History of Brookline, formerly Raby, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire : with tables of family records and genealogies, Part 8

Author: Parker, Edward E. (Edward Everett), 1842-1923
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: [S.l.] : The town
Number of Pages: 754


USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Brookline > History of Brookline, formerly Raby, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire : with tables of family records and genealogies > Part 8


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July 15, 1783, voted-"To pay Elias Dickey the money for his serv- ices in the war"; and, also,-"That Clark Brown have his son's credit for war service as on the town's books; and that Capt. Douglass and Waldron Stone be allowed their credit for service as on the town's books."


The above is the last record on the book referring to the Revolutionary War during its progress.


The Association Test.


In the month of April, 1776, the New Hampshire committee of safety, acting under the provisions of a resolution passed by the Conti- nental Congress, sent to the selectmen of the several towns circulars containing a declaration to which the committee requested the boards of selectmen to procure the signatures of all the males over twenty-one years of age in their respective towns, and to report the names of all who refused to sign the same. The "declaration" in said circular contained was termed, "An Association Test." The following is a copy of the same, together with the names of those in Raby who signed it :


"We the Subscribers do hereby solemnly engage and promise, that we will, to the utmost of our power, at the Risque of our Lives and For- tunes, with arms, oppose the Hostile Proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies."


George Russell,


Nath'l Badger,


James Badger,


James Campbell,


Benjamin Muzzey,


James Rolf,


Randel McDonald,


Swallow Tucker,


James Dickey,


Samuel Russell,


Nath'ell Patten,


George Woodward,


Sampson Farnsworth, Will' Hall,


James McIntosh,


Mathew Walless,


Denet Shaw, Jr.,


Robert Seaver,


Eason Dix,


Isaac Shattuck,


Moses Lowell,


William Spaulding.


Phinehan Asten,


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE


Names and Records of Raby's Soldiers in the War of the Revolution.


1. CAPT. ROBERT SEAVER enlisted April 19, 1775, as a private in Capt. Reuben Dow's company of Hollis which marched from Hollis in response to the Lexington alarm and served twelve days at Cambridge. During this same year he was second lieutenant in Capt. Noah Worcester's company of Hollis, serving this time at Cambridge from December to April following. At the time known as the "First Ticonderoga Alarm," when, in June, 1777, General Burgoyne was re- ported to be marching upon Fort Ticonderoga, he was first lieutenant in Capt. Daniel Emerson's company of Hollis which, in response to the State's call for troops to repel the invasion, marched as far as Walpole, and was then ordered back.


Mr. Worcester, in his history of Hollis, claims Captain Seaver as a Hollis man, saying that in 1775 "his name appears on the Hollis tax lists as a resident tax payer." By that process of reasoning nearly every man who went to the war from this town might have been claimed as a resident of Hollis, for it was not quite six years since Raby had been incorporated out of territory that had previously been a part of Hollis, and no doubt many of the citizens were still taxed in Hollis, although no longer residents there. But in 1769, when Raby was incorporated as an independent township, Robert Seaver was living within its limits,-as were also Randell McDaniels, John Cummings, Ezekiel Proctor, Ebenezer Gilson, Joshua Smith and James Dickey; six other soldiers of Raby, who were claimed for Hollis, probably for the same reason as was Captain Seaver. The fact of their residence in Raby at that time is established conclusively by a plan of Hollis and Raby, which was filed with a peti- tion of the people of Raby, addressed to the General Court of New Hamp- shire in June, 1785; a copy of which plan appears in this book, and in which the sites of the dwelling houses of Cummings, Proctor, Gilson and Smith are designated by marks and names. In this plan and petition, Robert Seaver, James Dickey and Randell McDaniels are mentioned and described as-"Living in Raby on the side next to Hollis," and, further- more, the petition itself is signed by Robert Seaver as one of the select- men of Raby. Not only this, but his name appears on the tax list, or rates, of Raby for 1771 and every succeeding year up to and including 1775, and for every year after as long as he lived. Oct. 2, 1775, he was chosen one of the town's first committee of safety, as by its records ap- pears; and the records show that he was repeatedly a member of that committee during the war. As a further proof of his citizenship in Raby,


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE


I produce the evidence of himself as embodied in the following certificate, copied from the Town Papers of New Hampshire, Vol. XI, Page 241. It is entitled-"Certificate of Men enlisted 1776."


