USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Dracut > History of Dracut, Massachusetts, called by the Indians Augumtoocooke and before incorporation, the wildernesse north of the Merrimac. First permanment settlement in 1669 and incorporated as a town in 1701 > Part 13
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Reuben Colburn William Abbott
Joel Bowers Oliver Mears Tony Clark [colored]
Samuel Coburn
Samuel Abbot
Thomas Whittaker
John Massey
Amos Worster [Morse]
Premus Johnson [colored] Seth Dudson [Didson]."
147
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
On the 8th of March, 1782, another call was made, and on March 26th the Town voted "to desire Capt. Stephen Russell and Capt Joseph B. Varnum to call out their companies together to raise the men for the army, both to meet in one place." And all who belonged to the Alarm list and training bands were "requested to meet at Dea. Thomas Hoveys house to see what could be done about filling the quota."
Men from Dracut were at Yorktown and witnessed the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, which terminated the war. With peace in the land, the government, which until war was declared was a monarchy, was now a republic, a government by the people which in future years was desined to take its place among the great nations of the world, and show to other nations governed by hereditary aristocracy that the right way of gov- ernment was by the people whose representatives made the laws.
The close of the war gave the people an opportunity to attend to internal improvement, and Dracut men who had served in the army now returned and devoted their energies to peaceful occupations. The sword and musket were exchanged for the plow and scythe, and the surviving veterans were per- mitted to spend their days in peace. In the preparation of a history it is difficult to find a detailed account of incidents in the lives of those men who were the actors in this great war of the Revolution. Writing was to them in most cases a laborious task, and they did not realize the importance of records which to them were of little account, but to the historian they are in- valuable. One such record is the diary of Micah Hildreth which has been preserved nearly 150 years. The title written in a bold hand is :
MICAH HILDRETH of Dracutt His BOOK
The first entry is "Ticonderoga August 28 1776 Then Recd of Capt Ford one Pound Six Shillings and three Pence For our Milage and Billiting From Chelmsford to Numberfore" . This refers to Charleston, N. H., which was chartered as No. Four. The next entry shows the route taken by the company which marched to Ticonderoga :
148
HISTORY OF DRACUT
"Dracut July 23 1776
Then Marched for Cannada.
to Chelmsford
to Walpole
to Westford
to Charlestown N. H
to Groton
to Springfield
to Pepperal
to Wethirsfield
to Townsin
to Cavendish
to Ashby
to Saltish
to Ashbinham
to Ludlow
to New Ypswich
to Sasbury
to Rindge
to Clarodin
to Jaffrey
to Rutland
to New molbury
to Caselton
to Swansey
to Skeensbourough
to Keen
to mount independent
to Surry
to Ticonderoga
to Westmoreland October ye 5 1776
Then Received of Capt Ford Nine Pound Lawful money wages which was Due to me at Ticonderoga."
The route taken for their return is also given.
"From Ticonderoga Novem. 26 1776
to Fort George to Williams Burg
to Fort Edward
to Hatfield
to Fort Miller
then a Crost the
to Saratogie
River to Hadley
to Still Water
to Amherst
to Half Moon
to Shutes Barry
to New City
to New Salam
to Albany Flats
to Peters Sham
to Albany
to Templeton
then a Crost the
to Westminster
River to Green Bush
to Fitch Burg
to Scoduck
to Luning Burg
to New Lebanon
to Sharley
to Green Groves
to Groten
Caled Philips town
to Westford
to Pits Field
to Chelmsford
to Patridge Field
to Dracutt."
to Washington
149
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
These routes may be followed by locating the towns on a map although many of the towns have been given different names.
The diary continues: "August ye 12 then Left Isaac Clement sick with the small pox at Caselton. August ye 17 then Corpl. Spaulding was Carried to Lake George Sick with the Small Pox. August - then Asa Coburn was carried to Fort George Sick with the Small Pox. August 25 then Elijah Hildreth was Carried to Fort George sick with the small Pox. August 28 Then John Mears was Carried down the Lake to Fort George sick with the small pox. August ye 28 Then Zachariah Fletcher was Carried to Fort George siek with the small pox."
