USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Henniker > History of the town of Henniker, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, from the date of the Canada grant by the province of Massachusetts, in 1735, to 1880 with a genealogical register of the families of Henniker > Part 15
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From every family altar where a love of freedom dwelt ; from pulpits, legislative halls, the army, and from congress,-there went up a shout of thanksgiving and praise to the Lord God Omnipotent, for the success of the allied troops; and these were mingled with universal eulogies of the great leader and his companions in arms.
Negotiations were now entered into for a basis of peace. Meantime, the armies were kept filled with recruits. It was not until November 25, 1783, that the British evacuated the city of New York; and with them went forever their last vestige of power in the United States.
July 15, 1782, 2Solomon Spaulding enlisted for the war. The following is his receipt :
Henniker, August ye 1 1782
This Day Received of the Select Men of Said Town, Sixty Pound Lawful Money as a hire for To Do three years Servis In the Continental Army.
his Steven Spaulding. mark.
190
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Benjamin Cressy, of this town, enlisted, July 27, 1779, for one year, for the town of Hopkinton.
Samuel Walden and Adam Nichols, both of this town, enlisted, July 20, 1779, for one year, for the town of Deer- ing.
William Brown, who appears as a soldier for this town, was a resident of Bradford.
David Morrill and Samuel Mills were residents of Wal- pole, but enlisted for this town.
Jonathan Monroe was a resident of Dublin, this state.
Ezekiel Stone was claimed as a soldier by the town of Newton, this state, and he was reckoned there.
Cornelius Bean was in the Northern army, being mus- tered July 18, 1776, for three months, and was in Capt. James Shepherd's company.
Annas Campbell was in the same army, and was mus- tered July 18, 1776.
Among the names of the soldiers from this town appears that of George Bemain. He participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, and was paid £2-17s .- 4p. for his services. He afterwards enlisted, and was at the battle of the White Plains, where he was supposed to have been killed. No family of that name ever resided in this town, as is known, and this man was undoubtedly the one referred to by Rev. Dr. Whiton, in his historical sketch of Antrim. In speaking of Dea. Aiken, of that town, he says,-
A stranger knocked at the Deacon's door one evening, and of- fered to work in his service for his board. He gave his name as George Bemain ; was a foreigner, born on the seas, of mid- dle age, a deserter from the British at Boston ; had followed marked trees, and swam the streams in search of a place of con- cealment.
Next morning he took up a Bible, remarking that he had scarce seen a good book for forty years, and would try himself at reading. He proved to be a good reader, resided in the family some years, and made himself useful by laboring on the farm and teaching the children to read. He taught the first school in Hillsborough, and is said to have been, in his youth,
191 ·
REPLY OF GOSS.
a school-mate of the well known Dilworth, author of the spell- ing-book used in New England and America a century ago. Enlisting into the army, he finally lost his life in the American cause at the battle of White Plains.
He went to Dea. Aiken's in March, 1770, then came to Hillsborough, and then to this town, and was one of the first to enlist at the outbreak of the war.
The congress of this state passed a law, Dec. 18, 1779, authorizing the treasurer of the state to discount with the selectmen of towns for the settlement of bounties paid by the town ; and this town, March 31, 1780, drew £180, agreeably to the law.
The whole amount received by the town for bounties, during the years 1777, '78, and '79, was £209-12s .- 6p.
Judge Robert Wallace was very active in settling the claims of the different soldiers and others of this town.
It took a long while to equalize the services of the people of the town; and at a meeting held May 20, 1784, the town
Voted, That all that Do not Bring in their Time on or Before the third Tuesday in June Shall Be considered as Don Nothing in the War.
Voted, that Those that are in the rear shall have Liberty To Buy of those that have Don more than their proportion.
This was the end of the matter, and the whole business was amicably adjusted.
David Campbell was commissioned first lieutenant, March 5, 1776.
Ezra Tucker was commissioned second lieutenant the same day.
The following men enlisted from this town, but at what time, and under whose command, cannot be ascertained :
Joshua Gile,
Simeon Simons.
Ephraim Goss was asked, on his return from the war, “if he killed any one." He replied that he was "good for a humming-bird at ten rods, and he took as good sight as he would for a bird, and he thought the man stood a poor chance for his life."
192
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
The following is the account of Joseph Marsh :
Joseph Marsh, 6th Co.
Dr. £-s .- P. 22-8-6
for Bounty paid by Hennekar,
Paid by the Continent 1777,
ditto 1778 ditto 1779
8-16-0 4-4-8 1-6-5 4-5-10 £ S P 1-0-I=19-13-0
Ball, Clothing by Leigh, Rum, Sugar, &c. 1780 June 17, to a Certificate for the Ballance,
27-6-6
£69-8-0
0-3-7
Paid by Blake 1782 Oct. 23, Gave a Certificate to Thomas English 6-9-9 6-13-4 £76-1-4
Contra.
