USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 43
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In the early days of the Republic there were companies of militia in every town, and under old militia law a muster in October, and three sea- sons for drilling every year were required. There is one record of a sham fight between the New Rowley and Boxford militia, in which part of the men were disguised as Indians. Later, an independent company of in- fantry, the Lafayette Guards, was formed, which was noted for its drill and discipline. About 1858 or 1859 an independent company known as the Citizens' Guard was formed and was in regular practice when the Civil War began.
During the years of agitation and discussion which preceded the War of the Rebellion, Georgetown was moved to its depths. Among the anti- slavery leaders here were Theodore G. Eliot, Moses Wright, Asa W. Swett and Mrs. Almira Swett. The reformers were called "come-outers." Much opposition to them developed, and they were obliged to hold their meetings in groves, in barns, and on the steps of churches. Mr. Eliot's house, now Odd Fellows' Hall, was one of the stations of the "under- ground railway." Mr. Eliot and Amos D. Pillsbury, working in con- junction with John G. Whittier, the poet, helped a number of fugitive slaves to escape.
Mrs. Almira Swett was very bold in support of the cause. She used to take her knitting to church, and was arrested for contempt of wor- ship, tried, convicted, and sentenced to Ipswich. When the officers came for her, she refused to enter the sleigh, but was lifted in. When, how- ever, she reached Ipswich, the keeper of the house of correction declined to receive her, declaring that "those who had brought her there deserved more than she to be retained."
The first action taken by the town with regard to the Civil War was on April 30, 1861, when $5,000 was appropriated to aid enlistments, and a committee of one from each school district was appointed to see what supplies might be needed by volunteers or their families. Company K of the 50th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, was largely recruited from Georgetown, and in all the town furnished 194 men for service, making a surplus of 26 men more than required for filling their quota. Six of these men were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money raised was $24,217.99, and the amount of money raised and spent during four years for state aid to soldiers' families was $20,824.39. The
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ladies in town were very active in work for the soldiers all through the war. The Ladies' Sewing Circle of the Congregational Church gave gar- ments, bedding, socks, books, and other articles to the hospitals and Sani- tary and Christian Commissions to the value of $2500.
Memorial Day was first observed in Georgetown, May 30, 1867, and on May 30, 1870, the soldiers' monument was dedicated. Inscribed upon it are the names of fifty soldiers dying in the service.
Post 108, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized here August 18, 1869. It was named for Everett Peabody. A Women's Relief Corps was organized in conjunction with this post, April 2, 1883, and now has sixty-three members with Etta M. Adams as its president.
In the Spanish-American War, Georgetown was represented by at least one volunteer, Amos Spofford. There were probably others, but no record has been preserved.
On April 6, 1917, war was declared with Germany. Georgetown boys immediately began to enlist, and it was not long before they were representing the town in nearly every branch of the service. They were fighting with the infantry on the fields of France; they were on the great war ships in the navy; they were in the U. S. Marine Corps; they were in the base hospitals of the medical department; they were in the lum- ber camps of the forestry department; they were in the air service, and they were training in the camps in this county to be ready if needed. Ninety-seven boys from this town were enrolled, and of this number ten were commissioned officers. Five of these boys never came home, two died in hospitals and three were killed in action. Their names are: Bryant A. Browne, Rene J. Gagnon, Harry L. Murch, Edward P. Nolin, Joseph H. Tidd.
Perhaps never in the annals of Georgetown was there a day of such rejoicing as the day when the news of the signing of the armistice, No- vember 11, 1918, was received. We were notified very early in the morn- ing by the blowing of whistles and ringing of church bells. Factories were closed, the schools were dismissed, an impromptu parade was form- ed, and in common with the rest of the world, for one great day we were jubilant, while the bells of victory rang far into the night. The boys soon began to come home. When all had returned, they were given a royal "welcome home" by the town on October 13, 1919. Every effort was made to do them honor. In the morning there was a flag raising and a parade, and a victory medal was given to each veteran. "Old Nancy" was brought from her hiding place and was a prominent feature of the parade. For several days a committee of public-spirited men had been cleaning the auditorium of the Memorial Church, for many years abandoned, and preparing it for their reception. In the afternoon, there was speaking and music in this "Memorial Hall," and a poem composed for the occasion by Mrs. Charles Tenny was read. This was followed by a banquet in Odd Fellows' Hall, the festivities closing with a ball.
