USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > Lancastriana. I. A supplement to the Early records and Military annals of Lancaster, Massachusetts > Part 3
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FRONTIER SCOUTS.
172. The "Dangerous Circumstances" of the frontiers at this time are illustrated by the following records:
A Muster Roll of a scout consisting of six men in her Majesty's Ser- vice within the Town of Lancaster containing an Accompt of Wages for this Service from the 25th of August to the 20th of November 1710, amounting to Twenty Pounds and Ten Shillings, examined by Mr Com.
28
ANNALS OF LANCASTER.
missary General. Presented and Advised and Consented, That a War- rant be made out thereupon to the Treasurer to pay the above sum of Twenty Pounds and Ten Shillings to Capt. Thomas Wilder, Captain of Lancaster for and in behalfe of the six Centinels therein named. They being under his Command.
[Minutes of Council Mass. Archives, LXXXI.]
June 12, 1712. Resolved that the sum of Forty Shillings be allowed and paid out of the Publick Treasury to Nath". Wilder towards Paying for cure of a Wound received of the Enemy.
[Court Records, IX, 202.]
PROPRIETORS OF ADDITIONAL GRANT.
174. The original records of the proprietors of the "Ad- ditional Grant" are preserved with the archives of Leomin- ster. The contract therein engrossed has slight verbal differences from the copy in the Lancaster records. The names of the signers, ninety-nine in number, are as follows:
John Prentice
Jonathan Moor
Jabez Fairbank
David Whetcomb
Samuell Carter
John White
Jonas Houghton Jur
Thomas Carter
Samuel Warner
John Houghton Sen"
Nathaniel Wilder
Hooker Osgood Sen"
John Harress
Benjamin Bellows
Daniell Priest Jonathan Houghton
Jonathan Wheeller
John Whetcomb
Joseph Houghton
Samuel Willund
Hezekiah Willard
Bezaleel Sawyer
Josiah Willard
Thomas Wilder Sent
John Moore
Robert Houghton Sen" George Glazier John Prescott Jur
Matthew Stone
Gamaliel Beaman
Henry Willard
Ebenezer Wilder
Josiah White Jun
Jonas Houghton Sen" John Goss Jacob Houghton
Simon Steevens
Ephraim Wilder
Joseph Wheelock John Warner Sent
Hezakiah Whetcomb
Ebenezer Beaman
John Warner Jun™
James Atherton Jun"
Joseph Hutchins
Samuel Bennitt Sen'
James Houghton
Benjamin Houghton Peter Joslin
Henry Houghton William Blodgett Joseph Brabrook Josiah Sautell Josiah Whetcomb Jur John Kendall
John Wilder Jun". John Bowers Robert Houghton Jur
Jonathan Willard
Benjamin Harress
Josiah Wheeller Oliver Wilder
Joseph Fairbank William Sawyer
Joseph Willard
John Priest
William Houghton
Elias Sawyer
Joseph Sawyer
Joshua Atherton .
John Beaman Junr
Thomas Wilder Jur John Keyes John Johnson Ebenezer Prescott William Divoll
James Snow John Willard
Gabriel Priest
Caleb Sawyer Samuell Gibbs
1
29
MASSACHUSETTS.
Josiah White Sen'
John Wilder Sen'
Jonathan Whetcomb
Mary Wilder Widow
Thomas Sawyer
Richard Wilder
Jonathan Wilder
Nathaniell Sawyer
Edward Phelps
James Wilder
Joseph Wilder
Jeremiah Willson Sen'
Thomas Ross
Thomas Tooker
John Houghton Jun'.
TOWN-MEETING RECORDS, 1714.
