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Hon'd Sir

You may have heard (for I hear it from your
county) that our Dalton insurgents in their late expedi=
tion to Worcester going or coming told it for a truth
that Deacon Williams was on their side & encouraged
the opposition--Lest it should give you pain to hear it
I take this first Oppo I have had since the report was
spread to assure you that it in utterly without foun=
dation--I have from the beginning invariably oppo=
sed the unjustifiable and absurd measures of ye people
here, and freely given my opinion publicly & privately
with respect to Consequences--At present appearanses
supporting conjectures--I have not thought it best
to irritate the people and expose myself to their resent-
ments--The treatment people of my character & sentiments
have recd from the present government does not make it
their duty to expose themselves to abuse and insult from
a disappointed and enraged populace in support of it-
Such views will probably continue to influence my
conduct; but to justify or countenance the people is not
my purpose or wish--

I carried my barley to the malster last
fall expecting to have it malted--the want of Water
has disappointed me--He has malted none for me or
other people -- I send you by Jerre a bushel of what
we esteem good peas, and beg your daughter (who drinks
nothing but beer yet) may receive a little malt in re-
turn, if you have it to spare--We are, tho' messy, in
a comfortable state, and send our duty--

I am your dutiful & affecte Son
W Williams
Jany 15 1787

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William Williams, of Dalton, feels his father may have heard from men who allied themselves with Daniel Shays that he supported them. He states that he has been opposed to resisters and their measures. Daniel Shays led a tax rebellion of about 2,000 farmers in western Massachusetts from 1786 to January 25, 1787. This letter is dated January 15, ten days before the Springfield Arsenal was successfully defended by General Lincoln and 1,200 local militiamen.

 

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Letter to Israel Williams

author   William Williams (1735-1808)
date   Jan 15, 1787
location   Dalton, Massachusetts
width   6.0"
height   7.25"
process/materials   manuscript, paper, ink
accession #   #L04.026


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See Also...

Letter to Colonel Israel Williams

Letter to David Hoyt [Hoit] regarding Shays' Rebellion

Letter to John Williams


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