14:21At the forefront of the meeting was an engaging presentation by Phil Caner, a long-time member of the historical society, who recounted the life and legacy of Joseph Holly. This narrative centered on Holly’s involvement in the so-called Berkshire Affair, where he defended a man named Seth Warren against charges of riot. Holly’s legal strategy was unconventional; he proposed changing Warren’s plea to guilty of high treason, a charge that carried the death penalty, arguing that the riot was a form of treason due to its conspiratorial nature. Despite the judge’s belief that a riot had indeed occurred, the jury found Warren guilty of riot, but only imposed a small fine.

Holly’s actions after the trial were significant as he published letters defending Warren and articulating legal principles that had not previously been expressed. He argued that the populace of Massachusetts had been placed beyond the protection of established law. This radical notion challenged the existing legal order and suggested a form of authority higher than parliamentary acts. Holly’s letters advanced the discourse on natural versus legal rights, laying the foundational framework for individuals to contemplate independence without being labeled as traitors or outlaws.

27:09Holly’s legal insights reverberated beyond Massachusetts, reaching influential figures such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Adams, in particular, expressed a desire to meet Holly, acknowledging his intellectual prowess. Holly’s legal arguments were seen as an extension of James Otis’s ideas, which laid the groundwork for concepts such as judicial review and legislative limits based on fundamental laws. The efforts of these legal minds were instrumental in shaping the emerging ideas of governance and rights that would form the bedrock of the American Revolution.

36:35The meeting also shifted focus to the post-Revolutionary period, examining the discontent among soldiers like Samuel Ely. Ely defended himself during a court-martial for alleged plundering during the Battle of Bennington, successfully arguing that he had incurred no costs to the government while in service. His defense, coupled with a purported endorsement from General Stark, who valued Ely’s contributions, highlighted the evolving challenges faced by soldiers in the nascent United States.

52:34The narrative then explored the broader implications of soldiers’ grievances, which culminated in organized county conventions where they collectively petitioned for relief from oppressive taxation. Ely’s dramatic escape from jail, facilitated by a group of local “liberators,” illustrated the passionate spirit of resistance among those disillusioned with the post-war government structures.

01:07:45The meeting further discussed the role of prominent figures like Samuel Adams, who arrived in Conway to address the escalating situation. The local population’s insistence on engaging through a county convention rather than direct confrontation was a strategic move to assert their agency in the political process.

01:17:14The historical account concluded by touching on the contributions of Joseph Holly, who, despite his legal and intellectual legacy, remained largely unrecognized in his contributions. Holly left his estate for the establishment of schools, yet his struggles with mental health towards the end of his life highlighted a broader societal neglect of those who had once been influential.