USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, with a genealogical register of Lexington families > Part 36
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Alexander MeDowell.
Isaac Trask.
Ebenezer Blodgett.
Thaddeus Call.
Boston Draper.
Jeremiah Harrington.
David Barnard.
Arthur McMullen.
Andrew Munroe.
John White.
Thomas Blodgett.
Thomas Perry.
Amos Locke, Jr.
Though the French were in a great measure subdued on the northern frontier, the treaty of peace not having been concluded, a considerable portion of the troops were retained in the field in 1762, particularly to watch the Indians. The following men from Lexington were in the service :
Ensign Abraham Scott.
Thomas Perry.
John Jarvis.
Joseph Mason.
Freeborn Hill.
Silas Merriam.
Israel Trask.
Thaddeus Pierce.
Thomas Call.
John Smith Robert Munroe.
Jeremiah Harrington.
Robert Herbert.
Stephen Munroc.
William Dix.
Josiah Munroe.
Jonas Perry.
Edmund Dix. John Godding. Thomas Godding.
Isaiah Trask.
John Wood.
Thomas Robbins.
%
381
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
The foregoing is an imperfect list of the men who served in the French and Indian wars from 1755 to 1763 ; and it reflects no discredit upon the town. Her Munroes, and Merriams, and Winships were found on every battle-field - at Louisburg, Quebec, Crown Point, Ticonderoga, Fort William-Henry, and wherever a foe was to be encountered, or a daring deed to be performed. Some of the Lexington men were attached to the famous corps known as "Rogers's Rangers,"- a corps in which Stark served his military apprenticeship ; - a corps whose name was expressive of the life they led-ranging through the wilderness, seeking their wary savage foe by day or by night, in silent glens, or secret ambush ; - a corps whose winter quarters were in tedious marchings amid drifted snows, frozen lakes, and ice-clad hills, -relying sometimes upon snow shoes, and some- times upon skates for locomotion, - and carrying their only arsenal and commissariat in their packs. In such a corps were some of the hardy sons of Lexington trained - they, knowing that their lives were in their own hands, and that their escape from the tomahawk and scalping knife, the tortures of the faggot, or ignominious slavery, depended entirely upon their own severe trials, perpetual watchings, and determined courage.
Edmund Munroe, of Lexington, was at one time attached to Rogers's Rangers, where he acted as an orderly sergeant, and also as adjutant of the regiment. In a small memorandum book, kept by him at Lake George, in August and September, 1758,1 there are some notices of the events of the day, and a few things of interest. Under date of August 28, 1758, is the following :
" The troops to fire a Rejoicing. - Firing this evening for the success of his Majesty's arms for the taking of Louisburg. The regiments to be under arms, and line the breastwork at six o'clock, -the firing to begin with twenty-one guns from the Royal Artillery, and then proceed from the right of the 27th Regiment round the line, and to finish with the left of Colonel Bagley's Regiment. This to be repeated till the whole have fired three rounds. The commanding officers of regiments to order a review of their men at twelve o'clock."
But it seems that the Rangers, a separate corps, were on that
1 This MS. was found among the papers of Edmund Munroe, Esq., of Boston, for the perusal of which I am indebted to Francis Brown, Esq.
382
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
joyful occasion to act another part. Under same date, we have the following :
" The Rangers to be under arms at six o'clock this evening, to illuminate the rejoicing for the success of his Majesty's army at Louisburg, at which time Major Rogers to give to his Ranging Companies, as a token of his dependence on their Loyalty and Bravery, a Barrell of Wine treat, to congratulate this good news to them, and the good behavior of the four Companies of Ran- gers at Louisburg, which has won to the corps a universal, national character."
In 1761, Edmund Munroe was promoted to a Lieutenancy, by Governor Barnard, and in March, 1762, he was commissioned as Adjutant of Colonel Richard Saltonstall's Regiment, and continued in the service till the peace of 1763.
