USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Essex > History of the town of Essex : from 1634 to 1868 > Part 21
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THIE IMPORTANCE AND WORTHI OF THIE MILITIA.
" There was not a campaign or battle from the beginning of the war to the end, in which the militia did not bear an important part along with the con- tinentals. I do not say that they generally mustered in equal numbers. nor that they ever learned to stand fire quite as well in the open field. We know
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they did not. But I do say they served everywhere, and fought everywhere, under regular contracts of enlistment from which they could not break --- or under compulsory levy for a prescribed term, and that they contributed an important and as yet, an unappreciated and uncompensated share to whatever of success crowned the American arms. I promised to avoid details, but I will remind you that the army which shut the British up in Boston, and finally drove them from it, consisted when the siege was raised, of twenty thousand men of whom six thousand were militia. That siege began, you may say, in April or May, 1775, and down to August 1775, the entire be- sieging force was a mere militia. The Continental line did not exist in name or in fact until August 1775. That other army which captured Burgoyne, consisted of ten thousand men, of whom thirty-eight hundred were militia ; and at Yorktown the American forces amounted to nine thousand, of whom four thousand were militia. Besides this they shared in every triumph and every defeat, which successively illumined or darkened the long and changing scenes of that awful drama. The brilliant victory at Cowpens, which, in its consequences, rescued two States from the enemy, was won by an army two thirds of whom were militia. It is interesting too, to call to mind, how many of what may be termed the turning incidents of the war-how many of the more showy and startling achievements, which produced a permanent and extended influence upon the temper and feelings of the people and the enemy, and upon the course and issue of the struggle-how many of these you owe to the single handed daring of the militia. Gentlemen have re- minded you of Lexington and Bunker's Hill. Yes, sir, the children in the infant schools can tell that the men who fought there never heard the beat of an enemy's drum before in their lives. But how few of all the battles of history have produced such results or drawn after them such consequences, and how little of all the blood shed in war has been shed to such good purpose as this The capture of Burgoyne was an eventful incident of the war. The most popular of our historians, in his peculiar expression, remarks that ' this event was the hinge on which the Revolution turned ' It secured to us the alli- ance of France and put the ultimate independence of the country beyond hazard. He says, with much more accuracy I think, that ' the battle of Bennington was the first link in the grand chain of causes which finally drew on the ruin of the royal army.' All that glory, too, was gathered by the militia-by ' Stark's own.' That high-spirited soldier sent the official account of the battle, not to the Continental Congress, but to the Legislature of Massachusetts, and the trophies of the victory are hanging up to-day in her Senate-house.
" I do not wonder that some students of this portion of our history have ex- claimed that we owe our independence to the militia Remember, too, that it happened more than once during the war that a seasonable recruit of these soldiers saved, when nothing else perhaps could have saved, the army of Washington itself from disappearing and dissolving away. Every week almost, requisitions were made on them for direct co-operation with the con- tinental troops to meet the various emergencies of the war. But in two or
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SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION.
1774-1800.]
three memorable instances they saved the army. One happened when Washington lay before Boston early in 1776, and another some time subse- quently in the Jerseys. It was in the gloomy period of the short enlist- ments-the old were expiring, the new were not yet nearly filled, and a prompt and strong levy of yeomen and mechanics, alone enabled him to pre- sent to the enemy the show of a considerable armed organization. But it is needless to pursue this topic. There can be no doubt that this force, when- ever exerted, powerfully aided the cause of the Revolution. It prevented the enemy, to some extent, from undertaking those predatory incursions upon the coast and frontier, which were so distressing when undertaken. It pro- tected to some extent the agricultural labor of the country, without which the war could not have been maintained two years. It kept down disaffected persons. It sustained the spirit of the people and of the leaders of the peo- ple, by lightening in some degree the burthen, and breaking off the horrors of civil war. And, is there any reason to doubt that the sufferings, priva- tions, and perils of the militia-man, who served his nine months in the field, were as severe as those of the continental soldier who served his? Gentle- men say that nine months' service, in a seven years' war, is below the regard of this prosperous and grateful country. Why, nine months is a long cam- paign ; and a very short campaign has many times, in modern war, changed the face of the world. All the peculiar hazards of that civil war the soldiers of both classes (continental and militia troops ) incurred together. They ran the same risk of falling in the field, of the prison-ship, and the scaffold. Nay, I take it that those who served in the earlier scenes of the war before it assumed the form of recognized and national hostility, came much nearer to the pains and penalties of rebellion than those who entered later. In other respects, I have thought the lot of the militia-men the harder of the two. Generally they were older; oftener they had families, and a business which required their attention. They could not have left home to attend Court, as jurors for a fortnight, without inconvenience, and yet they were often sum- moned without the preparation of a moment, to a campaign of twelve months. They were called up at midnight to leave comfortable dwellings, happy but helpless families, and fields ripening to the harvest ; and they knew that if they survived to return, it might be to find those fields trampled down by an enemy's cavalry, and those families without a house over their heads."
SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION FROM CHEBACCO.
The following is a list of the soldiers of the Revolution from Chebacco, as far as has been ascertained, including all who enlisted for a longer or shorter time. It is not to be supposed that the roll is a complete one :
KILLED .- Jesse Story, Jr., Joseph Marshall, Jr.
DIED IN THE ARMY .- Israel Andrews, Jonathan Andrews, Joseph Burn- ham, Lieut. Samuel Burnham, Nehemiah Choate .Jr., William Choate Jr., 30
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Jonathan Cogswell, 3d, Thomas E. Cole, Nathaniel Emerson, David Good- hue, Abraham Jones, Isaac Jones, William Jones, Stephen Kent, Enoch Marshall, James Rust, Abijah Story, Seth Story, Jr., Jeremiah White, Sol- omon White, John White.
IN THE ARMY DURING THE WHOLE WAR .- Benjamin Burnham, Sergt. Isaac Burnham, Joseph Burnham, Thomas Burnham, Lieut. John Cleave- land Jr., Aaron Eveleth, Joseph Story, Capt. William Story.
OTHERS IN ACTIVE SERVICE -Amos Andrews, James Andrews, Joseph Andrews, Jr., William Andrews, Ammi Burnham, Jr., Amos Burnham, Charles Burnham, David Burnham, 3d, Ebenezer Burnham, Enoch Burn- ham, 1st, Enoch Burnham, Jr., Francis Burnham, Maj. John Burnham, Jr., Jonathan Burnham, Mark Burnham, Jr., Nathan Burnham, Thomas Burn- ham, 3d, Wesley Burnham, William Burnham, Jr., William Burnham, 3d, John Butler, William Butler, John Cavies, Abraham Channel, Aaron Choate, David Choate, Ebenezer Choate, James Choate, Jeremiah Choate, Jr., Nehe- miah Choate, Solomon Choate, Rev. John Cleaveland, Nehemiah Cleaveland, Dr. Parker Cleaveland, (Assistant Surgeon), John Cogswell, 3d, Col. Jona- than Cogswell, Rufus Cogswell, Jr., William Cogswell, Jr., Aaron Crafts, Joseph Eveleth, John Fips, Aaron Foster, Moses Foster, Thomas Foster, John Goodhue, William Holmes, Aaron Low, Asa Low, Capt. David Low, Peter Low, Robert Low, Nathaniel Lufkin, Thomas Lufkin, Jr., Antipas Marshall, Moses Marshall, Aaron Perkins, Francis Perkins, Abner Poland, Asa Poland, Jonathan Procter, Joseph Procter, Samuel Procter, Samuel Pulsifer, Timothy Ross, Philemon Smith, Andrew Story, Elisha Story, Jacob Story, Sergt. Nathan Story, Primas Story, Seth Story, John Wise, Joseph Wise, Isaae Woodbury.
WHOLE NUMBER-105.
1785. The singers begin to sit in the gallery facing the minister. Until 1768 "congregational singing " was the usage-one of the deacons " lining the hymn." From that date the singers sat together in pews assigned them on the floor of the house, the congregation still uniting with them in the service, and the deacons continuing to line the hymn. In 1774 the church voted "to choose some of the brethren skilled in singing, to lead the church and congregation in the service of singing praise to God." The first choristers chosen were Joseph Perkins, John Choate and Abraham Perkins. When the singers took their seats in the gallery this year, Watts' Psalms and Hymns were introduced as a substitute for Prince's Bay Psalm-Book which had been in use before. Not long after
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1774-1800.]
this, Daniel Sanford taught a singing-school, and at the close of it, introduced his pupils to the singers' seats. They were so numerous that they filled all the seats of the front gallery.
