Plymouth Town (part 27 of 54)

Diivid Leonard. About tlio time of attainin;.; to lii.s niiijority he tooiv tlie additional name of Augustus, and was afcorwards known as David A. Leonard. He was a son of David Leonard and wife (Mary Hall), i and born at 15ridgewater, Mass., Sept. 15, 1771. David A. Leonard graduated at Brown University, Providence, R. I., in 1702, and was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry Dec. 17, 1794. The services of his ordination were performed at Bridgewater, whore a sermon was preaclied by Rev. Thomas Baldwin, of Boston, which sermon was printed. The historian Backus says that Mr. Leonard was ordained 3:3 an itinerant, and so he seems to have been, as in 1795 we find him piustor of a Baptist Church in Ti.sbury, Dukes Co., Mass., and from July 1, 179<>, to February, 1797, he was preaching upon the island of Nantucket. That he was a very zealous Christian, and most thorough Baptist, may be inferred from the fact that a seemingly well-authenticated tradition asserts that upon his conversion he was so an.\ious, yea, impatient, to submit to the ordinauce of baptism by immersion that, although it was mid-winter and the streams of New England all frozen, this was to his mind no reasonable excuse or proper hiaderance tliat he should be baptized, and a hole was therefore cut in the ice for and devoted to that purpose.

Rev. David A. Leonard for a time supplied the pulpit of the Gold Street Baptist Church, in the city of New York, and also preaclied to a Calvinistic Baptist Church then existing in and near Assonet village, in Freetown, Mass. His latter years were principally devoted to literary pursuits, and among the productions of his mind and pen that were printed and pub- Ibhed we find was a piece of poetry concerning the little village of Siasconsett ; a sermon delivered at Holmes' Harbor, Martha's Vineyard, on the death of Mr. John Holmes, Nov. 1, 1795; an oration at Nantucket at a celebration of a festival of St. John, by the Union Lodge, in 1796 ; funeral sermon in Gold Street Church, New York City, Feb. 16, 1800; an oration on the death of Gen. George Washington, delivered in the First Baptist meeting-house in New York, Feb. 22, 1800; oration at Raynham, Mass., July 5, 1802 ; oration at Dightou, Mass., July 4, 18U3 ; and an oration on the acquisition of Louisiana, delivered at Raynham, May 11, 1804.

In February, 1797, Rev. David A. Leonard was united in marriage with Mary, a daughter of Capt. Job Peirce, of Middleboro' (that part now Lakeville), and in June, 1805, Mr. Leonard removed with his family to and located in Bristol, R. I., where in January, 1806, he received the appointment of posttua.>tcr, in which position he continued until July, 1817.

While residing in Bristol, Mr. Leonard was secretary of the Bristol Insurance Company, editor and proprietor of the Bristol RepnLlican, a newspaper warmly and actively devoted to the party and admini.^tration of Thomas Jefferson, who part of that lime was President of these United States.

Added to the labors incident to all these positions, Mr. Leonard found time or at any rate took the time - perhaps from the hours in which he should have had rest - to prepare for publication a translation that he made of the New Testament, which lastnamed labor was all lost, together with about six thousand dollars' worth of his property, from the very disastrous effects of the equinoctial storm, Sept. 23, 1S15, and till now familiarly referred to as the " great September gale."

To relieve himself from the losses thus occasioned, Mr. Leonard resolved to remove to what was then considered the far West, but now the State of Indiana. He accordingly started with his family and such household goods as could be conveyed with the small conveniences then afforded for transportation, and was proceeding upon the Ohio River, when in the month of December, 1818, his health had become so poor that he was forced to land and take up his abode in what was then a little village, called Laconia, situated about one mile and a half from the Ohio River, in Boone township, Harrison Co., Ind., where on the 22d of July, 1819, he died.

It was his intention to have settled in Vincennes, on the Wabash River, then the most important town in Indiana, but his death frustrated that design, and his widow, with her children, went to Kentucky, where one of the daughters became the wife of Hon. David Merriwether, who subsequently became Governor of New Mexico. Another daughter married Hon. William P. Thomasson, a member from Kentucky of the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-uinth Coagrcsses of the nation.

A third daughter became the wife of Dr. Charles Hay, and as such she also became the mother of Col. John M. Hay, the poet and journalist, who graduated at Brown University, at Providence, R. I., in 1858, and was assistant secretary to President Lincoln iu 1861 ; aid to Gen. Hunter; secretary of legation at Paris from 1865 to 1867; charge-d'affaires at Vienna from 1867 to 1868 ; secretary of legation at Madrid from 1869 to 1870 ; author of " Pike County Ballads" and " Castilian Days."

Tlie daughter who mairieiJ Governor Merriwether became the mother of William Merriwotlier, United States marshal for the district of Kentucky.

The daughter who married Hon. William P. Thomasbou was the mother of Charles L. Thoina.sson, wlio commanded a Union regiment called the " Louisville Legiou," at the liead of which he gave his life a sacrifice in the Union cause at the battle of Chickamauga.

Zenas Lockwood Leonard was a descendant, in the fifth generation, of Solomon Leonard, who emigrated from Holland about 16.-!0, and is believed to have been a member of John Robinson's congregation at Leyden. He first settled in Duxbury, and afterwards became an original proprietor and one of the first settlers of Bridgcwater.

Zenas Lockwood Leonard was the second of thirteen children, being a brother of Rev. David A. Leonard, whose biography has just been given, and was born at Bridgewater, Mass., Jan. 1(5, 1773.

His early years were pas.sed on liis father's farm, where he aci(uired habits of industry and knowledge of agriculture that he turned to good account in alter life.'

In March, 1790, when he w;us about seventeen yeai's of age, his mind first became deeply impressed with eternal realities, and about the middle of June following he obtained evidence, as he believed, of a renovated heart.

For a short time he was somewliat perplexed and agitated on the subject of baptism, but finally became satisfied that immersion is the scriptural mode of administering that ordinance, and he was accordingly baptized in tliut on the 1st of July following, and immediately after connected liimself with the First Baptist Cliurch in Middleboro', then under the pastoral care of the Rev. Isaac Backus, of which his excellent mother had been a member for several years.

Shortly after this he commenced a course of study preparatory to entering college. He was assisted partly by his elder brother, David A. Leonard, then a member of Brown University, and partly by the Rev. Dr. Fobes, a professor in the same university, but having his residence and pastoral ciiarge in the adjoining town of Raynham, and during part of the time he studied without an instructor and in connection with his labors upon the farm.

In May, 179-, he was admitted to the sophomore class of Brown University, and during his whole college course was distinguished for diligence in study, exemplary deportment, and uarnest piety. He graduated with honor in September, 1794.

On leaving college he commenced a course of theological study under the direction of the Rev. William Williams, of Wrentham, Mass.. but at the urgent request of his friends he began almost immediately to preach, being regularly licensed according to the order of his denomination by the church in Bridgewater.

He spent the next winter in Sandwich and .some of the adjoining places, and early in the spring was permitted to take part in a powerful revival of religion in Provincetown, a place situated on the extreme northwestern point of Cape Cod.

After this he went, by invitation, to Tuinpleton, and remained there about two months, wlion he determined to prosecute what he had previously meditated, - a tour through the New Kiighiud States and the State of New York.

He accordingly set out; but on arriving at Sturbridge, Mass., at the close of his second day's journey, he was led to abandon the project, and accept an invitation' to preacli to the Baptist Church in that tuwn. On the 30tli of January, 179C, he received a unanimous call from the church and society to become their pastor, and, having accepted it, he was cndaiucd on the loth of September following, tlie Rev. Dr. Baldwin, of Boston, preaching the ordination sermon. With such zeal and energy did Mr. Leonard now apply himself to the work of the miui.slry that his health soon began to fail, and in the summer of 1797 he was obliged to suspend his labors i'or several months, which he spent upon the sea-shore.

In the autumn lie was so much improved that he commenced a grammar school in the immediate vicinity of his own dwelling, which he continued, with one or two exceptions, for thirteen succe.'-sive .season.s, and for several years he had in his family a number of young men fitting for college or, more immediately, for some of the higher walks of active usefulness.

In the spring of 1798 his health again became very feeble, and serious fears were enturtained of an incipient disease of the lungs, which luight oblige him to desist from public speaking altogether.

Afterwards he journeyed into the northern p;irt of Vermont, and in the autumn made a visit to C.i|ie Cod ; but his health still continued feeble.

About this time he resumed his early habit of regular labor in the open air, and this was the nuans of restoring him to a comfortable state of health, which continued till near the close of his life.

Their first meeting was held at Charlton, Sept. 30, 1802, and for more than a quarter of a century he was one of the leading spirits of that body.

He enii.stcd with great zeal for the promotion of several of the prominent benevolent objects of the day, particularly the Sabbath-school, the temperance cause, and the cause of African colonization, and was president of the society for Worcester County and vicinity, auxiliary to the Baptist Board of Missions.

It was his often-expressed desire that he might not outlive the period of his usefulness ; and it was a mysterious dispensation of Providence that while in the midst of vigorous uianhood he was visited with a malady (softening of the brain) which gradually brought a cloud over his intellect.

On the 13th of October, 1832, he was, by his own request, dismissed from the immediate charge of the congregation, which he had ably and faithfully served during a period of thirty-six years.

The next year the citizens of the town signified their continued confidence in his fidelity and ability by electing him fur the sixth time to represent them in the Council of the State.

It hud been his custom to visit annually his pious mother, and the friends and home of his youth, in the eastern part of the State, and generally in going or returning, to attend commencement at Brown University.

His last journey thither was made in 1833. In the autumn of 1835, accompanied by his son, he made a tour through a part of New Hampshire and Veriuimt, which he seemed greatly to enjoy, but was glad to return home to rest.

The productions of his pen, that have been printed and published, are circular letters to the Sturbridge As.sociation, for the years 1802, 1810, 1822, and 1825, and an oration delivered on the 4th of July, 181G.

He graduated at Brown University, at Providence, R. I., in 1794, and was from 1819 to 1331 a member of the board of trustees of that institution.

In hia twenty-fourth year he was licensed to preach the gospel, and after laboring two years with the church in Hartford, Conn., as a stated supply, he was ordained in 1798 as their pastor, preaching to them at first in " an upper room" in the old court-house.

The church, however, soon secured a convenient place of worship, which, though humble in its appearance and rough in its furniture, was found to be a true Bethel, - the house of God and very gate of heaven.

At this time Mr. Nelson was the only liberally educated Baptist minister in Connecticut, and there is no doubt that hia accurate scholarship, courteous manners, and consistent piety served greatly to aid in the establishment and increase of the Baptist Church in Hartford.

