USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 209
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Ilutchinson's " History of Massachusetts," vol. iii. page 390, in describing events as late as 1773, says, " The Governor' still had no apprehension of even a wish in the body of the people of the Province to separate from the Kingdom, and at the desire of the house of representatives made a general settlement of the militia through the province, being only care- ful to give commissions to such persons as were well affected to government as far as he could inform himself."
Officers commissioned in 1773, because of their supposed Toryism, would not be those most likely to lead off in the cause of the Whigs in the early part of 1775, whether residing at Middleboro' or elsewhere in Massachusetts, although, as the fact proved, some of them did, but still a large number throughout the province remained passive spectators or came out boldly and defiantly on the side of the king and Parlia- ment, and both by words and deeds opposed the sons of liberty in their efforts to break the shackles of bondage.
To meet the exigencies of this occasion, the Revo- lutionary patriots at Middleboro', as elsewhere, set about raising and organizing military associations that were called " minute-men," from the fact that each member agreed to respond to the country's call at a moment's notice, and these companies of minute- men throughout Plymouth County were embodied as a regiment of minute-men, armed, equipped, drilled, and disciplined, and being mainly composed of young men, was doubtless the most effective regiment at that time existing in the county.
Three of these companies of "minute-men" were raised in Middleboro', and promptly responded at the " Lexington alarm," April 19, 1775.
The names of the officers and soldiers of those three companies then called into actual service were as follows :
FIRST COMPANY OF MINUTE-MEN.
Commissioned Officers.
William Shaw, capt. Wm. Thompson, ens. Joshua Benson, Jr., lieut.
1 The Governor of Massachusetts was then as now ex officio captain-general and commandor-in-chief of the local militia in the then province, but now State of Massachusetts. The gov- ernor could revoke a military commission at his own pleasure, but he could not thus annul or cancel a civil commission with- out the concurrence and aid of his council. Thus were Whigs ejected unceremoniously from their commissions in the local militia, and Tories, by Gevernor Thomas Ilutehinson, made to supply their places, in response, as he said, to the expressed " desire of the House of Representatives."
4
999
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
David Thomas.
Ebenezer Cobb (2d).
Job Randall, corp. John Soule, corp.
James Smith, sergt.
Peter Bates, corp.
Caleb Bryant, sergt. James Cobb, corp.
Musicians.
Sylv. Raymond, drummer. Samnel Torrey, fifer.
Prirates.
Elisha Thomas. Samuel Raymond (2d). Nelson Finney. Eliphalet Thomas.
Lemnel Harlow.
Sylvanus Bennett (3d).
Isaac Thompson.
Joseph Thomas.
Edmund Wood, Jr.
William Le Baron.
Zenas Cushman.
John Perkins.
Joseph Pratt.
Joseph Shaw.
Phineas Thomas.
Joshua Eddy.
Caleb Thompson, Jr.
Seth Eddy.
Elisha Paddock.
Joseph Chamberlain.
Nathan Bennett.
Ebenezer Bennett.
John Soule, 2d.
Ebenezer Briggs (3d).
Gideon Cobh.
Asa Barrows.
Eliakim Barlow.
Benjamin Barden.
Ephraim Cushman.
Jacob Thomas.
Barnabas Cushman.
Nathan Darling.
Ichabod Benson.
John Sampson.
Ebenezer Raymond.
Thomas Shaw.
Solomon Raymond.
Japeth Le Baron.
Thomas Bates.
Abiezer Le Baron.
Asa Benson.
Joseph Benuett.
ABSTRACT .- Captain, 1; lieutenant, 1; ensign, 1; sergeants, 4; corporals, 4 ; musicians, 2; private soldiers, 42 : total, 55.
SECOND COMPANY OF MINUTE-MEN.
Commissioned Officers.
Isaac Wood, capt. Abram Townsend, ens.
Cornelins Tinkham, lient.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
Abner Bonrne, sergt. Samuel Wood, corp.
Joseph Holmes, sergt.
Foxel Thomas, corp.
John Benson, sergt.
Abner Nelson, corp.
William Harlow, sergt. Joseph Churchill, corp.
Musicians.
Peregrine White, drum- Seth Fuller, fifer.
mer.
Privates.
Robert Sproutt.
Samuel Ransom.
George Sampson.
James Peirce.
Josiah Harlow. Job Smith.