"Raby, July 18, 1776.


Pursuant to orders from the Honble. Nathaniel Fulsom, Esq. Major- General to me directed to raise six men in the company under General Sullivan. In consequence of said Order I have Raised and caused to muster & march in to said service five men Exclusive of one belonging to the town of Raby who had enlisted into said service and passed muster."


(Signed) Robert Seaver, Capt. "To the committee of safety for the colony of New Hampshire."


And finally his name appears as one of the subscribers in 1768 to the in- strument by which certain of the inhabitants of the Mile Slip and the west part of Hollis appointed Samuel Farley their agent to petition the Governor and Council to incorporate them and theirs into a new town- ship. His title of "Captain" came from the fact that he was for many years captain of the local Militia company. He died at Brookline, Nov. 3, 1828, aged 85 years, and is buried in the cemetery-on-the-plain, his grave being marked by a marble slab.


2. JAMES McINTOSH was one of Raby's men who marched with Captain Dow's company for Lexington and Cambridge on the evening of April 19, 1775. When a portion of Captain Goss' company returned to Hollis from Cambridge after a few days absence, McIntosh remained and enlisted for eight months in a company which Capt. Reuben Dow or- ganized at Cambridge, and which was mustered into the service as a part of Col. William Prescott's Massachusetts regiment. He was one of the corporals of this company, and in its ranks he fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill. He died at Brookline, Oct. 16, 1823, 80 years old, and is buried in the pond cemetery. His grave is marked at the present time by a head stone.


3. RANDALL McDANIELS was also in Captain Dow's company April 19, 1775. He was probably one of that portion of the company which returned to Hollis at the expiration of twelve days. In December, 1776, he again enlisted in the regiment of Col. David Gilman, which was organized to reinforce the army in New York. This time he was in Capt. William Walker's company of Dunstable, now Nashua, and served for two months, as appears from the company's roll at Concord. He is buried in the pond cemetery.


4. ARCHIBALD McINTOSH, Sr., enlisted as a private in Capt. Samuel Gilbert's company, Prescott's regiment, May 10, 1775. He was


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE


in the battle of Bunker Hill, where he was wounded and taken prisoner. He died of his wounds Aug, 10, 1775, having served eighty-three days. His name is inscribed on one of the memorial tablets in Charlestown, Mass., as one of Brookline's soldiers who were killed in that battle. Nov. 30, 1775, Captain Gilbert signed a paper certifying to the fact that he was either taken prisoner or killed in the battle; and also that he had never received a bounty coat or value thereof. His widow, Rachel McIn- tosh, afterwards received the money value of the coat .*


5. JAMES CONNECK was also in the battle of Bunker Hill; serv- ing in the same company with Archibald McIntosh. Like McIntosh, he was wounded and taken prisoner. He is reported in the State Rolls as having died of his wounds July 24, 1775. His name is inscribed with that of McIntosh on the said tablet in Charlestown.


6. NATHANIEL BADGER enlisted as a private in Capt. Samuel Gilbert's company, Colonel Prescott's regiment, in May, 1775. He fought in the battle of Bunker Hill.


