USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1657 to 1861; with a brief sketch of the town of Northborough, a genealogy of the families in Marlborough to 1800 > Part 13
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In 1746, Daniel Warren and Nathaniel Eames were taken prisoners at Fort Massachusetts, in Berkshire County, and car- ried to Canada. Amasa Cranston was in the service the same year.
In 1748, Nathaniel Smith, John Cook, Elias Witt, Seth Hud- son, Gershom Newton, Samuel Grant, Abner Cranston, Abra- ham Ray, William Taint, Jotham Marble, Timothy Newton, Ebenezer Cranston, and John Brown were in the service.
In 1754, we are able to give the names of Abner Cranston, Abel Ray, William Hunt, Jonathan Marble, Timothy Newton, Ebenezer Cranston, and Seth Hudson.
In 1755, John Hudson, Samuel Grant, John Bruce, Silas Shadwick, Jacob Howe, John Size, Edmund Brigham, Roger Bruce, Levi Goodnow, Samuel Howe, Daniel Moody, and Na- thaniel Rugg were among the men engaged in their country's cause, who hailed from Marlborough.
In 1756, Gershom Newton, Samuel Grant, Abijah Berry, Stephen Cook, Nathaniel Smith, John Gold, Thomas Alexan- der, Aaron Mason, Benjamin Barrett, Phinehas Wilkins, Elias Witt, William Manning, and Darius Hudson are found upon the rolls. During the same year, Capt. William Williams was in the service at No. 4, with the following men, of Marlbo- rough.
Ens. Daniel Barnes,
Solomon Barnes,
Elisha Hudson,
Joseph Wheeler,
Samuel Hapgood,
Ebenezer Wright,
Jonathan Howe,
Hastings Warren, Jonas Newton,
Archelaus Felton,
Moses Dickinson,
Ebenezer Russell,
John Brown, Joseph Eager,
Daniel Ward, Jr.,
Benjamin Bruce,
Levi Howe,
William Ward.
The year 1757 was memorable for the fall of Fort William- Henry, and other operations at the Lakes, and a large number of troops of the Colony were called out. Several men from Marlborough were in the regular service at that time. Capt. Arbuthnott, who was in the fort at the time of its surrender, hailed from Marlborough. Zebadiah Bush, John Hudson, Jonathan Goodale, James Russell, Abner Cranston, David
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Crawford, John Gold, William Manning, Daniel Harrington, and Thomas Walcutt were in what might be denominated the regular service. Besides these men, two companies marched to the relief of Fort William-Henry ; one under the command of Capt. Samuel Howe, who was in service three months, and the other under the command of Lieut. Stephen Maynard.
Capt. Howe's Company consisted of the following men :-
Capt. Samuel Howe, Micajah Rice,
Lieut. Tho's Williams,
Lerry Lee,
Ens. Asa Hapgood,
Jonathan Partridge,
John Crawford,
Sergt. Edward Howe,
Moses Leonard, 3d,
Joseph Stone,
John Patterson,
Jotham Bellows,
Benjamin Yates,
Ebenezer Fletcher,
Clerk William Seaver,
Leonard Webb,
John Lebaracan,
Corp. Joseph Parminter, Silas Harthorn,
John Wilson,
66 Thomas Mason,
John Willis,
Josiah Farnsworth,
Robert Smith,
Jonathan Knight,
Seth Metcalf,
Benjamin Howe,
Benjamin Felton,
Joseph Robinson, John Henry, Cyrus Rice,
Richard Cheevers,
Peabody Howe,
William Caruth,
John Johnson,
Jacob Switcher,
John Hudson.
Josiah Childs,
Micah Rice,
The Company under Lieut. Maynard was composed of the following men :--
Lieut. Stephen Maynard, Timothy Baker,
Amaziah Knight,
Qr. Mas. Hezekiah Rice, Levi Goodnow,
Josiah Bruce,
Ephraim Brown, Jabez Rice,
Abiel Bush,
Ross Wyman,
William Stone,
Thomas Walkup,
Gideon Howe,
Abijah Gately,
John Parker,
Elisha Keyes,
Darius Hudson,
Ebenezer Harthorn,
Samuel Bigelow, John Butler,
John Brown,
Joshua Stone, Thaddeus Fay,
Charles Brooks,
Robert Baker,
Benjamin Taintor, James Eames,
Micah Newton, Joseph Grant,
Kendall Pearson,
John Shattuck,
Nathaniel Stone,
Josiah Winn,
Jesse Bush, Ebenezer Perry,
Daniel Bayley,
Samuel Witt,
Timothy Bigelow,
Ezra Howe,
Nathaniel Smith,
Solomon Barnard,
Pompey, a negro.
