Biography
David Brown was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and day laborer who believed that the United States Congress only represented the interests of the wealthy rather than the common people. In 1796 Brown began traveling town by town to preach his beliefs in hopes of raising enough money by the 1800 election to print pamphlets of his writings. After two years of speaking tours he arrived in Dedham, Massachusetts in November 1798. There him and a group of around 40 locals erected a pole with an attached banner that stated. "No Stamp Act, No Sedition Act, No Alien Bills, No Land Tax, downfall to the Tyrants of America; peace and retirement to the President; Long Live the Vice President." Brown was arrested and plead guilty but refused to name the others who had helped him erect the pole. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Belt reports that David Brown pleaded guilty in the Dedham liberty-pole prosecution, but the judge nevertheless heard the prosecution witnesses and demanded the names of Brown’s supporters. Brown refused to identify them. The source gives a $450 fine, whereas the existing case says $480; that discrepancy is preserved for verification without changing the stored fine or custody dates.
