William Shepard to James Hancock Regarding "plundering"

Westfield, July 2^d, 1787

Sir,
Your Excellencys communications and orders of the 15^th Ult. are
safely come to hand.

Through some unaccountable oversight, I suppose I have
not returned Seth Murray for a commission as Colo-
nel of the second Regiment, though for a considerable time
I presumed I had. He has been elected this for a long time, and your
Excellency will please to commission him.

Ebenezer Mattoon, J^r., is elected Colonel, and Henry Dwight
Major of the fourth Regiment, for whom you will forward
commissions.

Your Excellency no doubt is informed that plundering and the
most insolent menaces, are still practiced. At Egremont a gang
of robbers plundered two or three houses about the 19^th of June, and
threatened the lives of several persons, who professed a well
known attachment to the Constitution of their Country. I have
had two Colts butchered lately in a very inhuman man-
ner, and when the time will come for me to be butchered
remains only to be guessed.

I am, Sir, your Excellencys most obedient
humble servant.

His Excellency John Hancock Esq^r.