He was actively engaged in the remarkable revival of religion that occurred about the close of the last century, and which added so many converts to the churches of all denominations in Hartford and elsewhere.

On that account he was in the most friendly and intimate relations with Doctors Strong and Flint, at that time the only Congregational ministers in Hartford, and cheerfully co-operated with them in the cause of Christ.

Though 31 r. Nelson's pastoral charge was in Hartford, his occasional labors extended to several of the neighboring towns, particularly Middletown, and the First Baptist Church in Upper Middletown (now Cromwell) was established by his eflforts.

Mr. Nelson, as well as several other prominent Baptist clergymen of that day, was not only the firm friend but open advocate of civil and religious liberty as the inalienable birthright of the human soul ; and during his residence in Hartford took an active part in preparing and urging upon the public attention the " Baptist Petition," a remonstrance addressed to the Connecticut Legislature complaining of the civil disabilities which " Dissenters" from the " Standing Order" were compelled to suffer, and urging upon them the great doctrine of absolute "soul liberty," in other words, the entire freedom of conscience worship and action in the domain of religion, which petition, coustuntly pressed by the Baptists and other lovers of liberty who united witli them, at last severed in Coiineeticut tlie union of Church and State, by sccurinij that constitution of civil government which in 1818 gave to all equal civil and religious rights.

At the first election <if Mr. Jefferson to the Presidency of the United States, Mr. Nelson was appointed, with others, by the Daubury (now the Hartford) Bapii.'it Atsociation, in behalf of that body, to prepare and forward to him a congratulatory addrc-s, recognizing his acknowledged attachment to civil and religious liberty.

In 1801, Mr. Nelson resigned his cliarge in Hartford, and became for a number of years principal of a huge and flourishing academy at Mount Pleasant, now Sing Sing, N. Y., at the same time taking cliarge of an infant church iu that village.

Both the church and academy flourished under his cure until the war with Great Britain came on, in consci|uence of which he removed in 1815 to Attleboro', Mass., where an extensive revival took place under his labors, which brought into the church upwards of a hundred and fifty persons. After this he had charge for a short time successively of the churches in Plymouth, Mass., and Canton, Conn.

During the first year of his residence there he took charge of the church in Bclchertowu, but, being unable on account of the distance to perform the duties to his own satisfaction, he resigned it.

The illness of which he died, which was erysipelas ill the head, lasted but six days. He died at Amherst, on the 8th of December, 1853, in the eightysecond year of his age.

For what has been presented concerning the Rev. Zenas Lockwood Leonard and Rev. Stephen Smith Nelson we are indebted to that valuable work entitled Annals of the American Pulpit."

George Leonard was a son of Eliakim Leonard and wile, Mary Williams, and boru at Raynham, Mass., Aug. 17, 18l)2. In the autumn of 1819 tlie subject of this sketch commenced study with a view to prepare for college, pursuing the same under the direction of Uev. Silas Hall.

In the early part of the year 1820 he made a profession of religion, and was admitted to membership in the First Calvinistic Baptist Church of Middleboro', and entering Brown University the same year, he there graduated in 1824. He was in Augu.-^t, 182('), ordained pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Salem, continuing iu that field of labor about two years and a half. While at Salem, Mr. Leonard filled the office of secretary of the Salem Bible Translation and Foreign Mission Societj'. Rov. George Leonard was on the 12th of July, 1827, united in marriage with Abigail C. Nelson, a daughter uf Rev, Kbeiiczer Nelson. Rev. George Leonard died in Worcester, Mass., Aug. 11, 1831.

The successive pastors of the First Calvinistic Baptist Church iu Middleboro' since the ducease of Rev. Isaac Backus have been as follows : VjZv.i Kendall, Samuel Abbot, Jeremiah Kelly, A.-^a Nilcs, Silas Hall, James Andeni, Lorenzo Tandy, Samuel Kichardson, Alexander McLean, and Joseph Hutchiiisun, the last-named of whom died deeply lamented, after a ministry to this people of ten years.

The Second Baptist Church. - The records of this church are said to have been lost. Tradition has preserved a few facts, but for its early history we are mainly indebted to the pen of Rev. Isaac Backus, who thereby informed that the rise of the Second Baptist Cliurch in Middleboro' was as follows :

Mr. Thomas Nelson, who was born in the town June 6, 167G, just before Philip's war broke out, removed into that part of it called Assawonisctt Neck iu 1717, about which time he joined the First Baptist Church in Swansea, as his wife also did, Aug. 5, 1723. In 1753 he and his sons, with a few more, set up a meeting at lii.s house, and obtained Mr. Ebenezer Hinds to preach to them.

" Four miles southwestward from thence Mr. James Mead was ordained pastor of a Separate Church in 1751; but he died in 1756, after which the body of his church became Baptists, and Mr. Ilind.s' hearers joined with them and ordained him their paator Jan. 2G, 1758.

" Mr. Nelson died before this church was formed, in his eightieth year; but his wife, Mrs. Hope Nelson, lived to be a member of it and coinniuncd with them at the Lord's table after she was a hundred years old.

Mr. Backus further informed that Thomas Nelson, who had been a member of the worshiping congregation under the ministry of Rev. Thomas Palmer, discovered in the character and conduct of the latter such evils as caused him to examine the Scriptures concerning the principles of the Congregational denomination, and failing to find in God's written word what he deemed to be a proper authority for infant baptism, Mr. Nelson became a Baptist, and went and joined the First Baptist Church in Swansea, from which, many years after, he transferred his member- bhip to the First Baptist Ciiurch in Rehuboth. The history of tiiis Second Baptist Churcii of Middkboro' furiii.ihes much valuable infurmatioo ; but as the entire turritory where its members resided (or at least nearly all of tliem) was more than thirty years since set oH from Middleboro', and became the township of Lukeville, it may, with a considerable claim of propriety, be sliown that the history of that church ou^ht to be presented in connection with what herein appears pertaining to Lakeville instead of Middleboro'.

The Third Baptist Church. - This church was formed Aug. 4, 17G1, and at first consisted of ten persons, six of whom had been members of the Fii-st Baptist Church of Middleboro', and one of the Second Baptist Church, and the otlier three had not probably before been members of any church.

Mr. Ebenezer Jones preached to this religious body for a time, and on the 28th of October, 17G1, was ordained as pa&tor. Mr. Backus said " a revival of religion came on among them the next spring, which prevailed through the year and spread into many other societies ; the good fruits whereof were long visible.

" Yet some evil behavior in Mr. Jones' wife, which drew him into a snare, caused a great division in the church and society in 1763, which terminated in his removal from them, and lie traveled and preached ia various parts of our land until he died in the county of Albany, in September, 1791."

The chief offense of Mrs. Jones appears to have been the spreading of evil reports against the deacon of the church. These coming to light involved the whole church in dissension. Some have charged a part of the blame to other parties than Mrs. Jones and her husband.

The Rev. Isaac Backus, in a letter still preserved, said, Concerning this unhappy affair, " Gospel rule was greatly disregarded on both sides ;" and the same authority, writing to a son of Mr. Jones, said, " Your father often confes.sed his faults. His wife also appeared to repent of her faults, and I had hope in her death. I preached at her funeral August 13th, 17G0."

The next pastor of this Third Baptist Church in Middleboro' was Rev. Asa Hunt, whose biography has already herein been presented in connection with the history of the First Baptist Church in this town. He was born at Braintree in July, 1744, ordained pastor of tliis church Oct. 30, 1771. A revival of religion commenced here in March, 178U, that continued until September of that year, thus causing an addition to the church of one hundred and thirteen members. Mr. Hunt's labors were also blessed in preaching at Marshfield, for, in a letter dated March 5, 1781, he wrote, " At Marshfield, last week, I preached five sermons and baptized six persons. The work increases. I left a number under powerful convictions. The handful of brethren arc joyful and lively, and much encouraged. There is considerable opposition, but some persons of note are brought to favor the work."

Concerning the remarkable work of grace that was felt in Middleboro' under the preaching of Rev. Asa Hunt, the report that this Third Baptist Church made to the Warren Association in September, 1780, bears the following testimony :

" In our letters for several yeara past we had to hiiuent tlie sad decay of religion araonj^ us, and the abounding of Iniquity, wliich in Ibu lost year increased to ttle greatest degi-ee ever known in this place.

"But, blessed bo God, things have taken auullicr turn this year, for when sin, the great enemy of mankind, was coming ia like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord hu^ lifted up a standard against him.

"About the middle of March, on a Lord's day, in the afternoon, there appeared a very visible alteration in the face of the whole assembly ; they were all attention to the Word, and concern was difcovered in their countenances, which increased, so that by the beginning of April several scores of persons appeared under deep concern about their souls and eternal salvation.

" And since the work began we have reason to hope that about one hundred souls have been turned from darkness to light, and eighty-three have been baptized.

'* If is very remarkable in our view to gee so many suddenly turned from durknesa to light, and have such a clear understanding of the natureof religion, and so ready to practice what they know.

*' We have been remarkably free from disorders, by means of which those who appeared to oppose this work (who are cbielly of another denomination), and were wailing to see how things turned out, have seen such things as have greatly stilled ami convinced them.

"Thus has it pleaaed our gracious God to visit a most unworthy people, and after a dark night of sorrow and mourning to make us glad with bia salvation."

" God is doing wonders amongst us. We have baptized eleven, and there are not far from thirty more hopefully brought into liberty. The work had increased from the beginning; this week has brought forth more than any time before, and yesterday was such a time as I never saw." lie doubtless meant to have said such as he never before saw, and under the :rame dale hu continued, -

'* Alter the worship \wa.3 over at the meuting-houae a body of thu (rcople repaired to luy house, and we begun to sing and pray. Tlie divine power was liko Pentecost, and by sunset aix jjersons obtaitied liberty, and such rcjoicin;^ ol' saints and cries of sinners I never heard."

" AVe thou^^ht about ten or twelve days ago that the work was abated, but jinco that it has revived. Numbers are newly struck under conviction, and seem ;is jiowerfully impressed as any we have seen; and some bruuj^ht out, and others who have received comfort understandingly led into baptism, and have clieerfully gone forward in that ordinance. T!ie number is as follows, viz. ; li.iptized on iMay 12th, live; 13th, two; 14tb, one; 23d, three; Juue nth, seventeen ; 27tb, six ; July 5th, eleven ; 1-lth, nine; total, lifty-four. This number have been hopefully converteil since the middle of March, except four or live, lu the num. her arc four boys about twelve years old, three of whom were awakened on the fast day, when you (.Mr. Backus) were with us. I suppose that the whole that have been brougbt in are just about seventy, in our society only."

*'\Vhcn r returned from the Association I found about half a dozen young converts l)rought out clear while I was gone. Six Were baptized last week, and last Lord's day anothei-, a young man, who had been very carelesa, appeared to give as clear, convincing declaration of a work of grace in bis soul as any one out oi ninety which wo have beard among us since the work began.

