USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > New Ipswich > The history of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, 1735-1914, with genealogical records of the principal families > Part 8
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 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
69
History of New Ipswich
Methodist pastor and a member of the school committee which had considered the petition. The records of the Legis- lature show that he presented a bill concerning the duties and privileges of superintending school committees, which was referred to the Judiciary committee, and soon after upon the recommendation of that committee indefinitely postponed.
The superintending school committee seems to have been evolved quite slowly from the earlier condition of rule by the selectmen. The term first appears in the town records at about the same time with prudential committee, in some men- tion of its reports, but the names of the men composing this committee do not seem to be recorded until 1833. But its forerunner is in evidence thirty years earlier, as in 1803 it was "Voted to appoint a committee to inspect the several schools in town," and they "chose the Revd. Mr. Farrar, B. Champney Esq. Supply Wilson, Seth Wheeler, Josiah Davis, Jun". Dea". James Chandler, Thaddeus Taylor, Lieut. Noah Bartlett, Majr. Benj. Williams and Isaac Appleton Jun".," evidently one from each of the nine districts then existing with the addition of the pastor by virtue of his office, although no mention is made of that condition of selection for several years. But the committee was appointed every year, being varied by the addition of sundry members ex officio, such as the preceptor of the Academy, the Baptist pastor, and the selectmen. The year 1808, however, seems to have had a faint vision of a future improvement, as the committee for that year was smaller and evidently selected on account of their fitness instead of for geographic reasons. The members were :- "The Selectmen, Revd Stephen Farrar, the Hon. Timº. Farrar Esq. the Preceptor of the Academy, Benjamin Champney Esq. & Nath1. D. Gould." It was also "Voted that said committee inspect the several schools on the first & last week of keeping, also call upon the Master for his credentials."
This last vote suggests an inquiry concerning the nature of the "credentials" required in those days antedating all superintending committees, normal schools, or other official examiners provided to stand sponsor for satisfactory scholas- tic ability. A few aged persons still recall the days when the certificate of any liberally educated person, as the members of the "learned professions" were supposed to be, was deemed sufficient. The last member of the specially qualified com-
70
The School Committee
mittee, elected a century ago, furnishes an apt illustration. At the meeting of the Academy alumni held in 1861, Nathaniel D. Gould, probably the oldest of the large number present who were former students, was elected to preside over the fes- tivities, and on taking his seat began his extemporaneous in- augural by saying, "I claim to be one of the Alumni. Sixty- four years ago, I spent two weeks within the walls of the building first erected by the founders of the Academy." He did not at that time state publicly what motives prompted that brief academic career, but it was soon divulged that at least that period of attendance was necessary to obtain the preceptor's certificate of his fitness to fill a teacher's desk in some neighboring district school-house.
The ponderous committee of from nine to twice nine mem- bers was chosen annually under names varying a little from year to year but with the same power, or lack of power, as at first, until 1827, but is not recorded in 1828, in which year two new terms appear, probably as a result of state action in formal recognition and authoritative regulation of the dis- trict schools previously evolved. New Ipswich "Voted that the Prudential Committees be chosen by the respective school Districts," and at the same time the superintending committee begins to be in evidence by the acceptance of its annual re- ports and the occasional appointment in some years of one citizen from each district "to visit schools in conjunction with School Committee." The new office did not acquire sufficient importance in public estimation to have its choice or appointment recorded among that of other town officers until 1838, and therefore the first incumbents are now un- known; but there seems to be little doubt that it was practi- cally composed of the pastors of the several churches of the town, when their number was sufficient to form it, since such was the case for some years after the record of its membership begins, and it is recalled by some who were scholars in those years that in common speech there was no mention of visits from "the committee," but that there were periods when it was expected that "the ministers" would come in.
(From 1848 to 1854 the committee consisted of three men ; from 1854 to 1885, of one man, usually elected by ballot, otherwise appointed by the selectmen. Beginning with 1886
71
History of New Ipswich
the committee has been composed of three members as in earlier years, and since 1890 one of the board has been a woman, an innovation which has proved of benefit to both scholars and teachers.
In 1835 there were four hundred children in our schools. Now in 1913 there are one hundred and thirty names on the records.
