The Duke of Stockbridge: A Romance of Shays' RebellionBellamy, Edward
General
The Duke of Stockbridge: A Romance of Shays' Rebellion
Bellamy, Edward
Shays' Rebellion, 1786-1787 -- Fiction
Nor if they appealed to a jury, was their chance much better, for the
Legislature coming together again in February, had excluded former
rebels from the jury box for three years, binding them to keep the peace
for the same time, and depriving them of the elective franchise in all
forms for a year, while on the other hand complete indemnity was granted
to the friends of government for all offences against property or
persons, which they might have committed in suppressing the rebellion.
Without here controverting the necessity of these measures, it is easy
to realize the state of hopeless discouragement to which they reduced
the class exposed to their effect. Originally driven into the rebellion
by the pressure of a poverty which made them the virtual serfs of the
gentlemen, they now found themselves not only forced to resume their
former position in that respect, but were in addition, deprived of the
ordinary civil rights and guarantees of citizens. In desperation many
fled over the border into New York and Connecticut, and joined bands of
similar refugees which were camped there. Others, weaker spirited,
or bound by ties they could not or would not break, remained at home,
seeking to propitiate their masters by a contrite and circumspect
demeanor, or sullenly enduring whatever was put upon them. A large
number prepared to emigrate to homes in the West as soon as spring
opened the roads.
Of the chief abettors of Perez, the fortunes may be briefly told. Jabez
Flint had sold all he had and escaped to Nova Scotia to join one of the
numerous colonies of deported Tories which had been formed there. Jabez
was down on his luck.
“I've hed enough o' rebellin,” he declared. “I've tried both sides on't.
In the fust rebellion I wuz agin' the rebels, an the rebels licked. This
ere time I tuk sides agin' the govment, an the govment hez licked. I'm
like a feller ez is fust kicked behind an then in the stummick. I be
done on both sides, like a pancake.”
Israel Goodrich and Ezra Phelps, being excepted from the amnesties as
members of the rebel committee, had only escaped jailing because, as men
of some substance they had been able to give large bonds to await the
further disposition of the Boston government.
“I didn' mind so much 'bout that,” said Israel, “but what come kinder
tough on me wuz a seein them poor white-livered pulin chaps tew my house
tuk back ter jail.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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