USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of the early settlement of Newton, county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, from 1639-1800. With a genealogical register of its inhabitants, prior to 1800 > Part 13
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" Voted, that the Selectmen use their best discretion in providing fire-arms for the poor of the Town, who are unable to provide for themselves."
John Pigeon and Edward Durant, were chosen delegates to the Provincial Congress, to be held at Concord, on the second Tuesday in October next.
January 2, 1775. Abraham Fuller and Edward Durant, were chosen delegates to the Provincial Congress, to be holden at Cambridge.
John Pigeon presented to the Town two field pieces, which were accepted, and the thanks of the Town given him.
Nathan Fuller, Amariah Fuller and Edward Fuller, were chosen to obtain subscriptions to mount the two field pieces.
Voted, to raise men to exercise the field pieces, and Captain Amariah Fuller, Captain Jeremiah Wiswall, and Major Benjamin Hammond, were chosen a committee for that purpose, and instructed them to raise a company of Minute Men, consisting of thirty-two men, besides the offi- cers ; and that said Minute Men meet once a week, during the Winter season, half a day, for exercise; and all that attend, shall be paid eight pence each.
Samuel Craft, Phineas Cook, Dr. John King, Lieutenant Joseph Fuller, and Captain Jonas Stone, were chosen a
184
EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
committee to see that all resolves and orders of the Conti- nental Congress, that concern this Town, be strictly observed.
" Voted, that the committee of correspondence be allowed their pocket expenses."
January, 1775. " Voted, that each man of the company of Minute Men, be paid one shilling for half day exercising, and eight shillings a day for the eight officers, over and above the one shilling each ; the +Minute Men to train once a week, at the discretion of the commanding officer."
A Province tax was voted, and Captain Jeremiah Wis- wall chosen the Collector.
BATTLES OF LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.
April 19, 1775. At this time there were three compa- nies of Infantry in the town: the West Company, com- manded by Captain Amariah Fuller; the East Company, commanded by Captain Jeremiah Wiswall; and a company of Minute Men, raised in 1775, commanded by Captain Phineas Cook, all of which were in the battles of that day, and marched twenty-eight miles. The rolls of each company were returned to the Secretary's office, and sworn to by their commanders, as follows : West Company, one hundred and five, - East Company, seventy-six, - Company Minute Men, thirty-seven ; two hundred and eighteen in all; beside which, many Newton men, not attached to either of those companies, were in the action. In the West Company were thirty-seven volunteers, called the alarm list, men who had passed the age for military duty, among whom were -
Capt. Joshua Fuller, aged 72 Capt. E. Jackson, aged 46
Dea. Joseph Ward, 69 Abraham Fuller, 55
185
EVACUATION OF BOSTON BY THE BRITISH.
Benjamin Eddy, aged 68
Joshua Murdock, aged 54
Joseph Adams, 68 Peter Durell,
56
Thomas Miller,
62 Thomas Beal, 58
Alexander Shepard,
William Clark, 59
Capt. John Woodward, " 51
Henry Seger,
57
In the East Company were -
-
Noah Wiswall, aged 76 Jonathan Mirick, aged 53
Ebenezer Parker, 73 Deacon David Stone,
Deacon Jonas Stone,
53 Deacon William Bowles,
Joshua Hammond,
54 Dr. John King, &c.
Mr. Noah Wiswall was the oldest man from Newton. His son Jeremiah commanded the East Company, and his sons Ebenezer and John, and some of his sons in law, were in the same company, and he could not be persuaded to stay at home, -" he wanted to see what the boys were doing." He was wounded in the hand by a musket ball, which he very coolly bound up with his handkerchief, and brought home the gun of a British soldier, who fell in the battle.
The Minute Men were commanded that day, by Lieut. Michael Jackson, a courageous man. They came up with the British at Concord, and immediately exchanged shots with them, and hung upon their flank and rear, with good effect, from Concord to Lechmere Point. For their bravery and good conduct on that day, this company received the thanks of General Warren upon the field.
