USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Glastonbury > Glastenbury for two hundred years: a centennial discourse, May 18th 1853 > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22
Elizur Talcott,
William Welles, Josiah Hale,
Eben'r Plummer,
Isaac Moseley, - Committee."*
The truth and justice of the views herein expressed, were justified and sustained by the course pursued by the citizens on hearing of the affair at Lexington. Intelligence of that
* The original of this Letter is still preserved by Deac. George Plummer, the grand-son of one of the Committee, to whom we are indebted for a copy.
96
event reaching Glastenbury during divine service, the facts were announced from the pulpit. The people returned home, spent the evening in replenishing their cartridge boxes, and early in the morning started for Boston.
THE REVOLUTION.
The spirit, therefore, which dictated these papers, was not an idle, but an active spirit, manifesting itself throughout the whole period of the Revolution, apparently with the utmost unanimity among the inhabitants. On the fifth of Septem- ber of the same year, (1774,) delegates were appointed to attend a county meeting to be held at Hartford, on the 15th of the same month, to agree upon measures, which should prevent the consumption of British manufactures. At the same meeting it was voted, that all trade with the West In- dies should cease immediately, and a committee was ap- pointed to examine the stores of all the merchants in town, and if necessary, the merchants themselves, under oath, to see that these resolutions were not infringed upon. The Selectmen were also ordered to purchase two half barrels of powder, and to pay for the same out of the town treasury. On the 22d of January, 1776, the Selectmen were further ordered to purchase three hundred weight of powder for the use of the town. In order that every citizen should be in readiness to enter upon the service of his country at the short- est possible notice, the following votes were passed at a town meeting, held in September of the same year, (1776 :)
" Voted, That Messrs. Joseph Moseley, Thomas Kimberly, Eleazer Wright, Elijah Hollister, Benjamin Hodge, Joseph Goodale, Nehemiah Strickland, Thomas Hunt and Nathan Dickenson, be chosen a committee to inspect cach able bodied man in this Town and see whether each man is equiped with a good gun ; and if any man has a gun not fixed, the committee to warn such person to get such gun well fixed within one week after such warning; and if any person is poor and not able to fix their gun, then, such person imme- diately to deliver such gun to the Seleetmen of this Town, and the Select- men of this Town are to appoint two judicious freeholders to apprize such gun, and then said Seleetmen to fix such gun at the cost of this Town, and if the owner of such gun shall pay the Seleetmen for fixing said gun within six months, then the person to have his gun, otherwise, the Selectmen to pay
97
said person what said gun shall be apprized at, and keep said gun for the benefit of this town.
" Voted, That the Selectmen purchase bullet moulds of Serjeant Ander- son for the benefit of this town.
" Voted, That the Selectmen purchase a ladle to run bullets, and to be kept with the moulds."
The town having provided itself with the means of de- fence, next turned its attention to the providing for those who were fighting in defence of their common rights and liberties. On the 20th of January, 1777, the town directed the Selectmen to purchase " Tents, pots, bowls, canteens, lead, &c., and other things that the State of Connecticut shall order," and " to borrow £30 for that purpose, and to make a rate sufficient to pay the same." In the following March, a committee was appointed, " To provide provision for the families of those soldiers that shall enlist in the Continental service, the charge to be paid by this Town all beside the prime cost."
Owing, partly, to the frightful mortality which happened among the troops that went from Glastenbury into the French war, and partly, to the very high price of the necessaries of life at this time, the enlistments into the Continental army from this Town, did not go on as rapidly (after the first burst of enthusiasm had subsided) as was desired. In order to encourage persons to enter the army, a Town meeting was called in April, 1777, where it was-
" Voted, That each person, that shall enlist into the Continental army in this Town shall receive out of the treasury of this Town, during their ser- vice for three years, the necessaries of life, (they paying in their wages to said Treasurer) as followeth, (viz.) wheat at 4s. per bushel, rye at 3s. Indian corn at 2s. and pork at 3d. a lb. by the hundred; and all other necessaries of life in the same proportion."
