USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Templeton > Historical discourse in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the formation of the First Congregational Church in Templeton, Massachusetts : with an appendix, embracing a survey of the municipal affairs of the town > Part 10
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71
Joseph B. Varnum 54
1815.
CALEB STRONG 143
Samuel Dexter .
66
1816.
JOHN BROOKS .
140
Samuel Dexter
74
138
1832.
No. of Votes.
1841.
No. of
Votes.
LEVI LINCOLN. 205
JOHN DAVIS
194
Marcus Morton .
142
Lucius Boltwood (Anti-
slavery)
8
1833.
John Davis * 200
Marcus Morton .
19
John Quincy Adams (Anti-
masonic)
27
Scattering
1
1834.
JOIIN DAVIS
259
Marcus Morton .
14
John Bailey (Antimasonic) 6
1835.
EDWARD EVERETT 202
Marcus Morton .
28
1836.
EDWARD EVERETT 201
Marcus Morton .
32
1837.
EDWARD EVERETT
210
Marcus Morton .
37
1846.
GEORGE N. BRIGGS .
178
Isaac Davis .
120
Samuel E. Sewell .
46
Francis Baylies .
1
1839.
Edward Everett
150
MARCUS MORTON .
.
187
GEORGE N. BRIGGS . 151
Caleb Cushing
111
Samuel E. Sewell
39
Francis Baylies .
3
Scattering
1
JOHN DAVIS was elected by the Legislature, there being no choice by the people.
t No choice by the people; MARCUS MORTON elected by the Legislature.
# No choice by the people; GEORGE N. BRIGGS chosen by the Legislature.
§ No choice by the people; Gov. BRIGGS re-elected by the Legislature.
1840.
JOHN DAVIS
224
Marcus Morton .
160
1842.
John Davis
204
Marcus Morton t
142
Samuel E. Sewell (Anti-
slavery)
7
1843.
George N. Briggs # 167
Marcus Morton .
142
Samuel E. Sewell
33
1844.
GEORGE N. BRIGGS .
172
George Bancroft
150
Samuel E. Sewell
38
1845.
George N. Briggs §
149
Isaac Davis
126
Samuel E. Sewell
37
Henry Shaw .
1
1838.
EDWARD EVERETT
210
Marcus Morton .
87
1847.
Marcus Morton . 13
Samuel Lathrop (Antima- sonic) 25
139
1848.
No. of Votes.
1853. No. of
Votes.
George N. Briggs * 140
Caleb Cushing
77
Stephen C. Phillips (Free Soil) .
154
Scattering
1
185.1.
Emory Washburn 62
Henry W. Bishop .
26
Henry Wilson . 14
HENRY J. GARDNER
(American) 264
1855.
Samuel H. Walley 31
Erasmus D. Beach . 101
HENRY J. GARDNER 252
Julius Rockwell (Republi-
can) . 91
Scattering
1
1856.
Luther V. Bell . 5
Erasmus D. Beach 100
HENRY J. GARDNER . 223
George W. Gordon 31
Horace Mann
153
Scattering
19
=
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLHOUSES.
There were no schools here before the incorporation of the town in 1762; at least, there were none supported by grants of public money. In 1763, there was a grant for a school. In 1764, the town was divided into "two squad-
* No choice by the people; Gov. BRIGGS re-elected by the Legislature.
t No choice by the people; GEORGE S. BOUTWELL chosen by the Legislature.
# No choice by the people; Gov. BOUTWELL re-elected by the Legislature.
§ No choice by the people; JOHN H. CLIFFORD elected by the Legislature.
Il No choice by the people; EMORY WASHBURN elected by the Legislature.
1849.
George N. Briggs * 132
George S. Boutwell 76
Stephen C. Phillips 129
1850.
George N. Briggs . 139
George S. Boutwell t . 96
Stephen C. Phillips 133
1851.
Robert C. Winthrop 168
George S. Boutwell # . 85
John G. Palfrey 132
1852.
