USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Abington > History of the town of Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement > Part 27
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H. A. NASH, Sec. and Treas.
It is not known whether this Society, as such, has appro- priated its labors to the soldiers since the commencement of the war. Probably not, as a Society, or the Secretary would have so reported ; however this may be, the members have no doubt co-operated efficiently with the Union Aid Society of Centre Abington.
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THE SOUTHERN REBELLION, ETC.
New Church Sewing Circle.
The object of the New Church Sewing Cirele is, primarily, to promote social intercourse, and also to aid such charitable objeets as shall be deemed proper by the Circle.
The Cirele, whichi commenced pretty early in the history of the New Church Society here, was of quite an informal char- acter. In the year 1854, when the building of the church was in contemplation, a fuller organization took place ; and, since that time, a record of the doings has been kept. It was then decided to devote the efforts of the Circle to the object of furnishing the church when it should be erected ; - providing a carpet, &c.
Since the church was finished, the Circle has appropriated its receipts, and the prodnets of its labor, to varions char- itable purposes ; much of them to the aid of the Pastor's family. It is organized with a Constitution and the necessary officers.
In February, 1863,, it was decided to work for siek and wounded soldiers, until some object, apparently more needy, presented itself.
The regular meetings of the Circle are on the first Thursday of every month. The average number attending, during the last two years, has been about twelve.
They have contributed thirteen quilts and twenty-two pairs of socks, which have been forwarded to the New England Women's Auxiliary Association, Boston. Members of the Circle have also, by contributions and by their work, co- operated with the Uuion Aid.
MISS ELLEN E. HARRIS, Secretary.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Reception of the Returned Soldiers.
SINCE the above chapters were written, the loyal nation has experienced the thrill of delight occasioned by the surrender of the armies of the so-called Confederacy, and the suppres- sion of the rebellion. It has also experienced the pang of unutterable anguish, caused by the assassination of President Lincoln, which last event occurred April 14, 1865. It is not necessary, however, to enter into particulars respecting these, and other most marked events which, in connection with these, have been transpiring ; because they have been depicted by competent pens, and are familiar to my readers. And it now remains to me only to conclude this record of the civil war, and of the part which Abington has taken in sustaining the integrity of the nation, by a brief account of the reception of the returned soldiers, for which the town made provision, and which took place July 27, 1865. It may be here observed that the procession was formed on the green, in front of IIatherly Hall, and that its route to Island Grove was through Washington Street, Centre Avenue and Plymouth Street. It may be observed, also, that the assemblage of people from this and other towns to participate in the ceremonies of the recep- tion, or to witness them, was very great. There was probably never before so large a collection of people in the town. The number has been estimated at from ten thousand to fifteen thousand.
Tickets to the dinner were provided not only for the soldiers, but also for their families.
Reception of the Soldiers of Abington, July 27, 1865.
About 5 o'clock, A.M., the boom of cannon awakened the echoes of the early morning, announcing the opening of the
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reception ceremonies in honor of our soldiers returned from the hard-fought fields of the South, victorious in the contest for freedom. The church bells soon after rang ont a merry peal, and flags and mottoes began to appear on the designated route of the procession.
Preparation was made. for a collation to Co. C, 38th Regi- ment, in Fountain Hall, at eight o'clock.
At 10 o'clock the North Abington portion of the procession made its appearance, headed by the Abington Brass Band, and composed of Sumner Division S. of T., French's Battery, and an array of citizens, and disabled and veteran soldiers, in carriages.
Soon after, the procession from the East arrived, presenting a most brilliant appearance. Dr. Underwood led the line, and, following, came the North Bridgewater Band, with the Fenian Brotherhood Circles of East and North Abington, ninety-five in number, commanded by Thomas Sisk and John Lydon, bearing the Stars and Stripes and the green banner of the Emerald Isle. A floral procession was next in order, headed by the Weymouth Band, and comprising the following : A chariot, in which was seated a young lady in appropriate costume, representing the Goddess of Peace, (Miss Annie Torrey,) surrounded by her attendants ; carriage decorated with flags and filled with children, who were seated around the Shepherdess (Miss Lizzie Fenno). On the front of the carriage was the inscription - " Peace on earth, good will to men." The soldier guests marched in the rear, presenting a fine appearance. The companies were G, 12th Regiment, Capt. Moses N. Arnold ; Co. G, 43d, and members of the 60th Regiment company, commanded by Capt. Josiah Soule, jr.
