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

390 HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON. [1776.
'
' And that the reason why this Congress are of opinion that the
Court aforesaid should not sit at the time & place aforemention''^ Is on
account of their holding their commissions in the name of George the
Third King of Britain, &c., and by the authority of the same."
The towns, representation and votes on tlie above were
as follows —
:
In favor of continuing the sessions of the Court, Springfield, 3
Wilbraham, 1 ; Belchertown. 4 ; Hadley, 2 ; South Hadley, 2 ; Sunderland,
2 ; Montague, 2 ; Hatfield, 3 ; Northampton, 15 ;
Southampton, 2; Greenville. 1 ; Southwick, 1.—39.
Westfield, 1 ;
Against further sessions, Amherst, 3 ; Pelham, 1 ; Barnardston, 2 ;
Shelboui-n, 4 ; Greenfield, 3 ; Deerfield, 2 ; Conway ,3 ; Ashfield, 3 ; No.
5 [Cummington], 2 ; Worthington, 4 ; Chesterfield, 9 ; Whately, 2 ;
Murrayfield. 1 ; Williamsburg, 2 ; Greenwich, 2.—43.
The vote of the town of Norwich, in favor of continuing the sessions
of the covirt, through the failure of its delegate to arrive in time, was
not recorded, as the committee delegated to its chairman the power to
cast the vote. The result would have been unchanged, had he been
present.
Upon the second question, the vote in favor of its " subsiding" was
unanimous ; one delegate was absent when the vote was taken, and one
delegation was tied.
A committee was appointed to "wait on Mr. Justice Mather, President
of the Court of Sessions with the above resolve," and the congress
adjourned till the next morning, at 8 o'clock.
When it again convened, the convention voted "That it be recommended
to the Court of gen' Sessions of the Peace to adjourn without
day." "Accordingly the Justices of s'd Court met at the usual place
and Adjourned without da^-."
A transcript of the proceedings of the Congress was ordered to be
forwarded to the General Court, and presented by Major Hawley,
Major Bliss and Moses Dickinson Esq. It was also "voted, That this
Congress recommend to the People of this County that they obey the
Militia officers who have lately been or shall be appointed in this
County and commissioned by the General Assembly of the colony." ^
Result of this Con- The resiilt of the action by this and other
vention. conventions was an immediate alteration in
the tenure of the commissions of the Justices
of the several courts. The March term stopped by
the above congress, was convened by the authority of King
George the Third, but the May session which followed,
was by the authority of the people of Massachusetts.
1 The original record of this convention or congress, in the handwriting of the
clerk, Levi Shephard, and signed by him, is still extant.
;