USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Richmond > History of the town of Richmond, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, from its first settlement, to 1882 > Part 5
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The period embraced between the settlement of the town and the beginning of the war of the Revolution had been to the col- onists uneventful. They had been permitted to devote their energies to the clearing up and improvement of their farms, un- disturbed by war or other com- motion which had been the lot of settlers in other places. In the spring of 1775, the town had experienced ten years of municipal life, and had made no inconsiderable progress in transform- ing a wilderness into cultivated fields. Most of the land fit for cultivation had been taken up and occu- pied ; still, extensive tracts in the east part had been undisturbed by the woodsman's axe. A cursory glance at the condition of the town at this time may
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HISTORY OF THE
not be out of place here in forming a true estimate of the services rendered by the first settlers in the Revo- lutionary war. The population of the town was 860, and number of voters about 175. The business centres of the town were at Daniel Cass' and James Cook's, at neither place a village. There were some saw-mills, and one or two grist-mills, two stores and four or five taverns in town. Many of the families were still living in log-houses. They had no meeting- house of any kind, or school-houses of any descrip- tion. Money was extremely scarce, and not much in circulation. Their exchanges were mostly made by barter. Their means of locomotion were extremely limited, mostly confined to horseback riding, or jolt- ing along in the ox-cart -light wagons had not come into use, and covered carriages were not thought of. They had no newspapers or periodi- cals, and no books of any amount. Still, isolated as they were in the midst of deprivations, they were not ignorant of the more important events transpiring. News was transmitted by living messengers from town to town, as they might be journeying through the country. The town talk was largely on topics touching the rights and liberties of the people. They discussed the "Stamp Act," the " Boston Port Bill," and kindred measures. The disregard of the British government to the petitions, remonstrances, and pro- tests of the people for the redress of grievances had been fully considered, and the policy of the king and ministry had been unsparingly denounced. Their gravest apprehensions had been awakened by the quartering of British troops in Boston for the purpose of intimidation and coercion, and it is probable that they foresaw that these continued aggressions on the
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TOWN OF RICHMOND.
rights of the people must result in forcible resist- ance. Such, then, may be considered a fair repre- sentation of the town when the war commenced, and it may be reasonably assumed that the people were not wholly unprepared for the contest at hand ; but it would seem that they were in a condition such as would require an exigency of the most pressing urgency for support before a demand could reason- ably be made on them for personal service in the field. When news of the Concord fight reached them they were busily engaged in the midst of their spring's work. The more active and influential called a meeting of the citizens immediately, for consultation. Some of the leading men in Win- chester were probably there. The situation was fully discussed, and their duties in the emergency duly considered. What they did was wholly volun- tary. No requisition had at this time been made on the town for soldiers. They were not long in ar- riving at a conclusion. They resolved that their rights and liberties must either be defended with force and arms, or else they must submit to the behests of arbitrary power.
The former of these alternatives they wisely chose, and prepared themselves as best they could to meet the crisis. The people were well united on the ques- tions at issue. The Quakers, whose principles for- bade them to unite in war, gave their sympathies at least to the popular cause, as appears by their signa- tures on the "Association Test" hereinafter inserted, wherein they signified that they would not "refuse to associate to defend by arms the United Colonies against the hostile attempts of the British fleets and armies."
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HISTORY OF THE
The number of Tories was quite limited. Only one is known finally to have adhered to the royal cause. Thomas Crane, who owned the farm where Robert Swan afterwards lived, in the hollow, left his farm and family and fled to Nova Scotia, and never returned. Little can be gleaned from the town records in relation to this war. Here and there the record of a vote appears defining what bounty shall be paid to soldiers, or what shall constitute a " turn " in the service, but nothing to show the amount of service, or by whom performed.
The first recorded act of the town in sustaining the revolutionary movement and the Continental Con- gress, was on the sixth of April, 1775, when the fol- lowing vote was passed : -
Voted, To raise three pounds, eight shillings, which the Con- gress has sent for to this town.
