USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Pelham > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 31
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Prescott > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 31
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
A minute roll of the company under the command of Capt. David Cowden in Col. Benj'm Ruggles Woodbridge's regiment :
Pelham Men's Names.
Rank.
Time of Service. Weeks. Days.
Whole Amount Paid.
David Cowden,
I
4
2 -- 6 -- 4-3
James Taylor,
Capt. Ensign
2
3
2-16-10
Ebenezer Gray,
Sargent
I
4
18-10-I
Thomas Johnson,
Corporal
I
4
17 -- 3-I
Timothy Rice,
Private
2
3
I-18 -- 7-2
James Barns,
66
2
3
60
Isaac Bennett,
66
66
66
66
Wm. Fergerson,
66
66
66
66
66
John Hood,
66
William Hunter,
James Hill,
16
66
66
66
66
66
John McKee,
66
66
66
66
66
66
James Patterson,
66
66
66
- 66
Joseph Ranken,
66
66
60
66
66
Samuel Rush,
66
66
66
66
66
66
Robert Salfrage,
John White,
66
66
66
Total,
23 --- 7-II-I
66
66
66
66
66
66
66
John Killogg,
66
66
66
66
66
15-8-2
John Alexander,
I
4
.6
66
James Harkness,
66
66
66
66
S d Far.
347
PELHAM IN THE WARS.
Time of service from April 19, 1775.
A muster roll of the company under command of Capt. David Cowden in Col. Benj. Ruggles Woodbridge's regiment to the first of August, 1775, has the following additional names of Pelham men :
James McCulloch, William Gray,
William Hays,
William Haskins,
Joshua Conkey, drummer,
John Hamilton,
Silas Conkey, fifer,
Daniel Hathaway,
Ethanon Cowing,
John Kelley,
John Cowden,
John McCartney,
James Fergerson,
John White, Jun.
David Gilmore,
These were from enlistments in May and July mostly, most of the men having served more than three months.
A return of Capt. Cowden's company was made Sept. 28, 1775 from a point near Prospect Hill, shows all the above names save those of James McCulloch, David Gilmore, John Hamilton, Joshua Conkey and Silas Conkey, but with the addition of Adam Patterson and David Green. The absence of Joshua and Silas Conkey, drum- mer and fifer, respectively, may be because of their transfer to some other company or regiment as musicians.
Robert Salfrage or Selfridge, enlisted at the Lexington alarm as it is probable all of Capt. Cowden's original company did. He was a son of Edward Selfridge who died in Pelham in 1761, and Robert, a minor son, was placed under the guardianship of John Dick until he became of age. His service under his first enlistment was for eleven days. An order for Bounty Coat was dated at Prospect Hill, now Somerville, Nov. 13, 1775 and made payable to Capt. Cowden. He enlisted for another term of service Aug. 17, 1777 and is reported as discharged Aug. 20 of that year. He marched on alarm at Benning- ton. Sept. 23, 1777, he enlisted in Capt. John Thompson's com- pany, Col. Porter's regiment, and was discharged Oct. 17, after a service of one month and a day. He marched on alarm to rein- force the Northern army under Gen. Gates.
Robert Selfridge was the only man of the name that served in the Revolutionary war from Massachusetts. The surname is spelled Selfridge, Selfridg, Selfrage, Sulfrage, Salfrage, Salfridg. Sometime after the close of the war he removed to Argyle, Washington county, New York.
A muster roll of the company under Capt. Isaac Gray in Col. Jonathan Brewer's regiment to Aug. 1, 1775.
348
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
Isaac Gray, captain,
John Donoley, private,
John McLem, serg't,
Robert Gray, private,
Thomas McMullen, serg't, Andrew McGray, private,
Alexander Conkey, corp.,
John Thurston, private,
Wm. Crossett, corp.,
Zebulon Richmond, private,
James Abercrombie, private,
Bartlett Robinson, private,
David Abercrombie, private,
Thomas Thompson, private,
James Barnes, private,
Elijah Wilson, private,
James Baker, private,
Amos Whitney, private,
Alexander Conkey, private,
Jacob Conkey, private.
These men enlisted May I, term of service three months and eight days, miles travelled 80, pay 6s-8d at one penny per mile.
In a muster roll of the Eighth regiment of the Continental Army at Dorchester commanded by John Fellows, the name of Timothy Rice of Pelham appears and the only one from that town on the roll, and the record shows that Rice went to Quebec with the Company to which he belonged ; no date is given.
