USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Ashburnham > History of Ashburnham, Massachusetts : from the grant of Dorchester Canada to the present time 1734-1886 with a genealogical register of Ashburnham families > Part 15
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Thomas Gibson of Ashburnham testifies to service with Reuben Rice at West Point in Captain Boutelle's company.
DR. ABRAHAM LOWE gives an intelligent outline of his service under date of October 16, 1832.
I. He alleges that about December 1, 1775, he entered service as a volunteer in the militia company of Captain William Pope, the lieutenant being Thomas Hartwell, he thinks. IIe enlisted from Lunenburg and marched to Dorchester and remained in that service for two months, although the enlistment was for six weeks only.
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II. He enlisted about July 1, 1776, for five months, from Lunenburg in militia company of Captain Jabez Keep of Harvard. HIe marched to New Haven, went thenee by water to New York eity ; was there when the city was taken by the British under con- mand of General Fellows. He was on guard near the Bowery on the morning when the British landed above there and took pos- session of the city. General Putnam came to their assistance and took them away. He was discharged about December 1, 1776.
III. In summer of 1777, it being reported that the Hessian troops were marching on Bennington, he volunteered under Daniel or David Carlisle of Lunenburg. They marched to Charlemont, where they heard of the battle of Bennington and went no farther. After a service of about a month, he returned home.
JOSEPH JEWETT in his application for pension only asserts one enlistment and that in concise terms. He says that while residing in Bolton he enlisted in the month of May or June, 1778, in Captain John Drury's company of Colonel Woods' regiment. IIe proceeded to White Plains with a small party and there joined his company ; was on duty at Fishkill and White Plains and employed during the winter in building barracks and drawing timber. He was dis- missed at Peekskill after he had completed his tour of eight months.
After his death the widow made a renewed application for pension and said her husband did not state all of his service when he applied for pension. At that time she presented proof of other service which is stated in a former paragraph.
REUBEN TOWNSEND was born in Shrewsbury August 23, 1758, where he continued to reside until he removed to this town about 1780.
I. He alleges that in June or July, 1776, he enlisted in Cap- tain Newton's company of Colonel Smith's regiment, for five months, and was discharged at Philips Manor, New York, in December, 1776, or January, 1777.
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IT. In 1777, he enlisted in Captain William Gates' company of Colonel Bigelow's regiment - the Fifteenth Massachusetts - for eight months, and was discharged at Valley Forge with an allowance for pay for nine months.
Lieutenant Joseph Pierce certifies that he enlisted Reuben Townsend about the first of May, 1777, in the continental service for the term of eight months and that he was allowed one month's extra pay for helping build the barracks at Valley Forge and that after discharge the said Townsend had to march nearly four hundred miles before he reached his home.
LEMUEL STIMSON was born in Weston, July 11, 1758, and removed to this town in 1780. In his application for pension dated October 16, 1832,-
He alleges that he enlisted while residing in Weston, in May, 1775, for eight months, in the company of Nathan Fuller of New- ton, in Colonel Gardner's regiment; that he was stationed at Cambridge during the entire service, and was engaged in the battle of Bunker Hill, and that Colonel Gardner was wounded in said battle and died the third day after, and Colonel Bond of Watertown succeeded Colonel Gardner.
II. He enlisted again in June or July, 1776, for five months, in the company of Captain Charles Miles of Concord, in Colonel Reed's regiment, and marched to Ticonderoga, by way of Fitch- burg, Winchendon, Keene, Charlestown (No. 4) and Rutland; was stationed at Ticonderoga nearly all of the service, often em- ployed in transporting wood across the lake for the use of the army, and was discharged at Albany in November, was also residing at Weston at time of last service.
JONAS RICE, a son of Zebulon Rice and a brother of Reuben and Eliakim Rice, was born in Lancaster, now Boylston, February 16, 1754. At the time of his first ser- vice he was residing in Salem and the subsequent service
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was performed while he was a resident of Sterling. He removed to this town, 1779.
J. He alleges that he enlisted April 19, 1775, in a company of volunteers, at Salem, commanded by Captain Derby and marched to Cambridge. After a week of service he enlisted at Cambridge for eight months in the company of Captain John Bachelor of Colonel Bridge's regiment. [This company was engaged in the battle of Bunker Hill. ] He was stationed during all of this ser- vice on Cambridge common at the house of one Hastings ; that he was employed under General Putnam in an attempt to construct a fort on Lechmere Point, from which they were driven by British ships.
