History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 242

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 242

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

their heirs by tho superior powers, from under whose immediate government they emigrated, and by that mutual, solemn com- pact it plainly appears that they wore to enjoy all the liberties and immunities without reserve as Britons born within the realın of England. But alas, the contrary is too notorious to be denied ; our rights and priviloges are infringed upon, and these material alterations in the best of constitutions promote not the good of this people, but tend to deprive them of that peace and impartial administration of justice for which this province has been so conspicuous A state of our rights both natural and constitutional, and wherein the same are violated, you bave heard read from the Boston pamphlet, so called, which is justly thought to hold fortb the truth in a clear and masterly manner, and the worthy inhabitants of the town of Boston for this manly performance merit our gratitude, and the province in general, by their late instances of genuine patriot- ism, have rendered themselves dear to every lover of his coun- try and mankind in general. It is our opinion that their many grievous burdens would never bave been laid upon us if His Majesty had not been misinformed. In duty. therefore, to our- selves, and as staunch friends to Great Britain and this noble constitution, we would join with the towns in this province in offering our sentiments at this time, for we doubt not if His Majesty is undeceived in this so important affair, the easiness of the people in general under these late impositions, that bis gracious ear is not shut, but will be attentive to the united pe- titions of a grateful and loyal people, and restitution of their rights and privileges will be made which are unjustly wrested from us. Our warmu affection for Great Britain, our willingness to promote its emolument, and by our prudence and industry greatly extending His Majesty's dominion, made us fondly hope that we should be treated as grateful, obedient subjects, and not as rebels by infectious troops in time of peace. Nev- ertbeless, we are ready to fight for the King of Great Britain, our rightful sovereign, his crown and dignity, and risk our lives when justly called in defence of our happy constitution : we report further, that the clerk sign a copy of the proceedings of this day in behalf of the town, and transmit the same as soon as may be to the respectable committee of correspondeuco at Bos- ton, that they and the world may know that we are not insen- sible of our increasing burdens, but that we are willing to take all legal steps in union with other towns to obtain a redress of our grievances."

At a town-meeting held on the 3d of January, 1774, a committee, consisting of Isaae Winslow, Nathaniel Ray Thomas, Elisha Ford, Seth Bryant, William Stevens, John Barker, and Ephraim Little, was chosen to consider the state of public affairs, and report what course should be taken by the town. The committee reported as follows :

" The town taking into consideration tho late tumultuous, and, as we think, illegal proceedings in tho town of Boston, in tho detention and destruction of the teas belonging to the East India Company, which, we upprchend, will affect our property, if not our liberties, think it our indispensable duty to show our disap- probation of such measures and proceedings, therefore, voted and resolved, as the opinion of the town, That this Town evor have been and always will be good and loyal subjects to our sovoreign lord, King Georgo the third, und will obey, observe, and enforce as such good and wholesome laws as uro or shall bo con- stitutionally made by the legislaturo or the commonwealth of which we are members, and by all legal ways and moans, to the utmost of our powers and abilities, will protect, defend, and pre-

serve our liberties and privileges against the machinations of foreign or domestic enemies.

"Resolved, That the late measures and proceedings in the Town of Boston, in the detention and destruction of the teas belong- ing to the East India Company, were illegal and unjust, and of a dangerous tendency.

" Resolved, That Abijah Wbite, the present representative of this town, be, and hereby is, instructed and directed to use his utmost endeavor that the perpetrators of this mischief may be detected and brought to justice, and as the country has been heretofore drawn in to pay their proportionable part of the ex- pense which accrued from the riotous and unruly proceedings and conduct of certain individuals in the town of Boston, if applicatiou should be muade to the General Court by the East India Company, or any other person for a consideration for the loss of said teas, you are by no means to acquiesce, but bear your testimony against any measures by which expense may accrue to the province in general or the town of Marshfield in particular, and those people only wbo were active aiding and assisting or conniving at the destruction of said teas pay for the same.

" Resolved, That our representative be, and hereby is, further directed and instructed to use his utmost endeavors at the Gen- eral Court that the laws of the province be carried into due execution, and that all offenders against the same may be prop- erly punished.

" And we do further declare it is our opinion that the grand basis of Magna Charta and reformation is liberty of conscience and right of private judgment, wherefore we do renounce all methods of imposition, violence, and persecution, such as have most sbaruefully been exercised upon a numbor of inhabitants of the town of Plymouth by obliging them to sign a recanta- tion, so called, and in case of refusal to have their houses pulled down or they tarred and feathered, and all this under the spe- cious mask of liberty."