This was but thirteen days before the battle of Lexington, and was passed at a meeting held at the house of Deacon John Cass. The recorded action of the town at this time but dimly reflects the patriotic sentiments of the people. The evidence is quite conclusive that there was more unanimity in feeling and in sentiment in this town, in the prosecution of this war, than in either of the others since, in which the town has taken part. The excitement conse- quent on hearing of the Concord fight must have been intense and all-prevading. We may never know all that was done, and still less can we know what was said; but from their subsequent acts, it may be in- ferred that stirring speeches of the Patrick Henry type were made, by whom we hardly know, but may reasonably infer that Henry Ingalls, Esq., Captain Oliver Capron, Michael Barrus, David Barney, David
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TOWN OF RICHMOND.
Russell, and Rufus Whipple, Esq., were prominent in the work of arousing the people to immediate and united action. The final result of the meeting before alluded to was that nearly a whole company volun- teered under command of Captain Oliver Capron, which company joined Colonel Ephraim Doolittle's regiment, which was commissioned at Cambridge on the twelfth day of June, 1775. This regiment was mostly raised in towns in the north part of Worcester County.
Frothingham, in his history of the "Siege of Bos- ton," says that "three hundred of Doolittle's men, under command of Major Willard Moore of Paxton, were engaged in the battle of Bunker Hill." Some
BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL.
of the Richmond Company certainly were in this engagement. Jeremiah Barrus, Sr., the last of the Revolutionary soldiers in town, often spoke of being in that battle. The roll of this company appears in a return of the same, Oct. 6, 1775, when stationed at
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HISTORY OF THE
Winter hill, in Cambridge. This may be found in the office of the Adjutant-General at Boston, and is probably the only record of the company now extant. The company, soon after this return was made, re- turned to their homes, with the exception of some who enlisted in the Continental army. This completes the record of the town in the war for the year 1775, with the exception of giving the following names of the officers and soldiers of the Richmond company in Colonel Doolittle's regiment, June 12, 1775 : ~
Capt. Oliver Capron, Lieut. David Barney, Sergt. Henry Ingalls, Sergt Rufus Whipple, Sergt David Russell, Corp. Hezekiah Thur- ber, Corp. James Westcoat; Privates Solomon Aldrich, William Aldrich, Nathan Barrus, Jeremiah Barrus, William Barney, Samuel Carpenter, Azariah Cumstock, John Ellis, John Garnsey, Abiel Knap, Eleazer Martin, Eli Page, Daniel Peters, Israel Peters, Timothy Robinson, David Shearman, Jeremiah Thayer, John Wooley.
Sixteen others from Winchester, Warwick, and other places, joined this company.
Early in the spring of 1776, Congress took pre- cautionary measures to ascertain the state of the popular mind, and to strengthen the cause of liberty and independence, in defence of which the patriots had already taken up arms. The Committee of Safety for New Hampshire sent to the selectmen of the several towns a copy of the resolution of Congress for endorsement. The selectmen of Richmond ob- tained, finally, nearly all the voters of the town. On June 26th, twelve, for reasons set forth, refused to sub- scribe, but after the Declaration of Independence on the fourth of the following month, ten of these united with the others, leaving but two that remained obsti- nate. Among the subscribers to the resolution may
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TOWN OF RICHMOND.
be seen the name of Thomas Crane, who is reported to have been disloyal to the popular cause, but at this time was induced to subscribe to the " Association Test."
But two in town were disarmed, viz., Captain Amos Boorn and Jonathan Sweet, and this was done the year before, in 1775. This was probably a hasty and inconsiderate act, as appears from the subsequent action of the town in making ample remuneration for the loss sustained.
ASSOCIATION TEST. Colony of New Hampshire.
IN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, April 12, 1776.
In order to carry the underwritten Resolve of the Honorable Con- gress into execution, you are requested to desire all Males above Twenty-one years of age (Lunatics, Idiots, and Negroes excepted) to sign to the Declaration on this paper, and when so done to make return thereof, together with the name or names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to the General Assembly or Committee of Safety of this Colony.
M. WEARE, Chairman.
IN CONGRESS, March 14, 1776.
