USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Proceedings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, for the year 1881-1882 > Part 9
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* Among these prisoners was Capt. Hubbart a man of considerable property.
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the 26th, news reached Pittsfield that the Rebels were in motion and that that place was the objective point. About eight o'clock the next morning 100 of them, under Capt. Hamlin, were at Stockbridge taking horses and sleighs, with such other articles as they stood in need of. They also held 20 of the most re- spectable inhabitants of the town as prisoners. Gen. Lincoln's force in Pittsfield was so small that he could offer but little op- position to the onward march of the Insurgents ; but that eve- ning 50 men were sent out for the object of re-capturing the prisoners and property. On Wednesday the 28th, some 80 of the loyal people of Great Barrington under Capt. Ingersoll, and Sheffield under Lieut. Goodrich, joined forces under Col. John Ashley, and overtook the raiders in the town of Sheffield, where a little skirmish took place in which Mr. Gleason of Stockbridge and Mr. Porter of Great Barrington were killed, and three other militia men wounded. The raiders had two killed and five wounded ; among the latter was Capt. Hamlin. Gen. Patter- son with the militia arrived just in season to make the rout of the raiders complete, leaving in the hands of Col. Ashley about 70 prisoners besides the men and property they had captured at Stockbridge
March 5th the report came to headquarters that the spirit of opposition still raged in Berkshire and was far from being sub- dned, and that small parties were making prisoners of those who distinguished themselves as friends of government, and plundering their houses. The honses of Mr. Sedgwick and Mr. Edwards were robbed of property the week before ; but at this time Shays, Wheeler, Major Wiley, Captains Billings, Conkey, Cornell, and Hinds, Mr. Gray one of the Councillors, and Mr. Billings a brother of the Captain, also two other prominent in- surrectionists were quietly passing their time in the northwestern part of Vermont.
Monday March 5th. Daniel Baird of Worcester a selectman and late member of the county convention ; also Daniel Broad and George Marston of Pepperell, persons considered danger- ous to public safety were taken to Boston jail. The jails in the counties of Worcester, Hampshire and Berkshire had become so over crowded with ocenpants that February 26th, a resolve was
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passed in the senate. that it was expedient to admit to bail such persons confined in these counties whose liberty would not be considered dangerous to the public safety ; that any two justices could act on recommendation or request of any general officer commanding troops in either county.
Saturday March 10th, the General Court appointed Hon. Samuel Phillips Jr. Esq., President of the Senate, Hon. Benja- min Lincoln Esq. and Samuel Allyne Otis Esq., Commissioners to proceed to the Western counties for the purpose of granting pardons to persons concerned in the Rebellion who might apply for the same, other than the leaders, or such as had fired upon good citizens of this commonwealth or acted as a council of war.
After the collision at Suffield, Gen. Lincoln despatched a messenger to the Governor of New York with the details of the engagement on the 26th of February, as well as an account of the support and assistance the Insurgents were receiving at the hands of the inhabitants of his state. The matter was laid be- fore the legislature, and at the suggestion of that body, Gov. Clinton repaired at once to the scene of action, arriving at New Lebanon N. Y., Tuesday March 6th, where he was met by Gen. Lincoln ; and after the interview Gov. Clinton returned with Gen. Lincoln to Pittsfield, passing Wednesday night at that place. Satisfactory arrangements were made to take care of the Insurgents who had sought shelter in New York State ; and March 12th brought forth a proclamation from Gov. Clinton, offering the same rewards for the apprehension of the leaders as had been named by Gov. Bowdoin, and requesting his people not to aid the refugees. John Sullivan, governor of New Hampshire, issued a similar proclamation. as also did the Gov- ernors of Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
Col. Newel with about 300 newly enlisted four months men from Worcester County, arrived at Northampton at noon, Wednesday March 9th, on their way to Pittsfield. A sufficient number of new recruits had now arrived in the western part of the state to overawe and keep in check the reckless and discord- ant element. Ensign Stoddard who left Great Barrington March 244th, stated in Boston where he arrived on the 27th, that "Although the rebellion appears to be crushed in the western
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part of the state, it will require the utmost wisdom and persever- ance of our rulers to restore peace to that distracted part of the Commonwealth."
The courts were now free to act ; and the officers of the law were active in bringing offenders before the bar .*
Major Samuel Cookson reported March 23d, that not less than 700 families had removed to Vermontt within six weeks, from the three western counties of Massachusetts. So general was the depopulation that in some towns it was reported there were not left a sufficient number of inhabitants to fill the town offices. The feeling of dissatisfaction was carried to such an extent that in several towns in the county of Berkshire, many of the ladies wore green feathers in their hats in place of the evergreen to show to which side they gave their sympathy. Even Noah Webster found it necessary in order to prevent his name from being catalogued among the Insurgents, to address a note (May 8th, 1787,) from Philadelphia which appeared in public print, to show that certain rumors that he was an enemy to public faith were incorrect.