In September of the same year a committee was appoint- ed, " To provide shirts, frocks, shoes and 'overhalls' for the soldiers in the Continental army belonging to this Town at the charge of the Town," and the committee werc directed to borrow money whenever necessary for this purpose. The Selectmen were also directed to send two loads [of provision]
7
98
to Boston, and to purchase two loads of salt to be delivered to the committee here, to be sold for the benefit of the soldiers in the army from this Town.
While Glastenbury was doing all in its power to promote the cause of American freedom, she was obliged to do her share in restraining the liberties of her country's enemies, though she seems to have had but few tories among her own sons. At a meeting of the General Assembly in October, 1776, complaint was preferred against two prominent individ- uals, as being inimical to the rights and liberties of the State, and asking for their removal to some place of safety. A trial was had, the offenders found guilty, and sentenced, " To be removed to the society of Eastbury, in the town of Glastenbury ; there to remain in said society under the civil authority and Selectmen of the town, at their own cost, un- til further orders ; with directions that they were not to re- ceive or send any letters until they should have been perused by the civil authority." The gentlemen referred to were Ralph Isaacs, Esq., (who was removed to Durham in De- cember, on account of ill health,) and Abiathar Camp, who was removed to Wallingford in December, 1777. Mr. Camp took the oath of fidelity to the State while remaining in Glastenbury."
During the year 1778, committees were continued to pro- vide for the families of the soldiers, and also clothing and other necessaries for the soldiers themselves; duties which seem to have been discharged without difficulty.
Another event, however, happened within this and the pre- ceding year, which must have been full of interest to the quiet inhabitants of this rural Town ; we mean the tempo- rary removal of a portion of Yale College to Glastenbury. In April, 1777, the price of provisions was so high, and the difficulty of obtaining board so great in New Haven, that it was deemed necessary to provide other places for the stu- dents. The Freshman class was sent to Farmington ; the Sophomore and Junior classes under the direction of the
* Hin. War. Rev. 241, 399, 508.
99
Professor of Mathematics-Hon. Nehemiah Strong, came to Glastenbury. They boarded among the citizens, making their headquarters at the house of William Welles, son of Jonathan Welles, a graduate of Yale, and who was also a Tutor in the same. The house is still standing and is in the possession of Mr. Joseph Stevens. Of the members of Col- lege at this time, one was Jonathan Brace, afterwards for many years a resident of the Town .*
At the October session of the General Assembly, 1777, pro- vision was made that all the freemen of the State should take the oath of fidelity to the State and country, and that no person, not having taken this oath, should be permitted to vote in any town, society or other public meeting ; to hold any office, practice any profession, nor make any bargain for the purchase or sale of any property real or personal .; The following list contains-
(1) Those who took the oath of fidelity and the year of taking the same.
(2) The Ecclesiastical Society to which they belonged, so far as can be ascertained. Those having " G" added belong- ed to the 1st Society, those with "E" added, belonged to the second.
(3) The names of persons known to have been in the Revolutionary war.
Those printed in Italic denote that they were in the Mili- tia. Those in SMALL CAPS were in the regular line, for three years, or for the war. Those in CAPITALS, died in the service.
Alger, Ashbel,
G. 1777. Baley, Aaron.
Andrews, Benjamin, 1779. Bell, Elizur, G. 1779.
Andrews, Charles,
E. 1779. Benton, Edward, G. 1777.
Andrews, Charles, Jr.,
E. 1779. - Benton, Josiah, G. 1779.
Andrews, David.
Benton, Josiah, Jr,, G. 1752.
Andrews, John.
Benton, Ebenezer, G. 1779.
Andrews, Joseph.
Beuel, Joseph, 1779.
ANDREWS, SOLOMON:
Bidwell, Hezekiahı,
Andrews, Daniel,
G. 1777. BIDWELL, JOSEPH. E. 1777.
* Wol. H. Y C. 31, 32.
t Hin. War Rev. 288, 289.
100
Bidwell, Joseph, (the 2d,)
1779. Finley, John,
E. 1777.
Bidwell, Jonathan,
G. 1779.
Follen, John,
E. 1778.
Bidwell, Thomas.
FOSTER, PETER.
