USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Topsfield > History of Topsfield Massachusetts > Part 16
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In the spring of 1758, Louisburg which had been returned to the French, was again besieged and surrendered in July. Troops were also gathered at Lake George. Eight Topsfield men were in Capt. Stephen Whipple's company, Col. Jona- than Bagley's regiment. Dudley Perkins died on September 22. Archelaus Dwinnell was a corporal in this company and died September 20th. The other men were : 46
Father or Master Enlisted Discharged
John Cree
April 1 November 9
Davis Howlett Samuell Howlett March 30 November 19 Abraham Hobbs, Jr. Abraham Hobbs April 1 November 9 Sergt. Daniel Towne July 10 November 19
David Balch David Balch April 7 October 15
Dudley Perkins John Avery April 8 Sept. 22 died
Thomas Peabody David Perkins March 30 November 19 David Balch, 3rd, was sick in camp and his father (John) went to bring him home and asked the Court to allow him
45 Topsfield Hist. Coll. Vol. 14, page 91.
46 Mass. Archives, Vol. 96, pp. 508, 510.
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THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
the sums expended as set forth in a petition 47 dated Dec- ember 28, 1758.
David "being Sick in The Army & brought very Low Even to Deaths door but Through the goodness of allmighty God to him is yet alive and in Some Good measuer of health & the Subscriber father to the said David went Some miles beyond Albany to help The Sick Soldier home: and meetting with (torn) who whent by order of ther Court to Take C(are) of the Sick : ordered me To Take Care and help him home & pay the Charges, & it Should be paid me again Which I did in full and thier is no Charge be at the Taberns atall for him. I was Six days agoing up & Ten days a Comming home. The Charges and money expended in the journey was Three pounds Ten Shillings (and for my time & hors Two pounds which is so very Low I Humbly hope it will please the great & Honourd Court to alow me) & for nursing and Doctering Two weeke after he Come home Two pounds he being So w(eak) and unable to help himself that in Coming home he broke a bone which made it very difficult which was done by the waggon he was in." Five pounds was allowed the peti- tioner for the services within mentioned.
Capt. Israel Herrick again raised a company in 1758 in Colonel Jedidiah Preble's regiment, for the reduction of Canada. The ten Topsfield names on the rolls were : 48
Father or Master
John Robinson, Sergeant Samuel Smith, Corpl John Chapman, Private
David Kneeland,
Davd Perkins 49
PhP. Kneeland 50
Joseph Majory,
Joseph Perkins,
Jabez Town
Francis Town
Alexr Tapley Jacob Town
Nathaniel Town
Jno Hood
Jabez Town
Jabez Towne, Jr., died at Lake George, Sept. 24, 1758. Joseph Perkins wrote to his father Jacob about the first of April, 1758, that they were "at Hadlye at present and expect to goe from here in a little Time." 51 A letter, dated Danvers
47 Mass. Archives, Vol. 78, page 52.
48 Mass. Archives, Vol. 96, page 427.
49 Mass. Archives, Vol. 96, page 425.
50 Mass. Archives, Vol. 96, page 426.
51 Towne papers, Topsfield Hist. Coll., Vol. 18.
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FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS
Aug. 3, 1758, from Ephraim Town to his brother Jacob "att Fort Edward in Captain Israel Daveses company at the west ward," is also among those preserved in the Towne papers. He did "Lement the Lementtable Defeat that I Hear that our army met with of Lait," and prayed for "your and the Rest of my Brother's safe Return in God's time."
