USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 2 > Part 36
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West Brimfield at the bridge
John Stebbins, Robert Moulton and David Shaw were elected May 4, 1731, to represent the interests of the town before the general court, and on the 24th of the same month Robert Moul- ton was chosen as the representative of the town to the general court, as the legislature was then designated.
The offices of selectmen, town clerk, and representative (until 1812, when the district system of representation was adopted) have been filled by the following persons :
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
Selectmen-1731, Robert Moulton, John Stebbins, Ezra King, David Morgan, David Shaw; 1732, Robert Moulton, John Stebbins, John Sherman, John Russell, William Nelson; 1733, Robert Moulton, John Sherman, John Russell, William Nelson, Joshua Shaw; 1734, John Stebbins, John Sherman, Ebenezer Graves, Leonard Hoar, Benjamin Cooley; 1735, John Sherman, Ebenezer Graves, Nathaniel Hitchcock, John Keep, Joseph Blod- gett ; 1736, John Stebbins, John Sherman, John Russell, David Hitchcock, Nicholas Graves; 1737, Ezra King, John Sherman, Leonard Hoar, Joseph Haynes, William Warriner; 1738, John Stebbins, Benjamin Cooley, Nathaniel Hitchcock, Joseph Blod- gett, Samuel King; 1739, John Stebbins, John Sherman, Wil- liam Nelson, David Hitchcock, Nathaniel Miller; 1740, John Stebbins, John Sherman, William Nelson, Nathaniel Miller; 1741, John Sherman, James Merrick, Henry Burt, Nathan Col- lins, John Mighell; 1742, John Stebbins, John Sherman, John Russell, Joseph Blodgett, Nicholas Graves; 1743, John Russell, Nathaniel Miller, John Mighell, Thomas Stebbins, Benjamin Morgan; 1744, John Stebbins, John Russell, Joseph Blodgett, David Hitchcock, John Mighell; 1745, John Sherman, Leonard Hoar, Benjamin Cooley, John Mighill, Thomas Stebbins; 1746, John Sherman, Leonard Hoar, David Hitchcock, Anthony Need- ham, Joseph Davis ; 1747, John Sherman, Leonard Hoar, Samuel King, Thomas Stebbins, Anthony Needham; 1748, Robert Moul- ton, Joseph Blodgett, George Colton, Joseph Hoar, Thomas El- lingwood ; 1749, Robert Moulton, John Sherman, Leonard Hoar, John Keep, Enoch Hides; 1750, John Sherman, Joseph Blodgett, Thomas Stebbins, Joseph Hoar, Daniel Burt; 1751, John Sher- man, Joshua Shaw, Samuel King, Joseph Hoar, John Danielson ; 1752, John Sherman, James Merrick, George Colton; 1753, John Sherman, Leonard Hoar, Joseph Blodgett, George Colton, Enoch Hides; 1754, John Keep, Luke Blashfield, Noah Hitchcock, Adonijah Russell; 1755, Samuel King, Joseph Hoar, Daniel Burt, Bezaleel Sherman; 1756, John Sherman, Thomas Steb- bins, Daniel Burt, Samuel Moulton; 1757, Samuel King, An- thony Needham, Daniel Burt, Luke Blashfield; 1758, Joseph Davis, Noah Hitchcock, Francis Sikes, Edward Bond; 1759,
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THE TOWN OF BRIMFIELD
