USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Plymouth > History of Plymouth, New Hampshire; vol. I. Narrative--vol. II. Genealogies, Volume I > Part 10
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In May and June the people of New Hampshire were disquieted by the situation of the northern army. The steady approach of the enemy caused universal apprehension. In May an alarm was sounded that Ticonderoga was in danger, and many companies from New Hampshire and Massachusetts marched to the relief of the fortress. Being assured that the Americans could " hold the fort," these companies were ordered home. It was a useless campaign, but a sublime exhibition of patriotism. In June the cry of " wolf " was again sounded. This time the wolf was near the fold. Post riders bore the foreboding intelligence with celerity from town to town. Crown Point had fallen, and if Ticonderoga was surrendered it was feared the enemy would invade Vermont and New Hampshire. The alarm was great and the call was imperative. Unmindful of the fable, the farmer again forsook the field and took up arms.
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THE REVOLUTION, 1777.
In this service Lieut .- Col. David Webster commanded a detael- ment of fifty-two men, including officers, raised in Colonel Hobart's regiment. During the night of the first day of their march towards Ticonderoga the fort was evacuated. But news was communicated slowly in those days, and Colonel Webster continued the march until he met the retreating army. The caption of Colonel Web- ster's roll is as follows: -
Pay Roll of a Company of Militia commanded by Lieut. Col. David Webster which marched from Plymouth and Towns Adjacent to reenforce the Garrison at Ticonderoga on the Alarm in July 1777. And proceeded as far as Cavendish where we met our troops on their retreat. Engaged July 5, 1777 and discharg'd July 16, 1777.
The line officers were John Willoughby of Plymouth, captain, Joseph Shepard of Holderness, lieutenant, Cutting Favor of New Chester, second lieutenant, and Edmund Shattuck of Cockermouth, .ensign. Dr. Abijah Wright was the surgeon of the battalion, and Lieut. Jonathan Robbins adjutant, both of Plymouth. Omitting forty-two from other towns, the men from Plymouth were Peter Stearns, sergeant, Benjamin Wells, corporal, Josiah Brown, Jr., Michael Dearborn, Solomon Hobart, Francis Worcester, Jr., Daniel Clough Webster.
In the progress of these events the dangers of the hour were cumulative, and the fears and despondency of the people were quickened and augmented. The unobstructed army of Burgoyne was beginning the fulfilment of a declared purpose of marching to New York, and detachments from his command were making predatory incursions into Vermont, then called the New Hamp- shire Grants. The gallant and resolute men of Vermont refused to extend to their unwelcome guests the hospitality of the State, and called upon New Hampshire for help in their expulsion. Dwell- ing in Vermont were many men and women from the homes and firesides of New Hampshire. To many the voice of Vermont was the entreaty of a relative, and to all joined in the sublime effort of the Revolution the appeal of a patriot was the prayer of a brother. The response of New Hampshire, supported by the
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
spirit of patriotism and hallowed by the ties of kindred, was a smile on the rugged features of adversity and a halo over the grim visage of war.
The council and house of representatives having adjourned from June 28 to September. 17, the committee of safety called a special session, which convened July 17, 1777. The legislature immedi- ately directed that the geographical regiments be organized in two brigades,1 and that the regiments of Colonels Whipple, Evans, Moulton, Gilman, Bartlett, Thornton, Webster, Badger, and McClary should constitute the first brigade, to be commanded by Brig .- Gen. William Whipple, and that the regiments of Colonels Nichols, Ashley, Moore, Stickney, Hale, Bellows, Hobart, Morey, and Chase should constitute the second brigade, to be commanded by Brig .- Gen. John Stark. In the call for men in this emergency it was required that the colonels of each geographical regiment should furnish a proportion of the men to be raised, but any one colonel was not expected to raise a number of companies sufficient to constitute a regiment in service. Orders were given to the colonels of the four northern regiments (Hobart, Morey, Chase, and Bellows) to organize in one regiment all the companies raised by them. The field officers of the four regiments met at Lebanon July 25, to select the required officers and arrange for the comple- tion of the organization. Colonel Hobart was selected to com- mand, and none of the four regiments were overlooked in the selection of the remaining officers. Charles Johnston of Haverhill was the lieutenant-colonel, William Hayward of Charlestown, major, Jonathan Robbins of Plymouth, adjutant, Davenport Phelps of Piermont, and a grandson of President Wheelock of Dartmouth College, quartermaster, and Dr. Solomon Chase of
1 The organization of the militia of the State in two brigades appears to have been a measure of emergency. June 20 preceding this action, the legisla- ture had ordered that the regiments be divided into three brigades. The geo- graphical regiments in the three brigades are indicated by naming the colonels. First Brigade : Colonels Whipple, Evans, Moulton, Gilman, Bartlett, McClary. Second Brigade : Colonels Thornton, Webster (John), Nichols, Hale (Enoch), Ashley, Bellows. Third Brigade : Colonels Moore, Stickney, Badger, Hobart, Morey, Chase.