In a roll of Captain Coburn's company of Colonel Bridge's regi- ment dated Sept. 26, 1775, appears the name of Gardner Gould of Pelham.
William Haskins of Pelham was serving in Capt. Ezra Badlam's company of Colonel Gridley's regiment Oct. 8, 1775.
At a town meeting in Pelham Dec. 31, 1776, Abizer Edson and Andrew Abercrombie were chosen assessors, "In room of John Hamilton and James Caldwell McMullen Gone to the War." Ham- ilton's name appears on the muster rolls but that of James Caldwell McMullen does not though he probably was in the service.
A return of Capt. William Todd's company in. Col. Crafts regi- ment of Artillery in Boston, Nov. 30, 1776, shows that David Sloan was in service in that company and drew pay for 83 miles' travel to his home in Pelham.
An abstract of the Travel of Company commanded by Cap't. Reuben Dickinson of Amherst-Col. Woodbridge's regiment, to Ticonderoga and from thence home.
One penny per mile per day, one day for 20 miles-in year 1776.
Daniel Shays, serg't. John Robinson, private,
Alexander McCulloch, serg't, John Crossett, private,
David Cowden, lieutenant, James Baker, private,
Silas Conkey, fifer,
Wm. Gillmore, private,
John Crafford,private,
Jacob Conkey, private,
Thomas Hamilton, private, . Thomas Montgomery, private, George Elliot, private, John Cochran, private,
David Abercrombie, private,
Thomas Johnston, private,
John Kelley, private,
Dinnis Charlton, private,
Wm. Haskins, private,
James McCotton, private,
Wm. Blare, private,
James Abercrombie,
John Donnelly, private.
PELHAM IN THE WARS.
349
Number of miles, 307, I penny per mile, £1-55-7d, 1 day for 20 miles, £2-6s-od-Ifar, average per man, £1-5s-7d, average amount for the whole, per man, £2-6s-od-ıfar.
Very little can be learned of the militia companies of Pelham pre- vious to the Revolution or later, as no records have been found up to this writing to give light upon the make up of militia companies. A document dated South Hadley, March 16, 1776, and containing a record of election of officers for militia companies as the law directs, in the towns of South Hadley, Granby, Greenwich and Pelham the following officers were elected for the Pelham company : John Thompson, captain ; James Halbert, Ist lieut .; John Hamilton, 2d lieut.
Muster Roll of Cap't. Oliver Lyman's company, in Col. Dike's regiment, 3 months to March, 1777, had two Pelham men on it. William Berry, Corp'l,
James Harkness.
No. miles, 90, I penny per mile, 75-6d, wages travelling home at 28 miles per day, 7s-Id, whole amount, 14S-7d, time in service, 7 days.
Company marched to East Hoosick on the alarm of August 17th. Cap't Oliver Lyman made oath to the above before Jabez Fisher, Justice Peace.
" AMHERST, MAY 15, 1778.
A return of men procured by Capt. Eli Parker to serve in the Continental Army.
Nehemiah Dunbar Pelham, enlisted or hired for the town of Amherst served under Capt. Maxwell-Col. Bangliss,-time of engament 8 months, time ends Decem 1778.
Enlisted for state of Massachusetts Bay."
List of men mustered in the Continental Army for nine months services from the County of Hampshire in the State of Massachusetts.
Pelham Men.
Age.
Height.
Color of Hair.
Regiment.
Company.
Hugh Johnson,
50
5 ft. 9 in.
Brown
Col. Porter's Capt. Thomson's.
James Hill,
49
5 ft. 9 in.
James Cammel,
33
5 ft. 8 in.
66
John Cowden, Amos Gray,
35
5 ft. 10 in.
Dark Brown
66
66
16
5 ft. 6 in.
66
66
" South Hadley, June 17, 1778.
MR. JOHNSON .- SIR : You are Hereby directed to march the men com- mitted to your care the directest Road & with convenient dispatch to Fish-
24
350
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
kill and deliver them together and not suffer them to do any damage to any of the Inhabitants of Towns through which they may March, and they are hereby directed to obey your orders on their March.
NOAH GOODMAN, Superintendant for the County of Hampshire. 12 Men in Squad : Leverett 2, So. Hadley I, Granby I, Hatfield I, Ches- terfield I, Northampton I, Pelham 5-12."
