Springfield Armory National Historic Site - Shays Reb newspapers (U.S. National Park Service)

close-up of a letter from Daniel Shays appearing in a newspaper

THE WORCHESTER MAGAZINE, Isaih Thomas, 1787, p. 544.

Newpapers served as a forum for the powerful and the nearly powerless, pro-government and pro-regulator alike. Composed mostly of "Letters to the Editor", they reflect the often violent opinions of the times during which they were printed.

Much of what we now know of Shays's Rebellion comes from newspapers that printed news and the opinion letters of common people from both sides of the rebellion. "CLICK" on the gold-highlighted text below to view transcriptions:

Satirical “petition” from newspaper, Sept 13th, 1786

Daniel Shays to Selectmen of South Hadley, Oct 23rd, 1786

Capt. Thomas Grover and Lieut. Elisha Pondell to Capt. Harvey requesting assistance, Dec 2, 1786

John Powers to People of Deerfield, Dec 9th, 1786

Luke Day and Daniel Shays to Springfield Court, Dec 26th, 1786

Newspaper account of Shays, Dec 27th, 1786

Shays, Powers, Dickinson, Bordwell, and Billings to Capt. John Brown, Whately, Jan 15th, 1787.

Newspaper report of Militia and rebel movements, Jan 24th, 1787

New Braintree resident to The Worcester Magazine, Jan 24th, 1787
Capt. Luke Day to Gen. William Shepard, Jan 25th, 1787

Capt. Luke Day to Capt. Daniel Shays, Jan 25th, 1787

Capt. Shays to Gen. Lincoln, Jan. 25th, 1787

Capt. Daniel Shays to Gen. William Shepard, Jan. 26th, 1787