USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Norton > History of the town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 1669 to 1859 > Part 34
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Second Lieutenant, Elijah Hodges ; Ensign, John King; Sergeants, Ephraim Hodges, Silas Cook, Israel Trow, Abiel Eddy ; Corporals, William Puffer, Hezekiah King; Privates, Elkanah Bishop, John Cook, William Dean, Record Franklin, David Fisher, Joseph Hart, David Hodges, Abraham Martin, Benjamin Morey, Soloman Trow, Ebenezer Titus, Nathan Wood, Benjamin Willis, Josiah White, Nathaniel Wood, Henry White.
John Hall, of Norton, was out in Capt. Burt's com- pany, of Milton.
In Capt. Job Williams's company, of Taunton, from Feb. 13 to Dec. 26, 1760, there were, belonging to Norton, -
Benjamin Briggs, Benjamin Cole, Jonas Caswell, Heze- kiah Drake, Jacob Grover, Joseph Mitchell, Stephen Ranger, Isaac Tucker, Henry White.4
In 1760 and 61, there enlisted, for the total reduc- tion of Canada, from Norton, -
1 Deserted.
2 Muster Rolls, 1758-60, p. 374. 3 Ibid. 1758-60, p. 379.
4 See Muster Rolls, 1760-1, pp. 244-6.
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Isaac Tucker, Jacob Hoor, Joseph Mitchell, Daniel Weth- erell, William Dean, jun., Henry White, jun., Jonathan Cas- well, Samuel Ranger, Obediah Brintnell, and Abiel Caswell.
The foregoing comprise all the names of soldiers I have been able to find, who were engaged in the French and Indian war. A more thorough search of the Mus- ter Rolls would undoubtedly have added some names to the list.1 It must be borne in mind, that Mansfield, during this war, had not been taken from Norton; and therefore some of these persons belonged in that part of the town.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
" Give me liberty, or give me death." -HENRY.
THE town of Norton took an active part in the struggle for liberty which commenced at Lexington and Concord on the 19th of April, 1775, and virtually ended with the surrender of Lord Cornwallis on the 19th of Oc- tober, 1781. Of the remote and proximate causes of the war, our limits forbid us to speak very particularly. We must content ourselves with referring only to those in reference to which our town took a part.
The Stamp Act of 1765 seems to have been the first in the series of tyrannical edicts that aroused the pub- lic indignation of our townsmen. This Act was to go into operation on the 1st of November, 1765. A town-meeting of the citizens of Norton was convened Oct. 21 " to see if the town will vote to give instruc-
1 Hon. Cromwell Leonard tells me, that his father, Jonathan Leonard, was out in this war; that he has heard his father say he was in Nova Scotia, in the army, the day he was twenty-one years old. If this is true, he was there April 17, 1759; he being twenty-one on that day. Without doubt, some of the Muster Rolls have been lost, and, with them, the names of some who served their country in the army.
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tions to the representatives relating to the important affairs of this Province ; " and the following address to the representative was adopted : -
"To George Leonard, Jun., Esqr.