As the population decreased the number of schools less- ened, and from the thirteen schools in 1883 the number has diminished to four in 1913. Following the change now nearly universal, our schools, ere many years, will be thoroughly graded, and necessarily consolidated. Thus, with the further advantages of the training at our Academy now open to every child in town, we may feel that the educational outlook for future generations is well up to the standard set in the earliest years .- S. F. L.)
72
CHAPTER V
THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
A1 T the time of the publication of the former history of New Ipswich there were still a few Revolutionary soldiers surviving, and a very large number who had heard the story of that strife from the lips of those who participated in it. There still remained a spirit in the tale which must needs have weakened and become faint, as the events of those criti- cal years have been obscured by later contests until they seem almost to have their place amid the tales of ancient his- tory. But on the other hand the last half-century has seen the scattered records of Revolutionary events collected and published, giving a story which may indeed be somewhat more prosaic than oft-repeated olden tales, but presents greater assurance of certainty.
There are many problems still unsolved. Not only were there parties of New Ipswich patriots who devoted their energies for a longer or shorter period to the contest for free- dom, of whose names no list is known to exist and of whose activities while away from their homes we have no record save the uncertain one of tradition, but it is often uncertain to whom carefully preserved official records refer. The prac- tice, common at that time and unfortunately not yet by any means extinct, of giving a son the name of his father without any change, an abundant source of error in all historical work, combined with the frequent omission of the affixed "jr." in the case of records made at a distance from the home of the father, causes frequent uncertainties, several of which it has not been found possible to remove from the following reg- ister of the Revolutionary work of New Ipswich. A second fact is productive of still greater uncertainties. In the early days of this country middle names among the common people were almost unknown, and as a result the number of persons bearing identical names was very large. The concurrence of a name in each of several neighboring towns was not at all infrequent, and as the members of a company formed for military service were rarely from a single town, a familiar New Ipswich name upon a company roll is by no means
73
History of New Ipswich
conclusive evidence of New Ipswich service in that company. While careful search has been made for determining evidence in such cases, it is most probable that some questions have been incorrectly judged, with an admission to the roll or exclusion from it as a result.
New Hampshire has done especially valuable work in this prolonged and oft perplexing labor of search, comparison, and publication; and a few lines from the pen of Isaac W. Ham- mond, the editor and compiler of the Revolutionary Rolls and other documents of that period, and a man guided by a true antiquarian spirit, may perhaps fitly introduce the rec- ords of the men of New Ipswich, beginning with the firing at the North Bridge of "the shot heard round the world." Of that time he writes :
Companies were formed and drilled, and when, on the nineteenth day of April, 1775, the crisis came, the men of New Hampshire dropped their implements of industry, seized whatever they could of implements of warfare, and by companies, by tens, by fives, and by twos hurried to the front. The same spirit pervaded the women, many of whom spent the nights of the nineteenth and twentieth in making clothes, bak- ing bread, and moulding bullets for their husbands and sons, bidding them good-bye at daylight, with a God-speed upon their tremulous lips; and while the men went forth to repel the invading army, the women tilled the soil, spun the yarn, and wove the cloth that clothed the family. The number of men who went from this state to Cambridge at that time is unknown; many were not organized in companies, some returned after being absent from one to two weeks, and many enlisted for eight months, forming the nucleus for the regiments of Stark and Reed, which did admirable service at Bunker Hill.
Very few rolls of those earliest companies have been found. Probably in very many cases no rolls were ever written, but the men gathered and united under those among them selected at the time, because they were of those "born to command." But the "Roll of the men who marched from New Ipswich before daylight on the morning of April 20, 1775," attested by their captain, is preserved among the state archives. It contains ninety-eight names, including that of their pastor, whose time of service, recorded with those of his parishioners and fellow-soldiers, is more than twice as long as that of any one of them, except those who before returning home enlisted in other companies.
The list of names is given below; and it is believed that each name borne upon it is that of a resident in the town.
74
The First Uprising
The spontaneous, indignant uprising, the almost instantaneous departure to protect or avenge their brother patriots, waited not to seek more distant organizations; then was the time when the town moved as a unit.
Days
Days
Thomas Heald Capt.
13 Hezekiah Corey Ensign
6
*Ezra Town Lieut.
