USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 129
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" The appointment of a Governor altogether inde- pendent on us, and who, according to the present state of things, can be under no influence from our interest, but whose personal interest may naturally put him to the utter overthrow of our whole interest, -we apprehend this to be an infraction of our Char- ter rights and privileges. The appointment of Judges from home, if true, or the maintenance of them in- dependent upon us and dependent entirely upon the Crown, we think an infringement upon our Charter rights, and which tends to corrupt and destroy the very essence of our privileges. The parting our money among a set of men of no use to us or the community, without our consent, is a bold and unjust infringement upon our privileges. The subjecting civil cases to trial by Court of Admiralty instead of Juries, and especially the taking from us the right of trying capital eases in any articles, and carrying our brethren, on suspicion of guilt, from all who are ac- quainted with their character, or who can possibly do them justice, and ordering them to be transported, at almost infinite expense, three thousand miles for trial, is a most barbarous, unjust, and unconstitu- tional affair."
1774. September 12th. The town chose a commit- tee to join with the committees of the other towns in this county "to consult the safety and peace and prosperity thereof, as well as the whole government and continent, upon any emergency." The committee consisted of five, viz., Mr. Edward Richards, Deacon Eben. Lane, Capt. John Daggett, Lieut. Moses Wil- marth, and Mr. Elisha May. This was the first com- mittee of safety chosen in this town. The practice of choosing such a committee was continued till the close of the Revolution.
September 29th. Captain John Daggett was chosen
It was also voted to choose a "committee of in- spection, to inquire and give notice of all persons who shall presume to make use of an India tea after the 1st of March next." The "affair of the chest of tea at Capt. Richardson's" was left discretionary with the selectmen.
These were no half-way measures, and were sup- ported throughout with the same resolution.
Jan. 2, 1775. Chose Col. John Daggett "to repre- sent us at the Congress to be holden at Cambridge on the 1st of February next, and to serve in that capacity until the month of May next, or until the time fixed for the dissolution of said Congress." At the same time a committee of thirteen was chosen to procure " subscriptions for the relief of the suffering poor in the town of Boston." 1
May 24th. Capt. John Stearns was chosen to rep- resent the town at the Provincial Congress to be held in the meeting-house at Watertown the 31st inst. The committee of correspondence this year were Deacon Eben. Lane, Dr. Mann, and Capt. Moses Wilmarth.
July 10th. Capt. John Stearns was elected repre- sentative to the General Court to be held at Water- town, 19th inst.
March 19, 1776. The Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety were Deacon Lane, Edward Richards, Capt. S. Richardson, Lient. Alexander Foster, Ens. Noah Fuller, William Stanley, Capt. Wilmarth, Eben. Tiffany, Samuel Atherton, Thomas Starkey, Elkonah Wilmarth, Nathaniel Bishop, and Capt. Jacob Ide.
May 22d. Capt. John Stearns, representative. At his request a committee, consisting of Capt. Elisha May, Capt. Stephen Richardson, Rev. Peter Thatcher,
1 This was on the occasion of shutting the port of Boston by the British Parliament.
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ATTLEBOROUGH.
Levi Maxey, and Lieut. Alexander Foster, was chosen to draw up instructions for the representative, who made a report, from which extracts are given :
" CAPT. JOHN STEARNS :
" SIR,-The town, reposing special confidence in your ability and in- tegrity, have chosen you their representative at the Great and General Court for this year. At your request we take the liberty to suggest the following things to your attention as matters of great importance :
" If the Continental Congress should think it best to declare for inde- pendency of Great Britain, we unanimously desire you for us to engage to defend them therein with our lives and fortunes.1
" The fortifying and sufficiently providing for the defence of all our sea-port towns, especially the metropolis of this colony, is of such con- sequence as that parsimony or delay therein will be the worst of policy. We apprehend that the raising of soldiers for the defence of the colony is retarded, and so rendered both more chargeable and less useful for want of sufficient bounty to encourage enlistments : that the raising fewer forces at a time than is necessary, which scatters the officers with whom whoever enlists will desire to be acquainted, is a like hindrance to a speedy raising of forces."
After giving some further specific instructions the report concludes, "Other things in general we refer to your wisdom and fidelity, unless some special dif- ficulty should occur, in which case you will please take our minds as occasion shall serve."
