USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Ware > History of Ware, Massachusetts > Part 13
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Stephon Jinkins
Corp1 Thos Winslow
Simeon Bacon Jnr
Corp1 Solomon Bush - Diseased
Lot Dean
Samuel Lammon
Silas Dean
Simeon Bacon
Solomon Paterson
Stephon Demons
All 150 miles from the camp at 1 penny a mile.
The Town Records of March 29, 1777 indicate the popu- larity of the war.
Voted to raise Eight men for the Continental Armey, and to Give Each man twenty Pounds, as a bounty from the town.
Voted to Raise s'd money by the Last State Bill, macking Proper Allowances for Service Done in time Past in the War.
Voted to Chuse a Committee of nine men to make the Raits to Pay the Soldiers. Chose Wm. Breakenridge, David Brown, Leut. Foster, Leut. Cummings, Dea. Jinkens, Serg't Paterson, Serj. Beilling, Samuel Dansmore, a Committee to make a levy on the poles and Estates to pay the above Eight Soldiers.
The difficulty of raising money for the various needs be- comes apparent. The exemption of soldiers from the poll- tax, with the payment of military bounties and expenses, made great inroads on the resources of the people. In November, 1777, a committee was appointed to "Remon- strate to the General Cort against Calling in the State's money by Lone."
In April, 1778, it was "voted to Raise the Clothing for the Conatanil Solders, voted to alow six Dollers a pair for shues, and four Dollers a pair for Stoking. Voted to give ten shilling a yard for to(w) cloth, yard wide, Edward Damon Jun. to provide twenty one yerds." In June £30 was granted for the relief of the families of soldiers, £120 to pay
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147
THE REVOLUTION
the bounties for four men, and £42 to pay three men their bounty.
A descriptive list of nine months' men enlisted in June, 1778, Colonel Porter's Regt., Captain Brakinridge's Co., gives the following from Ware:
Oliver Newton, Age 35, Stature 5 ft. 8 in.
Philip Bartlett, 66
29, 66 6 ft. 3 in. Silas Marsh, 16, 5 ft. 3 in.
Abraham Stebbins (No description)
In addition we find a "Pay Roll of Capt. Samuel Fair- field's Co. in Col. Nathan Sparhawk's Regt. of Melitia raised for the defence of the United States of America, Sept. 1778."
Duty at Dorchester. Discharged Dec. 12.
Joseph Foster, Lieut. Asa Foster, Private
Holton Blackmore, Private
Joseph Patroll, "
Phineas Converse,
In March, 1779, £100 was voted for the relief of families of men serving in the army. In April it was "voted that the Selectmen Purchise the gunes and sell them at a public vandue to the highest bider in Town. Voted to sel the Gun Locks at a vandue."
In July a levy was made through the town to supply the quota of nine months' men. At the same time the General Court was petitioned to abate some portion of the state tax.
The names of but three men can be found who were levied in accordance with the above vote. These are found on a descriptive list of nine months' men in the Continental Town and County Rolls of 1779:
Age. Stature
Nathan Davis, 37, 6 ft. Hair and Complexion, Dark
Prince Sherman, 26, 5 ft. 7 in. 66 66 66 Light
Joseph Hixon, 23, 5 ft. 6 in.
Dark
Another roll gives Judah Marsh as on duty in the West Hampshire County Regt. at New London.
he
te d t e e
1g
.
148
HISTORY OF WARE
The following receipt belonging to this year is of interest.
June 17, 1779, 3 year service, Joseph Marsh in Capt. Spurr's Co., Col. Nixon's Regt.
To Cash pd him fr. proceeds of State Lottery £1,, 6,, 7 To 3 shirts, 3 pr. shoes, 3 pr. hose supplied by the state at the regulated price 3 ,, 13 ,, 0
To his Proportion of small stores delivered in Camp, at Regulated Price, deducting value of what he paid toward them 2 ,, 11 ,, 7 To a bounty of £20 paid him by, or in behalf of the Town of Ware Mar. 19, 1777 (value) 15 ,, 12 ,, 6 To 33 Months 11 Days Wages paid him by the Continent at 40s per Month £66,, 14,, 8 (Value) 13,, 2,, 0
To amount of Articles supplied his family at the regulated Price by the town
0,, 0,,0
36,, 5, 8 30,, 9,,0 .