William Start Clerk
13
Joseph Parker
13 Isaac How Seg't
13
Simeon Hildrith
7 Jno. Wilkins
5
Eben™ Brown
2 Dan1 Mansfield
5
Jonas Wilson Jr
7
Peter Fletcher
5
Simeon Gould
4 Jno. Sartell
8
Jona. Davis
4
Abel Miles
13
Francis Fletcher
10
Wm Speer
6
Joseph Pollard
13 *Elijah Davis
13
Nath1 Pratt
9
David Sanders
8
Edmª Bryant
5
Joseph Warren
5
William Hodgkins
5 Moses Tucker
2
James Chandler
5 Thomas Fletcher
5
Jon. Brookes Serj
13
Dan1 Clary
6
Jno. Cutter
11 Isaac Farwell
5
Nath1 Swain
9 Timº Farwell
5
Timº Wheelock
4 Nath1 Melvin
8
Joel Wheelock
8 Jno. Walker
5
Nath1 Reed
5 Wm Kendall
8
Jesse Carlton
13 Danl. Stratton
5
Jno. Brown Jr.
7
James Tidder
13
Joseph Wright
7 *Nath1 Carlton
13
*Samuel Soper
13 Allen Breed
13
Stephen Davis
5 Jona. Wheet
7
Robert Campbell
3
Whitcomb Powers
13
Thos Brown
13
Joseph Bates
5
Jonas Wheeler
7 Chas. Barrett
1
*Josiah Walton
13 Isaac Appleton
5
Leonard Parker
7 Reuben Kidder
5
Joseph Tinney
5 Jereh Underwood
7
Wm Faris
7 Benj. Pollard
13
Ephraim Foster
8 Abr™ Abbott
13
Daniel Foster
13 Josiah Rodgers
5
Samuel Foster
8 Saml Haywood
5
*Timo. Stearns
13 Thos Farnsworth
8
Benja Gibbs
8 Stephen Parker
5
*Supply Wilson
13 Nath1 Stone
5
Saml. Kinney
13 Timo. Fox
4
Jno. Melvin
5 Nath1 Farr
13
*David Melvin
13 Saml. Bartlett
3
Josiah Davis
5 James Barr
3
Benja Hoar
7 Amos Boynton
7
75
Saml. Whittemore
3 Timº Farrar
5
History of New Ipswich
Days
Days
Aaron Chamberlain
9 Elear Cummings
5
Rev. Stephen Farrar
30 Isaac Clark
5
Elijah Flagg
6 Wm Shattuck
3
*Josiah Brown Sgt.
13 Eph™ Adams Jr
7
*Benj. Williams
13 Robert Harkness
7
Attest
Thos Heald
*Those marked with an asterisk enlisted in Capt. Archelaus Towne's company for eight months.
It may be seen that ten of the names in this initial list are marked as of those who had enlisted in the company of Capt. Archelaus Towne, who was a resident in Amherst. But none of their names appear on the roll of his company, the organization of which did not commence until April 28, and then proceeded somewhat more slowly than was perhaps thought proper by these members of Capt. Heald's command. At all events, on April 23 one of their number, Ezra Towne, by request of the Committee of Safety, commenced the or- ganization of a company and had thirty names upon his roll on that day, which number rapidly increased to sixty-five, and this roll included the remaining nine names starred upon the roll of Capt. Heald, Josiah Brown being first lieutenant, Benjamin Williams first sergeant, and Supply Wilson first corporal. This was the fourth company in Col. James Reed's regiment, and its term of service is recorded as terminating on August 1. But the former history of the town states, probably on reliable authority, that "they continued to form part of the army employed in the Siege of Boston" until the departure of the British fleet.
This company had a notable part in the battle of Bunker Hill, belonging as it did to the regiment of Col. James Reed, which was a part of the little force "at the rail fence and on the bank of the Mystic" of which the historian Drake says, "The weight of the first and second attacks was borne by the defenders of the rail fence, where Gen. Howe in person attacked, with the very flower of his army, supported by artil- lery." And it is said in the account of the battle made by the Massachusetts Committee on Safety, that "The retreat of this little handful of brave men (under Col. Prescott) would have been effectually cut off had it not happened that the flanking party of the enemy, which was to have come up on the back of the redoubt, was checked by a party of provin- cials, (Stark's, Reed's, and Knowlton's men,) who fought with
76
Captain Towne's Company
the utmost bravery and kept them from advancing farther than the beach."