June 5, 1778 promoted to a Corp'l,
By 8 Months & 21 Days in 1777, 17-12
By 12 do in 1778, 25-8
discharged
April 10, 1780, By 12 Months in 1779,
26-8
By 3 Mos & 10 Days in 1780,
£ S P. 6-13-4 == 76-1-4
0-0-0
July 21, 1779, the following men enlisted for the army in Rhode Island :
8John Clough, 2Oliver Clough, Ezekiel Stone.
They enlisted for three years.
RECAPITULATION.
Whole number of enlistments. 132
2d and 3d enlistments. 17
66 enlisted for other towns belonging here. 3 66 enlisted for this town from other towns. 4
Number of different ones enlisting once from this town . 108
132
193
BURDENS UPON THE SETTLERS.
All through the seven long years of the war, almost con- tinual calls were made upon the town for men and for rations. The little bands of patriots who were thus hastily collected together usually assembled in the log meeting- house, until it was burned, and listened to an appropriate address or prayer, as the time admitted, by Rev. Mr. Rice, who was one of the foremost citizens of the town in helping on the cause of liberty. At one time there was hardly an able-bodied man in town that was not in the service. Few, if any, towns can show a better record in proportion to their population than can this.
But during these years, when the men were so busy, the women were not idle. They supplied the tow for wad- ding, prepared bandages for the wounded, made cartridges for the soldiers, held the plow in the field, sowed and plant- ed the grain, with the assistance of the older men and the little boys, secured the hay and grain in the harvests, kept their spinning-wheels and looms busy through the livelong night, the pine torch being their light, and in innumerable ways cheered the hearts and strengthened the hands of their husbands, their fathers, their sons, their brothers, and their lovers, who were away in the camp and upon the field of battle, watching, fighting for, and defending their country and their homes ; and most nobly did they second the efforts of the men, who, in addition to the expenses of the war, were obliged to provide for the laying out and building of roads, building of bridges, for schooling, and for those families who were in want and had lost friends in the war. Most surely were these the times that tried men's and women's souls.
Everything in the township partook of the terrible, blight- ing influences arising from the war. At times it seemed almost impossible to endure the burdens imposed upon the settlers. The forests, which had begun to disappear at the commencement of the war, showed an unbending front, and bade defiance to any further advance in their destruction. On
194
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
many farms, the plow lay idle in the furrow : the seed could not be sown, the harvests could not be gathered. Even the songs of the birds in the tree-tops, if not tainted by the spirit of the war, were rendered melancholy by its scourges. Still their brave hearts struggled on, and most nobly they endured the burdens, ever looking forward with anxious hopes to the bright star of liberty which was to bring to. them reunited homes, and activity and prosperity to the town, and when they could sit upon the thresholds of their own homes, with "none to molest or make afraid." And at last it came, bright and joyous, and songs of thanksgiving and of praise were theirs.
CHAPTER XIII.
MILITARY HISTORY-Continued.
WAR OF 1812-MILITIA OF THE TOWN-FIRST RIFLE COM- PANY IN THE STATE-MEXICAN WAR.
A FTER the treaty of peace, in 1783, there were loud complaints, by both the United States and Great Britain, that each had violated the compact, and that the stipulations of the treaty had not been complied with. Great Britain, stung at the loss of her colonies, commenced a series of aggressions, which were at once both insulting and de- grading to the Americans.
Disdaining any redress, our government, as early as 1811, commenced active preparations for war. In November of that year, President Madison called an extra session of con- gress, to consider the situation, and to devise ways and means to meet it. After mature deliberation, an act was passed, June 18, 1812, declaring war against Great Britain.
