USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Franklin > History of the town of Franklin, Mass., from its settlement to the completion of its first century > Part 10
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The first bonnets were made of oat straw flattened, and con- tained from sixteen to eighteen yards of wide Dunstable. So mightily did the novelty take that no girl was considered of the ton without one. The fashion gave a vigorous impulse to the trade and the sale of straw bonnets spread through the land.
The Wrentham ladies in 1804 bought an organ for their church by contribution of straw bonnets, which were sold by their agent. in Maine and with no small profit to himself .*
One result of the sudden uprise of this new industry was a great addition to the business of small trading stores. They sold their goods in exchange for straw-braid. The stock so accumu- lated they soon began to convert into bonnets, and this led to special manufactories for straw goods. Fisher & Day, of Wrent-
* This organ was moved from its "proper and conspicuous place " in 1823, into one of the back pews, and Dr. James Mann wrote a eulogy upon the whole " atchievement," which was printed in the Norfolk Repository, 1804.
CARE
...
DAVIS THAYER HOMESTEAD.
113
ADDENDA.
ham, first entered into this business in 1804. In 1810 Asa and Davis Thayer opened a store in Franklin at the City Mills, selling their straw braid received for goods to Fisher, Day & Co. About 1812 they bought the Adams store near the Center, and re-estab- lished themselves much more largely, manufacturing their own bonnets in shapes and styles of their own. This was, the second straw-goods firm in the county. They at first made from 6,000 to 8,000 bonnets per annum. In 1816 the Wrentham firm failed, by the selling out of one of the partners, it is said, and A. & D. Thayer were left sole occupants of the new industry. Asa Thayer died in 1816, and Davis conducted the business alone until 1820, when Hermon C. Fisher became a partner. Ile finally started a separate concern, and others also entered into the business. But the Thayer house still continues in the same name and with greatly enlarged facilities and success. Franklin is now one of the chief towns where this industry flourishes. In 1869 it had no less than seven manufactories of straw goods, producing 1.500,000 hats and bonnets at a value of more than $1,000,000. This amount has been greatly increased by the use of improved machinery. al- though fewer persons are employed at their homes and fewer firms conduct the business.
A view is given opposite of Major Thayer's house and place of business. His store was on the left and the entrance where the settee is standing. The piazza is a modern addition. The first central post-office was in this store.
Another industry in the town of growing importance is the man- nfacture of felt goods. The first shoddy-pieker, and probably the first in the country, was started in 1849 at Unionville by Messrs. J. G. & J. P. Ray.
Col. Joseph Ray came with his family to Franklin in 1839 and engaged at first in making cotton goods. His three sons soon took up different lines of woolen goods, enlarging their mills and increasing their number at different localities, until their various factories of cotton, eassimere, felts, &c., produce about a million yards per year of satinets alone. The total of their products we do not know. Other firms have also lately entered upon similar industries within the town, but of these we have not any data, his- toric or otherwise. These have brought their accompaniments of 8
114
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN.
machine shops, planing-mills, and artisans, making the region of the depots lively centers of activity.
The engraving opposite gives a view of the office of Messrs. Ray in the second story left, the National Bank in the right, and the present post-office and stores on the first floor. The building stands on the corner of Main and Depot streets, and is of pressed brick.
The shoe business has never put more than a single foot in the town. In 1850, N. C. Newell bought, moved and converted the old Emmon's barn into a boot shop. J. M. Freeman followed him soon after in the same shop. but his increasing business has led him twice to rebuild larger accommodations. Other manufactories of less extent have been started at different dates, which cannot here have special mention. Franklin is a very busy town, where loafing finds a difficulty in resisting opportunities for work.
But as an evidence that Franklin is not wholly material in its tastes, it should be recorded that it has at this date two weekly newspapers well conducted, besides a job-printing office. not to mention at least one boy's hand-press doing a lively little busi- ness.
The Franklin Register was first issued in October, 1872, by James M. Stewart, editor and proprietor, and is still in a flourish- ing condition under his assiduous management. Another weekly sheet has lately appeared, called the Franklin Sentinel, by R. E. Capron, indicating a conviction of the town's growing intellectual appetite for more.
The business of the town sustains a national and a savings bank, both successfully managed. Stores, shops. etc., requisite to a thriving town, abound. A view of one of the later blocks (Fletcher's) on Main street, nearly opposite the post-office, is given between pages 116 and 117.
