USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > History of Rehoboth, Massachusetts; its history for 275 years, 1643-1918, in which is incorporated the vital parts of the original history of the town > Part 13
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Soon the British formed themselves into a line in front of our regiment and commenced to fire, slightly wounding three of Colonel Carpenter's men. After the exchange of a few shots, the British, thinking the Americans were about to be reinforced, made a hasty retreat and were pursued by some of the American soldiers.
One soldier, Fuller by name, being foremost of those in pursuit, coming upon two British soldiers who were just leaving a house where they had stopped for refreshments, leveled his musket at them and called out to them, "Throw down your arms or I'll
126
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
shoot you through." They instantly obeyed and Fuller, in all the joy and pride of triumph, led back two gigantic British prison- ers to the Colonel. Colonel Carpenter, contrasting their size with the inferior stature of their captor, inquired of Fuller how he managed to take them. "Why, Colonel," he answered good- humoredly, "I surrounded them." Colonel Carpenter's regiment was out on service at this time only three months. One of the companies of this regiment was raised partly in Attleborough and partly in Norton and was under the command of Captain Elisha May of the former town.
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF REHOBOTH MEN, EITHER RESIDENTS OF OR ACCREDITED TO THE TOWN, WHO ENLISTED IN THE CON- TINENTAL ARMY AT VARIOUS PERIODS OF THE WAR
The terms of enlistment range from three months to three years, or "during the War." The list also includes the few who paid money to raise Continental soldiers. The list given in Bliss's History has been corrected and much enlarged by reference to the State volumes. Names not found in the latter are marked with an asterisk. They are not therefore discredited, for the state list is admittedly imperfect, having been compiled more than a hun- dred years after the event; and besides a name may have been recorded under a different spelling. As a soldier often served with different captains at different times, this list does not give the names of these officers in connection with each man. Among them were Captains Bullock, Carpenter, Cole, Franklin, Hill, Hix, Hull, Martin, and Peck.
Alger, James
Bicknell, Turner
Alger, Nicholas
Bishop, Comfort
Allen, John
Bishop, Oliver
Allen, John, Serg.
Bishop, Sylvanus
Allen, Samuel, Jr.
Bishop, Sylvanus, 2d
Allen, Thomas
Black, David
Anderson, John
Blackington, James
Baird, John
Blackman, Elijah
Baker, Samuel*
Bliss, Allen
Barker, Barnabas
Bliss, Asa
Barker, John
Bliss, David
Barker, Samuel
Bliss, Elisha
Barney, Nathaniel
Bliss, Joshua
Barney, Paul
Bliss, Samuel 1
Barrett, Michael
Bliss, Samuel, Jr.
Bears, Spencer
Blye, James
Beers, Peleg
Boffington, Benjamin
1 Samuel Bliss, who afterwards bore the title of Captain, was General Washington's steward at Morristown in the winter of 1777.
127
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Bourke, John Bourn, Moses Bowen, Bezaleel Bowen, Ephraim* Bowen, Isaac Bowen, Isaiah Bowen, John, Jr. Bowen, Obadiah Bowen, Stephen Bowen, Thomas Bowman, Charles Brailey, William Breton, William Brown, Benjamin Brown, Bezaleel Brown, Daniel Brown, Gideon Brown, Moses Bucklin, Elijah Bucklin, James Bucklin, Jonathan Bucklin, Oliver Buckling, William Bullock, Comfort* Bullock, David* Bullock, Jacob Bullock, Jonathan
Bullock, William Burr, Nathaniel Campbell, John Campbell, Thomas
Campbell, Thomas, 2d
Carpenter, Elisha
Carpenter, John Carpenter, Remember
Carpenter, Thomas, 2d* Carpenter, William Chaffee, Comfort
Chaffee, Noah* Chaffee, Shubael* Chaffee, Stephen
Clear, Joseph Cole, Allen
Cole, Isaiah (Josiah?) Cole, Jacob Cole, James Cole, John
Cole, Zephaniah Corps, John
Cranston, Samuel Daggett, James Daggett, Joseph
Dala, Edward Dala, James David, (negro) Drown, Jonathan Dryer, Israel Dryer, Jonathan Duffey, Luke
Elword, Samuel Emerson, Ephraim Emmerson, John Enos, David Fairbrother, Richard
Fairbrother, William Foster, Joseph
Franklin, Benjamin
Franklin, Wilson
Freeman, Job
Fuller, Amos
Garey, Seth
Gladding, Ebenezer
Gladding, James Gladding, James, Jr.
