Chapter 13: Plymouth County.
This ancient and historic county is bounded north-east and east by Massachusetts Bay, north by Norfolk county and Boston harbor, north-west by Norfolk county, west by Bristol county, and south-east and south by Buzzard's Bay and Barnstable county. ‘The North River, emptying into Massachusetts Bay, and numerous branches of the Taunton are its chief rivers.’ The shire town of the county, at which the courts are held, is Plymouth. The county has a sea coast on Massachusetts Bay of between thirty and forty miles. The land is not so fertile as in some of the other counties in the Commonwealth, yet there is considerable good land within its limits. The population of Plymouth county in 1860 was 64,758; in 1865, it was 63,074, being a decrease in five years of 1,684. The valuation in 1860 was $29,160,937; in 1865 it was $27,932,058, being a decrease in five years of $1,228,879. The county is divided into twenty-five townships, which, according to the returns made by the several selectmen in 1866, furnished seven thousand six hundred and fifty-two men for the war, which we think is above five hundred in excess of the number that was credited. Every town in the county furnished its contingent of men upon every call made by the President during the war, and each had a surplus at the close of the Rebellion, which in the aggregate amounted to five hundred and twelve men (512). The total expenditure of the several towns on account of the war, exclusive of State aid to the families of enlisted men, was $627,010.67. The total amount of money raised and expended by them during the war for State aid, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was $502,881.40; making a [536] grand total of expenditure of one million, one hundred and twenty-nine thousand eight hundred and ninety-two dollars and seven cents ($1,129,892.07.) The following is the war record of each town:—Abington
Incorporated June 10, 1712. Population in 1860, 8,527; in 1865, 8,576. Valuation in 1860, $3,279,465; in 1865, $3,059,801. The selectmen in 1861 and 1862 were Marcus Reed, Zenas Jenkins, Samuel B. Thaxter; in 1863, 1864, and 1865, Marcus Reed, Zenas Jenkins, Henry A. Noyes. The town-clerk during all the years of the war was N. T. Hunt. The town-treasurer in 1861 was N. T. Hunt; in 1862, Bela T. Nash; in 1863, Zenas Jenkins; in 1864, George A. Beal; in 1865, Bela E. Faxon. 1861. The first legal town-meeting to act upon matters relating to the war was held on the 6th of May, at which six thousand dollars were appropriated for aid to the families and dependants of volunteers; and N. T. Hunt, J. M. Underwood, Elbridge Sprague, and O. G. Healey, together with the selectmen, were appointed with discretionary power to distribute the money. May 15th, Sixteen hundred dollars were appropriated to furnish uniforms for ‘the Harlow Guards,’ Company K, Fourth Regiment Massachusetts Militia,1 and for a new military company forming in the centre of the town, to be given them when the company is ready for service. June 13th, The treasurer was authorized to borrow five thousand dollars for aid to soldiers' families, and one thousand dollars to fulfil any contract entered into with Captain Blanchard's company at East Abington. 1862. April 28th, Resolutions were presented by Hon. Levi Reed, in regard to the death of Corporal John M. Sewall, Company E, Twenty-third Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, who died at Newbern, North Carolina, April 9, 1862. He was the first citizen of Abington who died in the service. The resolutions were unanimously adopted, and were directed to be placed [537] on the town records, and a copy sent to the family of the deceased. July 17th, Voted to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer for three years service when credited to the quota of the town. The treasurer was authorized to borrow twelve thousand dollars to pay the same. ‘Voted, that we endorse the sentiments of General Hunter's letter to Secretary Stanton.’2 July 24th, The treasurer reported that the ‘banks in this vicinity’ require some responsible men to indorse the notes of the town, ‘owing to the illegality of towns raising money by taxation for such a purpose.’ A number of gentlemen immediately volunteered to indorse the notes to the amount of $78,000, and others to loan in cash $13,000. Fifty dollars additional was added to the soldier's bounty. A series of patriotic resolutions were reported by B. Hobart, Esq., and adopted; one of which was the following:—Resolved, That while the North have always acquiesced in the constitutional election of the officers of the General Government, whether resident in the South, or Northern men with Southern principles, the South have violated all courtesy and faith, especially in the late election of the present President of the United States, and without waiting to test the measures of his administration have trampled upon the Constitution and repudiated it as vile. Against such perfidy, piracy, and rebellion the North have taken up arms, not to conquer the South, but to protect the Constitution of our country and enforce the laws passed under it; and we will never lay them down until this is accomplished, and treason and rebellion forever extirpated from our land.August 5th, A bounty of one hundred dollars was authorized to be paid to volunteers for nine months service. September 5th, The treasurer was authorized to borrow fifteen thousand dollars to pay bounties to volunteers. September 22d, The bounty to nine months men was raised fifty dollars. 1863. August 3d, The treasurer was authorized to borrow money to aid the families of deceased and disabled soldiers, and the families of men who may be drafted. 1864. March 30th, Voted, to raise four thousand seven [538] hundred dollars to refund money paid by private citizens for bounties and to encourage recruiting. The bounty to volunteers for three years service was fixed at one hundred and twenty-five dollars. August 3d, This amount was directed to be paid to all persons who furnished substitutes to fill the quota of the town. 1865. June 30th, Voted to have a celebration in honor of those who had served in the army and navy, including their families. A committee of twenty was appointed to make arrangements. Abington furnished about ten hundred men for the war, which was a surplus of seventy-one over and above all demands. Forty-four were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was one hundred and five thousand two hundred dollars ($105,200.00). The amount of money raised and expended during the war by the town for State aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $7,045.08; in 1862, $17,651.89; in 1863, $22,038.08; in 1864, $20.000.00; in 1865, $14,000.00. Total amount, $80,735.05. The ladies of Abington formed a Union Aid Society as early as April 23d, 1861. This was followed soon after by the ladies in the various parishes. The soldiers' work performed by them was very great. The contributions consisted chiefly of quilts, pillow-cases, sheets, drawers, handkerchiefs, shirts, lint, bandages, and money. They were distributed to the soldiers through the agency of the Christian and Sanitary Commissions.
