USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > North Brookfield > History of North Brookfield, Massachusetts. Preceded by an account of old Quabaug, Indian and English occupation, 1647-1676; Brookfield records, 1686-1783 > Part 26
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I He was a native of Framingham, who had lived in Brookfield, where he married May 8, 1763, Elizabeth Smith.
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231
THE REVOLUTION.
This regiment - Col. Ebenezer Learned, Lt. Col. Danforth Keyes, Adgt. Seth Banister - went into camp at Roxbury May 19, and com- missions were issued to the Field and Company officers, May 23. Capt. Harwood's Co. mustered 71 men.
The Committee of Safety reported June 15, that "Col. David Brewer had raised nine companies, amounting, including officers to 465 men, who are now posted at Roxbury, Dorchester and Watertown." This regiment was commissioned June 17. "Field and Staff officers in the Ninth Continental Regiment : David Brewer, Palmer, Colonel ; Rufus Putman, Brookfield, Lt. Col .; Nathaniel Danielson, Brimfield, Major ; Amos Adams, Roxbury, Chaplain (died Oct. 4), Thomas Weeks, Green- wich, Adjutant ; Ebenezer Washburn, Hardwick, Qr. Master; Estes How, Belchertown, Surgeon ; James Bradish, No. 5, Assis't. Surgeon ; John Trotter, clerk."
The following List of Brookfield men, in the Eight Months Service, is gathered from the Rolls in the State Archives. In Col. Learned's Regi- ment :
Capt. Peter Harwood, Lieut. Asa Danforth, Ensn Benjn Pollard, Sergts George Townsend, Wm. Watson, Isaac Barron, Daniel Barns : - Corp'ls Charles Rice, John Denton, Reuben Gilbert, and John Dodge : - Drum- mers, Sam1. Mash, Benj. Gilbert and Hosea Edson, - Privates - Jesse Adams, Obadiah Adams, Chas. Adams, Jessa Banister, Jonas Biglow, Ebenez !. Baker, Abner Bartlett, Abner Cutlar, Joseph Dudly, John Dan- forth, Jonathan Danforth, Chas. Doroughty, William Gill, Roburt Graham, Comfort Goss, Asa Gilburt, Henry Gilburt, Samuel Green, Jesse Hamil- ton, W'm. Hincher, Peter Hill, Joseph Hamilton, Amas Hodgman, Esq. Hill, Josiah Hincher, Thomas Jones, Samuel Kimbal, Daniel Keyes, Jonathan Marble, Thomas Nickals, Jonathan Ormes, Elijah Pollock, Ezra Richmand, Joseph Stephens, John Stephenson, Samuel Stephens, John Smith, Moses Tylar, Solomon Wilder, Elez! Woods, Joseph Wait, Abner Witt, Jeduth! Wait, Wm. Wait, Wm. White and John Winter -
Capt. John Granger, Sergt. Jona. Stone, Elijah Cummings. Ensign Reuben Slayton, Drummer David Chamberlain, Corp. Ebenezer Har- rington, Nathan Whitney, Timothy Woolcott, Solo. Woolcott, Eben' Ball, Jacob Harrington (in Capt. Joel Green's Co.)
In Col. Brewer's Regiment :
Capt. John Packard, Sergts. Nathan Allen, James Washburn, and Josiah Newton, Corp's Jarib Bacon, Barnabas Potter, Levi Packard - Drum- mer - Nathaniel Hayward - Pri. Elijah Allen, Nathan Barns, Elisha Bartlet - Jedediah Gilbert, Aaron Gilbert, Reuben Gilbert, Joseph Gil- bert, Barzilai Hayward, John Hubard, Elisha Holton, Robert Hopkins, Elias Parkman, Lemuel Ross, Jonathan Willis, Josiah Wood, Theo. Wa- terman, Azariah Willis, West Waterman.
232
BROOKFIELD RECORDS, 1718-1786.
Lieut. Bethuel Washburn (in Capt. D. Ingersoll's Co.)