In a list of men raised in the several Counties in the state of Massachusetts Bay for the purpose of completing the fifteen battalions of Continental troops to be raised in the state for the period of Nine Months from the time of their arrival, agreeable to the resolve of April 6, 1778, the name of James Camble of Pelham is enrolled. It may be intended for Campbell.
The return of militia of Hampshire County who were drafted to march to Horse Neck under the command of Col. Sam'l How, that did not join the regiment, has the name of of Wm. McMullen of Pel- ham. He was in Cap't Thompson's company.
There were enlistments of men for short terms of service, three, six and perhaps eight months, and the dates are sometime omitted ; among them we find a list of Pelham men-the date is indistinct and the record torn,-we copy all that it was possible to make out and the list follows :
Age.
Stature.
Complexion.
Isaac Bennett,
2I
5 ft .- II in.
Ruddy
Charles Handy,
2I
6 ft .-
Dark
James Baker,
33
5 ft .--- 9 in.
Ruddy
Samuel Abercrombie,
18
5 ft .-- 9 in.
66
John Hamilton,
18
5 ft .-- 9 in.
Andrew McGray,
2I
5 ft .- Io in.
Dark Ruddy
In 1779, the following Pelham men were in Col. Moseley's regi- ment and Capt. Fowler's company serving on the Tours quota :
William McMullen,
David McMullen,
Joseph Gray, Alexander McCulloch,
Joel Winship,
John Dart.
Peter King,
In the list of men received for nine months' service from Noah Goodman, Esq., superintendent for Hampshire county June 9, 1779, are the names of Pelham men as follows :
Age.
Age.
Daniel Ranham, black,
19
Nehemiah Dunbar, brown, 17
Reuben Hollan, brown, 19
Nathan Richards, brown, 17
Josiah Dunbar, light, 18
35I
PELHAM IN THE WARS.
Col. Porter's regiment ; Captain Thompson's company.
Descriptive list of men engaged to reinforce the Continental Army for eight months agreeable to the resolve passed June 9, 1779.
From Pelham.
Age.
Size.
Col. Porter's Regiment.
Capt. Thompson's Company.
Wm. McMullen,
26
6 ft .-
66
66
David McMullen,
17
6 ft .-
66
66
Joel Winship,
2I
5 ft .- 6 in.
Peter King,
22
5 ft .- 7 in.
Joseph Gray,
17
5 ft .- 6 in.
66
66
Alexander McCulloch,
16
5 ft .- 2 in.
66
66
John Pratt,
16
5 ft .- 4 in.
66
6.
All dark complexion.
Additional men mustered by Col. Elisha Porter, Aug. 10, 1780, and furnished by the town of Pelham's selectmen July 30.
Names.
Age.
Statue.
Complexion.
Samuel Thatcher,
63
5 ft .-- 6 in.
Dark
John Coffin,
58
5 ft .- 6 in.
66
James Conkey,
57
5 ft .-- 6 in.
James Hill,
44
5 ft-10 in.
66
Lamnen Gray,
27
5 ft .- 10 in.
66
In the company of Captain Dwight of Belchertown were the fol- lowing Pelham men by record made June 22, 1780.
Names.
Age.
Size.
Complexion.
Wm. McFall.
67
5 ft .-- 7 in.
Dark
Christopher Stevenson,
28
5 ft .- II in.
66
Benjamin Edson,
21
5 ft .- II in.
Light
James Cowan,
19
5 ft .- II in.
Eziah Baker,
16
4 ft .- 10 in.
Howard Alden,
19
5 ft .-- 4 in.
Micah Pratt,
22
5 ft .- 10 in.
66
John Stevens,
16
5 ft .-
66
Jonathan Ingraham,
2I
5 ft .-- 6 in.
66
The eleventh division of six months men marched from Spring- field under or with Ensign Bancroft, July 11, 1780, and George Hacket of Pelham was on the rolls, probably as a private.
The 29th division of six months men marched from Springfield July 26, 1780, and Joel Winship of Pelham, 21 years old and of ruddy complexion marched with them.
In the 4Ist division of six months' men who marched from Spring- field Oct. 26, 1780 under Lieut. Cary was Peter King of Pelham,- light complexion, 5 ft. 10 in. in height.
60
-
352
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
The 39th division of six months' men marched from Springfield under Ensign Simonds Sept. 7, 1780. In it was William Baldwin of Pelham, described as of dark complexion, 5 ft. 8 in. high and 30 years old.
John Harkness of Pelham, 20 years old, 5 ft. 11 in. high and dark complexion, marched from Springfield with the 40th division of six months' men October 1780.
