USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Topsfield > History of Topsfield Massachusetts > Part 19
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16 In possession of Topsfield Hist. Society.
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THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
regiment. They were to receive £40 a month so as to make up to each man £60 a month. They also received a bounty of £30 each and £23.2s. for traveling 231 miles. Although they were hired for three months, the records show they were paid for only one month and 20 days service. They enlisted Oct. 14, and were discharged Nov. 22, 1779. Capt. Cummings was also a Topsfield man and in command of a company "detached from the Counties of Suffolk and Essex as a Reinforcement to the Army under the command of his Excellency General Washington agreeable to a Resolve passed by the Genl Court of this State, Oct. 9, 1779."
During the years, 1779 and 1780, old currency had depre- ciated to such an extent that it required large sums to pay the town's debts. It became very difficult to raise money to pay soldiers and furnish provisions and clothing for the army and the soldiers' families. A petition was sent to the General Court in 1779 "to establish credit of paper money and make it lawful tender in all payments whatever equal to silver or gold, dollar for dollar." Money was hired from the towns- people according to a list of names in the town records and it was necessary for the town treasurer to give notes to soldiers when the funds could not be raised.
During that time, £644.10 was voted to pay the men who went to Claverack; £938.2 for the nine months men; £71.11 for supplying the soldiers' families with necessaries; £338.18.6 for the same purpose, and £288.7 for "necessaries for John Cummings' family and Fortune Freeman's family who were engaged for three years during the war in continental army." Capt. Cummings and others were paid £1200 to procure men to inlist in public service and Lieut. Benj. Gould and Samuel Smith £644.10 for the men engaged. William Rea furnished a horse for the use of the army and was paid £913.10. Zebulon Perkins received £822, Lt. Daniel Clark £918 and Lt. Thomas Emerson £683 each for a horse.
A scale of depreciation of $100.00 in gold and silver in January 1777, copied from an old town record, shows this amount to equal $4000 in April 1780. It was some years be- fore the town made final settlement with the soldiers. In 1784 a committee was appointed to find out how much was due those who had hired men or soldiers who had not received their full pay.
On June 29, 1780, it was voted to raise 13 men for 3 months, and "every person that will advance money to the committee for hiring or paying men for service and immediately deliver it to said committee and take receipts, the town treasurer shall
195
THE REVOLUTION
discount to the constables that shall collect the next town tax such sums as any person shall procure receipts for." The men were paid 6s. per mile for 220 miles from Topsfield to Cla- verack, N. Y. They were: David Perkins, Elijah Cummings, Joseph Lefevir, Stephen Cree, Enos Gallop, Lilburn Andrews, Moses Thomas, Emerson Gould, Benjamin Gould, Moses Hood, Samuel Balch, Stephen Towne and John Hood.
Five men were engaged for six months agreeable to a Re- solve of the General Court of June 5, 1780, and were paid 6s. per mile to Springfield. They were Joseph Cree, Cornelius Cree, Philip Mckenzie, David Perkins, 3d. and Samuel Gould. The first four served 6 months 12 days and Samuel Gould 3 months and 23 days.
On Oct. 12th, a committee was appointed to hire 11 men for 6 months, and 3 men for 6 months. "Persons in town to let committee have money to hire sd men & have it answer their next town tax." On Dec. 15, 1780 it was voted to raise 14 men to serve for three years or during the present war and judge an adequate sum to give each man, also to hire money to pay $1400 bounty and see if persons in town would lend it. This was the town's quota given in a Resolve of Dec. 2d. Later the committee reported "they had used their Endeavors to hire the sd money but find it Cannot be had."
The depreciation in Continental currency made it necessary for the town to appropriate large sums. On Oct. 2d, £6000 was allowed toward money paid soldiers and money now due, and on April 3, 1781, the town treasurer was ordered to pay the committee £15000 to defray the charges of hiring these men.
In order to procure these men, Topsfield as directed, divided "the poles & Estates" within the town, into fourteen classes. Each class was to procure a man at their own expense to serve in the army. In a report17 dated Jan. 14, 1782, Samuel Smith, Zaccheus Gould, Stephen Foster, Nathaniel Averill and Daniel Bixby, selectmen of Topsfield stated it was a true and just account according to the best information they could get of the amount each class paid each man procured to serve as soldiers in the Continental army for 3 years.
