USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Mattapoisett > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plympton > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Wareham > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hanson > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Lakeville > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Pembroke > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Rochester > Historic sketches of Hanson, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Middleboro', Pembroke, Plympton, Rochester, Wareham, and West Bridgewater > Part 4
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June ye 1st, we staid at Holland's all day, because of ye rain, and Mr. Hinds preached to us in Holland's barn. June ye 2, we staid and settled our Billeting Roll, and paid off several Their Billeting money, in the afternoon we marched to Worcester 4 miles, and there slept. June ye 3, we mustered our men by eight o'clock, in the morning, and drew up into a line with the Regiment, called over our Roll, and then our Company marched off, then our Cap- tain left us and went to Boston. I and Archippus Cole staid at Worcester until next morning."
These extracts from Sergeant Tinkham's diary serve to show how minute and particular he was in noting down his observations and knowledge of the occurrences ot that march, and his entry, made under date of June 11, 1758, will probably remind some soldiers of the late war of the rebellion, of their, own experiences by " flood and field," and also the disregard paid to the Sabbath day, so common among all nations, when engaged in war. . "June 11, Sunday we marched till about noon, Through mud and water, over hills and mountains, the worst way that ever was, and about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, Came up a thunder Shower, and wet us as wet as we could be we marched a Little Farther and Incampt and set our Centrys. John Bennett and Perez Cobb went back a mile to fetch a sick man Belonging to Captain Hodgers who was gone forward."
This company participated in the disastrous attempt to tske Ticonderoga July 6 and 8, and under date of July 8,
#
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MIDDLEBOROUGH.
1758, Sergeant Tinkham says: "We marched with the Light Infantry, They went forward, Col. Doty Brought up the Rear, in Sight of the Fort, there we Drawed up 4 Deep the Light Infantry about ten Rods before us Expecting Every moment To be fired upon, in the mean time Col. Johnson with a party of Indians upon the west side of ye Lake marched up to the Top of a hill where he with his Indians fired upon the Fort, with the hideous yell- ing of the Indians, the worst noise I ever heard, and Drove a party of French into the Lake " about Eleven o'clock the Regulars marched up and all the Rhode Islanders and a little past 12 o'clock they began To Fire upon the French, at the Breastwork which was made of heaped Timbers and a Treanch around it very strong, which was built after we drove the advanced guard off, had we gone forward at our first Land- ing, we could have got the ground. The Regulars Drawed up before the Breastwork, and fought against it with Small arms 5 hours, the French would fire upon them with their Ar- tillery, and with one field piece killed 18 grenadiers dead upon the Spott, the number of men Lost is not ascertained, but by all acconnts we Lost 3000 ; Besides wounded ; had Major Rogers had his Liberty, and done as he Intended we should have Drawed them out of their Breastwork, but Col. Bradstreet Come up with his Regiment, and Drove on and Lost allmost all his men, our Artillery Came up the Lake, allmost to us and then was ordered Back, I know not for what Reason, and towards night we was ordered back to the ad- vanced guard, and got there about 9 o clock, we had nothing to eat, the allowance we had before we Set out from Lake George, was not Enough for one Day, and we got no more untill we got Back." Jabez Doggett was wounded."
" July 9, we was ordered to go on board our Boats and go back to Lake George, which we did, and Rowed all Day, without any thing to Eat, we got back about Sunset, but could Draw no allowance untill next day, and so had nothing To Eat that night."
Three companies of " Minute Men," and two of militia from Middleborough, promptly responded to the first call of our country, on the ever memorable 19th of April 1775. These companies were commanded by Captains Abial Peirce, Na- thaniel Wood, Wm. Shaw, Amos Wade, and Isaac Wood. The greater part of Capt. Abial Peirce's company, as also some members of the other companies resided in that part of Mid- dleborough now Lakeville. Captain Abial Peirce had been a
36
HISTORY OF TOWNS IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
Captain in the French and Indian War, fifteen years before, that of the American Revolution.
When soldiers were required for a Continental Army, Captain Abial Peirce of Middleborough, raised a company
NOTE TO PAGE 28.
Until Lakeville was detached and set off from Middleborough, in 1853, the latter town was said to have contained a greater number of acres than any other in the State of Massachusetts.
NOTE TO PAGE 28.
Col. Benjamin Church made use of that expression in the preface to his history of King Philip's War, published in 1715.