October 19th. Mr. John Cleaveland, Jr., the eldest son of the Chebacco minister, is ordained pastor of the church in Stoneham, Mass. He was born in Chebacco and was baptized in infancy, January 7, 1750 :
" His father had originally designed to give him a public education, and fitted him for admission into Yale College ; but his low state of health pre- vented him from pursuing his studies there. Sometime after he had recovered his health, the Revolutionary War commenced, and his patriotism inclined him to join the continental army. He soon obtained a lieutenant's commission, and continued in the service until peace was obtained and the army was dis- banded. As a soldier and a subaltern officer, he sustained a fair and amiable character through the whole period of his military services. When he. left the service of his country, he turned his attention to the work of the minis- try, for which his piety, his carly acquaintance with the learned languages, and his general knowledge of men and things, concurred in various respects to qualify him. He was at no loss where to apply for theological instruction, and having read divinity a suitable time with his reverend father, he was ex- amined and approved as a candidate for the ministry, by the association of ministers in his native county. While a candidate, he preached in various places to general acceptance, and at length he received a call from the church in Stoncham, May 19, 1785, to become their pastor, which he accepted, September 17, 1785."
As he was a native and a resident of this place, this church of which he was a member was one of those which were invited to sit in council at his ordination. Isaac Procter, Grover Dodge and Joseph Perkins were chosen delegates. His father preached the sermon from Acts Xx. 26 : "Gospel ministers must be wise, faithful and exem- plary, in order to be pure from the blood of all men." His pastorate at Stoneham terminated October 23, 1794, and he was installed pastor of the North Church in Wrentham, June 6, 1798. His ministry there ended with his death by consumption, February 1, 1815, at the age of sixty-five. The Rev. Dr. Emmons, the celebrated theo- logian, who was his neighbor and intimate friend, preached
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his funeral sermon, and paid the following tribute to his worth :
" The one great object which lay the nearest to his heart, was the good of souls ; and this dictated the subjects of his public discourses, and the manner of his public speaking. He had a good understanding of the gospel scheme of salvation, and knew how to set the most important doctrines in a clear and profitable light. His discourses were more solid than brilliant ; more senti- mental than declamatory ; and better adapted to assist the memory, enlighten the understanding, awaken the conscience and penetrate the heart, than to excite the admiration or gratify the vain curiosity of his hearers. His age had not impaired his mental powers, nor unfitted him for the service of the sanctuary. His sun did not set in a cloud, but in its full brightness. He retained the free and full exercise of all his rational powers, and his faith and hope in his Divine Redeemer, disarmed death of its sting and the grave of its terror."
The "Panoplist" for February, 1816, also contained a sketch of his character, some of the most prominent traits in which are thus delineated :
" Mr. Cleaveland was a man of a clear and discriminating mind, who, from the Bible as his unerring guide, formed his own theoretical and practical senti- ments, and who steadily and uniformly acted agreeably to them. He exhibited great propriety and consistency of character in every situation and circumstance of life. He appeared manifestly to act from principle, in all his public and private conduct, and to carry religion with him wherever he went. He devoted himself wholly to his work, and never suffered his secular con- cerns to interfere with his pastoral duties. These he diligently and labori- ously performed. He composed his sermons with care, expressed his thoughts with perspicuity, and delivered his discourses with tenderness, deliberation and solemnity, and without the least affectation in language, in tone or in gesture."
Mr. Cleveland was twice married, but had no children.
1786-7. August 11th, Elder Seth Story died. He was the son of Dea. Seth Story, who succeeded Dea. John Burnham in Mr. Wise's day. Dea. Seth Story, was the son of William, who was the son of Andrew, who came from England, and settled in this place as early as 1636. He took up a large tract of land, extending from the southern part of Belcher's lane to the river, bounded on the east by White's Hill, and land of Dea. Thomas Low, on the south-west and west by land of Reynold Foster,
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ELDER SETH STORY.
