USA > Massachusetts > History of the Military company of the Massachusetts, now called the Ancient and honorable artillery company of Massachusetts. 1637-1888, Vol. II > Part 5
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He was first sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1745, soon after which he removed, and became one of the first settlers at Halifax, N. S. He died there about 1773.
Kenelm Winslow, Jr. (1743), merchant, of Boston, son of Kenelm and Abigail (Waterman) Winslow, was born in Marshfield, Nov. 5, 1717. He married, March 14, 1754, Abigail Bourne, of Barnstable, and died Aug. 13, 1780, aged sixty-three years. His wife, Abigail, died June 21, 1761, aged thirty-two years. He and his brother Joseph (born in October, 1724) became merchants in Boston. The latter became involved and failed, which ruined the financial prospects of Kenelm, Jr. (1743), and the ancestral estate was lost.3 Mr. Winslow (1743) was elected a constable of Boston, March 15, 1742-3, but refused to serve, and paid the usual fine.
The record of the Artillery Company for 1743 is as follows : -
"April 4th, 1743. The Company being under arms, a motion was made by the Captain to reconsider a vote passed October, 1742 [1740], which obliged the Company to exer- cise according to Col. Blakeney's method, which passed in the affirmative; and then voted for the future to exercise according to Col. Bland. Voted, that the Rev. Mr. William Hooper, of Boston, be desired to preach the next Election sermon; and that the field officers of the Regiment of the town of Boston, with the present commission officers of this Company, be a committee to wait on him and desire the same. The evening being spent at Sergt Nathaniel Thayer's [1734], voted to receive the Treasurer's account ; and that the Clerk copy the same. The Company proceeded to the choice of a committee, viz : Col. Jacob Wendell [1733], Lt .- Col. William Downe [1716], Major Daniel Henchman [1712 ], Capt. Samuel Watts [1733], and Mr. Samuel Holyoke [1714], for the following reasons : - To consider what allowance further shall be made to the commission officers of this Company, to ease them of the entertainment to be made next election ; to settle the Clerk's account and to see what shall be proper to allow him for his trouble the past & future, and to any Clerk that shall be chosen hereafter ; & to report what shall be done with the money now in the hands of the Treasurer, balance
Jacob Hurd (1743). AUTHORITIES: Boston Records; New Eng. Ilist. and Gen. Reg., 1865. 1 William II. Whitmore, in " Brief Genealogy of the Gore Family." " " He was buried from the house of Jonathan
Ilunnewell, on South Street, Monday, Jan. 18, 1796." - Boston Newspaper. 3 See New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg., for gen- ealogy of Winslow Family, 1863, p. 160.
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HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY.
1743]
being £54. 3/: & what he shall have in his hands for the future ; & to consult what shall be done, as to the raising of the fines for their not appearing, & to take into consideration what shall be further for the advantage of the Company, & make report next May meeting.
" May 6th, 1743, Friday. The weather proving bad last Monday, we were obliged to appear this day as per Charter, and, being under arms, the Captain being one of the committee appointed to wait on the Rev. William Hooper to desire him to preach the Election sermon, informed the Company he had accepted the same. After reading the report of the committee chosen in April last, to consider of several things relating to the Company, they voted one by one, and ordered that the Clerk copy the same. Voted, that the Sergeants hereafter chosen shall be obliged to return the Halberts to those that shall be chosen in their room; or be accountable to the Company in case either of them loose their Halberts.
"A motion being made by Maj. Daniel Henchman [1712], to have a duplicate of their book of Records and accounts,' and to encourage the same, he promised to give a handsome book for that purpose, that they might repair these in case of any accident happening to the original books; which was voted; & that Mr. Samuel Holyoke [1714], a former Clerk, be desired to transcribe the books, and when it's finished, the original is always to be in the possession of the Treasurer for the time being. Voted, that the time appointed hereafter, on the half days, shall be at three o'clock in the after- noon ; & that the members not appearing at that time ready to march, shall be liable to a fine of six pence new tenour.
"1743, May 6th. The report of the committee as follows : - We the subscribers, being appointed by the Honorable Artillery Company, at their meeting on the fourth April instant, to consider of several things for the benefit of the Company, agreeable to their votes as recorded in their Book, report on the several articles as follows : -
1 As will be seen by the preceding record, Major Daniel Henchman (1712) introduced a motion to have a duplicate of the records of the Company made, and gave a hook for that purpose. The tran- script was not completed until 1750. Through a similar foresight, as Mr. Whitman (1810) in his history of the Company states, Major Thomas Sav- age (1637) in 1680 ordered Nathaniel Barnes (1676), clerk, to make "a list of all the officers' names of this Company, which have been since their first settlement, as far as any account is to be found thereof," etc., which list was completed in Septem- ber, 1681. To the foresight of Major Savage (1637) the Company is indebted for the preservation of the roll of its members and officers during the first fifty years of the Company, and no less to Major Henchman (1712) for the preservation of the former lists, completed in 1750. The lists of officers and members of the Company as given, prior to 1750, in this work, are an exact copy of the Savage and Henchman lists and records. These two hooks are now in the possession of the Company.
