USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Historical sketch of the town of Weymouth, Massachusetts, from 1622-1884 > Part 6
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DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. - The Declaration of Independence was entered in full upon the town records, and read from both pulpits upon the next Lord's day after its reception. Measures were also taken to prevent a monopoly in articles of necessity, and to guard against extortion, and the prices at which these artieles were to be sold were fixed by the town.
BOUNTIES. - At a meeting held Feb. 21, 1777, to encourage enlistments for a longer term than those of previous years, it was voted to pay each soldier enlist- ing in the continental service for three years, or during
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the war, seventy-four pounds additional. On the 17th of March it was voted to pay each soldier who was in the Northern army six pounds for a year. The com- mittee was instructed to inquire " why some of our soldiers came from York before their time was up," and these were not to draw their pay until the com- mittee had made its report.
On the 14th of May it was voted to pay " six pounds per month, for eight months, for men who enlist in the provincial or continental service, and deserters were to forfeit all right to their wages." On the 21st of the same month, a thousand pounds was voted to raise men for the continental army, and a committee of three chosen to hire men from out of town. No one member was to pay more than thirty pounds per man without the consent of another.1 On the 18th of August the
1 On the 22d of May, 1777, the town voted [the following instructions to Col. Solomon Lovell, its representative in the General Court, from the pen, probably, of Dr. Cotton Tufts. It is, as will be seen, "a remark- ably able and well-written document, and will compare favorably with the best public papers of that day."
"INSTRUCTIONS TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TOWN OF WEYMOUTH. " TO COLº. SOLOMON LOVELL.
" SIR. The struggle in which we are engaged is great and important, it calls for the Exertion of all the Powers and Faculties of every Individual in order to secure the invaluable Blessing of Liberty in its full Extent, which we profess to be the grand object of our pursuit. Could these be united and center in the main Point, we might, under Providence, be assured of success; to effect this, as Men have different Powers and Capacities adapted to different purposes, it is necessary that Men be em- ployed in those different Matters for which they are best calculated, and without attending to this, the Publick cannot be well served nor its good Advanced. You are therefore Instructed to use your Influence, that the various offices of Government be filled up by Persons of Integrity and known qualifications for their Particular offices, and that a Multiplicity of offices be devolved upon no one, Especially where they cannot be dis- charged with Fidelity, and the good of the People, however otherwise qualified or distinguished the Person may be. Agreeable hereunto you are Instructed not to give your Vote for any Person to sit in Council who holds any office or offices incompatable with the faithful Discharge of the
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town voted to add four pounds ten shillings per month to the pay of each soldier from the time of marching to his return, allowing twenty miles for a day's march. Three hundred pounds more was also raised for men for the continental service; and on the 25th of August the wages of soldiers were raised to twelve pounds per month until the 1st of November.
On the 22d of September, by vote of the town, men were not to be drafted for the army, and those who
Duties of a Councillor, nor for any Member of the Continental Congress, nor for any holding Commissions under it, and that the Affairs of Govern- ment may be conducted, as much as may be, with Dispatch and without interruption. You are instructed to use your Endeavors that Members of the Gen' Court be not unnecessarily charged with the Transaction of Busi- ness that can be as well or better done by suitable persons not belonging to the same, and who may be appointed for such purpose, and that all per- sons entrusted by the General Court, with Business of any kind, do from Time to Time render an Account of their conduct, where any arc unfaith- ful that they may be displaced without favor or affection, see that the un- faithful be punished, and the upright servants of Government be rewarded, for where faithful servants of Government are not rewarded, no man of Integrity will ever chuse to accept a Trust, and the State must be gov- erned by weak and wicked Men. You are on the one Hand to avoid such parsimony as to discourage worthy men from engaging in the Publick Service, and on the other Hand such a profusion as to encourage Men to fleece the Public, and to wiggle themselves into places of Profit and Honor. You are particularly instructed to use your utmost endeavors that every measure be pursued for the suppression of vice and immor- ality, and as no People can long enjoy Liberty or Civil Happiness, with- out a fixed Government, whose Laws are founded in Justice and admin- istered with impartiality, we do agrceably to a recommendation of the late General Assembly instruct you to join with the House of Represent- atives in one Body with the Council to form a Constitution of goveru- ment, and when compleated to lay the same before us for our approbation or disapprobation.
