USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hingham > History of the town of Hingham, Massachusetts, vol 1 > Part 34
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Major-Gen. Benjamin Lincoln (before his Continental commission), Capt. Benjamin Beal, Capt. Peter Cushing,
Charles Cushing,
Pyam Cushing,
66 Job Cushing, Isaiah Cushing,
329
Military History.
Capt. Thomas Hearsey,
2d Lieut. Thomas Fearing,
Benjamin Lapham,
Walter Hatch,
James Lincoln,
2d Josiah Lane,
John Lincoln,
Jacob Leavitt,
66 Seth Stowers,
Heman Lincoln,
Job Tower,
66
Levi Lincoln,
Theophilus Wilder,
Isaac Lincoln,
Elias Whiton,
2d
Nathan Lincoln,
Stephen Whiton,
66 Peter Nichols,
Enoch Whiton,
66
Jerom Steplienson,
Lieut. Levi Bates,
66 Knight Sprague,
2d " Elijah Beal,
2d " Joseph Beal,
Thomas Vinson,
Lieut. Thomas Burr,
66 Jabez Wilder, .
3d " Isaac Cushing,
2d
4th " David Cushing,
Peter Dunbar,
66 Zach Whiting, prob- ably subsequently a captain.
From official records still existing and other reliable sources of information, it may be safely stated that the town of Hingham contributed to the military service of the Revolution, including those in the Continental regiments and on armed vessels, nearly seven hundred and fifty men, of whom over fifty were commis- sioned officers. The number probably was really largely in excess of that here stated.
It cannot but be regretted that these records of the old town's part in the Revolutionary contest are so largely composed of mere lists of names, and that there is so little of incident to brighten the too statistical narrative. In this connection, however, one little event may not be without interest. It will perhaps be recalled that during the last war between France and the Colonies, one of the chaplains was Rev. John Brown of Hingham. The years which had rolled by since 1759 had doubtless incapacitated the minister for further service in the field, but under the mag- nificent elm standing opposite to the old Cushing house at Rocky Nook, he preached to a company of our townsmen on their march to the post of danger, and sent them on the way with the blessings and approval of the Church ringing in their ears, and, let us trust, consoling their hearts.
Almost from the surrender of Yorktown the armies of the new republic had been melting away, and when, on the 3d of Sep- tember, 1783, the treaty was signed at Paris which acknowledged the independence of the United States, there remained with Washington at Newburg scarcely more than a skeleton of the vic- torious force which had taken a part in the grand drama enacted on Virginia's soil nearly two years before. November 25th the commander-in-chief entered New York with General Knox and the officers of the army eight abreast, and, at Fraunce's tavern on
66 Joshua Tower,
330
History of Hingham.
the 4th of December following, Washington bid farewell to the comrades who for eight years had with him patiently and bravely endured the dangers and privations of the field and the camp. At about the same time General Lincoln resigned his office of Secretary of War and retired to private life. From the opening hour of the Revolution to its closing moment, the roll of Hing- ham's drums and the inspiring music of her fifes had echoed through her streets and been heard on many a weary march, while the rattle of musketry and the dull roar of artillery served by her children had testified to her unflinching and unwearying patriotism on land and sea. Beneath the kindly enshronding soil in secluded shady and forgotten places, from Canada to the Potomac, rest those who laid their young lives down in the heat of the conflict, while many an old moss-grown stone in the town cemeteries marks the burial spot of some soldier who in the early days of the nation " shouldered his crutch and told how fields were won," to his children and grandchildren long after the close of the War for Independence.
While with the advent of peace there doubtless came that reaction from interest in military matters which is common to all human affairs where the undivided attention has been too long fixed in a single direction, there was still, fortunately, enough patriotism left in the wearied people to listen to the urgent sug- gestions of Washington, and in a small regular army and the West Point establishment, provide a nucleus at least, around which might be gathered the forces for the defence of the young nation. Many of the statutes under which the armies were gath- ered and the militia governed still remained in force, and these derived powerful support from the dangerous and threatening con- dition of a number of the Indian tribes, from the menace which the continued occupancy in the West and North of posts and forts by the British constantly offered, and from the ill-concealed contempt felt by the empires of the world for the small, weak, and exhausted State in the Western Hemisphere. More than all, there was the internal discontent and distrust experienced by a weary and debt-laden people entering upon the experiment of new forms of government towards which many were antagonistic, and in which a large number had little faith. To all this must be added the bitter disappointment of the discharged and half-paid soldiery, who, after giving eight of their best years to the service of the country, found themselves adrift, poverty-stricken, and for a time, at least, neglected. Fortunately, for the most part these men were Fed- eralists, and believers in and supporters of their old officers, more particularly of Washington, and were generally friends of a strong government and a national spirit. Fortunately, too, the militia organization for the most part remained intact, and many a fine regiment which had seen active service during the war was still under the command of its old officers, and in the ranks were
331
Military History.