Goff, Ezra
Goff, Israel
Greenwood, Thomas
Harding, John
Harridon, Rufus
Hathaway, Job
Healey, Job
Hicks, Chase*
Hide, Abel
Hill, John
Hill, Stephen
Hindel, John*
Hix, James
Hix (or Hicks), Nathan
Horton, William
Hoskins, William*
Hubbard, Hezekiah
Hunt, Cato (negro)
Hunt, Levi
Hunter, Alexander
Ide, Abel
Ide, John
Ide, Nathan
Ide, Peleg
Ingalls, Jacob
Ingals, Joseph
Ingals, Jonathan
Ingraham, Nathaniel
Ingraham, Obediah
Jenks, Primus
Jones, Isaiah Jones, John
Kenedy, David
Kenedy, Hugh
Larrance, George
Lewis, Levi
Lewis, Thomas
Luther, Eber
Lyndley, John, Jr.
Lyon, Aaron
Mackintier, Samuel
Martin, Gideon
McLean, John
McMillen, John
128
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
Mc Millian, John Medbury, Benjamin Medbury, John (Ensign)
Mesuzen, Francis Millard, Peter Millerd, Peter Mitchell, *
Monroe, Nathan
Negro, Caesar*
Newton, Francis
Newton, John (Swansea?)
Nichols, Eleazer
Nichols, Nathaniel
Ollis, Gabriel
Smith, Stukley
Smith, Thomas
Smith, William
Streeter, Eleazer
Tate (or Tait), Forbes
Peck, Gaius
Thomson, Edward
Peck, James
Thresher, Arthur
Peck, Joshua
Thresher, Charles
Peck, Shubael
Thresher, Joseph*
Peck, Sylvester
Thresher, Noah
Titus, Timothy
Trip, Benjamin
Perry, Constant
Perry, Elijah
Perry, James
Perry, Jesse
Perry, Samuel
Perry, Samuel, 2d
Turner, Wheaton
Twity, Samuel
Vernason, Lisedor
Vickery, Robert
Wade, Sylvanus
Waldren, James, Jr.
Walker, Enos
Walker, Nathan
Walker, Samuel
Walker, Timothy
Walker, Timothy, Jr.
Webster, Nicholas
Weeks Moses*
Wheaton, Jesse
Wheeler, James
Wheeler, Jesse*
Wheeler, Luther
Wheeler, Russell
Wheeler, Samuel
Wheeler, Samuel, 2d
Wheeton, Ephraim
Whitaker, Ephraim
Whitaker, Jesse
Whitaker, Jo
Whitaker, Nathaniel
Whitaker, Rufus
Round, William* Ryle, Nicholas
Sage, James Sanders, Jesse Shadduck, Jeffrey
Sharman, Samuel Shorey, Samuel Smart, John
Smith, Amos
Smith, Daniel
Smith, Nathaniel
Smith, Sam
Smith, Samuel
Smith, Sarel
Smith, Solomon
Ormsbee, Joseph Parry, Samuel Peabody, Ick.
Peck, Calvin
Perren, Daniel Perrey, Caesar Perrin, Isaac
True, Solomon
Turner, Allen
Turner, Amos
Turner, Charles
Turner, Constant
Turner, Nathan
Pierce, Jesse
Pierce, John
Pierce, Philip
Pierce, Thomas
Prat, Simeon
Read, David
Read, Ephraim
Read, Obediah
Records, Simon
Renoph, Charles
Reves, Pompey
Reynolds, Thomas
Richards, John
Roberts, George
Robertson, Jonathan
Robinson, John
Robinson, John, 2d
Robinson, Jonathan
Robinson, Jonathan, 2d
Robinson, Obed
Rogers, James Round, Isaac
Round, John Round, Oin*
Round, Samuel
Whitcomb, Ezra White, Jabez
129
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Whitrew, Jesse
Wier, Elias Wilford, Nicholas* Williams, Barzillai Williams, John Wilkinson, Joseph Willmarth, Benjamin
Wilmarth, Benjamin, 2d Willmarth, Valentine* Wilmarth, Thomas
Wilmarth, Thomas, 2d
Wilson, John
Zone, Lewis
FINANCIAL RECORDS
The treasurer's book in the period of the Revolution records items of financial interest and at the same time throws light upon other phases of the war.