The following letter was written Oct. 10, 1758 from Lake George to their father, Captain Benjamin, by Jacob and Ed- mond Towne : 52
Ever Honoured father and Mother our Duty to you and Love to all our brothers and sisters Hoping that these fue Lynds will find you in good Health as thay leav us in blessed be God for it brother Ezra hath ben sick with the throat Distemper and He is got something betor and Doctor said the best thing that Can be Don for Him is for sum of his frinds to Com and bring Him Home for if He should Citch Cold He might not ever Return Home and He Desired sum of His brothers to Come and Bring Him Home. I suppose that He will be on the Road a Coming Home as fast as He can and I Hope that we shall not tarrey Heare above fourteen of fifteen Days Longer. The Men of Topsfield that are in our Company are well. Jabesh Towne is Dead and Dudley perkins. We Desire to be Remembered to all our frinds so no more att present but we Remain your Dutifull sons untill Dearth Lake george october the 10 AD 1758
Edmond and I Remember Jacob Towne
our Love to Debbe Edmond Towne To Captin Beniman Towne Living in Topsfield Delivor with Care and Speed
On October 27, Jacob Town was discharged from Capt. Davis's company of "Battoemen, being not fitt for Service." 53 The Towne genealogy gives the following story of Jacob Towne, son of Jabez and brother of Jabez, Jr., the latter being killed at Lake George that year: Jacob Towne was with Stark's Rangers in the French and Indian War, and when the assault was made on Old Fort Ticonderoga, July G, 1758, he fell so badly wounded that a comrade, at the risk of his own life, pulled a brushy tree top over him, taken from the abattis which defended the fort, and thus saved him from being scalped by the Indians, who were coming out of the fort to scalp the dead and dying who were left behind in the retreat. Some four days afterward, during an armistice for
52 Towne papers, Topsfield Hist. Coll., Vol. 18.
53 Towne papers, Topsfield Hist. Coll., Vol. 18.
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THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
the burial of the dead, he was found still alive under the tree- top and was conveyed back out of the wilderness, and finally recovered. Col. F. L. Towne, of Lancaster, N. H. now well remembers hearing his grandfather relate this story.
Ezra Town was a corporal in Capt. Andrew Fuller's com- pany, Col. Jonathan Bagley's regiment. 54 Eliezer Gould served in the expedition against Ticonderoga and Crown Point during 1758. Arthur Browne made his will May 5, 1758 when about to go into His Majesty's service and died during the year "in ye war." His widow Lydia was allowed her hus- band's rate. 55 Thomas Emerson was a lieutenant in Clough's regiment at the siege of Louisburg 1758. Humphrey Clark died Aug. 23, 1758 "in the Public Service. " 56 Among the men whose rates were abated by the town in 1757 and 1758 were: Jacob Perkins, Eliezer Gould, Richard Cree, Samuel Phippen, William Gallop and Philip Kneeland.
In the spring of 1759 men were "Inlisted or Impressed" for service for the invasion of Canada. The return made by Col. Daniel Appleton of Ipswich, included four from Topsfield and the record of their previous service :
Enlisted Former Service Where Age
Richard Cree Mar. 30, 1759 1755, 56, 57, 58 Lake George 30 Hugh Lyndes Apr. 6, 1759 1756, 57, 58 Lake George 44
John Lefavor 57 Apr. 6, Lake George 43
Daniel Clarke 58 Mar. 29, 1759 1758 Lake George 25
William Rogers was a private in Capt. Ephraim Holmes' Company, April 2nd to Nov. 1, 1759. 59 Richard Cree was a private in Capt. Anthony Stickney's company. 60 Daniel Clark was a Sergeant in a company under Capt. Israel Davis, then of Danvers, Col. Jonathan Bagley's regiment. 61 John Clough also served in Capt. Davis's company from April 6, 1759 to Dec. 15, 1760. 62 John Baker was lieutenant in Capt. Stephen Whipple's company, Nov. 2, 1759 to Jan. 9, 1761. He then became a captain serving until April 4, of that year.
David Kneeland and Samuel Smith were in Capt. Israel Herrick's company, 1759. The former was taken sick and his father, Philip, petitioned the General Court to pay him
54 Mass. Archives.
55 Topsfield Town Records, 1759.
56 Topsfield Records.
57 Mass. Archives, Vol. 97, page 110.
58 Mass. Archives, Vol. 97, page 144.
59 Mass. Archives, Vol. 97, page 285.
60 Mass. Archives, Vol. 97, page 384.
61 Mass. Archives, Vol. 98, page 204.
62 Mass. Archives, Vol. 98, pp. 204, 392.
163
FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS
£4.13 the money expended in bringing his son home. He said that David "after his Return over the Lake was Taken Sick and brought very Low that Life was Dispared off and I his Father having word sent me of his distressing cercomstances went to assist him in his Coming home and found him at Can- terhoot with Some others that were Sick in a Cart and Took him & Brought him home; and through the gooness of God to him he is abel and a going in the Servis again." 63 He was allowed £2.18.0.
