Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 19: Taunton Military - Social Organizations, 1924

A popular regard has always been cherished in society in behalf of those organizations and their affiliations that have become banded together for patriotic purposes, and to keep green the memory of the participation of a community and its delegated men of war in the martial events of its story. These Taunton societies, while not maintaining the spirit and purpose of war, hold fast their traditions of their country's defence and honor as remembered in the part they and their comrades took in former battles against a country's foe.

G. A. R. - The present generation salutes William H. Bartlett Post, No. 3, of Taunton, third post to be established in Massachusetts. The post was organized December 26, 1866, and adopted the name William H. Bartlett in memory of a Taunton soldier who in the first days of the Civil War was most active in recruiting in this city (then a town), and who fell in the assault on Port Hudson, June 14, 1863. The members of the post have always been among the leaders in the community. Their gift in the Civil War is unforgettable. They have given of influence and money for all civic and patriotic occasions.

The first meetings of the post were held at the old G. A. R. Hall on Weir street, but in April, 1913, the organization came into possession of the building on Washington street, formerly a Presbyterian church, now known as the Cyrus Lothrop Memorial Hall, the gift of the late Cyrus Lothrop. The Soldiers' Monument at Mayflower Hill Cemetery was dedicated under the post auspices, September 5, 1887, the cost of the monument being $2453. The memorial tablet in City Hall was erected in 1888. The post commanders from the first have been as follows: Robert Crossman, 1866; Mason W. Burt, 1867; Edgar R. Sprague, and Alfred M. Williams, 1868; Harrie A. Cushman, 1869; Abner Coleman, 1870; George E. Dean, 1872; Charles H. Orchard and Henry D. White, 1873; George H. Babbitt, 1874; William Watts, 1875; Daniel H. Cahoon, 1876; Alfred B. Hodges, 1877; Charles S. Anthony, 1879; Timothy C. Lucas, 1881; Joshua W. Brewer, 1883; Gustavus T. Fisher, 1884; Albert M. Clark, 1885; Lewis B. Hodges, 1886; Alden H. Blake, 1887; James A. Tinkham, 1891; Alanson Pratt, 1893; Henry N. Hopkins, 1895; William Park, 1898; Benjamin F. Cunningham, 1899; Ichabod Tillson, 1900; John C. Chace, 1901; Duncan S. Elliott, 1902; Alonzo M. Shaw, 1903; Gilman Q. Leavitt, 1906; Caleb F. Hunt, 1907; James Glover, 1908; Albert C. Carpenter, 1909; Edward Gilroy, 1913; Franklin Bosworth, 1914; Silas W. Wood, 1915; George F. Read, 1916; Oscar A. Hillard, 1917. The officers in 1923 were: Commander, Oscar A. Hillard; S. V. C., Edward Gilroy; J. V. C., Preston Burt; adjutant, Clark Borden; Q. M., Franklin Bosworth; surgeon, John Chace; chaplain, Henry N. Hopkins; officer of the day, George T. Burt; officer of the guard, Rollin H. Babbitt; S. M., George F. Read; Q. M. S., Silas Wood.

