USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The history of Sudbury, Massachusetts, 1638-1889 > Part 35
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32
Abel Willis
50
Moses Haynes
32
Cop1 Dan11 Bowker
70
Israel Haynes
113
Lt James Puffer
52
James Haynes
129
James Puffer Jur
45
Jonª Haynes
45
Dan11 Loring
76
Charles Haynes
73
Jereh Robbins
21
Capt Aaron Haynes
190
Wm Hunt Ju'
62
Macah Haywood
49
John Mosmon
50
Moses Maynard
25
Lt Mathias Mosman
35
Nathan Maynard
35
Francis Green
20
John Maynard
150
Jesse Willis
32
Isaac Maynard
198
Edmund Parmenter
406
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Aaron Maynard
£50
Silas Tower L4
Timoy Moore
-
24
Capt David Moore Ext 20
Zech Maynard
70 Thads Moore Ex" 95
Jesse Mosman 95
Simeon Ingersal Ex"
79
Joseph Maynard Guar
75 Nathª Cutter Ex"
24
Dan11 Noyse Jun
55
Jonas Rice Exr
20
Moses Noyse
77
Jona Smith
49
Then Capt Nath" Maynard's Musteroll was read and the town voted to allow to each person expressed by name therein the Sum Set to his name in said Musteroll which was as followeth vizt
To John Adams
£50
Lt Eben" Staples
£18
Benj" Adams
23
Thos Trask
12
Josiah Allen
50
Isaac Woodward 7
Ephem Abbot
30
Lt John Noyes
73
Amos Abbot
20
Samuel Sherman
20
Wm Baldwin Esq"
50
Eph™ Allen adm
95
.Lt Wm Barker
32
James Philips
95
Rolan Bennet
12
Lemuel Whiting
95
John Dean
45
Lt Josiah Wilinton
95
James Davis
52
John Brewer 40
L' Josiah Farrar
13
Elijah Bent
95
Abraham Jenkinson
52
Zechh Bent
6
Sam" Griffin
80
Zechh Bryant Jur
70
Micah Graves
57
John Bruce
50
Phinehas Glezen
63
Majr Jos Curtis
5
Isaac Gould
4
David Curtis
32
Reuben Gould
25
Lt Sam" Choat
25
Jacob Gould
25
Thads Bond
40
Capt Josiah Hoar
5
Capt Joseph Payson
32
Lt Jonª Hoar
40
Wm Wyman 30
Capt Nath11 Maynard
68
Isaac Brintnal
20
Daniel Maynard
50
Peter Brintnal
20
Dan11 Moore
34
Joshua Kendal
20
Israel Moore
12
Capt Richard Heard
132
John Noyes Esq™
50
Thos Heard
53
James Noyes
52
Richard Heard Jur
20
Jason Parmenter
18
Trobridge Taylor
18
Jon' Parmenter Jur
15
Darius Hudson
52
Dr Eben" Roby
50
Joseph Emerson
52
Joseph Rutter Jur
50
Nath 1 Knolton 20
Tho Rutter
20
Sam" Haynes
3
Jonas Sherman
25
Wido Ann Noyes
30
Edward Sherman
50
Isaac Moore
20
Timoy Sherman
12
Simon Newton
70
407
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Then Capt Cutting's Musteroll was read and the town voted to allow to each person expressed by name therein, the Sum Set to his name in said Musteroll, which was as follows, vizt
To Lt Wm Bond
£22
Lt Joseph Smith £95
Thoms Brintnal
5
Capt Caleb Moulton 34
Joseph Beal
32
Micah Maynard adr 50
Isaac Cutting
32
Amos Ordeway
4
John Cutting
50
Dn Sam" Parris
32
Elisha Cutting
58
Lt Isaac Rice
54
Jona Cutting
20
Isaac Rice
25
Sam1 Curtis
20
Dan1 Rice
17
Thos Damon Jur
57
Israel Rice Jur
26
Wm Damon
25
Jonas Rice
9
Isaac Damon
12
Edmund Rice
42
Benjn Dudley Jur
6
Lt Sam" Russell
32
Cort Joseph Dudley
50
Capt. Thads Russell
20
Eben' Dudley
29
Capt Robert Cutting
55
WVm Dudley
56
Jacob Reeves
46
Eben™ Johnson
50
Lt Natha Reeves
20
Peter Johnson
24
Joseph Smith Capt.
