History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 116

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 116

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NOTE .- Two undated papers relate to the exciting period of the Shays' Rebellion, and to members of this company. The first contains the statement that Major John Hastings, for Loammi Reed, hired Joseph Eaton; 'Squire Thompson hired John Buxton ; Josiah Pierce, for Leon- ard Richardson, hired John Holden ; Rov. Samuel Sargeant hired Ed- ward Wyer ; Jeduthuu Richardson hired Jeduthno Richardson, Jr. ; Samuel Tidd hired Joseph Skinner (3d) ; Captain Richardson hired Silas Wyman; Ichabod Parker hired James Buz[zell ?] Johnson ; John Wy- mao hired William Dickson. These were prominent citizens, evidently hiring nien for substitutes or soldiers for the campaign-actual or ex- pected.

The other paper is a letter in the form of a warning to the militia officers and the Selectmen to perform their duty :

" To the Officers in Woburn, Pr. favour of Mr. David Winn :

" East Sudbury, Jany. 21st [1787]. To the Militia Officers and Select. men of both Parishes in Woborn :

"Gent. You may depend, if your men detached do not join their

1 " Each soldier was to equip himself with a good fire-arm, having a steel or iron ramrod aod spring to retain the same, a worm, a priming- wire and brush, bayonet fitted to his guo, a scabbard with belt therefor . .. . a cartridge.box . . . aix flints, one pound of powder . . . leadeo balla . . . blanket, caoteen, or wooden bottle." The Early Militia System of Massachusetis, in Proceedings of Worcester Society of Antiquity, for 1883, p. 116. For an explanation of the terms Train Band and Alarm List, and many other matters, see that article.

corps within six days that they will absolutely be sent for and bronght to camp, and dealt with as deserters. Wishing that such a disagreeable matter might not take place, beg you to send the men forward.

" WILLIAM BLANCHARD, Capt."

The historian McMaster pays a fine tribute to the Massachusetts militia of that period in vol. i., p. 319, of his History of the People of the United States in the following words :

" The troops which the State had assembled, while they passed under the name of militia, were very different from the holiday soldiers which conld now, in a like emergency, be gathered from the same places. They were an army of veterana. Scarce an officer among them but bad gained his rank by meritorious services in the late war. In the ranks marched many men who had taken up arms in the early days of the Revolution, had joined the Continentals and had served with the illus- trions chief to the close ; had participated in the disastrous retreat along the Hudson, and had been present at the surrender of York- town. Even the greenest had seen something of battles and sieges. Some had lined the fences on that memorable day when the British were driven out of Lexington town. Some had stood in the trenches with Warren, and had seen the red-coats twice come up, and twice in confusion go down the slope of Breed's Hill." Others had formed part of the army which had laid siege to Boston, and had looked ou with grim pleasure aa the ships bearing the troops of Howe stood ont to sea."

NOTE .- For a critical account of the Shays' Rebellion see Winsor'a Narr. and Crit. Hist. of Amer, vol. vii., pp. 227-231. Daniel Shays was its leader. At the last "the militia of the Eastern part of the State was put in motion, and the main body proceeded westward, nnder Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, to the scene of the chiefest disorder. The supporters of the law presented a front before which the ill- organized inob quailed." Under references this authority cites Minot'a History of the Insurrection in Mass. as the principal contemporary account, and it is likely the best and most complete, and highly cred- itable to the anthor for its fairness and classic literary style. It Was published at Boston in 1788; 2d ed. in 1810.

Thompson'a Diary Woburn, also referred to the insurrection. See copied diary, pp. 72-78, and notes. The author, aged 55, went to Cam- bridge and saw the " regiments mustered," Nov 1, 1786, alluded to on & previous page ; the weather was fair, and on the same day he returned home. He was then a member of the General Court.

Extracts from Samuel Thompson, Esq's., diary, relating to local military affairs after 1780 :

Musters.

1784, June 23 .- Very hot weather. General muster, Col. Brown's regiment at Chelmsford.

