleasure.
June 13th, the news reached Porter in the morning that Burt had overtaken the mob at South Hadley, where, after a smart skirmish in which nothing was accomplished, both par- ties had camped for the night. Porter at once rallied a force, crossed the river to Hadley and picking up such aid as he could, took post at the south end of Hadley street. The mob, finding no boats on the river and Porter in their front, turned off towards Amherst. Porter then sent Capt. Allen by a cross way to intercept them, while he slowly followed in their rear. Allen struck them on the flank and got between their horse and foot. There was some lively work and hard blows, and "Sol. Clapp had his head broken " by a clubbed musket, when a parley was called. Ely and a few others had escaped. The parties were now formed in two lines in the road facing each other and within bayonet reach. To prevent bloodshed a committee of five on each side was chosen, and after a short consultation the mob agreed to march to Northampton with Porter, that all might be sheltered from the pouring rain while negotiations were pending, but in no sense as his pris- oners, Porter promising to leave them in as good a position for defense as they then were, in case of failure to agree. The account of this affair given by Holland in his Western Massachusetts, vol. 1, p. 231, is glaringly erroneous in almost every particular, and he does gross injustice to Col. Porter, whose firmness sustained the law, and whose prudence alone saved disastrous bloodshed. The present sketch is written from letters penned upon the spot by reliable men, while the events were transpiring.
This joint committee, after considerable conference, came to an agreement-that both parties should unite in a petition to the General Court for some action to abate the grievances complained of-that Ely should be given up and that three hostages be given for his return. Capt. Abel Dinsmore of Conway, Lieut. Perez Bardwell and Paul King were selected as hostages. Lieut. Bardwell, a Revolutionary soldier, lived near the south bounds of Deerfield-it is not certain on which side the line he lived at this time. The hostages and Porter now did what they could to secure Ely, but without success. It was soon winged abroad that the terms of the parley had
755
ABSOLUTELY IN A STATE OF WAR.
been broken and the leaders of the mob arrested and con_ fined, and in consequence there was great excitement among the people, who began to gather about Northampton. Be- fore nightfall a crowd had collected who swore they would burn the town unless the hostages were given up. This mob does not seem to have been organized and nothing else was done. A strong guard garrisoned the jail night and day.
June 14th, the mob increased ; the demand and threat were repeated. At eleven o'clock the demonstrations were so strong that Porter caused the alarm to be " fired and rung," and he sent out expresses to the towns about for help. Ef- forts to find Ely were unsuccessful. Porter was firm and would not give up the hostages. The Patriot Hawley says the Tories are doing what they can to foment the trouble, and that the hostages or Ely must be held at all hazards, or it will be "a triumph to the Tories and Great Britain." He says the condition of affairs is most ticklish and dangerous, and that the "Tories have great expectations from the view and prospect of them." The mob soon rose to the dignity of "insurgents." Hawley writes, June 14th, "The Insurgents are our equals, our aquaintances, our Brothers," we could fight them if they were "our common enemy," but "to meet an enemy who are determined to fight and may not be re- sisted unto bloodshed and death is a case extremely singu- lar," but we are "absolutely in a state of war." Seventy men are paraded at Hatfield and others coming in to join them. Meanwhile the Sheriff's posse is increasing and the jail is strongly guarded.
When Porter's appeal for help reached Deerfield Col. Joseph Stebbins, who had himself been the leader of one mob, and a witness to others, and who well knew their dangerous ten- dency, forthwith rallied a party and marched for the scene of disturbance. He was not notified of the disposition of the in- surgent force, and in marching through Hatfield found him- self in their very midst and was captured with his whole party. He found there a well organized body of six hundred men under the command of Reuben Dickinson of Amherst, a man who had done good work in the Continental service. "Uncle Sid " was one of the captured party and used to en- tertain his cronies in " Dr. Charles' Senate chamber " with a graphic account of this affair. But alas ! there was no " chiel amang 'em takin' notes."
756
CLOSE OF THE WAR-ELY INSURRECTION.
