History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

said, to the honor of the town, that the people of
Marlborough were outspoken and ardent in their
sympathy with the movement. They shared the
indignation of the Bostoniaus at the conduct of
the British government, and passed resolutions
unanimously indorsing the courageous attitude
and protective action of the Boston committee of
correspondence.
In 1770, at a town-meeting, they resolved to
support the merchants in their non-importation
agreement, and bound themselves not to buy of
their own tradesmen who continued to sell con-
trary to this agreement. They further resolved
"that the name of those who purchase goods of
the importers, or of those who buy of importers,
shall be made public, as far as we have the knowl-
edge of them."
In 1773, after animadverting upon the unjust
policy of the king, and the dangers hanging over
the country, it was resolved " that peace and harmony
will never be enjoyed between Great Britain
and tlie colonies, until the interests of both be in-
separably connected; which will be accomplished
by nothing short of a repeal of all unconstitutional
acts, and the removal of all sinecures, pensioners,
pimps, informers, and bad governors." The reso-
lutions close with an expression of thanks " to our
worthy brethren in Boston and adjacent towns,"
and the assertion, " we stand ready to assist them
in the execution of their votes and resolves at a
minute's warning."
September -^9, 1774', they instructed their representative,
Peter Bent, to " pay no acknowledgment
to any unconstitutional and new fangled counsellors,
and that you do not give your consent to any act or
thing that may be construed a tacit acknowledgement
to any of the late oppressive, wicked, and un-
just acts of the British Parliament, for altering the
government of the province of Massachusetts Bay."
The town was represented by Peter Bent, Edward
Barnes, and George Brigham in the first Pro-
vincial Congress, and by Peter Bent in the second
and third congresses. There was but one thoroughly
pronounced and outspoken royalist in the town,
namely, Henry Barnes. He had already made
himself odious by refusing to indorse the non-
limporting agreement of the Boston merchants.
He was a man of considerable substance and ca-
MARLBOROUGH. 147
as any man in the place. At the breaking out of
hostilities he sought British protection; as the
result his property was confiscated. Eventually
he repaired to England, and died in London in
1808, aged eighty-four. As the political horizon
darkened, the people of Marlborough prepared
themselves for the worst. They pi'ocured fifty-five
additional guns, with bayonets, increased their
stores of ammunition, and united with other towns
in reorganizing the militia of the neigliborliood.
They raised a company of minute-men, provided
for their drill and discipline, promised bounty in
case of active service, and resolved that the prov-
ince tax should not be paid to the royal treasurer,
but to the Provincial Congress.
April 19, 1775, Marlborough sent four compa-
nies of minute-men, under the captaincy of Cyprian
Howe, William Brigham, Daniel Barnes, and Silas
Gates. These companies consisted of one hundred
and eighty men, drawn from a population of not
more than thirteen hundred souls, who responded to
the call of their compatriots at a moment's warning.
Although they were not absent from home more
than forty days, and had no opportunity of spe-
cially distinguishing themselves, yet the town
demonstrated its intense sympathy, and its devo-
tion to the cause, by the alacrity with which it or-
ganized these companies and sent them to the scene
of hostilities. Later, over a hundred enlisted for
eight months, and many re-enlisted for three years.
In 1777 twenty-seven men served two months hi
the continental army ; in 1778 eight served three
months; in 1779 eighty served in various cam-
paigns for shorter or longer periods. Some one
hundred and thirty served either as " first " three
years' men or as "last" three years' men, and some
enlisted " during the war." There can be no doubt
that the town contributed its full share of the Kevolutionary
army ; redeeming the pledge given May,
1776, " that if the honorable Continental Congress
shall, for the safety of the United Colonies, declare
them independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain,
we the inhabitants of Marlborough will solemnly
engage, with our own lives and fortunes, to support
them in the measure."
In addition to giving a bounty of £7 in 1776
to soldiers enlisting for service in Canada, and £-10
to all three years' men, and providing them with
pacity, against wliom nothing is alleged but his clothes, they voted to support the families of non-
political opinions. It should be said for him, that commissioned officers and soldiers ; and, as more
he courageously and consistently stood by tliem, troops were called for, the town offered monthly
and lost and suffered as much for his convictions wages, and a bounty in addition to that of the gov-