History of the town of Hingham, Massachusetts, vol 1, Part 32

Author: Hingham (Mass.); Bouve, Thomas T. (Thomas Tracy), 1815-1896; Bouve, Edward Tracy; Long, John Davis, 1838-1915; Bouve, Walter Lincoln; Lincoln, Francis Henry, 1846-1911; Lincoln, George, 1822-1909; Hersey, Edmund; Burr, Fearing; Seymour, Charles Winfield Scott, 1839-1895
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: [Hingham, Mass.] : Published by the town
Number of Pages: 448


USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hingham > History of the town of Hingham, Massachusetts, vol 1 > Part 32


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37


The Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety, chosen in March, 1777, were Israel Beal, Samuel Norton, John Fearing, Peter Cushing, Thomas Loring, Peter Hobart, and The- ophilus Cushing. In June Israel Beal was appointed "to pro- cure evidence against such persons as are suspected of being inimical to this and the United States of America, in this town."


Among the large number of vessels of all sizes and descriptions in the naval service during the Revolution, was the brig " Haz- ard," built by John Peck, of Boston, and carrying sixteen guns. She made three successful cruises, the first from October, 1777, to May, 1778, under command of Capt. Simeon Sampson; the sec- ond in 1778-1779, and the third in 1779, in both of which she was commanded by Capt. John Foster Williams. During this period -from 1777 to 1779 - she made many prizes, among them the British brig " Active," eighteen guns, after an engagement of thirty-five minutes. She belonged to the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, and was engaged in the unfortunate Penobscot expedi- tion in 1779, and in August of that year was burned by her crew to save her from falling into the hands of the enemy. Her offi- cers and crew were transferred to the " Protector," a fine vessel. Among the crew of the " Hazard," were a number of Hingham men. Those known are as follows :-


Walter Hatch, 2d Lieut., Stephen Lincoln, Armorer, Samuel Lincoln,


Joseph Lincoln, Corporal of Marines, Jairus Lincoln,


308


History of Hingham.


Royal Lincoln, Ezekiel Lincoln, Jonathan Cushing, Laban Thaxter,


Zenas Whiton,


Peter Wilder,


Abel Barnes,


Elias Beal.


There is some authority for the statement that the "Hazard " was in commission in 1776, and that most, if not all, of the above were in service with her in that year. Mr. Lincoln, in the " History of Hingham," speaks of the four cruises of the "Hazard."


These men also were undoubtedly on board, in 1778. In ad- dition, William Tidmarsh was captain's clerk in this latter year.


Joseph Lincoln and Jonathan Cushing were captured on board a prize of the "Hazard's" and carried prisoners to Halifax, in 1778; in 1780 Cushing was a prisoner on the Jersey prison-ship. In 1779 Asabel Stodder was in service on the " Hazard."


Capt. Thomas Melville commanded a company in Col. Craft's battalion in 1776 and upon his rolls was borne the name of William Lewis.


August, 1777, Isaac Wilder, then only 17 years of age, died in captivity at Halifax.


Hingham had a further part in the naval service of the Revolu- tion ; for under date of December 16, 1776, a charter of the schooner " Edward," of about 70 tons, was made by Caleb Loring. to the Board of War, and a little later, on the 8th of January, 1777, he executed a like paper for the schooner " Hazard," of 60 tons. He also owned the armed brig " Rising States," which was captured by a British frigate.


The charters of these vessels were very elastic in their provi- sions, and no limitations were really placed upon the uses to which they were to be put.


It is extremely difficult to give anything approaching a complete history of the militia organizations belonging in Hingham from the close of 1776. It is probable that the large number of men in the regular service and the frequent drafts for particular expeditions and exigencies may have so far depleted the companies belonging distinctly to the town as to at last result in their complete disorgani- zation, or at least to work such a suspension of their activity as make them no longer the subject of particular mention. The last record of this kind that has come to notice is the following : -


Hingham, June 10th, 1777.


