USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Topsfield > History of Topsfield Massachusetts > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
Taught English in Soldiers' Elementary School for 2 mos. Through competitive examination selected as a candidate from regiment (5th Cavalry) Mar. 8, 1919. Through U. S. M. A. (West Point) examinations, was appointed a Cadet and en- tered U. S. Military Academy on June 13, 1919. Discharged at Fort Bliss, Texas, June 12, 1919. Discharged from U. S. Military Academy, West Point, N. Y., Sept. 10, 1919. NOTE : On A. W. L. from U. S. M. A., from July 4, 1919 to Sept. 10, 1919, was granted absence with leave, because of foot trouble and honorably discharged in September from U. S. M. Acad- emy because of physical disability.
JENKINS, THOMAS LINCOLN, b. Oct. 10, 1866, Chelsea, s. Loyal Lovejoy and Mary Jane (Norton) Jenkins. Inducted
238
THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
in service, July 25, 1917, Boston. Medical Corps, as Major and Surgeon 8th Mass. Infantry. Transferred to 103rd F. Arty. as Major and Surgeon, Aug. 25, 1917. Served at Lynn- field, Westfield, Boxford and Camp Coetquidan, France. Transfers: At Soissons, to command of Ambulance Section, 26th Division, at Dommartin to Div. Sanitary Inspector. Dec. 10, 1918, Acting Division Surgeon. Feb. 4, 1919, re- assigned Div. Sanitary Inspector. Promotions : To Lieut .- Col. Med. Corps, Feb. 22, 1919. Embarked for overseas, New York, Oct. 9, 1917. Embarked for home, Brest, Apr. 5, 1919. Arrived at Boston, Apr. 18, 1919. Discharged at Camp Devens, Apr. 28, 1919.
JORDAN, HAROLD FREDERICK, b. Apr. 1, 1896, Tops- field, s. Charles F. and Anna (Balch) Jordan. Inducted in service Sept. 21, 1917, Camp Devens. Machine Gun B'n. Served at Camp Devens, Lunery, France. Transferred from Co. B. 302 M. G. B'n, 76th Div. to Co. B. 147 M. G. B'n, 41st Div. Service : Headquarters Co. Clerk at Camp Devens; assistant to Gas Officer at Lunery, France. Promotions : Private 1st class, Nov. 14, 1917. Embarked for overseas, Bos- ton, July 8, 1918. Embarked for home, Brest, Feb. 11, 1919. Arrived at Newport News, Va., Feb. 27, 1919. Discharged at Camp Devens, Mar. 14, 1919.
JORDAN, HELEN PEARL, b. July 18, 1886, Topsfield, daughter of Charles F. and Anna (Balch) Jordan. Inducted in service Nov. 18, 1916, at Boston. Served at Camiers, France, No. 61 Casualty Clearing Station in the Ypres sector; No. 5, C. C. S. in the Cambrai sector.Staff nurse: Nursing Sister, Surgeon's Assistant at C. C. S. duty. Promotions : From Staff Nurse to Nursing Sister, Jan. 1918. Embarked for overseas, New York, Nov. 20, 1916. Embarked for home, Liverpool, Eng., Jan. 20, 1919. Arrived at Portland, Me., Jan. 30, 1919. Discharged at London, Eng., Jan. 18, 1919.
KILHOULEY, PETER JOSEPH, b. Jan. 18, 1891, Dan- vers, s. of Peter Charles and Ellen (McKeigue) Kilhouley. Inducted in service June 7, 1918, Boston. Served at Naval Aviation, Gulfport, Miss., and Pensacola, Fla., M. M. Naval Aviation. Promotions : From third to second and later to first class machinist. Discharged at Pensacola, Fla., Dec. 15, 1918.
KNEELAND, CLARENCE HENRY, b. Oct. 25, 1895, Topsfield, s. Thomas J. and Rose M. (Gilman) Kneeland. In- ducted in service, Mar. 29, 1918, Boston. Served at U. S. Naval Training Station, Hingham, Rifle Range, Wakefield, Bumkin Island; Naval Section Base, Boothbay Harbor, Dis- trict Supply Office, Battery Wharf, Boston, Mass., Bumkin
239
THE WORLD WAR
Island, U. S. S. Edwards. Promotions: Enrolled as Seaman 2d class. Promoted to Yeoman 3d class, July 1, 1918 and to Yeoman 2d class Oct. 1, 1918. Released at Boston Navy Yard, Apr. 3, 1919.