Gershom Foster.
Seth Sampson.
Ebenezer Elms.
Levi Peirce.
Consider Barden.
George Williamson.
Consider Fuller.
Abiel Chase.
John Barrows.
John Tinkham, Jr.
John Townsend, Jr.
Gideon Southworth.
John Smith (3d).
Peter Hoar.
Samuel Wood, Jr. Elisha Clark.
Aaron Cary.
Abraham Parriz.
Bartlett Handy.
Noah Holmes (2d).
Arodi Peirce.
Ebenezer Barrows, Jr.
John Holloway.
Elisha Peirce.
Abishai Sampson,
James Ashley. Levi Jones.
Samuel Barrows.
Jotham Caswell.
Peter Miller.
William Read (3d).
George Thomas.
Thomas Wood (2d).
Eb. Howland.
Moses Sampson.
Daniel Tinkham.
Elisha Rider.
Philip Hathaway.
Isaac Cushman.
Isaac Hathaway.
Abraham Shaw.
John Townsend.
Samuel Muxum.
Henry Peirce.
James Shaw.
ABSTRACT .- Captain, 1; lieutenant, 1; ensign, 1 ; sergeants, 4; corporals, 4; musicians, 2 ; private soldiers, 59 : total, 72.
THIRD COMPANY OF MINUTE-MEN. Commissioned Officers.
Amos Wade, capt. Lemuel Wood, ensigu.
Archipus Cole, lieut.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
Isaac Perkins, sergt. Joseph Tupper, sergt.
Ichabod Churchill, sergt. Isaiah Keith, corp.
Isaac Shaw, sergt. Lot Eaton, corp.
Musicians.
John Shaw, drummer.
Daniel White, fifer.
Privates.
Zehulon Vaughn.
Johu Drake.
Abner Pratt.
Levi Hathaway.
Nathan Pratt.
Moses Leonard.
Joseph Leonard (5th).
Solomon Howard.
Elnathan Wood. Nathaniel Richmond.
Joseph Hathaway. Jonathan Washburn.
Michael Leonard.
Thomas Cobb.
David Weston. Edmund Richmond.
Samuel Pratt.
Seth Richmond.
William Fuller. Asa Richmoud.
James Keith.
Joseph Leonard (3d).
Silas Leouard. Solomon Beals.
Stephen Robinson. Jonathan Richmond.
Daniel Hills.
Zephaniah Shaw.
Stephen Richmond.
Elijah Alden.
Lazarus Hathaway.
Joseph Clark.
Peter Tinkham.
Benjamin Hafferd.
Thomas Harlow.
ABSTRACT .- Captain, 1; lieutenant, 1; ensign, 1; sergeants, 4; corporals, 2; musicians, 2 : private soldiers, 35 : total, 46. RECAPITULATION .-- First Company, 55; Second Company, 72 ; and Third Company, 46: total, 173.
This force of one hundred and seventy-three men from Middleboro' that, as a part of Plymouth County regiment of minute-men, promptly responded to the country's " first call," reduced by just that number the " rank and file" of the four standing companies of local militia in the town, so that had all which still remained in those companies bcen agreed in the effort to resist kingly authority and mustered for the defense of liberty, their number would have been comparatively small ; but all who remained of those companies were not united in patriotic principles, thus
Nathaniel Holmes (3d). Peleg Hathaway.
Andrew Cole.
Ephraim Reynolds, Jonathan IIall.
Joseph Ilathaway. Samuel Parris. Ebenezer Hinds.
1000
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
rendering the effective force of those companies still smaller.
And yet an effort was made to bring out the local inilitia of Middleboro' on the ever-memorable 19th of April, 1775, and unite that body with the minute- men in resisting royalty, which effort was attended with results as follows :
First Company of the local militia of Middleboro', that responded at the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775 :
Commissioned Officers.
Nathaniel Wood, capt.
Joseph Smith (2d), ens.
Amos Washburn, lieut.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
Zehedce Sproutt, sergt.
John Pickens, corp.
Jesse Vaughan, sergt.
Amos Wood, corp.
Ebenezer Thomas, sergt.
Joseph Ellis, corp.
Barney Cohh, sergt. Solomon Dunham, corp.
Musicians.
Zehedee Pratt, drummer. William Clapp, fifer.
Privates.
Caleb Thompson.
Zurashada Palmer.
William Bennett.
