USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Shirley > History of the town of Shirley, Massachusetts, from its early settlement to A.D. 1882 > Part 10
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124
HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
NAMES OF EIGHT-MONTHS MEN, 1775.
The following list comprises the names of those who enlisted in the company under command of Capt. Robert Longley of Bolton, (Col. Asa Whitcomb's regiment,)- with the dates of enlistment :
Sylvanus Smith, Lieut., April 26.
John Ivory, July 13.
Ephraim Smith, 2d Lieut., April 26. Moses Jennison, April 26.
Thomas Bennett, Sergt., April 26. Benjamin Haskell, Sergt., May 2. John Kelsy, Sergt., April 26.
John Longley, April 27.
John Moors, May 6.
Abel Parker, Jr., April 26.
Charles Phipps, April 29.
Joseph Longley, Corpl., April 26. Edmund Longley, Corpl., May 3. Timothy Bolton, April 29.
David Pratt, May 10. John Parker, July 13.
Jonathan Davis, April 26.
Phinehas Farwell, April 29.
Scripture Frost, April 29.
Seth Harrington, April 26.
Zachariah Holden, April 26.
Asa Holden, April 29.
Abel Holden, May 9.
Lemuel Holden, July 14.
John Williams, June 14.
Simeon Harrington, July 15. Amos Holden, April 26.
John Woodbury, May 9.
The following persons were in the company of eight- months men under Lieut. Nathaniel Sartell, in Col. Wil- liam Prescott's regiment :
Titus Colburn, enlisted May 6. John Whitney, enlisted May 2. Abner Whitney, enlisted May 2.
The following persons performed service for a short time during the summer of 1776:
Silas Davis, corporal, enlisted May 17, 1776 ; served 76 days.
Ephraim Warren, corporal, enlisted May 18, 1776 ; served 75 days.
Daniel Kezar, enlisted May 17, 1776; served 76 days.
Daniel Page, enlisted May 19, 1776 ; served 74 days.
David Wilson, enlisted May 25, 1776 ; served 68 days.
SOLDIERS IN THE CONTINENTAL SERVICE.
A return made to the Secretary of State under date of December 2, 1777, by Col. Jonathan Reed, contains the following names of Shirley men who had enlisted for three
Simon Page, Jr., July 15.
Ezra Smith, April 26.
William Sampson, April 26. David Sloan, April 29.
David Sloan, Jr., April 29.
Obadiah Sawtell, Jr., May 7.
William Williams, Jr., April 29.
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CIVIL HISTORY.
years into the Continental army, from the regiment under his command. All but the three last named were in Capt. Smith's company in the Fifteenth Continental Regiment, under the command of Col. Timothy Bigelow of Worcester. The last three entered the regiments under Cols. Putnam and Graton :
John Davis, Solomon Peirce,
John Davis, Jr.,
John Haskell,
Cornelius Davis,
Jonathan Davis,
David Sloan, Morris Kelley, John Darling,
Seth Harrington,
William Bartlett,
John Kelley,
John Jupp,
Ezra Smith,
Joseph Burkmer.
John Moors,
Amos Dole, Jr.,
David Wilson,
John Moors, Jr.,
The fifteenth regiment, in which most of the men above named served, was recruited from Worcester and Middlesex counties in the early part of the year 1777, and was distinguished both for its good discipline and for valor upon many of the hardest-fought fields of the Revolution. The regiment assisted in the capture of Burgoyne at Sara- toga, endured the trials and sufferings of Valley Forge, fought on the plains of Monmouth, and participated in the crowning glories of Yorktown. "A braver band," says Lincoln in his History of Worcester, "never took the field or mustered to battle. High character for intrepidity and discipline, early acquired, was maintained unsullied to the close of the service."
The following list, though comprising only a part of the Continental soldiers from Shirley, is given to show the time of service as credited to each on the rolls at the State House. Some of these, perhaps all, served for other periods of time during the war.