76
John Loker
45
L' Ephraim Smith
22
Jonas Loker adr
5
Isaac Stone
50
Capt Isaac Loker
76
David Stone
50
John Meriam
26
Joel Stone
16
Capt. Caleb Moulton
34
John Tilton
32
: Capt Micah Maynard adr
50
John Tilton Jur
60
Amos Ordeway
4
Timoy Underwood adr
55
Dr Sam" Peris
32
Timoy Underwood
21
Lt Isaac Rice
54
Jonª Westson
20
Isaac Rice
2.5
Isaac Williams
20
Dan11 Rice
17
Lt John Whitney
88
Israel Rice Jur
26
Eben' Eaton
52
Micah Rice
4
Willm Grout
35
Isaac Smith
56
Francis Jones
64
Capt Thos Damon
20
Cap1 Jesse Emes
5
John Barney
4
The foregoing lists indicate a patriotic zeal highly com- mendable to the citizens of Sudbury. The town had a population of twenty-one hundred and sixty with about five hundred ratable polls ; and it is supposed that, during the war, from four to five hundred men had some service either in camp or field. Of these soldiers, one was brigadier-
408
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
general, three were colonels, two were majors, two were adju- tants, two were surgeons, twenty-four were captains and twenty-nine were lieutenants. We hear of Sudbury men from Concord to Bunker Hill, and from there to the High- lands of the Hudson. Where Washington went they fol- lowed. They stood near Stark in that post of danger by the bank of the Mystic. They were ordered to strike the front of Burgoyne at the north, and they endured the rigors of a Canadian winter in the attempt to gain Canada for the Con- tinental cause. It matters not where they were found, they were true to their commander and loyal to every trust. The officers were the friends of the great leaders of the American army, and the record of the achievements of the sons of Sudbury, in the old French and Indian War period, was not broken when they met in open field the discipline and expe- rience of the veteran troops of the British throne. Wherever an English front was deployed, Sudbury soldiers, if ordered, never flinched from meeting it. They went into the field to stay, or, if they returned, to rally if again called to the conflict. The summons to town-meeting at home was but as the long roll of the civilian which called him to devise means for filling and equipping the quota of troops or to assist the families of men at the front. Ticonderoga, Saratoga, Stillwater and White Plains were familiar names in old Sudbury. The battle-fields of the Revolution were not alone heard of by the children in the little red school- houses on the town's common land, but they heard them talked of in the household by those who had been upon them in the measured march or counter-march, the advance, retreat, or pursuit, until they were as well known as the broad acres on their own peaceful farms. The old king's or queen's arm in the corner had its history. The bullet-pouch had been emptied time after time into the ranks of the foe, and the cocked hat that long hung by the fireside was be- grimed, not by the smoke from the hearth, but by the dust and smoke of battle. That the soldiers were in places of peril is indicated by the following record of casualties, though probably but a part of them are here recorded.
409
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
CASUALTIES TO SUDBURY SOLDIERS.
KILLED.
Deacon Josiah Haynes, Aged 80, April 19th 1775 Asahel Read April 19th 1775
Joshua Haynes Jr, of Capt Aaron Haynes' Company, June th 1775, at Bunker Hill. Sergeant Thadeus Moore, 1777, at Saratoga Benjamin Whitney, - By accident -
WOUNDED.
Gen, John Nixon at Bunker Hill
Cornelius Wood
Nathan Maynard : Nahum Haynes
Capt, David Moore
Lieut, Joshua Clapp, wounded at
Joshua Haynes Saratoga
Benjamin Barry, lost an arm in Canada Expedition, 1776 DIED OF SICKNESS.
Sergeant Major Jesse Moore
Sergeant Hopestill Brown
Sergeant Elijah Willis
Sergeant Samuel Maynard, of the small pox, at Quebeck with Arnold, 1776
AT TICONDEROGA.