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THE REVOLUTION, 1777.
Cornish, surgeon. A few days later Colonel Hobart appointed Rev. Augustine Hibbard of Claremont chaplain of the regiment. Subsequently Mr. Hibbard was chaplain of the brigade. In the regiment were five companies, commanded by Capt. Edward Eliot of Thornton, 45 men, Capt. Abel Walker of Charlestown, 60 men, Capt. Jeremiah Post of Orford, 49 men, Capt. Joshua Hendee of Hanover 62 men, and Capt. Christopher Webber of Walpole, 52 men.
The men from Plymouth in Captain Eliot's company were Samuel Marsh, Ezekiel Keyes, Josiah Brown, Jr., George Pat- terson, Peter Stearns, Nehemiah Snow, James Blodgett, John Willoughby, Jr., Solomon Hobart, and Zebadiah Richardson.
Onesipherus Marsh of Plymouth enlisted, and his name appears in the roll of recruits, but is not found in the payroll of the company. The name of Richardson is Zebadiah in the roll of recruits, and by error Obadiah in the payroll.
Noah Worcester, a fifer in Captain Goss' company of Col. Moses Nichols' regiment, who served from July 20 to September 28, 1777, and was engaged in the battle of Bennington, was then a resident of Plymouth. He served in the siege of Boston from Hollis in 1775, and removed to Plymouth in 1776, teaching a term of school in the village the winter before, and continuously several winters after the battle of Bennington. He was taxed in this town, 1777-81. In this service he should be credited to Plymouth. Very probably he served in another regiment in re- sponse to a call for a fifer.
At the battle of Bennington Colonel Hobart led the attack on the Tory breastworks. The commander and his men won distinc- tion and the commendation of General Stark for bravery and gallant conduct. Solomon Hobart, the fourth Plymouth man to die in service, was killed during the battle. The regiment joined General Gates at Saratoga, and at the expiration of their term of service the men were discharged, September 18, the day before the battle of Bemis Heights. Eight days were allowed for travel home, and the payrolls were made up to September 26.
VOL. I .- 8
114
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
General Gates, commanding the army at Saratoga, made a call upon New Hampshire for re-enforcement. The regiments in the western half of the State having furnished the men for the Ben- nington campaign, it was expected that General Whipple's brigade would meet the existing emergency. The brigade responded with enthusiasm, but it was not permitted to furnish all the men. The day the heroes of Bennington were returning to their homes a regi- ment of volunteers to re-enforce the army at Saratoga was raised within the geographical regiments of Colonels Hobart, Morey, and Chase.
The field officers were Col. Jonathan Chase of Cornish, Lieut .- Col. David Webster of Plymouth, and Maj. Jonathan Child of Lyme, one officer being selected from each regiment. The chap- lain was Rev. Oliver Noble, then of Orford and subsequently the distinguished minister of New Castle. The adjutants were Wil- liam Dana of Lebanon and Simeon Goodwin of Haverhill. Seven companies, commanded by Capts. Samuel Payne, Edmund Free- man, Moses Whipple, Abel Stevens, Joshua Wells, John Lasel, and John Wheelock - in all nearly one hundred and fifty men - were from Colonel Chase's regiment. The companies were hastily raised, and some of them were very small. Two companies, com- manded by Capts. Joshua Hayward of Haverhill, 36 men, and Jonathan Chandler of Orford, 30 men, were from Colonel Morey's regiment. One company, commanded by Capt. John Willoughby of Plymouth, was from Colonel Hobart's regiment. Raised for emergency service, the regiment was quickly assembled and hurried to the army in New York. The men were enlisted from the more sparsely settled towns and from a territory comprising onc-third of the area of the State.
The ten companies, from a military standpoint, were a unit of organization, and if combined would constitute a completed regi- ment, having the required number and rank of field and staff officers. The companies were hurriedly marched to Saratoga in two detachments, commanded respectively by Colonel Chase and Lieutenant-Colonel Webster. The men of the seven companies of
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THE REVOLUTION, 1777.