About a month before this Welcome Home Day, Post No. 211 of the American Legion had been formed, with 18 or 20 charter members. The number grew until nearly every veteran was enrolled. A fair was held. and with the proceeds rooms were hired and fitted up for the use of the Legion.
While our boys and young men were fighting for us across the sea, the folks at home were not idle. Five times the government asked for financial assistance. We were asked to contribute substantial sums toward the four Liberty Loans and the Victory Loan. So large was
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Georgetown's quota that at times it seemed impossible that it could be raised, but through the untiring efforts of the bank officials and the pa- triotism and sacrifices of the people, Georgetown went "over the top" each time. The total amount raised by the sale of these government bonds was approximately $425,000.
Long before the United States entered the war, the women of the town organized for work under the direction of Mrs. E. O. Taylor, and the click of the knitting needle began to be heard everywhere. It never ceased until months after the armistice was signed. People were knitting everywhere, at club meetings, in concert halls, lecture rooms, and school rooms, on the cars and at railroad stations, and continually at odd mo- ments in their homes. As early as May, 1917, work for the French wounded was started by Miss Pauline Bray, and later the workers were formed into a branch of the American Fund for French Wounded. Under the leadership of Mrs. Olive Pingree, the workers met once a week to sew and knit for the cause. About 600 garments were made and 150 knitted articles, chiefly socks and sweaters. Each Christmas bags were sent to the soldiers in the hospitals. About $600 were raised for this work.
Through the untiring efforts of Mrs. E. O. Taylor, the Red Cross work was organized under the Essex County Chapter of the North- eastern Division of the Red Cross, with Mr. Allan H. Wilde as presi- dent. The workers met twice a week for many months in the historical room of the Peabody Library, and there, under the supervision of Miss Sarah Bateman, thousands of garments were made for the soldiers in the hospitals. Mrs. Mary Salmon had charge of the knitting, which was done chiefly at home. Great numbers of socks, sweaters, trench caps, mittens, mufflers and other articles were made. Christmas boxes were also sent to the soldiers at the front. A large sum of money was raised for this work by membership fees and contributions. An important branch of the Red Cross work was the department of surgical dressings under the supervision of Miss Bertha M. Larkin. The workers met once a week in the Perley School and between June, 1917, and November, 1918, about 14,000 dressings were made.
A Junior Red Cross was organized in each of the schools. In the Perley School, Miss Lena B. Carleton had charge of the work. Comfort bags and books were made for the hospitals, and considerably more than $100 was raised for surgical dressings. In the Central School scrap books for the hospitals were made, and in one room two afghans were knit, one by the boys of the class and the other by the girls. More than $100 was raised by membership fees and as the proceeds of a concert.
In the pageant presented at the Pilgrim tercentenary celebration at Plymouth, there was a great moment when, amid clash of cymbals and thunder of drums, the flags of the Allies were seen to cross the field and wave and beckon, while from the "Mayflower," at anchor in the harbor, rang out, clear and high, a bugle call inviting the nations of the earth to rally to the support of freedom's cause. And so the bugle call of freedom came to this generation in our little town, as it came to our forefathers, to those Puritans who hesitated not to leave country and home that they might be free, to the pioneers who cleared the wilderness and fought with the Indians, to the brave minute-men of the Revolution, to those fifty who gave their lives in the Civil War, and to those others who suffered on battlefield and in prison pen. It is gratifying to know that, like them, our generation responded to the call and gave their best
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-their money, their hours of patient labor, and their sons "that govern- ment of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Merrimac in Various Wars-In all the wars of this republic, Merri- mac has been ready to defend the American cause for freedom and jus- tice. In 1757, during the French and Indian trouble, Amesbury was re- quired to furnish forty-three men to join the forces at Kennebec, Oswego and Crown Point. Of these, thirty-one were then residents of the West Parish, now Merrimac. In 1778, Captain Richard Kelley, with twenty men of his company, joined in the unsuccessful expedition against Louis- burg. In 1775, after the battle of Lexington, twenty men of Captain Curry's company were from West Parish and present at Bunker Hill. In the last year of the Revolution this town sent out in all 163 soldiers. In Shay's Rebellion five were from what is now Merrimac. During the Civil War (1861-65) Merrimac will ever be remembered in historical an- nals by the company raised by Captain Joseph W. Sargent, the same be- ing "E" of the Fourteenth Regiment. In 1863 thirty-five more men en- listed from Merrimac. Coming down to the Spanish-American War, there were few required from any one location, but every call on this town was made up quickly. The men who served in that war left home in May, 1898; the war virtually ended the same year, and the men were discharged and came home. Concerning the last war, the World War 1917-18, it should be said that Merrimac was fully up to the standard of Essex county in furnishing her quota of men and war supplies. The women as well as the men worked vigorously, and forwarded supplies as rapidly as possible; they also purchased her share of Government war bonds, did excellent Red Cross work, and proved that the same patriotic blood runs in the veins of the people of the town as away back a century and more ago.