II. He again enlisted in the summer of 1776, for five months in militia company of Captain Samuel Sawyer. Marched from Sterling through Worcester, Hartford and New Haven to New York city ; remained a few days in New York and then moved up the Hudson about two miles ; was on duty at Fort Prescot when the city of New York was given up to the British. He then moved up to Harlem Heights where he remained through the rest of this service.
III. He again enlisted about July 1, 1777, for six months in militia company of Captain Francis Willson of Holden, Colonel Keyes' regiment. He marched to Leicester, thence to Providence, thence to a place about two miles south of Greenwich, thence through Warren to Tiverton and thence back to Providence. During this term of service he went to Point Judith to assist in collecting boats to be used in an attack on Newport. In sailing around the point many of the boats were destroyed, eight men drowned and the contemplated attack was abandoned.
Eliakim Rice, brother of Jonas, of Hartland, Vermont, but formerly of Salem, testifies that he served with his brother in the first service named commencing April 19, 1775.
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JABEZ AND OLIVER MARBLE Were twins and their service in the army partook of the close alliance of their lives. They were born in Stow September 15, 1755, and removed to Ashburnham 1789.
I. Jabez Marble alleges that in the fall after the British left Boston he went to Roxbury and took the place of his brother as a private soldier in Captain Caleb Brooks' company of Colonel Benjamin Dyke's regiment, and served a tour of three months at Boston and was verbally discharged on the seventh of March, 1777.
II. In May, 1777, he enlisted for two months in Captain John Gleason's company. Marched from Stow to Providence where he was stationed until about seventeen days before his time was out, when his company and Captain Hodgman's marched to Greenwich for the defence of the coast ; remained there about two weeks and then returned to Providence where he was discharged.
III. He again enlisted at Stow in August, 1780, in company of Captain Moses Brintnall of Sudbury, Colonel Howe's regiment. He went to Rhode Island and was stationed the entire three months at Butt's Hill and was employed on fatigue duty building a fort.
In a subsequent statement explaining his service as sub- stitute for his brother he says that his brother's name was Oliver Marble ; they were twins and that about two months prior to the end of Oliver's term of service his brother became sick and he took his place for the balance of the term and always answered to his brother Oliver's name when it was called.
THOMAS GIBSON was born in Lunenburg, now Fitchburg, 1753, and resided there until the close of the war. After a temporary residence in Ashby he removed to this town, pre- vious to 1787.
I. He alleges that he enlisted in the spring of 1775, for five months in Captain Stearns' militia company in Colonel Doolittle's
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regiment. He lived at Fitchburg and marched thence to Winter Hill near Charlestown where he remained during the term of service. There were also continental troops at Winter Hill.
II. He again enlisted in September, 1776, at Fitchburg for two months in Captain Jonathan Woods' militia company of Colonel Converse's regiment. Hle marched to Dobb's Ferry, near West Point, passing through New Haven. Made several marches from Dobb's Ferry, one to Fairfield, Connecticut, towards New York city, etc. There were continental troops at Dobb's Ferry a part of the time while he was there. He remembers that on one occasion they brought a field-piece to bear upon a vessel at anchor off Dobb's Ferry and drove her down the river.
III. Again in July, 1780, he enlisted at Fitchburg for three months in the militia company of Captain Boutelle of Leominster of Colonel Rand's regiment. Marched through Worcester, Hartford and Fairfield to West Point. Arnold's treachery was discovered during this term of service, which enables bim to fix the year as 1780. He saw Washington at West Point shortly after Arnold's treason was made known, that he was on guard when Washington rode up.
IV. In September, 1777, he thinks, he enlisted and served thirty days at the taking of Burgoyne in the militia company of Captain Thurlow of Fitchburg ; was posted first at Batterskill and after at Fort Edward to prevent the British crossing the Hudson.
V. In April or May, the year he does not recollect, but thinks it was towards the close of the war, he enlisted for three months in the militia company of Captain Joshua Martin of Lunenburg and served at Castle William in Boston harbor, in the regiment of Colonel Jones. There were continental troops on the island who were quartered in the fort and militia were outside in barracks.
Reuben Rice of Ashburnham testifies that he served with Thomas Gibson from July, 1780, in Captain Boutelle's com- pany.
Ebenezer Wallis of Ashburnham testifies that he served with Thomas Gibson in the tour from September, 1780, at West Point.