Bridgewater
Incorporated June 3, 1656. Population in 1860, 3,761; in 1865, 4,196. Valuation in 1860, $1,878,831; in 1865, $1,992,756. The selectmen in 1861 and all through the war were Van R. Swift, Spencer Leonard, Elbridge Keith. The town-clerk and town-treasurer during the same period was Lewis Holmes. 1861. The first legal town-meeting to consider matters relating to the war was held on the 29th of April, at which it was voted to hold in reserve fourteen hundred dollars appropriated [539] at a previous meeting for the improvement of highways; that the selectmen request the county commissioners not to lay out any new road in the county ‘until such time as we shall be able to see with reasonable certainty to what extent we shall be obliged to exert ourselves for the defence of the country.’ That the treasurer be authorized to borrow six thousand dollars ‘as it shall from time to time be needed.’ Voted, to pay each volunteer belonging to the town ten dollars a month while in the military service; also proper aid to his family; and if any volunteer shall be killed in battle or die in the service of disease, his children shall receive proper education, and be ‘put to some honest and honorable calling or pursuit, not as a charity but as a debt due.’ Voted, that each volunteer be furnished with a uniform, ‘and a revolver and Bowie knife.’3 Artemas Hale, Joseph A. Hyde, Mitchel Hooper, Lafayette Keith, and Joshua E. Crane were appointed to carry the foregoing votes into effect. Rev. Mr. Douglas was invited to close the meeting with prayer. May 20th, Further provision was made for the comfort of the families of soldiers. The committee appointed to recruit a military company reported that eighty-five native citizens of the town had signed a roll, but no more three-months men would be accepted; many of the men enlisted for three years and were sent to Fortress Monroe under the command of Captain Libeas Leach, and afterwards were part of the Twenty-Ninth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. 1862. July 17th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer enlisting to the credit of the town within thirty days, and the treasurer was authorized to borrow money to pay the same. August 16th, The bounty was fixed at one hundred and sixty dollars to each volunteer enlisting for three years service. It was also voted, “that the trustees of the Plymouth Agricultural Society be requested to offer to the Government their building and grounds as a hospital for sick and wounded soldiers. August 26th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars to each volunteer who shall enlist to the credit of the town for nine months service.” [540] 1863. March 9th, Voted, to pay to each three-years volunteer from the town one hundred and sixty dollars with interest from date of muster in, provided he has received an honorable discharge, and deducting the bounty he may have already received. 1864. Several meetings were held during the year, at which money was appropriated to pay bounties and State aid, and measures taken to procure recruits. Bridgewater furnished about four hundred and eleven men for the war, which was a surplus of forty over and above all demands. Ten were commissioned officers. The total amount of money appropriated and expended by the town for war purposes, exclusive of State aid, was twenty-nine thousand and nine hundred dollars ($29,900.00). This does not include the amount raised by private subscription to encourage recruiting, which was quite large. The amount of money raised and expended during the war for State aid, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $830.27; in 1862, $3,811.00; in 1863, $4,216.77; in 1864, $3,947.63; in 1865, $2,877.40. Total amount, $15,683.07.Carver
Incorporated June 9, 1790. Population in 1860, 1,186; in 1865, 1,059. Valuation in 1860, $490,290; in 1865, $459,583. The selectmen in 1861 were Alvin Perkins, Thomas B. Griffith, Horatio A. Lucus; in 1862, Alvin Perkins, Thomas B. Griffith, Thomas Vaughan; in 1863, Alvin Perkins, Thomas Vaughan, Joseph Barrows; in 1864, Alvin Perkins, Thomas Vaughan, Andrew Griffith; in 1865, Thomas Vaughan, Andrew Griffith, Frederick Cobb. The town-clerk during the years 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864 was Ansel Bartlett Maxim; in 1865, Thomas M. Southworth. The town-treasurer during 1861 was John Bent. During the years 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1865, Thomas Cobb. 1861. The town of Carver had one company in the Third Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, which left the State [541] for Fortress Monroe on the 17th of April for three months service, under the first call of the President for troops. At a meeting held on the 11th of May it was voted that the town ‘make up the pay of all soldiers in said company in addition to what they receive from the Government to twenty-six dollars a month.’ 1862. July 24th, Voted, to pay each of the fourteen men called for to fill the quota of the town a bounty of one hundred dollars when mustered in for three years service, and to the five men who shall enlist first an additional sum of five dollars. August 25th, The same bounty was authorized to be paid to nine-months volunteers. 1863. December 15th, Voted, to pay to each raw recruit fifteen dollars, and to each veteran recruit twenty-five dollars, who shall enlist for three years and be credited to the quota of the town ‘in addition to all other bounties.’ 1864. April 11th, The bounty to each volunteer for three years service was fixed at one hundred and twenty-five dollars, and that amount was continued to be paid by the town to the end of the war. July 13th, Voted, to pay each man liable to do military duty, who shall put in a substitute for three years service and have him credited to the town, the same bounty as paid by the town to volunteers. Various citizens' meetings were held during the war to aid the town authorities in recruiting men, and more than two thousand dollars were contributed by individual citizens for that purpose. Carver furnished one hundred and twenty-seven men for the war, which was a surplus of six over and above all demands. Seven were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was ten thousand eight hundred and two dollars and six cents ($10,802.06). The amount of money raised and expended by the town during the war for State aid, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $311.43; in 1862, $2,254.13; in 1863, $1,506.08; in 1864, $1,482.65; in 1865, $811.47. Total amount, $6,365.76. ‘The ladies of Carver contributed liberally of their time and [542] means towards the comfort of the soldiers absent at the seat of war, and never ceased their efforts until peace was conquered, and the troops came home.’Duxbury
Incorporated June 7, 1637. Population in 1860, 2,597; in 1865, 2,377. Valuation in 1860, $1,070,386; in 1865, $1,006,782. The selectmen in 1861 and 1862 were Elbridge Chandler, Samuel Atwell, John Holmes; in 1863, Elbridge Chandler, Benjamin Alden, Samuel Atwell; in 1864, and 1865, Samuel Atwell, James M. Weston, Charles H. Chandler. The town-clerk during all these years was Josiah Peterson. The town-treasurer in 1861, 1862, and 1863 was Eden S. Sampson; in 1864 and 1865, F. P. Sherman. 1861. May 1st, A town-meeting was held, at which a preamble and resolutions were adopted setting forth the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and resolving to raise by taxation ‘or otherwise’ four thousand dollars to organize and uniform a militia company, ‘to be composed of the able-bodied citizens of Duxbury;’ each member to receive ‘twenty dollars a month while under drill,’ not to exceed thirty days, or until called into active service, and when in active service to be paid fifteen dollars a month in addition to the Government pay. To meet this expenditure the selectmen were authorized to sell thirty-seven shares of stock in the New England and Merchants' Banks, ‘and if the State appoint an instructor to train and drill the company’ the town to pay any expense incurred thereby. August 29th, The treasurer was authorized to borrow whatever money may be required to give aid to the families of volunteers. 1862. February 12th, The treasurer was authorized to borrow money to pay aid to the families of volunteers. July 24th, Voted, to raise thirty-two hundred dollars to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer belonging to the town who shall enlist and be credited to the town. August 26th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer for nine months service, ‘he being an able-bodied citizen of Duxbury;’ and the selectmen and treasurer were authorized to [543] borrow money to pay the same. September 10th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each soldier belonging to Duxbury who has enlisted without receiving a bounty. 1863. No action of the town appears to have been necessary during this year in order to fill the demands made by the Government for more men. 1864. March 7th, Voted, to raise by taxation a sum not exceeding five thousand dollars to pay bounties to volunteers, and to refund money which had already been applied to that purpose, and to pay citizens who had advanced money not to exceed one hundred and twenty-five dollars for each volunteer enlisted; this payment to be made if the Legislature shall pass a bill making it legal.4 April 4th, Voted, to authorize the selectmen to borrow thirty-eight hundred and sixty-three dollars to refund to citizens the money they had contributed to encourage recruiting. August 20th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to drafted men who shall be credited to the quota of the town. September 17th, The selectmen were authorized to pay the same bounty to men in the navy who are credited to the town. Duxbury furnished two hundred and seventy-nine men for the war, which was a surplus of five over and above all demands. Five were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town for war purposes, exclusive of State aid, was thirty thousand six hundred and sixty-one dollars and nine cents ($30,661.09). The amount raised and expended by the town during the war for State aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861,$1,230.52; in 1862, $5,090.54; in 1863, $7,618.50; in 1864, $4,789.40; in 1865, $2,500.00. Total amount, $21,228.96.East Bridgewater
