1775] THE REVOLUTION llj

with the Crown, and many of the rank and file were in doubt
at this time what course they ought to pursue. We have no
record of the attempt on the part of these companies to engage
in any active service, or even to hold any meeting, after the
alarm at Lexington ; the organization was undoubtedly lost
after that time.
On April 19, 1775, at the famous Lexington Alarm, a com-
pany was formed by reorganizing the four companies of the reg-
ular militia. Nathaniel Wood, who had been captain of the first
company, was its commander.

First Company of Local Militia ^

commissioned officers
Nathaniel Wood, capt. Joseph Smith (2d), ens.
Amos Washburn, lieut.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Zebedee Sproutt, sergt. John Pickens, corp.
Jesse Vaughan, sergt. Amos Wood, corp.
Ebenezer Thomas, sergt. Joseph Ellis, corp.
Barney Cobb, sergt. Solomon Dunham, corp.

MUSICIANS
Zebedee Pratt, drummer William Clapp, fifer

PRIVATES
Caleb Thompson Zurashada Palmer
William Bennett George Richmond
Nathan Wood George Leonard
Seth Miller Eleazer Thomas
Ephraim Thomas, Jr. Samuel Pickens, Jr.
William Armstrong Joseph Vaughan, Jr.
Isaac Bryant Benjamin Leonard
Israel Rickard Nathan Leonard
Elisha Cox Jacob Miller
William Raymond Nathaniel Thompson
Joseph Redding Jonathan Sampson
John Darling Jonathan Ryder
Ebenezer Smith Samuel Raymond
1 These lists are taken from the History of Plymouth County^ p. 1000.
Il8 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1775

James Thomas Solomon Thomas

PerezThomas Seth Peirce
Andrew Cushman Caleb Tinkham
Micah Leach Joseph Richmond, Jr.
William Wood Samuel Rickard
David Shaw David Vaughan
John Hackett Edmund Wood

As no one seemed willing to raise another company, Cap-

who had served with distinction in the old
tain Abiel Peirce,
French and Indian War, realizing the need, enlisted the fol-
lowing men :
—
Second Company of Local Militia
commissioned officers
Abiel Peirce, capt. Benjamin Darling, ensign
Joseph Macomber, lieut.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Josiah Smith, sergt. Bachellor Bennett, corp.
Richard Peirce, sergt. Jeddediah Lyon, corp.
Elias Miller, Jr., sergt. Samuel Eddy, corp.
Job Macomber, sergt. John Bly, corp.

MUSICIANS
Caleb Simmons, drummer Nathaniel Foster, fifer

PRIVATES
Job Peirce John Fry
Samuel Hoar John Douglas, Jr.
David Thomas (2d) Ebenezer L. Bennett
Michael Mosher Samuel Miller
Jesse Pratt Isaac Canedy
Jacob Hayford Daniel Reynolds
Job Hunt Rufus Weston
Henry Bishop Ziba Eaton
Consider Howland Isaac Miller
Noah Clark Nehemiah Peirce
Cornelius Hoskins Samuel Bennett
John Rogers Joshua Thomas
Lebbeus Simmons Calvin Johnson

i
1775] THE REVOLUTION 119

Caleb Wood Joshua Read

John Boothe Cryspus Shaw
Ithamer Haskins James Willis
John Reynolds Sylvanus Churchill
Nathaniel Macomber Samuel Macomber
Levi Jones Richard Omey
Josiah Smith, Jr. Israel Thomas
Malachi Rowland, Jr. Ichabod Read
Zachariah Paddock, Jr. Samuel Ransom
Rufus Rowland Daniel Jucket
Sylvanus Perrington

Three companies were organized as " minute men," con-

sisting of a few of the members of the regular militia, but
mostly of the young of the town. They were apparently
men
enlisted but for a shortterm of service, and held themselves
in readiness to respond to any orders which might be issued

from the Committee of Safety in Boston. Their names were

as follows :
—
First Company of Minute Men
commissioned officers
William Shaw, capt. Wm. Thompson, ensign
Joshua Benson, Jr., lieut.

