USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > History of the town of Middleboro, Massachusetts > Part 14
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John Doggett, a minor and resident of Middleboro, sympa-
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thized with his relative, Simeon Doggett, in the latter's political opinion, and left the country soon after coming of age. He moved to New Brunswick and settled on the Isle of Grand Menan, in the Bay of Fundy, where he died in 1830 at the age of seventy years.
Lemuel Ransome lived upon the farm recently occupied by Clark Bump. He was one of the few men in town against whose character no one was ever known to speak, and his influence was very great until it was known that he espoused the cause of the Crown. Although the feeling was so intense, the community never lost confidence in Mr. Ransome, and regarded him as one of the most upright and honest of citi- zens. He was known throughout the country as " the honest farmer," receiving that name from the following incident : At one season there was a great frost and heavy drought in some portion of the state, so that almost the entire crop of corn 1 was ruined and yielded but little more than had been originally planted. Mr. Ransome (probably on account of the peculiarity of the soil and the nearness of his farm to the neighboring ponds) was able to gather a large crop during that year. Speculators came to him, offering the highest prices for his corn, two or three dollars per bushel, but he would not sell. "This corn," he used to say, "belongs to the poor people of the town, and they shall have it at the ordinary price of fifty cents a bushel." Such unusual generosity won for him the love and respect of all. Elkanah Leonard said of him, " I have seen an honest man." This trait of character made him conscientious in his loyalty to England. This was his argument : "We must honor the king. Does not the Bible say we must honor him ? I cannot go contrary to the Bible." Part of a conversation has come down to us, in which he said to Mr. Doggett, " Does it not make you feel sad to see all our people rising against their king?" "I know not how it will end, but I tremble lest some great calamity should come
1 It was at this time that part of Scituate received the name Egypt, as corn could be obtained there, and men went long distances, as of old, " to buy corn in Egypt."
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upon the colonies for their treason against the royal Crown of England." He, as well as his neighbor, had been indicted for his public utterances, yet on September 2, 1779, the Com- mittee of Inspection petitioned the General Court that
The indictment against Lemuel Ransome, an inhabitant of Middleboro be stayed for the reason therein given, and that all proceedings in said indictment be and hereby are stayed until the further order of the court, and the Superior Court of Judicature be ordered to stay proceedings.
(Signed by) JOHN HANCOCK, Speaker.
Mr. Ransome lived to a good old age, and died respected by all. The attendance at his funeral was the largest Middleboro had ever seen.
At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, Captain William Canedy, an influential man in that part of the town now Lakeville, had served with distinction in the French and Indian War. When questioned concerning his loyalty, he re- plied that he had fought for his king, had held a commission as captain from his Majesty's governor of the province, and he could not be a traitor in his old age.
Stephen Richmond lived on Vernon Street, in the house now occupied by Daniel Aldrich. His temperament and dis- position were such that he had nothing of the position and esteem which the other loyalists received. He was known as the "d-d old tory." He died of smallpox in 1777, and was buried on the other side of a stone wall, opposite the grave of Mr. Paddock, the owner of the field positively refusing to allow such a man to be buried on his land.
One George Gye was committed to jail by the committee of safety of Middleboro, January 14, 1777. He was brought be- fore the committee and fairly examined, and
" Found to have been secretly moving about for several months past among the worst of our Tories who, we find, are all acquainted with him, and have received repeated visits from him, and that no other person but Tories have had the plea- sure to be acquainted with him and further we find him firmly
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engaged in his mind for government against our liberties and many other things that might be proved against him."
Upon a petition, the legislature paid the expenses of his being kept in jail. Soon after the battle of Lexington, the town took decisive action in its endeavor to suppress any influence which the loyalists might seek to exert in favor of the Crown.
At a town meeting held July 3, 1775, "Com. of Inspection reported that Silas Wood, William Strowbridge 2nd., Simeon Doggett, Josiah Vaughan, Thomas Paddock, Zebulon Leonard, Lemuel Ransom, Joseph Bates Jr., Jacob Bennett and Peter Vaughan, have not given satisfaction to them that they are friends to the Country.
" A Committee of five men were appointed to see what measures should be taken relative to these persons ; Adjourned for an hour and reported that said persons be confined to their own homes from the date hereof until such time as they shall make satisfaction to the town or Committee of Inspection excepting that on the Lord's Day they shall be allowed to attend public worship."
