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What was Daniel Shays known for?
Daniel Shays, (born c. 1747, Hopkinton, Massachusetts? [U.S.]—died September 29, 1825, Sparta, New York), American officer (1775–80) in the American Revolution and a leader of Shays's Rebellion (1786–87), an uprising in opposition to high taxes and stringent economic conditions.
Who was Daniel Shays for kids?
American officer Daniel Shays served in the American Revolution in 1775–80. He was a leader of Shays's Rebellion in 1786–87. Shays was born about 1747, probably in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. He grew up in humble circumstances.
What was Shays punishment?
Eighteen men, including Shays, were convicted and sentenced to death. Most of these either had their convictions overturned on appeal, were pardoned, or had their sentences commuted. Two of the condemned men, John Bly and Charles Rose, were hanged on December 6, 1787.
Why is Daniel Shay a hero?
Daniel Shays (ca. 1747-1825), American Revolutionary War captain, is best known for leading a rebellion of western Massachusetts farmers in 1786-1787 seeking relief from oppressive economic conditions.
What did Daniel Shays do in the rebellion?
But Shays was only one leader in the rebellion. In September, Shays led a group of 600 men to shut down the court in Springfield. Determined to use peaceful means, he negotiated with General William Shepard for the court to open while allowing protesters to parade.
Why was Shays rebellion so important?
Shays's Rebellion exposed the weakness of the government under the Articles of Confederation and led many—including George Washington—to call for strengthening the federal government in order to put down future uprisings.
What battles did Daniel Shays fight in?
Shays was a farmhand from Massachusetts at the beginning of the Revolutionary War; he joined the Continental Army, saw action at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Battle of Bunker Hill, and Battles of Saratoga, and was eventually wounded in action.
Why did Daniel Shays lead a rebellion?
A group of protestors, led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays, began a 6 month rebellion by taking over the Court of Common Pleas in Northampton; the goal was to prevent the trial and imprisonment of debt-ridden citizens. James Bowdoin, the governor of Massachusetts, was clearly in the latter group.
Who was Daniel Shays?
Full Article. Daniel Shays, (born c. 1747, Hopkinton, Massachusetts? [U.S.]—died September 29, 1825, Sparta, New York), American officer (1775–80) in the American Revolution and a leader of Shays’s Rebellion (1786–87), an uprising in opposition to high taxes and stringent economic conditions. Born to parents of Irish descent, Shays grew up in ...
Where did Shays escape?
At the end of the rebellion, Shays had escaped to Vermont. Afterward he moved to Schoharie county, New York, and then, several years later, farther westward to Sparta, New York. In his old age, he received a federal pension for his services in the Revolution.
How did Shays lose his property?
Property holders—apparently including Shays—began losing their possessions through seizures for overdue debts and delinquent taxes and became subject to debtor’s imprisonment. Demonstrations ensued, with threats of violence against the courts handling the enforcements and indictments.
Where was Daniel Shays born?
Daniel Shays was born in Middlesex County, Mass. His father had emigrated from Ireland as an indentured servant. Barely educated, Daniel began work as a farm laborer. At the start of the Revolution he joined the local militia. He rose to captain in the 5th Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army. Those who served with Shays recalled him as a brave soldier and a good officer.
Who was Daniel Shays?
SHAYS, DANIEL. (1747–1825). Continental officer, insurrectionist. Massachusetts. Born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, Daniel Shays (the spelling varies) had married and moved to Shutesbury before the Revolution. Shays marched on the Lexington alarm as a sergeant in Captain Reuben Dickinson's company of minutemen in Colonel Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge's Hampshire Country regiment of minutemen, and he served for eleven days. Shays was promoted to second lieutenant in Dickinson's company of Woodbridge's regiment, now enlisted for eight months of service to besiege Boston, and he behaved well at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He served as a lieutenant in Colonel James M. Varnum's Ninth Continental Regiment (Rhode Island) in the New York and New Jersey campaigns of 1776. He was promoted to captain in Colonel Rufus Putnam's Fifth Massachusetts Regiment on 1 January 1777 and served at Ticonderoga and Saratoga, where he again distinguished himself. He was detached to the corps of light infantry, a temporary unit raised for the campaigning season, in 1779 and again in 1780 He participated in Anthony Wayne 's attack at Stony Point on 16 July 1779. In May 1780 the senior light infantry officers each received a sword from the marquis de Lafayette, the new commander; Shays sold this gift, probably because he already owned a serviceable weapon and needed the money. A man of humble origin, he was a brave and efficient officer who was considerate of his subordinates and popular with his men.
