USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Grafton > History of Grafton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its early settlement by the Indians in 1647 to the present time, 1879. Including the genealogies of seventy-nine of the older families > Part 8
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105
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
taken about this time to encourage home manufactures, and so become independent of England. March 6th, 1775, it was " voted to recommend to each inhabitant of this town to be careful to save their rags suitable for ye paper manu- factory ; that they endeavor to their utinost to supply Henry Prentice and Timothy Fletcher, collectors of ye same; and in general support our own manufactories by preferring them to foreign ones." The crisis approaches. A warrant for a town meeting is issned on April 17, the meeting to be held the 24th. It was customary to have these meetings called by the constable, who notified each voter in the town. In this instance the constable made return that he had noti- fied all but two or three, " which by reason of the special alarm then existing he was prevented opportunity to com- plete."
Darkness closed in upon the country on the 19th of April, 1775, but it was no night for sleep. Heralds .on swift relays of horses transmitted the war-message from hand to hand, till village repeated it to village. On the morning succeeding the battle the Massachusetts Committee of Safety addressed the following to the several towns in the State: " We conjure yon, by all that is dear, by all that is sacred ; we beg and entreat, as you will answer it to your country, to your consciences, and above all, to God Himself, that you will hasten and encourage, by all possible means, the enlistment of men to form the army ; and send them forward to headquarters at Cambridge with that expe- dition which the vast importance and instant urgency of the affair demands." The people of Massachusetts had not waited for the call. The country people, as soon as they heard the cry of innocent blood from the ground, snatched their fire-locks from the walls; and wives, mothers and sis- ters took part in preparing the men of their households to go forth to the war. About noon on the day of the battle the people of Grafton were thoroughly acquainted with the fact that the British were on the march to Concord to destroy
14
.
106
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
the military stores at that place. The citizens at once gath- ered on the Common, and before the setting of the sun two companies, consisting of nearly one hundred men, were on the march to Cambridge,* where they arrived the following morning. These companies comprised nearly the whole efficient male population of the town, and included the young and old. The whole strength of the town went out to war, and left behind none bnt the young, the feeble, and the aged. The fields were deserted and the domestic circle broken up-and the places of industry abandoned. When the companies arrived at Cambridge, the fatal blow had been struck, which eventually led to independence. After arriving at Cambridge the several companies were employed a number of weeks in forming a more perfect organization, and several returned home. From this time until the close of the war, several of the inhabitants of this town were constantly in the service. Some of them were in almost every battle and campaign in the northern section of the conntry ; and at one time, no less than twenty were in the army in New York. Many of them fell victims, either in battle, or by disease. cansed by suffering and privation. Some of the sick returned home, and spread pestilence among the people. This was the case in 1776, when a greater mortality occurred than in any other year since the settlement of the town, the whole number of deaths being fifty-seven. The average number of deaths in town, from 1773 to 1793, was fifteen ; the largest in 1776, and the smallest number, fonr, in 1793. Not a year passed, in which contributions in clothing and provisions for the army were not made,-and made, too, with a liberality that but few towns of the size surpassed. In 1780, the grants of the town for the use of the army amounted to £95,500 of the depreciated curreney,t which, though very low at that time,
* They were accompanied a portion of the way by the minister of the town, Rev. Daniel Grosvenor.
t At this time, a pound of beef cost thirty shillings in this money.
107
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
made a sum that pressed heavily on the people, and took from them their entire income. After the close of the war, when an attempt was made to restore to the Tories the property that the government had confiscated, and to permit them again to return to the State, the people of this town instructed their representative to the General Court, " not to give his assent to any act, which shall give the most trifling compensation or restitution to those who adhered to Great Britain, or to permit them ever to return and live in this State."
