Essex County, Massachusetts - Chapter 59, 1888

The Military History

In examining the early history of New England towns for their military records, one fact impressed on the mind by all investigators is the frequent use of military titles in the records both of the parish and town, and especially from about 1700 down to 1850, while with us some of the captains, majors and colonels are still living, and are familiarly so called. A pride in military duty parade seems to have been a trait in some families, and in this vicinity, for a century or more, in the iSpofibrd family, more than in any other. Perhaps the first names found in active service as Indian fighters, are those of the Stickneys on Long Hill, one of whom was called out for a short campaign against the Indians at the eastward about 1707. Jonathan Wheeler was on duty at Fort Independence, Boston harbor (then Castle William), at some date not later than 1735. He was probably the Marlboro' resident. Lieutenant Benjamin Plumer, perhaps Ensign Benjamin, who was prominent in parish work, was on the eastern frontier in 1754. Two or three from this part of Row. ley were at Lake George in 1755 with the Rowley Company. At this early period of the French war, our soldiers wore their homespun clothing, and carried their own muskets, blankets only provided. The militia was organized, and, in the prospect of a prolonged war, were frequently drilled. In 1757 Ebenezer Burpee, the parish clerk, was lieutenant, and Deacon Stephen INIighill was clerk of Capt. Pearsons' company of cavalry. In the return of militia for 1757 Captain Richard Thurston's train-band, or West Parish Infantry, had fifty-four men. The crisis in our country's history, when the French were victorious in every important encounter, brought the realities of war to the homes of these West parish farmers. The contest at this time had peculiar features all its own. The Fort William Henry massacre soon followed, and as the wearied and disheartened soldier returned after the campaign, it was to tell the story of tortured prisoners and cannibalism, and of a French and Indian alliance, which it seemed the colonies were almost powerless to meet. The alarm list at this period was headed by Mr. Chandler, the pastor, and others on the list were Thomas Merrill, who, about 1750, had removed from what is now the Eldred Parker 2)lace in Groveland, and had bought the Joseph Nelson house in Marlboro' district, now the Jacob F. Jewett house ; also Dudley Tyler, the inn-keeper, at that time, the owner of the Francis Brocklebank place, near the meeting-house, and seventeen others, equally prominent. Dudley, a son of Mr. Tyler, was in active service in 1757, again in 1759, and perhaps in later campaigns. He was a jiublic charge for the last ten or fifteen years of his life, making it his home most of the time, with Moses Nelson, on Nelson Street.

At Mr. Solomon Nelson's request, the town at the annual meeting, in view of Mr. Tyler's military record, both in this and the Revolutionary war, always granted him liberty of choice (with much opposition, however,) as to the family where he wished to live. The Tyler family becoming embarrassed, Mr. Nelson had bought, about 1765, their place, now owned by M. G. Spotford. This place descended from Mr. Solomon Nelson to his son. Major I'aul Nelson, from whose heirs it was bought by Rev. Charles Beecher, and by him sold to the present owner. The sign which swung before this ancient tavern for many a year, with its painted soldier, in the uniform of King George's army, is now the property of Mr. Humphrey Nelson, of this town. During the French, and part of the subsequent war, the enlistments were for a short service or for the campaign, the soldiers usually entering the army in the spring, and returning home in the early winter of the same year.

In 1759, Francis Nelson, who lived near the Long Hill road, was a soldier under Captain Herrick, of Boxford. Amos Nelson, who afterwards built the Charles E. Chaplin house on Nelson Street, was in service in 1757, and was in Colonel Appleton's regiment, in 1759, and Benjamin Winter, the grand -father of Benjamin and D. M. Winter, was in the army the same year, and also in 1760. Other names, in different campaigns, from the West parish and Byfield families, were Richard Easty, Robert Gragg, Abner Moores, Thomas Pike, f^zra Bnrbank, David Plumer, John Plumer, Jonathan Gragg, Abner Burbank, Moses Harriman, John Jackman, Mark Thurlow, Abel Dodge, Rufus Wheeler, Peter Hardy, John Crombie, and doubtless many others.

In 1756, the Province of Massachusetts called for volunteers, and if there was not the requisite number at the given time, then a conscription was to be ordered. A bounty of six dollars was oflfered, and pay for privates of one pound; six shillings a month. If the volunteer brought his own gun, a bounty of two dollars extra. Their powder-horns, with figures and

The Province, as "the combat deepened,'' increased the supplies, providing in 1756, bullet-pouch, blanket, knapsack and wooden bottle, besides the powder-horn and musket. Later a uniform of breeches of blue and red was added. This forced travel from home by the stern demands of war to the novel sights at distant Louisburg, in Acadia, along Lake George, Oswego and elsewhere, gave an impetus to the peaceful emigration to New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, which took plaje at the close of the contest.

