TIMOTHY EDWARDS 63 



sparsely settled. The store which Mr. Edwards 

 opened in 1770 was the first in the county. The 

 settlers raised wheat on the newly cleared land. 

 This Mr. Edwards bought and sent to New York, 

 bringing back goods in return. In five years he 

 became the most prosperous man in the county, 

 buying and clearing a very large farm on which he 

 employed as many as fifty men in the busy season. 

 The outbreak of the Revolutionary struggle was a 

 most inopportune time for Timothy Edwards; but 

 for that he would have become one of the wealthiest 

 men of his day. All business was suspended and 

 he gave himself to his country's cause with intense 

 devotion. He was at once appointed on a commis- 

 sion with General Schuyler to treat with the 

 Indians; was appointed commissary to look after 

 the supply of the army with provisions. From 

 1777 to 1780 he was a leader in the Legislature of 

 Massachusetts ; was elected to the Continental Con- 

 gress with John Hancock and John Adams ; was a 

 colonel in the Massachusetts militia and a judge of 

 probate. When the war broke out Timothy Ed- 

 wards was worth $20,000, which he had accumu- 

 lated in addition to all his other burdens. When 

 the war closed he had nothing, and was $3,000 in 

 debt to New York merchants. To understand what 

 sacrifices he made it must be understood that when 

 the government was in great straits he took $5,000 

 of money that was as good as gold and let the 

 government have it, taking in return money that 

 was of slight value. He also took fifty tons of 



