i78o] THE REVOLUTION

Eliphalet Elms Joseph Richmond

IsraelEaton Ezra Richmond
Robert Green Joshua Reed
Jabez Green Jepthah Ripley
John Heyford Hushai Thomas
Joseph Jackson Elisha Tinkham
Archipas Leonard Joseph Tupper, Jr.
Perez Leonard IsraelThomas
George Leonard Levi Thomas
Samuel Leonard Jabez Thomas
Joseph Leonard Edward Thomas
Roland Leonard Enoch Thomas
Ichabod Leonard Daniel Tucker
Lemuel Lyon Seth Tinkham
James Littlejohn David Turner
Andrew Murdock David Wilson
John Norcutt Elnathan Wood
Ephraim Norcutt Lemuel Wood
Samuel Pratt Ephraim Wood
Zebadee Pratt Ebenezer White
Ebenezer Richmond Edmund Weston
George P. Richmond

Fourth Company
commissioned officers
Henry Peirce, capt. Ezra Clark, 2d lieut.
Peter Hoar, ist Heut.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Ebenezer Hinds, sergt. Ebenezer Heyford, sergt.
Robert Hoar, sergt. Benjamin Boothe, corp.
Nathaniel Macomber, sergt. Henry Edminster, corp.
Joseph Boothe, sergt.
PRIVATES
Daniel Collins John Hoar
Roger Clark John Holloway
John Church Josiah Holloway
Ebenezer Howland Samuel Parris
Samuel Howland Richard Parris
John Howland George Peirce
Joshua Howland Uriah Peirce
Eseck Howland Ezra Reynolds
8 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1780

Elections Reynolds Earl Sears

Benjamin Reynolds Seth Simmons
John Reynolds Lebbeus Simmons
Enos Reynolds Isaac Sherman
Isaac Reynolds Nathan Trowant

Fifth Company
commissioned officers
Perez Churchill, capt. George Shaw, 2d lieut.
Consider Benson, ist lieut

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Daniel Smith, sergt. Ezra Harris, corp.
Benona Lucas, sergt. Japhet Le Baron, corp.
Joseph Thomas, sergt. William Shaw, corp.
Perez Churchill, sergt. Eleazer Thomas, Jr., corp.

MUSICIAN
Josiah Thomas, drummer

Benjamin Thomas Solomon Thomas

Ichabod Benson Hosea Washburn
James Le Baron, Jr. Zeb Thomas
James Raymond Nathan Muxom
William Churchill William Holmes
Mark Shaw Sylvanus Thomas
Barnabas Shurtliff Isaac Morse
Joseph Bessie Asa Barrows
David Bates Isaac Benson
Seth Thomas Samuel Thomas, Jr.
Zephaniah Thomas George Howland
Joseph Lovell Caleb Benson, Jr.
Nathaniel Shaw James Raymond, Jr.
Abel Tinkham Isaac Shaw
Samuel Hackett Nathan Burden
John Raymond Ichabod Atwood
John Le Baron, Jr. Samuel Thomas
Robert Sturtevant Nathan Thomas
Caleb Atwood David Thomas
•Stephen Washburn
 1777] THE REVOLUTION

In addition to these companies of local militia which were

enlisted for a comparatively short term of service in and about
Boston, New Bedford, and in Rhode Island, there were many-
others who were in the continental army for a much longer
term than the militia, many for the entire war, whose names it

is now impossible to give. We learn of them in following the

various family genealogies. In 1777 there were one hundred
and seven men from Middleboro in the continental army for
three years or during the war, some of whom have been men-
tioned in other chapters. At one time there were over sixty-
four from the First Church absent in active service.
Captain Joshua Eddy ^ raised a company for three years from
the adjoining towns for the regiment of which Gamaliel Brad-
ford was colonel their first service was on the Hudson to
;

resist the progress of Burgoyne.

