USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Topsfield > History of Topsfield Massachusetts > Part 13
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We Doe most earnestly Begg that yor Honors would be pleasd To restore him to his freedom againe, & to his former Commission or an higher, in which doeing you will highly engage vs to him & one an other & most of all to yor honored selves & we shall ever pray that God would confirme & blesse yor authority ouer us, who are allready & shall Desire to ap- proue orselves yors in all fidelity, Loyall Servants vnder his majesty.
Sargt John Pabody John Comins
Sargt Isack Comins John How
Sargt Ephrim Dorman Jacob Town
Topsfield : March 1st 78-79.
March 26, 1679. In Answer to the petition of the Inhabi- tants of Topsfield the Council Judgeth it meete to grant their request Restoring Ensigne Gold to his former freedom as also to his Ensignes place. By ye Council.
Edwd Rawson, Secrety. 3
3 Mass. Archives. vol. 69. leaf 221.
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MILITARY AFFAIRS
There was real cause for anxiety in England, when the people living north of the Merrimack river refused to obey the King's mandates and the officers sent here to enforce them. In 1677 it was ordered that the oath of allegiance and fidelity be taken and again the next year. This had long been required of all persons above the age of 12 in England. Fifty-seven men of Topsfield appeared before Ensign John Gould in December and January 1677 and took the oath according to the order of the General Court, and seventy-four gave the oath of allegiance on December 18, 1678.
In 1676, after the outbreak of King Philip's War, the General Court ordered each town to "Scout and ward" and clear up the brushwood along the highways, to prevent skulk- ing of the enemy. This order was probably carried out in Topsfield as elsewhere and no doubt the farmers carried weapons as well as tools into the fields. In March 1678/9 the town made two rates. One was £14. 6s. to procure powder and bullets and the other the clerk was ordered "to gather up of the villedgers (Boxford) that have lad them selues to topcffeeld Compani for to traine with them thare Rate the some of it are to be payed in moni or Indian Corne at two shilins a bushel al to be brought in to the select (men) of topcffeeld."
On October 13, 1680, the General Court ordered the troop- ers of Topsfield, together with those from Newbury, Rowley, Bradford, Andover, Salisbury, Amesbury and Haverhill to belong to a regiment under the command of Major Nathaniel Saltonstall. Two years later the names of Ensign John Gould, for Captain, Sergt. John Peabody, Lieutenant, and Sergt. Ephraim Dorman, Ensign, to the foot company at Topsfield were sent to the Court for approval. However, "the magis- trates consent not hereunto But doe order That Ensign John Gould Bee Lieutenant and Sergt. John Peabody ensign of the Trained Band at Topsfield." 4
In March, 1683, Richard Dummer was appointed Lieuten- ant of the regiment and the same two officers named "to ye ffoot company at Topsfield." In May of that year, Topsfield was one of the towns that was given the liberty to complete their troops to forty-eight men. John Osgood was appointed Captain of these troops, Thomas Baker, Lieutenant, and Ben- jamin Kimball, Cornet.
In the early days it was necessary for each town to have a training field where the troops of the towns and later the
4 Mass. Archives vol. 70, page 88.
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THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
county militia could practice. The proprietors of common lands voted July 4, 1721, to lay out a training field and land for the meeting house. The Common of today is a part of this old training field. The following report was made by the committee: "Ye training field beginning at ye corner of Capt. Hows Land by his barn at ye corner, then north 47 degrees & 3/4 by Mr. Capens field to ye westward 30 poles to a Stake, then turning north 21 degrs to ye Estward with ye parsonage Land on ye northwest 23 poles & 1/4 to a Stake then turning north 74 degr to ye Est partly by ye parsonage & partly by a Remainder Lot on ye north 24 poles to ye Corner of Mr. Capens fence by his Barn then as ye fence runs to Mr. Capens orchard 5 poles $/4 to ye northwards of ye Shop & then to ye Corner of Capt. Hows Orchard by ye pound & down by said orchard untill it comes square with ye Corner whare we began. Containing 7 acres & 34 poles."