Incorporated June 14, 1823. Population in 1860, 3,207; in 1865, 2,977. Valuation in 1860, $1,327,734; in 1865, $1,136,937. The selectmen in 1861 and 1862 were George Bryant, Samuel [544] G. Alden, Charles A. Latham; in 1863, Benjamin W. Harris, Charles A. Latham, George Bryant; in 1864, George Bryant, Galen Willis, Isaac Nutter; in 1865, George Bryant, Jacob Bates, Ezra Kingman. The town-clerk during all the years of the war was Isaac N. Nutter. The town-treasurer in the years 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864 was Bartlett R. Alden; in 1865, Isaac N. Nutter. 1861. The first legal town-meeting to act upon matters relating to the war was held on the 27th of April, at which on motion of Hon. B. W. Harris it was unanimously—Resolved, That this town will raise what money is necessary to uniform a volunteer company and properly provide for the family of each member.Four thousand dollars were appropriated; and Samuel G. Alden, Charles A. Latham, George Bryant, John Reed, Albert D. Wheeler, Jacob Bates, David Pratt, 2d, Isaac Nutter, Sidney Allen, and Cushing Otis were chosen a town council to carry into effect the desire of the town as expressed in the above resolve. It was also voted to pay each volunteer ten dollars a month while in active service. Previous to adjourning the following resolution was adopted:—
Resolved, That the citizens of East Bridgewater, this day in town-meeting assembled, do unanimously resolve that they will, to the extent of their ability, maintain and defend the integrity of the Constitution and the Union, and uphold the Government of the United States.June 15th, The treasurer was authorized to borrow four thousand dollars ‘to defray any expenses already incurred, and to carry out and fulfil any contract heretofore made’ with members of the volunteer militia belonging to that town who were called into the service of the United States. October 5th, Voted, to pay State aid to the families of volunteers as provided by law. 1862. July 26th, The treasurer was authorized to borrow forty-five hundred dollars, and the selectmen to open a recruiting office, and to pay each volunteer who enlists for three years and is credited to the quota of the town a bounty of one hundred dollars. August 2d, This bounty was increased fifty dollars to [545] those who would enlist previous to the twelfth of the month. August 23d, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer for nine months service. 1863. No action appears to have been necessary by the town during this year to keep up its contingent of men and to provide for the families of the volunteers. 1864. April 4th, The selectmen were authorized to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer for three years service. June 14th, Voted, to raise five thousand dollars ‘to procure forty volunteers to be applied to the quota of this town in anticipation of any future call of the President.’ August 1st, Voted, to pay the same bounty to volunteers enlisting in the navy as paid to those in the military service. East Bridgewater furnished about three hundred and fifty men, and had a surplus at the end of the war of fifteen over and above all demands. Fourteen were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was fifty-five thousand seven dollars and three cents ($55,007.03). The amount of money raised and expended during the war for State aid, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $2,346.94; in 1862, $6,819.96; in 1863, $9,182.00; in 1864, $8,621.97; in 1865, $5,400.00. Total amount, $32,730.87. The ladies of East Bridgewater in January, 1862, organized for soldiers' work, and held weekly meetings until July, 1865. During this time they forwarded to the ‘New England Auxiliary Association,’ No. 18 West street, Boston, thirty-eight common shoe-boxes of clothing and other useful articles for the sick and wounded. As a sample of what each box contained we give in detail the contents of one; viz., 11 new shirts, 10 old shirts, 9 pairs cotton drawers, 3 pairs old pillow cases, 236 bandages, 1 package ravelled lint, 3 packages scraped lint, 7 handkerchiefs, 10 towels, 3 pairs woollen socks, several rolls of old linen and cotton. At the end of the war $367.35 remained in the hands of the treasurer, which was given in aid of a soldiers' monument.
[546]
Halifax
Incorporated July 4, 1734. Population in 1860, 766; in 1865, 739. Valuation in 1860, $321,449; in 1865, $354,039. The selectmen in 1861 were Edwin Inglee, Abram Bourne, William H. Sears; in 1862, Edwin Inglee, Abram Bourne, Ephraim B. Thompson; in 1863, 1864, and 1865, Edwin Inglee, Abram Bourne, Asaph S. Wood. The town-clerk from 1850, and all through the war, was Edwin Inglee. The town-treasurer in 1861 was William A. Peasley; in 1862, Stephen P. Lull; in 1863, 1864, and 1865, Elbridge G. Morton. 1861. The first meeting to consider questions relating to the war was held May 7th, when it was voted ‘that the credit of the town is hereby pledged to those belonging to Halifax, and to those who have already gone, or to those who may hereafter either volunteer or be drafted to fight in defence of our Government, in a sum sufficient, taken in connection with the pay received from the Government, to make the sum total of twenty dollars a month for the time they are actually engaged in such military duty; and in case of their decease, the said extra pay is to be paid to their heirs.’5 A committee of five was appointed to provide proper assistance for the families of the soldiers. 1862. July 30th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer who shall enlist to the credit of the town, to be paid when mustered into the United-States service. August 30th, The town ratified the action of the selectmen in paying a bounty of two hundred dollars under the vote of July 30th. On the 6th of September, voted to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to volunteers enlisting for nine months service. 1863. March 2d, Nothing of special interest relating to the war appears to have been done by the town in its corporate capacity. The selectmen kept on recruiting and filling demands made upon the town for men. 1864. January—, The selectmen were authorized to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer [547] enlisting for three years service, and were ‘directed to proceed in the matter as soon as they may deem expedient.’ August 2d, The selectmen were authorized to make a deposit of five hundred dollars in the State treasury to procure volunteers to be credited to the town. Only two were obtained, at a cost of two hundred and fifty dollars; the balance of the money was repaid to the town. After filling the quota of the town under the pending call of the President, the selectmen continued to recruit men in anticipation of another call being made, and paying to each volunteer, when mustered in and credited, a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars. Halifax, according to the returns made by the selectmen in 1866, furnished one hundred and one men, which is about twenty more than were credited; at the end of the war it had a surplus of seven over and above all demands. Three were commissioned officers. The whole amount appropriated and expended by the town for war purposes, exclusive of State aid, was seven thousand six hundred and sixty-two dollars and ninety-four cents ($7,662.94). The amount raised and expended by the town during the war for State aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $325.01; in 1862, $2,087.81; in 1863, $2,759.04; in 1864, $1,956.75; in 1865, $900.00. Total amount, $8,028.61.Hanson