The more recent war of the Revolution, and the great interest we had at stake in the late Rebellion, have thrown the French war in a great measure into the shade. Few people at the present time realize the toils, the sufferings, and the sacrifices made by the Colony at that time to sustain the cause, and strengthen the arm of the mother country, which was shortly after raised to crush the patriotic colonists. From 1755 to 1763, the Colony of Massachusetts performed an amount of military service almost unparalleled. Minot, the historian, says, that in the year 1757, one third part of the effective men in the Colony, were in some way or other in the field. The patriotic devotion of the Colony, and the zeal with which our brave soldiers served Great Britain, should have excited her gratitude, and induced her to respect our rights.
We have no full record of the military organization in Lexing- ton at the commencement of the Revolution. In 1770, the officers of the Lexington Company were Thaddeus Bowman, Captain ; Jonathan Smith, Lieutenant ; and Robert Harrington, Ensign. These officers probably considered themselves super- seded or discharged, after Governor Gage virtually abdicated government here by refusing to convene the Legislature. The organization of companies of minute-men by the order of the Provincial Congress in 1774, appears to have been entirely out- side of the old military organization. The Company which appeared on the Common in 1775, did not owe its organization
383
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
to any law of the Legislature ; and it is probable that Captain Parker and his subalterns had no commissions, except that of the vote of the Company, and the approbation of the Committee of Safety. This Company comprised the principal men of the place, and probably constituted the only actual organization in town at the time. John Parker was at that time forty-six years of age, and must have been a man who commanded the confi- dence of the people. There were in town at that period, Lieu- tenant Edmund Munroe, and Ensign Robert Munroe, both of whom had held commissions in the French War - besides twenty-five or thirty more who had seen service; and the fact that John Parker was selected to command that Company, and that these officers and soldiers were willing to volunteer and serve under him, shows that he was a man of more than ordinary character, and one to be trusted in any emergency. . And the result showed that this confidence was not misplaced. The important part acted by this Company on the 19th of April and subsequently, justly entitles them to a place in the historic page.
Roll of the Officers and Soldiers of Captain Parker's Company in 1775.
Captain John Parker.
Josiah Smith.
Lieutenant William Tidd.
William Smith.
Ensign Robert Munroe.
Samuel Smith.
Ensign Joseph Simonds.
David Smith.
Clerk Daniel Harrington.
Phinehas Smith.
Ord. Sergeant William Munroe.
Solomon Pierce.
Sergeant Francis Brown.
Benjamin Wellington.
Sergeant Ebenezer White.
Timothy Wellington.
Corporal Joel Viles.
Asahel Stearns.
Corporal Samuel Sanderson.
Thomas Winship.
Corporal John Munroe. Corporal Ebenezer Parker.
Thomas Robbins.
Nathaniel Farmer.
Amos Muzzey.
Samuel Winship. John Winship.
Jonathan Smith.
Joseph Robinson. Francis Bowman. Joseph Smith.
Benjamin Merriam.
Ebenezer Smith.
Nathaniel Mulliken.
Thaddeus Smith.
David Mason.
Abraham Smith.
Joseph Mason.
49
John Buckman.
Joseph Loring. Jonathan Loring.
John Raymond.
384
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
Elijah Sanderson.
Philemon Munroe.
George Munroe.
Solomon Brown. James Brown.
Jedidiah Munroe.
Thaddeus Harrington.
William Munroe, Jr.
Jonathan Harrington.
Nathan Munroe.
Jonathan Harrington, Jr. Thomas Fessenden.
John Chandler.
John Williams.
Jonas Parker.
William Merriam.
Dr. John Fiske.
Isaac Hastings.
Samuel Tidd.
Amos Marrett.
Samuel Hadley.
Thaddeus Reed.
Joshua Reed.
Thaddeus Parker.
John Tidd.
John Parkhurst.
Benjamin Tidd.
Thaddeus Muzzey.
Ebenezer Simonds.
Jonathan Harrington, 3d.
