Sheriff Porter to James Bowdoin Re: Protecting the Courthouse

Springfield September 25^th. 1786

May it please your Excellency,

Finding since I saw your Excellency,
that the combination for preventing the Supreme
Judicial Court from sitting at this place tomorrow
were increasing -- and that they intended to take
possession of the Court House on Sunday, I called
upon General Shepard, for aid and advice--We
judged it prudent to take possession on Saturday
night as privately as possible-- For that purpose
I came here , and with a number of Volunteers belonging
to this Town to the number of about forty I took possession
of the Court House about ten o'Clock in the evening, and
about three o'Clock in the Morning were joined by about
one hundred & fifty men from Northampton and about
fifty more from Hadley who were ordered on by the
General for that purpose- They are now on the ground
and are resolutely determined in favour of Government.

General Shepard writes by the Stage to whose
letter I refer for further information ---

I have the honour to Subscribe myself-
Your Excelleny's
Most Obe^dt & hble Serv^t.
Elisha Porter

His Excellency
James Bowdoin Esq^r