** \Vhen I think of these things, together with the favor of God to my own soul, I sometiiues conclude myself the hap]>iest man in the world. 0 fur humility and gratitude! 1 have preached three sermons lately at Uoehestor, and our gracious Lord was with me. Sumo were pricked in the heart. I believe the Lord has begun there. The woik goes on gloriously at the Vineyard."

Rev. Samuel Nel.-ion was the third who filled the place (jf pastor in the Third Calvini.-^tic Baptist Church of .MiJdIcboro'. For his biography and an account of hi.s labors here, toicether with the very satisfactory results, see sketch in the history of the First Baptist Church in this town.

The pastors of this Third Baptist Church since the days of Rev. SatuucI Nelson have been Isaac Kimball, William Hubbard, E. C. Messinger, I. W. llorton, Philemon 11. Russoil, Isaac J. Burgess, Mr. Sweet, and William Weeks, the la.st-named of whom coticluded his engagement with this people a short time since, and the pulpit at this lime is not regularly supplied. This churc^l and society have a neat and commodious cliupel, that was erected but a few years since upon the same lot where stood that church cditice, without a steeple, where the Rev. Samuel Nelson and several of his successors in the ministry preached. There may have been and probably were several short pastorates of persons whose names are not given in the foregoing list of pastors of this Third Calviuistie Baptist Church, whose stay was so brief as hardly

The Fourth Calvinistic Baptist Church. - This appears to have been an offshoot from the Second Baptist Church, and for a time was designated and known as United Brethren. It came, however, tu be regarded, as in fact it really was, the Fourth Calvinistic Baptist Churcli in Middleboro'.

Their place of public worship was in that part of the town set ofi" in 1853 and incoipoi;ited aa a uuw and distinct town, and called Lakeville. The church was formed Aug. 19, 1800. Their meeting-house was erected in or about 1796, and was a very fine building for its time. A branch of this church appears to have existed in Raynham. As the church edifice was located in what is now Lakeville, and many, and indeed the most, of the members resided there, its more minute and particular history ha.s been made to constitute a part of the ecclesiastical history of Lakeville, and this is a.ssigncd a.> the reason why this church in its history is disposed of so briefly here. Those readers desiring to see a more prolonged and much fuller account arc respectfully referred to the history of Lakeville.

The Central Baptist Church. - This ehuieh was organized Aug. 13, 1828, and at first collsi:^ted of the following-named members: Levi Peirce, lOlisha Tucker, Molly Leonard, Prudence Holmes, Aiuia Hinds, Sally Peirce, Sally B. Tucker, Thanklul Miller, Patience Barden, Priscilla Tinkhaiu, Rev. Nicholas Rledbury, Jacob Williams, George C. Leonard, Eunice Eaton, and Hannah Jackscpii (2d). Levi Peirce and Jacob Williams were chosen deacons. Rev. Nicholas Medbury, of Seaconk, was settled tus pastor, at a salary of four hundred and seventy-five dollars per year.

In 1829 the following-named persons were added to this church: Eliza Eaton, Susan Lazell, Su.san C. Wilde, William Jenney, Nelson Lincoln, Lorenzo Howard, Virtue Southworth, Eliza W. Crowell, Abigail Record, Eliza A. Drake, Lucy Lazell, Priscilla

In June, 1832, Rev. Nicholas Medbcry was at his own request dismissed from the duties of a pastor of this church, and in September of the same year he was succeeded in the ministerial office by Rev. Ilervcy Fittz, of Hallowell, Me., and he and Angeline A. Fittz were the only additions to the church durinj; that year.

The additions in membership in 1833 were Daniel Makepeace, Stephen Tobey, Amasa T. Thompson, Betsey Thompson, Elizabeth Webster, Nancy B. Bond, Martha S. Smith, Mary Ann Tobey, Sarah P. (Tucker) Jenks, Rev. Henry C. Coombs, Mary Orcutt, and Ancel Wood (3d).

ISill), June 1. Rev. Hervey Fittz closed his labors here, and there was uo settled minister during the remainder of that year, and yet the following were added : Albert T. Mason, Arlina Mason, Fiederick Leonard, Jr., George Barney, Sally Cole, Nancy Vaughan, Hercules Richmond, Slary Richmond, Jonathan Barney, and Margaret Barney.

1837. Jan. 3. Rev. Ebenezer Nelson, of West Cambridge, was settled aa pastor, with a salary of seven hundred dollars per year. The names of those added to this church in 1837 were Rev. Ebenezer Nelson, Rebecca Nelson, Mary Wheeler, Asaualh Williams, and Seth S. Lincoln.

1840. Abigail Thomas, Hepzabah Bloss, Hannah W. Eaton, Mary W. Stockwell, Julia A. Stetson, Sarah Newton, Harriet Holloway, and Elbridge Cole.

IS.jl. In the early part of this year, Rev. Ebenezer Nelson coneluded his labors as pastor of this chureh, aud on the "JSth of March was sueeeeded by Rev. Jonathan Aldrich, of Framingham, who was engaged to preaeh lor the Salary of eight hundred dollars per year. Additions to the ehureh in 1851, Rev. Jonathan Aldrieh, Catharine P. Aldrich, Anna L. Aldrieh, Phebe Blake, Eliza A. Wilbur, Eleanor Bardeu, and Betsey Dunham.

Additions of members in 1855: George Cushnian, Mrs. George Cushman, Louisa Cushmau (3d), Angeline A. Fittz, Harriet A. Fittz, Samuel C. Howes, aud Mrs. S. C. Howes.

1850, January 28. Rev. John F. Bigelow resigned his position of pastor, and the place was not filled until August, 1851), when Rev. Alexander M. Averill, of North Cambridge, was settled, with a .salary of one thousand dollars per year.

18tJ3. In the month of May in this year. Rev. Levi A. Abbot, from Weymouth, was settled as pastor, with a salary of eight hundred dollars jier year, aud this was afterwards increased to nine hundred.

The additions in 1803 were Rev. Levi A. Abbot, Mary A. Abbot, Elisha T. Jenks, William H. Smith, Julia Cole, Sarah J. Keith, Sabrina Ward, Samuel P. Keith, and Almeda Keith.

1864. The additions were Mercy Dunlap, Ephraim Hunt, Samuel P. Hiue, Francis Sharp, Mary Sharp, Lois Leonard, Arnold Leach, Rev. George Carjieiiter, and Lydia B. Sanford.

1865. Clarissa Hayward, Charles J. Morse, Laviua ! N. Morse, Eliza A. Clark, D. Anna Pawn, Mary A. 1 Gay, Fanny M. Drew, Caroline Ryerson, Mary B. 1 Richmond, Mary T. Macomber, Stephen B. Gibbs, ! and Elizabeth M. McKeen.

ISU'J. Li March of this year. Rev. George G. Fairbanks, from South Dedham, was engaged as pastor at a salary of twelve hundred dollars per year. That was afterwards increased to fifteen hundred dollars. The additions to the church that year were Rev. George G. Fairbanks, Caroline M. Fairbanks, Charles E. Jeuney, George E. Parker, Caroline B. Chandler, Susan H. Caswell, Maria W. Brown, Rev. William L. Brown, Elvira F. Jenney, Dorcas Brown, Mary B. Keith, Ruth B. Thomas, Arthur B. Alden, Rebecca L. Leach. Susan 5L Waterman, and Albert Aldeu.

The deacons of this Central Baptist Church in Middleboro', in times past and present, have been and are as follows; Levi Peirce, Jacob Willi;ims, George Vaughan, William S. Peirce, Joseph T. Wood, J. W. P. Jenks: Ira Thomas, and B. J. Babcock. The place of public worship was erected iu 1828, at an expense of about five tliousanJ dollara, and was the liberal gift of Miij. Levi Peirce, one of its original members and first deacons. Two additions were at different times made to this church edifice, at an e.Ypense of about two thousand dollars each, and thus the whole construction account amounts to about nine thousand dollars.

The failing healtii of Rev. George G. Fairbanks caused him, in 18S3, to resign his position as pastor of this church, and he was succeeded, Jan. 31, 1884, by Rev. \V. H. liowen, D.D., from Providence, R. L His salary is fifteen hundred dollars per year.

The lUethodists. - Among the first or earliest movements, if not indeed the vary first, for founding a Methodist Church in Middlcboro' occurred in the month of September, 1823, or about sixty-one years ' ago. A Methodist Church was formed Sept. 15, 1823, ' and at first consisted of Edward Winslow, Nathan I Savary, Alanson Gammons, Nathan Perkins, Deborah Winslow, Martha Thomas, Mercy Barden, Susan S. Clark, and Augusta Clark.

Rev. Asa Kent was the first pastor of this church, and their public worship was for a time conducted in the town hall.' Rev. Mr. Kent remained two years, and was followed by Rev. Isaac Stoddard, who preached uiuc months, and then for a year the church was without a pastor. In 182G and 1827, Rev. Lemuel Thompson was the pastor, and he was succeeded by Rev. Elias C. Scott one year. Rev. David j Culver two years, and during the pastorate of the latter ' (viz., in 1830J the JMothodist mceling-houso near Fall Brook was erected, and a board of trustees chosen, cou- ; sistingof l^eter Vaughan, Cusliman Vaughan, William i Shurtlctf, Nathaniel Thompson, Edward Winslow, ' Nathan Perkins, and Percy Thomas. After 1831 the | successive preachers appear to have been Amos Bin-

' TUc town liiill iit that Uutc :^toott at what U known a^ '* Court End," and waa an anlinu-iLtd buiMiug. .\ltei- the erection of the inescDt elej^imt structure the oM liali wua aold by the town and removed by the purchaser.

Rev. Samuel Whidden caine soon after, and in 1 February, 1865, the place of worship was chanjed to j the Baptist Chapel, that was leased for three years. I In 1866, Rev. F. C. Newhall became the pastor, and I he two years later was succeeded by Rev. Freeman I Ryder, and during whose pastorate the present church j edifice occupied by this church and society was erected j at an expense of twelve thousand five hundred dollars. I Rev. S. T. Patterson was the next pastor, and durj ing the time that he was thus engaged the membership I of this church increased from thirty-six in full com- I munion and four probationers to one hundred and thiity in full communion and twenty-five probationers. The next pastor was Rev. J. S. Carroll, who remained three years, and during which time about fifty were added to the church.

From April, 1876, to 1877, Rev. E. D. Towle was pastor, and more than one hundred persons added to the church by conversion. He was succeeded by Rev. A. W. Kingsbury, who was successful in clearing the church property from a debt by whiuh it had been encumbered.