Class
Chairman Soldier
Amount
1
John Baker Peter Clarke £90
2
Israel Clarke John Dusten £120
3 Daniel Boardman
Thomas Willes £120
4 Capt. Solomon Dodge
James Walker £120
5
David Perkins
Moses Perkins £135
17 Mass. Archives, Vol. 32, pp. 327, 328.
196
THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
Class
Chairman
Soldier
Amount
6
Joseph Cummings
William Awl
£121.4
7
Thomas Porter
Timothy Bacon £120
8
Thomas Emerson
Jacob Wildes £120
9
Zaccheus Gould
Jeremiah Hatch £120
10 Maj. Joseph Gould 11 John Peabody
Richard Middleton £108
12
David Balch
Moses Hood
£120
13
John Balch Daniel Perkins £95
14 Capt. Nehemiah Herrick
Andrew Hammond £108
Samuel Bradstreet and Emerson Gould were hired in July 1781 to serve in the army at Rhode Island for 5 months. They were in Capt. John Robinson's company, Col. William Tur- ner's regt. Probably the last men from Topsfield to serve in the Revolution were those hired by the five classes into which the town was divided. Receipts 18 dated in 1782, show the following who were paid bounty to serve in the Continental army for 3 years.
Class Date Chairman Soldier
Amount
1 May 13
John Rea William Perkins £78
2 Apr. 15 Simon Gould
Stephen Town £90
3 May 4 Capt. Stephen
Perkins Cornelius Cree £90
4 Apr. 17 John Baker
Asa Cree £95
5 Apr. 26 Thomas Cummings
Benjamin Raddan £90
In Oct. 1780, the towns were called upon to procure beef for use of the army. On Oct. 12, a committee was appointed to purchase Topsfield's quota of 8440 pounds. £1300 was to be raised by borrowing or otherwise to purchase this beef. Another committee was to purchase grain which the town had agreed to pay to some of the soldiers hired for the army.
On Apr. 3, 1781, the town was to pay £10128 for beef and on June 4th, £13500. On the 11th a rate was made for pro- curing live beef for the support of the Continental army. The following sums were paid to various people in Sept : Daniel Bixby, 2 Oxen, £30; John Dwinell, 2 Oxen, £24; John Lamson Jr., 2 Oxen, £25; Jacob Averell, 2 Oxen, £21.5; Zacheus Gould, 1 Ox, £11.2.8; Daniel Bixby, 1 Ox, £11. It finally became impossible to secure beef and the town voted to pay in lieu of beef they had been called upon to supply.
The towns were asked to furnish clothing for the army and Topsfield citizens again showed their loyalty by contrib- uting their bit. A paper now in possession of the town clerk
18 Mass. Archives, County Receipts, Book 33, Receipts 174-178.
Benjamin Seilley £120
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THE REVOLUTION
lists the names of those who gave one pair of stockings, a shirt, a pair of shoes or money. It also contains a bill made out to the State for the following supplies :
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
To the Selectmen of the Town of Topsfield Dr.
To Twenty-three Linen Shirts at 12s. each £13.16.0
Five Cotton and Linen Dto at 16s. each £4.00.0
Twenty-eight Pair of Stockings 6s. each pr 8.8.0
Twenty-eight Pair of Shoes 10s. each pr 14.0.0
Fourteen Blankets at 24s. each 16.16.0
For Collecting & Transporting Said Articles 1.10.0
John Hood, whose early record has been mentioned previ- ously, re-enlisted in 1777. He was in the battle of Brandy- wine and Germantown. He was discharged in 1778 and the following year is said to have gone on a privateering cruise, was taken prisoner at Halifax and confined in a prison ship, where he suffered everything but death. He was finally ex- changed and returned home to enlist again in the army where he served until the surrender of Cornwallis. He was in the service seven of the eight years of the war. (Hood Gen.)
Another man from Topsfield who served on a privateer was Thomas Perkins, born April 2, 1758. At the age of 22, he went to Salem and is said to have shipped on board a priva- teer in company with Joseph Peabody. (Perkins Gen.)
