USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > History of the town of Middleboro, Massachusetts > Part 12
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John Holmes
Robert Wood
George
Jacob Wood
Joshua Howland
Samuel Wood
John Jones
David Shaw
Consider Jones
Thomas Shaw
Thomas Johnson
Andrew Warren
Jonathan Morse
Captain Abiel Peirce, who had been the captain of the sec- ond company of the militia, soon after raised a company for Colonel Nicholas Dike's regiment on duty near Boston. This was composed of men from Middleboro, Bridgewater, Ware- ham, and Abington, and served for one year.
The names of men enlisted from Middleboro were as follows : -
George Caswell
Samuel Thatcher
124
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1775
COMMISSIONED OFFICER Abiel Peirce, capt.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Josiah Harlow, sergt. James Peirce, corp.
PRIVATES
Joseph Booth
Nathan Peirce
William Bryant
John Redding
Ebenezer Borden
Joseph Richmond
James Bump
Benjamin Reynolds
Isaac Ballinton
Samuel Snow
Ichabod Cushman
Jacob Sherman
John Fry
Ichabod Wood
Nathan Hoskins
Andrew Warren
Jonathan Leonard
Abner Washburn
Timothy Leonard
Solomon Thomas
John Harlow
Japhet Le Baron
Although news travelled very slowly in those days, the sign- ing of the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July, 1776, seemed to spread throughout the country almost by magic. As soon as the report reached Boston, the bells were rung, and as the news was conveyed from town to town, it was received with joyful exultation.
Ichabod, a son of William Tupper, living several miles away, hearing what had taken place, got up in the middle of the night and hurried to his father's house. On reaching the house, he rapped at the win- dow and shouted, " Father, all the bells are ringing between here and Boston, and we are free! we are free !" The old man jumped out of his bed, rushed to the window, and, throwing it open, shouted at the top of his voice, " The angels will sing for joy !" This is but one instance of the great gratification with which this news was received by the patriots of Middleboro.
125
THE REVOLUTION
1776]
The moral gain of this position of independence was fol- lowed by military disaster. The colonists were defeated at Long Island, August 27, White Plains, October 28, but in December, after crossing the Delaware, Washington won the battles of Trenton and Princeton. In the summer and fall the Americans won the battles of Bennington and Stillwater, lead- ing to the surrender of Burgoyne, October 17, 1777.
In the south events were less fortunate; the defeats at Brandywine and Germantown were followed by a winter of suffering for the army at Valley Forge ; after the battles of Monmouth and Stony Point occurred three years filled with victories and disaster.
In the early part of the Revolutionary struggle Rhode Island 1 was a theatre of activity on the part of the patriot army against the British forces. Although no great battle was fought, there were continual skirmishes between the opposing parties, and the whole surrounding country was menaced by the forces of the enemy. This lasted for about three years after the commencement of the struggle. The minute men and the reorganized militia of Plymouth and Boston were often sent there for short terms of service, and these calls were known as the " Rhode Island Alarms." As Middleboro men took part in these frequent expeditions, it is necessary to follow this local aspect of the war more in detail.
Among these troops there were four companies from Mid- dleboro, which were enlisted some time during the year 1776. They were as follows : -
FIRST COMPANY OF INFANTRY
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Jonah Washburn, Ist lieut. James Smith, 2d lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Joseph Smith, sergt. Ebenezer Pratt, corp.
Francis Thompson, sergt. Benjamin Cobb, corp.
Caleb Bryant, sergt. Ebenezer Vaughan, corp.
1 Arnold, History of Rhode Island, vol. ii, p. 390.
I26
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1776
Isaac Thomas, sergt. Nathaniel Wood, corp. Jacob Thomas, sergt.
MUSICIANS
Sylvanus Raymond, drummer Francis Bent, fifer
PRIVATES
Samuel Smith
Robert Cushman
Ebenezer Cobb
Samuel Torrey
Jacob Thompson
Jonathan Porter
Silas Tinkham
Thomas Foster
William Thompson
Jesse Vaughan
John McFarlin
Sylvanus Harlow
Isaac Soule
Thomas Ellis
Nathan Darling
Charles Ellis, Jr.
