Worcester County, Massachusetts - Chapter 150: Hubbardston - (ro^/?;;//?^.), 1889

War Of The Revolution

Response to Circular from Boston - Commiitfe of Correspondence - Votes - BunTier Hill - Bounties - Depreciatixtn of Currency - Names of Soldiers.

The first act of the town in relation to the Revolution was under date of December 30, 1772, when a meeting was called and a committee appointed, with John Woods as chairman, to prepare an answer to the circular from Boston, calling for an expression of opinion upon public affairs, January 20, 1773; this reported as follows : lly. W'e are of opinion that Rulers first Derive their Power from the Ruled by Certain Laws and Ruls agreed upon by Ruler and Ruled, and when a Ruler Breaks over Such Laws and Rules as agreed to by Ruler and Ruled, and makes new ones, that then the Ruled have a Right to Refuse Such new Laws, and that the Ruled have a Right to Judge for themselves when Rulers Transgress.

21y. We think the Parliament of Great Britton have Taxed us Contrary to our Charter Kight, they have made our governor independent of the people by appointing him a Salary from home, and the Judges of the Superior Court, we hear, have a Salary appointed from home, and have reason to believe it, which appears to us eo big w-ith Slavery that we think it enough to arouse Every Individual (that has any Ideas of arbitrary Power above the Brutal Creation) to use his utmost indeavors in a lawfull way to Seek Redress for ourlnjured Bights and Privileges. Sly. We think we aught immediately, vigorously and unanimously, to xert our Selves in the most firm, but most peaceable manner, for obtaining Relief. The Cause of liberty is a cause of too much dignity to be Sullied by Turbulence aTid Tniimlt. It ought to be maintained in a manner sutable to her Nature ; those who ingage in it should breathe a Sedate yet Fervent spirit animating us to actions of Justice and Bravery ; a free people Cant be too (^uick in observing, nor too finn in opposing the beginnings of alterations in a Constitution. Signed,

Votetl to put this Draught on the Town Book of Records. Voted the Clerk Transmit a Coppy of the Proceedings of the Destrict of Hubbardston to the Selectmen of the Town of Boston.

The first Committee of Correspondence, chosen August 22, 1774, consisted of William Muzzy, John Woods, Stephen Heald, Joseph Eveleth and John Clark. Two years later Joseph Shattuck and William Stone were added to this committee. September 23d they voted to send John Clark to represent them in a convention to be held at Concord, in the month of October following.

December 24, 1774, tbe following article was considered : " To see if the District will Chuse one person to represent them in the Provential Congress to set the first of February next, at Cambridge, and to be Dissolved the Tuesday before the last Wednesday in May, 1775, and to give him Such Instructions as they Think proper."

The following is the copy of another article and the action thereon: "Art. 6. To see if the District will Chuse a com"" to Draw up a Covenant for the Inhabitants to sign, in order to put in force the Resolves of the Continental Congress."

The Com"e that was Chose agreeably to the Sixth Article at the adjournment, presented the Association Drawed up by the Continental Congi'ess, with the additional Resolve of the provential Congress, that is, not to by aney thing that is Iiupoi-ted from Great Britton after the first of October Next, let it be Imported when it would, it being put to Vote and voted in the atlirmitive.

In March, 1775, the town voted to raise thirty minute-men, and if they should be called out they were to have two dollars bounty when they should march. Some of these men were called out at the time of the Lexington massacre, which so soon followed.

see if it be the minds of the Town that Continental Congress should Declare Independence of the Colonies to Great Britain, and whether the Town will stand by the above said Congress in So Doing."

The Question being put whether it be the minds of this Town that the Hon. Continental Congress should declare the Colonies Independent of Great Britain, it passed unanimously in the Affirmative, - then voted, Should the Hon. Congress Declare the Colonies Independent of Great Britain, as above Said, we, the Said Town, Solemnly Engage with our Lives and fortunes to Support them in the measures.

