USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Smithfield > History of the town of Smithfield [R.I.] from its organization, in 1730-1, to its division, in 1871 > Part 3
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At the May session, 1696, the House of deputies was con- stituted a distinct body; a lower house of assembly, with power to choose its own Speaker, and Clerk. It thus be- came a coordinate branch of the legislature with the assistants, each house having a veto upon the proceedings of the other ; and thus has it ever since remained. And not even a limited veto power has ever been conferred upon the Governor. The first instance of the deputies resolving themselves into a committee of the whole for the preparation of business occurred at this session. Nor was the government again established in its chartered authority. The charter was not again to be suspended or questioned, until under circum- stances then unforeseen, and doubtless unimaginable it should be superseded by the will of the people in the at- tempt to secure a still broader republicanism.
A census was taken in 1730. The population of the col- ony was then, Whites, 15,302; Negroes, 1,648; Indians, 985 ; total, 17,935. Of Providence, Whites, 3,707; Ne- groes, 128 ; Indians, 81; total, 3,916. Of Newport, Whites, 3,843 ; Negroes, 649; Indians, 248; total, 4,640. This census probably included the inhabitants of "the Gore," now Cumberland. Roger Williams died sometime between January 18, and May 10, 1683. For nearly half
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
a century he had been the foremost man in a community which from weakness had grown to strength; which had seen the seed of liberty it planted. in doubt and fear, grow to a tree of such goodly proportions that its shelter attracted the good and wise from abroad. Amid difficulties which would have appalled the stoutest hearts, and discouraged any but the most courageous and faithful minds, Roger Williams clung with the same determination to his doctrine of democratic government, and to his theory of the right of perfect liberty in religious concerns. Never seeking repose from labor, his enemies within and without Rhode Island permitted him no rest either of body or of mind. He was generous, as his disposition of his lands shows; he was firm, as is evinced by the tenor of his whole life; he was honest, as the natives always testified, and as none could gainsay. He was a scholar, a statesman, a patriot and a Christian. He impressed upon Rhode Island characteristics, social, political and religious, which to-day are her support and pride.
CHAPTER II.
A T the session of the General Assembly, held at Newport by adjournment, in February, 1730, (O. S.) the town of Smithfield was incorporated. The preamble to the act is in the words following : "Forasmuch as the Out Lands of the Town of Providence are large, and replenished with Inhab- itants sufficient to make and erect three Townships besides the Town of Providence and the Land lies convenient for the same; which will be of great Ease and Benefit to the Inhabitants of said Land, in transacting and negotiating the prudential Affairs of their Town, which for some Time past has been very heavy and burthensome;" and Smithfield, Scituate and Glocester were separated into independent townships. It was provided that the towns were to " have each their proportion of the interest of the Bank money appropriated to the use of the towns of this colony, ac- cording to the sums that the lands lying in each town are mortgaged for; and that money the town treasurer of Providence has advanced for the town before the division thereof, be repaid him out of the whole interest money, before division thereof be made."
The significance of this latter clause we shall discover as we proceed.