In 1764, the West Parish Militia was organized into one company, with Daniel the great-grandfather ol Charles Sew all Spotibrd, as Captain. Dudley Tyler, who married a daughter of Dea. Abner Spoftbrd, was Lieutenant and Eliphalet Spoffbrd, the grandfather ol the late Dea. Jeremiah Spoftbrd, was Ensign. Some ol this company had survived the dangers of one conflict, with personal experiences of Indian ambuscade, pestilence and all that made the seven years French war, a trial which tested the strength of the country, apparently to the utmost, but another, and a more terrible test of the abilities of the colonies was coming. In 1770, papers were in circulation, pledging the subscribers to non-intercourse with Great Britain. This Whig covenant was an agreement not to use w their families, any goods of English manufacture or any imported from England, while tea was especially named. The paper which circulated in Byfield had the names of such patriots, as Reuben, Moses, Jeremiah, Enoch, Daniel, Jacob and Noyes Pearson, Jeremiah and Henry Poor, John, Samuel and John Searl, Jr., Benjamin and Amos Stickney, Mark, Jonathan and John Thurlow, Nathaniel and John Tenney, Samuel Northend, William Longfellow, Oliver Dickinson, Amos Jewett, Abraham Sawyer, Israel Adams, Moses Lull, Benjamin Jackmau, Samuel Pike, Moses Smith and Abraham Colby. A few of these were, perhaps, not residents of the Georgetown part of the parish. Special enlistments as minute men were voted by the town, as early as January, 1775, and a weekly one-half day's drill was begun. The West Parish voted February 9, 1775, that minute men should be raised according to the advice of the Provincial Congress.

In March military drill, of two half-days in each week, was begun. Daniel Spofford, then colonel, led his regiment to Cambridge, on the report of the Lexington fight. Who were engaged in the battle at Bunker Hill from this part of Rowley, except Dudley Tyler and James Boynton, who was killed (a brother of Moses), it seems to be difficult to ascertain.

The firing of the artillery was distinctly heard here, as we have often learned from aged citizens, and the alarm and anxiety must have been intense. Captain

Eliphalet, the grandfather of Dr. Jeremiah Spofford, commanded a company in his brother Daniel's regiment, in which the doctor's father was a private, and some of these Spoftbrds may have been at Bunker Hill. Jeremiah and William Chandler, the only children of William, the schoolmaster, were in the army in 1775, and again in 1778 ; one of them never returned to his wife, whom he left behind him, but at the expiration of his term of service, remained in Pennsylvania, and, it is said, married there. Twice, at least, the town was divided into classes, intermixing the poor with the rich, and each class was called upon to procure a soldier.

One of the classes had Lieutenant Benjamin Stickney at the head. Among those who were in this war, was one captain, - Benjamin Adams, - at least five lieutenants, viz. : Thomas Pike, who lived early in this century in the Sherman Nelson house, on Elm Street, and who was a pioneer advocate of Universalism, removed to New London, N. H.; Moody Spofford, the bridge and church builder, who was at Ticonderoga, and commonly known as " Esquire Spofford ; " John Tenney, Benjamin Stickney and Rufus Wheeler. Nathaniel Burpee was drummer. David Poor was a corporal. A few names of privates are Abel Dodge, the cooper, who occupied, and perhaps built, the house on Main Street, until recently the Daniel W. Perkins house ; Paul Stickney, William Searle, Joseph Nelson, who removed to Wallingford, Me., soon after the war; Jeremiah Dodge, maternal grandfather of George Peabody ; Samuel Plumer, supposed to be the father of the Plumer brothers, who gave the parsonage farm to the Baptist Society; Francis Nelson, afterwards drowned in Rowley River; Aaron Crombie, father of the well-known Crombie brothers; John Crombie, probably a brother, who died of smallpox in New York State ; Silas Dole, and many others. Some of these were living when the pensioning of aged soldiers, and the Revolutionary veterans in particular, began, which, it is said, was first suggested by President Monroe, because of finding, when on his tour through the North, an army chum, by the name of Barnes, in the Waltham Almshouse, who was a fellow-officer with him in the Revolutionary War. Doubtless the last worn survivor of that war in this town was John Phips, a native of Gloucester, who died in the family of Dr. David Mighill about 1843.

During the Shay insurrection, Joseph Pike of Byfield enlisted for thirty days, the time called for. Militia organization was maintained by careful legislation, after the formation of the new government.

The death of Washington in 1799, caused a general outburst of sorrow and a special recognition from the militia. The writer has an order of January 1800, requiring all the members of the company of cavalry (a company composed of Topsfield and Boxford, as well as Rowley men) then living in the West Parish, to attend religious service in uniform and mourning emblems for six months. This order came to Stephen M. Nelson, who was sergeant. In 1807 troubles were threatened because of the embargo and other disturbing acts, and volunteers were enlisted.

