Plymouth County, Massachusetts - Chapter 9, 1884

Capture of Loiiisburg - Treaty at Aix-Ia-Cliapcllc - War renewed in 175-1 - Attack on Nova Scotiu by the Colonies - Crown Point - Niagara - List of Men in tlio Crown Point Expedition - Cajjt. Simeon Cary'i Cuiii|iany - Capt. Jubiali Dunbar's Company - Expedition against Canada - Capt. Lemuel Dunbar's Company - At Crown Point - Controversy between England and America - Acta of Trade - Sugar Act - Stamp Act - Tea Destroyed in Boston Harbor - Boston Port Bill - Preparations for War - Minutc-.\lcn - Company marched on Lexington Alarm - List of persons iu the vai-iuus Companies in the Service during the War - Shay's Rebellion - List of Soldiers called into the Service to quell the ^ame at Taunton - War of 1812 - Impressment of Seamen - Embargo - War declared by the President - Calls for Troops from Militia - Pay-UoU of Company from North Bridgewater, stationed at Plymouth.

The Old French War. - By a treaty made between the English and French at Utrecht in 1713, the French had ceded the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland to Great Britain. The French, finding need of a fortress in that region, had built Louisburg on the Island of Cape Breton, at a cost of thirty thousand livres and twenty-five years of labor.

When the war of 1744 broke out between France, Spain, and Great Britain the New England colonies soon found the French made use of this fortress as a hiding-place for the privateers that annoyed their vessels. A n:ival force was ^ot ready for sea. Four thousand three Imadred unJ sixty-six men were raised from the various colonies, properly equipped, and placed under the coaiuiand of Governor Shirley, assisted by Commodore Warren, a British officer from the West Indies, who succeeded in the capture of the fortress after a siege of forty-nine days. Tlie town and island surrendered June 17, 1745. Nothing; now occurred of importance till the treaty made between England and France in October, 1748, at Aix-La-Chapclle. This war has been called, by way of Jislinctiou from a later one, the " Old French War," or otherwise known as " King George's War."

Owing to the irregularity and torn condition of the rolls, and no record of the names of those who took part in this expedition being on the old town records, we are unable to present their names.

French and Indian War. - By the treaty at Aix- La-Chapelle between the French and English, hostilities had ceased for a few years, although occasional depredations and incursions were made into the border towns, rendering it necessary to keep up some of the garrisons ; and in many places people were obliged to go armed to their fields to work, for fear of Indian massacre and assault. The war was renewed in 1754, although it was not formally declared till 1756.

Early in the year 1755 the colonies proceeded to attack the French at four different points, - Nova Scotia, Crown Point, Niagara, and Ohio River.

In these expeditions Massachusetts bore a prominent part, and contributed both men and means to carry on the war. We find among the namesof those that went from the North Parish of Bridgewater the following list. In a return of sick in Col. Pomeroy's regiment, at Lake George, Nov. 25, 1755, is the name of

The following is a list of men in Capt. Simeon Gary's company, in an expedition auaiiiat Canada, in service from May 14, 1759, to Jan. 2, 1760 :

Also in the muster-rolls of Capt. Lemuel Dunbar's company, enlisted for an expedition to Ciown I'oiut, in service from March 4, 1762, to Dec. 5, 1762:

We have thus far endeavored to present the names of all those who did service during the French wars. Doubtless many have served in these expeditions that are not on the rolls, or have entered other companies not belonging in the Bridgewater rolls.

We cun see, however, by the foregoiug lista that the North P;iii.sli of Bridgewater (now Brockton) did her part Id the service in which Massachusetts took the lead.

The Revolutionary War. - No period in the history of the world is more interesting, or more full of moral and political instruction, than that of the American Revolution. The controversy between Great Britain and the American colonies arose in regard to the right of Parliament to tax the colonies while they were not allowed the privilege of representation in that body. Parliament determined to make the experiment, whicli it did, and the result of which is familiar to all readers of history. The first of a series of oppressive acts was that known as the " Acts of Trade," that tended to destroy all trade with the colonies. The second act required a duty to be paid into the English treasury on all sugar, molasses, indigo, coffee, wiues,»etc., that came into the colonies. This act passed April 5, 1764, and was called the " Sugar Act." '

At the time of tlie passage of this act, it was resolved to quarter ten thousand soldiers somewhere in America. Both of these acts were strongly opposed by the colonies, and laid the foundation for a still greater breach in the trade between the two countries. Trade iu the colonies was principally confined to home productions, and the people determined not to import anything that it was possible to do without. Parliament finding the source of income very small, sought for another way to raise funds.