Jacob Soule
Samuel Eddy, Jr.
Abiel Leach
Ebenezer Briggs
Ebenezer Bennett
Joseph Briggs
John Cobb
Daniel Ellis
Zenas Cushman
Willard Thomas
Luther Redding
Samuel Snow
Nathaniel Billington
John Redding
Samuel Raymond
James Tinkham
John Raymond
James Soule
John Soule
Elkanah Bennett
Ephraim Thomas
Solomon Thomas
Jacob Miller
Noah Thomas
Daniel Thomas
Ephraim Wood
Joseph Cushman
Benjamin Thomas
Job Thomas
Elisha Thomas
John Perkins
Cyrus Keith
Joseph Holmes
Thomas Bates
Edward Wood, Jr.
William Soule
Gideon Cobb
Charles Ellis
Nathan Cobb
Zachariah Paddock
Elisha Freeman
Isaac Thompson
Job Randall
Apollos Paddock
Elisha Cox
Joseph Ellis
Ichabod Cushman
THIRD COMPANY OF INFANTRY
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
William Tupper, capt. John Murdock, lieut.
.
I27
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Samuel Eaton, sergt.
Nathaniel Wilder, sergt.
Benjamin Leonard, sergt. Sylvanus Warren, sergt.
Abner Pratt, corp.
Joseph Leonard, corp. Peter Tinkham, corp.
PRIVATES
Theophilus Crocker
David Watson
Jesse Bryant Ebenezer Williams. Jr.
Joseph Bumpus
Zebedee Pratt
Perez Leonard
Joseph Burden
Elnathan Wood
Ebenezer Wood
Ziba Eaton
Joseph Leonard
Jabez Cushman
Joseph Bumpus
Zephaniah Morton
Samuel Reed
Micah Bryant
Joseph Bates
Lemuel Wood
William Cobb
Benjamin Darling
William Cushman
Benjamin White
Philip Leonard
Cornelius Ellis
Phineas Pratt
Jepthah Ripley
Ezra Tupper
Isaiah Washburn
Elisha Tinkham
FOURTH COMPANY OF INFANTRY
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Job Peirce, capt. Samuel Hoar, 2d lieut.
Josiah Smith, Ist lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Ebenezer Hinds, sergt.
Abraham Peirce, sergt.
Ezra Clark, sergt.
Enos Raymond. sergt.
Seth Ramsdell, corp.
MUSICIAN Roger Clark, drummer
PRIVATES
Henry Peirce Isaac Howland
John Allen Samuel Parris
THE REVOLUTION
1776]
Archipas Cole
I28
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1776
Enos Peirce
John Haskins
James Peirce
Joshua Caswell
Isaac Parris
William Canedy
Stephen Hathaway Moses Parris
Noble Canedy
John Hinds
Benjamin Reynolds
Braddock Hoar
Ephraim Reynolds
Abiel Chase
Lebbeus Simmons
Zebedee Boothe
John Boothe, Jr.
Eseck Howland
John Douglas
Seth Keen
FIFTH COMPANY OF INFANTRY
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Consider Benson, Ist lieut. Sylvanus Cobb, 2d lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
George Shaw, sergt. Benona Lucas, corp.
Phineas Thomas, sergt.