What was Daniel Shays' role in the American Revolution?
He later gained notoriety as the leader of the Shays Rebellion of 1786 . Like those who began the war, Shays and his followers were protesting what they considered unfair taxation. The rebellion was suppressed, Shays and the other rebels were pardoned, and the event led political leaders to press for a strong federal government.
Why was Captain Shays so respected?
Captain Shays, as he was known to his neighbors, was respected because of his military service during the war. Many people believed that he was a good town leader, and that he would take care of them in their dealings with the state and federal governments. Many colonists had learned to distrust government from the British mishandling of their complaints before the war. Now, the Americans transferred this distrust to their new American government, which they thought was run by rich men in faraway New York City (then the nation's capital).
When did Shays and Abigail get married?
In 1772, Shays and Abigail Gilbert declared their intention of marriage. Abigail was born in 1760, the daughter of Jonathan Gilbert and Abigail Olds. Whether Shays and Abigail actually married in 17 72 or sometime later is not known. His torical records show that their first child was born in 1773. In 1772 , Shays did purchase sixty-eight acres of farmland in Shutesbury, Massachusetts.
Why did Shays' neighbors lose their property?
Shays's neighbors began to lose their property because they could not pay their loans. Once they lost their property, they lost the right to vote and so could not choose who spoke for them in government decision making. They were taxed to pay for the war, but few had any money. Many joined mobs, which marched on the local town and state governments demanding relief from their economic problems.
Was Daniel Shays a farmer?
He was the second of six children born to Patrick Shays and Margaret Dempsey, who married in 1744 and lived in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. It is believe d that, like his Irish immigrant parents, Shays was a farmer before the war.
What is Daniel Shays' early life?
Little is known of Daniel's early life, but a few fragments of surviving information are suggestive in light of his later career and reputation. We know that, in common with other young men without land of their own, Daniel Shays hired himself out to work.
Who was Daniel Shays?
His experience in drilling may explain why he appeared on the company roll as Sergeant Daniel Shays. When Captain Reuben Dickinson's company marched to Cambridge in 1775 following the fighting at Lexington and Concord, Shays received 18 shillings, 10 pence for 11 days of service. (4)
What was the significance of the appearance of Shays at the head of the Regulators?
Shays' appearance at the head of the Regulators at Springfield marked a turning point for him personally and for the Regulator movement in general. For the first time, the Regulators had closed not only the lower Court of Common Pleas, but a session of the Supreme Judicial Court. The Massachusetts General Court interpreted the closing of the Commonwealth's highest court as a direct assault on the sovereignty of the state government. Almost overnight, Shays rose to the top of the government's most wanted list and was labeled the "generalissimo" of the movement the Friends of Government were calling a rebellion. Although Shays did not know it, the momentum had begun to build that would result in his name becoming synonymous with the Regulation. (13)
Why did General Lafayette give Captain Shays a sword?
(5) Though he came from a poor background, Shays tried hard to maintain the demeanor and engage in the activities expected of a commissioned officer.
How old was Daniel Shays when he married Abigail Gilbert?
Hard worker or not, men like Daniel Shays without a trade or land to farm, generally delayed marriage until their mid-twenties. At the age of 25 , Daniel Shays appeared in the town records in 1772 with Abigail Gilbert when the couple published their intention to wed. Their first child, Daniel junior, was born in 1773. Other children followed, including two daughters. It is not known how many children were born to Daniel and Abigail, although an elderly Daniel Shays would refer to the difficulty of maintaining a "large and Expensive family." (3)
How many acres did Daniel Shays own?