The final victory at Yorktown and Cornwallis's surrender
brought the war to a close, and the final treaty of peace was
signed at Paris, in 1783. Then followed the struggle for a union.
The nation had no President, no money, a congress destitute
of power. Well did Fiske call this the "Critical Period of
American History." But the soldiers returned to their farms,
and Middleboro soon settled into its regular routine of life.
The following memoranda are taken from the Eddy Note-
Book :
~
1777 Jan. 31
Gamaliel Bradford Esq. Colonel
Baracciat Bassett Esq. Lt. Col.
Samuel Tubbo Esq. Major
Joshua Eddy Capt. Cushman ist. Lt David Peterson 2d. Lt
;

Jonathan Haskell, Ensign

Barnabas Bates of Wareham afterwards Lt.
J. Eddy Capt. Amt. of wages from Jan. 1777 to 258 lbs.
Paid by the Continent 95 5 — —
o ; by the state 162 15 o — —
COMPANY
Enlisted between Feb. and April 177- in obedience to an order of
Council of Nov. 7, 1777 for the Continental service for
3 years or
during the war (Bradford's Regt.)
1 For further service of Captain Eddy, see chapter on Eddyville.
140 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1780

Samuel Thacher of and for

"
M
h. ag 9, — April I, 1778—
Ebenezer Raymond " 3 yrs.
Simeon Prouty " Scituate ag. 30 Feb. 23 " —
Joseph Chamberlain Plimpton ag. 34 Feb. 21. 3 ys.
James Sampson Kingston Jan 7, 1780 service to end
William Maxwell of Tisbury for Rochester 17, Feb. 19. 3 yrs. or
during war
Thomas Hackman of and for Plymouth - 2 1
3 yrs. or
during war
"
Isaac Wilson 23 pd cost bounty
John Clark Rochester 50 Jan. 15. 3 yrs. or
during war
John Hyller 24 3 yrs. or
during war
Joseph Hatch 16
Samuel Green Jan. 15
Emanuel Doggett (" Doged ") 20 "
William Conant Wareham ag. 31 May 9, 777
Joseph Samdin " 27
Jonathan Sanders " 30
Samuel Bates " 22
Salisbury Richmond
David Burges " 16
Benjamin Swift 2d " 19
Lt. Sturlevant " 17
Nathaniel Sturtevant " 17
Abel Suspason Plymouth Feb.
Warren Middleborough April 28
Abner Morton Plymouth ag. 18 Feb. 21, pd. cost bounty
John Tolman jr. " 17 enlist Feb. 21 ^,,^'1
John Hosea " "21 I
r Goodwin's
II u V Co.
James Morris
Charles Anthony Rochester 35 (of John Cottle's Co.) 3 yrs.
for Pembroke
Samuel Green
By Isa Hatch from
Samuel Eddy of Middleboro
June 10 to July 9 1777
for Bridgewater 17
Nehemiah Curtis 16
Moses Standish Plympton 40 pd. the cost bounty
Joshua Prouty Scituate 27
Pollipus Hammond Rochester 16
Rowel Foot 19
Able Suppossen 36
for Pembroke Feb. 78.
James Newport Kingston 20
Nathan Cobb Middleborough 48 (for N. Wood's Co.)
3 yrs. or during war
Elisha Paddock (for N. W.) 23

i
 THE REVOLUTION 141

Stephen Cobb Middleborough (for N. W.) ag. 19 3 yrs. or

during war
Zachariah Eddy 25
Thomas Eddy
Nicholas Wood
Thomas Cushman Plimpton 18
Joseph Bump Washburn "enlisted," not draught,
May 26, 1777 to serve till
Jan. ID, '78
Isaac Willison Bridgewater for 3 yrs. to end
in 1780
Alden's reg't.
Feb. 19, 78 from Capt.
Thomas Cole Middleborough |
White's Co. in Col.
Benjamin Simmons jr,
Sprout's reg't. Cont^
Benjamin Racket
Army,
Lewis Harlow during war
Moses Sturtevant Wareham ag. 19
Nathan Faunce Middleborough " 33 (from N. Wood's Co.)
(Jonah Washburn ist. Lt.)
3 yrs. or
during war
Seth Cobb
" "
Zebedee Caswell ag. 22
Benjamin Raymond (a noted drummer) 20 "
"
Carver Bates Middleborough 17
Stephen Bryant " "
" "
Jona or Joshua Eatton
Leach
Ephraim Eddy "
Ebenezer Smith "
William Ellis "
Leach "
William Paddy Rochester
William Randall " ag. 21
Barzillai Nicholson " "
29 (or 20)
Cuff Perry " " 28
Solomon Doty Middleborough
Sampson David
Andrew Warren
John Billington
I FROM Capt. Wm. Tupper's Co.
,

Francis Billington J
Pelham Wood Wareham
Shubael Bump " ag. 18 Feb. 19
Samuel Philips " " 19 Jan. 13
Joseph Bump 3d " 8 months
John Mefrick Cary (a Indian)
Middleborough " 22
John Morris Plimpton " 29
142 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [177S

Perez Simmons Middleborough ag. 16 3 yrs.