Colonel Chase's detachment were recruited within his regiment of militia. The three companies commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel Webster were recruited from Colonel Morey's and Colonel Hobart's regiments. The major and the chaplain were with Lieu- tenant-Colonel Webster. Colonel Chase, with the companies in his command, marched from Cornish, September 26, one week after the battle of Bemis Heights, and Lieutenant-Colonel Webster probably set out the following day.
The regiment joined General Whipple's brigade and served in the army under General Gates nearly two months, and was employed with Colonel Warner and Colonel Bellows in holding the line, but was not very seriously engaged in the battle of Sara- toga, October 7. Ten days later the officers and men witnessed the surrender of Burgoyne.
If at any time, while in the service at Saratoga, the two detach- ments were combined in one command they were again separated and were discharged as two separate organizations.
H. Q. SARATOGA Oct 18th 1777 -
These may Certify that Colº Chase with a Regement of Volunteers have .
faithfully serv'd until this date in the Northern Army and are now Dis- charged with Honor.
By order of Gen. Gates JACOB BAYLEY Brig" Gen!
HEADQUARTERS, SARATOGA Octr 18th 1777.
These May Certify that Colº Webster with a Regement of N. H. Volun- teers have faithfully served in the Northern Army until this date and are discharged with honor.
By Gen1 Gates' order. JACOB BAYLEY Brig" Gen!
Time was allowed for travel home, and the several companies were discharged, under date, about ten days later than the date of General Gates' release. The payrolls are found in State Papers, Vol. XV, pp. 373-386. Colonel Chase consolidated the seven companies under his immediate command in one roll, while Lieu- tenant-Colonel Webster made a staff roll and three company rolls.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
The men were paid in January, 1778. The men in this service from Plymouth were in Captain Willoughby's company, which bears the following caption : -
Pay Roll of Captain John Willoughby's Company of Volunteers in Col. Chase's Regiment, Commanded by Brigdr Gen1 Whipple which Com- pany marched from Plymouth and the Towns Adjacent in Sep" 1777 to the Assistance of our Northern Army under the command of Major General Gates.
John Willoughby Captain
Gershom Burbank 1st. Lient.
James Hobart private John Southmayd "
Cutting Favor 2ª Lieut
Nahum Powers
Robert Forsaith Ensign
Samuel Morse
Thomas Bartlett Sergeant
Josiah Brown Jr. «
Samuel Hazeltine
David Nevins 66
Carr Huse
Isaac Ward
Jonathan Cone 66
Stephen Keyes
Israel Brainerd Corporal
Samuel Ambrose "
Nason Cass
John Kemp
Joshua Fletcher
Darius Willey
Samuel Worthen
Josiah Fellows
The men from Plymouth in this service were Lieut .- Col. David Webster, Capt. John Willoughby, Joshua Fletcher, Capt. James Hobart, who served as a private, Nahum Powers, Samuel Morse, Josiah Brown, Jr., David Nevins, Jr., Isaac Ward, Stephen Keyes, Samuel Ambrose. Among the Chase papers is a memo- randum, in his handwriting, referring to this service: -
A Return of Capt. John Willoughbys Company.
A list of the Officers and Gentle Volunteers and Soldiers under Col. David Webster. ---- Capt. John Willoughby
Gentlem. Volunteers
Capt. Gershom Burbank
Capt Cutting Favor
Lieut. Robert Forsaith
Lieut. Samuel Haseltine
Capt. James Hobart Lieut Thomas Bartlett Ens. John Southmayd.
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THE REVOLUTION, 1777.
And under the caption of "Privates " is written the names of the remainder of the company. The paper is dated Saratoga, Oct. 10, 1777.
Shortly preceding these events Nathaniel Hull and Samuel Hull, brothers and soldiers from Plymouth, died in the service, the former September 6, and the latter September 8. In the cam- paign resulting in the surrender of Burgoyne the three continental regiments of New Hampshire were hotly engaged in every battle, and won the commendation of the generals in command and of subsequent historians of the campaign. Lieut. Amos Webster, a brother of Col. David Webster, who was commissioned in the continental service in November, 1776, escaped the dangers of Bemis Heights, but fell at Saratoga, October 7. He was a brave officer, and his loss was deeply regretted. He was the seventh man from Plymouth who died in the service.
In June of this year another demand was made upon New Hampshire. Rhode Island called for assistance, and orders were issued to Lieut .- Col. Joseph Senter of Moultonborough to command a battalion raised for the defence of that State. In this military organization Plymouth was not involved, but mention is made of the service of Colonel Senter from the fact that he removed to this town the following year and was an esteemed and honored citizen.
