History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

378 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
eriior was of the date of " September y'' -itli, 1780.
Votes for Jolui Hancock Esq. for Governor, 26;
votes for James Bovvdoiii Esq. for Governor, 5."
Such are a few of the many entries in the
town records. Could we clothe tliese dry bones of
mere accounts with the ilesli and blood of the circumstances
and details belonging to them, we
should find that Tewksbury had her thrilling and
pathetic incidents as well as her sister towns into
whose records more of the historian's spirit has
been breathed. Alas! little more is left us than
the monotonous but necessary catalogue of votes
taken and bills paid. Yet how suggestive many
of them are! how pathetic some like those which
record payments made to the widows of townsmen
fallen in the fight, or to men disabled by disease or
wounds! A little imagination, assisted by the fuller
accounts of the general history of those eventful
days, can easily kindle these dry and musty records
into a glowing flame, which lights up this old town
during the Revolulionary period witii all the lurid
glow of war, — -a war not waged for conquest, but
for liberty, human rights, and mankind.
In the last war with England the town still
maintained the patriotic spirit so prominent in the
conflict for independence. Although only the following
extracts are found relating to this war
(1S13-1815), they are sufficient to show that
Tewksbury bore her part in sustaining the government
: —
"July 6, 1812, rol,-i}, That if the soldiers are
called on to marcii tliat are enlisted for the Government's
service in this town that the town will make
up their pay to them so that with what goverimient
gives them they shall receive thirteen dollars per
month.
" Voted, To raise the sum of five liundrcd dol-
lars for the purpose of carrying on tlie War drclared
by Government.
'"Sept. 13, IS 14, roM, To raise the sum of
Five hundred dollars for the payment of soldiers
and ]mrchasing equipments for town stock.
" Voled, To make up the soldiers that liavc bcni
or may be called out for the defence of the ((luntrv
fifteen dollais per month llw i)rcsent sriis„ii.
" I'ohul, To have twenty guns bmighl for the
U^e of tlie town."
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