History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

256 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
The proposed rations were really better than most people
enjoyed at home and if it had been possible to continue them
all through the war, an immense amount of suffering would
have been avoided. Ragged, shoeless and hungry soldiers
were no uncommon sight long before the close of the war.
And yet all this was endured with a great deal of patience by
those brave patriots. Nearly every family in town sent forth a
delegation to share the burdens of this almost hopeless struggle.
To provide clothing for the soldiers the Provincial Congress
issued a call upon the towns for 13,000 coats. The propor-
tionate share of Amesbury was sixty-nine coats. As the selectmen
had no authority to act without the consent of the town,
a meeting was called August 15th, and a committee consisting
of Capt. John Hoyt, Capt. John Sawyer and Cornet John Bar-
nard was chosen to procure the required number of coats.
Nov. 27th. A town meeting was held and ^140 raised to
defray the expenses of the town.
After the fight at Lexington a permanent organization of the
army was resolved upon and soldiers were enlisted for speci-
fied periods, generally three years, but frequently for shorter time.
Capt. Currier's company was enlisted till the 1st. of August.
The following document will be of interest as it furnishes con-
siderable information in regard to this company.
" To the Honorable General Court of the Massachusetts Col-
ony now sitting at Watertown this 4th day of August, A. D.
I 775-
The petition of John Currier of Amesbury Humbly showeth
that your petitioner in the foor parte of May Laste Inlisted a
Company of Soldiers Consisting of 54 men and marched with
s d Company to head Quarters at Cambridge and have been
there upon Duty ever since about the 20th of May and have
all past muster but won who was taken sick and died a Few
days after we came to head Quarters and your petitioner would
observe to your Honors that there is twelve of his Soldiers
that have not yet had there won months advance wages as
was voted and said Soldiers are very uneasie, wherefore your
petitioner prays your Honors to consider the same and make