Thomas Stebbins, Joseph Davis, Daniel Burt, Samuel Nichols ; 1760, Joseph Blodgett, Daniel Burt, Adonijah Russell, Edward Bond, Jonathan Ferry; 1761, Joseph Hoar, Samuel Nichols, James Lawrence, Jonathan Janes, Joseph Hitchcock; 1762, Jo- seph Blodgett, Anthony Needham, Joseph Hoar, Noah Hitch- cock; 1763, Joseph Hoar, Daniel Burt, Moses Hitchcock, Jona- than Charles, Benjamin Merrick; 1764, Joseph Davis, Adonijah Russell, Edward Bond, Jonathan Janes, Timothy Danielson ; 1765, Joseph Hoar, Daniel Burt, Adonijah Russell, Timothy Danielson, James Sherman; 1766, Joseph Hoar, Daniel Burt, Adonijah Russell, Timothy Danielson, James Sherman; 1767, Joseph Hoar, Adonijah Russell, Bezaleel Sherman, Samuel Nich- ols, Timothy Danielson; 1768, Joseph Hoar, Adonijah Russell, Bezaleel Sherman, Samuel Nichols, Timothy Danielson; 1769, Thomas Ellingwood, Daniel Burt, Bezaleel Sherman, Joseph Hitchcock, Joseph Browning; 1770, Daniel Burt, Bezaleel Sher- man, Joseph Hitchcock, Timothy Danielson; 1771, Daniel Burt, Bezaleel Sherman, Samuel Nichols, Timothy Danielson, Joseph Browning; 1772, Joseph Hoar, Daniel Burt, Bezaleel Sherman, Timothy Danielson, James Bridgham; 1773, Joseph Hoar, Beza- leel Sherman, Timothy Danielson, James Bridgham, Jonathan Brown; 1774, Joseph Hoar, Bezaleel Sherman, Timothy Daniel- son, Joseph Browning, James Bridgham; 1775, Thomas Elling- wood, Daniel Burt, Joseph Browning, James Bridgham, Joseph Hoar, Jr .; 1776, Daniel Burt, Bezaleel Sherman, Samuel Nichols, Timothy Danielson, James Brigham; 1777, Daniel Burt, Bezaleel Sherman, Timothy Danielson, Joseph Browning, Jonathan Thompson; 1778, Jonathan Brown, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Thomas Lombard, Simeon Hubbard, William Janes; 1779, Daniel Burt, Joseph Browning, Jonathan Brown, Jonathan Thompson, Aaron Mighill; 1780, Daniel Burt, Jonathan Brown, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Aaron Charles, Abner Morgan; 1781, Joseph Browning, Jona- than Brown, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Aaron Mighill, Aaron Charles; 1782, Daniel Burt, Joseph Browning, Jonathan Brown, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Aaron Mighill; 1783, Daniel Burt, Joseph Browning, Joseph Hoar. Jr., Simeon Hubbard, Samuel Bates; 1784, Daniel Burt, Joseph Hitchcock, Joseph Browning, Aaron Mighill, Sam-
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uel Bates; 1785, Daniel Burt, Joseph Browning, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Samuel Bates, Issachar Brown; 1786, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Aaron Mighill, Abner Morgan, Issachar Brown, John Carpen- ter; 1787, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Abner Morgan, Issachar Brown, Alexander Sessions, Medad Hitchcock; 1788, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Aaron Mighill, Abner Morgan, Issachar Brown, David Morgan; 1789, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Aaron Mighill, Abner Morgan, Issachar Brown, David Morgan; 1790, Joseph Browning, Simeon Hub- bard, Abner Morgan, Issachar Brown, David Morgan; 1791, Joseph Browning, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Abner Morgan, Issachar Brown, Samuel Sherman; 1792, Joseph Browning, Abner