An examination of the roll of Capt. Ezra Towne's com- pany, as given below, shows thirty-five members enrolled from New Ipswich, eighteen from Temple, four from Washington, three from Peterborough, two from Mason, two from Nelson, while one remains with his home unmarked, but other evi- dence shows that he was a fourth from Peterborough. Ben- jamin King is recorded from Mason, but he had probably but just removed from town and in July is found in the roll of a Massachusetts regiment credited to New Ipswich.
As shown by the note at the close of the roll its original is to be found in the Massachusetts archives; and it has been copied for insertion here rather than the one in the New Hampshire archives on account of the interesting facts con- cerning residence not given on the New Hampshire roll. The two lists of names differ sufficiently to show that neither is a copy of the other, and yet they are practically the same, the differences, with the exception of "Arthur Kirkwood" in one being "Archer Churchwood" in the other, being such errors as might result from misunderstanding of a name un- familiar to the recording officer. There is, however, one rather more important difference in respect to the date of the death of David Scott, which according to the New Hamp- shire record should be "kill'd June 17," while the Massa- chusetts one gives June 16 as the day of his death. The color of the ink in this record suggests a comparatively recent date for that inscription, and the greater probability of death on the day of the battle has caused a change to be made to the New Hampshire date in the roll here given.
The loss sustained by the New Ipswich company in this so sharply contested struggle is not recorded, and tradition after this length of time cannot be very reliable. But it seems to have been much smaller than would have been expected in such conditions. Apparently there was no other death beside that above mentioned, and the names of but few wounded men are known. Josiah Walton was not expected to recover from a severe wound in his shoulder and neck, but his recovery proved sufficient to return him to his place in the ranks before the discharge of the company from ser- vice. Asa Adams was also seriously injured, but the former history gives no more names, and other sources fail to make more definite the statement that "several were wounded."
77
·
MUSTER ROLL OF THE NEW IPSWICH COMPANY.
Led by Capt. Ezra Towne in the 3d regiment of foot, commanded by James Reed, belonging to the Army of the United Colonies of North America. This company was at Bunker Hill June 17, 1775.
NAME AND RANK
TIME OF ENLISTING
WHERE BORN
AGE
PLACE OF ABODE
OCCUPATION
HEIGHT FT. IN.
COM- PLEXION
COLOR OF EYES
Ezra Towne, Capt.
Apr. 23
Topsfield
39
New Ipswich
Farmer
5-10
Fair
Light
Josiah Brown, 1st Lieut. .
May 10
Concord
32
New Ipswich
Farmer
5-8
Fair
Light
John Harkness, 2d Lieut. .
Apr. 23
Lunenburg
27
New Ipswich
Cordwainer
5-9
Fair
Light
Benj. Williams, Sergt. .
Apr. 23
Concord
30
New Ipswich
Cordwainer
5-7
Brown
Blue
Peletiah Whittemore, Sergt.
Apr. 23
Malden
38
New Ipswich
Farmer .
5-10
Brown
Blue
Elisha Hubbard, Sergt. . .
Apr. 23
Connecticut
25
New Ipswich
Farmer
·
5-8
Brown
Brown
Samuel Breeding, Sergt.
Apr.
23
Malden
28
Temple
Farmer .
.
.
·
5- -
7
Fair
Light
Elijah Morse, Corp. .
May
4
Marlborough .
25
New Ipswich
Farmer .
·
5-
7
Fair
Blue
Stephen Adams, Corp. .
Apr. 23
Dunstable . ·
36
New Ipswich
Farmer
·
·
5-
9
Fair
Blue
Jesse Carlton, Drummer
Apr. 23
Bradford
36
New Ipswich
Farmer
5-
8
Fair
Light
Wilder Kidder, Fifer
Apr. 23
New Ipswich . Billerica
21
Temple
Carpenter . 5- -
7
Brown
Dark
55
New Ipswich
Cordwainer
6
Brown
Light
Jonathan Stevens .
May
15
13
Worcester
53
Mason .
Farmer .
5-6
Brown
Blue
Nathaniel Carlton
May
3
Lunenburg . Reading
·
·
45
Farmer .
5-
4
Brown
Black
Arthur Kirkwood
Apr. 23
Reading .
