USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hanover > Historical sketch of the town of Hanover, Mass., with family genealogies, 1853 > Part 10
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109
STAMP ACT.
enjoyment of those inestimable blessings, now so freely and widely diffused throughout our land.
In a work like the present, however, which is local in its char- acter, it will not be expected that we should give an extended notice of these events. We shall confine ourselves to the part which the citizens of Hanover took in the great drama then per- formed, only giving such general details, as may serve to render our sketch intelligible, and complete.
The principal causes which led to the War of the Revolution, were the adoption of measures, and the enactment of laws, by the Parliament of the mother country, which were deemed oppressive in their character, and an invasion of the rights of the people of the colonies.
Indeed, quite early in the history of our country, we find the right of England to Legislate for the colonies, questioned by many. We could bring abundant proofs to sustain this position, were it necessary. Not only do the laws of Plymouth and Mas- sachusetts show this, but the writings of the most eminent men of those days, furnish clear and decisive evidence of the fact. 1 Hence when, in the reign of George the II, an act of Parliament was passed, imposing a duty on sugars, &c., which, in the reign of George the III, in 1764, was continued and enforced, and the duty increased, and an impost also laid on molasses, brought to the colonies from any other than British plantations in the West In- dies, and the jurisdiction of vice-admiralty courts was enlarged, by which the people were deprived of trial by juries, in all cases relating to revenue arising from these duties, and made liable to unreasonable and oppressive suits ; - these acts were all resisted, and all tended to foster a feeling of injury, and a spirit of resent- ment, among the people.
But the famous Stamp Act, passed in 1765, awakened the most general indignation ; and as soon as it arrived at Boston, the bells were muffled, and rung a funeral peal, and the act itself was hawked about the streets, with a Death's head affixed to it, and styled the Folly of England, and the ruin of America, and af- terwards publicly burnt by the enraged populace ; 2 and throughout
1 Massachusetts State Papers, p. 13, et seq.
2 Low's American Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 288.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
the province, meetings were held, and the act denounced. The new act of 1768, imposing a duty on tea, papers, painters' colors, and glass, caused, if possible, a ferment greater than that caused by the Stamp Act; and so thoroughly were the people aroused, that it was finally resolved to call a Convention, to meet in Bos- ton, September 21, " to consult upon measures for the safety of the Province." Delegates to this Convention were sent from a large number of towns. Hanover deputed Joseph Cushing, Esq., to act as its Representative ; a gentleman who had been long and favorably known to his townsmen, and who was distinguished for his unbending integrity, and affable deportment ; - who after- wards held an honorable rank in the Conventions of the County, and the Congresses of the Province ; and who, at a still later period, when peace had been declared, and order restored to our disturbed civil institutions, as a token of gratitude, and esteem for his services, was elevated to the office of Judge of Probate for the County of Plymouth, and received a military commission, with the rank of Brigadier General.
But the oppressions of England did not cease with the Act of 1768. Farther encroachments were made upon the rights of the Colonies ; and the public mind was kept in a constant state of feverish excitement ; until, all over the land, the necessity for an appeal to arms was beginning to be felt, and even to be advo- cated, by the most bold and resolute. Monday, September 26, 1774, a meeting of delegates from every town in Plymouth County, was held at Plympton, and by adjournment, at the court house in Plymouth, on Tuesday the 27th ; and Hanover sent as its Representatives, Capt. Joseph Cushing, Joseph Ramsdell, Joshua Simmons, Capt. Robert L. Eells, and Dr. Lemuel Cushing ; and the first named gentleman was chosen one of the committee of nine, to prepare an address expressive of their feelings in view of the aggressions of the British Government. The proceedings of this Convention are given in full in the Journal of the Provincial Congress, pp. 621-625, but are too long to be inserted here.
On the 7th, of October 1774, the First Provincial Congress was convened at Salem ; on the 11th, at Concord ; on the 17th, at Cambridge, and again at Cambridge, November 23d, and dis- solved, December 10th. The Second Congress was convened at
111
MINUTE MEN.
