USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of the county of Berkshire, Massachusetts, in two parts > Part 10
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Although the march from Worcester was very fa- tiguing, the weather being uncommonly severe, the ar- my were ordered under arms at half past three o'clock the same day on which they arrived ; most of them were
132
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE ..
marched across the river to attack Day, while Gen. Shepard, with the Hampshire troops, moved up the riv- er to prevent Shays from joining him. The party un der Day speedily fled, with scarcely a show of opposi- tion, and made the best of their way to Northampton. In like manner the party under Shays fled the next day, as the army approached them, retreating through South Hadley to Amherst.
On his arrival at Amherst, Gen. Lincoln, finding that. Shays had passed through the place with most of his men towards Pelham, too long to be overtaken, gave up the pursuit, and directed his march to Hadley, the near- est place where he could find a cover for his troops.
The next morning, information being received that a small number of Gen. Shepard's men had been taken at Southampton, and that some of the enemy were still there, a party was sent after them, who overtook this body of insurgents at Middlefield, at midnight, captur- ed- 59 prisoners and nine sleigh loads of provisions, and returned to the army the day following.
The whole force of the insurgents having taken post on two high hills in Pelham, called east and west hills, which were rendered difficult of access by reason of the depth of snow around them, Gen. Lincoln, on the 30th of January, directed a letter to Capt. Shays and the offi- cers commanding the men in arms against the govern- ment, calling upon them to disband their deluded fol- lowers, threatening them with apprehension in case of refusal, &c., which led on to an unsatisfactory corres- . poudence.
The time for an adjourned session of the Legislature soon arrived, and on the 3d of February, a sufficient number of representatives were collected for the trans- action of business. On this day, the Governor laid be- fore the assembly a full view of the state of things in the Commonwealth ; and the day after, a declaration of rebellion was unanimously passed in the Senate, and concurred in by the lower House.
A petition, dated the 30th of January, and purporting to be from the officers of the counties of Worcester, Hampshire, Middlesex, and Berkshire, at arms, in Pelham, was sent to the General Court, acknowledging their error in taking up arms, and promising to lay
133
SHAYS INSURRECTION.
them down and return to their homes, on condition that a pardon should be granted to the insurgents for their past offences.
They did not wait, however, the result of this peti- tion ; but on the 3d of February moved their forces from Pelham to Petersham. Gen. Lincoln, informed of this, marched for Petersham on the evening of the same day, and by a rapid movement of 30 miles, (in which much was suffered the latter part of the way from a violent snow storm) came upon them by surprise on the 4th, and put them to flight. One hundred and fifty were taken prisoners, many retired to their homes, and the rest, including all the principal officers, fled into the states of New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.
The rebels being thus dispersed, Gen. Lincoln, after dismissing three companies of artillery, and ordering two regiments to Worcester, directed his attention tow- ards Northfield, in the neighborhood of which, many of the fugitives had taken shelter. But an express arriv- ed with a letter from Maj. Gen. John Patterson, the commander of the militia in Berkshire, which led him to take a different course.
Some time previous, while the army were marching from the vicinity of Boston, the disaffected in this County, who had not proceeded to Hampshire, under- took to support their cause, by appearing uuder arms in their own neighborhood, while the friends of good order adopted measures to oppose them. Should they be driven from the counties eastward, it was apprehended they would collect in some of the fastnesses on the Green Mountain range, on the borders between Hamp- shire and Berkshire, draw their subsistence from towns in the vicinity, well affected to government, and take, perhaps, some of the more important characters as host- ages. To secure themselves, and promote the public welfare, therefore, a voluntary association was formed, amounting to about 500 men, comprising the most re- spectable citizens. One company of these volunteers, containing 40 or 50, was formed in Sheffield, under Capt. Joseph Goodrich. But so great was the agita- tion in that town, (and many other towns were in com- motion, ) and such was the danger of their being attack- ed by their fellow-citizens, that they did not march te
72
134
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
1
·
Stockbridge, the place of rendezvous, until a company went down from Great Barrington and joined them. To show their spirit and determination at this juncture, 150 or 200 insurgents assembled at West Stockbridge village. It was deemed indispensable to disperse them fore their numbers should be increased. The compa- nies at Stockbridge were formed into three divisions, and ordered to march to that place in the directions which the roads naturally pointed out. The central di- vision took the common road to the village, over the mountain. Another, under Capt. Goodrich, took a more southern route, and the third, under Major Row- ley, of Richmond, a more northern. On the approach of an advanced party from the central division, consist- ing only of thirty-seven infantry, and seven gentlemen on horseback, they were fired upon by the sentries, and the insurgents were at once formed in good order, and were commanded to fire. But their situation so affect- ed them, that they apparently staggered. Advantage of this panic was taken by the late Judge Sedgwick, whom they well knew, who rode to their front and directed them to lay down their arms ; which many of them did, while others fled ; though a firing took place between scattering parties on both sides, and two of the insur- gents were wounded. The southern and northern divis- ions, having farther to march, did not arrive at this place in season, but had an opportunity to take many of the insurgents prisoners as they fled. On the return of the divisions to Stockbridge, it was found that eigh- ty-four, among whom was their leader, had been taken. These were kept under guard, while the troops traversed the County.