1774-1800.]
on the west and north-west by common land belonging to Ipswich. William's son, Seth, was married and lived with him, and on condition of his maintaining him the rest of his days, he conveyed to him by deed of gift the farm, which he inherited from his father. This deed is dated, April 13th, 1693. This same year his grandson, Seth, was born, who lived nearly a hundred years on a part of the same farm, filled the office of elder in the same church in which his father had been deacon, and in which his brother Zechariah was deacon during the time that he was an elder. From these families have sprung a very numerous offspring, who have become related by marriages, to most of the families in the place.
Owing to the exhausted state in which the country was left at the close of the war, business was interrupted and almost suspended ; many found it difficult to collect or pay their debts ; great numbers of suits were pending in the courts, the termination of which, threatened to involve many in embarrassment if not in imprisonment for debt. In the western counties of the state, the discontent was so great, that it broke out in open rebellion. About fif- teen hundred insurgents under Daniel Shays, who had been a Captain in the Continental army, entered Worcester on the 5th of December, 1786, and prevented the sitting of the Supreme Court there. On the 25th of December, hav- ing marched to Springfield he took possession of the court- house in that town, and closed it against the entrance of the Court.
The insurgents demanded that the collection of debts should be suspended, and that the General Court should authorize the emission of paper currency for general cir- culation. To suppress this insurrection Gov. Bowdoin called out four thousand of the militia from the counties not disaffected. The quota of Ipswich was twenty-five, seven of whom went from this parish. They were Lieut. Aaron Perkins, Sergt. Aaron Low, Daniel Burnham, Sam- uel Eveleth, Abraham Knowlton, Joseph Knowlton, and
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Edward Perkins. They were enrolled in "Capt. John Baker's company detached from Col. Nathaniel Wade's Regiment." We have often heard them tell the story of their short campaign, which is in substance as follows :
" We were enlisted for forty days, and ordered to meet in Boston, the 19th day of January, 1787. The cold was severe, and the winter was an unusu- ally hard one. But we were pretty well prepared to endure it, being young and well-clad. Soon after our muster on the common, we began our march, under Gen. Lincoln, for the valley of the Connecticut, where we ex- peeted to have some warm work. News reached us on our way, that Gen. Shepherd, with a small body of western militia, was at Springfield, to guard the United States arsenal there, and that Shays, with two thousand insurgents, had entered the town, to take possession of the arsenal. He was repulsed, how- ever, and, as we approached Springfield, retreated before us, first up the river and then in a north-easterly direction to Pelham, where he encamped on the high hills, which were almost inaccessible by reason of the deep snow. We were marched back to Hadley, and kept in comfortable quarters a few days, the weather being very severe. When news came on the 3d of February, that the insurgents had started towards Petersham, we set out in pursuit at six o'clock in the evening, and marched during the night forty miles, facing a north-east snow-storm all the way. Early in the morning we entered Peters- ham, and taking them by surprise, captured one hundred and fifty of the number. We then marched into Berkshire County, and the rebels there dispersed without making any stand against us. After being under arms twenty days longer than the period of our enlistment, we were discharged and came home."
The population of Chebacco, as taken by young Joseph Perkins this year, is 1200.
James Perkins is chosen deer-reeve of Chebacco woods -the last election to this office, as few or none of the deer were found in our woods after this.
1788. January 9th, a convention met in Boston, con- sisting of delegates from the respective towns of the Com- monwealth, to consider the Constitution of the United States as adopted in the National Convention and offered for acceptance to the several States. The delegates from Ipswich were Gen. Michael Farley, Daniel Noyes, Hon. John Choate and Col. Jonathan Cogswell. Mr. Choate, according to the record of the proceedings, addressed the Convention twice-first, in favor of the section giving to
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1774 -- 1800.]
Congress power to levy duties, excises, imposts, etc., and second, on the ninth section, concerning the power of reg- ulating trade, etc. On the 6th of February the Conven- tion "assented to and ratified the Constitution for the United States of America " by a vote of 187 to 168, all the Ipswich delegates voting in the affirmative. Before the close of the year the Constitution was adopted by all the States except Rhode Island and North Carolina, both of which ratified it not long after.
March 18. Solomon Giddings, a deacon of the church in this parish, died in his seventy-fourth year, at the South Parish, where he had resided the last seven years of his life.
