William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 2

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[613] the war for State aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $948,93.; in 1862, $4,918.09; in 1863, $6,653.29; in 1864, $6,500.00; in 1865, $4,000.00. Total amount, $23,020.31. This does not include State aid paid to families of men who enlisted in Rhode Island regiments.

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Bolton

Incorporated June 24, 1738. Population in 1860, 1,348; in 1865, 1,504. Valuation in 1860, $563,319: in 1865, $636,514.

The selectmen in 1861 were Marcellus Houghton, Joel Sawyer, John T. Wallis; in 1862 and 1863, Marcellus Houghton, Joshua E. Sawyer, Roswell Barrett; in 1864, Marcellus Houghton, Joshua E. Sawyer, Caleb E. Nourse; in 1865, Marcellus Houghton, Joshua E. Sawyer, Charles E. Waite.

The town-clerk during all these years, with the exception of three months, was Richard S. Edes. Joseph H. Sawyer was town-clerk during the three months that Mr. Edes was at Port Royal, South Carolina. The town-treasurer during all the years of the war was C. C. Moore.

1861. On the 19th of April, when information was received that our Sixth Regiment had been attacked in Baltimore, the selectmen issued the following call for a public meeting: ‘Citizens of Bolton! All who are in favor of sustaining the Government of the United States are earnestly requested to meet at the Town Hall on Monday, April 22d, at 7 o'clock P. M., to hear and act upon the proposition received from Berlin and Harvard to form a volunteer military company, and to adopt such other measures as may be deemed necessary.’ In accordance with this call a large meeting was held, of which Marcellus Houghton was chosen chairman and Richard S. Edes secretary. A committee, consisting of Silas Holman, Nathaniel A. Newton, and Joseph H. Sawyer, was appointed to report resolutions, which were subsequently read and unanimously adopted: First, ‘That we, the citizens of Bolton, desire to be behind none of our fellow-citizens of other towns in feeling and firmly manifesting a hearty and loyal attachment to our beloved country, and the free institutions under which we have heretofore so signally ’