Cambridge, February 1, 1775; at Concord, March 22d, and April 22d ; and at Watertown April 22d, and dissolved May 29th. The Third Congress convened at Watertown, Wednesday, May 3 lst, 1775, and was dissolved Wednesday, July 19th, 1775. To all these, Col. Cushing, as he is called on the Journals, was sent as a delegate from Hanover, and in all he took an active and prominent part. We could enumerate many instances, in which he was appointed on important committees ; and that his services were held in the highest esteemn, may be inferred from the fact that his associates were ever ready to assign to him new trusts. 1
During the session of the First Congress, the importance of the improvement of the militia was urged, and the several towns and districts in the colony were advised "to see that each of the min ite men not already provided therewith, should be immediately equipped with an effective fire-arm, bayonet, pouch, knapsack, and thirty rounds of cartridge and balls, and be disciplined three times a week, and oftener as opportunity may offer ; " and in the Second Congress, where any deficiency in arms or accoutre- ments was found, the Selectmen were instructed to supply the same " out of the town stock, and in case of a deficiency there, to apply to such inhabitants as can best spare their arms or accoutre- ments, and to borrow or purchase the same for the use of the in- habitants so enlisting;" >
In accordance with these votes, companies of minute men were formed in all the towns in the province, -indeed this work had commenced as early as 1773,-and these companies furnished efficient aid in procuring recruits for the Army, communicating intelligence on sudden emergencies, and forwarding the war. According to Col. J. B. Barstow, Hanover was divided into two districts, by the road running from the North River bridge past the Four Corners, to what is now Hanover Street, and thence to the Meeting House, and on West to the Drinkwater Forge, and to Abington. The inhabitants of the Southerly part of the town were in one district, and the company formed here was com- manded by Colonel, then Capt. Amos Turner, and Lt. Samuel
1 See the Journals, pp. 55, 66, 85, 95, 97, 118, 130, 148, 255, 284, 291, 298, 300, 310, 363, 374, 377, and 479.
2 Jour. Prov. Cong. pp. 71, and 209-10
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HISTORY OF HANOVER
Barstow ; and those to the North, were in the Second District, and their Company was commanded by Capt. Joseph Soper, and probably Lt. Lemuel Curtis. In the County, a regiment was formed of companies of minute men, and Theophilus Cotton, of Plymouth, was chosen Colonel ; Ichabod Allen, of Duxbury, Lt. Colonel ; and Ebenezer Sprout, of Middleboro', Major. 1 January 16, 1775, The town procured a stock of thirty-five fire arms, as a public supply, to be furnished to those who had not the means, or were not able to provide for themselves.
One of the earliest acts of the Provincial Congress was to pro- vide funds for the expenses of Government, and the conduct of the war. Harrison Gray, Esq., was the treasurer appointed by the old authorities ; but as funds in his hands were not available to the public, the Congress advised all constables and collectors of taxes " who have or shall have any money in their hands collected on province assessments," not to pay the same to Mr. Gray, but to retain them in their own hands until otherwise instructed ; and they soon made choice of Henry Gardner, Esq., as Treasurer, and directed all monies to be paid to him.2 Accordingly the town of Hanover, having voted, Jan. 16, 1775, to raise £43 15s. 2d. " for purposes of defence," instructed Israel Perry, collector for 1773-4, to pay over the same to Mr. Gardner, "with the remain- der of the Province tax in his bills not then collected," and agreed to "indemnify and hold him harmless in so doing."
Another of these preliminary steps, was the appointment of Com- mittees of Correspondence and Safety ; and the committee of Hanover, for the year 1775, consisted of David Jacobs, Lieut. Whiting, Joshua Simmons, Abner Curtis, Ezra Briggs, Dr. Cush- ing, Seth Bates, Lemuel Curtis, Capt. Curtis, Capt. Eells, Joseph Ramsdell, Amos Turner, Michael Silvester, Lieut. Barstow, Bezaleel Curtis, Benjamin Bass, Israel Perry, Benjamin Studley, John House, jr., and Seth Josselynn ; and they were instructed " to see that the resolves of the Continental Congress relative to trade, &c., are strictly adhered to."
By the operation of the Boston Port Bill, the inhabitants of that town were thrown into great distress, and provisions for their
1 Winsor's Duxbury, p. 123.
2 Jour. Prov. Cong. pp. 19, 38, and 45.
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RUGGLES COVENANT.
relief were made, not only throughout Massachusetts, but in seve- ral of the other Colonies. In Hanover, Dea. Barstow, and Thomas Rose, were chosen to receive donations, and forward them to the proper authorities, to be distributed.
In the winter of 1774, the tories of Massachusetts, were active in forwarding their schemes; and the Hon. Timothy Ruggles, of Hardwick, one of the most conspicuous, drew up a document, called the Ruggles Covenant, intended for the signature of all favorable to the royalist cause. This paper found its way to Hanover, and suspicions of its presence being entertained, the town instructed the Committee of Correspondence, " to inquire into the ground and foundation of a report that a covenant called the Ruggles Covenant is signed and circulated among some of the inhabitants." This incendiary document is given at large on the Journals of the Provincial Congress, p. 68.