PRIVATES
Roland Benson
Seth Thomas
Asa Benson
Sylvanus Thomas
David Bates
James Raymond
Josiah Bryant
Stephen Russell
John Clark
Stephen Washburn
Japhet Le Baron
John Bennett
Elijah Le Baron
Ebenezer Cobb
Joseph Lovell
Samuel Hackett
Thomas Shaw
William Raymond
Eleazer Thomas
Mark Shaw
These last made eight military companies which had been formed in Middleboro in the latter part of the year 1776. They were organized into a regiment, of which Ebenezer Sproat was the colonel, Ebenezer White of Rochester, lieutenant-colonel, Israel Fearing of Wareham, senior major, and John Nelson of Middleboro, junior major. This regiment was, in December, 1776, ordered to assist in the temporary defence of Rhode Island. They were mostly young men, who had seen no ser-
George Peirce
I29
THE REVOLUTION
1776]
vice, were without military discipline and uniforms, and dressed in their ordinary citizen's clothes. They were armed with the king's arm, - one of which was found in almost every house in town, hung, as was the custom for years, over the fireplace in the kitchen, - a powder-horn, and a few bullets which had been moulded from the family bullet mould. They had no tents, but were obliged to find shelter at night in outbuildings or dwelling-houses on the line of march, or near their place of ren- dezvous. No provision was made for their supplies ; they depended largely on what they took with them, or what could be gathered from the country through which they marched. It was a matter of doubt whether they would receive anything for their services, but their patriotic spirit induced large num- bers of them to enlist for what had been demanded of them in and about Boston. Many of them were unwilling to take up arms for the defence of Rhode Island, and there was great reluctance on the part of many of the Middleboro men to respond to this order, as appears from the letter of Major Fearing to Colonel Ebenezer Sproat, the commander of the regiment, of which the following is a copy : -
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH REGIMENT, FOGLAND FERRY, 15th. of Dec., 1776.
SIR, -In consequence of your orders the Towns of Roches- ter and Wareham have mustered the whole of their military and marched them accordingly to the place required by you.
Being actuated by the most generous and noble motives, the said Towns are generally turned out to the assistance of their Sister State.
But to my surprise I find the several Companies from your Town officered in part, but almost entirely destitute of Soldiers.
One whole company have quitted their post without pay- ing any regard to the orders of Col. Cook, the commander here.
But what is still more surprising to me, I found myself obliged to take the command of the Regiment, which, consid- ering my abilities is arduous and disagreeable, and which I determine to avail of if you or Col. White do not appear to take the command of.
I 30
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1776
We are amazingly in want of men to guard this coast, therefore most seriously desire you to send your whole military force from Middleborough immediately.
I have wrote to Col. White to send the other part of the Regiment.
If any person hereafter return home without a furlow, I hope you will send them back to their duty.
Your humble Servant, etc., ISRAEL FEARING, Major.
Their term of service, however, was short, and the Middle- boro companies soon after returned home.
The calls for troops for the defence of Rhode Island seem to have been very frequent during the years 1776 and 1777. Captain Levi Rounseville of Freetown raised a company for the Ninth Regiment, which was designated as a part of the Massachusetts army, and the following officers and men were enlisted from Middleboro : -
COMMISSIONED OFFICER Henry Peirce, lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Joseph Macomber, sergt. Hilkiah Peirce, corp.
Job Hunt, sergt. Richard Peirce, corp.
David Trowant, sergt.
MUSICIAN Leonard Hinds, drummer
PRIVATES
William Armstrong
Anthony Fry Levi Simmons
Joseph Boothe
Ephraim Douglas Henry Evans
Nathan Trowant
The General Court had passed several laws 1 affecting the
1 The General Court ordered a tax of £100,000 in February, 1777, and of £240,000 in November. Bradford's History of Massachusetts, 1775-89, pp. 134, 152.
I3I
THE REVOLUTION
1776]
people of the state, and an act for raising a sufficient sum for carrying on the expenses of the war. Middleboro and some of the other towns sent in petitions and requests calling for the repeal of these acts. They in no way objected to providing for the necessary expenses of the war, and urged that every- thing should be done by the legislature for that purpose, but doubted the expediency of this measure. As a result of these petitions, the act was so changed and modified that its objectionable features no longer remained upon the statute books.
.
