History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 179

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 179

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).

" 6ly. That this Town are ready to afforde all the Assistance in our Power to the Town of Boston, and will hartily unite with them and the Other Towns in this Province to oppose and frustrate this most detestable and dangerous Tea Scheem and every other that shall Appear to us to be Subversive of the Rights and Liberties of America, and consequently dishonorably to the Crown and Dignity of our Sovereign Lord the King.

" 7ly. That whoever shall hereafter presume to import any Teas into this Province while Subject to the Odius Duty Shall be considered and treated by this Town as an Enemy to his Country.

" A True Copy Attest Isaac Gardner T. Clerk

" July ye 29th 1774 At A meeting of the Freeholders & other Inhabitants of the Town of Brooklyn Legally Assembled

" Voted. That this Town will unite with the other Towns in this Province in every rational and Justifiable measure to recover and maintain our invaided rights and will come into Such Com- mercial Agreement, as may be Recommended by the General Congress

"Voted That this Meeting be Adjourned to Octo'r ye 11th, . at Five of the Clock in the Afternoon."

Brookline was one of the five towns whose com- mittees were summoned by Samuel Adams to meet at Faneuil Hall at a mass-meeting on the 29th November, viz. : Cambridge, Brookline, Roxbury, Charlestown, and Dorchester. A convention had been held at Col. Doty's, in Stoughton, on Tuesday, the 16th of August, 1774, to consult what measures were proper to be taken by the people of the county at this most important and alarming crisis of our public affairs, but as some of the towns had not appointed delegates, it was thought best to adjourn and give further notice to those towns not represented. This was called a "County Con- gress," and to show contempt for the " Act of Par- liament touching town-meetings." The meeting ad- journed to meet at Dedham on the 6th of September. The towns now comprised in Norfolk County since 1793 then belonged in Suffolk County, including Hingham, now in Plymouth County, numbering nineteen. This meeting was held at Richard Wood- ward's tavern, on High Street, in Dedham, opposite the monumental stone in the court-house yard, and on the spot where Fisher Ames, who was then sixteen years of age, was born ; and it seems as though the dream of Nathaniel Ames, his father, was about to be realized, " when the celestial light, directed by the finger of God, should disperse the shades of darkness, and the face of nature reflect the progress of science and the arts in their pathway hence to the western ocean." At this convention a large committee was chosen to mature the business, after which they adjourned to meet again at the house of Daniel Vose, in Milton, where on the 9th of September, 1774, Gen. Warren reported to the Convention the famous "Suffolk Resolves" which he drafted, and which, Frothingham says, " set government at defiance; and Congress, by approving these resolutions, virtually raised the stand- ard of rebellion, and set the colonies in hostile array against the parent State." At the Continental Con- gress, held at Philadelphia Sept. 4, 1774, the approval of these resolves was the first business in which they engaged, and became the basis of their future action.

At this time the non-importation agreements which had been made in the colonies and rigidly observed, especially that relating to tea, began to affect the com- mercial interests of Great Britain, and, as a method of punishment to the colonies, the East India Com- pany were permitted to export its teas free of all duties in England ; thus enabling them to reduce the price of the same in the colonies, on which a duty must be paid. A firm resolution was adopted by the com- mittee that the tea should be sent back to England. On the 28th of November, 1774, the ship " Dart- mouth," with tea on board, arrived in Boston, and soon two other ships having as cargo the forbidden commodity. The tea fever ran high, and the Com- This was an exciting time; the cause was the na- tion's ; all eyes were directed to Boston ; a hostile fleet was in her harbor ; British troops paraded her streets ; non were placed in the most commanding positions. Her port was closed, commerce was paralyzed, stores were shut, and many had been reduced from affluence to poverty ; but notwithstanding all this the "Sons of Liberty" knew no despair, they bade the citizens mittees of Correspondence not succeeding in sending it back, determined it should not be landed. Accord- ingly, after all attempts had failed, a party of people | the common was dotted with tents of an army ; can- disguised as Indians proceeded to the dock where the vessels lay, and in a short time three hundred and forty-two chests were broken open and their contents emptied into Boston harbor. This was the crisis of the Revolution, and it was boldly met, all the towns in the vicinity of Boston bearing an important part. of the beleaguered town-

Hutchinson says it " was the boldest stroke which had yet been struck in America."

" Be not dismayed

Though tyrants now oppress,

850

HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Though fleets and troops invade, You soon will have redress ! The resolution of the brave Will injured Massachusetts save."