Amos Atherton, 12 months, William Bartlett, 36 months, Amos Dole, 42 months, Jonathan Davis, 43 months, John Davis, 30 months, John Davis, Jr., 36 months, Cornelius Davis, 36 months, Josiah Dodge, 8 months,
John Dutch, 10 months, 23 days, Seth Harrington, 36 months, Morris Kelley, 36 months,
John Moors, 36 months,
John Moors, Jr., 38 months, 6 days, Ezra Smith, 36 months,
John Jupp, 33 months, 22 days.
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HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
In the year 1780 the town was required to raise addi- tional men for the continental service, for a given time, and it was voted to give each soldier one hundred silver dollars, including the forty shillings per month allowed by the State, for this service. It was also voted to give them each forty pounds additional, in hard money, for three months additional service.
At the March meeting of the following year, it was voted to raise twelve hundred silver dollars, or the value thereof in other money,-to be immediately assessed on the inhabitants of the town, and others owning property therein, as soon as may be,-to be appropriated towards paying the soldiers hired for three years' service, whose time had expired.
Added to this heavy war expense in the field and camp, the town appointed a committee to provide for the wants of the families of the absent soldiers; and all this in addition to the ordinary municipal expenses of the town.
When we remember the feeble resources from which these large demands were to be derived, we must admire that patriotism which quietly submitted to the wearing in- dustry and privation necessary to secure the coveted object, -the independence of the colonies. Men imbued with the spirit of such great self-denial, could not wear the bands of a foreign servitude; and though the required sacrifice was a drain from the country of some of her best blood and much of her treasure, yet the result, giving assurance as it did of the peaceful and permanent establishment of a free government, was a commensurate reward.
The independence of the North-American colonies was an event towards which the whole body of the Ameri- can people looked with ardent hope. A large portion of those who were opposed to forcible measures to secure colonial rights were led to rejoice in the glorious result of those measures. They were moved to opposition by a fear that the effort would not be crowned with success ; or, if it were, that it would not be possible to sustain a republic
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CIVIL HISTORY.
composed of such rough materials as were presented in the American people,-a people so inexperienced in the policy of a free government and the duties of diplomacy. They feared that independence would be followed by mis- rule and anarchy, and that this great continent would become an arena of revolution and counter-revolution. Judging from what had been witnessed in the old world, this impression was well founded ; and, had it not been for the moral and mental training of the descendants of the puritan stock, their fears might have been realized. As much as this, seems indicated by the insurrection that occurred in Massachusetts in 1786.
The war of the Revolution had left the people deeply involved in debt. This Commonwealth owed a private debt that, when consolidated, amounted to upwards of £1,300,000,-besides £250,000 due to the officers and soldiers of the army. The proportion of the federal debt due from Massachusetts was not less, by a moderate com- putation, than one million and a half of the same money. And, in addition to this, every town was embarrassed by advances (which had been made upon its own particular credit,) in compliance with repeated requisitions for men and supplies to support the army. The weight of this burden must strike us in a strong point of view if we compare it with the debt of the Massachusetts colony before the war, which fell short of £100,000; and with still more force, perhaps, if we consider that, by the customary mode of taxation, one-third part was to be paid by the ratable polls alone, which in Massachusetts but little ex- ceeded ninety thousand. True it is that a recollection of the blessings which this debt had purchased, must have operated in the minds of a magnanimous people to alle- viate every inconvenience arising from such a cause ; but embarrassments followed which no considerations of that nature could be expected to obviate.
This heavy debt lying upon the State, added to bur- dens of the same nature upon almost every incorporation within it, was connected with "a decline, or rather extinc- tion, of public credit; a relaxation of manners, and a
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HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
free use of foreign luxuries ; a decay of trade and manu- factures, with a prevailing scarcity of money ; and, above all, individuals involved in debt to each other ;- evils which leave us under no necessity of searching further for the causes of the insurrections which took place. We ought not to be surprised to find the people (who, but a few years before, upon the abolition of royal government among them, exhibited a most striking example of volun- tary submission to a feeble authority,) now driven into a confusion of affairs common to all countries ;- but, most so, perhaps, to those who have shown the strongest ardor in pursuit of freedom."