Bidwell, Samuel,
G. 1779. Fox, Abraham.
Bigelow, David,
E. 1777.
FOX, ASA. >
Blish, David,
E. 1777.
Fox, Amos,
E. 1779.
Brace, Jonathan,
G. 1778.
Fox, David,
G. 1780.
Brewer, Israel,
E. 1777.
Fox, Ebenezer,
G. 1779.
BROOKS, DAVID.
Fox, Hosea,
G. 1777.
BROOKS, ELIZUR.
Fox, Isaac,
E. 1777.
BROOKS, ELIJAH.
Fox, Israel,
E. 1777.
Brooks, Joel,
1779.
FOX, JOHN.
Brooks, John,
1777.
Fox, Jonah,
E. 1777.
Brooks, Josiah,
1780.
Fox, Jeduthan.
Brooks, Samuel,
E. 1779.
Fox, Lemuel.
Brooks, Thomas, Jr.,
E. 1779.
Fox, Richard,
E. 1777.
Fox, Russell.
Camp, Abiathar, of N. H.
1779.
Fox, Simeon.
CANADA, DAVID.
Fox, Stephen,
E. 1777.
Case, John.
Fox, William,
E. 1777.
Chain berlain, Benjamin, E. 1779.
FREEMAN, SAMSON.
Chamberlain, Daniel,
E. 1777.
FREEMAN, SIFAX.
Chamberlain, Richard,
1779. Fuller, Barnabas,
G. 1779.
Chamberlain, William,
1779.
Chapman, Jonah,
1777.
Gains, Jonathan,
G. 1779.
Churchill, Jesse.
Gains, John.
Churchill, Joseph,
E. 1777.
GAINS, LEVI.
Cole, David.
Gains, Nathaniel,
G. 1779.
Coleman, Asaph, M. D.,
G. 1777.
Gibson, Samuel,
E. 1777.
Colebert, Robert.
Goodale, Asa,
E. 1779.
CONLEY, JOHN.
1779.
Goodale, Ebenezer, 1779.
Covel, John,
E. 1779.
Goodale, Elisha,
1779.
Covel, Phillip,
E. 1779.
Goodale, Isaac,
E. 1779.
Covel, Samuel,
E. 1779.
Goodale, Joseph,
E. 1777.
CRARY, RICHARD.
Goodale, Joseph, Jr.,
E. 1777.
Cross, John,
G. 1779.
Goodrich, David, 1777.
Goodrich, David, 2d, G. 1780.
Goodrich, Elisha, G. 1779.
Goodrich, Elizur,
G. 1782.
Goodrich, George,
1779.
DEALING, SAMUEL.
E. 1779.
Goodrich, Isaac,
G. 1779.
Dickinson, David, Jr., E. 1779.
Goodrich, Jehiel,
G. 1779.
Dickinson, Thomas,
1779.
Goodrich, John,
G. 1777.
DOANE, SETH.
Dutton, Wm., (Brit. prison'r,)E. 1779.
Goodrich, Licut. Stephen, G. 1779. Goodrich, Wait.
GROVER, LIEUT. PHINEHAS, 1779.
Eddy, John.
Goff, Aaron,
E. 1779.
Covel, Elijah,
CUNNINGHAM, DENNIS.
Daniel, David, E. 1779.
Dickinson, David,
Goodrich, Israel.
Dickinson, Nathan, 1779.
Goodrich, Roswell.
101
Hale, Benjamin, G. 1777. Hollister, Thomas, Jr., E. 177S.
Hale, Benjamin, Jr.,
G. 1780. Hollister, Theodore, 1779.
Hale, Daniel,
1777. Holmes, Appleton, E. 1779.
Hale, David,
G. 1777. Holmes, William, E. 1779.
Hale, Elisha,
G. 1779.
Hotchkins, John.
1780.
Hale, Elizur, M. D.,
G. 1779.
House, Benoni,
1777.
Hale, Gideon,
G. 1777.
House, Benjamin,
1777.
HALE, CAPT. JONATHAN.
House, Elazarus,
E. 1750.
HALE, JONATHAN, 2d.
House, Jonathan,
G. 1777.
Hale, Josiah, G. 1777.
House, Samuel.
HALE, NEWPORT.
