USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of Newton, Massachusetts : town and city, from its earliest settlement to the present time, 1630-1880 > Part 35
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 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
All which is respectfully submitted.
ALEXANDER SHEPARD, COL. BENJAMIN HAMMOND, ENSIGN SAMUEL CRAFT, JOSEPH JACKSON, LIEUT. SAMUEL RICHARDSON,
LIEUT. AARON RICHARDSON, LIEUT. JOSEPH CRAFT, ALEXANDER SHEPARD, JR.
362
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
This report was amended by giving thirty shillings instead of forty shillings to those who manned the lines near Boston in 1776 ; and five pounds instead of four to each of the soldiers who were drafted and marched to New York for two months, and was then adopted.
VOTED, that those commissioned officers who went in the Continental ser- vice to New York and thence to Canada the last year, be paid twenty pounds each ; that there be paid to Col. Michael Jackson, for going into the Conti- nental service in New York last summer, eight pounds, and to Capt. Edward Fuller, in the same service, two pounds.
Although it was a season of comparative poverty and destitu- tion, with the people of Newton, their burdens great, their money scarce, and the prospects before them in the immediate future dis- mal and discouraging, they were nevertheless liberal in voting the necessary supplies to carry on the war, and in subscribing to a loan to aid the town. The sums they risked were, probably, at least in many cases, in generous proportion to their entire property. And in this act they showed that they were men of faith and cour- age. Where they could not see, they trusted. And though they could not tell through how many weary years the struggle would be protracted, nor whether they might not ultimately fail,- relying on the justice of their cause and on the God of battles, they deter- mined to go forward.
It is interesting to see how in the great struggle of the country to free itself from a foreign yoke, the early settlers rushed to the conflict like men who knew no fear, as if regardless of all conse- quences to themselves or their families. Several members of the same family, in some instances, buckled on the harness and went forth to the fight,- perhaps for mutual protection and succor ; perhaps, because the example of patriotism is contagious, and when one went, others were unwilling to stay behind ; perhaps, be- cause they were alike schooled to love and desire liberty and a free country, and alike eager to participate in paying the price by which such a blessing was to be won. Thus three sons of Moses Whit- ney all died in the army. Three of the sons and some of the sons- in-law of Captain Jeremiah Wiswall were in the East Newton company in the battle of Lexington. The bravery of the fathers, instilled by incessant teaching into the minds of their offspring, was transmitted in a faithful line of succession, and the records of that stormy age exhibit, among the living and the dead,
363
LIBERALITY AND SACRIFICE.
warriors well entitled to be characterized as "worthy sons of worthy sires."
The wives and mothers and sisters of those times must have been true to the spirit of patriotism, or they would not have been parted so uncomplainingly from their natural protectors, that the latter might engage heart and hand in the deadly conflict. We can almost see them now, in their sparse settlements, living fru- gally on their narrow means, and surrounded by their numerous- and growing families,- shrinking from the sacrifice of those who were dearer to them than life, but at the same time consenting, for the interest of the public weal, to lay upon the altar of their country their fathers, and their brothers, and their husbands. Truly, they were worthy mothers of the noble women of the period of our recent national struggle, who, in a more delicate age and in a fiercer con- test, emulated their example, and through tears and blood trod patiently and lovingly in their footsteps. All honor to the women of Newton, both of the earlier and the later date. Without their spirit of courage and self-denial, without their ardent patriotism, giving their beloved ones to their country and cheering them on- ward in hours of gloom, how different might have been the results both of the Revolutionary war, and of the later conflict, waged in behalf of the nation's life !