From this time, the records of the town bear a striking resemblance to those which have been inade in our day. Committees are appointed to " deal ont their family blankets to supply the soldiers." It is voted "to order the town treasurer to give notes upon interest, at twenty pounds each man, to the number of twenty-four men, that shall enlist for the expedition for New York," also " to give twenty pounds to each man who shall enlist for the northern expedition." A vote is passed " to give thirty pounds to each man that shall enlist into the army for three years or the war." A committee was appointed to collect money and clothing for the Continental soldiers, and the report of said committee, with list of donors, and of amounts and articles donated, follows. The last warrant issued in the name of His Majesty, was that of April 17, 1775, of which I have already spoken. A month later the warrant was " in pursuant of a resolve of Congress," and in May, 1776, it was "in the name of the government and people of Massachusetts Bay." June 7, 1776, it was voted to *" comply with the resolve of
* MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, May 10, 1776.
Resolved, as the opinion of this house, that the inhabitants of each town in this colony ought, in full meeting warned for that purpose, to advise the person or persons who shall be chosen to represent them in the next General Court, whether that, if the honorable congress should, for the safety of the said colonies, declare them independent of the
108
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
the House of Representatives concerning independence from the kingdom of Great Britain." This was only a month before the declaration of independence. The articles of confederation were assented to Jannary 23, 1778. In April of that same year the town refused, by a vote of sixty-six to one, to approve of a State constitution submitted by the Legislature. The same constitution was rejected in the State by a vote of 10,000 to 2,000; Boston voting against it unanimously .*
We find traces of disaffection, however, in these days, and, if Grafton did not have actual Tories, there were some suspected characters. In April, 1777, a member of the committee to hire men for service in the Continental army, was dismissed by vote of the town, because " not firm and friendly to this State." The following July, however, he was restored to his position upon his own petition. They also had their financial troubles, and tried the ever popular and never successful experiment of seeking relief in legisla- tion. An act was passed to "prevent monopoly and oppres- sion ";t in other words, to keep down prices, which, as de- mand increased and production diminished, and paper money fluctuated in value, manifested a strong upward tendency. In our own State a powerful party arose, which complained that the Governor's salary was too high, the Senate aristo- cratic, the Congress extortionate, and taxes too burdensome to bear ; they demanded an issue of paper money, and the removal of the General Court from Boston. This party finally resorted to arms, and the movement is known as "Shays' Rebellion." The insurgents prevented the holding of courts in Worcester and Springfield, and attempted to
kingdom of Great Britain, they, the said inhabitants, will solemnly engage, with their lives and fortunes, to support the Congress in the measure.
SAMUEL FREEMAN, Speaker.
-Journal of the House of Representatives; Note.
* Barry's History of Mass., 3d period, p. 175.
t See pages 75, 76 and 77.
109
TOWN MEETINGS.
capture the arsenal at the latter place. The inhabitants of this town seem to have sympathized with this movement, and probably some of them actually took up arms. At all events, a company of Shays' men, marching through the town, were entertained with supper and breakfast by Col. Jonathan Wheeler. That this sympathy was general ap- pears from the instructions given to their representatives to the General Court the next year after the rebellion was quelled, which are in favor of almost every change nrged by the insurgents. In these instructions, direction is given to the representative " to use his utmost exertion to obtain a general pardon for all that aided or assisted, or have taken np arms, in what the Governor and General Court styled rebellion, &c." . This crisis safely passed, the town, in com- mon with the country in general, gradually entered upon a career of growth and prosperity.