Clark Gibbs,
James Ilamilton,
Micah Harthorn,
Joseph Hall, James Millholland,
In 1758 and 1759, great efforts were made to raise a force sufficient for the reduction of Canada. In the absence of any correct records, we can only glean a few names ; nor is it easy, in many cases, to fix the year of the service, as some of the rolls
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contain no date but that of the final settlement of the pay-roll. The following names of Marlborough men are found upon the . rolls ; but as the name of the town is in very many cases omitted on the record, I have confined myself to names where the residence is expressly stated. and give the following list, which must fall much short of the true number.
Solomon Howe,
Samuel Grant,
Barnabas Matthews,
Joseph Goodale,
Abner Cranston,
Joseph Tainter,
Silas Brown,
Elijah Hudson,
John Parker,
Nathaniel Smith,
Matthew Laws,
Elias Witt,
Levi Goodnow,
Daniel Newton,
John Size,
David Goodnow,
Elisha Hudson,
Thomas Brooks,
Isaac Joslin,
Moses Hayden, Jolın Newton,
John Henry,
David Crawford,
Benjamin Rugg,
Thomas Joslin,
Robert Seaver,
Thomas Williams,
William Barnes,
David Boynton,
Lt. Joseph Chadwick.
John Verry,
David Cook,
Some of the above list were in service in 1760 and in 1762.
In 1760, Captain William Williams, of Marlborough, was ont with a company composed of men from several towns. Henry Haskell, of Lancaster, was his Lieutenant. 'The following were the men from Marlborough.
Samuel Barnes,
Jonas Newton,
Jonathan Howe,
Moses Dickinson,
Ebenezer Russell,
Archelans Felton,
Joseph Eager,
Hastings Warren,*
John Brown,
Elisha Hudson,
Daniel Barnes,
Benjamin Bruce,
Ebenezer Knight,
Joseph Witherbee,
Samuel Stanford.
It will be seen by the foregoing lists, that in some instances the same name appears several times. This arises from the fact that the individuals mentioned were in the service in differ- ent years, and sometimes in different campaigns the same year.
To some, this catalogue of names may appear dry and nnin- teresting. But it is due to the memory of our fathers, that their names and their services should be recorded, so that we, who are enjoying a rich inheritance, may know to whom we are indebted for these blessings, and may realize the awful price at which our liberties were purchased. It is also im- portant to show the spirit of the times, and the condition of the
Died in the service.
19
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community at that period, to know the number of men which were called from the quiet and safety of home, to encounter hardship, and to be exposed to the secret ambush, or " to jeop- ardize their lives in the high places of the field."
. In fact, " the old French war," as it was generally denomi- nated by our fathers, was a very important period in our colonial history ; and no narrative of our early towns would be perfect, which did not present these wars, in more or less detail. Their history at the time was written in blood, and that blood cries to nis from the ground, to show the bearing of their toils and suf- ferings upon our civil and religious institutions. It was a con- test between Protestant England and Catholic France for the possession of a vast territory in America, and so involved, in a good degree, the religious character of the country.
The bearing of the French war upon our civil institutions is equally apparent. England had already put forth the claim of authority to legislate for the Colonies " in all cases whatsoever; " and the Colonies, while they denied that right, had declared their willingness to defend his Majesty's possessions, to the utmost of their ability, both by their purses and their swords. This war showed the sincerity of their professions, and their ability to defend their own rights. These contests with the French and Indians taught them the art of war, developed a martial spirit, and so prepared them for the events which were before them. It is hardly saying too much to affirm, that but for the French and Indian wars, the Revolutionary struggle could not have been prosecuted to a successful termination.
