Leverett — Revolutionary Reminiscences

Extracted from "History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, Volume II," by Louis H. Everts, 1879.


      In September, 1774, the town voted to "lend our minds in writing to the Provincial Congress by a Committee." The committee was composed of Richard Montague, Jeremiah Woodbury, Moses Graves, Joseph Clary, and Stephen Ashley.
      In January, 1775, it was voted "to adhere to the resolves of the Continental Congress." Minute-Men were allowed nine pence per half-day for training once a week. Elisha Clary, Jonathan Field (2d), and Jonathan Field, Jr., were at this time appointed a committee of safety.
      Aug. 20, 1776, the town resolved to obtain a stock of powder and lead, —a half-pound for each effective able-bodied man. A vote of Jan. 10, 1777, set forth,—"voted unanimously that we risk our lives and fortunes in defense of our rights and liberties, wherewith God and nature hath made us free, and that we show our minds to the General Assembly of the State."
      December, 1777, it was resolved to make provision for the Continental families, and, further, to disapprove of calling in the State money; to which end a committee was chosen to show the court the town's disapprobation of the same.
      In 1778 the General Court was petitioned for some redress with regard to the Continental soldiers' families of the town. In 1779 the town raised £100 for their support. In December, of that year, it was resolved to make an effort to procure clothing for soldiers. In December, 1780, it was voted to appoint a committee of seven men "to be looking out to procure anyhow" four men for the Continental service, as ordered by the General Court. The committee was enjoined to "be looking out" earnestly for the four men, and to hire them "consistent with reason."
      It was resolved, May, 1781, to form the town into three classes to procure Continental men. It was voted in the September following to give the 12 militia-men "who ware raised on ye present alarm" 40s. per month, hard money, while they served, and a bounty of three hard dollars each man. In April, 1782, a town-meeting was held for the purpose of hiring "a Continental man" for the term of three years, and to effect the object Stephen Ashley was chosen head of a class to hire said man, and a committee of seven men was at the same time appointed to find the man and hire him. In the December following, a committee was chosen to "talk with John Gill, relative to his belonging to the Continental service." In May, 1783, it was voted unanimously that "the Tories and absentees who have taken protection under his Brittanic Majesty shall not return to this Commonwealth again." In December, 1783, it was voted to choose a committee to assist the selectmen to receive the accounts of men "that has been in the service the last past unnatural war."
      Dr. Silas Ball, of Leverett, served in the war of 1776 as a surgeon, and Richard Montague, also of Leverett, held the rank of major in the service.



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26 Jun 2005