Among the events of the Revolution, none afford stronger evidence of the wisdom and patriotism of the people of Massachusetts, than the constitution of government which they adopted in 1780. A period of revolution is not pro- pitious to the formation of civil government, and to us it is a matter of surprise, that one should have been framed and ratified with so few imperfections. It was adopted with a degree of unanimity, that could hardly have been expected. Yet like all other civil governments, it had its opponents, and at the present time, after an experience of nearly one hun- dred years, it is a matter of some curiosity, if not of utility, to examine their objections. A meeting was held in this town, June 5, 1780, for the purpose of considering the constitu- tion, which was taken up, examined, and voted on, article by article. To the first article of the bill of rights, there was no objection. To the second, a small majority was opposed, because " they thought their duty should not be in- cluded in the declaration of their rights." The vote on the third article, which required all to support public worship, and which was afterwards expunged, was nineteen in the
110
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
affirmative, and forty-three in the negative. They objected to it, because "it restricted them in the free exercise of their religion, and might be so construed as to affect their rights of conscience." The twelfth article, which secured to the citizens the right of trial by jury, was opposed by a large majority, because it did not provide that the jurors should be chosen, as they had been heretofore, and that their usual number should be preserved. Sixteen voted in the affirmative, and twenty-seven in the negative, on the article relating to judicial officers. They objected to it, because they thought they ought to be chosen annually, and should have no salary secured to them for a longer term than one year.
The following lists were found in the Secretary of State's office, at the State House. The books from which they were taken were not indexed, and the papers not ar- ranged :-
A muster roll of the Minute men, under the command of Capt. Luke Drury, General Ward's regiment, who marched from Graftou, in the County of Worcester, on the 19th day of April, 1775 :-
RETURNED.
Time of Service.
Luke Drury, Captain,
4 days.
Elijah Rice, Drummer, .
5
Zadock Putman, Fifer,
5
Jonas Brown, Private, .
4
Solomon Brooks, Private,
7
Jonalı Goulding,
5
Mattias Rice,
7
William Moore, ..
5
Ebenezer Melendy, =
7
Joseph Leland,
5
Moses Sherman,
7
Samuel Stearnes,
7
Ebenezer Leland,
7
Ebenezer Phillips,
5
Shelomith Stow,
66
5
Isaac Brigham,
7
Peter Butler,
7
William Walker,
5
Thomas Pratt,
7
111
GRAFTON MINUITE MEN.
ENLISTED.
Time of Service.
Nathaniel Sherman, Lientenant, .
12 days.
Moses Harrington, 2nd Lieutenant, . 22
Benjamin Garfield, Sergeant, .
13
66
Daniel Grout, Private, 13
Moses Hayden, "
-
Joseph Warren, “
31
Nathaniel Ward, Corporal, 12
Abner Stow, Private, 15
66
Joseph Whipple, Private,
33
Andrew Adams, 32
Nathaniel Batcheller, Private, 33
Nathaniel Brown,
19
William Rixford,
16
James Wheeler,
32
- Daniel Warren,
12
Daniel Druce,
16
Caleb Rice,
20
John Thurston,
¥
27
Joel Turner,
¥
27
Nathaniel Whitney, Jr.,
15
Daniel Axtell,
¥
12
John Clayton, 66
12
Samuel Elliot,
8
Phineas Leland, 66
7
Samuel Leland,
9
Andrew Waters,
.. .
15
Solomon Goodell,
¥
20
66
" A muster roll of a company of the militia in ye Hon. Artemas Ward, Esq.'s regiment, commanded by Capt. Aaron Kimball, which marched on ye alarm, April 19th, 1775, hy order, for defense of Ameri- can rights, &c." :-
Marched.
Dismissed. May 15.
Aaron Kimball, Captain,
April 19.
18.
Thomas Davison, 2nd Lieutenant, .
18.
Benja. Goddard, Sergeant,
18.
Jona. Stow,
18.
Timo. Fletcher,
15.
Philn. Stacy, 66
3.
Nathan Morse,
April 22.
John Whipple, Corporal,
May 18.
Perly Batchellor,
3.
¥
6
66
James Whipple, Lieutenant, .
112
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
Nahum Stone, (sic) Corporal, '.
Marched. April 19,
May 15.
Thos. Axtell, Private,
66
" 18.
Jona. Chandler, “
.. 4.
Nath'l Grover,
April 26.
Noah B. Kimball, Private,
" 28.
Spencer Maynerd,
# 29.
Timo. Merriam,
May 1.
Jos. Merriam,
" 15.
