Following the American Revolution, a severe recession combined with a newly introduced real estate tax, and a shortage of money, devastated many Massachusetts farmers. One, Daniel Shays, organized a revolt against the state government in what is known as “Shays’ Rebellion” (August 1786-July 1797). The Pennsylvania legislature passed an act to cooperate with Massachusetts in apprehending Shays and other rebellion leaders Luke Day, Adam Wheeler, and Eli Parsons. The legislature even added Pennsylvania money to the rewards: another hundred pounds for the capture of Shays, and another fifty pounds for Day, Wheeler, and Parsons.
Franklin, Benjamin. “Proclamation regarding apprehension of Shays’ Insurgents published in the Hampshire Gazette.” Hampshire Gazette, April 11, 1787. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/l04-095/. Accessed on October 16, 2024.
Please note: Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.