USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Fitzwilliam > The history of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, from 1752-1887 > 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 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
235
FITZWILLIAM MEN IN REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
to learn the position or follow the fortunes of any individual soldier.
2. The men were frequently transferred from one company or regiment to another, and companies were often detached from their regiments for some special service, and, thus seat- tered, were never reunited.
3. The rolls were often kept on detached sheets of paper rather than in books, and these papers were easily mislaid or lost. In some cases names are spelled so differently as to make the identification difficult.
MEN FROM FITZWILLIAM WHO SERVED IN THE REVOLUTIONARY
WAR. Explanations.
The names that appear upon the Revolutionary rolls, pub- lished by the State, are printed in Roman type ; those ob- tained from other sources are in italics. The other sources are stated in the proper places. In a few cases where the other sources make the identification more satisfactory names are given in italics, though found upon the Revolutionary rolls. These rolls, in most cases, do not give the soldier's place of residence, but where they do, the names are printed in LARGE CAPITALS. The names of those who are well known as belonging to Fitzwilliam are given in SMALL CAPI- TALS. The names of such as have been recognized as belong- ing to this town by identity of name and other coneurring evidenee are given in This Type.
References.
A. In the battle of Bunker Hill. Of these Zadoek Dodge was in Captain Marey's company, Hinds Reed was in Cap- tain Hinds's company, the others were in Captain Whit- comb's company, all in the regiment of Colonel James Reed. Twenty-three in number.
B. In Captain Joseph Parker's company ; joined the northern army at Ticonderoga. Mustered in July 18th, 1776. Five in number.
236
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
C. In Captain Abijah Smith's company, for New York. Mustered, September 21st, 1776. Four in number.
D. In Massachusetts regiments as stated, in 1775 and 1776. Five in number.
E. In expedition against Canada under Colonel Benedict Arnold. All but Joseph Potter were in Captain Ward's company. Seven in number.
F. In 1777 Fitzwilliam returned eight men for three years, or the war. James Reed, Jr., was returned as from Jaffrey, but belonged in Fitzwilliam. Nine men in all.
Boynton, Squire, and the two Dodges were in Captain Clayes' company, and the Burbees in Captain Blodgett's company, all in Colonel Hale's regiment. Boynton and the Dodges continued in the company and regiment when Colonel Reid was in command. The Burbees were transferred to the southern army.
G. In Captain Josiah Brown's company for Ticonderoga,
N. Y. Marched, May 6th, 1777. Three men. John Chamberlain was second lieutenant in Captain Scott's com- pany. Four men in all ; service forty-two days.
H. To reinforce the garrison at Ticonderoga on the alarm of June, 1777. In Captain John Mellen's company, which marched from Fitzwilliam and towns adjacent, twenty-four men. Silas Angier went in Captain Drury's company. Twenty-five men in all. Little or no actual service fell to their lot.
I. In Colonel Nichols's regiment at the battles of Benning- ton and Stillwater. Of the eight men in the list, Foster was in Captain Parker's company, Starkey and Wilson in Captain Wright's company, and the others in Captain Sal- mon Stone's company. Captain Stone belonged to Rindge, and his company marched, July 21st, 1777. Their time of service was two months and five days. Ebenezer Potter was a corporal in Captain Stone's company, and it was at this time that his famous capture of the Hessians was made.
In the battle of Bennington the American forces numbered about seventeen hundred and fifty, and of these New Hamp- shire furnished not far from one thousand, Vermont about
237
EXPLANATION OF TABLES.
five hundred, and Western Massachusetts two hundred and fifty ; and it was just before this battle that General Stark made the harangue to his troops which has become historical.
Now, my men, yonder are the Hessians. They were bought for seven pounds tenpence a man. Are you worth more ? Prove it. To-night the American flag floats over yonder hill or Molly Stark sleeps a widow.
J. In Colonel Moore's regiment to join the army at Saratoga Captain Lewis's company marched from Marlborough in September, 1777. Samuel Kendall held the office of en- sign. Time of service twenty-seven days ; three men. Silas Angier went in Captain Drury's company. Time of ser- vice twenty-eight days ; total, four men.
K. In Colonel Enoch Hale's regiment, August, 1778, for ser- vice in Rhode Island. John Mellen was quartermaster on Colonel Hale's staff. Nine men went in Captain James Lewis's company, John Angier serving as lieutenant. Time of service twenty-three days. Daniel Gould went in another company and served twenty-four days ; total, eleven men.