The Merrimac soldiers who lost their lives by reason of the World War have their names cast on a heavy bronze tablet attached to a huge boulder, on the main street of the village; these names are as follows: Stanley F. Woods, for whom the Legion post was named; Walter Bisbee, Joseph H. Tidd, Marion W. Sargent, Carl S. Linden, Martin T. Jennings, Carl G. Davis, Alfred N. Brown and George J. Barry.
Swampscott in World War-The following records herewith speak for themselves, and show how the young men and women served their country with distinction. Over fifty per cent. of Swampscott men in the army were in the American Expeditionary Force, and a large number saw service in the Navy in foreign waters. This emphasizes the high standard of Swampscott's contribution to the greatest war of all times. The death record shows that men from the United States serving as sol- diers from Swampscott in the Army and Navy in Canada, who lost their lives, numbered twelve. As to the deaths in all departments, it should be said that such a list is not yet quite completed. However, these figures
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are significant: Soldiers in U. S. Army, 349; in U. S. Navy, 83; in the U. S. Marine Corps, 14; in Shipping Board, 8; British service, 4; Canadian service, 6; French service, 1; records not yet received, 45, making a grand total of 510.
In the matter of Liberty Loans, it may be stated that in the first two drives Swampscott was not separated from Lynn and the county, but all gave to the full extent. In the Fourth and Fifth Liberty Loan drives Swampscott subscribed as follows: Fourth Loan, $1,172,350; Fifth Loan, $774,050, a total of almost $2,000,000.
The work of the women in Swampscott in the support of the Red Cross is beyond praise. The membership by years was, 1917-18, 1509; 1918-19, 1950; 1919-20, 1450. When the final record is made, Swamp- scott will not be ashamed at the total footings in men and money and time expended in the great conflict which sought the further extension of freedom and world-wide democracy.
Methuen in World War-In the great World War, Methuen did her share faithfully and well. Out of the hundreds who were called from their homes to serve in the allied forces, the following lost their lives as a result of service, either over seas or at home: Merrill Grant, died in France, April 3, 1916; Thomas Burwick (British army), in France, June 15, 1917; William L. B. Guthrie, April 18, 1918; William J. Tooney, in France, May 2, 1918; James N. Grierson; Frank Harrington, July 5, 1919; Walter Hooper, July 22, 1918; Frank Wright, July 23, 1918, in France; August Malhison, September 25, 1918; William Slingsby, in France, October 4, 1918; Fred Gilson, in France, October 6, 1918; Wil- liam Dixon, in France; George Chittick, in France, November 6, 1918; Frederick Edwards, in France, February 21, 1919; Frederick J. Wood- burn, in France, May 20, 1919; Richard G. Kelley; Edward L. Hutchin- son, Siberia, June 13, 1919; Thomas Dougherty, in England, June 13, 1919; Chester McCullum, in France, October 23, 1918; also all of the following died in France or were killed in battle there: Alfred Berry, August 26, 1918 ; Herbert Davis, October 10, 1918; Arthur Hadfield, Sep- tember 2, 1918; Alden B. Howard, September 22, 1918; Albert Lunsby, September 28, 1918 ; Frank C. Pilling, November 7, 1918; Ernest Robson, July 1, 1916; Herbert Rostrom, August 12, 1918; James Stevenson (Canadian), August 12, 1918; Frank Scott, September 29, 1918; Charles P. Welding, August 8, 1918; Sarkis Tavitan, April 22, 1921; Keitanas Kurpia, December 13, 1920.