The above report was adopted by the town and a copy sent to Abijah White, the representative, and also to the newspapers for publication, In " MeFin- gal," Mr. White, in consequence of his publication of the resolves in Boston, is thus described :

" Abijah White, when sent Our Marshfiold friends to represent, Himself while dread array involves, Commissions, pistols, swords, resolves, In awful pomp desconding down, Boro terror on tho factions town."

At a town-meeting hell on the 8th of October, 1774, the patriots seem again to have rallied, and a vote was passed that Nehemiah Thomas be appointed to co-operate with the representatives and others chosen in the several towns to meet at Concord on the second Tuesday in that month, in order to form a Provincial Congress. But in January, 1775, Capt. Balfour, with his company of Queen's Guards, to which reference has already been made, arrived in Marshfield for the protection of the loyalists, and, emboldened by his presence, another rally was made by the conservatives, and at a meeting held Feb. 20, 1775, it was " voted not to adhere to or be bound by the resolves and recommendations of the Concord

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HISTORY OF MARSHFIELD.

Provincial Congress or any illegal assemblages what- Peleg Wadsworth, and a Duxbury company, under ever." It was also ". voted to thank Gen. Gage and Admiral Graves for their ready and kind interposi- tion, assistance, and protection from further insults and abuses, with which we are continually threatened. and that a committee, consisting of Abijah White. John Baker. Seth Bryant. Daniel White. Paul White. Simeon Keen. William Macomber, Isaac Winslow, of furnishing the second battle-field of the war.

Ephraim Little. John Tilden, Nathaniel Phillips, Thomas Little, Cornelius White, Lemnel Little, Abner Wright. William Stevens. Elisha Ford, Amos Rogers. Seth Ewell. Elisha Sherman, Abraham Walker. Abijah Thomas, and Job Winslow. convey the vute of thanks." Gen. Gage replied in the fol- lowing letter :

". T .i. ingai inhabitants of the 1 st of Ma shield.

" GENTLEMEN .- I return you my most hearty thanks for your aid-ess, and am to assure you that I feel great satisfaction in having ntribu ed to the safety and protection of a people so e De tfrter loyalty to th ir king and affection to their n'y. al a time when treason and rebellion are making such hasty strides t verturn our most excellent constitution, and et reai roin and lesolation through the province.

" I debt roe that your duty to your Good, your king, and n'y. w lex le yout persevere in the glorious cause in which you are engaged. and that your laudable example will animate there with the like loval and patriotie spirit.

" THO. GAGE."

Admiral Graves also replied in the following letter : To the ha tanto of the mars of Marchfield.

"GENTLEMEN .- The warmth with which you declare your Trinei les of Wyalty to your sovereign and his constitutional : vernment men : fail of being grateful to the mind of every Urer of his un'ry; and it is much to be wished that the uni- f -m prij mix of your conduct will extend its influence to the rem a ft se groundless jealou-ies which have unhappily market e aff . na ef too many of your countrymen from the parent rtade. and which are now tending to raise violent com - . 1 iny Ive in ruin anl destruction their unfortunate

" The ar ir bat on you are pleased to express of His Majesty's aprire ent at this critical juncture to the cominand of his Ane ' on feet - flattering : and you may be assured that iny Montecase anl support . hall never be wanting to protect the fr end of British government, and reduce to order and subinis- · n the who would er leavor to destroy that peace and bar- In ny wG h ie the end of good legislation to produce.

"SAM'L GRAVES."

After the battle of Lexington, on the 19th of April, 1775, Gen. Gage determined to withdraw the troops under Capt. Balfour. and on the 20th sent two sloops t, transport them to Boston. On the afternoon of that day they embarked at Brant Rock, barely in time to escape a patriot force which had marched that very morning to attack them. Col. Theophilus Cotton, with a Plymouth company of militia, under Capt. Thomas Mayhen, a Kingston company, under Capt.

George Partridge, reached Marshfield at noon, with about five hundred men in his command, and was re- inforeed in the afternoon by a company from Roches- ter, under Capt. Clapp, and three companies from Plympton. Pending preparations for an attack, Capt. Balfour embarked, and thus Marshfield lost the honor

At a meeting held Jan. 19, 1776, the patriotie spirit of the town was again aroused, and it was voted to send the following instructions, probably written by Melzar Turner Oakman. to Nehemiah Thomas, then representative at the General Court :

" Your constituents, not doubting of your patriotism, now in legal meeting assembled, think it necessary to instruct you touching the Independence of America.

