USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 208
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King William's War .- Middleboro' was required to furnish, per order of Aug. 14, 1689, one soldier and one musket, and soon after to raise the sum of fourteen pounds by taxation toward meeting the ex-
1 It stood between the road and the Nemasket River, upon a piece of land now owned by the heirs of the late Col. Peter H. Peirce.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
penses of the war. This tax was to be paid on or before the 25th day of November, 1689, one-third in money, one-third in grain, and one-third in beef and pork. The grain was to be received and credited as follows: Corn, two shillings per bushel; rye, two shillings and sixpence per bushel ; barley, two shil- lings, and wheat, four shillings per bushel ; beef, ten shillings per hundred ; and pork, twopence per pound.
1690, May 20. For an expedition to Albany, Middleboro' was required to furnish one soldier.
1690, June 5. Required to furnish three sol- diers for an expedition to Canada, and to raise, by taxation, toward meeting the expense, £21 16s. 6d.1
1690, Oct. 9. Thomas Thompson and James Soule were sentenced each to pay a fine of four pounds in money, and be imprisoned until said fines were paid, for refusing to obey the orders to them directed re- quiring them, as soldiers, to go upon the expedition to Canada.
That expedition sailed from Plymouth about noon, June 27, 1690. Two companies went from what was then Plymouth Colony, commanded by Capt. Joseph Sylvester, of Scituate, and Samuel Gallop, of Bristol, that was then the shire town of Bristol County in Plymouth Colony, but now in Rhode Island.
Governor Dummer's War, so called, that com- menced in 1722, and ended in 1725.
William Canedy, of Middleboro', served in this war as an ensign, and in the early part of 1723 was pro- moted to lieutenant, and while holding that commis- sion was intrusted with the command of a small fort that, upon the 25th of December, 1723, was attacked by the Indians; but the defense was conducted so meritoriously that the place was saved until reinforce- ments arrived and put the enemy to flight, and Lieut. Canedy, as an acknowledgment of his faithful ser- vices, was promoted to captain. The following are the names of persons composing his company, and who were in service in 1724, many of whom were Indians. The places of residence of these soldiers, both white men and Indians, are at this time unknown :
Commissioned Officers.
William Cenada, capt. Robert Stanford, ens. Benjamin Wright, lieut.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
Joseph Bowdin, sorgt. Richard Pomeroy, corp.
Joseph Studson, sergt. Joseph Braydon, eorp.
Joseph Meeds, sergt. John Olivor, eorp.
Benjamin Durfee, eorp.
1 Thus it appears that in 1690 the town was required to fur- nish four soldiors, and probably did provido two, and two re- fused to go, and wero punished by fino or imprisonment, and perhaps by both.
Privates.
John Attamon.
Henry Pesent.
Thomas T'ainor.
Josiah Crook.
Daniel Chislen.
Isaac Phillips.
Joshua Tripp.
Elisha Sachem.
Benjamin Solomon.
Peter Washonks.
Joel Daniel.
Joshua Hood.
John Pechue.
Samuel Copeluck.
John Pepeens.
Ned John.
Abraham Jones.
Josiah Popmemanock. Eliakim Quacom.
Joseph Wood.
Nehemiah Nahawamah.
Amos Stanks.
Abel Obcdiah.
Joshua Wicket.
James Queieh.
David Job.
Simon Tremmetuck.
Jacob Paul.
Thomas Daniel.
John Comshite.
Abel Tom.
Mose Peig.
Isaac Hassaway.
Tom Wily.
Eben Cushen.
Abel Blinks.
Job Mark.
Peter Dogamus.
Samuel Oliver.
John Boson.
John Quoy.
Roban Jenney.
The other roll bore the following names :
Commissioned Officers.
William Canedy, capt.
Stephen Whitaker, ens.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
Daniel Elenthorp, sergt.
Edward Bishop, corp.
Francis Punchard, corp.
Privates.
Peter Parrey. Philip Butler.
Thomas Lawrence. Daniel Ross.
Stephen Morrells. John Murphy.
John Norris. Josiah Meeds.
Benjamin Speen. Daniel Griffin.
John Church. Thomas Dan.
Jeremiah Belcher. John Pelkenton.
Elkanah Topmon. William Thomas.
