USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Westminster > History of Westminster, Massachusetts (first named Narragansett no. 2) from the date of the original grant of the township to the present time, 1728-1893, with a biographic-genealogical register of its principal families > Part 22
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"This may certifie that I Jacob Walton Do Ingage to Doe a turn in the Continentenal army for Ephraim Miller of Westminster for the year 1776. JACOB WALTON.
" December 14 ye 1775.
"left David Foster, Lt."
"WESTMINSTER Dec HI 1776.
"Then Recd of Sam! Cook of sd Westminster five pounds for which I Isaac Miller Engage to do the Service for which sd Cook was Drafted for in the present Campeigne -Sd service is one half to be alowed to sd Samuel Cook, the other half to myself. ISAAC MILLER."
"Bostown Feb. 20 1778 Recd of Joseph Miller of Westminster Sixty Pound for my In Listing into the Contenentenal army for three years for the town of Westminster. JOSEPH GREEN."
172
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
WESTMINSTER MEN IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
In presenting a tabulated list of the names of Westminster men who were in the service of the colonies during the Rev- olution, it is not claimed that no mistakes occur therein, nor that no omissions exist. This is too much to hope in a case of this sort, where imperfections in the records frequently are manifest, and discrepancies found which it is impossible to reconcile or explain, and where there is often much confusion of names, dates, and other particulars of desired information. For nearly every item of the subjoined table, the author is in- debted to the Revolutionary rolls and other documents at the State House, which have been scrutinized with the utmost dili- gence and care. The reader will notice that many of the en- listments were for short terms of service, making one or more re-enlistments possible, which accounts for the appearance of the same name at several different times, and under several different heads, in the registry below.
For convenience of reference, an alphabetical catalogue of all the Westminster soldiers, including "Minute Men" and "Enlisted Men," is appended to the principal table, which aims to give the time and place of service, under whose command, etc., in regular, chronological form and order.
NAMES OF SOLDIERS
Who went to Cambridge upon hearing of the battles of Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775, for ten days' service.
CAPTAIN ESTABROOK'S COMPANY, IN COL. ASA WHITCOMB'S REGIMENT.
John Estabrook, capt.
David Pratt, private. Samuel Brooks, private.
William Edgell, lieut.
Edward Wilson, 66 Nathaniel Kezar,
Nathan Howard, private.
Moses Seaver, 66 John Cowee,
Jabez Bigelow. Barron Brown,
Josiah Wheeler, Jr., =
Jonathan Brown, 66
Edward Jackson, 66
Elias Stearns,
Jedediah Cooper,
Asa Ray, 66
Nathan Pierce, 66
Nathaniel Wheeler, 66
Samuel Warren, 66
Joshua Millens,
David Child,
Silas Whitney, 66
Eli Keyes,
Thomas Bemis,
CAPTAIN JACKSON'S COMPANY, IN COL. ASA WHITCOMB'S REGIMENT.
Elisha Jackson, capt.
Asa Taft,
John Hoar, lieut.
Jonathan Child, James Bowers,
Darius Sawyer,
Joshua Everett,
Samuel Foster, 66
Paul Sawyer, 66
John Glazier,
Jonathan Bancroft, 16
Reuben Miles,
Joseph Beard, corp.
Joseph Holland, John Matthews,
Joshua Bigelow,
Isaac Williams,
Nathaniel Eaton, private.
Amos Spring,
John Pierce, 66
Andrew Derby,
CAPTAIN MILES' COMPANY, IN COL. JOIIN WHITCOMB'S REGIMENT.
Noah Miles, capt.
Wm. Bickford, sergt.
Bezaleel Holt, corp.
Samuel Sawin, lieut.
Josiah Puffer,
James Clark, ensign.
Ephraim Miller,
Silas Holt, fifer. Levi Miles private.
Norman Seaver, sergt.
Edward Bacon, corp.