LAKE, ALICE LIVEA, b. Dec. 22, 1875, Topsfield, dau. Otto E. and Flora E. (Adams) Lake. Inducted in service May 9, 1917, Boston. Served at Medical Service, Army Nurse Corps, Camicrs, France and Boulogne-sur-Mer, Head Nurse and Night Matron. Embarked for overseas, New York City, May 11, 1917. Embarked for home, Brest, Mar. 11, 1919. Arrived at New York City, Mar. 23, 1919. Discharged at New York, May 7, 1919.
LAKE, CLARENCE WALKER, b. Mar. 4, 1888, Swamp- scott, s. William G. and Margaretta E. (Walker) Lake. In- ducted in service Sept. 21, 1917, Georgetown. Machine Gun. Camp Devens. Transferred from 302nd M. G. B'n, to 127th Infantry after arriving in France. Promotions : Corporal June 1, 1918. Awarded Distinguished Service Cross for capturing 14 prisoners and two machine gun. Slightly gassed, did not go to hospital. Embarked for overseas Boston, July 8, 1918. Embarked for home, Brest, Apr. 26, 1919. Arrived at New York, May 5, 1919. Discharged at Camp Devens, May 21, 1919.
LAKE, ROBERT WHITAKER, b. Apr. 14, 1898, Peabody, s. Charles H. and Mary E. (Collins) Lake. Enlisted May 19, 1917, Haverhill; reported for service July 25, 1917, as private, Co. F., 8th Mass. Infantry (which organization later became Co. F., 104th Infantry ; sailed for foreign service Sept. 27, 1917; killed in action Sept. 12, 1918. Most of his life spent in Topsfield, where his parents lived. At enlistment was liv- ing in Boxford.
LASKEY, AUGUSTUS ALFRED, b. Feb. 2, 1884, Boston, s. Frederick A. and Margaret Ann (Andrews) Laskey. In- ducted in service Apr. 23, 1917, Boston Navy Yard. Fireman United States Regular Navy, served on U. S. S. Virginia (reg- ular navy). Training gun crews, patroling Atlantic Coast, conveying troops to Brest, transporting troops from France. Promotions : Fireman 3d class, Fireman 2d class, Fireman 1st class. Embarked for overseas, Hampton Roads, Va. Em- barked for home Brest, June 20, 1919. Arrived at Boston, July 5, 1919. Discharged at Boston, July 8, 1919.
LEWIS, WILLIAM McFARLAND, b. July 18, 1899, at Ipswich, s. of Henry Boyer and Annetta Marion (Ryan) Lewis. Enlisted into the service Oct. 2, 1918 at Boston, as a driver in the Tank Corps. Sent to Camp Polk, No. Carolina, Nov. 10. 1918 and arrived there Nov. 11, 1918. Refused in-
240
THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
duction and discharged Nov. 12, 1918 at Camp Polk, on ac- count of the Armistice being signed Nov. 11, 1918.
LONGO, JOHN, b. Nov. 15, -, in Italy, s. Thomas and Mary A. (Spiritiliozzi) Longo. Inducted in service, Aug. 27, 1918, at Georgetown. Branch of service, Field Artillery. Con- veyed to Camp Jackson, S. C. Aug. 27, 1918, by train. Length of service at first place of duty, from Aug. 27, 1918 to Jan. 1, 1919. Served at Camp Devens, Jan. 3, 1919 to Jan. 10, 1919. Discharged at Camp Devens, Jan. 10, 1919.
LYNCH, GEORGE HENRY, b. Feb. 17, 1899, Haverhill, s. John and Mary (Levalle) Lynch. Inducted in service, Mar. 22, 1918, Boston. Served at Navy, U. S. Naval Training Sta- tion, Newport, R. I., U. S. N. Operating Base, Hampton Roads, Va., U. S. S. Wisconsin, U. S. S. Isabel, Receiving Ship at New Orleans, U. S. S. Topeka; Receiving Ship at Boston.