"SIR, - In the present mallancholy situation of the pro- vince, while we groan under a most destresing load of public and private debts, as trade seems to be departing from the colonies ; and more especially as The time is at hand when the act called the stamp act, if carried Into execution, must give the finishing stroke to every thing that Is dear to us as men and Englishmen, - we think it a duty we owe ourselves and posteryty to comunicate to you our sentements ; That both you and wee may use our utmost endeavours to preserve Those Rights and priviledges that our forefathers purchased so Dearly, and transmitted to us for an unalianable Inheret- ance. undoutedly we are entitled to the priviledges and Imunities of Englishmen. we venture to assert, that we have Rights founded in Nature, confirmed by charters, and granted by the brittish constitution Itself. Every attempt, therefore, to divest us of them, must be looked upon as arbetrary and unconstitutional ; and ought to be opposed by all means that are warranted by the Laws of God, the Brittish constitution, an the common Rights of mankind. the stamp act, made and passed In the Brittish parliment, - where the coleneys have no Representatives, even without the hearing of any one Re- monstrance against it, out of the many decent and dutiful ones, that, at a vast Expence, ware presented, as we appre- hend, through a wicked misrepresentation of our circumstances, - subjects the Colinies to so great and disproportionate tax as they are unable to pay, and, if Insisted upon, must end in their final Ruin ; and also subjects us to the desposition (?) of a Judge of admiraltry in numerous enternal matters, without being allowed the Inestimable priviledge of a trial by a Jury. we therefore take the freedom to say, that we look upon This act as an Innovation at least; Replete with Inconveniences ; Ruinous not only to amarican Liberty, but, in its consequences, to the Brittish constitution itself, should so dangrous a pre- cedent be deemed constitutional. Therefore we cannot think It our duty to Instruct you to Joyn in any publick measures For assisting in the execution of the same; but, on the con- trary, expect that you use every method to prevent its being carried into execution, that is consistant with our allegience
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to the best of Kings. we likewise take the opertunity to express our detestation of mobs and all outragous proceed- ings ; being sensable That an unthinking, misguided mob is the worst of tirants, and monarchy the worst state of slavery. nevertheless, wee cannot Think ourselves any answarable for the damage that particular persons may have suffered in the Late disturbances ; and expect that you oppose every attempt to their being compensated out of the publick money ; that you oppose all unconstitutional and unaccustomed grants, and endavour the gratest frugality may be observed in all disposi- cion of the public monies whatever. we would further observe to you, that if any safe method can be found out to prevent the courts of Justice from being shut up, and The province plunged into all the destresses of an outlawry, and whereby the trade of the province may be yet upheld, we expect your prudence will drect you to embrace it."
It will be seen by this document, that the people of this town, almost a hundred years ago, did not believe in the doctrine, that we must submit to a wicked and unjust law. It was the bold and manly refusal of the Colonies to obey this unrighteous decree that caused its speedy repeal, and also inspired the great Lord Chatham, in the British Parliament, to say, "he re- joiced that the colonies had resisted, and he hoped they would resist to the last drop of their blood."
At a meeting, Dec. 2, 1766, the town voted to make up " the losses which several persons suffered in the late disturbance in Boston." Encroachments upon the rights and liberties of the Colonies, in one form and another, continued. Jan. 11, 1773, the town met " to act on the pitition or application of Israel Wood- ward and eleven others, of Norton. Sd. application is as follows : " -
" Sensable of the alarming situation of our publick affairs, in the many Incroachments made of late on our most valuable Rights and priviledges, and the several Infringements and violations of the just Rights of this province, which consearns Every town; furthermore, to take these matters into con- sideration, and persue such measures as may be thought Best on such an occasion, and to give such Instructions to our Representative as we shall then think proper."
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At the meeting, " it was put to vote, whether the In- croachments and Infringements, as mentioned in the warrant, be a grievance to us; and it passed in the af- firmative.
" Then chose a committee to consider and report, at the adjournment of this meeting, what is proper to be done."
Met again on the 18th inst., and chose William Cobb " a committee-man, in the room of the Hon. George Leonard, Esq. ; " and adjourned to March 15. Then accepted the report of the committee, and " voted that the Clerk of the town transmit a Copy of said Report to the Committee of Correspondence at Boston."
The letter sent to Boston reads thus : -
" GENTLEMEN, - In ansure to your Letter of the 20th of november Last, and with Reference to the pemphlet which accompanyed it, we beg leave to Say, that we think the gene- rality of your Sentiments are well Expressed with regard to our publick Rights, and the Infrengements of them. we Did not Receive them till we ware assured the General Court would Sett in a few days; and as it was our opinion that those Important matters not only most properly Came under their Consideration, but that their sentiments would be of much greater Influence, and tend much more to Convince our most gracious Sovering of the sentements of his Loyal Subjects in this province, than the Votes of Towns, we chose, therefore, to wait their Discussion of so Important a point. And, as two Branches of our Legislative have so Unanimously Concurd in your Sentements, it must give you and Every well-wisher to his Country a real Satisfaction, and, in some measure, foreclose any ansure to your request as to our Sentements : yett we Cannot forbare to Testifye our apprehensions of the danger Impending this province, and america in general; and we are so far from being easey and Contented under those Infringements, that we consider them as Saping the Verry foundation of our Constitution. we are senceble of the duty and Interest of our being firmly united in a Cause that so much Concerns our own and our posteritye's wellfare, and are desirous of Cherishing a spirit of patriotism, and to give all due incoragment to our metropolis ; and we take this opper- tunity to Express our obligations to the Town of Boston for
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their Spirited behavour from time to time in opposing the arbitrary measures of those whom we fear have a desire to inslave us. may the alwise Governer who Ruleth in the Kingdoms of men direct all those to whom is Committed the managment of our publick affairs, and grant them success in their Indeavours for the preservation of our most Valuable Civial and Religious rights and priviliges, so as that we may Transmit them to our posterity as they ware Transmitted to us, is the desire, gentlemen, of your friend and Servants in the Common Cause of our Country.