Wm. Murdock,
Zachariah Willis,
John Goodale, private. Elisha Bigelow, private. Ebenezer Eaton, 66
Hannaniah Rand, sergt.
173
RESPONSE TO "LEXINGTON ALARM."
Ahijah Wood, private. Ephraim Wetherbee, priv.
Josiah Hadley, private.
Jonathan Sawin, 66 John White,
66
William Horseley,
Josiah Jackson, 66 Andrew Beard, 66 Jonathan Hager,
Nathan Lewis, Joel Miles,
Nathan Miles, 66
David Bemis,
Nathan Wood, Jr., 66
Noah Miles, Jr., 66
Benjamin Barnard, 66 Lemuel Houghton,
John Darby,
Zaccheus Bemis, 66 Isaac Russell,
66
Elijah Hardy,
66
John Ball, ,, Solomon Garfield,
Jonathan Graves, 66
Peter Graves,
66 Levi Graves.
The following men also went to Cambridge on the 19th of April, 1775:
Nicholas Dike, capt.
Joseph Miller, private. Daniel Hoar, private.
John Miles, lieut. Abner Holden, Michael Gill,
MISCELLANEOUS LISTS.
At the expiration of the seven days during which the persons named above remained under pay at Cambridge, a company was recruited for eight months' service in the regular army, as stated on page 159, and put in charge of Edmund Bemis, who had been honored with a Captain's commission by the Provincial Congress. This company was in Col. John Whitcomb's regi- ment, and took part in the seige of Boston.
Edmund Bemis, capt.
John Snow, private. John Fessenden, private.
John Hoar, lieut. James Bowers, 66 Peletiah Everett, 66
David Foster, 2d lieut.
John Boin [ Bowen],
Zachh Harvey [Jr .? ], " =
Jedediah Tucker, sergt. Jacob Walton,
Samuel Child,
Aaron Hill,
Ephraim Hall,
Jonathan Child, Paul Sawyer,
Alpheus Newton,
Abraham Stone, corp.
Thomas Knower,
Ebenezer Bolton,
Nehemiah Bowers,
Nathan Pierce, William Putnam,
Joel Adams, private.
Joseph Beard, =
Barron Brown, 66
Abner Bemis,
Amos Spring,
.6 Charles Reed, ¥
Benjamin Seaver,
Ahijah Wood, Zachariah Willis, 66
Jonathan Warren Smith was in Capt. David Wilder's company, Colonel Whitcomb's regiment, 1775.
Nathan Wetherbee was in Captain Cranston's company, Colonel Whit - comb's regiment, 1775.
Zachariah Willis was in Captain Gridley's company of artillery, 1775.
John Woodward was adjutant in Captain Doolittle's regiment on Winter Hill. 1775, and Jeremiah Gager in Colonel Whitcomb's.
Barron Brown was in Captain Warner's company, Colonel Whitney's reg- iment. at Hull, 1776.
According to rolls in Massachusetts archives there were in the company of Capt. Manasseh Sawyer of Lancaster, Colonel Dike's regiment, enlisted September. 1776, for three months' service in the defense of Boston, or for a shorter term at a later date,
Lieut. Samuel Sawin, Benjamin Howard, Asa Ray, Thomas Lewis,
Stephen Holden, Stephen Miles, John Esterbrook, Jr., Asa Savage Taylor,
Elias Farnsworth, Joshua Bemis. Joseph Cavendar, Josiah Conant, Joel Miles,
Caleb Wetherbee, David Comee, Nicholas Dike, Jr.,
Thomas Farnsworth, Samuel Merriam,
Silas Holt,
Elias Holden, David Merriam, Jonathan Sawin, Joseph Holden, ensign.