The following statistics from the State census of 1875 will show at a glance the extent of the town's industries at that date : Manufacturing establishments where goods are made, 21; value of produced goods, $1,232,947 ; occupations where work is done, 26 ; value of products, $37,968 ; steam engines, 12 ; water-wheels. 9 ; horse power, 1,175 ; capital invested in manufactures. $325.625 ; yearly wages. $208.840 ; total industrial products, $1.299.915.
The following table, compiled from the earliest to the latest reliable date, by S. W. Richardson, Esq .. collector of United
FRANKLIN NATIONAL BANK.
CP.CARTER SON
T.G. TRAIN & CO.
POST OFFICE.
BANK
RAY'S BLOCK, MAIN STREET.
115
ADDENDA.
States Internal Revenue, will exhibit the material progress of the town during the past century : -
INDUSTRIAL TABLE.
Year. Polls. Valuation.
Houses. Barns.
Horses. Oxen. Cows. Sheep.
1786 .... 253 £2,401 18s. Od.
127
119
132
198
570
856
1790 .... 274
2,803 14s. 6d.
143
131
139
270
788
. ..
1800 .... 296
$13,294 40
169
157
180
275
729
...
1810. ... 288
17,318 95
180
178
163
265
733
. . .
1820. ... 323
15,524 75
210
180
143
274
599
...
1830. . .. 286
343,124 00
234
208
149
274
563
301
1840 .... 372
417,078 00
262
227
183
191
448
129
1850 .... 384
648,456 00
304
240
185
192
493
12
1860. . .. 545
811,636 00
379
269
245
142
508
5
1865. . .. 543
1,116,660 00
402
...
269
...
573
16
1875. . .. 717
1,433,635 00
464
. . .
331
466
4
1878 .... 890
1,551,645 00
563
...
365
. ..
522
. .
XV. LISTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS.
(From the incorporation of the precinct to the present time.)
1. PRECINCT CLERKS.
Daniel Thurston (first clerk), 1738. Michael Metcalf, 1757.
Ezra Pond, 1739, '42.
Hezekiahı Fisher, 1758, '69, '73.
Simon Slocomb, 1740, '41, '43, '48, '52. John Fisher, 1744, '47. Jabez Fisher, 1753, '56.
Timothy Pond, 1759, '62. Jonathan Whiting, 1763, '68.
Ebenezer Metcalf, 1774-'77.
2. TOWN CLERKS.
Asa Pond, 1778, '80, 'S2, 'S5.
Capt. David Baker, 1824-'36. Wilkes Gay, Jr., 1837-'39.
Hezekiah Fisher, 1781.
Nathan Daniels, Jr., 1786, '91, 1804.
Amos Hawes, 1792, 1803.
Asa Harding, 1805, '15. .
Lewis Harding, 1816, '23.
Davis Thayer, Jr., 1840-'45. Theron C. Hills, 1846-'62. Alpheus A. Russegue, 1863-'75. George W. Wiggin, 1876-'78.
3. PRECINCT TREASURERS.
Eleazer Metcalf, 1738.
Nathaniel Fairbank, 1739.
David Jones, 1740, '41.
Thomas Bacon, 1742, '53.
Robert Blake, 1743-'52, '58, '68. Baruch Pond, 1754-'57, '61-'64. Daniel Thurston, 1759, '60, '65-'67, '69-'71.
4. TOWN TREASURERS.
Asa Whiting, 1778-'87, '92, '93. Seth Lawrence, 1788-'91.
Joseph Whiting, Jr., 1794-'96. Hanan Metcalf, 1797-'99.
Lt. Phineas Ware, 1800-1804. Timothy Metcalf, 1805-'16. Simeon Partridge, 1817-'19. Col. Caleb Thurston, 1820-'32.
116
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN.
Joel Daniels, 1833-'55, '42-'53. Wilkes Gay, Jr., 1836-'39.
George W. Morse, 1840, '41. Theron C. Hills, 1854-'60.
Adams Daniels, 1861, '62. Alphens A. Russegue, 1863-'74. James M. Freeman, 1875-'78.
5. SELECTMEN.
Samuel Lethbridge, 1778. Dea. Jonathan Metealf, 1778, '79. Asa Whiting, 1778, 79. Hezekiah Fisher, 1778.