"To the amazement of your constituents, the King of Great Britain is become a tyrant. He has wantonly destroyed the property of the Americans, and wiekedly spilled their blood. IIo bas assented to acts of Parliament caleulated to subjugate tho colonies unparalleled by the worst of tyrants. Our petitions he has rejected, and instead of peace he has sent the sword. Every barbarous nation which he could influence he has courted for the destruction of the colonies. No relaxation of hostilities, nor distant prospect of an honorable reconciliation, renders this glorious revolution wise and important. Onee we would have expended life and fortune in defense of his crown and dignity, but now we are alienated, and conseience forbids us to support a tyrant, whose tyranny is without refinemeut. Alliance with bin is now treason to our country, but we wait patiently till Congress, in whose counsel we confide, shall declare the colonies independent of Great Britain. The inhabitants of this town, therefore, unanimously instruct and direct you that, if the Con- tinental Congress shall think it necessary for the safety of the United Colonies to declare them independent of Great Britain, the inhabitants of this town with their lives and fortunes will most heartily support them in the measure."

The voices of the loyalists seem now to have been silenced, and at the same meeting a committee of correspondence was chosen, consisting of Anthony Thomas, Nehemiah Thomas, Thomas Dingley, Ben- jamin White, Elisha Kent, William Baker, Nathaniel Ford, Samuel Oakman, Samuel Tilden, Joseph Clift, Lemuel Delano, Melzar Turner Oakman, Thomas Waterman, Isaac Phillips, Peleg Rogers, William Thomas, Daniel Lewis, William Clift, Kenelm Win- slow, Israel Rogers, and John Oakman. At a meet- ing held March 6, 1777, it was voted to pay a bounty

of ten pounds to each soldier enlisting for three years, and a committee was appointed to act in filling the town quotas. In June, 1777, the selectmen reported the names of the following persons suspected of dis- loyalty to the Revolutionary cause : Rev. Atherton Wales, Elisha Ford, John Tilden, Stephen Tilden, Ephraim Little, Adam Rogers, Levi Ford, Benjamin Eames, Jr., John Hatch, Caleb Carver, Daniel White, Abrahamn Walker, Noah Hatch, Cornelius White,

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

John Baker, Joseph Tilden, Sylvanus White, Elisha Sherman, Thomas Eames, Jeremiah Hatch, Jr., Asa Thomas, Thomas Little, Zephaniah Decrow, Joshua Tilden, Joseph Bryant, Jedediah Eames, Adam Hall, Jr., Isaac Walker, Simeon Keen, Oliver Porter, Charles Porter, Samuel Ford, Jr., William White, Calvin Lewis, Daniel Thomas, Elijah Ford, and John Tilden, Jr. Of these, all were finally struck from the list on their denial of disloyalty except Adam Rogers, Benjamin Eames, Jr., John Hatch, Cornelius White, Jeremiah Hatch, Jr., Samuel Ford, Jr., William White, and Calvin Lewis.

March 25, 1778, the town instructed its represen- tative "to act at his judgment with regard to the artieles of confederation." May 25th in the same year the Constitution for the State of Massachusetts was read in meeting and disapproved by a vote of forty-one to ten. Aug. 23, 1779, it was voted to send Thomas Waterman a delegate to Cambridge to aid in forming a Convention for the Adoption of a State Constitution, and Asa Waterman and Daniel Lewis were chosen delegates to a county convention, to be held at the house of Caleb Loring, in Plympton, to regulate the prices of articles in every-day use, and the closing entry in the records during the war of any interest is that of the choice of another committee of correspondence in 1782, consisting of Briggs Thomas, Thomas Little, Daniel Lewis, Thomas Ford, Abner Wright, and Jedediah Eames.

The rolls of soldiers who enlisted from Marshfield during the Revolution are probably incomplete, but those in the archives of the State and in the posses- sion of the writer, such as they are, contain the fol- lowing names.

Members of the company of Joseph Clift, of Marshfield, who enlisted for six months in 1775 :

Joseph Clift, capt., Jonathan Hatch, sergt., Nathaniol Rogors, Job Mitchell, Anthony T. Hlateb, corp., Samuel Tilden, Abner Crocker, Gershom Ewell, Joseph Hatch, Asa. Lap- ham, Amos Hatch, Charles IIntch, William Joyce, William Clift, Arumah Rogers, Job Ewell, Jesse Lapham, Lot II. Sylvester, Seth Joyce, Jonathan Joyce, Nathaniel Joyco, Prince Hatch, Zacchens Rogers, Tobias Oakman, Samuel Jones, Caleb Lapham.