It will hardly be necessary to say that such a compact found but few signers in Hanover. Indeed, in a town so loyal to freedom, tories were rare. When, in 1777, Israel Perry was chosen to collect " the evidence relative to those persons supposed to be inimical to their country," after the most diligent search. he reported but seven names, and these were either peaceable mem- bers of the Society of Friends, whose principles caused them to look upon all war as wrong, or members of the Episcopal Church, who, from that fact alone, were supposed to be friendly to the King. The names reported were Charles Bailey, Peleg Ewell, Mordecai Ellis John Bailey 3d., Joseph Donnell, and William and Jane Stockbridge.
All who did favor the royalists, were everywhere treated with a severity proportioned to the magnitude of their offence. They were ingloriously tipped from the cart's tail, and commanded forth- with to depart from the limits of the town, under the threat of heavier penalties, should they dare to appear within its borders again. Of all crimes, that of aiding and abetting the enemies of America, was most heartily despised, and treated with the stern- est rebuke.
Previous to the commencement of the hostilities of the 19th of April, 1775, which may be regarded as the opening scene of the war of the Revolution, there were found, in Marshfield, a large
114
HISTORY OF HANOVER.
number of friends of England, and signers of the Ruggles Covenant; and these, as appears by a letter dated Jan. 26, 1775, sent an express to Gen. Gage, acquainting him with their situation, and begging support.1 This led to the forwarding of a body of one hundred troops, under the command of Capt. Balfour, and three subalterns, with two field pieces, and three hundred stands of arms, to be putinto the hands of the loyalists. The troops were detached on board two small vessels, and landed quietly, and without dis- turbance. But the presence of such a body of men could not fail to be attended with some murmurings, and dissatisfaction, on the part of the people of the adje ming towns, although the signers of the covenant made their boast that "every faithful subject to his King dare fully utter his thoughts, and drink his tea, and kill his sheep as profusely as he pleases." 2
Accordingly, in the Boston Evening Post, of Feb. 27, 1775, there was published an address to Gen. Gage, signed by the selectmen of Plymouth, Kingston, Duxbury, Pembroke, Hanover, and Scituate, protesting against the course he had pursued, in which, after declaring that the fears and intimidations of the peo- ple of Marshfield were entirely groundless, they proceed to say, " It appears as evident as if written with a sunbeam, from the general tenor of the testimony, which we are willing to lay before your excellency, if desired, that their expressions of fear, were a fallacious pretext, dictated by the inveterate enemies of our constitu- tion, to induce your excellency to send troops into our country, to augment the difficulties of our situation, already very distress- ing ; and what confirms this truth, if it needs any confirmation, is, the assiduity and pains which we have taken to investigate it. We have industriously scrutinized into the cause of this alarm, and cannot find that it has the least foundation in reality." 3
The Congress, on the reception of the above-a copy of which was forwarded to them - passed a vote highly approving the vigi- lance of the selectmen and committees of correspondence of the towns named in the address, and recommended to them " steadily to persevere in the same line of conduct, which has, in this instance,
1 Winsor's Duxbury, p. 128.
2 Winsor's Duxbury, p. 127.
3 Jour. Prov. Cong. p. 104.
,
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BALFOUR'S TROOPS.
so justly entitled them to the esteem of their fellow countrymen, and to keep a watchful eye upon the behavior of those who are aiming at the destruction of our liberties." 1
The troops under Balfour, however, did not remain long in the county. On the 21st of April they departed, as they came,-in their hurry leaving behind them most of their camp equipage and stores, - and being engaged in the battle at Bunker Hill, on the 17th of June, all but their commander, and five of the soldiers, perished, although they entered the field " with as fine a com pany as was in his Majesty's service."
Before their departure, the military companies in the vicinity were on the alert, and were contemplating an attack. Col John Bailey ordered his troops to march to the spot, but they did not arrive until the enemy had left. Mr. Jabez Studley was among the soldiers engaged in this expedition, according to his son, the present Mr. Jabez Studley, of Hanover.
We have now reached that period when actual hostilities com- menced, and the struggle for liberty, at the point of the bayonet, began in earnest.
April 8, 1775. The Provincial Congress resolved " that the present dangers, and alarming situation of our public affairs, ren- ders it necessary for this colony to make preparations for their security and defence, by raising and establishing an army." 3 This army, as appears by a subsequent report, was raised, and consis- ted of twenty-two regiments complete, of ten companies each, containing sixty men; and three regiments incomplete. But all the privates were not properly equipped, and of military stores, of some descriptions, the supply was very small. 4 John Bailey, of Hanover, was Licut. Col. in the regiment of Gen. Thomas.