Following the capture of Burgoyne's army in New York in 1777, it was determined to drive the enemy from Rhode Island, and what was known as the secret expedition1 was organized in September of that year. This expedition, attended with great expense in the colonies, was in charge of General Spencer. A force of some nine thousand men was collected in Tiverton near the stone bridge (which at that time had not been built), and boats had been provided for ferrying the troops across the river. There were many hindrances which prevented the ad- vance, and the men became so disaffected by what appeared to them the unnecessary delay and shiftlessness on the part of the commander, that nearly one half of them withdrew and returned home. The plan of attack was again changed, and the remaining troops finally embarked in boats to cross the river and make attack upon the island. But no sooner had the troops boarded the transports than General Spencer countermanded the order.2 He suspected from the delay in the attack that the British had been apprised of his intentions, and seeing no opposition to his landing, he feared that if they allowed his troops to march into the country, they would then capture his whole army after having cut off their retreat and destroyed their boats. This afterwards proved true ; but great was the indignation of the patriot army because of the failure of this expedition, and General Spencer was summoned before a court of inquiry. He was afterwards acquitted, but was so offended
1 Bradford's History of Massachusetts, 1775-89, p. 143.
2 Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii, p. 80.
132
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1776
that he resigned the command, and General Sullivan was ap- pointed in his place. Thus ended the expedition which upon its organization had promised so much.1
There were two companies from Middleboro represented in this expedition. The one from Lakeville, enlisted December 9, 1776, by and under command of Captain Job Peirce, was as follows : -
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS 2
Job Peirce, capt.
Samuel Hoar, 2d lieut.
Josiah Smith, Ist lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Ebenezer Hinds, sergt.
Enos Raymond, sergt.
Ezra Clark, sergt. Seth Ramsdell, corp.
Abraham Peirce, sergt.
MUSICIAN Roger Clark, drummer
PRIVATES
Henry Peirce
Samuel Parris
Isaac Howland
John Hinds
Stephen Hatheway
John Haskins
Enos Peirce
Joshua Caswell
James Peirce
William Canedy
Isaac Parris
Noble Canedy
Abiel Chace
Benjamin Reynolds
Braddock Hoar
George Peirce
Moses Parris
Libeus Simmons
Zebedee Boothe
Ephraim Reynolds
Eseck Howland
Joseph Booth, Jr.
Seth Keen
John Douglas
John Allen
Captain William Tupper had a company, which had enlisted for six months' service in Rhode Island in May and June (1777). Their names were as follows : -
1 Arnold's History of Rhode Island, vol. ii, p. 408 ; Lossing's Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii, p. 80.
2 History of Plymouth County, Lakeville, p. 310.
1776]
THE REVOLUTION
I33
Joshua Wood
James Barrows
Francis Wood
Robert Cushman
Ezra Thomas
Homes Cushman
James Cobb
Zenas Leach
Sylvanus Raymond
Perez Cushman
Ephraim Wood (3d)
Elisha Thomas
William Wood
Thomas Bates
Peter Tinkham
Captain Henry Peirce had a company enlisted from Lakeville which served in Rhode Island in the campaign of 1777.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Henry Peirce, capt.
George Shaw, ensign.
Peter Hoar, lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Amasa Wood
William Halt
Daniel Ellis
James Le Baron
Joseph Wood
Nathaniel Cole.
Roland Leonard
Israel Eaton
George Hackett
Hazael Purrinton
PRIVATES
Churchill Thomas
Ebenezer Howland
Jeremiah Thomas
Josiah Kingman
Andrew Cobb
Jacob Perkins
Samuel Sampson
Luther Pratt
James Palmer
Seth Wade
Elijah Shaw David Fish Jacob Soule
Noah Haskell
Hazael Tinkham
Francis Le Baron
Jabez Vaughan
Asaph Churchill
Samuel Barrows
Samuel Thomas
Joseph Bennett
Nathaniel Thomas
John Morton John Morton (2d) Roland Smith
Edward Washburn William Bly Joseph Macumber
Rounseville Peirce
Lemuel Briggs Jonathan Westcott
Edmund Weston
Ephraim Dunham
Joseph Tupper Lemuel Lyon
Isaac Harlow
Nathaniel Cobb
Peter Thomas
Lemuel Raymond
Manasseh Wood
I 34
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1776
William Littlejohn
Andrew Ricket
Daniel Cox
Jonathan Porter
Thomas Pratt David Pratt
James Porter
James Sprout
Abiel Bothe
John Thresher
A large number of British remained 1 at Newport through the spring and summer of 1778. In addition to the troops already in the field, special calls were issued for the militia to assist in driving them out.2
To meet this emergency, Captain Perez Churchill enlisted a company whose service commenced August 25, 1778 : -
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Perez Churchill, capt.