John Willard,
April 29.
Joshua Willard, ..
" 29.
Ephm. Willard,
29.
Simon Willard,
24.
Daniel Whipple,
.6
May 4.
Samuel Whipple,
April 27.
Mr. Temple, (sic)
" 21.
Michiah Fay,
May 9.
Simon Brooks,
April 20.
April 27.
Zacera Warren,
" 28.
Jonathan Wood,
April 21. " 26.
Those after named enlisted into ye army ye day affixed to their names :-
Marched.
Dismissed. April 26.
Edward Butteric, ¥
Fortune Barnee,
¥
Eseck Dexter,
¥
William Evans,
David Forbush,
Nathan Flagg,
Eliphlet Smith,
George Smith,
Elisha Aldrick,
Joshua Whitney,
A muster roll of the company, under the command of Capt. Luke Drury, in Col. Jonathan Ward's regiment, to the first of August, 1775 :-
Luke Drury, Captain. Asaph Sherman, Ist Lieutenant. Jonas Brown, 2nd Lieutenant. Nathan Morse, Sergeant.
Thomas Pratt, Private.
Benjamin Grover, Zebulon Daniels, Solomon Stow,
Shelomith Stow,
Thomas Leland, 2nd,
Ebenezer Phillips, “
Jonah Goulding,
Edward Buttrick, Aaron Willard,
¥
Aaron Willard, Private,
April 21.
Dismissed.
113
ALARM MEN.
William Walker, Corporal.
Elisha Aldrich, Private.
Joseph Leland,
Forten Burnea,
*William Moore,
Eliphalet Smith,
Elijah Rice, Drummer.
George Smith,
Zadock Putnam, Fifer.
¡Samuel Heard,
Solomon Brooks, Private.
Esick Dexter,
Mathias Rice,
William Evans,
Ebenezer Melendy,
Jaozaniah How,
Moses Sherman,
Ebenezer Wadsworth, “
Samuel Stearnes,
Micajah Fay,
Ebenezer Leland,
Thomas Wilson,
Isaac Brigham,
Joseph Anthony,
Peter Butler,
The following is a copy of a warrant drawn on the Treas- urer of Massachusetts, for £21, 15s. 42 pence, in favor of Soldiers in the Revolutionary war :-
" To the Honorable Council of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, now sitting in Watertown :-
According to your warrant to as directed, we have as- sembled the companies within the regiment to which we are appointed, for the choice of officers, and the several compa- nies have made choice of the several gentlemen for the offices hereafter mentioned."
The following were from Grafton :- First Company .- Captain, Aaron Kimball. Ist Lieutenant, Seth Rice. 2nd Amos Rice.
Tenth Company .- Captain, Nathaniel Sherman. 1st Lieutenant, James Whipple. 2nd Joseph Warren. 1
Field officers of the Sixth Regiment, in the County of Worcester :-- John Goulding, Colonel. Levi Brigham, Lieutenant-Colonel. Job Cushing, Major. Moses Wheelock.
RUTLAND DISTRICT, July 3d, 1776.
* Died 17th day of August, 1775, on command at Canada. t Died 17th day of June, in battle of Bunker Hill. 15
114
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
The following Grafton men were in Capt. Timothy Brigham's com- pany, of Col. Job Cushing's regiment, who were called out on an alarm to assist the Northern Army, and were discharged at Bennington, Vt. :-
Ebenezer Melendy. Moses Harrington.
In a list of men procured from the County of Worcester, for the term of nine months from the time of their arrival at Fisk Kills, N. Y., are the following in Captain Warren's company, of Colonel Cushing's regi- ment :-
Elijah Stanton.
James Forbush.
David Brown.
Jacob How.
Cesar Powarey (Negro). Joseph Aaron (Indian).
Roll of Capt. Joseph Warren's company, who marched on an alarm for Bennington, when the enemy came there :-
1777. Date of Engagement.
Service, Days.