The express related this affair to Gen. Lincoln. He also stated that the insurgents afterwards collected at Adams, but upon the approach of Gen. Patterson, sepa- rated, intending to collect again at Williamstown; that here also upon his appearing, they were again scatter- ed ; that there seemed, notwithstanding, such a dispo- sition in them to embody, in order to prevent the sitting of the courts, and that such numbers were actually on their way to Washington, under a Major Wiley, that Gen. Patterson thought his situation unsafe, and ear- nestly requested assistance from the army. On receiv-
135
SHAYS INSURRECTION.
ing this communication, in connection with Gen. Pat- terson's letter, Gen. Lincoln sent back the following reply :
" Petersham, Feb. 6, 1757.
Dear Sir-I have been honored with the receipt of yours of yesterday's date. Shays Saturday afternoon left Pelham in the evening. I received information of his movement, put the troops in motion, and arrived here Sunday morning, 9 o'clock. Upon our approach, he left this place in a very precipitate manner. One hundred and fifty fell into our hands. He moved through Athol northerly ; the last information I had of him was near Chesterfield, in the State of New Hamp- shire, with about 100 men. The rest were dispersed, and many returned to their own homes. This gives me an opportunity to remove as fast as possible towards you. I shall commence my march for Hadley to-mor- row morning. No time will be lost in throwing a very sufficient force into your County. I shall have the pleasure to come with the troops, The General Court have conducted with great spirit and dignity ; they have fully approved the measures taken-they will provide for the expense of it. They have declared a rebellion to exist, and have ordered the Governor to keep up a force until the rebellion is fully crushed.
Take some strong post, if you consider yourself in danger, until I can relieve you. Should you think it ad- visable to attack the insurgents prior thereto, warn them of their danger ; and that the General Court has declar- ed a rebellion to exist, and that if they do not surrender, they will be considered as open enemies, and treated as such. I am, &c.
Gen. PATTERSON."
B. LINCOLN,
According to his promise, Gen. Lincoln marched im- mediately for this County, passing through Amherst, Hadley, Chesterfield, Worthington, and Partridgefield, to Pittsfield ; while another division of the army, under Gen. Shepard, marched by a different route to the same place. But before their arrival, a body of insur- gents, amounting to about 250 men, who had collected in Lee, in order to stop the courts, agreed to disperse,
136
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
in case the commander of a body of militia, consisting of about 300, collected to oppose them, would use his influence, should they be pursued by government, to have them tried within their own county ; and so the matter was adjusted. From Pittsfield, Gen. Lincoln detached a party under the Adjutant-General to Dalton, after Wiley; and another under Capt. Francis to Will- iamstown, on a similar undertaking. Both returned the next day ; the first with six prisoners, one of whom was Wiley's son, Wiley himself having made his es- cape ; and the other with fourteen.
From these events, we are not to infer that the spirits of the insurgents were altogether broken. The subjoin- ed letter of Eli Parsons, (probably intended for the disaffected in Hampshire) as well as some other events which followed, show the contrary.
" Berkshire, Feb. 15, 1787.