7. WILLIAM SPAULDING, Sr., was a volunteer from Raby in Capt. Josiah Sawtelle's company of minute men, which marched from Groton, Mass., for Lexington, on the alarm of April 19, 1775. In May of the same year he re-enlisted as a private in Capt. Joseph Moore's company, Col. William Prescott's regiment. He was in the battle of Bunker Hill, where he was severely wounded in the arm. March 12, 1777, he petitioned the New Hampshire House of Representatives for an allowance, as follows:


"To the Hon'ble ye General Assembly of ye State of New Hamp- shire-The Petition of William Spaulding Humbly Sheweth That he was wounded in the battle at Bunker hill by which he hath lost the use of his right hand-that he is on ye roll for half pay-that he has lived in Raby and in said state upwards of twelve years-that the loss of his hand and his poll taxes and a large family to maintain hath much reduced him- and that he was chosen by sd Town of Raby constable for ye year 1782 -and beg'd to be excused but was not released-that his own Taxes with some small Debts which he ow'd have brought him into such sur- comstances that he is in the arear the sum of £25-7-3-3 to the state Treas" and that he hath one state note of £20, and one order of £12 from ye president both of them herein which is all he has to pay with- that he is about to remove to Norrigewalk in on the Kenebec river- Therefore he prays your Honors to except of the only means he hath to satisfie ye Treas' and Grant that ye Treas" may be Directed to receive so


* Mass. Soldiers and Sailors .- Vol. X, page 510.


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE


much of sd note and order as you in your great wisdom & Justice to my necessities shall see fit as in duty bound shall pray. April 1784. Will™ Spalding."


This petition was considered by the House March 21, 1777, and he was granted half pay from the last day of December, 1775,-"On con- sideration of his doing Garrison Duty in a corps of invalids, and that in case he shall be called upon & refuse to do said duty he will not be enti- tled to said half pay."


On the 7th day of August, 1778, as appears by the State Rolls, Swal- low Tucker, James Badger and Benj. Shattuck, as selectmen of Raby, certified to the paymaster general that-"William Spaulding of Raby in said State Remains lame as he hath since he was wounded in the service of the United States at Bunker Hill"; and on the 3rd day of April, 1777, he acknowledged the receipt of a certificate for thirty pounds of Ephraim Robinson-"In full of his half pay as an Invalid Pensioner to April 1st, 1778."


His name appears upon the State pension rolls as late as 1785.


8. WILLIAM SPAULDING, Jr., was a son of William, above men- tioned. He served in the same company with his father and fought by his side at Bunker Hill. He afterwards served as a private in Captain Goss' company, Colonel Nichols' regiment, Stark's brigade, for two months and nine days, and was in the battle of Bennington.


9. NATHANIEL PATTEN enlisted from Brookline for eight months in Capt. Reuben Dow's company, of Prescott's regiment, and was in the battle of Bunker Hill. In July, 1776, he served in Capt. Daniel Emerson Jr.'s company, Colonel Joshua Wingate's regiment, which was raised to reinforce the army in Canada. He was in the service this time about six months. In 1777 he again enlisted; this time for Hollis, as a private in the First New Hampshire Continental Regiment, then com- manded by Col. Moses Nichols. This last enlistment was for three years. But in July, 1780, he appears to have re-enlisted for Hollis as a recruit for the Continental Army for six months, receiving as a bounty 510 pounds and seventy-nine bushels of Rye. He served this last time five months and nineteen days. He was at West Point in 1780 in Company 4, of the Regt, of N. H.continental troops, then commanded by Col. Joseph Cilley.


In the New Hampshire War Rolls, under the date of April 23, 1777, is the following:


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE


"Received of the town of Hollis by the hands of the selectmen the sum of twenty pounds as a bounty for engaging in the Continental Army to serve the term of three years. Receive for me Jonathan Taylor."


(Signed) NATHANIEL PATTEN.


On said rolls under date of May 20, 1779, appears the following record: "Received of the selectmen of Hollis by the hands of James McIntosh one Bushel of Rye at nine pound-Eleven pound of Pourk at nine pound eighteen shillings-one-half bushel of Beans at three pound twelve shillings for my support as my husband is in the Continental army for said Hollis."


"By me (Signed) GRace X PATTEN. mark.


her


JAMES McINTOSH."