James Wyman.
Nathan Wyman.
Thomas Hadley.
Robert Reed.
William Grimes.
John Robbins.
Isaac Blodgett.
Asa Munroe.
Hammond Reed.
Jonas Stone.
Nathan Reed.
Abijah Child.
John Hosmer.
Joseph Bridge.
Abner Mead.
John Bridge.
Isaac Green.
William Reed.
John Harrington.
Josiah Reed. Isaac Muzzey.
Moses Harrington.
John Muzzey. Thomas Cutler.
Jeremiah Harrington.
John Brown.
Thomas Harrington.
Israel Porter. Joseph Comee.
Nathan Fessenden.
Asahel Porter.
Ebenezer Munroe.
Joseph Underwood.
Ebenezer Munroe, Jr.
Prince Estabrook.
Edmund Munroe.
Stephen Munroe.
Ebenezer Hadley. Eli Burdoo.
This Company not only served in the morning and in the afternoon of the memorable 19th of April, but on an alarm at Cambridge in May, and on the day of the battle of Bunker Hill in June, detachments from this Company, with the gallant Parker at their head, repaired promptly to the scene of action,
Benjamin Locke.
William Harrington.
Caleb Harrington.
John Munroe.
Joshna Simonds.
Amos Locke.
Benjamin Hadley.
John Chandler, Jr.
John Munroe, Jr.
385
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
and offered themselves for active service. The list of those who served on these occasions is given below.
Roll of a Detachment of Captain Parker's Company, called to Cam- bridge, and who served from May 6 to May 10, 1775.
Captain John Parker.
Jonas Parker.
Ensign Joseph Symonds.
James Brown.
Sergeant Ebenezer White.
Nathan Underwood.
Corporal Joel Viles.
William Munroe, 4th.
Corporal Ebenezer Parker.
Joseph Estabrooke.
Joseph Mason.
Moses Harrington.
John Munroe.
Walter Russell.
Samuel Bowman.
Joshua Reed, Jr. Isaac Greene.
William Smith.
Ebenezer Smith.
Benjamin Wellington.
John Chandler, Jr.
John Smith.
Ebenezer Munroe.
Elijah Sanderson.
Eli Burdoo.
Matthew Bridge.
Robert Reed.
Ebenezer Hadley.
Nathan Fessenden.
Nathan Munroe.
Moses Harrington, Jr.
Thomas Harrington.
Reuben Locke.
Phinehas Smith.
Jonathan Loring.
Joseph Underwood.
Thomas Harrington.
Isaac Hastings.
William Grimes.
William Reed.
John Munroe, Jr.
Simeon Swan.
John Harrington.
John Wellington.
Total-45.
Muster Roll of a part of Captain Parker's Company, who were called to Cambridge, June 17 and 18, 1775.
Captain John Parker.
Joshua Symonds. Joseph Locke, Jr.
Lieutenant John Bridge.
Lieutenant William Tidd. John Munroe.
Ensign Joseph Symonds.
Josiah Blodgett.
Sergeant Francis Brown.
Stephen Munroc.
Sergeant William Munroe. Sergeant Ebenezer White. Corporal Joel Viles.
Benjamin Tidd.
Reuben Reed.
Corporal Samuel Sanderson.
John Muzzy, Jr.
Corporal John Munroe.
Thaddeus Muzzy.
Corporal Ebenezer Parker.
Ebenezer Munroe.
Samuel Bowman.
Jonas Clark.
386
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
William Grimes.
Thaddeus Reed.
Solomon Pierce.
Timothy Smith. Samuel Tidd.
Jonathan Smith. Abraham Smith.
Francis Bowman.
Jonathan Loring.
John Smith. Joseph Loring, Jr.
Eli Burdoo. Joseph Underwood.
Ebenezer Hadley.
Nathan Bridge.
Jonathan Bridge.
William Munroe, 4th.
Benjamin Bowman.
George Adams.
John Chandler, Jr.