On the first of May, 1775, or about two weeks after the battle of Lexington, according to Winsor, four companies were ordered to Plymouth " to guard the sea-coast," where they were sta- tioned until the first of September. 5 Of this order I find no
1 Jour. Prov. Cong. p. 103-4.
2 Winsor's Duxbury, p. 120.
3 Jour. Prov. Cong. p. 135.
4 Bradtord's Hist. Mass. Vol. 1. p. 382.
5 Winsor's Duxbury, p. 120.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
record ; but on the first of July, a memorial having been present- ed from Plymouth, stating that the people in that neighborhood were " in danger of being attacked by the enemy," it was resolv- ed by the Congress " that General Ward be and hereby is directed, immediately to issue his orders that two full Companies from Col. Cotton's regiment, under proper officers, march without delay, to Plymouth, and there remain for the guard and defence of the in- habitants, until they can be relieved by such Companies as are to be raised for the defence and protection of the sea-coast, and to be stationed there for that purpose." 1
Among those who thus guarded the sea-coast, " Samuel Eells and others" are spoken of, on the records of the town, and Oct. 30th, there was paid to him, and to Nathaniel Torrey, for their services, £1 12s. 8d. ; and in the "Pay Roll of the Company stationed on the sea-coast in the Massachusetts service till the last of De- cember, 1775, occur the names of " Samuel Eells, jr., Fifer ; and Eliab Studley, Benjamin Studley, Ezra Briggs, Solomon Bates, Jabez Studley, Henchman Silvester, Clement Bates, and Seth Curtis, Privates," - all of whom were citizens of Hanover. 2
On the third of July, 1775, General Washington, by appoint- ment of the Continental Congress of June 14th, took command of the American troops in the vicinity of Boston, which were then estimated at 15,000. Of these, more than 9,000 belonged to Massachusetts, -the rest having been furnished by Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. 3
These troops were in a comparatively undisciplined state, and almost destitnte of clothing, and ammunition. But a few days after Washington's arrival, the alarming discovery was made, that the actual quantity of powder on hand, was not more than sufficient to furnish cach man with nine cartridges. 4 The main body of the British army, at this time, under the immediate command of Gen. Howe, was entrenching itself strongly on Bunker Hill. Three floating batteries lay in Mystic river, near the camp, and a twenty gun ship below the ferry, between Boston and Charles-
1 Jour. Prov. Cong. 433.
2 Revolutionary Rolls, 36, 226.
3 Bradford's Massachusetts, Vol. 2. p. 18.
4 Marshall's Washington, Vol. 1. p. 30.
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ENTRENCHMENT AT DORCHESTER.
town. A strong battery on the Boston side of the water, on Copp's hill, served to cover and strengthen the post on Bunker Hill. Another division was entrenched on the Neck. The light horse, and a small body of infantry, were stationed in Boston. The American army lay on both sides of Charles river. The right occupied the high grounds about Roxbury ; whence it extended towards Dorchester ; and the left was covered by Mystic or Med- ford river, a space of at least twelve miles. A change was after- wards made in the position of the American troops, and Washing- ton himself took up his head quarters at Cambridge.1 A rigorous blockade was thus kept up over the British army, and Boston itself was in a state of siege, and so continued until the spring of 1776.
1776. The Committee of Safety for this year consisted of Joseph Cushing, Joshua Simmons, Capt. Robert L. Eells, Joseph Rams- dell, Lemuel Curtis, David Jacobs, Benjamin Bass, Benjamin Studley, Capt. Amos Turner, Capt. Joseph Soper, Samuel Bars- tow, jr., Michael Silvester, Calvin Curtis, Lt. John Hatch, Ezra Briggs, Seth Stetson, John Curtis, jr., Joshua Barstow, and Thos. Whiting.
Feb. 12, 1776. Capt. Nathaniel Winslow's Company marched to Roxbury, and other troops from Hanover had joined the army at that place, in preparation for the contemplated attempt to dis- lodge the British army from Boston. This was in accordance with a resolution of the Provincial Congress of the previous Janu- ary, " that a vigorous attempt ought to be made on the ministerial troops in Boston, before they can be reinforced in the spring; and that thirteen regiments of militia should be asked for from Massa- chusetts and the neighboring colonies, in order to put the army in a condition to make the attempt." 2 To effect this object, it was determined that entrenchments should be thrown up on Dorchester heights ; and Major General Thomas had the com- mand of the troops detached for this arduous service ; and Col. John Bailey, and the troops from Hanover were among the num- ber. They passed from the camp at Roxbury, to the place of their destination, with great caution, under cover of the night ; and