The following men enlisted by John Robinson for the total reduction of Canada in 1760: 64
Enlisted
Elijah Town
Feb. 18
Born A. Father or Master Topsfield 19 Jabez Town
Samuel Phippen
Feb. 18
17 Samuel Phippen
Israel Dwinel
Feb. 21
20 Jacob Dwinell
Zaccheus Robinson
Feb. 21
19 Jacob Robinson
Davis Howlet
Feb. 18
23
David Balch
Feb. 18
19 John Balch
Nathl Bordman
Feb. 18
19 John Boardman
Joseph Perkins
Feb. 18
22
John Chapman
Feb. 18
22
Abraham Hobbs, Jr. Elnathan Hubbard Francis Towne
Feb. 18
Ipswich
19 Abraham Hobbs
Feb. 18 Mar. 5
Topsfield 20
23
Samuel Tapley
Mar. 11
17 Son of Samuel
Alexander Tapley
Mar. 11
20 M'tr John Hood
David Neeland
Mar. 17
21
Nathl Dorman
Mar. 20
20
William Rogers
Feb. 25
18 Master, Edmond Putnam, then res. of Danvers
The names of seven Topsfield men are on the muster rolls of the company under the command of Capt. Edward Brown of Salisbury, Col. Willard's regiment.
Enlisted Father or Master
Daniel Clarke, Lieut.
Feb. 17, 1760
James Burch
Feb. 22, 1760
Simon Bradstreet
Feb. 22, 1760
Phillip Bradstreet
Feb. 22, 1760
Moses Hovey
Feb. 29, 1760 Sarah Hovey
Hugh Lynds
Mar. 22, 1760
John Town
Feb. 22, 1760
Elijah Towne
63 Mass. Archives, Vol. 78, page 397.
64 Mass. Archives, Vol. 97, pp. 404, 406, 414.
164
THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
Hugh Lynde was listed as deserted. Moses Hovey, a lad of 16 years, was on his way home in November when he was taken sick. His mother, Sarah Hovey, "hired a man and horse to meet him and help him home who returned with him in nine days tho he was to appearence but just alive She Sent for a Physicion who made him two visits and applied medicins but on ye thurd day after he gott home he broke out with the Small pox by which means she was obliged to remove her Large family of Children and an Aged mother but She was obliged to Stay with him her Selfe untill they Could procure Nurses: She tooke the Distemper which put her to greate Charges her Son also Died with the Distemper." She asked the Court "to take her poor Circumstances into your wise Consideration and make her Such reasonable allowence out of the province Treasury for the Charges of fetching her Son home and other Charges by Reason of his Sickness as you in your greate wisdom Shall think proper. The perticu- ler Charges by reason of her Sons Sickness Exclusive of other Damages and greate Losses Sustained in ye time of his Sick- ness were £8.10.9." She was given £4.16. 65
On April 9, 1762 John Town petitioned the General Court for reimbursement of three pounds which was deducted from his pay the previous year. He stated he had been drafted out of Brown's company into Captain Fellows's company in the same regiment. He returned his gun at Crown Point and one of the officers took a receipt which he kept without evidence of his gun being returned. Captain Brown took the cost from Town's wages. This was ordered refunded. 66
Many of the men enlisted by John Robinson served in Capt. Israel Herrick's company, Col. Ingersoll's regiment. 67
Father or Master Enlisted
Zaccheus Robinson
Jacob Robinson Feb. 26, 1760
Elijah Towne
Jabez Town Feb. 26
Samuel Tapley
Abel Tapley Mar. 14
Alex. Tapley
John Whood Mar. 14
Abraham Hobbs
Abra'm Hobbs Feb. 26
Davis Howlet
Feb. 26
Elnathan Hubbard
Feb. 26
David Kneeland
Mar. 20
Samuel Phippen
Sam'l Phippen
Feb. 26
John Robinson, 2nd Lieut.