Soon after the battles of Lexington and Concord, Capt. Phineas Cook and Capt. Nathan Fuller, each raised a com- pany, and joined the army at Cambridge, for eight months. Seventy-four Newton men enlisted in these two companies.
On the 4th of March, 1776, at the request of General Washington, the West Company, under Captain Amariah Fuller, with sixty-six men, and the East Company, under
16*
186
EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Captain Jeremiah Wiswall, with forty-seven men, marched to take possession of Dorchester Heights, South Boston. This proved to be a short service.
On the 17th of March, the British troops evacuated Boston. This event gave great joy to the Americans.
Soon after, the American Army commenced its march for New York, where they arrived on the 14th of April, and from thence, Capt. Nathan Fuller's company marched with the expedition to Canada. In this service, Captain Fuller was promoted to the office of Major, and much praise is awarded to him in that expedition. [See 2d Vol. of Gordon's History of the American Revolution.]
June 17, 1776. Town Meeting. Captain John Wood- ward, Moderator. The second article in the warrant, was as follows :
" THAT IN CASE THE HON. CONTINENTAL CONGRESS SHOULD, FOR THE SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN COLONIES, DECLARE THEM INDEPENDENT OF THE KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN, WHETHER THE INHABITANTS OF THIS TOWN WILL SOLEMNLY ENGAGE WITH THEIR LIVES AND FORTUNES, TO SUPPORT THEM IN THE MEASURE."
" After debate, the question was put, and the vote passed UNANIMOUSLY in the affirmative."
That solemn and ever memorable vote was not meant for show; those lives and fortunes went along with it, honestly, earnestly, and triumphantly, from the first hour to the last, of that sanguinary struggle for independence. Newton men formed a part of every army and expedition ; fought in almost every battle and skirmish, throughout the contest. Scarce a man in the town, old or young, able or unable, but what volunteered, enlisted, or was drafted, and served in the ranks of the army, from the hardest fought
187
EFFORTS TO ENLIST MEN AND RAISE MONEY.
battles, down to the more quiet duty of guarding Burgoyne's surrendered army, partly by aged men.
Captain Joseph Fuller raised a company of ninety-six men, in August, 1777, thirty of whom were from Newton, and marched to Bennington, Skeensboro', and Lake George, to oppose the progress of Burgoyne.
Captain Edward Fuller raised a company of sixty-eight men, forty of whom were from Newton, in March, 1778.
January, 1777. Sixty-four Newton men enlisted for three years, or during the war. Fifty-four Newton men marched to re-inforce the Continental Army, in 1780, twenty-four of whom marched under Captain Pope.
The following extracts, from the Town records, will show the various kinds of military service Newton men engaged in, during the early years of the war, and the great exer- tions made by the Town, to enlist men and raise money, to prosecute the war.
July 5, 1776. "Voted, to grant the additional sum of £6, 6s. 8d. to the bounty granted by the General Court, to each person who shall enlist as one of Newton's quota. for the Canada expedition ; that £6, 6s. 8d. be paid out of the Town treasury, to each person who passeth muster, and goeth into the service ; that the Treasurer be directed, in behalf of the Town, to borrow the money to pay the bounty of the soldiers aforesaid."
January 6, 1777. " Alexander Shepard, Col. Benjamin Hammond, Ensign Samuel Craft, Joseph Jackson, Lieut. Samuel Richardson, Lieut. Aaron Richardson, Lieut. Joseph Craft, and Alexander Shepard, Jr., were chosen a com- mittee, on the 18th of December, 1776, to adjust matters relative to an allowance to soldiers, for services done in the war, since April 19th, 1775; and also to consider in what manner the war shall be supported by the inhabitants, for the future. Having attentively attended that service, and
188
EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
after mature deliberation, the majority of the committee are of opinion, and humbly conceive it to be just and equitable, that there be paid out of the public treasury of this Town, the several and respective sums, to such inhabitants of the Town as were in the service of their country, in the expe- dition, or tours of duty, which are hereinafter particularly expressed, (excluding such as we think the pay was adequate to the service, proportionately with those to which we have thought it just to add to the pay,) namely :"
" To such as enlisted in the first eight months' service, and attended their duty therein, forty shillings each.