At a town meeting held July 17, 1775, the following vote was passed : "Voted that the Committee of Inspection go and inquire into the conduct of William Canedy and John Montgomery Jr. and if they don't give satisfaction to the said Committee of Inspection, that the town have ordered that the captains of each of the military companies are ordered to keep on the homestead farm and not go off until such time as they give the said committee satisfaction, unless it be to attend public worship at the society to which they belong, on the penalty of being carried to the camps at Roxbury and delivered up to some military officer."
At a town meeting held June 17, 1777, "the Selectmen reported the following persons as being enimically disposed toward the United States, Zebulon Leonard, William Strobridge, Lemuel Ransom, Simeon Doggett and Stephen Richmond.
"Each person being called on, the vote put whether they were enimically disposed passed in the affirmative at said meeting. Moved by Isaac Perkins and seconded by Joseph Leonard. Voted and seconded that Stephen Richmond is enimically disposed towards the United American States, the vote being called passed in the affirmative and his name was entered upon the selectmen list."
At a town meeting held July 28, 1777, " the following warned persons were re- ported as being enimically disposed toward the United States - Capt. William Canady, John Howland, John Montgomery Jr., Josiah Vaughan, James Keith, Thomas Paddock 2nd., and John Clark. Town examined and acquitted by vote John Howland, Josiah Vaughan, James Keith, Thomas Paddock 2nd, and Capt. William Canady and that the others be brought to trial by a court for that pur- pose."
At a town meeting held December 29, 1777, " Article in the Warrant, To see if the Town will approve or disapprove of measures taken in carrying Simeon Doggett & Lemuel Ransom out of Town.
" Voted not to act anything relative to this article."
CHAPTER X
MIDDLEBORO IN THE WAR OF 1812
T HE War of 1812 was not generally popular with the people of Massachusetts. They believed the causes which led to it might have been adjusted by diplo- macy, and the declaration of war was too hasty, the long extended coast of the state not being sufficiently pre- pared for defence.1 The non-intercourse law came to an end in 1810 without having produced any effect. France's attitude was such under Napoleon's deception that this law was revived against Great Britain. Her vessels watched the whole east- ern coast of the United States, and captured many American merchantmen. A conflict seemed unavoidable. With the new Congress, " submission men," who wished to avoid a struggle, were defeated, and "war men" elected, so that on June 18, 1812, war was declared. The British navy numbered one thou- sand vessels, the American twelve, inferior in tonnage and armament ; the army was poorly equipped and disciplined ; money was scarce, most of it being in New England. The government endeavored to raise money by loans, but with such poor success that at the end of the war there was hardly enough to arm, feed, and clothe the soldiers.
The principal theatre of the war was in the wilderness near Canada. In 1812 Detroit surrendered, and Canada was in- vaded with great loss. In the mean time the navy, which had not been expected to take a prominent part, won important victories, causing intense excitement. For twenty years Great Britain had been at war with almost every nation of Europe, and out of hundreds of battles between ships of equal force had lost but five. In six months the little American navy had
1 Bradford, History of Massachusetts, vol. ii, p. 174.
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captured five vessels, and had not lost a battle.1 The war- fare was carried on on the lakes, where both sides bought and built, to add to the power of their respective navies there. The Americans held their own on Lake Ontario, and won complete success on Lake Champlain, and in Perry's famous victory on Lake Erie, when he sent the official despatch, "We have met the enemy and they are ours, two ships, two tugs, one schooner and one sloop." The blockade of the Atlan- tic coast was enforced by British vessels from the beginning of 1813. Early that year they took possession of the mouth of Chesapeake Bay as a naval station, and the government then ordered all lights to be extinguished in neighboring light- houses. At first they were inclined to spare New England, which was supposed to be friendly to Great Britain, but it too suffered with the other places on the shore. The entire coast was kept in a state of alarm, as British boats landed at exposed points to burn and plunder the towns, and private property was seized everywhere in the general pillage. The coast of Massachusetts was especially exposed to the ravages of the ships of the enemy, and the people justly complained to the general government that it was left without protec- tion. This war destroyed the fishing industries of the state. Its extensive commerce was paralyzed, and all business was at a standstill.
While Middleboro had no shipping interests, the entire busi- ness of the town suffered. When war was declared, the people acquiesced in the action of the administration, and responded to the call for troops to defend the commonwealth. A gen- eral order 2 was issued by the governor on the 3d of July, 1812, requiring that all officers and soldiers enrolled in the militia of the commonwealth should hold themselves in readiness to march at the shortest notice, wherever their services might be needed; but few of the militia were called into active service at that time. The town early made suitable provision for her soldiers.
1 Johnston's History of United States, p. 182.
2 History of Plymouth County, p. 1006.
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At the town meeting held July 27, 1812, it was voted that "the detached soldiers of the town of Middleboro be allowed by said town in addition to their pay allowed by the government an amount sufficient to amount to the whole $13. a month whenever they are called by government into active service of the country."