In the plan of Him who "rules in the armies of heaven, and does his will among the inhabitants of the earth," these wars were links in the great chain of causes, which led us from a state of Colonial vassalage to that of National independence. The men who had defended their own country against the veteran troops of one European power, would feel confidence in their ability to defend it against the veteran troops of another. Those who had served under Pepperell, at the capture of Louis- burg, and under Abercrombie and Amherst, naturally supposed that their services would be appreciated, and their rights respect- ed by the Parliament they had served ; and their experience in the art of war, under these commanders, and under Putnam and Rogers, satisfied them, that if their rights were not respected
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by others, they could be vindicated by themselves. And the gallant conduct of the men at Lexington, and the bold stand at Bunker Hill, were the legitimate fruits of their past experience ; and the raw troops at the opening of the Revolution were em- boldened by the recollection of past events, and by the presence of those who had fought the battles of the mother country. The neglect and indignity with which the Colonial officers, who were generally the leading men in their respective towns, had been treated by the officers of the Crown, naturally created in their minds a strong aversion to British rule. So that, in various ways, the French wars were the harbingers of the Rev- olution, and the school in which our fathers learned the use of arms. Whoever, therefore, studies history in its principles, and considers results as growing out of their legitimate causes, will by no means overlook the " old Freuch wars."
CHAPTER VII.
THE CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
The Stamp Act - Measures of Defense - Non-importation and Non-consump- tion of Taxed Articles - Marlborough's Response to the Town of Boston - Instructions to their Representative in 1773 - Resolutions on the alarming state of Public Affairs - Covenant of Non-importation - Instructions to Representative - Increase of Ammunition - Organization of the Militia - Minute Men raised and drilled - Taxes to be paid to Provincial Treasurer - The Causes of the Revolution - The Tories - Henry Barnes, Esq. - He is visited by two British Officers - Dismission of Rev. Mr. Smith - Assault upon his House - Primitive Manners - Warning out of Town.
THE toils and suffering of the Colonists during the French wars, and the readiness with which they seconded all the plans of Parliament to extend the dominion of Great Britain in America ; the promptness with which they had acted in coun- cil, and the bravery they had displayed in the field ; the devo- tion they had manifested to the mother country, and the im- portant services they had rendered her, created a strong claim upon England to respect their rights. They had shown their readiness to expend their treasures freely, and to pour out their blood like water to defend his Majesty's possessions, and to acquire such further territory as would give security to these settlements ; and had thus showed themselves loyal, justly entitled to the rights and immunities of British subjects, and even the lasting gratitude of the Crown. But these lessons were lost upon the corrupt ministry which then reigned in England.
On the peace of 1763, instead of favoring the Colonies for their valuable services, Great Britain seems to have regarded this peace as a favorable opportunity to reduce the Colonies to a more perfect subjection to her arbitrary and despotic sway, by commencing her odious system of taxation. The first in the series of her oppressive measures, was the Stamp Act, which
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was passed in 1765. By this Act the people were required to purchase blanks for all notes, bonds, &c., bearing the Royal stamp, in order to give validity to those instruments. This tax, while it was a matter of but little consequence to the com- mon people, was quite severe upon men of business .*
This Act was virtually resisted and annulled by the people of the Colony ; and other odious impositions were about to be made. The Legislature of Massachusetts took the alarm, and in 1768 petitioned the Crown for a redress of grievances. 'They also addressed a circular to the other Colonies, requesting their co-operation in measures for redress. In all the movements in favor of liberty, the town of Boston, being the most oppressed, took the lead. They addressed letters to the other towns in the Province, asking their co-operation, and inviting them to send delegates to meet them for consultation.
In answer to their call, Marlborough responded favorably, as appears by the record. " The town came into the following vote, that it is their opinion that what the town of Boston has done respecting the present difficulties, is proper, and have accordingly chosen Mr. Samuel Witt to meet the committee of Boston, at the time and place named and proposed .- Marl- borough, September 19, 1768."
The oppressive acts of the British ministry drove the people to measures of self-defence, and among these measures were the non-importation and non-consumption of taxed articles. When this resolution was taken by the people of the Province, Boston, at which the hostile blow was principally aimed, in the true spirit of patriotic self-sacrifice, agreed to adhere to the recommendation of the people, and discontinued the importa- tion, sale or consumption of such articles. Other towns in the Province came into the same agreement. Marlborough spoke out plainly in support of freedom's cause ; nor did she spare her own citizens, who adhered to a traflic which was calculated to strengthen the hands of the oppressor, and reduce the people to a state of bondage.
At a meeting of the citizens of the town, held March 29, 1770, to act on the following article-" To see whether the
* By this Act, a ream of bail bonds, stamped, cost £100; a ream of common printed ones before had been sold for £15. A ream of stamped policies of in- surance cost £190; a ream of common ones, without stamps, £20.
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town will do any thing to strengthen the hands of the mer- chants in their non-importation agreement," John Warren was chosen Moderator, and Hezekiah Maynard, Peter Bent, and Robert Baker were elected a Committee, who, after due deliberation, submitted the following spirited and. patriotic Report ; which was adopted by the town, transmitted to the Boston Committee, and published in the Evening Post, a news- paper of the day.
