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

1861. May 3d, A town-meeting was held to consider what the town would do to raise and equip a volunteer company to be ready for action. (This was the day before the President called for men for three years service.) It was voted to appropriate two thousand dollars for the purpose; to uniform and equip the men with what they might require, in addition to what the State would furnish; and a committee was chosen to carry the vote into effect. It was also voted to pay a bounty of twenty dollars to each private of said company, ‘in case he should be called into active service;’ and a further sum of thirteen hundred dollars was placed at the disposal of the committee. It was also voted that ten dollars a month be paid ‘to each citizen of the town who has joined or may join a military company’ while in service, and ‘ten dollars a month additional to the support of his family.’ It was also voted to place five thousand dollars in the hands of the selectmen ‘to carry the last vote into effect.’

1862. July 15th, It was voted to appropriate “one hundred and twenty-five dollars for each volunteer to make up the town's quota of forty men; that five thousand dollars be raised by a tax on property,” and that the poll-tax payers ‘have the privilege of paying to the committee such sums as they see fit.’ This was in fact a voluntary tax. The treasurer was required to keep a correct account of all sums thus raised, and the tax-bill was to be made out separate and distinct from the usual legal tax-bill, and he was authorized to borrow five thousand dollars in anticipation, to meet present wants. The moderator of the meeting was Joseph Breck; and he appointed W. D. Bickford, H. W. Jordan, J. F. Taylor, C. C. Southard, and J. W. George, on the committee. August 21st, The town voted to pay each volunteer for nine months one hundred dollars; and the same committee was appointed to manage recruiting, except that A. W. Brabiner was put on it in the place of J. W. George. The treasurer was authorized to borrow money. The assessors were also authorized to assess a tax to meet the expenditure, and the collector was directed to collect it ‘as soon as practicable.’ November 5th, The committee reported that they had received five thousand dollars, and had paid it to forty volunteers for the town, each receiving one hundred and twenty-five dollars.