Also voted that '" the non-commissioned officers have an additional sum in addition to their army pay allowed by said town which shall be in proportion to. the soldier."
Also voted that " the select men be directed to furnish a set of equipments for one soldier and if Rodolphus Barden, one of the detached soldiers be called into service of the country that the town turn out to him said equipments."
Many of the ship-owners of New England, upon the decla- ration of war, manned their ships and fitted them out as pri- vateers. These were active and troublesome to the enemy ; numerous battles were fought on both sides. Middleboro's part in the war was in the coast defence of neighboring towns. In the summer of 1814 the English ships, Superb and Nimrod, were hovering about the eastern shores of Massachusetts .. They had sent detachments of soldiers, who had inflicted great. damage at Scituate and Wareham 1 and were threatening an attack at Plymouth. A fort had been erected upon the Gurnet for the defence of Plymouth, Kingston, and Duxbury. Men from Middleboro were in Wareham at the time of the attack by the British soldiers in June, 1814, but only the name of. Joseph Le Baron has come down to us.
During this war the militia of Plymouth County were under one brigade, which was composed of four regiments of infantry, a battalion of artillery, and a battalion of cavalry, which were under the command of Major-General Goodwin. On the 27th day of May, 1814, General Nathaniel Goodwin issued the fol- lowing order :--
"It is absolutely and indespensably necessary at this time when our shores are daily invaded by the enemy that every man should do his duty and all concerned will be responsible for any neglect. Upon any alarm being made at the approach of the enemy on or near our shore Towns or Villages within the limits of the 5th Division, the officers and soldiers of the militia of said Towns and Villages will immediately repair to. their respective alarm posts completely equipt for actual ser-
1 Lossing, Pictorial Field-Book of War of 1812, p. 889.
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vice, and there wait for their orders from their superior officers, if timely to be obtained, but should the necessity of the case be such that it would not admit of delay in the opinion of the commanding officer present, he will march immediately with the troops to the place or places in danger ; and afford all the aid and assistance in his power and repel by force and arms all such hostile invaders. When so marched the commanding offi- cer will give information thereof to the nearest superior officer."
There is no record that any of the troops from Middleboro were in any engagement with the enemy during the war, but in response to this order from General Goodwin the companies were held in readiness. Three companies were sent to New Bedford under Major Levi Peirce.
At this time (June, 1814) New Bedford was blockaded by the Nimrod and La Hogue,1 which continually threatened to land troops for the devastation of the city and the surround- ing country. There was gathered in compliance with this order for the defence of New Bedford and Fair Haven about one thousand men. The people of New Bedford were strong federalists and opposed the war2 from the beginning, while those of Fair Haven were democrats and heartily endorsed the administration in its declaration of war and preparation for a vigorous assault on the enemy. They were glad to shel- ter the privateers and all other enemies of the British, and had built a fort on a strip of land at the entrance to their harbor. It was well fortified and guarded by Lieutenant Selleck Osborne. The enemy had planned an attack on the fort and the destruction of the village; everything was ready for the
1 Lossing, Pictorial Field-Book of War of 1812, p. 889.
2 "On July 21, 1814, the town of New Bedford voted unanimously as the ex- pressions of the feelings of the inhabitants of the town that we have considered it our duty to abstain and have scrupulously abstained from all interest and concern in sending out private armed vessels to harass the enemy and which have appeared to us an encouragement to prosecute and increase the ravages of the unprofita- ble contest; that we have seen with disapprobation several private armed vessels belonging to other ports taking shelter in our peaceful waters and regret that we have not the authority of law wholly to exclude them from our harbor where they serve to increase our danger, where they incite disorder and confusion." New Bedford Records.
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MIDDLEBORO IN THE WAR OF 1812
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Nimrod to commence the attack before daybreak. Just before that time the tin horn of a mail-carrier and the galloping of his horse across the Acushnet bridge and causeway were heard. This was mistaken for the advance of a large number of Ameri- can forces. The Nimrod hastened to withdraw to a safe dis- tance from the fort, and New Bedford and Fair Haven were spared what might have been a bloody battle. The known friendliness of New Bedford to the British cause did not save the inhabitants from the general alarm.
The names of the officers and soldiers of the three companies which Middleboro furnished were as follows : 1 __
CAPTAIN WILDER'S COMPANY
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Nath'l Wilder, Jr., capt.
Calvin Shaw, ensign
Linus Washburn, lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Joseph Haskell, sergt.
