Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 2
I have received such an account of the case of Jona. Shepardson charged with killing one Benja. Hide1that I apprehend he may be admitted to bail & desire you to recognize him as principal in One hundred & fifty pounds with Sureties fifty Seventy five pounds each for his appearance at the next Assizes for the County of Bristol Yr. hum. Ser.
The Boston Gazette of Oct. 29, 1764, reported: "We hear from Attleboro,' that on Monday last one Benjamin Ide of that Place, and Simeon Washburn of Rehoboth, with a number of others, being on a Frolic in order to make one Jona. Shepardson of said Attleboro' ride Skimmington, (for Reasons needless to mention here) and he being apprized of their Design stood on his Guard; and after giving them Warning not to persist in their Attempt, which they disregarding, and just as they were seizing him he with a Skean or small Knife, stabbed three of the company, and the two men above mentioned we hear are since dead." Ide was the only one to die in this "frolic." To ride "Skimmington" is defined in the OED as "A ludicrous procession, formerly common to villages and country districts, usually intended to bring ridicule or odium upon a woman or her husband in cases where the one was unfaithful to, or ill-treated the other."
RTP defended Shepardson in the trial held in Taunton in Oct. 1765 before the Superior Court. His notes are in his Minutes of Law Cases, 1760–1774. The Boston Gazette of Oct. 14, 1765 reported "That at the same Court one Jonathan Shepardson of Attleboro, was tried for the murder of one Benjamin Ide there, near a Year ago, by stabbing him: Ide, it seems, with a considerable Numbers of others, assembled themselves together, (having before prepared a Wooden Horse) to ride poor Shepardson Skimeton, for some apprehended Misconduct with Regard to the Sex—It turned out in Evidence, that Ide and his Companions, who by the way were all black and disguis'd, so as not to be known, and look'd terribly, came up with Shepardson in his Field, surrounded him, and made an Assault upon him with Clubs or Sticks, with which they were all provided, and closing in upon him, Ide received the fatal Stab: and upon this Evidence Shephardson was acquitted. [These Schimeton Frolicks have been too frequent in many Parts of the Country; but it is to be hoped that this unhappy man's Fate of whom it may be said, that as a Fool dieth, so died he, will be a Caution to others, not to take it upon them in this lawless Manner to punish their Neighbours for any supposed or real Misbehaviour, but have them to the due Course of Law]."
Very oppertunely for me you are in Town; I shoud have been glad to have seen you, but coud not advertise you soon eno of my arrival. I woud tarry but have a horse on charges. Direct after dinner I must set out. Depend on seeing you at Germantown. Am quite out of cash. been to Lancaster &c. as you've heard & much better in health. Am necessitated to take up a handkr. of Mr. Elliots for the cool season @ 58/ which Ill be obliged to you to pay for I cant. Miss Dolly1 waits to convey this so Dada for the present. Yrs. as usual
Unidentified.
Manuscript torn.