These items are sufficient to show the ravages of this disease among the Dracut Soldiers. "November ye 12 1776 Then I Went a Hunting and Sergt. Parker and Sergt Chambers and we kild Buck Weight Pr Quarter 30 1h. Dec 5 1776 Then Lieut Chaney and I Bought a Horse Prise Ten Pound Lawfull Money. First night my Horse Cost for keeping £0-1s-0d."
Then follow items from which we infer that he travelled about alone : "Ticond Novem 26 1776 Then I Sot out for Home at half after 2 at Night and Got to the Head of Lake George half after 4 then We Went on Bord and sot sail for Fort George and got there 27 about the sun an hour high at Night then I Bought 1 Qut of Cyder. 28 Day I Came to fort Edward and then to fort miles and stayed 1 Night and Got Soper and Breekfurst. 29 then to Saratoga and From there to Still Water and Eat Super and Breckfurst N. 30 I came to Half Moon and staid there that Night and Eat Super and Breckfust. then to Albaney and Drinked 2 Boles of todey and Eat Bisket & Chees. Super and Login and Breckfurs 1s-6d."
The dates which follow in the diary relate to earlier trans- actions.
"Ticonderoga Oct ye 28 1776 on Sunday. Then we Was a Larmed and Every man to his arms and marched to his a Larm Post for the Enemy appeared in Sight upon the Lake and a Number of Boates Began to Land a Bought 3 miles of and then 1 Boat Boar down towards us and Come within 3
150
HISTORY OF DRACUT
Quarters of a mile of our Batries and We Fired 2 Cannon from ye Sandy Redout and 3 Cannon from ye Jarze [Jersey] Redout at the Boat and we understand that the Last Shot struck the Boat and kild 3 men. Then the Enemy Retreted Back to Putnams Point and some to Crown Point. Then the 3 Day of November the Enemy Sot Sail and Left Putnam Point and Crown Point. Nov 16 1776 at evening. Morril and Littlehal Camp got a Fier and They Blod up those magazin which kept a very hot Fier for once in Quarter of an hour one horn wood Go of and then another."
This has reference to the horns of cattle in which they car- ried their powder.
"August ye 19 1 went on Fatague with one 100 men. August ye 23 then I went on Fatague with Capt. Miles .* August ye 24 then I went upon a Cort martial whare of Colo. Arvine was Presedent Capt. Ford and Capt Peat and Capt Eaten and Capt Liman and Lieut Baldin Lt Dench Lt Bond members of sd Court. Ticond. Aug 30 then went upon a Cort martial. August 31. then went upon a Cort martial with those Gentlemen a Bove mentioned to try such Persons as shall be brought Before Them. Sept 8 at Eving orders Came that Every officer and soldier keep Fast in thare tents and not go out till the Son Rise Next morning the Genl. expecting Some Enemy in Camps who was Dressed in Disguise to Vew our Lines But Found none Sept 26 We Hear News From New York that the kings Troops Sallied out to Force our Lines and there was Slain 2000 and 6 or 7 Hundred Taken Prisiners. Oct ye 3 Then I Went on Fatague with 100 men. Oct ye 19 Then I Went on Guard With Capt Myers and Ensign White & Sixty men. Wee Expected the Enemy the Next morning which was Sunday and our men Begun a Brisk Fier on Saturday about the Sun Half an Hour high at Night and Fired a Good many Rounds from Each Batery and with small arms from the Brest work to Clear out our Peases For the Next morning to Ingage. Sept ve 22 Lt. Whitcom Brought a Regular Ensign and a Corpril
*The work or duties of soldiers distinct from the use of arms. [ Encyclo. Dict.1
151
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
From the Regulars Which he and Two men more Took Down towards Shambelee and Brought up to Ticonderoga to Genl. Gates. Ticonderoga Oct 3 23 1776 Then I Went on Piquet Guard with Colo. Lenord and 200 men. Oct 24 Then I went on Fatague with Colo. Whelock and Majr Stady and Major Rogers. Oet ye 26 1776 Then I Went on Main Guard with Capt. John Polhemus and sixty men and Had sixteen Prisiners under guard Confined. Ticonderoga Oct ye 10 1776 Then our Fleet and Genl. Boigoin Fleet met upon the Lake."
