The Groton Riots - Job Shattuck's First Rebellion
Job Shattuck was a Continental Army veteran who participate in two rebellions in Massachusetts.
Shays’ Rebellion is better know, but the Groton Riots were also very important in demonstrating the feelings purveying rural farmers.
Job Shattuck
Job Shattuck responded to the Lexington Alarm in April 1775 and joined the Revolutionary War right from the beginning.
As one of the largest landholders in the town of Groton, Massachusetts, he was seen as a town leader and many men followed him into battle.
Shattuck assisted in the fortification of several forts in the Northeast before returning home to serve his community.
The Groton Riots
In 1781, as the war was coming to a close in the South, another storm was brewing in Groton.
The State’s leaders in Boston issued paper money, known as ‘legal tender,’ which rural farmers came to rely on to pay their bills.
Soon after, the State declared that taxes be paid in specie (gold and silver), which was hard to come by on the frontier.
Shattuck, a town councilman who had previously been a tax collector, was wealthy enough to handle this changed. However, Job saw many of his fellow citizens put in a position which left them no option to pay their taxes.
In what became known as the Groton Riots, Shattuck led several townspeople to forcibly stop the two tax collectors from harassing the people, though fortunately no one was hurt.
Arrest
Job was one of several men arrested in the aftermath of the Groton Riots.
He, like the others, either plead guilty or were convicted and received a small fine.
The State Government backtracked on the higher taxes/spiece only decision...for now.
More Trouble
Five years later, the same issue arose.
This time, all of the veteran soldiers had returned home.
The thanks they received from Massachusett? Threats of foreclosure on their farms because the area they lived in had no access to the currency which they needed to pay their taxes.
The rural citizens did more than riot, however.
They started a full on rebellion.
Shays’ Rebellion
Shays’ Rebellion has become famous in American history as one of the catalysts for the United States Constitution.
While Daniel Shays was an important leader of the rebellion which bears his name, three other men played extremely important roles.
One of these men was Job Shattuck.
Another Arrest
As one of the wealthiest men to take the side of the rebels, Shattuck was targeted for arrest by the Massachusetts Government.
When he was captured, Job almost lost his leg as one of the attackers slashed his leg with a blade.
Shattuck was convicted of treason and sentenced to death.
Fortunately, he was pardoned by Governor John Hancock.
Even more fortunately, Shattuck’s leg healed and he lived more than 30 years afterward.
He did not find cause to riot a third time.
Here are some other REBELLIONS in the EARLY REPUBLIC:
‘Light Horse Harry’ Lee Quells the Whiskey Rebels
Joseph French Instigates the Paper Money Riots
Surprisingly, I do not know of a book about the Groton Riots.
‘The American Revolution’s Final Battle’ is a book on Shay's’ Rebellion which was first brought to my attention by a professor back in my colleging days.
Pick up a copy through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).
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