John H. Clifford § 138
Henry W. Bishop . 91
Emory Washburn | 137
Henry W. Bishop 87
Henry Wilson
141
202
140
rons " for schooling, - one on the westerly side, the other on the easterly. In 1773, a Committee was appointed " to squadron out the west part of the town for schooling." They made five school-divisions. In 1777, it appears that there were ten school-divisions in the whole township, including Phillipston. In 1769, it was voted that each school-district, or " squadron," should have the same pro- portion of money they paid for schooling. In 1776, the school-money was divided according to the number of chil- dren in each division between the ages of four and sixteen. This rule continued till 1779, when it was changed so as to divide according to the number between four and twenty- one years of age. This rule continued without change for almost fifty years. In 1822, and afterwards in 1827, some further allowance of money was made in favor of the smallest districts. In 1835, the method was adopted of dividing half of the school-money equally to each school, and the other half in proportion to the number of children. In 1805, the town voted to use the word " district" in all school-matters instead of " class," which had for some time previous been used.
No schoolhouses were built at public charge for many years. Schools were often kept in private houses. Then, in some of the districts, perhaps in all, schoolhouses were built by the voluntary contributions of the neighborhood. The first appropriation of public money for this purpose seems to have been in 1787. In that year, the town voted to take all the schoolhouses into its own charge, and to purchase of those who owned them what houses and frames were then existing in the several districts, at appraised values. All the schoolhouses in town amounted, however, to only £51: namely, No. 1 was valued at £15; No. 2, with all the materials provided for repairs, at £20; No. 3, at £4; No. 4, at £12. Nos. 5 and 6 had no houses to dis- pose of. The town then granted £120 (equal to $400) to build and repair schoolhouses throughout the town. A
-
-------
141
Committee of the town determined their location. The same year, seven school " classes," or districts, were formed. In 1801, the rule was adopted for the town to allow each district, which might build a schoolhouse, a hundred dol- lars towards the cost, and the town to own and repair the houses ; but, since 1814, they have been owned and repaired wholly by the districts. District No. 8 was formed, in 1831, by the division of No. 6; and District No. 9, in 1834, by the division of No. 3. The present District No. 1, at one time, formed two districts ; namely, from 1815 to 1822. The present districts were legally defined by geographical lines in 1846.
During the first sixty-five years, the legal superintendence of the schools was vested in the Selectmen; but, in fact, the oversight of them was devolved mainly upon the mini- ster. In 1811, the town, at the request of Rev. Mr. Wel- lington, chose a Committee to assist him in examining school-teachers. John W. Stiles and Josiah Howe were chosen. In. 1815, the town chose a Committee of one from each district to assist in examining the schools, " and to recommend certain useful classical books." Committees " to regulate the school-books " and " examine the schools " were chosen afterward, at times, till the law for choosing School Committees went into operation. Still, up to that time, the care rested almost wholly upon the minister.
COMPARISON OF STATISTICS OF THE SCHOOLS.
The following tables show a comparison between the schools fifty years ago and at the present time, as to length and cost of schools, and the number of persons between the ages of four and twenty-one in each district : -
V
1
142
SUMMER SCHOOLS. - WAGES OF FEMALE TEACHERS.
YEAR 1805-6.
1855-6.
Number of the District.
NAMES OF TEACHERS.
Number between the Ages of
Length of School in Weeks.
Wages per Week.
Cost of Board per Week.
Total Cost of Wages and
Number between the Ages of
4 and 21 in 1855.
Length of School in Weeks.
Teachers' Wages per Month, including Board.
I.
Miss MILLICENT KENDALL
12
$1.17
$8.33
171
10
$20.50
II.
Miss SALLY FLETCHER. .
16
1.17
8.33
58
13
17.00
III.
Miss BETSEY SAWYER . .
67
8
80
12
1.17
0.92
8.33
43
10
18.66
v.
Miss SILENCE RICHARDSON
57
10
1.00
0.67
6.67
45
10
14.00
VI.
Miss BETSEY SAWYER .
53
8
1.17
0.92
8.33
144
18
20.00
VII.
Miss PATIENCE SAWYER .
55
12
1.15
0.67
7.28
97
16
21.00
VIII.
(District formed in 1831) .
-
-
-
156
11
27.00
IX.
(District formed in 1834) .
-
121
10
20.00
. WINTER SCHOOLS. - WAGES OF MALE TEACHERS.
YEAR 1805-6.
1855-6.
Number of the District.
NAMES OF TEACHERS.
Length of School in Weeks.
Teachers' Wages per Week.
Cost of Board per Week.
Male Teachers' Wages, includ-
ing Board, per Month.
Length of School in Weeks.
Male Teachers' Wages per
Month, including Board.
