NORTHAMPTON, Dec. 27.
We have it from good authority, that several officers commanding companies, are now? paid. meeting at Pelham, on their return from Worcester, and voted that it was highly necessary that the several companies and regiments in the county of Hampshire be properly organized and officered; and raised a Committee of 17 from the several regiments to put the aforesaid vote in execution.

We are credibly informed, that the renowned Mr. Shays, has been, for this ? ? past, so extremely careful of his own preservation, as to keep a constant guard about his person, and also his SEAT, in Pelham—And that—Billings, of Amherst, has likewise kept about 30 men on duty to guard him from a supposed danger of being taken by light-horsemen.

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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On December 9, 1786, the Regulators met to make sure that the regiments they were forming were properly organized and had all the officers in place. In reporting this tid-bit of news, the Hampshire Gazette included a snide comment about Daniel Shays, and Captain Joel Billings of Amherst, guarding themselves and their homes against possible intrusion from pro-government forces. William Butler began publication of the Hampshire Gazette on September 6, 1786, in Northampton, Massachusetts. The mission of the newspaper was to inform the public about the issues pertaining to the ongoing conflicts. Butler was decidedly on the government side of the issues.

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