"To those who were in the two months' service, in the Winter last past, twenty shillings each.
"To those who enlisted for the whole year last past, and were ordered to march to New York, and from thence to Canada, and attended their duty, twenty pounds each. " To those who enlisted for the year last past, and marched to New York, ten pounds each.
"To those who enlisted for the said year, and marched to New York in the Summer, eight pounds each.
" To those who enlisted for the said year, and marched for Ticonderoga, in the Summer, eight pounds each.
"To those who enlisted in Colonel Craft's and Colonel Whitney's regiments, to man the lines, three pounds each.
"To those who were drafted, and marched to New York, for two months, four pounds each.
"To those who were drafted for New York, for three months, and are now at Providence, five pounds each.
"That there be also paid out of the treasury aforesaid, to each and every person who has paid money to hire, or encourage soldiers to enlist in any of the services, since the
189
EFFORTS TO ENLIST SOLDIERS.
19th of April, 1775, the several and respective sums by them disbursed; excepting such a part (if any) that have been paid more than the fine required by law ; and that such inhabitants as were called forth on any emergency, and were omitted in the muster rolls, and have not received any pay for their services, they shall be paid in proportion to what others have received, who were in the same service.
" And that the charge of hiring soldiers, that shall from time to time be required of this Town, as their quota or proportion of men, during the present war, shall be paid out of the treasury aforesaid ; and grants made from time to time, which shall be assessed on the polls and estates belonging to the Town, for the payment of all and every sum, that shall be paid for any of the purposes herein before mentioned.
" We also humbly conceive, that it would be most expe- dient for the Town to choose a committee, to be joined with the commissioned officers of the Town, for the time being, to hire such number of soldiers as shall, from time to time, be required of the Town, during the present war." Which report was amended by giving thirty shillings, instead of forty shillings, to those who manned the lines near Boston, in 1776; that five pounds, instead of four, be paid to each of the soldiers who were drafted and marched to New York, for two months, and then the report was accepted.
It was then " Voted, that those commissioned officers who went in the Continental service to New York, and thence to Canada, the last year, be paid twenty pounds each; that there be paid to Colonel Michael Jackson, for going into the Continental service at New York, last Summer, eight pounds ; and to Captain Edward Fuller, in the same ser- vice, two pounds."
March 14, 1777. " Voted, that Phineas Bond, Captain
190
EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Amariah Fuller, Joshua Hammond, Captain Jeremiah Wis- wall, Samuel Woodward, and Dr. John King, be a commit- tee, to be joined by the commissioned officers of this Town, to hire soldiers, (if need be,) to go into the war the ensuing campaign, as cheap as may be, not to give more than twenty- four pounds each.
" That the Town Treasurer borrow, for the purpose afore- said, the sum of one thousand pounds, and deliver it to the aforesaid committee, as it shall be needed.
"That such as are subjects of the gratuity for said former services, who have, or shall enlist within ten days from this time, into the Continental service for Newton, and pass muster, shall receive of the Town Treasurer a promissory note, on interest, for what they are entitled to, for said service, to be paid in one year, they demanding the same at the treasury."
May 13, 1777. "Voted, that three pounds be paid to each soldier that lately went to Providence, by the Town."
"That in case any more men be called for, that the com- missioned officers and committee be directed to procure soldiers on the best terms they can."