Mor- gan, Samuel Bates, David Morgan, Jonas Blodgett; 1793, Jo- seph Browning, Abner Morgan, Samuel Bates, David Morgan; 1794, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Abner Morgan, Issachar Brown, Alexan- der Sessions, Jonas Blodgett; 1795, Joseph Browning, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Abner Morgan, Issachar Brown, Jonas Blodgett; 1796, Joseph Browning, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Abner Morgan, Medad Hitchcock, Samuel Sherman; 1797, Joseph Browning, Jo- seph Hoar, Jr., Abner Morgan, Medad Hitchcock, Jo- nas Blodgett; 1798, Joseph Browning, Abner Morgan, . Medad Hitchcock, Aaron Morgan, Joseph Moffat; 1799, Joseph Browning, Abner Morgan, Medad Hitchcock, Aaron Morgan, Joseph Moffat; 1800, Joseph Browning, Abner Morgan, Medad Hitchcock, Aaron Morgan, Joseph Moffat; 1801, Joseph Browning, Abner Morgan, Medad Hitchcock, Aaron Morgan, Joseph Moffat; 1802, Joseph Browning, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Abner Morgan, Medad Hitchcock, Aaron Morgan, Joseph Moffat; 1803, Joseph Browning, Joseph Hoar, Jr., Abner Mor- gan, Aaron Morgan, Philemon Warren; 1804, Joseph Browning, Abner Morgan, Aaron Morgan, Philemon Warren; 1805, Ste- phen Pynchon, Thomas Sherman, Alfred Allen, Benjamin Sher- man; 1806, Stephen Pynchon, Thomas Sherman, Alfred Allen, Benjamin Sherman; 1807, Abner Morgan, Thomas Sherman,
Benjamin Sherman, Joseph D. Browning; 1808, Stephen Pyn- chon, Benjamin Sherman, Joseph D. Browning, Reuben Patrick; 1809, Stephen Pynchon, Benjamin Sherman, Joseph D. Brown- ing, Jacob Bishop; 1810, Abner Morgan, Stephen Pynchon,
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THE TOWN OF BRIMFIELD
Thomas Sherman, Benjamin Sherman, Abner Stebbins; 1811, Abner Morgan, Philemon Warren, Darius Charles, David Hoar; 1812, Philemon Warren, Stephen Pynchon, Darius Charles, David Hoar; 1813, Philemon Warren, Stephen Pynchon, Cyrus Janes, James Blodgett; 1814, Issachar Brown, Stephen Pyn- chon, Benjamin Sherman, Joseph D. Browning; 1815, Issachar Brown, Stephen Pynchon, Benjamin Sherman, Joseph D. Brown- ing; 1816, Stephen Pynchon, Alfred Allen, Daniel Nichols, Mar- quis Converse; 1817, Issachar Brown, Stephen Pynchon, Benja- min Sherman, Marquis Converse, Asa Lincoln; 1818, Stephen Pynchon, Benjamin Sherman, Cyrus Janes, Marquis Converse, Asa Lincoln; 1819, Abner Morgan, Joseph D. Browning, Darius Charles, Asa Lincoln, Ichabod Bliss; 1820, Stephen Pynchon; Daniel Burt, Samuel Brown, Simeon Coye, John Wyles; 1821, Stephen Pynchon, Daniel Burt, Samuel Brown, Simeon Coye, John Wyles; 1822, Cyrus Janes, Asa Lincoln, Simeon Coye, John Wyles, William W. Thompson; 1823, Benjamin Sherman, Cyrus Janes, Asa Lincoln, Simeon Coye, Lewis Williams; 1824, Benja- min Sherman, Simeon Coye, Lewis Williams, Thomas Merrick, Justin Morgan; 1825, Benjamin Sherman, Marquis Converse, John Wyles, Lewis Williams, Justin Morgan; 1826, Darius Charles, John Wyles, Lewis Williams, Justin Morgan, Oliver Blair; 1827, Asa Lincoln, Lewis Williams, Oliver Blair, Julius Burt, Lyman Bruce; 1828, Asa