I.
NOAH KENDALL 2d
12
-
-
$22.67
(10)
$41.00 31.50
III.
REUBEN JONES .
8
3.25
1.58
19.33
7
29.00
IV.
LEONARD STONE
8
3.50
1.33
.19.33
14
*
V.
REUBEN JONES .
6
3.00
1.00
16.00
8
38.00
VI.
LEONARD STONE
8
3.50
1.17
18.67
11
40.00
VII.
ARTEMAS BAKER
9
3.75
1.25
20.00
12
**
VIII.
(District formed in 1831)
9
*
IX.
(District formed in 1834)
12
40.00
II.
FRANCIS FLETCHER
12
$4.00
$1.25
21.00
11
6.67
42
10 15.00
IV.
Miss LYDIA KENDALL . .
96 86
$0.92 0.92
Board per Month.
4 and 21 in 1805.
* Female teacher.
143
From the foregoing figures, it appears, that, fifty years ago, the whole number of persons in town, between four and twenty-one years of age, was 494; while, in 1855, the number was 877. There were then seven districts and seven schools ; there are now nine districts and twelve separate schools. The average length of the schools in the year 1805-6 was, in summer, eleven weeks ; in winter, nine weeks. In 1855-6, the average length of the summer schools was twelve weeks ; of the winter schools, ten and a half weeks. The average wages, including board, of the teachers of the summer schools, in 1805, was $1.94 a week ; in 1855, it was $4.84 a week. The average wages of the male teachers in 1805-6, including board, was very nearly $20 a month ; in 1855-6, the average was $36.75 a month. Reckoning both male and female teachers, there- fore, the price of their services per month has a little more than doubled within the fifty years. Considering that the number of separate schools in the districts has increased from seven to twelve, and the number of children in the town in a still greater proportion (viz., from 494 to 877) ; and considering, also, that, fifty years ago, there was hardly any expense to the town for fuel (it being then customary for the people to provide it gratuitously), -it follows, that it now requires a town-grant of nearly $400 to provide schools for the town of the same length that $100 would have provided half a century ago.
It is now impossible to obtain any thing like a complete list of the school-teachers employed in this town in the successive years, or their wages. The following tables, however, will indicate, in some measure, the gradual advance in wages and board : -
FEMALE TEACHERS.
Years.
1770. Mrs. Job Whitcomb was paid for teaching four weeks, in- cluding her board, 20s. 6d., - equal to 86 cents a week.
144
Years.
1771. Paid for a teacher's wages, 3s. a week ; for a teacher's board, 2s. 8d. a week.
1772. A teacher, not named in the records, was paid, for teaching twelve weeks, 2s. 8d. per week ; her board cost 2s. Gd. per week, - equal to 86 cents a week, board and all.
1777. Silas Stone was paid £1. 16s. "for his wife's keeping school six weeks, and boarding her," - equal to $1 a week.
1792. Anna Taylor had 3s. 8d. a week for teaching.
In 1770, Dr. Benjamin Shattuck was paid, "for boarding a school-dame," at the rate of 2s. 8d. (44 cents) a week ; and I find no instance, for twenty-five years after this, of more than 50 cents a week being paid for a female teacher's board.
MALE TEACHERS.
1770. Dr. Benjamin Shattuck was paid, for teaching school two and a half months, £6. 1s. 8d., - equal to $8.11 a month. Probably this included his board. The common price then for board of a master was 4s. 8d. (78 cents) a week. Joel Grout, however, had but 4s. a week in 1770.
1771. Paul Whitney's wages, for teaching four weeks, was 30s., - equal to $1.25 a week.
1773. Nathaniel Dickinson, "for keeping the town-school" five months, received £10.
1774. Josiah Grout, "for keeping school six weeks," had 6s. a week.
1776. Rev. Mr. Sparhawk boarded the schoolmaster at 5s. 6d. a week. I find no instance, before 1795, of more than $1 a week being paid for a male teacher's board. Of course, this remark, as well as that concerning female teachers' board not exceeding 50 cents a week, is with the exception of the nominal prices adopted between 1777 and 1780, while the continental paper-currency was depreciated.