At that time what is now Georgetown began to bo called New Rowley, and from the place were enrolled Joseph Adams, Robert Bettis, John Bridges, Jr., Richard and James C'hute, Jr., Andrew Horner, Stephen W. and Moses Nelson, Benj. S. Picket, Paul Stickney, Jr., and Samuel C. Tidd.

In the second war with England, there were but few in service from this town, and these in the sea-coast defence for one month only. From New Rowley were John Bridges, Jr., David Brocklebank, Edmund Dole, Paul Dole, Jr., Ralph Dole, Phineas Hardy, Thomas Merrill, Jr., Daniel Palmer, Paul Stickney, Jr., and Mighill Spotford. During the contest party spirit ran so high and ojiposition to the measures of the National Government was so general in Massachusetts, that the position assumed was but little removed from an armed neutrality. It has been said that the English naval forces on our coast, received supplies by boats from Rowley River. This may seem to have been rather unpatriotic, but perhaps not more so than supplying the Southern Confederacy with shoes, by the blockade runners, via St. John, New Brunswick. Fears of British invasion were so rife at one time, that specie and other valuables were taken for safety into the interior. Several thousand silver dollars, the property of a Rowley man, were secreted for several months in Deacon Solomon Nelson's house.

In the Florida War only one person who was living in Georgetown is known to have enlisted : this was Samuel C. Hood, a native of Topsfield. The northeastern boundary dilHculty, known as the Aroostook War, looked threatening for a time, and it was expected that troops would be ordered from this State. These were happily not called for. Charles E. Chaplin, of this town, then living in Maine, was in the detachment of State Militia ordered out, and was in service about three months in the early spring of 1840, at Fort Fairfield, below Houlton.

Before leaving the frontiers, these hastily, halfequipped troops were reviewed and complimented by that stern old martinet, Winfield Scott. At least three residents or natives of Georgetown were in the Mexican War. Laban S. Keyes, who recently died in New Hampshire, was one ; also Edward Currier ; and a resident of Byfield, was, if we mistake not, another.

To many now living, the excitement and attractions of the " training field " of their earlier days is ever pleasant to recall. Twice the Brigade of Northern Essex mustered on Pillsbury's Plain, near Mr. Humphrey Nelson's house ; the first time about 1820, aiul again in 1822. Several thousand of the militia were present, with General Solomon Lowe, of Boxford, commanding. These October gatherings were made a general holiday, and the principal one of the year.

The observance of Independence Day, until 1835 or 1836, was of a quiet, reflective, semi-religious character, very different from what followed for thirty years or more, when it became the chief holiday of the year, and enthusiastic public demonstrations were made everywhere. Until the date named, an occasional address like that of Mr. Braman's or Caleb Cushing's, with possibly the formality of a military escort to the old meeting-house, and calm thoughtfulness on the part of the people, made the day but a slight remove from a Sunday service. They were too near the actual events to encourage the noisy demonstrations of a later day. For this middle period, the Fourth of July, as a public holiday, had the preeminence, but later, under the shadows of our last and greatest conflict, this has been transferred to Memorial Day. Under the old militia law, three seasons for drilling, besides the October muster, were required. Many parades were, for convenience, by detachments or battalions. On the farm of De AV^itt C. Mighill, in Boxford, about 1814, the New Rowley and the Buxford Militia drilled in companies, having a sham fight, and, as a special feature, a sham ambuscade of fifty or more soldiers dressed as Indians. About 1815, at a brigade training on the Dole or " Esquire Gage '' Farm in Byfield, now the Town Farm, Governor Brooks was present, and it was a great day generally for Northern Essex.

When Governor Everett began to express his disapprobation of the general militia system, and the demoralizing influences of muster days, the law soon became obnoxious, and intentionally was made ridiculous by those liable to do dut)^ Men came to the parade-ground in their working clothes, and these Falstatfian soldiers, in derision, had the exjiressive name of Stringbeaners flung at them, by the stylish, independent companies, which began to be popular.

Georgetown had, at that time, the La Fayette Guards, a company of infantry highly commended for drill and discipline. By 1843 or '44 most of these military organizations had disbanded.

About 1858 or '59 an independent company, commanded by Capt. Joseph Hervey, known as the " Citizens Guard," was organized, largely through the influence of the gentleman afterwards elected commander, and was in regular drill-practice, when the War of the Rebellion opened. When Company " K," of the Fiftieth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers went into camp at Boxford, this independent corps performed escort duty. This Company K was recruited largely from this town, and several of the recruits were previously members of the Citizens Guard. On the morning in August, or early September, before they entered camp, a public testimonial, in the form of a breakfast, at the Town Hall, was tendered them There was a reception, at a later day, with a parade of the regiment through our streets.