Lieut. Nathan Goodale, Corp: Alexander Oliver, Isaac Cutler ; Pri- vates, Moses Ayres, Silvester Bishop, Benj. Batcheller, Peter Cushing, Joseph Chadwick, Moses Dodge, Reuben Dodge, Jona. Fletcher, John Liddle, John Pollard, Isaac Hodgman, died Sept. 5, (in Capt. Josiah King's Co.)
Sergt. Nathan Hill, [Corp. Peter Brewer, Southboro'], Fifers, James Hill, Bartholomew Hill; Berry Bowen, Moses Bowen, Peter Bowen, Stoddard Bowen [Micah Dorothy, Framingham], Jona. Ralph, Pomp Lorum, Benj. Hill (in Capt. Jona. Danforth's Western Co.)
In Col. John Fellows' Regt., Capt. Abel Thayer's Co., Ens. John Lynde, Abner Gilbert, Thomas Gilbert, David Hamilton, John Hay- ward.
In Col. Timothy Danielson's Regiment, Capt. Silvanus Walker's Co., Sergt: Solo. Walker, Samuel Pike, Corps Eben' How, Simeon Rockwell, Drumr John Warren, Priv. Elijah Barns, Jabez Crosby, Moses Hastings, John Marble, Daniel Moore, Abner Old, Jonas Streeter, Eph™ Stone, Josiah Stone, John Woolcott.
In Col. B. R. Woodbridge's Regt., Capt. John Cowls' Co., Corp. Mo- ses Woods, Oliver Hinds, John Sabin, Phinehas Slayton, Nathan Whitney, Joseph Olmstead.
In Col. Jona. Ward's Regt., Capt. Seth Washburn's Co., Elisha Liver- more.
In Capt. Isaac Bolster's Co., Elihu Blake, Samuel Bunn, Eben' Mil- ler, Jonas Newton, Eli Wood, James Wood, John Wood, Joseph Wood, Thomas Wood.
The battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, was fought by these Eight Months men. But no returns have been found, to indicate the names of the Brookfield soldiers who took part in that action.
The town Committee of Inspection were : Col. Jedediah Foster, David Hitchcock, John Phipps, for First Precinct ; Daniel Gilbert, Thomas Moore, John Lyscom, for Second Precinct; Josiah Hobbs, Ephraim Walker, Ithamar Wright, 3d Precinct.
Dec. 1, 1775. 5,000 men of the Militia were ordered out, to defend the fortifications at Cambridge and Roxbury. The quota of Brookfield was 45. The Roll has not been found.
1776. - Brookfield men in Capt. Wm Todd's Co., Col. Crafts' Regt. of Artillery, Feb. I, to May 8, 1776 : Sergts. David Watson and Charles Bruce, Corp. Wm Smith, Joshua Barns, Barnabas Brigham, Antipas Bruce, Hosea Edson, Eben' Field, John Hersey, Daniel Matthews, Abel Johnson, David Leland, Jonathan Sever, Abner White.
In the Fourth Worcester Regt. of Militia, Joseph Gilbert of Brookfield was chosen Colonel Feb. 16, 1776, in place of Col. Jona. Warner de-
233
THE REVOLUTION.
ceased ; and Apr. 10, James Converse was chosen Colonel in place of Col. Gilbert. Jona. King was commissioned captain of the First Co. in said Regt., Nathan Hamilton Ist Lieut., Daniel Pollard 2d Lieut. May 31 ; Joseph Cutler, captain and Isaac Wood Ist Lieut. of the Third Co .; Tilly Rice, captain, Joseph Pickard Ist Lieut. and Abijah Cutler 2d Lieut. of the Fourth Co .; John Lyscom, captain, William Ayres Ist Lieut. and John Ranger 2d Lieut. of the Ninth Co .; Cyrus Rich, captain, Isaac Gleason Ist Lieut. and Abner Tyler 2d Lieut. of the Eleventh Co .; Francis Stone, captain, Samuel Warner Ist Lieut. and Josiah Willard 2d Lieut of the Twelfth Co. Most of these were Brookfield men.
Capt. Jeduthan Baldwin assisted in planning the defensive works around Boston the last year ; and Mar. 16, this year, was commissioned Assist. Engineer, with rank of Capt., and ordered to N.Y .; was placed in the Continental army, with rank of Lieut .- Col., Apr. 26 .; and in the fall was made Engineer, with the rank of colonel, and served at Ticon- deroga.