1787, Oct. 18 .- Cold, but fair. Regiment mustered nt Reading.

1788, Sept. 30 .- Cloudy. Regimental Diuster at Woburn.

1789, Oct. 8 .- Good day. Muster at Medford. Went to Boston.

1790, Oct. 7 .- Muster at Wilmington, Regimental.

1791, Oct. 6 .- At home. Fair, good day. General minster at Wal- tham.

1794, Oct. 8 .- Cloudy some, and muster of Regiment in Town.

1796, Oct. 3 .- Cloudy, little rain. Muster at Reading.

1797, Sept. 26 .- Cloudy, raio. Muster at Coocord. Raio prevented most of their manœuvering. .

1798, Oct. 2 .- At Probate. No Court. Muster ; and [at] Lexington.

1799, Sept. 5 .- Militia muster complaints ; 5 ull settled.

1800, Aug, 27 .- Came from Chelmsford. Muster at Concord. Thunder nod rain.

1802, Oct. 6 .- Fine day. To Cambridge ; to Weltham muster.

1803, Sept. 29 .- Muster io New Bridge (Home of the Diarist. Fair weather for the occasion). "Muster," he says, "of five companies, oDe of horse, on my laod (the 29th) and Colonel Baldwin'e."

This ends all reference in the indexed diary. Later incidents are the following:

1808 .- A general muster in Woburn on Benjamin Wyman's plein.

1812 .- Another general muster in Woburn. Diarist eighty-one years old.

Legal.

1799, Jan. 8 .- Militia cavalry, actiona. 1799, Sept. 5 .- Militia mus- ter, complaiots. See MUSTERB.

Trainings.

1782, July 1 .- Training. [Age of Diarist 50 years.] June 3, 1783, Dittu.

400

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

1786, Dec. 25 .- Trainings. The address read. [Having reference to Shays' Rebellion. The diarist being "in Town " was doubtless present. This winter was the severest for many years].

1788, April 28 .- Cloudy, rainy. Training. View arms. 1788, June 25 .- Rainy, cloudy. Training. West Company. 1790, Sept. 3v .- Rainy. Training.

1797, July 4 .- Fair, dry ; some air. Training. Independence, etc. [Diarist aged 65].

1799, June 17 .- Fair. Train. Parish-meeting. Hot.

[The diarist was evidently a member of the East Company; his house being on the east side of the main road which constituted the division line, for taxable and military purposes, between the east and west sections of the town. The weather for the above recorded train- inga was not very favorable].

Miscellaneous.

The Diarist alludes to the anniversaries of Lexington and Concord Fight in 1783, 1789 (14 years), 1791, 1793 (18 years), 1794 (19 years).

1799, July 22. - Fair, good weather. Brigade officers met at A. Thompson's [Abijah Thompson then keeping a public house.1]

CAPTAIN BALDWIN'S COMPANY, 1802 .- There ja extant a printed blank containing a return of Captain B. F. Baldwin's company in the 2d Regt., Ist Brig., 3d Div. of militia, 1802. We have not space for all the details given, but a few will suffice. The officers were a captain, a lieutenant and an ensign. There was one sergeant, five drummers and fifers, and fifty-three rank and file. The company was evidently ununiformed. There is a muster roll extant of the same company, under the same captain, also dated 1802. It is on a printed blank. The company is one of foot, and reasonably well equipped. We would gladly, had we room, give the names of all. The follow- ing were the names of the sergeants and musiciane : Sergeants, 1. Josiah Richardson (3d) ; 2. Henry Parker; 3. Randolph Wyman ; 4. Daniel Johnson. Musicians, -John Edgell and Peter W. Edgell, drum mers; Charles Thompson, Joshua Richardson, Caleb Richardson, Jesse Brown and James Locke, fiters.