Resolved, That it is recommended to the several Assemblies, Conventions, and Councils or Committees of Safety of the United Colonies immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within their respective Colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who have not associated, or refuse to associate, to defend by Arms the United Colonies against hostile attempts of the British fleets and armies.
(Copy) Extract from the minutes.
CHARLES THOMPSON, Sec'y.
SIGNERS IN RICHMOND.
Constant Barney, Solomon Atherton, Simpson Hammond, Jer- emiah Thayer, Azariah Comstock, Jr., Samuel Hix, Abraham
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HISTORY OF THE
Barrus, Francis Norwood, Jr., Ephraim Hix, Nathaniel Whipple, Joseph Cass, Edmund Ingalls, Barnabas Thrasher, Ebenezer Ornsbe, Matturian Ballou, Israel Whipple, Reuben Parker, Richard Peters, Oliver Barrus, John Robinson, Ebenezer Peters, John Danly, Peter Holbrook, Elezer Martin, Isaac Benson, Nathan Hadley, Isrill Peters, Daniel Read, John Barrus, John Woolley, Daniel Greens, Joseph Kazey, Ebenezer Cole, John Scott, James Kingsley, Samuel Carpenter, Michael Barrus, Amos Garnsey, Jonathan Jillson, Alles Thayer, Rufus Whipple, John Ellis, John Garnsey, Jonathan Atherton, David Cass, Jeremiah Thayer, Jr., Oliver Garnsey, Oliver Capron, Ichabod Whipple, Timothy Thompson, Azariah Comstock, Dan. Freeman, Ezra Ormsbee, Seth Ballou, David Barney, James Westcott, Moses Comstock, Benjamin Thrusher, Solomon Aldrich, Ezra Day, Ebenezer Bar- rus, Eli Page, Stephen Kempton, Abraham Barrus, Jr., William Goddard, Jeremiah Bullock, Timothy Robinson, Henry Ingalls, Oliver Hix, Nehemiah Thayer, Amos Hix, Abiel Knap, Nath'l Whipple, Jonathan Bozard, Thomas Wooley, Othniel Day, David Sherman, David Hix, Moses Tyler, Abner Aldrich, Jr., Barnard Hix, Jacob Bump, Abraham Randall, Enoch White, Josiah Streaton, Asa Man, Paul Handy, William Aldrich, John Cass, Holab Smith, Jonah Twitchel, Samson Thayer, Aaron Aldrich, Ephraim Taft, Jonathan Bools, Thomas Bowen, Silas Taft, Joseph Newell, Joseph Wing, Abraham Man, John Martin, John Wing, Isquire Whipple, George Martin, Jonathan Gaskill, Grindall Thayer, Robert Works, John Sprague, Francis Norwood, Thomas Crane, Israel Phillips, John Cass, David Russell, Thomas Horton, Oliver Ormsbe, Moses Martin, Silas Gaskill, James Tilson, Peter Martin, John Martin, Jr., Paul Boyce, Joseph Cass, Jr., William Cook, Jeans Ballou, Daniel Cass, Luke Cass, Silas Ballou, Daniel Cass, Jr., Richard Peters, Jr., Hezekiah Thurber, James Ranan, Noah Curtis, Jonathan Sweet, Gideon Man, Amriah Curtis, Daniel Peters, Ezra Allen, Samuel Curtis, Moses Allen, Annanias Aldrich, Joseph Allen, Abner Aldrich, Jedediah Buffum, Tribe Aldrich, Nathan Harkness, Oliver Mason, Jonathan Thurber, George Cook, William Gerney, Nathan Aldrich, Nathan Bullock, Peter Aldrich, Anthony Harris, Uriah Harris, Nathaniel Taft, Artemas Aldrich.
Daniel Read, John Danly, Selectmen.
AUGUST 30th, 1776.
RICHMOND, June the 26th, 1776.
To the Hon'ble Provencil Congress :
These do Certify the Reason Why we the Subscribers do not sine the Resolution of the Congress in taking up Armes. We do not
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TOWN OF RICHMOND.