By the third article, adopted May 6, 1743, the sergeants were provided with halberds. This was their first appearance so armed.
" Finally," it was proposed, for the greater con- venience of the Company, that on training days the colors be displayed at Major Henchman's (1712)
corner (south corner of State and Washington streets), " and that the place of parade hereafter be at the town-house." The lower floor of the " old town-house " served " for a covered walk for any of the inhabitants," implying there was considerable open area. The custom of placing the standard there in the morning, to be a notification for the training until the Company was formed, was long adhered to. After Faneuil Hall armory was estab- lished, - " which Boston was obliged to furnish for the Company, having received Capt. Robert Keayne's [1637] donation for that purpose," - the Artillery Company met and formed there, though the colors were displayed at Henchman's (1712) corner. After the formation of the line, the lieuten- ant with the color-guard proceeded to bring the standard to its place in the line. This ceremony was annually repeated from 1743 to 1795, except during the Revolutionary War. Monday, June 2, 1795, was a stormy day, and the colors were then brought from Henchman's (1712) corner, for the last time, by Capt. Joseph Eaton (1773), then lieutenant of the Company. "Gen. Arnold Welles [ISII], who commanded the Artillery Company in ISII, when a hoy served his time in the corner store, and had charge of the colors, and from him the account was received." -Whitman's Hist. A. and H. A. Company, 2d Ed., p. 294.
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HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT AND
[1743
" Ist. That an allowance of ten pounds more than what was before voted, be granted to the commission officers towards defraying their charge on the day of Election, to make up in the whole the sum of forty pounds, old tenor, to be paid them by the Com- pany's Treasurer.
" 2d. That there be allowed to Mr. William Taylor [1738], the present Clerk, the sum of six pounds, old tenor, for his extraordinary trouble in collecting the fines due to the Company from the lists of former Clerks, &c. to be deducted out of the fines.
"3d. That there be provided for the use of the Company a Half-Pike for the Lieutenant, and also two Halberts for the Sergeants to compleat the Company's badges, the cost of which to be paid by the Treasurer.
" 4th. And whereas upon examining the Clerk's account, we find in his hand a balance of fourteen pounds six shillings & seven pence, and by a list of outstanding debts to be collected the sum of twenty-seven pounds, fifteen shillings and six pence ; we therefore propose that the whole amount of what is at present in hand, and what he shall be able to collect, after the six pounds allowed him to be deducted, be paid towards the Dinner on the Election day, for the benefit and ease of the members of the Com- pany. And that all the Clerks for the future pay their respective balances yearly towards the Election Dinner, as aforesaid, until the Company shall vote to the contrary.
" 5th. As to the Article of fines, we are of opinion, that as they were stated & determined upon, & subscribed unto from so long a date as the year 1700, therefore think it not convenient to make any other report than this, viz : - That the Company's Clerks for the time being do receive all the fines & forfeitures for the delinquents as they are fixed & recorded in the Company's book in lawful money of this Province ; and if the Company concur with the foregoing Article of the Clerk's paying the yearly balance for the use and benefit of the members at the day of Election, we apprehend such fines can be no hardship upon us, considering also, that every man through the Province liable to train being a delinquent, must pay his fine as stated by the act in lawful money. Finally, we would propose for a greater conveniency to the Company, that their Colours for the future be hung out upon our Training Days, at Maj. Hench- man's [1712] corner and that the place of parade hereafter be at the Town House. All which is submitted by
" JACOB WENDELL, " WILLIAM DOWNE, " DAN'L HENCHMAN, " SAMUEL WATTS, " SAMUEL HOLYOKE, " Committee.
" BOSTON, April 30th, 1743.
" June 6th, 1743. The Company, being under arms, voted, that the commission officers of this Company be a committee to wait on the Rev. Mr. William Hooper, & give the thanks of this Company for preaching the Election sermon.
"September 5th. The Company, being under arms, and upon a motion made & consented to, the letters from the R't Hon. Lord Carteret to his Grace the Duke of New Castle, published in the Boston Evening Post, the same day, giving an account of His Majesty's success against the French on the river Main, was read at the head of the Company, which was followed by three huzzas and the discharge of three volleys."
