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 16
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Few, if any towns, situated as Marlborough was, can boast of a more patriotic rally. And though their distance from the scene of action prevented them from joining in the skirmish of that day, their going to Cambridge to watch the motion of the enemy, and remaining there till a sufficient army was organized, shows their devotion to freedom's cause.
Nor was this all. Early in the same season, an army of eight months' men was organized. And though the rolls are defective, and full lists cannot now be obtained, the following officers and men from this town were in the service-most of them for eight months that season, and many of them, subse- quently, enlisted for three years :
Lt. Col. Edward Barnes, Capt. Paul Brigham,
Hezekiah Maynard,
William Rice,
Abraham Gould, Frederick Goodnow,
66 Daniel Barnes,
Joseph Miller,
Nehemiah Howe,
Amasa Cranston,
Paul Newton,
Elizur Holyoke,
Silas Gates,
Daniel Rice, John Rice,
John Kidder, Ephraim Simonds,
William Morse,
John Rice, Jr.
Obadiah Bruce,
David Wyman,
Daniel Robbins,
Simon Adams,
Peter Bent,
Oliver Russell,
Jeduthan Alexander, *
Jonathan Brigham,
John Sawin,
Stephen Allen,
Abraham Brigham,
Francis Walkup, Asa Witt,
William Boyd,
George Bender, Artemas Brigham,
John W. Woods,
John Baker,
Ephraim Barber,
Reuben Wyman,
James Bowers,
Jonas Darling,
John Wright,
Elihu Maynard,
Robert Eames,
Moses Robbins.
Obadiah Johnson,
Lieut. Moses Barnes,
James Ball,
* He was killed at Bunker Hill, where a portion of the Marlborough men were engaged. They were under the command of Lt. Col. Jonathan Ward and Maj. Edward Barnes, of Marlborough.
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Marlborough being on the borders of Worcester County, and being partly, at least, organized with towns in that County, the Worcester rolls contain many Marlborough men ; and from them the following list is gleaned :
William Brigham,
John Stow,
Samuel Gates,
John Barnes,
Quartus Stow,
Luke Howe,
Elisha Barnes,
Samuel Spofford,
Aaron Nurse,
Uriah Brigham,
David Sale,
Robert Horn,
Joel Babbett,
William Shield,
Samuel Kelley,
Silas Baker,
Robert Scott,
Jonathan Lamb,
Richard Bradford,
William Weeks,
Francis Morse,
Henry Brigham,
David Wait,
Samuel McNair,
Asa Barnes,
Asa Witt,
Pomeroy Grove,
Benjamin Bartlett,
John Wiggins,
Joseph Pulling,
Abraham Beaman,
Joseph Williams,
Gershom Rice,
George Brigham,
Joseph Waters, *
Abraham Howe,
David Hunter,
Joel Beaman,
Peter Stevenson,
Joel Hager,
Alexander Church,
Alexander Watson,
Edward Knapp,
John Dexter,
Thomas Williams,
William Loring,
Aaron Eames,
Fortunatus Wheeler,
Francis Measurve,
Jonathan Crosby,
Samuel Ward,
Joseph Newton,
Zerubbabel Eager,
Moses Williams,
Roger Phelps,
Matthias Felton,
Jonathan Wyman,
Ashbel Rice,
Samuel Hudson,
Samuel Wyman,
Joseph Robbins,
William Goodale,
Samuel Willard.
In 1777, the following men were drafted out of the Marl- borough companies of militia, to serve in the Continental army two months : John Sawin, James Bruce, Stephen Baker, James Hunter, Ebenezer Howe, Jacob Priest, Zelotus Whitcomb, Samuel Hunting, John Barnes, Ashbel Rice, Matthias Felton, Reuben Priest, Lovewell Brigham, Jonathan Wyman, Phinehas Rice, Jonas Smith, Eli Goodnow, Theophilus Hardy, Elizur Holyoke, John Fay, John Gott Brigham, Jason Harrington, Joseph Williams, Josiah Newton, Jonas Darling, Robert Eames, and John Harrington.