Believe that it is the will of God to take away the Lives of our fellow crators, not that we come out against the Congress or the Amarican Liberties, but when ever we are Convinct to the Contory we are Redy to goine our Amarican Brieathen to defend by armes against the Hostile attempts of the British fleets and Armies.
AMOS BOORN, LUKE CASS,
JEANS BALLOU,
ANTHONY HARRIS,
ENOCH WHITE,
URIAH HARRIS,
WILLIAM COOK,
MARTIN ELLIS,
ANNANIAS ALDRICH, OLIVER MASON,
THOMAS HORTEN,
SIMSON THAYER. - 12.
SECOND CENSUS, 1775.
The number of the Inhabitence of the town of Richmond is as followeth : -
Mails under 16 years of Age, . 280
Mails from 16 of Age to 50 not in the Army, 143
All mails above 50 years of Age, 16
Persons gone in the Army, 26
All Females,
395
Negroes & Slaves for Life,
O
860
Guns fit for use, 56
Powder, .
5 1b.
The number of fire-arms wanting, 88
- The above Account taken by Us Sept. 23, 1775,
WILLIAM GODDARD, ENOCH WHITE, Selectmen.
DANIEL READ,
1776. A Committee of Safety, Inspection, and Cor- respondence was chosen Jan. 29, 1776, consisting of Isaac Benson, Michael Barrus, Constant Barney, of Safety and Inspection ; Israel Whipple, James Kings- ley, Amos Garnsey, of Correspondence.
These were chosen to act in conjunction with the provincial committees of the same name, the object of which was to keep the government fully apprised
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HISTORY OF THE
of the true condition of the popular cause, and to act as auxiliaries to the authorities in prosecuting the war. Voted at the meeting of January 29, " Not to raise powder money voted last spring."
A company, largely recruited in Winchester, was in the service in August, 1776, for the purpose of repelling a threatened attack on our northern frontier. In this company the names of seventeen Richmond men are found, inscribed "In a roll of Capt. Wm. Humphrey's Company, in the northern army, in the Continental Service, as mustered and paid by Samuel Ashley, Esq., Muster-master and Paymaster of said Company," which roll may be found in the archives of the State at Concord.
NAMES OF THE RICHMOND MEN IN THE WINCHESTER COMPANY.
Israel Whipple, 2d Lieut .; Daniel Whipple, Corp .; Benjamin Ellis, Sergt. ; John Wooley, Drummer; Privates Zebulon Streeter, Henry Ellis, Amos Hicks, Asa Hicks, Azariah Cumstock, Jr., Oliver Garnsey, Amos Garnsey, Simpson Hammond, Ebenezer Peters, James Tilson, John Garnsey, Jr., Moses Cumstock, Daniel Freeman.
The following names appear in a Swansey com- pany, as contained in a roll of John Houghton's company, in Col. Baldwin's regiment, for New York, mustered and paid by James Hammond, Esq., muster and paymaster of said company, Sept. 22, 1776, viz. : -
Daniel Shearman, Allis Thayer, James Cook, David Barney, Jonathan Kingsley, Abiel Knap, Barnard Hicks, James Westcoat, Caleb Ellis.
Timothy Martin and Jesse Martin were in Col. Daniel Moore's regiment, which marched to the de-
-
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TOWN OF RICHMOND.
fence of New York, agreeable to a requisition of nineteenth day of December, 1776. Jesse Martin may have lived in Warwick at this time.
Joseph Allen was in the 2d Regiment of the Con- tinental army, in New York, Sept. 16, 1776.
Benjamin Starkey, brother of Joseph, was in the service about two years. He became an invalid, and obtained Jeremiah Barrus as a substitute.
1777. - WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
The following were chosen this year on the Com- mittee of Safety, Inspection, and Correspondence : Michael Barrus, Israel Whipple, Amos Garnsey, Peter Holbrook, and Joseph Cass. At the annual meeting the town refused " to augment the bounty of such soldiers as would volunteer to go in the expedi- tion to Canada."
May 16. Voted, That eight months constitute a Turn in the service, and that a bounty of twelve pounds be given for said service.