Rev. G. W. Hunt was the next pastor, and it is to a historic sermon delivered by him Nov. 11, 18S3, that we are almost entirely indebted for the facts presented concerning this Methodist Church and soeiety. The Rev. Mr. Hunt, in that valuable production, said, " From the five full members and three probationers in 1864, at the commencement of Rev. Samuel Whidden's ministry, you have increased to two hundred and seventy-four full members and twenty-eight probatiouers, making a total of three liuiidivd and two, a net increase in nineteen years, of nearly sixteen a year.

" About thirty members of the church have died, one hundred and two removed by letter, ten removed without letters, sixteen withdrawn since 1871.

" This church is greatly indebted to many members of the sister churches for timely aid given and lor words of cheer, and while this child of Providence which they assisted lias grown almost to as lar"-e dimeii.sioiis as themselves, still I do not believe that tiic^ are less strong or have suffeied in any particular through having a Methodist Church growing up at their side.

The Methodist Church at South Middleboro'. - As this church has sometimes been of that branch called the " Reformed" and sometimes of that denomiuated " Episcopal," the tracing of its minute history is rendered exceedingly difficult, and perhaps to a considerable degree impossible. It has, too, for a portion of the time had its pulpit supplied by one or more clergymen of another denomination. From the scanty materials now attainable we gather the evidence that as early as 1847 the pulpit was supplied by the Rev. T. Brown, who remained thus engaged for several years, and then for a time the supply was only temporary (until 1858), when Rev. E. W. Barrows, a clergyman of the Christian Baptist denomination, settled here as a regular supply to the pulpit, and remained several years.

In 1869 the pastor was Rev. Isaac B. Fobes ; 1870, Rev. Benjamin L. Sayer, who remained four years, and was succeeded, in 1874, by Rev. Philip Ciandon. Mr. Sayer died March 22, 1876, aged fifty-one years. Mr. Crandon died April 6, 1876, aged sixty-six years.

In 1S7G the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Charles Stokes, who remained two years. He died April 26, 1881, in the twenty-ninth year of his ministry, and being fifty-four years of age.

In 1878 came Rev. J. Sherman, and remained until 1881, when succeeded by Rev. 0. K. Hi^gins, who remained one year, and was, in 1882, succeeded by the present pastor. Rev. Solomon P. Snow, a native of Brewster, Barnstable Co., M:iss. He was born Aug. 10, 1811. He entered the ministry in 1837. He is of the eighth generation from the emigrant Nicholas Snow. Thanks are due to Rev. Mr. Snow for information kindly furnished pertaining to the history of this church.

Military History

The first war in which the country became ena'a<'ed after Middleboro' was incorporated as a township was that familiarly known as King Philip's, although four years earlier, when Middleboro' had been incorporated but two years, war with Awashonks, squaw-sachem of the Saconet Indiana, was anticipated and prepared for, and orders issued to raise in Plymouth Colony an armed force of one hundred and two men. Of that force Middleboro' was ordered to furnish two men. Awashonks complied with the demands that the English made upon her, and so no war was waged or men raised.

In December, 1673, a war with the Dutch at New York was deemed imminent, and some preparations made to send a force against them; but this difficulty, like the other, was happily settled and adjusted without the shedding of human blood.

The next war-cloud could not be dispelled or made to pass over so harmlessly, but overshadowed and settled down upon the country, inflicting almost untold suffering and unparalleled woe.

Middleboro', at the commencement of King Philip's war, had but about sixteen families of European origin or descent, and those in these families able to bear arms were probably placed under the command of Lieut. John Thompson, who resided in that part of ancient Middleboro' now Halifax, and he for a time appears, with his sixteen men, to have garrisoned a house near what is known as the Four Corners in Middleboro'.'

Concerning that garrison maintained for a time in Middleboro', under the command of Lieut. John Thompson, traditions have preserved a few incidents in its story, but tradition alone, unsupported by concurrent and strictly reliable facts, is not generally sufficiently trustworthy to be put forth :is history, and as these traditions, in all essential particulars, do not agree, we leave them for what the same are worth, without repeating any one of them, by adding that Middleboro' ia said to have lost only one man, slain in King Philip's war, and whose name was Robert Dauson.

Kin^ William's War. - Middleboro' was refjuired to furnish, per order of Aug. 14, 1689, one soldier and one musket, and soon after to raise the sum of fourteen pounds by Uxation toward meeting the ex- penses of the war. This tax wa3 to be paid on or before the 25th day of November, 1G89, one-third in money, one-tlnrd in grain, and one-third in beef uud pork. The j^rain was to be received and credited as follows: Corn, two shil!inp:s per bushel; rye, two shillings and sixpence per bushel ; barley, two shillings, and wheat, four shillings per bushel ; beef, ten shillings per hundred; and pork, twopence per pound.

1G90, June 5. Required to furnish three soldiers for an expedition to Canada, and to raise, by taxation, toward meeting the expense, £21 IGs. 6d} ICUO, Oct. 9. Thomas Thompson and James Soule were sentenced each to pay a tine of four pounds in moue}', and be imprisoned until said fines were paid, for refusing to obey the orders to them directed requiring them, as soldiers, to go upon the expedition to Canada.

That expedition sailed from Plymouth about noon, June 27, 1G90, Two companies went from what was then Plymouth Colony, commanded by Capt. Joseph Sylvester, of Seituate, and Samuel Gallop, of Bristol, that was then the shire town of Bristol County in Plymouth Colony, but now in Rhode Island.

William Canedy, of Rliddleboro', served in this war as an ensign, and in the early part of 1723 was promoted to lieutenant, and while holding that commission was intrusted with the command of a small fort that, upon the 25th of December, 1723, was attacked by the Indians ; but the defense was conducted so meritoriously that the place was saved until reinforcements arrived and put tlie enemy to flight, and Lieut. Canedy, as an acknowledgment of his faithl'ul services, was promoted to captain. The following are tlie names of persons composing his company, and who were in service in 1724, many of whom were Indians. The places of residence of these soldiers, both wliite men and Indians, are at this time unknown :

^ Thus it appears that in ICUO the town was required to lurnisli tour soldiers, and probably did provide two, ami two le- Tudcd to go, and were punished by tine ur imprisonmeut, and perhaps by both.

The names of those men who aerveJ under Capt. William Cunedy, as <^iven above, were copied from pay-rolls still on file at the State- Hou.-se in Button.

The French and Indian War. - Capt. Bcnjmuiu Pratt, of Middleboro\ led a company to and in the field in the French and Indian war. The name.s of the officers and private soldiers of Capt. Pruti's company were as follows:

"We mett at Elijah Clapp's a Little alter Sun Rise and Drawcd up our men iuto a body and caM** the Hull, and then marched to Major Howard's, in Bridgewater, 7 miles.

"There went to dinner, and then we marched to Newcomb's, in Nurtuii, and there overtook the cart that had our ]iaoks. There we staid all night and laid up chamber.

"May the 31. We marched to Mr. Graves in Mendon, 3 miles, and there went to breakfast; and from there we marched to John llulland's, in Suttun, 16 miles; there went to supper.

This Mr. ninds, then ofl5ciating as a chaplain, was probably Ebouezer Hinds, wlio was born iu Bridgewater, July 29, 1719, and ordained pastor of the Second Calvinistic Baptist Church iu Middleboro*

"June ye 3. We Mustered our men by eight o'clock in the morning, and drew up into a tine with the Regiment, called over our roll, and then our compnny marched utf.

The regiment above referred to, of which this company formed a part, was composed of ten companies, and the names of the several captains were James Andres, Abel Keen, Benjamin Pratt, Samuel Knowles, Pliilip Walker, Gamaliel Bradford, Jonathan Kddy, Sylvanus Bourne, Josiah Thatcher, and Simeon Carey.

"June ye 4. On Sunday we two went, after our Company. We marched to Lester, 4 miles, and there went to breakfast at Mr. Sergeants, from there we went to Spencer, and there went to meeting in forenoon ; from there we marched to Robert Clafton's, in Brookfiold, 15^ miles, and there went tu i^upper and staid all night.

"June ye 5. We marched to James Nichols*, 2 miles, and there we paid off all our hillitiog money. Two of our men, viz., Jessee Curtis and Jacob Allen taken sick, and we left Jacob Tinkbam to take care of them.

" Ensign Finney and I marched after our coni|)any, and went to breakfast at Mr. Cutler's, 2 miles, and overtook them upun Coy's hill, and I went by our Company along with Capt. Hodge's Company tu Cold Spring, VZ miles from Cutler':).

About three years later Cold Spring was incorporated as a town, and named Belchertown, - date of incorporation, June i^O, 1761. The Capt. Ilodgcs was doubtless Joseph Hod«;es, of Norton, a son of Joseph Hodges, of that town, who, as a major, lost his iii'e at the taking of the fortress of Louisburj^, June, 1745. The son, Capt. Joseph Hodges, Jr., was killed in this French and Indian war.

"There I hired Jabez Doggett to go hack to git my coat, which was left where our Company staid tost night at Scut's, 9 miles back, and I staid until he came back again.

" June ye 7. We mustered our men to go over to Northampton, hut we did not go untill the afternoon ; then were all carried over and biltited out upon the Province cost in Ilaiiiptun Town, 2 mile.

'-June 11, Sundiiy. We marched till about noon through mud and water, over hilla and mountains, the worst way that ever was, and about 2 o'clock in the ulternoun came up a thunder shower and wet us ad wet as we could be

" June yc l*i. 1 made a Ileturu to our Adjutant, and then we marched to another fort and staid there a little while, and then we marched until night, and encamped with C;ipt. Hodges and Capt. Gary, and took 15 men for Guard that night.

"June 28. We struck our tents about sunrise, and marclicd to Lake George. Got there about 12 o'clock, 7 miles. There we htard Capo Breton was taken. Wo pitched our tents in order. I bought a quarter of mutton and gave one dollar for it.

"June 2iJ. 1 made Ueturn of all the men that had been in Sei^e, and all Carpenters and Masons. Took 4 men and a Serg' for the main Guard, and a Corp' and 3 men to Guard the provoo.

"July 1. We took out 7 men to work uii the Furt, and 3 for Guard, and received orders if uiiy man was fuund a Gaming he should receive 300 LhbIios Imcdintely.

"July 2"^. Got my <iun mended, which coat me half a dollar. Took out two of our men, vii., (.)badiiih Sampson and Simeon Fuller, which were sick, anil >eiit them down to Fort Edward in a waggon. Corp"' Billingtun was taken very ;ici;.

" Uiawed out all thuse that would gu in whale Luats, and alt of them received Cartouch Boxes and Tomh^uvUs, :iud diitwed allowance for 5 days in pork and Hour and one of froh l>ci-f.