"May 1778. Recd. of the town by money hired for them to hire Soldiers to the Fishkills Seven Hundred & Twenty Pounds. (£720.0s. 0d.)"
"June ye 4th A. D. 1778. Then Received of Capt. John Lindley Committeeman Ninety pounds in full of ye Town of Rehoboth's bounty due to three men in my Company engaged as soldiers for nine months service to the Fishkills viz: for John Emerson, Asa Bliss, and John Pearce Thirty Pounds each, in all Ninety Pounds. (£90. 0s. 0d.)" Silvanus Martin, Capt."
On the same day Capt. Nathaniel Carpenter receipted for £120. Os. Od. for four soldiers for the same term of service to the Fish- kills, viz .: John Cole, Pomp Reaves, Bezalel Brown and Levi Hunt.
Likewise on the same day, in behalf of Capt, Simeon Cole, Ebenezer Peck, 2d, receipted for ninety pounds (£90. 0s. 0d.) for three soldiers in the same expedition, viz., Silvester Peck, Allen Cole and Nathan Hix.
Also in behalf of Capt. Israel Hix, Ebenezer Peck, 2d, receipted for ninety pounds (£90. 0s. Od.) for three men in the same service; viz., James Peck, Calvin Peck, and John Round.
June 5, 1778, Capt. Joseph Franklin receipted for ninety pounds (£90. 0s. Od.) bounty to three soldiers to the Fishkills; viz., Stephen Chaffee, Elijah Perry, and James Alger.
Also June 5, 1778, Capt. James Hill receipted for ninety pounds (£90. 0s. Od.) for three soldiers to the Fishkills; viz., Oliver Buck- lin, Thomas Wilmarth, 2d, and Nicholas Alger. (See town book, page 99.)
On the town book, page 105, three Revolutionary soldiers serv- ing three years are named in an unsigned receipt of forty-five pounds' bounty, for which sum the "subscriber" indemnifies the town against any further demand; viz., John Lindley, 2d, Peter
9
130
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
Miller 2d, and Jesse Perry. The hand is doubtless that of Capt. Silvanus Martin.
Thus we have the names of twenty-two Revolutionary soldiers to whom the town paid bounties in 1778, nineteen of whom served in the expedition to the Fishkills.
"March ye 30th, 1780. Paid 593£ Principle & £27. 9s. 8d. In- terest in Part of an order No. 179 to Innable me to take up se- curities given for money for the men that went to the Fishkills, as witness my hand. John Lindley. (£620. 9s. 8d.)"
"May 26, 1780. Recd of Jesse Perrin one of the Selectmen the Sum of one Thousand fifty-one Pounds fourteen shillings & four Pence it being money he recd. of Col. Thomas Carpenter for supplying the Soldiers' familys. (£1051. 4s. 4d.)"
Col. Carpenter probably received this money from the State.
"May ye 27, 1780. Recd. by order of the Selectmen by Elkanah French the Sum of one Thousand four hundred & twenty-five Pounds two Shillings & one Penny, being money that was due to the town from the State for supplying the Soldiers' familys. (£1425.2s. 1d.)."
"June 19, 1780. Then Received of Lieut. Noah Allin forty Pounds and ten Shillings it being money that he dru oute of the Treasury for to hier Soljers with. (£40. 10s. 0d.)."
"Nov. 2, 1780. Then we the subscribers received of Capt. Lindley, Treasurer of the aforesaid Town of Rehoboth the Sum cf two Thousand Three Hundred and Sixty Pounds and Seven- teen Shillings for Procuring ye Beef for the Continental Army, as witness our hands
(£2360. 17s. 0d.). William Cole. Jesse Perrin."
"Dec. ye 19, 1780. Paid Jesse Perrin two thousand five hundred and thirty Continental dollars towards Purchasing the Town's Quota of Beef as may appear by his receipt of that date. (£759. 0s. 0d.)"
"Apr. ye 13, 1781. Recd. of Jesse Perrin Sixty pounds for Lemuel Bowers bounty from Boston. (£60. 0s. Od.)"