A great deal of interesting and valuable information concerning Middleborough, can be found by reference to the printed reports of the Mass. Historical Society, being communications of gentlemen who formerly resided here, but who long since started on that journey, from whose bourne no traveller returns.
NOTE TO PAGE 28.
The Indian name has of late years been applied to a manufacturing company, and the river has ever retained it.
NOTE TO PAEE 30.
Bridgewater although equally exposed as Middleborough, sur- rounded as they were by the savage foe, and "strongly advised and solicited to desert their dwellings, and repair down to the towns on the sea side," resolutely kept their ground, and successfully defended their settlement. On the 8th of May 1676, Tispaquin, from Middleborough, with about three hundred of his Indians, made an assualt upon the town, and set fire to many houses, but as said the old chronicles, " the inhabitants issuing from their houses fell upon them, so resolutely that the enemy were repelled, and a heavy shower of rain falling at the same time, the fires were soon extinguished." The close proximity of Tis -: paquin and his tribe was perhaps one reason why Middleborough was abandoned, and Bridgewater having been' settled earlier was probably stronger and better prepared to defend itself than ' Middleborough.
Mrs. Lydia Barnaby of Plymouth, who after the decease of her hus- band, James Barnaby, became the wife of John Nelson, of Middlebor- ough, during her first marriage, had become the mother of James Bar- naby, jr. James Barnaby, jr., married Joanna Harlow, daughter of Sergeant William Harlow of Plymouth. James Barnaby, jr., was born in or about 1670. He purchased a farm in Freetown, for thirteen hundred pounds, which farm now, after the lapse of one hundred and forty-eight years, is still owned by his lineal descend- ants. The will of James Barnaby, bore date of June 22, 1726, and he died July 5th, 1726. Joanna, his wife, was born March 24, 1669, and she died Sept. 4, 1725. Their only son, Captain Ambrose Barnaby, was born at Plymouth, in 1706, died in Freetown, April 18, 1775. He married Elizabeth Gardiner, of Swanzey.
NOTE TO PAGE 32.
No religions meetings were held in their meeting house for many years, and it was finally sold, and remodelled into a hall called, " Sansa- mon Hall," and a part converted into a grocery store, together with a tenement for a family. Accidentally took fire and was burned to the ground, in the early part of 1870. Had stood about 75 years.
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MIDDLEBOROUGH.
for Colonel Dyke's Regiment, and was put on duty at or near Boston. Captain Nathaniel Wood also raised a company that became a part of Col Simcon Cary's Regiment on duty at Roxbury ; of Captain Nathaniel Wood's Co. Job Peirce, a brother of Captain Abial. was a Lieutenant. Lieut. Job Peirce, was promoted to Captain May 9th, 1776, and not long after commanded a company of men in an expedition to Rhode Island, where they served in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Theophilus Cotton, of Plymouth.
Captain Nathaniel Wood's Company of Militia that re- sponded to the call of April 19th, 1775, entered on Rolls as 1st Company of Militia, of Middleborough.
Commissioned Officers. Nathaniel Wood, Captain ; Amos Washburn, Lieutenant ; Joseph Smith, 2d Lieutenant ; Non Commissioned Officers. Zebadee Sprout, Jesse Vaughn, Ebenezer Thomas, Barney Cobb, Sergeants ; John Pickens, Amos Wood, Joseph Ellis, Solomon Dunham, Corporals ; Zebadee Pratt, Drummer; William Clapp, Fifer ; Caleb Thompson, William Bennett, Nathan Wood, Seth Miller, Ephraim Thomas, Jr., William Armstrong, Isaac Bryant, Israel Rickard, Elisha Cox, William Raymond, Joseph Red- ding, John Darling, Ebenezer Smith, James Thomas, Perez Thomas, Andrew Cushman, Micha Leach, William Wood, David Shaw, John Hackett, Zurashada Palmer, George Rich- mond, George Leonard, Elezer Thomas, Jr., Samuel Pick- ens, Jr., Joseph Vaughan, Jr., Benjamin Leonard, Nathan Leonard, Jacob Miller, Nathaniel Thompson, Jonathan Sam- son, Jonathan Ryder, Samuel Raymond, Soloman Thomas, Seth Peirce, Caleb Tinkham, Jos. Richmond, Jr., Samuel Rickard, David Vaughn, Edmund Wood, Privates.
