By the middle of February, when this letter from Eli Parsons was written, many of the anti-government Regulators from Shays’ Rebellion (August 1786-February 1787) had escaped into southern Vermont and eastern New York state. From there, some men came back into Berkshire County, attacked and looted Stockbridge, and eventually were defeated in a bloody encounter with government troops in Sheffield on February 27. This letter was intercepted, and appeared in the Hampshire Gazette almost a week before the last encounter at Sheffield.
Parsons, Eli. “Circulating letter asking for help in destroying Lincoln’s troops published in the Hampshire Gazette.” Hampshire Gazette, February 21, 1787. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/l04-091/. Accessed on October 16, 2024.
Please note: Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.