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CHARLES HASTINGS was born in Princeton, November 26. 1760, and removed to this town, 1783. While a resident of Princeton, he entered the army five times. September 6, 1832, he gave the following intelligent account of his service :
J. He alleges that he enlisted in May, 1776, for two months in a militia company commanded by Captain Sargeant of Princeton in the regiment of Colonel Josiah Whitney. He marched to Leicester, thence to Providence, thence to Greenwich, Rhode Island, thence to Boston Nock, and thence back to Providence.
II. He again enlisted at Leicester in June, 1777, for six months in Captain Willson's company of Colonel Keyes' regiment. He marched to Providence, thence to Greenwich, he thinks, thence to Bissell's mill, about two miles from Providence, and thence back to Providence. That during these two terms, there were only a few troops in Rhode Island and they were employed in guarding the coast.
III. He again enlisted about April 1, 1778, in militia company of Captain Nathan Harrington. Marched to Roxbury and thence to Watertown where they were employed in guarding a part of the prisoners from Burgoyne's army. Marched from Watertown with prisoners to Rutland, where they remained guarding said prisoners to July, 1778, when he was discharged. The guard was com- manded by Major Reuben Recd.
IV. Ile again immediately enlisted July, 1778, for six months, in the militia company of Captain Belknap of Colonel Wade's regiment. Marched to Providence, thence to Obdike Newtown, or a place of some similar name ; thence to Newport where they joined a continental brigade. Engaged in the battle of Newport in October, 1778, and retired from there to Tiverton, thence to Obdike Newtown and thence to Providence.
V. He again enlisted about July 1, 1780, for six months for service in continental army. He was ordered to Springfield and then marched to West Point and joined a company in Colonel
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Greaton's regiment of General Nixon's brigade. Soon after was transferred to the Light Infantry under General Lafayette, Cap- tain Haskell's company and Colonel Gimmatt's regiment with which he continued to the fall of 1780, when he returned to his former company from which he was discharged.
William Ward testifies to service with Charles Hastings from May, 1776, in Captain Sargent's company.
Jonas Rice of Ashburnham testifies to service with Charles Hastings in Captain Willson's company from June, 1777. Says that while at Providence they were quartered in the college.
JOSEPH GIBBS, son of JJoseph and Hannah (Howe ) Gibbs, was born October 12. 1756. During the Revolution, he resided in Princeton and removed to this town previous to 1786. Commencing in May, 1775, he served eight months in the siege of Boston in the company of Captain Adam Wheeler in Colonel Doolittle's regiment. Seven companies of Colonel Doolittle's regiment, including the company of Captain Wheeler, were engaged in the battle of Bunker Hill, and of the regiment nine were wounded. The name of Joseph Gibbs, of Princeton, is borne on the rolls of those who served eight months in the siege of Boston. Many in this service reenlisted and served under Washington at New York, but the date of his return to Princeton does not appear. In July, 1780, he enlisted for three months in the company of Captain Ephraim Stearns in Colonel John Rand's regiment. This service was at West Point and King's Ferry and a part of the time under the immediate command of Washington. In the same service was Jonathan Samson, Andrew Winter, Jr., Thomas Gibson, Ebenezer Wallis and Reuben Rice, who were subsequently his neighbors in Ashburnham.
DAVID WALLIS was born in Lunenburg October 15, 1760. He removed to this town about 1795, where he resided until his death.
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I. He alleges that in September, 1777, he enlisted in a com- pany of militia under Captain Bellows and he thinks Colonel Bellows of Walpole, New Hampshire, was in command of the regiment. He enlisted for one month, marched to Fort Edward via Northfield and Bennington and was there when Burgoyne surrendered.
II. In April, 1778, he enlisted at Lunenburg in militia com- pany of Captain Merick of Princeton of Colonel Stearns' regi- ment for three months. Marched to Dorchester and then to Castle William in Boston harbor. There were two companies of militia and one of continental artillery on the island.
III. In April, 1779, he enlisted at Lunenburg for three months in Captain Joshua Martin's company of Colonel Jones' regiment and served at Castle William. They were employed in building fortifications. During this service the artillery company was ordered to Rhode Island for a few days. He was ordered several times to Governor's island.
Nicholas Whiteman of Ashburnham testifies that he served with David Wallis, on Castle island from April, 1778.
Thomas Gibson of Ashburnham testifies to service with David Wallis in Captain Martin's company in 1779 at Castle William.
