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 63
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He died in Roxbury, Feb. 22, 1862, and was buried in the family vault under Trinity Church, Boston.
Edward Watson (1821) was a jeweller in Boston, and paymaster of the Second Regiment, Third Brigade, First Division, in 1821 ; quartermaster of the same from 1822 to 1826 inclusive, and adjutant of the same regiment in 1827. He was also fifth sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1826. He died in 1839.
Eliphalet Wheeler (1821), yeoman, of Framingham, son of Abner and Elizabeth Wheeler, of Lincoln (near the Concord line), was born in that town Sept. 14, 1791. He
William Tucker (1821). AUTHORITY : New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg., 1862.
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married, Feb. 4, 1813, Clarissa Rice, daughter of Capt. Uriah Rice ; she died Sept. 3, 1873. He settled in Groton, pursuing the work of a farmer, but moved to Framingham in 1816. He bought, July 10, 1818, two acres of land on the west side of the centre common and built a house there, in which he lived and died. He was one of the first proprietors of Saxon's Mills (April 5, 1822), and was for a time superintendent of the same. He held the office of deputy-sheriff for many years. He was a member of the Framingham Light Infantry Company, and succeeded Capt. James Hamilton (1821) as captain. He served for a short time in the War of 1812-5, and for fourteen days was paymaster at the forts in Boston Harbor. He died Jan. 14, 1854, aged sixty-two years and four months.
William Whiting (1821), manufacturer, of Concord, son of William and Rebecca (Brown) Whiting, was born in Sterling, Mass., Oct. 20, 1788. In November, 1811, he married Miss Hannah Conant, by whom he had two daughters and a son, William. The latter graduated at Harvard College in 1833 ; was appointed solicitor of the war depart- ment in 1864 ; chosen presidential elector in 1868, and representative to Congress in 1872. William Whiting (1821) attended school in Westminster, whither his parents had moved in 1795, and the following year was sent by his father to live on a neighbor- ing farm. He lived there three years, when he went to Concord and entered the service of an uncle, Dr. Joseph Hunt. He attended Dr. Hunt's apothecary shop and went to school for three and a half years. In 1803 he went to learn the harness-making and carriage-trimming business, and served five years. About 1810 he went into business for himself, became successful, but in 1823 his shop and dwelling-house were burned. He continued his work, however, with varying success, until his decease, Sept. 27, 1862.1
He commenced his military career as a fifer in the Concord Artillery, and served in it seven years; afterward became a member of that company; passed through the various grades, and was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the First Regiment of Artillery, in the First Brigade, Third Division. He was one of the proprietors of the Concord Academy, a member of Dr. Ripley's Church and of the Concord Lyceum, and president of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. He " was present at the ceremony of laying the corner-stone of Bunker Hill Monument, and, being a Royal Arch Mason, had an excellent situation near Gen. Lafayette, who was there in his simple citizen's dress, and his little plain white Masonic apron."1 Mr. Whiting (1821) received the Masonic degrees in Corinthian Lodge, of Concord, in 1819, and Sept. 27 of that year became a member of that Lodge. He was its master in 1824, 1825, and 1826, resigning March 20, 1826, when he was appointed district deputy grand master of that Masonic district. He held the last-named office five years. He was re-elected master of the Lodge five times between 1832 and 1846. He was a member of Concord Royal Arch Chapter, and was its first high priest.
John Temple Winthrop (1821), lawyer, of Boston, fourth son of Hon, Thomas Lindall Winthrop, of Boston, by his wife, Elizabeth Bowdoin Temple, daughter of Sir John Temple, and granddaughter of Gov. James Bowdoin, was born in Boston, May 14, 1796. He was a great-great-grandson of Wait Winthrop (1692), and a brother of Hon. Robert C. Winthrop (1830) and of Brig .- Gen. Grenville T. Winthrop (1833). He graduated at Harvard College in 1815. He represented the city of Boston in the
" Autobiography of William Whiting (1821), written between 1852 and 1855.