Expressions like the following give some idea of the very critical condition in which the political affairs of the country stood : "It is now the general opinion that unless some wise plan should be proposed by the federal convention and adopted by the several states, our republican governments will speedily terminate : what will take their place heaven only knows."
* 790 persons availed themselves of the privilege of the commission.
t Vermont was admitted into the union March 4, 1791.
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APPENDIX.
I.
As an illustration of the excessive impost to which the people were subjected I have copied the following from the announce- ment of a sale of land by government for the payment of taxes : Timothy Paine of Worcester assessed on 2714 acres of land in the town of Merryfield, Hampshire County, 10 shillings per acre. State and Continental tax May 26, 1779, - £260 18s.
.6 Oct.
197 18s,
Town tax and repairing highways April 15, 1779 - 22 12s.
= supplying Soldiers families Nov. 1779 - 58 12s.
Total, £540.
EBENEZER STOW, Constable of Merryfield. June 5, 1780. To be sold at Edward Wright's house, July 17, 1780.
II.
Captain Daniel Shays was born in the town of Hopkinton, Mass., in the year 1747. and belonged to a poor family. At the commencement of the Revolutionary war he was 23 years of age and living on a farm in Brookfield, but at once enlisted in the cause of his country ; was Ensign in Col. Woodbridge's Reg- iment at the battle of Bunker Hill. He afterward enlisted a company of men and succeeded to the rank of Captain, doing honorable service throughout the Revolution, and with other officers was in 1780, presented with an elegant sword by the marquis de La Fayette as a pledge of his affection. Capt Shays was a man of undoubted courage and a good soldier. He was not prominent at the cammencement of the insurrection at which time he resided in Pelham, and was not desirous of becoming its leader, for he sent Luke Day and Eli Parsons to Col. Ethan Allen of Vermont with the earnest solicitation that he would take command of the insurgents ; but on Col. Allen refusing to accept the command. Capt. Shays continued as its chief officer. But at Springfield during the colloquy with Gen. Wm. Shepard, when the latter addressed Capt. Shays as General, thus making him equal in rank, Shays resented it, telling Shep- ard that he should consider it as an affront if he continued call- ing him General. and should demand satisfaction. After the
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failure of the insurrection Shays went to Vermont, where he remained about a year, and on his petition received full pardon and removed to Sparta, N. Y. where he died Sept. 29, 1825, a Revolutionary pensioner.
III.
NAMES OF MEN WHO SERVED AS CAPTAINS IN THE INSURRECTION.
Daniel Luddington of Southampton was tried at Northamp- ton, convicted of high treason and sentenced to death during the second week's session of court ending April 21, 1778 ; par- doned and released Friday, May 5th.
Artemas Dryden of Holden, surrendered to the sheriff of Worcester County, February 15th and was placed in Boston jail.
John Wheeler of Hardwick, (aid to Shays) was tried at Northampton, convicted of high treason and sentenced to death during the two weeks session of court ending April 21, 1787 ; pardoned and released Friday, May 5th.
Job Shattuck of Groton, was tried in May, 1787. at Concord, convicted of high treason, sentenced to death May 22d, and to be executed Thursday June 28, 1787. He was then reprieved to Ang. 2d, and before the arrival of that day a respite for seven weeks was granted him by the Governor.
-Bingham was placed in jail at Northampton May, 1787.
Abraham Gale of Princeton, John Brown of Whately, Aaron Jewel of Chesterfield, Luke Day of West Springfield, Edward Kibby, Jones, Black, Hubbart, Billings,* Fisk .*
IV.
NAMES OF SOME OF THE MEN PROMINENT AND ACTIVE.
James White of Colerain was tried at Northampton, convicted of high treason and sentenced to death at the session of court ending April 21, 1787. Pardon received May 4th and liberated May 5th.
Alpheus Cotton of Long Meadow was tried at Northampton, convicted of high treason and sentenced to death at a term of
* Called captains.
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court ending April 11, 1787. Pardon received May 4th, and liberated the next day.
Henry MeCullock* of Pelham was tried at Northampton, con vieted of high treason and sentenced to death at a term of court ending April 21, 1787. His death warrant was received by the Sheriff May 4th, to be executed May 24 ; reprieved till June 21 ; again reprieved to Ang. 2d. Before that time arrived the Governor granted him a respite for seven weeks.