Ens. Joseph Hawes, 1778, '79. Ebenezer Lawrence, 1779, '80. Joseph Whiting, Jr., 1779. Capt. Asa Fairbanks, 1780.
Samuel Morse, Jr., 1780, '81, '83.
William Gilmore, 1780-'82.
James Metcalf. 1781.
John Richardson, 1781, '82, '87, '94 -198.
Asa Pond, 1782-'85.
Benjamin Pond, 1782.
Peter Adams, 1782.
Joseph Hills, 1783-'S6. John Boyd, 1783-'85, '93.
Nathan Daniels, 1783.
Ebenezer Dean, 1786-'88.
Nathan Daniels, Jr., 1786-'88, 1802 -'04.
Moses Knapp, 1788, '99, 1800, '01. Seth Bacon, 1789-'91.
Capt. Eli Richardson, 1789, '91, '92, '99, 1800, '01. Peter Whiting, 1789-'91, 94-'98. Elisha Harding, 1790.
Jonathan Wales, 1792, '93.
Isaac Heaton, Jr., 1792, '93.
Pelatialı Fisher, 1794-'98.
William Adams, 1799-1800, '02. Amos Hawes, 1802, '03. Capt. Stephen Kingsbury, 1803, '04. Timothy Rockwood, 1804, '05. Dea. Joseph Bacon, 1805-'08. Jabez Fisher, Jr., 1805. James Metcalf, 1806-'OS. Capt. Robt. Gilmore, 1806-'09. Lieut. Phineas Ware, 1809, '10. Lewis Fisher, 1809-'18, ' 20-'24, '28. William Makepeace, 1810-'13.
Daniel Sayles, 1811, '12. William Boyd, 1813, '14, '17. Nathan Woodward, 1814-'16. James Adams, 1815, '16. Capt. Asa Harding, 1817-'22. Capt. David Hartshorn, 1818, '19. Capt. Dyar Clark, 1818-723. Ensign Seth Dean, 1823-'28. Lieut. Willis Fisher, 1824-'27, '43. Col. Caleb Thurston, 1825-'34. Wm. Makepeace, Jr., 1829-'32. Dr. Spencer Pratt, 1829-31. Capt. Alfred Knapp, 1832-'35 .. Col. Nathan Cleveland, 1833-'37. Jocl Daniels, Jr., 1835-'38. Elisha Richardson, 1836-'38.
Wane Adams, 1838-'40.
Capt. Hartford Leonard, 1839-'41. William Metcalf, 1839, '40, '42, '43. Albert E. Daniels, 1841, '42.
Rila Scott, 1841. Martin Green, 1842, '43, '45.
Daniel Thurston, 1844.
Dea. Levi F. Morse, 1844-'46.
Capt. Erastus Rockwood, 1844-'49. Dea. Peter Adams, 1846-'49, '75, 776.
Col. Sanl B. Scott, 1847. George W. Nason, 1848-'54, '57, '59. Joel P. Adams, 1850, '51.
Elisha Hubbard, 1850, '51.
Dea. Joseph T. Bacon, 1852, '53.
Robert Gilmore, 1852, '53.
Elias Cook, 1854-'56.
Stephen W. Richardson, 1854-'56, '75.
Joseph Morse, 1855, '56. Francis B. Ray, 1857, '58, '77. Seth Partridge, 1857. Maxcy Cook, 1858, '59.
Lowell B. Cleveland, 1859, '60. Otis Wales, Jr., 1860-'63.
FLETCHERS BLOCK.
A.C.DANA.
FRANKLINE
C.B.CRAIG.
S.S.RAY.
LMUSICAL!
W.s. coffin, uit.
FLETCHER'S BLOCK, MAIN STREET.
117
ADDENDA.
James P. Ray, 1860-'63.
James M. Freeman, 1861, '64, '66 -'74. Joseph G. Ray, 1864, '65. Horatio Kingsbury, 1864.
Joseph H. Wardsworth, 1865, '66, '68-'72. Gardner Adams, 1865. Lewis W. Hills, 1866, '67.
William Rockwood, 1867-'69. Aaron H. Moses, 1870-'72. John II. Fisher, 1873. Jason Tower, 1873. Henry R. Jencks, 1874-'77.
Joseph W. Clark, 1874, '75. Erastus L. Metcalf, 1875. Edmund Hartshorn, 1875, '77. Alfred G. Metcalf, 1875.