Date of Discharge. August 26.
- Joseph Warrin, Captain, . . . . August 21.
Joseph Whipple, 1st Lieutenant, Philemon Stacy, 2d Lieutenant, .
5
Nathan Morse, Sergeant,
Andrew Adams,
Zadock Putnam,
. .
60
5
John Whipple,
.
.
5
Abner Stow,
·
5
Spencer Maynard,
.
.
5
Abijah Herrington, Fifer,
66
5
Daniel Axtell,
5
Ezekiel Bruce,
· . .
5
John Brooks,
5
66
Nath'l Batcheller,
.. .
. . .
5 5
Elijah Brooks,
. . .
Jonathan Chandler,
. ..
5
66
Ebenezer Cutler, Jr., «
. . .
5
Zebulon Daniels,
66
5
"
Stephen Eager,
5
Nathan Flagg,
. .
Isaiah Fairbanks,
· .
. . .
5
Eliakim Garfield,
. ..
5
Nath'l Grover,
.
5
John Golding, Jr.,
=
5
66
5
5
5
5
Moses Sherman,
5
Nathaniel Adams, Private, .
5
Isaac Brigham,
. .
.
5
.€
5
Solomon Goodell,
5
Solomon Brooks, Corporal,
5
115
ALARM MEN.
1777. Date of Engagement. . August 21.
Service, Days.
Date of Discharge. August 26.
Josiah Holbrook,
Noah Brooks Kimball, "
5
Levi Leland,
.
5
Timothy Merriam,
5
€€
Winslow Maynard,
. .
5
Samuel Prentice,
66
. . .
5
Aaron Rice,
. . .
5
Jonathan Robardson, "
. .
5
Benja. Rockwood, Jr.,“
5
John Stacy,
.
5
John Thurston,
. . .
5
Timothy Temple,
. . .
=
5
Nath'l Ward,
. . .
5
Aaron Willard,
..
5
James Wheeler,
.
5
Joseph Wood, Jr.,
5
N. B .- The above roll does not specify any localities.
A pay roll of Capt. Joseph Warrin's company, in the regiment com- manded by Lieutenant-Colonel Wheelock, in the service of the Massa- chusetts Bay militia, raised for thirty days, including time to return home :-
MEN'S NAMES.
Rank.
Date of Engagement. Sept., 1777. September 27.
Date of Discharge. Oct., 1777. October 23.
-
Joseph Warrin,
Captain. Lieutenant.
Timothy Whitney,
Shelomith Stow,
Sergeant.
=
23.
Aaron Temple,
Daniel Chamblin,
23.
Jonathan Maynard,
66
Spencer Maynard,
Corporal.
Samuel Leland,
66
17.
John Baker,
Captain.
Stephen Tantor,
Drummer.
Abijah Herrington,
Fifer.
Peter Ward,
Private.
5
Noah Vilas,
.
.
Jonathan Hall,
Private,
5
5
Thomas Learned,
5
Jonathan Grout,
17.
17.
=
Job Spafford,
116
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
MEN'S NAMES.
Rank. Private.
Date of Engagement. Sept,. 1777. September 27.
Date of Discharge. Oct., 1777. October 23.
Ahil Holt, .
George Smith,
David Andras,
Samuel Andras,
¥
Elijah Brooks,
Phenihas Brigham,
Ebenezer Brigham,
¥
Moses Cutler, .
Jonathan Chandler,
:
7.
Matthew Devenport,
.€
23.
Seth Fay,
Asa Furbush,
66
¥
13.
David Goodell,
=
23.
John Goddard,
=
13.
Israel Keyes,
¥
Fortina Miller,
66
=
Daniel Maynard,
Calvin Maynard,
Stephen Maynard,
¥
66
Nathan Nelson,
¥
Daniel Nurse,
66
Daniel Oaks,
.€
Stephen Partridge,
Oliver Peirce, ..
Benja. Rockwood, Jr.,
John Stacy,.