James Weston, 2d lieut.
James Shaw, Ist lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Samuel Smith, sergt.
Stephen Clark, corp.
Samuel Nelson, sergt.
Luther Redding, corp.
Amos Wood, sergt.
John Holmes, corp.
Nathaniel Thompson, sergt.
PRIVATES
Eliab Alden
John Phinney
Abner Barrows
John Pratt
Isaac Bumpus
Jesse Nichols
Robert Barrows
James Raymond
Ebenezer Burdin
John Raymond
Ichabod Burdin
Electious Reynolds
Joseph Briggs
Jepthah Ripley
Barnabas Clark
James Soule
Elijah Dunham
Joseph Richmond
John Ellis
Ebenezer Thomas
John Ellis, Jr.
Caleb Thompson
Eliphalet Elms
David Weston
Benona Lucas
Perry Wood
John McFarlin
Ephraim Wood
John McCully
Robert Sturtevant
Nathaniel Macomber
Micah Bryant
1 Bradford's History of Massachusetts, 1775-89, p. 160.
2 Arnold, History of Rhode Island, vol. ii, p. 421.
I 35
In September, 1778, a British force landed in what is now New Bedford 1 and Fairhaven, burned buildings and ships, and threatened the destruction of the place, when among other forces sent to their relief from Lakeville was a company en- listed by Captain Amos Washburn : -
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Amos Washburn, capt.
Andrew McCully, 2d lieut
Elisha Haskell, Ist lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Samuel Nelson, sergt.
Abraham Shaw, sergt.
Job Townsend, sergt. James Pickens, corp.
Robert Strobridge, sergt. Josiah Jones, corp.
PRIVATES
John Townsend
Cryspus Shaw Thomas Wood
Job Howland
John Peirce
Thomas Pickens
John Blye
Alexander Pickens
Andrew Perkins
John Pickens
Henry Strobridge
William Pickens
Ebenezer Briggs
Andrew Pickens, Jr.
Thomas Nelson
William Strobridge
Roger Haskell
Hugh Montgomery
Zebulon Haskell
Solomon Dunham
David Lewis Silas Peirce
John Jones
Jonathan Phinney
Nathaniel Thompson
Benjamin Smith
John Sampson
Zephaniah Briggs
Samuel Pickens
Darling Shaw
Joseph Macomber
Andrew Cole
John Macomber
Noah Clark
Samuel Macomber
Nathan Peirce
Abner Townsend
John Blye, Jr.
Nathaniel Shaw
William Blye
In 1778 there were seven Middleboro men enlisted for eight months' service in Colonel Jacobs's regiment. Their names were : -
1 Arnold, History of Rhode Island, vol. ii, p. 431.
THE REVOLUTION
1778]
George Hackett
I 36
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1780
Robert Cushman Perez Cushman Homes Cushman Ezra Leach
Isaac Billington Timothy Cox Jonah Washburn, Jr.