" THOMAS MOREY, WILLIAM HOMES, JOHN CRANE, WILLIAM COBB, GEORGE .MAKEPEACE,
Committee."
In the autumn of 1774, a Continental Congress, composed of deputies from eleven Colonies, met at Philadelphia, and agreed upon a declaration of rights, and recommended the non-importation of British goods into the Colonies until their grievances were redressed.
Jan. 16, 1775, the town "voted to adhear to the advise and Recommendations of the association of the Continental Congress." They also chose a committee "to see to the faithful performance of the Recom- mendations of the Continental Congress ; only the said Committee, or the major part of them, [should] not expose any person but by order of said town." The Committee of Correspondence and Inspection consisted of John King, Benjamin Morey, William Smith, Isaac Smith, and Israel Trow. March 6, added to this com- mittee, James Hodges, Noah Wiswall, Eleazer Walker, Elkanah Lane, Benjamin Pearson, David Lincoln, Isaac Hodges, and Eleazer Clap. It was then -
" Voted that the committee of Inspection be Directed to take particular notice of all persons that should sell any cind of provisions to any person or persons that they think is bying with a view to distress the Inhabitants of this pro- vince."
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Thus far all had been preparation, though no actual hostilities had commenced; but the ever-memorable 19th of April came, when the streets of Lexington and Concord drank up the first blood of the Revolution. The alarm quickly spread through the country. It reached Norton some time during the day; and, ere the morrow's sun had risen, Capt. Silas Cobb and Capt. Seth Gilbert, each with a detachment of men, were on their march to join with others in repelling the invasion. All of Capt. Cobb's company left home, April 19; and their term of service varied from four to ten days. It is proper that their names go down to posterity ; and we therefore record them : -
John Allen, second lieutenant ; Nathaniel Prior, sergeant ; Nathaniel Stone, corporal; John Hodges, corporal; Abner Tucker, drummer ; Abiel Hodges, Tisdale Hodges, Isaac Ha- radon, Abiel Lincoln, Jonathan Franklin, Noah Woodward, Josiah Woodward, Joseph Hodges, Abijah Fisher, Phillip Hor, Josiah Hodges, Samuel Hodges, David Hodges, pri- vates.1
The term of service of Capt. Gilbert's men was from four to twelve days. Where no figures are at- tached to the name, it will be understood that the individual left home April 19; those attached to a name denote the day of April he left.
George Makepeace, first lieutenant; Noah Wiswall, Seth Smith, Eleazar Clap, William Makepeace, sergeants ; David Clap, Jonathan Leonard (20), Samuel Hunt (27), corporals ; privates, Isaac Smith, John Hall, Seth Smith, jun., Jacob Shepard, Seth Shepard, Stephen Jennings, Noah Wiswall, jun., Jacob Shaw, Antha. Newland (21), Eben Wetherell (21), William Copeland, Noah Clap (20), Stephen Briggs, Phineas Briggs, Levi Babbit, Nathaniel White, Elisha Cobb, Edw. Kingman, John Cook (21), Joseph Newcomb (21), John Crane, jun. (22), Samuel Newcomb, 2d (27), Simeon Wetherell, 2d (26), William Clark (26), Solomon Wetherell, Timothy Briggs, 2d (20), Jona. Briggs, Elijah Briggs, Israel Trow, Seth Williams, Simeon Briggs, Elijah Danforth, Elea-