Jason Parmenter* of Bernardston, who shot Mr. Walker was tried at Northampton, convicted and sentenced to death. The death warrant was received by the high sheriff of Hampshire County May 4th, to be executed May 24 ; reprieved until June 21st, ; again reprieved to Ang 2nd. Before that day came an- other respite of seven weeks was granted.
Smith of New Salem, late a Lieut. Colonel in the militia ; Smith of Barre ; William Smith of Hampshire County ; Dr. Hinds of Pelham.
J. Powers, R. Dickinson. J. Bardwell and J. Billings, signed letters to excite the people.
Eli Parker, late representative from Amherst, pleaded guilty of seditious practices, in court at Northampton, April, 1787.
Abner Fowler, late member of the convention and General Court from Southwick, pleaded guilty of seditious practices, at Northampton, April, 1787, and was sentenced to pay £50, be imprisoned 12 months and recognize to keep the peace 5 years.
Joseph Jones, for firing a pistol at a deputy sheriff was sen- tenced to sit 1 hour on the gallows with a rope around his neck, pay £80 and furnish security to keep the peace and be of good behavior for 2 years.
Silas Hamilton Esq. of Whitingham Vt., was sentenced to
* On Thursday June 21, 1787, these two men (Henry McCullock and Jason Parmenter) who were confined at Northampton, were taken from the jail under a guard of 400 militia to the meeting house, where the Rev. Mo- ses Baldwin of Palmer delivered a discourse taking for his text Romans vi ; xxi., after which they were escorted to the gallows and the death warrants read limiting their time to 3 P. M. Coffins were in readiness, but they were not needed, for two minutes before that hour they were reprieved to Thurs- day, Ang. 2nd, and returned to jail.
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stand 1 hour in pillory and to be publicly whipped on his naked back 20 stripes, for stirring up sedition in this Commonwealth.
Abel Patridge was ordered to pay a fine of £100 to the use of the state, and recognize in £300 to keep the peace for 5 years.
John Severance was fined £30 and ordered to recognize in £100 to keep the peace for 3 years.
Thomas Killam was ordered to pay £20 and recognize in £50 to keep the peace for three years.
Samuel Rose was ordered to stand 1 hour in pillory and re- ceive 20 stripes on his naked back.
Thomas Gould Esq. was arrested, tried, convicted and sen- tenced to pay £50 and recognize for good behavior for 3 years.
Samuel Slocum was prominent at conventions and was mod- erator at the convention in Rutland, Jan., 1787.
Gideon Dunham and George Baker were arrested in Vt. July, 1787, and placed in jail at Northampton but escaped Ang. 22d.
Lieut. Isaac Bullard was jailed at Northampton in May, 1787. Jenkins and Davis of West Stockbridge were captured but escaped.
Robert Joyner was put in jail at Great Barrington.
Lient Rufus Tyler, Lient. Joseph Babcock, Samuel Booth, Samnel Clark Nathan Mower, Simeon Ilazletine of Hardwick. --- Billings of Amherst, and Serg't John Williams, were en- gaged in enlisting men for Shays' army.
Esq. Perry of Eastown, was apprehended on a seditions visit to Egremont.
Ebenezer Tolman and Ethan Billings of Conway, Hampshire County ; Eli Parsons, Jacob Fox, Perez Hamlin, Ebenezer Cut- tender and Elisha Manning of Berkshire County. Col. Hazelton, Nathan Smith. Daniel Gray, Dr. Samuel Willard, Hezekiah Chapman, Elijah Day, Thomas Grover. Lieutenants Henry and Baldwin, and -Ware. Dr. Elisha Forbes of Norwich.
Mr Bruce's house in Leicester was a resort for the Insurgents.
Jonah Goulding of Ward, was taken to Boston jail for stop- ping the courts at Worcester in Dec., 1786. Ile petitioned the General Court for pardon Feb. 7, 1787, and was released on bail March 23d.
Col. Luke Drury of Grafton was sent to jail in Boston January 26. 1786. Caleb Curtis was arrested and confined in jail.
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Adam Wheeler of Hubbardston was a constable previous to the insurrection and a prominent man of that town. He was captured in Vermont by a party of government men under Royal Tyler Esq., but they were only able to hold him 4 hours when he was liberated by a party of 40 sympathizers from over the line in the state of New York.
Daniel Baird of Worcester was sent to jail at Boston, but he was released on bail March 23, 1787.
William Bemis of Spencer, petitioned for pardon Oct. 28, 1786. He was Capt. in the militia and an honored citizen.
Justus Wright was arrested and confined in jail.