In the early part of the year 1889, through the efforts of Mrs. Eliza J. Blake, a petition was started among the loyal and patriotic women of Taunton for the formation of a Woman's Relief Corps, and on March 21, 1889, the William H. Bartlett Woman's Relief Corps, No. 120, was instituted, and fifty-one charter members were received by Department President Mrs. Mary E. Knowles of Somerville, and Mrs. Eva T. Cook of Gloucester. The officers elected at that time were: President, Mrs. Harriet Howard; senior vice-president, Mrs. Eliza Brown; junior vice-president, Mrs. Annie E. Tinkham; chaplain, Mrs. Elizabeth P. Converse; conductor, Mrs. C. Isabel Hubbard; treasurer, Mrs. Mary J. Swan; secretary, Miss Maria Baylies; guard, Mrs. Emma Coleman. The meetings were held at G. A. R. Hall, on Weir street; later, in 1913, at the Lothrop Memorial Hall on Washington street. Of the fifty-one charter members, but nine remained in 1923, they being Mrs. Lydia Blake, Mrs. M. Ella Baker, Mrs. Emma E. Coleman, Mrs. Harriet Fisher, Mrs. Mary L. Paige, Mrs. Louise M. Mason, Mrs. Octavia Pickens, Mrs. Annie E. Tinkham, Mrs.Augusta M. West. Mrs. Annie E. Tinkham was elected department chaplain, April 10, 1923. Mrs. A. M. West was appointed secretary in 1890, holding that office ten years. Mrs. Mary J. Swan, a charter member, held the office of treasurer from 1889 to 1899. Mrs. Tinkham was elected treasurer in 1901. Since the time of organization, the corps has turned over for the uses of the Post about $3000; nearly $1500 was spent in relief work since 1912. The corps has had 315 members; » The officers in. 1923: President, Mrs. Sylvia J..Barry; S. V. P., Mrs. Carrie C. Hillard; J. V. P., Mrs. Martha D. Wood; secretary, Mrs. Margaret V. Smith; treasurer, Mrs. Annie Tinkham; chaplain, Mrs. Mary E. Brown; patriotic instructor, Mrs. Rebecca Brewer; guide, Mrs. Margaret Woodland; assistant guide, Mrs. Ella Wood; press correspondent, Mrs. Maggie Monroe; musician, Mrs. Maud Tillson; color bearers: first, Mrs. Mulverda Germond; second, Mrs. Elnora Simmons; third, Mrs. Emma Allen; fourth, Mrs. Martha Meinhardt.

Sons of Veterans. - The General D. N. Couch Camp, No. 26, was organized in Taunton, October 1, 1886, with thirty charter members. The camp was named for Darius N. Couch, a graduate of West Point in 1846, a lieutenant in the Mexican War, 1846-48, in Indian hostilities, 1849-50; a general in the Union Army in the Civil War; first colonel of the Seventh Massachusetts Infantry; brigadier-general of United States Volunteers, in 1861; major-general in 1862. He was for years a resident of Taunton, where members of his family reside. Charter members of the camp living in 1923 were Edward P. Coleman, Leonard C. Couch, Louis A. Hodges, Edward L. Surgens. Leonard C. Couch, a son of General Couch, was commander of the camp from 1886 to 1888. The past commanders since Mr. Couch: Fred P. Plummer, 1889; Edgar B. Blandin, 1890; Horace E. Crowell, 1891; Albert L. Fuller, 1892; Frank A. D. Bullard, 1893; George Twoomey, 1894; George T. Horton, 1895; Leonard C. Couch, 1896; Clarence G. Hathaway, 1897; Fred A. Boardman, 1898-9; M. Frank Sampson, 1900; Frank E. Wellman, 1901-2; Mason E. Marvel, 1903-5; Daniel J. Lawlor, 1906; William W. Tillson, 1907; Ralph L. Woodward, 1908; Ernest A. Read, 1909; Marcus A. Harnden, 1910; Ralph F. Peck, 1911; H. Walter Francis, 1912-1913; Lester B. Wilbur, 1914-1915;

Guy E. Marvel, 1916; Louis T. Macomber, 1917; Fred E. Fuller, 1918; Raymond T. Lincoln, 1919; Kenneth F. Richardson, 1920; Charles A. Allen, 1921-1922. John K. Germond, 1923. Leonard C. Couch has been the only officer of the local camp to serve as Massachusetts Division commander.

The Sons of Veterans Auxiliary, No. 49, was instituted May 4, 1916, by Past Division President Margaret V. Waters, of Watertown, in G. A. R. Hall, with forty charter members. Mrs. Margaret V. Smith, of Chartley, was the first president, serving from 1916 to 1918, and since then the following-named have presided: Mrs. Florence E. Fuller, to 1920; Miss Florence Cordner to 1922; Miss Edith Germond to 1923; Miss Lillian Scanlon, 1923 - . The object of the auxiliary is to carry forward the work of G. A. R. and S. of V. From 1916 the meetings were held at Red Men's Hall; since that time at G. A. R. Hall. The total membership in 1923 was fifty-three. Past President Margaret V. Smith held the office of division inspector from April, 1922, to April, 1923.