To Ballance
66 ,, 14 ,, 8
The above Ballance £30,,9,,0 multiplied by 32} to make good the Depreciation, is in current Money £989 ,, 12,,6.
Certified 10 July, 1780.
Several other similar receipts may be found in the State Archives. One of Dec. 31, 1779, shows that Ebenezer Davis was transferred to the Corps of Invalids on Oct. 23, 1777.
In the early months of 1780 one finds only routine votes in regard to the raising of men for the army, the aim being invariably to procure them at as low a rate as possible. On September 12, the town voted to raise £13,680 to pay the soldiers then in the service. One needs to remember the enormous depreciation of currency at the time. In Novem- ber a committee of three was appointed "to buy the Con- tinental Beaf."
A list of men mustered June 22, 1780, in Captain Brak- enridge's Co.
.
1
149
THE REVOLUTION
Age
Ht.
Comp.
Wm. McGown
19
5-7
Dark
James Comings
17
5-8
David McClintock
17
5-6
66
Sam1 Shirman
17
5-6
Sam1 Andres
19
5-7
Light
Nathan Pratt
19
5-7
Dark
Benjn Marsh
16
5-1
Light
Solomon Fullonder
18
5-5
66
Dan1 Roggers
40
5-5
Dark
Six months' men, Continental Army from Town of Ware, 1780:
John Bullen,
July 13, 5 mo. 3 da.
Edmund Capen,
5 mo.
Elkanah Billings,
66
" 5 mo. 13 da.
Willm Morton,
6
4 "
John Henry Putnam,
6 " 16 “
Wages paid by the town, £2 per month.
In the same year Elkanah Billings, John Henry Putman, John Bullen, Edmond Chapin and William Maclain are listed as nine months' men.
In an abstract of sums due on the Roll for the County of Hampshire for supplies of soldiers' families from September, 1777 to Jan. 1, 1780, Ware is put down for £180,,19.
In 1781 the town passed routine votes in regard to enlist- ments. We find that Capt. Oliver Coney served in Colonel Sears's Regt. from August 12 to Nov. 15, 1781. His trav- elling allowance shows that camp was 146 miles from Ware. With him, for the same term of service, were Jotham Sy- mons, John Magoon, Jacob Lazell and Ichabod Merrit.
In addition an undated Descriptive List has been found as follows:
James Strickland, Age 21, 3 years Elijah Comins, 44, 3
Daniel Rogers, 16, 6 months
William Key Brown,
25, 6
John Putnam,
19, 6
Now the town statistics show that Daniel Rogers was sixteen years old on April 29, 1781, which fact enables us
150
HISTORY OF WARE
to put these men in their proper year, and practically com- plete the Rolls.
The list of soldiers for 1779 as given above contains the names and descriptions of only three men, and thereby hangs a tale:
On Sept. 6, 1779 it was "voted to send a pertision to the General Cort to geet a part of our stait taks abaited."
Feb. 8, 1780, "Voted that the Sessors Should not make a return to Cort of the Assesment."
Mar. 6, 1780, "Voted to make the Rates that was Last made, over again, and leave out the £600 fine."
Sept. 4, 1781, "Voted as a Town to Defend the Assessors for not Makeing the fine in the Last State tax that we ware fined for the three Monthsmen."
A search in the State Archives has brought to light an in- teresting collection of papers bearing on these and other items in the Town Records:
House Files, Document No. 610.
To the honorable Council & house of Representatives of the state of Massachusetts Bay in General Cort ascembly a petition of the select men of Ware in Behalf of s:d town humbly sheweth your honours that the town of Ware was taxt five hondred & thirty six Pounds six Pence which was laid on for Back Reeagies the Last Continatial tax which we humbly Beg you would tak of from this town as thair is about 6000 acrs of Nonreasidant Land which was not in our Power to tax till late the above s:d Land is owned By Gentlemen at a Distant how it is said Refuse to sell which is very disadvantages to the town which is one Reason with maney others that we are not scarsly able to Pay our tax without aney Back Reeagies But wee hope wee shall be able to Pay our Proportion of taxes. & send a member to Cort that shall Represent the sircumstances of our town much Better then wee Can by Ritting if your honours wold Consider this our petition & grant us our Request & so your hombel petitioners will Ever Pray
ware March 2th 1780
Sam"ı Densmor
James Lamond
1
select men for
Alexander Magoon Oliver Coney ware
(Endorsement) Ordd to lie, Mar. 13th, 1780.
