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

1689] INDIAN MURpERS—MILITIA— FORTIFICATIONS. 403
citizens of the town and the authorities, and several letters
dealing in sharp personalities were written to the government.
After the abrogation of the charter, the local train
bands became somewhat disorganized, and little if anything
seems to have been done to preserve their efficiency.
It appears that an organization had been continued here,
but there is little to show that the company was in any condition
for service. When Andros established his standing
army, and appointed Pynchon and Cook regimental officers
for Hampshire County, there was no efficient train band in
Northampton.
Major Pynchon's It is evident that the Northampton officers.
Orders Defied. Sergt. King in particular, questioned the
authority of Pynchon, and a letter written
by the latter in November, 1688, indicates that they refused
to obey him. ^ The reason why the Northampton men declined
to recognize the authority of Col. Pynchon is not
clear. It could not have been because he received his commission
from Andros. Their own, if they held any, came
from the same source. If none had been issued to others,
then the officers in command in 1686, were still in authority,
and King was not one of them. Pynchon held supreme
command in Hampshire County before Andros was made
governor, and consequently a double reason existed why he
should have been obeyed.
The Militia to be When it became evident that a war with the
Reorganized. Freuch and their Indian allies could not be
avoided, the provisional government of Mas-
sachusetts provided for the reorganization of the militia.
June 14*^, 1689, an order was passed that all militia officers
in commission May 12'^'', 1686, "not in any way disqualified,
should be re-instated in their respective commands, and
1 He says that he " sent away 15 men from Springfield who readily attended; gaveorders
to y« upper towns for more to make up 50. At Northampton, Sergt. King cavilled
about my power, hindered y^ Committee of Militia, told them Springfield men
would not obey me (though it proved otherwise), that I had no power and they mattered
me not and would not give 3 skips of a louse for it, said y« court could act noth-
ing. He and Pomeroy [Capt. Medad] bid defiance to y« old commissioned ofBcers.
Such a height of pride are matters come to there y' nothing could or would be done
by or from my orders and directions. But they said they would, if any came from
Springfield, go as volunteers; and so there went about I't men that way."—History of
Northfleld, p. 118.