Spanish-American War Veterans. - After the Spanish-American War, the Taunton veterans formed a local roganization for the care of the graves of departed comrades. A charter for a camp was issued March 21, 1905, effective from April 18, 1904, and the camp was then formed, and named Henry A. Williams Camp, No. 2, U. S. W. V., with the following-named as charter members: Frank O. Dean, Henry W. Roby, Maurice Powers, Sinaire Beaulieu, Michael J. Littleton, Hugh A. Murray, James Broadhurst, William $. Parlow, William N. Potter, Michael L. Dorgan, James A. Welch, Ferdinand H. Phillips, James W. Brown, Samuel P. Totten, Charles H. Seekell, Alton L. Dean, Norris O. Danforth, George Grigor, Frank A. D. Bullard, John J. Bagge, Thomas F. Gibbons, Allan David, Herbert E. Tuttle, James D. King, Alonzo K. Crowell, Norman H. Pidgeon, Joseph Scanlon, Edward King, Martin W. Claffin, Charles H. Borden, Fred C. Chandler, William D. Thacher, Martin W. Smith, William A. Cobbett. The officers for 1923: Commander, George T. Seekell; senior vice-commander, Frederick Gadway;. junior vice-commander, William D. Thacher; adjutant, Frank O. Dean; quartermaster, James Broadhurst; officer of the day, Fred Costello; officer of the guard, William Cobbett; color sergeant, Maurice Powers; chaplain, Louis Patten; historian, Norris O. Danforth.

The auxiliary of Henry A. Williams Camp, No. 29, U. S. W. V., was mustered at Clan Gordon Hall, April 17, 1913, by a delegation of officers from the Alice Clark Auxiliary of Attleboro, and was given the name of Lulu M. Plant, a Red Cross nurse, formerly of Taunton, who died of fever while caring for our soldiers in Cuba. There were eighteen charter members. The first president was Mrs. Gertrude B. Carey, who served to September 1, 1913. The next in order were: Mrs. Ellen A. Seekell, to January 1, 1915; Mrs. Alice Seekell, to January 1, 1917; Mrs. Jennie Seekell, to January 1, 1919; Mrs. Margaret Scanlon, to January 1, 1921; Mrs. Adaline Davis to 1923. During ten years eight members died, two of them, charter members. The officers for 1923: President, Adaline Davis; senior vice-president, Annie Rogerson; junior vice-president, Martha Williams; secretary, Eleanor Scanlon; treasurer, Jennie M. Seekell; con- ductress, Lena F. Noia; assistant conductress, Augustina Gadway; Chaplain, Margaret Scanlon; historian, Grace Patten; patriotic instructor, Florence Brune; musician, Clara Carvalho.