Lincoln, Lewis Williams, Oliver Blair, Julius Burt, Lyman Bruce; 1829, Asa Lincoln, Oliver Blair, Julius Burt, Col. Dauphin Brown, Robert Andrews; 1830, Darius Charles, Simeon Coye, Col. Dauphin Brown, Robert An- drews, Festus Foster; 1831, Julius Burt, Col. Dauphin Brown, Cyril R. Brown, Augustus Janes, John M. Warren; 1832, Darius Charles, Simeon Coye, Festus Foster, Royal Wales, Absalom Lombard; 1833, Royal Wales, Absalom Lombard, Linus Hoar, Lemuel Lombard, Nathaniel Parker; 1834, Festus Foster, Linus Hoar, Issacher Brown, Jr., Moses Tyler, Johnson Bixby ; 1835, Festus Foster, Linus Hoar, Issachar Brown, Jr., Moses Tyler, Johnson Bixby; 1836, Festus Foster, Linus Hoar, Abner Hitch- cock, Parsons Allen, Penuel Parker; 1837, Festus Foster, Linus Hoar, Abner Hitchcock, Parson Allen, Penuel Parker; 1838,
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Asa Lincoln, Augustus Janes, Abner Hitchcock, Parsons Allen, Samuel Tarbell, Ebenezer Fairbanks; 1839, Ebenezer Knight, Samuel A. Hitchcock, Darius Shaw, James Fenton, William J. Sherman ; 1840, Ebenezer Knight, James Fenton, Harvey Fen- ton, Lewis Stebbins, Orson Sherman, Albigence Newell; 1841, John Wyles, Cyril R. Brown, James Fenton, Orson Sherman, Abram Charles, Sumner Parker; 1842, Asa Lincoln, Cyril R. Brown, James Fenton, Harvey Janes, Nathan F. Robinson, Solo- mon Homer, Jr .; 1843, Asa Lincoln, Augustus Janes, James Fenton, Fitz Henry Warren, Lemuel Allen, George Puffer ; 1844, Absalom Lombard, Parsons Allen, James Fenton, Lemuel Allen, George Puffer, Abner Brown; 1845, Cyril R. Brown, James Fen- ton, Alvin Janes, Alfred Hitchcock, James Tourtellott; 1846, Ab- ner Brown, Darius Shaw, Harvey Fenton, Austin Andrews, Leon- ard Henshaw; 1847, William J. Sherman, Orson Sherman, Sum- ner Parker, Alured Homer, Philip G. Hubbard; 1848, Paul W. Paige, Lyman Upham, Augustus Wheeler, Francis D. Lincoln, Cheney Newton; 1849, Johnson Bixby, Sumner Parker, Lyman Upham, Wilson Homer, Joseph C. Hunter ; 1850, Abram Charles, Nathan F. Robinson, Joseph C. Hunter, Jairus Walker, Jonathan Emerson; 1851, Penuel Parker, Sumner Parker, Lemuel Allen, Ezra Perry, 3d, Calvin B. Brown; 1852, Sumner Parker, Warren F. Tarbell, Ambrose N. Merrick, Alfred L. Converse, Thomas J. Morgan; 1853, Nathan F. Robinson, Alured Homer, Elam Ferry, William G. Tarbell, Alfred Lombard; 1854, Henry F. Brown, Gilman Noyes, Aaron B. Lyman, Orra Parker, Dauphin Brown; 1855, Calvin B. Brown, Warren F. Tarbell, Gilman Noyes, Alden Goodell, James S. Blair; 1856, Gilman Noyes, Edward W. Pot- ter, William H. Wyles, Samuel N. Coye, Samuel W. Brown; 1857, Parsons Allen, Gilman Noyes, Edward W. Potter, William H. Wyles, Braman Sibley; 1858, Parsons Allen, William H. Wyles, Samuel W. Brown, Newton S. Hubbard, Pliny F. Spauld- ing; 1859. Jonathan Emerson, Orra Parker, William H. Wyles, James B. Brown, George C. Homer; 1860, Sumner Parker, Wil- liam H. Wyles, Newton S. Hubbard; 1861, Sumner Parker, Wil- liam H. Wyles, Newton S. Hubbard; 1862, Sumner Parker, Wil- liam H. Wyles, Edwin A. Janes; 1863, Sumner Parker, James S.