1 Marshall's Washington, Vol. 1. p. 29 et seq.
2 Marshall's Washington, Vol. 1. p. 29.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
when the light of day exposed them to the view of the British in Boston, they had thrown up a suficient breastwork for protection and security in prosecuting the object of their enterprise. 1 Gen. Howe, in order to frustrate the intentions of the Americans, sent a picked body of 3,000 men, commanded by Lord Percy, to as- sault the works which had been thus commenced ; and they em- barked, and fell down to the castle, to proceed to the intended scene of action, but were scattered by a furious storm, which dis- abled them from immediately prosecuting the enterprise, and before they could be again in readiness for the attack, the works were made so strong, that the attempt to storm them was thought unadvisable, and the evacuation of the town soon afterward took place. 2
A part of the glory of this enterprise belongs to Hanover ; and among those who were thus engaged, from the Pay Roll of Capt. Nathaniel Winslow's company, which marched for Roxbury Feb. 12, 1776, we gather the names of Benjamin Studley, 1st Lieut. ; Joseph House, 2d Lieut. ; Timothy Rose, Sergeant ; David Torrey, Drummer ; and Stephen Torrey, Job Tilden, Robert White, Elijah Silvester, Elisha Palmer, Seth House, Samuel Eells, Samuel Gross, Nathaniel Torrey, Jonathan Pratt, Benjamin Bates, Joseph Bates, Benjamin Silvester, Adam Perry. James Whiting, Nathaniel Josselynn, Seth Bates, Nathaniel Stetson, Isaac Turner, Seth Bates, Jr., Joseph Brooks, Gideon Studley, Benjamin White, James Torrey, Benjamin Stetson, Laban Rosc, and Ebenezer Eddy, Privates. 3 Tradition says that Clement Bates was also at Dorchester heights, and aided in fillling with sand, the barrels which were to be used for the defence of the breastwork. As all Col. Cotton's regiment, which had been sta- tioned at Plymouth, moved to Roxbury, and formed part of the detachment which threw up these entrenchments,4 there were probably other citizens of Hanover engaged in the enterprise, but the foregoing are all the names we are able to give authentically.
In March, 1776, there was an alarm of " danger at Cohasset," probably arising from the British vessels which were hovering
1 Bradford's Massachusetts, Vol. 2. p. 85.
2 Marshall's Washington, Vol. 1. p. 43.
3 Rev. Rolls, 24. 38.
4 Winsor's Duxbury, 131.
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INDEPENDENCE DECLARED.
upon the coast, and troops were ordered to the spot to aid in its de- fence. From Hanover, the whole company under the command of Capt. Lemuel Curtis was detached ; and in the Pay Roll of the same, which was sworn to before Joseph Cushing, Esq., Jan. 20, 1777,1 occur the names of Lemuel Curtis, Captain; John Hatch, 1st Lieut. ; Abner Curtis, 2d Licut .; Calvin Curtis, Michael Silvester, James Curtis, and Israel Perry, Sergeants ; and Elijah Curtis, Jabez Studley, Joseph Curtis, Prince Curtis, Thom- as Hatch, David House, Snow Curtis, Joshua Dwellcy Jesse Cur- tis, John Totman, Eliab Studley, Marlboro' Turner, Joseph Ran- dall, Abel Curtis, Seth Bailey, Ezra Briggs, Elisha Simmons, Abner Curtis, jr., Robert Corthrell, Gershom Curtis, Job Curtis, Isaac Hatch, Simeon Curtis, Seth Curtis, William Gilbert, Elijah Stetson, Melzar Curtis, Ebenezer Curtis, Job Barstow, Solomon Bryant, Benjamin Bass, Seth Josselynn, Lemuel Bates, and Gamaliel Bates.
Whilst these events were transpiring, the Continental Congress was in session, and the declaration of Independence was under discussion ; and June 30, at a meeting in Hanover " held to take into consideration a resolve of the Honorable House of Represen- tatives of the Massachusetts Bay, relative to advising the person or persons chosen to represent them in the General Court, whether, if the Honorable American Congress should for the safety of the American Colonies, declare them Independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, they the said inhabitants, will solemnly engage, with their lives and fortunes, to support them in the measure, Voted, to instruct their Representative, that if said Congress, should think it safest to declare them Independent of the King- dom of Great Britain, they the inhabitants will support them in the measure."
During the sun ner of 1776, the solliers from Hanover were mostly stationed in the vicinity of Boston, and fortifications were erected at Noddle's island, and at other places in the harbor ; twenty British vessels were driven from the coast ; and two regi- ments, and the battalion of artillery were kept in the service of the province throughout the season. ?
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