The territory thus set off comprised seventy-three square miles of land. It was bounded on the East by the Black- stone river; on the South by Johnston and North Provi- dence ; on the West by Glocester, and on the North by the
23
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
State of Massachusetts. At the time of the division of the town the western boundary was the East line of Glocester and Burrillville, the latter town having been set off from Glocester. Bounded on one side by the most important river in the State, save Providence river, it included within its limits the Branch, the Moshassuck, the Woonasqua- tucket and the Crook Fall rivers, besides other smaller streams which benefited and beautified it. It presented in its natural physical features a diversified and attractive as- pect. Near its northern extremity rose Woonsocket Hill, the highest land in the State, towering nearly six hundred feet above the level of the sea. Its hills were clothed with a luxuriant growth of Oak, Walnut, Ash, Chestnut and Birch trees; its valleys were many of them rich in soil; the plains were easily cultivated; to the hardy pioneer, who sought to derive from nature a homely but comfortable and independent subsistence, Smithfield offered charming scenery, good land, pure water, an abundance of timber and ready access to the town, and to navigable waters. In its lime stone quarries it possessed a source of usefulness and emol- ument which was early utilized, and still remains in its development and permanence a most important industry. Originally a purely agricultural district, we shall find that in its then almost unrecognized, but eventually valuable water power, it owned a source of wealth which was to change the character of its pursuits, to swell, and affect the habits of its population and to cause an accession of prop erty of which the early settlers had, and could have no pos- sible conception. At the time of its incorporation Smithfield was very sparsely settled, its inhabitants being mainly fam- ilies who had pushed out into the country from Providence, and who were wholly in accord in their social, political and religious ideas, with the early settlers of that town. Smith- field, was, indeed, only a prolongation of Providence. The men who organized the town were men who had been famil-
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
iar, and who were moved with the sentiments of Roger Wil- iams, and the freemen of Providence. They were actuated by the same spirit of independence, the same love of, and for self-government, the same doctrine of the liberty of con- science. They were sufficiently learned to act intelligently, and they were sufficiently strong to carry on, and out their theories. They leaned upon nobody; they were industri- ous, economical, conservative and thoughtful. Their terri- tory was large; their principles fixed ; in separating from the parent town they undertook that closer management of their affairs for which they were eminently capable. They were among the first to take their portion, and they made such good use of it that for an hundred and forty years Smith- field was a progressive; influential, important and deservedly- esteemed town.
The record of the first town meeting is as follows, the orthography being conformed to the usage of the present day : "At a town meeting called by warrant under the hands and seals of Joseph Arnold and Jonathan Sprague, Jr., Esqs., Justices of the Peace, and held at the house of Captain Valentine Whitman in Smithfield, in the County of Providence, &c., on the 17, day of March, Anno Domini, 1730 or 31; whereof Mr. Jonathan Sprague, Jr., was chosen moderator of said meeting, and Richard Sayles was chosen town clerk, at said meeting, and John Arnold chosen the first town councilman at said meeting, and Captain Joseph Mowry chosen the second town councilman, Thomas Steere chosen the third town councilman, Samuel Aldrich chosen the fourth town councilman, John Mowry chosen the fifth town councilman, Benjamin Smith chosen the sixth town councilman ; John Sayles chosen at said meeting town treas- urer; Uriah Mowry chosen town sergeant at aforesaid meet- ing. Joseph Arnold, Jun., chosen sealer and packer at said meeting; David Comstock chosen the first constable, Elisha Steere chosen the second constable, and Joseph Herendeen,
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
Jr., chosen the third constable. Captain Valentine Whitman and Thomas Smith and Joshua Winsor and Jeremiah Arnold were chosen overseers of the poor of the town. Job Arnold and John Smith, son of Joseph Smith 'Juyner ' chosen sur- veyors of the highways. Hezekiah Comstock and Daniel Arnold and John Dexter Jun. and Jonathan Sprague minor, chosen fence viewers. Joseph Bagley and Daniel Matthew- son chosen hemp viewers. John Whitman chosen pound keeper. John Wilkinson and Charles Sherlock chosen hog constables. Richard Sayles accepted and was engaged ac- cording to law to the office of town clerk for the ensuing year before Jonathan Sprague, Justice, the day and year above said. The town councilmen that were chosen did all accept and was engaged according to law to the office of town councilman, before Jonathan Sprague, Justice, the day and year above said. John Sayles did accept and was en- gaged according to law to the office of town treasurer, before Jonathan Sprague, Justice. Uriah Mowry did accept and was engaged according to law to the office of town ser- geant. David Comstock and Elisha Steere and Joseph Her- endeen Jr., did all accept and were engaged according to law to the offices of constables. Hezekiah Comstock and Daniel Arnold and John Dexter Jr., and Jonathan Sprague minor, did all accept and were engaged according to law to the office of fence viewers. Captain Valentine Whitman and Thomas Smith and Jeremiah Arnold all accepted and were engaged according to law to office of overseers of the poor. Job Arnold and John Smith both accepted and en- gaged according to law to the office of highway surveyors. Joseph Arnold Jr., accepted and was engaged according to law to the office of sealer and packer. John Whitman ac- cepted and engaged according to law to the office of pound keeper. Daniel Matthewson and Joseph Bagley both ac- cepted and were engaged according to law to the office of hemp viewers. It was voted at said meeting that the 27, 4
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
day of April next is the day perfixed for the freemen of the town of Smithfield to meet together at the house of John Sayles in Smithfield in order to choose Representatives to send to Newport, next May Session, and also to send in their proxies for the General Officers of this colony, and also to do other business as is necessary for said town."