Since the later experience of 1861-5, we are more competent to appreciate the efforts and the self-denial of our ancestors in the great revolutionary struggle. How different were their circum- stances from our own ! They were comparatively few in number ; obtaining a frugal living from fields but recently wrested from the wilderness. The arts of war were imperfectly understood. There were but few rich men. Even those who had great landed estates did not abound in money, and the money which they possessed was fearfully depreciated in value before the close of the war. The entire country was sparsely peopled, and the means of feed- ing and paying a large army were not easy to be secured. The personal property in the hands of a few was mostly the fruit of slow accumulations and of great labor ; hence it was a more seri- ous thing to part with it than with easily-hoarded gains. Yet our Newton ancestors freely gave of their substance, and generously voted to raise money by taxation to supply the wants of the sol- diers. Thirty-one names are recorded of those who loaned money to the town to pay the heroes in the field. The smallness of the
1
364
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
sums loaned by some of these persons indicated that they offered of their penury,- the fruits of wearing labor,-on the altar of their country. Among those who thus supplied "the sinews of war," were two colonels, four captains, one lieutenant, one cornet, and two females (woman in the war, as lately, so then, an efficient, willing, and loving helper), one of the two a widow, and her offer- ing was £13. In 1778, a tax of £3,000 was voted by the town towards the expenses of the war. In 1779, the citizens voted a tax of £3,000 for raising men and other expenses. In March, 1780, £30,000 were voted for the same purpose ; in September of the same year, £40,000, and in the December following, £100,000. Money, it is true, had greatly depreciated in value ; for in May, 1781, the town voted to raise £400 in silver, in lieu of £100,000 in bills. But this enormous depreciation must have made many poor who had once been rich. The loss of life and of the means of living was very great during the war, making the heavy taxation so much the more burdensome. The entire population in 1775 has been estimated at less than 1,400. Yet nearly one in every four of the entire population served in the army, and both these and the stay-at-home's gave at the same time their treasure, their ser- vice, and their blood to their suffering country. In comparison with the exertion and the sufferings of our fathers, how small have been our sacrifices and how insignificant our efforts ! Dur- ing the war of the Rebellion, our armies were multiplied a thou- sand-fold, as compared with them ; our expenses were gigantic ; our battles were as a hundred to one ; our wounded and our slain were beyond calculation. Every thing was carried forward on a scale suggesting the idea of sublimity. But was not that earlier "day of small things," after all, in view of the character and the circumstances of the age, more marvellous than the experiences of our own times ?
A writer in the Massachusetts Historical Collections, Vol. 2, page 239, at the close of a historical journal of the war of the Revolution gives the following summary :
The war being ended, we will now see how the account stands, and we shall find the following to be a just statement of it :
A loss to Great Britain of two large armies, captured by the States, exclu- sive of many thousands killed and taken in various actions of the war; thir- teen colonies dismembered from them, and an increase of their national debt, in seven years, one hundred and twenty millions.
.
365
PAY OF SOLDIERS.
The United States have gained independency and the liberty they contended for, and find their debt to be less than forty five millions of dollars, - which is short of ten millions of pounds sterling (£9,993,424 9s. 6d. sterling).
The national debt of Great Britain at this period amounts to 240,000,000 pounds sterling.
The whole of the American debt is as follows, viz. :
Foreign debt,
$7,885,085.00
Domestic debt -
34,115,290.00
Annual interest on both,-foreign at 5 per cent.
2,415,956.00
domestic 6 per cent. per annum.
Total,
$44,416,331.00
This comparison is humiliating to Great Britain, and highly honorable to the financiering ability of the statesmen of the Revolution. The former had learned, by the enjoyment of wealth, to be luxurious and wasteful ; the latter, schooled in want and frugality, had learned economy. Their slender resources compelled them to make the best use of what they had; and, taught in this stern school, they profited by the painful lesson.
On the fourteenth of March, 1777, the town voted that Phineas Bond, Captain Amariah Fuller, Joshua Hammond, Lieutenant Jeremiah Wiswall, Samuel Woodward and Dr. John King be a committee, to be joined by the commissioned officers of the town, to hire soldiers, if need be, to go into the wars the ensuing cam- paign, being Newton's quota, as cheap as may be, and not give more than twenty-four pounds each. Also, that the Town Treas- urer borrow, for the purpose aforesaid, the sum of one thousand pounds, and deliver it to the aforesaid committee as it shall be needed.
