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

1783.] SERIES OF CONVENTIONS—PEACE—EASTHAMPTON. 469
a few contiguous towns. They differed in character somewhat
from those previously liehl. At first they were
guided by cranks and demagogues, but afterwards greater
numbers of the more tlioughtful and substantial men in the
community took part in them. On the 6"' of March, the /
first of these meetings was held at Williamsburg. Of its _^J
records nothing seems to have been preserved. From the
fact that another convention was held at Hatfield within a
fortnight, it is probable that this one was not very largely
attended. No delegates were present at Williamsburg from
this town, but Northampton was represented at Hatfield,
though the names of the delegates are not on record. At /^
Hatfield, on the 19"' and 20"' of March, thirteen towns were '^2^
represented. Everything appeared to be very harmonious.
" We were good Natured, had no Disputes, very reserved. »' ,
>* They want to get rid of Major Hawley and myself. Near ^^\
night we set off, leaving all the rest.-"* After Mr. Judd
and Mr. Hawley left, the convention proceeded to business.
It voted to pay no taxes to the state, and adjourned to
Hadley. It reassembled at that place on the 15"' of April.
Joseph Hawley and Elijah Hunt were delegates from
Northampton. They were instructed not to act unless a
majority of the towns in the county were represented.
According to Mr. Judd, the delegates from sixteen other
towns had received similar instructions. Thirteen towns
only acted in this convention. "But they felt feeble and
fearfull. They begin to know the County are not with
them and they must try to pay Taxes. Truths are told
them more plain than they have been and they feel them
since aid is not likely to come from New York."^ These
conventions were much less radical than their predecessors,
and undoubtedly acted as safety-valves, words being much
safer weapons than clubs and muskets. All attempts to
interfere with the courts proved futile, and their sessions
continued with but a single menace during the year.
A Demonstration Ou the 20"' of May, during the session of -
at sprinf,'fieid.
tjie Court of Commou Pleas and General ^
Sessions at Springfield, about sixty persons
gathered, resolved themselves into a county convention,
1 Judd's Diarv.