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HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY.
1744]
Rev. William Hooper, of Boston, delivered the Artillery election sermon of 1743. He was born in 1702 in Edenham, Scotland, and, having emigrated to America, married the daughter of Mr. John Dennie, a merchant of Boston. Their son William read law with James Otis, settled in North Carolina, was a member of the Congress of 1776, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
The West Church, in Boston, was organized Jan. 3, 1737, and, on May 18 next following, Rev. Mr. Hooper was ordained over it. He preached his own ordination sermon. He continued in this relation for nine years, when he suddenly left the church and went to England. Mr. Sabine names him in his "Biographical Sketches of American Loyalists." He was reordained in England, and soon after returned to Boston and became minister of Trinity Church, the third Episcopal church in Boston. The house of worship stood on Summer Street, at the corner of Hawley. He held the office of minister to this church until his decease in 1767, at the age of sixty-five years.
The officers elected were : William Downe (1716), captain ; John 1744. Phillips (1725), lieutenant ; Ebenezer Storer (1732), ensign. Thomas Savage (1739) was first sergeant ; Thomas Edes (1739), second sergeant ; Thomas Baxter (1740), third sergeant ; Newman Greenough (1740), fourth sergeant, and John Dixwell (1741), clerk.
March 12, 1743-4, the memorial of Moses Deshon (1737), "Setting forth, That he by the Encouragement of Several Gentlemen about Fourteen Months since began to Cut the Arms of their Late Generous Benefactor, Peter Faneuil, Esq., and soon after his Death the same was Compleatly Finished & Gilt," asked that it be accepted and placed in Faneuil Hall at the expense of the town. It was thereupon voted that the selectmen purchase the said arms at the expense of the town. This was done, Mr. Deshon (1737) being paid forty pounds, old tenor, for the same.
The members of the Artillery Company recruited in 1744 were : Isaac Cazneau, John Comrin, Joseph Gale, Thomas Greenough, and Thomas Stoddard.
Isaac Cazneau (1744), saddler, of Boston, was born in 1696. He married, Sept. 22, 1726, Hannah Johnson, who died April 8, 1784, aged seventy-eight years. She was buried from Mrs. Winslow's, on Hanover Street. His name is variously spelled in the town records, - Casno, Casneau, and Cazneau. Isaac Cazneau (1744) was chosen a constable March 8, 1730, but was excused. Being re-chosen, March 14, 1736, he declined to serve and paid the fine. He was clerk of the market in 1746, 1753, 1754, and 1777, and sealer of leather in 1762. He belonged to the military, and rose to the grade of captain.
Feb. 18, 1729, the selectmen executed a lease to " Isaac Casno, sadler," of a shop or tenement, No. 7, fronting on Dock Square, for twenty pounds per annum, and, Oct. 19, 1739, it was re-leased to him for five years at thirty pounds per annum. This lease was again renewed Sept. 1, 1744. He resided on Water Street in 1744, for at a meeting of the selectmen, April 4, 1744, " Mr. Isaac Casno [1744] appeared and desired liberty to erect a sign-post before his house in Water Street." His untenanted house "in the upper part of Water Street" was destroyed in the great fire of 1760.
Isaac Cazneau (1744). AUTHORITY : Boston Records.
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HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT AND
[1744
Jan. 4, 1757, Mr. Cazneau (1744) was employed by the selectmen to " make a good serviceable sedan, at the charge of the town," for removing the sick at Rainsford Island. He was fourth sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1747, and third sergeant in 1755. He died in May, 1774, aged seventy-eight years.
John Comrin (1744), trader, of Boston, married, Feb. 1, 1732, in Boston, “ Sarah Lorthorn [Lawton]." He served as a constable of Boston in 1743, and, Dec. 8, 1749, was elected a collector of taxes, but was excused. July 2, 1742, liberty was granted to Capt. John Comrin (1744) to dig up the pavement in Shrimpton's Lane (Exchange Street) to repair his drain ; and, Feb. 23, 1742-3, he was granted liberty to put down a post before his store door in Cornhill (Washington Street). April 20, 1748, the select- men sold a piece of property at auction, on Water Street, to Capt. John Comrin (1744) for one thousand and seventy-five pounds, old tenor. He is mentioned in the records of the Old South Church as a member, July 16, 1744, and Oct. 31, 1757. He was first sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1750 ; was identified with the militia, and held the position of captain. He died in 1762.
