USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Needham > History of Needham, Massachusetts, 1711-1911 : including West Needham, now the town of Wellesley, to its separation from Needham in 1881, with some reference to its affairs to 1911 > Part 33
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Wellesley > History of Needham, Massachusetts, 1711-1911 : including West Needham, now the town of Wellesley, to its separation from Needham in 1881, with some reference to its affairs to 1911 > Part 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
Military Affairs
The Act of November 22, 1693, required each town to have one barrel of good powder, two hundred weight of bullets, and three hundred flints for every sixty enlisted men; the selectmen to furnish the poor with arms and ammunition according to the decision of the chief commis- sioned officers in the town. The personal equipment to be kept ready by each citizen was prescribed in detail by the law.
TOWN AMMUNITION AND POWDER-HOUSE
On September 12, 1721, a rate of £16 was voted "to procuer a Stock of Amminition for ye Company & also for pay for to make in a pound & Stocks", and in May, 1746, the town voted "the Bird Money to be Layed out for ammunition". In 1748 the town treasurer paid Lieut. Zachariah Mills £I, old tenor, "for his Buying and Bringing up from Bofton ye Town Stock of ammunition". On July 12, 1753, Lieut. Amos Fuller, Timothy Newell and Lieut. Aaron Smith were chosen to procure "a place to Keep the Town Stock of Arms and Amunition". This powder-house cost £6, 8s., 2d., 2f., but it does not appear whether it was in the meeting-house, or was an independent building. When the meeting-house was burned in 1773 town ammunition was kept in the loft, apparently in a chest, and the first distinct powder-house that has been located is the one that stood on "Powder House Ledge", west of Nathaniel Wales's barn. In 1764 four pence were granted to Michael Met- calf "for a Staple for ye powder houfe", and on June 2,
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1777, the town voted "to Sell ye Houfe Called ye powder Houfe", and after an adjournment for a quarter of an hour, chose Col. MªIntafh, as the town clerk spelled the Colonel's name for many years, to "be Vandue Mafter to Sell the powder Houfe". In 1774 the town purchased of Jonathan Patten "Two Cafks of powder and Thirty Pound of Bullets and Fifty Flints and One Pail", for £8, 4s., 9d., 2f., and during the war bought powder, "Guns Locks Flints and Lead". On December 15, 1777, the town voted "That the Selectmen Should Sell the Six new Guns, and the Six New Gun Locks, and One Hundred pounds of the Lead", also the "New Flints", that had been assigned to Needham by the General Court. In 1796 the town refused to build a powder-house, but in 1800 appointed Colonel Kingsbery, Daniel Smith, Capt. Ebenezer McIntosh, Colonel Alden and James Smith a committee to build one. The powder- house built in 1800 cost upward of $100, and James Smith and Daniel Sanger, the masons who laid the bricks, boarded at Captain McIntosh's. There is a payment of $7.50 for one thousand bricks delivered, and also one of $2 for carting a like quantity from Watertown. Perhaps the two lots were identical. In 1835 Israel Whitney took away the powder- house, but traces of it remain on Powder House Ledge to this day (1911).
SPANISH WAR OF 1740
The Soldiers from Needham under command of Admiral Vernon in 1740/1, in the expedition against the Spanish colonies in the West Indies, particularly Cuba, were: - Jere- miah Smith, aged 18, blacksmith, enlisted May 27, 1740, in Capt. John Prescott's company, Jonas Cooke, aged 23, mason, enlisted July 12, Richard Fuller, aged 28, husband- man, enlisted July 24, Jnº George, aged 20, husbandman, enlisted July 20, John Coller, aged 26, husbandman, en- listed July 17. The four last named were in Capt. Stephen Richards's company.
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
For verbatim copies of muster-rolls see the Year-book of the Society of Colonial Wars in Massachusetts, 1899, pp. 80, 92-94.