Wm. Houghton, "
Joseph Cavendar, Aaron Cleveland, Henry Dunster, William Everett,
Joel Miles, Zachariah Rand,
66
66 Samuel Seaver,
Elijah Simonds, 66
Joseph Robbins,
Isaac Child,
Eli Keyes,
Reuben Miles,
Isaac Williams, 66
Edward Wilson,
Israel Walton, 66 Zipron Newton, William Parker,
Aaron Bolton,
Samuel Whitney, 66
174
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
Barron Brown was in Captain Warren's company, Colonel Whitney's regi- ment, for the same service.
As heretofore stated, Col. Nicholas Dike was stationed at Dorchester in the summer of 1776 with his regiment for the defense of Boston, then ex- posed to attack by British cruisers floating along the Atlantic coast on the lookout for weak points and for opportunities of hostile operations. His men were first recruited for four months' service, then were re-enlisted for three months more, and finally for one additional month, making eight months in all. At the expiration of this time, occurring March, 1777, he seems to have given up his command.
To aid in meeting the new peril which soon after arose in the invasion of Burgoyne, Captain Joslin of Leominster raised a company which left for the field of service July 31st. In it were the following Westminster men :
Asa Brooks, Zeeb Green,
Samuel Sanderson,
John Cowee,
Joshua Mellen,
Aaron Sanderson,
Nicholas Dike, Jr., Stephen Miles,
David Sawin,
Thomas Farnsworth,
Samuel Miller,
Asa S. Taylor,
Jacob Goodale,
Levi Miles,
James Walker,
Jonathan Graves,
Isaac Puffer,
Samuel Wood.
Levi Graves, Jonathan Raymond,
At the time of the " Bennington Alarm." caused by the battle at that place, Aug. 16, 1777, the following company of " Minute Men " marched from West- minster, joining the regiment of Colonel Bridges, and were in the service ten days at East Hoosick, N. Y., in anticipation of an attack by General Burgoyne :
Elisha Jackson, capt. Elijah Simonds, private. Jonathan Hager, private.
Samuel Sawin, lieut.
Isaac Brooks, Josiah Headley,
Jabez Bigelow, 2d lieut.
Thomas Bemis,
Joseph Holden, 66
Edward Bacon, sergt.
Ebenezer Bolton, 66
Stephen Holden, ¥
Jonathan Sawyer, Levi Brooks,
Josiah Jackson,
Josiah Wheeler, 66
Ephraim Bigelow,
Edward Jackson,
Stephen Calef, 66
James Clark, 60
66
Joel Miles,
Stephen Hoar, 66
Jedediah Cooper,
Nathan Miles, 66
Thomas Knower,
John Edgell,
Noah Miles,
Zachariah Rand, 66
Samuel Foster, 66 Isaac Miller, 66
David Bemis, private.
Amos Gates,
Samuel Merriam, 66
Zachariah [Zaccheus ?] Be- John Glazier, mis, private. Peter Graves,
Joseph Perry,
Asa Ray, 66
Joshua Bigelow, 6 6
John Hoar,
Abel Wood,
Jonathan Brown,
Jude Sawyer,
Silas Holt, 66
Reuben Sawin,
Asa Taylor,
Ephraim Hall,
Nathan Wood,
As a reinforcement to the army under General Gates, who had succeeded General Schuyler in the valley of the Upper Hudson, the following men en- listed for twenty-seven days' service, and were stationed at Fishkill, N. Y .. to aid in preventing the passage of the British forces from below northward for the purpose of co-operating with Burgoyne in his much-vaunted invasion. They remained at their post till after the surrender of the enemy on the 17th of October.
Elisha Jackson, capt.
Joshua Bigelow, private. Josiah Hadley, private.
Samuel Sawin, lieut.
Levi Brooks, 66 Stephen Holden,
Jabez Bigelow, 2d lieut.
Joshua Bemis,
Edward Jackson,
Edward Bacon, sergt. William Bickford, “
Stephen Calf, 60
Abner Miles, 66
Hannaniah Rand, “ Edmund Bemis,
Amos Conant,
Josiah Conant, John Cutting, 66 Jonathan Raymond, 66
Nathan Parmenter, 66
Stephen Miles, corp.