Voted, Also, that all who have done Turns, or parts of Turns, in the war, to have credit in the rates.
Voted, To allow the men their expenses, and pay for their time, that went to Cambridge on the alarm at time of the Concord fight in the year 1775.
Voted, To raise money to hire men to go into the service for eight months, or a longer time. Chose Isaac Benson, Capt. Capron, and Constant Barney, a committee to hire the men.
Dec. 3. Voted, To increase the bounty to soldiers to twenty- four pounds, instead of twelve, for a Turn, or eight months, to be allowed in the rates.
SERVICE PERFORMED IN 1777.
In Capt. Davis Howlett's company, of Col. Ash- ley's regiment, which marched from Keene, May 4,
5
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HISTORY OF THE
1777, to reinforce the Continental army at Fort Ticonderoga, were Lieut. Edmund Ingalls, Timothy Robinson, Ebenezer Barrus, Sylvanus Cook, John Ellis, Jonathan Kingsley, Israel Peters, Peletiah Razey, John Wooley, Jonathan Westcoat. These were probably all from Richmond.
In June, 1777, nearly a whole company was enlisted in Richmond for special service on the northern frontier, the object of which was to relieve Fort Ticonderoga, then under command of General St. Clair, from the threatened attack of General Bur- goyne, whose forces were approaching the place. The company was mustered in at Winchester on the twenty-ninth of June, and from thence marched one hundred and twenty miles to Ticonderoga, there to find that the fort had been evacuated on the fifth of July, and was then in possession of the British, and that the American army was on its retreat towards Fort Edward. As the company enlisted solely for the relief of Ticonderoga, and as this special duty had been performed so far as prac- ticable, they concluded not longer to continue the march, but they returned at once to their homes, having travelled two hundred and forty miles, and received for their services the sum of £208 17s. 8d.
The following roll of the company may be found in the Department of State, at Concord : -
A Muster Roll of Capt. Oliver Capron's Company, in Col. Samuel Ashley's Regiment of Militia, which marched to the relief of Ticonderoga, 1777 :
Capt. Oliver Capron, Lieut. Henry Ingalls, Ensign Rufus Whipple, Sergt. Solomon Atherton, Sergt. Michael Barrus, Corp. John Ellis, Drummer John Wooley; Privates David Barney, David Hix, Samuel Hix, Simeon Hix, Seth Ballou, Reuben Parker, Eliphalet Hix, Jeremiah Bullock, Stephen Kempton, Benjamin
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TOWN OF RICHMOND.
Ingalls, Jeffrey Amherst Barney, David Russell, Benjamin Thrasher, Jonathan Bosworth, Philip Aldrich, Peter Holbrook, Asel Harris, Abner Aldrich, Samuel Carpenter, James Cook, Constant Barney, Oliver Barrus, Eli Page, Daniel Thurber, John Barrus, Othnial Day, William Goddard, James Shafter, Hezekiah Thurber, Samuel Hunting, Israel Whipple.
In this company were twenty-three others from Winchester, Warwick, and other places. Soon after their return, quite a number of this company re- enlisted in a Winchester company, as appears on "A Pay-Roll of Capt. Samuel Wright's Company, in Col. Nichols' Regiment, and General Stark's Brigade of Militia, which Company marched from Winchester, in
TROPHIES OF BENNINGTON.
the State of New Hampshire, and joined the Northern Continental Army at Bennington and Stillwater, July 23, 1777 ; including their travel home, allowing one day's pay for every twenty miles," which roll may be found in the State Department at Concord. This company was raised to check General Burgoyne in his march from Canada to New York by way of Lake Champlain and the Hudson River, and whose object
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HISTORY OF THE
in this was to sever New England from the other col- onies. His march had been triumphant until a part of his army, under General Baum, was defeated at Ben- nington (August 16) by the Americans under General Stark, and again defeated at Stillwater, September 19, and on October 7, was fought the second battle of Stillwater (or Saratoga), when his whole army was surrendered as prisoners of war to the American forces. Now, this Winchester company was at the battle of Bennington, under General Stark, and in the first, battle of Stillwater, September 19, and did good service to the American cause, and were honor- ably discharged September 24, and were paid for two months and two days service, the pay of the privates per month being £4 14s., Continental money.
