Page:History of Gardner, Massachusetts (1860) - Glazier.djvu/90

86 against several prisoners, were suspended. The mercy of government was finally extended to all who had been involved in the difficulties and disorders of the time, upon taking the oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth, after some temporary civil disqualifications.



"This individual acquired an unenviable notoriety, which imparts some degree of interest to the incidents of his life. He was born in Hopkinton, in 1747; the son of parents not in affluent circumstances, he worked with Mr. Brinley, a respectable farmer of Framingham. The activity and energy of his youth promised at maturity more desirable elevation than he attained. That his education was neglected, is apparent from his official letters, bidding defiance alike to government, grammar and good spelling. Just before the revolution, he removed to one of the towns beyond Connecticut river, and afterwards resided in Pelham. When the war commenced, he entered the army, at the age of