Isaae Chamberlain.
William Kelley.
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The names of those men who served under Capt. William Canedy, as given above, were copied from pay-rolls still on file at the State-House in Boston.
The French and Indian War .- Capt. Benjamin Pratt, of Middleboro', led a company to and in the field in the French and Indian war. The names of the officers and private soldiers of Capt. Pratt's com- pany were as follows :
Commissioned Officers.
Benjamin Pratt, capt.
David Soars, 2d lieut.
Sylvester Richmond, lieut. Nelson Finnoy, ons.
Non-Commissioned Officers ..
Soth Tinkham, sorgt. Archippas Cole, corp.
Lemuel Harlow, sergt. Soth Billington, corp.
Silas Wood, sorgt. Jesse Snow, oorp.
Abiol Cole, sergt. John Millor, corp.
Musicians.
Porez Tinkham.
Jacob Tinkham.
blitt
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kep
John White.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.
Prirates.
Jacoh Allen.
John Harlow. Zuril Haskell.
Jesse Bryant.
Joseph Bent.
Jeremiah Jones.
Ahner Barrows.
Jeremiah Jones, Jr.
Ahner Barrows, Jr.
John Knowlton. James Littlejohn.
Isaac Bennett.
John Bennett.
Robert Makfun.
Samnel Bennett.
Thomas Miller.
Benjamin Barrows.
David Miller.
Abraham Barden.
Noah Morse.
William Barlow.
Jonathan Morse.
Eliakim Barlow.
Jacob Muxom.
John Barker.
Isaac Nye.
Perez Cohh.
Thomas Peirce.
Onesimns Campbell.
Joh Peirce.
Gideon Cohb.
Paul Pratt.
Gershom Cohb.
Francis Pomeroy.
William Cushman.
Samnel Pratt.
Peter Crapo.
Samuel Pratt, Jr.
Thomas Caswell.
Henry Richmond.
Jesse Curtis.
Nathan Richmond.
Ezekiel Curtis.
Moses Reding.
Counselor Chase.
Joh Richmond.
Jabez Doggett.
Noah Raymond.
Simeon Doggett.
Barnabas Sampson.
Ebenezer Dunham.
Jabez Sampson.
Adam David.
Elkanah Elmes.
Jacob Sampson. Obadiah Sampson. John Sampson.
John Elmes.
Jobn Ellis.
Crispus Shaw.
John Eaton.
Perez Shaw.
Asa French.
Zehadee Sears.
William Fuller.
Peleg Standish.
Simeon Fuller.
Robert Seekel.
Jedediah Holmes.
Benjamin Streeter.
Seth Tinkham, the first sergeant of this company, kept a diary, in which he entered,-
" MIDDLEBOROUGHI, May 29, 1758.
"We mett at Elijah Clapp's a Little after Sun Rise and Drawed up onr men into a body and calld the Roll, and then marched to Major Howard's, in Bridgewater, 7 miles.
"There went to dinner, and then we marched to Newcomb's, in Norton, and there overtook the cart that had our packs. There we staid all night and laid np chamber.
" 11 miles.
" May the 30. We marched by Sunrise to Lieut. Mann's, in Wrentham, 11 miles.
"There went to Dinner, and then we marched to Dr. Cor- bitt'a, in Bellingham, 10 miles, went to supper, After supper
" Mr. Hinds preached a sermon to us.
"There our cart overtook us.
"There we stayd.
" May the 31. We marched to Mr. Graves in Mendon, 3 miles, and there went to breakfast; and from there we marched to John Holland's, in Sntton, 15 miles; there went to supper.
" There the cart overtook us.
" June ye Ist. We staid at Holland's all day, because of ye Rain, and Mr. Hinds preached to us in Holland's barn."
This Mr. Hinds, then officiating as a chaplain, was probably Ebenezer Hinds, who was born in Bridge- water, July 29, 1719, and ordained pastor of the Second Calvinistic Baptist Church in Middleboro'
(that part of the town now Lakeville), Jan. 26, 1758.
" June ye 2. We Staid and Settled our Billiting Roll, and paid off several their hilliting money.
" In the afternoon we marched to Worcester, 4 miles, and there slept.