"July !'-». The whale Boat men drawed up into a bi"ly, liied off all their pieces, then drawed 30 rounds a peice i>f powder and ball, then received orders to bo ready to murch next iiiurning at day-break.

"July 5. We Got into our wiiale buats before sunrise, and rowed otf about a mile, and staid until (Jol* Bnid^treet gave us orders to go forward.

" Each boat carried about 10 men, the battoes and the re=t of our army followed with ail our stores, and we went down tlie Lake as far as where Coll. Parker, liail his light hi.-L ycai. There we landed upon that point. See several men'? bones lay there. Some of our men found a gun and several other things that was tost in the fight. From thence wc rowed about a mile and stopped and eat sunte victual.-), and staid lill about sc\ en o'clock at night, then wo got out again and rowed all night.

"July G. We stoped about a mile below the Advancc-l Guard, and staid until! the battoes catnc up, and then we in oui' whale boats was ordered to row up and hmd, whit-li wc did, a Utile below the Guard without damage, although wc was lired upon.

" After the battoes wore all landed, several Uigf of Ueguiarand Uangora, and some of our ProvinciaN, marched tovvarda the Narrows, and met a patty of French and Indi.in-, and liad .i light.

"Thence we returned back to our breaatwork, and about the middle of the afternoon we marched within a mile of the Narrows, where the Regulars and some otlier Big'" liad encamped by a saw-mill.

" lu the mean time Col. Johnson with a party ot Indian^ upon the west side of ye lake, marched up to the top of a hill, whore he with his Indians lired upon the fort, with the hideoiia yelling of the Indians, the worst noise 1 ever heard, and drove a party of Frenob into the lake.

''About elevea o'clock the Regulars marohed up, and all tLo Rhode Inlanders, tind a Httle past 12 o'clock they began to tire upon thi* French at the hreastwurk, which \v;is niudc of heaped tiuiber and a trench around it, very strong, whiih was built after we drove the advnnced guard off.

" We had nothing to cat, the allowance we had before we set out from Lake Georgo was not enough fur one day, and we got no uiure untill we got back. ** Jabez Doggett was wounded.

"July 13. We bad orders to remove our tents beyond tho old Fort, but before wo had done pitching thorn we bad orders to remove them back again. '*JuIy 14. Nothing to do.

"July 16. We went out a hunting. John Barker killed a bear, and there w;i3 .1 French Prisoners taken upon the lake by a party sent down to the Island to stay there as spies.

"July 17. Struck our tents and marched to Saratoga, and there drawed two days allowance, and then marched about a mile and a half and pitched our tents in the Long field.

"July is. We struck our tents about sunrise and marched fur Stillwater. Got there about 10 o'clock. We had 2 carts to our company to carry our pucks.

" From there we marched to the half-way house between Stillwater and the half-moon and there pitched our tents. "There was two killed and scalped at Scattercuok. "July I'J. We marched down to the half-moon and pitched our tents.

"July 22. We were ordered to load up our tents and packs. Our tents we loaded, but they would not load their packs, und when we were ordered to March, Capt. Keen's men clubbed their tire-locks and followed Serg' Rogers and several from other companya.

"July 2.'i. We brought the prisoners out and, after tlie Cul. had reproved them, released them, and we marched up to Lowden's ferry, and went over and encamped in tents and barracks.

"July 2y. Our Rig' marched for tho Gorman tlats j they mostly went in battoes. 3 staid behind, being not well, and so did a great many of our company.

" August 2QJ. Coll. Doty set out after his Ucgt. Wo that were left behind, which were 23 in number, bud nothing to do. At night Sergt. Cole and I drawed a good mess of squashes out of the Dutch stores.

"August 6. Sunday I went to meeting iu the forenoon, but I did not understand one word that was said. AVe beard that Cape Breton was taken, and at night Ensign Johnson made a bonfire for the good news.

"August 7. I and Sergi. Cole went a hunting. I killed a raven tlying. As a Dutchman was taking down his gun to go a bunting his gun went otf by accident and shot his wife dead on ye spot. I received a letter from home.

" August 10. I and 4 more of our company set out to go to German tlatts, under command of Lt. Uezekiah Hulioes, who had 140 under hja command. That night we encamped.

"The Governor' still haj no apprehension of even a Aug'. IS. We made tbe best of our way up tlio river. ' wish in the body of the people of the Province to

" Aug'. 19. We went up the river about 2 uiilea and had a Court martial upon Micah Collins for swearing and gitting drunli, and condemned hiui to have 50 lashes, but his execution i ... . , . , . ,

'"^' Aug'. 22. We 2 waggons to cany over our loading. t Officers commissioned in 1773, because of their "Aug'. 23. AVe staid waiting for our loading and hattoes to , supposed Toryism, would not be those mo^t likely to and Lieut. Holmes and Williams' 25 was stationed at the little province remained passive spectators or came out carrying place, under Lieut. Robinson 25 went down to fort : l^^^ldly and defiantly On the side of the king and Palliament, and botli by words and deeds opposed the sons

The Revolutionary War. - From in or near the '. of liberty in their efforts to break the shackles of year 1755 to 1775 the local militia of the town of j bondage.

Middleboro' (including what is now Lakeville) re- To meet the exigencies of this occasion, the Revomaincd embodied and organized as four compauies, lutionary patriots at Middleboro', as eUewlicrc, set officially designated and generally known as First, about raising and organi'zing military associations Second, Third, and Fourth Foot Compauies of Mid- that were called " minute-men," from the fact that dleboio'. I each member agreed to respond to the country's call

Companies in the local militia at that date consisted at a moment's notice, and these companies of minuteof able-bodied white male citizens from the age of uien throughout Plymoutli County wore embodied as sixteen to that of sixty years, and the geographical a regiment of minute-men, armed, equipped, drilled, limits of eacli company was permanently fixed by , auJ disciplined, and being mainly coiupused of young well-defined metes and bounds as much as those of' nien, was doubtless the most effective reginieiu at that parishes and school districts. time existing in the county.

incorporation of Plymouth County, viz., June 2, raised in Middleboro', and promptly responded at the 1685, to 1775, a period of some ninety years, re- "Lexington alarm," April I'J, 1775. maincd as a part of the First Regiment in that county, The names of the officers and soldiers ol' those and at the commencement of the war of American three companies then called into actual service were Revolution the officers holding military commissions as follows : at Middleboro' were as follows :

That all holding commissions in the local militia ^^^^ ^,^^^ province, but now State of Massachusetts. The govdid not respond at the country's first cry of distress, I emor could revoke a military commission at his own pleasure,

Third Company Of Minute-Men

This force of one hundred and seventy-three men from Middleboro' that, as a part of Plymouth County regiment of minute-men, promptly responded to the couutry^s *- first call," reduced by juat that number the *^rank and file" of the four standing couipauies of local militia in the town, so that had all which still remained in those companies been agreed in the effort to resist kingly authority and mustered for the defense of liberty, their number would have been comparatively small ; but all who remained of those eompaaiea were not united in patriotic principles, thua

And yet an effort was made to bring out the local militia of Middleboro' on the ever-memorable 19th of April, 1775, and unite that body with the minutemen in resisting royalty, which effort was attended with results as follows :

Second Company in the Local Militia of Middleboro*. - To put this company in a condition to respond at the Lexington alarm wu:i attended with considerable difficulty, as neither of its commissioned officers ut that date would so far commit himself as to lead this company to fight for liberty, and hence officers had to be selected to supply their places, and in doing which the choice for a commander fell upon Capt. Abiel Peirce, a veteran officer of the Frencli and Indian war.

The Second Company, when it, with the " embattled farmers, stood and fired the shot heard round the world," was officered by and consisted of the followiug-named persons:

Rufus Howland. Daniel Jueket. Sylvanus Perrington. AusTBACT. - Captain, 1; lieuteuaut, I; ensign, I ; sergeants, 4; corporals, 4; musioiami, 2; private soldiers, 47: total, GU.

Thus it appears from strictly reliable evidence that upon that ever-memorable day when the blood of murdered freemen wet the sods of Lexington and Concord, and, like the blood of righteous Abel, cried for vengeance from the ground, the ancient town of Middleboro', then embracing the present township of Lakeville, seni five companies to the field (if bloody strife, the numbers of which the present dwellers in those towns have reason to be proud of, and that the same may hereafter be readily referred to and easily remembered, we present a condensed abstract in tabular form :

"Lexington Alarm," April 19, 1775, raised a com- i pany for Col. Siiueon Carey's regiment in the patriots' i army, auJ was put upon duty in Roxbury. The in- I spection-roll of Capt. Nathaniel Wood's company, I April 1, 1770, bore the foliowiug names:

Capt. Abiel Peirce, who led the second company of the local militia on the occasion known as the " Lexington Alarm,'* soon after raised a company for Col. Nicholas Dike's regiment in the patriot army, and Wits placed on duty near Boston.

towns of Abiugton, Bridgewater, and Waiehaui, and numbered in rank and file aixty-uine officers and rioldiers. The names of those furnished by the town of IMiddleboro' were as follows :

Upon the occasion still known as the '* Rhode Island Alarm," in December, 177G, Middlcboro' contributed toward the defense of Rhode Island by sendinf to the «iid of the patriots of that section the companies hereafter enumerated :

Fifth Company Of Infantry

CoDcerniu^ the part thut the town of MiJJlcLoro', in December^ 1776, took in the attempt to defend Rhode Island from British agj^rcssion, it is advibuble and proper liere to state that in the early part of tliat year all the local militia of the towiib of MiJdleboro', Rochester, and Warehara were fuimcd into a regiment, of which the field-officers were as follows: Ebenezer Sproutt, of Middleboro', colonel ; Ebenezer White, of Rochester, Heutenaut-colonel ; Israel Fearin;^, of Wareham, senior major, and Juhn Nelson, of Middleboro' (tliat part now Lakevillej, junior major.

Middleboro' at that time had ei;^lit cuinpanies of local militia, Rochester probably had four companies, and Wareham two, and doubtless all these fourteen companies were in December, 177G, ordered to assist temporarily in the defense of Rhode Island, but how well these responded to that call may reasonably be inferred from a letter that Senior Maj. Israel Fearing addressed to Col. Ebenezer Sproutt, of which the following is a copy :*

1 Junior Major John Nelson mode a copy of this letter that Senior Major Israel Fearing, from the rej^imental hcudquarters at Fogland Ferry, addreasett to Col. Ebt-nezer SprouLt, in his safe quarters at home, whieU copy Maj. Nelson attested us bein;^ true. That attested copy ia in the possession of the writer of this historic sketch, as also some other but ori>;inal writin;;s ofhcially rendered in that camp at Foglaiid Ferry, severely criticising the conduct of some of those stay-at-liomo field ollicers ; and in one return from Lieut. Jonah ^Vashburn concerning "missing men," he said that be did not know \vhc(hcr tlicso were dead, or had deserted, or gone home to add to the scare of the colonel.