Hon. William Plumer was then governor of this state, having entered upon the duties of the office the fifth day of the same month. Previous to this, Gov. John Langdon, in obedience to a call from the government at Washington for men, issued an order, May 29, 1812, detaching thirty-five hundred of the militia of this state, and organizing them into companies and regiments. The demand was met with great promptness and zeal, the men being drafted from their re- spective companies by their commanders. A call was made
196
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
upon this town for men, and, at a meeting held June 30, 1812, "to take action in regard to the war declared against Great Britain," the town
Voted almost unanimously, That the Town of Henniker, in- cluding the monthly pay drawn from Government, make up ten Dollars per month to the men who may Volunteer their services in defence of their Countrys rights, and who shall be returned from their respective Corps of Militia in said town, to serve as part of the quota of one hundred thousand Militia conforma- bly to a late law of Congress and the Proclamation, or requisi- tion of the President of the United States, consequent thereon, and that said additional pay be considered & made up from the day of their Marching, to the day they may be discharged, and that the Town pay every such Militia man so returned, who shall sign his name, to be considered as part of the quota afore- said, one Dollar bounty, to be paid down, which Dollar shall not be deducted from his wages, and every man who shall be so called to March, shall receive from the Town, five Dollars in advance, to be deducted from his Wages, and those men who may produce evidence to the Selectmen that they are returned from the companies of Cavalry, Artillery and Grenadiers, part of which Companies belong to this town, and shall be consid- ered by their respective commanding officers as making part of the quota as aforesaid, shall also receive the same additional pay monthly & bounty from the town, as those men so taken & serving from the Militia Companies in Henniker.
The bounty was afterwards raised to two dollars. This town was then attached to the Twenty-sixth Regiment, which contained within itself two large companies of infantry.
The first volunteer from this town for the War of 1812 was John Adams, who was stationed at Portsmouth, and who died there. This must have been some time in June, 1812, for upon the 30th of the same month the following men en- listed, and received two dollars bounty from the town the same day :
Capt. Israel Adams, Enoch Greenleaf, Ira Whitcomb, Daniel Stone,
Daniel Smith, Samuel Clark, John Tucker, Jr., Horace Whitney,
197
NAMES OF ENLISTED MEN.
David Perry,
Jonathan Eastman, Jr.,
Joel Wood,
David Leslie,
Jonathan Colby,
James Putney,
Jonathan Gates,
John Stuart,
William Greenleaf,
Calvin Goss,
Pliny Whitcomb,
Eli Wood,
Benjamin Whitcomb, Elijah Stone.
Mr. Gates was a substitute for John Purington. These men assembled at the house of Capt. Israel Adams, who was at that time captain of the "east company" of infantry of this town, and thence marched to the defence of Portsmouth. Neither the company nor the regiment to which these men were assigned is known, nor for how long they enlisted, but it was probably for three months.
Solomon Johnson enlisted March II, 1813, for one year, as a substitute for Eliphalet Day, who had been drafted, but could not go.
Levi Judd enlisted March 21, 1813, as a substitute for Ephraim Morrill.
Joshua Kimball enlisted March 31, 1813.
These men enlisted for one year. They were in Capt. Joseph Flanders's company, and Col. Aquila Davis's reg- iment.
The following men enlisted April 1, 1813, for two months. They were in Capt. Benjamin Bradford's company, and went to Portsmouth :
Ensign David Campbell,
Corp. Robert Marsh, Daniel Campbell,
George Ball,
Joseph Coburn, Silas Dufur,
Aaron Colby,
William Presbury,
Abel Dufur, Ira Whitcomb (2d enlistm't),
Nelson Patterson,
John Stuart (2d enlistment),
George Leslie, Daniel Leslie (2d enlistment),
Daniel Monroe,
James Taggart.
198
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
The following men enlisted as recruits for Capt. Brad- ford's company :
Robert Marsh, sergeant (second enlistment), one year, Dec. 15, 1813.
George Ball (second enlistment), one year, Dec. 17, 1813.
Abel Dufur (second enlistment), during the war, Dec. 15, 1813.
David Leslie (third enlistment), one year, Dec. 15, 1813.
Francis Bowman, during war, April 1, 1814.
Bradbury Chase, during war, Feb. 26, 1814.
Isaac Colby, during war, April 20, 1814.
James Dunlap, during war, March 4, 1814.
William Greenleaf, during war, April 11, 1814.
George Leslie, one year, Feb. 28, 1814.
John Morrill, one year, Dec. 15, 1813.
David Woods, during war, March 9, 1814.
Ira Whitcomb (second enlistment), during war, March 9, 1814.
John Stuart (third enlistment), during war, Feb. 23, 1814. Nelson Patterson (second enlistment), one year, Dec. 17, 1813.
William Presbury (second enlistment), one year, Dec. 15, 1813.
Sergeant Heath enlisted in Capt. Phinehas Webster's company, May 25, 1814, during the war, but was discharged July 16, 1814.
During the summer of 1814 the enemy began to make hostile demonstrations upon Portsmouth. Several alarms had been given, and finally Gov. Gilman, on the 9th of Sep- tember, issued his proclamation for the entire militia of the state, including infantry, artillery, and cavalry, "to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's warning, completely armed and equipped according to law, as well provided with blankets and ammunition as possible."