This action was taken in response to the General Court, which body had assured Congress of the support of the people of this Colony. The question was sent out for each town to act upon individually, and thus this town was enabled to record its Declaration of Independence nearly three weeks before it was declared by the Continental Congress.

We are unable to learn the names of all the men who first enlisted in the Continental Army, or to what extent they were in active service. But to a call that was made before the battle of Bunker Hill, thirty men responded, one of the first of whom was Isaac Bellows. Other prominent men soon followed.

In the engagement at Bunker Hill, Henry Gates received a wound in the face, by which he was so disfigured that he was afterwards known as " Twistmouth Gates."

In February, 1777, the town voted to send two delegates, John Woods and John Clark, to a convention to be held in Worcester, agreeably to a call from the town of Sutton, to form a County Congress.

At this period large sums of money were needed to meet public expenses, which were voted and assessed upon the inhabitants, and the tax-bills committed to the collectors, but nearly one-tenth part of the people were totally unable to pay, and long lists of taxes were abated every year. The treasury was without funds, and the selectmen were obliged to borrow from abroad, whenever they could do so, on the credit of the town. So great were their burdens that the minute-men, to whom had been promised two dollars bounty, were not paid till nearly three years after they were called out, although in January, 1776, the selectmen were directed to give them orders upon the treasury for their money. March 2, 1778, we find the following record : " 21y. Paid to the minute-men that marcht after Lexenton fite, Israel Skinner, Joseph Shattuck, Abijah Greenwood, Asa Hoyt, Hugh Blair, Joseph Write, Stephen Farrington, John Ames, Isaac Bellows, Joseph Caryl, Asa Metcalf, Daniel Kinsman, Stephen Church, Silas Rice, Nathan Stone, Bezaleel Lyon, Enoch Devenport, Seventeen in Number, at

There is no evidence that the thirteen others of the thirty were called out at that time, and the probability is that those who went found they were not needed then and returned.

tinue for a long time, calls were made for men to enlist for three years ; then larger bounties were required. On the 11th of May, 1778, a meeting was called to see what bounty the town would give to the men who were then to be raised. Voted " To give 30 pounds to each man. Then voted to adjourn the meeting to Moses Clark's, Inholder's, to seven o'clock this day, and there the meeting Died a natural death." Very likely the reason for such a record is that they did not succeed in getting the men to volunteer, for on the 25th of the same mouth another meeting was held, at which they voted to raise three Continental men, and also voted that the men who should be called into the service in the future should be hired, and the town taxed for the same. Then adjourned to seven o'clock, when it was voted to give a bounty of one hundred and forty pounds to each of the three men. At an adjourned meeting, on the next Wednesday, this vote was reconsidered, and one hundred pounds was voted, " and no more," and a committee was chosen to hire the men, and borrow the money. Then adjourned to June 5th. But probably this committee did not find it easy to get either the men or the money, for June oth they reconsidered the last vote, and voted one hundred and twenty pounds. Then adjourned to June loth, when they voted to raise eight hundred pounds, to be assessed on the town, to hire men as needed. These records indicate that they were in straits in regard to those calls for men. At the meeting May 25th it was voted " To make an Everidge of what has been Done by the Inhabitants of the Town Since the Continental men have been Raised - then voted to Chuse a Com"" of five men to make an Everidge, then voted John Woods, Thomas Sergant, Joseph Eveleth, Ezra Pond, Capt. John Clark, be a Com"" for the above said purpose to make ye Everidge and hire men into ye service."

This committee made their report in August of the same year, which was not accepted. But on the 15th of October their report was adopted in substance, and is inserted here because it shows in what kind of service the men from this town had been engaged.