Captain William Shaw's company called on the rolls 1st company of " Minute Men" from Middleborough, April 19th, 1775 .*
Commissioned Officers. William Shaw, Captain ; Joshua Benson, Jr., Lieutenant ; William Thompson, 2d Lieuten- ant ; Non Commissioned Officers. David Thomas, Ebenezer Cobb, 2d, James Smith, Caleb Bryant, Sergeants ; Job Ran- dall, John Soule, Peter Bates, James Cobb, Corporals ; Syl- vanus Raymond, Drummer ; Samuel Torry, Fifer ; Elisha Thomas, Nelson Finney, Lemuel Harlow, Isaac Thompson,
* The first attempt to prepare for defence was by organizing military companies, each member of which pledged himself to be in readiness to march at a moment's notice, and bencethe ssame came to be called " MINUTE MEN." After Lexington fight, these were succeeded by com- panies enlisted for a term of months or years.
38
HISTORY OF TOWNS IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
Edmund Wood, Jr., Zenas Cushman, Joseph Pratt. Phineas Thomas, Caleb Thompson Jr., Elisha Paddock. Nathan Ben- nett, John Soule, 2d, Gideon Cobb, Eliakim Barlow, Ephraim Cushman, Barnabas Cushman, Ichabod Benson, Ebenezer Raymond, Solomon Raymond, Thomas Bates, Asa Benson, Samuel Raymond, 2d, Elipha' Thomas, Silvas' Bennett, 3d, Joseph Thomas, William Le Barron, John Perkins, Joseph Shaw, Joshua Eddy, Seth Eddy, Jos' Chamberlain, Ebenezer Bennett, Ebenezer Briggs, 3d, Asa Barrows, Benjamin Bar- den, Jacob Thomas, Nathan Darling, John Sampson, Thomas Shaw, Japeth Le Baron, Abiezer Le Barron, Joseph Bennett. Private Soldiers.
Captain Amos Wade's company of " Minute Men" from Middleborough, April 19th 1775, called on rolls, third com- pany of Minute Men.
Commissioned Officers. Amos Wade, Captain«, Archipus Cole, Lieutenant ; Lemuel Wood, Ensign; Non Commis- sioned Officers. Isaac Perkins, Ichabod Churchill, Isaac Shaw, Joseph Tupper, Sergeants ; Isaiah Keith, Lot Eaton, Corporals ; John Shaw, Drummer; Daniel White, Fifer ; Zebulon Vaughn, Abner Pratt, Nathan Pratt, Joseph Leonard 5th, Elnathan Wood, Joseph Hathaway, Michael Leonard, David Weston, Samuel Pratt, William Fuller, James Keith, Silas Leonard, Stephen Robinson, Daniel Hills, Stephen Richmond, Lazarus Hathaway, Peter Tinkham, Thomas Harlow, John Drake, Levi Hathaway, Moses Leonard, Solo- mon Howard, Nathaniel Richmond, Jonathan Washburn, Thomas Cobb, Edmund Richmond, Seth Richmond, Asa Richmond, Joseph Leonard , 3d, Solomon Beals, Jonathan Richmond, Zepheniah Shaw, Elijah Alden, Joseph Clark, Benjamin Hafford, Privates.
Captain Isaac Wood's company of " Minute Men" that marched from Middleborough April 19th, 1775, called on rolls 2d company of minute men.
Commissioned Officers. Isaac Wood, Captain ; Corneilus Tinkham, Lieutenant ; Abram Townsend, Ensign ; Non Com missioned Officers. Abner Bourne, Joseph Holmes, John Benson, William Harlow, Sergeants ; Samuel Wood, Foxel Thomas, Abner Nelson, Joseph Churchill, Corporals ; Perc- gaine White, Drummer ; Seth Fuller, Fifer ; Robert Sprout, George Samson, Josiah Harlow, Gershom Foster, Ebenezer Elms, Consider Barden, Consider Fuller, John Barrows, John Townsend Jr., Gideon Southworth, John Smith 3d, Samuel Wood Jr., Elisha Clark, Abraham Parris, Noah
39
MIDDLEBOROUGH.