" That you Sir, with the Members of the general Assembly, may be directed by the Supreme Governor of the world in the formation of a Constitution satisfactory to the inhabitants of this State and productive of the greatest Virtue and Happiness not only to the present, but to succeeding Generations, that the Children yet unborn may rise up and call you blessed, is the ardent wish of your constituents
" COTTON TUFTS JAMES HUMPHREY ASA WHITE ELIPHAZ WESTON NATHANIEL BAILEY."
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entered the service in the previous September were to be allowed forty shillings per month to make their pay equal to that of the men hired by the town. Men were becoming scarce, and more difficulty was found in obtaining them, consequently greater inducements must be offered. On the 6th of November, Capts. Samuel Ward and Thomas Nash were instructed to raise men at the best rate they could to guard prisoners, to serve until the 1st of April next, and another levy of eighty pounds was made.
On the 10th of November, under a further call for soldiers, it was voted to "pay them four pounds in case they can't be had for less, and forty shillings for rations, to find themselves in case the State does not find them," and for this purpose seventy-five pounds was voted.
At the meeting held on the 2d of March, 1778, it was found so difficult to raise the necessary number of men demanded of the town that a committee was constituted to devise an easier method of doing it; but notwith- standing their utmost exertions, the trouble met them face to face. Men must be had, and no men were to be found. Committees were appointed to assist the officers in procuring enlistments, but the men came slowly and only upon the offer of superior inducements. The war was lingering on much longer than any had at first supposed, and with no immediate prospect of an end. The buoyancy of spirit and the hope that animated the people at the beginning had died out, and there remained but the stern reality of severe service, small pay, and an abundance of hardship. Enthusiasm could accomplish nothing, for there was none; conse- quently, money must be given in its stead.
On the 16th of March, 1778, it was voted to raise six hundred and twelve pounds to pay the men under Capt. Ward, at the rate of nine pounds per month, who were guarding the stores near Boston. On the 25th of May 5
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following, fifteen hundred pounds was voted "to raise men to be sent to Gen. Washington, and other places, and the committee was authorized to go out of town to hire them, and to pay each man one hundred pounds, or forty shillings per month, to serve, to be paid in articles at the prices when the war began."
July 8, 1779, the committee was instructed to hire soldiers for the continental army for nine months, three years, or the war, to pay them forty shillings per month in produce at the prices of 1775, or in cash upon the best terms they can make, the treasurer to borrow forty- five hundred pounds for the purpose.
STATE CONVENTION .- On the 22d of July, 1779, Hon. James Humphrey was chosen representative to the State Convention, to mect at Cambridge on the 1st of the following September, for the purpose of form- ing a constitution; and on the 2d of August the town accepted, by a large majority, the action of the conven- tion at Concord regulating prices, and a committee was chosen to carry the matter into effect, also to see that the regulations were observed. On the 16th of August the treasurer was authorized to borrow nine thousand pounds for the purpose of procuring soldiers. This rapid and large increase of appropriations is simply the measure of the depreciation in the value of the currency of the country at that time, and by no means an indica- tion of such an increase in the actual expense. As an illustration of this advance, or rather depreciation, in 1780, March 13, at the annual meeting, six pounds was fixed as the value of a day's work upon the high- ways, against two shillings eight pence two years pre- vious. At this meeting the assessors were instructed " to report a list of all persons taxed for estates to be amended by the town, and all upon the list were to be required to give in under oath a true list of their
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property, and any who do not shall pay double their assessment, and to double on each assessment until they comply with the requirement."