American Legion - On June 17, 1919, Frank A. D. Bullard, Thomas F. Theriault, George O. Mansfield, Harry Burt and Stanton Peck met at the office of the Taunton "Daily Gazette," and through that newspaper issued a call to all ex-service men of the district to meet at the State Armory, North Pleasant street, July 1, for the purpose of organizing a post of the American Legion. On that date there were seventy ex-service men present, the meeting being called to order by Frank A. D. Bullard, and George ©. Mansfield acting as temporary secretary. Dr. William Y. Fox was chosen temporary chairman and George O. Mansfield temporary secretary. The following-named were the charter members of the post: Dr. A. J. McGraw, Dr. William Y. Fox, E. G. Hopkins, Frank A. D. Bullard, Dr. Frank Murphy, Dr. D. F. MacDonald, L. B. King, Herbert Baldwin, Gorge O. Mansfield, Harry Burt, J. L. Burns, Clifford Macomber, Salvator Colino, Harry L. Foster, Louis M.' David, John A. Mc- Isaac, Frank A. Moran, Edwin E. Pierce, Edward S. Haynes, Milton W. Harlow, Charles McCarthy, J. Carleton Grady, Lawrence B. Scudder, Clarence W. Boyden, Wendell H. McKenney, Ralph C. Sanford, George C. White, George F. Littleton, T. Joseph Galligan, George F. Hoye, William E. Cornell, John A. Carnes, Thomas F. Theriault, Charles E. Frink, Edson F. Cornell, Frederick A. Newton, John W. Hutchinson, Albert P. Brown, Clifton R. Moore, Elisha F. Williams, Gil. A. Bettencourt, Henry J. Casey, Roland B. Tweedy, Joseph Labranche, John V. Cavanaugh, Henry S. Williams, Robert Auld, John F. Murphy, Jeremiah T. Wade, Ralph E. Carr, Harry Lee, Horace R. Crowell, Milton W. Lewis, Abiathar White, Joseph Gribbon, Manton W. Chambers, Irving Duffy, Antone Vieira, Charles A. Seekell, Frank O'Connell, Bowen Hall.

August 4, the post elected Dr. A. J. McGraw as commander; Joseph L. Burns, vice-commander; Frank A. Smith, adjutant; Clifford Macomber, finance officer; Rev. Father Charles C. Conaty, chaplain; George O. Mansfield, historian; Joseph Lincoln, Edwin G. Hopkins, Louis B. King, Dr. William Y. Fox and Manton W. Chambers as executive committee. On November 11, the post gave a "Victory Ball" at the armory, with the 101st Engineers Band rendering the music for the occasion. A year before, many had started the day in the mud in France, or on the North Shore, with the reaper close beside them. At about this time, the remains of Daniel Leahy were returned from Siberia and buried with honors. Columbia Hall was selected as the meeting place of the post. Officers elected for 1920 were as follows: Commander, Wallace F. Preston; vice-commander, John A. MclIsaac; adjutant, George O. Mansfield; finance officer, Stanton Peck; historian, Louis M. David; chaplain, Rev. Father Charles C. Conaty; Executive Committee: Frank A. D. Bullard, Joseph L. Lincoln, Dr. A. J. McGraw, A. Loring Swasey. This year the name of Columbia Hall was changed to American Legion Hall, and the latter was fitted up for social purposes. The officers elected for 1921 were: Commander, A. Loring Swasey; vice-commander, Eugene J. Sullivan; adjutant, Frank A. Moran; historian, John A. Mclsaac; finance officer, William A. Lyons; chaplain, Rev. Father James F. Dolan; executive committee: Wallace F.

Soldiers returned from abroad and accorded last rites by the Post were: Chester Harwood, Joseph A. Bullard, John W. Cunningham, Alfred E. Beaulieu, Herbert E. Barney, Frederick J. Lynch, John W. Kelly, Edward F. McMullen, Joseph P. Dugan. Those of the members who passed away that year were: J. A. Carnes, E. C. Leonard, Leon Lincoln. The post assisted The G. A. R. in the observance of Memorial Day, as well as to decorate the graves of the soldiers and sailors of the World War. In the parade there were over three hundred men in uniform from the post. The Bugle Corps consisted of Manton W. Chambers, John W. Hutchinson, John Souza, William O'Donnell, Ralph Bradshaw, Morrill Aldrich; the firing squad consisted of fifteen members of the post, under command of Adjutant Frank A. Moran.