Holmes 2d, Ebenezer Barrows Jr., Elisha Peirce, Abisha Samson, Samuel Barrows, Peter Miller, George Thomas, Thomas Wood 2d, Eb. Howland, Moses Samson, Daniel Tinkham, Elisha Rider, Isaac Cushman, Abraham Shaw, Samuel Muxum, James Shaw, Samuel Ransom, James Peirce Job Smith, Seth Samson, Levi Peirce, George Williamson, Abial Chase, John Tinkham Jr., Nat Holmes 3d, Peleg Hath- away, Peter Hoar, Andrew Cole, Aaron Cary, Bartlett Handy, Arodi Peirce, John Holloway, James Ashley, Levi Jones, Jotham Caswell, William Read 3d, Ephraim Reynolds, Jonathan Hall, Joseph Hathaway, Samuel Parris, Ebenezer Hinds, Philip Hathaway, Isaac Hathaway, John Townsend, Henry Peirce, Privates.
Captain Peter H. Peirce, son of Capt. Job. Peirce, and Captain Greenleaf Pratt, each commanded a company, of the coast guard raised in Middleborough, and put on duty in or near Plymouth, in 1814.
Major Levi Peirce, a son of Captain Job Peirce, was de- tailed, and served as a Major ofthe coast guard stationed at New Bedford and Fairhaven, in the last war with England.
The militia of Middleborough, from the date of incorpora- tion until about 1720, was embraced in one company. Then it was divided into two, known as first and second compa- nies, and about twenty years later, divided into three com- panies, and ere long into four, and thus continued until the war of the revolution, when again subdivided, and organized as seven companies. That part of the town of Middleborough now Lakeville, embraced all the 7th company, nearly or quite all the 4th, and a part of the 2d. Increase in population caused another division, so that at one time Middleborough had nine companies of local militia. Some of these were dis- banded at the raising of two grenadier companies, in the town in 1818.
There existed in Middleborough for many years, two gren- dier companies known generally as " Middleborough Guards," and " Old Colony Guards," the first named being raised from those members of the " train band" residing at and near the Four Corners village, and the other from those living near Fall Brook, and for which circumstance the last named com- pany came to be called " Fall Brook Co." The Middleber- ough Guards were organized pursuant to orders of which the following is a true copy.
40
HISTORY OF TOWNS IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
" Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
In Council January 20th, 1818.
The military committee to whom was referred the petition of Thomas Wood, and forty-three others, privates in a com- pany of militia in the town of Middleborough, commanded by Captain Enoch Haskins, praying, that said company may be disbanded and. annexed to the company commanded by Captain Sylvanus Warren, in order from the united compa- nies, to enlist and form a Grenadier company, observe that the Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment of which said companies are a part, being the 4th Regiment in the first Brigade of the fifth Division of the Militia, approve of the object of the petitions, and state that the Captain of the com- pany to which they belong, has no objections to the proposed measure and that the Lieutenant has removed out of the bounds of the Brigade, while the Ensign explicitly gives his assent, and the committee further observe that the measure prayed for, meets the approbation of the Brigadier and Major Generals-report that His Excellency be advised to direct that the company first above mentioned, be disbanded, and that the non-commissioned officers and privates thereof, be annexed to the company, now commanded by Captain Syl- vanus Warren, the limits of which shall be extended so as in future to comprehend the district of the disbanded company and to authorize Sylvanus Barrows, named for the purpose in said petition, to enlist from the said united companies a proper number of men, to form a company of Grenadiers which shall be annexed to the fourth Regiment aforesaid."
" D. Cobb, per order."
" In Council, January 22d, 1818. This report is accepted, and by the Governor approved."
" A. Bradford, Secretary of the Commonwealth."
" Commonwealth of Massachusetts,"
" General Order,"
" Head Quarters, Boston, February 25th 1818."
" The Commander in Chief having approved the above written advice of Council, directs the same to be car- ried into effect. Major General Nathaniel Goodwin will give the necessary orders for that purpose."
" By His Excellency's command, Fitch Hall, Acting Adjutant General."
" Head Quarters, Plymouth, March 7th 1818." Division Orders.
The Major General directs Brigadier Gen- eral Washburn, to issue the necessary orders for forming a
41
MIDDLEBOROUGH.
company of Grenadiers, in the 4th Regiment, agreaable to advice of Council and General Orders of the 25th ultimo. By order of Major General, 5th Division, N. Hayward, A. D. C., to Major General. " Head Quarters, Middleborough, March 11th 1818." · Brigade Orders.
The Brigadier General directs Colonel Ephraim Ward, to issue the necessary orders for forming and organizing a company of Grenadiers in the 4th Regiment. " agreeable to above General and Division orders"
" By order B. General, 1st Brigade, Nathaniel Wilder Jr., B. Major."
