USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Salem > History of Salem, N.H. > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
243
MILITARY HISTORY.
liam Morlin (Moreland), Friend Noyes, and David Hammons. James Nickson (Nickerson) was paid sixty pounds for one year of service. Another list gives Nathaniel Kelly, Friend Noyes and Jacob Hardy each twelve pounds nineteen shillings two pence for "Bounty for one year."
Five men were enlisted in the Seventh Regiment of militia for the defense of Rhode Island in 1779:
John Clement July 28 David Buswell Aug. 11
Loammi Pattee
Ebenezer Lancaster "
Jonathan Smith, July 27; abode Salem; for Atkinson.
Here the "for Atkinson" means that Smith was enlisted as one of the quota of men which that town was supposed to furnish for the war. A certain number was demanded from each town, according to the male population of military age, that is, sixteen to sixty years. Before the close of the war the great demand for troops compelled the enrollment of many boys and old men who were considerably outside these age limits.
In 1779 Aaron Copp was discharged. He was a sergeant in Captain Stone's company, Colonel Scammel's regiment, and had been wounded in the left wrist at Bemis Heights, October 7, 1777. As his wound disabled him for service he was pensioned for thirty · shillings per month.
Lieut. Col. Jacob Gale, in making his returns to Major General Folsom under date of October 28, 1779, gives the names of seven men who were mustered July 21, 1779 for Plastow for a term of one year. He must have made an error, as these men are listed in the muster rolls, from which his report was supposed to be made, as for Salem. A glance at the names leaves us in no doubt that they belonged here :
Age
Age
Jacob Hardy
27
Frend Noyes 17
David Hammond
26
Jonathan Stevens
18
Willim Morland
19
Nathaniel Kelly 16
James Nixson 22
To this list is added :
Simon Clemments
19
for Atkinson July 26.
(Simeon Clements)
244
HISTORY OF SALEM.
Only seven men were enlisted here in 1780. These were mus- tered at Kingston, June 27, 1780, by Josiah Bartlett, to serve till December 31 of the same year. The same names are given in the muster roll of recruits, also on the pay roll of that year :
John Howard
David Silver
Nat1 Pike
John Lowell
Moses Cross
Nehemiah Stanwood.
Daniel Stanwood
Rations for the army were called for in 1781. A town meet- ing was held when it was "voted the selectmen be a committee to procure beef for the soldiers from this town."
Only one name is given for the Salem contingent in Capt. Sam'l Cherry's 9th Co., Col. Geo. Ried's Regt., light infantry, February 14, 1781-the name of "Sam1 Silver, private."
Four more were mustered April 6, 1781, for three years, by Maj. Gen. Samuel Folsom, to fill up New Hampshire regiments. We can find no record of the length of time these men served, but the war was of course over before their time expired. They were :
Names
Age
Names Age
John Howard
35 Daniel Bradley 18
Moses Heath
19
Peter Cross 16
Later in this year thirteen Salem men were in the company of Capt. Jacob Webster in Colonel Reynold's regiment of New Hampshire militia. They marched in three detachments, on September 27, 28 and 30. Eight of the names in the list are omitted from another record supposed to contain the names of men in Captain Webster's command. The first five here given are those contained in both lists, while the last eight are found only in one :
Simeon Clement
Joseph Clough
Jedediah Hastin (gs)
David Hammond
Abial Heath
William Moreland
Jacob Handey Jacob Silver
James Nixon
Fred Noyes
John Stevins
Nath1 Kelly
Jacob Hardy
ISAAC THOM.
245
MILITARY HISTORY.
As far as we can ascertain there are no other papers preserved by the state which give records of soldiers from Salem. The movements of the several bodies of troops are not followed here. Histories of the campaigns of the war would be more appro- priately devoted to such information. The dates given, however, will enable anyone to place a certain man in this or that stage of the war.