STATE CONSTITUTION. - On the 24th of April, 1780, a committee was appointed to consider the new Con- stitution and report, which was donc on the 22d of May, and this Constitution was accepted with a proposition of certain amendments, such as " where personal estate is required, it shall be expressly mentioned 'ratable estate'; and that at least as much property shall be re- quired for qualification of members of Congress as for senators, and that no member of the board of war shall be a member of the Senate or House of Represent- atives; that express provision be made for calling a Congress in 1795." Hon. James Humphrey, the del- egate, was instructed to advocate these amendments, and also to vote for the adoption of the Constitution, even although they should not be made.
On the 19th of June the town was divided into twenty districts " as the tax-lists stand, each district to send one man into the service, and if any one refuse to go or to pay his proportion, the captain of the company is directed to draft him. Any widow or female refusing to pay, it shall be added to the next tax, and any district that neglects to furnish its man, the captain of its com- pany shall proceed to draft, the tax-list to be put into the hands of the three highest on the list for the purpose of calling a meeting to carry this vote into effect."
PROCURING MEN AND PROVISIONS .- On the 18th of September the town voted fifteen thousand pounds for three-months' men, and on Oct. 9, twenty thou- sand pounds more to purchase beef, according to the requirement of the General Court. On Dec. 20, the militia officers were appointed a committee to see
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if they can hire nineteen men, the town's quota for the continental army upon the last call of the General Court, and one hundred and thirty thousand pounds was voted to procure beef on the call of the same. Non-residents were to be taxed for their share of expense in hiring the six-months' men, and fifty hard dollars a year for three years was to be the pay of men for the continental service.
At the annual meeting, March 12, 1781, it was voted that " any person refusing to pay his proportion of the expense of procuring men for three-years' service shall be taxed for the same and the tax collected by the officer." On the 20th of March it was voted to change the manner of raising men; voted to raise nineteen hun- dred hard dollars, or currency, seventy-five for one, for the purpose; ninety pounds in specie to be paid for three-years' men: one third when mustered in, and one third at the beginning of each year for two years suc- ceeding.
The first meeting recorded for the election of State officers was held April 2, 1781. On the 9th it was ordered that the money raised to pay soldiers should be kept by itself; and that a petition be presented to the General Court for the privilege of enlisting the men at the castle for the three-years' service. On June 18, " three hundred dollars, hard money, was voted for three-years' men: one third at the beginning of each year, or fifty dollars bounty, and ten dollars per month." On the 25th of June, men were to be "hired on the best terms that could be made for six months, and if delayed longer than that, to have double wages for the over- time," and for this the town would give security, - a proceeding reflecting somewhat upon its credit.
On the 9th of July it was voted to raise five-months' and three-months' men for the continental service. On July 16 a better prospect opened, when it was under-
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stood that " men could be had for fifty hard dollars, and they to relinquish the continental pay." It was accord- ingly voted to hire them. On the 8th of October it was voted to raise twenty-five hundred hard dollars to hire men for three years, the committee to have discretionary powers in the matter; also voted that the monthly requisition for beef be complied with. Nov. 19, it was voted to assess immediately the State tax to make up the deficiency in continental soldiers; and on Dec. 10 it was voted that the tax, fourteen hun- dred and thirteen pounds four shillings and sixpence, be paid by Jan. 1, following, or the men procured, each of whom was to be rated one hundred and twenty- eight pounds nine shillings and sixpence, and every exertion was to be used to procure money and men.
SOLDIERS TO HULL. - It appears that the men were raised with much trouble, but not until after the time set, Dec. 20, and the superintendent refused to receive them. A petition was therefore made to the governor and council to be relieved from the difficulty by a grant of more time. On Sept. 30, 1782, ten soldiers were sent to Hull to assist the French in throwing up fortifications for the defence of the harbor, and these were to be paid "seven dollars per month, if not allowed that by the State"; and on Dec. 2 the town remitted the taxes of "Gideon Colson and Thomas Tirrell, they being in the enemies' hands when the taxes were made."