1 Lexington Alarm Rolls, vol. xi. p. 255.
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zer Walker, Samuel Copeland (20), Edw. Babbit, Reuben Tisdale (27), James Boldery, jun. (27), John Austin (27), Abijah Lincoln (27), John Newcomb (27), Samuel Godfrey (27), Joel Briggs (27), Nathan Babbit, 2d (27), William Cobb, jun. (26).1
The war was " now actually begun," and active pre- parations are made for the defence of the Colonies. May 8, 1775, the citizens " voted to bye teen guns and Bagonets for the use of said Town." At the adjourn- ment, May 22, -
" Voted to pay so many men as to make half the number of men in the Training-List, which are to be raised out of the Laram and Training Lists for minit men ; and to be paid for the time they shall be necessarily Detained in service upon any Emergancy, as much as the said town shall think proper."
We propose to give the names of the Nortonians who served each year of the war, so far as we have been able to ascertain them; and we do no more than justice to their patriotism by such a record. The following is the return of Capt. Silas Cobb's company, made Oct. 6, 1775. The men were enlisted for eight months. We are uncertain whether those marked with a (*) were out the full eight months or not. Those unmarked are known to have served the whole time for which they enlisted.
S
Officers. - Silas Cobb, captain ; Isaac Smith,* lieutenant ; Isaac Fisher, ensign.
Sergeants. - Edmund Hodges, Nathaniel Lane, Jonathan Hodges, Nathaniel White.
Corporals. - Jonathan Franklin, Richard Cobb, Stephen Jennings.
Drum and Fife. - Abner Tucker,* Jabez Briggs.
Privates. - Joshua Atherton, Jacob Allen, John Austin, Stephen Briggs, Phineas Briggs, James Boldery, John Bol- dery, Isaac Basset, Benjamin Braman, Levi Babbit, Elisha Cobb, John Capron, Abiel (?) Derby, Abner Derby, Abijah Fisher, John Hodges, David Hodges, John Hodges, 2d,
1 Alarm Roll, vol. xii. p. 111.
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Lanson (?) Hodges, Isaac Harridon, Stephen Kelly, Abiel Lincoln, Rufus Lincoln, Amos Martin, Joseph Pratt, Daniel Pratt, Joshua Pond, Oliver Smith, Abiathar Smith, Seth Smith, Nathan Shaw, Jacob Shaw, Abiathar Shaw, Abel Wetherel, Noah Wiswall.
In the return of Capt. Masa Williams's company, of Easton, made Oct. 6, 1775 (eight months' service), I find the following men from Norton : -
Officers. - Samuel Lane,* lieutenant; John Cook, ensign ; Samuel Copeland, sergeant; Benjamin Morey, corporal.
Privates. - James Newcomb, James Cook, Abiel Knapp, Robert Hagin, Edward Kingman, Amos Tucker, Moses Dow- ning, Jedediah Tucker, Zepheniah Newland, Isaac Morey, Daniel Morey, William Merry, John Newcomb, Acors Hewitt.
Capt. Josiah King, of Norton, was also in the eight months' service in 1775. In his company were the following men from Norton : -
Thomas Bass,* Josiah King, Comfort Eddy, Josiah Smith, Benjamin Tucker.
There were also out in three different companies, in the eight months' service, the following persons from Norton : -
Peletiah Day, David Balcom, Jonathan Pidge, Israel Smith, Samuel Newcomb.
Elijah Eddy, of this town, was in Peter Pitt's com- pany, of Dighton, three months and six days during this year ; and Nathan Morey was chaplain of Timothy Walker's regiment.
" Sept. 18, 1775, voted to Eleazar Clap, which he paid for mending a gun for the town's use, £0. 3s. 6d .; also to the same, for carrying blankets to the army for said town's use, £0. 2s .; also to the same,1 for thirty- two days' service at the Provincial Congress, £4.4s. 4d .;
1 Mr. Clap represented Norton and Mansfield in the first Provincial Congress.
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also to Capt. William Homes,1 for one hundred days' attendance at said Congress, £12. 18s."
In 1776, the Committee of Correspondence, Inspec- tion, &c., were William Homes, Andrew Hodges, David Lincoln, John Hall, Noah Woodward, Eleazer Clap, and Israel Trow. The question, whether the Colonies should declare themselves independent of Great Britain, was agitated in Congress in the spring of 1776. It was thought best to feel the pulse of the community a little before proceeding to extreme measures.