CAVALRY COMPANY .- In 1797 a company of this arm, composed of men from Woburn, Reading and Wilmington, was formed, Benjamin Wyman being the captain. On parade they looked finely, in a uni- form composed of a scarlet coat trimmed with yellow, buff vests, buckskin pants, high boots, and a bear- skin hat with a tall, red plume. The second captain was John Symmes, and other captains were Noah Smith, Bill Russell, George W. Reed, Josiah Locke, - Stanley, of Wilmington, Thomas Emerson and Isaac Upton, of Reading, Sewall Winn, of Wake- field (or South Reading), Jonas Parker and David Damon, of Reading, in 1822 and 1824, and the last captain, Samuel Leathe, of Woburn, who commanded in 1825. A roll of this company is said to exist. In 1828 it was formally disbanded. Cf. Woburn Budget, Nov. 4, 1859.

WASHINGTON LIGHT INFANTRY .- About 1823 Woburn had some members in an independent rifle company in Reading. Being about eighteen in num- ber, they thought Woburn might afford an independ- ent company of the same kind. Others joined them, and a charter was granted July 5, 1823. It became quite popular. The uniform consisted of a blue coat with narrow skirts, trimmed with gold lace; white pants, and leather bell-top hat, surmounted with a. black plume twenty-two inches long. It was attached

to the first brigade, third division. On the 4th of July, 1824, the company was presented with a stand- ard by the ladies of Woburn. The company was present at the reception of Lafayette, in Boston, in 1824. Its captains were Jeremiah Converse, Jr., commissioned Aug. 18, 1824; James Jaques, of Wil- mington, afterwards colonel; Edmund Parker, after- wards of Winchester, and Marshall Tidd, the last captain of the company. The company was dis- banded Oct. 13, 1834, being the last of the old organ- izations before the advent of the present Woburn Mechanic Phalanx. Cf. Woburn Budget, Nov. 11, 1859.

A request from Jeremiah Converse, Jr., captain of the Washington Infantry, to the selectmen, is pre- served, asking for powder for muster for the Woburn members of that company. The request is dated Sept. 25, 1824. The powder comprising the town's stock was, at that date, kept in the brick powder- house still remaining on Powder-house Hill, near the Common and old burying-ground in Woburn. This has been a familiar object in the landscape for many years. On Nov. 4, 1811, the town voted to build a magazine to keep the town stock of powder in. The committee chosen to build it were Col. Benjamin F. Baldwin, Major Benjamin Wyman, and Capt. William Fox. It was ordered to be huilt of brick. Its site was selected by the committee, and the spot was con- venient and was safe in case of an explosion. It ap- pears to be finished after March 23, 1812. Bricks were brought from Medford for its construction, and by Sept. 2, 1812, the bricks and lumber left at the magazine after its completion were disposed of, and the fences repaired, showing that by that time it was completed. About 1820 it was repaired. It stands on public land, and may soon be removed. It has not been in use for many years. For a fuller account of the expenses of building it, see an article on the subject in Woburn Journal for Jan. 26, 1883.

WOBURN MECHANIC PHALANX .- The history of this company is very fully written to 1859, in the Woburn Budget articles, commencing Nov. 18, 1859. We have space only for a brief compendium of the information there obtained. It was a volunteer corps in distinction from the compulsory training of the old militia. In its earlier days it was distinguished for its proficiency in drill, and bore a good reputation in the general volunteer militia of the State. It was formed in the year 1835,-the State authorizing its formation on July 6, 1835, as a new company of light infantry in the second regiment, first brigade, third division, and Sergt. Charles L. Moore was directed to assemble the company at the vestry of Rev. Mr. Ben- nett's meeting-house, in Woburu, on Thursday, Oct. 1, 1835, at 3 P. M., for the purpose of electing a cap- tain, lieutenant and ensigu for the said company. Oct. 1, 1835, is therefore considered the birthday of this company. Samuel B. White was the first cap- tain. Other captains were William Woodberry,

'1 This statement is verified by the Thompson Memorial, pp. 51, 52. On Feb. 22, 1790, while the Diarist was at General Court, Boston, he records the fact that it was "Gen'l Washington'e Birthday," and that cannon were fired [at Boston], etc., and that the day was unpleasant, there being a "frozen rain."