The company was organized by the choice of Isaac Ste- vens, Captain. Lorenzo Wood, Lieutenant, and Sylvanus Barrows, Ensign. Stevens was Ensign of Captain Enoch Haskin's company, at the date of its disbandment.
The commanders or captains of this Grenadier company, were as follows :
Isaac Stevens from April 3d, 1818 to - 1823.
Sylvanus Barrows from Sept. 9th 1823 to -1827.
Job Peirce, from April 24th 1827 to April 25th 1829.
Rufus Alden, from June 8th 1829 to - 1830.
Josiah Tinkham, from April 28th, 1830, to 1833.
Abial P. Wood, May 7th, 1833. to 1835.
Morton Freeman, from April 2d, 1835, to 1840.
Jacob T. Barrows, from 1840 to 1842.
Amasa T. Thompson, from May 12 1842 to 1844.
Daniel Atwood, from -1844 to July 10th 1844.
Andrew J. Pickens, from Aug. 3d, 1844, to 1846.
Dexter Phillips, from March 20th, 1846, to 1847. Arad Bryant, from February 20th, 1847, to 1849. Albert Thomas, from May 20th, 1849, to 1851. .
Joseph Sampson Jr., from 1851 to Nov. 28, 1851, the date of its disbandment.
The company disbanded by act of the Governor and Coun- cil, January 20th 1818, was what was known as the " Second company" in the local militia of Middleborough, and had existed nearly one hundred years. It was formed as nearly as can now be ascertained, in 1720, and Nathaniel Smith commissioned as its first Captain.
The bounds of this Second company extended into what is now Lakeville, to the brook that crosses the road in said town a little beyond the present residence of John H. Nelson.
6
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42
HISTORY OF TOWNS IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
The name of those gentlemen who successively held the office of Captain of the Second company, together with the dates of their commissions, as far as said dates are now within our knowledge, were as follows :
Nathaniel Smith, 1720.
Gideon Southworth.
Nathaniel Smith, Jr.
John Barrows.
Robert Sprout.
Abial Peirce, from April, 1775 to 1775.
Abner Bourne, from June 2d 1780 to July 1, 1781.
George Vaughan, from April 20, 1790 to - 1793.
Peter Hoar, from June 5th, 1793, to January 4th, 1797.
Jabez Thomas, from Jan. 25, 1797, to 1799
John Morton, from May 7, 1799, to 1802. Sylvanus Tillson, from May 11, 1802, to 1805.
Nathaniel Cole, from May 7, 1805 to 1811.
Ephraim Ward, from March 18, 1811, to October, 1813.
Peter H. Pierce, from February 18, 1814, to -- 1816. Orrin Tinkham, from Sept. 10, 1816, to 1817. Enoch Haskins, from - 1817, to January 20th, 1818, the date of disbandment by order of Governor and Council.
The Second Grenadier company in the town of Middle- borough, that known as " the Old Colony Guards," or " Fall Brook Company," was raised and organized according to the following orders.
" In Council, May 11th, 1818. The military committee of Council, to whom was referred the petition of Roland Peirce, and other inhabitants of the town of Middleborough, requesting that the Military Company in said town, com- manded by Captain Nathaniel Hall, may be disbanded, the officers of said company approving the measure, and the non-commissioned officers and privates of the same be annexed to the company now commanded by Capt. Pelham Atwood, and that said Peirce, and his associates may be per- mitted to form themselves into a Grenadier company, repect- fully report that His Excellency be advised to have the com- pany of militia in the town of Middleborough, commanded by Captain Nathaniel Hall, in the fourth Regiment, first Brigade and fifth Division, disbanded and the non-commis- sioned officers and privates of the same annexed to the ad- joining company now commanded by Captain Pelham Atwood and to direct that the limits heretofore of said Hall's com- pany shall hereafter be considered as forming a part of the aforesaid Captain Atwood's company, and likewise to
43
MIDDLEBOROUGH.
permit the aforesaid Roland Peirce, and his associates under the enlistment of Captain Nathaniel Hall, to form themselves into a company of Grenadiers together with such others as may hereafter join them from within the limits of said town of Middleborough, and when organized to have them an- nexed to the aforesaid fourth Regiment, provided however that none of the standing companies of Middleborough, are thereby reduced to a less number than is required by law.