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General Court. He was lieutenant of the Boston Light Infantry in the Second Regi- ment, Third Brigade, First Division, in 1822; captain of the same in 1823; major of the Second Regiment in 1824; colonel of the same from 1825 to 1827, and in 1828 succeeded Brig -Gen. Theodore Lyman, Jr. (1820), in command of the Suffolk Brigade of Militia. He was adjutant of the Artillery Company in 1824, and its captain in 1825. He died, unmarried, at Valparaiso, South America, May 5, 1843, while travelling for his health. In 1834 he had his name changed, by Legislative act, to John Temple James Bowdoin, under the will of a relative.
On Monday evening, March 12, 1821, at a business meeting of the Artillery Com- pany, the commissioned officers made the following report as the result of their doings respecting the " Adams " gun, which was accepted, viz. : -
" COUNCIL CHAMBER, Feb. 2, 1821.
"The committee to whom was committed a communication from the quarter- master-general of the 16th ult., relative to the bursting of a piece of cannon while employed in experimental gunnery in the service of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, and a letter from the commander of said Company, stating the circumstances under which the accident happened, beg leave respectfully to represent that the said cannon was one of the two pieces which were designated by the names of Hancock and Adams, and which have engraven thereon the following inscription : ‘Sacred to Liberty.' This is one of the four cannon which constituted the whole train of artillery possessed by the British colonies of North America at the commencement of the war, on the 19th of April, 1775. This cannon and its fellow belonged to a number of citizens of Boston, and were used in many engagements during the war. The other two, the property of the government of Massachusetts, were taken by the enemy. The above inscription [was] 'by order of the United States in Congress assembled, May 9, 1788.' "The committee think it is desirable to perpetuate the two pieces of ordnance to which a memorial so interesting to the people of the Commonwealth is attached.
"They therefore recommend that his Excellency be advised to instruct the quarter- master-general to cause the Adams gun to be recast and the inscription to be restored thereon, and that it be made to conform in all respects to the other piece.
"And as it appears by the representation of the quartermaster-general that from the defective state of said gun when loaned to said Company, no blame is imputable to them for the injury it has sustained, the committee therefore further recommend that the quartermaster-general be directed to redeliver the cannon, when completed, to said Company, or loan for field service and experimental gunnery, until the further order of the executive.
(Signed ) SILAS HOLMAN, per order.
" In Council, Feb. 2, 1821. This report is accepted and by the governor approved. " (Signed) A. BRADFORD, Secretary of Commonwealth."
Capt. Ephraim Whitney (1816) having gone on a voyage to sea, Capt. Daniel Brown (1818) was appointed to act as a sergeant pro tempore, in place of Capt. Whit- ney (1816).
At the same meeting, it was voted "that it is expedient the commissioned officers appoint four corporals to stand until election day, and that four corporals shall be chosen as other officers on that day, to act for the year ensuing." Again a new standard of
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tactics was adopted. It was decided that "Gardner's Compend " be hereafter the standard of exercise in the Artillery Company.
Mr. Whitman's (1810) first history of the Artillery Company was completed and published at this time, when the Company voted to procure twelve copies, and to present them to the following-named libraries and persons, viz .: (1) Historical Society ; (2) Antiquarian Society ; (3) Boston Athenaeum ; (4) Harvard College ; (5) Military Library, Boston ; (6) Apprentices' Library, Boston ; (7) Merchants' Library, Boston ; (8) Boston Franklin Library; (9) Rev. John Codman, chaplain; (10) the new chaplain for the year ; (II) treasurer of the Company (for the Company) ; (12) secretary of state at Washington.
The Company met for drills March 19 and 26, also April 2.
Friday, April 6, being the regular field-day, the Company paraded, in citizen's dress, under command of Capt. George Welles (1807), marched to the Common and went through with the usual exercises. On their return to the armory, Rev. Edward Everett (1836), of Cambridge, professor of Greek literature in Harvard University, was chosen to deliver the anniversary sermon the next June.
Great efforts were made to add to the membership of the Company ; and, at a meet- ing held April 16, a previously appointed committee made the following valuable report, which was issued as a circular letter to the officers of the State militia : -
" BOSTON, April 14, 1821.