NON-cor OFFICERS
David Thomas Job Randall, corp.
Ebenezer Cobb (2d) John Soule, corp.
James Smith, sergt. Peter Bates, corp.
Caleb Bryant, sergt. James Cobb, corp.

MUSICIANS
Sylv. Raymond, drummer Samuel Torrey, fifer

PRIVATES
Elisha Thomas Samuel Raymond (2d)
Nelson Finney Eliphalet Thomas
Lemuel Rarlow Sylvanus Bennett (3d)
Thompson
Isaac Joseph Thomas
. Edmund Wood, Jn William Le Baron
I20 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1775

Zenas Cushman John Perkins

Joseph Pratt Joseph Shaw
Phineas Thomas Joshua Eddy
Caleb Thompson, Jr. Seth Eddy
EHsha Paddock Joseph Chamberlain
Nathan Bennett Ebenezer Bennett
John Soiile, 2d Ebenezer Briggs (3d)
Gideon Cobb Asa Barrows
Eliakim Barlow Benjamin Barden
Ephrami Cushman Jacob Thomas
Barnabas Cushman Nathan Darling
Ichabod Benson John Sampson
Ebenezer Raymond Thomas Shaw
Solomon Raymond Japheth Le Baron
Thomas Bates Abiezer Le Baron
Asa Benson Joseph Bennett

Second Company of Minute Men

commissioned officers
Isaac Wood, capt. Abram Townsend, ens.
Cornelius Tinkham, lieut.

NON-COM MISSIONED OFFICERS

Abner Bourne, sergt. Samuel Wood, corp.
Joseph Holmes, sergt. Thomas,
P'oxel corp.
John Benson, sergt. Abner Nelson, corp.
William Harlow, sergt. Joseph Churchill, corp.

MUSICIANS
Peregrine White, drummer Seth Fuller, fifer

PRIVATES
Robert Sproutt Samuel Ransom
George Sampson James Peirce
Josiah Harlow Job Smith
Gershom Foster Seth Sampson
Ebenezer Elms Levi Peirce
Consider Barden George Williamson
Consider Fuller Abiel Chase
John Barrows John Tinkham, Jr.
John Townsend, Jr. Nathaniel Holmes (3d)

i
 THE REVOLUTION 121

Gideon Southworth Peleg Hathaway

John Smith (3d) Peter Hoar
Samuel Wood, Jr. Andrew Cole
Elisha Clark Aaron Cary
Abraham Parris Bartlett Handy
Noah Holmes (2d) Arodi Peirce
Ebenezer Barrows, Jr. John Holloway
Elisha Peirce James Ashley
Abishai Sampson Levi Jones
Samuel Barrows Jotham Caswell
Peter Miller William Read (3d)
George Thomas Ephraim Reynolds
Thomas Wood (2d) Jonathan Hall
Eb. Rowland Joseph Hathaway
Moses Sampson Samuel Parris
Daniel Tinkhara Ebenezer Hinds
Elisha Rider PhilipHathaway
Isaac Cushman IsaacHathaway
Abraham Shaw John Townsend
Samuel Muxum Henry Peirce
James Shaw

Third Company of Minute Men

commissioned officers
Amos Wade, capt. Lemuel Wood, ensign
Archipus Cole, lieut.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Isaac Perkins, sergt. Joseph Tupper, sergt.
Ichabod Churchill, sergt. Isaiah Keith, corp.
Isaac Shaw, sergt. Lot P^aton, corp.