"Apr. 13, 1781. Recd. of Jesse Perrin the Sum of Seven Hun- dred and Ninety-two Pounds, two Shillings in part of the mildage money sent from Boston. (£792.2s.0d.)"
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THOMAS WILLETT.
1610-1674 FIRST MAYOR
NEW YORK SERVED 1665 AND 1667
ERECTED BY THE CITY CLUB OF NEW YORK : 1913
WILLETT
THE WILLETT MONUMENT Wannamoiset (Old Rehoboth)
131
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
FACSIMILE AUTOGRAPHS OF REHOBOTH MEN.
The first three names in this list are autographs of signers of the compact for the government of the town, viz., Walter Palmer, Ralph Shepherd, and Samuel Newman. The date of each man's signature is given with his name. We here note briefly a few of the more prominent names.
William Blanding; respected citizen, father of William, Jr., grandfather of James, and great-grandfather of William W.
Phanuel Bishop; captain in Revolutionary Army.
Jesse Perin;
Silvanus Martin;
Joseph Willmarth;
Thomas Carpenter, 3d, Colonel Thomas of Revolutionary fame.
Timothy Walker; colonel in the Revolution.
Abiah Bliss; colonel in militia.
Thomas Bowen;
Shubael Peck;
Abraham Ormsbe;“
Eliphalet Slack; lieut .- colonel in militia.
James Bliss; physician, surgeon in Revolutionary Army.
Ephraim Starkweather; confidential adviser of Gov. John Han- cock during war of the Revolution.
Stephen Bullock; district judge.
Comfort Seamans; minister at Hornbine church; died in his 105th year.
Elkanah French, Jr., political partizan; presided at "fighting town meeting" in 1811.
Abraham Bliss; land owner and miller at what is now Rehoboth village; then "Bliss's Mills."
Danl. Carpenter; Surveyor.
Ebenezer Peck; founder of the iron forging privilege at Great Meadow Hill.
Job MEX Stephen Bullock 1644
1774 Afaac Bur 1767 John Carnes. 1759
1644
Samuel Newman 1344
DanTamentos
William Blanding.
1780 1765 0 Janvier Carpenter 1809 Barnes Blanding Peter Consentir 1828
1758
Channel BiffaplchristopherCarpenter 1777
1809
Thomas Carpenter 3) 1770
1759
Ashael B lips 1824
Ephraim Blifs 17 47
1828 William Cole 1779 John Cooper
James Blijf
Thor Bowen
1760
1.Briel. 13 life 1779
Solomon Bradford Andenich Inven
Nathan Daggett 1776
Preferred Brayton
777/ Robert Abel 1764
Aliah Blifs 1777
Jacob Faller 177/
Elhanale Franchow
1788
132
gasid parry 1767
Joseph Goff John Greenwood 1777 1781
Ephefinne ganit 1755
John Hunt
1774
Peter Tent 1786
Rolt Rogerson
John Lindley- 1765
1772
Silvanay Marta 1777
Stephenmoulton Jemuel W Remington 11760
Benjaminmunno Grace Nichol Eliphalet Slack 1753
--
Ephraim Markweather 1773
Abraham Ormake
Safhua Smitte 1780 abierer Peck 1762
Tarias Jeanony
1777
-
--
Ebenezer Pect 1778 Shabad Peck 1777
Miles Shorey 1778 STimothy Walker /775
0
Jefeph willomonth 1787
--
miel parce 1757
Ezra 1783
Dervy
Timothy Redway. 1764
133
1 1764
134
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
From the time that the British first took possession of Rhode Island, in December, 1776, till they finally evacuated it,-a period of more than two years, the militia of this town and vicinity were subject to frequent drafts of men, and were frequently called out on alarms. Drafts were made in January, February, March, May, June, July and August, of the year 1777. The men were stationed principally at Howland's Ferry (Tiverton) and at War- wick. One company, if not more, marched from this town to Rhode Island in Oct., 1777, and served one month in Spencer's "secret expedition."
In Sullivan's expedition on Rhode Island, in August, 1778, Col. Carpenter, with a large detachment of his regiment, marched to join Sullivan's army on the Island, and distinguished them- selves for their bravery. The following is a copy of the orders issued by the Council of Massachusetts to Cols. Hawes, Car- penter, Daggett, Hathaway, Sproat and Williams, at this time, for a draft of men :-
"STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY.