Ensign Timothy Underwood
Daniel Underwood
Oliver Sanderson James Puffer
Phinehas Gleason
Solomon Rice
Timothy Rice
Stephen Puffer, of Capt Daniel Bowker's Co., Col Webb's Regt died Oct 3ª
Josiah Cutter
TAKEN PRISONER AND NEVER HEARD OF.
Thadeus Harrington Thomas Dalrimple Thomas Moore Daniel Haynes.
LOST PRIVATEERING.
Isaac Moore
Lemuel Goodenow
Silas Goodenow
Peletiah Parmenter
PERSONS WHO MET WITH CASUALTIES THE NATURE OF WHICH IS NOT
SPECIFIED.
John Brewer John Bemis
James Demander
Timothy Mossman.
" Green be the graves where her martyrs are lying ; Shroudless and tombless they sank to their rest ; While o'er their ashes the starry fold flying Wraps the proud eagle they roused from his nest."
In closing this account of Sudbury's military service we will give some facts in the life of General Nixon.
410
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
SKETCH OF GENERAL NIXON.
Gen. John Nixon was a son of Christopher Nixon who went to Framingham about 1724, where seven children were born of whom John was the oldest. At an early age, being but a mere boy, he entered the army, and at the instigation of older persons he left unlawfully, but clemency was shown him and he was allowed to return to the ranks. His subse- quent career proved him to be a true soldier.
In 1745, when he was but twenty years old, he was in the Pepperell Expedition to Louisburg, and lieutenant in Cap- tain Newell's company at Crown Point in 1755. Later in the war he served as captain. At one time, when operating against the French forces, he was led into an ambuscade and only forced his way out with the loss of most of his men. As before noticed, at the beginning of the Revolutionary War he served as captain of a company of minute men. April 24, 1775, he received the commission of colonel. He fought and was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill. He went with the army under Washington to New York, and was promoted, August 9, to brigadier-general. His promo- tion to the rank of general of brigade was on recommenda- tion of Washington, who stated to Congress that Nixon's military talents and bravery entitled him to promotion, In his new position he had, for a time, command of two regi- ments and a force of artillery at Governor's Island, New York Harbor. August 27, he left there, and subsequently operated with the army in the northern campaign in New York State against Burgoyne. When it was decided to advance against the latter, General Gates ordered Nixon and two other commanders to make the attack. A cannon ball passed so near his head that the sight and hearing on one side were impaired. After the surrender of Burgoyne, General Nixon and some others were detailed to escort the prisoners to Cambridge. About that time he had a furlough of several months, in which time he married his second wife. General Nixon was on the court-martial - with Generals Clinton, Wayne and Muhlenburg, and of which Gen. Ben- jamin Lincoln was president - for the trial of General
411
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Schuyler for the neglect of duty in the campaign of 1777, by which Ticonderoga was surrendered. The trial was at the request of General Schuyler, and by it he was fully acquitted with the highest honors. In 1777, General Nixon's brigade had head-quarters for a time at Peekskill, N. Y., and for a time in 1777, at Albany. On Sept. 12, 1780, he closed his military career by resigning his commission as general, and retired to private life. He married for his first wife Thank- ful Berry, Feb. 7, 1754; and for his second, Hannah Gleason in 1778, the widow of Capt. Micajah Gleason who was killed at the battle of White Plains, N. Y., in 1776. He had nine children, of whom five were daughters. One of them, Sarah, married Abel Cutler, the father of the late C. G. Cutler, Esq., of Sudbury.
About 1806, he went to Middlebury, Vt. At the time of the battle of Lake Champlain he was living with a daughter at Burlington ; and, on hearing the sound of the cannon on the lake, he wanted a horse brought that he might go and witness the fight. General Nixon died at Middlebury, 1815, at the advanced age of ninety. When he was thirty years old he bought a tract of thirty-two acres of land of Josiah Browne on the northern side of Nobscot Hill, where he was living at the breaking out of the Revolutionary War. After he retired from the army, he lived for a time at Framingham and kept tavern at Rice's End. He afterwards returned to Sudbury, and was admitted to the church there May 22, 1803.