George Leonard, corp.
Isaac Stevens, sergt.
Abner Leonard, corp.
Sylvanus Warren, sergt.
Abner Leach, corp.
Benjamin White, sergt.
Stephen Burgess, corp.
MUSICIANS
Isaac Tinkham, drummer
Joshua Haskins, fifer
PRIVATES
Benjamin Hayford
Willis Sherman
Israel Keith
Sylvanus S. Wood
John Perkins
Ira Tinkham, Jr.
Daniel Snow
Peter Winslow, Jr.
Daniel Warren
Ichabod Wood (2d)
Jacob Bennett
Joseph Paddock
Jacob Stevens
Alby Wood John Barden
Andrew Warren
Nathan Reed
Cushman Vaughan
Benjamin Tinkham
Rodolphus Barden
Calvin Dunham
Lemuel Southworth
Ziba Eaton
William Southworth
1 For the list of men in these companies, see History of Plymouth Colony, p. 1008.
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Hosea Aldrich
Israel Eaton, Jr.
Thomas Washburn
Cyrus Nelson
Fran. K. Alden
George Caswell
Alfred Eaton
John Shaw, Jr.
Silas Hathaway
George Vaughan
Solomon Reed
Samuel Leonard
Elisha Shaw
Joshua Cushman
CAPTAIN CUSHMAN'S COMPANY
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Joseph Cushman, capt.
Ebenezer Vaughan, ensign
Pelham Atwood, lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Zenas Cushman, sergt.
Levi Tinkham, corp.
Nathan Barney, sergt.
Soule, Jr., corp.
Ezra Thomas, sergt.
Cyrus Tinkham, corp.
Joseph Barker, Jr., sergt.
S. Fuller, corp.
MUSICIANS
Geo. Thompson, drummer Samuel Bent, fifer
PRIVATES
Jacob Covington
Joseph Farmer
Caleb Tinkham
Isaac Briggs
Cyrus Ellis
Enoch Tinkham (2d)
James Thomas, Jr.
Bosworth
Joshua Sherman (2d)
Josiah Robertson
T. Wood
Joshua Shaw
Samuel Shaw
Merchant Shaw
Obed King (3d)
Cyrus Thrasher
Consider Fuller
Standish
George Cushman
Luther Washburn
Isaac Bryant (2d)
Edmund Hinds
Levi Bryant
Leonard Hinds
Darius Darling
Thomas Sampson
Zebadee Pratt
Amos Washburn
Timothy -
Lemuel Robbins
Thomas
Abram Skiff
Joshua Swift .
George Peirce
Ezra Eddy
Bennett Briggs
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CAPTAIN SHAW'S COMPANY COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Gaius Shaw, capt. Abiatha Briggs, ens.
Alden Miller, lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Warren Clark, sergt. Earl Alden, corp.
Jonathan Cobb, sergt. Caleb Washburn, Jr., corp.
Abiel P. Booth, sergt.
James Sturtevant, corp.
Japhet Le Baron, sergt.
Zenas Raymond, corp.
MUSICIANS
Joshua A. Bent, drummer Martin Keith, Jr., fifer
PRIVATES
Clothier Allen
Eli Peirce
Stephen Atwood
Eliphalet Peirce, Jr.
William Barrows
Elisha Peirce
Judson Briggs
Enos Parris
Malbone Briggs
Enos Peirce
Bumpus
Henry Pickens
Samuel Cole
William Nelson
Elnathan Coombs
Robert Rider, Jr.
Isaac Cushman (2d.)
Henry Strobridge
Daniel Gifford
Silas Shaw
Nathaniel G. Hathaway
Andrew Swift
Eliphalet Hathaway
Winslow Thomas
Samuel Hall
Thomas Wood
Branch Harlow
Lemuel Wood
Aberdeen Keith
Jonathan Westgate
Samuel Lovell
Jonathan Westgate, Jr.
Ziba Lebaron
Joshua Lebaron
Elijah Lewis
The company under command of Captain Shaw served until July 8, 1814; the companies under Captain Wilder and Cap- tain Cushman, until July 10, 1814. Captain Cushman received a ten days' leave of absence, which had not expired when the following order was issued : -
CAPT. NATHL. WILDER :
NEW BEDFORD, July, 1814.
Sir, - You will consider yourself discharged from the pre- sent detachment, together with the officers and soldiers recently
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under your command, and those officers and soldiers recently under the command of Capt. Joseph Cushman, whose absence from service had caused his officers and soldiers to do duty under your command.
You will accept my thanks and also those of Major Levi Peirce, and through you to the Officers and Soldiers under your command, for your and their good conduct and prompt atten- tion to orders.