10. JAMES McDANIELS (McDonald). He is claimed in the Hollis history as a Hollis man. But his name appears on Raby's recorded list of soldiers and also on the town's tax list in 1771 and 1775. He enlisted in Capt. John Goss' company, Col. Moses Nichol's regiment, which marched from Hollis in July, 1777. He served two months and twenty- nine days and was in the battle of Bennington. He died in Brookline, April 11, 1801, in the 84th year of his age, and is buried in the pond cemetery. His grave is marked by a marble slab.


11. ELIAS DICKEY enlisted from Raby April 19, 1775, as a private in Capt. John Nutting's company of Groton, Mass., Colonel Prescott's regiment. But for some unknown reason he was absent from his company at the battle of Bunker Hill. His name appears on the roll of Captain Nutting's company. It also appears in the New Hampshire Revolutionary Rolls as gone to Quebec; and on Raby's record list of its soldiers, his name is recorded as one of the-"Men that went to Canada for one year." In July, 1776, he enlisted in Capt. Daniel Emerson's company, Colonel Wingate's regiment, in the Continental Army.


12. DANIEL SHED was a volunteer from Raby April 19, 1775, in Capt. Asa Lawrence's company of minute men, Groton, Mass. July 7, 1777, he re-enlisted for Raby for one year in Capt. John Goss' company of Hollis, Col. Moses Nichol's regiment. His name appears on Raby's record list of its soldiers. In June, or July, 1779, he re-enlisted in the third New Hampshire Continental regiment and served until June or July, 1780. At his enlistment in 1779 the town voted him a bounty of one thousand dollars in cash and eighty dollars for four months supply of firewood. He received a state bounty of 60 pounds.


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE


On the New Hampshire Revolutionary Rolls, Vol. 3, p. 584, appears the following statement:


"Raby now Brookline."


"The State of New Hampshire to the selectmen of Raby D. To cash paid Daniel Shed as a soldier enlisted in the continental service for one year being the state bounty


-Per Rec L 60, Errors excepted in behalf of the selectmen of Raby."


(Signed) NOAH WORCESTER.


"In committee of claims Exeter 11th. Feb. 1780 is lodged in this office."


Daniel Shed was mustered in by Col. Moses Richards the receipt Exc J. GILMAN"


Feb. 11, 1780. An order on the Treasurer for twenty pounds." ("Signed) NOAH WORCESTER. Copy exª N. PARKER."


13. ANDREW RUSSELL was a private in Capt. William Read's company, Col. Nahum Baldwin's regiment in 1776. He re-enlisted in Capt. Daniel Emerson's company at the time of the first "Ticonderoga Alarm" in 1777. This alarm was caused by the news of Burgoyne's ad- vance upon the fort at Ticonderoga. The company left Hollis June 30, and marched as far as Walpole, where the regiment to which it was at- tached was ordered back home. At the time of the second alarm in July of the same year he was in Capt. John Goss' company of same regiment, (Colonel Nichol's), for two months and nine days, and was present at and engaged in the battle of Bennington. In July, 1781, he re-enlisted in Capt. Moses Nichol's regiment, where he served six months.


14. JONAS SHED enlisted in Capt. John Goss' company of Hollis, July 20, 1777. He was discharged September 28 of the same year, having served two months and nine days. He was in the battle of Bennington.


15. CLARK BROWN enlisted in Capt. Joseph Bennett's company of Mason, Col. Moses Nichol's regiment, which marched from Mason for Ticonderoga June 29, 1777, on the alarm, to re-enforce General St. Clair, and was out five days.


16. JAMES DICKEY was a volunteer in Capt. Reuben Dow's company, which marched from Hollis April 19, 1775, at the time of the Lexington alarm. In June, 1777, he was a private in Capt. Daniel Emer- son's company, which marched from Hollis at the time of the first Ticon- deroga alarm, and was absent five days. In 1781 he was a private in the 2nd company, 1st New Hampshire continental regiment.


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE


17. JOHN CONNECK served as a private in Captain Goss' com- pany, which marched from Hollis, July 20, 1777, to re-enforce the northern army. He served two months and nine days. He was in the battle of Bennington, where he was severely wounded.