"June ye 3. We Mustered our men by eight o'clock in the morning, and drew up into a line with the Regiment, called over our roll, and then our company marched off.
"There our Capt. left us and went to Boston.
" I and Archippus Cole staid at Worcester untill next morn- + ing."
The regiment above referred to, of which this com- pany formed a part, was composed of ten companies, and the names of the several captains were James An- dres, Abel Keen, Benjamin Pratt, Samuel Knowles, Philip Walker, Gamaliel Bradford, Jonathan Eddy, Sylvanus Bourne, Josiah Thatcher, and Simeon Carey.
"June ye 4. On Sunday we two went after our Company. We marched to Lester, 4 miles, and there went to breakfast at Mr. Sergeants, from there we went to Spencer, and there went to meeting in forenoon; from there we marched to Rohert Clafton's, in Brookfield, 15} miles, and there went to supper and staid all night.
"June ye 5. We marched to James Nichols', 2 miles, and there we paid off all our billiting money. Two of our men, viz., Jessee Curtis and Jacoh Allen taken sick, and we left Jacob Tinkham to take care of them.
"Ensign Finney and I marched after our company, and went to breakfast at Mr. Cutler's, 2 miles, and overtook them upon Coy's hill, and I went by our Company along with Capt. Hodge's Company to Cold Spring, 12 miles from Cutler's.
" There I staid all night at Deacon Lyman's."
About three years later Cold Spring was incorpo- rated as a town, and named Belchertown,-date of incorporation, June 30, 1761. The Capt. Hodges was doubtless Joseph Hodges, of Norton, a son of Joseph Hodges, of that town, who, as a major, lost his life at the taking of the fortress of Louisburg, June, 1745. The son, Capt. Joseph Hodges, Jr., was killed in this French and Indian war.
"June ye 6th. I went to breakfast at Lyman's, and staid until our Company came up.
" Then we marched to Jonathan Graves in Cold Spring, 6 miles from Lyman's.
"There I hired Jabez Doggett to go back to git my coat, which was left where our Company staid last night at Scot's, 9 miles back, and I staid until he came back again.
"Then we two went on after our Company to Hadley, which was nine miles, and got there about ninc o'clock at night.
" June ye 7. We mustered our men to go over to Northamp- ton, but we did not go untill the afternoon ; then were all car- ried over and billited out upon the Province cost in Hampton Town, 2 mile.
" June ye 8. We staid waiting for orders.
" June ye 9. We drawed seven days' allowance to carry to Green Bush, and in the afternoon we marched and encamped in the woods.
"June ye 10. We marched to a Tavern in the woods and staid
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
untill the Regiment enme up, and then marched untill night ; then encamped, set out our Centrys, and went to sleep.
"June 11, Sunday. We marched till about noon through mnd and water, over hills and mountains, the worst way that ever was, and about 2 o'clock in the afternoon came up a thunder shower and wet us as wet as we could be.
" We marched a little further, and encamped and set our Centrys.
" John Bennett and Perez Cobb went baek 2 mile to feteh a sick man belonging to Capt. Ilodges, who was gone forward.
"June ye 12. We marched to Pautoosuck first; got there a little before night, mustered our men, and took 13 for Guard.
"June ye 13. I made a Return to our Adjutant, and then we marched to another fort and staid there a little while, and then we marcbed until night, and encamped with Capt. Hodges and Capt. Cary, and took 15 men for Guard that night.
"June ye 14. We marched to the half-way house, which was 30 miles, to the best of our judgment, from Northampton ; there we encamped.
" Took 6 men for Guard.
" June ye 15. We marched to Green Bush, '12 miles; from thence we went up the river 2 miles above Albany, and erossed sd River and encamped.
June ye 16, Friday. We drawed our allowanee of meat, flour, rice, and butter.
" At night took 3 men for Guard.
"June 17th, Saturday. We drawed our guns out of the stores and ammunition, tents in part.
" Took 3 men for guard.
"June ye 18, Sunday. We went to meeting in the forenoon, heard Mr. Hitcheock preach, and then prepared to mareh.
" I went up in a Battoe as far as Col. Schuyler's, and there staid all night. I was taken not well.
" June ye 19. We marched to the half moon.
" Good Travelling, but we had three Rivers to wade over.