BENJN. LINCOLN, Col.
Another order had been issued that regiments and battalions should be in readiness to march at the shortest notice to any point within the district. On the 17th day of September, 1814, a battalion of two companies was sent from Middleboro to re- enforce the coast guard, stationed at Plymouth. This battalion was under the command of Major Ephraim Ward, who after- wards became a brigadier-general, with Captain Peter H. Peirce in command of one company, and Captain Greenleaf Pratt the commander of the other.
The names of the officers and soldiers in Captain Peter H. Peirce's company are as follows : -
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Peter H. Peirce, capt. Orrin Tinkham, ensign
Luther Murdock, lieut.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Thomas Bump, sergt.
Daniel Hathaway, corp.
Hercules Richmond, sergt.
Abner Leonard, corp. Daniel Thomas, corp.
George Shaw, sergt.
Ezra Wood, sergt. Andrew Warren, corp.
Ichabod Wood, sergt.
MUSICIANS
Oliver Sharp
Paddock Tinkham
PRIVATES
Jeremiah Wood Levi Wood
Cyrenus Tinkham Gideon Leonard
Peter Vaughan
Thomas C. Ames
Unite Kinsley Levi Haskins
George Ellis
Cornelius Tinkham
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Joseph Clark
Samuel Cole
Edmund Ellis
Thomas Southworth
Eliphalet Doggett
Daniel Vaughan
Oliver L. Sears
Cushman Vaughan
Nathan Perkins
Sylvanus T. Wood
Josiah D. Burgess
Cyrus Nelson
Joseph Waterman
Augustus Bosworth
Isaac Thomas, Jr.
Lorenzo Wood
Joshua Atwood, Jr.
Jacob Bennett (2d)
Andrew McCully
Andrew Bump
Daniel Norcutt
Josephus Bump
Seth Weston
Nathan Reed
Abel Howard
Benijah Peirce
Benjamin Leonard
William Littlejohn, Jr.
Cyrus White
Warren Bump, Jr.
Benijah Wilder
Francis Billington
Levi Thomas (2d)
Joseph Standish
Calvin Dunham
Earl Bourne
Caleb Tinkham
George Caswell, Jr.
Abraham Thomas, Jr.
Israel Keith
Rufus Alden, Jr.
Sylvanus Vaughan
Daniel Weston
Leonard Southworth
Joseph Paddock
James Bump
Nathaniel Macomber
Elijah Shaw
William Ramsdell
James Cole
John C. Perkins
Rodolphus Barden
Edward Winslow, Jr.
Sylvanus Barrows
Isaac Cole
The regiment containing the Middleboro companies was under command of Colonel Lazelle, and troops from different sections of southeastern Massachusetts were hastening to the defence of Plymouth with all possible speed. The battalion in which were companies from this town was under command of Major Ward, but as they had not arrived or sent any word at the time they were expected, Colonel Hector Orr, one of the officers under Major-General Goodwin, was detailed to go out and ascertain the cause of the delay and hasten their approach to Plymouth. Colonel Orr met them in what was called the Bump neighborhood, which, at this time, did not have a good reputation, and found that they were marching in broken ranks without military order. The morning was wet and the roads
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muddy, and their guns and accoutrements had been taken into the baggage wagons accompanying the regiment. He noticed that the men had no guns, and, approaching Major Ward, asked, " Where are your men's guns?" He replied, " In the baggage wagon." The colonel exclaimed, " What have you got them in the baggage wagon for ? You are in more danger from the Bumps in this neighborhood than from any British that you will meet."
The names of the officers and soldiers under command of Captain Greenleaf Pratt are not known. The muster roll is not among the archives of the State House in Boston, and no copy of that roll is known to exist.
No attempt was made by the enemy to pass the fort at the Gurnet or to land their troops, and after several months the men were dismissed and returned to their homes.
On the 5th day of December, 1814, it was voted to make an addition to the pay allowed by the government to the soldiers who were called out by Major-General Goodwin for the defence of Plymouth : -
Voted " to allow the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers who were detached from the town of Middleboro for the town of Plymouth in September last an addition of wages together with what is allowed by the government of this commonwealth which will raise their wages to $15. per month."
It was many years before the town recovered from the great blow its business enterprises received during 1812 and 1814. Many of the inhabitants were employed in other towns, where they enlisted and served in the war, but their names can be ascertained only from tradition or genealogical records of vari- ous families.
A company was organized, a portion of which was from Middleboro and did service on the frontier of New York, but the names of the Middleboro men in that company are not known.
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