Friends and Fellow Sufferers-Will you now tamely suffer your arms to be taken from you, your estates to be confiscated, and even swear to support a constitution and form of government, and likewise a code of laws, which common sense and your consciences declare to be iniquitous and cruel ? And can you bear to see and hear of the yeomanry of this Commonwealth being parched, and cut to pieces by the cruel and merciless tools of tyrannical power, and not resent it even unto relentless bloodshed ? Would to God, I had the tongue of a ready writer, that I might impress on your minds the idea of the obligation that you, as citizens of a re- publican government, are under to support those una- lienable rights and privileges that the God of nature hath entitled you to. Let me now persuade you by all the sacred ties of friendship, which natural affection in- spires the human heart with, immediately to turn out and assert your rights.
The first step that I would recommend, is to destroy Shepard's army, then proceed to the County of Berk- shire, as we are now collecting at New Lebanon, in York State, and Pownal, in Vermont State, with a determina- tion to carry our point, if fire, blood, and carnage will effect it. Therefore, we beg that every friend will im- mediately proceed to the County of Berkshire, and
-
187
SHATS INSURRECTION.
help us to Burgoyne Lincoln and his army. I beg this may immediately circulate through your county.
I am, gentlemen, in behalf of myself and other offi- cers, your humble servant,
ELI PARSONS."
The volunteer companies in Berkshire, on Gen. Lin- coln's arrival, returned to their liomes. The time for which the militia was detached, expired on the 21st of February, and the troops under the new enlistiment, which had been ordered, did not arrive at once in con- siderable numbers. In one instance, the General was left with only about thirty men. Though the rebels may not have known precisely his situation, they were watch- ing for opportunities to do mischief.
On the 26th of February, Capt. Holcomb marched from Sheffield to head quarters with a company of draft- ed men, with the best arms that could be obtained. Learning this fact, a body of the insurgents, under Captain Perez Hamlin, who had been lurking about the borders of New York, SO or 90 in number, made an irruption the night following into Stockbridge, at midnight, which they pillaged at their pleasure, and took a great number of the most respectable inhabitants. The next morning they proceeded with their booty and their prisoners to Great Barrington, where they halted at a public house, near the Episcopal church. News of this irruption was soon communicated to Sheffield, run- ners spread the news, and the citizens friendly to gov- ernment met at the centre, with such arms as they could muster ; and about 1 o'clock, being joined by Captains Dwight and Ingersoll, and a small company from Great Barrington, who had fled before the insurgents, they were prepared to advance northwards to meet them. The whole body, making 80, was under the command of Col. John Ashley, the late Gen. Ashley, of Sheffield.
The insurgents were now supposed to be coming down to Sheffield, and various rumours were abroad as to the course they were taking. It was at first said they were coming down on the meadow road, and then that they had turned off by the Episcopal church westward, and were making their way, through Egremont, out of the County. Upon hearing this, Col. Ashley turned
12*
138
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
to the left, passed hastily on to the baek road, and then turning by Archer Saxton's, drove furiously for Francis Hare's. in Egremont. He had scarcely passed the brook north of the quarry, when it was announced that the insurgents were in the rear, coming after them. They had been marching towards Sheffield on the back road, but hearing of the government forces, had turned at Saxton's in pursuit of them, just after Col. Ashley had diverged at that place. A halt was immediately made, the sleighs were thrown out of the way, and-an attempt made to form the companies. After a few mo- ments of great confusion, Capt. Goodrich directed the Sheffield company to follow him through a lot of girdled trees, on the west side of the road ; and the Great Bar- rington company, under Capt. Ingersoll, advanced through a copse of timber on the east. By this time, a scattering fire commenced, and continued while the companies were advancing, with a rapid march, fifty or sixty rods, when a well-directed fire from eight or ten who were foremost, upon a considerable body of insur- gents in the road, discomfited them, and put them to flight. The whole body dispersed at once, and fled in different directions. They left two of their number dead near the place of action, and more than 30 were wound- ed, among whom was Hamlin, their captain, and a nian by the name of Rathbun, who died some time after of his wounds. A body of men coming on from Lenox, under Capt. William Walker, immediately after the skirmish, enabled the conquerors to take more than 50 prisoners. The loss to the militia was two killed and one wounded. One of the killed was a Mr. Porter, of Great Barrington ; the other was Mr. Solomon Glezen, taken prisoner at Stockbridge. The person wounded was the late Dr. Burghardt, of Richmond. He was in the company of Capt. Walker, and was wounded by a small party who fired upon them before they arrived at the spot where the action was fought. It has been com- monly supposed that Glezen was killed by the fire of some of his friends, in consequence of a barbarous practice, said to have been adopted by his captors, of putting the prisoners in front, as well to check the ardor of the militia, from a sense of their danger, as to screen themselves. A gentleman who was with Glezen when
139
SHAYS INSURRECTION.