These may Certify that a legall meeting of the Training band and alarm list of the first Company in said Town Benjamin Lapham was Chosen Capt of Said Company.


ISAIAH CUSHING, Maj.


In Council, August 7, 1777, Read and Ordered that Said Officer be Commissioned agreeable to his Rank.


JAS. AVERY, Dy. Secy ..


Military History. 309


Indeed it may be added that much hereafter given must of neces- sity be fragmentary and disconnected, and will rather serve as hints of the part the town continued to take in the battle for free- dom than a full history of events. It is not possible to fix the time or places of service of a large proportion of the men who enlisted for Hingham, nor to always state accurately their com- panies, regiments, or date of entering the army.


Among the unwise plans put into execution about this time, and which was particularly annoying to Washington and discouraging to the men in the regular service, was the enlistment of a force to serve in the New England States only. The following is interest- ing in this connection : -


To the Honrable Bord of War :


GENTLEMEN, - This may certify that I have Inlisted ten men into the Servis of the four New England States, that have past muster that Can- not furnish themselves with arms and acuterments. Gentlemen, pleas to furnish Lt. Calvin Curtis with arms and acuterments, Sufficient for the above Number of men, and you will oblige yours to Serve. In a Regiment where of John Roberson, Esq., is Col.


Hingham, July ye 224, 1777. SETH STOWERS, Capt.


There were several expeditions against the enemy in Rhode Island planned and attempted in the year 1777, none of which were successful, but in all of which Hingham appears to have been represented. The first was in February, and a town record of a meeting in May is as follows : -


" At the annual meeting in May, the Town voted to raise £ 1172 for pro- curing the men for the Continental Army & paying the men that were employed in the Rhode Island Expedition for the said town."


The next attempt was in September. Three thousand men were raised from Plymouth, Bristol, and Barnstable Counties, and the southern parts of Suffolk, Middlesex, and Worcester. These, with Colonel Craft's regiment of State artillery and the militia under General Hancock, were placed under command of General Spencer of the Continental Army. Among these troops was the regiment commanded by Colonel Robinson, one of whose companies was that of which Seth Stowers was captain and which included the following from this town : -


Seth Stowers, Capt., Joseph Wilder,


Isaiah Stodder,


Elisha Dunbar,


Jonathan Gardner


Hosea Dunbar, David Lincoln, Caleb Leavitt,


and perhaps others.


A company in the same expedition, commanded by Capt. Moses French, of Weymouth, and in Col. Jonathan Titcomb's regiment


-


310


History of Hingham.


of militia, on duty from May 15 to July 15, bore the following Hingham men upon its rolls : -


Joshua Tower, Lieut.,


Israel Lincoln,


Private,


Jonathan Hearsey, Sergt.,


Seth Stoel,


David Hearsey, Drummer,


David Cain, 66


Jonathan Lewis, Private,


Melzar Dunbar, 66


David Loring,


Amos Dunbar,


Thomas Wilder,


Ezekiel Lincoln,


Peleg Whiton,


Caleb Levet,


Daniel Dunbar,


Nathaniel Bates,


Enoch Dunbar,


In the early part of this year there was a company in ser- vice commanded by Captain Penniman, of Braintree. The only Hingham name then on the roll appears to have been that of Theophilus Wilder, who was 1st Lieut.


There is another roll, however, of a company serving under com- mand of Capt. Theophilus Wilder, and composed of men from Hingham, Stoughton, and Braintree. The names from Hingham were :


Theophilus Wilder, Capt.,


Thomas Howard, Private,


Elisha Lewis, Sergt.,


- Humphreys


Laban Tower, Corp.,


Thomas Howard, Jr.,


Bela Tower, Fifer,


Whiston,


Ezekiel Cushing, Private,


Enoch Dunbar,


Jona. Gardner, 66


Laban Hunt, Whiton,


Sam'l Low,


David Prouty, 66


Elijah Gardner,


Fazzen,


Thos. Colbart,


Joshua Hobartt, 66


Rufus Tower.