And on the twentieth of the same month it was voted that such as are subjects of the gratuity for former services, who have en- listed or shall enlist within ten days from this time into the Con- tinental service for Newton, and pass muster, shall receive of the Town Treasurer a promissory note on interest for what they are entitled to for said service, to be paid in one year, they demanding the same at the Treasury. Also, that £3 be paid by the town, to each soldier that lately went to Providence. And, in case any more men be called for, that the commissioned officers and the committee be directed to procure soldiers on the best terms they can. The town paid faithfully the sums they voted.
366
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
ACCOUNT OF MONEYS BORROWED BY THE TOWN TREASURER OF NEWTON PEOPLE, TO PAY THE SOLDIERS, MARCH 21, 1777.
NAMES.
s. d.
NAMES.
S
s. d.
Joshua Hammond,
72
Col. Michael Jackson,
87
Joseph White,
100
John Ward,
60
Widow Tabitha Miller,
13
John Ward, 3rd,
43
Cornet Norman Clark,
90
Elisha Fuller and
John Wiswall,
20
others,
432
Dr. John King,
24
Oliver Fenno,
74
Lieut. Joseph Craft,
200
Miss Abigail Stone,
61
Aaron Jackson,
24
Alex. Shepard, jr.,
100
Abraham Fuller,
286
Col. Nathan Fuller,
133
6 8
April-Benjamin Eddy
52
13 0
Joshua Hammond,
118
13 4
May-Samuel ardson,
Rich-
Josiah Hall,
24
Ephraim Williams,
40
Stephen White,
70
Capt. Jeremiah Wis- wall,
45
Joshua Murdock,
64
Capt. John Woodward,
100
Capt. Abraham Pierce
133
Capt. Edward Fuller,
3
Elhanan Winchester,
300
Thomas Jackson,
24
Total,
£2,989 13s.
30
William Hammond,
46
Samuel Woodward,
120
These thirty-one lenders, of whom two were women, and all but three were in the army, gave to the cause their treasures and their lives. To these are to be added those who loaned smaller sums, whose names are not given.
CHAPTER XXX.
NEWTON IN THE REVOLUTION .- INSTRUCTIONS TO THE REPRESENTA- TIVE .- CONSTITUTION OF MASSACHUSETTS .- FINANCES .- THE REVOLUTION ENDED. - THE PAROLE OF CORNWALLIS .- MEN WHO SERVED IN THE WAR .- NEWTON MEMBERS OF THE CIN- CINNATI.
IN the midst of the excitement of war, the citizens were not careless of the interests of the State Government. In 1777, they elected Abraham Fuller, Esq., Colonel Benjamin Hammond and Lieutenant Noah Hyde, a committee to report instructions to their representative to the General Court. The instructions were as follows :
To Thomas Parker of Newton, in General Assembly :
SIR,- In pursuance of a Resolve of the General Court on the fifth of May current, relative to forming a new Constitution of Government,-we, the freeholders and other inhabitants of Newton in town meeting legally as- sembled, on Thursday, the fifteenth day of May, 1777, judge it proper to im- part to you our united sentiments, and instruct you, our representative in General Assembly.
At this alarming crisis, when of necessity it must take up the greatest part of the time of the General Court to guard and defend the United States against the inroads and invasions of our unnatural and inveterate enemies, who are using every measure to subjugate and enslave America; that you do not neglect the common and ordinary business that is necessary for the im- mediate salvation of this State, by attempting to set up a new Constitution of Government, so long as the public affairs continue so much embarrassed, and while so many of our worthy brethren are abroad, who have a just right to have a voice in the acceptance of a new Constitution, unless a great majority of the Assembly resolve for that purpose. Then, in that case you are to use your utmost endeavors, that the legislative powers be not confined, nor rest in less than two branches at least, and that each branch have a free and in- dependent exercise of its judgment and a negative voice in the Legislature; for history sufficiently evinces that no Government in any State in the known
367
368
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
world, where an absolute power has been lodged in one man, or one body of men, but that speedily issued in despotism and tyranny.