Andrew Darby, Abner Sawin,
Solomon Garfield,
Nathan Darby, James Webber,
Levi Graves.
Samuel Fessenden, 66 Nathaniel Wilson,
Isaac Williams, 66 Abel Wood,
Samuel Wood,
Josiah Puffer, 66
John Edgell,
James Clark, 66
Thomas Laws,
Abner Miles,
Nathan Wetherbee, corp.
David Comee,
175
ENLISTMENTS FROM TIME TO TIME.
In a pay roll of one month's men, dated Dec. 28, 1777, and presented by Capt. Francis Wilson of Col. Danforth Keyes' regiment, are the names of Norman Seaver, ensign. Joseph Chapline, Phineas Whitney,
Paul Walker,
Ephraim Robbins, Joseph Seaver,
all of Westminster. Their place of service is not given; probably Rhode Island.
About the same date Nathaniel Wheeler, Samuel Gibbs, and Joseph Perry enlisted in the Continental army.
There were recruited for the "Rhode Island Service," during the year 1777, mostly in the company of Captain Sargent, Col. Josiah Whitney's regiment,
Hannaniah Rand, Joel Miles,
John Brooks. Jr., Ephraim Miles,
Jonathan Sawyer, Elisha Whitney,
Thomas Wetherbee, Jonathan W. Smith,
Moses Seaver, Phineas Whitney,
Nathaniel Wheeler, Joshua Mellen.
In the company of Capt. David Henshaw, Colonel Craft's regiment, was Samuel Norcross, who served three months.
In the month of November, of the same year, Captain Jackson raised, for three years' service in the Continental army, the following men :
Peletiah Everett, John Ball, Nathaniel Woodward,
Cyprian Newton,
Amos Spring,
Daniel Colburn,
James Bowers, James Osborne,
Robert Vaughn,
George Stone, Samuel Hart,
Joseph Green,
hired.
Abel Pierce,
Paul Sawyer,
Samuel Pomeroy,
Asa Wesson,
John Snow,
Samuel Harris,
Shadrack Newton,
Dec. 26th Capt. William Edgell enlisted for the same service:
John Fessenden [Jr .? ],
William Putnam,
Dudley Bailey for 8 months.
Nathan Pierce, Joseph Bailey, Henry Talbot, hired.
Jonathan Child, John Ball, John Woodman,
Barron Brown, Joseph Cavendar,
John Batt, 66
Eli Keyes,
Butler Whitney,
John Morson,
At the session of the general court, held in April, 1778, a requisition was made upon Westminster for seven men to aid in making up fifteen battalions called for from the State. They were obtained by conscription, under the direction of Captain Edgell, and assigned to nine months' service at Fish- kill, N. Y. Their names were
Jeremiah Gager, Nathan Wetherbee, Joel Miles,
Ephraim Wetherbee,
Levi Miles,
Levi Graves.
Jonathan Raymond,
On the 8th of October the town voted to pay these men a bounty of £30, and one of £14 to the following six men recruited by Captain Jackson:
Benjamin Treadway, Elijah Bemis, Stephen Bailey,
Zachariah Harvey, Nathan Lewis,
Francis Fullam.
In Capt. Jonas Merrick's company, Colonel Sparhawk's regiment, were Jonathan Smith and Ephraim Hall, enlisted for three months' duty near Boston, till Jan. 1, 1779.
Among the nine months' men enrolled Jan. 25, 1779, were :
Joseph Perry,
Nathan Maynard, Moses Larned,
Asa Brooks, Joseph Seaver, Joshua Bemis,
Samuel Wood, Timothy Crystal, John Brooks,
Who had a place ultimately in the company of Captain Edgell, Colonel Rand's regiment, and were stationed at Claverack, N. Y. The town voted
176
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
them £22 bounty, March 6, 1780. Jonathan Sawin and John Johnson, the latter from Fitchburg, were in the same company, the first receiving £16 14s. and the last £13 7s. bounty.