"he fell, has informed the writer, that the reason why the prisoners were in front, or near the front, was, +hat when they approached the place of action, the insur- gents who had been forward, (many of them) turned a- vide to prepare their muskets. They may have done this through fear, but the situation of the prisoners was owing to this circumstance, and not to a preconcerted plan. Glezen fell just as the insurgents began their flight.
This skirmish took place over a little valley, now crossed by the Hartford turnpike, near the west line of Sheffield. It was more severe than any other which oc- curred during the Shays Insurrection.
The insurgents generally discovered great want of firmness and perseverance in the actions in which they were engaged, owing in part to their being poorly offi- cered, but more, probably, to serious doubts concerning the lawfulness of their proceedings, and apprehension of their proving finally mischievous to themselves.
After the affair in Sheffield, Gen. Lincoln despatched an express to the Governor of New York, informing him of the incursion into this County, and of the con- tinuance and support of the rebels in one district of that State ; which produced prompt and energetic measures for dispersing or apprehending them. The consequence was, that they fled to Vermont, where the government had been previously requested to lend their aid in ap- prehending the rebel ringleaders ; and where a procla- mation from the Governor was issued about this time a- gainst them. Other States in the neighborhood adopt- ed measures for suppressing the rebellion.
The cause of the insurgents had been for some time sinking. Very many privates gave up their arms, sub- mitted to government, and took the oath of allegiance, agreeably to the proclamation which Gen. Lincoln is- sued at Hadley, both before and after his arrival at Pittsfield. Indemnity was granted afterwards to 790 persons concerned in the rebellion, by him and two oth- er gentlemen, associated with him by the General Court for that purpose. It was judged necessary, how- ever, to take a different course with some who had been more deeply concerned in opposing government. Ear- ly in the spring, therefore, the Supreme Judicial Court
210
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
proceeded to try a number charged with treason. Six were then convicted of this offence in this County, six in Hampshire, one in Worcester, and one in Middlesex ; all of whom were sentenced to death. Besides these, large numbers were convicted of seditious words and practices, many of whom were persons of consequence, and one a member of the Legislature, who was senten- ced to sit on the gallows with a rope about his neck, to pay a fine of £50, to give bonds for keeping the peace and for maintaining good behaviour for five years ; which sentence was put in execution. Of those con- demned to death, four in this County and four in Hamp- shire received a free pardon on the 30th of April; and the rest, on the 17th of May, were reprieved until the 21st of June, then until the 2d of August, and then a- gain until the 20th of September. Those confined in Berkshire, finally escaped from gaol, and the others, as reasons for severe measures were now passed away, were pardoned. One man, however, in this County, sentenced to death in October, was favored only with a commutation of punishment, to hard labour for seven years.
In September, 1787, the military forces which had been kept up in the western counties, where the insur- rections principally took place, were all discharged, and peace and tranquillity were considered as restored.
Too much, however, had been said and done, to per- mit the feelings of the people at once to become alto- gether friendly. Unhappy jealousies remained in neighborhoods and towns. The clergy, who had favor- ed the Revolutionary war, opposed the rebellion, and thereby offended, in some instances, many of their pa- rishioners. This is understood to have occasioned the dismission of the ministers in Egremont and Alford. The Congregational church in the former town remain- ed destitute of a pastor for nearly thirty years, and the church in the latter, after dwindling for a time, became extinct. From the same cause, disaffection arose against their minister from a part of the congregation i Sandis- field.
It is generally thoughit, however, that this rbellion impressed the importance of an energetic national gov-
141
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
ernment, and hastened the formation and adoption of the present Constitution of the United States.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS .- This County was set- iled generally by the descendants of the Puritans, and provision was made from the beginning for the support of public worship.
In most of the towns, the great body of the settlers were Congregationalists ; in three or four a majority were Baptists. Among these a few individuals were scattered, attached to the forms of the Church of Eng- land, and prior to the Revolutionary war, meetings were held according to these forms, by a missionary from the Society in England for propagating the gospel in foreign parts, in Great Barrington, Lenox, and Lanesborough. Between 1783 and 1790, a few Methodists arose, who have since spread extensively in the County. Besides these denominations, there is a Society of Friends or Quakers in Adams, a society of Shakers in Tyringham, aud another in Hancock.