Martial strains from the 33d Regiment Band announced the arrival of the South Abington body, which contained the largest portion of the military array, and included an elegantly decorated car drawn by six horses. The car contained thirty- six young ladies, representing the "States," and surrounding the Goddess of Liberty (Miss Cordelia Shaw). The military pageant was made up of the following companies : -
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Co. K, 7th Regiment, Captain George W. Reed; Co. E, 4th Regiment, Lieutenant IIumble ; Co. C, 38th Regiment, Captain Bennett ; 20th Unattached Co., Lieutenant Washburn.
At 11 o'clock, the details of forming the line having been completed, the procession moved in the following order : -
Aid. Chief Marslıal. Aid.
Weymouth Brass Band. Committee of Arrangements.
Aid. President and Chaplain of the Day. Aid.
Invited Guests. Committee of Arrangements. Citizens, as an Escort. Aid. A Barge, drawn by six horses, containing thirty-six young ladies dressed in white. Band of Thirty-Third Regiment.
Aid.
Franklin Light Battery, of Boston, Captain French. Soldiers of 1812, in carriages. Field and Staff Officers, mounted. Co. K, 7th Regiment, Captain George W. Reed.
Co. G, 12th Regiment, Captain Moses N. Arnold. Co. C, 38th Regiment, Captain George N. Bennett. Co. E, 4th Regiment, Lieutenant Henry IIumble. Co. G, 43d Regiment, and Co. A, 60th Regiment, Captain Josiah Soule, jr. 20th Unattached Co., Captain Lewis Soule. Soldiers of other Regiments, and those who have served in the Navy.
Aid. Invalid Soldiers, in carriages. Aid. Abington Brass Band. Divisions of Sons of Templars, Good Templars, and Fenian Brotherhood. Aid. Citizens in Carriages. Aid.
Colonel F. P. Harlow, of the 7th Regiment, commanded the Military Division of the Procession. The other Field and Staff Officers were Lieutenant Colonel White, 18th Regiment ;
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Major Charles II. Allen, 38th Regiment ; Major Everett Lane, 43d Regiment ; Major Edward Reed, 12th Regiment ; Captain Henry B. Peirce, Quartermaster 23d Regiment ; Captain Ellmer C. Corthell, Battery D, 1st Rhode Island Light Artil- lery ; Captain Dan. Packard, 7th Regiment ; Dr. Hastings, 18th Regiment.
The soldiers of the war of 1812 were as follows: Jacob Noyes, Nehemiah Hubbard, Jonas Gilson, Samuel Wales, Benjamin Noyes, Rufus Curtis, Gridley Thaxter, Saunders Gardner, Richard Holbrook, Nathan Beal, Jonathan Arnold, Isaac Leavitt, John Curtis, Abiah Reed, Goddard Reed, Joshua Curtis, and Benjamin Norton.
In the carriages for invalid soldiers were Sergeant George W. Coy, 56th Regiment ; William HI. Rand, 4th Cavalry ; Francis Pool, 12th Regiment ; W. II. Daniels, 1st Heavy Artillery ; James Penniman, 1st Heavy Artillery ; Jonathan Perry, 38th Regiment ; George W. Curtis, jr., 1st Heavy Artillery ; William B. Blanchard, 4th Cavalry, and others.
The decorations along the route were quite attractive, and the great crowd of people, in holiday attire, added much to the picturesqueness of the scene. The procession was grand and imposiug, and, as it passed along Centre Avenue, the van turned the corner of Plymouth Street, about the same time the rear was leaving Washington Street.
