Joseph Stebbins- A Pioneer at Outbreak of the Revolution

JOSEPH STEBBINS 15

Lieut.-Col. Stebbins assisted Gov. Hancock in the troublous times of Shays's Rebellion, and the arms taken from these truculent malcontents were stored for safe keeping in his garret. With all the temptations of the owners to recover their arms by force, Gov. Hancock must have had great confidence in the martial or mental power of the Lieutenant-Colonel.

May 22, 1788, Lieut.-Col. Stebbins was commissioned by Gov. Hancock, Colonel of the Second Massachusetts regiment.

On the death of Washington, Deerfield had appropriate and imposing ceremonies. It was certainly fitting that Col. Stebbins should be one of five who conducted the obsequies on that occasion.

In addition to his active military career Col. Stebbins performed his part in the civil life of the community. He was eight years on the board of selectmen, and often held minor offices of the town.

Col. Stebbins was much interested in education and was a member of a corporation which established a private school on the Town Street. He was one of four citizens of Deerfield who petitioned for and secured from the General Court a charter for the Deerfield Academy in 1797. In 1806 he presented a planetarium and lunarium to the collection of scientific ap- paratus of the Academy, thus showing his interest in scientific studies.

We have followed the career of Joseph Stebbins so far as known, and have found him always and early in the foremost ranks of workers. He played his part faithfully and well at the outbreak of the Revolution, the time of his country's direst need. He lived to see the colonies free, and a nation leading the world.