In 1778, Lt. Jonathan Weeks, Abner Dunton, David Hunter, Prentice Russell, Samuel Howe, Jr., John W. Woods, Aaron Eager, and Aaron Brigham, were in service three months.
* Waters was a Scotch Highlander, in the English service, and was sent over with others to reinforce Gen. Howe at Boston. The transport arrived after the British left Boston, and was captured. Waters came to Marlborough and enlisted into the American service, and served in almost every campaign during the war. He married in Marlborough, and after the peace made it his place of abode. He died at an advanced age, retaining, to the day of his death, the air of a soldier.
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There were various campaigns during the war, but the rolls are so confused, imperfect, and defective, that it is exceedingly difficult to classify the Marlborough men who served in them. Some were called out for short periods. The following men were in different campaigns or expeditions, though they are not perhaps arranged in the exact order of time in which they served :
At White Plains were Capt. Amasa Cranston, Edward Wil- kins, Abner Goodale, James Gleason, Josiah Wilkins, Robert Hunter, Silas Barnes, and Daniel Barnes.
Among the nine months' men are found the names of Silas Baker, Josiah Priest, Phinehas Moore, Abner Ward, Reuben Priest, Timothy Rand, and Joseph Johnson.
Capt. Moses Barnes was in the service two months, from first of May to first of July, 1779, and had under him, of Marl- borough men, Quartus Stow, David Brigham, Phinehas Brig- ham, Aaron Beaman, William Gates, and Nathan Rice.
Among the six months' men were
Elihu Maynard,
David Holloway,
Aaron Beaman,
David Sale,
Samuel Gates,
Abraham Stow,
Alexander Watson,
Aaron Brigham,
Joshua Bailey,
John Stow,
Joseph Robbins,
Joseph Waters,
William Weeks,
Asa Witt,
Joseph Newton,
Joseph Johnson,
David Brigham,
Roger Phelps,
David Wait,
Paul Brigham,
Zerubbabel Eager.
Stephen Baker,
There were in service in Rhode Island, the following men from Marlborough :
Jacob Brown,
Moses Eames,
David Wait,
William Dawson,
Paul Brigham,
Samuel Brigham,
Joseph Waters,
David Holloway,
Jonathan Goodnow,
Thomas Williams,
Moses Williams,
Silas Wilson,
Uriah Eager,
Winslow Stow,
William Rice,
Elihu Maynard, Morris Clary,
Lovewell Brigham,
Abraham Stow,
Silas Gates, Jr.
William Weeks,
Alexander Watson,
William Gates,
Tolman Howe,
Daniel Brigham,
John Gates,
Aaron Eager, Stephen Eager,
Roger Phelps, Asa Witt, Aaron Brigham,
Israel Brown,
Samuel Gates,
Israel Greenleaf,
Aaron Beaman, Joseph Robbins,
Stephen Brigham,
Putnam Phelps,
David Greenleaf,
Jonas Wilkins,
Jotham Bayley,
Abraham Priest.
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In the expedition to Claverack, in 1780, under Capt. Amasa Cranston, were
Alexander Watson,
Samuel Dunton, Silas Baker,
Ephraim Jewell,
Aaron Brigham,
Noah Beaman, Jr.
Nathan Rice,
William Goodale, John Dunn.
In the three months' service in 1780, there were
William Cory, Caleb Parker,
Adam Harrington,
Gardner Howe, Daniel Harrington,
Samuel Dunton,
Stephen Smith,
John Dunn,
Aaron Brigham,
Solomon Howe,
Joseph Templ?,
Noah Beaman,
Eber Keyes,
John Jennison,
Silas Stow.
But the most important list, because they were in the service longest, remains to be named. The following enlisted for three years, or during the war, and most of them served the full term, or till they were discharged. These men served a longer term than others, were subjected to greater hardships, and by the depreciation of the continental money received the least compensation for their service. Some of them were enrolled during the whole of the war, and fought upon almost every battle-field in the country. They generally received a small bounty on enlistment. The division .generally known was that of First Three Years' Men, and the Last Three Years' Men. The following, as far as has been ascertained, is a list of the First Three Years' Men-though it should be remembered that some of them enlisted " during the war."