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
During the French and Indian Wars "the Leg" or "West End" was temporarily a part of Natick, and the military service of its inhabitants was credited to that town. In the War of the Revolution The Leg furnished a brave quota for Needham, of whom were Lieut. John Bacon, of the Minute Men, slain at West Cambridge April 19, 1775, and his six sons. Lieut. John had served in the "Old War" of 1745-8, and had been at Annapolis Royal. In 1748/9 the town voted £20 each to John Brown, William Mills, Jr., and Thomas Gardner; the claim of the latter was on account of his son Daniel. These grants were to refund money paid "when Impreft to Goe into his Majefty's feruice". A year later £20 were allowed to Hopestill Field for a similar reason. On May 22, 1755, the town voted to "Refer all the Lifted Solders" to the next meeting.1 In 1767 the town reimbursed Alexander Farie £2, Ios., "which he paid Towards Hireing a man or men into His Majefty's Service about Eight years ago", but declined to excuse Henry Dewing "from paying of Two Notes that he Gave as a fine for a Soldier that Lived with him. That was Under his Care and abfented him Self From Training". Six years later these notes were returned to Dewing to be cancelled.
Col. William MeIntosh (Mackintosh) is the most distin- guished soldier that has been identified with Needham; he began his military career some ten years before he came here to live. When the forces were raised to repel the incursions of the French at Crown Point and at Lake Cham- plain, he received an ensign's commission, September 9,
1 In 1759 Henry, Daniel and Stephen Bacon, Jr., presumably inhabitants of "The Leg," then a part of Natick, paid £8, £4, and £4 respectively for substi- tutes to go to the war.
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1755, and soon after joined the army at Fort Edward. This was the dark period of the war following Braddock's defeat. While in service at Lake George Ensign McIntosh was made a first lieutenant, his commission bearing the date of March 13, 1758. He was destined to be a brave and able officer in the War of the American Revolution.
From a muster roll, dated December 4, 1754, of a "Com- pany in His Majesties Service Employ'd for the Defence of the Eastern frontiers under the Command of Jofeph Willson Captain", it appears that Daniel Gardner of Needham enlisted on May 31, 1754, at £1, 6s., 8d. per month, and was discharged on September 7, having served three months, two weeks and two days. His total wages were £4, 19s., 2d. Archives, Vol. 93, p. 134.
From the roll of "Col. Timothy Ruggles Company in a Regiment whereof he is Colonel Fort Edward July 26, 1756", were obtained particulars of the following Needham men, all of whom, except Humphrey, had been at one time in Captain Kingsbery's company of Colonel Brinley's regiment.
Age
Where born
Occupation
Lieutenant William Humphrey
26
Dorchester
Sergeant Theophilus Richardson
36
Woburn
Farmer
Josiah Lyon
33
Roxbury
Cordwainer
Corporal Jesse Knap
27
Newton
Blacksmith
Drummer Jacob Stoil
20
Dedham
Blacksmith
John Beaverstock
I8
Needham
Farmer
John Clark
26
Roxbury
Farmer
Nathaniel Fisk
26
Sherburne
Farmer
Jacob Fullham
37
Weston
Farmer
Daniel Gardner
26
Brookline
Farmer
Samuel Glover
26
Dorchester
Farmer
William Parker
27
Needham
Cordwainer
John Robinson
23
Boston
Farmer
Jonathan Torry
I9
Seacomb
Carpenter
Thomas Tolman
I6
Dorchester
Farmer
Nathan Whittemore
20
Dedham
Farmer
These fourteen men were all volunteers. Archives, Vol. 94, P. 357.
A muster-roll dated October 11, 1756, states that Capt.
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
John Stebbins, who had commanded this company, died August 18, and that Lieut. William Humphrey became captain. Richardson and Lyon were sergeants, Knap and William Doggett were corporals, Beaverstock, Fisk, Parker, and Whittemore were dead, Clark was lame, Corporal Knap and Private Fullham (Fullam) were sick at Albany, Glover, Gardner and John Farrow were "sick", Stoil was the drummer, Elijah "Kenderick", Robinson, Torry and Tolman were still in active service. There are many other names in this roll, but not those of Needham men. Archives, Vol. 94, p. 496.