Lt. Col. Rufus Putnam had been employed as engineer in constructing the defences in Roxbury, and secured the approbation of Washington, v who recommended him to the Congress as more competent than any of the French gentlemen, to whom appointments had been given. He was appointed chief engineer, and in the spring superintended all the de- fences of New York, and in August was raised to the rank of colonel.
At a town meeting held in Brookfield, May 22, 1776, The question was put, in the words of a Resolve of the General Court, "Whether this Town would support the Honorable Congress in the measure, if they for our liberty should see fit to declare the colonies Independent of Great Britain ?"-And it passed in the Affirmative, almost unanimously. Thus, our Declaration of Independence anticipated the national Declaration, by more than a month !
Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety : Tho. Moore, Ens. John Wait, Lt. Tilly Rice, Lt. David Hitchcock, Jabez Crosby, Ithamar Wright, John Hamilton.
In Capt. Nathan Hamilton's Co., Col. Sam1 Brewer's Regt. at Ticon- deroga Mills, June 1, '76 to Feb. 1, '77, the Brookfield men were : Capt. N. H., Lieut. John Bowker, Corps Joseph Olmstead, Thomas Kimball, Wm Gilbert, Drum! Prince Haskell, Privates, Barnabas Potter, Zadock Gilbert, Edward Allen, Philip Allen, Abner Gilbert, Samuel Barns, Solo. Wilder, Sam! McClure, Jona. Moore, John Burk, John Saben, Nathan Davis, Ammiel Weeks, Seth Dean, Benj. Foster, John Patterson, Wm Cunningham, Stephen Chandler, Ebenezer Wright, Fran- cis Pellet, Ithamar Bowker, Wm Raiment, Edmund Stone, Amos Hale, Ephraim Wheeler, Jesse Wheeler, John Green, Eph™ Richmond, Ezekiel Bowker, John Bowen, Seth Twitchell, Ichabod Warner, Uri Babbitt, Daniel How.
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BROOKFIELD RECORDS, 1718-1786.
June 24, 1776, an order was issued from head-quarters, establishing a company of Matrosses in the Town of Brookfield, in Col. James Con- verse's Regiment. The officers were as follows : John Banister, captain, James Hathaway, first lieut., Gideon Walker, second lieut.
Nov. 14, 1776. The town voted to grant the sum of £60, to be levied upon the Inhabitants, for a bounty upon 100 fire-arms with bayonet affixed, provided they are wholly manufactured in this town within one year, and sold to the Inhabitants of this town, and in such case the selectmen are to draw an order upon the town treasurer. The bounty was not claimed, and Oct. 6, '77, the above named £60 was ordered "to be applied to pay town debts."
In the autumn of this year Washington's army, then on the North River, came near being broken up by expiration of the short-term enlist- ments. And at his earnest solicitation, the Continental Congress pro- vided for the formation of a regular army by the enlistment of men to serve during the war. A bounty of £20 was to be paid at the time of muster ; and quotas of public land were promised, as follows : To a colonel, 500 acres ; to a major, 400 acres ; to a captain, 300 acres ; to a lieutenant, 200 acres ; to an ensign, 150 acres ; and 100 acres to non- commissioned officers and privates. Subsequently these terms were modified so as to admit of enlistments for three years, or during the war ; but the three years men were not entitled to any grant of land.
Of the eighty-eight battalions ordered to be raised, Massachusetts was required to furnish fifteen.
1777 .- Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety : Lt. David Hitchcock, Tho. Wheeler, Daniel Watson, Capt. Joseph Chadwick, Onesiph. Ayres, Lt. Jona. Bond, Capt. Ithamar Wright, Capt. Ezek! Olds, Dea. Jabez Crosby.
List of Brookfield men that enlisted in 1777, For the War; Thomas Briggs, Abner Cutler, Cornelius Gilbert, Robert Hall, Reuben Hamilton, Barzillai Hayward, Daniel Keyes, Jona. Lampson, John Lydlea, Alex- ander Oliver, Elijah Pollock, Jeduthan Wait, William Wait, Nehemiah Ward, Joshua Winter.