"Sir, - The undersigned have been appointed a committee to take measures, as they consider expedient, in order to augment the members, and, of course, to extend the usefulness of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, which was called in its charter the 'Military Company of Massachusetts.' This Company was instituted nearly two centuries since as a 'school for officers' and 'a nursery of soldiers.' It is the object of the present members of it to make the Company as useful to the community as it was designed to be when it was instituted. The Company has great chartered privileges, and considerable funds. It is not limited to any division or place, nor restricted in regard to the number of its members or its officers ; but, on the contrary, it seems as if it was originally intended, in the infancy of the colony, that all officers in commission should be members of it. This would now be impracticable, but it is sup- posed, if the officers of such divisions as are located near this town, and the officers of others, who frequently visit it, were to become associated with us, that an uniformity of drill and discipline would speedily be established throughout the Commonwealth ; that all the improvements in the military art would be introduced and practically illustrated on the field ; that the good fellowship of the officers, many of whom are now strangers to each other, would be cultivated, and their honorable influence in the community extended, at the same time that habits of subordination, so useful in our military institutions, would be taught and practically exhibited. In order to accomplish these objects, the Company, during the past year, have altered their by-laws, and reduced the price of entrance into it from fifteen to ten dollars. The new by-laws permit the officers of the militia of every grade and corps to appear in the uniform of their commissions. By these alterations the Company have hoped to obviate the objections arising from the expense, which has heretofore, in some degree, prevented its extension. This last alteration, it is expected, will be attended with the good effect, also, of introducing a spirit of emulation and a military ardor among the officers, which will even extend
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itself to those privates who see them, as a school of officers, exhibiting in practice the military improvements which they teach. It is further, on this head, proper to remark, that the Company, beside a stand of arms, have an annual income of above two hundred dollars from their funds, which is applied to its current expenses, and that in proportion as the number of its members increase, the amount of the annual assessments on them will be diminished ; and it is not supposed, when the whole plan is carried into effect, that these will amount to more than five dollars annually. We also think it proper to observe to you that no fines for absence from drills are imposed on any members residing out of Boston, except for the three Monday evenings previous to the annual election of officers in June ; and that a further extension of this exemption is contem- plated in favor of all officers, both in and out of town, who either associate with their neighbors for drill, or are obliged to perform it in exercising their respective corps. Other alterations in the by-laws will be made from time to time, as any change of circumstances in the Company shall require. Since those which have been already adopted were known, about thirty new members have joined the Company, and many of its honorary members have shouldered their muskets and appeared in the ranks, so that the Company now enrolls above one hundred and twenty members; among them are the commander-in-chief and the whole of his staff ; the major-general of the First Division and his three brigadier-generals, with nearly all the officers of their respective staffs ; the brigadier-general of the First Brigade and Third Division, the field officers of the Boston regiment, and of the neighboring regiments in Middlesex, and a great proportion of the officers of the light infantry and other volunteer corps. Believing the usefulness of the institution depends very much upon the extent of it, and at this time when the new system of drill and field exercise, which is now practised upon in the Company, is to be introduced into the militia, it will be particularly beneficial, the committee have addressed their circular to you, hoping that the views of the Company will meet your approbation, and that, by enrolling your name among its members, you will afford it your patronage and support. Should you, or any other respectable officer in your vicinity, wish to be proposed as a candidate for admission, you will have the goodness to address Z. G. Whitman, Esq., the clerk of the Company, who will cheerfully attend to your requests ; and any questions or inquiries made will receive immediate attention from him, the officers of the Company, or any of the members of this com- mittee. With great respect, we have the honor to be, sir,
"Your obedient servants,
" Signed by " WILLIAM H. SUMNER [1819]. WILLIAM FERNALD [1811 ].
" WILLIAM SULLIVAN [1819]. LUSHER GAV [1814].
A. H. GIBBS [1820].
JAMES TALBOT [1820].
WILLIAM HOWE [1806].
"SAMUEL H. PARKER [1820].
Z. G. WHITMAN [1810].
"Attest : Z. G. WHITMAN [1810], Clerk."
At a meeting held May 9, it was voted " that there be four commissioned officers chosen for the ensuing year, provided his Excellency the governor and the honorable council will approve of it, viz., a captain, first and second lieutenants, and an. ensign, the second lieutenant to act as adjutant."
