-
Daniel Shays Born
Daniel Shays was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts in 1747. He was the son of two Irish immigrants, Patrick Shays and Margaret Dempsey. -
Married
In 1772, Daniel Shays married Abigail Gilbert. -
Joined Colonial Militia
In 1775, Daniel Shays joined the colonial militia, fighting in the Battles of Lexington and Concord. He also fought in the Battles of Bunker Hill and Fort Ticonderoga. -
Resigned from Militia
Daniel Shays resigned from the colonial militia wounded and returned to his wife and home in Pelham, Massachusetts in 1780. -
Given Ornamental Sword
In 1780, General Lafayette gave Shays an ornamental sword. Shays sold the sword in an attempt to pay his debts. -
Summoned to Court
In 1784, Shays was summoned to court for unpaid debts. The war had devalued currency substantially and he was unable to pay the debt, particularly since he had left the military without pay. -
Courts Began to Seize Land
Local and state governments and courts began to seize land from farmers for payment of debts, both court-ordered and tax debts. -
Shays Raised an Army
In December 1786, Shays raised an army of farmers and other lower-status individuals to object to the seizure of land. -
Shays' Rebel Army Attacked
Shays' rebel army attacked a government arsenal in January 1787. They were defeated in minutes. -
Shays' Army Continues Attacks
Throughout 1787, Shays' army continued to attack merchants and government facilities. They were defeated by the state militia, at the orders of the governor. -
Shays and Others Fled
Shays and other leaders of the rebellion fled to Rhode Island, and later to Vermont, to avoid prosecution for their role in the Rebellion. -
Constitutional Convention
Shays' Rebellion was a deciding factor in the convocation of the Constitutional Convention to replace the Articles of Confederation. -
Shays Died
Daniel Shays died on September 29, 1825. He was 78 years old.
