dwelling-house in Hardwick, all of which are not yet returned.

He had

at another time a very valuable English horse, which was kept as a stallion, poisoned, his family disturbed, and himself obliged to take refuge in Boston, after having been insulted in his own house, and twice on his way, by a mob. The chief justice of the province in Middleborough, was threatened to be stopped on the highway in going to Boston court, but his firmness and known resolution, supporting government in this as well as many other instances, intimidated the mob from laying hands on him; he was also threatened with opposition in going into court, but the terror of the troops prevented. The whole bench were hissed by a mob as they came out of court. In September, Mr. Sewall, his Majesty's Attorney-General for Massachusetts Bay, was obliged to repair to Boston for refuge. His house at Cambridge was attacked by a mob, and his windows were broken, but the mob was beaten off by the gallant behavior and bravery of some young gentlemen of his family. About the same time the Lieutenant-Governor Oliver, president of his Majesty's council, was attacked at Cambridge, by a mob of about four thousand, and was compelled to resign his seat at the board, since which, upon further threats, he has been obliged to leave his estate, and take refuge with his family in Boston. At Worcester, a mob of about five thousand collected, prevented the court of Common Pleas from sitting, (about one thousand of them had fire-arms,) and all drawn up in two files, compelled the judges, sheriffs, and gentlemen of the bar, to pass them with cap in hand, and read their disavowal of holding courts under the new acts of parliament, not less than thirty times in their procession. Daniel Oliver, Esq., of Hardwick, was disarmed by a mob, and has been obliged to take refuge in Boston, to the total loss of his business. Colonel Phips, the very reputable and highly esteemed sheriff of the county of Middlesex, by a large mob was obliged to promise not to serve any processes of courts, and to retire to Boston for protection from further insults. Colonel Saltonstall, the very humane sheriff of the county of Essex, has been obliged to take refuge in Boston, to screen himself from the violence of the mob. The court of Common Pleas was forbidden to sit at Taunton, by a large mob, with a justice acting as one of their committee. At Middleborough, Peter Oliver, Esq., was obliged to sign a paper, not to execute his office, under the

new acts. . . .

The Plymouth protesters, addressers, and military officers, were compelled by a mob of two thousand, collected from Plymouth and Barn

stable counties, to recant and resign their military commissions. Thomas Foster, Esq., an ancient gentleman, was obliged to run into the woods, and had like to have been lost, and the mob, although the justices, with Mr. Foster, were sitting in the town, ransacked his house, and damaged his furniture. He was obnoxious as a friend to government, and for that reason they endeavored to deprive him of his business, and to prevent even his taking the acknowledgment of a deed. Richard Clark, Esq., a consignee of the tea, was obliged to retire from Salem to Boston, as an asylum; and his son Isaac went to Plymouth to collect debts, but in the night was assaulted by a mob and obliged to get out of town at midnight. Jesse Dunbar, of Halifax, in Plymouth county, bought some fat cattle of Mr. Thomas the counsellor, and drove them to Plymouth for sale; one of the oxen being skinned and hung up, the committee came to him, and finding he bought it of Mr. Thomas, they put the ox into a cart, and fixing Dunbar in his belly, carted him four miles, and there made him pay a dollar, after taking three more cattle and a horse from him. The Plymouth mob delivered him to the Kingston mob, which carted him four miles further, and forced from him another dollar, then delivered him to the Duxborough mob, who abused him by throwing the tripe in his face, and endeavoring to cover him with it to the endangering his life. They then threw dirt at him, and after other abuses carried him to said Thomas's house, and made him pay another sum of money, and he not taking the beef, they flung it in the road and quitted him. Daniel Dunbar, of Halifax, an ensign of militia there, had his colors demanded by the mob, some of the selectmen being the chief actors. He refused; they broke into his house, took him out, forced him upon a rail, and after keeping him for two or three hours in such abuses, he was forced to give his colors up to save his life. A constable of Hardwick, for refusing to pay his collections, directly contrary to the oath of his office, was bound and confined six and thirty hours, and threatened with being sent to Simsbury mines. His wife being dangerously ill, he was released after signing a something which one of the mob had prepared for him. The mob committee of the county of York, ordered that no one should hire any of Sir William Pepperell's estates, buy no wood of him, or pay any debts due to him. In February, at Plymouth, a number of ladies attempted to divert themselves at their assembly room, but the mob collected, (the committee having met previous thereto,) and flung stones which broke the shutters and windows, and endangered their lives. They were forced to get out

of the hall, and were pelted and abused to their own homes. After this the ladies diverted themselves by riding out, but were followed by a mob, pelted and abused, with the most indecent Billingsgate language. These things happened at the time when some of the people of Plymouth, in conjunction with the committee men from other towns in. that county, aided and assisted by four dissenting clergymen, were presenting to General Gage, by their memorial, the peaceable state they were in before the arrival of a party of soldiers at Marshfield, in that county.