L. Other soldiers in Rhode Island service in 1778 and 1779. Sylvanus Reed was adjutant on Colonel Peabody's staff. Four men ; service as stated in the list.
M. Enlisted for the war, July 15th, 1779. Two men.
N. Enlisted, July, 1780, as by memorandum in the town records. Winch, Harris, and Rice enlisted for six months and served five months and a half. Winch received fifteen pounds bounty, and Harris and Rice each twelve pounds. The others enlisted for three months and served three months and a half. Brigham received nine pounds bounty, and the others eight pounds. Ten men in all.
O. Enlisted in 1781 and 1782. Rice and Hadley enlisted in 1781 for three months. Rice received six pounds bounty and Hadley probably the same. Patrick enlisted in 1782, and it does not appear what bounty he had. All the others enlisted in 1781 for three years, or the war, and each received twenty pounds bounty. In a letter to the selectmen of Fitzwilliam in 1832, Rice states the bounty he received at
238
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
this time at twenty dollars. All these bounties were paid in specie. Nine men in all.
P. Other items from the published Revolutionary rolls. Ser- viee as entered to each man. Five men.
Q. Died in the service. From Rev. Mr. Brigham's list of deaths in the church records : Nine men. At least two others died in the service, Joseph Fassett and Captain Elijah Clays.
Summary of men as stated, one hundred and forty-four.
As several enlisted and served more than once, the number of different persons in the list is eighty-eight.
NAMES.
Service.
Lieut. JOHN ANGIER.
BH K. was Serg't in Capt. Parker's Co and Lieut. in Capt. Lewis' Co
Silas Angier
GHJ
EDWARD ARNOLD A E
SOLOMON BADCOCK H
ABNER BALL
D I In Capt Oliver Capron's Co. Col. Doolittle's (Mass) Reg. at Winter Hill Mass Oct 1775
JOHN BARKER
A EF The last service was in Col. Alden's (Mass) Reg.
Serg't AMOS BOYNTON
A E F Serg't in both Capt Whit- comb's and Capt Clays' Cos.
Job Boynton ..
H C
Alpheus Brigham
ASA BRIGHAM H J
Leonard Brigham B
Lyman Brigham. N
STEPIIEN BRIGHAM A PETER BURBEE F Q. Died June 1778 at Phila- delphia age 49 ? yrs
PETER BURBEE JR
FQ d Aug 1778 at Philadel- phia age 17 ? yrs
Lieut JOHN CHAMBERLAIN
DG In Capt Wm Warner's Co Col J Whitney's (Mass) Reg. Dec 1776
Capt ELIJAH CLAYES.
A
1st. Lieut in Capt Whit- comb's Co at Bunker Hill, prom. Capt. Nov 17. 1776 when Col Nathan Hale commanded the Reg. Was in command of the Reg. after Col. Hale was taken prisoner. Wounded in battle from which he d. Nov 15. 1779
FITZWILLIAM MEN IN REVOLUTIONARY SERVICE. 239
NAMES.
Service.
Jesse Cheney A .
JOHN DODGE
Serg't
ZADOCK DODGE
A F Serg't in Capt Clays' Co
MOSES DRURY
H
ABEL ESTABROOK
ACGH
Paul Farnsworth N
JOHN FARRAR
Serg't
Joseph Farrar
() Son of Maj John Farrar GIIJL Served 3 m 7 ds in R. I. in 1778 as Serg't
William Farrar J
JOSEPH FASSETT
A EM Deserted at Battle of Bunker Hill-Is said to have died in the service -- Is sup- posed to have been a nephew of Dea. John Fassett
Enoch Foster
JAMES FOSTER
N IO
Joseph Foster
D In Lt. Perkin's Co Col. Grid- ley's (Mass) Reg. at Winter Hill Sept 1775
Rufus Freeman
FRANCIS FULLAM.
DANIEL GOULD
DANIEL GOULD JR
Samuel Graves
O Q Dec 20. 1776 found dead in the woods between Charles- town N H and Ticonderoga N. Y.
Peter Hadley.
O II K
John Harrington ...
JOSHUA HARRINGTON. BENJAMIN HARRIS
AHK
L N Served 6 m 26 ds in R. I.