Voted, that Abraham Fuller, Esq., Colonel Benjamin Hammond, and Lieutenant Noah Hyde, be a committee to report instructions to our Representative ; and the following is extracted from their report :
"To Thomas Parker, Esq., of Newton, in General Assembly : - Sir, in pursuance of a resolve of the General Court of the 5th of May, current, relative to forming a new Constitution of government- We, the free holders, and other inhabitants of Newton, in Town meeting legally assembled, May 15th, 1777, judge it proper to impart to you our united sentiments," &c.
" We instruct you, that in attempting to set up a new Constitution, you are to use your utmost endeavors, that the
EFFORTS TO ENLIST SOLDIERS AND RAISE MONEY. 191
legislative powers be not confined (nor rest) in less than two branches, at least, and that each branch have a free and independent exercise of its judgment, and a negative voice in the Legislature - for history sufficiently evinces, that no government, in any State in the known world, where an absolute power has been lodged in one man, or one body of men, but that it speedily issued in despotism and tyranny," &c. * * Accepted.
" Voted, to abate the poll tax of those men that went to do turns for themselves, at Ticonderoga, last Summer.
Account of money borrowed of Newton men, by the Town Treasurer, to pay the soldiers, in March, 1777, ac- cording to the report of the committee, of which Alexander Shepard was chairman, made to the Town, January 6, 1777.
Joshua Hammond,
£190, 13s. 4d.
Joseph White,
100
Cornet Norman Clark,
90
John Wiswall,
20
Dr. John King,
24
Lieutenant Joseph Craft,
200
Aaron Jackson,
24
Abraham Fuller,
286
Benjamin Eddy,
52, 13s.
Samuel Richardson,
30
Ephraim Williams,
40
Captain Jeremiah Wiswall,
45
Captain John Woodward,
100
Captain Edward Fuller,
3
Thomas Jackson,
24
Elhanan Winchester,
300
Colonel Michael Jackson,
87
192
EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
John Ward,
£60
John Ward, 3d,
43
Elisha Fuller and others,
432
Oliver Fenno,
74
Widow Tabitha Miller,
13
Miss Abigail Stone,
61
Alexander Shepard, Jr.,
100
Colonel Nathan Fuller,
133, 6s. 8d.
Josiah Hall,
24
William Hammond,
46
Stephen White,
70
Samuel Woodward,
120
Joshua Murdock,
64
Captain Abraham Pierce,
133
£2989 13s.
TORIES.
" Voted, that Alexander Shepard procure, and lay before the Court, the evidence that may be had of inimical dis- position towards this, or any of the United States, of any person belonging to this town, who shall be charged by any of the inhabitants, of being a person whose residence in this State is dangerous to the public peace and safety."
" Voted, to accept the list now exhibited by the Select- men."
" Voted, that John Rogers and Joseph Bullough be added to the list aforesaid."
June, 1777. " Voted, that Alexander Shepard, Colonel Hammond, and Deacon Bowles, be a committee to draft a declaration for John Rogers to sign, to satisfy the Town.
" Voted, that Mr. Rogers be no farther proceeded with, relative to his being charged with being inimical to the United States."
EFFORTS TO HIRE MEN AND MONEY. 193
After debate, on the fifth article in the warrant, relative to petitioning the General Assembly for removing Morris Spillard and Captain McFall, out of the town of Newton, the vote passed in the affirmative, and Alexander Shepard, Aaron Richardson, and Captain Jeremiah Wiswall, were appointed a committee for that purpose.
September 15. "Voted, that the Treasurer. of this Town be directed, and he hereby is empowered, in the name and behalf of said Town, to borrow the sum of twelve hundred pounds, and give his note, on interest, for the same, for repaying to the commissioned officers, and the committee, to procure soldiers for the Continental service ; and also the sum of six hundred pounds, towards procuring soldiers for said service, for the future."
October 17, 1777. General Burgoyne surrendered his army, of nearly six thousand men, to the Americans.