In Captain Pratt's company, raised probably for the same service, the same year, were Samuel Brooks and Abner Sawin.
In Captain Henry's company, stationed at Castle Island, Boston Harbor, were Joshua Mellen, John Bigelow, and Jonas Darby.
In the Rhode Island service during 1779 were Asa Brooks. Isaac Seaver. Phineas Slaton, Joseph Perry.
Jabez Bigelow was first and Edward Bacon second lieutenant in Captain Edgell's company, and William Bickford was second lieutenant in Capt. Samuel Sawin's company, regiment of Colonel Rand.
Among the nine months' men raised in 1780 there were credited to West- minster Josiah Bliss in the Tenth and Ebenezer Putnam in the Seventh Mass. Regts.
Pursuant to a resolve of the general court, passed June 5, 1780, there were raised for Captain Boutelle's company, Colonel Rand's regiment, the follow- ing men for three months' service :
Lieut. Jabez Bigelow, John Cohee, William Boynton,
Hannaniah Whitney, Nathaniel Wheeler,
Jonadab Baker,
Asa Brooks, Edward Wilson, Samuel Edgell,
Aaron Wood,
Ephraim Hall,
Benjamin Eaton,
Abraham Sampson,
Solomon Fessenden,
Jeremiah Gager,
Elisha Whitney,
Calvin Hale.
Ebenezer Hart,
Only seventeen men are spoken of in the town records. Possibly two of those who enlisted did not enter the service.
In a company of six months' men who marched to the field of action July 6, 1780, were
Abel Pierce,
William Switcher,
Charles Hendrick,
George Stone,
Richard Everett,
Jonas Darby,
Nicholas Dike, Jr., Isaac Seaver,
Samuel Gibbs.
Isaac Puffer,
Under a resolve of the general court dated Dec. 2, 1780, calling for three years' men, the following persons enlisted, the amount of bounty paid to each, as per receipt of the selectmen found in the office of the state secre- tary at Boston, being set against their respective names :
Silas Holt, £120. Jonathan Stedman, £112.
Grant Powers, £106.
Asa S. Taylor, 138. Elijah Gibbs, 104. John Atwell, 120.
Samuel Merrifield, 12. Isaiah Taylor, 102. Benjamin Treadway, 90.
Jonathan Harvey, 12. Amos Kimball, I20. Nathaniel Pattin, I 20.
In the company of Captain Sibley, raised pursuant to act of June 30, 1781, for five months' service, the last requisition made upon the town, were
Jonadab Baker,
James Cohee,
Richard Everett,
Samuel Hoar,
George Stone, Isaac Dupee.
John Cohee,
In the rolls of the Continental army are the names of those who served for the period specified in months as follows :
Barron Brown, 47 mos. Nathan Green, 36 mos. Nathan Pierce, 37 mos.
James Bowen, 36 Eli Keyes, 47 George Stone, 36 "
John Ball, 36 " Shadrach Newton, 36
Gideon Stanley, 35
Joseph Bailey, 16 Abel Pierce, 36 Daniel Smith, 14
Timothy Crystal, 12 = Wm. Putnam, 36
" Asa Wesson, 35 1-2
Henry Talbot, or Talborst, 30 mos. (deserted).
Mr. Hudson has, in addition to the above, Peletiah Everett, four months; Samuel Hunt, twenty months; Amos Spring, four months; and Nathaniel
David Wyman,
177
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.
Woodward, thirty-six months. Joseph Green and Jacob Walton, mentioned on a preceding page as belonging to the regular army, are not on record in the rolls, so far as found.
It is very likely that there were persons from this town in the country's service, during some part of the Revolutionary conflict, whose names do not appear in any of the consulted military lists. Indeed, some rumors or tra- ditions to that effect have come to the compiler, but they have not seemed sufficiently well authenticated to warrant insertion here. If any really ex- isted their number must have been very small.