.Joseph Harris
STEPHEN HARRIS
P in Col Reid's Regt 3d Co HP In service `in Rhode Island in 1778. In Capt Ephraim Stone's Co. under Maj. Benjamin Whitcomb in 1780
Joseph Hemenway H
PHINEAS HUTCHINS H
Ensign SAMUEL KENDALL. H J
Joseph Kneeland. A
Amos Knight C
Jonas Knight. K
John Lock H
DANIEL MELLEN. H
Capt JOHN MELLEN HK
EZEKIEL MIXER. BH
Serg't
Nathan Mixer.
HIQ promoted sergeant July 21. 1777 d Aug 16 1777 killed in battle of Bennington
N B KL Served 24 days in 1778 and 6 m 7 ds in 1779-80
240
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
NAMES.
Service.
JOSEPH MUZZEY
William Nurse
Joseph Nurse H
SAMUEL OSBORN.
K
RUFUS PATRICK
Samuel Patrick.
David Perry
HENRY PIDGE
Nathan Platts
Serg't
EBENEZER POTTER
Capt. JOSEPH POTTER
HINDS REED ...
Col JAMES REED JAMES REED JR. . SYLVANUS REED
A A
F
ABRAHAM RICE
Ensign Jonas Rice
NO Enlisted for 6 mo's in 1780 and 3 mo's in 1781-was 16 yrs old at first enlistment Q d July 25. 1776 at Fort George
STEPHEN RICHARDSON ... O P Enlisted Apr 1. 1777 for 3 years in Capt William Ellis' Co: Col. Scammell's Reg .- Enlisted July 5 1780 in Capt Joseph Kidder's Co. Col. Nichols' Reg. for West Point N. Y. Served 3 m 18 days
Joseph Scott. N F
DANIEL SQUIRE
Peter Starkey. I Samuel Stone P was in Capt Peter Page's Co, Col Nichols' Reg. for West Point N. Y. Service at this time July 6. 1780 to Oct 4. 1780
BENJAMIN TOLMAN. AIK
EBENEZER TOLMAN A E
William Tolman . A Samuel Treadwell. A Edmund Trowbridge. Q
d Dec 26. 1776 in New Jer- sey
M HK
0 mustered July 15, 1782 HIN
BQ d Sept 20. 1776 at Mt In- dependence In Capt Daniel Barnes' Co, Col Ward's Reg.
D Page ? (Mass) Reg. Sept 1775
Q d July 1776 at Crown Point H I Corporal in Capt Stone's Co : serg't in Capt. Mellen's Co
A E later a Captain. com'd 2d Lieut. Nov 7. 1776. promoted quartermaster Aug 23. 1778
A L Serg't in Capt Whitcomb's Co at battle of Bunker Hill. Adjutant in Col. Peabody's Reg. Jan. 6. 1778.
241
REVOLUTIONARY ACCOUNTS AND VOUCHERS.
NAMES.
Service.
Corp.1 LUTHER TROWBRIDGE. AE
Moses Ware .. STEPHEN WHITE
JOIN WHITNEY.
Q d. Oct 1. 1776 at Ticonderoga NO At first enlistement was 16 years old. ACFH. Was for a time in Col. Bigelow's (Mass) Reg.
John Whitney 2d Samuel Wilson.
A A IP In Capt Ephraim Stone's Co. under Maj. Benjamin Whitcomb in 1780 0 Enlisted Mar, 21. 1781
Joseph Winch .. SAMUEL WINCH WILLIAM WITHINGTON.
IKN
Corp.
DH K In Capt William War- ner's Co. Col. J. Whitney's (Mass) Reg Dec 1776
It is stated that Ebenezer Boutelle, Hezekiah Scott, Hum- phrey Silk and Caleb Winch served in the Revolutionary Army from Fitzwilliam, but they have not yet been identified in the Revolutionary Rolls, and the traditions concerning them are not sufficiently definite to justify placing their names in the foregoing list.
Few of the particular accounts and vouchers appertaining to the expenses of Fitzwilliam in the Revolutionary War can now be found, and probably most of them were destroyed by fire in 17S5, but the originals of the following have been recovered among a mass of miscellaneous papers at the State House.
State of New Hampshire
to the Selectmen of Fitzwilliam Dr.
1779, July 18. To cash paid Daniel Gould a soldier inlisted in Col. Mooney's Regiment for the defence of Rhode Island, six months. Bounty €30. Travel 90 miles to Providence £9. pr Rect #39-0-0. Received an order on the Treasurer for Thirty Nine pounds. pr John Mellen one of the Selectmen.