" H. A. S. DEARBORN [1816]. " BENJAMIN LORING [1810]. " THADDEUS PAGE [1820].
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May 16 a communication was read from the secretary of state in regard to the fourth officer. The prayer of the petition was granted by the governor, and that forma- tion, with four commissioned officers, has continued from 1821 until the present time.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, May 15, 1821.
The military committee who have had under consideration the petition of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, praying for the allowance of an additional officer to said Company, to act in the capacity of an adjutant, respectfully report, that as the said Company was instituted, as appears by its charter, bearing date the 17th March, 1638, as a school for officers, and has from that period and continues still to be composed principally of commissioned officers; and as the same has recently been greatly enlarged by the accession of recruits from the class of officers holding commis- sions and belonging to the different divisions of militia, for the laudable purpose of promoting an uniformity of drill and field exercise throughout the militia, in furtherance of the laws of the United States, having the same object; and as it appears by said charter that liberty is therein granted to said Company to choose a captain, lieutenant, and all other officers, not limiting the number, nor specifying their rank respectively; and as it was originally in the contemplation of the government, in the institution of said Company, that the benefits which might be derived from it should, as far as might be, be participated in by the whole body of militia officers, and hence it might become so numerous as to require additional officers from time to time : the committee therefore recommend that his Excellency the governor be advised to grant the prayer of the said petition, and to commission, according to the usages of said Company, an additional person each year (until the further pleasure of the governor and council), as a lieutenant in said Company to do the duty of adjutant. All of which is respectfully submitted.
(Signed) RICHARD SULLIVAN, per order.
In council, May 15, 1821. This report is accepted, and by the governor approved. (Signed) ALDEN BRADFORD, Secretary of the Commonwealth.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
BOSTON, May 15, 1821. To CAPT. GEORGE WELLES [1807], Commanding Officer of the A. & H. A. Company :
Sir, - It gives me great pleasure to enclose to you a copy of the advice of council to his Excellency the commander-in-chief, which has been approved by the governor, founded upon the application of the Company under your command, granting their request to have permission to choose one additional lieutenant, to act as adjutant to the Company for the year ensuing.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir,
Your most obedient and very humble servant,
WILLIAM H. SUMNER [1819], Adjutant- General.
"The committee to whom was referred the subject of an alteration of the by-laws relative to the uniform of the Company, beg leave to submit the following report : That in the year 1810 the Company agreed to alter their uniform, so as to conform to the uniform of the infantry officers of the Brigade, with the exception of small clothes and
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gaiters, and although these were actually an expense of about twenty-five dollars, in addition to that already incurred, in the uniform of officers, yet many joined the Com- pany that year, and your committee are of opinion that many more officers would have joined had not the Company insisted upon subjecting them to this great, and, as your committee believe, most useless expense of small clothes and gaiters. The year past the Company altered the by-laws touching uniform, so as to permit members of the Com- pany who hold, or who have held, commissions in the militia, to appear in the uniform of their respective offices ; and your committee are of opinion that all officers who are now in the ranks will avail themselves of this privilege, and that the officers of the infantry will appear in white linen pantaloons and boots, instead of small clothes and gaiters. By referring to the roll of the Company, your committee find that all the active members save fourteen are officers. Your committee therefore recommend an alteration in the by-laws, so as to permit all citizens who are now, or may hereafter become, members of this corps, to appear in the uniform of officers of infantry.
" BOSTON, May 16, 1821."
The above report was accepted.
May 21, 1821, the Company met for drill and business. During the latter part of the meeting, Mr. Z. G. Whitman (1810) moved the appointment of a committee to consider the following changes in the Rules and Regulations of the Company, viz., that " black stocks may be worn on the anniversary instead of white, and also the wearing of powder on the hair may be dispensed with." Subsequently, the committee reported in favor of the changes, which were adopted by the Company.
May 23, 24, and 28 meetings were held for business or exercise.