"Council Chamber, Aug. 18th, 1778.
"Whereas Major General Sullivan has represented to this board, that by reason of the absence of the French troops, which he expected would co-operate with him, he is in pressing need of a re-inforcement: therefore
"Ordered, That the following Colonels be, and are, hereby directed to detach from their respective regiments the several numbers of men hereafter mentioned, and form them into com- panies of sixty-eight men each, including one captain, two sub- alterns, four sergeants, four corporals, one drummer and one fifer, and see that they be equipped, armed and accoutered as the law directs, and order them to march immediately to the island of Rhode Island, and there to do duty during the campaign on said Island, viz .: from Col. Hawes' regiment, one hundred and fifty men, including officers and one major; from Col. Carpenter's regiment, one hundred and fifty men, including officers; from Col. Daggett's regiment, one hundred and fifty men, including officers and one colonel; from Col. Hathaway's regiment, one hundred and fifty men, including officers and one lieutenant colonel; from Col. Sproat's regiment, one hundred and fifty men, including officers; from Col. Williams's regiment, one hundred and fifty men, including officers; and make return to the council without loss of time.
"A true copy,
"Attest, JOHN AVERY, D'y Sec'y."
135
AFFAIRS SUCCEEDING THE REVOLUTION
Col. Carpenter was in the action on Rhode Island, Aug. 29, 1778, and was distinguished for his activity and bravery. It is said that, when the Americans advanced to the first charge, Col. Carpenter pushed on with so much bravery, that the enemy opposed to him gave way, and he was drawn so far in advance of the army that the British made an attempt, by despatching a division around the side of a hill opposite to him, to attack him in the rear and cut him off from the main army; but being apprised of his danger by one of the aids of General Sullivan, he very dexterously managed to fall back in good order, with the line of the main army, and thus, probably, avoided falling into the hands of the enemy. Several of the soldiers of Col. Carpen- ter's regiment, belonging to Rehoboth, were slain in this action. The names of three of them were Medbury, Peck, and John Dryer. These three fell on one spot. Benjamin Smith, of Swan- sey, was wounded by the bursting of a bomb-shell.
AFFAIRS SUCCEEDING THE REVOLUTION
In 1784, the town voted, "in addition to the money already granted for schooling, £20 for a grammar school."
"March 21, 1785. Voted to choose a committee to regulate the fishery in the river, called Palmer's River."
The fish caught here were shad, bass and alewives. Before the erection of the dam across Palmer's River, at Orleans Factory, shad and alewives used to ascend the river as far as Rehoboth village.
Rehoboth, in common with the other towns of the colonies, felt severely the pressure of the times which immediately succeeded the war. The large drafts made for men and money to carry on the war, the scarcity of money and the great depreciation in the value of the paper currency with which the officers and soldiers had been paid for their services, the increase of public and private debts, the decay of business and the want of confidence in the government, overwhelmed the people with a multitude of em- barrassments public and private, under which it seemed to them impossible to rise. These embarrassments, which were styled "grievances," and which were the natural results of the protracted war through which they had just passed, were charged upon the government; whence, too, they vainly looked for that relief which
1
136
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
could be found only in industry and economy. The state govern- ments were embarrassed with heavy debts, contracted on account fo the war; and the general government, held together only by the frail and feeble tenure of the confederation, was ready to fall with the least internal commotion, and was, to all efficient pur- poses, powerless. This state of things, so different from what they had so long and so fondly anticipated from the return of peace and the establishment of their independence, the people charged upon the government, calling in question both its ad- ministration and the principles of its constitution. The cries for reform were loud and vehement on every side, and a large party was formed hostile to the existing state government, which soon pushed its claims at the point of the bayonet. This party was headed by Daniel Shays, from whom this opposition received the name of "Shays' rebellion." A majority of the people in Re- hoboth, as will be seen from the votes passed by the town at this time, favored the opinions of this party.
"June 19, 1786. Voted to choose a committee to meet with other towns' committees, in the county of Bristol, in a county convention, to consult on the rights of the people of said common- wealth, and to petition the General Court for redress of grievances, or to take any other measures, that the convention, when met, shall judge to be the right of the people of this commonwealth." The town chose for this committee Capt. Phanuel Bishop, Maj. Frederick Drown, and Mr. William Daggett."