" I was sick all day, but I made out to follow ye company.
"June ye 20. We muarched to about half way to the Stillwater, and encamped.
"Took 15 men for Guard.
" June ye 21. We marched to Stillwater, 15 miles, and encamped.
" Took 15 men for Guard.
" June ye 22. We marched to Saratoga, 14 miles, and en- eamped. Took 10 men for Guard, and I went on myself.
"June 23. We marched to Fort Miller; from there our Com- pany went in Battoes to fort Edward ; got there about sunset. " Took 8 men and a Corporal for Guard.
"June ye 24. We Drawed the Rest of our arms. Draughted out 7 men to go to fort Miller, and there to stay under the com- mand of Capt. Bourne.
"Took 12 men and a Sergt for Guard.
"June the 25, Sunday. We were alarmed by the Regulars, and Drawed Allowance for 7 days.
"Took 8 men for Guard and ye Ensign.
" June 26, Monday. Drawed 3 days' Allowance.
" Got our men ready to march.
" Took 8 men and a Sergt for Guard.
"June ye 27. We marehed to the half-way brook, 7 miles, pitehed tents, took 6 men and a Corp1 for Guard.
"June 28. We struck our tents about sunrise, and marched to Lake George. Got there about 12 o'clock, 7 miles. There we heard Cape Breton was taken. We pitched our tents in order. I bought a quarter of mutton and gave one dollar for it.
"June 29. I made Return of all the uien that had been in Seige, and all Carpenters and Masons. Took 4 men and a Sergt for the main Guard, and a Corp1 and 3 men to Guard the provoo.
"June the 30. We took ont a Lient. and 10 men to work upon the Block House and 3 for Gnard.
"Nathan Cary, of Capt. Cary's Company, was shot by acci- dent with a ball, which went through his body, but we hope he will gitt well.
"July 1. We took out 7 men to work on the Fort, and 3 for Guard, and received orders if any man was found a Gaming he should receive 300 Lashes Imediately.
"July 2d. Got my Gun mended, which cost mne half a dol- lar. Took out two of our inen, viz., Obadiah Sampson and Simeon Fuller, which were sick, and sent them down to Fort Edward in a waggon. Corp} Billington was taken very sick.
" July the 3. We drew up into a Rigament.
" Drawed out all those that would go in whale boats, and all of them received Cartouch Boxes and Tomhawks, and drawed allowance for 5 days in pork and flour and one of fresh beef.
" July 4th. The whale Boat men drawed up into a body, fired off all their pieces, then drawed 30 rounds a peice of powder and ball, then received orders to be ready to march next morn- ing at day-break.
"July 5. We Got into our whale boats before sunrise, and rowed off about a mile, and staid until Coll Bradstreet gave us orders to go forward.
"Col. Doty's Rigt went chiefly in whale boats.
" Each boat earried about 10 men, the battoes and the rest of our army followed with all our stores, and we went down the Lake as far as where Coll. Parker, had his fight last year. There we landed upon that point. See several men's bones lay there. Some of our men found a gun and several other things that was lost in the fight. From thence we rowed about a mile and stopped and eat some victuals, and staid till about seven o'clock at night, then we got out again and rowed all night.
"July 6. We stoped about a mile below the Advaneed Guard, aud staid untill the battoes came up, and then we in our wbale boats was ordered to row up and land, which we did, a little below the Guard without damage, although we was fired upon.
" We landed and ran up to an old breast work.
"Then we see the French striking their tents and running off.
" Major Rogers and his men ran over after them, and killed 2 or 3 of them.
" After the battoes were all landed, several Rigts of Regulars and Rangers, and some of our Provincials, marehed towards the Narrows, and met a party of French and Indians, and had a fight.
" We lost about 20 men, and took 130 prisoners.
" Lord Howe was killed that day, at night. They came into a breastwork that we had made a little below the advanced guard and slept.
"July ye 7. Coll. Doty's Rigt went out upon a scout as far as where they had the fight, but see nothing but dead men and packs.
"Thence we returned baek to our breastwork, and about the middle of the afternoon we marched within a mile of the Nar- rows, where the Regulars and some other Rigts had encamped by a saw-mill.
"July 8th. We marched with the Light Infantry.
