History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

180 HISTOBY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
John Gould, Pliiueas Sprague, Joseph Lynde, and
Jolin Pratt. The two Spragues were father and
son; the father living on Foster Street and the
son on Porter Street. Of the father, Wright says,
in his discourse, he was " a most daring advocate
of American rights. He was quite advanced in
life at the breaking out of the war; but one of
the individuals connected with Captain Hatch's
company, mentioned as starting for Concord in the
night, after having lain at Beacham's Point during
the day. Mr. Sprague was very deaf; but his
heart was as impervious to fear as his ears were to
of Mr. Artemas Barrett, from wliom this and other
documents have been obtamed.
"Cambridge, Aug' 17, 1781.
" Rec'' of ftp Joseph Barret the sum of Twelve
Pounds Solid Coine in full of all Accompts, Debts
Dues and Demands Against M' Josepli Lyonds or
M' Josepli Barretts Class for Procuring a man for
three years' service in the Army.
" Rcc'' by me Bexj Perkins."
Some of the citizens of Nortli Maiden had been
in the previous wars of the country, aiul others
furnislied substitutes, and the following is the re-
ceipt of one of tliese substitutes.
"Jan. 1.3, 1761.
"Received of Phinehas Sprague june'r eight
Pounds lawful money it being for my going a
Solger to forte Cumberland and I had a promes
not of Six Pounds be fore
" Pr me Johx 1?.itt.s."
In the Civil War of 1861-65 Melrose has a
noble record. Fort Sumter was fired upon
April 13, 1861. The first call u])on Massachu-
setts for three months' troops was by telegram,
April 15, wlien five citizens of Melrose responded,
and four of tliem were in the fir.st battle of Hull
Run. May 3, came the Pn-sideut's call for three
years' men, and May 6, a town-meeting w.is held in
Concert 'llall, at which it was voted, "That the
Town of Melrose approprinlc the sum of 83,000
for the relief of the I'aniilies of the citizens of Mel-
rose, now absent in the service of the United
States, or who may hereafter volunteer into the ser-
chusetts. Also that above all other appropriations
the sum of fifteen dollars per month be paid to
those persons having families, and the sum of ten
dollars per month to those who are single men, dur-
ing their time of service in the war now pending."
As the Rebellion progressed many other meetings
were held, and votes passed in aid of raising volun-
teers and other necessary matters. Two hundred
and three of her citizens entered the service, and
two commissioned officers and twenty-one enlisted
men gave their lives to their country. This roll
of " unreturning brave " is as follows : Lieuten-
sound. And when the rest of his party were flying
from the view of tiie enemy, he was seen upon a
piece of rising ground swinging his liat, and shouting
' Victory ! ant George Thomas Martin, Lieutenant George
James Morse, William Francis Barry, Nathan H.
"
'
Brand, Jonas Green Brown, Albert Waterston
Crockett, Edmund Wallace Davis, Henry Franklin
The follow^ing receipt was given for bounty paid Fuller, Augustus Green, Martin Greene, James
by Mr. Joseph Barrett, wlio was the grandfather Roland Howard, William F. Krantz, Richard
Lever, Benjamin Lyude, George Warren Lynde,
William Henry Macey, Sidney Bradford Morse,
Francis Peabody, George Elwyn Richardson,
Thomas H. Stevens, John Eastman Stilphen, Jolin
Parker Shelton, and Benjamin F. Wilde.
Since the close of the war others have died from
diseases contracted while in the service, and liave
gone hence to " the land of the hereafter" to meet
their comrades and their God. Besides her own
citizens, Melrose furnished for the various quotas
two hundred and fifty-one men, making a total
number of four hundred and fifty-four, which was
a surplus of seventy-three men above the number
called for by- the United States. She contributed
$38,000 for war expenses, besides the various and
multiplied amounts given by individuals for bounty
and charitable objects during its continuance. Ac-
cording to its population and wealth, no town in
the commonwealth did better service than Melrose
during this attempt to disintegrate our nation. A
full and detailed history of the action taken in this
internecine war has been given in the 3Ielrose
Memorial; The Ann ah of Melrose in ihe Great.
Rebellion