In August, 1780, great was the alarm over a British fleet of sixteen ships laden with troops which appeared off Newport. The militia of the entire state of Rhode Island was called out to repel the threatened invasion. At the urgent request of General Heath, the militia from Connecticut and Massachu- setts came to the rescue. After this force had assembled, the hostile squadron suddenly disappeared, and the troops were dismissed to their homes. They had no sooner reached home than they were recalled by the unexpected reappearance of the enemy. Another week of the most intense excitement fol- lowed, and then again the English withdrew, and the troops so hastily gathered were finally dismissed. In this expedition Middleboro furnished four companies. The second company was commanded by Captain Abner Bourne.
THIRD COMPANY
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
William Tupper, capt. James Weston, 2d lieut. John Murdock, Ist lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Samuel Eaton, sergt. Peter Tinkham, corp.
Benjamin Leonard, sergt. Joseph Leonard, corp.
Abner Pratt, sergt. David Weston, corp.
Nathaniel Wilder, sergt.
Silas White, corp.
MUSICIANS
Joseph Barden, drummer.
Lemuel Bryant, fifer
PRIVATES
Joseph Bumpus (2d) Joseph Bumpus Jesse Bryant Archipus Cole
Robert Cushman William Cushman Zebadee Cushman
Joseph Darling
1780]
THE REVOLUTION
I 37
Eliphalet Elms Israel Eaton Robert Green
Joseph Richmond
Ezra Richmond
Joshua Reed
Jabez Green
Jepthah Ripley
John Heyford
Hushai Thomas
Joseph Jackson
Elisha Tinkham
Archipas Leonard
Joseph Tupper, Jr.
Perez Leonard
Israel Thomas
George Leonard
Levi Thomas
Samuel Leonard
Jabez Thomas
Joseph Leonard
Edward Thomas
Roland Leonard
Enoch Thomas
Ichabod Leonard
Daniel Tucker
Lemuel Lyon
Seth Tinkham
James Littlejohn
David Turner
Andrew Murdock
David Wilson
John Norcutt
Elnathan Wood
Ephraim Norcutt
Lemuel Wood
Samuel Pratt
Ephraim Wood
Zebadee Pratt
Ebenezer White
Ebenezer Richmond
Edmund Weston
George P. Richmond
FOURTH COMPANY
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Henry Peirce, capt. Ezra Clark, 2d lieut.
Peter Hoar, Ist lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Ebenezer Hinds, sergt.
Ebenezer Heyford, sergt.
Robert Hoar, sergt. Benjamin Boothe, corp.
Nathaniel Macomber, sergt. Henry Edminster, corp.
Joseph Boothe, sergt.
PRIVATES
Daniel Collins Roger Clark John Church
John Hoar John Holloway
Josiah Holloway
Samuel Parris
Ebenezer Howland Samuel Howland John Howland
Richard Parris
George Peirce
Joshua Howland Eseck Howland
Uriah Peirce
Ezra Reynolds
I 38
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1780
Electious Reynolds
Earl Sears
Benjamin Reynolds
Seth Simmons
John Reynolds
Lebbeus Simmons
Enos Reynolds
Isaac Sherman
Isaac Reynolds
Nathan Trowant
FIFTH COMPANY
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Perez Churchill, capt.
George Shaw, 2d lieut.
Consider Benson, Ist lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Daniel Smith, sergt.
Ezra Harris, corp.
Benona Lucas, sergt.
Japhet Le Baron, corp.
Joseph Thomas, sergt.
William Shaw, corp.
Perez Churchill, sergt.
Eleazer Thomas, Jr., corp.
MUSICIAN Josiah Thomas, drummer
PRIVATES
Benjamin Thomas
Solomon Thomas
Ichabod Benson
Hosea Washburn
James Le Baron, Jr.
Zeb Thomas
James Raymond
Nathan Muxom
William Churchill
William Holmes
Mark Shaw
Sylvanus Thomas
Barnabas Shurtliff
Isaac Morse
Joseph Bessie
Asa Barrows
David Bates
Isaac Benson
Seth Thomas
Samuel Thomas, Jr.
Zephaniah Thomas
George Howland
Joseph Lovell
Caleb Benson, Jr.
Nathaniel Shaw
James Raymond, Jr.
