American Revolutionary
Daniel Shays was born into a poor family in Hopkinton, Mass., 1747. His parents were Patrick Shay and Margaret Dempsey. In his early life he worked as a farmer until the outbreak of the Revolutionary War when he joined the Continental Army to fight the British for independence. He married Abigail Gilbert on July 18, 1772 in Brookfield, Mass.
Because of Shays' braveness, efficiency, and reputation as a soldier he was commissioned the rank of captain in the 5th Massachusetts Regiment. Towards the end of the war he was rewarded a sword by general Lafayette who served with him in George Washinghton's army. He resigned from the army in 1780 and settled in Pelham Massachusetts, where he served as a member of the Committee of Safety and held various town offices. Shay's poverty after the war forced him to sell it for which he was highly criticized.
During the post-war years the nation went into a severe economic depression which was felt throughout the country. High taxes combined with low farm prices and a lack of national currency affected many farmers and small property owners that could no longer pay their debts to English creditors. The new United States soon learned to fight for its own issues.
In September 1786, Shays led a rebellion of about 600 armed farmers to the courthouse in Springfield demanding better economic conditions, a stable currency, and better laws for the citizens . They protested against excessive taxes, unfair actions by the court of common pleas, and excessive salaries for government officials. The farmers were committed to debt relief.
The legislators reacted aggressively arresting militiamen and passing harsh laws, including the Riot Act and the Treason Act which penalized anti-government violence by death. Outbreaks continued, but the militia was often powerless. Shays first became known as a leader in the rebellion when, at the head of about 1,200 men, he appeared at Springfield to prevent the session of the Supreme Court at that place, but government forces led by General Shepard quelled the uprising. Shay's terms were refused, and the rebels were captured and sentenced to death for treason in February 1787, but they were later pardoned.
With a reward on his head, not being pardoned, and sentenced to death by the general, Shays escaped to Vermont. The following year in February 1788 he petitioned for pardon which was not granted until June 13. Shays rebellion had implications troughout the new United States. Other states had similar issues regarding taxation, scrip, and discontent. Some time afterward, Shays returned to Vermont, took the oath of allegiance, and was granted a pension by the nation. He died on September 29, 1825 impoverished in Sparta, New York.