According to a Resolve of the General Court, Oct. 5, 1781, empowering the selectmen to make out pay rolls for the six months from the year 1780, the following roll was submitted :
John Hamilton marched to camp June 25 ; discharged Dec. 25. Steven Perin, marched to camp Aug. 7 ; discharged Feb. 7. Peter King, marched to camp Aug. 2 ; discharged Feb. 2. Charles Kundy, marched to camp, June 31 ; discharged Dec. 31. John Hacket, marched to camp June 6; discharged Dec. 6. Abner Smith, marched to camp July 30 ; discharged Jan. 30. Seth Wood, marched to camp July 10 ; discharged Jan. 10. George Hacket, marched to camp July 10; discharged Jan. 10. John Harkness, marched to camp Sept. 20; discharged Dec. 15. James Baker, marched to camp June 25 ; discharged Dec. 25. Isaac Bennett, marched to camp June 25 ; discharged Dec. 25. Andrew McGray, marched to camp June 9 ; discharged Dec. 9. Samuel Abercrombie, marched to camp July 9; discharged Dec. 9. Amos Bran, marched to camp June 25 ; discharged Dec. 25. Joel Winship, supposed to be deserted.
Whole time of service, 6 months, 8 days; number of miles from home, 160 ; total amount of wages, £12-105-8d.
The original sworn to before William Conkey, town clerk.
From record of town meeting at Pelham, March 1783 : " Voted to Amos Bran thirty pounds for his serving the town as a soldier in the war for three years or during the war .- Abram Livermore, In behalf of the Selectmen."
Pay-roll for the wages and traveling allowance of Capt. Oliver Coney's company, Colonel Sears' regiment of levies raised for the Continental service for three months. Captain Coney was from Ware. Men from Pelham :
Joshua Conkey, Ezekiel Conkey,
Samuel Crossett, Cato Dansett, John McKlurn.
Daniel Sampson,
Edward Brown,
These men enlisted Aug. 12, 1781 and were discharged Nov. 15. Pay, £6-35-4d.
353
PELHAM IN THE WARS.
A return of men belonging to the town of Pelham in the Conti- nental Army for three years or during the war, January 1781.
Robert Conkey, enlisted Jan. 30., 1777 ; enlisted by Lieut. Taylor in 2d Mass. regiment, Capt. Drew's company.
George Eliot, enlisted Mar. 15, 1780; enlisted by Lieut. Taylor in 2d Mass. regiment, Capt. Alden's company.
Nehemiah Dunbar, enlisted Mar. 15, 1780; enlisted by Lieut. Taylor in 2d Mass. regiment, Capt. Alden's company.
Nathaniel Richmond, enlisted Dec. '79 ; enlisted by Capt. Howard in 2d Mass. regiment Capt. Alden's company.
Amos Bryant, enlisted Jan. 13, '81 ; enlisted by Col. Greaton in 3d Mass. regiment, Capt. Alden's company.
Wm. Haskins, enlisted Nov. 12, '79; enlisted by Lt .- Col. Newhall in 5th Mass. regiment, Capt. Trotter's company.
John Pratt, enlisted Nov. 23, '79; enlisted by Calvin Sawyer in 5th Mass. regiment, Capt. Trotter's company.
Dan'l McDaniel enlisted May '79; enlisted by Lt. Lunt in 7th Mass. regi- ment, Capt. Trotter's company.
A list bearing date 1781 has the following names of Pelham men :
Bartlett Robinson, time of engagement Mar. 27, age 28, complexion dark, stature 6 ft. 3in., occupation farmer.
Abijah Bruce, time of engagement Mar. 27, age 45, complexion dark, stature 5 ft. 7 in., occupation farmer.
Joseph Ganson, time of engagement April 11, age 20, complexion light, stature, 5 ft. 10 in., occupation farmer.
Joseph Lamb, time of engagement April 6, age 18, complexion light, stature 5 ft. 5 in., occupation farmer.
Isaac Bennett, time of engagement April 20, age 22, complexion light, stature 5 ft. 10 in., occupation farmer.
James Hill, time of engagement May 15, age 48, complexion light, stature 5 ft. II in., occupation farmer.
Wm. Cando, time of engagement April 27, age 27, complexion black, stature 5 ft. 5 in., occupation farmer.
James Baker, time of engagement May 15, age 24, complexion light, stature 5 ft. 4 in., occupation farmer.
John Atkinson, time of engagement May 14, age 46, complexion light, stature 5 ft., occupation farmer.