From a roll of Capt. William Bacon's company were obtained the following facts: - Bacon was sick, as was Private Joseph Lyon. Lieut. Ephraim Jackson was at Albany, and Corporal John Woodcock at Fort Edward; both sick. Adam Blackman, David Fairbanks, Moses Felt and William Smith were in the service, John Smith was dead, Ebenezer Pratt had been "Killed or taken wh Hodges." "Mustred" October II, 1756. Archives, Vol. 94, p. 454. Blackman was not a resident of Needham, but was later well known here as the builder of the Second Meeting-house.
"Return of the Men inlifted or impreffed for his Maj- efty's Service within the Province of the Massachusetts- Bay, in the Regiment whereof Francis Brinley Esq; is Colonel, to be put under the immediate Command of His Excellency Jeffry Amherst, Esq .; General and Commander in Chief of His Majefty's Forces in North-America, for the Invafion of Canada". Then follow sixteen names, all of men resident in Needham except Gergery, who was of Weston :- John Bird thirty years old, had his own gun, Theophilus Richardson forty, Moses Pratt twenty-nine, John Kitley twenty-six, Christopher Capron twenty-six, Jabas Upham twenty-four, had his own gun, Ephraim Upham eighteen, son of Josiah, John Fellows twenty (John Kingsbery was his "Mafter"), Nehemiah Mills twenty,
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son of Nehemiah, had his own gun, Josiah Lyon thirty- six, Elijah Gergery twenty-one, Jonathan Wittemore twenty- one, had his own gun, Jeremiah Dewing forty-three, John Keaith thirty, Elijah Parker seventeen, son of James, had his own gun, Andrew Gardiner "Impressed ". The first four enlisted on March 26, Lyon and Keaith on March 31, and all of the others on "Aprill 2". Richardson had been at "Lack Georg" in 1756 (1758?), and Pratt, Kitley, Ca- pron, Jabas Upham, Lyon, Gergery, Wittemore and Keaith had been "In the Campain at the Lacke" "ye Leak Georg" in 1758.
"Needham - Aprill Iod 1759 Eleazar Kingsbery Captn". Archives, Vol. 97, p. 172.
"A Roll of Officers and men in Capt Thomas Cheevers Compa in Colo Frye's Regiment and in service in the Prov- ince of Nova Scotia after the first of January 1760 & the time of their discharge" :- John Fellows, Moses Felt, John Kitley, John Keith, James Man, Moses Pratt, Theophilus Richardson, Ephraim Upham, Jonathan Whittemore, Josiah Lyon, Robert Smith. There were sixty-nine men in this company including Elijah Gregory. The Needham men had all been paid to the latter part of November, 1760, except Upham and Smith, the former having received his pay on September 13, and Smith to August 7. Archives, Vol. 98, p. 440.
Another roll of this company, dated December 20, 1760, contains the name of Christopher Capron, but not the names of Josiah Lyon or Robert Smith. The men had enlisted in March and April, 1759, and had been in service from eighty-five weeks and five days to eighty-seven weeks and three days, and were entitled to from £38, 6s., 32d. to £39, 6s., 7d., with the exception of Ephraim Upham, who was drowned September 13, 1760, which reduced the length of his service to seventy-five weeks and two days, and the amount due him to £33, 17s., 7d. Payments were made in supplies from time to time by the commissary
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
or captain, and the roll gives the value of what the individ- uals had thus received. On the back of this document is endorsed "Muster Roll of Capt. Thomas Cheever & Co at Fort Cumberland from Mar. 31st 1759. to Nov! 26. 1760. Boston Dec! 23. 1760". Archives, Vol. 98, p. 215.
"A Muster-Roll of the Company in His Majestys Ser- vice, Under Command of Eph™ Jackson Esq"": Captain Jackson was of Roxbury, and the following were of Needham: - Lieutenant William Humphrey, Sergeant Jonathan Ca- pron, Corporal Nathaniel Blackenton, Privates Job Cume- cher, Nathaniel Chamberlain, William Dunn, Nathan Fuller, and Josiah Hawes, the latter a son of Josiah Hawes. Elijah Kendrick and Baza Lyon appear to have been also credited to Needham. These men had enlisted between February 13 and April 14, 1760, and served till near the end of the year, some of them as late as December 3. The captain had £9 per month, the lieutenant £5, the sergeant £2, 3s., Id. and the corporal £1, 18s., 7d. "The whole of Wages due to each Man" shows the captain entitled to £94, 3s., 6d., the lieutenant to £52, 13s., 7d., and the others to from £13, 7s., 6d. to £19, 17s. The non-commissioned offi- cers and privates were all allowed for "120 miles 5/4" "Billiting Home, at 8d. per Diem", and, officers included, were charged six shillings each for baking their bread. The paymaster and commissary, and occasionally the captain, made trifling payments, in money or supplies, from time to time, all of which were duly charged and deducted from the total pay. Archives, Vol. 98, pp. 236, 237.