"December 25, 1786. The town voted that they wished to have an alteration in the present system of government in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, by a majority of 110 of what then voted."
"January 22, 1787. Voted that the selectmen be instructed to remove the powder and other town stock, that is now at Col. Thomas Carpenter's, as soon as conveniently may be."
Col. Carpenter was a staunch friend of the government.
The names of the following persons are registered in the town records, as having taken the oath of allegiance to the Common- wealth, and delivered up their arms, during March of 1787. These men belonged to the party of Shays, and had probably taken arms against the government :-
Joseph Porter,
Simeon Round,
Nathan Hix, 2d,
Joseph Bowen,
James Cole, Timothy Fuller,
William Fairbrother, Laben Lake,
Nathaniel Thurber,
137
AFFAIRS SUCCEEDING THE REVOLUTION
Cyril Smith, Hezekiah Smith,
Jacob Bliss, jr.
Square Goff, jr.
Daniel Short, James Bullock,
Oliver Smith,
Benjamin Monroe,
Nathan Newman,
Benjamin Bowen,
Jabez Round, 3d,
Samuel Carpenter, Jarvis Peck,
Ezra Thayer,
Jacob Bliss,
Isaac Burr,
Asa Bowen,
Abiel Horton,
Laben Briggs, Amos Cole,
John Hopkins.
November 26, 1787. The town chose Capt. Phanuel Bishop, Maj. Frederick Drown, and William Windsor, Esq., delegates to the State Convention, to meet at Boston, the second Wednesday of January, 1788, "to consult on the Federal Constitution, re- commended by the late Federal Convention, which sat at Phila- delphia the summer past."
This year, "Voted to raise £120 for schooling; £20 to be ap- plied to the support of a grammar school."
"March 17, 1788. Voted to provide a work-house for the ac- commodation of the poor of the town."
The votes for Governor, this year, were 102 for John Hancock, and 263 for Elbridge Gerry.
The same sum was raised for schools for the three succeeding years as in the preceding year, and £20 yearly, as before, de- voted to the support of a grammar school.
April 2, 1792. The town raised for the support of schools, "in- cluding the Latin school," £150. Also "voted that the select- men be empowered to procure such grammar schools as shall an- swer the law, in the different parts of the town, for learning the Latin and Greek languages."
April 1, 1793. The town voted to raise for the support of schools, £150.
"October 6, 1794. Voted that the treasurer of this town be directed to pay to each non-commissioned officer and soldier, raised for this town's quota of eighty thousand men, ordered by Congress to be raised, forty shillings each, when they are ordered to march out of this town on a campaign, and forty shillings each to every man aforesaid, for every month they shall con- tinue in the camp, after one month from the time they shall march: the money to be paid in one month after their return from service."
This army of "eighty thousand men" was raised to repel
Jacob Cole,
Charles Round, James Martin,
Luke Bowen,
Israel Hicks,
138
HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
the threatened invasion of France; and Washington was placed at its head.
"February 24, 1794. Voted to remonstrate with the Legis- lature of Rhode Island against a bridge being built over Kelley's Ferry, near Warren."
May 6, 1795. A motion for petitioning the General Court to incorporate the west precinct of Rehoboth into a separate town, was carried by vote in the negative. Voted to raise £175 for the support of schools, of which £25 was to be appropriated to a grammar school.
In 1796, the town voted for the support of grammar and common schools, $666.66. The sum of $666 was thereafter raised yearly for the support of schools till 1804. In 1804, 1805, and 1806, $666.77 was raised for the same purpose; and in 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, $700 was raised, and in 1811, $800.
THE FIGHTING TOWN MEETING.
A town meeting was held in May, 1811, which from its noise and violence has since been known as "The Fighting Town Meet- ing." The following is a summary of the report of the committee on contested elections appointed by the General Court "in the case of the remonstrance of Stephen Bullock and four hundred and three others, inhabitants of the town of Rehoboth, in the County of Bristol, against the election of Elkanah French, Caleb Abell, John Medbury, Sebra Lawton, and Timothy Walker, returned as members of this house from said town" :-
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