175. The following memoranda of town-meeting action are upon scraps of paper in the second John Houghton's handwriting, found among Joseph Willard's papers:
Monday ye first of feb'y. 1713/14. Ye Inhabitants of Lancas- ter met at ye Meeting House being ye Publique Towne Meeting accord- ing to former order & custome of ye Towne to Consider & Determine of Matters reffering to Land & other Concerns Proper for said Meeting: first chose John Beaman ye moderator. Sam Benitt desires ye Towne to Give him some Land neer adjoining to his own Land where he is about to build a Sawmill. 2 proposition. Benj. Bellows Desires the Towne to grant him ye Liberty of Improving ye Towne Land & highway through Swan Swamp for some considerable time; that may Respond his Labour in Cleering said Land which he is willing to be obliged to do; & in Case he may have ye Improvement of ye Land & Libertie to set & keep up Gates at ye entry of ye swamp on each side-this was voted in ye Negative. 3ly. John Houghton Sent. Desires ye Towne to Let him have ye entervale formerly granted to Daniel Gains above ye god spring; on some other I may be equivalent in Idea of aid dou destes the Lawne would sig. 11 nitie their Minds whether or no they will let him have the 85 acres of up- land which he formerly laid out adjoining to said Intervale 4. George Crocker desires ye Towne to give him 50 acres of Land upon Rasonable termes to be laid out to him in ye undivided Land where he may find it most convenient. 5. Jonathan Moore Desires ye Towne to Consider his Circumstances Reffering to ye Lott which upon Ensigne Moores Re- quest, was Granted for Joseph Moor & after his Death, it was Desired it might be for Jonathan Moor & he hath paid ye Charge of ever since, as Long as any Persons paid for Lotts; which Lott is probable to be in Controversie whether he shall hold it or no. The towne voted not to concern themselves with it. 6. he Desires the Towne to give him Lib- ertie to make a dam upon Wataquadock brook above ye bridge on Marl- borough road & in order to build a corne mill; and to Let ye highway ly below or over ye Dam & Round Mordicas medow & he will make ye way good at the head of ye medow and over ye brook upon his own charge. this proposition was granted by a vote of ye Towne. 7. A proposition was made for a highway cross from ye highway to ye medows that Lyeth up Nashaway River by ye pond to ye New Sawmill; which was then granted by a vote of ye Towne. 8. Jonathan Sawyer desired
1
30
ANNALS OF LANCASTER.
ye Towne to grant him ten acres of Land at the northerly side of the Land of his Honord father Caleb Sawyer, but it was negative. As to Sam11. benitts proposition one Reason he gave was because his Interval Lot at ponakin wanted measure & then the Towne appointed Capt. Jos- lin & John Houghton Jr to go & view it & make Report to the Towne.
The "new saw mill" above mentioned was probably that of Joseph Sawyer, situate in what is now Boylston; and this record seems to be proof that the site of "Sawyer's Mills" was utilized as early as 1713. The proprietors of Lancaster confirmed to Sawyer, in 1720, lands upon both sides of the river " where there is falls upon the River below a Great Scar," and in January, 1728, laid out lands to Joseph and Thomas Sawyer "on a pine plain mostly adjoyning and mostly above where Joseph Sawyer has built a Sawmill." Aaron Sawyer, the son of Joseph, has been wrongly credited by local annalists with the building of the first mill here.
Monday ye first of March 1713/14. Ye Inhabitants of Lancaster met at the Meetinghouse according to appointment & first chose Capt Tho. Wilder moderator for sd meeting & then a warrant was Read for choice of a Grand juror & the Constable accordingly warned ye Towne to choose one. 2. The Towne then proceeded to a Choice & Chose Joseph Hutchins to sarve on ye Grand Jury for ye veare Insuing & then chose Selectmen 3. namely Capt Tho Wilder John Houghton Sen' Capt Peter Jolin Robert Houghton Sen' & Hooker Osgood Ben Balett Men to serve for y" year ensuing. f. The Towne voted to Choose 3 Consta- bles to serve for ye yeare ensuing, vizt one upon y" west side of ye River & two on ye east side, & first Chose Samuel Carter, 2dly John Wilder Jr & Joseph Wilder Constables for ye yeare Insuing. John Houghton Jr Towne Clerk; Capt Thomas Wilder Towne Treasurer but he not ac- cepting the Towne Proceeded to a new choice & then chose Capt. Peter Joslin Town Treasurer; Edward Hartwell Joseph Houghton & Eben- ezer Wilder surveiors for highways; John Wilder Sen. & Jabez ffairbank Tything men; Hezekiah Townsend Sealer of Leather; John Keyes Jonas Houghton Jur & Jonathan Houghton Assessors; Jonathan Sawyer Sam- uel Willard John Buss Josiah Judd field Drivers & then a Letter was Read from ye Selectmen of Watertown about theire bridge; & then sev- erall of ye Towne officers had ye oath Administered to them, namely John Wilder Jur. Joseph Wilder, Samuel Carter Constables, John Hough- ton Jr. Town Clerk.