Incorporated Feb. 22, 1820. Population in 1860, 1,245; in 1865, 1,195. Valuation in 1860, $541,567; in 1865, $458,168. The selectmen in 1861 were Josiah Barker, Francis W. Bourne, Melzar Sprague; in 1862, Josiah Barker, Francis W. Bourne, Theodore Cobb; in 1863, Josiah Barker, William Bourne, Theodore Cobb; in 1864, Ebenezer B. K. Gurney, Elbridge G. Bates, William Bourne; in 1865, E. B. K. Gurney, Isaac F. Thayer, William Bourne. The town-clerk in 1861, 1862, and 1863 was Isaiah Bearce; [548] in 1864 and 1865, Josephus Bryant. The town-treasurer in 1861 was Isaac Thomas; in 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1865, Josephus Bryant. 1861. The first legal town-meeting to consider matters relating to the war was held on the 6th of May, at which it was voted to pay to every volunteer who may be mustered in as a soldier, ‘and who is a resident of this town,’ a sum sufficient to make his monthly pay twenty dollars, ‘exclusive of such food and clothing as the Government may provide.’ The selectmen were instructed to ‘pay said amount as fast as it may be due, either to the volunteer, or to his family, as in their judgment may be expedient.’ The selectmen were also authorized, ‘in case there is no money in the treasury, to hire money on account of the town.’ May 29th, The selectmen were authorized to pay State aid to the families of volunteers as provided by a recent statute, and to borrow money for that purpose. 1862. March 3d, The treasurer was authorized to borrow money to pay State aid to the families of soldiers. July 23d, Voted, to pay each volunteer a bounty of one hundred dollars, and ‘limit the time of enlisting to fifteen days.’ A committee of one from each school-district was chosen ‘to co-operate with the selectmen to procure enlistments.’ The treasurer was empowered to borrow money. August 18th, The time of enlistment was extended to the 22d of August, and the bounty raised to two hundred dollars. August 23d, Voted, ‘to pay a bounty to each man to make out our quota, be the same more or less, and whether they are drafted or not, the bounty to be paid in the order in which they are enlisted.’ E. B. K. Gurney, Eli Stetson, and Luther Holmes were chosen to aid the selectmen in recruiting. The treasurer was instructed to borrow money. September 3d, Voted to reconsider the vote to pay drafted men a bounty of one hundred dollars. September 13th, Voted, ‘to instruct the selectmen to grant the family of Horatio N. Hood State aid, he having enlisted this evening as a soldier from this town.’ 1863. March 2d, Voted, ‘to raise three hundred and seventy-five dollars to pay the interest on the bounty-money;’ [549] also gave authority to the treasurer to borrow not exceeding five thousand dollars. August 4th, Voted, to raise ‘three hundred dollars for each drafted man who actually goes into the service of the United States.’ E. B. K. Gurney, William Bourne, and Elbridge E. Bates were appointed to procure substitutes for the drafted men who desire it. Voted, ‘to raise as many times three hundred dollars as is necessary to procure substitutes for our drafted men to fill our quota if they elect not to go themselves;’ and that ‘our treasurer be directed to loan the sum of three hundred dollars to each drafted man, and take his note for the same at one mill on the one hundred dollars as interest.’ Voted, that the families of drafted men receive the same State aid as the families of volunteers. November 16th, A committee of one from each school-district was chosen to help the selectmen ‘to recruit to fill our quota.’ 1864. March 7th, Voted, ‘to direct the selectmen to give those nine-months men who paid their poll tax in 1862 an order on the treasurer to refund the same.’ April 4th, Voted to raise thirteen hundred and seventy-five dollars to repay citizens who had advanced money to pay bounties; also to raise ‘a sufficient sum to pay volunteers who may be called for before the 1st of March, 1865, to the amount of one hundred and twenty-five dollars each.’ The treasurer was authorized to borrow the money. 1865. May 7th, Voted, to raise by special tax two thousand and fifty dollars to pay citizens who in 1864 had advanced money to pay bounties. The town of Hanson furnished one hundred and eighty men for the war, which was a surplus of twenty over and above all demands. One was a commissioned officer. The whole amount appropriated and expended by the town for war purposes, exclusive of State aid, was nineteen thousand five hundred and two dollars ($19,502.00). The amount of money raised and expended by the town for State aid to soldiers' families during the war, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $400.10; in 1862, $2,406.66; in 1863, $3,373.14; in 1864, $3,854.80; in 1865, $2,800.00. Total amount, $12,834.70.[550]
Hanover
Incorporated June 14, 1727. Population in 1860, 1,565; in 1865, 1,545. Valuation in 1860, $821,527; in 1865, $747,591. The selectmen in 1861 were Oren Josselyn, Jedediah Dudley, Robert H. Studley; in 1862, 1863, and 1864, Oren Josselyn, Jedediah Dudley, John S. Brooks; in 1865, Jedediah Dudley, John S. Brooks, Isaac G. Stetson. The town-clerk and town-treasurer during all of these years was Albert Stetson. 1861. The first meeting to act upon questions connected with the war was held on the 4th of May, at which it was voted to raise five hundred dollars ‘to be paid to needy families of soldiers who have gone to the war.’ May 18th, Appropriated two hundred and fifty dollars to purchase uniforms ‘for soldiers who may volunteer from Hanover.’ It was also voted to pay each soldier ‘a dollar a day for drilling.’ November 6th, Voted, to raise six hundred dollars for State aid to soldiers' families. 1862. August 4th, Voted, to raise six thousand six hundred dollars to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars to each volunteer who shall enlist for three years to the credit of the town ‘within one week.’ August 23d, The bounty was fixed at one hundred and fifty dollars ‘to all who may enlist from Hanover for three years service.’ It was also voted to borrow five thousand dollars ‘in anticipation of the ordinary revenue of the town.’ August 30th, A committee was appointed to circulate a bond of indemnity to the treasurer for money which he may pay for bounties to volunteers enlisting in the nine-months service to the credit of the town. September 6th, Voted to pay a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars to nine-months volunteers. 1863. August 6th, Voted, to pay drafted men three hundred dollars, ‘and to take their notes for the same, the notes to be given in.’ The selectmen were directed to borrow a thousand dollars for State aid to the families of drafted men. 1864. May 14th, The treasurer was authorized to borrow seventeen hundred and fifty dollars for bounty and recruiting purposes. August 6th, Voted, to borrow five thousand dollars [551] for the same purposes; and the selectmen were authorized to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer enlisting for three years to the credit of the town. This bounty was paid until the end of the war. Hanover furnished about one hundred and eighty men, and had a surplus of twenty-two at the end of the war over and above all demands. Two were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was twenty-eight thousand five hundred and eighty-one dollars ($28,581.00). The amount of money raised and expended by the town during the war for State aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $719.20; in 1862, $2,093.10; in 1863, $3,282.80; in 1864, $3,824.78; in 1865, $2,714.01. Total amount, $12,633.89.Hingham
Incorporated Sept. 2, 1635. Population in 1860, 4,351; in 1865, 4,176. Valuation in 1860, $2,481,366; in 1865, $2,391,437. The selectmen in 1861, 1862, and 1863 were Seth Sprague, Edward Cazneau, Demerick Marble; in 1864 and 1865, Seth Sprague, Demerick Marble, George Hersey, Jr. The town-clerk during all the years of the war was Charles N. Marsh. The town-treasurer during the same period was William Fearing, Jr. 1861. April 30th, The town appropriated six thousand dollars to furnish supplies for the families of those who have been or who may be called ‘into the service of their country.’ John Todd, David Cain, John Stephenson, Demerick Marble, Joseph Jacobs, and Albert Whiting were chosen a committee to have charge of the expenditure of the money, with instructions ‘that should more troops be called for from this town, to furnish them with clothing and other necessaries.’ November 16th, Captain John Stephenson reported that one thousand tree hundred and thirty-one dollars and twenty-seven cents had been expended in furnishing uniforms and other necessaries to the ‘Lincoln Light Guards,’ while in the three-months service at Fortress Monroe, and one thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars to volunteers [552] not connected with said company. At the same meeting three thousand dollars were appropriated for aid to soldiers' families, and the selectmen were authorized ‘to apply the same as their judgment may dictate.’ 