1788. Aaron Hall's wages were £2. 5s. a month.
1789. Peter Holt's wages were £2. 14s. a month.
1792. Josiah Howe was paid $22 for teaching eleven weeks ; and his board cost $1 a week more.
The following persons were paid as teachers in District No. 1, between the years 1794 and 1826, at the respective dates, prices, &c., named. The male and female teachers in the same line were employed the same year : -
--------
145
MALE TEACHERS.
FEMALE TEACHERS.
YEARS.
NAMES OF
TEACHERS.
Length of School in Weeks.
Wages per Week, beside
Cost of Board per Week.
NAMES OF
TEACHERS.
Length of School in Weeks.
Wages per Week, beside
Cost of Board per Week.
1794 1800
T. G. FESSENDEN . ARTEMAS COOK .
6
4.00
1.17
SALLY PARKER
1.00
0.92
1803
GEORGE C. SHATTUCK *
10
3.50
1.00
ABIGAIL LOCKE
8
1.58+
-
1805
ABRAHAM WHEELER STEPHEN EMORY
6
4.50
1.33
POLLY CUTTING . :
12
2.25+
-
1815
Dr. DAVID GOODRIDGE .
12
6.00+
ACHSAHI RICHARDSON
9
1.50
1.33
1820
PAUL R. KENDALL . . .
12
5.00
1.50
LUCY WRIGHT
12
2.67+
-
1825
THOMAS SAWYER
9
4.00
1.50
LUCY B. HOWE
12
2.50+
The following persons were paid for teaching in District No. 2, between the years 1794 and 1827, at the respective dates, prices, &c., named : -
MALE TEACHERS.
FEMALE TEACHERS.
YEARS.
NAMES OF
Length of School in Weeks.
Wages per Week, beside Board.
Cost of Board per Week.
Length of School in Weeks.
Wages per Week, beside
Cost of Board per Week.
1794
SAMUEL HIENRY
8
$1.87} $1.00
ABIGAIL SPARHAWK ANNA KNOWLTON .
8
$0.67
$0.50
1800
MOSES WRIGHIT
8
3.50+
8
1.00
0.67
1805
ABNER GAY . .
10
3.75
1.25
SALLY FLETCHER
16
1.17
0.83
1811
OLIVER FLETCHER
12
4.00+
-
BEULAH GOODRIDGE
12
1.17
0.83
1820
DAVID SPAULDING
9
4.50
1.56
BETSEY DAVIS
10
1.921
1825
CHARLES OSGOOD
10
3.75
1.17
MARY ANN SPOONER
16
1.50
0.75
1827
PETER COBLEIGII
11
4.00
1.10
-
20
$2.50
$1.00
HANNAH COOK
$0.83
$0.83
6
4.00
1.42
MILLICENT KENDALL
12
1.17
0.92
1810
NAMES OF
TEACHERS.
TEACHERS.
Board.
1815
.
10
4.50
1.56
CHARLOTTE NEWTON
10
2.33}
-
* The donor of the Atheneum shares hereinafter mentioned. t Including board.
19
Board.
Board.
146
SCHOOL-LAND AND MINISTERIAL LAND.
The original grant of the township by the Legislature required that three lots, each to be equal in value to the lot of one proprictor, should be set apart, and devoted, one to the first minister as his private property, which was of the nature of "a settlement; " one, the income or interest to be applied towards supporting the minister and his succes- sors ; and one, the income or interest to go towards sup- porting schools. These three " public lots " were accordingly set apart ; viz., No. 46, No. 92, and No. 36. The first, of course, became the property of the Rev. Daniel Pond. No action was taken as to selling the other two lots till 1768, when it was at first voted to lease them both for nine hun- dred and ninety-nine years. But this was not carried into effect. It was decided to sell the school-land only at that time. Many years afterwards, -viz., in 1805, and again in 1810, - when the avails of the school-lands had dis- appeared, it was voted to petition the Legislature for leave to sell the ministerial lands, and apply the interest for schooling. But such a course was unlawful ; and the plan of a school-fund was abandoned.
The school-lot was sold at auction, by vote of the town, May 15, 1769, to Deacon Phinchas Byam, for £55. 18s., - equal to $186.33. In 1770, it was also voted to apply the money from the sale of " pew-ground " in the meeting-house for four pews, as a perpetual fund for a school. In the pinching times of the Revolutionary War, which soon came on, it probably was not casy to keep funds on hand in the treasury ; and the town perhaps thought, that, by granting school-taxes each year, they fulfilled sufficiently the inten- tion of the Legislature. In 1788, a Committee recommended to the town that the interest on any notes remaining in the Treasurer's hands, after paying the town's debts, should be applied annually for the support of schools. But there is no further trace of any school-fund from such sources.