William Smith. John Harrington.
Nathan Munroc.
Joseph Smith. Isaac Hastings.
Edmund Munroe.
Phinehas Stearns.
Thomas Harrington.
William Reed, 3d.
Solomon Brown.
William Eustis.
Nathan Fessenden.
Ebenezer Munroe, Jr.
Samuel Smith.
Prince Estabrook.
John Tingel.
Total-61.
The imperfect Records of that day do not furnish us with a complete list of the Lexington men who served in the Revolution, or the length of time they were in the field. A large number of names are found on the rolls in the archives of the State, but it is impossible to make out a full list or a complete classification. The best list that we can obtain is the following.
A Committee, of which Benjamin Brown was Chairman, appointed for the purpose, submitted a Report to the Town, dated May 14, 1779, containing the names of the persons who served, the Campaigns in which the service was rendered, and the amount they were to receive.
Military Services rendered by the Inhabitants of Lexington in the War of the Revolution, from the first Campaign in 1775, to the close of 1778, exclusive of the three years' men.
FIRST CAMPAIGN OF EIGHT MONTHS, 1775.
£ 8.
Joseph Robinson,
5 0
£
s.
Captain Bowman, for his son
Benj. Stearns, for his son Asahel, 5 0 Abijah Child, or Micah Hager, 5
Lieutenant Jona. Smith, for his
0 Ebenezer, 5 0 Samuel Sanderson, for Isaac Durant, 5 · 0 son Daniel, 6 0 John Winship, 5 0
Timothy Wellington.
Nathan Reed.
Reuben Locke.
387
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
£
s.
£
Benjamin Wellington, or Ezekiel
Alline, .
. 19
0
Benjamin Estabrook, Guard. to
Asa Robinson,
. 19
0
Daniel Simonds,
. 19
0
Total,
£354 13
THIRD CAMPAIGN, FEBRUARY, 1775, Two MONTHS, TO CAMBRIDGE.
£
Captain Francis Brown,
1 10
0
Joseph Simonds,
1 10
0
John Muzzy,
1 10
0
John Simonds, .
1 10
0
Joel Viles,
.
Dea. Loring or son Jonathan,
.
1 10
Josiah Smith or son Josiah,
1 10
Rev. Mr. Clarke, for son Jonas, 1 10
Total,
£ 12 0)
FOURTH CAMPAIGN, JULY 1775, FIVE MONTHS, TO TICONDEROGA.
£ s.
Heirs of Lieutenant Edmund
Munroe, deceased,
9
0
Ebenezer Hadley,
9
0
0
Benj. Brown, for son Solomon,
9
Josiah Smith, Jr.,
9
0
Robert Reed, .
.
0
Captain Francis Brown,
9
0
Lieutenant Daniel Harrington,
for John Smith, 9
0
Hammond Reed,
9
0
Bezaleel Lawrence,
9
0
Amos Muzzy, .
9
0
John Simonds, .
9
0
0
·
Joseph Robinson,
. 19
0
Jesse Crosby,
9
Thomas Winship,
Guard. to
Samuel Munroe, 9
0
Benjamin Estabrook, 9
0
Elijah Sanderson,
9
Francis Brown,
9
0
Captain Bowman, for son Eben- ezer, 9 0
Benj. Wellington, Tim. Wellington,
furnish a
man, 9 0 Hubback, ·
·
. 19
0
Benj. Brown, for his son James, 5
0 Joseph Simonds, for Benjamin Hadley, .
5
0 Thomas Hadley, Jr. ·
5 0
Bezaleel Lawrence, for Isaac Green, . .
5
0
Bezaleel Lawrence, for Abner Mead, . . .
5 0
Benj. Estabrook, Guard. to Asa Robinson, 5
David Fisk, for his son David, 5
Abraham Merriam,
.
5
Amos Russell, .
.
5
John Peck, ·
5
0
Ezekiel Alline, .
.
5
0
Total, .