Reference is made in the next entry to his going on guard "which is Caled the Jarze [Jersey] Redout." The diary ends abruptly but it reveals much of the soldier's experience. A few of the entries have been omitted, but they were repetitions and nothing of interest. In 1903, the Molly Varnum Chapter, Daughters of the Revolution, presented to the town Library a handsome book prepared by Ross Turner, a celebrated Boston artist, in which the names of the Revolutionary Soldiers are inscribed. In an address given by Dr. Moses G. Parker, he states that in this list are found 33 Coburns, 15 Varnums, 14 Rich- ardsons, 13 Parkers, 11 Jones', 9 Foxes, 7 each of Abbott, Davis. Hall and Sawyer, 6 each of Barker, Bradley, Hildreth, Lindsay and Wood, 5 each of Barron, Bowers, Clement, Clough, Crosby, Harris, Kelley and Taylor, 4 each of Flint, Foster, Goodhue, Marshall, Mears and Wright. From these 439 Dracut men 112 marched to Lexington and Concord, 23 were at Bunker Hill, 63 at Saratoga, 7 at White Plains, 69 at Rhode Island, and 74 in New York State; 61 are recorded as being in the Continental army and 23 in the Northern army without the place of service being given. Many were attached to companies and regiments, but the location of these companies and regiments are not given. In this is found :
One Colonel : Col. Louis Ansart Four Captains : Peter Coburn J. B. Varnum James Varnum Stephen Russell
Twelve Lieutenants : Abraham Coburn Ephraim Coburn Simon Coburn Miles Flint
William Harvey Josiah Foster
152
HISTORY OF DRACUT
David Jones
Samuel Mansur
Temple Kendall
Abram Stickney
Mathew Parker Jonathan Robbins
Ebenezer Varnum
Thirteen Corporals :
Micah Hildreth
John Barron
Christopher Page.
Oliver Bowers
Thirteen Sergeants :
David Austin
Moses Barker
Oliver Farmer
Timothy Barker
John Hancock
Samuel Barron
Zebediah Jones
Jerathmeel Coburn
Ephraim Lindsay
Abijah Fox
Kendall Parker
Peter Hunt
Asa Spaulding
Jonathan Jones
John Taylor
Gerehom Flag Lane
David Trull
David Lindsay
Elijah Tuttle
Dr. Parker adds: "It is a record she may well be proud of, it places her among the first if not the first, on the list of towns, for patriots in the American Revolution, giving 36 per cent. of her entire population which was then only 1,173 to the defence of our country."
The revised Roll of Honor gives a total number of 439 names of Dracut men who served in the War for Independence. Of Corporal John Hancock it is interesting to note an entry on the Town records: "April 1772 John Hancock a Native of Great Britain came to the Town of Dracut and resided at the house of Mr. John Gilchrist." His marriage to Elizabeth Nichols is recorded in the town books, also the birth of two children. He served in several of the companies from 1775 to 1778 and his death occurred in 1796. An order is on record given to the town Treasurer for the payment of a bill as fol- lows: "Feb 10 1779 Please pay to Elijah Hildreth Fourteen pounds for his doing a Turn upon the Guard at Cambridge the summer past." The order is directed to Major Joseph Varnum, treasurer or his successor in office. Gen. Philip Reade has explained the meaning of this order. "The phrase 'to do a Turn' was of frequent occurrence in those days. Thus if a
Daniel Clough, Jr.