Abel Tinkham
Isaac Shaw
Nathan Burden
Samuel Hackett John Raymond
Ichabod Atwood
John Le Baron, Jr ..
Samuel Thomas
Robert Sturtevant
Nathan Thomas
Caleb Atwood
David Thomas
Stephen Washburn
I 39
THE REVOLUTION
1777]
In addition to these companies of local militia which were enlisted for a comparatively short term of service in and about Boston, New Bedford, and in Rhode Island, there were many others who were in the continental army for a much longer term than the militia, many for the entire war, whose names it is now impossible to give. We learn of them in following the various family genealogies. In 1777 there were one hundred and seven men from Middleboro in the continental army for three years or during the war, some of whom have been men- tioned in other chapters. At one time there were over sixty- four from the First Church absent in active service.
Captain Joshua Eddy 1 raised a company for three years from the adjoining towns for the regiment of which Gamaliel Brad- ford was colonel; their first service was on the Hudson to resist the progress of Burgoyne.
The final victory at Yorktown and Cornwallis's surrender brought the war to a close, and the final treaty of peace was signed at Paris, in 1783. Then followed the struggle for a union. The nation had no President, no money, a congress destitute of power. Well did Fiske call this the "Critical Period of American History." But the soldiers returned to their farms, and Middleboro soon settled into its regular routine of life.
The following memoranda are taken from the Eddy Note- Book : -
1777 Jan. 31 Gamaliel Bradford Esq. Colonel Baracciat Bassett Esq. Lt. Col. Samuel Tubbo Esq. Major
Joshua Eddy Capt. Cushman Ist. Lt ; David Peterson 2d. Lt Jonathan Haskell, Ensign Barnabas Bates of Wareham afterwards Lt.
J. Eddy Capt. Amt. of wages from Jan. 1777 to 258 lbs. Paid by the Continent 95 - 5 -0 ; by the state 162 - 15 - 0
COMPANY
Enlisted between Feb. and April 177- in obedience to an order of Council of Nov. 7, 1777 for the Continental service for 3 years or during the war (Bradford's Regt.)
1 For further service of Captain Eddy, see chapter on Eddyville.
140
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1780
Samuel Thacher of and for M-h. - ag. 19, - April 1, 1778 66
Ebenezer Raymond 66
3 yrs.
Simeon Prouty
Scituate ag. 30 - Feb. 23
Joseph Chamberlain Plimpton ag. 34 Feb. 21. 3 ys.
James Sampson Kingston Jan. 7, 1780 service to end
William Maxwell of Tisbury
for Rochester 17, Feb. 19. 3 yrs. or during war
Thomas Hackman of and for Plymouth - 21
3 yrs. or during war pd cost bounty
John Clark
Rochester
50 Jan. 15. 3 yrs. or during war
John Hyller
66
24
3 yrs. or
during war
Joseph Hatch
16
Samuel Green
66
6
William Conant
Wareham
ag. 31 May 9, 1777
Joseph Samdin
66
66
27
Jonathan Sanders
66
66
22
Salisbury Hichmond
66
16
66
Benjamin Swift 2d
66
19
Lt. Sturtevant
66
66
17
66
Nathaniel Sturtevant
17
Abel Suspason
Plymouth
Feb. 21
Warren
Middleborough April 28
Abner Morton
Plymouth ag. 18 Feb. 21, pd. cost bounty
John Tolman jr.
66 17 enlist Feb. 21
John Hosea
66
2I
66 $
Goodwin's Co.
Charles Anthony
Rochester 35 (of John Cottle's Co.) 3 yrs. for Pembroke ? 66 I8
Samuel Green Samuel Eddy
of Middleboro
June 10 to July 9 1777
for Bridgewater 17
I6
Moses Standish
Plympton
40
pd. the cost bounty
Joshua Prouty
Scituate
27
Pollipus Hammond
66
19
Able Suppossen
60
36
for Pembroke
Feb. 78.
James Newport
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