Arriving at the Grove, the soldiers were escorted to the seats at the stand by the aids ; and the officers of the day and speakers having reached the platform, the Battery fired a salute of thirty-six guns. The Chaplain was called upon to offer prayer, after which President Reed delivered an address of welcome to the soldiers.
As there is contained in this address of the President of the Day, Hon. Levi Reed, some more particular account of the participation of our soldiers in the labors and conflicts, of the war, than is embraced in the foregoing record, the following extracts from the address are subjoined : -
" But the Government soon found out that the war was not to be finished with three months' troops ; and, under the call
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of the President, the people of the town, with the greatest enthusiasm, rallied to the rescue of the country. Two com- panies were immediately started, one at South Abington, and the other at East Abington.
" The one from the East left town April 29th, and went into camp May 3d, at Fort Warren, under command of Capt. Ira Blanchard; became Co. G, of the 12th Regiment, and was mustered into the service of the United States June 26, 1861. This was the first three years' company to leave town, and served its full term. Time would fail me to give a full detail of the services of this and other companies. A brief summary is all I shall attempt.
" They left Boston on the 23d of July, and were for some time stationed in Maryland, where they were encamped during the winter of 1861-62. In the summer of 1862 they were in the battle of Cedar Mountain ; and at the second battle of Bull Run, August 30th, the Regiment was severely engaged, and Colonel Webster, Captain Kimball, and ten men were killed, and one hundred and thirty-five wounded and missing. They were also engaged at South Mountain ; and, on the 17th of September, they fought most gallantly in the battle of Antietam. When General Hooker here found himself hard pressed by the enemy, and his line in danger of being broken, le exclaimed, in his distress, 'Send me Hartsuff's Brigade.' The Brigade, including the 12th Regiment, was immediately sent, and right nobly did they sustain their reputation. They stood, a wall of fire, defying all efforts of the rebels to drive them, till relief arrived.
" In this fight, the most bloody of the war, so far as this regiment was concerned, Co. G, of East Abington, did its full share of the work. Of the two officers and thirty-three privates, being all there was left to enter the fight, Lieutenant Cushing and five men were killed, and Captain Reed and twenty-one men wounded, two of whom died of their wounds, leaving only seven men unharmed, when it was withdrawn from the fight, making a loss of eighty per cent. in killed and wounded. This is a loss in killed and wounded entirely
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RECEPTION OF THIE RETURNED SOLDIERS.
unparalleled in the history of the war. The Regiment went in with three hundred and twenty-five men, and lost two hundred and thirteen in killed and wounded, which is more than sixty-five per cent. of the number engaged.
" Six days after this action, (Sept. 23d,) Colonel Bates took command of the regiment, and was with it in its subse- quent career. The company followed the fortunes of the regi- ment, and was engaged in the battles of Fredericksburg, (where Captain Reed was again wounded,) Chancellorville, Gettysburg, (where Colonel Bates was wounded, ) and through the campaign of the spring of 1864 in the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania Court House and Richmond, till June 25th, when its term of service expired. The company returned with only sixteen of its original members, two having re-enlisted.
" The company at South Abington, under command of Capt. Harlow, (since promoted Lieutenant-Colonel,) left town and went into camp at Taunton, May 20th, and was mustered into the service of the United States June 15th, 1861, and became Co. K, of the 7th Regiment, then commanded by Colonel Conch, who has since become a Major-General in the army of the Union. It left for Washington July 11th, and remained in camp in that neighborhood till the next spring.
" In the campaign of 1862 it formed a part of the Army of the Potomac, under General Mcclellan, and participated in the various actions on the Peninsula ; was in the battle of Fair Oaks, and was engaged in the various actions on the retreat of the army to James River.