At the same time it was voted that the selectmen should order the money out of the treasury to pay the minute-men who marched on the alarm occasioned by the battle at Bunker Hill.
July 16th. Voted to raise the bounty from three pounds to twelve pounds for the soldiers this town are to furnish to go to New York.
Jan. 27, 1777. Voted to raise the bounty for the soldiers who went to New York in July last to forty dollars for each man, " to such as will take it."
March 18th. The Committee of Correspondenee, Inspection, and Safety this year were Ed. Richards, Cyrel Carpenter, Samuel Tiffany, Jr., Elisha May, and Nathan Tyler.
April 2d. A meeting was held to see if the town will give some encouragement to the soldiery to enlist our proportion of the fifteen battalions granted by this State to join the Continental army.
A committee was chosen to report upon the subject, and also to state what is an average on the whole since the war commenced, who reported that the bounty and wages given by Congress and our court afforded a sufficient encouragement for the first years' service; that for the second year the town allow two pounds per month in addition to the wages, and the same for the last year. Twenty-four pounds in addi- tion to the bounty, instead of the addition to their wages, was offered to those who might prefer it.
The committee also reported that the eight montlis' men, or those who went into service in consequence
of Lexington battle, have no allowance; that the six weeks' and two months' men have no allowance ; that the year's men be allowed ten pounds per man ; that the Dorchester men have no allowance ; that the men raised for two months in September, 1776, be al- lowed seven pounds per man ; that the men raised for the northern or Canada expedition be allowed ten pounds per man ; that the quarter men, or those raised for Howland's Ferry, be allowed six pounds per man.
May 22d. Chose Capt. John Stearns and Mr. Wil- liam Stanley representatives. Appointed a committee to prepare instructions to said representatives, viz. : Rev. Peter Thatcher, Capt. Elisha May, Col. John Daggett, Capt. Moses Wilmarth, Mr. Levi Maxey. Their report, it appears, is not recorded.
Excused Capt. May from serving on Committee of Correspondence, etc., and elected Stephen Fuller in his room. Voted to enlarge said committee, and added Zephaniah Bishop, Jacob Cushman, and John Sweetland.
Jan. 12, 1778. A committee, consisting of Rev. Mr. Thacher, Capt. Elisha May, Col. Stephen Richard- son, Deacon Stanley, Capt. Caleb Richardson, Lieut. Elkanah Wilmarth, and Mr. John Wilkinson, was chosen to prepare instructions to the representatives of the town relative to the Articles of Confederation. They presented a report, which was accepted. It shows how perfectly convinced at that time our fore- fathers were of the value and importance of a firm union of the States to the well-being of the whole people.
To show the sentiments of the people a few extracts are given :
"The subscribers, being chosen a committee 'to consider what in- structions it may be proper for them to give their representatives rela- 'tive to the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union which are proposed to the consideration of the Legislatures of all the United States as the basis thereof forever,' and also ' relative to the resolves of the most Honorable Congress of the 7th and 22d of November last,' having maturely considered the said Articles and resolves, do humbly offer the following to the consideration of the town on this very impor- tant subject :
"To Messrs. John Stearns and William Stanley, Representatives of the town of Attleborough, Gentlemen, We shall rejoice at the arrival of the happy hour when the Independent States of North America have a Union established upon equitable terms to continue as long as the sun and moon endure. We are sensible of the utility and necessity of such a union to our present exertions and the success of them, as wellas for the strength and flourishing condition of these States hereafter. We would, therefore, be as distant as possible from offering anything to ob- struct the speedy accomplishment of a thing so desirable; yet we are constrained to desire explanation of the 4th paragraph in the filth article which determines, that, in deciding questions in the United States in Congress assembled, each State shall have one vote, which, if it exclude a voice in Congress proportioned to the number or estate of the differ- ent States, we apprehend, would be very unequal and not to be by any means consented unto, etc."
After stating specific objections to some other arti- cles, the report concludes,-
" With the foregoing emendations and explanations we desire you to use your endeavors that the Delegates in Congress be impowered to ratify the aforesaid Articles of Confederation and Perpetual union. As to the Resolves of the most Hon'ble Congress, we only observe upon the fifth and sixth resolves, that the regulating bill formerly enacted and since repealed, though framed with an honest and good design, yet was,
1 This seems to have been conceived in something of that holy ardor, that sublime spirit of patriotism and self-devotion, which (in a few months after) dictated those ever memorable words in the closing sen- tence of the Declaration of Independence,-" We pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." Immortal words, which sent such a thrill to the hearts of our countrymen, and inspired them with such an unconquerable enthusiasm in the cause of freedom !