Character of service: Drilled at Training Stations; Patrol Duty on the U. S. S. Wisconsin in the Atlantic; Recruiting Duty on U. S. S. Isabel, Patrol Duty in Mexico on U. S. S. Topeka. Discharged at Receiving Ship at Boston, Nov. 8, 1919.
LYONS, PATRICK F., 3604393, was inducted from the Local Board No. 21, Georgetown, Sept. 30, 1918, assigned to 2nd Recruit Co., General Service Infantry, and was honorably discharged in service Dec. 7, 1918, at Fort Slocum, New York, with character recorded as "excellent." He had no overseas service.
MERCER, JAMES EDWIN. Enrolled in the United States Naval Reserve Force, Class 4, June 14, 1918, as Mess Atten- dant 3rd class at the Navy Yard, Boston; reported for active duty July 18, 1918; released from active duty Aug. 15, 1919, and received an honorable discharge Sept. 30, 1921, as Mess Attendant 1st class from the Navy Yard, Washington, D. C., Age 27y., at time of enrollment.
MULKLY, JOSEPH WILLIAM, 1655975, was inducted from the Local Board No. 21, Georgetown, Sept. 21, 1917; assigned to Co. B. 302nd Machine Gun Battalion ; appointed private first class, Aug. 15, 1918, sailed for foreign service, July 8, 1918; returned to the United States Feb. 26, 1919, and was honorably discharged from the service Mar. 14, 1919, at Camp Devens, a Private 1st class, Co. A. 148th Machine Gun Co., with character recorded as "excellent." Age at time of enlistment, 24 years.
PACE, ERNEST LEONARD, b. Oct. 15, 1892, Topsfield, s. Albert William and Ella Maria (Perkins) Pace. Inducted in service at Georgetown, April 27, 1918, in Co. C., 301st Am- munition Train, as a private. Left Camp Devens, July 12,
241
THE WORLD WAR
1918 and sailed from Montreal July 13, 1918 on ship Ajana, its first trip with American soldiers, it having before been transporting Canadian and Australian troops. Landed at Liverpool, July 31, 1918. On Aug. 1, 1918 encamped at Win- chester, England, and crossed on shipAjax from Southampton to Cherbourg, on Aug. 6, 1918. Left Cherbourg Aug. 13, 1918 for Charington and on Sept. 12, 1918 went to St. Amand, and from there on Nov. 1, 1918, went by train to front, and en- camped at St. Julian, but did not go into any battles. Left there Dec. 1, 1918 and arrived at Paris on Dec. 3, 1918, with about 25 members of the Ammunition Train and was trans- ferred to Co. 699, of the Motor Transport Corps, for a 61/2 months' duty, which consisted in driving to the battle fields and other points with West Point Cadets. At duty in Paris, with Visitors Bureau, mostly taking Cadets over battle fields. Left Paris, Nov. 3, 1919 and sailed from Brest on Antigone Nov. 10, 1919, landing at Hoboken and sent to Camp Dix. Discharged at Camp Dix, Nov. 25, 1919 and arrived at Tops- field the day before Thanksgiving.
PEASLEE, CHARLES AUGUSTUS, aged 30y., inducted from the Local Board No. 21, at Georgetown, May 31, 1918 ; assigned to Battery B, 13th Battalion, F. A. R. D., Camp Jackson, South Carolina; transferred to Battery B, 3rd Corps Artillery Park, July 15, 1918; sailed for foreign service Aug. 28, 1918; returned to United States July 6, 1919; appointed wagoner June 1, 1919 and honorably discharged July 12, 1919, at Camp Devens.
PERKINS, RUSSELL FREEMAN, b. Essex, Jan. 15, 1898, s. Arthur Freeman and Etta May (Pike) Perkins. Inducted in service May 23, 1917, Salem, Battery F. 101st Field Artil- Jery, 26th Division, and remained with that outfit for entire term of service. In training two weeks and in St. Mihiel offensive from Sept. 10, to Oct. 9, 1918, then on hike to Meuse- Argonne front arriving Oct. 20th. Engaged in active fighting from Oct. 22 to Nov. 11th, when Armistice was signed, being then on Verdun front. Entered as a Private and advanced to Private 1st class. Received mention for not being A. W. O. L. On March 31, 1919 left Brest on the Mongolia for Bos- ton landing Apr. 10, 1919 and by train for Camp Devens. Discharged at Camp Devens, Apr. 29, 1919.