" The company was with General Mcclellan in his march through Maryland, and was in the reserve at the battle of Antietam. In the spring of 1863, it took part in the active operations of the army under General Hooker, in the corps of General Sedgwick, and was in the attack of Fredericksburg, while General Hooker was engaged at Chancellorville. It was here, on the 3d of May, 1863, that the 7th Regiment was detached from the Brigade, to lead the assaulting column against the works on Mary's IIill. Laying aside their knap- sacks, blankets, and every incumbrance, they made the assault
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on the famous stone wall, which they carried with heavy loss ; and then, advancing up the hill, occupied the heights, capturing two pieces of artillery, and planting their colors on the works from which they had just driven the enemy. Not satisfied with this, the brave boys of the 7th immediately pushed on and met the enemy again, and drove them till darkness put an end to the conflict. With a force of about five hundred engaged, they sustained a loss of two officers and twenty-one men killed, and nine officers and one hundred and five med wounded. Colonel Johns and Lieutenant-Colonel Harlow were both wounded, and six men in Co. K were killed and eleven wounded. A total of seventeen out of about thirty men who went into the fight, or more than fifty-six per cent.
"The regiment was with General Meade in his march through Maryland and into Pennsylvania ; and, July 1st, marched all night and next day, making thirty-five miles, in order to reach the field of Gettysburg. Here they were held as a support on the third of July, and were moved from right to left, as they were needed.
" In the spring of 1864 they were in the campaign under General Grant; were severely engaged in the battles of the Wilderness, where, in one day, they lost eighty-five men, and were constantly in active duty till June 15th, when their term of service expired. The company was mustered out of service at Taunton, July 5th, 1864, with thirty-five men.
" Company C, of the 38th Regiment, raised in this town, left the State under command of Captain Allen, September 24th, 1862; was encamped in the vicinity of Baltimore till November 10th, of the same year, when, with the regiment, it sailed for New Orleans.
" It was engaged in various expeditions in Louisiana under General Banks, in the famous 19th Corps, and did good service in the siege of Port Hudson. In the assault of the 27th of May, it charged through ravines and abatis of felled timber to within one hundred and fifty yards of the fort. Lieutenant Colonel Rodman, in command, was here killed. On the 14th of June it was engaged in another assault, and advanced up
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RECEPTION OF THE RETURNED SOLDIERS.
into the very ditch around the works, but, not being supported, was obliged to remain there, in the broiling sun, all day, and then fell back under cover of the darkness of night.
" After the fall of Port Hudson, the regiment remained in camp at various points, till it engaged in, and partook of, the various fortunes of the Red River Expedition, under General Banks.
July 25th, 1864, it sailed from New Orleans for Fortress Monroe, and arrived July 28th, and was ordered to imme- diately join the army under General Sheridan, in the Shenan- doah Valley. Here it was engaged September 19th, in the battle of Opequan, under command of Major Allen, (Lieut. Colonel Richardson having been wounded,) and October 19th, in the famous battle where General Sheridan turned an appar- ent disaster into a most glorious victory. It suffered severely in these actions, and, after the final defeat of the rebels in the valley, was sent to Baltimore, where, after a delay of three weeks, it was again transferred to the South, and placed on duty in Savannah. It remained in that place till June 30th, then sailed for Boston, and arrived July 6th, 1865. During the year 1864 it marched six hundred miles, and travelled by rail and boat at least two thousand six hundred more, which, added to the same duty in the other years of its service, must double the amount.
" This completes the list of three years' companies that have had distinct organizations in this town.
" But, in addition to Co. E, already mentioned, the town has furnished a full company of nine months' men, under Captain Lane, afterwards under Captain Josiah Soule, jr., when Captain Lane was promoted Major. This was Co. G, of the 43d Regiment, and was in active duty in Newburn, North Carolina.
" Another company, under Captain Josiah Soule, jr., raised in the summer of 1864 for one hundred days, was Co. A, of the 60th Regiment, engaged in guarding prisoners and pre- serving the peace in Indiana.
" Another company, under Captain Lewis Soule, was raised
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in August, 1864, for one hundred days, and at the end of that term re-enlisted for one year. These served in the fort, at Marblehead, in this State.