We also instruct you not to consent to the making any alteration of the law of this State relative to each town's paying its representatives ; and, as the Honorable Continental Congress has recommended to this State, with others, to keep as near as may be to the Charter Constitution, we also instruct you to use your endeavors to conform thereto, until this State hath completed another Constitution of Government.
ABRAHAM FULLER, BENJAMIN HAMMOND, & Committee. . NOAH HIDE,
In May, 1778, the town chose Joseph Jackson, Noah Hyde, Joseph Hyde, Joseph Ward, William Clark, Ebenezer Bartlett, Jonas Stone, Joshua Murdock and John King a committee to report to the town their opinion of the new Constitution or form of government agreed upon by the Convention of the State of Mas- sachusetts.
In the following month occurs this record :
The plan of the Constitution and form of government for the Massachu- setts Bay, as proposed by the Convention, having been read, was fully de- bated, and the number of voters present being eighty (80), five (5) approved of the Constitution and seventy-five (75) disapproved of it.
May 1779 .- VOTED, that a new Constitution or form of government be made. Forty-one (41) yeas and five (5) nays.
Chose Thomas Parker representative, and voted that he be and he hereby is instructed to vote for the calling of a State Convention, for the sole pur- pose of forming a new Constitution.
These sturdy politicians, who rejected the former Constitution by such an overwhelming vote, were doubtless at last satisfied ; for under date of August, 1779, we find this record :
The proceedings of the late Convention at Concord were read by para- graphs to the town, and they voted to approve the same.
Their satisfaction, however, was of brief duration ; for in May, 1780, after re-electing Thomas Parker, representative, the town " chose a Committee of Fifteen to consider and report to the town the alterations they may judge necessary in the new form of Gov- ernment."
The first town meeting under the Constitution of Massachusetts for the election of State officers, was held September 4, 1780.
Under the stress of the times, the Convention held at Concord adopted an article proposing to limit the price of several articles
.
369
BORROWING FUNDS.
in common use. The citizens of Newton, careful and critical, watching every thing pertaining to the public interest, did not allow the measure to go into effect without passing judgment upon the action of the Convention. Indeed, they had already chosen "a committee, to act by themselves or join with a committee of other towns, to regulate the prices of sundry articles, agreeable to the fifth resolve of the Convention at Concord."
The proceedings of the late Convention at Concord were read, so far as relates to the stipulated prices.
VOTED, to approve all but the prices of potatoes, geese, fowls, turkeys, tame ducks, cider, all kinds of wood, coal, and teaming,-which were re- ferred for consideration.
Then the several resolves were read and accepted.
Two votes on the Town Records have reference to the supply of provisions for the army.
October, 1780 .- Chose a committee to purchase the quantity of beef for the army, as required of the town by the General Court.
May, 1781 .- VOTED, to choose a committee to procure Newton's quota of beef to supply the army, as called for by the General Court.
During the entire period of the war, the inhabitants of Newton continued to vote supplies of money, as they were needed. The patriotism of the citizens and their hope of the final success of their cause gave them courage even in the darkest hours. A few of their votes, during the successive years of trial, may be here grouped together.
September 15, 1777 .- VOTED, that the Treasurer of this town be directed, and he is hereby empowered, in the name and behalf of said town, to borrow the sum of twelve hundred pounds, and give his note on interest for the same, for repaying to the commissioned officers and the committee to procure soldiers for the Continental service, and also the sum of six hundred pounds, towards procuring soldiers for said service for the future.