Franeis Jones,
Isaac Procter,
Nathaniel Brown,
David Sale,
Samuel Russ, James Whitney, William Rice,
Ephraim Wilder,
David Wyman,
Reuben Wilder,
Jedediah Maynard,
Elisha Austin,
Samuel Gates, William H. Woods, Luke Howe,
Elias Morse,
John Maceanella,
Stephen Phelps,
Moses Williams,
Timothy Johnson,
John Baker,
Joseph Weeks,
Eli Howe,
Phinehas Morse,
Elias Witt,
Stephen Hudson,
Dana Newton,
Charles IIudson, *
Joseph Johnson, Jonathan Wiggins,
William Mercer,
Peter Little, Francis Soames,
* Charles Hudson was killed by our own mnen. He was out in a scouting party near the enemy, when fears were entertained for their safety, and another party was sent out for their protection. Night came on, and the last party hearing the approach of troops, and supposing them to be the enemy, secreted themselves, and on their near approach fired upon them, killing Charles Hudson and another of the first- named party, before they discovered their mistake.
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Joseph Miller,
Zerubbabel Eager,
Thomas Ridgeway,
David Harris,
John Dexter,
James Parker,
Josiah Priest,
Jonathan Dexter,
Dean Wyman,
Reuben Priest,
Nathan Pratt,
Andrew Kettle,
James Mahew,
John Rice,
Patrick Mahony,
David Hill,
Silas Sawin,
Peter Willard,
John Dunn,
William Walker,
Joseph Dawson,
Thomas Baker,
John Newton,
Robert Mansfield,
Alexander Crawford,
Levi Fletcher,
William Rice,
William Fosdick,
Job Spaulding,
John Johnson,
Abner Smith,
Samuel Ditson,
Samuel French,
John Cain,
Thomas Ditson,
Charles Benjean,
Jonathan Pollard,
Reuben Wyman,
John Denmark,
Enoch Kidder,
Thomas C. Ridgeway,
John Ansel,
Joseph Waters,
Josiah Bailey,
Jonathan Newton,
Jacob Groun,
Thomas Greenough,
John B. Torrey,
Jonah Newton,
James Edy,
Samuel Fletcher,
Joseph Newton,
John Gilliard,
Benjamin Roberts,
Samuel Little,
Silas Harthorn,
Prentice Russell.
Stephen Russell,
William Messer,
Among the Last Three Years' Men, are the following, sup- plied by Marlborough :
William Goodale,
Richard Wyman,
Silas Baker,
Ephraim Newton,
Abel Ray,
Edward Knapp,
Jonathan Crosby,
Aaron Brigham,
Robert Scott,
William Bigelow,
Job Spaulding,
William Shield,
Joseph Waters,
John Rice,
Samuel Wyman,
Peter Stevenson,
Joel Bartlett,
Samuel Willard,
Samuel Spofford,
Francis Menford,
Thomas Joslin,
Israel Greenleaf,
John Gates,
John Newton,
John Barnes,
Samuel McNair,
Stephen Phelps.
Benjamin Gould,
During the whole period of the Revolution, the town of Marlborough took an active part in the contest, and, like other towns at that period, strained every nerve to supply her quota of troops, and to bear her share of the burdens of the war. She had defined her position before the contest commenced, was represented in the first Provincial Congress by Peter Bent, Ed- ward Barnes, and George Brigham, and by Peter Bent in the second and third ; she had organized her Minute-Men, and had supplied her stock of arms and ammunition as best she could ; and during the war had furnished a pretty formidable list of men. But such aid as she had afforded, cost her a severe effort. In addition to the encouragement offered by the Government, the town, by bounties of her own, encouraged enlistments.