State of New Hampshire
to the Selectmen of Fitzwilliam Dr.
1779, July. To cash paid Joseph Fassett & Joseph Muzzey, two sol- diers inlisted in the Continental Army for one year. State Bounty £60 each. £120.
Received an order on the Treasurer for One Hundred and twenty pounds.
per John Mellen, one of the Selectmen. 16
242
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
An account of Town Bounties paid by the Town of Fitzwilliam to the following soldiers inlisted in the Continental Army for three years. Viz
1777 Feb. Amos Boynton Capt. Clayes Co. Zadock Dodge Do. 30. 66 John Dodge 24.
£24. 0. 0.
Peter Barbe [Burbee] 14. 8. 0.
1778 Do. 9. 12. 0. 24.
1777 Peter Barbe, Jun. 11. 8. 0. 1778 Do. 9. 12. 0. 24.
Daniel Squire Capt. Claye's Co. 0. 0. 0.
Fitzwilliam, Jan. 1780. The above soldiers inlisted for the Town of Fitzwilliam, and were paid the several sums set against their names. Attest John Mellen Selectman.
Sworn to at Exeter March 9, 1780 before James Belton.
To Mr. Thompson, Secretary for the Honorable Assembly of New Ilampshire, Greeting. Agreeable to the order of Court April 7. 1781 Requiring of us to make a return of our Soldiers in the Continental Army by the 10th of June next, which soldiers' names are as follows viz. John Barker and Joseph Fassett engaged during the War some years ago.
The names of those ingaged last March for the term of three years next ensuing the date are as follows viz. Stephen Richardson, John Farrar, Stephen White, Daniel Gould jr. and James Foster which have been mustered before the Superintendent at Keene soon after their engagements, as will be made to appear to you by his returns.
Joseph Nichols, Levi Brigham, Josiah Hartwell, Selectmen For Fitz William.
Fitzwilliam, May the 28. 1781.
Fitzwilliam.
1 John Barker never joined.
2 Joseph Fassett Deserted 1780.
3 Stephen Richardson
Must. Feb. 23. 1781.
4 John Farrar 66 April 3
5 Stephen White Feb. 27. 66
6 Daniel Gould Jr. 66 " 23 66
7 James Foster 66 66 66 6 6
8 Rufus Patrick July 15. 1782 Must. by B. Ellis. Certified Nov. 7. 1785.
From Town Accounts. Fitzwilliam.
Amos Boynton £21-16-10
Zadock Dodge 18-12
John Dodge 14-17-7
Peter Burbee 10-16-3
Peter Burbee Jr. 10-16-2 876-18-9
243
DEPRECIATION OF THE CURRENCY.
July 16. 1782. Gave a certificate to James Reed per order from the Selectmen.
Fitzwilliam Account. Pay Roll to Cambridge in 1775
£32-19
Do to Royalton " 1780 5-11-6 £38-10-6.
As the Continental currency depreciated in value, the towns to some extent attempted to compensate the soldiers for the re- duction. After a period of service the depreciation in Amos Boynton's pay amounted to two hundred and fifty pounds, four shillings and threepence ; in that of Zadok Dodge as private and sergeant, two hundred and eight pounds ; in John Dodge's. one hundred and seventy-nine pounds.
In Colonel Ilale's regiment, at a later period, Benjamin Har- ris, Samuel Wineh, and Abraham Rice are reported. These three men appear to have enlisted in this regiment June 28th, 1780, and to have been discharged December 4th of the same year. They were allowed nine days' travel " to come home." Time of service about five and one half months each. Pay, seven hundred and forty-one pounds nine shillings each. Al- lowed for blankets, three hundred and thirty-five pounds each. Travel out ninety-five miles, allowed for it fifty-seven pounds. Advanced by the State fifty-seven pounds each. Due when discharged about eleven hundred pounds each. (This was when the currency was greatly depreciated.)
March 10th, 1780, the State of New Hampshire made pro- vision to pay non-commissioned officers who served three years five hundred dollars each " toward depreciation," and privates four hundred dollars each for the same term of service.
Account of Fitzwilliam for Bounties.
Jan. 5. Baldwin's Regiment 7 men in 1776 £22.6s
Feb. 7. Continental soldiers. 8 66 " 1777 141.12 " 19. Stark's Brigade 10.5 3
July 10. Continental Soldiers 2 “ 1779 24.