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Blair, William H. Wyles ; 1864, Sumner Parker, Thomas J. Mor- gan, William H. Wyles; 1865, Warren F. Tarbell, William H. Wyles, James B. Brown ; 1866, Cyril R. Brown, Cheney Newton, Porter A. Parker; 1867, Sumner Parker, Cheney Newton, James S. Blair; 1868, Cheney Newton, Dauphin Brown, James B. Brown; 1869, Samuel W. Brown, Ephraim Fenton, Abram Charles; 1870, Newton S. Hubbard, George Bacon, Francis E. Cook; 1871, Pliny F. Spaulding, James B. Brown, John W. Lawrence; 1872, Samuel W. Brown, James B. Brown, John W. Lawrence; 1873, James S. Blair, James B. Brown, Albert S. Prouty ; 1874, James B. Brown, Porter A. Parker, Moses H. Baker; 1875, Newton S. Hubbard, Porter A. Parker, Moses H. Baker; 1876, Newton S. Hubbard, James B. Brown, Porter A. Parker; 1877, James B. Brown, Moses H. Baker, Charles F. Spaulding; 1878, Cheney Newton, Charles F. Spaulding, Moses H. Baker; 1879, Cheney Newton, Moses H. Baker, Pliny F. Spaulding; 1880, James B. Brown, Pliny F. Spaulding, Dwight P. Allen; 1881, Cheney Newton, Samuel W. Brown, Edward Bliss : 1882, Sanford Booth, Moses H. Baker, Oscar F. Brown; 1883, Moses H. Baker, Sanford Booth, Edwin H. Morgan; 1884, Moses H. Baker, Frank R. Newton, John C. Spring; 1885, Moses H. Baker, Frank R. Newton, Daniel W. Janes; 1886, Moses H. Baker, Frank R. Newton, Daniel W. Janes; 1887, Frank R. New- ton, Oscar F. Brown, Josiah Stebbins; 1888, Frank R. Newton, Oscar F. Brown, Josiah Stebbins; 1889, Oscar F. Brown, Josiah Stebbins, Orrin Hicks; 1890, Oscar F. Brown, Josiah Stebbins, Orrin Hicks; 1891, Frank R. Newton, Moses H. Baker, Orrin Hicks; 1892, Frank R. Newton, Moses H. Baker, F. Edgar Brown; 1893, Frank R. Newton, Moses H. Baker, F. Edgar Brown; 1894. Frank R. Newton, Arthur D. Brown, Charles C. Brown; 1895, Arthur B. Brown, Charles C. Brown, Moses H. Baker; 1896, Newton Hubbard, Arthur B. Brown, George W. Sherman ; 1897, Moses H. Baker, Arthur B. Brown, George W. Sherman; 1898, Arthur B. Brown, Edward H. Davenport, Ed- ward B. Brown ; 1899, Arthur B. Brown, Edward B. Brown, Ed- ward H. Davenport; 1900, Edward B. Brown, Edward H. Dav- enport, Charles S. Tarbell : 1901, Edward B. Brown, Edward H. Davenport, Charles C. Brown.
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Town Clerks-Robert Moulton, 1731; John Sherman, 1732- 61; Joseph Blodgett, 1761-2; Timothy Danielson, 1763-75; James Bridgham, 1775-6; Aaron Mighill, 1777-8; Joseph Moffat, 1779-84; Aaron Morgan, 1784-97; Stephen Pynchon, 1797-1823; William W. Thompson, 1823-6; Ebenezer Knight, 1826-9; John B. Cooley, 1829-31; Francis B. Stebbins, 1831; Abner Brown, 1832; Francis B. Stebbins, 1833; Ebenezer Knight, 1834-9; Asa Lincoln, 1839; Fitz Henry Warren, 1840; John W. Bliss, 1841; Asa Lincoln, 1842; Otis Lane, 1843-5; Henry F. Brown, 1845-8; Philip G. Hubbard, 1849; John Newton, 1850; Henry F. Brown, 1851; Charles Le Baron, 1852; George Bacon, 1853-6; James B. Brown, 1857; Calvin B. Brown, 1858-60; Henry F. Brown, 1861-2; George Bacon, 1863-4; Henry F. Brown, 1865-91; George M. Hitchcock, 1892-6; Oscar F. Brown, 1897.
The town officers of Brimfield for 1901 are as follows : Town clerk and treasurer, Oscar F. Brown; selectmen, overseers of the poor and board of health, Edward B. Brown, Edward H. Davenport, Charles C. Brown; auditors, George F. Kibbe, Miner H. Corbin; collector, Charles S. Tarbell; assessors, Sanford Booth, Charles C. Brown, Gilbert L. Brown; constables, George W. Sherman, George E. Hitchcock, Orrin Hicks, William C. Davenport; superintendent of streets, Edward H. Davenport; cemetery committee, George M. Hitchcock, Edward W. Potter, Emory Livermore; school committee, James Read Brown, Dr. Robert V. Sawin, Clarence B. Brown; superintendent of schools, James A. MacDougall of Monson; trustees of public library, Thomas J. Morgan, Charles C. Brown, Issac W. Allen, Rebecca M. Lincoln, M. Lizzie Noyes, M. Anna Tarbell (librarian).