ALPHABETICAL CATALOGUE
Of Westminster Men known to have been in the Revolution.
MINUTE MEN.
Adams, Joel
Foster, Samuel
Miller, Isaac
Bacon, Edward
Garfield, Solomon
Miller, Joseph
Ball, John
Gates, Amos
Murdock, William
Bancroft, Jonathan
Gill, Michael
Newton, Alpheus
Barnard, Benjamin
Glazier, John
Perry, Joseph
Beard, Andrew
Goodale, John
Pierce, John
Beard, Joseph
Graves, Jonathan
Pierce, Nathan
Bemis, David
Graves, Levi
Pratt, David
Bemis, Edmund
Graves, Peter
Puffer, Josiah
Bemis, Thomas
Hager, Jonathan
Rand, Hannaniah
Bemis, Zaccheus
Hall, Ephraim
Rand, Zachariah
Bickford, William
Hardy, Elijah
Ray, Asa
Bigelow, Elisha
Harvey, Zachariah
Reed, Charles
Bigelow, Ephraim
Headley, Josiah
Russell, Isaac
Bigelow, Jabez
Hill, Aaron
Sawin, Jonathan
Bigelow, Joshua
Hoar, Daniel
Sawin, Reuben
Bolton, Aaron
Hoar, John
Sawin, Samuel
Bolton, Ebenezer
Hoar, Stephen
Sawyer, Darius
Bowers, James
Holden, Abner
Sawyer, Jonathan
Bowers, Nehemiah
Holden, Joseph
Sawyer, Jude
Brooks, Isaac
Holden, Stephen
Sawyer, Paul
Brooks, Levi
Holland, Joseph
Seaver, Moses
Brown, Barron
Holt, Barzillai
Seaver, Norman
Brown, Jonathan
Holt, Silas
Sever, Samuel
Calef, Stephen
Horsley, William
Simonds, Elijah
Child, David
Houghton, Lemuel
Snow, John
Child, Isaac
Houghton, William
Spring, Amos
Child, Jonathan
Howard, Nathan
Stearns, Elias
Childs, Samuel
Jackson, Edward
Stone, Abram
Clark, James
Jackson, Elisha
Taft, Asa
Cooper, Jedediah
Jackson, Josiah Keyes, Eli
Tucker, Jedediah
Cowee, John
Kezar, Nathaniel
Warren, Samuel
Darby, Andrew
Knower, Thomas
Wetherbee, Ephraim
Darby, John
Lewis, Nathan
Wetherbee, Nathan
Dike, Nicholas
Matthews, John
Wheeler, Josiah
Dunster, Henry
Merriam, Samuel
Wheeler, Josiah, Jr.
Eaton, Ebenezer
Miles, Abner
Wheeler, Nathaniel
Eaton, Nathaniel
Miles, Joel
White, John
Edgell, John
Miles, John
Whitney, Samuel
Edgell, William
Miles, Levi
Whitney, Silas
Estabrook, John
Miles, Nathan
Williams, Isaac
Everett, Joshua
Miles, Noah
Willis, Zachariah
Everett, Peletiah
Miles, Noah, Jr.
Wilson, Edward
Everett, Willianı
Miles, Reuben
Wood, Abel
Farnsworth, Thomas
Millens, Joshua
Wood, Elijah
Fessenden, John
Miller, Ephraim
Wood, Nathan, Jr.
12
Taylor, Asa
Comee, David
178
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
ENLISTED MEN.
Abbey, John Adams, Joel
Everett, Richard
Newton, Alpheus
Everett, William
Newton, Shadrach
Atwell, John
Farnsworth, Elias
Newton, Zipron
Bacon, Edward
Farnsworth, Thomas
Norcross, Samuel
Baker, Jonadab
Fessenden, John,
Osborne, James
Bailey, Dudley
Fessenden, John, Jr.