CYRUS FAIRBANKS was born in Harvard, May 29, 1752, and removed to Ashburnham, 1788, where he died at the advanced age of one hundred years, June 18, 1852. He gives an account of three terms of service while residing in ยท Harvard.
I. Hc alleges that on April 19, 1775, then residing in Harvard, he volunteered to oppose the British then marching on Concord. He proceeded to Concord and thence to Cambridge. After remaining there about a week enlisted as a drummer for eight months in the Massachusetts militia company of Captain Jonathan Davis in Colonel Asa Whitcomb's regiment and served out full
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term. He was first quartered on Cambridge river about a mile from the college and afterward on Prospect Hill.
JI. In the month of September, 1776, he again enlisted at Harvard for two months as a drummer in the militia company of Captain Hill of Colonel Converse's regiment. Marched via Worces- ter, New Haven, Fairfield and White Plains to Dobb's Ferry, where he remained until his time was out. He says he served as drum-major during this term. The regiment was employed in transporting supplies up the river.
III. In the month of September, 1777, when Burgoyne was advancing he enlisted at Harvard for one month. Marched to Petersham where his company was organized and he chosen corporal in militia company of Captain Hill, he thought. He marched to Fort Edward passing through Bennington ; remained in service entire term of his enlistment.
JOSHUA FLETCHER was born in Westford February 22, 1760, and removed to this town about 1810. He was a resident of Westford during the following service :
I. He alleges that he first entered service for seven months in Captain Abisha Brown's company of Colonel Whitney's regi- ment of Massachusetts forces and served at Nantasket island in the harbor of Boston to the end of his term.
II. IIe next served at Boston three months under Captain John Minot.
III. He next entered the army on the continental establish- ment, February, 1777, for three years and was mustered at Boston and proceeded in Captain Philip Thomas' company of Colonel Marshall's regiment of Massachusetts line to Ticonderoga and was at Fort Miller, Saratoga, Valley Forge and White Plains. He served one year and eight months when he was taken sick with a fever and a sore on his breast and was furloughed until he should recover. He did not recover until after the close of the war and was never able to rejoin the army. The following is a copy of the leave granted.
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CAMP AT WHITE PLAINS, August 29, 1778.
Ilis excellency approves that Joshua Fletcher, soldier in Col. Thomas Marshall's regiment of Massachusetts Bay State shall have leave of absence until the recovery of his health and spirits and then to return to his duty.
The BARON DE KALB M. G.
JOSEPH MERRIAM was born in Woburn February 3, 1763, and lived in Lexington and Bedford during the war. It . appears that he removed from Bedford to Ashburnham 1784. and remained several years when he removed to Templeton and subsequently returned to Ashburnham.
I. He alleges that in the fall of 1779 he enlisted for two months in company of Captain Samuel Heald of Carlisle in Colonel John Jacob's regiment. He marched to Providence where they encamped about three weeks and then marched to Tiverton and when the British left Rhode Island they went over Howland's Ferry to Butt's Hill where he remained until dis- charged in November, 1770.
II. In 1780 he enlisted for six months in Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson's company as it was called, but it was commanded by Ensign Thayer, in Colonel Marshall's regiment-the Tenth Massa- chusetts. He joined the regiment at West Point where they were encamped for nearly three weeks, when he was detached with several others to King's Ferry and put under the orders of Colonel Brewer and employed in conveying troops and baggage over the river, after which he joined his regiment at Verplank's Point and proceeded with his regiment to New Jersey and after serving out his six months was discharged at West Point in January, 1781.
III. In 1781 the town of Bedford hired him to go into the continental service for three months. He was mustered in, he thinks, by Colonel Brown of Tewksbury and then proceeded to New York State and joined the army at Gallows Hill. He was
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immediately put under orders of Colonel Procter, a militia officer, and went about seven miles to one Captain Knapp's farm to guard cattle, where he remained about three weeks when he returned to camp and was taken by Major Keyes, who was a deputy-quartermaster-general in care of forage, as his waiter. He was stationed at Peekskill and his quarters were near General HIcath's. He remained on this duty during the remainder of his service.
Some of the revolutionary soldiers to whom pensions were granted had died before the date of any complete list that has been discovered. In 1840 there were remaining in this town thirteen revolutionary soldiers and three widows of soldiers who were pensioned.
Cyrus Fairbanks survived his venerable associates.