Representatives1-Robert Moulton, 1731; John Sherman, 1740; Thomas Mighill, 1746; Thomas Stebbins, 1747-51; John Sherman, 1753-4; Daniel Burt, 1760-65; Timothy Danielson, 1767-72; James Bridgham, 1773; Daniel Burt, 1781; Dr. Joseph Moffat, 1782; Aaron Mighill, 1783; Nehemiah May, 1784; Jo- seph Browning, 1786-93; David Morgan, 1794; Joseph Brown- ing, 1795-6; Joseph Hoar, 1797; Abner Morgan, 1798-1801;
1Town representatives subsequent to 1812 will be found in the county civil lists.
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THE TOWN OF BRIMFIELD
Clark Brown, 1802-3; Stephen Pynchon, 1805-7; William Eaton, 1808; Stephen Pynchon, 1809-12; James Blodgett, 1809; Phile- mon Warren, 1810-12 (town entitled to two representatives from 1809 to 1812).
While the settlers of Brimfield experienced not a little trouble from Indians, and built two block houses in different por- tions of the settlement as places of refuge in case of need, it is a pleasure to record that there was no occasion for their use, the town being spared the scenes of butchery and conflagration to which many of the early Massachusetts settlements were sub- jected. The town, however, furnished a generous proportion of its citizens for service in the various Indian wars preceding the revolution. There is no occasion to doubt that these men served faithfully, although the records are lamentably meager. Their names, however, have been preserved, and the following list, which is doubtless reasonably complete and correct, includes the names of the Brimfield men rendering service in the companies and at the times designated :
Expedition Against the French and Indians, 1747-Ensign James Mirick, Sergeant Ichabod Bliss, Corporal Medad Hitch- cock, Sentinel Daniel Graves; Samuel Kilborn, Nathaniel Clark, Mark Ferry, Humphrey Gardner, Charles Hoar, Daniel Morgan, Henry Burt, John Nelson, E. Moreton, Joseph Bullings, Nathan- iel Munger.
French and Indian War, 1755: Captain Daniel Burt's com- pany-Lieutenant Samuel Chandler, Ensign Trustrum Davis; Sergeants Jonathan Brown, John Harkness, and William Janes ; Clerk Daniel Loomis, Drummer Ebenezer Arms, Corporals John Hallowell, Joshua Russell, John Mighill, and Jabez Keep; Senti- nels Ephraim White, Ebenezer Bishop, Joseph Moffatt, Jr., Na- thaniel Collins, and John Bishop; John Thompson, Asa Merritt, Samuel Livermore, William Gordon, Joseph Davis, Elijah Mig- hill, Gideon Dimock, Benjamin Webber, Joshua Garey, Ichabod Meecham, Francis Baxter, Thomas Walton, Simeon Burke, Perez Marsh, Jr., Dennis Wedge, John Burt, Nathaniel Mighill, Robert Dunkly, Jr., James Turner, Daniel Moffatt, John Brightwell, Thomas Blodgett, Edward Roatch, Jehiel Morgan, Ebenezer Scott, Jr., Deliverance Carpenter, William Dadee.
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Captain Ebenezer Moulton's company-Lieutenant Gideon Mirrick, Ensign David Wallis, Clerk Humphrey Crane, Sergeants Hugh Tackles, Joseph Belknap, and Joseph Munger; Corporals Joshua Burgess, Phineas Mirrick, Phineas Durkee, and Aaron Graves; Drummer Richard Gordon; Samuel Mcclellan, John Cross, John Danielson, Jr., Abner Blodgett, Robert McMaster, Benjamin Stebbins, David Lumbard, Thomas Riddle, Stephen Clark, John Chedle, Ebenezer Frost, Asa Belknap, William Gardner, Nehemiah Needham, Samuel Bullen, John Hiel, John Lamberton, Thomas Anders, Jonathan Lumbard, Timothy Walker, Reuben Morgan, Jonathan Kilbourn, Josiah Converse, Jr., Joseph Moulton, William Belknap, James Runnels, Isaac Aplin, Timothy Farrell, David Brittian, Jonathan King, William Fleming, Samuel Frost, Timothy Collins, Adonijah Russell, Abi- jah Healey, Henry Webber, Samuel Dearing, William Garey, Henry Lyon, Jonathan Frost, Ebenezer Cooley.