On the 23, of March, 1731, (N. S.) the town meeting chose its deputies to the General Assembly ; provided its quota of jurors, for a settlement with the town of Provi- dence, and voted a bounty for killing wild-cats and wolves. In 1738, a pair of stocks was built, and a whipping post erected near the house of John Sayles.
In 1738, the town took a most important step in develop- ing its resources, and providing for the comfort and conve- nience of its inhabitants. This was the passage of an highway act. Before this time there had been, in Rhode Island, no other law upon this subject than the laws of England, which were of course but ill adapted to the circumstances in which the then inhabitants of Smithfield found themselves. The "act " passed by the town was drawn with great care, and a precision which is evidence of the capacity of those who adopted it for self-government. It provided for the ap- pointment of surveyors, and made it their duty to inspect the roads within the limits of their jurisdiction, and enough of them were appointed to care for the highways through- out the town; specific provision was made for the amount and character of the work to be done, and every male per- son an inhabitant of the town, twenty-one years of age, and able-bodied, except apprentices, slaves and idiots, was to work on the highways six days in the year, and eight hours a day.
In 1748, the population of Smithfield was four hundred and fifty persons; the town was divided into sixteen high- way districts, to be worked by the persons hereinafter enumerated, the person first named in each district being surveyor.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
District No 1, began at Patience Arnold's, so to extend northwest- erly over the Branch River, and all the roads west and northwest of said river. The citizens therein were:
Daniel Comstock, jr., Samuel Buxton,
Azariah Comstock,
Hezadiah Comstock, Benjamin Buxton,
Jonathan Reed,
Ichabod Comstock,
Joseph Buxton,
Thomas Cruff,
Anthony Comstock, Joseph Buffum,
Thomas Cruff, jr.,
Richard Sprague, Joseph Kelley,
Samuel Cruff,
Amos Sprague, Providence Williams, Jacob Read,
Benjamin Buffum, John Sprague,
Benj. Buffum, jr.,
Samuel Goldthwaite, Daniel Comstock, Daniel Sprague,
Israel Phillips,
Benjamin Boyce,
Nathaniel Staples,
Benjamin Thompson, Adam Harkness,
Samuel Buxton, jr.
District No. 2, began at Samuel Aldrich (near Union village), so down to where the new road turns out of the old, and by the new and the old road to where they intersect on the Hill, a little southeast from the Little River Bridge-also, the cross road by Benjamin Paine and Uriah Mowry (on Sayles's Hill):
John Sayles, Daniel Sayles,
Henry Mowry,
Uriah Mowry, Joshua Phillips,
Edward Mitchell,
Benjamin Paine,
David Herrendeen,
Elisha Mowry,
Capt. Richard Sayles,
Jonathan Phillips,
Daniel Walling.
Richard Sayles, jr,, Stephen Sly,
Elisha Sayles, Ebenezer Thornton,
District No. 3, began at Locusquesset Brook (near Lime Rock), and so up the Highway, till it comes to where two roads meet on the Hill, a little southeast from the Little River Bridge:
Peter Bellowe, jr., Jabez Brown, John Bellowe, jr.,
John Whitman, Noah Whitman, Jonathan Bellowe,
Preserved Harris, Nicholas Brown, Benjamin Brown,
Jonathan Harris, John Bellowe, Manasses Kimton,
Valentine Whitman, Samuel Bellow, Christopher Bullock.