The Shays family at one point owned as much as 251 acres, but financial difficulties in the severe post-war recession forced Daniel to sell over half his land.
What was Day's message to Shays?
Day's message that he did not expect to come to action on January 25th was intercepted before it reached Shays. As the column of about 1,200–1,400 Regulators under Shays and Parsons approached, Shepard sent officers to meet with Shays and warn him away from the Arsenal. Shays responded by expressing his determination to take the Arsenal stores and barracks. Despite warnings that he would encounter deadly force if he insisted on advancing, Shays ordered the column to continue, and rode to the rear to bring up the rest of the men with more speed.
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Where was Daniel Shays born?
Daniel Shays, for whom the Rebellion is named, was born in 1747 in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Though multiple sources say that both his parents were Irish immigrants, other sources seem hesitant to say that his mother, Margaret Dempsey, was born in Ireland. And a few sources contend she was actually born in Massachusetts. His father, Patrick Shays, was born in County Kerry, according to Elmer Smail’s 1934 book The Family of Daniel Shays. Other sources do not specify any particular county and just say he came from Ireland.
Who was Daniel Shays married to?
Prior to the Revolutionary War, he worked as a farmhand in central Massachusetts. There is a record of him marrying an Abigail Gilbert in July 1772. They proceeded to have as many as ten children.
When did the Shays attack the armory?
On Jan. 25, 1787 , Shays and more than 1,000 men attempted to seize the federal armory in Springfield, Massachusetts. Though these “Shaysites” had ample indignation, they were outgunned by the state militia guarding the armory, who used cannon fire on them, resulting in four fatalities.
Where is the Shays monument?
A stone monument resembling a gravestone in a field in Sheffield, Massachusetts commemorating the final battle of Shays’ Rebellion. The text on the monument reads ‘Last battle of Shays rebellion was here Feb. 27, 1787.
Where did Shays escape?
In the aftermath of this defeat, Shays fled to the backwoods of Vermont, as Massachusetts authorities began seizing the ringleaders. Those, such as Shays, who had already absconded from the Commonwealth, were tried in absentia. He along with 17 others were sentenced to death. However, only two men (who allegedly committed serious property crimes during the rebellion) were ultimately hanged, as related by the website of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Where did Daniel Shays' forces regroup?
An early 20th century portrayal of Daniel Shays forces fleeing from Federal troops in an attempt to lay siege to the Springfield Arsenal with only 4 killed and virtually no musket fire; they would regroup later in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Was Shays a traitor?
In a way, Shays was lucky that he still had a tombstone at all, for at the time of his death, a number of people considered him a traitor. Such sentiment, however, eventually subsided. It has become clear that he represented the interests of citizens who honestly felt their government had shortchanged them. And while Shays was no Founding Father, the utterance of his name manages to evoke something of the patriot.
Who was Daniel Shays?
Daniel Shays, for whom the rebellion was eventually named, was a farmer in Pelham and an ex-soldier who fought at Bunker Hill and other significant Revolution battles. Shays became involved with the insurgents sometime in the summer of 1786 and had taken part in the Northampton action.
What was Shays' name?
Shays’ name was often mentioned in attacks by the Federalists against critics of the Constitution, who were referred to as “Shaysites.”. When the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention began, many communities in Massachusetts that supported the rebellion sent delegates that had taken part in it.
What Caused Shays' Rebellion?
The farmers who fought in the Revolutionary War had received little compensation, and by the 1780s many were struggling to make ends meet.
Who were the Shayites?
Having taken part in the Northampton protest, Daniel Shay s quickly gained followers. Calling themselves “Shayites” or “Regulators,” in reference to an earlier tax reform movement in North Carolina, Shays’ group orchestrated protests at more county courthouses, effectively preventing taxes from being collected.