Although Mr. Nixon was pre-eminently a military man by nature and experience, and had known much of the hard fare and the rough companionship of the army, yet he was a man of affable address and quiet demeanor. He was of light complexion, medium size and cheerful disposition. He was a decided man and a great lover of children. One of his grandsons informed the writer that the old man used to take his grandchildren on his knee and sing war songs to them ; one that he remembered was as follows : -
" Oh, why, soldiers, why, should we be melancholy, boys ? whose busi- ness 'tis to die.
Through cold, hot and dry we are always bound to follow, boys, and scorn to fly."
412
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
C. G. Cutler, the grandson referred to, was about ninety years old when he repeated the verse. None of General Nixon's family, who bear the name, are now living in Sud- bury. The site of his dwelling-place is still pointed out not far from the run or spring land on the northerly slope of Nobscot, but even the last faint trace of his former dwelling- place time is fast wearing away, and soon nothing but the record will tell of this illustrious citizen and soldier of Sudbury.
In considering the military service of the town in the Revolutionary War, we have only considered a part of her history. During that time important civil transactions were taking place also. There were deprivations to be endured by those at home : the country was burdened with debt, the currency was in a very uncertain state, and, because of its depreciated condition, there was more or less confusion in commercial affairs. There was as much need of sagacity on the part of the civilian in council, as of military men in the field, to direct the affairs of State and town. The town- meetings of those days were very important occasions, and, unless the people met emergencies there in a prompt and efficient manner, the fighting element in the field could accomplish but little. In this respect the people of Sudbury were not deficient. We have heard of no instance where a Tory spirit was manifest nor where a patriotic purpose was wanting. During the war, a large share of the town war- rants set forth the needs of the county or town which were caused by the war ; and the town-meeting that followed was about sure to result in a generous response to the demand. As the history of the war period will not be complete with- out presenting some of these acts we will give a few of them here.
ENCOURAGEMENTS TO ENLISTMENT.
We may well presume from the spirit manifested by the minute companies, more or less of whose members enlisted for a longer or shorter term, that patriotism was a prominent motive for entering the service. But the war was protracted, and a large share of the soldiers had families dependent upon them, and, hence, for the late enlistments extra inducements
-
RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL B. ROGERS, So. Sudbury Sketch of Family History. Page 450.
413
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
were to be expected. To narrate all that was done at each successive town-meeting would be needless ; we will, there- fore, give only a few specimens which will serve to show the spirit of the people.
In 1777, twenty pounds were voted to each man who would enlist ; also the town chose a committee to provide for soldiers' families.
In 1778, voted some three hundred and seventy pounds for clothing for the soldiers ; also the town committee were instructed to hire men for the army for seventy-four pounds each " if they could if not, to give more." The same year " voted to give 50 pounds to each man who would enlist as a part of the town quota for 9 months."
The same year a committee was appointed "to hire 12 men to go to the North River for 8 months or such time as they will agree for."
The same year " 14 men were hired for the service of Providence."
On May 17, 1779, voted to " hire the men to be detatched from the militia of this town to march to Tiverton, R. I., and granted 1300 pounds to hire the men with and 200 pounds to provide things for their families."
In 1779, a committee was chosen " to hire men for the public service in behalf of the town whenever there may be a call on the militia for service."
At the same date, four hundred and twenty pounds were granted " to hire five soldiers with for service of Tiverton R. I."
The same date, thirty-nine hundred pounds were granted to hire thirteen soldiers for nine months' service.
In 1781, voted that the committee should attend to " hiring the town quota for three years without loss of time and if the men cannot be obtained in town then they are to apply else- where," fifteen pounds in specie was granted for the purpose.
As an inducement to enlistment the town sometimes offered live stock. The following is a specimen : -
" We being a Committee appointed by the Town of Sud- bury to hire the Town Quota of men for three years or
414
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
During the war agreable to a Resolve of Court Dec 2, 1780 do agree with John Ruck, Naynam Haynes, Zechrus Robi- son and Oliver Robison who has enlisted themselves into the Sarvis agreable to Law, Resolve to give each of them Eighteen this Spring Calves, Said Calves to be kept for and Delivered to the above Parsons when they are Regularly Discharged from the Said Sarvis, also Three Thousing Dol- lars old Currency to be paid Each when they are properly mustered.