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In March, 1776, the town chose a committee of seven of their prominent men, " to devise ways and means for the manufac- turing of saltpetre in private families ; " as preparatory to the manufacture of gunpowder. At a meeting held May 28, 1776, the town voted, " That if the Honorable Continental Congress shall, for the safety of the United Colonies, declare them inde- pendent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, we, the inhabitants of Marlborough, will solemnly engage, with our lives and for- tunes, to support them in the measure." Not only the town of Marlborough, but almost every town in the Province, passed in a solemn manner upon this subject. It would create a smile, at this day, for a town of a few hundred inhabitants to pass upon vast questions of national concernment. But at that day, with the true democratic spirit, our public men desired to obtain the sense of these little municipalities. And well they might. For at that period the town meeting was the forum where all political questions were discussed. In fact, it was in these little democracies that the seeds of liberty were first sown. Here the people of New England, from the first, were in the habit of dis- cussing all questions, and passing upon every subject in which they felt an interest. The influence of such gatherings was so obvious, that the Crown attempted to prohibit them ; but the people persevered in holding them, and making them the arena of political discussion.
In 1776, the town voted " to give to every soldier that enlists to go to Canada, seven pounds as a bounty, or twelve pounds as a hire, exclusive of the Court's bounty, as the person that shall enlist shall choose."
In March, 1777, the town voted "to give each soldier that shall enlist to serve in the Continental army the term of three years, or during the war, for this town, the sum of forty pounds as soon as they shall pass muster." They also empowered the Treasurer to borrow, in behalf of the town, such a sum as should be necessary to pay the soldiers thus enlisted.
At a meeting, December 4, 1777, voted " to leave it with the Selectmen to supply the families of such non-commissioned officers and soldiers, as have engaged in the Continental army from this town."
In January, 1778, at a town meeting, "Heard the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the United States
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of America-empowered the Representatives to act and do as they shall judge most for the advantage of this and the United States, relative to that matter."
At a meeting held March, 1778, " Voted to provide 32 pairs of stockings, 16 pairs of shoes, 16 pairs of breeches, and 32 shirts for the soldiers ; and that the Selectmen provide them, and send them as soon as may be upon the town's cost."
At a meeting held May, 1778, to act upon the subject of a new Frame of Government, the record reads as follows: " After hearing the Constitution and Form of Government read, and Debates upon it-seventy-six voters present at the meeting- thirty-four were for approving and forty-two for disapproving of the Form of Government." So the town, as far as their vote was concerned, rejected the proposed Constitution ; and in this respect their voice was in harmony with that of the State.
Additional troops having been called for, the town, at a meet- ing held May, 1778,
" Voted, To give to each soldier that shall enlist before the 15th instant, to serve in the Continental army for the term of nine months, to do a turn for himself, thirty pounds as a bounty, and eight pounds per month wages for the time he shall serve in the army, over and above what the Continent gives."
" Voted, To give each soldier that shall enlist by the 15th instant, to serve in the militia and do duty at Peekskill, to do a turn for himself, twenty pounds as a bounty, and four pounds per month wages, over and above what the Continent and State give."
The meeting was then adjourned to the 15th instant, when it was found that the requisite number of men had not been obtained for the nine months' service ; whereupon it was
" Voted, To give to each of the above named soldiers that shall enlist before next Monday, at five o'clock, P. M., one hundred and sixty pounds to do a turn for the town, or if either of them choose to do a turn for them- selves, then the town shall give them forty pounds as a bounty, and ten pounds per month wages, if they shall enlist before five o'clock next Monday afternoon, to serve in the Continental army nine months.
" Voted, That the officers go to the Town Treasurer for the money to pay the soldiers for their bounty and lire, and that the Town Treasurer borrow the money upon the town's credit."
In order to understand the expression of 'doing a turn for themselves,' or for the town, it is necessary to know that such
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was the difficulty in obtaining soldiers, that they resorted to drafts, and in some towns a system of conscription was resorted to, as the only means of sustaining the army. The citizens were divided into classes, according to the valuation, and amount of taxes paid by the individuals. Each class was required to furnish a man, and provide for his wages and support. Each member contributed according to his property, and all delin- quents were returned to the Assessors, and the sum due was included in his next tax. When an individual did a turn of duty for himself, he was excused from payment and exempt from draft till all others had been called out. In Marlborough, however, they had recourse only to drafts, where the same rotation existed.