" Sept. ye It 1774. At A Meeting of the Freeholders & other inhabitants of the Town of Brookline Mett

" Voted Major William Thompson Choosen Moderator

" Voted To Choose five Persons as Delegates to Appear and Act in behalf of Said Town at a County Convention for Suffolk, to be held at Deadham, the 6th Day of this Instant September ; or at any other Convention to which they may be invited.

"The Gent'm Committee are as follows Viz. Major William Thompson Capt. Benj'n White Isaac Gardner Esq'r John God- dard & Capt. Thomas Aspinwall

" Voted To Choose five Gentlemen as a Committee Viz. Mr. John Goddard Capt. Benjamin White Major William Thomp- son Mr. Isaac Child & Capt. Elisha Gardner, to Examine into the State of Said Town as to There Milatary preparations for War, in case of a Suden attack from our Enemies, and make Report at the Adjournment of this Meeting

" Voted Whether Saide Town will indemnify and save Harm- less any Town officers who shall incur any Penalty by refusing to comply with any Requisitions made to them in consequence of the New Acts & Regulations intended to be obtruded on this Province, and it Past in the Affermative to indemnify & save Harmless any Town Officer or Officers

" Voted To Adjourn this Meeting to the Eight Day of Sept'r Instant at five of the Clock P. M."

" Sept'r ye 27th 1774 At A Meeting of the Freeholders & other Inhabitants of the Town of Brooklyn Legally meet by adjour

" Voted Isaac Gardner Esq'r Choosen Moderator

" Voted Capt. Benjamin White choosen Representative

" Voted To Choose three Persons to draw up Instructions for Their Representative Viz Doctor William Aspinwall Major William Thompson & Mr. John Goddard The Instructions are as follows Viz: Capt. Benjamin White, The Town of Brooklyn having Choosen you to Represent them in a general Assembly to be conveaned at Salem on Wednesday 5th Day of October next, think it necessary to give you the following instructions Viz.

"' That you firmly adhere to the Charter of the Province and that you Acknowledge no other persons as Counsellors for this province but those who were elected by the General Court in May last, that you reject & disclaime all those who assume to Act as Counellors by mandamus and that in your Representa- tive Capacity you do nothing that can be construed in the least as an acknowledgment of the validity of the late oppressive Acts of Parliament-and as we expect A faithful Adherence to the Charter & Constitution of the Province will soon procure the Dissolution of the House of Representatives we hereby im- power you to meet the Deligates from the other Towns in the Province at a provincial Congress to be held at Concord or else where on Tuesday ye 11th of October and in behalf of this Town to act & unite with them in all such measures as shall appeare to you to have a tendency to promote the welfare of this Province and to recover & secure the Just Rights and liberties of America.'

" Voted That the Town do approve of the a foregoing In- | structions and that the Town Clerk do deliver an attested Copy of the Same to the Representative

" Voted To Choose two Delegates Viz Major Wm. Thompson and Mr. John Goddard to attend in the Provincial Congress, to be held at Concord on the Second Tuesday of October next in conjunction with the Representative of Said Town, we hereby impower you to meet the Delegates from the other Towns in the Province and in behalf of this Town to act & unite with

them in all Such Measures as shall Appeare to you to have a tendency to promote the Welfare of this Province and to re- cover & Secure the Just Rights & Liberties of America."

A meeting was held in Philadelphia, Sept. 4, 1774, in which all the colonies were represented, in which the famous " Bill of Rights" and other resolutions were passed, and the following meeting was called, that the citizens of Brookline might give their ap- proval and indorsement of the same :

"Nov'r ye 17th 1774 Voted, To see wheither the Town Ap- prove of the Measures that are come into by the Continental Congress and will abide by the same, and it passed in the Affer- mative Unanimously.

"May ye 29th, 1775 Voted to Elect one person as a Delegate to meet the Provincial Congress, Appointed to be held at Watertown on wednesday ye 31th of this Inst. may & so from time to time for & During ye term of six Months

" Voted that Capt Benja'n White meet ye Congress as Above mentioned.

" Dec ye 21th 1775. Mr. Goddard in ye Chair

" Voted as an acknowledgment to the Army for thair Good Services, that Each and Every officer & Soldier Belonging to this Town, who has served in ye Continental Army shall be Ex- cused from paying his Poll Tax as Residents of this Town for this Present Year, and that the assessors be Directed not to Assess the Same Upon Sd Officers and Soldiers, but upon the Estates of the Inhabitants in General,

" .Jan. 31th 1776 Mr. Isaac Child Chosen moderator

" Maj'r Wm. Thompson Chosen Clerk for the meeting

" Voted that this Town will Raise ten men toward, Rein- forcing the Continental army. Conformable with the Resolu- tion of the General Assembly Dated Jan. 19th 1776

"Voted that as an Encouragement to Such of the Inhab- of this Town as shall inlist themselves to Reinforce the Conti- mental Army for two, months, and to Enable them to Equip themselves fully for said Service, this Town will Allow and pay to Each man So Enlisting the Sum of forty Shillings. Lawful money upon his producing a Certifycate that he has Joined the army and passed muster, and also, that be is provided with a Good fire arm, Blanket, Bayonet and Cartridge Box. Agree- able to the printed form of the Enlistments.