" These are all the distinct companies that have been organized in town, but many individuals have enlisted in other regiments and batteries. Some hardy seamen have also en- listed in the navy, and, under a Foote and a Farragut, have served their country faithfully ; making a total of one thousand one hundred and thirty-eight men who have entered the service of the Union from this town."
A "Song of Welcome" was then sung by the audience, Colonel A. Whitmarsh, Leader, the 33d Regiment Band playing the accompaniment.
Colonel King, Chief Constable of the State, then delivered an eloquent eulogium on Massachusetts soldiers, and was followed by Judge Russell, both being warmly applauded during their able and interesting remarks.
After the speakers had concluded, the President announced the formation of the procession for dinner ; and the soldiers, invited guests and ticket-holders, proceeded to the mammoth tent on the outskirts of the Grove, where a sumptuous dinner had been prepared by the efficient caterer, Field, of North Bridgewater, the tables being spread by John C. Davis, of Dedham, in an artistic manner. Plates were laid for one thousand four hundred and fifty persons ; the number present, however, exceeding the number of plates. In front of the platform were the fine large portraits of S. Boardmau Foster and Walter Davis, of the 12th, which the generous-hearted soldier's friend, Count Schwabe, has procured for the gallery of deceased heroes. Over the portrait of Foster was the inscription -"The beauty of Israel is slain upon our high places "; over that of Davis -" The fittest place for man to die is where he dies for man." Across the sides of the tent were the following mottoes : "Our flag- not a star erased, not a stripe polluted." "By the valor of our brave men has our Union been preserved."
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RECEPTION OF THE RETURNED SOLDIERS.
These mottoes, together with those pendant from the trees around the speaker's stand in the Grove, were very tastefully arranged. The latter were-" Honor to the gallant defenders of the Stars and Stripes"; "The security of the American Republic rests in the equality of human rights"; "Liberty and Union -one and indivisible, now and forever"; " God bless our Union - it is dearer to us for the blood of our brave men shed in its defence."
At 2 o'clock the assemblage was called to order, and the Divine blessing having been invoked by the Chaplain, the bountiful feast was discussed.
Appropriate sentiments, speeches, songs, and music by the bands, succeeded the dinner, or, we may say, constituted the intellectual part of the feast. The greater part of the speeches were by officers of regiments, in honor of whom the reception was arranged. They were generally in good taste, and able, and were highly appreciated by the large company present. Among the speakers were Captain McCartney, of the 1st Massachusetts Battery ; Colonel Bates, of the 12th Regiment; Colonel Johns, of the 7th ; Colonel J. P. Richardson ; Rev. Mr. Manning, Chaplain of the 43d ; Captain Soule and Rev. Mr. Darrow. Rev. H. D. Walker read a poem, and an ani- mated speech was made by P. W. Cronan, in response to the sentiment, " Our adopted citizens. " The Abington Standard, to which we are indebted for the principal part of the above account of the reception, commends "the orderly conduct of the multitude assembled " as " worthy of all praise."
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APPENDIX.
MEMORIALS OF FAMILIES IN ABINGTON.
THE following memorials embrace many, but not all, of our family names :-
BEAL.
1. JOHN BEAL, the ancestor and progenitor of all those of the name of Beal dwelling in Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate, Weymouth, Abington, and other towns in the vicinity, came from Hingham, Norfolk County, England, in 1635. He brought with him five sons, three daughters, and two ser- vants. It is supposed the inducement to Mr. Beal to settle in Hingham was that his wife, Nazareth, was a sister of Rev. Peter Hobart, the first minister of Hingham. The five sons and three daughters who came from England, were Martha, Mary, Sarah, John, Nathaniel, Jeremiah, Joshua and Caleb ; they had two children born in America, Rebecca and Jacob. Mr. Beal had six acres of laud for a home-lot, butting on the town street, north, and on the common, south, Thomas Hobart, west, and Farrar Austin, east. The site of this home-lot can be easily pointed out on the south side of South Street, and west of Hersey Street. In 1649, Mr. Beal, in company of Nicholas Jacob, represented the town of IIing- ham in the General Court of the Colony. His wife Nazareth died on September 23, 1658; he afterwards married Mary, the widow of N. Jacob, by whom he had no children. She died May, 1681, and he died June 15, 1681, aged one hundred years, as is recorded in the Hobart Diary, and also by Judge Sewall. All the sons and daughters of Mr. Beal married and
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APPENDIX.
had children, except Rebecca, the youngest, who was un- married.