6. SCHOOL COMMITTEE .*
Dr. Nathaniel Miller, 1802, '09, '11 -'13, '34.
Pelatiah Fisher, 1802.
Capt. Amos Hawes, 1802, '03.
Dea. Jonathan Metcalf, 1802. '08, '13, '15, '20-'22. Oliver Smith, 1802-'05. Thomas Mann, 1803.
Elihu Pond, 1803, '05, '08, '09, '17, '18.
Erastus Emmons, 1815, '16. Whiting Metcalf, 1816. Alfred Ware, 2d, 1816. Lnther Gowen, 1817, '18, '20.
Philip W. Miller, 1817, '18. James Fisher, 1819. Elisha Harding, 1819. David Baker, 1819.
Alexander C. White, 1820, '21. Joseph Hills, 1820, '21. Preston Fisher, 1821.
Asa Harding, 1803, '04, 'OS, '16. John W. Richardson, 1804, '08, '17, Herman Bassett, 1821. '18, '20-'22, '28. Capt. Dyar Clark, 1821. Robert Gilmore, 1804. '05. '20, '21. Dr. Amory Hunting. 1822, '24-'26, Eli Richardson, Jr., 1804, '09-'11. '29, '34, '38. William Boyd, 1805, '19, '20. Willard Fisher, 1824-'26, '28, '34, '40-'44, '48, '49. Asa Gowen, 1805, '12, '16. Willis Fisher, 1808, '15, '17, '20, Fisher Daniels, 1824, '25, '28, '29. '21, '35.
James Wales, 1809. Dea. Joseph Bacon, 1809, '11.
Isaac Morrill, 1810.
. Ichabod Dean, 1810, '27. Lewis Fisher, 1810, '11.
Isaac Walker, 1810. Rev. Nathanacl Emmons, 1811, '12. Dea. James Adams, 1812-'14, '26. Caleb Fisher, 1812, '13.
Dr. Spencer Pratt, 1813-'15, '17 -'20, '24. '27, '30, '36. Col. Lewis Harding, 1814. Capt. Nath'l Adams, 1814. Simeon Partridge, 1814. William Makepeace, 1815.
Paul B. Clark, 1831, '33, '42-'44, ' 48 -'50. Capt. A. E. Daniels, 1832, '35.
Ward Adams, 1832, '35.
Joel Daniels, Jr., 1833.
Dea. Levi F. Morse, 1833, '34.
Capt. Philo Fisher, 1833.
* Prior to 1802 the schools were in charge of the selectmen and clergymen of the own.
George C. Wilde, 1826. William Makepeace, Jr., 1826, '30.
Lient. Hiram Knapp, 1827.
Ira Blake. 1828, '30, '32, '34. Elias Metcalf, 1828, '29, '31, '33.
Alpheus Adams, 1829. Rev. Elam Smalley, 1831, '34, '38. Abijah W. Metcalf, 1831. Abel Pond, 1831.
118
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN.
Jarvis H. Hills, 1833.
Smith Fisher, 1835, '39, '40.
Hermon Fisher, 1835.
Asa G. Norcross, 1835. Wilkes Gay, Jr., 1835. Mortimer Blake, 1836-'38. Stephen W. Richardson, 1836, '51, Dr. L. L. Scammell, 1853. '52.
Erastus Rockwood, 1836. Elisha Hubbard, 1836.
John H. Fisher, 1837. Ebenezer A. Warfield, 1837. Horatio Kingsbury, 1837. Rev. Tertius D. Southworth, 1839 -'49, '52.
Dr. Shadrach Atwood, 1839. William Phipps, Jr., 1839. James O. Brown, 1839, '40. George W. Morse, 1840, '41. Rev. Asa Hixon, 1845, '46, '55, '56. Hartford P. Leonard, 1845, '46. William E. Peck, 1847. Dr. Jona. Mann, 1847.
J. Geo. Hubbard, 1850.
Waldo Daniels, 1850, '54-'56, '58. -'60, '66-'69, '77. Rev. Samuel Hunt, 1851, '53, '57, '63. James C. Whiting, 1851, '52.
Rev. John M. Merrill, 1854. Thomas M. Bacon, 1855. Rev. Joseph Thayer, 1856.
Dr. Wm. B. Nolen, 1857, '58, '74 -'76.