By amendment to the by-laws, the- post elected as board of trustees, Frank E. Smith, Dr. Charles J. C. Gillon, Arthur Poole. July 4, 1921, the post participated in the exercises held on the Lovering playgrounds for the dedication of a memorial tablet in memory of Spanish War and World War soldiers. On the tablet are the names of David F. Adams, Herbert EK. Barney, Alfred E. Beaulieu, Samuel D. Berman, Isaac Cohen, Henry A. Cummings, John W. Cunningham, Edward Doherty, Joseph P. Dugan, James P. Dunn, jr., John F. Flood, Maurice J. C. Flynn, Alphonse Frechette, Peter J. Gray, John L. Haggerty, Chester Harwood, Bernard C. Holloway, Frank C. Kelley, John W. Kelley, Lawrence V. Kennedy, Daniel Leahy, James H. Leahy, Alfred L. Lord, Frederick J. Lynch, Edward F. McMullen, R. I. Millerd, Thomas R. Murray, Charles J. Nichols, jr., William P. O'Connell, Edward F. O'Sullivan, Clarence FE. Peck, T. Waldo Pierce, William R. Roberts, Thomas L. Russell, Louis Sandler, Samuel Sandler, Albert C. Shepard, M. Auguste Silva, Henry W. Sturgis, Michael J. Sullivan, William E. Woodward, all as having died in the World War; and James J. Davidson, Thomas H. Faulkner, Fred Hayward, James F. Littleton, Herbert A. Percival, Lulu M. Plant, John Rafter, Clarence E. Safford, Harry C. White, Henry A. Williams, as having died in the Spanish-American War. Among those who addressed the Post this year were, Frank P. Sibley, war correspondent; Colonel J. F. J. Herbert, former commander of the 102nd Field Artillery, Henry J. Skeffington, U. S. Commissioner of Immigration; F. F. Weiss, special agent Department of Justice; Colonel L. H. Callam, former commander of the 107th Engineers. The ball of November 11 met with its usual success.

The officers chosen for 1922 were as follows: Commander: John A. MclIsaac; vice-commander, Dr. C. J. C. Gillon; adjutant, Thomas Theriault; finance officer, William F. Driscoll; chaplain, Rev. Father James A. Dolan; sergeant-at-arms, John Belanger; historian, William F. O'Donnell; executive committee: Wallace F. Preston, A. Loring Swasey, Everett C. Davenport, Clarence Hall, Joseph Lincoln. Early this year, full military honors were accorded the remains of Samuel Berman, 55th Coast Artillery Regiment, brought here from France. Past Commander A. Loring Swasey was tendered a testimonial banquet at Taunton Inn. Later in the year the post paid burial honors to Comrade Timothy Dorgan. This year, Adjutant Thomas Theriault was made a member of the State executive committee. Members of the post attended the unveiling of a tablet to the members of the Ninth Company, C. A. C. Post officers for 1923: Commander, Frank E. Smith; vice-commander, Joseph Cohen; adjutant, Thomas Theriault; finance officer, Roy Gilman; historian, Thaddeus Frederick; chaplain, Rev. Father James A. Dolan.

The American Legion Auxiliary was organized April 4, 1921, with the following-named officers: President, Mrs. Madeline M. Morse; vicepresident, Mrs. Dorothy L. Swasey; secretary, Miss Mary V. Moran; treasurer, Mrs. Lucietta K. Hall; executive committee: Mrs. Lillian B. MclIsaac, Mrs. Dorothea Taggart, Miss Ruth Davenport. The officers for 1922: President, Mrs. Madeline M. Morse; vice-president, Mrs. Lillian Mclsaac; secretary, Miss Mary V. Moran; treasurer, Mrs. Lucietta K. Hall; sergeant-at-arms, Mrs. Flora Nixon; historian, Mrs. Barbara Hodgman. The officers for 1923: President, Miss Mary V. Moran; vice-president, Mrs. Catherine Reagan; secretary, Mrs. Dorothea Taggart; treasurer, Miss Mary Murray; sergeant-at-arms and chaplain, Mrs. Flora Nixon; historian, Mrs. Barbara R. Hodgman; pianist, Mrs. Margaret Burt. In their welfare work, the members of this Auxiliary have given care to more than forty ex-service men at the State Hospital, and they assisted families of soldiers of the World War. Hope chests and daisy drives helped them to realize sums of money for the work. The membership was more than one hundred in 1923. ;