In the autumn of 1776 Benjamin Snow of Plymouth was ap- pointed an ensign in the continental service. From the information discovered in the archives and records of the State, it is certain that he served only a few months. He resigned and came to his home in this town in January, 1777, and gave evidence of being dis- affected with the government. Some of his utterances were disap- proved by the patriots. Four letters written by him to Tories in the jail at Amherst were intercepted, and the sentiments uttered did not escape the vigilance of the committee of safety of this town. Removed from the excitement of the time, the letters at this date appear more foolish than treasonable. The committee of safety of Plymouth held a meeting for their discussion, and forwarded the following communication to the government at Exeter : -
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
In Committee of Safety of the Town of Plymouth, February 26th, 1777.
Upon reading and considering a number of intercepted Letters signed by Benjamin Snow late an Ensign in the Continental Army, which Let- ters are directed to several persons in Amherst supposed to be Enimical to their country, & as reported some of them in Jale : Therefore agreed by said Committee that it appears by said Letters, that said Snow much favors the cause of the Enemies to our country, and is a dangerous person to the Community, and therefore ought to be taken care of; and as he, the said Snow is at this time in Salisbury thirty miles from hence towards Exeter, Therefore it is further agreed by said Committee, That Col. David Webster and Capt. Samuel Dearborn be desired forthwith to pro- ceed to Salisbury or else where and use all means in their power, for the safty of this State, to apprehend and secure said Snow wherever he may be found and immediately proceed with him the said Snow to Exeter with the Letters herein referred to and deliver said Snow with said Letters to the Committee of Safty of this State for their Examination.
FRANCIS WORCESTER, Ch. Com.
N. B. Said Letters are four in number.
One, a fair sample, of the four letters is found in State Papers, Vol. VIII, p. 499, and two others, addressed to Col. John Hol- land, then confined in jail at Amherst, were as follows: -
PLYMOUTH, Jany 31 1777.
Honored and much respected sir.
According to your kind Invitation have taken this which is the first opportunity I have had to acquaint you of my safe Arrival at Plymouth. Since my Return Home Sir, I have endeavored to acquaint myself A little with the Foundation of the unhappy War between Great Brittian and the Colonies, for to my shame I confess I never considered so much of that Matter as I ought to before I engaged in the service. Should be extremely glad to ask your Advice in something that nearly concerns me but am afraid to till I have the satisfaction of seeing you lest my Letter should fall into somebody's hands who might take the Advantage of it. I hope before long sir, to hear you released from your Confinement and receive better Treatment from your Countrymen than you have in Times past, if I do not shall have the satisfaction of seeing you sometime in March, I trust, at Amherst - My compliments to Mr Tennecleif and Mr Man (if he is returned) if you please. hope when I come down to see
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THE REVOLUTION, 1777.
them and yourself as happy as you all appeared to be when I left you - But, Sir.I fear I shall be troublesome wherefor beg leave to subscribe myself
Sir
Your most obedient Most Devoted and very humble servant BENJA SNOW
Si
PLYMOUTH Feby 4. 1777
After A Tedious Journey of five hundred Miles, have arrived at length to my Mamma's Fire Side where we live as merry to appearance as you please All my old acquaintance, seem glad to see me, and treat me with a great Deal of Kindness, but still I feel discontented and unhappy - I hope you enjoy yourself as well as you did when I left you for I always shall think the Gentlemen confined in Goal and yourself are the happiest persons living
I often think I should be very willing to suffer or rather enjoy the con- finement of them Gentlemen would I be confined where there is such Friendship and Harmony -
I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you the latter End of March if nothing extraordinary turns up and talk upon an affair which I durst not write of - till then I am with A Degree of Pleasure and uneasiness
Sir
Your most sincere Friend and humble servant
BENJA- SNOW
Mr Holland be good enough to deliver the Letter inclosed to Miss Nancy and you will oblige
Yours &c
No subsequent reference to this case appears in the records, and it is probable that Lieut. Benjamin Snow was not apprehended. He was a teacher a few years in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, returning to Plymouth, 1787. If his opinions in the heat of the Revolution had irritated the patriots, it was now forgotten, and he was a school teacher in this town and lived in peace with his fellow-men. He died 1814. The Snow affair being ended, Stephen Webster,1 another member of the committee of safety of
1 At the annual town meeting in March, 1777, a new committee of safety was chosen. They were Samuel Emerson, Benjamin Goold, Ebenezer Blodgett, Francis Worcester, Stephen Webster, John Willoughby, and David Webster.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Plymouth, discovers a den of Tories near Squam Lake, and promptly reports the fact to the State committee of safety.