MUSICIANS
John Shaw, drummer Daniel White, fifer

PRIVATES
Zebulon Vaughn John Drake
Abner Pratt Levi Hathaway
Nathan Pratt Moses Leonard
Joseph Leonard (5th) Solomon Howard
Elnathan Wood Nathaniel Richmond
Joseph Hathaway Jonathan Washburn
 122 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [i77S

Michael Leonard Thomas Cobb

David Weston Edmund Richmond
Samuel Pratt Seth Richmond
William Fuller Asa Richmond
James Keith Joseph Leonard (3d)
Silas Leonard Solomon Beals
Stephen Robinson Jonathan Richmond
Daniels Hills Zephaniah Shaw
Stephen Richmond Elijah Alden
Lazarus Hathaway Joseph Clark
Peter Tinkham Benjamin Hafferd
Thomas Harlow
The term of service for the five military companies was not
long, and they were not included in the regular Continental
^
Army, but probably served for a short time in and about Bos-
ton. Thq first company of militia and the second and third
company of minute men marched to Marshfield in consequence
of the Lexington Alarm to suppress what was feared might
be a rising of the tories, to whom Governor Gage had sent one
hundred standard of arms. After two days' service, they re-

turned to their homes. Nathaniel Wood, who had been captain

of the first local militia, enlisted another company for Colonel
Simeon Gary's regiment, which was included in the patriot
army then upon duty in Roxbury. This company was sent to
Roxbury some time in the month of April, 1776, for eight
months' service. Its officers and privates were as follows :
—
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Nathaniel Wood, capt. Job Pierce, 2d lieut.
Joseph Tupper, ist lieut. Jesse Vaughan, ensign

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Caleb Bryant, sergt. Benjamin Reed, corp.
Andrew McCully, sergt. Josiah Jones, corp.
William Bennett, sergt. John Sampson, corp.
Joseph Holmes, sergt. Nathaniel Sampson, corp.

MUSICIANS
Sylvanus Raymond, Daniel White, fifer
drummer
1775] THE REVOLUTION 123

PRIVATES
Joseph Aldrich John Macomber
Philip Austin William Pecker
Isaac Bryant John Raymond
Stephen Bryant Samuel Raymond
Ebenezer Bennett Isaac Rider
Ebenezer Barden Nathan Richmond
David Bates Daniel Shaw
Benjamin Cobb Nathaniel Shaw
Gideon Cushman Aaron Simmons
Robert Cushman Josiah Smith
Abel Cole Ezra Smith
Abel Cole, Jr. James Soule
James Cobb Barnabas Sampson
George Caswell John Strowbridge
Jonathan Caswell George Strowbridge
Zeb. Caswell Samuel Thatcher
George Clemens Samuel Thatcher, Jr.
Nathan Darling Eliph. Thomas
Paul Dean Eleazer Thomas
Ephraim Dunham David Thomas
Sylvanus Eaton Benjamin Thomas
Zibe Eaton Silas Townsend
Thomas Ellis John Thomas
Ephraim Eddy Amos Wood
Andrew Fuller Peter Wood
Thomas Foster Abner Vaughan
Edward Gibsby Ephraim Wood
John Holmes Robert Wood
George Jacob Wood
Joshua Rowland Samuel Wood
John Jones David Shaw
Consider Jones Thomas Shaw
Thomas Johnson Andrew Warren
Jonathan Morse
Captain Abiel Peirce, who had been the captain of the sec-
ond company soon after raised a company for
of the militia,
Colonel Nicholas Dike's regiment on duty near Boston. This
was composed of men from Middleboro, Bridge water, Ware-
ham, and Abington, and served for one year.
The names of men enlisted from Middleboro were as
follows :
—
124 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [i77S

COMMISSIONED OFFICER
Abiel Peirce, capt.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Josiah Harlow, sergt. James Peirce, corp.