George Richmond.
Nathan Wood.
George Leonard.
Seth Miller.
Eleazer Thomas.
Ephraim Thomas, Jr.
Samuel Pickens, Jr.
William Armstrong.
Joseph Vaughan, Jr.
Isaac Bryant.
Benjamin Leonard.
Israel Rickard.
Nathan Leonard.
Elisha Cox.
Jacob Miller.
William Raymond.
Nathaniel Thompson.
Joseph Redding.
Jonathan Sampson.
John Darling.
Jonathan Ryder.
Ehenezer Smith.
Samuel Raymond.
James Thomas.
Solomon Thomas.
Perez Thomas.
Seth Peircc.
Andrew Cushman.
Caleh Tinkham.
Micah Leach.
Joseph Richmond, Jr.
William Wood.
Samuel Rickard.
David Shaw.
David Vaughan.
John Hackett.
Edmund Wood.
ABSTRACT .- Captain, 1; lieutenant, 1; ensign, 1; sergeants, 4; corporals, 4; musicians, 2; private soldiers, 40 : total, 53.
Second Company in the Local Militia of Mid- dleboro' .- To put this company in a condition to respond at the Lexington alarm was attended with considerable difficulty, as neither of its commissioned officers at that date would so far commit himself as to lead this company to fight for liberty, and hence officers had to be selected to supply their places, and in doing which the choice for a commander fell upon Capt. Abiel Peirce, a veteran officer of the French and Indian war.
The Second Company, when it, with the " embat- tled farmers, stood and fired the shot heard round the world," was officered by and consisted of the follow- ing-named persons :
Commissioned Officers.
Abiol Peirce, capt. Benj. Darling, ensign. Joseph Macombor, lieut.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
Josiah Smith, sergt. Bachellor Bonnett, corp.
Richard Peirce, sergt. Jeddediah Lyon, corp.
Elias Miller, Jr., sorgt.
Samuel Eddy, corp.
Job Macomher, sergt. John Bly, corp.
Musicians.
Caloh Simmons, drummer.
Nathaniel Foster, fifer.
Privatcs.
Job Peirce.
John Fry.
Samuel Hoar.
John Douglas, Jr.
David Thomas (2d).
Ebenezer L. Bennett.
Michael Mosher.
Samuel Miller.
Jesse Pratt.
Isaac Canedy.
Jacob Hayford.
Danicl Reynolds.
Joh Hunt.
Rufus Weston.
Henry Bishop.
Ziha Eaton.
Consider Howland.
Isaac Miller.
Noah Clark.
Nehemiah Peirce.
Cornelius Hoskins.
Samuel Bennett.
John Rogers. Joshua Thomas.
Lehheus Simmons. Calvin Johnson.
Caleh Wood.
Joshua Read.
John Boothe. Cryspus Shaw.
Ithamer Haskins.
James Willis.
John Reynolds. Sylvanus Churchill.
Nathaniel Macomber. Samuel Macomber.
Levi Jones. Richard Omey.
Josiah Smith, Jr.
Israel Thomas.
Malachi Howland, Jr.
Ichahod Read.
Zachariah Paddock, Jr.
Samuel Ransom.
Rufus Howland.
Daniel Jucket.
Sylvanus Perrington.
ABSTRACT .- Captain, 1; lieutenant, 1; ensign, 1; sergeants, 4; corporals, 4; musicians, 2; private soldiers, 47 : total, 60.
Thus it appears from strictly reliable evidence that upon that ever-memorable day when the blood of murdered freemen wet the sods of Lexington and Concord, and, like the blood of righteous Abel, cried for vengeance from the ground, the ancient town of Middleboro', then embracing the present township of Lakeville, sent five companies to the field of bloody strife, the numbers of which the present dwellers in those towns have reason to be proud of, and that the same may hereafter be readily referred to and easily re- membered, we present a condensed abstract in tabular form :
Minute-Men.
Commis- Non-Com- sioned. missioned.
Pri- vates.
Total.
First Company.
3
10
42
55
Second Company ..
...
3
10
59
72
Third Company.
3
8
35
46
Local Militia :
First Courpany ..
3
10
40
53
Second Company
3
10
47
60
Total
15
48
223
. 286
Capt. Nathaniel Wood, who led the first company in the local militia of Middleboro' in the field at the
.
1001
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.