Gideon Cobb till Jan. 10, 1778
Simeon Cotton Rathem " 17
Micah Leach " 21
Thomas Gannet "
39

A. Fuller, an officer afterwards a capt.

Prior to 1778 the maintenance of the soldiers who were serv-

ing in the different campaigns had been left to their families
and neighbors. While the men were absent in service, the
work on the farm was done by the old men, by the women, or
by those too young to enlist. The long continuance of the
war resulted in great hardship to many of those who were in
the field. Accordingly we find that from time to time the town
provided for their necessities by votes :
—
At a town meeting held January 5, 1778,it was voted that " the town treasurer

hire the sum of $200, for the use of the committee to enable them to procure
necessaries for the families of the soldiers in the continental service."
And on the 9th of March, 1778, at a town meeting it was voted " to choose a
committee of 7 persons to take care of the families of the soldiers that are in the
Continental army, and that said committee deal out provisions to the families of
the soldiers agreeable to a former act of the town.
" Committee is as follows :
—
" Edmund Wood
Edward Shairmin
Zaddock Leonard
Francis Thompson
George Leonard
Isaac Peirce
Ichabod Wood."

At a town meeting held May 5, 1778, it was voted that "the selectmen hire
the sum of 626;^ and 13 shillings in order to purchase clothing for the soldiers
in the Continental army.
" Voted to choose a committee of
5 persons to set a price to said clothing.
" Voted that the select men and company of inspection assist the above said
committee relating to the price of said clothing."
May 5, 1778, committee reported on the price of clothing as follows :
—
" Shoes I pound, 16 shillings a pair.

Shirts I " 7 " a piece,

one shirt to contain 3 yards of one yard wide of linen and tow cloth.
Stockens i pound a pair."
The town voted to accept said report.
1778] THE REVOLUTION

May
18, 1778 :
—
Voted to pay the 26 Continental men now raising for Gen. Washington's
"

army the sum of 30 pounds to be paid to each man," and also voted that
"the town treasurer give his note for 30 pounds payable to each man in
behalf of the town, said note to be paid in nine months from that date without
interest."
" Voted to deal stores to the families of soldiers of the Continental service to

one fourth part of their wages, the committee to deal out said stores."
7th of July :
—
" Voted that the town treasurer give his note for 14 pounds in behalf of
the town to each of the 19 men now raising for the service of the state of

Rhode Island, said notes to be on interest to be paid on the first day of Jan.
next."
January ist, 1779: —
home, with or without furlow, have
" Voted that those soldiers that continue at

no supply from the committee while absent from the army."

"An Order sent out by the Great and General Court of the state of Massachu-
setts Bay, dated June 8, 1779.
"That the Town of Middleboro have 10 men to raise for the Rhode Island
Service, to serve until the ist. day of Jan. next, and said men are to be paid
3c lbs.each out of Treasury of said Town of Middleboro. Voted that the
Town Treasurer give his note of 30 lbs. to each of said 10 men with interest till
paid."
June 14, 1780: —
" Voted to raise men to reinforce the army, 55 the number assigned to this town
for the term of six months.
" Voted that the town treasurer give his security to the men
that engage in said
service or that were held in said service, the securities, any are demanded to
if

be given, are to be given in farming produce or silver money or lumber or paper

currency."
On June 14, 1780, at a town meeting it was voted that the town treasurer hire
money for the help of raising the men if wanted.
" Voted that there be paid to each man that engages in the service as a soldier