House, William, E. 1777.
Hale, Samuel,
G. 1777.
Howe, Elisha, E. 1779.
Hale, William.
Howe, John,
1777.
Hale, Theodore,
G. 1777.
Howe, John, Jr.,
1779.
Hale, Timothy,
G. 1777.
Howard, Benjamin.
Hale, Timothy, Jr.,
1777.
Hubbard, Aaron,
E. 1777.
HAYARD, BENJAMIN.
Hubbard, David.
Hildreth, William,
E. 1779.
Hubbard, Eleazer, E. 1779.
HILL, BENJAMIN.
HILL, DANIEL.
Hubbard, Capt. Elizur,
E. 1779.
Hill, Elijah,
E. 1780. Hubbard, Ephraim,
E. 1777.
Hill, Elisha,
E. 1779. Hubbard, Hezekiah,
E. 1777.
Hill, Samuel, Jr.,
E. 1779.
Hubbard, Jonathan,
1777.
Hodge, Benjamin,
E. 1777.
Hubbard, Josiah.
Hodge, Benjamin, Jr.,
E. 1779.
Hunt, Thomas, E. 1777.
Hodge, Elijah,
1777.
Hunter, Benjamin,
G. 1779.
Hodge, John,
G. 1777.
Huxford, Henry,
1779.
Hodge, John, Jr.,
G. 1777.
Huxford, John.
HOLDEN, JOHN.
Huxford, Peter, 1777.
Hollister, Abraham, Jr., 1777.
Hollister, Aaron,
1779.
Jones, Lemuel, 1779.
Hollister, Amos,
G. 1777.
Jopp, John,
1777.
Hollister, David.
Hollister, Elijah, G. 1777.
Kilborn, Joseph,
G. 1777.
Hollister, Elisha,
E. 1777.
Kimberley, Thomas.
Hollister, Gideon, E. 1779.
Hollister, Gideon, Jr., E. 1777.
LAMB, JOSEPH.
Hollister, George,
E. 1779.
Lindsley, Felix,
1779.
Hollister, Serj't Israel.
Loomis, Josiah.
Hollister, Jonathan, G. 1777.
LOVELAND, ASA.
Hollister, Josiah.
Loveland, David, G. 1777.
Hollister, Joseph,
G. 1779.
Loveland, David, Jr., 1780.
Hollister, John.
LOVELAND, ELISHA. Loveland, Elizur, 1779.
Hollister, Nathaniel, E. 1777.
Hollister, Nehemiah,
E. 1779.
LOVELAND, GAD.
Hollister, Plenny,
1779.
LOVELAND, JONATHAN.
Hollister, Roswell.
LOVELAND, JOEL.
Hollister, Stephen,
G. 1777. Loveland, Lazarus, 1780.
Hollister, Ens. Thomas,
E. 1778. Loveland, Lot, Jr.
HUBBARD, ELIJAH, G. 1779.
102
LOVELAND, LEVI,
E. 1779. Risley, Benjamin, 1777.
LOVELAND, THOMAS.
Risley, Charles, 1779.
Loveland, Pelatiah,
E. 1779. Risłey, Job, 1777.
Loveland, Solomon,
1777. Risley, Reuben, E. 1777.
Loveland, Thomas, Jr.,
1779. Risley, Thomas,
E. 1779.
Matson, Amos,
G. 1777.
Scott, Adonijah, 1779.
Matson, Amos, Jr.,
G. 1779.
Scott, Ebenezer,
1777.
Matson, Thomas,
G. 1779.
Scott, Moses. Scott, Joseph.
McDowel, Ens.
McLean, James.
Sellew, John,
G. 1779.
Miller, Abijah,
G. 1777.
Sellew, Phillip,
G. 1777.
MILLER, JOHN, Jr.,
1779.
SHIPMAN, REUBEN.
Miller, Matthew,
G. 1779.
Shipman, Stephen,
1777.
Miller, William,
1777.
Shipman, Stephen, Jr., 1777.
Miles, Daniel.
SIMBO, PRINCE.
Moseley, Isaac, M. D.,
G. 1779.
Simons, Joseph, E. 1779.