The freeholders and other inhabitants of Norton were warned to assemble on the 24th of May,2 among other things, " to know their minds whether they will, in conformity to a resolve of the late Honr. House of Representatives for this colony, advise their Repre- sentative, that, if the Honor. Continental Congress should, for the safety of the United Colonies, Declare them Independent of Great Britain, that they, the said Inhabitants, will solemnly engage, with their lives and fortunes, to support them in the measure." And it was " voted, if the Honor. Continental Congress should think proper to declare the United Colonies Independ- ant of Great Britain, that they will support them with their lives and fortunes."
This was no unmeaning flourish of trumpets, as all will be abundantly satisfied when the whole transac- tions of the town relative to the war are recorded.'
During 1776, the following men were from Norton, in the Rhode-Island service, in Capt. George Make- peace's company : -
Lieutenants. - Seth Smith, Ephraim Lane, jun.
Sergeants. - Daniel Knap, Daniel Dean, Hezekiah Wil- lard, Abiel Eddy.
1 Mr. Homes represented Norton and Mansfield in the second and third Provincial Congresses.
2 Heretofore the warrants for town-meetings had been called "in his majestie's name; " but, in the call for the above meeting, this formula was omitted. The next meeting, held in September after the Declaration of Independence, was called in the " name and the government of the people of the state of the Massachusetts Bay."
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Corporals. - Edward Darby, Timothy Briggs, Elisha Cobb, Abiel Lincoln.
Fife. - Abiathar Shaw.
Drum. - Jabez Briggs.
William Makepeace, John Briggs, John Patten, David Ar- nold, Ephraim Eddy, Oliver Smith, Ezra Eddy, John Gilbert, Benjamin Blandin, Jeremiah Cambell, Phineas Briggs, Jacob Shaw, John Clark, John Hall, Seth Gilbert, Timothy Smith, Isaac Smith, John Cook, Samuel Lane, Amasa Williams.1
There also went from Norton to Rhode Island, in Capt. Isaac Hodges' company, -
Nathaniel Wood, sergeant; Rufus Hodges, John Derry, William Carpenter, Joseph Newcomb, Job White.2
Capt. Isaac Hodges also had the command of a com- pany in the Tiverton Alarm. The names of his men (whether all from Norton is uncertain) were -
Lieut. Brian Hall; Jonathan Hodges, Amos Martin, El- kanah Lincoln, Benjamin Braman, John Wetherell, Josiah Braman, Sylvanus Braman, Thomas Braman, Silas Cobb, Abisha (?) Capron, Abraham Derry, Abijah Fisher, James Hodges, Jesse Hodges, Rufus Hodges, Nathaniel Hodges, Simeon Hodges, Philip Hore (?), Stephen Kelly, Samuel Lincoln, Josiah Willis, Timothy Wellman, Isaac Stone, Wil- liam Stone, Daniel Phillips, Ichabod Perry, Benajah Tucker, Meletiah Washburn, Isaac Fisher.3
In a secret expedition from Sept. 25 to Oct. 31, Capt. Hodges was again on duty, with these men under his command, most of whom were from Norton : -
Nathaniel Prior, Elijah Danforth, Ebenezer Titus, Com- fort Day, Abiel Eddy, James Fillebrown, John Clap, Samuel Fillebrown, James Newcomb, William Leonard, William Stone, Daniel Phillips, Sylvester Cobb, Abijah Fisher, Joseph Braman, Elias Eddy, Amasa Lincoln, Joseph Andrews, Alex- ander Balcom, Peter Derry, John Derry, Eliab Derby, John Hodges, George Hodges, Stephen Kelly, John Martin, Asa