The Honorable Israel Williams, Esq., one who was appointed of his Majesty's new council, but had declined the office through infirmity of body, was taken from his house by the mob in the night, carried several miles, put into a room with a fire, the chimney at the top, the doors of the room closed, and kept there for many hours in the smoke, till his life was in danger; then he was carried home, after being forced to sign what they ordered, and a guard placed over him to prevent his leaving the house.

To recount the suffering of all from mobs, rioters, and trespassers, would take more time and paper than can be spared for that purpose. It is hoped the foregoing will be sufficient to put you upon the use of proper means and measures for giving relief to all that have been injured by such unlawful and wicked practices.

Rivington's Gazette, March 9, 1775; reprinted in Frank Moore, Diary of the American Revolution (New York, etc., 1860), I, 37–42 passim.

162. A Soldier's Love-Letter (1777)

BY COLONEL ALEXANDER SCAMMELL

Scammell was an excellent officer, a favorite of Washington, and at one time adjutant-general of the American army. He served through the war, but was killed at the siege of Yorktown. The original letter has been preserved by a descendant of Nabby Bishop. - Bibliography: Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, VI, Index. June 8th 1777.

My Dearest Naby.

FTER a very severe march one hundred miles of the way on foot, through the woods in an excessive miry Road, wet, rainy weather accompanied with Snow and Hail, I arrived the 20th of May at TiconTurn over.

deroga. Am now stationed at what is called the French Lines, where the british army last year met with such a fatal defeat, and lost so many men - and if they make an attempt upon us in the same place I nothing doubt we shall be able by the smiles of superintendant Providence to give them as fatal an overthrow- Our men are well supplied, and I am of opinion will behave well- The blood of our murder'd countrymen cry for Vengence on those british Villains and I hope we shall be the just Instruments of revenge. Tho I should much rather be able to retire to enjoy the sweets of Liberty and domestick happiness, but more especially the pleasing Charms of your dear Company. But so long as my Country demands my utmost Exertions, I must devote myself entirly to it's Service Tho accustomed to the Service, I am now enter'd upon a new scene, I have an agreable and worthy sett of Officers But my men are undisciplin'd, they are expos'd to severe Duty, many of them sick - and but poorly coverd. They look up to me as a common Father - and you may well Judge of my disagreable Sensations, when I am unable to afford them, or procure wherewithal to make them comfortable. However I shall endeavor to do all that I can for them, and if possible make them pay me ready and implicit Obedience, through Love and Affection, rather than through Fear and Dread We at present have a very agreable, & healthy Situation — In good Spirits, and have good provisions - And hope early next Fall or Winter to do myself the pleasure of waiting upon you at Mistic unless you should forbid it.

The tender moments which we have spent together still, and ever will, remain fresh in my memory You are ever present in my enraptur'd heart — & a mutual return of Affection from you, I find more and more necessary to my Happiness - cherish the Love my dearest Nabby, which you have so generously professed for me - Altho I am far distant from you, still remember that I am your constant, and most affectionate admirerer I should have wrote you sooner, but being orderd upon the disagreable Command of sitting as president of a Genl.-Court martial to try men for their Lives, many of which have justly forfeited them and to try several Villains who have attempted to spread the small Pox — I assure you that it is a most trying Birth, and has worried my mind more than any command I was ever upon But hope I shall ever be able to discharge my Duty in such a manner as never to be subject to any disagreable Reflections I have been upon

Turn over.

said Court steady since my arrival and this is the first opportunity I had of writing to you I hope therefore that you will not impute any neglect to me But ever consider me unalterably thine My Lovely

Girl, write every Opportunity to

Write to me every Opportunity.

Miss Naby Bishop.

Y!

Alexd Scammell

PS - I long for the time when through you I can send my dutiful Regards to your Hon Parents by the tender Name of Father & Mother-June 23d 1777.

I congratulate you upon the Cause of your Fear being remov'd as Burgoyne is going to attack Ticonderoga & not Boston. I hope we shall be able to keep him off.

Το

Miss Abigail Bishop

at

Mistick.

From the MS. in the possession of Mrs. Mary Putnam Hart of Cambridge.

163. Regulation of Prices (1777)

BY BENJAMIN HUNTINGTON

Huntington was a member of Congress and governor of Connecticut. The family letters, of which this is one, are an entertaining source of knowledge as to the daily life of the period. — On the regulation of prices, see Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, VII, 15, 69; Channing and Hart, Guide, § 133; ch. xxxiii below.

MRS HUNTINGTON

I

HARTFORD May 29th 1777

TAKE this Opportunity to Convey a Line which have more Leisure to Write than I had to Answer yours by John Stockwell

It is with Concern that I hear of any Difficulty you Meet with in your (Widowhood) but hope you will not Suffer among a Civil People Especially when you are able to Pay for all the Favours & Supplies you want we Read that "the full fed Soul Loatheth the Honey Comb, when we are put to Distress for an Article for the Support of Life we know better