200.^ of bloomery bar iron per month or farming produce in proportion to said
iron.
" Voted that 400 Continental dollars be paid to the men that engage in said ser-
vice instead of 100 of iron, the said sum to be paid to him that demands it and
cannot do without the same."
July 3, 1780, it was voted according to an order sent out by the Great and
General Court of this state to raise 65 men for the term of 3 months for the
present service of war.
By resolve of the General Court December 4, 1780, the town of Middleboro was
required to furnish 49,733 pounds of beef for the use of the army or money suffi-
cient to purchase the same. The town remonstrated to the General Court that
they were unable to meet such requisition for several reasons : that they had
recently complied with a similar requisition with great difficulty; that the lumber
in town which furnished money for inhabitants had failed that the men engaged ;

in farming had been absent during the season for planting crops; that a large
144 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1791

number had been in service and had not had the pay which was promised them,
and that the town was not as fertile as many other towns, so that they were unable
to realize either the money or the beef to meet with that requisition.
What action was taken by the General Court upon this requisition does not
appear.
March 14, 1791 :
—
" Voted to loan all the old Continental paper money now in the Town Treasury
to the United States and that the Town Treasurer be the person to put said
money on loan in the Town's behalf."
 CHAPTER IX

THE LOYALISTS OF THE REVOLUTION

T the commencement of and during the struggle for
independence, Sabin, in his "American Loyalists,"
estimates that there were in the province of Mas-
sachusetts Bay more than two thousand loyalists,
for the most part wealthy influential and professional men of
the colony.^ Many
them had held commissions under the
of
Crown, and had served with distinction in the army of George
III, during the French and Indian and other wars. Others had

held various civil appointments, which were then regarded as

positions of honor. They were familiar with the history and
the traditions of the mother country, and had the love and
enthusiasm for England of loyal British subjects. While mind-
the wrongs and injustice that the colonies had suffered,
ful of
the claims of the Crown were so strong that they could not
readily throw them off.

Many of the inhabitants of Middleboro had a great struggle

in choosing the side of the patriots and taking up arms against
the mother country. In the neighboring towns, many of the
prominent families of Plymouth, Halifax, Freetown, Marsh-
field, Rochester, and Taunton early espoused the cause of

the king. The loyalists all over the country were banished
'-^

1 John Adams was inclined to believe that in the colonies at large not more
than two thirds were against the Crown at the breaking out of the Revolution.
The last vote that showed the strength of the loyalists in the town of Boston
was in 1775, when the vote stood five against two. Of the three hundred and ten
persons who were banished from the country and their estates confiscated, over
sixty were graduates of Harvard College. Memorial History of Boston, vol. iii,
P- 175-
2 " Upwards of eleven hundred body with the royal army at the
retired in a
evacuation of Boston. This number women and children.
includes, of course,
Among the men, however, were many persons of distinguished rank and consid-
eration. Of members of the council, commissioners, officers of the customs, and
other ofiicials, there were one hundred and two of clergymen, eighteen of in-
; ;
146 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1776

and went to England, Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova

Scotia, and their estates were confiscated under the statutes
of 1778 and 1779. The English government paid fifteen million
dollars for their relief. Popular feeling early in the struggle
was intense against them Washington was most severe in his
;

expression of contempt. The term

" tory " was applied to them

as the most opprobrious epithet that could be used, and the

position which many of them had held in the colony seemed to
be no bar against the treatment they received.
The following instances show to what lengths the popular
feeling went in neighboring towns
Daniel Leonard of Taun-
:

ton, an attorney and barrister of wide reputation, a graduate of

Harvard College, and a member of the General Court, had been
appointed a mandamus councillor against him the feeling
;

was so strong that bullets were fired into his house by a mob,
and he was obliged to take refuge in Boston. In 1776 he, with
his family of eight, left for Halifax and England, and was ap-
pointed chief justice for the Bermudas. Daniel Dunbar was an
officer in the militia when in 1774 a mob demanded of him
that he surrender the colors of his company, which bore the
insignia of the British Crown. When he refused to do this,
they carried him from his house, put him upon a rail, and held
him there until he was exhausted. He was then beaten until
he was forced to give up the standard to save his life. Jesse
Dunbar bought some cattle of a mandamus councillor in 1774,
and drove them to Plymouth for sale. So great was the indig-
Dunbar had pre-
nation of the patriots that, on learning that
sumed to have business relations with such a hated officer,
they commenced punishing him for his offence (after the
animals had been slaughtered). He suffered great indignities
at their hands. He
was carried to Kingston and there delivered
to a mob, which carted him into the town of Duxbury. Here
another mob seized him, and after beating him severely and

habitants of country towns, one hundred and five ; of merchants and other per-
sons who resided in Boston, two hundred and thirteen ; of farmers, mechanics,
and traders, three hundred and eighty-two." Sabine's Loyalists of American Revo-
lution, vol. i, p. 25.