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

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

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372 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1775.<br />

seems to have been manifested to molest friends and neigh-<br />

bors. Several <strong>of</strong> the more pronounced tories <strong>in</strong> town suffered<br />

certa<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>dignities, but <strong>in</strong> most cases it was through<br />

the lead <strong>of</strong> persons <strong>from</strong> other places, aided and abetted,<br />

<strong>of</strong> course, by men resid<strong>in</strong>g here.<br />

The L<strong>in</strong>es Tightly As prom<strong>in</strong>ent men were ranged on both<br />

^i'^^°- sides <strong>of</strong> this important question, and were<br />

equally strenuous <strong>in</strong> uphold<strong>in</strong>g their op<strong>in</strong>-<br />

ions, there were doubtless many wordy battles and forensic<br />

fusillades. Up to 1764, when the l<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> demarcation became<br />

marked, this town had been represented for many<br />

years by one who was afterwards a lead<strong>in</strong>g tory. The next<br />

year, when the excitement over the passage <strong>of</strong> the Stamp<br />

Act was at <strong>its</strong> height, the whig party came to the front,<br />

and never did a tory aga<strong>in</strong> occupy that important position.<br />

Apparently there was less party movement <strong>in</strong> the town<br />

than <strong>in</strong> most others <strong>in</strong> this vic<strong>in</strong>ity. It is not on record<br />

that any unlawful act was committed aga<strong>in</strong>st these misguided<br />

men by citizens <strong>of</strong> the town, act<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a body,<br />

though some <strong>of</strong> the lead<strong>in</strong>g tories, as will shortly appear,<br />

were legally chastised for their heresies. As might be ex-<br />

pected, personal pique and a desire to gratify private spite<br />

was <strong>in</strong> many cases the motive that dictated these movements.<br />

Tories Mobbed. As the cxcitement <strong>in</strong>creased, the populace<br />

took matters <strong>in</strong>to their own hands, and<br />

mobs to punish tories, or make them recant, were gathered<br />

<strong>in</strong> many towns <strong>in</strong> Western <strong>Massachusetts</strong>. Obnoxious persons<br />

were sent to the <strong>Northampton</strong> jail <strong>from</strong> Pittsfield and<br />

other towns.<br />

<strong>Northampton</strong> Tories Dur<strong>in</strong>g the first year <strong>of</strong> the war some <strong>of</strong><br />

sent to Jail. the buildcrs <strong>of</strong> the new jail had an opportunity<br />

to test the quality <strong>of</strong> their work.<br />

Timothy Dwight, Solomon Stoddard, Gideon Clark, and<br />

Ha<strong>in</strong>es K<strong>in</strong>gsley, were tories, and for that reason were<br />

sent to the jail they had just erected. It is said that they<br />

were the first to occupy the new structure. Eleazar Alvord<br />

had lived for several years with Ha<strong>in</strong>es K<strong>in</strong>gsley, but left

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