-
147
In 1837, however, when the town received its proportion of the surplus-revenue that had been distributed by the United States, amounting to $3,337.74 for this town, it was voted to loan that fund, and apply the interest for the support of schools. The interest was thus appropriated about three years ; but in 1840, the town being in debt, the greater part of the fund was taken to pay the liability of the town in a suit in which Peter Sanderson recovered a large judg- ment against the town for damages sustained on the highway. Subsequently, what remained of the Surplus-revenue Fund was used in paying the town's debts.
The ministerial lot remained unsold for forty-four years after the sale of the school-lot. It consisted of two hundred and forty acres ; the proprietors having exchanged some of the better lands belonging to it in the carly divisions, and allowed a larger than the average quantity to this lot. The land was finally sold at auction, in cight parcels, July 6, 1813 ; and the committee took notes, payable to the trustees of the Ministerial Fund, for $1,312.97. The school-lot was sold, as above stated, in 1769, for £55. 18s. If that sum had been kept at compound interest, at five per cent, till the time of the sale of the ministerial land, it would have amounted to $1,594.45.
RESOLVES IN BEHALF OF AMERICAN FREEDOM.
The earliest action taken by the town, in its corporate capacity, in reference to the infringements on, American liberties by the British government, was at a meeting held Dec. 31, 1772. The article in the warrant relating to this subject, and the proceedings upon it, are here copied from the Town Records. As a specimen of the style of the times, the extract conforms to the original spelling, capital letters, &c. The Article was in the following words : -
1
148
To lay before the Town the Proceedings of the Town of Boston with regard to our Charter Rights and libertyes, and to see if the Town will Communicate there Sentiments to the Town of Boston, Whether thay have Stated our Rights and the Infringements on them in a Propper light: - or act anything thereon as thay shall think Proper.
The record proceeds as follows : -
At a Very full Meeting of the freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Templeton, Legally assembled on Thursday the 31 day of December Anno: Dom: 1772. Proceeded as follows, Viz. After Reading of a Pamphalet Containing a Statement of the Rights of the Colonists and of this Province in Perticular and the Infringements on those Rights, with the Letter of Coro- spondance from the Town of Boston - The Town then took those Important Matters Into their Serious Consideration - and it was put to Vote Whether the Town of Boston has stated our Charter Rights with the Infringements on them in a Propper Light - and it Passd in the Affermative by a Very grate Majority, not one Dissenter -Then Voted to Choose a committee of Nine to Examin More Critically Into the Proceedings of the Town of Boston and to write an answer to their Letter of Corospondance and the Com- mittee to Make Report at the adjournment of this Meeting.
At the adjourned meeting on the second Monday of January, 1773,. this Committee made the following report, which is here given, together with a draught of a letter written by them to the Committee of Correspondence in Boston : -
Agreeable to the trust Reposed in us we have Taken Into further Consideration the Late Proceedings of the Town of Boston in Behalf of our Dieing libertyes - and we have carefully Perrused the grate and good Charter of the Province by which our liberties and Pro- perties are Confirmed to us - And Therefore, we are fully of the opinion that the Town of Boston has Stated our Charter Rights and liberties, & the Infringements on them in a Very Convincing light to all Who are friends to our Happy and Glorious Constitu- tion ! And if these be the Dreary Circumstances We are in, In the Name of Reason, Where is our Inglish liberties for Which our Ancestors left their Goodly Habitations and Pleasant Gardens and Came to this then Howling Wilderness and Sufferd Hungar and Nakedness and almost every other Hardship? Was it that their Posterity should only for a few years Injoy those liberties and Previliges which Cost them So Much Blood, and then to be mad no more of than Beasts of Burthen? No Surely -but to Purchas
149
for themselves and for us, their Posterity a free Constitution and quiet Habitations ; and that as long as Time Shall Indure - There- fore, we, the sons of those Heroes, are under the gratest obliga- tions to exert ourselves to the Utmost to Preserve Inviolate those Rights which God and Nature and the Charter of this. Province Hath given us - Therefore, be it Voted, as the Opinion of this Town, that we have for some years past been loaded with Burthens to grate for the Shoulders of any Inglish-man to Bare: - and now, if, in addition to our other grevances, there Must be this, viz. that the Judges of the Superior Court be made Independent of the grants of this Province for their Support, it must have a direct Tendency to overthro and Distroy our happy Civil Government. - Voted secondly, that we will Cultivate a Close and Strict Union with Boston, and other Towns in the Province, and will heartily join with them in Every Lawful Step and Prudent way for the Redress of their and our Greivances. - Voted thirdly, that as the general Court is once more Permitted to Convene (and at their ancient Seat too) we, his Majesty's Loyal Subjects, in Town Meet- ing legally assembled, Doe hereby with our United Voice Humbly Intreat the Honte House of Representatives to Use their gratest In- fluence for a full Redress of all our greivances.