Wm. P. Shepard, 1857. Sewall Fisher, 1858, '59, '65. Geo. A. Woodward, 1859-'61. Marcellus A. Woodward, 1860-'62 .. Dr. Geo. King, 1861-'63, '67-'73. Adin D. Sargeant, 1862-64, '70. Rev. J. K. Deering, 1863. Rev. S. W. Squire. 1864-'77. Joseph Woodward, 1865. Geo. W. Wiggin, 1873-'75. William F. Ray, 1876, '77.
7. REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT.
Ensign Joseph Hawes, 1778, '81. Dr. Joseph Metcalf, 1779, '80. Peter Adams, 1782, '83. Samuel Lethbridge, 1784, '85. Hon. Jabez Fisher, 1786, '98, '99. Capt. Thomas Bacon, 1787, '88. Lt. Hezekiah Fisher, 1789-'97. Col. John Boyd, 1800-'04. Pelatiah Fisher, 1805, '06. Capt. Joseph Bacon, 1807-'14. Lient. Phineas Ware, 1811-'17.
Lewis Fisher, 1815, '16, '18-'21, '23, '26. Dr. Nath'l Miller, 1827, '33. Col. Caleb Thurston, 1829, '30. Willis Fisher, 1831. Major Davis Thayer, 1832, '34, '40. Ensign Seth Dean, 1834. Joel Daniels, 1837. Col. Nathan Cleveland, 1838, '39. Ward Adams, 1840.
Albert Daniels, 1841. Col. Sanl B. Scott, 1843, '44. Dr. Shadrack Atwood, 1847. Col. Paul Clark, 1848. Geo. W. Nason, 1850. William Metcalf, 1851. Capt. Hartford Leonard, 1852. Seneca Hills, 1855. Mason F. Southworth, 1856. Theron C. Hills, 1857. Stephen W. Richardson, 1858. James M. Freeman, 1860. James P. Ray, 1861, '77. Rev. Wm. M. Thayer, 1863. Frances B. Ray, 1865. Alpheus A. Russegue, 1867. Henry E. Pond, 1868. Rev. Richard Eddy, 1870. Joseph A. Woodward, 1871. John H. Fisher, 1873, '74. Davis Thayer. 1876.
119
ADDENDA.
XVI. MILITARY.
The chapter of our military history may be brief, as the mate- rials for its most important portion have already been quoted in the historical address. Of the participation of our fathers in the earliest struggles of the Colony with the Indians no account has been found. Some of them were engaged in the war against King Philip, and doubtless in the subsequent French and Indian wars and expeditions against the Canadas. But the individual participants have been mostly hidden by the obscurities of nearly two centuries.
In a list of Captain Moseley's company of Dedham, dated .. 9 X bar 1675" (Dec. 9), are found the names of Samuel Colborne, John Day and Robert Weare, of whom the last certainly was the ancestor of a Franklin family. In a list of prisoners exchanged and brought to Boston in the schooner " Brittania," 6th October, 1748, Moses Washburn, of Wrentham. is included as " taken prisoner at Brunswick and carried to Canada." These instances, however, have little interest beyond showing that, however crowded our ancestors were with the founding of their own precinct, they were not unaware or neglectful of the needs of their Province against its papal enemies on the north. Still, as it was so much a contest of ambitious rival crowns, they gave to their wars none of the enthusiastic response with which they met the first move- ments towards their own independence. Of this enthusiasm the votes and resolves of the town, both before and after its incorpo- ration, already quoted, give hearty evidence. The reader is re- ferred to that portion of this volume for samples of the patriotism of those days.
When it became evident that a collision with the mother country was imminent, Wrentham, like other towns, diligently drilled its militia and organized its two corps of minute-men, who were to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's warning wherever called. The movement of the British troops to seize some military stores of the Province at Concord, in April, 1775, gave the first opportunity to try the alacrity of these minute-men.
In the archives of the State are preserved the rolls of the men who responded to this first alarm of April 19. as well as those who enlisted afterwards in the Colonial service during the War of the
120
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN.
Revolution. I am indebted to Mr. A. D. Sargent of the Centennial Committee for copies of these rolls, as also of the volunteers in the late rebellion. The earlier ones contain simply the names and rank of the members. But the intelligent reader will be able to distinguish the Franklin men upon the lists. They are, there- fore, inserted without comment : -
A true return of the travel and return and time of service of the Minute company under the command of Capt. John Boyd of Wrentham, in Con'l Gaston's regt. assembled and marched the Nineteenth of April last in the alarm : -
CAPT. JOHN BOYD'S COMPANY.
