Shays, Daniel. An American insurgent. Born in Hopkinton, MA, in 1747. Served as ensign at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and attained the rank of captain in the Continental Army. He took a leading part in the popular movement in western Massachusetts for the redress of alleged grievances, appearing before Springfield, MA, at the head of 1,000 men, to prevent the session of the supreme court at that place, and commanding the rebel party at Pelham and at the engagement with the militia at Petersham. After the rebellion was put down, however, he was pardoned by the government and later, in his old age, was allowed a pension for his services during the Revolutionary War. He died in Sparta, NY, September 29, 1825.

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