District No. 4, began at Locusquesset Brook to Providence line, also the Cross Road by Jonathan Arnold's, beginning at the old high- way by the Lime Kiln, to end where said highway intersects with the highway that goes by Dr. Jenckes-also the Cross Road from Abra- ham Scott to Pawtucket River:
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
Wm. Whipple, jr., Jeremiah Mowry,
Nathaniel Bucklin,
Benjamin Medbury,
Wm. Jenckes, Esq., Benjamin Arnold,
Samuel Bagley,
Anthony Whipple,
Jerrh. Weatherhead,
Benjamin Medbury, Caleb Arnold,
Jeremiah Arnold, jr., William Brown, John Arnold,
Nathan Tucker, Abraham Scott, John Weatherhead,
Andrew Young,
Christopher Jenckes.
William Whipple, Jeremiah Arnold,
District No. 5, began at the Old Quaker Meeting House, so north- easterly and northerly to Thomas Lapham's (near Albion):
John Dexter, John Wilkinson, jr., Ephraim Whipple,
Jonathan Sprague,
Thos. Lapham, Esq., Samuel Smith.
William Sprague, Capt. Job Whipple,
John Wilkinson, Stephen Whipple,
District No. 6, began at Thomas Lapham's, and so north, to Woon- socket Falls. (The River Road from Albion up):
Joseph Lapham, Caleb Shrefe,
Israel Wilkinson,
Azariah Phillips, James Jillson, John Rogers,
William Gully, David Patt,
Capt. Wm. Sprague.
Elisha Dillingham, Aaron Day,
District No. 7, began at Daniel Wilbur's to Providence line-also, from same place to Christopher Brown's:
Benjamin Cook, Obadiah Olney,
Thomas Woodward, Job Chase,
Robert Young, Baulston Brayton,
Samuel Tucker, William Olney,
Maturin Ballowe, John Jenckes,
Peter Ballowe,
William Bradbury,
Maturin Ballowe, jr., Daniel Bradbury,
James Mussey, William Pullen,
Daniel Wilbur, Capt. Richard Harris,
Jeremiah Harris,
Christopher Brown, Abiah Angell,
John Olney.
District No. 8, began at saw mill by James Appleby, to Thomas Sayles, and from Elisha Cook's, towards Providence line, till it comes to Ebenezer Herrendeen's:
Benjamin Smith, Jonathan Arnold, Job Arnold, Amos Arnold,
William Bensley, John Whipple, Manassah Kelley,
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
Elisha Cook, William Baets,
Joseph Page, Henry Blackmar,
Ebenezer Herrendeen, John Blackmar,
Thomas Sayles, Theophilus Blackmar,
Stephen Sayles, Aaron Herrendeen,
Joseph Mowry, 3d, Silvanus Sayles,
Capt. Daniel Mowry.
District No. 9, began at Glocester line, west of John Sayles, jr., so easterly by Othonial Matthewson, thence northeast to Woonsocket Falls -also a piece from Thomas Sayles to aforesaid road:
Othonial Matthewson, Mikel Phillips,
Samuel Aldrich,
Daniel Smith, James Walling,
Samuel Tucker,
John Comstock, Ananias Mowry, Thomas Smith,
Jeremiah Brown, John Sayles, jr.,
Cornelius Walling.
Daniel Phillips, John Smith,
Reuben Aldrich.
District No. 10, began at Ebenezer Herrendeen, down to Daniel Wilbur:
Thomas Herrendeen,
Thomas Shippe,
Joseph Herrendeen,
Henry Morton,
Obadiah Herrendeen,
Jos. Herrendeen, jr., Francis Herrendeen,
Gideon Pain,,
Christopher Shippe, John Young,
Jeremiah Ballard.