PRIVATES
Joseph Booth Nathan Peirce
WilHam Bryant John Redding
Ebenezer Borden Joseph Richmond
James Bump Benjamin Reynolds
Isaac Ballinton Samuel Snow
Ichabod Cushman Jacob Sherman
John Fry Ichabod Wood
Nathan Hoskins Andrew Warren
Jonathan Leonard Abner Washburn
Timothy Leonard Solomon Thomas
John Harlow Japhet Le Baron

Although news travelled very slowly in those days, the sign-

ing of the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July,
1776, seemed to throughout the country almost by
spread
magic. As bells were
soon as the report reached Boston, the
rung, and as the news was conveyed from town to town, it was
received with joyful exultation.
Ichabod, a son of William Tupper, living several miles away,
hearing what had taken place, got up in the middle of the
night and hurried to
his father's house. On
reaching the house.
{y-^^ he rapped at the win-
dow and shouted,
''
Father, all the bells
are ringing between here and Boston, and we are free ! we
are free !
" The old man jumped out of his bed, rushed to the
window, and, throwing it open, shouted at the top of his voice,
" The angels will sing for joy !
" This is but one instance of the

great gratification with which this news was received by the

patriots of Middleboro.
1776] THE REVOLUTION

The moral gain of this position of independence was fol-

lowed by military disaster. Thewere defeated at

colonists
Long Island, August 27, White Plains, October 28, but in
December, after crossing the Delaware, Washington won the
battles of Trenton and Princeton. In the summer and fall the
Americans won the battles of Bennington and Stillwater, lead-
ing to the surrender of Burgoyne, October 17, 1777.
In the south events were less fortunate the defeats at ;

Brandywine and Germantown were followed by a winter of

suffering for the army at Valley Forge after the battles of
;

Monmouth and Stony Point occurred three years filled with

victories and disaster.
In the early part of the Revolutionary struggle Rhode
Island was a theatre of activity on the part of the patriot
^

army against the British forces. Although no great battle was

fought, there were continual skirmishes between the opposing
parties, and the whole surrounding country was menaced by
the forces of the enemy. This lasted for about three years
after the commencement of the struggle. The minute men and
the reorganized militia of Plymouth and Boston were often sent
there for short terms of service, and these calls were known
as the Rhode Island Alarms." As Middleboro men took part
in these frequent expeditions, it is necessary to follow this local
aspect of the war more in detail.

Among these troops there were four companies from Mid-

which were enlisted some time during the year 1776.
dleboro,
They were as follows :
—
First Company of Infantry
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Jonah Washburn, ist lieut. James Smith, 2d lieut.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Joseph Smith, sergt. Ebenezer Pratt, corp.
Francis Thompson, sergt. Benjamin Cobb, corp.
Caleb Bryant, sergt. Ebenezer Vaughan, corp.
Arnold, History of Rhode Island, vol. ii, p. 390.
6 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1776

Isaac Thomas, sergt. Nathaniel Wood, corp.

Jacob Thomas, sergt.

MUSICIANS
Sylvanus Raymond, drummer Francis Bent, fifer

Samuel Smith Robert Cushman

Ebenezer Cobb Samuel Torrey
Jacob Thompson Jonathan Porter
SilasTinkham Thomas Foster
William Thompson Jesse Vaughan
John McFarlin Sylvanus Harlow
Isaac Soule Thomas Ellis
Nathan Darling Charles Ellis, Jr.
Jacob Soule Samuel Eddy, Jr.
Abiel Leach Ebenezer Briggs
Ebenezer Bennett Joseph Briggs
John Cobb Daniel Ellis
Zenas Cushman Willard Thomas
Luther Redding Samuel Snow
Nathaniel Billington John Redding
Samuel Raymond James Tinkham
John Raymond James Soule
John Soule Elkanah Bennett
Ephraim Thomas Solomon Thomas
Jacob Miller Noah Thomas
Daniel Thomas Ephraim Wood
Joseph Cushman Benjamin Thomas
Job Thomas Elisha Thomas
John Perkins Cyrus Keith
Joseph Holmes Thomas Bates
Edward Wood, Jr. William Soule
Gideon Cobb Charles Ellis
Nathan Cobb Zachariah Paddock
Elisha Freeman Isaac Thompson
Job Randall Apollos Paddock
Elisha Cox Joseph Ellis
Ichabod Cushman

Third Company of Infantry

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
William Tupper, capt. John Murdock, lieut.