"They went forward. Col. Dety brought up tho rear in sight of the Fort.
"There we drawed up 4 deep, the Light Infantry about 10 rods before us, expecting every moment to be fired upon.
" In the mean time Col. Johnson with a party of Indians upon the west side of ye lake, marehed up to the top of a hill, where he with his Indians fired upon the fort, with the hideous yelling of the Indians, the worst noise I ever heard, and drove a party of French into the lake.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.
" About eleven o'clock the Regulars marched up, and all the Rhode Islanders, and a little past 12 o'clock they began to fire npon the French at the breastwork, which was made of heaped timber and & trench around it. very strong, which was built after we drove the advanced guard off.
" Had we gone forward at our first landing we could have got the ground.
"The Regnlars drawed np before the breastwork and fought against it with small arms 5 hours.
"The French would fire upon them with their Artillery, and with one field piece killed 1S Grenadiers dead upon the spot.
"The number of men lost is not ascertained, but by all ac- connts we lost 3000 besides wounded.
" Had Major Rogers had his liberty and done as he intended, we should have drawed them out of their breastwork.
" But Coll. Bradstreet come up with his Rigt, and drove on and lost most all his men.
"Our Artillery come up the lake allmost to us, and then was ordered back, I know not for what reason.
" And towards night we was ordered back to the Advanced guard, and got there about 9 o'clock.
" We had nothing to eat, the allowance we had before we set ont from Lake George was not enough for one day, and we got no more nntill we got back.
"Jabez Doggett was wounded.
"July 9. We was ordered to go on board our boats and go back to Lake George, which we did, and rowed all day without any thing to eat.
" We got back abont sunset, and conld draw no allowance untill next day, and so had nothing to eat that night.
"July 10. We drawed allowance of pork, flour, and rice, and butter.
"Our company was most all sick by reason of the late fight.
"July 11. We laid in our tents; had nothing to do but guarding.
" July 12. Ditto.
"July 13. We had orders to remove our tents beyond the old Fort, but before we had done pitching them we had orders to remove them back again.
"July 14. Nothing to do.
"July 15. We went out a hunting. John Barker killed a bear, and there was 3 French Prisoners taken upon the lake by a party sent down to the Island to stay there as spies.
" July 16, Sunday. Westruck our tents and marched for Fort Edward.
" We marched as far as the half-way brook and there we met Capt. Pratt.
" From thence we marched to Fort Edward. Got there about sunset.
"July 17. Struck our tents and marched to Saratoga, and there drawed two days allowance, and then marched about a mile and a half and pitched our tents in the Long field.
"July 18. We struck our tents abont sunrise and marched for Stillwater. Got there about 10 o'clock. We had 2 carts to our company to carry our packs.
"From there we marched to the half-way house between Stillwater and the half-moon and there pitched our tents.
" There was two killed and scalped at Scattercook.
" July 19. We marched down to the half-moon and pitched our tents.
"There a great many of our men went over the river intend- Ing to go home.
" There I was taken very sick.
" July 20. I took out of the stores one pint of wine, one bowl of Sangarres and one pound of plumbs.
"July 21. I took ont of the stores one pint of wine.
" July 22. We were ordered to load up our tents and packs. Our tents we loaded, but they would not load their packs, and when we were ordered to March, Capt. Keen's men clubbed their fire-locks and followed Sergt Rogers and several from other com- panys.
" We were all ordered to surround them, and then took away their fire-locks, and carried them back to the barracks and con- fined them.
"The two Sergts, viz., Rogers and Cushing, were pinioned, and 4 more sent down to Albany that night.
"The rest were kept untill further orders.
"July 23. We brought the prisoners out and, after the Col. had reproved them, released them, and we marcbed up to Low- den's ferry, and went over and encamped in tents and barracks.
" July ye 24. We marched to Schienectedy, and got there about sunset, which was 14 miles. Pitched our tents. A very rainy night.
"July 25. Drawed 3 days allowance. Col. Worster's Regt. marched for the German Flats.
"July 26. Staid waiting for orders. The men almost all sick.
" July 27. Ditto. Ye 28 we drawed allowance to carry us to the great carrying place.
"July 29. Our Rigt marched for the German flats; they mostly went in battoes. 3 staid behind, being not well, and so did a great many of our company.