" Asahel Wheeler " Aaron Haynes Committee."
" Jona Rice
We give below a copy of a soldier's Enlistment Paper.
We the subscribers do hereby severally inlist Ourselves into the Service of the United Colonies of America to serve until the first day of April next, if the service shall require it; and each of us do engage to furnish and carry with us into the Service a good effective Firearm and Blanket also a good Bayonet and Cartridge Pouch if possible. And we severally consent to be formed by such Persons as the General Court shall appoint into a Company of Ninety men including one Captain Two Lieutenants one Ensign four Sergeants, four Corporals one Drummer and one Fifer, to be elected by the Companies, and when formed we engage to march to Headquarters of the American Army with the utmost Expedition and to be under the command of such Field Officer or Officers as the Gen. Court shall appoint. And we farther agree during the Time aforesaid to be subject to such Generals as are or shall be appointed ; and to be under such Regulations in every Respect as are provided for the Army aforesaid. Dated this Day of A. D. 1776.
Jesse Jones John Peter
Sarson Belcher Timothy Underwood Josia Farrar Ephraim Smith Phinehas Glezen Uriah Moore.
Zebediah Farrar.
Richard Heard
Joseph Smith
John Merriam.
Abraham Parmenter
Benjamin Dudley
Israel Jones
Besides the furnishing of men and equipments various other services were from time to time required of the town. At one time the towns were assessed for hay for the army at
415
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Cambridge, and Sudbury was required to furnish nine tons ; only three other towns were required to furnish as much. At another time they were called on to provide men and teams to convey gunpowder to Springfield.
CHAPTER XXIII.
1775-1800.
Attention the Town Bestowed on its Home Needs during the War. - Specimen Report of a Town-Meeting. - Attitude of the Town towards the Measures of Boston Merchants relative to the Reduc- tion of Prices. - Appointment of Delegate to a Convention Called for the Purpose of Framing a New Constitution. - Committee Appointed to Regulate Prices. - Report of Committee. - Vote on the New Constitution. - Educational Matters. - Division of the Town. - Committee on a Line of Division. - Committee Appointed to Present a Remonstrance to the Court. - Instructions to the Com- mittee. - Act of the Court Authorizing a Division. - Committee Appointed to Make a Division of the Money and Real Estate. - Report of the Committee. - Appointment of Other Committees. - Financial Report .- Official Boards for 1780 and 1781 .- Miscellaneous. - Shay's Rebellion. - Erection of Meeting-House. - Miscellaneous.
The roll of drums and the bugle's wailing Vex the air of our vales no more ; The spear is beaten to hooks of pruning, The share is the sword the soldiers wore. WHITTIER.
THE following specimen of work done at a fall town- meeting in the very midst of the war shows that home needs were not neglected while military matters were absorbing so much attention. Nov. 8, 1779, the town granted money as follows, namely : --
To pay the several town Debts
To pay the Revª Ministers their Salary
£1457 : 0 : 0
148: 0:0
416
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Gratuity to the Revd Ministers for the Grammar School
for a Reading and Writing School
£2000:0:0 1000 : 0 : 0 2000 : 0: 0
for the support of the Poor 2000 : 0 : 0 to pay the Assessors 200: 0:0 40 : 0: 0
to pay the town Treasrer
to the Towns Comttee for money paid to the Last Six months men to the State of New York 500 : 0: 0
to the Selectmen the money paid to sd men by order of the General Court 500 : 0 : 0
to pay the money that has been paid to the six months men to Rhode Island 180 : 0: 0
to provide for the Continental families 800 : 0: 0
At the same town meeting adjourned to Dec. 6th 1779 the town granted six hundred pounds to enable a committee chosen at said meeting to oppose a Division of the town and to carry on said affair.
JAMES THOMPSON, Town Clerk.