" The Inhabitants of the Town of Marlborough, in the County of Middle- sex, being legally assembled in town meeting, and taking into consideration the deplorable and embarrassed state of America, the many distresses it lies under, the violent assaults that are made upon our invaluable rights and privileges, the unconstitutional and alarming attempts that are made by an aspiring, audacious, arbitrary power, to strip us of our liberties and all those glorious privileges, civil and sacred, which we, through the kind indulgence of Heaven, have long enjoyed, and to bring us into a state of Slavery under such Tyrants who have no bounds to their aspiring ambition, which leads them to the perpetration of the blackest crimes, even to the shedding the blood of innocents ; an instance of which we have very lately had in the horrid, detestable and sinful Massacre committed in the town of Boston ; and considering that our estates are not sufficient to satisfy the avarice of a growing arbitrary power, but that the lives of the harmless subjects must fall a sacrifice to the rage and fury of blood-thirsty and mercenary wretches.
" We think that notwithstanding the unsuccessfulness of the many con- stitutional methods which have been taken to regain to us the free and full enjoyment of our constitutional rights and privileges; yet it is now abso- lutely necessary to use our greatest efforts in a constitutional manner to recover our inherent rights, and preserve us from a state of Slavery and Misery ; and it so plainly appears that the Non-Importation Agreement, entered into by the truly patriotic Merchants in Boston and other places on the continent, so directly tends, with other methods that are taken, to the restoration of our liberties, which we have held so sacred and dear to us, which cost our predecessors an immense treasure to secure, not only to enjoy them themselves, but to hand them down to their posterity : we are astonished to find that a number are at this critical time so sordidly detached from the public interest, and are so selfish and impudent, as to stand out and not comply with the Non-Importation Agreement, or break the same when entered into, and remain obstinate and bid defiance to their country, when entreated by the Committee of Merchants in the most salutary manner to enter into and abide by the same; and as they continue to practice those things that tend to ruining and enslaving their country and posterity, we think it necessary and an incumbent duty on us, to pass the following votes, viz.
"1. Voted, That we highly approve of the noble and manly-spirited con- duet in those Merchants who have agreed (and firmly abide by the same) not
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to import goods from Great Britain, till the revenue acts are repealed, sac- rificing their own private interest to the public good.
"2. Toted, The thanks of this town to the town of Boston, for the noble, spirited resolutions and measures they have taken to promote the cause of Liberty.
"3. Voted, That we will, as far as lies in our power, in and by every constitutional way, encourage, strengthen, and support those Merchants and others, who have discovered such a patriotic spirit as by the Non-Importation Agreement, appears.
"4. Voted, That those who have not come into or do not abide by the Non-Importation Agreement, and those that buy goods of the importers, or purchase goods of those traders who have them of the present importers, are enemies to their country and posterity, and that they ought to be treated as such.
"5. Voted, That we ourselves, or by any from or under us, will not directly or indirectly purchase any goods of John Bernard, James and Patrick McMasters, William Jackson, John Mein, Nathaniel Rogers, The- ophilus Lillie, John Taylor, Anne and Elizabeth Cummings, all of Boston ; Israel Williams, Esq., and son, of Hatfield, and Henry Barnes, of Marlbo- rough aforesaid, (being importers,) until a general importation shall take place, or they come into the Non-Importation Agreement of the Merchants to their satisfaction.
"6. Resolved and Voted, That the names of those who purchase goods of the importers, or of those who buy of importers, shall be made public, as far as we have the knowledge of them."
At a subsequent meeting, Hezekiah Maynard, Peter Bent, Robert Baker, Alpheus Woods, and Moses Woods, were chosen a committee to see that the above votes were carried into effect.
As the controversy between Great Britain and the Colonies was the absorbing theme of the day, we might naturally expect that the inhabitants of Marlborough, who were alive to the spirit of liberty, would not content themselves with a single expression of their sentiments. They had suffered too severely in the Indian wars, and had sacrificed too much in defense of the Colonies, to be willing to yield all they had so dearly bought, to the demands of the British ministry. Consequently, we find them ready, at all suitable tines, to avow their attach- ment to the cause of civil and religious freedom, and their readiness to co-operate with their brethren in any measures calculated to promote the welfare of their country.