"July 30. We that staid behind laid in the barracks.
"July 31. A little past noon we had a shock of an earth- quake.
" August 1st. A little before day there was another shock of an earthquake.
" August 2nd. Coll. Doty set out after his Regt. We that were left behind, which were 28 in number, had nothing to do. At night Sergt. Cole and I drawed a good mess of squashes out of the Dutch stores.
" August 3rd. Our men that were left behind at the balf-moon and Albany came to us.
" August 4th. Sergt. Cole and I went a hunting, and killed a partridge, a black squirrel, and a pigeon.
" August 5. Several more of our men caine up from Albany and joined us. Lieut. Sears came up with them.
"August 6. Sunday I went to meeting iu the forenoon, but I did not understand one word that was said. We heard that Cape Breton was taken, and at night Ensign Johnson made a" bonfire for the good news.
" August 7. I and Sergt. Cole went a hunting. I killed a raven flying. As a Dutchman was taking down his gun to go a hunting his gun went off by accident and shot his wife dead on ye spot. I received a letter from home.
" August 8. Changed my clothes and went to the Dutch funeral.
"August 9. We drawed 6 days allowance. I went with a party to load battoes, and heard Mr. Hitchcock preach from Psalms.
"August 10. I and 4 more of our company set out to go to German flatts, under command of Lt. Hezekiah Holmes, who had 140 under his command. That night we encamped.
"August 11. Set out again with our battoes, which was the worst work that I ever did. We worked all day and got about 4 miles.
" August 12. Archipus Cole left us.
"August 13. We laid still all day by reason that about 30 of our men were taken sick and sent back.
"August 14. We set out with 5 men in a battoe, and went as far as the Jolly Irishman's house and encamped.
"August 15. We staid at the Jolly Irishman's all day by reason of the rain.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
" August 16. We went up the river above Johnson's fort and encamped.
" August 17. We went 3 miles above Hunter's fort and en- camped.
" Augt. 18. We made the best of our way up the river.
" Augt. 19. We went up the river about 2 miles and had a Court martial upon Micah Collins for swearing and gitting drunk, and condemned him to have 50 lashes, but his execution was deferred on his good behavior.
" Augt. 20. We went up the river beyond fort Hendrick and encamped.
" Augt. 21. We got to the little carrying place about 10 at night.
" Augt. 22. We had 2 waggons to carry over our loading.
" Augt. 23. We staid waiting for our loading and battoes to be carried over and held a court martial upon John Doten, of Capt. Carey's company, and condemned him to have 35 lashes.
" August 24. Got all our provisions carried over.
" August 25. We all marched over to the other landing, and there our company was divided into 3 parts. 80 went forward, and Licut. Holmes and Williams' 25 was stationed at the little carrying place, under Lieut. Robinson 25 went dewn to fort Hendrick."
The Revolutionary War .- From in or near the year 1755 to 1775 the local militia of the town of Middleboro' (including what is now Lakeville) re- mained embodied and organized as four companies, officially designated and generally known as First, Second, Third, and Fourth Foot Companies of Mid- dleboro'.
Companies in the local militia at that date consisted of able-bodied white male citizens from the age of sixteen to that of sixty years, and the geographical limits of each company was permanently fixed by well-defined metes and bounds as much as those of parishes and school districts.
The militia of Middleboro', from the date of the incorporation of Plymouth County, viz., June 2, 1685, to 1775, a period of some ninety years, re- mained as a part of the First Regiment in that county, and at the commencement of the war of American Revolution the officers holding military commissions at Middleboro' were as follows :
Major of First Regiment, Ebenezer Sproutt. First Company, Nathaniel Wood, captain.
Second Company, Nathaniel Smith, captain ; Nehe- miah Allen, lieutenant ; and Samuel Barrows, ensign. Third Company, Benjamin White, captain.
Fourth Company, William Canedy, captain ; John Nelson, lieutenant.
That all holding commissions in the local militia did not respond at the country's first cry of distress, at what has come generally to be known as the " Lexington Aların" (April 19, 1775), is perhaps less remarkable than that any of those persons did in view of the pains that had been taken to have all such commissions conferred upon and held by Tories.
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