December 8. " Deacon John Woodward, Joshua Mur- dock, Joseph Jackson, Dr. John King, and Colonel Nathan Fuller, were chosen a committee to make effectual pro- vision for the families of the non-commissioned officers and privates, that have engaged in the Continental service, agreeable to a resolve of the General Assembly, on the 10th October last."
December. "Voted, that the officers and committee should hire men to replace the late detachment at Prospect Hill."
1778. " Voted, a tax of three thousand pounds, towards defraying the Town charges of the war."
June. The plan of the Constitution, and form of govern- ment for Massachusetts Bay, as proposed by the Convention, having been read in Town meeting, debated, and put to the vote - five approved, and seventy-five disapproved of it.
November. " Voted, an additional tax of five hundred pounds."
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194
EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
March, 1779. A committee was appointed to audit the accounts of the Military committee. They reported that " Captain Edward Fuller had received, as fines, £185, 19s., and has paid out the same sum.
" Captain Joseph Fuller has received, as fines, £450, and has paid out £384, 1s. 10d .; remaining in his hands, £65,18s. 2d.
"Joshua Hammond, £4,312, 7s. 4d .; and of Lieutenant Aaron Richardson, £94, 10s .; and of Captain Jeremiah Wiswall, £33; and of Col. Benjamin Hammond, £4, 13s .- amounting in all to £4,444, 10s. 4d., and has paid out £4,432, 17s. 6d .; leaving in his hands, £11, 12s.
" Mr. Joshua Hammond has also paid, of money he col- lected as taxes, £201, 8s. 6d.
" Colonel Nathan Fuller has paid, of money he collected as taxes, £123, 10s.
NOAH HYDE, JONAS STONE,
Auditing
JOHN WOODWARD, Committee."
This report was accepted by the Town, March 1, 1779.
August, 1779. The proceedings of the late Convention, at Concord, were read by paragraphs, to the Town, and they voted to approve the same. Chose Alex'r. Shepard a Delegate to the Convention, to be holden at Concord, on the 6th of October next ; and Dr. John King and Thomas Parker, Delegates to the Convention, to be holden at Cam- bridge, for the sole purpose of framing a new Constitution ; and they were instructed to use their endeavor to cause a printed copy of the form of the Constitution they may agree upon in convention, to be transmitted to the Select- men of this Town, to be laid before the Town for their . approbation.
195
CONSTITUTION OF MASSACHUSETTS.
"Voted, to raise men, agreeable to the resolve of the Court. Voted, a tax of £3,000, for raising men, and other expenses."
" Voted, to approve the regulation of trade. The pro- ceedings of the late Concord Convention were read, as far as relates to stipulated prices, and approved, except the prices of potatoes, geese, fowls, turkeys, tame ducks, cider, all kinds of wood, coal, and teaming, which were referred for further consideration."
March, 1780. "The Committee of Safety were re-elected. Chose a committee of fifteen, to consider and report what alterations they judge necessary, in the new form of govern- ment."
" Chose Colonel Benjamin Hammond, Lieutenant John Rogers, James Grimes, Norman Clark, Jr., James Stone, Jonas Stone, Joshua Fuller, Timothy Jackson, and Edward Jackson, a committee to raise men for the war, as called for by the General Court."
" Voted, a tax of £30,000, to defray the charges thereof, and the Treasurer was authorized to borrow money for the use of the Town."
September 4, 1780. First Town Meeting under the new Constitution of Massachusetts, which declared " all men to be born free and equal ;" made choice of the first Gover- nor, Lieutenant Governor, Senators, &c. John Hancock had eighty-six votes, and Benjamin Lincoln twenty-six.
" Voted, an additional tax of £40,000. Chose a com- mittee to purchase beef for the army, as required by the General Court ; Colonel Benjamin Hammond, Chairman."
December. Chose a committee of nineteen, to raise Newton's quota of men, to fill up the Continental army.
"Voted, a tax of £100,000, to defray the charges of the Town."