At a meeting held the 21st of December, 1772, Hezekiah Maynard. Alphens Woods, Edward Barnes, Jonas Morse, and
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Daniel Harrington, were chosen a committee to draft instruc- tions to their Representative, and also to correspond with the Committee of Correspondence of Boston. At an adjourned meeting, held January 1, 1773, the Committee submitted a somewhat detailed Report and Resolutions ; and although we may not be ready to endorse their grammar and rhetoric, we must admire the patriotism they manifest; and though the Report blends the Lord and the people of Boston in one period, contrary to the rules of composition, we believe, after all, that the latter were moved by the spirit of the former, so that they were not far out of the way even in their composition. At any rate, the Report and Resolutions show that they cared more for sound principles than for correct taste ; and that there are crises when patriotic feelings rise above the rules of rhetoric.
The Committee report as follows :
" That Slavery has something very shocking in its nature, and that death perhaps is more eligible than such a state ; and once the mournful tragedy is completed, and then to awake and have our eyes opened, would be intol- erable that it was once in our power to have prevented it.
" We desire, with the sincerest returns of gratitude to the Head of Influ- ences, to acknowledge His goodness in spiriting so great a part of our Metropolis to endeavor the recovering and maintaining, by all lawful means, our rights and privileges, both civil and sacred, which he has (notwithstand- ing our sins) favored us with, and do now return our thanks to you for the noble exertion lately made in the cause of liberty, and at the time hope you will persevere in all constitutional ways for the full recovering and main- taining the same, with an entire confidence on the Lord of Hosts, who has always supported the church and the people against their tyrannical and barbarous enemies, and who we hope will now appear for us, and in his own righteous way grant the salvation needed for his people, for which we hope glory will be given to him who is the Captain of our Salvation. So with all respect we are with you, true and loyal in common with Great Britain, the Constitution of which we desire in all lawful ways to maintain.
" Therefore do Resolve 1, That the inhabitants of this earth are naturally free, and while in a state of nature have a right to do themselves justice, when their rights are invaded.
" 2. Resolved, That mankind have a right and power to form themselves into society, make compacts, covenants, and just laws, so as to form a good and equitable rule of government.
"3. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this town that the British nation have enjoyed, perhaps, as complete a system of government as any nation whatever ; agreeable to and by which the king was as much bound as the people, and had no longer right by the constitution and his coronation oath to the Throne, than during the time of ruling according to the same ; and
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in extreme cases, when a prince breaks through and treads down the fun- damental laws of his country, and destroys the noble constitution thereof, and sets himself to destroy liberty and property, with the Holy Religion of God's covenanted people, and all that is near and dear unto them, and in- stead of supporting virtue and holiness, doing justice and loving mercy, and walking humbly with God, he grows haughty, unjust, and a tyrant, using his arbitrary power, introducing Popery and all manner of debauchery and wickedness, that free-born people are not required by the religion of Jesus Christ to submit themselves as slaves to such irreligious tyranny, but to preserve and defend themselves, and recover and support their laws and liberties, civil and religious ; and this must be admitted by all who approve that happy Revolution, brought about by the hand of Divine Providence, A. D. 1688.
" 4. Resolved, As the opinion of this town, that the whole British Empire is under very alarming circumstances, in that the constitution of the nation being in part broken over, the rights of the people invaded, great inroads made upon their liberty in an arbitrary manner, their freedom, property, and privileges, civil and religious, being wholly taken from them, notwithstanding all the constitutional remonstrances and petitions that have been made use of.
"5. Resolved, That the British Colonies in Ainerica, and this Province in particular, have a right to all the immunities, privileges and liberties granted to them by the royal charter and acts of Parliament.
" 6. Resolved, That the people of this Province have ever been a loyal people, and have never forfeited their charter rights by any disloyalty what- ever, and that they have good right to hold and enjoy their property and privileges ; and no power on earth has any just right to alienate them from their just owners, without the consent of themselves or representatives.
"7. Resolved, That the many acts of Parliament imposing in late years duties on this as well as the other Colonies, and the tolerating a Roman priest, and appointing papists to high places of trust in the British domin- ions, and also establishing the salaries of several of the first men of this Province, and also of the Judges of the Superior Court, and making them independent of the people, the great extension of admiralty jurisdiction, the quartering soldiers upon us in time of peace, the arbitrary demanding and the treacherous giving up of Castle William, our chief fortress, the shedding innocent blood, as in the horrid massacre in Boston, March 5, 1770, all of which is unconstitutional, and carries a bad aspect, &c.
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