38
New Ipswich
Cordwainer
7
Brown
Blue
Josiah Walton
5-
7
Brown
Gray
Josiah Stone
May
15
Watertown ·
45
Temple
Farmer
·
5- -
9
Brown
Black
Timothy Stearns
Apr. 23
New Ipswich .
17
Temple
Farmer ·
5- -
8
Brown
Black
Jeremiah Andrews
Apr. 23
Lynn -
21
New Ipswich
Farmer . ·
5- -
7
Black
Black
Ezra Fuller .
Apr. 23
New Ipswich .
17
New Ipswich
Farmer
5- -
7
Black
Black
Ephraim Stevens
.
.
·
8
Brown
Light
Abraham Dinsmore
Apr. 23
Hollis
22
Temple
·
5-
8
Gray
David Marshall
.
·
Apr. 23
Holliston
24
Temple
.
Washington .
Farmer . ·
5-
8
Fair
Black
Archer White
Apr. 23
·
Apr. 23 -
Framingham .
21
New Ipswich
Farmer . ·
5-5
Fair
Light
·
.
·
·
25
New Ipswich
Farmer
5-
9
Fair
Black
Supply Wilson, Corp ..
.
Apr. 23
Woburn
.
·
·
·
43
New Ipswich
Farmer .
6
Brown
Blue
Nathan
Weston
May
4
30
Carpenter .
5-
5
Black
Black
New Ipswich Temple
·
·
·
May 3
Harvard
32
New Ipswich
New Ipswich
Cordwainer
5- -
9
Brown
Blue
Elijah Davis ·
Apr. 23
Concord
29
.
·
.
New Ipswich .
27
Eben Pratt .
·
.
·
27
New Ipswich
Levi Adams, Corp. .
May
12
Dunstable
Farmer ·
·
·
·
History of New Ipswich
·
·
·
.
·
·
.
5- 9
Black
Black
Benjamin King
May
.
May 15 Gt. Britain .
5- -
Farmer .
5-
Cordwainer
·
Farmer . ·
·
Asa Adams Phineas Adams
Apr. 23
Dunstable
24
New Ipswich Farmer Carpenter . 5-7
Fair Fair
Light Light
Blue
William Scott
Apr. 23
Dunstable
21
Farmer
6
Fair Brown
Light
Daniel Severance
Apr. 23
Groton
23
Blacksmith
5-
8
5-
7
Fair
Light
Abel Severance
Apr. 23
Groton
21
Farmer . . Carpenter
5- 6
Fair
Light
Eben Bullard
May 4
4
New Ipswich . 14
18
New Ipswich
Farmer .
5- -
4
Fair
Gray
Silas Gill
May 4
Harvard
18
New Ipswich
.
5-
3
Brown
Dark
David Avery
May
4
Townsend .
18
New Ipswich
.
5-
5
Brown
Gray
Benjamin Cutter
Apr. 23
Gt. Britain .
21
Temple ·
Farmer . ·
5- 8
Fair
Gray
Farrah Miller
May 10
Boxford
22
Temple
Farmer
5- 7
Brown
Black
John Start
May 10
Concord
27
New Ipswich
Cordwainer
5- 3
Brown
Light
Jeremiah Prichard
May 10
New Ipswich . Concord
30
New Ipswich
Farmer .
5- 6
Brown
Gray
Peter Lowell
May
12
Mason
23
Washington .
Farmer .
5-10
Brown
Black
Daniel White
May
12
New Ipswich.
19
Washington .
Farmer .
·
5-
5
Brown
Light
Isaac Stanhope .
May
13
Sudbury
Nelson .
Farmer .
·
5-
5
Brown
Light
Thomas Patterson
May
15
Townsend
21
Temple
Farmer .
5- 6
Brown
Gray
Timothy Avery
·
15
New Ipswich .
21
Temple
Carpenter .
5-10
Brown
Light
Peter Brown
.
Apr. 23
Lynn .
24
Temple
Farmer
5-9
Brown
Gray
Aaron Oliver
Apr. 23
Malden Bradford
19
Temple
Farmer .
5- 9
Fair
Light
Samuel Griffin
May
15
Mason
25
New Ipswich
Blacksmith
5- 5
Brown
Gray
David Hall
5-
7
Brown
Light
John Breed
May 20
Lynn
19
Nelson . .