The people had been made to believe that the three lead- ers of the mob of the 12th had been confined through a gross breach of faith on the part of Porter-that their own rights were being arbitrarily trampled upon under color of law, and they seem to have been fixed in the determination to vindi- cate the people and release the prisoners. The Tories edged the matter on, meanwhile laughing in their sleeves.
All negotiations having failed, on the afternoon of June 16th, Capt. Dickinson with his six hundred men left Hatfield for Northampton, while other parties approached from dif- ferent quarters. About three o'clock a message from Dickin- son reached Porter proposing a conference by a committee of three from each side, who were to meet one mile from the town. Nothing came of this meeting. The insurgents de- manded the release of the hostages, or, as some declared, " Northampton people should sleep in Huts that night, that 300 men of their body were fully determined on that." Por- ter told them that " in that case they must expect to sleep in their graves."
About six o'clock Dickinson sent word to Porter that he was within half a mile of the jail, and unless the hostages and all papers received as security were given up within half an hour an attack would be made. Porter replied that he was willing to enter into a reasonable treaty, but he would not ac- cede to that demand, adding," It is my earnest desire to have peace, and it is in your power to prevent bloodshed." About dark. Porter, who had four hundred men posted about the jail, was joined by Gen. Parks, with one hundred and fifty more, just as the insurgents had reached the point of attack. Porter now felt sure that he could hold the jail, but being anxious to avoid bloodshed called out to have Dickinson meet him between the lines. They met, and Capt. Dickinson was persuaded to go into the prison and see the hostages-the bone of the contention. Some others of his side joined him. They found they had been deceived by false reports, and that the hostages had been treated in accordance with the agree- ment. Dinsmore, Bardwell and King united in advising Dickinson to stop proceedings for their release. The upshot was that the insurgents agreed to give up Ely, and Porter the hostages, and the matter was settled on that basis. During the night, however, there was an alarm in Northampton ; sig-
757
SAMUEL ADAMS IN THE VALLEY.
nal fires were discovered on the hill-tops and a new gathering was feared. Ely was given up-the people had found him out-and the worthless fellow was taken to a prison in Bos- ton. We have seen what a crank or a demagogue may do in a time of public distress, and I have no desire to follow his fortunes further.
July 2d, 1782, the Legislature voted to send a committee to Hampshire county to investigate the cause of the trouble, with power to grant amnesty to all offenders except Ely. On the 5th, this committee was made up of Samuel Adams from the Senate, and Artemus Ward and the speaker, Nathaniel Gorham, from the House. The committee repaired to Con- way, then one of the largest towns in the county, and the home of Capt. Abel Dinsmore, the probable leader of the mob which released Samuel Ely. Samuel Adams, the " man of the town meeting," met the people of Conway in town meeting assembled, but they refused to act upon the matter in hand separately from the rest of the county. July 29th, delegates from thirteen towns in the north part of the county met the committee at Conway. The following paper in the handwriting of Capt. Jonas Locke, who may have been scc- retary of the meeting, gives the one result of the conference :-
At the Request of a Number of Persons from 13 Towns in the Northerly part of ye County of Hampsher assembled at Conway ye 29thlı Instant-in Consequence of the Hon" Committee sent by the Gen" Court of this Commonwealth to examine and heal the Unapi- nesses arising in this County-There fore sd Assembly thought it Expedient to send Circular letters Requesting ye sd County to meet by their Delegates in a County Convention on Wednsday ye 7th of August next, at Coll Murrys in Hatfield at 9 o'clock in the morning of said day whar the Hon" Committay above sd will attend sd Con- vention JONAS LOCKE-pr Order
Deerfield 30 July 1782
At a town meeting here, Aug. 6th, the following delegates to this convention were chosen: Elihu Field, Capt. Thomas Wells and Capt. Jonas Locke. They were instructed :-
To inform the Convention when met, that it is the wish of their Constituents, in order to promote equal Justice throughout the Com- monwealth-
That the Treasurer of the Commonwealth may be directed by the Honorable, the Gen. Court, to Credit each Town for the sums re- ceived by him for Taxes in Paper Currency, the Value only of such money at the time of Payment, according to the Rules Established by Law for the Adjustment of Accounts between Individuals.