" Lexington Alarm," April 19, 1775, raised a com- pany for Col. Simeon Carey's regiment in the patriots' army, and was put upon duty in Roxbury. The in- spection-roll of Capt. Nathaniel Wood's company, April 1. 1776, bore the following names :
Commissioned Officers.
Nathaniel Wood, capt.
Job Pierce, 2d lieut.
Joseph Tupper, lieut. Jesse Vaughan, ens.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
Caleb Bryant, sergt. Benjamin Reed, corp.
Andrew McCully, sergt.
Josiah Jones, corp.
William Bennett, sergt.
John Sampson, corp.
Joseph Holmes, sergt. Nathaniel Sampson, corp.
Musicians.
Sylvanus Raymond, drum- Daniel White, fifer.
mer.
Privates.
Joseph Aldrich.
Jobn Macomber.
Philip Austin.
William Pecker.
Isaac Bryant.
John Raymond.
Stephen Bryant.
Samuel Raymond.
Ebenezer Bennett.
Isaac Rider.
Ebenezer Barden.
Nathan Richmond.
David Bates.
Daniel Shaw.
Benjamin Cobb.
Nathaniel Shaw.
Gideon Cusbman.
Aaron Simmons.
Robert Cushman.
Josiah Smith. Ezra Smith.
Abel Cole.
Abel Cole, Jr.
James Soule.
James Cobb. Barnabas Sampson.
George Caswell.
John Strowbridge.
Jonathan Caswell.
George Strowbridge.
Zeb. Caswell.
Samnel Thatcher.
George Clemens.
Samuel Thatcher, Jr.
Nathan Darling.
Elipb. Thomas.
Paul Dean.
Eleazer Thomas. .
Ephraim Dunbam.
David Thomas.
Sylvanus Eaton.
Benjamin Thomas.
Zibe Eaton.
Silas Townsend.
Thomas Ellis.
John Thomas.
Ephraim Eddy.
Amos Wood.
Andrew Fuller.
Peter Wood.
Thomas Foster.
Abner Vaugban.
Edward Gisby.
Ephraim Wood.
Jobn Holmes.
Robert Wood.
George -.
Jacob Wood.
Josbua Howland.
Samuel Wood.
John Jones.
David Shaw.
Consider Jones.
Thomas Sbaw.
Thomas Johnson.
Andrew Warren.
Jonathan Morse.
ABSTRACT. - Commissioned officers, 4; non-commissioned officers, 8; musicians, 2; private soldiers, 67: total strength or available force, 81.
Capt. Abiel Peirce, who led the second company of the local militia on the occasion known as the " Lexington Alarm," soon after raised a company for Col. Nicholas Dike's regiment in the patriot army, and was placed on duty near Boston.
Capt. Peirce's company was raised at large in the
towns of Abington, Bridgewater, and Wareham, and numbered in rank and file sixty-nine officers and sol- diers. The names of those furnished by the town of Middleboro' were as follows :
Commissioned Officer. Abiel Peirce, capt. Non-Commissioned Officers.
Josiah Harlow, sergt. James Peirce, corp.
Privates.
Josepb Booth. Nathan Peirce.
William Bryant. John Redding.
Ebenezer Borden.
Joseph Richmond.
James Bump. Benjamin Reynolds.
Isaac Ballinton. Samuel Snow.
Icbabod Cushman.
Jacob Sherman.
John Fry.
Ichabod Wood.
Nathan Hoskins.
Andrew Warren.
Jonathan Leonard.
Abner Washburn.
Timothy Leonard. Solomon Thomas.
John Harlow.
Japhet Le Baron.
Upon the occasion still known as the "Rhode Island Alarm," in December, 1776, Middleboro' con- tributed toward the defense of Rhode Island by send- ing to the aid of the patriots of that section the com- panies hereafter enumerated :
FIRST COMPANY OF INFANTRY.
Commissioned Officers.
Jonah Washburn, licut. James Smith, 2d lieut.
Non- Commissioned Officers.
Joseph Smith, sergt. Ebenezer Pratt, corp.
Francis Thompson, sergt. Benjamin Cobb, corp.
Caleb Bryant, sergt.
Ebenezer Vaughan, corp.
Isaac Thomas, sergt.
Nathaniel Wood, corp.
Jacob Thomas, sergt.
Musicians.
Sylvanus Raymond, drum - Francis Bent, fifcr.
mer.