Jolin Boyd,
Captain. Moses Hawes,
Private. יר
Ebenezer Dean,
Left. Abijah Hawes,
John Gould,
Ens. Ebenezer Hartshorn,
Jonathan Holbrook,
Sargt. John Hill,
John Ellis,
.. Stephen Harding, 66
Reuben Partridge,
Joel Hawes,
Eli Richardson,
Paul Holbrook,
John Pond,
Corp'l. Asa Hawes, 66
Samuel Jones,
..
Stephen Kingsbury,
Phineas Ware,
.. Timothy Lane,
Ralph Man,
..
Joseph Metcalf,
Eli Pond,
Drum.
Titus Metcalf.
John Plimpton,
Fiff. Haman Metcalf,
Timothy Adams,
Private. Samuel Metcalf.
66
Nathaniel Adams,
Samuel Mars.
Joel Adams,
Theodore Man,
66
William Adams,
Luther Metcalf,
66
William Boyd,
..
Daniel Pond,
Francis Clark,
66
Benjamin Pond,
6.
Elijah Clark,
Penuel Pond,
Jeremiah Daniels,
Abial Pratt,
66
Comfort Dickerman,
David Pike,
Obed Fisher,
,٠
Benjamin Parnal,
66
Joel Fairbanks,
66
Moses Rockwood,
Thomas Gay,
..
Amos Rockwood,
Jonathan Graves,
..
Nathan Thayer,
James Hills,
6.
Beth'l Foster,
66
Ziba Hills,
€37 15s. 6d.
JOHN BOYD, Capt.
Moses Adams,
Samuel Partridge,
Olivier Richardson, 66
Peter Frost,
121
ADDENDA.
MIDDLESEX Ss., Decem'r 22, 1775.
'The above named John Boyd made solemn oath that the above roll by him subscribed is just and true in all respects.
Before Moses Gill, Jus. Peace for the province.
Examined and compared with the original.
by SAMUEL MOODY, EDWARD RAWSON, Committee.
MICHAEL FARLEY,
In Council Feb'y 9, 1776 Read & allowed & ordered that a war- rant be drawn on the Treas'r for £37 15s. 6d. in full of the within roll.
PEREZ MORTON, Dep. Treas.
A Muster Roll of the First Military Company of the Town of Wrentham who marchd the thirtieth day of April, 1775 upon an Alarm, under the command of Thomas Bacon Capt., and left the Place of Rendezvous the first day of May following : ---
CAPT. THOMAS BACON'S COMPANY.
Thomas Bacon.
Capt. Nathan Daniels, Jr.,
Private. 66
Seth Bacon,
Lient. Robert Blake,
66
Asa Pond.
Sergiant. Zephaniah Lame,
Solomon Blake. Corpl. Daniel Thurston, 66
Benjamin Clark,
Private. Elisha Rockwood, 66
Benjn. Rockwood,
66
Elisha Richardson,
Joseph Ellis,
. .
Billa Metcalf, 66
Eleazer Fisher.
Seth Wright, 66
SUFFOLK, Ss., Decr. 18, 1775.
Then the above named Thomas Bacon personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above roll.
before me, STEPIN METCALF
Justice Peace. £7 9s. 8d. THOMAS BACON
Decr. ye 15 : 1775.
It is evident by the names that the above was the contribution of the west precinct to the battle of Bunker Hill and the invest- ment of Boston. Wrentham contained at that date two military companies. rolls of which are preserved. We have eopied here only the north company. although some living in this precinct may have been included in the south company under the command of Capt. Samuel Cowell.
As the collision with the mother country developed its alarming proportions and the Provincial Congress called upon the people for
122
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN.
troops to defend their liberties, Wrentham promptly responded with its quota for the coming war. Many of the men, whose names have been already given, enlisted in the Colonial service. We can select the residents of this part of the town only by sim- ilarity of name. We have the muster rolls of five companies " who marched from Wrentham on the nineteenth Day of April in the Colony Service," 1775. They were respectively under the command of Capts. Asa Fairbanks, Benjamin Hawes, Samuel Kollock, Elijah Pond, and Oliver Pond. They were of the militia who constituted General Washington's first command in the siege of Boston, and out of them were mainly recruited our quota of the Continentals who followed him in his campaigns. Captains Fairbanks' and E. Pond's companies are mostly of Franklin names. as follows : -
CAPT. ASA FAIRBANKS' COMPANY.