On the 22d of March, 1765, the famous Stamp Act was passed, to go into effect on the Ist of November following. This act required all colonial documents, as bonds, notes, and deeds, to be written on stamped paper, and to bear the royal seal, or to be of no value.

A general burst of indignation followed the passage of this act. Legislative bodies passed resolves, and protested against the measure. Societies in great uuuibers were formed, called '"Sons of Liberty," who determined to resist parliamentary oppression. People began to wear cloth of their own manufacture, and denied them.selves of foreign luxuries. Economy became the order of the day, the excess of which was soon felt in England, as many manufacturers were idle for want of a market for their goods, and laborers began to feel the consequences of her folly.

The king and Parliament soon saw their error, and repealed this act March 18, 1TG6, at the same time declaring they had a right to tax the colonies when- ever they " deemed it expedient," thereby intending not to give up their right to taxation, but only to change the form ; for the next year they passed an act levying a duty on glass, paper, paint, tea, etc. This only created continued opposition, which was such that Parliament thought proper to repeal all former resolves in regard to taxation, reserving a small tax of threepence a pound on tea. The strong resolutions passed by the colonies not to import or consume tea finally deprived the English goverumeut of a revenue from that source, and an attempt was made to import it through the agency of the East India Company, who had a right to export teas to all ports free of duty. Several ships were sent to the large cities in America. Those sent to Boston were consigned to some of Governor Hutchinson's relatives. The inhabitants were determined it should not be landed, and it was not. It was thrown into the sea by a body of men disguised as Indians. As soon us the news of the destruction of the tea arrived in England, Parliament resolved to punish the devoted town of Boston. Next came the Boston Port Bill, forbidding the landing or loading of goods iu the harbor, passed March 25, 1774.

All these measures that were passed by Parliament did not intimidate the Americans, but served to strengthen their firm purpose not to submit to their oppression iu any form.

At this time everything assumed the appearance of opposition by force. Fortifications were thrown up in Boston by Gen. Gage, who had been appointed Governor by Parliament. The Provincial Congress met at Concord, Oct. 11, 1774, where measures were taken for arming the whole province. Twelve thousand men were ordered to be raised, and to hold themselves in readiness at a moment's wuriiitig, and were called " minute-men." Companies were formed through all parts of the country. Provisions and military stores were collected at various places, particularly at Concord. Gen. Gage, wishing to destroy the means of carrying on the war by the provincials, detached Lieut.-Col. Smith and Maj. Pitcairn, April 18, 1775, to proceed to Concord for the purpose uf destroying the military stores which he had learned had been stored there. luformation having been seut in advance to Concord of their movements, the people flew to arms, and marched in small squads to where they were needed.

When the Buitish troops arrived at Lexington, about five o'clock on the morniu;; of tlie 19th, they were met by a small band of militia, paraded in front of the village church. Maj. Pitcairn rode up to them and bade them dispei-se, wl>ich command was followed by a scattering fire, and a general skirmish ensued, in which eight men were killed and several wounded. The main body of the troops passed on to Concord, where they arrived soon after sunrise, and a fight known as the " Concord Fight" took place. At Lexington was the first blood shed in defense of the liberty of the people, and immediately on the departure of the troops from that place, by an arrangement previously made, the committees of safety througiiout the wiiole country dispatched messengers on horse in every direction, so that by evening every town within one hundred miles was informed that the war had commenced. The news was scattered throughout the towns by guns being fired, and other signals being given, so tiiat people in the remote sections of a town were soon aware that they were needed. The news of this battle arrived in Bridgewater early in the day, and before sunset tlie company had collected and were ready for a march.

After a long and laborious search among the Revolutionary rolls, we have found the following names of those who have taken part in the Revolutionary war from Nortli Bridgewater. The first we find is tlie company of minute-men that marched on the 19ih of April, 1775, on the occasion of the Lexington alarm.