Numerous calls were made for troops, and it was found almost impossible to obtain them. Not, however, for the want of patriotism on the part of the men, so much as the want of ability in the Government to subsist and pay them. The town made a great effort to obtain her quota of men, by offering bounties in addition to the government pay ; but the deprecia- tion of the currency rendered the large bounties offered of but small valne. Consequently, it was found necessary to graduate the bounty upon something more stable than a constantly de- preciating paper currency. The following action of the town will show the expedients to which the public were driven. At a meeting held June 21, 1779, the record reads thins :
" Heard the Resolves of the Great and General Court of the 8th and 9th instant, for raising a reinforcement to the army.
" F'oted, To give each man that shall enlist, or his legal representative, if he should die in the service, forty shillings per month, to be paid in pro- duce of this country, in beef at twenty shillings per hundred, and Indian corn at three shillings per bushel, or as much money as shall purchase said produce, including their wages due from the Continent and State. The above to be paid at the expiration of their service-they producing a certifi- cate from the commanding officer, that they have been regularly discharged. And if the men do not turn out for the above encouragement in two days, then the officers draft according to the orders of the General Court ; and if any man is drafted, and will go, he shall be entitled to the forty shillings per month, as set forth above. Each man engaged for the above encourage- ment, is considered as doing his turn.
" Foted, That sixty pounds be advanced by the Town Treasurer to each man, before he marches, who engages in the Continental service for nine months, which is to be deducted at the final settlement.
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" J'oted, That the Treasurer be empowered to borrow the money for three months, on the credit of the town."
It would seem, by the face of the record, that ample provis- ion was made for filling up the army. A liberal bounty was offered, and the Treasurer was empowered to borrow the requi- site sum on the credit of the town. But the fact was, the towns at that day had little or no credit; and money was so scarce, that it could hardly be obtained on the most undoubted security. The scarcity of money enabled the sharpers who happened to hold it. to speculate upon the distress of the com- munity, and to extort almost any rate they chose for the use of their money. Nor was this grasping spirit confined to the money-holders. Those who produced, or held the necessa- ries of life, came in for their share of profits ; and so deranged was the whole system of prices, and so great were the abuses at that time, that the people demanded a reformation. Congress had suggested the propriety of some action on the subject, and in Massachusetts a Convention assembled at Concord, for the purpose of taking the whole subject into consideration, and establishing a system of prices at which the necessaries of life and other articles should be sold. Marlborough was repre- sented in that Convention by Col. Edward Barnes and Samuel Curtis, Esq.
This Convention met in July, and fixed a scale of prices for goods, wares, and merchandise, and also for articles of produce, and the wages of labor. They also proposed another Conven- tion, to meet in October, which reported more in detail. This report or plan, was adopted by the people of Marlborough, and a committee consisting of Capt. W. Brigham, Ithamar Brigham, Hezekiah Maynard, Dr. Curtis, Munning Sawin, Jonathan Temple, John Loring, Joseph Arnold, Peter Wood, Capt. Gates, Thaddeus Howe, Winslow Brigham, and William Boyd, was chosen to regulate the price of merchandise, produce, &c. &c.
This committee submitted their list of prices at the next meeting, which was adopted by the town. Unfortunately their report is not upon the records or files of Marlborough. From the files of another town in the county, however, we glean the . following, as the price of certain articles, &c., as agreed upon by the convention.
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West India rum, £6 9s. per gall. ; N. E. rum, £4 16s. per gall. ; coffee, 18s. per lb. ; molasses, £4 15s. per gall .; brown sugar from 10s. to 14s. per lb. ; Bohea tea, £5 16s. per lb. ; salt, £10 8s. per bushel.