To the Gentleman of the Committee for Corospondance and others in the Town of Boston : - We, the committee apointed by the Town at their Last Meeting to write an answer to your obligeing Letter of the 20th of November last, Do, at this Time, with grate Pleasure, both for ourselves and the Inhabitants of this Town, Return you our Sincear and Hearty Thanks for the grate care and pains you have from time to time bin at for the Supporting and Defending of our Invaluable Rights and liberties - But Espetially at this time when their Seems But a step between us and Ruin. It is true that, we, the Inhabitants of this Town have ben Inured to Hardships But thank God we dont look upon ourselves as yet creatures at Human Mercy -Therefore, you May Depend upon us that we will Concur with you, and the other Towns in the Province, in takeing Every Legal Step in order to obtain a full Redress of all greivances. We are very Sorry that your so Reasonable Request to the Governor was answered in Such a Manner -tis no doubt the effect of Independancy. Finally, we hope you will Continue to have an Eagle Eye upon our Sacred rights and liberties and Espye danger tho Ever so Remote - and our hope and Sincere Desires are that your Names Will be had in Everlasting Remembrance.
from your Most Humble and obligd Servants --
JOHN RICHARDSON JONATHAN BALDWIN THOMAS WHITE HENRY SAWTELL JONAS WILDER
EBENEZER WRIGHT SILAS JONES ABEL HUNT JOSHUA WRIGHT
150
The following resolves respecting goods imported from Great Britain were reported to the town, at a meeting held May 17, 1774, by a Committee chosen for the purpose, consisting of Abel Hunt, John Richardson, Jacob Grout, Thomas White, and Moses Gray. They were adopted by vote of the town : -
Voted, first, that we will not, by ourselves or by any under us, directly or indirectly, purchase any goods, of any person whatever, that is or shall be subject to any duty for the purpose of raising a revenue in America. Voted, second, that we will not use any foreign tea, nor countenance the use of it in our families, unless in case of sickness, and not then without a certificate from under the hand of one or more physicians that it is absolutely necessary in order for the recovery of their patient. And whoever in this town shall presume to act contrary to the aforementioned votes shall be deemed an enemy to his country, and treated as such.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
This town acted with great spirit and self-sacrifice in behalf of the American cause during the war. A Commit- tee of correspondence, inspection, and safety, was annually chosen as long as the contest lasted. One or more com- panies of minute-men were formed. The following vote was passed Oct. 4, 1774 : -
Voted that Samuel Osgood, Thomas White, Capt. Aaron Jones, Job Whitcomb, and William Sprague, provide provisions for our soldiers, and carry the same to them, in case they should be called for to go out to battle.
March 15, 1775, the town chose a Committee to take care of the minute-men's farms and families, if they should be called into battle. The Selectmen were instructed to procure fire-arms and ammunition at the charge of the town. William Sprague and Abel Hunt were paid for two days' work at " running bullets for the use of the town."
151
The next town-meeting warrant, after the battle of Lexing- ton, was issued, not " in his majesty's name," as all previous warrants had been, but simply " by order of the Selectmen." In 1777, the warrants were issued " in the name of the government and people of the State of Massachusetts Bay." The town, many times during the war, provided beef and other provisions, and clothing, for the army ; paid bounties for soldiers to enlist ; and appointed committees to see to their families while absent. The Town Records do not show how many soldiers entered the army from this place. Capt. Joel Fletcher and Capt. Jonathan Holman each commanded a company, in the camp before Boston, in the autumn of 1775. In the year 1778, there were fifteen men from Templeton serving in the American army.
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