During the war, because of the possibility that an attack would be made on Salem, all the records at the Registry of Deeds were moved to Topsfield. In 1782, after the danger was over, the Court of General Sessions allowed a bill of John Pickering, Register of Deeds, as follows:
1781 To man, horse & sled to Topsfield to bring
part of the records to Salem 0.10.0
Sept. To man, horse & cart to finish bringing them 0.10.0 1782 Jan. To do. 0.10.0
0.30.0
CHAPTER X THE TOPSFIELD WARREN BLUES
During the first half of the nineteenth century nearly every town in the State had its local infantry company. The State required regular militia training and one of the chief amuse- ments of the people was "training day" when the militia paraded and went through their evolutions. It brought out the gay uniforms and it was an inspiring sight to watch the march and drill of the soldiers to the sound of martial music. The more important trainings also attracted the side-shows and the taverns did a thriving business. Much has been written on "training day" so it is needless to attempt detailed descrip- tion here. A Topsfield training in the seventeenth century has been pictured in an earlier chapter, and human nature in 1840 was not so very different from that of 1675.
Service in the militia was required. In 1835 the town paid $5 each to Topsfield men who trained in the Danvers Artillery Company and in the Light Infantry Company in Boxford commanded by Capt. William Lowe. The next year an in- dependent company was organized in Boxford and called the Boxford Washington Guards, and seven Topsfield men were paid a bounty of $5 for service in the Boxford company.
The Topsfield Warren Blues 1 were organized in June 1836 and Nathaniel Conant, a Captain in the militia, was appointed Captain. Including officers thirty-six men were on the roll and April 24, 1837 the town treasurer paid them each the bounty required by law, a total amount of $180. Each man had paid $40 for his uniform and equipment,-a blue coat with brass buttons, a leather belt and cartridge box, a tall, white leather hat, faced with a brass plate on which the letters "TWB" were attached, and which was topped by a plume of white and red feathers. The armory of the company was in the Academy hall.
1This chapter is taken in part from an account by Benj. J. Balch in Topsfield Hist. Coll., Vol. 1.
(198)
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THE TOPSFIELD WARREN BLUES
On Oct. 27, 1836 a banner was presented to the company by the ladies of the town. Early in the morning the company met at their armory from whence they marched to the Boxford line and escorted the Boxford Washington Guards to the man- sion of their generous townsman, Asa Pingree, where they partook of a collation. At two o'clock General Lowe, Major Stone, the two companies and invited guests dined at Mun- day's hotel. After dinner the two companies were escorted by the Boston Brass Band to the grounds in front of the Academy. The banner was presented by Miss Sally Munday, representing the ladies of the town, and accepted by Capt. Nathaniel Conant. In the evening there was a band concert and a grand ball at Cummings' hotel on the turnpike.
There was a Brigade muster in Boxford, in the fall of 1838, which reflected great credit on the discipline of the Warren Blues. They also were present at Bunker Hill, July 4, 1842, on the occasion of the celebration of the completion of Bunker Hill monument, Daniel Webster delivering the oration. In 1845 they received the last bounties of which they have a record. About this time the law providing for this bounty was repealed and the company disbanded. During the years 1837-1845, the town of Topsfield had paid the members of the Company a total amount of $1659, bounties, required by law.
ROSTER OF THE COMPANY
Commissioned
Capt. Nathaniel Conant
June 30, 1836
Capt. Lemuel H. Gould
Dec. 24, 1840
1st Lieut. Nathaniel Perley
June 30, 1836
1st. Lieut. Joel Lake
Nov. 16, 1837
1st. Lieut. Thos. P. Munday Dec. 24, 1840
2d Lieut. Thomas P. Munday
May 27, 1840
2d Lieut. Thomas Gould
Dec. 24, 1840
3d Lieut. Thomas Gould
May 27, 1840
Ensign Joel Lake
June 30, 1836
Ensign Nehemiah Balch
Nov. 16, 1837
Surgeon Joseph C. Batchelder
Surgeon's Mate, Joseph Lloyd Wellington
Chaplain, Leonard B. Griffin
ADAMS, BENJAMIN F. Came from N. H., was a farmer and shoemaker, removed to Reading, Mass. about 1875, and died there in 1888, aged 80.
ADAMS, BENJAMIN. Came from Middleton, Mass., was a shoemaker by trade, was popularly known as "Little Ben." Died in Topsfield in 1849, aged 36.
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THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
ANDREWS, AARON A. Born in Topsfield, a butcher by trade and employed by T. P. Munday, enlisted in 23rd Mass. Infantry, but was never mustered into the service. Died in Topsfield in 1877, aged 54.