18. WILLIAM CONNECK, at nineteen years of age, enlisted June 18, 1780, for three years or during the war, as a private in the Fourth New Hampshire continental regiment, Capt. John House's company. He was mustered in by Major Scott, and discharged December 6, of the same year.


19. SAMUEL RUSSELL was a private in Captain Stone's com- pany, Colonel Hale's regiment, at the time of the first Ticonderoga alarm in June, 1777.


20. JAMES ROLFE in 1777 was a private in Capt. William Walk- er's company of Dunstable, Col. David Gilmore's regiment. In 1781 he enlisted from Raby for Hollis as private in the fifth company, second N. H. continental regiment. He was mustered in at Amherst February 13. His term of service was three years.


21. ISAAC SHATTUCK served in the garrison at Portsmouth; and also in the army in New York, in Capt. Timothy Clement's company, Colonel Long's regiment. He was in the service twelve months in all. He is buried in the Pond cemetery.


22. JAMES CAMPBELL was a private in Colonel Nichol's regi- ment in June, 1777, at the time of the first "Ticonderoga Alarm." He was in Capt. Daniel Emerson's company, and served four days. He died July 5, 1779, and is buried in the south cemetery.


23. SWALLOW TUCKER was in the same company and regi- ment with James Campbell, and served for the same length of time. His name also appears on the town list as one of those "who went to Cambridge." He died April 29, 1809, and is buried in the south cemetery.


24. BENJAMIN SHATTUCK was in Capt. Joseph Barrett's com- pany of Mason, Colonel Nichols' regiment, which marched for Ticonderoga at the time of the alarm, June 19, 1777. He is buried in the Pond cemetery.


25. ISAAC STEVENS, Jr., in June, 1776, was a member of Cap- tain Emerson's company of Hollis, Col. Joseph Wingate's regiment. This regiment was raised to re-enforce the army in Canada. He served about six months.


26. SAMPSON FARNSWORTH served in Capt. Robert Fletcher's company, Colonel Hale's regiment; enlisting Aug. 10, 1778. He saw 21 days service in Rhode Island.


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE


27. BENJAMIN PATTEN enlisted from Raby Jan. 1, 1777, for three years or the war, as a private in Capt. Hugh Maxwell's company, Col. John Bayley's regiment, in. the Continental Army for the state of Massachusetts. He served from Jan. 1, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1779. In 1778 he was with his company at Valley Forge. A company return under date of March 7, 1780, reports him as having deserted.


28. BENJAMIN OSGOOD enlisted from Raby Feb. 17, 1777, for three years or during the war, in Capt. W. H. Ballard's company, Col. Ichabod Alden's regiment, in the Continental Army for Massachusetts. He is said to have been originally of Chelmsford, Mass .; from whence he came to Raby.


The enlistment of Patten and Osgood into a Massachusetts regiment called the attention of the citizens of Raby to the necessity of some action on their part relative to having them counted as a part of the town's quota of soldiers called for by their own state. Accordingly, Robert Seaver and Alexander McIntosh, acting in behalf of the selectmen, pre- pared and sent to the Massachusetts legislature the following memorial :


"State of Massachusetts Bay: To the Hon'ble Council & the Hon'ble House of Representatives in General Court Assembled The Petition of Robert Server & Alex'r MacIntosh in behalf of the Selectmen & Town officers of Raby in the State of New Hampshire Humbly shews-That in the Month of Jany. ye last past Benj. patten of said Raby in the State of N. Hampshire aforesaid did inlist himself a soldier & mustered by James Barrett Esq muster master for the County of Middlesex as appears upon said muster masters Returns now lodged in the Secretarys Office of this State. that in the month of February 17th Day Last past that Benj. Osgood of said Raby In the State of N. hampshire aforesaid Did inlist himself a Soldier & was mustered by James Barrett Esq .- muster master For the County of middlesex as appears upon Said Muster masters Re- turns Now Lodged in the Secretary office of the State ye Petitioners therefore humbly Request this Hon'ble Court Would Direct Some Suit- able person to Receive your Petitioners this State Bounty & Likewise the Continental Bounty if this Court Shall think of it so that said Patten & said Osgood may be Returned as Continental Soldiers for said Raby In said State of New Hampshire .- and your Petitioners as in Duty Bound will ever pray &c-


Raby March 3, 1778.