PERKINS, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, b. May 20, 1891, Topsfield, s. J. William A. and Nellie A. (Gallup) Perkins. Inducted in service Oct. 5, 1917, Georgetown, Infantry. Trans- ferred to Salvage Co., Q. M. C. Feb. 2, 1918 at Camp Devens. Entire service at Camp Devens, clerical work and printer,
242
THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
Cantonment Printing Office .. Promotions: Private 1st class, May 20, 1918; Corporal, Mar. 19, 1919. Discharged at Camp Devens, Mar. 20, 1919.
RAY, LESLIE SEWALL, b. Dec. 26, 1891, Topsfield, s. Horace and Sarah E. (Towne) Ray. Inducted in service Nov. 1917, Navy Yard, Charlestown. Naval Aviation. Place of first duty, U. S. Naval Aviation Detachment, M. I. T., Cambridge. Length of service from Nov. 1917 to Jan. 1919. Instructor, Aeronautical Engines.
ROBERTS, ARLO LESTER, b. Nov. 1, 1894, Topsfield, s. Henry H. and Catherine J. (Chisholm) Roberts. Inducted in service Sept. 21, 1917, in Georgetown. 302nd M. G. B'n., Co. B. Served at Camp Devens and in France. Transfers: 76th Div. Mch. Gun Co., Inf., and Hdq. Co., until Sept. 1918. 82nd Div. 326th Inf. until discharged. Embarked at Boston for overseas; sailed for home from Bordeaux. Arrived at New York, May 29, 1919. Discharged, Camp Devens, June 5, 1919.
SHEAHAN, HENRY BESTON, b. June 1, 1888, Quincy, s. Joseph M. Sheahan, M. D., and Marie Louise (Maurice) Sheahan. Inducted in service June 1915, New York City. American Ambulance. Field Service with French Army. Also official reporter with U. S. N. First place of duty, le Bois le Pretre, Verdun Battle. Length of service at first place of duty from June 1915 to April 1916. Official press repre- sentative with U. S. N., Feb. 1918 to June 1918. Ambulance driver and interpreter. My first book "A Volunteer Poilu" covers that period. Was the only American correspondent who was aboard a U. S. N. destroyer when a submarine was engaged and sunk. At sea with the destroyers U. S. S. Allen and U. S. S. Parker, with the U. S. N. submarines, L9 and L7 and was the only American correspondent to go to sea with the British Grand Fleet during the war. My second book "Full Speed Ahead" covers this Naval experience.
SMERAGE, KEITH PERCY, b. Dec. 2, 189S, Topsfield, s. Fred Percy and Grace May (Cram) Smerage. Inducted in ser- vice Oct. 21, '18, Georgetown. Students' Army Training Corps, Harvard Unit, Co. E. Discharged at Cambridge, Dec. 6, 1918.
SMITH, JOSEPH NEWTON, b. Mar. 9, 1887, Lynn, s. Joseph Newhall and Sarah (Fuller) Smith. Inducted in ser- vice Oct. 23, 1917, Fort Warren. Aviation Section, Signal Corps, at Tech. School Military Aeronautics, Cambridge. Served at Fort Omaha, Nebr., Collegiate Balloon School, Macon, Ga., Missouri Aero. Soc. School, San Antonio, Texas, Camp John Wise, San Antonio, Texas. Receiving instruction and in Camp Wise, acting as Aerial Instructor and Company
243
THE WORLD WAR
Commander. Promotions : 2nd Lieut., A.S.A., May 24, 1918. Discharged at Camp Wise, Texas, Dec. 30, 1918.
SMITH, PHILIP HORTON, b. Feb. 17, 1890, Salem, s. J. Foster and Josephine T. (Chadwick) Smith. Inducted in service Sept. 1917, at Paris, France. American Field Service, changed to American Red Cross. Sanitary Corps U. S. A. Served at La Panne, Belgium, and Paris, France. Head- quarters, S.O.S., A.E.F. Transferred to R. R. and C. service, Aug. 1918, Tours, France. Served at La Panne (Military Construction for A. R. C.) Hdqrs. S.O.S. ( Hospitalization and Settlement of Claims.) Promotions: 1st Lieut. A. R. C. Sept. 1917; 1st Lieut. San. Corps U. S. A., April 1918. Captain, Feb. 1919. Port of embarkation overseas, New York, Aug. 1917, remaining temporarily in Europe. Discharged at Paris, France, Dec. 17, 1919.