Feb. 15
65 Mass. Archives, Vol. 79, page 462.
66 Mass. Archives, Vol. 80, page 159.
67 Mass. Archives, Vol. 98, pp. 275, 276, 277.
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FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS
Father or Master Enlisted
Francis Town, Sergt.
Mar. 5
John Chapman, Corpl.
Feb. 26
Joseph Perkins, Corpl.
Feb. 26
Nathl. Boardman, Priv.
John Bordman
Feb. 26
David Balch
Jno Balch
Feb. 26
Israel Dwinell
Jacob Dwinal
Feb. 26
Nathll. Dorman
Mar. 20
A great deal of sickness prevailed among the soldiers and many died. Nathaniel Dorman, Elnathan Hubbard and Cor- poral John Chapman were reported sick in November, and the latter died December 7th of small pox. Nathaniel Board- man died September 19th and Israel Dwinnel on the 27th. The latter family have preserved a letter from him dated June 1, 1760 in camp at Albany in which he stated he ex- pected to march for Crown Point the next day. Joseph Smith was also in Capt. Herrick's company, but was credited to Ipswich. 68 His death is recorded in the Church records as occurring "from home in ye Army."
John Chapman's widow, Lydia, asked the General Court to reimburse her for expenses incurred in bringing her hus- band home and care during his sickness in a petition69 dated March 13, 1761. She was allowed £4.2s.
Joseph Bradstreet (probably the doctor) according to a petition filed January 15, 1761 "Inlisted himself a Surgeons Mate in the last Expedition Against Cannada in Col Whet- combs Regiment and after the Army was Dismissed as he was Coming home it So happened that he had the misfortune to have his arme broke by the fall of a Tree which occasioned him to be at Great expence for Getting his arme Cured viz: £40 For Nursing & Boarding Whilst at his house and his Expenses a Coming Home & what he Paid Lieut. John Rob- inson for Coming to No. 4 with a Horse to bring home is £5:5:10 Being in the Whole-£6:09:10 and it has occasioned your Petitioner to Lose above two months of his time."
Corporal Israel Averill and Enoch Averill were in the service from May 5, 1760 to April 1761 under Capt. Francis Peabody of Boxford. 70
Philip Thomas, 17, enlisted in Capt. Aaron Willard's com- pany, Col. Willard's regiment and served until the army was dismissed. Capt. Willard "made ye sd Philip up, in his
68 Waters, History of Ipswich, Vol. II, page 197.
69 Mass. Archives, Vol. 79, page 473.
70 Mass. Archives, Vol. 98, page 396.
166
THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
Musteroal, as a servant to James Cunnock, who Inlisted the said Philip whether it was Done by sd Cunnock's Direction or through a mistake of the Captain I Cannot Tell. But your Petr is Cartain that ye sd Philip never was a servant to ye sd James Cunnock, nor never liv'd with him as a servant an hour in the world, for ye sd Philip's father & mother were both Dead before the sd Philip was old enough to be an ap- printice, and he never had a Gurdian till Augt. A D 1761, and it will be very unjust, for ye sd Cunnock to Draw said Wages, and as the Province Treasurer has not paid said wages and says he cannot pay them, to your Petr without the ade of this Hond Court." Philip's brother Othneil, his guardian, was paid the wages due. 71
The war was practically ended with the surrender of Mon- treal in September 1760, but peace was not declared until 1763. A few men were in the service at various points during that period. Capt. Israel Davis's company was not dis- charged until 1761. At that time he submitted a bill72 for expenses of travel, care of the sick, etc., amounting to £49.10.8.
Perhaps the last Topsfield men to serve in the French and Indian wars were four whose names are found on the muster roll of Capt. Gideon Parker of Ipswich. They were : 73
Jacob Peabody
Enlisted Father June 16 June 16 M. Sherwin
John Sherwin
Alexr Tapley June 16
Elnathn Hubbard June 11
The number of men furnished by the town during the French and Indian wars cannot be accurately given, as no doubt many names are omitted since the rolls in the Massa- chusetts Archives are incomplete. However, from what has been given, it can be noted that patriotism early found a home in Topsfield. In every conflict from the fight at Nar- ragansett until hostilities between France and England ended in 1763, she bore her part, as she did in later years. Several of the Topsfield soldiers perished in different services in these wars, while many, from enduring the fatigues and sufferings of the expeditions, destroyed their health and future usefulness. However, many of them, especially the younger men, again took up arms when the breach with Eng- land came and found this earlier training of great value.