Indian corn, £4 4s. per bushel; rye, £5 10s. per bush. ; wheat, £8 10s. per bush. ; beef, 5s. 2d. per lb. ; mutton, lamb and veal, 4s. per lb. ; butter, 12s. per lb. ; cheese, best quality, 6s. per lb. ; hay, 30s. per cwt. ; sheep's wool, 24s. per lb. ; flax, 12s. per lb.
Yard wide tow cloth, 24s. per yd. ; cotton do., 36s. per yd. ; men's shoes, £6 per pair ; women's do., £6. For weaving tow cloth, yard wide, 4s. ; cotton, 4s. 6d. ; and wool do., 6s. per yd.
Carpenters, per day's work, 60s. ; masons, do., 60s. ; common laborers, 48s. in summer.
Flip, W. I., per mug, 15s. ; flip, N. E., 12s .; toddy in proportion. Extra good dinner, 20s. ; common do., 12s. Best supper and breakfast, 15s .; com- mon do., 12s. Horse-keeping 24 hours, at hay, 15s .; grass, 10s.
This selection from a great variety of articles, will show their relative value ; and as a pound, or twenty shillings, was at that time worth about eleven pence in silver, the real value can easily be calculated. The people at this day would hardly be willing to work in the summer season for thirty-five cents per day, and pay for Bohea tea ninety-three cents per pound. The town subsequently chose a committee to carry the report into effect.
On the 22d of May, 1780, the Constitution and Frame of Government came before the town for its adoption or rejection, and it was adopted almost unanimously-75 to 7.
But the great subject which pressed most heavily upon the people, was the carrying on of the war. The term of the first three years' men had expired, and but few were disposed to re-enter the service. The Continental Congress called for large reinforcements to the army. Massachusetts, the first to com- mence the glorious struggle, held herself ready to supply her quota of men ; she called upon the towns, which were dis- posed to respond promptly. But their resources were nearly exhausted. Patriotic citizens were ready to enlist, if they could be clothed and fed and paid. But the credit of the State was impaired ; and the towns were almost on the eve of bank- ruptcy. Marlborough had, from time to time, empowered her Treasurer to borrow money ; but money could not be had in sufficient quantities to meet the drains upon the treasury. They called upon individual citizens to loan small sums, with a provision that the town security given would be taken in
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payment of their next tax. This gave a little temporary relief ; but it was only putting off the evil day.
In the mean time, new demands for men, and clothing, and provisions for the army were made. The town was called upon to supply its quota of three years' men. But the deplorable state of the currency was such, that the soldiers would not take it. As a class they had suffered more than any other, from the depreciation of the currency, and they were unwilling. to re- enlist. A large committee was chosen to procure the men, but they could not succeed. An effort was made to adopt a system of conscription, which had been authorized by the State, and adopted in some of the towns; but it was voted down. As the last resort, they repudiated the sinking currency, and adopted a growing one, as will be seen by the following vote.
" At a meeting held February 12, 1781, Voted, To give as a bounty to each man that shall engage in the Continental army, during the war, twenty steers three years old, or in lieu of each steer, fourteen hard dollars, and to be paid to the men that shall engage, one-third part at the time of their passing muster, and the other two-thirds, one-half in one year from the time they shall engage, and the other half in two years from the time they shall so engage.
" Also Voted, To give as a bounty to each man that shall engage in the Continental army for three years, twenty steers three years old, and to be paid to each man as follows : four steers at the time of his passing muster, and sixteen steers at the expiration of three years, unless sooner discharged ; and in that case to be paid in proportion. The above steers to be estimated at fifteen dollars each."
We can hardly realize the destitution of the people at that time in almost every means necessary to prosecute a war. Not only was there a great scarcity of money, the sinews of war, but of almost every thing that is needful to carry on a campaign. Blankets, so essential to the comfort and health of the soldier, could hardly be obtained in the country in quantities sufficient to supply the men. Camp-kettles were scarce, and difficult to be obtained. Powder, that all-important article in war, was so hard to be procured that it had to be used very sparingly ; and in some cases, battles were lost for the want of a supply. And even lead was so difficult to be obtained, that many articles of household convenience, such as plates, and porringers, and spoons, were melted up for bullets ; and those who had leaden
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