|
|
|
|
Late in 1786 Shays' Rebellion erupted in Western Massachusetts. Daniel Shays was a former Revolutionary War Captain who led a rebellion of farmers whose property was being seized for non-payment of taxes. The farmers marched on courthouses and were preparing to attack the federal arsenal in Springfield, Massachusetts, when they were dispersed by the militia. Many of the farmers fled north into Vermont and sought sanctuary in Center Shaftsbury. As noted in the Vermont Gazette, "on Monday, April 30, 1787, about one hundred of the rebels from Massachusetts, who fled from justice, met at Captain Galusha's Inn in Shaftsbury, in convention. The authority of Shaftsbury, being alarmed at such and illegal collection, immediately met and demanded of the insurgents the occasion of their meeting: on being duly questioned the insurgents produced two letters, one from Shay and one from another of their principals, encouraging them to hold out and be spirited in their opposition for a few weeks longer and they might be assured of relief." "Judge Gideon Olin informed the insurgents that no unlawful assembly would be allowed in Vermont. The sheriff of the county, Jonas Galusha, who had been previously notified, was present for the purpose of dispersing the insurgents in case they refused to withdraw. The rebels plead for leave to be by themselves for a few minutes which was granted, after which they dispersed, and proceeded immediately to white Creek, in the State of New York, where there was a considerable body collected, who sat in convention from day to day without opposition." |
|||||||||
|
[Events][Business Directory]
[Local Lore][Towns & Villages]
[Arts & Culture][Publications][Links][Search][Forums]
[This is Vermont home page] |
||||||||||