SOPER, HERBERT MELVIN, aged 24y. enlisted June 30, 1917, Boston, Medical Enlisted Reserve Corps; and assigned to Ambulance Company, 305th Sanitary Train, sailed for overseas service, June 4, 1918 and returned to the United States, July 21, 1919 and discharged as Sergeant July 29, 1919, at Camp Devens. Appointed private 1st class Jan. 3, 1918, and sergeant March 23, 1918.
SWEENEY, CHARLES ALFRED, b. Dec. 4, 1894, Tops- field, s. George H. and Julia G. (Kelly) Sweeney. Inducted in service Feb. 13, 1918, Charlestown. Naval Reserve. Served at Hingham, Naval Training Station, Bumkin Island, Boston Harbor, Pelham Bay Training Station, New London, Conn., Listening School. Promoted to Quartermaster, 2nd Class Listener, Nov. 10, 1918. Transferred to Key West, Fla., to Pensacola, Fla., Naval Air Station, Nov. 20, 1918, for duty on U. S. Submarine Chaser, No. 113. Then to New York, N. Y., U. S. S. C. 113 until discharged. Discharged at Hingham Training Station, July 16, 1919. (NOTE) Above dates are as near as my memory recalls.
TODD, HAROLD HAYWARD, b. Ipswich, Feb. 9, 1900, s. Augustus H. and Ella M. (Healey) Todd. Inducted into service Aug. 7, 1918, Boston, Mass. Naval Reserve. Served at Newport Training Station, from Oct. 31, 1918 to Feb. 15, 1919. Promotions: Apprentice Seaman. Discharged at Dan- vers, Sept. 30, 1921.
TODD, RANDOLPH HEALEY, b. Nov. 15, 1898, Ipswich, s. Augustus and Ella (Healey) Todd. Inducted in service Aug. 29, 1918, at Newport, R. I. Naval Reserve. Served at Newport and Hampton Roads, Va. Fireman. Embarked for overseas, Newport News, Va., embarked for home, Bordeaux,
244
THE HISTORY OF TOPSFIELD
France. Discharged at Boston Navy Yard, June 20, 1919.
TOWNE, BENJAMIN BOARDMAN, b. Mar. 26, 1889, Topsfield, s. John H. and Laura J. (Roberts) Towne. Inducted in service Oct. 22, 1918, Georgetown, Coast Artillery. Served at Fort Rodman, New Bedford. Served from Oct. 23, 1918 to Dec. 24, 1918. Promotions : Private 1st class, Dec. 1, 1918. Discharged at Fort Rodman, Dec. 24, 1918.
WALSH, JAMES THOMAS, b. Feb. 11, 1895, Topsfield, s. James and Bridget M. (Brennick) Walsh. Inducted in ser- vice Apr. 30, 1918, Charlestown Navy Yard, U. S. N. R. F. Conveyed to Receiving Barracks, Newport, R. I., Apr. 30, 1918, by motor and train. In training until Jan. 28, 1919. Re- leased Jan. 28, 1919.
WALSH, JOHN REGINALD, b. Mar. 19, 1894, Topsfield, s. William H. and Margaret L. (Cullinane) Walsh. Inducted in service Feb. 15, 1918, Boston. Navy. Served at Naval Training Station, Newport, R. I., U. S. S. Denver. Armed Draft Detail (Seaman) Jan. 5, 1919. Promotions : Apprentice Seaman; Seaman 2nd Class, Seaman, Gunner. Discharged at Brooklyn Navy Yard, Jan. 5, 1919.