History Of Middleboro'

*' Sin, - Inconseiiuence of your orders the Towns of Rochester and Warcliam have mustered the whole of their militiiry and marched them accordingly to the place required by you.

" ilul what is still more surprising to me, I found myself obliged tu take the cmiimaud of the Regiment, which, considering my abilities, is anluuus and disagreeable, and wliich I determinc to avail of if you or Col. White do not appear to take the command of.

' ** We are amazingly in waut of men to guard this coast, therefore most seriously desire you to send your whole military force froiu Middleborough immediately.

Maj. Fearing did not say that the " one whole company that had quitted their post without paying any regard to Col. Cook, the commander," were Middleboro' men, but the intimation that tliey were is certainly strong, and even if so only live of the then eight companies of the local militia of Middleboro' reported for duty, and but four of those five remained j to perform that duty. I

The [>ay-ro!ls at the State-House in Boston show | that tlie only field-ofEcers of this Fourth Regiment I present and doing duty in Rhode Island upon the occasion known as the " Rhode Island alarm" in De- I cember, 1776, were Senior Maj. Israel Fearing, of | Wareham, and Junior Maj. John Nelson, of what was then Middleboro*, but now Lakeville.

In a company raised by Capt. Levi Rounseville, of Freetown, for the Ninth Regiment, in what was then probably denominated the Massachusetts army, Middleboro' furnished the followiug-named officers and soldiers :

In the early part of 1777 a company from Middleboro' was sent into service at Rhode Island, of which the names of officers and soldiers were as follows :

In what was called the '* Secret FiXpedition'* to Rhode Island, in 1777, Capt. Job Peirce led a company of Middleboro' men that numbered, in officers and soldiers, ninety-two ; but as these have beeu given, both their names, ranks, and relative stations, in tl»e history of Lakeville, the reader is referred thereto for the more minute particulars.

The fortgoing commenced service Aug. 25, 1778. William Squire and Andrew Perry reported for duty Aug. 27, 1778, and each served seven days. William Peirce, James Sproutt, Judah Hall, and Simeon Coombs each served nine days.

At the second " Rhode Island ahirm/' in August, 1780, Middlcboro' sent to the field the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Companies in the local militia of the town.

The Third Company was commanded by Capt. William Tupper, and the names of those of the Third Company who participated in that service were as follows :

History Of Middle Boro'

The regiment of which the Second, Tliird, Fourth, and Fiitli Companies of the local militia of Middleboro' formed a part, and participated in the stirring event^i at Rhode Island in August, 1780, was led to and in the field of bloody .strife by Lieut.-Col. Ebeuezer White, of Rochester.'

"RoeiiE.siEn, March S'l-, 17SI. "SiK, - This day orders is received from Brig'^ Gushing in conser,uence uC a order from Governor Hancock, the purport of which ,s that a hundred men be detached from this Ilegiment, properly i aequipt, with three days' provisions, 1 march immediately to Tivertown, A from thence to Newport, for the term not exceeding forty days, to be under the command of Major-Goal J^»ln; the Town of Middleboro' proportion,

' He conducted bravely, and thus relieved himself of the odium occasioned by his not accompanying the regiment to the field 01 the Rhode Island alarm of December, 1776. A part of his sword was shot off by an enemy's bullet while he held that weapon in his hand. He lived honored and died lamented.

whereof is fifty-nine men, which you are ordered to cause to be raised immediately, i. form them into one company, A appoint one captain A two Lieutenants to command them ; .t see that they march without Lose of time to the place of .lestinatiun. Should any thing turn up so that it is not convenient for said town of Middleboro' to form a company I shall take care to advise you of it.

The term " tiiia Regiment," as used in the order, meant the Fourth Regiment of the local militia of Plymouth County, which regiment then embraced the local militia of the then towns of Middleboro', Rochester, and Wareham. That Fourth Regiment was formed in 1776, and disbanded by legislative enactment April 24, 1840.

The " Brigadier" Cushing was Gen. Joseph Gushing, of Hanover. He was commissioned a brigadiergeneral in the early part of 1776. His brigade consisted of all the local militia of Plymouth County except that of the town of Hingham. I.-^rael Fearing, of Wareham, was at the date of the order holding the office of senior major of tlie Fourth Regiment, and John Nelson, of Middleboro', was junior major, having held those positions from 1876.-

The local militia of the State of Ma.ssachusetts was entirely reorganized in 1781, and all officers commissioned anew. Many of the old officeis were reeoiiimissioned to their former positions, and some promoted to a higher rank. Middleboro', Rochester, and Wareham were made to continue as beluie, the militia of these towns forming the Fourth Regiment of the Plymouth County brigade.

The field officers of the Fourth Regiment, oummissioned in 1781, were John Nelson, of Middleboro' (that part now Lakeville), colonel; William Tupper, of Middleboro', lieutenant-colonel ; and Kdward Sparrow, of Middleboro', major.

2 The general and field officers of the Plymuiuli County brigade at that time were as follows: Joseph Cushing, of Hanover, brigadier-general.

with these new organizations and appointments of new officers, it was iotenJed and confidently expected that a new and improved order of things would be realized, initiating better drill and better discipline. One of the first steps toward efiecting these desirable objects in the Fourth Regiment was to cause a ri<:id inspection of both men and arms, ef|uipments and ammunition.

Here is the evidence that in the latter part of 1781, or beginning of 1782, those persons residing iu the town of Middleboro' liable to perform military duty in case of invasion or alarm were five hundred and sisty-nioe, beside those embraced in the fifth company, of which the inspection-roll and official return is lost, and which doubtless swelled this force to something over six hundred persons.^

Last War with England, sometimes called the War of 1812. - The militia of Massachusetts were officially notified that this war had been declared by an order from the Governor, of which the following is a true copy :

" War havin;^ been declared by the government o( the United States against Great Britain und Ireland and the dependencies thereof, tlic Couimander-in Chief ualU upon the Militia of Mass. duly to notieu tho Bolcmn and intcresliii-^ erisia, and. cxhurts them to meet the oceasiou with constaney and tirmness.

* The general and held otUcers of the Plymouth County brigade, commiysioned at the reorganization, July 1, 1781, were Joaepli Cashing, of Hanover, brigadier-general.

Fuurth llegiiuetit. - John Nelson, of Middleboro' (now LaUeville), eolonui, William Tupper, of Middleboro', lieutenant-colonel, and Edward Sparrow, major.

" When war is comuneDced, no human fore^ight can diacei n the time of iU* termination or the course of events that must follow in its train, but the path of duty is tho puth of safety. Providence seldom abandons to ruin those who to a just reliance on the superintending influence of lU-aven add their own vigilant and strenuous exertions to preserve themselves. At the present moment, therefore, the Commander-in-Chief earne-^tly recommends to theotfioera of every grade a close and persevering attention to the duties resulting from tlieir >evcral >tation?, particularly that they acquire and maintain a perfect I^dowIedge of the condition of their re>pi-ctive comuumd:;!, and seu as far as is iu their power that their men are duly armed and equipped ; that the time allotted to truinings be devoted to the instruction of the non-couiiiiissioncd ulliucrs and .-^uKliers in tho evcreiso of iirms and in the practice of the evolutions as prescribed in tho established regulatinus, :ind tliat the pn<vi.-^ion.s and intentions of the laws being in every rer^fii-ct fullilled, they may be ready with alacrity and effect to defeml their country, their coostitutional rights, and those liberties which are not only our birthiight, but which at the expense of so much blood and tre:isure were purchased in the late revolutiou.

"From the docility, from the good sense and patriotism of the non-commissioned olGcers and soldiers, the Couniiaader-iti- Chief is led to expect a patient submission to the inatructioiLS of their olficora, prompt obedience to orders, and the practice of all thobe military and masculine virtues which adoru tho soldier and exalt the man.

"To all the militia, both oflicers and soldier-, the Cummander-in-Cbief would superadd an earnest exhortation, as they are citizens as well ns soldiers, to cultivate a spirit uf candor, of friendship, and mutual forbearance, and un ardent love of country that shall elevate them above all sinister views, and. eventually secure to them and their children the blessings of peace, of liberty, and good government.

"The Commander-in-Chief requires that particular attention be paid to tho Town Magazines, that they are lully provided with the ammunition, military stores, and utensils which tho law directs, and the brigade quartermiistcrs are required to perform their duty with promptitude and exactness.

"In such divisions as have not completed the detuchments of ten thousand men called for by the (jlencral Orders of the twenty-fifth day of April last, the Major-GencruU or eomniaiiding olficers of those divisions are enjoined to attend to that service without delay, and to make and complete the detachments from their respective eouip?, of their several quotas of tho said ten thousand men, and to make return of the same as speedily :ts may bo to the Adjutant-ticneral ; the said Uenerals and other ollicers will take care that the militia ::0 detached are duly provided with the etlicient arms and accoutrements necessary for actual service.

"The militia detached by the orders above alluded to, after they are formed eonforuiably to said orders, will hold themaehcs in readiness to march on the shortest notice, pur.-^iianl to the orders to be given by thoCommaniler-iu-Chief, un!c:^> in caac uf actual invasion or immineut danger thereof, in which c.itc, without waiting for such orders, they will march without delay to the defense of auy part or jtarts uf this coiuiuonweiillh that ahall be so invaded or iu imminent danger of inva.-ion, and when in the actual service of the United States will be under the command of the President, agreeably to the Constitution of the United States.

-* And wliereas the quota of ten ihousaud militia required as aforesaid, being to be raised from tbeseveral divisions aiid corps throughout the commonwealth, cannot be assembled in time to repel a sudden invasion, and to embody them )>reviousIy and keep them iu contttant service would be extremely burdensome^ mid even if assembled would not be adequate to the defense ot tlie numerous points on a coast of several hundred miles in extent, tlie Coiumauder-in-Ohicf further orders au.l directs that the generals nnd other officers of tlio whole militia of the eomnionwcallh, hearing io mind the [lossibility of sudden invasion, hold themtelvos and the corps of militia under their respective commands in constant readiness to assemble nnd march to the defense of any part or parts of the commonwealth, pursuant to the orders to he given by him, hut as (hat waiting for such orders in case of actual invasion or such imminent danger thereof .is will not admit of delay.

-- By the gen' orders above mentioned, of the 25th of April last, three niajor-geuerals and sii brigadier-generals were assigned tci uouiiiiand in detaehuienti without being regularly detailed from the Roster.