71 Mass. Archives, Vol. 80, page 5.
72 Mass. Archives, Vol. 98, page 388.
73 Mass. Archives, Vol. 99, pp. 110, 111.
CHAPTER IX THE REVOLUTION
The story of Topsfield's struggle to throw off the royal yoke begins with the matter of compensation to the sufferers in the Boston riots. Her action is recorded in the months of August, September and October, 1766, in giving instruction to Capt. Samuel Smith, her representative to the General Court. 1
The town professed not to know the cause of the disturbance and loss; but conceded that if the petitioners had "suffered by being actually engaged for the good of his majesties sub- jects in this province, they ought to have a proper allowance made out of the province treasury." Otherwise not. The benignity of their "gracious sovereign" in repealing the Stamp Act, is acknowledged with royal gratitude. "We look upon it our greatest honor as well as duty always to copy after such wise, good and just examples; - in consideration whereof, in case the said sufferers shall make application for it, we are heartily willing to give them as much as our ability and low circumstances will admit of, provided we may do it either by subscription or by contribution, as in calamitious accidents by fire." Thirty-one days after, when the measure of remuneration for the sufferers and of pardon for the offenders, was pending in the General Court, the town boldly voted not to concur in the proposition. Her patriot free- holders now thought they understood the subject.
Such was the first action of Topsfield respecting the national issues then pending. She early and nobly took her stand in independent opposition to the exactions of Parliament, the in- junction of the Governor, and even the legislation of the state.
Again the patriotic interest of Topsfield showed itself in sending her delegate to the convention held in Faneuil Hall on Sept. 22, 1768.
Topsfield's records for May 1, and June 11, 1770, tell the eloquent story of how the town was affected by the grievances under which the colonies were laboring. The voters pronounced
1 See Topsfield Hist. Coll. Vol. XXVIII, page 65.
(167)
168
THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
the Revenue Act unconstitutional, unreasonable, and unjust, imposed without their consent. They declared their just rights invaded by a military force quartered in the metropolis to enforce compliance. They denounced the Boston massacre as the murder of unarmed men. To obtain redress of these grievances they agreed not to buy, sell or use any goods im- ported from England, to promote home manufactures, and to make their own clothing. These measures they presented to the inhabitants of the town for their adoption.
A century ago, the town meetings of Massachusetts were nurseries of independence. They were censured by Parlia- ment as the hotbeds of treason and rebellion. The town of Boston, Nov. 2, 1772, chose a "Committee of Correspondence" consisting of twenty-one persons. At a meeting in Faneuil Hall, Nov. 20, 1772, the Boston committee made a very im- portant report. Six hundred copies of the pamphlet were printed and a copy sent to the selectmen of each town.
On the 18th of May, 1773, a meeting was held in Topsfield to consider and reply to this letter from Boston. On June 8, 1773, the town thanked the inhabitants of Boston for their early vigilance in the public cause, and heartily responded to the principles and sentiments advanced. It restated the conviction that the rights of the colonies and the infringe- ments of those rights were truly and justly stated. It re- argued the opinion that the colonies were forever entitled to these rights, "unless by their own act they forfeit them;" and that "if such violations and infringements are still con- tinued in, it will prove the ruin of this province if not the whole continent of America, and we fear, the kingdom of Great Brittain too." To prevent the execution of all un- constitutional measures to take away their liberties or prop- erty without their consent, it was affirmed that "this town in particular will be ready, at all times, to join with their brethren in any legal way and manner, to defend the life and person of his majesty, and the lives of our brethren his majesty's loyal subjects, and in the same way to preserve and defend our own lawful rights, liberties and property, even to the last extremity.'' We are told the town adopted this measure "by a great majority." At the same meeting a Committee of Correspondence was chosen and the town clerk instructed to transmit an authenticated copy to Boston.