ATKINSON, WILLIAM D. Came to Topsfield from Lynn, worked at his trade, house painting, for a short time, and re- moved to Boston.
AVERILL, AARON PERLEY. Born in Topsfield, a shoe- maker by trade, removed to Georgetown and died there in 1865, aged 55.
BALCH, NEHEMIAH. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1884, aged 77. Was a shoe manufacturer, served the town as treasurer and assessor, was ensign of the company. BATCHELDER, JOSEPH CUMMINGS. Came from Boxford, was an excellent physician, removed to Templeton, Mass., in 1850, after practicing medicine in Topsfield nearly fifteen years. Representative to the General Court in 1846, and inventor of the boring machine that was used for a time while the Hoosac Tunnel was being constructed, proving at that time a partial failure. Enlisted as surgeon in the 23d Mass. Vols. but saw little service. Was surgeon of Blues.
BASSETT, DAVID. Came from Gloucester and learned the wheelwright's trade with Thomas K. Leach, removed to Beverly.
BLAISDELL, JAMES. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1856, aged 32, a shoemaker by trade.
BRACKETT, CHARLES C. Came from Wolfeboro, N. H., was a carpenter by trade and built many of the older houses now standing in town, also, in 1848, the church at Linebrook parish. He lived in town about ten years, removing to Ip- swich in 1848 and afterward to Quincy, Mass., where he died about 1880. Represented the town at General Court in 1843.
BRADSTREET, JOHN. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1847, aged 36, a shoemaker, at one time living in Boxford.
BRADSTREET, WILLIAM. Born in Topsfield, a far- mer, removed to Danvers.
CHAPMAN, EDWARD A. He was a cabinet maker by trade, also worked as a house painter. Removed to Haverhill.
CHAPMAN, JOHN K. Came from Linebrook parish, Ips- wich, shoemaker and farmer.
CLARK, DAVID. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1880, aged 66. Farmer. Selectman for a number of years. CONANT, NATHANIEL. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1872, aged 76. Captain of the "Blues" at their organization, afterwards promoted to major and brigade
-
UNIFORM OF THE WARREN BLUES
201
THE TOPSFIELD WARREN BLUES
inspector of the 4th Brigade Mass. Light Infantry. Rep- resented the town at the General Court, in 1854 and 1863.
CROWELL, JOSIAH. Came from Salem, was a shoe- maker by trade. Died in Topsfield in 1886, aged 89.
CURRIER, MOSES J. Came from Enfield, N. H., was a clerk in F. & N. Perley's general store, and after living in town about three years removed to Danvers, died in 1892. DODGE, FRANCIS. Lived in Hamilton, was a farmer. ELLIOTT, CHARLES A. Born in Topsfield, was a shoe- maker and farmer. Removed to Danvers in 1855, died 1895.
GALLUP, WILLIAM PORTER. Born in Topsfield, and died there in 1890, aged 80. Was a shoe bottom finisher, and engaged in the undertaking business for a number of years. Was sergeant in the company.
GIFFORD, WILLIAM R. Came from Salem, removed to the state of New York in 1843 or 4. Farmer.
GOULD, ARIAL H. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1879, aged 61. Carried on a large butchering business. Was selectman for a number of years.
GOULD, CHARLES. Born in Topsfield, shoemaker.
GOULD, EMERSON P. Born in Topsfield. A school master in his younger days, afterwards learning the butchering busi- ness. Enlisted in the 48th Mass. Vols., and died in the hospi- tal at Baton Rouge, La., June 5, 1863, aged 51, from the effects of an injury received in the slaughter house connected with the army headquarters.
GOULD, JONATHAN PORTER. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1860, aged 46. Carried on a large butchering business.
GOULD, JOSIAH L. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1880, aged 63.
GOULD, LEMUEL HOLTEN. Born in Topsfield, in 1809, farmer. Went to California in 1858, living there until his death at Sacramento in 1877. Was captain of the company succeeding Capt. Conant in 1840.
GOULD, THOMAS. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1882, aged 75. Farmer, superintendent of the almshouse for nearly 12 years, a selectman, and represented the town at the General Court in 1849. Served as 2d and 3d lieutenant of the company.
GRIFFIN, LEONARD B. A minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Born in Connecticut, came to Topsfield from Gloucester, preached in Topsfield in 1840-1. From Tops- field he went to Cambridgeport.