William Havens, Silas Tucker,
District No. 11, began at Providence line, near Isaac White's, to the " Logway," also the Cross Road from Daniel Angell, to the Island Road:
Thomas Steere, Philip Smith,
Joseph Chillson, Daniel Angell,
Noah Smith's widow, John Angell,
Amos Keach,
Daniel Smith, Thomas Broadway,
Thomas Owen,
Jonathan Smith, Hezekiah Sprague,
Major William Smith,
John Phillips, John Smith, jr.,
Daniel Smith.
Elisha Smith,
Job Angell,
District No. 12, began at Abraham Smith's barn, so southeast by Smith's house, to Providence line:
Leland Smith,
Enoch Barnes,
Peter Barnes,
Nathan Barnes,
John Barnes, Joseph Smith,
Jos. Smith, son of Jos., John Treadwen,
Joseph Page.
Ezekiel Angell, James Young,
Jacob Smith, Nathan Shippe,
Thomas Shippe, jr., Benjamin Ballard,
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
District No. 13, began at the corner of Abraham Smith's fence, near the Baptist Meeting House, thence, northerly by Abraham Smith's, so up the "Logway " to Glocester line, also the cross road, beginning at the saw mill by his house, thence southerly to aforesaid road :
James Appleby, Thomas Beadle, John Aldrich,
Capt. Joseph Mowry,
David Arnold,
Stephen Goodspeed,
George Place, Silvanus Aldrich,
Joseph Mowry, jr., Peter Aldrich,
Abraham Smith.
District No. 14, began at Glocester line, by Widow Steere's, to Providence line, all below Joseph Carpenter's:
Samuel Aldrich, jr., David Evans, jr., Joseph Smith, jr ..
Robert Latham, Joseph Aldrich, Thomas Inches,
Joseph Carpenter, Job Potter,
Joshua Winsor,
Zachariah Rhodes,
Samuel Winsor,
John Winsor.
David Evans, Hezekiah Steere,
District No. 15, began at Glocester line, a little west of Benjamin Wilkinson, thence down to Providence line-also from Resolved Wa- terman's, thence southwesterly to Glocester line, by Snake Hill:
Abraham Winsor, Samuel Irons, Abel Potter,
Benjamin Wilkinson, Robert Staples,
Resolved Waterman.
Benjamin Wright, Andrew Waterman,
Joshua Winsor, jr., Daniel Eddy,
District No. 16, began at Glocester, line near Daniel Matthewson, thence northeasterly by his house to Wainsocket Falls, till it meets Cumberland in the middle of the Bridge. Also, beginning at Pa- tience Arnold's, thence down to District No. 2. (This was a portion of the Great Road to Sayles Hill, and South Main Street, west to Burrillville) :
Nathan Staples, Joseph Comstock, Seth Arnold,
Moses Arnold,
Nathaniel Eddy,
Thomas Man,
Elisha Arnold, Richard Arnold, Capt. Daniel Arnold, Jeremiah Comstock,
Stephen Arnold, Widow Patience "
Oliver Man,
Samuel Cook,
John Man, jr., Samuel Aldrich, 3d,
Seth Cook, Hezadiah Comstock, David Comstock, Esq., Abraham Loja, Philip Loja,
Lieut. Thos. Arnold, Caleb Aldrich. William Arnold, Esq., John Arnold,
Oliver Mowry,
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
The business transacted by the first Town Council, at its first meeting was eminently significant. A committee was appointed to arrange the monetary matters between the town and the town of Providence; sundry persons were or- dered to be cited before the council " to give their reasons why they inhabit in the town of Smithfield without admit- tance of said town council;" some persons were ordered removed from the town. Whether the strict supervision exercised over new comers was stimulated by a fear of hav- ing them to support, or because of a regard for the morals of the town, certain it is that the diligence used to ascertain the fitness of the aspirant for a permanent residence was both active and effectual. In this regard there was in Smith- field, in those days, nothing known of the law's delay. The person cited, if recalcitrant was forthwith put out of the town by the Sergeant; if he returned he was ordered to pay a fine within one hour, or be stripped naked "from the waist upward " and whipped. It is a very gratifying fact that the record shows that when one Phebe Thornton a tran- sient person, was ordered by the council to pay a fine evi- dently far beyond her means, on the instant, or be stripped and whipped, that good Quaker, Thomas Steere, so many years President of the council, was not present. The town stocks and the whipping post were located in his section of the town, but careful as the Friends were of their own and the town's money, there is the religious and record reason for believing that the wandering Phebe was not scourged in accordance with the vote or sentiment of the well-to do, and public spirited Thomas.