1862. March 3d, The committee appointed in April preceding reported that they had expended one thousand three hundred and forty-nine dollars and seventy-seven cents “for Captain Luther Stephenson, Jr., Company I, Fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia (The Lincoln Light Infantry).” The committee in closing their report ‘congratulate the town on the fact that, at the commencement of the present great struggle for the supremacy of our Government over a wicked Rebellion, we had within our borders a military organization who promptly responded to the call made for their services,’ and ‘that we cannot but look back to that period when promptness of action was the great power required to secure the stronghold of the nation. That power we have the satisfaction of knowing was furnished by Massachusetts in sending to Washington and Fortress Monroe a few of her regiments, thus saving in the present contest, as we believe , thousands of lives and millions of treasure, and perhaps also the great cause of the Union itself. To have given aid for the accomplishment of objects of such inestimable value must ever be a gratifying thought to the soldiers and citizens of Hingham.’ A vote of thanks was given to the committee for their services. Five thousand dollars were appropriated for State aid to soldiers' families. July 19th, The bounty to three-years volunteers was fixed at one hundred dollars, which on the 15th of August was raised to two hundred dollars. August 29th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars to nine-months volunteers. December 2d, The selectmen were authorized to increase the bounty to two hundred dollars, and the treasurer was authorized to borrow money for payment of the same. 1863. March 9th, Nine thousand dollars were placed at the disposal of the selectmen for aid to the families of volunteers. August 15th, Fifteen thousand dollars were appropriated in ‘aid of the wives, children, parents, brothers, and sisters of those inhabitants of the town who may be drafted, provided no more [553] than two hundred dollars be paid to or for any one person in addition to the State aid.’ 1864. April 11th, The selectmen were authorized to have brought home and properly buried the body of any Hingham soldier who has died or may die in the war. The treasurer was authorized to borrow money to pay bounties, not exceeding one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer for three years service who shall enlist to the credit of the town before March 1st, 1865. Hingham furnished about five hundred men for the war, and had a surplus of twenty-seven over and above all demands. Thirteen were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was fifty-five thousand nine hundred and fifty-three dollars and fifty-six cents ($55,953.56). The amount of money raised and expended by the town during the war for State aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $591.18; in 1862, $8,403.63; in 1863, $7,851.91; in 1864, $8,813.74; in 1865, $4,900.00. Total amount, $30,560.46.Hull
Incorporated May 29, 1644. Population in 1860, 285; in 1865, 260. Valuation in 1860, $179,078; in 1865, $150,864. The selectmen in 1861 and 1862 were John Reed, Alexander Vining, Nehemiah Ripley, Jr.; in 1863, John Reed, Lewis P. Loring, Davis W. Dill; in 1864, Lewis P. Loring, John Reed, Martin Knight; in 1865, William B. Carney, Samuel H. Sawyer, Alexander Vining. The town-clerk in 1861, 1862, and 1863 was William B. Carney; in 1864 and 1865, Davis W. Dill. The towntreas-urer in 1861 was Albert L. Knight; in 1862, 1863, and 1864, Lewis P. Loring; in 1865, Edward G. Knight. Hull is one of the smallest towns in the Commonwealth. The chief business of the inhabitants is with the fisheries; therefore few town-meetings were held to act upon matters relating to the war, ‘the main object of the people being to keep their quotas full.’ [554] 1862. July 28th, An agent was appointed to enlist recruits for three years service, and to pay each a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars. The treasurer was authorized to borrow one thousand dollars for that purpose. August 28th, The same bounty was directed to be paid to volunteers for nine months service. November 4th, The selectmen were directed to pay State aid to soldiers' families. 1864. April 6th, Voted, to pay six men each a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to fill the quota of the town. August 10th, The treasurer was authorized to borrow seven hundred and fifty dollars for the payment of bounties, and the selectmen were directed ‘to deposit two hundred and fifty dollars with the State Treasurer for two men.’ Hull furnished thirty-one men for the war, which was a surplus of four over and above all demands. None were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was four thousand five hundred and ten dollars ($4,510.00). The amount paid for State aid by the town during the war, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $00; in 1862, $47.92; in 1863, $150.88; in 1864, $217.24; in 1865, $175.00. Total amount, $591.00. The ladies of Hull ‘contributed in clothing, money and supplies for hospitals about two hundred dollars.’Kingston
Incorporated June 16, 1726. Population in 1860, 1,655; in 1865, 1,626. Valuation in 1860, $1,303,308; in 1865, $1,334,298. The selectmen in 1861 and 1862 were Edward Gray, Samuel E. Cushman, Charles Everson;6 in 1863, Alden S. Bradford, Edward Gray, Samuel E. Cushman; in 1864 and 1865, Alden S. Bradford, Edward Gray, Charles Everson. The town-clerk and town-treasurer during all of these years was Nathan Brooks. 1861. The first legal town-meeting to act upon matters [555] relating to the war was held on the 18th of May, at which it was voted to pay ‘all persons, inhabitants of Kingston, who have enlisted or may enlist in the military service of the country six dollars a month while in said service.’ 1862. On the 26th of July it was voted to pay each volunteer who shall enlist for three years service and be credited to the quota of the town a bounty of one hundred dollars. The number of men required was twenty. Captain William S. Adams offered to furnish the money to pay the same, which offer was accepted, and the selectmen were directed ‘to give the note of the town for the amount.’ August 30th, The selectmen were authorized to pay a bounty to each volunteer for nine months service who should enlist and be credited to the quota of the town, and to borrow money to pay the same. R. N. Jones, Noah Prince, and Philander Cobb were appointed to assist the selectmen to procure volunteers. 1863. No special action appears to have been taken by the town in its corporate capacity in regard to the war during this year, although recruiting and the payment of State aid were continued. 1864. April 23d, The selectmen were directed to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer belonging to Kingston who had enlisted previous to that time and had received no bounty, and two thousand dollars to be raised by taxation were appropriated to meet the expenditure. May 31st, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer who should enlist and be credited to the town up to March 1, 1865. The treasurer was authorized to borrow the money. A committee was also appointed to collect by subscription money for recruiting purposes. 1865. March 27th, The selectmen were instructed to use their influence to have an act passed by the Legislature by which the town could legally pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to men who had served one year, which ‘was demanded not only in honor of the State but in common justice and equity.’ The town-clerk was directed to transmit the vote of the town to the Legislature then in session. No action was taken upon it. Kingston furnished one hundred and eighty-nine men for [556] the war, which was a surplus of nineteen over and above all demands. Six were commissioned officers. The amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was eleven thousand two hundred and thirty-six dollars and fifty cents ($11,236.50). In addition to this sum $5,574.08 were raised by private subscription, which added makes the total amount $16,810.34. The amount of money raised and expended by the town for State aid during the war, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $266.14; in 1862, $1,525.36; in 1863, $1,937.27; in 1864, $2,401.58; in 1865, $1,307.31. Total amount, $7,437.66.Lakeville
Incorporated May 14, 1852. Population in 1860, 1,160; in 1865,1,110. Valuation in 1860, $572,242; in 1865, $571,124. The selectmen in 1861 were Job T. Toby, Charles H. Sampson, Eleazer Richmond; in 1862, Job T. Toby, Charles H. Sampson, Cephas Haskins; in 1863 and 1864, Cephas Haskins, Job Peirce, Silas D. Pickens. The town-clerk and town treasurer in 1861 and 1862 was James M. Sampson; in 1863, 1864 and 1865, Churchill T. Westgate. This is one of the very few towns from which we have failed to obtain a transcript of the town-records in relation to the war, or of the soldiers' work done by the ladies. Lakeville furnished one hundred and twenty-two men for the war, which was a surplus of twelve over and above all demands. Two were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was fifteen thousand one hundred and seven dollars ($15,107.00). The amount of money raised and expended by the town during the war for State aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $213.60; in 1862, $1,449.00; in 1863, $2,458.00; in 1864, $1,875.20; in 1865, $1,100.00. Total amount, $7,095.80.[557]