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THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
HOOD, JOHN GOULD. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1858, aged 51. An able schoolmaster in his younger days, afterwards a farmer and justice of the peace, also holding many offices in the town government. For years, he manu- factured coffins supplying Topsfield and adjoining towns.
HUBBARD, HUMPHREY GOULD. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1847, aged 40. Shoemaker.
JANES, SAMUEL. Born in Salem and died in Topsfield in 1873, aged 71. Shoemaker, afterwards engaging in the ex- press business between Topsfield and Salem, about ten years. KIMBALL, BENJAMIN. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1882, aged 80. Manufactured a high grade of boots; was town treasurer 1853-61.
KIMBALL, WILLIAM E. Born in Topsfield, carried on a blacksmithing business in his earlier days, but afterwards engaged in the grocery and East India goods business; died in Danvers, Nov., 1895, aged 91.
LAKE, DAVID, JR. Born in Topsfield, a farmer, but at one time carried on a shoe manufacturing business; became infected with the gold fever in 1852 and started for California by way of the Isthmus. Reached Panama in safety and, with some seventy others, chartered a small schooner and sailed for San Francisco. The vessel was insufficiently provisioned and nearly half of those on board died of starvation and found a watery grave. The survivors finally reached the California coast, and after spending four years in the state Mr. Lake returned to Topsfield April 4, 1859. He started for California a second time, and died in the Pacific Ocean on the upward voyage from Panama, aged 62.
LAKE, ELEAZER, JR. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1867, aged 57. He was a farmer and shoemaker; was held in great repute as a hunter.
LAKE, JOHN BROWN. Born in Boston and died in Box- ford in 1878, aged 61. Was a farmer and shoemaker. Started for California in 1852, reached Panama, but was unable to obtain passage for San Francisco and returned to Topsfield. Enlisted in 23d Mass. Inf., bass drummer in Mckenzie's band.
LAKE, JOEL. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1860, aged 57. Shoe manufacturer and nurseryman.
LAMSON, JOSIAH B. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1868, aged 53. Farmer.
LANE, THOMAS L. Born in Gloucester and died in Tops- field in 1856, aged 40. Was a boot and shoe manufacturer, selectman for many years.
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THE TOPSFIELD WARREN BLUES
LEACH, THOMAS KIMBALL. Came from Wenham and died in Topsfield in 1892, aged 77. Carried on a wheelwright business for 57 years.
LEMONT, STEPHEN W. Came from Litchfield, Maine, and died in Topsfield in 1844. Was a blacksmith.
LEWIS, FREDERICK A. Came from Salem; was a sailor by profession, but worked at shoemaking, at one time sailed in coasting and fishing vessels. The Gloucester boat of which he was first mate was lost on the Grand Banks, not a man re- turning to tell the tale.
LONG, HENRY. Came from North Andover, Mass., and died in Topsfield in 1871, aged 52. Blacksmith and stable keeper. He trained with the Washington Guards of Boxford.
MCKENZIE, ADDISON. Born in Topsfield and died in Dover, N. H., in 1866, aged 44. He was a machinist by trade ; played B-flat bugle in Mckenzie's band.
MCKENZIE, ALFRED. Born in Topsfield, shoe manufac- turer. Leader of Mckenzie's band, playing B-flat bugle.
MCKENZIE, CONSTANTINE. Born in Topsfield, a car- penter by trade; went to California in 1852.
MCKENZIE, SAMUEL S. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1891, aged 81. Civil engineer and jeweller ; select- man and representative to the General Court in 1852. Played trombone in Mckenzie's band.
MOORE, THOMAS. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1868, aged 66. Butcher. Was standard bearer of the company.
MUNDAY, THOMAS P. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1862, aged 45. Carried on a large butchering business ; was 1st and 2d lieutenant of the company.
PEABODY, AUGUSTINE SIMONDS. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1884, aged 73. Was a school teacher, shoe cutter, and at one time engaged in stock brokerage business in Boston. For nearly forty years he was superintendent of the Sunday school connected with the Congregational church. Served the town as selectman for nine years; was orderly sergeant of the company.
PEABODY, FRANCIS DANA. Born in Topsfield and died in Rowley in 1891, aged 75; bootmaker.