Crown Point Expedition, 1756: Captain Trustram Davis' company-Clerk John Mighill, Sergeant Israel Walker, Corporal Ephraim White, Drummer Joseph Foot; Elijah Mighill, John Post, Samuel Allen, Josiah Smith, Reuben Townsley, Samuel Lee, David Allen, Joseph Moulton, John Davis, Joseph Needham, Jacob Webber, Asa Belknap, Andrew Walton, Isaac Wallis, Jotham King, William Garle, Samuel Smith, Edward Cobb.
During the same year five Brimfield men were pressed into the service: Simeon Hubbard, Samuel Lee, Samuel Bates, John Burt, and Edward Cobb.
Expedition Against Canada, 1758: Captain Daniel Burt's company-Sergeants Aaron Merrick, Phineas Durkee; Corporal Josiah Holbrook; Drummers Isaac Mund, Jasper Needham; Is- rael Walker, Benjamin Blodgett, Timothy Walker, Jonathan Moulton, Isaac Bliss, John Morgan, Joseph Thompson, John Rosebrook, Richard Bishup, Samuel Webber, Samuel Mighill, John Thompson, Reuben Lilley, Asa Belknap, Israel Janes, Peter Fuller, Asa Holbrook, Thomas Hobart, Reuben Hoar, Aquila Moffatt, Paul Hitchcock, Jotham King, Benjamin Nelson, William Garey, Nathaniel Mighill, Reuben Townsley, Phineas Graves, Simeon Keene, Ebenezer Stebbins, Elnathan Munger,
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THE TOWN OF BRIMFIELD
John Shaw, John Harris, Peter Groves, Smith Ainsworth, Isaac Scott, Daniel Sherman, Beriah Sherman, Joseph Morgan, Jacob Ainsworth, Matthias Hartman, William Nelson, Benjamin Car- penter, Benjamin Webber.
Captain Trustram Davis' company, 1760-Lieutenants Jonathan Morgan and Joseph Thompson, Ensign Daniel Knowl- ton, Sergeants Samuel Mighill and Gideon Dimick, Corporals Peter Fuller, John Anderson and William Bishop, Sentinels Reuben Lilley, George Larkins and Jehiel Morgan, Drummer Samuel Blodgett; Asa Belknap, Ariel Mighill, John Robinson, Samuel Frizzell, Joseph Hitchcock, Daniel Haines, Adonijah Cooley, Joseph Davis, George Peagray, John Hinds, Aaron Mighill, Joseph Crawfoot, Reuben Townsley, Benjamin Nelson, Caleb Loomis, Edward Cobb, Thomas Anderson, John Willis, John Davis, Jonathan Babcock, Benajah Rice, Jonathan Norris, John Harris, Jonathan Torrey, David Torrey, Leonard Hoar, Alexander Jennings, Nathaniel Cooley, Trustram Davis, Jr., Lemuel Hind.
It is noteworthy, in connection with the last named com- pany, that one of its members, Reuben Townsley, was taken captive by the Indians, and was subjected to their favorite ordeal of running the gauntlet. Despite this trying reception, he became a favorite with his captors, was adopted into the tribe, and lived with the red men for ten years. He then returned to Brimfield, but finding civilized life distasteful, went back to the forest where he passed the rest of his days.