"21y. Voted six pounds p' month for the two months to Rhode Island, May and June 1777 - then voted Ten pounds p' month for the men that went to Benninjrton, gon five weeks July 20th then voted fifteen Shillings p' Day to the men that went over ye Mountain on horseback - then Voted Twenty pounds for the Three months' Service Sept. 2' - then Voted Ten pounds p' man that went for thirty Days to Take Gen'. Burgoyne - then Voted Twenty pounds p' man that went for three months under Capt. Marean to gard Burgoynes men to Cambridge - then Voted four pounds p' month for ye Six months Service at j^e Barracks in Rutland - then Voted three pounds p' month for the Turn to Brookfield to Keep Stores - then Voted Twelve Shillings p' Day for ye twenty Davs' men that went with Leut Muzzv."

It is probable these sums were for special service rendered by men who were not soldiers, and who had gone without any bounty stipulated by the town. At the same meeting they also voted " To chuse a Com"° whose bisiuess Shall be (when there is orders comes for men) to Set the price they will give for men to go that turn if men will Turn out and go for said price then to hire them if they will turn out, then to Draft ye highest payers, and to Draft in proposion to what a man possesses."

October 26, 1778, the town voted to exempt several men from paying taxes, for bounties, because they had hired men for the army, and also voted to give credit to all those who had done more than their part. In June, 1780, four men - Ezekiel Pond, Thos. Durant and William and Timothy Nightingale - were hired for the army, and the sum of ten thousand pounds was raised to aid them and others who might be called for. Then voted "To give ten dolhirs per month, the old way, to the militia men who enlisted for six months, to be stated in Rye, Indian Corn, Beef, and Sole Leather, and also voted to add .S500 in paper to each of the militia now hired." And those who enlisted for three years or for the war were to have " twenty head of three years old cattle. Heifers and Steers, of average value." ' This was done because the currency had so far depreciated that they found it difficult to fix upon any definite sums. Up to this time the several quotas had been filled with- , out a draft. But thp summer of 1781 was probably the darkest in the whole history of the town. Calls for men had been so often made that probably nearly three-fourths of all who were fit for soldiers had been or were then in the service. There seemed to be no men who could be spared and their means had become almost exhausted in paying the war taxes. Every measure was resorted to which offered any hope of escaping a draft. April 30, 1781, they voted "To divide the town into two parts by the Templeton and Rutland road, and each p.art shall furnish a man for the army for three years." Whether these men were raised does not appear, but it is evident that they failed to furnish all the men called for, as the order soon came to Captain Slocomb, commander of the militia, for a draft. The selectmen and militia oflicers made every possible effort to obtain the men, but failed. Another town-meeting was called, the 2d of July, to decide what measures should be adopted. They then chose a committee to consult as to the best means to be adopted. After conferring together for an hour, they reported that in their opinion it was best to " class the town." This report was accepted, and it was voted " To class the town into four classes." Then voted " That Capt. Slocomb

I The following record sliows tlie value of stock as estimated December 19, 1777 : Voted " That a yoke of oxen live or six years old that measure six foot be Set at l-3£ and all other cattle in proportion. Voted a good horse five years old at ami all othei-s in proportion. Voted Store Sheep at r.s. Voted Swiue one year old at one pound and aU others in proportion." * postpone the draft till next Monday, and the town clear him of all damage in so doing." All their efforts were fruitless, and when they came together on Monday it was voted " That Capt. Slocomb draft for six months into the Continental Army." The names of the drafted men are not recorded.

On the 16th of the same month a meeting was held " to see what bounties the town will give to the men that are detailed from the militia for six mouths, five months, and three months, into the service, and what means the town will adopt to furnish the men with spending money." Voted " To give the three months men nine pounds the old way, stated in beef and Indian corn." After an adjournment of two hours it was voted " That the treasurer give his security to the six months', five mouths' and three months' men, and that Lieut. Nathan Stone give his security to such of the men as choose it."