..
66
David Stow,
Paul Warfield,
66
"
- Jonathan Warrin,
James Wheeler, . John Wright,
66
5.
Daniel Herric,
Benja. Hardy,
Ephraim Lyon,
Aaron Keyes,
Sworn to before
WORCESTER, SS., April 6, 1778.
CHARLES BRIGHAM.
-
.€
Stephen Flagg,
Amos Fuller, .
66
23.
Thomas Learned,
Joseph Morse,
=
.€
¥
=
7.
23.
¥
Isaac Davis,
1
117
ALARM MEN.
A State's pay-roll of Capt. Ephraim Lyon's company of militia, which join'd Colonel Wade's regiment for twenty-one days, from the Massa- chusetts Bay, who ingaged the 20th of June, 1778, and joined said reg't June ye 22nd, with the allowance of one day for every twenty miles to the place of their abode :-
MEN'S NAMES.
Date of Rank. Engagement.
Date of Discharge.
Time of Service. 27 days.
Ephraim Lyon,
Captain.
June 19.
July 13.
Seth Rice,
Lieutenant.
Joseph Bond,
¥
Beriah Ware,
Sergeant.
" 20.
26 “
Elisha Crosby,
Philip Johnson,
Aaron Fay, .
Corporal.
" 20.
26 4
Nath'l Adams,
Thomas Pratt,
Benja. Brigham,
Calven Rice,
Fifer.
Stephen Tayuter,
Drum.
66
16
Jona. Anger, .
.6
Stephen Barthrick,
Micha Briare,
William Bennet,
Joel Brooks, Jr.,
66
66
Nathan Ball
Timothy Bellows,
66
Jona. Brigham,
66
Humphry Biglo,
Barna Biglo,
Smith Butler, .
Ebenezer Brigham,
Joseph Collens,
‹:
Daniel Cook,
Elmer Cushing,
66
William Collens,
66
Ralph Daniels,
Abraham Fay,
Ruben Gorse, .
=
Nath'l Garfield,
¥
Jno. Goulding, Jr.,
.
Moses Harrington, Jr., .
66
66
" 24.
22 "
Ebenezer Ingelsbee,
66
*
66
Elnathan Allen,
Private.
‹‹
¥
.
118
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
MEN'S NAMES.
Date of Rank. Engagement. June 20.
Date of Discharge. July 13.
Time of Service. days 26.
Elijah Fay, ..
Jacob Hemenway,
David Hastings,
Jonas Hemenway,
Abel Holt, .
=
Timothy Haywood,
Caleb Harrington,
¥
"
Nath'l Holbrook,
Asa Hayden,
Aaron Kimball,
¥
Eber Keyes .
66
66
Jno. M. Master,
¥
Torn.
th Morse, ₹ ton Newton,
Henry Newton,
Josiah Newton, .
- Nathan Newton, John Philips, . Caleb Parker,
Asa Parker,
Jesse Parker,
¥
Israel Rice,
Jno. Robinson, .
James Rawson ( ?)
66
Daniel Reed,
Jacob Smith,
Lewis Smith,
Martin Smith,
Jno. Sadler,
66
Asaph Sherman,
Joseph Sherman,
Antipas Smith,
Wm. Taylor Stow,
66
Samuel Warrin,
John Wright,
66
Aaron Warrin,
66
Dated " Grafton, June 5th, 1779." [Further statement torn off. ]
Pursuant to order of the General Court, Capt. Ephraim Lyon, of the 6th regiment, made a return to the Secretary
¥
=
66
=
Calven Maynard,
Daniel Maynard, .
Private.
66
119
ALARM MEN.
of State's office of the names of the men who enlisted or were drafted into the Continental Army, Grafton, Decem- ber 12, 1777 :-
List of men drafted to serve in the Continental Army, out of Capt. Eph'ın Lyon's company of the 6th Worcester County reg't :-
The town for
The Colonel's name under which they serve.