"A Return of Men Inlifted for His Majeftys Service for the Total Reduction of Cainadae" has the names of the following Needham men, and tells when they were enlisted, and by whom :- Jonathan Capron, born in "Atelburey", 27 years old, Nathaniel Chamberlain, born in Roxbury, 41, Elijah Kindreck, born in Newton, 46, Andrew Gardner, born in Brookline, 47, Zebediah Pratt, 22, Nathan Farrow, enlisted by Mr. Warren, was a native of Lancaster, 18,
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
Joseph Whitmore, born in Newton, 28, Thomas Whitmore, born in Petersham, 17, Ebenezer Skinner was his "Mafter", Josiah Haws, 18, son of Josiah, Abijah Man, 18, son of Nathaniel, Nathaniel Blackinton, born in Attleborough, 31, Elisha Parker, 18. They were all enlisted by Lieutenant Humphrey, and were born in Needham, unless otherwise in- dicated. The dates of enlistment were all in February and March, 1760, and vary a few days from those given in the roll of Captain Jackson's company, but in the cases of Kin- drick and Haws the difference is more material. This roll states that both enlisted on February 18, but the previous roll gives the date as March 21 and 5 respectively. The dates of this return are March 5 and 21, 1760. Archives, Vol. 98, p. 115.
On page 118, of the same volume, is another roll of a portion of this company, dated either in April, or March, and Capron is credited with enlisting on March 14, whereas on pages 236 and 237 it is the 21st, but on page 115 it is given as the 19th.
The French and Indian War has been called the training- school of the officers and soldiers of the American Revolu- tion, and it is certain that during the long struggle between the English and French for supremacy on this Continent thousands of New England men, including some from Need- ham, received instruction in the art of war from able British officers, and that so far as experience was concerned the Americans were well prepared for the War for Independence. There were British commanders who were not popular or successful, but others were, and no one was more beloved than George, Third Viscount Howe, a brigadier-general who fell on July 6, 1758, at Ticonderoga, and of whom it was said "with him the soul of the army seemed to expire". Lord Howe was admired by the Massachusetts men, and our General Court appropriated £250, which were expended for his monument in Westminster Abbey. His younger brother, William, was a major of Light Infantry at the time
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
Quebec was taken, and led the forlorn hope of twenty- four men that forced the entrenched path by which General Wolfe's army scaled the Heights of Abraham. In 1775 Major-General Howe was the senior of the three generals ordered to Boston to assist General Gage, and was in com- mand at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and it is said that his remarkable escape, when practically all of the other British officers were shot down, was due to the fact that behind the American breastworks were many veterans of the earlier war. General Howe was extremely reluctant to serve against the New Englanders, because of early associations with them, and had an interview with the King in which he stated the situation, and asked to be excused, but His Majesty insisted upon his joining General Gage in Boston.