In this company were the following names, viz. :
Lieut. Henry Ingalls, Sergt. John Ellis, Corp. Samuel Hicks ; Privates Benjamin Ingalls, Eli Page, Eliphalet Hicks, James Shafter, Jeremiah Bosworth, James Cook, Jonathan Kingsley, Jeffrey Barney, Jeremiah Barrus, Joseph Ingalls, James Westcoat, John Wooley, Nathan Bullock, Peletiah Razey, Peter Starkey, Simeon Hicks, Reuben Parker.
Lieut. Henry Ingalls was wounded at the battle of Bennington, as we are informed by his grand-daugh- ter, Mrs. Eliza B. Garfield.
1778. January 14th, of this year, the town adopted the policy of extending the time of enlistment, as ap- pears by the following vote : -
Voted, To raise men for the Continental Service for the duration of this present war with Great Britain, or three years.
Chose Rufus Whipple, Edmond Ingalls, and Mr. Nicholas Cook a committee to hire said men.
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TOWN OF RICHMOND.
At the annual meeting -
Voted, That the Committee of Safety stand another year, or until another is chosen.
June 15. Voted, Not to increase the bounty put on by the State.
Voted, To raise three men to serve until the first of January next, unless sooner discharged.
Chose John Barrus, Daniel Read and James Westcoat a commit- tee to hire the men, and to pay the sum or sums the committee shall give for said men.
The committee chosen January 14 to hire men for the service, of which Rufus Whipple was chairman, succeeded in obtaining the following recruits for two years, as appears by the following return : -
WALPOLE, Febuary 13th, 1778.
This is to Sartifie the town of Richmond that Rufus Whipple hath got mustered Thirteen men for the town of Richmond to Sarve two years in the Conental Sarvis.
Peleg Williams, Lieut. ; Jona. Willard, Esq .; Samuel Royes, Asa Crasson, Henry Carter, Joseph Powers, Nathaniel Powers, Abner Powers, John Symonds, Noah Porter, John Withy, Lewis Clisco, John Smith, Jeams Wier, Thomas Hunt, Jeams Marrel, William Taggart.
In the foregoing list are fifteen names, the first two of which may have been intended for witnesses, per- haps; but evidently none were Richmond men. This completes the record of the town so far as known in this war, for the year 1778.
1779. - July 6, of this year, the town chose Capt. Oliver Capron, Jonathan Atherton, and Benjamin May, a committee to hire men to fill the town quota for the Continental army, and to go to Rhode Island.
Sept. 6. Voted, Not to allow the men credit that have done more than their proportion in the war with Great Britain.
Oct. 21. Voted, For the General Court to hire one man for said Richmond that is wanting for the Continental Army for one year.
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HISTORY OF THE
The above brief record comprises all that now appears of the doings of the town as pertaining to the war in 1779. It is sufficient to know, however, that the town had filled its quotas, with the exception of one man that was "wanting" on the twenty-first day of October; but how many men the commis- sioners hired, and who they were, we may never know.
1780. June 28, the town was called upon to furnish six men for General Washington's army, and a commit- tee consisting of Isaac Benson, Israel Whipple, and Daniel Read, was chosen to hire the men for six months. They were empowered to engage silver, paper currency, or specie.
July 5. "Chose Isaac Benson, Israel Whipple, and David Barney a committee to hire twelve men to go into the service." This committee was authorized " to hire men to go into the service if more are called for before our next annual meeting," and empowered to " give security to the men they shall hire to go into the service, in silver money or paper currency or specie, as they shall think proper." Thus it appears that the town was called upon to furnish at least eighteen men for the Continental army in the year 1780, but whether these quotas were filled does not appear.
1781 .- Feb. 7. "Then chose Isaac Benson, Israel Whipple, and David Barney, to hire the twelve men sent for." There is no positive evidence by which we can determine whether this was a new call or the quota of the year before remaining unfilled, but prob- ably the former.
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