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The Confession of Judah Marsh, jun. of Ware, in the county of Hampshire.

I Desire to take this method to confess my faults to my country. Being a young man, in the bloom of life, I was lately chosen an Ensign in the train band of Ware in a legal manner, though I never received a commission: but being in the midst of people, who were opposed to government, and being urged by my Captain and by several persons, not only in Ware, but in a town contiguous, whose knowledge and judgment in public affairs, I supposed much superior to my own; I did at the desire of the band, go with them, in the capacity of an Ensign, to Springfield, in opposition to government; after that to Worcester, and lately went with Capt. Shays and his party to Springfield, Ludlow, Chicopee, and Amherst: John Bullen of Ware went as Captain, Joseph Bellows Lieut.. Bullen left the company at Chicopee; in marching from Chicopee to Amherst Bellows was wounded at South-Hadley; the care of the company devolving on me, I dismissed them at Amherst, and have not joined that party since. I am now fully sensible that I have acted a part contrary to the laws of God, as well as my country; and though I never had a design to shed blood, nor did I imagine the controversy would ever come to shedding blood, yet I have been greatly to blame, in hearkening to bad advice; and in undertaking in so wicked a cause; and pursuing it so far as I have done.—I have voluntarily resigned myself to legal authority, and throw myself on the mercy of the community. If my youth and unexperience or former peaceable and inoffensive behaviour, (which I doubt not will be testified by those who are acquainted with me) will be any recommendation to the mercy of my country, I hope they will plead for me. Should my life be spared, which I humbly beg of my country particularly of the authority, I hereby declare, not only my penitence for past offences, but my sincere and hearty resolution to let be peaceable and good subject to the government of this Commonwealth—and whether my life be spared or not, I beg the forgiveness of God and an injured community.
Judah March, jun.
Ware, Feb. 14, 1787.

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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Judah Marsh, Jr., of Ware begged "the forgiveness of God and an injured community" in this written confession dated February 14, 1787. Marsh related that he had been chosen as an ensign in a "train" (trained) "band" (militia) and was under the influence of people "whose knowledge and judgment in public affairs, I supposed much superior to my own." He went to Springfield with the Regulators but dismissed his company at Amherst during the retreat, having become "fully sensible that I have acted a part contrary to the laws of God, as well as my country." He insists that he "never had a design to shed blood, nor did I imagine the controversy would ever come to shedding blood." Nevertheless, he was fully conscious that he had listened to "bad advice" and "acted a part contrary to the laws of God, as well as my country." Pleading for mercy and understanding due to his youth and previous good behavior Marsh threw himself on the mercy of the state.

 

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"The Confession of Judah Marsh" published in the Hamsphire Gazette

publisher   Hampshire Gazette
creator   Judah Marsh (1757-1817)
date   Feb 21, 1787
location   Northampton, Massachusetts
height   9.0"
width   3.75"
process/materials   printed paper, ink
item type   Periodicals/Newspaper
accession #   #L04.089


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See Also...

Oath of Allegiance [Faith]

Extract of a Letter regarding fate of the insurgents published in the Hamsphire Gazette

Court verdicts of punishment for Shays' Insurgents published in the Hamsphire Gazette


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