66


This company, like Captain Penniman's, was undoubtedly in Colonel Dike's militia regiment, and probably was in the service in the early part of 1777.


Mr. Lincoln states in his history that there were thirty-three men with Capt. Job Cushing, in New York, in 1777, but he gives no information as to the time of year or location of their service. It is much to be regretted that the numbers and names of our fellow townsmen who served in the great Northern Campaign of this eventful year, cannot be fully given. We know, however, that when General Lincoln received his wound at Stillwater, on the morning of October 8, he had with him his friends and neighbors who had marched at his call, as they had so many times before, both for his father and himself. It was at the taking of Burgoyne, too, that Joshua Ripley, of Colonel Wigglesworth's regiment, of the Continental Line, and Nehemiah Ripley, of Capt. Theophilus Wil- der's company, of Col. Gill's regiment, were killed. Capt. Wilder had twenty-eight Hingham men with him at first, and the company


311


Military History.


was afterwards increased to fifty-two. The following names appear upon a roll in August, together with many others not from this town : -


Theophilus Wilder, Capt.,


Jeremiah Gardner, Private,


Abijah Whitton, Sergt.,


Nehemiah Hubburt,


Nehemiah Ripley, Corp.,


Benjamin Joy, 66


Thaddeus Bates, 66


Able Lincoln, 66


David Harsay,


Israel Lincoln,


Peter Harsay, Drum-Major,


Seth Stowell,


Benjamin Barns, Private,


Stephen Stowell, 66


Canterbury Barns,


Joshua Stowell, 66


Ambross Bates,


Israel Stowell, 66


Thomas Chubbuck,


Seth Wilder, 66


Sherebiah Corthwill,


Peter Whitton,


Stephen Gardner, 66


Abel Whitton, 66


Two items of money voted by the town in 1778, for expenses incurred in the previous year, are certainly suggestive, although there is no further evidence of the presence of Hingham men at General Stark's victory on August 16th.


They are an allowance of £133 to Captain Wilder for travelling fees for one hundred and ninety miles to Bennington, and £ 7-4-6 paid " to Thos Chubbuck for so much due for Transporting the Soldiers Baggage to Bennington."


While the town was earnestly performing its allotted part towards the general conduct of the war, it was not unmindful of its own defence, as we see by the following requisition : -


Hingham, August 1st, 1777.


SIR. - Please to deliver to Mr. Israel Beal, the bearer hereof, 250 weight of powder, 50 weight Musquet Ball, and 500 flints for the use of the Town of Hingham, & you 'll oblige yours,


To the Commissary General at Watertown. JOSHUA LEAVITT,


BENJ. CUSHING,


JOSEPH ANDREWS,


Selectmen of Hingham.


There is great difficulty in determining with certainty the names of men who enlisted into the Continental regular service during particular years ; the very multiplicity of rolls and lists with differing headings adds to the confusion. When, as is fre- quently the case, town and private records are really or seemingly at variance with these, entire accuracy becomes out of the ques- tion. From these and other causes it may happen that names deserving of honorable mention are omitted entirely, and that others get misplaced. The following appear to have served in Hingham's quota for three years, enlisting in 1777. Non-residents are indicated, when it is known, by the name of the town to which they belonged immediately following their own names ; the cap- tains and colonels under whom these soldiers served are also indicated.


312


History of Hingham.


Nathaniel Coit Allen,


Marshall,


Colonel Marshall.


Elisha Bate,


Alden,


Bayley.


James Cook,


Pilsbury,


Wigglesworth.


John Davis,


Langdon,


Jackson.


George Douty, Falmouth,


Blaisdell,


Wigglesworth.


William Ellery, Boston,


Langdon,


Robert Ford, 66


Joseph Falmouth, Falmouth, Lunt,


Alden.