Marion
Incorporated May 14, 1852. Population in 1860, 918; in 1865, 960. Valuation in 1860, $469,164; in 1865, $459,009. The selectmen in 1861 were A. J. Hadley, R. H. Gurney, Joseph S. Luce; in 1862, Joseph S. Luce, Reuben Swift, Obed Delano; in 1863, Joseph S. Luce, Obed Delano, Barnabas Hiller; in 1864, Obed Delano, F. H. Hathaway, George II. Kelley. The town-clerk in 1861, 1862, and 1863 was W. P. Delano; in 1864, John H. Simmons. The town-treasurer in 1861, 1862, and 1863 was Paul Briggs; in 1864, Silas B. Allen. We have not been able to obtain the votes of this town in relation to the war, nor who were the town officers in 1865, which we regret. Marion furnished about one hundred men, and had a surplus of ten at the end of the war over and above all demands. Two were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was four thousand two hundred and twenty-five dollars and forty-five cents ($4,225.45). The amount of money raised and expended by the town during the war for State aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $86.57; in 1862, $724.00; in 1863, $1,115.00; in 1864, $1,330.00; in 1865, $478. Total amount, $3,733.57. The ladies of Marion, we are briefly informed, ‘contributed money and clothing for the sick and wounded.’Marshfield
Incorporated March 2d, 1640. Population in 1860, 1,870; in 1865, 1,810. Valuation in 1860, $729,709; in 1865, $853,777. The selectmen in 1861 were Daniel Stevens, John Baker, Wales R. Cleft; in 1862 and 1863, Daniel Stevens, Charles P. Wright, Charles W. Macomber; in 1864 and 1865, Luther Hatch, George M. Baker, Henry P. Oakman. The town-clerk during all the years of the war was Luther Hatch. The town-treasurer during the same period was Daniel Stevens. [558] 1861. The first legal town-meeting to act upon matters relating to the war was held on the 1st of May, at which the town voted ‘to raise five thousand dollars to be regarded as a war fund for the defence of our rights;’ ‘to pay a gratuity of ten dollars to each inhabitant of Marshfield who has enlisted or may hereafter enlist;’ ‘to pay each volunteer sufficient, when added to what he receives from the Government, to make twenty-five dollars a month, and five dollars extra to those who have families;’ ‘to accept the patriotic services of the ladies, who have volunteered to make clothing for our soldiers.’ Another town-meeting was held on the 8th of June, at which the selectmen were instructed to furnish all necessary articles for the soldiers, and to fulfil all contracts entered into by the town ‘so far as the same can be done legally.’ At a meeting held on the 6th of July the town voted to pay State aid ‘to the families of soldiers in the service,’ as provided by the act of the Legislature, the same to be continued ‘as long as the soldier remains in the service.’ It was also voted that the selectmen distribute the clothing in their possession to the volunteers, ‘and if there should be a deficiency to procure more when called for.’ 1862. At the annual town-meeting held on the 3d of March, the selectmen were directed to pay the volunteers belonging to Marshfield whatever amount may be due them under the vote passed May 1, 1861. A special town-meeting was held on the 22d of July, at which Nathaniel H. Whiting, Esq., presented the following resolutions, which being read were unanimously adopted:—Resolved, ‘That in the dark and troubled night which is upon us’ we cherish with a deeper love and more exalted patriotism the noble sentiment proclaimed by our great statesman on the floor of the American Senate, and who now sleeps by the sounding-sea he loved so well, ‘Liberty and Union, now and Forever, one and Inseparable.’ Resolved, That in defence of this Union we will stand by the Government to the extent of our last dollar and our last man, preferring to leave for those who shall come after us a wilderness like that our fathers found, when they sailed into yonder bay and landed on Plymouth Rock, rather than this monstrous rebellion shall prevail.After the adoption of the resolutions a committee of one from [559] each school-district was appointed to obtain volunteers, and to pay each a bounty of one hundred dollars when mustered into the military service for three years and properly credited to the quota of the town. On the 20th of August another meeting was held, and a committee of nine was appointed ‘to obtain a war fund by individual subscription.’ On the 8th of September the town voted to pay a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars to each volunteer who shall enlist for nine months service and be mustered in and credited to the quota of the town; and on the 1 6th of December the selectmen were authorized to pay the same amount of bounty to each volunteer for three years military service. 1863. At a special town-meeting held on the 28th of July, the selectmen were directed ‘to loan to each inhabitant of Marshfield who may be drafted into the military service, or who may procure a substitute, one hundred and fifty dollars, and to take a note from each bearing interest at the rate of one mill per annum.’ 1864. At the annual town-meeting held on the 7th of March, it was voted ‘that the income of the “Hatch fund” be appropriated for the benefit of soldiers' widows.’ On the 29th of April the town voted ‘to assess a tax of twenty-five hundred dollars for the purpose of promoting enlistments;’ and on the 16th of June the town voted to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars ‘to each re-enlisted veteran soldier who has not received that amount,’ and who belongs to the quota of Marshfield. 1865. A special meeting was held on the 24th of July, at which the selectmen were appointed ‘to ascertain and report the best method the town could adopt to express our cheerful reception and hearty welcome to our returned volunteers.’ It is needless to add a proper reception was given them. Marshfield, according to the return made by the selectmen in 1866, furnished two hundred and fifty-four men for the war, which we believe to be a few more than it received credit for. The town however furnished its full quota upon every call made by the President for men, and at the end of the war had a surplus of eighteen over and above all demands. Seven were commissioned [560] officers.7 The whole amount of money appropriated and expended on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was twenty-four thousand eight hundred and thirteen dollars and sixty-three cents ($24,813.63). The amount of money raised and expended by the town during the four years of the war for State aid to the families of soldiers, and which was afterwards repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $1,092.14; in 1862, $3,151.53; in 1863, $4,702.72; in 1864, $3,160.06; in 1865, $2,400.00. Total amount, $14,506.45. The ladies of Marshfield did much for the cause, but like their sisters in other towns they made humble estimates of their good works. What can be more touching than this extract from a note received from Mrs. Fletcher Webster, whose husband so nobly sacrificed his life for the Union at the head of his regiment:—
‘I am trying to collect the information you desire, and I shall be glad to have the little that old Marshfield did noticed, for we are very poor here as you know, and our donations were almost the widow's mite. I sent four large boxes of blankets, pillows, stockings, mittens, &c., to the Twelfth, and my Aunt Forrester and her daughters of Salem sent one or two boxes also.’Mrs. Webster's efforts were not altogether unavailing, for to her we are indebted for the account of the supplies furnished by the ladies of South Marshfield, which we presume to have been written by the former secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Sarah T. Bourne, of the ‘Ladies' Sewing Circle;’ the other officers of which ‘Circle’ were Mrs. Marcia A. Cushman, president, and Mrs. Susan M. Hewett, vice-president. We extract the following from the letter:—
‘The above-mentioned supplies (9 1/2 barrels, 2 boxes, and 1 case) were sent out by the Ladies' Sewing Circle and Soldiers-Aid Society [561] working together. Inventories of some of the barrels are in our possession, but the articles were not appraised. We think that $50.00 each per box or barrel would be a fair average estimate of their value, or at least $600.00 for the whole. We also paid perhaps $25.00 freight-money on the articles. Besides these, the ladies re-rolled four thousand yards of bandages for the Sanitary Commission. Other boxes and bundles were sent out by private individuals. Eight smaller boxes were packed under the supervision of Miss Marcia A. Thomas, which she thinks may be safely valued at $75.00.’Can any thing better exhibit unconscious patriotism than these extracts?