ROBERT SERVER Capt. ALEX'R MACINTOSH."


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE


The Massachusetts legislature responded to this memorial by giving the petitioners leave to withdraw. The matter was allowed to rest quiet- ly until 1783, in which year it was called to the attention of the New Hampshire authorities by the following memorial :


"State of New Hampshire.


To the Honorable the Senate & House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire.


The Petition of the Selectmen of the Town of Raby Humbly Shews -That Benj'a Osgood & Benj'a Patten two privates belonging to the train band in said town of Raby in the year A. D. 1777 inlist into the Service of Massachusetts in the Continental Army for three years or during the war which men were claimed by the town & were returned by the commanding officer of sd Train Band in favour of said Town and applied to the General Court of the Massachuettts for an order whereby your petitioners might have relief, but upon the principal that by a gen- eral resolve they had made Sufficient provision already for relief ordered the petition to be withdrawn, as may appear from the certificat accom- panying this petition. Whereas the Town of Raby have been fined for a delinquency of said two men when the supposed they had fully com- plied with the requisisions laid upon them Seems to your petitioners not founded in Justice your petitioners therefore humbly pray your honors to take their case under your wise consideration and remit the fine layed on the Town or grant such relief as you in your wisdom may see fit. And your petitioners as in Duty bound will ever pray."


SWALLOW TUCKER Selectmen


ROBERT SEVER of Raby


DANIEL TYLER


The above petition was accompanied with the following certificates:


"This may certify Benj'a Patten & Benj'a Osgood both of Raby in the County of Hillsborough & State of New Hampshire were & are proper Inhabitants of said Town of Raby & belonging to my Company as private soldiers & belong to the Regiment whereof Moses Nichols Esq is Colonel who have lately enlisted into the Continental service as privates in the same for the space of three years or during the present war (Viz) the said Benja Osgood under Lieut Jonas Parker of Acton under the command of Capt. Ballard in Col. Alden's Regt. and the sª Benja Patten in Capt. Maxwell's Company Colº Bayleys Regt. both in the State of the Massachusetts Bay by means whereof we are or pos-


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE


sibly may be deprived of two men which we ought not to be by the re- solves of the State with regard to inlistments in this case made & provided Raby May 5th 1777


To Colº Moses Nichols


A True Copy attest Robert Sever Capt."


"This may certify that the hire of Benja Osgood was paid-and the hire of Benja Patten was tendered.


Raby May 31, 1784.


SWALLOW TUCKER | Select ROBERT SEVER Men."


29. ARCHIBALD McINTOSH, Jr., was a private in Capt. John Goss' company, which marched from Hollis, June 29, 1777, to re-enforce the army in the north. He was in the battle of Bennington.


30. BENJAMIN MUZZEY served as a private in Capt. Philip Putnam's company of Wilton, which marched from Wilton for Saratoga, Sept. 29, 1777. He afterwards re-enlisted in Capt. William Reed's com- pany, Col. Nahum Baldwin's regiment; the company having been raised in the 6th regiment of the Militia, and mustered into the service by Abiel Abbott, mustering officer.


31. CALEB BROWN, in 1776, was a private in Capt. Timothy Clement's company, Col. Pierce Long's regiment, in the continental serv- ice. Time of service nineteen days. In 1778 he was in Capt. Moses Leav- ett's company, Col. Moses Nichol's regiment, which marched that year to re-enforce the continental army in Rhode Island. Time of service, twenty- five days. Dec. 15, 1783, the town allowed him 1 pound and 8 pense- "For war service."




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