In June, 1685, a training was held at Topsfield and a small riot seems to have taken place. The court papers present some details of what a general training day was like. Corp. William Smith was the innkeeper at that time. He had the privilege of retailing liquid refreshment, and his chamber was crowded with the thirsty soldiers and hangers-on. Sam- uel Smith of Ipswich, and his brother-in-law, Nathaniel Ell- ithrop, of Rowley, were probably more or less intoxicated, as was also Jonathan Platts, for Rebecca, the wife of Corporal and Inn keeper Smith, testified that they were quarreling with every company they fell in with that day. Sam'l Smith was warned by friends to be quiet, as Tithingman Pritchard was troubled by his threats to cut his chops. Smith was not subdued; he went forth to meet his enemies, was seized by the Tithingmen and put to the stocks. Ellithrop swore he would burn before Smith should be put into the stocks, and threatened to burn the meeting house, and to chop the stocks in pieces. Mr. Woodbury, of Beverly, was set upon, being apparently a person of some authority, and together with Allen, of Andover, was nearly killed at Smith's, but the crowd was so thick could hardly strike a blow. John Gould testified that he had just dismissed his company, and had repaired with Dr. Bennet to a table, which was a board set out beneath the trees, when Smith came to him to clear his house, he being powerless so to do and he feared they were killing Mr. Wood- bury. But all this drunkenness and rioting at Smith's was not sufficient excitement.
Jonathan Putnam testified that "theire being a ring of wrastelsing (wrestling) and Lt. John Putnam (of Salem
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troop of horse) being one of those that keept upon the Ring I then Saw Richard Salter of Andover com ridding into the said Ring and pressed by force into the said Ring neare his horse's length then I heard the sd Putnam say to him keep back but the said Salter would not then the sd Putnam stroke the sd Salters hors on his nose then the sd Salter said I swear I will shout (shoot) you and presently presented his pistol at sd Putnams face within three or fouer feet and shot him right in his face." Hannah Bridges, aged sixteen, "testified and furder saitheth that after the combustion was over she heard someone talking with said Salter and she heard him say I will goe and make an end of him." Many others testi- fied to the same. A warrant was issued to apprehend Salter for insubordination and resistance to authority, but he fied the country.
The examination of the testimony of the scurrillious speeches against authority upon that day shows that many of the vulgar terms heard when street arabs "sass" each other, were used with identically the same meaning as today.
The trouble that June training day caused lasted a whole year and quite a number of Topsfield and other persons, among them the above mentioned Dr. Bennett, were brought into court charged with rioting.
In 1684, when trouble with the Indians again threatened the colony, Maj. Saltonstall sent the following letter to Lieut. John Gould who was still in command of the military company in Topsfield which belonged to Saltonstall's regiment.
Haverhill May 31: 84
To Lieut: John Gold
In obededience to a Letr I recied : last night from or Majr: Genll: with a comand from him in this vacancie of a setled Sergt : Majr : for ye North Regimt : in Essex to issue our war- rant to ye Comissioned officers for a Speedy survey of ye state & condition of ye soldiers under their comand wth respest to their armes & ammunition & other furniture as ye Law require each man to haue.
These are in his Majts Name & for his service to will & re- quire you to make diligent search & survey how & in wt man- ner all your Soldiers are fitted & furnished wth : arms amuni- tion & other furniture in all respects required by Law And in pticulr yt you wth ye Committee of Militia of ye Towne survey to giue accot : of yr Towne stock of arms and amuni- tion & to see yt it be complet & full and you in yr place as Comand of ye foot & as Comittee man are required to take
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THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
speedy effectual carre yt all defects be repaired & supplyed. of all, we you are to give me a pticular : accot: undr: yor hands yt according to his Magr: Genll : comand I may certifie him and my hand by or upon ye last of June next in wt state & Posture yor Company is in: & therefore I pray faile not to send me yor acct : by ye 20 of June next yt I may haue time to performe wt is required of men.
In ye Majr : Genll : Letter I haue order also to require you we I hereby do wth: all convenient speed to provide a new flight or suit of Colors for yor foot company ye grand feild or flight whereof is to be Green wth a red cross in a white field in the angle according to antient custome of or owne English nation & ye English plantations in America & our owne prac- tice in or ships & other vessels. The bullets to be put into yor colours for distinction & dignitie not being yet deter- mined you may leave out at present wth out damage in make- ing them or hindrance to or after determination. So faile not. yor friend & servant. N. Saltonstall 5
It would appear that Capt. Gould tried unsuccessfully for ten years to collect the money he had expended for drums and colors. On November 22, 1694, he petitioned the Council to force the town to reimburse him but with no better results. 6
The Council apparently asked the town to settle with Capt. Gould and the selectmen replied to this direction on April 9, 1695. In their answer they set forth the reasons why they did not think it right to pay Capt. Gould.