In the foregoing records many of the names appear more than once, sometimes with a slightly modified spelling. They are given just as they occur in the papers on file in Concord. But in order that the list of these soldiers may be more readily examined and comprehended, a full summary in alphabetical arrangement is here given, with the ranks indicated in so far as they could be obtained. Names with no rank given are privates. Those whose names are preceded by an asterisk (*) were in the battle of Bunker Hill.
SALEM SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Amy, George * Amy, Heman
*Austin, Abiel
*Bailey, Dudley, fifer
Bradford, Robert
*Bailey, Enoch
*Bradford, William
Bailey, Thomas Clark
Bradley, Daniel
Bayley, John Moore, Corp.
Buswell, David
Bixby, Asa
Campbell, Hugh
Copp, Aaron, Sergt. Copp, Moses
Chase, Nathaniel
Clark, Nathaniel Clement, John
*Corliss, Emerson Corliss, James
Clement, Richard
*Corliss, Jonathan, Lt.
Clement, Simeon Clough, Isaac
- Cross, Moses Cross, Peter Currier, Dudley
Clough, Joseph
Clough, William *Cole, Solomon
*Currier, John Currier, Thomas
246
HISTORY OF SALEM.
Dow, Jeremiah, Capt. Dow, Richard, Capt. Duston, Ebenezer
*Duston, Obadiah Duty, Mark *Duty, William, Corp.
Eastman, Ebenezer
*Gage, Andrew *Gage, Job Gage, John Gordon, David, Lt.
Emerson, Jonathan
Gordon, Jonathan
Gordon, William
Gorrill, Nathaniel
*Hall, Benjamin, Lt. *Hall, David *Hall, James Hall, Joseph
Hammond, David Handey, Jacob
*Hardy, Jacob Hardy, Josiah
*Harris, Joseph Harris, Joseph, Jr.
Hastings, James Hastings, Jedediah Hastings, Joseph
*Hazelton, Jonas Heath,'Abiel
*Heath, Joshua, Sergt. Heath, Moses Hennessey, Richard
*Howard, John Hull, Israel
Johnson, Simon
*Kelley, Ephraim Kelly, Nathaniel
Ladd, Daniel Lancaster, Ebenezer
Marble, Caleb Massey, Jonathan, Sergt. McGlauthlon, Thomas M. *McNellie, John Merrill, Daniel P. Merrill, David, fifer Merrill, John, Jr.
Kimball, Richard, Ens.
Lancaster, John Lowell, John
Messer, Daniel
Messer, David
Moreland, James
Moreland, John
Moreland, William
Morse, Asa
247
MILITARY HISTORY.
Nevins, David Nickerson, James
Noyes, Friend
*Parsons, Stephen Pattee, Laommi Pattee, Seth, Corp. Pattee, William
*Perry, William Pike, Nathaniel
*Poor, Moses
*Roque, Bryan
*Rowell, Israel
Rowell, James *Rowell, Lemuel
Silver, Daniel
Smith, Solomon
Silver, David
Smith, William
Silver, Jacob
Smith, William, Jr.
Silver, Samuel
Stanwood, Daniel
Smith, Jonathan
Stanwood, Nehemiah
Smith, Margaret
Smith, Samuel
Swan, Timothy Stevens, Jonathan (or John)
Templeton, Samuel
Woodbury, Henry
Thissell, Josiah
Woodbury, Israel
Thom, William
Woodbury, Israel, Jr.
Webster, James
Woodbury, James
Webster, Nathan
*Woodbury, Jonathan
Wheeler, Abijah, Lt.
*Woodbury, Luke, Ens.
*Wheeler, Abner, drummer Wheeler, Warren
Woodbury, William
Woodman, Abner
Woodbury, Benjamin, Sergt.
Woodman, John
Woodbury, Ebenezer
Young, James
*Woodbury, Elisha, Capt.
Young, Ward Clark
*Woodbury, Elisha, Jr.
