USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > Wolfeborough > History of Wolfeborough (New Hampshire) > Part 31
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The Academy was continued with varied success until 1866, when the property was leased by the Christian Society on con- ditions. E. T. Moulton was placed at the head of the school, which was called the "Christian Institute." He was followed by John W. Lary and George F. Chase. In 1870 John W. Symonds succeeded Mr. Chase, and remained two years, when the "In- stitute" was removed from Wolfeborough.
In 1874 the old trustees voted to re-open the school. In 1876 De Witt Durgin was in charge. In 1878 the use of the school building was granted to school district number seventeen, on con- dition that a high school should be kept in it. In 1887 the old charter was amended, and the name changed to "Brewster Free Academy."
The will of John Brewster, dated January 17, 1883, and proved February 23, 1886, shows the occasion of amending the charter of the Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough Academy and the estab- lishing of the Brewster Free Academy. This will may be found in another chapter.
Here follows the charter of the Brewster Free Academy :-
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
"STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
In the Year of our Lord One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Seven.
An act to Amend the Charter of the Wolfborough and Tufton- borough Academy.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives :n General Court convened :
Section 1. The name of the Wolfborough and Tuftonborough Academy is hereby changed to the Brewster Free Academy.
Section 2. The entire affairs of the corporation shall be under the general management of a board of trustees, constituted in the manner described in the next section of this act. Said board may fully exercise all corporate powers and transact all corporate business. A majority of the trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The trustees may from time to time, make such regulations and by-laws, not repugnant to the constitution and laws of this State, for the management of the interests and concerns of said Corporation, as they may think proper ; and also appoint such and so many officers and agents as they may think proper and prescribe their powers and duties.
Section 3. The board of trustees shall hereafter be composed of eleven members, four of whom shall be members ex-officio, and seven of whom shall be selected as hereinafter provided. The four ex-officio members shall be the principal of the Academy, to be elected by the board, and the three trustees under the seventh or residuary clause in the will of John Brewster ; the three present trustees being William Brewster, John L. Brewster and Arthur Estabrook. The trustees under said will and their several suc- cessors in said trust under said will, shall each be trustees of the Academy so long as they severally remain trustees under said will. The seven following persons shall constitute the remain- ing members of the board, viz .: Jeremiah Smith, of Dover, John
EDWIN H. LORD, A M.
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
K. Lord, of Hanover, Charles U. Bell, of Lawrence, and Joseph L. Avery, Benjamin F. Parker, Albert W. Wiggin, and Charles H. Parker, of Wolfborough, the seven trustees last named shall at the first meeting draw lots for terms of one, two, three, four, five, six and seven years, respectively. Thereafter the term of one member shall expire each year according to said drawing, and at the annual meeting of each year a trustee to serve for seven years shall be elected by the board to take the place of the retiring member. The retiring member shall be eligible for re-election, but shall have no vote in such election. If a vacancy shall occur among the aforesaid seven trustees or their successors at any other time than the expiration of a term, the board shall elect a trustee to serve for the unexpired balance of the term. A majority of the board of eleven trustees shall consist of persons who are not inhabitants of Wolfborough or of towns adjacent thereto.
Section 4. The Corporation may purchase, lease, erect and maintain suitable buildings ; may receive and expend the income bequeathed by John Brewster for the support of an Academy ; and may receive by gift, devise, purchase or otherwise, and hold, manage and dispose of for the purpose of the Academy, real and person estate to the amount of five hundred thousand dollars in value. Said property and income, so long as it continues to be- long to said Academy shall be exempt from taxation.
Section 5. The principles and precepts of the Christian religion shall be inculcated, but the Academy shall not be a denomina- tional or sectarian school.
Section 6. The first meeting of the board of trustees may be called by anyone of said trustees by a notice in writing, stating the time and place of meeting, sent by mail to each of the other corporators at least one week prior thereto.