December 8 .- Deacon John Woodward, Joshua Murdock, Joseph Jackson, Dr. John King and Colonel Nathan Fuller were chosen a committee to make effectual provision for the families of the non-commissioned officers and privates that have engaged in the Continental service, agreeable to a resolve of the General Assembly on the tenth of October last.
VOTED, that the officers and committee should hire men to replace the late detachment at Prospect Hill.
In 1778, the town voted a tax of three thousand pounds, towards defraying the town charges of the war.
24
370
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
A committee appointed in March, 1779, to audit the accounts of the military committee, reported as follows :
Capt. Edward Fuller has received as fines £185 19s. 0d.
Capt. Joseph Fuller do. do.
450 0 0
£635 19s. 0d.
Joshua Hammond has received of the Treasurer
£4,312 7s. 4d.
Lieut. Aaron Richardson
do.
do.
94 10
0
Capt. Jeremiah Wiswall do.
do.
33 0 0
Col. Benjamin Hammond do. do.
4 13 0
Total receipts ·
£4,444 10 4
Joshua Hammond has paid, of money he collected for taxes
£201 8s. 6d.
Col. Nathan Fuller do.
do.
do.
do.
123 10 0
Capt. Edward Fuller do.
do.
do.
do.
185 19 0
Capt. Joseph Fuller do.
do. do.
do.
384 1 10
£894 19 4
Remaining in the hands of the committee ·
£11 12 10
In August, 1779, the inhabitants voted to raise men, agreeable to the resolve of the Court, and also to raise £3,000," for raising of men and defraying town charges."
June 19, 1780, a committee of nine was chosen to raise men for the war, as called for by the General Court, and a vote passed, appropriating £30,000 to defray the charges thereof, and for the use of the town.
In October of the same year, "chose a committee to purchase the quantity of beef for the army, as required of the town by the General Court." Also in December, " chose a committee of nine- teen to raise Newton's quota of men, to fill up the Continental army," and voted "a tax of £100,000, old currency, to defray the charges."
March, 1781 .- The Treasurer was authorized to give notes to the soldiers who have enlisted or shall enlist into the Continental army for three years, or during the war.
1781 .- VOTED, that £400 in silver money be raised, in lieu of £100,000 in bills.
VOTED, to choose a committee of five to assist the commissioned officers in procuring Newton's quota of militia soldiers, that may be called for by the General Court the present summer ; and the Treasurer is authorized to give notes, in the name and behalf of the town, for that purpose. Also, to procure
371
LOANS TO THE TOWN.
Newton's quota of beef, as called for by the General Court, to supply the army with.
September, 1781 .- VOTED, that £450 silver money be assessed; March, 1782, a tax of £800; April, 1783, £1,000; March, 1784, £1,500.
Colonel Benjamin Hammond, of East Newton, had charge in 1780-82 of procuring a portion of the necessary quantity of beef for the army. The following, from his day-book, shows who were the patriotic citizens who had faith enough in the cause of liberty to risk their money.
Account of what money I received of the several persons hereafter named, to purchase beef for the army, 1780.
The Hon. Abraham Fuller, Esq., £800
Mr. John Jackson,
£150
Mr. Ebenezer Bartlett, 370 10
Dea. William Bowles, 120
Advanced, myself, 96 19
Dea. David Stone,
100
Mr. Ebenezer Bartlett, 100
Mr. John Stone,
100
Capt. Jeremiah Wiswall, 600
Mr. David Bartlett,
315
Mr. Ebenezer Bartlett, 570
Mr. Joseph White,
180
Capt. Eliphalet Robbins, 90
Mr. Joseph Ward (collector),
3,791 4
Solomon Robbins, 150
Mr. Joseph Ward (collector), 430
Dca. David Stone,
200
Mr. Ebenezer Greenwood,
114
Mr. John Stone, 100
Mr. John Jackson,
336
Mr. Joseph Jackson,
150
Capt. Edward Fuller,
· 225
Account of what money I received of the several persons hereafter named, to purchase beef for the army, 1781.