We must also take into account the fact that the costs of courts, of legislature and judicature, were then so great that the most onerous taxes could hardly meet the current expenses of government, and pay the interest on the State debts. Hence, we have the cause of the rebellion to which the attention of the reader is now particularly called.
Insurrectionary movements commenced with petitions from popular assemblies to the State government for a re- dress of grievances, which were not duly regarded. The result was that armed forces assembled in several of the counties, under different leaders, who committed acts of violence by stopping courts of justice, arresting private citizens and holding them in durance, and, in some in- stances, by pillage and robbery. Daniel Shays, a captain in the war of the Revolution, who resided in Pelham, was appointed commander-in-chief of the insurgents; and hence, the rebellion has been called Shays' Insurrection .*
Having thus presented the character of the rebellion, we proceed to show what participation the people of Shirley had in it. With but one or two exceptions they were unanimous in favor of some movement to ameliorate the existing condition of things. And it may be that a . majority did not discountenance a resort to forcible meas- ures, should milder efforts fail. It was the first purpose
*See Appendix L.
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CIVIL HISTORY.
of the insurgents to suppress the courts of sessions, until some action should be taken to stay the flood of execu- tions which wasted their property and made their homes desolate. Hence a party from Shirley joined another party from Groton, under the command of one Job Shat- tuck, of the last-named place, who had served in the French and Revolutionary wars, "and was otherwise qualified to be conspicuous in such a cause." Connected with Mr. Shattuck in this command were two brothers, residents of Shirley-Sylvanus and Nathan Smith, both of whom had been officers in the war for American Inde- pendence.
The force (in number about one hundred) assembled in Concord, on the afternoon of the twelfth day of Sep- tember ; "they lodged that night in the court-house, barns, and such temporary shelter as they could obtain, and on Tuesday took possession of the ground in front of the court-house, marked out their lines, and formed in columns around it, to prevent any but their own party from enter- ing. About two o'clock in the afternoon one of the party, acting as a sergeant, with two drums and fifes, went some distance, and in about half an hour returned at the head of about ninety men, armed and on horseback, from the counties of Hampshire and Worcester, led by one Wheeler of Hubbardston and Converse of Hardwick, and joined the other party, which had increased to about two hundred.
"On the same day a convention of delegates from Concord and the neighboring towns, adverse to the plans of the insurgents, was there in session, between which and the insurgents a conference was opened by written communications ; the result of which was that the 'Court of Sessions was permitted to open and adjourn to the last Tuesday in November next, without going to the court-house.' The court, however, did not open, but soon after left town, and the convention was dissolved."
While the conference, just noticed, was pending,- "the insurgents became impatient," to use the language of
17
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HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
the historian of Concord, "and Smith [Nathan] beat around for volunteers ; he addressed the people, declaring that any person who did not follow his drum and join his standard, should be drove out at the point of the bayonet, -let them be court, town committee, or what else. 'I am going'-he continued-'to give the court four hours to agree to our terms, and if they do not, I and my party will compel them to it. I will lay down my life to sup- press the government from all tyrannical oppression, and you who are willing to join us in this 'ere affair may fall into our ranks.' Few, however, joined his standard. His language was offensive even to his own party." Late in the evening the insurgents, having accomplished their object, returned to their several homes .*
Whether any further efforts were made in Middlesex county by the people of Shirley, towards suspending the · courts, neither record nor tradition informs us; yet it is certain that the success which, in their estimation, had crowned their Concord expedition encouraged them to make another movement in the rebel cause.