Section 7. If any persons claiming to be stockholders or cor- porators in the Wolfborough and Tuftonborough Academy shall within two months after the passage of this act give notice to the
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
trustees of the Brewster Free Academy, that they object to the amendments herein made, said trustes shall, within one month thereafter, apply by petition to the County Commissioners for the County of Carroll to ascertain the respective interests of the per- sons so giving notice and to assess the pecuniary value thereof. The proceedings before the Commissioners upon such petition shall be similar in substance to those prescribed when petitions for the laying out of highways are referred to the Commissioners and the report shall be returned to the Supreme Court. Such re- port shall be final unless one or more of said stockholders or cor- porators shall appeal from the asssessment of value; in which case the same proceedings shall be had as on appeal from an award of damages by the Commissioners in laying out a high- way. Upon the payment or tender of the sum or sums so as- sessed by the Commissioners or (in case of appeal) upon the deposit with the County Treasurer of said sums and also filing with the Treasurer reasonable security to the satisfaction of the Commissioners for the payment of any further damage and costs, which may be awarded upon said appeal, the respective interests of the aforesaid stockholders or corporators shall be completely divested. Any stockholders or corporators who do not give notice as aforesaid within two months shall be deemed to have assented to the amendments herein made.
Section 8. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved June 23, 1887."
The following extracts taken from the latest catalogue of the Brewster Free Academy will give an idea as to the character of the school and its requirements :-
"Applicants for admission are required to furnish testimonials that they sustain a good moral character, and a certificate from their last school is desirable. They must also pass a satisfactory examination in the elements of Arithmetic and of English Gram-
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
mar, in modern Geography, and in the History of the United States. Only those who are able and willing to work hard should apply for admission."
"The formation of character is a leading aim of the school, and no one whose influence is opposed to this purpose will be allowed to remain. Pupils are expected to be ladies and gentlemen, and in this simple statement is included the substance of our require- ments. Idlers will be promptly excluded."
"The school day begins with devotional exercises, and the students are required to attend divine worship at one of the churches in town on Sunday morning."
"Two courses of study are provided one furnishing ample prep- aration for college, the other equal to the first in disciplinary value, but so framed as to allow some latitude for choice on the part of the student, according to his needs and purposes. It is intended to establish a course of Manual Training as soon as practicable."
"The spirit and method of instruction are modern in all sub- jects. Ample laboratory facilities are supplied for the students in science."
At the opening of the Academy in 1887, the students num- bered forty-seven. The teachers were Edwin H Lord, A. M., principal; Lydia F. Remick and Edwin H. Ross, assistants. Here follows a list of teachers since 1887: Alice S. Rollins (Mrs. Edwin F. Brewster), Helen M. Cobb (Mrs. Calvin M. Clark), Frederick H. Safford, George C. Kimball, Isaac E. Pearl, John C. Sanborn, Jr., Fannie A. Ober (Mrs. Frank A. Coolidge), Edwin T. Brewster, Lottie A. Jones, Lillye T. Lewis (Mrs. S. Percy R. Chadwick), Florence Adams, Hershel Wilder Lewis, Mary L. Graffam, Louis J. West, Cornelia Park. Messrs. Pearl, Sanborn and Lewis and Misses Ober and Adams acted as sub- stitutes. The present teachers are : Edwin H. Lord, A. M., prin- cipal; S. Percy R. Chadwick, A. M., Herbert E. Sargent, B. S., W. Herbert Terrill, A. M., Mary Ella Carter, B. L., S. Marian
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Chadbourne, A. B., Mabel L. Hersom, B. L. In 1900 there were one hundred and thirty-five students. The first class was grad- uated in 1890 and consisted of seven members. The alumni now number one hundred and forty-three.
The present board of trustees consists of William Brewster, Cambridge, Mass .; John L. Brewster, president, Andover, Mass .; Arthur F. Estabrook, treasurer, Boston, Mass .; Edwin H. Lord, James C. Melvin, Boston, Mass .; * Benjamin F. Parker, Nathaniel H. Scott, John K. Lord, Hanover, N. H .; Charles U. Bell, secretary, Andover, Mass .; Charles S. Murkland, Durham, N. H .; Sewall W. Abbott.
The Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough Academy building, by a vote of its proprietors, was transferred to the trustees of the Brewster Free Academy. It was used by the Academy until the completion of the south wing of the new building in 1890. It was then donated to the town of Wolfeborough for a school- house, on condition that it should be removed, the ground leveled, and a street made on its northern side. These conditions were complied with, and the building is now known as the "Pickering School-house," and accommodates four schools, one of which is the town grammar. The Academy grounds consist of forty acres of land sloping from the main street of the village to the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, on which they border for the distance of half a mile. The views from the grounds to the lake and from the lake to the grounds are alike beautiful. On the grounds are the "Estabrook" and "Annex" buildings pro- vided by the liberality of one of the trustees for the accommoda- tion of teachers and a limited number of students. Here also are the residences of Principal Lord and Mr. Chadwick. The com- pleted wing of the Academy building is of pressed brick, and cost $35,000. The cost of the whole building, when completed as de- signed, will be $150,000.
* Deceased.
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Few towns in New Hampshire have so good, and none better educational advantages than does Wolfeborough. Its schools, which are in session two-thirds of the year, are made convenient for every pupil, as in the more remote or sparsely populated neighborhoods they are conveyed from their homes to the school- house free of expense. Having reached a proper degree of ad- vancement, they are admitted to the Brewster Free Academy, and without any expense for tuition or books are fitted for col- lege or the busy affairs of life.
In 1804 a social library was established in Wolfeborough, the leader of the movement being Isaiah Horne, who was the most scholarly person in the town at that time. The history of the library follows :
At a meeting of a number of the inhabitants of Wolfeborough and parts adjacent, to take into consideration the propriety of establishing a library, held at the schoolhouse above Smith's Bridge, January 10, Isaiah Horne was chosen moderator, Samuel Nowell, clerk; John L. Piper, treasurer and librarian. Piper, Horne, Nowell, Daniel Brewster, and William Guppy were ap- pointed a committee to draft a constitution, and Samuel Meder, Henry Wiggin, James Wiggin, Samuel Fox, Jonathan Blake, George Brewster, William C. Warren, James Hersey, Benjamin Horne, and Samuel Mason, with the above-named committee were appointed a committee to determine the books that should constitute the library. It was also voted that the price of a share in the library should be two dollars.
At an adjourned meeting held on the twenty-first day of the same month, a constitution consisting of thirteen articles was adopted. By this it was determined that the officers of the society should consist of a president, a secretary, a treasurer, a librarian, and three inspectors, the duty of the last named officers being to make a semi-annual examination of the books in the library. Members of the association were required to pay an annual tax of thirty-four cents, and were allowed to take one book from the
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
library, which they were to return within two months or subject themselves to a fine.
The library was to be kept on the main road in the southwest part of the town, between the dwellings of William Guppy and Samuel Meder. Subsequently the price of a share in the library was raised to three dollars, although two dollars was the more common price. The annual tax varied from thirty-four to twelve and a half cents, and was finally fixed at twenty cents. The per- sons who signed the constitution and became members of the society were Daniel Brewster, Jr., Isaiah Horne, Samuel Nowell, Jonathan Blake, Henry Horn, William Chamberlain, Andrew Lucas, William Mallard, Samuel Mason, Andrew Wiggin, James Wiggin, Benjamin Young, William C. Warren, Jacob Folsom, Widow Annah Fullerton, Elijah Estes, George Brewster, John L. Piper, John Piper, James Hersey, Levi Tibbetts, David Copp, Benjamin Horne, Neal Cate, James Fullerton, Andrew Wiggin, Jr., Henry Wiggin, Ebenezer Meder, Jr., Samuel G. Piper, Wil- liam Guppy, David Piper, William Fullerton, Samuel Meder, Benjamin Blake, Samuel Fox, William Copp, Samuel Johnson, Stephen W. Horne, William Rogers, Oliver Smith, Samuel Con- nor, James Connor, Jr., John Edmonds, Benning Brackett, Ichabod Libbey, Jonathan Hersey, Thomas W. Chase, William Kent, Joshua Avery, Jesse Whitten, and Daniel Bassett. Several volumes were contributed by individuals, and about ninety, most- ly historical works, purchased. These, in accordance with the constitution, were covered with leather.