In the discussions and active measures which preceded the actual outbreak of the revolution, the people of Brimfield took an earnest part. At the town meeting in 1768 it was voted to send Timothy Danielson as a delegate from Brimfield to the convention to be held at Boston on the 22d of September of that year to consider the relations between the colony and the English government. In 1773 strong resolutions denouncing certain objectionable acts of Parliament were adopted, and in 1774 the voters of the town unanimously adopted the covenant pledging them to abstain from the use of any goods imported from Great Britain and to sunder all commercial relations with those who
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continued to sell goods so imported. This covenant was signed by 190 freeholders of the town, and as there was no dissenting vote recorded, it is probable that this number included prac- tically all of the men of the town. During the same year money was raised for the purchase of powder and lead, and measures were taken for the organization of two militia companies, who were to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice to the defense of the province. The organizations were designated as the East and West companies, and the following officers were appointed on the 7th of October: East company- Captain James Sherman, First Lieutenant Jonathan Charles, Second Lieutenant Phineas Sherman, Ensign Daniel Burt. West company-Captain Samuel Nichols, First Lieutenant Jonathan Brown, Second Lieutenant Nathan Hoar, Ensign Abner Steb- bins. In January, 1775, it was voted that a company of fifty minute men be raised and equipped at the expense of the town, and Joseph Thompson was chosen as their captain. He remained in the service until the close of the war, attaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
With the opening of the war the demands upon the people of the town became heavy, and so continued to the close of the struggle. Not only were soldiers furnished in liberal number to maintain the continental army, but the tax upon the people who remained at home, to supply the necessities of the troops, to pay for their service, and to meet other requirements, was enough to appall the bravest. Yet there was no faltering or demur. Whatever was required was voted with unanimity, and the most serious burdens were assumed unflinchingly. The list of those who served in the patriot army, so far as preserved, is given below; but it is believed that in all the town sent fully 200 of her sons into the service-a most heroic number consider- ing the population at the time. Where these men served, the battles in which they were engaged, the marches and the hard- ships which they endured, are not recorded; but it is of record that at the close of the war the town bore a burden of £1,768 8s. as its share of the arrears of pay due the faithful troops who had won the independence of the colonies.
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So far as preserved, the names of Brimfield's soldiers in the war of the revolution were :
Brigadier-General Timothy Danielson, Colonel Jonathan . Thompson, Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Thompson, Majors Nathaniel Dickinson and Abner Morgan, Captains Thomas T. Burt, Joseph Browning, John Carpenter, Joseph Hoar and James Sherman, Lieutenants Jonathan Brown, Reuben Lilly, Aaron Mighill and Phineas Sherman, Ensign Nathaniel Miller; John Atchinson, Henry Abbott, Zebediah Abbott, Nathan Ames, Peter Alexander, Samuel Andrew, James Burnett, Joseph Baker, Sherebiah Ballard, John Bartlett, George Bement, Jesse Bement, George Blanchard, James Blashfield, John Blashfield, Ozem Blashfield, William Blashfield, Henry Bliss, John Bloss, Blodgett Bliss, Edward Bond, Ephraim Bond, Luke Bond, Samuel Bond, Daniel Belknap, Thomas Bliss, Admatha Blodgett, Jonas Blod- gett, Benjamin Blodgett, Ephraim Blodgett, Rufus Blodgett, Hooper Bishop, Solomon Bishop, Abner Bishop, Jonathan Bridg- ham, Silas Brooks, Bartholomew Brown, Jonathan Brown, John Bryant, Noadiah Burr, Abel Burt, Stoddard Cady, Abial Car- penter, John Carpenter, William Carpenter, Timothy Corliss, Lemuel Chapman, Aaron Charles, Jonathan Charles, Nathaniel Charles, Nehemiah Charles, Solomon Charles, John Charles, Nathaniel Chickering, Benoni Clark, Peter Clark, Lewis Collins, Nathaniel Collins, Stephen Collins, Thaddeus Collins, Azariah Cooley, John Collis, Altamont Danielson, Calvin Danielson, Daniel Danielson, John Danielson, Lothario Danielson, Luther Danielson, Samuel Davis, William Davis, Isaac Draper, Samuel Draper, Joseph Dunham, Hananiah Ellingwood, Rufus Fair- banks, Ebenezer Fairbanks, Elijah Fay, Levi Fay, Judah Ferry, Jonathan Fisk, Luther Fuller, Jesse Graves, John Gardner, John Harris, Danial Haynes, Jonas Haynes, Samuel Haynes, Josiah Hill, Aaron Hitchcock, Abijah Hitchcock, Abner Hitchcock, Eldad Hitchcock, Eli Hitchcock, Elijah Hitchcock, Ezra Hitch- cock, Jacob Hitchcock, Joseph Hitchcock, Levi Hitchcock, Luther Hitchcock, Medad Hitchcock, Winchester Hitchcock, Leonard Hoar, John B. Hubbard, Jonathan Hubbard, Henry Hooker, Jeremiah Howard, David Janes, Elijah Janes, Eliphalet Janes,
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