Francis Davidson
153
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
constable failed or refused to take the qualifying oath as such, the voters would at town meeting choose or detail another man 'To do a Turn the present year in his stead.' "
The commissary department was conducted by the state. There was no Federal government, and to provide food for the soldiers there was no higher authority than the General Court. September 25, 1780, a resolve was passed requiring the towns to furnish beef. This was an article of food of which the men were most in need and at a town meeting held October 9th of the same year, the sum of 40,000 Continental dollars was appropriated for this purpose. In the following December, 62,000 pounds of the old emission of Continental money was raised "for the purpose of procuring said town's proportion of beef required by the General Court." A committee consisting of Parker Varnum, Joseph B. Varnum and Peter Hazelton was appointed as purchasing agents. Some estimation of the value of the money at that time can be made by comparing these three sums mentioned. The first and second relate to the old emission of Continental money, while the third, which was to be hard money, was probably of as much real value as the others. The depreciation of the currency led to much suffering and disaster. In 1778, the town authorized the treasurer to sell the paper money if he could get one dollar for ten.
The following payments on record will give an idea of the value of this money. "Paid to Elisha Baron £660 pounds for one ox, to Capt. Peter Coburn £1400 for two oxen, to Jonas Varnum $1000 for one horse and £84 for a blank book."
In 1780 more men were needed for service in the army and a committee consisting of nine men, viz: Capt. Stephen Russell, Capt. J. B. Varnum, Lieut. Ephraim Coburn, Lieut. Miles Flint, Lieut. Davis, William Hildreth, Reuben Sawyer, Deacon Thomas Hovey and Benjamin French, was appointed "To procure and agree with men for three years or during the war at the cost and charges of the town."
At this stage of the war it was exceedingly difficult to per- suade men to enlist. Assistance was rendered by France and for this reason it was generally considered that our independ- ence was assured and we need not make any effort ourselves. This spirit, with the depreciation and scarcity of money, also
154
HISTORY OF DRACUT
the lack of interest which was manifested in the earlier years of the war, was the principal cause of the difficulty to increase the forces sufficiently to engage in offensive action instead of remaining, as they were compelled to do, in simply defending themselves. All historians agree that money was difficult to obtain and the currency in danger of further depreciation, and while some were willing to accept notes from the treasurer in payment for services, others preferred to be paid in promises of cattle or corn. These were called cattle notes and corn notes.
In 1784 two men, Joel Bowers and Amos Morse, requested the town to pay them $300 in money with interest from the time of their entering the service, instead of cattle as specified in the notes they had received. But as the town preferred to pay them in cattle, they requested the town to purchase the cattle of them for fifteen dollars each; but this the town de- clined to do, and they were obliged to receive the cattle accord- ing to the original agreement. At a later date a small amount was paid in money instead of corn.
There were various reasons why this long war should cease. The British government was obliged to depend for supplies upon their own country, and weeks and sometimes months were consumed in transporting men and arms to America. Other wars at that time in progress demanded men which England must provide. The Americans engaged in a war to secure their independence, the enemy consisted of mercenaries who, coming from Hesse and so were called Hessians, had no incentive to win the war, and a large number of the people of England sympathized with the Colonies in their efforts to gain their lib- erty. All these with the success attending the American army led to the conclusion of peace and the acknowledgment of the independence of the Colonies. To show the feeling which ex- isted in Parliament, an extract from the speech of one of the members is of interest: "We have now been thirteen years engaged in this deplorable dispute in which we have lost two whole armies. I say thirteen years for I recollect that in 1763 it was proposed to send over two regiments to General Gage, and it may be remembered that my opinion was that they be sent, but that the use of them should be left to the discretion of the General, so that he might send them back if he did not
155
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
need them. The opinion of my colleagues was that at all events they should continue in America. Numbers carried it and the regiments were sent. From that time I predicted the fatal events which actually followed from the fatal measure. In 1775 the affairs of Lexington and Bunker Hill became the signals of carnage. It is now seven years that the unhappy subjects of a divided and convulsed empire have not ceased to cut one another's throats. What have we accomplished? What have we got by all this? Nothing. What do I say, a great deal worse than nothing. More than 80,000 men have been sent over to America, not one returned, and this at a cost of one million pounds sterling, foolishly wasted in executing ill-digested plans, without connection or object. We scarcely possess a hope that our national debt will stop short of inevitable bankruptcy." After referring to the millions spent he says, "This year (1780) was marked by the loss of the only national ally which you had, by the loss of Tobago and lately by that of a brave army, a brave general, who, like us at Saratoga, was sacrificed to the want of abilities, the wild, unconcerted schemes of administration."