We understand by what we received from your Honors that Capt. Gould of our Towne did petition to your Honors for to have twelve pounds five shillings assessed on our in habitence by a Town vote for Culors drum and druming : and your Honors was pleased in favor only to manifest your opinion and not by way of command : wharefore we thought it would by no ways ofencive to acquaint Sum of our neighbors with it: whareby we are senceable thare will be more opposesion : and it will prove more oncomfortable then the gratist ases- ment as hath com to our Towne: ye resons as are given are as foloweth :
first: since thare hath bene a thurrough Reckoning Capt. Gould and ye Company Capt. Gould hath resoned as som saith a consederable dole of money of ye Company and Capt.
5 Mass. Archives vol. 70, page 234.
6 Mass. Archives vol. 70, page 233.
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Gould ownes Sum and thare desires is that ye acounts may be clere: and then thay are free ye Capt. Should have his due of ye Company :
Secondly : if it should be raised by a towne vote ye Troopers Say thay will not pay if law will help them: because they help bare all publick charg in thare owne Company and no reson to be compeled to help find ye foot Company with Culors and drums :
thirdly: we are informed that Som of ye Judgis in our County doth intarest the law: that if ye Lines fall Short ye Company shall make it up: and that ye Select men are not conserned with it: fourthly : our Towne hath pased a vote that no bills of Charge Should be alowed by ye Select- men but what an approbated by ye Towne: wharefore we humbly conceive If we should proportion it in a Towne vote : So many will stand out at law that ye charge in gathering it may amount to more than ye wholl complyment: before we can bring it to your honors to determen ye case: whare for we are forst to make our adress to your Honors that Sum way may be thought on to prevent troble: we humbly conceive If ye Honor'd Gouernor and Counsell will be plesed in a few lines to order Capt. Gould and ye Company to Reckon : and ye Company to pay ye Capt. what is his due: and how thay may be compeled to pay thare proportion as are or wiling : we humbly conseive it will put a finall isshew not only for ye preasant but for ye future troble: we are ye more bould knowing by what we see and here: it is your Honors ut most indeuer to promote not only ye peace and prospearyty of ye wholl provence but of every Towne: we humbly beg gods blesing and proasences with you in all your weighty conserns : humbly craveing pardon for our bould nes we rest your Honros humbl Servants.
Dat ye 9 of Aprill 1695
Ephraim Dorman Tobiah Perkins Elisha Perkins Jacob Towne Selectmen of Topsfield
A little over two years later, at a town meeting held Janu- ary 12, 1696/7, another article appeared in the warrant ask- ing that "thay would allow a bill of charge as Capt. Gould gave in to ye Selectmen about druming and drums and cul- lers" and it was again voted in the negative. With Capt. Gould's characteristic determination, on February 7, 1698/9
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THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
the question was again "put to ye Towne whether or not they would alow Capt. Gould's bill of charge," and the vote was negative. However, "notwithstanding ye Towne Voted a negetive to Capt. Gould's bill yit what doth justly apere to be due to Capt. Gould for his sons Druming sence ye law made in 95 ye Towne doth alow to be paid in a Towne Rate a true acount being given of ye fines."
In 1690, the Topsfield company with those of Ipswich, Rowley, Gloucester, Wenham and Boxford, made up one of the three Essex Company regiments.
The change in the order of government in the Colony which began after the accession of James II to the throne of Eng- land was not willingly accepted. The gradual oppression aroused the ire of the independent Puritans. The spirit of liberty taught by their religion and nourished by their past privileges was not easily restrained. Passive submission was impossible to some high strung natures. Topsfield joined with the neighboring towns in voicing their discontent. Among the first to express his indignation at the new order of affairs was a respected citizen of the town, Lieut. John Gould, who had long served as an officer in the local military company. He seemed to have special feeling against the court regulation and publicly expressed himself in strong terms. But his liberty of speech cost him dearly. Among those who heard his words of noble indiscretion were: Isaac Cummings, John Wildes and John How. They told under oath of treas- onable & seditious words spoken by John Gould and he was charged with treason. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was committed to jail in Boston August 5, 1686. He seems to have suffered from some physical ailment and there- fore sent a petition to the President and Council in conse- quence of which it was ordered: That the Prison-keeper do permit the said John Gould to have the benefit of the Prison yard to walk in during his sickness (the keeper taking care the said Gould make not an escape) till further order. On August 19 he was brought to trial before a special session of the Court held in Boston. The testimony showed that be- tween the 23d and 30th of May, "being evilly affected against our most sacred Lord the King aforesaid, his supreme and natural Lord, and devising with all his might, and intending to disturb the peace and common tranquility of this his Maj- esty's Territory and Domain of New England. as the same is now settled by his Majesty's Royal Commission under his great seal of England, and the introducing again of the late Government dissolved by law, at a Riotous Muster of armed