At a town meeting held July 12, 1779, it was
Voted that this town highly approves of the measures taken by the merchants and other the inhabitants of the town of Boston in order to reduce the exorbitant prices of the necessaries of life. Consequently to appreciate our Currency that the town will adopt such reasonable measures as may be agreed upon by the joint Committees from the several towns in this state. It also voted to send Major Joseph Curtis to represent them in the convention to meet in Cambridge for the purpose of framing a new constitution or form of government, and instructed him to cause a printed copy of the form of a constitution that might be agreed upon to be transmitted to the Select Men of the town.
Aug 9th. The town voted to appoint seven persons to state the prices of Innholders' labour, Theaming, manufactures and all other articles not taken up by the convention at Concord.
Aug. 16th. The town having met according to adjournment, the Committee appointed to state the prices of all such articles as were not taken up by the Convention at Concord reported as follows
West India Rum by the gallon £6. 9
New England Rum by the gallon 4.15
Coffe by the pound 4.15
Sugar by the pound from 11 to 14. Chocolate by the pound 24. Bohe Tea by the pound 5: 16. Cotton wool by the pound 37 : 6. German Steel 30 D° Salt best quality by the Bushel £10 : 10
417
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Country Produce - Indian Corn by the Bushel 80, Rye by the Bushel, £5 : 10 Wheat by the Bushel £8 : 10 Beaf by the pound 5 Muton, Lamb and Veal by the pound 3 : 6 Foreign Beaf and Pork as sett by the convention. Butter by the pound 11 Chese Do 6 Milk by the quart 16 English Hay qr hundred 30
Men's shoes 61bs, women's shoes 41bs, cotton cloth 4 : 6,
Labor. - teaming under 30 miles 18, carpenter work by the day 60, Mason per day 60, Maids wages per week 5 Dollars. Oxen per day 24, Horse Hire 3 per mile. Inn Holder a good dinner 20, common dinner 12. Best supper and Breakfast 15, each common Do. 12, Lodgings 4. Horse keeping 24 hours on hay 15, on grass 10, a yoke of oxen a night 15.
The grade of prices thus established was made in accord- ance with a resolve of a convention that met at Concord, and the list of prices made was in depreciated currency that was in ratio of about twenty shillings paper to one shilling in silver. " If any one should persist in refusing to accept these prices, their names should be published in the public News Paper and the good people of the town should with- hold all trade and intercourse from them."
On May 17, 1779, a vote was taken to see how many favored the formation of a new constitution or form of government. Fifty- nine voted in the affirmative and ten in the negative. The representative was instructed to vote for calling a State convention to form the new con- stitution.
At a meeting held May 22, 1780, " The Constitution being read, the town voted that they think it reasonable that each town in the State should pay their own proper representatives both their travel to and attendance at the General Court, and desire that clause providing for their pay for travel out of the public treasury should be altred, 41 voting for this alteration and 8 against it. They desire that the word Protestant may be inserted in the room of, or added to the word Christian Religion, in qualifications of the Govenor and all other officers both civil and military, 30 for and 19 against it.
" They also desire that the time for revising the Constitu- tion may not exceed seven years, 55 voting for this altera- tion, one against it."
418
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
Prominent among the records relating to educational matters in the early part of the period was the following : 1773. "To Daniel Bowker for building N. W. School House 18 pounds, to the same for building Lanham School House 23-6-8. To Ambrose Tower for building school house near west meeting house 17-7-4. To Wm Dudley to building the Farm end school house 26-13-4." In 1774, a vote was taken to see " if the town will order that the several school houses in said town shall be supplied with wood for the future at the charge of the town." It " passed in the nega- tive." It may be that it had been customary for the citizens of each district to contribute wood for the school-houses and that this was an early movement made to have it sup- plied by the town. That the school-houses were warmed in those times is evident. The following year the town granted eight pounds for supplying the several school-houses with wood for the year, and repeatedly after this were sums granted for this purpose. That the school-houses at that time were warmed by means of a fire-place is indicated by the following record of 1782: " To Jacob Reed for mending hearth at Lanham school house." In 1778, the town voted to build a new school-house near Mr. Phineas Puffers. In 1779, it was voted to build a new school-house in the north- west corner of the town, appropriating the two old school- houses for the building of the new.
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