1 Revolutionary Rolls, vol. iii. p. 7.
2 Rhode-Island Revolutionary Rolls, vol. ii. p. 86.
8 Revolutionary Rolls, vol. xx. p. 59.
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Newcomb, Elijah Eddy, Moses Fisher, George Briggs, Stephen Briggs, Abijah Lincoln, Abijah Wetherell, Simeon Briggs, Samuel Copeland, Josiah Vining, Solomon Wetherell, Na- thaniel Wood, Ephraim Eddy, Ezra Willis, Samuel Pratt, David Lovit, Abijah White, Ammi Kimball, Daniel White, Asa Clap, Jonathan White, Jedediah Grover, Nathaniel Sweeting, Thomas Skinner, Zebulon Hodges, Nathaniel Hodges, Samuel White, Jonathan Lane, Benjamin Skinner, Joseph Titus, Stephen Pond, Isaac Skinner, Benjamin Blan- din, William Axtell (?), Abisha Smith, Joshua Pond, Ichabod Willis, Benjamin Fuller, Levi Babbit, Ichabod Eddy, Jona- than Franklin, Silas Wellman, Royal White, Caleb Dunham, Nehemiah Leonard, Elisha Thayer, John' Harden, Jesse Grover.1
Dec. 8, 1776, Capt. Israel Trow marched to Rhode Island at the head of the following men, all from Norton : -
Lieutenants. - David Clap, Edward Babbit.
Sergeants. - Seth Williams, Samuel Hunt, Jacob Shepard, Benjamin Wild.
Corporals. - David Lincoln, John Newcomb, Jonathan Briggs.
Privates. - David Austin, Simeon Briggs, Eleazer Clap, Noah Clap, Asa Copeland, Abijah Lincoln, Joseph Hunt, Rufus Lincoln, Samuel Newcomb, Mase Shepard, Seth Tis- dale, Reuben Tisdale, John Tisdale, Thomas Storey, Thomas Storey, jun., Solomon Wetherell.2
The Committee of Correspondence, &c., for 1777, were David Lincoln, Eleazar Clap, Israel Trow, Noah Wiswall, Record Franklin, Jonathan Clap, and Seth Gilbert. There were some in Norton, as in most of the towns in the Colonies, who espoused the cause of the British, and were known as Tories, or Loyalists. There were others, probably, who were uncertain how the contest would end, and therefore avoided taking any active part on either side; so that, in the end, they could easily join in with the victorious party. These last were truly but little better than the first :
1 Revolutionary Rolls, vol. xx. p. 93.
2 Ibid. vol. iii. p. 186.
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for, generally, those who did not openly espouse the cause of the colonists, secretly hoped that the oppressors would triumph; and were, therefore, really on their side. Hence it became necessary, for the security of the Colonies, that these pretended neutrals should be watched. Accordingly, June 23, 1777, Isaac Smith was chosen "to collect what evidence he can against such persons as have been or may be Inimical to this or the United States."
At the same meeting, Samuel Godfrey was declared to be inimical to the States. At an adjourned meeting one week later, said Godfrey was voted " not Inimical to the states." 1 It is presumed, however, that neither of these votes in the least changed the character of the man.
Sept. 8, 1777, the town " voted to George Cobb, for going to Milton for paper-cartridges, £0 .- 12s .- 0d .; The cost of paper, £0 .- 18s .- 10d .; For a box to stow the cartridges in, £0 .- 3s .- 0d. ; For two days himself, and three days and a half of Seth Smith and Joshua Pond, to make cartridges, £4 .- 2s .- d .; For thread for the cartridges, £0 .- 1s .- 0d." Also " voted that the selectmen procure the town's proportion of arms allowed by the state, and that they should have the money to purchase said arms with." Sept. 15, " voted that ten of the fire-arms sent to this town should be kept as a store for said town."
In April and May of this year, Capt. Israel Trow had the command of the following men in the Rhode-
1 I find no other person named on our records as unfriendly to the American cause. Among the neutrals was doubtless Judge Leonard. Though the most influential man in town, he took no active part in public affairs during the war. Among the most conspicuous of the Loyalists in this town was George Leonard, 3d, who lived at Barrowsville, and was a son of Rev. Nathaniel Leonard, and a brother of Daniel of Taunton, also a Loyalist. According to a writer in the Genealogical Register for October, 1858, p. 338, he joined the enemies of our country, and " was a colonel of a regiment; laid Nantucket under contribution ; and attacked Fall River, where he was gallantly repulsed by Col. Joe Durfee. He eventually retired to Nova Scotia, where he became a provincial councillor, and renewed his fortune, which had been confiscated" in Massachusetts. He died at Sus- sex Vale in 1826, aged eighty-three.
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