The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

BOSTON, September 4, 1766.

Since our last Accounts have been received of the violent Proceedings of Ranflear's Party at Nobletown, &c. and of the distressed Condition the Inhabitants were in, on Sunday the 1st August a Party took Possession of the House of one Isaac Spoor, and all that was therein, and informed said Spoor that the House was in New-York Government: This House stands on a Grant of Land made by this Province, and has been a licensed House for a Tavern for many Years by our Courts: it stands about 4 Miles West of Great Barrington Meeting House, but within District of Egremont, near the East Part, and but a small distance from the West Line of Great-Barrington, and between two and three Miles East of the Line that was formerly run for a twenty Miles Line from Hudson's River.--This Tavern the Party made their Head Quarters; a Deputy Sheriff with one or two Persons were admitted to pass the Guards in the Evening. who, have obtained Leave from the Commanding Officer, levied a Warrant on Robert Ranflear: upon this there was a terrible Bluster, the Soldiers under Arms, all their Bayonets fixed, and confined the Sheriff, as also the Justice who went to endeavour to settle Matters, until almost Day-break: This alarmed the whole County; and in the Morning a great Number of the People, with about 40 Stockbridge Indians, collected together, to give the Party Battle, but meeting with the Gentlemen that had been detained, it was happily prevented. The Regulars withdrew early in the Morning, and the People returned Home.

We are also further informed, that the Party who had committed Hostilities at Egremont, had withdrawn beyond the 20 Mile Line from Hudson's River. & returned some of the Cattle they had taken from the People, and promised to make Restitution for all Damages they had done in Egremont: it is added, they are leaving Nobletown; --as to the Crops of the poor People who belonged there, they are mostly destroyed already.