Moseley, John,
1777.
Skinner, Abraham, Jr.,
1779.
Moseley, Joseph,
1777. Skinner, Benjamin,
E. 1779.
Moseley, William,
1777. Skinner, Ezekiel,
E. 1779.
MOSELEY, SYPHAX.
Skinner, Richard,
E. 1779.
Morley, Dimiek,
1779.
SMITH, ASAPH.
Smith, Benjamin,
1777.
Morley, Timothy,
E. 1777.
Smith, Benoni,
G. 1777.
Smith, David,
1779.
Smith, Elijah,
1777.
Nedan, Anthony.
Smith, Elisha.
Smith, Isaac, E. 1777.
Nicholson, Ambrose,
G. 1777.
Smith, Jeduthan,
1779.
Nye, David.
Smith, Richard, 1780.
Nye, Melatiah,
E. 1777.
Smith, Samuel,
G. 1777.
Noulding, Samuel,
E. 1780.
SMITH, WILLIAM.
SMITHAS, WILLIAM.
Sparks, Reuben, E. 1777.
Stevens, Benjamin,
G. 1777.
Pease, Jonathan,
1779.
Stevens, Elijah,
1777.
Pease, Lemuel,
E. 1779.
Stevens, Epaphras.
PEASE, SER'T PETER.
Stevens, John,
1779.
Pease, Samuel,
E. 1777.
STEVENS, JONATHAN.
Perce, Phillip,
G. 1778.
STEVENS, TIMOTHY, .. 1779.
Plummer, Ebenezer,
G. 1777. Stevens, Thomas,
G. 1779.
Potter, Edward,
E. 1779.
Stevens, William,
G. 1779.
PRATT, SAMUEL.
Stocking, George.
Price, Samuel,
G. 1777.
Stocking, George, Jr.
Pulsifer, Sylvester,
G. 1779.
Stratton, John, 1779.
Stratton, Samuel, G. 1779.
Quam, John, (Indian.)
Strickland, Nehemiah, E. 1779.
STRICKLAND, JONATIIAN.
Strickland, Simeon, G. 1779.
Rice, Samuel,
G. 1777.
Strickland, Stephen, E. 1779.
MORLEY, JOHN.
Morley, Thomas.
Nickerson, Francis.
Olcott, Isaac.
103
Strong, Amos,
1779.
Weaver, Jonathan.
Webster, John, 1779.
Talcott, Abraham,
1780. Webster, Jonathan, 1777.
Talcott, Asa,
1777.
WEBSTER, JOSHUA.
Talcott, Elisha,
1777.
Welden, Jabez,
E. 1777.
Talcott, Elizur,
G. 1777.
Welden, Peleg,
1777.
Talcott, Elizur, Jr.,
G. 1777.
Welles, George,
G. 1777.
Talcott, George,
G. 1777.
Welles, Isaac,
G. 1783.
Talcott, Joseph,
G. 1777.
Welles, John,
G. 1777.
Talcott, Nathaniel,
G. 1777.
Welles, Jonathan, Esq.,
G. 1777.
Talcott, Nath., Jr.,
1780.
WVelles, Cupt. Samuel,
G. 1778.
Talcott, Oliver,
1783.
Welles, Samuel, Jr.,
G. 1777.
TALMADGE, WILLIAM.
Welles, Thaddeus,
G. 1777.
Taylor, John, G. 1777.
Welles, Thaddeus, Jr.,
G. 1781.
Taylor, Jonathan,
1777.
Welles, William,
G. 1777.
Taylor, Azariah.
Welles, William, 2d,
1778.
TAYLOR, ASAHEL.
Wetherel, Benjamin,
1777.
Taylor, David.
Wheeler, Lazarus, 1780.
Tennent, Caleb, G. 1779.
Wickham, Hezekiah,
E. 1779.
TREAT, ISAAC.
Wickham, John,
E. 1779.
TREAT, JOHN.
Wilson, Peleg,
1777.
Treat, Jonathan.
Woodbridge, Col. Howel, G. 1777.
Treat, Peter,
1777.
Woodbridge, Theodore, G. 1783.
Temple, Joseph.