List of Brookfield men that enlisted in 1777, For Three Years ; William Adams, Jason Allen, Joel Babbitt, Samuel Babbitt, Daniel Barns, Solo. Bartlett, Joseph Bartlett, Jarib Bacon, Moses Bedunah, John Bowker, Samuel Bunn, Elijah Calley, Charles Casey, Hezekiah Cutting, Antipas Dodge, Thomas Dodge, John Eveleth, Elisha Foster, Benj. Gil- bert, Henry Gilbert, Jedediah Gilbert, Joel Gilbert, Thomas Gilbert, John Hayward, Benj. Hill, James Hill, Joseph Hamilton, John Holden, John Hopkins, Joseph Green, Zachariah Green, Elijah Harrington, John Hubbard, Samuel Lancaster, Isaac Lackey, Abner Lazell, Benj. Lynde, Joseph Marble, Jonas Newton, Joseph Newell, Abner Old, Jonathan
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THE REVOLUTION.
Owen, Joseph Olmstead, Jesse Parker, Ephraim Potter, Robena, negro Lemuel Ross, John Smith, Asahel Stearns, Gad Smith, Gershom Whit- ney, Gershom Whitney, Jr., Hezekiah Whitney, Israel Whitney, Eleazar Whitney, Elias Witt, Jonathan Witt, Lemuel Ward, John Warren, Caleb Willis, Jona. Willis, Eli Wood, Joseph Wood, Thomas Wood, Timothy Woolcott.
A considerable number of these men were from other towns, and were hired by our citizens. They were sent to the front and distributed to different regiments and brigades, mostly on the North River.
The raising of so many Three Years men temporarily relieved the pressure of calls.
This year is memorable for The Bennington Alarm, following the sur- render of Ticonderoga to Gen. Burgoyne, July 5 ; and for the battles of Stillwater, and Saratoga, and the surrender of Burgoyne, Oct. 17.
The following Brookfield men from Capt. Ebenezer Newell's Co., enlisted into the Continental service this year : Ebenezer Bacon, Benj. G. Ball, Joseph Ball, Phinehas Bowman, Thomas Hall alias Boyd, John Burk, Thomas Cole, Jacob H. Deland, Abraham Hair, Philip Haskell, John Herrick, Josiah Hincher, Amos Leonard, Thomas Madden, Joseph Owen, Mirick Rice, Robert Richmond, Jr., William White.
Capt. Daniel Gilbert commanded a Co. from Brookfield and Western, in service at Bennington and Half Moon, July 13, to Sept. 2. Brookfield men : Serg's Wm Hincher, Nich. McClure, John Gilbert ; privates, Philip Allen, John Ayres, Joshua Barns, Wm Barns, Benj. Batcheller, Josiah Blanchard, David Clark, Reuben Dodge, Jude Foster, Zadock Gilbert, Peter Hill, Silas How, Asa Humphrey, Daniel Newell, Comfort Old, Abner Perry, Amos Rice, Elisha Rice, Jason Rice, Joseph Richardson, James Ross, Phinehas Stevens, Wm Stone, Joshua Tyler, John Waite, Thomas Wedge, James Wood, John Wright.
In August, 16 men went from Brookfield on an expedition to Provi- dence, R.I. Names not found.
Col. Rufus Putnam was in command of the 5th Mass. Regiment, and took an important part in the campaign this year. He was with Gen. Gates, and distinguished himself at the battle of Stillwater, and the series of movements which followed.
A Pay Abstract of a Company of Volunteers under the command of Capt. Asa Danforth who marched from Brookfield Sept 23, 1777, - to join the army under the command of Genl Gates, and took part in the Battle of Saratoga, Oct. 7.
NAMES.
TIME OF SERVICE.
NAMES.
TIME OF SERVICE.
Capt. Asa Danforth
31 days
Lieut Jonas Brigham 31 days
Lieut James Hathway
22
Sergt. Peregrine Foster 3I
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BROOKFIELD RECORDS, 1718-1786.
TIME OF SERVICE.
NAMES.
TIME OF SERVICE.
NAMES.