It is to be understood that the foregoing list is taken entirely from state papers on file in Concord. The incomplete nature of all records of that period, however, forbids the conclusion that all soldiers from Salem are here included. Doubtless many others served in the Continental army, and we have very good evidence in a few such cases. One set of returns to the town
248
HISTORY OF SALEM.
authorities, in fact the only returns found on the town records, gives the following ten names together with eleven which are included in the preceding list:
Andrews, John
Jordan, Eleazer
Bradbury, Daniel
Pattee, James Paul
Campbell, Daniel
Symonds, James
Crosden, William
Taylor, William
Haywood, John
Wheeler, Isaiah
There are also others which are found in no official records that we have examined, but which nevertheless are supported by sufficient evidence to establish beyond a doubt their services in the Revolution. Among these may be found names as follows :
Austin, Moses
Rollins, Moses
Kimball, Oliver
Runnells, Thomas
Kimball, Oliver, Jr. Woodbury, Daniel
Another valiant soldier, who made a fine record for bravery and skill as an officer during the war, was Col. James Gilmore. He did not enlist from this town, however, but lived in Windham near the southwest end of Policy Pond. But after the war he came to Salem and resided in the north part of the town in the house still standing and known as the Obadiah Duston house.
That the spirit of the war had invaded all minds cannot be better attested than by the fact that this little town furnished to the army at least one hundred and fifty-five men, although the war census showed the total male population of military age to be only one hundred and ninety-eight.
In these stirring scenes and exciting times men who were loyal to the cause of the colonies kept a watchful eye upon all who were from any cause suspected of sympathizing with the British. A committee was organized in each colony for the pur- pose of checking any form of action on the part either of individ- uals or parties which might be inimical to the cause of liberty. This body was known as the Committee of Safety. In New Hampshire, Col. Josiah Bartlett was chairman, and the head- quarters was at Exeter.
The judgments of this committee were very stern, frequently involving considerable terms of imprisonment for persons con-
THE CAPTAIN RICHARD WOODBURY HOMESTEAD. (M 275)
1900 1)
日
249
MILITARY HISTORY.
victed before it. This fact caused some cases to be brought to a hearing which were not founded upon any valid grounds for action. The most flagrant offense was attacking the government of the colonies in any of its branches. Almost as bad was an expression of opinion favorable to the interests of Great Britain. It will be seen that these grave charges might reasonably be brought against men who were the most loyal to their country. For it is well known that in every liberal form of government an inevitable feature of the political life is the opposition to the party in power. And the more sane and resolute this oppo- sition, the higher the degree of perfection to be expected in administration of affairs. Moreover, the opposition must have liberty to express opinions, in order that any mismanagement may be exposed and made to feel the force of public opinion.
In the period which we are studying the man who would express dissatisfaction with existing conditions of public man- agement must needs expose himself to the liability of arrest and trial on the charge of being an enemy to the state. And in the face of all the problems and difficulties of the great struggle mat- ters were of course most likely to be in a condition which would evoke criticism. This furnished an opportunity for unscrupu- lous men to find a means of vengeance upon those with whom they were at variance.
If such a man bore a grudge against another he and his friends would endeavor to provoke the opponent to criticism of the government or army. After that it was not difficult to prefer charges to the Committee of Safety. This was by no means an uncommon practice, nor was the committee relieved of the ardu- ous duty of investigating and checking many real menaces to the welfare of the state. The most important case from Salem which was entered was the widely known prosecution of Robert Young.
ROBERT YOUNG CASE.
This case presented some very exceptional features. The prin- cipal was a man who was most zealous in his interest in public affairs, who had held many offices of responsibility and trust in the town, and who had the courage to speak his convictions in
250
HISTORY OF SALEM.
unmistakable terms. Many of the leading men of the town were involved in the case, some for and others against the de- fendant. For some time the whole community was wrought up over the features of the case as they developed through the evi- dence presented. This evidence, mostly in the form of deposi- tions, is here presented, as best able to tell the story.