10, and at other points near the broad Mississippi, they lie, far from their friends and kindred. Much indignation was felt that the survivors, while returning from their service of nearly a year in the defence of their country, had in the rude provision made for their journey across the country, only coarse box-cars, filthy from use in the transportation of cattle. Many of the Georgetown soldiers were prostrated by the malarial influences of the Lower Mississippi, and the rough ride still further reduced their strength, so that several crossed the home threshold, but to die. Others lived, but recovery was only after a long and tedious illness. ,

The funeral services of SpofTord, Pickett, Sherburne and others followed in quick succession. With C. W. Tenney, the expressman, S. S. Jewelt and others, it seemed for a time, that in an unfavorable moment, they also would be swejjt on to join their comrades. In March, 1865, Capt. G. W. Boynton visited Louisiana, exhuming the bodies of his son George, and comrades R. D. Merrill and Amos Spofford. On his return a joint funeral service Avas held in the Town Hall, with a sermon by Rev. Chas. Beecher, from the Scripture which refers to the three mighty men, who drew the water from the well at Bethlehem, for David to drink. The little hamlet at "Marlboro'," sent five of its young men to an early grave in the first years of the war, four of whom were of this company. The names of Amos G. Dole, Charles A. Spofford, M. F. Jewett, R. D. Merrill and Leonard Howe, will ever be held in tender remembrance. The first town action in reference to the War was on A2)ril 30, 1861. The meeting was called seven days earlier. It was voted to appropriate the sum of five thousand dollars, to aid enlistments, and further voted, a committee of one from each school district, to see what supplies may be needed by volunteers or their families.

D. Webster Spofford, of Boxford, now a resident of the town, was a private in Company " A," same regiment, and saw four years of service in this hardfighting body of volunteers.

The first death in the service from Georgetown, is supposed to be that of Isaac V. Bickford, of Company A., Seventeenth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, who died in Baltimore, Md., January 29, 1862. He enlisted December 24, 1861.

The Seventeenth Company Unattached Infantry went into camp at Readville, in August, 1864, expecting to do service in the forts around Washington. This company was afterwards assigned to duty in Salem harbor. This was a one hundred-day service, and at the expiration of their term of enlistment many of the men re-enlisted for one year. John G. Barnes, who commanded, had served as captain of Company " K," Fiftieth Regiment, in the South in 1862-68. Many of this unattached company were from Georgetown. The

Fourth Regiment of Heavy Artillery had several men from this town. Several of our musicians belonging to the band of the Seventeenth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers were also from this place. One soldier, M. W. Follansbee, suffered in Salisbury, N. C, prison, and returned home but to die. Another, Ariel Peabody, was a prisoner in Andersonville. A few were in the navy. John Spofford and Lewis M. Perley were two of the number. More than two hundred in the different arms of the service enlisted from the town. Memorial day was first observed May 30, 1867. The school children were in the procession, and for many years afterwards, the Fire Department also joined in the observance of the daJ^

In 1872-'73 the erection of a soldiers' monument began to be discussed, and an aged lady is reported to have offered the sum of one hundred dollars as a basis of subscriptions for the purpose. Finally town action was taken, and after much earnest and perhaps acrimonious debate, the locality was decided upon, and the granite memorial, which very nearly occupies the site of the "Old Red School-house," was erected. The dedication took place May 30, 1874, with an address by W. H. Cudworth, D.D. Thousands of spectators were present. The names of fifty soldiers, dying in the service, are inscribed upon it. The entire cost was about thirty-five hundred dollars.

Post 108, G. A. R., was organized August 18, 1869, by George S. Merrill, of Lawrence, Mass. ; Count L. B. Schwabe was largely instrumental in the work. Charter members were C. O. Noyes, E. P. Wildes, G. H. Spofford, J. G. Scates, Solomon Nelson, Isaac Wilson, R. C. Huse, F. M. Edgell, H. N. Harriman and J. O. Berry. The Post was named for Everett Peabody, of Springfield, a son of W. B. O. Peabody. Born June, 1830, he graduated at Harvard University, and was a civil and railroad engineer at the West. While colonel of the Twenty-fifth Missouri Regiment, he was killed at Pittsburgh Landing, April 6, 1862. The Peabody family annually remember this Post by gifts of value.

Relief Corps No. 4 organized April 2, 1883, with Sarah S. Harriman, Emma M. Howe, Emily A. Wadleigh, Jane T. Merrill, Naomi C. Dodge, Susan S. Bickford, Lizzie C. Putnam and others, charter members. The presidents have been Susan S. Bickford, Sarah S. Harriman, Emma M. Howe, Lizzie A. Putnam, Emily A. Wadleigh.