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men gathered together by him, the aforesaid John Gould as their pretended officer, at Topsfield aforesaid, . . . did against the duty of his Allegiance, and in terror of his Majesty's liege, People, maliciously, wickedly, seditiously, treasonably, and advisedly, speak and utter these malicious, treasonable, and seditious speeches following, viz: If the Country was of his mind, they would keep Salem Court with the former Magis- trates, and if the Country would go the Rounds, he would make the first, and would go and keep Salem Court, and he would have his Company down to do it. And, further, he,
. . . on or about the 11th day of July, at Topsfield aforesaid, maliciously advisedly and treasonably, did say and utter these malicious, treasonable and seditious words, following, viz : That he was under another Government and had sworn to another Government, and did not know this Government, and this in manifest contempt of his Majesty's laws and Govern- ment here in New England, to the will and pernicious example of all others in the like case offending, and against the peace of our said Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and dignity." He was found guilty of the charge of treason and sent to prison. The punishment thus meted out to him was hard to bear. His family, consisting of wife and eight children, was deprived of the means of support and he therefore sent a special petition to the President and Council promising alle- giance to the new government, stating that he is "heartily sorry for the idle words he uttered" and asked that upon his payment of twenty pounds, fees of Court, and giving suffi- cient security for his good behavior he may be freed from his imprisonment. The total amount of the bill of costs was £10.01.00. His petition was granted and on August 25 he was released from confinement, upon payment of fifty pounds and charges of prosecution. As security for his future good behavior Lieut. Gould bound himself in the sum of £100.
The readiness with which the gallant lieutenant swore de- votion to the King's government, now that adversity had followed his resistance, is at first surprising, but in the absence of any wide spread disposition to rebel against the authority of the King, it may have seemed useless that he should become a martyr, and in praying for release upon the terms stated, he did but follow the example of the majority, who, much as they disliked to do so, realized that submission was for the present the wisest course. He seems to have suffered nothing in the respect of his fellow citizens, for later he was re-elected to his old office as selectman of the town, and in 1690, and afterwards, he was chosen the deputy of Topsfield to the
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THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
General Court. It seems also from the record of a church meeting held in the house of Rev. Joseph Capen, June 13, 1692, that the church in Topsfield approved his course and was displeased at the conduct of John How and others.
In consequence of John How's testimony against Gould at the time of his trial, a coldness had sprung up and continued to exist between them. Both were members of the church, but Gould concluded, as is surmised, that if How is a worthy member of the Christian church, and one with whom it is fit and proper for brethren to hold communion, why, then I am not such a member, and I will just stay away. Accordingly for a considerable time he remained away from the communion service. It was in the endeavor to bring about more cordial relations between the two men that this meeting of the church was called. The church expressed its disapproval of the con- duct of those who had testified against Gould, and How ac- knowledged that he was heartily sorry for his part in that affair. The church also disapproved of Gould's neglect of the table of the Lord and he expressed contrition. The two men then shook hands in token of mutual forgiveness, each no doubt made happier by this manly course, while the bless- ing of the peace maker was the portion of the church 7
When the committee of militia petitioned for relief from further military service in 1693, it was shown that there were but sixty able-bodied men in the local company and twelve of these were serving in the army. 8 In these early days men in certain trades were excused from military service by act of the General Court. In 1697 Isaac Peabody, the son of Lieut. Francis Peabody brought suit against John Gould and John French of the Topsfield Foot Company, for recovery of five pewter plates which the latter had taken from Isaac's house as a fine for not watching. Lieut. Peabody testified that his son was the only miller for the grist mill and part owner of it and men of such calling were exempted from watching, parad- ing and training. 9 In 1702, Capt. John Gould was allowed one pound and four shillings for a gun which he bought to send Neeland out with and which was then a part of the town stock. The law directed the towns from time to time to take an ac- count of their supply of ammunition. Topsfield, as did many other towns, kept its supply in the meeting house. Among some old papers a memorandum was found of the amount on