Sergt. Amos Adams
22 days.
Jeremh Streeter
22 days.
Abm Adams
22
Benj. Howard
22
Obadiah Rice
22
Saml. Green
22
Corp. Joseph Richardson 22 66
John Wade
22
66
Ruben Gill
22
Thos. Sumner
22
66
Jude Adams
22
Wm. Hamilton
22
Jesse Banister
3I
James Washburn
22
66
Nathan Hamilton
I6
Peter Washburn
22
Phins Uphamn
31
Richard Willington
20
John Gilbert
31
Daniel Walker
22
John Gilbert 4th
31
John Hamilton
3I
Benj. Gilbert
22
Dan1. Bullard
3I
Benj. Walker
22
66
Adoniram Walker
22
Silas Stone
22
Ephm Cooley
22
Abner Perry
3I
66
Gad Williston
31
Asa Gilbert
22
Jona. Snow
22
66
Ebenezer Bartlet
22
Jona. Abbott
22
Philip Allen
22
66
John Linds
20
Samuel Gilbert
22
66
John Waite
31
Jesse Hamilton
22
66
Gersham Makepeace
3I
Rufus Hamilton
20
John Hobbs
20
Jonat. Danforth
3I
66
Elisha Hamilton
22
Josiah Cary
22
66
Josiah Hamilton
20
Thos. Ranger
22
66
Samuel Owen
I6
Thos. Marsh
I3
Jason Walker
22
Benj. Adams
13
66
Nathan Whitney
22
Benj. Barret
I3
Elisha Brigham
22
Daniel Watson
IO
Daniel Newell
31
Jonª Barns
22
66
Obedh. Wright
22
Jacob Kent
22
66
John Allen
22
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Friday, Oct. 31. One division of Burgoyne's surrendered army, under escort of Gen. James Brickett, on the march to Cambridge, halted for the night in Brookfield.
Nov. The town appointed a Committee of nine, with instructions "to provide for the families of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers that are now in the Continental Army." A similar vote was passed in I 778, and 1779.
1778 .- This year, Col. Rufus Putnam superintended the construction of the fortifications at West Point. After the surprise at Stony Point, he was appointed to the command of a regiment in Wayne's brigade, and served to the end of the campaign.
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THE REVOLUTION.
Capt. Peter Harwood, who had followed the fortunes of the war thus far, was promoted to the rank of major in the Continental army, in Col. Thomas Nixon's regiment, Sept. 29.
Capt. Daniel Gilbert, Capt. Ebenezer Newell, and Capt. Asa Danforth, with their companies continued in the service ; but their pay-rolls have not been found.
Feb. 3, an Order was passed by the General Court, requiring each town to return a List of the male inhabitants from 16 years old and up- wards, liable to do military duty ; and also a list of the men then engaged in the Continental Service. The return from Brookfield was : No. of male inhabitants liable to do military duty, 656 whites, and 9 negro slaves ; one-seventh part of which is 95 : No. of men in the service, 95 ; No. wanting to fill our quota, o.
Each of the three Precincts in Brookfield appears to have assumed the labor and expense of furnishing its proper quota of soldiers, in answer to the calls this year.
In Feb., 14 men went on an expedition to R.I.
Apr. 20. The General Court ordered levies of 1,300 men to for- tify North River ; 200 men for Rhode Island; and 2,000 men for 9 months service in the army, to rendezvous at Fishkill. The Second Precinct voted to raise the men called for ; and paid bounties as follows : For Capt. Daniel Gilbert's Co., now in the field, 3 Continental soldiers viz. Barnabas Potter, Wm Barns, Nathan Barns, to whom we gave £100 per man, and the use of a blanket. To the Militia men, viz. Thomas Bacon and Jona. Wyman, £70 each, and a blanket, and to be exempt from the Rate for paying the same. For Capt. Ebenr Newell's Co. now in the field, 4 men, viz. Wm Gill, John Gill, David Chamberlain and Jude Stevens, Continentals, froo each, and a blanket. To the Militia men, viz. Robert Graham and John Sabins, £70 each, and a blanket, and exemption from this Rate.