INDIANS AT WASHACUM, 1714.
175. A memorial was presented by Capt" Tho How of Marlboro of the Disorders Committed by a small number of ye Indians living at Wa-
-
31
MASSACHUSETTS.
shacum a place abt. five or six miles above Lancaster, frequently coming into their Cornfields gathering and carrying away their corn in Consid- erable Quantitys and also killing their Ilorses in the Woods being a Terror to ye women & children for fear of some Design, supposed to be Albany Indians.
Advised that his Excell'y. be Desired to Acquaint Gov. Hunter therewith and to take care effectually to restrain sd Disorders. And that Capt". Tho. How Mr John Houghton and Lt Ephraim Wilder of Lancaster be Directed to find out and Speake with the sd Indians and make it certain who they are, treat them civilly and to forbid their com- mitting any further Disorders.
[ Minutes of Council, LXXXI, 858. Sept. 9, 1714.]
TRAINING FIELDS.
186. To the six-acre training field "below Thomas Saw- yers door" is due the unusual breadth of South Lancaster Street. February 1, 1747/8, the proprietors voted to sell this common "which was left for a training field, excepting six rods wide for a private way a cross ye same," and it was sold that year. The training field upon the Old Common was never surrendered to the proprietors in fee and was partly fenced in by Burrill Carnes when he purchased the Wilder farm-now occupied by the state school-about 1795. A part of it remained common until the State Industrial School was here established.
TAHANTO'S LAND GRANT.
193. Sam1 Bennet of Lancaster Testifies that he was with the Indian, vizt. John Aquiticus when he showed the bounds of the land sold to the Lancaster People by George Tahanto and other Indians, that the said Aquiticus then told them they might go to Mashapaug Pond, and that they should goe three miles wide at that end.
Lancaster, May 29th, 1720.
SAML X BENNET'S mark
[Suffolk Court Files, No. 1434.]
INDIANS AT LANCASTER, 1722-3.
204. On Monday last a Woman at Lancaster, as she was at work alone in the Field, was taken by Two Indians, one of which cou'd speak English, and examin'd her about the Indians lately taken and imprison'd at Boston. After she had inform'd them that 8 of the Number were dis- mis'd they cut off the Hair on one side of her Head, and order'd her to lay it down in the Place where she had been at work, and come to them again. The same Day some People who were searching for the Woman, found her Hair lying in the Field and concluding she had been carried
32
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
away by the Indians, immediately raised some Men to go after them, who came so near to them as to be within their Hearing; whereupon the Indians stript the Woman and dismis'd her, who when she arriv'd at the Garrison fainted away with over much Joy at her deliverance. The men miss'd of the Indians by reason of the Thickness of the Woods.
[The New England Courant, Aug. 27, 1722.]
The "Indians imprisoned at Boston" had been appre- hended near Lancaster. Proving to be men of a western tribe on a hunting excursion, Lieutenant Jabez Fairbank of Lancaster was detailed to conduct them to the Connecti- cut River and dismiss them.