In January, 1787-the army head-quarters of the in- surgents being at Pelham, where the commander resided- invitations were extended to the disaffected, in every part of the State, to organize and repair thither and act as circumstances should require. This presented another opportunity for the disaffected patriots of Shirley and Groton to show their zeal in the rebel service. The fol- lowing statement was made to the compiler of this history by Mr. Matthew Clark, who acted as a private in the cam- paign here described :
A number of men were assembled, from Shirley and Groton, in the centre of the first-named town, at the public house of Mr. James Dickerson ; and, after paying their de- votions at the altar of Bacchus, grew brave and proposed to organize themselves into a military company to join the insurgent forces under Shays, and assist him in his pat- riotic work. Aaron Bigelow of Groton was elected
*See Appendix M.
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CIVIL HISTORY.
captain ; Solomon Pratt of Shirley was promoted to a lieutenancy ; and Cornelius Davis, also of Shirley, was appointed ensign. The company immediately took up a line of march for Pelham, which place they reached on the third day. They remained there about eight days, when the rebel army was removed to Petersham.
During this period the company from Shirley formed a part of a detachment that was sent to Springfield, to suppress a court that had come there to hold a session. After a slight skirmish the detachment was driven back by government troops. General Lincoln, a tried veteran of the Revolution, was the commander of the regular forces at this time, and, though it was in the depth of a cold winter, he pushed his army forward with the determina- tion to route and capture the insurgents and restore order in the Commonwealth. As he approached Petersham, Shays, with his principal officers, fled to other states, and eventually took refuge in Canada. Captain Bigelow and Lieutenant Pratt were also among the missing ; but Ensign Davis, true to the obligations he had assumed, never left his command,-but made an orderly retreat back to Shirley, with his entire company. In Fitchburg, through which town they passed, a body of government troops were stationed to intercept and, if possible, capture them ; but so well-disciplined and firm was the rebel corps, that it was allowed to pursue an unmolested course. As they marched through the villages that lay in their way they presented as great external appearance of the "pomp of war" as their means would allow, by unfurling their banner and marching to the sound of music. When the company arrived at the border of Shirley it was dis- banded, and each man departed to his home. Subse- quently every individual that volunteered in this campaign was arrested, carried to Fitchburg, and there forced to surrender his arms,-and after taking the oath of alle- giance was discharged.
It may be a matter of inquiry how far these revolu- tionary measures had the sanction of the public. The
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HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
following extracts from the town records will explain the position of the people of Shirley at this apparently·event- ful period. In a town warrant bearing date "Jan. ye 29, 1787," these articles were inserted : "Ist. To see what the town will do in regard to sending provision to those men that are gone, or about to go (as they say) in defence of their rights and privileges. 2d. To see if the town will take into consideration the present distressing circum- stances of our public affairs, and consult upon means for a settlement of those disturbances that are subsisting in this Commonwealth."
At the meeting that followed, the town voted, Ist. "Not to send provisions to the men gone from this town under arms. 2d. Voted to choose a committee, agree- ably to the second article," above quoted. Messrs. Asa Holden and Joshua Longley were appointed as this com- mittee.
The committee reported recommending that a petition be sent to the General Court, praying that all "the disturb- ances subsisting in this Commonwealth may be settled ;" which report was accepted and the petition sent. By this action of the town we find that a majority of the people were opposed to the use of forcible measures ; though it cannot be denied that almost all of them were in favor of some immediate and salutary reforms in the affairs of govern- ment.
The result of this great movement in the State was a reform satisfactory to the wishes of all reasonable and peaceably disposed citizens, and which, in due time, en- abled the people to meet the pecuniary demands against them, both public and private. The insurrection was sup- pressed "by the spirited use of constitutional power, without the shedding of blood by the hand of the civil magistrate ; a circumstance which it is the duty of every citizen to ascribe to its real cause-the lenity of govern- ment, and not its weakness; a circumstance, too, that must attach every man to a constitution which, from a principle of mediocrity, governs its subjects without
-
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CIVIL HISTORY.
oppression, and reclaims them without severity." The same blame that has been attached to the movers, aiders and abettors of this rebellion-in however odious a light it may be regarded-would have been awarded to the actors against British oppression, had not success crowned the efforts of those actors with independence .*
In the war of 1812 Shirley furnished its required quota of troops for government service. They were raised by draft, with conditions annexed, and very few taken beyond the coast defence of our seaboard towns; and there was so little of incident connected with the career of these soldiers that nothing has been deemed worthy of record.