Asa Fairbanks,
Capt. Asa Metcalf,
Private.
Joseph Woodward,
Lieut. Matthias Haws,
Joseph Haws,
John Fairbank,
. (
James Gillmore,
Sergt. Joseph Streeter,
Joseph Hills,
John Adams,
David Wood,
Corp. Nathan Wight,
Peter Adams,
Private. Philemon Metcalf,
66
John Clark,
..
Asa Whiting, 66
Jesse Ware,
66
Abijah Allen,
Peltiah Fisher,
Jonathan Hawes,
Isaac Heaton,
John Pearce,
Peter Fisher,
Mill Man,
Elisha Harding,
..
Ebenezer Dean,
Levi Chaffee,
Matthew Smith,
William Sayles,
Asahel Perry, ..
James Smith,
John Clark, Jr.,
Joseph Harding,
Joseph Hills,
William Gilmore,
..
Aaron Fisher,
Ichiabod Dean,
..
Joseph Guild,
CAPT. ELIJAHI POND'S COMPANY.
Elijah Pond.
Capt. Amos Bacon,
Asa Pond.
Lt. Nathan Daniels,
Jona. Bowditch,
2d Lt. Elisha Rockwood,
Robert Blake,
Serg. Abijah Thurston,
Timo. Pond,
Robert Pond,
Duke Williams,
Corp. Zepha. Lane,
Sam Pond,
Eleaz. Partridge,
Drum. Clerk. Private.
123
ADDENDA.
Joseph Ellis,
Private. Elisha Partridge,
Private.
Benj. Pond,
Simeon Daniels,
Timo. Rockwood,
John Allen,
Elias Ware,
Jas. Fisher,
Elisha Bullard,
Jolın Metcalf,
Daniel Thurston,
Elisha Pond,
Nathan. Thayer,
John Richardson,
Peter Darling
Elisha Richardson,
Simeon Fisher,
In a pay-roll of Capt. Samuel Cowell's Company of Col. Benja- min Hawes' Regiment in the secret expedition Sept. 25, 1777, to October 30, we identify the names of Michael Metcalf, Timothy Metcalf and Benjamin Rockwood.
In a return of Capt. Asa Fairbank's Company, enlisted for the Continental army, and dated 16th February, 1778, as Wrentham's quota at the time of the division of the town, there are only five persons from Wrentham, and none of them Franklin names. The rest belonged elsewhere. Another company, Capt. S. Fisher's, contains none from Franklin, unless it be Jolin Kingsbury. These two muster-rolls count forty-seven privates.
In a " Return of all the men in the first Military foot Company in Wrentham, called the North Company in the West precinet in the town that have enlisted into the Continental army, or that have been Hired by said Company," under Capt. John Metcalf, of the nineteen men are eleven from Wrentham, viz. : Samuel Met- calf, John Metcalf, William Lane, Asa Hawes, William Greene, Thomas Moloy, Jonathan Norris, Isaac Silver, Hugh Denniston, John Barnes, William Pedley. This is dated Feb. 16, 1778. Only three Franklin names.
The town has not preserved, to our knowledge, any of these muster-rolls or any other data to make up a list of its soldiers in the Revolutionary War. In the changes of town clerks, no care seems to have been taken to transfer the documents of town af- fairs. It is a sample of the general negligence of the present to regard the inquiries of coming generations. We have devoted much research, and in all available directions, to trace Franklin's share in the Revolution, and we are satisfied that the rolls given do not include all who should be on them. Elihu Pond was im- prisoned and nearly starved by the British in the old sugar-house at New York, and from which he escaped by night. as we have
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN.
heard him tell his story, but he is not on any roll. Philip Blake was blacksmith and commissary to a portion of the Ameri- can army on Dorchester Heights, and was afterwards in Sullivan's retreat on Rhode Island, but he is not on any roll. Penuel Pond is among the minute-men, but there is no record of his after- enlistment, or that he, as his grave-stone in the City Mills ceme- tery says, " died 16 Dec. 17- in York harbor on board a guard- ship, supposed to be poisoned by ye British doctors." There were at least seventeen Ponds from Franklin in the American army, and how many of other names cannot now probably be determined.
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