The Coiuiuauder-in-Chief therefore orders that the following gen' officers being detailed from the lloster, as the law directs, be appoiuted to command in the said detachments in lieu of the gen' officers named in the gen' orders afor*" :

Pursuant to these orders detachments were made of ofEcuis and soldiers who were required to hold tlieuLselves in readiness to march at the sliortest notice, but comparatively few of whom were called into actual service.

But by division orders, bearing date of Sept. 17, 1814, a part of the force held io readiness by the town of iMiddleboro' was sent to the field. Capt. Peter II. Peirce, with liis company, being ordered to form a part of the coast guard for the defense of the port of Plymouth and that vicinity.

31aj. Levi Peirce had previously entered upon the duties uf a battalion commander at and near New ! Bedford, and Capt. Peter H. Peirce marched his ' company to and entered upon the service of defending the coast at and near Plymouth. The names of the officers and soldiers then furnished by the town of iMiddleboro', to con.stitute a part of the coast guard stationed at Plymouth, and who repaired to the place required and performed a tour of duty, were as follows :

Beside these, Samuel Morton and Allen Reed were reported absent, sick, and Elias Richmond recorded as a deserter. Benjamin Haffords was reported absent, but no cause given for his absence, and James Bump was discharged after serving one day.

The coast-guard, stationed at and near New Bedford, was commanded by Lieut.-Col, Commandant Benjamin Lincoln, of that place. Senior Major Levi Peirce, of Middleboro', ranking as second in command, and performing such duties as now devolve upon a lieutenant-colonel.

These three companies were commanded by Capts, Nathaniel Wilder, Jr,, Joseph Cushman, and Gaius Shaw, and composed of officers and soldiers as follows :

*<Sin, - You will consider yourself discharf^ed IVoiii the present detachment, tojjether with the otlicers and soldiers recently under your command, and those otficers and f-uMiurs recently under the command of Capt. .loseph Cu^lmi.m, \vllu^e absence from service has caused his oflicers and soldiers to do duty under your command.

"You will accept my thanks, and also those of .Major Levi Peirce, and through you to the OlHcers and .Suidicrs under your command, for your and their good conduct and prompt attention to orders. Bknjn. Li.sroi.N, CoL"

Beside the company of Capt. Peter II. Peirce, stationed at or near Plymoutli as a part uf the coastguard, in the last war with England, and the three companies just enumerated as stationed at or near New Bedford, Middleboro' also furnished anotiier company in that coast-guard at or near Plymouth, which company was commanded by Capt. Gieenleal" Pratt, but the roll of which company the writer of this historic sketch has not been fortunate enough to find. Brigade orders of Sept, 17, 1814, caused Maj. Ephraim Ward, of Middleboro*, to be detailed and sent to Plymoutli, where he served as a fieldofficer in the coast-guard.

History Of Middleboko'

'I'lie local uiiiitiii of Plymouth County in tlie time | of tlie last war with England continued to be as from the war of the Revolution it had been organized as ' one brignde, wliich brigade was composed of four reginienta of infantry, a battalion of artillery, and a : battalion of cavalry. That was before the days of steam-engines and railroad-curs and telegraphs, and, as a means of bringing plainly to mind tiie modes then available in transmitting information or conveying orders, the following true copy of a brigade order is presented, and which order was addressed to the , captain ol' one of the companies of cavalry:

A private soldier in a company of ^Massachusetts cavahy was called a " dragoon," and a private soldier iu a company of artillery a " matross."

In each company of cavalry was required to be one captain, two lieutenants, one cornet or colorbearer, four sergeants, four corporals, one or more trumpeters, and a certain number of dragoons.

In each company of artillery was required one captain, one lieutenant, two second lieutenants, four seragents, four corporals, two musicians, two bombardiers, and a certain number of raatrosses.

The War of the Great Rebellion. - Coming events cast their shadows before, as will readily be seen in the following true copies of general orders :

"Events which have recently occurred, and are now in progress, require that Massachusetts should be at all times ready to furnish her quota of troops upon auy requisition of the I'residcKt of the United States, to aid in the uiaiutcnance of the laws and the peace of the Union.

His E.xcellency the Commander-in-Chief therefore orders : "That the commanding oOicers of each company of Volunteer Militia examine with care the Koll of bis company, and cause the name of each member, together with his rank and place of residence, to be properly reoorded, and a copy of the same to be forwarded to the Adjutant-General. Previous to which coiumunders of couipaoics shall make inquiry whether there are men in their commands who from age, physical detect, bu:^iness or fauiily cares, may be unable or indisposed to Hi respond atouco to the orders of tbo Coinmander-in-chicr, made in response to the call of the President of the United Stales, that they may be forthwith discharged, so that their places may be tilled by men ready for any public exigency which may ari.-e whenever called upon. After the above orders have been fullillcd, no discharge either of oflicer or private ?liall be granted unless for cause, satisfactory to the Comiuandcr-iu-Chief.

" If any companies have not the uiimber of men allowed by law, the commanders of the satue shall make proper exertions to have the vacancies tilled, and the men piopeily diilled and uniformed, aud their names and places of le^ideoce furwuriied to Headquarter.s.

"To promote the objects etubraced in this order, ibe Ljenerai, Field- anil Stalf-Ollicers, ami the Adjutant and acting Quartermaster-General will give all the aid and assistance iu their power.

" Brigadier-Generals Peirce and Bullock and Lieut. -Colonel Holmes will transmit to their respective irouimands General Orders No. 4, from the Commander-in-Chief {herewith transmitted), aud cause the same to be carried iuto elfect.

The names of officers and soldiers that the town of Middleboro' furnished to the Union service in the hite war of the great Rebellion, their rank, station^ aud corps in which that service was rendered, was a.s follows :

I The second brigiulo then embraced all the active militia of the oounties of Barnstable, Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth, and the regimeDtd of Cols. Packard aud Wardro wore aiiioug the tir:>t that left Massachusetts for the seat uf war, in April, IS5I.

Twenty-Fourth Regiment Of Infantry Fifty-Eighth Regiment Of Infantry

Roll of Honor. - Names of MiJdlcboio' men wlio^o lives were sacriliceJ for the uause of tlie Uuioii in thu late war of the great llebellion :

'^ The gallant man, though slain in li^hl he be, Yot leaves his country snfc, liis nation free, Entails a debt on all the t^nittful >talc ; His own brave friends shall ^lory in his fate, Jlis wife live honored, and his laee succeed. And late postelity enjoy the deed." - l*ol'i;*s

at New Orleans June 21, ISo;:. Daniel Handy, died at Centralia, 111., Sei^t. lu. ISii;;. Levi Hathaway, died at Indianapolis, Ind., .\ug. 2U. Ibii^;. Henry L, Shaw, of wounds received at l*orl Hudson, died U*-iober, 1803. Ei»bruim Siuiinons, died at Urasbe.ir L'it) M.iy 21, ISil;;. Andrew K. Thomas, died at or near Ijrashear City, l.u., Junu

ISliS. Alva C. Tinkham, die.l at Brashear City, l.a., July Isri.:. Joseph Thomas, died at Port Ilud^un, La., Au_:^. I, I sii;:. Corp. Francis S. Thomas, died at Carrollton llo.-pital, l..i., battle of Bull Bun. Martin V. Haymond, killed ai Bull Uun An-;;. Kstl'j. Frederick E. Attwood, killc.l in battle Au^-. -'li, I8G2. Francis B. Cuuhuian, died .May lo, 1&B2. John K. Martin, died in hospital Jan. 27, 1811... Corp. Georgo 11. Swilt, liied in IStiS, from wound- received at

William B. Brigbtmun, died in Libby Prison Sept. 2.^, 18ti2. Charles E. Hunt, killed at battle of I'uld Harbor June 1, 18iil. Sergt. Henry M. Warren, died Dec. 211, I 8152, from wounds received in battle of Fredericksburg. James H. Wade, died in hospital at Philadelphia Aug. 7, 1S62.

Cyru^ Hall, died iuMiospital at Wasliinj^'ton, D. C, Oct. I'J, 1862. Samuel .Mullen, died at Hall's lUIl Jan. 10, 1862. Cbarlcti W. Wiluiartli, died in Aiider.sonville prison July 18,

Fifty-Ninth Regiment Of Infantry General Officers

GENERAL OFFICERS. AbicI Washburn, brigadier-general, from .St-pt. 4, 1316, to 1824. Ephraiu) Ward, brigadier-general, from Jan. 27, 1825, to IS31. Darius Miller, brigadier-general, from July 20, IS3I, to 1833. Eliab Ward, brigadier-general, from April 8, IS5(), to 1355.

Field Officers

FIELD OFFICERS. First Reqihent op I.vfantuv. Elkaoali Leonard, major, from 1741-1745. Ebone^er Sproutt, major, from 17 - to 1776. lienjauiin Drew, Jr., major, from Feb, 14, 1836, to .\pril 24,

Third Regiment ok Light Infantuv. Eliab Ward, colonel, from July 10, 1844, to April 8, 1850. Eluathan W. Wilbur, colonel, from May 4, 1850, to 1853. Stephen Thomas, colonel, from March 12, 1853, to 1858. Lothrop Thomas, lieutenant-colonel, from Aug. 2.!, 1834, to

22, 1800. Ephraim Ward, lieutenant-colonel, from 18I-, to April 25, IS17. Peter II. Peirce, lieutenant-colonel, from April 25, 1317, to 1823. Benjamin P. Wood, lieutenant-colonel, from Out. 10, 1823, to

Compaiiy Officers. - From 1(J69 to 1727, or about fift3'-ein;lu years, all tlie local militia within the bounds of what are now the townships of MiJdleboro' and Lakeville were euibruced in one company. This company was, in or about 1727, divided into two companies known as First and Second Companies, and a few years later subdivided into three companies, and in or before 1755 made to constitute four companies, as it continued to do until the war of American Revolution, when further divided and organized as eight companies.

First Company

Ebcnezcr Sproutt, captain, from 1702 to 177-. Natiiaoiel Wood, captain, from 1776 to July 1, 17S1. Williiim Sliaw, captain, from July 1, I7SI. John Thuiupson, lieutenant, from 1075. Joseph Vaughn, licutuiiaut, from 17 - to March, 1716. Ichahoil Southworth, lieutenant, from March, 1716, to 1727. Samuel Suiiih, lieulenunt, from 1702 to Sept. 19, 1775. Junah Washburn, Jr., lieutenant, from 177B to July 1, 17S1.

Second Company

This company was dibbautleJ by a general order from the Governor Feb. 25, 1818. For i'uiLher particulars, see account of companied of liglit inlaniry in Middleboro*.