So alarming did he consider the situation, that he invited
199
SIXTY DAYS' MEN.
all who were exempted by law from doing military duty to form themselves into companies, and be ready to march if their services should be needed. These orders were sent throughout the state by express riders, and were obeyed with the greatest alacrity. So enthusiastic were the people, that whole companies turned out for the purpose of being drafted, and it was more difficult to secure those who would remain at home than those who would go to the front.
This town was thoroughly aroused, and the following men enlisted for three months, and were assigned to Capt. Hugh Moore's company, after arriving at Portsmouth :
Joseph Marsh, Serg't,
John Adams (2d enlistment),
Alexander Caldwell,
Charles Greenleaf,
John T. Gilman,
Edward Smith,
Sweat Worthley.
Israel Adams (2d enlistment),
David Tucker, Ezra Tucker, and Joel Heath enlisted for sixty days, Sept. 27, 1814, and were assigned to Capt. James T. Truell's company.
Jonathan Wood enlisted for three months, and was as- signed to Capt. Warren's company at Portsmouth.
Matthias Heath, Edward Kimball, and Joseph P. Welch enlisted for sixty days, Sept. 27, 1814, and were assigned to Capt. William Gregg's company, on their arrival at Ports- mouth.
Nathan Carter was in this company. He enlisted from Hillsborough, where he was then residing. He soon re- moved to this town, and has been a resident since.
The following men enlisted for sixty days, Sept. 26, 1814, and were assigned to Capt. Josiah Bellows's company, at Portsmouth :
Annas Goss, Corporal,
Daniel Campbell,
Annas Campbell,
Levi Patterson, discharged Nov. 5, 1814,
200
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Joel Howe, Lieut.,
James Boyd, Serg't,
Perley Howe, Drummer, William Livingston, Jr.,
Benjamin Cook,
Samuel Clark (2d enlistment),
Joseph Stuart,
Adam Stuart,
Joel Wood,
Titus V. Wadsworth,
John Perry, died during the service,
Nathaniel Nutter,
Amos Duston,
Enoch Pressey, David Smith.
Most of the duty performed by the soldiers who enlisted in 1814 was in and about Portsmouth. Some were in the Northern army, and were at Plattsburg when McDonough became master of the lakes, in his celebrated encounter with Com. Downie. Several of these brave men were with the gallant Col. McNeil, at Lundy's Lane, July 25, 1814, and saw Col. Miller storm the works of the enemy, capturing them, and completely routing them. His laconic and no- ble reply, "I'll try, sir," when asked if he could take them, were the talismanic words under which his brave boys fought.
Jacob Rice, Jr., son of Rev. Jacob Rice, also enlisted from this town, but when, or to what company he was assigned, is unknown.
RECAPITULATION.
Whole number of enlistments
enlisted 2d and 3d times I4
. IO0
66 single enlistments 86 100
We have endeavored to make this roll as complete as pos- sible, but, owing to the loss of records in the adjutant-gen- eral's office at Concord, we are unable to give a complete list. We have compiled it from the records at Concord, from information which we have received from some of these soldiers yet living, and from other old people. If any names have been omitted, and we have no doubt some have been,
Ebenezer Perry, Levi Barnes,
201
THE MEXICAN WAR.
it is owing rather to want of the proper information than otherwise. Large numbers of names appear upon the rec- ords, but with them no place of residence.
John Sprague and Solomon Johnson, Jr., were in the reg- ular army when the War of 1812 broke out. They were both in the battle of Tippecanoe, Nov. 7, 1811. Mr. Johnson's name appears amongst those who enlisted from this town during the war.
A treaty of peace had been concluded at Ghent, in De- cember, 1814, and was promulgated in this country about the middle of February following. The news reached this town on the 14th of February, 1815, and, in common with the people of the whole country, was hailed with joyous demonstrations. [See Celebrations.]
The legislature of the state, in the June following, public- ly thanked the gallant soldiers and seamen who had been so prompt to obey the call of their country.
MEXICAN WAR.
The difficulties so long existing between the United States and Mexico culminated in the spring of 1846. A small party of Gen. Taylor's forces, camping upon the east bank of the Rio Grande, were attacked by a superior force of Mexicans, and were either killed or captured. Several more battles took place during the year. April 17, 1847, Gen. Scott, who was then in command of the army, met the enemy at Cerro Gordo, winning the battle, and sending Santa Anna flying towards the city of Mexico. Gen. Scott halted his troops at Puebla, and awaited reinforcements, which soon came, two thousand five hundred strong, under command of Gen. Frank- lin Pierce of this state.