Privates.
Samuel Smith. Ichabod Cushman.
Ebenezer Cobb.
Robert Cushman.
Jacob Thompson.
Samuel Torrey.
Silas Tinkham.
Jonathan Porter.
William Thompson. Thomas Foster.
John McFarlin.
Jesse Vaughan.
Isaac Soule. Sylvanus Harlow.
Nathan Darling.
Thomas Ellis.
Jacob Soule.
Charles Ellis, Jr.
Abiel Leach. Samuel Eddy, Jr.
Ebenezer Bennett. Ebenezer Briggs.
John Cobb. Joseph Briggs.
Zenas Cushman. Daniel Ellis.
Lutber Redding. Willard Thomas.
Nathaniel Billington.
Samuel Snow.
Samuel Raymond. John Redding.
John Raymond.
James Tinkham.
John Soule.
James Soule.
Ephraim Thomas.
Elkanah Bennett.
Jacob Miller.
Solomon Thomas.
Daniel Thomas.
Noah Thomas.
Joseph Cushman.
Ephraim Wood.
1002
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
Job Thomas.
Benjamin Thomas.
Jolın Perkins.
Elisha Thomas.
Jacob Thompson.
Cyrus Keith.
Joseph Holmes.
Thomas Batos.
Edward Wood, Jr.
William Soule.
Gideon Cobb.
Charles Ellis.
Nathan Cobb.
Zachariah Paddock.
Elisha Freeman.
Isaac Thompson.
Job Randall.
Apollos Paddock. Joseph Ellis.
ABSTRACT .- Commissioned officers, 2; non-commissioned offi- eers, 9; musicians, 2; private soldiers, 64 : total, 77.
THIRD COMPANY OF INFANTRY.
Commissioned Officers.
William Tupper, capt. John Murdock, lieut.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
Samuel Eaton, sergt.
Abner Pratt, corp.
Nathaniel Wilder, sergt.
Joseph Leonard, corp.
Benjamin Leonard, sergt.
Peter Tinkham, corp.
Sylvanus Warren, sergt.
Privates.
Theophilus Crocker.
Jesse Bryant.
David Watson.
Ephraim Wood.
Joseph Bumpus.
Ebenezer Williams, Jr.
Perez Leonard.
Zebadee Pratt.
Elnathan Wood.
Joseph Burden.
Ziba Eaton. Ebenezer Wood.
Jabez Cushman.
Joseph Leonard.
Zephaniah Morton.
Joseph Bumpns.
Micah Bryant.
Samuel Reed.
Lemuel Wood.
Joseph Bates. William Cobb.
Benjamin Darling.
Benjamin White.
William Cushman.
Cornelius Ellis.
Philip Leonard.
Jepthah Ripley.
Phineas Pratt.
Isaiah Washburn.
Ezra Tupper.
Archipas Cole.
Elisha Tinkham.
ABSTRACT .- Commissioned officers, 2; non-commissioned offi- cers, 7 ; private soldiers, 32 : total, 41.
FOURTH COMPANY OF INFANTRY.
Commissioned Officers.
Job Peirce, capt. Samuel Hoar, 2d lieut.
Josiah Smith, lieut.
Non- Commissioned Officers.
Ebenezer Hinds, sergt.
Enos Raymond, sergt.
Abraham Peirce, sergt.
Seth Ramsdoll, corp.
Ezra Clark, sergt.
Musician.
Roger Clark, drummer.
Privates.
Henry Peirce. Jolın Allen.
Isaac Howland.
Samuel Parris.
Enos Peirce. John Haskins.
James Peirec. Joshua Caswell.
Isaac Parris.
William Canedy.
Stephon Hathaway. Noble Canedy.
Moses Parris.
Goorge Peirce.
John Ilinds.
Bonjamin Reynolds.
Braddock Hoar.
Ephraim Roynolds.
Abiel Chase.
Lebbeus Simmons.
Zebadeo Boothe.
John Boothe, Jr.
Escek Howland. John Douglas.
Soth Keen.
ABSTRACT .- Commissioned officers, 3; non-commissioned offi- cers, 5 ; musician, 1; private soldiors, 25 : total, 34.
FIFTH COMPANY OF INFANTRY. Commissioned Officers.
Consider Benson, licut.
Sylvanus Cobb, licut.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
George Shaw, sergt.
