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

The town-clerk during the years 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1865 was William Bennett. The town-treasurer in 1861 and 1862 was Benj. D. Phelps; in 1863 and 1864, William Bennett; in 1865, Moses Greenwood.

1861. May 1st, A town-meeting was held to take measures to raise a military company for active service, and to provide for the comfort of the families of those who should enlist. A committee of five was appointed to raise money by private subscription, and the treasurer was authorized to borrow not exceeding three thousand dollars for these purposes. Each recruit was to receive one dollar a day for ten days while engaged in drilling, and his wife and family one dollar a day for three months while in active service.¹

1862. July 19th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer to the number of twenty who shall enlist to the credit of the town for three years service, and the treasurer was authorized to borrow two thousand dollars to pay the same. A committee of five was appointed to aid recruiting. August 25th, The same amount of bounty was authorized to be paid to nine-months volunteers. November 4th, Voted, to pay thirteen dollars a month to each of the nine-months volunteers from the date of his enlistment to date of muster-in, ‘provided the United States do not pay it.’

1863. No action concerning military matters appears to have been taken by the town in its corporate capacity during this year. The families of the soldiers received the State aid, and recruiting continued as usual.

1864. May 28th, Voted, to appropriate the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to be paid to each volunteer, drafted man, or substitute, to fill all quotas that may be called for from March 1, 1864, to March 1, 1865. Meetings were held to encourage recruiting until the end of the war.