£ 98 0
SECOND CAMPAIGN OF TWELVE MONTHS TO NEW YORK.
£
S.
Sam'l Hastings, for son Samuel, 19 0 John Winship, . . 19 0
Lieutenant Thomas Fessenden, for Wm. Diamond, . 12 13
Benjamin Brown, for son James, 19 0 William Reed, for son Josiah, . 19 0 Joseph Simonds, for Benjamin
Hadley, . 19 0 Joshua Simonds, for Daniel
Bemis,
. 19
0
Abraham Merriam,
·
. 19
0
Joshua Reed, for Ezra Merriam, or his father, Abraham Mer- riam, . 19
0
Jeremiah Robinson, . 19 0 Saml. Sanderson, for Isaac Du-
rant, . 19 0
. Thomas Locke, . 19 0
Lieutenant Jona. Smith, for son Daniel, . · . 19 0
Benjamin Stearns, or his son
3
Benjamin Fiske, for Pauper, ·
0 Lieutenant Thomas Fessenden, for Wm. Diamond, 5
Ephraim Winship,
. 19
0
Nathan Reed, .
9
0
0
0 Joseph Underwood, -
9
1 10
388
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
£
S
£ s.
John Chandler, 9 ·
William Reed, .
.
9
0
John Muzzy, Jr.,
7 10
Daniel Russell,
.
9
0 John Bowman, .
7 10
0 Amos Marret, .
7 10
Jonas Stone paid his fine, . ·
Benjamin Locke, .
9
Total,
£ 225 0
FIFTH CAMPAIGN, TO TICONDEROGA.
£
S.
John Muzzy,
.
6
0
Thomas Fox, .
·
6
0
Ensign Robert Harrington, · 3
Total,
£ 15 9
SIXTH CAMPAIGN, JULY, 1776, FOUR MONTHS, TO DORCHESTER.
£
S.
Dr. Joseph Fiske, 3 10
Benjamin Tidd,
3 10
Benjamin Smith, Jr.,
3 10
Sampson Adams,
·
3 10
Total,
£ 14 00
SEVENTH CAMPAIGN, SEPTEMBER, 1776, TO WHITE PLAINS.
£
S
James Wyman, 5
0
Asa Munroe, . .
.
5
0
Joshua Reed,
.
·
5
0
William Reed, .
5 0
John Parkhurst,
Robert Moor,
.
5
0
Lieutenant Ebenezer White, 5
0
Benjamin Stearns,
.
5
0
William Tidd, .
·
5
0
Josiah Jenison, .
.
5
0
Benjamin Wellington, 5
0
Nathaniel Munroe, .
5
0
Matthew Bridge,
·
5 0
Total,
£ 65 0
EIGHTH CAMPAIGN, THREE MONTHS,
TO THE JERSIES.
£o s.
Captain John Bridge, 7 10
Sergeant John Williams, 7 10
Henry Harrington, Jr., . 3 15
9
0
Abijah Childs, .
7 10
0 Ebenezer Munroe,
7 10
William Smith,
3 15
Samuel Bridge,
7 10
Thomas Cutler,
7 10
Phinehas Stearns,
Thomas Robbins,
Moses Harrington,
Samuel Winship, 9
7 10
Thomas Robbins, Jr.,
.
3 15
Thaddeus Parker, . 7 10
William Munroe, deceased, 7 10
John Munroe,
3 15
John Tidd,
. 3 15
Total,
£ 129 8
NINTH CAMPAIGN, DECEMBER, 1776, THREE MONTHS TO BOSTON, AND ONE TO DORCHESTER.
£
8.
Ebenezer Smith, 2 .
0
Daniel Mason, .
.
2
0
Isaac Cutler,
2 13
Samuel Munroe,
2
0
Lieutenant Daniel Harrington, . 2
0
Levi Mead,
.
2 13
Marret Munroe,
2 14
Total,
£ 16
0
TENTH CAMPAIGN, APRIL, 1777, TO PROVIDENCE, Two MONTHS. £
S.