The Ninth Regiment of U. S. Infantry had been recruited in New England under Col. Pierce, who having been pro- moted to a brigadier-general, Gen. Truman B. Ransom, of Vermont, became its colonel. From the tall men in this regiment was made up a company of grenadiers, under com- mand of Capt. Charles N. Bodfish, of Maine. From the
IO
202
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
shortest men in the regiment a company of riflemen was made up, under command of Capt. Theodore F. Rowe, of New Hampshire.
Levi K. Ball was a grenadier, and did good service. There is no date of his enlistment. He was a worthy citizen, and is still living in Hebron, this state.
The following men from this town enlisted for the war, and belonged to Capt. Daniel Batchelder's company (H).
Thomas F. Davis, corporal, enlisted April 12, 1847.
Nahum G. Swett enlisted April 6, 1847.
These men were in the charge at Contreras, and also at Cherubusco. On the 12th, the bombardment of Chepulta- pec commenced. During the afternoon the zeal and patriot- ism of the Ninth Regiment were aroused by the riding of Gen. Pillow into their midst, who, while pointing to the heights of Chepultapec, exclaimed,-"To-morrow, if you say it, the star-spangled banner floats up yonder. If New Eng- land would place her name on the bright page of history, now is her time. You of the Ninth, if you will, shall lead in the charge. None need volunteer who will not swear to enter that castle yonder, or die !" The fearful charge was made the next day, in which Davis and Swett participated. Davis escaped unharmed : Swett was killed, and his body lies buried under the walls of Chepultapec-a noble, brave boy. Davis entered the city of Mexico with the little trium- phant American army. He returned home shortly after, and remained a while. During the summer of 1849 he went overland to California, where he has made his home most of the time since, and where he is at present residing, highly respected by all who know him.
MILITIA.
The receipt ,which John Adams gave for a free common- wealth contained four ingredients,-ministers, town-meet- ings, town schools, and training days. The three former were considered by our ancestors to be of paramount impor-
203
MILITIA OF THE TOWN.
tance, as they almost invariably accompanied all settlements. The Revolutionary War gave birth to the fourth. The pa- triotism of the colonies had been carried to a high state dur- ing the war, and they became convinced that only through their valor could their liberties be secure. Several amend- ments to the militia act had been made during the war ; but at the close, June 24, 1786, the act was repealed, and a new one passed, differing, however, but little from the old one. The training band consisted of all persons from sixteen to forty years of age; and the alarm list, of all between forty and sixty. Nothing was done under this act; and when the new state constitution was adopted, September 5, 1792, it contained important provisions for regulating the militia. The legislature at its next session passed an act, December 27th of the same year, for arranging the militia into compa- nies, regiments, brigades, and divisions, and were to drill two days in a year. Under this act, Henniker, Hillsbor- ough, Antrim, Deering, and Campbell's Gore (now Windsor) formed a battalion, and, with the towns of Hancock, Lynde- borough, Francestown, Greenfield, and Society Land (now Bennington), formed the twenty-sixth regiment. December 28th, of the same year, this law was modified in some re- spects, and provided for enrolling "all able bodied white male citizens from eighteen to forty years of age." June 19, 1795, the age was again changed to all from sixteen to forty.
The first officers of the Twenty-sixth Regiment were,- Benjamin Pierce, Hillsborough, lieutenant-colonel ; David Campbell, Henniker, major first battalion ; Daniel Gould, Lyndeborough, major second battalion.
The militia of this town met as one company for several. years, some of the time in the field north-easterly from the present residence of John K. Connor, which was laid out as a "training-field" before the Revolution. At other times, they met in the field south of the residence of Judge Robert Wallace, who lived where James P. Dowling now resides.
204
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Among those who commanded the militia in those days were Jonas Bowman, Amos Gould, Timothy and Joseph Gibson, Aaron and Israel Adams, Josiah Ward, Jesse Camp- bell, Ebenezer Harriman, Thaddeus Gibson, Aaron H. Wads- worth, Francis Bowman, James Connor, and Eliakim Howe, Jr.
At a meeting of the town, held January 9, 1786, it was
Voted to Have Two Companies Militia in this town. Voted to Divide the Town North and South.
The selectmen divided the town, and the companies were called the east and west companies. In addition to the two places already mentioned at which these companies met, were the field in front of Judge Darling's house (now owned by J. H. Albin), on the plain around the meeting-house, on the square in the village, and afterwards on the commons in front of the meeting-house on the north side of the river. The town had already provided the soldiers with tin cups, to be used on muster day. At a meeting held May 25, 1809, the town voted "that the Selectmen provide suitable meats and drinks for the soldiers belonging to this town on next muster day, as the law directs." The contract to supply them was usually let to the lowest bidder, the refreshments consisting of cold meats, bread, coffee, and cider.
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