401

WOBURN.

Charles Carter, Jonathan Bowers Winn, Walter Wy- man, Albert Thompson, Timothy Winn, William T. Grammer, Charles S. Converse, Abijah F. Thompson, Cyrus Tay, Edwin F. Wyer, Luke R. Tidd, Alonzo L. Richardson, John W. Ellard, Charles W. Con- verse, George M. Buchanan, George A. Simonds, Horace N. Conn, and William C. Parker, the present commander. For many years its designation has been Company G, Fifth Massachusetts Regiment, and in the war between the States, 1861-65, it accom- panied that regiment on two tours of active service,- one of nine months and another of one hundred days. The account of the service of the company during that period belongs to another part of this sketch. In 1842 the ladies of Woburn presented the company with a standard. On the 27th of Feb., 1856, the company held a grand ball in the Lyceum Hall, on the completion of that building. On Oct. 1, 1885, it celebrated its fiftieth anniversary by a grand parade of its present and past members, and a banquet. Cf. Woburn Journal, Oct. 2, 1885; Advertiser, Oct. 8, 1885.

The Budget articles describe the early uniforms of the company. In 1849 a notable uniform was adopt- ed, which was worn by the company for about ten years. It was doubtless the most attractive and popu- lar uniform the company ever had, but not the most useful for active service. It consisted of a tall black bearskin hat with a handsome gilt tassel, of a gray suit with white facings and white stripes, white cross- belts and epaulets, and an abundance of gilt buttons and gilded ornaments. Its drill, at this time, was of a high degree of excellence. Timothy Winn was its ruling spirit and popular commander; B. F. Wyer and John Robbins its constant and able field music, -Wyer, its drummer and Robbins, its fifer. This was the company of the writer's boyhood, which fired his military ardor and gave him his ideal of what a military organization was. With the opening of the war of 1861 a gray uniform with black facings and stripes was adopted, minus the great hearskin of yore, which was so impressive to the youthful spec- tator, and excited his wonder how one could wear so apparently heavy and certainly hot article of head- gear. The company at this time drilled daily for weeks in the public streets, and the four squads could be seen constantly passing and repassing.

BENJAMIN EDGELL .- The interesting details al- ready alluded to as referring to him are described at length in the index to the Wyman Collection of MSS. in the Woburn Public Library, pp. 215-221.

First and principally, there is an account-book containing a journal, much hescribbled and tallow stained, of a cruise of Benjamin Edgell to the West Indies, in the privateer "Pownall," of Massachusetts, fiom Dec. 8, 1757, to June 24, 1758. Be appears to have worked for Isaac Stone, of Lexington, from Aug., 1755, to Nov., 1757. In the journal are given the names of all the islands visited in the course of cruising for French vessels. On one occasion there was a blood red eclipse of the moon (Jan. 24, 1758), the times of its appearing and dis- appearing being given. They were forced to keep out of the way of two men-of-war vessels, one a sixty and the other a fifty-gun ship. On the 10th of February they met with a Spanish sloop, which for