The celebrated "Boston Tea Party" occurred Dec. 16, 1773 and eleven days afterward a warrant was issued to the people of Topsfield to meet and consult respecting this matter. A committee was chosen in legal town meeting, Jan. 6, 1774;
169
THE REVOLUTION
and their full and very decided report was adopted Jan. 20, 1774. They said the purchase and consumption of such quantities of tea, even without a duty, would tend to impov- erish and enslave them, and therefore would not buy nor sell it, until the duty was removed. They highly approved of the action of Boston in regard to their reception of the East India Company's tea. They joined them in resisting the importa- tion of tea with a tax on it, and esteemed all such importers as enemies of their country. A copy of this action went on the town records, and another attested copy was forwarded to the Boston Committee of Correspondence.
The convention held at Ipswich, Sept. 6 and 7, 1774 was attended by delegates from every town in Essex County, to the number of sixty-eight. Samuel Smith, Enos Knight, and John Gould were chosen delegates from Topsfield, Aug. 29, and on Oct. 11 drew pay "for their attendance at the congress at Ipswich." Resolutions were passed, protesting with equal severity against the oppressive acts of Parliament, the arbi- trary conduct of ministers, and the hostile operations of Governor Gage. These resolutions were immediately forwarded to the "Grand American Congress," sitting at Philadelphia.
On Oct. 11, 1774, Topsfield sent Representative Samuel Smith to the first Provincial Congress with instructions on three points. He was to acknowledge George the Third as rightful sovereign; to maintain all constitutional and chart- ered rights; and to resist the oppressive acts of Parliament. In all this he was to be mindful of the resolutions of the Continental Congress. Here, then, Topsfield, while loyal to the British constitution and Crown, on the 11th of Oct. 1774 in voting to adhere to the rules and recommendations of the national congress, virtually repudiated the government of England. Loving still her ancient chartered forms of gov- ernment, every public officer was now to be chosen by the electors of the Commonwealth and to be amenable solely to his constituents.
The leaders of both sides now expected war. But it did not find the Colonists wholly unprepared. During the summer of 1774, there was no general muster, but the drum and fife were heard in every hamlet. The Provincial Congress at Cambridge, Oct. 26th, adopted a plan for collecting military stores and for enrolling and mustering the militia, and created the Committee of Safety as an executive authority. In Nov- ember it further authorized the gathering of war supplies at Concord and Worcester, and provided for organizing, mus-
170
THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
tering and calling out the militia when circumstances should make it necessary.
There were several classes of soldiers. The Training Band was constituted of all able-bodied male persons from 16 to 50 years old, with few exceptions. The Alarm List included all others up to the age of 70. The fourth part of these were to be enlisted as "minute men" to hold themselves ready to march at a minute's notice. Each officer and private was to equip himself with a firearm, cartridge-box, and knapsack.
The following names 2 were on an "Alarm List" for Tops- field in 1775:
Joseph Andrews
Abraham Hobbs, Jur
Jeremiah Avril
John Hood
Jacob Avril, Jur.
Nathaniel Low
Daniel Avril
John Lamson
Capt. John Bordman
Capt. Stephen Perkins
Doct. Joseph Bradstreet
Lieut. David Perkins
John Bradstreet
Ensn. Joseph Perkins
Capt. John Baker
John Perkins, Jur.
Joseph Cummings, Jur.
Palitiah Cummings
Amos Perkins
Israel Clarke, Jur.
Samuel Perkins
Lieut. Solomon Dodge
Lieut. Thomas Emerson
Jacob Towne
Wiliam Gallop
Amos Wiles
Abraham Hobbs
Thomas Wiles
Sylvanus Wiles
The Minute-Men met weekly for military drill, the towns paying the expense. After the drill of the day, they would repair to the meeting house to hear a political sermon, or to the town house to partake of an entertainment provided by the citizens. At both the meeting house by the preacher, and at the town house by some ardent "son of liberty," they were incited to fight bravely for God and their country. Thus an army was formed ready at a minute's notice to march to the field. Citizens of every calling appeared in the ranks. To be a private was regarded as an honor; to be chosen an officer was a mark of the highest distinction.
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