Adam Fernando, Boston,


Langdon, Jackson.


Elisha Gardner,


Briant,


Crane.


Castle Gardner,


Light Horse.


Jacob Gardner,


Williams, Greaton.


Thomas Gosling, Boston,


Allen,


Alden.


Samuel Green,


Ellis, Bigelow.


Jacob Gurney,


66


Langdon, Jackson.


Daniel Golden (also called Gould), Falmouth.


Ellis,


Bigelow.


John Gray, Jr., Boston,


Langdon,


Jackson.


John Griggs, 66


Charles Hardman, "


Allen, Alden.


Adam Henry, 66


Langdon, Jackson.


Joseph Hobart,


Pilsbury, Wigglesworth.


Thomas Hassell,


Tuckerman, Patterson.


Daniel Hearsey,


Light Horse.


Jesse Humphrey,


Williams,


Greaton.


James Hisket, Boston,


Langdon,


Jackson.


Peter Huson, 66


Thomas Kilby,


66


66


Bela Leavitt,


Briant,


Crane.


Urbane Lewis,


Allen,


Bayley. 66


Lot Lincoln, Jr.,


Pilsbury,


Wigglesworth.


Daniel Low,


Marshall,


Marshall.


James Love, Boston,


Langdon,


Jackson.


John Lewis, 66


Emmanuel Lorel, "


66


Isaac Lane, Buxton


William Murphy, Boston,


Allen,


Alden.


Ichabod Meakum, 66


Langdon,


Jackson.


Plato McLean, 66


Ellis


Bigelow.


Wm. McCandy, Falmouth,


Lunt,


Alden.


Plato Mclellan (a negro),


Ellis,


Bigelow.


Joseph McConner,


Clem Pennel, 66


Ellis,


Bigelow.


William Palding, Hingham or Boston,


Langdon,


Jackson.


Caleb Lincoln,


66


Marsh Lewis,


Captain


Jackson. 66 (deserted).


313


Military History.


Nathan Patridge, Falmouth, Smith, Thomas Rumrill, Boston,


Patterson.


Joshua Ripley,


Wigglesworth.


Hezekiah Ripley,


Alden,


Bayley.


Nathaniel Stodder,


Briant, 66


Crane.


William Spooner,


Abel Sprague,


Seward,


66


Hosea Stoddar,


Williams,


Greaton.


Joseph Stockbridge,


Alden,


Bayley.


Jonathan Sayer, Boston,


Allen,


Alden.


John Scott,


Langdon, 66


Jackson. 66


John Simmonds,


Henry Thomson,


Briant,


Crane.


Henry Tibbits, Boston,


Allen,


Alden.


Israel Whiton,


Brown,


Jackson.


John Woodman, Paxton (said


also to be Hingham),


Lane, Alden.


Thomas Wilton, Boston,


Allen,


Alden.


Mark Wilson, Falmouth,


Blasdel,


Patterson.


Among the most faithful soldiers of the Revolution was Daniel Hearsey. We found him first in Capt. Charles Cushing's com- pany besieging Boston ; afterwards he enlisted in the Continental service in Knox's Artificers, and subsequently his name appears upon the rolls of Col. William Washington's celebrated regiment of Light Horse, where he was a trooper for three years, having for a comrade his townsman Castle Gardner. Finally, he closes his military career as a member of " His Excellency Gen'l Wash- ington's Guards, commanded by Henry Collfax," according to the State House records. Colonel Collfax's name was, however, William, not Henry as stated.


