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

1861. A public town-meeting was held on the 19th of April, at which upwards of forty young men ‘offered themselves for the formation of a military company.’ The first legal town-meeting was held on the 30th of April, at which it was voted to give ten dollars a month to each unmarried person, and twenty dollars a month to each married person who should enlist in the military service. Five thousand dollars were appropriated to meet the expenditure. July 10th, Voted, to pay aid to the families of volunteers, and to pay all bills for medical attendance. November 5th, Voted, to pay State aid as provided by law.

1862. August 2d, The town authorized the payment of a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer, to the number required to fill its quota, who should enlist for the term of three years and be mustered in previous to the 16th of August. On the 28th of the same month it was voted to pay the same bounty to nine-months volunteers. The selectmen were authorized to pay State aid to the widows and children of volunteers. Several public meetings were held about this time, at which measures were adopted to raise by private subscription money to encourage recruiting.

1863. No action appears to have been necessary by the town in its corporate capacity in relation to furnishing men for the war during this year.

1864. April 16th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer enlisting for three years and credited to the quota of the town; three thousand dollars were appropriated to pay the same. June 4th, Three hundred and seventy-five dollars additional were appropriated for the same purpose. The same bounty continued to be paid until the end of the war.

1865. June 10th, Voted, to reimburse to citizens money which they had voluntarily contributed to encourage enlistments and the payment of bounties. This vote was subsequently rescinded.