The trouble seems to have begun about the time Rev. Samuel Fletcher first instituted the preaching of the Baptist doctrine in the town. Young evidently did not hold views in accord with those presented and probably was not backward in so stating. This was not pleasing to many of the followers of the worthy preacher, and caused them to harbor unpleasant feelings toward this opponent. Dr. Moody Morse was one of the aggrieved party and was ready to take Young to task for his insolence. Morse was a candidate for appointment, by the Congress of New Hamp- shire, as justice of the peace in the province. Young's remarks regarding this office furnished Morse a pretext for bringing com- plaint before the Committee of Safety. The result was the issue of a warrant for the arrest of Young :
"State of New In Comtee of Safety.
Hampshire Exeter, Augst 18th 1781. "Sir.
"You will receive herewith a Warrant for apprehending Robert Young of Salem, which you are requested to deliver or convey to the Officers most likely to do the business effectually. Some names of Witnesses are inserted in the Summons & if it shall ap- pear to you by examining the List of evidences that any material ones are omitted you are directed to put in their names, provided the number added shall not exceed two or three.
"I am &c
"John Calfe, Esqr.
"State of New In Comtee of Safety.
Hampshire Exeter, August 18, 1781.
"To the Sheriff of the County of Rockingham his Under Sheriff or Deputy or either of the constables for the Town of Salem in said State-
"Greeting-
"Whereas information has been given to this Committee, that
251
MILITARY HISTORY.
Robert Young of Salem in the County aforesaid yeoman has been guilty of sundry Practices inimical to the United States, "Therefore-
"You are hereby required in the Name of the Government & People of said State forthwith to apprehend the body of the said Robert Young if he may be found in your Precinct, and bring him as soon as may be before the Committee of Safety for this state to be examined touching the matters alledged against him that he may be dealt with as to justice may appertain. Hereof fail not and make Return of this Warrant with your doings thereon.
M. Weare, Presidt
"Please to Summons for Evidence
Moody Morse, of Salem, Gentleman
Stephen Currier do Yeoman
Thomas Dow `do do
Thaddeus Butler, of Pelham, Physician
Abbott Pettingill do Gentleman
Evan Jones Do Do
Philip Rowell of Salem, Yeoman
Israel Rowell Do Do
Timothy Dustin Do Do
William Duty Do Do
Jesse Webster Do Do
Henry Sanders Do Do
Nathaniel Woodman Do Do
Phineas Gordon Do Do
Timothy Ladd Esq. of Salem
Oliver Emerson of Methuen, Currier Abner Wheeler of Salem Yeoman Silas Wheeler of Salem Do
Samuel Merrill of Haverhill, Gent"
John Cochran of Windham Yeoman
James Cochran Do Do
Peter Harris of Methuen Yeoman"
Several of these witnesses sent their testimony in writing. Enough of it is here presented to show the character of the state- ments against the defendant. The above names were, however,
252
HISTORY OF SALEM.
submitted by Moody Morse, and were designed to furnish a strong chain of convicting evidence.
Meantime there seems to have been no attempt to take Young into custody. He still held his place of prominence in town, and kept his former political backers. This in itself shows that his guilt was not an acknowledged fact. But to put on the finishing touch of injury to his opponents, he was a leader at the town meeting held on October 8, 1781, to take action on the lawsuit against the town by Samuel Fletcher, Abraham Dow and Jeremiah Dow. At this meeting Young was chosen one of a committee to choose men to "referee" the trial of this lawsuit.
On November 2 a second warrant was issued for his arrest. It was then decided to hold his trial November 29. Accordingly a new summons was issued for witnesses. But this time the com- mittee had names of many citizens who were ready to defend Young. This list, taken with the one above, will indicate the large number of public men of Salem who were involved in this controversy.