There is nothing in all the records that more clearly shows the exigencies of the times than this. All they attempted to do was to furnish spending money for the men, and to do this, required the assembled wisdom of the town. And the fact that they thought indemnity from Nathan Stone was better than from the town, as such, shows how low their credit had fallen. It is probable that only one other call for men was made. At the meeting held February 11, 1782, "to see if the town will raise the remainder of the men for the three years' service, and procure money for marching the same," it was voted "to accept of four men which Lieut. Jones, of Carlton, has offered at seventy-five pounds per man." Then voted "to set off to Lieut. Eli Clark, one-seventh part of the town to pay Levi Parmenter, as a soldier, to serve three years in the Continental Army." It is probable that the remainder of the men volunteered.

Occasionally an individual presented a claim for services in the army, which the town would not recognize. November 19, 1781, there was an article in a warrant for town-meeting " To see if the town will make any consideration to Oliver Fairbanks for the service he has Don in the army, extraordinary as he may make it appear." Voted "in the negative."

During all these years the families of soldiers were faithfully provided for at the expense of the town. They received no State aid, as in theWar of the Eebellion. As early as 1777 a committee was appointed to provide for these families, and one hundred pounds raised for the purpose. Each succeeding year, during the war, some action was taken in relation to this matter, and several appropriations were made, but such was the state of the treasury that few of the bills were presented before 1782. A few specimens of these accounts are inserted here to show the names of some of the soldiers, and how their families were taken care of.

Toion of Hubbanhtot) ittdebt d to me for gtipplyiiig the women whose husbands loere in the service of the U. S.for 1778. Delivered to the wife of Asa Cliuvch Ave J^ Busliels of ludian corn, eiglit bushels of Rie 1171b. of fresh porlt and lOOIb of Beef.

Delivered to the wife of Israel mead Seveu Bushels Indian corn four 1^ Bushels Kie 38Ib. cheese 831b. Beef one pair Shooes half Bushel malt one peck salt five Bushels Potatoes.

Delivered to the wife of Andrew Barber two Bushels Indian Corn one Bushel Rie 7J/^lb. cheese which I delivered in behalf of the town, for \ which I now praj' for allowance for the same. \

At the same meeting it was voted to allow " Captain Adam Wheeler for geting three Beriels of Sider by the Desire of the Selectmen for Mr. Stephen Churchs wife, at Ss. per Beriel 9s. For transport of sd Sider from Rutland -is."

Besides the calls for men, as stated above, and the expense of providing for their families, freiiuent demands were made upon the town to furnish beef for the army. In 1780 the General Court sent an order for 3420 pounds. The town voted to comply with the request, and the currency had so far depreciated that they raised £5130 to pay for it, which would make the cost over seven dollars per pound. On the 1st of January, 1781, another committee was chosen to purchase beef, and £10,000 was raised to pay for it. This would make more than 860,000 raised in less than a ^ year, for the purchase of beef. In estimating the sacrifices of those times, we must remember that this money had cost them as much as good money costs in ordinary times. Several other calls were made for beef, and were met, and accounts were allowed for driving cattle to Rutland for the army. Some of the men who took the.se contracts for beef, and received pay in Continental money, were totally ruined. The currency continued so to depreciate in value that at one time the town voted to allow one silver dollar for seventy-five dollars paper-money. Then it decreased so that ninety dollars would pay only one dollar taxes, and finally the town voted not to receive any more paper-money. The following extract from an old memorandum-book of Captain John Woods will illustrate still further the worth of money at that time : -

In 1782 a vote was passed to hear the report of Daniel Sumner in regard to the paper-money his son took of the town for his services in the army. The same year an ai-ticle was inserted in the town-meeting warrant, " To see what the town will do with the old average tax that was to raise bounties for the men levied in 1777." Voted " All persons behind in s" average pay up." The same year it was also voted " To set oft" one-seventh part of the town to John Woods to pay Thomas Durant for three years' service in the army." Also voted " To set ofl" one-seventh to Abijah Greenwood to pay Caleb Newton for three years' service in the army." That was the third

The following are the names of some of the Hubbardston men who served in the army in the War of the Revolution. Those whose names are in italics are known to have been in the army, but it is not known whether they were residents of this town at that time or came here after the war: