USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Framingham > History of Framingham, Massachusetts, early known as Danforth's Farms, 1640-1880; with a genealogical register > Part 29
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About this date, a considerable number of our leading men pro- ceeded to organize an artillery company in town, which should take charge of the two field-pieces, ordered to be purchased. The requisite number enlisted, and the proper officers were elected, and the company went into practice. There is no record to show that the field-pieces were actually bought and delivered to the selectmen.
MINUTE MEN. - As already stated, the Provincial Congress, at its session, Oct. 26, provided for the enlistment and equipment of companies, which should hold themselves in readiness to march at a minute's warning.
Under the authority thus conferred, Framingham proceeded to enlist two companies of Minute Men.
Fortunately the papers showing the method of organizing these companies are preserved, and are herewith copied :
We the subscribers, from a sense of our duty, to preserve our Liberties and Privileges; And in compliance with the Resolves of the Provincial Congress, together with the desire of our superior officers, voluntarily enlist ourselves Minute-men, and promise to hold ourselves in readiness to march at the shortest notice, if requested by the officers we shall hereafter elect.
This paper was signed by Simon Edgell, Thomas Drury, Samuel Abbot, James Clayes, Jr., John Fisk, Moses Learned, Matthias Bent, Jr., John Eaton, Lawson Buckminster, Frederick Manson, and others, to the number of sixty-eight.
This company organized Dec. 2, as appears from the following certificate :
These may certify that in Framingham, on the second of December, 1774, a number of men enlisted as Minute Men, and was formed into a companye ; then made choice of Mr. Simon Edgell captain, Thomas Drury first lieu- tenant, Lawson Buckminster second lieutenant, officers for said companye according to the directions of the late Provincial Congress in their Resolve in October 26, 1774.
Signed SAMUEL BULLARD
MICAH STONE
ABNER PERRY
JOHN TROWBRIDGE
Field officers of this Regiment. .
N. B. Said companye consists of 70 men including officers.
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War of the Revolution.
At the same time a second company, comprising sixty men, was enlisted, and organized in the same way. The officers elected were, Thomas Nixon, captain; Micajah Gleason, first lieutenant; John Eames, second lieutenant ; Samuel Gleason, ensign; Ebenezer Hem- enway, clerk. Some of the other leading names were, Peter Clayes, Abel Childs, Moses and Nathaniel Eames, John Farrar, Jr., Jona. Hemenway, Jona. Hill, Needham Maynard, Asa and John Nurse, Jona. Temple, Joseph Winch.
Full lists of these companies, with the changes incident, will be given in connection with the Lexington Alarm.
It should be stated here, that Capt. John Nixon, who now lived just over the town line on the north side of Nobscot, enlisted a large company of Minute Men in Sudbury, which he led into action at Concord and Lexington, April 19.
These companies at once put themselves in active drill in the manual, and field manœuvre. Each man was required to provide himself with a musket, bayonet, cartridge-box, and thirty-six rounds of ammunition. The companies met as often as once a week; and squads of the men, by arrangement, would meet at the houses of the officers, and spend evenings going through the manual exercise. Says one of them : " I have spent many an evening, with a number of my near neighbors, going through the exercise in the barn floor, with my mittens on."
These Minute companies were in part composed of the young and adventurous spirits among us ; but many of our most substantial citizens enlisted, and were faithful in drilling, and ready to "fall in " when the emergency came.
1775. "Jan. 2, 1775. At a town meeting duly warned, it was voted, that there shall be a contribution for the town of Boston under their present Distress. And Maj. John Trowbridge, Gideon Haven, Daniel Sanger, Benj. Mixer, Ebenezer Marshall, David Patterson, Dea. Wmn. Brown, and Dr. Ebenezer Hemenway were chosen a committee for that purpose ; and next Wednesday and Friday at 1 o'clock were appointed as the times when the people should assemble at such several places as the committee shall designate, to bring in their subscriptions."
Capt. Josiah Stone and Dea. Wm. Brown were chosen delegates to the second Provincial Congress, to meet at Cambridge the first of February.
Capt. Benj. Edwards, Joseph Nichols, Daniel Sanger, Capt. Amos Gates, and Col. Micah Stone were chosen a Committee of Inspection, " whose duty it shall be to see that the Association of the Continental Congress be duly carried into full execution."
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History of Framingham.
After a free consultation with the members of the new Artillery company, the officers and men agreed to enlist as privates, by sub- scribing a similar paper to that which the Minute Men had already signed, and become Minute Men.
As the towns were now in active military preparation, and depots of military stores had been established at Worcester and Concord, under the sanction of the late Provincial Congress, it became necessary that the British General commanding at Boston, should obtain full and accurate information about the roads and strategic points to the westward of head-quarters. Gov. Gage therefore issued the following order :
" Boston, February, 22, 1775.
" Gentlemen, You will go through the counties of Suffolk and Wor- cester, taking a sketch of the country as you pass ; it is not expected you should make out regular plans and surveys, but mark out the roads and distances from town to town, as also the situation and nature of the country; all passes must be particularly laid down, noticing the length and breadth of them, the entrance in and going out of them, and whether to be avoided by taking other routes.
" The rivers also to be sketched out, remarking their breadth and depth and the nature of their banks on both sides, the fords, if any, and the nature of their bottoms, many of which particulars may be learned of the country people.
" You will remark the heights you meet with, whether the ascents are difficult or easy; as also the woods and mountains, with the height and nature of the latter, whether to be got round or easily past over.
"The nature of the country to be particularly noticed, whether inclosed or open; if the former, what kind of inclosures, and whether the country admits of making roads for troops on the right or left of the main road, or on the sides.
"You will notice the situation of the towns and villages, their churches and church-yards, whether they are advantageous spots to take post in, and capable of being made defencible.
" If any places strike you as proper for encampments, or appear strong by nature, you will remark them particularly, and give reasons for your opinions.
" It would be useful if you could inform yourselves of the necessa- ries the different counties could supply, such as provisions, forage, straw, &c. the number of cattle, horses, &c. in the several townships.
"I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,
" THOMAS GAGE.
"To Capt. Brown, 52d regiment, and Ensign D'Bernicre roth regiment."
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War of the Revolution.
NARRATIVE, ETC. - " The latter end of February, 1775, Capt. Brown and myself received orders to go through the counties of Suffolk and Worcester, and sketch the roads as we went, for the information of Gen. Gage, as he expected to have occasion to march troops through that country the ensuing Spring.
" We sat out from Boston on Thursday, disguised like countrymen, in brown cloaths and reddish handkerchiefs round our necks ; at the ferry of Charlestown, we met a sentry of the 52d regiment, but Capt. Brown's servant, whom we took along with us, bid him not take any notice of us, so that we passed unknown to Charlestown. From that we went to Cambridge, a pretty town, with a college built of brick, the ground is entirely level on which the town stands. We next went to Watertown, and were not suspected. It is a pretty large town for America, but would be looked upon as a village in England ; a little out of this town we went into a tavern, a Mr. Brewer's, a whig;1 we called for dinner, which was brought in by a black woman ; at first she was very civil, but afterwards began to eye us very attentively ; she then went out and a little after returned, when we observed to her that it was a very fine country, upon which she answered, 'so it is, and we have got brave fellows to defend it; and if you go up any higher you will find it so.' This disconcerted us a good deal, and we imagined she knew us from our papers which we took out before her, as the General had told us to pass for surveyors; however, we re- solved not to sleep there that night, as we had intended ; accordingly we paid our bill which amounted to two pounds odd shillings, but it was old tenor. After we had left the house we enquired of John, our servant, what she had said; he told us that she knew Capt. Brown very well ; that she had seen him five years before at Boston, and knew him to be an officer, and that she was sure I was one also, and told John that he was a regular; he denied it; but she said she knew our errant was to take a plan of the country ; that she had seen the river and road through Charlestown on the paper; she also advised him to tell us not to go any higher, for if we did we should meet with very bad usage. Upon this we called a council, and agreed that if we went back we should appear very foolish, as we had a great number of enemies in town, because the General had chose to employ us in preference to them ; it was absolutely necessary to push on to Worcester, and run all risk, rather than go back until we are forced.
" Accordingly we continued our rout, and went about six miles fur- ther ; we met a country fellow driving a team, and a fellow with him whom we suspected to be a deserter ; they both seemed very desirous to join company with us, and told us, upon our saying we were going
1 Col. Jonathan Brewer, our former townsman.
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History of Framingham.
towards Worcester, that they were going our way. As we began to suspect something, we stopped at a tavern at the sign of the golden- ball, with an intention to get a drink, and so proceed ; but upon our going in the landlord pleased us so much, as he was not inquisitive, that we resolved to lye there that night ; so we ordered some fire to be made in the room we were in, and a little after to get us some coffee ; he told us we might have what we pleased, either tea or coffee. We immediately found out with whom we were, and were not a little pleased to find, on some conversation, that he was a friend to government ; he told us that he had been very ill-used by them some time before; but that since he had shewed them that he was not to be bullied, they had left him pretty quiet.
"We then asked him for the inns that were on the road between his house and Worcester; he recommended us to two, one at about nine miles from his house, a Mr. Buckminster's, and another at Worcester, a namesake of his own, a Mr. Jones.
"The second day was very rainy and a kind of frost with it ; however we resolved to set off, and accordingly we proceeded to Mr. Buckmin- ster's ; we met nothing extraordinary on the road; we passed some time in sketching a pass that lay on the road, and of consequence were very dirty and wet on our arrival. On our entering the house we did not much like the appearance of things ; we asked for dinner and they gave us some sausages ; we praised every thing exceedingly, which pleased the old woman of the house much; when we told them we intended staying the night, they gave us a room to ourselves, which was what we wanted ; after being there sometime we found we were pretty safe, as by that time we perceived that the cote de pays was not a dangerous one; of consequence we felt very happy, and Brown, I, and our man John, made a very happy supper; for we always treated him as our companion, since our adventure with the black woman. We slept there that night, and the next morning, being a very fine one, we resolved to push on for Worcester, which was about thirty miles from us; we proceeded about nine miles without anything extraordinary happening, except meeting two men whom we suspected to be deserters. We then dined in the woods on a tongue and some cherry brandy we brought with us, and changed our stockings, which refreshed us much, our feet being very wet. We then travelled through a very fine country, missed our way and went to Westborough ; we were obliged to turn back a mile to get the right road. We then passed through Shrewsbury ; all a fine open cultivated country. We came into a pass about four miles from Worcester, where we were obliged to stop to sketch. We arrived at Worcester at five o'clock in the evening, very much fatigued; the people in the town did not
War of the Revolution. 273
take notice of us as we came in, so we got safe to Mr. Jones' tavern ; on our entrance he seemed a little sour, but it wore off by degrees and we found him to be our friend, which made us very happy; we dined and supped without any thing happening out of the common run.
" The next day being Sunday, we could not think of travelling, as it was contrary to the custom of the country; nor dare we stir out until the evening because of meeting, and no body is allowed to walk the streets during divine service, without being taken up and examined; so that thinking we could not stand the examination so well, we thought it prudent to stay at home, where we wrote and corrected our sketches. The landlord was very attentive to us, and on our asking what he could give us for breakfast, he told us tea or anything else we chose - that was an open confession what he was ; but for fear he might be imprudent, we did not tell him who we were, tho' we were certain he knew it. In the evening we went round the town and on all the hills that command it, sketched every thing we desired, and returned to the town without being seen. That evening about eight o'clock the landlord came in and told us that there were two gentlemen who wanted to speak with us; we asked him who they were ; on which he said we wou'd be safe in their company; we said we did not doubt that, as we hoped that two gentlemen who traveled merely to see the country and stretch our limbs, as we had lately come from sea, could not meet with any thing else but civility, when we behaved ourselves properly ; he told us he would come in again in a little time and perhaps we would change our minds, and then left us; an hour after he returned, and told us the gentlemen were gone, but had begged him to let us know, as they knew us to be officers of the army, that all their friends of government at Petersham were disarmed by the rebels, and that they threatened to do the same at Worcester in a very little time; he sat and talked politicks, and drank a bottle of wine with us, and also told us that none but a few friends to government knew we were in town; we said it was very indifferent to us whether they did or not, tho' we thought very differently ; however, as we imagined we had staid long enough in that town, we resolved to set off at day-break the next morning and get to Framingham ; accordingly off we set, after getting some roast beef and brandy from our landlord, which was very necessary on a long march, and prevented us going into houses where perhaps they might be too inquisitive ; we took a road we had not come, and that led us to the pass four miles from Worcester ; we went on unobserved by any one until we passed Shrewsbury, where we were overtaken by a horseman who examined us very attentively, and especially
18
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History of Framingham.
me, whom he looked at from head to foot as if he wanted to know me again ; after he had taken his observations he rode off pretty hard and took the Marlborough road, but by good luck we took the Framingham road again to be more perfect in it, as we thought it would be the one made use of.
" We arrived at Buckminster's tavern about six o'clock that evening. The company of militia were exercising near the house, and an hour after they came and performed their feats before the windows of the room we were in ; we did not feel very easy at seeing such a number so very near us ; however, they did not know who we were, and took little or no notice of us. After they had done their exercise, one of their commanders spoke a very eloquent speech, recommending patience, coolness and bravery (which indeed they much wanted); particularly told them they would always conquer if they did not break; and recommended them to charge us cooly, and wait for our fire, and everything would succeed with them - quotes Cæsar and Pompey, brigadiers Putnam and Ward, and all such great men ; put them in mind of Cape Breton, and all the battles they had gained for his majesty in the last war, and observed that the regulars must have been ruined but for them. After so learned and spirited harangue, he dismissed the parade, and the whole company came into the house and drank until nine o'clock, and then returned to their respective homes full of pot-valor. We slept there that night and nobody in the house suspected us. Next morning we set off for Weston, had a very agreeable day, having fine weather and a beautiful country to travel through; we met nothing extraordinary on the road; nobody knew us, and we were asked very few questions. On our arrival at Mr. Jones' we met with a very welcome reception, he being our friend; we received several hints from the family not to attempt to go on any more into the country; but as we had succeeded so well heretofore, we were resolved to go the Sudbury road (which was the main road that led to Worcester), and go as far as the thirty-seven mile-stone, where we had left the main road and taken the Framing- ham road. We slept at Jones' that night, and got all our sketches together and sent them to Boston with our man, so that if they did stop and search us, they would not get our papers. . . .
At the annual town meeting, March 6, 1775, "Voted, that the town will defend the assessors for not returning a certificate to Harrison Gray, Esq. last year."
At the same meeting, the town treasurer was authorized to borrow £150, to be applied for the discharge of taxes due from the town to the Province, and that the same be paid unto Henry Gardner, Esq.
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War of the Revolution.
THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. - April 19, 1775. The news that the British troops were on the march for Lexington and Concord, appears to have reached Framingham before eight o'clock in the morning. The bell was rung, and the alarm guns fired ; and in about an hour, a considerable part of the two companies of Minute Men and one company of the militia were on the way to Concord, which place they reached about noon. Capt. Edgell went on foot the entire distance, carrying his gun. Those living at the extreme south and west sides of the town were a little behind the party from the centre and north side.
Soon after the men were gone, a strange panic seized upon the women and children living in the Edgell and Belknap district. Some one started the story that " the Negroes were coming to massacre them all!" Nobody stopped to ask where the hostile Negroes were coming from; for all our own colored people were patriots. It was probably a lingering memory of the earlier Indian alarms, which took this indefinite shape, aided by the feeling of terror awakened by their defenceless condition, and the uncertainty of the issue of the pending fight. The wife of Capt. Edgell, and the other matrons brought the axes and pitchforks and clubs into the house, and securely bolted the doors, and passed the day and night in anxious suspense.