In June of the same year the society was incorporated by the "name of the proprietors of the Republican Social Library in Wolfborough," and Samuel Nowell and Jonathan Blake were authorized to call the first meeting of the proprietors. A meet- ing was accordingly called on the third day of the following Sep- tember, and Isaiah Horne was chosen president ; Samuel Meder, clerk ; John L. Piper, librarian and treasurer ; and Samuel Nowell, William Rogers, and George Brewster, a committee of inspec-
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
tion. Mr. Piper held the office of librarian until 1817. He was then succeeded by Samuel Meder, who retained the office one year, and was in turn succeeded by George Nowell. The year following Richard Rust was chosen librarian. Mr. Rust was elected three successive years, and was succeeded by his son, Thomas Rust, who held the office for twenty years, or until 1843, when George B. Farrar took his place. In 1845 Zachariah Bachelder became librarian, and in 1846 Joseph Avery was ap- pointed to the office. About fifty persons became members of the association, exclusive of those who united with it at the time of its organization. It was justly regarded as a valuable institu- tion at the beginning of the present century, and from it many of the citizens of the town acquired a stock of knowledge that could not otherwise have been obtained. William Fox, Esq., was librarian for several of the last years of the existence of the library ; but as it received but few additions, it was little used, and in 1888 was sold at auction.
There was for a long time a circulating library owned by the inhabitants of North Wolfeborough and the adjacent part of Ossipee.
The Brewster Library, established under the provisions of John Brewster's will, was first thrown open to the public in March, 1890. In March, 1900, the town voted to establish a library com- mission and this body has co-operated with the trustees since that date. Both libraries are in the same building and in charge of the same librarian. The stacks now contain seventeen hundred and fifty well-selected volumes, exclusive of pamphlets and the periodicals and newspapers of the reading room. Of these four- teen hundred and twenty-six have been purchased by the Brewster estate and three hundred and twenty-four from the town fund. The present library commissioners are Rev. Andrew Hahn, Ed- ward F. Cate, and Pierce A. Horne.
There have been two librarians, George E. Sleeper and the present incumbent, Miss Inez Brewster. There have also been
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
several substitutes from time to time. Thus, with the exception of a very brief interim, Wolfeborough has had some sort of a public library for nearly a century.
CHAPTER XXVI.
SOLDIERS OF 1812-CIVIL WAR-PROVISION FOR SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES-ENLISTED SOLDIERS-RESIDENT SURVIV- ORS - MAJOR JAMES R. NEWELL - MAJOR WILLIAM H. TRICKEY-CAPTAIN ALVAH S. LIBBEY-OFFICERS WHO BECAME PROMINENT-CIVIL LIST OF THE TOWN.
F EW, if any, soldiers from Wolfeborough enlisted in the War of 1812. During its progress an English fleet appeared off the harbor of Portsmouth, and a draft was made on the New Hamp- shire militia. The enrolled soldiers of Wolfeborough were about this time divided into two companies, the first and the sixth. They were both attached to the twenty-seventh regiment. The following persons were drafted from the first company: Isaac Edmonds, Jonathan Gale, Joseph Edmonds, Nathaniel G. Horne, James Rogers, Benjamin Tibbetts, Alpheus Swett, John Fuller- ton, Jacob Hersey, John Shepherd, John Wiggin, John W. Horne, Andrew Lucas. From the sixth company were drafted these: Thomas Stevenson, John Willey, Isaac Martin, George W. Cotton, John Drew, Jr., John Jenness, Isaac Poor, Jonathan Cook, Samuel Fernald, Joseph Hoitt, Samuel Nudd. They re- ceived from the town wages at the rate of ten dollars a month. In advanced life the survivors became pensioners of the govern- ment.