Members of the company of Capt. Thomas Turner, in the regiment of Col. John Bailey, under Gen. John Thomas, in 1775:

Briggs Thomas, fient., Jonathan latch, sergt., William Thomas, corp., Robert. Glover, Nathaniel Rogers, Franois Gray, Jonathan Low, Tobins White, Ezekiel Sprague, Polog Kent, Thomas Chandlor, Alexander Garnet, Polog Foard, Nathaniel Thomas, Bradford Bakor, Inther Sampson, Tolman Baker, Job Mitchell, Samnel Jonos, William Joyce, Prince Hatch, Constant Onkman, John Hatch.

Members of the company of Capt. Abijah Crooker, under Gen. John Thomas, in August, 1775 :

Abijah Crooker, capt., King Lapham, lieut., Israel Rogers, ens., John Bates, Isaac Bates, Wills Clift, Charles Kent, Nathaniel Kent, Asa Rogers, Joseph Sprague, Andrew Pomp, Asa Lapham, Thomas Rogers, Abijah Rogers.

Members of the company of Capt. Stetson, in Col. Dyke's regiment, in 1776 :

Anthony Hatch, Benjamin Hatch, sergt., Asa Rogers, corp., Barnard Tuels, Jonathan Low, Peleg Foard, William Baker, Ebenezer Cain.

Members of the company of Capt. Samuel N. Nel- son, of Plymouth, at Fort Edward, in 1777 :

Ensign Ford, Joshua. Turner, James Curtis, Othaniel Sikes, Ebenezer Barker, William Withingtou, John Chamber- lain.

Soldiers enlisted in 1777 for three years :

Samuel Norvett, John Bourne, John Barden, Peter Rider, John Randall.

Soldiers enlisted for three years in 1778 :

Josiah Harmon, William Roper, Edward Conolly, Thomas Ward, John Richas, James Kcarus, Anthony Miller.

Soldiers enlisted for nine months in 1778 :

Ezra Hathaway, Peter Hathaway, Abijah Hathaway, Benjamin Cook.

Members of the company of Capt. Edward Spar- row, of Middleboro', in the regiment of Col. Nathan Tyler, at Rhode Island, in 1779 :

Isaac Lapham, Asa Lapham, Cornelius Bacon.

Soldiers enlisted for six months in 1780 :

Asa Soulo, William Thomas, Luther Sampson, Thomas Dingley. Joseph Warrick, Job Turner, William Shurtleff, Jaques Fillebrown, John Lincoln, Isaac Simmons, Joseph Wins- low, Allen Rogers, George Osborn, Jr.

Soldiers enlisted for three years in 1780 :

John Doten, Isane Horton, Petor Booth, John McCarter.

Thus it will be seen that, after all, Marshfield per- formed its full share during the war, and that the spirit which controlled its action in the carly stages of the Revolution was overwhelmed by the ardent patri- otism which finally became infectious among the people of the colonies. But those who had resisted the popular movement were not permitted to go uu- punished. Nathaniel Ray Thomas, characterized in " McFingal" as " that Marsfield blunderer," an edu- cated and influential man, and a graduate of Harvard in the class of 1751, a man living on an estate in- cluding fifteen hundred acres, was proscribed and banished, his property was confiscated, and during the remainder of his life, which ended in 1791, he made

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HISTORY OF MARSHFIELD.

Nova Scotia his home. Ephraim Little, Cornelius White. Johu Baker. Joseph Tilden. John Tilden, Siephen Tilden, and Nathaniel Garnett were im- prisoned in the Plymouth jail, and released by order of Council in October. 1776. on the condition that they would pay the expenses of proceedings against them. and remain on their estates except for the pur- Jose of attending worship on the Sabbath. Elisha Ford was impris ned and released on the same terms, having at the same time been seized and carted to the liberty-pole and required to sign a statement of allegiance. Caleb Carver. Melzar Carver. Thomas Decrow, and Daniel White were proscribed and ban- ished in 1778, Melzar Carver having gone to Halifax after the evacuation of Boston. in 1777. Paul White also was seized and carted to the liberty-pole, where he was required to sign a recantation.