Mattapoisett
Incorporated May 20, 1857. Population in 1860, 1,483; in 1865, 1,451. Valuation in 1860, $815,890; in 1865, $540,118. The selectmen in 1861 were A. B. Hammond, Joseph E. Smith, Jarvis Ellis; in 1862, Joseph E. Smith, Nathan H. Barstow, Thomas P. Hammond; in 1863, 1864, and 1865, Josiah Holmes, Jr., Franklin Cross, Wilson Barstow. The town-clerk during all these years was Thomas Nelson. The town-treasurer for the same period Benjamin W. Shearman. 1861. No action was taken by the town, in its corporate capacity, in relation to the war during this year. 1862. July 18th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer, to the number of twenty, ‘who shall enlist within the next sixty days for three years or the war.’ The treasurer, with the consent of the selectmen, was authorized to borrow money to pay the same; the interest and ten per cent of the capital to be paid annually until the debt shall be discharged.8 The selectmen were directed to revise the militia roll, ‘and communicate with the proper authorities in relation to the quota of the town.’ William E. Sparrow, Rev. William L. Parsons, and Wilson Barstow were chosen to confer with Surgeon-General Dale in relation to opening the large unoccupied hotel-building in the town as a hospital for sick [562] and wounded soldiers. The committee subsequently reported that the building was not required. August 7th, Voted, to increase the bounty for three-years volunteers fifty dollars, and fifty dollars additional to those who would enlist before the 15th of the month; and the treasurer was authorized to borrow money for that purpose. August 30th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer for nine months service to fill the quota of the town. December 15th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars to volunteers who enlist for three years and are credited to the quota of Mattapoisett. Thomas Nelson was appointed special recruiting agent for the town. 1863 and 1864. The authorities continued to recruit men and pay bounties during these years, but no special action appears to have been taken by the town in its corporate capacity, except to appropriate money when it was necessary. 1865. In the warrant for the annual town-meeting in April was an article ‘to see if the town would authorize the selectmen to borrow money to pay bounties to keep the quota of the town filled.’ During the proceedings of the meeting, information was received of the fall of Richmond. The clerk noted the fact on the town-records in these words, written in large letters: ‘news of the capture of Richmond received.’ This memorable sentence will always attract the attention of those who may hereafter examine the town-records of Mattapoisett. In consequence of the good news, no appropriation was made to pay bounties to volunteers. The war was virtually at an end. Mattapoisett furnished one hundred and fifty men for the military service, which was a surplus of eight over and above all demands; seven of whom were commissioned officers.9 The whole amount of money appropriated and expended on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was seven thousand one hundred and ten dollars ($7,110.00). The amount of money raised and expended by the town [563] during the war for State aid to the families of volunteers, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $425.71; in 1862, $1,207.71; in 1863, $1,626.61; in 1864, $1,134.49; in 1865, $500.00. Total amount, $4,894.52. ‘Much good work was done by the ladies of Mattapoisett for the soldiers and sailors belonging to the town, while in the service of their country.’Middleborough
Incorporated June—, 1669. Population in 1860, 4,553; in 1865, 4,525. Valuation in 1860, $2,260,826; in 1865, $2,134,878. The selectmen in 1861 were C. B. Wood, B. P. Wood, G. W. Wood; in 1862, S. Tucker, B. P. Wood, Ira Smith; in 1863 and 1864, J. T. Wood, A. K. Bishop, Ira Smith; in 1865, J. T. Wood, A. Miller, J. M. Eddy. The town-clerk and town-treasurer in 1861 and 1862 was Sidney Tucker; in 1863, John Shaw, Jr.; in 1864 and 1865, C. B. Wood. 1861. The first town-meeting to act upon matters relating to the war was held on the 6th of May, at which it was voted to raise a military company for three years service, and to guarantee each enlisted man twenty-six dollars a month while in the service; voted to raise five thousand dollars ‘for war purposes,’ two thousand dollars of which to be expended in uniforming and equipping the company; voted to pay each recruit one dollar and twenty-five cents a day when drilling, not to exceed three days in a week for four weeks, and when the company is called into service each volunteer is to receive a month's pay in advance. 1862. July 28th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer, to the number of fifty-six, who shall enlist for three years and be credited to the quota of the town ‘within thirty days.’ The selectmen were authorized ‘to sell or transfer so much of the Old Colony and Fall River Railroad stock, owned by the town, as shall be sufficient to pay said bounties.’ August 25th, Voted, to raise a company for nine months service, and to pay each volunteer for that term a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars when mustered in and credited [564] to the quota of the town; the incidental expenses of raising the company to be borne by the town. The selectmen were authorized to borrow money sufficient to pay bounties and cover expenses. 1863. September 21st, The selectmen were directed to continue the payment of State aid to the families of soldiers who had been discharged for wounds or sickness the same that they had before received, this to continue for six months and to borrow money to pay the same. 1864. June 26th, The town voted to borrow money sufficient to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer who would enlist and be credited to the quota of the town to the 1st of May, 1865. Middleborough furnished about four hundred and sixty-five men for the war, and had a surplus at the close of the Rebellion of twenty-one after having filled its quota upon every call made by the President. Thirteen were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was thirty-one thousand nine hundred and five dollars and fifty-seven cents ($31,905.57). There was also raised by private subscription the sum of sixty-six hundred dollars and thirty-three cents ($6,600.33). Seven thousand eight hundred and twenty-one dollars ($7,821.00) were raised by a club, and five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) by persons liable to draft to procure substitutes; making the total amount $51,326.90. The amount of money raised and expended by the town during the war for State aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $2,243.11; in 1862, $8,626.01; in 1863, $12,493.28; in 1864, $9,200.00; in 1865, $4,400. Total amount, $36,962.40.North Bridgewater
Incorporated June 15, 1821. Population in 1860, 6,584; in 1865, 6,335. Valuation in 1860, $2,173,965; in 1865, $2,209,339. The selectmen in 1861 were Franklin Ames, Ellis Packard, Josiah W. Kingman; 1862 and 1863, Franklin Ames, Josiah W. Kingman, Nathan Packard, 2d; in 1864, Rufus L. Thatcher, [565] Nelson J. Foss, J. R. Perkins; in 1865, Rufus L. Thatcher, Nelson J. Foss, Isaac Kingman. The town-clerk in 1861 was H. E. Paine; in 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1865, W. C. Wales. The town-treasurer in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864 was Rufus P. Kingman; in 1865, Oakes S. Soule. 1861. The first town-meeting to act upon matters relating to the war was held on the 29th of April, at which five thousand dollars were appropriated to clothe and equip volunteers belonging to North Bridgewater and to assist their families. Benjamin Kingman, George W. Bryant, H. W. Robinson, William F. Brett, and Jonathan White were chosen to act with the selectmen in the expenditure of the money, which the treasurer was authorized to borrow. On the 22d of July an additional five thousand dollars were voted for the same general objects. 1862. March 10th, The town voted ‘to pay the families of volunteers such sums as the selectmen may order.’ David L. Cowell, Esq., presented a series of patriotic resolutions, of which this is an abstract: First, ‘that earth has never seen a holier war than that now waged by the United States to put down the Rebellion;’ ‘that it would be criminal in the highest degree if we failed to give to it all the assistance in our power;’ second, ‘we hail the recent legislation in Congress as an earnest determination to crush the rebellion;’ third, ‘that North Bridgewater heartily responds to the call made by the President for more men;’ fourth, ‘that a bounty of one hundred dollars be paid to each volunteer who shall enlist in the military service to fill the quota of the town;’ fifth, calls upon the Government to ‘pursue a vigorous policy and make war in earnest, until the last rebel has laid down his arms and acknowledged paramount allegiance to the United States;’ sixth, recommends that the Government call upon every loyal man, ‘without distinction of complexion or race, within the rebel States, to rally around the flag of the Union, and give freedom and protection to all who obey the call,’ and the neglect to do so ‘would be a stupendous blunder, unparalleled in the history of the world.’ 1863. At a meeting held on the 9th of March the town [566] voted to abate the tax of all enlisted men in the army belonging to the town; also, to pay State aid to their families as before, and to the families of deceased soldiers. July 30th, Voted, to pay the same aid to the families of drafted men that is paid to the families of volunteers. 1864. March 14th, The selectmen were directed to pay State aid to the families of volunteers from the time they leave town and go to camp. April 28th, The treasurer was authorized to borrow seven thousand dollars for war purposes. June 10th, The selectmen were authorized to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer who should enlist for three years and be credited to the quota of the town. This was continued to the end of the war. 1865. March 7th, The treasurer was authorized to borrow money sufficient to pay State aid to soldiers' families during the year. May 13th, Voted, to raise by taxation twenty-two thousand three hundred and nine dollars and thirty-seven cents ($22,309.37) to refund money voluntarily advanced by private citizens to pay bounties and encourage recruiting. North Bridgewater, according to the returns made by the selectmen in 1866, furnished eight hundred and sixty-eight men for the war, which we think is about one hundred more than the number credited. The town filled its quota upon every call of the President, and at the end of the war had a surplus of fifty-seven over and above all demands. Twenty-one were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was sixty thousand dollars ($60,000.00). The amount of money paid by the town during the war for State aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $4,044.35; in 1862, $10,252.60; in 1863, $13,489.72; in 1864, $15,292.00; in 1865, $11,000.00. Total amount, $54,078.67.Pembroke