numbers of disciplined veterans. The continued efficiency of these troops enabled General Lincoln, who had been commissioned major-general April 3, 1786, to crush the armed mobs under Shays with a celerity and absence of unnecessary violence which reflected credit alike upon the men and the officers, and furnished an added illustration of the tact and ability of Lincoln. Colonel Rice was also engaged in the service at the time, with other citizens of Hingham. The old town might well feel satisfied with her part in the termination of this small rebellion.
In 1781 Charles Cushing was colonel of the Second Regiment of militia ; Theophilus Cushing, captain, David Cushing, 1st lieutenant, and Edward Wilder, 2d lieutenant of the second company ; and Thomas Fearing, captain, Thomas Cushing, 1st lieutenant, and Elijah Whiting, 2d lieutenant of the third com- pany. Theophilus Cushing became colonel June 9, 1787, Thomas Vinson, lieutenant-colonel, and James Stodder, major, while Quincy Thaxter had already been commissioned adjutant on the 8th of January previously. Colonel Cushing became brigadier- general Sept. 12, 1793.
If there are any records extant of the Hingham militia com- panies from the close of the Revolution until the commencement of the War of 1812, it is to be hoped that the meagre historical notes here given - for they amount to no more - may incite production. In musty old volumes in a small, dark room in the basement of the State House, may be found the names of an enor- mous number of persons commissioned in the militia, which was for many years an organized army of no small dimensions - on paper. Beyond the dates which these commissions bear and the regiments to which their holders belonged, very little informa- tion is given. From the list have been selected the names of citizens of this town, but no attempt has been made to state the companies of which they were officers. As will be seen here- after, there were two companies formed later of which some details appear : -
Daniel Wilder :
Ensign March 3, 1788.
Lieutenant
May 3, 1796.
Thomas Thaxter:
Quartermaster . June 10, 1793.
Benjamin Andrews: Ensign March 3, 1788.
Lieutenant May 23, 1792.
Jedediah Lincoln :
Ensign May 2, 1797.
Captain Sept. 3, 1800.
Major March 26, 1806. John Fearing:
Ensign Sept 3, 1800.
Lieutenant April 10, 1806. Captain April 1, 1809.
Washington Cushing: Ensign April 12, 1804.
Captain . March 28, 1807. Major . May 3, 1813. Lieutenant-Col. June 20, 1816. Colonel . March 28, 1818. John Barker:
Captain Oct. 23, 1788. Major . May 18, 1797. Lieutenant-Col. May 25, 1801. Robert Thaxter: Surgeon's-Mate . Sept. 1, 1800.
John Cushing, 3d: Captain March 3, 1788. David Cushing, Jr .: Captain . March 3, 1788. Solomon Jones :
Lieutenant
. Sept. 3, 1800.
Captain
April 10, 1806.
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History of Hingham.
Levi Sprague:
Ensign April 10, 1806
Lieutenant May 13, 1809.
Captain April 15, 1812. Major . . June 13, 1814.
Seth Hersey:
Lieutenant April 13, 1807.
Nehemiah Cushing :
Lieutenant
March 28, 1807
Captain . May 3, 1796.
Joseph Cushing :
Ensign Sept 26, 1811.
Lieutenant
April 15, 1812.
Elijah Waters, Jr .:
Ensign March 3, 1788.
Lieutenant May 2. 1797.
Captain May 7, 1799.
Rufus Lane: Ensign May 23, 1792.
John Beale: Adjutant . June 7, 1802.
Jonathan Cushing:
Laban Hersey :
Captain
Sept. 28, 1800.
Scarlet Hudson:
David Whiton:
Lieutenant . April 11, 1803.
Ensign Sept. 3, 1800.
Edward Wilder, Jr ..
Lieutenant
April 12, 1804.
Ensign
March 28, 1807.
Joseph Hammond :
Ensign
April 11, 1803.
Martin Fearing:
Abner Hersey:
Ensign
. Oct. 26, 1809.
Captain
. Feb. 12, 1807.