Joseph Gale (1744), upholsterer, of Boston, married, April 29, 1735, Mary Alden, of Boston. He was first sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1749, fourth sergeant in 1755, and ensign in 1758. His son, Ensign Joseph, Jr., joined the Artillery Company in 1759.
Joseph Gale (1744). was clerk of the market in 1737, and a constable of Boston in 1738. His will was proved in 1774.
Thomas Greenough (1744), mathematical instrument maker, of Boston, son of Capt. John (1712) and Elizabeth (Gross) Greenough, grandson of Capt. William Greenough (1675), and brother of Major Newman Greenough (1740), was born in Boston, May 6, 1710. He married, (1) May 9, 1734, Martha, daughter of William Clarke (1703), and (2) Sarah, daughter of David Stoddard, who, with her sisters, the wives of Rev. Charles Chauncy and William Hyslop (1755), were the devisees of Shute Shrimpton Yeamans, and thus the owners of Noddle's Island.
His parents were members of the Second Church, but he was one of the founders of the New Brick Church, and a deacon from 1755 until its union with the Second Church in 1779, and was continued in the same office in the latter church until his decease, May 1, 1785. He was for several years treasurer of the New Brick Church, and was very prominent in church matters.
His father and grandfather were ship-builders, having their ship-yard at the North End, near the present Chelsea Ferry.
Mr. Greenough (1744) made the annual visitation to the families in the town of Boston, with its most prominent citizens, seven times, - 1750-6. He was clerk of the market in 1735 ; was elected constable March 10, 1739, but declined to serve, and held other town offices as late as 1777. March 10 of the last-named year he was elected a selectman of Boston.
John Comrin (1744). AUTHORITY: Boston Records. Thomas Greenough (1744). AUTHORITIES : Sumner's Hist. of East Boston; Boston Records.
The famous Frankland House, on Garden-
Court Street and Bell Alley, at the North End, was occupied at one time by Thomas Greenough (1744). He bought it Jan. 6, 1746-7, of the heirs of William Clarke, and afterwards sold it to Sir Charles Henry Frankland,
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HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY.
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July 26, 1774, he was chosen one of the committee to receive donations for the relief of the inhabitants of Boston, suffering on account of the shutting up of the harbor of Boston, and, Nov. 8, 1776, he was one of those employed by the town " to determine the damage sustained since the Boston Port Bill."
Thomas Greenough (1744) was a member of various town committees both before and during the occupation of Boston by the British ; and throughout the entire contest, whose triumphant close he was permitted to see, he adhered with unflinching firmness to the cause of the colonies. He was third sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1747.
Thomas Stoddard (1744), shopkeeper, of Boston, son of Daniel and Elizabeth Stoddard, of Boston, was born July 13, 1699. He married, (1) April 2, 1723, Tabitha Hodgdon, born Jan. 4, 1702, daughter of Nathaniel (1727) and Susanna Hodgdon, of Boston ; and (2), (published) April 2, 1735, Abigail Barker, of Andover.
Thomas Stoddard (1744) was chosen a constable of Boston in 1733, but was excused from serving. He was re-elected and sworn in 1734. He was elected clerk of the market in 1739, but refused to serve and paid the fine. He served in that office in 1744 and 1745, and was re-elected in March, 1745-6, but refused. He was thanked by vote of the town for past services. He was elected purchaser of grain, March 12, 1749-50, and hog-reeve in 1761.
June 17, 1734, he was one of the petitioners, with William Parkman (1711), John Greenough (1712), and Newman Greenough (1740), for permission "to lay down and maintain for twenty or thirty years, good and sufficient ways for the landing of passengers from Winnisimmet, at the town's slip, at the lower end of North Street," which was granted by the town. He commanded a company against the Indians, and there is extant a printed sermon on the occasion of their departure, by Rev. Samuel Checkley. In the Artillery Company he held the rank of sergeant, and was captain in the militia, serving as such at Crown Point in 1755. He died, April 12, 1763, aged sixty-four years. His gravestone stands on Copp's Hill.
In his will there was set off to his daughter, Susannah, who married William Bord- man (1758), a dwelling-house and land bounded southeast by Clark's Square (Suffolk County Probate Record) ; his mansion house on Union Street, six hundred pounds ; house "two houses below said house," and house and land in Roxbury, are mentioned. Also, four small arms, one pair of pistols, and seven swords, four pounds four shillings ; one old negro, one negro boy, and one negro girl.
The record of the Artillery Company for 1744 is as follows : ---
"April 2d, 1744. The Company being under arms, voted, that the Rev. Mr. Joseph Parsons of Bradford be desired to preach the next Election sermon ; and that the field officers of the Regiment of the town of Boston, and the present commission officers of this Company, with the Hon Richard Saltonstall, Esq. [1733], be a committee to wait on him and desire the same.