Woodruff, Martin,
E. 1779.
Tryon, Benjamin,
G. 1777.
Wright, Danicl.
TRYON, BENJAMIN, Jr.
Wright, Eleazer, G. 1777.
Tryon, Elizur,
G. 1779.
Wright, Hezekiah,
G. 1779.
TRYON, EZRA,
1779.
Wright, James, E. 1779.
TRYON, ISAAC.
Wright, Jeremiah, E. 1779.
Tryon, Joseph, E. 1779.
Wright, Samuel,
G. 1777.
Tryon, Thomas.
Wyres, Elias.
Tubbs, Ezekiel,
E. 1779.
Wyar, James, 1779.
Tubbs, Lemuel,
E. 1779.
Wyar, John,
E. 1779.
Wyar, Nehemiah,
E. 1779.
Ward, Daniel,
G. 1777.
Wyllis, Ephraim, 1779.
WARREN, JOHN.
Wyllis, John, 1779.
CITIZENS OF GLASTENBURY WHO DIED IN THE REVOLUTION-
ARY WAR.
From Eastbury Church Records.
1776, Aug. 7, Heard of the death of Joel Loveland, who died at Quebec a prisoner.
" Oet. 29, Heard of the death of Solomon Andrews, who died in the army near Ticonderoga.
" Nov. 20, John Fox died in the northern army.
1 777, Jan. 14, Heard of the death of Elizur Brooks, a captive at New York .
104
1777, Jan. 18, Heard of the death of Jonathan Strickland, a captive in New York.
1779, June 18, Heard of the death of William Smith, who was in the army. 1781, Nov. 27, Heard of the death of Isaac Treat, who died in the public service in the State of Pennsylvania.
From Glastenbury Church Records.
1775, Oct. 24, Asa Loveland, in the army at Roxbury.
1776, Mar. 7, Capt. Jonathan Hale, died in the army at Jamaica plains, Roxbury, Massachusetts Bay.
4 23, Dennis Cunningham, died in the army at Jamaica plains, in Roxbury, Mass.
Aug. 30, Jonathan Loveland, ) both died in the army at New York
= 31, John Morley, S with sickness.
Sep. 6, Gad Loveland, died in the army at New York, with the wound he received in the fight on Long Island.
Oet. 1, Jonathan Hale, died a few days after he returned sick from the army.
Nov. 9, Benjamin Hayard, died in the army at or near New York, about the 21st of Oet. last.
Dee. 3, Reuben Shipman, 2 both died in captivity, at New York, William Tammage, Sin Nov. last.
24, Samuel Pratt, died in the army.
66 " Jonathan Stevens, died, in captivity, at New York.
1777, Jan. 12, Benjamin Hills, died at Durham, on his return from captivi- ty, in New York.
66
66 Asahel Taylor, died at New Haven, on his return from captivity, in New York.
16
Joseph Bidwell, son of Ephraim Bidwell, died at Milford, on his return from captivity, at New York.
Apr. 22, Asaph Smith, belonging to the army, died at Hartford, with the small pox, received by inoculation.
66 Seth Doane, died at his father's in Middle Haddam, on his return from captivity in New York.
1778, Mar. 16, John Miller, Jr., slain in battle at Germantown.
66 Benjamin Tryon, Jr., died in the army.
May 13, John Treat, died in captivity, at New York.
June 25, Levi Gaines, died in the army at West Point.
Ang. 24, Elijah Brooks, son of John Brooks, died in the army at West Point.
1779, Feb. 17, Joseph Lamb, died in the army at Warren, in the State of Rhode Island.
1781, Mar. 21, Lieut. Alexander McDowell, executed at Ilartford, for de- serting the army.
1783, Apr. 15, Elijah Hubbard, son of Eleazer Hubbard, died at Jamaica in captivity.
