History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1777.] REVOLUTION—DEATH OF REV. MR. HOOKER. 399
polls and estates. All who belonged to Capt. Allen's and
Capt. Chapin's companies the last year, who should enlist
in the Continental service, were to have "full compensation
for all loss by them sustained in cloathes and other
articles, where such losses were unavoidable, and not
through the Negligence of those who sustained them."
British Prisoners Several of tlic British marines, prisoners
Enlisting. here, enlisted in the Continental army. To
them the town voted a bounty of £10 per
year for three years. Robert Keeling and Giles Jones, and
probably John Meacham, were among the prisoners who
enlisted
.
Soldiers Return Home A number of tMs compauy of Continenwithout
Leave.
^q}^ soldiers Came home without leave in
1779. There was a misunderstanding in
reference to the time for which they had enlisted. Major
Hawley and other influential citizens persuaded them to
return, and sent a letter in their behalf to the authorities.
Seth Lyman Jr. and John Welch refused to return to
camp, and led, it was supposed, a vagabond and plundering
life. Seth Lyman justified his son in coming home, and
this led to hard feelings between him and Major Allen.
The officers of the first company of Continentals were
Major Jonathan Allen, of Northampton, who commanded
the first company of minute-men ; Capt., Nathan Goodale
of Brookfield ; Lieut., Elihu Root of Northampton; and
Ens., John Blake of Wrentham.
Pay Voted to the In March, a committee was appointed to resoidiers.
port delinquents in the service, and assess
their proportion. At the same time it was
voted that the pay of all who served with Arnold at
Quebec, and those who went to Canada under Capt. Chapin,
should be estimated at 30s. per month ; those who did garrison
duty at Dorchester, under Capt. Oliver Lyman,
should be allowed 5s. per month ; and that the remainder
should be computed at 24s. per month. These sums were
in addition to the amount received from the government.
The account was made up in this manner — : Every man in