ROLL OF HONOR Dracut's Sons in the American Revolution.
Number of names, 437. Population in 1776, 1173.
Daniel Abbott, Jr.
Jacob Abbott
Lewis Ansart, Col. of Artil- lery
Samuel Abbott
Caleb Austin
Solomon Abbott
David Austin, Sergt.
Uriah Abbott
John Austin
William Abbott
Peter Austin
David Adams
Thompson Bacon or Baron
Jesse Adams
Richard Baker
John Adams
Reuben Baldwin
William Anderson, Fifer
Benjamin Ball
Jesse Anger
Timothy Bancroft
Charles Annis
Asa Barker
Jonathan Barker
James Abbott, Surgeon's Mate.
Jacob Atwood
Joshua Atwood
156
HISTORY OF DRACUT
Moses Barker, Sergt.
Joseph Carkin
Moses Barker, Jr.
Nathaniel Chace
Thomas Barker
Silas Chamberlain
Timothy Barker, Sergt.
Joseph Chambers
Jonas Prescott Barrett
Ezekiel Cheever
Benjamin Barron
Tony Clark
Eliseus Barron
Daniel Clement
Henry Barron
David Clement
John Barron, Corp.
Isaac Clement
Jotham Barron
Moses Clement
Samuel Barron, Sergt.
Moses Clement, Jr.
William Beard
William Cloyd
John Betteys
Benjamin Clough
David Blood
Daniel Clough
John Boman
Daniel Clough, Jr.
Zebulon Bootman
David Clough
Joseph Bossell or Buzzell
William Clough
Benjamin Bowers
Abraham Coburn, Lieut.
Joel Bowers
Asa Coburn
John Bowers
Benjamin Coburn
John Bowers, Jr.
Broadstreet Coburn
Oliver Bowers, Corp.
Daniel Coburn
Amos Bradley
David Coburn
Amos Bradley, Jr.
Ephraim Coburn, Lieut.
Isaac Bradley
Ezra Coburn
Jesse Bradley
Henry Coburn
John Bradley
Hezekiah Coburn
Joshua Bradley
Jabish Coburn
Josiah Bradley
Jacob Coburn
Tobias Briggs
Jeptha Coburn
Alexander Brown
Jerathmeel Coburn, Sergt.
Brintwood Brown
Jesse Coburn Job Coburn
Timothy Brown, Jr.
Jonathan Coburn
William Brown
Joseph Coburn
George Burns
Jesse Butterfield
Oliver Coburn
Peter Coburn, Capt.
Peter Coburn, Jr., Drummer Phineas Coburn
William Caldwell Mitchell Calley
Leonard Coburn
Samuel Brown
157
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Reuben Coburn
Samuel Coburn
Joseph Dowse John Dunn
Silas Coburn
Jonathan Dunn
Simeon Coburn
David Durant
Saul Coburn
Simon Coburn, Lieut.
Samuel Elliott
Smith Coburn
William Elliott
Thaddeus Coburn
William Elliott, Jr.
Thomas Coburn
Daniel Emerson
Thomas Coburn, Jr.
William Emerson
Uriah Coburn
Josiah Esterbrook
William Coburn
Mitchell Corliss
Edward Farmer
Nathan Cory
Oliver Farmer, Corp.
Samuel Cory
Joshua Farnham
Benjamin Crosby
William Farnham
Ephraim Crosby
Aaron Fermer
Jonathan Crosby
Zabdiel Fitch
Jonathan Crosby, Jr.