Incorporated March 21, 1711. Population in 1860, 1,524; in 1865, 1,488. Valuation in 1860, $606,200; in 1865, $575,993. The selectmen during 1861, and all through the war, were William H. H. Bryant, Isaac T. Loring, Henry Dyer. [567] The town-clerk during the same period was F. Collamore. The town-treasurer in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864 was Josiah O. Bonney; in 1865, Seth Whitman. 1861. A legal town meeting was held May 3d, at which it was voted to reduce the sum voted at the April meeting for school purposes, two hundred dollars, and to appropriate the same for aid to soldiers' families; also, to pay to each volunteer from that town twenty-five dollars a month, including the Government pay, while in the military service of the country, and that the surplus revenue held by the town in trust for the United States be used for that purpose. A committee of one from each school-district, together with the selectmen, were chosen to see that ‘the families of the soldiers be comfortably provided for,’ and disburse the monthly pay to the volunteers. June 1st, Voted, that the committee having in charge ‘the surplus revenue’ pay into the town-treasury whatever amount may be necessary to pay the soldiers as provided at the meeting held in May. 1862. July 21st, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer enlisting to the credit of the town, and if there was not a sufficient amount of the surplus revenue available for that purpose the selectmen were authorized to borrow money. A committee of one from each school-district was chosen to procure recruits. The recruits were to volunteer within ten days in order to obtain the bounty. August 13th, The vote limiting the time for men to enlist was reconsidered, and the bounty was increased to two hundred and twenty-five dollars. August 30th, The treasurer was authorized to borrow money to pay bounties. Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to nine-months volunteers. December 2d, The treasurer was authorized to borrow more money, and a committee of six citizens was chosen to encourage enlistments. December 26th, The selectmen were directed to secure recruits for three years service instead of for nine months, and to add fifty dollars to the bounty already offered, if it shall be necessary in order to get volunteers to fill the quota of the town. 1863. November 28th, Chose a committee of one from each school-district to assist the selectmen in recruiting. They were [568] also directed to call public meetings ‘from time to time to encourage enlistments.’ 1864. April 11th, Voted, to pay six hundred and twenty-five dollars to citizens who had subscribed and paid that amount to encourage recruiting. Several other meetings were held during the year, showing the zeal and determination of the town to fulfil every demand made upon it by the Government for men. Pembroke furnished one hundred and ninety-eight men for the war, which was a surplus of twenty-nine over and above all demands. One was a commissioned officer. The whole amount of money raised and expended by the town for war purposes, exclusive of State aid, was twenty thousand three hundred and seventeen dollars ($20,317.00). The amount of money paid for State aid by the town during the war to the families of volunteers, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $368.99; in 1862, $2,499.84; in 1863, $4,617.84; in 1864, $3,676.71; in 1865, $2,746.06. Total amount, $13,639.44.Plymouth
Incorporated Dec. 11, 1620. Population in 1860, 6,272; in 1865, 6,075. Valuation in 1860, $3,138,613; in 1865, $3,145,119. The selectmen in 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1865 were William T. Davis, E. C. Turner, Lysander Dunham, Thomas B. Sears, Hosea Bartlett. The town-clerk during the same years was Leander Lovell; and the town-treasurer, James Cox. 1861. The first public meeting of citizens to consider matters relating to the war was called by the selectmen, and was held on the afternoon of Saturday the 20th of April in the town hall; William T. Davis was chosen chairman, and Leander Lovell, secretary. The following resolutions were introduced by John J. Russell, Esq., and adopted by the meeting:—Resolved, That it is our pleasure, as well as our duty, to see to it that our brave volunteers be encouraged by the knowledge that the welfare of those near and dear to them is made the care of their fellow-citizens who remain at home. [569] Resolved, That the selectmen be requested to apply and distribute at their discretion a sum not exceeding two thousand dollars towards the assistance of those families, who by the sudden departure of the troops are left in need of pecuniary aid. Such sum to be raised by borrowing in the name of the town, or in such other way as the selectmen shall deem expedient.When these resolutions were passed the ‘Standish Guards,’ Company B, Third Regiment Massachusetts Militia, had left the State with the regiment for Fortress Monroe, Va., and as it subsequently appeared had reached its destination, and was disembarking at the very time the meeting was being held. On the 11th of May a legal town-meeting was held, and the following votes passed: First, That the selectmen be requested to distribute not exceeding two thousand dollars towards the assistance of soldiers' families; second, To ratify the proceedings of the citizens' meeting held on the 20th of April; third, To appropriate fifteen hundred dollars to clothe and equip ‘such volunteers for three years or more service as are citizens of this town;’ fourth, That six dollars a month be paid to each citizen of Plymouth ‘having a family, and four dollars a month to each citizen of the town who is single or unmarried (excepting commissioned officers), who shall enlist in the service of the United States for the war shall be and the same is hereby appropriated as extra compensation for the term of actual service during one year from the first day of May, current, to be paid in money, and in such manner and to such persons as the selectmen shall deem expedient;’ fifth, That the treasurer, under the direction of the selectmen, be authorized to borrow money ‘to carry the above votes into effect.’ December 7th, The selectmen were authorized to pay State aid to the soldiers' families as provided by chapter 222 of the acts and resolves passed by the Legislature in May, 1861, and that all payments already made by the selectmen be hereby ratified and approved. The selectmen were authorized to borrow three thousand dollars for the payment of State aid to soldiers' families. 1862. July 21st, The selectmen were authorized to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer to the number of sixty-three who shall enlist for three years, within thirty [570] days, and be mustered in and credited to the quota of the town. They were also authorized to borrow not exceeding six thousand dollars to pay the same. Voted, that the property of soldiers shall not be taxed to pay any portion of the money raised for this purpose. The representatives of Plymouth in the Legislature were instructed ‘to procure, if possible, the passage of a law reimbursing the town for the expenditure of money in the payment of bounties to volunteers.’ On motion of Charles G. Davis, Esq., it was—
Voted, That the citizens of Plymouth, in town-meeting assembled, hereby pledge themselves to purchase and encourage, so far as possible, the products of American industry, and earnestly recommend to their fellow-citizens and the women of New England,—ever zealous in every patriotic mode of sustaining the cause of their country,—the expediency and the duty of breaking the bonds of habit and fashion, and of wearing and consuming the products of American labor; that this recommendation is made in no narrow spirit of retaliation, but because the public debt, the condition of the currency, the scarcity of change, the stagnation of business, and the cause of our country demand that every encouragement shall be given to home labor and industry, and that Americans shall teach and learn in every way the great lesson of self-reliance.August 23d, The selectmen were authorized to pay a bounty of seventy-five dollars to each volunteer for nine months service to fill the quota of the town; and if more men enlist than the quota requires, preference be given to those who enlisted first. They were also requested to confer with the selectmen of neighboring towns in regard to forming a new company for nine months service. The treasurer was authorized to borrow money to pay said bounties. It would appear that from this time until the close of the war, complete authority was given the selectmen and treasurer to recruit men and raise money, to keep the contingent of Plymouth always filled, and also to provide for the comfortable maintenance of the soldiers' families; as no other votes relating to these subjects appear recorded upon the records of the town. Plymouth furnished seven hundred and sixty-four men for the war, which was a surplus of thirty-six over and above all demands. [571] Thirty-eight were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was twenty-six thousand seven hundred and twenty-seven dollars and fifty-nine cents ($26,727.59). A large amount must have been raised by private subscription, of which we have no account. The amount paid by the town for State aid to the families of volunteers during the war, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $4,151.77; in 1862, $12,601.95 ; in 1863, $12,047.19; in 1864, $12,436.74; in 1865, $6,600.00. Total amount, $47,837.65. The ladies of Plymouth contributed liberally of their time and means for the comfort of the soldiers absent in the army. Among other services rendered they made the uniforms worn by one of the Plymouth companies, having met in Leyden Hall each day for more than a week for that purpose.