Parker, William
Bailey, Joseph
Fessenden, Samuel
Parmenter, Nathan
Bailey, Stephen
Fessenden, Solomon
Pattin, Nathaniel
Ball, John
Foster, David
Perry, Joseph
Batt, John [hired]
Fullam, Francis
Pierce, Abel
Beard, Joseph
Gager, Jeremiah
Pierce, Nathan
Bemis, Abner
Garfield, Solomon
Pomeroy, Samuel [hired]
Bemis, Edmund
Gibbs, Elijah
Powers, Grant Puffer, Isaac
Bemis, Joshua
Graves, Jonathan
Putnam, William
Bickford, William
Graves, Levi
Rand, Hannaniah
Bigelow, John
Green, Nathan
Ray, Asa
Bigelow, Joshua
Green, Zeeb
Raymond, Jonathan
Bliss, Josiah
Headley, Josiah
Reed, Charles
Boin [Bowen] John
Hale, Calvin
Robbins, Ephraim
Bolton, Ebenezer
Hall, Ephraim
Robbins, Joseph
Bowers, James
Harris, Samuel [hired]
Sampson, Abraham
Bowers, Nehemiah
Hart, Ebenezer
Sanderson, Aaron
Boynton, William
Hart, Samuel
Sanderson, Samuel
Brooks, Asa
Harvey, Jonathan
Sawin, Abner
Brooks, John, Jr.
Harvey, Zachariah
Sawin, David
Brooks, Joseph
Harvey, Zachariah, Jr.
Sawin, Jonathan
Brooks, Levi
Hendrick, Charles
Sawin, Reuben
Brooks, Samuel
Hill, Aaron
Sawin, Samuel
Brown, Barron
Hoar, John
Sawyer, Jonathan
Brown, John
Hoar, Samuel
Sawyer, Paul
Calef, Stephen
Holden, Elias
Seaver, Benjamin
Cavendar, Joseph
Holden, Joseph
Seaver, Isaac
Chaplin, Joseph
Holden, Stephen
Seaver, Joseph
Child, Isaac
Holt, Silas
Seaver, Moses
Child, Jonathan
Houghton, William
Seaver, Norman
Childs, Samuel
Howard, Benjamin
Seaver, Samuel
Clark, James
Hunt, Samuel
Simonds, Elijah
Cleveland, Aaron
Jackson, Edward
Smith, Daniel
Cohee, James
Jackson, Elisha
Smith, Jonathan
Cohee, John
Johnson, John
Smith, Jonathan W.
Colburn, Daniel
Keyes, Eli
Snow, John
Comee, David
Kimball, Amos
Spring, Amos
Conant, Amos
Knower, Thomas
Stanley, Gideon
Conant, Josiah
Larned, Moses
Stedman, Jonathan
Cutting, John
Laws, Thomas
Stone, Abram
Crystal, Timothy
Lewis, Nathan
Stone, George
Darby, Andrew
Lewis, Thomas
Switcher, William
Darby, Jonas
Maynard, Nathan
Talburst, Henry [hired]
Darby, Nathan
Merriam, David
Taylor, Asa S.
Dike, Nicholas
Merriam, Samuel
Taylor, Isaiah
Dike, Nicholas, Jr.
Merrifield, Samuel
Treadway, Benjamin
Dunster, Henry
Miles, Abner
Tucker, Jedediah
Dupee, Isaac
Miles, Ephraim
Vaughn, Robert
Dupee, John
Miles, Joel
Walker, James Walker, Paul
Eaton, Benjamin
Miles, Levi
Edgell, John
Miles, Reuben
Walton, Israel
Edgell, Samuel
Miles, Stephen
Walton, Jacob
Edgell, William
Millens, Joshua
Webber, James
Estabrook, John, Jr.
Miller, Isaac
Wesson, Asa
Everett, Jeremiah
Miller, Samuel
Wetherbee, Caleb
Everett, Peletiah
Morson, John [hired]
Wetherbee, Ephraim
Bemis, Edmund, Jr.