758
CLOSE OF THE WAR-ELY INSURRECTION.
This was the only "grievance " Deerfield had to present to the convention. Other towns had a plenty to offer. A string of fourteen resolutions was passed asking for more equal tax- ation, fewer civil officers, more economy in the administration of affairs, &c., and indemnity for all engaged in the late dis- turbance except Samuel Ely. Having thus relieved their minds, they took breath and then declared themselves loyal to the State, and determined to stand by Congress until the country was free.
The mission of Samuel Adams and his committee was a success, and Oct. 2d, the Senate :-
Resolved that this Court highly approve the Proceedings of that Committee for their indefatigable, and successful endeavours in so great a degree quieting the disturbances that had arisen in that County.
Salah Barnard, David Saxton and John Bardwell, commis- sioners to settle the estates of Elijah Williams, Moses Taylor, James Oliver, and Nathaniel Dickinson, absentees, settled their account to the satisfaction of the government, Oct. 21st, 1782.
The following bill is worth preserving from its relation to finance, labor and supplies :-
MARY CAREY DR
March 7 1782 To colouring I gown
£o
I O
.. .. To Bascom Dressing Ditto
O
1 6
.6
To Cash 7 Dollars Continental
O 0)
6
April 13
To Cash paid for Rum 0
()
6
-
28 To Cash paid for snuff 0
. -
6
To Cash paid for Rum 16 Dollars Conil 0
1 3
May 17-
To Cash paid yrself & to Saml Field 81 Dollars Cont'l 6
5
Aug-
To cash on Silver
6
July 13-1782 To Ditto
6 0
Nov 11-1780 To Cash 4S. 10
4 10
S 6
May 7-1781-By 7 weeks work at 21 s .- Contl
Close of the War. The loss of Cornwallis and his army at Yorktown so strengthened the Whigs in the English Parlia- inent that on the 4th of March, 1782, they carried a resolution through the House against a further prosecution of the war in America, and beyond a little skirmishing in Georgia and South Carolina, where the last blood was shed in August, 1782, no hostile movements were made or attempted on either side after this date.
759
THE END.
April 19th, 1782, Holland acknowledged our Independence.
Nov. 30th, Provisional Articles of Peace were signed at Paris.
January 20th, 1783, England and the United States made a treaty for the cessation of hostilities.
March 24th, news was received through Lafayette of a gen- eral peace in Europe.
April 19th, just eight years from the first bloodshed at Lexington, a general peace was proclaimed to the army by Washington.
The final and definite Treaty between England and the New Nation was not signed until Sept. 3d, 1783.
CHAPTER XXIV.
MISCELLANEOUS-SHAYS REBELLION -- SPECIE TAXES -- COUN- TERFEITING-SMALL POX-COMMON FIELD.
When the burden of active hostilities was lifted and our townsmen were able to give more attention to municipal af- fairs, the subject of highways became a prominent one. In March, 1782, a new road was laid across Deerfield river to New Fort. In December the town voted that it had " no ob- jections to a County Road being laid from Old Fort North Gate, back of Old Fort, Carters Land, across Pettys Plain to David Smeads Esq in Greenfield." Upon further delibera- tion and consultation this vote was reconsidered at an ad- journed meeting.
The question was which was the better route to Greenfield Meadows-the most important part of that town-whether across North Meadows, by the Pine Hill ferry and through Green River street-or by the ford at Old Fort, through Lit- tle Hope and across Petty's Plain. To test the distance to the objective point-the Green river bridge on the Colrain road-Joseph Stebbins and David Saxton were chosen a com- mittee "to measure the Road from Deerfield Meetinghouse by the Ferry to Greenfield Bridge, and from said Bridge across Pettys Plain back of Carters Land & Old Fort to said house." The committee reported the distance by the ferry to be "3 miles 14 Tallies & 6 Rods." By Old Fort "3 Miles 15 Tallies & 7} rods." David Saxton was chosen an agent to represent the town in the matter at the next Court of Quarter Sessions. It will doubtless be a surprise to the present generation in both towns to learn that this question was ever raised. A road was laid through Cheapside on the east side of David Wells's land on condition that Wells, or Jonathan Hoyt, would pay half the expense. Another road was laid{ " from the County Road leading from Deerfield to Conway, to the Seven Mile Line." Did the county road to
761
A TRUE REMEDY FOR HARD TIMES.