151
THE REVOLUTION
House Files, Document No. 638.
To the honnorable Counsel and house of representetives for the state of the massetusets bay in general Coart as- sembled. the pottision of william Brakenridge for the town of ware humbly Sheweth that theire is a fine of Six hundred pounds added to the last State taxt for want of one man not being raised to go into the Contenental army for nine months upon the orders of June the Nint one thousand Sevon hundred Seventy Nine your petition humbly Sheweth that the man was drafted and returned to the muster master and in the four and twenty hours which Said orders gave him to provide a man or pay a fine in: he went off and has not been heard of Since by me. we have obayed your orders Complet which we ever have done. and your pottitioner prayeth that Said fine may be taken of from Such a poor town as Ware. as your potitioner ever prayeth.
Ware, March ye 6th 1780.
Capt
William Brakenridge
(Endorsement) This Petition is Concludª To Remain for Better avovcher. Committed to the Committee on similar Petitions, Mar. 26, 1780.
House Files, Document No. 799.
Commonwelth of the Massachusetts Bay to the Hon- ourable the Sennet and house of Representives the petition of william Paige in behalf of the Town of ware humbly Sheweth that the Sed town is find for not porcuring our Coto of three months men for the year 1780 - notwith- standing wee porcured Said men for Nine pounds Each Stated or Beaf at twenty foure Shillings a hundred - Ry at foure shillings a Buchel - and have Lost the averidge price threw the Sad State therefore wee trust you in your great wisdom will a Bate the fine and allow us the averidge price - as wee are a people very unable to pay our just portion of taxes much more that which is unjust as we in duty are Bound to Ever pray.
Ware Sptember th 10 day 1781
William Paige - Commetty for Ware
(Endorsement)
Col. Page
Brig. Whitney
Mr Fiske
withdraw
152
HISTORY OF WARE
Papers accompanying Chap. 119, Resolves of 1787.
Commonwelth of massechusetts
To the Honable the Sanet and House of Representitive In General Court assembled
the petition of Daniel Goold In the behalf of the Town of Ware Humbly Sheweth that the Honable General Court In the year 1779 Did order that the Town of ware Should pay afine of Six Hundred pounds In Continantal monay for Not Sending aman Into the Continantal army. I would Inform your Honours that the Town of ware Have always ben Radey to Comply with Every Requisition of the General Court, and we being under Lowe Surcumstances and Hardly put to it to pay the Taxes which Now Ly against us, we would Inform your Honours that The Town of ware peti- tioned the General Court for the abetment of Said fine In the year 1781 and the Honourable House of Representitives for the Resons Set fourth In Said petition Did order that the fine Should be abated and the petition was sent up to the Honorable Senate and by Reson of it being miss Laid it Cannot be found - your petitioner therefore prayeth your Honours to take the Case Into your wise Consideration and order that the Treasurer Give Credit to the Town on the Execution that is out against them to the amount of Said fine or Releive Said Town In Sum other way as your Honours In your Grate wisdom Shall See fit.
Boston November 3d 1787
(Endorsement) Nov. 1787 Refer'd Mr Hosmer Mª Smead
Daniel Gould
Deacon Smith Mª Ingersoll D' Taylor"
Papers accompanying Chap. 119, Resolves of 1787.
Commonwelth of In the House of Representatives Novr ye 14, 1787
Massachusetts
on the Petition of Daniel Gould in behalf of the Town of Ware praying for the Remittance of a fine of Six Hundred pound Continantal Mony, for the Deficiancy of one Man for the Continantal army for the year 1779.