Benona Lucas, corp.
Phincas Thomas, sergt.
Privates.
Roland Benson. Seth Thomas.
Asa Benson.
Sylvanus Thomas.
David Bates. James Raymond.
Josiah Bryant. Stephen Russell.
John Clark. Stephen Washburn.
Japhet Lebaron. Jobn Bennett.
Elijah Lebaron. Ebenezer Cobb.
Joseph Lovell. Samuel Hackett.
Thomas Shaw. William Raymond.
Eleazar Thomas. Mark Shaw.
ABSTRACT .- Commissioned officers, 2; non-commissioned offi- cers, 3; private soldiers, 20 : total, 25.
Concerning the part that the town of Middleboro', in December, 1776, took in the attempt to defend Rhode Island from British aggression, it is advisable and proper here to state that in the early part of that year all the local militia of the towns of Middleboro', Rochester, and Wareham were formed into a regi- ment, of which the field-officers were as follows : Ebenezer Sproutt, of Middleboro', colonel ; Ebenezer White, of Rochester, lieutenant-colonel ; Israel Fear- ing, of Wareham, senior major, and John Nelson, of Middleboro' (that part now Lakeville), junior major.
Middleboro' at that time had eight companies of local militia, Rochester probably had four companies, and Wareham two, and doubtless all these fourteen companies were in December, 1776, ordered to assist temporarily in the defense of Rhode Island, but how well these responded to that call may reasonably be inferred from a letter that Senior Maj. Israel Fearing addressed to Col. Ebenezer Sproutt, of which the fol- lowing is a copy :1
I Junior Major John Nelson mado a copy of this letter that Senior Major Israel Fearing, from the regimental hoadquarters at Fogland Ferry, addressed to Col. Ebenezer Sproutt, in his safe quarters at home, which copy Maj. Nolson attested as being true. That attested copy is in the possession of the writer of this historic sketch, as also some othor but original writings officially rendered in that camp at Fogland Forry, soverely criti- cising the conduct of some of those stay-at-home fiold-offieors ; and in one return from Lieut. Jonah Washburn concerning " missing men," he said that he did not know whether theso wero doad, or had doserted, or gone homo to add to the seare of the colonel.
F
Elisha Cox.
1003
" HEADQUARTERS FOURTH REGIMENT, " FOGLAND FERRY, 15th of Dec., 1776.
" SIR,-In consequence of your orders the Towns of Rochester and Wareham have mustered the whole of their military and marched them accordingly to the place required by you.
"Being actnated by the most generous and noble motives, the said Towns are generally turned out to the assistance of their Sister State.
" But to my surprise I found the several Companies from yonr Town officered in part, but almost entirely destitute of Soldiers.
"One whole Company have quitted their post without pay- ing any regard to the orders of Col. Cook, the commander here.
" But what is still more surprising to me, I found myself ob- liged to take the command of the Regiment, which, consider- ing my abilities, is arduous and disagreeable, and which I de- termine to avail of if yon or Col. White do not appear to take the command of.
" We are amazingly in want of men to guard this coast, therefore most seriously desire you to send your whole military force from Middleborough immediately.
" I have wrote Col. White to send the other part of the Regi- ment.
"If any person hereafter return home without a furlow, I hope you will send them back to their duty.
' Your humble Servant, etc.,
" ISRAEL FEARING, " Major."
Maj. Fearing did not say that the " one whole company that had quitted their post without paying any regard to Col. Cook. the commander," were Mid- dleboro men, but the intimation that they were is certainly strong, and even if so only five of the then eight companies of the local militia of Middleboro' reported for duty, and but four of those five remained to perform that duty.
The pay-rolls at the State-House in Boston show that the only field-officers of this Fourth Regiment present and doing duty in Rhode Island upon the occasion known as the " Rhode Island alarm" in De- cember, 1776, were Senior Maj. Israel Fearing, of Wareham, and Junior Maj. John Nelson, of what was then Middleboro', but now Lakeville.
In a company raised by Capt. Levi Rounseville, of Freetown, for the Ninth Regiment, in what was then probably denominated the Massachusetts army, Mid- dleboro' furnished the following-named officers and soldiers :
Commissioned Officer. Henry Peirce, lieut. Non-Commissioned Officers.
Joseph Macomber, sergt. Hilkiah Peirce, corp.
Job Hunt, sergt. Richard Peirce, corp.