The Hon Abraham Fuller, Esq.,
Dea. David Stone, £360
Capt. Jonas Stone,
60
Capt. Wiswall, 361
Advanced, myself,
300
Capt. Wiswall,
3,582
2
Of the Town Treasurer,
1,025
Capt. Joseph Fuller, 300
Dea. David Stone,
188 7 10
Of the Town Treasurer by the
hand of Col. Fuller,
600
Capt. Jeremiah Wiswall,
207 6
£12,761 15 10,
May 31, 1782 .- Granted an order to Capt. Jeremiah Wiswall for nine thousand four hundred and seven pounds, one shilling and four pence (£9,407 1s. 4d. ) for money advanced to purchase beef for the army.
That Colonel Hammond was captain of a company appears from an entry in his day-book, as follows :
November 4, 1771 .- Trained, and filled up the company with officers, and made choice of Samuel Richardson, Samuel Hide, William Hammond, John
Mr. Joseph Ward (collector), 225
Advanced, myself,
45
Mr. Jonathan Bixby,
300
Capt. Jeremiah Wiswall (collector)2,717 7
Mr. Joshua Hammond, 500
Capt. Joseph Fuller, 100
Advanced, myself, 150
Town Treasurer, in old cur- rency, £5,618
£13,176
Mr. Joshua Flagg, 200
372
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Stone, Sergeants ; Jeremiah Richardson, James Stone, Benjamin Eddy, jr., Thomas Durant, Corporals; William Fuller, Nathaniel Rogers, Durmer [drummer] ; John Ward, jr., Clerk.
Trained, June 4, October 8 and 14, 1772. Fined - Coggin, William Parker, Nathaniel Robbins, Stephen Hastings, Timothy Whitney, Jackson Parker, Nathaniel Parker and Thomas Hastings 5s. each (the last for want of arms) ; Simon Chamberlin, John Hall, jr., Aaron Cheney, 2s. cach.
Trained, June 21, 1773. Fined William Parker, Jackson Parker, Thomas Hastings, Samuel Knapp, Ebenezer Seger, Joshua Newell, 5s. each.
Trained, June 7, 1774. Fined Nathaniel Robbins, George Feacham, Tim- othy Whitney, Jackson Parker, Samuel Knapp, Ephraim Whitney, Jonathan Rugg, Ephraim Wilson, 5s. each.
As the pressure of the times increased, the inhabitants felt it needful to devise new methods to raise money to meet the expenses. of the war. They had taxed themselves to the utmost, and still the war was not ended. At last, the plan was suggested of seek- ing relief by taxing the lands of non-resident proprietors. In April, 1785, a committee was appointed on this suggestion, Colonel Benjamin Hammond being chairman, who reported as follows :
We the subscribers, chosen by the town to devise ways and means where- by the non-resident proprietors of land lying within the town of Newton may be subjected to pay their proportional part of the charge of the men raised by the seventeen classes made out in the year 1781, in consequence of a previ- ous resolve of the General Court for that purpose, and also to hear the complaints of said classes respecting the deficiency of individuals of said classes who were unable to pay, or otherwise,- and also to hear the request of George Feacham, that he may receive certain moneys which he saith he had advanced, to hire men to go into the public service, etc., etc., have attended to that service, and beg leave to report as follows :
1. That the town choose a committee to prefer a petition to the General Court for liberty to assess the non-resident proprietors of lands lying within the town of Newton their proportional part of the real cost of the men pro- cured by the seventeen classes made out by the Assessors in 1781, or for the average price allowed by the State for said men.
2. That all those that are inadvertently classed, and at the same time were not proper subjects of taxation, and refuse to pay,-that their taxes be abated.
3. That the class of which the late Phineas Cook (died 1784) was the head, be abated as follows : viz., of the deceased Henry Parker's tax 16 shillings, and of William Park's £4 19s., etc.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.