2. Jeremiah Beal, son of Jolin, was born in England, and lived on the present South Street in Hingham. He married Sarah Ripley, daughter of William Ripley, of Hingham, No- vember 18, 1652, and had the following children : Jeremiah, born May 13, 1655; John, March, 1656, designated as a carpenter ; Sarah, June, 1659 ; Lazarus, September 7, 1661; Phebe, March 2, 1663 ; Mary, May 6, 1666, and Elizabeth, May 16, 1669. Mr. Beal was Lieutenant in the Hingham Train Band ; his commission was dated May 20, 1683. IIe died August 10, 1716, aged eighty-five, and was consequently born in England in 1631. Ilis wife, Sarah, died June 20, 1715.
3. Jeremiah Beal, son of Jeremiah, the first of the name, was born in Hingham, May 13, 1655, and was a blacksmith by trade. On the 22d of May, 1677, he married Hannah Lane, daughter of Andrew and Tryphena. She was born September 30, 1658. The children of Jeremiah and Hannah were-Jeremiah, boru May 2, 1678 ; Sarah, March 5, 1679 ; Hannah, December 31, 1681; Jael, November 21, 1683 ; Andrew, January 27, 1685 ; Jedediah, November 4, 1688 ; Abraham, October 26, 1690; Barthsheba, February 19, 1692 or'93; Rebecca, April 8, 1695; Benjamin, April 8, 1697; and Abigail, December 13, 1699. Mr. Beal died at Iling- ham, April 21, 1703, aged forty-eight years ; and his wife, September 19, 1719, aged sixty-one years.
4. Jeremiah Beal, sou of the preceding and third of the name, was the oldest son of Jeremiah and Hannah, aud was born in Hingham, May 2, 1678, and married Esther Farrow, daughter of John Farrow, jr., and his wife, Mary Hillard. She was born June 28, 1675, and died August 10, 1716. The children of Jeremiah and Esther Beal were-Bethiah, born January 28, 1701; Mary, April 23, 1703; Jere- miah, December 25, 1706; Jael Jedediah, father of Noah, who settled in Abington ; and Isaac, October 9, 1708. Mr. Beal (after the birth of his children, who were all born
FORMER RESIDENCE OF BENJAMIN BEAL, SALEM STREET, EAST ABINGTON. (Erected 1753.)
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APPENDIX.
in Hingham,) removed to Weymouth, and died young, August 10, 1716, aged thirty-eight years ; his wife died January 21, 1760, eighty-four years old.
5. Jeremiah Beal, the fourth of the name, and also son of the preceding, was born in Hingham, December 25, 1706. On the 18th of November, 1729, he married at Weymouthi, (whither he had removed with his father,) Mary Colson, daughter of John Colson and his wife Susanna, who was the daughter of Thomas Lincoln, of Hingham. She was born October 7, 1708. The children of Jeremiah and Mary were- Abijahı, born August 17, 1730 ; Benjamin, December 9, 1731, in Weymouth. Soon after this date Mr. Beal removed to Abington, and settled on the farm now (1865) owned and occupied by Mr. William Blaisdell, where was born in Feb- ruary 2, 1739, Chloe; and, in 1741, Levi; and, in 1746, Priscilla, who married Captain Abraham Shaw, of East Abington, and is the mother or progenitor of a large number of that name in East Abington. Mr. Beal died in 1752, aged forty-five years ; his wife lived on the homestead till 1780 or 1781, when she died, aged about 72 years.
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