7 Poole. The treason of Lieut. John Gould. Topsfield Hist. Coll. vol. III.
8 Mass. Archives. vol. 70, page 188.
9 Court of General Sessions.
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hand. The first record preserved was dated in 1705/6. "Ac- count of the Town stock laid in the meeting house, and ye waght of Powder in on ye barells is 76 lbs in ye 2 small caskes 33 lbs : 34 lbs : 143 & ye Bulets 265 lbs & flints 330 & Capt. Gould Brought of Bulets 23 Lb & flints 400 & all was laid up in the meeting house Elisha Perkins by Order of ye Select- men"
Feby ye 18 1705/6
On Nov. 18, 1730, there was an account taken of the "Pow- der & flints laid up in the meeting house for ye Town stock by Capt. John Howlet & ye Selectmen of Topsfield & one barell wieghed 72 pounds & a small barrell of powder wieghed 34 pounds & the other barrells of powder weighed 31 pounds the whole is 137 & the number of flints is 536 By Order Benj. Towne Clerk"
"1738 Aug. 22 great barrell 72 the others 34 & 31 Bullets with the bbl 264 pounds & 532 flints
1743 70-33-30. bulets 2621/2 flints 495
1744 Same 1745 69-33-31
Nov. 1745 Bulets 250 flints 522
47 653/4 31-34 Bullets 271"
On October 19, 1745, the town was asked to "raise money to Supply the Town with a Sufficient Stock of Powder and Bullets, and flints as the Law Directs."
In the following March, Capt. Wildes was paid 14 shillings old tenor for two Casks to put the Town's bullets in. The next year he was paid for a lock for the powder room.
Benjamin Towne was a prominent citizen of Topsfield and was a member of the local militia for many years, serving as an officer during his later life. He was the son of Joseph, born in 1691. On September 22, 1738, he was appointed En- sign by Governor Belcher. Ivory Hovey was then Captain and the regiment was under the command of Colonel John Wainwright of Ipswich. In 1740, Mr. Town was appointed Lieutenant of the Foot company of militia. . . under Capt. John Wildes in the 3rd regiment . . . whereof Thomas Berry is Colonel. And in 1751 Mr. Town became Captain of the company. In 1754, Capt. Towne failed to renew his commis- sion as requested and received a reprimand from his superior officer for neglect to do so. 10
There were two military companies in town in 1745, one under the command of Capt. John Wildes and the other under Capt. Tobijah Perkins. The law directed an account of men in the military companies at that time and the following re- turns were made :
10 Towne family papers.
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THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
An a Count of the Training men under the Comman of Capt. John Wildes. 1745
Lieut. Benjamin Towne
William Gallip
Insi. Daniel Gould
Aaron Hovey
Sha. Luke Averill
Daniel Lake
Sha. Nathaniel Averill
William McKittery
Sha. Samuel Curtis
Thomas Mower
Sha. Israel Clark
Joseph Perkins
Cor. Nathaniel Porter
John Simonds
Cor. Thomas Howlett
Samuel Smith
Cor. Solomon Gould
Stephen Towne
Cor. Jacob Robinson
Elisha Towne
Clar. Richard Towne
Samuel Towne
Benjamin Bixby
Jonathan Towne
Samuel Curtis, 2nd
Gideon Towne
Joseph Cummings
Jabush (Jabez) Towne
Thomas Dwinel, 2nd
Ephraim Towne
Georg Dwinel
Joseph Towne
Jacob Dwinel
Jacob Towne
Zacheus Gould
Elisha Towne, 2nd
Simon Gould
David Towne
Joseph Gould
Benjamin Towne
John Gould
Jeremiah Towne
Eliezer Gould
Samuel Tapley
An A Count of the training men under Capt. Perkins in our town at this day December 1745.
Corp. David Cummings
Benjamin Dwinell
Lieut. Thomas Baker
Michael Dwinell, 2nd
Cor. Thomas Gould
Samuel Howlet, 2nd
Cor. Math Peabody
Eliezer Lake
Cor. Samuel Towne
Samuel Masters
Clar. Dan Clark
Elisha Perkins
Joseph Andrews
Thomas Perkins, 2nd
Samuel Bradstreet
John Perkins
Simon Bradstreet
Samuel Perkins
John Batchellor
Robert Perkins
Cornelius Balch Joshua Balch
John Perkins, 2nd
David Balch, 2nd John Balch
John Redington
Daniel Bixby
Robert Smith
David Cummings, 2nd
Jonathan Stanley
Elisha Cummings
Robert Perkins, 2nd
Thomas Perkins
Philip Towne
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MILITARY AFFAIRS
Sogers on the Este Sid of the Rod.
Ebenezer Averill Jacob Averill Jeremiah Averill
Joseph Kneeland
Nathaniel Loo (Low)
John Lefaver
Andru Bradstreet
Old Marchell (Marshall) ,
John Bradstreet
Richard Marchell
Isaac How or Cummings
Jacob Perkins, 2nd
Daniel Cummings
Joseph Perkins, 2nd
John Clark
William Perkins
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