January, 1781. " Voted, that the committee of nineteen,
196
EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
to engage soldiers to fill up the Continental army, be invested with full power and authority, to select five or seven out of their number, who shall be invested with the full power given to the whole committee."
March. Re-elected the same Committee of Safety and Correspondence.
" Voted, that the Treasurer be authorized to give notes to the soldiers, which have, or shall enlist into the Conti- nental army for three years, or during the war."
April 2. Second election. John Hancock had all the votes for Governor but four.
" Voted, that the several classes in Newton, classed for procuring soldiers for the Continental army, be directed to procure the men assigned to each class, on the best terms they can, and lay their accounts before the Selectmen."
May, 1781. " Voted, to choose a committee of five, to assist the commissioned officers in procuring Newton's quota of militia soldiers, that may be called for by the General Court, the present Summer, and that the Treasurer is au- thorized to give notes in the name and in behalf of the Town, for that purpose. Voted, to procure Newton's quota of Beef, as called for by the General Court, to supply the army with ; chose a committee for that purpose, - Colonel Benjamin Hammond, Chairman. * Voted, that £400, silver money, be raised, in lieu of the £100,000 tax, in bills.
September. "Voted, that an additional tax of £450, silver money, be assessed."
October 19, 1781. Lord Cornwallis surrendered his army and navy to the combined forces of France and America, being upwards of seven thousand men.
March, 1782. " Voted, a tax of £800, silver money."
* [Colonel Hammond's account books are in possession of his grandson, Stephen Hammond, of Roxbury, wherein his receipts and disbursements of money, are · entered in a very legible hand.] In 1780, his disbursements amounted to £12,270; in 1781, to £12,761, 15s. 10d.
197
TREATY OF PEACE.
April. Election : John Hancock had all the votes for Governor.
November 30. Treaty of Peace signed.
December 23. General Washington resigned his com- mission, and retired to Mount Vernon.
March, 1783. "Voted, a tax of £1000, silver money."
April. Election : John Hancock had all the votes but one for Governor.
March, 1784. "Voted, a tax of £1,500."
April. Election : John Hancock had all the votes for Governor.
December. "Voted, that the assessors for 1780, who made out the seventeen classes for raising soldiers, examine into the state of said classes, and report their opinion to the Town respecting them. Voted, that John Woodward, Jere- miah Wiswall and Dr. John King, be a committee to audit the accounts of the commissioned officers, and the commit- tee for hiring soldiers ; Colonel Benjamin Hammond, Cap- tain William Hammond, Dr. John King, John Woodward, and Nathan Park, be a committee to devise means, whereby a portion of the money can be raised, for the seventeen classes of soldiers, made out in the year 1781."
1785. This committee gave the soldiers a hearing, and listened to their complaints, and reported -
1. "That the Town petition the General Court for liberty to assess non-resident proprietors of lands, lying within the Town, their proportional part of the real cost of the soldiers, procured by the seventeen classes, made out by the assessors in 1781.
2. "That all those that were inadvertently classed, and at the same time were not proper subjects of taxation, and refused to pay, that their taxes be abated.
3. "That the class of which the late Phineas Cook was the head, be abated."
17*
198
EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
We have thus given an abstract of the doings of the Town, from the date of the Stamp Act to the close of the war of the Revolution, from which it will be seen what manner of spirit actuated the entire population of the Town, and what sacrifices they cheerfully made, to sustain the principles they held.
The census of the Town, taken in 1765, was thirteen hundred and eight; that taken in 1790, was thirteen hun- dred and sixty. The loss of life, and all that sustained life, was very great during the war, and many years of peace and industry would be required, to bring the Town up to as prosperous condition as it was at the commencement of the Revolution. We think the population, in 1775, could not have been less than fourteen hundred.
The number of men who served more or less in the Con- tinental army, and in the Militia, during the war, was about four hundred and thirty.
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