Those confined in Plymouth jail addressed the fol- lowing letter to the Committee of Correspondence :

To the Committee ai Correspondence, Safety. dr., for the town Mirakeld :

GENTLEMEN,-The petition of u .. the inhabitants of said town, humbly showetb, that y or petitioners, on or about the 20th of April. A.D. 1.7 . dil leave said town of Marshfield and repair to the town of Bomten, which conduct of theirs has justly given great fense lo ther townsmen and the country in general. Yur petitionen would therefore beg leave to say, in extenna- tin of their fault, that at the time of their embarkation for the port of B : n the country in general, and more especially De town of Marchfeld. waa in great tumult an ] perplexity. wh h greatly intimi lated anl affrightel y ur petitioners, and they left the sail town in the greatest anxiety and distress of mind that can be expressed, not having time maturely to weigh the unhappyeinsequences that would attend so rash aud ineon- Mera'e a procedure. But hoping and expecting that thing" i a & rt time weid subride, they fully inten led to have re- tro dt their fam 1 ee and friende again, but after their arrival more they found it was impracticable, although they made re- posted application for their return, and your petitioners did embrace the first opportunity t return home, being fully deter- mined not to meif their country, and which permission they with difficulty bta'nel through the mediation of friends. Yer p. pera faither leg leave to say that they can xin- cerely ni truly arm and der are that they never repaired to thetown of Been with a le ign to aid, assist, abett, advise, ir jas the toin teria/ army. and are heartily sorry that their im radent nduct has given .o much offense, and would have y ons der that it i ho nan Io err, and put the most favorable wefuetion on the ron luc', and that it was an error in judg- Ment and not in prin ple, for which error they are heartily wery, and bez the forgiveness of the country in general and More especially of their townemen.

" Your petiti ners would further say that, as far as they know tar own beart, they are -ingere friend" and well-wishers of the god of their country, and would do anything within the erpam of their sphere to promote and support the prosperity and wellare of the fame at the hazard of everything dear to them, and whereas some of your petitionere unadvisedly, with- die omsideration and through inadvertence, did sign an a dr= to General Gage without any itl design to their country, eley humbly ack your forgiveness for that misconduct, and

hope and trust their future behaviour will evidence the sincerity of this their confession.

"Yonr petitioners therefore humbly beg you will take this petition into your eandid and compassionate consideration, and afford them your assistance in a petition to the Great and Gen- eral Court of this eolony for their enlargement, which petition they propose to send in a suitable time after said court shall sit. Your petitioners determine in said petition to givo ample se- curity for their future good eondnet and behaviour, and as Deacon Thomas has the honor to be chosen to represent the town of Marshfield for the ensuing year, we would in a particular man- ner supplicate his good offices and interest in our hehalf. Gen- tlemen. you are sensible that now is the prime of the year, and that most of us have large families to support, and that if wo are debarred from improving our time for that purpose they, as well as ourselves, must hecomo a hurden and chargo to the community, and our innocent wives and children he involved in the same calamity with us. We must beg leave to say that in our humble opinion it would redouud more to the good of the whole that ten or twenty men should be employed in some honest ealling, whereby the public and their families may be benefitted, than that they should be confined in a gaol. Where- fore, confident that you will take a. compassionato regard to the' petition, we beg leave to subscribe ourselves your humble sor- vants,

"# CORNELIUS WHITE. "# EPHRAIM LITTLE. " JOHN TILDEN. " # JOIN BAKER. " ELISHA FOORD. "# NATHANIEL GARNET. " STEPHEN TILDEN. " JOSEPH TILDEN. " # WARREN WHITE.

" PLYMOUTHI, May ye 20th, 1776. '

" And Sylvanus White joins in this petition, and would beg leave further to observe that at the time of their leaving the town of Marshfield his father was under great indisposition of body, and thought it not prudent to leave home without some person to take particular care of him, which was another great inducement to your petitioner for his leaving the place.

" SYLVANUS WHITE."

NOTE .- Those with the mark # did not sign the address to Gen. Gage.

Gen. John Winslow was recognized in the earliest Revolutionary movements as a thorough loyalist, but he died in 1774, before actual hostilities began. His brother, Edward, who had removed to Plymouth, where he held the offices of elerk of the court, regis- ter of probate, and collector of the port, was pro- nounced in his loyalty to the crown, and went to Hali- fax in 1776, and there died in 1784. Pelham Wins- low, a son of the general, a lawyer, who had studied in the office of James Otis, also adhered to the royal cause. He removed to Boston in 1774, to Halifax in 1776, and returned to New York, where he entered the military service with a commission of major, and finally died at Brooklyn in 1783. He also was pro- scribed and banished in 1778.

During the remainder of the second century of the

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

life of Marshfield little occurred except the arrival of Mr. Webster, in 1827, to make an interesting record. In the sketch of Mr. Webster, in another part of this volume, may be found an account of his purchase of the Thomas farm and some reminiscences of his life on the Green's Harbor estate. His citizenship during the last quarter of the century was an appropriate seal on a municipal career which all along its linc had been marked by the lives of distinguished men.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 242

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1706

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706