On Sunday the 22ª past, a lad of about fifteen years of Age, being out with his Gun at Nashaway discover'd an Indian wading over a River, and fired on him. The Indian made his Escape, but 'tis since discov- er'd that he was very much wounded, having been tracked by his Blood for a considerable Distance from the River.
[The New England Courant, Oct. 7, 1723.]
RATE LISTS, 1723.
207. Among papers of Jonathan Wilder were found two lists of names, one hundred and two in all, being the Lan- caster rate payers in 1723 living east of the river, as invoiced by Samuel Warner and Benjamin Bailey, two of the three constables. The list of inhabitants west of the river assigned to constable Edward Hartwell was unfortunately not found. The first list, Warner's, embraces all who then lived in what is now Harvard and the northerly part of Bolton. The oth- er, Bailey's list, includs those dwelling on the Old Common and in the Wataquadock region.
I. Jona. Sawyer
Samuel Gibbs
Samuel Willard
Joseph Fairbank
Jona. Houghton
Hezek. Willard
Benja. Atherton Senr.
Richd. Wildes
Josh. Willard
John Nichols
Jabez Fairbanks
Joseph Atherton
David Whitcomb
W1. Sawyer
John Warner
Jona. Whitcomb Nath1. Hapgood
Gershom Houghton
Mary Atherton
Josiah Whitcomb
Jona. Moore Thos. Tooker
John Atherton Jacob Houghton
John Wilder
James Snow
Caleb Sawyer
Josiah Wilder Jonas Wilder
Thos. Houghton
Jacob Houghton Jr.
Shatuck Brooks
Hezh. Snow
Elias Sawyer Jr.
Seth Walker
Hezh. Townsend
Jona. Willard
Benj. Wilson
-
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33
MASSACHUSETTS.
Jonas Houghton Jr.
Sam1. Rogers
Jno. Beaman
James Houghton
Sam1. Rogers Jr.
Saml. Rugg
Josiah Houghton
Henry Willard
Joshua Wheeler
Jonas Houghton
Abram. Willard
Thos. Whitney
Hezek. Whitcomb
Henry Willard
Jeremh. Holman
Henry Houghton
James Willard
Jeremiah Holman
Benj. Atherton
Edwd. Houghton
Jas. Keyes
Daniel Houghton
Ephrm. Houghton
Benj. Wheeler
Joseph Hutchins
John Willard
Jermh Wilson
Thomas Houghton
Joseph Willard
Josiah Wheeler
Benj. Bellows
John Priest
James Butler
John Houghton
Samuel Chamberlain
Ebr. Polley
Sam1. Wilson
John Sawyer 2.
Josiah Houghton
James Atherton
James Wilder
Eliezar Houghton
Whitney
Bezaleel Sawyer
Nathan Hawood
John Whitney
Thomas Wilder
Ebr. Wilder
Isaiah Whitney
Benj. Bailey
Joseph Wilder
Jona. Crouch
Robt. Houghton
Wm. Houghton
Gabriel Priest
Jno. Houghton Esq
Joseph Priest
Joseph Sawyer
JUDGE JOSEPH WILDER.
214. LANCASTER, March 29. Died here greatly lamented in the 74th. Year of his Age, and was decently interr'd on the 31st, the Honour- able JOSEPH WILDER Esq :- He was a Gentleman of fine Genius; and acted with Integrity and Honour in Church, on the Bench, and at the Council Board ;- He was a Father to the Poor; a Lover of good Men; a Friend to his Country, to Truth and Virtue-He was pleasant and entertaining in Conversation; And in domestic Life kind, instruc- tive & exemplary.
[The Boston Weekly News-Letter, Thursday, April 14, 1757.]
CAPTAIN JOHN WHITE.
228. We are informed of the death of Captain John White of Lan- caster a man of religion, probity, courage, and conduct, and hearty in the service of his Country against the Indian enemy. [The Boston News-Letter, Sept. 9, 1725.]
RALPH HOUGHTON.