In 1812 the Hingham Rifle Company received a charter from the State, and for many years it was one of the famous militia organizations in the Commonwealth. Its first captain was Dun- can McB. Thaxter, while the other officers were Jairus Sprague, lieutenant, and Daniel Bassett, ensign, all commissioned May 21, 1812. It was subsequently attached to the Light Infantry Battalion as Company D, although a part of the Second Regiment until that organization was disbanded.
Early in October the company made its first public parade in a uniform described in the " Boston Patriot " as " perfectly neat," with " rifles lately procured from an American armory of domestic manufacture, with complete accoutrements." On this occasion a standard was presented on behalf of the ladies by Miss Mary Lincoln, daughter of Mr. Solomon Lincoln, and accepted by Ensign Daniel Bassett in a patriotic if somewhat grandiloquent speech.
Besides this company there were at this time the three stand- ing militia companies belonging to the same regiment, and prob- ably officered respectively as follows : Moses L. Humphrey, captain, April 16, 1812; Samuel Hobart, lieutenant, April 16, 1812; Nathan- iel Wilder, ensign, April 16, 1816 ; Martin Fearing, captain, April 15, 1812; Joseph Cushing, lieutenant, April 15, 1812; Adna Cushing, ensign, April 15, 1812 ; Washington Cushing, captain, March 28, 1807 ; Joseph Wilder, ensign, May 11, 1812. The regiment was the Second Infantry, of which Nehemiah Ripley became quartermaster March 30, 1812; Thomas Loring, pay- master, March 25, 1812; Ned Cushing, adjutant, March 20, 1812 (he had previously been paymaster), and William Gordon, sur-
Lieutenant . Sept. 26, 1811.
Edward Wilder: Lieutenant March 3, 1788.
Thomas Andrews: Lieutenant . Oct. 23, 1788. Francis Thaxter: Quartermaster . Sept. 16, 1799.
Ephraim Andrews: Quartermaster . June 7, 1802.
Thomas Loud : Quartermaster . Oct. 2, 1804.
Ensign May 3, 1796.
Lieutenant Sept. 3, 1800.
Moses Humphrey :
Ensign
April 23, 1807.
333
Military History.
geon, Feb. 10, 1813, while Henry Colman had been chaplain since July 6, 1807. In addition to these the citizens exempted by law from military duty formed themselves into three companies of infantry and one of artillery, the whole constituting a local bat- talion commanded by Capt. Edward Wilder. The North Ward company had for its officers : captain, Gen. John Barker ; lieu- tenant, Major Jedediah Lincoln ; ensign, Solomon Lincoln. The Middle Ward : captain, Laban Hersey ; lieutenant, Capt. Solomon Jones ; ensign, Lieut. John Fearing. South Ward : captain, Jona- than Cushing ; lieutenant, Edward Wilder, Jr. ; ensign, Joseph Wilder.
The Artillery Company was commanded by Captain Thomas Brown, and the lieutenants were Ezra Lincoln and John Hersey, Jr.
Ned Cushing was adjutant, and Ebenezer Gay paymaster of the battalion, and Thomas Thaxter appears also to have been an officer.
The Artillery had but one gun, which was kept in the engine- house then standing on the land now occupied by Ford's Building.
There is little to record of local history and military service during the three years in which was fought the War of 1812. Even the Commonwealth possesses no rolls of the men who served their country during this period, and neither tradition nor private journals have contributed greatly to supply the omission.
John Todd is known to have been killed at Sackett's Harbor in 1813; and Alexander Gardner, of the same company, was wounded at the time. The following also appear to have been soldiers in this war, and some of them received pensions : -
Jesse Churchill,
Bela Tower,
Enoch Curtis,
Walter Whiton,
Allen Cushing,
Cornelius Lincoln,
David Stoddar,
Josiah Gardner,
Warren Stoddar,
Matthew Stodder,
Ebed Stoddar,
Job S. Whiton,
Archelaus Whiton,
Peleg Dunbar,
Samuel Stoddar,
Constant Gardner,
Luther Stoddar,
Anthony Gardner,
Enoch Dunbar, David Gardner,
Daniel Wilder.
Joshua Blake, born in Hingham, Sept. 27, 1778, died in Boston, Dec. 23, 1843, was a lieutenant in the navy, and subsequently served with Decatur during the trouble with Tripoli. He was a son of Joseph Blake, who lived in the house on the corner of Main and Elm streets, and who served with Major Samuel Thaxter in the French War.