WATSON, GUY ENSLEY, b. Topsfield, Oct. 8, 1895, s. Fred Ensley and Hattie Ellen (Fuller) Watson. Inducted into the service at Georgetown, Sept. 21, 1917, in Company B of the 302nd Machine Gun Battalion, as a horseshoer. After- wards made Private 1st class. On Sept. 20, 1918 at Souilly, France was transferred to the 313th Infantry, Machine Gun Company, and on Oct. 2, 1918, near Montfaucon, France, transferred to the 61st Infantry, Machine Gun Company. Was sent to the hospital for wounds and skipping hospital was thrown into the 21st Machine Gun Battalion and stayed until the Armistice was signed Nov. 11, 1918. Was with the 21st Machine Gun Battalion in active service until Nov. 11, 1918, when on account of knee was sent to the hospital at a French training camp, in the Toul Sector. Stayed there until Feb. 4, 1919, then transferred to 2nd Army Headquarters M. P. Co. at Sasuray, and there until Feb. 9, 1919, and then to Ponta- Mousson until Apr. 10, 1919, riding motor cycle as patrol. Hooked onto a side car and broke right leg in resulting accident. In hospital until sent to St. Nazaire. Sailed on June 12, 1919 from St. Nazaire for New York, discharged at Camp Devens, June 29, 1919.
WELLMAN, SARGENT HOLBROOK, b. May 8, 1892, Malden, s. Arthur Holbrook and Jennie Louise (Faulkner) Wellman. Inducted into service Aug. 27, 1917, at Plattsburg Barracks, N. Y., 2nd Training Camp, Infantry. Sailed over-
245
THE WORLD WAR
seas with Casual Company, Jan. 29, 1918. Reported to Labor Bureau, General Purchasing Agent, Paris, Feb. 25, 1918; on duty there and in Tours till Aug. 7, 1918. Service: Ass't Secretary, General Staff Source of Supplies, Aug. 7, 1918 to Oct. 19, 1918. Labor Bureau, Army Service Corps, Oct. 19, 1918 to June 5, 1919, on duty in Paris. Promotions: Com- missioned 1st Lt. Infantry, Nov. 27, 1917. Promoted Captain, Army Service Corps, Feb. 18, 1919. Embarked for overseas, Hoboken, N. J., Jan. 29, 1918. Embarked for home, Brest, June 20, 1919. Sailed with Casual Company. Arrived at Hoboken, June 30, 1919. Discharged at Mitchell Field, N. Y., July 10, 1919.
WHEATLAND, DAVID PINGREE, b. May 13, 1898, s. of Richard and Mary K. (Robinson) Wheatland. Inducted in service Oct. 3, 1918. Mass. Inst. of Technology, Cambridge. Studying for Mechanical Engineer. Discharged at Mass. Inst. of Tech. Dec. 22, 1918.
WHEATLAND, STEPHEN, b. Mar. 29, 1897, Gibraltar, s. Richard and Mary K. (Robinson) Wheatland. Inducted into service June 6, 1918, Boston. U. S. Naval Reserve Force, Served at U. S. Naval Training Camp, Hingham, Wakefield Rifle Range (10 days), Bumkin Island (3 weeks), Common- wealth Pier (2 weeks), Officers Material School at Cambridge, from Aug. 19 to Dec. 17, 1918, Little Building, Boston, Dec. 17 to Feb. 17, 1919. Trained for commission till Dec. 17th then acted as Duty . Officer in the Little Building. Head- quarters for 1st Naval District. Promotions : Entered service as seaman 2nd class, Aug. 19th provisional rank of Chief Boatswains Mate. Dec. 17th commissioned Ensign U.S.N.R.F. Released in Boston, Feb. 17, 1919.
WILLIAMS, HENRY CHESTER, b. Mar. 10, 1890, Lynn, s. Henry B. and Mary F. (Parton) Williams. Inducted in service Jan. 24, 1918, Georgetown. Air Service. Served at Atlanta, Ga., San Antonio, Texas, Lake Charles, La., C. O. Squadron. Promotions: March 30, 1918 to 2nd Lieut. Dis- charged at Gerstner Field, La., Feb. 23, 1919.
WOODBURY, ROBERT ISAAC, b. Sept. 16, 1898, Tops- field, s. Edward B. and Bessie C. (Clerk) Woodbury. Inducted into service Oct. 3, 1918, Providence. U. S. Naval Reserve Force, Students' Army Training Corps, Brown University, Providence, R. I. Released at Providence, R. I., Dec. 12, 1918.