105
The desponding condition of the American army in the year 1779, required a greater degree of activity on the part of those whose duty it was to look after the wants and inter- ests of individuals engaged in the service of the country. In January, the town voted £39 17s. 6d., to Mr. Elisha Hollis- ter for pork furnished the Militia in the preceding May, and at the same meeting, voted to buy a considerable quantity of tow cloth for tents. It was also voted, that all the money in the town treasury should be delivered into the hands of the committee who provided for the soldiers. And in the June following, a rate of 1s. 6d. on the pound was levied, " to pur- chase clothing for the continental soldiers," and to supply the necessities of their families. At the annual meeting in De- cember, all the money remaining in the treasury, derived from any source whatever, together with all the debts due to the town, were placed at the disposal of the committee who pro- vided for the soldiers' families.
The year 1780 required still greater efforts, to meet which, the town, in April, petitioned the General Assemby for au- thority " to make a rate upon the ratable estate in the town, to raise money as an extraordinary encouragement above those wages allowed by the State, in order to furnish all supplies of men that shall be called to actual service." In June, a spe- cial town meeting was called, at which it was " Voted, That each man who serves in the State or Continental service, have 30s. per month paid by this Town, over and above what is allowed them by this State." A committee was also ap- pointed to procure the requisite enlistments to fill up the quota of the town, and to hire men to enter the service, if the enlistments fell short of the requisite number. The Se- lectmen were also directed to make a rate sufficient to cover all the expenses of the same. At a town meeting held a few weeks later, this vote was so far modified that soldiers were to receive 50s. a month from the town while in actual service, to be paid in wheat at 4s. 6d. a bushel, and other produce at equi valent prices, the town meanwhile, receiving the wages of the soldiers paid by the State. It may be well to remark, in this place, that the legal price of grains as fixed by the Leg-
106
islature, then was, wheat 6s. a bushel, rye, 3s. 6d. and Indian corn 3s. It was also voted, that the rate for this purpose, should be 6d. on the pound. At a special town meeting held in November, an additional rate of 1s. on the pound was laid, payable in money, or such provisions as were required for supplies in the Continental army, at the option of the in- habitants. At the same meeting, William Welles, Esq., was authorized to borrow as much money as he should deem ne- cessary to purchase provisions for the army. The committee appointed to hire recruits, were directed to give their person- al obligations to the men hired, whenever there were no funds in the treasury, the town engaging to indemnify them against all loss. In December of the same year, a special committee was appointed to raise men, " To fill up the battalions to be raised for the defence of our seaboard," and " that the Se- lectmen make a rate so large as they think necessary."
The same energetic measures which had been taken in 1780, were found necessary to be continued in 1781. On the 9th of January, a committee was appointed to divide the whole population into a given number of classes, (by a sub- sequent vote, made eleven,) and whenever a call was made for soldiers, these classes were to furnish each, their man, either by enlistment, or hiring, and to furnish them with everything requisite but a gun. In case of the failure of the class to furnish the man, the town did it at their expense. A tax was also laid of " one penny and a half in hard money on the pound, or three pence State's money." The town also engaged to make up any deficiencies or defalcations on the part of the State. In July, "a four penny tax in beef was laid, in order to supply soldiers with provisions. Some of the " classes" having failed of furnishing a man for the ser- vice when called upon, the town, at its annual meeting in December,-
" Voted, Messrs. Timothy Hale and Theodore Hale be a committee to bring the deficient classes to condign punishment as the law directs, for not hiring a man for the State service."
During the year 1782, the committees appointed to raise
107
soldiers and provide for their families were continued, but their labors seem to have been much less than in the two years previous. Wheat was received at the town treasury in payment of certain taxes " at 9s. a bushel, State money." In 1783, a committee was appointed " to look up all the powder and ball, guns and cartouch boxes, fines and forfeitures, paid to the commanding officers, and all other things that belong- ed to this town and have been receipted out since the present war." This seems to have been the winding up of the town's efforts ; for peace being declared about the same time, further action was rendered unnecessary.
An item of interest, in this connection, deserving of men- tion, to the lasting honor of Eastbury, as evincing her warm sympathy in the cause of freedom, is contained in the follow- ing votes passed at a special society meeting, held on the 30th of July, 1779 :
" Voted, That we will raise a rate for those men that are to be enlisted, or attached to go into the army at this time."
" Voted, That we will raise a rate of FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS for the aforesaid purpose, the Society's committee to make said rate, and the col- lectors appointed for that purpose to collect it forthwith."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.