Capt. Moses Harvey of Montague, a member of the General Court, was tried at Northampton in April, 1787, and convicted for uttering seditious words. He was sentenced to sit on the gallows 1 hour with a rope around his neck and pay £50 to the state and recognize to keep the peace for 5 years. On Friday, April 30, the legislature voted to expel him.
Ilezekiah Hicks was jailed at Taunton March 26th, 1787.
Enoch Tyler of Egremont with two other insurgents, were jailed at Albany N. Y. the latter part of May, 1787. This was probably his second offence.
V.
NAMES OF PERSONS CONVICTED BY THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT FOR BERKSHIRE COUNTY WHICH CLOSED ITS SESSION IN APRIL, 1787.
William Whiting Esq. of Great Barrington, Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Berkshire, was convicted of making seditious speeches and sentenced to six months imprisonment, fined £100, and ordered to give sureties to keep the peace 5 years.
Aaron Knapp of West Stockbridge, Enoch Tyler of Egre- mont, Joseph Williams of New Marlboro, Nathaniel Austin *of Sheffield, Peter Wilcox Jr .* of Lee, and Samuel Rust of Pitts- field, were convicted of high treason and sentenced to death.
* On Friday night, at Great Barrington, as the time was approaching for the execution of these two men, (Wilcox and Austin) two women armed
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Knapp, Tyler, Williams and Rust were pardoned May 4th. Austin and Wilcox were reprieved May 24th to June 21st, and before that day arrived they were again reprieved to Thursday, Aug. 2d.
John Hubbard, David Sackett, John Deming, Peleg Green, Oliver Root, Enos Haskins, and John Strong were convicted of exciting sedition. Isaac Wood, Aaron Noble, Moses Wood, William Sheldon and Anthony Ames were convicted of inciting a riot, and Joseph Wood for setting fire to a barn. 100 more were convicted but fled beyond the reach of the officials.
VI.
Tuesday April 25th, the Supreme Judicial Court convened at Worcester and was in session two weeks. James Sullivan, Thomas Dawes and Levi Lincoln were assigned as counsel for the prisoners. Henry Gale of Princeton, was convicted of high treason and sentenced to death, Jan. 11th, 1787. The town of Princeton joined in a petition for his pardon. Thursday, June 21st he was taken to the gallows on the common and there re- prieved to Aug. 2d, and again a respite of 7 weeks was granted. Silas Livermore of Paxton, and Jacob Chamberlin of Dudley, indicted for high treason, were acquitted.
It will be seen from the above proceedings that fourteen per- sons were convicted of high treason and sentenced to death. Eight of them were granted full pardon within a very short time after conviction, while the remaining six were reprieved from time to time for a few months, and then they are also pardoned ; so that the most prominent among the insurrectionists were not punished beyond a short imprisonment, and soon after their release, were found occupying responsible positions of honor and trust in the several communities where they resided, show- ing conclusively that the public sentiment was not to brand them as traitors. but to allow respect for honest difference of opinion.
with a bottle of spirits introduced themselves to the sentry who stood guard over the prisoners. He not being above the average of the human family in intellect, was soon brought under the control of these cunning artificers, who succeeded in accomplishing the object of their visit, the setting at liberty of the two condemned men. As soon as their escape was made known, the sentry with one of the women who had been arrested, were im - prisoned in the same jail.
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VII.
[Note to page 70.]
In November, 1786, His Excellency, Gov. Bowdoin, informed the General Court that letters had been sent to the seleetmen of several towns in Hamp- shire County, asking them to eall together the inhabitants of their several towns, and see that they were properly supplied with arms and amunition, and organized according to law; and that the militia be furnished with 60 rounds of cartridges, and hold themselves ready to march at a moments warning. This communication was reported to a committee of the house who soon presented a report containing the following recommendations :
1. A suspension of the writ of Habeas Corpus. 2. A provision for try- ing traitors in any county. 3. A pardon for all persons concerned in the late insurrections, excepting the ringleaders, upon their taking the oath of allegiance and abjuration. The house at once took up the subject with the result that a general indemnity shall be granted to all the insurgents upon their taking the oath of allegiance previous to the first day of January next and not persevering in the erime after the passing of the act then under consideration ; and that the suspension of the writ of Habeas Corpus and trying persons on charge of high treason should take place under the same condition. Bills to this effect were read for the third time and passed to be engrossed ; and the bill for suspension of the writ of Habeas Corpus passed both branches of the legislature.
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The reading of the paper was followed by remarks from the Rev. George Allen, and Messrs. Tolman and Knight. The meeting was then adjourned.