This concludes a brief sketch of the history of Wey- mouth during the Revolution, as found upon its records. Very much of its service in men and money must be sought in other directions, and at the best the story must be imperfectly told. Of the official rolls, many are incomplete or wholly missing, but enough remain to show that of a population of about fourteen hundred
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people, according to the estimate of Dr. Cotton Tufts, made within two years after the close of the war, the town sent into the various departments of military service, upon the calls of the State and continental authority, at least two hundred men, one in seven of its total inhabitants; and these must have embraced very nearly all of the able-bodied men.1 It is true that the terms of service were very short in many instances, but however short, the burden of such a large number must have been enormous.
The number who perished upon the field of battle or died in the service cannot be ascertained, but probably not less than thirty or forty, since a list remains of fif- teen from the soldiers of the South Precinct alone. The amount of expense attending the payment of the men for wages, bounties and support, also for army supplies, it is almost impossible to estimate, owing to the fluctuat- ing value of the currency, but the various votes already quoted give some idea of its sum.
Of the officers sent into the service from this town, honorable mention is made of Gen. Solomon Lovell, who was in command of the Eastern Military District, of which Boston was the headquarters. He was also in active service in the Rhode Island campaign in 1778, and his brigade did efficient work in the battle before Newport, in which the general was noted for his cool- ness and bravery. He was also the military commander of the unfortunate Penobscot expedition of the following year, which was unsuccessful, not from any fault of his, but from the want of co-operation on the part of the fleet under command of Com. Saltonstal, who was afterwards cashiered for cowardice and inefficiency. Among the other officers may be named Capt. Thomas Nash, who served under Washington during the siege
See Appendix F.
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of Boston, and was officer of the day on the night when Dorchester Heights were taken possession of, Capt. Joseph Trufant, Capt. Samuel Ward, Capt. Asa White, Lieut. Er Cushing, who was with Arnold in the Canada expedition, Lieut. Samuel Kingman, Lieut. Thomas Vinson, Lieut. David Joy, Lieut. Asa Dyer and others.
The record is one of which Weymouth has no reason to be ashamed, although, at times, the work languished and the men refused to go. Money came slowly or not at all, yet the times were such and the demands so many and great that its ability was not sufficient to meet them. It must also be borne in mind that this town was not alone in these deficiencies, but was even more prompt than many, and probably equal to the foremost. The fact stated, that the town sent into the field fully two hundred men, of whom probably nearly a quarter perished, tells a story that it will be difficult to over- come. Hardly a family, or very few, if any, but had one or more representatives in the field during some part of the great struggle, and some throughout its whole duration. The town was also peculiarly fortunate in having for its leaders men of such ability and judgment as those whose names have been mentioned, Dr. Cotton Tufts, Gen. Solomon Lovell, Major James Humphrey and Deacon Nathaniel Bayley, men who were wise in council, skilful and brave in the field, and untiring in their efforts to promote the interests of their country in the momentous struggle in which it was then engaged. Some of the public papers prepared by these men in their official service are models of political documents, and will compare favorably with the best of that day.
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CHAPTER IV.1
Recovering from the Effects of the War - Work-House - Local Matters - Small-Pox - Norfolk County - Attempt to divide the Town - Business Enterprises - Post-Office- War with England - Alarm at Cohasset -Town Lines - Manufacturing Companies discouraged - Surplus Revenue - Anti-Slavery Resolutions -Town Records - Town Hall - War of the Rebellion - Opening Scenes -Twelfth Regiment - Raising Troops - Military Records - Bounties - Thir- ty-fifth Regiment -Town Bonds and Seal - Forty-second Regiment - Contributions - Difficulties - Fourth Heavy Artillery - Final Attempt to divide the Town - Soldiers' Monument -Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary - Water Question - Fire Department - Growth of the Town.