Conway go from Old Fort through South Wisdom across Foot's ferry and through Hoosac? and was the new road one leading from that to the Old World ?
Another road was one "beginning at the Seven Mile Line where the Old Charlemont Road crosses said Line, thence running to said Charlemont road." Still another road ran " from the County road leading from Hatfield to Deerfield, to the County Road leading from Deerfield to Conway."
There was a meeting to see about building a new school- house in the Town Street and general legislation concerning the school there and in the outlying districts. Provision was made for preaching at Bloody Brook and the £14 appropriat- ed was paid to the afterwards famous Dr. Timothy Dwight for preaching there.
It is curious to note the little interest taken in the general elections. In 1782 the whole vote for governor was fourteen, all for John Hancock, and thirteen for Thomas Cushing for lieutenant governor. In 1783 the party feeling must have run high. The result showed equal activity on both sides. The total vote was eight : Hancock had four, four were cast for Nathaniel Gorham, the same who came up on the Legislative committee with Samuel Adams the year before. He also had two votes for lieutenant governor, while Cushing had six.
Monday, Sept. 20th, 1783, a convention composed of com- mittees from the towns in the northern part of the county met here at the tavern of David Saxton. The delegates from Deerfield were Capt. Abner Mitchell, and Dr. Ebenezer Bar- nard. The object of the convention was to "take into ac- count the deplorable condition of the people, and the more deplorable condition they are soon likely to be in, by reason of the great scarcity of a circulating medium." The dele- gates aired the hardship of being obliged to go so far as Springfield to attend the Courts of Justice, the offices of the Treasurer and the Registry of Deeds. The Probate Court and records were at Northampton, and they wanted the other courts held there too, as a more central situation, or, that the county might be divided. The convention judged it best to call together delegates from all the towns in the county, to take this and other matters into consideration, and mean- while they enjoined industry and frugality as the most hope- ful means of relief. The delegates were to meet at the house
762
MISCELLANEOUS-SHAYS REBELLION.
of Col. Seth Murray in Hatfield, October 20th. Oct. 15th, Deerfield chose Simeon Harvey a delegate to this convention and voted to pay his expenses. No report of the meeting has been found.
The question of the division of Hampshire County was much agitated in this formative period. Agents of the towns in the north part met at the tavern of David Hoyt in Deer- field, Sept. 2d, 1785, to petition the Legislature for a division of the county. Samuel Field and David Saxton represented this town. The meeting was probably called by those inter- ested in the petition of James Ball and others, asking that a new county be erected from certain towns in Hampshire and Worcester counties. Deerfield was opposed to this particular scheme and chose John Williams and Samuel Barnard to lay their reasons before the General Court.
Nothing came of the Ball movement, but another was soon afoot. A convention of the northern towns was called to meet Jan. 29th, 1787, at the house of John Burdick in Shel- burne, to consider the matter. Jona. Arms was Deerfield's delegate.
It was probably one result of this agitation that in 1787 a Registry of Deeds for Northern Hampshire was established at Deerfield and John Williams made Register. The office was continued here until Franklin county was established in 1812. The records of this period are now in the Registry at Greenfield and it may interest searchers to know that some deeds given a century and a half ago may be found recorded upon its books for the first time. John Williams was Regis- ter 1787-1796; Elijah Williams, 1797-1801 ; Epaphras Hoyt, 1802-1814, when he resigned.
In the election for Register in 1787 John Williams had the unanimous vote of Deerfield. Dec. 3d, 1791, the town chose David Saxton and Samuel Field a committee to meet com- mittees from the other northern towns, at the house of Beriah Willard in Greenfield, Dec. 27th, to consider the subject of a petition to the General Court for a division of the county.