David Trowant, sergt.
Musician. Leonard Hinds, drummer.
Privates.
William Armstrong. Joseph Boothe.
Anthony Fry. Levi Simmons.
Ephraim Douglas.
Nathan Trowant.
Henry Evans.
In the early part of 1777 a company from Middle- boro' was sent into service at Rhode Island, of which the names of officers and soldiers were as follows :
Commissioned Officers.
Henry Peirce, capt. George Shaw, ensign.
Peter Hoar, lieut.
Non- Commissioned Officers and Musicians.
Amasa Wood. William Hall.
Joseph Wood. James LeBaron.
Daniel Ellis. Nathaniel Cole.
Roland Leonard. Israel Eaton.
George Hacket. Haziel Purrinton.
Privates.
Churchill Thomas.
Ebenezer IFowland.
Jeremiah Tinkham.
Josiah Kingman.
Andrew Cobb.
Jacob Perkins.
Samuel Sampson.
Luther Pratt.
James Palmer.
Seth Wade.
Elijah Shaw.
Noah Haskell.
David Fish.
Lemuel Raymond.
Jacob Soule.
Manassah Wood.
Haziel Tinkham.
Francis LeBaron.
Jabez Vaughan.
Asaph Churchill.
Samuel Barrows.
Samuel Thomas.
Joseph Bennett.
Nathaniel Thomas.
John Morton.
Edward Washburn.
John Morton (2d).
William Bly.
Roland Smith.
Joseph Macomber.
Rounseville Peirce.
Lemuel Briggs.
Peter Thomas.
Jonathan Wesgate.
Edmund Weston.
Ephraim Dunham.
Joseph Tapper.
Isaac Harlow.
Lemuel Lyon.
Nathaniel Cobb.
William Littlejohn.
Andrew Ricket.
Daniel Cox.
Jonathan Porter.
Thomas Pratt.
James Porter.
David Pratt.
James Sproutt.
Abiel Boothe. John Thrasher.
ABSTRACT .- Commissioned officers, 3; non-commissioned
officers and musicians, 10 ; private soldiers, 50 : total, 63.
In what was called the "Secret Expedition" to Rhode Island, in 1777, Capt. Job Peirce led a com- pany of Middleboro' men that numbered, in officers and soldiers, ninety-two; but as these have been given, both their names, ranks, and relative stations, in the history of Lakeville, the reader is referred thereto for the more minute particulars.
Capt. William Tupper also had a company on duty at Rhode Island in May and June, 1777.
Names of men enlisted for six months in Rhode Island in 1777 :
Joshua Wood.
James Barrows.
Francis Wood. Robert Cushman.
Ezra Thomas. Homes Cushman.
James Cobb. Zenas Leach.
Sylvanus Raymond. Perez Cushman.
Ephraim Wood (3d). Elisha Thomas.
William Wood.
Peter Tinkham.
Thomas Bates.
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.
1004
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
Capt. Perez Churchill's company, on duty in Rhode Island, service commencing Aug. 25, 1778 :
Commissioned Officers.
Perez Churchill, capt. Jamos Weston, 2d liout. James Shaw, lieut.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
Samuel Smith, sergt.
Stephen Clark, corp.
Samuel Nelson, sorgt.
Luther Redding, corp.
Amos Wood, sergt.
John Holmes, corp.
Nath'l Thompson, sergt.
Privates.
Eliab Alden.
John Phinney.
Abner Barrows.
John Pratt.
Isaac Bumpus.
Jesse Nichols.
Robert Barrows.
James Raymond.
Ebenezer Burdin.
John Raymond.
Ichabod Burdin. Elections Reynolds.
Joseph Briggs.
Jepthah Ripley.
Barnabas Clark.
James Soule.
Elijah Dunham,
Joseph Richmond.
John Ellis.
Ebenezer Thomas.
John Ellis, Jr.
Caleb Thompson.
Eliphalet Elms.
David Weston.
Benona Lucas.
Perry Wood.
John McFarlin.
Ephraim Wood.
John McCully.
Robert Stertevant.
Nathaniel Macomber. Micah Bryant.
The foregoing commenced service Aug. 25, 1778. William Squire and Andrew Perry reported for duty Aug. 27, 1778, and each served seven days. William Peirce, James Sproutt, Judah Hall, and Simeon Coombs each served nine days.
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