Veterans of Foreign Wars. - This patriotic order was organized by the amalgamation of the Army of the Philippines, American Veterans of Foreign Service, and the Army of the Philippines, Cuba and Porto Rico, September 14-17, 1914, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sinare Beaulieu, commander of David F. Adams Post, No. 611, states that this organization was formed February 19, 1921, in Clan Gordon Hall, Taunton, the charter members being: Sinare Beaulieu, Thomas E. McCarthy, William F. Reardon, Orswell Francis, Arthur J. King, Anthony M. Vieira, Frederick R. Cotter, James A. McDonald, Henry A. Menard, Louis Garney. The charter was kept open for sixty days, and when closed contained eighty-three names. Sinare Beaulieu was elected commander and served to the present (1923); Thomas E. McCarthy, senior vice-commander; Arthur J. King, junior vice commander; William F. Reardon, quartermaster; James A. McDonald, adjutant. The growth of the post was continuous, and in 1923 there were 248 members. Sinare Beaulieu, the commander, served in the Spanish-American War, the Philippines Insurrection, China or Boxers' Uprising, and in the World War. Thomas E. Mc- Carthy served in the Philippines and the World War, in France, where he won a commission. William F. Reardon served in the World War, in France, with the Engineers' Corps, and won four service bars. The membership consists of officers or enlisted men in army, navy or marine corps of the United States with honorable discharge, or those who served in any foreign insurrection or expedition which was governed by the issuance of a campaign badge by the United States government. The chief object is to maintain true allegiance to the United States government, to foster patriotism, to maintain the institutions of American freedom.

Perry Auxiliary, of Attleboro, for the purpose of forming an auxiliary to the David F. Adams Post, No. 611, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Twentyone members were enrolled, and officers were elected, as follows: President, Miss Mary E. Murray; senior vice-president, Mrs. Josephine Allen; junior vice-president, Mrs. Catherine Carroll; chaplain, Mrs. Rosaline King; treasurer, Miss Maud Henshall; patriotic instructor, Miss May Mc- Donald; historian, Miss Alice Field; guard, Mrs. Mary J. Murray; recording secretary, Miss Anna J. Vieira; conductress, Miss Alice Carney; color guards: Mrs. Elizabeth Hewitt, Mrs. Mary Duarte, Mrs. Cora Baptista, Mrs. Rosie Resendes; trustees: Mrs. Annie O'Neill, Mrs. Laura S. Barker, Mrs. Sarah Francis. A joint installation was held with the post, January 3, 1922, and the officers-elect were installed. The charter was closed July 17, with sixty-five members. The main purpose of the auxiliary was to visit the ex-service men in the hospitals. Visits were made to the State Hospital and the Lakeville Sanatorium, with needed supplies for the men. Mrs. Laura J. Barker was chairman of the relief comittee. Officers for 1923 were elected December 27, as follows: President, Miss Mary E. Murray; senior vice-president, Mrs. Laura §. Barker; junior vice-president, Mrs. Elizabeth Hewitt; chaplain, Miss May Scanlon; treasurer, Miss Alice Carney; patriotic instructor, Mrs. Mae Morin; historian, Mrs. Catherine Haggerty; guard, Mrs. Mary J. Murray; recording secretary, Miss Alice Field; conductress, Miss Gertrude McCarthy; color guards: Mrs. Gertrude Menard, Miss Nellie Scanlon, Miss Sarah Noonan, Mrs. Mary Duarte; trustee for eighteen months, Miss Lena Cronan. The officers were installed January 23, 1923, by National Deputy Miss Mary McDonald and members of the Gilbert Perry Auxiliary of Attleboro.

The Ninth Company, C. A. C. - This, though now non-existent as a company, was originally organized as the Taunton City Guard in 1865. At the close of the Civil War, in which Taunton men made an honorable record, the returned veterans found that the militia law was such that they might be compelled to continue military service. Many of them decided that they would prefer a company of their own, and they formed the City Guard. By a special order issued from the Adjutant-General's office, November 8, 1865, George Murray and sixty others of Taunton and vicinity having filed an enlistment roll, an election was ordered, and the company designated as the 80th Unattached Company. The first meeting was in Franklin Hall, where the Central fire station now is, November 21, 1865, at which Captain James Brown, of Company G, which had been rechartered about six months previously, presided. William J. Briggs was elected captain, William Watts first lieutenant, and Andrew W. Pierce second lieutenant. George Murray, whose name headed the petition, was a veteran of English birth. Many of the members of the new company had been members of the old Taunton Light Guard, Company G, Fourth Regiment. The two companies became joint owners of the camp equipment of the old Light Guard.