Josiah Fletcher Levi Fletcher
Abiel Cross
Zechariah Fletcher
Samuel Cummings
Miles Flint, Lieut.
Samuel Currier
Nehemiah Flint
Ephraim Curtis John Curtis
Samuel Flint
Simion Flint
Robert Foard
Benjamin Danforth
Jonathan Foster
William Danforth
Josiah Foster, Lieut.
Francis Davidson, Corp.
Simeon Foster
Dudley Davis
Timothy Foster
James Davis
Abijah Fox, Sergt.
Mitchell Davis
David Fox
Moses Davis
Eliphalet Fox
Moses Davis, Jr.
Isaac Fox
Samuel Davis
Jesse Fox
Timothy Davis
Joel Fox
Benjamin Didson
John Fox
Seth Didson
Josiah Fox
John Dodge
Simon Fox
Josiah Crosby
158
HISTORY OF DRACUT
Benjamin French
John Haywood
James French
Josiah Heald
John Friend
Joseph Hebbard
Reuben Fry
Joseph Hebbard, Jr.
Timothy Fry
James Heseltine
James Gardner
Peter Heseltine
Thomas Gardener
Elijah Hildreth
Samuel Gardner
Israel Hildreth
John Gilchrest
Josiah Hildreth
John Goodhue
Micah Hildreth, Lieut.
Moses Goodhue
William Hildreth
Zachariah Goodhue
William Hildreth, Jr.
Zachariah Goodhue, Jr.
Abijah Hill
Thomas Goodwin
Paul Hill
John Gordon
Solomon Hill
Benjamin Gould, Drummer
Jonathan Hills
Gardiner Gould
John Holt
Jesse Gould
Enoch Howard
William Gould
Lazarus Hubbard
Ebenezer Hunt
Andrew Hall
Jonathan Hunt
Asa Hall
Joseph Hunt
Ephraim Hall
Nehemiahı Hunt
Ephraim Hall, Jr.
Peter Hunt, Sergt.
Moses Hall
Nathaniel Ingalls
Timothy Hall
Jonathan Hamblett, Drum- mer
Daniel Jaquist
Nehemiah Jaquist
David Harvey
Samuel Jenness
James Harvey John Harvey
Enoch Jewett
Joseph Harvey
Ebenezer Johnson John Johnson
William Harvey, Lieut.
Primus Johnson
David Harway
David Jones, Lieut.
Enoch Haywood
David Jones, Jr.
Jesse Haywood
Hugh Jones
Benjamin Griffin
James Hunt
Oliver Hall, Fifer
John Hancock, Corp.
Abraham Jaquith
159
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Jonathan Jones, Sergt. Joshua Jones
John Marser
Isaac Marshall
Jesse Marshall
Joshua Marshall
Samuel Marshall
Bartholomew Massey
Zebediah Jones, Corp. Zebulon Jones
Oliver McCann
David MeLaughlin
Thomas Kele
George Kelley
John Kelley
Timothy Kelley
Samuel Mears, Jr.
William Kelley
William Melendy
Phineas Kidder
Temple Kindal, Lieut.
Asa Kittredge
Daniel Kittredge Nathaniel Kittredge
James Lafferty Benjamin Lane
David Lane
Gershom Flag Lane
Ebenezer Leman
Seth Leviston Barzillai Lew, Fifer James Lewis Reuben Lewis
Christopher Page, Lieut. Chester Parker
Ephraim Parker
David Lindsay, Sergt.
Ephraimu Lindsey, Corp.
Hincher Parker
Isaac Parker
Jonathan Parker, Jr.
Thomas Lindsey, Jr.
Kendall Parker, Corp.
William Lindsey
Abraham Littlehale
George Low
Peter Parker Silas Parker
James Mansur Samuel Mansur, Sergt.
David Merrill
Isaac Merrill
Cambridge More
Amos Morse
Robert Nicklas
John Osgood Jonathan Osgood Joseph Osgood
Green Parker
Isaac Lindsey Thomas Lindsey
Matthew Parker, Sergt.