William Reed, .
4
0
Sergeant Moses Harrington,
4
0
Thomas Smith, . 4 0
Joseph Russell,
4
0
Henry Harrington, Jr.,
4
0
Nathaniel Fessenden,
4
0
Total,
£ 24
0
ELEVENTH
CAMPAIGN, TO BENNING-
TON, IN 1777.
£ 5.
Lieutenant Daniel Harrington, .
C
0
John Muzzy and others, a man, 9 0
Moses Reed,
.
9
0 Amos Loeke, ·
3 15
7 10
1 18
7 10
·
5 0
.
.
389
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
£ 5.
Philip Russell and others, a man, 9
0 Ensign Robert Harrington and others, a man,
9
0
Robert Moore and others, a man, 9
0
Thomas Winship and others, a man, 9
0 Joshua Simonds and others, a man,
9
0
Sergeant Solomon Pierce, . ·
9
0
Phinehas Stearns and others, a
man, .
9
0
Ebenezer Munroe and others, a
man, .
9
.
Benjamin Stearns, .
9
0
Amos Munroe and others, a man, 9
0
Samuel Bridge and others,
man,
9
0
Total,
£126 0
TWELFTH CAMPAIGN, TO TAKE BUR- GOYNE.
Lieutenant William Munroe, 4
0
Lieutenant Thomas Fessenden, . 4
0
Sergeant Benj. Wellington, 4
Phinehas Stearns, 4
0
Thaddeus Reed,
4
0
Jolın Chandler,
4 0
Matthew Bridge, 4 0
John Fiske,
4 0
Total,
£ 32 0
THIRTEENTH CAMPAIGN, DECEMBER, 1777, TO GUARD THIE LINES NEAR CAMBRIDGE, FIVE MONTHS.
£ s.
Abijah Harrington, . 4 10
Sergeant Timothy Wellington,
10
Samuel Smith, . 1 16
Samuel Bridge,
1 16 Total,
£35 0
SIXTEENTH CAMPAIGN, AT PROVIDENCE, SIX WEEKS, AUGUST, 1778.
Captain Francis Brown.
Corporal Silas Wood.
John Chandler. Samuel Pratt.
Sergernt Joseph Smith.
Corporal Henry Gould.
Sergeant Samuel Piper. Corporal James Cogswell.
Sergeant Samuel Brown.
Fifer John Edwards.
Jonathan Brooks.
Henry Harrington.
Corporal Nathan Brown.
Ebenezer Perkins.
£
S.
Daniel Smith, . 5
0
Isaac Hasting,
5 0
Hammond Reed,
.
5 0
Thomas Fox, ·
5
0
Nathaniel Reed,
5 0
Benjamin Tidd, 6
0
John Mulliken,
5
0
Sergeant Alpheus Bigelow. Peter Stearns.
£ 3.
0 Benjamin Fiske, 4 10
William Tidd and others, a man, 9 Jonathan Harrington, 4 10 Henry Harrington, Jr. 4 10
Prince Estabrook, 4 10
Josiah Mead, 4 10
Ebenezer Smith,
4 10
Total,
£39 12
FOURTEENTH CAMPAIGN, AT CAM- BRIDGE, THREE MONTHS, 1778.
3
Lieutenant Daniel Harrington, 3 10
0 Levi Harrington, 3 10
John Simonds, . 3 10
. Nathaniel Simonds, 3 10
William Munroe,
3 10
Joshua Reed, Jr. 3 10
Stephen Locke,
3 10
Amos Muzzy, .
3 10
Nathaniel Russell, John Smith,
3 10
3 10
Cally Newell, . 3 10
Joseph Loring, Jr. 3 10
Thomas Adams, 0
3 10
William Smith,
3 10
Total,
£49 00
FIFTEENTH CAMPAIGN AT PROVIDENCE, JUNE, 1778, SIX MONTHS.