want of proper papers hecame their prize. She was loaded with sugar, coffee and indigo, and was sent to Boston. Soon afterwards they cap- tured two Dutch ships, which they examined for contraband French articles, but finding nothing the captain ordered them discharged. The name of the "Pownall's" captain was Sample. The Dutch ships did not thus easily escape, for two sloops, cruising, in company with the "Pownall," at the moment, took possession of them. Later an, in company with a ship of sixteen carriage guns, under Captain Semer, 1 of New York, they pursued several sail, March 10th, which, being French, tried to evade pursuit. After a difficult chase Captain Semer'e ship came alongside the hindermost. His ship, being newly cleaned, shot ahead abont a cannon-shot, and received a broadside from the "Freuch ship," which carried twenty-two guns of the same kind as Semer's ship, which returned the fire, when the Freuch struck their colors ; and, therenpon, the magazine of the French vessel taking fire, blew up their ship ; but whether accidentally or on pur- pose was not known, it being thoughit the captain did it to be re- venged. The ship's quarter deck, mizzen-masts and sails, main-sails, all to her fore-sails were blown to some distance from her, and im- mediately she filled and sunk. Some of the men were swimming and some were floating on pieces of the wreck after she sunk. The launch of the "Pownall," being sent earlier in the day to watch the motion of the sail, returning, rescued ten of these men, the others all being lost, there being between seventy and eighty men on board the French ship. Several of those taken into the launch had their skins almost hurned off. Captain Semer's vessel was damaged some by the broad- side, and some by the ship when she blew up, and being somewhat disabled, he turned aside in pursuit of a large top-sail schooner that put before the wind. The "PowDall " following the remaining sail of the enemy, came alongside another ship and engaged it near three glasses-meaning hour-glasses-before it struck. The enemy's ship bad several men killed and wounded, and the greater part of her rigging cut away. The rigging of the "Pownall" was shattered considerably, but not one of her men was killed or wounded. The enemy's vessel bad eighteen six-pounders and seventy men. Owing to the abandon - meut of the chase hy Captain Semer, and night comag on, the re- maining sail getting close in with the shore, got clear. Other adventures of the "Pownall " are described in the journal, which is copied in full in the "Wyman Index." After a complete refitting of the " Pownall" at one of the islands, on the first day of May, she gave chase, while cruising, to a swift-sailing brig, but after a chase of several hours she got near enough to fire a shot, and thereupon the craft hoisted Freach colors and returned the fire. After firing thirty or forty shote from her stern-chasers at the "Pownall " before that vessel came alongside, the French craft struck. She was loaded with wine and flour, and proved a valuable prize. On June 2d they took a French privateer schooner. On the 7th they set sail for Bos- ton ; on the 23d they made land in New England, and on the 24th day of June, 1758, in the morning, they came to an anchor at Bos- ton.

"Jamaica, March the 10th, 1758,"-entered in the journal as Jamoca -was therefore a red-letter day in Benjamin Edgell's annals. On that day occurred the great battle with the French fleet, already de- scribed above. The home of Edgell at this time was apparently "Lexington in New England," as he records it. Here he agaia works for Isaac Stone from June, 1758, to April, 1759. He again started out on a course of adventure in the French War, arriving May 16, 1759, at Albany, to be an assistant to Cutler, the antler. Here be remained till Nov. 20, 1759. From Dec., 1759, to May 20, 1760, he is again with Stone at Lexington. From June, 1760, to Nov. 18, 1760, he was at Albany and vicinity. On Dec. 23, 1760, he was at Worcester, and from March, 1761, to March, 1762, again with Stone at Lexington. He thus evinced in early life some enterprising characteristics. About 1768 he settled in Woburn.

"Alhany, May 31, 1759," he says, "I went to Cutler, the Satler.' Oa the 22d inst. previous, he appears to have engaged himself to a person named Cooper. If this was so, he appears to have made a brief stay with him only. The name of Cutler, the Sutler, was Jonas Cutler. He mentions Fort Miller, Fort Edward, Crown Point and other places in his accounts. Under date of Albany, May 31, 1759, he states: "Jonas Cutler is debtor to Benjamin Edgell the sum of ten dollars, York money, or £4. On another occasion Robert Dunkley, belonging to Captain Bancroft's company, was "Debtor to 1 Pint Rum, 0 : I : 6." The book itself is a rich mine of names and

1 Perhaps Seymour.

402

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

accounts. His house at Woburn was the centre of much business and resort. For instance: "Doct. Blodget came June 20, 1769. David Fisk came Feb. 11, 1771. Doct. Blodget left on July 20, 1772"- apparently boarders. "Amos Blodget, Jr , began his year with me June 12, 1777; Amos Blodget engaged in the Army Aug. 18, 1777; John Fenton, Esq., engaged my house Sept. 19, 1775, and came Nov. 15,"-the latter apparently a refugee from Boston, then in a state of siege. John Fenton, Captain and "Esq." of Boston, is mentioned in Wyman's Charlestown Geneal. and Estates, p. 343. His house stood on the site of the present house of Dr. Harlow on Main Street.