Josiah liiiydeo, ca[)t. Nathan Paci;ard, lit Ueut. Zacburiah (jurnoy, 2d iiuuC. Uuubon Packard, &ur^t. Joseph Culc, dcrj^t. Henry Kingiuan, aurgt.

We find in the roll of Capt. Nathan Mitchell's company, that marched from Bridgewater in consequence of the Lexington alarm, the 19th of April, 1775, the name of

Again on the 2iW of April, 1775, the Provincial Congress resolved to raise thirteen thousand five hundred men from Ma.ssachusetts immediately, the teim of service to be eight months. Among those we find the following companies :

Capt. Eliakim Howard's company, in Col. Edward Mitchell's regiment, that was ordered to march to the service of the United States, March 4, 1776 :

This company was also in service from Au;_'ust to Nov. 1, 1776, at the expiration of which lime ihey enlisted for one month additional service.

A muster-roll of Capt. Suell's company, in Col. Mitchell's regiment of militia, wiio marched on tlie alarm to Rhode Island, Dec. 8, 1776, and were in service two weeks and two days :

A roll of officers and men in Capt. Daniel Lothrop's company, in Col. Thomas Crafts regiment of artillery, in the service of Massachusetts Bay, up to the first; day of August, 1776 :

Eleazer Snow enlisted in this company November 1st, and was in service with the above-named men from Feb. 1, 1776, to the 7th of May of the same year.

Jan. 26, 1777, a resolve was passed by the Assembly, making u requisition on Massachusetts for every seventh man of sixteen years old and upward, without any exception (save the people called Quakers), to fill up the filteen battalions called for by the Continental Congress, to serve three years or during the War. The following are those enlisted from Bridgewater :

A diaft was made for men to reinforce the northern army Jan. 1, 1778. For this service, in Capt. Jacob Allen's company, Col. John Bailey's regiment, from Massachusetts, in the camp at Valley Forge, Jan. 24, 1778, is the name of

A pay-roll of Capt. Nathan Packard's company, in Col. Thomas Carpenter's regiment of militia, in the State of Massachusetts, from July 25 to September 9, 1778, in service in llliode Island :

Capt. John Ames' company of militia, who marched to Rhode Island and joined Col. Nathaniel Wade's regiment on the 27tli of June, 1778, for a term of twenty days, agreeably to a resolve of the General Court :

" A return of men mustered for Col. Robinson's regiment, by James Hatch, muster-master for the county of Plymouth, to serve in ye New England States until January, 1778 :"

In Capt. Joseph Cole's company. Col. Jnhn Jacob's regiment, in the Continental service one year from Jan. 1, 1778, we find the following names :

Isaiah Fuller was a lieutenant in ('apt Joseph Cole's company, in Col. John Jacobs' rogiuient, from April 1, 1778, to January, 1779, for nine months' service.

Capt. David Packard's compauy, in Col. Eliphalet Gary's regimeut, who marched on the alarm to Rhode Island, July 22, 1780, in service from July 23d to Aug. 9, 1780: company in Maj. Eliphalet Gary's re^ime^t, that marched on account of the alarm iti llliode Island, July 22, 1780, by order of Council, from North Brid'icwater :

Zechiiriah Gurney was in the Eleventh Division, and marched from Springfield under command of Ensign Bancroft for six months, July 11, 1780.

Again we find in the company of Capt. Luke Bicknell, in Col. Putnam's regiment at West Point, N. Y., 1781, several persons from North Bridgewater:

We have now given the reader an account of those who took part in the war that resulted in our national independence. Imperfect as this list may be, owing to the unconnected tattered rolls at the State-house, we have endeavored to get the names of all who did military duty during the eight years' strife between England and America, and place them in readable form. We have brought the account down to the close of the war, or to the time of the signing of the treaty at Paris, in November, 1782. The war had grown exceedingly unpopular after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, in October, 1781, although nothing definite was done till March, 1782, when the House of Commons voted not to prosecute the war any further. At the close of that year comiui.'ssioners were chosen on both sides, who met at Paris, and after a long consultation, they agreed upon the articles of peace. These were signed November 30th of tiiat year, and on the 20th of January, 1783, hostilities ceased between the two countries.