.
William Wheeler.
Phinehas Hager.
.
390
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
James Holman.
Joseph Brooks.
Stephen Munroe.
Lot Conant.
John L. Davis.
Paris Michels.
Samuel Bond.
John Fiske.
William Richards.
Elijah Brown.
Nathan Fiske.
Reuben Ball.
Jeremiah Knowlton.
Amos Pierce.
Joseph Turner.
Thaddeus Winship.
Abner Matthews.
William S. Baker.
Simon Crosby.
Silas Livermore.
John Harris.
Timothy Killock.
Tilly Mead.
John Robbins.
James Billings.
T. Adams.
Simeon Heyward.
John Conant.
Josiah Jennison.
Thaddeus Bowker.
Josiah Reed.
Peter Jones.
Charles Flint.
John Barrett.
Henry Morgan.
Josiah Meak.
David Melvin.
Isaac Pierce.
Ebenezer Jones.
James Peacock.
Charles Shepard.
Nathan Buttrick.
James Heyward.
Joseph Stratton.
Isaac Cutter.
Amos Buttrick.
SEVENTEENTH CAMPAIGN, AT PROVIDENCE, SIX MONTHS.
Benjamin Brown.
Benjamin Danforth. Simon Winship.
Joseph Reed.
Jesse Crosby. John Tidd.
John Williams.
The following names are found upon the roll as Lexington men, and certified to by our Selectmen in 1782.
SIX MONTHS' MEN IN 1780.
William Dimond. Ezra Merriam.
Philip Davis.
Abraham Merriam.
James Robinson. Henry Harrington.
Joseph Merriam.
Silas Merriam.
Richard Winship.
Joseph Foot.
Cato Tuder.
Samuel Crafts.
Prince Estabrook.
There are other names, which we cannot, classify at all, nor tell at what time, or for what period they served.
Daniel Simonds. . Jonas Underwood.
Christopher Mann.
Silas Burdoo. Nathan Brown. Matthew Farrington.
Benjamin Sampson. Stephen Munroe. Nicholas Duren.
It will be seen, that in the foregoing lists, the same name in some cases appears more than once. This arises from the fact that the same person was out in different campaigns ; and if some of the names here given should be repeated in the following list of those who served in the Continental line, the same explanation will apply - they served in the militia either before or after their service in the regular army. But, after all, the lists are imper- feet, as many of the rolls are destroyed.
As far as the amounts for the service are carried out, we have followed the Report of the Committee; but as they stopped
MILITARY AFFAIRS. 391
short of the close of the war, and did not include those who were called out suddenly to meet an emergency, like Captain Brown's Company, which went to Rhode Island, we have inserted their names, and others which we found upon the rolls.
The following is the list of the three years' men, as far as we can collect them from the dilapidated rolls. Those whose names are marked with a star (*) enlisted in 1780, for three years, or during the war.
Men who enlisted in Lexington for three years, or during the war, and served in the Continental Line.
Captain Edmund Munroe.
Samuel Harrington .*
Lieutenant Ebenezer White.
Seth Reed .*
Ensign David Simonds.
Joseph Foote.
Nehemiah Estabrook .*
John Holden .*
David Fiske .*
Peter Brooks.
Samuel Crafts .*
Simeon Crosby.
Thaddeus Munroe .*
Thomas Clark.
Amos Russell .*
Philip Davis .*
George Munroe.
Benjamin Fiske.
Joseph Cox.
Jabez Frothingham.
Daniel Simonds.
John Farmer. William Grimes.
Ebenezer Hadly .*
James Fowle .*
Josiah Gennerson.
Thomas Hadly.
Josiah Gilbert.
Levi Mead .*
Samuel Hastings.
Pomp Blackman.
David Samson.
Jupiter Tree .*
Isaac Smith .*
Prince Estabrook .*
Ezra Merriam .*
Daniel Bemis.
Joseph Merriam.#
Joseph Barney.