Ebenezer Searls, time of engagement April 10, age 32, complexion light stature 6 ft. 2 in., occupation doctor.
These men enlisted for three years.
" PELHAM, APRIL 5, 1781.
This may certify that the subscribers have Inlisted to serve Three years in the Continental Service for the town of Pelham & also we have Rec'd
354
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
Ninety Pounds in hard money as a hire for sd service-We say received by us,
JAMES BAKER, ABIJAH BRUCE, JOSEPH LAMB, JOSEPH GANSON, ISAAC BENNETT."
James Baker was discharged by Gen. Washington, June 9, 1783, Baker having procured a man to serve in his place.
" In obedience to the General Court Act of Dec 1780 we have raised & marched the quota of men sent for according to the Schedule in sd order and these are the names of the men raised as folows with the sum annexed to each mans name Given to him as Hier or Bounty in Hard Money.
Abijah Bruce £90, James Baker £90, Joseph Ganson £90, Isaac Bennett £90, David Cowden £98-8s, Bartlett Robinson £90, 'Ebeneser Sarls £80. Whole amount £686-8s-o.
This to certify that the Selectmen appeared before me and gave oath to this return.
EBENEZER GRAY, Town Clerk. Pelham, Jan. 12, 1781."
" PELHAM, APRIL 18, 1781.
Then Received of the class of Mr. Benjamin Edsons the sum of £78-8s for serving in the Continental Service for three years for said class.
I say Received by me,
DAVID COWDEN.
Receipts from Bartlett Robinson and Ebenezer Sarls for the money are on file."
Return of men enlisted or Drafted into the Continental Army from the Fourth battalion of militia in the county of Hampshire from Pelham.
Isaac Bennett, enlisted in Capt. Shay's company, Col. Putnam's battalion. Bartlett Robinson, enlisted in Capt. Shay's company, Col. Putnam's battalion. James McDaniel, enlisted in Capt. Shay's company, Col. Putnam's battalion. Jacob Turrell, enlisted in Capt. Shay's company, Col. Putnam's battalion. James Baker, enlisted in Capt. Shay's company, Col. Putnam's battalion. Job Ransom, enlisted in Capt. Maxwell's company, Col. Bayley's battalion. Robert Conkey, enlisted in Capt. Maxwell's company, Col. Bayley's battalion. Cato-Negro, enlisted in Capt. Maxwell's company, Col. Bayley's battalion. Daniel McDaniel, enlisted Capt. Day's company, Col. Alden's battalion.
James Conkey, enlisted in Capt. Millington's company, Col. Wigglesworth's battalion.
Joseph Rankin, enlisted in Capt. Maxwell's company, Col. Bayley's battalion. Patrick McMullen, enlisted in Capt. Maxwell's company, Col. Bayley's battalion.
William Conkey, enlisted in Capt. Maxwell's company, Col. Bayley's battalion.
John McRankin, enlisted in Capt. Maxwell's company, Col. Bayley's battalion.
John Prebble, enlisted in Capt. Maxwell's company, Col. Bayley's battalion.
355
PELHAM IN THE WARS.
No date to the above return. Moses Ransom was also in the ser- vice, but perhaps not in this battalion. These men enlisted from Capt. Thomas' company.
In a list of men without officers names, or date, but including men from Western Mass. the following list of men from Pelham are given :
Isaac Bennett, Joel Winship, John Hacket,
Charles Handy,
James Baker,
Amos Brand,
Samuel Abercrombie,
William Baldwin,
John Hamilton,
John Harkness, Seth Ward.
Andrew McGray,
The Surname, Abercrombie, is spelled variously on the old muster rolls, viz .: Abercrombie, Abercromney, Abecrombey, Abercumby, Abercrombee, Abercromby, Abicrombey, Abercrumbe, Abercrome, Crombe, Ebercrombie. The common pronunciation in Pelham 60 years ago was the same as though the name was spelled Crummy, the first two syllables (Aber) were dropped entirely except when written.
A muster roll to draw billiting money for a company of militia under the command of Capt. Elijah Dwight of Belchertown, which included the following Pelham men,-no date.
John Thompson, lieutenant, Abraham Livermore, Mathew Clark,
Asa McConkey, drummer,
Daniel Gray,
John Pebles,
James Crossett,
Adam Clark,
Eliot Gray,
Isaac Craford.
Elijah Dwight, captain. These men were paid I4s each for 168 miles travel at one penny per mile.