Simeon Parker Simon Parker William Parker
Nathaniel Jones Oliver Jones Samuel Jones Solomon Jones
John Massey
John Mears
Oliver Mears
Samuel Mears
160
HISTORY OF DRAOUT
Jonathan Parkhurst
Amos Sawyer
Samuel Parkhurst
Benjamin Sawyer
Timothy Patch
Caleb Sawyer
William Patten
David Sawyer
John Perham
Ebenezer Sawyer
William Perham
Francis Sawyer
Samuel Perkins
Reuben Sawyer
Stephen Pierce
John Shed
Joshua Pillsbury
Jonathan Shed
Daniel Piper
William Smiley
Samuel Piper
Asa Spaulding, Corp.
Jonas Spaulding
Porter Rea
Joseph Spaulding
James Reed
William Spaulding
John Reed
James Sprague
Peter Reed
Benjamin Sprake
David Richardson
Barnabus Stevens
Ephraim Richardson
Ephraim Richardson, Jr.
Henchman Richardson
James Tarbox
John Taylor, Corp.
Jonathan Richardson
Josiah Richardson
Josiah Richardson, Jr.
Moses Richardson
Obadiah Richardson
William Tenney
Reuben Richardson
Stephen Richardson
Thomas Richardson
Thomas Thistle
William Richardson
Hezekiath Thorndike
John Robb
-
- Toothacre
John Robbins
Jonathan Robbins, Sergt.
Zebediah Rogers
Elijah Tuttle, Corp.
John Roper
Joseph Tuttle
Nathan Tyler
Joseph Roswell Silas Royal
Stephen Russell, Capt.
Benjamin Varnum Bradley Varnum
Jonas Richardson
John Taylor, Jr.
Jonathan Taylor
Thomas Taylor
William Taylor
John Thissell
Joshua Thissell
David Trull, Corp.
Samuel Trull
Asa Stickney
Abraham Stickney, Lieut.
-
THE NEW OLD YELLOW MEETING HOUSE
(See Page 206)
161
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Daniel Varnum
Thomas Whitaker
Ebenezer Varnum, Lieut.
Jonas Whiting
James Varnum, Capt.
Samuel Whiting
John Varnum
Benjamin Williams
Jonas Varnum Joseph Bradley Varnum, Capt.
Abijah Wood John Wood
Joshua Varnum
Josiah Wood
Parker Varnum
Peter Wood
Samuel Varnum
Solomon Wood
Samuel Varnum, Jr.
Stephen Wood
,
Thomas Varnum
William Wood
William Varnum
Jonathan Woodward
David Walker
Ephraim Wright Isaac Wright
Sampson Walker
Oliver Wright'
Isaac Warren
Thomas Wright
John Webber
Edward Wyman
William Webster, Drummer
Christopher Williams
CHAPTER VIII
SHAYS' REBELLION
A T the close of the Revolutionary War a heavy debt ex- isted which it was difficult to apportion among the colo- nies. This apportionment must be equitable or certain ones would consider themselves aggrieved and bring accusations of partiality. No reliance could be placed on the value of paper money as State and Federal credit was of little value. To Massachusetts and Virginia larger portions of the debt were assigned than to any of the other colonies, and whether right or wrong in the apportionment, the citizens of Massachusetts felt that their share was excessive. Some recommended repu- diation, others rebelled and were subdued only by the exercise of force. In the year 1786, about 2,000 men, under the leader- ship of Daniel Shays, misguided but terribly in earnest, sought to obstruct the execution of the laws by interfering with the sessions of the courts. At North Hampton they took possession of the Court House. The Governor promptly called out volun- teer troops and his call met with a ready response. Capt. Joseph B. Varnum, "leaving the Senate Chamber of the General Court where he represented Middlesex County marched with his com- pany to aid General Lincoln in quelling the insurrection of Shays and others, in the western part of the state. While this was a short and bloodless campaign, it was a severe one on account of its being in the winter." [The Varnums of Dracut.]
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