At a special town meeting, held on the sixteenth of Sep- tember, 1774, Capt. Arnold Paine, and William Winsor, Esqs., were chosen a committee to repair to the town of Boston, there to inspect into the circumstances of the poor of said town, and make report on the 10th day of October next. Capt. William Potter, Peleg Arnold and Stephen
-
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
Whipple were appointed a committee to receive the direc- tions given by the inhabitants for the relief of the poor of Boston.
At a town meeting held on the 10th of October, 1774, the committee aforenamed made a verbal report and the town "welcome for the above service, for which the town returns them thanks." " Whereupon it is Voted, that sub -. scription papers be drawn up for the purpose of gaining support for the poor sufferers of Boston, and delivered into the hands of the committee already appointed for that pur- pose, and that William Potter, Peleg Arnold and Stephen Whipple do the service appointed gratis; to which they in this meeting agreed in person; and that the subscription papers with receipts be returned to the town clerk's office of this town, to the intent that full and ample satisfaction may be made in that behalf."
The result of this action will be seen by a perusal of the following letter, directed to Daniel Mowry, Jr., Town Clerk :
BOSTON, Nov. 2d, 1774.
GENTLEMEN :
By the hands of Capt. Stephen Whipple and Mr. William Potter, the Committee of Donations received your very acceptable present of one hundred and fifty sheep. The Committee, in behalf of the Town, return our grateful acknowledgments to our kind and generous bene- factors, the patriotic inhabitants of Smithfield and Johnston. Such bounties greatly refresh our spirits, and encourage us to persevere in the glorious cause of true, constitutional freedom and liberty. We consider the cause as common, and therefore a cause in the defence of which, all North America ought to be united ; and it affords us, as it ยท must every true-hearted American, a peculiar pleasure, that such un- ion prevails at this day, as bodes well to the rights and liberties of North America, civil and religious.
What judgment are we to form respecting those who would affect to be calm and unconcerned spectators, in this day of trouble and dis- tress. But what shall we think and say of those who are constantly endeavoring, in a private, and when they dare, more open manner, to carry into execution a plan the most detestable, and calculated for th
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD.
destruction of everything accounted valuable and dear in the eyes of Americans. Surely, then, Americans must, they will, exert them- selves to their utmost at such a day as this.
The inhabitants of this town are called, in providence, to stand, as it were in the front of the battle. We have reason, in the first place, to be thankful to God, who hath thus far helped us, and nextly, to our generous and kind benefactors, by their affectionate letters, as well as their timely donations. May the Lord reward them. We greatly need- wisdom, direction, prudence, zeal, patience and resolu- tion. Our Christian friends may, by their prayers to God, contribute much towards a happy issue of these severe trials, and those mercies which are the fruit of the prayers of faith will prove mercies indeed. But we have not time to enlarge.
Inclosed is a printed half sheet respecting the conduct of the Com- mittee on the improvement of the charities of our friends, which we hope will be to their satisfaction.
Gentlemen, your much obliged friends and fellow-countrymen.
DAVID JEFFRIES. . Committee of Donations. Per order of the
1775. At a town meeting held on the 20th day of Febru- ary, 1775, Stephen Arnold, Jr., Andrew Waterman, Thomas Aldrich, Elisha Mowry, Jr., and Uriah Alverson were ap- pointed a committee of inspection, agreeable to the eleventh article of the Continental Congress, and Daniel Mowry, Jr., and Othniel Matthewson were appointed a committee to re- ceive the town's quota of fire-arms, according to act of gov- ernment, and deliver the same to the three present captains of the foot companies in this town according to the muster
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