During the Civil War the town made ample provision for its citizen soldiers and their families, as is shown by the following record of its action :-
October 14, 1861, voted to raise five hundred dollars to aid the families of soldiers. John Wingate, Jr., Alphonzo H. Rust, and Joseph Bickford were appointed a disbursing committee. 1862, February 22, five hundred dollars were raised for the same
417
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
purpose, and the selectmen were authorized to add fifty per cent to that sum if needed. August 9, voted to place a sum not ex- ceeding three thousand dollars in the hands of the disbursing committee, and to pay each volunteer under the call for volunteers a bounty of two hundred dollars, and a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars to each person who should volunteer to fill the draft ; September 18, voted to pay each person who should enlist in the army for nine months three hundred dollars. 1863, March, voted five thousand dollars for the benefit of soldiers' families ; September 9, voted to pay each drafted man or his substitute three hundred dollars; December 3, this sum was increased fifty dollars. 1864, May 12, voted to pay three hundred dollars to each person who should enlist in the army, June 4, voted to pay three hundred dollars to each drafted man who should go into the army, or who should provide a substitute ; re-enlisted soldiers were to receive a like bounty; July 7, voted to pay each drafted man three hundred dollars, or provide him with a substitute, on condition that he should pay one hundred dollars to the town ; Charles F. Hill and George W. Furber were appointed recruit- ing agents; August 23, voted to pay each resident who should enlist for one year three hundred dollars, for two years four hundred dollars, for three years five hundred dollars ; September I, Woodbury P. Horne, Moses Thompson, and John L. Haines were made recruiting agents, and a bounty of seven hundred dol- lars offered to each person who should enlist for one year ; Dec. I, voted to pay to any citizen enrolled in the militia one hundred dollars, if he should procure a substitute for one year, two hundred dollars for one for two years, and three hundred dollars for one for three years. In 1867, voted to pay one hundred dol- lars to each person who had paid commutation money, furnished a substitute, or volunteered to serve in the army. March 10, 1868, voted to pay one hundred dollars to each soldier a citizen of the town when he enlisted, and who had never received any town bounty from this or any other town, and who had an honor-
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
able discharge from the service. Most of the money used during the war was obtained by loan, although considerable sums were raised by taxation.
SOLDIERS IN THE CIVIL WAR WHO ENLISTED FROM
WOLFEBOROUGH.
First Infantry.
John W. Fogg.
Second Infantry.
James Bresnehan.
*John S. Varney, wounded. Four recruits, or substitutes.
Third Infantry.
William H. Trickey, wound- ed, promoted Major, now a clergyman.
Andrew J. Wadlea, wounded, afterwards promoted Cap- tain.
*Hanna A. Chesley. Lowell Glidden.
*Albert Paris.
Fourth Infantry. One Recruit.
Fifth Infantry.
*Richard R. Davis, Captain.
*Henry B. Rendall, 2d Lieut., returned home diseased, and died Oct., 1862.
John W. Fogg, second enlist- ment.
Lewis A. Chesley. Edgar Avery, wounded.
*John F. Corson, killed June 30, 1862.
*William Huzzey, died in army.
*William H. Hayes.
*Caleb T. Keniston. Charles E. Tebbetts.
Charles A. Libbey. John Doyle. Ezra Nutt.
*William B. Nason.
*John Sargent, died in army Dec. 22, 1861.
*Ezra Tibbetts. James W. Hooper.
*Samuel Thomas. William C. Maleham.
*John C. Wallace, killed Dec. 13, 1862.
*Ira Whittle.
*Charles A. Warren, died of wounds, June 2, 1862.
Charles E. Sargent. Peter Protier.
*Jeremiah Young, wounded. Charles O. Doe.