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
as we apprehend, very injurious to the good and honest people of this State, and was of no use to restrain oppressors and monopolizers, but rather put an advantage of oppression into their hands, and was a great means of sinking the value of our money, and, therefore, we expect and desire you to oppose the carrying of the said resolutions into execution."
At the same meeting a committee was appointed to draft a petition, which was sent to the General Court, earnestly praying for the repeal of an act calling in the bills of credit, or State money. In this petition the people expressed their fears of the consequences which would result from that act to the interests of the poor, etc. "We have waited a long time," say they, "in hopes that you would repeal that act without our troubling you with petitions ; but as we have hitherto been disappointed, we are obliged, in justice to ourselves and to our posterity, earnestly to pray for the speedy repeal of that act." They ex- press their opinion that the money ought to be called in by degrees as it was issued,-that is, one emis- sion at a time, by taxing the inhabitants of the State until the whole is withdrawn.
March 17th. The Committee of Correspondence, etc., were Elkanah Wilmarth, Ebenezer Tiffany, and Ephraim Allen, Jr.
May 12th. Voted to pay thirty pounds to each sol- dier who shall enlist in the Continental army to com- plete the number (thirteen) required of this town by a late resolve of the General Court; also voted to give thirty pounds more as a bounty.
May 21st. The committee, chosen at a former meet- ing to consider the constitution1 lately submitted to the people, not agreeing upon a report, the town ap- pointed another committee of seven, viz., Rev. P. Thatcher, Rev. Habijah Weld, Elder Job Seamans, Dr. Bezaliel Mann, Col. John Daggett, Col. Stephen Richardson, Capt. John Stearns, who finally made a report. The vote in town stood fifty-one affirmative, seventy-six negative.
March 16, 1779. The Committee of Safety were Capt. Caleb Richardson, John Damon, Elijah Wellman.
May 18th. Elisha May, Esq., was chosen representa- tive. Voted to empower our representative to vote for the calling of a convention for the sole purpose of framing a new constitution.
June 21st. Voted to raise thirteen soldiers (to serve nine months) as this town's proportion of the fifteen battalions furnished by this State to fill up the Con- tinental army. On the question of having a new constitution there were one hundred and twenty-one votes in favor, and none in the negative recorded.
.
Aug. 2d. This town sent three members to the con- vention which formed the present constitution of Massachusetts.
" Chose Col. John Daggett, Capt. John Stearns, and Maj. Elisha May to attend the convention2 at
Cambridge on the 1st of September next for the sole purpose of framing a new constitution.
The town then took into consideration the proceed- ings of the convention held at Concord for regulating articles of merchandise and country produce, and voted unanimously to accept of the doings of said convention and to conform ourselves to the proposed regulations.
Chose Col. Stephen Richardson, Mr. Levi Maxcy, and Mr. Edward Richards members of the conven- tion to be held at Concord on the first Wednesday of October next.
March 21, 1780. The Committee of Safety were David Richardson, Capt. Moses Wilmarth, and Wil- liam Morse:
May 2. The new constitution was referred to a committee.
June 14. Voted to raise twenty-nine soldiers for six months, as this town's quota to reinforce the Con- tinental army, according to a resolve of the General Court of June 5, 1780. They were to be paid by a tax on the town.
Sept. 4. Voted to raise twelve thousand pounds to defray the expenses of the town the current .year. Also voted to raise fourteen hundred pounds, hard money, to pay the soldiers who may engage to serve in the Continental army for three and for six months, according to resolves of the General Court of June 5th, 22d, and 23d. Elisha May, Esq., was chosen rep- resentative the two following years, which brings us to the close of the Revolution. There were no trans- actions of particular interest relating to the war during these two years.
Military Services .- To furnish a full statement of the military services which the citizens of this town rendered during the Revolutionary war-to as- certain the number of soldiers who enlisted and the time for which they served-is not, perhaps, possible at this day. But some general accounts may be col- lected which will afford a tolerable view of their services.
It appears from the following anecdotes that they were not slow in acting up to the resolutions which they had adopted.
