Worcester County, Massachusetts - Chapter 151, 1889

Shays' Rebellion. - It is not the writer's purpose to here enter into a detailed history of this outbreak, as it is fully treated elsewhere in this work. It is proper, however, to state that Hubbardston men were prominent in this movement. Among these were William Muzzy, John Woods, Elisha Woodward, Joseph Weight and Captain Adam Wheeler. Captain Wheeler ranked next to Daniel Shays in position, and was a leading citizen of the town. He served in the French and Indian War, and was a brave officer in the War of the Revolution, displaying much heroism in the battle of Bunker Hill. He raised and commanded a company of nearly a hun- dred men, mostly from this town, in the interests of Shays' Rebellion. Early in September, 1786, with eighty men, he marched to Worcester, and took possession of the court-house.'

He finally fled to Canada, and remained there four years, till a proclamation of amnesty was issued by the Governor. In 1791 we find the following record :

Art. 2. To see if the town will grant the petition of Adam Wheeler, is aa follows, viz. ; The petition of ,\dam Wheeler to the town of Hubbardston. Humbly showeth that your said petitioner wasat Pelham about four years ago, in the unhappy disturbance that happened in this county ; and that Dr. Hinds has commenced an action agaiui^t me which is gone to execution, whicli is not in my power to discharge. Gentlemen, friends, fellow-citizens and neighbors ; your petitioner prays for help to discharge sjiid debt and cost, which is £0 48. 9rf., and your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray. Ad.(m Wheeler.

Hubbardaton's citizens took an active part in this rebellion, probably for the reason that they were poorer than other towns and their misfortunes greater.

Wae of 1812. - The people of Hubbardston were probably not in sympathy with this war. Men did not volunteer, and at one time a draft was made.

In November, 1814, they voted " To make up the sum of $18 per month, with what the Government allows, to those soldiers who had been detached into the service, viz. : Otis Hale, Lowell Leland, Asa Lyon, Daniel Thompson and Bildad Wright." These are the names of all that appear in the records as having served in the army during this war, though we know that others went.

At the time the draft was ordered the men liable to do military duty were organized in two companies. These companies were called out, meeting at the old meeting-house, which was the headquarters of the town, in almost all respects. Plenty of grog was distributed among them, and when they had " well drunk" earnest appeals were made to them to volunteer. The fife and drum struck up stirring strains, and the men marched in double file through the aisles of the meeting-house, and any who were willing to volunteer were requested to fall into a certain pew. Only one or two could be found to go, and the remainder of the quota was raised by draft. These men were ordered to Fort Warren, in Boston harbor, and guard duty was 'probably the only service they rendered. Some others, who were afterwards citizens of this town, or who enlisted from other places, were in the service. Abijah Clark, going from Rhode Island, was out a few months; Luther Goodspeed was in some of the most bloody battles of the war. He was with Com. McDonough at Plattsburgh and Lake Champlain.

War of the Rebellion. - Hubbardston promptly responded to the call for troops, and was represented in the first regiment that went from the State.