In the Mexican war there was one enlistment from Shirley-Nathan King, 2d. He was in two battles, in one of which he was wounded. Before he had recovered from the effects of this wound he was attacked by a disease termed the Mexican dysentery. He was but little more than enabled to reach his native town-where he found his former home broken up by the death of his father. The hands of strangers were extended to his relief, and he lingered along for a few weeks, and died Sept. 12, 1848.
Hence, from the close of the revolutionary contest unto the breaking out of the Southern Rebellion, war caused but little disturbance in the quiet and retired do- main of Shirley.
On Monday, April 15, 1861, news came to town that Fort Sumter had been cannonaded by the rebel army, which had been intrenching for some days past in its im- mediate vicinity. Soon it was announced that it had unconditionally surrendered to the command under Beau- regard. This intelligence aroused the entire community of Shirley, as it did that of the whole country north of Mason and Dixon's line. Every person seemed to par- ticipate in the excitement. Informal meetings were called, projects proposed and discussed, services tendered by persons of every age, from the stalwart soldier who could
*See Appendix N.
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HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
take the field, to the tiny youth who could sew up a "comfort-bag" for the poor warrior whom she never saw.
As soon as circumstances would allow, a formal town- meeting was called, and persons of every age and grade, -in numbers such as had never assembled before in that place,-came together into the town-hall to display their patriotism by words and deeds. The village clergyman, Rev. Seth Chandler, was invited to invoke the throne of grace in prayer.
After organization, John K. Going, Esq., presented for consideration the following resolutions, which were considered and unanimously adopted :
" Resolved, That the town of Shirley pay to all volun- teers who have enlisted, or who may enlist hereafter for the present war, (the same being residents of said town at the date of their enlistment, ) the sum of twelve dollars per month, in addition to the compensation now made by government ; said sum to be paid to the families of any such volunteers, in their absence, at the discretion of the committee hereafter named. And should they fall in battle, the same sum to be paid to their families during the term of their enlistment. And, if any such volunteers are single men, the said sum of twelve dollars to be paid to them at the expiration of their respective enlistments, or to their legal representatives. Also to furnish them with all suitable and necessary outfits, not furnished by the State or General Government, at the discretion of said com- mittee.
" Resolved, That the town raise the sum of five hundred dollars for the purpose above mentioned, and that the same be assessed the present year ; and that the town treasurer be and is hereby authorized to borrow any sum or sums of money for the purposes specified, not to exceed ten thou- sand dollars.
" Resolved, That James P. Longley, Samuel Farns- worth, and Charles A. Edgarton be a committee to carry the above resolutions into effect, and with full power to
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CIVIL HISTORY.
draw on the town-treasurer for the amount above named, or any part thereof, at their discretion.
"J. K. GOING, "J. O. PARKER, "A. J. CLOUGH."
At this same meeting a committee was appointed to take measures for raising a company of volunteers, to join the Fifty-third Regiment of Massachusetts Militia, that was afterward, for many weeks, quartered at Camp Stevens, just outside the eastern boundary of Shirley. The company was raised and bore the appellation of "Munson Guards," and received the encouraging gratuity of five hundred dollars from the eminent philanthropist whose name they had assumed.
At a meeting of the town, convened for the purpose, April 28, 1862, it was voted "to raise and assess one thou- sand dollars, for the relief of the families of volunteers in the federal army, and that the same, or such part thereof as may be necessary, be paid out by the selectmen to families where they are certain the same will be refunded by the State."
On the 23d of the following July, the town voted one hundred dollars bounty to each soldier (sixteen in all) required to fill the town quota of the late call of the Presi- dent of the United States, and that the treasurer of the town secure a loan of sixteen hundred dollars for this purpose.
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