In response to an invitation extended to the Wor- cester Society of Antiquity by Mr. George Sumner, to visit his summer home at Shrewsbury, a party of about thirty gentlemen* left the Rooms on Foster street, at half past one on the afternoon of Wednes- day, August 10th. The conveyance was a large six-horse omnibus, and the ride occupied about an hour. The company received a warm welcome from Mr. and Mrs. Sumner and their family, and an hour was spent in exploring the old mansion and viewing the antique treasures it contains. The house, which has been in the possession of the family for four gen- erations, was the home of the Rev. Joseph Sumner, D. D., Minister of the town from 1762 to 1823.
* The following gentlemen composed the party : Ellery B. Crane, Albert Tolman, Henry L. Shumway, James A. Smith, Dr. George Chandler, Clark Jillson, William A. Smith, A. B. R. Sprague, Samuel E, Staples, Franklin P. Rice. Hammond W. Hubbard, Addison Prentiss, Norton L. Cook. Aug. E. Peck Augustus Coolidge, Nelson R. Scott, Pardon A. Lee, Ephraim Tucker, Daniel 'Seagrave, Thomas M. Lamb, James L. Esty, Franklin C. Jillson, and E. Francis Thompson. The above are members of the Society. Also by invitation, John G. Smith, Samuel HI. Putnam, Alfred Waites. HIerbert R. Cummings and Master Everett Shumway.
The following gentlemen joined the party at Shrewsbury : George Sum- ner, Reuben Colton, and William L. Clark, Members ; and the Rev. George Allen, Otis A, Putnam, and William D. Clark. Messrs. Brown, Harlow, Howe, Stone. and Dr. Brigham all of Shrewsbury were also present at the Sumner House.
FEE
SUMNER HOMESTEAD, SHREWSBURY, MASS.
The farm on which this house stands was deeded by Moses Hastings (whose wife was daughter of William Taylor, one of the original proprietors of the town) to Nahum Ward in 1750, and by him conveyed to his son Artemas Ward [afterwards Major General], "in consideration of the love, good will and affection for his well beloved son," and by General Ward sold to Rev. Joseph Sumner in 1762. The present house was built by Doctor Sumner in 1797, and is now in the possession of George Sumner and is occupied by the fourth generation of the family.
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The old furniture, crockery and household imple- ments used in his family, as well as his library, fam- ily portraits, relics, etc., have been carefully pre- served by his grandson, the present proprietor, who has added from time to time, many rare and curious articles, until a collection has been formed unrival- ed in these parts in size and value. Rare old tables, sideboards, and chests of drawers in mahogany and cherry, antique chairs in angular frames or in mas- sive stuffing, beds with drapery and curtains, the old clock, large and small spinning wheels, the clock reel, the quill-wheel, the open fireplace with and- irons, presented to the eye a picture of by-gone days. In the kitchen was the dresser piled with pewter plate, while tankards, beakers, ancient knives and forks, candlesticks, tinder box, piggin, skillet, and other minor articles of culinary use made up the accompaniment. The crane in the fireplace, the bare floor, the settle and the candle molds, were suggestive of the discomforts and inconveniences of a past generation, and in striking 'contrast with the methods and manners of the present. Upon the walls of the "keeping room" are the portraits, in oil, of the Rev. Dr. Sumner and members of his family, with other ancient paintings and prints of the style of the last century. The title deeds of the place dating back to 1750 were exhibited framed under glass. In the library, among other rare books, is a copy of a "Confession of Faith" in the Indian lan- guage, compiled by Grindal Rawson. The place
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will well repay the visit of the antiquary, and would furnish ample material for an illustrated magazine article.
From the house the party proceeded to the famous Balanced Rock, about a mile and a half from the town, on the road to Boylston. It is an immense boulder-an irregular cube of perhaps 25 by 15 feet, resting on one of its angles on the surface of a flat ledge on the crest of a hill. It is very curious, and suggests an idea of the prodigious glacial forces which probably drifted it to its present position and dropped it gently and evenly balanced. Beneath the boulder, upon the surface of the ledge, the stric or glacial markings can be plainly seen, the over- hanging mass having sheltered them from the action of the elements. At the request of the Rev. George Allen, who accompanied the party thither, and whose enthusiasm equalled that of the youngest, the president measured the height and breadth of the rock. Mr. Samuel H. Putnam ascended to its sum- mit, and a sketch was made from a convenient point by Mr. Norton L. Cook .*
Returning to the village, some time was spent in exploring the ancient portion of the cemetery, and deciphering the quaint inscriptions, the oldest found being of 1740. The massive tomb of Gen. Artemas Ward of Revolutionary fame was also an object of
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