History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

16041065.] POPULATION^TAXATION—REPRESENTATION. 155
determination had been reached to preserve the charter at
all hazards. The town records are silent concerning this
first election of deputy to the General Court, as well as of
most of the others in its early history, and it is only
through the archives of the colony that any data in reference
to Northampton's representatives are to be obtained.
Whatever may have been his previous opinions, it may be
believed that Clarke returned from the session imbued with
the prevailing spirit of resistance to the unacceptable demands
of the King.
Two Deputies At the next session of the General Court,
Chosen in 166 4. Northampton is recorded as having two
corded as serv- representatives. Three sessions of the court
ing for North- were held in 1GG4, one in May, one in Au-
"^"^ °'^'
giist, and still another in October. At the
first session in that year the names of Lieut. Samuel Smith
and Mr. William Lewis are given in the colony records, as
the representatives from Northampton, while none are
named as being present from Hadley. Both of these men
were residents of Hadley, and had represented that town
the previous year. At the August session, William Holton
and Lieut. William Clarke are named in the archives as
the deputies from Northampton, while Samuel Smith and
John White represented Hadley. It is not probable that
Northampton made choice of Hadley men as representatives
for one session, and afterwards elected two of its own
citizens for another the same year, when the law provided
that deputies were to serve one year. In the absence of all
local records bearing upon the case, it may be surmised
that this town was not represented at the May session of
th' Legislature in 1664, but through some error the deputies
from Hadley were assigned to Northampton.
Eeputies hear from Warned by Parsou Mather on the Fast day
their constituen- jj^ September, of the dangers threatening
Chosen in 1665.'^^ ^lic colouy, the people of Northampton were
ready to sanction whatever measures the
General Court should see fit to adopt. Their representatives
thus fortified and strengthened, undoubtedly returned
at the October session, prepared to approve the address to