251. Ralph Holton a member of ye Church of Lancaster in full communion; a settled Inhabitant and householder above 24 years of age, desires to be a freeman of this Collony. May 18, 1668 Attested By SIMON WILLARD
Admitted to freedome 18 . . 3 mo. . 68, per Curriam. E R Secy. [Mass. Archives, CVI, 486.]
Sam1. Warner
Jno. Moore
Benj. Clark
Jeremh. Wilson
John Wallis
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Ralph Houghton died in Milton, April 15, 1705, aet. 82. He is thought to have been a son of Sir Richard Houghton of Houghton Tower, Lancashire. The above record proves that although he had served the town as clerk for twelve years, he was not qualified under colonial law to vote for magistrate or legislator.
THE CALF PASTURE.
278. About one acre of Prescott's intervale was given a name which clung to it until quite modern days. It was de- scribed in 1686 thus:
. near the meeting of the rivers, the sd land lying on the west side of the river (sd river) almost running round the said land, which is known by the name of the Calf Pasture. [Middlesex Registry, XXIV, 38.]
In 1730 another transfer of this lot occurred, when it was described as :-
. one acre which formerly lay on the west side of the river in a nook of it, and it was called the Calf pasture, but said nook being dug across, the river now runneth there. [Middlesex Registry, XXX, 345.]
The old bed of the river surrounding the acre remains distinctly visible near, and north of, the Atherton bridge.
OFFICIALS.
337. William Stedman was not elected an Executive Councillor.
338. Ralph Houghton was again made Clerk of the Writs.
April 6, 1686. Ralph Houghton is appointed by this Court to be Clarke of the Writts for Lancaster and Cyprian Steevens is dismissed from that office. [Middlesex Records. C.C.P., IV, 221.]
Cyprian Stevens was reappointed under Dudley, October 19, 1686, to take account of births and deaths and "to act in said office according to the order of the President and Council."
339. John Houghton's long service as clerk proves not to have been continuous as stated. John Houghton, Jr., was elected in 1714, as the memoranda of town-meeting action discovered since 1884, and printed on a previous page, prove. The absence of any records makes it impossible to say whether he served for one or several years.
1781155 MILITARY ANNALS
OF
LANCASTER, MASSACHUSETTS.
11,12. COLONEL JOHN PRESCOTT.
JOHN PRESCOTT is styled "Colonel " in Council Rec- ords, July 7, 17.10, and elsewhere, but Daniel Goffe held the senior col Ission as captain five of the ten compan anies raised in Massachusetts were sent in the West Indian expedition of 1740. John Winslow, the fifth captain, re- ceived Governor Belcher's certificate for want of the king's commission.
SIEGE OF LOUISBURG.
22. [May] 18. [1745] Saturday ...... Capt. Peirce kill'd this Day by a Cannon Ball Thrº. his Bowels. he Livd a Qu'. of an hour and then Died - his Death is Greately Lamented. * * * *
[September ] 6th. [1745.] Fryday about 8 in ye morning Died Capt. Warner The Lord Sanctify his holy hand att 5 O' the Clock we Buryed him with a Great Deal of honour & Respect a Part of all or Cheif of ye Coms. in ye Regiment attended ye funer1. Under arms the Souldiers warlk foremost with their arm[s] in funeral Posture next ye. Drummers next ye. Capns next ye Corp[se] Behind walkt ye. General Colo Willard at his Left hand next all the Colos.
[Diary of Lieut. Dudley Bradstreet.]
Captain Peirce was that Joshua Peirce, housewright, who at the age of twenty-two years enlisted for the Carthagena
36
MILITARY ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
1
expedition of 1740, from Lancaster, with Captain John Pres- cott. Lieutenant Dudley Bradstreet was of Groton, and served in Captain John Warner's company. He incidentally mentions in his diary the names of forty enlisted men. Of these, the following were probably Lancaster soldiers:
John Croofoot - Creford in Lancaster records- died No- vember 28, 1745.