The time for which they engaged.
Benjamin Grover, . .
Grafton.
or hired. Grafton.
Putnam.
Three years.
George Ross,
Levi Dunton, .
Cyrus Hill, .
Wesson.
Solomon Stow,
66
Biglow.
Three years.
James Mortain, .
Samuel Stearns, . .
Daniel Johns,
John Readah,
England.
Biglow.
66
John Moory,
Wesson.
66
David Haven,
Grafton.
Biglow,
William Evens,
Samuel Willard,
Isaac Newman,
GRAFTON, December 12, 1777.
EPH'M LYON, Captain.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
A RETURN.
This may certify that the town of Grafton have invited the persons hereinafter named, to serve as soldiers in the Continental Army for the term of three years. Being their full quota agreeable to a resolve of the General Court, dated December 2, -, and the whole sum of money advanced by the town, as a hire to said soldiers, are £1,095
The names of the men engaged In the service.
Towns they which enlisted belong to.
Biglow.
During war.
¥
Wesson.
120
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
in hard money, £1,153, 14s. in old paper currency, and the several sums paid to each soldier are as follows :-
Hezekiah How, £100 hard money.
George Ross,
£105
66 Jacob How, £100 ¥
Ebenezer Cutler, £105
Samuel Rixford, £ 75
Thaddeus Reed, £ 90
Elijah Stanton, £100
John Stacy, £105 =
Nath'l Gowing,
£ 90
Noah Viles,
£ 75
and £180 paper money.
Samuel Johns,
£ 75
£543
Elijah Bruce,
£ 75
£430
In a return of the male inhabitants from sixteen years old and upwards, and also the men engaged in the Continental Army from Worcester County, made February 3, 1778, Grafton is quoted as having 213 male inhabitants; one- seventh part of which were obliged to serve in the army (30); number of men in the service, 29; number of men wanting to complete the required number, 1. These served in Col. Job Cushing's regiment.
List of men drafted to serve in the Continental Army, out of Capt. Joseph Warren's company of the 6th Worcester County reg't :-
NAMES.
Towns. Drafted for. Colonel.
Grafton.
Grafton.
Wesson.
Term. Three years.
Moses How,
Peter Butler,
David Forbush, Jr.,
Joseph Antoney,
¥
Andrew Brown,
Thomas Leland,
=
Elijah Stanton,
Eliphalet Smith,
Joseph Smith, .
Samuel Adams,
Michajah Fay, .
Putnam.
Angels.
Edward Buttrick,
Isaac Vibot, .
66
GRAFTON, December the 19th, 1777.
JOSEPH WARRIN, Captain.
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¥
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66
Moses Rawson,
Eseck Dexter,
66
121
ENLISTMENT RETURN.
To the Superintendents for the County of Worcester :-
We, the subscribers, present you with a list of the men's age, and stature, and complexion, for the town of Grafton, in the sixth and ninth companies in the sixth regiment, in the County of Worcester, whereof Job Cushing, Esq., is colonel, viz :-
Elijah Staton, about 22 years of age, 5 feet, 7 inches high, light com- plexion.
David Brown, 17 years, 5 feet, 7 inches, dark.
Jacob How, 17 years, 5 feet, 8 inches, dark.
James Forbush, 17 years, 5 feet, 8 inches, dark.
Ceaser Power (or Powarey), a negro man, 21 years, 5 feet, 4 inches. Joseph Aaron (an Indian), 40 years, 5 feet, 9 inches.
JOSEPH WARRIN, Captain. EPH'M LYON, Captain.
GRAFTON, May 25, 1778 .*
ENLISTMENT RETURN.
In compliance of a resolve of the General Court, dated June 20, 1778, these are to certify that we have complied with the resolve of the 20th of April last for filling up the fifteen battalions by a detachment to serve for the space of nine months, we have detached six men for the town of Grafton, which was the number assigned the town aforesaid by a resolve of April 20, 1778.
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