Joseph Cook also served in the Second Regiment, Colonel Greaton, and the Sixteenth, Col. Henry Jackson; Marsh Lewis was subsequently in the regiment of invalids, commanded by Col- onel McFarland. Mark Wilson served at one time in Captain Smart's company of Wigglesworth's regiment. Perez Gardner, according to Mr. Lincoln, not only served in Colonel Vose's regi- ment, but was also in Captain Flint's company of Colonel John- son's militia regiment at the taking of Burgoyne ; was six months on guard in Captain Foster's company at Cambridge, took part in the Rhode Island campaign under the same officer, and in McIntosh's regiment in 1778, and subsequently in the campaign in that State in 1780, under Captain Wilder of Gill's regiment ; was eighteen or twenty months in Captain Warner's company in Colonel Craft's Artillery. He was three years in the Continental service in Captain Hitchcock's and Captain Mills's companies. Though not given in the above list, Mr. Lincoln says that serving with Mr. Gardner in the Continental service were Joshua Tower,


314


History of Hingham.


killed at Morrisania; Jack -, a negro, killed also in New York ; James Bates, and James Hayward, who both died at West Point ; Solomon Loring; and John Daniels.


During this year (1777) the disastrous battle at the Brandywine was fought. It was the 11th September, a hot, windy day, the air filled with dust to which clouds of smoke were soon added, when the American Army under Washington made its stand against Howe, with the hope of a victory which might save the capital. The mistakes of General Sullivan, the losses of Wayne, the skill of Green in checking the enemy, the heavy losses of the patriots and the final retreat to Germantown, are matters of his- tory. Among the troops engaged in this unfortunate affair was Colonel Crane's famous regiment of artillery from Massachu- setts, one of whose companies was commanded by David Briant, a brave officer, who received a mortal wound and died the next day. Upon the fall of Captain Briant the command devolved upon Lieut. Joseph Andrews, of Hingham, who, although wounded, continued to serve his guns with great courage for an hour longer, when he, too, was mortally wounded by a cannon-ball, and died on November 22d following, after great suffering, aged twenty years. More than forty years afterwards Lafayette, who was himself wounded at the same time, spoke of Lieutenant Andrews's per- sistent bravery. Besides Lieutenant Andrews there were from Hingham in this company, Caleb Bates, a sergeant, also killed in the battle ; Levi Bicknell, wounded ; Nathaniel Stoddard, Samuel Bicknell, Elijah Gardner, Thomas Cushing, and William Sprague, who were in the engagement, and Bela Leavitt, Luther Lincoln, and Caleb Lincoln, then with the Northern Army.


Following Brandywine and the later repulse at Germantown came the terrible winter at Valley Forge, with its sufferings and privations. In the bitter experiences of that encampment many of the Continental soldiers from Hingham participated. The his- tory of the Massachusetts regiments is their history, and wher- ever the names of the Jacksons, Greaton, Wigglesworth, Rufus Putnam, Crane, Alden, Bayley, Marshall, Bigelow, and Patterson appear leading their commands in victory, caring for them in privation, cheering them in defeat, there will be found filling their ranks, carrying out their orders, and standing with them in the heat of battle, the sturdy citizens of Hingham who enlisted " for the war." A number of the Continental soldiers in the lists given were subsequently promoted and held commissions in the service ; their names and rank will appear hereafter.


In 1778 the Committee of Safety were Thomas Burr, Jacob Leavitt, Abel Hersey, Enoch Whiton, and Peter Hobart.


The constant fear of a return of the English to Boston, and the necessity of providing against pillaging and foraging incursions into the country along the coast, required the exercise of unceas- ing vigilance on the part of the State and local authorities. How


315


Military History.


cheerfully and faithfully Massachusetts performed her duty in this as in her every relation to the Revolutionary struggle is known to all familiar with American history, yet it may not be amiss to recall that when Congress voted to raise eighty-eight regiments, of which this State's quota was fifteen, sixteen were enlisted besides Crane's fine regiment of artillery, - a number soon after augmented by two additional regiments and Ar- mand's artillery legion, Congress having determined to raise six- teen additional battalions, - and that one half the whole burden of the war, as measured by the numbers of men furnished the Continental ranks, was borne by her. Based upon annual terms of service, Massachusetts had 67,907 men in the army, besides many thousands in her own pay for New England and purely local defence. Her militia was frequently in active service, and she was obliged to maintain constantly a force sufficient to garri- son the posts within her territory. Among these, as previously remarked, were the defences at Nantasket, and upon Hingham a large part of this duty devolved throughout the war. Major Thomas Lothrop was in command in 1778, and under date of February 27 we have a roll of Capt. Peter Cushing's Company then on duty there. It is as follows: -


Peter Cushing, Capt.