Capt. Joshua Parker's company, Col. Nathaniel Ward's regiment. At service in Rhode Island. No date :
James Harkness, corporal, Thomas Harlow, private,
Peter King, private, John Harkness, private.
Nathaniel Gray, father of "Cooper " John Gray, and grandfather of Horace Gray of Northampton and of Nathaniel Gray of San Fran- cisco, deceased, is said to have died in the service at 32 but in what company or regiment is not known.
PELHAM MEN IN THE WAR OF 1812.
The records of the service in the war of 1812 to 1815 are not easily accessible. On enquiring at the State House one is referred to Washington, D. C., and no satisfying results are obtained as a reward for diligent and painstaking effort at the capital.
356
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
Not very many Pelham men were called out for service in the war of 1812, and those who were called out did not see much active service. The few that were called marched from Pelham to Cambridge where they were in camp or quartered for some time. The writer used to listen to the tales some of those men told of their experience during the time they were serving their country while in camp at Cambridge and they were not tales of suffering and fatigue from long marches and other hard service, but rather of jolly times in camp while awaiting marching orders which never came. All returned home in a few weeks or months at most as there was no further need of men in active service.
One or two of these stories may not be out of place here. Leonard Ballou, one of the Pelham militia that was called out by the war of 1812, marched to Cambridge with others and was probably no worse than others in raiding the country along the line of march for sup- plies. Toward morning of one night of the march to Cambridge the crowing of a cock in a large apple tree near a farm house attracted the attention of some of the young men and a plan formed to get the rooster. It was pretty dark and not easy to see just where in the tree the bird was. Two cider barrels that were found under the tree were used by placing one on the top of the other, and Ballou was lifted to the top of the two barrels standing on end and he quietly waited for the rooster to crow again so that he might locate him. After awaiting in silence for some time the rooster started to crow again as in duty bound to usher in daylight in the east. The bird was within reach and Ballou seized him by the neck cutting off the clarion notes with a strangled sound caused by the grip, about its neck, of Ballou's right hand. In the effort made in seizing the rooster, the cider barrels canted sideways and Ballou and the barrels came to the ground, but he held fast to the rooster.
Uncle Eseck Cook, the Quaker, was a non-combatant in principle, but he took pity on young Ballou in being suddenly ordered to march to Cambridge, and loaned his long gray overcoat to him. Ballou accepted the offer of the coat and wore it when the weather demanded it and sometimes when it did not. The coat came down nearly to his ankles and was ample in size and Ballou found it very convenient and useful to hide an occasional fish from a peddlar's wagon that came to camp, when opportunity offered by the peddlar's attention being drawn aside. The folds of the long coat hid many things dur-
357
PELHAM IN THE WARS.
ing the stay at Cambridge and was returned to Uncle Eseck when the Pelham contingent arrived home, and young Ballou thanked him for the loan, at the same time telling how handy he found it to secrete things the soldiers needed. Uncle Eseck was thunder-struck, but his only remark was : " I think it would have been better if thee had not had the coat."
The following list of Pelham men is all we have been able to obtain of those who were called out at that time. There may have been more but the inability to reach the muster rolls makes it useless to claim a full and complete list. The names and rank were as follows :
Capt. John Taylor, and privates
Leonard Ballou,
John T. Conkey,
Sidney Hannum,
Grove W. Hannum,
Henry Hannum,
Luther Lincoln,
Luther Thompson,
James Smith,
Joseph Barrows.
Amasa Jillson,
Capt. John Taylor was in command on the march from Pelham to Boston.
THE MEXICAN WAR.
The Mexican war was not a long one and very few men from Massachusetts were called out for service then, and so far as can be learned no Pelham man saw service in Mexico.
RECORD OF PELHAM SOLDIERS IN THE REBELLION.
The record of the town in its contribution of men and means for the suppression of the great rebellion of 1861 to 1865 is an honor- able one. The population of the town in 1860 was 748 and the val- uation $162,635. The number of men between the ages of 18 and 45 on the rolls for military duty in 1861 was only 100. Seventy- five men were contributed to the great work of saving the country from destruction by those who had risen up in arms against it, and most of them by voluntary enlistment, or five more than the town was called upon to send.
In common with many other towns in the state it was found impossible to fill by enlistment the quotas of men called for by the state authorities with as much celerity as the need of men demanded, and there was a draft from the enrolled militia in 1863 of 20 men, a list of them being given in full. Of this number seven passed exami-
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