Charles Blake, known as Capt. Charles Blake, served upon a privateer during a part of the war. He was captured and con-
334
History of Hingham.
fined in Dartmoor Prison. Moses L. Humphrey commanded a company composed, at least in part, of Hingham men, and stationed at the Castle, now Fort Independence, in Boston harbor. Samuel Stodder was in his command. Walter Whiton was born Nov. 28, 1783 ; he was a major in the United States army, and was killed at the battle of Bridgewater; his home was at Liberty Plain. Archelaus Whiton, or Whiting, enlisted from the frigate " Con- stitution " to go to the Lakes, and probably died in the expedi- tion. Ebed Stoddar was taken prisoner and confined at Dartmoor Prison, whence he escaped, but was never afterwards heard from. Alexander Anderson was also confined at the same place.
During the War of 1812 most of the Hingham vessels were hauled up in the town dock or at Broad Cove, excepting, how- ever, a few of the packets ; and some of these, it is said, had their masts and spars removed, and after being towed up Weymouth River, were boarded over and concealed in order to prevent their being seized by the British. The sloop "Washington " was launched when she was partly planked up, sufficiently so to float her, the owners fearing that she would be burnt by excursion parties from English ships then lying off Boston Light. At this time numerous depredations were committed by parties of the British ; one of them landed on Hog Island, in barges, and burned a barn full of hay ; and other property in the vicinity was destroyed.
There were several vessels belonging to Hingham captured and destroyed by the enemy during the war ; among them was the " Emily," commanded by Capt. Barnabas Lincoln, and in part owned by him. It was a sad sight for the old sailor, who at another time had his vessel taken by pirates, to see the fine ship, in which were the fruits of many years of toil, given to the flame and the sea. Captain Lincoln was well treated upon the English man-of-war, and was soon released and allowed to return home. The schooner " Sally," always called the " Old Bull " in Hingham, was also captured and burned by the English cruisers ; she was commanded by Capt. Samuel Stoddar. The crew were all married men excepting Martin Beal, and were released. Beal, being single, was taken to Dartmoor Prison, but through the influence of Dr. Gordon's wife, who came from the vicinity, was soon released.
Ebed Stoddar was in a Hingham vessel that was captured and burnt. He was taken to Halifax and confined in Dartmoor Prison, but escaped with others and took a small vessel to come home in. It is said that he was never heard from afterwards, and that the vessel was supposed to have foundered. Mr. Leavitt Sprague, however, is authority for the statement that Ebed Stod- dar afterward shipped on a privateer from New York and was never heard from.
June 11, 1814, the town was alarmed by messengers with the statement that the English ships lying off Cohasset were about to
335
Military History.
land a force and commit depredations on the town. The Hing- ham companies were hurried to the scene with the idea of repelling the intended invasion. Whether because of the preparations for defence or otherwise, the landing was not attempted, and the enemy soon withdrew. The companies, or at least a portion of them, were detained a number of days at Cohasset, however. Joseph J. Whiton was commissioned captain 16 August, 1813, and a roll of his company which marched to Cohasset and was on duty there the 11th and 12th of June. 1814, is now in posses- sion of Mr. Seth S. Hersey, and is as follows : -
Joseph J. Whiton. Captain,
Enoch Dunbar, Jr., Private, 66
Seth S. Hersey, Sergt.
Samuel Dunbar,
Isaiah Wilder, 66
Hawkes Hobart, Jr.,
Ezekiel Fearing, 66
Joshua Tower, 66
Bela Hobart, 66
Quincy Gardner, 66
Jacob Sprague, Musician,
Jesse Gardner,
Isaiah Tower,
Warren Gardner, 66
Josiah Gardner,
Hosea Gardner, 66
Hosea Dunbar,
Constant Gardner, 66
Charles Whiton, Private,
Mose's Tower,
Nathaniel Hersey, 6.
Reuben Simmons,
Stephen Gardner, Jr
Thomas Stockbridge,
66
Samuel Gardner, Jr. 66
Isaac Whiton, 66
Silvanus Whiton, 66
Hosea Cushing, Jr.,
66
Joseph Whiton, 66
Benjamin Wilder,
66
Theophilus Whiton,
Charles L. Smith.
Leavitt Tower, 66
Laban Wilder,
Thomas Humphrey,
Charles Gardner,
66
Jared Jernegan,
Hosea Whiton,
66
Anthony Gardner, 66
66
Daniel Whiton, Jr.