Before the Baptist Society of Woburn had erected their first meeting- house-their first meeting in their new meeting-house being on July 20, 1794-their meetings were held, as is well known, in Benjamin Edgell's house, at Central Square. He has entered in his book of accounts state- menisto the effect that "the Society met at my house, 1792, April to December, two Sabbaths each month. From April, 1792, to April 27, 1791, 38 Sabbaths. In May, June and July, 1794, two Sabbaths each month ; total, 44 Sabbaths."

The book also contains a record of the births of his children.

His wife was a danghter of Peter Wyman, and "Peter Wyman's Hill," in the rear of his Central Square house, which was the homestead of his wife's father's family, was recently dug away for railroad pur- poses, its soil being used for the road-bed.

From the fact that Doctor Samuel Blodgett was an inmate of his house during his first stay in Woburn-for three years and one month (1769- 1772)-the inference is that Doctor Blodgett was introduced by him to Woburn, and that Blodgett was originally one of the numerous Blodgett family of Lexington, where Edgell may have enjoyed his previous ac- quaintance, or may be relationship. This matter is taken up more fully under the notice of Doctor Blodgett, elsewhere. See PHYSICIANS.

Captain Benjamin Edgell's estate, scheduled in list of 1798, consisted of 1 dwelling-house, 37x28, with 18 windows ; house of 2 stories, with 1/2 arre of land adjoining. the chimney not finished ; 1 farin of 10 acres, north ou the road, east on Jeremiah Clapp, south on Josiah Converse, west on Major Clapp ; ] barn on said land; 2 lots elsewhere, and 2 acres of salt- marsh in Medford. Captain Benjamin Edgell had 19 acres ; value $900 in 1801.

His house stood on the estate recently Marcellus Burnham's (1889) at Central Square.

WOBURN IN THE CIVIL WAR OF 1861-1865 .- The " war is inevitable; let it come." These are the words at the beginning of an editorial in the Woburn Weekly Budget for Friday, April 19, 1861. The same issue of the paper says Woburn was " wide awake," a large and enthusiastic meeting being held in the Lyceum Hall the evening of the 18th inst., to consid- er the subject of raising a military company. At this meeting Capt., afterwards Col., W. T. Grammer, stated that it was desirable that Woburn should contribute her portion towards the support of the government, and proposed to revive the Phalanx-then in desne- tude-and raise a company of eighty men. Enlist- ment papers were then opened and eighteen past members of the Phalanx signed; forty other names were procured the same evening, and $3350 was raised by subscription at the same meeting. The war feeling was very general, and unbounded enthusiasm prevailed. The subscribers to the above amount are named in the issue of the paper of the above date. There is also an article on the rise and progress of the war, and items referring to it, principally the depart- ure of the Stoneham military company for the seat of hostilities, with the names of its members. The issue of the Budget for April 26, following, contains a list of still further contributions, and contains two printed local sermons on the war and other items having reference to the progress. of the war. More | sent of war.

than enough men were found ready to join the Pha- lanx, and that company had begun to drill every day and evening. The officers were chosen informally at first, and Timothy Winn was captain, and W. T. Grammer, C. S. Converse, E. F. Wyer and T. Glynn lieutenants, and Luke R. Tidd orderly sergeant. The uniform adopted was a jacket and pants of gray cloth, trimmed with black. A small French cap corre- sponded with the rest in color. Under "Stoneham news," in the same number of the paper, is an ac- count of the experience of the Stoneham company in their bloody passage through Baltimore on April 19, 1861.1 The fire-engine companies began drilling as a home-guard, and flags were put up by citizens very generally as a token of patriotism.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 116

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034