Voted, to raise £988. 8, to defray the expense of hiring the Conti- nental and Militia men lately enlisted.
At the same time the West Parish raised for Capt. Asa Danforth's Co., 9 mos. service at Fishkill, Wm Beals, Wm Clapp, Joshua Dodge, Jr., Samuel Gilbert and James Ross.
The Third Precinct raised for the same service, Silas Newton, Wm Peso, Daniel Wait, Jason Rice and Levi Rice.
May 25. At a town meeting called to consider the proposed Form of Government, twenty voted aye, and eighty-four no.
Capt. Francis Stone was in command of a New Braintree Co. in the Continental service this year.
John Wait was agent for receiving clothing for the Continental soldiers, in August, and sent a supply to the army at Valley Forge.
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BROOKFIELD RECORDS, 1718-1786.
In Sept., 29 men were sent to Fishkill and Peekskill ; kind of service unknown.
In June, committees were raised in the several Precincts "To adjust the Average of service done in the War to date, and the charges that have arisen since the 15 battalions were raised."
No Report is preserved in the State Archives, of the results of this inquiry and adjustment, except in the case of the Third Precinct, where Jona. King, chairman, reported June 30 : "We find that the whole ser- vice is equal to 5} months to each single poll in said Precinct. We reckon 3 months service at Roxbury and R.I. only equal to 2 months at the Northward and Westward ; and also in the Guards in said town only equal to one-third at the Northward, Westward and Southward. We also allow £10 paid at the time of raising the Continental men to be equal to one year's service." In the total of 193 men in this Pre- cinct, liable to do military duty, only 26 have no credit for service or money. Among the larger credits are the following : Abram Adams, Jr. Ilg mos., Amos Adams, 16 mos., Jesse Adams, 172 mos., Tilly Brigham, 13} mos., Elisha Brigham, 12} mos., Solo. Banister, 92 mos., Seth Ban- ister, 19 mos., Obad. Cooley, 11} mos., Ephm Cooley, 14} mos., Francis Foxcroft, 9 mos., Amos Hamilton, 16% mos., Nathan Hamilton, Jr. 10} mos., Josiah Hobbs, 11 mos., Ephm Harrington, 9 mos., Jabez Crosby, 132 mos., Wm Old, 9 mos., Benj. Jennings, Jr. 16} mos., Jona. King, 15 mos., Jonas Newton, 17 mos., Daniel Newell, 13 mos., John Old, 14 mos., Wm Old, Jr. 11g mos., Joseph Olmstead, 16§ mos., Asahel Peters, Elnathan Rice, 92 mos., Solo. Rice, 10} mos., Phinehas Slayton, 1 13 mos., Phinehas Upham, 15 mos., Benj. Walker, 143 mos., Abram Walker, II{ mos., Nathan Whiting, Jr. 17 mos., Solo. Walker, 17 mos., Jason Walker, 13} mos., Gad Williston, 92 mos., Solo. Woolcott, 16 mos.
THE SPOONER MURDER. - The dark episode of the year in Brookfield, was this unnatural murder, which startled the whole community, and became noted in the criminal annals of the state.
The Spooner house stood on the north side of the old stage road, a half-mile east of Brookfield meeting-house, near where the road to North Brookfield centre strikes off.
The family of Joshua Spooner consisted of himself, his wife Bathsheba [Ruggles, dau. of Gen. Timothy, of Hardwick] aged 32, three children, one son and two daughters, one male and two female servants. There had also been for some time, three men, either transient or constant inmates of the house, viz. Ezra Ross, a youth of 18, an ex-soldier in the American army, from Ipswich, and James Buchanan and William Brooks, formerly British soldiers of Burgoyne's army.
The evidence, and the confessions of the prisoners showed that the murder was planned and instigated by Mrs. Spooner.
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THE SPOONER MURDER.
On the evening of March 1, 1778, Mr. S., returning from Cooley's tavern, not far distant, about 9 o'clock, when near his own door, was struck down by Brooks, Buchanan and Ross being present, and his body taken up by the three and thrown into the well. After the deed was done, the three men went into the house, where Mrs. S. distributed among them her husband's clothing and a considerable sum of money, as the reward of their work.