Farmer
·
5-
4
Fair
Gray
John Elliott
May
18
Bradford
17
Peterborough
Farmer
·
5-
3
Fair
Light
Thomas Tufton
May
19
Boston
29
New Ipswich
Farmer
.
5-
8
Fair
Light
David Elliot
May
18
Bradford
19
Mason . ·
Farmer .
·
5-
8
Brown
Blue
Samuel Mitchel
May
18
Peterborough
22
Peterborough
Farmer .
.
5-
7
Brown
Light
Thomas Morrison
May
18
Peterborough
6
Concord
29
Temple
Carpenter. .
5-
8
Brown
Blue
Ebenezer Severance
.
·
·
May
15
New Ipswich .
22
Temple
Farmer .
.
5- 9
Fair
Light
.
18
Temple
.
.
.
.
·
.
·
Farmer . ·
5-10
Black
Black
25
Temple
.
.
New Ipswich Soldiers
24
Apr. 23
Groton
David Scott .
Apr. 23
Died June 18.
John Temple
Apr. 23
Concord
18
Temple
Farmer
·
.
.
5
Fair
Light
Joseph Felt
May
4
Lynn .
·
5-
5
Brown
Light
May. 4
Shrewsbury
19
New Ipswich
·
Farmer .
5-10
Brown
Dark
21
New Ipswich
.
Samuel Soper
May
10
.
.
5-7
Fair
Light
19
May 15
Shirley
.
David Melvin
.
New Ipswich . 19
New Ipswich
5- 9
Fair
Light
Ezra Towne, Jr.
May
New Ipswich
Farmer
New Ipswich See Vol. 14. New Ipswich Washington . New Ipswich
5-8
Farmer .
Peterborough
22
Samuel Hutchins
May
·
.
-
The original of which this is a copy can be found in the "Archives" department of the Secretary of State at Boston, Mass. Vol. 16, Page 52.
·
.
.
Farmer . ·
May
Benjamin Smith
.
Apr. 23
.
Farmer . Farmer . Farmer .
History of New Ipswich
The roll of Capt. Jonathan Whitcomb's company, also in the regiment of Col. Reed, bears the names of Moses Tucker, Abel Estabrooks, and Sergt. Amos Boynton, and the roll of Capt. Benj. Mann's company in the same regiment the names of Nathaniel Farr, Simeon Hildreth, and John Thomas.
The next military activity of New Ipswich, manifested very soon after the battle of Bunker Hill, is recorded in the former history in the following words: "It was supposed that the British would march out to attack our lines at Cambridge, and a company of about thirty left town immediately, and soon reached the army; but after a short stay, finding their services could be dispensed with, they returned home." No further record of this expedition has been found. Very prob- ably the company did not really enter the service, and their names were never recorded.
No further service is known to have been offered from the town for several months; but near the close of the year a very urgent call was made, to which a response was given with no less promptness and ardor than had characterized the previous action of the town. The urgency of the need is presented by the following extract from a letter of Gen. John Sullivan, in command at Winter Hill near Boston, to the New Hampshire Committee of Safety, bearing date November 30, 1775. "I have by command of General Washington to inform you. That the Connecticut forces (Deaf to the entreaties of their own as well as all other officers & regardless of the con- tempt with which their own Government threatens to treat them on their return) have absolutely refused to tarry till the first day of January, but will quit the lines on the 6th of Decembr. They have deceived us & their officers by pretend- ing there would be no difficulty with them till they have got so near the close of their term; and now to their Eternal In- famy demand a bounty to induce them to tarry only the three weeks. This is such an Insult to every American that we determined to release them at the expiration of their term at all hazards & find ourselves obliged immediately to supply their places with Troops from New Hampshire & Massachu- setts Bay." The call upon New Hampshire was for thirty- one companies, a little less than two thousand men, to serve until the fifteenth of January. The Committee met on De- cember 2, and the companies were raised and forwarded with such alacrity that only six days later Gen. Sullivan wrote to
80
New Hampshire's Leadership
the Committee saying: "General Washington and all the other officers are extremely pleased & bestow the highest encomiums on you and your troops, freely acknowledging that the New Hampshire Forces for bravery & resolution far sur- pass the other Colonies & that no Province discovers so much zeal in the common cause."
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