Resolved that the Prayer of the Petitioner be Granted and that the Treauror is hearby Directed to Creadet the
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153
THE REVOLUTION
Town of Ware the Sum of Eighteen Pounds five Shilling Specea Agreable to the Consolidation of the above Said Sum and for which Execution is Issued against the Said Town of Ware."
March 5, 1781, Lieutenant Cummings was sent as delegate to Hatfield. The following year Seth Shaw was sent to the Hadley Convention "to look into the public affairs of the County." In 1783 Lieutenant Cummings was again sent "to attend the convention at Elisha Cook's at Hadley." These and such like meetings fanned the sparks of discontent that flamed up in "Shays' Rebellion," the story of which, on its ecclesiastical side, has already been told. The popularity of that unfortunate uprising was very great in Ware. The home of Joseph Cummings was employed as a depot for in- surgent supplies,1 and many a Ware man marched with the insurgent forces.
In February, 1787, the town voted "that this town do not allow of any property being bought and kept in this town as prizes, except the person bring a receipt that possesses said property from the Commander of the department from whence such property is brought, that they have a right to the same."
Also voted "that this town, as a town, do not allow of any sleighs, horses or persons being stopped on the public roads by any persons." The evident object of these orders was to prevent the seizure of supplies held by, or intended for, the insurgent forces.
James Gilmore is said to have been wounded in the thigh when Shays' men were fired upon near the Springfield Arsenal on Jan. 25, 1787. The pardon of Gilmore for par- ticipating in the rebellion, dated April 19, 1787, may be seen in the town library. He was commissioned as Ensign in the militia the 15th of the following April.
The list of grievances over the state of affairs leading to the rebellion is found upon the Town Records, under date of Jan. 15, 1787.
1. The fee table as it now stands.
2. The present appropriation of the impost and excise money.
1 Recollections of Benjamin Cummings.
154
HISTORY OF WARE
3. The unreasonable grants made to some of the officers of government.
4. The supplementary code.
5. The present mode of paying government securities.
6. The present mode of taxation, as it operates unequally betwixt the mercantile and landed interest.
7. The want of a medium of trade to remedy the evil arising from the scarcity of money.
8. The General Court, sitting in the town of Boston.
9. The suspension of the writ of Habeas Corpus repealed.
10. The Riot Act repealed.
11. Voted to have the Constitution revised.1
12. Voted to have the C. C. Pleas abolished.
Voted to send a petition to the General Court for a re- dress of grievances, chose a committee of five men to make a draft of a Petition, chose Isaac Pepper, Lieut. Cummings, Mr. Samuel Dunsmore, Capt. Brakenridge, and Mr. William Paige.
After the rebellion was crushed and order restored, an oath of allegiance to the State Government was required of all town officials. This oath is repeated on the records many times, signed by the officers of the town:
I, A. B., do truly and sincerely acknowledge, profess, testify and declare, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is and of right ought to be a free, sovereign and independent state; and I do swear, that I will bear true faith and alle- giance to the said Commonwealth, and that I will defend the same against traitorous conspiracies, and all hostile attempts whatsoever, and that I do renounce and abjure all allegiance subjection and obedience to the king or gov- ernment of Great Britain, (as the case may be) and every other foreign prince whatsoever, and that no foreign prince, person, prelate, state or potentate, hath, or ought to have, any jurisdiction, superiority, pre-eminence, authority, dis- pensing, or other power, in any matter, civil ecclesiastical or spiritual within this commonwealth, except the authority and power which is or may be vested by their constituents in the Congress of the United States, and do further testify and declare, that no man or body of men hath or can have any right to absolve or discharge me from the obligation
1 Ware previously refused to ratify the State Constitution unless with con- siderable amendment.
1
C
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155
THE REVOLUTION
of this oath, declaration or affirmation, and that I do make this acknowledgment, profession, testimony, declaration, denial, renunciation and abjuration heartily and truly, ac- cording to the common meaning and acceptation of the fore- going words, without any equivocation, mental evasion or secret reservation, whatsoever. So help me God."