On the 19th of April, just eight years after the battle of Lexington, Washington issued his proclamation of peace. Thus ended a war of nearly eii^ht years' duration, in which a hundred thousand lives were lost, and millions of property destroyiid. It was the decision of this war that establisiied the United States aiuonc; the powers of the earth. In lookinj^ over the list of pcrHons that took part in the battles of our country, we should not for;^ct those who were left at home to provide for the families of absent ones. In many instances the women of the town hud to till the soil to obtain what food was actually needed for subsistence ; in short, every nerve was brought into requisition to provide honie-niude eluch, stockiniis, shirts, and blankets, that were called for by the fiovernment in la^^e quantities; and althouiih the women, wives, and mothers of those who fought the battles could not djrht in the lace of the foe with muskets, they did their part in aiding and abetting; and their deeds were as heroic in many iu.itaiiees as those we record ; may their memory ever be cheri.ihed with gratitude, and stimulate us all to act well our part, and thus be mutual helpers to each other through life, that at its close we may have the satisfaction of feeling that we have done our whole duty, and done it well.

Shay's Rebellion. - At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, peace and independence having been established, the attention of the people was directed to the finances of the country. The English merchants flooded the countr}' with foreign goods, and thereby drained us of specie, and ruined tiie. manufacturers. This involved merchants and others in debt.

The masses of the people, finding themselves burdened under the weight of taxes and loss of employment, became quite disheartened and uneasy, and hence could easily be led into almost any kind of a scheme to relieve their burdens. Debts could not be collected, and the heavy taxes were the ruin of a great many. During this state of feeling, a few persons, taking advantage of that condition of affairs, called a public meeting, which was held at Hatfield, Ma.ss., in August, 1786, to see what they could do to better themselves. This meeting so inflamed the people that a mob of fifteen hutidred persons assembled at Northampton, to prevent the sitting of the courts. From thence the insurrection fire continued to burn and spread throughout the State. One Daniel Shay, of Pelham, Mass., was one of the principal movers in the scheme. A similar company was collected at Springfield, in September following. Here they found a military force suSicient to atop their proceedings. Similar satherings were had in the towns where the county courts were held, in other parts of the State, the object being to stop all means of collecting debts by the usual process of law. Such a gathering was

At this place, as before, the insurgents found that preparations had been made for a grand reception ; and after a delay of a day or two, in frightening the people in that vicinity, the mob dispersed.

Among those called to suppress this rebellion at Taunton were the following companies from Bridgewater. The list below gives the names of those from the North Parish of Bridgewater :

" A muster and pay role of ye 7th company of militia in the 3d regiment, in the county of Plymouth, and commanded by Lieulenant-Colouel Orr, -

War of 1812. - The war of 1812 was memorable as the opening of a second war with England. The diflSculty existing between the two nations consisted in the English government impressing our seamen on board their sliips, and by a series of depredations upon our conituerce, even upon our own coasts, together with iusuhs to the American flag in various ways.

On the 4th of April an embargo was placed upon all vessels within tlie jurisdiction of the United States for ninety days, atid on tiie 18th of June war was formally declared by the President between England and the United States. Various incidents and many interesting events occurred both on land and sea during the years 1812, 1813, and 1814, which we have not space to publish. The skirmishing on the sea was spirited, and resulted in many victories to our forces, and on land was as favorable as could be expected, and in the end secured to us our rights us Americans.

The plan of operations at first was to guard our sea-coasts, sending troops to man them by calls on the militia at various times, the whole under the direction of the regular army. The spring of 1814 opened with tlie loss of the ship " Essex,'* of tlie navy, at Valparaiso, which served to stimulate the people of the United States to renewed activity, although the war was considered by many as uncalled for. Fortunately, there were those who thought it best to maintain their dignity, and not allow any injustice to be done to our seamen. During the year 1814 the militia along the seaboard towns were called upon to guard the forts. Among those who responded to the call from North Bridgewater was the following company:

'* Puy-roll of u coiopiiny of infuntry, under couimnnd of Ciipt- Nubcmiuh Lincoln, lietuched from the Third Regiment, First Brij^idc, in the Fifth Division, stationed at Plymouth, under the commund uf Lieut.-Co). Caleb Howard, commandant."

**Tbi8 may certify that the above ia a true and correct roll of the company under my command, from tbe 2Uth of September to tbe 12th of October, 1814.

The following persons were also iu service three days, from the 12th to the 15th of October, 1814, under the coimnand of Capt. Nehemiah Lincoln, and not included in the above list :