Abraham Munroe.
Francis Chaffin.
Joseph Munroe.
William Crosby.
Cornelius Lennix.
David Evans .*
Abner Mead.
Benjamin Hadly.
Abraham Winship.
Titus Heywood.
Moses Mead.
Benjamin Pierce.
Micah Hager.
Nathan Gale .*
Asahel Stearns.
Nathan Smith .*
Thomas Locke.
Abraham Merriam .*
Asa Robinson.
Silas Merriam .*
Benjamin Samson.
Isaac Parker .*
Enoch Wellington.
Michael Neagles .* 50
James Webber.
-
392
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
William Diamond .*
Amos Marrit.
Pomp Fiske.
Robert Mead.
Francis Fullington .*
Elijah Sanderson.
Richard Winship .*
Solomon Brown.
Cato Tuder.
Jonathan Loring.
Henry Harrington .*
Jonathan Munroe .*
James Robinson .* James Wilson.
Thomas Blodgett.
Asa Munroe.
Ebenezer Bowman.
Abel Stearns.
William Locke.
Abraham Smith.
William Locke, Jr.
David Lanny.
Edmund Locke.
Samuel Pierce.
Ebenezer Robinson.
Francis Brown.
Joseph Frost .*
John Smith.
John Tingle .*
Ebenezer Munroe.
Abel Winship.
John Hosmer.
Isaac Durant.
David Clark.
Thomas Locke.
Samuel Ditson.
William Tidd.
Joseph Robinson.
Robert Fiske.
Thomas Hadly.
James Robinson .*
Thaddeus Harrington.
Several on the foregoing list are known to have been colored men, and some of them slaves - among whom are Samuel Crafts, Pomp Blackman, Jupiter Tree, Prince Estabrook, Pomp Fiske, Cato Tuder, John Tingle, and perhaps others. But notwithstanding the color of their skin, they were deemed worthy to fight side by side with white men to achieve our Independence. And it is due to our fathers to say, that when slaves enlisted into the service, they were generally permitted to take their freedom if they desired it.
It should also be remarked, that some of the foregoing list had served in the other and shorter campaigns, before entering the Continental Line ; and that some who are enrolled among the first three years' men, continued in the service by re-enlistment, though their names appear but once.
When we consider that Lexington was at the commencement of the Revolution a small town of only about seven hundred inhabitants, no one can pronounce her backward in supplying men to prosecute to success, a war which was so gloriously commenced within her borders.
Samuel Munroe.
393
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
And in addition to the men who were duly enrolled for the ' service, there was another voluntary organization, known as " the Alarm List," composed of those who were too infirm, too old or too young to be subject to military duty in the field. These men stood ready to turn out on any sudden emergency. Such organ- izations existed in almost every town throughout the Province, and in many cases included the clergymen of the parishes, who had not in those days embraced that sickly sentimentalism, that war in all cases was contrary to the Gospel, and could not inno- cently be resorted to under any circumstances - a doctrine which has received a stern rebuke by the late slaveholders' rebellion. Men of reflection have become satisfied that a nation, like an individual, is by the laws of nature - the laws of God, clothed with the right of self-preservation ; and when its existence is threatened, it is bound by a religious obligation to sustain its being at every hazard, and by all the fair means that God and nature have put in its power. War is to be dreaded, and prevented as far as practicable ; but like the amputating knife, is allowable to save the life of the body politic. And though war in itself is a great calamity, and leaves many evils in its train, the history of the world shows that some of the grandest steps in civilization have grown out of the wars which at the time were regarded as great calamities. The fact is, God is the God of nations as well as of individuals, and he punishes the one as well as the other for their sins. As the Amorites of old were driven out of Canaan for their iniquities, so nations at the present day often feel the chastening of the Almighty in conse- quence of their sins. Dealing with men as free moral agents, God bears long with them, but when they become hardened in their sins-when the measure of their iniquity is full, he permits the awful scourge of war to do its strange work.
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