" D. Cobb, per order."
Then followed from the Adjutant General, an order dated May 11th 1818, and from Major General Nathaniel Good- win of Plymouth, a Division order of May 19th 1818, and Brigadier General Abiel Washburn's Brigade order of May 23d 1818, the last directed to Colonel Ephraim Ward of the 4th Regiment, and the company was organized by the choice of Jonathan Cobb, Captain ; Loring Miller, Lieutenant ; and Darius Miller, Ensign. The Captains of this Grenadier company, with dates of commissions, were as follows :
Jonathan Cobb, from July 16, 1818, to - 1824. Darius Miller, from May 19, 1824 to September 12, 1828. Lothrop S. Thomas, from April 21, 1830, to - 1834.
Levi Morse, from Sept. 27th, 1834, to 1837.
Sylvester F. Cobb, from Sept. 20, 1837, to 1842.
Ichabod F. Atwood, from July 26, 1842, to 1847. George Ward, from - 1847, to May, 1850.
Stephen Thomas, from May 29, 1850, to April 3, 1852.
Lothrop Thomas, from May, 1852, to -18 -. Thomas Weston, from 185- to 1856.
Robert M. Thomas, from - 1 · 1856, to - 1857.
Sylvanus Barrows, from 1857 to 1857, the date of its dis- bandment.
During the time that Ephraim Ward of Middleborough, (now Lakeville), held the office of Brigadier General, the first Brigade of fifth Division, then embracing all the militia of Plymouth County, paraded and mustered twice as a Bri- gade, and at other times mustered by Regiment. Both mus- ters by Brigade were in the town of Halifax. The first on the farm of Thomas Drew, Esq., on Thursday the 20th day of September, 1826, and the other on the farm of Isaac Thompson, Thursday October 9th 1828. The Brigade con- sisted of five Regiments of Infantry, a Battalion of Artillery, and a Squadron of Cavalry, at the first muster, and the same at last save that the Cavalry had been reduced to one com- pany, commanded by Captain Ira Clark, of Rochester, and some part of which generally belonged in Middleborough.
44
HISTORY OF TOWNS IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
This company, with another of like arm in Bridgewater, were made a Battalion of Cavalry, commanded by a Major. The first captain of this company was Hushia Thomas of Middleborough. ,William Bourne of Middleborough, who was commissioned as captain of this company of cavalry May 22, 1797, was promoted to Major of the Battallion, Sept. 12, 1803, and held that office until 1807.
Seth Southworth, and Nehemiah Leonard, of Middlebor- ough, were captains at later dates and Harry Jackson of Mid- dleborough now Lakeville, was Major. The local or stand- ing companies of militia in Middleborough, to the commence- ment of the Revolutionary War, were a part of the first regiment, but at that date these, with the militia of Rochester, and Wareham, were detached and made to constitute a regi- ment known as the " Fourth Regiment,"* and of which the following named Middleborough gentlemen, held the office of Colonel. Ebenezer Sprout, from 1775 to 1781, John Nel- son from July 1, 1781 to 1787, Edward Sparrow, from 1794 to 1796, Abial Washburn, from July 22, 1800, to Sept. 4, 1816, Ephraim Ward, from 1817 to Jan. 27, 1825, Benja- min P. Wood, from 1826 to 1829, Darius Miller, from 1829 to 1831, Thomas Weston jr., from 1831 to 1834, Edward G. Perkins, from 1837 to 1839, Nathan King, from 1839 to April 24, 1840.
Names of Lieut. Colonels of the 4th regiment residing in Middleborough : William Tupper, from July 1st, 1781, to 1785 ; Edward Sparrow, from 1787, to 1794; Abial Wash- burn, from Jan. 4, 1797, to July 22, 1800 ; Peter Hoar, from July 22, 1800, to 1806; Jacob Cushman, from 1807 to 1809 ; Levi Peirce from 1812 to 1816; Ephraim Ward, from 1816, to April 25, 1817; Peter Hoar Peirce, from April 25, 1817 ; Benjamin P. Wood, from 1823 to Sept. 4, 1826 ; Southworth Ellis, from Sept. 4, 1826, to 1829; Thomas Weston, Jr., from Au8. 31, 1829, to 1832; Oliver Eaton, from 1832 to 1834 ; Edward G. Perkins, from 1834 to 1837 ; Nathan King, from 1837 to 1839.
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