The case was tried at the April term of the court in Worcester. The judges were, C. J. William Cushing, Jedediah Foster, Nath1 P. Sargent, David Sewall and James Sullivan, associate justices. Robt. T. Paine was state's attorney ; Levi Lincoln was assigned as counsel for the prisoners. The fact of killing was admitted ; and the effort of defendants' counsel was to bring out the degree of responsibility of the parties accused. In regard to Mrs. Spooner, Mr. Lincoln's main point was, that she was a person of unsound, or distracted mind - as proved by the history of the case itself, which he rehearsed in detail. The jury returned a verdict of guilty as to each of the prisoners ; and they were sentenced to be exe- cuted on Thursday, June 4. By the efforts of Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty of Worcester, the Council granted a respite of one month, largely on the ground that "the unhappy woman declares she is several months advanced in her pregnancy." A jury, consisting of two men midwives and 12 matrons was summoned, who after examination, reported that " the prisoner was not quick with child " (tho' it was proved after death, that her statement was true). The execution took place at Worcester, July 2. "Just before they reached the gallows, one of the most terrific thunderstorms that had occurred within the memory of any one living, came up, and darkened the heavens, and all together conspired to pro- duce a scene of most dreadful horror in the minds of the throng of 5,000 people assembled to witness the spectacle."
1779 .- Jan. 14. The selectmen of Brookfield furnished clothing for the army, 95 shirts, at 235 pounds, 16 shill. ; 95 prs. shoes, at 256. 10; 95 prs. stockings, at 156. 15.
Pay Roll of a squad of Volunteers enlisted from Capt. Nathan Ham- ilton's Co. in Third Precinct of Brookfield, to guard Magazine stores at B. in charge of Samuel Webb, and conduct them to Providence - Jan. I, to Feb. 12 : Lieut. Joseph Olmstead, Sergt. Jesse Abbott, Corps. Solo. Banister, Jonas Newton, Josiah Hamilton, Privates, Nahum Davis, Simeon Wright, Wm Old, Daniel Upham, Silas Bridges, Benj. Forbush, Oliver Walker, Nathan Rice, Joel Jennings, Gershom Jennings, Erastus Hamilton, Joseph Hamilton, Nathaniel Hamilton, Thomas Hincher, Simon Rice. The selectmen were allowed 48 pounds for the mileage of the above men, 96 miles at 6d. per mile.
The " Magazine " referred to was probably the Powder House, a
240
BROOKFIELD RECORDS, 1718-1786.
brick structure 10 feet in diameter, built in 1770, which stood near the town pound.1
Feb. 16. Mr. John Wait was allowed 611 pounds, 125. 6d. for clothing procured and sent to the army.
Brookfield men in Capt. Christ. Marshall's Co. 1779.
Joseph Barrett,
age, 19
Peter Bowen,
age, 43
Josiah Cutler,
19
Joshua Gross,
23
Silas Hamilton,
"
17 Jacob Harrington, 66 I 7
Nathaniel Sabin,
17 |Abner Witt,
23
Aug. 12. Under the requisition for teams to transport stores, John Wait is credited with 125 pounds, 4 shill. for 85 miles ; Rufus Hamilton, £142. 18. 6, for 97 miles ; Adoniram Walker, £122. 5, for 85 miles ; Asa Gilbert, £124. 10. for 83 miles.
A petition of Maj. Peter Harwood, dated Boston, Aug. 10, 1779, states : " I have served as an officer in the army ever since the war began ; the two first years was a captain ; Jan. 10, 1777, was appointed major in General J. Nixon's brigade ; when the Honb) Congress resolved that the staff of the army should be of the Line, I was recommended by Maj. Gen. Lincoln, Brig. Generals Nixon and Patterson to the Commit- tee of Congress which sett last August at White Plains for the purpose of settling rank in the army, that I might have my rank in the Line ; and I was accordingly commissioned Sept. 29, 1778, and assigned the place of 10th Major in the Mass. Line, Light Infantry, Gen. Nixon's brigade ; " and asks for pay and allowance. £300 was granted him. He continued in service till Oct. 16, 1680, when he resigned, and received an honorable discharge.
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