Pages from the Journal of Elihu Ashley

Liberty poles were overt signs of defiance to British rule of law in the colonies. These tall wooden poles, often topped with red Phrygian hats (a symbol of independence from tyranny, dating back to ancient Rome), were erected in towns and cities throughout all 13 colonies.

When two men brought a liberty pole into Deerfield on July 28, 1774, it raised the ire of those in town who supported British rule as well as moderates who feared increased tensions and division would lead to armed conflict. Seizing on this opportunity of mischief, David Dickinson urged his friend, 24-year-old Elihu Ashley, to cut the pole in half before it could be raised the following day. In Ashley’s journal, he describes borrowing a saw from Dickinson and, in the dark of night, sawing the 50-foot pole in half with two friends.

Ashley’s success was fleeting, though. The following day a new liberty pole was placed in front of David Field’s store in Deerfield.

Ashley’s personal account is an example of the divided allegiances in Deerfield and many other small towns. Though many people took up the revolutionary cause (and even arms) of the war, others remained neutral or loyal to the crown.

About This Item

Date

July 28, 1774

Description

Pages from Journal of Dr. Elihu Ashley. 7.0" x 4.25"

Type

Manuscript

Identifier

L99.171

Topic

Journal

Collection

Contributor

Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association's Memorial Hall Museum

Citation

Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Assoc./Memorial Hall Museum, “Pages from the Journal of Elihu Ashley,” Revolution Happened Here, accessed July 27, 2024, https://revolutionhappenedhere.org/items/show/17.

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Transcription

Journal from y^e 1^st of March 1773
1773--- Mar 1^st- Went with M^r Cutler in y^e Morning to Leiut
Fields drank Egg Pop and from there to Hoyts
drank Cherry and then back to L^t Fields & dined &
in y^e Afternoon to Dickinsons Shop drank Cherry from
there we went to Joiners and in y^e Evening we had
a dance and I waited upon M^r C Williams the C^o
were Doct^r Barnard et lexor J Williams & Sister T. Cutler
Murray Dickinson Cooley Peggy Ingersoll & Vira d^owith several other Gentleman and Ladies a very fine
Dance, the C^obraking up I came and Lodged w^th Murray

Tuesday Maj^r Murray paid y^e fine of 10/0 to
Col^o Tho^s Williams Esq for riding of a
Sunday from Hubbards in Sunderland to Deerfield he
complain^d of himself up & y^e Afternoon I began
to read Van Swietens Commentaries upon Boerhaaves
Aphorisms drank Tea with y^e Ladies, in y^e Evening
went to L^t Fields to get an order of Abatement w^c he
promised he would make when he saw y^e Selectmen
from there I went to Ensⁿ Barnards & from there
went to Catlins w^th Murray, and from Catlins we
went to Doct^rBarnards and play^d Checkers, Murray
married me to Vira and I married him to Peggy after
which Murray and Peggy in truth like married People
went to Bed in presence of Theo^d Barnard & Vira & myself
where I left them when I came away Theo^d took Vira away
& into y^e Kitchen and them I see no more---

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