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

The amount of money paid during the war by the town for State aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $1,053.54; in 1862, $4,068.10; in 1863, $6,050.25; in 1864, $3,791.23; in 1865, $2,400.00. Total amount, $17,363.12.

Grafton

The selectmen in 1861 were Jonathan D. Wheeler, Horace S. Warren, George W. Estabrook, John McClellan, Ashley W. Rice; in 1862, Jonathan D. Wheeler, John McClellan, Ashley W. Rice, Joseph B. Adams, Cyrus D. Aldrich; in 1863, John McClellan, Joseph B. Adams, Lowell White, Jasper S. Nelson, John B. White; in 1864, Joseph B. Adams, Jasper S. Nelson, William F. Slocum, George F. Slocum, George K. Nichols; in 1865, William F. Slocum, George F. Slocum, George K. Nichols, Silas E. Stowe, Simon A. Knowles.

The town-clerk during all these years was James W. White. The town-treasurer in 1861 was Rufus E. Warren; in 1862 and 1863, Horace S. Warren; in 1864 and 1865, George F. Slocum.

1861. The news of the attack upon the Massachusetts Sixth Regiment in Baltimore, April 19, 1861, was received in Grafton on the morning of the 20th, and caused great interest and excitement. The selectmen called an informal meeting at the town hall in the afternoon. Messengers were sent to different parts of the town to notify the inhabitants. At four o'clock P. M. the large hall was filled with citizens. Benjamin Smith, a soldier of the Revolution, ninety-eight years old, was present and took a seat on the platform. Several patriotic speeches were made, and resolutions adopted for the immediate formation of a military company; and the selectmen were requested ‘to call a legal town-meeting at the earliest possible day,’ to provide means for equipping and drilling the company. A warrant for a meeting on the 29th was issued the same evening. A very full meeting was held on the 29th, at which it was voted to appropriate four thousand dollars as a fund for organizing the