The Red Cross Chapter in this county, especially the Methuen Branch, was well managed throughout the war. In 1917 when their operations really commenced in the place, the officers and committees in- cluded these: Mrs. Franz Schneider, chairman; Mrs. D. D. Woodbury, vice-chairman; Miss Ethel Warwick, secretary; and Henry S. Emerson, treasurer. Others who served in various capacities were: Mrs. G. A. Lewis, Mrs. D. D. Woodbury, Rev. John Mason. Many more served
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throughout the war and at present (1921) the following are serving: Chairman, Mrs. Franz Schneider; Secretary, the same as last named; Treasurer, Walter L. A. Gilcreast; Executive Committee-W. A. Pedler, D. D. Woodbury, Henry B. Emerson, Mrs. Alfred Sager, Mrs. C. A. Ste- vens, Miss Alice R. Wheeler, Mrs. G. V. Russell, Mrs. J. H. Busby, Mrs. W. J. Sands and Rev. Gertrude Earle.
Military Affairs of Rockport-Just as the little settlement at Sandy Bay and Pigeon Cove had commenced to thrive through the fishing indus- try and scanty farming, the rude blast of war was heard along the rock- bound coast, casting a withering blight upon all previous efforts of the people, who here were doing their best to become an independent and contented community. In April, 1775, when the British were marching on Concord, some twenty fishing boats were being harbored in Rockport waters. When the fishermen heard the news, they immediately weighed anchor and set for home. By nightfall about all were at Gloucester, with such arms as they could secure. Rockport was well represented at Bunker Hill with a company of sixty-five men. Several English boats were captured near Rockport in that war, one of which was loaded with cattle ; these were taken ashore at Rockport and sold at auction. In every way in her power, the town aided the common cause of freedom from English rule.
The War of 1812-14 was not desired, at first, by the people in this section of New England ; but as it was declared against England by Con- gress, it had to be supported, and in the end proved the wisest move that our country could have set in motion. Yet it was hard on the coast men and fishing interests, as the English seized numerous boats and greatly annoyed the poor class all along the shores. The town finally rose in her might and stood solidly against the acts of the Mother Country; by 1815 the strife had ended, and the people here were again beginning to prosper.
Next came the Civil War, in which every town and hamlet in the entire Northland had to make its sacrifice, some even unto death. When the news reached Rockport, while at church worshiping, the spirit of war seemed uppermost in the minds of many in the congregations. Union guns in the hands of rebels firing on one of our forts was too much for these Rockport people. An informal meeting was called in Johnson's Hall, and a few days later the town appropriated $3,000, to be used as follows: Each volunteer of Rockport was to be paid twenty dollars, and what remained was to go toward the support of soldiers' families. A company was immediately offered the government, but "red-tape" pre- vented it getting into actual service for several months ; in the meantime, many left it and enlisted in Maine and other states. The Maine regi- ment in which the Rockport men enlisted reached Washington in time to participate in the first Bull Run battle, and continued fighting in some of the bloodiest battles of the war. As the war progressed, Rockport sent forth her men and yielded up what means for support of the families
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of the brave men she could. So great was the enthusiasm that on one occasion, when only twenty-nine men were asked for, one man offered fifty dollars to be allowed to put his name down and be mustered into service. The total number of men credited to Rockport for the Civil War was 358 for the army, and 41 for the navy. Only thirty-four were paid to volunteer. The State records show this town sent sixty-three more men than all her calls amounted to. The cost to the town for furnishing men was $30,000. The State paid back one-half of this amount. If any- one questions the goodness of a people let them look into their war rec- ord, as in it will be found the key to the true character of such a com- munity.
Out of about two hundred soldiers who served in the World War from the vicinity of Rockport, the following six lost their lives, all dying in France except one, who died after coming home: Sergeant Dwight Paul Dutton; Privates Edward Peterson, Harold Tarr Grover, Edward R. Everett, James E. Bryan. John A. Carlson, died after return- ing to Rockport.
Rowley Men in Various Wars-In 1640 Sebastian Brigham was cap- tain and John Remington lieutenant of a military company, sent out to disarm Passaconaway, who lived near Merrimac river. In August, 1653, this town furnished men for a scouting party at Piscataqua. In 1673 a company was formed by order of the town, and in the "King Philip War" it saw service. Joseph Pearson was in the "Flower of Essex" company and was killed at Hatfield. Friday, April 21, 1676, at Sudbury, Captain Brocklebank and a part of his command were entirely destroyed by Philip and his warriors. In 1689 this town furnished men for the defense of Haverhill and Dover. In the expedition against Que- bec in 1690, Rowley furnished Philip Nelson, Abel Platts, and thirty non- commissioned officers and privates. In various Indian wars many went from Rowley, but the names are lost with the passing of years. In 1755 a company was raised to serve at Lake George. In 1756 a company was formed for service at Fort Edward. In 1759 many parts of companies were formed at Rowley.