A full account of service and a list of battles engaged in will be found in the Roll of Honor in the Topsfield Town Reports, 1918-1923.
CHAPTER XIII THE MEETING HOUSES
No record is known to exist indicating the exact location of the first meeting house in Topsfield, but cherished tradition places it near the house from which Goody Wildes was hurried away to her trial and execution in witchcraft times. The field at the northwest corner of Howlett Street and Meeting House Lane is the supposed location. Rev. William Knight who "dispenced the Word", probably as early as 1639, may have brought about the erection of this early building but it is not likely because of the small population. There was no church or minister here in 1650.1 It is more reasonable to suppose that the removal from Gloucester to Topsfield, of the Rev. William Perkins, induced the growing town to build a meet- ing house.
Mr. Perkins had been the minister at Gloucester where his preaching not pleasing the people, he removed to Topsfield early in 1655, following one of his Gloucester congregation, William Evans, who had bought a farm here two years before. Perkins not long after his arrival began preaching and a meet- ing house had been built at some time before September 1658 when Zaccheus Gould was summoned to Court to answer com- plaint of his abusive carriages in the meeting house, where testimony showed that "at time of singing ye psalm one Sab- bath day in ye afternoon, he sate him downe upon ye end of ye Table (about wch ye minister & chiefe of ye people sit) wth his hatt fully on his head & his back toward all ye rest of ym yt sate about ye Table." The meeting house in Topsfield is also mentioned in the Court records when Zaccheus Curtis was presented May 5, 1663, for posting a paper falsely pub- lishing an intention of marriage.
Some of the settlers in Rowley Village (Boxford) had found it more convenient to attend meeting in Topsfield than to ride the longer distance to Rowley town. Sidney Perley, states in his History of Boxford, that they were pleased with the doc- trinal preaching of Mr. Perkins, who spoke "the truth in a
1 Eliot. Description of the towns in New England, 1650, Mass. Hist. Soc. Proceed. 2d ser., Vol. II, p. 46.
(246)
247
THE MEETING HOUSES
manner that would make our ministers of today, who claim to be orthodox, hide their faces for shame. It is said of him that he could pronounce the word 'damn' with greater emphasis than any other man of his time." However that may be when it was proposed, in 1663 to organize a church in Topsfield in regular form, and settle a minister, Mr. Perkins, then fifty-six years old, was set aside and an invitation to preach was ex- tended to Rev. Thomas Gilbert of Charlestown. This he agreed to if Rowley Village farmers would pay their share of his salary. The Villagers consented if Topsfield would place the meeting house in a nearer and more convenient location for them. Accordingly a meeting house was built in what is now the older part of Pine Grove Cemetery. Tradition has preserved the fact that the gravestone of Parson Capen marks the spot where the pulpit was located. The new church was 'gathered" and Mr. Gilbert ordained on Nov. 4, 1663.
To further accommodate the Villagers the town voted they "shall haue Liberty to set vp a house for to shelter there horses in neere to ye meeting house where ye selectmen and they shall thinke fite or most conuineat and also a house for to shelter themselves in with a fier in it duering so Long as they doe contribute to ye ministerey here in Topsfield." This resthouse was located in the rear of the meeting house. The Elisha Hood cemetery lot indicates the location, for in April 1896 when a grave was dug in this lot, a cellar wall was un- covered with a hole beside it filled with bricks, charcoal, rusty knives, etc.
When danger of Indian attack seemed likely during King Philip's War, a stone wall was built about the meeting house This was ordered done by the selectmen on Sept. 8, 1675. They state that it was proposed to use the meeting house for a fort. The wall was to be three feet thick at the bottom and five or six feet high. There was a watch house, ten feet square, at the southeast corner. There was to be a ten foot space between the wall and the meeting house side and end on the north and a twelve foot space on the south. When the new meeting house was built on the Common in 1703, the old building was sold to Sargt. John Gould for $5, but it was ordered "that the Stonewall which is about ye old Meeting-House shall not be medled with without leave from ye Town." In 1707, Samuel Perley, senior, of Boxford, was given liberty to make a fire in the watch house on Sabbath Days at noontime. The next year Parson Capen was given liberty to improve the watch house and to make "a place in ye watch to let in more light for his conveniency to work by." In November 1726, it was proposed
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.