Maj. Andrew Story leaves this place with his wife and children, in a long wagon, painted red, covered with can- vas and drawn by two yoke of oxen, for a settlement in Ohio. They go in company with other families from Ham- ilton, Beverly and Salem. Maj. John Burnham, of this place, a descendant of the first settler of that name, and living on the same ancient homestead, a Revolutionary officer, is employed by the party to raise a company of sixty men, and march to Ohio to protect the new settlers from the Indians. He commences his tour, months in ad- vance of this party of emigrants. Some of the wagons bear upon the outside, in large letters : "For Marietta on the Ohio." They were eight weeks in performing the journey. So rough and steep were some of the hills in Pennsylvania, that the men had to carry a part of the load from the wagons to the top of the hill, before the oxen could draw the wagons up. The men slept in their wagons, while the women and children, or a part of them, often found a lodging in some house by the way. They carried with them their utensils for cooking, and experi- enced much hospitality, in being allowed to cook by the fires of the houses which they passed. Mr. Story and his family had special cause for joy and sorrow during the journey. They buried a child and had a child born. During one of the warm days of June, when the canvas
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was rolled up at the side, a lovely young son, leaning too far from the wagon, was precipitated under the wheel and instantly killed. This so disheartened the father, that he proposed to his wife to turn back. But her resolution ex- ceeded his, and she would hearken to nothing but pressing onward. . The same resolute woman, when a widow of more than eighty years of age, made us a visit a few years since, performing the journey each way alone. Such was the beginning of Ohio from New England emigration. A State now containing more than two millions of inhabi- tants, had its origin, in these few covered wagons, that were seen winding their slow way, through many a town and village, a distance of more than seven hundred miles.
1789. There is to be an exhibition of dramatic and single pieces, by the North School, in the meeting-house on the hill, in the evening. The house is brilliantly lighted, and many are hastening to witness the scene. As we enter we see before us a large and convenient rostrum, erected on the top of the pews, in front of the pulpit, with a carpet, and hung round with handsome curtains. Dr. Russ, the teacher of the school, is present, busy in super- intending the whole affair. The scholars have been thor- oughly trained by him, and drilled in their several parts. To avoid any interruption of their school duties, as well as to be more thoroughly prepared for the occasion, they have met for rehearsal at each other's houses. The design is to exhibit their proficiency in the art of speaking, and to furnish an intellectual entertainment which shall be gratifying to parents and all lovers of education. Among the numerous spectators, we see the pastor of the church, ever interested in the training of the young, the School Committee to whom is intrusted the cause of education, and the smiling countenances of many parents, whose beloved offspring are for the first time " to speak in public on the stage." Various dialogues, military, humorous and grave, are exhibited by the speakers, with appropriate dresses and implements of action. Several heroic and didactic
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1774-1800.]
pieces, in prose and verse, are also pronounced, with a clear and full voice and suitable gestures. Portions of the speeches of Pitt and Burke in the British Parliament, in defence of our Revolutionary movements, are heard with great interest. " Romans, countrymen, and lovers ! Hear me for my cause," etc., is uttered with great spirit. Brutus and Cassins, are set forth in the military style, with much show of courage, and frequent reference to the broad sword. The speaking is considered by all as remarkably good. Parents are especially gratified, who see, in the juvenile performers, the military officers, or legislators, or judges of future days. We who have gone back for the occasion, in the car of time, can distinctly see future men and women in some of these boys and girls. There is Col. Andrews in miniature, and his wife, Elizabeth Good- hue. They are engaged in a dialogue together. Capt. James Perkins is before us, in the character of Washington or La Fayette, with a sword much longer in proportion to his coat, than when subsequently at the head of the Light Infantry. Elizabeth Cogswell appears upon the stage, under the eye of the teacher, and becomes the wife of the physician. We might mention others still living, and acting an honorable part on the stage of life, but we for- bear. We come back from the occasion, fully convinced that our fathers were not in the least behind the times in the matter of schooling, and that if we would surpass or even equal them, in proportion to our far more abun- dant means, we must do far more than we are now doing.
October 30th. The President of the United States, .George Washington, on his tour to the North, visits this town. If we go with our fathers and mothers to the centre of the town, we shall have many to accompany us, some on foot, and some on horseback, every horse almost carrying double. The gathering in town is great. The continentals are all present to see their old General once more. A numerous cavalcade is formed to go to the Ham- 31
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