John Dakin, died August 19, 1745.
Sergeant - Goodfrey.
Benjamin Stearns.
Sergeant - Woods [Joseph? ], died August 21, 1745. Sergeant John Wright, died December 12, 1745.
Matthew Wyman.
FITCH'S GARRISON.
24. The story of the Indian raid upon the Fitch garri- son is told in Torrey's History of Fitchburg, in Marvin's His- tory of Lancaster, and in the Boston News Letter for July 18, 1748. The first named author gives a wrong date to the tragedy, the world cupican more and adds another of hits own, while Fitch's petition to the General Court corrects some mistakes in the News Letter's account. This petition has been printed in a sketch of Ashby in the History of Middlesex County, 1890, I, 309. Like most traditions, "Sur- dody's Vengeance" rests upon very dubious foundations.
CAPTAIN GERSHOM FLAGG.
32. Captain Gershom Flagg was in the service as early as 1746, this fact being attested by an elaborately carved powder-horn preserved in the Memorial Hall of Lancaster, upon which is inscribed his name. He was then at Amos- keag.
CAPTIVES, 1757.
59. Among captives at Fort William Henry in 1757 who survived and returned to Lancaster were: "Joseph Church son of Joshua," and "Lynn Jock negro of Nathaniel Whitte- more."
[Minutes of Council, IV, 304 and 320.]
37
MASSACHUSETTS.
SAWYER'S BAY.
82. A batteau under command of Lieutenant Ephraim Sawyer was wrecked upon Grand Isle, Lake Champlain, in a gale, August 14, 1760, when Joseph Stewart was drowned. Sawyer attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Revo- lution, and when the war was over he removed from Lancas- ter to Grand Isle, where he died in 1813, aged ninety-four years. His place of residence gave name to Sawyer's Bay.
BUNKER HILL.
123. Captain Abner Cranson's company was also in the action at Bunker Hill, and his ensign, Benjamin West, was killed. [Mass. Archives, CLXXXII, 201.]
There is a tradition among the descendants of Major Ephraim Sawyer that he was sent in command of the com- panies of Col. Asa Whitcomb's regiment that were ordered to reinforce Prescott.
SIEGE OF BOSTON.
130. Sunday March to, [ Dorchester, ryge. .. Fout men, some say five, were killed by the enemy's cannon, and by one ball; They were sitting round a fire on the hill.
[Diary of Ezekiel Price, Mass. Hist. Soc. Proc., 1863, p. 242.]
137. Wednesday, Aug. 7, [ Boston.] Colonel Sergeant's and Whit- comb's regiments set off on their march for Crown Point. [Idem.]
An interesting itinerary of Colonel Whitcomb's three weeks' march to Ticonderoga is given in the Journal of Eb- enezer Wild, printed in the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, second series, VI, 79-83.
CAPTAIN EAGER'S COMPANY.
164. The following rosters of militia companies led from Lancaster in 1777 by Captain Fortunatus Eager fill a notice- able gap in the printed records of the town's contributions to the continental service in that year:
38
MILITARY ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
LANCASTER, April 3, 1777.
Militia Regiment of Foot Commanded by Coll. Josiah Whitney, a com- pany whereof Capt. Fortunatus Eager Commanded who Marched to Reenforce the army in the Fersies under the Command of his Exel- ency General Washington and Continued in the Service Three months and Twenty-six Days in addition to Fourteen Days allowed to Return Home.