On Dec. 26, 1786, town meeting was adjourned from the meeting-house to Nye's tavern, to listen in comfort to the reading of an address from the General Court to the people of Massachusetts. This address, dated Nov. 15, 1786, was of considerable length, and treated of the unfortunate con- ditions of the times, urging patience upon the citizens, and cooperation with the laws of the land. The address sets forth the financial condition of Massachusetts in great detail, declaring the public debt both necessary and just. The General Court deprecates the recent disorders, and warns the people against their repetition. It declares that further outbreaks can but increase, not lighten, the burden of the State.
The debt of the Commonwealth is stated to be £1,326, 448,,18,,2. The national foreign debt £2,365,525,,10,,0. The national domestic debt, due for war expenses, £8,100, 000. Massachusetts' proportion of the national debt is:
Foreign £ 353,925,,7,,0. Domestic 1,162,200,,6,,0.
Twelve hundred copies of the address were ordered to be printed, a copy to be sent to every minister and town clerk. Ministers were directed to read the same on Thanksgiving Day to their respective assemblies immediately after divine service, or to call a special lecture. Clerks were directed to read it at the next town meeting.
At the close of the reading the meeting at Nye's tavern adjourned without comment .-
A few miscellaneous items are found in various records:
1757. Voted John Downing to provide a law book. Evidently it was not done, for in 1758 it was Voted to raise money to provide a Law Book. 1764. Voted to buy a buring Cloath.
156
HISTORY OF WARE
1770. Voted that Dec. Mavreck Smith Shuld provid a cushin and a buring Cloath.
1772. Voted to Raise £2 for Purchising a Chushing and Buring Cloth. Voted that Wm. Breakenridge Should pro- vide the above menchened Artecals.
1803. Voted that the Selectmen take care of the Town Plough.
1806. Nathaniel B. Anderson an order for Jinn for the Widow Reed, 34 cts. [The Widow Reed was a town charge.]
1809. Voted that the Town provide powder to blow the rocks on the paraid.
1810. "Joel Mayo, an order for rum delivered Dn. Gould when working on the paraid, and necessaries for J. Bucking- ham's wife - $6.42."
1812. "Jonathan Maynard an order for making a coffin for Barritt's child - . 75."
1814. "Alpheus Demond, an order for rye, pork and coffin $22.33."
1824. "An order to Patty Lombard for breaking her leg - $200.00."
In January, 1825, a committee was appointed to petition the Legislature to change the name of the town to Water- ford, - probably after the city of that name in Ireland. At the March meeting the same committee was appointed to select a name, and petition the next Legislature for a change. The project, however, was dropped.
THE WAR OF 1812
During the years following the Revolution, military mat- ters were not neglected. The militia organizations were active, and parades and trainings were of regular occur- rence. There are also frequent orders given by the select- men for powder and lead, for running bullets and for mak- ing cartridges.
Information concerning Ware's part in the War of 1812 has heretofore been meagre, but the discovery of "The Orderly Book of Capt. Ephraim Scott's Company of Infan- try, Ware, May, 1811 - Attest James Brakenridge Clerk," gives us, with what has been culled from other sources, a remarkably full history of the military doings of the period.
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THE OLD TAVERN BUILDING Erected in 1814 and removed to give place to Hitchcock's Block. Before it Lafayette paused to receive the greetings of the citizens when he passed through the town in 1824.
ALE.M.D.
N
157
WAR OF 1812
The first entry of importance in Captain Scott's book is as follows:
"Regimental orders, May 9, 1812 of the 5th regiment now called the 3d and first Brigade and 4th Division of Militia. Agreeable to regimental orders of May 9th there is to be detached from Capt. Ephraim Scott's Company one Sergeant, one Drummer, and five privats. In obedience to the within orders there is detached from this Company Sergeant Isaac Pepper, John T. Gibs Drummer,
Barnerd Brown
Ruben Lazell
David Gilmore
Privates
Jonathan Harwood
Russell Lazell
On July 7 of the same year, another detachment being ordered of six privates, the following were detached:
Thomas Brown Thomas Sherman Thomas Howard
Thomas Patrick Aaron Marsh Benjamin Davis
It is probable that the military activities of these men were slight, and that they saw no fighting. The fact is that the War was not popular in Massachusetts, and men from this State took little or no part in it during the first two years. The Federal party denounced the War as destructive of our growing commerce, and, falling back on the doctrine of States Rights, Governor Strong refused to call out the militia even at the requisition of President Monroe. When, however, in 1814, the enemy appeared before Boston Harbor, the Gov- ernor's policy changed. He called out the State troops, and made ready for the defence of towns and cities on the coast.