RECOVERING FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE WAR. - The process of recovery from the desolations occasioned by the war was slow. The losses had been too great, the wounds too deep, and the exhaustion too complete to be made good at once; hence, there was great depression in trade, for there was no money upon which to transact business. The drain of men had been so severe that it was many years before the gap thus occa- sioned was so far filled that the ordinary duties could be done with comparative ease. The evils resulting from a currency depreciated until its value became but nominal, continued the burdens of taxation far beyond their natural limits, and thus there was stagnation and depression. Nor were these physical evils the only sources of difficulty; those of a moral nature, resulting directly from habits contracted in the army, were a calamity of far more terrible character; and not one was
1 The material for this chapter is gathered mainly from the town records, and may be found under the appropriate datcs.
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so fearful and far-reaching in its effects as that of the excessive use of intoxicating liquors, which had become well-nigh universal; and in consequence, large numbers of well-to-do families, who, before the war, were in comparative wealth and ease, became reduced, and were obliged to sell the estates that the war had left to them, to supply the demands of an exhaustless appetite. Hence, in the course of the following generation, a vast number of the estates in town changed hands. Nor has the effect of this wholly ceased even at the end of a full century from the close of the war, but is still felt in its hereditary power, by multitudes of the present gen- eration, who have inherited this unnatural appetite from their ancestors.
WORK-HOUSE .- For years, therefore, the inhabitants were obliged to struggle for a bare maintenance, and were in no condition to prosecute business enterprises or carry on the pursuits of learning; and it was a score of years before the natural resources of the town began to be developed by the enterprises of the citizens. Dur- ing the later years of the war the town, after various attempts, succeeded in building, in 1779, a work-house near the centre of its territory, not far from Tirrell's mill, for the accommodation of the poor, who had in- creased to such a degree as to require special attention; and this house was used for that purpose until the erection of another building for the same purpose, at Weymouth Landing, in 1809.
LOCAL MATTERS. - A few items of interest occur upon the records from time to time before the close of the century, among which are the following: March 12, 1787, the town officers took the oath of allegiance agree- able to a resolve of the General Court; May 7, 1787, Dr. Cotton Tufts was chosen a delegate to the Conven-
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tion in Boston, seeond Wednesday in January, to con- sider the constitution or form of government of the United States of America; April 5, 1790, the town voted to allow their representatives five shillings per day agreeable to the practice of other towns; and March 14, 1791, the town clerk was directed to read the laws of the Commonwealth at the next meeting after he receives them.
SMALL-Pox. - At a meeting held Sept. 11, 1792, the town refused to permit inoculation for the small-pox, and Mareh 11, following, permission was granted for the ereetion of a hospital for that purpose agreeable to law, under direction of the selectmen.
NORFOLK COUNTY. - After the war, the question of a new county was frequently raised and various aetion taken, sometimes favorable and sometimes opposed, but the matter was finally determined by the General Court, and the towns of Suffolk County southerly from Boston were set off and formed into Norfolk County in 1763. This, however, does not seem to have suited the good people of Weymouth, for, Aug. 26, of that year, a committee was appointed to draw up a peti- tion to the General Court, praying to be set off from Norfolk County and to be reannexed to Suffolk, but the movement was unsueeessful, and Weymouth has remained to the present time a part of Norfolk County, although the attempt was afterwards renewed, the reason alleged being that the shire town was too far away.
ATTEMPT TO DIVIDE THE TOWN. - In 1796 the division of the town was again proposed, this time by the North Preeinet, and a petition presented to the General Court for that purpose. The feeling ran very
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high, the North Precinct being almost unanimously in favor, and the South as decidedly opposed. For the next half a dozen years the matter was in constant agi- tation in public and in private, in parish meeting and in town meeting, and the town was so nearly divided upon the subject that the votes were sometimes in favor and sometimes against. At that time, about the year 1802, according to a canvass made for the pur- pose, the population was found to have increased to 1803, 965 of whom lived in the North Parish and 838 in the South; the ratable polls in the North were 211, and in the South 201; two fifths of the land was in the North, and three fifths in the South; of the money at interest, the South had $22,950, and the North had $20,133.1 The Senate voted in favor of a division, but the House refused, and the matter was referred to the next session, March 3, 1803, which was equivalent to an indefinite postponement of the whole subject. Thus the question has remained to the present, with spas- modic attempts from time to time to revive it, but never with much prospect of success.
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