Gibbs, Samuel
Bemis, Elijah
Gill, Michael Goodale, Jacob
Puffer, Josiah
Bemis, John
Putnam, Ebenezer
Bigelow, Jabez
Green, Joseph [hired]
Rand, Zachariah
179
PERSONS RECEIVING PENSIONS IN 1840.
Wetherbee, Nathan Williams, Isaac
Wood, Ahijah
Wetherbee, Thomas Willis, Zachariah
Wood, Samuel
Wheeler, Nathaniel
Wills, John
Woodman, John [hired]
1
Whitney, Butler
Wilson, Edward
Woodward, John
Whitney, Elisha
Wilson, Nathaniel
Woodward, Nathaniel
Whitney, Hannaniah
Wood, Aaron
Wyman, David
Whitney, Phineas
Wood, Abel
PENSIONERS IN WESTMINSTER, 1 810.
Dike, Joanna, widow of Nicholas Dike, Jr.
Drury, Eleazer, in the service before coming to Westminster.
Knower, Ann, widow of Thomas Knower.
Monroe, Ebenezer, in whose behalf, unknown. Nichols, Rebecca, widow of David Nichols.
Sawin, Abner, in his own behalf.
Warren, Jeduthan, enlisted at Chelmsford.
Williams, Hannah, widow of Isaac.
Wood, Abel, in his own behalf. Wood, Ahijah, in his own hehalf.
CHAPTER XI.
GLEANINGS OF THIRTY YEARS-1770-1800.
RELATION TO PROVINCE, STATE, AND NATION-LOCAL AFFAIRS - FINANCIAL STANDING OF THE TOWN.
HAVING traced, with much care and detail, the actions and fortunes of Westminster in its relation to the struggle for American independence and nationality, it is in order now to turn from the more strictly martial aspect of that important period of its history, and note what was transpiring at and about the same time within its borders of a more peaceful nature, - what was no less essential to its development and pros- perity as a body corporate established to promote the welfare and happiness of all classes of its population, and as a con- stituent factor of the state and nation whose characteristic features and ultimate destinies it has done and sacrificed so much to shape and make perpetual. We take up, therefore, in the present chapter, the thread of current events where it was dropped at the time of the completion of the act of incor- poration in 1770, and follow it along the avenue of thirty years to the close of the last and the opening of the present century. The dry detail of conventional and commonplace occurrences will be, for the most part, avoided, and only the more marked events-those of general interest as well as those of local sig- nificance - will receive attention.
According to the tax lists for the year 1770, the town had, at the time of its full incorporation, one hundred and sixty-one resident and twenty non-resident tax payers, numbering in the aggregate one hundred and eighty-one, among whom there were one hundred and seventy-two polls. The same lists show that there were in the town at the same date, oxen, 158; cows, 363; horses, So; swine, 167; sheep, 669. Only eight persons were taxed for money on hand, as follows, begining with the highest : Nathan Whitney, Josiah Puffer, Sebez Jackson, Daniel Walker, Jonas Whitney, Edmund Bemis, John Woodward, Isaac Wil- liams. The amounts ranged from about two hundred dollars in United States currency to seventeen and a half dollars. The eight largest real estate owners in the same order appear to have been Reuben Miles, Daniel Hoar, Joseph Miller, Nathan Whitney, Samuel Whitney, Abner Holden, Joseph Holden, John Miles. The twelve largest tax payers were John Rand, Richard Graves, Abner Holden, Nathan Whitney, Daniel Hoar,
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NEW-COMERS CAREFULLY WATCHED.
Reuben Miles, Joseph Miller, John Miles, Elisha Bigelow, Samuel Whitney, Elisha Jackson, Noah Miles. There were three slaves in town, owned respectively by James Cohee, Daniel Hoar, and Widow Sarah Blanchard.
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