The General Court so far considered the propriety of a di- vision as to send a committee of that body to make an exam- ination with reference to it. Dec. 3d, 1793, Deerfield chose John Williams her agent to meet this committee. But the end was not yet. Another meeting to consider the subject
763
DEACON HITCHCOCK'S STORY.
was held at the house of Calvin Munn at Greenfield, Dec. 17th. 1804, and a convention of the agents of the interested towns met in Greenfield four weeks later. This agitation was con- tinued until the times were ripe, and Franklin county in- corporated, June 24th, 1811.
Shays Rebellion. As it has been said, the war left Deerfield people in a deplorable condition financially ; but socially and politically the clouds passed away with the smoke of the con- flict. Whig and Tory put their necks to the collar to pull through as best they might. It was uphill work, but they manfully maintained the Constitution and the laws. The demagogism of the Shays excitement did not carry them away; on the contrary, they took an active part in putting it down.
The Court of Common Pleas had been broken up by the mob at Northampton in August, 1786. The Supreme Court was to be held in Springfield in September, and the govern- ment called out the friends of law and order to protect it ; Deerfield responded. Dea. Justin Hitchcock, in his "Re- marks and Observations," says :-
I went with a company from Deerfield, above forty, well armed. The mob turned out at the same time, and we frequently passed them, or they us, on the road, but was no dispute. We marched to Springfield in about 24 hours, and passed by the mob stationed on the west side of the road above Ferry lane. When we came to the Court House we found it well guarded by friends of the government who were well armed and had two pieces of artillery. The court was setting but could do no business amid the noise and confusion. The mob were numerous and as they marched by us, by agreement I counted the sections and allowing 8 men to a section I made them from 1200 to 1300. Others did the same. Daniel Shays was at their head. About 300 in front were armed-the rest were not-or not generally so. The court adjourned A. M. We had no further busi- ness. A sort of agreement was entered into with the mob by which we all returned home in peace.
Joseph Stebbins, Samuel Childs and Thomas W. Dickinson each had command of a company under General Shepherd, when the insurgents finally came to grief at Springfield, Jan- uary 26th, 1787. More than a hundred men went from Deer- field. The government troops were occasionally here, in their marches, and an old billeting roll shows that nearly a thousand men spent one day and night here, quartered on the householders. John Williams entertained ninety-five, Joseph
764
MISCELLANEOUS-SHAYS REBELLION.
Stebbins ninety-three, Salah Barnard eighty-four, Joseph Bar- nard sixty-five, T. W. Dickinson sixty, John Bardwell fifty- eight, Seth Catlin fifty-two, Simeon Harvey forty-nine, Han- nah Russell forty-four, Aaron Arms forty-four, Amasa Smith forty-two, and the others lesser numbers.
The following bill shows the kind of ammunition used in quelling the rebellion :-
Selectmen of Deerfield to Aaron Marsh Dr £2 4
1787 Jany 5th To 22 lbs of Powder @ 25 4d pr 1b
To 42 sheets paper for Cartridges 2
8
Feb 5 10 47 gills N. E. Rum De'd Capt Dick- ins Company pr verbal order 5
0
Feb 6
to 312 bushells of wheat at 4s 6d 15 9
[This line was erased but the figures stand] 10 48 gills N. E. Rum De'd as above 5 0
23 To 3 Galls W. 1. Rum De'd Li Catlin 15 0
4 14
Omitted Jany IS To pd Jona Hoyt for himself sleigh and horse to Cary Troops to Springfield
We may fairly infer from the above that Capt. Dickinson had forty-seven or forty-eight men in his company. They were not disbanded on their return as appears from the fact, that in February, 1787, David Dickinson furnished Diekin- son's company with 253 pounds bread, 123 pounds salt pork ; Zadock Hawks 12 pounds do., and Eliphalet Dickinson 6} do., and Amasa Smith 44 pounds of bread ; as appears per bill.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.