Summons issued November 23, 1781, by Josiah Bartlett, chair- man of the Committee of Safety, to Rev. Abner Bayley, Nathan- iel Peabody, Samuel Little, Abraham Dow, Josiah Gage, John Allen, Benjamin Town, Edward Petty, Jonathan Tenney, Thomas Douglas, John Hall, John Kelly, Nathaniel Pettingill, John Pet- tingill, William Thom, Thomas Runnells, Capt. Benjamin Bixby, Samuel Clement, John Heath, and Asa Greeley Tenney, Henry Little to appear before the committee at Exeter on Thursday, November 29, 1781, to give evidence relative to Robert Young.
When the trial opened the depositions of the witnesses were presented. One of these in particular, though not committed to either party, shows the true character of the controversy. It was from the Rev. Abner Bayley, who had watched with anxiety and pain the growing schism in his people. It ran thus :
"Gent™
"My Age, declining State of Health, connections &c I hope will sufficiently excuse my not waiting on you. As to the affair before you relating to Robert Young I suppose you will concur with me that to suppress prejudices & a party Spirit & see to it
LIEUT. COL. JOHN R. WHEELER.
253
MILITARY HISTORY.
the Laws are carried into due execution are the best methods to promote our religious & political Safety.
"Your Humble Servant
"Abner Bayley
"To the Honble the Committee of Safety at Exeter."
In the following depositions by the accusers may be seen the spirit or feeling which lay at the bottom of the whole matter. Each is evidently drawn up along the lines of the others, and the element of suspicion forms a heavy part of the evidence.
"The Deposition of Moses White of Lawfull Age to testify & to say that I being at the House of Robert Young on Feb. 1th 1777 Then & there Heard the sª Young say, That he thought, that the Present unhappy Day was brought upon us by Handcocks & Adams, & that they ware the leaders of faction, that they ware a bringing the Poor People all into Slavery, that they ought to have their Heads Taken off, for they only wanted to be made Kings & Rulers, that the Congress of New Hampshire had been Setting all the last summer had done nothing only voated one another into office & Run the Province Twelve Thousand Pounds into Debt, & that one of the Presidents of the Congress had told him as much, That they had been at him after Rates but he swore that he was not agoing to pay any till they ware Lavynd Consti- tutunally, That the Congress of New Hampshire was agoing to Choose a Justis of Peace for the Town of Salem that he under- stood it Layd between Doct" Morse & Mr. Hall, that he did not begrutch him the office, for in less than a year he would loose his Head,-That they ware agoing on at Cambridge to Ruin us all, that they ware a percel of Pickpockets, that he thought it necessary that the People Should Rise & Desperce our army or make them alter their Course, that one halfe of their Province ware of his Oppinion, That if we had delivered up Handcock & Adams when Gen1 Burgoyne wrote out a Letter to Gen1 Lee things would have been Settled before this time and further saith not.
"April 15, 1776 Moses White
"Swan to before Moody Morse at Salem April 15, 1776"
There is a glaring inconsistency in dates in this document.
254
HISTORY OF SALEM.
White testifies that the statements of Robert Young here con- tained were uttered February 1, 1777, while his deposition is made and witnessed April 15, 1776, or nearly one year earlier. Either the 1776 should be 1778, an error having been made in recording the evidence, or Moody Morse made a bad mistake here. It does not seem likely that so astute a practitioner as he would let so evident an error slip by him.
"This may Certify whom it may Concern that the Subscriber have heard Robert Young Say that he heard the Hessians ware Coming! & he wished to God they ware here now! & that he would not fight the British Troops till they had Got this side Merrimack river, nor then till they had got this side the State line; & that he nor none of his would go into the army : and that I have a Strong Susspicion he is Carring on enemical Plans against the United States.
"Jeremiah Dow"
"This may Certify whom it may Concern that we the subscrib- ers heard Robert Young say he wished the British Troops had the Congress and Dam them they would have them soon; also he was always Against the French & am Still: & he'd take up Arms to go & fight them Any time and have heard said Young Curse the French Sundry times : we have heard him Curse the General Court & say they ware a Cussed Corrupt Court they kupt ye Divil at helm; also have heard him tell the Soldiers they ware Cussed fools if they marched one Step till they had all their money for the State are Sunk now we also Suspect Said Young Carring on enemical Plans Against the United States.