What happened to the surviving rebels in Shays?
The surviving rebels scattered and fled into the nearby countryside. Many of them were later captured, effectively ending Shays’ Rebellion.
Who led the Bowdoin army in the Battle of Shays?
Led by former Continental Army General Benjamin Lincoln, Bowdoin’s special army was ready for the pivotal battle of Shays’ Rebellion. On January 25, 1787, Shays, along with some 1,500 of his Regulators attacked the federal armory at Springfield, Massachusetts.
Where was Shays from?
Shays was a farmhand from Massachusetts at the beginning of the Revolutionary War; he joined the Continental Army, saw action at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Battle of Bunker Hill, and Battles of Saratoga, and was eventually wounded in action.
Where did the Shays and Day men regroup?
Both Shays' men and Day's men eventually regrouped at Amherst, Massachusetts. General Lincoln immediately began marching west from Worcester with the 3,000 men that had been mustered. The rebels moved generally north and east to avoid him, eventually establishing a camp at Petersham, Massachusetts.
What happened to Shattuck?
Shattuck was chased down and arrested on the 30th and was wounded by a sword slash in the process. This action and the arrest of other protest leaders in the eastern parts of the state angered those in the west, and they began to organize an overthrow of the state government.
Minute Men Respond at Lexington
- By 1773, as a man of about twenty-six, Shays was active in the local town militia (a group of citizen soldiers). He drilled his neighbors in marching in formation, and attained the rank of sergeant in the Minute Men. The Minute Men were American militia members who were prepared to respond to a call to arms at a minute's notice. Shays, his father, and his brother, James, resp…
Wounded and Recognized For Bravery
- Shays also saw action in the campaign at Saratoga, New York, where British General John Burgoyne see entryand 5,000 British soldiers surrendered in October 1777. Many historians consider this battle a turning point in the Revolution because it proved that the American army could defeat the British. The British army at this time was considered the best in the world. How…
Return to Civilian Life
- Shays received an honorable discharge from the American army at Newark, New Jersey, in October 1780. He returned to Pelham to take up farming. Before long, his neighbors were urging Shays to run for public office. In colonial times, every town had several posts that were held by leading citizens. In 1781, Shays served the town of Pelham on the Comm...
Shays and Neighbors Unhappy with New American Government
- Shays's leadership ability was tested even before the war was officially over, when the citizens of Pelham and other western Massachusetts towns began to complain bitterly against the new U.S. government. For the most part, they were poor people who believed the government was letting them down. These people had high hopes after the Revolutionary War, and believed that a time …
Citizens Take Action Against Government
- Shays's group of about 1,000 militia men marched on Springfield in September 1785 to prevent the court from meeting. The court was unpopular because it heard cases against debtors and sent some to prison. Shays and his men were met by Major General William Shepard, who commanded a force of about 1,000 Massachusetts state militia men. Shays agreed to allow the …
The Aftermath of The Shays Rebellion
- The federal government could not tolerate its citizens taking arms and rising against it. Shays and the other leaders of the rebellion were sentenced to death by hanging. The other rebels were warned sternly and then pardoned. Shays petitioned for a pardon in February 1788, and it was granted that June. After the rebellion, Shays lived in West Sandgate, Vermont, until 1790. After t…
For More Information
- Boatner, Mark M., III. "Shays, Daniel" and "Shays's Rebellion." Encyclopedia of the American Revolution.Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1994, pp. 999-1001. Feer, Robert A. Shay's Rebellion. New York: Garland Publishing, 1988, pp. 216-23. Holland, Josiah Gilbert. History of Western Massachusetts: The Counties of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire. Vol. 1…
The Background of The Shays Rebellion
- After the Revolutionary War ended in 1783, the United States faced the enormous task of setting up a central system (a federal government) that would run the states (the former thirteen colonies) as a single country. The leaders of the new country knew it was only a matter of time before the United States would have to defend itself from either foreign or domestic attack. The Shays Reb…