Capt. Fortunatus Eager Nath". Haskell
Aaron Willard
Lieuts: Timo. Heywood
Noah Crossinan Titus Colburn
Sam11. Joslin Joshua Whitney Sam" Woods
Sergts: John Wheelock Israel Cook Peter Swears
Abel Phelps
Nathan Wilder Abner Haskell
Tho Clealand
Nathan Parmeter
Matthias Larkin
Joshua Kendal
Corprils: Samuel Adams
John Dole Elihu Goss John Stuart
John Bennett
Ephm. Goss
Thomas Wright John Fletcher
Lemuel Fairbank Caleb Whetney
Abijah Haskell
Jona. White
Enoch Roper
William Fairbank
Drummer John Wheelock
Nathan Burpee Seth Ross
Zebede Simon Amos Brown
Aaron Rugg
Benjamin Wilder de- Sam" Churchell
Thos Kendall
ceased in the service John Hale
Joseph Nowell
Joel Chase
Isaac Tower
Reuben Rice
John R'obhins
A Pay Roll of Capt. Fortunatus Eager's Company in Lt. Ephm. Saw- yer's Regm't of Massachusetts Bay Militia Who Marched as a Re- inforcement for the Northern Army in October the 2d 1777 : [Service 25 days, including 8 for returning.]
Fortunatus Eager, Capt. Isaac Rayner
Joshua Kendal
Elisha Sawyer, Ist. Lt.
Aaron Phelps
Oliver Moor
Nath1. Sawyer, 2ª Lt.
Simon Butler
Jonathan Thompson
Silas Thurston Stephen Goss
William Wilder, I. Sert. Ebenezer Pike, 2 Sert William Kendal, 3 Do.
Jacob Swears
Benjn. Farmer
Timothy Kilburn, 4 Do
Sam" Jewet
Thomas Blodgett Enoch Roper John Roper Andrew Putnam
Jonathan Wilder I Corpl Aaron Sawyer 2 Do Phineas Fletcher 3 Do Ebenezer Ross 4 Do Eph™. Kendall, Drum. William Kendall, Fife Abell. Allen Josiah Bennet Jacob Allen
Private David Gary &
Elijah Dressor
Oliver Bowker
Hen'. W. Farmer Manasor Knight Elihu Wilder John Spafford John Robbins Seth Fairbanks
Josiah Cutting Peter Prescott John Willard Joshua Piper Tilly Richardson Silas Rice Elisha Rugg John May
Fifer John Wheelock Jr.
39
MASSACHUSETTS.
Paul Sawyer
= Eph™ Powers
Abel Richardson
Amos Sawyer
Nathan Nelson
Nath. Houton
James Pratt
Josiah Person
Jonathan Nelson
John Thurston
Joseph Palmer Nath1 White
[Mass. Archives, Revolutionary Rolls, Vol. XIX, pp. 9 and 10.]
JOHN AND JAMES BATTEL.
180. [Providence, 1778.] 17 Oct. This afternoon at 2 O'clk. the brigade was turned out, in order to attend the execution of John and James Battel, soldiers in Colo. Shepard's regt. The criminals were brought from the Provost under a strong guard. Their coffins were borne just before them. The Dead March was played behind them. In this manner they were brought to the place where they were to be exe- cuted. When the brigade was paraded, the Criminals were brought in front for every one to see them; after which their sentence was read, which was to be shot. Their coffins were set down by the edge of their graves. The men that were to be their executioners had their guns loaded for that purpose and marched up within about a rod of the coffins. The criminals were made to kneel down by the side of their coffins in order to receive the fatal blow, but at the moment they were to be shot their reprieves were read. The brigade marched back to our camp and was dismissed.
[Ebenezer Wild's Diary, Mass, Hist. Soc, Proc., 1890.]
EPHRAIM SAWYER AND SONS.
181. Lieutenant John Sawyer was quartermaster of the Eighth Massachusetts regiment. Ensign James Sawyer served in the Seventh, and February 10, 1781, was transferred to the Tenth. They were sons of Lieutenal-colonel Ephraim Sawyer, the major of the Lancaster regiment at Bunker Hill, and three other sons of his-Captain Ephraim, Josiah and Peter-also served in the patriot army.
WILLIAM DEPUTRON.
189. William Deputron's petition, found in Massachu- setts Archives, CLXXXVII, 329, gives some facts of interest regarding one of Lancaster's continental soldiers:
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