Nath11 Fearing,


Private,


Noah Hearsey, Sergt.


Joshua Lincoln,


Thomas Jones,


John Gill,


66


Samuel Hobart, "


Will™ Hobart, 66


Daniel Cushing, "


Abel Fearing,


66


Daniel Hobart, Corp.


Caleb Hobart,


66


David Burr, 66


John Jones,


David Beal, Jun "


Isaac Gardner, 66


Zadock Hearsey Drum,


Isaiah Hearsey, 66


David Andrews, Private,


Abijah Hearsey, 66


Jeremiah Hearsey,


66


Enoch Stodder,


66


Benj. Jacob,


66


Benjn Stowel, 66


66


Benj™ Joy,


66


Jesse Bate,


66


Noah Stodder,


66


Job Lincoln, Nath Gill,


66


Reuben Stephenson,


Jacob Beal,


66


Peter Loring,


66


Jona Lincoln,


Thos Cushing,


66


Seth Lincoln,


66


Hawkes Fearing,


66


Joseph Hamen,


Jeremiah Sprague,


66


Bradford Hearsey,


66


Joseph Mansfield,


Wellcom Lincoln,


Laban Hunt,


Lot Lincoln,


Shubael Fearing, 66


Thos Waterman,


Early in this year also we find Lieut. Jabez Wilder with a num- ber of men forming a part of the garrison. The date is the same


316


History of Hingham.


as the last, February 27, and the roll terms the command a " half company." The names given are -


Lt. Jabez Wilder, Theoph. Wilder, James Tower,


Edward Wilder, Theoph. Cushing, Solomon Whiton,


Thomas Cushing, Abel Whiton, Benj. Ward,


David Gardner, Labin Tower, David Chubbuck,


Zenas Wilder, Robert Gardnier,


Jonathan Farron,


John Hearsey, Zach. Whiton,


Seth Stowars, Bela Tower,


Benj. Whiton.


Jabez Wilder, who was a brother of Capt. Theophilus Wilder, subsequently held the rank of captain, being commander of the third company of the Second Suffolk Regiment. He resided on Free Street, near Main, and after the war moved to Chesterfield.


Captain Wilder's company was ordered to Hull soon after, and his roll in April contains the following names : -


Theophilus Wilder, Capt.


Benj. Whiton, Private,


Theophilus Cushing, Sergt.


Jona. Loring, 66


Thomas Jones, 66


Joseph Mansfield,


Elisha Marsh,


Benj. Joy, 66


Bela Tower, Fifer,


Jona. Loring, Jr. 66


Thos. Cushing, Corp.


Benj. Cushing, 66


Joseph Beal,


Joseph Souther,


David Lincoln, Private,


John Wilcutt,


Martin Tower,


Mordecai Lincoln,


Enoch Stoddar,


John Hunt,


Shubael Fearing,


Zachariah Hunt, 66


Abel Fearing,


Ephraim Burrell, 66


John Jones,


Eben'r Joy, 66


Elijah Lewis, 66


Laban Cushing,


Solomon Whiton, "


John Wild. 66


Although a Hingham company, a few of the above may have been residents of Weymouth or Cohasset.


The following return of the selectmen tells the story of the manner in which quotas were sometimes filled in those days, as well as a good many years later.