In December, 1774, the Committee of Safety gave notice that one Nathan Aldis, a Tory, who lived in Franklin, Mass., was selling British goods, contrary to the resolutions of the General Court. Col. John Daggett, of this town, a determined and resolute patriot, immediately issued orders to the several companies of this town to furnish a certain number of men, who being collected, marched in a bitter cold night for the place of Aldis' residence, to put a stop to his business. They were joined on the way by volunteers from the neighboring towns. They arrived
1 This was the first frame of government submitted to the people of this State. It was framed by a convention, 1778-79, and is commonly called the Rejected Constitution.
3 This convention met at the meeting-house in Cambridge, September, 1779, continued till the 7th, and then adjourned to October 28th ; then
met and continued till November 11th, and adjourned to Jan. 5, 1780, at the representatives' chamber, Boston; then met and continued till March 2d, and adjourned to June 7th ; then met and continued till June 16th, when it was dissolved.
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ATTLEBOROUGH.
late at night, and surrounding his house, ordered him out. He (and his associates who had assembled to defend him) at first attempted to resist with arms, threatening to fire upon them from the windows ; and assuming a tone of confidence ordered them to depart. Upon this the besiegers were directed to point their guns towards the house. But finding that his oppo- nents were in earnest, and that threats could not in- timidate them, Aldis at last came out. He was or- dered to pull off his hat while in the presence of the people's soldiers ! Here, before the whole company, he was compelled to enter into an engagement not to "vend any more British goods during the present unhappy controversy between the king and his colo- nies." The prisoner was then released. The next morning he fled to Boston, and was never after known in these parts.
1
The captains from this town who were engaged in this adventure were Capt. S. Richardson, of the Northeast Company ; Capt. Moses Wilmarth, South- east Company ; Capt. Jacob Ide, South west Company ; Capt. Jonathan Stanley, Northwest Company.
Assonett Expedition .- Information having been received from the vigilant Committees of Safety that the British had made a deposit of arms and ammuni- tion at Assonett village (Freetown), for the use of the loyalists, Col. Daggett, of this town, on the 9th of April, 1775, undertook an expedition for the purpose of seizing these arms and breaking up the combina- tion which had been formed to favor the royal cause. He was accompanied by the several companies from this town with their captains (as before named, ex- cept Elisha May in the room of Jonathan Stanley), and by some of the militia from Rehoboth and other towns. How many others were concerned in the ad- venture is not known.
They discovered forty stands of arms and equip- ments in the possession of the Tories, together with a large quantity of ammunition, the whole of which was taken by the patriots. All who were suspected of favoring the British interest were required to swear not to bear arms against their country. Nine stanch Tories who refused to take the oath of fidelity to the colonies were made prisoners and put under the charge of the company from East Attleborough, and forthwith marched to Taunton. Here their captors threatened to convey them to Sullivan's mines in Connecticut if they would not comply. To avoid this alternative they at last submitted, and took the oath of allegiance. They were then dismissed.
This expedition deserves commemoration from the circumstance of its having been accomplished pre- vious to the commencement of open hostilities in any other part of the country. It preceded a few days the first scene in the great drama which opened on the plains of Lexington. It was appearing in arms (though on a comparatively small scale) against the royal government. The patriots expected resistance, and were prepared with sufficient force to meet it.
The company of minute-men, sixty in number, under the command of Capt. Jabez Ellis, Enoch Robinson, lieutenant, on the day of the battle at Lexington received orders to march instantly to Rox- bury. We set out at night,1 stopped a short time at Maxcy's, now Hatch's Tavern, then went directly to Dedham, where we found two tables by the roadside generously provided with food for the soldiers who might pass that way, thus arranged to prevent any unnecessary delay. We snatched a hasty breakfast and marched on; reached Roxbury about daylight, and were then marched round and round Roxbury meeting-house, to make as much show of numbers as possible in view of the British. Our company re- mained there seven or eight days, and then were per- mitted to return home.2
The same company went down to Roxbury the day of Bunker Hill battle; stayed about a fortnight. While there a small party of us went round to the Cambridge side to look at the British, but soon the captain of a fort called out to us that we had better not go in company, for the enemy would see us and fire at us; and sure enough, in a minute or two, a cannon-ball came whizzing along close by us, and soon after they sent us a bomb.