66
Daniel Dill,
John Titterton,
66
Josiah Chubbuck,
Israel Sprague,
Silas Chipman,
Henry Stoddard,
66
John Shute,
Lazarus Bowker,
Caleb Stoddard, Jr. 60
Bela Thayer,
Jeremiah Gardner, Jr.
Robert D. Gardner,
66
Warren Thayer,
60
Reuben Sprague, Jr., 64
Hosea Stoddard, 66
Luther Whiton,
Daniel Shute, Jr.
Isaiah Whiton,
Ebed Hobart,
At the time of the alarm Ned Cushing was adjutant of the Second Regiment ; he went into the Meeting-house during divine service, and gave public notice of the news from Cohasset.
Jairus Lincoln, probably a soldier at the battle of Bunker Hill, was generally known as " Old Rodney." He was impressed into the British navy, and was under the command of Admiral Rodney
336
History of Hingham.
when the fleet under that officer was engaged with the French fleet under the Count De Grasse.
When peace was at last declared the rejoicings in Hingham, as in New England generally, were most enthusiastic. Stephen Cushing came from Boston on horseback bringing the news. Mr. Royal Whiton used to tell of Mr. Samuel Simmons coming to his shop with a horse and sleigh, and of the two then riding through the town proclaiming the news. "We went to South Hingham, and all the way Mr. Simmons kept singing out at the top of his voice, 'Peace ! peace !' - he kept his voice going the whole dis- tance." There was a collation at Capt. Samuel Hobart's, the military paraded, the bells were rung, and in the evening bonfires were lighted on the hills and private dwellings illuminated. At some of the public-houses the celebration was of quite as marked, if different, character. It is said that Captain Hobart's House, especially, was the scene of a gathering composed of many of the leading wits and political lights of the town, and that the rejoic- ings, which were carried far into the night, were quite worthy of the great occasion.
For a time subsequent to the war little occurred of interest in local military circles. The Rifles maintained their existence as one of the crack companies of the day, and the standing companies continued for a considerable period the usual existence of militia organizations of the time.
The officers commissioned since 1812, excepting those already mentioned, were -
William Gordon : Surgeon Feb. 10, 1813.
Daniel Shute, 3d:
Surgeon's-Mate April 21, 1816.
Joseph Cushing:
Captain July 25, 1814.
Major . Feb. 16, 1818
Lieutenant-Col. March 28, 1818. Perez Lincoln:
Lieutenant . June 25, 1717
Captain . May 31, 1819.
Jacob Cushing, Jr .:
Ensign July 25, 1814.
Lieutenant March 5, 1818.
Captain March 22, 1820. Seth S. Hersey:
Lieutenant . May 16, 1814.
Captain March 5, 1818.
Blossom Sprague: Lieutenant March 21, 1816.
John Thaxter: Ensign June 25, 1816.
Lieutenant . May 31, 1819.
Samuel Fearing:
Ensign . March 5, 1818.
Lientenant March 22, 1820.
Captain . March 26, 1822.
James W. Sivret: Lieutenant June 29, 1820 Seth Cushing, Jr .: Ensign March 5, 1818. Cushing Leavitt: Ensign . May 2, 1820.
Joshua Tower: Ensign Sept. 25, 1820. Joseph Richardson: Chaplain . April 20, 1816. Henry Thaxter, Jr .: Paymaster . Nov 7, 1817. Jairus Sprague: Captain March 21, 1816.
Samuel Hobart: Captain . June 25, 1817. Seth S. Hersey : Captain March 5, 1818.
Adna Cushing : Captain . March 5, 1818.
Lazarus Bowker: Ensign May 16, 1814.
Lieutenant March 5, 1818 Captain June 29, 1820.
Laban Hersey, Jr. : Ensign March 21, 1816.
Captain April 12, 1820.
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Military History.
Lieutenant-Col. May 21, 1823. Colonel
Sept. 3, 1827.
John K. Corbett: Ensign April 15, 1830.
Charles Lane:
Lieutenant
May 2, 1820.
Lieutenant . June 19, 1832. Captain . Sept. 2, 1833.
Captain May 31, 1823.
Major . Sept. 3, 1827.
John Kingman:
Ensign May 31, 1819.
Captain May 7, 1822.
Ensign
May 13, 1823.
Marshall Lincoln :
Ensign
May 2, 1820.
Captain
Nov. 27, 1827.
Lieutenant May 31, 1823.