PEABODY, THOMAS, JR. Born in Topsfield and died in Georgetown in 1872, aged 47. Shoemaker. Enlisted in the 26d Mass. Vols.
PEABODY, WILLIAM CUMMINGS. Born in Topsfield, lived in Georgetown. Shoemaker.
PERKINS, AMOS, JR. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1894, aged 84. Shoe manufacturer.
204
THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
PERKINS, NATHANIEL, JR. Born in Wenham, died in Topsfield in 1846, aged 32. Farmer,
PERKINS, NEHEMIAH, JR. Born in Topsfield and died in Auburn, Maine, in 1892, aged 71. Farmer and shoemaker
PERKINS, ROBERT SUMNER. Born in Topsfield, school teacher, removed to Danvers and engaged in the soap business. Was sergeant in the company.
PERLEY, HUMPHREY. Born in Ipswich, lived in Box- ford. Farmer.
PERLEY, JOHN, JR. Born in Ipswich and was found dead in Topsfield in 1880, aged 76. Farmer.
PERLEY, JOHN FRANCIS, JR. Born in Boxford and died in Topsfield in 1893, aged 69. Shoemaker and carpenter.
PERLEY, NATHANIEL. Born in Boxford, died in Tops- field in 1864, aged 37. Carpenter and shoemaker.
PERLEY, NATHANIEL. Born in Topsfield and died in Boston in 1842, aged 43. Kept a general and East India goods store; Ist lieutenant of the company at its organization, promoted through the various grades until Sept. 4, 1840, he was commissioned Brigadier General of the 4th Brigade Mass. Light Infantry. Represented town at General Court in 1838.
PERLEY, OSGOOD. Born in Boxford, died in Topsfield in 1886, aged 71. Butcher.
PHILLIPS, ANDREW JACKSON. Born in Salem, shoe- maker and farmer. For a number of years sailed from New Bedford on whaling voyages, enlisted in 3d Mass. Heavy Artillery.
PHILLIPS, JOHN. Born in Topsfield. Farmer. Killed in 1840 by being thrown from a horse. Was buried from the house of Joel Lake with military honors from the Warren Blues.
POTTER, JOHN H. Born in Ipswich. Carpenter and house builder. Built a number of houses in Topsfield. Rep- resented the town at the General Court in 1881; selectman for a number of years. Died in Topsfield in 1901, aged 78.
SMALL, ISAIAH M. Came from Alton, N. H., shoemaker and carpenter, constable for many years. Removed to New York state.
STILES, FREDERICK. Born in Middleton. Shoe manu- facturer in Topsfield.
TAYLOR, TROWBRIDGE CURTIS. Born in Weymouth, Mass. Came to Topsfield from Linebrook Parish. Shoemaker. Enlisted in 23d Mass. Vols. as musician. Removed to Ipswich and died there in 1893.
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THE TOPSFIELD WARREN BLUES
TODD, JOHN. Born in Ipswich. Shoemaker and farmer. Died in Topsfield in 1865, aged 49.
TOWNE, BENJAMIN BOARDMAN. Born in Topsfield, and died there in 1888, aged 75. Farmer and shoemaker; selectman 1854-6.
WAITT, WILLIAM. Born in Topsfield and died there in 1888, aged 77. Shoemaker and expressman. Was blind the last years of his life.
WELLINGTON, JOSEPH LLOYD. Came from Temple- ton, Mass. Was a medical student, studying with Dr. Batch- elder, his brother-in-law. Surgeon's mate of the company.
WILDES, MOSES, 2d. Born in Topsfield, died there in 1895, aged 84. Shoemaker.
WHIPPLE, JOHN S. Came from Hamilton. Butcher. Died in South Tamworth, N. H., in 1883, aged 59.
WRIGHT. JAMES. Blacksmith. Removed to Lowell.
CHAPTER XI THE CIVIL WAR
The following records of service of Topsfield men in the Civil War are based upon the official records in the office of the Adjutant General at the State House in Boston. No attempt has been made to list the actions in which each man took part,- these may be found in the regimental histories published from time to time and are to be found in every public library in the State. There is a lamentable lack of correspondence between soldiers in the service and their fam- ilies and friends at home. During a period of many years we have learned of the present day existence of only a few letters. The contemporaneous newspaper items relating to Topsfield in the war, will be found printed in Topsfield Historical Collections Vol. XX and Vol. XXII.
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