January 8, 1866, the date of the adoption of the company's constitution, the following-named non-commissioned officers were appointed: First sergeant, Laughlin Walsh; second sergeant, Henry L. Churchill; third sergeant; Lemuel C. Porter; fourth sergeant, Lorenzo O. Barnard; fifth sergeant, Henry D. White; corporals: Timothy J. Lincoln, Edward W. Cross- man, Sylvester J. Clement, Almer S. Johnston, Levi K. Congdon, Edwin S. Thayer. Sergeant L. C. Porter was the first company clerk, and Sergeant L. O. Barnard was the first treasurer. The company was designated Company F, May 8, 1866, it received its first uniforms June 21, and the roll showed a company of forty-eight men and three commissioned officers. The Third Regiment was formed in August, 1866, and the City Guard was attached to it. Mason W. Burt was its first colonel, and Sergeant L. O. Barnard, of Company F, was made sergeant-major. The company's first parade was on Memorial Day, 1869. The State obliged the reénlistment of all the State forces in 1873, and thirty-nine men were mustered as members of Company F on July 8. The company was presented with its flag in May, 1874, by Lieutenant-Colonel A. A. Austin. When, by act of the Legislature in 1876, there was a reorganization of the State forces, Company F became a part of the Third Battalion, consisting of four companies commanded by Major D. A. Butler, of New Bedford. In this battalion, Leander D. Fuller was sergeant-major, and William H. Cooper was drum-major - both from Company F. .

The Legislature again reorganized the militia in 1878, and Company F became a part of the First Regiment of Infantry, consisting of twelve companies, of which Nathaniel Wales was the first colonel. The commissioned officers of the company having all resigned in April, 1883, Colonel Wellington, fog the interest of the command, delayed the election of their successors, and detailed the senior first lieutenant of the regiment, Samuel Hobbs, of Company K (Boston Tigers), to take command of the company on May 15, 1883, and he continued in command for about two months, when the leadership devolved upon William C. Perry, who was elected second lieutenant June 9. The command attended various musters and tours of duty. The name of the organization was changed in 1897 to the First Regiment of Heavy Artillery, and again, in 1906, to Corps of Coast Artillery. The Spanish War service of the company is told in the Spanish-American War section of this history. July 28, 1917, the Ninth Company, under command of Captain Frank A. D. Bullard and Lieutenants Edwin G. Hopkins and Leo H. Coughlin, departed for Fort Heath, at the call of the World War; and the company was formally mustered into the United States service at Fort Heath, August 5. On August 20 it was divided, when Lieutenant Hopkins and nineteen men went to Westfield to form a part of the 101st Ammunition Train of the Twenty-sixth Division; the remainder of the comapny went overseas, and the old Ninth lost its former identity. Its members were transferred to many and various branches of the service, including the field artillery, mobile heavy artillery, infantry and ordnance; and several of the enlisted men were commissioned as officers during the war.

The story of the headquarters of the company and of the armories has place here. The first headquarters was at Templar Hall, on City Square. Then the old Baptist church, in the rear of the present Baptist church, was dedicated as an armory October 1, 1867. The company remained there until January, 1879, when it moved to the hall on the second floor of the Leonard block, on Summer street. The company then leased the hall in the upper part of the building and remained there from 1884 until 1891, when it removed to the lower hall again. In January, 1895, Music Hall, on Cohannet street, was taken for an armory, but in 1897 a brick armory and drill shed were erected on Weir street and occupied by the company. The present State armory, on Pleasant street, was dedicated January 26, 1917.