" A return of the men procured by the town of Hingham to make up their quota of the seventh part of the male inhabitants of said town : -


John Murphy, May, 1778, Greaton's Regt, Patrick Dunn, June, 1778, Col. Crane's, Lieney Gesbuct, «


ISRAEL BEAL


THEOS CUSHING Selectmen of Hingham.


CHAS CUSHING


DAVID CUSHING, Colo."


317


Military History.


The same officers make another return, showing that Nathan Thisining enlisted in Col. Henley's regiment in May, while in June,


Jaspar Mason,


Christian Rouschorn,


Esriglolm Millery, Jonas Foughel,


Conrad Workman,


Peter Dushen,


Frederick Gateman,


Amada Bourdon,


John Dager,


Frederick Bower,


Joseph Teot or Scot, John Wielele,


John Rodsfell, Christopher Creigor,


as Hingham men swore to uphold the Republic in Col. Crane's Artillery. It is difficult to avoid a slight suspicion that these men may have been a part of the deserting Hessians from Bur- goyne's army, whose enlistment by Massachusetts called forth vigorous remonstrance from Washington, and soon ceased. The town fathers appear to have been at least not deficient in shrewd- ness, however, for these recruits were engaged for three years and credited to Hingham for the long term although the period required under the call of Congress at that time was only nine months. Let us hope that these swiftly made citizens and eager patriots upheld the honor of the town while serving under their new colors.


In July of this year, the French fleet under D'Estaing appeared off Newport, and the Admiral and Gen. Sullivan, who commanded in Rhode Island, prepared to drive the enemy from the State. Two Continental brigades from the main army was sent under Lafayette, and the Massachusetts militia marched under John Hancock as Major-General, at the same time. The whole force numbered ten thousand men, and great hopes were entertained of its success. They were doomed to be disappointed, however, and after nearly a month of fruitless delays, the Americans evacuated the island after having fought one unsatisfactory battle. The following Hingham men took part in the attempt : -


Benj. Jacob, Elijah Lewis, Benj. Joy, Kent Simmonds,


Thos. Joy, Japath Hobart, Moses Whiton, Jonathan Gardner.


They were probably members of a company of which John Lincoln was a lieutenant, and were paid by the town £ 122.


Hon. Solomon Lincoln says there were nineteen other Hingham men engaged six weeks in Rhode Island, and also twenty-two in a Capt. Baxter's company for the same length of time. The names of the latter are here given : -


Zachariah Whiton, 2 Lieut., Robert Gardner, Serg't, Ambross Bates, 66 Jacob Joy,


Able Whiton, Jonathan Farrar, Levit Lane, Thomas Willder,


318


History of Hingham.


Robart Willder,


Stephen Stodder,


Isaiah Hearsey,


Isaac (?) Whiton,


Cushing Burr,


Elishe Whiton,


Ruben Hearsey,


James Stodder,


Charls Burr,


Cornelus Bates,


Canterbury Barns,


Zebulon Willcutt,


Daniel Wilder, Thomas Stodder,


Jacob Lincorn.


Captain Baxter was from Braintree, from which town also came a large part of his company. Lieut. Whiton subsequently appears to have become a captain, and is spoken of with distinction in Thacher's "Military Journal." Colonel McIntosh commanded the regiment.


The Dorchester Heights works were also garrisoned by a com- pany consisting of thirty-four men, under Capt. Elias Whiton for three months. Captain Whiton, who early in the war had also served as lieutenant in Capt. Pyam Cushing's company when stationed at Dorchester, was taken with the small-pox and died in the service, aged thirty-five years. Almost at the same time Captain Whiton's elder brother, Capt. Enoch Whiton, who also had commanded a company in the Revolution died, aged forty-five years. A third brother, Elijah, was a soldier in the same war. They were all residents of South Hingham, near Liberty Plain. The town re- cords show that the thirty-four men were paid out of the town trea- sury £402-2 for their services. The company belonged to Colonel Lyman's regiment of Guards ; its roll was -




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