"Voted that Colo. Aspinwall Capt. Timothy Cory and Mr. Samuel Craft be a Committee to Enlist Ten of the Inhabitants of this Town for the above Sd Service, and in Case that Num- ber of Inhabitants, Should not Enlist, then to agree with any other persons on the Easiest Terms they Can, not to exceed the allowance of forty Shillings Each man.

" March 11th 1776 Lieu. John Heath Lieu. Caleb Croft and Capt. Timothy Cory. Chosen a Committee of Correspondence Inspection and Safety for ye Ensuing Year.

" Voted that this meeting be Adjourned without Day. " Attest Stephen Sharp Town Clerk"

" May 20th 1776 Voted to Elect and Depute one person to Serve for and Represent Sd Town in the General Assembly of this Colony the Ensuing Year.

" Mr. John Goddard Chosen to Serve for and Represent Sd Town in Sd Great and General Assembly.

" Voted to advise the Person, Chosen to Represent this Town in the next General Court, that if the Hon. Congress Should, for the Safety of the American Colonies, Declare them Inde- pendant of the Kingdom of Great Briton, that we Sd Inhab- itants will Solemnly Engage with our Lives and fortune to Support them in the measure,

" Attest, Stephen Sharp Town Clerk"

851

BROOKLINE.

" July ye 9th 1776 Att a Meeting of the Inhabitants of ! Brookline Legally meet

" Mr. John Goddard Chosen Moderator.

"Voted that Six pounds Six Shillings and Eight pence be Giv'n to Each able Bodied Man that will Enlist into the Cana- dian Service in addition to the Bounty of Seven pounds that is allready Granted by the General Court

"Voted That Capt. White Leiut Craft and Leiut. White be a Committee to go to the Several parts of the Town to see what men may be Rais'd for the Cannadian Service, and Report

" Voted that this meeting be adjournd to ye 11th of July

" July ye 11th Voted that a further Sum be given to Each man that will Engage in the above mentioned Service, So as to make the above Mentioned Sum 50. Dollars Each man

"Voted that Mr. Aaron Child Col. Thomas Aspinwall, Mr. Nath'l Seaver, Mr. John Coburn and Major William Thompson, be a. Committee to hire men to Enlist for the above Service.

" Voted that the Selectmen be a Committee to hire money for the above mentioned purpos

" Voted that this Meeting be adjournd to the Day and hour, that the Commanding officer Shall call the whole militia of this Town together

"at an Adjournment Thursday July 18th 1776 Maj'r Wm. Thompson chosen moderator, Mr. Goddard being absent by Sickness

" Voted that this Town will give Five pounds more in addi- tion to the Bounty Voted at a former meeting, to Every Man who Shall Enlist into the Cannada Service

" Voted that the Men Called for from this Town be Draughted with Liberty to take the Bounty or pay the Fine

"Voted that this meeting be Dissolved

" Sept'r ye 23d 1776-At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of Brooklyn

" Mr. John Goddard Chosen moderator

" Voted to Raise a Sum of money to hire the Quoto of men which this Town is now call'd upon to Raise

" Voted-that four pound pr month over and above the Con- tinental pay be paid to Each man that Shall Engage in the Present Service agreeable to a Late act of the General Court

" At a Legally meeting of ye Inhabitants of Brooklyn Nov. 26th 1776.

" The Hon'ble Benjamin White Esqr. was Chosen moderator

"The Act of ye General Assembly for Enlisting or compel- ling a Quarter part of ye Inhabitants (as therein described) to be in readiness to march at a minutes Warning, to reinforce ye Continen-Army, in any of ye united States, and to Serve therein for ye term of three months, being read, and a motion made to appoint a Committee to consider and report forthwith what method is advisable for this Town to take in order to Encourage this Towns Qouto of Men, to Enlist in ye Sd Ser- vice Mr. John Goddard, Col. Thomas aspinwall, and Maj'r William Thompson was chosen a Committee for that purpose, who having withdrawn and deliberated an there charge, re- ported by recommending to ye Town to pass ye following Vote : if approved-to wit

