History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

368 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
compensation to these companies of minute-men,
according to the time they spent in the drill.
Patriotic instructions, prepared by a committee,
by a vote of the town, were given to Peter Noyes,
Esq., representative of Sudbury to the General
Court, as vigorously setting forth the sentiments of
the ])eople in relation to the Stamp Act.
March, 1770, the town by vote " manifested their
hearty approbation of the generous agreement of
merchants in Boston to put a stop to tiie importa-
tion of British goods, and engaged for themselves,
and all witliiu their influence, to countenance and
encourage the same.''
It also voted to discountenance the importers
who advertised in the public prints, " who presume
to counteract the Patriotic scheme of the body of
merchants in Boston and throughout North Amer-
ica, by withdrawing all commercial connection from
tliem and their abettors, and by frowning upon
those who hold any commerce with them."
At that same meeting the town voted to encour-
age the nailing business.
February 1, 1773, the town adoj)ted the report
of a special committee chosen at a previous meet-
ing, with instructions to their representative to the
General Court. The report is able, spirited, full
of the matter; but for the want of space we here
give only the instructions to the representative.
" Iiislnuiioits to John Noi/e.%, Esq.
" Sir, — You being chosen by the inhabitants
of this town to represent them in the Great and
General Court or Assembly of this Province, we
think proper at this critical Day, when our inval-
uable rights a!id privileges are so openly invaded,
to give you the following instructions :
"That you invariably adhere to and stead-
fastly maintain (so far as you are able) all our
Charter Rights and Priviliges and tliat yon do nT)t
consent to give them, or any of them up, on any
pretence whatever. That \ou make use of all your
influence that somit cll'i riivc iiicthod be devised and
])ursuc{l for the restoration of our violated riglits
and rc'ilrcss of all our grievances. That you use
ycMir endeavor, that the Guvcrnor l)e jirevailcd
ii|iuii to make a grant for (he paMncnt cif ;iii ngcut
ch.Kcii by the Representative l)(»lv ..fili,. I'civincc,
1(1 prcsiMit our complaints to the cars iif our King.
•MollN MWNMII.
SvMsoN lll,l.< llllt
—
December, 177-1, the town chose a committee to
" observe the conduct of all persons touching the
association agreement entered into by the Conti-
nental Congress, whose business it shall be to see
the articles contained therein are strictly adhered
to by the inhabitants of this town," and chose
John Nixon Chairman of this Committee.
June 10, 177C, the town voted "That in case
the Honorable Congress should, for the safety of
the American Colonies declare them Independent
of the Kingdom of Great Britain they, the inhabi-
tants of said town, will with their lives and fortunes
support them in the measure." Lieutenant Jona-
than Rice, Mr. William Rice, and Ezra Taylor, Esq.,
were chosen a committee to draft instructions for
their representatives, and report at a future meet-
ing. And the action of the town respecting the
importation of tea, in connection with the action
of Boston in throwing the tea overboard in Boston
harbor, was equally decided and patriotic.
Sudbury's most distinguished military man before
and during the Revolutionary War was Gen-
eral John Nixon. ^ He was a soldier by nature.
In the French and Indian wars he displayed great
ability and bravery. He was born in Framing-
ham, in 1725. AVIien only twenty years of age he
served under Sir AVilliam i\'i)pereil in the expedi-
tion against L(iuisi)ui-g. Having lieen seven years
in service, both in the army and navy, lie returned
to his native place, but not long to remain inactive,
or in the pursuit of the peaceful avocations of life.
After a short respite he again joined the army, and
was honored with a captain's commission. He was
in the attack on Ticonderoga, and bore a part in
the defeat of xVbercrombie. He was in the battle
at Lake George, and subsequently in the same war
with the French was led into an ambuscade, but
"cut his way out" and escaped from the enemy,
but not without the sacrifice of most of his men.
As soon as the people began to organize an army
to resist the arbitrary measures of the mother
country, N^ixon was placed in command of one
of the companies of minute-men in Sudbury, in
which town he then resided, which com])anv." rep-
reM.|,lili-lhe U(-l si.h'of the river, he h'd in the
nMaii.u-abh' ballh'at Concord and J.exiiiglon, April
J '.I, 17?.").
ITtider the resolution to raise and eipii]) a regi-
ment forthc' eiiiergcaiey. Captain Nixon was sue-
iU,^l,:,