April 19, 1775, word reached Rowley that fighting was going on at Lexington, and the two Rowley companies immediately started for the seat of war. They remained about Cambridge until the end of the week and returned home. Rowley sent many men into the Revolution, as well as to the second war against Great Britain. Also in Shay's Rebellion it furnished many men and a few commissioned officers.
In the Civil War from 1861 to 1865, Rowley is entitled to much mili- tary credit. "The Record of Massachusetts Volunteers" is the authority for the statement that Rowley sent her men as fast as called for; and when the strife had closed, the town had a credit of fourteen men as a surplus. There were hundreds of men from Rowley in the war.
In the World War, the only soldier from the town of Rowley who
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made the "supreme sacrifice", was George L. Bartlett. In war activities the town was fully up to the patriotic standard of Essex county through- out the entire conflict, and was fortunate in losing only one man.
The Military in Topsfield-In 1676 the General Court ordered that each town should "scout and ward, and clear the highway of brush and undergrowth" to prevent the skulking of the enemy. A garrison-house was built by the early settlers of Topsfield, yet it is not known to have ever been used. Very early, a military company was organized here, agreeable to the laws. In March, 1678, the town made a rate of £42 with which to purchase powder and bullets. In 1818 the town voted to build a powder-house in which to keep all military stores. The State military companies were all abandoned in 1840. Topsfield aided with her men and money in all the Indian wars and the French and Indian War. Several of the Topsfield soldiers perished at Cape Breton in 1774.
Joseph Gould commanded the militia company in Topsfield in March, 1775. A company of minute-men was under command of Captain Ste- phen Perkins. It consisted of about fifty men. When the Lexington Alarm was sounded in April, 1775, the two Topsfield companies marched to the scene of conflict. At various dates through the Revolution, this town sent men and expended much money in beef and other supplies for the army. There are found about three hundred names of Topsfield sol- diers who bore arms in the war for independence.
When the War of 1812 was declared, the citizens here were not in hearty accord with the declaration of war; but when forced to do their part, they soon went into it with as much good will as people in other parts of Essex county. The town raised her quota of men in ample time to be of service.
Peace was then the lot of the people of this country until the South- ern States seceded in April and May, 1861 and we were, for the first time, in a real civil war-brother against brother-North and South. Topsfield paid as high as $200 bounty for men to enlist. During that strife she sent to the service of her country, 113 soldiers, six more than demanded. Five of these were commissioned officers. Five perished in Anderson- ville prison-pen. Others were cast into Libby and Salisbury rebel prisons. Others died on the field of battle and were buried beneath a Southern sun. Read the account of the hardest fought battles of that bloody war, and then you will know what many of the men sent from Topsfield as else- where, endured for their country's flag. Eleven served in the navy de- partment and two never returned home. The names of Topsfield soldiers who gave up their lives in that civil war are inscribed on marble tablets in the Town Hall, while they "sleep the sleep that knows no waking." The amount of money expended by the town, exclusive of State aid, was $14,746.
In the Spanish-American War, Topsfield furnished her quota of men, few though it was, from towns of its size. Then came the World War
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-that war that has eclipsed all other known wars of the globe. In all that was asked by soldier and government, Topsfield gave freely. The roster of her soldiers is not yet fully compiled, but the list of such as were known to have been entitled to a place on the Roll of Honor appear below.
The following list of soldiers from Topsfield was inserted in the an- nual report of the town clerk for 1920: Andrews, Dwight Boyden; Bur- gess, Arthur Eben; Burgess, Charles Maynard; Dolan, Patrick; Emslie, James D .; Fuller, Amos W. A .; Harrington, Frank Edward; Kilhouley, Peter Joseph; Laskey, Augustus Alfred; Lewis, William McF .; Lyons, Patrick; Mercer, James E .; Mulkhy, Joseph W .; Pace, Earnest L .; Peas- ley, Charles A .; Perkins, Russell F .; Smith, Russell Charles; Soper, Her- bert M .; Todd, Harold H .; Watson, Guy E .; Wheatland, David Pingree. It is more than likely others should have been accredited to this town, but this was all that had been reported, legally, at the date of compiling the town report, from which this information was taken.
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