The financial reports made to the Company were very gratifying. The assessments were lessened year after year during the five preceding years, and the permanent fund increasing. In May, 1821, the latter amounted to three thousand three hundred and fifty dollars, viz., twenty-four shares of Union Bank stock, twenty-four hundred dollars ; eleven shares of Manufacturers and Mechanics Bank, five hundred and fifty dollars ; certificate United States seven per cent stock, four hundred dollars.
The several sub-committees appointed to make all arrangements for the anniversary reported all contracts made, and the several duties assigned them performed.
The following letter, in the archives of the Company, was read to the Company : -
AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY,
WORCESTER, MASS., April 26, 1821.
The president and council of the American Antiquarian Society with pleasure acknowledge the reception of "an historical sketch of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company," presented to the institution by said Company ; and agreeably to a vote of the society, present the Company their thanks for the same. The name of the Company is recorded in the books of the society together with the donation, which is deposited for safe keeping. By direction of the president and council.
(Signed) REJOICE NEWTON, Recording Secretary.
Officers and Members of the A. and H. A. Company.
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The one hundred and eighty-third anniversary of the Ancient and Honorable Artil- lery Company was observed on Monday, June 4, 1821.1 The meeting this day was " unusually splendid." The weather was fine, and ten thousand people assembled to observe the public exercises. The members of the Company at this time numbered one hundred and seventy, of whom forty-three were honorary members and one hundred and twenty-seven were active. There were one hundred muskets in line, and the artillery pieces were manned by the usual number of men. The officers of the militia, doing duty in the ranks, were dressed in the uniforms of the various corps to which they belonged, and added much to the splendor of the Company's appearance. Among others, there were present in line Major-Gen. Elijah Crane (1819), of Canton, in the First Division ; the adjutant-general of the State, Gen. Sumner (1819) ; Brig .- Gen. Rutter (1821), of Sudbury, in the Second Brigade, Third Division ; Cols. Loring (1810), Parker (1820), and Page (1820), of Boston, in the First Division; Col. Robinson (1821), of Lynn, in the Second Division ; Cols. Hurd (1821), of Concord, and Bald- win (1821), of East Sudbury, in the Third Division ; Lieut .- Col. Theodore Lyman, Jr. (1820), aide to the commander-in-chief, and several other officers, who were distinguished by their military spirit and achievements. There were on duty, as infantry, ninety-two persons who then or previously had held commissions in the militia, viz., one major- general, the adjutant-general of the State, one brigadier-general, five colonels, eight lieu- tenant-colonels, fourteen majors, twenty-eight captains, twenty-two lieutenants, twelve ensigns, including staff officers ranking as officers of the line of the above grades, besides thirteen private citizens. On duty, attached to the field-pieces, were three colonels, one lieutenant-colonel, five captains, three lieutenants, three ensigns, and five privates, making in the whole one hundred and twenty-five persons. Many active members, newly recruited, did not appear in the ranks because they had not drilled in the new tactics prescribed by Congress for the government of the militia.
After partaking of the usual morning collation, the Company, under command of Capt. George Welles (1807), moved to the State House, and thence, with their distin- guished guests, to the First Church, in Chauncy Place, where the sermon was delivered by Rev. Edward Everett (1836), professor of Greek literature at Harvard College. After service, the Company, with its guests, proceeded to Faneuil Hall, where a sumptuous dinner had been prepared by Mr. William Fenno. The usual toasts were drank, and addresses made. The commander-in-chief, Gov. Brooks (1786), offered the following volunteer toast : "The Day and the Military Institution whose Anniversary we cele- brate." After his Excellency retired, Capt. Welles (1807) gave, "Our worthy Chief Magistrate, Gov. Brooks [1786], the well-deserved favorite of Mars and Minerva." Hon. Mr. Quincy volunteered to offer, "Our Fisheries. Success to all of them but those for office." After the postprandial exercises the Company repaired to the Common, where the usual election was held, and the officers of 1820 having resigned their insignias they were conferred by his Excellency upon the newly elected officers. The Company escorted Gov. Brooks (1786) to the State House, thence retired to Faneuil Hall, where the usual votes were passed.
1 The following appeared as a " NOTICE.
" All the boys and girls in town, and as many from the country as can make it convenient to attend, white, black, and mixed, are hereby notified to assemble on Boston Common on Monday next,
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