" 23. Nichols' Reg 7
66 " 1780 57.
" 21. New Levies 3
66
39.
" 15. Continental service 5
1781 506.
" 17 1
66 ' 1783 60.
For 36 men.
Total £860-3-
244
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
It is probable that this account ineludes only those who en- listed for three years or the war. From a comparison of the dates, and other particulars, it would seem that some of these soldiers cannot be identified with any whose names are given in the preceding list. The following identifications, however, are doubtless correct. The eight under date February 7th, 1777, are those marked F in the list, excepting James Reed, Jr. The two of July 10th, 1779, are marked M. The six in 1781 and 1782 are included in those marked O in the list. These bounties are all evidently stated on a specie basis.
" Quarter Master Isaac Frye's Return. Col. Reed's Reg. account of rations issued each 3 or 4 days from July 1. to Aug. 4. 1775.
549-545-559-558-559-532-545-547-547-537,"
showing a remarkable uniformity in numbers. At the same time in the colonel's mess ten were always present, in the other messes fifteen once, sixteen on all the other days.
In the report of deserters, July 11th, 1776, there are given their names, size, age, complexion, the Government to which they belonged, and the names of the captains of the companies from which they deserted.
Stephen Harris was in service in Rhode Island. In March, 1779, the town voted " to pay Stephen Harris for Continental Service," and at the same meeting " allowed 22 pounds paid to Stephen Harris last summer for his services in Rhode Island."
Fitzwilliam April ye 20th 1781.
Mr. Treasurer Winch. Please to pay Nathaniel Muzzey Seventeen Hundred and seventy pounds five shillings and Six pence which we find due to him on accompt of his son's years' service (allowing him Ninety for one).
Joseph Nichols ; Selectmen of Josiah Hartwell § Fitzwilliam,
Upon the back of this order there are four receipts, for par- tial payment, the last of which is as follows :
Fitzwilliam August the 10 ye 1782. Receivd of the within order, the sum of four pounds sixteen shillings of Silver Money. I say, re- ceived By me.
Nathaniel Muzzey.
245
ARNOLD'S EXPEDITION INTO CANADA.
Many of the old receipts observed this form, repeating the receipt with the emphatic " I say."
The order above shows how alarmingly great the deprecia- tion of the currency was in 1781.
In the year 1775 General Arnold was dispatched from the vicinity of Boston up the Kennebec River, and across what is now the State of Maine, with the hope of taking Quebec by surprise. Among his soldiers was Ebenezer Potter, of Fitz- william. The expedition was a miserable failure. Arnold's troops suffered terribly from hunger and fatigne, and many of them died from starvation and exposure. Mr. Potter endured fifteen days' hard marching with no food but a part of a part- ridge and a quarter of a red squirrel. An Englishman among Arnold's soldiers deserted, and revealed the plans of the divi- sion to which Mr. Potter belonged, and the result was that he and his companions were captured, and remained prisoners, under the hardest experience, till the spring following. Other men from Fitzwilliam were in the same expedition, viz., Luther Trowbridge, age twenty, Cordwainer ; Ebenezer Tol- man, age twenty-seven, Carpenter ; Edward Arnold, age twenty-four ; Amos Boynton, age thirty-three ; John Barker, age nineteen, and Joseph Fassett, age nineteen. Of the ex- perience of these we have no record.
A number of men who served in the Revolutionary War from other towns and States became, soon after its close, resi- dents of Fitzwilliam, and identified at onee with all its inter- ests, among whom were Judge Nahum Parker, from Shrews- bury, Joseph Forristall, of Holliston, Samuel Patch, of Stow, Captain Needham Maynard, of Framingham, each of Massa- chusetts, Matthias Felton, and others. The names of such persons appear in a number of cases upon the list of Fitzwill- iam pensioners.
Rev. John Sabin in his historical lecture delivered in 1836, said,
though the War ended 54 years ago yet this town has now in it 18 pen- sioners.
In 1842, he said, in a revised lecture,
246
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
this band is much diminished now though four or five are left and show how little strength can combat with time.
In a list of pensioners in 1840, found in the public library of Natick, Mass., these ten names appear under the head
Fitzwilliam N. H.
For Revolutionary or Military Service.
Names of Pensioners. Age.
Heads of Families.
Leonard Colburn
44
. Leonard Colburn.
Matthias Felton
84
Matthias Felton.