"Voted, 'That Every able Bodied Man belonging to this Town who shall Enlist for ye present reinforcement to ye Con- tinental army, Shall as an Encouragement, receive from this Town, three pounds per month, in addition to ye wages Allowed by ye General Assembly, from ye time of marching to ye time of discharge, provided they should march and join the Conti- nental Army, Either at or near New York or Ticonderoga and if this Encouragement should not induce the Number of men this Town is to furnish-to Enlist by next Thursday Evening, those Orders of Men Authorized to appoint this Towns Quota, for that service may proceed to Draw that Quota, agreeable

to Act of Assembly, that one half of ye money now voted be paid ye men at marching and ye other half on there return and that ye money for this purpose be hired by ye Select Men, and that ye Assessors be Empowered to Assess ye same, in ye same manner other Assessments are made in this Town, at ye next assessment'

" The above Vote having been read, and proposed passed in ye Affermative-and ye Meeting Dissolved"

" Feb. ye 18th 1777. Mr. John Goddard Chosen Moderator

" Voted Unanimously that this Town will Give Twenty four pounds L m. y. over and above ye Bounty offered by the Conti- nent and this State, to Every able Bodied man who Shall seasonably Enlist for this Towns Quota into ye Continental army During ye War or for ye Space of Three years the money to be paid upon Each mans producing a Certificat of having passed muster

" Voted that Maj'r William Thompson, Mr. John Heath & Mr. Thomas Griggs be a Committee to hire ye money in behalf of ye Town for ye above purpose and to apply ye same to ye use afore Sd as soon as may be needful and to be accountable to ye Town for ye same

" Monday May 26th 1777 The Inhabitants of this Town having considered the Resolve of the last Assembly of 5th May, recommending to the several Towns, to instruct their Representatives, in one Body with the Councill, to form a new Constitution of Government. Voted that they do not give their Assent that the Representatives and Councill should form a Constitution but Recommend that a Convention should be ap- pointed by the People for that express Purpose, and that only, as soon as practicable"

Elhanan Winchester was chosen representative.

" Voted that the Sum of Fifteen pounds fifteen shillings be paid out of the Town Treasury, to Captain Thomas White, which Sum he advanced and paid as Bounty to three men, namely James Woods, Samuel Marian, and Gershon Hide, who enlisted for this Town's Quota of Militia, and lately marched to the Aid of Rhode Island State.

" Upon the Question, whether this Town will allow and pay a Gratuity to John Spear, Caleb Garder, Silas Winchester & William Davis, who enlisted without Bounty and continued in the Army untill the disbanding thereof in December last, voted in the negative

"The Committee appointed 18th of February last, to pay the Bounty of Twenty Four-pounds granted by the Town to each Man who should enlist. for this Town's Quota, into the Continental Army, reported that by an order of the Selectmen. (dated 27th March last) they received of the Town Treasurer, the Sum of Three hundred & eighty four pounds which they paid to Col : James Wesson by order of Sixteen Men who en- listed into his Regiment. namely, Jeremiah Clark, George Dun- lap, Elijah Mills, Charles Winchester, Lambert Smith, Ezekiel Crane, Henry Tucker, Christopher Higby, Hugh McKoron, Oliver Yan, John Burton, John Sinclair, John Hambleton, Nathaniel Rose, John Butler, and Stephen Eldrige The said Committee also laid before the Town the Order signed by those men, with Col. Wesson's Certificate that they had en- listed for this Town and passed Muster, also his Receipt for said Sum ; Whereupon it was voted that said Committee had performed their duty, and that they be discharged of the afore- said Sum of three hundred and Eighty four pounds.

" Upon motion, voted that the Thanks of this Town be given to Col. James Wesson, for the good Service he has rendered the Town by enlisting the aforementioned Sixteen Men for this town, and that the sum of Six Pounds be paid him as a further acknowledgement for that Service."

852

HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

" Friday August 15th 1777. Mr. John Goddard was chosen - Moderator

" On a motion made, voted that a Committee be appointed to Enlist eight men, for this Towns proportion of Militia ordered to reinforce the Northern Army to serve till the end of Novem- ber next

"Voted that the Committee consist of Five Persons

"Voted that Capt. Thomas White, Lieut : Caleb Craft, Mr Moses White Col : Thomas Aspinwall & Mr. Samuel Croft serve on this Committee

"Voted that it be left to the Discretion of said Committee to promise such Bounty to encourage eight men to engage in the aforementioned Service, as they shall judge reasonable and proper, and that the Town will abide by and fulfill the Agree- ment of Said Committee

" Voted that the Committee make Report of their doings at the adjournment of this meeting

"Voted that this meeting be adjourned to Monday next the 18th of August at 5 o'Clock afternoon-and was accordingly adjourned"

" Monday August 18 1777 The Committee reported that they had enlisted eight Men to serve in the northern Army to the End of November next namely John Me. Ilvaine, William Davis, John Speer, Benjamin Winchester, John White, Joseph Caswall, William Mc. Ilvaine and Joseph Brown, or Silas Win- chester in the room of Joseph Brown, upon the promise of paying Thirty Pounds Bounty to each man whereupon.