Third Company Uistory Of .Middleboro'

Bunjuiuin White, lieutenant, fi-um 1762. Jolin .Munlcick, licuteimnt, from 1775 tu July 1, 1781. Sauiuul Dnton, lieutenant, from July I, 17!il. Klkan.ili Leonard, Jr., ensign, front 1762 to 17 - . Juincs AVcatoo, cn;iign, from 1776 to July 1, 1781. SyWuMua Wurren, ensign, from July 1, 1 78 1.

Eighth Company

EIGHTH COMPANY. David Vaughan, captain, from July 1, 1781. Andrew Cobb, lieutenant, from July 1, 1781. lehabod Wood, ensign, from July I, 1781.

Companies of Light Infantry. - Two hanJsoniely-uuifbrmed, fully-equipped, wellJrillcd, and thoroughly-disciplioed couipunics of lij;lit infantry have existed in Middleboru'. Tlie first of these raised in this towu was authorized by an order, of wliich the following is a true copy :

'* COMUONWEALTll OF M assachusktts, "In Council, January 20th, 1813. "The military committee to whom was referred the petition of Thomas AVood and forty-three others, privates in a company of militia in the town of Middleborough, commanded by Captain Enoch Hawkins, praying that said company may be disbanded and annexed to the company commanded by Captaia

Sylviinus AV^:irrt:n, in urJer tor (be united couipaiiicb to enlist :ind furni a Grenailicr L'Oiii|iany, ub^tcrvc that tbu Cuioiicl and Lieutenant-Colonel of the Ucj^iuicnt of wiiich iaid companies are a part, being tlie -Itb Uej;iuient of the lirst Brigade of the tiftb Div'ifiuii uf the Militia, approv^e of the petitions, and state that the Captain of the company in which they bclon;^ has no objeetions to the proposed uica^uic, and that the Lieutenant has moved out of the bounds of the Brigade, while the En=i^n expliciti}' gives bis assent; and the committee further obaui've that the measure prayed for meets tbo approbation of ilie Urigadicr aud Mujur-gcuerals ; report that His Kxcelleney be advised to direct that the company lirst above mentioned be disbanded, and that the non-commissioned otficers and privates thereof be annexed to tlie company now commanded by Cajjtain Sylvanus Warren, the limits of which shall be extended ao a^ in future to comprehend tlic district of tlie tUsbanded cuiiipan}', and to authorize Syhanus Barrows, named for the purpose in said petition, to enli?t from the said united companies j. proper number of nten to form a company of Grenadiers which bball be annexed to the fourth Uogiment aforesaid.

" llKADyuAUTKits, BosTON, Feb. 25, 1818. ** The Commander- in -Cliief having approved the above written advice of Council, directs ibe bamu to bo carried into effect. "Major-General Nathaniel Goodwin will give the necessary orders for that purpose.

" IIcAugrAitTKKS, Plvmoutq, March 7, 1813. "The Major-General directs Brigadier-General Washburn to iasue the necessary orders tor forming a company of Grenadiers in tho 4th Regiment, agreeable to advice of Council and (jen< eral Orders of the 26th ultimo.

"Tho Brigadier-General directs Colonel Ephraim Ward to issue the necessary onlers for forming a company of Grenadiers in tlie Uh Regiment, agreeable to above General and Divi^^ion orders.

"I.N Cou.Ntli,, May 14, 1818. "The military committee of Council to whom was referred the petition of Roland Peiree and otliers, inhabitants of tho town of Middluborougli, requesting that the Military Company in said town commanded by Captain Nathaniel iiall may be disbanded, the oHicers of said company iipproving the mcii-surc, and the non-comiuissioned oMicers and privates of (he same be annexed to the company now comuiaudc<l by Capt. Peiham Atwood, and that auiJ Peiree and his associates may bu permitted to form themselves into a<ircnadier Company, respectfully report that His Excellency bo advised to have the company of Militia iu tho town of Midilleborougli, ciiiamanded by Captain Nalhaniol Ilall, in the fourth Regiment, fir>t Brig:t<le, and fifth Divisiun, disbanded, and the non-commissioneil ollicers and privates of the same annexed to the adjoining cumpany now commanded by Captain Peiham ^Vtwoud, and to direct tliat the limits heretofore of said Hall's company shall bereufter be considered as forming a part of the aforesaid Captain Atwood's company, and likewise to permit tho ufore.-aid Roland Peiree, and bis associates, under the onlistmont uf Cuptain Nathaniel Hull, to form themselves into a cuinpany uf Grenadiers, together with such others as may hereafter join

Tlien followed from the adjutant-general of the State ati order of May 11, 1818, a division order of May 19lh, and a brigade order (from Brig.-Gcn. \Va^l)burn j of May 23, 1818, transmitting the aforesaid order of Council, and the oompany directed to be formed was, upon the 16tli of July, 1818, organized.

This company was disbanded by an order from the Governor bearing date of Sept. 25, 1858, having maintained an organized existence a little more than forty years.

About the close of the war of the American Revolution a militia law was passed in Ma.ssachusetts, requiring the performance of military duty, with a few exceptions, by all able-bodied white male citizens from the age of sixteen years to that of fifty. These were to be organized as companies, and drilled aud disciplined, aud denominated the train band. All able-bodied white male citizens from the age of fifty years to that of sixty-five were, with a few exceptions, to be denominated the " alarm list," aud both train band and alarm list were by law required to keep constantly and completely armed and equipped. All past officers in the militia under sixty-five years of age were also in this alarm list.

The equipment required was a good fire-arm with a steel or iron ramrod and worm, priming-wire and brush, and a bayonet fitted to his gun, a cartridge-box that would hold fifteen rounds at least, six flints, one pound of powder, forty leaden balls fitted to his gun, a haversack and blanket, and a canteen that would hold one quart.

The writer of this historic sketch is the fortunate possessor of the original returns made of the militia of Middleboro' about the beginningof the year 1782.

These lists embrace all the companies at that time existing in the town of Middleboro', save the Fifth Company, of which the return is lost.

From these lists a fair representation can be made of the names and number of the able-bodied white male citizens of Middleboro' between the ages of sixteen and sixty-five years, save those in the Fifth Company, one hundred and two years ago :

I Recapitulation

Thus it is made most evidently and conclusively to appear that at the be;5inniug of tlie year 1782 Middleboro' had five hundred and sixty-six persons liable to perform military duty, besides those enrolled iu the Fifth Company ; that could the number bo learned, it would doubtless swell the sum total to over seven hundred. An important change, or rather several important changes were made in the nuinbi-r and bounds of the companies in Middlcboro', pursuant to the recommendation of the military committee of the Honorable Council of the Governor of this commonwealth, under date of May 13, 1S31. That report was as follows :

Commonwealth Of Massachusetts

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. "The Committee of Council qq Military AlVairs, to whom was referred the communication of the Adjutant- General on the subject of reorganising the Militia, conforming the same to the reduced numbers which, by law, now compose the Train Hand, eti:. HEfORT, That in the Fourth Regiment the companies ot Inhintry ia the town of Middleuuuolgii, commanded by Captains Benjamin F. Wood and James Pickens, be dibbanded, and thai all persons liable to be enrolled in the militia and residing within the following limits in said Middleborough, viz., beginning at Woodward's bridge, do Taunton River, thence easterly by said river to the southwest corner of Halifax; thence southeasterly by the lino which divides Middleborough from Halifax. Plympton, and Carver, until it comes to tho road leading IVoiu William Shurtlitf'a, in Middleborougb, to Plymouth, by Rocky Meadow Saw-mill J thence easterly by said road to the brook to Tuspaquin Pond ; thence westerly by the north side of said pond, and pass brook to the road loading from Wareham to Bridgewater tlic-iiuc \ve.'>tei'ly by ibe s:iid rouJ which Iciidi lo Bridgewutcr, by rdward Sparruw'i and Luvi Tinkliaiu'd, until it couics to the road K-adilif^ frutu IMyinoutb to Tauntuu by the house uf Thuiu:iA Sprout ; theDce easterly by said Taunton road tu tlie Nenia-ket River; thence northerly by said river to the road leading; from iMiddleborouj;h Four Corners to Uridgcwater, by the hiiuaFs oltioneral Abiel Washburn and Kbcue^er Willis; thence by said road tu tlio bounds first mentioned (excluding all the inhabitants on iiaid road from the school-house uear General Washburn's to ^\'"oodward's bridjje), be enrolled in tlie coiujiiniy of Infantry coiniuuDded by Capt;*in Karl Spruat, and euuslitutc the Xottficust Compauif iutiuid MiiiJUbdi-tntt/h. And that all persons liable to be unrolled in the Militia aud rcsidin-^ within the following bounds, viz., beginning at Fall Brook Furnace, tlienee easterly by Fall Brook to the north side of Tuspiii|uia Pond tu the utouth of the brook which runs near the house of William Sliui tletl'; thence northerly by said brook to the road leading from William Shurtlell''3 to Plymouth, by Roeky Meadow Saw-mill ; thcuce easterly by the said road to Carver line; thence southeasterly by the line which divides the town of Middleborough from Carver and Wareham to Rochester; iheuee westerly by the line which tlivides Rochester from Middleborough to Eaat Quiticus Pond ; thence noitherly by East t^uiticus, upper and lower Pocksha Ponds, to the mouth of the broi>k near Elias Cushman's; thence northerly, straight to the lirst-nanied hounds, be enrolled in the Company of Infantry, eomntanded by Captain John Fuller, and constitute the

"Thai all persons, liable to be enrolled in the militia, and residing H ithin the following bounds, viz. : beginning at Taunton line at Shaw's meeting-house; thence southwesterly by the road leading from said lueeting-bousu to Sampson's Tavern, in Miildleborough, until it comes to Assawamsett Pond ; thence easterly by the west side of Assawamsett lower and upper Pucksha and East (juiticus Pond to Rochester; thence westerly and northerly by the line wliioh diviiles Middleborough from Rochester, Taunton, and Freetown to the tirst-mentioncd boumls bo enrolled in the company of infantry commanded by Cap't. Samuel Hoar, and constitute the South\vest Company in Middleborough.

" Thiit all persons liable to be enrolled in the militia, iind residing within the following limits, viz.: beginning at Woodward's bridge on Taunton River; thence southerly by the road leailing from IJridgeuater tu Middleborough Four Corners by the houses of Ebenozer Willis aud (len. Abiel Washburn to the Nemaskct Kiver, including all the inhabilauison the said road froui Woodward's bridge tu the school-house near Gen. Abiel Washburn's : tbeuce on said river to the road leading IVom T:iunton by the houses of Peter II. Peiree, George Leonard, and Samuel Miller to Taunton line ; thence north by the line which diviilcs Middleborough from Taunton to Taunton River; thence westerly by said river to the bounds lirst mentioned, be enrolled in the couipany of infantry commundedby Capt. William Murdock, and constitute the Northwest Company in ^liddleborough.