10/03/2026
American Revolution 250 - West Springfield’s Role (Part 22)
October 3, 1776
On this day, 250 years ago, a town meeting was held at West Springfield’s meetinghouse. During the meeting, which started at 2 p.m., Deacon Jonathan White was chosen as the moderator. After, it was “Voted - That it is the Opinion of this Town, that the present House of Representatives in Conjunction with the Council should consult, & agree on such a Constitution & Form of Government (for this state) as they in their Wisdom shall think most salutary for this State, and that they would cause the same to be made public to each Town in this State, for the Perusal & Inspection of the Inhabitants and shall be either confirmed or disannuled by the Legislature, according to the Votes of the several Towns of this State approving or disapproving the same. ~ Voted - That the Town Clerk be directed to send a Copy of the above Vote into the Secretary’s Office of this State.” The meeting was then dissolved.
On September 26, Selectmen Benjamin Day, Jonathan White and Eliphalet Leonard notified the constables to inform the male inhabitants, being free and of the age of 21 and upwards, of the town meeting on October 3. The articles that were to be voted on at the meeting included, “1. - To choose a Moderator to preside in sd Meeting.~ 2 - To consider & determine, whether they will give their consent that the present House of Representatives of this State, together with the Council, if they consent in one Body with the House & by equal Voice, should consult, agree on, & enact such a Constitution and Form of Government for this State, as the said House of Representatives & Council as aforesd, on the fullest & most mature Deliberation shall judge will most conduce to the Safety, Peace, & Happiness, of this State in all after Successions & Generations, and if they would direct that the Same be made public, for the Inspection & Perusal of the Inhabitants, before the Ratification thereof by the Assembly; and that the Town as soon as they have passd on the Question aforesd, direct the Clerk of sd Town to Send an attested Copy of the Votes, or Resolves of sd Town upon the premises to be certified into the Office of the Secretary of this State.” Over the next few days, constables Ebenezer Morgan, Asahel Chapin, Stephen Bodurtha and John Winchell notified the town’s freeholders and other inhabitants of the October 3 meeting.
Around this time, West Springfield was also providing aid to the defense of Boston, while others would’ve mostly likely been in and around Fort Ticonderoga. Those who assisted Boston's defense included David Ashley, John Ashley, Ozias Fletcher, Andrew Goss, Justus Loomis and Stephen Worthington. They were in Captain Reuben Munn’s company of Colonel Nicholas Dike’s regiment, having been listed on pay abstracts for mileage on September 17 and November 26.
In addition, key battles were being fought in New York. Going back to August 27, the Continental Army suffered a loss against the British at the Battle of Long Island. With the Continental Army initially retreating to the forts at Brooklyn Heights, General George Washington made the decision to have the army move to Manhattan. A few weeks later, Washington and his army retreated to Harlem Heights, where another battle occurred on September 16. This resulted in a victory for the Continental Army. A month later, on October 11, the naval Battle of Valcour Island occurred, which resulted in a victory for the British. However, Benedict Arnold and his forces slowed down British efforts, led by General Guy Carleton, to move south from Canada, postponing their plans of reaching Ticonderoga and the Hudson River Valley until next spring.
