People

Continental Army veteran who led the 1786-87 rebellion of debt-ridden farmers against the Massachusetts government. His march on the Springfield Armory exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Continental Army veteran and farmer from West Springfield who led a force of rebels during Shays' Rebellion. His failure to coordinate with Shays at the armory assault contributed to the rebellion's defeat.

Springfield militia captain who led local companies at the siege of Boston and later served in the Continental Army. His service exemplifies the long commitment required of Revolutionary soldiers from inland towns.

Springfield-area Continental soldier whose service record documents the war's toll on ordinary men: long marches, short rations, delayed pay, and the postwar economic hardship that fueled Shays' Rebellion.

Prominent Springfield lawyer and political figure who remained loyal to the Crown. His property was confiscated, and he represents the significant Loyalist presence in western Massachusetts.

Continental Army veteran and Springfield militia general who defended the armory against Shays' rebels in January 1787, ordering artillery fire that killed four attackers and dispersed the rest.

Continental Army artillery chief who helped establish the Springfield Armory as a national weapons depot. Knox recognized Springfield's strategic advantages: inland location, river access, and proximity to iron supplies.

Early superintendent of the Springfield Armory who oversaw the transition from a storage depot to a manufacturing facility. Under his direction, the armory began producing muskets for the Continental Army.