The Congregationalists lave at this time 26 churches, 23 of which are supplied with settled pastors : they have 24 houses for public worship, most of which are large and in good repair, furnished with steeples and bells ; a number are new.
The ministers of this denomination, residing in the County, then five in number, formed themselves into an association for mutual improvement, in 1763. Most of the ministers since settled in the County have attach- ed themselves to this body; though a few, as a matter of convenience, have joined the Mountain Association. For many years a number of ministers belonged to it from some neighboring towns in the State of New York. All the settled Congregational clergymen in the County at this time belong to it, excepting those of Washington, Peru, and Hinsdale. They are happily united, and the churches under their care also, in the in the belief of the great doctrines of the Reformation.
The Association holds two sessions annually, on the second Tuesday of June and October, at such places as are agreed upon from time to time. It formerly held a session in February ; but owing to the difficulty of trav= elling at that season, this was given up a few years since.
142
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
In these meetings, doctrinal and practical questions are discussed, advice given in cases of difficulty, the state of churches is considered, measures are devised for pro- moting religion, and candidates for the ministry are ex- amined and licensed.
This has a connection with the General Association of Massachusetts, and through that, a connection with the Congregational and Presbyterian churches in other parts of our country.
A few years ago, an attempt was made to form the Congregational churches connected with the Association in o a 'consociation. In the Association, the clergy only meet. In a consociation, the churches meet, by their delegates, with the clergy. The plan commends itself to the good sense of most men. It has been at- tended in other places with many advantages, drawing the hearts of ministers and private christians more close- ly together, and prompting them to greater union and effort in building up the kingdom of Christ. But as this attempt was unpopular at the time, from the opera- tion of certain local causes, it did not receive the gener- al approbation, even of the churches. Only about half of them agreed to adopt it, and the subject was dropped.
For a view of the Congregational churches on the 1st of January last, the reader will consult the subjoined table,
1
CHURCHES.
Organized.
Males
Femal.
Total.
By prof.
Rec'n.
Total
Dy death.
"`ismiss.
Fxcom.
Adults
Enfants
No in Sab-
bath School
to in Bible
class.
Sheffield
|1735|
811
198 279
8 130
:25
Egremont.
|1770
13!
48;
61
2
1
1 |
1
2;
8| 60
10
Great Barrington.
11743
52'
119
171
8|
15
0
51
1|
3'
20: 240
60
Stockbridge
1735|
65
154
219
3
31
6.
3
7| 0
0
7| 180
25
Stockbridge, N. Soc. West Stockbridge.
11789
21
74
95|
51
4
9:
21
4
0
2
0
30
0
Tyringham.
|1750
62
106
168
1|
1
2!
2
41
-
0.
31
60
0
New Marlborough.
|1744
68
131
199
28į
--
-
--
14.
80
0
New Marlboro' S. P.
11794
25|
44
69
1 i
81
21
3.
51
3| 0; 0 17 110
30
Becket.
11758
69
125|
194
5
1
6|
1
5| 0|
2|
26: 200|
20
Otis.
|1810
53
77
130
4
31
4| 0|
3|
13|
90
10
Richmond.
[1765
63|
137
200
01
4!
2!
2|
0
14
100|
20
Lenox.
11769
163
2451
408
0
Pittsfield.
|176 !!
165
398
563
17
4: -
21
0| 7 16
Dalton.
|1785
28
74| 102|
1|
71
4
4|0| 0|
10
50
0
Washington.
|1772)
22
48
70|
0| 3| . .
3
0|
4|
01
01
31
60
30
Lee.
|1780;
361
21 ;
6| 27
31
0
8| 38|230
70
-
-
-
-
2.
1
80
30
1824;
33
511
84;
31
4. l'
...
Sandisfield.
11756
80
125
205
1
2|
-
1
DENOMINATIONS.
143
RELIGIOUS
1
No. of Memb's. | Admitted, 1828|Removed, 1828; Baptized Jan. 1, 1829.
in 18_8. 15
9
3
31
8| 0| 0|
21| 250
U
0 3.
Lanesborough.
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