May 1, 1775. A company of sixty-four men enlisted for eight months, under Capt. Caleb Richardson, in the Massachusetts line (so called), and were stationed at Roxbury.
July, 1776. Another company, principally from this town, enlisted five months in the recruits called the new levies, under Capt. Caleb Richardson, and Stephen Richardson, lieutenant, both of Attle- borough, in the regiment of Col. Cary, of Middle- borongh, Brig .- Gen. Fellowes, and did duty in and about New York, and were at the disastrous retreat from Long Island, etc.3 Some of the other members of this company were from the neighboring towns.
September, 1776. Another company was raised (part from Attleborough and part from Norton) under Capt.
1 The circumstances are given as related to the author by one of the survivors.
2 Of one of these soldiers an anecdote was current among the sur- vivors of that day. One Henry Richardson, of this town, a bold and honest but heedless fellow, on his way to Roxbury swore he would have one of the red-coats before he went back. On his arrival at headquarters, the moment he had opportunity, he charged his long musket, and not thinking with Falstaff that " discretion is the better part of valor," coolly marched down in front of our lower guard, and taking deliberate aim at the opposite British sentinel, discharged his musket, and badly wounded him, as his companions were seen to lead him off the ground, and his place was supplied by another. Much to his astonishment, our hero was immediately arrested (for doing, as he thought, so good a ser- vice) and put under guard ; but, on the representations of his friends, was soon after discharged without further punishment, in consideration of his good intentions !
On meeting, afterwards, one of his townsmen, he exclaimed, with ex- ultation, " There, I told you I'd have one of them are British rascals."
3 Capt. Moses Wilmarth, though he had served as a captain at home, yet from a spirit of patriotism entered the service as a private soldier in the expedition to New York. He was afterwards promoted, and con- tinued much attached to the service during the war.
Joel Read of this town was wounded at New York.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Elisha May, of this town, in the regiment of Col. Thomas Carpenter, of Rehoboth, and arrived at White Plains before the battle.
In October, 1777, a whole company from this town marched to Rhode Island, under Capt. Stephen Rich- ardson, and served one month in Spencer's " secret expedition," so called.
Several men from this town were drafted in the ex- pedition against Ticonderoga in 1776; served also at Saratoga.
Some of our soldiers enlisted for three years, and others during the war.
The above accounts do not include the many indi- vidual enlistments into the Continental army from this town during the war.
Militia-Rhode Island .- The militia in this town and the vicinity were subject to frequent drafts of inen (more or less) from December, 1776, until after the evacuation of Rhode Island. Drafts were made in January, February, March, May, June, July, and August, 1777, and at many other times. The men were stationed, the most of the time, at Howland's Ferry (Tiverton) and at Warwick.
The British took possession of Rhode Island in De- cember, 1776, and kept the surrounding country in a continual state of alarm. They occupied it above two years.
Gen. Sullivan, during his expedition to Rhode Is- land, requested the government of Massachusetts to send him a reinforcement in consequence of the French forces having abandoned him. In compliance with this request the following orders were issued by the Council of this State, directing Col. Daggett, of the Fourth Regiment (including, as now, Attle- borough, Mansfield, Norton, and Easton), to take charge of the detachment :
"STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY, " COUNCIL CHAMBER, Aug. 18, 1778.
" WHEREAS, Maj .- Gen. Sullivan has represented to this Board that by reason of the absence of the French troops, which he expected would co-operate with him, he is in pressing need of a reinforcement, there- fore,
" Ordered, that the following colonels be and hereby are directed to detach from their respective regiments the several numbers of men here- after mentioned, and form them into companies of sixty-eight men each, including one captain, two subalterns, four sergeants, four corpo- rals, one drummer, and one fifer, and see that they be equipped, armed, and accoutred as the law directs, and order them to march immediately to the island of Rhode Island, and there to do duty during the campaign on said island, viz .: From Col. Hawes' regiment, one hundred and fifty men, including officers and one major ; from Col. Carpenter's regiment, one hundred and fifty men, including officers; from Col. Daggett's regi- ment, one hundred and fifty men, including officers and one colonel ; from Col. Hathaway's regiment, one hundred and fifty men, including officers and one lieutenant colonel ; from Col. Sproat's regiment, one hundred and fifty men, including officers ; from Col. Williams' regiment, one hundred and fifty men, including officers,
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