"A Muster Roll of the Company in His Majestys Ser- vice under the Command of Robert Fuller." Robert Fuller, "Captn ", Zecheriah Mills, "Luint", Nathaniel Bullard, "Enfig! ", Henry Duing, "Sargt", Jonathan Chandler "Sargt ", John Allden, "Sargt ", Jonathan Parker, "Corp11", Jofiah Upham, "Corp"1", Jofeph Daniel, "Corp"1", Jofiah Ware, "Corp"1", Ephraim Bullard, "Drum!", Jofiah Woodward, "Drum"", Jeremiah Gay, "Centen !! ", Jona- than Gay, Ifaac Mills, Nathanael Aiers, Samuel Bacon, Robert Fuller jz "by Hier", Jeffe Kingsbery, Samuel Huntting, Stephen Huntting, Daniel Huntting, Ifrael Huntting, Jofiah Newel jz, David Mills, Uriah Coller, Nathanael Tolman, John Mills, William Mills jz, Jeremiah Eaton, Jonathan Mills, John pain jz, Ephraim pain, Thomas pain, Ithemar Smith, John Fifher jr, Jacob Mills, Thomas Broad, Daniel Gardner, Jofiah Hawes, Daniel pratt jz, Samuel Daniel "by Hier", William Cook, Samuel Edmund, Nathan Edes "by Hier", Jacob Fullam, Archabald Smith, peter Sanders, Ebenezar Clark, John pepelo, Ebenezer pratt, Ebenezer Ware jz, Nathanael Blackinton, Samuel Gay, David Robinfon, Jofhua parker, Samuel Richards,
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
Aaron Smith jz, Benjamin Ledothe, Samuel Ware, Robert Field, Seth Tombling.1
"The following foldiers Names" are in a list by them- selves: - William Allden, Samuel Mackintier, Reuben Dunton, Thomas Metcalfe, John Coller, Jonathan Whitte- more, William Smith, Thomas Mills, Israel Sanders, Com- fort Wheaton, David Dewing, Abraham Ireland, John Brown, Caleb Kingsbery "Clerk". The fourteen last named began their service on September 25, and served three days, with the exception of Dewing, Ireland, Brown and Kingsbery, who were credited with but two days, re- ceiving Is., Iod. each, while the other ten had 2s., 9d. per man. Of the sixty-two men whose names are in the longer list, preceding the fourteen, all apparently had served five days. Captain Fuller was entitled to 9s., 2d., the lieu- tenant to 6s., 8d., the ensign and sergeants to 6s. 2d., the corporals to 5s., Iod. each, and the privates to 4s., 7d. per man. The total for the seventy-six men amounted to £16, 16s., 6d. with the addition of £18, 12s., 9d. for "Billeting."
"Suffolk: fs April 6th 1748 Capt Robert Fuller made Oath to the above Muster Roll of the Company under Subfiftance 348 days his Command and Marched in to Boston being 49 weeks and five days and were in Service the time Entered hereon. before me Jacob Wendall Jud: Pea: 18-12-9
Robert Fuller Captn.
Examined pr E. C." Archives, Vol. 92, pp. 64 and 65.
MILITIA
There is no record of the militia officers under the Second Charter until shortly before the Revolution, unless there was special service, and as our town clerks were apparently exact in their use of titles it seems needless to enumerate
1 The spelling of the names in the muster-roll is followed verbatim in this list.
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
these early militia officers, all of whom are mentioned in this history in connection with civil affairs. Asa Kings- bury, who was elected town clerk on March 7, 1825, ignored most of the military titles, and since his time but few of them have appeared in the records of town proceedings in Needham.
Capt. John Fisher commanded the first military com- pany formed in Needham, and had evidently served in the militia before the town was incorporated. He had been a soldier in King Philip's War. There is an old undated letter, among other valuable papers that belonged to the late Honorable Enos H. Tucker, in which Robert Cook, Jr., expressed his thanks to the members of the military com- pany for electing him clerk about the year 1730 (?).
"A List of The Military Soldiers in Natick under the Command of Capt John Coolidge Taken By me this nine- teenth Day of April: 1757:" gives the names of forty-two men, of whom sixteen were more or less connected with Needham: - Lieutenant Thomas Sawin, Ensign John Bacon, Sergeant Isaac Goodenow, Sergeant Isaac Under- wood, Corporal Ephraim Jennings, James Man, Henry Bacon, Elijah Kindreck, Samuel Morse, Jeremiah Bacon, Daniel Bacon, Thomas Hall, David Hall, Isaac Goodenow, Jr., Thomas Kendrick and Joseph Dun. There were also twenty-three "Alarm Men" at Natick, including the minister, the Rev. Stephen Badger, Stephen Bacon, Jr., Robert Jennison, Moses Fisk, John Bacon, Daniel Dew- ing and Joseph Drury. Elijah Goodenow was the clerk for these companies. Archives, Vol. 99, p. 83.