" May Irth. The weather not proving suitable on Monday, we, by our Charter were obliged to appear this day, and being under arms, the Lieutenant, who led the Company, and being one of the committee appointed to wait on the Rev. Mr. Joseph
Thomas Stoddard (1744). AUTHORITIES : Palfrey's History; Records of Boston; MS. of Mr. Joseph C. Whitney.
Mr. Joseph C. Whitney, of Boston, has in his possession a christening bag imported by Thomas Stoddard (1744), in which William Bordman (1786) was baptized in 1 760.
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HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT AND
[1744
Parsons to desire him to preach the next Election sermon, reported that he accepted the same. The evening being spent at Sergeant Taylers [1738], the four following votes were there passed. Ist. That there be a committee chosen to take the affair under their consideration respecting the monies belonging to the Company, being the produce of what their land sold for, and now under the care of their Treasurer, how they shall be appropriated for the future, and make report thereon the next training day. 2d. That the committee consist of five, viz : Col. Jacob Wendell [1733], Lt. Col. William Downe [1716], Maj. Daniel Henchman [1712], Capt. John Wendell [1733], and Capt. John Phillips [1725]. 3d. That an allowance of twenty pounds, old tenor, more than what was before allowed, be paid by the Treasurer to the commission officers, towards defray- ing their charge on the next Election day, to make up in the whole the sum of fifty pounds, old tenor. 4th. That an allowance of twenty pounds, old tenor, be paid by the Treasurer for the benefit of the private soldiers dinners on the next Election day. The Treasurers account being read, it was voted to accept the same. .
" June 4th. The Company being under arms, it was voted, the old commissioned officers of this Company, with the new ones elected this day, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Mr. Joseph Parsons and give him the thanks of this Company for his sermon preached to them this day. The evening being spent at Col. Wm. Downes [1716], the following report from the committee chosen the last Training Day was read & the Company voted to accept the same, viz : The committee appointed by the Honorable Artillery Company, the 11th of May 1744, to take under their consideration the affair respecting the money belonging to the Company, being the produce of what their land sold for, now under the care of the Treasurer, have met accordingly, and are of opinion, that as most of it is let on real security, and the value of the money therein stated, and the remainder, the value of the money is settled by Act of the General Court ; Therefore it will be most for the interest of the said Company for the present to continue the whole at interest, until some favorable opportunity offers for the laying out the same in a real estate, agreeable to the order of the General Court, dated June 16, 1731.
" JACOB WENDELL, " WILLIAM DOWNE,
" DANIEL HENCHMAN,
" JOHN WENDELL, " JOHN PHILLIPS."
" BOSTON, May 29th, 1744."
Rev. Joseph Parsons, of Bradford, Mass., delivered the Artillery election sermon of 1744. He was the successor, as pastor of the Bradford church, of Rev. Zachariah Symmes, whose father, Rev. Thomas Symmes, also a pastor of the Bradford Church, delivered the Artillery election sermon in 1729.
Rev. Joseph Parsons was born at Brookfield, Mass., in 1701, graduated at Harvard College in 1720, and was ordained at Bradford in 1726. During his pastorate the Brad- ford church was divided by the formation of the East Precinct, June 17, 1726, and a new church was organized June 7, 1727. One hundred and one members, including the two deacons, withdrew to form the second church in what is now Groveland. Rev. Mr. Parsons also delivered the annual election sermon before the General Court. He was opposed to Mr. Whitefield's preaching, and was one of the ten ministers in Essex County who protested to the Boston ministers against his being admitted to the pulpit. After an able, conservative, and zealous pastorate of nearly forty years, he died in Bradford in 1765.
Rev. Joseph Parsons. AUTHORITY : Hurd's Hist. of Essex County, Art., Bradford.
1745J
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HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY.
1745. The officers of the Artillery Company elected in 1745 were : Jacob Wendell (1733), captain; John Carnes (1733), lieutenant ; John Codman (1733), ensign. Jacob Hurd (1743) was first sergeant; Thomas Stoddard (1744), second sergeant; Nathan Blodgett (1742), third sergeant; Ephraim Copeland (1733), fourth sergeant, and John West (1745), clerk.
Thomas Hutchinson, Esq. (1694), at the town meeting March 25, 1745, "informed the Town that he was much Obliged to them for the Honour Done him in choosing him a Selectman for several years past, that he found his own private affairs would not permit him to Serve the Town in that office any longer."
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