Lemuel Stimson
died September 22, 1840
Charlotte Lowe, widow of Dr. Lowe,
" May 5, 1811
Thomas Gibson
" June 11, 1841
David Clark
4 July 5, 1841
Joshua Fletcher
April 14, 1843
Jabez Marble
December 23, 1843
Joseph Jewett
" May 3, 1847
Zilpah Rice, widow of Jonas Rice,
July 22,' 1847
John Bowman
" October 22, 1847
William Ward
December 3, 1847
Jonathan Samson
December 9, 1847
Margaret Townsend, widow of Reuben Townsend,
March 20, 1848
Isaac Whitmore
May 2, 1848
Joseph Merriam
April 4, 1849
Charles Hastings
November 28, 1850
Cyrus Fairbanks
" June 18, 1852
CHAPTER VII.
STATE RELATIONS, POLITICS, TOWN OFFICERS.
A SEASON OF DISQUIETUDE. - SHAYS' REVOLT. -- THE LOYAL SENTIMENT OF ASHBURNHAM. - VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPRESS THE REVOLT. - ISAAC STEARNS' DIARY. - A BLOODLESS CAMPAIGN. - CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS. - REPRESENTATION IN THE LEGISLATURE. - VOTE OF THE TOWN FOR GOV- ERNOR. - PROPOSED DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. - A LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS.
AT the close of the Revolution the situation of the country was perilous and critical. The difficulties of a publie nature were changed in character by the close of the war but were not removed and peace brought no immediate relief to the financial difficulties which had attended the prosecution of the war. The resources of the State were exhausted while the towns were groaning under the burden of debt. In the extremity of the hour, the most oppressive systems of taxa- tion were adopted, and if strenuous measures were demanded by the necessities of the times they did not put money in the purse of the tax-payer. In continued efforts to pay the taxes incident to the times, individuals had suffered their liabilities to accunnilate and creditors, seizing upon the agency of new laws and reestablished courts, resorted to legal process in the collection of debts. The tax collector had scarcely drained the scanty income of the farm before the sheriff armed with executions demanded the remaining cow and frequently the homestead. For a season the wisdom of statesmen and a multitude of laws brought no relief.
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During the continuance of the war, without matured forms of government or systems of laws, the people had been united and held together in a common purpose. With free- dom came new responsibilities and grave embarrassments. The government was new and unfamiliar to the people, and at first they came in contact with the harsher and more exacting features of the laws. To them the new laws were little more than a code for the collection of debts and the courts were an agency for the oppression of the poor. Feel- ing the weight of their burdens and not apprehending their cause, the people became dissatisfied with their government and the officers chosen to administer it. The murmur of discontent was heard on every hand, but the unsatisfactory state of public affairs and the uncertainty of the future were only shadows in the deeper gloom of the poverty and debt in their homes. The people had bravely endured extreme hardships and now victorious in the field they were sadly disappointed with the early fruits of a freedom which had been secured by their service and sacrifice. For a season the destiny of the republic was evenly balanced between revolt inviting anarchy and liberty restrained by law. In common with the people at large the inhabitants of this town shared in the gloom and burdens of the hour, but through discour- agement they did not lose faith in the final success of the government or countenance any disorderly conduct. The revolt under the leadership of Shays, Day and Shattuck was encouraged by the active and open support of many in this vicinity, but there is no evidence that any citizen of this town was ever found within the ranks of open revolt.
The theatre of Shays' rebellion was wholly outside of Ashburnham. A complete history of that ill-advised and irrational revolt would contain little, if any, reference to the people or the sentiment of this town. The compliment is
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STATE RELATIONS, POLITICS, TOWN OFFICERS. 213
almost reciprocal, and these pages would contain no refer- ence to the riotous proceedings if it could be shown that the inhabitants of Ashburnham, surrounded by the same diffi- eulties and suffering the same hardships, did not give any expression of sympathy to the movement, or utter any com- plaints against the heavy burdens which oppressed the Commonwealth. It is reasonably certain that none from this town joined the revolt. And while there is no proof that any considerable portion of the inhabitants were in sympathy with it, there is evidence that they seriously considered the state of existing affairs. Yet their voice was not raised until the rebellion was crushed and the govern- ment left at liberty to auswer their complaint. On the fourteenth of March, 1787, a full month after, the only remaining remnant of the revolt was dispersed at Petersham, the town met in a legal meeting.
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