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

356 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1774.
Old Officers Resign. Previous to tliis meeting, on tlie 26^'' of
August, the officers of Col, Murray's regiment
met at Brookfield, and resigned the commissions they
had received from Gov. Hutchinson.
The First Provincial Congress recommended
Companies of Minute-Men
Formed, the formation of compauics of Minute-Men
to consist of not less than fifty privates, the
officers to be elected by the men, and in every town such
organizations were formed. After the reorganization of
the first Hampshire Regiment, there were three companies
of militia in Northampton, officered as follows : —
The
first company by Elijah Hunt, Captain, afterwards Jonathan
Allen ; Elijah Clark, Lieut. ; John King, Ens. The
second by Samuel Clark, Captain, afterwards JosejDh Lyman
; Quartus Pomeroy, Lieut. ; Elijah Lyman, Ens. The
third by Jonathan Clapp, Capt. ; Joseph Cook, Lieut. ;
Jonathan Stearns, Ens. Apparently neither of these companies
went into active service under the officers named
above. Their muster-rolls have not been preserved, but
from them the minute-men were organized. It was provided
that one fourth of the militia should be enlisted and
drilled as minute-men, ready to march at the shortest no-
tice. In 1774, such a company, to the number of about 100
men, was formed here. It was commanded by Jonathan
Allen, Capt. ; Oliver Lyman, Lieut. ; Jonathan Stearns,
Ens. ; and when news of hostilities arrived, it set out for
the seat of war as will be narrated hereafter. This company
was often in training ; the Provincial Congress recommended
that they should " be disciplined three times a
week, and oftener as opportunity may offer," The town
allowed them 9d. each for every training, and their pay
was 40s. per month in Continental bills. This company
was organized under a vote of the town in November, 1774.
Second Provincial On the first of February, 1775, the Second
Congress. Provincial Congress met at Cambridge. It
remained in session till the 10"'. On the
22'' of the following March, it reconvened at Concord, and
adjourned April 15"', two days before the battle of Lexington.
The day after that battle, however, the committee