Joel Whitney
80 Benjamin B. Morse.
Joel Miles
84
Noah Miles.
Ebenezer Potter. 91 Ebenezer Potter, Jr.
John Shirley
85 Henry Shirley.
Nathan Smith .
76
Nathan Smith.
Artemas Wilson
83
Benjamin Wilson.
Stephen White
. Silas White.
Sarah Whitney.
92
. David Whitney.
The first on this list, Leonard Colburn, served in the War of 1812-14. The other nine plainly received pensions for service, either personally or by a husband, in the Revolution- ary War. Six of the ten above-named appear to have served upon the quotas of other towns, as their names do not appear upon the lists of Fitzwilliam soldiers. Seven of the ten were, in 1840, doubtless in the families of their children or other relatives.
The following additional names are from other sources, principally from a list of pensioners found with the papers of Dr. Cummings :
Oliver Damon
Nahum Parker
Benoni Foster Nathaniel Phillips
Luna Foster
Samuel Stone
Benoni Foster probably served in the War of 1812, and the others in the Revolutionary War. None of these were resi- dents of Fitzwilliam when they performed the service for which they received the pension.
247
MRS. ABIGAL CLAYS PETITION.
Elijah Clays (or Cloves), as appears in this record of service, entered the army at a very early date, and was commissioned as a captain November 7th, 1776. Hle is reported in the Revolutionary Rolls as dead " of wounds" some time in No- vember, 1779. After the close of the war his widow pre- sented the following petition :
The Hone Counsel and House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire in Geeneral Court Assembled.
The Humble petition of Abigail Clays, widow of the late Captain Elijah Clays deceased of the 2. Regiment of the New Hampshire Line. Urged by her distressed situation ; begs your attention : as she is left with a family of small children without any other means of Subsistence but her own Industry, for there support. Impelled by these Circum- stanees and the Horrid Idea of want, being fully impressed that the Honorable Body before (whom) this her petition will be laid, supported by there natural feelings as well as Justice and Humanity towards those in distress ; will exert every nerve for so desirable an end ; as to soften as far as in their power the distress incident to the widows and Father- less : and Consequently extend their generosity towards her by a grant of half pay agreeable to an Act of Congress of May 1778 in such cases made and provided and renewed and extended the 24th of August 1780 which will enable her to bring up her Children in some degree of decency and live above contempt, resting assured of your strict atten- tion to this her Petition.
Your Petitioner As in duty bound shall forever pray.
Abigal Clays.
It is plain that the State endeavored to make reasonable compensation for the depreciation of the currency in which the soldiers were paid. Samuel Kendall, who presented the following petition in behalf of Mr. Reed, was representative to the Legislature or " General Assembly" at the time.
To the General Assembly of the State of New Hampshire now sitting at Portsmouth.
Humbly Shews. Sylvanus Reed of Fitzwilliam in the sª State. That he served as adjutant of a Battalion of Troops raised in this State for the defence of the New England states &c and Com- manded by Lieut Colo Stephen Peabody Esqr as appears by the Con- mission herewith presented. That your Petitioner is informed some
·
248
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
allowance has been mad those Officers on acc't of the Depreciating of the money they were paid in. Your Petitioner therefore humbly prays that your Honors will order such Depreciation to be paid to your Petitioner as is Customary in Such Cases. And as in duty bound shall ever pray &c
Dated Feb'ye 2ª 1786
Samuel Kendall in behalf of the Petitioner.
This petition was granted February 21st, 1786.
Mrs. Clays received a captain's half-pay for seven years, re- ceiving at one time the pay for five years, and afterward for the other two years. The half-pay was seventy-two pounds a year, or two hundred and forty dollars, at six shillings to the dollar.
General Reed was paid eleven hundred and sixty-two pounds, ten shillings in 1786, but it cannot be stated whether it was all on account of half-pay, or whether a part of the payment was an allowance for depreciation.
THE WAR OF 1812-14.
Early in the present century the great mass of our country- men were far from being satisfied with the course of Great Britain relative to many international matters, but in New England, generally, the condition of affairs was not regarded as sufficiently serions to justify the declaration of war on the part of our Government. For this reason what is called "the War of 1812" was, throughout all this region, extremely un- popular, and while the leading men were disposed to avoid most studiously everything approaching treasonable acts, the determination was general to bring the struggle to an end as soon as it could be done in a constitutional manner.
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.