"Voted that the Town accept the report of the Committee

" Voted, that the Sum of Two hundred and forty pounds be hired for the purpose of paying the aforesaid Bounty, and that the Selectmen be empowered to hire the same in behalf of the Town, and to pay the same into the Hands of the Committee for the above purpose, as soon as requisite

" Voted that the Selectmen be empowered to hire the further Sum of Fifteen pounds, to procure Canteens for those eight men, and to pay the Subsistence of two pence per mile for their Travel to the Army

" Voted that this Meeting be dissolved

" Attest William Thompson Town Clerk"

" Monday November 10: 1777 Mr. John Goddard chosen Moderator

"Voted that the Town will allow and pay Seventy nine pounds four shillings, which Sum was paid by the Militia Ofi- cers of this Town as Bounty to Four Men who enlisted to Serve on the late Secret Expedition.

" Voted that this Town desire and direct Mr. Elhanan Win- chester their representative to promote an Enquiry into the Causes of the failure of the late secret Expedition"

" Thursday February 12. 1778 Mr. John Goddard was nom- | properly Limited ; that as the Form Proposed is almost totally inated & voted. Moderator.

" Voted that Lieut Caleb Craft, Lieut Abram Jackson, and Mr. Stephen Sharp be a Committee to hire on the most reasona- ble Terms they can. at the Charge of the Town, those three Militia Men who are now ordered from this Town to do military Duty in the Town of Boston for three months-also that the same Committee be authorized and empowered, in the same manner to hire whatever men may, by lawful Authority, be ordered upon Military Duty from this Town, hereafter untill the further order of the Town, and that the Committee be allowed a reasonable Reward for their Service"

" Monday March 2. 1778 The hon'ble Benjamin White Esqr. was chosen Moderator.

can, whenever they may be called for; The Committee to be allowed a reasonable Consideration for their Service

"Committee of Correspondence &c a. William Thompson, Mr. Isaac Child, Capt. Timothy Corey, Mr. Elisha Gardner, and Mr. Stephen Sharp, were chosen to be a Committee of Correspondence Inspection and Safety for the year ensuing"

" Monday April 27. 1778 Major William Thompson was Chosen Moderator.

" In Compliance with a recommendation of the Committees of Fourteen Towns in the County of Suffolk and Two Towns in the County of Middlesex met in Conference at Dedham on Tuesday the 14th day of April Current

" Voted the Major William Thompson, Mr. Nehemiah Davis, and Mr. Isaac Child be a Committee in Behalf of this Town, to proceed to Dedham to meet the Committees of other Towns who may assemble there tomorrow at nine o'Clock, to confer and consult together, upon the Form of Government lately offered to the People of this State for their approbation or dis- approbation, and maturely to consider and advise whether the Same is Calculated to Promote, in the best manner attainable, the true and Lasting Happiness of the People of this State, and to secure to them and their Posterity those Just Rights Liberties and priviliges which as a Free People they are en- titled to and by the favor of providence have so happy an oppertunity of affecting, also to consider and advise upon any other matter or thing that may concern this Town, County, or State and to report the result of their Deliberations, to this Town at the adjournment of this Meeting or at the next Town Meeting"

" Brookline Thursday May 21. 1778 Col. Thomas Aspinwall was Chosen to Represent this Town in the General Court for the Ensuing Year

" Maj'r William Thompson was then Chosen moderator of this meeting.

"Voted that Maj'r Willam Thompson, Col. Thomas Aspin- wall and Stephen Sharp be a Committee to attain an account of all the charge this Town has ben at in paying Bountys or Ex- traordinary Wages to those persons who have engaged and Servd or may serve, for this Town as Soldiers in the Continental army, Expeditions & Guards

" Upon reading and considering the proposed new form of Government : Voted that the same is not calculated and adapted, to promote and secure in the best manner attainable, the True and lasting Happiness and Freedom of the People of this State that it is essential to a Constitution designed for that most important and desirable End, that a full and express declara- tion of the Rights of the People, be made a part thereof, and that the Powers of Rulers Should be accurately definend and deficient in those respects and imperfect and intricate in many parts, it ought therefore to be rejected, and this Meeting con- sisting of forty five voters do unanimously and absolutely reject the same

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.

History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 179

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534