To the Committee of Safety of the State of New Hampshire :
Gentlemen : The Committee of Safety for the Town of Plymouth being apprehensive that a Combination of Persons disaffected with & inimical to the interest of this & the United States of America were assembled at a certain place for purposes of the most dangerous consequence, - The place and some persons being suspected, - a secret spy was sent out in order to make discovery, who upon return Report : That at & near the house of Brion Sweeney's northerly of Great Squam Pond in the town of Newholderness (a place very remote from any other humane settlement) was discovered sundry persons who by their number & dress did not appear to be the proper Inhabitants of that place, (no man in that family being grown but Sweeney himself.) As we have for a long time suspected that place to be a Den of mischief, we are now more confirmed in our minds that there is secretly mischief a planning & carring on at & near sa'd Sweeney's, such as counterfeiting money, or some other plan to assist our Enemies and the like. Mr. Abel Webster, the bearer hereof, being one of the spies who will give further intelligence ; As we think it not safe for the publick & especially for the Inhabitants of these parts that the above affair should not be properly looked into, we thought it our duty to give you this information, hoping that you will not fail to give the same proper notice, & pass such order thereon as in the prosecution thereof will effectually secure the publick safety in general against the same, as well as ease the minds of the good people in these parts, in particular.
STEPHEN WEBSTER, Chairman.
In Committee of Safety
Plymouth, September 8th, 1777.
The second session of the legislature under the temporary con- stitution, elected for the term of one year, convened at Exeter on the third Wednesday of December, 1776. Grafton County was permitted to send six representatives, but only two were present. They were Daniel Brainerd, representing the Rumney class, and Joseph Whipple, representing the Lancaster class of towns. The legislature was in recess from January 18 to March 12. When the legislature reassembled in March, Francis Worcester of Ply- mouth appeared, and was admitted to a seat in the house of repre- sentatives. For reasons stated in the preceding chapter, the three
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THE REVOLUTION, 1777.
remaining districts were not represented in the house during the year ending in December, 1777, and Grafton County refusing to elect a councillor, that body consisted of eleven members.
Francis Worcester was an active and useful member of the house, serving on several important committees. In March he was appointed one of a joint committee of six, on the part of the house, to revise the apportionment of public taxes. The report of the committee was adopted. The proportion of Plymouth, expressed in Federal money, was $4.79 on each $1000. In June, when alarms were rife and other States were calling on New Hamp- shire for assistance, Mr. Worcester was named on a committee to suggest the number of men that could be raised, and to recom- mend a method of raising and equipping them. There is available evidence that his services, in a critical period of the war, were acceptable to his constituents and appreciated by his associates. He was re-elected for the year ending in December, 1778.
Elijah Lucas died Sept. 1, 1777, Josiah Willoughby died in October, 1777, and Silas Brown died Dec. 31, 1777. They were continental soldiers, serving on the quota of Plymouth in Colonel Scammell's regiment. During the year, including the re- enlistments, fifty-one Plymouth men have enlisted into the ser- vice. Of these seven have died on the field or in the hospital, thirty-four have been honorably discharged at the expiration of their terms of enlistment, and ten, who enlisted for three years or for the war, were in the continental service and, during a memorable winter, endured the extreme cold and exposure of Valley Forge.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
XI. THE REVOLUTION, 1778-83.
A NOTHER year held out many assurances of amended prospects. The year 1777, with a gloomy dawn, had closed in the golden light of a brilliant sunset. The disheartened regi- ments, retreating before an advancing foe, had fought successful battles and had annihilated the army of Burgoyne. In this cam- paign, in which retreat was changed to victory, the Americans had taught the disciplined army of England that they were their equals in valor and their superiors in the stratagems of war. To a senti- ment of awakened confidence was added the strength of cohesion and discipline. The army became invincible, and final victory was assured. The seat of war was removed to the south, and New Hampshire was relieved from frequent calls for troops for sudden emergencies. The tantalizing alarms which had allowed the militia little freedom from active service, and none from solic- itude and expectancy when at home, were less frequent and less foreboding. Attending these happy changes in existing conditions, which encouraged hope to triumph over despondency, was the added joy occasioned by an alliance with France. A firmer faith pervaded the States, until many were persuaded that the war was substantially ended and independence assured. Yet in the midst of these cheerful omens other conditions were adding burdens in the place of those scarce removed. The constant depreciation of the currency demoralized trade and exacted new sacrifices in every home. The courts were practically closed, and credit could not be given because debts could not be collected, and the accumulat- ing burden of public taxes was a constant factor in the trials of the Revolution. The continued military history of Plymouth will
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