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
*Simeon B. Kenney. Benjamin F. Blaisdell. Thomas E. Mitchel.
*Daniel Kimball, died of wounds.
One recruit.
Sixth Infantry.
*Charles H. Kimball.
*Thomas J. Nute. Isaac B. Sawyer.
Ten recruits, one, James C. Clement, died of wounds.
Seventh Infantry.
Three recruits.
Eighth Infantry.
*Alphonzo G. Colby, Captain.
*James R. Newell, wounded and prisoner, promoted Major.
*George H. Hurd, died Oct. I, 1862.
James W. Johnson.
Tobias M. Elliott.
Henry Marchington.
*William M. Elliott.
*Jeremiah D. Tebbetts.
*Herbert B. Tebbetts, died in army Jan. 9, 1863. Three recruits.
Ninth Infantry. Two recruits.
Twelfth Infantry.
*Silas May, Captain, promoted Captain in regular army, wounded.
*David P. Haines. *Joseph Morgan, Jr. Jacob B. Tuttle, promoted Lieutenant.
*Charles A. Warren. William B. Rendall.
*Jacob Hanson. Wilbur W. Swett.
*Charles H. Bickford.
*Nathaniel W. Bradley.
*Amos E. Bradley, wounded June 3, 1862.
*George H. Blake. *Greenlief D. Davis. Samuel S. Eaton.
*Abial C. Eaton, wounded June, 1864.
*Japhet Emery, died Jan. 27, 1864.
William B. Fullerton.
George B. Frost, wounded May 3, 1863.
George W. Horne.
*Monroe Hartshorn.
*Thomas R. Horne.
*Oscar F. Horne. John M. Kimball, wounded.
*James W. Libbey, died Aug. 27, 1863. William B. Pierce.
0
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
William Peavey. *John W. Stevens.
*John F. Smith, killed July 2, 1863.
Isaac Stevens, wounded July 9, 1864.
*Loring Stoddard, wounded May 3, 1863.
*James E. Tebbetts, died Jan. 16, 1863.
Moses Thompson. *Moses F. Thompson.
*John M. Thompson, died of wounds June 16, 1864.
*Benjamin Kimball.
*Samuel J. Nutt.
*Daniel W. Homer, promoted Second Lieutenant.
Thirteenth Infantry.
John H. Beacham. *James F. Geralds, died in army.
Fourteenth Infantry.
Albert J. Huzzey, Quarter- master-Sargeant, promoted 2d Lieut.
Three recruits.
Fifteenth Infantry. Jeremiah F. Hall, Surgeon.
Sixteenth Infantry.
Albert J. Hersey, Captain.
Albert W. Wiggin, Ist Lieut.
*Alvah S. Libbey, 2nd Lieut.
*George P. Cotton. Lewis F. Davis. Harlan P. Crain.
*Charles O. Rendall, died July 31, 1863.
*Peter C. Seavey. Hollis P. Chapman.
*Leonidas J. Avery, died July 26, 1863.
*Charles H. Bickford. *John C. Caryle.
*Thomas Chase. William Corson. Joel E. Cook.
*James W. Cross.
* James C. Dwight.
*Moses Emery.
*Nathaniel D. Farnsworth. George B. Fogg.
*George W. Frost, died Apr. 28, 1863. Joseph P. Heath.
*Charles E. Johnson.
*Ezra F. Johnson. Ezra H. Keniston.
*David G. Kimball.
*John W. Lee.
*Woodbury L. Leavitt. John H. Loud.
*Joseph H. Ricker, died July 24, 1863.
*Daniel Rollins.
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
*Charles G. Sherwood, died June 14, 1863.
*Edward Turner. Benjamin Trickey.
*Joseph J. Whitten. Joseph H. Chamberlin.
Eighteen Infantry.
*Moses T. Cate, Quartermas- ter.
*Harris W. Morgan.
Benjamin B. Thompson, pro- moted Captain. Heavy Artillery.
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