"Also that he Said he was always against the Common Cause of the Country & am still & every farthing of money that was taken from him was against his will "Moody Morse
"William Duty"
After fixing up this last piece of evidence Morse obtained from his friend Evan Jones a deposition to show Young's atti- tude toward the recruiting of soldiers, to which work he had frequently been assigned.
"This may Certify whom it may Concern that I the Sub- scriber heard Robert Young Say he would be Drawn in Quarters
255
MILITARY HISTORY.
Before he would Comply with Such Dammª Arbitrary Acts as to (Class [?]) to get Soldiers; have also heard him Curse the French; I Still Suspect him the Sª Young to be Practiseing Against the Common Cause of Amarica
"Evan Jones."
This concludes the important evidence brought against the defendant. There was a great deal of testimony at the hearing which was of no real significance, while many witnesses had stories very much like the preceding depositions. It may be seen that one of the heinous crimes of those times was to "curse the French." And this is not to be wondered at when we con- sider the important part played by the government and army of France in the winning of independence for the American colonies. And there was also a force operating among the com- mon people of the country which perhaps eclipsed the gratitude due for these official acts, namely the admiration for and appre- ciation of brilliant individual services by such men as Jean de Lafayette.
Among the documents which threw light on the testimony was a letter written in the early part of the proceedings, in which the writer attempted to deprive the prisoner of the privilege of consultation with his friends.
"To the Honble Comittee of Safety for the State of New Hamp- shire : I have the inclosed papers [depositions against Young] on hand, Send them to your Honors for further Consideration ; they not being in full to what may be said on the matter, but think if matters are conducted with Prudence Something will Appear of Consequence; When the man be apprehended Should think proper that the officer have Orders that he Speak to nobody Especially his friend as to Political Affairs
"Am with Due Regards.
"Your H'ble
"Moody Morse."
We present also four depositions for the defense, one of which is signed by three prominent men. These show clearly the other side of the evidence, and might be supposed to have great weight with the Committee, coming as they do from men who express their opinions with due deliberation and fairness. Let
1
256
HISTORY OF SALEM.
the reader, after following the evidence, judge the case for him- self and see if he does not concur with the committee in its finding.
"Salem, Nov. 28, 1781.
"Gent™ I am old & not well & therefore cant wait on you. But as to Robert Young I know of nothing in his conversation & conduct Enimical to the united states & accordingly he has been frequently improved as a committeeman in Town business. to good acceptance.
"John Hall.
"To the Honble the Committee of Safety at Exeter"
"Gents- I by summons am Informa that there has Ben a Complaint Exhibited against Robert Young; My business and helth Will not admit of my Personally Appearing; therefore I must Communicate my Sentiments in writing. Respecting Mr. Youngs Polliticle Sentiment; I have had an Intermate acquaint- ance with him and He allways appeard friendly Government And Good Society that he dispisª those that are not friends to it he appears to be a Strenuous Opposer to the present Desorders that Have arisen in this Town in Perticulor He has Repetedly ben chosen a Committee man to hire Soldiers and other Town business to good Exceptance That the Complaint that is Caried in against Mr. Young appears to me to be out of Prejudice
"Thomas Runnels"
"Gent Our business is Such that we cannot Leavit But hav- ing Ben Informa by Summons that there has been a Complaint Enterd Against Robert Young; by Doct" Moody Morse; which Complaint it Seems He Indevours in Part to Support by his own Evidence think it our Duty to Give you an Idea of his Common Caharactar (with Respect to truth) we Stand ready to support it that it has ben Common with him to raise and Spread fals Slanderous reports of his Neighbours; more Aspe- cially where there has Prejudices arisen This we Suppose to be the Case Respecting Robert Young who Has appeard to be a. Stranuous opposer of Disorders that Have arisen in this Town; of which Doct Morse has ben A Prinsable promoter; we further
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.