Our companies reached Concord, not in season to join in the fray at the North bridge, but in season to join in the pursuit of the flying British column. From the evidence preserved, it appears that a part of our men participated in the daring assault at Merriam's corner, and that all had arrived and were active in the more successful attacks in the Lincoln woods. Capt. Edgell and Capt. Gleason had seen service in the Indian wars; they were cool and daring, and kept their men well in hand, which accounts for the few casualties of the day among them. Capt. Nixon and our two captains, who acted in concert, well knew the need of discipline in harassing a retreating enemy, and that most casualties happen on such occasions from rashness and needless exposure. A single deliberate shot, from a man behind a safe cover, is effective, when a dozen hurried shots are harmless.
Our captains kept up the pursuit till the British reached and passed Cambridge; and then the men disposed of themselves as best they could for the night.
It does not come within the plan of this book, to give in detail the history of that eventful march and countermarch of the British force, and the bloody encounters at Lexington and Concord, and the fierce onslaught of the Middlesex yeomanry on the retreating and discom-
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History of Framingham.
fited regulars- all this may be found in the published accounts of the war ; - but a few incidents of the day, which possess a local interest, have been preserved, and are here recorded.
As before stated, Capt. John Nixon was in command of the West Sudbury Minute Men. He and his company reached Dugan's corner as early as nine o'clock. Here he received orders from Col. Barrett to halt, and in no case to commence an attack. While waiting here, the report came that a file of British soldiers had come to the South bridge. Capt. Nixon had difficulty in restraining the militia-men from starting to dislodge them. Dea. Haynes, a member of the company of Exempts, an aged man with all the fire of youth, grew impatient, and said with much warmth, " If you don't go and drive them British from that bridge, I shall call you a coward !" Capt. Nixon firmly but good-naturedly answered, "I should rather be called a coward by you, than called to account by my superior officer, for disobedience of orders." Soon after he received orders to march directly to Col. Barrett's house. On the way he met a squad of British who had been sent to destroy some cannon stored near there. Nixon could easily have cut them off, but for his orders "not to commence an attack."
Col. Ezekiel How, then in command of a Middlesex regiment, went to Concord with the Sudbury companies, and halted with them at Dugan's corner. Desiring to observe the movements of the British, he took off his sword and the lacing of his hat, and rode on towards the South bridge, as if he was going further. The soldiers stopped him and demanded where he was going. "Down along," he answered, " and I shouldn't like to be hindered." He was allowed to proceed. Very quickly the firing commenced at the North bridge, and he wheeled about, saying as he repassed the British, "I find there's trouble ahead ; and I believe, on the whole, I had better get back to my family."
The following incident shows the value of presence of mind in emergency. In the pursuit, when on the borders of Lexington, Noah Eaton, 2d, of this town, fired upon the British, and squatted behind a knoll to reload, just as a regular came up on the other side of the knoll, and as it proved, for the same purpose. Eaton instantly brought his gun to his shoulder, and demanded a surrender. The soldier laid down his musket, when Eaton proceeded to reload. See- ing the state of the case, the soldier remarked, "My gun is empty, but I could have loaded in half the time you take, as I have cartridges." The soldier returned to Framingham with his captor, the next day, and continued in his service.
Josiah Temple, then living at Lechmere Point, Cambridge, started
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with a detachment of militia-men to intercept the British, on their return, and in the severe skirmish which took place just on the line between Lexington and Cambridge, received a musket-ball in the shoulder, which he carried to his grave.
Daniel Hemenway, a member of Capt. Edgell's company, was the only one of our Minute Men who was wounded that day ; but he kept on with his comrades to Cambridge, and remained in the service fourteen days.
Ebenezer Hemenway, of Capt. Gleason's company, shot a British soldier named Thomas Sowers, near Merriam's corner, and took his gun, which he brought home with him.
As will appear from the following muster-rolls, all our Framingham men followed the British as far as Cambridge, and passed the night there. And only eight of the total of one hundred and fifty-three, returned home the next day. The rest remained in the service for longer or shorter periods, as indicated below.
A Muster-Roll of a Minute Company belonging to Framingham, under the command of Capt. Simon Edgell, who marched on the Alarm on the 19th of April, 1775, to Concord and Cambridge.
NAMES. DAYS OUT.
NAMES.
DAYS OUT.
Capt. Simon Edgell
22 Charles Gates
14
Lieut. Thomas Drury
5
Isaac Goodenough Jr. .
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