Anson Nickerson:
Henry Cushing :
Ěnsign . Oct. 13, 1821.
Quartermaster
April 12, 1822.
Joshua Humphrey :
Ensign May 7, 1821.
Ensign
May 21, 1827.
Lieutenant Sept. 13, 1822.
Lieutenant
. April 19, 1830.
Captain May 3, 1825.
Joshua D. Turner: Lieutenant . May 30, 1821.
Captain
. March 27, 1822.
Lieutenant
Aug. 29, 1825.
Enoch Lake:
Lieutenant March 26, 1822.
Captain
.
May 15, 1824.
Samuel W. Loring:
Lieutenant March 27, 1822.
Ensign Aug. 29, 1825.
Lieutenant July 2, 1827.
Benjamin Thomas, Jr. :
Ensign . April 20, 1826.
Charles Shute:
Captain
. Aug. 1, 1825.
Joshua Hersey, Jr .:
Ensign July 2, 1827.
Captain
. Oct. 18, 1830.
Samuel L Fearing:
Caleb Gill, Jr. :
Ensign . April 19, 1830.
Lieutenant April 15, 1820.
Captain June 19, 1832.
Alfred C. Hersey :
Lieutenant June 12, 1824.
Captain May 21, 1827.
Jacob A. Nichols :
Ensign May 3, 1831.
Captain
Aug. 1, 1825.
Lieutenant Dec. 25, 1833.
Robert T. P. Fiske:
Captain April 7, 1843.
Surgeon .
. Oct 1, 1827.
Captain April 17, 1844.
Benjamin Wilder:
Ensign ,May 29, 1822.
Lincoln Gould:
Ensign May 3, 1825.
David Cushing :
Isaac Waters : Lieutenant . June 24, 1828.
Lieutenant Nov. 27, 1827.
Luther J. Barnes :
Paymaster March 12, 1824.
Ensign Nov. 27, 1827.
Lieutenant
March 18, 1834.
Theophilus Cushing, 2d: Ensign Oct. 18, 1830.
Lieutenant . Feb. 7, 1831.
Captain March 13, 1834.
Joseph Jacobs :
Charles Lincoln : Ensign Sept. 13, 1822_
Lieutenant May 3, 1825.
James Stephenson, Jr .:
Lieutenant
April 20, 1826.
Ensign . March 1, 1826.
Lieutenant
May 21, 1827.
Captain
April 19, 1830.
Leavitt Lane, Jr .:
In 1833 the Washington Guards were formed and received a charter from the State. The Hingham " Gazette " of that and sub- sequent years contains numerous notices of meetings, some at Col. Laban Hersey's Hall, at West Hingham, and some at the Old Colony House, at which latter place they sometimes had dinners with speeches. Their first meeting with muskets appears to have been on Nov. 1, 1833. The meeting of December 13 was called at Wilder's Hall, situated in Wilder's Tavern, Lincoln Street. On December 25 the members were notified to meet at the Old Colony House to choose officers ; at this meeting Edward Cazneau was elected captain, Joseph Jacobs, lieutenant, and Charles W. Seymour, ensign. The uniform adopted was to consist of scarlet VOL. I .- 22
338
History of Hingham.
coats and white trousers, similar to that worn by the Boston Fusileers.
In June, 1834, the Quincy Light Infantry visited Hingham, and was received by the Guards at the town line and escorted to the Union Hotel, where the two companies dined. July 4, 1834, the ladies presented a flag to the company at Captain Cazneau's house, Miss Almira Seymour making the address. Afterwards there was a dinner at the Old Colony House, and it is recorded that twenty toasts were drunk. Oct. 9, 1834, the volunteer companies of the First Brigade First Division of the militia assembled at Milton, near the Roxbury House, for inspection and review. In addition to an artillery battalion, there were eight companies, including the Hingham Rifles and the Washington Guards, com- prising a regiment commanded by Colonel Spooner. At that time Captain Corbett commanded the Rifles and Captain Cazneau the Guards, between which organizations there was sharp rivalry. The account says they made a fine appearance. Both companies appear to have maintained their existence until the general dis- bandment in 1843, at which time they were attached to the Third Battalion of Light Infantry then or lately commanded by Colonel Seymour. Joseph Jacobs, however, received a second commission as Captain of the Guards, - then called Company G, - April 17, 1844, and he was not finally discharged until Feb. 12, 1846. The following are additional commissions issued, generally, after the formation of the Guards : -
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