Under date of Sept. 11, 1814, we find recorded in Cap- tain Scott's Orderly Book the most important entry of the period:
"Agreeable to Division Brigade and Regimental Orders there was detached from Capt. Scott's Company one Capt. one Sergeant one Drummer and twenty four privates.
158
HISTORY OF WARE
Ephm Scott Capt. Allender Brakenridge Sergt. Phineahas Convass Drummer.
Abel Daman James Lamberton 2d
Albijence King
Reuben Lazell
1
Andrew Harwood
Reuben Lamberton
Cyrus Cole
Samuel Gould
Darius Eaton
Samuel Laman Jr
Downing Gould
Thomas Sherman
David Watkins
Thomas Snell
Edward Pope
Warters Allen
Eben Cutter
Samuel Wilson
Joseph Simonds
Foster Marsh
Jonathan Maynerd
Isaac Osburn
John Bears
Benjn Lewis
The above Detachment was made September the eleventh A. D. 1814. Attest James Brakenridge Clerk."
The selectmen record several orders of a military character:
Oct. 24, 1814 Simeon Cummings for a cartridge box $ 1.00
Nathan Snell for a gun 11.00
Calvin Morse, beef for the soldiers 8.16
James Cargill, baking for the soldiers 2.65 James Cargill for carrying the baggage Joseph Cummings for onions and bak- ing bread for the soldiers 2.50
18.00
Nov. 7, 1814 John Osborn, making cartridges 2.10
Jan. 2, 1815 James Brakenridge, beef for the sol- diers 5.50
Feb. 15, 1815 Eli Snow, for goods for soldiers 2.19
At the March meeting, 1815, it was "Voted that $4.00 per man be given the Militia that were detached and did serve in defense of the state from this town last fall." The pay- ments recorded under this order dribbled along up into 1817.
Hostilities ceased soon after the beginning of 1815, but payments for military supplies continue for a number of years. Aug. 28, 1815, Benjamin Paige receives $20 for powder, and in September Thomas Snell for mending a gun $1. There are also frequent orders for making cartridges.
159
WAR OF 1812
A review of the Company was ordered for May 2, 1815, "with arms and equipment," with the following abstract of the return:
Captains 1
Se. & belts 71
Lieut.
1
Flints 146
Ensign 1 Wire & brushes 64
Serjeants
4 Cartridges & balls 1326
Drums & fifes 7
Knapsacks
78
Rank & file
99
Rifles
8
Muskets 72
Balls 188
Bayonets 71
Pounds of Powder 51/2
Cartridge Boxes 66
Pounds of lead 71/2
Iron rods
72
Captain Scott's command lasted until Aug. 18, 1815, at which time he received his discharge, Lieut. Benjamin Paige being elected to succeed him as captain of the militia.
The story is related that Allender Brakenridge was once asked the date of Captain Scott's commission with a view of fixing his seniority. Brakenridge replied "that he was un- able to say, but he had heard that Captain Scott was Orderly Sergeant under Pontius Pilate."
Captain Scott was a prominent figure in the town for a long period of years. His commanding officer in the War of 1812 was Lieut .- Col. Enos Foote, and his term of actual service was from Sept. 13 to Nov. 1, 1814.
Revolutionary soldiers whose graves have been marked by S. A. R. markers at Ware Centre:
In the Church Yard
Eli Ayres
d. Feb. 20, 1840
ae. 82
Judah Marsh Private " May 9, 1801 " 89
Andrew Harwood
Feb. 23, 1823 " 80
Wm. Breckenridge Capt. " Feb. 16, 1807 84
In the Cemetery on the Hill
Jonathan Foster Private d. Nov. 24, 1805
Phille Morse Drum. " Mar. 20, 1825 ae. 80
Thomas Andrews Sergt. " June 13, 1815 " 87
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HISTORY OF WARE
John Andrews
d. Apr. 24, 1823
ae. 61
John Gardner
Oct. 27, 1828 66
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