In June, 1771, Ebenezer Fisher was captain of the Need- ham company, Seth Willson the lieutenant and Timothy Kingsbery the ensign. Archives, Vol. 99, p. 385.
SHAYS'S REBELLION
On January 18, 1787, the town refused to vote money "to Incuridge the Men that are now Called for from ye
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town of Needham", but declared that they "will Stand by Government in every thing that is Rational". From a note-book of Capt. Jonathan Kingsbery it appears that both companies met at the East Meeting-house at the same hour that this town meeting was held, and that two days before the West Company had met at the West Meet- ing-house for the purpose of detaching fourteen men to rendezvous at Roxbury on the 19th, and that on the 22d the West Company met at Lieut. Ephraim Bullard's tavern and detached the following men for thirty days' service: - Seth Gould, Thomas Discomb, Jr., Solomon Brackett, Benoni Muzzey, Nathan Mills, William Kingsbery, David Trull, Jr., Abijah Stevens, Amos Morse, Daniel Hawes, David Bacon, Eliab Moore, Nathan Dewing and Abel Stevens.
On February 6, 1787, an order came to detach nine men for six weeks' service, but it was countermanded on the same day. In 1787 the West Company had a number of parades and "viewing arms" near the West Meeting- house, which was their usual place of assembling. This parade ground was not too far from Bullard's tavern, where they occasionally met by order. Captain Kings- bery noted under date of June 5th and 19th, 1788, that twenty-six men came to the muster at the West Meeting- house "in Frocks." General Pond then commanded the brigade, which had a muster each autumn, sometimes at Walpole.
There was evidently some sympathy with Shays in Need- ham, and it is remarkable that there was not more, as many of the farmers were heavily in debt, and had mort- gaged their farms to non-residents at high rates of interest.
MILITIA
In 1794 there were rumors of wars, which, as in these later days, involved expense. On August 4, 1794, Lieut. Oliver Mills, Capt. Robert Smith, Aaron Smith, Jr., Lemuel
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
Mills, William Fuller, Esq., Capt. Ephraim Bullard and Moses Fisk were chosen to consider and report "refpecting an allowance being made to those men that are Drafted as minute men ". On September 29 the town voted to "make up to those men that are Detach'd to hold themselves in readinefs as minute men or those that are or may be pro- cured to take their place twelve Dollars per month Includ- ing the Continental monthly pay from the time they march and are in Service"; also one dollar per man "for their time in pafsing mufter providing they Should be Called upon to pafs Mufter." An appropriation of £15 was voted "to procure Aminition to Supply the Deficiency ".
At the March meeting in 1800 the town voted to pay the militia of the town who paraded at Walpole on September 30 and on October I last one dollar per day each for their time, and also to "provide powder Balls and flints a Quan- tity sufficient for the Melitia of said Town for the purpose of being Viewed Annually to remain the property of the Town to be Deposited in a Military Chest in charge of some man or men Chosen for that purpose ". At the May meet- ing these votes were reconsidered, but in March, 1802, the town voted to pay one dollar per day to each militia man who had performed duty at the muster at Walpole the pre- vious September. In 1809 one dollar per day was voted to the men, twenty in number, "that were detached and In- spected last fall". On July 20, 1812, it was voted "that the Soldiers that were detached from this Town in May last, should be paid, if called into active service and do serve While they serve and no longer ". Their pay was to be made up to $15 per month each, and $5 were to be paid when "first called into active service, and the remainder in six Months after ".
In 1815 the town voted "to give those soldiers that were detached in the year 1814, belonging to the Town of Need- ham" $7 each in addition to the public pay, and in 1816 the selectmen were to furnish the soldiers with arms and
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equipments. Thus meagre are the records of the town for the War of 1812.
In the following list of Needham militia officers it may be assumed with reasonable certainty that the individuals had risen from the ranks and had served in the lower grades, which are not here mentioned, the name appearing only under the highest position that the man obtained. The names of the officers of the Norfolk Rifle Rangers will be found elsewhere.
Unless otherwise indicated the regiment was attached to the Second Brigade of the First Division.
Brigadier General: - Charles Rice 1828.
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