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

1781.] REVOLUTION—ARMY SUPPLIES—SAMUEL ELY. 445
debt without immediate means of liquidation dampened
the enthusiasm of the country and well nigh quenched
even its patriotism. Repeated calls for men and materials
had nearly rendered tlie country bankrupt. Success, however,
though tardy in its approach, was hailed with enthusiasm
; it revived the drooping spirits in every community
and encouraged the most desponding to believe that at last
liberty would be accomplished.
Supplies Demanded When the year opened there came the secof
the Town. Q^-^f[ requisition for beef. It was provided
that £3.17.6 in the new issue of Continental
bills would be considered an equivalent, and might be
paid to the commissioners instead of one hundred pounds
of beef, or Indian corn would be received at 5s., oats at 3s.,
and peas at 7s. per bushel. On the 8*^ of January the town
voted to assess a tax of £33,370.15, one half to be paid January
20"', and the other half February 20"', "in order to
procure the beef and grain required of the town." Joel
Wright was appointed to receive the beef to be obtained
through this tax, and Simeon Parsons the grain. Beef was
27s. per pound in Continental money ; rye 7s. 6d. in the
new currency, and £15 per bushel in the old ; corn was £11
per bushel in the old currency, and oats £6.13.4. The
amount of beef required was 21,816 pounds, and the prices
already named were fixed by the General Court.
The Town Borrows So great was the prcssure for money at this
Money. time, that the town voted to borrow on a
mortgage of the sequestered land in Middle
Meadow, and to sell the sequestered land in the nook.
Another Requisition. Before tliis demand for supplies had been
complied with, another requisition for beef
was forthcoming. This was promulgated on the 22** of
June, and Capt. Joseph Cook and Joel Wright were author-
ized to procure the amount demanded. Some little obscurity
exists concerning this beef account, and the quantity
1 When Manhan Meadow was divided iu 1657, sixty acres were reserved "for sequestered
land at the hither end of the meadow, and the corner behind Mr. Pynchon's
land " It was undoubtedly this latter tract that was now sold. There seems
to be no other record of this transaction, and it is not known how much was realized
from the sale.
'